《The Wandering Calamity》


 Chapter 0: Preamble and Ramble

    This ''chapter'' is not an actual story chapter, but rather a collection of various notes of varying importance about the novel, and details of its general format, going forward. None of the following notes are necessary to read before going ahead to the first chapter but I would still recommend at least checking the segment titles in case there''s anything that catches your interest. I''ve ordered the segments from most to least important, in regards to the various aspects of the novel that are most likely to turn people away, just to clarify the existence, or lack thereof, of certain plot/writing elements that people may be looking for or looking to avoid (the ordering is entirely subjective). With that being said, please note that all decisions made are from a purely literary standpoint. I am simply aiming to create a novel that aligns with my writing style and vision of what I want it to be. The lack and/or inclusion of certain clich¨¦s, tropes, and commonly attributed features of the genre of which I''m writing, and the other genres I aim to explore within the same novel, is purely personal. I am not trying to insult or deride by altering staple concepts, I am simply trying to approach them in my own way. Thank you for your understanding. If you are going to go straight to the next chapter from here, then I hope you enjoy it. For everyone else, I will try to keep things brief, but I apologise in advance if things occasionally get wordy.


    Yes, this is a cultivation novel. No, it is not a wuxia novel. It''s probably closer to a high fantasy novel


    For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of cultivation, I will give a very brief overview and do my best to construct visual aids in this word document (lord help me) that can be used as a reference. For those of you who are familiar, feel free to skip to the paragraph after the diagrams as that''s where the main bulk of this segment will inevitably be (although it might be worth checking out the second diagram as that will show off the first few cultivation realms and they''re a little different from usual).


    What is a cultivation novel? Well, the following is a rather nice summary: "Cultivation stories basically discuss the idea (often using the cultural idea of ''cultivating'' to gain immortality) via progressing one''s soul / body / state of being. This can happen via martial arts training, grasping the Dao, magical potions or spirit stones, etc." This description, if anyone''s curious, was borrowed from here:


    https://www.mylifemytao.com/xianxia-wuxia-cultivation-and-more-a-small-explanation/#:~:text=Cultivation%20stories%20basically%20discuss%20the,potions%20or%20spirit%20stones%2C%20etc</a>.


    As for how cultivation is represented in a cultivation novel, it''s done so in a fashion not dissimilar to how most multiplayer games do their ranking systems, if you''re at all familiar with that. To keep it simple, you start in the first ''tier'' (commonly called a realm) and work (cultivate) your way through it to get to the next one. These realms provide benefits to the individual, typically physical strength, but not exclusively, and will keep going up until you reach immortality, the end point for most cultivation novels. One of the benefits of this sort of power scaling is that you can always add more to it if you decide you want your novel to keep going. It''s not limited like, say, a guild ranking system common in other novels that uses the alphabet to grade strength, ending at ''S'' with little-to-no further room to expand (This is probably why a good chunk of cultivation novels have thousands of chapters). It''s also a rather easy system to follow as, within realms, there''s a clear number system that delineates most characters'' strength very accurately. Within each realm there are, usually, ten stages. As a cultivator cultivates, they will gradually climb through these stages, increasing their strength. When they reach the tenth stage, they can ''breakthrough'' into the next realm. As a general rule of thumb, if two cultivators are in the same realm, the one at the higher stage within that realm will be stronger. If a cultivator is in a higher realm, there''s, normally, a zero chance of them losing to anyone in a lower ream in a fight. The gap between stages is not as big as the gap between realms.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Realm 1


    Stage: 1 ¡ú 2 ¡ú 3 ¡ú 4 ¡ú 5 ¡ú 6 ¡ú 7 ¡ú 8 ¡ú 9 ¡ú 10


    ?


    Realm 2


    Stage: 1 ¡ú 2 ¡ú 3 ¡ú 4 ¡ú 5 ¡ú 6 ¡ú 7 ¡ú 8 ¡ú 9 ¡ú 10


    ?


    Realm 3


    Stage: 1 ¡ú 2 ¡ú 3 ¡ú 4 ¡ú 5 ¡ú 6 ¡ú 7 ¡ú 8 ¡ú 9 ¡ú 10


    etc¡­


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Just to note, the realms have actual names in these novels, I''m just using the word ''realm'' as a placeholder as that''s how they''re indirectly referred to.


    One of the main draws of cultivation novels is that the main character is almost always capable of fighting people who are at higher stages and realms than they are. It''s essentially a power fantasy following an overpowered protagonist on their long journey through different worlds, fighting for rare treasures to increase their cultivation, to protect the people around them, or just generally to reach immortality as previously mentioned. In this regard, my novel doesn''t change anything other than the third point as immortality isn''t the goal as will become self-evident relatively early in the novel. I''ll touch more on this side of things a little later.


    Back to cultivation realms, the structure shown in the impromptu diagram above has been altered slightly in my novel. It doesn''t impact much as it''s only relevant for the first four realms and the novel covers most of those pretty quickly, but I wanted to experiment with this idea and see if it could potentially work if I bring it back in the future. The realms in my novel, at the start, look like like this¡­


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Meridian Conversion ¡ú Meridian Expansion


    Flesh Unfettering ¡ú Skeletal Structuring


    ps: the formatting doesn''t appear to have worked correctly on royalroad or webnovel, so I simplified it. I apologise for any confusion.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Ok, so there''s a lot to unpack here. For starters, welcome back to anyone who skipped ahead, this diagram above is representative of the first few cultivation realms in my novel. Next, the obvious change, there is no definitive ''first'' realm in my novel as their are options here. As a cultivator in TWC (The Wandering Calamity), people have the option to start at either Meridian Conversion, or Flesh Unfettering. They have to do all four realms eventually, but the order is malleable. After doing either of the first two realms, the successive realm, be it Meridian Expansion or Skeletal Structuring, also becomes an option. So, if, say, someone starts with Flesh Unfettering, as it gives more physical strength, they can move onto either Skeletal Structuring or Meridian Conversion when they are finished, but not Meridian Expansion. If someone starts with Meridian Conversion, as it enables the use of magic, they can move onto either Flesh Unfettering or Meridian Expansion, but not Skeletal Structuring. Hopefully this isn''t too complicated as I think it''s an interesting idea and one I would like to potentially bring back later. TLDR: Do all four realms before mental accumulation but the order is up to the individual''s needs.


    Some of you may have noticed the word ''magic'', this is change number two. Typically, in cultivation novels, martial techniques form the backbone of combat, allowing the characters to do cool things other than just swing their weapon (which they also do a lot of). These techniques include things like controlling the elements, manipulating flying weapons, and even slapping a person''s face with the utmost precision. My novel, instead, has it''s own magic system in which these things are all still possible, but everything is now more specialised (I''ll explain in a second). As a westerner, I''m more familiar with the idea of ''mana'' than ''Qi'', so I''ve effectively replaced the two. Instead of Qi circulating through the body, mana does and is what''s used to cast magic. Those in higher realms can store more mana. As for the magic system, ''Pillars'' are an integral part of the equation. A pillar is any notable facet of reality. For instance, there is a ''fire'' pillar, a ''sound'' pillar, a ''weapons'' pillar, and so on. There are also some more nuanced or niche pillars like, ''summoning'', ''hemomancy'', ''gadgetry'', etc¡­ Everyone is born with a different alignment to different pillars. Some people might have an affinity for the fire pillar, making them exceptional with fire magic, but have bad affinity with the ''nature'' pillar, stymying their growth in that department. The system goes deeper than this, mind you, but that''s explained quite nicely in the novel in the first few chapters, so I''ll leave it at this rather basic overview for now. In short, functionally not much has changed. People are still going to go around firing off massive attacks at one another, it''s just that the operative mechanism is different. Personally, I believe the pillar system gets quite interesting and is one of the better parts of the novel, so I would ask you not to write it off and give it thirty to forty chapters to see the ways in which it''s explored further (this might seem like a lot if you''re unfamiliar with cultivation novels but, trust me, it''ll go quickly).


    The third, and final, major change is the way arcs will be structured in TWC. In most cultivation novels, arcs tend to be on the longer side, sometimes taking up to hundreds of chapters. In TWC, they''ll typically be shorter and more focused on a specific region and or person. Part of the problem with cultivation novels is that they tend to repeat themselves after a few thousand chapters with every arc following a pretty clear pattern of: enter a new world in which the main character is bottom of the barrel, join a sect, secretly hide strength, take part in various minor events (occasionally showcasing said strength to a few individuals), get embroiled in trouble with some manner of ''young master'' (probably over a love interest), train by finding rare treasures, compete with young master in an arena full of spectators and wow everyone with their hidden strength, clean-up of any outstanding problems that need to be taken care of, ascend to new world. There''s occasionally variance for sure, but this is a pretty common outline of what you can roughly expect from any given arc in a cultivation novel. In TWC, arcs will probably be closer to 40 or 50 chapters in length, most of which doing the following: exploring a new region with new monsters, people, and cultures, delving into a side characters backstory, and putting the main character smack dab in the middle of whatever problems the region is currently facing. There is an overarching plot in TWC but A, it will only be first mentioned in the second arc and B, it will take a long time before it really starts to become relevant. Each arc will essentially be a contained plot (sometimes maybe being relevant on a larger scale) that exists on the path to the end of the novel, but isn''t necessarily directly related to it. I should note that not every single arc will follow these rules exactly, but most will. While the first and second arcs of TWC are more introductory, with the first being an introduction to the world and the second being an introduction to the characters and lore, most arcs from then on will be more in line with the standard. TLDR: Each arc is like a mini fantasy story, some may wind up being longer but most will be relatively short, all side characters will get a good bit of backstory eventually (I plan on keeping all important side characters relevant instead of letting them fall by the wayside. They are all strong, unique characters in their own right so I will be keeping a note on how long it has been since their last appearance and will bear that in mind when deciding who to give ''scree time'' to). The first two arcs are slightly different compared to what will be normal going forward as they''re a little more basic for the sake of doing necessary world and character building. All arcs will follow a similar naming scheme of ''place'' ''and the'' ''theme''. For example, the first eight arcs (order and name subject to change) are called: ''Baja Forest and the Town on Edge'', ''Red Sun City and the Advent of the Gods'', ''Freeride Federation and the Off-Breed Onslaught'', ''Xasca and the Riddlemyd'', ''Isaz Region and the Mutated Mountain'', ''Akarala and the Maoi Wickerwyrm'', ''Dwarvingdom and the Case at Armstrong Mannor'', and ''Neo Gear Land and the Machiavellian Mechanical Machinations''. I won''t spoil what these arcs are about, but I will mention that I want to use TWC as way to experiment with my writing and attempt genres and general ideas I''m not familiar with. The Darvingdom arc will likely be a murder mystery, for example. I''ll also be incorporating 18+ scenes which leads me onto the next segment¡­


    Stolen story; please report.


    18+ / No Rape / Harem


    I spent a lot of time going back and forth between whether or not this would be a harem novel, with most of that time spent firmly in the ''no'' camp. Ultimately, my mind was changed for a few reasons. 1: Given the characteristics of the first love interest, which I won''t spoil, it was basically unavoidable. 2: The more I kept creating characters, the more it all just kind of fit together and certain relationships just felt right. 3: It gives me a chance to experiment with writing different kinds of interpersonal relationships and explore alternate dynamics that exist due to unique personalities meshing together in interesting ways. 4: Harem''s are a common enough thing in-universe and, even if I don''t personally care for polyamory, it''s not about me but rather the situation the main character would find himself in. And finally, 5: Just as with the side characters, I plan on keeping any characters of note as relevant as I possibly can. They (harem members) will be their own fleshed out characters instead of just being some kind of trophy collection. In other words, I feel it should be done as it fits the story and I feel I can do the dynamic justice. On the topic of romantic relationships, there will be 18+ scenes. There will be a ''18+'' in the title of any chapters that feature explicitly sexual scenes and said scenes will be marked with a ?? symbol at the start and end. If you wish to skip the scenes then by all means feel free, however there will still be sexual references outside of these scenes, so bear that in mind. I also believe these scenes contribute to characterisation, so I would recommend not skipping it if you don''t have any strong inclination to do so. All of that being said, I''ve never written anything of the sort, so I apologise if the quality of these segments is lacking. I aim to learn more and will continue to try and do better, so please keep in mind the 18+ scenes in the first arc probably won''t be as well written as those that come later as there was a bit of gap between me writing the first arc and continuing on from the second. The frequency of these scenes will be simply up to the situation at hand, i.e I will not force there to be any even if there haven''t been any for a while, nor will I shy away from writing multiple in a row should it pertain to the story. Again, i view this as a natural part of storytelling and something that shouldn''t be overlooked, but it''s also not the point of the novel like it is in, say, dual cultivation (not a knock, I''m simply using it for comparison''s sake). Lastly, I''d also like to mention that all scenes will be consensual as A: I don''t particularly want to write any rape scenes, and B: all scenes will be those involving the main character, and he simply isn''t the type to do such a thing anyway. This isn''t to say that various fetishes won''t be explored (although this is entirely character dependent, so may not be relevant until the harem grows), it''s just that rape, specifically, will not be described in detail (although it may be mentioned if ever relevant, although I don''t plan on any major character being involved in such a thing). As for the ''only MC'' part, I briefly considered writing scenes for others, but I imagine it would become quite a time sink and would oversaturate the novel with such scenes, so I ultimately decided not to.


    Release Schedule


    You may have noticed in the last segment that I mentioned I''d already written the first arc. This was done a good few months ago before I had to focus on other matters. Now that those matters have been dealt with, I have free time to write as I please and continue onward as well as release these chapters without worry that my time will be taken up again. As such, the plan for now is to release the first twelve chapters, alongside this introductory chapter, and then follow it up with two chapters a day until the first arc is finished at chapter 46. The goal then will be to upload daily for as long as possible. There may be some days when I''m unable to do so, and I apologise in advance, but that''s simply how it has to be as the chapters are quite long and I may not have enough time in the day to make one. The average chapter length is probably around 4,000 words, at a rough estimate, with some of the early chapters being shorter, and some of the later ones being longer. I may also try to throw in a shorter chapter occasionally if I don''t think I can upload a longer one but I still want to put a chapter out. There will also, at some point in time, be side chapters, but I''ll touch more on that in the donations segment at the end as I plan on doing something interesting with them. Just in case, if my writing quality changes noticeably from the first arc to the second, as a result of the delay between creation, then I''m making a note of it here so you can know why (although I don''t think there should be any major changes). I did go back and add a bit more description to some of the character introductions as well as do some basic editing of punctuation and whatnot, but I am still a single human going through over 40+ chapters, so if I missed anything, again, I apologise. The same is true of new releases after the first arc as well as I''m my own editor, so please have mercy as writing and double checking everything is quite the lengthy endeavour. As for where I''ll be uploading, this novel will be available on royal road and webnovel. As there is no need for a translation to English, if it''s a language you understand then the aforementioned sites will be the first place to check for new chapters (although I believe royal road requires approval which can take up to 48 hours, so it might be delayed a tad over there as I''m not entirely sure how it works). Regarding webnovel, I have no intentions of locking anything behind paywalls (this is subject to change but highly unlikely). I will also never sign any contract that requires giving away copyright. I''m simply using it as another platform to view my work if you prefer it over the alternative, royal road. I''ll do my best to keep an eye on comments on both sites but I apologise if I miss some.


    Timeskip


    This segments a quick one. There is a timeskip very early on so, if for whatever reason, you aren''t thrilled about the idea of a younger main character then don''t worry, it won''t last long. This isn''t to say I won''t explore the main character''s early years down the road, but it won''t be immediate anyhow. There is a brief mention of it for the sake of character development, however. Speaking of character development, the first arc is sort of where a fair bit of it happens. It may not be the most interesting, maybe even a bit cringe at times (I apologise again if it is), but I believe it to be a necessary evil. There will be more down the line, but not anything overt for a good while.


    A.I generated art


    I''m aware people have mixed feelings about A.I art, so I wanted to talk about it here. I have no issue with either using or not using it, I''m more curious about whether people want to see it or not. Just as an experiment, I put some of my ideas and characters through the A.I generation programs available online and got a couple of images that are relatively close to what I already had in mind. This includes, characters, armour, places, and even the cover image for TWC. I have no intention of ever using them in an official capacity, more so as a placeholder if, in the future, TWC takes off, at which point I would commission official art. I simply thought people might want a visual aid of sorts for some things here and there, but if it turns out that enough people simply don''t want TWC to have anything to do with A.I art, then I have no qualms with removing it all. This would mean either generic images replace everything or there simply is no replacement in the short term. Again, personally, I have no strong opinion either way, but I''ll keep tabs on the comment sections for mentions of this particular topic and, should there be enough support or opposition, I will act accordingly. I''ll also note here, A.I IS NOT USED IN THE WRITING PROCESS AT ALL. For better or for worse, everything in TWC comes from my mind, and mine alone¡­ Not that A.I has a mind, but you get my point.


    Donations


    Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. I plan on doing this regardless of my financial situation, even if the release schedule has to slow down further down the line, so donations are not necessary. I bring it up here because I have a few ideas for donation rewards that I want to float by you all and let you know that I''m considering the logistics of these ideas. The first is simple, donate to have your name, or someone else''s put into the novel. A tried and true reward that people seem to like as far as I''m aware. Second, instead of uploading more chapters, which I probably won''t be able to do due to time constraints, I instead want to create a side chapter system whereby, if you donate a certain amount, you can come up with an idea for a cannon side story you wish to see in TWC and I''ll write it. Obviously it can''t be anything cannon breaking or highly inappropriate, but if you want to see a Christmas special, certain characters going mini-golfing, or what have you, then this would enable that. The major problem with implementing this is finding a correct price point. If it''s too cheap, I''ll be swamped with more side chapters than I know what to do with and/or have time to make. If it''s too expensive, well then that''s fairly obvious, it''s too expensive and no-one will get to enjoy it. Either way, this idea is something I''m going to have to give a lot of thought to in order to implement correctly. For now, the only place to donate will be on Patreon at¡­


    https://patreon.com/TWCNovel?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link


    I''ve set the only available donation to the minimum recommended for now as I don''t feel particularly great about anyone potentially donating more when the rewards aren''t up yet. Patreon is a big name as far as donations go and I don''t really know of any others, but if you have any suggestions for donation sites you would prefer, then please let me know in the comments. I will make an author''s note in the latest chapter when I''ve come to a decision about the donation rewards, so you can either check the newest chapters or the patreon to keep up to date. Again, thank you for your support should you decide to donate, it is incredibly helpful. Not only does it mean I can focus on this project more, but it means I can put that money back into TWC at a later date by commissioning art for it.

 Chapter 1: Slavery, Amulets, and Cotton Candy

    Chapter 1: Slavery, Amulets, and Cotton Candy


    Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap


    A tiny shadow nimbly darted through puddle-ridden and rat-infested alleyways in the dead of the night, guided only by the light emanating from dimly-lit paper lanterns.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Thanks for bringing me to the festival, Master. This place is great!¡± An innocent little girl, roughly 11 years of age, was clinging to the robe of an Elder with one hand and holding cotton candy in the other. After displaying an adorable smile to the Elder, she went back to nibbling on the foreign sweet while keeping an eye out for any other food stalls that might catch her attention.


    The Elder was an amiable-looking, aged old man with white hair, a white beard, and was clothed in white robes. Upon seeing the little girl¡¯s excitement plastered across her face, he too smiled and began speaking in a warm, gentle tone, ¡°The festival exists, in part, to welcome foreign diplomats. We have praetors from the Grecian Land, and even an important robo family from Punk Station visiting, so we decided to make the festival a celebration of various cultures. I figured it would be good to bring you along as somewhat of an introduction to the world we live in. This world is vast and there¡¯s a lot to see, Allie. One day, when you''re older, you won¡¯t have to be cooped up in the sect practicing alchemy and creating those Mini-Pillies. You can go and explore this vast world, see new things, meet new people...¡±


    ¡°And try new food too!¡± As Allie interrupted the Elder, a small, dark-green pill with tiny black lines sprouting out of it for both its arms and legs, sprung out of Allie¡¯s sleeve and jumped onto her wrist. It had no eyes but turned to face the pink fluffy thing in front of it and quickly identified the unusual existence as food from the bite marks Allie left in it. A large crack formed along the pill, creating a ragged jawline which the pill then used to chomp on the cotton candy. ¡°See, even Mini-Pilly Scout agrees that food is best!¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Click


    Clank


    CLANG


    The black blur kept dashing as he wrangled tirelessly with a key to free himself from a pair of rusty handcuffs that eventually broke off and fell to the floor. He gently rubbed his sore wrists with shaky, bloodstained hands. Keep it together Ares, it¡¯s just a bit of blood. Keep it together Ares, it¡¯s not even yours. Keep it to~fuc~king~geth~er, the blur thought to himself. Cultivation is brutal, Ares. People die ALL THE TIME, ARES. So what? You killed a guy, big deal! Weren¡¯t you planning on killing that asshole young Master of yours all these years anyway? Why are you psyching yourself out now that you¡¯ve done it? You¡¯re going to kill plenty more people, it''s unavoidable because you are a sovereign, you are a natural-born ruler, YOU ARE A KIN¡­


    ¡°GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE FUCKING RAT!¡±


    YOU ARE A RAT... Wait. No. No no. That¡¯s not right. Ares was dragged back to reality from his thoughts thanks to the nearby shouts. Ares swiftly veered onto a different path to give chase and to try to catch up to the voices ahead of him. He wasn¡¯t being chased, rather, he was chasing a group in front of him. As for the people he was chasing, they too were also giving chase to someone. If a few more people were involved in this non-sensical scene, they might have all been mistaken for an overly aggressive conga line.


    The body of Ares¡¯ young ¡®Master¡¯, Farro, was too well hidden to have been discovered by the guards already. These people were from the same clan as said young Master but they were after an entirely different person. After sneaking out, Ares decided to follow them and help this mysterious individual that had attracted the clan''s attention for two reasons. Firstly, his actions inadvertently aided Ares in his assassination by reducing the number of guards he had to sneak around to get to Farro¡¯s room. Secondly, he wanted to leave a few more corpses as a parting gift, a little thanks to the clan for ¡®looking after him¡¯ all these years.


    Ares had planned on killing Farro tonight, specifically, for a while. The high-ranking officials of the clan, including the patriarch, had all gone out to welcome some foreign big-shots. Tonight was his only chance in the foreseeable future so, even though he wanted to secretly train at night some more, his hand was forced. Also, he couldn¡¯t let Farro¡¯s cultivation get too high, he was already at the 4th stage of the ¡®meridian conversion realm¡¯, any more than that and Ares might struggle to kill him quickly and quietly.


    Being a slave meant he was forbidden from cultivating after all and he had to rely purely on his own strength although, honestly speaking, he wasn¡¯t particularly strong. His real talents lay in his speed, his footwork, and his skill with weapons¡­ That and he successfully managed to sneak up behind Farro. Ares was confident that he could have killed him without sneaking up on him but, before giving chase to the mysterious intruder, the guards cuffed him as a ¡®preventative measure¡¯ and gave Farro the key. It didn¡¯t exactly do much though, did it? Perhaps the guards had gotten fed up with their arrogant young Mater Farro, or maybe they were too pre-occupied with the mysterious intruder to put much thought into a harmless little slave like Ares.


    Now that Ares¡¯ hands were free, he was itching for a fight! He happened to enjoy fighting even though he was usually forced to do it with other slaves as a form of entertainment. He would make sure to hold back during his bouts so as not to arouse suspicion, which inevitably caused him to get hurt occasionally, but he still enjoyed the thrill nonetheless. Ares had no real way to temper his body so his fighting strategy was simple, don¡¯t get hit in the first place. In fact, Ares was really quite nimble and adept at dodging, to the point that he would never have gotten hit at all if it weren¡¯t for keeping up appearances.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    As for the guards up ahead, they were all at the 6th stage of meridian conversion, barring their leader who was sitting comfortably at the 7th stage. Killing them was workable for Ares, even though he¡¯d yet to start cultivating, but he needed to be smart and pick them off one by one. He could maybe manage two or three at once, but six? Not happening. He wasn¡¯t even in the 1st stage of meridian conversion so fighting all of them simultaneously was nothing but a pipe dream.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Master Zhang?¡± Allie looked up at her Master, Elder Zhang, with beady eyes that sparkled with curiosity.


    ¡°There appears to be a group of people chasing a young boy, roughly your age, I¡¯d say he¡¯s 11 years old. I think they want to kill him,¡± Zhang said nonchalantly as he stroked his beard.


    Gasp


    Allie raised her hand to her mouth in shock. ¡°Can you save him, Master? Pretty please?¡±


    ¡°No. This is the real-world Allie; you need to get used to it. Besides, think about it, if I go save him, who¡¯ll stay here to protect you? What if he¡¯s a really bad child and deserves punishment? What if those people shouldn¡¯t be offended? Why should either of us care about him? These are the kinds of questions you need to learn to ask yourself, Allie.¡±


    ¡°Okayyyyyyy,¡± Allie spoke in a dejected tone before sighing loudly. Her sad mood didn¡¯t last long though as she brought out another bit of cotton candy from her spacial ring, instantly pacifying her thoughts and bringing a radiant smile to her face.


    The Elder¡¯s head snapped back to the street to catch a quick glimpse of yet another young child, this one slightly older than the last but also much faster. The child had decently long, black, layered hair and was wearing tattered clothes and yet he had an incredibly elegant, black-feathered cape with grooves running through it, draped over his back. The Elder deduced the boy¡¯s cape was a personal treasure otherwise there was no way in hell he would have been able to keep something that fancy in his possession without having it stolen from him.


    The child¡¯s looks were relatively unimpressive, only slightly above average, if even that, and yet his appearance still managed to be quite striking. Some men were natural pretty-boys, kind of like the first child that ran by, but this kid¡¯s looks practically oozed heroism. The most apt way to describe him would be brave. If that kid grew up to become an army commander or something equivalent, it would surprise absolutely no-one. It was almost possible to imagine him in a few years'' time with one foot on a corpse and his hand raising a flag to commemorate victory on the front lines of a war. The kid was in deep concentration as he sped across the street following the previous group but he felt the gaze of an expert and looked over to get a quick view of Elder Zhang, thus giving Zhang a chance to see his eyes. His eyes were such a deep shade of brown they were practically black, giving the illusion of endless space and vast nothingness, ironically enough, hidden within was a sort of endless determination. The glint in his pupil was reminiscent of a shining star. Just as soon as the boy appeared, he vanished off into an alley somewhere. What really caught Zhang¡¯s attention, however, was that he was carrying a bloody dagger and actually running after the previous group. Was he going to fight them? The kid didn¡¯t even have a cultivation base yet he seemed awfully confident...


    Zhang turned to Allie who was completely oblivious and staring greedily at a nearby stall selling meat skewers. ¡°Allie, on second thought, I¡¯m going to go nosy around a bit.¡±


    The Elder beckoned towards a nearby rooftop before disappearing and a man dressed entirely in black, with a hood covering the entirety of his face, took his place. The man in black had a much deeper voice but was still kind toward Allie. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of you until Zhang comes back, so let¡¯s get you some more food, ok?¡±


    ¡°Ok...¡± Allie liked this new person who easily identified the key to her happiness. ¡°... But if you were always here, then why did Zhang use protecting me as an excuse not to save the boy earlier?¡±


    The man¡¯s eyes twitched under the hood. Because he wants you to learn life lessons the hard way! he thought to himself. How could he tell her that though? Then she''d probably blame herself for the kid¡¯s hypothetical death, saying something along the lines of, ¡®If I Weren¡¯t here, would Zhang have saved him then?¡¯


    ¡°I actually only just got here,¡± the man lied through his teeth unconvincingly after clearing his throat.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Oh look! Meat skewers!¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Ares slowly crept up to the edge of a nearby wall. The guards had finally caught up to the unknown intruder in an empty, quiet square far away from the festival. No time like the present, Ares thought before making his move under the cover of darkness.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°You goddamn brat. You sure can run, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± The 7th stage guard took the lead, taking one step closer to the pretty-boy. The guard was slightly hesitant as the clothes the boy was wearing were rather high in quality. Some rundown thief would never be able to acquire fur clothes like this from just anywhere. If he were, per-chance, from an impressive background then the guard would be seriously screwed for messing with him, thus he decided to take a cautious approach. Then again, he was seriously screwed if he didn''t mess with him as the brat had stolen the clan''s signature treasure. The patriarch would be furious if he didn¡¯t manage to get it back from a damn child of all people. ¡°Where¡¯s the amulet?¡±


    As the guard took a step toward the kid, the kid took a step back. ¡°What amulet? This amulet? This is the only one I have.¡± The kid held up a shimmering jade amulet, one which matched the colour of his beady green eyes, with an elegant eagle engraved upon its surface.


    ¡°NO! You know which amulet is ours, and we know you have it, you stupid kid. Hand it over and we can let you go.¡±


    ¡°You mean this one?¡± This time, the kid held out a white amulet, one which matched his fair skin, with a glorious flame pattern emblazoned front and centre.


    The guard¡¯s right eye twitched and he curled his hands into fists before finally calming himself. ¡°Look, kid. I don¡¯t know why you have so many fucking amulets, but if you don¡¯t hand over ours, you¡¯re going to suffer.¡± The guard stretched out his hand to grab the child


    ¡°OKOKOKOK. Here, this one, right?¡± The kid panicked for a second before he reached into his pocket and fished around for a bit. Eventually an onyx amulet, one which matched the kid¡¯s jet black hair, with the likeness of a coiled snake carved artfully into it, popped up in his palm.


    The guard narrowed his eyes. Although it looked like his Chen clan¡¯s amulet, how could he be sure around this tricksy little brat? What if it was a fake? He took the amulet and activated it, completely removing his presence and cultivation from the prying eye. Although he was still visible, it was impossible to tell he was a cultivator and you¡¯d have a hard time spotting him if your attention was elsewhere. ¡°Alright kid, I¡¯ll leave you alone this time, but if I see you around our clan again, I¡¯ll tear out your goddamn spine with my bare hands.¡± The guard started to turn around.


    ¡°WAIT¡­ Is this your amulet?¡±


    ¡°KID! Do you think you¡¯re a FUCKING STREET MAGICIAN? Do you seriously have a death wish? I swear to God I¡¯ll break all your¡­ What?¡±


    The kid was holding an amulet identical to the one he had just given him.


    The guard was stunned stupid. Was the one he¡¯d been given somehow actually a fake? He hurriedly tried to pull the amulet out of his pocket only to realise there was nothing in his pocket at all. ¡°ALRIGHT. YOU¡¯RE DEAD KID!¡±


    ¡°If you say so¡­¡± The child shrugged as his eyes darted from the guard to the bloody scene behind his back. ¡°... But you might want to deal with him first.¡±

 Chapter 2: A Sovereign Meets a Thief

    The kid had kept the front guard busy for as long as he could with his abnormal amulet antics before finally having to throw Ares under the bus.


    The guards, or what was left of them anyway, finally turned around to see three dead bodies piled up in a corner and Ares wielding a dagger dyed blood-red.


    ¡°Good job.¡± Ares gave the kid a thumbs up for distracting the guards for as long as he had. Ares wasn¡¯t annoyed that attention had been called to him because he was aware the kid had no other options left. Besides, there were only three guards left now and he was feeling confident he could handle the two 6th stage guards before moving onto the 7th stage guard. Of course, the guards weren¡¯t going to make it easy for him though, he was going to have to work hard for this win.


    ¡°ARES, you bastard. If you¡¯re here I won¡¯t ask what happened to that fucker Farro. KILL HIM!¡± All three guards took out their swords and spread out with the 7th stage guard to the left of Ares, one guard to the right and one directly in front.


    Seriously? How well trained are these dogs of the Chen Clan that they even used battle formations against a slave? Ares kissed his teeth.


    They weren¡¯t underestimating him at all. The 7th stage guard moved first and slashed horizontally at Ares¡¯ calves. Slaves had no real physical strength but the guard knew they could run well so he tried to attack Ares¡¯ legs first and put them out of commission.


    Ares jumped over the sword and ignored him completely, running towards the front guard while hanging far enough left to keep out of range of the right guard. The middle guard swung at Ares¡¯ neck but Ares slid down low onto the floor, under the sword, and lodged his dagger into the guard¡¯s ankle. Using the momentum from his slide and the dagger anchored in the guard, Ares swerved behind the guard.


    The guard panicked and blindly swung behind him only to find nothing there. Ares had already run around his other side and disappeared completely.


    Although Ares could have stabbed him in the back and killed him first, why waste this opportunity?


    The guard on the right had finally caught up to Ares just as he¡¯d stabbed the front guard in the ankle. Unfortunately, he was far too close to react after Ares slid behind the front guard before circling around and lunging at his neck. Ares had used the front guard to obscure vision before taking out the other on the right side.


    The right guard was the first to fall and the front guard had lost most of his mobility thanks to injury on his ankle. He also had a gash on the side of his stomach that Ares left him with as he ran around his flank. A parting gift of sorts. This was a much better decision and outcome than just killing the front guard and then having to deal with two healthy guards afterwards.


    Ares and the two guards slowly circled around, sizing each other up for a gap in their defence, waiting for an opportunity to strike.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Ares and the two guards were dumbfounded when the injured guard¡¯s sword vanished from his hands. The guard stood still, completely stupefied to the point he didn¡¯t even see the dagger Ares threw at his neck that cleanly pierced a lung.


    The last 7th stage guard kissed his teeth and looked over at the pretty-boy inspecting the brand-new sword in his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t know how the fuck you stole his sword from all the way over there, and I don¡¯t know how you stole the amulet from my pocket earlier, but rest assured, after I kill this damnable slave, you¡¯re next.¡±


    ¡°Hey, mind if I borrow that?¡± Ares turned to the kid and asked for the sword. The only other weapons ¡®available¡¯ were next to the corpses that the 7th stage guard had shrewdly moved closer to. The three guards he assassinated earlier unfortunately didn¡¯t have any weapons as they played more of a supportive role with long distance attacks and healing magic, hence why they stood the furthest back.


    The little kid shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Sure, but I won¡¯t be able to steal a weapon again now that he¡¯s keeping an eye out for it.¡±


    Ares caught the sword that was thrown to him and was immediately displeased with its weight. Ares preferred lighter weapons that didn¡¯t hamper his speed, and this particular sword definitely wasn¡¯t preferable; but, no matter how much he wished he had a rapier or a dagger in his hand, it wasn¡¯t going to change the present situation. He was reminded of a saying one of his fellow slaves liked repeating to himself when things got rough, make ¡®make do¡¯ do.


    ¡°Water Bullet!¡±


    Swish


    While Ares was focused on the sword, the guard flung out a magical Water Bullet. Ares was still paying enough attention to dodge it, but he had to drop the sword in order to move swiftly enough. The bullet crashed into the stone wall behind him, leaving a small crack in it. Presumably, the other guards hadn¡¯t used magic because they were worried about friendly-fire but, now that they were dead, the last guard had no such scruples.


    The meridian conversion realm allows for the conversion of mana into magic, but grants no benefits to physical strength, so it essentially provides no benefits if you aren¡¯t using magic. If any of the guards had taken the unfettering flesh realm path first, and focused on physical benefits and the raising of strength, then Ares probably would have been in serious trouble right about now.


    Ares begrudgingly picked up the heavy sword and closed the gap to avoid having to deal with a barrage of Water Bullets. When he was close enough, he swung down vertically from head to toe. He wasn¡¯t expecting to kill the guard with such a lazy, obvious, attack but it did force the guard to take a step back to avoid it. That one step back was enough space for Ares to ditch the sword and manoeuvre over to the dagger he¡¯d thrown previously which was still lodged inside the guard¡¯s dead body. Ares yanked it out of the corpse¡¯s throat and brought with it a spurt of blood as he rolled to avoid a strike from the guard who chased him, but the guard was persistent and refused to let up his offensive. Ares was forced back continually out of the guard¡¯s sword range while also having to keep an eye out for stray Water Bullets. Ares wasn¡¯t confident he could keep this up for long and he didn¡¯t want to regardless. If he stayed here too much longer, although the guard¡¯s mana would finally dry out, he was worried he might be found by other guards before he could win a drawn out fight. Eventually Ares made the decision to take an injury to forcefully expose an opening but, first, he had to wait for a specific attack pattern the guard had already displayed once as he was chasing Ares around.


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    It didn¡¯t take too long for the guard to raise his sword with one hand and swing vertically downward in a similar fashion to Ares¡¯ first sword attack. The major difference between the two attacks though was that the guard kept his other hand in reserve to fire a Water Bullet after the swing. A 1-2 combo that left no room for counterattacking and solid overall strategy against anyone who wasn¡¯t suicidal.


    As the sword descended, Ares raised his dagger, not to block it, but to parry it by expertly guiding it to the side. As the sword fell heavily to the ground with a dull thud, Ares took a step in towards the guard who then raised his empty right hand to shoot a Water Bullet. Ares twisted his body so that his non-dominant left arm would take the brunt of the impact.


    ¡°Water Bullet!¡±


    Crack


    Ares grimaced and groaned as his arm broke, echoing through the night, but he ignored the pain and fully closed the distance. He knew if he tried to cut the guard¡¯s neck, the guard would have enough time to dodge the dagger, so Ares decided to try something a little riskier. No risk, no reward.


    The guard had already begun leaning his neck back in anticipation of what he perceived to be the biggest immediate threat to his life, but almost hurled when he took a surprise dagger to the gut and a kick to the groin. Although the guard instinctively wanted to lean forward and hunch over, he had already leant too far back causing him to almost trip over. The guard raised his foot to try and re-position and stabilise himself by stumbling backward, but that was exactly what Ares was waiting for.


    Ares propelled himself at an incredible speed by gripping the dagger firmly and simultaneously pulling himself forward and dislodging the weapon.Utilising the momentum, he slid under the guard¡¯s raised foot with his back scraping against the floor and his feathered cape dragging along behind him. The guard¡¯s foot eventually slammed back down onto the earth, catching onto the tail-end of Ares¡¯ cape. The cape itself was a personal treasure and didn¡¯t function exactly like a normal cape, the most obvious difference was that it was attached to Ares¡¯ spine. Although he could effortlessly detach it whenever he wanted, he forced it to stay on. As the guard¡¯s foot held the cape in place, Ares'' momentum came to a sudden halt when the cape was stretched to its limit which caused immense pain in his back. That sudden jolt, however, was enough to slightly raise Ares of the ground and spin him around to face the guards back. Ares bent his knees, landed softly, and ran up behind the guard who just barely had enough time to stabilise himself. Unfortunately for the guard, it wasn¡¯t enough time to also defend himself however, as Ares slit his throat from behind in a single, fluid motion.


    Clap Clap Clap


    The little thief¡¯s clapping reminded Ares of his time as a slave fighting in the pits, but he wasn¡¯t petty enough to associate the thief with that and get annoyed at him.


    ¡°That was cool, I¡¯m pretty useless in a fight, so thanks for the help.¡± The thief gave Ares a thumbs up just as Ares had done to him earlier.


    ¡°No problem, if anything I should be thanking you for making my life easier. Do you have anywhere to go back to?¡± Ares spoke as he arched his body left and right, clicking the bones in his achy back.


    ¡°Nope, you?¡±


    ¡°Nope. I¡¯m going to live on the streets for a couple years. It won¡¯t exactly be pleasant, but do you wanna come with me? I can teach you how to fight and you can help out by stealing food. If we train for long enough, we can eventually join a sect and turn our lives around. It¡¯s gotta be better than doing nothing.¡± Ares was really interested in this kid¡¯s magic as he¡¯d never seen anything like it. Ares also figured it would be mutually beneficial to help one another out considering they were in a similar situation and could bring different things to the table.


    ¡°Alright, you can¡¯t be any worse than the people I used to live with. You¡¯re going to have to teach me from the beginning though. I never really learnt anything or listened to my parents when they tried teaching me about cultivation,¡± the kid agreed in a half-hearted manner as if nothing really mattered to him.


    ¡°In that case, we¡¯ve overstayed our welcome. Let¡¯s leave this place before more guards arrive.¡±


    The two ran through the quiet streets under the cover of night. Ares began leading the thief to the other side of the city. Getting there would take multiple days but it was worth it to avoid the Chen Clan¡¯s guaranteed incessant searching in the upcoming days. As the journey couldn¡¯t be done in a single day, the two eventually stopped and put themselves up in an alleyway for the night, preparing themselves to get some rest.


    ¡°This should be far enough for today. By the way, my name is Ares and I¡¯m 12 years old. What¡¯s your name?¡± Ares detached his cape and fashioned it into a feather hammock that ran from one wall to the one opposite.


    ¡°My name¡¯s Aejaz, I¡¯m 11, soon to be 12. What¡¯s with that cape, it¡¯s really cool. I might even steal it when you¡¯re not paying attention you know?¡±


    Ares lightly chuckled. He knew Aejaz wouldn¡¯t actually steal it, not that he could anyway. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right, it is special. It¡¯s a personal treasure.¡±


    ¡°Personal treasure? What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°I really am going to have to explain everything from the beginning, aren¡¯t I?¡± Ares scratched his head and sighed. It appeared Aejaz really didn¡¯t know anything at all.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start teaching you properly after we get some sleep but, for now, I can give you a brief explanation about personal treasures. I assume you know that treasures are items imbued with magic that can do all kinds of funky stuff. Personal treasures choose their owner and become completely attached to them. They can only be used by their owner unless someone else gets the owner¡¯s permission. They become worthless if stolen. This cape is a treasure called the ¡®Stygian Zephyr¡¯ and it chose me, therefore, it¡¯s my personal treasure and no one else can ever have it. Most, if not all, personal treasures can be returned to their owners from great distances in one manner or another. In the case of this Zephyr, it can recreate itself if I concentrate and use a bit of energy.¡± Black feathers began sprouting out of Ares'' back and in a flash his cape reformed itself.


    Aejaz looked over at the hammock Ares had made earlier and, sure enough, it was still there. Recreating the cape would just make the old one a useless pile of fancy feathers, but it wouldn¡¯t disappear.


    ¡°No-one in their right mind will ever bother trying to steal a personal treasure because it¡¯s always almost impossible or a massive hassle not worth undertaking. If the owner of a personal treasure dies, the treasure will disappear with them. If the treasure was a clan¡¯s signature treasure before choosing a specific owner, it will return to the clan upon death. So, there are only two real ways to steal these types of treasures; one is to kill an entire clan. The other is to find some form of absurdly rare treasure that can separate a personal treasure from their owner while they¡¯re still alive.¡± Ares made a second hammock and a cover for each of them by repeatedly reforming and detaching the cape.


    ¡°What about this amulet? Is this someone¡¯s personal treasure?¡± Aejaz took out the black amulet he stole from the Chen Clan.


    ¡°No. At least not yet anyway. There¡¯s usually no way to tell if a treasure will ever become a personal treasure until it attaches itself to someone. Before it attaches though, anyone can use it, yourself included.¡±


    ¡°Here, take it as thanks for helping me.¡± Aejaz threw the amulet to Ares.


    ¡°No. Thank you, but it¡¯s better if you have it.¡± Ares threw it back. ¡°First of all, the way you steal things is completely unique and hard to detect. That amulet is perfect for you as you can steal without ever being noticed, with no one the wiser. Second, my cultivation is always going to be slow anyway, there¡¯s no reason to hide it as people will inevitably underestimate me regardless.¡±


    Aejaz raised his eyebrow at that last sentence. ¡°How do you know your cultivation is going to be slow?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain it, and various other things like magic, tomorrow. Get some rest for now. Oh, and I need to heal this broken arm for about a week before I teach you to fight, so it¡¯ll just be verbal lessons and you practicing by yourself until then.¡± Ares took out and swallowed a healing pill he stole from Farro¡¯s quarters and hopped into the hammock, covered himself, and went to sleep.


    Aejaz followed suit and realised that the hammock was incredibly soft! The feathers were warm and smooth, keeping out the cool night¡¯s fresh breeze.


    Maybe these next few years wouldn¡¯t be so uncomfortable after all.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Ares and Aejaz, huh.¡± Elder Zhang had watched the entirety of the fight and followed the two kids until they fell asleep. Although he was curious to find out more about them, he decided it was better not to intervene. He was curious to see just how much they would grow without any external aid by the time they went to join the sect. Hardship breeds competency. The Heaven¡¯s Path Sect was the only one nearby so, as long as they had intentions to join a sect, this probably wouldn¡¯t be the last he would see of them. Still though, Ares had incredible combat aptitude considering he hadn¡¯t even started cultivating yet and that Aejaz kid had one hell of a weird magic. He wanted to do something to ensure they would eventually pay a visit, so he came up with an idea and waited until they were both asleep.


    Half an hour later, after doing what he wanted to do, he left. It seems the rumours were true, maybe this really will be a generation of geniuses, Zhang thought. Between these two and Allie, he had seen three in a single night.

 Chapter 3: Learning the Fundamentals of Cultivation

    Although Ares woke up far earlier than Aejaz, he decided not to wake him up just yet as they¡¯d spent most of the night running. Ares was used to waking at the crack of dawn to work so a lack of sleep didn¡¯t really affect him, but there was no guarantee Aejaz was the same. After getting out of the hammock, Ares noticed a pill bottle on the floor with a little note next to it that read ¡®Heaven¡¯s Path Sect.¡¯ Inside was a healing pill of far superior quality compared to the one he took yesterday. If he took it now, the broken arm would likely heal by the end of the day. He decided not to use it, however. There was no real need to fix his arm immediately and the pill might serve a better purpose later on, Ares was somewhat of a loot hoarder in this respect. As the sect on the note, Ares was aware of it as it was the only one around, it was also the one he planned on joining with Aejaz in a few years¡¯ time. Ares figured the pill had come from the Elder he spotted yesterday and made a mental note to thank him at some point in the distant future.


    Ares took a look around the nearby streets and concluded that they would stay empty for a while. It was still far too early and people were likely hung-over from the festival yesterday. He felt it would be safe to leave Aejaz alone for a bit while he went to go and steal some food. He would soon start leaving that up to Aejaz but, for now at least, he decided to let him rest up properly after last night and take it easy for a while. Of course, when the physical training started, he was going to be heavy-handed about it.


    Aejaz better enjoy this week-off while it lasts.


    ---------------------------------


    Aejaz woke up to a rather satisfying smell. He sniffed and turned his head to the source to find Ares sitting on a dumpster while chewing on freshly baked bread.


    Ares chucked some bread at him and spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t get used to this. Soon, you¡¯ll be bringing me food.¡±


    ¡°Mhmm,¡± Aejaz mumbled before almost falling out of the hammock.


    ¡°Not a morning person, eh? You¡¯ll adjust in time. For now, though, eat some food and let me know when you¡¯re awake enough to pay attention because I''m not going to teach you the same thing twice.¡±


    Aejaz began eating his bread in spite of his grogginess.


    ¡°By the way, if you need a drink, there¡¯s a pond nearby.¡± Ares nodded his head toward a park of sorts.


    ¡°I¡­ Think I¡¯ll pass.¡± Aejaz finished his bread, stretched his bones and gave Ares a thumbs up. ¡°Alright, what are you gonna teach me?¡±


    ¡°Everything. But first, we¡¯re going to tell each other who we are. It¡¯s not normal for two kids our age to be homeless living on the streets like this, especially not for a kid like you with such fancy clothes. I¡¯m sure you have as many questions about me as I do about you so, tell me what you feel comfortable telling me, and I¡¯ll tell you what I feel comfortable telling you. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Hmmmm.... Fine,¡± Aejaz was hesitant for a while but eventually decided to comply. ¡°I come from a long line of assassins. Apparently, my family is kind of a big deal and our clan runs a sect dedicated to assassination. My parents are assassins, my brothers are assassins, my sisters are assassins and I¡­ Well¡­ I¡¯m ¡®incompetent¡¯.¡± Aejaz gave little air quotes as he said ¡®incompetent¡¯. ¡°My parents never really told me anything about cultivation specifically, they just said ¡®do this¡¯ or ¡®do that¡¯ and got annoyed at me when it didn¡¯t work the way they wanted it to. I could never do any of the things my family did. The only talent I ever had was stealing things. People would laugh and call me useless, after all what¡¯s the point of stealing things if you can just kill a person then take their things anyway, right?¡± Aejaz¡¯ head tilted downward slightly and he had a miserable smile on his face. ¡°Eventually my family got fed up, labelled me a disgrace and kicked me out of the clan. Hell, they were so disgusted by me they even paid for transport to get me out of the city and as far away as possible so they wouldn¡¯t even have to ever accidentally stumble across me ever again. I¡¯m not sure I even want to cultivate. Although I enjoy stealing, it¡¯s the reason I¡¯m in this mess. Every time I steal something my father¡¯s disappointed face comes into my mind.¡± Aejaz ended with a tired sigh.


    Ares chewed on the last piece of bread and dusted his hands off before speaking. ¡°I think I understand your problem, why you''re inept at anything that isn¡¯t stealing anyway. It¡¯s actually your family¡¯s fault, but I¡¯ll explain that a little later when I teach you about cultivation. If you consider yourself incompetent, you can blame your parents for that. As for the issue of being unsure if you want to cultivate, well, honestly? That''s your own problem. Let me just say that if you choose not to, in my opinion, you¡¯ll be a massive idiot. You¡¯re essentially only saying that, because your parents abandoned you, you¡¯re going to abandon the one thing you have left in this world as it¡¯s the reason you were abandoned in the first place? If anything, that should encourage you to stick with it. This is all that defines you now so, if you stop, what will be left of you exactly? Why stop now anyway? Just because you see some random man¡¯s face when you steal, you aren¡¯t even willing to try? He¡¯s already disowned you so stop caring about what he thinks of your stealing habits. It¡¯s not like if you stop doing it, he¡¯s going to magically appear in front of you and take you back. Let me tell you a little secret, you can¡¯t stop anyway. For as long as you live, you¡¯re essentially locked into thievery and, like I mentioned earlier, it''s their fault. So, if I were you, I would embrace it. You already said you enjoy it. I think you should be a little more curious, no? Don¡¯t you want to know how far you can take that strange skill of yours? Hell, even I¡¯M curious. If you¡¯re still unsure, think about it this way. Do your parents love you more than you love stealing?¡±


    ¡°Well, no. I guess what you¡¯re saying makes sense. Is it really their fault? That I can only cultivate this weird thievery magic, I mean?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and you should be grateful if anything. What you have is unique but, like I said, I¡¯ll explain that after. As for my story, there actually isn¡¯t much to say. I have one memory of my past life. I was born, I was chosen by the Stygian Zephyr, and then, finally, my parents opened up my chest and ripped my heart out, all in the span of a single day! Talk about living a full life¡­ As my heart was crushed, all I heard was, ¡®Ares, you and the other children of the clan can fix this. Come back soon.¡¯ God knows what any of that means, but there¡¯s no point in fretting excessively over it. Anyhow, I barely remember my parent¡¯s faces, but I do remember the place of my death. There were ruins of what looked like a once-peaceful city. Everything was on fire and everything that wasn¡¯t had long since been burned down to ashes. I was reborn here in this corner of the universe and taken in by the Chen Clan as a slave, forced to fight for entertainment and made to do small, menial tasks. I held back on cultivating not only because I was forced to but because it would have attracted a lot of attention. I spent years training with stolen weapons left behind in the training hall after I cleaned the place. Eventually, I had a perfect opportunity to kill my young ¡°Master¡± and leave.¡±


    ¡°You, uh, don¡¯t seem too upset about the whole parents ripping your heart out thing. Also, how are you even alive again? At least as far as I know, when someone dies, they, you know, stay dead.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t know much about this world. Although it¡¯s rare, there¡¯s most definitely treasures that can bring a person back to life. Before you ask, no, it''s not because of the Stygian Zephyr. I¡¯m not actually too sure about the specifics, but I think it might have something to do with my bloodline. I mean, I took one shoddy healing pill yesterday and a broken arm will be good as new in a week''s time. I haven¡¯t even cultivated yet and the regenerative properties of my bloodline are this absurd. That being said, I have no plans of dying again even if my bloodline can potentially keep bringing me back to life. What are the chances it can happen more than once? Even if it can, there¡¯s probably drawbacks. I¡¯ll be able to learn more about my bloodline by cultivating to a certain point and that¡¯s what I plan on doing to learn more¡­ I can tell by the somewhat confused look on your face this would be a good time to start teaching you by explaining what a bloodline is. To keep it simple, some people have special abilities thanks to their ancestry and/or race. What the ability is depends on the kind of person your ancestor was and which specific ancestors you inherit from. In some cases, the bloodline can be awakened if it''s pure enough which will grant additional benefits.¡±


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    ¡°Ok, sounds simple enough. Do I have a bloodline?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, how should I know? I only know I have one because when my passive regeneration kicks in, I can feel it in my bloodstream. A bloodline isn¡¯t something you can force. If you don¡¯t have one, you never will. If you do have one, you''ll find out eventually. It usually just kinda happens, and there¡¯s no specific timing to it, so don¡¯t sit around expecting it. That being said, you being able to steal without chanting for your magic is weird¡­ It could just be a result of the way your magic was created and not anything to do with a bloodline, but I¡¯m not the one who created it so I can¡¯t tell you¡±


    ¡°Can I steal your bloodline?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear that. As for what I¡¯m going to teach you today, I¡¯m going to tell you about cultivation realms, cultivation methods, pillars, aspects, and arts. These five subjects are the most important things you need to know about cultivation and the rest you can find out in due time when and where it becomes relevant.¡±


    ¡°Ok, but is there really no way I can steal your bloodli¡­¡±


    Ahem


    ¡°So, cultivation realms. There are eight of them¡­ Well, there¡¯s actually more than that, but don¡¯t worry about that for now, that information is beyond you at the moment. Each cultivation realm has ten stages, after you climb your way up and reach the tenth stage you¡¯ll break through into the next cultivation realm and start from the beginning again at the first stage. Each cultivation realm will provide you with some kind of benefit, usually, but not always, an increase in physical abilities. The first four realms are a little different from the rest though as the order in which you complete them isn¡¯t set in stone. There are two different paths you can take at the start of your cultivation journey. You have to complete both parts eventually, but the order in which you do so is up to you. One part is focused on your meridians and your ability to use mana for magic, the other focuses on tempering your body. The first two realms are meridian conversion and unfettered flesh. Unfettered flesh is self-explanatory as it just makes your flesh tougher, increasing your physical strength. Meridian conversion is slightly different though. Everyone has meridians but, until you enter the meridian conversion realm, they aren¡¯t capable of converting mana in the air into the magic you see people casting. Meridians also aren¡¯t capable of storing mana until you enter the realm too. Essentially, you have to choose between physical strength or the ability to use magic. After you complete one realm, you can start on the other OR you can continue onto the successive realm. Both meridian conversion and unfettered flesh have a realm that follows it and can only be accessed once you¡¯ve completed the realm before it. After unfettered flesh is skeletal structuring, after meridian conversion is meridian expansion. Both successive realms are similar to the ones before them but provide even greater benefits. All four realms must be completed before you reach the linear realms, but the order is malleable until then. The most common order is meridian conversion, unfettered flesh, skeletal structuring, and lastly meridian expansion. There are some body temper-ers and weapon maniacs that do the two physical oriented realms first, and there are some mages and healers that do both of the mana related realms first. It¡¯s up to you and your preference. Well, I say that, but you¡¯re already on the meridian conversion path.¡±


    ¡°So, what would you recommend I do after?¡±


    ¡°I think the common approach I mentioned earlier is best for you. I¡¯m guessing that your thief magic doesn¡¯t use much mana, so expanding your meridians won¡¯t be as important as your ability to run faster if you happen to get caught.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll keep that in mind, but I''m only at the 3rd stage of meridian conversion and my progress is slow, so it will probably take me a while to get to the next realm anyway.¡±


    ¡°That depends, your cultivation might not be as slow as you think it is. This is related to cultivation methods and what I mentioned before about your family forcing you into this path. This all leads quite nicely into cultivation methods, so I''ll teach you that next. There are three typical cultivation methods to choose from to increase your stages, the first of which is standardised cultivation. It¡¯s called as such because it was handed down from ancient times and, for many years, was the most optimal, easy method to use for just about everyone. You can cultivate in seclusion with the aid of various resources and that¡¯s really all there is to it. You put time in, you get stronger as a result. It¡¯s the most well rounded of the three cultivation methods and can only really be described as standard, although it¡¯s incredibly boring as a result. The second option is variety cultivation, it¡¯s for people who like to spread their interests. It allows for a person to cultivate and use a wider range of ¡®pillars¡¯ and ¡®aspects¡¯. The issue is that it slows down your cultivation speed overall, so it¡¯s slower, but more versatile in combat and for general use.¡±


    ¡°What are pillars and aspects?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain that in a second, but keep what I mentioned in mind. You wanted to know why this whole situation is your family¡¯s fault right? That¡¯s because they made you use the third cultivation method. In recent years, the third cultivation method has seen a drastic rise in usage and has basically become the new standard for many people. The third method is dedication cultivation. To keep it simple, it makes you considerably better at the things you¡¯re already good at, but completely incapable of doing anything else. Your parents likely picked this for you thinking that there was no way anyone in the family would ever have a lack of talent in assassination-related ¡°aspects¡±. By the time they realised they were wrong, it was far too late. It¡¯s called ¡°dedication¡± for a reason. Your entire cultivation will forever revolve around whatever it is you''re naturally inclined towards, such as stealing in your case. Even the way you actively cultivate will revolve around your natural talents. For you, although you can cultivate in seclusion or use treasures, it would probably be faster if you just went around stealing things.¡±


    ¡°Huh, so it really wasn¡¯t my fault? They even slowed my cultivation by trying to prevent me from stealing because it brought shame to the family?¡± Aejaz kissed his teeth.


    Ares gave a sympathetic smile. ¡°Pretty much.¡±


    ¡°What method will you use, Ares?¡±


    ¡°Dedication cultivation, I refuse to use anything else. I don¡¯t care if God himself descended and offered me a primordial cultivation technique that would make the ancients drool. It¡¯s dedication cultivation or no cultivation.¡±


    ¡°What the hell kind of magic do you use to have you so riled up?¡±


    ¡°Well, before I tell you, it would make more sense to talk about pillars, aspects, and arts. The types of magic people use can be classified into pillars. For instance, a flame magic user is said to be a practitioner of the flame pillar, and a water practitioner cultivates so he can control ¡®aspects¡¯ of the water pillar. There exists a definitive list of pillars but, honestly, there¡¯s far too many to go over off the top of my head. We¡¯d be here until my arms healed if I tried. Aspects are essentially more specific categories that come under pillars. Take the water pillar for example, it has three known aspects. The first is the ice aspect, I shouldn¡¯t have to explain what manipulating ice magic is. The second is the flow aspect. This aspect offers more control over water and allows for the shaping of it into weapons, animals, and so on. The last is the surge aspect. This is less about quality and more about quantity. Surge aspect specialists can create massive tidal waves to launch at people, plus they typically dabble in the fire and lightning pillars to create scalding and shocking destructive waves. In your case, you and your family have a long history with the darkness pillar. Most assassination-related aspects come under this pillar. When you were born your parents probably checked you for affiliation with this pillar and forced dedication cultivation upon you when the testing came back positive. The issue is that you have what¡¯s known as a ¡®unique¡¯ aspect under that pillar that no one has ever had before. Every now and then, someone will be born with the ability to use a unique aspect that doesn¡¯t match up with any of the standard, well known aspects. Yours, I¡¯m guessing, is the unique aspect of thievery and, although it comes under the darkness pillar, it seemingly has absolutely nothing to do with assassination.¡±


    ¡°So, my parents were just really pre-emptive and it backfired terribly?¡±


    ¡°Yes, if they had known, they most likely would have had you use variety or standard cultivation so you could still practice the other aspects despite not being aligned with them. As for which of the two you would use, it depends. Everyone is born aligned with a specific pillar but, on the flip side, everyone is born with a pillar or two that they have a negative affinity for. These pillars cannot be accessed through standard or dedication cultivation and require the use of variety cultivation. That¡¯s why I mentioned earlier that variety cultivation is versatile as it¡¯s the only method that allows you to use almost all known pillars. The drawback being that you¡¯ll cultivate much, MUCH slower¡±


    ¡°Not that I want to, but can the cultivation method really not be changed?¡±


    ¡°Not if you pick dedication cultivation, no. At least not as far as anyone has ever discovered anyway. You could change if you¡¯d picked any of the other two methods though. This also doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t ways of utilising other pillars, but that¡¯s quite heavily reliant on rare treasures, so don¡¯t concern yourself with that for now. Before I move onto arts, I should mention that there are some pillars anyone can learn, even if they use dedication cultivation or have a negative affinity with them. These are called ¡®open¡¯ pillars. Some examples are the alchemy, gadgetry, haemomancy, weapons, and technical pillar.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the technical pillar?¡±


    ¡°The manipulation of mana into attribute-less magic; it¡¯s magic that anyone can use regardless of their affinities to other pillars. These magics are referred to as ¡®technicals¡¯. Think of things like the ability to walk on water, or to fly. Although they have no attribute, you can still make elemental based technicals. It¡¯s to help people find specific magics that fulfil a certain need or want by virtue of its adaptability and the fact that it¡¯s an open pillar. The technical pillar is also the only pillar with no aspects under it but it¡¯s actually not very common to see people using technicals as they¡¯re hard to create and learn, so don¡¯t worry about it too much. Lastly, we have arts. These are specific means of manipulating magic that grow as you do. While everyone has their own interpretations of aspects and how they should be used, arts are a commonality that almost everyone will learn. The function of an art will typically not be any different from person to person even if the way they control their aspect is fundamentally different from one another. The reason everyone learns them is because they are only really limited by your power output, which of course increases as your cultivation realm and stage does. Sometimes people will have unique arts that they themselves have invented with their own little quirks, but it¡¯s usually a good idea to familiarise yourself with the common arts at least so you know what to expect in a fight. For instance, the ¡®Water Bullet¡¯ that guard used yesterday is an art of the flow aspect which comes under the water pillar. If his cultivation were higher, he could fire bigger bullets, more of them, and make their overall speed much faster. That art is fairly common for water pillar users who are familiarising themselves with cultivation and is a staple of the pillar.¡±


    ¡°I think I get it. Pillar, then aspect, then art. Each is more specialised and specific than the last. But now I really wanna know which pillar and aspects it is that you''re so obsessed with and want to use dedication cultivation specifically for.¡±


    Ares¡¯ lips curved upwards into a mischievous grin. ¡°I¡¯m a bit special, actually.¡±

 Chapter 4: Destruction Introduction

    ¡°While there are people like you who are occasionally born with a unique aspect, I¡¯m the first person in history to have a unique pillar! It¡¯s not even a pillar I was born with! I created it¡­ I think¡­ kinda.¡±


    Aejaz was surprised. Although he hadn¡¯t had his newfound knowledge for more than five minutes, Ares had already overturned everything he knew! Creating a pillar couldn¡¯t be simple otherwise everyone would be doing it. ¡°How were you able to create a pillar?¡± Aejaz was incredibly curious.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not even one hundred percent sure. It¡¯s honestly less likely that I created it, and more likely that I found it¡­ Or maybe it found me? All I know is that it probably has something to do with the memory I have of my death. My unique pillar is the pillar of destruction. I think the image I have in my head - from my last life - of sheer ruination had some kind of profound effect on me when I was reborn. Even though I¡¯ve yet to cultivate, I feel an inexplicable urge to destroy things.¡±


    ¡°So kinda like how I always want to steal?¡±


    ¡°Yep, exactly. I have a rough idea of how my pillar works, but it¡¯s incredibly flashy. I wasn¡¯t supposed to cultivate as a slave and it would have been borderline impossible to hide my cultivation if I went round blowing things up all the time. It¡¯s also why I said my cultivation will be slower than others. It''s because I quite literally have to forge the entire goddamn path before I can even walk it. Thankfully though, the name ¡®destruction¡¯ isn¡¯t just for show. The raw power of this pillar should be completely unrivalled which, in turn, is what will allow me to compete with higher cultivation bases.¡± Ares was displaying incredible pride on his face as if we were talking about his own son, but he had a right to be happy as his last sentence was no exaggeration.


    A glint could be seen in Aejaz¡¯ eye, he wasn¡¯t jealous but¡­ ¡°I wonder if I can steal your pillar,¡± Aejaz spoke in a quiet tone with his hand on his chin in a contemplative manner.


    ¡°Real funny, ha ha ha, I¡¯ll fucking kill you, ha ha ha.¡± Ares gave Aejaz a quick death stare to which he promptly raised both his hands and smirked as if to declare, ¡®I¡¯M INNOCENT¡­ For now¡­¡¯


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take anything important from you, at least not for too long anyway. I promise to always give back whatever I steal from you, like this pill!¡± Aejaz threw over the pill Ares had received from the Heaven¡¯s Path Elder.


    ¡°I¡¯m not even going to ask when or how you stole this.¡± Ares took a quick look at the pill to make sure it was definitely the pill he remembered¡­ It wasn¡¯t. It was better. It wasn¡¯t easily distinguishable, but the quality of the pill had certainly increased, even if only marginally. ¡°What did you do?¡± Ares turned to Aejaz with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Hm? What do you mean?¡± Aejaz looked genuinely stumped.


    ¡°This pill is purer than the one you took from me.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ that IS the pill I took from you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ares and Aejaz just stared blankly at one another before they burst out laughing. ¡°Congratulations, I guess learning more about your unique aspect has come with a surprise benefit, dedication cultivation is weird like that and can occasionally provide benefits for unknown reasons. It seems you¡¯ve accidentally stumbled on an art that improves the quality of things you steal.¡±


    ¡°Huh. Now I really wanna know what I can do with this aspect. Haha, this is so fun!¡± Aejaz was practically jumping. He was originally worried that his magic would be quite boring and one dimensional; if he knew that it would one day grow into the most profound, bizarre and annoying aspect anyone had ever seen across the entire universe, he¡¯d have fainted from joy on the spot.


    ¡°Anyway, is there anything you¡¯re unsure about or want clarification on?¡±


    ¡°Just two things.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, ask.¡±


    ¡°Ok, first, you said there are eight cultivation realms, what are the other four?¡±


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t planned on bringing it up yet but I suppose it can¡¯t hurt to know. After the first four realms, you¡¯ll enter ¡®mental accumulation¡¯. This realm allows you to shape your mental space to guard yourself from mental attacks as well as enable you to learn mental attacks if that¡¯s the route you want to take. I¡¯m not sure if you can learn any mental attacks with your unique aspect of thievery, but that¡¯s just something you¡¯ll have to figure out on your own. The next realm is ¡®sensory enhancement¡¯. This realm will increase reaction speed, perception, and things of that ilk. It will also allow you to use divine sense to get a better look at your surroundings, see things you normally wouldn¡¯t, and peer into great distances. After that is ¡®aspect assimilation¡¯ which can also be referred to as ¡®bloodline awakening¡¯ depending on the person. Everyone is naturally affiliated with certain aspects and, upon entering this realm, your blood will start to contain the essence of those aspects. This will reduce mana consumption, increase the power of your affiliated aspects, and make it easier to learn and use arts for those aspects. For anyone with a strong enough bloodline, this is when it will fully awaken and you can learn more about it. When a bloodline awakens, you¡¯ll be granted benefits but you¡¯ll only know what they are when you get them unless you¡¯re already clued in to your family history. Finally, there''s the ¡®transition¡¯ realm. In this cultivation realm, you can learn to fly via the technical pillar. Until reaching this point, your body can¡¯t handle the technical, nor can it handle the transition into the upper domain. It¡¯s impossible to go into space without first reaching this realm and there are even checkpoints up there to make sure no one from the lower domains are smuggled in. Of course, the people born in space are naturally acclimated to the pressure and this rule doesn¡¯t concern them.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more than one domain!? Can we actually go to space!?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Aejaz. There are a number of domains below us, but only one known domain above us. Also yes, we can eventually go into space,¡± Ares spoke with a small sigh as if he were an adult speaking to a little kid¡­ Although Aejaz actually was a little kid in the grand scheme of things¡­ In fact, so was Ares¡­


    ¡°So, are there more realms after transition?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and the next set of realms are considered to be many people¡¯s favourites as the stuff they do for you is really fun and typically shapes your existence as a cultivator for the rest of your life.¡±


    ¡°Oooh, oh, oh, tell me!¡±


    ¡°Nope, there¡¯s no sense in thinking that far ahead.¡±


    ¡°Please please please,¡± Aejaz had lost all his composure and was actually begging. How could Ares say no?


    ¡°Ok, but I¡¯ll only tell you about one and I won¡¯t tell you anything more than the name. This one is the realm that everyone wants to achieve when they first hear about it, the ¡®weaponized core¡¯ realm.¡± Ares had picked up most of his information from books he stole from the Chen Clan¡¯s library. Pretty much everything Ares knew was standard knowledge that everyone had access to.


    Aejaz, on the other hand, never paid any attention to these things and had no idea what on earth the weaponised core realm entailed, but it sounded really cool to him.


    ¡°Uhh, Aejaz? You¡¯re drooling.¡±


    ¡°Oops. Oh right, my second question. I know about the pillar of destruction but, what I want to know is, what are its aspects and how many of them can you use?¡± Aejaz cleaned the tiny bit of dribble on chin.


    ¡°The pillar of destruction has three aspects, all three of which I¡¯m proficient in and have an affiliation with. I actually have no positive or negative affiliation with any other aspects, so outside of my pillar I can only rely on open pillars¡­ Not that it would have mattered since I¡¯m using dedication cultivation anyway. As for what the aspects are, there¡¯s ¡®Annihilation¡¯, ¡®Disintegration¡¯, and ¡®Nothingness¡¯. Annihilation is the simplest and it¡¯s exactly what you think it is, massive explosions. There¡¯s absolutely no finesse here. No fancy forms of manipulation, just pure carnage. Trying to shape annihilation magic is the definition of stupidity; just let it blow up and enjoy the mayhem that follows. Disintegration is the complete opposite however. It¡¯s subtle, but arguably does more damage than annihilation despite the fact that it covers a smaller range. Disintegration magic can be used on weapons to seriously boost their lethality, create defensive walls, or - and this is my favourite - launch mental attacks. Nothingness¡­ ah, where do I even start? If you think destruction is a simple pillar then I¡¯ll point you to nothingness which is perhaps the most complex aspect of them all. The easiest to understand explanation I can give is that it¡¯s the exact opposite of the spatial aspect. In fact, nothingness can only exist where space does not. The important thing to remember is that, unlike space, all of nothingness is intertwined and interlinked no matter the distance. I only have one idea for how to use nothingness as of right now and, although its outcome is similar to a spatial teleport, the process is completely different. It''s less like a teleport, and more like positional shifting. If a teleport is disappearing then reappearing, a shift is reappearing then disappearing. It¡¯s essentially being in two places at once and then having one of those two positions disappear, forcibly leaving you at the other location.¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°That¡­ Sounds complicated. I think, when I steal your pillar, I¡¯ll leave you with that aspect.¡±


    Ares glared at Aejaz. ¡°Well, that¡¯s as far as I¡¯ve gotten for now on the knowledge front. There¡¯ll definitely be a lot more that these aspects are capable of, I just need to increase my understanding and broaden my views a bit by cultivating. Is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°Nope, all clear. So, what now?¡±


    ¡°For now, I want you to go out and steal things. Take the amulet and go be a nuisance. Obviously don¡¯t steal from people who can¡¯t afford to be stolen from or I¡¯ll personally beat some sense into you. After the week ends and my arm heals, I¡¯ll start training you how to fight. Until then, I want you to get used to the ins and outs of your aspect; after all, you¡¯ll be responsible for acquiring food for us in the near future.¡±


    ¡°Ok¡­ Freeloader. Owww owww owww, it was a JOKE! A JOKE! I¡¯M SORRY!¡±


    Between Aejaz¡¯ threats of stealing his pillar and that last little comment, Ares had finally had enough of his ¡®jokes¡¯ and beat the crap out of him for a good ten or so seconds. He didn¡¯t take anything Aejaz said personally, nor was he actually worried he would steal his pillar as he could tell he wasn¡¯t being serious, but Ares still felt an urge in his blood not to let him act so cocky around him all the time.


    Aejaz escaped from Ares¡¯ clutches and ran around the corner. Before fully leaving, Aejaz poked his head back out from around the corner and stuck his tongue out before running away again. Ares just rolled his eyes and snorted as a tiny smile worked its way onto the corners of his mouth. He actually quite liked having someone playful around. He was far too used to the arrogance of Farro and the typical dispirited nature of the other slaves back at the Chen clan¡¯s residence. Aejaz was a breath of fresh air in comparison, even if he could be a tad annoying at times.


    ¡°Tsk, idiot.¡±


    Aejaz was so concerned with running away he forgot to take the amulet. Thankfully though, as soon as Aejaz left, the amulet fell to the floor from his hammock and started rolling on its side after him. ¡°Huh, I guess it is a personal treasure. Lucky bastard.¡± Ares shook his head sat down in the lotus position and began cultivating for the first time. After a couple of minutes of focus, he could feel the 1st stage of meridian conversion getting ever closer. The first stage of the first realm would always be far quicker and easier to achieve than the rest and would happen near instantaneously. As Ares operated the dedication cultivation technique, he began to feel the affinity between him and his aspects grow.


    Bang


    Ares could feel his meridians changing, he could feel his body progressively becoming more receptive to the mana in the air. He also felt closer to his aspects and an inseparable bond had formed and tied him to the pillar of destruction thanks to the dedication cultivation technique. Something felt strange though. He couldn¡¯t quite place the feeling. it was simultaneously familiar and yet completely unfamiliar. After a bit of digging, he realised it had something to do with his nothingness aspect. All three aspects had fully integrated and inextricably linked themselves with Ares¡¯ cultivation but, for some reason, the nothingness aspect kept feeling like it was getting¡­ closer?... The familiar feeling was definitely from the nothingness aspect. The unfamiliar feeling was¡­ An object? Was it coming towards him?


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°M-M-M-M-M-My L-L-L-L-Liege¡­¡±


    Pop


    A haughty voice rang from atop a golden throne and echoed throughout decorative halls, ¡°Someone clean up that puddle of blood, and bring me a man who can speak without stuttering over every syllable while you¡¯re at it.¡± On top of the throne sat a large, well-built individual with a face as sturdy as a mountain and a slanted crown atop his head. He lazily leant his face on top of his fist as his elbow relaxed on the arm rest.


    A few minutes later, a scholarly man wearing a monocle and a suit walked into the halls.


    ¡°Treasurer Pei!¡± the guards all spoke in unison, raising one hand to salute whilst their other hand held firm an upright spear.


    ¡°At ease, gentlemen,¡± Pei spoke in a lofty voice but had a certain affable ring to his tone that was pleasant to the ears. ¡°My Liege, I have bad, ah, scratch that, terrible news.¡±


    ¡°Out with it.¡± Although the king tried to remain outwardly calm, the all-encompassing pressure he just accidentally emitted betrayed his foul mood.


    Treasurer Pei sighed before he continued as what he was about to say was going to be particularly difficult for this egotistical king of his to swallow. ¡°The Primordial Blade has escaped, my liege.¡±


    ¡°... Come again?¡± The king refused to believe what he had just heard. How could something so nonsensical have just been uttered in his presence?


    ¡°The Primordial Blade has escaped, my liege.¡±


    ¡°Escaped, you say?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my liege.¡±


    ¡°A SWORD... Escaped¡­ On its own?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my liege¡±


    Silence filled the hall.


    ¡°You''re going to explain to me exactly WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING PEI!¡±


    ¡°Yes, my liege. The Primordial Blade was in its usual spot in the treasury, under complete surveillance. Nothing was strange at first, but then it started to inexplicably vibrate in its sheath. The vibrating gradually kept getting progressively faster until it eventually dislodged itself from the storage device. After that, it flew toward the nearest wall at an incomprehensible speed and, despite still remaining inside its sheath, managed to pierce directly through the wall, allowing it to escape - and rather effortlessly I must admit.¡±


    ¡°Pei, you¡¯re aware that those walls are made from ¡®fortissia¡¯ metal, right? The same metal that even I would struggle to break through.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my liege.¡±


    ¡°You understand my doubts, Pei¡±


    ¡°Yes, my liege, however, regrettably, the hole is very much still there if you¡¯d like to check. I¡¯m sure you know what the sword disappearing like this entails, my liege.¡±


    ¡°I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT CHOSE SOMEONE ELSE, DON¡¯T ANGER ME PEI.¡±


    Everyone present couldn¡¯t help but think the king was already angry but no-one dared say that out loud, not even Pei and he was someone who could get away with a fair bit more lippy back-talk than the others due to his unrivalled competence in just about everything. The king had a soft spot for Pei as not only was he incredibly valuable to have around, but he¡¯d also been with him for aeons now.


    ¡°We never did manage to figure out how to make the Primordial Blade into a personal treasure. Then again, it has always been somewhat non-standard, refusing to be used even when it had yet to choose a master. You are naturally the strongest in our little corner of the universe, my liege, but that was simply not the requirement to own it. Frankly, I¡¯m stunned that someone has what it takes to wield that unruly thing. This is the only thing in existence to have been around since the dawn of time, and, yet, it has never once found an owner that would suit it. So don¡¯t feel too upset, if anything, this is a wondrous opportunity.¡±


    The king¡¯s eyebrows raised in tandem with the lowering of his blood pressure. ¡°You¡¯re right, we can find out what exactly that stupid sword wants from its master before taking it back. Tell me Pei, where did it go?¡±


    ¡°I have no clue, my liege. The only thing I can say for certain is that it has already left the domain.¡±


    ¡°Already!?¡± The king momentarily lost composure before regaining his usual, unceasingly proud attitude. ¡°It hasn¡¯t even been five minutes, right? Even if I used every means at my disposal, it would still take me a day to reach the boundary from here. No wonder no one could track it. Did it at least leave any traces?¡±


    ¡°Well, technically yes, my liege.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The hole in the wall of the treasury, my liege.¡±


    ¡°PEIIIIIIIIIIIIII!¡±


    ¡°My liege, I¡¯m aware this may not be an ideal time for such snide remarks, however, as the treasurer, I need to settle this matter sooner rather than later.¡±


    The king took many deep breaths to calm his temper. ¡°Fine. Tell the accountant to purchase some fortissia metal and have him contact the bionic dwarfs for a welding job. If anyone steals from the treasury, you¡¯re the first person I''ll come looking for Pei.¡±


    ¡°Oh? And who, may I ask, is the second person you¡¯ll chase down, my liege?¡±


    ¡°GET OUT YOU FOUL-MOUTHED BASTARD.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°ARES! ARES! Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.¡± Aejaz was panicking like a mad-man at wit¡¯s end. Shortly after he left, he managed to steal a pill from a nearby alchemist. Something incredible happened when he stole the pill and he wanted to go show Ares his cool, new trick. When he got back though, he found Ares impaled to the floor with a sheathed sword pierced through his head, skull, and brain. Ares was still occasionally spasming and twitching which made Aejaz want to puke, but he also realised that it meant Ares was somehow still alive. Currently, Aejaz was trying to lift the sword but it refused to budge which Aejaz found strange.


    The sword was a beautifully designed katana which Aejaz guessed was black and gold in colour based on the grip, hilt and sheath. The grip of the sword had a tiny jewel embedded into it, crimson in colour and speckled with small, white spots that gave the illusion of staring into an endless space dotted with blinking stars.


    As for why Aejaz was unable to lift a katana of all things, he didn¡¯t know or care. He just really wanted to pull the damn thing out of Ares¡¯ head. Ares¡¯ hand twitched and the pill he was holding dropped and rolled along the floor, giving Aejaz an idea. Aejaz took a step back, held out his hand and, a second later, the katana appeared in his hand. Just as he had stolen the pill earlier, he managed to steal the sword. He was surprised it worked but was relieved nonetheless. The katana immediately flung itself back towards Ares but thankfully didn¡¯t run him through again, instead planting itself directly next to him in the pavement.


    ¡°P¡­ L.¡±


    Is Ares seriously able to speak with a hole through his head? Just how ridiculous are the healing properties of his bloodline actually? Aejaz was dumbfounded and momentarily stared blankly at him.


    ¡°P...LL.¡±


    ¡°PL... PLL... PILL!¡± Aejaz finally cottoned on to what Ares was asking of him and fed him the pill that he had just dropped on the floor. He also rummaged around Ares¡¯ body and fed him the pill the Heaven¡¯s Path Elder had left behind.


    Ares finally allowed the excruciating pain to begin rendering him unconscious as everything started to fade to black. The last things he saw were the strange sword disappearing inside of him and memories he never previously had seeping into his mind.

 Chapter 5: Six Years of Infamy

    Six years after the previous incident.


    ¡°Come on ¡®Jaz, hurry up.¡± Ares¡¯ voice had become noticeably deeper and his appearance had really doubled down on the whole rugged aesthetic. His looks were sharp with a mix of might and majesty and the Stygian Zephyr had grown alongside him, only further supplementing his almost-regal presence. He was wearing a black, long-sleeved denim shirt with a plain white undershirt and black shorts. Ares typically avoided clothing that would inhibit his mobility so his attire was usually light, comfortable, and easy to move around in even if the casualness of it all didn¡¯t quite match his almost-noble aura. Either way, it made him look more approachable¡­ Well it would if it weren¡¯t for the ever present hint of smug cockiness that had taken root within his eyes. All in all, time had done some good for Ares as he was arguably handsome in his own right now. Well, at least when not compared to a certain someone.


    ¡°Aw come on, can¡¯t you just slow down?¡± Aejaz was the textbook definition of handsome, so much so that he raised the bar to heights unattainable by most. His skin was pure white and flawless without a single blemish, the kind of skin that would make even women jealous. His face was the main contributor to his devilish good-looks and gave off an impish vibe if you searched deep enough behind his outward innocence. His facial features could not have fit on his face more perfectly even if a god had attempted to craft Aejaz personally. To put it bluntly, he dwarfed Ares in comparison, but that wasn¡¯t necessarily saying much as he dwarfed essentially everyone under the sun. Had Aejaz not been dragging his heels and chasing after a shopkeep who had no interest in him whatsoever, he would have been extraordinarily popular. He wore a thin white linen shirt, with enough buttons undone to show off a small part of his chest, alongside black trousers and a golden spiral cuff bracelet on his right am. Most notably, he wore a necklace with a palm-sized tusk on it. Aejaz was obstinate about wearing the tusk, it was a symbol of pride for him and served as a reminder of his first great achievement a few years back.


    Sometime after Ares recovered from the impaling six years ago, Aejaz trained his thievery to the point he could steal a tusk from a living sabretooth¡¯s mouth without even waking it up from its slumber. It was his first major accomplishment in the aspect of thievery, giving the tusk a special place in his metaphorical heart and around his literal neck.


    ¡°No, if I do, we''ll be late. Maybe if you hadn¡¯t spent all night gambling, you wouldn''t have overslept.¡±


    ¡°Hey don¡¯t be like that, I earned us some stardust again!¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t agree with you stealing the stardust back whenever you lose. Besides, what¡¯s the point of having stardust if you¡¯re just going to get suckered into spending it all at the tailor shop again?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, hey, you leave Missy out of this. She¡¯s a lovely lady and would never flirt with a customer just to make a sale.¡±


    ¡°Sureeee. Well, whatever, I know I can definitely make it in time if I leave you behind.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, we can talk about this, brother.¡±


    ¡°Oh, now it''s ¡®brother¡¯ huh? When you want to borrow stardust it¡¯s ¡®brother¡¯. When you want to go visit Missy instead of doing your training it¡¯s ¡®brother¡¯, but when I finally chase you down and make you train, it¡¯s ¡®Ares¡¯. Fine, I won¡¯t ditch you, but if your lazy-ass doesn¡¯t pass the sect¡¯s entrance exam I¡¯m going to kick the stardust out of you.¡± Ares shook his head and gave up. Aejaz had become almost excessively casual and loved loafing around whenever he wasn¡¯t ¡®busy¡¯ trying to figure out how he would go about one day creating his very own paradise. Ares still indulged him though as he wasn¡¯t the type of person to force anyone to do anything they really didn¡¯t want to. He didn¡¯t have to anyway as Aejaz was a surprisingly quick learner and could already hold his own in a fight, even if Aejaz did everything in his power to avoid conflict. Aejaz had also assured Ares that he was currently creating thievery aspect arts that could be used in combat, so Ares trusted him and avoided pestering Aejaz too much about training.


    Aejaz smiled and gave Ares a thumbs up as a way of saying thanks. At least if they were both late, he wouldn¡¯t be the only one to catch flack and be glared at by everyone. Aejaz was a strange existence in that he was in a permanent state of identity crisis. Part of him loved attention, but his inner thief utterly detested it. Perhaps this was the reason why he sometimes became such a showy and extravagant con-man, brazenly swindling people in broad daylight; and why at other times he¡¯d steal from people in the dead of night without leaving a single trace.


    Half an hour later, both Ares and Aejaz arrived at the sect gates. The guards outside queried them before briefly admonishing them for being late and finally letting them in. On the way, Ares had used his nothingness movement art ¡®Shift¡¯ to speed up their journey by instantaneously crossing small distances repeatedly. In the end, they were only seven minutes late. Although Shifting used up some of his mana, it wouldn''t be consequential enough to have any effect on his chances of success in the exam. It was worth it as, if they¡¯d taken too long and arrived much later, they wouldn''t have been allowed to take the test this time around.


    They wound up outside a large hall and gave each other a quick fist bump as something of a good luck gesture before going in. Although they were confident they would end up passing, they didn¡¯t know what the test was and weren¡¯t so conceited that they thought failing was impossible. It could be a test of pure luck for all they know.


    After entering, they noticed a small checkpoint with two devices and a large book sitting on a desk. There was an Elder behind the checkpoint and further back there was another Elder leading the examinees to the other end of the hall.


    The Elder behind the checkpoint was wearing a light grey robe and had a crafty aura to him. He had just snapped the book shut as the two had walked in. He sighed to himself before opening the book up again. The Elder behind the checkpoint slightly twisted his neck and called out, ¡°Wait a minute Teng, two more just arrived,¡± the Elder¡¯s voice caused all the exam participants to turn around and scowl at Ares and Aejaz. The Elders didn¡¯t seem particularly bothered though as they were fairly used to this situation after countless years of experience. As long as people weren¡¯t unreasonably late, they were willing to be a little lenient.


    ¡°Hahaha. I told you not to put the book away, Rud. The latecomers get you every year.¡± Elder Teng was an easy-going middle-aged man in a brown leather jacket and beige trousers.


    ¡°Let a man dream, Teng. One day I¡¯ll get some time to rest.¡±


    ¡°No rest for the wicked.¡±


    ¡°Bah, you¡¯re just saying that because I cut your wages again.¡± Elder Rud turned to face Ares and Aejaz. ¡°Alright fellas come on over, I don¡¯t bite. I won¡¯t ask why you¡¯re late, but do try to be timelier in the future, alright?¡±


    ¡°My apologies.¡± Ares kept his apology simple.


    ¡°Sorry Elder.¡± Aejaz did not. Although his words were simple, it was the fact that he had the Elder¡¯s book in his hands that really threw everyone for a loop. The hall went completely silent as everyone stared at Aejaz, completely mystified. It wasn¡¯t even necessarily because he had stolen the book, although that was certainly impressive, it was because no one even saw him do it. ¡°This book is huge and yet it¡¯s so light!¡± Aejaz¡¯ compulsion to steal was borderline unstoppable and it was basically his raison d''¨ºtre, but thankfully Ares had already somewhat expected this to some extent.


    Slap


    Without blinking or even turning his neck to face Aejaz, Ares palmed the back of his brother¡¯s head, took the book off him, and handed it back to the surprised Elder in one fluid motion with practiced movements. Ares was incredibly well-versed in returning stolen goods after years of correcting his brother¡¯s mistakes. ¡°Please ignore him, he¡¯s an idiot so I¡¯ll apologise again on his behalf.¡±


    ¡°Ah, no worries. I¡¯ll forgive and forget for showing me something interesting.¡± A small smile wormed its way onto the Elder¡¯s face and he waved his hand in a dismissive manner. ¡°Anyway, who¡¯s first?¡±


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first because he¡¯ll just start stealing from the people over there if I let him go ahead alone,¡± Ares spoke in a completely neutral tone as if the words he was saying were actually reasonable.


    The examinees'' faces turned ugly. On one hand they wanted to argue they weren¡¯t so easy to steal from, on the other hand, everyone just saw what happened and knew there was no way in hell they could actually say something like that with any confidence.


    ¡°...Ok then. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Ares.¡±


    Gasp


    Nearly everyone except the Elders took a deep breath at practically the exact same moment upon hearing the name. Even the Elders raised their brows, albeit for a different reason entirely. Suddenly, Aejaz¡¯s little act of thievery made a whole lot more sense. Even without the Elder¡¯s questioning, everyone present knew his name.


    Over the course of the last six years, the two bandit brothers had become infamous as the greatest thieves in the history of Red Sun City. They had built up a notorious reputation after having repeatedly, successfully, stolen from clans and well-known shops in the local area. It eventually reached a point where even the sect was receiving mission requests to capture them. Countless outer court disciples failed one after another. Even when groups were formed, they still couldn¡¯t deal with the bandit brothers. Eventually, the sect was forced to give up when a dejected inner-court disciple returned after being unable to find them, but still managing to somehow be robbed of a bag of stardust. It wasn¡¯t like they could waste the core disciples'' time on something like this and, besides, the two brothers had also cleaned up a lot of the city''s criminals too. Keeping them around was actually somewhat beneficial for the locals as they never stole from people who weren¡¯t well off and even occasionally did menial favours for them.


    Many of the exam participants started cold-sweating whilst praying to whichever deity they believed in that the exam wouldn¡¯t be head-to-head. These two were legendary, undefeated existences amongst the outer court. There were some hopefuls, however, that were secretly wishing for a chance to scrap.


    As for the Elders, six years ago, the resident arch-alchemist Zhang had told these two to keep an eye out for two boys who would eventually take the exam by the names of Ares and Aejaz. To Rud and Teng¡¯s surprise, those two became infamous shortly thereafter, making the two incredibly curious as to what kind of little devils Zhang had chanced upon. Sure enough, Aejaz had already made a lasting impression after stealing a book straight out of an Elder¡¯s hand; a normally otherwise impossible feat for a newcomer.


    Although Teng still had no clue what happened, mostly because he wasn¡¯t paying attention, Rud had seen some traces of mana and accurately guessed in his mind that he was dealing with a unique aspect. Now he was curious as to what made Ares special. He had originally planned to try and find somewhere hidden-away so the sect-master wouldn¡¯t find him, allowing him to sneak in a few hours of sleep. Now though, after he finished registering these two, he wanted to stay and watch the exam unfold. ¡°So, it¡¯s the bandit brothers, is it?¡± Rud was making casual conversation while turning the pages of the book to find an empty slot for Ares.


    Ares noticed the tell-tale iron smell of blood coming from the book and immediately realised what kind of treasure it was. These types of treasure were referred to as ¡®Vermillion Records¡¯. Upon joining the sect, the disciple would drop a bit of blood on the page. The blood essence would automatically write your name for you as a form of un-cheatable verification. It was quite common for sects and organisations to use these books to keep track of members if they were lucky enough to have one. It would also link with various runic formations throughout the sect, allowing usage of certain equipment or entry to various places via blood drops. In this case, the Elder was adding names then removing them later if they failed the test. At the very least, this meant that part of the exam would involve sect equipment that required an approved identity to use. It also meant the Elder in front of him actually held quite a hefty position within the sect as not just any old fogey would be allowed to carry that kind of book around.


    ¡°Don¡¯t group me in with Ars¨¨ne Lupin over there, please. He does all the stealing, not me,¡± Ares spoke in a wronged tone while slightly shaking his head and pointing at Aejaz.


    ¡°Oh, but you''re both quite famous, aren¡¯t you? What¡¯s your role in this dynamic duo of yours then?¡± the Elder was about to ask Ares to drop blood on the page when he found an available spot but, to his surprise, Ares was already doing it.


    ¡°Counter-balance of public opinion, I guess? If all we did was steal, the city guards would have long since gotten fed up with us. I mainly deal with the underground criminal syndicate in this city as the guards are most likely being bribed into passivity, which is why they turn a blind eye to us. We¡¯re doing their job for them and they¡¯re pretty happy to let us.¡±


    ¡°How noble.¡± Rud was about to roll his eyes.


    ¡°Not even remotely, we need to train and no one minds a few dead murderers here and there. Fighting humans is considerably different to fighting wild beasts outside the city so it¡¯s good to have some practice. It¡¯s also directly related to my dedication cultivation so it''s a win-win for everyone that isn¡¯t a criminal. As for him, his dedication cultivation necessitates stealing if he doesn¡¯t want to cultivate at a painfully slow rate.¡± Ares looked over at Aejaz who was staring at the ceiling and whistling to himself.


    ¡°Hmm, so it really is a unique aspect then. Those are always fun. Put your hand on this device first.¡± Rud pointed at one of the two black squares on the table.


    Ares obliged and, shortly after, a little hologram appeared with the number 18 on it. It was an age detector. The sect had certain requirements and an age no higher than 21 was one of them. ¡°This one too.¡± Rud pointed at the second black device which Ares correctly assumed would be for checking cultivation. 3rd realm cultivation was another requirement.


    As there were many ways of tackling the first four cultivation realms, in order to know how many realms a person had completed, a specific naming system was used. It was really quite simple, if you were a 1st realm cultivator, you''d still be undergoing your first cultivation realm. If you were a 2nd realm cultivator, you¡¯d be on your second cultivation realm, and so on so forth. Of course, this wasn¡¯t necessary after the first four realms, but it was really helpful until then. If someone only said they were at meridian expansion, they could technically be a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th realm cultivator depending on the order they¡¯d approached their cultivation in, which was why the distinction was important.


    Another little hologram appeared, but this time Rud was a little confused. ¡°3rd realm meridian expansion, 8th stage, considerably below average.¡±


    For Ares¡¯ age, his cultivation base was disappointingly low. Most average 18-year-olds of this new generation were 4th realm, 3rd or 4th stage cultivators. Typically speaking, the newer generations always had a quicker cultivation speed than the one that came before it, but Ares was slower than not only the current generation, but even the few before it.


    Most of the examinees were slightly relieved and began feeling complacent. The smarter ones, however, were more worried than before. His track record as a bandit brother was undeniable and killing criminals was a mission only a few outer court disciples would accept due to the high-risk rate. He must have some non-standard method of fighting people otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have lived this long. Whatever it was clearly made any small differences in cultivation base irrelevant so, although the Elders were a tad disappointed, they were even more curious now. Ares passed by the checkpoint and went over to the crowd.


    ¡°And you must be Aejaz then? Place a drop of blood here¡­ Good, now put your hand on the device.¡±


    ¡°You''re not gonna give the guards my fingerprint, are you?¡± Aejaz pretended to be hesitant before finally putting his hand on the square. The number 17 popped up.


    ¡°Why give them fingerprints when I could just give them you? I¡¯m sure they¡¯d give me a decent lump-sum. They might subtract a bit if you aren¡¯t still breathing though.¡± Rud smiled evilly at Aejaz. Just as quickly as the smile appeared, it promptly disappeared as if it had never been there at all. Anyone who knew Rud knew that he was not the kind of person you should try to be sly with unless you were equally venomous. ¡°Next device.¡±


    Aejaz put his hand on the second square and now Rud was seriously mystified. ¡°4th realm meridian expansion, 8th stage, Genius.¡±


    Every one of the examinees went right back to being nervous as all hell when they heard the results. Just how much does this guy steal to raise his cultivation so damn fast? Was he stealing other people¡¯s cultivation? Truthfully, Aejaz wasn¡¯t capable of that, at least not yet anyway, but he really did steal a lot.


    As for Rud, he was once again more concerned with Ares. Why was he the one that went around killing people if Aejaz¡¯ cultivation was that much higher? Was his combat prowess really that high?


    Aejaz passed the checkpoint and stood next to Ares who made sure to keep him in check to prevent him from stealing from the others.


    ¡°Alright now that everyone is here¡­¡± Teng quickly took another peek at the door to make sure no-one else was going to come in. ¡°... We can start the test. The test is split into three parts, the first of which will be a trial of will and involves pressure resistance. If you¡¯re unable to hold on, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to try again next year. You¡¯re all still young though so don¡¯t fret too much if you fail. Please go and stand on the raised platform so we may begin.¡±


    There were roughly 100 participants but, thankfully, the platform was more than big enough for everyone to find a place to themselves. As Ares and Aejaz were among the last to join the group, they were forced to find a place at the front. Some of the others at the front were incredibly nervous. Everyone was going to be far too busy to turn around, but they were directly ahead of everyone. Everyone would see the performance of those at the front whether they wanted to or not. Naturally there were a few malicious types that wanted everyone at the front to fail just because that¡¯s the kind of people they were, the type that wanted to revel in the spectacle of misery, but there were also some competitive types that wanted to try and do better than Ares and Aejaz. Before those two had come along, there were three individuals in particular that had garnered everyone¡¯s attention, but they were quickly forgotten shortly thereafter thanks to the commotion.


    The first of the three was Dirk, a shady looking guy with a dark red cloak hiding most of his features. His hands and face were covered in scars and he reeked of blood. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess he was a haemomancer as they had a tendency to make deep wounds on their own body frequently to blood-let and use arts.


    The second was an androgynous female named Li Li that many people were still staring at even now, trying to figure out her gender. She wore a backwards cap as well as loose, baggy, and bright clothes with brass knuckle dusters on her fists. She was perpetually chewing on dark, reddish-orange bubble-gum that almost looked burnt.


    The third was by far the most interesting, and also the most avoided, of the three. A strange, white cloth was floating just above the ground. The cloth was about four and a half feet tall and shaped like an upside down ¡®U¡¯. There were two, perfectly round, pitch-black holes near the top of the cloth. Around the midsection of the cloth was a taut rope, neatly tied into a knot. This bizarre creature was a damned-shade by the name of Appa. All varieties of shade were genderless, but damned-shades in particular actually had quite a friendly, gentle look and temperament so most people would typically, inadvertently use female pronouns. No matter how friendly it looked or was though, people couldn¡¯t help but fear the unknown and kept their distance, greatly saddening the shade who really just wanted to get to know some new people and make friends. Appa had come close to finally starting a conversation with Dirk and Li Li, who were curious about it, but then Ares and Aejaz had shown up, ruining its chance. This, in turn, led to it accidentally emitting a frosty aura which only scared away even more people.


    Aejaz was particularly curious about Appa as this was his first time seeing a non-human. He heard from Ares there were all sorts of unusual places and people in this world and Appa only further sparked his curiosity.


    ¡°Now that you''re all in your places, the trial will start in three, two, one. BEGIN!¡±

 Chapter 6: Taking Tokens

    Ares closed his eyes and braced for the inevitable. Although he was aware of the concept of pressure, he had never actually experienced it before. All he knew was that it was equivalent to a heavy, omnipresent weight. He focused his mind and waited¡­ And waited¡­ And kept waiting? What the hell are they playing at? It had been about ten seconds since the start of the test and yet nothing was happening. He opened his eyes to take a look around and could immediately take a guess as to what was going on. It wasn¡¯t that the test hadn¡¯t started, but that he was inadvertently, unknowingly, cheating.


    Li Li, Dirk, and Aejaz were down on one knee with gritted teeth and Appa was slightly squashed on the floor. There were a fair few examinees that had already dropped out and only 15 were currently left.


    As for how Ares was completely unaffected, it was actually just his bloodline acting up. Ares had long since figured out that the ancestor he inherited his bloodline from was arrogant beyond reason. As a result, he constantly found himself getting annoyed at just about anyone and everyone who tried to lord over him. Even Aejaz had to tread carefully when he fooled around with Ares. Although he could control this unreasonable domineering attitude and keep it down, it still kept whispering sweet nothings into his ear about complete domination and control. To Ares, it made sense that his bloodline would be somewhat resistant to pressure. However, it seemed like it was considerably more than just ¡®somewhat¡¯ resistant; it was more like a complete immunity. He could feel a rising urge to laugh disdainfully at whatever was the cause of such a childish trick but, again, he was able to stifle it. Hell, if he didn¡¯t keep himself in check, he could see himself walking over to one of the participants, pushing them onto all fours and sitting on their back as an arrogant show of force. His bloodline was far too unruly. Ares hoped he would be able to rein it in properly when he finally reached bloodline awakening. It wasn¡¯t that he necessarily minded his bloodline¡¯s attitude, but that it needed to understand the concept of time and place.


    Of course, standing around effortlessly like this was more than enough to stick out both figuratively and literally. Although Appa was too busy trying not to meld into the floor, Dirk and Li Li were more than just a little annoyed. Ares was obviously not taking the test the same way everyone else was so, for the people that wanted to compete with him, they began feeling both robbed of the chance as well as furious that he was standing there looking down at everyone. They didn¡¯t know how he was doing it; they just knew he was and that was enough to anger them.


    The Elders were naturally taken aback too. In the many years they¡¯d run this test, the only person to even come remotely close to a showing like this was the current sect master, but even he had to at least hunch over. Teng was wondering if Ares¡¯ personal treasure had something to do with it, but the use of treasures was allowed in these tests so it made no difference to him anyway. Did you find your treasure yourself? Then you earned it. Was it given to you? Well then you were lucky enough to receive it. The world of cultivation was unfair, if you lost to someone because of a treasure they were given then that¡¯s just how it goes. Treasures exist and there¡¯s nothing anyone can do about it so, instead of whining, people should embrace it and just accept that not everyone''s luck is equal. That was how Teng thought at least.


    Rud, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t too sure. If it was the treasure, then he wanted to see what Ares could do without it. If it wasn¡¯t, then to what extent could he ignore pressure and, more importantly, how was he doing it? When Rud saw Teng diligently keeping an eye on the other examinees, he slowly began to add his own pressure in and direct it solely towards Ares. He wasn¡¯t trying to make him fail, he was just progressively adding more and more until he saw a reaction of any kind.


    Ares, however, couldn¡¯t feel a thing. Actually, that wasn¡¯t entirely true. For some strange reason, he felt the urge to laugh rising again. There wasn¡¯t really anything left for him to do so he just put his hands in his pockets and looked around at the other examinees. None of the 15 had yet to bow out and it looked as though they would all make it.


    Of the 15, Li Li was handling the pressure the best, followed by Dirk and Aejaz. Appa was doing the worst but that was logical. Damned shades cultivated in a slightly different manner to normal people. In short, they completely skipped flesh unfettering and skeletal structuring because they had neither a skeleton or flesh, but spent three times as long cultivating through the mental accumulation realm to make up for it. This meant they were quicker to learn mental arts but were more susceptible to physical-based attacks. Damned shades categorically never fight physical fights as they instead make use of their near-inexhaustible mana supplies to fight. They also don¡¯t have arms or legs so it¡¯s not like they could brawl even if they wanted to. They almost always have a greater grasp over mental arts than normal people thanks to the time they spend cultivating in the mental accumulation realm so that tends to be a specialty for their race. As for pressure, it¡¯s a type of physical effect and damned shades have a natural weakness to it, hence Appa¡¯s current struggle.


    ¡°The test will end in five, four, three, two,¡±


    ¡°Examinee number 32, fail,¡± Rud interrupted the count as one unlucky participant fell short just before the goal.


    ¡°One.¡±


    The pressure lifted and everyone other than Ares felt a wave of relief sweep over them.


    ¡°Congratulations to everyone who passed, please wait on the platform and relax for 10 minutes while we prepare for the next trial. As for those of you who failed, better luck next year. Train hard, try again, and succeed in the future.¡±


    The test takers that failed all dejectedly left the hall, followed by Teng who went off to go and make preparations for the next round.


    Rud walked up onto the stage and headed over to where the bandit brothers were sitting. He simply had to know how Ares did it. Even if it were a treasure, that treasure would have to be heaven-defying to completely and utterly resist the amount of pressure Rud had secretly put out.


    Ares lifted his head and turned to face Rud before he could speak. ¡°It¡¯s innate.¡±


    ¡°Bloodline?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s all I know.¡±


    ¡°Which family are you from?¡±


    ¡°Street rat. No clue.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thank you for cooperating.¡± Rud turned around and walked away. He truly appreciated people like Ares, people who were upfront and honest. He could tell Ares wasn¡¯t lying and that he told him near enough everything he could, although there were definitely still some other things left unsaid. Still though, it would be far too nosy to pry any further and those details aren¡¯t what Rud wanted to know anyway. Rud wasn¡¯t so unreasonable as to go around forcibly dredging up people¡¯s history. He was also quite fond of making conversations quick when there was no need for them to be long so his evaluation of Ares was currently at ¡®not annoying¡¯. Whether or not that evaluation would change in due time remained to be seen¡­ If only he knew now what future Rud knew.


    Everyone else was completely mystified. Yeah, sure, their questions had been answered but¡­ What the hell kind of conversation was that? Although Li Li and Dirk were still annoyed, they were able to calm themselves down slightly after learning about Ares'' bloodline. If it were really a treasure, they probably would have collectively jumped him and started a fight out of frustration. Unfair! He basically didn¡¯t have to take the test! Look at poor Appa, dragging itself across the floor! Still though, there were two more tests left to try and gauge whether Ares deserved his reputation or not.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Appa, are you ok?¡± Li Li was a little concerned as Appa really did look quite out of shape both mentally and literally.


    ¡°Mhmm, I¡¯m just a little sleepy. I should be fine for the last two tests though.¡± Appa managed to lazily pick itself up and began hovering again. Appa, like all other damned shades, had no mouth, but was still able to emit sound and communicate verbally somehow. No one had quite yet figured out how shades did it. ¡°Are you two ok?¡± There was a noticeable change in Appa¡¯s tone now that it finally got what it wanted and was finally able to talk to people. It was happy!


    No one really knows much about how damned shades come to be. They sort of just start existing one day and, eventually, when their life span runs out, poof, they disappear. After they come into existence, they begin to wander around and make new friends. They have no family after they¡¯re born so their natural inclination is to have kind people in their life which is why they¡¯re usually quite easy to get along with if they think you¡¯re a nice person. Because of this, they can get quite attached to people and some end up being taken in as pseudo pets. Damned shades can quite commonly have serious dependency issues too. Some damned shades outlast their ¡®owners¡¯ and have even managed to become guardian deities for the clans and sects their owners were once in charge of.


    ¡°We¡¯re alright, although I can¡¯t say my blood isn¡¯t boiling right now,¡± as Dirk spoke, he gave a quick glance in the bandit brother¡¯s direction. ¡°Speaking of blood, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask, how exactly did you put your name down in Rud¡¯s treasure book?¡± As a haemomancer, Dirk was well aware that damned shades had no blood inside of them so naturally he was curious.


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    ¡°Hm? Oh right, humans at your age typically aren¡¯t in the mental accumulation realm yet, right? You humans are so weird! But anyway, the treasure doesn¡¯t actually need blood specifically, but rather essence. In my case, I simply used some of my mental essence instead.¡± When Appa finished speaking, a small, blue tear-like object trickled out of one of its empty ¡®eye sockets¡¯.


    ¡°Huh, the more you know,¡± Li Li kept an eye on the little tear as she talked, it kind of looked like a really shiny blue gem.


    The three continued talking to one another and passed the time until Teng eventually came back with a storage ring on his finger. ¡°Alright everyone, your ten minutes are up.¡± Teng hopped up on the stage. ¡°Rud, wakey wakey sunshine.¡±


    Rud yawned, rubbed his eyes, and stretched his arms.


    ¡°Ok everyone, next up is a trial of resourcefulness.¡± Teng held out his hand and a white token shaped like a miniature gate appeared in his palm. ¡°These tokens are used as identification for disciples. A couple years ago, an anaemic disciple fainted from blood loss after having to continually use blood to get around the runic formations in the sect. From then on, we decided to use these. It only requires you to drop blood on it once, at which point it will permanently function like a drop of your essence would. Under no circumstance are these allowed outside the sect but, while you¡¯re in it, these will save you a lot of hassle.¡± Teng eyed the 14 participants and threw out 7 tokens into the middle of the platform. ¡°You can¡¯t leave this platform. In five minutes, whoever is holding a token, regardless of how they got it or how long they had it, will move onto the last trial. The trial will start in three, two, one, BEGIN!¡±


    This was the reason for putting names in the Vermillion Record. A name had to be in the book in order for the token to accept a disciples¡¯ blood, or essence in Appa¡¯s case. As for why there were only 7 tokens, Teng only ever brought tokens for half the number of examinees left at this stage, be it 1 or 100, the Heaven¡¯s Path Sect valued quality, not quantity.


    A mad scramble was underway as eleven of the examinees barrelled towards the token pile. Li Li and Dirk were the first to pick a token before backing away and letting everyone else fight for the remaining tokens. Two of the slower participants realised they weren¡¯t quick enough to get to the tokens before the rest would be taken so they veered off to chase the two that had already taken one.


    The first participant caught up to Li Li and she threw out an open palm. From the palm, tens of razor sharp, pink petals flew out.


    Li Li infused the gum she was chewing with mana, making a small magma balloon. As the balloon swelled, traces of a 4th realm meridian expansion, 6th stage cultivation base could be felt. Of the participants, excluding Aejaz, Li Li had the highest cultivation.


    Pop


    Magma spewed out, incinerating the leaves. The magma wave split apart like a curtain and Li Li dashed through, keeping a low profile with her fists raised. She took one heavy step towards the participant, planting her foot with an audible THUD. An ashen fist of fire came violently swinging at a speed the participant simply couldn¡¯t react to, sending her flying across the platform and, eventually, off it. It was safe to say nobody was going to be foolish enough to bother Li Li again for the rest of the test. She hadn¡¯t even used any arts and yet she completely decimated her opponent, who would be so stupid as to challenge her?


    As for the other participant who was standing in front of Dirk, he wore a complicated expression. He¡¯d been bold enough to challenge the 4th realm skeletal structuring, 5th stage Dirk, but this unexpected situation had come up instead.


    ¡°Yeah, you heard me, you can take the token,¡± Dirk was trying to reassure the guy, but his face practically reeked of malicious intent. The man was far too panicky and refused to move another step toward him so Dirk had to literally throw the token at him for him to even take it.


    The man tried walking away when he noticed Dirk following him, keeping a set distance from him at all times.


    ¡°Go ahead, activate the token.¡±


    To the participant, Dirk looked like he¡¯d crawled straight out of hell and was here to creep up behind him and torment him eternally like some kind of haunting demon, but he also immediately understood the issue at hand. In order to make the token his, he had to drop blood on it.


    Drop blood.


    In front of a haemomancer.


    ¡°You know what? I think I¡¯ll go fight for the other tokens.¡±


    The other participant threw the token back to Dirk who currently had his hand theatrically draped over his forehead, shouting to the heavens, ¡°Woe is me; no fun is you.¡± Thus, Dirk unofficially became the second participant who was ¡®un-fuck-with-able¡¯.


    All the other tokens had been acquired by this point. Of the remaining five, three token holders were currently grouped up in a corner. One participant with a token had paid off two other participants with tokens to be his bodyguards. Not only would they not betray him as they already had what they needed, but the numbers worked out perfectly. None of the seven people with tokens would waste time fighting each other. One person had already been knocked off the platform, and the bandit brothers were sitting off to the side as if none of this concerned them. Appa was surprisingly slow and was still catching up while the person who wasted time with Dirk still had to come back over. This meant there were only two people left to fight for tokens and they weren¡¯t stupid enough to fight a group of three, putting themselves at a number disadvantage so, instead, they went after the last two people with tokens, creating a 2 vs 2 brawl. When the other participant and Appa finally arrived, there would be no reason for them to individually try and fight the group of three, so they would head over to the 2 vs 2 area and make a mess there instead. This was the plan, there was no reason for these examinees to have to fight anyone! A bit of money here and a bit of ingenuity there was practically the definition of being resourceful!


    Although it was somewhat cowardly, Rud and Teng were impressed with the quick decision making of the briber. This was actually the kind of thing they wanted to see. If they wanted to evaluate a person¡¯s combat ability, that would be done in the third test anyway. More often than not, the most successful ones in this stage were the ones that never even had to lift a finger, which was why they were particularly curious about Ares and Aejaz. The bandit brothers had yet to do anything and that would be fine if they actually had a token. Rud could somewhat guess how Aejaz would get his, but was Ares really going to rely on Aejaz to get a token? It would certainly count. If dragging around a thief wasn¡¯t resourceful then what was? But Ares really didn¡¯t seem like the kind of person who was overly-reliant, so why were they going about it like this? He couldn¡¯t figure it out so he just decided to take a ¡®wait and see¡¯ approach.


    ¡°Are you SURE ¡®Jaz? Like, 100% sure.¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean you think so? If this doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯m taking your token. You¡¯ve been warned.¡± Ares was really nervous about going through with Aejaz¡¯s suggestion. He knew Aejaz could do ¡®it¡¯ as he¡¯d seen him do ¡®it¡¯ before, but that didn¡¯t mean it was guaranteed to work. It was the same trick Aejaz had wanted to show Ares 6 years ago before Ares had been impaled through the skull. He¡¯d practised both that and his strange ability to increase the quality of stolen items and could do both somewhat reliably. He wanted to use this test as an opportunity to train this particular thievery art and practically begged Ares to let him get a token for him. After Ares¡¯ showboating performance in the first trial, Aejaz wanted some attention too and this was how he was going to get it!


    ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯ll all work out. Trust me. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the dumb look on everyone¡¯s faces later.¡± Aejaz had a sneaky smirk on his face. He wasn¡¯t just going to break the rules, he was going to shatter them!


    Meanwhile, Appa was getting frustrated. It didn¡¯t want to hurt anyone, but unless it took this trial seriously, it wasn¡¯t even going to catch up to anyone let alone get a token. Damned shades floated at an absurdly slow rate and really did rely on mana for just about everything, transportation included. It was going to have to take a token off someone and it guessed that asking politely was no longer in the cards. It stopped moving and ice gathered underneath it. The room temperature started to drop and everyone who was still fighting for tokens immediately paused to look over at what was inevitably going to be the bigger issue. In the gap between Appa and the floor, a giant eagle made entirely of ice had formed and let out a piercing cry. The eagle took off and Appa stuck to the back with little to no effort. Just like that, Appa had suddenly become the quickest of all participants.


    The two token holders that weren¡¯t in the group of three quickly decided to work together as things were clearly not in their favour. One generated a tiny ball of compressed water and the other hunched over it, imbuing it with mana. The ball looked unimpressive but Appa clearly knew the real threat of an attack like that.


    The ball came hurtling towards Appa and, when the ball was close enough, it detonated and an amount of water considerably larger than what should have feasibly fit into the ball burst out. Each droplet of water was sharp as a knife and possessed traces of electrical magic in it. The electrical part had come from the second participant imbuing the ball with his magic. The droplets were linked together by the electricity, creating a deadly, hydroelectric net that would ensnare and pierce in a wide range.


    Appa was completely unfazed... Not that anyone could tell from its blank ¡®face¡¯. The base of this attack was formed using the water pillar which meant dealing with it was incredibly simple for Appa who was a water pillar expert in its own right. Appa focused on the section of the net directly in front of it and a hole big enough for it to pass through opened up. It wasn¡¯t enough for the eagle though so Appa turned it into water and allowed it to freely pass through the gaps in the net. As Appa fell through the gap, the water reformed itself into the ice eagle and swooped under Appa to pick it up again. In a completely seamless and effortless manner, Appa dealt with what would otherwise be an incredibly powerful combination of magic, all without lifting a single finger¡­ Not that it had fingers.


    Flustered, the two token bearers threw out desperate, last-ditch arts, none of which could break through the ice walls Appa kept summoning.


    While circling over-head, Appa summoned ten or so arm-length stalactites before giving the two with tokens an ultimatum, ¡°Give me a token, or I¡¯ll hurt you!¡± Appa sounded incredibly unconvincing thanks to the hesitation in its voice, like a cute child threatening an adult, but the two token bearers still stopped and looked at one another whilst taking the threat very seriously.


    ¡°Rock, paper, scissors?¡± Time was running out, and if they wasted it fighting over who was going to give their token up, then Appa would probably come down and sort out the situation itself.


    ¡°Tsk, ok.¡±


    ¡°Rock, paper, scissors!¡± the two shouted in unison. One held up rock, the other held up paper. For a moment, the person who won was overjoyed. Their happy little moment came crumbling down, however, when they realised there were four token-less people staring at him. The two that had been fighting with them originally weren¡¯t going to just give up and neither was the person who just handed their token over to Appa. To make matters worse, the person who unsuccessfully tried messing with Dirk had finally returned. The person with the token made a split decision, turned into a lightning dragon, and bolted off. The direction wasn¡¯t aimless though, it was straight towards the three cowards who hadn¡¯t fought anyone yet. Either you get involved, or I¡¯ll make you get involved! the man thought to himself.


    The three were naturally not pleased with this little stunt, but what could they do other than grit their teeth and fight? For the last two minutes, an all-out four vs four brawl was underway with no side having any real advantage. Occasionally a token would trade hands and the composition of the teams would also shift; after all, why fight the people with tokens if you already have one? ¡®Who cares if we were fighting side by side seconds ago? You¡¯re not on my side anymore!¡¯


    This whole time, the only person who managed to keep his token in this scuffle was the scholarly little man who originally hired the two bodyguards. Whenever ownership of a token changed, he was the first to make a hefty offer to get a little extra protection. He was also quite nimble on his feet and had an affinity with the pillar of illusions, making him a real pain in the ass for anyone to catch. Sometimes he was invisible, sometimes he was a clone. Once, he even managed to spook all seven other people simultaneously by briefly turning into a likeness of Appa.


    Eventually, the little scholar got fed up with having to bribe people repeatedly so he came up with a new plan which just so happened to be similar to the one the guy who turned into a lightning dragon had earlier. Get someone else involved! Instead of bribing people who had tokens and could lose them at any minute, bribe people who didn¡¯t have tokens and didn¡¯t seem to care if they had them. In other words, the bandit brothers!

 Chapter 7: Cute Things Tickle Heartstrings

    The bandit brothers! They were almost guaranteed to get involved and start taking tokens at some point, so why not get on their good side now?


    This left everyone else in a four vs three situation. Naturally the three token holders were quite annoyed at this turn of events and wanted to follow him. Just as they were about to leave though, two people without tokens took off after the little scholar. Having one extra person wasn¡¯t going to immediately make a massive difference in this squabble, so they decided to give chase. The cycle of taking and losing tokens would just keep going at this rate. Besides, the lightning and water guys that fought with Appa earlier had both managed to finally get tokens at the same time and were surprisingly good at working with one another. The bandit brothers were an unknown variable, sure, but at least that meant there was a chance for things to be easier for them on that side. If the bandit brothers turned out to be weak, then the only real threat would be each other. They couldn¡¯t see the scholar being particularly strong as all he ever did was run away. A one-on-one fight was preferable for these two compared to whatever kind of nonsense that previous, hectic brawl was.


    Now the original four vs four had devolved into a two vs three, but the lightning and water duo were basically untouchable. The two without tokens didn¡¯t want to leave and start another massive group fight, especially seeing as how there was only one token to fight for on the other side. They decided to ignore the lightning and water duo and focus their efforts on the remaining third token and, unsurprisingly, the duo let them. Why get involved in something that has nothing to do with them? At this rate, they were guaranteed to pass so why risk it for someone neither of them cared about? This meant there were only two tokens left in play to fight for, the one the scholar had, and the one currently being fought for in a three-way fight. Everyone had already hedged their bets and made their choices; it was too late now to turn around and pick a different fight now.


    ¡°ONE MINUTE LEFT, MAKE THE MOST OF IT!¡± Teng gave a reminder before falling silent again and watching what turned out to be one hell of a show. Compared to previous years, there was a lot more smarts and quick decision making on display which made Teng and Rud quite pleased. Adaptability was important for a cultivator. Skirting around a fight, bribing others, running away, etc. All were valid strategies as long as you won in the end. Of course, brute strength was valuable too, but it was important to be able to think on the fly and make use of individual talents to get things done and survive under pressure.


    ¡°Brothers!¡± The little scholar had finally arrived in front of Ares and Aejaz.


    Ares¡¯ eye twitched, why did people only ever call him ¡®brother¡¯ when they wanted something from him? ¡°Don¡¯t you ¡®Brothers!¡¯ me, do I look like a hired bodyguard to yo...¡±


    ¡°Stardust,¡± Aejaz cut off Ares before he could finish his sentence.


    Both Ares and the little scholar stared at Aejaz blankly.


    ¡°100 low grade pieces of stardust, and that token of yours will stay safe and sound where it is.¡±


    ¡°AEJAZ! You bastard, don¡¯t sell my services off like some kind of pimp!¡± Ares was filled to the brim with indignation. ¡°Besides, you just want that goddamn stardust so you can afford to buy something from the tailor shop again!¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± the little scholar hastily interrupted their conversation before any minds were changed as this would be his cheapest bribe yet! If he had known they wouldn¡¯t even ask for a quarter of what the others had, he would have bloody well come here earlier!


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m coming back Misssss¡­.¡± Aejaz dragged the name on as he realised Ares was glaring at him from the side.


    ¡°Misssss?¡± Ares questioned with a rising intonation.


    ¡°Missssster Hans, the lovely old man who occasionally works at the tailor shop, haha, haha. He can finally finish that one story about his grandson! Haha.¡± Aejaz was practically sweating bullets as he desperately avoided making eye contact with Ares.


    ¡°Whatever, just do as you promised and I won¡¯t send you back to Missssster Hans in stitches.¡± Ares rolled his eyes as Aejaz gave him a thumbs up. ¡°You, what¡¯s your name?¡± Ares turned to the little scholar.


    ¡°Onno.¡±


    ¡°Oh really?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes! Tis I, Onno of the famed Honesty Merchant Trading Group. HMTG for short!¡± Onno had a proud smile plastered across his face as he lifted his chin high.


    Ares had heard of the Honesty Merchants but, then again, who hadn¡¯t? Honesty had set up merchant trading outlets in just about every corner, nook, and cranny of the world. This little scholar was a well-known fellow. He was the son of the current owner of Honesty, one of them anyway, and held quite a prestigious position in Red Sun City. Actually, that was an understatement, he held a prestigious position wherever he went.


    ¡°Never heard of you,¡±


    Ares bluntly lied just to knock Onno¡¯s pride down a few notches, although he also kept a playful smile to signify he was messing around with him.


    Onno was visibly ¡®devastated¡¯. ¡°You rascal, it¡¯s a good thing you¡¯re cheap!¡± Onno retorted.


    ¡°Unlike the businesses you run,¡± Ares grumbled under his breath and held back on smacking some sense into this little con/business-man.


    There were only about 30 seconds left and the two participants without tokens had covered enough ground to come fairly close to Onno. Ares had already stood up and walked over to stand in front of them.


    ¡°Hand over the token and we won¡¯t hurt you.¡±


    Ares rolled hie eyes. ¡°Good lord you two are stupid. Isn¡¯t it obvious we aren¡¯t going to give it to you? Why even ask? Aren¡¯t you just wasting your own time here? Better yet, why are you just standing there, gawking like idiots and listening to me? Are you really gonna let me waste your time like this?¡± Ares gave the two a quick verbal lashing as a lesson not to say dumb shit in do-or-die situations.


    One kissed his teeth and the other frowned, but both kept silent and stopped pointlessly trying to negotiate with Ares. One tried running around his right and the other his left. It was better not to waste time with Ares as the clock was running out. Of course, they couldn¡¯t waste too much time in giving him a wide berth, so they were both in attacking range. They presumably thought he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop both of them if they attacked him at the same time on the way past. They were relying on the difference in cultivation.


    Ares just sighed to himself. Lazy, he thought. They weren¡¯t going to get past him regardless, but to not even put any real effort into fighting him? That was just asking for trouble. They weren¡¯t even using mana. Of course, they still had to deal with Onno, Aejaz, and each other after Ares, so from their perspective they were no doubt trying to conserve energy for all the above. Even so, to be so blatantly ignored irked Ares to no end.


    Both participants readied their swords. The one to Ares¡¯ right swung vertically from the head down and the other thrust toward Ares¡¯ stomach.


    Ares raised his left foot and brought it down on top of the thrusting sword, forcing it down and burying it into the platform. Ares also raised his right hand out of his pocket and caught the other sword just above his head before taking a step forward to stand in between both of them.


    Thump


    The Stygian Zephyr rapidly raised itself off Ares¡¯ back, split itself down the middle, and spread out to either side, resembling a pair of ebon wings. The speed at which the Zephyr unfurled plus the unexpected nature of the attack was far too much for either of the two to react to and they were struck with enough force to make an echo resound throughout the hall. Truthfully, they got off easy. The feathers on the Zephyr were sharp enough to cut through most metals even without mana. Ares could have just as easily pierced through their stomachs and further spread out the tips of his wings to showcase them in all their glory, slicing the two fools in half. There was no real need to go so far in a test though so he simply grabbed their heads after they hunched over and smashed them together, knocking them unconscious.


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    Gulp


    Onno hastily made the smart decision not to call Ares ¡®cheap¡¯ ever again. What the hell was that? That was completely effortless is what that was! Those two were 4th realm 3rd stage cultivators. He barely even lifted his hands! Onno cried inwardly


    Naturally everyone else was just as surprised. The three fighting for the last token momentarily stopped and thanked their lucky stars they hadn¡¯t run over to that side only to catch a swift beating like the other two idiots.


    Dirk and Li Li raised their eyebrows. The two people they had fought with previously had the same cultivation as the two Ares had just dealt with, but even they had to use mana to take care of them as quickly as that. They really wanted to run over and fight Ares but there was far too little time left.


    Teng and Rud were still disappointed. Yes, Ares took to combat like a fish to water, but to what extent exactly? Those two morons were foolish enough not to use any mana, meaning Ares didn¡¯t have to exert any effort whatsoever and that annoyed Rud to no end. Rud was secretly glad those idiots hadn¡¯t passed. If you¡¯re going to fight, fight properly you schmucks.


    Meanwhile Appa was¡­ Well... Appa was just glad there were potential new friends for it to make. It really was quite a simple creature.


    ¡°FIVE.¡± Everyone took their eyes off Ares to see Teng start his final countdown. ¡°FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. STAY WHERE YOU ARE, STOP FIGHTING, AND SIT DOWN!¡± Teng gave out orders to which everyone complied. ¡°If you have a token, please raise your hand while holding it.¡±


    Everyone with a token promptly took it out and raised their hands. The three who were fighting for the last token were confusedly staring at one another. ¡°I thought you had it?¡± the first person said to the second person in the group.


    ¡°No, I lost it to him,¡± the second one replied while pointing at the third.


    ¡°I thought you took it back when I wasn¡¯t paying attention?¡± the third spoke as he looked back at the first person.


    ¡°...¡± All three looked around briefly and came to a silent understanding without having to utter a single word. Ah, they collectively thought. We¡¯ve been the victims of a broad-daylight robbery but, seriously, how the fuck did he take the token from the other side of the bloody platform?


    Aejaz was raising his token high to the sky with a smug look on his face. Not only did he steal it, but his little trick worked too and people were starting to realise there was something strange happening.


    ¡°Um, Rud¡­ You¡¯re seeing this too, right?¡± Teng nudged Rud with his shoulder as he stared in astonishment at the new development in front of him.


    Rud sighed and shook his head. ¡°This is your problem to figure out and fix, I¡¯m too old for this nonsense.¡±


    Teng took a deep breath to calm his stupor and counted again, just to make sure his mind wasn¡¯t playing tricks on him. ¡°Ok bandit brothers, I have to ask, why are there eight tokens now?¡±


    Sure enough, eight people, Ares included, were holding a token in their hand. There were only seven at the start, so something had clearly gone wrong somewhere. Seeing as how everyone else was just as clueless as Teng himself, he decided to ask the two people that were completely calm about this whole ordeal. Besides, realistically, who else would it have been?


    ¡°Ask him.¡± Ares pointed at Aejaz.


    Aejaz was practically beaming at finally having had a chance to show off. ¡°Not only can I increase the quality of certain stolen items, but I can also duplicate certain stolen items!¡±


    Wasn¡¯t this guy literally the worst thief ever? Why was he telling everyone how he¡¯d done it? Wasn¡¯t the whole point not to? These questions were quickly put to the back of their minds though as they really couldn¡¯t help but be impressed once again by this unusual aspect.


    Aejaz had accidentally discovered this trick the same day Ares was stabbed through the head with the Primordial Blade, so naturally he felt a little discomfort whenever he used it. The memory of Ares spasming on the floor came creeping up on him every single time. Ares¡¯ whole near-death experience thing really put a damper on what was otherwise quite a pleasant day for him. As for the art, he called it ¡®Dupe-lication¡¯ for fairly obvious reasons.


    ¡°Uhhh, right. Ok. I mean, I guess this counts as being resourceful¡­ Right?¡± Teng wasn¡¯t entirely sure what direction to take so he just allowed it. It¡¯s not like he knew which one was the original token after all. Who would he disqualify if they didn¡¯t outright tell him which token was fake? As far as he could tell, one was a perfect, functional copy of the other in every way. As such, calling it a fake wasn¡¯t even accurate anyway. This also counted as ¡®resourcefulness¡¯ in his book and he really didn¡¯t want to make someone fail after showing off such a unique method. There was a nagging thought in the back of his mind eating away at him though. Yet again, Ares had basically done nothing and passed a trial. At least he wouldn¡¯t be able to do nothing a third time, a fight was simply unavoidable in the next trial. Rud and Teng wanted answers, damnit!


    Looking at Aejaz¡¯s cocky smile, Rud couldn¡¯t help but evaluate him as ¡®extremely annoying¡¯. These evaluations had nothing to do with the person in question as a cultivator, it was just a mental list of people he would try to avoid in the sect by any means necessary. Aejaz was somewhat of a first in this regard. The only other people rated as such were people like the sect master, people who would constantly interrupt Rud¡¯s naps.


    ¡°Well, I guess there¡¯ll be eight of you taking the final trial of the test then. You¡¯ll have twenty minutes to rest this time. I¡¯ll warn you in advance, prepare yourselves for a hard fight.¡± With those words, Teng turned around and walked out the hall for a second time.


    ¡°But man, that aspect is really cool. Is there anything you can¡¯t steal?¡± Onno was both really curious and really wary of Aejaz¡¯s unique aspect. What kind of businessman would he be if he just let his guard down and openly accepted a thief of all people? That was the fast-track to getting robbed for people like him.


    ¡°Yeah, he can¡¯t steal Missy¡¯s heart.¡± Ares snickered off to the side, revelling in Aejaz grumpy face.


    ¡°You mean that tailor shop lady? She certainly is a woman that goes for the hard sell by any means necessary,¡± Onno recalled a rather eager lady from a shop he once visited.


    ¡°Humph, she¡¯s not like that.¡± Aejaz folded his arm and turned his pouting face off to the side.


    The three kept talking to one another for a while and got along rather well. About ten minutes into their conversation, a chilly presence crept up behind them. ¡°Umm¡­ Can I sit here?¡± Appa asked in a nervous tone, almost stuttering on its words.


    ¡°Of course! But I feel I have to ask; can you even sit down? I don¡¯t mind standing if it¡¯s more convenient for you.¡± Ares was more than happy to let Appa join them as damned shades were known for essentially never being malicious, unless you really deserved it that is. If he felt he could trust a person, then Ares didn¡¯t mind talking to them. He could also tell that Aejaz really wanted to know more about this ghostly ¡®thing¡¯. To top it all off, Ares was also quite interested in seeing a shade ¡®sit¡¯.


    ¡°Yes, I can sit!¡± Appa replied excitedly as the cloth fell to the floor. The cloth gradually spread out until only about half of Appa¡¯s ¡®upper body¡¯ was left still upright. Appa¡¯s head had become noticeably smaller and its upper half now resembled an oversized road-bump. This made the shade look rather endearing as the most apt way to describe its current appearance would have to be ¡®smooshed¡¯.


    Ares had a secret weakness to cute things like puppies and kittens and was overcome by an overwhelming urge that he simply couldn¡¯t resist. He instinctively pet Appa on the head.


    Appa turned to face Ares with its hollow eyes and just stared at him as Ares froze after realising what he had done. ¡°Keep petting me or I¡¯ll haunt you.¡± For the first time since arriving at the sect, Appa had a fierce determination in its otherwise gentle voice. It really loved this new sensation! No one had ever been bold enough to touch it, let alone pet it before. Appa really liked this new human!


    Ares was simultaneously relieved the shade wasn¡¯t annoyed at him and surprised he managed to somehow get away with that daring action of his. He made a mental note not to go around reflexively petting things just because they were cute, even if it somehow worked out this time. He was also secretly glad he could continue petting the shade, it really was quite adorable and also shockingly smooth and soft! He had no intention of making it a pseudo-pet like others had done before him, he just really wanted to stroke the sweet little squashed shade. That being said, it was highly likely this shade was going to follow him around whenever it could and come looking for him for pets from now on. Not that Ares was complaining, mind you. Ares continued to pet Appa as the four kept talking and getting to know each other.


    Eventually, the twenty minutes of rest came to an end and a voice rang out from the hall entrance, ¡°Alright everyone, your twenty minutes are up and the final trial is about to start,¡± Teng announced his return with the start of the next trial. ¡°The first trial was just a bit of gatekeeping to stop those with a weak will. The second was about testing your ability to use your own unique talents and resources to problem solve. The third and final trial will be one of perseverance. If you¡¯re still holding the token you¡¯ve thus-far earned at the end of the test, you can become a disciple. The rules are simple. You¡¯re each going to take turns fighting the Heaven¡¯s Path guardian for a minute. The guardian will limit his cultivation realm to whatever yours is and try taking your token away from you. In that time span you can use whatever method you like to avoid or fight with him. The guardian will naturally not be using mana or treasures as that would simply be unfair, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯ll go easy on you. He''s actually quite obnoxious like that. If you lose the token, you can always take it back. As long as you have the token after the minute is up, you pass. The guardian won¡¯t let you run away forever though, so expect a fight at some point. Any further questions?¡± Teng realised he was supposed to ask that question at the start of every trial but had completely forgotten every other time! Whoops, he thought to himself. Nobody¡¯s perfect!


    ¡°Yeah, I have a question, if that¡¯s alright?¡± Ares asked.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°What if the guardian uses mana?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t,¡± Teng waved his hand and dismissed the question.


    ¡°But what if I make him use it?¡± Ares had a completely indifferent look on his face, as if him forcing the guardian to use mana was already a forgone conclusion.


    ¡°It¡¯s for the best if you don¡¯t go into this trial with such thoughts, but they¡¯ll probably get smacked out of you soon enough anyway so you do you. If you somehow force him to use mana, then I suppose you¡¯ll pass immediately regardless of who¡¯s holding the token when the time is up. It¡¯s only fair as that rule is set in place specifically to be an equaliser for you. If that rule is broken then the test will become impossible to complete in the expected manner and thus be meaningless; BUT it will also mean you¡¯re more than capable enough to warrant a place in this sect, I guess.¡± Teng shrugged his shoulders at Ares. It was good to be confident at least, but only if he managed to retain that confidence even after his inevitable failure to make the guardian use mana. If he could retain some of that confidence after failing without becoming dispirited, then that was a good mentality to have in Teng¡¯s opinion which was why he didn¡¯t chide him for his question. ¡°Anyway, without further ado, it¡¯s time for you to meet our guardian, Slick.¡± Teng gestured to the door at the far end of the hall.


    BANG


    A large hole in the wall near the door was pulverised as parts of it flew off in every direction. A humanoid robot that simultaneously looked as though it were a relic of the past in parts, and a tool from the future in others, swaggered through the hole and the dust in the air, stepping onto the platform in a single stride that emanate pride. ¡°Ahh, knocking a few screws loose in the new-bloods will never get boring. This really is my favourite time of the year!¡± a crisp, robotic voice rang through the hall.


    Rud was frantically waving the book in his hand at Slick as he cried out, ¡°JESUS CHRIST SLICK, YOU COULD HAVE USED THE DAMN DOOR YOU KNOW!? DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO THAT EVERY BLASTED YEAR!?¡±

 Chapter 8: Scrappy

    The guardian was a robo! Robos were a fascinating race. No one knew who created the first robo but, ever since, every new robo had been created by a robo before it. Robos aren¡¯t born in the same manner as humans or most other races, it would be more accurate to say they¡¯re put together. Actually, every single robo in this domain comes from the same place, Punk Station. Although the robos have the entirety of Neo Gear Land to themselves, they only have a single sprawling city, Punk Station, at its centre.


    There are two types of robos, neo droids and the gear folk. The only real difference is their looks and the type of energy they convert mana into. Gear folk are robos who are composed mostly of gears that move in conjunction with their actions. Neo droids typically have sleeker, modern designs and mostly use various types of conductive metals for their bodies.


    As for the magic they use, they both are locked into the summoning pillar from ¡®birth¡¯. Both the gear folk and neo droids have an aspect completely unique to their race. Gear folk have the oil-core aspect and neo droids the spark-box aspect. When a robo converts mana, it becomes either oil or electrical energy depending on their race. Although the robos can¡¯t use either for themselves, they can expel it and form it into a core to summon various monsters and creatures to fight for them. The abilities each summoned creature will have depends on the robo that summoned it and what exactly was summoned. For instance, A gear folk might summon a gear gorilla that can burn its oil core to produce steam, that steam then produces energy which can then allow it to go berserk and temporarily become stronger. A neo droid might summon a small army of drones that can home in on enemies and use their cores to shock and paralyse the opponent before detonating.


    To say the two robo races live in harmony is nothing short of a lie, but that¡¯s just because of the nature of their city and their long-standing feud with one another. Neo Gear Land is the only duality land in this domain, and it being a duality land is the main reason the two robo races are at each other''s throats.


    Duality lands are simply places that change from day to night. During the day, Punk Station is best described as a steampunk city. The clock tower in the middle of the city ticks away and automated gear soldiers interlink with oil chains to form barricades. Large half-pipes filled with oil act as a sort of transport mechanism that people can ride and there¡¯s also gear gondola lifts you can hop on to reach the higher areas. In the Gear Gardens, you can find razor-petalled flowers and oil ponds with automated wildlife.


    At night, the clock becomes a holo-display that projects the time into the night sky. Drones patrol neon-lit streets and taze rowdy civilians before dragging them away to solitary confinement. The oil pipes are closed off but, instead, people can use electrically powered air vents to move around. The air from the vents is imbued with magic and forms multicoloured, luminescent wind paths above the streets. They push along and increase the speed of everyone that uses them, somewhat like an open air-tunnel. The gondolas collapse into the walls they¡¯re attached to and become glass lifts.


    The gear folk are usually out during the day and neo droids mostly come out at night. It¡¯s primarily a lifestyle difference kind of thing and it would be like this regardless, but there¡¯s also a deep-rooted hate for one another thanks to various political campaigns influencing public opinion. It also doesn¡¯t help that there¡¯s not so subtle racist ¡®undertones¡¯ in the campaigning operations of both of the two major political parties.


    Ares had once used Neo Gear Land as an example of the strange places that Aejaz would one day get to see. Of course, Aejaz¡¯ curiosity was immediately sparked and he wanted to go there as soon as possible, but Ares informed him it would be important to train before going there.


    The method of cultivation robos use is also locked in at creation. Robos can¡¯t use the same kind of treasures and resources that humans use to cultivate, instead, in addition to secluded cultivation, they use ¡®upgrades''. Some leftover upgrades from eras long gone can still be salvaged and found here and there, but most are manufactured and sold as business in Punk Station. Upgrades are much easier to acquire than typical human resources. For that reason, plus the ease of creation for robos, they have quite a large and strong population. Their individual fighting strength isn¡¯t typically as high as their cultivation would make you think it is, but that doesn¡¯t affect their summons. Because of this, and the difficulty in finding resources for humans there, Ares didn¡¯t want to take Aejaz to the Neo Gear Land just yet. He would definitely take him there eventually, but there were better and closer places to acclimate Aejaz to the world of cultivation first.


    As for Slick, he didn¡¯t quite resemble either a gear folk or a neo droid, rather, he looked like an amalgamation of both, and there was a reason for it too. Ares had also told Aejaz about the strife in Punk Station between the races so, needless to say, he also told him about the ¡®scraps¡¯. The scraps are a self-proclaimed group of freedom fighters who ¡®seek to free Punk Station from the tyranny of two warring factions¡¯. They sneak into production factories, steal robos still in their creation phase, and complete them using parts from the opposite race of whatever they were originally supposed to be. They flaunt their mixed heritage as a symbol of peace and coexistence in an attempt to fight against the oppression robos face from the two major political movements that fight over Punk Station. They originally had no name for themselves but were accidentally given a mocking one during a press conference that would eventually stick. The scraps thought their new name was fitting and wore it with confidence which just made the people that already hated them dislike them even more. Of course, not all scraps are happy with their lives; after all, it¡¯s not something they themself got to choose. Some stay hidden away in the city, and some, like Slick, escape it to find a better life elsewhere. In truth, Slick was originally manufactured to be the son of an important political figure for the gear folk in Punk Station but was ¡®mutilated at birth¡¯. His parents couldn¡¯t bear to watch him suffer discrimination day after day, year after year, so they took him away from Neo Gear Land six years ago when they visited Red Sun City during a festival. Slick was a naturally gifted fighter and so his parents asked if he could work as security for the Heaven¡¯s Path Sect during the meeting they attended that day. The sect was more than happy to take Slick in and he¡¯d been with them ever since, earning himself quite the reputation as the sect''s guardian.


    ¡°Walls? Doors? It¡¯s all the same to me, Rud!¡± Slick¡¯s carefree attitude was on full display.


    ¡°Oh? ¡®All the same¡¯, you say? Then I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d mind paying for a new wall then? After all, it¡¯s all the same to you.¡± Rud was still very much unhappy with this pseudo one-man demolition crew. For some strange reason, treasurers really were quite strongly-opinionated when it came to walls. It didn¡¯t help Rud having two people he rated as ¡®extremely annoying¡¯ in the same room. For Rud, this was a rare disaster that would inevitably ruin his mood for the rest of the day.


    ¡°Hold on, we can talk about this, Elder.¡± Slick was well aware that Rud was quick to slash pay checks.


    Meanwhile, Ares couldn¡¯t help but shudder inwardly as he came to a similar assessment to Rud. Didn¡¯t this robo resemble Aejaz? Wasn¡¯t Aejaz saying something along the lines of, ¡®Hold on, we can talk about this, brother,¡¯ literally less than an hour ago? One Aejaz was enough, thank you! Any more than that and it would be far too annoying!


    ¡°Whatever you schmuck, I¡¯ll decide how much you owe me after.¡± Rud wasn¡¯t quite as lenient with Slick as Ares was with Aejaz however.


    ¡°Fine, fine. Guess I¡¯ll just have to take my anger out on you fleshy things¡­ And¡­ Whatever the hell that weird floating thing is.¡±


    Appa merely tilted its head slightly and looked around as it was momentarily unsure if it were the ¡®weird floating thing¡¯ or not.


    ¡°Alright, head on over in whatever order you want. When you come up, tell me your cultivation realm and stage and I¡¯ll lower mine accordingly. Also, you don¡¯t have to worry too much. I won¡¯t hit you hard enough to kill you, although I might hurt you a teensy ¡®bit¡¯ for sport. Also also, I definitely won¡¯t be using any mana.¡± Slick shot Ares a quick derisive glance towards the end of his little explanation. Slick had managed to overhear the last trial introduction while he was waiting outside, which naturally included Ares¡¯ overconfident remarks.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Some of the more reasonable token holders decided to let others go first and test the waters for them. Thankfully, there were at least two particularly energetic knuckleheads that were itching for a fight. After a quick game of rock, paper, scissors, Li Li went up first. Unsurprisingly, her opponent in the rock, paper, scissor duel was Dirk and, predictably, he chose scissors while Li Li obviously chose rock. Life truly imitates art.


    ¡°4th realm meridian expansion, 6th stage,¡± Li Li told Slick her cultivation and he began to lower his to match it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll go easy on you just ¡®cos you¡¯re a girl... You are a girl, right?¡± As it turns out, Slick was truly a profound expert at pissing people off. It was almost as if he knew exactly what kind of comments would really grind someone¡¯s gears. A single sentence of his managed to set Li Li''s mind on the warpath.


    If there was anything Li Li hated, it was the typical tomboy-appearance jokes she received non-stop throughout her childhood. In her mind, she decided to fashion this robo into a tin can and kick it around a bit before throwing it in the trash!


    ¡°Your time starts, NOW.¡± Teng decided to ignore the rising tensions and let them settle their grudge themselves.


    Li Li raised her fists and took a stance. She knew that although the robo was obnoxious beyond belief, it would also be really damn strong. Slick moved forward, crossing the distance between them in just two steps and lazily swung his fist. Li Li was pushed back a good five or so steps and could feel a searing pain in her arms where Slick¡¯s punch had connected. ¡°Tsk.¡± Li Li kissed her teeth and decided it would be for the best if she put any thoughts of taking an aggressive stance to the back of her mind. She wasn¡¯t giving up on her plan to beat some decency into this stupid robo, she was just putting the plan on hold as she simply wasn¡¯t capable of doing it yet. The difference in strength and speed was too great, but she still felt confident she could one day do it if she cultivated hard enough. As for right now, as long as things didn¡¯t escalate beyond the level things were currently at, she felt confident she would pass. Just grin and bear the pain, dodge a few hits, and play the slow and steady game. Of course, she wasn¡¯t just going to passively take a beating the entire time and would make sure to get a few licks in here and there when she could, but that was mostly an afterthought.


    Slick let Li Li regain her bearings for a second before chasing her down again. He threw out another lazy punch but, this time, Li Li slipped under it and retaliated. Li Li threw a burning uppercut but Slick just casually jumped back to avoid it. Once again Slick chased Li Li down, but now his punch wasn¡¯t quite as lazy as before and couldn¡¯t be dodged.


    Li Li was pushed back again, but this was still manageable even if it was hurting like hell.


    Slick ran up to Li Li for a fourth time but Li Li wasn¡¯t just going to let him keep doing the same thing over and over again.


    ¡°Guesswork!¡±


    She stamped her foot and magma curtains rose from the ground, one in between her and Slick, and the other behind him. This was an art of the fire pillar¡¯s ¡®Magma Mastery¡¯ aspect.


    Slick was forced to hold back his punch as he couldn¡¯t see where exactly Li Li was behind the magma. Li Li rushed out in a low stance from the bottom left corner of the curtain and threw a straight towards Slick¡¯s unguarded chest. Slick decided to jump back again, ignoring the magma curtain behind him as his mechanical body was more than strong enough to ignore magic of that level and just jump through it.


    Thud


    Well, aren¡¯t you clever? Slick thought.


    Li Li didn¡¯t actually have to stomp her foot to raise the curtains, she did it as a guise to secretly raise a hardened-magma wall behind the second curtain whilst masking the noise. She had already predicted his jump back so she used the second curtain to obscure his vision behind him, not to prevent him from jumping. The magma wall was what was actually going to stop him, and it certainly did. Li Li¡¯s straight punch caught the unguarded Slick straight in the chest.


    ¡°One Flaw, Five Strikes!¡±


    ¡®One Flaw, Five Strikes¡¯ was a ¡®bare-fisted aspect¡¯ art. The bare-fist aspect came under the weapons pillar and revolved around hand-to-hand combat. Even though Li Li used knuckle dusters, it still technically counted as hand to hand for the sake of using the art, which just made it hit harder. One Flaw, Five Strikes required getting one solid hit on the opponent. After the hit connected, mana would be spread out through the body to five other nearby locations. When the mana reached those points, it would recreate the force from the original strike in those five new positions. This art took the best of both worlds allowing its user to hit hard, multiple times without losing out on the ferocity of the first attack. The only downside was having to actually hit the person prior to being able to use it as opposed to magic that could just be fired off whenever.


    Slick was pushed back two steps with a loud metal clanking sound. The Magma curtain fell and Li Li could see Slick was completely unharmed. There was only a little steam coming off him. The steam was there because Li Li had imbued some fire pilar magic into the art to burn him, but it didn¡¯t really do much to someone as strong as Slick. There were only ten seconds left and Li Li was feeling good, this had been much easier than she was expecting. As soon as that thought crossed her mind though, Slick appeared directly in front of her and swung once again.


    After Slick¡¯s fist collided with her arm, he immediately grabbed it to prevent her from being forced back. Slick reached out his second hand which also grabbed onto the same arm, he then took one step back and twisted his body, lifting his shoulders up in order to swing Li Li overhead and slam her into the ground.


    Bang


    Slick reached down to grab the token peeking out of Li Li¡¯s pocket when something came drilling into his forehead.


    Li Li had shaken off the pain from being thrown into the floor and used her mana to shape the gum in her mouth into a magma bullet. She then used fire pillar magic to propel the bullet into Slick¡¯s head when he let his guard down and went for the token. The bullet hadn¡¯t actually broken into Slick¡¯s head, but it was enough to catch him with his guard down yet again and waste his time by pushing him back.


    ¡°One minute is up, congratulations Li Li on becoming this year''s first new disciple!¡± Teng clapped as he spoke. ¡°Please take a seat and wait for the rest of the examinees to finish, after which you¡¯ll be shown around the sect and taken to your place of residence.¡±


    ¡°Next!¡± Slick shouted.


    Dirk immediately rushed on stage, took out two daggers, and made a few small cuts on his arms. ¡°4th realm skeletal structuring, 5th stage.¡±


    ¡°Wow, this¡¯ll be easy. I mean look at you, you''re already bloody and I haven¡¯t even done anything yet!¡± Slick teased.


    ¡°Hmph, you couldn¡¯t deal with Li Li, you won¡¯t be able to deal with me.¡±


    ¡°Oh? But isn¡¯t a battle of attrition against someone with no blood your worst nightmare?¡±


    Slick wasn¡¯t far of the mark. Haemomancers would have to use their own blood against robos which put them at an immediate disadvantage in longer fights. That being said, a minute wasn¡¯t exactly a long period of time to have to fight for, Slick was just trying to annoy Dirk. He was already not in the greatest of moods as the Elders always forced him to hold back during these tests. Obviously, he would never lose to anyone if he didn¡¯t, so he had to rein himself in. His pride took a massive hit whenever he let someone pass, though. When Dirk had said he couldn¡¯t ¡®deal¡¯ with Li Li, he decided to be a bit rougher on Dirk to shut him up. You don¡¯t like unfair treatment? Then don¡¯t be an asshole to someone who¡¯s doing you a favour.


    ¡°Your time starts, NOW!¡±


    ¡°Grim Warden!¡±


    Dirk was the first to take action. In fact, he had technically cheated as he had taken action before the match had even started. The blood that had dripped onto the floor from when he cut himself earlier raced along the ground. The lines of blood curled up Slick¡¯s frame and formed chains that then bound Slick to the spot he was standing in. If Slick weren¡¯t a robo, the chains would have been absorbing his blood by now as this was an art of the ¡®drain aspect¡¯.


    Slick wrapped the chains binding his arms around his wrist and grabbed them tightly. He leaned back and began lifting up the platform that the chains were attached to.


    Dirk¡¯s footing became unstable and he was flung into the air as the ground around him burst out from underneath him.


    Slick threw out one of the blood chains like a lasso and caught Dirk in mid-air, yanking him violently toward him. Slick leapt at Dirk who was hurtling toward him and leant back, readying what was absolutely going to be an incredibly painful punch to be on the receiving end of. ¡°FUCK YOU, YOU GLORIFIED MOSQUITO!¡± Slick roared.


    Rud slapped his own forehead out of frustration. How many times did he have to tell this idiot not to make it personal?!


    Thunk


    Dirk took the metallic punch to the abdomen and threw up blood all over Slick. Dirk burst like a blood bubble, disappearing and leaving behind a red mist that was hard to see and move through.


    For the next minute, Slick aimlessly wandered around trying to find Dirk in the corrosive, bloody fog. If Slick could have used mana, he would have just removed the fog forcefully and found Dirk that way. Slick felt as though this really wasn¡¯t in the spirit of things, but a pass was a pass and this sort of indirect fighting method was the specialty of haemomancers anyway. Any creature with blood in this situation would have just slowly died with no way of fighting back.


    ¡°One minute is up. Congratulations Dirk, wherever you are, on becoming a disciple of our sect!¡± Teng gave another round of applause.


    The blood mist began to converge at a single point. When all the mist had gathered, it rushed towards slick. Slick just stood there and let it happen out of curiosity. He didn¡¯t know what Dirk was doing but, at the very least, he could tell he wasn¡¯t being attacked.


    The mist split up and was soaked up into the blood stains on Slick¡¯s frame. The stains became thicker and dripped off Slick. When the blood fell, it formed into globules that flew off to the side where the examinees were sitting, gradually reforming themselves into Dirk. He hadn¡¯t hidden himself in the mist; the mist was just a distraction. He was hiding in the blood he threw up on Slick. If Slick wasn¡¯t a robo, Dirk would have been draining his blood that entire time without him even realising in addition to the fog. Haemomancers are truly tricksy fighters.


    And here I thought these lot were just a bunch of no-brain all-brawn dunderheads, Slick mused.

 Chapter 9: Not Everyman Can Be as Good as This

    ¡°Next!¡±


    Onno decided to step up to the plate as he felt confident in his ability to run away for a minute. ¡°4th realm skeletal structuring, 2nd stage.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t buy your way out of this beating, little guy. Then again, I suppose you can always run home to your daddy after and beg him to solve your issues.¡± Slick was rubbing his thumb over his index finger to mock Onno¡¯s wealth.


    ¡°What would a poor scrap know about ¡®buying¡¯ anything? I mean look at you, I couldn''t even sell you as junk in a second-hand store,¡± Onno¡¯s mouth was firing on all cylinders. He may not be a strong fighter but one should never challenge a true businessman such as him to a battle of words.


    Meanwhile, Slick¡¯s gears were starting to literally grind. Teng and Rud had always asked him to rouse the examinees'' fighting spirit to see how well they could maintain composure, but so rarely had anyone ever verbally fought back. Between Mr. Mosquito and Mr. Moneybags, Slick was really starting to dislike the foul mouths on these new hopefuls.


    ¡°The trial will start in three, two, one, BEGIN!¡± Teng felt the need to once again hastily start the trial before Slick truly went off the handles.


    ¡°Doppelb?nger!¡±


    Onno figured it would be in his best interest to act first before the overly-agitated robo made his move. Onno¡¯s back looked as though it were made of a goop like substance and, from the goop, out jumped a direct copy of himself.


    Doppelb?nger was an art of the ¡®clone aspect¡¯ which came under the illusion pillar. It creates an identical clone of the user that comes with an explosive trick up its sleeve. The explosion type depends on what other pillars the creator is capable of utilising. This means that not only do you not know which body is going to explode, you never know what kind of problem you¡¯re going to have to deal with until it¡¯s too late. It just so happened that Onno used variety cultivation and was well versed in numerous different pillars. This slowed his cultivation compared to others, and he was only at 4th realm skeletal structuring 2nd stage because of it, but he was really difficult to pin down even if someone had a higher cultivation. Onno could consistently maintain an elemental advantage over just about anyone and he was by far the most adaptable cultivator in the room.


    Slick decided to take the fist-first approach and disregarded the potential explosion. As far he was concerned, it was a fifty-fifty chance. Even if it went wrong, so what? A poxy little explosion wouldn¡¯t dent his frame. Even though he¡¯d suppressed his cultivation, the results of body tempering, for a robo anyway, weren¡¯t as easy to intentionally lower like cultivation base was. If his body truly matched his lowered cultivation, then he would have already been beaten senseless by Li Li. ¡°Eeny meeny miny moe!¡± Slick wasn¡¯t going to try and deduce real from fake without mana, so he resorted to what was ¡®clearly¡¯ the superior decision making method and ran after the furthest ¡®Onno¡¯ from his current position. Slick¡¯s fist sunk into a weird, goopy substance before everything in his vision went white as snow.


    Crackle


    Slick had chosen wrong and his oh-so generous reward was for him to be encased in ice from head to toe. Maybe Onno couldn¡¯t damage him, but he could definitely freeze him in place and waste his time.


    Slick couldn¡¯t feel pain, heat, cold, or just about anything really, but he was slowly becoming more and more fed up with all these silly little tricks he was having to deal with today. He was really starting to wish he could use mana right about now. Wasn¡¯t this just bullying? This year¡¯s test takers were far too good compared to every other year when it came to under-handed games and stunts like this. The only person he even came close to stopping was Li Li; and, even then, he took a bullet to the head and was made to look like a fool for his troubles, and that¡¯s not even including the curtain and pillar trick he¡¯d fallen for too. Was everyone else going to be like this as well? At least with Li Li he could vent his frustrations and physically hit something, this was just mean! He wanted a raise! Or at least to not have to pay for the damn wall! Slick shook violently in the ice, making cracks appear one after another until eventually the ice shattered.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong hobo-robo, why aren¡¯t you chasing me? Did you get cold feet?¡± Onno was cupping his hands around his mouth and jeering at Slick from the other end of the platform.


    I wonder if this will be the year that I accidentally kill a participant, Slick wondered. Instead of immediately chasing after Onno, Slick stopped and took a deep breath. Robos couldn''t actually breathe, but he certainly ¡®felt¡¯ at least a little calmer. He only had enough time left to cross the platform and attack Onno once so he at least wanted to give this little shit a run for his money. Slick took slow steps at first which, bit by bit, became a jog before finally fully breaking out into a sprint. When he finally got close enough to Onno, he lowered and slightly twisted his body and flung himself towards Onno while spinning. Slick stuck out his fist to launch a corkscrew attack and secretly rejoiced when he started feeling confident Onno could no longer dodge the incoming punch.


    Splash


    Sizzle


    Fuck! This job sucks, Slick thought. Really? Acid? Really? A jet of dark green liquid spewed out from the second Doppelb?nger, utterly drenching Slick. Steam was rising off his metalwork and the colour of his frame was slowly staining green. ¡°Tsk, that¡¯ll take at least a week to get out,¡± he complained under his breath.


    On the side of the platform where the ice doppelb?nger had been detonated previously, light was bending around a point in space. Eventually Onno stepped out of the refracted light and took a bow. No-one ever said he could only make one doppelb?nger at a time! While he was creating them, he used an invisibility art of the ¡®optical aspect¡¯ called ¡®Shed No Light¡¯ which allowed the user to bend light to their whim and could be activated silently. He replaced himself with the second Doppelb?nger flawlessly and was almost completely undetectable without using mana.


    It didn¡¯t help that Slick was unaware Doppelb?ngers could speak and function like regular humans; they could even fight and use other arts if the caster was well enough versed in the art. When the second Doppelb?nger called him a ¡®hobo robo¡¯, he made the false assumption that it was definitely the real Onno speaking. Slick never had a chance at all. He was upset at having been blown up twice, but he was more upset at having been led all around the damn platform like he was chasing a carrot on a stick. It was unbearably humiliating having to walk all the way back to the centre of the platform.


    ¡°Congratulations Onno, you¡¯ve passed and are now a member of the sect!¡± Teng gave the usual cheer and applause as Onno stood to the side.


    ¡°Next¡± Slick called out in a voice that, if you listened close enough, carried a hint of shame and agitation. Please let it be someone I can punch, please let it be someone I can punch, please let it be someone I can punch, Slick prayed.


    Aejaz was currently using his personal treasure, ¡®Concealed Serpent¡¯, the amulet he had gotten from the Chen Clan, to hide behind Ares. Ares was unable to go as he was currently fulfilling his unwritten obligation to pet Appa. There was no way in hell Appa was going anywhere right now and giving up on this current state of bliss it was in just yet. This left the Lightning and Water Duo, both of whom looked very much punch-able to Slick.


    Now that everyone¡¯s eyes were on the Duo, everyone came to the realisation that these two actually looked quite similar to each other. They weren¡¯t relatives as far as anyone knew, but if they said they were then no one would doubt it. There wasn¡¯t much to say about their looks as they were both practically the definition of average and forgettable. Hell, even their names were forgettable and no one present could remember either of them even if their lives depended on it. They had only really shown anything notable when they worked together to make the net and later defend their tokens as a pair. In fact, it was far easier to remember them as the Lightning-Water Duo than it was to remember their names individually.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Up until now, it seemed as though they had been discussing something during the previous turns. When they realised none of the other three were going up, they nodded at one another and played rock, paper, scissors to determine who would go first. After one of the two won, everyone promptly realised they had no idea whether it was the Lightning or Water Guy heading over to face Slick. They couldn¡¯t even remember which of the two had won their first rock, paper, scissor duel in the previous trial.


    ¡°4th realm meridian expansion, 3rd stage.¡±


    ¡°Bloody hell, even your voice is dull and forgettable. Are you hoping you can make enemies and then bore them to death by blending in with the crowd until they lose interest?¡±


    The guy sighed plainly. ¡°Rude.¡±


    Slick was at a loss for words. This person hadn¡¯t reacted at all. He didn¡¯t sigh out of exasperation, it sounded more like he was completely uninterested in everything that was happening around him. His entire demeanour reminded Slick of everyday wage-slaves that just wanted to get the job done, go home, sleep, and do it all again the next day like a happy little cog in the wheel. Slick found that no description other than one as simple as ¡®cultivator¡¯ fit this person. He was nothing more, nothing less. There were millions like him and that was all there really was to it. There was nothing else to say. For every one person that stood out from the crowd, there had to be a crowd. This was a guy who would definitely be a part of the crowd.


    ¡°Uhh, start? I guess?¡± Even Teng and Rud were flabbergasted at how ordinary this person was.


    Slick shook his head to recover from his daze and stepped toward the person in front of him. The person jumped back and formed a bow and arrow made from water.


    It was the Water Guy! Although it didn¡¯t really make any difference whatsoever as they were both going to have to go up eventually, at least everyone¡¯s curiosity was sated.


    ¡°Vortex!¡±


    A unique art! The irony! This was the first time Ares had ever seen one and, judging by the faces of those around him, this would be a first for the other participants too. Ares could tell this was an art of the ¡®flow aspect¡¯ thanks to the complex shaping of the magic.


    The arrow was fired from the bow, straight and true, and left a trail of floating water as it flew. The arrow itself flew in a spiralling motion, moving in a circular pattern that progressively shrunk.


    Zzzzzzzzzzz


    The arrow smacked into Slick¡¯s raised arms and continued to drill into them, slowly pushing him back.


    The Water Guy took out a tiny worm-shaped bolt of electricity and threw it into the water trail his arrow had left. This is what the Water-Lightning Duo were discussing earlier. They were creating mini magic tools for each other to help in the test. Direct interference was obviously a no-go but one-time use magics were perfectly fine as long as they weren¡¯t made by someone with an absurdly high cultivation realm as that would be too much. If you were allowed to use treasures that were within reason, then why not allow this too? This was their game plan for passing the test! Individually they would have struggled greatly but, this way, they could still make use of their synergistic pillars and help one another from the side-lines. It was basically set in stone that the Lightning Guy was going to use water magics prepared by the Water Guy in his fight too.


    The water trail started to retract itself in order to keep the arrowhead spinning, bringing the lightning worm with it. As the trail reached the back of the arrow, it started to form a conical shape that was expanding outward. When the trail had finally fully formed a cone, and the lightning had passed through the arrow in its entirety, the arrow stopped rotating. This brief respite confused Slick but he kept his guard up. As quickly as it stopped, the arrow started rotating again but, this time, it was both quicker and spinning in the opposite direction. Slick felt a weird force of attraction that dragged him straight into the arrow. The electrical water arrow¡¯s cone had now burst,  fragmented and been propelled forward alongside the arrow causing a massive explosion. Water sprayed out in every direction and electricity was still occasionally crackling through the air.


    Slick waved away some of the residual, lingering water vapour and noticed a miniscule nick in his arms. Seriously?! Of all the people to have finally injured Slick after six whole years of testing, it had to be this guy? Even Teng and Rud were amazed. That truly was an incredibly strong combination. If those two worked together more in the future, they could probably achieve great things in the cultivation world.


    Teng was even momentarily tempted to stop the trial and just let those two pass automatically. There was still a chance for them to fail after all and they were far weaker when separated from one another. Wasn¡¯t this method of testing not conducive to displaying their true talents? The sect would seriously be losing out on a powerful duo if either of them failed. Teng glanced over at Rud who shook his head.


    Rud knew what Teng was thinking, but they still needed to prove their worth on their own. There was no guarantee these two would be able to do absolutely everything together in the future. Inner and core disciple tests? Nope. Tournaments? Nope. What if they were separated one day? They still needed a baseline level of competency without one another to survive in the world of cultivation. Even if most of their individual power was the result of borrowing magic from one another, that much was acceptable as that would still be within the realm of acting ¡®solo¡¯. Using magic in this fashion would be allowed in tournaments and disciple promotion tests so they needed to show this was a viable method for them to still function as individuals rather than as a constant pair. Of course, Rud was also hoping they would pass, but he wasn¡¯t willing to give them the easy way out.


    Slick charged at the Water Guy and threw a simple punch. Although part of Slick really wanted this guy to pass too, he wouldn¡¯t go any easier on him. The punch was far too quick to dodge. Perhaps due to Slick¡¯s pent-up frustration over the last few rounds or his disorderly state of mind after receiving an injury, the punch was far heavier than any he had previously thrown.


    Water Guy didn¡¯t have enough time to finish preparations for the next water art just yet and was forced to accept the incoming pain-train. He twisted his body so that his left arm would take the brunt of the impact and his chest and dominant arm could stay safe.


    Crack


    ¡°Agh!¡± Water Guy let out a short yelp. Unfortunately, Water Guy hadn¡¯t given much thought to which pocket he had put his token in earlier. The token was in his left pocket, away from his dominant hand, which made it harder to protect. Slick grabbed toward it, forcing Water Guy to pick it up with his limp, broken arm. Water Guy gritted his teeth and winced in pain just from grabbing the token. He moved his wrist and lifted the token slightly before bringing the wrist back down as fast as he could, throwing the token at his own rib cage.


    ¡°Aqua Anatomy!¡±


    Slick¡¯s hand glided past the token as he hadn¡¯t expected it to be absorbed into Water Guy¡¯s body. Hiding the token somewhere out of reach wasn¡¯t allowed in the test for obvious reasons, but this particular scenario was fair game.


    Water Guy had lost all physical form and had instead become a somewhat humanoid blob of water thanks to this flow aspect art. The token could be seen drifting through his stomach region and out the other side, straight into his right hand.


    The token technically wasn¡¯t hidden and could have very well have been taken if Slick had stuck his hand in the body of water. Slick wasn¡¯t prepared for this though and had aimed toward Water Guy¡¯s pocket. There was no real way for Slick to hurt Water Guy anymore without mana thanks to this art, but he could still take the token!


    As for why Water Guy hadn¡¯t used this art earlier, ¡®Aqua Anatomy¡¯ was an art that took some time to prepare. Water Guy didn¡¯t plan on ¡®cheating¡¯ like Dirk had done with his blood chains by preparing the art in advance, so he had to suffer a bit first. Water Guy jumped back and made some space.


    Slick only had time for one more attack so he followed after him and reached for the token, this time paying attention to its movements.


    Water Guy once again threw the token into his body.


    ¡°The same trick won¡¯t work twice!¡± Slick shouted.


    But who said it was the same trick? The token was in his right hand this time, which allowed him to pull off a little stunt. Water Guy wore a spatial ring on his right hand and, stored in it, were the two one-off magics he received from Lightning Guy. He had already used the worm bolt. This time around, he¡¯d taken out a small yellow pellet and hid it behind the token. When the token and pellet were thrown into his body, they both started to rotate until the pellet was at the forefront and the token was behind it. A ludicrous amount of light shone out from the pellet, blinding everyone other than Rud and Teng in the hall. The pellet was a ball of light that would bewilder and fluster enemies who were caught off-guard, like a pocket flashbang. The light wasn¡¯t originally supposed to be this bright though. Because it was used inside of Water Guy¡¯s water body, he was able to create a small infinite loop, using mana to bend and reflect the light repeatedly to infinitely generate energy. The release of that energy was bright beyond reason and just further served to show how good a duo Lightning and Water Guy would make. With that much light, there was no way in hell Slick could see even a centimetre in front of him, let alone follow the token¡¯s movements. Water Guy simply morphed his body into a wave and sped away.


    ¡°Congratulations¡­ On passing the test splendidly and becoming a disciple.¡± Teng gave praise in an attempt to hide the fact he had forgotten this person¡¯s name.


    Rud was getting a little fidgety. He too had forgotten this guy¡¯s name! How was this even possible? Rud had a memory spanning hundreds of years, the nature of his job demanded it. He knew, by heart, the names of every single person that had ever been a disciple of the sect since he himself joined. Could he seriously not remember this one person¡¯s name? He opened up the Vermillion Record that he had used to jot down everyone¡¯s identity earlier, flicking straight to the page he had put Water Guy¡¯s name on. The irony of being able to remember the specific page but not the name of the person on it was certainly not lost on him either. When Rud finally saw the name, he just looked at it plainly. No eyes were narrowed or widened. There was nothing to say. It was just a really plain name. Rud sighed as he closed the book.


    When one¡¯s cultivation reached the mental accumulation realm, it became possible to send mental messages without needing to speak aloud. After Rud closed the book, Teng sent him a mental message asking about Water Guy¡¯s name as he too was curious.


    Rud suddenly looked visually shocked. How could this be!? How is this possible!? Rud was practically screaming internally.


    He had already forgotten the name.


    Is this some kind of curse!? Rud thought.


    Both witches and wizards existed in this world and so too did curses. The ¡®curse aspect¡¯ came under the runemancy open pillar. It focused on arts that would leave permanent effects unless removed by an equally powerful runemancer. Rud couldn¡¯t fathom how it could be possible for him to have already forgotten his name again unless a curse was somehow involved. Rud was somewhat well-versed in the runemancy pillar and gave Water Guy a quick inspection only to find nothing. Absolutely nothing! Never in Rud¡¯s life had he ever met someone so forgettable! Or, well, maybe he had and he just didn¡¯t remember them...

 Chapter 10: A Man Amongst Many Other Men

    As Rud was recovering from his mini freakout session, Water Guy had moved off to the side and gave Lightning Guy a high five. Lightning Guy then took Water Guy¡¯s place on the stage, standing in the exact same spot. If it weren¡¯t for Water Guy¡¯s broken arm, Slick genuinely would have been unable to tell the difference between them without using mana.


    ¡°4th realm meridian expansion, 3rd stage.¡±


    ¡°Bloody hell, even your voice is dull and forgettable. Are you hoping you can make enemies and then bore them to death by blending in with the crowd until they lose interest?¡± Word for word, Slick repeated the same thing he said to Water Guy. They gave off the same vibe, looked the same, had the same cultivation, spoke the same, acted the god-damn same and so he figured, why not insult them the same way?


    Lightning Guy sighed plainly. ¡°Rude.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being fucked with, right?¡± Slick couldn¡¯t help but turn and ask Rud. ¡°There¡¯re recording devices in here somewhere and you¡¯re just making a fool out of me because I broke that stupid wall. This is a really childish prank, Rud.¡±


    ¡°I mean, there are recording devices in here, but believe me when I say I¡¯m just as baffled by this as you are.¡± Rud just shrugged his shoulders. He decided to just stop caring and accept that this world was simply far vaster and weirder than he knew.


    ¡°Your trial will start in three, two, one, BEGIN!¡± Teng made the decision to just pretend none of this was actually happening and start the trial.


    Lightning Guy jumped back and formed a bow and arrow made of lightning.


    ¡°I swear to god!¡± Slick was furious.


    ¡°Coiling Draco!¡±


    Thank fuck, Slick thought. If Lightning Guy shouted ¡®Vortex!¡¯ just now, Slick would have flown into a rage, used mana, and slapped the shit out of him.


    Another unique art! How very unique! Or not! It was getting hard to tell with these two¡­


    Coiling Draco was an art of the ¡®Current Modification aspect¡¯, which came under the lightning pillar. The aspects under the lightning pillar, funnily enough, were actually nearly identical to the water pillar. ¡®Flow¡¯ and ¡®Current Modification¡¯ focused on shaping magic. ¡®Surge¡¯ and ¡®Amp¡¯ revolved around large quantities of magic, and ¡®Ice¡¯ and ¡®Thunder¡¯ were alternate aspect options that were slower counterparts that hit harder.


    The arrowhead sparked and mutated into a dragon; its tail wrapped around Lightning Guy¡¯s arm as the head raced forward. The arrow was fired and some differences between it and Water Guy¡¯s became immediately apparent. Lightning Guy¡¯s arrow was not going to hit as hard, but it was so much faster that Slick didn¡¯t even have time to raise his guard. The dragon opened its jaw far wider than it looked like it would ever reasonably be able to, and chomped on Slick¡¯s head.


    Inside the dragon, Slick saw a strange light getting closer and closer.


    Thud


    Slick¡¯s head was smacked backward by a punch from Lightning Guy who had travelled through the tail of the dragon, along the body, and finally through the mouth. The impact of Water Guy¡¯s arrow was far more devastating, but ¡®Coiling Draco¡¯ allowed Lightning Guy to quickly follow up on the original attack using the element of surprise. Naturally, the punch he had thrown wasn¡¯t simple either as it was wrapped in thunder aspect magic. Actually, if it weren¡¯t for the worm bolt Water Guy had added to his arrow, the overall damage of Vortex would be pretty much identical to Lightning Guy¡¯s Coiling Draco. Lightning Guy quickly hopped back in the dragon and returned to his original position through the tail. The dragon hung around Slick though, cautiously floating around him.


    If Slick ignored it and let it follow him, Lightning Guy could jump out of it at any moment, either to ambush him or to escape from an attack. If Slick went after it, it would no doubt run away and be a real pain in the ass to catch, wasting his time. There was no real correct answer here so, in the end, he decided to ignore it. Now that he knew it could act as a portal, he just needed to keep an eye on it. If anything, he wanted Lightning Guy to use it. Slick closed in Lightning Guy.


    The dragon opened its maw and moved closer.


    Slick prepared for Lightning Guy to jump out from within.


    Lightning Guy simply ran away.


    The dragon also backed away when Slick showed hesitation. No-one ever said Lightning Guy had to jump through it.


    Slick decided to throw caution to the wind and just charge blindly at Lightning Guy. What was there to be scared of really? Even if Lightning guy jumped through the portal when he wasn¡¯t looking, he could just try a bit harder than he had been up until now and punch him real good! Slick ran at Lightning Guy again but didn¡¯t stop for the dragon this time. He threw a punch using the hand on the opposite side of the dragon to keep an option available just in case.


    The dragon gave up on attacking and veered around the back of Slick to his other side.


    As Slick¡¯s punch was about to hit Lightning Guy, he disappeared into the dragon tail wrapped around his arm. Although Slick tried to avoid this exact scenario, Lightning Guy had appeared on the same side as the fist he had just used. Not that Slick cared, he¡¯d already decided he was going to be a bit less lenient this time so this didn¡¯t concern him at all.


    Before Lightning Guy could even think about raising his arm to attack, Slick¡¯s outstretched arm vanished. Suddenly Lightning Guy¡¯s entire world went completely black thanks to the cold, metal hand grabbing his face.


    Slick could have just as easily grabbed the token, but he knew it would be unfair to try that hard and expect anybody to still pull off a win. Plus, Teng and Rud would for sure get really mad at him for using that much force. Still though, he was going to make sure this guy was hurt at least a little before letting him go.


    Smack


    Slick gave a single, forceful palm to Lightning Guy¡¯s stomach who couldn¡¯t even make any sound other than violent coughing in return. Slick made sure not to hit him hard enough to break anything like he did accidentally with Water Guy, but how could he let him get off this much easier than his brother from another mother? Slick raised Lightning Guy, who was still rather rudely coughing into Slick¡¯s hand, and slammed down toward the platform.


    Bang


    Slick¡¯s open, completely empty hand touched the bottom of the platform surrounded by a torrent of electrically charged water.


    While Lightning Guy was being slammed downward, he gave up on trying to remove the hand attached to his face and instead took out a miniature, translucent pearl. When the pearl was crushed, it let out a pocket tsunami that flooded the immediate area. Slick was too sturdy to attack with the tsunami directly, and the water wasn¡¯t going to soften the impact of the slam much, but it did allow Lightning Guy to turn into lightning and flow through the water to avoid being slammed altogether.


    Slick was currently standing underwater with his palm on his face. Stupid! How could you forget that he would have tools from the Water Guy? But Slick wasn¡¯t going to give up that easily. He promised violence, and he was going to deliver! He firmly planted the tips of his toes on one foot on the floor and mentally prepared himself to get really dizzy.


    Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrllllllllllllllllllllllllll


    Slick started spinning like a top in order to create a vacuum of water with him at the centre. Gradually, all the water that Lightning Guy let out had formed a whirlpool around Slick.


    Unfortunately for Lightning Guy, he was still in the whirlpool. The rapid spinning combined with the stomach blow he took earlier made him throw up a little in his mouth. Thankfully, he was still in his lightning form and no one saw it so, although he felt truly miserable, he wasn¡¯t embarrassed at least.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Slick¡¯s spinning came to an abrupt halt and bits of water burst outward like tiny bullets. Lightning Guy was also sent flying straight into the floor, smacking his back into the platform and causing immense pain in his spine. He let out a quick shriek of pain and writhed around a bit. There were only five seconds left, but he couldn¡¯t move anymore as Slick had seriously overdone it. Who knows how many bones were broken?


    Slick felt really guilty but, if he was going to be reprimanded for it, he might as well take the token and then let Rud and Teng decide what to do with Lightning Guy after. They¡¯d probably still let him in as the force used by Slick was definitely overkill and a clear violation of what was acceptable. The test was supposed to be hard, and Slick never showed any leniency, but he had definitely been a bit too extreme this time. Slick took a step next to Lightning Guy and bent over to take the token.


    Wow, Slick muttered in his mind in disbelief. Has he seriously not given up? Out of the corner of his eye, Slick saw Lightning Guy pointing a little object at him. It was a small scale, intricately detailed ice pyramid, the tip of which was pointed in his direction. Slick could tell at a glance this thing was going to encase him in ice if he didn¡¯t dodge it. Unfortunately for Lightning Guy, Slick had more than enough time to move out of the way and come back for the token. Even if it did hit him, it wouldn¡¯t stop him for long enough anyway. Slick was mid jump when a small smile crept up on his face involuntarily. For two no-names, they sure are unbelievable. This sect is lucky to have them, he praised inwardly.


    Lightning Guy didn¡¯t detonate the pyramid immediately. Instead, he flipped it around and pointed it at himself. He wasn¡¯t going to lock Slick in ice at all, he was going to use it on himself to buy time. This was incredible determination. To Slick, that magic really wasn¡¯t anything special but, to Lightning Guy, it was a pre-prepared attack at the same cultivation level as him, hitting him at point blank range. That, of course, isn¡¯t even taking into account his previous injuries. If he stayed frozen for too long, he¡¯d probably end up killing himself with this stunt of his. Luckily, he wasn¡¯t in such a sorry state that he would die in just five seconds, so Slick let him do it.


    The mini pyramid shone brilliantly for a quick moment before trapping Lightning Guy in a larger version of the pyramid at its core. Slick wouldn¡¯t be able to break in before time ran out. If he¡¯d been hit with it, then breaking it from the inside would have been far harder but taken far less time as he could shatter it all at once from the core. From the outside, it was certainly easier, but it would take much longer to chip his way to the centre bit by bit. He couldn¡¯t get the token even if he wanted to, but that didn¡¯t stop him from punching the pyramid to start breaking it. He still needed to get that brave idiot out after all.


    Time ran out and Teng wasn¡¯t entirely sure what to do. ¡°Um, congratulati¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait until he¡¯s out, you muppet,¡± Rud interrupted.


    Slick finally broke through the pyramid and carefully picked Lightning Guy up using mana to avoid making his spinal injury any worse. He put him down in a safe position and fed him a healing pill that Teng threw over. Lightning Guy was still shivering and that was causing him even more pain as he was unable to keep his back still. Slick reached over and put his hand on his forehead. A hole in Slick¡¯s palm opened up and a small finger poked through, touching Lightning Guy¡¯s head. The finger was using mana to spread heat magic through Lightning Guy to stop him from shivering.


    Ares made note of this. There was a chance it might end up being relevant during his fight depending on how it went. Just from this little interaction, Ares figured out what Slick¡¯s summon most likely was and could do. Most robo summons worked individually from their creator, but it seemed that Slick¡¯s summon synergized with him quite nicely. Then again, while Ares was sure he could make Slick use mana, he wasn¡¯t sure he was at the point where he could make him use his summon just yet. Still though, it was good to be cautious and prepared.


    ¡°Congratulations on becoming a sect disciple after a hard-fought battle. Your determination is truly commendable,¡± Teng gave sincere praise. Although Water Guy had technically done better, it was still less impressive than what Lightning Guy had pulled off. Funnily enough, If it weren¡¯t for Teng forgetting Water Guy¡¯s name, he probably wouldn¡¯t have praised him at all. But hey, fate works in strange ways; it seemed like if one was destined to be praised so too was the other. What an interesting duo. He may not remember their names, or even their faces, but he definitely respected them!


    Aejaz was nervously staring at Appa who was currently having the time of its life being petted. He was truly hoping Appa would go next, but it looked like it had no intention of moving and interrupting this joyful occasion whatsoever. He already knew Ares would want to go last, not because he was egotistical and had a ¡®save the best for last approach¡¯, but for a different reason entirely. If Ares said he was confident enough to force Slick to use mana, then Aejaz didn¡¯t doubt for a second that Slick was going to use mana, or at least suffer heavy consequences for his stubbornness if he didn¡¯t. Aejaz was a smart individual who could easily follow a train of thought, especially Ares¡¯.


    If Slick was forced to use mana, it was most likely because he would receive serious injuries if he didn¡¯t.


    If he remained stubborn and chose not to use mana, then he would sustain an injury.


    If he sustained an injury, the test would have to temporarily end and the people after Ares would have to wait.


    That wasn¡¯t a concern if Ares went last.


    Aejaz sighed before walking up to the platform. At least he had a somewhat feasible plan in his mind, but he still felt anxious.


    He wasn¡¯t as good at fighting as Ares.


    He was nowhere near as brave as Lightning Guy.


    He wasn¡¯t as defensively solid as Li Li.


    He couldn''t hide like Dirk.


    He couldn¡¯t run like Onno.


    He didn¡¯t even have any combat suitable arts just yet as the ones he wanted to make were mental attacks and he wasn¡¯t in mental accumulation.


    ¡°4th realm meridian expansion, 8th stage,¡± Aejaz spoke whilst clearly distracted by the looming beatdown headed his way. He knew he really couldn¡¯t avoid it and, for the sake of his plan, he didn¡¯t have to. It was actually probably better if he just let it happen, but it still wasn¡¯t going to be pleasant.


    ¡°Rud, how old is he?¡± Slick was curious.


    ¡°17,¡± Rud had a smile on his face as he spoke.


    ¡°A 17-year-old 4th realm, 8th stage? What on earth is Red Sun feeding these kids?¡± Slick was amazed. ¡°Anyway, you look scared shitless. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be famous or something? On the way over, I heard the name bandit ¡®brothers¡¯ being thrown around. Honestly though, after looking at you, I can¡¯t help but feel like he¡¯s the one that carries all the weight.¡± Slick pointed at Ares who was still contently stroking Appa¡¯s head. Slick wasn¡¯t entirely sure if what he said was true but, just judging by their completely different attitudes, he could tell that those particular words might potentially strike a chord. Ares definitely seemed like the leader of the two; he was fearless in comparison and seemed less phased by just about everything with his blas¨¦ vibe. Ares wasn¡¯t nervous at all, and it wasn¡¯t just because his mind was distracted by an unusually cute piece of floating cloth.


    Of course, Slick wasn¡¯t aware of Ares'' or Aejaz¡¯ thoughts on the matter, but he was still right, even if for the wrong reason. Ares truly was the de-facto leader of their little two-man group and he really did do the heavy lifting. Yes, Aejaz made their lives easier by stealing, but Ares could do that just as easily. Aejaz on the other hand, would definitely struggle to deal with criminals as easily as Ares had done. Ares was stronger despite the cultivation deficit. Despite this, Aejaz had his own things going for him and his training was going a lot better than he himself thought it was. Deep down though, Aejaz still felt like he wasn¡¯t doing enough. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right actually,¡± Aejaz tried to make it sound like he didn¡¯t care, but he couldn¡¯t fool Ares even if he could fool everyone else.


    ¡°Uh, ok then. No-one¡¯s ever agreed with me before.¡± Slick didn¡¯t know where to go from here as this was a truly unexpected development.


    ¡°Alright, ready yourselves. The trial will start in three...¡±


    Thump Thump


    Aejaz could feel his own heartbeat.


    ¡°... Two¡­¡±


    Thump Thump


    Was Ares really going to kick him until stardust came out?


    ¡°... One¡­¡±


    Thump Thump


    Bop


    ¡°Huh?¡± Teng halted his countdown as a golden bead, about twice the size of an adult¡¯s thumb, went flying over to Aejaz and hit him directly on the head.


    Aejaz caught the bead in a panic, thinking he missed the countdown and was already under attack. When he looked down, he realised Ares had passed him a ¡®Shock Bead¡¯. Although it wasn¡¯t the first art Ares had created for the destruction pillar, it was the first one he ended up being capable of using in a fight. Aejaz could still remember the joy on Ares'' face when he used an art of the destruction pillar for the first time. He also vividly remembered his own face twisting into one of pure, ironic, shock when it went off.


    This thing is dangerous!


    Ares had never given him one before. Aejaz only had himself to blame for that though really. When he first asked for one, he¡¯d asked if he could ¡®play with it¡¯ and Ares had never let him come even remotely near one since. Aejaz had watched him slowly refine the art for years as it progressively grew stronger and became quicker to create while, throughout all those years, resisting the near-unstoppable urge to steal one.


    The Shock Bead was perfectly clear on the outside to the point it looked as though it were made of extremely thin and delicate glass. Inside, it was filled to the brim with a viscous, dark-gold liquid. That liquid was annihilation magic and would cause immense chaos when set off. Even from where Rud, Teng, and Slick were standing, all three of them could feel an aura of pure carnage emanating from that thing. Despite its incredible power, it only took Ares a small amount of mana to create and he could do so in about a second flat. Of the two annihilation arts he currently knew, it was the lesser art in terms of raw power, but far superior in terms of flexibility and mana cost. These things could be carried around and used at will by absolutely anyone which was another major plus.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you agreed with that idiot.¡± Ares pointed at Slick. ¡°But I¡¯m not going to say anything or do anything about it. You can fix your own issues yourself. If you want to fail like an imbecile, then go ahead, you can do whatever you want,¡± said Ares as he went back to petting Appa. ¡°Well, I say that, but I should warn you that if you either fail or accidentally aim that Shock Bead over here, I¡¯ll fucking kick the crap out of you. Or could it be that you think a walking scrapheap that¡¯s sorely lacking a mute button is somehow scarier than I am?¡±


    Aejaz stood up straight and visibly shivered. Screw that! He would much rather throw the Bead at Slick. Suddenly, Slick looked a whole lot less monstrous than previously; at least in comparison to Ares anyway.


    ¡°About that bead¡­¡± Rud purposefully trailed off at the end of his sentence to allow Ares to explain.


    ¡°I made it, he¡¯s using it. If those two can do it, then so can he,¡± Ares spoke as if he were declaring rules that he himself made while pointing at the Lightning and Water Duo.


    Everyone¡¯s mind was blown at this unprecedented level of bluntness but, then again, he was technically right. Rud was a little annoyed, but only because what he actually meant by his question was ¡®what the hell is that thing!?¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, he can use it.¡± Surprisingly, it was Slick that gave the green light, but that only further vexed Rud as he was just about to clarify his question; and he had no qualms with him using it to begin with!


    Everyone present was incredibly curious about the bead as there was no way of telling how powerful it was or what exactly it did. Just because it had a domineering aura, it didn¡¯t mean it was guaranteed to be equally strong. Everyone was also curious as to what kind of magic that thing was made of as no one recognised it. Even if it were a unique aspect, someone should have realised which pillar it was under at the very least. Not even the Elders had seen it before. Ares was the only person to have not used mana up until now and this bead only made everyone more curious. Was it a unique art or another unique aspect like Aejaz¡¯s?


    ¡°Well alright then, guess I¡¯ll try this again. Your trial will start in three, two, one, BEGIN!¡±

 Chapter 11: Not With a Whimper, but With a Bang

    Aejaz¡¯s game plan was simple; fight defensively and run away whenever possible. He would put up a ¡®fight¡¯ for as long as he could then, inevitably, ¡®accidentally¡¯ lose the token. Thankfully, the trial wouldn¡¯t end if the token was taken, Aejaz just needed to be holding it at the end of the trial. He¡¯d continue to play around with Slick while ¡®trying¡¯ to take the token back, and then just steal it at the last second with his magic. He wasn¡¯t sure how to use the Shock Bead just yet and where it would fit in with his plan, but he knew that using it early would just be a waste.


    When the fight started, Aejaz backed off and ran.


    As Aejaz kept running around, Appa turned to Ares and asked him a question, ¡°What is that Bead?¡±


    Rud immediately stopped paying any attention to the stage and looked over at Ares. He already knew how the fight was going to go as Slick was completely unaware of this guy¡¯s magic and talent as a thief. He could also immediately figure out how Aejaz planned to play things out and quickly lost interest when he started running around. Eventually, Aejaz would have to stop and fight, and then Rud could at least gauge his combat ability. Until then though, he was more curious about the Bead.


    ¡°That thing is called a Shock Bead. They¡¯re an art of mine.¡± Ares held up a single finger and dark gold light swirled around the tip. After around a second, a Shock Bead identical to the one given to Aejaz appeared. ¡°They¡¯re quick and easy to make, so unfortunately, they aren¡¯t that strong compared to my other arts, but they¡¯re quite fun little toys to use. If you¡¯d like, I can make you some later.¡±


    ¡°Later?¡± A slight crinkle appeared on Appa¡¯s head. It was pouting! So cute!


    ¡°Hahaha, yes, later. Although they¡¯re toys, they¡¯re still quite dangerous if you aren¡¯t careful with them. Let Aejaz and I show you how to use them first during our trials, they can be tricky little things if you use them properly or an absolute disaster if you¡¯re haphazard with them.¡±


    ¡°Ok!¡± Appa was happy again, not that it took much as it was a rather simple creature to please.


    Rud was a little disappointed when Ares said they weren¡¯t as strong as his other arts but, then again, how could something that was formed so quickly ever really be that strong? Perhaps he had unreasonable expectations from the start. Still though, the magic was foreign to him and he still wanted to see exactly what it did. If it were a unique aspect like Aejaz¡¯, then who knew what sort of effect it would have. Ares wouldn¡¯t just give Aejaz something useless, and Aejaz seemed a whole lot more confident after receiving that thing.


    ¡°You sure can run, but can you fight?¡± Slick smiled innocently as he clicked his metal knuckles.


    Aejaz had fully backed into the corner with both arms stretched in front of him and his wrists waving from side to side. ¡°No, not really. I¡¯m more of a gambling man myself. You wouldn¡¯t happen to be interested in playing the shell game with me, would you?¡±


    Slick threw a punch and was surprised when he hit nothing but air. Aejaz had slid under his arm and freed himself from the corner. Slick wasn¡¯t chasing him around for God knows how long again so he put a bit more effort in and increased his speed to catch up. He made sure to hold back on his next attack so as not to have a repeat of last time. Surprisingly, once again, he hit nothing. Strange. This guy was slippery as all hell! Like a weasel, Slick thought.


    Ares had spared a great deal of effort to train Aejaz properly. In fact, Aejaz should really have been more confident in himself. Even though he had no combat arts, his martial prowess was really quite high, at least when it came to dodging anyway. Unfortunately, he would compare his fighting skill to either Ares or his own thievery skills, so he constantly underestimated his own competence as there wasn¡¯t much comparison in either department. He could fight decently enough but, when it came to dodging, he was pretty much as good as Ares which was an astounding feat as Ares was extremely well versed in that department. Ares had drilled into him the value of not being hit, even more so than the value of hitting others. Of course, this was done the hard way, i.e., continuous beatings, but it had worked nicely. Aejaz was near unhittable against people whose cultivation was similar to his, even if it were a bit higher. Aejaz¡¯ cultivation was already monstrous for his age, so he was basically untouchable by anyone in the same generation as him which was no small ace to have up his sleeve.


    Slick had regulated his punches and their speed to be roughly what a 4th realm 8th stage cultivator was capable of which was the reason he kept missing. The punches Slick was throwing were slower than the ones Ares would throw. Not by a large margin but, if Aejaz could somewhat reliably dodge Ares, then he would have no trouble whatsoever with Slick. Slick sent out a straight palm which Aejaz deflected by slapping to the side.


    A punch was far harder to slap sideways but easier to push down. A palm, on the other hand, had the exact opposite properties and shouldn¡¯t be met head on, but from the side where it can easily be influenced at the base of the thumb or the tips of the other fingers.


    Slick lifted both hands overhead and conjoined them. He then swung them down like a sledgehammer, but ended up in a really awkward situation when Aejaz practically leapt head first into his chest. How was he supposed to hit Aejaz like this from the position he was in? If Slick followed through, it would be slow and lose all power. If he gave up and rushed to defend, he would still take at least one hit before he could lower his arms. Why the hell is he so God damn annoying? Slick wondered in his mind while staring at the ceiling after he took a palm to the chin from Aejaz. Well, whatever. At least I got the token. Slick had decided not to block or attack, but to instead go for the token that was in an oddly convenient place for him to take. For a moment, he was curious if the token was a fake as it was far too easy to steal but, upon closer inspection, he realised it was the genuine thing. This just made the situation feel even more off to Slick as Aejaz was surprisingly almost as good a fighter as Li Li. How could he have made such a simple, obvious error in judgement right after all those other clever decisions? He looked over at Aejaz and saw that he was seemingly dismayed at having lost the token. Was he seriously just an idiot?


    Aejaz, however, was struggling not to grin from ear to ear or jump for joy when his plan worked. He successfully managed to get the token into Slick¡¯s possession without having to go through a smackdown first! Mission accomplished! Now he just needed to keep up appearances for a few seconds.


    There were only ten seconds left on the clock, so he decided to make his move soon, and it was going to be a flashy one at that! Aejaz realised that Ares must have intentionally given the Shock Bead to him with the same plan in mind that he now had. Aejaz''s respect for Ares was renewed yet again. Ares had pinned down the exact method he would pick to win the trial before he had even gone up and thought about it himself! Now that was forward thinking! Aejaz secretly took out the Concealed Serpent and hid it behind his back with one hand while diverting attention to his right hand by taking out the Shock Bead. He played around with the Bead for about five seconds which made both Slick and Ares worried, albeit for different reasons.


    What is that idiot doing with so little time left? Slick wondered.


    That idiot is going to blow himself up, isn¡¯t he? Ares thought.


    It was time for Aejaz to undergo operation ¡®I don¡¯t want to have the stardust kicked out of me¡¯. The name was still a work in progress but, thankfully, the details of the plan itself weren¡¯t. Aejaz took a single long step with his right leg and bent his left leg, taking a low posture to the floor while leaning forward slightly. He held the Bead on the tip of his thumb using mana, and put his index finger behind it in a flicking posture. Although he could just throw the bead, and that would work too, he had seen Ares do this to drastically increase the travel speed and wanted to try it himself. Aejaz imbued his index finger with mana to blast the Bead at as fast a speed as he could.


    Clink


    The Bead being shot out of his hand made a loud sound that echoed throughout the hall and even created a small, circular ripple in the air around the point of impact where the Bead was released. For comparison''s sake, the Bead was quicker than Water Guy¡¯s ¡®Vortex¡¯, but slightly slower than Lightning Guy¡¯s ¡®Coiling Draco¡¯. As the distance between Aejaz and Slick wasn¡¯t that great, the Bead was definitely going to hit Slick.


    Of course, Slick had watched Aejaz do all of this so he was more than prepared to guard against it even if he couldn¡¯t dodge it. As for why he didn¡¯t run over and stop it in the first place, he still didn¡¯t know anything about Aejaz¡¯s magic and was more concerned with trying to keep the token away from him. Taking this into consideration, he made the choice to keep a moderate distance. As for why he didn¡¯t just run away, he wasn¡¯t allowed to. If he could run from people after taking the token, that would hardly be fair considering how much quicker he was than everyone else.


    Boooooooooooooommmm


    When the Shock Bead detonated, all hell broke loose and a dark-gold, dome-shaped explosion completely enveloped Slick. The explosion¡¯s radius was roughly 15 feet high and 20 feet wide, just a little bigger than Water Guy¡¯s lightning-imbued ¡®Vortex¡¯. This was an art of the annihilation aspect.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The hint was in the name.


    Slick was dazed in the lingering smoke; his ears were ringing from the shock and awe, and there was a small hole in his arm where he tried to block. The metal that had previously been in that hole had turned into shrapnel, lodging itself into his chest plate. His hands were still shaking from the impact. The reason why the Bead had such a drastic effect was because of his lowered cultivation and his refusal to use mana to block, but this was still beyond reason.


    Slick had been standing close to the back wall he previously entered from; that wall¡¯s hole was now twice as big.


    A nearby Elder sprinted over and looked through the hole, ready to fight at a moment¡¯s notice as he thought some terrorist had launched an attack on the sect.


    Teng was stupefied and just stared blankly as the dust settled, completely forgetting to end the trial.


    Rud¡¯s jaw had actually lowered a bit, enough for his mouth to be slightly open. His thoughts were muddled and he couldn¡¯t think straight after witnessing something even he couldn''t fully comprehend.


    The test takers to the side of the platform were utterly horrified. Onno had been standing closest to the explosion and had been knocked back onto the floor from the air pressure. Someone from among the crowd audibly gulped and everyone silently thanked their lucky stars none of the trials forced you to fight other participants. No ifs, no buts, someone could have very-well died fighting against Ares. How could any of them possibly handle that? At their cultivation level It was dodge, use a defensive art, or suffer miserably. Collectively, everyone came to the same conclusion; That¡¯s no toy. If that was a ¡®toy¡¯, then what was ¡®Vortex¡¯? Was it the playdough stupid kindergartners ate when no one was looking? Everyone present couldn¡¯t help but start asking themselves questions. Didn¡¯t he create that thing pretty much effortlessly? It only took about a second and basically no mana, right? Why was it such a massive explosion? What aspect was that? What the fuck is happening?


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m afraid¡­. You failed to, uhh, pass the test, Aejaz,¡± Teng stumbled over his words trying to act professional and maintain his non-existent calm.


    ¡°But I have the token, shouldn¡¯t I have passed?¡± Aejaz took his token out of his pocket and lifted it. During the Shock Bead fiasco, Aejaz had used his amulet treasure, the Concealed Serpent, to conceal all traces of his mana, allowing him to sneakily steal the token mid explosion. In hindsight, the amulet really wasn¡¯t needed. There was no chance anyone was going to focus on anything other than the explosion anyway. Case in point, not a single person had noticed him take the token. Everyone; Rud, Teng, and Slick included, all still thought he failed until he pulled the token out.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Oh, right. Umm, congratulations on becoming a member of the sect¡­¡± Teng¡¯s voice trailed off and he, alongside everyone else present, turned to stare at Ares, the culprit of this mess.


    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s everyone looking at me for?¡± Ares was pretending to be confused. Normally he wouldn¡¯t care about having everyone¡¯s attention like this, but his bloodline started acting up and he was slowly starting to revel in his own pride.


    ¡°Can someone please explain why it sounded like a bomb was set off in here?¡± The Elder who was standing at the hole was completely lost and had no clue what was happening.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, you can leave.¡± Rud had steeled his nerves and was the first to finally get back to normal. ¡°And you. Don¡¯t ¡®what¡¯s everyone looking at me for?¡¯ me. You know exactly why. You¡¯re going to start explaining things because that was very clearly not normal.¡±


    ¡°Really? It¡¯s normal for me, and him too I guess.¡± Ares pointed at Aejaz who was completely unfazed as he was already very familiar with Shock Beads.


    ¡°Good for you and good for him. What kind of art is that? What aspect is that type of magic? And what pillar does it come under? If you don¡¯t answer those three questions, I¡¯m not letting you take the trial.¡± Rud had too many questions go unanswered for far too long.


    ¡°Oh well, guess I¡¯ll leave then.¡± Ares smirked confidently. ¡°Your loss.¡± His bloodline was getting seriously rowdy, it couldn''t even tolerate something as simple as this. Still though, Ares wasn¡¯t particularly happy with that not-so thinly veiled threat either, so he decided to temporarily embrace the arrogance. What was the worst that could happen? He had already set up a long-range Shift before arriving here just in case things went south. He could safely leave at any time. It¡¯s not like the sect could afford to lose someone like him. Even just from that ¡®toy¡¯ alone, he held incredible value. If he could produce those Beads for other disciples, wouldn¡¯t they function as life-saving treasures? This wasn¡¯t even taking into account his promise as a cultivator, which was still technically unknown, but how low could it possibly be? After seeing that and knowing that it wasn¡¯t his strongest art, it would be foolish to consider him anything other than a cultivation genius regardless of his low cultivation.


    ¡°Tsk, fine, I shouldn¡¯t be blackmailing test takers, but I still want you to answer the damn questions,¡± Rud admitted he was wrong. It had nothing to do with his curiosity, but rather he was somewhat embarrassed for acting so impulsively. He would have apologised to any disciple in Ares¡¯ position as he knew was in the wrong. Rud was surprisingly an incredibly honest person and wasn¡¯t afraid to own up to his few and far between mistakes, pretty much all of which were a result of his bad mood rather than any logistical oversights.


    Ares was a little surprised as he could tell the ¡®apology¡¯ was genuine. Most Elders were typically quite conceited. Although his bloodline was nearly screeching at him to keep up the pretentious act, he ignored it. He didn¡¯t actually mind telling people about his unique pillar; after all, how the hell was he going to hide it? It¡¯s not like anyone could covet it either. If you weren¡¯t born affiliated with it, and you couldn¡¯t even sense it, there was no way you could use it. Even with variety cultivation it just couldn¡¯t be done. He couldn¡¯t be forced to teach what couldn¡¯t be taught, nor could he be forced to give what couldn¡¯t be given. People might get jealous, sure, but that was really all they could do.


    If Rud hadn¡¯t thrown in that little blackmail at the end earlier, he would have quite happily answered him the first time he asked. The destruction pillar is a great source of pride for Ares and showing it off makes his bloodline very pleased. Now that Rud had given his admission of fault, he was fine with telling him what he wanted to know, even if his tone was still a bit off. ¡°In regards to what kind of art it is, well, it explodes. It doesn¡¯t do anything else. It doesn¡¯t need to. There is something that only I and I alone can do with them, but I¡¯m not going to put all my cards on the table before the trial at least.¡± Ares shrugged his shoulders.


    There really wasn¡¯t anything fancy to his annihilation arts and there didn¡¯t have to be. The annihilation aspect focuses entirely on making large explosions, it''s nothing like his other two aspects at all.


    ¡°Ok, and what aspect was that? It¡¯s not like any other one I¡¯ve seen, so I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s a unique aspect, right?¡± Rud was glad to finally be getting some proper answers.


    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t know if I can call it a unique aspect or not.¡± Ares wasn¡¯t quite sure if he could classify it as one.


    ¡°What is it, and why not?¡± Teng was a little lost at that response, surely it either was or wasn¡¯t. What was there to be confused about?


    ¡°The aspect is the aspect of annihilation. As for why it might not be unique, well, I¡¯m sure people used to think aspects we¡¯re familiar with nowadays were once unique. Was the flow aspect considered unique the first time it ever appeared? What about current modification? Sure, now that we¡¯ve known about them for countless thousands of years, they aren¡¯t unique anymore, but for a time they might have been considered as such even if they really weren¡¯t. I don¡¯t know if annihilation is unique or not because every pillar has a standard set of aspects that aren¡¯t unique. Every now and then a unique aspect might pop up outside of that standard set, but I don¡¯t know if annihilation is part of the ¡®standard set¡¯ of the pillar it comes under. Maybe, in thousands of years¡¯ time, annihilation might not be as ¡®unique¡¯ as it is now.¡±


    ¡°I get what you mean, but you said it yourself, each pillar has a standard set. What¡¯s the difference between other unique aspects and yours? Why would other unique aspects not become standard, but yours might?¡± This was the part that still confused Rud as Ares¡¯ argument could basically be applied to any other unique aspect.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you''re thinking of pillars that already exist and have a standard set of aspects defined over a countless period of years. I never said the pillar that annihilation comes under was well established and has a long enough history behind it to make any such assumptions. To be more specific, I don¡¯t know if I have a unique aspect. What I do have, is an affiliation with three aspects that come under a unique pillar. Whether those aspects are unique or not isn¡¯t something I can say with certainty as they¡¯re currently the only aspects that have ever existed under that pillar,¡± Ares explained.


    Everyone was dead silent. A unique pillar? That went beyond everyone¡¯s realm of understanding, startling them. It took a good ten seconds before Slick finally broke the silence. ¡°Were you born with it? The unique pillar I mean, and what even is it? Didn''t you say there were three aspects that came under it too? What are they?¡± Slick had a number of questions and wanted to know what kind of pillar was packing that kind of nonsensical fire power.


    Pillars embodied various martial paths and theoretical ideas that served as the basis of the world, hence the name ¡®pillar¡¯. Pillars literally upheld the foundation of the world as everyone knew it. Everything in life, no matter how grand or how mundane, could be categorised under a pillar. How could a new pillar possibly be born? That would mean the birth of a new concept.


    Destruction, though, wasn''t a new concept, simply one that hadn¡¯t been explored previously, or rather couldn¡¯t be. No one else had ever been born with an affiliation for it, but that didn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t exist. As for why it only appeared now, there were only a handful of living beings privy to that knowledge, none of which Ares had come into contact with yet.


    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t born with it. I ¡®created¡¯ it. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say I found the broken, scattered pieces of the pillar and put it back together again. Or maybe it would be better to say I was allowed to find it? I don¡¯t quite know. The pillar is the pillar of destruction. Perhaps the world forbids the birth of anyone who can naturally sense it due its inherent function of destabilising every other pillar in existence? Honestly, I¡¯m not sure why I¡¯m the first to find it, I just know I have an affiliation with it. The three aspects that come under it are annihilation, disintegration, and nothingness. These three form the cycle of destruction. Nothingness is the essence of disintegration, disintegration is the essence of annihilation, and annihilation is the essence of nothingness. It¡¯s quite a strange cycle as the reverse of everything I just said is also accurate. This cycle is what makes me think these aspects are the ¡®standard¡¯ aspects, and not unique ones, due to how well they embody the ideology of the pillar.¡±


    Everyone had a contemplative look on their faces and were digesting this new information. This was completely unheard of and broke the mould that everyone and everything in this world was supposed to adhere to. The destruction pillar really lived up to its name. While everyone was silently thinking, Rud suddenly realised something important. ¡°Wait, if you¡¯re the first, then does that mean you¡¯ve ¡®created¡¯ everything? The arts, the fundamental ideologies, the mana conversion process, the cultivation process, and the properties of the aspects?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That, and a lack of cultivation resources, is why my cultivation has always been quite slow. It¡¯s simply unavoidable, but it¡¯s also worth it to stick with dedication cultivation, in my opinion.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go get something, you can start Appa¡¯s trial in the meantime,¡± Rud called out to Teng who was still lost in thought.


    ¡°Oh, ok. Are you ready Appa?¡±


    ¡°Hmmmmm¡­ Hmmmm. Ok¡­ Fine.¡± Appa seemed to really not want to go right now, but it eventually complied.


    ¡°I understand you''re still a little shocked about everything that just happened, but try to focus on what¡¯s ahead of you,¡± Teng encouraged Appa, attributing its unwillingness to go because its mind was still distracted from the prior events.


    But how could that possibly be the reason?


    Appa didn¡¯t care about anything that had just happened at all. Appa was practically ¡®walking¡¯, ¡®living¡¯, ¡®breathing¡¯ innocence taken form. A weird form, sure, but a form nonetheless. How could Appa be bothered with anything else when there was a much bigger issue on its mind right now?


    Appa begrudgingly took to the stage.


    ¡°You interrupted my petting time!¡± Appa complained cutely.


    ¡°Er, umm, sorry?¡± Slick¡¯s mental state was all over the place. Why was he being berated by a piece of cloth? This had to be the strangest entrance exam he¡¯d ever seen, and by a wide margin at that.


    ¡°Mental accumulation, 7th stage.¡±


    ¡°HUH!?¡± Slick was lost for words as he was unaware of the way damned shades cultivated. He was convinced there was something in the water around here.

 Chapter 12: Your Trial Has Already Started

    ¡°That¡¯s typical for a damned shade, Slick.¡± Teng was busy clearing up the misunderstanding.  ¡°They skip the physical oriented realms because it¡¯s irrelevant to their physique, but take longer in mental accumulation. Their cultivation speed returns to normal when they finish mental accumulation. Most shades specialise in mental attacks due to their familiarity with what they learn in the realm. Its current realm is roughly equivalent to 4th realm 5th stage for normal cultivators.¡±


    ¡°I am normal!¡± Appa interjected. It was sulking as it considered everyone else weird. How could it be the weird one? Flesh? Squishy. Metal? Sharp. Definitely not normal! That being said, being pet by a flesh hand felt nice... Would a metal hand feel good too if it wasn¡¯t done by a pointy part? Appa floated over to Slick. ¡°Pet me!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Slick felt like today would be the death of his sanity.


    ¡°Pet me!¡± Appa repeated.


    Slick obliged while Appa¡¯s blank eye sockets stared directly into his soul.


    ¡°Nope, too cold. I don¡¯t like you.¡± Appa nonchalantly turned around and floated away.


    ¡°... Well screw you too.¡± Slick didn¡¯t even know what he¡¯d done to offend this odd little creature, but he wasn¡¯t going to take whatever this treatment was lying down!


    ¡°Alright, settle down you two. Your trial will start in three, two, one, BEGIN!¡±


    ¡°Rime Climb!¡±


    Appa immediately took to the skies with the ice eagle it had used in the earlier round. It knew Slick couldn¡¯t use mana to catch it, making his life that much harder. Appa kept up a barrage of ice attacks while creating layers of water above Slick whenever he tried jumping. The water wouldn¡¯t stop him, but it did slow his ascent quite drastically.


    As this was happening, Rud returned to the hall with a crystal ball in his hands. These crystal balls were well known and no one present wasn¡¯t familiar with them. In fact, everyone other than Ares had used one before. The crystal balls were used to test pillar affinity. Aejaz had been tested when he was young using one of these. His parents confirmed he had an affiliation for the darkness pillar using a crystal ball which led to everything that came after. Ares knew what it was as he had seen members of the Chen Clan using them. He was a slave to them though and wasn¡¯t allowed to cultivate, let alone touch one of these things.


    Although most of them had been created in recent years, there were quite a few ancient crystal balls in existence. There was no real difference ever discovered between the two, people simply decided to create more for supply and demand. For once though, there might actually be a notable difference. There was no way an affiliation for a pillar no one knew of would show up on the modern crystal balls, but what if it could on the ancient ones?


    ¡°Here, put your hand on this and release some mana.¡± Rud held out the crystal ball and Ares did precisely that.


    He was curious too. Ares was actually somewhat confident it would detect ¡®something¡¯ thanks to some information he had learnt from the Primordial Blade prior.


    When encountering a treasure, by imbuing mana into it, it¡¯s possible to learn its name, origin, and capabilities. The Primordial Blade was a little different and would only ever give its name and incomplete fragments of information. When it became a personal treasure, only then could its user learn of its storied history in its entirety. When Ares lost consciousness six years ago, information about the Primordial Blade flooded his mind and he learned something truly awe-inspiring from what he saw. Something that no one else in the entire universe knew. Because of both what he learnt that day and the value of the sword, he almost never carried it around openly, instead opting to hide it within himself which was a neat little trick the blade was capable of. He couldn¡¯t actually wield it properly yet anyway so it was pointless to even consider. Unlike his pillar, a treasure was something that could be coveted. If someone possessed the means to take it from him, it would cause serious complications for him and unnecessary strife. Well, it¡¯s not like anyone but him could use it though; the prerequisite to using it was to have an affinity with the aspect of nothingness. This requirement was related to its shocking history.


    At the dawn of time, nothing existed. Even the concept of time and existence itself was fleeting. Just sheer nihility and nothingness, stretching into the infinite, red void. This state of ¡®being¡¯ was maintained for hundreds of billions of years, until an anomaly appeared. It¡¯s unknown, to Ares at least, what exactly caused this anomaly, but it led to the birth of a universe within the expanse of nothingness. However, space cannot exist where nothingness exists, and vice versa. The vast nothingness was far larger than the anomalous universe filled with space, so it had the advantage when it came to removing the foreign object.


    Ares had once explained to Aejaz that all of nothingness is connected so, when a universe appeared within an area of nothingness, it began to fold into itself as all parts of it were directly connected to one another. Any two living creatures that try to exist in the same spot will simply explode, but non-living objects and ¡®things¡¯ will merge with other objects and ¡®things¡¯ to become a single entity. The universe was constricted and intertwined with all other parts of itself in an endless loop thanks to the properties of the void it was trying to inhabit. It was forced to merge and continue folding in on itself for an inestimable number of centuries. Eventually, the empty universe folded one last time and took the form of a blade, more specifically, the Primordial Blade. In order to forcibly maintain that form so the universe wouldn¡¯t spring out again and lay claim to the ¡®space¡¯ the nothingness inhabited, the nothingness severed part of itself and used it to form a sheath to lock the sword within.


    Nothingness held the ability to mould and shape space, thanks to its properties, and was technically superior to space in even quantities, hence its capacity to control the universal-scale blade. That sheath of nothingness still held a connection to the void despite its separation, as all nothingness is connected, which is why it knew precisely what happened to the remaining void of nothingness in the following years. That knowledge was passed onto Ares who now knew the truth of how the universe he lived in came to be.


    The thing about an anomaly is that it''s impossible to tell what it will be and when it will happen. The first took hundreds of billions of years and formed a universe. Unfortunately for the void, a second anomaly, which just so happened to be another universe, sprung up only weeks later! The amount of time between two universes appearing is indeterminate, it could have even potentially never happened, yet it only took a few weeks. There simply wasn¡¯t enough void left to handle a second universe as it had used too much of itself to seal the first and had yet to properly recover from the incident.


    The nothingness vanished. Nothingness cannot exist where space exists after all. In its place, the universe that all life currently inhabits came into existence. It¡¯s unknown if that void disappeared permanently, or perhaps was and still is hiding somewhere behind the cracks of reality, but at the very least, a large part of it lived on in the form of a sheath. A sheath that grants its user the power of the entire universe that is held within it. Of course, Ares¡¯ cultivation was way too low to wield an entire universe. Even if he increased it, he would still only be able to wield a fraction of that power for a long time to come. Right now, he couldn¡¯t even draw the damn sword out of the sheath, but that didn¡¯t mean it was useless in its current state. He could hide it within him, but he could also hide things within it. It could function as a spatial ring did and hold objects for him. Needless to say, an entire universe could hold onto far more objects than some tiny ring. It could also house living creatures, but only small ones for now. One day, Ares would also have the ability to control the entire space and effectively be a god within it, but that day was still a way aways. Since this thing had existed for so long, there was a chance the ancients might have been familiar with at least the nothingness aspect, even if no one knew precisely what it was.


    Ares knew no one had ever been the blade''s master before him, which also meant no one had ever been affiliated with nothingness throughout the entirety of history. He also assumed this meant no one could use anything from the pillar of destruction at all as the three aspects were really closely intertwined with one another. Perhaps the ancients factored in the potential for an unknown pillar inside their crystal balls thanks to the presence of the Primordial Blade. It¡¯s not exactly like the blade hid anywhere. It was always in plain sight, but always unobtainable. Some cultivators with spatial aspects could feel something from it, but that was as far as anyone had ever gotten.


    When mana was placed into a crystal ball, the mana would become a specific colour and take a specific shape depending on the affinity of the cultivator. For instance, the water pillar would be represented by a blue wave. The fire pillar would come up as a reddish, orange flame.


    Ares¡¯ mana flowed into the crystal ball and his eyes widened at the image in front of him. A black and dark-gold sword with a tiny red gem on the hilt appeared on the crystal ball. The sword was sheathed and looked identical to the Primordial Blade. The ancients really were aware! They didn¡¯t know what kind of pillar it was, but they knew there was one that remained undiscovered. This was their way of acknowledging the unknown.


    Rud noticed Ares'' reaction and would inevitably question him, but was more preoccupied with the fact that he had actually gotten results. ¡°It seems like the ancients were aware of the pillar. Perhaps you weren¡¯t the first to wield it but, still, a long-lost pillar. This is revolutionary news!¡± Rud said.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m definitely the first. Also, the pillar isn¡¯t ¡®long lost¡¯, just previously undiscovered,¡± Ares spoke in a confident and assertive tone as he already knew the truth of the matter. This image confirmed it. They would have used a different symbol if they knew what the pillar was, but no one ever found out. The ancients had assumed the sword was related to a pillar when in reality it was just an aspect that came under it. ¡°They were aware of the existence of an unknown pillar but they didn¡¯t know it was the pillar of destruction. I¡¯m not going to tell you the specifics, but only I know what that sword truly represents. That sword has nothing to do with the pillar of destruction as a whole, but is instead related specifically to the nothingness aspect. The crystal ball is supposed to represent pillars, not aspects. The ancients had no clue,¡± Ares explained.


    ¡°You really can¡¯t say anymore?¡± Rud queried. This sounded like incredible information to be privy to!


    ¡°You know how treasures work. I¡¯ve come into contact with that exact sword before, and I know everything. That¡¯s all I¡¯m going to say.¡±


    ¡°You know the history of a sword that¡¯s existed since ancient times!? You¡¯ve not only seen it, but also touched it!? Where is it now?¡± Rud had a determined look in his eye.


    ¡°Like hell I know. I was lucky enough to find it once, then it just flew away,¡± Ares lied through his teeth, but did a damn good job of it without arousing any suspicion.


    ¡°The sword flew?¡± Rud asked.


    ¡°Yep. Believe me. When I first saw it, I was quite literally shocked to the core. Horrified even.¡± Ares most definitely wasn¡¯t actually lying when he said that. The stupid sword was so eager to finally meet a master it almost bloody killed him.


    The reminiscent look on his face and the conviction with which Ares spoke that last sentence single-handedly convinced Rud he wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Well, if you ever change your mind, please let me know about that thing¡¯s history. I really am very much interested.¡±


    Ares had no such intention. The Primordial Blade¡¯s history was enough to make even a sane man covet it. The power of an entire universe at your beck and call would inevitably put a massive target on Ares¡¯ back even if no one else could feasibly find a way to wield it.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    After Rud said what was on his mind, he went back to watching the remainder of the trial. He was sure there was more to this than Ares was letting him know, but he wasn¡¯t going to force the matter as he wasn¡¯t that kind of person. He also had the gut feeling he wouldn¡¯t get anywhere anyway. At least a new pillar had been confirmed though. He had witnessed history in the making. His name would probably end up in history books! Sticking around for the trials had absolutely paid off!


    Speaking of, the current trial had been relatively uninteresting and had continued in the same manner it started for quite some time now.


    ---------------------------------


    ??


    Slick decided enough was enough and finally put some extra oomph into his leap. He reached out, smashing all the attacks headed his way, and broke the ice eagle.


    Appa was falling flat, face down, completely motionlessly. Damned shades really were minimalistic in their movements whenever mana wasn¡¯t involved.


    ¡°Horrors Of The Mist!¡±


    Everyone on the side-lines were baffled. Why does something so cute know such an awful sounding art!?


    When Appa smacked face first into the platform, it burst out into a dense fog surrounding the entire hall. Slick couldn¡¯t care less about the fog as it only obscured his vision a bit. For everyone else though, little ice insects started crawling up their bodies and entering the orifices on their faces. Some people panicked and started trying to attack the bugs. Dirk, Onno, and Ares all dealt with the issue in a different manner though as they knew this wasn¡¯t real. It was an illusion in the form of an ice aspect mental attack.


    Onno was very familiar with the illusion pillar so, although he couldn¡¯t guard against a mental attack because of his low cultivation, he could at least recognise it and gradually dispel it after being hit by it.


    Dirk had no way of removing it but simply ignored it by changing his body¡¯s form to an immaterial blood mist to avoid feeling the discomfort. It wasn¡¯t real or particularly strong so it wasn¡¯t going to injure him if he paid it no attention.


    Ares ran his disintegration magic through his body, vaporising any bit of fog that would otherwise touch him as he correctly speculated that the fog was what caused the hallucinations.


    Rud made a safe zone for everyone else so they would stop running around like headless chickens and being a nuisance.


    ¡°Ohh~hhh nnnno~ooooo,¡± a sarcastic, high-pitched voice that made you want to punch the person speaking, rang out from the platform. ¡°What~ever will I~do? Attacking a robo¡¯s non-existent mental realm! I¡¯m soo~oooo sca~red.¡±


    Robo¡¯s were usually completely unaffected by mental arts as they didn¡¯t have a mental realm. The mental accumulation realm for Robo¡¯s was often called the ¡®processing refinement¡¯ realm instead. Their consciousness is an A.I programmed to have free will;, it isn¡¯t actually a consciousness nor is it free will that can be interacted with in any meaningful way. It was basically just a bunch of numbers and data. You could maybe short-circuit a robo¡¯s ¡®consciousness¡¯, but any other mental attacks were typically fruitless.


    Slick could just barely make out a white, ghostly, little figure standing in the fog. The usual cute cloth now had a spine-chilling appearance thanks to the other-worldly fog, and was staring deeply into Slick¡¯s eyes from afar. When Slick focused a little more, he noticed something was off. Usually, the rope around Appa formed a knot and wrapped the shade up quite tightly in the mid-section. Now though, there was no knot and the rope had loosened slightly. It wasn¡¯t enough for the rope to fall off though as a damned-shade¡¯s rope couldn¡¯t ever be removed.


    The end of the rope that was previously knotted was now taut and stretching off into the fog.


    Slick followed the rope and immediately raised his arms to block the incoming attack. At the end of the rope was a giant, black icicle that was about 12 feet long. The rope was fastened around Appa on one end, and the icicle on the other.


    Bang


    Slick stood firm after he slid back around four steps worth of distance. When he looked up, he saw his arms had frosted over. In front of him, the icicle was planted deep into the platform. The platform was slowly icing over because of the magical aura the icicle was emitting. Slick was too slow to notice the rope was swinging in his direction once again.


    This time, however, it was Appa that was being swung instead by using the icicle as the anchor. Appa wasn¡¯t on a collision course with slick, but would curl around him, tying him up in the rope as it kept circling around him. Appa had landed and opposite it was the planted icicle, in the middle was Slick who was enfolded and practically mummified in rope.


    Why is this rope so hard? Slick pondered as the temperature in his bindings kept getting lower and lower. Well, whatever. I need to be sure to spook that ghostly thing at least a bit before this ends. Slick raised his power and forced open a gap in the rope, allowing him to jump out. He rushed toward Appa who was suddenly jerked off to the side in an arc pattern.


    Appa was being flung around the icicle as if it had used a grappling hook! Appa made use of the momentum to propel itself away from Slick, with the icicle trailing behind it. The icicle caught up and overtook Appa, once again planting itself and icing over the immediate area where it landed. By repeating the earlier process, Appa could continually sling itself around at remarkable speeds by using the icicle as a sort-of movable grapple point.


    Slick wouldn¡¯t catch up at this rate, so he decided to increase his speed and give one more attempt at stealing the token before the time ran out. As Appa hurled itself once again, Slick vanished from his previous spot and appeared directly in front of Appa in mid-air.


    Appa¡¯s response was quite simple really. If it couldn¡¯t go forward, it would change direction! The icicle behind Appa slammed straight down, causing Appa to be immediately halted in mid-air in a C shape. Appa had no internal organs, though, and felt no pain from this sudden stop. The rope unravelled itself from the icicle and was retracted back to Appa who activated Rime Climb and formed another ice eagle underneath itself, flying away in the direction it had just come from. Appa had surprising aerial mobility for a piece of cloth that literally never moved. It could freely mix and match between swinging with the icicle for speed and the ice eagle for control, swapping between them at any given moment. Appa used this to its advantage while pestering Slick with long range ice attacks until time ran out.


    ¡°Congratulations Appa, you are now the first shade to have ever become a disciple of our sect!¡± Teng gave the usual speech.


    Ares was certainly happy for Appa, but he was incredibly concerned with the current momentum at which Appa, the ¡®mini missile¡¯, was hurtling towards him. He couldn¡¯t just dodge, he would never forgive himself, and he wasn¡¯t that much of an asshole to begin with. He was really in a complicated spot, but he decided to endure and simply take the hit. Appa was really soft, maybe it wouldn''t be so bad? The things Ares would do for cuteness truly had no bounds!


    Thud


    Ares was knocked to the ground on his back and sent sliding along the platform until he eventually came to a standstill. He managed to successfully hold on to Appa who was wiggling in his arms while quite happily and affectionately nuzzling his neck. Worth it! ¡°Haha, congrats Appa. I¡¯m going to have to go up now, but I¡¯ll be back in a minute, ok?¡± Ares said as he was rubbing Appa¡¯s head.


    ¡°Mmmmm. Ok.¡± Appa clearly wasn¡¯t happy, but ended up accepting it nonetheless.


    Ares got up and gently placed Appa to the side. He walked back over to stand in front of Slick with an evil smile on face. ¡°3rd realm, 8th stage,¡± Ares declared proudly as he made the throat-slitting gesture in as dramatic a fashion as possible. If Slick was going to talk shit anyway, he might as well goad him first.


    ¡°...¡± Slick had nothing to say. What could he say? Everyone else had some clear sore spot to attack, but Ares? He¡¯d been confident since he arrived, but that Shock Bead proved it wasn¡¯t misplaced. He had no known background other than the whole bandit thing and was surprisingly strong considering his cultivation. He wasn¡¯t ugly and he wasn¡¯t annoying (at least as far as Slick currently knew). He wasn¡¯t dumb nor was he loud and egotistical all the time. Sometimes he could be a little arrogant, but not enough to insult him over. Slick couldn''t think of a way of insulting him at all as he just didn¡¯t know enough about him. There was only one thing he could say that came to mind, so he decided to roll with it even if it wasn¡¯t an insult as it was better than nothing, ¡°How about we make a bet?¡±


    ¡°Oh? And what would we be betting on?¡± Ares¡¯ interest was piqued.


    ¡°If you can make me use mana, not only will you immediately pass, but you¡¯ll be put straight into the highest tier of outer court disciples.¡±


    ¡°SLICK!¡± Rud was not happy with this development. ¡°You can¡¯t make that decision yourself.¡±


    Outer court and inner court disciples were separated into five different tiers. Usually, the highest tier a new disciple could be placed into was the third tier. Slick was offering Ares a potential route straight into the fifth tier. In order to become an inner court disciple, one had to be at least fifth tier and have the appropriate cultivation to attempt the promotion test. Getting into the fifth tier was a struggle in and of itself; a struggle which numerous disciples constantly failed to overcome. It involved fighting fellow disciples and completing numerous missions to get in. Even if Ares¡¯ cultivation wasn¡¯t high enough to take the inner disciple test, this would probably save him a great deal of hassle in the long run. It would also grant him immediate benefits in the form of cultivation materials as they were distributed based on tier.


    ¡°Wait, let me finish.¡± Slick seemed rather determined. ¡°If you can¡¯t make me use mana, even if you pass the normal way, you¡¯ll have to tell us about that sword¡¯s history.¡± Slick had been paying attention to everything that went down on the side-lines during the previous trial. He too was just as curious as Rud and thought this would be a golden opportunity to get some information out of Ares.


    Rud, who was previously against the bet, remained silent. This was a proposal he was willing to accept as he still had a great deal of faith in Slick not screwing things up. Besides, if he really did lose the bet then, honestly, Ares deserved the reward. Rud wasn¡¯t too keen on bending the rules like this but he was willing to take a chance for such ground-breaking information.


    ¡°Alright then, sounds interesting. I have a stipulation though.¡±


    ¡°Big words for someone with such small chances. What is it?¡± Slick asked.


    ¡°If you¡¯re unable to continue fighting, that will also count as my win. You could just be stubborn and refuse to use mana even if I decapitate you. I¡¯m not so foolish as to take you, or anyone really, up on an unwinnable bet.¡±


    ¡°... Fine, that¡¯s fair, but you understand that¡¯s never going to happen right?¡±


    Ares winked at Slick. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°Cocky brat.¡±


    Lopping Slick¡¯s head off actually wouldn¡¯t even be that big a deal, he could simply put it back on again. Robo¡¯s were hard to kill as their ¡®bodies¡¯ didn¡¯t work in the same way as humans due to a lack of organs. They could also recover from wounds far quicker than humans and could even rebuild themselves to make the process quicker. The hole in Slick¡¯s arm, from the Shock Bead fiasco earlier, had already repaired itself.


    ¡°Are both parties satisfied with the contents of the bet and ready to start?¡± Teng was in ¡®official business mode¡¯ as the results of this bet were actually rather important.


    ¡°Yep,¡± both Ares and Slick replied simultaneously.


    ¡°In that case, your trial will begin in three, two, one, START!¡±


    Everything and everyone in the hall went dead silent. Everyone was paying rapt attention as this trial had become quite the significant event. So, when Ares completely vanished, only to materialise directly in front of Slick, everyone was amazed at his speed. Too fast! That had to be some kind of movement art. Of course, no one could possibly know anything about his arts as no one was familiar with his unique pillar. The Elders and Slick noticed weird traces of mana that felt like spatial magic, but was somehow, some-way, completely different.


    Ares had his right hand on the hilt of a sheathed katana on the left side of his waist. This was just an ordinary sword he looted from a criminal¡¯s corpse a few years back and had no special properties. Ares had no real preference for his weapon as long as it was light. The only reason he picked a katana over any other kind of weapon is because he felt it would be good practice for the primordial blade later.


    Ares performed a sword draw that, while incredibly quick, looked as though it had minimal power behind it.


    To Rud and Teng, the attack looked rather unimpressive. It was good for his cultivation stage, and considerably faster than someone at his cultivation should ever be able to do, but nothing that should give him such unwarranted confidence. Ares was certainly very well versed with swords though.


    Something inside of Slick was screaming at him not to get hit by the sword.


    Something felt off.


    There were traces of some unknown type of mana lingering on it that had yet to be made into magic. Slick felt an immense sense of danger from that mana which was simply unfathomable to him. Not only was Ares the first person to ever run towards him at the start of the trial, he was the first test taker to ever make Slick feel a looming sense of death. What the hell was that mana going to do? He wanted to dodge, but he also wanted to know what he was up against. In the end, he opted to jump back. There was no need to risk it against something so unusual.


    This looked quite odd to everyone else. Why had Slick jumped away? Was he seriously running? What from?


    Ares wasn¡¯t going to just let him off like that. It wasn¡¯t just his ¡®Shift¡¯ art that allowed him to move around quickly, he was naturally quite nimble on his feet too. The first swing missed, but Ares beautifully, seamlessly redirected the upward momentum of the swing in a counter-clockwise arc until it became a downward slash while taking a lightning-fast step forward. The follow-up attack was sharper than the first attack, and much quicker too.


    Slick was completely unable to dodge as he¡¯d only just landed from his jump. Even if he raised his strength to the limit of his lowered cultivation, he couldn¡¯t do anything from this position. Ares had clearly done this on purpose, intentionally showing off a slower speed than he was capable of to bait him into this situation. Slick had no other option other than to take this mysterious attack head on.


    Slick uppercut the descending sword and sparks flew as metal collided with metal. Slick could see and hear the sword grinding against his fist which confused him. How was he not winning this exchange? The sword strike had speed, but lacked power. It should have clanged off and been reflected. He could tell that weird magic was doing something, but couldn¡¯t tell what exactly from this angle, so he quickly retreated and looked at his fist. What the fuck WAS that!? Slick was inwardly yelling. Slick¡¯s fist had a massive, deep, wound running along the proximal phalanx of all four fingers other than his thumb. If he kept up that last exchange for any longer, those four fingers would have all been severed.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you listening?¡± Ares interrupted Slick¡¯s thoughts and leisurely stepped towards him. With his sword resting on his shoulder and his chin slightly raised, he looked down at Slick as if he were lording over a peasant and continued, ¡°Your trial has already started.¡±

 Chapter 13: God of War

    Slick was starting to get a little anxious now. He still didn¡¯t know what exactly hit him and he was already on the backfoot this early into the trial. As much as he hated to admit it, he was going to have to be the one defending. And the worst part? He couldn¡¯t run away because of the rules that were in place. It would also be far too embarrassing to run, although part of him wished he could as, if things got any worse than this, he would lose the bet. Ares hadn¡¯t even brought out the Shock Beads yet, let alone whatever else he had in his arsenal.


    Teng and Rud could see some clues as to what was happening but still couldn¡¯t fathom how Ares managed to make such a serious cut with what looked to be a relatively weak attack. What on earth was that mana? Rud thought back to the things he learned about this new pillar and he realised one of the aspects was called ¡®disintegration¡¯. Was that what he was using?


    It was.


    Ares would coat his weapon in disintegration magic at the exact moment of collision. He didn¡¯t keep it active at all times as that was simply a waste of mana. It¡¯s not like it cost him much to do it but, in the early cultivation realms especially, every bit of mana mattered and throwing it away senselessly would do him no favours in longer fights. Maybe when his cultivation got higher could he afford to be a bit more lavish with it. It had taken him many years to get the disintegration activation timing right, and he spent far longer than he cared to admit activating it too early or too late during training. Practice makes perfect though and eventually he could time it perfectly, consistently. This little trick wasn¡¯t an art, just an application of disintegration magic, so it wasn¡¯t too flashy, but man was it effective!


    Disintegration was objectively the highest lethality aspect in existence. More so than even annihilation, it just functioned on a much smaller scale. Annihilation was loud and showy, but disintegration was subtle and intricate, it was also considerably easier to shape than annihilation and was far more versatile too. Despite this, Ares had only made one disintegration art so far and it was defensive in nature. He wanted to make his first offensive disintegration art a mental attack, so he had to raise his cultivation first before exploring this aspect any further.


    Ares slightly leaned forward and planted his left foot heavily into the ground in front of him. This was the start of a little sword trick he had used countless times since he first created it six years ago. Ares had to fight people who were considerably older than him and had bulkier builds than him all the time when he was living on the streets with Aejaz. Rather than compete in a contest of brute strength, he made use of his mobility and smaller size to fight, and this sword technique was the epitome of his unusual sword style.


    Ares¡¯ sword style in general looked incredibly unrefined, but it was quick and difficult to stop. He nicknamed it ¡®free form¡¯ because there was no real definitive form to it. It was all about speed, avoiding direct confrontation, and constant motion to remain unreadable and difficult to pinpoint. It also involved lots of tricky manoeuvres that could either catch an opponent off guard or force mistakes and openings that Ares would counter and abuse.


    Ares jumped off the platform and raised his sword arm slightly back so that he was in a position to thrust down low. This attack was obvious and easy to dodge, but that was the point. It was what came after that would one day become infamous as Ares¡¯ most notable sword-wielding gimmick.


    Slick naturally took a few steps back, but not too many as this was perfect for him. The moment the sword missed; he would have an opportunity practically gifted to him to retaliate. He was worried that Ares had some trick up his sleeve, as he really didn¡¯t seem the type to do something so stupid, but this chance came at a time when Slick was running out of options.


    Ares'' sword thrust missed, but he managed to place himself right where he needed to be, slightly in front of Slick, and a little to his left. The sword buried itself into the platform while Ares was still mid-air, parallel to the floor and slightly above the sword. As Ares thought, Slick wouldn¡¯t be able to resist such a massive opening.


    Slick stepped forward and threw a left punch straight at his head.


    Ares quickly activated his disintegration magic to change the position of the buried sword so that it was slightly slanted away from him. He then deactivated it to lodge the sword back into the platform like an anchor. He used his upper body strength to drag the sword hilt backward and himself forward, causing him to flip around and face the ceiling. That little flip was enough to propel himself over Slick¡¯s fist. Ares reached out with his free left hand to grab onto Slick¡¯s arm while dragging the sword out of the platform. Ares used all the strength he had to push Slick¡¯s arm down, simultaneously lifting himself up and over Slick¡¯s shoulder in a clean arc with one last mid-air flip. Now Ares was behind Slick, still in the air, swinging his sword at the back of his neck.


    Using a sword lodged into the ground to flick himself in various directions was the perfect trick to lower people¡¯s guard while sticking to the core theme of Ares¡¯ mobile sword style. He could use it to advance and even retreat in any direction he wanted. The number of people twice, even thrice his age Ares had assassinated with this one move alone was at least in the hundreds. Then again, Slick was no ordinary cultivator. Although he would certainly be taken by surprise, he wouldn¡¯t allow himself to be beheaded like this. Although this attack was usually more than enough to settle things, Ares was expecting Slick to dodge once again and, sure enough, he did precisely what Ares had wanted him to. Slick had made one too many mistakes and now it was time to punish him and get some damage in.


    From the side-lines, everyone was completely entranced. That last move alone probably would have killed everyone other than Appa, and that was only because it had no arms or head to fall for the move in the first place. It all happened far too quickly. A single opening Ares had intentionally left as an avenue out of a desperate situation, somehow became Ares swinging at the back of Slick¡¯s neck. Everyone made a mental note of that specific attack and to stay well the hell away from it if they ever saw him using it. It¡¯s not even like it could be punished from range as he clearly had the option to flick to the sides or retreat back to dodge too. Interfacing with that move just seemed too annoying to bother with as it basically made everything a guessing game.


    It was really hard to pull-off, but incredibly versatile. Ares had nicknamed it ¡®Gamble¡¯ as the person fighting Ares had to either choose not to play his little mind game, or had to predict and commit to a direction with mediocre pay-off if they guessed right, but incredibly high risk if they got it wrong. Ares was in the process of making it into a unique art under the ¡®sword aspect¡¯ of the weapons open pillar as it was a staple of the way in which he fought and there was still room for improvement.


    Ares seemed like a really difficult person to fight against in general. He was absurdly quick and had unusual zig-zag-esque movement. His attacks didn¡¯t look deadly, but that¡¯s because the real attacks were whatever he was doing with his mana. It was an effective mix of speed and power that was hard to match. Plus, he had his bizarre sword attacks that came out of nowhere and his deft footwork which allowed him to promptly disappear before a counter attack could be launched. He was permanently in motion with his body down low to the ground and his cape swaying after him, creating this weird illusion, thanks to afterimages, that he was both everywhere and nowhere at the same time. His cape left a long, pitch-black trail of feathers that lingered temporarily wherever he stepped. All in all, it was actually rather beautiful to watch.


    Back on the platform, Slick was in full focus mode. Despite being caught out by Ares'' trick, he still managed to jump forward and evade the neck slash. He twisted mid-air to turn around and keep an eye on Ares. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off him for a second. Sure enough, he turned around to see Ares completely unbothered by his unsuccessful attempt, already in motion doing something else.


    Ares hadn¡¯t landed yet, and neither had slick.


    Ares snapped his leg closest to the floor straight down, making a heavy thud sound.


    ¡°Shock Bead!¡±


    ¡°Huh!?¡± Slick began to panic immediately as soon as he heard those dreaded words for multiple reasons. First, if those things had hurt him when he lowered his cultivation 4th realm 8th stage; how much damage would they do now that he lowered it by an entire extra realm? Second, he hadn¡¯t seen any Beads so far and he did everything he could to stay vigilant for them. Third, Slick didn¡¯t know the angle of attack and was still mid-air, unable to defend. Lastly, Aejaz hadn¡¯t needed to chant in order to use the Shock Bead. If Ares was doing it now, it meant there really was something still left up Ares¡¯ sleeve with them that only he could do.


    A small crack appeared in the ground underneath Slick, right where he was about to land. A see-through bead with dark gold liquid inside raced out of the crack and flew up to the same height as Slick¡¯s head, hovering just slightly above his shoulder, before emitting a horrifyingly bright light.


    ¡°Shit.¡±


    Ares could set Shock Beads as traps and activate them by chanting while he was on the floor. When he first created a Bead in front of everyone, he used the tip of his finger. The real trick to this art was that he could create them using any body part as the source of mana. To make an underground trap, he simply needed to create one underneath his foot while it was planted on the floor. Being grounded was necessary to send mana through the floor and raise them out of the ground. This was the true, original purpose of the art. Of course, this didn¡¯t make them stronger or anything, but it did add to their already decent versatility, allowing him to set them up while he was running around at his ridiculously fast pace. It was a shame other people couldn¡¯t use the Beads in this fashion, but being able to carry these things around was still incredibly beneficial to others. As for Ares, he was able to make full use of the Beads¡¯ potential in this way, and even this was only really scratching the surface. He would show Slick the true power of these Beads a little later.


    Boooooommmmm


    The platform shook a little and a scene identical to the one before it came about. Slick was blasted out of the smoke with a massive dent caving in his neck. His neck lost about a third of its total size and was pushed mostly to one side. His shoulder was slightly slumped too and small parts were jutting out of it. Slick landed and took a knee to try and stop himself from sliding any further.


    Ares dashed out through the smoke in pursuit and swung at Slick¡¯s disfigured neck.


    Because of Slick¡¯s awkward position, he had no other valid option but to lean back as far as he could to avoid the sword. The only other choice he could make was to lose an arm to block whatever that deadly magic was. He also knew that just leaning back wouldn¡¯t put him far away enough from the battle-crazed maniac so he leant far back enough to transition into a one handed, backward handstand to try and gain some distance.


    This mistake in judgement would cost him, not that he really had any other option though.


    Crash


    Slick fell to the floor headfirst and was befuddled for a moment before ¡®understanding¡¯ what had just happened to him. When he¡¯d lifted his body into the air during the handstand, something had pierced directly through his arm, cutting it off cleanly at the shoulder. With nothing left to support him, he came crashing down into the platform as Ares chased him down to close the gap. As for how Ares managed to cut off his arm from the distance he was currently at, Slick had no clue as he hadn¡¯t been facing Ares when it happened. It would seem Ares still had a mid-range attack up his sleeve, and a deadly one too.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Rud, Teng, the participants, and even the Elder that left earlier and had now come back to make sure the sect wasn¡¯t being attacked again, had all seen how it happened though.


    Ares used his personal treasure! After Ares swung his sword, he used his free hand to grab the Zephyr off his back. He stretched out his hand and the Zephyr flew out like a wide, flat, piercing chain. The Zephyr cut Slick¡¯s arm off in one fell swipe. The Stygian Zephyr could be freely controlled while it was on the owner¡¯s back, but it could also be detached and used as a sharp, mid-range weapon that could attack swiftly in sweeping and thrusting patterns. The Zephyr¡¯s feathers were quite sharp on their own, but they could also be imbued with disintegration magic, making them ludicrously dangerous.


    Slick was completely unaware of this as Ares had reattached the Zephyr as quickly as he¡¯d removed it. The Zephyr could be brought out and put away on his back at incredibly quick speeds due to the years Ares had spent practising with it. You weren¡¯t safe up close and you weren''t safe at mid-range either. Ares currently only lacked a way of fighting at longer ranges, but that mattered little against someone who wasn¡¯t allowed to run away. Ares could also use his Shift art to chase people too, so he wasn¡¯t easily exploitable at any range really.


    This was the moment Ares was truly after. He would force Slick to lose the bet here. There was no other outcome left really. Slick was flat on the floor with an arm missing, he couldn¡¯t dodge, and if he blocked he would be completely armless. There was still far too long left in the trial to somehow make the not-so legendary ¡®no-arms¡¯ approach work. What would Slick do exactly? Headbutt him? Kick him?


    Ares¡¯ sword came swinging down and, sure enough, Slick blocked using mana on his remaining arm. Losing his head would be far too embarrassing and wouldn¡¯t even net him a win in the bet thanks to Ares¡¯ foresight in introducing his stipulation. Having to use mana was a great shame on Slick¡¯s pride and a stain on his otherwise flawless record. Ares may have already passed, but there was still time left. Slick was going to at least enjoy smacking Ares around for a while now that he could use mana. Slick slowly came to the realisation that he had let every single participant through. Only once in the sect¡¯s history did every single test taker pass the third stage, and that was because there was only one person left to even take the damn trial! Slick was lost in his thoughts and completely distracted. He completely forgot to adjust the strength he was outputting, partially because he rated Ares¡¯ prowess quite highly.


    Unfortunately, no matter how good Ares was, there was a limit to what the sword he was holding was capable of. Slick¡¯s hand shot straight through the sword, breaking it with minimal resistance, and kept going. Before Slick even had a chance to stop himself, he realised his hand had passed through multiple layers of flesh and was drenched in blood. In his autopilot state, he¡¯d gone too far. This time was much more serious though.


    He¡¯d killed a disciple.


    He hadn¡¯t just punched a hole through Ares chest, he had accidentally pierced the corner of his heart. The hall was silent again. Everyone was at a loss for words and Slick had completely freaked himself out, staring blankly at the hole he¡¯d made and his arm running through it.


    ¡°Hahahaha,¡± Ares let out a laugh that was part maniacal and part ecstatic. Slick was still drowning in his own misery when Ares leaned over him and gripped him by the face.


    ¡°CHAOS REIGNS!¡±


    Ares let out a borderline demonic cry as blood trickled out from his mouth which had a wild grin plastered on it. Ares was enjoying himself. Everyone else he had ever fought was far too easy to kill. An injury like this wasn¡¯t nearly enough to kill him. The heart would¡¯ve needed to be destroyed in its entirety to be the ¡®death¡¯ of him, and even that wasn¡¯t a guarantee. He was getting lost in the thrill of the fight and his former heroic appearance became somewhat twisted. He still looked like a hero, but now he looked more like a demonic hero that wouldn¡¯t be marching into hell but, instead, out of it while leading an army of hell spawn.


    The engraved lines on the Stygian Zephyr lit up in gold which Aejaz recognised as ¡®the thing that would happen when Ares got ¡®serious¡¯. It meant that annihilation magic was now constantly flowing through Ares¡¯ blood and would be a massive boost to his physical traits and would also imbue every attack with a small amount of extra force. That extra annihilation magic would transfer itself to the opponent during every hit and slowly break their internal organs.


    As for the art he used, ¡®Chaos Reigns¡¯, this was what his Shock Beads were truly capable of.


    In a circular pattern around Ares and Slick, ten Shock Beads had risen out of the ground and were all about to detonate in sync.


    Ares never said only one could be used at a time.


    Using multiple traps at the same time would cost a lot more mana though.


    Slick regained some of his composure when he realised Ares was miraculously not dead. He also realised the current predicament was not good and that Ares might actually die this time, and to his own art no less, which would be the height of stupidity. He was about to pull his arm out of Ares chest and drag him to safety when Ares gripped his arm and hugged him! Is he insane!? Is this moron suicidal!? Slick¡¯s mind was on the verge of collapse. Today had been such a rollercoaster that he was starting to be unable to keep up. All ten Shock Beads lit up and Slick braced himself, ready to regain his cultivation and save this stupid kamikaze fool. Just as he was about to unseal his cultivation, Ares vanished! Slick barely had enough time to see him materialise a safe distance away.


    ¡°ASSHOLE!¡± Slick shrieked.


    How could Ares treat him like this? He was prepared to save that ungrateful bastard! And what did he get in return? Ten Shock Beads that he no longer had an excuse to bring back his cultivation for and block properly. Ares was just dandy where he was, so Slick was going to have to take it as is. At the very least, he could use mana now. That was something at least.


    A monstrous series of explosions rang throughout the hall, even managing to rock the platform and make everyone on it wobble. After a good few seconds of shaking, the platform steadied and the smoke dissipated.


    Meanwhile, the Elder that was staring at all of this through the hole had fainted. This was simply too much for this poor old fellow. Unfortunately for him, no one noticed, so he was just lying unattended on the cold, hard floor.


    Ares was ¡®unharmed¡¯ and the flesh around the hole was slowly but surely mending itself. He seemed completely uninterested in the hole as if this state was normal to him, so everyone just assumed he was somehow ok even if it was incredibly unatural. He also had a new sword in his hands and not a single person knew that he¡¯d taken it out of the Primordial Blade. It was rather confusing seeing a sword just pop out of nowhere, but that was probably the most normal thing they had seen yet, so no one bothered to prioritise questioning it over anything else.


    Teng and Rud were slowly losing their minds.


    Ares had accomplished so much.


    And then he was murdered.


    And then he wasn¡¯t.


    And then the hall blew up.


    This was starting to defy common sense. They weren¡¯t sure whether they should stop this freakish trial or keep watching. It seemed like the two fighting fanatics didn¡¯t want to stop however.


    Slick had forgotten about the token already, he just wanted to pay Ares back for, well, just about everything really. Injuring him, injuring him again, ¡®pretending¡¯ to be dead and then injuring him a third time for good measure. It was too much! Slick didn¡¯t have many new dents this time as being able to use mana made a world of difference to his strength. Disintegration would no longer affect him, and those explosions were mostly just inconvenient and annoying now. He still had a couple of nicks in his frame here and there though as that last attack was really hard to block; it came from ten separate angles after all.


    Slick rushed over to Ares and this time the fight was much fairer. Ares wasn¡¯t able to be as aggressive as before and yet still kept on the move, parrying and dodging Slick¡¯s attacks. Slick had foregone most of his mobility in favour of hitting harder but wasn¡¯t able to land any good hits as Ares'' defence was arguably better than his offence thanks to his impressive speed. The two fought all along the length of the platform in a hectic back-and-forth scuffle. Ares would occasionally get a small cut in and Slick would sometimes land a blow with his remaining arm, pushing Ares back and leaving a mark on his skin. Blood was drawn a few times, but if Ares could live through a pierced heart, small minor injuries really weren¡¯t worth paying attention to. Ares kept up his unusual fighting style and would occasionally even throw Slick for a loop by tossing his sword straight up into the air, temporarily switching to his fists to grapple hand to hand for a few seconds before the sword came back down. His fist attacks all had annihilation magic in them. If he were attacking a human, that magic would have wreaked havoc on their bones. Ares wasn¡¯t just gifted with a sword, but with a surprising number of weapons and fighting styles. He really enjoyed learning new approaches to a fight and didn¡¯t shy away from the challenge that was acquainting himself with something unfamiliar. He found it fun to swap weapons on the fly, he just didn¡¯t have many at his disposal to do so. He also hadn¡¯t had a chance to learn too many styles yet, so he primarily just stuck to swords and fists.


    Regardless of what Ares was doing, he kept moving.


    That was his talent.


    Speed.


    Quick engagements, quicker disengages.


    Slick was obviously no pushover and was consistently starting to get hits in as he slowly tried to familiarise himself with his opponent¡¯s strange fighting style. Slick eventually managed to break a bone, but that didn¡¯t slow down Ares in the slightest. If anything, it seemed like Ares had sped up. Only true battle maniacs would become so entranced by a battle that an injury would only serve to further excite them. Ares came under that category as, to him, there was nothing greater than the thrill of a good fight.


    This was a good fight!


    This manic battle kept everyone hooked as it was, without a doubt, the highest-level fight that had ever taken place during this test in all the years it had been held. Even though it was clear that Ares could no longer possibly win a ¡®fair¡¯ fight, they were all awed by how well he fought and by his seemingly incredibly high tolerance for pain. Ares had been amassing injuries this whole time but was shrugging off the pain with ease. They may have been small injuries, but even a thousand small cuts could kill a man. He seemed so obsessed with combat that the injuries were practically non-existent to him.


    There were ten seconds left and both Slick and Ares took a moment to readjust for one last clash after pushing each other back.


    Slick wasn¡¯t going to use his summon no matter what, but Ares was going to make this an unforgettable final¨¦ with the unveiling of his strongest art! Ares just so happened to be facing the same direction that everyone on the side-lines were in. Hm, it¡¯s problematic if they¡¯re in front of me, he thought. He couldn¡¯t use the art at this rate, but then an idea struck him.


    Just have the Elders deal with it!


    Ares pointed at Rud and gave forewarning, ¡°Protect them.¡±


    Rud was shocked. What the hell did he still have left that people still needed to be protected from? How many explosions did this one kid have? He was practically a walking bomb dispenser! Still though, he prepared himself to raise a barrier. He wasn¡¯t going to risk playing around with the safety of brand-new disciples as Ares seemed rather serious.


    Ares and Slick took off. Slick readied an uppercut with every ounce of strength he could muster from this pitiful cultivation base. Mana was surging through his frame, ready to lash out the second something was foolish enough to collide with Slick¡¯s fist.


    Ares took one final heavy step with his left foot and leaned his right arm as far back as he could. Ares was going for an overhead swing to increase the force behind the art as this was the optimal way to use it.


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    Dark gold mana swirled around the tip of his sword. Mana was being absorbed from the nearby air, swelling into a single point. The entire sword changed hue and became a brilliant gold mid swing. Reality was warping around the blade as it cleaved through the fabric of space. Time seemed to slow and all sound had been cut off completely. The only thing that could seemingly move properly in this strange state was Ares¡¯ sword which maintained a steady speed and carried on along a precise arc that would enthral anyone watching it. It was simply a perfect sword attack. It was art in motion, and despite his form usually being unique but unprofessional, this swing would awe even the highest class of sword experts.


    Practice makes perfect.


    ---------------------------------


    One year ago.


    ¡°Why do you keep swinging your sword over and over like that, day in, day out, year in, year out? Doesn¡¯t that get tiring? I¡¯ve never even seen you use that attack before.¡± Aejaz was lounging around in his hammock, fiddling with the tusk on his necklace.


    ¡°It¡¯s pre-emptive practice. It¡¯s not about what I can do now, but about what I¡¯ll one day be able to do. In my mind, I can see it in all its glory, and I simply want it to be perfect. I want to bring that exact image in my head into real life. As for what it is, it¡¯s that annihilation art you keep pestering me to show you when I finish it. I still can¡¯t use it, but it feels so close to completion. It definitely won¡¯t be long now, and I want it to be as I¡¯ve always imagined it would be. It¡¯s the first art I ever thought up and holds a special place in my heart, even if it wasn¡¯t the first art I successfully used. It may not always be my strongest art, and it¡¯s actually quite simple, but I think it will always be my favourite. Don¡¯t you practise your thievery for the same reason? People want to be good at the things they enjoy and even tend to get passionate over those same things. Destruction is my thing, and this art means a lot to me. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Present day.


    BOOM                            BOOM             BOOM                         BOOM                      BOOM


    BOOM              BOOM                                   BOOM             BOOM


    BOOM           BOOM             BOOM            BOOM              BOOM          BOOM


    Again and again, explosion after explosion detonated throughout the hall. ¡®Grand Annihilation¡¯ was a chain reaction of explosions wherein one explosion was set off by the one before it, creating a series of explosions that would quickly ripple outward in a cone shape in front of Ares, carpet bombing the immediate area ahead of him. These explosions were dark gold like the Shock Beads, but they weren¡¯t dome shaped, they were completely wild and unpredictable in both shape and size. The chain of explosions was capable of reaching from one end of the platform all the way to its halfway point, which was roughly a quarter of the entire hall. For an art created and used by a 3rd realm cultivator, this should have been unthinkable. The hall was huge. To completely envelop a quarter of it was unbelievably impressive. The power and raw destructive force behind this art was simply incomparable to the Beads. Explosions were still filling the hall in the same time span that Chaos Reigns had taken to start, finish, and have the dust settle.


    Slick was still being bombarded somewhere inside that hellscape of an art a good few seconds after it was used. The walls that were hit crumbled in some places, and the other test takers could still feel bits of the aftermath of the art even with Rud¡¯s barrier protecting them. Reality warped and twisted to accommodate the force bearing down upon it and was close to shattering in some places.


    This wasn¡¯t an art.


    It was more akin to a natural disaster.


    A golden calamity.

 Chapter 14: Public Enemy Numbers One and Two

    Sometime later, the dust finally settled. A haggard Slick emerged from the smoke and glanced over at Ares.


    Ares was pretty much fine; his breathing was a little rough, but not ragged. His clothes were torn in places but his body was ok, even the gaping hole was healing up nicely. A couple days would be all it would take for that injury to go and if he took a healing pill it might even be quicker. It certainly wasn¡¯t comfortable, but it wasn¡¯t deadly either, and that was the main concern. Ares gave a palm hold fist salute and slightly lowered his head as that was a common way to show respect in this part of the world.


    ¡°At least you still know how to show respect to your superiors.¡± Slick snorted and gave Ares a light smile and a middle finger for his trouble.


    ¡°Superior my ass. Also, you might want to pick that up.¡± Ares knew Slick wouldn¡¯t mind a bit of verbal back and forth. Ares pointed to the floor beside Slick as he wasn¡¯t aware of what happened yet.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Slick looked down. ¡°Bastard,¡± Slick cursed through gritted teeth. It was his pinky finger! It wasn¡¯t even really damaged, but it had come off from that last attack. To have taken yet another body part was impressive to begin with, but to do so while Slick was using mana was miraculous to say the least! It just went to show that ¡®Grand Annihilation¡¯ was truly a powerhouse of an art, one that demanded a serious degree of respect.


    While Slick and Ares were chatting casually, and occasionally insulting one another, everyone else was still quiet. How could those two act as if nothing just happened? Ares sure, he already knew what was coming, but Slick? Maybe the adrenaline hadn¡¯t worn off yet.


    Teng finally regained a modicum of focus and announced the results, ¡°Congratulations Ares on both becoming a disciple of the sect, but also on winning the bet. As previously agreed, you shall be put into the fifth tier of outer court disciples tomorrow during placements.¡± Teng couldn¡¯t quite believe the words that had come out of his mouth but, then again, it was still far more believable than anything he had witnessed here today.


    Rud had thought his questions had all finally been answered, only to have three more raised from a fight that lasted a single minute. ¡°I have three things to ask you. First, what magic were you using on your sword? Was it a disintegration art?¡±


    ¡°It was disintegration, but not an art. Just some weapon-coating magic.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense. Second, why aren¡¯t you dead?¡±


    ¡°Heh, don¡¯t sound too disappointed. In all seriousness, it¡¯s my bloodline. I¡¯m a fair bit more difficult to kill than most.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­ and lastly, would you mind regularly making those Shock Beads? You can sell them at the sect¡¯s market and we won¡¯t take a cut from your profits. We¡¯ll even set up a stall for you without requiring a rental fee. Those things would be incredibly beneficial to the sect in the long run.¡± Rud was thinking of all the lives that could be saved if disciples carried them around. Even a single one would be enough to prevent a death at the hand of a wild beast or a rogue bandit. The best part was they were an art, they would keep getting stronger as Ares did and could one day be useful to inner and even core disciples. If Ares could become a core disciple, couldn¡¯t he single-handedly equip every disciple in the sect with an unrivalled weapon of mass destruction, forming a nigh-unstoppable army? If they were truly mass-producible, the sect could become a dominant figure in the cultivation world off the back of a single individual. Ares¡¯ existence was not a joke. He was like a golden goose producing explosive golden eggs.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m broke anyway, so having a source of income would be nice.¡± This actually aligned perfectly with what Ares had already planned on doing. The more stardust the merrier, after all. Also, if he were going to be staying at a sect, he at least wanted it to have a good reputation and standing among other sects, and his presence was more than capable of bringing that ideal to fruition.


    ¡°Good. Now then, Teng will take you all on a quick tour of the sect before taking you to your respective residences. If you need me for anything, it won¡¯t be hard to find me, that I promise you. If you need Slick, then he¡¯ll be there without you having to ask.¡± Rud said all that he had left to say and departed from the hall, but not before picking up the Elder who had fainted, woken up, and fainted again.


    Slap Slap Slap Slap Slap


    tap


    SMACK


    After Rud left, Slick took the liberty to dish out some of his pent-up resentment for all the humiliation he had received. He left out Lightning Guy as he was still injured and only gave Appa a light tap because, as much as hated to admit it, Appa was really damn cute. Ares, on the other hand, received a smack to the back of the head with enough force to bury his head into the platform like an ostrich.


    ¡°Tsk,¡± Ares pulled his head out and kissed his teeth.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be off then! Don¡¯t get too big for your boots or I¡¯ll come and smack some sense into you.¡± Slick took off through the same hole he entered through, laughing like a mad man whose evil plan had just succeeded.


    ¡°That guy¡­ Childish as ever¡­ Anyway, let¡¯s get going, shall we?¡± Teng beckoned for everyone to follow after him. All eight disciples followed Teng through the hole in the wall, it was already there and quicker than using the door anyway so why not? Teng first brought everyone to the treasury as it was the closest building to the hall. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Rud was the treasurer. No wonder he said he¡¯d be easy to find.


    ¡°You can exchange contribution points, stardust, and resources to get cultivation resources, weapons, and various other knick-knacks here. Feel free to take a look around some time. Not now though, I¡¯m trying to get some sleep.¡± Rud yawned and closed his eyes.


    ¡°Uhh, well, I guess we¡¯ll go to the arts library next, try not to be too surprised.¡±


    Everyone thought Teng was talking about perhaps the size of the library or what it contained within.


    They were wrong.


    Upon entering, they immediately understood what Teng was referring to.


    ¡°Not that I mind but¡­ Why is he here?¡± Dirk asked with a twitchy eye.


    Rud was slouched back in an armchair behind the front desk. ¡°I¡¯m right here you know; I can hear you. For the record, I¡¯m the librarian. I¡¯m in charge here,¡± Rud retorted.


    ¡°No wonder he doesn¡¯t get much sleep, my employees would quit if they had to work this hard,¡± Onno muttered to himself.


    ¡°Yeah, tell me about it. I¡¯m also the training hall overseer, checkpoint assessment Elder, sect messenger, vice sect master, mission hall master, disciplinary leader, and janitor. I really don¡¯t get paid enough.¡± Rud sighed in an exasperated fashion.


    ¡°One of those things was definitely not like the others.¡± Li Li narrowed her eyes. ¡°Are you really the vice sect master? How do you even have time to do everything? How did you get here so quickly? What happens when someone needs you and you¡¯re busy? This really doesn¡¯t seem functional.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am. I use clones. I was already here. They wait. It isn¡¯t. Any more questions?¡±


    ¡°No, I guess not.¡±


    Teng took everyone to various facilities and, sure enough, Rud was absolutely everywhere.


    No wonder he said it wouldn¡¯t be hard to find him.


    It might actually be impossible not to run into him on a day-to-day basis.


    Eventually, everyone was brought to the residential area. They all lived in the same area as they all joined the sect at the same time. Their new homes were pretty standard. For people like Ares, Aejaz, Appa, and the Lightning and Water Duo, these homes were quite nice compared to what they were used to. Dirk, Li Li, and Onno had all been raised in lavish conditions though and weren¡¯t too happy, but they at least understood that here, they were at the bottom of the food chain. If they wanted better, they would have to earn it.


    ¡°Alright everyone, I¡¯ll be here tomorrow to get you all assigned to your respective tiers. It¡¯s an event that takes place regularly, but always happens at least once after every entrance exam and involves every outer court disciple. You all will be placed wherever we deem appropriate, but everyone else will be fighting for a chance to go up in tiers. Attendance is mandatory, but none of you will be fighting this time around. Take this chance to scout out your opposition and see what kind of requirements there are for each tier. You¡¯re free to do as you please for now as long as you''re here on time tomorrow morning. That¡¯s all for today.¡± Teng left some parting words and took off.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°I guess we¡¯ll all be neighbours, let¡¯s get along from now on,¡± Onno was the first to speak. There were talented people here, the more of them he could get to know, the better. Also, there was no reason to be antagonistic to these people as they all seemed like decent folk in his eyes.


    ¡°Hmm sure, if anyone needs anything let me know and I¡¯ll help how I can,¡± a plain voice sounded out.


    ¡°Thanks, Mr Lightning,¡± Onno responded.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m ¡®Water Guy¡¯ but, sure, whatever.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to make 10 Shock Beads for everyone and hand them over tomorrow. If you ever need any more, I¡¯ll be happy to make them for free.¡± Ares decided to take part in this little community. The people here were all strong in their own right, plus he didn¡¯t sense any hostility from anyone. Why not get along with these people? There were already good relations built with Appa and Onno. There had been fighting intent from Dirk and Li Li for a while, but that had ¡®mysteriously¡¯ vanished after his fight with Slick.


    ¡°Thanks, those things will come in handy. How do you use them?¡± Li Li asked.


    ¡°Just put some mana in them like you would a treasure, that¡¯ll link you to them. All you have to do after is detonate it. They¡¯re not as fragile as they look, so you don¡¯t have to worry about dropping them or anything.¡±


    ¡°Can we use multiple at once like you did?¡± Dirk was curious.


    ¡°Yeah, you just can¡¯t use them as traps like I did with the art unless you dig and set them up manually like landmines ahead of time.¡±


    The conversation kept going for a while until everyone decided to go check out their residences. Ares turned around and started walking towards his new home when he noticed two people following him. ¡°Uh, ok, I guess.¡± Ares wasn¡¯t really sure how to respond to this.


    He knew why Aejaz was following him. They had lived on the streets together for so long that splitting up felt a little weird.


    He also knew why Appa was following him, it seemed obsessed with being petted. That and he had promised to give it the Shock Beads today.


    He knew all of this, but still couldn''t help finding this situation a little strange. You people do realise you have your own houses, right? Well, whatever. Ares didn¡¯t mind having extra people living with him.


    The house was standard for a cultivator, it had two empty cultivation rooms, a living room and kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. They had taken into account having a guest around, but not two. Someone was going to have to sleep in a hammock.


    Did Appa even need to use the bathroom? Did it eat? Actually, how the hell did it even sleep? Did it sit down in that cute pose from before and just conk out, or did it lie on its side? Perhaps having a third person here wouldn¡¯t be so bad depending on the answers to the previous questions.


    ¡°These rooms are weird,¡± Appa said. ¡°I only know what the cultivation room is for, what do the other ones do?¡±


    Ares explained the function of various rooms to Appa.


    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t need any of that. Humans are really needy.¡±


    Needy? Didn¡¯t you follow me into my house just for pets? Who are you calling needy! Ares thought while chuckling to himself.


    Eventually all three settled into their respective rooms with Appa choosing the living room. Originally, Appa had wanted to sleep in the bathroom because it liked the fragrance of the candle that was in the room, but Aejaz and Ares eventually convinced Appa not to by moving the candle.


    Ares could feel that he would make massive gains by cultivating thanks to the fight from earlier. It was rare he got a chance to release all his destructive urges and doing so would greatly benefit his cultivation thanks to the dedication cultivation technique. The fight was incredibly helpful to him and he felt he could reach the tenth stage of meridian expansion quite easily. Ares took a seat in a cultivation room and sat down in the standard lotus position as that was the most comfortable for him. Some people would stay standing or get on their knees, and some people would even lie down, but none of that ever made any sense to Ares. Ares had already been pretty close to the 9th stage and managed to reach it within minutes of sitting down and circulating mana around his body. He could feel the tenth stage was also within reach and spent the rest of the day cultivating in seclusion in order to reach it. Eventually, he was successful, but also incredibly bored. It was possible for his cultivation to increase mid-combat, and that was definitely the preferred method for Ares. He wished he never had to go into seclusion, but that simply wasn¡¯t feasible. When he finally came out of the cultivation room it was dark out so he headed to his bedroom. Aejaz happened to come out of the second cultivation room and Ares noticed a rise in his cultivation. ¡°4th realm, 9th stage, huh? Congrats, you¡¯re gonna need it tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aejaz didn¡¯t like Ares¡¯ sly smile as he gave out that casual warning. ¡°We aren¡¯t fighting tomorrow, remember?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I remember all right, but it seems you¡¯re the one forgetting something preeeeetty important. Ah well! Goodnight!¡±


    ¡°A¡­ Ares? Hey Ares, wait a minute. What do you mean, Ares? What am I forgetting? Brother?¡± Aejaz couldn¡¯t manage to get a response out of him as the door had already been shut tight in front of him and didn¡¯t appear like it was going to open anytime soon.


    The night was uneventful and everyone slept peacefully, Aejaz and Ares especially as this was the first time in a long time either of them had slept in a proper bed.


    ---------------------------------


    Ares woke up feeling great. He had an incredibly pleasant night. When he woke up, the bed felt unbelievably soft on his back, much softer than it felt during the previous day when he first went to sleep for some strange reason.


    Wait a minute.


    Ares was confused as he wondered how exactly the bed managed to feel so soft on his back, when he was lying on his side¡­


    Ares turned around and found Appa laying sideways on the bed, cosying up against him. He couldn¡¯t tell if Appa was asleep or not because it had no eyes. Ares had no idea Appa had snuck into his room and slept next to him, but he didn¡¯t mind. This shade was far too precious! Appa was incredibly soft and Ares couldn¡¯t help but instinctively hug it.


    ¡°Hmmmmm,¡± Appa happily murmured. ¡°Warm.¡±


    Awwwww, so adorable! Ares thought in his head. Ares was ecstatic at his new-found privilege to cuddle with Appa. He once again made a mental note not to go around instinctively hugging other races. Surely he couldn¡¯t keep getting away with this forever, right?


    Eventually, Appa woke up. Ares was unaware of course because there was no way to tell. Appa didn¡¯t say anything though, it was far too pleased with the current situation and didn¡¯t want to get up yet. Unfortunately though, all good things must come to an end.


    Teng shouted from outside, signalling it was time to get a move on.


    ¡°Are you awake, Appa?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. Good morning!¡±


    ¡°Good morning, we should get ready to go.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to get ready.¡± Appa moped as it wanted to stay a little longer.


    ¡°I know, but I do. You can sleep here whenever you want, ok?¡±


    ¡°Ok!¡± This cheered Appa up again.


    Ares got ready and left the house with Appa. Only five of the eight were outside with Aejaz, Onno, and Dirk still not present.


    ¡°I swear it¡¯s always the tricky types that are lazy.¡± Li Li shook her head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go drag out that deadweight or he might just go back to sleep.¡± Ares sighed and turned around. He headed back into the house and, a few seconds later, he came back out with Aejaz in tow. Aejaz was being dragged along the floor and had a bump on his head that was definitely only formed recently. When Ares came back out, everyone had already gathered.


    ¡°Alright, now that all the sleepyheads are here, we can leave. Remember, there¡¯s no need for any of you to fight anyone. I¡¯ll be enforcing the rules so I can personally assure you it won¡¯t happen. If you¡¯re challenged to a fight, let me deal with it.¡± Teng briefly gave a quick reminder and led everyone to a wide-open training ground.


    The rest of the sect¡¯s outer disciples were already gathered and split into their respective tiers. The fights were about to start, but everyone made sure to give the new disciples a quick glance. Who wouldn¡¯t be interested to see their new competition? They were also curious as to what tiers they would be put into. The average for a new disciple was the second tier. There weren¡¯t many new disciples this time around, so either the test was a dud and there was no-one interesting, or these new bloods were special. Quite a few people were staring at Appa as shades weren¡¯t common in Central Land and many people had never seen one before. Quickly though, at least eighty percent of the people present shifted their focus to the two people next to Appa and glared furiously.


    Bandit brothers!


    Although a majority of the disciples that had suffered at their hands were now in the inner court, a large number of the people present were all too familiar with these troublemakers. The mission to capture them had been attempted by basically every single outer court disciple for the last six years as the rewards were incredibly good and no one had ever died giving it a go. The pay was consistently the highest among all the missions available and only ever increased as time went by. There were some disciples that hadn¡¯t been around long enough to experience these two menaces, but even a few of them had run into the brothers while they were wandering around the city before joining the sect. Most of the people in this sect had come from large clans or families and that was Aejaz¡¯s primary target ¡®audience¡¯, after all.


    Aejaz realised he was screwed.


    It was usually Ares that fought off everyone after he did the stealing, but that would no longer be possible. Ares was guaranteed to go in the fifth tier, but that was impossible for anyone else! This was what he meant yesterday night! ¡°Uhhh, brother?¡± Aejaz turned to Ares and laughed nervously. His heart sank the moment he saw a shit-eating grin on Ares¡¯ face.


    ¡°Yes, brother?¡± Ares was desperately trying to hold back a laugh while answering Aejaz ¡®seriously¡¯.


    ¡°Help?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Aejaz wanted to cry. He was going to get seriously bullied! Wasn¡¯t a big brother supposed to beat up the bullies? Aejaz quickly decided the best way to survive in the future would be to schmooze with the neighbours and not be overly reliant on this wicked brother of his.


    Everyone sat on a bench that had quite a good view of the stages that the others would be fighting on. Time passed and nothing of interest was happening, granted most of the fights so far had been 4th tier or lower but, compared to the fights in the test hall yesterday, this was simply dull.


    Ares felt a little bad for everyone else that was going to have to be placed into the lower tiers where they really didn¡¯t belong, but life was just like that sometimes. Besides, they were all strong enough to advance quickly and, with the Beads he had given everyone, there were no real obstacles left that could block them.


    Water and Lightning Guy were playing rock, paper, scissors in a way that almost convinced Ares the game was one of strategy and mind games instead of luck.


    Appa was leaning on Ares and enjoying the attention and pets it was getting.


    Aejaz was nervously trying to count the number of people he was going to have to avoid.


    Onno had pulled out some manner of crystal that gave real-time updates on the stock market.


    Li Li was lying down on the bench, blowing bubble-gum and staring at the sky.


    Dirk was playing the ¡®knife game¡¯ quite carelessly, as if he was trying to fail on purpose.


    Ares had his eyes closed and was trying to refine his arts. There were some that he still had to work out a few kinks for before he could use them in actual combat.


    A disciple that just lost a fight moaned to a friend of his, ¡°Tsk, look at those assholes, they don¡¯t have a damn care in the world.¡±


    ¡°Careful, you don¡¯t know what kind of people you¡¯re provoking, they might be geniuses. Wouldn¡¯t wanna get on their bad side too early. If you piss off the bandit brothers, that alone will be a costly mistake. They¡¯ll probably chase you around all year long and steal any stardust you ever earn,¡± his friend, who was rather rotund, replied.


    ¡°Never said I was gonna mess with ¡®em, but it looks like he really wants to.¡±


    ¡°Of course, he does. This is what? The fourth time he¡¯s failed to get into the fifth tier? He¡¯s always in a bad mood to begin with. He should be fuming right about now, and the attitude of those people will annoy him to no end.¡±


    ¡°I CHALLENGE ANY ONE OF THOSE NEW DISCIPLES TO A FIGHT, UNLESS THEY¡¯RE COWARDS AND DON¡¯T WANT TO ACCEPT OF COURSE.¡± The owner of the voice was clearly in a fit of rage.


    ¡°Knew it,¡± both disciples said at the same time.

 Chapter 15: A.P.P.A, the Adorable Phantom Protection Association

    ¡°NO, FEN!¡± Teng jumped in before anyone had a chance to reply to this disciple named ¡®Fen¡¯. ¡°The rules shall not be bent. The new disciples are not permitted to fight during their first tier assessment. They already have their own tiers that will be assigned to them when you¡¯re all finished. Your time would be better spent trying to challenge the fifth tier again instead of trying to challenge people I won¡¯t ever allow you to fight.¡± Teng was firm and refused to budge.


    Ares opened his eyes and looked over at this loud disciple as he recognised the name. In fact, he even knew his full name.


    Chen Fen.


    Chen Fen is the grandson of the current patriarch of the Chen clan. He¡¯s also Chen Farro¡¯s brother.


    Or, well, he would be if Farro hadn¡¯t been murdered by Ares six years ago.


    It seemed the Chen clan really were unrivalled when it came to producing top-grade assholes.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be a part of the tier assessment; I¡¯m just challenging them to a fight is all. It¡¯s perfectly fine if they really don¡¯t want to. If I were them, I would be scared too. I mean look at them, one of them is a piece of cloth for fuck¡¯s sake.¡±


    All seven people on the bench that weren¡¯t Appa immediately let off killing intent straight at Fen. Even Teng momentarily, accidentally, let some out, as well as some unknown expert who was watching the proceedings. If any of the people on the bench felt it, they would have recognised it as Slick¡¯s aura.


    Fen panicked and immediately regretted going after the cloth.


    Why did they care so much about it!?


    Unbeknownst to Fen, Appa became something of a neighbourhood mascot. While Ares was cultivating yesterday, Appa went around to everyone¡¯s houses and demanded cuddles. Appa was someone that everyone adored. Long story short, don¡¯t mess with the shade.


    ¡°You¡¯ll mind your language and sit back down, I don¡¯t want to hear another word from you about the new disciples,¡± Teng was calm on the outside, but a tinge of anger had seeped into his voice.


    ¡°Are you saying we can¡¯t even complain about those two,¡± a random girl from the crowd shouted.


    ¡°Yeah, do you have any idea how much stardust we¡¯ve lost to those two over the years?¡± someone else chimed in.


    ¡°Why did you put out a mission to capture the bandit brothers if you were just going to accept them into the sect anyway?¡± another voice cried.


    ¡°Hmm? Bandit brothers?¡± Fen took a second to rack his brains around this piece of information. ¡°ARESSSSSSSSS! YOU SON OF A BITCH, GET DOWN HERE AND LET ME KILL YOU,¡± Fen roared at the top of his lungs.


    Ares was unaware that Fen and Farro had been close, but that certainly seemed to be the case based on Fen¡¯s reaction. He honestly thought Fen would secretly be elated with Farro¡¯s death as it had put him one step closer to becoming the head of the clan. Not that any of it really mattered in the long run. They were all going to die long before they had to concern themselves with the patriarch¡¯s position. Ares would make sure of it.


    Ares smiled mockingly at Fen. ¡°Why on Earth would I ¡®let¡¯ you, or anyone for that matter, kill me? You¡¯re as much of a dumb-fuck as your brother was.¡±


    ¡°Do you know each other?¡± Teng was curious.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know him specifically, but the Chen clan is pretty obsessed with me.¡± Ares shrugged. The Chen clan had flown into a fit of rage when they found Farro¡¯s dead body. Even now, they were still searching the streets regularly to try to find Ares and make him pay. Ares nudged Aejaz and winked at him.


    It took a moment for Aejaz to catch on but he eventually caught Ares'' meaning. Aejaz took out the Concealed Serpent amulet and pompously dangled it in Fen¡¯s direction.


    ¡°YOU PIECE OF SHIT, GIVE IT BACK!¡± Fen was outraged at this display. ¡°WHEN THE PATRIARCH HEARS OF THIS, HE¡¯LL COME STRAIGHT OVER AND MAKE YOU PAY.¡±


    ¡°Ok, seriously, what did you two do?¡± Teng could feel a headache coming on. Dealing with the Chen clan¡¯s patriarch wasn¡¯t an issue and there was no way in hell he was going to be allowed to do anything to Ares and Aejaz while they were in the sect. That didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t still a colossal hassle though, and relations may end up being severed if the patriarch decided to be unreasonable.


    Ares pointed at Fen. ¡°I killed his brother.¡± Ares then pointed at Aejaz. ¡°And he stole the clan¡¯s signature treasure and made it his own personal treasure.¡±


    Teng slapped his head in frustration. They couldn¡¯t have done much worse! What else could they have possibly done other than sleep with the patriarch¡¯s wife or rob the treasury blind? Killing a direct descendant of the family¡¯s main branch and stealing a signature treasure was brutal. The patriarch was absolutely not going to let this go. Teng sighed. ¡°Can I ask¡­ Why?¡± Teng could already somewhat guess Aejaz¡¯s response at least.


    ¡°Dunno, didn¡¯t really have a reason. I saw some old fogey carrying around something that looked shiny and valuable and did what I always do, stole it,¡± Aejaz said while tilting his head.


    ¡°Yeah, I thought so,¡± Teng affirmed bleakly.


    Since when did Aejaz ever need a reason to steal? That was like asking someone if they had a reason to breathe. He was going to do it. You could only pray he wasn¡¯t going to do it to you.


    ¡°HOW DARE YOU CALL THE PATRIARCH AN OLD FOGEY!¡±


    Everyone just ignored Fen. He was loud and obnoxious and, quite frankly, no one cared about his problems. If the Chen clan really did kill the bandit brothers, then how was everyone else going to get their stardust back from them?


    ¡°And what about you? If you¡¯re going to say you were in the mood to blow someone up, I would rather you just don¡¯t respond.¡± Teng had little faith in these two, but he was still hoping that Ares¡¯ reasoning was at least somewhat understandable.


    ¡°The Chen clan found me on the streets when I was a baby. They raised me into a slave and forced me to fight other slaves for their amusement. As a slave, I worked directly under Farro, Fen¡¯s brother, and had to put up with him on a daily basis which, let me tell you, is more than enough of a reason to want to kill him. Turns out I wasn¡¯t really cut out for that kind of lifestyle so, on my way out, I decided to repay a few favours. That¡¯s all,¡± Ares spoke about his past as if he were remembering a crappy job he used to work at.


    Teng just sighed again. At least his reason was fair. He really couldn¡¯t fault Ares for his actions.


    ¡°YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL WE EVEN TOOK YOU IN!¡± Fen was spitting as he screeched, causing everyone else to move away from him.


    ¡°Quiet you. You''re the one that should be grateful I haven¡¯t come down there yet and sent you to the afterlife in a sarcophagus so you can meet your brother.¡± Ares flipped Fen the bird. Ares was going to kill them all eventually, he was in no rush to do it now. Teng would probably stop him anyway. He knew the sect favoured him because of what he could offer them, but they were impartial in their dealings for the most part. They wouldn¡¯t let the Chen clan kill Ares, but they wouldn¡¯t let Ares kill the Chen clan. Not within these walls anyway. In a way, Ares preferred this kind of neutrality to obvious favouritism. It meant he had somewhere safe to stay while he was busy getting strong enough to take revenge. That day wasn¡¯t actually that far off as he¡¯d already done a lot of the important ¡®groundwork¡¯. For now, he just needed to raise his cultivation to sensory enhancement as he estimated that ought to be enough to start rampantly slaughtering them in the streets whenever he found them.


    ¡°No one¡¯s going anywhere or killing anyone. And yes, we¡¯re allowing the bandit brothers into our sect as disciples. If any of you have an issue with that, you can leave the sect.¡± Teng was beyond confident not a single person would leave.


    There weren¡¯t any other options around so everyone had to get over their grievances. Not a single person made a fuss, barring Fen of course who kept trying to challenge Ares and Aejaz.


    As the assessment continued, Teng had to tell the two brothers who were practically laughing their heads off to stop provoking Fen after Aejaz stole all of his stardust.


    This came as quite a shock to everyone on the bench as Aejaz had somehow managed to breach the barrier on Fen¡¯s spatial ring. For the most part, in order to interact with the storage dimension inside a space ring, you had to be touching it directly. Of course, everyone was somewhat familiar with Aejaz¡¯ stealing habit, but even through different dimensions? That was simply ludicrous! It was literally impossible to stop him. The only thing you could do was pay attention at all times for strands of his mana or just not have anything of value on you. What an absolute menace! Of course, none of the other disciples knew how Aejaz did it, but they were all familiar with this series of events. Some snickered at Fen and some felt pity. He was annoying, but they had all been in his shoes at some point. It really did suck to be robbed blind and to not even know how it happened or be able to respond. Eventually the assessment came to an end and Fen had been unable to make it into the fifth tier despite his numerous attempts.


    The eight people sitting on the bench could care less about everything that had happened. There wasn¡¯t a single person among them that wouldn¡¯t be able to make it into the fifth tier if they¡¯d been allowed to compete. They would just have to wait until the next assessment which Teng informed them was in a month''s time. They only paid attention when the top three of the fifth tier had fought to defend their position. The fights had ended quickly though and were quite disappointing due to the obvious gap in strength. Still though, the top three looked strong enough to justify their position and were likely close to becoming inner court disciples.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    All the outer court disciples gathered into their new tiers and stood behind their tier leaders. The tier leaders would handle various issues pertaining to the disciples they were in charge of. They would give lectures and hand out cultivation resources as well as settle disputes and give general life guidance if needed.


    The second-tier leader was an old man that looked hollow and completely dried out. It wouldn¡¯t be a surprise if a strong gale blew and knocked him over. Hell, it wouldn¡¯t even be too shocking if it outright killed him. He had his eyes closed at all times and was constantly stroking a long white beard, kind of like how a lot of the other Elders in this sect seemed to have a habit of doing.


    The third-tier leader was an incredibly tiny individual, coming in at around only 4.5ft. He wore a robe and glasses that were far too big for his eyes, to the point he had to keep readjusting them to stop them from falling off. He held a fairly large book in his hand and kept a stern look on his face at all times that, when combined with his short stature, made him look rather comical.


    The fifth-tier leader was a completely unremarkable woman in every sense of the word. She was like the female equivalent of Lightning and Water Guy. Average height, average looks, average everything. It seemed as though she were in her early to mid 30¡¯s and it was practically impossible to tell she was a cultivator just by appearance alone. She appeared younger than she actually was as that was one of the benefits of cultivation. Unlike the other two though, it made her look far more approachable and she definitely seemed nice enough.


    Teng stood in front of the eight who were lined up side by side. ¡°You¡¯ll now each be assigned to a tier, if you want to move up then work hard. Onno, third tier.¡±


    The disciples were startled for two reasons. First off, there was already a third tier! Second, everyone knew the name Onno. He was the kind of person you would definitely want to suck up to for the sake of your future prospects.


    ¡°Water Guy, third tier.¡± Teng had long since given up on trying to remember the names of the Duo and he, alongside everyone else, simply embraced things as they currently were. It¡¯s what everyone else was calling them so why couldn¡¯t he?


    ¡°Umm, actually, I¡¯m Lightning Guy¡­¡±


    Teng was staring at the wrong person!


    Goddammit!


    He made a mental note to give those two some kind of badge to avoid making the same mistake again in the future. ¡°Well, whatever. Lightning Guy your third tier too. You might as well go together as a duo anyway.¡± Teng just gave up and decided to send them off and leave them to their leader to deal with.


    Again, the disciples were taken aback, but this time it was because they couldn¡¯t understand what was happening. Were these two twins? What the hell kind of name was ¡®Water Guy¡¯ or ¡®Lightning Guy¡¯? Why did even Teng seem mentally defeated by these two? And most importantly, how could two people as boring and forgettable as that become third tiers instantly? There was fuckery afoot!


    ¡°Li Li, third tier.¡±


    Another third tier! This one wasn¡¯t quite as surprising though. The Li clan were well known in Red Sun City as the ¡®birthplace of all brawlers¡¯. A lot of strong and well renowned bare-fisted aspect experts came from the Li clan. It seemed Li Li was no different. The Li clan was actually rather well received by the public as they often got into street brawls for the sake of their practice, but they only ever involved thieves, murderers, and drunkards. They knew how to put on a good show if nothing else. It was always quite the spectacle and, sometimes, if the spectators were lucky, the drunkards they beat up were other members of the Li clan!


    ¡°Wait a minute, that¡¯s not a guy!¡± A disciple in the crowd spoke up but remained hidden so as not to be the target of revenge later. Some people just wanted to watch the world burn.


    Li Li was furious but had nowhere to direct that anger. She was incredibly close to beating up the morons directly in front of her that were just staring at her with empty eyes but decided it wasn¡¯t worth her time.


    ¡°Dirk, third tier.¡±


    The second-tier leader opened a single eye. Was he really not going to get a single new disciple? It seemed there were a handful of geniuses this year. There was still hope for him though as he eyed up the remaining three.


    The disciples were speechless.


    Third tier again?


    Only a few people even recognised Dirk, or, to be more specific, the naming convention of the Nick clan. The Nick clan were a small clan full of haemomancers that were only ever named after the first blade they chose to make their own. When the nameless children came of age, they would cut themselves in some unusual ritual using whichever blade they felt a connection to. They didn¡¯t have to carry around that specific weapon forever, but they would always have to have that type of weapon on their person at all times as a sign of respect. These were the weapons that allowed them to revel in their own blood after all.


    ¡°Appa, third tier.¡±


    The second-tier leader¡¯s heart sank. Surely he would get at least one!


    ¡°What even is that thing?¡± A disciple at the front of the group accidentally muttered aloud. The disciple quickly shrieked when he simultaneously received seven different death stares and promptly shut his mouth.


    Appa cutely tilted its head to the side before turning around to Ares. ¡°Why did that human make a funny noise?¡±


    ¡°Because it made a mistake,¡± Ares spoke with serious agitation in his voice


    ¡°Humans squeak when they make mistakes? Hehehe, humans are silly!¡± Appa floated over to the people it was familiar with and snuggled up besides anyone who was willing to pet it, which happened to be literally everyone.


    The five who were already there all smiled warmly at Appa, and jointly patted it, before turning their gaze outward at everyone else and collectively made the throat slitting gesture.


    Point taken.


    ¡°Aejaz, third tier¡­ Aejaz, third tier¡­ Aejaz?¡± Teng thought Aejaz wasn¡¯t listening but he quickly realised Aejaz was hiding behind Ares. ¡°Stop clinging to Ares and get over there dammit! Stop relying on him to save your ass all the damn time. Your cultivation is the highest of everyone in that group so what are you even worried about?¡± Teng was seriously not having it.


    Aejaz was no pushover in a fight and he had a high cultivation base. Quit being a coward! Fight man, FIGHT! Teng leapt behind Aejaz and kicked him in the ass, straight over Ares¡¯ head, right into the middle of the third-tier group.


    When Aejaz looked up, he saw the displeased looks on everyone¡¯s faces who had already surrounded him in a circle.


    ¡°Eep.¡± Aejaz found he could only make a single noise as he braced for pain.


    ¡°Haha, Aejaz made a mistake.¡± Appa completely misunderstood the situation, but had somehow also gotten it completely right.


    Dirk and Li Li just sighed as they separated the crowd and dragged Aejaz¡¯s sorry self out of the encirclement.


    ¡°You¡¯re good people,¡± Aejaz sniffled and spoke with a tear in his eye. ¡°UNLIKE SOMEONE!¡± Aejaz wildly waved his fist back at Ares who simply snorted, smiled, and looked away.


    ¡°Ares, fifth tier.¡±


    ¡°WHAT!¡± the second-tier leader, who had yet to get anyone, didn¡¯t even process his response, it just blurted out as he heard Teng¡¯s words. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, Teng. Weren¡¯t you prattling on about rules less than an hour ago? Isn¡¯t that your thing? Why is he fifth tier anyway? What did he do to warrant you breaking your own rules?¡±


    The disciples were just standing still and repeatedly blinking. A few of them pinched themselves and more than once at that. Jaws had been lowered and eyes had been widened. This was unheard of. Since the sect¡¯s inception, this had never happened once. It¡¯s not like he was even put in the fourth tier, he just skipped it and went directly to the fifth. Some of these disciples who joined when they were much younger had been stuck at the lower tiers for upwards of five whole years. Just how monstrous was this guy? Fuck the stardust. No-one wanted anything to do with Ares anymore. Better yet, some people were wondering if they could give him stardust to leave them alone.


    ¡°I agree with second tier leader Gao. This makes no sense, especially coming from you, Teng,¡± the third-tier leader spoke out in agreement with Gao.


    ¡°Loopo, I understand your concerns, but this is simply how it¡¯s going to be. This order comes directly from Rud so, if you want your pay check slashed, cough cough, I mean, if you want to argue with him, then go ahead. Ares is going into the fifth tier and that¡¯s final,¡± Teng responded to Loopo with a not-so thinly veiled warning. Teng got along with the tier leaders and was trying to help them avoid a pay slash in their monthly salaries. Rud was truly ruthless, but he was also the sect¡¯s accountant, so who could really argue with him?


    ¡°Not that I mind having another disciple, but I must say his cultivation is a bit... Surprising.¡± The fifth-tier lady seemed unbothered by a new addition or the blatantly broken rules, but she was definitely curious how Ares managed to get in Teng and Rud¡¯s good books.


    Gao was astonished when he finally checked Ares cultivation. ¡°3rd realm, 10th stage? At his age? What the fuck Teng? That¡¯s second-tier, if not first-tier, level of cultivation.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Why is he fifth tier?


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a joke?¡± Numerous voices rang out from the disciples who were now confused as to what was happening and why someone like Ares was being put in the fifth tier.


    ¡°Elaine, Gao, this really isn¡¯t a simple matter and you¡¯ll have to ignore his cultivation, but I promise you it will be worth it,¡± Teng paid no attention to the disciples and responded to the fifth and second tier leaders.


    ¡°Teng, we won¡¯t be satisfied unless you tell us why this is happening,¡± Loopo voiced what the five leaders were thinking.


    The other two leaders hadn¡¯t gotten involved as they knew it wasn¡¯t their place. Ares had to be some kind of genius to be placed into the fifth tier. Teng didn¡¯t seem like he was going to budge and lower it to the fourth tier. Teng would also never put a genius in the first tier even if his cultivation was low, thus those two leaders were out of the running anyway.


    ¡°Fine. Slick proposed a bet during the trial with Ares that Rud and myself both agreed to. Slick lost the bet and now this is the result.¡±


    ¡°Slick proposed a bet himself? What kind of bet?¡± Elaine wanted details as she was the curious type that wanted to know everyone¡¯s secrets at all times.


    ¡°Slick lost a bet to this kid? Seriously?¡± Loopo was mostly just concerned with the fact that their guardian had somehow lost a bet to some random teenager with a low cultivation base.


    ¡°That useless idiot. It¡¯s not surprising he lost a bet with that carefree attitude of his.¡± Gao was annoyed, which wasn¡¯t all that surprising as there was little that didn¡¯t annoy him. The moments he wasn¡¯t actively in a state of vexation were few and far between.


    ¡°Yes, he lost the bet. The bet came about after a long series of events that started with Ares asking what would happen if he forced Slick to use mana during the trial.¡±


    ¡°Arrogant brat.¡± Gao was instantly displeased with the nerves of this new disciple.


    ¡°As I was saying, Slick was aware of this and decided to make a bet with him. If Ares could force Slick to use mana in the trial, he would be placed directly into the fifth tier.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re saying he actually made Slick use mana? He didn¡¯t cheat, did he?¡± Loopo was shocked, that feat was certainly impressive.


    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t cheat, Ares actually managed to cut off one of Slick¡¯s arms too. He would have cut off Slick¡¯s head if he hadn¡¯t used any mana.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The tier leaders were dead silent and so were the disciples. Most people here were familiar with the new test that had come around in the last six years and knew exactly what the third trial was. Most of the people here struggled to cling to their tokens and run away for a minute whilst taking one hell of a beating, but this guy had cut off Slick''s arm? It wasn¡¯t that he fought evenly, that would be impressive enough alone, but to be so strong that he nearly took off his head? Monster. Absolute monster. No wonder his cultivation meant nothing. With strength like that, he was practically invincible in whichever cultivation realm he was in.


    ¡°He really cut off an arm?¡± Elaine was double checking; this was simply too far-fetched to just blindly accept.


    ¡°Yes. In fact, even after Slick started using mana, he managed to take off his pinky finger too.¡± Teng gave everyone time to let the information sink in, it¡¯s not like his reaction to it was any different.


    Loopo dropped his book and even his glasses fell off his face. Gao had gone deathly pale and truly looked like he was just about to keel over. Elaine had raised her hand to her mouth which was now wide open.


    ¡°If you still have any qualms with his placement, then as I mentioned before, you can go talk to Rud.¡±


    ¡°N¡­ No. That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Gao acknowledged the decision meekly.


    ¡°What did Slick want? Ares must have had to bet something too, and it must not have been a small thing either if Slick was the one who brought up the bet.¡± Elaine just had to know; she wouldn¡¯t stop thinking about it if she couldn¡¯t get an answer.


    ¡°I won¡¯t go over what Ares would have had to do if he lost because that¡¯s a complex matter that I¡¯m going to have to discuss with you all later. On that note, I truly don¡¯t know what to do with Ares¡¯ cultivation, and I don¡¯t think anyone can help him either, so it doesn¡¯t matter who gets him as all of your lectures will mean basically nothing. He¡¯s been placed based not on who can offer him the most guidance, but on his prowess, and also because of the bet and what he can offer the sect. There really is a lot to talk about, and it¡¯s all really important so don¡¯t go slacking off or I¡¯ll find you and drag you to the meeting if I have to!¡±


    The leaders all looked at Ares who was just minding his own business as though none of this concerned him. Was he seriously that influential? Why was this kid so important? They all decided to attend the meeting and find out just what made Ares so special, not that they had any choice in the matter anyway, lest their wallets suffer a pay-slash.


    ¡°I DISAGREE WITH THIS; HOW CAN HE BE ALLOWED INTO THE FIFTH TIER OVER A BET?¡± Fen was, unsurprisingly, very much not happy.

 Chapter 16: Confidentiality

    ¡°Jesus Christ, can you stop yelling for two fucking seconds? You might actually be more annoying than your brother was.¡± Ares was getting fed up with Fen. He was starting to wish he could just kill him here and now and be done with it. ¡°Elder Teng, is there a life and death arena in the sect?¡±


    Life and death arenas were fairly common in most sects for resolving disputes.


    Two people would go in, one person would come out.


    Sometimes, no one would come out!


    Sometimes, under bizarre conditions, both would come out!


    There were also rumours about one time when a guy and a woman went in, and, nine months later, three people came out! They had clearly taken the ¡®life¡¯ part a little too seriously.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t condone killing one another within the sect at all.¡± Even Teng seemed a little regretful.


    ¡°Hahahaha, you think you could beat me? Not in a million years, Ares.¡±


    ¡°Actually, if you two fought, Ares would kick the shit out of you, so could you just shut up?¡± Teng had finally had enough of Fen so he decided to put him in his place and move on. From what Teng had seen in both the test and the tier assessment, Fen stood absolutely no chance. The only people here that could fight Ares on even ground were the top three of the fifth tier and that¡¯s only because, on average, their cultivation hovered around mental accumulation, 4th stage. To essentially be ranked definitively in the top 5 immediately after joining the outer court was a one-of-a-kind achievement. ¡°This month¡¯s tier assessment is over, you are all dismissed,¡± Teng carried on speaking immediately to make sure Fen didn¡¯t have a chance to interrupt.


    The disciples all followed their respective tier leaders as they were shown around their new area of study. The fifth-tier area had the largest lecture hall and the most Elders despite having the fewest number of disciples. It also had the largest quantity of mana in the air which made it easier to cultivate. Although there were cultivation rooms in the disciple¡¯s residences, pretty much everyone would go to their tier¡¯s cultivation rooms instead due to the abundance of mana. Being a fifth-tier disciple was mostly a matter of convenience. Ares could take better missions from the mission hall; more things were available to buy in the treasury, and he received a greater number of resources than his neighbours every month. Fifth tiered disciples also had an easier time setting up stalls in the market but Ares already had a deal with Rud, so that was irrelevant.


    After showing everyone around, Elaine led everyone to the lecture hall and gave a quick introductory speech before giving a lecture on the mental accumulation realm. Elaine noticed Ares wasn¡¯t paying any attention whatsoever but ignored it as Teng had already mentioned his matter was complicated. He also seemed to be cultivating, so it''s not like he was just idling and wasting his time, then she would have been really annoyed!


    Truthfully, Ares wasn¡¯t cultivating, he was just pretending to. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t focus with the lecture in the background, but that there was really no point. Trying to cross from the tenth stage of one realm to the first of the next required him to have a deeper understanding of his pillar thanks to the dedication cultivation technique. There was no one he could ask for help, so he just had to work it out on his own. The two ways of crossing realms when he was stuck that he had discovered up until now was to either finish creating a new art, or to blow things up. Right now, there was nothing to blow up, so he was working on a nothingness art that was relatively simple as it made use of his already existing Shift art. There were still some specifics he wasn¡¯t sure how to work around though, and he wasn¡¯t making any progress due to his lack of understanding. Perhaps there was something else he could do first, but he would have to wait for the lecture to end so he could visit the arts library. Of course, there wouldn¡¯t be any destruction arts there, but Ares had an idea for a technical which should be fine as the technical pillar was an open pillar and affiliation was irrelevant. He would create his own technical using his knowledge of the destruction pillar and a technical from the arts library as a base. Having Grand Annihilation was great and all, but he could do with something that wasn¡¯t dangerous to wield indoors or around innocent people. He had long since thought about what direction to take and decided on one after watching Li Li¡¯s fight against Slick.


    A while later, the lecture ended and Ares headed over to the library while Elaine went off to Teng¡¯s meeting. Ares arrived at the library hall and found Rud dozing off, so he just decided to head in and look for what he wanted. If he wasn¡¯t supposed to be somewhere, then Rud should have stopped him!


    ---------------------------------


    In a large hall, the five tier leaders of both the outer and inner court were all present. There were also a number of other Elders here, including Zhang. Most of the Elders were experts that specialised in the various open pillars and were in charge of overseeing disciples that wanted to learn anything regarding their specialties.


    ¡°Tsk, Slick, you''ve really screwed up this time,¡± Gao started complaining as soon as he found Slick who had just taken a seat.


    ¡°Humph, I¡¯d love to see you fight those eight little menaces. They¡¯re no joke.¡±


    ¡°I meant the bet.¡±


    ¡°If you were in my shoes, I guarantee you would have made the same decision. Besides, Rud will be here in a minute to explain everything.¡±


    ¡°Where is Rud anyway? The real one, I mean.¡±


    ¡°He went to go get the sect master.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? He¡¯s even getting the sect master involved?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a really important matter after all, there¡¯s a reason we¡¯ve gathered so many people to discuss it. Our little sect might be on the verge of greatness.¡±


    ¡°All because of that one kid?¡±


    ¡°Yep, pretty much. Funny, isn¡¯t it? How one person can just change everything.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll believe it when I see it. Did you really lose an arm and a finger?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, if I didn¡¯t know any better, I would swear you almost seem glad.¡±


    Gao couldn¡¯t hold back a mocking smile any longer. ¡°Maybe I am.¡±


    ¡°Asshole.¡±


    ¡°Hunk o¡¯ junk.¡±


    ¡°Do you two have to be like this every time?¡± A silky-smooth woman''s voice rang out.


    The woman had a mature vibe and was slightly taller than average. She wore little makeup, but it worked for her, and she could definitely be considered beautiful by just about anyone¡¯s standards. She seemed particularly fond of the colour purple as her robe, earrings, and sandals were all the same colour. She was the third-tier leader of the inner court, and Elaine¡¯s sister, Alaine.


    ¡°He started it!¡± Gao and Slick shouted in unison.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m ending it, play nice you two,¡± Alaine chided them as though they were children.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go easy on Slick, sis¡¯. He got his ass beat by a bandit.¡± Elaine lazily slouched on the table and joined in the conversation.


    ¡°A bandit?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you know those famous bandit brothers Ares and Aejaz?¡±


    ¡°Haha, of course I know them. A lot of the inner court disciples still have mental scars from their time as outer court disciples thanks to them.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re the reason we¡¯re having this meeting, apparently.¡±


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s mostly about Ares, although Aejaz is weird as fuck too,¡± Slick clarified.


    ¡°Oh? Did those two finally show up and cause a ruckus then?¡± Zhang heard the name ¡®bandit brothers¡¯ and came over.


    ¡°YOU! You could have bloody well warned me what a little bastard that Ares is. Where the hell did you find a devil like that?¡± Slick was feeling cheated.


    ¡°Just running around on the streets, why? I actually thought Aejaz would be the bigger deal what with his unique aspect and all.¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°God no. Ares is definitely the bigger problem child of the two. I¡¯ll let Teng and Rud explain everything later. Speaking of unique aspects, how¡¯s Allie doing?¡±


    ¡°Good. She¡¯s advancing quite steadily and will be ready to leave the sect shortly. Now we just need to wait for Enyo to come back and act as her guardian. She¡¯ll do quite well in the alchemy competition, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Everyone chatted amongst themselves until Rud and Teng arrived with a young man in tow. The young man looked to be in his mid-twenties. He wore a smile on his face but it looked forced, not because he was in a bad mood but because he was tired. He had bags under his eyes and was yawning pretty much without pause. If it weren¡¯t for his exhaustion, he probably would be quite a good looking individual.


    ¡°Greetings, sect master Yulo!¡± everyone called out. The sect master was indeed this young man. This world was not actually typically run by the old, but rather the young geniuses that had risen up and taken over. Yulo had reached the cultivation peak of what was possible in this domain, the transition realm, at an astonishing speed before being appointed to his new position by the previous sect master. He was undeniably a top-dog in this domain and was arguably the strongest person around. If it weren¡¯t for Yulo, the sect would inevitably struggle to hang on and maintain it¡¯s current position.


    As for the previous sect master, he had grown old and wanted to cultivate in seclusion to try and break through to the transition realm. Doing so would extend his lifespan which, while certainly long, was still fading. He had struggled to reach the transition realm for countless years and was eventually overtaken by the younger generation. The younger generations would always have a quicker cultivation speed, after all. Even Ares¡¯ current ¡®slow¡¯ cultivation speed would probably end up being quicker than Yulo¡¯s when he started receiving cultivation resources and going on excursions to find treasures.


    The current sect master was definitely not happy being tied down like this, but he felt this was a fine way to repay the sect that raised him so he stuck around. Despite pawning off most of his responsibilities to Rud, he still had a mountain of work to finish 24/7. Turns out, being a sect master was both hard and incredibly boring. Yulo would still occasionally long for adventure, he really wanted to escape into the next domain, but he couldn¡¯t just leave the sect as it was. He was willing to wait until he could find someone else to take over, but still, he felt a little remorseful. He was, after all, a renowned genius, considering the speed at which he reached the transition realm, and that same genius level talent was being stifled the longer he stayed at the sect. There were also people waiting for him but, at the very least, they were understanding of his position.


    This was the main reason Rud never complained about having to do a million and one odd jobs. Yulo had it hard enough as is and there weren¡¯t enough Elders around to do these miscellaneous jobs.


    Then Ares showed up!


    Now an avenue has appeared to potentially earn some more stardust, hire more Elders, and reduce the workload! Yulo would feel more comfortable leaving the sect if it were doing well for itself. In Rud¡¯s mind, Ares was too perfect of a solution to simply pass up.


    ¡°Yo,¡± Yulo raised his hand and greeted everyone casually. Like Ares, he really didn¡¯t care for formal etiquette or respectful gestures. If he could have convinced everyone to just treat him normally, he would have done so years ago.


    Rud and Teng checked everyone was present and seated before starting. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be discussing the events that took place in yesterday''s entrance examination and the future of this sect in relation to those events. As with every entrance examination, the test was recorded in its entirety, so we¡¯ll be showing you the video and explaining everything as we go,¡± Teng was the first to speak.


    Yulo raised his eyebrow. Even he wasn¡¯t aware of why he had been called over. He figured it must have been something serious to call a meeting with this many people, but could it really be that important if it involved new disciples?


    A large hologram appeared in front of everyone that had a still image of Rud in the middle of closing his book of blood. Ares and Aejaz had just walked through the door and Teng was about to start the first examination. ¡°We¡¯ll start from the very beginning, although Ares is the main focus, Aejaz¡¯s unique aspect is unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen. I¡¯ll include his parts too as someone may be able to think of a use for his aspect.¡± The video started, and when the book was stolen from Rud¡¯s hands, there were a few audible gasps from the audience of Elders. ¡°This is the unique aspect of thievery. We later learnt a few other things about this aspect, but we¡¯ll get into that later. Long story short, if you aren¡¯t paying attention, he can steal near enough anything from anyone. As it turns out, six years ago, when he was 11, he managed to steal a signature treasure directly from the Chen clan¡¯s patriarch without alerting him, for reference.¡±


    ¡°Is that why the Chen clan stormed out of the meeting all those years ago?¡± Yulo asked. He wasn¡¯t the patriarch at the time, but he¡¯d heard details about the incident.


    ¡°It was, yes. That, and Ares had murdered his grandson, Farro,¡± Rud answered, then gave a brief explanation detailing Ares¡¯ history before moving on.


    Everyone was shocked at the bandit brother¡¯s cultivation; one was far too low and the other far too high. Then came the first test. The video showed the start of the test and Ares standing out like a sore thumb.


    ¡°I should note that at this point, I was also secretly using my own pressure as well. I later confirmed it had something to do with his bloodline, but he doesn¡¯t know anything about his family so it can¡¯t be traced. Whatever his bloodline is, it does at least two things, the first is a complete immunity to pressure. The second thing, you¡¯ll see later.¡±


    The video continued and everyone watched as the second trial was underway. As the bandit brothers did nothing for the majority of the trial, everyone instead watched the other test participants. ¡°There are some good new disciples this year, huh?¡± One of the inner court tier leaders spoke.


    ¡°Seems I hit the jackpot this time around.¡± Loopo was overjoyed at having picked up seven of these geniuses as the performance of a tier leader¡¯s disciples was somewhat related to their wages.


    ¡°Wait, shouldn¡¯t only seven people pass this test? Weren¡¯t there eight new disciples?¡± Yulo was the first person to notice something was amiss.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we thought too. You¡¯ll see in a minute.¡±


    The video displayed Ares pretty effortlessly dealing with two failed participants.


    ¡°Tha¡¯s an interesting treasure,¡± a slow, deep, gruff voice came from somewhere in the hall.


    ¡°It¡¯s a personal treasure, right? I saw him with it six years ago,¡± Zhang added.


    ¡°It should be, yes. If you want to have a look at it, Dabble, you can always ask. He seems relatively easy-going about these kinds of things,¡± Rud voiced his opinion on the matter.


    Dabble was a dwarf, barely taller than an average human¡¯s knee height. He wore a silver helmet with two oak horns coming out of it and carried around a hammer twice his size. He was the resident forger/blacksmith at the sect and taught disciples that were interested in the open pillar of forgery.


    The video reached the conclusion of the second trial and was paused on a still frame of eight people holding up tokens. ¡°We mentioned earlier the thievery aspect was really quite strange, now would be a good time to explain a few things,¡± Rud took the helm to explain Aejaz¡¯s capabilities. He talked about increasing the quality of stolen items, duplicating items, stealing things from great ranges, not leaving hardly any traces, and his ability to steal through spatial rings. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know how we can make use of this without pissing people off, but we figured we might as well show you all in case someone can come up with a use for him.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t we only piss people off if they knew it was us? If we could find a way of bringing him to meetings with other sects, couldn¡¯t we secretly rob everyone blind?¡± Alaine suggested.


    Yulo put his hand to his chin. ¡°We could, but that¡¯s risky. I know sometimes you have to take a risk to be rewarded, but I don¡¯t know just how far his thievery aspect can really go. It¡¯s certainly worth thinking about though. We do have a few enemies here and there that we only try to get along with as a means of keeping up appearances. If we stick to targeting those groups then maybe we could indirectly improve our own situation. First, we should see just how well he can use his aspect before trying anything at that scale. Let¡¯s put that on hold for now, but keep it in the back of our minds as an option.¡±


    The third trial garnered a few ¡®oohs¡¯ and ¡®aahs¡¯ from the early participants. They really did have quite a good showing. A few people even shed a tear for Lightning Guy. Then came Aejaz¡¯ trial. Rud didn¡¯t pause the video or explain anything about the Shock Bead, all he said was, ¡°Pay attention to that Bead when he uses it, that thing is why we¡¯re all here today.¡±


    Naturally everyone became serious upon hearing that. The Bead was certainly strange enough as no one recognised it at all. What kind of effect could that thing possibly have to warrant a meeting like this? The video went on and finally, the moment of truth arrived. The thundering explosion rang out and everyone present gawked at the hologram. What the fuck? That¡¯s no toy! How did someone at Ares¡¯ cultivation level create that¡­ Thing. It was quite a sight to see roughly a hundred Elders all staring stupidly in the same direction.


    Rud held back a laugh as they hadn¡¯t seen anything yet! Rud paused the video. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m sure you have a lot of questions. Save them all until I finish my explanation. If your question still isn¡¯t answered, you can ask after.¡± Rud slowly recounted his conversation with Ares including absolutely everything without missing a single detail. He talked about the unique pillar, the results of the crystal ball, the ancient sword, the three aspects, and how the bet came about.


    ¡°This¡­ is really quite something.¡± Yulo was wide awake now. He was staring at the dark gold explosion on the hologram which had a surprising allure to it. It was a really nice shade of gold to just stare at. He was excited! Without Rud having to explain his thoughts, he already knew where he was going to go with this. Those Shock Beads were probably the most valuable thing the sect had ever had access to since its inception.


    The Elders were confused and overwhelmed with this information. It felt like everything they ever knew had been thrown on its head. A new pillar was simply an earth-shattering occurrence, and it happened right here in their Heaven¡¯s Path Sect! ¡°I mean¡­ That¡¯s certainly impressive, but I don¡¯t think I quite understand how we¡¯re going to use this,¡± an Elder near the back said.


    Rud briefly explained the importance of the Beads being an art that could grow stronger, and the fact that Ares could create these with little effort. He painted a picture of every single disciple in the sect holding even just a single Shock Bead, creating an unstoppable army. If Ares could increase his cultivation, he could single-handedly raise the sect¡¯s status straight to the top of this world. The biggest advantage of these beads was how quickly and easily they could be made.


    Bit by bit, the Elders began to cotton on to what he was trying to explain, all the while Yulo was getting more and more restless. This was an incredible chance! This new disciple had to be protected at all costs, he could shape the sect¡¯s future! He could be Yulo¡¯s ticket out of here! Yulo thanked Ares in his mind before speaking out, ¡°Incredible. We can absolutely use this to our advantage. All the lives we can save, all the disciples we can weaponize. This will surely be a turning point. I guess we have to protect Ares then?¡±


    ¡°Actually, we don¡¯t have to protect anything. He¡¯s far stronger than his cultivation would lead you to believe. You should watch his third trial,¡± Slick finally spoke. He mostly just wanted to watch the fight again to see how his arm was cut off. He never did manage to find out.


    ¡°Right, even with those Beads, it¡¯s still surprising he won the bet,¡± Alaine agreed.


    Rud resumed the video, letting Ares¡¯ trial play out in its entirety before stopping it at the end.


    Naturally, everyone was utterly dumbfounded by what they had just watched, that was categorically not what you¡¯d expect to see from a fight between two people in the 3rd realm. The lethality of the arts, the incredible swordplay, the refined movement, the tactics. Everything was just done to such a high level that it seemed almost implausible for Ares to be at such a low cultivation, but then they remembered the justification for why it was so slow.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how the bastard did it,¡± Slick grumbled underneath his breath. How could he forget about the damn treasure! He deserved to have his arm cut off. Not that it would have mattered even if he had remembered though as he was still unaware of that function at the time. Now he knew though! Never again!


    ¡°This might actually be a problem.¡± Yulo broke everyone out of their stupor. ¡°I¡¯m not saying this isn¡¯t phenomenal, it¡¯s the most spectacular thing I¡¯ve personally ever seen. Unfortunately, I think I know where his bloodline comes from and, if I¡¯m right, we¡¯ve picked up a potential ticking-time bomb. That level of healing, still managing to live with a pierced heart as though it were nothing? There¡¯s only one bloodline I can think of.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rud asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bloodline from a higher domain. Not just the next domain up either but the ones above it. Very few people know that there are more domains out there, but there¡¯s a long and complicated reason for that. As for the bloodline and its respective clan, they have a long, arduous history and are currently in a very complex situation. As things currently stand, there are a great number of people who would happily slaughter any living thing with that specific bloodline without second thought. I heard about it when I was researching the next domain, about a clan that was forced to escape from the domain they once ruled, and were now being hunted and murdered like it was a sport. Even the place that clan is currently trapped in is referred to as ¡®The Perpetual Massacre Zone¡¯. I¡¯m not certain if it really is that bloodline, and I don¡¯t know how Ares got here if it is, but this could be a serious issue. If anyone of significant importance from the next domain finds out about this, this sect will probably vanish off the face of the planet by the end of the next day if we don¡¯t hand him over. How sure are you, Rud, that Ares doesn¡¯t know anything about his bloodline?¡±


    ¡°Very, he really didn¡¯t seem to be lying. He may have withheld some information but I really don¡¯t think he knows much, if anything about his clan at all.¡±


    ¡°Then his situation is that much stranger. I can¡¯t explain the specifics because the more everyone knows, the more likely it is to leak out. Then we¡¯d all be screwed. Everyone here is going to have to make an oath never to mention anything about his bloodline. It¡¯s that serious I¡¯m afraid. We can still stick to the original plan; we just need to make sure everyone is too focused on his unique pillar to see anything else they shouldn¡¯t be seeing.¡±


    All the Elders immediately swore an oath, one that would be the death of them if they broke it, never to mention Ares bloodline to anyone that wasn¡¯t supposed to know. They carried on discussing various plans to make use of this new, strange duo that showed up on their doorstep.


    ¡°Where is the lad now?¡± Dabble queried Rud.


    ¡°Let me look.¡± Rud closed his eyes and started using his clones to check their surroundings. ¡°That damn little runt!¡±

 Chapter 17: Getting Technical

    ¡°Hmm? Where is ¡®e?¡± Dabble really wanted to know where Ares had gone to cause Rud to raise his voice in such a manner.


    ¡°He¡¯s snuck into the highest floor of the arts library! Give me a minute to talk to him.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Ares had skipped straight to the top floor of the library and was trying to find a suitable technical. He was a little annoyed at how poorly laid out the library was. It had no blasted rhyme or reason to it at all! It didn''t help that the library was as large as a stadium. Ares felt a presence appear directly behind him and he instinctively turned and threw a fist.


    Rud caught Ares¡¯ hand and dragged him back down to the entrance in less than a second flat. ¡°What do you think you''re doing on the highest floor?¡± Rud had a stern tone.


    ¡°Looking for arts? Isn¡¯t that what this place is for?¡± Ares knew he was in the wrong but decided to play it off as an accident.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed up there.¡±


    ¡°Strange, no one stopped me. The Elder in charge must not be very good at his job.¡±


    ¡°Listen up you little shit, stick to the damn rules whether they¡¯re enforced or not. Be a good samaritan. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t have enough problems to deal with without you giving me more.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure figuring out which position is the most comfortable to sleep in is incredibly taxing.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, what are you even doing here anyway brat? Did you come here for a sword art? I shouldn¡¯t have to tell you this, but you won¡¯t find anything related to your pillar here.¡±


    ¡°I know, I¡¯m actually looking for a specific kind of technical. I want to create my own using another as a base.¡±


    ¡°A technical? Why do you need a technical?¡±


    Ares briefly explained his cultivation requirement and thoughts about the inconveniences of the annihilation aspect.


    ¡°Hmm, in that case, what kind of technical are you looking for? I know someone who might be able to help you find something.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for something that can affect airwaves, soundwaves, and/or create ripples.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Hey, Lizzy! Could you spare a minute?¡± Rud¡¯s real body called out to a woman who was just about to leave the meeting hall.


    Lizzy had long, chestnut coloured hair and wore a plain shirt and beige shorts. She was covered from head to toe in soot, dirt, and oil as she¡¯d come straight over from the gadgetry department. She¡¯d even forgotten to take off her welding goggles that were resting on her forehead before coming over to the meeting. Lizzy had an obsession with gadgets but wasn¡¯t actually in charge of the department, it was more of a hobby. Her real passion was the technical pillar, but a pillar as niche as that rarely saw any interest from disciples. She could often be found working sleeplessly through the night on both tech and technicals. She was a real aficionado and the sect¡¯s only technical expert. She was also the person who made the recording device that Rud had used earlier to record the entrance exam.


    ¡°Yeah sure, what¡¯s up Ruddy?¡± Lizzy replied in a peppy voice.


    ¡°Ugh, whatever. I¡¯m looking for a specific type of technical in the library. You should know where they all are and which one would suit what I¡¯m looking for.¡±


    ¡°No probs. watcha lookin¡¯ for Rudster.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, I swear you do this to annoy me. I¡¯m looking for a technical that can create or affect ripples, airwaves, or soundwaves. Anything along those lines will do.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, there¡¯s only really one that matches that description. Mind if I ask why you want something like that, Rudaroo?¡±


    ¡°... It¡¯s not me that wants it.¡±


    ¡°Who wants it then, Rudrigo?¡±


    ¡°Can you stop doing that!?¡± Rud sighed. ¡°It¡¯s Ares. He said he¡¯s trying to create a technical using one with those properties as its base, I have no clue what he¡¯s making.¡±


    ¡°Oooooooohhhhhhhh a technical!? Where¡¯s this kid? I wanna meet him! He has good taste! Where¡¯s he? Where''s he? Where''s he?¡± Lizzy¡¯s eyes lit up immediately. It was rare to find someone who was willing to learn technical arts, let alone someone who wanted to experiment with the creation of them.


    ¡°You can talk to him tomorrow if you¡¯d like, he¡¯s going to be setting up the stall today which takes precedence. Same goes for you Dabble. Let me know which times suit you two and I¡¯ll let him know to come see you both.¡±


    ¡°Oh aye, in that case, I¡¯ll see the laddie in teh afternoon,¡± Dabble gave his preferred time and left after saying his goodbyes.


    ¡°Hmmm, I''ll be busy in the morning¡­ In that case, he can come over whenever he¡¯s done with Dabble. As for the technical, it¡¯s called ¡®Water Walking¡¯. It¡¯s a technical that lets you walk on water by creating magic at the sole of your feet. The technical creates ripples on the water when it¡¯s used so I think that should meet his criteria. Unfortunately, the technical is kinda useless. It takes a long time to learn and you can get the same effect when you reach the transition realm and learn to fly, so not many people bother with it. If he¡¯s trying to create a movement technical, people have tried many times to no avail.¡± Lizzy got really into the conversation when it shifted to technicals.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s his plan. He already has a superior movement art, the one he used in the entrance trial. He mentioned briefly he was looking for a method of attack that wasn¡¯t as dangerous to wield in tight spaces as his annihilation arts, so it¡¯s probably some kind of offensive technical.¡±


    ¡°Ahhhh, I can¡¯t wait to ask himmmmmm. Make sure you let him know about tomorrow, ok Rudley?¡± Lizzy turned around and was about to leave.


    ¡°Lizzy? Where exactly is that art? You know what the state of the library is like.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right, you still haven¡¯t fixed that Rudolph? Shame on you! I think it should be on the top floor in the water pillar section. The last time someone tried experimenting with it, that was the route they took.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll let him know... Lizzlo.¡± Rud gave Lizzy a mischievous smile. See how you like it, crazy woman!


    ¡°Aww hell yeah. Now you¡¯re getting it, Rudsdale!¡± Lizzy gave Rud a thumbs up and left.


    ¡°Fuck. It appears I¡¯ve lost,¡± Rud admitted defeat and took control over his clone once again.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Wow, I must admit, I¡¯ve never seen anyone who can fall asleep as quickly as you.¡± Ares was lightly clapping his hands.


    ¡°Do you want the technical or not? Actually, forget it. If I tell you where it is, I won¡¯t have to put up with you anymore. It¡¯s on the top floor under the water pillar section. It¡¯s a technical called ¡®Water Walking¡¯. Don¡¯t come complaining to me if it isn¡¯t what you¡¯re looking for.¡±


    ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is, after all of that, I¡¯m going back to the top floor that you just told me I wasn¡¯t allowed to be in?¡± Ares started lightly clapping his hands again. ¡°I can see why you were made the vice sect master; your mind truly works in mysterious ways.¡±


    ¡°Alright, fuck off you rascal.¡± Rud booted Ares across the library, all the way to the base of the elevator. ¡°Oh, and by the way, tomorrow, head to the forging department in the afternoon and the technical department after you''re done. Also, don¡¯t forget to go and set up your stall today.¡±


    ¡°Yes mother!¡± Ares smirked as he tried to hold back a laugh. Ares got into the elevator and went back to the top floor, heading straight to the water pillar section. He quickly found the technical¡¯s tome and gave it a quick check to make sure it was what he needed before heading back down.


    Ares¡¯ next stop was the market area. On the way, he ran into Onno. ¡°Hey Onno, are you heading to the market as well?¡±


    ¡°Hey. Yeah, I¡¯m going to set up a business.¡±


    ¡°Haha, why am I not surprised.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good practice, what about you? Are you setting up your stall?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. What are you going to sell?¡±


    ¡°Alchemy materials mostly. I got given a hefty amount before I left home to help kickstart a small business in the sect. Actually, would you mind if I helped run your stall? I could use all the practice I can get. I can help you get assistants if necessary.¡±


    ¡°Sure, go ahead. I have no experience running a business and I have no idea how to price the Beads anyway. Your expertise is greatly welcomed.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, sounds good to me.¡±


    The two walked and talked, discussing business ideas. Onno came up with the idea to give a discount if people bought a set of five as Shock Beads would only get stronger the more of them you used at a time. Eventually, they reached a tent at the start of the market area. They gave their names to the guard who then went in and checked with a Rud clone if they were allowed in. The guard came back and the two were let inside.


    ¡°Long time no see.¡± Ares grinned and waved.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Not long enough,¡± Rud spoke through gritted teeth. ¡°At least you aren¡¯t slacking on our agreement. I¡¯m guessing you''re going to set up shop too, Onno?¡±


    ¡°Yep, Ares and I were talking and we decided to run his stall together as well.¡±


    ¡°Fine, it makes no difference to me. I already made sure some of the better locations were available, but can I personally recommend this one?¡± Rud pointed at a vacant store on a small-scale hologram of the market.


    ¡°It¡¯s certainly in a great spot, but can I ask why you¡¯re recommending this one?¡± Onno couldn¡¯t help but wonder.


    ¡°Between us¡­ That shop is currently Fen¡¯s, if you don¡¯t take it, he¡¯ll get to keep it.¡±


    ¡°Strange, that particular location has suddenly become a lot more appealing for no apparent reason,¡± Ares mumbled with his hand on his chin, looking as though he were appreciating the intricacies of fine art.


    ¡°Hmm, very strange indeed,¡± Onno agreed.


    ¡°Alright, that area is yours. There¡¯s already a storefront set up, so you can go check it out whenever.¡±


    ¡°Thanks Rud,¡± Ares said.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing the location for my store won¡¯t be so convenient?¡± Onno laughed slyly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Rud was only helping Ares because it was imperative to the sect. Rud and Onno discussed available locations for a while before coming to an agreement.


    Onno and Ares headed over to check Onno¡¯s stall location first as it was closer. Ares had no idea what he was looking at, but Onno seemed to be deep in thought so he let him ponder over his stall¡¯s specifics while waiting off to the side. After a short while, Onno made some mental notes and headed off with Ares to the centre of the market to find his new stall.


    ¡°Lucky you, this place is really quite good,¡± Onno congratulated Ares. ¡°I know you gave each of our little group ten Beads each, but do you have any more to sell today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I made sure to make another hundred or so. It¡¯s not much, but it should be ok for today at least.¡±


    ¡°When business really takes off, you¡¯re going to be working like an animal you know?¡±


    ¡°So be it. Besides, that¡¯ll only be while I¡¯m here. I¡¯ve been planning on eventually taking Aejaz on foreign missions to show him the world. Of course, I¡¯ll still make sure there¡¯s a stockpile before I leave, and I¡¯ll make some when I¡¯m gone for when I come back, but there might be times when the Beads aren¡¯t available.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but you''re the only one who can make them so this is just the way it has to be. Let¡¯s get everything in order and see what the baseline level of interest is.¡±


    ¡°That reminds me, what should we name this place?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, how about¡­ Shock Rocks?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with that, but does it matter if that¡¯s not actually their name?¡±


    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s fine. Besides, that name is catchier anyway. It¡¯s also a good thing that you can keep your own identity, you''re the only one that can use ¡®Shock Beads¡¯ and their respective art anyway. You can also just call them that until they catch on then go back to using their original name if it gets confusing. Now all we need is a slogan.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, when Aejaz heard about the stall, he kept hassling me to make the slogan ¡®Bang for your Buck¡¯. I don¡¯t really mind if that ends up being the slogan or not but, if it isn¡¯t going to ruin our business, I''d prefer to give him this little thing if there¡¯s no reason not to.¡±


    ¡°Aww, how nice. It¡¯s almost like you two are actually brothers. Makes me jealous. My brothers are assholes. You know, when us Honesty children are born, we¡¯re all assigned a company that will be ours in the future. One of my brothers actually tried to screw me over and buy me out! And you wanna know the worst part? My father was proud. PROUD.¡±


    Onno clearly had some repressed feelings but Ares was hardly a psychologist. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Really unfortunate. Are you gonna try and get back at him?¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah I am. Not just him either, all of them. Even my father! Sadly, I don¡¯t think he¡¯d even mind. He¡¯d probably be incomparably joyful if I managed it. I really can¡¯t win, but I¡¯ll do it anyway!¡±


    ¡°Well, erm, good luck with that.¡±


    Onno and Ares got down to business and set up the stall. Ares used disintegration magic and a feather from his Stygian Zephyr to carve the name into a long plank of wood. He then imbued it with annihilation magic so that it would give off the same ancient, destructive aura that Shock Beads would. Might as well make the shop thematic.


    While Onno was finishing up the stall, Ares went to go have a look around for something¡­ Specific.


    Sometime later, everything was set up and Onno and Ares sat behind the counter. There was a sign with the prices for the Beads just in front and trays of Beads along the counter. ¡®25 pieces of low-quality stardust for one, buy 4 and get one extra free!¡¯ Originally, Ares was going to write something along the lines of ¡®buy 5 for the price of 4¡¯, but Onno taught him the value of the word ¡®free¡¯ and the attention it would grab. It was a good idea to let Onno help, he really knew a lot about business practices and marketing.


    In the back of Ares¡¯ mind, he couldn''t help but realise that he had really sold himself for cheap during the trial. He and Aejaz only got 100 low grade stardust from their little transaction, that was the price of 5 Shock Beads! Ares and Aejaz never really interacted much with currency previously as they practically always stole everything, so neither of them realised just how little 100 stardust actually was in the grand scheme of things.


    Of course, Onno and Ares were intentionally selling Shock Beads much cheaper than they would go for if they were to be sold outside the sect as the whole point was to make them accessible.


    A few passer-bys noticed the store, but were hesitant to come over for two reasons. First, the product was too cheap. Advertising a life-saving treasure, weapon, or medicine and selling each for 25 low quality stardust meant they were probably really not all that valuable. Secondly, no-one wanted to go anywhere near Ares because he scared the shit out of them. He didn¡¯t look malicious, but everyone remembered that he was placed directly into the fifth tier and they were worried his looks might not be synonymous with his true character. He was previously a bandit, after all. Many people here had suffered losses at his hand!


    One or two brave souls eventually started to walk over when another disciple jumped in front of the store and started yelling, ¡°Don¡¯t buy from these frauds! Look at their prices! How could these so-called ¡®treasures¡¯ have any value whatsoever? They''re just trying to rob you of your hard-earned stardust! Imagine you buy one and try to use it in a life-or-death situation and it does nothing! Don¡¯t regret your actions!¡±


    Contrary to what this disciple was expecting, Ares and Onno didn¡¯t seem to care. In fact, they were smiling, and quite evilly at that too. It seemed they had expected this; or rather, they were hoping for this.


    ¡°Perfect, and on the first day too, no less,¡± Ares said to Onno.


    ¡°That guy just couldn¡¯t help himself, could he?¡± Onno replied.


    It was obvious who had sent this man. Chen Fen did. Fen had been robbed of this spot, naturally he would keep an eye on it to see who would take over. When he learnt it was Ares, he would inevitably send some random disciple to act as a naysayer and try to ruin his business. No other disciple would have the balls to do this to Ares and Onno, two of the biggest names in the outer court. Maybe a courageous inner court disciple with a grudge, but they wouldn¡¯t have found out about the business this quickly as they weren¡¯t living in the outer court. Of course, this was expected so an appropriate response had been prepared long in advance. That was what Ares had gone to go search for earlier. ¡°Our friend here makes an excellent point! No one in their right minds would buy an untested product with no guarantees,¡± Ares spoke to the crowd, confusing the naysayer.


    Why was he agreeing with him? Little did he know, he had just given Onno and Ares the perfect chance to demonstrate a thing or two regarding their product.


    ¡°We conduct fair and honest business here. We only offer the highest quality, functional goods. Naturally your concerns are valid, but just like any good salesmen, we would be more than happy to show you first-hand that our wares are not faulty. Ares, if you would be so kind as to demonstrate for these kind ladies and gentlemen.¡± Onno put all his practice into good use.


    ¡°Right, of course. Everyone, I apologise for the inconvenience but would you please follow me to our special testing grounds? It¡¯s only a 20 second walk from here and I promise it will be worth your while.¡± Ares convinced about 85% of the onlookers to follow him to a corner of the market.


    ¡°Umm, we¡¯re still in the market? How are you going to show off those Shock Rocks here?¡± a random disciple looked around before finally raising his concern.


    ¡°Excellent question, the answer is really quite simple. As everyone here is aware, I happen to have an enmity with a vile creature by the name of Chen Fen. The current location of our stall previously belonged to Fen and as such, he sent over someone to try and slander our good business. I¡¯m about to use this Shock Rock as a form of retaliation! That stall over there¡­¡± Ares pointed at a stall to the side. ¡°... Belongs to Fen now that his old one has been repurposed! For the sake of this demonstration, I¡¯m going to treat his stall as though it were an enemy of mine! As though it were a vile creature from the depths of hell that would be better off dead! Please pay attention to the raw power these Rocks hold as I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t be disappointed with the results!¡± Ares lightly tossed the Rock over his shoulder and it landed perfectly in the entrance to the storage area of the stall. Ares had already checked to make sure no one was inside. He was an asshole sometimes, sure, but he wasn¡¯t a murderer¡­ at least not without good reaosn anyway. It¡¯s not like it was Fen that ran the shop himself either, otherwise he might have actually considered waiting for him. All in the name of demonstrating his wares of course!


    BOOM


    A dark gold dome completely mutilated the stall, bringing it to ruin without leaving behind a single identifiable trace. Even the ground had caved in and formed a small pit. Naturally, this little light show had attracted the attention of many people who were wandering about nearby. Ares looked around and was satisfied with the number of agape mouths as it was a good indicator his business strategy was very effective. He clapped his hands to drag the audience back to reality and focus their attention on him. ¡°Good sirs and madams, this is the destructive power I wield. I only seek to offer you all a chance to wield this power yourselves to save the lives of my fellow disciples when they find themselves in a crisis! Rogue cultivators, evil spirits, cruel beasts and vile vermin roam and infest these dangerous lands! Think of all the brothers and sisters we¡¯ve lost during missions! It doesn¡¯t have to be this way any longer! Onno and I want to make the Heaven¡¯s Path sect a true force to be reckoned with, and that starts with all of you! A single Shock Rock is enough to complete an extermination mission worth eight, nine, maybe even ten times its worth! If you¡¯re still worried about the legitimacy of our business, then now would be a good time to mention that we are OFFICIALLY endorsed by the sect. You may ask Rud himself for verification! Please stop by our humble shop in the future, we promise it¡¯s worth your time!¡± Ares gave a quick speech off the top of his head and walked back to the stall. A large number of people followed him back. The only ones that didn¡¯t were the cautious type and went to go find Rud.


    Onno wasn¡¯t surprised at this development. He¡¯d expected this much, after all, he could see the fireworks from here. If you put on a grand enough show, you¡¯ll naturally attract customers. It¡¯s just that simple.


    If you build it, they will come.


    If you destroy it, twice as many people will come.


    ¡°As today is our first day of business, we only have 100 Shock Rocks for sale. We¡¯ll be here every other day for the foreseeable future and we¡¯ll have a lot more stock from now on.¡±


    Less than ten minutes later, all the beads had been sold and the stall was closed for the day. A guard that had been outside Rud¡¯s tent came over and called for Ares, saying that he needed to go and see Rud immediately.


    ¡°Uh oh, looks like the fun police are calling,¡± Onno jabbed fun at Ares.


    ¡°Ha, seems like it. Thanks for your help today. Lemme know if there¡¯s anything I can do to pay you back in the future,¡± Ares said his goodbyes to Onno and followed the guard back to Rud¡¯s tent.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°What do you have to say for yourself?¡± Rud was tapping his finger on the desk in front of him.


    ¡°Uh, business is booming?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, and what do you call this?¡± Rud held up a tiny bit of cloth from Fen¡¯s store that somehow miraculously managed to not get blown to smithereens.


    ¡°A sales pitch?¡±


    ¡°Good, good. Do you know what this is?¡± Rud raised his empty palm in front of Ares.


    ¡°Oh, I know this one! That¡¯s a high five for doing such a good job right?¡± Ares extended his own palm towards Rud¡¯s.


    Slap


    Ares had a fresh palm mark on his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m confused, did I give a wrong answer, or was that slap the actual answer?¡±


    Slap


    ¡°Both.¡± Rud made sure to mirror the palm pattern on the other side of Ares¡¯ face so it wouldn¡¯t look strange by itself.


    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±


    ¡°Do you though? Do you really?¡± Rud took a deep breath and sighed heavily.


    ¡°Oh come on, it was just one lousy store.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not even what I¡¯m mad about!¡±


    ¡°Ok, now I¡¯m really lost.¡±


    Rud banged his fist against the desk. ¡°Who said you could tell people the sect was sponsoring you? Do you have any idea how many people have come here and asked me to verify that statement of yours? I haven¡¯t caught a wink of sleep because of you!¡±


    ¡°...¡± Ares was stunned, he had truly underestimated Rud¡¯s laziness.


    ¡°If you pull a stunt like this again, the next Rud clone you¡¯ll be talking to will be the disciplinary hall Rud!¡±


    ¡°When you say ¡®stunt¡¯, do you mean blowing up a stall, or keeping you awake? ¡®Cos if you¡¯re giving me permission to thin the competition, then I¡¯ll get started right awa¡­¡±


    ¡°GET OUT OF MY TENT YOU LITTLE SHIT!¡±


    Ares promptly ¡®left¡¯ the tent, although it would be more accurate to say he was kicked out. There was only really one other thing he wanted to do, but now probably wasn¡¯t the best time for that. He had originally planned to go to the treasury and see if there were any good swords up for grabs. He wouldn''t have the money for it but it would have been good to know if there was anything worthwhile for the future. Now though, he figured it would be better to avoid Rud for at least the rest of the day. You know, to give him some breathing room.


    Ares went to the mission hall instead to check something and then went home.


    No one else was back yet. He set aside some time to make a large batch of Shock Beads and then went into a cultivation room. He wasn¡¯t going to actually cultivate, so the mana deficiency compared to the fifth-tier area was irrelevant. Ares took out the Water Walking technical¡¯s tome and read through it until he understood its core principles. Understanding was the easy part, putting it into practice was where things got difficult. Thankfully though, he was just after the main principles. Things like how to manipulate the mana and what form it should take to get the desired result.


    The creation of the technical went surprisingly well. It seemed his knowledge of annihilation magic tied in quite nicely with the design of this new technical, making his life considerably easier. By the end of the day, Ares had already established the technical¡¯s principles and had even given it a name, ¡®Echoes¡¯. Ares tried to use the technical but it was a fairly difficult process. He managed to make it work on a small scale once but the price was accidentally dislocating his shoulder. It was a small price to pay though as his bloodline fixed it as soon as he pushed it back into place. He also now had confirmation that the Echo technical was functional and could be practised by literally anyone!


    Ares had actually rather enjoyed the creation process and decided to give technical creation another go at some point. First, he wanted to master Echoes though as he was still a long way away from the technical being usable in combat. Maybe he could get some help from the technical department tomorrow. Perhaps someone there would be able to aid Ares in refining the art and fixing a few loose screws, so to speak.


    Ares could tell it was getting late as he was starting to feel a little tired, so he left the cultivation room and checked to see if anyone else had come back yet. He noticed Aejaz had already come back and went to sleep so he didn¡¯t bother him. Ares went to the kitchen to get some water before heading off to sleep himself. On the way back to his room, he passed by the living room and noticed Appa was squished against the floor in its ¡®sitting¡¯ position.


    Ares couldn¡¯t tell if Appa was asleep or not so he just left it as it was, but then it rose up off the floor and clumsily floated over to the doorway. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. Can we go to bed now?¡± Appa spoke in a quiet, tired voice.


    ¡°Were you waiting this whole time?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, going to sleep now feels weird without a hug.¡±


    ¡°Ok. Let¡¯s go to sleep, and I¡¯ll be sure to give you all the hugs you want.¡± Ares didn¡¯t ask why Appa hadn¡¯t gone to someone else for cuddles, he was just happy it had picked him. Appa and Ares went to sleep and had a good night''s rest, after cuddling, of course.

 Chapter 18: Separation Anxiety

    Next morning.


    After snuggling for a while, Ares and Appa headed into the living room.


    ¡°Gooooood morning you two.¡± Aejaz was slouching on a chair.


    ¡°Good morning!¡±


    ¡°Morning ¡®Jaz. Oh, by the way, the stall is up and running. You should come by some time and check out the slogan.¡± Ares gave a quick wink.


    ¡°Did you really use mine!? Ah, that¡¯s so cool! One day, when the shop becomes a big deal, that slogan will be world famous!¡± Aejaz nearly jumped out of his chair.


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m sure it will. By the way, we¡¯re probably only going to stay in the sect another week or so before we take a mission and leave. Make sure to do anything you need to do here in that time.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Appa heard something it wanted more clarification on. ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Appa, no. I¡¯m sorry but this time it would be better for you if you don¡¯t go with us. Aejaz and I both benefit from dedication cultivation, but you don¡¯t. Your cultivation will slow down if you come with us where we¡¯re going and I don¡¯t want that to happen to you. I''d love to have you with us, really, but I¡¯m not selfish enough to jeopardise your cultivation speed. I know you want hugs and cuddles but you can always go and ask one of our neighbours, I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be happy to oblige.¡±


    ¡°No! I don¡¯t wanna ask them! I want to cuddle with you!¡± Appa was really determined to go.


    ¡°Come on Appa, don¡¯t be like this. I¡¯ll take you with us on a journey some other time. It¡¯s not like we won¡¯t come back. I really do wish I could take you with us, which is why I promise that next time we¡¯ll go somewhere you can find cultivation resources. The place I have in mind doesn¡¯t even have anywhere you could cultivate in peace. It¡¯s not suitable for you. Shades need to focus on getting out of the mental accumulation realm as it tends to be a major hurdle for your kind.¡±


    A small drop of mental essence dripped out of Appa¡¯s empty eye socket as it turned around and floated away.


    ¡°Appa? Appa please wait,¡± Ares tried to call out to it but it was to no avail.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re a meanie!¡± Appa floated inside a cultivation room and shut the door.


    Ares sighed. He truly felt guilty leaving Appa behind like this, but there wasn¡¯t really much of a choice. He decided to let Appa mull things over instead of breaking into the room. He would come back and check on it later.


    ¡°Uh, I¡¯m still gonna be here for a while before I go out. If Appa comes out, is there anything you want me to tell it?¡± Aejaz felt incredibly uncomfortable.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I should be the one to talk to Appa.¡± Ares left the house and headed over to the treasury.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Good morning sleepyhead,¡± Ares greeted the yawing Rud.


    ¡°Of all the people I had to see first thing after waking up, why did it have to be you? This is surely a bad omen for the rest of the day,¡± Rud moaned


    ¡°Yeah yeah, nice to see you too. Could I have a look at the list of what the treasury offers?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were broke? You haven¡¯t been on any missions yet, so how do you plan on paying for anything in here? I¡¯m not giving you an advance loan, don¡¯t even ask.¡±


    ¡°Jeez, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I wasn¡¯t going to ask for anything, I¡¯m just checking.¡±


    Rud narrowed his eyes and stared at Ares, trying to peer into his soul to see if he was lying or not. ¡°Hmmmmmm¡­ Fine.¡± Rud left and then shortly returned with the list Ares was looking for.


    Ares took a long look at everything for sale but couldn¡¯t quite find anything that took his fancy. Pretty much none of the swords available suited his needs and those that did weren¡¯t anything special. He was better off trying to find a natural born treasure out in the wild, hiring a forger, making money and visiting an auction, or finding a tomb of a deceased sword expert. For now the sword he used was mostly irrelevant compared to his magic anyway so he wasn¡¯t too fussed. He also made note of various cultivation resources that might come in handy at a later date. Ares said goodbye to Rud and headed over to the fifth-tier lecture hall. While he was walking over, he heard a loud explosion and could faintly see a gold light coming from the area up ahead. He quickened his pace as he had a bad feeling he was about to be blamed for something that wasn¡¯t even his fault. It seemed as though someone had gotten trigger happy with the Beads he sold.


    After arriving, he found a fifth-tier disciple lying on the ground, seriously injured with torn clothes revealing bloodied, shredded skin and a missing arm underneath. If no one acted to save him soon, he would eventually succumb to his gruesome wounds.


    ¡°Hmph, that¡¯s what you get, creep!¡± A female disciple shouted at the man on the floor while holding another Bead, ready to kill him with it at a moment''s notice if he somehow managed to get up.


    A massive amount of pressure descended on everyone present and forced all the disciples, barring Ares who felt nothing thanks to his bloodline, to kneel. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Elaine had come over from halfway across the sect when she heard an explosion set off in her territory. ¡°Ares, what on earth did you do to him?¡± Her immediate course of action was to blame Ares. This incident was very obviously caused by a Shock Bead after all.


    ¡°Whoa, hey, I¡¯m innocent, I swear! I know I have a knack for causing trouble, but I just got here. You should ask her.¡± Ares pointed at the female disciple who had been shouting earlier.


    ¡°You, which tier are you from?¡± Elaine asked the disciple. Everyone would typically be given a badge so their tier could be seen at a glance, but the disciple was kneeling which made it impossible to tell.


    ¡°First tier, Elder.¡±


    ¡°First? Why are you even here? Explain what happened right now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Elder. This pervert has a history of abusing the lower tiered female disciples in the sect. He had set his sights on me so, when I happened to see Ares¡¯ ¡®demonstration¡¯ at the market yesterday, I bought some Shock Rocks as self-defence against him. Rather than wait for him to come to me, I came to him!¡± the girl spoke hurriedly as she was quite riled up.


    ¡°Can anyone else testify about this disciple abusing other disciples?¡± Elaine turned and asked the gathered crowd.


    Another disciple spoke up, ¡°Yes. He tried to make a move on me once, back before he knew I was a fifth tier. He threatened me and tried to beat me when I refused. He used his family name to keep people quiet.¡±


    Splat


    Elaine didn¡¯t need or want to hear anymore. There was no place in this sect for people like that. Who gives a damn about their family? There wasn¡¯t a single family in Red Sun City capable of posing a threat to the sect. ¡°From now on, tell the Elders if anything like this ever happens again. This behaviour is not tolerated under any circumstances. Besides, how can his family get revenge if they never learn of what happened here? They won¡¯t come after you so speak up next time, ok?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Elder!¡± the two female disciples replied.


    ¡°By the way, did you really beat him with just the Shock Rocks and nothing else?¡± Elaine asked.


    ¡°Yes! I came up behind him and threw them when he wasn¡¯t paying attention. These things are incredible! Speaking of which, thank you Ares.¡±


    ¡°Hm? No need to thank me, it was your own decision to buy them.¡± Ares shrugged his shoulders. Those Rocks were going to save a lot of lives and help a lot of people, he didn¡¯t have time to accept thanks from literally everyone.


    Elaine had still had some doubts after the meeting yesterday, but they were all gone now. Seeing is believing. If a first-tier disciple could put a fifth tier on the brink of life and death with a single handful of Rocks... Then these things had some scary prospects. The use of them inside the sect was going to have to be forbidden unless absolutely required. Elaine looked around and saw a number of panicked faces. Clearly these people had been pushing around the lower tier disciples in some shape or form and were now fearing retaliation.


    Those same people then glared at Ares as this situation was technically his fault. Ares rolled his eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re having thoughts about killing me to stop the production of those Rocks, then I can only promise you all that your deaths will be ironic.¡± There wasn¡¯t a single person here that could kill him. He might not be able to beat the top three just yet without preparation, but he could easily escape from them if need be.


    ¡°Ahem. Well, there was still a while left before the lecture was supposed to start, but seeing as we¡¯re all here now, we might as well begin the lecture.¡± Elaine tried to ease the tension in the air by changing the subject.


    ¡°Could I skip today¡¯s lecture and head to the training hall? I¡¯m close to a breakthrough in my cultivation and I need to practice something in order to cross the final hurdle,¡± Ares asked.


    ¡°Yeah, go ahead. It¡¯s not like I can give you any advice anyway, just don¡¯t slack off.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I won¡¯t.¡± Ares turned to walk away.


    ¡°HOWEVER, I¡¯ll only let you go if you tell me what it is you¡¯re practising.¡± Elaine¡¯s habit of being nosy decided to pop up and say hello.


    Ares briefly explained his situation and that he was working on a technical before finally gaining permission to leave. He headed over to the hall and trained rigorously against a wooden doll. It wasn¡¯t the ideal target given the nature of the technical, but it would suffice for now. He could always practise it on Fen later.


    Rud peeked his head through the door at one point to make sure Ares wasn¡¯t tearing the whole place down. What he saw actually startled him a bit. Huh, that¡¯s rather clever. Here I thought he was just a mindless idiot obsessed with blowing things up, Rud thought to himself. The art he had just seen was rather simple, but also really quite smart. He could see traces of similarity between this and annihilation magic as well as the function of the ripple art Ares had been seeking out earlier. It was certainly an interesting mix. In fact, even Rud was tempted to learn it as it really fit his own fighting style perfectly. He would have to find a way of learning it without having to directly ask Ares though; he could already envision Ares¡¯ smug face in that scenario and wanted to avoid that image becoming reality at all costs!


    After a while, Ares was satisfied with his practice, so he left to go home temporarily and take a shower. His next stop was the forging department as he had been told to go there by Rud practically every time a clone of his found him. As he was about to leave, Appa stuck its head out of the cultivation room. Their Eyes met briefly before Appa nervously hurried back into the room. Ares smiled and headed out.


    Ares had to ask for directions on multiple occasions as the forging department was on the other side of the sect from his place of residence, but he eventually found it. From outside, he could hear the clinking of metal and feel the sweltering heat of a forge. Occasionally, a few low groans would ring out as a forger would put their all into what Ares imagined, and sincerely hoped, was a swing of their forging hammer.


    When he entered, he had to navigate around chains dangling off the ceiling, each holding various newly created weapons, armour and artifacts. This was the first time Ares had ever seen an artifact, but he had heard about them before. Artifacts were treasures forged by hand that were either brand new existences or, more commonly, imitations of already existing treasures. They could never become ¡®personal¡¯ artifacts but, if the quality was high enough, there would be no other noticeable differences between the original treasure and the ¡®fake¡¯ artifact. Artifacts were useful if you fell in love with a treasure that belonged to someone else, but were typically incredibly difficult to forge and implement appropriate runes onto. Because they weren¡¯t treasures, they wouldn¡¯t grow alongside the user, though. That was fine up until the point where the cultivator outgrew the artifact, at which point, they¡¯d have to hire a forger to upgrade it with better materials or simply give up on it.


    ¡°There ye are laddie, I was wonderin¡¯ when ye¡¯d show up.¡± Dabble had snuck up to Ares from behind a bench. Dabble hadn¡¯t done it intentionally, he was just far shorter than the bench he was working at.


    Ares was momentarily impressed he could work like that, but then realised there was also a stool behind the bench that he no doubt stood on as he worked. Rud had informed Ares of Dabble and Lizzy¡¯s names when he left the training hall so he could greet them politely. ¡°Hey little fella, do you know where I can find a man named Dabble?¡± Ares hadn¡¯t understood Dabble properly because of his thick accent. He thought this ¡®little guy¡¯ was going to take him to Dabble, not be Dabble.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Ahh, Rud did warn me about ye. He told me ye were a piece o¡¯ shite. I AM Dabble ye wee nonce.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been called a lot of things before, but I¡¯m afraid ¡®wee nonce¡¯ is a new one. You¡¯re going to have to explain it to me if you want me to care.¡±


    ¡°Ahh, ye really are a pain the arse kiddo. I just wanna see yer personal treasure.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sure thing.¡± Ares took off his Stygian Zephyr and handed it over while creating a new one on his back. It didn¡¯t feel right to Ares not having it available at a moment''s notice. Ares could also now control whether or not it became useless when it was detached, so he used this new function to let Dabble inspect the treasure in its entirety.


    ¡°This is truly incredible! Do ye know where this came from?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the feathers belonged to some kind of bird monstrosity. It slew countless adventurers and cultivators in its life before dying of natural causes. The feathers stuck around after its death, eventually merging with the mana in the dead bird¡¯s lair. As for who had it after and how it came into my hands, all I know is that it¡¯s my clan¡¯s signature treasure and that I happen to have it. I don¡¯t know the specifics.¡±


    Every treasure that formed naturally was typically the result of some form of object merging with either another object or lingering mana. Perhaps this was a sign that the nothingness from the dawn of time hadn¡¯t truly been eradicated. It was the most likely explanation Ares could think of. Of course, everyone else had pondered the question for countless years without ever even having an inkling of the true reasoning behind a treasure¡¯s creation, so he was a step above them in that regard.


    ¡°Ye clan, eh? Fair enough.¡± Dabble didn¡¯t want to delve any deeper as it would inevitably pertain to Ares¡¯ bloodline, and that was a no-go. ¡°What¡¯s this beast''s name then?¡±


    ¡°Stygian Zephyr.¡±


    ¡°A good name fer sure. What can it do, other than what ye used it fer during the trial o¡¯ course?¡±


    ¡°It can shoot off feathers that I have a little control over if I keep them close enough. It can be used to hover in mid-air, but not fly. I can also use it as mid-air footing by making it more solid and creating a platform under my feet. I suppose I can also use it like a grappling hook, but I¡¯ve never tried it before. It also has multiple runes on it, but I¡¯ve yet to play around with their functions,¡± Ares replied truthfully.


    ¡°A mid-air platform, eh? Sounds like this bad boy suits yer fighting style to a tee. Mind if I borrow this? I¡¯d really like teh get a look at its structure and design.¡±


    ¡°Sure, you can actually keep it if you want. Makes no difference to me.¡±


    ¡°Thanks kiddo. Do ye mind if I show this teh Julio? I¡¯m sure that bugger would love teh see this too, what with all the runic engravings and such.¡±


    Ares scratched his head. ¡°I have no clue who Julio is but go ahead. The more the merrier I guess.¡±


    ¡°Ahh, Julio is an elven bastard who runs the runemancy department. I hate the git, but all good weapons have good inscriptions, and inscriptions are made from runes, so what can ye do, eh? Our departments are closely linked and ¡®e works next door if ye ever want to go check it out. By-the-by laddie, you would nae happen to have an interest in forging would ye? Just checkin¡¯ is all, new disciples are always welcome.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t know the first thing about forging. I¡¯m quite good at merging things though.¡± Ares set down two small nothingness zones on top of two different materials, one was wood and the other was string. Two objects inside of nothingness zones overlap and merge so, sure enough, with a bit of extra shaping from Ares, a bow was formed, and quite a nicely designed one at that. Perhaps this was the same process that a natural forming treasure would undergo. Ares couldn¡¯t merge things with mana, though, so actual treasures weren¡¯t in the cards. Maybe he would be able to do it one day.


    ¡°Well forging and this¡­ ¡®Merging¡¯ o¡¯ yours seems quite similar. Ye should stop by some time. Oh, and don¡¯t forget teh go and visit Lizzy. The classy lassie is a couple o¡¯ doors down, ye cannae miss ¡®er.¡±


    Ares left the forging department and headed over to the technical department.


    ---------------------------------


    A few disciples were headed toward the forging department and almost dropped the metals they were carrying when they heard a booming shout from within.


    ¡°EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?¡±


    It seemed Ares'' little display earlier had finally hit home.


    Dabble¡¯s mind had been too deep in shock to comprehend Ares¡¯ ¡®merging¡¯ skills to the point his reaction was subconsciously delayed as his brain simply pretended it hadn¡¯t seen anything.


    The bow was finely crafted and near enough a flawless piece of work, and it only took seconds to make! Dabble had never seen anything like it and just stared at the bow mindlessly. He took the bow out back and back and gave it a test run. It was perfect in every way. The tensile strength was flawless and there were no signs of breakage anywhere even after countless uses. This was unfathomable! Dabble needed to speak with Rud immediately. Perhaps Shock Beads weren¡¯t the only thing this wee laddie was good for!


    ---------------------------------


    Ares arrived at what could only be described as a rundown building. It was overgrown with moss, poorly maintained, and Ares imagined there were, at most, ten or so disciples within it. Ares was aware that not many people cared about the technical pillar, but he didn¡¯t think it would be exaggerated to this extent. Still though, he had a reason to be here, so he went inside.


    Ares was surprised to find that the rooms inside the building didn¡¯t match the exterior at all. Technicals were a diverse type of magic, so each of the testing rooms mimicked a type of element to allow for practice and experimentation in the appropriate environment. There were a fairly large number of rooms, each with their own properties that were suitable for different types of technical testing. A desert here, an ocean there. Ares really quite like this building. He also secretly wished he could just run rampant and blow up these varying landscapes but he held back on that selfish desire. It was a shame though. His cultivation would likely sky-rocket if he could get permission to decimate this place.


    ¡°Hmm? And who may you be, exactly?¡± A snide little scholarly-type disciple came across Ares and questioned his presence.


    ¡°Hmm? I¡¯m Ares, and you may be who, exactly?¡± Ares was incredibly quick witted and proficient when it came to mocking people on the fly, he even mimicked his nasally voice for good measure.


    ¡°Tsk, the all-brawn no-brain explosion man?¡± The scholar didn¡¯t give his name.


    ¡°Not having a brain is literally impossible. You, on the other hand, seem to be functioning just fine without any muscles. I¡¯m also not convinced you¡¯re half as smart as you think you are but, whatever, I''m not here to test your IQ.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know my IQ is¡­¡±


    ¡°Good for you, I don¡¯t care. Where can I find a woman named Lizzy?¡± Ares really couldn¡¯t care less about the arbitrary number this annoying man was inevitably about to spew out. It could be over 9000 for all he cared.


    ¡°Why on earth should I tell you that, bandit? You¡¯re a lost cause. You¡¯re nothing but trouble, is what you are.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I was asked to come here. Also, someone clearly didn¡¯t teach you about cause and effect. Trouble isn¡¯t a cause, it¡¯s the result of an action; it¡¯s the effect. For instance, in this scenario, if I decided to beat the shit out of you, then you¡¯d be in trouble. Am I clear?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to test that theory? Fifth tier disciple or not, I won¡¯t lose to you. You think you¡¯re impressive just because you were put straight into the highest tier? You don¡¯t belong there. You¡¯re just a¡­¡±


    Crack


    The disciple collapsed on the floor in agony, not entirely sure what had happened to him.


    ¡°If you¡¯re gonna fight, fight. If you¡¯re gonna talk, shut the fuck up and fight.¡±


    As soon as Ares could tell a fight was inevitable, he would lash out even if the person was still speaking. If a fight¡¯s unavoidable, then why should he wait for a go sign? He had no obligation to sit there and listen to him prattle on until he was ready, so he decided to test out his new technical as this was the appropriate place for it after all. Ares didn¡¯t even bother to check his cultivation before letting loose as this guy wasn¡¯t in the fifth tier so a single attack was guaranteed to do the job. Ares had moved his shoulder in a circular motion and thrown a simple punch. He also used some annihilation magic in his attack to really make this annoying man regret his foolishness.


    The shoulder movement was the key to the new technical as it forced the bone to make a clicking sound. That sound was then amplified using mana and directed through his arm and straight to his fist. At the moment of impact, the Echo would transfer into the opponent''s body and run rampant, injuring organs and reverberating off bones. The bones were already weakened thanks to the annihilation magic, so any that were touched by the Echo would crumble instantly. Ares could adjust the force of the Echo. In doing so, he could just make a person extremely dizzy and sick by causing dissonance with two small Echoes, or he could literally blow apart body pieces. He didn¡¯t particularly want to get into too much trouble so he didn¡¯t kill the disciple. Instead, he just taught him a valuable life lesson about cause and effect.


    It was a versatile technical and could even be used at range by using a flicking motion instead of punching, thus creating a ranged Echo that would result in an airburst. He hadn¡¯t gotten to the point where he could use divine sense yet, but he already had plans to integrate divine sense with Echoes to form a type of ¡®Echo-Location¡¯. Even if something could hide from his eyes, he would be able to feel invisible things at great distances too by sending out a pulse. The Echo was like a small-scale explosion. Ares had gotten the idea from Li Li¡¯s use of ¡®One Flaw, Five Strikes¡¯ as well as his own annihilation magic.


    The disciple was huddled up in the foetus position and squirming around on the floor, struggling to breathe after being brutally winded. His mouth was wide open and no noises were coming out as his eyes were wide in horror. Another disciple happened across this scene and ran for her dear life while screaming at the top of her lungs. Ares didn¡¯t know exactly where that disciple had scampered off to, but he could make an educated guess he was going to come across Lizzy sooner rather than later.


    Sure enough, an incredibly energetic woman skidded around the corner a little while later and came rushing over. ¡°Ahhhh, no fighting in the corridors. Use a testing room if you wanna get down!¡± Lizzy had one hand on her waist and the other on her slanted head. Lizzy sent an invisible strand of mana directly into the air. Regular disciples wouldn¡¯t be able to see it, but the medical department kept an eye out for these strands daily. They acted as a ¡®hey, someone¡¯s injured over here. Come help please,¡¯ kind of flare.


    A few seconds later, an Elder arrived with some trainees in tow. The Elder stabilised the disciple with a green wave of healing magic and then tested his disciples by having them figure out how much damage had been done internally. Their goal was to try and determine the root cause of the injury. It was mostly done this way so disciples could learn how to identify wounds that needed specific types of treatments, such as burns or poisons.


    The Elder was starting to get a little annoyed when not a single disciple could figure out how a single punch to the stomach had caused such widespread destruction, so he took a look for himself. Much to the Elder¡¯s chagrin, he couldn¡¯t figure it out either. He had never seen an attack like this before. There were some vague similarities here and there to other methods of attack, but this was quite unique. ¡°What did you do to him?¡± the Elder asked Ares.


    ¡°I was just testing out a new technical. When in Rome.¡±


    ¡°A new technical!? You actually managed to create it in a day?¡± Lizzy was flabbergasted. A single day to create a new technical was no small feat, and it certainly looked usable if the injured disciple was any indication of its effectiveness.


    ¡°What does it do?¡± both Lizzy and the medical Elder asked simultaneously.


    Ares gave an explanation of what it did and the form of mana manipulation needed to make it work.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s wave interference, huh.¡± The medicinal Elder came to a conclusion. ¡°It¡¯s quite similar to sound pillar arts, but has a slight difference. The Echo has a physical property to it. Other than that, it functions in a similar-ish fashion. In layman''s terms, it¡¯s basically a sound-based internal explosion that bounces around until it runs out of mana?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much, the sound can be amplified or toned down depending on how much mana you use,¡± Ares confirmed the medical Elder¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°That¡¯s genius, using the sounds of your own body in that fashion. This is really quite a unique concept. Is there anything else it can do, or is it purely an offensive art?¡± Lizzy wanted to know every single detail.


    ¡°If you time it right, you can mitigate the impact of an oncoming force, so I suppose it has defensive properties. You can also mix it with divine sense to detect things that are invisible but still have a physical presence, although I can¡¯t personally test that part of it yet.¡±


    ¡°Incredible! Come! Come!¡± Lizzy dragged Ares around the corner and ran off towards a testing room.


    The Elder briefly explained this type of injury and its cause to his disciples on the off-chance they ever encountered anything like it. He then took the unconscious disciple back with him for a bit more treatment and analysis.


    ---------------------------------


    The testing room Lizzy brought Ares to was an empty room with a desk full of papers near the centre. ¡°Alright, first things first, could you right down the technical¡¯s intricacies and processes? Kind of like the tomes you¡¯d find in the arts libraries, I have a guide for that writing style here if you need it.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Ares got to work and managed to transcribe his thoughts and knowledge of the technical quite nicely. Apparently, this was the first step in the refinement process. One would then follow their own written instructions word for word to see if there were any errors or changes that needed to be made. Ares and Lizzy spent the whole day on this process, writing down and testing various functions of the technical. The technical¡®s mana efficiency and power had both risen by around 40% by the end of the day which was a significant increase. Ares learned a lot about technical creation and was glad he came. In fact, he really didn¡¯t want to leave yet. Thankfully, Lizzy spent pretty much all her nights doing this kind of thing anyway, so it seemed Ares was going to pull an all-nighter. For Lizzy, staying up all night and working was trivial thanks to her cultivation of early-stage aspect assimilation (or in Lizzy¡¯s case, bloodline awakening). For Ares, it would no doubt be a bit of a slog, especially considering the physical requirements for testing the art over and over, but he would manage. He mentally prepared himself for a long night when he suddenly remembered something. Luckily, he remembered before it became too late. ¡°Sorry, but I need to go do something quickly. It will only take about ten minutes, and I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    ¡°No problemo, I¡¯ll keep testing the effectiveness of the art on solid objects. Next up should be a brick wall test,¡± as Lizzy was speaking, a hole appeared in the room and a platform with a brick wall rose up from the ground.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Ares left the technical department and headed back to his home. Ten minutes later, he returned with a cheerier complexion.


    ¡°You seem happy. D¡¯ya find a disciple for a quickie?¡± Lizzy joked.


    ¡°Haha, no. I just went to go and tuck Appa into bed and tell it a bedtime story.¡±


    ¡°Appa? That¡¯s the sweet little shade, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a little upset recently, so I¡¯m trying to think of ways to pamper and spoil it.¡±


    ¡°You tryna make it a pet?¡± Lizzy didn¡¯t turn around, but Ares could feel a hint of hostility.


    ¡°No, absolutely not. Or, at least, I wasn¡¯t trying to, but it seems I¡¯ve accidentally done something like that. I hate the term ¡®pet¡¯, Appa is so much more than some mindless creature.¡± Ares had a somewhat sad look on his face, it really wasn¡¯t his intention for things to have gotten like this. He also didn¡¯t particularly like the idea of Appa being called a ¡®pet¡¯; the term was just far too degrading for something as highly intelligent as Appa.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. There are bad people who abuse shades and their dependency issues. Those people just want to use them as a guardian and are despicable to the core. You don¡¯t seem like that kind of person, so it¡¯s fine. I mean, you just went all the way across the sect for its bedtime. I don¡¯t think I need to tell you this, but I will anyway, jus'' make sure to treat it well.¡± Lizzy was relieved, she didn¡¯t truly think he was mistreating it, but it was better to be safe than sorry.


    ¡°Of course, how could I ever treat something so cute and adorable badly? That being said, I may have upset it earlier.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    Ares explained his conundrum to Lizzy.


    ¡°Ahh, I see. Shades really do get attached. They always want to stay near the people they like. I guess this really isn''t your fault, this is actually quite a normal issue people have with their shades. It¡¯s just a learning process, they have to slowly get used to the fact that they can¡¯t always have you around when they want you. What most people tend to do is learn some kind of clone-based art to ease the shades into it by leaving them a kind of doll they can play with. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know any clone arts, would you?¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s a good idea, but, unfortunately, I have nothing of the sort.¡± Ares was a little dejected. Such a good option had presented itself, but it just wasn¡¯t in the cards.


    ¡°Well, there might still be a way. Have you been to the treasury yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes, is there something there that can help?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. There should be some substitution talismans for sale. They can make a body double, a clone basically, kinda like what Rud uses. The issue is that, unlike Rud¡¯s clones, they can¡¯t fight and they¡¯re incredibly weak. Even a small injury and poof, they¡¯re gone. If you buy a couple, they should last until you come back. You should be able to afford them thanks to your business. They won¡¯t be the exact same for little Appa, but your absence won¡¯t be as hard on it. You can slowly wean it off clones when it becomes accustomed to not having you around 24/7.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Elder Lizzy. That''s really helpful. I know I¡¯m just a disciple and there¡¯s probably nothing much I can do in return, but if there¡¯s ever anything you need, let me know.¡±


    ¡°Actually, there are two things. First, could you make this technical public? As in, let me make copies of the tome and put them in the library? I¡¯ll credit you as the creator, of course. There are quite a few disciples and, heck, even Elders this technical could benefit. I think even my buddy Ruddy might like this, although he¡¯d never ask you for it directly.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t mind. Buddy Ruddy is more than welcome to use it, and so is everyone else.¡± Ares was smiling ¡®innocently¡¯ from ear to ear. ¡°What¡¯s the second thing?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I just want the disciples that are currently in the technical department to get a discount on Shock Beads. They spend a lot of time here, time that could be spent learning stronger arts. They have a passion for technicals, and I respect that, but I also feel bad for leading them down a path that doesn¡¯t have the brightest of futures. I know it¡¯s what they want to do, but that won¡¯t make them safer when they go out and about like other arts could. So, I want them to have something more reliable to lean on rather than the hastily created technicals that tend to come out of this place.¡±


    ¡°A discount? There¡¯s only ten, right? I can just make them for free whenever they need them. It¡¯s not much of a hassle and I¡¯m really not all that concerned with profits. In fact, I have a couple on me right now. If I leave them with you, could you hand them out?¡±


    ¡°Ah, that would be perfect. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°No problemo, just please convince that disciple I ran into earlier not to fling them at me. Getting smacked around by my own art would just be embarrassing.¡± Ares and Lizzy chuckled. Ares wasn¡¯t actually worried about anyone using his Shock Beads against him, he still had his defensive disintegration art ready and raring to go if need be. Ares wasn¡¯t so stupid that he would sell ¡®poison¡¯ without owning the ¡®antidote¡¯. Actually, he had been working on a way of potentially selling the ¡®antidote¡¯ too, but he still needed to change the form of it to be carriable and mass-producible like the Shock Beads. In its current form, only he could use said ¡®antidote¡¯.


    Ares and Lizzy kept working on the technical throughout the night, during which they got along well. Ares managed to become a member of the technical department and was even referred to as ¡®prodigious¡¯ by Lizzy. He really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place and could see himself coming here a lot more in the future.

 Chapter 19: A Flicker of Talent

    Dawn broke and Ares bid goodbye to Lizzy before heading straight over to Elaine¡¯s lecture. He slept throughout the lecture but Elaine didn¡¯t say a word about it as Ares had managed to break through to the 4th realm of cultivation, skeletal structuring. Ares had obviously worked tirelessly throughout the night to finally achieve it. As long as Ares was constantly working towards improving his cultivation, Elaine just decided to let him be. If whatever he¡¯s doing is working, then trying to make him do something else would just be pointless and maybe even detrimental. She made sure to wake him up when the lecture ended, to which he groggily thanked her.


    Ares walked over to the market, just as it opened, and restocked the stall. He had previously stated he would open the stall every other day, but wanted to do so every day at the start to gain some popularity with the other disciples. He spent the majority of the day selling Beads and the profits just kept being raked in. About halfway through the day, someone came to visit Ares to discuss something with him. ¡°Hey, how¡¯s my technical been treating ya? You know, you could have just begged me for it. You are my good buddy Ruddy after all.¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Rud felt like he¡¯d just been hit by a one-two combo from a single sentence. ¡°I¡¯m just letting you know that Dabble wants to speak to you again. He wants to see how far your merging skill can go. Also, Julio wants to know if you can make more Zephyrs for him to fool around with. You should go and check in with him at some point. Actually, I¡¯m pretty sure Julio is going to be at the forging department later to pick up a batch of Dabble¡¯s new creations. If you can catch them both at the same time, it might save you some hassle.¡±


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you the epitome of efficiency? Thanks for letting me know. By the way, I¡¯ll be stopping by the treasury later, could you set aside some substitution talismans for me?¡±


    ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°How many do you have? How long does one last? And how much do they cost?¡±


    ¡°Each one lasts a week and we have about one hundred in stock that refreshes weekly. As for the price, one will set you back a mid-grade piece of stardust.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, that¡¯s daylight robbery compared to my Beads, you¡¯re going to make me go bankrupt. Whatever. I don¡¯t have any mid-grade stardust, but they¡¯re each worth one thousand low grade pieces, right? Can I just use low grade pieces to buy them?¡±


    ¡°Sure, fine by me.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy fifty.¡±


    ¡°Fifty? That¡¯s half the stock you little bandit. What on earth could you possibly need such an absurd number for? Also, where¡¯d you even get that much stardust?¡±


    ¡°Lizzie lent me some¡­ And, well, Aejaz has been cultivating quite diligently... I just want to make sure Appa doesn¡¯t run out of clones to cuddle.¡±


    ¡°I mean, I get it but, isn¡¯t fifty excessive?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for Appa. The only reason I¡¯m not buying all one hundred is because I can¡¯t afford it, and I know you¡¯re a stingy bastard that wouldn¡¯t let me anyway.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, your ability to run your mouth is really unparalleled under the heavens. Do you have any idea how many Elders have started to complain to me about the way their disciples are trying to speak to them? You¡¯re a bad influence. One idiot tried calling me a grinch and, because of you, he ended up in the medical department.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re blaming me for that!?¡± Ares felt this was a little unfair. It was understandable to an extent, but unfair!


    ¡°Who else speaks to Elders like you? You¡¯re the only damn brat that doesn¡¯t greet people respectfully and properly. That tongue of yours would be cut out anywhere that isn¡¯t here and disciples are starting to notice you aren¡¯t being punished for things you really should be. They¡¯re treating you like some kind of role model and it¡¯s doing the Elder¡¯s heads in. Well, whatever. I know asking you to stop is as fruitless as asking Aejaz to stop stealing from the Elders all the goddamn time. I¡¯m warning you though, if some moron decides to use me as a practice doll for a Shock Rock, I¡¯m going to come looking for you for answers, and then you really will get punished.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine¡­ Grinch,¡± Ares whispered that last part under his breath. Ares finished up his business and headed over to the treasury to pick up the talismans before taking a trip to the mission hall. There were two things he wanted to do here. His first order of business was to become a foreign aid disciple. This was the title given to disciples, or members of various other organisations in other lands, that would frequently travel outside their own


    countries. These people would be given a token that allowed them to take missions in other lands and countries as well as temporarily reside in other organisations. For instance, a foreign aid disciple of the Heaven¡¯s Path Sect could stay at ¡®Roboworks Academy¡¯ in Punk Station, as well as take on missions that were usually reserved for their own members. The second thing was to make sure the mission he had his eye on was still here. It wasn¡¯t possible to take a mission over a week in advance of when you were actually going to set out and do it, so he hadn¡¯t picked it up previously. Some missions had smaller time windows depending on the severity of the issue, but the average reservation period was about a week. Ares headed over to one of the Rud clones and asked for the requirements to become a foreign aid disciple.


    ¡°Usually, you¡¯d have to be a particularly well-known, trustworthy individual in the sect. One that wouldn¡¯t damage our reputation if we were to send you abroad. Unfortunately, I personally don¡¯t think you¡¯ll ever meet those requirements, but I know you won¡¯t quit pestering me until I at least pretend you do. Still though, I can¡¯t give you that title just yet. You still need to contribute a little more as you¡¯ve only been here for two days. You¡¯re already the biggest name in the outer court, so just keep selling those Beads for a little while longer and I¡¯ll give you the go ahead and, more importantly, the go away.¡±


    Ares rolled his eyes but listened intently. It was valuable information, but nothing he needed to act on as everything was already going smoothly. He then headed over to the missions area and went directly to the mission he¡¯d found earlier.


    It was a mission near the outskirts of Central Land, it was perfect for now. It wasn¡¯t too far for a first adventure, but it wasn¡¯t close enough to be overly familiar to Aejaz. The mission itself was to hunt various monsters and cull their populations to make merchants¡¯ lives easier. This was a mission that multiple people could accept before the mission was taken down. When Ares found it again, he noticed there was only one slot left for a group. As his hand touched the scroll, another smaller hand grabbed the other end. Ares looked over and saw a girl whose face was covered by a hood.


    Ares gave a light smile. ¡°Well, this is certainly awkward.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s mine! I saw it when I came in!¡± The girl had a rather high-pitched voice, but not so much so that it became squeaky, grating, or overly annoying.


    ¡°By that logic, it¡¯s definitely not yours as I saw it the day before yesterday.¡±


    ¡°ZHANGGGG!¡±


    ¡°Zhangggg? What the hell is a ¡®Zhang¡¯?¡± for a split second, Ares thought this tiny disciple was about to use a unique art on him.


    ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m a ¡®Zhang¡¯.¡±


    Ares turned his head and immediately recognised the Elder he caught a glimpse of six years ago. Ares let go of the mission scroll, not because he was afraid that an Elder had shown up, but so that he could wave and say hello. ¡°Thank you for your help six years ago, that pill was lifesaving.¡±


    ¡°Lifesaving? No need to exaggerate, it was just a broken arm.¡±


    ¡°Ha, using a pill of that quality on a broken arm would have been a waste. It certainly did a lot more than just heal my arm, so thank you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, no worries. No need to thank me or owe me anything, I was just trying to bring you two to the sect is all.¡± Zhang waved his hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t owe you anything? Ok then.¡± Ares immediately put his hand back on the scroll that the little girl had thought was now hers.


    ¡°Let go! I need this!¡± the girl was not happy to have been made a fool of. She¡¯d been far too complacent in relishing what she had thought was ¡®victory¡¯, so she hadn¡¯t been on guard for a follow-up attack! ¡°Zhang! Beat him up! Kick him out of the sect!¡±


    ¡°Listen little missy, you need to learn to sort out your own problems. Besides, are you really still unaware of the correct way to solve this?¡± Ares questioned lightly.


    ¡°Huh?¡± the girl clearly hadn¡¯t thought about a potential peaceful resolution. ¡°You just want my Mini-Pillies in exchange for letting me have the mission, don¡¯t you? No! My Mini-Pillies are mine!¡±


    ¡°Oh, I get it. You¡¯re a dunce.¡± Ares had no clue what a ¡®Mini Pilly¡¯ was, and he certainly didn¡¯t want any.


    ¡°Allie, he¡¯s right¡­ Maybe not about the dunce part¡­ But about there being a correct way to solve this. Try to think this through and be a bit more reasonable. I¡¯m not always going to be around to solve your problems, so don¡¯t just rely on me,¡± Zhang spoke as Allie turned to face him for help.


    ¡°Here, I¡¯ll even help you figure it out. I just told you I saw this mission the day before yesterday, correct?¡± Ares tried guiding Allie to the answer.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Allie wasn¡¯t very confident in her response as she thought this rascal was asking a trick question!


    ¡°Right, so why didn¡¯t I take it then?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re stupid?¡± Allie seemed quite confident in this particular answer though.


    Ares sighed. ¡°Ok, you¡¯re clearly dumber than I thought, so I¡¯ll spell it out for you. I didn''t take it because I couldn¡¯t. I¡¯m only leaving in a week''s time from today so I couldn¡¯t accept it at the time I found it. You were brought here by Zhang, correct? That means he chose this mission for you. The reason he didn¡¯t bring you here until now is because you also couldn¡¯t take it until now. In other words, we¡¯re leaving for the exact same mission, at the exact same time in a week from now. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Ares slapped his head in frustration.


    ¡°Allie, what he¡¯s saying is that you can both accept the mission by acting as a group. That being said, you don¡¯t have to actually work as a group, travel together, or even interact with one another. By accepting it as a group, everyone can go. You¡¯ll just have to leave and report back at the same time. Whether or not you decide to work together is up to you. That mission can be ¡®shared¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I get it! Your explanation was much clearer than his.¡± Allie pointed a tiny little finger at Ares.


    Ares ignored the finger that was still rudely waggling at him. ¡°How many people are you taking with you? No matter how I look at it, you¡¯re clearly not cut out to go on this trip alone, but it doesn¡¯t look like Zhang is going with you. There¡¯s a maximum of five people allowed to group up at a time for this mission and I already have a plus one.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only bringing one more person.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go and talk to Rud about accepting the mission, ok?¡± Ares had subconsciously started treating this disciple as more of a child than he did even with Appa. At least Appa would have been smart enough to understand the previous situation without needing an explanation.


    The trio headed over to a counter and found a sleeping Rud clone. Ares created a Shock Bead and tossed it onto Rud¡¯s lap who then woke up in a startled panic. He thought he was finally about to be attacked by a disciple or a jaded Elder using a Shock Bead when he felt the ancient aura come flying at him. ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, are you trying to give me a heart attack? I¡¯m too old for this shit you bastard.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, buddy Ruddy,¡± Ares replied calmly.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°STOP CALLING ME THAT!¡± Rud¡¯s shouting had attracted a fair bit of attention and even managed to make Zhang raise his eyes at this usually unseen sight. ¡°You! Why is it always you annoying me now? Every. Single. Day. Day. In. Day. Out!¡±


    ¡°Well, luckily for you, I¡¯m going to be leaving the sect for a while.¡± Ares put the mission scroll on the counter.


    ¡°Heavens, I thank you for this generous gift.¡± Rud snatched the scroll and checked it. ¡°How many people?¡± Rud spoke quickly as though he were trying to get rid of Ares this very instant.


    ¡°Four.¡±


    ¡°Four, huh? Zhang, are you planning on sending him to go with Allie to the alchemy competition in Venti City?¡±


    ¡°No, just an unintended series of events have led to this situation.¡±


    ¡°Right, of course. No-one in their right mind would ever invite Ares anywhere.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m standing right here you know?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m well aware. You¡¯re going to bring along Aejaz right? I need to make sure to note down everyone in the group.¡±


    ¡°Yep, it¡¯s Aejaz.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Rud started writing down names on a piece of paper. ¡°Ares, Aejaz, Allie¡­ My god, that¡¯s a lot of ¡®A¡¯s¡¯, and you all have unique aspects. You¡¯re also all annoying. Does ¡®A¡¯ stand for asshole? The world is getting lazy and repetitive with this new generation, huh?¡± Rud was grumbling to himself. ¡°And last, but definitely not least, Enyo, the only tolerable person in this sect it seems.¡± Rud tapped the pen to make one final full-stop. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re all good to go. The sooner the better.¡± Rud made a shooing motion and went back to sleep.


    ¡°Enyo? Ha, small world,¡± Ares couldn¡¯t help but joke about the nature of the name.


    ¡°You stay away from big sis¡¯, you creep!¡± Allie harmlessly waved her balled fist at Ares.


    Ares thought this was cute and instinctively pet her on the head while chuckling, he really just couldn¡¯t stop himself from petting cute things. The mental notes he kept trying to hardwire into his brain about this very thing had just all been frazzled and abandoned. ¡°I¡¯m joking.¡±


    ¡°Did you just pet me? Do you think I¡¯m an animal?¡± Allie turned her head slightly but couldn¡¯t hide her flushed cheeks. Allie quite liked it when Enyo would do her hair and then pat her afterwards, and this situation was remarkably similar.


    ¡°Nope, I just think you¡¯re cute. Not as cute as Appa though.¡±


    ¡°Appa? Who¡¯s this ¡®Appa¡¯? No one is as cute as me! Big sis said so!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, your big sis is wrong.¡±


    ¡°Nuh-uh!¡±


    Ares could see this was going to go nowhere fast so he held back the urge to drag this girl back to his house and show her what true cuteness really looked like! Appa was far cuter! Allie and Ares agreed to meet up at the gates to the sect in a week''s time and then went their separate ways. Ares headed over to Dabble¡¯s department as Rud reminded him that Julio was going to be there soon.


    ---------------------------------


    When Ares arrived at the forge, he could hear two people arguing before he had even entered the building.


    ¡°Nae! Ye can¡¯t have it. It isn¡¯t ready yet ye twat,¡± a voice that could only belong to Dabble was the first thing Ares heard.


    ¡°Come on! Just give me the goods, short-stuff,¡± this new voice was rather energetic and had quite a spring to it, making it sound like the owner of it was always up for either adventure or mischief, perhaps even both. Ares could imagine the person speaking giving Dabble the finger guns. He just seemed like that kind of person, like an overly-energetic Aejaz.


    Ares entered and, both surprisingly and unsurprisingly, he saw an elf pointing finger guns at what he guessed was Dabble. This scene looked far funnier than it probably should have though because Dabble was hidden behind a workbench, so it just looked like this psychotic elf was talking to himself and threatening to shoot his own foot off.


    ¡°I can nae give ye what I don¡¯t have. I already told ye time and time again that the ¡®Nature¡¯s Wrath¡¯ will take a long time teh craft. What part of ¡®long¡¯ did ye not understand?¡±


    ¡°Long, huh? Ha, I should be asking you that, little guy. Seriously, I need something more than¡­ This.'''' Julio pointed at a couple of crates full of new weaponry. ¡°I know runemancy is a quicker procedure than forging, but we¡¯re running out of practice tools for the disciples. Don¡¯t even get me started on how bored I am! I haven¡¯t had a real good meaty artifact to sink my teeth into in foreverrrrr! Plus, that artifact is going to be mine, all mine! I want ittttttt.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know. Ye¡¯ve told me this a hundred times before and, no doubt, ye¡¯ll tell me a hundred times again.¡±


    ¡°Sooooo?¡±


    ¡°So, prepare to hear teh same exact response I¡¯ve given ye a hundred times before, a hundred times AGAIN!¡±


    Julio let out a sigh and tilted his head, as he did, he caught a glimpse of Ares playing around with a lump of metal. The metal would sometimes become a dagger, sometimes a sword, sometimes a gun that he would twirl around his finger. Ares could freely control the shape and, to some extent, the properties of various inanimate objects thanks to his nothingness aspect. ¡°See? Look at him! He¡¯s quicker than all of you tool fools put together!¡± Julio said while pointing in Ares¡¯ direction.


    It seemed today was a day of being pointed at for Ares.


    Dabble¡¯s beard poked out from around the corner of the bench before he himself finally came into view. ¡°Laddie! Perfect timing! I needed teh speak with ye.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, perfect timing? We¡¯re still in the middle of something here!¡± Julio was flabbergasted.


    ¡°That¡¯s WHY it¡¯s perfect timing. Now I have an excuse to ignore ye!¡±


    ¡°Umm, would a weapon of this quality be satisfactory for your runemancy department?¡± Ares moulded the metal into a small dagger. It didn¡¯t particularly matter what weapon he made, he just needed to know if the quality was acceptable.


    ¡°Yes! Maybe not for me though, the metal is lacklustre, but it would be good for the disciples to practise on.¡±


    ¡°Then I don¡¯t mind creating a few whenever I have time, if that¡¯ll help alleviate the issue you seem to be having. It''s a pretty quick procedure and doesn¡¯t really use too much mana so I¡¯d be willing to set aside some time if the forgery department can set aside some materials.¡± Having both the forgery and runemancy department owing Ares a favour could come in handy in the future. He wasn¡¯t particularly fond of any of the weapons he had seen in the treasury, so maybe he could chance upon something here.


    ¡°Really? Great!¡± Julio seemed ecstatic as now Dabble could wholeheartedly focus on the artifact for him and his disciples could also get busy. ¡°Dabble? I thought you said this kid was a ¡®wee nonce¡¯? The only ¡®wee¡¯ anything is you!¡±


    ¡°Tsk, ye don¡¯t know how embarrassing it is fer some inexperienced wee laddie to hop along and be better than ye at yer own craft even after hundreds o¡¯ years o¡¯ practice.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right! I don¡¯t! BUT YOU DO!¡± The finger guns had come out again.


    ¡°Whatever. Laddie, could ye come with me fer a wee bit? I want to see what metals ye can and cannae ¡®merge¡¯, and how accurately ye can do it.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but first, Julio, you wanted some more Zephyrs, right? Here, I made about thirty copies. If you need any more, you can let Rud know and I¡¯ll come find you.¡± Ares took out a large number of Zephyrs from seemingly nowhere and handed them over.


    ¡°Ahhh, you''re a great kiddo. Thanks, but, errr, where the hell did these all come from? You don¡¯t have a spatial ring. Were you hiding these up your ass?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s a secret. Also no, obviously not.¡±


    ¡°A secret? I love secrets!¡±


    ¡°And I would love some peace and quiet around ¡®ere! Get lost ye pointy menace!¡± Dabble started shooing Julio off.


    On the way out, Julio figured it would probably be quicker for him to just come and find Ares himself if he ever needed anything rather than going through Rud every single time. It was more work for him, but he didn¡¯t have much work to do to begin with! As he was being thrown out by the dwarf, he created a tracking rune and fired it off at Ares.


    Ares didn¡¯t have time to react so it landed near his elbow unimpeded. His first thought was to get rid of whatever this invasive thing was. He was sure it wasn¡¯t harmful, but he wanted his own privacy. Elder or not, he was getting rid of this thing that had been put on him without his permission! There was only one slight caveat however. When he looked at it, he didn¡¯t understand a single damn thing about it. It¡¯s not like he had ever studied runemancy before, so he didn¡¯t know how to properly unravel it. The thing is though, he didn¡¯t need to. It just looked so... Fragile. Like even the tiniest amount of disintegration magic could completely shred it. Ares poured a bit of magic into his finger and flicked that stupid little rune right off!


    Julio, who was previously trying to resist the little Dwarf¡¯s abnormal strength was now just being pushed along without any resistance. When Dabble noticed something was amiss, he turned around to see the rune marking was completely gone. It may have only been a tracking rune, but a tracking rune from an expert like Julio would take even Dabble about a week to remove as he wasn¡¯t very familiar with runemancy. Wasn¡¯t Ares completely a novice when it came to runes? An evil smile crept up on Dabble¡¯s face when he realised, he was no longer the only one! Now this silly little elf would know his pains! What it was like for some inexperienced wee laddie to make you look like a fool! He didn¡¯t even care how Ares had done it; he was simply incomparably joyful he had done it. ¡°Haha, it seems teh laddie is as good at runemancy as ¡®e is at forging!¡±


    ¡°What¡­ How¡­¡± Julio was losing his mind. He thought it was funny when Ares was effortlessly moulding metal into high quality gear. Now that he had literally flicked away a rune of his like a speck of dust, it wasn¡¯t so funny anymore. For the first time in years, he actually felt like he understood Dabble. ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°I used some disintegration magic and, well, uhh, flicked it?¡±


    ¡°O¡­ Oh. Right. Of course.¡±


    ¡°Ha! Why don¡¯t you come down to my forge, Julio? While we¡¯re checking his forging skills, we can have you check his runemancy skills.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Ok. Yeah.¡± Julio slapped himself to regain some composure.


    Ares was led down into Dabble¡¯s personal forge. It was closer to what Ares had originally imagined the forging department upstairs would be like. The brick room had a dark red hue due to the rampaging, flickering and flaring heat. A large furnace made the centre of the room its home and blazing fires spat from within. Countless shelves with numerous types of metals lined the walls. These walls had so much residual forging magic infused within them that Ares could faintly hear clanging coming from within. The walls were constantly absorbing lingering forging pillar magic and tempering themselves passively, turning the forge into a sort of impromptu, ever-evolving bunker.


    Dabble took out a piece of metal and tossed it to Ares. ¡°Can you merge this with that wood o¡¯er there?¡± Dabble pointed to a piece of wood on a nearby bench. It was a type of wood Ares had never seen before. It was pitch black as though it had been burnt, but its sturdiness looked unparalleled. ¡°That¡¯s ¡®onyxian oak¡¯. Quite the tough material that is. Really hard to forge with. I typically only let teh really experienced disciples use it and, even then, only with my supervision.¡±


    Ares ran his fingers over it and inspected it using mana to get a feel for its properties. He wasn¡¯t doing it to check if he could merge it or not, that was a given. He needed to understand the intricacies of the thing he was trying to merge, that was the prerequisite. ¡°Should I make anything specific?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Dabble held up a mock-up he had pencilled out earlier, it was incredibly detailed and well-drawn down to even the most minute details.


    Ares paid careful attention to the specifics of the design. It was an axe but, interestingly, the metal was used for the handle and the wood was for the sharp pointy bit at the end. Ares was unfamiliar with axe terminology so he just stuck to calling it ¡®the pointy bit at the end¡¯. If Dabble could read minds, he would probably be furious, ¡®What pointy bit!? There are multiple parts to an axe, ye wee nonce,¡¯ Ares could imagine him saying.


    The merging process took a couple of seconds this time around as the design was considerably more complex than anything else Ares had made so far. The wood was supposed to coil down around the handle as the inscriptions added later need to be placed on the wood. It would be inconvenient to have to grab higher or use your other hand so the wood had to wrap around the handle near the base so it could be tapped easily by the thumb. It looked really cool to Ares. It was like a mystical, overgrown, ancient-elven berserker weapon.


    ¡°Uhh, Dabble? Was that the weapon I personally requested? The one you said would take about five months to make?¡± Julio was pointing at the weapon while constantly turning his head between it and Dabble.


    ¡°Aye, that would be teh one. Lucky you, eh? Seems we¡¯ve got a prodigy over ¡®ere.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think prodigy is the right word¡­ This kinda goes beyond being ¡®prodigious¡¯.¡± Julio shook his head but couldn¡¯t think of a better alternative. The word ¡®God¡¯ did creep into his head a few times. The weird part was that he didn¡¯t find it unreasonable either. Ares was literally treating rare materials like playdough after all. Plus, there was the absurdly quick creation process. If Ares went around calling himself a forging God for long enough, people would probably start to agree with him. At the very least, they wouldn¡¯t be able to offer any better alternative competitors for the title than him.


    Ares couldn¡¯t seem to care less though.


    ¡°Ok, I guess it¡¯s my turn now. Show me your strongest rune!¡±


    Ares scratched his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to make runes¡­¡±


    ¡°...¡± Julio took a moment to comprehend what had just been said to him. ¡°You really don¡¯t know anything? Like, not even a basic rune that can emit light?¡±


    ¡°Nope, never learnt a thing. Breaking them seems fun and easy though. It wasn¡¯t much, but I felt my cultivation go up when I broke that earlier rune. That was nice, I guess.¡±


    ¡°My runes aren¡¯t cultivation material! And they certainly aren¡¯t meant to be broken! But still, this could be an interesting talent¡­ Dabble, do you have any dolls lying around?¡±


    ¡°Ye, I have a few.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I knew you would, you kinky little bearded man! Bring ¡®em out!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re fer the training hall ye damn stoopid elf¡± Dabbled groaned as he went to grab a storage ring with the training dummies inside. He came back and let a few out.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯mma put some curses on these sex toys. I need you to try and get rid of ¡®em and, if you do¡­¡± Julio winked at Ares. ¡°...I might even let you take one home!¡±


    ¡°Nobody touch the dummies inappropriately or I¡¯ll call Rud to sort ye out ye pervy bastards.¡±


    ¡°Wow, possessive much? Fine, scratch that last part. It seems the old grouch wants to keep them all to himself,¡± Julio joked around as he was busy putting curses on the dolls.


    Dabble had turned back to the bench and was inspecting the axe. It really had been done in flawless fashion. The wood came down to the handle in the perfect position, not a millimetre off. It was comfortable to grip and would be easy to access the inscription when it was added later. Dabble would have had to give it his all just to match this performance.


    Julio was progressively making the runes harder and harder as he went along. He wasn''t actually expecting Ares to be able to get rid of the later ones, but he was curious to see just how close he could get to unravelling and/or breaking them. He also wanted to know how long he would take to dismantle the runes as it was usually a laborious task that could take months even if you were competent. Even if Julio wanted to undo a beginner¡¯s curse, it could still potentially take hours as sometimes it can be a matter of luck stumbling upon the right combination.


    Runemancy can be thought of in a similar fashion to those puzzles wherein you know if a number or letter is correct when you try it, but you don¡¯t know if it¡¯s in the right place or not. These were typically referred to as number or word lock puzzles and the rune version was aptly called a rune lock. Replace numbers or letters with hundreds and thousands of runes and, hey, that¡¯s runemancy for you.


    As Julio was finishing up with the last rune, he felt something brush against his shoulder.


    ¡°Ah, Sorry. I was getting a bit carried away,¡± Ares apologised.


    Julio looked back and had to cling desperately to a nearby bench to stop himself from fainting on the spot. He had somewhat of a difficult time with it though as the benches in Dabble¡¯s forge were naturally quite close to the ground.


    Ares had been closely following behind him, dismantling every single rune he had placed seconds after he moved onto creating the next one. It was like a scene out of comedy street performances when someone would trail behind someone else, undoing everything they did with the lead person being none-the-wiser. Dabble could have set up a spectators stand and charged admission fees for a pantomime of this calibre.


    Not a single rune was left! Even the one Julio had just placed, using all his lifelong knowledge on runemancy, was mindlessly vaporised. He could make more difficult runes with defensive properties against foreign magic, sure, but those would take days to set up! Ares was destroying these ones quicker than he had been making them! The worst part was that this bastard was still flicking them! Julio shed a single tear.


    ¡°That¡¯s an incredible talent to have, laddie. Curses and runes can be real tricksy. Not to mention people would pay good money fer ye services, regrettably even more than forging. Typically speaking, removing a curse from a loved one would fetch ye a higher price than making an artifact fer a collector. Either way, ye can make a lot o¡¯ money from either. Ye should never be lacking stardust no matter where ye are. It¡¯s really a shame ye cannae cheat out runes like ye can destroy em, then ye¡¯d be truly unfathomable. Still, this is unreasonable enough as is. I think Julio ¡®ere needs a moment alone to cry his wee heart out.¡±


    ¡°Well, at least he has a shiny new axe to play with. Maybe it will help ease his trauma.¡± Ares shrugged and looked over at Julio who was now sitting in the corner of the room and dramatically hugging his knees in the foetal position.


    ¡°As for teh weapons ye said ye''d make, ye can come by whenever teh make a batch. It''s much appreciated. As for paying ye back, I can give ye some rare ores teh make a good weapon to replace that dinky thing ye ¡®ave there. I¡¯m sure Julio will be willing teh make some fancy inscriptions for it, provided ye promise not teh break them anyways.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, that¡¯ll be really helpful. I¡¯ll find time when I¡¯m not managing the stall or at the technical department to come over.¡± Ares realised he was slowly getting rather busy but, then again, it would be a waste not to use his wide-ranging talents.


    Ares left the forging department and started heading home as it was getting late. He was looking forward to going home today. He didn¡¯t get a chance to cuddle with Appa yesterday so he was going to spend as much time as possible making up for it today! He also really wanted to try something out and was curious to see how things would go down when he returned.

 Chapter 20: Stick-to-it-iveness

    Ares arrived outside the house and paused momentarily to take something out of the Primordial Blade.


    The front door opened and ares walked into the living room to look for Aejaz and Appa as it was where they spent all their time when not in a cultivation room. He saw Aejaz reading some kind of trashy romance novel, this was nothing new. ¡°Hey ¡®Jaz, reading trite as usual, huh? Don¡¯t tell me you''re looking for pick up lines in there for the next time you talk to Missy, are you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Aejaz was clearly addicted to whatever it was he was reading as he didn¡¯t even raise his head, he just casually waved his hand and dismissed whatever ares had just said. He wasn¡¯t really paying attention.


    Appa was also here. It was sitting in the middle of the room and staring at ares. They had started to get along again after he came back and tucked it into bed last night, but something was definitely amiss. It wasn¡¯t because Appa was still unhappy about the current situation, although that was definitely something that was still on its mind, there was something else bothering it.


    ¡°Hey Appa, what¡¯s wrong? You usually always want a hug when I come back.¡± ares smiled and took a step towards Appa.


    ¡°You¡¯re not my Ares,¡± Appa said flatly.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Aejaz raised his head and looked at ares. ¡°Uh, seems normal to me. Zephyr? Check. Always has his hand on his sword, ready to draw it at all times? Check. Not as unbelievably handsome as me? Check and double checked.¡±


    ¡°Mmmmmm. No! This isn¡¯t my Ares! What did you do with Ares!? Give him back or I¡¯ll hurt you!¡± Appa had risen off the ground and started emitting a frosty aura, ready to start attacking if it received a response it didn¡¯t like.


    ¡°Haha, I knew I couldn¡¯t get one over on you. It seems my idiot brother could learn a thing or two from you though.¡± The Ares clone pointed at Aejaz.


    ¡°Hey, come on. Give me a break! You clearly met all the criteria!¡± Aejaz didn¡¯t know what was happening but could at least tell that this ¡®technically¡¯ was Ares and not an impostor.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the real Ares, don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s not coming home again or I¡¯ll go out and find him!¡± Appa wasn¡¯t threatening the clone with violence anymore and the frosty aura had long since disappeared.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m right here.¡± The real Ares Shifted inside the house, right next to Appa and gave it a big hug.


    ¡°Yay!¡± Appa happily nestled its head against Ares.


    ¡°You have no idea how glad I am that you can tell that clone isn¡¯t the real me.¡± Ares felt a kind of pride welling up. ¡°Here. it¡¯s not much, and I wish I could do more for you, but for now this is the best I can do.¡± Ares handed over all the talismans he had bought from the treasury.


    ¡°You got me presents? Thank you! What do they do?¡± Appa was using its rope to pick up and check the talismans.


    ¡°They make those clones you just saw. I know they aren¡¯t the same, but at least you can still have something similar to me here for when I¡¯m not around. They can hug and cuddle just like the real me! Only that clone could speak though ¡®cos I was directly controlling it and I can¡¯t do that from far away. Also, they can¡¯t fight, and they only last a week. That shouldn¡¯t be relevant as I¡¯ll be back before you need to use them all, but this is so you know that I¡¯ll never leave you, ok Appa?¡±


    A drop of mental essence fell from Appa¡¯s facial region and it threw itself at Ares, knocking them both to the floor. Appa didn¡¯t respond as it was too busy blubbering and sniffling. A while later, Appa finally calmed down and sat contentedly on Ares lap.


    ¡°By the way, Aejaz, we might be travelling with two other people.¡± Ares flicked a weak, ranged Echo over to knock the book out of Aejaz¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Hey! I was reading that! Tsk, who¡¯s coming along with us? Is it the Lighter Duo?¡±


    ¡°Lighter?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. You know, like ¡®light¡¯ from ¡®lightning¡¯, and ¡®er¡¯ from ¡®water¡¯. Lighter. It¡¯s what everyone¡¯s calling them now ¡®cos it¡¯s quicker and easier than saying the whole shebang every time.¡±


    ¡°Uh. Ok. Sure. Anyway, no. It''s not the ¡®Lighter¡¯ Duo.¡± Ares recapped the events at the mission hall earlier.


    ¡°Oh, alright. I wonder if they¡¯ll have anything good to steal.¡± Aejaz was enthusiastically rubbing his hands together like a humanoid racoon that just found some trash it liked.


    ¡°Again, that¡¯s if we work and travel with them. They might have their own plans; we aren¡¯t an actual group.¡±


    ¡°Right, gotcha. I¡¯ma head off and catch some winks.¡± Aejaz went off to sleep.


    Ares and Appa also went to bed. Appa had wanted to try sleeping with two Ares cuddling it so it used the clone that Ares had already summoned and had it embrace Appa as well as the real Ares. Appa was satisfied with the clone¡¯s performance and dozed off. The clone might not be as good as the real deal, but it would do! Appa decided that, when it came time for Ares to leave, it would splurge and put an Ares clone in every room of the house! It would also take one with it whenever it left to go outside! In fact, it might not even wait until he left. The more Ares, the merrier!


    For the next few days, Ares would wake up and head over to Elaine¡¯s lectures, which he mostly ignored so he could work on arts. He would then go set up the stall and sell Beads for a bit. Later, he would visit the forging department and help create various weapons and artifacts. If he had time, he would either then cultivate in seclusion for a couple of hours or train in the training halls. In the evening, he would head to the technical department and help the other disciples create or adjust their own technicals. He would discuss optimal mana manipulation and processes for their technicals, which the other disciples greatly appreciated. He would end the day by going home and cuddling with Appa. It was all quite repetitive, but it was fun in its own way. Ares had no complaints, especially not when it came to snuggle time. That was the best part of his day bar none. Two days before he was due to leave for the mission, Ares headed over to the forging department and was enthusiastically greeted by Dabble. Dabble told him he needed his help with something, so Ares followed him down into his forge.


    Dabble held up a piece of metal that was pure white.


    Divine was the first word that came into Ares'' mind, followed by holy and other such words. ¡°What is this? It looks incredibly rare.¡±


    ¡°This is ¡®argonick brick¡¯, one of the rarest materials in this domain. It¡¯s also the hardest material too, and a real pain teh forge artifacts with. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking ye teh help create something. A disciple with good standing in the sect returned from a mission a wee bit ago with this ¡®ere material. They want teh make a shield out of it and there¡¯s no reason to keep ¡®em waiting too long as they¡¯ll be leaving again soon. Plus, they¡¯ll be taking another important person with them so the safer tey are, teh better. I can¡¯t make teh ¡®Steadfast Aegis¡¯ in time, but ye can.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Good laddie. I did say I would give ye some rare materials for ye work, and I ¡®appen to ¡®ave ¡®em here.¡± Dabble took out a black tinted, see-through lump of black crystal, and a floating white cloud. ¡°The crystal is known as ¡°abyssal ice¡¯, teh cloud is ¡®hazy vapour¡¯. Both are ice elemental materials that ye can use teh make a lightweight sword. I have nae finished the design for it as these materials are quite complicated teh use together, so ye¡¯ll have to wait until ye come back from that mission o¡¯ yours. When ye make it, ye can take it to Julio for some ice-based inscriptions. I¡¯ve already named it ¡®Black-Ice Bane¡¯, if that¡¯s alright with ye.¡±


    ¡°Sounds great to me, thanks Elder Dabble.¡± Ares got to work and poured his attention into crafting the treasure. He didn¡¯t know who it was for, but he didn¡¯t particularly care. If the disciple was important to the sect, then he would make sure the job was done properly, there was nothing else to it.


    A minute-or-so later, he finished his greatest work yet. Ares had slightly altered the design as he¡¯d learnt a fair bit from his time at the forge. Previously, the design was circular, but Ares fashioned the shield¡¯s shape to be more like a ¡®V¡¯. After discussing his reasoning with Dabble, he eventually convinced him this was the appropriate way to make the artifact considering the inscriptions that would be added later and their purpose. The shield would benefit from the ability to plant it into the ground, which a circular design was incapable of doing as readily. Ares had also made the top of the shield spiked and, again, there was a reason for this design choice relating to the not-yet present inscriptions.


    Dabble was quite impressed with Ares'' ingenuity. He had interesting solutions to standard problems that he could feasibly fit into the original design without drastically altering the base. Of course, the changes Ares made would have been a nightmare to forge the standard way which was why Dabble hadn¡¯t implemented them but, with Ares¡¯ unique method, some previously unused designs were now viable options. Dabble would have to rethink some of his designs and just hand them over to Ares to finish instead of doing them himself.


    Ares took the shield and went to pay a visit to Julio. Ares got a similar vibe from the runemancy department as he did from a knitting shop he once visited in Red Sun City. He gave the Steadfast Aegis to Julio to start working on.


    Julio wouldn¡¯t finish any time soon but he could at least get some of the simpler inscriptions done by the time the disciple would leave for their next mission. It would make the shield sturdier at least. Better than nothing! ¡°Oh, by the way, Rud wanted me to ask you something,¡± Julio called out to Ares as he was leaving.


    ¡°If he¡¯s not doing it himself, it¡¯s because it¡¯s a favour and he doesn¡¯t want to see my smug face. Right?¡±


    ¡°Yep, he also told me not to tell you it was him that was asking. I think it¡¯s funnier this way though.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, I¡¯ll make good use of this information. What does he want?¡±


    ¡°Fireworks.¡±


    ¡°Fireworks? Is there some kind of event coming up?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, ¡®Cultural Appreciation Day¡¯. We have one every three months. It¡¯s a day when we get our disciples to sell foreign foods, knick-knacks, and even treasures in the market. We put up paper lanterns and make it kinda like a festival. Do you remember that one big event Red Sun had six years ago?¡±


    ¡°I do. So, it¡¯s basically that, but on a smaller scale? When is it? I¡¯m leaving the sect the day after tomorrow and Rud knows that, so I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°It is. Sorry if it¡¯s a little last minute, but Zhang only asked Rud if it was possible today. You¡¯re literally the ¡®explosion guy¡¯, so he figured you¡¯d do good work. He also said that he would supply Appa with substitution-talismans whenever it runs out as compensation for your time and effort.¡±


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Deal. Shaping annihilation magic is a massive pain, but the gains are worth it I suppose. I¡¯ll go and make them now.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and one more thing. Speaking of Appa, could you maybe talk to it on Loopo¡¯s behalf?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Apparently Appa has been taking multiple clones of you everywhere it goes, including his lectures. It¡¯s weirding out the other disciples and they aren¡¯t paying as much attention as they should be. He understands that it makes Appa happy, but he wants to ask you to tell Appa to limit itself to one clone at a time. He would do it himself, but he said it was acting too cute and he didn¡¯t want to disappoint it.¡±


    ¡°And I do? Fine¡­ but I want Appa to get some extra cultivation resources as reparation.¡±


    ¡°Um, ok? I¡¯ll let him know¡­¡± Julio had never seen a disciple bargaining with an Elder before, especially not on behalf of someone else.


    Ares left the runemancy department and headed back home to find Appa, but it wasn¡¯t there yet. When Ares went looking, he managed to find a total of ten clones throughout the house. One was even hidden inside a cabinet. He would have to place a limitation on the number of clones Appa was allowed to have out at any given time. It was certainly endearing behaviour, but it was a tad excessive. At this rate, Appa would probably forget about cultivation and just spend all day playing with the clones.


    Ares got rid of all the clones and started working on the fireworks. He started to run out of ideas for their shapes as he¡¯d already done plenty with the typical patterns. Flowers, circles, pinwheels, hearts, etc. Unfortunately, they would all be gold when they went off, but there was nothing Ares could do about that at his current level. What he could do though was have a little fun of his own. A shady smile crept up on Ares face as an influx of ideas came into his head. If Rud didn¡¯t want to do it himself, he shouldn¡¯t have any complaints about the end result! Ares finally finished and couldn¡¯t stop laughing at the marvels he had crafted. Tomorrow was going to be fun! He would have to prepare himself to run away from a few people just in case though. Ideally, he wouldn¡¯t have to run into any of those people before he could escape the sect and leave for his mission the day after.


    Later, Appa arrived in what could only really be called a ¡®procession¡¯. It was draped over an Ares¡¯ clone¡¯s shoulder and was surrounded by about four other clones. Ares sighed and mowed down his own false brethren before picking up and looking deep into Appa¡¯s eye sockets. ¡°Appa, I didn¡¯t want to have to do this, truly, but I¡¯m reining in the number of clones you¡¯re allowed to use. From now on, you can only have two out at a time, ok?¡± Appa tried wriggling free from Ares and floating away but Ares just hugged onto Appa tightly to avoid letting it escape. ¡°Appa! Be reasonable! You don¡¯t need that many clones! Most of them are just following you around doing nothing! I promise you that you won¡¯t even notice they¡¯re gone!¡± Ares was struggling to speak and keep the squirming Appa in his grasp at the same time.


    ¡°Nooooooooooooooo!¡±


    Ares wrangled with Appa for a while before finally managing to negotiate four Ares clones at a time, with only one allowed when Appa was out and about. He also promised to spend tomorrow enjoying Cultural Appreciation Day with Appa as an added bonus, but he had secretly been planning on doing that anyway.


    ¡°Speaking of tomorrow, I have a surprise for you!¡± Ares said.


    ¡°Ooh, I love surprises. Your last one was great.¡±


    Ares¡¯ eye twitched when he was reminded just how much trouble his clones were causing. ¡°It¡¯s not anything too major so don¡¯t get your hopes up. It¡¯s more like a nice gesture really.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll like it no matter what!¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m sure you will.¡±


    Aejaz eventually came home and Ares congratulated him on increasing his cultivation again to 4th realm, 10th stage. The rest of the day passed peacefully as Appa sat on Ares¡¯ lap as he made more Beads and fireworks, meanwhile Aejaz read shitty romance novels about vampires and werewolves.


    Night fell and Ares shooed away the remaining clones. He¡¯d managed to monopolise Appa for snuggling at night as one of his earlier terms. This right was given in exchange for letting Appa sleep in the bathroom when he wasn¡¯t here. What was it with this shade and the damn bathroom? Ares and Aejaz hadn¡¯t even used it yet as the ones in the tiered areas were far more convenient, plus, cultivators rarely had to use them to begin with. They were pretty much exclusively for showering. Appa could quite often be found just sitting in the room. Maybe it had something to do with the white shower curtain? Did Appa have some kind of longing to see others of its kind? Either way, the bathroom had basically become Appa¡¯s room already.


    Next morning, Ares got up and headed over to the stall to set up the fireworks for later. He didn¡¯t have a way of firing them off normally, so he just buried them and would later use magic to lift them. There were quite a few but the mana cost only went up exponentially in proportion to the amount used at once. If he just set them off one at a time, the mana cost would be pretty much unnoticeable. This was how he was going to do it anyway as his ¡®special¡¯ creations needed to be seen in all their glory, with plenty of time to let each one be observed in all their splendour before moving onto the next.


    Ares went to go pick up Appa and bring it over to start enjoying the festivities. It was still rather early, and not much was going on just yet, but this was the perfect time to do whatever Appa wanted. Later, Ares would have to set off the fireworks and would be too busy to play around with it. Appa would probably follow him to set off the fireworks instead of exploring the market, so that was why he brought it here so soon.


    The first attraction that caught Appa¡¯s eye was an apple bobbing stall, mostly because it looked really silly. Ares explained the point of it was just to have fun. It was supposed to be silly. In addition, you would get a free apple out of it, so there was that.


    ¡°If it¡¯s fun, then I wanna try!¡± Appa floated over to the bucket.


    ¡°Uh, sure?¡± Ares wasn¡¯t quite sure exactly how Appa was going to play considering it had no mouth, but he didn¡¯t want to ruin its moment.


    Ares failed to stifle a laugh as Appa dunked its head straight into the bucket. Appa not having arms made it look pretty damn comical.


    After submerging its head, Appa just stared blankly at a nearby apple as it floated past. It was slowly realising that there was, perhaps, a slight issue. Appa hadn¡¯t planned this far ahead, so it just decided to use the only means at its disposal and bring its rope in as well.


    The stall owner was immediately displeased with this as it was clearly cheating. A frown emerged on his face and he was about to move over and stop Appa, but Ares Shifted next to him and started whispering in his ear, ¡°If you spoil the shade¡¯s fun, I¡¯ll replace every apple in that bucket with Shock Rocks and make you go fishing. Am I clear?¡± Ares'' whispering voice was steady, deep, and strongly hinted at extreme violence.


    ¡°Crystal,¡± the stall keeper shivered and let out a squeaky voice.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good man with good business sense. Take this and pretend you saw nothing.¡± Ares handed over a couple Shock Rocks, both as payment and as an ironic threat.


    Ares took Appa around the fair, visiting each and every attraction that caught Appa¡¯s interest. It couldn¡¯t sample the food, but it played a few games and managed to cheat its way to victory on numerous occasions. For some strange reason, however, none of the stall owners seemed to mind. Appa was having a blast, the store owners were close to having a blast, and Ares was enjoying a nice, peaceful day.


    ¡°AAAAAAARRRRRRREEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!¡± a panicky voice, one that Ares knew all too well, blurted out from nearby. Aejaz dashed around a couple of stalls, stumbled round a corner, and quite luckily happened across the exact person he was looking for. He was momentarily taken aback by the odd scene in front of him.


    Appa was using its rope to strap itself to Ares like it was in a baby sling. Ares was, rather loudly, crunching on an apple. It looked like a dad taking his new-born for a stroll through a funfair.


    ¡°Ares!¡± Aejaz yelled with a tear in his eye as ran up to Ares, but he didn¡¯t stop in front of him. Aejaz nimbly ducked under Ares'' flank and hid behind him like a little kid trying to run away from a scolding parent. ¡°Help!¡±


    Crunch


    ¡°Umm. Err. Ares? Help?¡± Aejaz¡¯s eye was twitching as a nervous feeling washed over him.


    Crunch


    CRASH


    As Aejaz was desperately pleading with a completely uninterested Ares, a knight bust through a nearby wall and looked around. The knight was a woman, covered head to toe in shining white armour of a rather high grade. She looked like an inquisitor sent straight from heaven to right all the wrongs in the world. Her helmet was sleek and gave off a fierce impression that would probably put the fear of God in evil-doers and inspire awe and reverence in everyone else. She was well built and as sturdy as a brick wall. Rather, clearly, she was far sturdier than a brick wall as even that hadn¡¯t stood a chance. Despite the heavy armour, she moved fairly quickly. She was taller than average, coming in at a little over 6ft, which just made her even more imposing. If she had wings to match, people would genuinely confuse her for a divine being. As far as being a tough woman goes, she would put even Li Li to shame, and that was really quite impressive in its own right.


    ¡°Stay where you are!¡± The knight, unsurprisingly, also had a rather deep voice that would inevitably fall under contralto territory if she ever sang. It was nothing short of captivating, like orders from a commander type captivating. It was a smooth, clear voice that left no room for misunderstandings or misgivings about the words uttered and the demands to be obeyed. Despite its smoothness, hidden within was an indicator of the potential for the anger and wrath of holy retribution. ¡°Thief! Return all that which you have stolen AT ONCE!¡±


    Crunch


    ¡°Aressssssssss, this woman is scaryyyyyyyyyyyyyy.¡± Aejaz was clinging to and shaking Ares'' shoulder to no avail.


    Crunch


    ¡°SINCE WHEN DO YOU EVEN EAT APPLES!?¡± Aejaz was losing his mind.


    ¡°Appa won it earlier when she went bobbing. We were trying to figure out if it could eat it somehow but, alas, Appa cannot. In the end, Appa gave it to me, so I¡¯m eating it. I may not be particularly fond of them, but I don¡¯t hate them either. Of course, I would much rather have some popcorn right about now,¡± Ares replied in a casual tone that indicated Aejaz¡¯s situation had absolutely nothing to do with him.


    ¡°You¡¯re eating it just because Appa gave it to you? Also, WHY DID YOU ONLY ANSWER THE APPLE QUESTION? WHAT ABOUT THE BIGGER ISSUE?¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to get involved with whatever mess you¡¯ve created. Today is supposed to be a relaxing day to enjoy the festivities with Appa. I¡¯m not letting anything, or anyone, ruin that. Come back tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°What kind of shitty customer service is that!? I¡¯ll be dead by tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on. Don¡¯t be so melodramatic. At worst, she looks like the kind of person who would string you up and flog you in public. Don¡¯t let her drag you anywhere near a guillotine though.¡±


    ¡°ARESSSSSS!¡± Aejaz was about to start begging.


    ¡°Ares? Oh, I see now. You two are the bandit brothers that have been running rampant throughout the city for quite some time now, aren¡¯t you?¡± The knight stopped inching closer.


    Ares shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I really do hate that name. I¡¯m not quite cut out to be a bandit, I don¡¯t think.¡±


    ¡°You two are a plague upon this city! I don¡¯t know how you ended up here, but this shall not be tolerated.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know? There was quite the commotion when we first arrived. Then again, I don¡¯t remember seeing a knight in literal shining armour anywhere, so I guess you¡¯ve been living under some kind of rock as of late.¡± Ares noticed the fifth-tier disciple badge that told him she was an outer court disciple, one that should have very much been aware of their presence. It was highly likely this person had been out on a mission and wasn¡¯t keen to the happenings of the sect recently. ¡°As for being a plague. Him? Sure, maybe.¡± Ares flicked Aejaz''s hand off his shoulder. ¡°Me? That¡¯s a bit excessive. If anything, I¡¯m more like a common cold, or perhaps a rash. Annoying but harmless.¡±


    Appa was trying to laugh quietly so as not to be rude to this stranger who Ares was clearly messing around with but, unfortunately, its actions caused things to get even more out of hand. The knight couldn¡¯t hear Appa laughing. To the knight, it just looked like Appa was helplessly squirming around, trying to break free. ¡°A vile man with a vile tongue. You dare take a hostage? I¡¯ll see to it that tongue of yours is ripped right out and that shade is taken away from your clutches!¡±


    ¡°Well, this is clearly going to shit.¡± Ares scratched his head; he really didn¡¯t want to fight right now. ¡°For the record, I¡¯m definitely blaming you for this.¡± Ares turned and glared at Aejaz.


    ¡°If you unhand the shade and give back all that which you have taken, your punishment will be far lighter! This is your one chance.¡±


    ¡°Look, lady. I¡¯m not scared of you. He might be¡­¡± Ares turned around and glared at Aejaz again. ¡°... But I¡¯m definitely not. I really don¡¯t want to complicate today any further. I¡¯m just here to have fun with Appa.¡± Ares patted Appa on the head. ¡°As for your little misunderstanding, I have not abducted this shade, and I have no interest in intervening with whatever righteous fury you''re trying to direct at my silly, idiotic brother. You may sort out whatever business you have with him, just leave me and Appa out of it. Thank you, and good day to you.¡± Ares turned around and started to walk away.


    ¡°HALT! Step no further! Do you think I¡¯ll just let a bandit walk away? Do you believe I¡¯ll just let you take that shade with you?¡±


    ¡°I must ask, do you like sticks by any chance?¡± Ares had a serious look on his face as if he were asking a truly important question.


    ¡°Sticks?¡± The knight took the bait.


    ¡°Yeah, ¡®cos not only are you a stick in the mud, but you clearly have one up your ass too. Fuck, maybe you even have some in your ears as well because it¡¯s either that, or your deaf. I already told you, I¡¯m not a bandit and I¡¯m not kidnapping this shade. Stop being such a stickler for justice for five minutes. Look how happy this shade is right now and you tell me if you think it''s being dragged around against its will.¡±


    The knight wasn¡¯t happy about the barrage of stick comments, but looked at the shade anyway. The stare-down was incredibly bizarre as one party had a helmet on, and the other had no facial expressions to begin with. Appa¡¯s eye socket had a little triangular indent at the bottom which was a universal indicator that a damned shade was happy. If it were upside down, and at the top of the socket, that would mean it was mad. The knight was briefly unsure what to do as she could instinctively tell Ares wasn¡¯t lying, but how could she just let the bandit go scot-free? As for the shade, it certainly looked very content, but what if it didn¡¯t understand what was happening? What if it was just following this evil man along without being aware of his true intentions? People that abused a shade¡¯s trust were scum of the earth! ¡°I can¡¯t let you leave until I verify the truth of this matter. I¡¯ll be taking both of you to the detention facility, and I¡¯ll have a word with Rud.¡±


    ¡°Nope, you won¡¯t. I have business to attend to and can¡¯t afford to waste my time like that. Feel free to take Aejaz there and, by all means, talk to Rud.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let you leave.¡± The knight took up a fighting stance and was ready to barrel over Ares if he kept being uncooperative.


    ¡°WAITTTTTTTTT!¡± after the shout, some panting could be heard.


    Ares recognised this voice too.


    ¡°Ahhhh, you run really fast sis¡¯. Did you catch him yet?¡± Allie was peering around and taking stock of the current situation.


    What a fascinating twist! If Aejaz read novels that were half as interesting as what Ares was currently witnessing, hell, even he might read them.


    ¡°Hmm? Ares? Why are you here?¡± Allie was tilting her head slightly when she saw the thief who stole her Mini-Pilly hiding behind a familiar person.


    ¡°Trying to enjoy myself with Appa here, but it¡¯s not going all too well regrettably.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Appa?¡± Allie looked deeply into Appa¡¯s eye socket. ¡°Mmmmmm. Mnnnnnnnnmm. Mmmmmmmm.¡± Allie was struggling to come to terms with, and face, reality. Appa was really dang cute. ¡°Can I pet it?¡±


    ¡°Not that I mind, but you should be asking Appa.¡± Ares looked down at Appa.


    ¡°Ok! I like being petted by humans!¡± Appa detached itself from Ares and floated over, planting its head gently against Allies bosom.


    Allie pet Appa and just immediately gave up on any hope of competing with this soft and adorable little thing. It wasn¡¯t too hard to accept it, she had just been downright outclassed.


    Ares had, on multiple occasions, seriously wondered if Appa had a unique aspect of cuteness. It was simply unfathomable how endearing this shade was. Ares had never felt such peace of mind around any other living being. It was as though Appa¡¯s very presence soothed the soul and calmed the nerves. Perhaps it was a unique aspect under the support pillar?


    It might be worth looking into in the future.

 Chapter 21: Home Is Where the Heart Is

    ¡°You know him, Allie?¡± the knight, which Ares guessed was Enyo, asked.


    ¡°Mhm, he¡¯s one of the people we¡¯re going on the mission with.¡±


    ¡°Him? Ugh. Why on earth did Zhang recommend we let him tag along?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m standing right here you know?¡± Ares was waving his hand.


    ¡°Tsk, don¡¯t tell me that silly little burglar cowering behind you is the other person coming along?¡±


    ¡°He is. What of it? Also, are you Enyo then?¡±


    ¡°I am. As for him, you best keep him on a tight leash. If he steals from Allie again, I¡¯ll be sure to dole out the appropriate punishment.¡±


    ¡°Wait, please, this is all just a misunderstanding,¡± Aejaz finally plucked up the courage to speak. ¡°I was just trying to help, honestly.¡±


    ¡°Like hell you were! How is stealing helping?¡± Enyo wasn¡¯t buying it.


    Even Ares wasn¡¯t truly convinced he was telling the truth, this was Aejaz after all.


    ¡°No really, I was. I, err, just can¡¯t explain to you why.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well isn¡¯t that convenient?¡± Allie wasn¡¯t particularly happy with this shifty person. ¡°Ares, can you promise to keep him away from my stuff?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but that probably won¡¯t be necessary. If he says he has a reason, then I¡¯ll reserve judgement for his actions until I¡¯ve at least heard his excuse.¡± Ares was really interested in what kind of reasoning Aejaz was going to come up with.


    ¡°But it¡¯s really awkward.¡± Aejaz was getting a little fidgety. Ares narrowed his eyes and gave Aejaz a death stare. The death stare was effectively an ultimatum that said ¡®If you don¡¯t tell me what happened and why, I¡¯ll beat it out of you.¡¯ ¡°Fine, fine, fine. Just you though. Come here.¡± Aejaz brought Ares a little further away and spoke in a quiet voice despite not being in hearing range anymore, ¡°Look... Allie is really damn cute, ok?¡±


    ¡°What the fuck kind of explanation is that!?¡± Ares was baffled. This moron was clearly starting in the wrong place.


    ¡°Wait, wait. I saw her wandering around and I was thinking, ¡®man, I really wanna be Allie¡¯s-oop¡¯, if you know what I¡¯m sayin¡¯.¡±


    Ares rolled his eyes and resisted the urge to smack Aejaz across the entire fair and back.


    ¡°So yeah, I¡¯m thinking, ¡®how do I start a conversation with her¡¯, Right?¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°And then I hear that she¡¯s an alchemist.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°So, then I have a brilliant idea.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°So, I decided to steal a pill from her.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost me.¡±


    ¡°Listen. I was going to increase the quality of the pill, you know, use it as an icebreaker and a gift kind of thing.¡±


    ¡°So, do tell. What went wrong with this flawless plan of yours, Cassanova?¡±


    ¡°The pill attacked me¡±


    ¡°Ok¡­ Wait¡­ No. Not ok.¡±


    ¡°Look!¡± Aejaz lowered the collar of shirt and revealed a bite mark. ¡°The little piece of shit bit me!¡±


    Ares smirked. ¡°Huh, would you look at that? You got your ass kicked by a pill.¡±


    ¡°Not helpful, Ares.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like the kind of tone you should be taking if you''re asking for my help, brother.¡±


    ¡°Damn, you can be an ass sometimes. Fine, whatever, please help me out, o¡¯ wise sagely brother of mine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. Tell them the truth.¡±


    ¡°Are you insane!? Yeah, sorry I stole from you; I just thought you were really cute is all! LIKE HELL THAT¡¯LL WORK.¡±


    ¡°Listen. I said to tell the truth, I didn¡¯t say not to make some¡­ ¡®Omissions¡¯. Tell them that I told you about them. Tell them that I told you we were travelling with a girl named ¡®Allie¡¯. Tell them you just happened to overhear her name, and that she was an alchemist, as you were walking around. Tell them you wanted to break the ice by using that trick of yours as a way of saying hello and giving them a gift. DO NOT TELL THEM YOU HAVE A THING FOR ALLIE. If you leave out that ¡®tiny¡¯ detail, they might forgive you. Capiche?¡±


    ¡°Capiche. That¡¯s actually really simple. Why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re a coward whose first instinct is to run away from conflict despite being having the capacity to resolve it yourself?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°What are you waiting for? An invitation? Get your sorry ass over there and fix your mistake.¡± Ares booted Aejaz back over towards the two girls who were looking at him with narrowed eyes.


    Aejaz explained himself to Allie and Enyo which also meant he had to explain his unique aspect. Allie was rather surprised to have found another person with a unique aspect and decided to forgive and forget this harmless little first encounter as his actions weren¡¯t malicious. Enyo, though, was as stern and unrelenting in her steely piercing gaze as ever. Aejaz couldn¡¯t see her face through the helmet but he knew she was staring daggers at him.


    ¡°Right, well, not that this hasn''t been fun, but I need to go set up the fireworks for later.¡± Ares let Appa strap back onto him and was about to head off.


    ¡°THERE ARE GONNA BE FIREWORKS!?¡± Allie was beyond excited.


    ¡°Yep, I made a few after Rud ¡®asked¡¯ me to.¡±


    ¡°YAY, I love fireworks! Can I come and see them? Can I? Can I? Can I?¡± Allie¡¯s eyes were practically beaming.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but it¡¯s not going to be particularly interesting. For now, I¡¯m just burying them in preparation for later.¡±


    ¡°Burying them? Also, I don¡¯t have you pegged as the pyrotechnic¨Ctype.¡± Enyo still wasn¡¯t altogether too trusting of these two bandits.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°They aren¡¯t traditional fireworks, so I¡¯ll be using magic to set them off which requires burying them before-hand. Also, no, I¡¯m not a pyrotechnic, but I do specialise in explosions. Allie, if you¡¯d like, I can give you some small-scale fireworks that you can set off yourself. Like that, you¡¯ll have something more interesting to do than just sit around and watch preparatory work. As for the fireworks later, you should be able to see them from pretty much anywhere in the sect.¡± Ares didn¡¯t mind letting Allie tag along, but she would probably end up bored.


    ¡°You have spare fireworks? And you¡¯re letting me take them?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re all that hard to make, I¡¯ve got plenty here.¡± Ares took out a sack of 50 of his smaller, leftover fireworks and tossed it to Allie.


    Enyo skidded in front of Allie and swiped the sack out of mid-air. There was no way in hell she was letting Allie catch it, regardless of whether it was actually fireworks or not. She inspected the sack and was lost for words when she was assaulted by a boundless, ancient, destructive aura. ¡°What the hell are these things?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see you¡¯ve still got those sticks in your ears. They¡¯re fireworks. Put some mana into them, throw them at the sky, then detonate them.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say something about burying them?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something only I need to concern myself with as I¡¯ll be setting them off in bulk. Anyway, if you want any more fireworks later, you can come find me. I¡¯ll be by my stall.¡±


    ¡°Where is that?¡± Allie was definitely going to get more whenever she ran out.


    ¡°Just ask literally anyone for directions, they¡¯ll know.¡± Ares turned around, waved his hand nonchalantly, and walked away.


    ¡°So, you have a unique aspect too?¡± Aejaz wasn¡¯t too keen on conversing with Allie while ¡®Sergeant Stuffy the Uptight Knight¡¯ was around, but he figured now was as good a chance as any to start getting to know Allie.


    ¡°She does,¡± Enyo replied on Allie¡¯s behalf and gave Aejaz a glare that reminded him of Ares'' death stare. That was one mean looking helmet. Is this what Ares would be like if we didn¡¯t know each other? Nah, Ares is a bit more light-hearted than that. Although, sometimes, when his bloodline kicks in, he¡¯s worse than Enyo could ever be. Aejaz spent the rest of the afternoon strolling around with Allie, and traipsing around Enyo.


    Ares, on the other hand, spent his time readying the fireworks and playing ¡®I-Spy¡¯ with Appa. He tried to convince Appa to go do something more interesting, and tell it that he would come pick it up later, but Appa didn¡¯t really want to go anywhere.


    Aejaz came by to get some more fireworks for Allie as she ran out of them quite quickly. He offered to go pick them up as it was a win-win for him. He got to do a favour for Allie, all the while being able to get a break from Enyo. ¡°Man, you could¡¯ve told me how beautiful Allie is. Or did you leave that part out because you were worried I¡¯m better looking than you, and that you stood no chance?¡±


    ¡°Oh haha, very funny. I see someone¡¯s in a good mood hm? But no, I didn¡¯t tell you because, A, I didn¡¯t know. B, I didn¡¯t care, and C, I didn¡¯t think you would either. She was wearing a hood the first time I met her. I wouldn¡¯t have mentioned it even if she wasn¡¯t though as, to me, she¡¯s not that special.¡±


    ¡°Not that special!? Dear Lord, please bless my brother with a new, functioning pair of eyes!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying she¡¯s not good looking, but she definitely is not my type.¡±


    ¡°Aww come on, don¡¯t lie. A beautiful white jade is everyone¡¯s type.¡±


    ¡°White jade?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s what everyone here in Red Sun calls a beautiful woman.¡±


    ¡°Hm, never heard that before, but I¡¯ll take your word for it. Again, no. A ¡®white jade¡¯ isn''t really my type at all. What¡¯s the point of someone like Allie in the cultivation world, really? She¡¯s just a pretty face you¡¯re going to have to lug around everywhere and protect like some kind of pet. Is a relationship built on admiration of looks really even a relationship? I think someone like Enyo is more my type, honestly.¡±


    ¡°ENYO!? That woman is insufferable. She¡¯s, like, the definition of serious.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying her personality is perfect, but she¡¯s a woman that has my respect at least.¡±


    ¡°And Allie doesn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Not as a cultivator, no. Then again, neither do you.¡±


    ¡°Gee, thanks.¡± Aejaz threw his hands in the air and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Actually, the more I think about it, the more parables I see between me and you, and Enyo and Allie,¡± Ares pondered aloud.


    ¡°Oh, wow. I see what you mean. Still though, I think Enyo is far too stuck-up. Even you gave her flack for it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she could really do with toning it down a notch. It would be one thing if she was at least a little more relaxed around familiar company, but I¡¯m gonna take a wild guess and say that switch of hers is just flicked on 24/7. I suppose it¡¯s unsurprising though. A woman like that will always have an undentable, unshakeable pride. I suppose that¡¯s part of what I admire about her.¡±


    ¡°I get it, but I still think you could look for someone who¡¯s less obnoxious.¡±


    ¡°A woman like that is also unfortunately quite rare. Besides, you never know, maybe there¡¯s a reason for that attitude. Or maybe there isn¡¯t. I never have believed in love at first sight, might as well get to know her first and see where things go.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you gave the best first impression what with that whole stick bit. It was funny though.¡± Aejaz gave Ares a thumbs up. ¡°And to think, you gave me flak for stealing a pill. Maybe I should be helping you¡­ Ow ow ow ow!¡±


    Ares pinched Aejaz¡¯s cheek and twisted slightly. ¡°No, I really don¡¯t need your help. Besides, you¡¯re just as hopeless and new to this as I am. NO¡­¡± Ares interrupted Aejaz before he could open his mouth. ¡°... Flirting with Missy and reading those novels doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, well I¡¯m certainly making more progress than you. You¡¯re just sitting here playing around with Appa who, I¡¯m sorry to say, is not as cute as Allie. It¡¯s very close though, don¡¯t get me wrong.¡±


    Ares put his hands over Appa¡¯s non-existent ears. ¡°How DARE you.¡± Ares wasn¡¯t mad, he was just pretending to be which got a laugh out of Appa. This idiot was blindly in love, of course Allie was the cutest thing in the whole world to him. Ares wasn¡¯t going to rib him about it like he did with Missy though because he seemed far more serious about this. Actually, this was the most serious he had ever seen Aejaz be about anything really.


    ¡°Oooh, do you think they¡¯re talking about us?¡±


    ¡°If they aren¡¯t, you¡¯d be disappointed. If they are, you¡¯d probably be disappointed if you could hear what they¡¯re saying.¡±


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t be so pessimistic. I feel I¡¯ve schmoozed quite well. You though? Yeah, they probably don¡¯t like you very much.¡± Aejaz had a smug look on his face.


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Ares was not going to tolerate this level of ego from Aejaz and felt the need to put him in his place a bit. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯ve already petted Allie, and she really quite liked it.¡±


    Aejaz froze on the spot. His brain shut down and he almost instinctively leapt at Ares to try and throttle the damn bastard!


    ¡°Hahaha. One day you¡¯ll learn not to mess with me, you silly little brother of mine. Hahaha,¡± Ares and Appa were both laughing at Aejaz and had tears in their eyes. ¡°Relax, I only pet her because she was being cute. Think of it like patting your younger sister''s head. It¡¯s not something really worth getting worked up over.¡± Ares let out another quick laugh and stabilised himself so he could deliver the final blow without bursting out into laughter again midway. ¡°If it makes you feel any better, I give you full permission to go and try to pet Enyo. Hahahaha.¡± Appa was rolling around on the floor and cackling madly and Ares was holding his stomach and wiping tears from his eyes.


    Aejaz grumbled and mumbled curses under his breath as he took the fireworks and left before Ares could catch his breath and speak again.


    Eventually, both Ares and Appa calmed down and Ares got back to work burying the fireworks. ¡°Didn¡¯t Aejaz used to say I was the cutest?¡± Appa started a conversation.


    ¡°Yeah, but then he fell in love. That¡¯s just kinda how it goes. Don¡¯t worry about it, you¡¯re still the cutest thing I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°So, if you were to fall in love with someone, like maybe Enyo, would she be cuter than me?¡±


    ¡°Hm? No. I¡¯m rather objective about these things and, on that note, Enyo isn¡¯t really the cute type, as far as I can tell¡­ Well, she might be under that helmet, but I highly doubt it.¡±


    ¡°Ok, but would you care about her more than me?¡±


    Ares stopped fiddling with the last few fireworks as this conversation was going to require his full attention. ¡°Honestly? Maybe? I can¡¯t really give you a definitive answer because it hasn¡¯t happened but, like I said earlier, it¡¯s just kind of what happens. When you fall in love and get married etcetera etcetera, that person becomes family. It¡¯s hard to justify liking someone who isn¡¯t family more than someone who is. It¡¯s not impossible though. To tell you the truth, Aejaz is still the most important person to me right now. Even though I give him trouble from time to time, he¡¯s still my little brother¡­ Actually, that¡¯s probably why I do it. Plus, I¡¯ve known him the longest of anyone I¡¯ve ever met. There really are a lot of factors that come into deciding who is or is not important. You¡¯re definitely important to me, I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair to say you''re the most important, or really ever can be. For most people, the list is family / spouse first, then close friends, then everyone else.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I was just curious.¡± Appa really didn¡¯t look bothered, as if it had expected the answer.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good, mature, mentality to have. I, for instance, will not be the slightest bit bothered if you find yourself a damned shade partner and they mean more to you than me. If anything, I¡¯ll be happy for you and actively encourage it. This is just how life goes.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, maybe. Can we be family?¡±


    ¡°You mean like how I¡¯m not related by blood to Aejaz, but I still call him my brother?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s not something most people would ever agree to for someone they¡¯ve only really known for a week, but sure. I really don¡¯t see us falling out, and if I¡¯m going to know you for who knows how many years to come, then there¡¯s no reason to say no now only to say yes later. So, I guess from now on¡­ You¡¯re my little sister? Or are you my older sister? Now that I think about it, I don¡¯t actually know how old you are.¡±


    ¡°Age is irrelevant to shades. We usually don¡¯t even keep track as we don¡¯t age, we just get wiser apparently.¡±


    ¡°So, would you rather be called older sister or little sister? I don¡¯t mind either way.¡±


    ¡°Neither.¡±


    ¡°Uhh, just sister then?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to call you mother, as I¡¯m pretty sure I already have one, and I certainly don¡¯t think you expect me to. So... ¡°


    ¡°Can you be my dad?¡±


    Ares blinked a few times and pinched himself. This was the strangest thing that had ever happened to him bar-none. Becoming a father at his age was certainly unexpected, but to be a father to something he didn¡¯t even take part in giving birth to just made it even stranger. Still, he wasn¡¯t going to say no. He would rather agree to it, and whatever it entails, than deny Appa and make it sad. In a way, he felt that made it pretty clear he would¡¯ve done it regardless. It was still strange to him though. ¡°You know what? It¡¯s weird, but yes. I¡¯ll apologise in advance ¡®cos I have no idea how to be a father, but I¡¯ll try my best.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! Now I¡¯ll always be one of your favourite people and you can always be mine!¡±


    ¡°You would have always been one of my favourites regardless, you know that right?¡±


    ¡°I know but I¡¯ve never had parents before. If anyone is going to be my dad, I want it to be you! This works out perfectly. Now I just need a mother, and I can have a happy family!¡± Appa was bobbing around and clearly in a good mood.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve also got Aejaz. Technically, he would be¡­ Your uncle? It¡¯s unusual, but who cares. I¡¯m already a father at 18, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re following any standard conventions here to begin with. As for adopting you properly, what with all the paperwork and the ensuing legality, you¡¯ll have to wait for me to come back before I can sort all that out.¡±


    ¡°Meh, who cares about paperwork¡­ Dad.¡± Appa gleefully wagged its head from side to side as it kept floating around in circles.


    Ares smiled warmly and was already confident this was a good decision. It might take some getting used to, but he certainly wasn¡¯t going to regret adopting such a sweet little thing. If he could give Appa what it wanted in the form of a family and make it content, then this was a small, or rather non-existent, price to pay. He got up and walked over to Appa and gave it a big hug. Ares patted it on the back and then gave it a light kiss on the top of Appa¡¯s head. ¡°I love you, Appa.¡±


    Appa burrowed further into Ares arms and spontaneously cried essence out of joy. Not having a family seemingly really had been weighing on its mind all along.


    Ares just continued to hug Appa and stroke its head until it calmed down. He swore in his mind to make sure that Appa would always be safe. If anyone else had been around, they probably would have noticed a tear or two in Ares¡¯ eyes as well.

 Chapter 22: Turn Around

    ¡°Showtime!¡± Ares began setting off fireworks. At first, he just set off the standard ones that were shaped like flowers, hearts, etc¡­ They were relatively unimpressive compared to the typical explosive output of a normal Shock Bead, but that was the price to pay for trying to shape annihilation magic. They looked rather pretty all things considered. The gold explosions with a black sky and a starry night as a backdrop was certainly a sight to behold. Many young couples were enjoying special moments and making long lasting memories to the tune of the fireworks¡¯ crackling.


    Appa in particular was thrilled to finally see a ¡®firework¡¯, and it really brought the whole day together for it. This was a day Appa would never forget, nothing could ruin it.


    ¡°Hey, Appa,¡± Ares called out to Appa who was staring at the sky. ¡°You remember I said that I had a surprise for you?¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡±


    ¡°Look!¡± Ares set off around 15 fireworks simultaneously. These fireworks were slightly bigger than the previous ones and rose up in somewhat of a hill shaped formation.


    Bang


    All the fireworks detonated individually, but the shapes produced came together to form a giant Appa image. It was big enough to be seen almost anywhere in the sect and, despite its simplicity, had an incredible amount of attention to detail. Wrinkles in Appa¡¯s ¡®skin¡¯ and even the fibres in Appa¡¯s rope were thoroughly designed to match the real deal. The giant gold Appa lingered for a fair bit longer than the other fireworks too.


    ¡°Haha, I told you it wasn¡¯t anything much but, still, I hope you liked it.¡±


    Appa floated over and leaned on Ares shoulder and rubbed its head against his neck as a sign it was gleeful and too happy to express as such with words.


    ¡°Unfortunately, I only had time to make one but I¡¯ll definitely make more next time, and they¡¯ll be bigger too!¡± Ares kept setting off more fireworks for another half an hour before finally running out of his ¡®normal¡¯ fireworks. Now it was time to have some fun! Ares had 8 special fireworks in total, each of which had taken at least an hour to create as shaping them had been a real pain in the neck. Still though, it was going to be so worth it!


    The first firework whistled into the air.


    Bang


    Throughout the market, incredibly loud snickering and laughter could be heard regardless of where anyone was standing. A few of the forging department disciples had tears in their eyes and were trying desperately to stifle the welling, raucous laughter so as not to giggle at something they really probably shouldn¡¯t ever be caught laughing at.


    In the night sky, the word ¡®Forging¡¯, air quotes and all, was plastered clearly above an image of Dabble headbutting a piece of metal.


    Ares was in a quiet, almost desolate corner of the market, as almost everyone had gathered toward the centre of the market but, even still, he could hear people laughing from all the way over there. Good start!


    Bang


    The second firework actually managed to get more laughs out of the Elders than the disciples. The image showed Elders Gao, Teng, and Elaine all holding a sack of stardust, with the word ¡®wages¡¯ written on it, while running away from Rud. Zhang, who just so happened to be by Rud¡¯s side, was biting his lip furiously to hold back a chuckle. Rud was also furiously biting his lip.


    Bang


    ¡°DAMN BRAT.¡± Rud was losing his mind.


    The third firework was a follow-up to the one that preceded it. It showed Rud, sleeping like a log, on top of a pile of stardust filled sacks, all with the word ¡®wages¡¯ written on them. Like the first firework, this one also had a ¡®title¡¯ above it which read, ¡®Lazy Ruddy¡¯.


    Bang


    Dabble had been a good sport about the first firework and laughed it off. However, he just so happened to be drinking with Julio when it had gone off and received a near non-stop ribbing up until now. Now it was Dabble¡¯s turn to poke fun at Julio.


    The fourth firework showed Julio with a magnifying glass looking at a stone tablet. The stone tablet had writing on it, but it was written in wingdings. A speech bubble next to Julio read, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen these runes before!¡±


    Bang


    The fifth firework had been set off and somewhere just outside the market, a cracking sound of metallic knuckles echoed throughout the night. ¡°Just you wait, you little prick.¡±


    This firework was pretty simple, it was Slick with a dunce cap.


    Bang


    The sound of banging had become somewhat of an anxiety inducing moment for all the Elders that had ever interacted with Ares as, clearly, no one was safe.


    ¡°My turn now, is it? Could be worse, I guess.¡± Loopo sighed but smiled a little at this harmless prank.


    ¡°Yeah, you definitely got off easy,¡± Alaine replied.


    This firework was also quite simple, it was of Loopo reading the book he always carried around¡­ But it was upside down.


    Bang


    ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Zhang could finally no longer hold back and let loose when the seventh firework looped back around and targeted Rud again.


    A lot of the disciples also got a massive kick out of seeing the stubborn old mule Rud getting mocked so openly.


    This one also had a title; ¡®How Many Does it Take?¡¯ Underneath the title were tens of Rud clones, all dumbly staring at a loose light bulb.


    Bang


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, the eighth firework wasn¡¯t directed at an Elder, but rather a disciple!


    ¡°Stupid idiot! Just you wait. JUST YOU WAIT,¡± a voice roared, but not loudly enough for anyone to actually hear as it had been drowned out by all the nearby disciples howling in laughter at him.


    The last firework was a bust of Chen Fen with some clown makeup and a giant ¡®red¡¯ nose. Regrettably, Ares could only make the ¡®red¡¯ nose gold, but it was done well enough that it was pretty clear what he was going for. All of the fireworks kind of had the same vibe and look to them that the disciples had seen in jokey cartoons that would be drawn in the local newspaper.


    Ares was very pleased with the results as, if nothing else, he and Appa had gotten a massive kick out of it and were crying with laughter. His chances of ever being asked for anything by Rud ever again had probably just plummeted out of existence, but that just made it all that much sweeter.


    Allie had also really enjoyed the fireworks and found them funny. She had really wished there would¡¯ve been one of Zhang, but then she realised it would probably be something like him wheeling around a pram with a baby-fied version of herself inside. Maybe she could commission Ares to make one of Zhang that didn¡¯t involve her next time!


    Aejaz had been trying his hardest not to laugh but caved after the third firework and was unable to stop since. He had tried his best mostly because Enyo had been staring at the back of his head, almost making him feel guilty for enjoying something that she would likely describe as ¡®childish¡¯. Thankfully, she either didn¡¯t care as much as he thought she did, or she decided not to give him a hard time about it. Maybe it was because Allie had enjoyed it too? It really was impossible to tell what she was thinking with that helmet blocking all of her facial expressions.


    Rud was this close to barging out of his tent and charging down the market to find that damnable brat. As much as he wanted to, he had other obligations to fulfil as he was overseeing the event, and couldn¡¯t really justify leaving his post just to go smack a disciple. At the very least, he was able to shove Zhang out of his tent and no longer had to put up with someone laughing directly at him.


    ¡°Hahahaha, ahhhh, ah. Yeah, definitely worth it.¡± Ares was wiping the last tear from his eye. ¡°Hopefully I won¡¯t run into anyone before I leave tomorrow, especially fuddy-duddy Ruddy.¡±


    ¡°Come back soon, ok?¡± Appa looked up at Ares.


    ¡°I promise I¡¯ll be back before you know it.¡± Ares stroked Appa¡¯s head gently. ¡°Hm?¡± Ares felt a disturbance in the air nearby as a destructive, ancient aura surged toward him. It seemed a certain ¡®someone¡¯ had finally decided to come after Ares. To be so spineless as to use a Shock Bead against him of all things was rather humorous to Ares. Of course, he could deal with it easily though, he invented the damn things! Did this idiot seriously think he would sell something that other people could use to kill him? Was he not aware that the Master¡¯s tools will never dismantle the Master¡¯s house? Slightly different context, perhaps, but the general sentiment was accurate enough. Then again, the Chen clan did seem like it was filled to the brim with stupid morons. At least Fen wasn¡¯t completely foolish as, out of the corner of Ares'' eye, he could just about see one of the top three outer court disciples that Fen had brought along with him as insurance. He didn¡¯t have time to see which one it was, but it didn¡¯t particularly matter. Ares could take care of them regardless of which one it was as they were picking a fight with him at the worst location possible; his stall. Here, he was invincible. Actually, that was technically incorrect. It wasn¡¯t that he was invincible, but that everyone else just became that much more vulnerable here.


    ¡°Not Even Light!¡±


    Ares thrust out his hand and splayed his fingers in a grasping motion while twisting his wrist. A pitch-black blob, roughly the same size as Appa, materialised a short distance in front of his outstretched arm. The air around the blob became stale and dark while swirling around the gravitational pull of the blob. This was Ares¡¯ defensive disintegration art. It essentially created a miniature black hole and was extremely effective against attacks that were numerous in quantity, or slow but affected a large area. The attack would be absorbed into the blob and completely evaporated without leaving a single trace.


    The Shock Bead Fen threw detonated, but didn¡¯t form a dome shape at all. Instead, it formed a conical shape and funnelled straight into the blob, disappearing forever.


    Ares had been working on turning this art into something similar to a Shock Bead that could be sold to anyone. He figured he could work out the intricacies of it by the time he came back from his mission. Adding something new to the stall when it was at its peak was sure to boost sales. Besides, value aside, who wouldn''t want a pocket black hole?


    The pull of the blob, at Ares current level, was designed strictly to affect mana so, unless someone or something was directly pushed into it, it served no other purpose than to create a safe zone from magic. Still though, it did this job well, and it¡¯s not like it couldn¡¯t be used offensively at all. Ares had slowly been learning that it was borderline impossible to create a destruction pillar art that didn¡¯t have some kind of offensive capability. Even his nothingness ¡®Shift¡¯ art could be used to Shift inside someone who was much weaker than himself, spontaneously blowing them up.


    ¡°Good evening, gentlemen! Have you been enjoying the festivities, the lively atmosphere, the¡­ Fireworks?¡± Ares winked at Fen.


    ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s a shame that bastard Aejaz isn¡¯t here. It would have been nice to kill both of you without having to go and search around for him after.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure, whatever. You know, I was originally going to just leave you be for now ¡®cos killing you inside the sect would just be a headache waiting to happen. It¡¯s not too late for you. If you quickly leave here, abandon the sect, and go live quietly somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I may never find you. Of course, the second you try to attack me again, that¡¯ll be curtains for you. Consider me overlooking that prank of yours just now as doing you a kindness. Also, I¡¯d really rather not have to deal with Rud breathing down my neck for killing you, so scram along clown-boy.¡±


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    ¡°SHUT THE FUCK UP.¡±


    ¡°Your vocabulary is truly as astounding as ever.¡±


    ¡°How about you both shut the fuck up?¡± The top 3 disciple could finally no longer stand the back and forth and interrupted their fun and games.


    ¡°Tsk, do you want to be paid for this or not?¡± Fen wasn¡¯t pleased the lackey he brought along was so wilful. ¡°And you, Chen Lo already knows about you being here. As soon as he gets back from his trip, he¡¯ll come straight here for you and that pathetic brother of yours. Of course, you¡¯ll already be dead by then but, hey, at least I can get in his good books by doing the deed for him. Wouldn¡¯t want to bloody the hands of the patriarch with a slave and a street rat, now would we?¡±


    ¡°Number of issues here. First, you won¡¯t be killing me, and neither will that little lap dog of yours. Second, knowing Chen Lo, he probably has the blood of far more disgraceful things on his hands already, like babies and prostitutes. Lastly, I won¡¯t even be here when he gets back. What¡¯s he going to do exactly? Wander around the sect like a headless chicken? Is he going to ask someone to pour tea for him while he sits around waiting? God your family is fucking stupid. Seriously, do yourself a favour and go kick rocks, you knucklehead.¡±


    Fen and the disciple just blinked and stared dumbly while their brains were playing catchup and processing the information that Ares had just spat out rapid-fire style. ¡°LO HAS NEVER TOUCHED A PROSTITUTE.¡±


    ¡°You know, insulting your family would actually be harder if you didn¡¯t speak. What about the babies? You aren¡¯t going to deny that? How many of those has he killed? I was just joking when I said it, but dear lord it seems I actually hit the nail on the head. Also, what the hell do you mean he hasn¡¯t touched any prostitutes? Have you never even met your own mother?¡±


    The top 3 disciple raised his brow, took a cold, sharp breath, and simply looked away while pretending not to have heard that last part. This verbal confrontation was clearly a losing battle, and he wanted nothing to do with it especially seeing as how that last remark may have actually had some truth to it if the rumours were to be believed. Never mind the fact that Ares had lived in the Chen household himself and probably knew a fair few dirty secrets¡­


    ¡°KILL HIM, JUST KILL HIM ALREADY DAMN IT. KILL THAT SON OF A BIT¡­¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Ares let out a quick exclamation that was bone chilling enough to send shivers down everyone¡¯s spines and shut up Fen mid speech. ¡°Appa... What¡¯s that?¡± Ares pointed at a little, dirty, red mark near the bottom of Appa.


    ¡°Hm? Oh, nothing.¡± Appa turned around and started whistling after it too saw what Ares was pointing at.


    ¡°Appa? Turn around, right now,¡± Ares was speaking gently but there were undertones that he was about to let loose. Not on Appa of course.


    ¡°Ok, but first you have to promise me you won¡¯t be mad.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ares replied bluntly and immediately.


    Appa tried floating away but Ares just stood where he was and held Appa¡¯s rope, slowly hauling Appa back to him. ¡°Appa, does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Appa¡¯s voice quietly trailed off.


    Ares gently poked the red spot and Appa visibly winced a little. ¡°Appa?¡± Ares'' hands were starting to shake a little.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. I didn¡¯t even notice it before. I was just trying to help. When I saw the Shock Bead, I tried floating in front of you to use a defensive art, but I accidentally scraped myself on the floor. It¡¯s ok, it doesn¡¯t hurt, really. It¡¯s just a bit of dirt¡­ Dad?¡± Appa was speaking hastily and in a low hushed voice.


    Ares¡¯ wasn¡¯t saying anything, he was just looking at the little scuff. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was trying to be reasonable. It was just a small little injury, it wouldn¡¯t even be that big of a deal to a non-cultivator, so it was basically non-existent to Appa. Telling himself that repeatedly was unable to calm his gradually-growing frenzied rage though. The thought of Appa trying to save him by blocking the explosion sent his mentality spiralling. He didn¡¯t blame himself for this, he wasn¡¯t unreasonable like that, and he certainly didn¡¯t blame Appa. There were only two other people here to blame.


    ¡°Dad?¡± Fen was confused as he was pretty sure that shade wasn¡¯t Ares¡¯ actual daughter.


    ¡°Be silent,¡± Ares'' voice was soft and yet still paralysed Fen with fear as it echoed in his mind. Ares looked at Fen and the disciple emotionlessly as one word just kept ringing through his head.


    Unforgivable.


    There was no longer any room for negotiation.


    Unforgivable


    ¡°Appa?¡± Ares spoke in a horrifyingly undisturbed, plain voice.


    Unforgivable


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Unforgivable


    ¡°Can you be a good shade, turn around, and stop listening to what¡¯s about to happen.¡±


    Unforgivable


    ¡°Ok¡­¡± Appa was still being quiet as it could tell Ares was furious.


    Unforgivable


    When Ares saw Appa turn around, he looked back over his shoulder. His face was still as calm as ever but his hands were still trembling with fury.


    Unforgivable


    Ares unfurled his Zephyr and ran annihilation magic through his blood. The air became heavy and he unintentionally started leaking out pressure which shouldn¡¯t have even been possible at his cultivation. Ares¡¯ bloodline had enabled it and was screeching in his ear. Over and over. Over and over again like a maddening chant.


    Unforgivable


    Ares teetered and swayed rhythmically as he walked. His gait bore resemblance to a reaper that had just clawed its way out of the underworld. He kept his pace slow and his face as eerily inexpressive as before. There was no need to rush, they weren¡¯t going anywhere. Not now. Not ever.


    Unforgivable.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Huh, well I¡¯ll be damned. Cotton candy really is incredible!¡± Meanwhile, Aejaz was still, ironically, cottoning up to Allie. He did really like the cotton candy though, maybe he would learn to make it. That, or hassle Ares to learn it in his stead. Either way, it would also make Allie happy. Win win!


    ¡°Told ya! It¡¯s Mini-Pilly Scout''s favourite, and he has a great taste in food.¡± Scout was sitting on Allie¡¯s shoulder, nibbling away at the same cotton candy Allie was eating.


    Aejaz felt weirdly jealous of the pill that had bitten him earlier. ¡°It¡¯s a shame there aren¡¯t more fireworks to go along with the food,¡± Aejaz said while taking a bite of his candy.


    ¡°Yeah. Heh, I really didn¡¯t have Ares pegged as the kinda guy to joke around like that. He usually seems like the more serious type. Kinda like you, actually, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°We are not alike. You saw him goofing around earlier, and don¡¯t even get me started on the ¡®stick¡¯ comments.¡± Enyo was still wearing the helmet as though it were glued to her head.


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re more alike than you know.¡± Aejaz genuinely thought the two were nearly identical sometimes.


    ¡°Really? I can¡¯t see him ever being as serious as sis¡¯.¡± Allie tilted her head slightly.


    Aejaz was practically swooning at this cute display. ¡°Uh, um, yeah¡­¡± Aejaz composed himself and kept talking, ¡°For the most part, no, but actually, at times, he can be worse than Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Worse?¡± Both Allie and Enyo spoke at the same time. One was annoyed that being serious was supposedly a negative trait. The other was bewildered that someone could possibly outdo Enyo in the seriousness department.


    ¡°Mhm. Ares is really casual around people he knows and people he thinks are alright. He gets a little more serious around strangers he doesn¡¯t trust, people he needs to fight, assholes, etc¡­¡± Aejaz waved in a circular motion but stopped and cleared his throat when he realised Enyo was staring at him for his use of profane language. ¡°... But that¡¯s not the worst of it. I¡¯ve only ever seen him really mad once before, and I hope to God neither of you ever has to experience it. It was about a year ago. We¡¯d gotten into a street brawl and he mistook someone else''s blood for mine. He thought I was seriously injured. What I thought would be a fun little beatdown turned into an absolute massacre. I still wake up sweating sometimes after having nightmares about it. It¡¯s grotesque how far he goes. I think it has something to do with that bloodline of his.¡± Aejaz conveniently left out the part about him pretending to be dead during the brawl so he wouldn''t have to fight anymore. How could he possibly say something so pathetically uncool in front of Allie?


    ¡°Bloodline?¡± It seemed Enyo finally cared enough about a conversation today to actively take part. ¡°What kind?¡±


    ¡°Dunno. Ares has a pretty complicated background, so I won¡¯t get into it without his permission. All I know for sure is that it makes him really arrogant and unbearable sometimes. It makes him act like he¡¯s king of the world and that everyone else is just inferior to him. Not in the egotistical, annoying, loud sense though. It''s more like a kind of regal, domineering presence. It almost makes you want to bow down and worship. Actually, it makes you feel like you have to. It¡¯s really strange, but it wouldn¡¯t be such a big deal if it didn¡¯t make him so cold and detached when he doesn¡¯t get the respect he thinks he deserves. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not saying he doesn¡¯t deserve it, but it¡¯s not the Ares that I¡¯m used to so it kinda weirds me out a little. He keeps it in check pretty well, but it slips out every now and then and it''s far worse than you. For reference, he once used a pile of dismembered corpses as a throne.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Enyo was disgusted at that last comment.


    Err, oops! Sorry Ares! Aejaz apologised immediately in his head. Then again, this was good payback for him having petted Allie!


    BAAAAAAAAAANNNGGGG


    ¡°Hm?¡±  Enyo craned her neck and looked towards the source of the sound.


    ¡°Eeek.¡± Allie was spooked and wriggled closer to Enyo like a dog afraid of lightning. Allie loved fireworks but whatever that was, was far bigger, louder, and completely unexpected.


    Aejaz was completely unbothered as he¡¯d seen this song and dance many times before.


    A gold explosion rippled through the outskirts of the market and Aejaz immediately recognised it as a Grand Annihilation from Ares. It was far bigger and louder than a Shock Bead, so there was no uncertainty. The only reason it wasn¡¯t deafening was because they were decently far away. Aejaz was curious as to who and why Ares was fighting, but it didn¡¯t really matter. He knew Ares could run if he couldn¡¯t fight so, if he was fighting, the other party was simply screwed. As much as he wanted to resume standard conversation with Allie, she seemed a bit too perturbed by the explosion.


    ¡°What was that? Was there an accident with the fireworks?¡± Allie asked timidly.


    ¡°No, no. That should be¡­¡± Aejaz was about to explain...


    BANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    A magnificent gold dome blanketed the outskirts of the market in its entirety. The air undulated, blasting a few drunk disciples to the ground. The explosion echoed throughout the market and drowned out every other noise by burrowing into everyone¡¯s ears. Even the ground shook and trembled as though an earthquake was causing the earth to shudder. The size of this explosion was something even Aejaz had never seen before. Aejaz knew it was technically possible as he heard Ares mention that he could stack Shock Beads, if he made a bunch of them ahead of time, and just detonate them haphazardly. Even though Aejaz was familiar with Ares'' methods, he hadn¡¯t expected this. He could guess that Ares had used every single Shock Bead in his stall¡¯s storage to make an explosion of that magnitude. Seriously, what the hell was he thinking? Aejaz then promptly realised Ares probably wasn¡¯t thinking and that that was the real issue. Ares would probably only ever go that far if something happened involving Appa or himself and his bloodline kicked in.


    ¡°Explain,¡± Enyo had a cold tone to her voice as Aejaz seemingly knew what was happening.


    Aejaz had a solemn face and that surprised the two sisters as, throughout the entire day, he had been non-stop cheerful and jovial. ¡°You remember when I said Ares can be worse than you? This is him being worse than you.¡±


    Enyo wanted to know more but didn¡¯t have time to sit around and do nothing like this so she immediately got up and dragged Allie along. She had a duty to protect Allie so she wasn¡¯t going to just leave her here, even though Allie clearly didn¡¯t want to go toward the source of the explosion.


    Aejaz followed along and simply sighed. ¡°Allie, you might not want to get too close.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s coming with me, and that¡¯s final,¡± Enyo replied without even turning around.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying you can¡¯t take her; I¡¯m just saying dead bodies aren¡¯t exactly pleasant at the best of times, especially not when an angry Ares is responsible. I mean, as a cultivator, everyone should get used to dead bodies at some point, I just don¡¯t think it has to be now for Allie.¡±


    ¡°And why not now?¡±


    ¡°Like I said, Ares is the one responsible. If he hadn¡¯t made such a commotion, then yeah, go for it. As things stand, whatever¡¯s waiting over there is seriously not going to be pretty to look at.¡± Aejaz was still wearing a completely serious expression which seemingly convinced Enyo to stop being stubborn.


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Aejaz was admittedly a little shocked, I guess she can be reasoned with, He thought. Maybe it has something to do with Allie? Or maybe she¡¯s just more reasonable than I thought.


    Enyo still brought Allie along, but she kept her a little further back so she wouldn¡¯t be the first to see the corpses, allowing Enyo to judge the situation first. The three travelled a short distance before reaching a ludicrously large crater. Surrounding it was charred and scorched earth with no sign of any stalls left. It was just barren, ravaged land. As Enyo was about to go peer over the edge and check for bodies, or whatever was left of them, a disciple came out from the crater and threw up. The disciple was wearing a dark green kimono and had her hair tied up, which happened to be rather convenient for the purpose of being sick.


    Enyo was surprised to find this particular disciple hurling as she was the top outer court disciple, if only considering cultivation base, surely she should¡¯ve been more resilient than this? Was it really that bad down there? ¡°Esme? Are you ok?¡± Enyo¡¯s first priority in these situations was to tend to the living, so she started with the first person she found on the scene which was the top disciple, Esme.


    ¡°Uh, um, yeah, yeah. I just¡­ I just need a minute.¡± Esme was struggling to catch her breath and stabilise her mind. Her breathing was ragged and quick, but eventually she managed to close her eyes and calm down. She was still a cultivator who had seen dead bodies before, so she wasn¡¯t going to faint from shock or anything, but she was definitely not accustomed to the level of savagery she had just witnessed.


    ¡°Are you ok now?¡± Enyo was waiting to make sure she was ok before heading down.


    ¡°Yeah. Yeah, thanks Enyo.¡±


    ¡°What happened? You weren¡¯t caught in that explosion earlier I¡¯m guessing.¡±


    ¡°No. God no. If I had, I¡¯d probably be battered senseless and lying somewhere dead or about to be at the very least. No. I just happened to be nearby as I¡¯d forgotten something at my house and was on my way back. There shouldn¡¯t have been any other disciples close enough to the explosion other than the people who were directly involved. Whoever set it off had their priorities in order and was at least using some part of their brain.¡± Esme''s eye twitched as, now that she had calmed down, she was a little annoyed at whoever was responsible for this as it had ruined her night!


    ¡°What, or I suppose who, is down there, Esme?¡±


    ¡°Chen Fen and Duke.¡±


    ¡°Duke is dead?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I mean, I didn¡¯t exactly like the guy, but I didn¡¯t hate him either. It was really creepy to see someone who was basically as strong as me in¡­ That state. I think that¡¯s why it hit me so hard, the realisation that, even within these walls, there are people that just aren¡¯t worth messing with.¡±


    ¡°Are the bodies salvageable? For a burial, I mean.¡± Enyo¡¯s mind was still in regulation and proper etiquette mode.


    ¡°Depends on your definition of salvageable. No-one should ever have to see those corpses, it¡¯s just wrong. Hell, they weren¡¯t even dead yet when I arrived. It was disgusting. Allie, dear, you really shouldn¡¯t be here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to look, but I feel like I should know what¡¯s down there. A cultivator can¡¯t ignore these things forever. Aejaz is right. I don¡¯t have to start now, but I can at least listen to what the cultivation world is like. It¡¯s good to prepare myself for the things I might see rather than just going into the wide world blind,¡± Allie spoke determinedly with a resolve that Aejaz really didn¡¯t expect her to possess.


    Aejaz was subconsciously rooting for her.


    Go Allie!


    He was also really wishing she wouldn¡¯t start here.


    Damn you Ares!


    ¡°Fine, if you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you. I guess the best way to approach this is like ripping off a bandage, so I¡¯ll start from the worst of it and end ¡®lightly¡¯. Their legs had been blown off from the shin down and blood was gushing out from their knees. Their eyeballs had been gouged out and the nerves were stretched and carved out from within. Their tongues and ears had also been removed. They had countless incisions on their flesh with one large one on their stomachs. The cut was big enough for some of their entrails to have been pulled out. Their intestines were prised from their bodies and brought up and around their necks in a loop. There was a hole in their throats big enough for the intestine to pass through. The intestines had been used as a noose to choke and hang their bodies from a street lamp that had been brought over. They were hung back-to-back and gagging on the intestines wrapped around and piercing their lungs. They were desperately clawing at their intestines to try and remove them, but their fingers had been cut off so their struggle was in vain. When they finally died, their heads lifelessly lolled and their dangling bodies began oscillating in the wind. On the floor, the words ¡®No-one hurts my shade¡¯, had been painted using their blood.¡±


    ¡°Allie!?¡± Enyo held up a faint and pale-faced Allie who looked as though she were about to pass out any second now.


    ¡°I feel sick,¡± Allie muttered. Her eyes were unfocused and glazing over. To her credit, she didn¡¯t hurl but, then again, this was still just a description. If she had seen the actual thing, she would inevitably have passed out. She felt dizzy, unstable, and was consistently cringing whenever her mind haphazardly wandered into visualisation mode. Despite everything, she was also incredibly proud of herself as this would be a good first step to developing mental fortitude and resilience to these types of things.


    Aejaz had instinctively moved over to try and help Allie but Enyo shot a glance in his direction that quickly quelled that particular notion.


    ¡°The corpses still need to be cleaned up. I¡¯ll wait until Allie is ok, then I¡¯ll go and collect what¡¯s left of the bodies,¡± Enyo spoke as she patted Allie on the head.


    ¡°No need, we¡¯ll deal with this,¡± Rud¡¯s voice came from behind them.

 Chapter 23: Non-Standard Approach

    Slick put his hands on his waist and shook his head. ¡°Tsk, that punk has really gone and done it this time.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll make sure to deal with him.¡± Rud was clearly holding back pent-up anger.


    ¡°You should speak with Yulo first. Don¡¯t be rash, Rud,¡± Zhang solemnly reminded Rud not to get ahead of himself.


    ¡°That kid seriously thinks he can get away with literal murder. He thinks he can do this and just go home? Pretend nothing important happened?¡± Rud was progressively making himself madder the more he spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that from his point of view, this really wasn¡¯t anything major though. You and him aren¡¯t going to see eye to eye on this,¡± Slick mentioned.


    ¡°So what? Who cares if we see eye to eye, I¡¯m the Elder here! He seems to have forgotten who¡¯s in charge. He¡¯ll face punishment one way or another. I¡¯ve turned a blind eye for too long. He won¡¯t get away with such blatant disrespect anymore.¡±


    ¡°Will he really not though?¡± Zhang spoke calmly.


    ¡°What do you mean? Of course he won¡¯t get away with this.¡±


    ¡°I think you aren¡¯t rationalising the situation, Rud. Just go speak to Yulo. He gets the final decision anyway, but I can tell you aren¡¯t going to like what you¡¯re going to hear.¡± Zhang started walking to Allie.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think Yulo¡¯s going to let this slide, do you?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think Yulo is the kind of person to take a dead asshole¡¯s side, do you?¡± Slick called out as he descended into the pit to store the corpses in a spatial ring.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point, damn it. We have rules here. I don¡¯t care how much he¡¯s worth to the sect. Why is he allowed to break those rules and remain unpunished time and time again?¡± Rud didn¡¯t wait for an answer as he stormed off to go find Yulo.


    Zhang simply sighed and turned to Allie to make sure she was doing fine. ¡°I think you¡¯ve had enough fun for one night. Let¡¯s get you home so you can rest, ok?¡±


    ¡°Ok,¡± Allie uttered in a tired voice.


    ¡°Wait, what about the mission tomorrow? Are we still going?¡± Enyo asked.


    ¡°Yes, you are. Allie still has the competition to enter after, and it¡¯s not like she just experienced this for the fun of it. Not going on the mission would be counterproductive to Allie¡¯s growth.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but you can¡¯t seriously still recommend in good faith that we let Ares come along.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I can and I will. Do you think this makes him a bad person?¡± Zhang gestured to the pit. ¡°I actually think this makes him an exemplary cultivator. Perhaps you should try understanding his point of view, it¡¯s not as simplistic as you might think. To me, he¡¯s not some psychotic murderer, but rather an incredibly honest individual. He won¡¯t snap and try to kill you, if that¡¯s what concerns you. As far as I can tell, he understands the cultivation world better than all three of you combined. You should learn his perspective before you judge his actions. Of course, he¡¯s still incredibly valuable as a bodyguard too. Even if you weren¡¯t going along with him, I still would have bought you at least one hundred shock beads. If you have the real deal with you, then that just reassures me even more.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable. Fine, but I¡¯ll be keeping a close eye on him. I won¡¯t be so lenient as to allow his misgivings, and I will promptly put him in his place if he steps out of line.¡±


    Aejaz snorted and held back a laugh at the thought of Enyo trying to kill Ares. Was she blind? Did that explosion earlier not clue her in to the fact that she would probably lose miserably? Ares could literally run circles around her, or just about anyone really.


    ¡°Well, you lot can sort yourselves out. Get some sleep.¡± Zhang took Allie and left.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Yulo! Get up.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Hmm? Just give me five minutes,¡± Yulo mumbled, turned in his chair, and shut his eyes again.


    ¡°No! Not five minutes, not even five seconds. Get up. Rud is here, and he¡¯s demanding to speak to you. He warned me that if I don¡¯t convince you to talk to him, my wages are going to suffer.¡± The Elder was far more afraid of Rud than Yulo.


    ¡°Tsk, fine.¡±


    ¡°He wants to talk about¡­¡±


    ¡°I know what he wants to talk about. I know everything that happens within these walls while I¡¯m awake. Let him in, and let yourself out.¡±


    The Elder left and Rud hurriedly entered, leant forward over Yulo¡¯s desk, and slammed both hands down. ¡°YULO!¡±


    ¡°Could you keep it down? The whole yelling thing is really not necessary you know?¡±


    ¡°Yulo, Ares can¡¯t be allowed to¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to stop you right there because, actually, yes, he can. Rules don¡¯t, and never will, apply to a person like that.¡±


    ¡°But he¡­¡±


    ¡°Killed two disciples? So? Fen was an asshole that our sect was already on bad terms with thanks to Ares'' very existence. As for the other one, I didn¡¯t even know his name, he couldn¡¯t have been that important.¡±


    ¡°Ares is¡­¡±


    ¡°More important than both of them combined? I know that¡¯s not going to be where you were going with that, but it¡¯s the only relevant piece of information. For what it¡¯s worth, they attacked him first. Ares doesn¡¯t seem the type to wantonly murder people. This won¡¯t be a common occurrence and, therefore, is not an issue. Could you imagine how much worse things would be if they had killed him? Our plan would be ruined. Personally, I prefer it this way. Not that Slick or I would¡¯ve let it go down any other route.¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    ¡°Above punishment?¡± Yulo rolled his eyes as using his soothsayer magic only ever left him feeling more tired. ¡°I already told you; rules don¡¯t apply to him. What really bothers you is that you keep feeling disrespected by him at every turn. What you really want is just to put him in his place, but you have to understand he¡¯s basically in charge now. What makes you think he should have to respect you? Because you¡¯re an Elder? Age means nothing in this world of ours otherwise I wouldn¡¯t be in this position. Strength is imperative and while yes, you may be stronger than him in a fight, what he represents, and will inevitably become in the future, outclasses all of us by a large margin. He holds far more power than you or I do. We actually have to bend to his whim, not the other way around. If you tried to force the issue of punishing him, do you not think he has the means to keep us in check? What if he left the sect and went to another that we happen to be on bad terms with? Our sect would be wiped off the face of the planet by those Shock Beads in due time, all because we annoyed one person. He has every right to be as arrogant as he is. I know that bothers you but, realistically, there¡¯s nothing anyone can do about it.¡±


    Rud was seething with rage. ¡°So what? You¡¯re saying we should just¡­¡±


    ¡°Kiss his ass? No. I don¡¯t think he would want that anyway. Just don¡¯t try to punish him for something as ridiculous as this. He¡¯s far more important than those two that died. He was attacked first and, in the cultivation world, strength is key. Outside of these walls, no one would bat an eye at this. Two nobodies pissing off an individual they clearly shouldn¡¯t have messed with and for no good reason on top of it all? That only ever ends one way in the cultivation world. I still think the ideals of this sect are somewhat outdated and, while I don¡¯t think we need to completely amend them all, that specific part bothers me. It reminds me of Allie, and Allie isn¡¯t the only one of her kind. The kind of person that doesn¡¯t understand the cultivation world. Enyo, Appa, thousands of clueless disciples, all because they¡¯re babied within these walls. People don¡¯t always get along, and people certainly don¡¯t always follow the rules. People have murdered for far stupider reasons than Ares, countless times; and yet the only thing that matters is strength. Ares just happens to be really damn strong, so he''s simply throwing his weight around like anyone else in the cultivation world would, but you think it¡¯s wrong because he¡¯s the one doing it and you can¡¯t make him stop? The key thing is that he only does it to people who act with ill intent towards him first. That and that alone is enough for me to ignore pretty much whatever he does and just let him take the reins. I certainly wouldn¡¯t have acted any differently from him and yet here I am, the leader of the sect.¡± Yulo spread his arms wide.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Rud wasn¡¯t even interrupted this time, he simply had nothing to say in response to Yulo¡¯s assessment of the situation.


    ¡°No ifs, no buts. My decision is final and the warm embrace of sleep is calling to me. Lighten up a little and just enjoy the fireworks. Goodnight Rud.¡± Yulo swivelled his chair around and started drifting off into the land of dreams.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Are you still mad?¡± Appa asked in a low voice as it snuggled with Ares.


    ¡°No, and I wasn¡¯t mad at you to begin with. I was mad at those two idiots, so I took my anger out on them, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°Are you annoyed?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Appa shifted slightly.


    ¡°Are you upset?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Appa? Be honest with me.¡±


    ¡°A bit.¡±


    ¡°Is it because I got mad? It only happened because I care. I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t ever do it again, but I¡¯ll try to tone it down from now on.¡±


    ¡°Not that.¡± Appa shook its head.


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t let me look.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Guess you want to be a cultivator as well. You''re right, I shouldn¡¯t have tried to keep it from you. Trying to shield you from that was a gut instinct, it felt right at the time. Even still, if you aren¡¯t used to dead people, it would be better not to have something like that be your first experience. I apologise, but I stand by my decision.¡±


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Appa gently bopped Ares on the head with its rope. ¡°Meanie. I¡¯m not a human, remember? Seeing a dead human for me is like seeing roadkill for you. It wouldn¡¯t have been that bad.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Ares gently booped Appa¡¯s head back. ¡°Then maybe I should find a shade¡¯s corpse and show you that instead?¡± Ares and Appa looked at each other before chuckling a little. ¡°Goodnight, Appa.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight¡­ Dad.¡± Appa snickered a little. It really liked the word ¡®dad¡¯.


    Later, after Ares and Appa had both fallen asleep, Aejaz returned. He poked his head into Ares'' room as he was a tad worried about Appa. The blood warning in the pit mentioned Appa had been hurt, so he wanted to make sure it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Sure enough, he saw Appa basically unharmed and sighed to himself. That small sigh was enough to wake Ares and put him on full alert. Despite the darkness of the room, Ares¡¯ eyes practically shone and were clearly visible. It was like the eyes of a hunter stalking prey. Ares calmed down when he realised it was just Aejaz, and he went back to sleep. If Aejaz wasn¡¯t familiar with this behaviour and that deathly stare, he might have been too terrified to even sleep properly. Fortunately, or perhaps, unfortunately, he had seen this a number of times before, so he wasn¡¯t bothered by it and just went straight to bed to doze off.


    The rest of the night passed without incident and eventually, morning came.


    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you, Appa.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you too! Come back soon!¡± Appa had finally accepted the fact that Ares was leaving and had come to terms with it. This had taken a while, mind you. Even at the break of dawn, it had tried to stop Ares from leaving by wrapping its rope around him some time before he woke up. After many hugs, pats, and forehead kisses, Ares convinced Appa to let him go.


    Ares gave Appa one last pat and hug before heading outside to where Aejaz was already waiting for him. ¡°And here I thought I was going to have to wake you up and drag you out of bed. I¡¯d ask why you¡¯re so eager and got up so early, but I think I already know the answer.¡± Ares winked at Aejaz knowingly.


    Aejaz gave a somewhat embarrassed smile while scratching his head. ¡°That easy to see through, huh?¡± Aejaz became a little more serious as he continued, ¡°By the way, is everything alright with you? Your bloodline, I mean. It¡¯s been acting up a lot lately.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I really need to keep a better eye on it. Then again, yesterday would have happened regardless, so it was pretty much irrelevant. Didn¡¯t ruin your night, did it? If so, my bad.¡±


    ¡°Nah. It definitely ended things a little earlier but, if anything, it was actually kinda helpful.¡± Aejaz gave Ares a thumbs up. ¡°Oh, but Enyo definitely despises you.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What for?¡±


    Aejaz¡¯s jaw was slightly open as he stared blankly at Ares. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡±


    ¡°No? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve done anything to annoy her.¡± Ares tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°Unbelievable,¡± Aejaz muttered under his breath as he kept staring at his lunatic brother.


    ¡°Ohhhh, it''s the stick thing, right?¡±


    Aejaz slapped his forehead.


    ¡°Well, whatever, let¡¯s go before Appa tries to bring me back into the house.¡±


    Ares and Aejaz took off and headed to the gate where they found Allie, Enyo and Zhang waiting for them. ¡°You''re late.¡± Enyo was not pleased.


    ¡°It¡¯s only a minute past the time we agreed on though.¡± Aejaz was stunned that Enyo was this strict.


    ¡°Still late.¡±


    ¡°Fashionably,¡± Ares chimed in. ¡°Besides, Appa was being rather clingy, and I wasn¡¯t going to leave until it was settled down.¡±


    ¡°How is Appa by the way?¡± Zhang asked.


    ¡°Fine, why do you ask?¡± Ares had completely forgotten about the blood warning he left yesterday.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t Appa hurt?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, right. Yeah, but it was just a small scuff.¡±


    ¡°... You killed over a scuff?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± Ares was confused why he was being asked a question that had such an obvious answer.


    ¡°Ok, I guess I¡¯ve seen worse.¡± Zhang just shook his head. ¡°Anyway, can you keep an eye out on Allie during the mission and make sure she stays safe? Enyo is already guarding her but the more the merrier.¡±


    ¡°Sure¡­¡±


    ¡°That will NOT be necessary,¡± Enyo interrupted.


    Ares rolled his eyes. ¡°Neither is rudely interrupting, and yet here you are.¡±


    Enyo curled her fist into a ball and looked ready to start a fight.


    ¡°Ok, enough you two. Play nice.¡± Now Zhang was rolling his eyes too. ¡°Allie, stay safe. I''ll see you on the way to Venti City in two weeks, ok?¡± Zhang had a similar doting feel with Allie to what Ares had with Appa.


    ¡°Mhm, ok,¡± Allie was quiet and visibly uncomfortable.


    The four set off and headed out of Red Sun City to travel west. As they were leaving the city, Allie broke her silence and plucked up the courage to ask Ares a few questions. ¡°Did you really kill them just because of Appa?¡± she questioned nervously.


    ¡°I had no other reason to do it. Sure, I had issues with Fen to begin with, but I probably would have just ignored him if he hadn¡¯t been an idiot. Also, what do you mean ¡®just¡¯ because of Appa? That¡¯s a pretty big reason in and of itself, no? If someone hurts a loved one, that¡¯s more than enough of a reason to fight back.¡±


    ¡°Loved one?¡± Aejaz joined in. ¡°Can you really call Appa a loved one? You¡¯ve barely known it for that long.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know this but, after you left yesterday, Appa asked me to adopt it and take on the role of its father figure. I agreed and, therefore, Appa is a loved one.¡±


    ¡°Uh, ok, but you¡¯ve still not known it for that long, even if you are now Appa¡¯s father.¡±


    ¡°When a mother gives birth, do they pick up their new-born and refuse to love it unconditionally because they haven¡¯t even known it for a day yet?¡±


    ¡°Uh, no. I guess not?¡± Aejaz was stumped on how to respond.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying it doesn¡¯t feel weird, or that it isn¡¯t strange in general. I acknowledge it¡¯s a little unnatural but, hopefully, it will start to feel normal the more I familiarise myself with this whole situation. The only way to do that is to just embrace both the madness and the cute shade. But yeah, no, if someone attacks my daughter, I¡¯m going to kill them. Is that a satisfactory response, Allie?¡±


    ¡°I guess. Sis¡¯ says killing people is wrong though.¡± Allie seemed to ease up a bit.


    Ares sighed, and rather loudly at that too. ¡°There is no objective right or wrong. Everyone has their own moral compass; I was just acting in accordance with mine. That being said¡­¡± Ares intentionally raised the volume of his voice a little to make sure Enyo could hear him, ¡°... Your sister¡¯s idealistic world, run by rules and laws, will never, and can never, be enforced in the cultivation world.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, subtle,¡± Enyo shook her head and didn¡¯t even turn around to respond properly.


    ¡°I do try. On a side note, I¡¯m curious, if you so blatantly think my approach was wrong, then what would you have done?¡±


    ¡°Arrest them and send them to Rud for punishment. It is Rud¡¯s duty to enforce rules and levy discipline, not the disciples.¡±


    ¡°Why not the disciples? Can they not be allowed to make a judgement call themselves?¡±


    ¡°No, they are not in charge.¡±


    ¡°And why not?¡±


    ¡°Because Rud is the Elder.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because... He¡¯s stronger than the rest of us.¡± Enyo could tell where this was going and didn¡¯t particularly want to respond to that last question.


    ¡°Ha, gotcha. The cultivation world doesn¡¯t follow the same laws that exist for those that don¡¯t cultivate. For us, they¡¯re more like guidelines. Who really decides what¡¯s right and wrong are the people with the strength to do so. I was stronger than those two idiots and I decided they should die for their idiocy. Rud doesn¡¯t carry the same prospects that I do so, actually, that decision was more mine to make than his. I mean, that incident didn¡¯t even involve Rud to begin with.¡±


    ¡°What are we without rules? I would prefer to remain civilised than resort to savagery and violence.¡±


    ¡°What are we with rules? If I told you to go and kill a random person right now, you wouldn¡¯t do it, would you?¡±


    ¡°No, but I don¡¯t see your point?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference between my request and your rules?¡±


    ¡°Rules must be followed.¡±


    Ares sighed again. ¡°I¡¯m sure the person who invented whichever rules you follow would be happy to hear that, but do you even know who invented those rules? What¡¯s the difference between that random person asking you to obey him and me asking you to do something? If anything, I¡¯m not being half as annoying about it. By not classifying it as a rule, I¡¯m at least giving you a choice. Rules may sound like a fancy construct but, at the end of the day, that construct was invented by a person that is fundamentally no different from you or I. Why should that person¡¯s opinion become law while mine is dismissed?¡±


    ¡°Laws are created for the common good. If people were duty bound and actually obeyed the law, the world would run far more smoothly than it does now.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily disagree, but that¡¯s a pretty massive ¡®if¡¯, isn¡¯t it? In the world of cultivation, people throw their wealth and status around and use it as an excuse to kill people they don¡¯t like purely because they don¡¯t like them, and they get away with it too. We¡¯re in this situation because people have ignored the rules, yes, but the only way to fix it is, ironically, by ignoring the rules. Rules just become handicaps when other people are ignoring them and you aren¡¯t. Trying to do the right thing to fix someone or something that is doing the wrong thing won¡¯t get you anywhere. For instance, if I had chosen to keep those two alive yesterday, I wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable leaving Appa behind today as I would worry they would retaliate against it in my absence. I¡¯d just be giving myself more trouble now and in the future. It¡¯s not like that act of benevolence would set those two straight, either. Why should I be so lenient to a person who would happily try to murder me or people I care for, each and every single day, when I can just kill him with no repercussions and be done with it?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re perpetuating a vicious cycle. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly my point! Don¡¯t aim for the eye, aim for the heart. They can¡¯t retaliate if they¡¯re dead.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m not some crazy, psychotic murderer. I¡¯m not going around picking fights just because I¡¯m stronger than people. I¡¯m just here to cultivate and protect the people I care about, anyone that gets in the way of that for whatever reason is an issue that needs to be dealt with. The law is not a reliable enough method of dealing with those issues. Obviously I hope nothing ever happens to Allie, but if something did happen, could you genuinely say you wouldn¡¯t want to kill whoever was responsible?¡±


    ¡°Life and death are not for me to decide.¡±


    Ares shook his head. ¡°Nope, wrong answer. You have more freedom to do as you please than you¡¯re aware of. If you honestly wouldn¡¯t do anything, then I actually pity Allie. If Aejaz didn¡¯t avenge me after I was wronged, I would be absolutely furious with him. So much so that I would, at the very least, haunt him until the day he dies.¡±


    Aejaz nervously laughed off the side.


    ¡°I thought you said there were no right or wrong answers?¡±


    ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t agree with that? But yeah, no, I think in this case, although you may not be wrong, you definitely aren¡¯t right to care as little as you do.¡±


    ¡°What makes you think I don¡¯t care?¡±


    ¡°You just said you would do the exact same thing that you would do to any other criminal. That implies their crime isn¡¯t any worse than any other. That implies Allie would just be another victim, no different to any other stranger. Or am I missing something?¡±


    ¡°Who are you to decide if I¡¯m right or wrong?¡±


    ¡°So, you do agree? Who is anyone to decide what¡¯s right or wrong? Should random people we¡¯ve never even met really be in charge of rules and laws that bind us?¡±


    ¡°I guess? Fine, I agree, but only with that.¡±


    ¡°Nope, if you agree with that, then you fundamentally disagree with rules too. The two are not mutually exclusive, they¡¯re basically conjoined at the hip. This may be a personal question, so you don¡¯t have to answer if it is, but who taught you this way of life? Don¡¯t be mistaken and stare at me under your helmet like you¡¯re invariably doing right now, I¡¯m not condemning them, I¡¯m simply curious.¡±


    ¡°How do you know I was raised in that manner?¡±


    ¡°Because you aren¡¯t even sure of your own position. This isn¡¯t something you¡¯ve thought through. You have the ideals, but not the reasoning behind them. It¡¯s something you''re doing because it¡¯s all you¡¯ve ever been taught to do, follow rules.¡±


    ¡°What would you know?¡± That last comment had ticked Enyo off big time. ¡°My family has, and always has had, a responsibility. Countless generations have dedicated themselves to the same task for the sake of peace for years on end. What would you know of responsibilities?¡±


    ¡°My responsibilities are things that I myself have chosen, that alone means they have more weight than the responsibilities you¡¯ve had forced upon you by someone else. I have a reason for everything I do. It¡¯s not wrong to care more about the things that actually matter to you. And yes, actually, I do have a few responsibilities. Making sure no member of my family is hurt is one, and I promise you that single responsibility means more to me than whatever responsibility you think it is you have means to you. You are not obligated to become a slave to your family''s wishes. Actually, Aejaz and I know that all too well.¡±


    ¡°I spent my formative years in training. I was less a daughter to my father than simply another tool for carrying out the job our ancestors had left us. Generation after generation of tools. I was sent away from my home to work on my responsibility by someone I didn¡¯t even know. My own father didn¡¯t even see me off and I haven¡¯t spoken with my parents in years. Although I can go back, I¡¯m not welcome back until my job is done. Do you seriously think my responsibilities are a joke? That they¡¯re something I can just abandon and go start some make-believe family?¡±


    ¡°Yes, if you wanted to. What does that task even mean to you if you were never told the reason you¡¯re doing it? Even if you know the reason, does it even have anything to do with you after all these centuries? Is this imaginary responsibility of yours not what caused the rift between you and your parents to begin with? Also, ¡®tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all¡¯. Do you know how lucky you are to even have parents? Why do you think Appa wanted me to be its dad? Why do you think Aejaz and I were homeless for most of our lives? Why do you think we¡¯ve given up on our respective families and made one of our own? It¡¯s because we, unlike you, have decided what is and isn¡¯t important.¡±


    ¡°Um, please don¡¯t fight.¡± Allie was starting to get a little anxious as she wasn¡¯t used to seeing people argue.


    Ares raised his hands up to signal he was sorry and wasn¡¯t going to pursue the matter any further.


    Enyo didn¡¯t respond.


    Everyone kept walking further and further away from the city until they eventually reached a path leading into a forest. They decided to stop for a while as Allie was getting hungry and wanted to eat something. As Allie was looking for somewhere to sit, ideally a place that wasn¡¯t too muddy, Aejaz pulled Ares off to the side where he could talk privately. ¡°What on earth was that!?¡± Aejaz was wildly gripping Ares shoulders and rocking him back and forth.


    ¡°Hm? What do you mean?¡± Ares just let Aejaz keep rocking him.


    ¡°No, I refuse to believe your obliviousness could be this extreme. Why on earth are you arguing with Enyo? Are you trying to make her hate you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, hahaha. Aejaz, you¡¯ve still a lot to learn. Trust me on this one, I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t think you do.¡±


    ¡°Ok, listen.¡± Ares clicked his tongue as though he was about to explain something incredibly obvious. ¡°What kind of person is Enyo exactly? She¡¯s incredibly prideful and, although I wouldn¡¯t necessarily call her stubborn, there¡¯s certainly traces of it, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Do you honestly think she would respect someone who just agrees with her to get in her good books? That argument was perhaps the most she¡¯s ever spoken in the last month. Long discussions like that are a good thing. Then again, that¡¯s not the main point anyway. The real important detail here is that she has daddy issues. And I guess maybe mommy issues too, but that¡¯s not the part that¡¯s relevant here. She is literally throwing away her entire sense of self to become the person her father wants her to be so she can please him. It¡¯s pretty evident her father is even more uptight and strict, especially when it comes to enforcing beliefs, than Enyo is.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So just be like her father, but a more caring, emotive, expressive version, of course.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t really look like you cared¡­ At all.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m going to go and apologise. I guarantee you her father¡¯s never done that before... Wow¡­ That¡¯s a lot sadder when you say it out loud, huh?¡±


    ¡°I refuse to believe this dumb-ass strategy will work.¡±


    ¡°Do you honestly think a normal approach would work on a woman like Enyo?¡±


    ¡°Ok, maybe not, but this can¡¯t be right either. I¡¯ve never seen someone intentionally annoy someone just so they can apologise to them. Have you seriously not considered, oh, I dunno, just talking to her normally? Being nice? Being honest?¡±


    ¡°God no, that just sounds complicated.¡±

 Chapter 24: Squabbling

    Enyo had just finished setting up some logs as makeshift benches and was on her way to fetch Allie who was sitting by a nearby lake.


    ¡°Yo.¡±


    ¡°... What are you doing?¡± Enyo¡¯s head slightly tilted at this unexpected encounter.


    Ares had leant backward off a tree branch and was hanging upside down in front of Enyo¡¯s path. Ares fell further back and let himself flip upright, landing standing on the floor. ¡°I was looking for you, actually.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to keep pestering me, are you?¡±


    ¡°Depends on what your stance is on apologies.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re apologising?¡±


    ¡°Yes, truly a rare occasion I know, but here we are. I¡¯m sorry for earlier. I can be quite opinionated, as I¡¯m sure you can tell. The only reason I got so into it was because, as someone in a very similar situation to you, I felt like I kinda understood your problem. I was just trying to relay to you what worked for me in the hopes that maybe you could glean something useful from it. Now that I think about it though, different people will always have preferences for the way they go about things, and my way and or experiences may not be applicable to you. So again, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°The only thing that bothers me is that you keep saying you understand. I thought you said that you, Appa, and Aejaz didn¡¯t have a family? How can you understand something that has never happened to you.¡±


    ¡°Ah, all of our situations are a little different. I won¡¯t speak on behalf of Aejaz, as it¡¯s really not my place to, and damned shades never have parents so Appa is a fairly standard case. My situation is a bit more complicated though. Long story short, my entire clan screwed up somehow. In order to rectify whatever their problem is, my parents essentially abandoned me the day I was born and told me to come back stronger so I could sort out their problem for them. I don¡¯t even really care about whatever it is they want me to fix, but I do want to at least meet them at some point. You may be right though, maybe I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to want to please parents. Maybe I would be exactly like you had I ever actually interacted with them. But the idea of responsibilities that are thrust upon you is something I¡¯m definitely familiar with. For me, putting that responsibility in the back of my mind and only caring about it when, and if, I choose to has worked wonders for me. If my life and free-will never concerned my parents, then their wishes will likely never concern me.¡±


    ¡°I suppose I should apologise too. I made an assumption and I shouldn¡¯t have. I still don¡¯t agree with you, but there¡¯s no reason we can¡¯t agree to disagree.¡±


    ¡°Soooo, we¡¯re good?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Besides, Allie is the type to get upset if the people around her constantly bicker and argue. It¡¯s better to sort this out and just be done with it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the way, there¡¯s no need to go get Allie. I think Aejaz has already gone over to fetch her.¡± Ares had waited patiently for a moment like this when Enyo and Allie were split up so Aejaz could have some alone time with Allie.


    ¡°He has, has he? It¡¯s not really any of my business, but you''re quite the wingman, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°No comment.¡±


    ¡°No comment is still a comment.¡±


    ¡°So anyway, the weather is really nice today, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ares started whistling and looking around aimlessly.


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡±


    ¡°So will I.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. You win. You¡¯re not going to intervene though, are you?¡±


    ¡°And if I were?¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯d have a fight on our hands.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be crazy enough to fight someone at mental accumulation, 3rd stage while only being 4th realm, 2nd stage just to let your brother flirt?¡±


    Ares had benefited from his explosive outburst yesterday, thanks to dedication cultivation, and had increased his stage by one.


    As for Enyo¡¯s cultivation, although it was higher than even Aejaz, that was because she was 19 years old. A whole extra year or two is worth a lot in the cultivation world.


    ¡°You¡¯d be crazy enough to fight me, of all people, just to stop your sister being flirted with?¡± Ares had a stare-down with the helmet in front of him.


    ¡°I get the feeling you can¡¯t replicate that massive explosion from yesterday. I don¡¯t fear you.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s no real reason to. I¡¯m not particularly fond of the people around me fearing me for any reason really, but you should definitely consider showing some more respect if you think you¡¯d just walk all over me.¡±


    ¡°There are very few people I respect. Not even Allie has that honour. You, definitely, are not on that list.¡±


    Something about the idea of Enyo¡¯s respect being an honour Ares ¡®definitely¡¯ didn¡¯t deserve sent his bloodline into overdrive. He ran annihilation magic through his blood and the runic patterns on his wings lit up gold. His entire carefree and easy-going demeanour flipped instantaneously and a heavy, overbearing pressure filled the forest. ¡°If you want to throw around the term, ¡®honour¡¯...¡± Ares Shifted in front of Enyo, who was caught off guard, as it was a movement art she had never seen before, and used a single finger to push her back until she fell onto one of the log benches. ¡°... Then you should first be made aware that it is your greatest honour to even be in my presence, let alone have me speak to you as though you were an equal.¡± Ares stared down at Enyo with a condescending gaze.


    Enyo was stunned. This was a drastic change to say the least. This must have been the bloodline Aejaz had mentioned. She¡¯d never felt this feeling from anyone other than her father when he was in a foul mood. She absolutely hated it, being made to feel as though she were as insignificant as an ant. It was through these repeated scolding sessions as a young child that she had become so prideful and rigid, constantly out to prove herself and live up to her overbearing father¡¯s expectations.


    And then most of the pressure simply vanished.


    ¡°Ah, there I go again. My bloodline has been really unruly lately. I would apologise, but that technically wasn¡¯t my fault, and you¡¯ve already gotten one apology out of me today anyway. Besides, I blame you for being so blatantly disrespectful when you really are in no position to do so. I would have understood if you had said I wasn¡¯t on the list, and just left it at that, but ¡®definitely¡¯? That¡¯s one emphasised word too many for my liking.¡±


    ¡°What the hell happened here? Why are you two arguing again? Can you seriously not be left alone for five minutes?¡± Aejaz had just come through a clearing with Allie in time to catch the last couple of seconds of the ¡®discussion¡¯ that Ares and Enyo were having. Aejaz was surprised though as it seemed that this time, it was Ares that had gotten annoyed. It didn¡¯t take him long to come to the conclusion that, given how ridiculously prideful those two were, Ares'' bloodline had likely gotten involved and things had gone south because of it.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Ares let out a short reply that very clearly passed along the message that Aejaz should watch his tone.


    ¡°So anyway, the weather is really nice today, isn¡¯t it?¡± Aejaz laughed nervously.


    The lingering pressure finally disappeared in its entirety as Ares lightly chuckled to himself.


    ¡°Is something funny?¡± Aejaz didn¡¯t understand why Ares was suddenly having a good time.


    ¡°I guess so. Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s all my fault and move on. The food is ready, so help yourself. Sorry if it¡¯s not to your taste,¡± Ares tried to dismiss the earlier bad mood and transition into lunch.


    As for the food, Ares had made it himself. He was actually surprisingly accomplished as a chef thanks to all the meals he had made for Aejaz whenever he did well in his training. It was basically the carrot and the stick treatment, but it worked as Ares'' food was like honeyed nectar to Aejaz. He was quite proud of his ability to cook. In fact, if he had truly dedicated himself to cooking, he probably could have lived a life as a professional magic chef under the employ of the rich and powerful. Naturally, Ares would much rather be the rich and powerful himself, so it was more of a hobby than anything.


    Ares had bought some venison and some blackberries to make an accompanying sauce. He wasn¡¯t going to be able to afford to cook like this every day as he hadn¡¯t earned that much from his Shock Rock sales yet, and he spent almost all of his stardust on the substitution talismans, but he figured day one would be a good day to show off a bit and help break the ice. Of course, he couldn¡¯t have predicted the repeated arguments he¡¯d gotten himself into that had somewhat soured the mood but, oh well, at least the food would be good.


    He also heard from Aejaz that Allie had a particularly sweet tooth and liked something called ¡®cotton candy¡¯, so he did a bit of digging around before he left the city and found a recipe to make it. Now that he was observing from the side, though, he realised that actually Aejaz was beyond excited, if not even more so than Allie. Conned. Absolutely conned! He should have just directly asked Allie herself what she wanted but, hey, she definitely seemed happy to have the cotton candy too, just not as happy as Aejaz.


    As for how he cooked everything, Ares had gotten really fond of cooking the few times he did it as a slave for the Chen clan. When he went to live in the streets with Aejaz, he progressively stole and stored everything you would expect to find in a typical kitchen inside the Primordial Blade. He could pretty effortlessly move things around and cook without having to actually go inside the sword, so he could do it as something of a background task while he focused on other things. It really was quite relaxing and cathartic for him.


    ¡°Mmmm, itsh sho good!¡± Allie was stuffing her cheeks like a squirrel and seemed to really enjoy the meal.


    Ares had figured she would. He¡¯d intentionally done everything he could to make the venison less gamey and have the more pronounced flavour be the berries to suit her sweet tooth.


    Aejaz was silently and happily munching away. Ares didn¡¯t have to look over and check to see if Aejaz would like it as he already knew from years of experience that Aejaz loved pretty much anything he cooked for him.


    The only one not eating was Enyo.


    Ares wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she was still hung up about earlier, or because she didn¡¯t want to take the helmet off. Either way, the reason technically involved him, so he decided to at least take some responsibility. ¡°Hey, ¡®Jaz?¡± Ares waited for Aejaz to finish chowing down at the speed of light.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Can you come with me for a while?¡±


    ¡°Sure, lemme just have some cotton candy first.¡±


    ¡°I have some more on me, come.¡± Ares tilted his head and nodded off to the side. ¡°Oh, and here¡¯s some blackberry jam, you can have it with the cotton candy.¡± Ares brought out a small pot, seemingly out of nowhere, and put it down in front of Allie whose eyes widened with glee.


    Ares dragged Aejaz off, by the scruff of his collar, deeper into the forest. ¡°I suppose this is far enough,¡± Ares muttered. Aejaz frowned and was about to start complaining about the rising tensions so, when he opened his mouth to speak, Ares shoved some cotton candy into it to shut him up. ¡°Chew on that and listen.¡±


    Munch Munch.


    ¡±Things are fine. Not great, mind you, but fine.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t seem that way to me.¡±


    ¡°You arrived late, so yes, I¡¯m sure it looked awful.¡±


    ¡°Was it not? Looked pretty bad to me.¡±


    ¡°It started off fine, then it kinda devolved. Shouldn¡¯t be anything irreparable though. Even still, this bloodline just won¡¯t stop making my life harder than it needs to be. That being said, I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m completely in the wrong here.¡±


    ¡°You rarely do. What even happened anyway?¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just surprised he got the better of you like that.¡± Allie was shocked to hear how easily Ares had brought Enyo down.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Tsk, don¡¯t remind me. I let my guard down because of his awful cultivation base. I¡¯m furious. If he ever tries that again, I¡¯m going to break his fingers.¡±


    Allie blinked a few times while staring at Enyo. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you get this mad before, are you ok sis?¡±


    ¡°No. He¡¯s so God damn annoying, and I¡¯m not even sure I know why. I also can¡¯t stand the fact that, for a brief moment, he reminded me of my father.¡±


    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why you think he¡¯s so annoying? But you know what that being a bad thing means, right?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to answer that.¡±


    ¡°¡®Cos if it¡¯s a bad thing, then that would mean everything he said earlier was right, and you resent your father for what he¡¯s made you do? That you don¡¯t actually want your responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Drop it, Allie.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you can mope all you want, but you should eat. It¡¯s really good!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to.¡±


    ¡°Is that because you don¡¯t want to take your helmet off? Or is it because he made it?¡±


    ¡°Both.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, there¡¯s no one else around. Ares left for a reason you know. When he comes back, I can just say I ate it all.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s why he left?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Actually, Aejaz told me Ares can be rather considerate sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of Aejaz, you two seem to be getting along well.¡±


    ¡°Yep! He¡¯s nice. I wish you and Ares would stop annoying each other though, it makes things awkward.¡± Allie didn¡¯t catch onto what Enyo was implying.


    ¡°Yes, well, I¡¯m trying, and he is too. Well¡­ I think he is. It can be hard to tell.¡±


    ¡°Then eat! Don¡¯t pretend you aren¡¯t hungry.¡±


    ¡°... Fine, but if it¡¯s terrible, I¡¯m spitting it out.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just let things like that go?¡± Aejaz looked exasperated. For the last couple of days, he couldn¡¯t decide if Ares was the smartest or stupidest man to ever walk the earth.


    ¡°Nope, guess not.¡±


    ¡°Why did you even bring me out here? I wanted to enjoy a nice, peaceful meal with Allie. Damn you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s awfully selfish of you, what about Enyo? She¡¯ll probably only eat if we aren¡¯t around.¡±


    ¡°... Ok, you got me there, I hadn¡¯t thought about that, but stillllllllll, good food is best enjoyed with good company. Don¡¯t take this personally, but I would much rather be eating cotton candy with Allie right now than be out here with your grumpy ass.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, I¡¯ll make you two more some other time you ungrateful schmuck. Speaking of which, care to explain why you seemed to be more enthused about the cotton candy than Allie?¡±


    ¡°So anyway, the weather is really nice today, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve taught you almost too well.¡± Ares smacked his head and shook it. Annoyingly, that little trick was actually incredibly capable of lightening the mood.


    ¡°Well, whatever, let this disastrous attempt of yours be a lesson.¡± Aejaz puffed up his chest and tried to pretend he was some kind of advice-spouting sage.


    ¡°Disastrous? You''re really underestimating how silly and strange the human mind can be. I guarantee you that, like I said earlier, this was fine. Enyo isn¡¯t brittle like Allie. An argument or two won¡¯t ruin anything permanently. Don¡¯t think that just because what I¡¯m doing is weird to you, it isn¡¯t working... I hope¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I have no fucking clue what you¡¯re doing or if it¡¯s working. For a while, I kinda felt like I understood, but now? You¡¯ve lost me. If this all somehow works out for you, then I¡¯ll prostrate myself before you and call you the wisest man under the heavens. At that point, you¡¯d deserve it.¡± Aejaz felt like banging his head against a tree. ¡°Anyway, when can we go back? It¡¯s not that I dislike our little conversation, but I¡­¡±


    ¡°Want to get back to Allie? I get it. Just give them a couple more minutes. Supposedly, absence makes the heart grow fonder... Or something.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, where did you learn all this!?¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°You know, you really don¡¯t have to wear the helmet all the time.¡±


    Enyo was finishing off the last of the food and putting her helmet back on. ¡°I want to.¡±


    ¡°You''re prettier than you give yourself credit for.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the problem. I don¡¯t want to be some pretty doll like you. You have that covered. I¡¯m a different kind of person.¡±


    ¡°Still annoyed?¡±


    ¡°... Yes. Why was the food so damn good? It just reminds me of that stupid idiot.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I told you it was good. I wonder if he has any more.¡±


    ¡°They should be back soon, you can ask him yourself.¡±


    ¡°And you?¡±


    Before Enyo could respond, the two heard rustling from the direction Ares and Aejaz had left from earlier. The two had returned.


    ¡°Welcome back, brute,¡± Enyo used her intimidating voice from when she had tried to arrest Aejaz.


    ¡°Hm? Hahaha, it¡¯s good to be back, tin can. Ready for round, uh, what is it now? Three? Four?¡± Ares was completely unfazed. It¡¯s not that Enyo¡¯s presence wasn¡¯t impressive, but that pressure and all things alike were basically non-existent to Ares. He felt no intimidation whatsoever. If anything, it was actually kind of a cute attempt.


    ¡°Utterly detestable. Don¡¯t think being a decent cook means you''re a decent human being.¡±


    ¡°You actually admitted to eating the food? I was expecting Allie to say she ate it all. Truly commendable. I respect that, although not that you would care about whether someone as worthless as me respects you or not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m proud enough that admitting something as trivial as that won¡¯t dent my pride.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear a lecture about pride from a coward who hides behind a helmet.¡±


    ¡°Wretch.¡±


    ¡°Stubborn mule.¡±


    ¡°Vile demon.¡±


    ¡°Brick wall.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Aejaz had, at some point, snuck over to Allie¡¯s side. ¡°I can¡¯t be the only one that has no clue what¡¯s happening, right?¡± he whispered to Allie.


    ¡°Hehe, nope. I¡¯m lost too! But, you know, it almost kinda looks like they¡¯re having fun.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be damned, you might just be right.¡± Aejaz was truly awed at how Ares had somehow managed to get this nonsensical idea of his this far.


    ¡°Phew, I don¡¯t know about you, but I feel like I got pretty much everything out of my system.¡± Ares put both of his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner.


    ¡°Good for you. I¡¯m not done. Actually, I want to fight you.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, I would really rather not.¡±


    ¡°Oh? And you call me a coward? I happen to have a new artifact I want to try, and I''m sure bashing your head in with it would satisfy me to no end.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? I wouldn¡¯t want to hurt whatever¡­¡± Ares grinned evilly as he knew that what he was about to say would set off sparks inside Enyo¡¯s head. ¡°... Pretty little face is hiding behind that helmet of yours.¡±


    Enyo was taken aback. ¡°YOU BASTARD, WERE YOU LISTENING AND WATCHING THIS WHOLE TIME?¡±


    ¡°What? No? I specifically left so you could take your helmet off and eat in peace. What are you talking about?¡± Ares knew that a woman like Enyo would undoubtedly detest being called pretty. He knew nothing about Allie and Enyo¡¯s previous conversation.


    ¡°I AM NOT PRETTY DAMN IT.¡±


    Allie was practically gawking at this side of her sister that she had never seen before.


    ¡°Soooo, you¡¯re ugly? Look, I don¡¯t judge but, if even you yourself are saying it, then wow, it must be bad.¡±


    ¡°N, No¡­ I¡¯m not ugly.¡± Enyo wasn¡¯t happy being called pretty, but she was even less pleased at the thought of being called ugly.


    ¡°So, you are pretty?¡±


    ¡°NO.¡±


    ¡°Are you pretty ugly?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Or are you pretty pretty?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Enyo¡¯s mind was practically jumping through hurdles just to try and keep up with this unorthodox barrage of questions. ¡°ENOUGH! Just fight me already you fork-tongued hooligan.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather have a fork-tongue in my mouth than be born with a silver spoon in it like you.¡±


    Everything went dead quiet. Enyo, Allie, and Aejaz all just sat or stood respectively, silent and shocked to their cores. This level of verbal fuckery was truly astounding.


    Enyo took a deep breath. ¡°Defend yourself,¡± she voiced out calmly.


    As she spoke, she pulled out a weapon that Ares was very familiar with. Ares simply grinned again which gave Enyo an unpleasant feeling in her gut that she finally knew which ¡®talented disciple¡¯ had created this shield for her.


    ¡°Ha, nice shield.¡± Ares couldn¡¯t help but snicker a little as he tried to hold back his laughter.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t? Did you?¡±


    Pfft


    ¡°Who knows?¡±


    ¡°Ugh, on second thought, I don¡¯t want to fight anymore.¡± Enyo dejectedly sat back down with a huff.


    Allie giggled off to the side as Aejaz explained the situation to her.


    Trying to use an artifact against the person who forged it was the very definition of a dumb decision. Every good forger would leave traces of their own magic in their works for two reasons; the first was as a marking so it could be identified like a brand or insignia. The second, was that it allowed them to disassemble and reassemble it at a moment''s notice. They could also snatch it directly out of the hands of the person wielding it and use it against them, or even detonate various runes that may be on it. There was a whole slew of ways to make the forged artifact backfire. In one word, attempting to kill the creator with the created in the world of cultivation was never anything but foolish. Kind of like how Fen had tried to use a Shock Bead against Ares. In fact, Ares could have just detonated it remotely himself while it was still in Fen¡¯s hands. His magic would take priority for the detonation of all Shock Beads and they were basically a detriment to try and use against him.


    ¡°HELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP,¡± a shout rang out from deeper into the forest, catching everyone off guard.


    Ares was a little hesitant, but only because the voice didn¡¯t actually sound too distressed.


    Allie and Aejaz were a little slow on the uptake and just looked at one another, unsure of what to do. By the time they looked back, Ares and Enyo had already sped off in the direction of the unknown voice.


    Although Enyo was focused on rushing to aid the person in distress, she couldn¡¯t help but be vexed in the back of her mind by the fact that she had already lost sight of Ares who simply vanished like a blur. Thanks to that strange movement art of his, that bastard could move damn fast.


    Ares, on the other hand, didn¡¯t particularly care about who was first, he was more preoccupied with the thought that, interestingly, he recognised the voice. Not in the sense that he could instantly place the voice and who it belonged to, but that it seemed somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it once before, and only once. Of course, if someone needed help and he happened to be passing by then sure, whatever, but he was mostly heading over because it was bothering him that he was unable to ascertain the origins of that voice. Ares arrived, close to the point the scream had come from, and slowed down. Sticking to the edges of the area, he progressively crept over and found the source of the commotion. Ah, so it¡¯s you, Ares thought. How unlucky must you be to find yourself in this type of situation, again? He really did know the person, although saying he ¡®knew¡¯ her was maybe an overstatement, they had certainly met at least once though.


    Enyo caught up to him both surprisingly swiftly and surprisingly quietly. You¡¯d think someone lugging around such a massive set of armour would be slow and loud but, somehow, Enyo maintained an impressive speed and degree of stealth. When she arrived, she looked over and saw a female disciple of the Heaven¡¯s Path Sect backed up against a tree. There were two men encroaching upon her with blades in hand and obvious intentions in their pants. Enyo was about to leap across the bushes and charge head first into the thick of things when she felt a hand on her shoulder keep her in place. ¡°What are you doing!?¡± she whispered aggressively at Ares, the culprit.


    Ares rolled his eyes, he seemed to be doing that a lot today. ¡°I¡¯m waiting to enjoy a good show. What the hell do you think I¡¯m doing? Do you honestly think I would sit here and let some poor women be abused by two men in a forest like this? Ye of little faith. Have patience and wait, or, you know, charge in headfirst and pay the price for your actions. I don¡¯t care either way.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you truly are a coward. All talk, no action. Justice is not, never has been, and never will be passivity.¡±


    Ares simply gestured towards the scene playing out in front of them. ¡°Go ahead, but do try not to die. I would feel somewhat guilty if I indirectly offed you.¡±


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± Hurling one final insult, Enyo jumped over the hedges and charged forward just as the event unfolding was about to reach a climax. Contrary to what Enyo expected to happen, the distressed disciple was actually unhappy to see someone else jump into the mess she was in. In fact, she looked weirdly¡­ Guilty? It was then Enyo noticed the two men had horrified expressions and were trying to scramble away from some strange, dark gold Bead that was heading towards them. Although the two men were running away from the Bead, and thus, directly at her, she was more interested in the Bead that was also moving in her direction. She had seen it before, or at least something nearly identical. Wasn¡¯t that one of Ares¡¯ fireworks? Why did this random disciple have one? What exactly had she been expecting that firework to do? Why were the two men so afraid of it? She had many unanswered questions running through her mind all in the split second it took for her to jump out of the bush and run over. When the Bead lit up and an absurd amount of energy welled up, a few of her questions were answered on the spot. Enyo promptly realised that she was about to get hit by something non-trivial. She took out the Steadfast Aegis and immediately became incredibly agitated at the fact she was using an artifact Ares had made for her, in order to defend herself against something else Ares had made, all because she ignored Ares advice. ¡°Incorrigible scum!¡± she yelled before the sound of a violent explosion cut her off.


    BOOM


    The explosions Ares created were truly an inspirational marvel, but he himself simply ignored the minor ones as he was all too familiar with them. He was only really interested in witnessing explosions like the one he caused yesterday at his stall. Now that was true beauty. As he was waiting for the dust to settle, Aejaz and Allie arrived. He briefly explained the situation to them before making it clear that it was not him who blew up Allie¡¯s sister. He didn¡¯t think she¡¯d die from it, or even really be wounded for that matter, but he still didn¡¯t want to somehow be blamed for that woman¡¯s stubbornness and refusal to accept good advice.


    Sure enough, the dust faded and Enyo was still standing, although noticeably wobbling a teensy bit from side to side. She had the shield firmly planted in front her and it was completely unscathed.


    Ares felt like the universe had just asked him the question, ¡®If you punch yourself and it doesn¡¯t hurt, are you weak or are you strong?¡¯


    Is the shield strong, or was the Bead too weak? Oh well, at least the knucklehead was alive, if admittedly a tad disgruntled. Of course, Ares couldn¡¯t see that through the helmet, but it was fairly obvious to anyone with functioning eyes that this walking suit of armour was not in a good mood. Her yelling earlier may have also clued him in.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Enyo waved her finger at Ares while trying to keep her breathing in check. ¡°... Owe me an explanation.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I owe you anything. Hell, if anything, I should be charging you. Good advice typically never comes for free. It¡¯s not my problem if you choose to ignore it. Also, you technically owe me twice because that shield I so graciously made for you clearly just saved you from a whole world of hurt.¡± Ares had never seen someone shove a treasure into a storage ring as fast as Enyo just did. It was so fast he didn¡¯t even see it as it happened all within the timespan of a single blink.


    ¡°Ares?¡± The disciple recognised Ares and called out to make sure it was really him, after all, his Shock Rocks had helped her out of a tough situation twice now.


    ¡°Ah, it really is you. You seem to have one hell of an issue with lecherous men.¡± Ares recognised the disciple as the same first-tier that threw Shock Rocks at a fifth-tier pervert that had been harassing her, the one that Elaine had dealt with.


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t even joke about that. I was minding my own business and these two just showed up out of nowhere. I really can¡¯t thank you enough for those Rocks. I really don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without them. Ah, it never occurred to me, but you don¡¯t even know my name, right? I¡¯m Fate.¡±


    ¡°Fate, is it?¡± Ares decided not to bring up the irony of the situation.


    ¡°It is! And I know I¡¯m beating a dead horse here, but thank you!¡±


    ¡°Like I said, no need to thank me. I¡¯ll tell you what, because you seem to have horrendous luck, take this.¡± Ares tossed over a storage ring with three sacks inside it.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The disciple thought it would be rude to take everything out and start inspecting it like a kid on Christmas.


    ¡°Two sacks full of Shock Be¡­ I mean Shock Rocks. That should amount to about 200 total and should keep you safe for a good while. If you run out, just come find me for more.¡±


    ¡°R¡­ R¡­ Really!? Are you serious? I can¡¯t afford this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s free. I¡¯m supposed to be helping the sect with them anyway, and I don¡¯t want the money.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± The disciple had a few tears in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to save up enough money to get a large amount of these. I¡¯ve wanted to go visit my family, but they''re¡­ in another country. I really do have an issue with perverts, so I¡¯ve never felt comfortable leaving. Now though, I should have enough to get me there and back safely. Thank you, really, this means a lot.¡±


    ¡°No worries. Oh, and the third sack is something I¡¯ve been working on, when you come back, please let me know if they¡¯re satisfactory.¡±


    ¡°I will, but what are they?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t named ¡®em yet as I haven¡¯t consulted with my business partner, but they¡¯re defensive tools. If someone throws a magic attack at you that you can¡¯t stop, just use one of those and it should be ok. It has enough defensive properties to neutralise even a Shock Rock.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s insane!¡±


    ¡°I hope so, good luck on your trip.¡± Ares waved as the disciple started to leave. Ares then realised that there was one other important thing he had to ask her, but he whispered the question into her ear instead of asking aloud. After getting the exact answer he was expecting, he smiled and then continued to wave her off.


    ¡°Bye! Oh, and sorry knight lady.¡±


    ¡°IT¡¯S OK,¡± Ares shouted out in Enyo¡¯s stead as the disciple progressively got further away. ¡°SHE DESERVED IT ANYWAY.¡±


    Thunk


    Enyo had come up behind Ares and smacked the shield, which she had brought out again for this express purpose, against the back of his head.


    ¡°Um, ouch? That really kinda hurt you know.¡±


    ¡°It was supposed to.¡±


    Ares rolled his eyes for what he felt was the millionth time today. ¡°Fine, I suppose I should explain what those things are. Although, really, it¡¯s your fault for not knowing. Literally every other outer court disciple and Elder knows.¡±


    ¡°Shut up and speak.¡±


    ¡°What? Did that explosion rattle your brain? How would that even wor¡­¡±


    Thunk


    The shield had come out again and Ares didn¡¯t bother dodging. The trick was to let people hit him every now and then to make sure they could at least relieve some of their pent-up stress so they wouldn¡¯t go completely berserk.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to see why Rud dislikes you so much. Your roguish tongue and insufferable nature drag those around you down into a pit of idiocy where you reign supreme.¡±


    ¡°That may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Does this mean you finally recognise me as a king-like existence then?¡±


    Thunk


    ¡°That¡¯s neither what I said nor meant.¡±


    As the two were bickering back and forth, the two men groaned and woke up groggily. They had made it away from the centre of the blast zone, and were only caught on the edges, but they were still far too injured to move.


    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s fun time! It would seem, Enyo, that you and I are about to have yet another disagreement.¡± Ares laughed to himself as he entirely forgot about explaining his pillar.


    Enyo looked over at the two men and could feel a massive, Ares-induced headache coming on.

 Chapter 25: Deer Oh Dear

    ¡°So, we¡¯re all agreed we¡¯re killing these two alright? Yep? OK, good. I¡¯ll just head on over and take out my sword and kill them, no questions asked.¡± Ares whistled to himself and started to leisurely stroll over to the two men.


    ¡°Very funny. Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Enyo positioned herself in between Ares and his goal.


    ¡°You¡¯re not seriously suggesting we go all the way back into town just to have them arrested, are you?¡±


    ¡°Of course I am, and you knew I would too, so don¡¯t act so surprised.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s hardly democratic, I say we kill them.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you; the law is responsible for these people.¡±


    ¡°So, when they¡¯re eventually let free after their punishment, and they inevitably commit another crime, will the law be responsible for the people they hurt?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just assume they¡¯ll remain stuck in their ways.¡±


    ¡°Oh really? Then how about a little test? Why don¡¯t we leave Allie here alone with them and see what happens! You seem so very confident after all.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t trust Allie with anyone, that¡¯s not a fair comparison.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well neither is using you as an example ¡®cos you¡¯d just kick the shit out of them. Most women wouldn¡¯t want to be left alone with them regardless of whether they¡¯ve ¡®changed¡¯ or not. Abiding by the law here will just cause complications further down the line. The world would be a better place without these scumbags in it.¡±


    ¡°And why do you get to decide that? I¡¯m standing right here and have my own perfectly valid opinion. Why should we just do what you want?¡±


    ¡°Two reasons. First, this isn¡¯t just what I want. What do you think I asked Fate before she left? She said she would rather they be dead, not just because of what they tried to do, but because of what they will invariably keep trying to do. See? That disciple is broadminded. She¡¯s not so selfish as to jeopardise other women¡¯s safety because of her own values, unlike a certain someone. Secondly, and this is the only thing that actually matters, it¡¯s going to happen because no one can stop me. I¡¯ve told you time and time again that the strong will always decide things in the cultivation world and, on that note, even if all three of you worked together, you couldn''t stop me from murdering those two.¡±


    ¡°Are those fighting words?¡± Enyo put the shield away and hunched over into a fighting stance.


    ¡°Nope, I have no intention of fighting you.¡±


    ¡°Well, you aren¡¯t getting your way without a fight, so make your choice.¡±


    ¡°I have made my choice, I already told you they¡¯re going to die. I¡¯m just not going to fight you for no reason, it¡¯s not like I have to anyway.¡±


    Enyo didn¡¯t quite understand what he meant at first but then she immediately remembered their last, brief exchange. Ares could Shift around at speeds she couldn¡¯t match. He could just run circles around her and kill the two men without needing to fight at all. Enyo quickly altered her original idea of standing in the way of Ares and repositioned next to the two men so he couldn¡¯t get away with his little murder quite as easily.


    ¡°That¡¯s cute and all, but I¡¯m still far faster than you. This isn¡¯t a head on fight, so you can¡¯t and won¡¯t win this.¡± Ares darted over to Enyo in a zigzag fashion. The trailing Zephyr paired with the afterimages he left made it near impossible to keep track of his movements.


    Enyo was surprised he could move this fast. She had seen him use the movement art twice before, but this was the first time she had seen him running around without it. For a 4th realm early-stage cultivator to be moving this quickly was an impressive feat. Enyo decided not to waste time even trying to follow his erratic movements and instead just waited for his presence to fill the empty space in front of her. Even though Enyo was fairly fleet-footed herself, it wasn¡¯t her forte like it clearly was for Ares. Enyo felt confident that if he tried to just run past without a fight, then she could hit him before he snuck by. With the difference in cultivation, she also believed a single good hit would put him out of commission or, at the very least, severely hinder his mobility. ¡°Hmph.¡± Enyo was feeling overconfident when Ares seemingly materialised right where she had been expecting him to. ¡°Idiot.¡±


    Ares smirked. The amount of fun he had toying with people¡¯s expectations of how a fight should play out was simply immeasurable. People always seemed to think they were smart for taking the obvious countermeasure when, in reality, they weren¡¯t being reactive in the slightest. To be reactive is to be able to react to everything that¡¯s thrown at you. It¡¯s not about having a plan B; it¡¯s not about having a plan at all. It¡¯s about being able to deal with any situation as it¡¯s happening, and these same people were never prepared for anything beyond their first expectation. Of course Enyo was this kind of person. It just made too much sense for her not to be. She was no rogue! She had been trained day by day, diligently in the arts of blah blah blah. Long story short, you learn to fight by actually fighting, and Ares has done far more of that than most people. He didn¡¯t even wait to see if she was going to swing at him, he just knew she would the second he entered her immediate area. Instead of carrying on forward, he planted his furthest forward foot down and used it to spring backward. Ares had managed this in such a fluid motion that it looked as though time was reversing and that he was simply floating away. Ares'' footwork was completely incomparable and truly masterful to a frightening degree.


    Enyo realised far too late that her swing was going to go wide but, as far as she was concerned, it didn¡¯t matter. Ares was still floating backward in the air and couldn¡¯t realistically do anything. He had been forced back, and that was a win in Enyo¡¯s book. So much for that confidence of his!


    Enyo was far too engrossed in her pride to realise that Ares was reaching around to his back to grab the Zephyr. This situation looked very familiar to Aejaz who had seen Ares take off Slick¡¯s arm in this fashion. Surely, he¡¯s not going to actually injure Enyo¡­ Right?


    Thankfully, Ares wasn¡¯t that much of a fool. He aimed not to cut off her arm but instead to wrap the Zephyr around it, specifically the arm that she had just swung with as she couldn¡¯t stop the momentum of it. The Zephyr made a loop around Enyo¡¯s arm as if Ares had thrown a lasso. It reached its max distance and became taught. Ares pulled hard on the Zephyr to pull himself over and Enyo¡¯s swinging arm was now effectively reeling Ares back as well. Ares was once again in Enyo¡¯s comfort zone but, this time, Enyo¡¯s arm was preoccupied and there was no way to stop Ares who had just slid around her.


    Enyo didn¡¯t even bother to turn around. It was fairly obvious the two men would already be dead so why bother gazing upon the proof of her loss? Normally Enyo would be furious, but now? Now she was trying to hold her anger back because it would just seem petty. She was actually more annoyed at having been beaten in this little game of cat and mouse than she was about the deaths of the two men, and she refused to admit it. If it were anyone but him, she would be reprimanding their ears off right now, but she could just imagine that annoying bastard''s smug face, and she simply didn¡¯t want to have to put up with that.


    Allie let out a small, shrill shriek as she witnessed death for the first time. It wasn¡¯t as bad as whatever had happened back in the Sect would have been and, therefore, wasn¡¯t as bad as she was expecting, but it was still an ugly sight.


    Blood sprayed, heads rolled, and the sound of Ares sliding his sword back into its sheath filled the quietude of what once was a peaceful forest. Ares covered the bodies and made a mound of dirt that blended in quite nicely with the surroundings. Those two bodies would never be found but, even if they were, no one would care.


    ¡°You ok, Allie?¡± Aejaz decided to check up on Allie and see how she was doing.


    ¡°Um, I think so,¡± Allie replied somewhat nervously and half-heartedly.


    ¡°It gets easier, I promise.¡± Aejaz was trying to soothe her nerves. ¡°You! Shoo, shoo!¡± Aejaz was trying to shove Ares away to give Allie some time and space.


    ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll leave for a bit. Come let me know when you''re all ready to keep moving.¡± Ares wandered back off to the log benches.


    Allie sniffled as a tear formed in her eye. ¡°Sis? I want a hug.¡± Allie moved over to Enyo, who was still just standing around aimlessly, and hid her head in Enyo¡¯s chest plate.


    Enyo hugged Allie and patted her gently on the head. ¡°There there.¡±


    Sniff


    ¡°I don''t think I want to travel with him anymore,¡± Allie¡¯s voice was somewhat muffled as she spoke into Enyo¡¯s armour.


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t either.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, I know he can be rash, but that¡¯s unnecessary, surely? I thought you said you wanted to get used to these kinds of things? They¡¯ll sure as hell happen a lot around Ares.¡± Aejaz really didn¡¯t want to split up this early.


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t want to put up with him, not only do I not blame her, but I agree fully. Ares is a menace. If Allie doesn¡¯t want to travel with him, then that¡¯s the way it shall be.¡± Enyo laid down the law. They had no real obligation to travel together anyway.


    ¡°...¡± Aejaz was at a loss for words, Ares was really causing him trouble here!


    ¡°Although, I suppose you can follow along, Allie doesn¡¯t have any issues with you as far as I know.¡± Enyo decided to throw Aejaz a bone. She also did it to try and get one over on Ares. He wouldn¡¯t be able to report back to the sect until everyone else returned so he would just be stuck doing the mission on his own. He wouldn¡¯t die or anything, but it would probably at least irk him.


    ¡°Really? You don¡¯t mind?¡± Aejaz was directing that question more towards Allie.


    Allie nodded her head in acceptance as Aejaz had been nothing but friendly so far and basically completely non-aggressive.


    Aejaz left the two alone for a while, so Allie could calm down in peace, as he went ahead to inform Ares. Aejaz really wasn¡¯t sure how he was going to break it to him, he was worried that Ares'' bloodline might make a fuss. As he walked back, he slowly realised that, actually, he had no idea how Ares would react to this at all. Would he be understanding? This was technically his fault after all, who told him to act like this? After some time, he found Ares lounging on a log bench.


    ¡°Hm? Where are the other two? Did they need a minute?¡± Ares opened one eye and closed it again after asking his question.


    ¡°Yeah but, uh, I have something to tell you.¡±


    Ares opened both of his eyes, Aejaz typically never worded anything in such a serious fashion. ¡°What?¡±


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Allie doesn¡¯t want to travel with you.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, of course she doesn¡¯t. Fine, whatever. We might have to wait for them to finish when we¡¯re done with our end of the mission, but that¡¯s fine, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Not we¡­ You.¡± Aejaz suddenly started to feel guilty and shifted his gaze to the side a little.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Ares sat up.


    ¡°They¡¯re letting me stay. Enyo said I could; after all, you¡¯re the one acting like this, not me.¡±


    ¡°Acting like what?¡± Ares didn¡¯t have any particular tone to his voice, which was worrying Aejaz.


    ¡°Come on man, you¡¯re just killing people left and right. Can you not tone it down a bit? You¡¯ve been a little much with the bloodline recently too.¡±


    ¡°HOW FUCKING DARE YOU!?¡± Ares got off the log and lunged at Aejaz, pinning him to the ground underneath him. ¡°It was one thing to show me how much of a disgusting ingrate you are and to make the decision to follow Allie around like some little pet, but to lie to my goddamn face to justify it? What do you mean ¡®just killing people¡¯? I know for a fact you don¡¯t agree with Enyo because I taught you better than that!¡± Ares raised a shaking fist but couldn¡¯t bring himself to hit Aejaz.


    ¡°Ares I¡­¡±


    ¡°BE QUIET YOU BASTARD. Why do you think I¡¯m even here!? IT¡¯S FOR YOU! IT¡¯S ALL BEEN FOR YOU. Everything I ever taught you, everything I¡¯ve ever done, FOR YOU. AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME!? I can¡¯t even go back. I can¡¯t go back to Appa, to a family member that would never stab me in the back like this. Weren¡¯t you saying something about not loving people you just met? You¡¯re a hypocrite. SIX YEARS I cared for you and the first chance you get; you ditch me and then have the NERVE to try and blame me for your actions!?¡±


    Unbeknownst to Ares and Aejaz, Enyo and Allie had just arrived and were just watching from the side as this really wasn¡¯t their place to get involved.


    ¡°Why did you even bring up the bloodline? Nothing has changed about who I am in relation to it, someone who cares about the people around him. You, on the other hand, have just been getting more and more useless lately. What was that little moment you had during the entrance trial? How long did I spend training you? WHAT FOR? JUST SO YOU CAN KEEP BEING USELESS? You should have been able to beat Slick. You¡¯re the one getting worse, not me.¡± Ares, for the second time in his life, shed a tear.. ¡°Unbelievable. I took you in. I¡¯m the one that helped you when you thought about giving up. I¡¯m the one that taught you to survive in the streets. I¡¯m the one that taught you about cultivation. I¡¯m the one that would give you what was left of my food when we were both starving. I¡¯m the one that let you live a comfortable life. I¡¯M THE ONE THAT PROTECTED AND CARED FOR YOU LIKE YOU WERE MY DAMN BROTHER. HOW DARE YOU LIE AND BLAME ME FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH DECISIONS!?¡± Ares raised his fist and followed through this time, punching Aejaz.


    Enyo couldn¡¯t sit idly by and watch anymore so she pulled out her shield and rushed over.


    Ares was still completely unaware that Enyo and Allie were here watching everything. Ares felt something sturdy crash into his ribcage before he was sent rolling off into a Tree. He was momentarily disoriented but eventually came to and spat out some blood from his mouth before managing to uneasily stand back on his feet. ¡°Why are you interfering?¡± Ares growled.


    ¡°Clearly you have issues. You¡¯re far too aggressive.¡±


    ¡°He isn¡¯t a child. He¡¯s completely fucking worthless, but he isn¡¯t a damn child. Our relationship has nothing to do with you. He should be grateful one punch is where I decided to end it for what he¡¯s done. I hope you all learn a hard lesson because the easy way has been too soft for you three. I¡¯ll leave, but you better not waste my time because all I want right now is to go home to Appa. I miss Appa,¡± Ares'' dejected voice betrayed the fact that he had given up trying to make these three see any kind of reason. ¡°You''re a spoiled brat,'''' Ares spoke to Allie before turning to Aejaz. ¡°Some brother you are, so quick to throw me to the wolves when something better comes along, and to not even have the courage to own up to it and at least be honest about your intentions. And you¡­¡± It was Enyo¡¯s turn now. ¡°... You have to be the most disappointing of everyone here. You''re just doing this out of petty spite. Where¡¯s all that pride of yours? Why does it just disappear when someone who disagrees with you comes along? How fragile and frail is your ego and your so called ¡®justice¡¯ that you resort to this when you don¡¯t get your way? Was trying to pit my own brother against me really in line with whatever bullshit agenda you have?¡± Ares solemnly limped away with a trail of blood following him.


    Enyo thought she would be pleased to see Ares finally on the losing side of one of their interactions, but she felt a tinge of guilt and nothing more. Whenever he had ¡®won¡¯ an argument of theirs, it only ever really resulted in Enyo feeling perturbed at worst. This had clearly crossed that and she was partly responsible for encouraging a dispute between brothers. Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be the one who was morally superior and not play silly games like this? Why was she so obsessed with getting one over him that she abandoned her own virtues and ideals just to end up seeing him like this? Did he really remind her of her father that much? And even if that¡¯s the case, he isn''t actually the same man, he didn¡¯t deserve to be punished for the misery her father had put her through... ¡®Misery?¡¯¡­  She¡¯d essentially just admitted something to herself she really didn¡¯t want to.


    ¡°Aejaz? Are you ok?¡± Allie had slowly walked up to Aejaz and put her hand on his shoulder while speaking softly to him.


    ¡°What?¡± Aejaz was staring off into the distance where Ares had left, he was so preoccupied and lost in his mind that his response was barely audible.


    ¡°Are you ok?¡± Allie was worried for him.


    ¡°What have I done?¡± A bit of colour returned to his face and his eyes seemed a little less hollow than before. ¡°What have I done?¡± Aejaz¡¯ hands started trembling and tears were running down his cheeks. ¡°Why did I make him mad? Why was I so selfish?¡± his voice was strained.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t being selfish, and clearly he gets mad easily, don¡¯t blame yourself,¡± Enyo wasn¡¯t even really trying to make him feel better, just noting her own observations.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s wrong. I lied to him. I lied to him so I could get what I wanted. He doesn¡¯t get mad over nothing,¡± Aejaz was still speaking with an unsteady voice. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him get mad.¡±


    ¡°He did yesterday though? And earlier today with me as well?¡± Enyo couldn¡¯t quite understand what Aejaz meant.


    ¡°No, that was his bloodline. I¡¯ve never seen him mad like this without it. He¡¯s never been angry before. It¡¯s my fault. He would always forgive me.¡± Aejaz took a few seconds to catch his breath before he managed to speak normally. ¡°He always forgave me whenever I did something wrong, and he never got upset at me, and he would never hit me.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s overreacting, you¡¯re just doing a mission without him, he doesn¡¯t have a monopoly on your presence.¡± Enyo was starting to feel worse and worse the more Aejaz kept correcting her misunderstandings so she was almost now subconsciously trying to validate her own actions by painting Ares as unreasonable. If she was being honest with herself, all four people were at fault here for one reason or another, but she¡¯d probably gone the furthest.


    ¡°He only did it for me.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Allie asked.


    ¡°He promised to show me the world. He taught me all about this world and I always kept saying how cool it sounded. He promised to take me with him and show me everything I ever wanted to see.¡± Aejaz started crying as the guilt came flooding back. ¡°He said he wanted to be a good older brother and let me experience the world and that he wouldn¡¯t let anything come in the way of his little brother¡¯s happiness.¡± Aejaz was whimpering and sobbing uncontrollably now and couldn¡¯t speak anymore so Allie and Enyo quietly waited off to the side as the mood rapidly deteriorated.


    ---------------------------------


    Ares was sitting in a clearing, pushing his bones back into their correct positions. ¡°Bitch,¡± he half-heartedly muttered. He didn¡¯t even punch Aejaz that bloody hard, why was she borderline breaking his bones? Excessive force much?


    Ares had calmed down slightly¡­ Granted it took turning part of the forest into a clearing that was definitely not there before, but he was certainly calmer. Blowing things up was a source of catharsis for Ares whenever he felt disgruntled, and no one except the most hard-core of hippies would miss a few trees. It was either that or cooking, but he had no ingredients left and this method would at least benefit his cultivation.


    After healing, he stood up and set off for the mission area. He might as well go blow up some more stuff, not like he had any choice really. He was definitely going to complain to Rud about this stupid system when he eventually returned to the sect, why should he have to wait for others to be done with something he didn¡¯t even really want to do anymore? Working on completing the mission would at least be good for his cultivation and allow him to practise his Echo technical on living beings, so it was still better than sitting around and just moping though.


    The mission area was a forest roughly five times the size of the one he was currently in and about a three-day journey away or, at least, it would have been if he was still travelling with those backstabbing snails. Ares could make it there in just under a day and half if he really booked it, but what was really the point of doing that? He would just tire himself out, and for what exactly? He wasn¡¯t childish enough to care about racing the others there, so he would just take things at his own pace. This was the first time he had been on his own in a long while so he figured he might as well enjoy it. As for what exactly he was going to enjoy doing, he would wing it and figure that out as he went. He could always just start blowing the forest up if he got really bored.


    Two days passed and Ares¡¯ mind had returned to its normal state. He was still furious with the others, but it wasn¡¯t preoccupying his thoughts like it had been prior to now. He had arrived at a junction in a field. One route led to a small, nearby town while the other led to ¡®Baja¡¯ forest where the mission was located.


    The small town looked rather rundown. Ares couldn¡¯t make out too much detail from where he was, but the entire place just practically screamed ¡®crooked¡¯. Ares wasn¡¯t particularly fond of the idea of staying in a dull place like that, hell, he would rather go and sleep back in Red Sun¡¯s streets than stay there. Unfortunately, from their earlier conversations, Ares learnt that Allie was headed for an alchemy competition in Venti City after completing the mission and that they would be staying in that small town for a while. They would meet up with Zhang in 12 days¡¯ time there as it was on the way to Venti City. Of course, this meant Ares would waste even more time doing nothing, waiting for Allie to finish her stupid competition before he could go back to Appa.


    Ares took the path leading into the forest and began memorising as much of the forest as he could. He was going to be spending the next two or so weeks here after all. The forest was far, far denser than the one close to Red Sun. Oddly enough, it felt less dangerous. Although it was supposedly teeming with monsters, right now, all Ares could hear was the chirping of birds and some running water. There were freshly bloomed flowers which filled the air with a pleasant fragrance, and the grass was lush enough that you could practically taste it in the air. Ares was quite pleased with the state of the forest, specifically how the ground felt underfoot. It wasn¡¯t wet and muddy, nor was it hard as concrete. It was soft and springy, perfect for running around on. It would make killing monsters and, depending on his luck, humans, that much easier.


    Ares had a habit of judging terrain based on whether it was suitable for him to fight on and it all stemmed from one particular instance that Aejaz would never let him forget. ¡°Tsk, dammit,¡± Ares complained aloud. And just like that, he was thinking about his moron brother again. Whatever, at least Aejaz would get some pity points from Allie for the beating he received. Yeah¡­ He was definitely just helping Aejaz get along with Allie... That was why he felt a rising urge to find him and hit him again. Ares shook his head to get the unnecessary thoughts out and kept on keeping on when, all of a sudden, he felt a strange feeling. The feeling bore some similarities to when he first started cultivating. Ares looked around hastily to keep an eye out for any flying swords that happened to be coming his way, but found nothing. He realised he was probably overreacting. The feeling was similar, yes, but not the exact same. Instead of something coming to him, it felt like something was telling him to go to it. Like a calling. A calling coming from the other bloody side of the forest. Why couldn¡¯t it have just been here at the start? Was it really necessary to be this inconvenient? It better be worth the hassle! Although that was what he thought, he also admitted to himself that actually it made no difference. He was going to be here for a long stay anyway and had nothing better to do regardless of how far it was. Still though, he wanted to complain as things hadn''t been going his way lately, and moaning was always satisfying with regards to stress relief.


    Ares sped through the forest, primarily taking the low route along the ground but occasionally jumping from branch to branch when it was more convenient than having to skirt around an area full of bushes. Birds fluttered and scrambled whenever he passed by. Ares became accustomed to the various wing beats of the indigenous, aviary species so, when he heard a flapping that was unlike every other sound he had encountered so far, he rapidly veered off his path and jumped in the opposite direction to dodge. He turned around and saw a creature he had once read about in a book a few years ago, a ¡®treetop tiger¡¯.


    These treetop tigers were only about the size of a palm and, as the name suggests, they looked like tigers and primarily lived in trees. They were excellent climbers but typically never had to resort to that as they came equipped with tiny wings that allowed them to fly freely. The most unusual aspect of these tiny things was that their teeth and claws were just as sharp, if not sharper, than their regular sized counterparts.


    Oh, and they could spit fire, there was that too.


    The fire they spat would take on various properties depending on the type of area the tigers lived in. Swamps would mean poisonous fire, rainforests would mean thunder fire, etc¡­ It should also be noted that treetop tigers are pack animals whereby if you find one, you are essentially guaranteed to find at least five others.


    Sure enough, ten more treetop tigers prowled around Ares on various branches and clung to the bark of the nearby trees.


    Ares really didn¡¯t want to fight them, not because he was scared of them, although they were certainly strong, but because he didn¡¯t want to hurt such adorable kitties. It simply went against his code of conduct, so he began Shifting away.


    Treetop tigers are territorial, so while they may give chase for a while, eventually they¡¯ll stop if you get far enough away from their habitat.


    Ares slid under fallen tree trunks and occasionally used his Zephyr to swing from one tree to another. The tigers had pretty good aim with their fireballs, so Ares had to use the Zephyr as a mid-air platform on multiple occasions to give himself a sort-of double jump and change his trajectory and avoid them. The main reason he was having such a hard time with these things were because of the particular environment they lived in, thus affecting their fire magic.


    This forest happened to be rather plain, but the most distinct thing about it would be that it was always rather windy. This enabled the tigers to curve their shots with wind magic and somewhat alter the direction of the fireballs after having shot them out. That was the unique trait of treetop tigers in this region. The fireballs weren¡¯t quite heat-seeking, but they were quite annoying.


    After some time had passed, the tigers backed off and flew away. Ares made a note of those little fella¡¯s habitat and went on his way. It would still be quite a long journey from here until he reached whatever was calling out to him, so he decided to take things a little slower to minimise his chances of needlessly running into any other aggressive creatures that were too cute to kill. Of course, this forest was littered with monsters the deeper he went and it didn¡¯t take him long to find an entourage, the scientific name for a group of ¡®hydra deer¡¯. These things were definitely not cute.


    These occult, demonic creatures sought out darker parts of forests so they could ambush prey easier when on the hunt. As for their physical appearance, hydra deer had the largest antlers of any known species of deer and, on the tips of their antlers, were other shrunken deer heads. Typically, only one entourage of hydra deer will exist in any given habitat, coexisting is never an option. The shrunken heads are gathered when conflict concerning habitats occurs. Hydra deer are actually weaker than even normal deer at birth, but get far stronger the more heads they have attached to their antler. The hydra deer with the most shrunken heads is the leader, and all other deer are subservient and may, occasionally, in times of great need, sacrifice their own heads to their leader.


    Ares could have very easily snuck up behind them and used a Grand Annihilation to wipe them off the face of the planet, but that would be dull and he still wanted to experiment a little more with Echoes. Ares threw caution to the wind and lobbed a stone at the leader of the entourage to catch their attention, whistling too for good measure.


    Clack


    Although Ares wasn¡¯t even remotely worried about fighting the deer, he had to admit, what came next was a little off-putting.


    All seven deer paused with an ominous stillness. A grinding noise resounded throughout the forest as they slowly began twisting their necks in his direction. As their necks craned and their heads turned, they began to convulse in a rickety manner causing their antelopes to make a clicking noise. Suddenly, with one final spasm, their heads all flicked to face Ares simultaneously. As they all stared deeply into Ares'' eyes, the shrunken heads began wildly rocking back and forth over and over again as though they were about to tear themselves off the antlers.


    Then they simply stopped.


    A strange peace rolled over the forest and everything was quiet once again.


    The shrunken heads didn¡¯t remain still for long as they gently shook once.


    Twice.


    Thrice.


    On the third shake, all 100 total heads attached to the seven deer¡¯s antlers let out a blood curdling shriek and opened their eyes wide, emitting pale and ghastly yellow beams of light from their shrivelled retinas.

 Chapter 26: Deer Are Friends, Not Food

    ¡°Ok, that¡¯s just weird,¡± Ares complained as he started to wish he had just killed them in one fell swoop as, now, that hideous sight would remain lodged in his memory forever. One of the beams of lights passed over Ares and he felt his blood start drying up. The deer¡¯s main method of attack was to try and put as many beams of light on a person as possible to cause them to wither and rot away before eating their corpse. This was how they collected their heads. As for how they got their first head, the answer was quite simple. Cannibalism. It¡¯s thanks to their cannibalistic nature that hydra deer aren¡¯t completely helpless in close range combat, even their many shrivelled heads can open their jaws and chomp down on their prey if the need arises.


    Ares naturally wasn¡¯t going to have much of an issue dodging the beams of light. Keeping a steady visual on Ares when he moved as fast as he did was near impossible. He also had no real need to get up close to experiment with Echoes, so this was predictably going to be an easy fight. It was part of why he picked it. Trial and error is much safer when the error can¡¯t possibly result in the loss of your life. Ares kept dashing around the deer who had yet to move, weaving around trees to block the head¡¯s vision. As the lights passed over the trees, they began to age rapidly. Some even wilted to the point that they died right there and then. The roots of those trees curled up and let off a foul, decaying odour.


    Ares wasn¡¯t particularly worried about running out of cover, but he also wasn¡¯t going to just keep dashing around forever without attacking. Ares swayed his arm and clicked his finger in one fluid motion and the air rippled around his finger. Echoes were invisible but created pressure as they travelled so you could only keep track of it if you were actually paying attention. Technicals and arts could be created in such a way that they didn¡¯t require a chant, like Shift, so Echo was also useful as a stealth attack under the right circumstances. Although the deers noticed something was off, they weren¡¯t giving the Echo the attention it was due, so they never saw it coming.


    Bang


    One of the deers was sent reeling backward, flailing its front two legs desperately in an attempt not to fall over while its hind legs were fighting not to buckle under the pressure. The Echo had connected with the right side of its antler and had completely blown it, and subsequently all the heads on it, off.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Ares was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the ranged version of the Echo to be so potent. Although a ranged Echo could never compete with a direct contact Echo, the results were still beyond what Ares had envisioned when he threw it out. He had only been prepared to see, at most, about half the damage it had actually done. The time he had spent perfecting it with Lizzy had really done wonders for the technical¡¯s potency. Ares realised he had created something truly ridiculous, and the most ridiculous part of it all was that it was a technical. Anyone could learn this. In fact, some people like Rud already had. A technical this ludicrously strong and easy to learn was just wasting away in the library. If the other disciples had any clue how monstrous the technical was, there would be a queue for it leading out of the damned sect. Just how much value did Ares¡¯ very presence have for the sect? At this point it was basically inestimable. Ares kept firing off Echoes with a mixture of wild-abandon and pure glee. One Echo missed and hit a tree, one that hadn¡¯t even been touched by the yellow lights from the deer yet, and still it stood absolutely no chance whatsoever. The tree crumpled at the base and came crashing down on a nearby deer that was too slow to dodge it. Ares felt a little bad for that one as he wasn¡¯t actually planning on killing the deer. As he¡¯d been removing the freaky shrivelled heads, Ares came to a realisation; Without the creepy antlers, these creatures are literally just normal deer. Unfortunately for Ares¡¯ guilty conscience, normal deer were cute and, therefore, he simply couldn¡¯t bring himself to kill them. Of course, without their antlers, in a place like this, nature would take its course and they would inevitably die anyway, but at least he wouldn¡¯t have to feel bad about doing it himself.


    Ares effortlessly blew the rest of the antlers into smithereens and lined up the now meekly obedient deer in front of him sitting on the grass. He really felt bad knowing these poor ¡®sweet¡¯ things were going to die, and probably be eaten too, but there was nothing he could really do for them.


    ¡­


    Or was there?


    After petting the deer for a good half an hour to try and gain their trust, and also because he really just wanted to, Ares drew a circle in the grass with his sword. ¡°Stay here, ok? I¡¯ll be back in a bit, but stay here for now,¡± Ares tried to communicate in a slow and steady manner, hoping that maybe it would help.


    The deer questioningly tilted their head at this strange human that had just entered their domain, blew off parts of their head, doomed them to suffer for the rest of their short lives, and finally drew a weird shape around them like he was performing some sort of satanic ritual.


    Ares could see they really weren¡¯t getting it, so he sat them all down again and bopped them on the nose while telling them to stay and be good.


    As if to confirm their suspicions, one of the deer, presumably the one that had been their leader previously, poked a foot outside the circle and looked over at Ares.


    Ares shook his head and lifted the hoof before placing it back inside the circle and, with that interaction, they came to a mutual understanding of sorts. It was a good thing these creatures had some degree of intelligence otherwise it would have taken far longer than he would have liked to convey his intention. Ares couldn¡¯t help but feel these deer were maybe even a little smarter than Allie, they could at least fill in the blanks themselves when prompted... Although he joked about Allie in his mind often, he knew that she wasn¡¯t actually stupid, just really bad with logic chains.


    Ares left for an entire day before he came back and escorted his entourage to the new home he had found for the deer. The environment was unfamiliar to them, but when Ares introduced the deer to the ¡®locals¡¯, they realised they would actually be rather safe here, provided the ¡®locals¡¯ didn¡¯t get hungry and eat them that is. This place also doubled down as somewhere Ares could come and relax with relative safety as he was now, after a great deal of work, AKA feeding, on very good terms with the locals of the area. It took a bit of explaining to the locals that they were ¡®not to eat the deer under any circumstance¡¯, and that he would find them a suitable, edible replacement when he came back, to which the locals begrudgingly mewed.


    ---------------------------------


    Thud Thud


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Allie looked on confusedly at Aejaz as he repeatedly stomped his foot on the ground.


    ¡°Soft and springy. Good to manoeuvre and run around on in a fight.¡± Aejaz gave Allie a thumbs up.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem like the kind of person that does much fighting,¡± Enyo said as they walked deeper into the forest.


    ¡°Nope, but it¡¯s good to keep these things in mind. Wouldn¡¯t wanna slip on ice or anything.¡±


    ¡°Who would be dumb enough to get into a fight on ice and slip?¡± Enyo said in a dismissive tone.


    ¡°Ha, I¡¯ve seen it before.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess, drunk?¡±


    ¡°One of them, yeah.¡±


    ¡°And the other?¡±


    ¡°Made sure to teach me the value of checking my surroundings in advance.¡±


    Enyo stopped in her tracks briefly and unintentionally let out a little snicker before trying to pretend she was coughing to cover it up.


    Allie was slack jawed as this was the first time she had ever seen Enyo laugh at pretty much anything. She also hadn¡¯t understood what Aejaz had meant, so she didn¡¯t understand what was so funny. She walked up to Aejaz, tugged on his clothes, and pointed at Enyo. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Aejaz was trying to bring himself back from the heavenly satisfaction of Allie cutely tugging on his clothes. ¡°Oh, the guy that fell was Ares.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Allie let out a little laugh. ¡°I can¡¯t even imagine him falling over.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯ll never forget it for as long as I live. Neither of us had ever seen snow or ice before, so we weren¡¯t used to it. Ares really struggled with tuning his speed accordingly and caution completely slipped his mind the second he got into a fight. Haha, the look of disappointment he had on his face as he lay on the floor was brilliant. It was the first time I¡¯d ever seen him get mopey, he sulked for a good week until the ice went away.¡±


    Aejaz heard another snicker come from Enyo up front.


    ¡°Aww, now I wanna see young, grouchy, pouting Ares.¡± Allie was trying to imagine it.


    ¡°Honestly, Ares wasn¡¯t much different to how he is now. His looks have been pretty consistant since I met him. I don¡¯t know about before that, though.¡±


    ¡°How did you meet him anyway?¡± Enyo wanted to know how the bandit brothers came to be.


    ¡°Ah, I suppose I should tell you how I wound up in Red Sun first.¡± Aejaz briefly explained his family situation.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Enyo said.


    ¡°No need to apologise, not like it¡¯s your fault, and I don¡¯t mind talking about it.¡±


    ¡°Huh, all four of us have family issues then,¡± Allie said.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°My family was murdered when I was still a baby. I don¡¯t remember anything about it. All I know is that Zhang raised me in the sect.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s, um, I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡± Aejaz didn¡¯t quite know how to comfort her.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Ha, no need to apologise, not like it¡¯s your fault, and I don¡¯t mind talking about it,¡± Allie said in a gruff tone.


    ¡°Deja vu.¡± Aejaz chuckled.


    ¡°So, how did you meet Ares then?¡± Allie prompted.


    ¡°Oh, right, yeah. It was just after I arrived in Red Sun. I stole an amulet from the Chen clan¡¯s patriarch. Later, when he finally realised, I¡¯m guessing he sent guards out to go and find it. They happened to catch me inspecting it in an alleyway and then they chased me around the festival for a good ten minutes straight.¡±


    ¡°Festival? Ahhhhhhhhhh, you were that boy I heard about from Zhang! The one being chased around!¡± Allie had gotten giddy.


    ¡°You saw me?¡±


    ¡°Nope, I missed you, but Zhang did. He said he also saw another boy chasing the people chasing you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, small world. Yeah, that other kid was Ares.¡± Aejaz gave a detailed recounting of the events that unfolded that day.


    ¡°There was also an incident with a flying sword, but you¡¯d have to ask Ares about that.¡±


    ¡°A flying sword?¡± Allie¡¯s eyes lit up in wonder.


    ¡°Oh yeah.¡±


    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to ask the next time we see him. Are you sure he¡¯ll be ok¡­ With us, I mean?¡± Allie was fidgety.


    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s not the kind of person to stay annoyed for too long, I think. He¡¯ll probably just want some time alone is all. If I were to make a bet, I¡¯d say he blew up some part of the forest somewhere, and now he¡¯s probably looking for cute animals to hang around with.¡±


    ¡°He really likes cute things that much?¡± Allie asked.


    ¡°Mhm, it¡¯s his second greatest weakness,¡± Aejaz replied without thinking.


    ¡°Second?¡± Enyo stopped walking and turned around.


    Aejaz laughed nervously and scratched his head aimlessly. ¡°Ha, um, yeah.¡± Aejaz steeled his determination. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve already screwed up once this week, please don¡¯t make me tell you his secret. It¡¯s even more embarrassing than the ice thing, so he¡¯ll be furious with me.¡±


    ¡°Worse than the ice thing!?¡± Enyo was very interested in having something else in addition to the ice mishap to leverage against that insufferable bastard.


    ¡°Ha, ha, OH, hey look a squirrel.¡±


    ¡°Where!¡± Allie squeaked.


    Enyo slapped her helmet out of frustration when she saw Allie fall for such a blatant and silly ruse.


    ¡°AH! Silver rabbit weed!¡± Allie spotted something entirely different as she was frantically searching around.


    ¡°An ingredient?¡± Enyo asked.


    ¡°Yep! Somewhat rare too!¡± Allie spoke as she hopped and skipped over to the plant, ¡°Need to be very careful though, if it gets set off, things are gonna get shaky!¡±


    ¡°Really? Isn¡¯t it just a plant?¡± Aejaz was completely lost as he wasn¡¯t knowledgeable about alchemy, alchemical plants, and/or ingredients.


    ¡°Yes, but they aren¡¯t called ¡®rabbit¡¯ weeds for nothing! If you try to harvest it wrong, the weed will start jumping about.¡±


    ¡°Plants can do that?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, yep. Some can even attack you or show signs of sentience. The rabbit weed is actually quite dangerous if you aren¡¯t careful. Because it¡¯s a weed, it¡¯s rooted quite stubbornly. If it tries to jump, it causes miniature, localised earthquakes as it pulls up the earth with every hop. They¡¯re especially dangerous if they happen to grow in towns.¡±


    ¡°Huh, I never knew how cool plants could be.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re great! And of course, they¡¯re also valuable for alchemy.¡±


    ¡°And they¡¯re great to sell,¡± a strange voice came from behind a nearby bush. ¡°So, you¡¯ll be handing that weed over to us, little missy.¡± A group of five people moved into view and the woman who was leading them stood at the forefront. She wore standard merchant clothes as opposed to the four behind her who were obviously some sort of protective detail.


    Allie hugged the weed close to her chest and hurried behind Enyo.


    ¡°This weed belongs to us. Leave,¡± Enyo spoke with an authoritative air.


    ¡°It¡¯s cute that you''re playing dress up and think you''re an actual knight but, hon, we¡¯re going to hurt you if you don''t give us the weed.¡±


    At some point, Aejaz had snuck over next to Allie and had started whispering in her ear, ¡°Hey, do you trust me?¡±


    ¡°No, why?¡±


    A small part of Aejaz died inside. ¡°Well can you trust me for, like, 30 seconds?¡±


    ¡°Ok, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Good, good good. Give them the weed.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Just trust me, I¡¯ll get it back.¡±


    ¡°Why should we give it to them if we¡¯re just going to take it back?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re running out of time here. They¡¯re getting angsty. Just trust me, ok?¡±


    ¡°Fineeee.¡±


    ¡°OK, you lot can have the weed,¡± Aejaz turned and spoke to the merchant.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Enyo, who had not been made privy to his plan, was at a loss. She had already taken out her shield and was very much prepared to knock some sense into this travelling circus. These people weren¡¯t even remotely as strong as her and she could handle them with ease. Allie poked Enyo in the back and nodded at her when she turned around to look at her.


    ¡°Good choice.¡± The merchant opened up her palm and held it out, waiting for the goods.


    Allie threw over the weed and the merchant put it into her space ring. She then put the space ring inside another space ring. This woman was clearly paranoid, not that it was going to help anyway. The merchant simply turned around and left when she got what she wanted with her bodyguards following suit. Time waits for no one, and she had many more people to rob!


    ¡°Tsk, I know you stole it back from them so we wouldn¡¯t have to fight, but people like that should be taught a lesson as a preventative measure if they can¡¯t be arrested.¡± Enyo was displeased.


    ¡°Ah, maybe, but that wasn¡¯t why I did it.¡± Aejaz shook his head and reached into his pocket. ¡°Ta?daaa!¡± Aejaz pulled out a weed that was identical in shape and size to the rabbit weed Allie had picked earlier, but this one was gold in colour.


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! GOLDEN RABBIT WEED! GIMME! GIMME! GIMME! GIMME!¡± Allie was practically drooling as her wide eyes stared at the weed.


    ¡°Ha, of course, but is it really that big of a deal?¡± Aejaz handed over the weed.


    ¡°YES, YES YES YES YES!¡± although Allie responded, she was engrossed in the weed and wasn¡¯t even looking at Aejaz.


    ¡°That¡¯s the quality enhancement thing you mentioned?¡± Enyo questioned.


    ¡°Yep,¡± Aejaz replied proudly. Raising the tier of stolen items was truly heaven defying when it came to obtaining rare items.


    ¡°Can''t you just do that over and over again?¡±


    ¡°Nope, I can only do it once per thing I steal. Also, the person I¡¯m stealing from has to be unaware and unwilling. It¡¯s not exactly stealing if the other person wants you to take it.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense, although I still wish I could have drilled some proper etiquette into those hoodlums.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but then Allie wouldn¡¯t have gotten the Golden Weed. She seems really quite happy to have it, even if I have absolutely no idea why.¡±


    ¡°Hm, I guess I can see it,¡± Enyo mused.


    ¡°See what?¡± Aejaz was curious as to what she meant.


    ¡°Allie at home, making pills and Mini Pillies, while you go out and steal high quality plants and ingredients. Even if I don¡¯t quite agree with your thievery habits, I can see it.¡±


    Aejaz immediately swung his neck over to look at Allie and sighed a heavy sigh of relief when he realised she was completely unaware of Enyo¡¯s remark as she was too busy studying the weed. ¡°Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Oh, my poor heart.¡± Aejaz held his hand over his chest and could feel his heart operating much faster than usual.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when she¡¯s like this, you could poke her in the head and she wouldn¡¯t even notice.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, go ahead, try it. It¡¯s quite fun actually.¡±


    Aejaz narrowed his eyes at Enyo as he couldn¡¯t tell if she was messing with him or not. Since when did this woman understand the concept of ¡®fun¡¯? He decided to try it anyway, though, so he turned around and slowly moved his index finger toward Allie¡¯s head. He kept hesitating as he got closer and closer. He was half expecting someone to shout ¡®BOO¡¯, and just psyched himself out even more.


    Poke


    Aejaz had closed his eyes and scrunched his face in preparation for Allie turning around and having a go at him, but it never happened. He opened his eyes and, sure enough, Allie was still in her own world. ¡°Oh, wow, you weren¡¯t kidding.¡±


    ¡°I have no idea why she gets like this. Anyway, me letting you poke her was a one off, so I hope you enjoyed your fun moment.¡±


    Aejaz gave Enyo a thumbs up and a smile and then practically leapt out of his own skin when Allie started speaking behind him.


    ¡°This will work!¡± Allie exclaimed as she held her newly acquired weed in both hands.


    ¡°What are you making?¡± Enyo asked.


    ¡°An upgrade!¡±


    ¡°Upgrade?¡± Aejaz had no idea what Allie was talking about.


    ¡°Mhm. With pill ingredients, I can make a pill, a Mini-Pilly, or an upgrade for a Mini-Pilly. You see, upgrades I make for Mini-Pillies are permanent. Even if the Mini-Pilly is destroyed, when I make it again, it¡¯ll come pre-equipped with every upgrade I¡¯ve ever made for it. Upgrades require progressively rarer ingredients in order to make, and I¡¯ve been trying to find something suitable for Mini-Pilly Strength¡¯s upgrade for nearly an entire year now. Golden rabbit weed is at least 8 times rarer than its silver counterpart, and even Zhang couldn¡¯t find any for me when he left the sect specifically to go look for some.¡±


    ¡°Huh, I guess today''s your lucky day.¡± Aejaz still wasn¡¯t entirely caught up, but he was just happy to see Allie happy.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Allie skipped over to Aejaz and gave him a quick hug. ¡°Oh, Oh, Enyo, can we set up camp so I can make the upgrade?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Meanwhile Aejaz was in his own world, stunned stupid as though he had just been struck by lightning thrice. He had experienced handshakes with Missy before, but a hug was a whole new frontier for him! Aejaz decided that he would find more rare ingredients for Allie even if he had to descend into the pits of hell to find poisonous flowers that only bloomed in purgatory. Aejaz floated like a piece of driftwood over to the impromptu campsite Enyo had set up and took a seat.


    Allie brought a cauldron out of a spatial ring as well as a selection of plants and alchemical ingredients. ¡°Golden rabbit weed, ichor gelling agent, seven sins tar, gringyhorns, praying mantis lungs, and a pinch of wintry-wood. That ought to do it!¡± Allie listed off the ingredients one by one as she put them into the cauldron, making her sound like a wicked witch out of a fairy-tale. Allie used her mana to set the cauldron aflame and rhythmically tapped on the cauldron at specific points to raise and lower the temperature while also using mana to stir the ingredients. She stood up and rolled up the sleeves on her arms before reaching over and putting her hands into the cauldron. She used mana to prevent burns and was fiddling around with the ingredients, massaging them to bring out their full potency and maximise efficacy. It was also necessary for her to draw runic patterns from within the mixture. There were many types of alchemical procedures, and some would say her style was rather crude, but it worked, and that was what was really important to her.


    This particular method allowed for much more precise control over each individual step and was typically favoured by more skilled practitioners that didn¡¯t care much for their companions and cohorts¡¯ cries of indecency. Selling pills concocted with this methodology required, by law, a warning label as there were more than a fair few picky customers that wouldn¡¯t touch anything made in such a fashion.


    Allie raised one hand out of the cauldron and clicked her finger. When she raised her other hand, she held within it a round pill. Although it looked normal, it wasn¡¯t hard for anyone who was a cultivator to tell that the pill was hollow. It was just a casing, a shell for what was hidden within. ¡°Ahhhhh, this is my favourite part!¡± Allie stowed away her cauldron and summoned a Mini-Pilly.


    The Mini-Pilly was very obviously ¡®Strength¡¯. Like ¡®Scout¡¯, it had tiny, thin black lines for arms and legs but, unlike scout, it didn¡¯t have a giant maw to bite things with. Instead, it had odd bumps along its arms that somewhat resembled muscles. The pill gave off a self-obsessed macho-man vibe as it kept alternating between various bodybuilding poses so it could flex its muscles.


    ¡°Hey Strength, look! A new upgrade! All for you!¡±


    The Mini-Pilly strutted over to the hollow pill and curled the muscles on his left arm. He leant his head over and made a kissing motion on his muscles while stretching out his right arm to poke the pill. The pill started rattling and rolling around while emitting a dazzlingly bright golden light.


    Aejaz could have sworn he heard cheers and clapping coming from within the pill.


    Crack


    ¡°Ooooh, I can¡¯t wait to see what you¡¯ll get!¡± Allie was paying rapt attention to the pill and rocking back and forth on her log seat.


    The pill finally broke apart and a small, golden orb drifted down to the ground next to Strength. The light of the orb dimmed and revealed within it a shiny, gilded, wrestling championship belt.


    Strength was mid muscle-kiss when it snapped back around to look at its new upgrade. It confidently swaggered over and picked up the belt before wrapping it around his body. The belt was a little big for it and looked comically silly at first, but, after a few seconds, the belt shrunk down in size and looked considerably better, almost natural even. Strength began posing with renewed vigour and Allie clapped away in the background.


    ¡°Hm? Oh, you learnt a new art!? Haha, cool! Let¡¯s try it!¡± Allie had long since established a mental connection with her Mini-Pillies and could understand basic information that they wanted to share with her.


    Strength hopped up onto Allie¡¯s shoulder and stood proud with the ends of its arms resting on the belt it was puffing out.


    ¡°Go! From The Top Rope!¡±


    Strength slid down along the length of Allie''s arm, jumped up her wrist, and bounced his way to the tip of Allie¡¯s pointed index finger. Allie¡¯s finger bent downward slightly then acted like a springboard and flung Strength up high. Strength pulled off a mid-air somersault while basking in the criss-crossing, scattered rays of sunlight before transitioning into an elbow drop.


    Aejaz pinched himself to make sure he wasn¡¯t dreaming as this was hands-down the weirdest thing he had ever seen.


    He also quickly realised it was the weirdest thing he had ever seen, heading towards him.


    BANG


    Dirt was sent scattering every which way and a small dust cloud was kicked up in the wake of what had essentially been a nuclear wrestling finish.


    Strength hopped out of the crater he just made, dusted himself off, and immediately went back to posing. Behind him, poking out of the crater, was Aejaz¡¯s raised arm, shaking uncontrollably.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m f¡­Cough Cough¡­ I¡¯m¡­ Fine.¡±


    Aejaz was most definitely not fine.


    A large number of bones were broken and he was bleeding in more places than he could count. He had a concussion and, quite frankly, needed a stretcher.

 Chapter 27: Lightning Tastes Like Lemongrass

    ¡°Lemongrass, purple acorns, and colberries. I¡¯m sure the deer and those little guys will love this stuff if I mix it into their food,¡± Ares mused his thoughts aloud. Ares had tried to learn alchemy but could never quite get the hang of it. He was also terrible at remembering the name of ingredients and their qualities but, for some strange reason, when it came to cooking ingredients, he never had that issue. The only alchemy ingredients he could ever remember were the ones that could also be used to make food with.


    ¡°Oh look, we¡¯ve found ourselves a hippy trying to feed his furry friends in the forest,¡± a strange voice came from behind Ares. ¡°Hand over the stuff you just picked, and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±


    Ares turned around and saw a female merchant being followed around by four axe wielding men. ¡°Hm? Strange. I¡¯ve been called a number of things before, but hippy is definitely a new one for the list. I¡¯m not giving you anything but, if you wanna keep looking for trouble, I¡¯ll oblige.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a simple process, kid. Hand over your stuff, and no-one gets hurt.¡±


    ¡°Or what? I don¡¯t hand it over and you guys get hurt? You should really specify. Also, are you really that desperate? None of this stuff is exactly rare, you know? You could find this your-damn-self. I¡¯m honestly surprised you somehow haven¡¯t run into someone willing to teach you fools a lesson yet.¡±


    ¡°Get ¡®em b?oys,¡± The woman gave a rising intonation at the word ¡®boys¡¯, and patted one of her guards on the ass as he ran by.


    ¡°You guys aren¡¯t just clowns, you''re the whole damn circus.¡± Ares just shook his head and sighed.


    The woman¡¯s cultivation was pitiful to the point that she didn¡¯t warrant sparing any more attention than the bare minimum. If she tried using a treasure or a ranged weapon, Ares would be aware of it but, other than that, she was basically just a bystander.


    The four axe wielders had cultivation bases at around the 7th and 8th stages of the 4th cultivation realm which, although certainly higher than Ares, was not even remotely enough to handle him. This fight would only be marginally harder than his previous scuffle with the deer which, honestly, wasn¡¯t saying much.


    ¡°Embodiment!¡±


    The closest guy to Ares jumped and raised his axe overhead, creating a large projection of the axe he was wielding behind him. Embodiment was an art of the forgery pillar¡¯s ¡®Artisan Of War¡¯ aspect. It would create a blunt, ethereal copy of the user¡¯s weapon that would follow the user¡¯s movements, adding a heavy, but typically nonlethal, follow-up attack.


    Ares simply stood and waited, completely unfazed. The embodiment would essentially repeat attacks, and it''s not exactly like this guy was swinging his axe like a professional. If the first attack is easy to stop, then the embodiment will be just as simple to deal with. As the man drew closer, Ares raised a single hand and began swinging it in a horizontal arc.


    Slap


    The guy who had previously leapt at Ares landed and just stood still as though he had been frozen over. He had not expected his axe to be slapped out of his hand mid swing.


    Rather than take the swing head on, Ares had aimed for the flat side of the axe and swatted it away with pretty minimal effort.


    Of course, he still had to deal with the embodiment, but he had other plans for that. This time, Ares decided to dodge the swing by ducking under it and moving closer to the handle, which he then grabbed.


    Unfortunately for the guy who was still forlorn over the loss of his axe, embodiments could be stolen and wielded by other people if you weren¡¯t careful.


    Ares gripped the handle tightly and swung for the fences. The axe connected with the guy¡¯s stomach region and even Ares recoiled slightly at the loud crunching sound that was indicative of a ruined ribcage. Ares had also let go of the ethereal axe after he completed his swing so it went spinning off into the woods with the guy still attached to the end of it.


    Homerun!


    Ares felt a sudden change in the air behind him so he ducked just in time to avoid another axe that someone had hurled at the back of his head. He was about to stand back up when he realised that a runic pattern had lit up on the axe and it was now returning in his direction like some kind of incredibly sharp boomerang. Ares jumped over it and turned around to see one of the three other men catching the axe, and another charging at him.


    The man charging made a sudden stop around 10ft from Ares and threw his axe straight down, planting it into the earth.


    ¡°Lightning Rod!¡±


    The man slammed his foot down on the axe and raised his arms to the heavens. The sky momentarily darkened before spitting out a brief flash of lightning that arced straight down towards the man. It hit him square on and caused him to spasm uncontrollably as the lightning wrapped around his figure. Eventually, he stopped shaking and began charging at Ares again, this time with a layer of lightning cloaking his body.


    Lightning Rod was an art of the ¡®Amp¡¯ aspect that made fighting hand to hand against the user a real pain in the neck. Physical contact would repeatedly jolt the other person while softening external blows the user would receive. Even being near them would cause static shocks across your whole body.


    Ares, once again, stood completely motionless. This was actually a great chance to test out one of the runic patterns on his Zephyr. The Stygian Zephyr was a treasure that effectively functioned like a Swiss army knife. It didn¡¯t do any one thing particularly well, but it certainly did a hell of a lot of different things at an acceptable level. One such use was the grounding function that could nullify electrical surges, lightning, thunder and so on and so forth. Granted, it required the Zephyr to dig into the earth, making it hard to keep mobile while using it, but it was still another useful tool in this thing''s borderline inexhaustible arsenal. After the zephyr unfurled, the two ends straightened and dug into the ground while one of the many patterns near the tip of the cape lit up in gold.


    Ares spun his shoulder and then threw out a normal punch. The punch was the very definition of lazy, but the force behind it was tricky to gauge. Although it looked simple, the real danger was the Echo Ares had generated by moving his shoulder. The man was already far too late to stop his own punch, so the two fists collided. Ares felt a weird tingling sensation run all along his body. It went over his eyes, up his nose, and it even rolled past his tongue, leaving a taste that was oddly reminiscent of the lemongrass he had just harvested. The lightning trailed over his shoulder and then down the Zephyr and became stuck inside it, bouncing repeatedly between the earth and Ares.


    The man who had attacked him wasn¡¯t having quite the same experience. His kidney took the brunt of the Echo and, even though Ares had intentionally lowered the output, it still exploded the moment the two came into contact. All the bones in his arm that collided with Ares¡¯ fist were shattered and the Echo managed to rattle its way into his skull, leaving him with a concussion that made him feel like his head was splitting in two. The Echo then worked its way back down into his stomach before detonating one final time, which sent the man flying off in the same direction as Ares¡¯ previous attacker.


    Two down, two to go. Well, not that one of them was going to last much longer after the mistake he just made. The boomerang-axe guy had attempted to catch Ares off-guard when he was distracted with the other attacker by tossing his axe again. What the boomerang-guy didn¡¯t know was that, even now, Ares was still paying attention to even the merchant lady in the back, let alone the four horsemen of the axe-pocalypse. They were never going to catch Ares, of all people, not paying attention.


    Ares had hoped this would happen as it meant he now got to try the second half of this runic trick of his Zephyr. What¡¯s a good catch, without an equally good release? Speaking of catching things, Ares focused hard, and caught the thrown axe like he was catching a sword. Ares had always wanted to try catching a sword but never had the chance. He had seen it once in a street-performance and was determined to give it a go at some point. He didn¡¯t count that one time in the entrance exam as that ¡®fight¡¯ was far too easy and didn¡¯t give him the thrill he was seeking. This would be good practice for the future if he ever stupidly decided to try his luck mid-fight.


    The restricted lightning, still bouncing around in the Zephyr, was channelled back into the freshly caught axe which was trying to wiggle itself free and return to its owner. The man who threw the axe had an epiphany as it dawned on him exactly what was about to happen. He knew it would be to no avail, but he started running anyway as it was better to at least try than to just accept his fate.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Ares released the newly lightning-infused axe and it shot off towards the fleeing man at a speed that even Ares would have trouble keeping up with.


    Sure enough, eventually, the man¡¯s mistakes caught up with him and the axe came bearing down on the back of his leg. The axe spun continually until it eventually tore into his calf. The axe was travelling far faster than the man and kept its momentum even after it cut into his leg, sweeping him off his feet, flipping him upside down, and dragging him off to go land in the same pile of bodies as Ares'' other two attackers. It didn¡¯t end there though. The axe was still harbouring a shocking surprise that discharged itself amongst the clumped-up bodies, creating what could only be described as a spectacular light show of agony and pain.


    A rather unpleasant burning and charred flesh kind of smell wafted over and made Ares feel both a little nauseous and a bit guilty. Not because he had been too harsh on them, but because any animals in the immediate area were going to have to put up with that awful stench for a couple of hours at least.


    And then there was one! Or, well, technically two as the merchant woman was still here and Ares wasn¡¯t going to let her go unpunished. Ares believed in equal rights for both genders just about as much as he believed in equal treatment, which is to say he wholeheartedly supported both notions. He wasn¡¯t sure what he was going to do to her just yet, but he was definitely going to do something.


    Ares could kinda sorta guess what was up with the last axe wielder. He was probably the kind of cultivator whose magic gave him some kind of unpredictable movement. As for how Ares knew, it was because the axe guy hadn¡¯t done anything up until now and that was because he couldn¡¯t. If he had, he would''ve gotten in the way of the boomerang-axe guy.


    Imagine trying to use a ranged weapon when one of your allies could just randomly pop up in your line of fire at any given moment. Not fun. This line of reasoning wasn¡¯t guaranteed to be accurate, but it was likely at least somewhat close to the truth, and even having a small inkling could help give an edge in a fight or prevent the opponent from gaining one. Not that Ares needed any help here of course, but it was good practice to keep his mind active and thinking about these things at all times.


    ¡°Murk ¡®N¡¯ Lurk!¡±


    Murk ¡®N¡¯ Lurk? Ares'' mind started working at a hundred miles a minute to try and figure out what this unique art was going to do.


    The last axe-wielder began a swinging motion which jerked Ares back into reality from his thoughts. As the axe descended, the space it passed through became an inky black fog that looked almost viscous. From the axe, a stream of fog gushed out and shot towards Ares.


    The black fog was actually quite slow in comparison to the boomerang from earlier, and it didn¡¯t look particularly deadly either which just put Ares on high alert. Was this guy really just another range-focused cultivator? But then why didn¡¯t he attack alongside the boomerang guy earlier? There has to be more to the art. It was as soon as that idea popped into Ares'' head that he noticed something odd about the fog, not only did it not disappear, he couldn¡¯t see through it at all. The fog was completely opaque. Although that certainly would have hindered the boomerang guy, he still felt like there was even more to this art. Between the axe-wielder¡¯s presence abruptly disappearing, and the inclusion of the word ¡®Lurk¡¯ in the name of the art, Ares finally figured it out.


    Murk ¡®N Lurk was a unique art that combined the darkness pillar¡¯s ¡®shadow¡¯ aspect and its ¡®tangible dark¡¯ aspect. The shadow aspect typically focused on manipulating a person¡¯s position using shadows, whereas the tangible dark was for attacking and defending. This unique art used tangible dark to create lingering fog shadows which the user could then move to instantaneously via the shadow aspect, as opposed to having to use pre-existing shadows. That was why he couldn¡¯t act earlier, not only did he obscure vision, but he was hiding somewhere in the thing that was obscuring vision too. It was completely unpredictable.


    Ares kept his wits about him and managed to dodge an axe attack that came completely out of left field from within the fog. The axe swing had also flung out even more fog that then allowed the axe wielder to jump around again. It was a never-ending cycle in which the amount of space the axe-wielder had to play around in just kept getting bigger and bigger while the space Ares had to dodge in kept getting smaller and smaller. The black mist had formed a circle around Ares and was slowly but surely encroaching upon his limited space.


    Trying to run through the fog would just result in the axe-wielder inevitably ambushing you repeatedly as you got lost and ran around in circles. Standing your ground would eventually become impossible, and the axe-wielder was basically untouchable if he hid within the fog. This was really quite a strong unique art. In fact, it was probably the strongest art Ares had ever seen, barring his own of course. But therein lies the issue for Mr Axe Man, Ares¡¯ arts didn¡¯t particularly care much for people who tried hiding from them. They sort of just worked as long as he pointed them in the general direction of the thing he wanted to remove from existance.


    Given Ares'' speed, he could have just run through the fog in a straight line without ever letting the man catch him. He could have also Shifted away, but those actions would have hurt his pride. Another way out was to just retaliate quickly enough after one of the man¡¯s sneak attacks, but that would have been boring. Besides, Ares had yet to blow anything up, other than that one guy¡¯s kidney mind you. Ares pulled out a few Shock Beads from his space ring and nonchalantly littered them around himself like he was throwing out bird seed. He also walked over to different parts of the fog and tossed some inside as well for good measure. This was more than enough to kill the man if he wasn¡¯t quick enough to react to what was about to happen to him, but that was his problem. Ares couldn¡¯t care less if he died or not. Ares hadn¡¯t planned on killing them as it felt unnecessary and a tad excessive for a few thieving clowns, but that didn¡¯t mean he would mourn them should he accidentally off one or two.


    Boooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmm


    What was once an area covered in a murky black fog became an area surrounded entirely in a dark golden series of semi-circular explosions. Within seconds, the area the axe wielder had murked was now hazed in a swirling golden hue. That same golden swirl grew in size and drowned the forest in its regal splendour.


    Ares simply watched his handiwork fade away from a nearby tree branch, one that conveniently happened to be right above the merchant lady, as the axe-wielder was blown up and straight over into the pile of his axe-wielding brethren¡¯s bodies. The last axe-wielder was down for the count, and missing both a finger and a toe but, hey, it could have been a lot worse. These people decided to try and steal from a monster who was already not in the greatest of moods, after all.


    The merchant lady couldn¡¯t move her legs out of pure fear and was glued to the spot. Her panic left her in such a sorry state that the beat of her heart was actually causing an abnormal pain in her chest and she was choking for air.


    Ares decided on her punishment and hung upside down from the tree in a similar fashion to when he had dropped in on Enyo. He had done this behind the woman, though, and she was still unaware that he was there.


    The merchant managed to steel her resolve to the point that she could move, and she turned around to run away, only to be greeted by her worst nightmare; Ares at eye height staring into her soul.


    ¡°BOO!¡± Ares yelled as loud and violently as he could while jutting out his hand as he grabbed her face. He wasn¡¯t actually going to hurt her as her cultivation base was so pathetic he might accidentally seriously injure her, but he wanted to really drive home that feeling of fear. He immediately released her and checked her face to see how she was doing, only for her to fall flat as soon as he let go. She had fainted the second Ares¡¯ hand blacked out her vision.


    Ares felt like there was still somewhat of a discrepancy between what her henchmen had been through in comparison to her, but he couldn¡¯t think of any other way to punish her minus stealing all her stuff, but he was going to do that anyway. He had briefly considered removing her clothes and tying her up to try and curb her excessive pride, but if some ill-intentioned individual in the area happened to have their way with her, he would feel somewhat responsible. Ultimately, he just decided to throw her into the pile of bodies. At least this way the smell of melted flesh would seep into her clothes and give her something to remember this occasion by. He also made sure to bury her a bit deeper, both because she deserved it, and to prevent any untoward individuals spotting an unconscious woman amongst a pile of men and getting the wrong idea.


    Something about adopting Appa and having a daughter now made Ares that much more aware and responsible in regards to women¡¯s plights. It would be hypocritical for him to say he doesn¡¯t want anything to happen to his sweet little daughter and then half-ass things when it came to other people because he didn¡¯t care. Of course, there may be women out there who are just irredeemable, at which point Ares wouldn¡¯t give a damn, but this merchant was literally harmless. She couldn¡¯t hurt Ares even if he stood still and let her try. Also, she didn¡¯t seem like she was out to take lives, so he decided to show some leniency. All in all, no death needed dealing, so Ares just took their stuff and went on his merry way. Merry primarily because he had obtained a fair few cooking ingredients without the need to go and procure them himself. Now all he needed to do was kill an animal (not a cute one), or a monster or two, and take the meat back to his forest friends to enjoy a nice meal. But first, he still needed to find out what exactly that thing calling to him was.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re ok?¡± Enyo turned her head in Aejaz¡¯s direction to see him limping along.


    ¡°Hm? Oh, yeah, no, I¡¯ve never been better.¡± Ares let out a smile and started to laugh before he immediately stopped as it made the pain come back full force.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. And after everything you did for me too,¡± Allie looked a little guilty and was speaking a tad bit quieter than usual.


    ¡°Really, it¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to apologise.¡±


    ¡°No, I should. I''m also sorry for Strength not apologising, he can be quite proud and egotistical, so I¡¯ll say it on his behalf.¡±


    ¡°Hey, there¡¯s really no need to feel guilty. If it weren¡¯t for your healing pills, I¡¯d still be in a miserable state. I should be saying thank you!¡±


    Allie smiled a bit as Aejaz managed to cheer her up. This, in turn, naturally made Aejaz ecstatic, and he came to the twisted conclusion that getting hit by that art was utterly worth it.


    ¡°Hm, it looks like our friends from earlier picked a losing battle,¡± Enyo grabbed the other¡¯s attention and pointed to a pile of groaning, steaming flesh with traces of lightning sparking and crackling away here and there.


    It had been long enough since their beating that they had managed to recuperate somewhat and were now falling off one another while moaning in pain. It was quite a spectacle to watch the four disfigured axe-men trying to stand. One had an axe in his calf, one was missing a toe and a finger, one had his chest caved in, and the other had a limp, dangling, broken arm. It was pretty clear these people had been defeated one-sidedly.


    ¡°Ugh, that BASTARD! Who does he think he is? And who the fuck goes around dangling from a tree like that just to mess with people. God DAMN it!¡± The merchant lady had woken up, with the pain in her chest still present, and kicked a rock whilst complaining.


    ¡°Dangling from a tree?¡± That sentence struck a chord with Enyo who had encountered something similar a while back. ¡°Hey! You!¡±


    ¡°Who the hell are¡­ Oh! fucking fantastic! What do you people want? Your silver rabbit weed? Well too bad. In an ironic twist of fate, we¡¯ve been robbed! If you want it back, you¡¯re going to have to go fight that damn lunatic. Honestly? He¡¯s not worth messing with, so don¡¯t bother and just accept your loss.¡±


    ¡°Silver rabbit weed? Tsk, I don¡¯t care about that. The person who robbed you, quick on his feet? A runic cape on his back? An insufferable tongue? Any of that ring a bell?¡±


    ¡°Quick on his feet? Fuck knows, he practically stood still the entire damn fight. But a runic cape and an insufferable tongue? That sounds about right, I wanted to cut both off by the time he was done with us. Why? You know him? You lot in cahoots? You gonna tell him to come back and rob the clothes off our backs too for good measure? Fuck off. We¡¯ve got our own shit to deal with here.¡±


    One of the four men tripped and fell into a nearby puddle.


    ¡°Ares really does leave quite the noticeable trail wherever he goes.¡± Aejaz scratched his chin.


    Enyo glanced around at the destruction that had taken its toll on the immediate area. ¡°You don¡¯t say. At least he didn¡¯t kill anyone. Maybe he has a guilty conscience after all?¡±


    ¡°How does he manage to make a mess as easily as he does? He always seems to have an oversized explosion up his sleeve, right? Where does he even get them all?¡± Allie tilted her head and looked over at Aejaz.


    ¡°Hm?  Oh, right, he never did explain his pillar, did he?¡±


    ¡°No, your explanation was interrupted during the festival by an explosion, and his explanation was interrupted when he decided to kill those two from before,¡± Enyo reported back the specifics of both occasions.


    ¡°Ah, well, you see, his magic is kinda unique.¡±

 Chapter 28: It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts

    ¡°A unique pillar!?¡± Enyo couldn¡¯t hide the amazement in her voice.


    ¡°That''s¡­ That¡¯s never happened before, has it?¡± Allie was equally as surprised.


    ¡°No, he¡¯s the first,¡± Aejaz replied with a hint of pride etched in his voice.


    ¡°What even is it?¡± Enyo wanted to know the specifics.


    Aejaz nodded at the land around him that had been blown to kingdom-come. ¡°The pillar of destruction. Kinda obvious when someone says it out loud, huh? There¡¯re also the three aspects¡­¡± Aejaz gave a rundown of what he knew about Ares pillar.


    ¡°I guess that explains the explosions everywhere he goes,¡± Enyo muttered. ¡°And I¡¯m imagining the sect didn¡¯t hassle him over the incident because of how much he, and his Shock Beads, are worth to them. No wonder Ares acts like he¡¯s king of the castle, he practically is. Tsk, tyrannical despot.¡± Enyo seemed to have a habit of kissing her teeth out of frustration whenever mentioning Ares.


    ---------------------------------


    Achoo


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ares was caught completely off guard by a sneeze he wasn¡¯t even remotely prepared for. ¡°Well, that was odd.¡±


    Sneezes weren¡¯t all too common amongst cultivators.


    Achoo


    ¡°Ha, guess someone¡¯s talking about me.¡±


    Achoo


    ¡°Jesus Christ! Are they writing a fucking biography!?¡± Ares had to stop momentarily as he almost fell off a tree branch thanks to all the sneezing. ¡°Hm?¡±


    A mechanical whirring noise was getting progressively louder and louder. There were also sounds of intermittent collisions and the rumbling of earth slowly heading in Ares¡¯ direction. Ares had gotten fairly deep into the forest now, and he was expecting to start finding the monsters that had been causing trouble for the locals, but he had absolutely no idea what kind of monster could possibly make those kinds of noises.


    Part of the reason the treetop tigers and hydra deer were so close to the outskirts was because they had been forced out by the new monsters inhabiting their regular spots. They weren¡¯t the monsters causing issues which, alongside their undeniable cuteness, is why Ares hadn¡¯t killed them. Once the new monsters were dealt with, the tigers and deer would go back to their original habitats and stop bothering people.


    He needed to bring back proof of job completion, but it had never occurred to him that he didn¡¯t know what type of monster or monsters it was exactly he was being sent to deal with. It wouldn¡¯t be anything too strong, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t have been an outer court task, but Ares couldn¡¯t think of any weak monsters that inhabited this kind of forest that would be capable of making such a ruckus. As Ares was contemplating leaving and just not bothering with whatever the creature was, he saw someone running in his direction from the same place the weird sounds were coming from.


    ¡°RUN!'''' The mysterious new person didn¡¯t look or sound panicked, but was definitely running as though her life depended on it. Despite whatever danger this person was in, she had maintained an impressive degree of calmness which reminded Ares of a certain someone. On closer inspection, this person was wearing a very similar set of armour to Enyo as well, the only major difference being that she wasn¡¯t wearing a helmet. The girl yelled at Ares as she sprinted past him and off into the distance, ¡°ARE YOU DEAF OR INSANE!? RUN YOU DAMN FOOL!¡±


    Ares'' curiosity had been piqued and, now, he was interested in knowing what kind of monster was strutting around the forest like it owned the place. If it was something really dangerous, then he would either have to kill it or warn Aejaz, Enyo, and Allie about it. He might still be in somewhat of a bad mood with them, but he wasn¡¯t going to just let them be if there was something capable of killing them wandering around.


    Crash


    A group of three trees were demolished and bits of wood splintered off it directly at Ares. Ares drew his sword and cut them all effortlessly before re-sheathing his sword and checking to see what the culprit of this whole mess was exactly. ¡°Ah¡­ seriously? This is going to be a hard fight.¡± Ares was looking directly at the mechanised menace responsible for tearing down the forest. It was a Mecha-dryad.


    Mecha-dryads are incredibly rare but also incredibly strong monsters that are variants of regular dryads. Regular dryads are existences that come into being when a tree is surrounded by large quantities of mana in the air for countless years. As weird as it is, the mana essentially impregnates the tree and thus a dryad sprouts from its roots, remaining attached to the tree for the rest of its life. Their head and upper torso stick out from the trunk and the roots effectively become their limbs. It¡¯s been argued that dryads are just sentient treasures. Although sentient, dryads cannot speak and are incredibly hostile which is the reason they are classified as monsters. Dryads are able to uproot the trees they¡¯re attached to and use them as mobile-fortresses that they ride around in and terrorise people with while using nature pillar magic.


    As for Mecha-dryads, they are the result of dryads born with a race-specific aspect, the ¡®automatize¡¯ aspect. Although not a unique aspect, the automatize aspect has a rather scarce chance of manifesting in new-born dryads. It¡¯s typically a lower chance than even that of a unique aspect cropping up with only one being born, on average, every year across the entirety of the domain. Although monster collectors will pay a hefty sum, Mecha-dryads have no rare parts that serve any real purpose for cultivators. They¡¯re just massive nuisances. A Mecha-dryad that¡¯s had hundreds of years to age, wizen, and grow in strength will become a global issue that requires multiple high-realm cultivators to tackle. Thankfully for Ares, the Mecha-dryad ploughing its way through the forest like a feller buncher was still in its infancy, coming in at around 24ft. If Ares were to guess, this Mecha-dryad was equivalent roughly to a mental accumulation, 7th or 8th stage cultivator, although it would inevitably be far harder to deal with than that. It was also highly likely no one actually knew of this thing¡¯s existence otherwise it would have been hunted down already. Perhaps that girl had accidentally stumbled across its hiding place and disturbed its cultivation.


    The trees that Mecha-dryads are attached to become cased in metal, making them akin to pilotable robots with the dryad sticking out of its makeshift cockpit. The whirring noise Ares heard earlier was one of its weapons firing on all cylinders, shooting out steel seeds that had collided with, and tore into, the surrounding trees. The automatize aspect allowed dryads to convert nature into metal while retaining the nature pillar¡¯s original versatility. The nature pillar provides ease of shaping of magic, while the metal pillar provides solidity and lethality, making for an incredibly dangerous aspect. Dangerous, but not perfect. The major flaw with this aspect is that it was slow as molasses. Nature isn¡¯t the fastest pillar to begin with and then combining it with another slow pillar does it no favours whatsoever. If it weren¡¯t for this one glaring flaw, Ares would have had to run from this encounter no questions asked.


    The Mecha-dryad noticed Ares and the tree it piloted rotated to face him. Mecha-dryads were easy to run away from, so it wasn''t going to bother chasing the other person when someone else was right in front of it. The Mecha-dryad hunkered down and seven holes opened up across its frame.


    Ares could hear a strange buzzing noise, so he took off running in a circle around the Mecha-dryad. There was no sense in waiting for it to fire whatever that weapon was before moving.


    As he was circling around the behemoth monstrosity, the ground trembled and the tree''s metallic roots burst out from underneath the earth. Whenever the roots surfaced, they would viciously whip at Ares who would deftly duck and dodge out of their way. The dirt clinging to the roots would be flicked off as the roots struck at Ares, more often than not tunnelling into his back at a painful speed, leaving miniscule, bloody holes.


    Ares tried flicking an Echo at the metal tree out of curiosity, but it did absolutely nothing and just bounced off the metal frame. Not a good start but, then again, Ares hadn''t really done anything yet, he was still just testing the waters. He didn¡¯t want to jump in until he knew what that infernal buzzing noise was. Unfortunately, the Mecha-dryad didn¡¯t seem keen on firing it. Perhaps it too was testing the waters.


    Ares had started paying more attention to the dirt and was receiving fewer injuries the more he got used to the root¡¯s attacks, not that the injuries were anything major for his bloodline which was healing them all as soon as he received them anyway. He even used a few of his experimental pocket black holes to absorb some of the dirt being fired at him. Might as well get some testing done before the going gets any tougher.


    Ares was getting a little fed up with the overly cautious dryad that had yet to actually commit to an attack, so he took out a sack of roughly 20 Shock Beads and chucked it at the tree, specifically the dryad¡¯s cockpit. It was the last large batch of Shock Beads he had on him, but he could always make some more after this.


    Booooooooommmmmmm


    Most of the earth hiding the tree¡¯s roots was utterly annihilated and Ares no longer had to react to sneak attacks but, annoyingly, the tree had sustained essentially no damage from that bombing. If anything, Ares had just made his own situation worse by completely destroying every last piece of cover in the immediate area. That being said, he had accomplished his goal of goading the dryad into action.


    The dryad looked surprised that such a weak human was packing such a massive punch. It decided to try and kill Ares as soon as possible in case he had any more tricks up his sleeve, tricks that might actually pose a threat. The dryad opened up the holes on its tree¡¯s frame further and shot out seven, different coloured, gigantic oleander flowers. The flowers were normal at the centre, but coated in razor sharp metal around the spinning edges, making them function like buzz-saws. As for the colours, they weren¡¯t just purely aesthetic. There was one for every colour present in a rainbow and each had a unique property that Ares had to figure out the hard way as he continued to scurry around.


    The red was by far the fastest but, rather than homing in on Ares and chasing after him like the others, it simply hovered a slight distance away from him, constantly draining his blood.


    The orange was a wheel of flames that left a burning trail wherever it passed, making it difficult for Ares to run circles around the tree in the same path repeatedly without injuring his feet.


    The yellow would periodically send out jolts of electricity that would zap Ares. Luckily, this one was one of the easiest to deal with defensively as Ares just had to block it with the Zephyr. Doing this while on the move was certainly a hassle, but getting paralysed in the leg would probably be the death of Ares right now, so he wasn¡¯t exactly complaining.


    The green was the sharpest of the lot and could split itself into smaller parts that would try to cut Ares off by intercepting him. The original flower, which stayed further back to prevent its destruction, was able to keep constantly producing more of the little ones. Ares was having to use his Zephyr not just to block the electricity, but also as a platform to take unexpected paths thanks to the orange and green flower¡¯s combination hampering his route.


    The blue constantly fired shards of ice at Ares that were far more painful than the dirt pellets from the roots which, thankfully, stopped attacking. Ares mostly just accepted that he was going to get hit by some of these and let it happen. The Zephyr could have blocked them if it wasn¡¯t busy doing a million other things at once. Instead, he relied on his bloodline to patch himself up and keep his body from freezing over from the inside.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The indigo was pulsing away near the back of the seven flowers, emitting a strange humming sound that kept making Ares teeter and nearly fall asleep on the spot. Every time it hummed, Ares could smell a sort of fragrant pollen entering through his nose, making him drowsier with every passing moment.


    The purple was simultaneously the worst and the simplest to deal with as it had arguably the most obnoxious effect, but it was also the one that bothered Ares the least frequently of the lot. If Ares ever made direct eye contact with the centre of the flower, he would hallucinate and momentarily lose sight of the flowers. Everything but himself and the dryad would turn invisible until he ran disintegration magic through his mind to remove the mental attack. If Ares was in the mental accumulation realm, he probably could have prevented these attacks but, right now, he simply had to avoid looking at it.


    Indigo had to go. Ares thanked his lucky stars there wasn¡¯t a defence and/or healing oriented flower, otherwise the indigo flower would have had far too much time to keep doing its thing while Ares¡¯ attention was focused elsewhere. It was by far the most annoying of the flowers and also the most likely to be the cause of his death if he didn¡¯t do something about it relatively soon. Ares had tried throwing a Shock Bead at it, but the yellow flower simply zapped it before it got into range. Echoes would probably be unreliable on a moving target so Ares was going to have to cut it with his sword. Ares hadn¡¯t used his Shift yet, so he could still use that to catch the dryad and the flowers off-guard. As much as he wanted to avoid revealing all the cards up his sleeve, it was getting progressively more and more necessary to do so as the dryad was readying its seed guns. Ares planted his foot down and swivelled on his heel. He ran directly at the red flower and slashed vertically in an attempt to force it to the side. He wasn¡¯t actually trying to deal with any of the other flowers just yet, but he was at least going to try and draw them into firing on themselves accidentally before he Shifted away. His plan worked as the red flower flew out of the sword''s path, crashing directly into the orange flower, causing both to lose a few petals. Seeing the success of his plan be far greater than what he had hoped for, Ares changed his immediate plan of action and reached out with his hand.


    ¡°Not Even Light!¡±


    The art was far stronger than the portable versions he had been throwing around earlier to deal with the dirt even if this version could currently only affect magic. It appeared directly behind the red and orange flowers, preventing them from escaping backwards while also denying the ranged flowers a chance to fire on Ares as he dealt with the two in front of him. This of course didn¡¯t stop the yellow and blue flowers from trying to shoot at Ares, but it was to no avail as the pitch-black blob devoured any and all magic that came even remotely close to it. The flowers couldn¡¯t get near to it either as they were also constructed with magic, meaning they would be sucked into the endless void if they weren¡¯t careful.


    Ares took another swing, this time horizontally, to catch both flowers with the same attack. Just as the blade reached the first flower, Ares coated the sword in disintegration magic, allowing it to cut through effortlessly. He then briefly turned it off during the gap between the red and orange flower, only to re-enable it just as the sword connected with the orange flower. This was incredibly difficult to pull off, and may have seemed excessive, but Ares still hadn¡¯t recovered the mana he¡¯d used from his run-in with the axe-wielders in the morning. He was trying to keep as much mana in reserve as he could as he knew he would need a fair bit for the dryad later.


    Speaking of the dryad, its seed guns were ready to fire. As soon as Ares'' black hole disappeared, it let loose with reckless abandon. It kept firing at Ares¡¯ position even though the first few rounds had kicked up so much dust that nothing was even visible anymore. The dryad only ceased fire when the guns overheated, only to find Ares missing. It looked around just in time to witness Ares running his sword through the indigo flower, destroying it for good. Thanks to the dryad¡¯s over-aggressiveness, it hadn¡¯t seen Ares use his Shift art to move over to the flower, meaning Ares could use it once more before it cottoned on to what was happening.


    Ares decided the green one was next on the list. Removing it would give Ares full freedom back to run in whichever direction was optimal for him to both dodge and attack the other flowers, this would be particularly important given that Shift was about to lose its surprise factor. Ares Shifted behind the green flower and swung down vertically. The swing was far slower than Ares had expected it to be and missed. Between the ice in his veins and the sleepiness, his physical state was starting to deteriorate. Fortunately, his bloodline was working overtime to deal with the ice and was keeping Ares afloat with a mixture of adrenaline and pride so unbelievably excessive that Ares simply refused to stop moving.


    As for how the swing missed, the green flower had just barely reacted to Ares presence in time and disassembled itself at the centre to dodge the strike before re-merging and flying away. As it was leaving, it also created a few miniature flowers and sent them straight at Ares to cover its retreat. These small flowers were unimpressive on their own, but the purple flower had reared its head and flown directly behind them, blinding Ares.


    ¡°Pain in the ass,¡± Ares grumbled. He could no longer tell which direction he was about to be attacked from; he just knew it was going to be a lot at once. He ducked down and activated one of the runic patterns on his Zephyr. The engravings glowed brightly and the Zephyr formed itself into a protective dome around Ares.


    He would still take damage and feel pain whenever the razor flowers cut past the Zephyr but it was significantly dampened and he was spared physical wounds, that was what was important. The red flower had taken its toll and caused some serious blood loss. Preventing any injuries that would cause even more bleeding would do Ares a lot of favours in the long run as his weariness was slowly, but surely, catching up on him. It also meant his bloodline¡¯s regenerative properties wouldn¡¯t lose out on any of its effectiveness as it was enhanced based on what percentage of his blood was still present in his body. It was still ludicrously good even at low percentages, but the higher the better.


    Ares turned the mental attack that was lodged in his mind to dust and undid the Zephyr rune. The first thing he noticed was that the remaining four flowers were all now flying much closer to one another. This was only natural as it would prevent Ares from Shifting in safely. The element of surprise was gone now.


    ¡°Stupid Ares!¡± Ares smacked his forehead. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you think of this before!?¡± Ares had managed to frustrate himself. Wasn¡¯t this scenario perfect? If they were all grouped up like this, a single Grand Annihilation would deal with them all in one fell swoop!


    He should have used his Shift art earlier!


    Ares chalked up this lack of foresight to a lack of sleep and the fact that he was even more tired thanks to that stupid indigo flower. The real danger of that thing wasn¡¯t even its ability to make you fall unconscious, it was its ability to make you feel groggy and impair judgement.


    Ares started dashing around again while herding the flowers so that when he blew them up, they would be in the path of the dryad.


    ¡°Perfect.¡± Ares slid to a halt, took a single step towards the flowers, and gracefully swung his sword in a perfect arc.


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    Ares couldn¡¯t help but admire the beauty of this art every time he used it. His only regret was that there was no idyllic scenery around to blow up, as he¡¯d already done so with his Shock Beads earlier. The chain explosions were like music to his ears, a melodious cacophony of chaos that left even the very air gasping for breath. The universe trembled with every detonation, hammering and batternig space wherever the art graced the world with its presence.


    A short while later, the explosions finally settled and Ares could no longer see any flowers whatsoever. They had been completely removed from this plane of existence, never to be seen again. In their place was a trench that the explosions had dug out.


    The Mecha-dryad was currently stuck inside of the trench. It looked furious as not only had it lost its main method of attack, and would have to cultivate for a few months to get the flowers back, but also because it was completely trapped. It kept trying to raise its metal stump over the ridge of the trench but could never quite manage to escape successfully.


    Ares was also furious; his Grand Annihilation had done nothing but leave a few dents here and there. Unacceptable, blasphemous even! It¡¯s the pillar of destruction damn it, not the pillar of tickling. But, despite his seething anger, he was fully aware that the metal surrounding the tree was impenetrable to him right now. Nothing Ares had in his arsenal would be able to deal with that degree of sturdiness unless he was allowed to hack away at the hull with disintegration magic for a entire day straight. His nagging pride refused to let him turn around and leave though. Between his bloodline, his obsession with the destruction pillar¡¯s all-encompassing might, and his own stubbornness, he couldn¡¯t bear to walk away and admit defeat. Think brain, think! Ares could sense his mana was running extremely low, he knew he was only getting progressively drowsier, and the dryad was still basically unharmed. He needed to end this quickly. Ares started running through what other people would do in his situation to try and come up with ideas. Aejaz? No. Appa? No. Li Li? God no. Dirk? Somehow even worse. Onno? Good for running away. Water Guy? Still no. Lightning Guy¡­ No¡­ But¡­ HAHAHA, IT¡¯S SO SIMPLE! Ares was incomparably joyful when a pretty reliable plan came to mind. ¡°Lightning Guy, I owe you one!¡± Ares dashed straight towards the dryad with what little energy he had left to spare.


    The dryad wore a confused expression on its face and couldn¡¯t help but start to feel anxious. Why was the human running toward it? Its outer shell was hard enough to block even sensory enhancement cultivators, what was this human trying to accomplish? The human had already failed to damage the tree twice now, what could he still possibly have left that could outdo cultivators two entire realms higher than him?


    The truth?


    Nothing.


    Ares had absolutely nothing left.


    The only thing he really needed though was a different perspective and some ingenuity! This little trick of his was going to run him dry on the mana front though, so this had to work out for him, or he was going to have to drag himself away in shame. He was also still going to have to make sure he didn¡¯t, you know, die to the dryad too. Just because it was immobile, that didn¡¯t mean it couldn¡¯t still defend itself. It had no more ranged attacks at its disposal now which certainly made things much better but, on the other hand, Ares didn¡¯t have enough mana left to splurge on Shifts or other arts. He was going to have to do things the hard way and put in a bit of elbow grease!


    The dryad manifested a colossal, earthen, log from the mud and wrapped the tree¡¯s metallic branches around it in order to pick it up. The tree dragged the log horizontally in an arc along the ground to swipe at Ares.


    Ares jumped as high as he could before making a platform with the Zephyr and jumping again to get enough height to vault over the log. Ares rolled as he landed and broke out into a sprint. He leant his sword arm back while running and hurled the sword straight at the tree¡¯s base. He arrived at the sword and stepped onto the hilt sticking out of the ground, using it to boost himself slightly higher as he sprung off it. Once again, he used the Zephyr to give himself a mid-air jump which allowed him to just barely reach the top of the dryad.


    The dryad looked up, and back over his shoulder, in a fit of rage and raised his hand to recall the branches carrying the log. The branches coiled up and around the tree, rising to the top to go and fend off the intruder.


    Ares found a flat surface on top of the dryad and stamped his foot down. The echoing sound of his foot stamping was indicative of a hollow structure, which confirmed his plan could work. An evil smile crept up on his face until the branches came hurtling toward him, at which point his face soured a little. There were really a lot of branches to deal with, and all of them were aiming at his foot as it was giving off traces of mana. Ares grabbed the first one to come flying in and wrestled with it in his grasp to prevent it from escaping. A second branch attempted to sweep low, but got stomped on by Ares¡¯ free foot. Two more rushed in and Ares was running out of limbs. He slapped one, which dealt with it momentarily, before reaching out to grab the other, using it to then wrap around the branch he had just smacked, dealing with both in one fell swoop.


    There were still more though, and a lot more at that. Ares activated another rune on his Zephyr, this one allowed him to control each ¡®wing¡¯ as though it were another limb. This little trick allowed him to hold off a little longer by tangling with two more branches. One particular, tiny, conniving branch slithered across the metal surface, faced Ares, and paused briefly as if to mock his inability to stop any more branches. It picked up the pace and went to speed past Ares before realising it had made a serious miscalculation. Sure, Ares had no arms, legs, or Zephyr parts left to block, but that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t use his head! And not in the thinking kinda way. Ares had thrown his head back and then forward in a headbutt motion but, instead of following though, because headbutting a plant was as useless as it was idiotic, he opened his jaw and bit into the metal branch, while using disintegration magic, as hard as he could. It gave off a foul, earthy taste that was as bitter as it was stale and the metal was hurting his teeth but, hey, it bought Ares more time, and time was of the essence.


    Another set of two branches came spiralling over and, this time, there really was nothing Ares could do anymore; he had no limbs left to spare and no mana he could afford to use to stop them. Both branches tore through him, one in the calf and one in the ankle. The sudden jolt of pain, combined with his strained mana, almost made him slip and lose control over the other branches, but he managed to keep steady through sheer willpower. To put it simply, Ares refused to lose to a tree. That was what this has devolved into. Ares was outwardly grimacing but inwardly rejoicing as he finally felt comfortable his plan had been executed sufficiently well enough to kill this damn thing, and just in the nick of time too. Ares had finally reached the point where he only had one art worth of mana left in him, and he thanked his lucky stars he chose to do meridian expansion before skeletal structuring, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been able to pull this off due to a lack of adequate mana supply. He was also praising himself for not being wasteful with his disintegration mana earlier with the red and orange flowers.


    The Mecha-dryad had manifested another log, albeit smaller than the last one, and had its remaining branches lug it up to its head to smack Ares in the gut, sending him reeling off the Mecha-dryad and far off into the distance. It had sent him tumbling far enough away that Ares managed to crash into a tree despite having blown up all the ones in the area they had originally been fighting in. The tree trunk Ares crashed into split near the bottom and gradually tipped over as he slid down its side into a sitting posture with his legs stretched, his arm around his wounded stomach, and his back against what was left of the base of the tree. Every tiny movement made Ares feel as though his world was spinning and his abdomen was splitting. He couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of the time Enyo had rammed him into a tree but immediately decided that this was far worse.


    The Mecha-dryad had gone back to trying to free itself from the trench it was in to no avail. Eventually, it started to use the log it had beaten Ares with to dig its way out and was finding success until it was distracted by Ares yelling at it.


    ¡°HEY YOU, SHITHEAD!¡± Ares just wanted its attention, but he was also in a terrible mood which was why he was cursing like a sailor. Thankfully, he was about to unload a whole lot of stress in a few seconds. ¡°YOU SEEING THIS?¡± Ares held up his palm and poked it with his finger, light swirled on the other side of the palm, and a Shock Bead formed and plopped to the ground.


    A look of pure horror came across the dryad¡¯s twisted face as the implications of what it had just seen dawned on it.


    Ares had remembered Lightning Guy¡¯s fight with Slick but, more specifically, his stunt with the ice-prison. The reason it was impossible for Slick to break it in time was because he had to do it from the outside. Certain things were easier to break from the inside in one fell swoop. This was doubly applicable to the dryad as its metal casing was just a shell. The tree inside it was just plain old wood and that was what the dryad was physically attached to. No amount of metal coating could save it from an internal explosion and Ares had just spent the last 30 or so seconds repeatedly spawning Shock Beads inside its fragile body when he had planted his foot on its head. Ares had never thought to use Shock Beads in such a manner. Technically, what he had just done was no different to burying them inside of a regular tree, or a piece of metal, and thus was perfectly feasible. It also got him thinking about potentially planting them inside of humans. As for the mana consumption, although detonating multiple would cost him a lot of mana, stacking them up meant he only needed to detonate a single one to make them all blow up, like with what happened at his stall during Cultural Appreciation Day.


    The dryads'' mad scrambling did nothing for it, even it itself couldn¡¯t break through its own defences to get rid of the pile of Beads that it was now painfully aware was rattling around within its inner sanctum.


    ¡°YOU WANNA KNOW HOW MANY IS IN THERE? HELL, ME TOO. I LOST COUNT. GOOD LUCK ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU ROBO-FLORIST FUCK!¡± Not Ares'' finest vocabulary but, for the first time in a long time, he was really out of it.


    ¡°SHOCK BEAD!¡±

 Chapter 29: Liar Extraordinaire

    Five minutes prior.


    ¡°Bellona?¡±


    ¡°Enyo? What are you doing here, sis¡¯? Wait, no, now¡¯s really not a good time for this. We¡¯ve gotta leave, like, yesterday.¡± Bellona held Enyo¡¯s wrist and tried dragging Enyo off, only to find her completely immovable. Like a boulder.


    Bellona wore armour which, aside from the smaller frame, was identical to Enyo¡¯s, minus the helmet which she had in her possession but chose not to wear. She sported a black emo shag with a middle parting in which the sides and back of her hair came down to just below her jaw. The front tuft leant to the right side of her face and was just long enough to curve over her amber eye which was nosily peeking out from behind the mini curtain bang, emphasising the sly and mischievous look on her somewhat-freckled face. Slightly longer than usual fangs, a sharp face with a small mouth and a small, pointed nose allowed her to switch looks from ¡®soft and cute¡¯ to ¡®devilish little gremlin¡¯ in a heartbeat. The messy scene kid aesthetic combined with her tomboy-ish face was rather distinct. So distinct in fact, that if Ares were here, he would have immediately recognized her as the person that had kicked a hornet¡¯s nest directly onto his lap as she was the person that was running away from the Mecha-dryad. Of course the armour would have also been a dead give away.


    ¡°Geeze, what have you been eating? Why are you so damn heavy!¡±


    Thunk


    Enyo had brought out her shield and whacked Bellona with it. ¡°Why are you in such a rush? What¡¯s going on? Why are you here? I don¡¯t plan on going anywhere until you explain things.¡±


    ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhh, can you not just listen for once? You were always like this. We really have to goooooooooo.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Allie and Aejaz were just standing off to the side, they turned to one another and shrugged their shoulders at each other, neither had any clue what was happening.


    ¡°There¡¯s a Mecha-dryad! I was with some other clan members on a hunting mission when we ran into it. We all scattered and ran for our lives. Unfortunately, the damn thing chose to chase me, and I¡¯ve been running since!¡±


    ¡°Not that I don¡¯t believe you, but there¡¯s absolutely no sign of anything chasing you.¡± Enyo peered around Bellona and found nothing except the calm tweeting of nearby songbirds.


    ¡°Ahh hell, that idiot¡¯s probably wishing he had just listened to me. I guess it¡¯s his problem now.¡±


    ¡°What idiot?¡±


    ¡°As I was running, I passed by some air-headed fool who didn¡¯t seem to care all that much about the fact that I was yelling at him to run. Ha, I bet he¡¯s running now though. No way someone with his poxy cultivation can put up a fight against that thing.¡±


    Enyo¡¯s face twitched under her helmet as she had a gut feeling she knew exactly which poxy-cultivation, airheaded idiot her sister had run into. Enyo sighed and put her hand where her forehead would be under her helmet. ¡°Black-cape with engravings, highly punch-able face, and probably sitting on a tree branch?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Don¡¯t tell me you know that guy? I mean, I wouldn¡¯t say his face was punch-able necesarilly, but the rest is accurate.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, yes. I know him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, uh, oops. In my defence, I did warn him though.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, don¡¯t worry about him. He¡¯s comparable to a cockroach, he won¡¯t die. I¡¯m sure he would sooner become a half-decent person than keel over.¡±


    ¡°Uh, you don¡¯t seem too fond of him?¡± Bellona tilted her head slightly.


    ¡°He¡¯s a damn weasel. Actually, he makes weasels look like role models. Just don¡¯t even get me started on him.¡±


    ¡°Enyo?¡± Allie had finally decided to speak up and try to figure out what was happening with this mysterious person.


    ¡°Oh, right. You know I come from a clan so, technically, I have a lot of ¡®brothers¡¯ and ¡®sisters¡¯, but Bellona is one of my actual siblings, a blood relative. We grew up together. She, along with the rest of our clan¡¯s generation, have come to this domain to carry out our task. I was the only person who went to Red Sun, but most other clan members grouped up when they joined their respective sects. I¡¯m the only one that doesn¡¯t have regular contact with other clan members, which, depending on the clan member, can either be a good or a bad thing I suppose.¡±


    Bellona had looked over to see the other two people she hadn¡¯t paid any mind to previously. ¡°AHH! She¡¯s sooooo cuteeeeeee.¡± Similarly to Ares, Bellona liked both cute people and things to a shocking degree, and Allie was like a porcelain doll to her.


    ¡°Bellona, this is Allie. I¡¯m acting as her guardian, and she¡¯s like a little sister to me.¡±


    Bellona had run up to Allie and started hugging her. ¡°You¡¯re adorable! And who¡¯s this? You¡¯re not gonna say you picked up a little brother too, are you?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s the ¡®idiot¡¯s¡¯ brother.¡± Enyo used air quotes when referring to Ares as an idiot.


    Aejaz smiled and waved politely. ¡°Heya.¡±


    ¡°Heyo! Sorry about your brother, really didn¡¯t mean to run into him.¡±


    ¡°Ah, no worries. He¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s either some serious trust, or some serious laziness. Anyway, we need to get out of this forest and go inform someone who can actually deal with that thing before it becomes a serious threat.¡±


    ¡°You''re at mental accumulation, 4th stage right? And you were with others who were presumably at a similar cultivation. Could you really not kill it?¡± Enyo questioned. She had vaguely heard of Mecha-dryads, but had no clue just how problematic they were.


    ¡°Nope, couldn¡¯t even scratch its outer hull. That thing is majorly tough.¡±


    ¡°Was it back that way?¡± Aejaz pointed in the direction Bellona had come running from.


    ¡°Yeah, why? You aren¡¯t seriously thinking of trying to fight that thing, are you?¡±


    ¡°No. No, God no.¡±


    ¡°Good, ¡®cos that would be idiotic.¡±


    Enyo spoke up as she started heading towards the dryad¡¯s last known position, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the problem. It¡¯s the kind of thing an idiot would do.¡±


    ¡°... You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me¡­ That guy isn¡¯t the type to actually try and fight a Mecha-dryad, right? There¡¯s no way he could put up a fight against that thing.¡±


    ¡°As much as I hate to say it, you¡¯d be surprised.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? I thought you said he was a cockroach and a weasel? What the hell kind of person is he?¡±


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    A colossal dark-gold dome wrapped over the horizon like a regal rising sun. The air shook and the vibrating pulses gave rise to a buzzing sensation that prickled away at the skin.


    ¡°The Ostentatious kind.¡±


    The four travelled for a while until they reached a scene of pure carnage. Actually, calling it carnage was probably inaccurate as there was simply nothing left. Carnage was whatever had taken place here before they arrived.


    ¡°I thought we were in a forest?¡± Bellona was utterly bewildered. Her confusion was justified though as the area in front of her more closely resembled a desert. The only things still left here were the occasional shards of metal buried deep in the massive pit and a trail of blood.


    ¡°Unbelievable! Is all Ares good for seriously just leaving behind a mess wherever he goes!? It hasn¡¯t even been a day since his last explosive escapade! A DAY!¡± Enyo¡¯s fists were curling into balls.


    Bellona slipped over to Allie¡¯s side and gently nudged her while whispering, ¡°Uh, is she always like this with this, ¡¯Ares¡¯, guy? ¡®Cos this is definitely not the stoic Enyo I remember.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. He really drives her up the wall, but I don¡¯t think she actually hates him. It¡¯s really weird.¡±


    ¡°Ha, you''re not wrong.¡±


    Aejaz scratched his head. ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know about you three, but I¡¯m gonna follow the blood and see if I can find Ares.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? he might still be in a bad mood with you, with all of us actually,¡± Allie reminded Aejaz.


    ¡°Maybe, but I should still go and check to make sure he¡¯s ok. He can tell me to screw off after if he wants.¡±


    ¡°What? That¡¯s not right!¡± Bellona jumped right into the conversation, and almost literally at that. ¡°No sibling should ever tell their sibling to get lost, ain¡¯t that right, Enyo!¡±


    Enyo just groaned in response. She knew why Bellona was saying that. Bellona was probably expecting an apology at some point for their last, argumentative, interaction a few years back.


    ¡°Come, come. Let¡¯s go find this brother of yours!¡± Bellona put both her hands on Aejaz¡¯s back and started to push him along. Honestly, she mostly just wanted to meet Ares. He was clearly not your everyday guy, and she wanted to know a few things. How he beat the dryad, how he made that giant explosion, which she imagined was linked to her first question, and most importantly, how he managed to make her sister get this riled up over him!


    ¡°Bellona? Enyo!?¡± A man¡¯s voice, that wasn¡¯t Aejaz¡¯, sounded out from somewhere behind everyone.


    ¡°Aww hell.¡± Bellona shut her eyes and scrunched her face while grumbling inaudible curses under her breath.


    Three armour-wearing individuals had shown up, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess they were from the same clan as Enyo. One with darker skin had a scar running across his eye and looked surprised to find Enyo here of all places, but he was also somewhat distraught at this discovery. He knew the companion of his that just spoke was going to become even more insufferable than he had been prior to this point.


    The woman of the group had her hair down and it came all the way down to her waist. She looked pale and tired thanks to the bags under her eyes. The black eyeliner alongside everything else made her look like an evil witch, which was certainly quite odd and led to a feeling of incongruence considering the holy-esque armour she wore.


    The man who had spoken out earlier had short, clean cut, black hair and a streamlined face. His eyes and face gave off a cold, unfeeling, and detached vibe. He had a ¡®similar¡¯ ruggedness to him that Ares possessed, but didn¡¯t pull it off even half as well. He was trying far too hard to look like an imposing commander with his posture and hairstyle, but he really just wasn¡¯t suited for it. If he were lined up next to Ares it would be hard to call him anything other than a pale imitation of a truly heroic personage. Whether that was because the man just didn¡¯t fit the look or because Ares had mastered it, to a point of making anyone else look like a child playing hero in comparison, was up in the air.


    ¡°Bellona,¡± Enyo had a hint of agitation in her voice and she clearly wanted an explanation.


    Bellona shuffled next to Enyo and whispered back, ¡°Look, I tried keeping him away. I did! I swear! He requested permission to change sects ¡®cos he thought you and I would be in the same one. When he found out you weren¡¯t with me, he kept pestering me to tell him where you went, but I kept telling him I didn¡¯t know. I was seriously hoping we wouldn¡¯t run into him.¡±


    Enyo sighed and turned to face the two guys and the girl that had just arrived. ¡°Gladius, Charity, Trew.¡± Enyo made it pretty obvious which of the three she wasn¡¯t thrilled to see.


    ¡°Enyo, it¡¯s good to finally see you again,¡± despite the friendly smile, Trew¡¯s voice was rather lofty and arrogant, like it always had been. ¡°Where have you been all this time?¡±


    ¡°Conducting the operation as standard, exactly like everyone else. It doesn''t leave much time or room for cordial visits. I¡¯m sure you understand.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course. Still a shame nonetheless. I have quite missed chatting with the pride and joy of our clan.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but there are many competent individuals in our clan¡¯s generation. It wouldn¡¯t be right for me to lay claim to such a title.¡±


    ¡°Modest as ever, truly respectable. I see you¡¯ve gotten involved in our plight with the dryad. Perhaps we can use this as an opportunity to chat, catch up, as well as figure out what exactly happened here.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Enyo replied immediately. ¡°We were just leaving.¡±


    ¡°Well, we can always come with you.¡±


    This was what Enyo had been dreading, but there was no real excuse to turn him away. ¡°Fine,¡± Enyo replied in a completely bland voice. Enyo was well aware of Trew¡¯s affection for her, hell, everyone in the clan was, but she wasn¡¯t even remotely interested in him. She was far more concerned with fulfilling her duties and obligation to the clan and besides, Trew was Annoying. Annoying with a capital ¡®A¡¯. Annoying in the clingy sense. He had always done everything he possibly could to follow Enyo around wherever she went, like some kind of obsessed pet, which was part of why she had sequestered herself in Red Sun. She just didn¡¯t want to have to deal with him. Enyo had politely put up with him for years, but he was truly unbearable. Some guys just can''t take a hint, but Trew was a step above that and still wouldn¡¯t understand even if you flat out gave him the answer.


    Trew was perhaps the stiffest of Enyo¡¯s clansmen in regard to regulating pride and strictness. He was even more determined in his convictions than even Enyo, and was incredibly stuck up and egotistical about it. He was by no means anyone special in the clan, but he was one of the better fighters from one of the more well-known family branches, and so there were a few people who respected him. Regrettably, for those who had to put up with him, that all went to his head, inflating his self-worth to the point he thought he deserved a chance with Enyo, who was widely considered the Legion Clan¡¯s ace of the younger generation, even though stature really had nothing to do with anything. In fact, Trew was so uptight that even Enyo thought it was ¡®a little much¡¯. It was to the point that his presence irked people as they felt a compulsion to maintain an image that wouldn¡¯t disgrace themselves, or the clan, at all times lest they become the target of one of his infamous rants. No matter how frequently Enyo tried implying that she couldn¡¯t care less about him, regardless of his achievements, Trew ignored it. Whether it was because he was oblivious or in denial, Enyo had no clue.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°So, where are we headed!?¡± Trew had a bit more pep in his voice now that he had gotten what he wanted after months of searching.


    ¡°We¡¯re following the blood trail and looking for someone we know.¡± Enyo sympathetically nodded at Charity and Gladius, both of whom had walked over without having had a chance to say a single word yet. ¡°Hey,¡± she said knowingly and apologetically.


    The two clansmen smiled bleakly and wearily. ¡°Hey, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Hey, good to see you again.¡±


    These poor souls had to put up with Trew for far longer than any sane person should ever have to, all while he was no doubt prattling away about trying to find Enyo.


    ¡°This¡­ ¡®Someone you know¡¯... Was she the one that did¡­ This?¡± Trew gestured at the wasteland around him.


    ¡°Yes, and it¡¯s a he, actually,¡± Bellona felt like she had a chance to see something funny so she responded on Enyo¡¯s behalf.


    Sure enough, Trew¡¯s hand momentarily twitched which Bellona, being as impishly playful as ever, got a massive kick out of. ¡°Oh, my mistake. Who are these friends of yours? I should have asked sooner!¡± Trew tried to play off his worries while simultaneously digging up more dirt.


    ¡°This is Allie, and this is Aejaz. As for the person we¡¯re following, his name is Ares, but calling him a ¡®friend¡¯ is a bit of a stretch.¡± Enyo was not pleased with the thought of having to deal with a lovesick-puppy Trew as well as an agitating Ares at the same time.


    ¡°Ares? What a¡­ Fascinating name.¡± Trew was clearly unhappy at the mythical implications of the name. He attempted to cover it by following up with, ¡°It reminds me of the naming scheme the main family uses, what with gods and goddesses of war and such. If he¡¯s no friend of yours, then why are you looking for him?¡±


    ¡°Because we were originally travelling with him. Even if he¡¯s the most annoying person I¡¯ve ever met, he¡¯s still Aejaz¡¯ brother. That, and we have our own argument to settle. It also wouldn¡¯t be right to leave him injured like this, he doesn¡¯t seem like the type to do it to us. All in all, we should check on him¡­ Even if I really don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°You could just not check then,¡± Trew suggested.


    ¡°No, again, we should. I¡¯m also worried he¡¯ll just keep progressively causing more and more trouble if left alone anyway. I swear that man is a problem magnet.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and besides, I wanna know how someone at 4th realm skeletal structuring, 2nd stage, managed to kill the Mecha-dryad of all things,¡± Bellona jumped into the conversation.


    ¡°What!?¡± the three newcomers all responded collectively.


    ¡°Weird ain¡¯t it? So come on, let¡¯s go find ourselves an Ares!¡± Bellona turned around and linked her arms with Enyo before marching off and whispering into her ear, ¡°If Ares is even half as annoying as you say he is, maybe he can play around with Trew for a bit?¡± An evil smile crept up on Bellona¡¯s face.


    Meanwhile Trew had gotten closer to Aejaz and Allie and was asking them about how they met Enyo and how long they had been with her. Although he seemed interested on the surface, when he eventually came to the conclusion that Aejaz was here more for Allie than Enyo, he found an excuse to leave and catch up with her. In his stead, Charity and Gladius came over and they started a more genuine conversation which was like a breath of fresh air in comparison.


    Bellona and Enyo did everything in their power to try not involving Trew in their conversation, but that didn¡¯t stop him from doing everything in his power to join in.


    They followed the trail for a good 10 or so minutes before arriving at a cave. The cave was well-hidden amongst the foliage and would have been a pain to find if it weren¡¯t for the blood trail. Even the entrance had been covered up by Ares. He¡¯d used copies of his Zephyr to create a sort of barricade at the mouth, keeping the less intelligent monsters out with a warding rune embedded in the capes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in and meet the man, the myth, the legend,¡± Trew spat un-energetically.


    Enyo put a hand in his path and shook her head. Trew may be insufferable, but he was still a fellow clan member. Letting him step head first into a minefield would be wrong, no matter how much she personally wanted to. She took out her Steadfast Aegis, and took a low stance behind it, slowly but surely moving toward the cave. The four other clansmen were lost as to what she was hoping to achieve by doing this but, because it was Enyo, no one questioned her. Enyo took another step forward and four Shock Beads hidden in nearby mounds sprung to life. They quickly rose into the air and hovered for a second before shining brighter and brighter. How Enyo knew about these Shock Beads was anyone¡¯s guess but, really, it was likely she just took the route of automatically assuming the worst whenever it came to Ares. That or, maybe, she was actually starting to understand the way this rascal thought to some extent.


    ¡°Stronghold!¡±


    Enyo wasted no time in activating her holy pillar, ¡®Defender¡¯ aspect art. Phantasmagorical, pure white, castle curtain walls appeared directly in front of Enyo and her shield, encircling everyone present.


    Booooommmmmm


    When the explosions settled, everyone was completely unharmed and the walls only had a few minor cracks in them. The walls faded out of existence and Enyo walked up to the cave entrance to start tearing down the makeshift barrier. ¡°ARES, YOU BASTARD. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?¡± Enyo was crassly yelling into the cave, much to the surprise of her clansmen.


    A somewhat strained voice came back from within, ¡°THEY WERE FOR KEEPING OUT MONSTERS. CLEARLY, I DIDN¡¯T PUT ENOUGH.¡±


    Bellona snickered and tried as hard as she could not to laugh. She had never seen anyone stand up to even Trew, let alone Enyo. They were people in the clan that no one really dared disrespect. This ¡®Ares¡¯, so brazenly offending people that had been admired their entire lives, was very satisfying.


    ¡°WE¡¯RE COMING IN!¡± Enyo was trying to dissuade any further ¡®misunderstandings¡¯, but a lone sword came spinning out of the darkness. The throw had been pretty lazy, so Enyo just swatted it away like a fly. ¡°ARES!¡±


    ¡°ARES ISN¡¯T HOME RIGHT NOW.¡±


    Bellona couldn¡¯t hold back her laugh anymore and even Charity and Gladius were chuckling to themselves.


    Trew felt as though the clan¡¯s honour was being slighted and mocked, he wasn¡¯t going to tolerate this any longer. ¡°ENOUGH OF THIS FOOLERY! BEHAVE YOURSELF YOU RAPSCALLION. WE¡¯RE COMING IN!¡± Ares didn¡¯t respond this time, so Trew thought his voice had scared him into passivity and a hint of a smug smile started to form on his face. That same smug smile was wiped clean off when a fifth Shock Bead lifted itself from the dirt right behind Trew. He spun around and braced for impact as the Bead shone but, much to everyone¡¯s surprise, the bead didn¡¯t get any brighter. If anything, it started to dim. It was a dud.


    Thunk


    Ares had thrown out another sword, while everyone was distracted by the Bead, and smacked Trew in the back of his head with the hilt.


    ¡°YOU¡­ YOU CHILDISH DULLARD!¡±


    Despite Enyo¡¯s bitterness towards Ares, she couldn¡¯t help but find the way he messed with Trew very gratifying.


    There was no response, and no sign of any more explosives or flying swords, so everyone cautiously ventured into the cave. They had to walk a surprising distance considering how far Ares would have had to throw the swords. Eventually though, they found a dimly lit dead-end, with Ares lying on a Stygian Zephyr hammock and one leg dangling off the side. He had his arm wrapped over a tear in his clothes, around his bleeding stomach which had turned a blackish-blue as though it had been heavily bruised. Ares smirked through the pain. ¡°Go ahead foul monsters, devour me. I¡¯m warning you though, I taste like gunpowder.¡±


    ¡°Shut up moron. You deserve this for being so troublesome.¡± Enyo was quite pleased to see Ares in pain.


    Ares surveyed the new crowd and groaned before deflating into his hammock. ¡°God damnit. What did I do to deserve not one, but five of you uptight, armored lunatics. Can I really not bleed out any quicker?¡± Ares was jokingly jabbing away at his wound.


    ¡°Very funny.¡± Trew had never felt so insulted.


    Bellona, on the other hand, was having the time of her life watching this mockery unfold.


    Ares sighed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m in any position to shoo you all away, so make yourselves home I guess.¡±


    ¡°Ares¡­¡± Aejaz started to talk but couldn¡¯t quite find the right words. ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Ugh, spare me. Just shut up and sit. I¡¯ll deal with you when I stop dying.¡± Ares dismissively waved his hand to signify he didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Sorry about earlier,¡± Bellona said.


    ¡°Hm? About what?¡±


    ¡°About the dryad?¡±


    ¡°Not sure why you''re apologising, those things are easy to run away from. I chose to fight it, that¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well aren¡¯t you reasonable and responsible for your actions? Name¡¯s Bellona, I¡¯m Enyo¡¯s sister. This here is Charity¡­¡±


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°This is Gladius¡­¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Likewise.¡±


    ¡°And this is¡­¡±


    ¡°Trew,¡± Trew abruptly cut Bellona off to speak his own name while trying to convey his dissatisfaction towards Ares.


    ¡°Dew? You mean like the stuff you find on trees?¡± Ares pretended not to hear correctly.


    ¡°No, Trew.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Trew!¡±


    ¡°Wow, your parents really named you Shrew? I mean, I guess it¡¯s accurate.¡±


    ¡°IT¡¯S TREW!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true your parents named you Shrew? Sucks to be you.¡±


    Although no one could see it, Enyo was smiling giddily under her helmet. It¡¯s your turn to deal with him now. She enjoyed being on the other end of the foot and not having to be the one putting up with Ares for once, and for it to be Trew of all people dealing with him was simply fortuitous to the extreme. She almost started laughing alongside her clansmen, but kept it in.


    ¡°IT¡¯S TR¡­¡± Trew took a deep breath and gave up so as not to give in to Ares'' provocations. ¡°Call me as you like, it matters naught to me.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you do it? Kill the dryad, I mean?¡± Gladius queried.


    ¡°Yeah, that dryad¡¯s metalwork was solid as hell,¡± Charity followed up.


    ¡°Ah, tell me about it. I could barely even make a few dents here and there. You know those Beads you ran into outside? I can bury them inside things. I shoved a couple hundred inside its frame and blew up the tree itself.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, so you couldn¡¯t break its defences after all?¡± Trew snorted.


    ¡°Uh, yeah? Why would I even try?¡±


    ¡°I just thought you were more impressive than you actually are, is all. Turns out, you fight dirty.¡±


    ¡°Hey now, we couldn''t even make a dent in it, I¡¯d say his performance was quite impressive.¡± Bellona tried to prevent the tensions from rising any further.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing I don¡¯t live my life caring about whether I impress people I¡¯ve never met before,¡± although Ares was clearly not happy, he spoke in a light-hearted tone to try and just end this pointless argument here.


    ¡°Oh really? Then why even fight it if not to show off after? You said it yourself; you could have run. It¡¯s not like you got off scot-free, you went through all that pain for what exactly?¡± Trew spat.


    ¡°Because it looked at me funny? Why the hell do you think? It was because I wanted to. I thought it would be fun. I enjoy a good fight every now and then. Also, I¡¯ll have you know, I don¡¯t consider being smacked around by a tree something worth showing off. It¡¯s not like I put a giant neon-sign outside saying ¡®come see a dead-man walking!¡¯ Hell, I didn¡¯t even raise the topic of the dryad.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± It was Enyo that replied this time.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do it for the fun of it. Well, you sort of did, but it wasn¡¯t the main reason. You didn¡¯t do it to show off either, but it wasn¡¯t primarily because you ¡®wanted to¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Says who?¡±


    ¡°Says me. My bloodline tells me when people are lying,¡± Enyo said flatly.


    ¡°And? I bet it¡¯s wrong all the time. Nothing¡¯s perfect.¡±


    ¡°Her bloodline is.¡± Trew shot Ares an angry glance.


    ¡°Why did you fight it?¡± Enyo was really curious now.


    ¡°Why does it matter? It¡¯s dead now. No use in worrying about it,¡± Ares said while shrugging his shoulders.


    ¡°Were you trying to kill it so it couldn¡¯t kill other people?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying again. Aren¡¯t you a good little samaritan?¡± Enyo finally had a chance to one-up Ares and decided to rub this in his face as much as she could.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I don¡¯t care at all about strangers I¡¯ve never met.¡±


    Ares started fidgeting and tapping his finger against the side of his hammock not wanting this conversation to go any further. He was wishing he¡¯d just silently agreed with Enyo on that last part and let her gloat, but he instinctively felt the need to clash with her at every opportunity which put him in this situation.


    ¡°So, you were trying to stop it from killing people you knew? You were doing it for us? So we wouldn¡¯t run into it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Ares was unsuccessfully trying to skirt around the topic.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t not say it. We could have just run from it, why did you go to all that hassle? Especially considering how many times we¡¯ve gotten off on the wrong foot. Was it just for Aejaz?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s an idiot, but I¡¯ll be damned if he isn¡¯t one of the fastest cowards I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    ¡°Then it was for Allie¡¯s sake?¡±


    ¡°... No,¡± Ares hesitated before answering.


    Enyo knew he wasn¡¯t lying, which only left one other possible answer. ¡°You did it for me? Why?¡±


    Ares kissed his teeth out of frustration at having been cornered into speaking truthfully. ¡°Who knows? Maybe you¡¯d be stubborn and try to arrest it, or do something equally stupid.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, I know you don¡¯t mean that. So why?¡±


    ¡°... Because I was worried you would try and fight it, ok? If, for some reason, you felt it was necessary to do so in order to save lives. If it got too close to the outskirts of the forest, you might have done something stupid. If Allie or Aejaz, or anyone really, was in need of help, you would be the only person I can think of dumb enough to throw your life away to try and save someone else¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°... You don¡¯t know that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not hard to guess. You wouldn¡¯t be you if you weren¡¯t so hard-headed about your ¡®justice¡¯. Something-something ¡®Justice is not, never has been, and never will be passivity¡¯, right?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would care much if I died, so why bother?¡±


    ¡°You can be like a brick wall at times, but I don¡¯t dislike you even half as much as I respect you, which I know you might find incredibly difficult to believe.¡±


    ¡°... No, I know you¡¯re not lying,¡± Enyo spoke a little quieter.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve already told you nothing¡¯s perfect, including your bloodline.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s never been wrong before,¡± Bellona mentioned.


    ¡°Oh really?¡± An evil smile that Enyo was all too familiar with wormed its way onto Ares¡¯ face. ¡°I bet I can break that flawless record.¡±


    Enyo was a little worried he actually could, but refused to back down because of her pride. ¡°Try me.¡±


    ¡°Ok, well let¡¯s start off simple.¡± Ares clapped his hands and cleared his throat. ¡°My name is Ares and I¡¯m 18. I met you recently, and my first opinion of you was not great, like, at all. In fact, I still think my first impressions of you are quite accurate even now. You¡¯re stuck in your ways in perhaps the most arrogantly obnoxious way possible. Although I wouldn¡¯t go as far as to call you completely dismissive, I do think you¡¯ve shown you''re quite capable of intolerance. You don¡¯t always follow what you preach to a tee and you aren¡¯t even necessarily sure of what it is you preach to begin with. You aren¡¯t particularly good at handling things that don¡¯t go your way, and can be somewhat of a hypocrite. You talk about not respecting a lot of people, but I think that¡¯s because you don¡¯t even know who would qualify as a person who deserves respect to begin with.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re just trying to be an asshole, then you''re doing a good job, because you truly believe everything you¡¯ve just said.¡± Enyo was upset that he thought so lowly of her, especially after he said he respects her. It was strange though, if he believed all of that and still respected her, then something was definitely amiss¡­ Maybe he really could lie to her bloodline?


    ¡°Nope, you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Ares leaned over his hammock and smiled gently at Enyo. ¡°I¡¯m in love with you.¡±


    ¡°...¡± silence filled the cave as everyone tried to wrap their heads around what just happened.


    Ares'' evil grin returned and he directed it specifically towards Enyo who had just sat still, unmoving. His plan to mess with her relied on his ability to sell a lie, but he was really only doing this for fun.


    ¡°How? How did you do it?¡± Enyo asked unsteadily.


    And his plan worked like a charm. ¡°Did what?¡± Ares playfully fiddled with his fingertips. ¡°Dunno what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I know you¡¯re lying, but my bloodline is telling me you aren¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Like I said, nothing¡¯s perfect.¡± Ares gave Enyo a wicked grin of victory.


    Why wasn¡¯t Enyo¡¯s bloodline perfect? Because, at the end of it all, whether or not she believed what she knew, came down to her. If she simply refused to believe something nonsensical that her bloodline was telling her, then she would never know the truth. Ares acting like he was lying from the get-go allowed him to get away with telling her the truth, right to her face, and she was none-the-wiser. Enyo would sooner doubt her innate talent and Ares¡¯ almost nonexistent ability to trick it than believe there was even a hint of truth to his ¡®confession¡¯, especially after his long rant about her flaws. Long story short, she¡¯d convinced herself Ares was lying before she¡¯d even gotten the result and dismissed her bloodline via her own volition, thus taking her own innate talent out of the equation. There was no such thing as a tool that could give results to a person who didn¡¯t want to see them. There were, of course, other ways to actually cheat the bloodline, but Ares didn¡¯t need to go that far as this was way more entertaining anyway!


    While Enyo¡¯s clansmen were all slowly coming back from gaga land, also believing Ares had somehow duped Enyo¡¯s bloodline, Aejaz still had his jaw open wide in disbelief. Balls of steel! Conman supreme! Fibber fantastical!


    ¡°Impossible! What trickery is this?¡± Trew was really not in a good mood, even if he too believed Ares was lying.


    ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± Ares put a finger up to his lip and started laughing.


    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re insufferable,¡± Trew groaned.


    ¡°As a wise woman once said¡­¡± Ares'' evil smirk came back again. He was well aware of how Trew felt towards Enyo as it was hardly subtle. Ares thought it couldn¡¯t hurt to mess around with the ¡®competition¡¯ a bit. ¡°... ¡®My roguish tongue and insufferable nature drag those around me down into a pit of idiocy where I reign supreme.¡¯ I think that description is spot on, so welcome to my pit.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you? ¡®Reigning supreme¡¯? And which stupid woman said that!?¡±


    Honestly? Sometimes, manipulating people was just too easy to even be fun for Ares. He pretended to be shocked and subtly nodded his head at Enyo to make sure this idiot fully understood the gravitas of the situation.


    Trew hurriedly turned to look at Enyo who, under her helmet, was presumably staring daggers at him. He lost his calm and started frantically waving his hands. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean¡­ I swear that wasn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Enyo¡¯s heavy tone shut Trew up real fast.


    ¡°Not that it hasn¡¯t been fun, but I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯m gonna take a nap ¡®cos there¡¯s somewhere I have to go tomorrow. Feel free to stay or leave, it doesn''t bother me either way, but don¡¯t expect any hospitality as, regrettably, I have none to spare,¡± Ares stretched in his hammock.


    ¡°Where are you going tomorrow?¡± Aejaz asked.


    ¡°Not important.¡±


    ¡°Can I come?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Aejaz¡¯ voice trailed off.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t about that. I wouldn¡¯t have taken you where I¡¯m going regardless.¡± Ares wasn¡¯t lying. He had a gut feeling this place would be far too dangerous for him to have to worry about protecting other people. Ares closed his eyes and dozed off immediately, the sleep-inducing flower had really done a number on him.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? You¡¯re just going to sleep in the presence of company!? Shameless!¡± Trew was nearly spitting.


    Ares, despite already having supposedly fallen asleep, turned his head away from the noise.


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Trew barked.


    A light green glow came from beside Enyo. Charity had an ethereal green mist around the tip of her finger and a runic pattern had formed on her cornea.


    ¡°Why are you doing this for him? He¡¯s clearly fine if he can play around and joke at our expense the way he has,¡± Trew harumphed.


    Charity just shrugged in response. ¡°I¡¯m a healer and there¡¯s a wounded person in front of me. Why not? Besides, a friend of Enyo is a friend of ours.¡± Charity was one of the few medical specialists in the cultivation world that had actually taken the Hippocratic oath and was actually dedicated to her profession.


    ¡°Don¡¯t throw around the term ¡®friend¡¯ so loosely, please.¡± Enyo felt a headache coming on every time she had to deal with Ares.


    ¡°Wow, he really took quite the beating,¡± Charity mentioned as she analysed Ares¡¯ body with her runic eye.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look that bad,¡± Gladius said.


    ¡°Most of his injuries are on his back. Lacerations, abrasions, bullet wounds, lingering ice and electricity in his veins, internal bleeding, sleeping powder, leftover traces of mental energy, burns on his feet, severe blood loss, and a whole lot of dirt and bacteria infecting the various wounds.¡±


    ¡°Did he get into a fight with Pandora''s box!?¡± Gladius was lost for words.


    Charity waved her finger and the hazy mist grew in size while floating over to Ares, covering him from head to burnt toe. ¡°I¡¯d recommend he not go on his excursion tomorrow, but he doesn¡¯t really seem the type to listen, so I won¡¯t even bother suggesting it to him.¡± Charity sighed. Being a professional in her own right who was so frequently ignored was beyond infuriating.


    ¡°Is he stupid? Why is he lying on his back then?¡± Trew couldn¡¯t fathom Ares¡¯ actions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, ask him when he wakes up if you really care.¡± Charity leant back and closed her eyes to go to sleep as well. If Ares was allowed to, then why couldn¡¯t she? Screw being polite!


    ¡°He¡¯s hiding it,¡± Allie spoke in hushed tones. Allie directed her opinion at Enyo, ¡°Like when he left so you could eat. I think he doesn¡¯t want you to feel bad or guilty. He¡¯s being considerate.¡±


    Enyo didn¡¯t respond, she just looked over at the hammock and kept going over her previous interactions with Ares. She was trying to figure him out because she had come to the conclusion that, actually, she didn¡¯t really understand this strange person at all.

 Chapter 30: Centre of Unwanted Attention

    Ares woke at the crack of dawn and Shifted quietly out of the cave. He didn¡¯t want to cause a ruckus and wake anyone up. Everyone in that cave was a cultivator and would be aware of even the slightest noise, hence why he used his art to leave stealthily. He was feeling much better and could tell he had been healed by one of Enyo¡¯s clansmen, even if it wasn¡¯t necessary. They weren¡¯t aware of his bloodline, thus they had no clue he would have been right as rain on his own by the time he woke up regardless. Sleep essentially kicked his bloodline regeneration up a gear into overdrive.


    ¡°Morning sleepy head.¡±


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you the early bird,¡± Ares responded to Bellona who was leaning on the cave entrance, blocking his way out with her arm.


    ¡°And would you look at that? I caught myself a worm!¡±


    Ares chuckled and rolled his eyes. ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you do it?¡±


    ¡°Do what?¡±


    ¡°Lie to Enyo. Even our parents can¡¯t dupe her bloodline, and their cultivation is unfathomable compared to ours.¡±


    Ares thought for a moment. ¡°Can you keep a secret?¡±


    ¡°Depends on the secret.¡±


    Ares leant closer and whispered in her ear, ¡°Who said I was lying to her?¡±


    Bellona couldn¡¯t help but start laughing. ¡°Hahahaha, oh, you really are a character. I think keeping this secret could be fun. I won¡¯t speak on Enyo¡¯s preferences, but you can¡¯t be any worse than Trew.¡± Something dawned on her as she mentioned Trew¡¯s name. ¡°Wait, did you set him up yesterday? So that he would accidentally call Enyo stupid?¡±


    ¡°I mean, he said it himself. I fight dirty.¡± Ares smiled innocently.


    ¡°Hahaha, you know, I think our mother would approve of you. She likes people with ¡®spunk¡¯. She thinks our whole clan is as up their own ass as they are boring.¡±


    ¡°Am I missing something? Are they not?¡±


    ¡°Oooh, ouch, I¡¯m standing right here ya know?¡±


    ¡°Ha, not you.¡±


    ¡°I guess you can thank our mother for setting me on the right path.¡±


    ¡°And Enyo?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you can thank her father for that. Who knows how many times I¡¯ve argued with her, trying to convince her there¡¯s more to life than just our father¡¯s wishes, or should I say orders.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, our situations are similar, so I figured I¡¯d give it a go too, convincing her that is. It got me kicked out of our little adventure group quite quickly though.¡±


    ¡°Ha, why am I not surprised? We had one particularly big row the last time we saw each other. It¡¯s part of why she stormed off to go hide in Red Sun by herself. It''s been good to see her again. For what it¡¯s worth, I think you¡¯re doing her a lot of good.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, she seems a lot more¡­ Emotive? I guess? She was never really the type to be expressive, but she seems to be a lot more easy-going with you, even if that¡¯s because you¡¯re setting her off on temper tantrums.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call that easy-going.¡±


    ¡°I would, at least in comparison to what she was like before, anyway. Was Allie right?¡±


    ¡°... About what?¡±


    ¡°I know you were still awake.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t actually know, but you just admitted it. You aren¡¯t the only sly person here.¡± Bellona stuck out her tongue.


    ¡°Yeah, I hid my injuries because I care. I didn¡¯t want her to feel like she was to blame for my own decision.¡±


    ¡°Aww, Cute. I think if you stop annoying her at every possible opportunity, you might have a shot.¡± Bellona pushed off the cave wall and started to walk back inside. ¡°Good luck.¡±


    Ares smiled to himself and set off deeper into the forest.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Mmmmmmmmm.¡±


    ¡°...a.¡±


    ¡°Mmmmmm.¡±


    ¡°..pa.¡±


    ¡°Mmm.¡±


    ¡°Appa!¡±


    ¡°Hm? Huh?¡± Appa woke up in a daze and looked around to find Loopo staring at it.


    ¡°Appa, I know you miss Ares but you need to focus on your cultivation. He didn¡¯t bring you with him for your sake, he did it so you could continue to cultivate past the mental accumulation realm. You should at least pay attention during these lectures.¡±


    Appa begrudgingly lifted itself from the Ares clone¡¯s lap. ¡°Mhm, ok,¡± Appa responded half-heartedly.


    Li Li stopped chatting to a disciple and moved over to sit next to Appa. ¡°Hey sweetie, you ok?¡± Li Li petted Appa.


    ¡°I miss dad.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Li Li hugged Appa. ¡°He¡¯ll be back before you know it, you¡¯re doing great. Loopo is right though, you should really cultivate more often. You haven¡¯t made much progress recently. Imagine what will happen when Ares comes back and he sees how far behind you¡¯ve fallen, he¡¯ll be upset and blame himself.¡±


    Appa hadn¡¯t thought of that before. ¡°I guess so. Ok! I¡¯ll go back to cultivating!¡± Appa floated out of the room.


    ¡°Huh? W¡­ Wait!¡± Loopo hadn¡¯t expected this. He was about to run after Appa but mulled things over and decided it was probably better if he didn¡¯t. If Appa was going to cultivate, then that was better than keeping it here against its will and stymying its progress. Perhaps this was for the best. He was here, after all, to help the disciples cultivate in whatever fashion worked for them, so why not just let the shade do what it wants? As long as it was actively pursuing cultivation, there was no real reason for him to complain anymore.


    Appa was slowly, but surely, floating its way home with its rope wrapped around the Ares clone¡¯s hand, when it came across a hunched man wearing a dusty cloak that covered his face. Appa felt this was strange, but decided to ignore this weird man who it assumed was just an Elder it had never met before.


    As the old man passed by, he flourished a dagger with incredible sleight of hand and ran his weapon directly through the Ares clone, which disappeared instantly. ¡°A talisman? Fuck. I must be getting old, falling for such a silly thing... What are you looking at? Go on your merry way and pretend you saw nothing,¡± the old man threatened Appa who just floated there silently. ¡°I¡¯m telling you to leave, now.¡± The old man took a step towards Appa who wasn¡¯t moving, but stopped when he noticed the shade¡¯s rope was taut. ¡°Huh?¡± The old man flicked his wrist and swatted away a giant block of ice that Appa had swung at him and looked back in fury at the thing responsible.


    ¡°WHY? Why are you attacking me, you stupid shade!? Do you not understand the situation? I¡¯m not someone a thing like you can mess with!¡±


    ¡°You killed my Ares clone!¡± Appa¡¯s voice was cold and shrill. It had a little upside-down triangular indent at the top of its eye socket indicating it was mad.


    ¡°So damn what? Why do you care? Why do you even have an Ares clone?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my dad! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Appa summoned a barrage of icicles and fired them off without hesitation.


    ¡°Dad? Are you insane? Whatever, if you¡¯re close to him, that means I can use you.¡± The old man raised a palm and time froze. The icicles melted in mid-air and the water hung motionless, defying gravity.


    Appa couldn¡¯t move or use its magic. It knew that time magic was troublesome, especially if the person using it was stronger than you by a significant margin. There was basically no way to fight it. They could erode or decay just about anything and could halt people in place effortlessly.


    The old man stepped towards Appa and reached out to grab it like it was a piece of cloth. He felt a sudden change in the air and tried to move back, but took a punch to the face before he could make any meaningful distance between him and his attacker. The old man kissed his teeth and spat some blood to get the metal taste out of his mouth. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you good at your job when you want to be, Slick.¡±


    ¡°Appa is cute, innocent, and adorable. Fen was an intolerable moron, why should I have protected him? If he wanted to kill Ares quietly when no one was looking, then he should be prepared to die with no one looking out for him either. Lo, your Chen family is seriously filled to the brim with imbeciles, and you''re no better. I¡¯ve gotta say, watching you sneak around only to murder a clone was absolutely hilarious, I even got a good recording of it! As for Ares, he isn¡¯t here right now, meaning you couldn¡¯t even get an assassination on a 4th realm cultivator right, no wonder you couldn¡¯t get your children right either.¡±


    ¡°Say what you want, guardian, but I¡¯m here because I love my children. You¡¯re here because you were an unloved child. Those prominent figures you call your parents couldn¡¯t have you ruining their image, now could they?¡±


    ¡°Haha, that was part of it, sure, but they were caring folk, they primarily did it for my benefit. If you¡¯re going to prattle on about ¡®images¡¯, then I don¡¯t want to hear it. What would you know about maintaining an image anyway? You let your Chen clan run rampant and piss off everyone in Red Sun. Maybe if you abandoned your children, your image would improve too, but not much mind you, you¡¯re still a piece of shit regardless. That¡¯s the difference between you and my parents, they can at least be important when I¡¯m not in the picture and, for that, I¡¯ll gladly leave considering everything they¡¯ve done for me. None of your stupid little ingrates would be willing to lift a finger for you. Who knows how many of them wish you would just keel over already so they could take your position.¡±


    Chen Lo, deciding that the verbal confrontation had run its course, lunged at Slick and threw a punch. Lo was at aspect assimilation, 4th stage, and Slick was only at sensory enhancement, 10th stage, so Slick had to dodge it.


    Slick wasn¡¯t actually the highest cultivation Elder in Heaven¡¯s Path. There were a few others that were in aspect assimilation like Lo, one realm above Slick, but he was still the guardian because he was undeniably the strongest person, excluding Rud and Yulo, in the sect. It¡¯s not that the Elders were weak for their cultivation, nothing of the sort; but rather, Slick was far stronger than his cultivation would have you believe. He was similar to Ares in a way, hard to hit, extremely fast, and a real nuisance to beat. Most of his annoying-to-deal-with traits were a result of his magic and his sturdy frame.


    Slick took a low-stance, that bore resemblance to the one Li Li had used during the entrance exam, and jabbed at Lo who jumped back. Slick being as light on his feet as he was allowed him to chase after Lo and keep the pressure on despite the fact that he should have been the one at a disadvantage.


    Lo stuck to the defensive, palming aside attacks and occasionally retaliating whenever he found an opportunity, only to dully strike cold, hard metal and leave little-to-no impact.


    Slick managed to break through Lo¡¯s guard and found a chance to deliver a blow to the gut but, just before his fist could connect, Lo suddenly disappeared. Slick could see traces of mana and knew exactly what happened. Lo had frozen time.


    There were some constraints to using time magic, namely, you couldn¡¯t directly attack someone who was frozen in time as the attacks would just bounce right off. It was also near impossible to freeze someone for an extended period of time unless their cultivation was drastically lower than the person using the magic. Still, the space-time pillar, in spite of its various restrictions, was still one of the stronger pillars. There were only two aspects under the pillar, but they were some of the most convenient aspects imaginable, so many people used variety cultivation to enable its usage even if they weren¡¯t particularly good at it.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Slick made an educated guess that Lo had used the ¡®Temporal Distortion¡¯ art, under the time aspect, to lock him in place while Lo repositioned and manoeuvred behind him. Slick didn¡¯t even bother turning around, instead, it was time for him to use his own magic.


    ¡°Scrapyard Meltdown!¡±


    Scrapyard Meltdown was Slick¡¯s unique art of the oil-core aspect in the summoning pillar. Despite being a scrap and having neo-droid parts, Slick¡¯s core was that of a gear folk. A metal hand coalesced from Slick¡¯s back, slowly emerging to reveal an arm and shoulder. The hand grabbed Lo¡¯s attempt at a sneak attack and, while Lo was struggling to remove the tight grip, a second hand formed and punched Lo in the face. Lo staggered back and watched as a second Slick separated itself from the original Slick¡¯s back. This whole process looked almost the exact same as Onno¡¯s use of the Doppelb?nger art. It was easy to tell which one was the clone, though, as it had the word ¡®Flare¡¯ emblazoned across its chest. To make distinguishing the two even easier, a goopy, black, oil-like substance was now leaking out of every crevice of Slick¡¯s frame.


    Part of what made Slick such a pain to fight was that his summon was an identical, or carbon, if you will, copy of himself. It could fight, think, strategize, and dodge exactly as Slick would do. Normal clones typically had reduced effectiveness in one, or usually all combat-related areas but, Slick¡¯s clone, Flare, had no such drawbacks. This, in addition to the fact that Slick could consistently fight against people with higher cultivation bases, meant he was truly a menace. His unique art turned every one-on-one fight into a two on one, so to say he himself was the strongest of all the Elders was technically not true, but it was literally true. Of course, if that was all his unique art did, he might not have been able to rely on his strong physique and excellent combat capabilities to solidify his position as number one, but his unique art still had one major trick up its sleeve.


    Slick ran up to Lo and swung downward. The strike missed but some of the leaking oil flicked off, catching onto Lo¡¯s clothes. Slick hunched over to accommodate the swinging motion and, in doing so, gave Lo a clear view of Flare who leapfrogged over Slick¡¯s back and converted his momentum into a spinning kick.


    Unlike Slick who could only throw around his excess oil, Flare could convert its oil into fire magic. The spin kick sparked and became a fiery tornado that bore into Lo¡¯s arms, drilling into and burning his flesh.


    Lo was pushed back and quickly realised that Slick was the primer and Flare was the ignition. The oily clothes had been burnt to cinders during the last attack and hot ashes clung to Lo¡¯s leg.


    Slick¡¯s dripping, pungent oil and Flare¡¯s blazing fists, crackling away like a warm hearth was the definition of double trouble and Lo wanted nothing to do with it. He was at a complete disadvantage due to the nature of their respective magics. Lo could only barely manage freezing one Slick in time, two would be unfathomably hard. That, and it was impossible to use time magic to erode or decay Slick¡¯s oily substance as oil was a by-product of time to begin with! He couldn¡¯t actively stop Slick from oiling him, and all it would take is a single misstep for Flare to light him up like a Christmas tree. To put the nail in the coffin, the longer this went on, the higher the chance other Elders were going to show up and then he wouldn¡¯t even be able to escape.


    ¡°Haste!¡±


    Lo used an art of the support pillar¡¯s ¡®Buff¡¯ aspect to speed himself up, turn tail, and run. Although he used variety cultivation, he never could wrap his head around spatial magic or teleportation properly, so this would have to do in its stead. Just because someone used variety cultivation, it didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t still occasionally struggle to learn specific pillars, aspects, and arts if they weren¡¯t talented enough.


    Flare held the back of Slick¡¯s shoulders and jumped feet first right back inside of him. Slick watched Lo flee in fear with a triumphant grin and his hands resting on his waist. ¡°Hmph, coward!¡±


    Other Elders started to arrive on the scene and Slick gave a brief explanation of what happened, mostly so that everyone was aware of the enmity that Heaven¡¯s Path would now inevitably have with the Chen clan, but also so he could showboat for a while. When the Elders eventually dispersed, he felt something soft on his leg. He looked down and found a sad Appa doing the shade equivalent of a hug.


    ¡°Are you ok?¡±


    Sniffle


    Appa was crying.


    ¡°Hey, hey what¡¯s wrong?¡± Slick kneeled down and spoke gently to try and sooth the shade.


    ¡°My Ares died,¡± Appa whimpered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that was just a clone, remember?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I know, but it still upset me seeing dad die. What¡­ What if my real dad died?¡± Appa sniffed again and struggled to speak normally, ¡°What if... He¡¯s already¡­¡± Appa wept uncontrollably.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok, it¡¯s ok. Shhh, it¡¯s fine. Ares is fine,¡± Slick reassured it and patted it gently.


    ¡°I miss dad¡­ I wanna see dad.¡± Appa was still bawling miserably.


    ¡°Ares will come back, I promise. We wouldn¡¯t have let him out of the sect if we didn¡¯t have the utmost confidence that he would be safe on his own. It¡¯s nearly time for Zhang to leave and go check up on them on the way to Venti City anyhow, do you want him to pass on a message to Ares when he sees him?¡±


    Sniffle


    ¡°...Yes... Tell him I love him and I miss him and I want to see him and I love him,¡± Appa spat out her demand rapid-fire.


    ¡°Ok, ok, I¡¯ll let Zhang know. Also, I promise I¡¯ll keep an eye out for when Ares returns. As soon as he gets through the gates, I¡¯ll let you know, ok?¡±


    ¡°... Ok¡­ Ok,¡± Appa mumbled.


    ¡°Ares would never leave you, that includes dying. He¡¯d fight his way out of the afterlife to come back to you if he had to, you know that right?¡±


    ¡°... I know.¡±


    ¡°Good! Now, do you want a hug!?¡±


    ¡°... No, you¡¯re cold.¡± Appa floated away.


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s a good thing you¡¯re so damn cute.¡± Slick laughed and shook his head. Between my parents and Chen Lo, who would have thought the best parent of all would be Ares, Slick mused.


    ---------------------------------


    Ares could tell he was getting close now. Whatever was calling to him was practically screeching at him. He kept up his pace and passed through an area densely packed with trees, eventually finding an exit that led outside the forest. The path was winding with progressively fewer and fewer trees obscuring Ares¡¯ view of the immediate area. It was impossible to tell what lay at the end of the path other than a bright light signalling the edge of the forest. Ares reached the clearing and two things immediately caught his attention: one thing was a large mansion, the other was that this area was a cliffside and that, although there was a giant wooden sign with the word ¡®danger¡¯ on it, it stood tall in front of the mansion, and not near the edges of the cliff.


    The view at dawn was something to be enamoured by. The orange-tinged sky rose elegantly from behind the mansion as if it were emanating the very essence of the world. The mansion hardly seemed like it warranted the term dangerous. Accommodating and welcoming would perhaps be more appropriate adjectives.


    Ares felt there was no need to rush, so he took a look around the outskirts and at what lay below the cliffs before sitting down and leaning against a tree. He didn¡¯t find anything too surprising. Ares had heard the sound of waves lapping against the rocks before he went to go check and correctly guessed he was near the sea. The breeze, occasional chirping of birds, squeaking of squirrels, and rustles of brush were quite relaxing. Ares was waiting for his mana to restock itself after yesterday, he really couldn¡¯t tell whether this place would be problematic or not so he took appropriate caution. Although his bloodline could fix his injuries, there was nothing it could do to aid him with a lack of mana. Ares¡¯ gut instinct was that this mansion was troublesome, but his mind kept telling him everything would be alright for him and him alone. That was why he hadn¡¯t brought anyone else along, because he had no clue what kind of mess he was about to throw himself headfirst into.


    Ares waited for so long that it had slowly turned from dawn to dusk, all without him even realising as he had taken a chance to cultivate at some point. Ares had managed to progress to the 4th stage of skeletal structuring thanks to the fight yesterday. Although nothing had actually changed in his surroundings during his cultivation session, there was certainly a different feel and atmosphere in the air.


    The view at dusk was nothing short of a stark contrast compared to before. It was something to fear and find repulsion in. The mansion now more closely resembled a pitch-black, dark abyss that only the truly brave would dare enter. If the twisting route through gnarled, decrepit trees behind Ares wasn¡¯t enough to drive the foolhardy away, he imagined the perilous positioning of the building dangling near the edge of the cliff would now do the trick. The sea below had become some form of foul and foetid lagoon akin to a dimensional portal straight to a demonic land.


    The grass underfoot, dull grey in colour thanks to the pale moonlight, spread outward in intermittent patches, forming an almost ritualistic circle with the mansion present at the epicentre. The grass had become rotten and crisp, giving way and crumbling when stepped on, and gave a feeling of walking atop the decrepit bones of decaying skeletons. The faux greenery had contaminated a nearby plot of lemongrass. What was once a fresh herb with an astringent taste now bore resemblance to a ghostly pale weed that would inevitably be the root cause of thousands of deaths were it to be sold at market and consumed en-masse.


    As for the building, paint graced the mansion with a touch of death that appeared to bleed and smudge over the windows, drowning them in an ebon tint. The night sky tightly wove itself around the building¡¯s serrated contours that were sharp enough to perforate flesh, restraining it in an unholy, blackened aura. The moon would rise from behind the top of the residence as though it were released and unshackled from its prison, clawing its way through the howling winds to the farthest edges of the sky, away from the abomination below, only to eventually, inevitably be reeled back, kicking and screaming into the dying hours of the night.


    Truthfully, it wasn¡¯t actually that bad, but Ares had been reading varied literature in his down time at the sect and was becoming progressively fonder of waxing poetic, so this was how he imagined it. He couldn¡¯t just cook and destroy things all day long, so he searched for another hobby, one that could be done at any time and place, and this is what he had decided on. In fact, one of the books he read was created by a disciple of the sect, no less, named ¡®Eagerton¡¯ who was apparently rather famous for his work.


    Ares pushed past the rusty, squeaking gate and up the narrow trail leading to the mansion. A bat rustled through the trees and Ares rolled his eyes at the unoriginality of it all. What next? A crow? An owl?


    Ca-Caw


    Hoot-Hoot


    God damn it. Ares face-palmed and kept walking. When he reached the door, he could smell blood coming from a hole in the wall. The door itself had no way of opening it as far as Ares could tell, so he decided to bite the bullet and shove his hand into the unknown hole.


    AGH! Son of a... Ares was complaining in his head as some spiked object latched onto his hand, puncturing it in numerous places and letting his blood flow further along the hole. Thankfully, the nerves had all been severed, so his hand went numb and the pain subsided shortly after. He pulled out his hand and the spiked thing, whatever it was, was no longer present. Luckily his bloodline was capable of restoring missing flesh, otherwise he would have had a real hard time fixing his hand given its current state.


    The door turned a translucent red, and Ares figured blood was the catalyst to enter the mansion. He also couldn¡¯t help but wonder if a haemomancer had lived here as that was really the safest bet but, then again, what kind of haemomancer-related thing would be calling out to Ares of all people? It didn¡¯t make sense, but nothing was going to make any sense until he learnt more about this place, so he ventured inside.


    FUCK-GODDAMN-WHY?!


    Ares was more than just a little miffed as the translucent door had sliced off two layers of his skin as he passed through it. His bloodline could fix it, but that didn¡¯t stop it from hurting any less.


    Ares took a breather to wait for his skin to come back, and then moved along through an expansive, dark, narrow hall with fancy wooden decor. The wood decor was strange in the sense that all the wood was twisted into shapes you really wouldn¡¯t expect wood to be carved into, like spiral helices and infinity loops. The fact that the only sources of lights were flickering flames, that used the wood decor as something akin to a candle, didn¡¯t make it any less weird either.


    At the end of the hallway was a massive set of spiked, red double doors. Ares stood in front of them and wondered how he was going to get these things to open, and whether or not the method would include any further suffering, when the doors suddenly swung wide open on their own, revealing a pitch-black nothingness. Well, it wasn¡¯t actually nothingness, at least not the kind Ares was familiar with anyway, but it was certainly some form of blank void.


    No matter how Ares tried, he couldn¡¯t fathom the depths of this blackness. He had tried flinging an Echo inside, and even a Shock Bead, but nothing lit up, no noises were made, and no information was given.


    Ares, for the first time in his life, was feeling antsy.


    Surely people knew about this place, right?


    If so, why hasn''t it been fully explored yet?


    Why was there still something here left to call out to him?


    The worst-case scenario was that this was a place not even transition realm cultivators dared to explore, and that thought was not a pretty one. Yet the voice in his head just kept telling him to keep moving forward, to find the thing that was calling him. Now that Ares had gotten this far, he¡¯d come to realise the voice in his head, and the thing calling him, were two separate entities, and he had absolutely no idea what was happening to him anymore. This only served to make him even more curious though.


    Ares set up a Shift location in advance that he could come back to on the off-chance things went horribly wrong, and took his first step into the black space.


    As soon as he fully committed, the doors slammed shut behind him.


    He felt something creeping up his leg.


    He couldn¡¯t see what it was, he couldn¡¯t see anything at all, but he could tell it wasn¡¯t a snake. It just felt too¡­ Wrong to be a snake.


    It felt more like a rope.


    Ares started to feel panic seeping in as he was unable to Shift out.


    His backup plan was no longer an option and this thing climbing up his body couldn¡¯t be removed no matter how hard he tried.


    It only got worse when more of these rope-like things wrapped themselves around his other ankle and started climbing him as well. Ares'' only solace was that they genuinely felt like rope and nothing else, or so he convinced himself.


    For the sake of his sanity, he sincerely hoped that was the case.


    A minute later he was completely tied up and couldn¡¯t move even an inch. Nothing regarding his vision had changed as he could see nothing regardless, or so he thought. A tiny light appeared in front of him, albeit distant. The slight light was enough for him to realise that it was, in fact, rope tying him up right now, and that the rope had very conveniently left a gap near his eyes for him to see out of.


    Another light appeared.


    And then another.


    And another.


    And another.


    This kept happening until there were hundreds of lights in the distance.


    Ares was starting to think these things weren¡¯t lights.


    Whatever they were, they were getting nearer and, more importantly, bigger.


    When they were close enough to visualise their shape, Ares began struggling wildly with the rope in a desperate attempt to free himself.


    He couldn¡¯t do it.


    He tried to move his body and managed to turn just enough to realise the situation behind him was the exact same and there was no escape.


    On either side of him, rapidly closing in, were hundreds of bright, sharp, spikes.


    This room was a makeshift iron maiden.


    FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK, Ares¡¯ thoughts had become manic as he tried to come up with a solution to the room and kept repeatedly failing to think of anything that would be any use. It was only a matter of seconds until he was crushed by the spikes and there was nothing left for Ares to try. All he could do was pray that this was an illusion magic of some kind but, as the first spike punctured his lung, he realised he was completely helpless. Thoughts of Aejaz, Appa, Allie, and Enyo ran through his head and, despite his punctured lung, he yelled in frustration that he was going to die in such a stupid manner. It was so stupid in fact, that even his bloodline felt indignant and Ares felt a stubborn refusal to die welling as more and more spikes ran him through. All his major organs had been pierced multiple times but none had been obliterated entirely yet so he could still cling onto life for a while longer. Ares could see less and less as his vision grew darker. This was like the time the Primordial Blade had run him through and he could feel himself dying. As if to put the final nail in the coffin, the light of the final two spikes came boring into Ares¡¯ eyes, blinding him, and making the world around him turn to black once more.


    ---------------------------------


    Earlier.


    ¡°Go¡«od mor¡«nin¡¯ ya lazy bed bugs,¡± Bellona cheerfully greeted everyone as they woke from their rest.


    ¡°How many times must you be told to speak properly, with grace and decorum befitting that of our Legion clan?¡± Trew groggily complained.


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hear it coming from the guy who¡¯s half asleep and slurring his words.¡± Bellona stuck her tongue out at Trew who just rolled his eyes in a disapproving way.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ares?¡± Enyo was the first to notice Ares had gone missing and this titbit was not lost on Bellona, even though she didn¡¯t pry any further.


    ¡°He left earlier to go¡­ Actually¡­ I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t ask him. Really shoulda in hindsight, huh?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, as much as I hate the idea of babysitting him, he¡¯s an injured idiot prone to doing stupid things at the best of times, let alone with his wounds still fresh.¡±


    ¡°Meh, he seemed good as new when I saw him.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Charity was in disbelief.


    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re a better healer than you give yourself credit for,¡± Gladius commented with an ¡®I told you so¡¯ look on his face.


    ¡°Enough with the flattery, I¡¯m not responsible for his condition. I just stabilised him. He must have had one hell of a healing pill on him.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe¡­¡± Trew started.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go there Trew, he really doesn¡¯t seem like one of them,¡± Bellona interrupted.


    Aejaz and Allie were utterly lost, but they could tell from Bellona¡¯s tone that Trew had insinuated something of considerable importance.


    ¡°Enyo, you can ask him the next time you see him¡­ Just in case. I don¡¯t think he is either¡­ But, you know. We can¡¯t be easy-going about these things,¡± Gladius said.


    ¡°First off, don¡¯t be ridiculous. He isn''t one of them, that¡¯s absurd. Second of all, I can¡¯t ask him and, lastly, it would all be meaningless anyway,¡± Enyo said sternly while shaking her head.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Trew asked.


    ¡°His family situation is complicated and he knows basically nothing about anything. He has no bloodline relatives in his life and would have made contact with at least one person from his clan by now if that weren¡¯t the case. He¡¯s been completely unguarded around me and all of us this entire time. I can¡¯t ask him because, as we¡¯ve already established, he can lie to my bloodline and, even if, by some ludicrous chance, he really is a revenant, I seriously doubt we could kill him anyway. If nothing else, he would be impossible to catch.¡±


    ¡°And would we even want to? He seems annoying, sure, but harmless otherwise,¡± Bellona added hastily.


    ¡°Harmless? He killed a Mecha-dryad. He could be a serious threat. And how do you know for sure he hasn¡¯t lied to you before? You said it yourself, you can¡¯t trust your bloodline, right?¡± Trew said. Silence filled the cave and many glances were shared until eventually Trew caught a glimpse of Aejaz. ¡°Ah, well, I think I have a good idea,¡± Trew said happily. ¡°Let¡¯s ask this fellow. He¡¯s his brother, right? I seriously doubt he too can lie to Enyo¡¯s bloodline, right?¡±


    Aejaz gulped as everyone was staring directly at him now and he had a bad feeling about what was to come. Not in the sense that they were going to do anything untoward to him, but rather that he was going to have to do something incredibly unpleasant to himself.

 Chapter 31: Dominus

    ¡°Aejaz?¡± Allie looked concerned.


    ¡°Has he?¡± Enyo asked again.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Aejaz had no clue what was happening. ¡°Has who, what?¡±


    ¡°Are you messing with us?¡± Trew was getting annoyed.


    ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡± Aejaz was utterly clueless.


    Trew drew his sword and started to walk over to Aejaz but Allie jumped in front of him. ¡°Leave him alone. He doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s happening and neither do I. None of you have explained anything to us,¡± Allie defended Aejaz.


    ¡°Allie¡­¡± Aejaz muttered.


    ¡°He needs to answer the damn question!¡± Trew growled.


    ¡°WHAT QUESTION?¡± Aejaz was annoyed that Trew had been rude to Allie.


    ¡°HAS ARES EVER DIED BEFORE?¡±


    ¡°What? No? What the hell kind of stupid question is that? If he had died, he would still be dead. Is that not how it works? Why are you yelling at Allie over something so stupid? I¡¯m not one to fight often, but I will if you keep being rude for no reason.¡±


    ¡°No reason? We asked you the same question twice and you just blanked out, that¡¯s reason enough given how important this is.¡± Trew was returning to his seat. ¡°Well? Is he lying?¡±


    ¡°... No,¡± Enyo said. ¡°Ares hasn¡¯t died before or, at least, he hasn¡¯t as far as Aejaz is aware. In other words, we¡¯re back to square one, and we have no clue if he actually is a revenant or not. There¡¯s no real way to tell until bloodline awakening and even then it''s not guaranteed to manifest itself in an obvious way. All I can say is that I really don¡¯t see it. I highly doubt he is, but I¡¯ll still keep an eye on him anyway.¡±


    ¡°And if he is?¡± Bellona asked.


    ¡°Then¡­ I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll take things as they come,¡± Enyo thought carefully before responding.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll kill him. No half-measures with revenants. Not now, not ever. If we start making exceptions, they¡¯ll start becoming problems again,¡± Trew spat.


    ¡°Leave him alone, Ares wants nothing to do with whatever it is you''re involved in. Ares is just an ordinary person like anyone else. All he wants is to live a normal life with his family. Don¡¯t put him in a situation where he has to kill you to protect the peace, it¡¯ll weigh heavily on him and he¡¯ll never forgive himself. He might not even be able to bring himself to do it, and then me and Appa will never forgive you, and that will just lead to more blood on people¡¯s hands. Don¡¯t go too far.¡± Aejaz was starting to get really fed up with Trew. ¡°I¡¯m feeling sick and I don¡¯t want to be stuck in here with some overzealous freaks.¡± Aejaz walked out of the cave and Allie got up and followed him.


    ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m going to go find Ares and ask him some questions of my own. I¡¯m sure I can get him to talk if I investigate thoroughly.¡± Trew stormed off.


    ¡°Should we just let him go like that?¡± Gladius asked?


    Bellona sighed. ¡°No, he¡¯ll start a fight if he finds Ares and decides he¡¯s a revenant. No matter who wins, it¡¯ll just be another layer of resentment to add to Trew¡¯s already expansive list.¡±


    ¡°He might not be a revenant, we¡¯re still figuring that out,¡± Charity added.


    ¡°Speaking of, now that the unreasonable one is gone, what happened earlier, Charity?¡± Enyo questioned.


    ¡°Some serious balls-of-steel shit is what happened. There were large quantities of residual mental magic in Aejaz¡¯ mind when I checked with my runic eye. He almost left permanent damage with whatever the hell it was he did to himself. Either way, the long and short of it is that he effectively carpet-bombed his own memory which is what led to him blanking out for a bit. It seemed like his memories would come back eventually, but they were definitely gone when he answered the question. I¡¯ll be honest, I have no idea what kind of magic can play around with memories like that, but it must have hurt a lot. Usually, you can only put a seal on memories, or slightly alter them, but they were just flat out gone. Memories are attached to the mind, meaning he literally tore them out somehow.¡±


    ¡°He has a unique aspect of thievery; I¡¯m guessing he stole his own memories? He reached mental accumulation during our travels and had been working on some type of mental attack. That was presumably it. He¡¯s probably inexperienced with it, which is why he hurt himself,¡± Enyo mentioned.


    ¡°Regardless, you don¡¯t go to that kind of effort if you have nothing to hide,¡± Gladius said.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be honest; I don¡¯t care if Ares is a revenant, he seems ok in my book,¡± Bellona admitted.


    ¡°Not that I don¡¯t agree with you, but we still need to ask him some questions. We also really can¡¯t let Trew know, otherwise things are going to get out of hand.¡±


    ¡°But what¡¯s the point in asking him anything? My bloodline just won¡¯t work on him,¡± Enyo sounded a little frustrated.


    ¡°No, it will,¡± Bellona replied.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Before he left earlier, I asked him how he did it.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Enyo simply had to know.


    ¡°I¡­ Can¡¯t tell you. You¡¯re just going to have to trust me when I say he can¡¯t pull off what he did yesterday ever again. I can, however, promise you that your bloodline has been working fine, and that you can ask him anything from now on and it will work properly.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me? Did he make you take an oath?¡±


    ¡°No, no. I just don¡¯t want to tell you.¡± Bellona stuck her tongue out at Enyo.


    ¡°You''re my sister so I trust you, but how do you expect me to just take your word for it with no proof?¡±


    ¡°Good question and, really, I don¡¯t have an answer! All I can say is that, because of what he told me, I¡¯m on his side. Even if he knows more than he¡¯s letting on, which I¡¯m nearly 100% sure he doesn''t, he won¡¯t be an issue for our clan. I can guarantee you he either has no idea what¡¯s going on, or he doesn¡¯t care in the slightest and wants no part of it.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but, for now, we need to find him. Which way did he go?¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Aejaz? Are you ok?¡± Allie sat down next to Aejaz on a log by a pond.


    ¡°Yes? No? I really don¡¯t know,¡± Aejaz responded as he skimmed a rock across the water. ¡°All I know for sure is that I have a colossal migraine right now.¡±


    ¡°Do you want a pill for that?¡±


    Aejaz smiled at Allie. ¡°No, thank you, that¡¯s really kind of you though.¡±


    ¡°Are you annoyed about what they were saying about Ares? About killing him?¡±


    ¡°... No. They won¡¯t be able to anyway. Ares might not have it in him to kill them, but it¡¯s not like he¡¯ll just sit around and let them kill him. They¡¯re idiots if they think they can take him. I just hope it doesn¡¯t come to that. Ares doesn¡¯t deserve to be put into that situation just because he was born wrong. Neither he nor I even know what a revenant is, let alone why he should be punished for being one.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying he is one?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Maybe? Probably. I don¡¯t know, and neither does he. Based on what they were saying about him, it sounds like he might be. I stole some of my own memories at the time so I could lie to them, but I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s even helped at all.¡±


    ¡°Um, is it ok to tell me that?¡±


    ¡°I think so? Are you going to go and tell them?¡±


    ¡°... No.¡± Allie shook her head. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be fair for you to trust me with that information and then for me to go and tell everyone, I think. Also, I don¡¯t want to see Enyo and Ares fight, that would make me sad.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me too.¡±


    ¡°So, if you¡¯re not annoyed because of that, why are you not ok?¡±


    Aejaz spoke in a quiet voice, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m annoyed at myself.¡±


    ¡°If this is still about your argument with Ares, I think you''re being too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. He¡¯ll forgive you if he hasn¡¯t already, it kinda seemed like he was over it.¡±


    ¡°I know, but it¡¯s not just that. I really have been useless lately. During the entrance exam, I needed Ares¡¯ help to calm me down. When Enyo was chasing me when we first met, I ran straight to Ares. I needed him to calm me down again so I could explain myself in a clear and concise manner. Then there was the argument where I did wrong by him. And now, you got yelled at because of me.¡± Aejaz threw another rock.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault I got yelled at by Trew. I stood up for you because he was being mean and unfair.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the problem, you had to stand up for me in the first place. What if that was Ares in there? Would he have needed anyone to stand up for him?¡± there was anger in Aejaz¡¯ voice now. ¡°Why should you have to have to pay because of my shortcomings? I don¡¯t want you to stand in front of me, I want to be the person standing in front of you. I can¡¯t forgive myself if you have to put up with something on my behalf because that¡¯s just not fair on you.¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind though.¡±


    ¡°I mind. I mind because I care about you Allie. When Trew yelled at you, I was so close to starting a fight with him then and there and that¡¯s why I¡¯m annoyed, because I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not right that you don¡¯t want others to fight on your behalf and yet you want to fight on others behalf. Let other people share your burdens, it¡¯s not a big deal,¡± Allie shook her head and replied calmly.


    ¡°If you were anyone else, I would agree. Even if you were Ares, I would agree but not you. You are the one person I want absolutely nothing from, but to do everything for and give everything to because¡­ Honestly¡­ I¡­ I¡¯ve fallen in love with you.¡± Aejaz¡¯s cheek was flushed and he looked down at his fingers as he fidgeted with them aimlessly. ¡°I don¡¯t ever want to see you get hurt or yelled at. I was more annoyed with Trew because of what happened to you than I was because of what they said about Ares, and that just made me annoyed with myself because you deserve better than a useless coward who needs other people to fight his battles.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Allie just kept staring blankly at Aejaz and blinking thanks to this revelation.


    ¡°The reason I got into that argument with Ares was because I wanted to stay with you instead of going with him and I selfishly lied to him to get my own way. I don¡¯t believe he was in the wrong and I think what he did back then was perfectly normal, yet I lied and placed the blame on him instead of just being honest to lessen the guilt I felt in making that decision. I¡¯ve made things awkward now and you probably don¡¯t want me to travel with you anymore, which is understandable, and that¡¯s why I''m telling you this. I want you to want me to leave because I deserve it. I haven¡¯t had to pay any kind of price for being useless, for screwing up with Ares, or for my mistakes as everyone around me has fixed them for me. I figured it would come to this if I came clean. As much as I wanted to try and change before I told you the truth, as much as I wanted to become someone who wasn¡¯t a coward before telling you how I feel, I don''t deserve that chance and, more specifically, I don¡¯t deserve that chance with you. You deserve better. You deserve someone who will stand in front of you.¡± Aejaz stood up to leave.


    ¡°Um, wait.¡± Allie tugged on his clothes like before. ¡°This is all kinda confusing. I wasn¡¯t expecting a light hearted conversation, but I also wasn¡¯t expecting this. I¡¯m still trying to wrap my head around everything you just said, but what I know is that I don¡¯t agree with most of it. You don¡¯t have to leave, and I wouldn¡¯t want you to anyway. Also, you¡¯re not useless. When it mattered, you even went as far as to hurt yourself for Ares, that¡¯s more than enough proof. It¡¯s ok to be a coward every now and then. I''m willing to bet even Ares has his moments. You really shouldn¡¯t compare yourself to your brother anyhow, you¡¯re two different people. I much prefer the kind of person you are than the kind of person Ares is. Ares almost seems too perfect, like sis¡¯, and that¡¯s just not workable for most people. I would hate to be around him all the time ¡®cos I would just start to feel incompetent, and I think that¡¯s what¡¯s happening to you. You¡¯re a better person than you give yourself credit for. You saying the things you¡¯ve just said, and being honest, tells me that your heart is in the right place. I¡¯ll never forget you getting me that rabbit weed, it meant a lot to me, and Ares couldn¡¯t have done that, could he?¡±


    ¡°... No.¡± Aejaz suddenly felt like he was being interrogated.


    ¡°Exactly, so stop trying to be more like Ares and just be more like you¡­ Because I like you.¡± now Allie was fidgeting too. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I love you, ¡®cos I haven¡¯t really ever thought about that kind of stuff. I usually just sit around and make pills all day. I¡¯ve never thought about relationships. I want to spend more time with you before I make up my mind, ok?¡±


    Now Aejaz was the one blinking and staring stupidly at Allie. ¡°Uh, yes. Yeah. Of course. We haven¡¯t really known each other that long. If anything, me and Ares are the weird ones, haha.¡± Aejaz was scratching his head as he came to terms with what was happening.


    ¡°Ares?¡±


    Aejaz stiffened up and stopped dead-still like a statue with his hand still mid-scratch. ¡°Uh¡­ Yeah¡­ About that. You¡¯re gonna have to keep another secret. Ares is kinda in love with Enyo¡­¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°I never would have guessed, especially considering how much he goads her.¡±


    ¡°You have no idea how glad I am that I''m not the only one who finds that odd.¡±


    Allie giggled a little. ¡°So that¡¯s how he ¡®lied¡¯ to Enyo, huh?¡±


    ¡°I seriously can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s the world¡¯s smartest idiot, or the world¡¯s dumbest genius.¡±


    Allie giggled again. ¡°See? I prefer this Aejaz to sulky Aejaz way more.¡±


    Aejaz¡¯s face transitioned from being surprised to being joyous and finally to being somewhat ashamed. ¡°Um, this Aejaz also isn¡¯t too proud to pretend his head isn¡¯t really hurting right now¡­ About that pill you offered me earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha, ok, but you owe me some more rare ingredients!¡±


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been keeping an eye out for some anyway just in case.¡±


    Allie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really? I was just joking.¡±


    ¡°Well, uh, yeah. It¡¯s just that you seemed really happy when I gave you the rabbit weed, and, well, that made me happy too, so I wanted to keep making you happy by stealing more stuff.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nice of you, thank you!¡±


    ¡°Hm? Are we interrupting something here?¡± Bellona and the others had arrived just in time to see Aejaz and Allie getting along really well.


    ¡°Uh, no,¡± Aejaz and Allie replied at the same time while both looking around nervously.


    Bellona smirked at the thought of an Enyo and Allie double date with Aejaz and Ares, but chose to keep that to herself. ¡°We¡¯re gonna go look for Ares so we can ask him a few questions, are you coming along?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but you know that if you try to kill Ares, I¡¯m not just gonna sit around and do nothing, right?¡±


    ¡°Relax, we aren¡¯t going to fight with him. That stunt you pulled was actually really helpful.¡±


    Aejaz gulped and started looking around nervously again so as not to have any eye contact. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Sure. Anyway, you lying in front of Trew has made this situation a lot better, we aren¡¯t as stubborn as he is. If he¡¯d heard the truth things would get messy, so you did good.¡±


    Allie elbowed Aejaz and gave him a satisfied ¡®I told you so¡¯ look.


    ¡°You should tell us what you really know, it¡¯ll make this situation a whole lot simpler for everyone involved,¡± Enyo said.


    ¡°Ares really doesn¡¯t know anything about anything.¡±


    ¡°According to who? Revenants keep their memories after death, regardless of how many times they die.¡± Gladius raised a point.


    ¡°Yeah, I know, but what memories could he possibly have? He was killed by his parents the day he was born; he didn¡¯t exactly have time to make any.¡±


    Charity sighed. ¡°That explains a lot. The revenants, or more specifically, the Umbra Wolf Clan, have been trapped and hunted in The Perpetual Massacre Zone for thousands of years now. A while back, they found a ritual of sorts to make themselves come back to life in a different domain to the one they died in, one they themself could specify. Rather than have everyone try to escape, as that would involve everyone dying and being reborn somewhere completely random in the universe, they killed off their newest generation and had them come to this domain to grow and cultivate in peace so that they could one day return and be a part of the war effort. The clans who swore to keep the Umbra Wolves in The Perpetual Massacre Zone sent their own youngest generation, that would be us, to find them here in this domain and keep killing them. Ares was too young to know any of this. As for why they performed the ritual on him so early, they probably had no choice. If he was found in a raid, his parents probably did it to prevent him from being slaughtered normally without the ritual, as that would result in him reviving who knows where with zero chance of survival, just waiting to be killed over and over again.¡±


    ¡°But why are you even doing this? Why are you at war with this Umbra Wolf Clan anyway?¡± Allie asked the pivotal question.


    ¡°Revenants have a long history of being tyrannical leaders,¡± Gladius started. ¡°It all stems from an ancient revenant called ¡®Dominus¡¯. Supposedly, he was the first revenant. No one knows exactly where he came from, just that he was a serious problem for the universe. He had a determination to rule unmatched by just about anyone who has ever lived since, but he ruled in a haphazard manner once he finally took a position of power. He was lazy and lascivious and stopped caring about the people he was meant to govern, but no one could dethrone him. He ruled for centuries and produced many offspring that would later come to form the revenant race before disappearing under strange circumstances. You see, Dominus was apparently unkillable. Only once had anyone ever succeeded in murdering him and, ironically, it was himself. He was too strong to best in combat, so no one ever tried, but that led to him becoming bored. In his spare time, Dominus would try to find ingenious ways to kill himself, but could never actually accomplish it. He would either not die, or die and come right back immediately. All revenants'' age and cultivation are reset when they die and come back, but Dominus was the exception to that rule, so there was never a chance to beat him after being weakened by his ¡®deaths¡¯. One day, he simply vanished. One of his many wives found a diary of sorts that was filled with the Dominus¡¯ experiments to off himself for good. Apparently, in the end, he finally found a way to die permanently, becoming the first and, supposedly, only revenant to ever truly pass away eternally. Unfortunately, as it turns out, a strong desire to rule wasn¡¯t just a personality trait of Dominus specifically, but of the revenant race as a collective whole. As soon as he disappeared, the revenants started massacring one another and anyone else who stood in the way of absolute power. They were obsessed. Throughout history, in every age, there has always been at least one problematic revenant who has tried to usurp control over something. All the races collectively decided that no revenant should ever be allowed access to any form of power as they always, without fail, misused it when they finally got their hands on it.¡±


    Charity continued, ¡°And that leads us to a few thousand years back. The revenants had been quiet for an extended period of time and many wondered if they had finally calmed down. In one particular domain, the domain ruler passed away and left the position up for grabs. There was a system in place whereby various candidates would host a political campaign to earn the spot. A revenant woman named Atria, of the Umbra Wolf Clan, ran. Naturally the people were unhappy, but she was doing everything by the book so she was allowed to continue. She even managed to garner support from three particularly well-established, respected clans to boot. She seemed reasonable and responsible so, eventually, the tide started to turn and she finally won out over her competition with her populist mindset that earned the support of the voters. That was when it all went wrong. The amount of blood that was shed under her short-lived, iron-fisted rule was simply inestimable. They had given the revenants another chance and it had been squandered. That was when the persecution started. After many years of strife, the revenants came to somewhat of an agreement with the rest of the world. Rather than continue the needless bloodshed, the Umbra Wolf Clan were banished. The specifics were that: Atria was to be kept under lock and key until the end of time, the revenants would be hidden away in some dark corner of the universe, never to be seen again, the Umbra Clan would be sent to a lower domain, and then the domains would be severed so that they could never return. That wasn¡¯t enough though. The people were furious at their losses, but the only other people they could blame were the three clans that had backed Atria, so they were punished too. Our Legion Clan, the Willow Clan, and the Starlight Clan were all forced to leave with the Umbra Clan and keep them in check. Part of the war that¡¯s currently ongoing is pettiness and taking out frustrations on each other. The major issue though is that the new patriarch of the Umbra Wolf Clan wants to go back to the upper domains. The new generation think it¡¯s unfair that they¡¯re being punished for something that had nothing to do with them. As per our duty, we have to prevent them from attempting to reopen the severed pathway to the upper domains. It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t understand where they¡¯re coming from, but that we simply can¡¯t trust them after what happened to us as a result of trusting them last time. Besides, revenants really don¡¯t ever die. The old generation that had shed blood in Atria¡¯s name are still loitering around and they can¡¯t be allowed back under any circumstances. They¡¯ve died a few times though and their cultivation has been reset, thankfully, otherwise they would be an unstoppable problem. The new generations of both sides have inherited a lot of the grudges of the ones prior and it¡¯s just becoming a never-ending cycle in which everyone feels like they¡¯ve been wronged and deserves better. Not a single member of any clan involved is happy with the way things are, but still feel the need to fight for what they think is right. That¡¯s why they¡¯re all breeding new generations of ¡®tools¡¯ for the war and is the reason why our generation has gotten frustrated. We mostly weren¡¯t born out of love but out of necessity to fuel this strife, and that¡¯s true for everyone across all four clans.¡±


    Enyo added, ¡°Aejaz, you¡¯ve seen Ares when his bloodline acts up. You know better than anyone what he can potentially end up like. It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t trust him to control that, it¡¯s that no one else will. We have to do our due-diligence and make sure he really has nothing to do with this war, especially given his unique pillar.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Charity, Bellona, and Gladius all exclaimed simultaneously.


    Enyo sighed and explained everything. ¡°You remember those Beads at the entrance to the cave? They¡¯re an art that grows with him and he can mass produce them. If he contributed to the war¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahhh, jeez. This guy is seriously troublesome.¡± Bellona smacked her forehead; it was getting harder and harder to justify letting Ares be left alone.


    ¡°You don¡¯t say? How long have I been telling you that for!?¡± Enyo was agitated but also felt incredibly vindicated.


    ¡°Ares won¡¯t care about any of that,¡± Aejaz interrupted. ¡°He really won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Can you really be sure of that though?¡± Charity asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I can. I mean, knowing him, he¡¯ll decide to do something incredibly bold, ambitious, and no doubt stupid, but he won¡¯t do anything as simple as taking a side. He would never raise a fist against someone he knows¡­ Uh, well, except the time he punched me, but I deserved that.¡±


    Allie chuckled.


    ¡°That being said, this is quite unfortunate. Ares only really cares about making bigger and bigger explosions. It¡¯s his obsession and it necessitates a higher cultivation. If he finds out there are severed domains with a higher potential for cultivation¡­ I can¡¯t guarantee he won¡¯t want to go back as well. That¡¯s the only issue I see here,¡± Aejaz admitted.


    Everyone just looked at Aejaz in shock, he had seriously just thrown Ares under the bus.


    ¡°Uh, well, maybe we can convince him that¡¯s not a good idea.¡± Bellona laughed awkwardly. ¡°Either way, we should really go and find him. Luckily, Trew¡¯s a knucklehead when it comes to tracking people and marched off in the wrong direction, so we ought to run into him first.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Ares woke up in excruciating pain and to a stench so unbelievably revolting he threw up in his mouth before he could even process the smell properly. He also immediately realised he was hanging upside down and nearly choked on his bile before he spewed it out on the floor.


    Ugh, ah, fuck. Ares groaned as his body was slowly mending all the punctures in his limbs and organs and replenishing his missing blood. He could do nothing but hang limply, dangling in the ropes that had bound him earlier.


    After an unknown amount of time passed, his eyes finally recovered and he came to an understanding of sorts. He was in a hallway full of rotting corpses, all in the same position as him. The ceiling was pitch black and presumably linked to the area he was just in. Hundreds of ropes were dangling down from the ceiling, wrapping tightly around dead bodies with countless holes in them. The floor was stained red with all the blood that leaked out and there wasn¡¯t any trace of the living other than Ares himself. As Ares looked around, he even noticed a few cultivators who were powerful enough to have been transition realm experts when they were alive. On the one hand, Ares felt sympathetic for these people, on the other, they still had their spatial rings on them and that meant free loot! Ares was naturally incredibly grateful to his bloodline for having kept him alive through that nonsense, but he got a feeling he wasn¡¯t supposed to die from the start, almost as if it had all been a test designed specifically for him and his bloodline.


    A few hours later, he was in a good enough position to untangle himself and fall flat on his face, straight into his own pool of blood that lay underneath him. Eugh, tastes like gunpowder, Ares joked to himself. Might as well make light of the situation, it was better than panicking like before. He struggled to his feet and stretched while moaning in pain. He took a deep breath and travelled further down the hall after ¡®borrowing¡¯ the spatial rings from the deceased experts.


    That thing was still calling to him. He¡¯d already come this far and he had a real penchant for being stubborn. He had no idea how to leave either. There was only one path open to him and he didn''t particularly fancy taking a stroll back through that black room even if it was possible to do so.


    After progressing for a few minutes, the ceiling was no longer black and no longer connected to the previous room. The corpses had also stopped appearing which meant Ares was in unknown and untested waters. Still though, he felt strangely safe, as if he were meant to be here. It all felt¡­ Familiar? Like a part of him knew this place, but only a small part of him, like a voice in his head nagging him.


    When he reached the end of the hallway, he found himself standing in front of a large, stone arch that had a rather imposing engraving at the top. It simply read,


    ¡®Dominus¡¯.

 Chapter 32: Hard Question to Answer

    Ares entered the next room, which was circular in shape and had six stone pillars fashioned around the perimeter. In the middle of the room was a raised pedestal with a hole in it, similar to the one at the entrance of the mansion. Ares begrudgingly walked up to the hole and stuck his hand in, bracing for the inevitable. Sure enough, something latched onto his hand again and drained his blood. It lasted a little while longer this time and it kept going until there were blood-red lines weaving around the entirety of the pedestal.


    The entire room shook and parts of the ceiling came crashing down before things finally eased up, at which point the pedestal crumbled, revealing a smaller pedestal at roughly chest height that was hidden within. On top of the pedestal was an ornate piece of stoneware. Resting on the plate were a set of crystal, transluscent nerves.


    Ares wasn¡¯t sure which part of the body specifically the nerves belonged to, or what he was expected to do with this, but he could tell this was what had been calling out to him the entire time. A detached voice in his head was trying to coax him into picking it up, telling Ares that this thing would be invaluable to him, that it would grant him power and that he and he alone could have it. Ares felt a little cautious but, strangely enough, somehow knew the voice wasn¡¯t lying to him. It wasn¡¯t malicious, there was no ill intent, but it was creeping him the hell out. It¡¯s not every day you start hearing voices in your head after all. It wasn¡¯t too worrying though as, whenever he heard the voice, he envisioned his blood taking form to speak. Ares guessed it had something to do with his bloodline and that it would go back to being quiet when he took these nerves, even if he had no clue what to do with them.


    Ares reached out and the voice in his head kept getting louder and louder as his hand neared the nerves, reaching a climax when he finally touched them, making the voice go from passive but aggressive whispering to frantic screeching.


    Ares¡¯ whole world blurred and his hands started moving on their own. It was as though he had taken a back seat in his own body and was watching events unfold that were completely unrelated to him.


    Ares¡¯ hands reached towards his eyes and gauged them out one at a time. Ares was going mad with pain, screaming in muffled breaths in his mind, unable to voice them out loud as his fingers dug into his own skull. Ares almost lost consciousness as his blood-drenched fingers grabbed hold of his optic nerves and began tugging fiercely at them. He went completely stiff and mute when he finally managed to tear one out, only for the process to then repeat itself in the other eye socket. Ares'' consciousness was dragged back to reality and he was forced awake thanks to the utter agony he was experiencing. His hand was spasming as it forcefully shoved the new nerve through the socket and into his brain. Ares dreaded every second of this hellish torture as he already knew that he would go through it again for the other eye whether he wanted to or not. His mind blanked out as his fingers wormed their way through grey matter to rewire his nerves and, just as he barely recovered, it happened again in his other eye. His hands were feeling numb and weak and he was feeling light-headed and sick, but his hands just kept moving no matter how much he tried to make them stop. His blood-drenched hands grabbed one of the eyes that they had torn out previously and began wedging the eye back into Ares¡¯ head. He thought that, at the very least, maybe, that side was done now, but then he felt a jolt of sharp pain that seemed to last an eternity as the nerve pierced through the back-end of his eye to connect itself. A warm feeling oozed out of his eye as yet more of his blood poured out through his retina. He could feel his bloodline working and trying to heal the eye, but that didn¡¯t stop his hands from going to work on his other eye as they repeated the exact same process as before.


    As the second nerve pierced through the second eye, Ares fell to his knees and his arms slumped down along his sides, dragging across the floor, covered in blood. His eyes were aching and he was, for the second time today, completely blind. Ares just sat there motionlessly as his mind worked on repairing itself after the pain it had just endured, feeling betrayed by his own body that he wasn¡¯t able to control. The thought of losing control like that was horrifying, but it was over now. All that screaming in his head, his loss of free-will, that urging sensation, it was all gone as if it had never even existed to begin with. It was just Ares, alone in a deathly silent, frigid room, kneeling on the stone floor.


    The room rumbled and started breaking down again. The floor fell away, revealing the watery hellhole residing under the cliff, and the whole building shook violently. Ares could see none of this, but could feel everything coming down around him. He still couldn¡¯t bring himself to move and felt compelled to just let fate take him. What more pain could this house possibly inflict upon him that he hadn¡¯t already experienced? It was clearly obvious by now he was only going to suffer, not die. He was too tired to care. The stone beneath him disappeared and the wind rushed past him as he tumbled through the air towards the sea.


    ¡°ARES!?¡±


    Although Ares could hear Aejaz¡¯s voice, he couldn¡¯t see anything, so he just assumed he was hearing another voice like the one in his head.


    It was just his imagination.


    There was no reason for Aejaz to be here¡­ Or so he thought.


    Meanwhile Aejaz watched aghast as an entire mansion faded away with parts of it, Ares included, plummeting into the sea below. When he got over the initial astonishment, he sprinted over to the edge and dove after him.


    ¡°AEJAZ¡±!?¡± Now it was Allie¡¯s turn and she too jumped off the cliff.


    ¡°ALLIE!?¡±


    ¡°ENYO!?¡±


    ¡°BELLONA!?¡±


    Gladius meandered over to the edge where Charity had just jumped off, with a degree of a clarity the others before him lacked. Like lemmings, everyone else had now gone barrelling over the cliffside. What was this if not six degrees of separation at its finest!? Gladius simply shrugged his shoulders and sighed while shouting out a completely unrelated person¡¯s name, ¡°GERONIMO!¡±


    By now, several people had already landed in the ¡®water¡¯, only to find it was actually a whirlpool of spatial magic, or rather, a teleportation spell that had been cast when the house began fading away on the sea underneath it. Ares was the first one out as he was tossed onto the soft, springy earth that he immediately recognised. He couldn¡¯t see, so he didn¡¯t know the specifics, but he was definitely somewhere back in the forest. He was tired and couldn¡¯t be bothered to move, plus his mind was still reeling from the earlier events, so he just lay still on his stomach at a loss as to what to do next.


    ¡°AHHHHHHHH.¡±


    Thump


    Aejaz landed square on his back, next to Ares, with a loud bump.


    ¡°EEEEEK.¡±


    ¡°OOF.¡±


    Allie came speeding down straight into Aejaz and inadvertantly tackled him, dragging both of them a short distance away.


    Enyo and the rest of the Legion Clan all landed on their feet in an orderly fashion and came over. They paid no attention to Aejaz other than giving him a quick glare for being so impulsive and bringing everyone with him, and walked over to Ares. ¡°Ares? What the hell was that about? Why are you covered in blood? What are you holding?¡± Enyo was the first to speak, and she had a lot of questions to ask him.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me damnit!¡± Enyo picked Ares up by the collar and he just dangled silently, unmoving. ¡°YOU¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Charity stopped Enyo before she could start shaking him. ¡°He¡¯s exhausted, his mind is in shock. He won¡¯t be able to answer you right now. You should put him down.¡±


    Enyo let go and Ares just collapsed back on the floor.


    Bellona winced. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have been gentler?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Didn¡¯t expect him to just fall over¡­¡± Enyo turned her helmet-hidden face to the side.


    ¡°If you¡¯re done brutishly beating up my patient, could you please step aside?¡± Charity complained.


    ¡°Diagnosis!¡±


    Charity¡¯s eye had a runic pattern on it as she investigated Ares'' condition further. She opened up his hands, which had been clenched shut around something and checked his facial region before coming to a conclusion, ¡°Ok, well, you don¡¯t see this every day. Also, yeah, he¡¯s definitely a revenant. Unless of course you think him walking around with at least three holes in every organ like nothing happened is completely normal. As for¡­ This.¡± Charity gestured at his face and hands. ¡°Honestly? The most likely explanation is that he went insane.


    ¡°Why? What happened?¡± Gladius asked.


    ¡°These are nerves.¡± Charity held up the things Ares had been holding onto. ¡°His nerves to be precise. It seems like he tore out his own eyes, yanked out his optic nerves, replaced them, and put his eyes back in. Why? Fuck knows. Whose nerves did he steal? Fuck knows. What was up with that funky ass mansion? Fuck knows. You¡¯ll have to ask him when he comes back from Lala land.¡± Charity took out a blindfold and put it around Ares¡¯ eyes as they were sensitive right now and needed to heal. She also used her healing mist on him again.


    ¡°I swear, the longer I put up with him, the stupider the situations I keep finding him in get.¡± Enyo shook her head in disbelief.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve heard of that mansion before,¡± Gladius spoke up. ¡°Apparently, even transition realm cultivators have died in there, the place is infamous. I¡¯m surprised none of you have heard about it. For a long time, people kept trying to figure out what was inside, but nobody that ever went in, ever came back out. Over time, people gave up on the idea of exploring it and it became a no-go zone. It single-handedly put Baja Forest on the map. Did none of you research this place?¡± Gladius looked around at everyone who either avoided making eye contact or started whistling to themselves. ¡°Of course not,¡± Gladius¡¯ eye twitched as he spoke in a deflated tone.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°That aside, our grand entrance made a lot of noise. We should leave before any monsters come on over as protecting someone who¡¯s injured will just be a hassle.¡±


    Ares was barely conscious enough to let out an unappreciative groan as if to complain about being called a ¡®hassle¡¯.


    ¡°Quiet you schmuck.¡± Enyo felt a strong desire to kick Ares.


    ¡°Ah, too late.¡± Bellona nodded her head at the monsters that had gathered.


    ¡°Tsk, of all the places we could have ended up, we landed right inside treetop tiger territory,¡± Gladius fussed.


    ¡°Uh, why do I feel like those deer want to eat me?¡± Aejaz was being stared down by a few hydra deer.


    Something clicked in Ares'' mind and he kept letting out small grunts to try and get everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Will you shut up?¡± Enyo couldn¡¯t care less about Ares¡¯ squirming.


    Ares put all his remaining strength into lifting up his arm and clicking his finger twice in quick succession.


    The treetop tigers stopped growling and the deer tilted their heads at this familiar noise. One of the tigers, memorable thanks to his distinct pattern, plodded over to Ares in a harmless, almost cute fashion with no ill-intent, so everyone just watched. The tiger sniffed Ares a couple times and turned around to the rest of the monsters and mewed loudly. The rest of the tigers all came running over and started licking Ares, with a few even plopping down on his back and curling up to go to sleep. The deer also came over and found resting spots near Ares before taking their naps. It was nothing short of bizarre watching these vicious monsters all start cuddling with Ares, purring and meowing like trained house kittens. Everyone just stared dumbly as Ares raised a thumb to signify everything was fine before he blanked out. Perhaps they were in the presence of an animal whisperer? Honestly, nothing involving Ares ever made any sense anyway.


    ¡°Uh, I guess we¡¯ll be safe here then?¡± Aejaz questioned.


    ¡°Aww, they¡¯re all so cute!¡± Allie and Bellona had snuck over and started playing with a few of the mini tigers that hadn¡¯t gone to sleep.


    ¡°A¡­ Allie?¡± Aejaz was more than just a little worried.


    ¡°Well, whatever. Who¡¯s on watch duty? Not me, of course,¡± Charity asked as it was getting late and she wanted to sleep.


    Ares had entered the mansion at night and been battered and kicked around for a full 24 hours.


    ¡°I will,¡± Enyo volunteered, although it sounded more like a threat to anyone who was willing to challenge her.


    ¡°Alright then, goodnight.¡± Charity and Gladius made no effort to argue.


    ¡°Sorry little fellas, but I¡¯m kinda sleepy too. We¡¯ll play more tomorrow, ok?¡± Allie said goodnight to everyone, tigers included.


    ¡°Goodnight.¡± Aejaz found a place in between Allie and the tigers, just in case.


    Allie noticed this before she closed her eyes and smiled at Aejaz¡¯ back.


    ¡°Are you not going to sleep?¡± Enyo asked Bellona, who was now hovering around her.


    ¡°Nah, at least not before you and I have a talk,¡± Bellona whispered quietly so no one else could hear and simultaneously nodded her head towards the forest.


    Enyo was reluctant for two reasons; one was that she really was trying to keep watch, the other was that she already knew what the conversation was going to be about. Realistically, everyone would be safe here for a while with all the monsters around. No creature would be foolish enough to venture into the tiger¡¯s habitat anyway, so she couldn¡¯t use that as an excuse not to go. Enyo realised she was just going to have to bite the bullet on this one. She got up and headed out of ear-shot of everyone else with Bellona and found a cosy area with a log bench that someone, presumably Ares as he¡¯d clearly been here before, made.


    Bellona sat next to her and didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°... Fine, you win. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Enyo owned up to being wrong without even being prompted.


    ¡°You know, what bothered me more about you leaving back then after our argument wasn¡¯t that you left without saying anything, but that you hadn¡¯t learnt anything because you hadn¡¯t listened to a word of what I said. I don¡¯t need an apology from you, I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re finally learning what it is that our mother taught me and tried so hard to teach you. ¡®There will come a time when you have to question whether or not your responsibilities are worth being responsible for,¡¯ she used to say. I guess that time is now, huh? I saw that dagger in your hand earlier, the one you always carry around ¡®just in case¡¯ you come across a revenant, but you stopped when you saw the state Ares was in.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do it. Ares. He annoys me but I don¡¯t hate him. Not enough to kill him, and then keep hunting him down and killing him as a child over and over. The weird thing is that I don¡¯t feel irresponsible, even though I should.¡±


    ¡°Should you really? According to who? Our father?¡±


    ¡°I see we¡¯re going to have this conversation again.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, it¡¯s pertinent, don¡¯t you think? Also, Allie told me that Ares reminds you of dad.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, that backstabber. Now I know how Ares felt, betrayed by a sibling.¡± Enyo wasn¡¯t actually mad, just a little annoyed she had no way out of this talk.


    ¡°I think he reminds me more of mum.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ You¡¯re right. I only originally said he reminded me of dad because of an argument we had.¡±


    ¡°Mum would be happy to see you again, I¡¯m the only one that¡¯s gone back to her since we all left. She¡¯d be overjoyed to know you¡¯ve started making your own decisions.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll knock me around for a while first though, you know what she can be like.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I also know that if you tell her about this, the only thing she¡¯ll ask you is, ¡®why couldn¡¯t you kill him in particular?¡¯ You should think of an answer before then, or she¡¯ll interrogate you ¡®till the sun comes down and then some.¡±


    ¡°I told you already, it¡¯s because I don¡¯t hate him enough.¡±


    ¡°Nope, it¡¯s not. Not only have you killed revenants that you haven¡¯t hated, because you¡¯d never even known them, you also probably ¡®hate¡¯ Ares more than every single one of them combined. He drives you insane and, according to you, is nothing but trouble. I don¡¯t buy it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­ I feel sorry for him, I guess? It¡¯s not like his situation is that different from ours, if anything, he¡¯s probably had it worse.¡±


    ¡°And so have a lot of the other revenants we¡¯ve killed. I don¡¯t buy that either.¡±


    ¡°Then I have no clue. Honestly? I don¡¯t know why but, when I looked at him, I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it. I know I say he¡¯s troublesome a lot, but I don¡¯t actually dislike him. He cares for his makeshift ¡®family¡¯, he can be surprisingly thoughtful and, as much as I hate to say it, we get along just fine in spite of all our arguments and how annoying he is. Aejaz once said we¡¯re quite similar. At the time, I thought he was insane but, the more I see of Ares, the more I realise that Aejaz was maybe right. Of course, there are still differences. He can be really easy-going a lot of the time, but I think part of me is slowly realising that I want to be more like that; like you, like mother, like him.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re slowly getting it, and being around Ares has helped you a great deal, I think. You aren¡¯t the same Enyo you were before you met him, that¡¯s for sure, and you¡¯ve only known him for a week. Still though, none of those realisations answer the question I asked. You should think about it some more before you next see mum ¡®cos, unlike me, she¡¯ll just tell you the answer, and I think you should figure it out yourself.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you already know? Then why are you asking?¡±


    ¡°Because I think it would do you good to take it into consideration. I¡¯m your sister so, naturally, I have your best interest at heart and, while I may not always be right, I feel pretty confident that if you can figure out the answer to my question, you¡¯ll be happy you did.¡±


    ¡°Who says I¡¯m not happy?¡± Enyo sounded offended.


    ¡°I meant happier. By the way, on a somewhat related topic, is it me, or has Allie seemed peppier than usual today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she has. I was going to find some time to ask her about it, actually.¡±


    ¡°Ha, slow as ever with these kinds of things. I¡¯ll spare you the trouble. She and Aejaz are hitting it off. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s been said, but something has definitely been said.¡±


    ¡°How on earth could you possibly know that?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m not blind as a bat when it comes to stuff like this.¡±


    ¡°Neither am I,¡± Enyo objected. ¡°I think I would have noticed if those two were that much closer than before.


    ¡°Nope, clearly not. In fact, I don¡¯t even think you would notice if someone was in love with you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, of course I would. You think I don¡¯t know about Trew? God, I wish he¡¯d leave me alone.¡±


    ¡°Screw Trew, he¡¯s far too obvious about his intentions. Trust me, anyone else and you¡¯d have no clue.¡± Bellona stuck out her tongue at Enyo.


    ¡°Hmph, if you say so. What about you then?¡±


    ¡°Me? Of course I would. Actually, I have noticed. I¡¯ve just never cared.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Oh please, spare me. No way in hell I¡¯m gonna go anywhere near one of our clan members, they¡¯d just bore me to death.¡±


    ¡°That didn¡¯t stop mother.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and even though she still loves dad, she still considers it a mistake to this day.¡±


    ¡°Then who? One of the other clans? Or someone from this domain?¡±


    ¡°Dunno, as long as they fit the bill, who cares?¡±


    ¡°And what type is that, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Hm, I guess¡­ Someone like Ares.¡± Bellona smirked.


    ¡°W¡­ What!?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I mean, why not right? An above average, and quite unique, look. He¡¯s strong, capable, reliable, kind-hearted, caring, and funny. He¡¯s got a lot going for him. Besides, I¡¯ve always said I want a man whose magical output synergises with my unique aspect. I really like my unique aspect, which is why I want the person I dedicate my life to to be able to make use of it in a way that no other man can. From what I¡¯ve heard of his magic, it would certainly be a sight to behold.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Good luck, I guess,¡± Enyo sounded a little unsure while giving her ¡®supportive¡¯ response, and Bellona was more aware of this than Enyo was herself.


    ¡°Who said it had to be Ares?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I said someone LIKE Ares, not him specifically. I was just listing qualities.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Why not?¡± Enyo¡¯s uncertainty in her voice had all but vanished.


    ¡°I get the feeling he wouldn¡¯t be interested.¡± Bellona chuckled.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Bellona could tell that Enyo was subconsciously worried that, because they were similar to one another, this indirectly affected her chances too, even if she had no clue that was why she was actually asking. Enyo wasn¡¯t in love, per se, but she was definitely slowly getting there. Given some more time with Ares, she would figure it out herself. He was changing her, and she was actively trying to become more like him. She admitted it herself after all.


    ¡°I know this might sound strange.¡± Bellona tried not to cackle evilly as she prepared herself to deliver the final blow. ¡°But I think you¡¯d be more his type.¡±


    ¡°W¡­ Wha¡­ ME!?¡± Enyo was taken aback and momentarily speechless. ¡°Have you seen the way he acts with me!?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just sayin¡¯.¡± Bellona put her hands in the air like it had nothing to do with her but, inside, she was overjoyed to see the usually stoic Enyo get flustered like this. More importantly, Bellona cared more about the fact that Enyo¡¯s first response wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t interested. It didn¡¯t look like she was even thinking of saying it. That thought hadn''t even crossed her mind.


    ¡°No¡­ No, I doubt I¡¯d be his type.¡± Enyo shook her head.


    ¡°Strong, independent woman that he respects? Determined in her beliefs? Proud? I think that¡¯s his type.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Enyo didn¡¯t want to put herself down and say she wasn¡¯t any of those things, and she couldn¡¯t in good faith say she didn¡¯t think that was Ares¡¯ type.


    ¡°Well, I think that¡¯s enough fun for tonight. We should get back and make sure the tigers haven¡¯t started eating anyone yet. Aejaz would for sure be a goner, but at least his little act of heroism might mean we still make it in time to save Allie,¡± Bellona joked.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    Enyo replied meekly, ¡°Nothing,¡±


    Definitely not nothing, Bellona mused. She had done her part and planted the seed, now it was Ares'' job to water it. The main reason Bellona felt like helping Ares was because he really had been having a positive effect on Enyo and they both seemed to get along well with one another. Bellona truly believed they would be happy with each other otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have done a thing for Ares, just as she hadn¡¯t lifted a finger for Trew.


    The two walked back and moved silently when they returned so as not to wake anyone. Bellona found a spot and waved at Enyo before turning around and dozing off. Enyo sat back down and looked over at Ares, who had been practically buried in a mountain of fur underneath the tigers. Even a few of the deer had repositioned and were sleeping up against him now, resting their heads contently on him. Although she was supposed to be keeping an eye out, she spent most of the night looking at Ares with countless thoughts and questions racing through her mind, the main one being, ¡®Why couldn¡¯t I bring myself to kill him?¡¯

 Chapter 33: Unprecedented Happening of Inestimable Chance

    Ares woke up with many soft things lying on his back. Ah, I died and went to heaven. He opened his eyes and everything was still black. He was momentarily confused as he could have sworn his eyes had healed until, eventually, he connected the dots and noticed a blindfold on his face.


    Ares felt a little dumb for that one.


    The tigers had also just happened to wake up and jumped off him before stretching their backs and wandering off to go find Allie and play. This reminded Ares that he had promised them good food the next time he came back, and he had yet to deliver! Plus, everyone was here now, so he could cook for everyone and pay them back for healing him again. Even if technically his bloodline was what healed him, they had jumped after him back at the cliff and looked after him when he couldn''t move. Also, why not? Ares enjoyed cooking anyway. The more the merrier! He set off to work in the background inside the primordial blade and sat up with his back against a tree.


    ¡°He¡¯s awake,¡± Enyo called out to the others as she had been the first to notice Ares'' movements¡­ Again.


    ¡°Enyo? I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s you. Aren¡¯t you a sight for sore eyes?¡± Ares instinctually couldn¡¯t resist the urge to playfully tease Enyo.


    ¡°Hmph, you won¡¯t get on my nerves that easily,¡± she replied defiantly.


    Ares just smiled back. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to. Speaking of nerves, has anyone seen mine? ¡®Cos I sure haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Ha, really funny,¡± Bellona snorted. ¡°You¡¯ve got some explaining to do.¡±


    ¡°Sure, but honestly, even I have no idea what the hell happened to me, other than knowing that it hurt like a motherfucker. Thought I was gonna die, and twice at that.¡±


    ¡°Can you even die? Hasn¡¯t that already happened to you before?¡± Charity subtly raised the main topic.


    ¡°Huh? Oh, right, Aejaz probably mentioned that? Good point, but I really don¡¯t know how it all works. Who knows if I can come back again, right? Don¡¯t wanna risk it on something I know nothing about.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re really an irredeemable idiot.¡± Enyo sighed. ¡°He¡¯s telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°What? Of course I am. Why would I lie about that of all things?¡±


    ¡°Do you know anything about the name ¡®revenant¡¯?¡± Gladius asked.


    ¡°Revenant? Yeah¡­¡±


    Everyone inhaled sharply.


    ¡°I know that it¡¯s a word to describe people who have come back from the dead, which, now that you mention it, probably includes me, huh?¡±


    Gladius smacked his forehead, ¡°Not the definition damnit, the race. The race.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a revenant race? Interesting. I don¡¯t remember seeing them in any of the books I¡¯ve read. What do they look like? What kinda monsters are they?¡±


    ¡°The more you talk, the more I want to hit you,¡± Enyo spoke through gritted teeth.


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m missing something here.¡± Ares tilted his head in confusion.


    ¡°What do you know about your bloodline?¡± Enyo asked.


    ¡°Only that it saved my life inside that creepy-ass mansion. Seriously, that thing is a fucking death-trap if I¡¯ve ever seen one. Even I felt scared. Not pleasant.¡±


    ¡°Why did you even go in there in the first place? If you knew how dangerous it was, you shouldn¡¯t have even considered it,¡± Bellona questioned.


    ¡°Well, obviously I had no clue it was dangerous. I mean, I guess there was a sign¡­ Remind me not to ever doubt signs again.¡±


    ¡°Wait, are you saying you didn¡¯t know the stories about the mansion?¡±


    ¡°What stories? Am I a fool? Should I have looked this forest up beforehand?¡±


    ¡°Even transition realm cultivators have died inside that mansion.¡±


    ¡°Oh, believe me, I know. Hundreds of ¡®em. All rotting and dangling from the ceiling. I got lots of good stuff from their spatial rings though. Hooray for not being dirt-poor anymore. May those generous souls rest in peace.¡±


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you lucky? But what I¡¯m asking is, if you didn¡¯t know about the mansion beforehand, why were you so determined to go there? You said you had some place to go when we talked in the cave. How could you have known about the mansion¡¯s existence, without knowing about the mansion¡¯s existence prior to going there?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, that was the voice in my head. Quite an unruly voice too, wouldn¡¯t shut up.¡±


    ¡°What on earth is wrong with you!?¡± Enyo could have sworn she was going insane.


    Ares sighed. ¡°Look, it¡¯s probably for the best if I just explain everything that happened from the start, right?¡±


    ¡°You think?¡±


    Ares recounted his grim tale in great, vivid, detail but unintentionally left out one particular thing that he hadn¡¯t felt was all too important.


    ¡°Wow, you seem to have a knack for getting put through the ringer, huh?¡± Bellona said in jest.


    ¡°I¡¯m not into it, I swear.¡± Ares raised his hands in front of him and shook them.


    Bellona snickered.


    ¡°Oh! Good news!¡±


    ¡°What now!?¡± Enyo asked while feeling like she was about to explode if there was anything more to add on to this already ludicrous story.


    ¡°Food¡¯s ready!¡± Ares waved his hand and a long, pre-prepared table, with many bowls atop it, appeared out of thin air, complete with cutlery, napkins, etc¡­


    Aejaz poked his head out from around a tree as he felt something stirring deep within his soul, calling out to him to let him know that Ares had just cooked something. He licked his lips then went to go find Allie to let her know Ares had brought out some lunch.


    Meanwhile, the Legion clan were stupefied at this grand display that had come out of seemingly nowhere. ¡°Uhhh, how did you do that?¡± Bellona was the first to regain her senses and ask.


    ¡°Meh, secret,¡± Ares shrugged off the question.


    ¡°No offence, but I prefer my food not to materialise out of thin air,¡± Gladius said.


    ¡°To each their own, but you should really try it, even~Enyo~likes~it,¡± Ares'' voice got a little higher pitched at the end as he took off his blindfold and moved over to the table.


    ¡°Really?¡± Bellona blurted out.


    ¡°It¡­ It¡¯s really good,¡± Enyo begrudgingly complimented Ares.


    Bellona struggled to hold back a massive shit-eating grin.


    ¡°There¡¯s fish with lemongrass as well as rabbit and mushroom stew with purple acorns and colberry smoothies. Sorry if it¡¯s not to your liking, but I promised I¡¯d make those cute monsters some food the next time I saw them, so I made stuff that would suit their tastes.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good, but I have to ask, you do know what kind of deer those are, right?¡± Bellona asked.


    ¡°Hm? Oh, yeah, but they¡¯re really quite docile when you knock off their antlers. Much more adorable without them, for sure.¡± Ares put two fingers to his mouth and whistled to call the monsters.


    Allie and Aejaz returned and took the two seats that were left, followed by the deer and tigers who all sat around the table, patiently waiting for Ares to give them something to chow down on.


    Ares waved his hand again and two mountainous piles of food appeared on the floor inside two giant pots near the monsters, who, without even questioning or caring about the little magic trick they had just witnessed, dug in.


    ¡°Seriously, how do you even do that? You don¡¯t have a spatial ring on you¡­¡± Enyo wondered aloud.


    ¡°Sorry, but everyone has their secrets.¡± Ares stuck his tongue out.


    ¡°Do you know how he does it?¡± Enyo asked Aejaz.


    ¡°Uhh¡­ I suppose, one could argue, that knowing is a construct and, therefore, I don¡¯t not know the answer to all questions, including, which, I suppose I should add, the question that you may or may not have just asked,¡± Aejaz replied confidently.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Uhhh,¡± Gladius was completely lost.


    ¡°I have no idea what on earth he¡¯s talking about, but apparently he¡¯s not lying,¡± Enyo grumbled.


    Allie was almost cry-laughing at the way Aejaz had foiled Enyo¡¯s bloodline.


    ¡°I think, THINK, that means he knows?¡± Charity looked as though she were doing complicated mental arithmetic in her head.


    Everyone looked back at Aejaz only to find he had already started eating. ¡°... It¡¯s really good.¡±


    Purrrrrr


    ¡°Hm? Oh, wow, you guys are really quite gluttonous, aren¡¯t you? The deer aren¡¯t nearly done yet, and we haven¡¯t even started, but you cute little kitties have already finished the entire pile of fish.¡± Ares picked up and petted the tiger that had come over and nudged him. ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll give you some more, but don''t rush this time, alright? You¡¯ll get indigestion if you don¡¯t pace yourselves.¡±


    Meow


    ¡°... Are you¡­ Talking to it?¡± Enyo couldn¡¯t help but ask, even at the cost of her own sanity.


    Both Ares and the tiger looked over at Enyo in concert with one another.


    Meow


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    They even replied together at the same exact time.


    ¡°Seriously, you are aware that this thing is a monster, right?¡±


    Ares and the tiger looked at one another, briefly reaffirmed their functional relationship with a quick nod, and then looked back at Enyo. ¡°Yes? What can I say? They¡¯re sweet little kittens. Look, they even give kisses if you ask nicely. Hey, little fella! Can you give me a kiss?¡± Ares held his finger to the tiger who then stuck out its tongue and licked it. ¡°See?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s savouring you, you fucking moron.¡±


    ¡°He would never!¡±


    The tiger wagged its head from side to side as if to say ¡®I would never!¡¯.


    ¡°Unbelievable.¡± Enyo was mentally defeated.


    ¡°Told you he¡¯s obsessed with cute things,¡± Aejaz stopped chewing on the food to speak. ¡°I mean, you remember I told you he once used corpses as a throne? The reason he did it was because¡­¡±


    Enyo listened with keen intent to try and get more dirt on Ares, which she was currently stockpiling.


    ¡°Kitty, attack!¡± Ares gently pinched the tiger by the scruff of its neck and pointed him towards Aejaz before booping it on the head like a magical Pez dispenser, causing it to shoot out a tiny fireball that lit up Aejaz¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°AH!¡± Aejaz frantically dusted off the flickering flames as Ares and the tiger looked on smugly.


    ¡°Ha, good shot kitty, high five!¡± Ares¡¯ hand connected with the tiger¡¯s paw.


    Meow


    ¡°Oh, right! Of course! Here¡¯s your food.¡± Ares summoned another pile of fish, this one considerably larger than the first.


    ¡°OH MY GOD!¡± Bellona was shouting in delight and pure bliss, ¡°THIS IS AMAZING!¡± Bellona had started to feast while everyone had been distracted by Ares and the tiger.


    One by one, everyone else tried out the food and gave raving praise, but Ares cared more about a separate dilemma. Ares waited for Aejaz to finish taking a sip of his drink before flicking a low-power Echo at him, just as he was about to start talking to Allie, to get his attention. Unbeknownst to Aejaz, Ares also fired a second Echo at someone else to get their attention too.


    When Aejaz looked over, he saw Ares beckoning and nodding towards the forest like the last time he made food. DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT. Aejaz was inconsolable at having lost another opportunity to have a meal with Allie, but he knew it would be unfair to Enyo as she still hadn¡¯t taken her helmet off yet.


    ¡°Where are you two going?¡± Bellona wondered aloud.


    ¡°Ah, well, we still have a score to settle, so we¡¯re gonna have a grudge match gladiatorial style until there¡¯s only one of us left. I see no other way to resolve this, sadly,¡± Ares spoke in a plaintive, forlorn voice as if he was lamenting the idea of having to actually commit fratricide.


    Bellona just rolled her eyes.


    ¡°In that case, can I come and watch?¡± Allie picked up her plate and drink and hopped off her chair to follow along. The second Echo Ares had fired off had been a subtle invitation for her to come along as well.


    ¡°Sure, but no betting allowed, the odds are far too stacked in my favour.¡±


    Aejaz went to raise his hand and protest but stopped as soon as he opened his mouth when he caught a glimpse of Ares questioningly raising his eyebrows. All three walked off into the forest and Bellona couldn¡¯t help but feel like Ares was wasting an opportunity here but, then again, she wasn¡¯t aware of the reason he had for leaving.


    Enyo took off her helmet and something truly miraculous happened. Something so unbelievable that Bellona nearly fainted from bewilderment, Charity dropped the cutlery she was holding, and Gladius choked on his drink. For a brief moment, it felt as if time stopped and the entire world took a deep breath in response to what could only be described as a once in a lifetime event. It was simply unfathomable that this could even actually occur and, yet, there sat Enyo, with her long, white and lavender ombre hair unfurled from within her helmet¡¯s spatial compartment, and her face that boasted a venerable and gallant type of beauty, minding her own business, eating the rabbit stew, smiling.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Uh, we¡¯re not actually going to fight¡­ Are we?¡± Aejaz laughed nervously.


    ¡°Of course we are! Now where did I put my chariot!?¡±


    Allie watched happily from the side as she much preferred it when these two got along.


    ¡°... I really am sorr¡­¡± Aejaz started.


    ¡°Oh, give it a rest already, I don¡¯t care anymore,¡± Ares cut Aejaz off. ¡°Hm? Do you hear that noise!?¡± Ares had a concentrated look on his face as he looked around, almost as if he were searching for something.


    ¡°What? No?¡±


    ¡°I would know that sound anywhere¡­ It¡¯s a call to ADVENTURE!¡±


    ¡°Huh? What? Where are you dragging us off to now?¡± Aejaz had been thrown for a complete loop after receiving verbal whiplash from Ares unexpected 180 in tone.


    ¡°No, no, and no again silly Aejaz! This is a one-man adventure! I guess you¡¯ll just have to stay here with Allie! Don¡¯t worry though, I have some more food you two can enjoy, so it¡¯s not all bad!¡± Ares brought out more dishes and drinks and then promptly vanished.


    Allie had finally buckled and was laughing without pause as Aejaz just stared blankly in disbelief at how conniving Ares was.


    As Ares ran around through the forest with no clear goal in mind, he whistled merrily while thinking to himself that today had been a good day so far. Eventually, he stopped to rest on a grassy patch. As he lay on his back with one leg folded over the other, staring at the trees towering above him, he thought about what he was going to do with regards to the inevitable talk that was going to happen when he got back.


    He could figure out where this whole revenant thing was going, he wasn¡¯t an idiot¡­ Debatably. In fact, that was why he brought out the food in the first place, to change the topic for a while and give him some time to think about things. Ares had boiled the situation down to the worst-case scenario and preemptively assumed that was what he would have to deal with. Chances are, he was a revenant, and revenants were who Enyo¡¯s clan were hunting down. As for why that was happening, he didn¡¯t know. The only solace was that they didn¡¯t seem intent on killing him, so maybe something could be worked out, but he needed to know more about the situation first. No matter what though, he already came up with a very much Ares-styled plan that only he would be insane enough to attempt. This was partly because he wouldn¡¯t be Ares if he didn¡¯t do something stupidly ambitious at every conceivable chance he got, but also because this was the only way he saw himself somehow working around both his family and Enyo, neither of which he was willing to forgo for the sake of the other. Ares may not care much for his ¡®real¡¯ family given that he never knew them, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to not care at least even a little. He still wanted to meet them at some point, so that single-handedly complicated the issue. Trying to work out a compromise was just going to be a colossal headache and not be particularly viable. He was just going to have to do things his own way.


    ---------------------------------


    Bellona kept opening her mouth to try and speak, but no words came out. It was a mix of being unable to even find the right words for this situation to begin with, as well as an unwillingness to disturb Enyo and ruin the moment.


    Charity had caught her cutlery mid-fall and was already making sure Gladius was alright.


    Bellona turned to Charity and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not the only one seeing this right? That¡­ THING on her face?¡±


    Charity whispered back, ¡°We don¡¯t know much about that mansion¡­ Maybe she¡¯s been possessed?¡±


    Gladius had recovered after taking a few deep breaths and joined in the conversation, also whispering, ¡°Being the chivalrous man I am¡­¡± Gladius rolled his eyes as Charity scoffed in the background. ¡°I know why she¡¯s smiling but, damn, I really didn¡¯t see that coming.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Bellona simply had to know.


    ¡°Because Ares left so she could take her helmet off.¡±


    ¡°... Oh my god. I hadn¡¯t even thought of that¡­ Wait¡­ Does that mean that idiot hasn¡¯t ever even seen her face!?¡±


    ¡°Shhhhhh,¡± Charity reminded Bellona to quieten down so as not to spoil the moment.


    ¡°Is that a big deal? Enyo doesn¡¯t usually show her face to anyone if she can avoid it. The only reason she¡¯s fine with us is ¡®cos we¡¯ve all known her for years,¡± Gladius said.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal for Enyo, it¡¯s a big deal for Ares,¡± Bellona said.


    ¡°Why though?¡±


    Bellona shiftily glanced at Enyo to make sure she still wasn¡¯t paying attention. Sure enough, Enyo was still lost in her own world, a world filled to the brim with a second helping of the stew.


    ¡°You can¡¯t repeat this to anyone, especially not Trew, ok?¡±


    ¡°Uh, sure?¡± Gladius had an impeccable record of keeping secrets and, ironically, everyone knew it.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Charity agreed, mostly because she wanted to hear a secret. Who doesn¡¯t love secrets?


    ¡°The reason Ares was able to trick Enyo¡¯s bloodline in the cave was because he didn¡¯t actually lie¡­¡± Bellona let the information slowly sink in.


    ¡°... Oh¡­ Oh I see¡­ I see VERY clearly.¡± Charity had a wicked grin plastered across her face.


    Gladius was a little slower on the ball, but eventually clocked on. ¡°I get why him not having seen her face is strange now. I don¡¯t think I could commit that hard to a decision like that without seeing the person¡¯s face. Huh, guess there really is a half-decent, respectable person underneath that permanently obnoxious veneer. ¡°


    ¡°He¡¯s not that bad, you lot are just as uptight as ever is all.¡± Bellona jutted out her tongue.


    ¡°Well, he makes her happy.¡± Charity looked back over at Enyo who was nearing the completion of her meal. ¡°But¡­ He¡¯s still a revenant¡­ That¡¯s gonna be a hard one to work out.¡±


    ¡°Bah! Who cares? Our mum will sort that out. You know she¡¯s the one that wears the trousers in the family when she puts her foot down. It¡¯s no secret that mum''s the real powerhouse of our clan, even if she doesn¡¯t get involved with anything. Even dad won¡¯t be able to stop it if she makes the final call.¡±


    ¡°Oi, careful now, she¡¯s finishing up!¡± Gladius fake-coughed as Enyo put her helmet back on. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding, huh Enyo? The food was really good.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve no idea where a scoundrel like him learned to cook so well,¡± Enyo replied before looking over at the nearby monsters. ¡°Hello, uh, little kitties, could you go find Ares and bring him back now? We need to ask him some questions.¡±


    Meow


    One of the nearby tigers looked up at Enyo, accepted his mission, and scooted off deeper into the forest.


    ¡°Is it weird that I¡¯m starting to agree with Ares and think those tigers are¡­ Cute?¡± Enyo asked.


    Bellona was the quickest to jump in. ¡°Which part? The tigers, or agreeing with Ares about literally anything? If it''s about the tigers, then no, I also think they¡¯re sweeties. If it¡¯s about Ares, then yes, it is strange, isn¡¯t it? Very strange. Almost makes you wonder if it¡¯s somehow related to something you and I have already discussed.¡±


    ¡°Subtle as ever,¡± Enyo replied sarcastically.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even joke about that, I¡¯m honestly starting to wonder if I¡¯m being too subtle.¡± Bellona sighed in exasperation. Was Enyo seriously not aware of the beaming smile that had been smack-dab in the middle of her face less than a minute ago? Unbelievable!


    The two lightly bickered back and forth with one another for a good ten minutes before the tiger came back from his job successfully with Ares in tow.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing Aejaz told you some things, you should know what we want to talk to you about,¡± Gladius spoke in a serious tone.


    ¡°Hm? Nope. I ran away from those two as soon as I could. Might as well let them have their moment. But still, I think I know, it¡¯s not really hard to figure it out. Ha, why do you think I brought out the food when I did?¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Bellona was amazed at Ares¡¯ foresight.


    ¡°Mhm, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I know basically nothing for definite, so I¡¯m going to need a rundown first.¡±


    Charity groaned, ¡°I¡¯m not giving the explanation again, I can¡¯t be bothered. Gladius, you do all of it.¡±


    Gladius¡¯ eye twitched and he kissed his teeth. ¡°Yes, your majesty.¡± Gladius began delivering a rundown akin to the one Aejaz and Allie had received earlier, but was interrupted by Ares almost immediately.


    ¡°Wait, wait wait wait¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to interrupt me every five seconds, I¡¯m going to walk over there and fight you,¡± Gladius threatened.


    ¡°Did you just say ¡®Dominus¡¯?¡± Ares realised he forgot to mention the name above the arch when he was talking about the mansion earlier. He had thought it wasn¡¯t a name, but instead just a title some pompous fool gave himself. Technically, he was half right.


    ¡°I thought you knew nothing?¡± Bellona queried.


    ¡°Allow me to correct the record. What I know is that the guy is an asshole, like a big-time son of a bitch.¡±


    ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡± Enyo was confused as he couldn¡¯t possibly know about Dominus¡¯ history without knowing about the revenants. It didn¡¯t add up, but he also wasn¡¯t lying.


    ¡°Whose mansion do you think that was?¡± Ares responded bitterly at the thought of having been kicked around and beaten senseless.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°The guy even had his own bloody name engraved on the walls, it¡¯s like he was rubbing it in. Is he still alive? ¡®Cos if he is, I¡¯m gonna find him and smack some sense into that bastard.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Actually, now that I think about it, I remember the voice in my mind telling me to claim its legacy. He¡¯s not inside me, is he? What the hell am I supposed to do about that? Beat myself up and call it a job well-done? This is incredibly unfair.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Uh, why are you all looking at me like that?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve somehow just dug myself into a really deep hole, haven¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ Uh¡­ Take your silence as a ¡®yes¡¯.¡±

 Chapter 34: Two Sides of the Same Coin

    ¡°I despise you.¡± Enyo was angry, furious even. ¡°Can you not somehow make every waking moment of every second I spend near you not completely unbearable? I¡¯m seriously fed up with the nonsense you keep putting me through at every damn turn. It just never ends with you. You''re a nuisance.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Ares was really hurt this time. Had he really been too excessive? Was he honestly too annoying? Was this whole situation just his fault? Could he have done better? Was there a way he could¡¯ve not upset Enyo? Ares was demoralised and disheartened and could only bring himself to dejectedly apologise, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Enyo was completely taken aback by Ares'' pitiful appearance and couldn''t help but regret blowing up on him. She felt she had a right to be frustrated as Ares really just kept making things worse and worse for himself, but she realised he wasn¡¯t the person to be taking that frustration out on. It¡¯s not like he had a choice in any of this. ¡°You¡­¡± Enyo wasn¡¯t great at apologising though and couldn¡¯t find the right words.


    Ares misunderstood and thought she was too furious with him to even know how to express her grievances, so he just apologised again and fell slightly further into his chair, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. If you want me to leave again, I¡¯ll go. I don¡¯t want to be a problem for you, so I won¡¯t come back.¡± Ares was pained to make this choice and could only utter another apology before getting up and leaving, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Bellona hadn''t felt like it was right to interrupt as Enyo really should have sorted it out but, now that Ares had left and she was still just sitting there, not saying a word, she decided to do something. ¡°Enyo? C¡¯mon, what the hell? I mean, saying all that and letting off some steam is one thing, but are you really just gonna let him go? I can promise you that if he thinks him leaving will make you happier, he¡¯ll be gone for good this time. And as for what you said, yeah, him having a unique pillar and connections to Dominus makes our life harder, but it¡¯s not his fault is it? Be honest with yourself, does he actually annoy you? Or are you taking it out on him because you¡¯re annoyed at someone else, and he just happened to remind you of that person one time?¡±


    ¡°Um, is everything ok here?¡± Allie asked trepidly as she came back with Aejaz.


    ¡°Just another argument, Allie,¡± Enyo answered gently.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Will Ares come back?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he will.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t,¡± Bellona replied sharply. ¡°He already said he won¡¯t. Don¡¯t put his willingness to do something he near-enough promised you to the test.¡±


    ¡°Seriously, he won¡¯t,¡± Aejaz added solemnly. He didn¡¯t know what happened but, if what Bellona was saying was accurate, then Ares would just never come back.


    Ares would probably go to the sect, take Appa, leave, and only occasionally contact Aejaz in secret instead of taking him along so he could be with Allie.


    ¡°Was he really that upset? Why did he care so much?¡± Enyo couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it.


    ¡°You¡¯re forgetting that Ares, underneath his unique pillar and the way he acts, is just a normal person. I already told you that he¡¯s not some special, perfect being. He has flaws, the main one I¡¯ve noticed over the years is his emotional immaturity, or did you think growing up without parents had no effect on him?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Aejaz sighed. ¡°From what I can tell, you grew up uncared for. Ares grew up unloved. You know all too well what it¡¯s like for someone close to you to hurt you emotionally, and you¡¯re more resistant to those things as a result. Ares isn¡¯t like that. His issue is similar, but different. He was raised as a slave, remember? Whipped, beaten, starved, and made to fight as entertainment. At what point could he ever really emotionally develop? You remember the throne of corpses? The reason that happened is related to this.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°It was the first and only time Ares had ever asked me for anything, back when we were still young. I was going through the stuff I had stolen that day, waiting for Ares to come back so we could start training. After a while, he arrived with a complicated expression on his face. I thought something was wrong but, before I could ask, he simply said, ¡®Come with me.¡¯ I followed him for a good while and, eventually, we ended up walking through a funfair. I thought we were just passing through, but Ares stopped and took a deep breath before turning around and looking me in the eye. ¡®I need you to steal something, I would do it myself, but I don¡¯t want to cause a scene over something like this,¡¯ I remember him sounding anxious, but I obviously agreed nonetheless. He took me around the corner and pointed at something in one of the stalls. ¡®That, can you steal it?¡¯ At first, I thought he wanted me to steal the stall-owner¡¯s stardust but, when I asked, he said no. Do you know what he wanted? He wanted a teddy bear, and was so ashamed to ask me that he nearly had a panic attack. I didn¡¯t understand why he even wanted it, but I felt pity just looking at him the way he held onto it so tightly on the way home. We didn¡¯t speak the entire way back, the best he could muster when we got back was a ¡®goodnight¡¯ so quiet I barely even heard him. He would always sleep clutching onto the teddy from then on, perhaps because he liked the warmth he was so unfamiliar with. I think he even named it, although he never told me what. One day, we left to go do our rounds. When we came back, our alley had been ransacked. We¡¯d made a few enemies and one group in particular really had it out for us, they even left their insignia as proof it was them. We didn¡¯t exactly live a luxurious life, but all of our small comforts had been ruined, including Ares¡¯ teddy. I¡¯ve never seen him as distraught as he was that day, it took him hours to calm down. Even then, he wasn¡¯t back to normal. He took off without saying anything and I was too scared to follow him. It was the first time I ever truly felt like Ares was going to be violent and, although I knew he would never have hurt me; I didn¡¯t want to see him like that or be anywhere near him while he was in that state. The day passed, and he hadn¡¯t come back, so I went to sleep thinking he would come back during the night. When I woke up the next day, he still hadn¡¯t come back yet, so I went out for a bit to see if I could find him. What I found was the aftermath of his rampage that would later be nicknamed the ¡®Incident on Red Street¡¯, and also be the reason we became as infamous as we are. Apparently, Ares had walked straight into the group''s hideout and single-handedly fought every single person in it, dragged them all outside, and executed them in broad-daylight. It¡¯s not called ¡®Red Street¡¯ because it¡¯s in Red Sun City, but because he stained the entire street red with their blood. He made no effort to clean up the corpses. He instead used them as a throne for the remains of his teddy. He piled up the bodies and left the scraps of his teddy on top of it. Even when the street was cleaned later, no-one was brave enough to move the teddy. Although everything else is gone now, the tattered teddy is still lying there in the middle of the street as people simply refuse to touch it out of fear. Ares uses cute things as a coping mechanism, why do you think he went ballistic over Appa¡¯s tiny scratch? Ares isn¡¯t faultless. He actually has serious issues that stem from his upbringing. Just because I respect and love him like a brother, doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not aware of how childish he can be sometimes. However, he only ever gets like this if he genuinely cares about the person. His heart is in the right place it¡¯s just feelings of abandonment and betrayal are new to him, so that was why he got upset at me earlier. Having something he cared about taken from him was why he got upset over the teddy. He¡¯s not used to things going wrong with people or things he cares about because he¡¯s never had family to scold him, leave him alone for any period of time, or anything else that comes attached with a normal childhood. You''re probably the first person he¡¯s ever cared about in any capacity that¡¯s ever berated him, and he¡¯s no doubt struggling to cope with that. He¡¯ll do anything for forgiveness or to make your life easier, and that includes not ever coming back.¡±


    ¡°... I¡¯ll¡­ Go and talk to him,¡± Enyo said quietly as she got up and went after Ares.


    Aejaz sat down in a chair and Allie sat next to him.


    ¡°Well, at least it looks like you two are getting along,¡± Bellona teased.


    ¡°Uh, um, yeah.¡± Aejaz smiled shyly and looked at the ground.


    ¡°Maybe you should give your brother some advice.¡±


    ¡°Is it weird that I think he doesn¡¯t need any?¡±


    ¡°No, I was just joking. I think he¡¯s doing fine considering the kind of person Enyo is. Those two have still got some work to do, but that¡¯s normal.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Enyo brushed aside the branches and bushes in her path until she managed to find Ares who was sitting up against a tree with his hands around his knees.


    Ares had his head facing down and didn¡¯t notice Enyo at first, it took Enyo moving closer for him to look up. The movement revealed a treetop tiger nestled against his chest. This particular treetop tiger was the same one that had sniffed Ares when everyone came tumbling through the teleportation spell, the one Ares had used to shoot a fireball at Aejaz, and the one that Enyo had sent off to go call Ares back when she was done eating. He was a distinct little tiger as, unlike the others, he had a white streak running along the back of his head. Ares was still talking in sad tones, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I thought this would be far enough away for me to say goodbye to the tiger without seeing you again¡­ I¡¯ll leave now.¡±


    Ares was in the middle of getting up when Enyo walked over and spoke, ¡°I¡¯m here to apologise, which is rare, I know. If you still want to leave after, then I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Enyo looked at the tiger who was still hanging around. ¡°You, however, can leave.¡±


    Meow


    Ares petted the tiger one more time and carefully put him down to let him scamper off.


    Enyo sat down with her back against the same tree as Ares and was facing roughly 90¡ã away from him.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°What was its name?¡±


    ¡°Name?¡± Ares was confused.


    ¡°Your teddy bear.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ It¡¯s embarrassing...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to say.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Huggles.¡±


    ¡°Huggles?¡±


    ¡°Its name was Huggles¡­ ¡®Cos I liked hugging it¡­ I¡¯d never hugged anything before. It was the first thing I ever owned, and it was the softest and warmest thing I¡¯d ever touched. It made me happy.¡±


    ¡°... I don¡¯t get you. No matter how I try, I can¡¯t comprehend what kind of person you are. You keep changing from one minute to another, and I really just can¡¯t keep up, but that¡¯s not a bad thing. It¡¯s better than being one-dimensional, flat, and boring like me or my father. You acted in a similar manner to him one time, and I just assumed you were always like him. That annoyed me¡­ You annoyed me because you reminded me of what I hate about him and about myself. Then I slowly came to understand you were nothing like my dad, you were more like my mother, someone who has the freedom to act however they want to, whenever they want to. You¡¯re someone with a broad depth of character, and that made me realise how shallow of a person I am. That was when I started to hate seeing you, not because of anything to do with you, but because I couldn¡¯t help but wish me and my father were less like ourselves, and more like my mother¡­ More like Bellona¡­ More like you. Yes, you can agitate me. Yes, we may not always see eye to eye, but I think you¡¯re a good person, and you definitely didn¡¯t deserve to have me berate you over my own insecurities about my own failings. My bloodline works on myself too, so I knew I was lying when I said everything before, so I apologise. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not a boring person. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything normal about you but, even if that were true, so what? If anything, that would make you far more unique than the rest of us. Aejaz, Appa, me, our neighbours, if we¡¯re all special, then none of us are. If you have 100 normal people, then yeah, one special person will stand out but, if you have 100 special people, then a normal person will stand out. Of course, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re normal or one-dimensional at all anyway, so that¡¯s all irrelevant. I don''t think you appreciate yourself enough. There are so many weak-willed women out there that don¡¯t have half the pride or conviction you do, women that will latch onto whatever person they can find that will take them further on their cultivation journey than they could have gone on their own. Of course, Aejaz is my brother, and I love him for the goofball he is but, like Allie, I have no respect for them as cultivators. While your views are far too idealistic, as a person in the world of cultivation, I respect you for who you are, for being the kind of person who¡¯ll stick to those views when abandoning them would be so much easier. I was impressed the first time we met, and part of me envied your single-minded dedication as it was something I don¡¯t think I could ever manage. I don¡¯t really have a reason for anything I do. It¡¯s funny, you think a broad-depth of character is a good thing, but I think being multifaceted is just a facade for a lack of direction and purpose. Jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Part of me hopes that when I meet my parents, I find them to be like you. I guess that¡¯s why I took what you said so personally. What if I finally met my parents and they too think I¡¯m a nuisance? It¡¯s not a thought I¡¯d ever entertained before. I know you came here to apologise, but I should too. Regardless of whether you think you berating me was right or wrong, it remains true that I annoyed you to the point that you felt it necessary to say something in the first place, so I apologise. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The silence lasted longer this time, but eventually Enyo did something that took Ares by surprise by removing her helmet. Ares was momentarily stunned at how strikingly handsome Enyo was. She had an imposing and dignified air that compromised none of her plain-yet inherently attractive facial features. Her skin was spotless like that of a divine being who¡¯d cleansed themself of all impurities and her hair flowing in the wind complimented the heroic and angelic look perfectly. Rounding her beauty together were the mesmerising purple eyes, embedded in which was a piercing, steely gaze. The contrast between Enyo¡¯s innately violent stare and the purity of every other facial feature should logically have been at war with one another and, yet, they managed to come together in a way that simply defied logic, creating a new breed of attractiveness unique to her and her alone. Enyo was nothing short of a flawless blend of fierce majesty and unquestionable beauty.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Ares couldn¡¯t help but gawk at this unexpected development until he eventually managed to form a few words with what little of his brain was still functioning after that RKO, ¡°You¡¯re the most attractive woman I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    Enyo immediately scrambled to put the helmet back on but Ares managed to catch a glimpse of a flushed face amidst the panic. ¡°...That was mean,¡± Enyo complained cutely.


    Ares was in disbelief at the tone in which she responded; he never thought the word ¡®cutesy¡¯ could apply to Enyo¡¯s type of deep voice. ¡°It would only be mean if I were lying to you, and you know I¡¯m not. You really are remarkably good-looking. As a result, I can¡¯t help but wonder, why the helmet?¡±


    ¡°... I don¡¯t want to be judged by my looks, but rather by my actions and my conviction.¡±


    ¡°This is just my opinion, but I think your look only serves to enhance the type of attitude and person you want others to see in you. There is nothing about your look that detracts from the fact that you are a stoic and resolute woman. I do get where you''re coming from though, I just hope it¡¯s not because you subconsciously underestimate yourself. You¡¯re honestly stunning. It would be a shame if you were ever in doubt of that.¡± Ares smiled and spoke with genuine kindness.


    ¡°... Thank you,¡± Enyo mumbled.


    ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m sure that wasn¡¯t easy for you. It¡¯s not much but, as a show of good faith that I trust you too, I want you to see something. Ah, but I should mention, it¡¯s just another thing to add to the list of complications.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me? I didn¡¯t think there was any way to add onto the problems we already have.¡± Enyo was awed that there was still more.


    ¡°I hate to say it but, even though I don¡¯t know the full extent of the Dominus issue, I imagine this one will be considerably worse for supporting my case.¡±


    ¡°WORSE!?¡± Enyo was on the verge of tackling Ares and wrestling with him.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Enyo took a deep breath and tried to find a silver lining. ¡°It¡¯s fine, don¡¯t apologise. At this point, who cares? At the very least, no-one other than us knows about any of this, so none of this is an issue yet. We just have to make sure we hide it all well. Who else knows what you¡¯re about to tell me?¡±


    ¡°Just Aejaz. Even now I wish I hadn¡¯t told him. I was young and made a stupid mistake, but he also deserved to know as he was there when it all started and I was sort of obligated to explain everything to him.¡± Ares summoned the Primordial Blade and it firmly wedged itself into the ground.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The most powerful thing in existence.¡±


    ¡°... Not that I don¡¯t believe you, but how can you be sure?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll remove the restrictions so you can see the history of that thing, that alone should be proof enough.¡± Ares tapped the gem on the hilt and beckoned Enyo to touch it.


    Enyo leant closer and immediately got distracted by the seemingly infinitely vast expanse hidden within the gem. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before and she didn¡¯t understand it in the slightest. She focused again and tapped the gem while flowing some mana into it to get the rundown of the treasures name, origin, and history.


    The Primordial Blade wasn¡¯t quite like other treasures as it took you inside its world and recreated the events that led to its creation. It would replicate even the tiniest detail and allow you to feel like you were in a simulation. It was on a different scale to any other treasure. You could reach out and touch both the nothingness as well as the sparks that would later give rise to the two universes. You could watch the birth of countless millions of stars and the folding of a universe. It was an experience unlike any other in that you could physically interact with just about everything rather than just watching as a bystander.


    Time flows differently when processing treasure information so, although it felt like a few eternities had passed quickly to Enyo, it had only been a couple of seconds to Ares. Enyo let out a quick gasp when she arrived back in reality and immediately looked over at Ares, who wordlessly shrugged his shoulders with a ¡®what can I say¡¯ kinda look on his face.


    ¡°You have control over an entire universe!?¡±


    ¡°One day I will, yes. It¡¯s far too much for me to use right now, well, excluding for storage and cooking purposes anyway.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where the food came from? Unbelievable. You¡¯re using an entire universe as a kitchen. That¡¯s¡­ Actually¡­. Very like you.¡± Enyo realised mid-sentence that Ares was absolutely the type of person to do that.


    ¡°In case you¡¯re curious, that¡¯s how I made your shield. The same way the universe was made into a sword. Nothingness can make anything malleable, and that¡¯s how it combines mana with items to create treasures. It¡¯s also why blacksmiths occasionally, accidentally, create treasures instead of artifacts as the lingering mana merges with their creation. I can¡¯t intentionally combine stuff with mana yet, but that was the rough process your shield underwent.¡±


    ¡°That would explain how you made it so fast. I see why this is a problem. If people found out¡­ Forget the three clans, the entire world would want that thing.¡±


    ¡°The entire world¡­ But not you.¡± Ares smiled happily as he confirmed it was right to trust Enyo.


    ¡°Tsk, don¡¯t get all soppy.¡± Enyo looked away from Ares shyly, although Ares couldn¡¯t tell because of the helmet. ¡°The others don¡¯t need to know about the sword. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust them, but this thing should be known about by as few people as possible,¡± Enyo spoke while standing up and dusting herself off.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± Ares was about to stand up when Enyo stood in front of him and offered him a hand.


    He gladly accepted and was about to thank Enyo until she surprised him yet again by pushing him back down with a single finger as a call-back to their previous interaction. ¡°I¡¯m not usually a petty person, but that felt really good,¡± Enyo spoke smugly.


    Ares couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone convince you you¡¯re like your father, in my eyes, you¡¯re wonderful as you are.¡±


    Enyo held out her hand again and pulled him up once more. Ares thought that Enyo would be unable to catch him off-guard again, but she did. Instead of pushing him, this time, she pulled him closer and hugged him. She whispered into his ear, ¡°Everyone should know what it feels like to be hugged.¡±


    Ares couldn¡¯t stop himself from shedding tears the second the words left her mouth. He hugged her and cried into her shoulder for around a minute while she patted him on the back.


    Ares eventually stopped crying and wiped his eyes, but it was still fairly evident he had been crying. ¡°I, uh, I¡¯ll need a minute before I go back, I think.¡± Ares sniffled.


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Enyo replied before leaving.


    Ares sat down on the floor again and lay down facing the sky. He was so focused on mulling over everything that just happened that he was too preoccupied to notice a creature sneaking up on him, closing in on his face.


    Closer.


    Closer.


    Closer.


    And finally, when the creature was in range to pounce on its unsuspecting pray¡­


    ¡­


    Lick


    ¡°HUH!?¡± Ares freaked out for a second before lying back down and sighing loudly while holding his hand over his rapidly beating heart. ¡°You sneaky little thing, how long have you been there?¡±


    Meow


    ¡°What on earth does ¡®long enough¡¯ mean? You¡¯re a rascal, you know that?¡±


    Meow


    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s a low blow!¡± Ares chuckled in response to the tiger¡¯s quip.


    Meow


    ¡°Yeah, it looks like everything¡¯s fine, but that doesn¡¯t mean we won¡¯t still be leaving in a few days. I know it¡¯s a bit early to be saying this, but I¡¯ll miss you, little guy.¡±


    Meow


    ¡°Really? That sounds great to me! If you¡¯re sure that¡¯s what you want, then by all means.¡± Ares stroked the tiger.


    Purrrr


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°All good?¡± Gladius checked.


    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯ll be back in a bit,¡± Enyo responded.


    ¡°And you¡¯re on good terms?¡± Bellona interrogated.


    ¡°Actually, yes. Better terms than I think we¡¯ve ever been on. I think we have a good understanding of one another now.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? You were only gone for 10 minutes!¡± Bellona was impressed. She whispered into Enyo¡¯s ear, ¡°You¡¯re so telling me what happened later.¡±


    Ares arrived shortly after with the white-striped treetop tiger draped over his shoulder.


    ¡°You really get along with that specific tiger, don¡¯t you?¡± Charity asked.


    ¡°Yep. His name¡¯s Leo by the way... Don¡¯t look at me like that. He chose it, not me.¡±


    Meow


    ¡°What did he say?¡±


    ¡°Uhhh, he¡¯s quite a mouthy tiger, you sure you wanna know?¡±


    ¡°How bad can it be?¡± Charity questioned.


    ¡°He says he doesn¡¯t wanna see you of all people giving him a funny look ¡®cos of his name as yours sounds like it was a literal charity case.¡±


    Pffffffft


    Bellona burst out laughing and Gladius did a spit-take.


    ¡°I think ¡®mouthy¡¯ was an understatement,¡± Charity complained. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m being insulted by a small fur ball. I think if I completely skinned it I wouldn¡¯t even be able to make a purse out of that thing.¡±


    Meow


    ¡°Uhhh, should I even¡­¡± Ares tried to end the translation war here as what was about to come next was pretty brutal¡­


    ¡°Speak.¡±  ¡­ But Charity was having none of it.


    ¡°He said, and I quote, ¡®Look lady, you wanna talk about making things? You should forget about making a purse. You¡¯re so ugly, I doubt you could even make a man happy.¡¯ ¡­ Um, he also said something along the lines of, ¡®this cat has claws, bitch.¡¯¡±


    Everyone just sat in bewilderment with mouths agape, this tiger was savage!


    ¡°Listen here you little shit¡­¡± Charity was about to go off on a rant but was interrupted.


    Ahem


    ¡°We should get back on topic. We have unfinished business, remember?¡± Enyo cleared her throat and interrupted in the nick of time.


    ¡°I¡¯ll settle the score with you later.¡± Charity did the ¡®I¡¯ve got my eye on you¡¯ finger motion to the tiger and paid it no more attention.


    Gladius then proceeded to explain everything he had tried to before, thankfully minus any interruptions this time around.


    ¡°Ok, well, this is certainly an awkward situation we¡¯ve found ourselves in,¡± Ares commented.


    ¡°You don¡¯t say,¡± Enyo mocked. ¡°So, what are you going to do? If you even think about joining the war, I¡¯m going to slap you.¡±


    ¡°The war is silly; I have my own goals. You can¡¯t expect me to choose between you and my family.¡±


    ¡°If you won¡¯t be joining the war, then how are you going to explain yourself to the Umbra Wolves? I can¡¯t imagine they¡¯ll be ecstatic to hear someone with your qualifications doesn¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t mind, after all, I¡¯m going to be a part of the war, so they won¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°What? You just said you wanted nothing to do with the war, are you messing with me again?¡±


    ¡°No, I never said that. I said I wasn¡¯t going to choose a side and, just because the war is silly, doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t get involved. It¡¯s quite simple really. If what everyone is fighting for is silly, and I think both sides are silly, then I¡¯ll make my own side!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Knew it.¡± Aejaz sighed.


    ¡°I officially declare myself a third party.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ For what purpose? What are you even aiming for?¡± Enyo was at a complete loss.


    ¡°To end the war peacefully. There are too many people like you and I that have lived shoddy lives because of this war, and one side is guaranteed to keep suffering if the other wins. The only way everyone wins is either if no one wins, but then the war will never end, or if someone else entirely wins. That someone will be me!¡±


    ¡°You know, when we were talking earlier, you actually somehow convinced me you weren¡¯t insane.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being serious. Our generation deserves better than being trapped in this stupid, never-ending loop and to eventually have to force it upon the next generation too.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me idealistic? How do you plan on brokering peace? You think they¡¯ll just sit down and agree with you? It won¡¯t happen.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that was how I¡¯m going to do it. I¡¯m not going to negotiate anything. I¡¯m just going to tell them to stop.¡±


    ¡°Why on earth would that work!?¡±


    ¡°Because that¡¯s how the world works, the cultivation world at least. I¡¯ve said it once, I¡¯ll say it again. The cultivation world is ruled by the strong. When I increase my cultivation, I would love to see anyone try and argue with me about continuing their silly little war games.¡±


    ¡°... Let me get this straight¡­ You want to take control of the entire domain and rule over it to stop the war by becoming so strong no one can stand up to you?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much.¡±


    ¡°Even though we just told you about what kind of person Dominus was?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, hold up. There¡¯s a huge difference here. I really don¡¯t want to rule. It sounds like a hassle. I¡¯ll probably just get Rud to do all the hard work. I only want to hold a position of power long enough to put a stop to the war, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t even want it for a split second.¡±


    ¡°I mean¡­ That''s a lot of work¡­ You¡¯re not exactly going to be supported by, well, anyone. Do you really think you can be more powerful and influential than three major clans combined?¡± Bellona asked with doubt in her voice.


    ¡°There are three reasons the answer is yes. First off, my destruction pillar is capable of all that, and I truly believe in it. Second, my stubbornness can move mountains. Lastly, uh, well, I can¡¯t tell you, but Aejaz and Enyo know what kind of trick I have up my sleeve!¡±


    ¡°If you use that¡­ Then yes, it should be quite easy actually. That¡¯s on the condition that you can use it though,¡± Enyo thought aloud.


    ¡°QUITE EASY!? WHAT THE HELL IS HE HIDING!?¡± Bellona was in disbelief.


    ¡°It¡¯s for the best if you all don¡¯t know, just trust me when I say he can make this ludicrous plan work off the back of that thing alone, even without his pillar. It does mean you¡¯ll have to use it though; it won¡¯t be a secret anymore then.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll worry about that when it comes to it.¡± Ares shrugged. If it got to the point where he had to use the Primordial Blade, then, with its power, he should be able to swat aside anyone who wants it by then.


    ¡°Unbelievable, do you just pull ridiculous things out of your ass?¡± Bellona couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing.


    ¡°Strangely enough, that¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve been asked that question.¡± Ares thought back to his first meeting with Julio.


    ¡°What are you going to tell your parents? Being a third party won¡¯t sit well with them, I imagine.¡±


    ¡°We have similar goals. I¡¯m going to tell them that I''ll fight for the sake of returning to the upper domains. I won¡¯t get in their way if they don¡¯t get in mine.¡±


    ¡°WAIT. PAUSE. PROBLEM DETECTED! NOTION REJECTED!¡± Bellona shouted. ¡°We can¡¯t go back; we aren¡¯t allowed to do that.¡±


    Ares grinned mischievously. ¡°Says who?¡±


    ¡°Says the people who are in charge of the upper, severed domains?¡± Bellona sounded unsure as Ares¡¯ confidence was making her second guess herself.


    ¡°And why are they in charge?¡±


    Enyo sighed as she had become quite accustomed to Ares'' way of thinking and knew the answer without him even having to say it. ¡°Do you just live off that one principle? How far do you think it can realistically take you until you hit a brick wall? If you become strong enough to rule over them as well, you¡¯ll just make even more problems for yourself, and then you¡¯ll be stuck in a never-ending cycle.¡±


    ¡°Everyone lives off that principle so I suppose I do too, yes. If I hit a brick wall, I''ll just break it. I¡¯ll worry about the consequences of my actions when I actually get that far. There are other, more prevalent things to take care of for now.¡±


    ¡°I do not ascribe that principle to myself. What if the brick wall is indestructible, and will you actually think things through later? What about the rest of us who¡¯ll struggle while you¡¯re off messing around?¡±


    ¡°Ah, but you do. You can¡¯t arrest someone if you aren¡¯t stronger than them, or do you just think they¡¯ll go along with you willingly when you ask politely? Nothing is indestructible before the pillar of destruction, nothing. I have no plans on involving anyone else in my escapades, I never usually do anyway. If the gap between domains is just severed space, then I can probably traverse that myself quite easily without having to take anyone with me. I always think things through, so I can promise I¡¯ll figure out something appropriate.¡±


    Enyo just sighed, Ares was really surprisingly difficult to argue with and she didn¡¯t even know where to start refuting anything he had just said.


    ¡°FINALLY, I FOUND YOU.¡±


    Everyone turned to face the newcomer. It was obvious from the voice alone who it was and, quite frankly, not a single person was happy to see him.


    ¡°SHREW! Buddy!¡± Ares just couldn¡¯t resist poking fun at Trew, it was oddly satisfying.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said you didn¡¯t mind?¡±


    ¡°I MIND!¡±


    ¡°Oh? My apologies. In that case, what¡¯s your name again?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Trew.¡±


    ¡°Screw? Your second name wouldn¡¯t happen to be loose, would it?¡±


    Aejaz was snickering off to the side.


    ¡°ENOUGH. I have a single question for you. If you don¡¯t answer me, I¡¯ll kill you,¡± Trew spoke through gritted teeth.


    ¡°You?¡± Ares looked around and squinted. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m blind but¡­ With what army?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need an army to deal with a rodent like you, so you best pray I don¡¯t have reason to kill you by the time you¡¯re done answering the question.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve already asked him, Trew,¡± Bellona said. ¡°He¡¯s not a revenant.¡±


    Ares picked up on the gist of things and made a mental note not to reveal that piece of information to Trew specifically. This was not a mental note he could just forget about like the ones before it otherwise there would be serious repercussions involving the Legion Clan.


    ¡°¡®Poof¡¯. D¡¯ya hear that, Screw?¡± Ares asked. ¡°That was the sound of your ¡®single question¡¯ going up in smoke.¡±


    ¡°I have no reason to kill you, so you ought to be grateful for that. I would dishonour the clan by beating up some random human from a lower domain out of pettiness, so you can relax for now, but just you wait for the regionals. You¡¯ll regret speaking to me the way you have,¡± Trew threatened.


    ¡°The regionals, huh? Fine, we¡¯ll settle this dispute of ours then,¡± Ares spoke confidently before leaning low over the table, putting his hand to the side of his face, and ¡®whispering¡¯ to Enyo in a voice that could easily be heard by everyone present, ¡°What the hell are regionals?¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡¯ Enyo facepalmed her helmet and groaned. Maybe Ares really is an idiot?

 Chapter 35: Turncoat Bellona

    Bellona laughed and answered Ares'' question, ¡°Every year, Red Sun hosts an international ranking competition with prizes. Well technically it¡¯s not Red Sun that runs it, they just allow it to be held there as it¡¯s the most central location in this domain, making it easy for everyone to visit. There¡¯s a reason this country is called ¡®Central Land¡¯ after all. It¡¯s a bit of a dull name, but you can¡¯t say it¡¯s not accurate. Anyways, the competition has three entry levels for disciples of sects; outer court, inner court, and core. Of course, other lands and countries operate under different systems, but it¡¯s always equivalent. For instance, Neo Gear land has D, which stands for droid, C.U, which stands for computational unit, and A.A.I, which stands for advanced artificial intelligence. Outer court disciples will compete against droids and so on so forth. The competition is team-based, and every sect or establishment will choose the five strongest people within each category to take part in their respective entry level, totalling fifteen competitors. As for who gets to fight, that¡¯s decided by fighting amongst your peers for the five spots. From there, once the five-man teams are decided, they compete in regionals. In other words, they fight other people within the local area for the right to represent. After that¡¯s decided, it moves to a national scale where the process is repeated with every team still-standing across the entire country. Finally, it becomes an international fight with teams from across seas. The winning country / land gets various benefits and, of course, so does the winning team and sect / organisation, so it¡¯s a rather important event. As for how exactly teams of five compete against one another, we aren¡¯t told in advance. It changes every year, so you just have to wait and see. Red Sun City is in the ¡®Red Region¡¯ alongside Red Soil City, Red Sky City, and Red Sea City. Those are the four cities that will compete in the regionals. Myself and the others are residents of Red Soil City. If you compete, you¡¯ll inevitably come across us as we¡¯re no doubt the strongest within our sect at the outer court level.¡± Bellona nodded her head in the direction of the other members of the Legion Clan with a proud look on her face. Ares could tell she wasn¡¯t including Trew in her pride but that he was probably a part of their team too regardless.


    ¡°I see. Sounds fun! I always enjoy a good fight,¡± Ares responded.


    ¡°Oh, I should also mention that when the teams for the international event are locked in, every team from around the world will gather to celebrate and meet the competition at a fancy party in the Heaven¡¯s Path sect. It¡¯s quite a high-class shin-dig!¡±


    ¡°Huh, I¡¯ve never been to a party before. I wonder what they¡¯re like.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re getting ahead of yourself. Maybe we¡¯re giving you too much credit,¡± spat Trew. ¡°With a pitiful cultivation like yours, maybe you won¡¯t even make it onto your own sect¡¯s team.¡±


    Ares just rolled his eyes and directed his question to the others, ¡°Do you have any idea who your fifth is going to be? I only see four of you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we have a pretty good idea. It¡¯s really a shame Enyo isn¡¯t with us though. We have a formation that requires a defensive specialist, and no one can compare to her in that regard,¡± Charity said.


    ¡°Honestly, if we had Enyo, we would probably be guaranteed 4th at worst internationally,¡± Gladius said dejectedly.


    ¡°You sound pretty confident,¡± Ares remarked.


    Enyo replied, ¡°I won¡¯t spoil it but, we, the Legion Clan, have something really interesting going on. It requires five people, one for each of the key roles. It all revolves around Gladius¡¯ unique magic, so he¡¯s integral, but the other four can be anyone who fits the role. Back at the Legion Clan, Charity and I were made to be a part of the main five-man team alongside two other clansmen you haven¡¯t met.¡±


    Bellona added, ¡°The Legion Clan chose the people who were best suited to their positions, Enyo is the strongest defender in the clan, and Charity is the best healer. In other words, it¡¯s a five-man combination of the four strongest clan members in their respective fields¡­ And Gladius is there too, I guess.¡±


    ¡°HEY! Just because it¡¯s true, doesn¡¯t mean you have to say it!¡± Gladius felt insulted.


    ¡°Well, I look forward to seeing it. Do yourselves a favour though, and make sure your defensive specialist is up to the task, ¡®cos they¡¯ve got a lot of work in store for them,¡± Ares intoned playfully.


    ¡°What about your side of things then? You¡¯ve never taken part before, Enyo, are you going to this year? Also, do you have an idea who your five are likely to be yet?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be competing this year, yes.¡± Enyo left out the part about her conveniently going on missions during the competition in previous years to run away and hide from Trew. ¡°Ares will make it onto the team, no doubt about that, I mean the idiot killed one of our top three disciples before we left for this mission anyway.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Bellona was both surprised and questioning Ares'' decision at the same time.


    Ares let out a guilty laugh while scratching his head. ¡°Whoops, my bad.¡±


    ¡°Esme will definitely make it. I have no idea who the other two will be though.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯ll probably be two people from the entrance exam. I don¡¯t see Onno making it, but it could be the Lighter Duo, they¡¯d do good work,¡± Aejaz mused.


    ¡°Lighter duo?¡± Enyo had never heard of this strange sounding duo.


    ¡°Completely average and forgettable on their own to the point no-one can even remember their names, but really quite impressive together,¡± Ares explained briefly. ¡°I suppose it depends on what kind of competition it is. If it''s to do with running away, Dirk and Onno would be good. If it¡¯s one-on-one fights, then Li Li would be great. We¡¯ll just have to wait and see.¡±


    Allie tugged on Aejaz¡¯ clothes. ¡°What about you or Appa?¡±


    ¡°Me!? No, no, no, no,¡± Aejaz replied nervously.


    ¡°And why not, brother?¡± Ares'' Grim Reaper-esque voice came ringing like the bell that tolls.


    Gulp


    ¡°Could it be that you haven¡¯t been training even though you assured me you were?¡±


    ¡°Haha, no. Nope, definitely not. I mean no, as in, I¡¯ve definitely not been lying. As in, yes, I¡¯ve been training.¡±


    Enyo decided not to call him out on his lie that was conveniently snuck into the sentence at the end.


    ¡°Oh, and have you been working on that mental art like you said you would?¡±


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s done! Made! And quite effective! Effectively painful! Painfully effective!¡±


    Allie giggled.


    ¡°So, if you¡¯ve made your new art, and you¡¯ve been training, then why not fight? You sound prepared to me.¡±


    Gulp


    ¡°Oh, I see¡­ You need¡­ More training, right? In that case, it''ll be like the good old times. I¡¯ll personally train you¡­ More, brother.¡± Ares cracked his knuckles while staring Aejaz dead in the eyes.


    Gulp


    Bellona jumped in to save Aejaz, ¡°And what about this ¡®Appa¡¯ person?¡±


    Enyo hurriedly interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s probably for the best if Appa doesn¡¯t compete. We wouldn¡¯t want Ares actually killing someone mid-competition because they looked at it funny.¡±


    ¡°It?¡±


    ¡°Appa is a damned shade¡­ And a very cute one at that,¡± Enyo added that last part quietly at the end.


    Ares immediately gave up on Aejaz and wore a beaming, proud smile on his face. ¡°Damn right it¡¯s cute! The cutest!¡±


    ¡°Err, what¡¯s with him?¡± Charity felt like some clarification over Ares sudden outburst was needed here.


    Enyo filled in the blanks, ¡°Appa is his newly-adopted daughter.¡±


    ¡°You have a daughter!?¡± Bellona¡¯s brain was doing mental gymnastics trying to imagine Enyo acting like a mother.


    ¡°Yep! I can¡¯t wait to go back and see it again. Appa probably misses me.¡±


    Trew was getting irrationally fed up with this meandering conversation. ¡°So what? Who cares if it misses you? It¡¯s just a pet.¡±


    Pet?


    PET!?


    Ares took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. ¡°I¡¯m giving you one chance to take that back. My daughter is not ¡®some pet¡¯. If you don¡¯t correct yourself, I will tear your goddamn lungs out through your throat.¡±


    Trew was taken aback by this overly-aggressive side of Ares he had never seen before, but stubbornly maintained his arrogance. ¡°You''re right, it¡¯s not ¡®some pet¡¯, it¡¯s ¡®your pet¡¯.¡±


    A monumental pressure descended, making everyone feel sluggish, uncomfortable, and weak. Although the earth remained still, to Trew it felt as though the whole planet was collapsing.


    Ares ran annihilation magic through his blood, lighting up his cape.


    Something strange happened. As the annihilation magic passed along Ares¡¯ body, it partially diverted and flowed straight to his new optic nerves. It provided a warm sensation that kept progressively getting hotter and hotter yet never became painful. It was a cosy, pleasant experience that Ares paid no attention to whatsoever as he was too busy conjuring up fun ways to maim and torture Trew inside his head.


    Ares'' eyes shut uncontrollably and he finally took notice of the changes occurring within him, but he didn''t understand or care about what was happening to him right now so he just forced his eyes open again. As it turns out, that was the catalyst for activating his new nerves. They weren¡¯t just ordinary nerves; they were a pair of treasures. When Ares re-opened his eyes, the sound of a fire-burst resounded throughout the forest as a flash of fierce, dark-gold flames flared forth from his retinas. A stream of golden ethereal fire trailed across his eyes, shimmering off the sides of his face, and flickering violently at the tail-end as it hung in the air. The fire¡¯s idle sway was reminiscent of the way the Stygian Zephyr ebbed and flowed when buffeted by wind, and would no doubt leave lingering afterimages in the same style as the Zephyr, rippling behind Ares whenever he¡¯d move quickly. If anyone listened close enough, now that the blazing cacophony of noise had ceased, they would be able to hear a crisp, crackling noise with occasional snaps akin to a yule-log fireplace. There was a lot to process, and a whole lot of things Ares was seeing as a result of this change made absolutely no sense to him, so he decided to ignore it for now and focus on Trew.


    Ares Shifted in front of Trew and swiftly reached out with his hand to grab Trew¡¯s face. Although Trew made no obvious movements, he reacted to the Shift surprisingly quickly. What was weird about this was that Ares could somehow see how Trew was manipulating the mana through his body to perform an art and, to add onto that, he could even decipher what type of magic he was about to convert mana into. On the surface Trew was doing nothing but, thanks to this information, that presumably this new treasure was providing, Ares knew that he was about to escape using spatial magic.


    The thing about space is that it loses horribly to nothingness when the amount present is roughly equivalent. It¡¯s not even close. Nothingness essentially has full control over space and can mould it to its will. It can even destroy it completely, spawning more nothingness from its broken, shattered remains. The Space/Time aspect had long since enjoyed the special privilege of not ever having had a direct losing matchup to any other aspect in existence, so those that could learn it almost always made an effort to. The only way to ever efficiently deal with it was to be proficient in spatial or temporal magic as well. Now though, there was a new way, albeit completely unique to Ares. It may have been hard to time it reactively if it weren''t for this odd vision enhancement but, as things stood currently, there was no possibility he would miss the timing. As for what he had to do, it was just a matter of crushing the space around Trew precisely as he summoned it. Not only would that cancel the teleport, but it would also cause a serious injury as he would be stuck inside of collapsing space in reality, effectively pulverising him for a split-second.


    As the teleportation art began to form, Ares snapped the finger on his hand that hadn¡¯t reached out. A sound like shattering glass was accompanied by a short wail from Trew who wildly spasmed as a majority of his limbs spontaneously ruptured, causing blood to erupt like a fountain from within.


    This move completely bewildered everyone as no one even knew what happened. It just looked like Ares snapped his finger and demanded the heavens smite Trew which, combined with the pressure and fire emanating from his eyes, made him look and feel like royalty blessed with divinity.


    Trew was in the middle of falling backward limply when Ares¡¯ hand finally grabbed his face and followed through, slamming Trew into the ground and kicking up some dust. The fight realistically shouldn¡¯t have been this easy, but Trew hadn¡¯t taken into account the possibility that his teleportation could be shut down in such a manner as it had never happened before. Ares lifted him by the face and was prepared to keep slamming him headfirst into the mud until he took back his words from earlier¡­


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Ares!¡±


    ¡­ But Enyo sharply called out his name, so he begrudgingly pushed forward with his hand, throwing Trew back onto the floor. He made sure to catch him on the chin with his palm as he let go though, for good measure. ¡°I¡¯m only going to tell you this once, never call my daughter a pet ever again,¡± and with that final warning, the annihilation magic stopped coursing through his veins, the fire in his eyes dimmed before snuffing out, and the pressure faded away.


    Bellona now understood why Enyo had once likened Ares to their father. The similarities were almost disturbing when Ares was like that. Completely dominant, no room for discussion and an air of suffocating arrogance that resulted in welling feelings of insignificance to all who were present. Thoughts of the past came rushing into her head of her father, standing victorious with one foot raised atop a corpse, planting a flag that would elegantly wave to and fro in a steady pattern. These thoughts merged with an image in her head of Ares standing triumphantly in the exact same pose and position, with the fiery trails from his eyes precisely mimicking the motion of the flag. The parallels were undeniable, they were essentially one-and-the-same image.


    Ares sat back down with a frown on his face, rested his head on his fist, and ran a finger around the table in circles like a pouting child. This wasn¡¯t a victory for him, he hadn¡¯t forced Trew to apologise, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to ignore Enyo. He didn¡¯t even care about beating up a Legion Clan member in front of his clansmen, it was literally just Enyo asking him to stop that prevented him from laying down some serious punishment.


    Cough Cough


    Trew struggled to his feet and leant on a nearby tree while he caught his breath. ¡°You¡­ Win this time¡­ And¡­ I apologise.¡± Trew was struggling but managed to get out that sentence before skulking off into the forest out of shame.


    Ares was actually surprised Trew apologised and acknowledged losing, a lot of other people would make excuses at the very least. He assumed the Legion clan were just all like this, and that even the scummiest and most annoying of the bunch still had a baseline level of decency that they would adhere to due to righteous-oriented indoctrination. The Legion clan weren¡¯t just putting up a well-regimented facade, they genuinely were the real deal.


    ¡°Soooo, care to explain why your eyes were on fire!?¡± Aejaz asked.


    ¡°Is that not normal then?¡± Bellona questioned. It¡¯s not like the Legion clan were familiar with Ares and how he usually fought, although they had certainly learnt a fair bit from this scuffle. Mainly that he was not to be trifled with despite his low cultivation.


    ¡°No,¡± Aejaz replied before turning to face Ares again. ¡°Did it hurt? It looked like the kind of thing that would hurt.¡±


    ¡°Nope, it feels quite nice actually. Warm and cosy. As it turns out, the nerves I picked up in the mansion are treasures that allow the wielder to use a unique art. I did a quick check of their history and I found that they¡¯re called the ¡®Celestial Prisms¡±. They¡¯re part of a set of treasures called the ¡®Celestial Cluster¡±. All the treasures in the set are replacements of body parts that grant a unique and incredibly powerful art depending on the part of the body they attach to. I don¡¯t know how many there are but, at one point in time, they all belonged to Dominus. He wanted to keep them safe and intact in the event that he managed to die, so he hid them all before each and every suicide attempt. Why he put one here in this domain is beyond me, but it would explain why no one was able to sneak past the traps if this was set up by someone of his level.¡±


    ¡°What about the art?¡± Gladius was more interested in the practical application of the treasures.


    Any art that is received via ownership of a treasure comes under the forging pillar¡¯s ¡®bestowal¡¯ aspect. This aspect has easily the widest variety of arts given that they¡¯re decided by the treasure, and not the pillar.


    ¡°Uh, well, about that. As it turns out, the Celestial Cluster is considered the strongest known, and attainable, treasure in existence, even in whichever domain Dominus lived in. Each individual treasure is considered legendary in their own right as they grant inestimable power. The Prisms have given me ¡®Omniscience.¡¯¡± Ares hadn¡¯t particularly wanted to share this information for the same reason he didn¡¯t want to talk about the Primordial Blade but, unlike the Blade, he was going to be using this art really quite frequently. He didn¡¯t feel like Gladius, Charity, and Bellona were people he should lie to as they were already doing him a kindness by sweeping his race under the rug and pretending they saw nothing. He could lie to everyone else if they asked, but he felt it was alright for these Legion clan members to know at least this much.


    ¡°Omniscience!? You mean like, Omniscience, Omniscience?¡± Bellona exclaimed.


    ¡°Yes and no. I don¡¯t know everything, but I can figure out anything, I think. I can visualise mana in the air as well as the mana people manipulate in their bodies. For instance, I knew what type of magic Trew was going to use ahead of time because I could see him casting it. I can also see-through magic. I can see the core of everything created by mana, meaning illusions and runic formations might as well not even exist. That¡¯s just the mana related stuff, I can essentially see the answer to things. If you show me a malfunctioning machine, I can fix it, but I can¡¯t tell you how I fixed it or why it was broken in the first place. If you show me a fighting style, I imagine I could copy it much faster than a normal person would take to learn it. It gives me the ability to right wrongs despite lacking the knowledge that others who are more versed would be able to give and explain. Although I have no idea how to make runes, and I¡¯ve never learned even a single thing about them, I imagine I could replicate and or dismantle any rune I can visualise. It¡¯s basically a perfect divine sense.¡±


    ¡°So, what about my runic eye magic? Could you copy this?¡± Charity asked as she activated Diagnosis and a runic formation appeared over her retina.


    Ares activated Omniscience by closing his eyes and then sharply re-opening them. As he was actually familiar with the art now, he could do it without having to make that loud noise like last time. He could¡¯ve easily gotten rid of the fireplace crackling noise too if he so wished, but he quite liked it. It wasn¡¯t loud enough to be easily heard by anyone else and he could always remove it if he ever needed to be stealthy. He glanced over at Charity''s eyes and took a feather off his Zephyr. He ran disintegration through the feather and started carving out the runic formation, in full, on a plank of wood. He turned off his omniscience when he was done five minutes later and turned back to Charity. ¡°Is this correct?¡±


    ¡°Wow. It¡¯s perfect. This formation is a unique art that I spent the better half of four years working on. It took you five minutes to figure it out. I¡¯m a little annoyed, if I¡¯m being honest.¡±


    ¡°I hate to say it, but it didn¡¯t even take that long. It was instantaneous. It just took me five minutes to write it out because I have no idea what the hell I¡¯m doing.¡± Ares pointed at the rune carving on the wood. ¡°None of this means anything to me.¡±


    ¡°Life¡¯s unfair,¡± Charity moaned as she slumped back into her chair. ¡°Wait¡­ can you use ¡®Diagnosis¡¯ as well?¡± Diagnosis was the name of Charity¡¯s runemancy pillar, Body-Imprint aspect art.


    ¡°Diagnosis!¡±


    Ares manipulated the mana in a similar fashion to what he had seen Charity do earlier and constructed an identical runic pattern across his eyes successfully. ¡°It would seem I can.¡±


    ¡°Well, whatever. At least you can¡¯t use healing magic, then I¡¯d just be out of a job.¡± Charity shrugged and gave up before sighing loudly. ¡°Guess I should go heal Trew, although I really don¡¯t want to.¡± Charity got up and went off to find her patient.


    ¡°We¡¯re probably gonna set off when Trew¡¯s good to go, our sect¡¯s try-outs for the regional teams are coming up and we have to get back,¡± Bellona said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll head back to the entrance of the forest with you, we have nothing else to do here anyway. Or maybe Ares is going to go off on another bizzare adventure, honestly, who knows?¡± Enyo looked over at Ares who froze and chuckled sheepishly.


    ¡°Alright. We also need to get some proof we actually killed monsters on this trip of ours, so do you mind if we take the spoils of the stuff we kill on the way?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, we also need some proof, maybe we can split it?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Ares chimed in. ¡°I have more than enough proof.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? Where the hell are you even storing it all?¡± Bellona was mystified.


    ¡°Same place as the food and the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°KITCHEN!?¡±


    ¡°How do you think I cooked the food?¡±


    ¡°You know what? Forget I asked. Enyo, come!¡± Bellona dragged Enyo off to gossip about her conversation with Ares.


    Aejaz and Allie were whispering something to one another until eventually they scarpered off into the forest leaving Gladius with Ares.


    ¡°Just out of curiosity, how many revenants have you killed?¡±


    ¡°Me personally, or our Red Soil branch?¡±


    ¡°Branch.¡±


    ¡°Three.¡±


    ¡°Only three? I¡¯m surprised it¡¯s not more.¡±


    ¡°You almost sound disappointed. But yeah, no, it¡¯s hard to tell who¡¯s a revenant or not until bloodline awakening. The three we found were purely out of luck. We found them having a meeting, if it weren''t for that, we wouldn¡¯t have even known.¡±


    ¡°What were they like?¡±


    ¡°Desperate people, just like the rest of us. Well, I say that, but you¡¯re a little different. I¡¯m jealous you were born without the same constraints as the rest of us, but I¡¯m not envious of the life you¡¯ve lived, so I guess it evens out. I hope you find success because, if you do, it will do a lot of good for a lot of people.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s selfish to say this, but I don¡¯t care about those people. I''d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t doing this for myself.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re different. We¡¯re all doing this for people in the severed domain we¡¯ve never even met, or for the older generations of our clans. It¡¯s tiring really.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt it. On a side note, good luck.¡±


    ¡°What with?¡±


    ¡°Charity.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You hide it pretty well; I doubt anyone knows.¡±


    ¡°If I hide it well, then how do you know?¡±


    ¡°I can just tell.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Gladius complained.


    ¡°I know right? I¡¯m really good at this stuff. Well, anyway, I have another side note.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I liked the last one¡­¡±


    ¡°Good luck.¡±


    ¡°Dear god, what with now?¡±


    ¡°Putting up with Trew.¡± Ares stuck his tongue out.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s real mature,¡± Gladius snorted.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°She likes you too, maybe even more than you like her.¡±


    ¡°... Seriously? Thanks. That¡¯s reassuring.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You know, Enyo was smiling earlier when she was eating.¡±


    Ares raised an eyebrow. ¡°You make it sound like that¡¯s not normal.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t. You accomplished something no one else has been able to do since Enyo was a child.¡±


    ¡°... Thanks for telling me that.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I¡¯m actually warning you.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°If Enyo¡¯s mother finds out¡­ Well¡­ Let¡¯s just say, good luck. She¡¯ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth just so she can test whether or not you''re suitable.¡±


    ¡°Ha, fair enough. What about Trew then, has he been tested?¡±


    ¡°Nope, she just beat him up and kicked him out of her land when he showed up. He didn¡¯t even reach the minimum required benchmark.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about Enyo¡¯s mother, and yet I¡¯m not sure if I should be excited to meet her or scared out of my wits.¡±


    ¡°Both, it¡¯s a wild ride for sure. Also, you might want to be careful of Enyo¡¯s brothers. Two of the three are really quite protective and even bully Trew every time they find him until he scampers away in shame.¡±


    ¡°Haha, sounds like a fun family.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough, her brothers and sisters should all make it to the international stage of the ranking tournament. Since it¡¯s always held in Red Sun, you¡¯ll meet them eventually regardless of whether you make it to the international level. I¡¯ve also heard rumours their mother is starting to get fed up with their absence and may make a guest appearance. She doesn¡¯t always come down for the internationals, but this year it''s very likely. So yeah¡­ Good luck.¡±


    ¡°Is she not a little too high profile to show up at an event like that?¡±


    ¡°Ah, she doesn¡¯t care. She just does as she pleases. She even goes around to the Umbra Wolf¡¯s matriarch¡¯s house for tea every now and then. She just strolls through your clan like it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Apparently they get along.¡± Gladius shrugged. ¡°Your clan¡¯s matriarch should also show up. Unlike ours, she drops by every year actually. Honestly, she¡¯s quite a similar matriarch to ours. She also pops up in our clan every now and then, albeit for nothing good. Now that our generation has grown up a little, the stakes of the international tournament are actually quite high. There may be a temporary truce just so the clans can watch the younger generation compete. It¡¯s entirely possible the elites, as opposed to just a few high-ranking elders, of all the clans turn up so they can gather information about the next generation that will be taking part in the war. I would suggest that, if that comes to pass, you try to remain as low profile as possible. The fewer the number of people that know about you being a revenant, the better it will be for you and your goal in the long run.¡±


    ¡°Noted.¡±


    ¡°So, come on, spill it. What happened with you and Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a gossip? We opened up about this and that, she took her helmet off, I showed her my greatest secret and then she hugged me. That about sums everything up I think?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Gladius froze as though he¡¯d just been hit by a Temporal Distortion.


    ¡°Uh, Gladius?¡±


    ¡°... You¡¯re fucking dead. No, seriously, her mother is going to murder you in cold blood. She tried for years to get Enyo to hug her and could never convince her. If she finds out¡­ God, you may actually be the first person Enyo has ever initiated a hug with. And she even took off her helmet? Are you a fucking wizard? Have you mind-controlled her? Bellona must be having a field day right now¡­¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Bellona! Will you cut that out!?¡±


    ¡°Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.¡± Bellona rolled around on the floor, laughing uncontrollably with tears in her eyes.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let you just roll around to your heart''s content. I¡¯m going back.¡±


    ¡°Wai¡­ Hahaha¡­ W¡­ Wa¡­ Hahaha¡­ Wait.¡±


    Enyo crossed her arms and tapped her foot repeatedly while waiting for Bellona to stop.


    ¡°Aw man, that was hilarious.¡±


    ¡°It was just a hug.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, hugs are normal, but you hugging someone? Oh man. You remember when mum used to ask you for hugs and you would say no every single time?¡±


    ¡°That was a different me.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. This you? This you is great! Can I have a hug?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°C¡¯mon! Come here and give your lil¡¯ sis¡¯ a big hug!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. You only want to hug Ares, hmm?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Enyo replied hastily.


    ¡°Oh really? Then who else would you hug if not me?¡±


    ¡°... Fine. BUT ONLY ONCE.¡± Enyo walked over and hugged Bellona with a stiffness that would make fully autonomous robots look like jelly in comparison.


    ¡°Really? You call that a hug? Ares must think you¡¯re a weirdo.¡±


    ¡°No, our hug was more natural than that. This is your fault.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s ¡®cos you didn¡¯t really wanna hug me in the first place.¡±


    ¡°You did make me do it.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you wanted to hug Ares.¡±


    ¡°... I felt sorry for him.¡±


    ¡°Mhm. Sure. I do too. You don¡¯t see me hugging him.¡±


    ¡°What are you implying?¡±


    ¡°We all saw you smiling at lunch today, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°... The food was good.¡±


    ¡°It was! It really was! Maybe that¡¯s also why you hugged Ares! Because he can cook well!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± Enyo couldn¡¯t take the ribbing anymore and started walking away.


    ¡°Back where? To Ares? I don¡¯t think he has any food left!¡± Bellona shouted after Enyo.


    Enyo paused. ¡°Please stop.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stop when you admit it, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°... WHY!? I don¡¯t get it. I don¡¯t understand... Why am I falling for him, Bellona? He messes around with me ALL the time. I can¡¯t figure it out. It feels like Stockholm syndrome. I can¡¯t get him out of my head. He¡¯s¡­ I don¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I DON¡¯T KNOW.¡±


    ¡°What''s there to be confused about, really? He cares about you and you know it. The dryad that he killed for you, hiding his injuries so you wouldn¡¯t feel responsible, offering to leave to make you happy, not taking a side in the war because he can¡¯t bring himself to take a stand against you. Dad wants you to be like himself and mum wants you to be like anyone but dad but, amongst all that, all Ares wants is for you to be you. He appreciates you as you are no matter what you are, he even told you that.¡±


    ¡°I just want to be the person I am in my head,¡± Enyo sounded upset.


    ¡°You already are, Enyo. Falling in love doesn¡¯t have to change that.¡±


    ¡°But I have changed since I met him.¡±


    ¡°And there isn¡¯t anyone who matters that thinks it''s been for the worse. Stop caring about what dad will think of you because I promise you, he doesn¡¯t think about you at all. Care about the people who care about you.¡±


    ¡°... You sound just like Ares¡­¡±


    ¡°And look how happy we are with life and everything we¡¯ve managed to scrounge out of it. There¡¯s nothing wrong with wanting to be happy. You want to be happy and that¡¯s why you¡¯re so frustrated, because your ¡®responsibilities¡¯ are standing in the way of it.¡±


    ¡°... Bellona¡­ What should I do?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking me? You know that¡¯s your own decision to make. Also, you¡¯ve already made it anyway. You made it when you couldn¡¯t bring yourself to kill him. You¡¯ve already chosen him over your responsibilities, and you smiled while doing it.¡±


    ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Bellona interrupted immediately, ¡°Oh, believe me, he does. He¡¯s had his fun, it¡¯s your turn to know everything now. I think it¡¯s time you and I worked together for a change; you are my sister after all. He loves you, Enyo, and everyone knows it.¡±


    ¡°W¡­ WHAT?¡±


    ¡°Yep. Well not Trew, but everyone else.¡±


    ¡°... Seriously!?¡± Enyo tried not to sound incredibly pleased but completely failed.


    ¡°Come on Enyo, he literally told you.¡±


    ¡°When!? I don¡¯t remember him saying any¡­ THE CAVE!? BASTARD.¡±


    ¡°Hahahahaha, he got you good there. He got everyone actually.¡±


    ¡°... Has he felt like that since then? I thought it would be more recent if anything¡­¡±


    ¡°Enyo, hon¡¯, he told me it was since he first met you.¡±


    ¡°WHAT!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM!?¡±


    ¡°Say what you will but whatever voodoo magic he¡¯s been conjuring has clearly worked.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable intolerable unbearable insufferable unacceptable incorrigible...¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha, like I said, now it¡¯s your turn to have fun. Now it¡¯s just you and I that know everything.¡± Bellona smirked evilly. ¡°Everyone else still thinks you don¡¯t know, and Ares doesn¡¯t think you feel the same way about him just yet. You¡¯re in control now, feel free to mess around with him as he has with you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I will.¡±

 Chapter 36: Sweet Freedom

    Bellona and Enyo returned to find Gladius and Ares laughing about something. ¡°Well, you two seem to be getting along,¡± Bellona commented.


    ¡°We found some common ground.¡± Gladius replied.


    ¡°And that would be?¡±


    ¡°A secret.¡±


    ¡°Oh really?¡±


    ¡°Yep. What about you two? What have you been up to?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡±


    Aejaz and Allie returned.


    ¡°Oh, and what have you two been up to?¡± Ares asked.


    ¡°Secret,¡± Aejaz responded.


    ¡°The hell? Why is everyone being so secretive?¡± Charity returned with a grumpy Trew in toe. ¡°And don¡¯t you dare tell me it¡¯s a secret.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s private,¡± Ares quipped.


    ¡°Oh haha.¡±


    ¡°As riveting as this conversation is, shall we get going?¡± Trew moaned.


    ¡°Sure¡­ Ares? Where are you going?¡± Bellona questioned.


    ¡°Just gonna go say goodbye to the animals. I¡¯ve got some business with them before I leave. You can go on ahead, I¡¯ll catch up.¡± Ares left and everyone else set off on their journey.


    They travelled for roughly a day before Ares eventually worked his way back to them.


    ¡°Hey slowpoke,¡± Enyo greeted him.


    ¡°Ha, hey. Where¡¯s everyone going?¡± Ares looked around as the others had all just set off from the temporary camp they¡¯d set up.


    ¡°My clansmen are going out to hunt monsters to complete their mission, Aejaz and Allie are sneaking off to have a moment and, regrettably, I¡¯m just stuck here with my thoughts and you.¡±


    ¡°Am I really that bad?¡±


    ¡°Worse.¡±


    ¡°What kinda thoughts are you wrestling with?¡± Ares sat down next to Enyo.


    ¡°The annoying kind.¡±


    ¡°More or less annoying than me?¡±


    ¡°Roughly the same, actually.¡±


    ¡°That sounds quite troublesome then. Wanna talk about it?¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯re self-aware. No, not particularly. I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be very helpful.¡±


    ¡°Ouch, Fine. I¡¯ll leave you be,¡± Ares stretched, yawned and much to Enyo¡¯s surprise, boldly lay down with his head on her lap.


    Enyo¡¯s helmet stared straight down at him and Ares looked straight back up at it.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This pesky guy needs to be punished! Enyo thought. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s comfortable,¡± Ares replied sleepily. He thought she wouldn¡¯t be bothered and that he could convince her to speak her mind so he could try and be helpful.


    ¡°I don¡¯t recall giving you permission,¡± Enyo spoke in a serious tone.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Sorry. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d mind.¡±


    Ares started lifting himself up when Enyo grabbed his head and put him back down. ¡°Stay,¡± Enyo ordered.


    ¡°Uh, ok.¡± Ares was more than just a little confused. ¡°Um, are you sure you don¡¯t wanna talk? I enjoyed our last conversation, and I think it was really good to get that stuff out in the open.¡±


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ve been wondering, how did you lie to my bloodline?¡± Enyo smiled maliciously under the helmet, Time to have some fun.


    ¡°Ah, nothing¡¯s perfect. Actually, there are a number of flaws with your bloodline.¡±


    ¡°Oh really? Do tell.¡±


    Ares picked up a nearby stone and lobbed it at a tree.


    Clack


    ¡°Ask me if I hit the tree.¡±


    Enyo obliged because she couldn¡¯t tell where he was going with this. ¡°Did you hit the tree?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hit that tree just now,¡± Ares spoke in an assured voice.


    Much to Enyo¡¯s surprise, her bloodline told her he wasn¡¯t lying. Had he actually found a loophole? Enyo still wanted to tease him, but this took precedence for now. ¡°How on earth did you do that!?¡±


    ¡°Technicality. It was the stone that hit the tree, not me. If you ask the wrong question, it enables someone to give you the wrong answer. If you¡¯d asked ¡®did you have anything to do with the tree that was just hit?¡¯, then I would¡¯ve been screwed. Also, if a person genuinely believes their incorrect answer is true, either because they know no better or because they¡¯ve convinced themselves otherwise, then that would also work.¡±


    Enyo was completely astounded. Was it really that simple? This was actually incredibly useful information. ¡°That¡¯s really nice of you to tell me. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No problem, I¡¯m just glad I could help with what¡¯s been weighing on your mind.¡± Ares smiled.


    He really cares¡­ But still, I want to see you squirm for what you¡¯ve put me through!


    ¡°Anything else?¡± Ares added.


    ¡°Yes, actually.¡±


    ¡°Ask away.¡±


    ¡°How did you lie to my bloodline in the cave? I didn¡¯t ask you any questions then, so it can¡¯t have been done in the same way you just showed me.¡±


    ¡°Ah, sorry, but that¡¯s a secret. I¡¯ll tell you eventually.¡± Ares chuckled. He was feeling complacent as he relished in his earlier victory.


    Laugh for as long as you can Ares, laugh for as long as you can. Enyo¡¯s smile widened under the helmet as she revelled in finally getting her chance to play around with Ares for a change. ¡°I bet you can¡¯t do it again,¡± she spoke confidently.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Ares raised his eyebrows before bringing out his trademark evil smile. ¡°Wanna bet?¡±


    Enyo secretly mimicked his evil smile under her helmet and responded, ¡°Yes, actually, I do want to bet.¡±


    ¡°Well, aren''t you confident? Ok, what are the stakes?¡±


    ¡°If you succeed, I¡¯ll tell you a very important secret. Something I recently told Bellona. Something no one else knows.¡±


    ¡°Ok, and if you win?¡± Ares spoke calmly as, in his mind, he truly believed there was zero chance he could lose the bet.


    ¡°I want you to divulge your greatest weakness.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Mywhatnow?¡±


    ¡°Aejaz told me cute things are your second greatest weakness, and that whatever your greatest weakness is, it¡¯s far more embarrassing than even the ice incident.¡±


    ¡°Aejaz told you about the ice incident!?¡±


    ¡°Betrayal is a slippery slope.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Ares was silent for a while before he burst out laughing. ¡°Hahahaha, I never, in a lifetime, would¡¯ve expected you of all people to make a joke about that.¡±


    ¡°What can I say? I guess I¡¯ve been changing recently.¡± Enyo shrugged. And it¡¯s all because of you.


    ¡°Well, alright. So, we¡¯re each putting a secret on the line? Fine by me.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, go ahead,¡± Enyo encouraged him. Not only was she going to get to hear his secret, but she was also going to hear him say he loves her again.


    ¡°Enyo, I love you.¡± Ares smiled warmly again.


    Enyo was giddy under her helmet and just enjoyed the moment while it lasted.


    All good things must come to an end though.


    As much as I want to tell you the truth, I think it¡¯s time I put you in your place, you rascal! Enyo snorted. ¡°I told you it wouldn¡¯t work this time. You¡¯re lying and I know it,¡± Enyo flat out lied. Her bloodline was telling her that Ares was being honest, and she knew he was as well, but if she just lied and said the opposite, how could he possibly argue?


    ¡°What?¡± Ares was lost for words. Impossible, He thought. He couldn¡¯t fathom how this was possible as he knew he wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°But¡­¡±


    But what, Ares? But what? Are you going to admit you weren¡¯t lying and that you really do love me? Or are you going to accept the loss? SQUIRM ARES, SQUIRM!


    Ares kept cutting himself off every time he tried to speak as he struggled to worm his way out of this situation. But there was no out for him. He couldn¡¯t understand how this had happened and found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. It¡¯s too early to tell her, guess I¡¯ll just bite the bullet¡­ Ares mulled on the situation for a while before finally sighing and accepting his loss. Not once though did he ever question if he still felt the same way as before about Enyo, he already knew that wasn¡¯t the issue.


    ¡°Well Ares?¡±


    ¡°You win,¡± Ares spoke in a defeated tone which was practically heavenly music to Enyo¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Hahahahaha, you¡¯re damn right I won!¡±


    Ares blinked repeatedly and pinched himself. Did Enyo just laugh? Hadn¡¯t she also just made a joke earlier? What on earth was happening here!?


    ¡°Spill it! Tell me your greatest secret!¡±


    ¡°Ah, geez, fine. But first, I¡¯ve gotta say, you have a lovely laugh.¡±


    Huh!? Enyo¡¯s heart was all-a-flutter and her face flushed. She hadn¡¯t been expecting Ares to fire back! You¡­ You¡­. Every time Enyo tried finishing the sentence in her mind, she caught sight of Ares smiling at her and couldn¡¯t help but lose her trail of thought. ¡°That¡­ That¡¯s not relevant¡­ Tell me your secret. Stop delaying, you sneaky wretch!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha. Ok, but promise me you won¡¯t give me a hard time about it?¡±


    ¡°No! I don¡¯t recall that being part of the bet. Hurry up!¡± Enyo couldn¡¯t hide the excitement in her voice.


    Ares had delayed for as long as he could. ¡°My greatest weakness...¡± He turned his face to the side to avoid looking directly at Enyo, or, well, her helmet anyway. ¡°... is spiders,¡± he spoke in a muffled, quiet voice and was clearly ashamed.


    ¡°Spiders?¡± Enyo was stunned and briefly thought she misheard him.


    ¡°They creep me out¡­ I hate them¡­ One crawled on top of Huggles one night and it freaked me out. I nearly blew up a nearby shop with a Shock Bead ¡®cos I was panicking and trying to kill it.¡±


    ¡°Spiders?¡± Enyo still couldn¡¯t believe it. A cultivator having a fear of spiders was nonsensical to the extreme, like an elephant fearing an ant.


    Ares shrunk as he curled up slightly and sheepishly muttered, ¡°Yes. Ever since that day, whenever I go to sleep, I always put up a disintegration field that specifically kills spiders so I can sleep in peace.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡± Enyo looked around before conveniently finding what she was looking for. She lifted Ares, so he wouldn¡¯t just fall over when she got up, and headed over to the thing she had found.


    Ares got up and walked after her as he was curious as to what she was doing. ¡°Enyo?¡±


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    She didn¡¯t respond.


    Ares walked a little closer and was standing behind her as she hunched over to pick something up. ¡°Enyo? What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Enyo let out a small laugh.


    ¡°Ha?¡± Ares laughed nervously as he had a bad feeling.


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    ¡°Haha?¡±


    ¡°Hahahahahaha.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Good haul. It won¡¯t be enough just yet, but we should only need a bit more now,¡± Bellona counted the monster parts and reported back to the group.


    ¡°Ah, Charity, I was scratched by one of the monsters. Could you check to make sure it¡¯s not infected, please?¡± Gladius asked.


    ¡°Again!? These monsters are weak, how the hell do you keep getting hurt? If I didn¡¯t know any better, I would assume you were doing this on purpose,¡± Despite complaining, she pulled Gladius to the side and gave him a check.


    Truthfully, Gladius was intentionally letting himself receive minor injuries so he could talk to her on his own for a while. He enjoyed these moments but admittedly felt a little bad for hassling Charity to heal him all the time.


    As the two were conversing on their own, Trew walked over to Bellona to complain, ¡°Did you really need me to come along? I would¡¯ve very much liked to catch up with Enyo back at camp.¡±


    ¡°She told me she wanted to be alone.¡± Alone with Ares, Bellona added in her head.


    ¡°Then what about Ares? Wasn¡¯t he there when we left?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I imagine if she wanted him to leave, then she would have told him as such.¡±


    ¡°I thought she found him annoying? Why she¡¯s even tolerating him is beyond me.¡±


    Oh, how ironic. God I can¡¯t wait for the day you see those two happily together you annoying schmuck. ¡°They¡¯ve been getting along fine as of late,¡± Bellona wanted to rub some salt in the wound, and did just that.


    ¡°Tsk, anyway, we¡¯re done here. Might as well go back.¡±


    ¡°Go back? Don¡¯t you want to let those two have their moment?¡± Bellona smiled innocently.


    ¡°What!? What moment?¡± Trew replied hurriedly with a hint of worry in his voice.


    ¡°They seem to be having a nice conversation over there.¡± Bellona nodded at Charity and Gladius.


    ¡°Huh? You were talking about them?¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Who did you think I was talking about?¡± Bellona gave it her all to resist the urge to start laughing at Trew.


    ¡°Tsk, doesn¡¯t matter. WE¡¯RE LEAVING,¡± Trew yelled so Gladius and Charity could hear.


    Bastard! Gladius cursed inwardly. Just because you know you can¡¯t be happy; doesn¡¯t mean you should ruin it for other people!


    The Legion clan left the hunting area and ran into Aejaz and Allie on the way back to camp.


    ¡°Hey, how¡¯d your hunt go?¡± Allie asked politely.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Trew vented bitterly as having to put up with another swooning couple was doing his head in.


    Aejaz narrowed his eyes and was ready to pick a fight because of Trew¡¯s tone, but restrained himself as it would have been a bit of an overreaction. He wasn¡¯t Ares, he had higher tolerance for these things and didn¡¯t want to needlessly sour the waters. However, if Allie had been even remotely offended then there would have been trouble, but she looked unperturbed, so he let it slide.


    Funnily enough, the person who was closest to picking a fight with Trew wasn¡¯t even Aejaz or Gladius, it was Bellona. She was seriously getting fed up with him. ¡°It went really quite well actually; we even found some ingredients for Ares to cook with if he doesn¡¯t mind making us a meal again.¡±


    ¡°Really!?¡± Aejaz and Allie eagerly responded simultaneously, they both were thoroughly addicted to Ares¡¯ drug-like cooking.


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°He cooks? Seriously?¡± Trew snorted in derision.


    ¡°You make it sound like a bad thing.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a waste of time. He should spend more time cultivating instead of learning a useless skill, maybe then his cultivation wouldn¡¯t be so pathetic.¡±


    ¡°Clearly he makes it work,¡± Gladius poked fun at the fact that Trew had lost to him in spite of his cultivation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t respect him or his pointless hobbies at all.¡±


    Bellona was this close to beating the daylights out of Trew, but held back and responded in a way that was sure to annoy him instead, ¡°It¡¯s really good though, even Enyo seriously loves it. She even had a second helping and was smiling the whole time she ate.¡±


    ¡°Enyo was smiling!?¡± Trew was grieving over this missed experience.


    ¡°The way to a person¡¯s heart is supposedly through their stomach. Guess cooking does have its uses after all.¡±


    The group walked back to the camp together, but paused outside as they could hear shouting.


    ¡°HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.¡±


    Aejaz had his mouth open in disbelief. ¡°Is that¡­ ARES¡¯ VOICE!? WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!?¡±


    Ares was yelling, in quite a desperate voice, for salvation.


    Everyone arrived back at the camp and just stood motionlessly, stunned by what they saw.


    Ares was running circles around the camp, occasionally crying out in horror every time he looked over his shoulder. Behind him, Enyo was cackling like a mad-woman and chasing him down with a spider in her hands.


    ¡°ENYO. PLEASE. I¡¯M BEGGING YOU.¡±


    ¡°HAHAHA, BEG MORE!¡±


    ¡°BELLONA!? SAVE MEEEEEEEEEEEE. YOUR SISTER IS BULLYING MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.¡± Ares ran over to Bellona and hid behind her in a cowardly fashion, shaking and quivering in genuine fear.


    ¡°Hahahaha, nope.¡± Bellona stood aside and watched cheerfully as Enyo tackled Ares to the floor. Who was she to stand in the way of her sister¡¯s fun? She had never seen Enyo this joyful.


    Aww, Enyo was still in a great mood, but a little disappointed when Aejaz stole the spider from her hand and tossed it away to save his brother.


    Ares had his eyes tightly shut and was wincing, dreading the spider, but slowly opened one eye when he realised it was probably gone. Instead of a spider, he saw Enyo straddling him with her helmet staring down at him. He smiled feebly and stared back, wishing the helmet wasn¡¯t in the way of the moment, but still enjoying it nonetheless. Enyo had gotten completely lost in the moment too and had a brilliant smile hidden under the helmet as she stared down at Ares.


    Ahem


    Bellona cleared her throat. Get a room! Being all lovey dovey is great and all, but there¡¯s a crowd here!


    Enyo finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly got off Ares.


    Ares got up as well, dusted himself off, and scratched his head. Ares was clearly embarrassed with slightly blushed cheeks, which was something Aejaz had never seen before and left him gobsmacked. Ares broke the silence, ¡°Uh, so, how did your hunt go?¡±


    Bellona was the only one not still knee-deep in shock and responded as calmly as she could to try and change the subject, ¡°Good. If you don¡¯t mind, we found some ingredients that we were hoping you could cook something with?¡±


    Ares pepped up and restored his mental state back to normal, removing all the awkwardness upon hearing he would be able to cook again. ¡°Of course! What did you find? What kinda ingredients am I working with?¡±


    ¡°We found some ducks. We also picked a variety of fruits because none of us knew which ones would go well with the duck.¡± Bellona handed over a spatial ring with the ingredients inside.


    ¡°Hmmmmm, ah! That¡¯ll do,¡± Ares took everything he needed out of the ring and stored it in the Primordial Blade. ¡°Oh, and I still have some dessert stuff sitting around, so I can make something for after too.¡±


    Aejaz¡¯ eyes practically lit up and sparkled. ¡°Ooh, ooh, is it cotton candy!?¡±


    ¡°Ha, no. It¡¯s a foreign sweet that I learnt about a while back. I¡¯ll make you more cotton candy as soon as I can buy the ingredients though.¡± Ares figured he should treat his brother for saving him from the creepy crawly attack earlier.


    Trew regained his senses and was absolutely livid. He was seething with anger for a number of reasons, the main one being his image of the ever-proud Enyo crumbling down into ruin. ¡°Enyo? What was that shameful display? If the rest of the clan saw you, they would be disappointed in your childishness.¡±


    Bellona was cracking her knuckles and taking strides toward Trew when Enyo spoke out abruptly, ¡°I don¡¯t care. I had fun.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You heard me. Don¡¯t make me needlessly repeat myself.¡±


    As fast as Trew¡¯s image of a proud Enyo came crumbling down, it re-assembled itself before him, and he found himself speechless before Enyo¡¯s absolute authority.


    ¡°I can have fun when I choose and with whom I choose. You¡¯ll watch what you say from now on. You¡¯re treading on thin ice, Trew. It¡¯s not hard to tell everyone¡¯s fed up with you. The next time someone lashes out at you, I won¡¯t stop them,¡± Enyo referred back to Trew¡¯s fight with Ares, but also indicated that Bellona, Aejaz, and Gladius were all free to teach him a lesson as well as they seemed riled up too. ¡°If you keep trying to tell me what to do, and who to be, then it might even end up being me that puts you in your place.¡± Enyo was still the proud woman she was before, but her attitude didn¡¯t have to be unceasing. She could choose when to have fun. Her stoicism didn¡¯t have to be a permanent fixture anymore, but it would sure as hell come back for situations like this.


    Trew dared not respond as he was fearful of agitating Enyo any further.


    Bellona was wiping a tear from her eye and trying to not to cry like a baby out of pure glee for her sister. Bellona had grown up with Enyo and only ever wanted her to live her own life in her own way and, today, Bellona had a chance to see her finally accomplish that and actually stand up for herself. GO SIS¡¯!


    Ares needed no reaffirmation of the way he felt toward Enyo, but found it anyway. He sincerely hoped from the bottom of his heart he could make things work with her, she really was an incredible woman and he considered himself lucky to even have a chance.


    ¡°So, what are you making?¡± Enyo turned to Ares and asked a question with a complete 180 in tone that left him bewildered for a second.


    ¡°That¡¯s a surprise.¡± Ares stuck his tongue out.


    Enyo pretend-sighed. ¡°It would be tragically unfortunate if our campsite was overrun by spiders when everyone fell asleep. Now that would be a real surprise.¡±


    ¡°Crispy Duck with plum sauce. Dessert is mint-chocolate honeycomb.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s honeycomb?¡±


    ¡°Brown sugar. Light, aery, and brittle.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good! Get to work!¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡±


    Enyo chuckled lightly. Now this is amusing! I do feel a little bad threatening him with something he has a crippling fear of though. Guess I¡¯ll use it sparingly.


    Everyone sat around and enjoyed a pleasant conversation, minus Trew who didn¡¯t say a word, until Ares finished cooking and brought out the table. It had only been roughly 30 minutes since Ares had started cooking, but time worked slightly differently in the Primordial Blade and, thanks to that, he could cook things way faster than usual. As for how exactly time functioned in the blade, he could slow it down as much as he liked, even bringing it to a complete halt, freezing everything inside. As for speeding things up like the cooking, there was a limit, but it was pretty generous. This was but a small part of the blade¡¯s power and yet it bordered on the power of gods. Using such a power to store a kitchen and cook meals would undoubtedly have billions of people tearing their hair out if they knew about it.


    Aejaz and Allie were the first to take their seats, followed by the Legion clan, again excluding Trew who hadn¡¯t budged from his seat, and finally Enyo. Ares brought out the food and the aroma was simply divine, borderline intoxicating.


    ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re way too good at this, my compliments to the chef,¡± Charity praised.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Ares gratefully replied as he subtly flicked an Echo at Aejaz.


    Aejaz rolled his eyes as he was all too familiar with this song and dance. He was about to get up when Enyo beat him to it. As it turns out, although Ares had tried to remain discreet, Enyo had been paying Ares a lot more attention as of late and caught him in the act. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll go this time,¡± Enyo sounded more than willing to leave, much to everyone¡¯s surprise. Enyo took her food and walked off.


    Ares thought this would be a good chance for him to go and spend some time with Enyo, and that maybe he would finally get to eat a meal in her company but, surprisingly, Bellona had stood up and walked over, putting her hand on his shoulder and pushing him back down into his seat. ¡°Nope, you stay here this time.¡± Bellona went after Enyo and found her sitting by a lake with her helmet off, already eating. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of a massive smile you¡¯ve got there, Enyo. Bigger than the last one, that¡¯s for sure.¡±


    ¡°I deserve it.¡± Enyo stuck out her tongue, just like how Ares would, and went back to eating her food.


    ¡°You sure do.¡± Bellona sat next to Enyo. ¡°So, what¡¯s up? Usually, I¡¯m the one who drags you off for a talk, not the other way around.¡±


    Enyo had sent Bellona a mental message earlier to follow her so they could have a chat. ¡°Bellona, I have an answer to your question. I couldn¡¯t kill Ares because I love him. I feel like I can be whoever I want around him and he¡¯ll not just play along, but accept each and every change with open arms. I may struggle to figure out what kind of person I am, and what kind of person I want to be every now and then, but I know he¡¯s always there no matter what answer I come to. Hearing him say he loves me again made me feel like I didn¡¯t even have to care about figuring myself out anymore, like the me he saw was good enough. He makes me feel perfect. I¡­ I¡­¡± Enyo started crying. ¡°I¡¯m free, Bellona!¡± Enyo hugged her sister. ¡°I¡¯m free from that stupid man and everything he put me through! I can finally live! I can do what I want! I can be whoever I want! I can fall in love, Bellona. I can fall in love!¡± Enyo kept crying.


    Bellona couldn¡¯t hold back the tears any longer either and embraced her sister. ¡°You deserve it, Enyo. For all the expectations that have weighed you down all these years, you deserve this happiness.¡±


    The two kept holding onto each other and crying for a while, eventually separating when all that was left was a few occasional sobs. Enyo picked up her food and started eating again with a few tears still streaming down her cheek, straight into the bowl she was voraciously eating from. She finished and still wanted more. Even just eating his food filled her with an indescribable warmth.


    Bellona had finished shortly after Enyo and also wanted more. She could tell what Enyo was thinking from the way she was fixated on the bowl, so she offered to go and get some more for her, ¡°I¡¯ll go get us seconds, ok?¡±


    ¡°No. We¡¯re both a mess, but I can at least put a helmet on. I¡¯ll go. I want to see him again.¡±


    Enyo put her helmet back on and went back to the camp, only to find near-enough everyone missing aside from Gladius and Charity. Enyo interrupted their chat to figure out where the others had gone.


    ¡°Aejaz and Allie went off for some peace and quiet, none of us know or care where Trew went or why, and Ares went for a walk in that direction,¡± Charity gave a rundown before pointing off into the forest.


    Enyo headed off and, after brushing aside foliage for the better part of five minutes, found Ares sitting on a tree branch, gazing at a gap in the trees where the moon and stars were fully visible overhead. It was serene and picturesque. How Ares had found this spot was beyond Enyo.


    Ares noticed he had a visitor and looked over. He couldn¡¯t help but smile lightly when he saw who it was. The back of his foot coiled around one side of the branch and he leant over to dangle upside down in front of Enyo as he had done once before, ¡°Yo.¡± Ares waved.


    ¡°Hey, nice place you found here.¡± Enyo looked up at the night sky above.


    ¡°Yeah, it took a bit of work, but it was worth it in the end.¡±


    ¡°You did this?¡±


    Ares flipped himself and landed right way up as he talked, ¡°Mhm, used some disintegration magic to remove some of the leaves and branches that were in the way.¡±


    ¡°Impressive. I couldn¡¯t even tell it had been altered. It looks perfectly natural.¡± Enyo was honestly surprised by his improvised handiwork and sense of aesthetic.


    ¡°Thanks, I appreciate it. Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Yes, why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Well, I kinda felt bad about you having to go and eat on your own. I was gonna go and make sure you were fine, but Bellona told me she would do it. I¡¯m just checking because you¡¯ve been in a good mood as of late and I don¡¯t want anything to ruin that for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Why I adore you. ¡°... Very thoughtful of you, but I¡¯m fine, thank you. I just wanted to have a conversation with Bellona about something important.¡± You, you¡¯re important to me.


    ¡°Ah alright. It¡¯s nice to see you getting along with Bellona, I heard about your argument before.¡±


    ¡°Turns out she was right and I was just being stubborn.¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s stubborn every now and then, it¡¯s perfectly normal. But yeah, I don¡¯t know what important thing it was you were talking about with her, but if you ever need anything, I¡¯m always more than willing to help.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already done more for me than I ever would have expected, so thank you, but, for now, this is something I want to keep a secret with Bellona. Things are changing for me, and I¡¯ve got a lot of thoughts to sort out, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Well, I know that when I had a lot of thoughts to sort out, there was one thing that really helped me at the time.¡±


    ¡°And that was?¡±


    Ares leaned close to whisper, ¡°This.¡± Ares hugged Enyo. ¡°It really meant a lot to me and I never did say thank you, so thank you for everything, Enyo.


    Enyo was giving her all not to burst out into a second round of tears and managed to eke out a reply, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ares reluctantly let go and Enyo reluctantly accepted the fact that he had let go.


    ¡°Anytime,¡± Ares spoke softly with evident care in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll remember that offer but, for now, could Bellona and I have some more food?¡± Enyo took the two bowls out of her storage ring and held them out.


    ¡°Hm? Haha, of course. The dessert is also ready, so I guess I should go and do some rounds and hand it out to everyone.¡± Ares filled up the bowls with more grub.


    ¡°Nope, not on our end, hand ¡®em over. Me and Bellona are having a private talk between women and you¡¯re not invited.¡±


    ¡°D¡¯aww, spoilsport.¡± Ares chuckled. ¡°Then in that case, here you go... Um, Allie told me you liked mint¡­ So¡­ I kept an eye out for some¡­ You know¡­ When I was catching up with everyone.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ Made this for me?¡±


    Ares scratched his head, ¡°Uh¡­ Yeah.¡± Ares smiled radiantly. ¡°I hope you like it.¡± Ares handed over two more bowls that went straight into Enyo¡¯s storage ring.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say¡­ Thank you. Really.¡± Enyo put the ring away and looked back at Ares. ¡°When we get back to the sect, would you mind letting Allie and I come around for food every now and then? Your cooking is unlike anything we¡¯ve ever eaten before.¡±


    ¡°You and Allie are always welcome. If you ever want me to make you anything, just say the word and I¡¯ll happily oblige.¡±


    ¡°I look forward to it. I think my chat with Bellona is going to go long into the night, so I¡¯ll say this ahead of time, goodnight, Ares,¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Enyo,¡±


    As Enyo was walking away, she called back to Ares, ¡°And don¡¯t let the bed bugs bite!¡±


    ¡°Enyo!? ENYO! WAIT! NO, PLEASE! I BEG YOU!¡±


    Enyo snickered all the way back to Bellona.


    ¡°If you¡¯re giggling like a schoolgirl, I¡¯m gonna assume it went well?¡± Bellona observed.


    ¡°He hugged me and now I have permission to show up at his house for food. He even told me he would make me anything I want!¡±


    ¡°Are you a stray dog?! Ha, I kid, I kid. Seriously though, lucky you, I¡¯m gonna miss his cooking... Speaking of which, gimme!¡±


    Enyo handed the food over. ¡°There¡¯s dessert after too. It looks strange, unlike any dessert I¡¯ve seen before, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s going to be delicious.¡±


    ¡°I''d be willing to bet Ares could make seawater taste good. You always did like mint, right? You must be over the moon.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, he said he made it specially for me! In the future he can be like my housewife and cook for me!¡±


    ¡°Haha, I can¡¯t tell if he would be thrilled to hear that or not. I think the last thing he wants to be is a housewife but, then again, he would probably cook for you in a heartbeat if you asked. I was wondering, are you gonna tell him? Or are you gonna wait for him to open up to you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to enjoy this for as long as I can. I want to hear him say it, for real I mean. I¡¯ll wait. I hope he doesn¡¯t take too long, but I¡¯ll wait.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough, but don¡¯t forget about what I told you previously, about the fact that mum will likely show up at the tournament. She¡¯ll know that something¡¯s up, Enyo. She¡¯ll know immediately. If nothing has happened between you two by then, she might just force things to speed along if she likes him. You can maybe try convincing her, but you know how hard-headed she is when she gets an idea in her mind.¡±


    ¡°Honestly? I can¡¯t wait for him to meet mum. I just hope she likes him. She¡¯s going to give him a hard time regardless, but I feel like Ares is oddly reliable and that he¡¯ll manage.¡±


    ¡°Love is blind and so too is your faith, but I also think he¡¯ll pass her tests and requirements. Tyr and Deimos are going to absolutely detest him though. Well, maybe not Deimos, but it should be hysterical watching those three interact nonetheless.¡±


    ¡°I swear, if those knucklehead brothers of ours try to get between us, I¡¯ll knock some sense into them myself.¡± Enyo clenched her fist.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t the only one, Pele and I will also kick the crap out of them if they mess with you and Ares. Sister power!¡± Bellona shadow-boxed the air.


    ¡°I know they mean well, but they¡¯ll refuse to even consider the fact that Ares isn¡¯t even remotely like Trew. They¡¯ll see he''s a guy and that will be all they need to go on the warpath, those overprotective morons. I¡¯m actually really excited to see him get along with Palioxis and Phobos though. If the way he interacts with Appa is any indication, he''ll be like a big brother to those two and can actually set a good example, unlike Tyr and Deimos.¡±


    ¡°Ah, those little tykes are doing good by the way, all grown up. I imagine they¡¯ll be happy to see you as they were always asking about their ¡®big, strong sis¡¯.¡±


    ¡°And now I can be a proper sister to them. I don¡¯t have to be so stuck up around them. They can finally get those hugs they¡¯ve always wanted.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, I can¡¯t wait for this new-you to absolutely weird everyone out. They¡¯re gonna lose their minds.¡±


    ¡°So be it.¡± Enyo finished the duck and moved onto the honeycomb.


    Crunch


    ¡°This¡¯ll be the first time we¡¯ve all gathered in years. I really do hope mum shows up, it¡¯ll be a nice reunion. You know, maybe there¡¯s still a chance for us to be a normal family again. It all hinges on Ares but, like you said, he¡¯s oddly reliable.


    Crunch


    ¡°You two really lucked out with one another. You suit each other to a tee. Even your pillars are compatible, the ultimate defence and the ultimate offence. I¡¯ve gotta admit, I¡¯m a little jealous you¡¯ve found someone so perfect.


    Crunch


    ¡°Ah, and then there¡¯s so much stuff in the future to think about. Marriage, kids, although I guess he already has a child, right? Appa? How do you get along with Appa anyhow? Good?¡±


    Crunch


    Sniff


    ¡°Enyo?¡± Bellona looked over at her sister and finally realised why she hadn¡¯t been responding.


    Enyo was completely obsessed with the honeycomb and crying as she scarfed it down. She wasn¡¯t even listening to Bellona as there was nothing else on her mind other than the honeycomb. It was mint, her favourite flavour. It had been made for her. The ingredients had been found for her. It had been crafted with her in mind and she could tell. It had been made as close to perfection as humanly possible, all for her. Even the looming dread of running out was dwarfed by her desire to just keep eating. She just couldn¡¯t describe the taste in any way that would make sense. She wanted to compare it to the time Ares had laid down on her lap. She wanted to compare it to both the time she hugged him and the time he hugged her but, above all else, she wanted to compare it to a kiss they hadn¡¯t even shared yet. Enyo had always rolled her eyes whenever her mother made her food and said it was ¡®made with love¡¯, but if ever a dish could say ¡®I love you¡¯, then this dish was crying at the top of its lungs.


    Bellona had bit into it and instantly came to an understanding. It wasn¡¯t even subtle how much effort, care, and devotion had gone into it. Bellona wasn¡¯t the only one that could tell, everyone who ate it could. Allie, Aejaz, Gladius, and Charity all knew, and all it took was a single bite. It wasn¡¯t just food. It was nothing less than a declaration of love.

 Chapter 37: Ares, You’re TOO Kind

    Unsurprisingly, when Gladius and Aejaz woke up the next morning, Ares was dragged off to the side and peppered with cooking questions. Gladius wanted Ares to make a recipe for a specific dish, one he knew was Charity¡¯s favourite, so he could take it with him and practice repeatedly.


    Aejaz was in the same boat but, as he was going back to the sect with Ares, he was practically begging Ares to teach him how to make good food when they returned.


    ¡°Alright, alright. A potato dauphinoise recipe, huh? Luckily, I haven¡¯t used any of the potatoes I got gifted from a merchant friend of mine earlier, so I have enough ingredients left to play around and experiment. I¡¯ll get back to you some time before we split up with a recipe. Good luck, Gladius.¡±


    ¡°Thanks man, this means a lot.¡±


    ¡°No worries.¡± Ares swivelled to face Ares. ¡°And you! You should be training to fight, not to cook!¡±


    ¡°Aresssssss!¡±


    ¡°Ha, I¡¯m joking. Fine, I¡¯ll teach you when we get back, but you better at least take this more seriously than your other ¡®training¡¯ that you¡¯ve been ¡®doing¡¯.¡±


    Aejaz stood to attention and saluted. ¡°SIR, YES SIR!¡±


    Ares just rolled his eyes. goofball. ¡°Well, anyway, we¡¯re leaving soon and those two still aren¡¯t back yet. I¡¯m gonna go see if everything¡¯s ok on their end.¡± Ares gave a carefree wave and then went to go find Enyo and Bellona.


    ¡°Whatcha talkin¡¯ about? Hmmmm?¡± Allie intoned knowingly with a sly smile. She had eaten the honeycomb too and could tell Aejaz was determined to create something of that ilk for her.


    ¡°What can I say? You already know and I¡¯m not trying to hide it.¡± Aejaz shrugged. ¡°On a completely irrelevant side note that categorically has nothing to do with what we¡¯re currently discussing, what¡¯s your favourite food?¡±


    Allie giggled. ¡°Banana split!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve no clue what that is, but hey, this is where Ares comes in.¡±


    ¡°See? Relying on others can be a good thing!¡±


    ¡°When you''re right, you¡¯re right.¡±


    Meanwhile Charity was questioning Gladius, ¡°Aejaz I get, but why you?¡±


    ¡°I want to do something to say thanks for all the times you¡¯ve healed me, god knows it''s a lot.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making food for me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why do you sound surprised?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s surprising. Surely you aren¡¯t so blissfully unaware of what kind of cooking that was?¡±


    ¡°No? So what? The guy can cook, and I want to know how to do it too as a kinda nice gesture for you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not trying to make me fall in love with you, are you? ¡®Cos that¡¯s a waste of time.¡±


    Gladius¡¯ heart sank and he felt sick. ¡°Ha, no. I¡¯m really just trying to repay you is all.¡±


    Charity sighed. ¡°Then maybe I should ask Ares for advice too.¡±


    Gladius was confused. ¡°But why? You don¡¯t owe me anything?¡±


    ¡°Because unlike you, I want to make someone fall in love, you dunce.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t make me fall in love with you because I already love you, Gladius. Tsk, if I had just known you felt the same, I would have bloody said it years ago. Couldn¡¯t you have made it more obvious? We grew up together and I¡¯ve liked you for a long time now. Why do you think I spent all that time studying the healing pillar? Day in, day out? It was so I could beat out the other healers in the clan and be one of the four people fighting alongside you with your unique magic. It was also because of that scar on your face. That happened because you saved me from stray magic during training, remember? You took that injury for me and it¡¯s my deepest regret that I wasn''t able to heal you that day. I even followed you to Red Soil because I wanted to spend more time with you, you absolute buffoon. I had heard men could be oblivious, but seriously? If it weren¡¯t for you so blatantly talking to Ares about cooking, I¡¯d still be trying to figure out if you would reciprocate my feelings or not. Thank God you suck at lying. Not that I¡¯m not touched by your willingness to attempt cooking for me, but can you even cook? How about we choose something together, ask Ares for a recipe, and learn to make it together. Wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡±


    ¡°... Huh? ...¡±


    Ugh, men¡­ can¡¯t live with ¡®em, can¡¯t live without ¡®em.


    ---------------------------------


    Enyo felt something gently shaking her arm. She awoke to find Ares on one knee, hunched over her and smiling warmly. The sun had risen and was shining down on him as birds tweeted away in the background. Memories of the night before came flooding back and she had to resist the desire to pull him closer and kiss him right there and then.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    I can¡¯t do it! Patience be damned! Enyo couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. The voice Ares had used was soft, tender, and affectionate and she simply couldn¡¯t stop herself if she tried. She was already blushing, and he could definitely see it. She figured she might as well power through the embarrassment and get the kiss she wanted.


    She put her hand on his face, brought him a little closer, leant forward, and managed to ruin everything in spectacular fashion.


    Thud


    ¡°Ah, ouch.¡± Ares was rubbing his forehead.


    ¡°D¡­ D¡­ Did you put my helmet back on when I was sleeping!?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah, sorry. You¡¯ve only let me see your face once before, so I felt like it was wrong sneaking a peak while you were asleep. I guess I deserved that headbutt, haha, sorry.¡±


    YOU BASTARD! YOU CAN¡¯T SEE ME BLUSHING AT ALL! WHERE¡¯S MY KISS DAMN IT! YOU INSUFFERABLE MAN! WHO EVEN DOES THAT!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? GIVE ME MY MOMENT BACK! ¡°It¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to apologise.¡± BECAUSE NO AMOUNT OF APOLOGISING WILL EVER MAKE ME FORGIVE YOU! ¡°I appreciate you being thoughtful.¡± NO, I DON¡¯T! ¡°Thank you.¡± FUCK YOU!


    ¡°Um, I was curious if you liked the honeycomb?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was really wonderful, I loved it.¡± AND YOU¡¯VE GONE AND UNDONE ALL THAT HARD WORK YOU MORON!


    ¡°Oh great! I really enjoyed making it. If you¡¯d like, I can make you more whenever you want.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Awwwww. Ok, I forgive you. WAIT! NO! I CAN¡¯T LET YOU PLAY WITH MY HEART LIKE THIS!


    ¡°Yeah, absolutely. I can even make you other stuff with mint too! Pick whatever you like.¡±


    NO! ¡°NO!¡± wait¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to say that out loud¡­ ¡°I mean¡­ I really loved the honeycomb. I want more of that, please.¡±


    ¡°Uh, sure. I mean, I can make you the honeycomb as well as other mint stuff too. I¡¯ll make anything for you.¡±


    AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! WHY WON¡¯T YOU LET ME KISS YOU! ¡°Ok, that sounds great. You should prepare yourself though, I¡¯m going to want a lot of that honeycomb.¡± I WANT IT EVERY DAMN DAY! LOOK AT WHAT YOU¡¯VE DONE TO ME ARES!


    ¡°Is everything ok?¡± Bellona woke up as she could practically hear Enyo¡¯s internal screaming in her dreams


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re leaving soon so I stopped by to wake you. I¡¯ll leave you two to your own devices now. Ciao!¡± Ares Shifted away.


    ¡°Bellona¡­ BELLONA¡­ HE¡¯S RUINING ME.¡±


    ¡°Wow, already? You know, apparently, it took mum a couple hundred years to say that about dad. This has to be some kind of record.¡±


    ¡°BELLONA, THIS ISN¡¯T FUNNY.¡±


    ¡°Ok, ok. What happened?¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Bellona returned to the camp with Enyo to set off, but couldn¡¯t help snickering every time she caught sight of Ares.


    Ares noticed this and was curious, so he decided to bring up her strange behaviour, ¡°Are you ok there Bellona? Do I have bed-hair or something?¡±


    Snicker


    ¡°No, no, not at all. It¡¯s just that Enyo wanted to tell me something and she was adamant it wasn¡¯t funny. Turns out, it was the funniest thing I¡¯ve heard in years.¡±


    Snicker


    ¡°Oh, uh, ok.¡± Ares wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to that.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll find out eventually. If she doesn¡¯t tell you someday, believe me, I will.¡±


    Snicker


    ¡°Well alright then, I look forward to it. Anyway, everyone¡¯s ready. Are you two good to go?¡±


    ¡°Yep, should be all dandy. Need to keep an eye out for monsters on the trail though, still need a few more parts for our mission. By the way, is it me or¡­ Is there a little something-something going on with those two?¡±


    ¡°Gladius and Charity? Oh yeah, big time. They came up to me together and asked for a recipe that they wanted to learn to make with one another and share after. Let me tell you, they seemed very touchy feely.¡±


    ¡°Oh come on! Am I seriously the only one left out!?¡±


    ¡°Haha, well¡­ There¡¯s always Trew¡­¡± Ares joked.


    Smack


    Bellona whacked Ares. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare even joke about that! I¡¯d rather be an old maid!¡±


    ¡°So, what you''re saying is, he¡¯s not your type.¡±


    ¡°Ares, I will throw spiders at you. That man is no one¡¯s type.¡±


    ¡°Please, I beg of you, anything but the spiders.¡± Ares winced.


    ¡°Oh? Why not?¡± Bellona wore a devilish smile as she placed a finger on Ares'' wrist. ¡°Do you hate the way they¡­ Crawl?¡± Bellona¡¯s fingers climbed their way up Ares'' arm.


    Ares shivered from head to toe and scampered off to hide behind Enyo. ¡°ENYOOOOOO, YOUR SISTER IS BULLYING MEEEEEEEEE!¡±


    Enyo replied flatly, ¡°Good! You deserve it!¡±


    Everyone set off again and took a slight detour to look for more monsters. After searching for a while, they happened upon a large group of ¡®buzzbladers¡¯.


    Buzzbladers were humanoid-like insect creatures with incredibly sharp swords in place of their arms. As for their name, it came about due to the buzzing noise they make when sharpening their blades. They would form a circle and link their ¡®arms¡¯, resulting in a raucous grinding sound that was absolutely horrid to listen to. The noise had been frequently described as ¡®chalk scraping against a blackboard¡¯ or ¡®a fork raking against a plate¡¯ depending on which you found worse. These monsters had long since discovered their latent talent for pissing off other creatures and would do this outside their settlements at night, every single night, to try and prevent them from getting any sleep. After repeating this for a number of days, they would have an advantage in combat because of their large numbers and because the other party would be exhausted. Incidentally, a group of buzzbladers was called a ¡®Foul-Play¡¯. Killing these things on sight was considered a common courtesy, especially among people like Rud and Yulo.


    Ares cracked his knuckles and stepped toward their habitat but, strangely, no matter how many steps he took, he never got any closer.


    ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re going!?¡± Bellona had gripped Ares¡¯ cape and was preventing him from moving anywhere.


    Ares tilted his head in confusion and pointed at the buzzbladers. ¡°Uh¡­ To kill them?¡±


    ¡°Form up! Don¡¯t rush out like a headless chicken!¡±


    Ares slapped his forehead. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me? A formation? Those things are weaker than Aejaz!¡± Ares ignored Aejaz who was protesting in the background. ¡°What on earth do you need a formation for?¡±


    ¡°There are a lot of those monsters and, besides, it¡¯s good practice! Formations are efficient and save lives. Recklessness endangers lives. There¡¯s power in numbers, that¡¯s basic knowledge. As the person with the lowest cultivation here, minus Allie, you would benefit the most.¡±


    ¡°Yeahhhhhh, I think I¡¯ll pass. That doesn¡¯t really sound like my kinda style. By all means, feel free to stand around in a circle and hold hands like a bunch of buzzbladers, but I¡¯m just gonna go and do things the easy way.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t come crying to me if you get injured,¡± Charity complained.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Injured!? Against those things!? What is the Legion clan even teaching you? I think Aejaz could put up a better fight and he only paid attention to, like, half the things I ever taught him!¡±


    Trew was indignant. ¡°What do you even know about how to fight? Who taught you?¡±


    ¡°I taught me. I taught myself the hard way, with real combat on the streets against real people that wanted me real dead. Also, I know enough to put you on your ass in two seconds flat, in case you¡¯re forgetting.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t win in an actual fight.¡±


    ¡°Sureeee. There¡¯s only one of me, and five of you, and I bet I can still kill more than all of you combined!¡±


    Enyo scoffed, ¡°Maybe if you switch your brain off and commit to blowing up the whole damn forest like you usually do! How are they even supposed to collect the parts as proof if you do that!?¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Ares folded his arms and took a lofty stance. ¡°Who says I need my magic to outpace you?¡±


    ¡°Oh really? How about a bet then?¡±


    ¡°Them¡¯s fighting words. I¡¯m in. What do you have in mind?¡±


    ¡°Like you said, whoever kills the most buzzbladers wins. Only open-pillar magic is allowed. I won¡¯t hear any complaints about there being five of us as you¡¯ve already made your claim!¡±


    ¡°Ha, alright. Hmmm, what do I want when I win?¡± Ares stroked his chin. An idea came to mind and he couldn¡¯t stop himself from grinning. ¡°Ok, I know what I want.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡±


    Ares leant over to Bellona and whispered something in her ear.


    ¡°Hahahaha, well, aren¡¯t you a forward thinker? That¡¯s still aways away from now, but I like it! Ok, deal. I can guarantee that, when the time comes, it will happen,¡± Bellona agreed with no hesitation.


    Enyo was compelled to ask, ¡°What does he want?¡±


    To which Bellona smirked and simply said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s fine. Trust me.¡± She then whispered the contents of the bet to Charity and Gladius who also agreed.


    Trew felt left out. ¡°Can I know?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Bellona responded dismissively without even looking at him.


    Enyo¡¯s mind was tossing and turning to figure out what Ares could have possibly wanted. If Bellona was telling everyone but her, then it probably had something to do with her, and she wanted to know!


    Ares asked, ¡°Alright, well, now that that¡¯s sorted, what do you all want in the hypothetical situation I have a heart attack and lose?¡±


    Ares had barely finished the sentence when Enyo blurted out, ¡°Honeycomb.¡±


    ¡°Uh, I mean, I¡¯ll make that for you whenever you want anyway.¡±


    ¡°Honeycomb,¡± Enyo almost sounded violent, like she was going to tackle him if he didn¡¯t agree to her request.


    ¡°Ok, ok, um¡­ More honeycomb. Noted,¡± Ares simply caved, even if he didn¡¯t truly understand the request, how could he say no to her?


    ¡°I want you to beg for forgiveness,¡± Trew demanded.


    ¡°Of all the things you could have asked for, you just had to pick something utterly pointless? Fine, whatever, but I won¡¯t get down on my knees. I do that for no one.¡±


    Charity was next. ¡°I want you to promise me you¡¯ll never teach anyone the runic formation for Diagnosis.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on doing that anyway.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Ok¡­ Then I don¡¯t want anything.¡± Charity shrugged as she really didn¡¯t care about anything else.


    Gladius took his turn. ¡°I want you to create a basic rune formation, or have someone do it for you, on both hands, that reads in a neon light, ¡®I¡¯m overconfident¡¯, and keep it until we meet again at the regionals.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I didn''t have you down as a practical joker. Sure, sounds good to me. And you, Bellona?¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha¡­ Oh¡­ Don¡¯t worry, I know what I want to see. It¡¯s really quite simple, I want you to cook for someone.¡±


    ¡°... What¡¯s the catch?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to tell you who.¡±


    ¡°Can I get a clue?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Bellona whispered to Enyo, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it would be fun if he cooked for mum?¡±


    ¡°...¡± it took a second for the information to process in Enyo¡¯s mind. ¡°Hahahahahaha. YES.¡±


    Ares was starting to get nervous. The last time Enyo laughed like that; he was chased around by a spider. ¡°Uh, admittedly, I¡¯m a little hesitant, but I¡¯ll agree anyway. Too late to back down now, and it¡¯s not like I plan on losing anyway.¡±


    ¡°Alright then! Shake on it and let¡¯s start.¡± Bellona held out her hand and Ares did too.


    As soon as the handshake finished, Ares Shifted away and the sound of dying insects rang out. He had a pretty massive advantage in that he didn¡¯t need to set up a formation ahead of time and could just hop right in which he planned on making full use of. As for that sneaky Shift, well, technically, he just used it to get into ring.


    ¡°Wow, that was quick.¡± Bellona shook her head and cleared her thoughts. ¡°FORM UP!¡±


    The Legion clan took their positions with Bellona and Charity at the rear, Trew and Gladius at the centre, and Enyo at the front with her shield readied.


    Allie tugged on Aejaz¡¯ clothes. ¡°Who do you think they want Ares to cook for?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, but it doesn¡¯t matter. Those guys have no idea what they¡¯re in for. There¡¯s categorically no way they win, not with the way Ares fights.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Ares is more of a lone-wolf type fighter. He¡¯s not used to group combat so, when it actually happens¡­ When Ares fights alongside others¡­ He can be a bit¡­ Selfish.¡±


    Ares was in full swing and practically dancing through the insects, evading his way past every strike in perfect fashion. He would land in front of an insect, kill it, and move on in one fell swoop, barely even giving the monsters a chance to react. His feet were never touching the floor for more than a single second as he raced into large groups and narrowly weaved his way through large clumps of insects, leaving piles of corpses wherever he stepped. A flash of steel would result in a minimum of one beheaded creature without fail and yet, his competitive fire hadn¡¯t even been lit yet. This was boring for him.


    The Legion clan entered the fray and took up a spot a short distance away from Ares. Formations weren¡¯t great at moving and did a better job of holding their ground. If they positioned themselves next to Ares, he would just use his mobility and run circles around them, stealing their prey. On the way in, they couldn¡¯t help but notice how many buzzbladers Ares had already killed as it was quite an impressive number for having had so little time. They glanced over and were awe-stricken by Ares'' unique sword style. It wasn''t professional in the slightest, yet it looked nearly flawless. The sword just seemed to conveniently, perpetually be exactly where it needed to be, when it needed to be there. It was a blend of agility and cunning that seemingly had countless openings but, when attempting to exploit them, would lead to you being punished for even considering it an opening in the first place. This was the first time they had seen him actually fighting for longer than a split second and they couldn¡¯t help but want to watch.


    ¡°Cool,¡± Gladius let out a short compliment as he glanced over at Ares'' movements. Time was of the essence though, so he immediately went back to impaling the monsters with his spear. Gladius was an expert with spears and javelins and was unmatched with them in the Legion clan¡¯s younger generation. His movements weren¡¯t necessarily flashy, but they were definitely masterful and well-practiced to say the least.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing cool about it,¡± Trew refuted as he cut an insect in half with a clean swipe of his sword. ¡°It¡¯s a heavily flawed ¡®style¡¯, if you can even call it that, that makes him look like he¡¯s a cheetah fused with a rabbit. All it takes is one misstep and he¡¯ll get run through quicker than you can call him an idiot. If our instructor were here, she would be embarrassed by whatever the hell that is, I guarantee it. If he¡¯s so proud of how fast he is, he should put it to good use instead of using that mockery of a ¡®style¡¯ that¡¯s littered with needless time spent in the air.¡±


    ¡°It is a bit strange that he keeps jumping, I wonder why he¡¯s doing it? I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a good reason, but I just don¡¯t see it. Either way, he¡¯s killing fast and seems perfectly safe, so I guess it¡¯s working.¡± Charity punched an insect¡¯s vital point so hard it crumpled on the floor and just died miserably without even letting out a scream.


    ¡°Based on the rate we¡¯re killing insects, we should overtake his kill-count soon,¡± Enyo said. Two insects came charging head on toward her. She headbutt one and elbowed the other in the gut with her shield hand, caving in its stomach. She then raised her shield and brought it crashing down onto the insect that was still reeling from the headbutt, demolishing its skull. Enyo killed the other insect by bringing the shield back around and barrelling straight through it. A rune on her shield lit up and cleaned the viscera, restoring its pristine state. A similar runic pattern had lit up on her armour too and performed the same function.


    A Legion clan member¡¯s armour and weapons were their pride and joy, so every member of the clan would always get that particular cleaning formation engraved on all their equipment, Gladius, Charity, Trew, and Bellona included. None of them were quite the neat-freak Enyo was, though, and they would wait until the fighting was over to use it.


    There was brief lull in the fighting on the Legion clan¡¯s side as the buzzbladers regrouped to concentrate their attacks. The insects had figured out that this was the best way to retaliate against the formation as individual attempts at cracking it were doing nothing. To test the waters, they sent a squad of five insects to poke at the formation. Currently, the Legion clan had just about caught up to Ares and only needed three more kills to tie the score. Five was plenty and would put them in a lead. Enyo effortlessly waved aside the wind-blade magic that the insects fired from afar and let the five-insect squad through while staring down the rest of the swarm. No more were going to pass on her watch. Even if all of the remaining insects attempted to breakthrough simultaneously, she would repel the tide. In fact, all the members of the Legion clan were more than capable of killing all the buzzbladers on their own, they were just stubborn about following their instructor¡¯s guidance.


    Bellona was more a magic specialist than a hand-to-hand fighter so, when one of the buzzbladers ran at her, the most she could really do was bash the insect¡¯s cerebral cortex to a pulp with a magical staff like the kind a wizard or a witch from fantasy stories would use. She began whining to Trew and Gladius, ¡°I can¡¯t use arts ¡®cos of the bet! Stop being lazy and don¡¯t let them come back here or the next living things I smack will be you two!¡±


    Gladius rolled his eyes. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡¯ Legion clan women bossing Gladius around was seemingly a common occurrence.


    One of the remaining four buzzbladers tried firing a Wind-Blade at Trew who simply responded with his own. Wind-Blade was a basic art of the sword aspect under the weapons pillar. The sword would create a crescent shaped jet of wind that travelled rapidly, slicing through anything in its path. Trew¡¯s Wind-Blade was far stronger than the insect¡¯s and it carved straight through it, continuing along directly into the insect¡¯s throat. It even managed to retain enough momentum to carry on travelling and slice through a boulder behind it. There were only three from the insect squad left, with only one more kill needed to catch up to Ares.


    As for why Ares hadn¡¯t killed any buzzbladers recently, it was impossible to tell. He was still nimbly ducking and diving through the horde that had surrounded him with great ease but, strangely enough, he wasn¡¯t swinging his sword for some reason. It was actually rather impressive the way he danced through the horde without touching a single one of them or being touched by them.


    The last three buzzbladers charged simultaneously with one heading toward Trew, and two at Gladius. One of the insects attacking Gladius stretched out its arm to try and pierce through Gladius. Gladius took a step back and thrust out his spear to meet the insect¡¯s sword-arm head on. The grade of Gladius¡¯ weapon, and his skill with it, was far too much for the insect to contend with, so its arm split apart on contact. The spear kept travelling along the insides of its arm, gouging out every tendon and muscle in its path until it coiled its way through the insect¡¯s shoulder and blasted through the buzzblader¡¯s brain.


    The Legion clan had evened the score with Ares and there were two insects left, one for Gladius, and one for Trew.


    Trew swung vertically to cut his insect in half while Gladius attacked his incoming insect with a sweeping attack. Neither attack connected though as they both ran their weapons through empty space. Gladius¡¯ insect had simply vanished from his line of sight and Trew¡¯s insect had its head blown off, causing him to falter.


    Gladius looked around to try and make sense of what happened and everything became crystal clear instantly. ¡°Ah, this bet was never really fair to begin with, was it?¡±


    Trew¡¯s insect had been blasted by a ranged Echo that Ares had fired off and Gladius¡¯ buzzblader had been dragged away by Ares¡¯ Stygian Zephyr. The Zephyr had pierced the monster and was reeling it in along the ground as the insect desperately scrambled to try and flee. When it was brought against its will to the slaughter zone that was Ares¡¯ effective range, it was killed on the spot.


    Ares had evidently been slowing down and waiting for the score to even out before kicking it into overdrive and getting serious. He was so confident in his ability to win he allowed the Legion clan to catch up just so he could leave them in the dust again to prove a point. Not only was he somehow even quicker than before, but his fighting style was now ¡®complete¡¯ as he was actively using his Zephyr and Echoes. Both his hands were constantly busy doing one of four things, swinging the sword, physically beating an insect, swinging around the Zephyr, or creating Echoes. He was now also using the Zephyr as a platform to lengthen the time he spent in the air which allowed him to move freely despite the buzzbladers crowding around him. Any insect over by the Legion clan that even attempted to strike them was either taken out by a ranged Echo, or pierced/pulled away by the Zephyr. It¡¯s not even like Ares was slowing down to do it either, his motions were like one complete process that flowed seamlessly from one action to another.


    He cut down an insect with his right hand while crushing another¡¯s skull with his left hand. His right side was clear so he passed the sword to his left side and swung it horizontally to decapitate three nearby insects all the while raising his right hand to flick an Echo at a buzzblader that was trying to attack the Legion clan and wasn¡¯t even next to him. An insect tried creeping up on Ares from his flank, but Ares leant back to dodge it before taking a step closer to the insect so he could run his sword through it without giving it a chance to dodge. His free hand grabbed the Zephyr of his back and swung it in an arc behind him without even looking. The Zephyr cut through another four insects that were also trying to sneak attack him, ending them in a flash like a brief black gust of death. His hand passed over his head and brought the Zephyr swinging around to his front. The hand holding the Zephyr swatted aside the head of the buzzblader he had run through earlier, giving the Zephyr that came trailing after a free shot at another insect who was further away and trying to attack the Legion clan. The Zephyr pierced through the back of the insect¡¯s head and Ares jerked his arm, sending an Echo through the Zephyr that detonated explosively and killed another three insects nearby.


    This wasn¡¯t even a competition anymore. Only about a quarter of the buzzbladers on the Legion clan¡¯s side could even get remotely close to them without dying to some unforeseen attack from across the battleground.


    Ares was frenzied and completely caught in the thrill of the fight. Whenever he got like this, he would just start killing everything that wasn¡¯t on his side that was within his reach, regardless of whether or not someone else could take care of it. He wasn¡¯t even stealing the kills for the sake of winning, this was just how he fought on a regular basis anyway. If it wasn¡¯t dead, it should be, and he would see to it that everything was deader than dead before he ever stopped moving.


    The Legion clan collectively gave up when their insect horde abandoned them to go and try and stop the madman Ares from single-handedly decimating their entire population as he was clearly the bigger issue. This was part of the problem with formations, they were more effective as far as safety was concerned, but considerably less efficient than solo manoeuvring. They probably could have put up somewhat of a fight if they disbanded and chased the insects down individually, but that would just be proving Ares¡¯ point and they likely still wouldn¡¯t win anyway due to the hefty gap that had already formed in their scores. That was what Gladius had meant when he said the bet was never really fair to begin with, formations weren¡¯t suitable for any race-like challenges as they were more the slow and steady type operation, one that was instead reliable in war or large-scale battles.


    The Legion clan had taken to watching Ares fight and couldn¡¯t help but admire the precision of his movements and the purpose with which every single motion existed solely to achieve. Ares was basically untouchable regardless of whether he was on the offensive or defensive. His speed combined with his control and unusual movements was impeccable. His dodging was unparalleled and there was consistently a counter attack at the ready no matter which position he was in after dodging


    Ares¡¯ bizarre tendency to leave the ground was now entirely justified thanks to his use of the Zephyr as it was impossible to gauge whether or not he would allow himself to return to the floor, extend his time in the air, or bounce off it in an entirely different direction. He could even use Gamble multiple times in a row now that he had finally turned it into an art of the sword pillar. Gamble had gotten much faster than the time he used it against Slick, this was a result of becoming an art. This didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t use it if he ran out of mana, it just wouldn¡¯t be an art and therefore its effectiveness would lower slightly. Gamble, as an art, had become so fluid in fact, that if an enemy fell for it, Ares simply disappeared from their view and they were beheaded before they even knew what happened to them. Gamble meant that if Ares chose to return to the floor after leaping, even if someone was prepared for it, they still had to follow it up with another prediction to even have a chance at fighting back. Seeing as how Ares always had to land at some point, he could effectively always force his enemy to Gamble if he was given enough space to initiate his offensive gameplan.


    Long story short, if you attacked him, you missed and died. If he attacked you, you played an ¡®aerial or grounded¡¯ guessing game with horrible odds and died. If he attacked you and you somehow won the guessing game, you had to play another guessing game with even worse odds via Gamble, and died. Even if, by some miraculous gift of God, you won both guessing games, you got very little out of it, if anything at all, and still had to deal with his magic follow-up. It was simply absurd the lengths you would have to go to in order to beat Ares in even a single interaction. Of course, Ares wasn¡¯t using his destruction pillar here, but his Echoes and Zephyr provided more than enough versatility for him to remain lethal in countless ways.


    By the time he was done murdering the buzzbladers, Ares hadn¡¯t even received a single scratch. Despite having found himself surrounded on all sides constantly throughout the whole fight, he wasn¡¯t touched once. The utilisation of his speed was undeniably his greatest asset and he was basically an untouchable glass cannon. He had won the bet quite handily, having killed roughly 100 buzzbladers in comparison to the Legion clan¡¯s 50. The part that was beyond belief was that the Legion clan had originally evened out the score at the 40-kill mark. Everything that came after was extremely one-sided. If Ares hadn¡¯t handicapped himself from the start, the Legion clan¡¯s score compared to his would¡¯ve been laughable and humiliating.


    Ares Shifted over next to Bellona, draped his arm over her shoulder, and leant towards her. ¡°Ares: 1, Tin Cans: 0.¡±


    Bellona tutted. ¡°Alright, alright. You win.¡± She took a quick step to the side causing Ares to fall over.


    ¡°Ouch, and here I was thinking about going through with your forfeits anyway ¡®cos I like cooking.¡± Ares dusted himself off and stood up.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but only your forfeit and Enyo¡¯s, obviously.¡± Ares wagged his finger at Gladius to dash the hope in his eyes.


    ¡°Damnit!¡± Gladius had surprisingly really wanted to win the bet and publicly humiliate Ares.


    Enyo, however, was very pleased with this outcome. ¡°More honeycomb?¡±


    ¡°Yes Enyo, more honeycomb,¡± Ares replied while chuckling to himself. As he was turning to face Bellona, out of the corner of his eye, Ares could have sworn he saw Enyo doing a celebratory mini fist-pump. ¡°Well, whenever you want me to cook for this secret person, let me know.¡±


    Bellona gave a mysterious response, ¡°It¡¯ll happen around the same time you get your reward for the bet. For now, we need to collect the monster parts. Do you mind giving us a hand?¡±


    ¡°Nope, sorry. I¡¯m far too used to making that lazy sod do clean-up.¡± Ares pointed at Aejaz. ¡°You should seriously get him to do it, it¡¯ll save you a couple hours for sure.¡±


    ¡°Awww, do I have to? It drains all my manaaaaaaaa,¡± Aejaz moaned.


    ¡°Clearly you aren¡¯t going to use that mana to fight anyone or anything anytime soon because you¡¯re such a massive coward, so you might as well be put to some kind of good use.¡±


    ¡°Hey! I have feelings, you know?¡±


    Ares didn¡¯t care. ¡°Yeah, feelings like constant trepidation, laziness, and boredom.¡±


    Allie looked up at Aejaz. ¡°You can steal from dead-people?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah, easily. It¡¯s not like they fight back.¡± Aejaz gave a thumbs up as if showing his approval of corpses¡¯ inability to defend themselves.


    Allie figured she would throw Enyo a bone and help her get out of clean-up duty, so she gave Aejaz puppy eyes and asked, ¡°Can I see?¡±


    Allie¡¯s display was simply irresistible to Aejaz who would bend over backward to make her happy, so he agreed with no further questions asked or complaints raised. He brought out an empty spacial ring and rolled it along his fingers before flicking it into the air. He pointed his index finger at the ring and chanted,


    ¡°Relocate!¡±


    Relocate was the art Aejaz used to steal and, while it typically put things in his possession, he could change the end destination of any object he stole provided he was close enough. All the monster heads disappeared straight into the ring which was caught as it fell by a rather tired looking Aejaz.


    ¡°It just occurred to me, I¡¯ve never heard you chant before when stealing, how do you do it?¡± Enyo asked.¡± Surely you didn¡¯t design all of your arts to be chant-less as that would take up a ludicrous amount of mana.¡±


    Aejaz caught his breath and explained, ¡°It¡¯s one of my family¡¯s bloodline traits. I can cast all of my arts silently. For now, doing so slightly raises the mana cost, but that caveat will disappear as my cultivation increases. Pretty much all the assassins in my family, which is everyone I guess, have this bloodline.¡±


    ¡°Lucky you, it really suits you.¡±


    ¡°Yep but, unfortunately, like everything else at my disposal, it¡¯s not particularly useful in a straight-up fight.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a matter of perspective. It would be useful if you ever actually fought anything,¡± Ares said with a narrow, piercing gaze.


    Bellona was curious, ¡°you said you taught him, right? Is he actually capable of putting up a fight?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aejaz and Ares'' voices overlapped with one another.


    Ares further narrowed his eyes and stared at his brother. Everything was peaceful one second and, the next, Ares had pounced at Aejaz and kept taking pot shots that were all avoided quite comfortably. ¡°See? Like a damn weasel! Even I struggle to hit the bastard! I¡¯m pretty sure everything related to aggression I taught him went in one ear and out the other, but I¡¯ll be damned if he didn¡¯t pick up on the defensive side of things.¡± Ares was still chasing Aejaz around. ¡°I hate to admit it, but I think he¡¯s even harder to hit than I am. GET BACK HERE YOU SLIPPERY SCHMUCK!¡±


    ¡°NOOOOOO, HELP MEEEEEEE.¡± Aejaz was deftly running in circles and weaving like a snake around anyone he thought might save him, but no-one came to his rescue in his time of need. Everyone was pretty impressed with how nimble he was though; Ares wasn¡¯t kidding when he said Aejaz was hard to hit. From the side, it looked like Ares was losing a game of whack-a-mole.


    Ares stopped running. ¡°Of course, he¡¯s still got a lot to learn though.¡± He Shifted in front of Aejaz and tripped him with a low, sweeping kick.


    To Aejaz¡¯ credit, he managed to perform a last-minute roll to stick the landing, which allowed him to keep running and find a hiding place behind Allie. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t hit a girl, right?¡±


    Ares just shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m convinced there¡¯s an incredible assassin in there somewhere. If you could just put half as much effort into training as you do reading god-awful novels, you might actually make some progress.¡±


    Enyo remembered something so she asked, ¡°But wouldn¡¯t becoming an assassin be a hard mental block to overcome because of what happened with his family? You should be more lenient with him, Ares. If he doesn¡¯t want to fight, then really, he doesn¡¯t need to.¡±


    Aejaz unsurprisingly hopped aboard that train of thought. ¡°See!? She gets it! You¡¯re just mean!¡±


    ¡°No! No, no, no, no.¡± Ares shifted next to Enyo and tapped her on the top of her helmet. ¡°Bad Enyo! Didn¡¯t you just learn the value of not letting your past weigh you down and control who you can or cannot be? Don¡¯t encourage him!¡±


    Enyo wanted to refute him but realised pretty quickly Ares was right. She also wished she didn¡¯t have her helmet on so Ares could have patted her head directly. Allie seemed to really like head pats and strokes so Enyo was curious to know what it was like too, and who better to do it than Ares? Enyo decided to make Ares do that for her at some point in the future, but that thought then led to others such as cuddling and so on and so forth and, with that, Enyo paid no more attention to the conversation. She was now lost in her own happy world filled with honeycomb.


    Ares raised his hands to signify he wasn¡¯t going to run after Aejaz anymore. ¡°Ah well, I can¡¯t force you to fight. I just wish you would consider it now before you end up regretting it later. I really do wish it never comes to that of course but, if it does you''re gonna be seriously upset with yourself and rue all this wasted time. There are some things that can¡¯t be avoided, Aejaz.


    ¡°And that¡¯s where you come in!¡± Aejaz stuck his tongue out.


    Ares just sighed and gave up.

 Chapter 38: The King’s Pet and the Pet’s King

    Aejaz handed over the monster parts and everyone set off again. It was a short trip to the forest entrance from where they were so they arrived a couple of hours later. The Legion clan were about to say their goodbyes when Ares got jumpy and alert out of nowhere.


    ¡°Ares?¡± Gladius was the first to notice.


    Ares frowned and kept searching through the trees and around the bushes. ¡°Something¡¯s coming.¡± The voice in Ares'' head had come back and, although it was quiet, it was trying to scream, but could only do so in muted tones. It kept warning him, telling him not to fight the thing that was coming. The voice was fading further into nothingness, but kept yelling at Ares even with its final breaths, ¡®DON¡¯T FIGHT¡¯. Ares still wasn¡¯t too keen on this voice, especially seeing as how it could very well have something to do with Dominus, if not BE Dominus, but the voice was still on his side regardless of how much he disliked it. Ares got the feeling the voice couldn¡¯t lie to him, or at the very least that it wasn¡¯t beneficial for the voice to do so. The voice needed Ares, so Ares chose to heed the voice¡¯s warning before it disappeared again.


    ¡°What¡¯s coming?¡± Bellona asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we shouldn¡¯t, under any circumstance, fight it.¡±


    Tensions rose as everyone kept an eye out for this thing that was supposedly headed toward them.


    Rustle


    The fistle and swaying of a bush put everyone on guard as they all stared intently, waiting for some manner of monstrosity to leap out.


    Hop


    ¡°A toad?¡± Gladius eased up.


    ¡°A big toad,¡± Charity mocked Ares'' caution.


    The thing that had come hopping out of the brush was a seemingly harmless, derpy, balloon-shaped toad. It was roughly thrice the size of what you¡¯d expect of a normal toad and its eyes were both bulging and unusually large, but it was still just a toad.


    Ares, though, wasn¡¯t having it. He was still wary of this thing as, even without the warning in his head, he had a bad feeling in his gut. Call it a sixth sense, but this bulbous beast was problematic. His worries were only heightened when he searched through his memories of the books he¡¯d read and couldn¡¯t place this mysterious creature under any known species. ¡°Be careful. It doesn¡¯t look hostile but, if it attacks, run.¡±


    Trew laughed in ridicule. ¡°This can¡¯t be real. A cultivator scared of spiders and toads, ha, aren¡¯t you just pathetic? You may be the first cultivator to ever have a losing matchup with a witch¡¯s cauldron.¡±


    ¡°Trew.¡± Enyo was immediately agitated by his snide remarks towards Ares.


    ¡°What? I¡¯m right but, fine, whatever. Look, I¡¯ll even remove the toad so big, strong Ares can feel safe.¡± Trew took out his sword and walked over to the toad.


    Ares¡¯ frown re-emerged and he jumped back to a tree branch that was quite far away. ¡°I would seriously recommend abandoning him and retreating to a safe distance,¡± Ares stated in a completely matter-of-fact voice.


    Everyone decided to listen to him despite not being all-together too sure of the supposed ¡®danger¡¯ as Ares seemed really off-put by this strange creature, and his judgement had no record of being faulty until now.


    Trew came within striking distance. The toad hopped in place to turn and face him while eyeing Trew up, and boy did the toad have a set of peepers on him to do it with. Trew felt a wave of discomfort and his instincts warned him not to follow through, but he had already kicked up too much of a fuss. It would be embarrassing as all hell if he got cold feet now. Trew gazed into the abyss that was the toad¡¯s rotund eyes, and the abyss gazed back. Trew leant back before fully committing to an overhead swing using every ounce of strength he could possibly muster, even going as far as to add a coating of wind pillar magic to make his blade razor-sharp.


    Tap


    The sword landed on the toad''s head and stopped dead in its tracks. Trew couldn¡¯t tell if he had just hit the softest or hardest thing ever but, either way, his sword refused to budge another inch. He hadn¡¯t even felt the recoil you would typically expect after being so thoroughly stopped, it was as if he hadn¡¯t even swung at all and was just lightly resting the tip of the blade against the toad¡¯s head. The toad hadn¡¯t even flinched, let alone given a shit.


    Croak


    The toad opened its mouth to croak, but didn¡¯t close the mouth after it was done sounding off. Its surprisingly thin tongue could be seen fidgeting around in its mouth, curling around and bending backward to search through its throat for something. No-one was able to react to what happened next as the toad moved with such blinding speed that its movements were basically invisible to the naked eye. The earth trembled and shook, creating waves as the ground rolled away from the impact zone of whatever it was the toad had done. The undulating mud tsunamis knocked aside everything in its path, staggering and toppling everyone who was still on the floor.


    The waves of mud were so tall that even Ares, from atop his perch, couldn¡¯t see over them. The first wave had managed to reach his position, even though he had stayed further back than everyone else, and crushed the tree he was on to smithereens. After landing, he didn¡¯t have to deal with any more waves as the power of the succeeding ones had tapered off by the time they reached the point he was at. When the earth stopped rocking and shaking like a magnitude 6.0 earthquake had just occurred, Ares Shifted over to Enyo and the others to help them get back up. Ares had to hold onto each of them after picking them up though as they were still dizzy and reeling from being swept around by the surging earth.


    When everyone was on their feet again, they looked back at the cause of this catastrophe and refused to believe their eyes.


    The toad¡¯s tongue was far longer than it appeared at first glance, but that wasn¡¯t the issue. The issue was that it had its tongue wrapped around the grip of a 9ft long great-hammer. A hammer which was currently resting atop Trew¡¯s heaving chest.


    Ares couldn¡¯t figure out whether or not the toad was simply retaliating, or whether it thought they were playing some kind of game as it had essentially done the same thing to Trew as Trew had done to it. Either way, the toad had very clearly won. ¡°I hate to be that kinda guy, but I told you so.¡±


    ¡°What the fuck is that thing?¡± Charity was appalled by the destruction the toad had caused with just a casual swing of a hammer. A big hammer sure, but it was still fundamentally just a hammer. To have such a massive impact without even the need for mana was astonishing.


    ¡°Probably a creature from the next domain up, there shouldn¡¯t be anything in this domain that strong. I doubt even a transition realm cultivator would be able to put up a fight. As for how it ended up here, I have no clue.¡±


    The toad opened its mouth further and shoved the hammer back in. It struggled for a while in comical fashion, but everyone present knew better than to laugh at the stupid thing.


    Ares couldn¡¯t help but use his new art to get a better look at things.


    ¡°Omniscience!¡±


    Ares didn¡¯t have to chant it as Omniscience, like some treasure abilities, technicals, and unique arts, could be used without chanting but, like Aejaz¡¯ bloodline, doing so would cost extra mana. ¡°What the fuck!? Seriously?!¡± Ares had never been this taken aback by anything he had ever seen before.


    ¡°What do you see?¡± Aejaz asked.


    ¡°That toad is a personal treasure!¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Everyone collectively responded in the exact same way.


    ¡°That living, breathing, animal is a treasure!¡±


    ¡°What kind of treasure even is it?¡± Gladius queried.


    ¡°It¡¯s a walking treasury! Its mouth leads to another dimension, a storage dimension like you would find in a space ring. There¡¯re other treasures inside of there that it can pull out and defend itself with!¡±


    ¡°THAT¡¯S SO COOL!¡± Bellona really liked this toad. ¡°I WANT ONE!¡±


    ¡°I hate to dash your hopes and dreams but, like I said, that thing is a personal treasure¡­ Or a pet, I guess? It belongs to someone. I imagine it''s ¡®programmed¡¯ to attack anything that attacks it, which is why it stopped being aggressive now that Trew is down for the count. The thing that took me by surprise though, is that there¡¯s lingering nothingness magic both outside its storage dimension, and inside it.¡±


    ¡°Can it use nothingness!?¡± Aejaz was shocked.


    ¡°No, but it has somehow, someway, interacted with nothingness before. The question is, where could that have happened?¡±


    ¡°Do you think there¡¯s someone else running around with the destruction pillar?¡± Charity asked.


    ¡°No, well, I mean it could be the case, but I doubt it. I haven¡¯t been to space yet, so I don¡¯t know if it''s common or not, but I imagine that if that toad had ever been through a piece of collapsed space, then that would explain it. When I fought Trew earlier, he had lingering nothingness on him after the fight too. This is just a guess, but I think that thing has somehow wormed its way through the severed domain path.¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡±


    ¡°It would make sense. That thing might honestly be a legendary treasure akin to the Celestial Cluster treasures. It probably comes from a way higher domain than we know of. The way from one domain to another is always constructed using spatial magic, so if the spatial magic was severed and destroyed, it would instead become an unusable avenue of nothingness. This toad probably accidentally ended up traversing that avenue somehow and ended up here through its adventures, which would explain the nothingness magic around it, but I have no idea how some got inside its mouth.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense but, still, how would an ¡®accident¡¯ like that even occur in the first place? Doesn¡¯t it seem like that would be something done deliberately?¡± Enyo questioned.


    ¡°Maybe. It does kinda look like the toad is searching for something.¡± Ares observed the toad which was eyeing everyone up.


    The toad¡¯s eyes gleamed when they caught sight of Ares and it gradually hopped over to him


    Hop


    Hop


    Hop


    Why is something with such horrifying power so goddamn not-threatening? Ares felt like he should be scared, but just couldn¡¯t find it in him to fear the toad.


    With one final hop, the toad landed smack-dab in front of Ares and the two had a stare down with each other. After a good while, the toad opened its mouth and shot its tongue out at Ares, making it plop onto Ares¡¯ forehead like a plunger.


    Ares¡¯ eye twitched and he was a little grossed out until he felt a tinge of nothingness on the toad¡¯s slimy tongue. Ares thought it would be funny to reciprocate and poke the toad on its forehead with some nothingness magic on his fingertip. Little did Ares know, this action would spark the unbridled fires of anarchy and revolution, forever altering the destiny of countless lives by all-but ensuring a gruelling, bloody war fuelled with genocide, misery, and unspeakable horrors in a domain he knew nothing of.


    But hey, poking the toad was indeed very funny.


    The toad retracted its tongue and went searching for something hidden within it again. This time, it pulled out a piece of paper with a sketch of the Primordial Blade on it.


    ¡°...¡± Ares said nothing and made an effort not to react in any way to this drawing.


    The toad pushed it a little closer to Ares before shoving it in his pocket. Its tongue reached up and patted Ares on the head as if to say, ¡®take care of it¡¯. The toad turned around and hopped away now that it had nothing left to do here.


    ¡°Was that¡­?¡± Aejaz asked with caution.


    ¡°... Yeah, and it knew I had it¡­ It didn¡¯t feel malicious though. What a bizarre encounter. If that thing was a treasury and it had nothingness inside of it¡­ Could that have been where it was stored before I got it?¡± Ares was thinking things over and every conclusion he came to involved that toad having been the Primordial Blade¡¯s caretaker at some point in time. He even noticed a metal bandage on the back of the toad as it hopped away, he wondered if that had anything to with when the sword came barrelling after him.


    ¡°I should go and heal Trew before he dies, it looks serious.¡± Charity wasn¡¯t pleased that this was the second time recently she was going to have to heal Trew.


    ¡°Here.¡± Ares used one of his nails to cut open a small part of his thumb and flicked over a globule of blood. ¡°That should help him heal but, obviously, don¡¯t let him know it''s revenant blood.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Charity was grateful as Trew¡¯s injury was serious, it would have exhausted her healing Trew on her own but Ares'' contribution would make her life a lot easier.


    Bellona walked over to Ares. ¡°Should I ask what was on that paper?¡±


    Ares shook his head. ¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t, sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m just being nosy.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope the same could be said about that toad.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Did the ¡®Invincible One¡¯ make it through the severed domain, Pei?¡± the king sounded fed-up, likely due to a lack of good news.


    ¡°Well, my liege, it is invincible. Or, rather, it should be anyway. It being invincible didn¡¯t exactly stop the Primordial Blade from tearing a hole through it like it was made of butter. Speaking of which, I hear frog legs go spectacularly with butter, perhaps the same can be said of a toad?¡±


    ¡°PEI! I¡¯M NOT IN THE MOOD FOR YOUR SNARK RIGHT NOW! GIVE ME AN UPDATE AND LEAVE.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my liege. The Invincible One crossed through the severed domain without getting lost¡­ Too many times. He has just finished checking his second domain on the other side.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°... Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, keep searching.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my liege.¡± Pei left the throne room and flew through the castle.


    It was a highly decorated and prestigious place that had been kept in pristine condition by the slaves who were forced to scrub the walls by hand. Even though they had runes that could have done the same job, it was a long-standing tradition. Those slaves were the lucky ones, however. They were fed and clothed, which was more than could be said for the other people who lived in the domain. They even had comfortable beds to be grateful for down in the chambers even if it was hard to sleep with all the noise the guards made and the occasional intrusions into their room. There was a drastic difference in quality of living between the people who lived inside the kingdom, and those who were not within its walls.


    Pei arrived at the bed-slave chambers and walked past the guard who simply ignored him for two reasons. One, he was only really there to stop people from running away, not from entering, and two, he was on good terms with Pei.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    The wooden double-doors were pushed aside and Pei slipped in. The sound of chains, whips, screams, moans, crying, and begging echoed throughout the cold, brick dungeon, but Pei was unfazed as this was nothing out of the ordinary.


    He eventually reached the end of the commons area that the guards used and entered the section dedicated to the higher ups of the castle, including but not limited to, the captain of the guard, the forger, the runemancer, the alchemist, the royal advisor, and Pei himself. It was quieter here, but only because the people that frequented the premises possessed a proclivity for silencing their partners during, after, or even before their sessions. He briefly stopped by his own room to check up on his wife before moving on.


    The final area was three times the size of those prior and belonged exclusively to the king. As with before, the guard let him in without question. Being on good terms with certain people would let you see a very different side of the kingdom, one that even the king himself didn¡¯t know about.


    Pei passed by many different rooms, each with at least one servant waiting patiently for potentially even hundreds of years, just to have the king inevitably arrive in a foul mood and take out his frustrations on them. He would never come to them in a good mood, and that was guaranteed as he would only ever visit his beau when he was pleased, and only when he was pleased. The king¡¯s beau was his personal favourite companion and he refused to ruin their face and body with his fits of rage. The others here weren¡¯t quite so lucky and, of course, they wouldn¡¯t be kept around after the king¡¯s beatings looking the way they inevitably would after all was said and done.


    Pei came to the beau¡¯s quarters and knocked in a steady rhythm to activate the runes on the gilded door. It opened and Pei stepped into a spacious, elegantly designed room that was pure white as far as the eye could see. The furniture was high-class and as white as the walls, giving the illusion that his room was a snowy wonderland fit for a princess to live happily ever after in. At the far end of the room, directly at the centre of the wall, was a grand canopy bed with luxurious silk drapes that could be lowered for privacy and arctic nine-tailed fox-fur covering the sheets.


    Standing beside the bed was an individual just barely taller than 5.2ft. They were fully bare, save the white lingerie that clung to their delicate skin, and running their soft hands through their blonde hair while looking in a nearby, full-length mirror.


    Upon hearing someone step into the room, the boy turned around.


    He took gentle steps filled with grace across the room to come closer to Pei. The boy had retained his youthful looks despite his age and was feminine enough to confuse with a woman if you weren¡¯t paying attention. He had a fragile build with a tender and pastel face, a small, smooth nose, entrancing light-green eyes, and a rosy coloured mouth. The lingerie curved around his little nipples that were jutting out of his areolae and ran along his arms to connect with the white dress gloves covering his hands. His phallus and genitalia were average in size and spotless with no hair. At the base of his shaft were pleasure rings, constantly vibrating and forcing his cock to throb, thrash and pulse against its constraints. His neck and face, the frailest parts of his body, were marked by hand prints from his king as a sign of his ownership.


    The boy wrapped his arms over Pei¡¯s shoulders and brushed his chest against him. The boy leaned up on Pei, and breathed soft, warm breaths onto his neck before seductively whispering into his ear in a subdued voice, ¡°You aren¡¯t my king¡­¡± The boy removed one of his arms from Pei¡¯s shoulders and ran a fingertip along Pei¡¯s chest and down his abdomen, eagerly reaching into his trousers and grabbing Pei¡¯s hind. ¡°... But you could be.¡± His tongue worked its way into Pei¡¯s ear and played around, licking gently from side to side, occasionally getting braver and poking deeper.


    Pei stroked the boy¡¯s face¡­


    Slap


    Pei added his own mark to the boy¡¯s collection. He grabbed the boy''s wrist in his trousers that was slowly circling around to the front with one hand, and tightly gripped the boy¡¯s cock with the hand he had just used to slap him. ¡°Not now, Ashley.¡±


    ¡°Mmmm, I love how rough your hands are, Pei.¡± Ashley leaked pre-cum all over Pei¡¯s hand.


    Pei shoved his drenched hand into Ashley¡¯s face and made him lick it clean. ¡°We can have fun when we¡¯re free. Right now, we¡¯re on good terms.¡±


    Ashley frowned and sighed.


    A black sludge oozed out of his skin and formed a cape that completely covered him. He pulled the hood over his head and a solid black veil enveloped his entire being. A dark mist surrounded Ashley and shadowy, drill-like tendons arose from the ground and walls around him, turning the room into a devilish hellscape. ¡°I¡¯ve been used and abused by countless men, and yet, the one I want to abuse me refuses to do so. Pei, why must you tease me like this?¡± A tendon pierced through Pei¡¯s clothes and pulled him towards Ashley. ¡°Take me Pei. Ravage me.¡±


    ¡°Believe me I will but, for now, you still belong to the king.¡±


    ¡°Regicide it is.¡±


    ¡°Regicide it always has been, Ashley.¡±


    ¡°Pei.¡±


    ¡°Right, of course. When you¡¯re like this, you prefer Ash.¡±


    ¡°Such a glorious name, no? By day, I get to be everyone¡¯s favourite little slut Ashley but, by night, the leader of a revolution who burns it all down to the ground, Ash! If only my parents were still alive, oh how I would thank them.¡± Ash licked his lips.


    ¡°Well, I hope you¡¯re prepared to do a lot more burning. There¡¯s been good news.¡±


    ¡°Did you find the Primordial Blade then?¡±


    ¡°Yes and no. It¡¯s highly likely the person I inspected with the Invincible One had it, but I didn¡¯t actually see it on him.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, you know I trust you, Pei. If you say he has it, he has it. If you say we burn the kingdom down, it burns. If you say bend over, I¡¯ll put my face on the floor and let you step on it, crushing me underfoot while you have your way with me.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you make it so hard not to cave in and fuck the shit out of you right here and now you little whore. You also make it sound like I¡¯m in charge, but the decision to kick things off is in your hands, so let me tell you what I saw and then you can choose for yourself.¡±


    ¡°I love a man with a strong will, but I detest when that will gets in the way of how you could be treating me. Truly, you are more patient than I. I suppose I¡¯ll just have to bide my time with the king and be his personal pet until you come along and snatch the leash. Well, do tell then, who¡¯s the lucky bastard that now gets to play around with the world''s strongest treasure?¡±


    ¡°Just some kid in a lower domain. As you already know, when the Invincible One stored the Primordial Blade before it escaped six years ago, it amassed lingering magic related to the Blade. We never did figure out what that magic was. Luckily, as the Invincible One crossed the severed domain, it came into more contact with it, and we started to piece together some clues. We now know that the magic is a result of what we term ¡®negative space¡¯. Whoever that boy is, he can freely conjure that strange magic, meaning he probably has the sword as that was almost definitely the sword''s requirement to become a personal treasure. That means the king, under no circumstance, even if he finds and kills the kid, can ever become the Blade¡¯s owner. We¡¯re safe to start our war without him suddenly becoming too much to handle. I have to ask though, what should we do about the kid?¡±


    ¡°Hm, I say one kind gesture returns another. His birth has given us this wondrous opportunity after thousands of years of waiting, and we have no enmity with him, so we might as well leave him be, no?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what I would recommend, not because I feel we owe him, but because I noticed he¡¯s a revenant. Killing him once won¡¯t be the end of it and it has the potential to backfire miserably if he gets a chance to grow.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯re fretting over, we could just lock him up until he passes away from old age. He¡¯d come back after, but we could find him and lock him up again. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary, however.¡±


    ¡°You should use your bloodline trait, ¡®Intention¡¯, Ash.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t hurt to be safe I suppose, what''s his name?¡±


    ¡°Ares.¡±


    Ash shivered from head to toe. ¡°Mhm, now that is a man with destiny. I like him already! I feel only intent fuelled by love and a strong desire to protect. Seems pretty alright to me, no secret urges to destroy or rule or pillage despite being a revenant no less. Let me see him so I can get a full-rundown.¡±


    Pei sighed.


    ¡°Hm? Is something the matter, Pei?


    ¡°He¡¯s your type, Ash. He looks like a younger version of the king, he¡¯s a rugged type of handsome.¡±


    ¡°Oh!? Now I really want to see. Stop being jealous Pei. You know that looks are only a part of what turns me on. A big part sure, but it¡¯s not the only thing that gets me going. You hold a special place in my heart.¡±


    ¡°God I¡¯m going to enjoy shoving my finger in your mouth, choking you, and tearing your tight little asshole in half.¡± Pei took deep breaths to calm his urges. ¡°Fine, here.¡± He held up a portable projector that showed an image of Ares on it.


    Ash shivered more violently this time and moaned in ecstasy. ¡°Oh, FUCK, that was good. Mhmm, he is a man I would love to let handle me. I can just imagine him clutching onto my hair and jamming his manhood past my lips, digging deep into my convulsing, wet throat. FUCK. Pei, you might have to share me with him.¡±


    Somewhere, in a place far, far away, Ares felt oddly uncomfortable for some unknown reason.


    ¡°Tsk, I knew you¡¯d say that. What about your bloodline?¡±


    ¡°Nothing I haven¡¯t already said. He¡¯s more likely to be a man of the people than a man exploiting the people. Even if he ends up in our domain, he won¡¯t support the king. This ¡®Ares¡¯ just isn¡¯t the type to enable other¡¯s suffering. Well, I say that, but hopefully he can bend the rules a little when it comes to me.¡± Ash was licking his lips behind the veil again before sighing. ¡°Unfortunately, my bloodline is telling me he won¡¯t swing my way. How devastating¡­ Not that that will stop me from trying.¡±


    ¡°... So shall we gather everyone and hold a meeting?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s time we fight back. I know all too well the upper echelon of this domain can give it, but I¡¯ve always wanted to find out if they can take it.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and notify everyone at once.¡± Pei turned around to leave.


    ¡°At once?¡± Ashley took off his cape and returned to his normal, girlish appearance. ¡°Or are you going to go play with that toy the king gave you? Your wife? You seem to have some¡­¡± Ashley stroked Pei¡¯s trousers as he spoke, ¡°... Pent-up frustrations.¡±


    ¡°I guess you could say that.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, but unlike me, I¡¯m willing to bet she doesn¡¯t let you¡­ Play rough.¡±


    ¡°... No.¡±


    Ashley nibbled Pei¡¯s neck and ran his hands along his body before murmuring into his ear, ¡°You won¡¯t need her for much longer. Have some fun. Think of me.¡±


    Pei stormed out of the room and headed straight for his own to get the raging fire out of his blood. His wife¡¯s screams were unusually loud that day until, like most of the other slaves in that area, she fell completely silent.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°I guess this is goodbye for now. See you at the regionals!¡± Bellona waved at Ares, Aejaz, Allie, and Enyo. ¡°Oh, and play nice you two, no more arguing.¡± She winked at Ares and Enyo who both interpreted her wink as sly acknowledgment, albeit for different reasons.


    Ares waved back. ¡°Ha, we¡¯ll see¡­ Oof,¡± Ares let out a grunt when Enyo elbowed him.


    Everyone else said their goodbyes and then parted ways, leaving the original four-man group unsure of what to do next. ¡°There¡¯s still 6 days until Zhang gets here. We¡¯ve already finished our mission and I don¡¯t know which is worse, staying in the forest or staying in that dump of a town,¡± Aejaz complained.


    ¡°I kinda wanna sleep in a bed for a change.¡± Allie made her vote clear.


    ¡°I¡¯m not fussed either way, but I guess my vote is irrelevant.¡± Ares had no preference, but realised pretty quickly any preference he could¡¯ve had would be meaningless regardless due to the number disadvantage.


    Enyo was confused as to what he meant. ¡°And why is that?¡±


    ¡°Allie wants to go into town, right? Are you going to go against her wishes and vote to go back into the forest then?¡±


    ¡°No, but what of it? Aejaz could always vote¡­ Ok, never mind. I see your point.¡±


    Ares clapped his hands then clicked his fingers. ¡°Then let¡¯s get going.¡±


    ¡°Um, Zhang only gave me enough stardust for a couple of days at an inn¡­¡± Allie fidgeted and had a guilty look on her face.


    ¡°No worries. The dead transition realm cultivators had a lot of stardust on them. I¡¯ll pay for the inn and food.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°Hon¡­¡± Enyo started talking but was interrupted pretty quickly by Ares.


    ¡°Yes Enyo. Honeycomb. I will make you plenty of honeycomb.¡±


    ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ve no complaints. Although I feel we should sort this out before we get there, how are we allocating the rooms?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, good point. Either way, I think two, two-bed rooms are ideal.¡±


    Allie hadn¡¯t yet understood where they were going with this. ¡°Me and Enyo, and you and Aejaz, right?¡±


    ¡°That is certainly one possibility, but there is another.¡± Ares slowly pointed at Allie then at Aejaz.


    Allie¡¯s cheeks slowly reddened as she caught on. ¡°N¡­ No, I think it''s too early for us to do that.¡±


    Enyo laughed lightly. ¡°Then don¡¯t do that. Just because you¡¯re sharing a room, doesn¡¯t mean you have to share a bed. Like Ares said, two beds.¡±


    Allie somehow defied her own biological limits and got even redder. ¡°O¡­ Oh¡­ Right¡­ Ok.¡± She looked over at Aejaz and both of them immediately stared down at the ground as they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to look each other in the eye in this awkward situation.


    Ares jumped in to change the subject, ¡°Sorted! Enyo, no spiders or I swear to God you won¡¯t see that honeycomb ever again.¡±


    ¡°Ares, give me honeycomb or I swear to god there won¡¯t be a day that goes by without spiders.¡± Enyo fought back with a beautiful riposte,


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± the two agreed in unison.


    The group set off and arrived at the town just as it was getting dark, giving the town an eerie vibe. The town was quiet and as rundown as Ares had predicted it would be when he first laid eyes on it. A number of buildings were in disrepair, even the inn they found had a few holes in it. They entered and were momentarily the focus of everyone''s attention before things returned to normal. There had been a few hostile glances, but those disappeared quickly as if their group wasn¡¯t the intended target. There was something off about this place.


    Ares walked up to the counter and asked the person behind it who was scrubbing glasses a question, ¡°How much for two, two-bed rooms? 6 days each.¡±


    The bartender looked behind Ares, straight at Allie and Enyo, sighed, and said, ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± He picked up a nearby pen and wrote something on the back of a tissue which he then slid across the counter. ¡°These are our going rates. Take it or leave it.¡±


    Ares raised his eyebrow and checked the tissue. ¡®Two rooms, 6 days, 900 low quality pieces of stardust each, wouldn''t recommend. Leave this place. They could be anywhere.¡¯


    Ares didn¡¯t feel like this was a decision he should make on his own, so he asked for a moment to discuss the ¡®rates¡¯ with his companions.


    The group found an empty table near the corner where they could speak quietly and not be heard. Enyo spoke first, ¡°I don¡¯t know who these people are that could be anywhere, but surely it would be fine if we just spend most of the days inside the rooms?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. Aejaz, Allie, would you two feel comfortable holing up in that room and not leaving? Enyo and I will take care of everything that needs doing outside and will bring you guys food to your room.¡±


    ¡°Um, ok.¡± Allie seemed accepting of this arrangement.


    Aejaz was being his usual scaredy-cat self though. ¡°Ares! What if they¡¯re already in the room? How will we know if it¡¯s one of you two coming and not an imposter? What if there¡¯s a secret entrance?¡±


    Ares sighed. ¡°We can use a codeword to get into your room if that makes you happy. When we get the rooms, I¡¯ll go in and check them with Omniscience. No one can hide from it and I¡¯ll be able to see any hidden entrances or abnormalities. Anything else?¡±


    Aejaz thought hard for a few moments. ¡°No. What should the codeword be?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know, how about, ¡®let me in, idiot¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I mean, that¡¯s more of a code-phrase and I¡¯m not particularly happy with it, but I can tell by the look in your eyes I don¡¯t have a choice.¡±


    ¡°Good, I¡¯m glad you understand. Alright then, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Ares went back to the bartender. ¡°We¡¯re planning on staying. Just out of curiosity, will it be a problem if we stay in the rooms and never leave?¡±


    The bartender gave a small smile. ¡°No, that should be alright. Some people may confuse you with someone else and occasionally get the wrong door, but you can just ignore their knocking.¡±


    ¡°Much appreciated, here¡¯s a little extra for such a good recommendation.¡± Ares handed over an extra 500 pieces of low grade stardust in addition to the room fees.


    ¡°Enjoy your stay.¡±


    The group headed upstairs and found their rooms. Ares used the keys the bartender gave him and opened Aejaz and Allie¡¯s room first. He used Omniscience and gave the room a comprehensive inspection, scrutinising every inch. ¡°Nothing, all clear. I know I gave you flak for it, but I¡¯m starting to think the codeword might come in handy based on what the bartender said. Don¡¯t forget about it,¡± Ares warned.


    ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t. You should be the one to remember though. If you forget it, I¡¯m never letting you in,¡± Aejaz responded.


    ¡°Alright, well¡­ Have fun you two.¡± Ares winked as he and Enyo left the room.


    Aejaz and Allie were fine until Ares had made his ¡®subtle¡¯ insinuation and were now staring at the ground again. Bastard! Leave silently next time damn it! Aejaz cursed Ares in his head.


    Ares and Enyo went to their room and, once again, Ares gave it a check. He gave Enyo a thumbs up. ¡°All good. I¡¯m gonna head out for a bit, could you wait here? I think one of us should always hang around just in case something happens with those two.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, but where exactly are you going?¡±


    Ares put a finger up to his mouth. ¡°Secret.¡± Ares locked the door for Enyo and Shifted away.


    Enyo settled down and debated taking her helmet off. She wanted to get used to having it off, especially around Ares, but it still felt really strange. In the end, she kept it on and decided to wait for Ares to come back instead of going straight to sleep for no reason other than that she wanted to say goodnight to him.


    Sometime later, the tell-tale sound of a lock and key brought Enyo back from her thoughts and Ares entered the room. ¡°You¡¯re still awake?¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t feeling tired,¡± Enyo lied.


    ¡°In that case, I can give you this now instead of tomorrow.¡± Ares brought out a large bowl and put it on Enyo¡¯s bedside cabinet. ¡°All yours.¡±


    Enyo peered inside the bowl and found honeycomb as far as the eye could see. ¡°Thank you. Really, thank you.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me, I already promised I would. I¡¯ll lie down and sleep facing the wall so you can eat in peace.¡± Ares got in the bed and turned to the side.


    Crunch


    Crunch


    ¡°... How do I get comfortable with not having my helmet on?¡± Enyo didn¡¯t know where to start and just hoped Ares could help her figure things out.


    ¡°Does wearing it make you uncomfortable?¡±


    ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°Then you don¡¯t have to get comfortable having it off. You¡¯re fine as you are.¡±


    ¡°... Thank you, I knew you would say that, but I want to change. I feel like a coward hiding behind it. It started off as something I did because I didn¡¯t want people misjudging me, so I could be the person my father wanted me to be without my looks getting in the way of that. I¡¯ve worn it too long. It¡¯s become a comfort for all the wrong reasons and I want to stop relying on it. It doesn¡¯t make me feel uncomfortable, but it does bother me.¡± It bothers me that you can¡¯t see me and that it got in the way of us. I don¡¯t want it anymore, but I can¡¯t help feeling like I need it. Help me overcome this, Ares. I don¡¯t know how to do it on my own.


    ¡°Hm, ok, let¡¯s try this.¡± Ares turned around and faced Enyo.


    Enyo freaked out and started blushing for a second before calming down when she realised Ares still had his eyes closed.


    ¡°When you feel comfortable with this, let me know and we¡¯ll try something different.¡±


    ¡°... Ok¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Crunch


    This situation played out for another ten or so minutes when Enyo finally spoke, ¡°I think I¡¯m fine with this now. Are you going to open your eyes? I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯ll be at ease with that yet though¡­¡±


    ¡°I am going to open my eyes but you''re going to close yours.¡±


    ¡°That¡­¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s still hard, I¡¯m sorry, but this is the best thing I can think of to ease you into it. First you get used to someone facing your general direction, then you get used to someone looking at you while you aren¡¯t looking at them, then you¡¯ll get used to looking back at someone looking at you. If you don¡¯t want to, then that¡¯s fine, we can stop here for today and go back to step one next time.¡±


    ¡°... No¡­ I want to do this.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? You could maybe just try spending more time with your helmet off around Allie and having her stare at you.¡±


    ¡°No, I want to be ok with it off around anyone.¡± Mostly you though.


    ¡°Hm, actually, I have a better idea. When you close your eyes, I¡¯ll keep my eyes closed as well.¡±


    ¡°How will that help?¡±


    ¡°At some point, I won¡¯t tell you when, I¡¯ll open mine. It should make it a little easier to start. I want you to feel safe going into it.¡±


    ¡°... I feel safe around you anyway.¡± Enyo blushed but used mana to force her cheeks to go back to normal before Ares opened his eyes.


    Ares smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. Let me know when you¡¯ve closed your eyes.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Enyo took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and mustered up her boundless courage from wherever it had run off too. ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Not even ten seconds later, Enyo started to panic. Her breathing became much heavier than normal and she was feeling sick. The feeling kept getting worse and worse to the point a tear came out of her eye and she was about to start crying.


    Ares opened his eyes when he noticed the change in her breathing and walked over to her when he saw the tear. He hugged her and spoke softly to try and soothe her, ¡°Relax, I¡¯ve closed my eyes again. Let¡¯s not go any further today. Get a mental reset with a good night¡¯s sleep and we can try again tomorrow. You¡¯ve done great, ok?¡±


    Sniff


    Enyo couldn¡¯t help but cry. She was nervous and still panicking but, more importantly, she was upset with the whole situation and furious with herself. She hugged Ares back and stayed like that for a while until she managed to stop the tears. Ares let go and walked back to his bed with his eyes still shut until he got in and faced the wall.


    ¡°... I¡¯m sorry,¡± Enyo mumbled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be. There¡¯s nothing you need to apologise for. Everyone has their own things they find difficult. It¡¯s commendable you''re working towards fixing your problems. Take me, I¡¯m far too much of a scaredy cat to ever try and get used to spiders, you¡¯re doing incredible in comparison. Even if it takes you a long time to get the hang of it, that¡¯s still better than people who do nothing.¡±


    Crunch


    Enyo was eating the honeycomb for comfort. ¡°... Thank you. Goodnight, Ares¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Enyo.¡±


    Enyo sat around eating the honeycomb while going through her thoughts, this is absurd. Why? WHY DAMNIT?


    Crunch


    Why?


    Crunch


    Enyo kept battling with her demons until she eventually got fed up and was too annoyed to continue. She went to sleep while thinking about the time in Baja Forest when she tackled Ares after chasing him around with a spider. She wanted to be able to stare at him like that without the helmet and she swore she would bring herself to do it by the time Zhang showed up. Not while straddling Ares of course, that was far too much for her to accomplish in this time span.

 Chapter 39: Promising

    Ares was in a bit of a bind. He woke up and almost instinctively turned around but remembered that Enyo would probably have her helmet off. Hmmm, oh well, guess it¡¯s time to look like an idiot! Ares waved his hand around frantically to try and get Enyo¡¯s attention.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I wanted to know if you had your helmet on or not.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do. You could have just asked.¡±


    Ares turned around. ¡°Didn¡¯t want to wake you up if you were still asleep.¡±


    ¡°When I first met you, I never would have guessed you were even half as considerate as you are.¡±


    ¡°Uh, I guess I¡¯ll take that as a compliment, ha, thanks¡­ How are you feeling after yesterday?¡±


    ¡°... Better. I want to try again¡­¡±


    ¡°Ok, how about you keep the helmet near you? That way, if it ever becomes unbearable, you can just put it on instead of panicking.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t that counterproductive? What if I just keep putting it on?¡±


    ¡°I believe in you. You¡¯ll stop yourself eventually. This way we get to try more without having to stop. We have five days and I guarantee you¡¯ll make progress in that time.¡±


    ¡°... Ok, close your eyes.¡± Enyo took off her helmet when Ares obliged and closed her own after. ¡°Ok, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As with last time, Enyo couldn¡¯t handle it, but put the helmet on rather than breaking down again. When she opened her eyes, she wanted to smack herself as she realised Ares hadn¡¯t even opened his yet, she felt incredibly disappointed in her pathetic resolve.


    This process repeated throughout the entire day with only the occasional food break. By the time night came around, not much had changed, and Enyo was starting to get antsy at her lack of success. ¡°I hate this. I¡¯m not getting anywhere. I just want to do even a little better, but I¡¯m just failing over and over again.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking along the wrong lines. This should be expected. There are two types of progression; one is steady and incremental, while the other happens in spurts and takes time, but is far more rewarding. This is the latter. If you¡¯re at 30% now, you aren¡¯t going through all this for one percent, you¡¯ll probably jump up by around 20% when you finally get used to it. If I didn¡¯t truly think this could potentially help you, I would have tried thinking of another way by now. If this is what you want, I don¡¯t plan on giving up and neither should you.¡±


    Enyo replied immediately with conviction, ¡°I don¡¯t give up!¡±


    ¡°I know. Anyway, here, I made you more honeycomb ¡®cos you were running out.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Any time. Goodnight, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Ares.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Crunch


    ---------------------------------


    Next morning, Ares'' hand waved around again and Enyo told him to wait a second.


    Crunch


    She finished the honeycomb and gave Ares confirmation he could turn around.


    ¡°Enyo, I¡¯ve had an idea, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to like it¡­¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Enyo only half-responded as she was still chewing on some honeycomb under her helmet.


    ¡°How would you feel about using the honeycomb as a reward? As in, you don¡¯t get any if you don¡¯t make any progress. The old carrot and stick approach.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Enyo, I know this is a great sacrifice for you, but I promise it will taste that much sweeter.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Enyo?¡±


    ¡°... Ok¡­ Ok.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Ares hid the honeycomb inside the Primordial Blade and he could practically feel the disappointment oozing out of Enyo from across the room. ¡°The honeycomb and I are ready when you are. I¡¯ll let you have some if you can go 30 seconds without putting the helmet on.¡±


    ¡°30!? Are you a sadist!?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s more important to you, the helmet or the honeycomb?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ares closed his eyes to signal the start and Enyo took her helmet off. She could feel the panic seeping in at around the ten second mark, but forced the thoughts out with mental images of honeycomb. This little trick netted her another ten seconds before she finally had to put the helmet on. Ares had his eyes open this time, but she noticed that his eyes being open didn¡¯t actually make it any more uncomfortable as she¡¯d already been through the worst of it. Between this revelation and the increase in time she spent helmet-less, she felt happy over her progress. It wasn¡¯t quite an improvement of 20% but it was about 10%. She was also calming down faster after putting the helmet on. ¡°It¡¯s working. I can feel it getting easier.¡±


    Ares smiled warmly. ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡±


    ¡°Soooo.¡±


    ¡°No. 30 seconds, Enyo, not 20.¡±


    ¡°Damn you. I¡¯ll remember this.¡±


    A few hours passed and Ares had just returned from his trip to buy more honeycomb ingredients and food, as well as dropping off lunch for Allie and Aejaz who seemed to be having a good time, when a miracle happened.


    A new round of what Ares teasingly called ¡®face your fears¡¯ had started, and Enyo was immediately distracted by a random memory she had completely forgotten about and not interfaced with previously. Specifically, she was remembering the stuff Bellona was talking about when she first ate the honeycomb, about the family getting back together again and how nice it would be. About how her magic really did compliment Ares¡¯ almost perfectly. About marriage and kids. About Appa. She hadn¡¯t really had a chance to interact with Appa, but it was very cute and seemed really sweet. Enyo made a note to spend some time with Appa and get to know it when she returned to the sect. Marriage? That means a wedding, right? What kind of wedding would even be ideal? Enyo had never seen or been to a wedding before, but it was something Bellona and Pele fantasised about all the time when they were little girls. Kids? Enyo had no idea where to even start with that line of thinking. She wasn¡¯t sure she wanted them, at least not yet anyway. Most cultivators wouldn¡¯t worry about children until they were settled in life. There was plenty of time for that later down the line. Wait¡­ ¡°Ares? How long has it been?¡± Enyo still had her eyes closed.


    ¡°Uh, are you sure you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Ares?¡±


    ¡°... Five minutes.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Enyo felt oddly unperturbed. It was as though everything just clicked and she no longer cared that Ares was almost definitely staring at her. There were so many more important things she could be worrying and thinking about that her helmet issue just seemed completely insignificant in comparison. It almost felt stupid that she had even let it affect her for as long as she¡¯d let it now that she was starting to not care. ¡°How much honeycomb do I get?¡±


    ¡°For this? As much as you want.¡±


    Enyo opened her eyes and ran across the room to hug Ares and started cry-laughing.


    ¡°Congratulations. You¡¯re making great strides.¡±


    Enyo eventually let go and then it dawned on her that she hadn¡¯t gotten to the point where she was ok with having her eyes open so, when she accidentally looked directly into Ares¡¯ eyes, she made ¡®great strides¡¯ for the helmet.


    ¡°We¡¯ll use the rest of the day to make sure you''re ok with this step, alright?¡±


    ¡°... Mhm¡­¡± Enyo was still embarrassed. ¡°... I need a minute.¡±


    They continued testing as Ares suggested and, sure enough, Enyo could last as long as she wanted. It still felt a bit off and somewhat strange to her, but she never needed to rely on the helmet no matter how long she kept her eyes closed. They finished their practice for the day when it got dark outside.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to face the wall anymore,¡± Enyo called out to Ares who was getting ready to do precisely that.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I¡¯ll be asleep anyway. Also, what kind of creep stares at people when they sleep?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, fair enough. Goodnight Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight Ares.¡±


    Ares dozed off pretty quick, but Enyo was thinking about this and that to pass the time. About half an hour later, she timidly opened one eye to peek and check if Ares was asleep or not. When she found out he was, she opened both her eyes and just stared at him for a while. Her earlier statement about this exact thing was just to dissuade Ares from doing it because she wanted to do it without being caught in the act.


    ---------------------------------


    Ares woke up and opened his eyes, expecting to see a wall as he had completely forgotten about the new arrangement he had agreed upon with Enyo yesterday. What he found instead was Enyo, who had woken up before him, lying directly across from him, looking right at him. Ah, this is pleasant. Her eyes really are such a beautiful shade of purple. Real shame this isn¡¯t going to last much longer.


    As if to confirm Ares¡¯ expectations, Enyo was startled like a rabbit finding a fox and scrambled for the helmet.


    Ares had been in a fantastic mood as of late as he¡¯d had ample opportunity to look at Enyo freely. ¡°Good morning, creep.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I just woke up. Don¡¯t call me that.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m just messing with you. It¡¯s been a while since I pulled your leg and this was too good an opportunity to pass up.¡± Ares truly believed she had only gotten up recently as he was unaware of just how much Enyo had been fixated recently with gazing longingly at him. Then again, Ares had basically been doing the same thing whenever Enyo had closed her eyes for her training the last two days. That was why he revelled in every second he got to spend helping her like this, he liked seeing her and he liked helping her. Win win!


    ¡°... Will this actually help me?¡±


    Ares was confused. ¡°Yes? Why would it not?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be ok with you¡­ But what about anyone else? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll suddenly feel like walking around the sect without my helmet¡­ Your one person, I can¡¯t do this for everyone in existence.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t have to. If you can just keep doing this, over time, the process will become quicker and easier. I¡¯m just using hypothetical numbers here, so bear with me, but let¡¯s say it takes you three seconds to adjust to me looking at you.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°After practising with someone else, let¡¯s say Aejaz for instance, you¡¯ll already be familiar with the process, and it will only take you two seconds now, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Then you do it again with, I don¡¯t know, Appa? You do it again with Appa and this time it only takes you one second because you¡¯re way more confident than before.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°So now, it takes you zero seconds to get used to someone looking at you. It doesn¡¯t matter who or how many, but you¡¯re always ok with it.¡±


    ¡°I see. That makes sense. So, when I¡¯m done and ok with you, I should move onto Aejaz?¡±


    ¡°If you want, I¡¯m sure he wouldn¡¯t mind. It can be anyone really, I just suggested those two because I know Aejaz will be patient and easy to work with and Appa¡­ Well, I mean, it¡¯s Appa. I don¡¯t know how else to say it other than if you have a problem with Appa, the problem is you. Appa is a floating bundle of joy. I think it¡¯ll be good for you to practise with it, which you can do when you and Allie come around for food.¡±


    ¡°You really do love Appa don¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m certain it¡¯s impossible not to. I¡¯m still toying with the idea that Appa has an affinity for a unique aspect of cuteness.¡±


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Ha.¡± Enyo assumed he was joking.


    Ares shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m actually completely serious. Ah well, you¡¯ll see for yourself when you get to know it properly. For now, though, we¡¯ve got work to do!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really not looking forward to this¡­¡±


    ¡°Aww, come on. Surely, I¡¯m not that ugly.¡±


    ¡°... You¡¯re not ugly.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, but you can¡¯t wriggle your way out of this by being nice! Before we start, is there anything I can do to make this less stressful for you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t compliment me.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡± Ares didn¡¯t ask for clarification as he remembered the first time he saw Enyo. She was actually doing ok for the split second she had her helmet off, but the second Ares complimented her the helmet came back on before he could even blink.


    Enyo prepared herself by taking a few deep breaths and counting to ten before taking the helmet off. She still had her eyes closed as she started taking more deep breaths and counting to ten again to delay the inevitable. When she finally opened her eyes, she lasted all of one second before she was looking down at the ground. UNFAIR! Even Allie and Aejaz stare at the floor around each other, and I have issues on top of my feelings for you dammit!


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve misunderstood the point, Enyo. We¡¯re supposed to be having a staredown, not a stare down.¡±


    Enyo was caught off guard and couldn''t help but laugh a little. ¡°Tsk, funny bastard. Help me!¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Ares pondered for a bit then had a light bulb moment. He took a bit of honeycomb out of the Primordial Blade and held it low to the floor so that Enyo could see it.


    The honeycomb caught Enyo¡¯s attention and she followed it with her eyes as Ares slowly raised it in front of her. The plan failed terribly as Enyo was staring back down at the floor again as soon as their eyes met. ¡°Are you an idiot!? Do you think I¡¯m some kind of pet that can be tempted with treats?¡±


    Ares laughed and brought the honeycomb down low in front of her again and wagged it around a bit.


    ¡°NOT FUNNY!¡±


    ¡°You know, I really had faith that it would work.¡± Ares'' lightbulb moment had turned out to be him just being a bit dim.


    ¡°I¡¯m trusting a moron.¡±


    Ares laughed evilly. ¡°Say that to my face.¡±


    Ares had lit a fire under Enyo¡¯s ass and she wasn¡¯t going to take this lying down. She looked up at him. ¡°MORON!¡±


    ¡°Tin can.¡±


    ¡°BROKEN RECORD!¡±


    ¡°Clich¨¦.¡±


    ¡°SUPERCILIOUS!¡±


    ¡°Creep.¡±


    ¡°HUH!?¡±


    ¡°Handsome.¡± Ares cheated and Enyo had slapped the helmet back on at light-speed.


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be helping! That was working! Damn you!¡±


    Ares shook his head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call that functional. I don¡¯t want that to be the only kind of face-to-face interaction we ever have.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Enyo knew he was correct.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok though, the experience will be helpful,¡± Ares cheered Enyo up. ¡°Let¡¯s go again.¡±


    ¡°... I need a bit more time.¡± Enyo¡¯s cheek was blushing bright red.


    ¡°Why? Are you embarrassed?¡±


    ¡°Stop it, that¡¯s mean and you know it.¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m trying to help. It¡¯s perfectly normal to get embarrassed, trying to hide it isn¡¯t helpful. You should really take the helmet off and just accept that this is a part of life and will happen to you every now and then.¡±


    Enyo hesitated but eventually complied as she trusted Ares. She removed the helmet and felt incredibly self-conscious.


    ¡°Mhm, that is one very red face.¡±


    ¡°Y¡­ Y¡­ YOU!¡± Enyo tried to pick up her helmet, but it was gone. ¡°Ares? Please. Please don¡¯t do this.¡±


    Ares'' heart was deeply pained by Enyo¡¯s begging, but he didn¡¯t back down. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good, Enyo. Prepare yourself, I¡¯m not going to be very nice. I really am sorry for what I¡¯m about to put you through, please forgive me when this is all said and done.¡± Ares was serious and had a despondent look on his face as he wasn¡¯t looking forward to this at all.


    ¡°A¡­ Ares? N¡­ No, please. Not like this.¡±


    Ares had to fight his heart and wrest control over his body to stand up and walk to Enyo¡¯s side of the room. He poked her cheek. ¡°Wow, that is incredibly hot. Are you physically ill? Or just mentally?¡±


    ¡°... Don¡¯t¡­¡± Enyo was clearly distressed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t what? Stare at you? Maybe I wouldn¡¯t be staring if you weren¡¯t such a strange woman.¡±


    Enyo felt like her heart was shattering and couldn¡¯t manage a response. It was actually paining her heart to hear this.


    ¡°Do you think if you stop talking, I¡¯ll leave you alone? You¡¯re a coward.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You know what? Fine. Congratulations, you get your wish. I¡¯ll leave you alone because you¡¯re not even worth the time and effort it takes to berate you.¡± Ares walked away back over to his side of the room.


    Everything fell deathly silent. For about an hour, neither of the two said a single word or moved a single inch. Enyo felt betrayed. At first, she was stricken by grief, then, over time, she began feeling empty inside. Now, that emptiness was filling with nothing but rage and anger at the way Ares had treated her. The rage kept bubbling up until she couldn¡¯t contain it anymore and stood up with a tear in her eye and stormed over to Ares'' side of the room. She found him huddled up against the corner in a similar position to how she found him in Baja Forest, sitting with his head buried in his knees. ¡°HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? HOW COULD YOU HURT ME LIKE THIS?¡± Enyo was screaming furiously at him. When he didn¡¯t respond, she grabbed his hair and roughly pulled his head up. ¡°YOU¡­ YOU¡­ you¡­¡± she couldn¡¯t bring herself to keep lashing out at him when she saw the awful state he was in. Ares was crying without pause, his hands were shaking and bloody. ¡°...Why? Why are you bleeding?"


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ Deserve¡­ This¡­ I¡¯m so¡­ Sorry¡­ Sorry¡­ I hurt you¡­ So¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡±


    Ares was struggling to speak and Enyo couldn¡¯t stand seeing him like this. It wasn¡¯t a major injury, but this was still ridiculous. She still felt betrayed, but Ares hurting himself out of frustration was an even worse feeling that made her feel like she was going to throw up. Enyo was already weeping alongside him as seeing Ares like this was haunting. She stopped talking and just hugged him because she wanted him to stop. To stop scratching, to stop speaking, to stop crying, to just stop.


    Although he stopped injuring himself, he never stopped apologising, not even when his voice became hoarse.


    ¡°Stop. No more.¡± Enyo had calmed down and wanted Ares too as well.


    ¡°... I¡­¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Enyo slapped Ares.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°LISTEN TO ME.¡± Enyo grabbed Ares by the chin and made him face her despite his attempts to look away out of shame. ¡°LOOK AT ME.¡± She slapped him again and he stopped struggling. ¡°NEVER, NEVER¡­ DO THAT AGAIN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?¡±


    ¡°... Ok¡­¡±


    ¡°PROMISE ME. PROMISE ME YOU WON¡¯T EVER EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING THAT AGAIN.¡±


    ¡°... I promise¡­¡±


    ¡°... You called me a coward and then hurt yourself because you couldn¡¯t face what you¡¯d done. That¡¯s unacceptable and pathetic. I¡¯m disappointed in you. I feel betrayed. I know you were trying to help. I know, but I hate you right now. Sit there and think about what you¡¯ve done. You''re feeling guilty for the wrong reason. It¡¯s what you did after that¡¯s borderline unforgivable, so sit here and reflect until I get over this mistake you¡¯ve made and I''m ready to talk to you again.¡± Enyo took the helmet and went back to her bed.


    About half an hour passed.


    Knock Knock


    Ares¡¯ mind was still muddled and working through things, but he had at least come back to his senses somewhat so he got up and walked to the door. He looked through the keyhole and saw Aejaz on the other side. Ares put his hand on the door knob but paused, activated Omniscience, and looked through the keyhole again.


    Ares frowned.


    He slowly unsheathed his sword so as not to make any unnecessary noise and covered it in disintegration magic.


    He raised the sword.


    Knock Knock


    Enyo was wondering why Ares hadn¡¯t opened the door yet and was about to ask when she looked up and watched him decimate the door with a brutal overhead swing. Without even needing to say anything she got up instantly and started to run over.


    Ares had managed to cleanly slice an arm off ¡®Aejaz¡¯. He had aimed for the heart, but despite ¡®Aejaz¡¯ being directly in front of the door and being caught unaware, he still managed to make a last-ditch dodge with incredible reactions. Ares could see through illusions and disguises with Omniscience, so he knew it wasn¡¯t really his brother, but he didn¡¯t even bother questioning this mystery person as he took another swing in the narrow hallway.


    The intruder dodged backward and was clearly still reeling over the lost arm. He knew better than to stick around in this state even if he was stronger than Ares, so he propelled himself backward with another jump that covered a lot of ground while also reaching into his pocket to grab something. When he pulled it out, Ares recognised it immediately and was about to just let him go and run into the room to escape when Enyo dashed out.


    She managed to assess the situation quickly but wasn¡¯t as knowledgeable about the pillar of gadgetry as Ares was thanks to the time he had spent with Lizzie, so she wasn¡¯t frightened by a few small, spiked balls. The intruder threw them straight at her and they started rotating at breakneck speed.


    ¡°Stronghold!¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Ares cried. Ares, in that moment, fully comprehended why Enyo was so annoyed at him. To see the person you love do something so unbelievably stupid, to watch them put themselves at risk or hurt themselves for you, it was horrifying. He couldn¡¯t let this happen and he knew he was going to be absolutely brutalised by what was coming, but letting Enyo take the brunt of it was out of the cards. When he was next able, he was going to force her to promise him the same thing she had made him promise her, not out of petty spite, but because this feeling of helplessness was agonising. Ares wrapped his arms around Enyo and forcibly dragged her around, putting himself between the spiked balls and Enyo. He used his Omniscience to pinpoint a nerve through her armour and, with an Echo, crumpled Enyo to lower her profile, as the only way to protect her from what was about to happen was to make sure she wasn¡¯t exposed at all.


    ¡°What are you doing? He¡¯s going to get¡­¡± Enyo¡¯s overconfident remark was interrupted by the shock of the spiked balls cutting through her defensive art as though it didn¡¯t even exist. ¡°... Away?¡±


    ¡°AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,¡± Ares shrieked in pain as the spikes dug into his flesh and kept spinning to burrow further. The meat under his skin eventually brought the blades to a halt as they wedged themselves into his back, but he still held Enyo tightly. ¡°STAY DOWN,¡± he roared.


    Enyo was disoriented by the ease at which her art had been beaten out, the thought of those spiked balls having hit her, the tortured yell of pain from Ares, and the fact that as she tried to get up, he pushed her back down and was still bracing for something.


    BEEP


    A few people on the floor, Aejaz included, opened their doors to check on the chaos.


    BEEP BEEP


    Aejaz noticed something pulsing with an orange glow inside Ares¡¯ back and was briefly tempted to steal it to try and help.


    ¡°DON¡¯T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! GET BACK INSIDE RIGHT NOW!¡±


    BEEP BEEP BEEP


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    A fiery explosion raced along the corridor, charring a few onlookers who hadn¡¯t heeded Ares'' warning. A few unstable parts of the roof collapsed and bits of floor gave way as the walls were set alight and burnt black.


    Enyo was deafened and could only hear a dizzying ringing sound as Ares slumped on top of her. She circulated mana to her head to stop her brain from rattling against her skull and re-organised her mind. Her hand had stuck out a bit and was burning, causing her excruciating pain, so she quickly snuffed out the fire. She choked on the lingering smoke as she lifted her head over Ares¡¯ shoulder and nearly fainted at what she saw. She repeatedly tried to calm herself down and stop her hands from shaking uncontrollably, but couldn¡¯t whenever she looked at Ares¡¯ back.


    Ares¡¯ backside was shredded.


    From the shoulder blades all the way down to his calves, everything was torn apart by the spikes that had rolled along him and then been blasted deeper like shrapnel, ripping even more of his flesh. There was a massive, hollow space at the centre of his back where it had caved inward due to the explosion. His ribcage had been blasted apart near the point of the detonation and most of his internal organs were scattered and in pieces. A good three quarters of his heart had been liquidised. Everything that still remained on his back, and inside of it, was blackened by the fire and completely scorched if not melting away. Bits of his blood were boiling and had painted the walls, the roof and his back, dripping down and igniting whatever it passed over. Ares'' limp body was like a smouldering corpse.


    ¡°Ares? Ares? Please¡­ Wake up¡­ Please¡­ I¡¯ll forgive you¡­  So¡­ Wake up¡­ Please?¡±


    Aejaz opened his door slightly again and peered out. When he caught sight of Ares, he immediately threw open the door and bolted over. ¡°Quick, get him to a bed¡­ Enyo?¡±


    Enyo was paralysed with indecision. This was all so foreign to her. Just as Ares was unfamiliar with how to be emotionally mature due to his past, Enyo was unfamiliar with how to be emotionally stable as she had never really felt much of anything for anyone. She had been unfeeling and almost robotic for the last thirteen or so years for the sake of her father. The fear of losing someone was a new experience that left her numb. She had been lucky to have fun with all the positive emotions she was encountering as of late like joy, freedom, and love, but the good always comes with the bad. This was the ¡®bad¡¯, and in addition to everything that had happened earlier with Ares hurting himself, it was overwhelming her.


    ¡°Enyo? ENYO!?¡± Aejaz kept calling out to her until she finally snapped back to reality. ¡°He¡¯s not dead, help me move him.¡±


    Enyo raised Ares up and helped Aejaz carry him back into the room and put him on the bed.


    Allie came in shortly after and threw up when she saw the state of Ares. Aejaz ran over to her and helped her get over her uneasiness. ¡°Allie, I¡¯m sorry to ask this of you right now but can you make him a healing pill? His bloodline will take forever due to the blood he¡¯s lost and needs some kind of external aid.¡±


    Allie stopped rocking and her previously pale face gradually returned to normal. ¡°O¡­ Ok¡­ But I only have enough ingredients to make a basic healing pill.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ Will have to do.¡±


    ¡°W¡­ Wait,¡± Enyo stuttered as her mind was still all over the place. She walked out of the room and came back with the intruder¡¯s severed, and now torched, arm. It still had his space ring on the pinky finger. ¡°Will anything in here be helpful?¡±


    Allie looked through the ring, ¡°... Yes! This is perfect! The ring has ¡®sitting-up daisies¡¯, a lifesaving plant! I don¡¯t even need to make him a pill, just feed him the plant and it should work. This plant would be strong enough to heal Ares on its own, even without his bloodline, they¡¯re incredibly rare!¡±


    Aejaz thanked his lucky stars. ¡°Good, pass it over and I¡¯ll give it to him.¡± Aejaz carefully made Ares swallow the plant and then sighed in relief. ¡°Enyo? What even happened?¡±


    Enyo didn¡¯t know everything but she recounted things from her perspective nonetheless.


    ¡°I guess this is what we were warned about, but what do these people even want?¡± Aejaz muttered.


    Enyo was finally back to her old self again. ¡°There¡¯s no way to tell. I think the best course of action is to wait for Zhang and have him look into this. The person that attacked us was, at the very least, in the sensory enhancement realm. If they weren¡¯t, my art wouldn¡¯t have been broken through. I¡¯m guessing they were pretty much one entire realm ahead of me, at maybe the 6th or 7th stage.¡±


    ¡°And my muppet brother just had to be ballsy and pick a fight... Well, it¡¯s a good thing he pulled off a miracle and took off his arm, I suppose, otherwise this situation would be a lot more dire.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, those snatchers are getting out of hand.¡± The bartender had come up to figure out why there was such a ruckus.


    ¡°Snatchers?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I would have told you before, but there was no way to tell if you were one of them or not. People that complain around here often end up disappearing really fast, so we have to be cautious in everything we do. Then again, people have been disappearing lately regardless, but only women. The snatchers are a group of predatory men that all specialise in illusion magic and can make themselves look identical to other people. They must have rolled into town recently as this has only been going on for about two weeks now. 15 women have already gone missing. Their cultivation is too high for the people of this town to deal with. They also keep an eye out on the town entrances and make note of any travellers that come through. It¡¯s why everyone¡¯s always so on edge. The worst part is that the head of the town, Bret, is doing nothing about it. Bret¡¯s son arrived recently and he¡¯s been spending all his time and resources doting on him and making him happy instead of fixing our damn issue. The only thing we can do is pray someone will help us. I¡¯m sorry about your friend there. Him taking an arm is more than anything anyone else has ever done for this town, it¡¯s a shame he died for it.¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, Ares? He''s not dead.¡±


    ¡°... Well, that¡¯s just about the weirdest fucking thing I¡¯ve ever seen. Either way, now that I know you¡¯re not with them, the only thing I can recommend you do is leave this town before things get any worse for you and you actually end up a corpse like those poor, burnt sods outside.¡± The bartender nodded to the hall. ¡°But if you do choose to stay, that¡¯s fine too, just keep your wits about you, and be careful. Don¡¯t worry about the damage to the building, I¡¯ll get it fixed. It¡¯s not your fault anyhow.¡±


    Aejaz and Allie stayed for a little longer discussing things with Enyo before returning to their room and locking it up tight, leaving Enyo alone with an unconscious Ares and a lot of thoughts to sort through. Her brash decision to get involved was why this had gone downhill the way it did, and she was aware of that. Ares could have just Shifted away if she hadn¡¯t been there, but she couldn¡¯t ever see herself not standing in front of him to protect him in that situation. Enyo was dreading Ares waking up and having a go at her for her self-destructive actions, just as she had done to him, but she cared more about him waking up right now. She couldn¡¯t help but give a depreciating laugh inwardly for the irony of her being grateful that Ares was a revenant, allowing him to survive that attack.


    The entire day passed by without any further incidents. As the sun set and night drew closer, Ares woke up. He was still in a non-functional state, lying flat on his stomach and looking like he was half-dead, but he was awake.


    ¡°Ares?¡±


    ¡°... You¡­¡±


    ¡°I know¡­ I know you want to have a go at me¡­ But please heal first.¡±


    ¡°You stupid, brave, stupid woman.¡±


    ¡°Huh? I think you might be delirious, rest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not delirious. I¡¯m annoyed, but I¡¯m not going to yell at you. I just don¡¯t have it in me to do it again after last time. Yelling at you just ends up hurting me, I can¡¯t do it. Just promise me you won¡¯t do that again, that was a foolish thing you did.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m the one with the defensive magic, not you. It¡¯s my job to stand in front. I¡¯ve made my choice; you won¡¯t convince me to change.¡±


    ¡°Yes I damn well will. Just because you¡¯re a defensive specialist, doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re flawless. Look at what happened and tell me you feel confident you could protect anyone from that.¡±


    ¡°No but that was different, his cultivation was too high. It¡¯s unfair to use that as an example.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of his cultivation that I¡¯m using it as an example. You really don¡¯t get it? You would have died, Enyo. When it comes down to it, it¡¯s not the person who¡¯s good at defending that should stand in front, it¡¯s the person that literally can¡¯t die. I¡¯m the immortal one, not you. I can live through the things you can¡¯t and I¡¯ll come back even if I do die, right? my body is disposable for the sake of protecting others, you need to stay alive to protect people. Don¡¯t ever stand in front of me again.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Goddamn it, I''m begging you to stop being stubborn.¡±


    ¡°No. If you die, what about your goals? How many times are you going to be set back before you finally achieve them? I want you to succeed¡­¡±


    ¡°THERE¡¯S NO POINT IN ACHIEVING THE PEACE I¡¯M AFTER IF THE PERSON I WANT IT FOR IS DEAD, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°... I¡¯m sorry. I said I wouldn¡¯t shout, but you were getting on my nerves. Under no circumstance should anyone ever die before me. If I¡¯m born with this massive weight on my back, I¡¯m going to at least swing the weight around and get some mileage out of it. Being a revenant has its issues, but it has its perks too. Don¡¯t deny me this, Enyo. You only have one life, don¡¯t throw it away for me, or for anyone. Leave that responsibility to me. I¡¯m still here, but what if you had been hit instead? What about Allie? What about Aejaz? What about me? Are we supposed to just say, ¡®Oh well, Enyo¡¯s dead, let¡¯s move on!?¡¯ We¡¯ll be devastated because we care about you dammit. You¡¯re a defensive oriented cultivator, if Allie jumped in front of you, would you be ok with that? No, you wouldn¡¯t. So why should I, as someone who¡¯s supposedly immortal, be ok with someone jumping in front of me? If you want to play your role, then do it, but don¡¯t take mine from me. I know you don¡¯t want to, but, please, promise you won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    ¡°... Ok. You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t want to, but I made you promise something similar, so I can¡¯t exactly say no. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t get where you¡¯re coming from¡­ It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t stop myself from standing in front of the people I care about¡­ But¡­ I¡¯ll try¡­ I promise.¡±


    Ares sighed as a great weight was lifted off his mind. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°... I forgive you for earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°... And I forgive you¡­¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You know¡­ I really can¡¯t help but think this is unfair,¡± Ares muttered. ¡°I can¡¯t stay mad at you for even half as long as you can at me.¡±


    Enyo chuckled slightly.


    ¡°Also, why is it that, although we both made the same mistake, I was somehow the one that got hurt both times?¡±


    Enyo burst out laughing.


    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m being serious here!¡±


    Enyo didn¡¯t stop laughing as she knew he was lying. He was just trying to cheer her up and make her feel better. It was definitely working but, honestly, seeing him safe was more than enough for her.


    Sometime later, when the laughter died down, Enyo asked, ¡°What were those things anyway? I¡¯m not knowledgeable about the gadgetry pillar.¡±


    ¡°¡®Stick ¡®N¡¯ Ticks¡¯, they¡¯re part of the ¡®throwables¡¯ aspect. They stick to something and then tick, tick, boom.¡±


    ¡°Uh, wasn¡¯t it more of a ¡®beep¡¯ kind of noise though?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but that doesn¡¯t rhyme.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I didn¡¯t name it.¡±


    ¡°... Um¡­ Are we still carrying on? With the helmet training?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Well, tomorrow anyhow. It¡¯s too late for that today, I think, plus I¡¯m feeling sleepy, or maybe I¡¯m just dying, who knows.¡± Ares stuck his tongue out which got another small laugh out of Enyo.


    ¡°Ok. Goodnight, Ares.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Enyo.¡±


    Crunch


    Ares had his eyes closed when a hint of a smile surfaced as he heard Enyo eating the honeycomb. To him, that crunching sound meant everything was right in the world.

 Chapter 40: Getting Closer

    Ares woke up and used Diagnosis. He could just barely see the tip of shoulder from his current position, but thankfully that was enough for Diagnosis to kick in and do its job. Ares could tell his back was already doing considerably better, but was stunned to find it almost completely healed. He¡¯d been told that Allie gave him some kind of miracle healing plant, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be quite this effective when paired with his bloodline. He¡¯d probably be up and about by the end of the day. He wouldn¡¯t be in peak condition, mind you, but definitely in a passable condition. He looked across the room and saw Enyo still sleeping with her helmet off. She looked so peaceful. He kept watching her sleep for a while as this was as cathartic for him as blowing things up. He quipped in his mind; Maybe I should blow her up? Wouldn¡¯t mixing the two be the height of tranquillity?


    Enyo woke up and saw Ares gazing at her. ¡°Creep.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, where else do you want me to look? I still can¡¯t move, you know?¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t denying it!? You were watching me sleep?¡±


    ¡°What can I say? It¡¯s absolutely a prettier view than facing the wall.¡±


    ¡°Creep,¡± She complained and blushed, but was actually pleased by the compliment. If anything, she wanted him to say more.


    ¡°Hey, maybe I shouldn¡¯t bring attention to this, but you haven¡¯t broken eye contact yet¡­ And there you go.¡± Ares had jinxed it and Enyo looked away the second the words left his lips. ¡°Can¡¯t say I didn¡¯t see that coming. Still though, I¡¯ve gotta say, your blushing face also looks rather pretty too.¡±


    ¡°Will you cut it out?¡± Please don¡¯t cut it out. Actually, come over here and whisper sweet nothings into my ear all day long.


    ¡°Not until you realise something important.¡±


    ¡°That you think I¡¯m good-looking? I get it¡­¡± Not that I don¡¯t like hearing it¡­


    ¡°Wow, egotistical much? Yes, but no. I mean something else, something more important right now. There¡¯s another reason I¡¯m saying these things. Look, I¡¯ll do it again, you¡¯re fetching.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it?¡± MORE.


    Ares nodded to the helmet. ¡°You still haven¡¯t put it on yet.¡±


    ¡°... I can¡¯t believe it. That stupid stunt you pulled yesterday actually worked. Un-fucking-believable.¡± Enyo was so astonished that she even swore, which was a semi-rare occurrence for her.


    ¡°I mean, if you can put up with all the stuff I said, then you can surely put up with anything.¡±


    ¡°IS THAT WHY YOU DID IT!?¡±


    ¡°I did say I was doing it for your own good.¡±


    ¡°... I know you were helping¡­ I just didn¡¯t get what you were trying to accomplish¡­ I¡¯m speechless.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re also still embarrassed, but you¡¯re still talking and you¡¯re not running away anymore. I¡¯m happy for you Enyo, you¡¯re really getting there. I¡¯d be willing to bet that, by the time the internationals start, you¡¯ll be a-ok without the helmet anyone.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ That seems like a little much.¡±


    ¡°We have around two months ¡®till then, look how far you¡¯ve come in just four days. You can do it; I believe in you.¡±


    Enyo smiled. I know you do. ¡°Right, well, first things first.¡± Enyo took a deep breath and looked back over at Ares.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Enyo buckled pretty quickly but still didn¡¯t go for the helmet.


    ¡°I¡¯m not suggesting you quit, just making an observation, but you could totally get away with even this. People would just think you¡¯re shy.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but I want to be normal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you; you are normal.¡±


    ¡°And I appreciate it, but that¡¯s not my definition of normal... Um¡­ Could you talk to me when I¡¯m looking at you? I think it¡¯s easier if you aren¡¯t just staring silently.¡±


    ¡°Haha, fair point. I hadn¡¯t considered that. Alright.¡±


    Enyo stabilised her nerves and went back for round two of ¡®face your fears¡¯.


    ¡°So, what do you want to talk about?¡±


    ¡°... I didn¡¯t think that far ahead.¡±


    ¡°Hm, ok¡­ How about my past. Is there anything you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Everything,¡± Enyo blurted out. She realised that may have been a bit heavy-handed and looked away. ¡°We¡¯ve got a long day ahead of us so I figure there¡¯s time for the important things. Of course, you don¡¯t have to tell me anything you don¡¯t feel comfortable with.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t mind. You already know about the Primordial Blade and Huggles, there¡¯s nothing to hide really. You already know all but one of my secrets, so you pretty much know almost as much as Aejaz in that department.¡±


    ¡°You have another secret?¡± Enyo already knew it was that he loved her, but played along anyway for the fun of it to see if she could glean any information.


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°Can I know?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but not now.¡±


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°When I get my reward for the Baja Forest bet.¡± Ares grinned mischievously.


    Damnit! Enyo was miffed as this was the one thing she still didn¡¯t know about. ¡°And what is that?¡±


    ¡°Not telling.¡± Ares stuck his tongue out. ¡°But honestly, you may be able to figure it out if you really think things through.¡±


    Enyo looked back at Ares for round three. ¡°Really!? How?¡±


    ¡°Bellona accidentally gave you a pretty massive clue in regards to when it will happen. Actually, she basically told you.¡±


    ¡°Did she?¡± Enyo thought back.


    ---------------------------------


    Previously


    ¡°Ouch, and here I was thinking about going through with your forfeits anyway ¡®cos I like cooking,¡± Ares dusted himself off and stood up.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but only your forfeit and Enyo¡¯s, obviously,¡± Ares wagged his finger at Gladius to dash the hope in his eyes.


    ¡°Damnit!¡± Gladius had surprisingly really wanted to win the bet and publicly humiliate Ares.


    Enyo, however, was very pleased with this outcome, ¡°More honeycomb?¡±


    ¡°Yes Enyo, more honeycomb,¡± Ares replied while chuckling to himself. As he was turning to face Bellona, out of the corner of his eye, Ares could have sworn he saw Enyo doing a celebratory, mini fist-pump, ¡°Well, whenever you want me to cook for this secret person, let me know.¡±


    Bellona gave a mysterious response, ¡°It¡¯ll happen around the same time you get your reward for the bet.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°At the international?¡± Enyo asked, ¡°What do you want from me at the international?¡±


    Ares'' grin widened. ¡°You¡¯ll see. Still, if you think back even further, there¡¯s a very slim chance you might work it out and get your answer, but I¡¯m not giving you any more hints. Now it¡¯s my turn to ask a question.¡±


    Enyo had looked away for a while and was now looking back at him again.


    ¡°Good job by the way, you lasted longer that time. Anyway, who am I cooking for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you if you tell me what you want for the bet.¡±


    ¡°Ha, no. I can actually put two and two together and work it out anyway. I know your family is very likely going to show up at the international, so the only real question is, is it going to be your brothers and sisters, or your mother? Based on Bellona¡¯s twisted personality, I¡¯m assuming it¡¯s your mother.¡±


    ¡°... I¡¯m impressed. How did you know about my family?¡±


    ¡°Gladius fore-warned me about them.¡±


    ¡°Gladius?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, we got along quite well. I even let him in on the fact that Charity liked him as much as he liked her as thanks.¡±


    ¡°WHAT!?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t see them all lovey-dovey toward the end of our trip? They¡¯re basically already a couple.¡±


    ¡°... Lucky them.¡± Enyo was jealous she wasn¡¯t at that point with Ares yet, but she now knew when she would get her chance! The international! Ares was going to tell her the truth and oh how glorious of a day it was going to be! She still thought it was a bit strange though as the international hardly seemed romantic, but she just blindly trusted him. It really seemed like he had something planned.


    ¡°Mhm. I know I said I¡¯d talk about my past, and we¡¯ve gotten a little off-topic, but I kinda also want to know about yours. How about we take it in turns?¡±


    ¡°Ok, who goes first?¡± Enyo looked away and took some time to reset herself.


    ¡°Well, there is a question I¡¯d really like an answer to. I¡¯ve heard a fair bit about your mother, but never her name.¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, I guess not, huh? Her name is Rhea.¡±


    ¡°You mean like dia¡­¡±


    ¡°DON¡¯T.¡±


    Ares chuckled. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell her you said that, let¡¯s see if you can still laugh then.¡±


    ¡°Haha, go ahead. I¡¯m not scared.¡±


    Enyo looked back at Ares. ¡°Good, she basically feeds on fear anyway.¡±


    Ares burst out laughing. ¡°You¡¯re really funny, you know that?¡±


    Enyo blushed. ¡°Thank you.¡± She kept looking at him in spite of her reddened cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s my turn to ask you a question.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Ares and Enyo kept talking about their past for hours on end without running out of things to say or getting even remotely bored of each other¡¯s company and stories. The only interruption was when Ares left to go give Aejaz and Allie some food, but everything resumed the second he got back into the room. Enyo progressively got really good at ¡®face your fears¡¯ without even realising. It no longer felt like training and was becoming second-nature to her. The conversations she had with Ares took her mind off anything and everything else.


    ¡°... And that was how I met Appa.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, Allie told me you did the same thing and pet her as well.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± Ares smiled warmly as he looked straight at Enyo¡¯s eyes. ¡°Enyo, it¡¯s been ten minutes.¡±


    Enyo blinked and was taken aback when Ares said that. ¡°R¡­ Really?¡± Although she was embarrassed she had been staring at him for so long, she didn¡¯t look away even now that she was conscious of it.


    ¡°Yep. Congratulations.¡±


    Enyo got up and moved over to Ares¡¯ bed. He was doing better and sitting up now, meaning he was in a huggable position, and hug him Enyo did. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I should be thanking you, seriously, way better than the wall.¡±


    Enyo snickered. ¡°Idiot.¡± She let go and sat back down on her bed again.


    ¡°Now you just need to get used to a few billion other people and you¡¯re done!¡± Ares got to see Enyo rolling her eyes for the first time which was incredibly satisfying for him. ¡°We can use Aejaz and Appa for that if you don¡¯t have anyone in mind. Maybe even that Esme person you mentioned. For now, though, there¡¯s one more thing I want to do!¡±


    ¡°Hm? What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Close your eyes.¡±


    Enyo did as Ares asked without question. A few seconds passed and nothing happened but she kept her eyes closed regardless of her curiosity. Her eyes opened immediately though when she felt a hand on her chin. IS THIS HAPPENING? IS HE GOING TO KISS ME? She promptly realised that it wasn¡¯t, and was extremely disappointed. Ares was really close but not moving, just maintaining his distance and staring at her. ¡°... This¡­ Is awkward¡­¡± she said as she looked away.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°I know but, as with that helmet stunt I pulled yesterday, I think doing things the over-the-top way is helpful. If you can get used to someone staring at you from a close distance like this, then it will become that much simpler when they¡¯re further away.¡± Ares winged his little explanation. Truthfully, this probably wasn¡¯t necessary, and he wasn¡¯t sure if it would even help, but he really liked the intimacy of being as close as he was, so he was going to milk this for what it was worth! Please agree, please agree, please agree, please agree, please agree, Ares prayed.


    ¡°... Ok,¡± Enyo muttered. I need to get used to this. I want us to be this close so I might as well get used to it now. It¡¯d be so disastrous if he went to kiss me and I panicked.


    Ares sat on Enyo¡¯s bed and scooched over until he was sitting cross-legged and really quite close. He stared directly at her and she mimicked him, turning to sit cross legged and stare back.


    This was hard for Enyo though, and they were essentially back to square one, but that was to be expected as this was many degrees harder than what they¡¯d been practising prior. It always started like this, but things always worked out eventually through dedication and effort, there was no reason for this to be any different. ¡°...Um, are you not going to speak?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Enyo couldn¡¯t take it and looked away. ¡°That¡¯s going to be hard.¡±


    ¡°Nothing good in life comes easy.¡±


    ¡°Since when did you become some kind of wise old sage?¡±


    ¡°Admittedly, only whenever it¡¯s convenient.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, at least you¡¯re honest.¡±


    ¡°Not like I can lie to you anyway.¡±


    ¡°Would you if you could?¡±


    ¡°No. I try not to lie to people I like.¡±


    ¡°Lucky me. I¡¯m honoured.¡±


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve learned sarcasm.¡±


    Ares and Enyo kept lightly bickering and having fun pulling each other¡¯s leg as the day went by. They practised close-up staring and made some progress, but weren¡¯t able to reach a point where Enyo could stare indefinitely by the time night rolled around.


    ¡°Guess we¡¯ll just have to pick up again tomorrow ¡®cos you¡¯re a slowpoke.¡±


    ¡°Oh haha.¡±


    Enyo and Ares were both lying in their respective beds, looking at one another directly. It almost felt surreal to both of them that this was happening given the state of things when they first arrived.


    ¡°I¡¯m just sayin¡¯, I think this step will take you longer to overcome.¡±


    ¡°Is this reverse psychology? Are you challenging me? Because if you man up and say it to my face I swear I¡¯ll have it done by the end of tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Oh really? Well maybe I AM challenging you.¡±


    ¡°You know what I¡¯m going to say right?¡±


    ¡°Bet? You seem to like betting.¡±


    ¡°You know it, chump. I bet I¡¯ll have it done by this time tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Then that leaves me betting that you won¡¯t. Your betting habit got me thinking about what to bet with you the next time it happened, A.K.A now, so I already know what I want.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°I want you to cook for me.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Yep. It¡¯s always me cooking for everyone else, but I¡¯m curious to see what would happen if the roles were reversed. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not expecting a masterclass in cooking, and it doesn''t have to be something complicated.¡±


    ¡°Wow, well aren¡¯t you assured of your victory? If I win, I want to come around to your house in the sect every day for cooking, even if Allie doesn¡¯t come with me. I also want to choose the menu every couple of days.¡±


    ¡°Deal,¡± Ares replied with no hesitation as he was already more than willing to do that to begin with. ¡°In fact, if you can somehow manage to do it in the same position as that one time you tackled me in Baja Forest, I¡¯ll let you choose the menu every day and I¡¯ll even bring it straight to your doorstep if you ever can¡¯t be bothered to come around. I¡¯ll also make food not just for your mother, but for your entire family. I¡¯ll prepare them all a banquet fit for kings and queens.¡±


    Enyo remembered the time she straddled Ares after chasing him around with the spider and her face flushed. ¡°... I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to do that.¡±


    Ares shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s optional. Besides, I know you won¡¯t anyway. All the momentum you¡¯ve built up today is going to go right down the drain overnight. I really do wonder what you¡¯ll cook for me.¡± Ares winked before closing his eyes. ¡°Goodnight, Enyo.¡±


    Snake! That¡¯s what you¡¯re banking on? You think you¡¯re so clever? I¡¯ll show you! I¡¯ll damn well show you! ¡°Goodnight, Ares.¡± Enyo grinned evilly and she took the armour off her hands as she wished Ares a good night¡¯s sleep. Enyo thought back to the time she straddled Ares and reminisced about how happy she was in that moment, just staring at him as he stared back. I can do it! I can absolutely do it! Enyo stealthily stood up and crept over to Ares bedside. If you think I¡¯ll lose my drive overnight, then I¡¯ll do it right now you bastard! You can do this Enyo. Just think about how happy you were last time, and do that again. Ares smug face came barrelling into her thoughts but, instead of demoralising her, it just motivated her further. Rogue! You think you can beat me? I¡¯ll show you! I¡¯LL SHOW YOU!


    In one fluid motion Enyo grabbed Ares shoulder and pushed him off his side, so he was flat on his back, while bringing her right leg onto his bed and over both of his legs. She brought both her knees up a bit so that when she leant over Ares face, she was at a higher position than him as she subconsciously wanted to put him in his place and dominate him. She brought her hand on his right shoulder up his neck, and onto the side of his face and her other hand followed suit soon after, clasping onto the left side. It truly looked like she was about to kiss him and start making passionate love to him then and there.


    Ares had woken up and was completely flummoxed when something dragged him by the shoulder, but just went along for the ride when he saw it was Enyo. When she finally finished getting on top of him, Ares was left in a stupor, dazed at this sudden aggression from someone who had been so meek during their previous close encounters. He had to raise his head slightly to look straight at Enyo. The single-minded dedication and determination in her eyes was unlike anything Ares had ever seen from her before and, for the first time since they arrived, Ares felt like he was the prey, and Enyo was the predator staring him down. Enyo¡¯s soft but firm hands, entrancing, deep purple eyes, and the hot breaths from her luscious pink lips was driving Ares insane with arousal that he couldn¡¯t control. Ares'' imagination ran wild thinking of all the things he wanted to do to her and he became fully erect under his clothes in a matter of seconds. Fuck! Don¡¯t notice. Don¡¯t notice. Please dear god don¡¯t notice!


    But how could Enyo not notice? It wasn¡¯t exactly small; it was the exact opposite. She definitely didn¡¯t care though. She liked it. The sexual tension was thrilling. It excited her. Enyo¡¯s first experience with this level of arousal made her want to go further, much further. The thought that she had complete dominion over Ares¡¯ lust and could rile him up just by subjugating him underneath her made her want to play rough with him. She wanted to reach back and toy with his manhood, to make him beg in ragged breaths, to whimper and moan as she gripped tighter and stroked faster. Enyo¡¯s imagination ran wilder than Ares¡¯ did and, for the first time in her life, she wanted to have sex. She wanted to taste him, to be tasted by him, to ride him, to be ridden by him, to push him down and to be pushed down by him. She wanted to try it all. She wanted him to caress her neck and whisper that he loves her into her ear before choking and slapping her. She wanted to slap him and spit in his mouth. She wanted him to push her up against the wall and pin her head to it with his rough hands while he made her his bitch. She wanted to tie him down and have him admit that she owned him like a slave, that his body was solely for her pleasure and that he was grateful for it. All it would take for her dreams to become reality right now was a single kiss, then a tongue, then a hand, then they would fuck like animals.


    Enyo was wet, and Ares¡¯ dick was dripping precum, but neither of them made a move. That wasn¡¯t what this was supposed to be about. They would have their moment, but only after they had a chance to romance and be romanced. They both wanted to commit, but held back their carnal desires and just stared.


    Enyo was now back from her fantasies and was on the verge of being unable to look at Ares anymore, but she stubbornly refused to back down now. She lamented her courage vanishing and a tear formed as she was preparing to look away.


    Ares felt like he¡¯d just been through Armageddon and back, and was mentally exhausted from the make-believe images he had conjured of love-making with Enyo. He saw the tear form in her eyes and without even having to think it over, two things happened instinctively. First, annoyingly, his erection got even harder. It wasn¡¯t what he wanted to have happen but he couldn¡¯t stop it anyway. Secondly, he knew he needed to wipe away Enyo¡¯s tear from her face. This time, he was pleased with his body''s reaction as his hands were on the go before his brain had even processed what was happening. One hand gently held one side of Enyo¡¯s face as a finger on the other delicately stroked away the tear.


    That single action was enough for Enyo to remember why Ares made her happy. This was supposed to be happy, like it was in the forest so, although she was still panicking internally, she smiled. The longer she smiled, the more it made sense and the easier it all became.


    One minute


    Two minutes


    Three minutes


    Something was about to break.


    Enyo couldn¡¯t do it anymore. Looking at Ares? that she could do, but holding back the kiss just wasn¡¯t possible anymore. It didn¡¯t have to lead to sex, but the kiss had to happen. She lowered her neck an inch and came that much closer to Ares as he lifted his head with the same intentions as her.


    Knock Knock


    FUCKFUCKFUCKKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKING WHY? WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHY? FUCKING DAMNIT ALL. FUCK! Enyo was screaming internally and felt like punching a wall or breaking something.


    Ares was still bowled over by everything that had happened and spoke timidly, ¡°... Um¡­ Enyo¡­ Can¡­ Can I get up?¡±


    Enyo got up and walked back to her bed, lay down in it, faced the wall, and held her covers tightly to her chest.


    Ares got up and staggered over to the door. He held onto it for support as his whole world was still spinning, and looked through the keyhole with Omniscience. This time, it was the real Aejaz. Ares wished it wasn¡¯t. If it¡¯d been a fake again, he could have taken out his rising fury on the person who had just interrupted, undeniably, the best moment of his life. He opened the door and asked with clear agitation in his voice, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Jeez, why do you sound so grumpy? And why do you look so haggard? Whatever, anyway, I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re up and running. I just came to check ¡®cos I was worried about you.¡±


    Absolute fuckwit. I swear to God I''m going to make you suffer for your transgressions, you blithering moron. ¡°We¡¯re doing fine.¡±


    ¡°¡®We¡¯re¡¯? Sure, I¡¯m glad to hear Enyo¡¯s doing alright, but I was asking about you.¡± Aejaz leant in and whispered so Enyo couldn''t hear, ¡°Or could it be you two were having a moment,¡± he subtly pointed down at Ares¡¯ not so subtle ¡®rising fury¡¯ that hadn¡¯t subsided yet.


    Ares yanked Aejaz closer by the collar and whispered violently into his ear, ¡°Yes, we fucking were, you dipshit. Just you wait, I¡¯ll remember this.¡± Ares let go and faked a beaming smile and a jovial tone, ¡°Well, thanks for everything. Goodnight, Aejaz.¡±


    ¡°... Um, goodnight, Are¡­¡± He didn¡¯t bother finishing the sentence as the door had already closed in his face. I¡¯m in serious trouble, aren¡¯t I?


    Back inside the room everything was quiet.


    ¡°... Enyo¡­ You win the bet¡­¡±


    ¡°... Mm,¡± she gave a limited response without turning around.


    ¡°... Are you ok?¡±


    ¡°... Mm.¡±


    ¡°... Goodnight, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°... Mm.¡± Enyo was irate and absolutely livid, but she still wanted to respond and say goodnight like she had done every other day. The reason she couldn¡¯t was because she was trying so hard not to cry out loud. She wouldn¡¯t have been able to say it without bawling like a child, so she didn¡¯t. Instead, she silently hid in her covers.


    ¡°... Enyo, do you know why I lost the bet?¡±


    ¡°... Mm?¡± What on earth is he talking about?


    ¡°... Patience. If I¡¯d just been more patient, I would have won. If I waited to tell you my plan tomorrow after it already happened, it would have all worked out.¡±


    ¡°...Mm?¡± Has he gone insane? What¡¯s he getting at?


    ¡°I guess what I¡¯m saying is, patience is a really hard thing to control, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ares took a gamble without risks. He was starting to entertain the idea that Enyo liked him back, it was starting to get a little too obvious and he wasn¡¯t blind or stupid. Even if she somehow miraculously didn¡¯t, she would just assume he was being nonsensical about their bet. If she very obviously did, then she would know he was talking about holding back earlier, and he could reassure her that their moment was coming.


    ¡°... Goodnight, Ares¡±


    It all clicked for Ares. That one response was enough for him. He liked her, she liked him. He knew it, she knew it. All that was left was patience.


    Crunch


    It really just all clicked.


    ---------------------------------


    There had been all manner of tomfoolery on the previous mornings, but today was relatively simple. Enyo woke up first and watched Ares sleep until he woke up as well. When Ares opened his eyes and saw Enyo, he smiled, and she smiled back. That was all. Just smiles. They relished in the simplicity of the moment for a while. they¡¯d been through a surprising amount recently considering they¡¯d basically never left the room, so this was nice and relaxing.


    A while later, Ares broke the silence and broached a topic he wanted Enyo¡¯s input on, ¡°What do you think about Allie and Aejaz?¡±


    It was an abstruse way of making his point, but Enyo understood. Ares was asking if they should be open and honest even though they weren¡¯t going to go all the way just yet. ¡°We aren¡¯t them.¡±


    ¡°And they aren¡¯t us.¡±


    The words ¡®us¡¯ and ¡®we¡¯ all but confirmed their thoughts about one another and suddenly they were back to smiling at each other again. Ares was very nearly tempted to just say the words but held back as he really felt it would be worthwhile to wait. He could picture the moment in his head and he would fight tooth and nail for it, not just because he felt he deserved it, but because Enyo did too. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have plenty to catch up on with Bellona when you two next meet.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll never be able to lie to my bloodline ever again like you did in the cave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll never play me for a fool by lying about your bloodline to win a bet ever again.¡±


    Enyo snickered. ¡°I won¡¯t need to, after all, you¡¯re not the kind of person to lie to people you like.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I can find it in me to lie to a creep.¡±


    Ares and Enyo giggled like school children.


    ¡°I¡¯m really glad I met you, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m glad I met you, Ares.¡±


    ¡°Lunch?¡±


    ¡°Lunch.¡±


    Enyo and Ares ate together when he came back from giving food to Aejaz and Allie. He also mentioned that he may or may not have smacked Aejaz around a bit ¡®for fun¡¯, which Enyo wholeheartedly supported oddly enough. They had a wonderful time with their pleasant chat, talking for a good few hours about the time they first met, about their first long chat in the woods, and about how good the honeycomb tasted.


    BANG


    Ares sprang up off his feet and Shifted out of the room with Enyo darting out after him, busting through their door and splintering it into a thousand tiny pieces in the process with reckless abandon. That sound had come from Aejaz and Allie¡¯s room and there was no time to fiddle around with keys.


    When Enyo broke into the corridor she ran straight to their room and hopped over the broken door frame, pulling out her shield as she went. Upon entering, she took stock of the situation.


    Ares was nowhere to be found, but she trusted him to be doing the right thing right now, whatever that was.


    Allie was cowering behind Aejaz and a few of her Mini-Pillies.


    Aejaz was injured with a knife wound across his stomach, but was safe as it wasn¡¯t too deep. He had stolen some kind of gadget from the snatcher and was threatening him with it which had allowed him to buy time for the arrival of help. Good job.


    The snatcher was the same one as last time, and was easily identifiable as such thanks to his missing arm. It made no sense to send him again without his arm unless he was the strongest snatcher and they felt it was necessary to do so as they were lacking other options. This was useful information. He was on the other side of the room, hesitant to act against his own weaponry as gadgets would always operate at full efficiency regardless of the cultivation of the person who utilised them. When the snatcher saw Enyo and he realised the situation was deteriorating rapidly, he made a mad dash toward the window.


    Enyo ignored him and moved straight over to Aejaz and Allie as she knew what was about to happen. Ares. I trust you.


    The snatcher crashed through the glass window and turned around mid-air to throw some Stick ¡®N¡¯ Ticks. He was repeating the same method of retreat as last time, but now there was no Ares to block it. No-one had any clue where Ares was or what he was going to do, but he needed to do it fast as, if those things were let loose, people were going to die here. The snatcher¡¯s arm was mid swing when it came to an abrupt halt. He looked around in shock to find Ares behind him, also in mid-air, stealing the Stick ¡®N¡¯ Ticks from his hand.


    Ares had looped around and gone outside the building, predicting the snatcher¡¯s escape route, his method of covering his tracks, everything. He snuck up behind him outside the building and waited for the perfect opportunity to strike as, now, he¡¯d stolen a weapon he could use to kill the snatcher. If Ares had just gone through the front door, he never would¡¯ve been able to manage this. In fact, he¡¯d probably be receiving another dose of explosive misery right about now. It helped that the snatcher hadn¡¯t been expecting Ares to still be alive, let alone be in good enough shape to fight.


    This was still a 4th realm cultivator vs 6th realm though, meaning a difference of roughly 20 whole stages of cultivation. Ares had to make use of the fact that he had gotten the jump on him and that the snatcher had only a single arm. Ares only had a single moment, but that was enough as he already knew what he wanted to do with it. He thrust the Stick ¡®N¡¯ Ticks into the back of the snatcher¡¯s remaining shoulder and set them spinning.


    ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGG.¡±


    ¡°Hurts, doesn¡¯t it!?¡± Ares leant his head back as he spoke. He wasn¡¯t going to headbutt him as the difference in cultivation meant it would definitely be his head that cracked. Instead, he imbued his teeth with disintegration magic and gnashed wildly at the snatcher¡¯s neck.


    ¡°ARGHHHHHHH. FUCKING RAT!¡±


    Ares managed to rip and tear a few chunks here and there, but caught onto nothing major.


    BEEP


    Ares had still had one hand free and he wasn¡¯t going to have it just sit around doing nothing. He drew his sword with it and imbued it with disintegration before piercing the snatcher¡¯s leg and slicing it clean off. Last time, I took an arm. This time, I¡¯ll take an arm and a leg, then I¡¯ll kill you for even thinking about hurting the people I love.


    BEEP BEEP


    Ares ducked under the snatcher¡¯s ticking arm and kicked forcefully back against his stomach, pushing him straight down onto the ground and into the middle of the street street while simultaneously sending Ares back up to the window which he vaulted over smoothly.


    BEEP BEEP BEEP


    BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    ¡°Stronghold!¡±


    Enyo activated her art on the entirety of the building. It wouldn¡¯t protect it fully, but mitigating the damage and preventing any straggling flames from burning alive innocents was enough. Also, who knew if the inn was structurally sound enough to take the explosion? Better safe than sorry.


    The white, phantasmagorical castle walls twisted into reality and acted as a barrier around the inn. It lasted for a second or two before breaking down, but even that had been helpful, giving time for everyone inside to move and back up from the explosion''s range.


    Bits of the inn had caught fire, but it was only here and there and could easily be extinguished. The inn would also need a paint job as it was now burnt black on the front, and yet that was still a far more appreciable outcome then what could have potentially happened.


    Ares leapt over the shattered glass and fell down to the street below. Enyo smiled and followed after him. She was proud of Ares who, in two encounters, had essentially single-handedly killed a cultivator two realms higher than him. She already knew he was strong thanks to the buzzblader fight, and she loved that about him, but what she really loved was that he was smart. He had taken the same person by surprise twice and engineered a victory that would have been perfect were it not for her own intervention. Enyo wouldn¡¯t have cared if Ares had been weak, she liked him for who he was as a person and not as a cultivator, but the fact that he was as strong, clever, and reliable as he was just made falling in love with him all that much sweeter. She couldn¡¯t think of anything she wanted in a man that Ares didn¡¯t have, he was perfect to her¡­ Well, almost. When she jumped after him, she realised they were going to have a clash on what to do next. He was going to want to kill the snatcher, she was going to want to arrest the snatcher. They¡¯d been here before.


    The snatcher was still barely clinging to life with only one leg left and a number of serious wounds across his left half where the gadget had detonated. Even the remaining leg had been set ablaze and would be unusable for a good while. The only way this person was ever fighting anything ever again was if he visited Neo Gear Land and got prosthetic surgery, otherwise he would remain crippled forever.


    Ares lightly twirled his sword as he approached the snatcher who was lying flat on the floor.


    ¡°Ares,¡± Enyo called out to him.


    Ares scratched his head. ¡°The more things change, the more things stay the same, huh?¡±


    ¡°Can I have my way this time?¡±


    Ares struggled with an internal conflict, looking between the snatcher and Enyo repeatedly. In the end, he just couldn¡¯t go against Enyo¡¯s wishes. ¡°Fine.¡± Ares threw his hands in the air and sighed in defeat. At the very least, the snatcher was fully out of commission and couldn¡¯t hurt a fly.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Ares snapped his head and looked down the street, behind Enyo.


    Enyo turned around and saw a group of 7 men brandishing various weapons and walking toward them.


    ¡°Guess that¡¯s the rest of the snatchers, here to pick up their friend¡­ Or what¡¯s left of him anyway.¡± Ares activated Omniscience. ¡°The highest cultivation amongst them is mental accumulation, 6th stage.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s rather low compared to the leader, we can handle them with ease.¡± Enyo raised her shield.


    Ares had reached the 5th stage of skeletal structuring when the Stick ¡®N¡¯ Tick detonated, and fighting against such a high realm cultivator had left him near the edge of it, closing in on the 6th stage. Fighting these goons would be a tad difficult, but also more than enough to push him over that edge. He didn¡¯t agree with Enyo, instead, he shook his head. ¡°Not we, me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd, I could fight them off all on my own if need be. I¡¯m not someone who needs protecting, Ares.¡±


    ¡°I know that, Enyo. I know that, like me, you can easily fight people with a higher cultivation than you and I know you could beat them all on your own. It¡¯s not you that needs protecting.¡± Ares nodded at Allie and Aejaz who were coming out of the front door of the inn. ¡°You want to arrest that one snatcher as he¡¯s probably the leader, right? We can¡¯t arrest them all, it would make life far too hard to keep them all alive. Take Allie and Aejaz and go arrest him. I¡¯ll kill them.¡±


    Enyo really wasn¡¯t too keen on this arrangement, but she knew trying to keep everyone alive here was a herculean task and was an unreasonable request, so she nodded and took what she could get. ¡°Ok. Stay safe.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m basically a cockroach anyway.¡±


    ¡°Bellona told you I said that!? Tsk, she must have had a lot of fun playing both sides.¡±


    Ares chuckled. ¡°Stay safe.¡±


    Enyo smiled under her helmet and dragged Aejaz and Allie off to the side to quickly explain the situation before leaving with them and the snatcher¡¯s incapacitated leader.


    Ares did a few side reaches and shoulder stretches in a mocking fashion as the snatchers drew closer. ¡°You guys should warm up too, wouldn¡¯t want you going cold on me.¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯ll die with a warm corpse,¡± One of the snatchers responded.


    ¡°Yeah, that was the joke. That you guys are going to go cold¡­ Like a corpse¡­ No?¡± Ares sighed. ¡°Whatever. I may not get a laugh out of you, but I¡¯ll at least get another stage of cultivation.¡±

 Chapter 41: Learning Lessons the Hard Way

    Allie tugged on Aejaz¡¯ clothes as they ran. ¡°Are you ok?¡±


    Aejaz¡¯ wound was still bleeding. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be fine. That pill you gave me is already working, I can feel it healing me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡±


    The snatcher had broken into the room and targeted Allie from the start. Aejaz hadn¡¯t managed to get any hits in, but he stood resolute and lasted long enough for the cavalry to arrive while protecting Allie from harm. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you''re safe.¡±


    Enyo chuckled. ¡°I would tell you two to get a room, but you already have one.¡±


    Aejaz and Allie both blushed. ¡°Speaking of, how¡¯s rooming with Ares been?¡± Allie changed the subject.


    ¡°Great. Phenomenal even. I¡¯ll talk to you about it later. For now, we¡¯ve got to deal with this snatcher.¡±


    The prison in this town was actually just a mock-dungeon underneath the mayor¡¯s mansion. Bret was supposed to be looking out for the people here and dealing with these snatchers, but had been hyper-focused on spoiling his son who had arrived recently. If he wasn¡¯t going to do anything about it, then Enyo would drag them to his front door so he had no choice but to acknowledge the issue. She really did wish she could have brought them all, but this would have to do as the situation was out of her control.


    They arrived at the mansion and explained the situation to the guards who looked at each other under their helmets and shrugged. One went inside while the other told them to wait. About five minutes later, the guard came back and escorted them to Bret¡¯s office. From outside, they heard what was presumably Bret speaking, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it, Crayn.¡±


    They walked inside and looked around. There was a young man that was obviously Crayn as there was no one else present. He had a face somehow even more forgettable than the Lighter Duo and his only real defining features were his long neck and lanky body. As for the office, it was a pretty ordinary office. That was still saying a lot though considering the living conditions of everyone else in this town, there was a clear discrepancy and Enyo immediately disliked this ¡®Bret¡¯. Bret himself was a rather large man who looked tired and fed-up with something.


    Enyo decided to get the conversation started. ¡°Are you aware of the snatcher issue that has been plaguing this town?¡±


    Bret responded in a neutral tone, ¡°I am. What of it?¡±


    ¡°You should be held accountable for your lack of care, but that¡¯s a different issue. We¡¯ve dealt with the problem for you. This one here was their leader, the rest are currently all being murdered by our companion. I¡¯m bringing this one here for you to imprison and bring to justice.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s in quite the state. Well, hand him over then.¡± He nodded to a guard who took the snatcher off Enyo and took a step back. ¡°Girlie, do you know how much of a pain you are?¡±


    ¡°What? We¡¯re filling in the blanks that you¡¯re leaving. There is effectively no law in this city, you should be thankful for what we¡¯ve done.¡±


    ¡°No law in this city? I AM the law.¡± Bret waved his finger in a circular rotation and the guards blocked the exit. ¡°Tsk, those snatchers were good men. They were expensive, but had high cultivation bases and their illusion magic could fool even me. Now, because of you, I¡¯m going to have to shell out more stardust and hire lower quality workers. Do you understand, or do I need to spell it out for you?¡±


    Allie huddled closer to Aejaz who, in turn, moved closer to Enyo. ¡°Despicable. So that¡¯s where the women went? They¡¯re in your dungeon? You¡¯re scum of the earth.¡±


    ¡°Me? No. Him?¡± Bret pointed at Crayn. ¡°Yes. I wish my son would stop being a lousy pervert, but I¡¯m just enabling him, so blame him not me.¡±


    Crayn rolled his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to do in this infernal, god-forsaken town.¡±


    ¡°You say that, but you do this in every town you visit. Tsk, what I wouldn¡¯t give for a son who isn''t as pathetic as you. If you weren¡¯t doing well as a cultivator, I would have kicked you out by now.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯ve said, many times.¡± Crayn looked over at Allie. ¡°Thank the heavens for travellers, the women in this town aren¡¯t anything special. That one in the back is really cute, I¡¯ll go play with her, while you deal with them, ok?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you do it yourself you lazy brat? Also, what about the knight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of the knight that I can¡¯t be bothered to do it myself, she looks like trouble. Also, she¡¯s not my type. She¡¯ll just struggle and I bet it won¡¯t even be worth it. How good looking can she be if she¡¯s hiding her face anyway?¡±


    Bret wasted no time in getting out of his chair and kicking his desk out of his way.


    ¡°Behemoth!¡±


    Bret¡¯s cultivation of sensory enhancement, 2nd stage, flared and he bound across the room. Enyo put everything she had into blocking with a magic barrier and held him back with relative ease.


    Behemoth was an art of the bare-fisted aspect. It was extremely simple and just made the user stronger, that was literally it. The art was rarely used as it lacked any kind of utility and did nothing special of any kind. It was the type of art used by big, bulky, stupid morons who were too dumb to learn anything that required actual technique. Whereas other arts would perhaps be able to get around Enyo in some fashion, Bret could do nothing but keep swinging at the barrier like a brute to try and break it. Sure, you could overpower people and rend the heaven and the earth with the might of a thousand blah blah blah, but any other art could do that if you practised enough with it too, and other arts had other benefits. There were some freaks, however, that took it to the extreme, and used dedication cultivation and spent innumerable amounts of resources to hone their body into the ultimate weapon. They could wind up a terrifying existence, sure, but it required complete commitment in order to really make it work and to get to that point. Bret was luckily not at that point.


    The guards and Crayn had run around the sides while Enyo focused on Bret. Aejaz couldn¡¯t hold off all three as they all had cultivation stages two levels higher than him, sitting at mental accumulation, 4th stage. The most he could manage was two and, even then, he was on the defensive. Even though he was completely untouchable, he cursed his lacking offensive capabilities. He managed to get hits every now and then, but none of it was substantial let alone lethal. Maybe if he wasn¡¯t still injured he could have done a little better. He despaired and wished Ares was here right now, he would have already killed all three.


    Crayn had ignored Aejaz and went straight for Allie. Allie only had a cultivation of 3rd realm flesh unfettering, 10th stage. She had done the two mana related realms first as she was safe inside the sect and only had to focus on her alchemy and not her cultivation for fighting purposes. She had been considering switching from standard cultivation to dedication so she could increase her cultivation faster but had yet to make the switch. Despite the difference of over an entire realm, she was still ready to put up a fight.


    ¡°Status Surge!¡±


    Status Surge was Allie¡¯s first ever Mini-Pilly aspect art. She waved her hand and a large, multicoloured wave of Mini Pillies appeared from behind her, rolling over Crayn who had charged in thinking he had enough of a cultivation advantage to be carefree and hadn¡¯t seen this coming. When the wave subsided, Crayn was looking incredibly worse for wear. The thing that made Status Surge deadly was that each and every single one of the 100¡¯s of Mini Pillies could individually inflict status ailments like poison, burns, freezing, paralysis, etc¡­ Being hit by that many at once would leave you in a pitifully weak state regardless of Allie¡¯s cultivation.


    Crayn was on his knees throwing up some strange blue liquid. He tried taking a healing pill, but one of the Mini-PIllies that hit him had the effect of preventing healing, so it did nothing for him. He tried standing, but a jolt of electricity ran through his leg and made him collapse again. He tried getting up again, but suddenly became blind as one of the Mini Pilly toxins set in. Status Surge was a prolonged bombardment of crippling de-buffs that couldn¡¯t be removed.


    This was really fucking annoying but, then again, fighting alchemists was annoying in general. Due to the wide varieties of pills in existence, who on earth knew what they were going to chuck at you when a fight started? Noone, that¡¯s who!


    Crayn shook his head and tried to power through, only to look up and see something hurling toward him.


    ¡°Go! From The Top Rope!¡±


    BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM


    The entire room collapsed and everyone fell down two floors until they all landed on the ground floor.


    No-one ever said Allie couldn¡¯t put up a fight.


    Although, technically, it was the Mini-Pillies doing everything.


    Mini-Pilly Strength hopped over to Allie with its ¡®chest¡¯ puffed up in a self-satisfied manner. Enyo and Aejaz had landed a bit further away so Allie turned to run over to them, but something grabbed onto her foot and pulled her to the floor. She looked over her shoulder and saw Crayn encased in metal, gripping her foot and dragging her backward.


    Crayn had managed to use ¡®Metal-Morph¡¯, an art of the ¡®Moulding¡¯ aspect under the metal pillar, just before Allie¡¯s art had hit him. Metal-Morph was an example of one of the hundreds of arts that just straight up did a better job than Behemoth. It empowered the user, but also changed the structure of their body, similar to Aqua Anatomy. If two people of equal strength used two arts; one being Behemoth, and the other Metal-Morph, the Metal-Morph cultivator would win 99% of the time. Metal-Morph was quite a strong defensive art which allowed Crayn to block the Mini-Pilly¡¯s attack. If he hadn¡¯t used it in time, he¡¯d be unconscious no questions asked.


    Mini-Pilly Strength jumped at him but, Crayn, who was now putting in effort instead of relying solely on his higher cultivation, was too much for the Mini-Pilly. Crayn swatted it out of mid-air with his full strength, breaking it. Crayn pulled a frightened and quaking Allie closer. When she was close enough to hit, he beat her mercilessly while she curled up and cried until she was limp and couldn¡¯t even defend herself, let alone fight back. He picked up her bloody body and took her out of the room.


    Enyo was in a stalemate with Bret and was too busy holding her ground to use an art as Bret¡¯s offensive was ceaseless. She had no issue in maintaining the status quo whatsoever, and could probably even hold back two Brets at the same time if need be, but reversing the situation was impossible as things stood. She looked over at Aejaz who hadn¡¯t made any progress with the two guards and couldn¡¯t help but feel angry at him for being so useless. FUCK. Ares was right about him. Ares was right about me too. This is my fault. FUCK. I should have just killed the snatcher. This never should have happened. DAMN IT. ¡°AEJAZ! GO GET ARES.¡±


    Aejaz was on the verge of crying when he saw Allie being taken away and wanted to run after her, but knew he wasn¡¯t strong enough to even beat the guards in front of him. Ares¡¯ words just kept playing on loop in his head and he felt more and more guilty every single time. Ares would have killed everyone. Ares was right, and now all Aejaz could do was run away and find Ares. Aejaz hated it. He hated everything. He hated Enyo for being stubborn and getting them in this mess. He hated Bret and Crayn. He hated Ares for not being here, but he knew the only person he could actually justify hating was himself. How could he stand in front of Allie if he couldn¡¯t even defend himself? His heart sunk as he did the only thing he was good at, running away. He hated that he hadn¡¯t even managed to kill one guard. He hated that he hadn¡¯t even created one single art that he could use to fight with as even Allie, an alchemist, had done so. He hated that his legs weren¡¯t moving quicker and that he wasn¡¯t faster. He was distraught by the fact that the slower he was, the higher chance was that Allie was going to be abused and raped because he was so incompetent and utterly useless. His only solace was that it wasn¡¯t too far to the inn, so he tried as hard as he could to put those thoughts out of his head and just run.


    When he rounded the final corner, if he weren¡¯t in a rush, he would¡¯ve been awed and full of reverence for his brother. Ares had killed everyone already. The street¡¯s width had doubled in size from all the explosions, creating new space, and was littered with corpses. Ares had just finished crushing a skull with his foot and looked majestic with the golden fires of his Omniscience and his cape gently swaying behind him. Blood gushed out from under his shoe and he flicked the blood off his blade before cleaning it on his cape, which he then replaced with a fresh one.


    ¡°ARES!¡± Aejaz ran up to Ares with tears in his eyes. ¡°ALLIE¡­¡±


    Smack


    Ares beat Aejaz and dragged him along without saying a word. He didn¡¯t really need to. He could tell by the panic in Aejaz¡¯ voice and his desperate, pleading look that something had gone wrong. Ares could also tell his brother was vexed and frustrated with himself as Aejaz had the exact same look that Ares did when he was hurting himself for upsetting Enyo. He wasn¡¯t going to have a go at him, he was just going to let everything sink in for Aejaz until he came crawling and begging like he should. It didn¡¯t need to be like this, and he had warned Aejaz countless times before. For him to only truly get it now that Allie was in danger wasn¡¯t good enough. On that same note, he wasn¡¯t exactly sure what to do with Enyo who was also in a similar position to Aejaz. Her stubbornness had finally caused the people around her to get hurt. It was only a matter of time and Ares had known this was the likely outcome when he was first sent away from their group in Baja Forest.


    ¡®I hope you all learn a hard lesson because the easy way has been too soft for you three.¡¯


    Ares didn¡¯t regret saying it, he just wished it never had to happen. The only good thing about this was that they were all learning collectively from one awful experience, rather than over the course of three separate issues. He wanted to have a go at them, but it was probably better to just let them deal with it themselves. Aejaz explained the situation to him on the way and Ares doubled down on his Shifts to get there quicker.


    When Ares arrived, he threw Aejaz towards the mansion and demanded he go and save Allie for two reasons. One, Ares was going to be busy dealing with the guards, who were now amassing at this location, while Enyo held off Bret and therefore neither of them could do it. Second, it was just one person Aejaz needed to fight, and he seriously had to be responsible for his actions at some point. Ares was also convinced that there was no way in hell Aejaz could ever lose if he just used his fucking head for once.


    Ares could clearly envision the way Aejaz should fight. If Aejaz had ever figured it out, then even Bret would have already been dead by now.


    The way Aejaz should fight should be completely unfair, it shouldn¡¯t even really be a fight to begin with.


    There was a reason Ares had been trying, with all his heart, to recommend Aejaz become an assassin despite his history.


    Aejaz was still uncertain and had little faith in his skills. ¡°But¡­ I¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a good con-man you¡¯ve even managed to convince yourself you''re useless. Go down there and just be yourself. Stop trying to be me and kill everyone in a head on fight. You can fight in a way that no one else can. Stop relying on me all the damn time AND GO.¡±


    ¡°Can I have a Shock Bea¡­¡±


    ¡°NO! WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?¡±


    Aejaz turned and ran as Ares started massacring the guards, drawing their focus.


    Enyo couldn¡¯t move, but she wasn¡¯t really under any duress, just stuck in place, so she could actually have a surprisingly calm conversation with Ares who was also not having a hard time. ¡°Can he do it?¡±


    Bret was furious that Enyo was ignoring him and put more magic into his fist, but still made no progress. What the fuck is this magic? Why can¡¯t I break it? Why is she so damn strong?


    Ares killed a whole slew of guards and yet still wasn¡¯t even remotely done, still he took a second out of his slaughtering to reply, ¡°If I told you that idiot could even kill me if he used his head, would you believe me?¡±


    ¡°Seriously!? How?¡±


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°He¡¯s a pretty damn good actor.¡±


    ¡°... Huh?¡±


    ¡°I was told that, unlike me, he was actually able to fool your bloodline, right?¡±


    Enyo thought back, remembered the incident, and started putting two and two together. ¡°Hahaha. Ok, I see it now. It¡¯s incredibly cowardly, and it¡¯s not exactly fighting, but I don¡¯t see how anyone can stop that.¡±


    ¡°I know right? And it gets even more ridiculous. I¡¯ve looked up his family''s bloodline¡­ And the things they can do with it¡­ Aejaz is going to be a serious threat when he stops feeling sorry for himself. That aside, did you think I wasn¡¯t going to give you flak as well?¡±


    ¡°... Fine¡­ I admit it¡­ You were right. Right about everything.¡±


    Ares rolled his eyes and tutted. ¡°I already know that. what I¡¯m asking is if you¡¯re going to stop being obstinate about it?¡±


    ¡°For the most part, yes.¡±


    ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll stop hassling you about it, but I have to ask, what do you mean by¡­ ¡®For the most part?¡¯¡±


    ¡°Tsk, I¡¯m not going to kill a petty thief or a jaywalker, am I?¡±


    ¡°... Ok¡­ You got me there.¡±


    Enyo snickered. ¡°You must be SOOO pleased you were right and got to have me admit I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°Ha, of course. There¡¯s nothing quite as satisfying as a good ¡®I told you so¡¯ moment.¡±


    ¡°WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP!?¡± Bret had had enough.


    ¡°Mind your own business.¡±


    ¡°Fuck you.¡± Ares and Enyo weren¡¯t happy when their little moment was interrupted, leaving Bret bewildered by this strange and annoyingly overpowered couple.


    ---------------------------------


    Aejaz hurtled down a flight of stairs and into the dungeon with Ares'' last piece of advice bouncing around in his head. Be myself? Who am I? I¡¯m Aejaz? I¡¯m no one¡­ If I¡¯m no one¡­ Then I can become anyone I want to be? Who do I want to be? Who would be convenient right now? Ares? No, that¡¯s not convenient. It would be easy, but not convenient¡­ But why does it matter? No matter who I try to become, it¡¯s just an act¡­ Why would that help me? I can¡¯t pretend to be someone I¡¯m not around people who already know me¡­ But¡­ What if? What if? What if¡­ Aejaz passed by numerous women who were in tattered clothes, beaten, and huddled up against the walls of their prison cells. He would save them on the way out but, first, he had an asshole to kill.


    Allie was lying battered on the floor with her back up against the wall. Crayn had broken her hands so they could no longer push him away. He crouched down next to her and put his hands on her waist, brought his mouth next to her neck, and bit down causing her to yelp out loud. Crayn liked to taste his women all over before playing with them. He removed his mouth and was about to start removing her clothes and feeling the rest of her body when the door behind him opened and Aejaz walked in. ¡°You!? What are you doing here¡­ What are you¡­ What are¡­ What?¡± Crayn¡¯s eyes had gone white and hollow for a split second and he looked confused. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m one of your father¡¯s personal guards. He asked me to come and tell you something important.¡±


    ¡°Tsk. God-damnit it, really? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m in the middle of something!? Fine, whatever, hurry up.¡±


    Aejaz walked over to Crayn and whispered in his ear, ¡°Rot in hell.¡±


    Aejaz slit his throat and pushed Crayn off to the side so he could sit there and spend his last few seconds on this earth trying to figure out what just happened.


    Aejaz had used ¡®Memory Muddle,¡¯ the same art he used to steal his own memories back in the cave when he was questioned.


    Aejaz had been an idiot.


    There was no valid reason he couldn¡¯t use it on other people to make them forget about him as he had just done with Crayn. After that, it was just a matter of acting and playing around with their trust. There were so many potential combat related applications of his thievery aspect, and this was just the tip of the iceberg. Aejaz was preparing himself to beg Ares for his insight on the matter as he had opened a whole new world to him, but he still wanted to learn to fight too. It was no good relying excessively on external factors, he¡¯d learnt that the hard way now. He would just have to train like Ares had wanted him to all along. Aejaz crouched next to Allie, whose eyes looked distant and unfocused. ¡°Allie?¡±


    Upon hearing her name called by Aejaz, she started crying as she hadn¡¯t been allowed to before or Crayn would¡¯ve hit her. She leaned forward against Aejaz¡¯ chest and wanted to hug him to feel safe but couldn¡¯t because her arms were too injured to move properly.


    Tears were falling from Aejaz¡¯ face as Allie¡¯s state was heart-breaking and he felt responsible. The worst part was that she wouldn¡¯t even blame him. Not even for a second would she think this was his fault. He lifted her and put her on his back to carry her out of the room. He opened the rest of the cells with the key he stole from Crayn¡¯s corpse and led the other women out.


    Some of the women couldn¡¯t walk, but Aejaz couldn¡¯t help them as he was already helping Allie and she took precedence, so they had to lean on the other women that were escaping. Of all the women that had been captured, one had died before Aejaz arrived, but there was nothing he could do to bring back the dead. They reached the surface and went outside.


    Ares, meanwhile, was still killing guards like it was going out of style and had amassed a small mountain of corpses that he had to step over in order to add more to the pile. The snatcher leader¡¯s body was also buried somewhere deep in the pile. The guards had started to give up as they weren¡¯t being paid enough to deal with this devil flinging himself around everywhere with his sword and that damn cape. Gamble had, on its own, killed off at least 7 guards. When Ares ripped out one of the guard¡¯s still-beating hearts from his chest and shoved it down his throat, the last few guards decided life was still worth living, so they turned around and started scarpering away from evil incarnate.


    Ares was having approximately none of it.


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The front of the mansion was torn off and there were no guards left, not even a single trace could be found amongst the wreckage, save a few shredded limbs lying about here and there. Parts of the building were crumbling now that the structural support underneath them had been obliterated. Bits of plumbing had been unearthed, water was spraying everywhere, and a fire had started in the kitchen which was now missing half its walls.


    Bret stared stupidly at Ares who was basically a demon disguised as a human. Ares had been swatting his guards like flies and that last magic bombardment was absolute lunacy. WHO THE FUCK ARE THESE PEOPLE!?


    The women who were recently freed, and hadn¡¯t used their legs in far too long, couldn¡¯t handle the shockwaves and were all knocked over.


    ¡°Ares,¡± Enyo spoke in a disapproving tone of Ares'' carelessness at having floored the women. She was deeply impressed by Grand Annihilation, as she had never seen it before, but right now there were more important things to be worrying about.


    ¡°Hm? Oh¡­ Uh¡­ My bad¡­ Sorry.¡± Ares was so engrossed in his murdering spree he hadn¡¯t even noticed Aejaz¡¯ return. He Shifted over and helped the women to their feet. ¡°Enyo, how long can you keep him there?¡±


    ¡°This pitiful fool? For an entire day at least, and pretty easily at that. Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to help take these women back to safety as my Shift art will make the whole process a lot quicker. I¡¯ll come back for you when I¡¯m done, ok.¡±


    ¡°Mhm. Don¡¯t take too long, this guy¡¯s breath reeks of alcohol.¡±


    Ares chuckled and started moving the women back to the inn. Thankfully, Bret¡¯s inattention to the city meant he would have no clue where everyone was going to hide from him. They couldn¡¯t fight Bret, as they would¡¯ve had to lower Enyo¡¯s barrier first, and his cultivation was just too high to beat in a straight up fight. He also didn¡¯t rely on gadgets like the snatcher did, so running away from him was the only real option¡­ For now.


    Ares was amazed with how easily Enyo was fending off Bret, she was seriously unmoveable like a literal mountain. She wasn¡¯t even breaking a sweat. Still though, like Aejaz, exclusively focusing on defence meant you couldn¡¯t ever actually kill the other person. That was going to have to change, and Ares had no issue helping Enyo with that. It would be far easier than with Aejaz though as Enyo already knew the basics of how to fight, she just needed a bit of direction and to familiarise herself with offensive arts and she would be on the right track. When Ares looked at her, he could tell from her build, the length of her arms, and the stance she was comfortable with, that she would do good work with spears. Maybe he could convince Gladius to teach him how to use them quickly thanks to his Omniscience and then he could teach Enyo. Actually, there should be an Elder back at the sect who could help. There was a department for just about everything in Heaven¡¯s Path. Ares would search for an Elder proficient in the weapons pillar when he returned, he¡¯d been wanting to try new weapons out anyway. Of course, this wasn¡¯t to say Enyo couldn¡¯t fight at all as, given enough time, she could probably beat Bret on her own but, then again, so could Ares. The issue is that there was potential for it to go wrong and there was no need to take the fight in the first place as there was another, perfectly valid, far easier method of killing Bret. It was a little thing called ¡®patience¡¯.


    It took a few hours to ferry everyone to the inn and Ares left Aejaz to take care of Allie when he was done. The bartender had kicked out everyone who wasn¡¯t related to any of the women and was using every room available to house them. The bartender also called for the local medic to come and treat all the women. He was incredibly helpful.


    Ares arrived back at the mansion and found Enyo sitting on the floor cultivating while holding Bret back, bored as all-hell. ¡°Slowpoke.¡±


    Ares decided to tease her a bit. ¡°What can I say? With all those pretty women¡­¡±


    Enyo wasn¡¯t about to let him get away with a comment like that. ¡°You what? Got an erection?¡±


    Ares was floored that she brought that up and couldn¡¯t believe he had been verbally trounced by Enyo. ¡°I¡­ You¡­ That¡­ But¡­¡±


    Enyo was cracking up and in stitches. ¡°Hahahahaha, it¡¯s cute when you¡¯re flustered.¡±


    After an entire week, it was now Ares¡¯ turn to blush and be on the receiving end of the emotional bullying. ¡°...Um¡­ I¡¯m going to¡­ Um, hold onto you, so I can Shift you, ok?¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡± Enyo smiled evilly. ¡°But do tell, is it going to be a¡­ Bumpy ride? Hahahahaha.¡±


    Ares meekly walked up to Enyo and put his hand on her shoulder from a longer distance away than he had with the other women, which just made Enyo laugh even harder. He Shifted with Enyo a few times and they ended up back at the inn. Ares walked up to the room Allie was in with Enyo cackling all the way behind him. ¡°I¡¯m genuinely glad you¡¯re having a wonderful time at my expense, but Allie is probably not in a good condition mentally, so you may want to stop laughing before you enter.¡±


    Enyo coughed to herself to stop. She still snorted once more but managed to cut it out when she walked into the room.


    A doctor was peering at Allie¡¯s injuries and making notes on a clipboard about the kind of medicine she would need. Ares just walked past the doctor.


    ¡°Diagnosis!¡±


    ¡°Ah, stay back from the patient please,¡± the doctor complained.


    ¡°Look pal, the people in the medical profession would kill to have even half the healing prowess I do. Go heal the other women.¡±


    ¡°How dare you!? I won¡¯t let some no-name brat¡­ WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?¡±


    Ares had identified every single injury and was digging his fingers into his chest to coat them in his blood before using it to paint over Allie¡¯s injuries. It looked like he was applying blood-red war-paint in some tribal-esque ritual. ¡°Quiet you fool.¡±


    The doctor was about to gripe again when Ares turned around and shoved his head over Allie¡¯s body. ¡°She¡¯s healing, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    The doctor looked dumbfounded. ¡°How? What did you¡­¡± The doctor¡¯s head spun and, when everything settled, he was outside with his ass on the floor. He dusted himself off, kissed his teeth, and went to check on the other women whose injuries weren¡¯t as severe. Ares was clearly going to heal any of the major problems anyway, not him.


    Sure enough, Ares went around doing the same routine. He even stopped by the people the doctor had already visited and healed them too as his blood was hard to use up fully; it regenerated at an astonishing rate, so why not? He went back to the room and Allie was awake, but still quite timid and shaky. ¡°How are you holding up?¡±


    ¡°... I¡¯m scared,¡± she put her hand up to her neck as she spoke.


    The memory of that bite looked like it was going to be a real sore spot for Allie if it wasn¡¯t dealt with in the appropriate fashion now. The physical wound would disappear, but the mental scar wouldn¡¯t. She needed help getting over it.


    Ares came up with an idea.


    He stood in an exaggerated ¡®I¡¯m thinking¡¯ pose with a hand on his chin as he looked slightly upward with a contemplative look on his face. He suddenly smiled, removed the hand off his chin and lifted a single finger in the air. ¡°Eureka!¡± He bent over and pointed at the bite mark that wasn¡¯t quite gone yet. ¡°Allie¡­ Pretend he was a vampire.¡±


    ¡°ARES!¡± Both Aejaz and Enyo yelled at him and dragged the damn lunatic away from Allie, only to realise she was giggling like she used to. They looked back at Ares who had arguably the smuggest face the world had ever seen. ¡°Ugh.¡± Enyo and Aejaz both wanted to punch him to make it go away.


    Allie spoke up a little less quietly than before, ¡°Thank you¡­ Um¡­ Ares? Can I sleep with you tonight? I just want to feel safe¡­¡±


    Aejaz nearly fainted, but Ares ignored him. ¡°Alright, fine. I won¡¯t hassle you too much because you¡¯re injured and you¡¯ve been through a lot, but I have to at least ask if you¡¯ve learnt your lesson?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m sorry for sending you away. I was wrong. You were just doing what was right¡­ And I was entitled to think I could be sheltered forever¡­¡±


    Ares blinked repeatedly. ¡°I mean, I appreciate it, but I was only really expecting you to say you were wrong and leave it at that¡­ Wow¡­ You¡¯re probably more mature than Enyo is!¡±


    Thud


    ¡°Ignore him, Allie.¡± Enyo had bonked Ares with the shield and had him in a headlock.


    Allie giggled heartily as she really liked watching Enyo and Ares play around like this.


    ¡°... I¡¯m sorry Allie.¡± Aejaz was nearly crying again.


    ¡°Hm? Why? You saved me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    That was all it took for the flood-works to start and for Aejaz to feel terrible. ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s all my fault this happened to you¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Aejaz¡­ It¡¯s ok.¡±


    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t look at you without feeling worthless. I¡¯ve let you down.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡±


    Ares Shifted out of the headlock and interrupted, ¡°Yes, he did. Don¡¯t be needlessly supportive of a man who can¡¯t support you. It¡¯s like encouraging an alcoholic, he needs to learn his lesson. He¡¯ll get there in time, but right now he needs every second of that time to get there, so leave him to me. I promise he¡¯ll be in one¡­ May?be two pieces by the time I give him back.¡±


    Allie giggled again.


    ¡°Good, we¡¯re all agreed then. On that note, fuck off!¡± Ares literally kicked Aejaz out.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and stay in that room tonight and make sure Aejaz is ok,¡± Enyo said


    Ares gave an appreciative smile. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    As Enyo was on her way out, she turned and threw out a warning, ¡°Allie, don¡¯t accidentally end up on top of him, you¡¯ll be in for a surprise if you do!¡±


    Ares stammered, ¡°E¡­ Enyo? Enyo we can talk about that¡­¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha, goodnight you two.¡±


    ¡°Enyo? ENYO?¡± Ares was calling out to a closed door.


    Allie was curious. ¡°Um¡­ What did she mean by that?¡±


    Ares stiffened on the spot, thankfully not in the way Enyo had been referring to. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯ll tell you when you¡¯re older.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m 17!¡± Allie pouted.


    ¡°Yeah, so is Aejaz.¡± Ares expertly dismantled the situation by bringing up Aejaz, making Allie embarrassed and unfocused.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting along really well with sis¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The days we¡¯ve spent in this room have been amazing.¡± Ares hopped into the bed next to Allie. This would have been a little strange to him if it weren¡¯t for his experience with Appa; but this was, in essence, an identical scenario for him. Although not his daughter, Alllie was like a little-sister to him. ¡°You should get some rest; you¡¯ve had a long day.¡±


    ¡°Ok¡­ Can you pat me on the head like you did at the mission hall?¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Ares obliged until Allie got sleepy and then he hugged her. ¡°Goodnight.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight.¡± Allie snuggled closer and felt really secure in Ares¡¯ arms. She was glad she¡¯d asked Ares for this favour as she could tell she was going to sleep well tonight in spite of everything that happened. As she dozed off, she wondered when she¡¯d be able to do this with Aejaz.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Stop,¡± Enyo sounded fed up. ¡°What is wrong with you two brothers? Why is it you both resorted to hurting yourselves because you hurt the person you love?¡± Enyo had gone into the room to find Aejaz about to do the same thing as Ares and scratch himself out of frustration.


    ¡°... Ares did it too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he upset me so he did what you were about to.¡±


    ¡°... Do you¡­ Know?¡±


    ¡°That Ares loves me? Yes.¡±


    ¡°... Oh¡­ You two seem to be getting along¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are. We¡¯re doing things differentky from you and Allie, but that¡¯s fine because we¡¯re different people. I¡¯m not Allie, and you aren¡¯t Ares, even if there are some similarities.¡±


    ¡°... You lucked out, you got the good brother.¡± Aejaz laughed in a self-deprecating manner.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. God, I see why Ares punched you, even I¡¯m tempted to. Me and Allie both got the brother that''s right for us. You¡¯re as perfect for Allie as Ares is for me, and vice versa.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not perfect for Allie, I need to change.¡±


    ¡°You know, Ares makes me feel perfect regardless of whether or not I want to change. Even now Allie still likes you. You can still change, but that fact never will. You don¡¯t need to get like this. Allie would be devastated if she saw you doing that, so don¡¯t ever do it again.¡±


    ¡°Ok¡­ I was just annoyed¡­ That she wanted to sleep next to Ares for comfort and not me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, no kidding? I left to make sure you weren¡¯t hurting yourself, but it was also partly because I knew I¡¯d be unreasonably envious while lying across from Allie and watching her cuddle with Ares, even if I know it¡¯s not like that.¡± Enyo sighed. ¡°Look, just do what Ares says for a while and he''ll help you become who you want to be. He did it for me, he can do it for you.¡±


    ¡°... Really? Right now, I just want to hit him.¡±


    ¡°Ha, yes, he really can. In fact, if you want proof¡­ It¡¯s not perfect yet, but¡­¡± Enyo took off her helmet.


    Aejaz¡¯ jaw nearly dislocated as it swung open. He wasn¡¯t sure whether he was dumbfounded by Enyo taking her helmet off, or by how beautiful she was as this was his first time seeing her. ¡°THAT BASTARD! Do you know what he said to me?¡±


    Enyo took a deep breath and looked at Aejaz because she really wanted to know. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°He said he didn¡¯t want a ¡®white jade¡¯ and then he goes and falls in love with you! You must hands-down, easily, be the best-looking woman he¡¯s ever seen! Hypocrite!¡±


    ¡°Well, he did fall in love before he even saw my face, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s my point, the bastard won the jackpot! He got what he wanted and the best of both worlds! Lucky man.¡±


    ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong, Allie¡¯s perfect. If he hit the jackpot, then I cleaned house.¡±


    Enyo looked away. ¡°Can you help me?¡±


    ¡°What with?¡±


    Enyo explained her helmet situation and Aejaz responded, ¡°Sure. Aren¡¯t you already doing really well though? It seems you were able to skip a few of the steps you did with Ares.¡±


    ¡°He did say it would get easier, I guess he wasn''t wrong.¡±


    ¡°As much as I hate to say it, I¡¯m not sure that bastard is ever wrong - at least not when it really matters anyway.¡±


    ¡°Ha, tell me about it. It would be less annoying if he himself wasn¡¯t so damn annoying with that punch-able face of his.¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­ Thanks for stopping me before. I¡¯ll help you out with the helmet thing whenever, plus it¡¯ll get me some brownie points with Ares. Maybe he¡¯ll make me some cotton candy.¡±


    ¡°Ha, only after he makes me more of that damn honeycomb. I¡¯m addicted and he knows it.¡±


    ¡°I think everyone knows it.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, good. I want everyone to know, especially that idiot Trew. Well, anyway, it¡¯s getting late so goodnight.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Next morning, Enyo and Aejaz woke up, got out of their beds, and left the room. Today was the day Zhang would meet up with them, so they went downstairs to wait for him as he would arrive shortly. Ares and Allie weren¡¯t up yet. Enyo and Aejaz waited for around five minutes until Zhang eventually showed up and were immediately asked a question by him after he saw the state of the inn, ¡°Where¡¯s Allie?¡±


    Enyo responded, ¡°She¡¯s safe, it¡¯s just¡­ Well, things are complicated.¡±


    ¡°Complicated? Where is she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s sleeping with Ares right now¡­¡± Enyo didn¡¯t get a chance to continue her explanation as Zhang charged like a raging bull up the China shop that was the stairs leading to the second floor, all the while shouting ¡®BASTARD!¡¯ as he went.


    ---------------------------------


    Ares thought he heard a shout coming from outside the room, but paid it no heed as it didn¡¯t seem important. He yawned and looked down at Allie who was still sleeping. Almost as cute as Appa. Almost.


    CRASH


    ¡°Huh?!¡± Ares had barely enough time to squeak out an exclamation before Zhang picked him up and dragged him outside the inn in one fell swoop. He couldn¡¯t see what was happening as everything was a blur, but he could hear Zhang repeatedly cursing him under his breath.


    ¡°Incorrigible scum. Pervert. Sly rogue. Bed-fiend.¡±


    Ares could finally see again as he came to a halt, but everything was upside down for some strange reason.


    Ares looked around and realised Zhang had tied him up in rope and left him dangling off the inn¡¯s sign. ¡°Uh, Zhang? I think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding of some sort¡­ AGH,¡± Ares groaned as Zhang punched him in the stomach.


    ¡°No. I really don¡¯t think there has been!¡± He punched again.


    ¡°AGH.¡±


    Aejaz, Enyo, and Allie rushed outside just in time to watch Zhang¡¯s fist connect. ¡°Dad? NO!¡± Allie shouted.


    ¡°Allie¡­ He¡­ WHY HIM!? OF ALL THE PEOPLE!?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Felt safe with him.¡±


    Punch


    ¡°DAD, NO! STOP! I ASKED HIM TO SLEEP WITH ME!¡±


    PUNCH


    ¡°WAIT! NO¡­¡± Choose your words carefully, Allie! Be clear! Be concise! ¡°I DON¡¯T LOVE HIM!¡±


    PUNCH


    ¡°DAAAAAAD! STOP! WE DIDN¡¯T¡­ You know¡­¡±


    Punch?

 Chapter 42: Ares and Enyo Get Intimate, Part 1 (18+)

    ¡°OH COME ON!¡± Ares complained, ¡°NOW YOU¡¯RE JUST BEATING ME FOR THE FUN OF IT!¡±


    ¡°Ha, maybe I am.¡± Zhang chuckled.


    Aejaz was incredibly satisfied and his jealousy of the previous night was somewhat abated.


    ¡°Can you let me down, you old coot!?¡±


    Punch


    ¡°What happened here?¡± Zhang asked while cracking his knuckles.


    Allie was the one to explain what happened. As she did, Zhang was slowly becoming more and more enraged and almost left mid explanation before Allie assured him Crayn was already dead.


    When she was finished, Zhang followed up with a question, ¡°Is this ¡®Bret¡¯ still alive?¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find him.¡± and with that said, Zhang took off at an insane speed while using his divine sense to scout ahead.


    Patience is a virtue.


    Ares called out in futile desperation, ¡°WAIT! LET ME DOWN FIRST!¡±


    Off to the side, Enyo whispered something to Allie before she and Aejaz started walking back into the inn.


    ¡°Guys? Enyo? Aejaz? Please let me down¡­ We can talk about this! Allie? Allie my saint, Allie my saviour! Please help!¡±


    ¡°Sorry Ares. Sis¡¯ told me not to. She said you deserve it for ¡®sleeping around¡¯, whatever that means.¡±


    ¡°Allie? Allie¡­ Wait! I¡¯ll give you head pats! Allie? ¡­ Fuck¡­¡± Ares ¡®patiently waited¡¯ until the bartender happened across him and let him down. ¡°You¡¯re a good man.¡±


    ¡°Clearly you aren¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Oh haha. Here, this is for ruining your inn a couple hundred times over.¡± Ares handed over a spatial ring with 8000 pieces of low-quality stardust.


    ¡°... This, this is a lot. Thank you. Your ragtag group has really done a lot of good for this town. There¡¯s been a lot of people asking me to thank you guys as you¡¯ve brought home a lot of mothers, wives, sisters. and daughters. It¡¯ll take a long time for those scars to heal, but it¡¯s better than being helplessly stuck in an impossible situation like they were before. If you¡¯re ever in town, drinks are on me.¡± The bartender thanked Ares before walking back into the inn.


    Ares hopped up to the outside of the window of Aejaz and Allie¡¯s room and saw them hugging. When they caught sight of Ares with his Omniscience, staring at them like some kind of demon from hell, they separated with red cheeks and couldn¡¯t look him in the eyes. Ares did the ¡®I¡¯m watching you¡¯ gesture before jumping back down. you ruined my moment with Enyo, I told you I would remember! Also, that¡¯s what you get for leaving me tied up you schmucks! Ares knew what he wanted from Enyo for leaving him in that state too, so he headed up to the room and went inside. He found her without her helmet on. ¡°Enyo!¡±


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve escaped.¡± Enyo smirked.


    ¡°I certainly have, and I¡¯ve returned with a grudge.¡± Ares walked over to Enyo¡¯s bed.


    ¡°... What are you going to do?¡± Enyo was a little nervous, she could tell Ares was going to retaliate!


    ¡°Hm? Me? Nothing! It¡¯s what you¡¯re going to do.¡± Ares sat on the bed.


    ¡°W¡­ What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have you know, dangling like that is really tiring on the old shoulders¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡­ Want a massage? I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    ¡°Hm, what if I promise to give you one as well in return then?¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    Ares just gawked at Enyo, stunned by how quickly she did a complete 180. Was that what she was after from the start?! What a conniving woman! He chuckled and sat up as Enyo moved behind him.


    ??


    Enyo was surprisingly quick to start and did so with no hesitation. Ever since the straddling incident, she¡¯d been wanting to find an excuse to touch him but never found one. This was perfect! When Ares asked for the massage, her mind started jumping for joy and she endlessly praised Ares for his bold request. It also encouraged her to be a bit bold herself, she removed her upper armour and brought her chest up against Ares'' back. She was only wearing a thin black top under her armour; Ares was going to enjoy this.


    Ares felt Enyo¡¯s supple, spongy breasts and he could¡¯ve sworn he died and went to heaven. His shoulders had actually been a little stiff before, and although Enyo¡¯s massaging technique wasn¡¯t amazing, he still felt much looser as a result of her ¡®work¡¯. He closed his eyes and let out a low groan of satisfaction.


    That groan was enough to make Enyo excited again and she leant closer, pushing up against him further, and whispered into his ear, ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Ares leant his head back on Enyo¡¯s shoulder and whispered into her ear, ¡°Mhm. Harder.¡± Enyo put more strength into her fingertips and now the massage was perfect. Ares jolted in pleasure and couldn¡¯t hold back another low groan that was music to Enyo¡¯s ears.


    Enyo became more daring in response as her hands slipped down lower, over his chest and finally caressing his legs. She kept an eye on his crotch and bit her lip when it rose. Not enough, more. She moved her hands closer to make Ares harder, and even teased him by breathing down his neck. When she was happy with the rock-hard state of his dick, she licked her lips and made her move. ¡°My turn,¡± she spoke in a sultry voice and slipped around to Ares'' side. He let out a short ¡®Mm¡¯ reply and was about to move back on the bed, but Enyo stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Stay.¡± She got off the bed and stood in front of Ares before turning around and slowly sitting down on his lap. She could feel Ares passionately throbbing against her ass and she ¡®accidentally¡¯ grinded against him to reposition herself closer to him.


    Ares let out a sharp breath and had to take a moment. He brought his hands onto Enyo¡¯s shoulders and gave her an experience that was unforgettable. She involuntarily let out a sweet moan as he had his way with her, which set off sparks in Ares¡¯ mind. The gratification he felt when he pleasured Enyo had just become his new obsession. He dug deeper to send Enyo into a state of pure bliss and exhilaration so he could hear more of her melodious cries. Through ragged breaths, Enyo murmured,


    ¡°Rougher.¡±


    Ares had to restrain himself so as not to go completely berserk and pin her down on the bed. He calmed his mind as best he could and then went back to Enyo¡¯s shoulder with renewed vigour.


    ¡°Rougher,¡± Enyo begged.


    Ares¡¯ mind went feral. One of his hands grabbed at Enyo¡¯s hair near her scalp and carefully, but forcefully, pulled her head back onto his shoulder. That hand then glided down the side of her face while making sure to run his thumb over her lower lip on the way down as a promise of what was to come when they inevitably went further one day, and paused at her neck. His hand wrapped around and gently stroked her throat, occasionally clamping down and putting pressure on her, never enough to choke her, but enough for his warm hands to leave her gasping. His other hand had slid down to the side of her chest and was constantly teasing the thought that it was about to lunge at her breast and run wild, groping her until she squirmed in pleasure.


    She wanted it. That thought tickled her brain and she was willing to beg him for it. She rolled her head on his shoulder to look up at him, as he stared down at her, like a deer in the headlights. ¡°Touch me.¡± She didn¡¯t even have time to blink before she yelped and whimpered as his hand roamed across the fabric of her clothes and over her soft breast, untamed and free. His strong hands clasped her breast and squeezed, drowning her in euphoria and causing her to moan unrestrainedly as she let him take full control. Her body was now his plaything and she loved every second of his exploration. She brought her arms up and over his shoulders, draping them behind Ares¡¯ neck to give him better access to whatever he wanted. She would give him everything without him even having to ask. He could have it all, it was all his to take. And take he did with a fierce, burning desire in his eyes as he gazed down at her like a starved beast, still gripping down on her throat whenever he wanted to watch her go meek. Her shy nipple couldn¡¯t stay hidden any longer as his hand finally tracked it down and reached toward it, ready to teach it not hide from him, to let it know how to behave and to punish it accordingly for trying to play cat and mouse with him.


    ??


    BANG


    The door swung wide open and Zhang sauntered in. ¡°Alright, Bret¡¯s dead. We¡¯re¡­¡±


    Zhang stared blankly in disbelief upon finally catching sight of the lewd indecency on full display across the room. ¡°... Leaving?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Enyo panicked and was flustered as she hurriedly rushed to put the helmet on while picking up her armour and running to hide in the bathroom.


    Zhang gulped. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ Uh¡­ Give you two¡­ 15 minutes¡­ Meet us outside¡­ After.¡± He closed the door behind him, blinked a few times, rubbed his eyes, and still couldn¡¯t believe what he saw. Weren¡¯t those two at each other¡¯s throats the last time he saw them!? Well¡­ Ares was technically at her throat again¡­ Zhang shook his head and made a mental note to ¡®discuss¡¯ this with all the other Elders when he got back.


    Surprisingly, Zhang was a gossip.


    Back in the room, Ares¡¯ eyes were twitching, and so too was his unsatisfied rod. Fucking bastard! I swear to God, when I increase my cultivation, I¡¯m going to fucking neuter all of you fucks! He took a deep breath and calmed his raging nerves. He still had pent up lust and wanted to take care of it, but Enyo was currently occupying the bathroom. He heard the shower turn on and his mind went off on a daytrip, prolonging his erection as he started tidying up the beds so they could leave the room spotless.


    ??


    Enyo was just as unfulfilled as Ares and planned on trying something she hadn¡¯t ever put much effort into before. She took off her clothes, revealing her muscles and flawless skin, before getting into the shower. She turned it on and her hands roamed south. She had tried masturbation a few times but got bored fairly quickly. It was enjoyable, but not something she was all too concerned with doing regularly. Now though, she wasn¡¯t her robotic old self, and she even had a man to think about and experiences to remember. She could see in a nearby mirror the marks Ares¡¯ hands had left on her breast and throat and her excitement came right back. She fondled her erect nipples as the water rolled down her hair and chest, but it was a different liquid dripping down her thighs. Enyo ran a finger over the liquid then brought her hand back up to her face and was curious. This is what Ares was going to taste and she wanted to know for herself what it was like. She rolled her tongue around her finger and licked it clean, enjoying the flavour.


    Enyo was slowly realising she was a sex-freak.


    She loved every second of discovering her sexuality and that revelation just made her all the more exhilarated. She had never been this wet during any of her other attempts at fingering, and it already felt way better than it ever had before. She spread her legs apart and went to work with her index finger. As the pleasure kept mounting, she added her middle finger into the mix and made faster and harder movements, movements that brought her to her knees when she found the perfect spot. She didn¡¯t stop though. She brought her other hand over and furiously rubbed away at her swollen clit, putting force into it, and reaching an orgasmic state unlike anything she had ever felt before. Her knees shook and the pleasure overwhelmed her, causing her to have to lie down as she violently kept abusing her slopping cunt. The water was pouring down on her chest as she went stiff and mute with her mouth wide open while she climaxed and squirted intensely, gushing out against the wall. She writhed, spasmed, and let out a sweet cry as the final throes of her orgasm came to an end, still occasionally twitching as she struggled to breathe, and her fingers slithered around inside her vaginal walls. Enyo learnt something about her body as she lay there in euphoric bliss, she was a natural squirter.


    It took her a few minutes to catch her breath and return to normal. She was in a much better mood now and took her shower quite happily while playing around with her breasts. She was going to have a lot more fun back in the sect in her downtime. She could even sneak in a few more ¡®massage¡¯ sessions with Ares to get fresh marks. They drove her insane.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    She got dressed but didn¡¯t put her helmet on. She walked out into the room and found Ares leaning back on his bed with his arms behind his head. Ares opened his eyes as Enyo came closer and stared right at her with a feverish gaze of longing. As she walked by on her way out of the room, she winked and rolled her hand across his shorts, making sure to drift across the erection he wasn¡¯t even bothering to hide, and gave it a little tap. ¡°All yours.¡± She nodded at the shower before leaving.


    Ares didn¡¯t want to let the sensation of Enyo¡¯s touch go to waste, so he immediately went into the shower and threw his clothes off. He turned the water on and noticed that he¡¯d been left a present on the wall¡¯s tiles. Enyo hadn¡¯t cleaned up after her session. She wanted him to know exactly what she thought of him.


    Ares¡¯ tool was just barely under 8 inches long when fully erect which was both a great source of pride as well as frustration. He was above average, sure, but being just shy of the eighth inch irked him to no end. He wrapped his hand tightly around his sturdy dick and began moving slowly. Ares had done this on occasion before, it felt good, and he had urges, but he never had anything to visualise in his head, so it had been relatively uninteresting for him. Plus, he lived on the streets, his chances to do it were few and far between. He had just been going through the motions to satiate himself. Today was different.


    He leaned his shoulder blades against the wet wall and stroked all the way along the length of his shaft. As the precum started to come through, he turned his face to the side and took in the scents that Enyo had left behind. It wasn¡¯t enough for him, so he turned and grinded his cock up against the wall a few times to soak his tip in as much of her squirt as he could. It still wasn¡¯t enough so he coated his hand in it as well to use as lubricant. Ares was just as much of a freak as Enyo. One hand wrestled with his vigorous cock as the other came down to caress his genitals. He was tender with his balls but merciless on his veiny, pulsing cock as he dragged his hand along it, occasionally clamping down tightly. He held it firmly as he thrust it through his hand that could barely hold the entirety of his girth, imagining he was pounding an entirely different tight hole. He could feel himself on the verge of cumming. His arm was starting to grow numb and tired with how eagerly he was masturbating, but he fought through the pain slowly amassing in his shoulder. He put his back up against the wall again to keep him upright.


    His legs started to buckle and he slid a little further down the wall. He no longer had a choice and had to repurpose the hand fondling his balls to steady himself against the wall to supplement his weak knees. He couldn¡¯t resist using the side of his face to temporarily hold himself up against the wall while he licked clean his hand to taste what Enyo had generously left for him. The taste was addicting. He knew she wanted him to go crazy over her. To lust after her. She was getting her wish. He stood back up and put forth one last surge of passionate stroking and moaned aloud as he finally came. He wanted so desperately to keep stroking his thrashing dick but had to put both hands against the wall to prevent himself from collapsing thanks to having gone weak in the knees from his orgasm. He leaned forward and let the pressurised water fall beside his head so it could beat down on his flailing cock as it jetted out ropes of cum.


    Ares took deep breaths and eventually was able to stand unaided, albeit shakily. He put the palm of his hand underneath his balls and gradually brought it up, up along his shaft, over his glans, above his waste, across his pecs, and then all around his neck and face to slather himself in what was let of Enyo¡¯s liquids, savouring every drop of her nectar. He stood still momentarily and looked at the ceiling, thanking a god he didn¡¯t believe in for the incredible thing that was life. He cleaned himself and the wall, got dressed, and left the shower.


    ??


    Ares was familiar with the concept of dopamine, but this was a new all-time high for him. He was simply ecstatic, on top of the world even! He hummed as he descended down to the first floor of the inn and found everyone else sitting at the table waiting for him.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s in a good mood,¡± Aejaz commented.


    ¡°Today¡¯s been a great day! Minus some¡­ Interferences.¡± Ares glared at Zhang.


    Zhang felt a tinge of guilt for busting into the room unannounced. ¡°Ahem. Anyhow, I have a message for you from Appa. It says, and I quote, ¡®I love you and I miss you and I want to see you and I love you¡¯, end quote.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, awww, how cute. I can¡¯t wait to see Appa again.¡± Ares was happy to know Appa was still as childishly endearing as ever.


    ¡°Yes, well, we¡¯ll be leaving now, so you¡¯ll see it again soon enough. Venti City should only take us just under a day to reach. The competition will take place tomorrow and take up the entire day. We¡¯ll set off the next day, and it will then take us roughly four days total to return. That¡¯s six days overall. The day after we get back to the sect will be the tier ranking assessment that will also be used to decide who¡¯ll compete in the regionals. Any questions about the itinerary?¡±


    ¡°Yes, actually.¡± Enyo had a burning question, ¡°What will the room situation be like in Venti City?¡±


    Zhang mumbled under his breath, ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen less energetic rabbits.¡± He sighed. ¡°Originally, I had planned on one large room being enough for everyone, but it would seem we¡¯re going to need more than one.¡±


    Ares smiled innocently. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I happened across a treasure trove of stardust, so I don¡¯t mind paying for the three separate rooms.¡±


    ¡°Three?¡±


    Ares¡¯ smile widened innocently. ¡°Oh yes, three.¡± You thought it was fucking funny to watch me get tied up and beaten, Aejaz? You didn¡¯t get me down after? Did you think I was done tormenting you yet? And you Allie? It¡¯s comeuppance time! ¡°One for Enyo and I because we¡¯re good friends and get along very well.¡± Off to the side Enyo nodded fervently in agreement. ¡°One for you.¡± He pointed at Zhang before turning to Allie and Aejaz, who were conveniently sitting next to each other and already panicking. ¡°And one for the happy couple¡­¡±


    ¡°... Excuse me? Could you repeat that last part?¡± Zhang thought he misheard. Correction. Zhang hoped he misheard.


    ¡°And one for the happy couple. I even caught them hugging earlier, surely it¡¯s better to let them do that in private, no?¡± Aejaz and Allie were as red as tomatoes dipped in blood and painted crimson for good measure. ¡°And, what if they want to hug more¡­ Intimately?¡± Ares knew they weren¡¯t at that stage yet; he also, innocently, didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Ares, you bastard! How could you!?¡± Aejaz let out a forlorn cry from the bottom of his soul.


    Zhang¡¯s head slowly rotated to face Aejaz like a demon fresh out of hell.


    ¡°Um, dad?¡± Allie tried to save Aejaz. ¡°He¡¯s really sweet to me and I like him and he likes me so¡­¡±


    Zhang stared at Aejaz who wanted to bury his head into the ground and hide like an ostrich. ¡°YOU AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY LONG TALK.¡±


    Ares and Enyo were sitting next to each other and snickering at their kin.


    Aejaz decided that this was a good time to try his newfound ¡®I can be anyone!¡¯ philosophy and went for broke. ¡°So¡­ Uh¡­ Dad?¡±


    Ares burst out laughing and rolled off his chair. Enyo¡¯s chest was heaving as she cry-laughed under her helmet with her head on her arms on the table. Allie¡¯s mouth was agape in shock at the level of courage and bravery Aejaz just displayed in his commitment to her.


    Zhang¡¯s anger dissipated and was replaced by confusion. ¡°Y¡­ YOU¡­¡± Zhang facepalmed and shook his head to remove all the excess thoughts. ¡°Aejaz and I are going to go ahead and have a chat. There¡¯s a path leading out of the town, if you all follow it, you¡¯ll catch up to both, or one, if I don¡¯t like what I¡¯m about to hear, of us.¡± Zhang grabbed Aejaz by the scruff of his collar.


    ¡°DON¡¯T HURT HIM!¡± Allie shouted before Zhang left with Aejaz in tow.


    ---------------------------------


    Aejaz was being dragged along the floor, still by the scruff of his collar, as Zhang walked along the path. ¡°How long have you liked Allie?¡±


    ¡°Since I met her at the Cultural Appreciation Day festival, sir.¡± Aejaz remembered that day with a clear fondness on his face that Zhang gave him bonus points for.


    ¡°When did you tell her?¡±


    ¡°In Baja Forest¡­ I told her I didn¡¯t think I deserved her and that I needed to change before anything else.¡±


    ¡°And she said?¡±


    ¡°That I was being too hard on myself. She wasn¡¯t sure about¡­ Us, but said she was willing to see how things would go after we got to know each other better.¡±


    ¡°How have things been since?¡±


    ¡°Things were good for a while. We were getting really close, and we were happy with each other¡¯s company.¡±


    ¡°Were? Are you not still?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are... It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯ve been reminded that I still need to change before we go any further. I want to be able to protect her, but I can¡¯t do that as I am. She doesn¡¯t blame me for what happened in the town, but I do. I should have done more for her and I¡¯d never forgive myself if anything were to happen to her while I¡¯m alive.¡±


    ¡°And? How are you going to change?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to ask Ares to train me. He knows what he¡¯s doing. I know he¡¯ll do it if I ask him as that¡¯s undoubtedly what he¡¯s expecting after my disappointing performance in the town.¡±


    ¡°Prove it to me that you can defend her. I already know you can make her happy, that much even a blind man could tell what with how she was trying to defend you.¡±


    ¡°Uh, how do I prove that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s up to you. You have until the end of the day.¡± Zhang stopped dragging Aejaz and kept walking with his back turned.


    Aejaz had a determined look in his eyes. ¡°With all due respect, I won¡¯t need that long.¡±


    Zhang¡¯s eyes went white and hollow for a brief second and his eyebrows raised. Where am I? Why am I here? Zhang was confused as he didn¡¯t recognise his surroundings. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be heading to the town to pick everyone up? As a knife pressed up against his spine, his memories came flooding back. ¡°... What was that?¡±


    ¡°I stole your memories and made you forget everything that happened in the last 30 minutes.¡± Aejaz circled around his flank with a sly smile.


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I detect you sneaking up on me? That should be impossible.¡±


    Aejaz let the Concealed Serpent slide down his sleeve and land perfectly in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s my personal treasure, it hides cultivation and presence.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t turn around.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but you¡¯re also not. That¡¯s not an excuse you¡¯ll be able to make forever.¡±


    ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡±


    Aejaz focused really hard and one of his arms disappeared into thin air. ¡°My assassin bloodline can let me turn invisible; this is the best I can manage right now.¡±


    ¡°... Ok, I¡¯m impressed, and I don¡¯t say that lightly. One day, you may be just as big a problem as your brother with a skillset like that. Momentary confusion, untraceable presence, and invisibility. If you learn how to fight¡­ You may become a legendary assassin yet.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but I think Ares also has some other unique ideas for me to try that are more direct. Either way, what remains true is that I¡¯m not in a position to be worthy of your daughter yet, and I know it.¡±


    Zhang sighed. ¡°Fine, you¡¯ve passed my test at least. It¡¯s up to Allie to make her own choice about you now.¡±


    ¡°.... So¡­ Can I call you¡­¡±


    ¡°NO! Besides, I¡¯m sure your biological father would be mortified to hear you say that.¡±


    ¡°... I really don¡¯t think he would¡­¡±


    ¡°And why not?¡±


    Ares told Zhang about his family history.


    ¡°What¡¯s the name of your clan?¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Fleeting Glimpse¡¯ Clan. They even have a sect ¡®cos apparently they¡¯re a big deal.¡±


    ¡°A big deal? Do you seriously not know that they¡¯re the most prestigious assassin organisation in the business? They may not be directly stronger than some of the people in the higher domain, but their teachings and techniques are considered the best-known arts and skills in the world. People will come down from the higher domain to study under them. They¡¯re completely uncontested in this domain and all the ones below it as far as assassination goes. Even the assassination sects in the upper domain struggle to match their fame and prestige. The main family and their bloodline are universally worshipped and lionised by experts in the field. So yes, Aejaz, they''re a ¡®big deal¡¯. I guess I understand why you¡¯re so proficient in assassination without having even being taught anything, it just runs in your blood. If your family had kept you around, they would have been overjoyed with the potential you have, but it seems like you want nothing to do with them, right? Their loss honestly.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, thanks. I don¡¯t want to deal with them after what they did. I got along with a few people there, but I have a family now. Ares, Appa, soon Enyo, eventually Allie¡­ Ahem¡­ Maybe,¡± Aejaz tacked that last bit at the end when Zhang gave him a cursory side glance. ¡°I need nothing and want nothing from them. It kinda sucks that I might end up an assassin in spite of everything that happened, but that¡¯s life, I guess. Like Ares has told me countless times, ¡®you can¡¯t dodge everything.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Ares is surprisingly smart for such a young man. He seems to understand a lot of core concepts of the cultivation world and he¡¯ll go far if he sticks to them. Killing that snatcher is proof. It¡¯s an unprecedented feat. In all the years I lived I¡¯ve never heard of someone murdering someone with a cultivation that much higher than their own. Well, there have been stories about poisoning and heart-attacks, but that doesn¡¯t count. You have a good resource in Ares, use him for all he''s worth because God knows he¡¯s the kind of person that¡¯s going to get a kick out of using you whenever he can.¡±


    ¡°Ha, tell me about it. He¡¯s already using me to help get Enyo used to having her helmet off.¡±


    ¡°She seems very comfortable around Ares.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I have no idea what¡¯s been happening in that room, but they are really making some serious strides.¡±


    ¡°¡®Serious strides¡¯ is the understatement of the year.¡± Zhang activated gossip mode and recounted the scene he walked in on.


    ¡°SERIOUSLY!? What the hell¡­ I thought they were still just hugging! They haven¡¯t even directly admitted how they feel to each other! What wacky nonsense is this? They¡¯re doing things backwards!¡±


    ¡°Is that so? I think they¡¯re doing something weird, sure, but also somewhat smart. They get to be ¡®honest¡¯ through their actions while building up the tension between them so that it all culminates in a single moment. Everyone goes about things in their own way and they seem to have found something that works for them and makes them happy, weird though it may be. Still though, it seems they¡¯re going to be a very¡­ Active, couple. Ah, to be young. Reminds me of the time I had two wives simultaneously. I¡¯m not bragging, mind you. I¡¯m saying this so I can segue into a threat. If you ever find a second woman, I swear I¡¯ll gut you.¡±


    Gulp


    ¡°Ha ha ha, who needs a second woman when you have someone like Allie¡­ Right? Uhh¡­ Might have¡­ Someone like¡­ Allie¡­¡±


    Zhang rolled his eyes. ¡°Well, it seems they¡¯ve caught up.¡±


    Sure enough, Ares, Allie, and Enyo all came up behind them. Allie separated from the other two and ran over. ¡°Dad! You better not have hurt Aejaz!¡±


    ¡°Not a hair on his head.¡± Tsk, there¡¯s not really any ¡®might¡¯ or ¡®maybe¡¯ about it, this silly little girl is in love.


    Aejaz smiled and waved. ¡°Hey Allie.¡±


    Allie smiled back and steeled her determination. She launched herself at Aejaz and hugged him right in front of Zhang. ¡°Hey ¡®Jaz!¡±


    ¡°Alright alright, I get it,¡± Zhang groaned. ¡°Three rooms.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Allie was very pleased with Zhang¡¯s acceptance.


    The group walked for a few hours until Ares called out, ¡°Ready!¡±


    Zhang was confused, but could tell by everyone else''s ecstatic faces and Enyo¡¯s general demeanour that they were looking forward to whatever it was that was now ¡®ready¡¯. ¡°Should I even ask?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh! Dad! Ares is the best chef ever!¡± Allie had genuinely never tasted better food and had come to the conclusion that she probably wasn¡¯t ever going to.


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s quite surprising.¡±


    Ares brought out the table and Zhang, like everyone else who had seen this trick of Ares¡¯, was perplexed as to where it popped out of. Ares brought out the food bowls after and gave a rundown of the meal, ¡°It¡¯s a simple dish today, but a good one nonetheless! Spaghetti carbonara! For drinks, I¡¯ve made a Lemon drop mocktail. Dessert is tailored: Enyo, honeycomb, Aejaz, cotton candy, and Allie, the banana split I¡¯ll be teaching Aejaz how to make. The split has chocolate, vanilla, and pistachio ice cream with cherries on top and a butterscotch sauce.¡±


    ¡°YAY!¡± Allie was really looking forward to this as she had been waiting for this for the last week and it sounded mouth-wateringly perfect.


    ¡°Zhang, I wasn¡¯t sure which one you¡¯d like, so I made four different types of tart: chocolate, custard, raspberry, and lemon.¡±


    Zhang was floored. The meals all looked so unbelievably high class and the desserts were tailored! Ares was the last person he would have ever expected to be a chef of all things. The most surprising thing of all, however, was that he somehow managed to hit the nail on the head with Zhang¡¯s love for tarts. Chocolate and custard were certainly great, and he wasn¡¯t going to turn his nose up at them, but Zhang seriously adored the two other fruit tarts on offer. Each of his two wives used to make one of the two for him and they would always pester him to pick a favourite. Zhang felt like he was reverse ageing just being in the presence of the tarts. ¡°How did you know I liked tarts?¡±


    Ares shrugged. ¡°Intuition and a lucky guess.¡± Ares looked around and smiled warmly when he saw Enyo eating. She was feeling comfortable enough to remove the helmet and eat in the presence of others, this was a huge step up.


    ¡°T¡­ This is impeccable.¡± Zhang had given the main dish a go and his taste buds screamed in joy. Ares was truly a first-rate chef that could put even so-called ¡®professionals¡¯ to shame. Zhang couldn¡¯t comprehend how one person could be so well versed in so many things. Ares was an outstanding cultivator, forger, rune dismantler, technical creator, Rud infuriator, AND chef. These were all notoriously difficult fields to excel in and yet he was way above the average in each. Ares and Aejaz were a really special duo with bright futures ahead of them.


    Naturally, everyone else engorged themselves in the food too and were equally as fond of it. Allie in particular wolfed down her dessert unbelievably fast like she was worried it was going to grow a pair of legs and try to split the scene. None of the food was heavy, but still managed to leave everyone full when they were done and the drinks really hit the spot. It felt like their stomachs were resting atop clouds and being soothed by an angelic lullaby. Ares was truly a master of his craft. He frequently created recipes using ingredients he was only barely familiar with and the dishes were, without exception, of the highest quality. His recreations and re-imaginings of the classics paid homage and did the original flavours justice while adding his own creative flare. He was a God-sent chef if ever there was one.


    The cooking pillar was an open pillar and Ares was starting to dedicate some time here and there to learning it. His food was starting to provide health benefits now. Even Enyo¡¯s favourite honeycomb had been changed, although not the flavour, she¡¯d been adamant about that. Instead, he made it so the honeycomb wasn¡¯t fattening or unhealthy as per her request. She could now gorge on it whenever she wanted with no repercussions to speak of except getting full, and all it took was a little knowledge and a little mana on Ares¡¯ end. Ares was beyond pleased with what he was learning from the pillar and he couldn¡¯t wait to explore arts and unique arts. Most of it relied on a physical presence at the time of cooking, however, which he couldn¡¯t really do when utilising the Primordial Blade, so he put that aside for now and focused more on the destruction pillar.


    When they were finished, they began travelling again. It took them a while to reach Venti City, so they arrived as it was starting to get dark. The general atmosphere was quite similar to Red Sun what with the brick streets and oil lanterns hanging off the side of houses. They stopped off at a Caf¨¦ as Ares didn¡¯t have any more ingredients on him and needed to stock up before he could cook for anyone again. They ate what should have been a satisfactory meal but instead felt somewhat bland after having eaten Ares¡¯ cooking earlier. Ares refused to let this happen again and immediately went to go buy ingredients while everyone else went to the inn, he was somewhat of a snob when it came to food and very rarely ate anyone¡¯s cooking but his own. Ares made sure to stock up on plenty of ingredients and headed back to the inn.

 Chapter 43: Ares and Enyo Get Intimate, Part 2 (18+)

    Allie had already gone to bed so she could get an early night as prep for tomorrow and Aejaz had followed suit. Zhang left for his room, but not before specifying EXACTLY what time he would come knocking on Ares¡¯ and Enyo¡¯s door to wake them up. He didn¡¯t want a repeat of last time.


    Then there were two. Ares and Enyo went up to their room and Enyo had her helmet off within seconds. ¡°Fun?¡±


    ¡°Fun.¡± Ares and Enyo smiled mischievously at each other which soon turned into a lascivious gaze.


    ¡°I guess there¡¯s nothing we can do if your shoulders are feeling stiff again.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, and I imagine your feet must be tired from all the walking?¡±


    ¡°Nope, you just wanna touch ¡®em, don¡¯t you? Perv.¡±


    ¡°Ha, honestly? Nope. I just figured you might like it.¡± Ares really didn¡¯t have any foot related fetishes and genuinely thought Enyo would''ve liked a foot massage. Granted, if she wanted to do anything to him with her feet, he wouldn¡¯t say no, he would actively encourage it if anything.


    ¡°I never said I didn¡¯t want the massage.¡± Enyo stuck her tongue out.


    Ares walked up to her, gently held her chin, and spoke softly, ¡°Let me take care of you. Sit back, relax, and I¡¯ll treat you like a queen.¡±


    Enyo leant her head next to Ares and murmured in his ear, ¡°I like the sound of that. Be my manservant. If you do a good enough job, I¡¯ll let you do anything you want to me.¡± Enyo nibbled on Ares¡¯ ear, making him partially erect. She sat down on her bed, flicked off her shoes and removed her lower armour which revealed her stirrup legwear underneath. She shuffled back until she was comfortable and slumped with her back against the wall.


    Ares decided that, if he was allowed to do anything, he wanted more than a massage when he got to have his turn later. What he would do to her and how far he would go was dependent on what she was about to do to him.


    Ares sat about halfway across the bed, directly opposite her in the lotus position. As Enyo took off the rest of her armour, Ares realised this was the first time he had actually ever seen her with it fully off.


    It was possible to reduce the effect that training would have visually on the body. Almost every cultivator used this to varying degrees as everyone would wind up looking like a bulky beast otherwise. Ares had never focused too much on training his body so he barely had to adjust himself as he was already pretty much where he wanted to be. It seemed like Enyo had done more than just a little adjusting though. She had a firm physique and her body was definitely toned considering her well-defined six pack and curves visible even underneath her tank top, but it was far more subdued than what Ares would have expected given how strong she was physically. Ares didn¡¯t care what she looked like but it seemed Enyo herself did, opting for an aesthetic that was less brawny and stout but more graceful and compact. He was reminded of the time in Baja Forest when she was unhappy at the thought of being called ugly even though she detested being called pretty. She was definitely someone who cared about her appearance enough to fiddle with it to a meticulous degree.


    Ares correctly guessed that Enyo wanted her image to be a blend of power and elegance and, to her credit, she¡¯d managed it extraordinarily well. She must really have had a vision for herself and worked tirelessly to achieve it. She almost looked sculpted to perfection. It seemed Enyo was aware that she was objectively average in her proportions and had built her look around it with her slightly sagging, supple breasts drooped neatly on top of her stiff muscles. If anything, her sizes were ideal for the appearance she rocked as they gave her a more mature vibe, not to mention the contrast between the softness of her breasts and the solidity of her chest matching the contrast present in her visage and her gaze. She possessed both meticulous beauty and subtle yet definite strength.


    Ares knew he was probably biased, but he wouldn¡¯t change anything about her, not even a speck. He genuinely believed she was mesmerising and couldn¡¯t be improved upon. She gave off both an alluring and prestigious air that made her look and feel regal, like an imposing, exalted queen. Ares just had to compliment her, ¡°Enyo, you¡¯re beautiful.¡±


    Enyo felt a wave of vindication wash over her as she¡¯d spent far longer than she cared to admit fretting over and working on her body to get it to where she wanted it to be. She¡¯d been doing it for herself, and didn¡¯t even remotely care about the idea of being pleasing to a man¡¯s eye, but now that Ares was in her life, she wanted him to enjoy the fruits of her labour as much as she did. She would share it with him and only him.


    ??


    Enyo liked Ares¡¯ complement so she decided to reward her attendant. She stretched out her foot and pushed up against the underside of Ares¡¯ glans, through his shorts, and lifted it. When his dick was vertical, she flattened it against Ares¡¯ stomach and grinded her toes along the shaft. As it grew ever more erect and stiff, it naturally pushed back against Enyo¡¯s smothering toes to straighten itself out as the weight of his manhood fell on the ball of her foot. Now that she was fully feeling out his length, she realised he was really quite big. The main thing that excited her was that it was thick and veiny. She could feel the contours of his bumpy veins as she stroked him up and down. It was her first ever proper interaction with a man¡¯s dick and she wasn¡¯t expecting it to be so strange. The shaft felt unbreakable like a diamond but the glans felt softer in comparison and yet somehow equally firm. She wanted to touch it directly, but figured this was probably far enough for now. Maybe she could convince Ares to be more ¡®hands on¡¯, but not to go any further than using their hands until they had their moment. She knew wanting to jerk him off and wanting to be fingered by him was a slippery slope that could lead further if they didn¡¯t restrain themselves, but she had faith they could do it. As she was contemplating how to go about getting touchy with Ares, she felt pre-cum seeping through Ares shorts and rolling down the soles of her feet.


    Decisions, decisions. She wasn¡¯t sure whether to bring her foot back and get a taste, or bring it up to Ares¡¯ face and make him lick it clean but, eventually, she made her choice. She was going to have plenty of time to taste him. Right now, he was supposed to be her good little slave, and yet he was enjoying himself more than she was. She brought her foot up and demanded, ¡°Clean it.¡± Although Ares had told her he didn¡¯t have a foot fetish, that wasn¡¯t a good enough answer for Enyo. She was going to make sure he fantasized over every single inch of her and she could tell by his reactions she was getting exactly what she desired.


    Ares controlled his Zephyr to create a leg rest for Enyo so she wouldn¡¯t have to strain herself in any way, shape, or form. He wrapped another part of the Zephyr along the length of her leg and activated one of the patterns that caused it to warm up her leg and make it feel cosy. He also used the feathers to poke at her acupuncture points, making her leg less tense. Ares brought his palm under her heel and held up her foot as though it were a delicate jewel, a jewel he was determined to make spotless. As he massaged the underside of her foot with his right hand and her toes with his left, he brought his tongue to the sole of her foot and obediently wiped away his own pre-ejaculate. His moist tongue caused Enyo to gasp and moan as a wet patch formed around her crotch, which only served to make Ares¡¯ own patch even larger. When he made sure her foot was pristine enough to eat off, he swapped the position of his left hand and mouth so that he was now working on her toes. He rolled his tongue around them, one by one, and put them each into his mouth, taking the utmost of care not to even tap them with his teeth aside from when he intentionally nibbled them. In between each toe, he would guide his tongue down and along the gap, taking extra care to rinse away all her sweat. When he concluded his service on the first foot, he kissed her ankle to indicate she could bring the other one up so he could continue to worship as she trampled all over his dignity.


    Ares undid the Zephyr bandaging around one leg and Enyo lifted her other to repeat the grinding process against his crotch. She wanted to do something different this time. She was dripping wet now as the sensation of Ares¡¯ tongue had been intoxicating and she wanted to push him further. She was drunk with power and she was going to push around Ares so much so that, when he had his way with her, he would be extra rough. She wanted to bully him so he would bully her harder. Her foot was considerably more wet this time as Ares¡¯ cock had been thoroughly stimulated and was drooling profusely. She brought it back and wiped it onto her hand. She tasted a small amount of it and licked her lips before putting two of her fingers in her mouth. She made sure to merge as much of his pre-cum with her saliva as she could before getting on her knees and crawling over to Ares. She pushed him down and straddled him, giving her ass a quick grind over his penis to tease him. One hand rested on his chest while her other hand caressed the side of Ares¡¯ face smoothly as she smiled.


    Smack


    Enyo hit him hard enough to leave a handprint and gripped his jaw. She opened his mouth and brought her head over his so she could dribble her spit and pre-cum concoction straight down his throat. It leaked down and left a sloppy trail.


    Ares feigned desperation to let Enyo feel in control. He opened his mouth and lifted his chin to catch the drool as though he were dying of thirst and Enyo¡¯s spit was his only salvation. Her saliva was like a blessing.


    Gulp


    As Ares was swallowing, some of Enyo¡¯s drool had landed on his chin and not in his mouth so she punished him for his inattentiveness.


    Smack


    She finished drooling into his mouth, spit one more time for good measure, and smacked him again to let him know who exactly his Goddess was.


    Smack


    Enyo lay down with her head on Ares¡¯ chest and her demeanour was replaced with that of an innocent little girl who could do no wrong. She timidly peered up at Ares with puppy eyes and spoke coyly, ¡°It¡¯s your turn. Be gentle.¡± But that was exactly the opposite of what she wanted, and Ares knew it.


    Ares took a deep breath and spoke calmly, ¡°Straddle me.¡±


    Enyo knew something big was coming and her mind was racing trying to figure out what while she obeyed him.


    Ares sat up and came close to her. He put his left hand on her shoulder and rubbed it lightly. His hand then latched onto her arm and he twisted her body to face the side. His hand coiled around to her back and forced her down onto the bed so she was lying flat on her stomach. He wrapped his hands around her ankles and dragged her over his waist so that her stomach was on top of his pelvis. As Ares was in a sitting position, Enyo¡¯s back-side was raised slightly. He grabbed one of her ass cheeks and moved his head down next to hers as she looked at him. He made clear his savage resentment as he scowled at her with his free hand holding her face by the chin. ¡°You¡¯ve been a bad girl,¡± he growled.


    Enyo bit her lip and gave him a shy look. She spoke quietly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Punish me,¡±


    Smack


    Enyo¡¯s ass jiggled under the weight of Ares¡¯ slap. She spasmed on his lap and let out a yelp.


    Smack


    His hand sunk into her other ass cheek. He was going to mark his property and she was going to sit there and take it. Enyo panted and let out short breaths.


    Smack


    With every hit, a wave of pain and pleasure coursed through Enyo that she was starting to get off on. She craved a heavier hand and so she swayed her butt and pushed her stomach against Ares¡¯ dick while peering up at him.


    Smack


    She got her wish and instantly climaxed from the abuse. She cried out and quivered over Ares¡¯ lap as he sat with a smug smirk and watched her squirm. Ares wasn¡¯t finished with her yet though; this was just the beginning. His right hand was tugging on her hair every time he spanked her but now it had a new job. He brought it over to Enyo¡¯s soaking legwear and smeared two of his fingers in the grool that had trickled through, making sure to rub against her lower lips through her clothes on the way past which earned him the satisfaction of a moan from Enyo. He brought those two fingers back around to her face. ¡°Open your mouth,¡± he ordered in a thundering tone that left no room for negotiating. This was revenge for making him swallow his own pre-cum, but it was also going to be a bit different this time, he wasn¡¯t going to be as gentle as Enyo had been.


    Enyo opened her mouth, expecting Ares to just fiddle with her tongue.


    His index finger hooked around the outside of her lips and his middle and ring fingers went right past her tongue. He slowly ventured deeper, allowing her to gag on them as she accustomed herself to this new experience. Her own grool trickled down her throat as Ares spanked her again. She got used to the feeling of Ares'' fingers and thought that he wasn¡¯t going to do much more when he started to retract them. She gagged again though when his fingers thrust right back in at the same time he spanked her. Her saliva and soft tongue drenched his hand as it rocked back and forth in her mouth. He was finger fucking her mouth and spanking her at the same time. She caught a glimpse of Ares looking down at her pathetic state with the eyes of a predator toying with its prey. She had tears in her eyes from the gagging.


    Every time she writhed downward; he would spank her.


    Every time she recoiled upward; he would shove his finger deeper in her mouth.


    She loved that her man was treating her like dirt and making her feel helpless. This treatment awoke the masochistic tendencies within and she whimpered to let Ares know that she was thankful for him making her his bitch. He spanked her again and she leaked profusely from her crotch, so much so that it was leaking through her clothes.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Ares whispered in a deep, intense voice directly into her ear, ¡°Good girl.¡±


    His hot breath and tone sent shivers down Enyo¡¯s spine and she found her new favourite fetish; being called a ¡®good girl¡¯. It was demeaning, vulgar, derogatory, and dirty. She was a good girl for letting him take out his pent-up lust on her and her reward was enabling her man to pleasure himself. She didn¡¯t even have the right to be considered a woman, just a disposable tool for Ares to play with, and yet it made her feel good. It was reassuring her that even though she was worth absolutely nothing in his eyes, she was doing good and she could keep being his little pet as long as she kept pleasing him. It was like an abusive relationship. He spanked her and jammed his fingers inside her warm mouth but the second he called her a good girl she was willing to let him do it again if he wanted, fuck, he could even do it harder.


    Ares briefly took his fingers out of Enyo¡¯s mouth to reapply a coating of her grool before digging them right back in. He was fiercer this time and he was also thrusting his dick against Enyo¡¯s stomach.


    Enyo could tell he wanted to cum, so she wiggled her ass to entice Ares and pushed down on his dick like before while also rolling her tongue around his fingers as an added bonus for treating her like shit. That wasn¡¯t enough for Ares to call her a good girl again, so she moved her arms back to her rear and squashed her ass cheeks together, making it easier to punish her.


    Ares knew she was desperate for it so he gave her exactly what she wanted as he brought his palm down on her rear. ¡°Good girl.¡±


    Enyo orgasmed again as she was spanked. She was glad because it meant she was going to gargle on Ares¡¯ fingers and make guttural noises of pleasure that would satisfy him. She wanted him to make her suffer and for him to revel in it.


    Ares relished in the garbled sounds Enyo was making and orgasmed with one final thrust against her stomach. His back arched and he let out a deep moan and a long sigh of pleasure as Enyo subserviantly licked his fingers that had stopped tormenting her.


    Enyo loved the sound of his sporadic breaths so she listened for a while as she kept orally servicing his fingers, giving Ares time to enjoy his sexual conquest.


    ??


    She pushed herself up and rugby tackled Ares when he was somewhat back to normal. She was lying on his chest, looking up at him again with a beaming smile. ¡°That was fun.¡±


    Ares caught his breath and smiled right back. ¡°You can say that again. I didn''t hurt you, did I?¡± He ran his hand through her hair and patted her softly.


    Enyo had wanted head pats from Ares ever since Baja Forest and was ecstatic she had finally received them. ¡°No. It was perfect.¡± Enyo winked coyly.


    Enyo had made no indication she wanted him to stop, but it was still nice for Ares to have the reassurance that she was ok, it made him feel a lot better about what he just did. ¡°Man¡­ we¡¯re really good friends, huh?¡±


    Enyo laughed heartily. ¡°Idiot, you wait ¡®till I get my hands on a whip.¡±


    Ares blinked. ¡°Excuse me!? A what now!?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Nothing!¡± Enyo kept laughing.


    Ares also started laughing¡­ Nervously.


    ¡°Tsk, my ass stings. You better hope that tomorrow no one asks me why I¡¯m not sitting down comfortably.¡±


    ¡°I can rub it while we sleep if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°Since when did we start sleeping in the same bed? Pervert.¡±


    ¡°Ha, don¡¯t be like that, there is only one bed here after all.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Enyo looked around, as she recalled seeing two when she had entered but, sure enough, the other one was gone.


    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s fine¡­ I guess I¡¯ll just sleep on the cold, hard floor.¡± Ares gave a fake sigh.


    It took Enyo a second before it finally dawned on her that Ares had hidden the bed inside the Primordial Blade all so he could make this stupid scenario a reality. Enyo snickered. ¡°Congratulations, I think you¡¯re officially the dumbest man in your own little universe. Fine, I suppose I can let a stray mut share the bed with me.¡±


    ¡°Woof!¡±


    ¡°No slobbering! Also, look at the mess you¡¯ve made!¡± Enyo pointed at all the wet patches on the bed.


    ¡°Nuh-uh, at least three quarters of that was you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care! Clean it up!¡±


    ¡°... With my tongue or? ¡­¡±


    Enyo rolled her eyes. ¡°I wanna see it clean by the time I¡¯m done showering or you aren¡¯t allowed in the bed!¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡±


    ¡°Good boy,¡± she teased.


    Ares whispered into her ear using the same voice as before, ¡°Good girl.¡±


    Enyo shivered and gulped as her ear tingled. ¡°Ok, you win.¡±


    ¡°I love calling you that.¡±


    ¡°I love hearing it.¡± She patted his chest and went into the bathroom.


    Ares took off the sheets, bunched them up into a ball, and left it in a corner of the room as that was supposedly proper etiquette for this situation. He replaced everything with the stuff from the other bed inside the Primordial Blade and waited for his turn to go into the shower.


    Enyo came out using a towel to dry her hair. ¡°All yours.¡±


    Ares raised an eyebrow as he searched through his memory and recalled what that meant last time.


    ¡°NO!¡±


    ¡°Ha, just checking.¡± Ares walked into the bathroom and then poked his head back out shortly after. ¡°Enyo? Can I use that towel?¡±


    ¡°Huh? There should¡¯ve been another¡­¡± Enyo realised this situation was oddly familiar. ¡°Ugh. Are all men animals, or is it just you?¡± She tossed the towel over to him. ¡°Perv.¡±


    Ares just wanted to use the same towel as Enyo. He went in, had his shower, and came back out to find Enyo crunching away at some honeycomb while fidgeting uncomfortably because of the pain on her bottom. He chuckled at his handiwork and sat down next to Enyo. ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to the international.¡±


    Crunch


    ¡°Me too but, you know, we don¡¯t have to wait untill then.¡±


    Ares gently bopped her head. ¡°Patience. I promise it¡¯ll be worth it.¡±


    ¡°I trust you. I just really want that damn kiss and to hear you say that. On a side note¡­ How far should we allow ourselves to go? We''ve already gone pretty far, all things considered.¡±


    Ares spun his two fingers around. ¡°Ha, I did go pretty far, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Enyo swatted the fingers away. ¡°Hmph, clever bastard.¡±


    ¡°In all seriousness. I think it¡¯s fine to go at least a bit further, to be more¡­ Directly¡­ Responsible for each other¡¯s needs and wants.¡±


    ¡°Oh, enough with the roundabout speech already. Who do you think you¡¯re fooling? Not me, not after what you just did to me anyway. Can I give you a hand job and can you finger me?¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. I think that¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°And oral sex?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s save that for later. Spread it all out a bit so we aren¡¯t left wanting more with nowhere else to go but penetration.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±


    ¡°As do your moans.¡±


    ¡°I knew you liked hearing them.¡±


    ¡°You have a lovely voice.¡±


    ¡°And you have a gorgeous face.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It just occurred to me that I¡¯d never complimented the way you look before. I just want you to know that your rugged, masculine features make you look strapping.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Actually the first time I¡¯ve ever been complimented for my appearance. Usually, Aejaz would just compliment himself. It feels strange, but I like it.¡±


    Enyo got under the covers and lay down. ¡°Now you know how giddy I feel when you compliment me.¡±


    Ares followed suit and lay down too. ¡°Mhm, you really deserve it though. It¡¯s not just a matter of bias, you''re honestly a breathtaking woman, Enyo.¡±


    Enyo snuggled up against Ares¡¯ chest. ¡°Whether or not other people think I¡¯m beautiful doesn¡¯t matter to me. I¡¯m just happy to hear you say it.¡±


    Ares cuddled Enyo and held her close in his warm embrace. ¡°And I¡¯ll say it as many times as you like. Goodnight, Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, Ares.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You also have a really big dick.¡±


    ¡°And you really know the way to a man¡¯s heart.¡±


    The two snickered and giggled for a while before finally falling asleep.


    ---------------------------------


    ¡°Good morning.¡± Ares twirled a strand of Enyo¡¯s silky hair around his finger.


    ¡°Great morning. That¡¯s the best sleep I¡¯ve had in a long while. Also, good morning big fella¡¯.¡± Enyo poked Ares¡¯ morning wood under the covers.


    Ares chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him, he¡¯ll go away if you ignore him.¡±


    ¡°Will you stop rubbing my ass if I ignore you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Enyo snorted while picking up Ares¡¯ hand and placing it to the side. ¡°Come on lover boy, we have a competition to go watch.'''' Enyo climbed over Ares to escape his roving hands.


    ¡°Sure thing lover girl¡­ That is a phrase, right? It sounds weird.¡± Ares got up and stretched.


    ¡°It¡¯s a phrase, but it really doesn¡¯t have the same ring to it, does it?¡±


    ¡°Nope, but now you¡¯ve got me thinking about pet names.¡±


    ¡°Can I just call you an idiot?¡±


    ¡°Only if you let me call you tin can.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a hard no then.¡±


    ¡°Do we even need pet names? I like saying ¡® Enyo¡¯ and I like hearing you say ¡®Ares¡¯. It also has its own implications anyway.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. I still can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve ended up with a man named Ares. This world has a way of playing practical jokes on people for sure.¡±


    ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you a question.¡±


    ¡°What about?¡±


    ¡°I just want you to know in advance that you¡¯re perfectly entitled to say and do as you please in regards to what I¡¯m about to ask, so don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m pressuring you, but what¡¯s your stance on Appa? It¡¯s going to ask you to be its mother.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know yet. I don¡¯t know if I can be a parent, and I don¡¯t think I really want to. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll give it some thought though.¡±


    ¡°No need to apologise, like I said, you¡¯re free to make your own choice. It would be a lot to ask and expect of you. I was just asking because I want to temper Appa¡¯s hopes on that matter. Appa¡¯s surprisingly mature about stuff like this. It¡¯ll be sad for a while, but it¡¯ll understand and respect your decision.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Good to know. What¡¯s it like? Being a parent?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t noticed a difference, really. Then again, it hasn¡¯t been that long, and I haven¡¯t spent much time with Appa since it happened. I really am looking forward to seeing it again though, I¡¯m missing Appa a lot more than I thought I would.¡±


    ¡°It seemed very content when it was with you at the fair. I think you¡¯ll make a wonderful parent.¡±


    Ares opened the door. ¡°Thanks, I appreciate the vote of confidence.¡± As Ares held the door for Enyo, he couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed that she didn¡¯t want to be a parent with him. He respected her choice and knew it was unreasonable to try and convince her. She was obviously entitled to her freedom, but he felt awful at the prospect of having to break the news to Appa that it could never have a mother. He would have to explain to it that Enyo would still exist in Appa¡¯s life, but that she wouldn¡¯t fulfil that role for it. He was still somewhat hopeful that, maybe, when Enyo actually met Appa, her mind might change. After all, if anyone could do it, it would be Appa.


    They went downstairs early so that there was zero chance of Zhang repeating the previous incident. He could take his knocking and shove it; they didn¡¯t trust him as far as they could throw him. They found Allie, Aejaz, and Zhang getting along quite well and bonding over breakfast. They pulled up some seats and joined them at the table. ¡°Yo,¡± Ares greeted.


    ¡°Hey Ares! Hey sis¡¯!¡± Allie greeted him back.


    ¡°Are you feeling confident? Ready to kick some ass? Metaphorically speaking, of course. I doubt they¡¯d let you brawl with each other at an alchemy event, although I can¡¯t say it wouldn¡¯t make the whole thing more fun to watch.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time, so I¡¯m feeling nervous, but I think I can do it!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure any pills that are higher quality than yours mysteriously disappear,¡± Aejaz joked.


    Allie giggled. ¡°Thanks ¡®Jaz, but I want to win with the skills I¡¯ve been honing over the years.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope you aren¡¯t the only one with that mentality,¡± Zhang said. ¡°There are plenty of cheaters in alchemy competitions with secret compartments and such. There are rumours that the Venti City mayor¡¯s son quite frequently overperforms compared to what he¡¯s usually capable of.¡± Zhang sighed. ¡°Win or not, just have fun and get some good practice in so you know what your future has in store for you. Alchemy competitions are a standard for people like us, it¡¯s how we move up in the world and get recognised.¡±


    ¡°Cheater or not, I¡¯ll try as best I can! ¡­ Um, where¡¯s Ares?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Everyone was collectively stumped as he had vanished without anyone noticing.


    Enyo found a note on his empty seat and read it aloud, ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, I¡¯m just preparing something for later.¡±


    ¡°Ares really does live in his own world, doesn¡¯t he,¡± Zhang commented as he stroked his beard.


    ¡°Ha, tell me about it. He¡¯s even got his own towel, bed and kitchen in there,¡± Enyo mocked.


    ¡°Bed? Kitchen? Towel?¡± Zhang didn¡¯t get it.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s an in-joke, sorry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you two have plenty of in-jokes,¡± Zhang intoned.


    Enyo just waved two fingers around and laughed.


    Allie¡¯s curiosity piqued. ¡°What does that one mean, sis¡¯?¡±


    Enyo smirked evilly under her helmet. ¡°Are you sure you want to know? It¡¯s going to be a very detailed explanation that will leave you blushing and very embarrassed.¡±


    Allie was unsure about what Enyo was talking about, but decided to be brave. After the incident in the previous town, she redoubled her efforts to become a proper cultivator who wouldn¡¯t be daunted by such trivial things! ¡°Ok! Tell me!¡± She spoke determinedly.


    Enyo beckoned for her to lean over the table and when Allie did, she whispered everything into her ear.


    Allie progressively got redder and redder to the point Zhang and Aejaz were worried she was having a literal meltdown.


    Enyo finally got around to explaining the fingers and Allie clasped her hands over open mouth and wanted to find somewhere to hide. As it turns out, there are still some things she wasn¡¯t ready for. ¡°T¡­ T¡­ That¡­ You¡­ Let¡­ He¡­ That¡­ Did¡­¡± Allie sounded like a broken record. ¡°Is¡­ That¡­ Real?¡±


    Enyo burst out laughing at the naivety of her sister.


    Aejaz just had to ask, ¡°Is what real?¡±


    Allie hid her face in her hands and couldn¡¯t look at Aejaz the same way¡­ or at all really. What if he wanted to do that to her? She didn¡¯t know if she could handle that¡­ She also didn¡¯t have the courage to do what Enyo had done to Ares¡­


    Enyo spoke up to alleviate some of Allie¡¯s worries, ¡°Allie, sweetie, everyone is different. Ares and I¡­ We¡¯re very different. You and Aejaz don¡¯t have to be like us in that regard, ok?¡±


    Allie peeked out from behind her hands. ¡°... Ok¡­¡±


    Enyo did the finger motion again and cackled as Allie squealed.


    ¡°Right, well, if you¡¯re done traumatising my daughter, I¡¯ll be going over the plan for today.¡± Zhang coughed to try and save Allie from the embarrassment. ¡°We¡¯ll have lunch before the competition. Allie will take part in the first round and I imagine she¡¯ll pass. The rounds get progressively harder and the first is usually just to give beginners who are there a chance to get experience with this type of event. Some people will drop out here, of course, but Allie you¡¯ve trained more than long enough to pass the round with your eye¡¯s closed if need be. Any number of people can pass the first round, so you don¡¯t have to worry about that side of things just yet either. The second round will have a limit though. Your pill¡¯s quality will be judged and the best performers will move onto the third round. This should be obvious, but the pill they¡¯ll want you to create will get harder every round. Before the final round there¡¯ll be a break for dinner, after which you¡¯ll go back on stage. We¡¯ll leave the next day. Any questions? No? Good. Now the only issue is what we¡¯re going to have for lunch¡­¡± Zhang had hoped Ares would cook for them again, but he wasn¡¯t here right now. As if he¡¯d called out ¡®Beetlejuice¡¯ three times in a row, however, a space ring rattled on the wooden table before finally settling. Only Zhang had caught a glimpse of Ares, who made sure to stick his tongue out at him, as he made a drive by delivery. Zhang picked up the ring and checked its contents. ¡°Well, it would seem lunch is sorted.¡±


    They chatted for a while and Zhang pop-quizzed Allie every now and then and was pleased with her flawless record of answers. Allie had been trained by him for the last ten years and Zhang was a pretty decent alchemist himself. He¡¯d probably only be considered slightly above average in the grand scheme of things but, compared to other people in Central Land, he was definitely on the upper end of the scale ability wise. It was a massive boon for Allie to have studied under him, but she was also gifted in her own right and she never slacked in her alchemy practice. Sure, she spent a fair bit of time creating Mini-Pillies, but that too was alchemy. It¡¯s often said that those with a unique aspect will learn things related to their pillar far faster than others, Allie and Aejaz were fantastic examples of that theory in motion. Zhang knew that Allie was a shoe-in to win the whole event, barring any improper shenanigans anyway. Her only real competition would be one of his old friend¡¯s students.


    They ate lunch and Allie¡¯s nerves were washed away by the meal. Zhang could tell Ares had done something involving the cooking pillar for it to have had such an effect. The cooking pillar was an anomaly, it really should¡¯ve just been an aspect under the support pillar and yet it came in so many different shapes and forms that it ended up with its own pillar and varied aspects. There were chefs who could create mounds of mountainous monstrosities that would fight alongside them, there were some that could provide support buffs, and there were even some that made various gadgetry and explosives using food. It really was all quite odd and the cooking pillar was undoubtedly on the stranger side of things. It seemed Ares was taking the standard approach for the cooking pillar, though, and focusing on the various benefits his food could provide. Zhang merged two thoughts in his head; one of Ares equipping everyone in the sect with Shock Beads, and the other of Ares feeding the entire sect with combat-boosting meals. Unbeatable. Destruction and cooking. What an unusual yet incredibly powerful combination. Also, didn¡¯t that essentially just make Ares a high-spec barbarian? All he did was eat, fight, blow things up, fuck, and sleep. What a guy. Truly an ¡®inspiration¡¯ to his fellow man.

 Chapter 44: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

    Allie and co made their way to the competition site. There were bleachers to spectate which were set up in a semi-circle pattern around a raised, wooden stage. Allie registered with an amiable man who gave a rough estimate of when each round would start and finish so she could plan accordingly. Their group went to a nearby set of seats to wait for the announcement of the first round.


    ¡°Zhang!¡±


    ¡°Scully! It¡¯s been far too long!¡± Zhang enthusiastically greeted an elderly man that looked nearly identical to himself, with the only noticeable differences being that Scully was using a cane and had a longer beard.


    ¡°Ah, this brings back memories. When was the last time we were at a competition together? 50 years ago?¡±


    ¡°I believe so. It was in Credo City. If I remember correctly, you won that year.¡± Zhang and Scully were happily conversing away, completely forgetting to introduce their students.


    ¡°And that evened out our score yet again. 32 competition wins a-piece.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame we ended on a draw but, alas, my old bones aren¡¯t quite what they used to be.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I know that feeling. However, that¡¯s where these two young''uns come into the picture. This fellow is Tuck.¡± Scully pointed at the person hidden behind him who had a rather young, boyish look.


    Tuck was 17 years old and fairly non-versed in the ways of the world. In many ways, he was like a male Allie before she¡¯d left the sect and been through her own rough times. He seemed rather shy and, although it was rather rude to think it, he was undeniably a wimp. He certainly couldn¡¯t hold his own in a fight and he didn¡¯t look even remotely confident about the upcoming competition. Scully had called attention to him just as he happened to be staring dazedly at Allie, which only made him all the more nervous. ¡°Oh¡­ Um, hi. Scully told me a lot about you, Zhang. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet someone my mentor holds in such high regards.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Scully¡¯s exaggerated a few details here and there, either way it¡¯s nice to meet you too. Scully has an eye for talent, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do great in the competition.¡± Zhang tried to help ease his friend¡¯s student¡¯s nerves as they were seemingly scattered all over the place. ¡°This here is Allie. She¡¯s both my student and adopted daughter,¡± Zhang introduced Allie.


    ¡°Hello! Zhang has told me a great deal about the competitions you two entered when you were younger! It¡¯s nice finally getting to meet one of dad¡¯s friends!¡±


    ¡°Oh, did he tell you about our seventh duel? That one in particular was thrilling!¡± Scully seemed to really enjoy talking about his younger escapades with Zhang.


    ¡°He did! That was the one with the massive explosion, right?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, and when the dust settled, we ended up in a draw! Ah, good times. You know, I¡¯ve heard you have a unique aspect! Those are rare in the alchemy pillar. I know it¡¯s a little inconsiderate of me to ask this, as it¡¯s the first time we¡¯ve met but, could I see it? Alchemy fascinates me and I always love interfacing with something new!¡±


    ¡°Mhm! That¡¯s ok!¡± Allie brought out Mini-Pilly Strength and Scout. After the previous incident, Allie had taken some time out to recreate Strength as he¡¯d been broken during the fight. Strength actually seemed somewhat less proud after its recent failure. ¡°These are two of my Mini-Pillies. They each have unique traits and get cool new stuff when I upgrade them with alchemy ingredients!¡±


    ¡°Living pills! Truly incredible! What do they do?¡±


    ¡°Strength is really strong and is like my bodyguard. Scout can bite things to attach to them. When it does, I can track him remotely. I can also hear and see everything he does so he¡¯s kinda like a camera. They all have specialties that are based on the kind of pill they were before I transformed them!¡±


    ¡°I see! So, Strength was presumably a strength enhancement pill, and Scout was a tracking pill?¡±


    ¡°Yep!¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s fascinating. Good luck in the competition Allie, you¡¯ll need it! Tuck is no pushover!¡±


    ¡°Thank you! And good luck to you, Tuck!¡±


    Tuck blushed and replied sheepishly, ¡°Oh¡­ Thanks, and good luck to you too.¡±


    Aejaz'' eyes twitched, he could smell a different kind of ¡®brewing competition¡¯! He knew that Allie would never even entertain the thought, but that didn¡¯t stop him from disliking Tuck any less. Aejaz wasn¡¯t the malicious type¡­ Usually, but he couldn¡¯t help coming up with a cunning plan that he would go through with later. In his defence, he wasn¡¯t really going to do anything out of line, nor was he going to do anything directly to Tuck, so it wouldn¡¯t be classified as cheating.


    ¡°PLEASE TAKE YOUR SPOT ON THE STAGE, THE FIRST ROUND IS ABOUT TO START,¡± a voice came through over the speakers informing everyone that their time had come.


    ¡°Good luck!¡± Everyone wished the two well as they went up alongside the other competitors.


    As Aejaz sat down on the second row, he took stock of everyone eyeing up Allie and did a spot of thieving. If you like Allie so damn much, then you can contribute to her alchemy!


    An old lady walked up onto the stage and read out the rules in a clear voice. The rules were exactly as Zhang mentioned to everyone previously, this round was just about making the pill asked of you. This time around, everyone would be making a hair-trigger pill. Hair-trigger pills were used by gunmen and archers to increase their reaction time and speed in a fight; they were the ranged equivalent of a berserker pill. A cloche was brought up onto the stage and the old lady announced the grand prize, ¡°The winner of the competition will receive a ¡®regeneroot¡¯!¡± She lifted the cover on the plant and put it on full display to the sound of the crowd¡¯s ¡®oohs¡¯ and ¡®ahhs¡¯.


    Regeneroot was a fairly common ingredient in a good few number of higher tiered pills. It had the unique trait of repairing itself when cut so it could be used indefinitely, meaning its value was sky-high. The plants themselves were extraordinarily uncommon and those lucky few who owned more than 4 or 5 each essentially controlled the entire commerce surrounding these plants. They would sell parts of the plant while keeping the root and sending out supplies whenever they grew back. The roots were in high-demand and their parts frequently ran out. Any alchemist worth his salt owned one of these to prevent them from having to wait upwards of a year just to make a single pill as the number of recipes that required regeneroot was surprisingly high and there was no known replacement. A single regeneroot would last a lifetime which is why alchemists fought tooth and nail over them.


    A prize of this calibre meant the alchemy industry was doing well for itself. Official events hosted by the Alchemy Organisation would give out prizes proportional to how much they could afford, and a rare prize like this was always a good sign. It also attracted a lot of unsavoury types who would be more than willing to try and cheat for such prizes though, but thankfully these events were hosted by the Alchemy Organisation and boasted a neutral set of judges. The A.O¡¯s (Alchemy Organisation¡¯s) judges were always vetted to the extreme and impartial in every sense of the word, there would never be any form of rigging. The one time it happened throughout history resulted in domain-wide retaliation as the A.O put out a hit on the person in question. They were hunted down in less than a day and boiled alive in an alchemy cauldron. The pill formed from his corpse is still on display today in an alchemy museum run by the A.O. There have been no issues since.


    ¡°You have two hours to make the pill. If you fail, you may use up the rest of your time trying again. As long as you¡¯ve created a single pill of acceptable quality in the two-hour time-period, you¡¯ll pass. You may begin!¡± The old lady signalled the start of the event and everyone got to work.


    Scully laughed. ¡°Haha, why am I not surprised you taught Allie the ¡®Hands-On¡¯ aspect for alchemy? It always was a personal favourite of yours.¡±


    ¡°It''s done right by me all these years. I actually let her decide for herself, but she was adamant about following in my footsteps and I couldn¡¯t say no to her.¡±


    Enyo looked around before posing a question, ¡°For a method so universally detested, I don¡¯t see many people here looking all-too fussed?¡±


    Zhang kissed his teeth. ¡°A lot of people compare this method to a chef spitting in people¡¯s food. No one is exactly pleased with the thought of an old man doing it¡­ But if it were a cute, little girl¡­ Forget not buying it, some would even pay double. There¡¯s actually a growing market for female alchemists in that ¡®sector¡¯. Some go further and even mix in their own¡­ Liquids. It¡¯s supposedly quite profitable and there¡¯s this new business that arose capitalising off the fad. As the method foregoes mana for direct touch when handling the ingredients, the associated businesses took on the moniker ¡®OnlyHands¡¯.¡± Aejaz¡¯ leg was shaking furiously and Zhang could tell why. ¡°Well Allie never sells her pills anyway. She either keeps them for personal use or turns them into Mini-Pillies, so it¡¯s not a concern for her.¡±


    The leg bouncing ceased.


    Back on the stage, a few of the alchemists had already concocted a pill of satisfactory quality. The hair-trigger pill was incredibly easy to make as the end result was just supposed to be a basic, low-level supplement. It would take far longer if they had to make a higher quality version, but this was just the first stage so things were still simple. Allie finished a while later as her method took a lot more care, but typically produced a better-quality pill. Even from the side-lines it was pretty easy to tell she had made the best pill of the lot, even though she was one of the slower to complete the concoction process. A few other contestants burnt some of their ingredients and had to try again. Typically, if someone couldn''t do it by their third try, they weren¡¯t going to be able to do it all. Some people who had made this pill a hundred times over were failing too just due to the nature of being watched on a stage, they would inevitably fall short and fail. That was what they had been brought here for; to understand the type of pressure that comes hand in hand with these competitions.


    Two hours later, 20 people had successfully created the pill. It wasn¡¯t a particularly large number, but these people had all passed comfortably. There were no stragglers or people who lucked out near the end, which was fairly indicative of how challenging the next rounds were going to be.


    Allie left the stage to take a half-hour break before the next round started. On the way back, Tuck caught up to her and congratulated her on passing as easily as she had. ¡°Thanks! Everyone did well so I think it¡¯s going to be a bit tougher from here on out. Good luck!¡±


    Tuck smiled. ¡°Good luck to you too!¡±


    They returned to everyone else and were congratulated on their successful start. Allie looked around and seemed disappointed.


    Enyo noticed this and became somewhat annoyed on Allie¡¯s behalf. ¡°I¡¯m sure Ares will be back before the competition ends.¡±


    Allie replied somewhat half-heartedly, ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Scully raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is there another person in your group?¡±


    Zhang responded, ¡°Yes, although we¡¯ve no idea where he¡¯s skulked off to.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not my place to say this, but he seems like a rather rude individual for not being here to support Allie.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, you don¡¯t know the half of it. You remember Rud? You should see how far up the wall he¡¯s driven him. Still though, he said he had something to take care of, so I¡¯ll reserve judgement. I¡¯m just hoping he¡¯s back in time for dinner, the bastard can cook if nothing else.¡±


    The half an hour passed by in the blink of an eye and the announcer had called everyone back up onto the stage. This time, around only 5 of the 20 participants would make it through to the final round. The pill the judges wanted everyone to make was an ¡®everlasting high¡¯ pill. These were essentially just healing pills with no expiration dates. They were harder to make than normal healing pills, and required rarer ingredients, but most cultivators would always buy a stock to keep on hand so their value was quite high. Temporary healing pills were usually only ever bought right before expeditions, but everlasting highs were never a purchase you would end up regretting, so they were some of the most commonly-sold pills of all time. Everlasting highs would take a different amount of time to make based on the quality of the pill. If it were low quality, the expected time for the process would be around 2 hours, similar to that of the hair-trigger pill. A medium quality pill would take around 4 hours and a high quality would take roughly 6 hours. The contestants were given 5 hours to make the pill. Whether they decided to spend less time on the pill so they could make more if they failed, or if they decided to spend longer on it to have a higher chance of making it through if the pill was created successfully, was up to them. There were also pills that fell in-between tiers so, if someone spent the whole five hours making a single pill successfully, they would basically be guaranteed a spot in the finals. Zhang and Scully could tell that¡¯s what Allie was trying to do.


    ¡°Ah, jeez. That¡¯s quite physically demanding for someone at her age and cultivation.¡± Scully sighed. ¡°If she were using a different method then sure, but this might be a bit much. She¡¯ll no doubt knacker herself out if she goes the full five hours.¡±


    Zhang wore an excessively proud smile. ¡°Hm? Are you sure about that? She¡¯s dedicated every waking moment to alchemy you know. She could actually make a high-quality pill if she had the time for it. Practise makes perfect, and she has practised a lot.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, show-off! Still, Tuck won¡¯t lose!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see. I imagine they¡¯ll both make it through this round just based on everyone¡¯s progress and various approaches. You always were the strait-laced type and Tuck is using a very by-the-book approach. It seems you and I have basically made our disciples off-shoots of ourselves.¡±


    Four hours passed and seven of the contestants had failed their most recent attempts. There was no time left for these people to make even a low-quality pill, so they acknowledged their mistakes and silently left the stage as that was considered appropriate decorum. Allie was still going strong, but she was definitely looking partially strained. Just because she could do this for 6 hours, it didn¡¯t mean five wasn¡¯t still exhausting. She powered through thinking that Ares would come back and make her a nice, warm meal that would rejuvenate and revitalise her. She kinda wished he was here watching as he had become something like a protective big-brother to her, and his presence would have been motivating, but she trusted he wouldn¡¯t just be goofing around if he wasn¡¯t here. She also still had Enyo, Zhang, and importantly Aejaz, who would give her a reassuring smile and thumbs up every now and then.


    Allie powered through and, when the time was up, pulled out a pill that was evidently higher in quality than anyone else should have possibly been able to create. Other methods just couldn¡¯t compete quality-wise in the same time span as her hands-on aspect. It was more taxing on the alchemist, and some people didn¡¯t like buying products made in that manner, but the truth that they were simply better-quality pills was undeniable. The only other person who had spent the full five hours working on a pill had done so with an extremely basic method, it was the mayor¡¯s son; Burns. Predictively, Allie¡¯s pill was supposedly going to be the highest quality pill submitted, with Tuck¡¯s being second, but Burns somehow submitted a pill that surpassed Tuck¡¯s. The judges were well aware of the rumours surrounding Burns but, if they didn¡¯t notice anything, they couldn¡¯t accuse him. All he had to do was swear it was the result of his own unique method and, without any proof, there was nothing that could be done. They weren¡¯t allowed to ask for his method as an alchemist''s method was sacred, and asking to see its inner workings and intricacies was a serious breach of privacy. They really weren¡¯t happy, but the best they could do was pay more attention to him in case he slipped up and it became obvious he was cheating.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    On the other hand, the judges were very impressed with Allie¡¯s performance. Naturally, they recommended she practise a different method, but they were very generous with their praise regardless as she was undeniably talented. Allie passed with flying colours alongside Burns, Tuck, and two other alchemists who looked far too tired to be a threat in the next round.


    Allie and Tuck returned to the seats and they now had a 2-hour break before the finals started. They started to walk off to go find somewhere to eat when Ares hobbled in front of them like a haggard beggar who had wormed his way out from a nearby alleyway.


    Zhang was the first to speak, ¡°Ares? What on earth happened to you?¡±


    Ares hunched over and held his knees while he held up a finger to indicate he needed a second before he finally replied, ¡°Noth¡­ Nothing¡­ Tired¡­ So tired¡­ Sleepy¡­ Made¡­ Food.¡± Ares summoned a large table for everyone to sit down at. ¡°I¡¯m gon¡­ Gonna get¡­ Some rest¡­ I¡¯ll be back for¡­ The finals.¡± Ares turned around to walk away but Allie ran up to him.


    ¡°Here! Mana deficiency, right? You used it all up, so take this mana-shot pill, it should help!¡± Allie handed over a shiny blue pill.


    Ares gratefully took the pill and mustered a smile. He whispered something to Allie, patted her on the head, and left.


    Scully and Tuck asked the question to end all questions, ¡°Uh, where did this food come from?¡±


    Zhang shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ve learnt it¡¯s better to just not ask. As for the food, you should give it a try; I''ve seriously never tasted anything half as good.¡±


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s alright with you. It does look incredible.¡± Scully was looking down at the food greedily and Tuck was gulping.


    Enyo got up and left to go follow Ares, she wanted to have a word with him. She followed his trail and found him sleeping in an alleyway by using his Zephyr as a hammock. ¡°Ares, we need to talk.¡±


    Ares struggled to open his eyes and groggily made a weird, tired grunt to indicate he was listening.


    ¡°What you¡¯ve done is unacceptable. Allie wanted you to be there for her and you ran off without even telling anyone why. I¡¯m not happy with you. Allie is my sister and, by extension, yours. She doesn¡¯t mind, but you let her down, and I mind.¡±


    Ares finally spoke, but he was angry, far more-so than Enyo, ¡°We¡¯ll talk later.¡± Ares turned around and went back to sleep, leaving Enyo perplexed as to what the hell he was annoyed about. She came here to have a go at him, have him apologise, and be done with it. She didn¡¯t really know where to go from here, so she just left him alone and decided to wait until later that night to confront him. Strangely, she couldn¡¯t help but feel like, from Ares¡¯ tone, he was going to confront her over something.


    She went back and dinner was in full-swing. They hadn¡¯t gone far from the stage and everyone who hadn¡¯t left was casting sidelong, jealous glances over at the scrumptious food that was on display. Scully and Tuck were having the time of their lives scarfing down food as though they¡¯d been starved for the last few days. Enyo sat down and took her helmet off. She felt uncomfortable as a number of onlookers immediately started paying her more attention, but she managed to ignore it by not looking back at them. She came close to putting the helmet back on, but she was distracted by what just happened between her and Ares. She was mindlessly chewing away at the food without really appreciating it, and Allie could tell.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sis¡¯?¡±


    Enyo was caught off guard as she was still sorting things out in her head. ¡°Oh¡­ It¡¯s nothing¡­ Allie, you shouldn¡¯t be so quick to forgive people that have wronged you. You should¡¯ve been more annoyed at Ares for not being there.¡±


    ¡°But I trust him to have had a good reason though. Do you not? Is that why you went after him?¡±


    ¡°... I want you two to get along, and for him to be supportive of you, as we¡¯re going to be a family from now on.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s been nothing but supportive? It really feels like almost everything he does, he does for us. He definitely sees us as family already too.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make him not being there for you now ok. It¡¯s just strange¡­ I went to go and have him apologise¡­ But he was frustrated with me?¡±


    ¡°Really? That seems weird. Even if whatever he was doing was extremely important, I don¡¯t think he¡¯d be annoyed with you for misjudging his priorities. Have you done anything recently that he might not have liked?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so? But I can¡¯t get this nagging feeling out of my head that I maybe have. I guess I¡¯ll know later¡­ But none of that makes me any less forgiving about his earlier absence. You shouldn¡¯t give him a free pass, Allie.¡±


    ¡°Nope. It¡¯s not fair to make assumptions. To assume is to make an ¡®ass¡¯ out of ¡®u¡¯ and ¡®me¡¯.¡± Allie smiled proudly; she¡¯d learnt that one from Aejaz.


    Enyo snorted. ¡°Oh, so you want to talk about asses?¡± Enyo did the two-finger motion again and laughed as Allie hid her face behind her hands.


    They finished the meal and passed the time cordially until the break was finally up. As the contestants were called back up for the final round, Aejaz enacted plan, ¡®I don¡¯t have a name for this plan, but it¡¯s pretty smart, I think¡¯. It was really quite simple; he walked up to Allie and gave her a hug. ¡°See you later, Allie-gator.¡±


    Allie hugged him back and tittered. ¡°See you in a bit, ¡®Jaz!¡±


    And just like that, Tuck had been mentally defeated.


    Aejaz was just harmlessly establishing the fact that Tuck was on a wild goose chase.


    For good measure, Aejaz looked over at Tuck and smiled. ¡°Good luck.¡±


    Good luck chasing after an impossible dream you schmuck! Allie and I are a thing, you never had any chance, consider your dreams crushed!


    Sure enough, Tuck was devastated, but he managed to grin and bear it outwardly. Tuck could do nothing but look at the man who had what he could only dream of and thank him, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Mental victory achieved. It was really quite subtle but, even still, he knew Allie wouldn¡¯t approve of this method of increasing her chances if she was aware of it. She would think it underhanded to distract Tuck¡¯s mind like this. Aejaz didn¡¯t particularly care as this was really something small to him. No one would ever know he¡¯d done this intentionally and he would never own up to it. He was just doing everything he could for the person he loved. If Tuck resented him for it, who cares? Who told him to have such a weak heart? This may have been below the belt, but it was still above-board. Not all scummy tactics were illegal. Besides, the only person who would ever know and who could ever judge him for this was Tuck. It would just be Aejaz¡¯ little secret.


    Or so he thought.


    Aejaz sat next to Zhang who looked down at him, lightly elbowed him, and winked.


    As it turned out, it would just be Aejaz and Zhang¡¯s little secret.


    Zhang was approving of Aejaz¡¯ cunning and dedication to Allie without upsetting her or making his actions obvious.


    The same old-lady from before announced the rules again. This time, the participants would have 8 hours to make the highest quality berserker pill they were capable of producing. Berserker pills were rather simple to make, but they took a while to concoct. The difficulty here was insidious as it wasn¡¯t the pill that was hard to work around, but instead the time constraint. Making a high-quality berserker pill with such little time was hard even for accomplished alchemists.


    Ares came back from his rest and was yawning while stretching his arms in a carefree manner. He arrived at the seats and walked past Enyo to go sit next to Aejaz. As he was passing her, he could tell she wasn¡¯t pleased with this and that, even if he was upset with her, he should still sit next to her. He paused and whispered to her, ¡°You and I have a lot to talk about later, but believe me, we will clear everything up. I can¡¯t believe you haven¡¯t understood yet how much you¡¯ve wronged me, but that isn¡¯t relevant. We aren¡¯t going to discuss this any further here and now. I¡¯m not sitting next to Aejaz to spite you, it''s because I need something from him. When I¡¯ve done everything I¡¯m inevitably going to have to do, I will come and sit next to you. Just because I¡¯m not in a good mood with you, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to sulk or avoid you. I want us to be honest with each other, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m remaining calm about this, and I plan on explaining why what you¡¯ve said to me is beyond disrespectful. We can go over our grievances peacefully with one-another like proper adults when we get back to the inn later. Am I clear?¡±


    Enyo was taken aback by how matter-of-fact he¡¯d been, but silently nodded behind her helmet. He wasn¡¯t running away from her, so this was fine for now.


    Ares sat down next to Aejaz. ¡°Hey, knucklehead, hand over the Concealed Serpent.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why do you need it?¡±


    Ares tutted. ¡°Reasons.¡±


    Aejaz just stared blankly at Ares. ¡°No. You disrespected Allie by not showing up for the first two rounds. Why should I?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯ll smack you upside the head if you don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Scully abhorred this blunt, arrogant display from Ares. ¡°You¡¯ve turned up late and you still have the gall to act in such a fashion? Sit there and be quiet.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? Who the hell are you?¡± Ares was starting to get fed up. ¡°Great, just fantastic. Today I¡¯ve had to put up with dumb, dumber, and dumbest. You''re the one who should sit there and be quiet as you have nothing to do with this, so mind your own damn business. You shouldn¡¯t be complaining when someone is doing you a favour.¡± Ares turned back to Aejaz while Scully was still reeling from the disrespect. ¡°Hand it over.¡±


    Aejaz was being indecisive, but finally decided to take a stand against Ares for the first time in his life. ¡°... No.¡±


    ¡°Aejaz, give me the amulet, NOW.¡±


    Aejaz was distraught that things had gotten this far and caved. ¡°... Fine.¡± He brought out the token. ¡°But if you take it, I won¡¯t forgive you for this.¡±


    Ares snatched the amulet. ¡°It should be me forgiving you for being a damn ingrate.¡± Ares was losing his mind at how beyond insufferable everyone was acting today, but he cleared his mind and Shifted away. He made no effort to explain his actions to these people because he expected better, frankly. It seemed like only Allie and Zhang truly understood that he would never act against his own family and that anything he ever did was for their sake. It¡¯s because he wanted to be there for Allie now, that he¡¯d left earlier. Ares wasn¡¯t going to just sit around and watch her lose because someone was cheating. Unlike those other lazy shmucks, he¡¯d been busy.


    Ares Shifted somewhere quiet and tapped a runic marking on his Zephyr. The top of the cape extended to form a hood and a black mist covered him completely. Ares nicknamed this trick ¡®blackout¡¯, as it was impossible to distinguish any bodily features whatsoever, it even somewhat masked his voice. There was nothing but pitch-blackness covering him from head to toe underneath the Zephyr. The Zephyr itself also had a distorted, almost fuzzy, look to it, and wouldn¡¯t be recognisable when he was done. It looked almost identical to Ash¡¯s demonic appearance, not that Ares had any clue who Ash was just yet.


    Ares activated the Concealed Serpent and concentrated hard on things that annoyed him. This was his best method for utilising the pressure that occasionally came out of him like back at the cultural appreciation day. He couldn¡¯t really control it, but could somewhat bring it back forcefully if he vexed himself enough. Thankfully, he¡¯d been royally pissed off by three separate people in the span of a single day and didn''t have to think very hard or go very far back at all. A monumental pressure descended on everyone at the competition excluding the participants. Ares was just barely able to direct it away from them with what minimal experience he had controlling something he was unfamiliar with. He activated Omniscience and shifted onto the stage in his new form as a massive panic broke out.


    Ares¡¯ pressure was truly unique in that it would always feel suffocating and unbearable regardless of a person¡¯s cultivation. It would essentially calculate, on its own, how much a person could handle, and apply itself accordingly, going slightly over that limit. Ares assumed he would have more direct control over it when he reached bloodline awakening and that he could tone it down, amp it up, or even attack with it if he so desired.


    Between his sudden appearance, the pressure, and his unknown cultivation thanks to the Concealed Serpent, he came off as a powerful expert from a higher domain. Even though he was about to expose a cheater, the A.O would still reprimand him and make an example of either him or the Heaven¡¯s Path Sect if they knew his identity. That¡¯s why he had taken the appropriate precautions, and was completely unrecognisable too, which meant he was untraceable back to any sect. This act of his wasn¡¯t going to cause anyone he had relations with to pay any prices. The mayor couldn¡¯t fight back and the A.O would have no one to punish for his interference. Of course, he still needed to keep up the act, just this wasn¡¯t enough and things were only getting started.


    ¡°WHO ARE YOU!?¡± Two of the judges were the pro-active type and jumped up onto the stage.


    Ares brought out a calm yet deep and lofty, confident voice. ¡°Who I am matters not.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± one of the judges asked with narrow eyes.


    Ares pointed at Burns. ¡°That child is cheating. I find it inexcusable that a prestigious organisation such as the A.O would disregard such a matter in an official event.¡±


    ¡°Disregarding something is only possible if we are aware of it. You aren¡¯t allowed up on this stage and you¡¯re interfering with an official competition. Do you not know what you¡¯ve done? The A.O will not take this sitting down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make this painfully clear to you, I am in charge here.¡± Ares ignored the judges and slowly walked over to Burns. Ares had to either Shift or walk with an unrushed pace as trying to move quickly would simply expose his lack of cultivation. Right now the usual Ares had taken a backseat for the sake of the play he was putting on, he was a calm and measured existence on a higher plane than everyone around him, unfazed by the ants swarming around his personage.


    The mayor jumped out of his seat and stood in-between his son and Ares. The mayor was a cultivator too, he was at the 2nd stage of sensory enhancement and not any weaker than Bret from the previous town. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± The two judges stood still behind Ares, not making any moves as not knowing his cultivation was a serious impediment. The mayor had a few less scruples though and took a step towards Ares.


    ¡°Take another step and you will rue the day you angered me, fool,¡± Ares threatened the mayor.


    The mayor smirked. ¡°Hmph, you talk the talk, but let¡¯s see if you can walk the walk. Try me.¡± The poor fool took another step.


    Ares grinned wickedly under the veil. Showtime! Ares stamped his foot down in one fluid motion and clicked his fingers.


    ¡°Chaos Reigns!¡±


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM


    BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM


    Three separate columns of golden explosions rose up in the distance. They were fairly quiet, but that was only because of how far away they were. Despite their considerable distance from the current location, the shockwaves from all three explosions reached all the way across the town, blowing like a gale. People throughout the town were knocked down, or into walls, as hot blasts of air swept through the narrow streets. The wind died down by the time it reached the stage but, even then, there were still traces of lingering destruction magic that felt almost ancient. This show of force was enough to convince the judges and the mayor that this person was a serious problem. A single art had nearly swept away an entire damn town for Christ¡¯s sake! They became a lot more passive in the way they stood around him.


    Ares looked at the mayor. ¡°That was your manor, your farm, and your winery. I¡¯m not so merciful that I won¡¯t continue bombarding your property if you keep getting in my way. Am I understood?¡±


    Gulp


    Ares had left to go pay the mayor¡¯s assets a quick visit when he heard from Zhang about his son¡¯s disposition. He¡¯d exhausted his mana completely by setting up Shock Beads for this very moment.


    Once again, Ares felt exhausted. That was a lot of Shock Beads he just detonated and he had only just finished resting and recovering his mana. It was a good thing Allie gave him that pill earlier. ¡°Stand aside vermin,¡± Ares commanded the mayor.


    The mayor was shaky, but still seemed unwilling to move. If his son was exposed here¡­ The A.O wouldn¡¯t slip this matter under the rug. There were going to be serious issues if he moved. He had one last hope, that he could take this unknown intruder by surprise. He made his choice and circulated spatial magic to try and get the jump on Ares¡­


    This was an awful plan, but it certainly benefited Ares a great deal. If people weren¡¯t convinced by his performance up until now, he was about to put the nail in the coffin. Thanks to Ares¡¯ Omniscience, he was well aware of what was coming next; a repeat of what he¡¯d done to Trew in Baja Forest. Using spatial magic around Ares was asking for trouble, if not getting down on both knees and practically begging for it.


    Ares slowly raised a hand in as dramatic a fashion as possible and spoke steadily, ¡°You dare to still stand in my path?¡±


    As if on cue, the mayor tried to teleport next to Ares¡­


    CRACK


    ¡­ But crumpled miserably when Ares clicked his fingers and shattered reality. Parts of his body burst open and blood splattered everywhere as he spasmed down onto his knees. Ares Shifted next to him and ran magic through his hand as he grabbed the mayor¡¯s face, disintegrating part of it and leaving a handprint of missing flesh. Ares lightly threw him to the side and walked up to his son as the mayor rolled around and screamed in agony. So easily dominating a sensory enhancement cultivator was simply unfathomable to the crowd, it was now all-but confirmed in everyone''s minds that Ares was from the upper domain. He simply had to be. Ares stared down at Burns who gave up on the pill he was ¡®making¡¯. ¡°Open the compartment, own up to your wrongdoings, and I¡¯ll go easy on you,¡± Ares gave Burns an ultimatum.


    Burns made the worst possible choice and feigned innocence. ¡°... W¡­ What compartment? A¡­ An expert like you¡­. S¡­ Shouldn¡¯t make¡­. Baseless¡­ Accusations,¡± his voice trailed off the more he spoke until he was speaking to none other than himself.


    Ares brought his foot to the cauldron¡¯s stand and dragged it around so that the side closest to Burns was now facing outward. With his Omniscience, Ares could see exactly where the secret compartment was and how to open it, even if he wasn¡¯t aware of how the mechanism operated. It required a few rhythmic taps in a specific location and in a specific order that was highly¡­ Well¡­ specific. Ares couldn¡¯t be bothered with the specifics, however, and just kicked it with his foot and some disintegration magic.


    The compartment was cut open and a handful of various pills all fell out. Burns had been prepared for a number of different possible tests. Unfortunately for Burns, he wasn¡¯t prepared for a foul-mood Ares who, upon exposing Burns¡¯ foul play, raised his foot and kicked the cauldron over, pouring all the boiling water inside it directly on top of Burns. Burns mimicked his father¡¯s cries of pain and even rolled around like him too for good measure, all-the-while living up to the full potential of his namesake.


    Ares turned around and slowly paced his way to the two judges. ¡°I plan on continuing to watch the competition from afar. Don¡¯t give me a reason to come back onto the stage,¡± Ares Shifted away after saying his piece, and nearly collapsed when he was out of sight. He¡¯d overdone it big time with his thrifty mana spending and was going to have to ease up for the rest of the day. He turned off the Concealed Serpent, undid the Zephyr¡¯s runes, and let Omniscience fade into the wind. He used the last strands of mana to subtly Shift back into a seat next to Enyo without anyone noticing, put his feet up onto the railing, and closed his eyes to take a nap. He didn¡¯t have to explain himself to anyone, his actions spoke louder than their words. They could sit there and wallow in their guilt for all Ares¡¯ cared. He was tired, he¡¯d done a good job, and he deserved sleepy time (as Appa would call it). As he faded into the land of dreams, he felt a strange connection to Rud. Perhaps this level of fatigue was how Rud felt permanently? Maybe he should go easier on the poor guy¡­ Or not, messing with him was really fun after all.


    While everyone else was still overwhelmed by everything that just went down, Allie was focusing on her pill. Ares had whispered to her earlier that, ¡®under no circumstance should you concern yourself with what¡¯s going to happen on the stage while you work. Pay attention to your pill, nothing else, and let your big brother take care of the idiots.¡¯ She had a spare second to look up and smile at Ares even though he wasn¡¯t awake. Ares was a true role-model big brother to her and she felt safe around him. She felt like he would wake up and kick the crap out of anyone who wronged her at a moment¡¯s notice if need be. She had felt like that since back in the town when he cuddled with her, so she trusted him today and now she felt that way again. Long story short, Ares made her feel like she was already a part of the family and she knew that was because, to him, she already was.

 Chapter 45: Thinking in Black and White (18+)

    Wracked with guilt, everyone watched the rest of the competition in silence. Enyo was wishing she hadn¡¯t been so impulsive and Scully was dumbfounded, at a complete loss as to what to even say to Ares the next time he was awake.


    Aejaz was the worst of all considering his rebellious attitude earlier. He had been actively trying to prevent Ares from helping Allie and felt awful. He¡¯d been riled up as he thought Ares wasn¡¯t giving Allie enough respect but, as it turns out, he¡¯d been preparing to do what everyone up on the seats were too cowardly to do. In addition to the incident in the last town, he now had this to apologise for as well and it was starting to get out of hand. How many times since they¡¯d left the sect had Aejaz done wrong by Ares? More than he¡¯d done in all the years they spent on the streets combined, that was for sure.


    Zhang was feeling pretty good about himself though. He¡¯d chosen not to give Ares flak as he¡¯d slowly come to realise Ares was reliable. He trusted that Ares had a reason for his actions and his reward was to see his daughter happily creating a pill that would inevitably win the competition. Burns was disqualified, the two from the previous round were too tired to continue, and Tuck was mentally devastated between Aejaz¡¯ plan and Ares¡¯ intrusion as, unlike Allie, he wasn¡¯t notified in advance. It may have seemed cheap, but none of the other four would¡¯ve been able to compete with Allie regardless even, or rather especially, if the competition had been fair from the start. Zhang was over the moon with this result. Allie would get her very own regeneroot, plus, he and his daughter now had ties to Ares and Zhang was very pleased with that. Ares was capable of, on his own, emulating the presence of an expert cultivator. It wasn¡¯t luck, and it wasn¡¯t even really fake, Ares was just monstrous enough to pull it off given the ideal situation. Zhang couldn¡¯t imagine any other cultivator at Ares¡¯ cultivation level, or age, being able to pull off such an astoundingly brutish yet intricate feat.


    Sure enough, the competition ended later that night with no further complications and Allie¡¯s uncontested victory. The judges were still freaked out by the incident prior, but complemented Allie on her ¡®iron will¡¯ for being able to carry on in such bizarre circumstances. She was given the regeneroot and proceeded to merrily skip towards everyone else. When she arrived next to them, she immediately gravitated towards Ares and gave him a hug.


    Ares was yawning and barely awake, but sleepily smiled and patted her head. ¡°Congrats Allie.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Ares!¡±


    ¡°No worries, enjoy your glorified weed.¡±


    Allie chuckled. ¡°Ha, maybe I¡¯ll call it revenant weed!¡±


    ¡°Haha, well aren¡¯t you a sly one?¡± Ares lightly bopped her nose.


    Allie turned to Zhang next. ¡°Thanks dad! For teaching me alchemy and for being the coolest dad ever!¡±


    Zhang laughed heartily. ¡°You¡¯re damn right I am!¡± He leaned over and gave Allie a bearhug.


    Allie hugged Aejaz next. ¡°Thank you for supporting me, ¡®Jaz!¡±


    Aejaz hugged her back. ¡°Congratulations Allie, I¡¯m proud of you!¡±


    Finally, Allie went over to Enyo. ¡°And thank you sis¡¯, for coming along with me and being here.¡±


    Enyo patted her head like Ares had done. ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me for that. Congratulations Allie.¡±


    While all this was happening, Tuck had meandered over after receiving his second-place prize, a new cauldron. Scully comforted him as he¡¯d done really well all things considered. It was, however, completely obvious that Allie and Tuck were simply incomparable in terms of alchemy skills, and there was nothing Scully could say to Tuck about that. Tuck meekly congratulated Allie as Scully was saying his goodbyes to Zhang. Before the two left for good, Scully apologised to Ares as Tuck had technically benefitted from Ares¡¯ stunt as well. Scully was surprised to find Ares being a good sport about the whole thing and not taking anything to heart, saying it was all fine.


    Honestly? Ares was still quite annoyed, but he took the water under the bridge approach as Scully was a good friend of Zhang, so there was no benefit to making things sour. Besides, he had enough to deal with on his plate regarding the conversation he was still going to have to have with Enyo. He was just too tired to deal with more than one person today and so, naturally, the person that he needed to talk with the most had priority.


    As the four walked back to the inn, Ares gave the Concealed Serpent to Allie and asked her to give it to Aejaz in his stead. He really didn¡¯t want to risk ruining her special day by punching the man she was in the middle of falling in love with, so this was how he went about avoiding that. He also promised Allie he would make her a banana split tomorrow as a reward for winning which, funnily enough, she almost seemed more excited about than the regeneroot.


    They made their way back to the inn and said goodnight as they separated to go to their rooms, leaving Ares and Enyo alone. Ares closed the door behind Enyo and sighed deeply.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Enyo apologised for her remarks in the alley as soon as the door was shut.


    ¡°I¡¯m not even annoyed at you for the reason you think I am, so perhaps you should wait until I¡¯ve made it clear to you before you say sorry, or it won¡¯t even sound genuine.¡± Ares shook his head. ¡°Look, you¡¯re lucky. I¡¯ve drained my mana fully twice today. I don¡¯t have the energy spare to have a go at you like I would any other day, not that I would shout at you anyway because I really don¡¯t like doing that. Here¡¯s how our talk is going to go down: I¡¯m going to get in the bed, and so are you. Without raising our voices or getting excessively mad at one another, we¡¯re going to go over our issues and resolve them. Finally, we¡¯re going to go to sleep in a good mood with one another. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡± Enyo took off her helmet and climbed into the bed after Ares.


    They lay next to each other, looking deep into their eyes before Ares finally spoke, ¡°It¡¯s about Appa. I¡¯m upset because of the conversation we had this morning.¡±


    Enyo was confounded. She thought about things for a while and eventually replied, ¡°I thought you were ok with that? You said it yourself?


    ¡°I guess I¡¯m not. Well, that¡¯s not true either. It¡¯s complicated. I respect your decision, but I hate it. I¡¯m annoyed, but I don¡¯t blame you. I don¡¯t want to lie to you Enyo, which is part of why I¡¯m telling you this.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the other part?¡±


    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s complicated. Listen well because I¡¯m about to go on a long rant and I¡¯m far too tired to repeat myself when I¡¯m done.¡± Ares took a deep breath. ¡°If things hadn¡¯t happened the way they did today, I wouldn¡¯t even be pestering you about this. I would have kept my dissatisfaction with your choice bottled up and just gone along with things but, Enyo, you really fucked up today. It was one thing for you to be upset with my absence from Allie¡¯s competition and misjudge my intentions, I can ignore that because it¡¯s not really an issue, but what you said to me was borderline unforgivable. You said that Allie was your sister and, by extension, mine. You didn¡¯t have to tell me that, I already knew and agreed with it. My question though is, if Allie is ¡®by extension¡¯ my sister, then what exactly is Appa to you?¡±


    Enyo looked away from Ares and clearly felt ashamed as she realised her mistake.


    ¡°You¡¯re a hypocrite. I must treat Allie like a sister but you can feel free to ignore my daughter¡¯s existence and refuse to be its mother? This is a two-way street, Enyo. If you understand how you felt when you thought I wanted nothing to do with Allie, then you understand how I feel about you and Appa but, actually, it¡¯s far worse. Do you not understand the position you¡¯ve put me in? Do you understand what I¡¯m going to have to do when I go back to the sect? Do you understand that I¡¯m going to have to crush my own daughter¡¯s hopes and dreams to have a mother and break its poor heart because of you? Even still, I know I can¡¯t blame you. You¡¯re free to make your own choice, but that also means I''m free to not understand or appreciate it. Do you even know what Appa wants from you? Nothing. All it wants is to call you its mother and it¡¯ll be happy. You don¡¯t need to do a thing for it. The most it might ask is for you to pat its head, but if you can do that for Allie, I don¡¯t see why it would be such a daunting task for you when Appa¡¯s asking. Appa isn¡¯t a human child, if it were, I would understand. Appa doesn¡¯t need to be fed or clothed or looked after. It just wants to feel loved. Ask yourself Enyo, are you genuinely not capable of that? You know I¡¯ll never force you to do anything you really don¡¯t want to do, but this is the one time I¡¯ll be putting my foot down. You have to tell Appa that it can¡¯t have a mother, not me. You can¡¯t make me do that to my own daughter. I refuse to emotionally devastate my own daughter because of your own selfishness. If you have the heart to look into my daughter¡¯s eyes and make it cry, then you do it. I just can¡¯t bring myself to be that cruel to one of the two people I care the most about in this world. Do you not remember the lengths you went to for your father¡¯s recognition? How can you not understand what Appa wants? It wants to feel loved by its family, to be recognised. Be honest, Enyo. It¡¯s not that you don¡¯t want to be Appa¡¯s mother, is it? You¡¯re just scared that you¡¯ll end up parenting like your father and not doing a good enough job, but you need to wake up and realise that, by running away, you¡¯re doing exactly what you¡¯re trying so desperately to avoid. You aren¡¯t being there for Appa in the same way your father wasn¡¯t there for you. I feel like my parents didn¡¯t do right by me either, but that¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to fail Appa. When you said you didn¡¯t want to be Appa¡¯s mother, I felt like I failed. I want to give it what I didn¡¯t have, a family. So I¡¯ll ask you again. Do you understand the situation you¡¯ve put me in?¡±


    Enyo was quietly crying and just nodded to imply she understood.


    ¡°The last thing I want is to emotionally blackmail you into something you want no part of. That was what your father did to you and I would be a hypocrite to do it myself. I¡¯m not forcing you to make a specific choice, all I¡¯m asking is that you don¡¯t run away from Appa just because you think you won¡¯t be able to do right by it. I just want you to meet Appa once regardless of what you want to do. Can you promise me you won¡¯t make your decision before then?¡±


    Enyo sniffled and wiped away her tears while nodding.


    ¡°Thank you¡­ This was hard for me to talk about. It felt hopeless being stuck in-between two people who want two different things, and your comment earlier admittedly got on my nerves. I¡¯m glad I brought this up as it feels like a weight has been lifted. I want us to be honest with each other, Enyo. That means confiding in each other, telling each other the truth, and saying what¡¯s on our mind. If you have fears about parenting, don¡¯t keep it to yourself, I¡¯m right here.¡± Ares embraced Enyo. ¡°But I think today¡¯s been a long day and I gave you a lot to think about as is. If there¡¯s nothing you want to talk about, how about we get some rest, ok?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Enyo sank further into his chest, wetting it with the few tears that were still streaming down her face.


    Ares stroked her head gently, but it didn¡¯t seem like she was going to get any sleep for a good while at this rate, so he decided to do something else. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her softly as he looked down at her. He leant down and gave her a kiss on her forehead. When he moved back, he looked deep into her eyes and tenderly rubbed her cheek with his hand. ¡°No matter what choice you make. No matter what choices any of you ever make, I swear I¡¯ll make this family work.¡± Ares made the situation worse though as, now, Enyo was bawling worse than she had been even at the start of the conversation, but at least this was different.


    Enyo wasn¡¯t crying because of the Appa situation; she was crying because Ares was the epitome of a family man and she felt like she could trust him to look after them all. She didn¡¯t have to be solely responsible for anything anymore. Even if she felt like her responsibilities were becoming too much for her, she knew she could turn to Ares. He was an emotional pillar for her that she could lean on forever and he was sturdy too. He would never break or buckle when it came to his family, and she was his family. She was reminded of the time they first talked to one another properly on the way out of Red Sun City, about ¡®responsibilities¡¯, and how everyone gets to choose what is and isn''t important to them. Ares took everyone who was a part of the family under his wing as his family is what¡¯s important to him. Enyo felt like slapping herself. Regardless of anything else, now that she was family, Appa was important to her. How could she act like her father and pretend Appa wasn¡¯t important? Her deepest fear of disappointing the child of the man she loved was almost brought to life by her own foolishness and yet, he looked her in the eyes and told her he would fix it. She¡¯d become too accustomed to the freedom she was experiencing after escaping her father¡¯s responsibilities, so much so she was starting to run away from all responsibilities. But that was never the point. It wasn¡¯t about running away from them; it was about choosing them carefully. So what if she didn¡¯t know how to be a parent? Ares already said he¡¯ll make this family work. The only thing she needed to do was just be there emotionally. Be a part of the family, be a sister-in-law to Aejaz, one day a wife to Ares and a mother to Appa. No wonder Ares had been mad at her, now that she realised these things, she was mad at herself. Of course she wanted to be a mother to Ares'' child, she was obsessed with the man and wanted to be as big a part of his world as she could be. This was a responsibility she wanted. ¡°... I¡¯ll be Appa¡¯s mother.¡±


    Ares wasn¡¯t exactly a mind reader, so he wasn¡¯t too sure how she came to that decision so quickly. He lightly tapped her forehead. ¡°Nope, not yet. I already made you promise not to make a choice until you¡¯ve met Appa. If you just agree to it now, I¡¯ll just feel like I¡¯ve forced you to.


    Sniffle


    ¡°... Annoying man.¡± Enyo buried her head back into Ares'' chest.


    ¡°Haha, silly woman. Goodnight Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight Ares.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Enyo woke up to find Ares who had been watching her sleep. ¡°Good morning, silly man.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, annoying woman.¡± Ares smirked until his eyes widened as Enyo took him by surprise.


    Enyo had shot her hand down into his pants and was holding onto his shaft. ¡°You think you¡¯re so funny?¡± Enyo mistakenly thought Ares would become submissive now that she was precariously grabbing onto his private parts, but she clearly had little-to-no idea how a male cultivator¡¯s genitalia worked.


    ¡°Harder,¡± Ares challenged Enyo to go further.


    She almost couldn''t believe her ears, weren¡¯t men sensitive down there? She gripped a little tighter, but not much because she was worried she might accidentally hurt him.


    ¡°Cute. Harder.¡±


    ¡°What the hell? Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯ve got no idea. Maybe if you strangle it, I¡¯ll feel something. When men cultivate, everything becomes more sturdy.¡±


    Enyo held it like a handlebar during a bike crash.


    ¡°Mm, that¡¯s it.¡± Ares let out a moan of satisfaction.


    ¡°Men are weird creatures.¡± Enyo smiled and shook her head but, then a thought arose, What about those?


    Ares shuddered and his legs closed shut around Enyo¡¯s arm when she wrapped her hand around his balls. ¡°E¡­ E¡­ Enyo¡­ I¡¯m begging you¡­ Don¡¯t squeeze¡­ Anything but that.¡±


    Enyo¡¯s ¡®innocent¡¯ smile widened considerably. Found a weak spot! Oh, how the tables have turned! She was curious to see just how much of a beating this part of him could take. She figured she would start gently and give it a quick pinch. Ares whimpered in pain and shook as his legs clamped down harder on her hand. Enyo was flabbergasted, were men really that weak down there? What happened to ¡®sturdy¡¯ and ¡®strangle it¡¯? It¡¯s like the shaft was the immovable stone guardian and the balls were the paper-mach¨¦ princesses. ¡°Sorry. I really didn¡¯t think they would be that vulnerable.¡± Enyo removed her hand, licked it, and put it back into his pants to caress his balls and smooth things over. She really liked the taste and the musky scent; it aroused her and she wanted to play.


    ¡°There¡¯s a reason everyone always says to go for a guy''s junk in a fight, it¡¯s basically cheating¡­ Fuck, that feels good.¡±


    Enyo was about to go further and really make him feel good.


    Knock Knock


    Enyo sighed at this unexpected-yet-totally-expected interruption and turned around to face the door. ¡°Come in!¡± She called.


    The door opened and Allie came into the room, searching around until she found Ares and Enyo lying in the same bed. She let out a quick ¡®Eep¡¯ and looked away.


    ¡°Allie, we still have our clothes on¡­¡±


    Allie peeped through a few of her fingers and removed her hand when she confirmed that to be true. ¡°Um, why is Ares lying with his face down, smacking his head against the pillow?¡±


    ¡°... He¡¯s feeling¡­ Blue¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s no good.¡± Allie looked genuinely concerned for Ares. ¡°Can I help?¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Enyo replied immediately with a sharp ferocity in her voice.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°... Um, ok.¡±


    Enyo coughed. ¡°It¡¯s fine, he just hasn¡¯t¡­ Blown up lately.¡±


    ¡°Um, do you mean he hasn¡¯t blown anything up lately?¡±


    ¡°No¡­. No I really don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Oh, ok.¡± Allie really wasn¡¯t getting it. ¡°Zhang says you two have twenty minutes before we set off.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for letting us know, Allie.¡±


    Allie smiled and fidgeted nervously. ¡°... Me and Aejaz slept in the same bed yesterday.¡±


    Enyo raised an eyebrow inquisitively. ¡°Is that so? Well, aren¡¯t you two just an adorable little couple? How was it? Did you sleep like a log? If there¡¯s one thing men are good for, it¡¯s being a big pillow.¡±


    ¡°Mhm! It was good! Now me and Aejaz are kinda like you two!¡±


    Enyo involuntarily snorted. Sureeeeee. ¡°We¡¯ll be down in a bit; I think Ares needs some time to sort out his pre-dick-ament.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure I can¡¯t help with his predicament?¡± Allie asked innocently.


    ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s something he needs to e-rectify on his own.¡±


    ¡°Okey doke!¡±


    Ares groaned like a zombie, ¡°Getttttttttt outttttttttttttttttt.¡±


    Allie waved goodbye and left, leaving Ares to wrangle with his own demons. Ares got out of bed and headed toward the shower; he was going to wrangle those demons right out.


    Enyo felt sorry for him so she decided to give him something to help him with his exorcism. ¡°Hey.¡± She stopped Ares in his tracks. Enyo removed the bed cover, lifted her top and lowered her panties. She brought her breasts out of her bra, lifted them with, and let them rest on, her right arm, used her free left hand to spread her lower lips, and winked at Ares who was debating between staying and watching for a while longer and completely obliterating his demons. He chose to fight the good fight and went into the shower while Enyo got dressed. Ares came out of the shower 10 minutes later, victorious, and Enyo snickered. ¡°Put up a fight, did it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it was pretty damn hard.¡±


    ¡°Mm, you know, I was thinking about giving you a reward later.¡±


    ¡°A reward? Not that I don¡¯t want it, but why?¡± Ares tilted his head.


    ¡°For what you did for Allie yesterday, you deserve a treat. Let¡¯s call what happened earlier a sneak peek.¡± Enyo winked at Ares.


    Ares walked over to Enyo and put one arm around her waist and the other on her face. He brought his forehead to hers and enjoyed staring into her eyes for a moment. ¡°Just getting to spend time with you is the greatest reward I could ever ask for.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, well aren¡¯t you a smooth talker?¡±


    ¡°Only when it¡¯s a woman who''s worth the effort.¡±


    Enyo rolled her eyes but couldn¡¯t hold back a genuine smile. She pushed Ares back a bit and headed toward the door while raising a single finger and beckoning him to follow. ¡°Come on handsome,¡± as she spoke, she looked over her shoulder and bit her lips.


    ¡°Not sure why I even bothered wrestling with the monster when it just keeps res-erect-ing.¡±


    Enyo snickered as she looked at Ares¡¯ pants which were on the verge of swelling. ¡°God, Allie is such a naive child.¡±


    Ares chuckled. ¡°Aw, come on. She just wanted to help.¡±


    ¡°That doltz can¡¯t take a hint.¡± Enyo put the helmet on and opened the door. They descended from the top floor and met up with everyone else.


    ¡°Good morning you two,¡± Zhang greeted them as Aejaz seemed uncomfortable after yesterday and couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.


    ¡°Good morning, Zhang,¡± Ares started. ¡°Good morning, Allie,¡± he continued. ¡°Good morning, brother.¡±


    Smack


    Enyo palmed the back of Ares'' head for being childish. ¡°Be nice.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Aejaz. Face. Here.¡± Ares pointed over the table.


    Aejaz obediently leaned over the table and prepared himself to have Ares whisper something in his ear.


    Smack


    ¡°That was for Baja Forest.¡±


    Smack


    ¡°That was for the snatcher incident.¡±


    Smack


    ¡°That was for your pointless rebellion yesterday.¡±


    Smack


    ¡°That was because hitting you is oddly satisfying.¡±


    Smack


    ¡°Seriously, you should move your face or I¡¯m just going to keep doing this.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Aejaz was confused as this beating had taken a strange turn.


    Smack


    ¡°Will you cut it out!?¡± Aejaz retreated back into his seat.


    ¡°Tsk, spoilsport. I was having fun, you know?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I noticed.¡±


    Ares took a lofty, holier-than-thou stance in his seat and formed a Darmachakra mudra with his hands. ¡°All is forgiven. I have cleansed you of the proverbial mud on your face and absolved you of the flesh that has sinned.¡±


    ¡°I fucking hate you sometimes,¡± Aejaz grumbled.


    ¡°Good. The last thing I want is a mini-me running around. I¡¯m glad you stood up to me yesterday, it¡¯s a good sign, but, man, I wish you wouldn¡¯t choose to do it at the worst God-damn times. Can you not disagree with me or ignore me over something petty? Does it always have to be something that makes me want to slap you?¡±


    ¡°... I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Ares sighed. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I should also apologise for punching you in Baja Forest; it was an overreaction and wholly unnecessary¡­ Oddly satisfying, but unnecessary.¡±


    Zhang interrupted their brotherly moment, ¡°Not that this isn¡¯t touching, but we should get going so we can arrive at our next stop before it gets dark.¡±


    They all set off and left for the town they had stayed in previously. It was on the way and it was the only place between them and the sect where they¡¯d be able to sleep in a bed. After their stay, they would have to make their way back while camping out at night.


    During their journey, they stopped for food and Ares made sure to give Allie her celebratory banana split. The food was delightful as ever and everyone took a ten-minute break to digest it before continuing on.


    They reached the ¡®snatcher town¡¯ and went straight to the inn. The road Ares had demolished during his fight was being fixed and the inn was still undergoing some repairs. They went inside to find the bartender replaced. When they asked about the situation, much to their surprise, they found out that the previous bartender had become the new mayor! He was a benevolent leader who immediately distributed a large amount of the wealth Bret had been hoarding and was funding local projects with it. He was really giving it his all to make the town a better place and people seemed really quite pleased with his efforts. They paid for their accommodations, took the three keys, and went upstairs. Enyo went into the room while Ares gave Zhang, Allie, and Aejaz a subtle warning that if they came knocking for any reason, he would bite their heads off.


    Ares walked into the room and couldn¡¯t find Enyo. The door slammed shut behind him and he felt a body rub up against him. Enyo had hidden behind the door and jumped him when he walked in. The key to the door was taken off him and he heard the door lock behind him. His hands were free and he could¡¯ve easily turned around, but he wanted to know what she was up to, so he let her do her thing without interrupting.


    ??


    Enyo spoke seductively into his ear, ¡°Take your clothes off.¡±


    Ares complied and removed his clothes until eventually his flaccid penis drooped out and he was stark naked. Enyo pushed up against his sturdy back and he realised she had no clothes on either. He could feel her silky-smooth skin, and a few of her muscles, rubbing against him. Her breasts were compressed on his back and he could feel her stiff nipples poking out. Her body was warm and this alone was already incredibly pleasing, it was enough to make his dick semi-erect. Enyo wasn¡¯t done though and brought her hands around to Ares¡¯ chest, rubbing his pecs and abdomen while progressively getting lower and lower. She played around at his waist for a while before swiftly raising one hand to cover Ares¡¯ mouth and using the other to capture his dangling cock. Ares¡¯ hot breaths blew on Enyo¡¯s hand and his groans were muffled as she began stroking him.


    Enyo kissed Ares'' neck as her firm hand glided up and down his shaft, enjoying the sensation of him hardening at her touch. She loved the feel of him getting bigger, making it harder to wrap her hand around his girth. She gave special attention to the tip, placing it between her thumb and index finger and kneading it while she nibbled on Ares'' ear. She took her hand off his mouth, drenched it in her grool, and placed her hand back across his mouth, letting him guide her fingers into his mouth with his tongue one by one so he could savour her taste. Once he¡¯d cleaned off her fingers, she moved both hands to handle his thick cock and heavy balls. Her fingers covered in Ares spit, and Ares¡¯ pre-cum mixed to form a lubricant that made Ares¡¯ dick messy. Enyo picked up the pace, causing Ares¡¯ sloppy cock to make squelching sounds as trails of fluid hung between her slender hands and his stiff, warm rod. Her other hand had been cupping Ares¡¯ balls, but she could tell Ares was getting close to orgasm, so she brought it over and dedicated both hands to his massive manhood, making sure to service every inch of his fat, veiny prick. She whispered into his ear with a sultry voice, ¡°You want to fuck me, don¡¯t you? You want to jam every single inch inside my tight, quivering, slimy, virgin cunt and make me scream your name until my lungs are sore. You want me to beg you for more as I desperately lock my legs around you to push you in deeper. I want you to conquer my body, to make me your own personal whore that you can choke and slap around while you ravage my holes. I want you to impale my guts and grind against my walls as I squirm and squirt under you like the little slut I am, again¡­ And again¡­ And again.¡±


    Ares was resting his head on Enyo¡¯s shoulder and resisting the urge to turn around fuck her senseless. The reverberations of his low moans were shaking Enyo to the core and he occasionally let out quick, sharp breaths as she pleasured him both physically and verbally. Enyo lifted his head and walked around to his front to let him take in her stunning hourglass figure. She put one hand against his chest and bent over in front of him while still tugging him with her free hand. She stuck her tongue out, licking his stomach before dragging her tongue up his body, leaving a trail of saliva over both his nipples and his neck. She pushed him back up against the wall and turned around, putting both of her hands on her head to flaunt her supple ass to him.


    Enyo backed up slowly and allowed his dick to rest just underneath, and slightly in-between, her two ass cheeks which were pushing up against Ares¡¯ crotch. She spread her legs and the tip of his dick came poking through while the rest of it was being sandwiched and rubbed between her upper thighs that she had just closed. She toyed with her pussy until it was directly trickling all over Ares¡¯ dick. She used her fingers to keep stroking his tip that was lathered in her juices while the other hand wrapped around Ares'' neck behind her Ares now had a use for his hands which had been doing nothing so far. Ares¡¯ hands darted straight for Enyo¡¯s chest and he began groping her, squishing her breasts neatly between his fingers. Ares assumed Enyo¡¯s size was around 38b given how comfortably her chest fit in his grip. He fiddled with her nipples and now it was his turn to kiss her neck. Ares took one hand off her breasts and brought it up to her throat slowly. His fingers individually clasped around her neck, teasing her, letting her know what was coming. Her breathing quickened. ¡°Before you choke me, pick a colour.¡± Enyo reached for her nearby space ring and took out white and black lace panties.


    Ares didn¡¯t know what he was picking them for, so he chose based on which one he¡¯d like to shove into her mouth and use as a gag. ¡°White.¡± Black was raunchy and mature, but white was innocent and holy. He wanted to defile Enyo. Ares took joy out of ruining and degrading a woman as beautiful as Enyo, leaving marks on her and being rough was the sexual equivalent of having enough wealth to break porcelain vases for fun. It felt empowering.


    As soon as Enyo put the ring down, Ares held her throat a little tighter. He loved the cute gasping noise she made. Ares nearly came on the spot when Enyo started jacking him off using her panties. She¡¯d wrapped them around the head of his cock so that she could rub him with it and have him cum straight into them when he orgasmed. The intricate design of her frail, delicate underwear brushing over his tip, Enyo¡¯s perfect tits, her plump ass resting on him, the pressure of her upper thighs on his swollen shaft, and her sweet panting and gulping when he eased up on her throat, all brought him to the edge of his climax. He reinforced his grip on her throat. ¡°Rub me harder and faster.¡± Enyo nodded in a servile manner and used more force, but it wasn¡¯t good enough for Ares. ¡°More.¡± He gripped tighter. She did as she was told but Ares still wasn¡¯t satisfied. He pinched her nipple, choked her harder, and growled into her ear, ¡°I said more you slut.¡± Enyo submissively pleasured him as best she could while struggling for air. Ares eased up when he finally ejaculated, spurting into her underwear repeatedly while pulsing madly in her hand. He breathed sporadically down Enyo¡¯s neck and kissed it while tweaking her nipple. ¡°Your turn.¡± Today was Ares¡¯ day to take charge and have fun with his reward, but he still wanted to pleasure her regardless. It¡¯s not like he didn¡¯t enjoy hearing her moan or making her squirt, plus he had an idea in his head of how he could dominate her.


    Enyo was surprised he was going to pleasure her too, but was happy to hear it. She wanted to know what it was like to have the man she loved bring her to orgasm with his rough hands. Ares turned her around and squeezed her ass cheeks a few times before giving them a smack and pushing her down onto the bed. He went down to her thigh with his tongue and progressively worked his way up her leg and around her pubic mound to stimulate her. He licked his hand and spat on it to make his fingers wet and he grazed over her lower lips a few times, gradually applying more and more pressure each go around until he was stroking her. She got excited and spread her legs wide for him. Ares started slow and wormed his index finger into her pink, runny cave as it coiled around him. Enyo hadn¡¯t been lying to him when she was talking dirty earlier, her cunt was tight. Ares experimented with different motions, moving side to side, in and out, and in a circular motion to gauge what Enyo liked. Eventually, through trial and error, he found it. Her sweet voice rang out as he carefully caressed her g-spot then dragged his fingers along her walls, out, up and over her clit. This had gotten the loudest reaction yet and her once-measured breathing had become erotic panting.


    ¡°There. Mmm.¡± Enyo sang in delight as Ares steadily got in a rhythm. When his finger was at her g-spot, he¡¯d use his thumb to rub her clit until his index finger slid out and over it. He repeated this over and over with one hand while the other stroked Enyo¡¯s face. Ares was kneeling to her side and leant over her, gazing down into her eyes charmingly with a captivating smile as he worked on her pussy. She put one hand on top of his that was stroking her face and her other on his face to stroke him. ¡°Use two.¡±


    Hnnnnnng


    Enyo let out a long, drawn-out groan as Ares put his middle finger to work, widening her hole. As she got wetter, she looked longingly into his eyes, wishing she could kiss him. ¡°Faster.¡± Without taking his eyes off her for even a split second, Ares¡¯ fingers began relentlessly fucking her. Enyo was in heaven. ¡°A?H! God yes, just like that.¡± Ares continuously brought his finger in and out of her snatch to the tune of sexual gratification from Enyo¡¯s voice which was music to his ears. Enyo looked up at her man and lost all reason as she whimpered from his savage fingers. She blurted out, ¡°I love¡­¡±


    Ares had reacted fast enough to shove her soaked underwear into her mouth and cut her off. It pained him to do it, as there was nothing he wanted to hear more in this world, but now wasn¡¯t the time for it. Enyo looked guilty so Ares thought on his feet and quickly came up with a solution as she was meant to be enjoying this, not feeling bad for a spur of the moment mistake. He brought his head down next to hers and whispered in her ear, ¡°You¡¯ve been a bad girl.¡±


    Smack


    Ares lightly smacked Enyo¡¯s pussy, causing her to quiver and yelp through her panties. He sat down next to her and put her on top of his lap so her back was against his chest. ¡°Keep the gag in or I¡¯ll punish you later.¡± Ares got back to work on Enyo¡¯s soaking wet mound. He barely got started when Enyo playfully dropped the underwear and gave him a mischievous look.


    ¡°Oops.¡± She gave him a coy smile hoping he would really go to town on her.


    ¡°You wait until I¡¯m done with you, you hussy.¡± Ares used his free hand to re-gag her with her cum-stained panties, making sure to put the drenched side in deeper so that some of his ejaculate would trickle down and along her tongue. She was truly gorgeous with the panties in her mouth and Ares loved seeing her swallow knowing she was tasting his cum as it wet her throat. The panties colour matched her hair perfectly and the drool spilling out from the gaps in her mouth was simply art. He dirtied and sullied her holy look with an act of perverse corruption, and he was proud of his triumph. She was his sexual conquest and he¡¯d been unmerciful as he rammed the white flag of defeat into her mouth so she couldn¡¯t even surrender or plead for forgiveness.


    Ares added his free hand into the mix and put it on clit rubbing duty as his other two thick and strong fingers were now free to stick to her g-spot and torment it. Enyo squealed through her gag as this was it. If Ares stayed his course, she would cum soon.


    Ares stopped.


    He kept tapping her lower lips with one hand, and un-gagged her with the other. ¡°Beg, bitch.¡± This was the first of the two punishments he had in store for her for disobeying his commands.


    ¡°I beg you, please, I¡¯ll do anything.¡± Enyo was craving it. She was desperate.


    Ares started up again but wasn¡¯t going full throttle. ¡°You¡¯ll do anything? Then promise you¡¯ll squirt for me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I beg you, I¡¯ll spray everywhere if yo¡­¡± Enyo wasn¡¯t given a chance to finish as Ares shoved the gag back in.


    ¡°Good girl.¡±


    Between Ares¡¯ vigorous finger fucking, his clit rubbing, and calling her a ¡®good girl¡¯, Enyo squirted violently. A stream came surging out as Ares removed his fingers but kept thrumming her clitoris. Enyo¡¯s orgasm was intense and it felt better than the one she¡¯d given herself in the shower, but Ares wasn¡¯t stopping.


    Enyo quickly realised this was her punishment, Ares was going to keep abusing her clit while she writhed around. Orgasm torture. He let out a deep, wicked, and melodious laugh into her ear as she tried to stop him. She was too weak from her climax and her limp; delicate hand couldn¡¯t muster enough strength to move his. She was still spurting and shaking uncontrollably. Her only hope of freedom was dashed when Ares put his free hand over her mouth keep the gag in and rested his heels on top of her feet to prevent her from falling to the side. He was toying with her as her gagged and muffled cries tickled his ears.


    ?MMMM?


    ?MM?MMMMMMM?


    Her eyes rolled back while she twitched and flailed helplessly as her body orgasmed in subserviance to Ares fingers which were mercilessly ravaging her engorged clitorus that couldn¡¯t stop pulsing and squirting.


    Ares ended her agonising pleasure with another smack which caused her to spasm pathetically as he finally let her fall on her side. She was mute with pleasure and still convulsing and shuddering as liquid drooled down her thighs and onto the soaked sheets beneath her.


    A few seconds later she was catching her breath while staring defiantly up and over her shoulder at Ares, and still occasionally trembling. He was leaning over her and looking down at her cockily, enjoying the sight of the gag rolling out of her open mouth and leaving a line of saliva between the two. Ares glanced over at Enyo¡¯s reddish, battered cunt, surrounded by her flawless white skin, her wet legs and wetter crotch.


    Today was a good day.


    Ares spooned Enyo and held her tight while kissing her neck until she finally stopped shaking like a little lamb.


    Enyo turned to face him and stroked his face. ¡°That was fucking spectacular, promise me you¡¯ll do it again?¡±


    Ares loved being rough with her, but he always felt a bit guilty after. Enyo¡¯s reassurance made him feel much better. ¡°Mhm. It wasn¡¯t too much, was it?¡±


    Enyo grabbed Ares¡¯ hand and placed his warm palm over her vagina before grabbing his dick and carefully massaging it. ¡°You can do anything you want to me; I won¡¯t break no matter how much you try.¡±


    ¡°But did you enjoy it?¡± Ares fondly fondled Enyo. ¡°I want you to have fun as well.¡±


    ¡°I was nervous at first, but God did it feel incredible in the moment. I love it when you make me feel vulnerable, the way you handle me is such a turn on. I like it rough, and that¡¯s true for giving it and taking it. I wasn¡¯t joking when I said I wanted you to do it to me again.¡± Enyo smiled playfully. ¡°Speaking of. You¡¯ve had your fun. Next time, I¡¯m going to play with your body.¡±


    Ares leaned closer. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯re going to do to me.¡±


    ¡°Use your imagination.¡± Enyo sped up her hand to try and make him cum again.


    ¡°Mmm, but I like it when you talk dirty to me.¡± Ares also sped up. They were both trying to make each other cum again now.


    ¡°Well, what I¡¯m going to do to you aside, I¡¯ve been thinking about how our first time is going to go. I want you to tear my hymen, claim me, and fuck me like a wild beast. I want you to choke me and slap my face while you pound my pussy with your monstrous cock. As you push my head down into the pillow, I¡¯ll raise my ass for you like a good little girl so you can slap and mark it as you dig out my tight cunt.¡±


    Ares started whispering into her ear, ¡°I want to pick you up and impale you on my dick as I ram you against the wall. I want to throw you onto the bed and pull your hair while I ride you like a horse. I¡¯m going to move aside your legs and ass cheeks so I can spread your pretty little asshole by shoving the entire length of my dick inside you as you wail my name and beg for more. I¡¯m going to make you squeal then silence you by putting my dirty cock in your throat, fucking it while giving myself a hand job around your neck. You¡¯re going to ride me while I watch your tits bounce and when you climax I¡¯m going to sit up, pull you back down with me, grip onto you, and keep pounding you until your orgasm drives you crazy and you faint from me pistoning your sloppy, abused cunt.¡±


    They both came at the same time and breathed deeply into each other¡¯s faces, exhaling and inhaling each other¡¯s air while peering deep into the other¡¯s eyes. Ares stuck his wet hand in his mouth and Enyo cupped her palm, tilted her head back, and swallowed all of his cum, accidentally leaving a bit on her chin. Ares swiped it up with his finger and put it back in her mouth as she licked his finger clean.


    ¡°I love your taste.¡± Enyo licked her lips.


    ¡°And I love yours.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I really like the sound of the things you¡¯re gonna do to my body.¡±


    ??


    ¡°Meanwhile, I¡¯m still worrying about the whip.¡±


    ¡°Ha, you can dread the inevitable, but you can¡¯t run from it.¡±


    Ares nervously chuckled. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t hit the crown jewels.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll see where my mood takes me. Also, you wait and see what I¡¯m going to do to you next time we have fun. It¡¯s my turn to be the boss and you aren¡¯t the only one that can choke people.¡± Enyo teased. ¡°By the way, how on earth did you find that finger motion? That¡¯s even better than the method I use to get myself off.¡±


    Ares shrugged. ¡°Read about it in a book.¡±


    Enyo laughed. ¡°You¡¯ve really read a lot of strange books, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll read as many as it takes to find ways of making you happy.¡±


    Enyo blushed. ¡°Tsk, do you have any idea how difficult it is not to say those words?¡±


    With a sad smile on his face, Ares sighed. ¡°Yeah, I know. I almost let you say it earlier. I wanted to hear it and to kiss you right then and there.¡± Ares rested his forehead against Enyo¡¯s. ¡°We¡¯ll have our moment.¡±


    ¡°Mhm. Goodnight Ares.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight Enyo.¡± Ares kissed her forehead.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°That silly thing is going to keep poking me all night. Isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sorry, he¡¯s a touchy one.¡±


    Enyo snickered. ¡°Idiot. I guess I can¡¯t blame you for being obsessed with a body like mine.¡±


    ¡°What can I say? You drive me wild.¡±


    ¡°Good. I like a man who¡¯ll worship the ground I walk upon.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re one of a kind, Enyo. You¡¯re irresistible. I can¡¯t control myself around you.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to keep complimenting me, I¡¯m going to have to reward you again.¡±


    ¡°The day you feel comfortable taking your helmet off in public is the day other women give up all hope of ever achieving perfection.¡±


    Ares and Enyo played with each other one more time before going to sleep while cuddling one another.

 Chapter 46: Best Laid Plans

    ¡°EEEEEEEEEPPPPPP!¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha. You¡¯re a mean sister, you know that, Enyo?¡± Ares was cackling at Enyo¡¯s prank with tears in his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault Allie assumed we¡¯d be wearing clothes like last time. What was it Aejaz taught her again? ¡®To assume is to make an ¡®ass¡¯ out of ¡®u¡¯ and ¡®me¡¯, was it? I mean, we are mostly covered by the sheets, it¡¯s not that big a deal.¡± Enyo smiled innocently and shrugged with her bare shoulders.


    ¡°Man, she really took off running immediately though¡­ Hahahaha, can you imagine if she did that with Aejaz the first time he takes off his clothes?¡±


    Ares and Enyo snickered as they got up and got dressed. ¡°You wanna bet we¡¯ll have sex before they do?¡±


    Ares snorted. ¡°Hell no. They¡¯re still hugging and hand-holding, they¡¯re gonna take forever to go that far. That¡¯s a losing bet if I¡¯ve ever heard one. The international is only about a month and a half away, there¡¯s no chance of them doing anything before then.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of bets, are you gonna tell me what your reward for the Baja Forest bet is?¡±


    ¡°Patience is a virtue.¡± Ares booped Enyo¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Enyo curled her fingers and made air quotes. ¡°¡®I said more you slut.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Rules for thee but not for me.¡± Ares stuck his tongue.


    ¡°Hmph, you keep sticking that tongue out. One day I¡¯ll make it lick my anus.¡±


    ¡°You make that sound like a bad thing.¡±


    ¡°Kinky perv.¡± Enyo lightly slapped Ares¡¯ cheek.


    ¡°Kinky nympho.¡± Ares spanked Enyo¡¯s ¡®cheek¡¯.


    ¡°Mm, I think we were made for each other.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be a perfect fit.¡±


    Knock Knock


    Ares opened the door to Zhang who promptly questioned Ares as to why his daughter was acting like a timid mouse. Everyone went downstairs and reaffirmed their route before setting off on their three-day journey, during which nothing of note happened. With Zhang around, no monsters ever messed with their travelling group as they knew better than to throw their lives away so haphazardly. The nights were peaceful with Ares and Enyo sneaking off into the woods and coming back some time later, all-smiles, pretending nothing had happened. Ares would make feather hammocks for everyone and he and Enyo slept comfortably together. Aejaz and Allie were far too shy to do that in front of their older brother and sister, let alone Zhang, so they slept separately. Ares had stocked up enough food for the three-day journey so everyone ate well during the trip. Zhang inwardly lamented the fact that he wasn¡¯t going to be able to eat Ares¡¯ food for much longer.


    On the third day, they arrived back at Red Sun in the afternoon. Zhang left the group to go to the alchemy store and buy Allie a storage container for her brand new regeneroot. He bid everyone goodbye and went on his merry way.


    Everyone had made gains cultivation-wise during their trip. Ares was now at the 7th stage of 4th realm skeletal structuring, which was a pretty staggering increase, and Aejaz was at the 5th stage of mental accumulation. Aejaz had spent a lot of his time in the Venti City stealing from people, so his cultivation had risen rapidly toward the end of their journey, plus his newfound use for Memory Muddle did him favours in that department too. Enyo was currently sitting at 6th stage mental accumulation and Allie had recently broken into 4th realm cultivation, 5th stage. She had swapped to dedication cultivation just before the alchemy tournament and her gains, in particular, were monumental.


    Ares¡¯ cultivation having raised to this point was particularly good news as it meant he would be that much more problematic during the tournament. The cultivation limit for the tournament was 8th stage, mental accumulation. Some people would have slightly higher cultivations by the time the competition started as they only needed to be at or under that limit when registering. It wasn¡¯t exactly their fault if they went over it after. Enyo was quite likely going to be one of those people by the time the international rolled around, but that was fine as the registering would be done soon, aka tomorrow, after the five people were chosen.


    They made their way back to the sect and entered through the checkpoint. Ares made it about two feet before he felt someone looking at him. He could tell it was Slick, but it was still rather strange for him to be this observant. Maybe someone had snuck in recently? Maybe he was keeping an eye out for Ares specifically? Either way, Slick stopped staring him down from wherever he was and left Ares alone when he realised who it was.


    They made it outside the mission hall, and were about to enter, when Ares was glomped and barrelled over by a white missile. ¡°Hahahahaha, Appa that tickles!¡±


    ¡°DADDY!¡± Appa was heartily smothering Ares and nuzzling him all over while eagerly wagging its rope.


    Ares wrapped his arms around Appa and gave it a big hug. ¡°I missed you, Appa.¡±


    Appa brought its rope around Ares for a pseudo hug. ¡°I missed you too! I wasn¡¯t cultivating but then I was but then you died but it was your clone that died and then I wanted Slick to tell Zhang to tell you that I love you and that I miss you and now you''re back and I¡¯M HAPPY!¡±


    ¡°Haha, who¡¯s my favourite shade?¡±


    ¡°ME! ME ME ME!¡±


    Enyo was heart warmed. Ares was right about Appa, it was a soul soothing, pure existence. Enyo had already made up her mind, but there was no way that, after seeing this, she would¡¯ve been able to bring herself to break its heart anyway. It was just impossible to be that cruel to something so sweet. Seeing Ares hug Appa and treat it like a beloved daughter made her heart beat faster and she fell in love all over again. Their passion filled romps in the bedroom were great, really great, but this was just as good, and it brought a tear to her eye under her helmet. She was going to go around to Ares¡¯ house later and she was already more than prepared to give Appa the good news. She wanted to do it now, but she also wanted to let Ares have this moment with his daughter as she knew how much he was looking forward to it.


    ¡°Mental accumulation, 9th stage!?¡± Ares was stunned with Appa¡¯s progress.


    ¡°Mhm. Did I do good?¡± Appa happily waved its head side to side expecting praise.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done great! How did you make so much progress? That speed is seriously impressive for a shade in mental accumulation. I was honestly only expecting one or two stages, but you went up by four! I only went up five myself, and that¡¯s including the day before we left! If we¡¯re talking human equivalent, you went up about 12 stages!¡±


    ¡°I wanted to make you proud, dad, so I spent all my time in the cultivation room after your clone died!¡±


    ¡°Aww, Appa, I¡¯m always proud to be your dad. Even if you weren¡¯t a cultivator, you know I¡¯d be proud of you, right?¡±


    Sniffle


    ¡°I love you, dad.¡± Appa was crying a bit.


    ¡°I love you too, Appa.¡± Ares stood up with Appa still in his arms and patted it on the head


    Sniffle


    It took Ares a moment to notice, but that last sniffle wasn¡¯t Appa. Aejaz and Allie were tearing up too, but it wasn¡¯t them that had made the noise either. It was Enyo. He looked over and gave her a gentle smile and winked. They all cleaned their eyes and went into the mission hall with Appa still clinging onto Ares, perched and slightly draping over his shoulder. They went to the front and found a Rud clone. ¡°Hey buddy Ruddy.¡±


    ¡°Ugh. I was this close to forgetting you even existed.¡±


    ¡°Aww, come on. I missed ya!¡±


    ¡°Missed messing with me no doubt. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten about that stunt you pulled before.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, they¡¯ve been dead for a month already, get over it you senile coot.¡±


    ¡°First of all, fuck you. Second, I meant the fireworks you brat.¡±


    ¡°What!? You like stardust, don¡¯t you? Was I wrong?¡±


    ¡°How about I take yours and see how funny you think it is then?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, and here I was going to give you a little souvenir from the trip.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s from you, I don¡¯t want it.¡±


    ¡°Are you sureeeee? I think you¡¯d really like it.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worth a lot of stardust¡­¡±


    ¡°You must think I¡¯m obsessed!¡±


    ¡°... It also tried to kill me.¡±


    ¡°Now I¡¯m listening.¡± Zhang sat up in his seat. ¡°Honestly, I feel sorry for you Enyo, having to put up with this prat for a full month. I don¡¯t envy you.¡±


    Enyo shrugged. ¡°It honestly didn¡¯t go how I thought it would.¡±


    ¡°Nothing ever does when he¡¯s involv¡­ WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?¡±


    Ares had brought out his ¡®little¡¯ ¡®souvenir¡¯, which also doubled down as his proof of mission completion. The Mecha-dryad¡¯s corpse came crashing down into the middle of the room as he summoned it out of the Primordial Blade. Everyone in the mission hall had a dumb look on their face as the deceased monstrosity just lay there, minding its own business. Ares leant on the table. ¡°Sooooo, how much cool stuff do I get for that big boy?¡±


    ¡°T¡­ That¡­ What¡­ Where¡­ How¡­ Why¡­ When¡­. Who¡­¡± Rud was in disbelief but, then again, so was literally everyone else. Allie, Aejaz, Enyo and all the other disciples had never even seen a Mecha-dryad before, so naturally this was quite a shock. The thing was seriously ginormous and the metal casing looked impenetrable. Rud had a million questions. ¡°That is what I think it is, right? What was its cultivation!? Who killed it? Why do you have it? Where the hell were you even keeping that thing? What the fuck do you want me to do with it?¡±


    Ares sighed as if the answers to Rud¡¯s question were blatantly obvious. ¡°It is what you think it is - a Mecha-dryad. Its cultivation was at mental accumulation, 7th, maybe 8th stage. I killed it. I have it because I killed it, and I was storing it in the same place I keep my kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Kitchen? Where the fuck¡­¡±


    ¡°... And the reason I¡¯m giving it to you is as proof of mission completion. This thing was terrorising Baja Forest and, now, it¡¯s here, terrorising your sanity. I¡¯m sure the sect will get a lot of stardust if they sell this corpse to a collector. You weren¡¯t expecting me to bring it back alive were you!? I know it would¡¯ve been worth more, but give me a break you damn greedy bastard. That thing put up one hell of a fight!¡±


    ¡°... You know what? Fuck it. I don¡¯t care. Leave it here and get out of my sight, you insufferable bastard. I¡¯ll give you your damn contribution points the second you leave my sight.¡±


    ¡°Nuh-uh, cough up the foreign aid status you fogey. I would much rather have that than the brownie points ¡®cos god knows you only stock up the treasury with worthless garbage, you damn cheapskate.¡±


    Enyo was flabbergasted that Ares talked to the Elders like this. No wonder Rud despises him.


    ¡°You may just be the most annoying person I¡¯ve ever met. FINE.¡± Rud fumbled around for a while then chucked a badge of identification, shaped like a ¡®X¡¯ and white in colour, at Ares that signified he was a foreign aid disciple. ¡°Now get out.¡±


    Ares raised his eyebrow at Rud. ¡°And Aejaz?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Rud battled with his inner demons and deflated back into his seat when he finally gave up. ¡°Whatever.¡± He chucked another badge at Aejaz. ¡°But please, if nothing else, make sure he doesn¡¯t steal from Elders abroad, we value our reputation... Now leave, and let me figure out where the hell I¡¯m going to put this stupid thing.¡±


    On the way out, Appa smacked the Mecha-dryad¡¯s corpse with its rope. ¡°That¡¯s for trying to kill dad! Meanie!¡±


    Allie turned to Ares, ¡°I thought you blew it up and nothing was left? We found bits of metal at the blast site.¡±


    Ares stroked Appa as he replied, ¡°Knocking a few bits off it was all the explosion did to its outer hull, the rest of it was intact. Well not the inside of it anyway, that''s long gone. Luckily the dryad was inside the cockpit so, although it died, it¡¯s main body is still whole and thus sellable. By the way, are you two coming over for dinner later?¡±


    Allie turned to Enyo. ¡°I wanna go!¡±


    Enyo laughed heartily. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, Allie, but I¡¯m going to his house every day.¡±


    ¡°Me too! Is that ok Ares? You don¡¯t mind cooking, do you?¡±


    Ares shook his head. ¡°Not at all. The door¡¯s always open for you two.¡±


    ¡°There are a few things I need to take care of first, like handing over the Steadfast Aegis to the runemancy department, so I¡¯ll be there in a bit,¡± said Enyo.


    ¡°Alright. I actually need to head over to the runemancy department at some point too now that I have the Celestial Prisms. Julio is going to lose his mind. Actually, I wonder if I¡¯ll be able to do the runes for your shield.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like that if possible.¡±


    ¡°See you in a bit.¡± Ares, Appa, and Aejaz waved goodbye to Enyo and then Allie as she had to go take care of the regeneroot.


    As they were walking back, Ares started talking to Appa, ¡°Hey, what do you think of Enyo?¡±


    Appa tilted its head. ¡°Um, she seems nicer than last time. Do you like her, dad?¡±


    ¡°Haha, I guess you could say that, yes. She wants to talk to you about something later, so could you be a good shade and listen to what she has to say?¡±


    ¡°Okey doke! Do you know what she wants to talk about?¡±


    ¡°Yep, but it¡¯s a surprise.¡±


    ¡°I like surprises!¡±


    ¡°I know, and I think there¡¯s a good chance you¡¯ll really like this one.¡± They arrived back at the house and Ares was surprised to find so few clones. He asked Appa about it and she explained what happened with Chen Lo and that she started to spend more time cultivating after that event. Ares was furious and had to stop himself from marching out of the sect and picking a fight. He would make Lo pay eventually; the entire Chen clan would be wiped off the map when Ares had his way with them. He had no choice but to put it to the back of his mind for now though.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Appa removed all the Ares clones as it had the real deal now and the others just felt hollow in comparison. Ares went into the kitchen and started cooking. Today was a rare chance for him to cook in person and not just in the Primordial Blade. There was also a unique art he wanted to try as he¡¯d spent the entirety of the last month thinking about it in his downtime. It would still be a work in progress, but it would be a good chance to try it and see if he could feasibly make it work. He was determined to get results on this one as this art was pretty important to him.


    As he was working, now that he was back home, he took a special something out of the Primordial Blade.


    Aejaz was left completely speechless, and Appa was very curious about the thing Ares had pulled out of seemingly nowhere.


    It appeared as though there was going to be a new resident in casa del Ares.


    Meanwhile, Enyo had just finished taking care of her business. She¡¯d taken the shield to the runemancy department, went home to have a shower, and paid her respects to the weapons department Elder who was leaving the sect today to go into retirement. The Elder had welcomed her with open arms and helped her practice with her shield. The Elder wasn¡¯t as talented as the Legion clan instructor, obviously, but she was a kind old lady who taught anyone who came her way. Apparently her replacement would be arriving tomorrow and spectating the tournament participant selection process to get a feel for the disciples¡¯ prowess.


    Enyo arrived at Ares'' house and felt giddy. It was just standard sect accommodation, sure, but it was still technically ¡®Ares¡¯ house¡¯. She knocked on the door and, while she was waiting, could smell something exquisite coming from an open window.


    The door opened partially and Enyo was confused.


    There was no one in the doorway.


    ¡°...¡± Enyo had looked down and, like Aejaz before, was left completely speechless by what she saw. ¡°Uh¡­ It¡¯s good to see you again.¡±


    Meow


    Enyo stared blankly down at Ares¡¯ fluffy friend, Leo. ¡°... You and Ares agreed that you were going to come back with him and live here?¡±


    Purrrr


    ¡°... You¡¯re saying he kept you in the Primordial Blade, floating around in space and eating his cooking every day since we left Baja Forest?¡±


    Mew


    ¡°... Oh¡­ Uh¡­ Well, I look forward to seeing you around too¡­ Wait a minute¡­ Why the hell can I understand you!?¡±


    Mew


    Meow Purr


    Purrrrrr


    ¡°... I guess that does make sense.¡±


    Cultivators could ¡®inherit¡¯ certain bloodline talents from their partners and acquire adaptations or mutations in their existing aspects if there was a strong enough connection. It usually only happened after intercourse, so this was a little surprising, but it wasn¡¯t completely unheard of. There were even stories about an ancient cultivator who had an uncountable number of wives. He had a brief stint as the strongest man in the world thanks to the amalgamation of powers he received from his lovers, however, his last addition to his long list of partners was the straw that broke the camel''s back and, supposedly, he literally exploded. Too much of anything is bad for you after all.


    ¡°I wonder if Ares has gotten anything from me? Anyway, could I come in? Also, since when did revenants have the bloodline ability to talk to animals?¡±


    Mew


    Leo used his paw to open the door and let Enyo in. He used his wings to fly up to the lock and close the door behind her. Leo had primarily come back with Ares because he liked the scritches the human gave him, he didn¡¯t care much for the forest life, and the food the human made was very tasty. What other reasons did he need? He was just a simple kitty with simple dreams of fish and lemongrass. He was also looking forward to playing with Allie again, she was fun to be around.


    Enyo went into the living room and found Aejaz reading a novel. She went through the room and into the kitchen where she found Ares washing up as he was waiting around for the food to finish cooking. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned on his shoulder. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m home.¡±


    Ares rolled his eyes. ¡°How was work?¡±


    ¡°Fine, but I missed you.¡± Enyo¡¯s hands started to roam around Ares'' chest.


    Ares was about to respond when Appa floated in. ¡°Watcha¡¯ doin?¡±


    ¡°Enyo was just giving dad a hug.¡±


    ¡°Oh, ok! I don¡¯t like hugs from robots, they¡¯re cold.¡±


    ¡°Robots? Robots¡­¡± Ares burst out laughing while Enyo and Appa looked a little lost. ¡°Appa, honey, Enyo isn¡¯t a robot. She¡¯s just wearing a suit of armour. There¡¯s a human under there, believe it or not.¡±


    ¡°Really!? That¡¯s cool! You¡¯re like a human-robot!¡±


    Enyo chuckled. ¡°Hey Appa, let¡¯s go have a talk about something.¡±


    ¡°Ok!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your bedroom?¡±


    ¡°Dad calls it the bathroom!¡±


    ¡°... Ares?¡±


    Ares'' eyes twitched. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, Appa really likes it in there.¡± He whispered to Enyo, ¡°I think the white shower curtain makes it think of the family it never had.¡± Ares went back to washing. ¡°You can use my room, it¡¯s where Appa sleeps all the time anyway.¡±


    ¡°I can go into your room?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not a schoolgirl venturing into a boy¡¯s room for the first time, Enyo. There¡¯s nothing special in there when I¡¯m not there, it¡¯s a pretty plain room otherwise.¡±


    Enyo and Appa went into the hallway and then to Ares¡¯ room. They entered and Enyo shut the door behind her. ¡°Appa, come sit on the bed with me and let''s talk.¡± Enyo sat on the bed and Appa floated over. Enyo almost instinctively let out an ¡®Aww¡¯ when she saw Appa¡¯s smooshed version of a ¡®sit¡¯.


    Appa beat Enyo to the punch and actually asked her a question first, ¡°Um, do you like dad?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I really like your dad. Why?¡±


    Appa had little triangle indents on the bottom of its sockets as it was pleased. ¡°Because dad likes you. If you like dad, then he¡¯ll be happy.¡±


    ¡°Awww, that¡¯s really nice of you to be supportive of Ares.¡±


    ¡°Dad is the best!¡±


    ¡°I agree, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m going to be spending a lot of time with your dad from now on. Do you know what it means when a man and a woman really like each other?¡±


    ¡°They become a couple? They get married and live happily ever after, right!?¡±


    ¡°Haha, yes, that too.¡± Enyo started taking her armour off, starting with her hands so she could pet Appa.¡±


    ¡°Mmmm, warm.¡± Appa rubbed its head against Enyo¡¯s hand as it really liked the soft touch.


    Enyo now completely understood why Ares had wanted her to meet Appa.


    She was adorable.


    Ares was really lucky to have such an amazing daughter. Enyo was just as lucky that she would get to call this endearing shade her child and she was really starting to get excited for her future.


    Enyo removed the rest of her armour minus the helmet. As she went to remove it, she realised she felt absolutely no hesitation whatsoever. She wasn¡¯t anxious at all about showing her daughter her face. She understood that was probably because Appa was a completely non-judgemental existence, too pure to even care about a person¡¯s looks. Seeing Appa as her daughter also completely removed any uncertainties and it actually started to feel strange having the helmet on. This was the first time she¡¯d ever felt that way. It was almost like being in the presence of her daughter was healing her mind. Appa was truly precious. Enyo removed her helmet and Appa was just staring at her without saying a word. ¡°So, about what I was saying before. It¡¯s not just that Ares and I are going to be spending a lot of time together, but so will we.¡± Despite Appa¡¯s lack of facial features, Enyo could tell it was distracted by something. ¡°Appa? Are you ok?¡±


    Appa picked itself up and floated closer to Enyo. It looked up at Enyo and mental essence started leaking out of its sockets. It used its rope to touch Enyo¡¯s smooth, white hair. ¡°Mummy?¡±


    Enyo couldn¡¯t stop the floodgates and hugged Appa. ¡°Yes, sweetie.¡±


    ¡°Mummy?¡± Appa was balling into Enyo¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Mhm, Ares is your dad, and I¡¯m going to be your mum. Ok, sweetie?¡± Enyo was finding it hard to speak while shedding tears.


    ¡°MUM!¡± Appa let out one final shout of joy and couldn¡¯t speak anymore as it was shaking from all the crying. Enyo rubbed her daughter¡¯s back to reassure it that she was never going to leave it and that they would be a proper family from now on. Appa didn¡¯t have to dream about having a loving mother and a caring father anymore, it had everything it ever wanted out of life.


    They stayed together for a few minutes and, eventually, Ares came to check up on them. He found them still hugging and could tell they¡¯d been blubbering like babies. Not that he could fault them, even just seeing the woman he loved holding the daughter he loved was enough for him to start crying too. He sat down on the bed next to them and they had one big family hug. Appa was in the middle, surrounded by two loving parents that couldn¡¯t stop themselves from sharing their first kiss.


    Ares had his plans, but there would never be a moment like this ever again. They were too caught up in their crying to really enjoy the sensation of the moment, but they were captivated by each other¡¯s lips and never wanted to stop. Ares brought both of his hands up to Enyo¡¯s face and held her delicately, stopped the kiss, and looked deep into her eyes. ¡°Enyo, I love you. ¡± His tears fell and his eyes were too watery to see clearly. ¡°I loved you from the moment we met.¡±


    Enyo held back her tears for as long as she could. She just wanted to say one thing before she allowed herself to cry her heart out, ¡°I love you Ares. I love our daughter; I love you and I will always love you both.¡± Another round of waterworks broke out and everyone happily embraced each other. This was going to be a fond memory for the three of them they would never forget.


    After a while, Ares gulped and was able to control himself. He looked over at Enyo and she was also in a better state. They looked at one another and knew exactly what they wanted. ¡°Appa, sweetie?¡±


    Appa sniffled and looked up at Ares. ¡°Yes dad?¡±


    ¡°Your mother and I have a very important matter we need to discuss. Could you give us thirty minutes alone and go play with Aejaz, Allie, and Leo?¡±


    ¡°Mmmm. Ok, but I want hugs after.¡±


    Enyo patted Appa. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll give you all the hugs you could ever want.¡±


    ¡°Yay! Ok!¡± Appa bounded out of the room like a kid on Christmas that had just gotten every present on its list, and even a few extra.


    Enyo didn¡¯t even turn around to close the door, she just used her magic to summon a barrier and do it while jumping on top of Ares and straddling him. ¡°I love you.¡±


    ¡°I love you too. You¡¯re the perfect woman, Enyo, and I¡¯m deeply in love with you.¡± Ares'' breaths were getting quicker.


    ¡°I¡¯m head over heels in love with you. I¡¯m hopelessly obsessed with you.¡± Enyo moved her face closer to his.


    ¡°You and Appa are two of the most important things in this world to me and I love you both unconditionally.¡±


    Their mouths met and their hearts were beating madly in their chests. They could feel each other¡¯s heart beat as she lay on top of him, basking in the sweetness of each other¡¯s lips. They were engrossed in the soft, electrifying touch and wanted nothing more than to keep feeling each other¡¯s tender affection. They both brought a hand around the back of one another¡¯s head and pulled closer to make sure there was no room for even air to escape unless it was directly into the other¡¯s mouth. Ares made a small gap to poke his tongue through and used it to tickle her lips. She responded in kind and, as their tongues intertwined, they became intoxicated on each other¡¯s saliva and drunk with ecstasy. They were both addicted to tonguing the person they loved and wrestling with each other to determine who would have the dominant tongue. It wasn¡¯t a fight for supremacy, but for subservience. They were both trying to let each other have their way with them because all they wanted was to dedicate every part of their tongue to servicing the person they loved. They wanted to be submissive, for each other to take control and satisfy themselves. They were both utterly selfless in their devotion.


    Enyo¡¯s self-restraint broke and she fervently devoured Ares¡¯ tongue, hunting it down so she could drown it in her saliva and make it submit to her. As she coiled her tongue around Ares¡¯, she moved off him so she could thank him for letting her have her way by reaching down into his pants and pleasuring him.


    What started as a kiss became another fun masturbation session that they made full use of the time they had for. In the end, they finished five minutes early so they could rest and talk before going back into the company of others. Ares was utterly spent as Enyo had really put the works on him. She had thoroughly put him through the ringer, pulled him back, and put him through it again. Ares wasn¡¯t fussed as he enjoyed it either way and didn¡¯t care about who was dominant as all he wanted to do today was kiss her. Speaking of, he still hadn¡¯t gotten enough of her luscious, pink lips. They were a bit smaller than average and goddamn they were pretty. He also couldn¡¯t help but think shoving his dick into a smaller mouth, past her soft lips, would be euphoric, so he was doubly pleased. Right now, though, he wanted to kiss her again, so he did.


    Enyo basically urged him on by biting her lip as she wanted more too. When they were both finally sated, Enyo asked the question that was on her mind, ¡°When do we have sex?¡±


    ¡°NO. I¡¯m not fully giving up on my original plan. Things have changed, but that¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll save sex for our special night. I promise it¡¯ll be worth the wait. This, plus oral down the line, is enough for now. It¡¯s because I love you that I want to make it an unforgettable night.¡±


    ¡°Ha, where have I heard that before?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s different this time. Besides, we only had half an hour anyway. If you think you¡¯re getting any sleep that night, you¡¯re going to be sorely mistaken.¡±


    ¡°Mm, don¡¯t make promises you can¡¯t keep.¡±


    ¡°I promise I¡¯ll leave you aching and exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Not if I don¡¯t exhaust you first.¡± Enyo winked.


    Ares held Enyo¡¯s hand. ¡°Enyo, I mean it this time. No sex until the day.¡±


    ¡°Fine. You better sleep with one eye open then or I might just jump you in the middle of the night.¡±


    ¡°That might be difficult with Appa in the way.¡±


    Enyo smacked her forehead. ¡°Fuck, I forgot about that. How are we gonna work that out?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be ok. I¡¯m sure Appa won¡¯t mind sleeping in a different room whenever we want some alone time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all well and good and all, but what if I want it every day?¡±


    Ares raised an eyebrow. ¡°Lucky me! I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll figure something out. Let¡¯s not sweat the details for now though and just enjoy life. Food should be ready, Appa¡¯s expecting hugs, and Aejaz and Allie are getting along. What more could I possibly ask for right now?¡±


    ¡°Sex?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m amazed you¡¯re somehow hornier than I am. I¡¯m actually genuinely impressed.¡±


    ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m living my life and loving my life. I can¡¯t thank you enough for pestering me until I realised that was worth doing.¡±


    ¡°Enyo, if you¡¯re enjoying life, I¡¯m enjoying life. There¡¯s really nothing else to it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I love you.¡± With one final kiss, they got up and went back into the living room.


    ¡°Aressssss, we¡¯re hungryyyyyyy,¡± Aejaz complained.


    Ares flicked Aejaz on the head as he walked past on the way to the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯m not cooking in the Primordial Blade, so of course it¡¯s going to take longer, you muppet.¡±


    Allie¡¯s ears perked up. ¡°Primordial Blade? What¡¯s that? Sounds fancy.¡±


    Ares felt like hitting himself. He didn¡¯t even realise what he¡¯d done until it was too late. ¡°Allie, it¡¯s nothing. Don¡¯t worry about it. If you really must know, it¡¯s where I store things, but don¡¯t tell anyone else that, ok?¡±


    ¡°Um, if it¡¯s a secret, that¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t say a word.¡± Allie pretended to zip her lips.


    ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Appa and Leo?¡±


    ¡°We were all playing outside. I came in but they should still be running around.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ok. Enyo, could you go call them in for dinner?¡±


    ¡°Alright, but one more thing.¡± Enyo walked up to Ares and kissed him right in front of Aejaz and Allie. ¡°I love you.¡± Her face was a little flushed, but she pulled it off confidently.


    Ares smiled affectionately. ¡°I love you too.¡±


    Enyo exited the room and Ares laughed his way into the kitchen as Allie and Aejaz were left gawking at their brazen display. They looked at one another and got embarrassed as they hadn¡¯t gotten around to kissing yet. They were still holding hands, hugging, and cuddling but, now, their older siblings had essentially just asked them a loaded question, ¡®When are you going to take the next step?¡¯ This would inevitably be one of the two hardest steps to take and they weren¡¯t even sure which one of them was going to be the one to take it first.


    Aejaz shuffled next to Allie and held her hand. They were both panicking inside. Aejaz decided to man up and be the one to initiate as Allie was shy and he didn¡¯t want to put that pressure on her. He moved his lips closer¡­


    ¡°Hey uncle ¡®Jaz!¡± Appa floated through the window behind them as it was faster for it than going the long way through the door. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to call you uncle ¡®Jaz. Of course that means Allie will be aunt Allie! Um, why is aunt Allie hiding in her knees like that?¡±


    Aejaz was boggled and devastated, ¡°Y¡­ You¡­¡± Aejaz physically couldn¡¯t be upset with Appa, but he was still wrought with indignation. He picked up Appa and took it into the kitchen to complain to Ares instead, ¡°Ares! Your daughter just interrupted a special moment!¡± Aejaz plopped Appa down on the tiles.


    Appa tilted its head and looked at Ares. ¡°Um, I don¡¯t think I did anything wrong.¡±


    Ares patted his daughter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry sweetie, you didn¡¯t. Aejaz is just feeling like an incompetent man because he isn¡¯t able to go as far with women as your dad is. That¡¯s not your fault. If anything, you should feel sorry for your uncle and aunt, they¡¯re really quite pitiful sometimes.¡±


    Aejaz couldn¡¯t believe his ears. ¡°You bastard! So? What if we haven¡¯t kissed yet!? We¡¯re only one step behind, and that¡¯s because Allie and I are different from you and Enyo!¡±


    Ares cackled evilly at his silly brother. ¡°One step behind? Aejaz, you have no clue where Enyo and I are at. We¡¯re doing a lot more than just kissing.¡±


    ¡°S¡­ Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, we aren¡¯t quite doing that yet, but we aren¡¯t exactly playing nice with each other.¡±


    Appa interjected, ¡°Dad! Don¡¯t be mean to mum! Play nice with her!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, ok Appa. We¡¯ll play nice.¡±


    ¡°Good! If mummy tells me you¡¯ve been bad, I¡¯ll freeze you!¡±


    ¡°And if mummy¡¯s been bad?¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s probably still your fault and I¡¯ll freeze you anyway!¡±


    ¡°Huh!? Where did this blatant favouritism come from!? Aren¡¯t I your bestest friend?¡±


    ¡°Mummy¡¯s prettier.¡±


    Ares felt the proverbial knife pierce into his heart. ¡°You cheeky little rascal!¡± Ares tickled Appa and chased it out of the kitchen as it ran into Enyo¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Mum! Dad¡¯s tickling me!¡±


    Enyo rubbed Appa¡¯s head. ¡°Ares! Don¡¯t bully our child!¡±


    Ares was visibly shocked and devastated. ¡°Unbelievable! It¡¯s not even been a day and I¡¯m not the favourite parent anymore!¡±


    Enyo stuck her tongue out. ¡°You were temporarily its only parent; poor Appa didn¡¯t really have much choice!¡± Enyo¡¯s remark made Appa giggle and it nuzzled Enyo. ¡°Who¡¯s the cutest shade? Who¡¯s my wonderful daughter?¡±


    Appa swayed joyfully. ¡°ME!¡±


    Ares chuckled and shook his head while going back into the kitchen to start bringing the food out. He nudged Aejaz on the shoulder. ¡°You know I¡¯m just messing with you, right? As cultivators, we live long lives. Take your time. God knows Allie¡¯s gonna be slow to accustom herself to the whole relationship thing.¡±


    Aejaz sighed. ¡°I know. It¡¯s just¡­ Our progress isn¡¯t slow, it¡¯s glacial. I can hold back my urges, but that doesn¡¯t make them disappear.¡±


    ¡°Allie¡¯s the slow and steady type. There¡¯s really no way around it. That being said, have you two talked about this? About anything relationship related at all?¡±


    ¡°Not really, no.¡±


    ¡°That you should do. It¡¯s important to be vocal and communicate your wants and needs with each other. Obviously don¡¯t argue about it, but make sure you two understand each other. I know you two are shy, but it¡¯ll only get easier when you actually start doing it. I know it isn¡¯t preferable for you, but I¡¯m afraid the onus lies on you to kickstart these things because Allie is living in Lala land. If you don¡¯t talk to her, I guarantee you two won¡¯t be having any sex for at least a year. Of course, it¡¯s still going to be a while regardless, that¡¯s just a truth you''re going to have to accept if you want to be with her.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s just hard to find a time to talk about that without ruining the time we¡¯re spending together. Like, if we¡¯re going to sleep next to each other, I don¡¯t want it to be awkward, you know?¡±


    ¡°No, not really. Enyo and I haven¡¯t ever really been awkward in that way, so I can¡¯t pretend to understand. Honestly, my advice is just to do it. Rip the band-aid off. When you two are lying in bed, look her in the eye and tell her you want to talk about the future of your relationship. Specify you aren¡¯t talking about right now, but that you want to discuss sexual relations. If you two can have a talk about that, then kissing won¡¯t seem so daunting in comparison. That¡¯s about the only way I can think to speed things up a bit. Anyway, that¡¯s for you to sort out. Come, help me take the food in ¡®cos there¡¯s a lot today.¡±


    ¡°What even is all this stuff anyway? It looks like you¡¯ve made a feast.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain at the table. Chop Chop, move your ass.¡±


    ¡°What about these crystal ball things? Are they desserts?¡±


    ¡°Touch even a single one of those and I¡¯ll kick you out of the house.¡±


    Aejaz retracted his hand. ¡°Yeesh, alright, alright.¡±


    Aejaz and Ares took the food into the living room bit by bit and set up the table while Leo, Appa, Enyo, and Allie took their seats and stared hungrily at all the delicious food. Ares brought out the crystals last and set them in front of Appa. ¡°Today¡¯s a special day so I¡¯ve made a special dish. Apparently, people overseas celebrate Christmas with roasted food and a very specific meal so, although it¡¯s not Christmas, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve made today. A celebratory feast. There¡¯s roast chicken wrapped with bacon, stuffed with stuffing, and served with gravy. There¡¯s roast beef with red wine. There¡¯s also some roast lamb and mint sauce. Your last option is sage crusted roast pork with cranberry sauce. As for the side stuff, or the trimmings as people call it, there¡¯s roast potatoes, honeyed parsnips, carrots, Brussel sprouts, Yorkshire puddings, and pigs in blankets. Desserts are your favourites. Leo, your dessert is milk pudding with caramel¡­¡±


    Purrrr


    ¡°... And Appa, these crystals are yours.¡± Ares held up a crystal and brought it near to Appa.


    ¡°What are they?¡± Appa asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re just a prototype for now, but they¡¯re a unique art. Each crystal ball is a ¡®Snappa¡¯. They¡¯re flavour pellets for shades. You put them next to you and snap them. When they pop, you should be able to taste whatever the flavour inside them is. They work for humans, but I made it for you because I want you to be able to enjoy the pleasures of food too. I made you an assortment so you could try everything everyone else is having, but I also made you a special one for dessert. I remember you wanting to eat the apple you won at the bobbing game back during Cultural Appreciation Day, so I made your dessert toffee apple flavoured.¡±


    ¡°You named them after me?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. I don¡¯t plan on keeping this unique art a secret. There are other shades that will benefit from something like this, but I want everyone to know who the best shade of them all is.¡±


    Sniffle


    ¡°Dad!¡± Appa floated over to Ares and gave him a big hug.


    ¡°I love you Appa, enjoy.¡±


    Appa merrily wriggled back into its seat and picked up a beef flavoured crystal with its rope.


    Snap


    A brownish, reddish mist seeped into Appa and a meaty fragrance filled the air. Appa was momentarily confused by this new ¡®taste¡¯ sensation, but slowly started to fall in love with it. ¡°Mmmmmmmmm!¡± Appa had a habit of making gleeful noises when it didn¡¯t know how to express itself with words, so it was clearly overjoyed with the result of the Snappa. Appa greedily started to consume the crystal balls one by one, revelling in delight at every new type of food, except the carrots.


    Appa didn¡¯t like carrots.


    Ares and Enyo were leaning on each other and cheerfully watching their daughter relish this new experience. Appa had rinsed through the mains and moved onto the desserts. It tried one and squealed in jubilation.


    Appa liked sugar.


    It began vacuuming the desserts and eventually landed on Ares¡¯ toffee apple Snappa. Appa had left it for last because it wanted to savour it. Appa snapped the Snappa and it was flooded with a sweetness overdose that it absolutely adored. It was reminded of when it caught the apple at the fair and gave it to its dad, leaving Appa feeling warm and fuzzy. The toffee apple was its favourite and it was rocking its head happily while its rope was wagging energetically. The Snappas still had a long way to go as they weren¡¯t perfect yet, but Appa was very satisfied regardless. ¡°You get to eat dad¡¯s food twice a day! No fair! I want dad¡¯s food twice a day too!¡± Appa pouted to Enyo.


    Enyo chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure dad will be more than ok with making you Snappas whenever you like, right Ares?¡±


    Ares couldn¡¯t say no.


    He wouldn¡¯t have anyway, but Enyo was currently stroking him through his pants under the table and men were simple creatures. ¡°Of course!¡± Enyo patted his penis as if to say ¡®good boy!¡¯ What a frighteningly persuasive woman.


    Everyone dug into the food, which was simply delectable, and chatted with each other while in good spirits. This marked the first day they¡¯d eaten together as a family and it was a marvellous dinner. Enyo and Allie chose to stay over for the night, or rather basically forever from now on, and everyone went to their respective bedrooms with Ares making a mini hammock in the living room for Leo to sleep in. Ares, Appa, and Enyo all slept peacefully in one bed. Appa was in the middle and cuddled from both sides by two loving parents who, when Appa fell asleep, snuck in a few kisses before also falling asleep.

 Chapter 47: Unlikely Allies; Blood and Guts

    Ares yawned and stretched as he woke up. When he finally pried his eyes open, the rest of the bed was empty, so he got up to go and take a look around. He found Enyo sitting peacefully on the doorstep leading outside with Appa on her lap, watching Allie play with Leo. Surprisingly, Enyo¡¯s helmet was nowhere to be found, though that¡¯s not to say she wouldn¡¯t whip it out of her spatial ring at record breaking speed if she felt she needed it. He walked up behind them and started massaging Enyo¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Ares.¡±


    ¡°Good morning dad!¡±


    ¡°Allie seems like she¡¯s in a fantastic mood.¡±


    Enyo grinned. ¡°Well apparently, she and Aejaz kissed yesterday night.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. Allie actually asked me for some advice.¡±


    ¡°Ha, so did Aejaz.¡±


    ¡°And to think there was a time when they were trying to give us advice. Silly kids.¡±


    ¡°I actually still need to get Aejaz to bow down, prostrate before me, and apologise like he said he would. Ha, and he thought I had no idea what I was doing!¡±


    ¡°Did you though? I still feel like I was conned into falling in love with you.¡±


    ¡°Honestly? No, but don¡¯t tell him that.¡±


    Enyo snickered. ¡°Well, you got me. Clearly you must have done something right.¡±


    ¡°You had me from the second I met you, so I guess you did everything right.¡±


    Aejaz nudged Ares aside. ¡°Ugh, get a room you two.¡±


    ¡°Good morning Aejaz. A little birdy told me you smooched.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Aejaz was embarrassed but smiling uncontrollably. ¡°It was good!¡±


    ¡°Good for you.¡± Ares smiled evilly. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you feel all motivated for the fights today?¡±


    Gulp


    ¡°Relax, I¡¯m joking. I actually don¡¯t think you should even take part.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, me too. We haven¡¯t started training yet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you either way. I¡¯m sure I could turn you into something passable by the time the international rolls around if need be.¡±


    Enyo leant back onto Ares¡¯ legs. Well, aren¡¯t you sure of yourself? Already talking about the international.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it already a foregone conclusion we¡¯ll win the whole thing? Between me and you I¡¯m pretty sure we could sweep the entire competition on our own anyway.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I love it when you¡¯re confident.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m always confident.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Aejaz rolled his eyes as the happy couple teased each other. The PDAs were seriously getting out of hand with these two, even if they were a new couple!


    ¡°You and I really are quite powerful compared to other cultivators though,¡± Enyo said. ¡°I think Heaven¡¯s Path will do good this year thanks to us, if not outright win.¡±


    ¡°How does it usually fare?¡±


    ¡°Middle of the pack, I guess? It¡¯s usually fifty-fifty whether they make it to nationals, then there¡¯s about a quarter chance of winning from there, and we¡¯ve never been top 10 internationally. It¡¯s not a horrible record considering how many teams compete globally, but it¡¯s nothing to be proud about either. Then again, you and I have never competed, so we¡¯ll have an edge this year that we were lacking in other years. I can¡¯t speak on the inner court or core disciples though; I have no idea how strong they are comparatively. I always faked being out on a mission to avoid Trew so I never had a chance to watch their matches.¡±


    Ares laughed heartily. ¡°Right, Trew. I almost forgot about him. You think he¡¯s driven Bellona and the others insane yet?¡±


    ¡°Do us all a favour and blow him up would you?¡±


    While they were talking, Teng arrived and shouted out to everyone who was still asleep to wake up and get ready. Teng wasn¡¯t surprised to see Ares and Enyo getting along as Zhang the gossip had long since started spreading rumours.


    He wasn¡¯t called Zhang the quick for his alchemy skills, no sir! ¡­ He was actually called that by his ex-wives, but he doesn¡¯t talk about that.


    Zhang was actually still on good terms with his ex-wives, they¡¯d split amiably. The reason they¡¯d gone their separate ways was because of Allie as they weren¡¯t ready to be parents, but Zhang couldn¡¯t bear the thought of not taking Allie in after her parents were murdered.


    Onno, Li Li, Dirk, and the Lighter Duo emerged from their houses and waved at Ares and Aejaz to welcome them back to the sect. Unsurprisingly the Lighter Duo were sharing a house. Ares, out of curiosity, used Omniscience on the Lighter Duo and found out that their DNA was strikingly similar to one another. It wasn¡¯t identical, and he could use that to identify them in the future, but it was eerie how close their genetic makeups were to one another. It was really quite unnatural.


    When they gathered, Ares handed out some Shock Beads to everyone as they¡¯d run out a while ago. The Lighter Duo were impressed Ares could tell them apart as no one else had been able to do so since they arrived here. Then again, the truly impressive thing here was that it took an almost literal God-given gift to differentiate them in the first place.


    Teng spoke up to explain what was going to happen today, ¡°First, we¡¯ll start with a tier ranking assessment. It will be the exact same as last time, but now you can all take part. It¡¯s important to know that only fifth tier disciples can fight for one of the five tournament positions so, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re after, make sure to reach the fifth tier. You¡¯re all strong enough to justify your presence there. I¡¯m not going to tell you how the five will be chosen, as that will be revealed later but, after they¡¯ve been chosen, they¡¯ll be registered by an official. The sect¡¯s new weapon department Elder has arrived and will be watching you all to look for promising disciples to train, so don¡¯t disappoint us or them.¡±


    Ares was particularly interested in the weapons pillar expert as he wanted to learn about spears for Enyo and daggers for Aejaz. Of course he himself would benefit too.


    Appa wasn¡¯t allowed to be chosen for the tournament as its cultivation was technically too high and Aejaz wasn¡¯t going to take part willingly, but they still came along for the tier ranking test as they wanted to become fifth tiers anyway. They arrived and lined up in their respective tiers with Ares and Enyo going over to the fifth tier. Elaine winked at them knowingly.


    Ares¡¯ eye twitched momentarily. That damn crooked old bastard seriously told absolutely everyone, didn¡¯t he? He really didn¡¯t mind people knowing, but there were definitely a large number of interested looks headed their way.


    Enyo wasn¡¯t comfortable with her helmet perpetually off just yet, so she had it on and she was grateful she¡¯d kept it that way because she was getting more than just a few curious glances. No one here, other than a few Elders, had ever seen her face, and now she was supposedly close with Ares. Everyone wanted to know what was under the helmet. Enyo also didn¡¯t mind people being aware of her and Ares, if anything, she wanted them to know, but she really didn¡¯t appreciate everyone staring at her. She could tell what people were thinking. Ares was some wild hooligan and she was some uptight fun-killer. They were trying to figure out and piece together how Ares and Enyo got along, but they didn¡¯t need to know. They weren¡¯t important.


    Teng clapped to get everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Before we start, I¡¯d like to welcome our new weapons pillar expert. She¡¯s from the upper domain, and we¡¯re lucky to have her here. She¡¯ll be overseeing the events today as well as individual training for those she thinks are worth investing time into, so don¡¯t pull your punches. Please welcome, Sadie.¡±


    A woman, fully kitted in white armour, stepped onto the stage.


    Ares'' jaw was wide open and he could tell Enyo was equally as dazed as he was. If that wasn¡¯t the tell-tale signature armour of the Legion clan, then what was? It even had the cleansing engravings all over it just on the off-chance Ares had any doubts lingering in his mind.


    Enyo could tell Ares was getting a tad anxious, as he was a revenant and Sadie was a strong Legion clan member from the upper domain, so she shook the shock away and whispered to him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Sadie and my mother are the two people in our clan who are openly against the war. I¡¯ve heard that she even sneaks off to the Umbra Wolf clan alongside my mother to go and meet a special someone there. My mum said Sadie gets along with the Umbra Wolf clan¡¯s instructor ¡®really well¡¯, so you''re safe. I¡¯m guessing she¡¯s here because her job was to train the younger generation but, now that we¡¯ve all left, she has no reason to be in the clan¡¯s headquarters anymore. As for how she ended up here specifically, it¡¯s likely just something to do with my mother sending her to check up on me.¡±


    Ares leaned over to her dramatically, took an unnecessarily deep breath, and whispered plainly back, ¡°Oh.¡± He nonchalantly stood back up without a care in the world as Enyo chuckled quietly and called him an idiot.


    Sadie had just finished giving a speech about how she was happy to be here and blah blah blah when she looked over at Enyo who was talking with Ares. She hadn¡¯t heard the rumours yet but could tell something was definitely afoot. The Enyo she knew from all those years ago would never have sneakily had a talk with someone while Sadie was speaking, let alone a man that wasn¡¯t family. In truth, she had been sent here by Enyo¡¯s mother as Rhea had been made aware that Enyo was the only child of hers that wasn¡¯t with any other clan members. Rhea wasn¡¯t worried for her safety but wanted to be sure her daughter was doing ok for herself.


    Sadie was going to keep an eye on this mysterious man.


    She stepped down, letting Rud take over the formalities, and Teng gave her a quick explanation as to what the tiers meant. After the explanation, she raised a question, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why is someone with such a low cultivation in the fifth tier?¡± she was referring to Ares. ¡°He¡¯s not currently at mental accumulation, shouldn¡¯t he be placed lower?¡±


    Teng scratched his head. ¡°Uh, Ares is a special one. He¡¯s probably the strongest outer court disciple right now, so he¡¯s where he belongs.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Is that so? Is he really stronger than even Enyo?¡±


    ¡°If I were to hazard a guess, I¡¯d say he likely is, yes.¡±


    ¡°Hm, interesting... They seem to get along really well.¡±


    ¡°Oh, uh, there¡¯s some rumours going around about them.¡±


    ¡°... Do tell.¡±


    ¡°Well, you see, they went on a mission together recently. When they left, they were bickering constantly. One of our Elders met them during their mission and, well, he caught them being¡­ Hands on with each other. They were sharing a bed by the time they came back, and she even slept at his house last night¡­ Sooo¡­ You know.¡±


    ¡°... Enyo¡­ Did that?¡±


    ¡°You''re from the same clan, right? Was she ever like this? We¡¯ve only ever known her as a stoic woman with an immovable mind and unrelenting pride. She was definitely never the type, as far as we¡¯re aware, to fool around with a man.¡±


    ¡°No... I think I need to have a word with her and this¡­ Ares fellow.¡± It was impossible to tell from her voice how she felt about the situation as her helmet hid her facial expressions.


    ¡°Um, right. There should be some spare time after this ranking assessment for you to do that. This is a personal request¡­ But could you not kill Ares? He¡¯s kinda pivotal to our sect¡­¡±


    ¡°Really!? Why?!¡±


    BOOOOOOMMMMMMM


    The assessment had already begun and Teng smiled bleakly. ¡°That would be why.¡± He pointed out the Shock Beads that pretty much every disciple was carrying and explained the situation.


    ¡°A unique pillar of all things. What a fascinating young man. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t kill him. Enyo¡¯s mother on the other hand¡­ Well, we¡¯ll worry about that when the time comes, I suppose.¡± Sadie went to take a seat and watch the tier assessment. Time passed and it was coming to a close, she¡¯d noted a few names down after asking Rud about them. She came to learn that the people she had chosen were all part of the most recent entrance exam and that they¡¯d come as a group of eight. ¡°Then who was the eighth?¡±


    Rud sighed. ¡°That little shit with the cape over there.¡± Rud disgruntledly pointed at Ares. ¡°That one¡¯s a right menace.¡±


    ¡°I hear he¡¯s strong, should I put his name down?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get to see for yourself when we choose the tournament participants, but yes. For the record, he¡¯s beaten a sensory enhancement cultivator without taking a single hit, killed another across the span of two interactions, and killed a Mecha-dryad at mental accumulation, 8th stage.¡±


    ¡°... That¡¯s completely absurd. I¡¯m going to make a prediction and say you¡¯re guaranteed to win the tournament with him around.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the hope, yes, but God is he insufferable. I think I¡¯d rather spend thirty nights in a row tormented by buzzbladers than put up with him for an hour.¡±


    The assessment finished and every one of Ares¡¯ neighbours made it comfortably into the fifth tier alongside Appa and Aejaz. They had all been training and their cultivation was higher than before. Dirk was at mental accumulation, 2nd stage, and Li Li was at mental accumulation, 4th stage. The Lighter Duo were each at 4th realm meridian expansion, 9th stage and Onno was at 4th realm skeletal structuring, 7th stage.


    Ares and Enyo were having a chat with the group one minute and were in a completely random part of the sect in another. It was obvious Sadie had moved them as they hadn¡¯t even seen her and her cultivation was the only one ludicrously high enough to drag them this far away in an instant.


    ¡°Hello Sadie, it¡¯s good to see you again,¡± Enyo greeted Sadie.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Ares greeted Sadie cordially.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Enyo. And you, Ares, I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡±


    ¡°Not from Rud I hope.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Who it''s from doesn¡¯t really matter, it¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard that interests me.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ really doesn¡¯t narrow it down a whole lot.¡±


    ¡°Your pillar and your accomplishments are one thing, but I think you know what I¡¯m talking about.¡±


    ¡°Just for the record, I consider somehow convincing Enyo to fall in love with me my greatest accomplishment to date.¡±


    Enyo snickered. ¡°You really should¡¯ve seen how he went about it. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s a genius or a madman.¡±


    Sadie was aghast. ¡°E¡­ E¡­ Enyo? Did you just¡­ Laugh?¡±


    ¡°I do it all the time now.¡± Enyo took off her helmet and stuck her tongue out at Sadie who almost fainted on the spot.


    Sadie gathered her wits and gripped Ares'' shoulders threateningly. ¡°What did you do to her!?¡±


    Ares smirked and looked ¡®shyly¡¯ to the side. ¡°That¡¯s quite an intimate question. There¡¯s also a lot of different answers depending on which day you''re asking about. Yesterday? The night before that? The night before that? The night before that?¡±


    Sadie¡¯s hands shook. ¡°OK, I GET IT!¡±


    Enyo sighed. ¡°Ignore him, we haven¡¯t had sex yet.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you''re even talking about and considering those things. Wait, then what was he talking about?¡±


    Enyo¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°We¡¯ve been using our hands¡­¡±


    A perplexed Sadie looked at Enyo in disbelief. ¡°What on Earth happened to you?¡±


    Enyo smiled radiantly. ¡°I fell in love.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I noticed, but what about your father¡¯s wishes? The person you were would never have prioritised love over those responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°I had no choice. Like I said, I fell in love.¡±


    ¡°What does that have to do with it?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a revenant.¡±


    Thud


    Ares stared at Sadie¡¯s unconscious body in bewilderment. ¡°She actually fainted!? I didn¡¯t think that could even happen to cultivators after bloodline awakening!?¡±


    Enyo muttered, ¡°And she¡¯s in love with a revenant too. You¡¯d think that wouldn¡¯t have been such a grand revelation.¡±


    ¡°Should we wake her up?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Enyo bent down and poked Sadie a few times who woke up with a gasp and looked straight at Ares.


    Ares shrugged and winked. ¡°Life¡¯s funny sometimes.¡±


    Sadie stood up shakily. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Of all of Rhea¡¯s children to enter into a relationship first, and with a revenant no less, it ended up being you, Enyo. I¡¯m staggered by how much you¡¯ve changed; I¡¯ve never seen such a drastic 180 in character. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m happy for you, really, but this is mind-blowing. I still remember when you were a little girl with a perpetual frown on her face as she swung around a shield that was way too big for her.¡±


    Ares chuckled. ¡°Sounds cute. Agh¡±


    Enyo pinched Ares. ¡°Mhm, and I even have a beautiful daughter now!¡±


    Thud


    ¡°That one I kinda understand. Still though, you¡¯ve already told her that we haven¡¯t had sex yet. Maybe she just faints a lot?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember that about her. Then again, I don''t know much about her other than her instructor persona.¡± Enyo poked Sadie awake again.


    Ares waved. ¡°Morning¡¯ sleepy head.¡±


    ¡°Well at least you aren¡¯t up your own ass and can crack a joke or two. If you were like Trew I¡¯d be disappointed. Also, what the hell do you mean you have a daughter?¡±


    Enyo replied, ¡°Do you remember seeing a shade earlier? That¡¯s Appa, our adopted daughter. She¡¯s truly the sweetest thing I¡¯ve ever met, and I love her very dearly.¡±


    Sadie¡¯s head was reeling. ¡°This is insanity. I know you¡¯ve been gone a few years, but this is absolute lunacy. Who else from the clan knows about any of this?¡±


    ¡°Bellona, Charity, and Gladius are somewhat aware, just not up to date. Trew doesn¡¯t know Ares is a revenant or about us, but has met him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good, Trew¡¯s as intolerant as he is intolerable. Enyo, you know your mother is going to freak out when I tell her this, right? She¡¯ll probably rush down here immediately and investigate things herself, consequences be damned.¡±


    ¡°Could you not tell her? I want to show her these things myself when she comes to the tournament.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, your mother is not going to be pleased when she finds out I kept this from her, but fine. That aside, Ares! I¡¯m going to drill you into a man worthy of Enyo!¡±


    Ares raised an eyebrow. ¡°No offence, but I don¡¯t think Enyo is into turtles.¡±


    Sadie laughed boisterously. ¡°So, you figured it out?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s either that, or you''re a God-awful instructor.¡±


    ¡°I taught everyone defence-oriented combat and formations because, unlike you stubborn revenants, we can¡¯t die and come back.¡±


    ¡°Well, that aside, I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m already worthy of Enyo as that decision is hers to make and hers alone.¡±


    ¡°And if I say you aren¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°How would you know?¡±


    ¡°Just a guess.¡±


    ¡°Guess again.¡±


    ¡°Ha, well, we¡¯ll see. I¡¯m gonna keep an eye on you so don¡¯t talk big and then be useless.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not very good at being useless. On a side note, do you know how to use daggers and spears? There are some people I¡¯d like to teach.¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t a single weapon I¡¯m unfamiliar with, but you should probably leave the teaching to me.¡±


    ¡°Not if what I¡¯ve seen of the Legion clan is anything to go by. I don¡¯t trust you as far as one of your hand-to-hand throws could throw you.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, Rud was right, you really do have quite the mouth on you. Honestly, why did Enyo fall in love with you?¡±


    ¡°Being trapped in a room with a guy like me for a week straight can really make a person go loco, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, all you Umbra Wolf men are all the same.¡±


    ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, you don¡¯t necessarily hate that.¡±


    ¡°Enyo! You little gossip!¡±


    Enyo just turned her head to the side and pretended she had nothing to do with this.


    ¡°But in all seriousness, revenant men are really cocky and snarky. You¡¯re all really similar to one another, maybe it¡¯s that inner wolf of yours.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ Are we actually wolves!? I thought that was just the name of the clan? Am I¡­ A doggo?¡±


    ¡°How do you not know that?¡±


    Ares gave a brief explanation about his situation.


    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s really unfortunate, but yes, you are all literally wolves. When you reach bloodline awakening, a percentage of your body will change into that of a wolf. The higher the percentage, the weaker the wolf you are typically.¡±


    ¡°That sounds backward?¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s because you get a werewolf-esque transformation. Revenants¡¯ human forms are basically containers for their inner wolves with the quality of the container being tied to the quality of the wolf. The higher the quality, the more it can contain without leaking any of it out. It¡¯s the most effective indicator for judging a revenant¡¯s strength. Revenants are ranked based on the percentage of pre-transformation wolf parts on their body as well as their height after transformation, which are usually both related to one another anyway. If you have less than 5% wolf features, and a height of 7ft after transforming, you¡¯re considered an alpha wolf. From there it goes: beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta, which typically translates to: Patriarch, Grand Elder, Elder, core disciple, inner court disciple, and outer court disciple. Of course it¡¯s possible for people with high combat capacity to surpass their rank, but it¡¯s usually quite accurate.¡±


    ¡°Uh, which part of me is gonna turn into a wolf?¡±


    ¡°Dunno.¡±


    Ares tilted his head downward and looked straight at his little friend downstairs. ¡°It¡¯s not the¡­¡±


    ¡°NO! ... At least not as far as I¡¯m aware¡­ Anyway, it¡¯s about time you two head back.¡± Sadie picked the two up and dropped them off at the site of the participant choosing event.


    Enyo elbowed Ares and glared at him. ¡°It better not be that¡­ Not that it wouldn¡¯t be unworkable, I suppose.¡±


    They walked over and met up with the group again and looked around. There were a lot more spectators here now as the inner court disciples and the core disciples had come to watch. This was technically also relevant to the inner court disciples as the limit was mental accumulation, 8th stage, and you only needed to be at the 5th stage to be an inner court disciple. There were going to be inner court disciples competing which skewed the chances of success in their favour as they had a cultivation advantage and there were far more of them. In most years, the lower bracket participants would be made up exclusively of inner court disciples. They briefly looked over at the fifth-tier disciples from the outer court and paid them no more attention as they were convinced they weren¡¯t going to be an issue for them. They went back to chatting amongst themselves until one of them spotted Ares and Aejaz. ¡°BANDITS!¡± Her yelling directed everyone¡¯s attention straight to the brothers.


    ¡°Why do I feel like we¡¯ve been in this exact situation before?¡± Aejaz gulped nervously. He wasn¡¯t even going to take part and he was still being a coward as usual.


    ¡°Because we have.¡± Ares grinned evilly as he proudly held his middle finger aloft as if his goal was to pierce the very heavens. Part of it was just to be antagonistic for the fun of it, but there was actually another reason for him to do it. He wanted attention. Not because he wanted a spotlight or anything, but because he wanted everyone to go after him when everything kicked off. He was confident he could handle them and he wanted the other fifth tier disciples from the outer court to have an easier time.


    One of the inner court disciples was about to lunge at Ares, but Teng passed by and cleared his throat while walking up onto a raised platform. ¡°No fighting before we start the examination!¡± He turned around to face the group that would be competing. ¡°Only five of you will be chosen to participate in the tournament! No matter who winds up on the team, we expect great things from you. Do not quarrel with one another, and if you have any grievances, grow up and sort them out yourselves. As for how those five will be chosen, we¡¯ll be using a method similar to how you¡¯ll be competing in the tournament. Put simply, you¡¯ll be playing tag.¡±


    Ares nearly cackled like a hyena when he heard the type of competition it was. This was too perfect. No one could run like him and he also had his Shift. Even if the other people could teleport, he could stop that with the click of a finger. As if he wasn¡¯t already a shoe-in to win! This was just comical at this point. They might as well not even bother with the tournament and just give him the prize now so everyone could go home and get on with their lives.


    Zhang explained further, ¡°The rules of the competition will be explained in full by an official when the regionals kick-off, what we¡¯ll be doing here is an off-shoot of those rules. Julio!¡±


    After his name was called, Julio clicked his fingers and switched on a runic formation he¡¯d been working on for the last week, one that encompassed the entire area the participants were standing in. ¡°This formation does three things because I¡¯m three times as awesome as everyone else!¡±


    ¡°JULIO!¡± Rud shouted.


    Ahem


    Julio continued fearfully, afraid for his precious wages. ¡°First, when you¡¯re ¡®it¡¯, you¡¯ll have a giant marking on you.¡± He tapped the runic wall and a giant rune shaped like a star overlapped on the front of his clothes. ¡°This is how you know if someone is ¡®it¡¯. If someone touches a person who¡¯s ¡®it¡¯, the star will swap over to them.¡± Dabble walked over and tapped Julio on the leg, the star jumped to him. Julio then tugged on Dabble¡¯s beard and the star returned to Julio. ¡°The second thing it does is it keeps track of how long you¡¯ve been ¡®it¡¯. A timer is constantly running whenever you have the star on you.¡± Julio summoned a runic, digital alarm clock that was ticking away. Dabble also had one that was currently sitting at 3 seconds and not moving. ¡°Lastly, if you lose any limbs or die, you¡¯ll regenerate outside the stage. Dabble, if you would be so kind!¡±


    Julio gestured to the stage, but Dabble wasn¡¯t having any of it after the beard tug. Dabble snuck up behind Julio, which wasn¡¯t hard considering his short stature, and kicked Julio into the formation. Dabble used the Embodiment art, like the axe-wielder Ares had fought in Baja Forest, and crushed Julio like an ant with a humongous ethereal hammer. Julio became a blood-splat on the floor but magically reappeared outside the formation looking incredibly peeved. The two started bickering but everyone ignored them and turned around to listen to Teng.


    Teng carried on with his explanation, ¡°For this examination, five of you will be ¡®it¡¯ at any given time. You can work together or against each other, but whichever five of you have been ¡®it¡¯ for the longest period of time after five minutes will be chosen to participate in the tournament. If you die, you won¡¯t be able to re-enter, but you may still win if your timer has a higher count than others. Any questions?¡±


    Esme waved from amidst the crowd and Zhang nodded to let her know she was free to speak. ¡°How will this start? It would be unfair if five random people started with the stars already on them, no?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but that¡¯s not what¡¯s going to happen. You¡¯re all going to start on the opposite side of the training ground. The five stars will start on the floor over here, so the five quickest amongst you will inevitably arrive here first. Tag is a game where speed is important. Of course this approach favours the nimble, but that¡¯s the point. I¡¯ll say it again, get the star, and don¡¯t get touched. The five of you who do best will be chosen for the tournament. Go line up!¡±


    Everyone moved over to the other side of the training ground, which was roughly a twenty second walk. Some of the cockier disciples were sprinting, teleporting, or boosting themselves around with magic.


    Ares walked; he was too busy trying not to cry-laugh at how slow everyone else was compared to his top speeds. He could outrun everyone here with his hands tied behind his back, he wasn¡¯t even going to have to fight if he didn¡¯t want to. Enyo was also walking next to him and they were having a casual chat about what dinner was going to be. Ares knew that the second Enyo got a star, it would be more difficult to steal than a banana from a hungry gorilla using nothing but your pinky toe. She was near enough a walking tank and her magic would make it practically impossible for anyone else here to come even remotely close to her, especially if she got a chance to use her arts. ¡°Do you want me to pick up a star for you when the round starts?¡±


    ¡°Aw thanks, but no. I¡¯ll get my own.¡± Enyo appreciated the thought, but there was really no need to rely on Ares for something so trivial. They were the last two to get in line and they received a few disapproving glances for taking so long, which they paid absolutely zero attention to.


    Teng began the countdown, ¡°Five! Four! Three! Two! One! GO!¡±


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!¡± roughly a third of the participants wailed as their teleports failed thanks to Ares crushing them in between the folds of reality. They weren¡¯t dead, but they were spasming on the floor and leaking blood from every orifice. Even if they were still somehow able to get up and compete, they¡¯d need to heal first and that would take precious time. It wasn¡¯t exactly hard to figure out who was responsible as Ares had Shifted directly to the end. He¡¯d prevented everyone but himself from appearing instantaneously at the goal.


    No teleporting allowed! Only Shifting!


    Everyone else was dazed as they had no clue how one person managed to simultaneously ruin a third of the participants chances in less than a second flat, but they got over it quickly and began to run. Naturally, the outer court participants fell behind, but there were three outer court disciples who were bucking the trend. Esme was a cultivator who focused on the wind pillar so her speed was self-explanatory. As for the other two, who else would it be if not the Lighter Duo? In fact, they were currently travelling the quickest out of everyone not named Ares! Lightning Guy had used Coiling Draco while Water Guy used Aqua Anatomy to hide inside Lightning Guy¡¯s art alongside him, all the while spraying a jet-stream of water behind them to boost their speed. Li Li wasn¡¯t doing too bad for herself as her physical prowess was higher than most, but still she wasn¡¯t happy. Not because she wasn¡¯t further ahead, but because someone was hitching a ride. ¡°Can you get off me, you damn leech!?¡±


    Dirk¡¯s blood, hanging off Li Li¡¯s shoulder, rumbled as his voice came directly into her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, I¡¯m jus¡¯ tryna help!¡±


    ¡°How is this helping!?¡±


    ¡°Well, it aint right now obviously, but I¡¯mma help you get and keep a star.¡±


    ¡°... What¡¯s your angle? I¡¯m not helping you get one.¡±


    ¡°Sheesh, ye of little faith. Can¡¯t I just be doing this out of the goodness of my wretched heart?¡±


    ¡°Ha, good one. No. Come clean and I won¡¯t wipe you clean off.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, moody ain¡¯t ya? Fine. I don¡¯t want to compete in the tournament. There, are you happy now?¡±


    ¡°No. Why not just sit out and not take the examination?¡±


    ¡°¡®Cos, I need someone else to enter in my place and talk to a certain someone who¡¯ll likely be in the nationals.¡±


    ¡°Why not do it yourself?¡±


    ¡°Restraining order¡­¡±


    ¡°You expect me to go along with this after what you just said!? Are you crazy!?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, will you listen to me and let me finish!?¡±


    All five stars had already been picked up: one by Ares, one by Esme, two by the Lighter Duo, and one by a green-haired woman who could turn into a snake. Li Li chased the green-haired woman as Dirk convinced her to go along with his request. ¡°So? I just want to know why she did what she did.¡±


    Li Li kissed her teeth. ¡°Fine, but don¡¯t blame me if things don¡¯t work out for you the way you''re hoping. That woman sounds like a bitch.¡±


    ¡°HEY! Could you not call her that!?¡±


    ¡°I call ¡®em as I see ¡®em.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, bitch.¡±


    ¡°Do you wanna start a fight? ¡®Cos I will fight you right here and now.¡±


    ¡°What? Don¡¯t get mad at me, I just call ¡®em as I see ¡®em.¡±


    ¡°I will drown you in your own blood.¡±


    ¡°That sounds quite pleasant, actually. That aside, just make that slithery serpent bleed and I¡¯ll show you why brawlers love fighting alongside haemomancers.¡±


    Li Li had heard from other members of her clan that haemomancers really were their strongest ally, but she never understood why. It didn¡¯t exactly seem like the best combination on paper, but she was really curious to find out what all the fuss was about. ¡°Alright, but how am I supposed to make her bleed?¡±


    ¡°The hell kinda question is that!? Hit her for Christ¡¯s sake!¡±


    ¡°In case you haven¡¯t noticed, she¡¯s real fuckin¡¯ slippery. Got any suggestions?¡±


    ¡°How the bloody hell should I know!? Become her friend and line up your menstrual cycles or something!¡±


    ¡°So far, not impressed,¡± Li Li complained as there was no point to having support if she could hit the person, as then she wouldn¡¯t even need it in the first place!


    ¡°Tsk, fine. You¡¯re gonna run me dry, I hope you know that. Cut yourself.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Just do it. I¡¯m the one that¡¯s going to have a hard time with things ¡®cos of how early on you¡¯re making me do this.¡± Li Li made a small cut which all of Dirk¡¯s blood promptly flowed into. He rummaged around inside Li Li until he arrived at the heart.


    ¡°Sanguine Stimulant!¡±


    The Transfusion aspect was a support-focused aspect under the haemomancy pillar. A few haemomancers took the parasite route and preferred providing aid rather than fighting directly. Dirk wasn¡¯t one such haemomancer, but he had an incredible affiliation with the pillar and was more than capable of learning arts from all of its aspects. As for Sanguine Stimulant, it would send the heart into overdrive and provide the necessary blood for the body to function at levels it normally couldn¡¯t reach. It cost a lot of mana to run the art continually, but the person receiving the boost would usually end up at least twice as strong physically as they were under normal circumstances and could effectively be considered a superhuman. Li Li didn¡¯t really need the extra strength, but she did need the speed to chase the snake down. Dirk had been planning on saving this to run away with after she got the star but was forced to play one of the cards up his sleeve early.


    Li Li felt her blood surging and a welling power in her veins. It felt good. Maybe having a leech around wasn¡¯t so bad if she could fight like this all the time. With her doubled speed, she chased the snake down effortlessly. She swung and missed, but followed up by chewing on her gum and spitting out a magma-bullet the snake could just barely avoid. The bullet grazed the snake and, although it wasn¡¯t much, the snake was now bleeding.


    ¡°Tsk, couldn¡¯t you have made her bleed more!? You¡¯re really working me to the bone here!¡± Dirk was straining himself as the mana consumption was getting out of hand. Still, he had enough for now, and if worse came to worst, he could always steal some of Li Li¡¯s blood to regenerate his mana pool as that was a trick available exclusively to heamomancers. Dirk concentrated on the graze and used magic on the blood that was dripping out of it. It wasn¡¯t an art he used next, just an application of Coagulation aspect magic, but it was still highly beneficial to brawlers. To put it simply, it was a tether. It attached itself to Li Li and the snake could no longer run away if Li Li didn¡¯t want it to. If there was one thing scarier than being tethered to a brawler at close range, it was being tethered to a brawler under the effects of Sanguine Stimulant. This combination alone would have probably enabled Li Li to fight even a sensory enhancement, 7th, or even 8th, stage cultivator and still come out on top with only somewhat of a struggle.


    The snake was hissing and spitting venom at Li Li, trying to use its bizarre movement to dodge as many of Li Li¡¯s excruciatingly painful attacks as possible. ¡°Let me go you sssstupid man!¡±


    Li Li froze.


    She was pissed off, big time.


    ¡°I¡¯M NOT A MAN!¡± Li Li lunged carelessly at the snake and left a giant opening despite having a massive advantage.


    The snake was aghast that Li Li was, in fact, a woman. It put that strange fact to the back of its mind, however, and hissed excitedly. She assumed Li Li had made an error in judgement, as her mind was clouded by rage, and left herself open accidentally. She swayed under Li Li¡¯s fist and opened her maw as she thrust her head at Li Li¡¯s heart, ready to chew it into oblivion.


    Dirk¡¯s bloody hand shot out of Li Li¡¯s chest and grabbed the snake¡¯s head, shutting its mouth tight. His head popped out, followed by a second hand holding a knife with which he slashed the snake¡¯s neck. ¡°SSSSURPRISE BITCH!¡±


    Dirk had told Li Li when she froze to intentionally leave a gap for the snake to attack so he could hop out and catch it off-guard.


    The snake transformed back into a human and choked for air as it bled out. Li Li tapped Dirk to take the star off him as he sank back inside her. ¡°Not bad. I could get used to this. You¡¯re like a handy little pocket vampire.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, this pocket vampire is going to suck some of your blood now.¡±


    ¡°What? I didn¡¯t agree to that!¡±


    ¡°I need it, consider it tax. Apparently it feels good anyway, so quit whining.¡± Dirk did as he said he would and started absorbing some of Li Li¡¯s blood. Just as he mentioned, it was an oddly satisfying feeling for Li Li. It was like a hot funnel of rushing liquid. He didn¡¯t take much as haemomancers typically had lower mana pools and could fill it up quickly with minimal amounts of blood. That was part of why fighting against robos sucked, no blood meant they¡¯d run out of mana fast with no way to get it back. Robos were a known counter to heamomancers. ¡°Mm, your blood is good.¡±


    ¡°Ok creep, calm down.¡±


    ¡°What? It¡¯s a compliment. Your blood is smooth and velvety with a strong taste. 10/10.¡± With Dirk¡¯s assistance, no-one could catch Li Li and she was near enough guaranteed to get a spot so long as Ares didn¡¯t interfere, but Ares looked like he was having the time of his life and couldn¡¯t care less about impeding people he was familiar with.


    Li Li securing one star meant there were only four other stars left that were realistically up for grabs. One with Ares, one with Esme, and two with the Lighter Duo. Currently, Esme was running away from a pack of inner court disciples. The Lighter Duo, however, was holding their ground in quite the spectacular fashion. Onno was one of the people trying to steal a star from the Duo, but there was another, bigger, threat heading their way.


    Enyo had no intention of fighting Esme for her star as she was friendly with her, and Ares¡¯ star was a thought she briefly entertained for the fun of it but, in the end, she decided to fight this strange Duo for one of theirs.

 Chapter 48: The Star of the Show

    ¡°Hydroelectric!¡±


    If anyone was going to use a ¡®combination art¡¯, of course it was going to be the Lighter Duo. Combination arts could be performed by any number of people, even a single person could perform a ¡®combination¡¯ as these types of arts were created using more than one aspect, not more than one person. Murk ¡®N¡¯ Lurk was an example of a combination art performed by one person and Hydroelectric was an example of one performed by two. As for which two aspects Hydroelectric utilised, it was the Thunder and Surge aspects.


    A dark, looming raincloud materialised and rain trickled down from the heavens, gradually becoming torrential. The raindrops were clear with a yellowish, translucent colouring. It was a paralysing drizzle that would jolt people every time they were hit with a static-infused raindrop. It was a powerful art that took up about a quarter of the entire training ground, making it extremely hard to advance on the Duo. In particular, Onno was struggling greatly.


    Onno¡¯s clones would all fizzle out when the rain poured down on them and his invisibility did nothing. His outline would be revealed by the static jumping around his frame so he had to take a different approach. His variety cultivation gave him access to the earth pillar and he was currently creating a movable roof above him while gradually approaching the duo. Even this wasn¡¯t really getting him anywhere as the rain cloud was active passively, meaning the Lighter Duo could still fire off other attacks that were keeping people, like Onno, at bay. Whenever anyone got close, Lightning Guy would use Thunder aspect magic to destroy their defences and Water Guy would follow it up with a wave of water from the Surge aspect to wash them away and reset their position. They were simultaneously holding off around twenty people and were really putting on an impressive display considering how average they were on their own. Onno didn¡¯t particularly care much for the competition, so he didn¡¯t put too much effort in, he would rather take this fantastical opportunity to conduct some serious business during the international rather than compete anyway.


    Water Guy had just fired off another wave, after which he turned around and nudged Lightning Guy. ¡°Uh, I thought mountains were immovable?¡±


    Lightning Guy was lost as to what Water Guy was prattling on about. ¡°They are, why?¡±


    ¡°That one seems to be heading toward us.¡± Water Guy pointed at Enyo.


    ¡°Ah. Fuck.¡±


    Enyo was using defender aspect magic to create a thin, square barrier above her head while advancing through the magical onslaught with her temporary shield out. The Steadfast Aegis was still with Julio so a replacement would have to do for now. Still though, not a single thing had phased her approach so far as everything just pathetically bounced off her.


    The Lighter Duo were forced to pay Enyo attention and wordlessly came to the same conclusion; start bringing out the big guns. They each thrust out their closest hand toward each other, joining their hands in-between them. They used the bottom of their palms as a pivot point to swivel their hands upside side down. One went clockwise while the other went anti-clockwise.


    ¡°Coiling Vortex Draco!¡±


    A 40ft vertical whirlpool swirled behind the Duo and the air in their quarter of the training ground became damp. From the stormy whirlpool, an electrical dragon head of equal size slowly emerged. When the head was out in its entirety it roared, shaking the foundation of the training ground and causing a few people to trip and fall. The wingless dragon shot out and the whirlpool coalesced in front of it like a spiralling drill. The air rumbled wherever the dragon passed and the ground underneath it was torn up as it flew straight towards Enyo. It effortlessly killed inner court disciples who were too stunned or too weak to react properly.


    Enyo was impressed by the firepower these two were packing. She was reminded of what Ares had briefly said about them in Baja Forest about how they were threatening when paired up. Still though, it¡¯s not like she was a pushover.


    ¡°Shrine Of The Goddess!¡±


    Shrine Of The Goddess was Enyo¡¯s unique art of the Defender aspect. A 60ft tall, pristine shrine materialised around Enyo and the surrounding ground became hallowed. The shrine was perpetually emitting a barrier that looked as though it could be shattered if it were poked by a needle and, yet, it¡¯s aura made it feel completely impenetrable to onlookers. The holy ground had a dampening effect on magic to further stabilise the barrier¡¯s defensive properties. Enyo¡¯s unique art was taking up even more space than the Lighter Duo¡¯s Hydroelectric combination art. She relaxed her guard and leaned back into a chiselled, marble throne located at the top of stone steps as the Lighter Duo¡¯s art raced toward her sanctuary. The dragon widened its jaw and crashed headfirst into Enyo¡¯s defensive art, causing a colossal explosion. Electrified water sprayed out, shocking everyone who was too close. It was impossible to tell which art had won out as there was a lingering vapour cloud surrounding Enyo¡¯s shrine.


    ¡°Aletheia!¡±


    A holy, white spear shot out of the vapour cloud and hurtled toward the Lighter Duo. The spear was shrouded in snow-white flames that left a trail of sacred fire. The flames were small and fragmented, they looked like chalk blossoms scattering in the wind as the spear dashed across the sky. Aletheia was an art of the holy pillar¡¯s ¡®Righteous Justice¡¯ aspect. The holy pillar had only two aspects under it, one for offence, and one for defence. Although Enyo specialised in the defence-oriented aspect, this was the one aggressive art she knew.


    The spear evaporated the falling rain and was closing in on the Lighter Duo who kissed their teeth when they saw that Enyo¡¯s shrine was almost completely undamaged, with only a few minor cracks that fixed themselves pretty quickly. Their previous art hadn¡¯t even majorly dented the barrier. Water Guy crouched down and pushed both of his hands into the concrete, spawning multiple, tall, thick, ice walls in front of him shaped like gates. Lightning Guy put a hand on Water Guy¡¯s back and the ice walls were given a layer of lightning pins. The pins would damage the spear art and reduce its overall effectiveness while the walls took the brunt of the art. It was a mix of attacking the art and defending against it, to optimise their overall defence, that allowed them to get out of the situation safely. The spear had crashed through every single wall, but come to a halt before being able to do any damage to the Duo. The spear lay stuck in the ground, burning away, but the trail it had left was still there, connecting Enyo¡¯s shrine and the Duo¡¯s current location. Holy pillar cultivators and their allies could use lingering holy magic to enjoy various buffs, such as a reduction in mana cost, a drastic speed-up, overall strength enhancement, and passive healing amongst other things (all of which were dependent on the cultivator using it). Enyo¡¯s shrine, her other barriers, and the Aletheia trail all provided said buff.


    The Lighter Duo were starting to get overrun as they were spending too many resources dealing with Enyo and her shrine¡¯s hallowed ground that affected their magic was really complicating their strategy. They looked at each other and nodded. ¡°That?¡± Lightning Guy asked.


    Water Guy agreed, ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re gonna run out of mana, but I see no other way.¡± Once again, the Lighter Duo went to join their hands and use a combination art but, for some odd reason, they couldn¡¯t do it.


    Enyo had also remembered the other half of what Ares told her about these two; individually, they were nothing special. Whatever grand finale those two had up their sleeves would inevitably be troublesome, so Enyo decided to end their fun pre-maturely. As she ran along her white fire trail at a blistering pace, she used her defender magic to summon a barrier between the Duo. If they couldn¡¯t join their mana together, they couldn¡¯t use their combination arts. It was just a small, temporary barrier, but Enyo was about to make their life a whole lot harder.


    ¡°Segregation!¡±


    The barrier Enyo had put between the Duo was replaced by one that looked identical, but was much, much larger. She had near-enough split the training ground in half with a long, thin, see-through wall that stretched up and into the clouds. This was a pretty standard art of the defender aspect but looked incredibly imposing when used by someone as skilled as Enyo. Maybe if every person attacking the Duo collectively worked together they could break the barrier, but why on earth would they do that? Enyo had just split up this obnoxiously strong Duo and done everyone a massive favour. Enyo and Water Guy were on one side, and everyone else was on the other side with Lightning Guy. It was unfair that Enyo had one star all to herself but, if anyone broke the barrier, their Duo problem would come right back, so they just had to accept the unfairness of it all and the fact that Enyo had outsmarted them.


    The Duo immediately realised they were screwed so they both took off running at the same time, but one was clearly faster than the other. Lightning Guy could turn into a dragon and ride the lightning but Water Guy wasn¡¯t exactly nimble. To make matters worse, Enyo still had magic to spare and created more barriers to prevent Water Guy from escaping. Enyo boxed him in and closed the distance. The only way out of Enyo¡¯s grasp was to walk forward through her trail of fire and fight her in her buff zone. That was a no-go so Water Guy tried tp hold his ground by blasting her back with a wave. Enyo raised her shield and just walked through it, treating the wave as a minor inconvenience. She summoned another barrier, which spawned above Water Guy and fell straight down, crushing him on the floor. Enyo came over to him and tapped his shoulder to take his star before fully flattening Water Guy into pulp with her barrier, and walked triumphantly back over to her shrine. When she sat elegantly back down on her throne, she removed the Segregation barrier and lorded over her domain, daring anyone foolish enough to come and challenge her¡­ But no-one bothered. Her shrine would take far too much effort from far too many people, and that level of coordination was hard to get in such a short amount of time when there were still other stars up for grabs. She, like Li Li, was currently unassailable.


    Now, realistically, there were only 3 stars left in play and the timers were ticking. If anyone ended up holding a star for two minutes and thirty seconds, they were guaranteed a spot as it was impossible to get a higher score with the remaining half of time. Everyone was focusing on the three remaining star holders as those stars hadn¡¯t yet been swapped around and the holders were nearing that two-minute thirty mark. Ares was seemingly impossible to catch despite so many ¡®close¡¯ attempts. It was pretty obvious to the core disciples and the Elders that Ares was just playing around with the inner court disciples, constantly baiting them into thinking they had a chance, just to waste their time. The outer court disciples were all laughing inside at the dumbasses trying to pick a fight with Ares and were instead focusing on the other two stars as they were actually attainable. Lightning Guy was faster than Esme but much weaker in a direct confrontation, so the quicker participants chased him while the ones confident in their strength pursued Esme.


    Esme was hard to chase down in her own right though as with every step she took, she left behind an invisible wind-bomb mine that would blow away anyone who carelessly stepped on it. She was unfortunately starting to get surrounded now that more people were coming over after giving up on Li Li and Enyo¡¯s stars.


    She took out two fans and tossed them out like boomerangs at the approaching disciples, turning them into tornados mid-flight to fling her attackers out of her path. Regrettably she had to slow down in order to deal with them, and now some other disciples were catching up. Esme wasn¡¯t worried though. In fact, they were right where she wanted them, directly behind her, as she specialised in hit and run tactics. Esme was arguably one of the hardest people to chase in the sect due to her highly mobile and incredibly niche fighting style.


    ¡°Shredder!¡±


    Esme caught the fans that returned to her and opened them fully to use her unique art. There were various patterns on the fans, all of which pertained to raging storms and violent gales. She threw the circular fans straight down behind her and they lodged into the earth. The fans started to spin like buzzsaws as they tore through the earth and raced backward. Like before, tornados appeared from the fans but, this time, they were horizontal and not vertical. All the disciples that had tried to run around them were swept up into them and dragged backward with their spines grinding against the concrete. The two fans conjoined and stopped moving backward, but kept spinning. As the fans gyrated in a circular pattern, the two tornados twisted so rapidly they merged and formed a dome of wind, shredding everyone inside. When the fans stopped turning, blood and minced guts splattered everywhere as they rolled back to Esme who was still being chased by a few persistent participants. Esme didn¡¯t have long left till she was guaranteed a spot so she decided to use a magic that was incredibly draining but would allow her to remain safe for the rest of the time she needed.


    ¡°Aero Authority!¡±


    Aero Authority was a strange art to have learnt before reaching the transition realm. Whereas Shredder was a unique art of the wind pillar¡¯s ¡®Howling Calamity¡¯ aspect, Aero Authority was an art of the ¡®Ride The Wind¡¯ aspect. The Ride The Wind aspect was quite famous as one the stronger aspects in the upper domain because it gave the user aerial superiority in battles involving flight which, for the most part, was a fair few of them. Although it was incredibly useful for boosting speed and mobility while flying, it did very little for people who couldn¡¯t yet fly. Aero Authority would spawn two jade-feather wings that would allow the user''s flight speed to skyrocket provided they were already capable of flying. It could also be used by people who couldn¡¯t yet fly to do so, but it drained mana, if used in that fashion, quicker than any other known art in existence. No one bothered learning this art before the transition realm as you could probably only use it for around thirty seconds before wasting all your mana, not to mention all the other arts you would have to cast in order to actually put up a fight. This wasn¡¯t an issue for Esme, though, as she only needed to fly and avoid pursuit until her timer ticked high enough. She had learnt this art in advance so she didn¡¯t have to waste time learning it later when she became a transition realm cultivator and it was paying dividends already. The ability to fly was invaluable after all. As she took to the sky, the disciples chasing her immediately gave up, they couldn¡¯t hit her and trying to do anything here was just utterly pointless.


    Currently, half of the inner court disciples were fumbling over themselves to try and catch Ares who was now indirectly responsible for about half of all tallied deaths via the enabling of friendly fire. There was such a large group trying to run him down that any of their magical attacks would bombard their fellow inner court disciples who were carelessly aggressive.


    The other half were running after Lightning Guy alongside every single outer court disciple as they refused, come hell or high water, to go anywhere near Ares. Lightning Guy planned on making full use of that. He swerved and veered straight towards Ares. He planned on dumping off all his inner court disciples while keeping only the outer courts who wouldn¡¯t be able to catch him in time. He shot out a Coiling Draco to the side, but kept fleeing towards Ares so he could bait and switch.


    The outer court disciples knew exactly what Lightning Guy was up to and immediately took off in pursuit after the art. If they couldn¡¯t take Lightning Guy¡¯s star, they would sooner give up than die needlessly to Ares. Yes, they would come back to life, but it¡¯s not like dying didn¡¯t still hurt. Ares¡¯ Mecha-dryad incident was well known in the outer court by now and there was no-one stupid enough to try their luck, especially not considering how easily he was toying with the inner court disciples. Back during the tier assessment, he was the sole fifth tier disciple no one challenged even a single time. Long story short, everyone knew better.


    On the other hand, the inner court disciples should¡¯ve been thoroughly embarrassed. Ares was just flat out mocking them at this point, but they just kept coming back for more. Ares had yet to take even a single offensive action and they were still losing in a group of at least 50. Perhaps they all had some kind of humiliation kink? Then again, this entire situation was getting out of hand for them. Only one inner court disciple, the snake lady, even had their timer go above zero seconds before dying miserably and, currently, every single star was in the possession of an outer court disciple. The inner court disciples whose cultivations were too high to participate were cringing at their juniors¡¯ performance and swore to beat some sense into their comrades when this was all over. This was especially true of the people currently falling over themselves trying to deal with Ares, he was the damn bandit that had made their lives hell and they couldn¡¯t even touch him! Unforgivable!


    Sadie wasn¡¯t sure what to think of this. She wanted to see him actually fight. She wanted to see his technique and form to make sure it was all on point, but it¡¯s not like this wasn''t impressive too. Between his dodging, and his pillar, which was apparently offensively impressive, Ares didn¡¯t really need anything else. Still though, Sadie guessed he wasn¡¯t lugging a sword around for the fun of it and she wanted to know how well he could use it.


    Meanwhile, Lightning Guy¡¯s plan had been successful as he¡¯d ditched all of his unwanted pursuers onto Ares. Ares didn¡¯t particularly mind, it¡¯s not like he was struggling currently anyway and, technically, he owed Lightning Guy for the inspiration he¡¯d gotten from him to kill the Mecha-dryad in Baja Forest. This, to Ares, meant the five tournament select-ees were all but locked-in: Enyo, Esme, Li Li, Lightning Guy, and himself. Lightning Guy would be a strange addition considering Water Guy wasn¡¯t also getting in but, maybe, Ares and the others could work with him and come up with some combination arts to bring out his true potential.


    Ares ducked under a brutal swing and jumped onto the disciple¡¯s head, using him as a springboard to relocate. He unintentionally landed next to two inner court disciples he recognised. One was the woman who brought attention to him by yelling ''Bandits'' before the selection process had started, and the other was the guy that went to lunge at Ares before Teng intervened. It seemed these two were quite intimate. Let¡¯s ruin that shall we? Ares smiled evilly and stepped in-between them.


    The two disciples held back on firing magic so as not to injure one another, but were starting to get fed up with Ares constantly avoiding every single strike from both of them at the same time. The male disciple coated his fist in magic of the Bare-Fist aspect and lunged toward Ares who was currently facing his girlfriend. Ares¡¯ turned his neck and smirked over his shoulder at the poor fool. Ares had intentionally been under-performing to make things interesting but picked up the pace specifically for these two mongrels. He used both Diagnosis and Omniscience to locate a weak spot in the woman¡¯s shoulder as she also tried to punch him. He swept aside her attack and poked her with a single finger, dislocating her arm and making her yelp, which just spurred her boyfriend on to put his all into his next attack. Ares grabbed the woman¡¯s neck and pulled her toward him. He moved out of the way, just as the guy¡¯s punch was about to connect, and stuck his foot out to trip the woman, sending her face first into her boyfriend¡¯s unrelenting attack.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Crack


    The punch had broken her nose and made her face all bloody. Ares stuck his foot out and tripped her again as she was reeling backward, before grabbing the collar of her clothes to prevent her from falling. He picked her back up and twirled her back into his arms like the two were performing a duet. While she was seeing stars, Ares held her in his arms and winked at the guy, who then went spiralling deeper into rage and lunged at Ares again. Ares pushed the woman aside but gripped her arm, making her stagger and almost fall over on one foot as he kept her from planting face-first into the ground. Ares used his free left hand to deal with the guy¡¯s second attack. Specifically, he used an Echo as he slapped the punch, redirecting it off to the side¡­ The same side as his girlfriend who Ares had dragged back toward him for a second session of domestic abuse.


    Thud


    Ares had forced the guy to beat his girlfriend unconscious and she was now just lying there, knocked out on the floor, bleeding profusely from her head. ¡°Tsk Tsk Tsk, you¡¯re supposed to treat women like queens, not like punching bags.¡± Ares wagged his finger at the disciple who was lost in his own mind after what he¡¯d just done to the person he loved. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­¡± Ares struck the disciple in the stomach and dragged him by the hair. ¡°... I¡¯ll help you two¡­¡± The female disciple showed signs of life as she came back to her senses in a daze. Ares tripped the male disciple and chucked him down on top of his girlfriend. ¡°... Kiss and make up!¡± The two disciples headbutt one another and this time the woman was out for good, reviving outside the training ground and seething in rage towards her (now) ex. Ares fled while cackling like a true fiend as the other disciples finally caught up.


    The other disciples took a moment to look at the imbeciles that had just been completely humbled and shamed in the span of a few seconds and briefly reconsidered chasing Ares. Was it worth it? He was clearly holding back and, after what they¡¯d just seen, could they really justify chasing him around? He might actually be the worst of the star holders to pick a fight with and yet here they were, wasting their time in spectacular fashion. Clearly the outer court disciples knew something they didn¡¯t. Still though, there was no time to catch up to Lightning Guy, Esme, or Li Li as they had all run to the opposite side of the training ground. By the time anyone reached them, they would have gotten through regardless. There were really only two options left, keep fruitlessly chasing Ares, or go after Enyo. Enyo was still nearby, sitting idly in her shrine. Individually they wouldn¡¯t be able to break it but, with every single inner court participant having no other options left, they were all going to convene and work together. There was only really one star left as Enyo had gotten hers a little later than everyone else. There was still some time to steal it off her and win. They all collectively made the same decision and marched over to Enyo¡¯s shrine.


    Sadie was still snickering from Ares'' provocateur beatdown earlier. Truly a revenant if ever she¡¯d seen one. Revenant men had a tendency to have wild, unorthodox fighting styles that were the epitome of free and fun. It matched their personalities to a tee as they were a bunch of dirty fighters that cared more about enjoying themselves at your expense than actually beating you. The women, on the other hand, were a strange existence in comparison. They were the type that made you feel apologetic for dying to them and bloodying their nails. Every fight with a revenant woman was a waste of their time and their attitude made you feel like they were the queens of the world, gracing you with their presence as you insulted them with yours.


    To Sadie, it made sense Legion clan women and Revenant men got along. Revenant women would keep their men on tight leashes and treat them like obedient mutts. It¡¯s not like that didn¡¯t work for the men but that they were better off with a different type of person. Legion clan women were typically more interested in breaking free from their rigid lifestyle than the men of their clan. They liked the control but hated the restrictions. Revenant men had that sort of wild freedom, and Legion clan women would let their little puppies run free but still hold onto the leash for when it was necessary. The men were their domesticated wolves that they let play around and have their fun before loyally returning home for pets. It was nice having a vicious guard dog that would bare their fangs at anyone who tried to harm their master, and Ares was clearly no different. Right now, he was following the gathering crowd and even poking them in their backs to try and get their attention. Sadie could tell the second they focused on Enyo; Ares was going to start biting and mauling.


    The remaining 80 inner court disciples gathered around Enyo¡¯s shrine and started to channel their magic into a single point. Amalgamation was a combination art / technical that could be used by mixing any aspect or pillar together and essentially just took the mana provided to create a massive bomb. It was good practice, and considered common courtesy, for cultivators to learn this technical so they could contribute in situations like this.


    The swirling white ball kept getting larger and larger above their heads as they focused on directing their magic toward it. Ares was still poking away, but everyone was flat-out ignoring him, even if they had to grimace and curse him in their mind when he pulled their hair or flicked the cheeks. Between the fact that he was being so blatantly ignored and that they were targeting Enyo, Ares was starting to get annoyed. He decided to wait until the Amalgamation was ready to fire before making his move so that he could waste as much of their mana as possible as he had a new art he wanted to try out after what he was about to do. Enyo was watching unperturbed from atop her throne as she knew her tamed wolf was going to deal with the situation for her. That and she was being extremely underestimated, the amalgamation probably wouldn¡¯t even break her shrine anyway. Enyo was seriously a powerhouse of a cultivator. The Amalgamation was about 150ft wide now as the disciples had been given a lot of time to charge it. It seemed like they were getting ready to chant and throw it.


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    All 80 disciples were drowned in a golden calamity of destruction and despair, fighting for their lives amid the turbulent detonations rocking their world. The Amalgamation fizzled out as too many people weren¡¯t able to support it any longer. The explosions hadn¡¯t even finished yet and people were still desperately struggling not to get lost in the mayhem, and yet¡­


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    Ares could use about 8 Grand Annihilations in a row before he ran out of mana. He wasn¡¯t done with these fools just yet.


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    Again.


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    Again.


    ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡±


    Again.


    The catastrophic carnage lasted a solid three minutes before everything settled. Enyo¡¯s barrier was untouched as Ares had skilfully aimed his explosions around it, but the nearby concrete had all been obliterated and her shrine was now a raised platform surrounded by deep pits filled with segmented corpses and a moat of blood. Body parts were haphazardly strewn around and littered the ravaged training ground. Every dead body was mutilated to some noticeable degree, and some were just flat out gone from existence as though they had never been there to begin with. Specks of dust and ash formed layers over what was left of the shattered earth.


    Only 15 of the inner court disciples were left standing and the only ones that were still in decent shape with all their limbs intact were the ones that had pre-emptively used their magic to flee the bombardment. There was an ominous stillness and lingering quietude as everyone just stared aghast at the chaos. Even the Elders were horrified as Ares repeatedly casting the same art hadn¡¯t even occurred to them, they thought using it once or twice would be his limit. The inner court disciples that had just respawned outside the training ground were still spinning and their minds were still playing catch-up from the hellhole of explosive madness they¡¯d been trapped and slaughtered in. There were a few core disciples that were very interested in Ares, and Sadie was flat-out stunned. Obviously the pillar of destruction was never going to be some second-rate pillar, but wasn¡¯t this far too much? The only reason anyone inside its radius survived was because they hid behind their dying comrades, using their fellow disciples¡¯ final attempts to save themselves as an extra barrier between them and the explosive assault. That series of arts probably would have killed even a mid-stage sensory enhancement cultivator with room to spare if they didn¡¯t dodge, and Ares still looked fine!


    It¡¯s not like Ares was running low on mana, and that was pretty ludicrous but, through all the explosions, Sadie could tell Ares had done something. For Ares¡¯ mana consumption to have not even used up half of his mana pool was preposterous and the magical traces in the air were proof enough that he had some kind of interesting art up his sleeve.


    One of the disciples that had escaped safely from the art barrage gathered his courage and bravely took a step towards Ares.


    ¡°All Or Nothing!¡±


    All Or Nothing was a technical that, like Amalgamation, a fair few cultivators familiarised themselves with. It was a last-ditch gamble that gathered every last bit of remaining mana they had into a single attack. When the disciple started running out of mana, a ghostly hand weaved from deep, pulsing red and black chaotic space, and laced with tiny stars, wrapped itself around the disciple¡¯s neck. He couldn¡¯t remove or interact with it no matter how he tried. His hand passed right through it and magic wasn¡¯t helping. He could feel it¡¯s cold grip and began sweating nervously.


    Ares clicked his fingers.


    ¡°Grim Cessation!¡±


    The disciple was strangled as he was dragged into a hellish void portal at his feet. His dying screams rang throughout the training ground as he was brought under. With one final splat, the warped, red portal cracked, shut, and disappeared, leaving a few of his severed limbs and some blood spraying out from underneath the ground. His magic attack faded and all the mana he had was rounded up and flowed into Ares, becoming his.


    Grim Cessation was an art of the nothingness aspect. As long as someone had less than 5% of their mana remaining, Ares could kill them, no questions asked. It was an unstoppable instant kill on the careless and would work on literally anyone regardless of cultivation. Nothingness would entangle them, drag them into hell, and flood their meridians with nothingness magic, detonating every single organ in their body including the heart. When the person died, their remaining mana would be transferred to Ares. He would also automatically, passively use this art on the recently deceased to gorge on their mana and restore his own mana pool. Using multiple, large, AOE attacks was draining but, if he killed enough people, the spending and recovery evened itself out. Unfortunately, he could only ever take at most 5% of the person¡¯s mana. Even if he killed someone with all of their mana remaining, he would only get a minor amount in return. Ares had mostly created this art for its utility as drawn-out fights usually didn¡¯t favour him and this art fixed that weakness as the mana regeneration, in large scale fights, would allow him to just keep murdering without pause. It was also nice to put a timer on people in one-to-one fights so they couldn¡¯t just try to outlast his annihilation onslaught by running away all the time. This was an incredibly powerful art, to say the least, and its effect was no joke as inescapable death was nigh unheard of. There were a few other arts that would kill a person if the right conditions were met, but this was the first art to ever have no counter. Other instant kill arts had to be activated beforehand and then the opponent had to make a few mistakes before it would kill them. If Grim Cessation was activatable, you simply died. Unless you knew about the arts¡¯ requirements ahead of time, you would just instantly lose without ever knowing why. To that end, All Or Nothing was basically a fast track to committing suicide in front of Ares as it drained every drop of mana before launching.


    Ares had been working on this art for a long time now and was glad to see it being every bit as effective as he hoped it would be. The reason he hadn¡¯t created it earlier was due to the difficulty in assessing a person¡¯s remaining mana, but acquiring Omniscience completely alleviated that issue for him. The disciple¡¯s death was quick and brutal, unnerving the remaining few who had no idea what on earth just happened. They were stricken with fear and didn¡¯t want to end up like the other carcasses, but the unknown danger had paralysed them. Not knowing what that last magic was and how it operated unsettled them. That was also part of what made it such a strong art, if people were blissfully unaware of the conditions, they would have a much higher chance of dying to it.


    Elsewhere, Lightning Guy had safely lived long enough to make it through. The outer court disciples chasing him just gave up all hope as Enyo wasn¡¯t in the cards, let alone with Ares around, so they sat down and watched the rest of the selection play out as it was coming to a close.


    Back near Enyo¡¯s shrine, Ares had simplified the inner court disciple¡¯s choice by attacking them and forcing them to respond. Although there were still fourteen left, injuries were piling up and they hadn¡¯t been able to deal with Ares at the best of times, let alone now. He was a sword wielding menace, effortlessly slicing through their ranks. This was what Sadie had wanted to see, Ares¡¯ compatibility with weapon-oriented combat, and she was certainly impressed. Ares clearly wasn¡¯t just coasting through life with his mind-boggling magic. He¡¯d put in a lot of effort to craft a unique style all his own that worked for him. In particular, Gamble and Echo caught her attention as they were genius-tier arts that anyone could seemingly use. Especially Echo. Gamble would take some getting used to and required a degree of technique and familiarity with the weapons pillar to pull off, but Echo was a minimal effort, high reward technical of all things. Ares adapting to every situation, blocking with his Zephyr, and utilising every inch of his body to deftly dodge and counter every attack was awe-inspiring. The aerial focus was entirely unique and something only he could pull off with his Zephyr and Gamble intertwining flawlessly. He had a right to be as cocky as he had been earlier, his swordplay alone would¡¯ve been enough to hold his own even without his magic. He was quick and stylish, packing ludicrous firepower, and smart in his approach. He was near-enough unparalleled combat-wise and would forever be unbeatable against people within his own realm unless he faced another once-in-a-lifetime genius. Sadie wanted to teach him. There was so much room for him to expand and, if she was being honest, there were maybe a few things she could learn from him. His profound expertise with swords was baffling, there had to be a reason for it as things just didn¡¯t add up. Even the brief intervals in which he tossed his sword up in the air and grappled hand to hand were solid, and kept in line with his fighting style, allowing for a seamless transition. If she could teach him to incorporate other weapons into that style, he would have options for every situation. First though, she had to ask him how he came up with that sword style. It wasn¡¯t acceptable for him to say he just thought it up, as to have created it and mastered it to this degree in so few years with no external aid was impossible.


    Technically, she was right. Ares¡¯ weapon mastery didn¡¯t start with him, but he would be blissfully unaware of its origin for a little while longer.


    Ares used Grim Cessation to kill off the final disciple and hopped up to Enyo¡¯s shrine. He knocked, but Enyo didn¡¯t let him in. She was mocking him for not having destroyed the barrier with his repeated Grand Annihilation castings, even though he deliberately didn¡¯t aim for it. Silly woman, Ares mused. Now that Ares thought about it, Enyo probably thought she could beat Ares in a direct confrontation with her barriers as they could, to varying degrees, withstand his annihilation magic. It was absolutely an impressive accomplishment, but Ares hadn''t ever shown her his disintegration magic. He hadn¡¯t used it a single time in front of her and she was starting to think she had some kind of advantage over him. This matchup, even though Ares imagined he would never have to fight her, was entirely skewed towards him and he figured he might as well prove that to Enyo here and now. He coated his pinky in disintegration magic and poked Enyo¡¯s barrier surrounding her shrine. The finger went straight through and cut downward like a shark fin through water. Enyo¡¯s barrier had been about as effective as a piece of paper, hell, at least paper might have potentially cut Ares as he passed by. Enyo was speechless as Ares just meandered over to her, sat on her lap, got comfortable in a half lying, half sitting posture, and mumbled as he closed his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sleepy.¡±


    Enyo¡¯s little pooch had found a cosy place of warmth and came back to rest next to its master, but this was a good reminder for her that a tamed wolf was still a wolf. Still though, it was that dangerous thrill that the Legion clan women sought after more often than not, the men of their own clan were just too boring for them. Perhaps the Legion men would get along with the revenant women, they seemed somewhat compatible on paper anyway. Ares, though, was perfect for Enyo. She liked his feistiness. She took off her hand armour and stroked his head as her timer ticked away.


    When the five participants could no longer be beaten, Teng ended the selection process early as there was no point in continuing. Everyone gathered back in front of Teng with the inner court disciples keeping a noticeable distance away from Ares, like he was some kind of devil. Then again, that evaluation wasn¡¯t far off the mark given his destructive tendencies and propensity for playful evil.


    Teng held out his hand over a runic formation which started to print out a scroll. The scroll would list on it the five participants who had won the selection process. Even though it was obvious, it was still required by the official who would come by later to take note of the participants. The system supposedly couldn¡¯t be cheated and it would only ever pick the five people who had the longest amount of time displayed on their timer. Teng took the scroll and read aloud the names on it as was customary, ¡°Our five lower bracket participants will be as follows: Ares, Enyo, Esme, Li Li, And¡­ What? WHAT!? How? How could this be possible!?... RUD! GET OVER HERE! WE HAVE A PROBLEM!¡±


    Rud was confused and wary.  This was pretty important for the future of the sect and, while he was glad to see the real MVPs of Esme, Enyo, and Ares all safely marked down, he was worried something unsalvageable had happened. He went over and took the scroll off Teng, giving it a once over before he immediately spotted the issue. Rud kissed his teeth. Honestly, this alteration may potentially have been an improvement considering the situation, but it didn¡¯t explain exactly how this had happened in the first place. ¡°I have no idea why, but it would seem our fifth participant is¡­¡± Rud Sighed deeply. ¡°Aejaz¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Even Ares was confused. He¡¯d seen the star on Lightning Guy the entire time, so Aejaz clearly hadn¡¯t stolen it and, besides, he was outside the runic formation anyway, it shouldn¡¯t have kept track of his ¡®time¡¯ even if he had taken it.


    As everyone looked over at Aejaz who was waiting in the crowd of onlookers, he blinked a few times as though he himself was also coming to terms with his victory. ¡°... Uh, honestly, I didn¡¯t expect that to work.¡± He scratched his head with a weak smile on his face.


    Rud narrowed his eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect what to work?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡­ Uh¡­ Kinda thought it might be kinda, you know¡­ Funny, if I, you know¡­ Stole his position in the tournament. I used a bit of magic and¡­ Uh¡­ You know.¡±


    ¡°¡®YOU KNOW¡¯ MY ASS! THE HELL DO I KNOW ABOUT YOUR STUPID MAGIC? SINCE WHEN CAN YOU STEAL CONCEPTUAL THINGS THAT DON¡¯T EVEN PHYSICALLY EXIST!?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame me! I didn¡¯t even think it would work! I just figured it out myself as well!¡± Aejaz really was just as surprised as everyone else.


    ¡°OF COURSE I¡¯M BLAMING YOU!¡± Rud felt like he¡¯d gained access to the destruction pillar as he was about to go berserk and explode.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really mind,¡± Lightning Guy called out. ¡°I would¡¯ve rather worked as a Duo anyway, so I¡¯ll probably just drag the team down needlessly without Water Guy. I feel robbed, sure, but that¡¯s the point of thievery magic, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m not going to say he earned it, but he definitely has the spot regardless. Also, if any duo is going to represent Red Sun, it should probably be the bandit brothers anyway.¡± Lightning Guy just shrugged; he really didn¡¯t care that much. At least this way he would have more time to work on combination arts with Water Guy, such as their trump card which still needed some tweaking. Enyo had exposed a pretty massive weakness in their game plan that they would need to rectify. It was really quite a shame though. if they had used that art successfully, they had a high chance of beating Enyo. Ares was a different matter entirely though; he would have killed the shit out of them. Ares would have just used Grim Cessation after they dried their mana up and poof, dead. Not that they knew how that art even worked though.


    ¡°... Fine. I can¡¯t be bothered dealing with this for any longer than is absolutely necessary anyway,¡± Rud groaned. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s try this again. Our five lower bracket participants are: Enyo, Esme, Li Li, and the bandit bastards.¡± Rud listed everyone and walked away as he was just flat-out done with this shit. Teng could take them to see the official, Rud was going to go sneak off somewhere and nap the frustration away.


    Ahem


    Teng coughed. ¡°Well, the official will be here in two hours, all five of you will need to convene at the plaza then. Everyone is dismissed!¡±


    The inner court disciples grumbled their way back to their respective areas. None of the higher cultivation disciples actually followed through with the beatings they were preparing to dole out as Ares was just far too strong, they couldn¡¯t fault the participants for failing against him. The core disciples also left. A few of them took a few extra glances at the bandit brothers who were undoubtedly incredibly strange, but one person in-particular was really interested in Ares specifically.


    The man in question was quite suave and wore a brown suit that fit him well. He seemed to be a year or two older than Ares and was a good-looking gentleman-type with a hint of devilish intrigue. He held a tobacco pipe with his mouth, wore a monocle over his right eye, and there was both a pen and well-worn notebook resting in his hands. He used the pen to jot something down on his palm, and walked away.


    Ares was aware of this strange behaviour but decided to ignore it as it didn¡¯t feel malicious. If anything, it was oddly perverse in an eccentric kinda way. Odd, but completely harmless. Ares shooed off the thoughts and briefly talked to Onno about the stall. Ares wasn¡¯t going to have time to run it anymore so he was asking Onno to find him someone else who could. He would provide them with the Beads and they would sell them in his stead. While they were discussing things, Ares also brought up his defensive black hole beads which Onno decided to name ¡®Block Rocks¡¯, before taking all the Beads Ares had on his person. Ares had been making them pretty much every waking moment he wasn¡¯t actively doing anything else and the store wouldn¡¯t need a restock after this one for a long while. Ares was also working on a long-range shift marker that he could ¡®teleport¡¯ beads through, allowing him to restock the stall from anywhere. This was still rather early in development though and would take some time, or a major breakthrough in his understanding of nothingness, to develop to a usable point. When everything was sorted, Ares found himself being whisked away in a similar fashion to before.

 Chapter 49: An Old Friend Is More Than Meets the Eye

    [Author¡¯s note: In hindsight, the description for runes here is, quite frankly, garbage. I will rewrite the explanation here with more clarity at a later date in another chapter down the line, please ignore it for now. Sorry for the messy writing during that specific segment.]


    ¡°Hello Sadist.¡± Ares waved and smiled happily.


    Sadie folded her arms. ¡°If hitting you wouldn¡¯t just give you more verbal ammunition, believe me, I would do it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I believe you alright. Anyway, what can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°The technical and the sword art. I want them.¡±


    ¡°Echo and Gamble? I mean, sure. There¡¯s already a tome for Echo in the library, and I can write something down for Gamble if you give me some time.¡±


    ¡°If Echo is in the library, why hasn¡¯t everyone learnt it yet?¡±


    Ares shrugged. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been in there that long, they probably don¡¯t know it¡¯s in there.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, I¡¯ll make sure at least the core and inner court disciples that are competing in the tournament learn it. It¡¯s too good to pass up on.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Sadie squinted at Ares from under her helmet. ¡°I wasn¡¯t complimenting you, brat. It was meant for the person who made the damn technical.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ares repeated himself in the exact same manner as before.


    ¡°... Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, you can see it on the tome or even check with the technical department Elder, Lizzy, if you¡¯d like.¡±


    ¡°... Is Gamble the same?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°... Ah.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Sadie groaned. Putting up with revenants could seriously be a test of patience sometimes.  ¡°How soon can you get me the Gamble tome?¡±


    ¡°Before the end of the day.¡±


    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll be in the weapon department inspecting the place. By the way, why hasn¡¯t Enyo moved up to the inner court yet? She could be getting better resources and guidance if she just did the test. There shouldn¡¯t be any hesitation as I¡¯m sure she¡¯d pass with her eyes closed if need be.¡±


    ¡°Well, see, as a member of the Legion clan, it¡¯s her job to hunt down revenants. Apparently, there¡¯s a pesky one running around in the outer court somewhere and I hear she keeps chasing after him as she doesn¡¯t want to lose sight of him.¡±


    ¡°... You¡¯re a grade-A asshole, you know that right?¡±


    ¡°Is there a higher grade? Grade S, maybe?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good, for a moment there I was feeling insulted.¡± Ares gave a thumbs up and Sadie could no longer resist smacking him.


    Smack


    ¡°That¡­ was really satisfying.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Smack


    ¡°You¡¯re oddly smack-able. I should stop before I get addicted.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of smacking, could you take me back to Enyo?¡±


    ¡°Ha, why? Is she gonna have her way with you?¡±


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s my turn today, but let your imagination run wild, I won''t stop you¡­ Sadist.¡±


    Smack


    Ares walked up to Sadie and whispered to her, ¡°Should you really be hitting me? I¡¯m just going to take it all out on Enyo.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Smack


    Ares was stunned, this bitch was kinky!


    Maybe all Legion clan women were secretly like this?


    Before he knew it, Ares was dropped off next to Enyo with multiple marks on his face. Between the speed at which he was dropped off, and Ares¡¯ tendency to get mouthy, Enyo didn¡¯t even have to ask the ¡®why¡¯ or ¡®who¡¯ questions and instead skipped straight to a different one, ¡°Fun?¡±


    Ares could feel a fire rising in his loin. ¡°Fun.¡± Ares Shifted Enyo back to the house and had his way with her for the full duration of the two hours.


    ---------------------------------


    Enyo took a long time to stagger to her feet as Ares had really gone to town on her body. She liked it though. She got dressed in front of a mirror so she could get a few parting glances at the marks Ares had left on her skin. She could get rid of them with mana, but hiding them under her helmet felt racy, and she liked the lingering heat from his hand and her sore cheek. Just before she put her helmet on, Ares came up behind her and kissed her along the marks on her neck and face while telling her he loved her. She turned her head and kissed him back, told him she loved him, and put her helmet on. They opened the door and found Appa sitting on the floor in the hallway. Enyo bent over and picked it up while stroking its head. ¡°Hey sweetie. Have you been waiting here this whole time for us?¡±


    Appa nodded. ¡°Mhm! I wanted to say congratulations for winning earlier! Also, I wanted to say you¡¯re so cool, mum! I wanna be just like you!¡±


    Enyo smiled warmly under the helmet. ¡°You¡¯re perfect the way you are, Appa.¡± Enyo walked into the living room, with Appa still in hand and Ares in tow, and found Allie and Aejaz cuddling. ¡°Cute.¡± Enyo snickered when they hurriedly separated. ¡°If you''re done stealing Allie¡¯s heart, we¡¯ve got places to be!¡± Enyo put Appa down, who then floated over to Allie and sat on her lap as she was the only other one who wasn¡¯t going.


    The three left and headed to the meeting point. They were a little early, but Li Li and Esme were already there and talking about something.


    ¡°He just wants a favour from me¡­ I think.¡± Li Li looked unsure about something.


    ¡°Oh please, honey, ALL men are parasites. I just think this one wants more than a few drops of blood, if you know what I mean.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it, he seems obsessed with this other woman.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and she¡¯s a B.I.T.C.H. If you want him, just wait ¡®till he realises that, and I can promise you, you would have to bend over backward not to get him.¡±


    ¡°What makes you think I even want him?¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡±


    Ahem


    Enyo figured she would bust Li Li out of this situation so she wouldn¡¯t have to answer that question. Esme had a habit of digging deep like that.


    ¡°Speaking of loo~oove, if it isn¡¯t the hands-on happy couple in the flesh!¡± Esme put her hands together, tilted her head slightly, and repeatedly blinked her innocent doe eyes.


    ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t be jealous Esme, it¡¯s a bad look. You¡¯ll never find a man like that.¡± Enyo went to stick her tongue out, but realised the helmet was in the way.


    ¡°Ooh, me~ow, your claws have certainly gotten sharper, haven¡¯t they? Hmph, put a man in your life and now you¡¯re singing a different tune. He must be good in bed!¡±


    Ares nudged Enyo and whispered quite loudly, ¡°I think she knows.¡±


    ¡°Ha.¡± Esme rolled her eyes. ¡°Men. Always so proud of the¡­ Little things.¡±


    Ares ¡®whispered¡¯ again, ¡°Never mind, she knows nothing.¡±


    ¡°How can I know anything!? Trying to talk to Enyo is like trying to talk to a brick wall half the damn time.¡±


    Enyo snorted. ¡°Well, I¡¯m different now, so ask away.¡±


    ¡°Oh really? Then how¡¯s your sister doing? Getting along with his brother any better than the last time I saw ¡®em?¡±


    ¡°They kissed recently, so there¡¯s that.¡±


    ¡°Jeez, brother and brother with sister and sister. Oi! Petty thief! You got another brother? I¡¯m in the market.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but how could I submit a member of my own family to such torment?¡± Aejaz retorted playfully.


    Esme tapped her fingers together rhythmically. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are some men out there who can appreciate a bit of torment.¡± Esme turned back to Li Li. ¡°Dirk seems like that kinda guy. Have you seen the scars on that man? I¡¯m sure you could add a few more and he wouldn¡¯t complain.¡±


    Li Li threw her head back and groaned, ¡°Ughh, just had to bring it back around to me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re not all arguing.¡± Teng arrived with another man, who was dressed formally in a suit and holding a clipboard.


    ¡°Nah, we¡¯re getting along fine.¡± Esme waved her hand dismissively.


    ¡°Good.¡± Teng took out the scroll and handed it to the official. ¡°These are the five.¡±


    The official nodded and wrote down the names. When he was done, he took out a testing device to jot down everyone¡¯s cultivation. Esme was at mental accumulation, 8th stage, right on the cusp of the lower bracket¡¯s limit. Everyone else was fine as they were, though the official did double check with Teng when it came to Ares. The official assumed Red Sun would just have a weak showing in the lower bracket if the best they could do for the last spot was a 4th realm, 8th stage cultivator. Ares had gone up a stage earlier and was closing in on the 9th stage, but it was still quite low for a participant. ¡°Alright, now we just need a picture of each of you for identity purposes as well as advertisements of the team should you make it to the nationals or internationals.¡±


    Enyo, without thinking, removed her helmet.


    ¡°...¡±


    While everyone just stared blankly at all the marks on her face and neck, Ares shuffled over and took the helmet off Enyo before putting it back on for her. Ares shiftily moved aside and put his arms behind his back while whistling and staring at the sky like none of this concerned him.


    Enyo¡¯s hands were shaking as she realised what a monumental mistake she¡¯d just made.


    ¡°Oh. Wow. Hands-on was an understatement.¡± Esme was amazed. ¡°You are so explaining that to me later in VIVID detail.¡±


    Aejaz hopped in front of the official to draw attention away from his sister-in-law. ¡°Make sure you capture every inch of my handsome features.¡± Aejaz gave a coquettish grin to the camera.


    Ares stopped whistling as he came up with a cruel idea. Just as the official set the camera on a timer, Ares called out to Aejaz, ¡°Quick! Pretend the camera is Allie!¡±


    Aejaz¡¯ charming face vanished immediately and was replaced by a shy, panicky one as there was no way in hell he had the courage to make a face like that to Allie.


    Snap


    Ares was laughing uncontrollably as the picture printed and Aejaz¡¯ sorry self was immortalised before him.


    Oh really!? You wait and see you bastard. You wait! Aejaz swore vengeance would be his as Li Li went in front of the camera.


    Esme was tempted to shout ¡®Dirk!¡¯, or ¡®That¡¯s not a man!¡¯, to throw her off, but decided not to be mean. Esme¡¯s turn went without a hitch too and Ares went up for his turn.


    As the camera timer hit one, something strange happened to Ares. His memories disappeared and he felt oddly cold. He was blinded by a strange light and realised what was happening far too late. Everyone else, Teng and the official included, were laughing at him as his picture was printed.


    The Ares in the picture had a confused look, but the real issue was that he was shirtless.


    Aejaz had stolen his memories and clothes as the picture was taken to get back at him. The worst part of it all was that he still had the Zephyr on.


    ¡°Hahahahahaha.¡± Aejaz had tears in his eyes. ¡°I call it the caped weirdo! Hahahahahaha!¡±


    Ares wasn¡¯t a bad sport about it and laughed it off. He was ok with his upper body¡¯s physique, which was neither perfect nor disappointing, so it wouldn¡¯t be too embarrassing. It might cause somewhat of a disconnect if he went on a murderous, domineering rampage during the tournament, and then people looked back at his goofy picture, but oh well.


    Enyo took her helmet off and the marks were gone this time. The fact she even felt comfortable enough to take the helmet off in this situation was a remarkable achievement for her. She pretended nothing happened and waited stoically in front of the camera. The timer reached one and Esme snickered. She didn¡¯t even have to say a single word for Enyo to know what she was laughing at and Enyo instinctively blushed and got a little nervous. Rather than making her picture worse though, it actually made her look rather pretty. She looked far more approachable than the look she had been going for previously and Esme just sighed. Some women are just too beautiful to mess up. Esme had, on multiple occasions, admitted to Enyo that she was envious of her looks, and it¡¯s not like Esme wasn¡¯t proud of her own either.


    The official took the pictures and chuckled to himself as he said goodbye to Teng. ¡°They¡¯re quite the lively bunch.¡±


    Teng heartily chuckled too. ¡°You don¡¯t know the half of it, wait ¡®till you see what they do to everyone at the international.¡±


    ¡°You really think they¡¯ll make it?¡±


    ¡°Make it? They¡¯ll win it! Seriously, this new generation is spooky. Makes me feel like I should just retire already.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I know that feeling. Anyway, good luck.¡± The official left.


    Teng walked back over to the group where Ares was currently kicking Aejaz in the ass. ¡°Alright you lot, you¡¯ve got a week before the regionals start. It¡¯s only a one-day event, but make sure you''re ready for it. Don¡¯t forget to train. Speaking of, will you be doing it as a group? The sect can set aside a place for you and allow you to skip your lectures so long as you actually train.¡±


    ¡°Sadie and I will be training Aejaz. I don¡¯t know about you three...¡± Ares looked at the three women. ¡°... But Aejaz and I work better individually rather than as a group.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be training with Sadie as well. What I really need right now is experience with weapons as my barriers are ok as they are,¡± Enyo mentioned.


    ¡°Ah, Sadie and I had briefly discussed training you with spears and working out what kind of offensive arts you could learn.¡±


    ¡°Then we might as well go to Sadie¡¯s training as a group of three then.¡±


    ¡°Can I join too?¡± Li Li jumped in. ¡°The Li Clan¡¯s fighting techniques are great and all, but that doesn¡¯t mean I should limit myself to them. Sadie told me she wanted to train me too anyway.¡±


    ¡°Am I the only one that didn¡¯t get an invitation to Sadie¡¯s training!?¡± Esme felt defeated. ¡°Bah, the unfairness of it all.¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Teng informed her that it wasn¡¯t a matter of talent, ¡°Sadie is a weapons expert and you don¡¯t really use any weapons or fight hand-to-hand. It would probably be better for you to focus on your magic but, seeing as how things have turned out, I¡¯ll ask Sadie to let you join in on their training so you can all practise in the same place even if you¡¯re doing your own things. Besides, Sadie is an expert in her own right, I¡¯m sure she can offer you advice even if its not weapons based. You can all start tomorrow then.¡± Teng left, presumably to go find Rud and wake him up.


    Esme grabbed Enyo¡¯s hand and started dragging her off for a girl chat. Li Li followed because she was nosy and just as curious. Aejaz went back home to enjoy his few moments of peace with Allie before he would, inevitably, be manhandled by Ares and Sadie during training.


    Ares had a few things to do today so he figured he would start with Sadie¡¯s request first. He went to the fifth-tier cultivation rooms and brought along a few tomes to write down the Gamble art on. As he was familiar with the process of transcribing, he was able to cultivate as he did it and, thanks to his explosive rampage earlier, went up to the 9th stage from the 8th just as he finished writing out Gamble. He dropped the tome off at the weapon department front desk, as Sadie was busy, and went to the forging department next. As per usual, Ares could hear the tell-tale bickering of a dwarf and an elf before he¡¯d even gotten inside. Thankfully, he was after Julio as well as dabble, so this was rather convenient¡­ Oh no¡­ I¡¯m starting to think like Rud!


    ¡°Ugh, come on short-stack! Ares disappears for a month and you lot can¡¯t handle the load anymore?¡±


    ¡°Nae, and ye were warned about this. He¡¯s back now, so quit yer whining and wait for teh laddie to show.¡±


    Julio started to bite his nails and pretended to panic. ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t come back!?¡± He shook Dabble¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I CAN¡¯T GO BACK TO WAITING FOR YOUR SLOW-ASS!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Ares waved. ¡°Oh, and I¡¯ve a new trick up my sleeve that you''re going to absolutely hate, Julio.¡±


    Julio¡¯s eye twitched, he wasn¡¯t a fan of Ares'' last ¡®trick¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s ok, really. You can feel free to leave the sect again, the sooner the better actually.¡±


    Dabble put down his hammer. ¡°Whatcha got laddie?¡±


    ¡°I can now copy, reproduce, and dismantle any single rune I¡¯ve ever seen before,¡± Ares said nonchalantly.


    ¡°... Ha¡­ Haha¡­ Good¡­ Joke. That was a joke, right? Good one GREAT ONE, actually.¡± Julio was now actually nibbling away at his nails after Ares¡¯ statement put the fear of god in him.


    ¡°Nope. here.¡± Ares handed over a sheet of paper with something written on it to Julio.


    Thud


    ¡°Strange. That¡¯s the third time I¡¯ve seen an Elder faint today. Maybe you should all pay a visit to the medical department?¡± Ares joked as he stared down at Julio, who was still furiously  clutching the paper despite losing consciousness.


    Dabble picked up the paper but wasn¡¯t well-versed enough in runemancy to understand what he was looking at. ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the rune formation Julio used on the training ground earlier for the game of tag, fully transcribed, including the dismantle code for the rune lock.¡±


    ¡°By my beard, I¡¯ll be damned! It took Julio four years to learn this! It seems ye weren¡¯t kidding, ay?¡±


    ¡°Nope. I was hoping to take a gander at Julio¡¯s runes so I could copy them for future reference and use them as I see fit. I should now be able to create my own weapons as well as inscribe the runic enchantments single-handedly.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yer making Julio and I look like fools.¡± Dabble wobbled over to Julio and kicked him hard.


    ¡°HUH!? WHO? WHAT? WHERE? HOW MANY?¡± Julio looked around frantically as he fought off an imaginary enemy which may or may not have been a horde of smug Ares. Julio decided on the nomenclature then and there and referred to his vision as an ¡®outburst¡¯ of Ares.


    ¡°Wakey wakey ye pointy menace. We¡¯re headin¡¯ down to me forge, and yer coming along too fer good measure.¡±


    Julio grumbled as he stood up and walked behind Dabble, occasionally turning around and glancing at Ares while mumbling curses under his breath and taking bizarre martial stances as though he were trying to figure out the optimal way to beat Ares up. They arrived down in the forge and Dabble took out Enyo¡¯s Steadfast Aegis from the spatial ring, which Julio had given him earlier, placing it down on a table.


    ¡°Julio, can I see the runes you¡¯re going to put on this shield?¡± Ares asked politely.


    Julio scrunched his face up, turned it to the side, and pouted. ¡°No.¡±


    Dabble kissed his teeth and smacked Julio¡¯s toes with a small hammer, causing him to yelp. ¡°Fool. He¡¯s gonna see it anyway when yer done. We¡¯re testing ¡®ere, make yerself useful.¡±


    Julio begrudgingly agreed and took out a few papers with mock-up versions of the runes. It was common practice to write them down on paper or waste-materials to practise before doing it on the actual weapon.


    Ares activated his Celestial Prisms¡¯ Omniscience and gave each of the runes a looksie. Every rune was a long combination of myriad symbols. Normally, a runemancer would have to do varying mathematical equations to work out what each symbol should be and where it would go, but Ares could just see the answers. While everyone else was taking a test, he was just staring at the cheat sheet. The defensive setup was a little more complicated though, but not by much. The defensive runes were referred to as ¡®rune layers¡¯. Rune layers were barriers that protected the main rune from prying eyes and attacks. It¡¯s impossible to damage the main rune without first going through the layers. How many layers there are and how long the code for each layer is, is dependent on how much time the runemancer has and how skilled they are when creating them. More often than not, the rune layers tend to be longer and more complicated than the main rune itself. Although Ares¡¯ Omniscience would just tell him the structure of the main rune, he had to cycle through every available option for each part of the rune layer that defended it. He would start in slot one and flick through every single known rune like a spinning slot machine until he found one that stood out to him with a bright, golden glow that indicated a correct answer. Other runemancers wouldn¡¯t see that glow and had to do things the hard way. Dismantling rune layers for Ares was just a matter of time based on how many slots each layer had and how many layers there were guarding the main rune. As for the main rune, as demonstrated previously, Ares could just flick them if need be. Ares, with one glance, already knew the runic structure and started copying them down to show Julio and double-check.


    ¡°Tsk, bastard. They¡¯re all perfect,¡± Julio commented in disgust. ¡°Whatever, those are just the main runes. Those types of runes are just the base, they need to be altered to specifically match the weapon. Every weapon is unique, so even if you know the main runes, you won¡¯t be able to use them willy-nilly.¡± Julio snorted.


    Ares looked over at the shield and an ethereal rune combination appeared in front of him and him alone. The rune combination was a slightly longer version of one of the basic runes with a few holes in it. Those holes were the specific changes the shield required to adapt the rune. Unfortunately for Julio¡¯s sanity, those blanks were rapidly filling in. Ares wrote the altered rune down on a piece of paper and gave it to Julio, who inspected it while writing down various calculations. This process alone took Julio ten minutes, one minute for each blank space Ares had filled in.


    Thud


    Dabble sighed. ¡°I guess that¡¯s his way of saying yer correct.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I guess I can create runes with this too. That¡¯s good to know.¡± Ares nodded. ¡°Suppose I might as well do the inscriptions for Enyo¡¯s shield then and see how things go.¡± Ares got to work and started adjusting the base runes to fit on the shield before then using mana to etch them into the Aegis. When each rune was finished, they would fade into a single, tiny shape (one that was dependent on the type of art it bestowed the user) and would only require a single press or chant to activate. Ares would then put multiple rune layers (AKA rune locks stacked on top of each other) on them to make sure they weren¡¯t just removed mid-combat by a runemancer. These rune layers didn¡¯t have to be too plentiful, or strong, as it was a lot harder to analyse and calculate weapon runes while they were in the middle of being swung at you. Still though, Ares put up multiple, highly complicated rune layers, as well as a rune lock, to ward off the nosy. This was for Enyo after all. 15 minutes later, Ares had implemented all four runes successfully and tested them all. His shaping of the shield previously had done a number of favours for it, and it was far easier to utilise the runes compared to what the earlier iteration would have been like. Between the single minute he¡¯d taken to create the shield, and the 15 he¡¯d used for the runes, Ares had done in 16 minutes what would have taken the two greatest experts in the sect about 160 days to complete fully even if they rushed.


    Julio had awoken and was looking down and out with dead-fish eyes as he spoke half-heartedly, ¡°I know now why it¡¯s called the destruction pillar. I can see all of my hopes and dreams, fading away in the ashes¡­¡±


    ¡°Laddie, I know yer already doing a lot for teh sect, but could ye do one more thing?¡±


    Ares could see where this was going. ¡°Create and enchant weapons, then sell them for cheap at my stall like with the Shock Beads? Sure, I don¡¯t mind kitting everyone out. I¡¯ll start with weapons, as I¡¯m comfortable with them, and I¡¯ll focus on armour after I¡¯ve learnt the ins and outs of the different types of designs.¡±


    ¡°Many thanks.¡± Dabble appreciated Ares being agreeable. ¡°Ah, I suppose ye would want to make the Black Ice Bane on yer own then? Ye can just take the materials and make Julio cough up the runes, and ye should be good to go from there.¡±


    Ares looked at Julio who pouted miserably again. ¡°Don¡¯t wanna.¡±


    Dabble grumbled and took out his small hammer as he advanced toward Julio.


    Smack


    Crack


    Bonk


    Julio was lying battered and bruised on the floor as Dabble rummaged around through his spatial ring and personal belongings. ¡°Ah, found it.¡± Dabble handed over the papers with the runes.


    Ares thanked Dabble and Julio before leaving and heading back home. He stopped off on the way as he realised he¡¯d forgotten to do something for Enyo¡¯s Steadfast Aegis. He hadn¡¯t put the cleaning rune on! He¡¯d already used Omniscience on the cleaning rune before so he could easily tack it onto the shield in a few minutes. Although it was a rune from a higher domain, it was quite a simple one, and applying it took hardly any time at all. He then went back home and went inside. He petted Leo, who was lying around lazily, and walked into the living room to find Enyo and Allie chatting. Appa and Aejaz were probably cultivating. ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°Hello handsome.¡± Enyo winked at Ares while Allie was blushing in embarrassment at her sister¡¯s brazen display.


    ¡°Well, if you''re going to compliment me, how could I not give you a present?¡± Ares took the shield out and handed it over to Enyo. ¡°Here you go, beautiful.¡±


    ¡°That was fast. I¡¯m guessing you had something to do with it?¡± Enyo smiled as she inspected her new weapon.


    ¡°Yep, I did all the runes. I also added the cleaning one because you seem to really like that one.¡±


    Enyo put the shield away and got up to hug Ares. ¡°Thank you, it¡¯s perfect.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad then, it matches you.¡± Ares lightly kissed her cheek but that was all it took to send Enyo on the warpath.


    ¡°It¡¯s my turn to be in charge by the way.¡± Enyo licked her lips and dragged Ares off to their room for fun, leaving a bewildered Allie blinking repeatedly to herself.


    Enyo¡¯s turn for what now? Allie thought to herself. She couldn¡¯t figure it out, so she didn¡¯t waste any more time thinking about it and instead took out one of Aejaz¡¯ novels to read.


    A while later, Aejaz came out from the cultivation room and sat down next to Allie who kept reading while leaning on Aejaz. Aejaz wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they looked at each other and smiled. They were feeling more and more comfortable with each other with every passing day. It was quite similar to Enyo gradually becoming accustomed to having her helmet off the more she did it. Aejaz took the initiative to go for a kiss when the eye contact lasted a little longer than he originally anticipated. Allie closed her eyes and put the book down so she could focus on kissing him. Allie was still quite nervous about it all, and her heart was beating quickly, but she enjoyed it. Aejaz decided to be a bit daring and poke her lips with his tongue.


    ¡°Hm!?¡± Allie instinctively moved back out of shock and opened her eyes to see Aejaz with a guilty look on his face.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I just¡­ I just got caught up in the moment. I should have asked before doing tha¡­¡±


    Allie fought against her uneasiness and placed both of her hands on Aejaz¡¯ face, and her lips back on his, to interrupt him. Aejaz was startled as she¡¯d never been the one to kiss him before, but that wasn¡¯t all. Allie, with her eyes clenched shut, worked her tongue into the mix. She aimlessly wandered until Aejaz brought his tongue to hers, causing her to let out a cute, muffled yelp when they touched. Aejaz shifted position to get comfortable for a long kissing session, and was about to take charge¡­


    ¡°Where¡¯s mum and dad?¡±


    Aejaz and Allie separated in a panic and cursed their luck as this was the second time Appa had interrupted them. ¡°Appa¡­ could you learn to read the room?¡± Aejaz mumbled with red cheeks.


    ¡°Dad told me not to worry about that. He said if you two are doing this stuff in the living room, then you have no one to blame but yourselves.¡±


    Aejaz was about to complain when he realised Ares was actually just right.


    Allie took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°Enyo said something about it being her ¡®turn¡¯. I don¡¯t know what that means, but they¡¯re in their bedroom right now.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, maybe I should wait until they come out.¡± Appa tilted its head while thinking.


    Aejaz remembered the two times Appa had interrupted them, as well as everything Ares had put him through in the snatcher town in regards to Allie and Zhang. ¡°It¡¯s fine, they probably aren¡¯t doing anything that you definitely shouldn¡¯t interrupt right now. Go say hello to them. I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be more than happy to see you right now.¡± Aejaz snickered evilly and explained the situation to Allie as Appa floated off into the hallway.


    ¡°... Is that what they mean when they say they¡¯re going to have ¡®fun¡¯?¡± Allie asked.


    ¡°I have no idea what else they¡¯d be doing. But damn, they¡¯re seriously like rabbits those two.¡±


    ¡°... Will we also¡­ do it a lot?¡±


    ¡°... I think that primarily depends on you. I mean, I¡¯d like to do it a lot, but, as far as I can tell, women have a lot more say over how often it happens than men.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Um, then I want to keep kissing like before. It felt good.¡± Admitting that made Allie¡¯s cheeks flare up.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the room this time.¡±


    Meanwhile Ares and Enyo nearly had a heart attack when Appa burst into the room while they were naked and having fun with each other. Thankfully, they were in a position that at least allowed them to cover up quickly, but that didn¡¯t mean Appa saw nothing either. ¡°Mummy, what were you doing to daddy just now?¡±


    Enyo, who had just been drip-feeding Ares his own cowper fluids and choking him while grinding her lower half against his chest, replied surprisingly calmly, ¡°Daddy can get quite mouthy sometimes, so I was just putting daddy and his dirty mouth in their place. Don¡¯t worry though, we were having fun.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s fun, can I do it?¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Both Enyo and Ares freaked out and hurriedly denied the horribly mis-informed request to participate in their fun-time.


    ¡°Oh, ok. I wanted hugs, but I wasn¡¯t sure if I should come in or not. I found aunty and uncle smooching, and Aejaz told me it would definitely be ok for me to come in here.


    ¡°Oh, he did, did he?¡± Ares grumbled in his ¡®death-approacheth¡¯ voice.


    Appa floated onto the bed and found an obstacle in its path. Appa used its rope to try and flatten out a strange road bump that was poking up through the covers.


    ¡°A¡­ Appa don¡¯t do that,¡± Ares spoke to Appa as though he were convincing it to step away from a ledge.


    ¡°But it¡¯s in the way.¡± Appa attempted to prod it one more time before Ares twisted to the side.


    Enyo rolled her eyes as the mysterious bump was now rubbing up against her thighs. She clamped her legs shut on it so she could detain the foreign object and inspect it in greater detail later. ¡°Appa, sweetie, that¡­ Protuberance¡­ Is Ares'' friend. It doesn¡¯t like being poked, so don¡¯t do that anymore, ok?¡±


    ¡°Ok. What¡¯s Daddy¡¯s friend¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°... White Camel.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Ares lost his mind.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s white, has rideable humps and, when attacked, it spits.¡±


    ¡°... That¡¯s¡­ oddly accurate, but I beg you, please don¡¯t call it that.¡±


    Appa sat on Ares'' side. ¡°A camel? Can I ride White Camel?¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Ares and Enyo cried out in unison again.


    ¡°Oh, I get it. He¡¯s Shy!¡±


    ¡°... Yes.¡± Ares took the easy but awkwardly shameful way out of this conversation. ¡°Appa, could you give Enyo and I 30 more minutes to finish up what we were doing? We¡¯ll give you all the hugs you want after, and I¡¯ll make you some food too, ok?¡±


    ¡°Okey doke!¡± Appa floated out of the room and closed the door behind it.


    ¡°Where were we?¡± Enyo tweaked Ares'' nipples and bit his shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you were feeding me a dromedary¡¯s saliva.¡±


    Enyo snickered. ¡°Idiot. Let¡¯s put that mouth of yours to good use for once. God I can¡¯t wait to make you stick that despicable tongue inside me.¡± Enyo roughed up Ares for the next 30 minutes and they then cleaned themselves up before going back into the living room.


    Ares had made sure to clean all the marks Enyo had left on him so as not to have a repeat of earlier. Ares kinda wished he had armour too as then he could keep his ¡®battle scars¡¯ a little longer, he was as partial to them as Enyo was. He found Appa sitting on a chair at the dining table, happily bobbing its head in whichever direction took its fancy, while waiting for its Snappas.


    Ares ignored Aejaz, who smirked at him, as Ares was a high-brow individual who would not associate himself with the pettiness of others and also because he was going to pay that fucker right back anyway.


    Ares made the food for everyone and came back into the living room to give everyone their dishes. It was when Ares sat down that Aejaz started getting antsy.


    ¡°Uh, Ares? Where¡¯s my food?¡± Aejaz was anxiously searching the table for his non-existent dinner.


    ¡°Strange. I kept telling myself to make it, but I guess my thought process got interrupted. Apologies, I appear to have cocked up and had some kind of mental block.¡±


    ¡°This is cruel and unusual punishment!¡±


    ¡°Oh, quit whining already. You share your tongue with Allie, I¡¯m sure you can manage some food if you¡¯re that desperate.¡± Ares turned to Enyo and Appa who were eating away at their respective meals. ¡°I was thinking maybe we could leave the sect after and go and fetch Appa¡¯s adoption papers, or at least get the ball rolling on the process anyway.¡±


    Appa looked expectantly up at Enyo. ¡°Can we!? Can we can we can we!?¡±


    Enyo lovingly stroked Appa¡¯s head. ¡°We can.¡±


    ¡°YAY!¡±


    Aejaz¡¯ stomach rumbled and Ares felt like his brother had learned a suitable enough lesson, so he brought out some extra food and gave it to him. ¡°Jeeze, you don¡¯t have to eat that fast. I¡¯m not gonna take it away from you, you know? You¡¯re eating faster than even Leo does.¡±


    Meow (It¡¯s true, look at that greedy guts go! Although, admittedly, I was planning on stealing some when he wasn¡¯t looking¡­) Leo, who was resting on Allie¡¯s lap after finishing its food, mewed in agreement.


    ¡°By the way, I can understand Leo now.¡± Enyo brought up something she¡¯d been meaning to for a while now, ¡°Did you get anything from me?¡±


    Ares thought hard for a good 20 seconds. ¡°I don¡¯t know. If you got one of my bloodline abilities, then maybe I gained yours? Lie to me real quick.¡±


    ¡°I hate you.¡±


    Ares could feel a rush of cold blood running through his veins, which was indicative of a lie. ¡°Well, I''ll be damned, it seems I¡¯ve inherited your bloodline lie-detector.¡±


    ¡°What the hell? That¡¯s not even a remotely fair trade!¡± Enyo fussed.


    ¡°You never know, maybe you¡¯ll get something better later when we go further.¡±


    ¡°I want it now.¡±


    Ares rolled his eyes. ¡°I know exactly what you want ¡®now¡¯.¡±


    Meow (Ugh, do you two horny freaks ever stop?)


    Enyo nudged Ares. ¡°Great, even Leo¡¯s telling us to get a room now too. By the way, since when can you talk to animals anyway?¡±


    ¡°Ah, it happened back in Baja, a little bit before I killed the mecha-dryad. I was looking for a place to keep the hydra deer safe and tried bargaining with the treetop tigers. Halfway into the negotiations, the ability sort of just came online. It¡¯s really strange though, as it doesn¡¯t feel like it¡¯s from the same bloodline as my revenant abilities. Maybe I¡¯ve inherited more than one bloodline, and maybe this one is from someone who married a revenant but wasn¡¯t one themself? Unless, of course, someone in my family history could speak to animals, but it doesn¡¯t feel that way. The bloodline doesn¡¯t feel like it came from a revenant at all. It still feels animalistic, but while the revenant bloodline gives a more wild and imposing kingly feel to it, this new one feels more powerful, more stoic and ancient. They definitely are different enough to lead me to believe it¡¯s not a revenant bloodline.¡±


    ¡°That would make sense. Isn¡¯t awakening multiple bloodlines rare though? Lucky you. Still, I wish I¡¯d gotten something from the revenant bloodline. It just seems objectively better than being able to communicate with animals, not that that doesn¡¯t have its uses too. Oh well, if I want something from your revenant bloodline¡­¡± Enyo licked her lips playfully. ¡°... Then I guess I¡¯ll just have to wring it out of you¡­ The hard way.¡±


    Ares couldn¡¯t tell if he should be incredibly excited or incredibly worried but, either way, it was a problem for future Ares to deal with.


    Enyo, Ares and Appa finished their food and set off to go pay a visit to the town hall. The procedure for adoption papers was pretty quick when it came to shades so, predictably, it wouldn¡¯t take up the rest of the evening. Ares still wanted to forge his Black Ice Bane later so he could start training with it tomorrow. There was always an adjustment period when it came to using a new weapon, especially if it came with new runes and possibilities. Ares and Enyo couldn¡¯t help but smile dotingly as Appa cheerfully swayed around as it walked. Appa was like an excited child hopping, skipping, and jumping its way to a candy store. Well, it couldn¡¯t technically do any of those things as it floated everywhere, but that was certainly the vibe it was giving off.


    They eventually arrived at the hall which, luckily, happened to be devoid of any queues. Most people never really needed much from the town hall so it was usually rather empty to begin with, but today was particularly quiet. Ares walked up to a specific desk as he recognised an old friend, both in the sense that Ares had known him for a while now and also because the man was borderline prehistoric.


    The man¡¯s skin was dotted with the tell-tale signs of age, but that was in sharp contrast to his razor keen gaze. The man had a cane by his side and was wearing old-fashioned, brown clothes with a boater hat parked scrupulously atop his grey hair. All in all, for an old man, he was quite good looking. He would definitely be getting his fair share of action in a retirement home if ever he went to one.


    ¡°Hey Hans, long time no see.¡±


    Hans looked up from his paperwork at the sound of a familiar voice he hadn¡¯t heard in a while. ¡°Ares, my boy, take a seat.¡± Hans gestured towards the cantilever chairs across from him.


    Ares obliged, sat down, and leaned in closer so he could speak softly without being overheard, ¡°How¡¯s business been?¡±


    Hans whipped out a cigar and flicked open his lighter with a ¡®chink¡¯. He didn¡¯t raise the lighter to the cigar in his mouth and, yet, when he rolled the spark wheel down, clicking it into place, the cigar was set alight anyway. Forget raising the lighter to the cigar, there hadn¡¯t even been a flame visible to the naked eye. Hans¡¯ ¡®Covert Crimson¡¯ unique aspect, which came under the fire pillar, was undoubtedly as insidious as ever. ¡°Annoyingly, it¡¯s picked up as of late. I¡¯m guessing you haven¡¯t been in town?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, went on a little excursion.¡±


    ¡°With ¡®Jazzy boy too? He hasn¡¯t been buzzing around my grand-daughter recently, so it¡¯s safe to assume he tagged along, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, he won¡¯t come hovering around Missy anymore even now that he¡¯s back.¡±


    Hans puffed a ring of smoke and tapped the cigar with his thumb to knock off some ash. ¡°Ha, that sorry sap finally figured out she was pulling his strings?¡±


    ¡°That too, I suppose. He¡¯s in love now; that''s the main reason.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Well, I¡¯m glad for the lad. I was almost starting to pity him, you know? So, what brings you here today then? Proper business or business proper?¡±


    ¡°Just some regular old day-to-day business for now. I¡¯ll get back to work on that side of things later after the tournament has settled down, maybe even do some work during it, if I can find the time.¡±


    ¡°Ahh, that¡¯s right, the tournament completely slipped my mind. Perhaps ¡®cos those young¡¯uns kept getting their arses thrashed and I could no longer bear watching them lose year-in year-out. Well, now that you¡¯re involved, we should at least win something for once. That¡¯ll be a nice change of pace for sure. Maybe we can even turn that win into something useful for this city. That aside, you don¡¯t strike me as the kind of person to visit town hall. You¡¯re more likely the kind of person to blow it up if anything. I¡¯m guessing whatever you¡¯re here for involves these two patient lasses?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Hans, I¡¯d like you to meet Appa and Enyo. Appa and Enyo, this is Hans.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Likewise,¡± Hans tipped his hat as he responded to Enyo.


    ¡°Hel~lo,¡± Appa sang in good spirits and bobbed on top of Enyo¡¯s lap.


    Ares patted Appa on the head. ¡°Long story short, like Aejaz, I¡¯ve fallen in love, and quite helplessly at that. We¡¯re looking for adoption papers so Enyo and I can become Appa¡¯s parents in an official capacity.¡±


    Hans chuckled as he signalled to a nearby worker to go fetch the appropriate papers. ¡°Ah youth. I remember when you first showed up, and now look at you, eh? All grown up, wooing a woman and fostering a kid. I must say, you two seem like a good match. I always thought you, Ares, would do well with a person that has a strong enough will to rein you in from time to time. I dare say you¡¯ve found the perfect other half. Congratulations sonny. Don¡¯t forget to invite this old man here to your wedding down the line.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still a way away due to some unfortunate circumstances, but of course I¡¯ll invite you. If I didn¡¯t invite you of all people, then who would I invite? The Chen clan?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way sonny, but you''re absolutely the type of guy to dig up Farro¡¯s grave and give his skeleton a front row seat.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Ares hesitated to finish his refutation as Enyo¡¯s helmet turned to face him with a steely, questioning gaze. ¡°... Admittedly can¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t consider it.¡±


    Hans snorted and did the ¡®wrapped around her finger¡¯ motion as a secretary handed over the papers. He watched the secretary leave in the wrong direction and brought out the lighter again. He rolled his eyes as the secretary yelped, abandoning all hope of sneaking off to chat with her friend. ¡°If a tree in the woods falls down, and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Just ¡®cos there ain¡¯t no one here, doesn¡¯t mean that paperwork of yours is gonna vanish, hon. Chop chop.¡± Hans turned back to Ares and sighed. ¡°Impossible to find good help these days. You have to literally light a fire under their arses half the damn time to get ¡®em moving.¡±


    ¡°Have you tried giving them a decent wage?¡±


    ¡°Hell no. Not like I can anyway, we earn less money here than a manaless, ripe skrank lizzle in a Dwarfingdom brothel.¡±


    Appa tilted its head curiously at the funny man¡¯s funny remark, not having understood a single word as it was unfamiliar with many races and cultures. Ares re-adjusted Appa¡¯s leaning head as he listened to Hans while filling out the documents. When he was done, Enyo started doing it too.


    ¡°Makes you wonder, dun it? What exactly are the people in charge of this city doing with all those damn bribes? Are they shoving it up their arses? Are they using it as fucking tinder? Tsk, assholes,¡± Hans grumbled.


    Enyo had jotted down everything that was necessary and Hans gave everything a once-over. Normally there¡¯d be documents for the adopt-ee to sign, but shades couldn¡¯t exactly use pens proficiently. Instead, the shade would just be asked a very simple question. ¡°Do you love these two people?¡± Hans had already ticked the yes box, as he could tell without asking, but procedure was procedure after all.


    ¡°Very much! I love dad, and I love mum!¡±


    Hans'' lips curved upward as the shade reminded him of the child he himself once had. A bittersweet memory. ¡°Take good care of those two, you hear?¡±


    Ares nodded with a sympathetic look. ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Good. Your documentation will be ready to pick up tomorrow. See ya round, kiddo.¡±


    ¡°See ya round, Hans.¡± Ares stood up to leave and took Appa by the rope to walk outside.


    Enyo, however, stopped and turned around to ask Hans a question. She went outside after getting her answer, and went over to Ares to tell him she had to go do something and that she would be back in a few minutes. Ares was stumped as to where she could possibly be going, but paid it no mind and waited around. During the wait, Hans¡¯ work-shift must have ended as he came up behind Ares and patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°That one¡¯s seriously a keeper. You¡¯ve found yourself a good, lifelong partner.¡± Hans left before Ares had a chance to question why he was bringing that up.


    Ares already knew that Enyo was great, but what did Enyo ask Hans that prompted him to mention it? It¡¯s not like there was any reason to sit around and ponder excessively about it though, so, instead, Ares went into a nearby shop and bought Appa something he could tell it would absolutely love playing with.


    Pop


    Bubble wrap.


    Pop

 Chapter 50: Broaden One’s Vraizon

    Domains are a tricky subject. Depending on who you ask, and what kind of question you ask, you¡¯ll receive many different answers. For instance, if you were to ask someone like Dirk how many domains there are, his answer would be four. Four domains positioned in the shape of a ladder in which every step you climb upwards leads to a new rung/domain.


    Twei Domain ¡ú Speecal Domain ¡ú Sheryashka Domain ¡ú Vraizon Domain


    Currently, Ares lives in the Sherayska Domain, in Central land, in the Red Region, in Red Sun City. This knowledge is limited, however. If you were to ask someone slightly more clued-in, like Bellona, their response would be that there are six domains.


    Twei Domain ¡ú Speecal Domain ¡ú Sheryashka Domain ¡ú Vraizon Domain ¡ú Dueuer Domain ¡ú Garson Domain


    The gap between the Vraizon Domain and the Dueuer Domain is currently severed thanks to the happenings of the Umbra Wolf clan, as previously explained by Charity and Gladius. For reference, the Vraizon Domain is the one in which The Perpetual Massacre Zone exists, and the war between the four clans: Legion, Willow, Umbra Wolf, and Starlight, rages on. The Dueuer Domain is where Atria once ruled, and is also currently the place where all other Revenants have been banished to the dark depths of existence. Finally, the Garson domain is where Ashley and Pei are currently leading a revolt against his majesty, the king. And yet, even this knowledge isn¡¯t much in the grand scheme of things. If you were to ask someone like Ashley how many domains there are, he would be unable to give you a definite answer. His response would likely be something along the lines of, ¡®too many to count¡¯. The reason for this is twofold; for starters, there are more domains after the Garson Domain. Secondly, unbeknownst to most, there are actually more domains before the Garson Domain. Take the domain in which Dominus lived, that domain is higher on the metaphorical ladder than the Garson domain, but is currently unreachable as the Primordial Blade has essentially formed a containment zone around the seven known domains. No one is able to go any higher. In addition, no one is able to go sideways.


    While it¡¯s certainly accurate to think of domains as a ladder, it¡¯s unwise to think there is only a single ladder in existence. In actual fact, there are multiple ladders lined up next to each other, forming a circle of ladders. Originally, in addition to going up a domain, it would also be possible to go sideways into another domain.


    Unknown Domain ¡ú Unknown Domain


    ¡ü                                 ¡ü


    Sheryashka        ¡ú         Vraizon


    ¡ý                                 ¡ý


    Unknown Domain ¡ú Unknown Domain


    And so on and so forth. However, as mentioned previously, the Primordial Blade is currently preventing anyone from going higher than the Garson Domain, as well as stopping anyone from going sideways.


    Unknown Domain   ¡ú   Unknown Domain


    ¡ü                                  ¡ü


    Primordial Blade interference


    ¡ü                         ¡ü


    Dueuer      ¡ú     Garson     ¡ú    Primordial Blade interference ¡ú Unknown Domain


    ¡ý                      ¡ý


    Primordial Blade interference


    ¡ý                         ¡ý


    Unknown Domain  ¡ú Unknown Domain


    Usually, domains that are side by side have equivalent military strength as potential for cultivation is decided by how high on the ladder you are. These ladders form a circle and, eventually, wrap around so, while there are a ludicrous number of domains, the number is not infinite and every ladder leads to the same peak. For people living in domains outside of the containment of the Primordial Blade, this is considered common knowledge. But what about what exists above that peak? What about the Gods? What about the pillars? What about the truth behind the existence of the anomaly that formed the universe? In actuality, there are very few people that know everything there is to know.


    It could be said that Ares was somewhat knowledgeable about these things thanks to the information he received from the Primordial Blade, and thus so too were Aejaz and Enyo (Aejaz less so as he never directly interacted with the blade). For instance, Ares knew that pillars weren¡¯t just theoretical, he knew that they actually physically existed. There were still gaps in his knowledge though. Things like: while calling his destruction pillar unique is technically correct, it would be more accurate to call it a ¡®fundamental pillar¡¯, or that there are six fundamental pillars in total. Ares was also unaware that, for every pillar, there existed a corresponding God, excluding the fundamental pillars. He also didn¡¯t know why six people who could utilise these fundamental pillars, including himself, came into existence for the first time in history. Ares was supposed to know these things and more but, regrettably, he¡¯d been assigned the God of fire as his mentor; a God so lazy he would make Rud look energetic in comparison. The god of fire also had somewhat of a reputation for being a bit¡­ Well, a bit dumb. As there was no God of destruction, it was unanimously decided the God of fire was the closest existence to Ares and that he was supposed to guide him forward. SUPPOSED TO. In actuality, after being assigned what could be considered an imperative, momentous task, the God of fire took a nap. In contrast, the other five fundamental pillar wielders knew these things as their mentor-Gods were considerably less carefree. It would come as quite a shock to Ares that there were other ¡®unique¡¯ pillars, especially seeing as how the first one he would come across could be considered his own pillar¡¯s ideological antithesis. But that, in addition to the hidden truths of this world, would be a story for a little later.


    ---------------------------------


    Somewhere in a corner of the Vraizon Domain, in The Perpetual Massacre Zone (or TPMZ for short), a motherly woman sat comfortably in a wicker armchair. She was a woman with an amicable smile perpetually on her face and she gave off a gentle, tender aura as her bushy, grey tail swayed back and forth in a way that was rhythmic and soothing to the eye. Her movements were gentle and elegant as she poured freshly brewed lemon tea into her finest China. She wore a black cotton dress in memory of the death of a loved one, although not her husband as he was, very much, still alive and kicking. There was a small, soft-pink bow in her blonde hair. She closed her eyes as she brought the tea to her mouth and took in the herbal aroma before finally taking a sip. She was sitting opposite an empty, brown-leather sofa, waiting for a guest to arrive.


    A maid walked into the reception room, bowed, and spoke, ¡°Ma¡¯am, she¡¯s arrived. Should I let her in?¡±


    KNOCK KNOCK


    The genteel woman, while still innocently smiling, kissed her teeth at the obnoxiously loud beatdown the front door was currently receiving. If this was the first time the maid had seen this, she probably would have been horrified that such a kindly soul had such a deeply-rooted venomous side, but she had grown accustomed to this behaviour by now. It was pretty well known that the woman before the maid was outwardly charming, but inwardly wily and vicious.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t let her in,¡± the woman¡¯s voice was like fine silk laced with poison, but still she smiled.


    ¡°Understood. Shall I inform Aster of her arrival?¡±


    ¡°No need, if that man knows what¡¯s good for him, he¡¯ll steer clear of that hussy.¡±


    The maid bowed and left as this matter no longer concerned her, plus, she didn''t want to stand in front of the wall for too long as the knocking had stopped, and that could only mean one thing.


    CRASH


    The outer wall was smashed into smithereens with bits of brick flying off in every direction other than towards the smiling, seated lady and her China set. Through the gap, expansive farmland and rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see with countless labourers hard at work in preparation for the upcoming winter. One shirtless, particularly butch man wiped the sweat from his brow under the scorching sun with his foot resting on a bale of hay. He stood tall with his muscles gleaming and a head of wheat between his sharp fangs that formed a cocky grin. He heard the crumbling of the mansion wall, looked over, and scarpered with a look of panic on his face as soon as he saw his wife¡¯s smile widen dangerously as she sipped on her tea again.


    ¡°Tsk, Aster¡¯s still as cowardly around you as ever, huh?¡± A woman with a militaristic cadence was standing in the remains of the decimated wall with her hands on her hips and her head shaking in disappointment. She was the walking definition of brute strength, brute force, and brutish behaviour. She was adorned with a few medals on her sleek, white armour, and kicked aside the bricks at her feet with her muddy boots and rampant indifference. Her golden beige face was well-defined and every part of it screamed unrelenting pride, violence, and most importantly, violence. Yes, there was in fact so much violence, it simply had to be stated twice. This woman was a force of nature if ever there was one. As an aside, her relatively small mouth was a trait that had been inherited by every single one of her children, making them all very recognisable within the clan if you kept an eye out for that particular feature.


    ¡°Oh~my, that wall was rather expensive, Rh~ea.¡± The motherly woman kept smiling but closed her eyes so as not to give away the fact that she was obviously displeased. She still couldn¡¯t help but intentionally let her agitation seep into her otherwise calm voice. Her agitation didn¡¯t stop her from pouring tea into an empty cup on the opposite side of the table, though.


    ¡°Then maybe you should stop ignoring me whenever I come around. How many times have I broken that wall anyway? I swear it gets sturdier every time¡­¡± Rhea grumbled and hopped over the sofa before taking a seat on it and reaching for the tea. She took a sip and frowned bitterly. ¡°Seriously, where¡¯s the good stuff!? Margaret only ever gives out coffee, and Serene refuses to drink anything that isn¡¯t water; that pompous bitch. Are all of you hiding your alcohol from me?¡± Rhea complained grudgingly.


    ¡°The last thing a woman like you needs is to get her hands on alcohol. Besides, the only other drink I have is hot-chocolate for my adorable little babies,¡± the woman¡¯s tone took a drastic shift when referring to her children and was more in line with what you would expect given her warm, outward appearance.


    ¡°Yes, yes, you overbearing mother. I get it. You love your children. Even still, can you stop taking out that incident on me? It¡¯s bad enough you go on a yearly rampage over at the Legion clan base, at least have the decency to let me in through the damn door.¡± Rhea sighed in exasperation at the woman¡¯s pettiness. Refusing to open the door for Rhea was a common occurrence and was really just a small, token symbol of resistance given the incident that she had never really forgiven Rhea for, even if it wasn¡¯t directly her fault. Rhea would never tell her to stop though, not only did she not have the strength to forcibly stop the antics of the lunatic woman in front of her, Rhea felt truly sorry for what happened.


    ¡°Hm? But if I let you in through the door, you wouldn¡¯t get to see Aster working the fields.¡±


    ¡°Oh please. If I ever even spoke one word to him, you¡¯d probably castrate the poor bastard. He knows it too, which is why he took off running the second he saw us. Speaking of which, how many times do I have to tell you I¡¯ve accepted that I can¡¯t have him anymore? You already won his affection all those years ago and left me with that stuck-up Legion clan bastard, have some mercy and at least let me talk to him every now and then.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the woman refused Rhea bluntly while still smiling. ¡°So? What are you here for? The four matriarch¡¯s gathering is still some time from now, and it hasn¡¯t been that long since your last visit,¡± the woman spoke with a sharp edge to her words despite sounding outwardly cordial.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost time for the international down in the Sheryashka Domain¡­ You¡¯re going again, right?¡± Rhea¡¯s question was twofold.


    ¡°To the international? Yes, of course, I want to see my babies compete.¡±


    ¡°... And?¡±


    ¡°To the Legion clan after for my yearly murder spree? Of course?¡± despite the horrifying nature of her words, the woman declared her intentions as though everything she was saying was completely natural. Then again, this had been happening consistently for just under twenty years now, so perhaps it was.


    ¡°You might find him, Calla¡­¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll reconsider, maybe.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s hoping.¡± Rhea genuinely wanted Calla to find the person she was looking for as, not only would it stop her hormonal rampaging, but also because it would bring Rhea¡¯s friend happiness and peace of mind.


    Calla was an utterly horrifying existence. In fact, she was the sole reason the war had lasted this long in the first place. One revenant alone held enough power to sway the balance, match all the other clan¡¯s patriarchs in a fight simultaneously and still win with relative ease. She was hands-down the strongest being on this side of the severed domain and none of the other matriarchs could beat her either despite being stronger than their respective patriarchs. For that reason, most of the war revolved around placating a single woman and, while that worked for a while, the plan had fallen through miserably about 18 years back. Originally, Calla didn¡¯t care for, or take part in, the war but one mistake was all it took to shake things up. The most the Legion, Willow, and Starlight clans could manage was allowing Calla to take her revenge yearly on the Legion clan and sustain a shaky half-truce for the rest of the year. Actually, none of the matriarchs really cared about the war and would frequently get together as good friends to casually discuss their lives. Things had gotten rather tense due to the incident, but there was still a friendly atmosphere for the most part, making for a complicated situation in which the four strongest people had no interest in fighting the war. To that end, the patriarchs were all constrained by their wives in various ways, and things had slowed down on the war front recently¡­ Minus the violent outbursts from the Umbra Wolf¡¯s matriarch, but no-one could stop them anyway and was thus treated as a natural disaster of sorts.


    ¡°Still, the international is a few weeks off. You seem bothered by something else, Rhea. Why are you really here?¡±


    Rhea sighed in an exaggerated fashion and slumped down into the sinking sofa. ¡°Sadie is keeping something from me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? She¡¯s the one you usually bring over, right? The one that our instructor really likes to spend time with instead of doing his job?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, her. I sent her down to Sheryashka to get some information on Enyo. You know what that girl is like, I worry about her. Sadie gave me a basic report, but it¡¯s far too basic. She¡¯s withholding something from me, and I want to know what.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how sad. Not knowing every single detail about your child must be oh~so infuriating.¡± Calla¡¯s tone indicated she wasn¡¯t happy in the slightest.


    ¡°Yeah, look, I know it¡¯s not much compared to your problem but, still. I¡¯m only curious because it¡¯s Enyo. I¡¯m thinking about going down early and having a look ¡®cos this whole situation bugs me.


    Rhea could¡¯ve sworn she saw Calla¡¯s eye twitch with indignation, and was momentarily nervous she was going to have to run for her life. Rhea complaining about not knowing minor details about her child was like a slap in the face for Calla whose youngest child was God knows where.


    ¡°That child of yours, Enyo, was certainly the most worrisome of them all. Even though she wasn¡¯t the most rigid, she certainly seemed to have the most daddy-issues.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, rub in the fact that you got one of the only two good husbands of the four matriarchs, why don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You know I get moody at this time of year.¡±


    ¡°I know, it¡¯s the same old song and dance. You go the international hoping to see your missing ¡®baby¡¯, you don¡¯t find him, and then you go and murder the people in the Legion clan who were responsible. I understand, really, I do, but you know we¡¯re running out of people that were involved in the incident?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll stop killing them, and start hitting you.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t. I¡¯ll seriously die you know?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, why not just wait? I doubt Sadie is keeping anything from you with ill intent. If I can wait for the international to start before going down, so can you. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll get upset and tag along on your little excursion.¡±


    Rhea immediately decided it wasn¡¯t worth it. Given Calla¡¯s nature, she was constantly under surveillance by all four clans. She was prohibited from leaving TPMZ unless it was strictly for her murder session or the international competition. If she broke those rules, the entirety of the other three clans would collectively band together and fight her, matriarchs included. She was just that much of a threat. Speaking of threats, Calla casually suggesting she would go along with Rhea to Sheryashka ahead of time was almost the same as indirectly declaring war on the entire domain. Naturally, Rhea winced at that thought and chose not to anger the sleeping dragon in front of her any further by speaking carelessly. The best-case scenario in that hypothetical war was mutual destruction, with countless hundreds of thousands losing their life to kill a single woman who would come back anyway as she was a revenant. Even the patriarchs weren¡¯t safe and some would probably die too. If nothing else could be taken away from this conversation, it was that the four matriarchs were seriously spooky women with some frightening firepower. Calla in particular was not to be trifled with.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Alright, calm down freak. I¡¯ll wait. On a separate note, have Serene and Margaret come around recently?¡±


    ¡°They have, yes. We had pretty similar conversations to this one, actually.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all in pretty similar situations, I suppose. What about Serene¡¯s son? The brat with the ¡®fundamental pillar¡¯, or whatever the hell it¡¯s called.¡±


    ¡°He left the clan about a year ago and should be taking part in the international competition, apparently.¡±


    ¡°He might be a problem when he gets older. That fundamental thing is seriously out of whack, and you revenants might have to fight that somehow if he doesn¡¯t leave first. How he performs against the revenants at the invitational is going to speak volumes about the direction the war could potentially end up going in depending on his involvement.¡±


    ¡°I believe in my sweet children. They¡¯ll find a way to deal with him and I¡¯ll reward them with the finest hot-chocolate and marshmallows after.¡± Calla¡¯s beaming smile was proud and oozing incredible warmth. ¡°I heard from Serene that the God following her son around, the God of Earth - Terros, told him to go and look for a certain someone, which is why he was sent down to Sheryashka in the first place. Between the fundamental pillar, the person he¡¯s looking for, my babies, Margaret¡¯s eccentric son with his bizarre unique aspect, and your children, this international should be fun to watch at least.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s certainly a lot going on. Will you be attending the pre-international party this time?¡±


    ¡°I guess so.¡±


    ¡°Try not to get too upset if he isn¡¯t there. Last time you got kicked out because of the fuss you made and couldn¡¯t watch the international after.¡±


    ¡°I know. It¡¯s strange, but my motherly senses are tingling¡­ I have a good feeling about this year.¡±


    ¡°... You¡¯re right, that is strange... Then again, if it¡¯s you, maybe it isn¡¯t.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Walking down the decorated halls of a lavish mansion located in a different corner of Vraizon, a monocle-d man Ares would have recognised as the core disciple who gave him a once-over before writing something on his palm the other day, was humming merrily. He fiddled with a silver pen of elegant design, spinning it in his hand as he occasionally glanced at the varying artworks that lined the walls; most of which displayed the likeness of relatives from bygone eras, the previous masters of the house. After a brief stroll, he arrived at the deepest part of the building, guarded by two well-dressed men.


    ¡°Madame has been expecting you,¡± one of the two men spoke in a forthright manner that conveyed the utmost respect. After saying his piece, the butler on the left bowed while the other on the right stood upright and saluted. They each kissed their teeth while evilly glancing sideways at one another, silently scorning their other half for having messed up their decorous greetings by being out of sync with one another. Both butlers immediately chose to correct their positions to match the other, only to end up reversing the situation.


    ¡°Botch, Gaffe, as raucous as your comedic double act may be, and while I do so enjoy watching it each and every time, I would rather not keep the lady of the house waiting as I¡¯ve important matters, and good tidings, I¡¯d like to discuss with her.¡±


    ¡°Understood, young master, please enter.¡± Botch stood aside and gestured inward with his palm outstretched. Gaffe, on the other hand, opened his segment of the double doors and walked into the room to hold it open from the inside. Both butlers kissed their teeth, and were about to move in order to rectify the situation, when the young master simply walked between them and left them to their own devices.


    The room was somewhat of a mock gallery with artistic creations propped up here and there. The walls were pure white and treated like a canvas with the occasional splotch of paint that had yet to take the form of anything concrete. It should be noted that the completed paintings were of astoundingly high quality and wouldn¡¯t be out of place should they find themselves one day gracing even the most renowned of museums with their presence. On the subject of presence, the woman at the centre of the room, controlling floating paint with movements akin to that of a high-class dance, was truly a stellar sight.


    ¡°Good evening mother Margaret, it has been an awfully long time since last we met. I trust you¡¯ve been well?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Margaret gave no response but, instead, wielded the paint to form a stunning scenery of idyllic grass plains. The air whistled and the grass swayed until a raging fire charred the land and set everything aflame. The spoliation was symbolic enough for the man watching to understand.


    ¡°I empathise. I too have experienced the folly of creation during a period in which my creativity was stifled. However, to continue during this period of stagnation is naught more than an exercise in farcical delusion and fallacious hope. A pointless endeavour, if ever there was one.¡± The man took out his notebook and, with great sleight of hand, jotted something down. Two burgundy armchairs, a dark-wooden table, and all the appropriate paraphernalia for coffee brewing materialised between the man and his mother. ¡°Rather than attempt to brute force the issue, why not take a break whilst cleansing your palate, so to speak.¡±


    Margaret sighed deeply and took a seat. ¡°It seems that, unlike my poor self, you appear to be doing just fine, Eagerton. I am jealous.¡± Margaret brewed coffee with a swiftness most impressive considering the delicate structure of her petite hands.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt, there¡¯s someone I wish to capture.¡±


    Margaret raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that so? They must be quite something to become the target of your imagination.¡±


    ¡°Rather, it¡¯s less imagination, which admittedly has been somewhat lacking as of late, and more so fascination that stimulates the imagination. As such, I wish to capture him for all eternity.¡±


    ¡°Do tell.¡± Margaret gestured her mug toward her son before taking a sip of her coffee.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t familiar with the happenings of Sheryashka, correct?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, no. When I go down for the international, I stay strictly within the confines of the upper areas of Red Sun, near the Heaven¡¯s Path sect.¡±


    ¡°Well, there were rather intriguing tales of a duo known as the bandit brothers in Red Sun that I learnt of recently. Regrettably, I never did have a chance to meet them, but I simply assumed it was nothing of great importance and left it at that. Recently, I¡¯ve been blessed with a chance to witness, first-hand, the talents of the brothers. I have reason to believe that one of the two will end up inspiring me and, as such, I wish to capture him. Truthfully, this is entirely for my sake, so I came to ask that you indulge in my selfishness. Of course, naturally, you may capture him yourself if you so wish.¡±


    ¡°You think him worthy of my time? That I should personally capture him? That¡¯s high praise if the suggestion is coming from you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a good chance he may have some manner of relation to¡­ That clan. If we don¡¯t capture him soon, it may be even more problematic than things are now.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? For now, capture him. Oh, and while you¡¯re at it, find out how your brother is doing. You know he won¡¯t talk to me, and it¡¯s not like I can visit Sheryashka anyway because of that damn nuisance of a matriarch, Calla.¡±


    Eagerton showed a troubled face and subconsciously tapped his finger on his leg. ¡°We¡­ don¡¯t exactly get along, so I can¡¯t promise he¡¯ll oblige to a request for an audience. Still, I shall try. Mayhap, should I involve sect leader Yulo, will the pestering finally drive him to a meeting out of sheer frustration to beg for some peace and quiet.¡±


    ¡°Quiet? Given his nature, I highly doubt that¡¯s something worth considering as being on his list of priorities. Still, he is my son, and I do care for him deeply. His creativity may be¡­ Unique, in comparison to the ¡®soulless-ness¡¯ of the rest of our clan, as he so terms it, but I do support the path he walks, even if his father does not. You''re the only family he has in Heaven¡¯s Path, so please do try to reach out to him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother. Is there anything else you¡¯d like for me to do?¡±


    ¡°No, I suppose not.¡± Margaret finished her coffee and the mug she was using vanished into thin air. ¡°Actually, that girl, Enyo, Rhea¡¯s daughter, should be in your sect, right?¡±


    ¡°That she is. I¡¯ve never spoken to her directly, but she managed to secure her position in the regionals with relative ease.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense, she is one of the stronger children to have come from us four matriarchs. On that note, I was considering setting up an arranged marriage, although I¡¯ve yet to discuss it with Rhea herself. What say you? Forming a deeper bond between our clans wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not going to happen for a multitude of reasons. For one, she doesn¡¯t inspire me. Two, Rhea would never allow an arranged marriage while she still lives and breathes. Lastly, and this is perhaps the most important of the reasons, she seems to have already fallen in love.¡±


    ¡°... What!? Enyo? I¡¯ve heard a lot about that girl, none of which would suggest she be the type to play around with a man. The last time I saw her, she mercilessly rejected her mother¡¯s request for a hug, and was too busy diligently studying under Sadie to even look in my direction. She was slowly developing in the direction of becoming a clone of her excessively regimented father. My imagination is as vast as the ocean, if admittedly perhaps a dried-up ocean currently but, even still, I can¡¯t picture it.¡±


    ¡°For even you to be unable to imagine something must mean it is absolutely incomprehensible. That being said, it¡¯s true. Enyo appeared to be actively ignoring Sadie to speak with him, and he even sat on her lap at one point. Plus, there are the various rumours that she sleeps at his house and so on, so forth.¡±


    ¡°... Rhea must not know. That¡¯s strange, Sadie should have informed her¡­ If Rhea did know, she would have gone berserk by now and destroyed a Legion base or two. I wonder what kind of man could have garnered the interest of a girl like Enyo?¡±


    ¡°Actually, funnily enough, it¡¯s the bandit brother I aim to capture.¡±


    ¡°Really!? Both you and Enyo share an interest in the same person!? How unorthodox must they be!? After your done capturing him, show him to me at the international. I simply must know more.¡±


    ¡°By all means. I¡¯ll be off then, mother.¡± Eagerton took a stand and returned to the door. As he was about to close it behind him, Margaret called out to him.


    ¡°Oh, it slipped my mind, but what is the fantastical individual¡¯s name?¡±


    Not wanting to take up too much more of his mother¡¯s time so she could get back to her artistic struggles, he responded while closing the door, ¡°If I recall correctly, I believe his name was Ares.¡±


    Thud


    As Eagerton left, although he paid it no further mind afterward, he could have sworn the door made a louder noise than usual when it was shut.


    ---------------------------------


    It should come as no surprise by this point that the leaders of the four major clans of the Vraizon domain were rather fond of mansions. Each had built their own, with their own unique designs, locations, and security systems in mind. The Starlight clan¡¯s mansion was situated behind a large gate at the end of a cobbled road, lined with ye olde shoppes. The entire planet it was located on felt like one giant, olden style town, and the fashion of the people living there matched accordingly with bowler hats, suits and fancy, colourful dresses being all the rage. Even though the civilization was relatively advanced, they still frequently utilised horse-drawn carriages for the sake of ambiance. As for security, as weird as it sounds, vigilantism was widely accepted and even passionately encouraged. It was a form of ¡®expression of the self¡¯ as they so called it. No one in their right mind was stupid enough to try and commit a crime on a planet full of whackos with the right to bare arms and use them at their own discretion. On a global, planetary scale, few people were in the know about an explosive weapon the Starlight¡¯s matriarch, Margaret, kept up her sleeve, known only as ¡®Pandora''s Pandemonium¡¯.


    The Legion clan was more militaristic in its values and that was reflected in the encampment-style layout. Everything was arranged in a manner best suited to defence against an invasion and there were a large number of medical and training facilities spread across the planet. The general theme of just about everything was white, and although that couldn¡¯t exactly be considered a ¡®theme¡¯ by anyone even remotely sensible, the planet itself looked almost like a chalk ball from a distance thanks to all the white buildings on its surface. In spite of the snowy-white onslaught on the eyes, everything was rather modern in design, more so than the other four clans at least anyway. It was hardly a planet filled with technological marvels, but it was certainly the most advanced with regards to military-grade weapons and systems. It would be more accurate to say that, in place of a security system, there was simply no crime to begin with. Rarely did anyone who wasn¡¯t a Legion clan member ever even visit the planet that they were based on, and finding a Legion clan member willing to commit a crime was effectively impossible given their strict adherence to moralistic virtues and justice. The patriarch¡¯s mansion was completely undecorated and everything within existed solely to serve its purpose. No fancy chairs, no pets (unless tamed for the use of combat), no beds more comfortable than the bare minimum, etc¡­ The Legion clan weren¡¯t without their own secret weapon up their sleeve, however. They possessed an autonomous robot with incredible latent talent for sabotage, assassination, information gathering, and other such stealth-oriented tasks, not in any way inferior in strength to one of the four matriarchs.


    Then there¡¯s the Umbra Wolves. A relatively simplistic people in terms of materialistic wants¡­ If you exclude ruling the world, supposedly. They¡¯re no strangers to harsh conditions and putting in the hard work necessary to get what they actually want. Given that they¡¯re currently fighting a war on three separate fronts, their workload is enough to kill a man. In fact, many have died, only to come right back, grow up, and do it all again. As a result of this, the Starlight¡¯s patriarch has gone on record saying, ¡®They aren¡¯t revenants, they¡¯re God-damn lemmings!¡± The Umbra Wolves¡¯ planet of choice is one fit for high-value farmland, fisheries, and procuring of reliable land-based food sources. The houses are middling at best, but the sense of family and camaraderie is unmatched by the other four clans and, despite the men¡¯s childish antics and the women¡¯s occasional malign streaks, there was a real sense of community. Then again, if they couldn¡¯t get along with each other, who else were they going to get along with? The rest of the world categorically hates them. On that note, naturally, their security system is¡­ Unique. It¡¯s common knowledge that revenants are universally considered to be ¡®the race that does the stupid shit¡¯; this may or may not be related to the fact that there isn¡¯t a single revenant that fears death. This may also be related to the fact that their entire planet is rigged to explode. Truly Ares¡¯ people. As an aside, not a single person has ever survived attacking the Umbra Wolves¡¯ planet during a full moon, regardless of the quality or quantity of soldiers sent.


    Lastly is the Willow clan, who are not-so lovingly referred to as ¡®tree-hugging hippies¡¯. In actuality, they¡¯re nature-attuned elves that frequently commune with spirits. Regular elves, high elves, dark elves, fur elves, and even hybrid elves born as a mix from other races, are all present and all live comfortably under one, united, banner. A polite tone and friendly mannerisms are typically commonplace among these peaceful folk, but they all harbour, deep within, a bloodthirsty side that secretly thirsts for war (See Julio¡¯s obsession with his axe. It¡¯s not just because it looks cool, but because he REALLY wants to swing it). Their planet is undoubtedly the healthiest of them all and reflects the general state of living. There is no pollution of any kind and every material or ingredient is both natural and recycled or used to the last drop. There is a fair few of what¡¯s referred to as ¡®mother trees¡¯ that are as tall as skyscrapers and fashioned into multi-story housing by expert carvers. The people who are higher up in the pecking order will often have an entire mother tree to themselves and their family. Nature is the Willow clan¡¯s guard against crime as the roots that run throughout the entire planet will actively seek to expunge any foreign anomalies looking to cause trouble. It is also rumoured that the matriarch is in possession of not just one, but two, fully tamed, fully grown Mecha-dryads. Those in the know are aware that this figure is incorrect, however, and that the matriarch, Serene, is actually currently remotely rearing a third Mecha-dryad in a secluded location somewhere down in Sheryashka¡­


    Some few hours after the previous meeting with her son, Margaret had recovered from fainting from shock and immediately took a trip to visit the Willow clan¡¯s matriarch. Currently, she was seated atop a white deck chair in Serene¡¯s back-garden. The garden itself was more a wide-spaced ruin than anything resembling a garden, with a majestic sun peeking through the leafy dome overhead and mossy stones jutting out of the ground at regular intervals. The outer edges of the garden were grassy underfoot but the centre, where all the chairs were located, was a slightly raised stone platform with circular patterns engraved upon it.


    The leafy dome split neatly in half as the branches retracted, allowing an angelic woman to gracefully descend through the gap with the light from above deifying her entrance. The woman landed with a seamless transition into a stride that wouldn¡¯t have been out of place on a catwalk. The moment her bandaged, and otherwise bare, feet touched the stone, the patterns lit up in a pleasant light blue hue. The lustrously green-haired, long-eared woman leaned back into a deck chair with such smooth movements it almost looked as though she were floating, and clicked her fingers. The blue light racing around inside the stone became droplets of water and coalesced into a large, fully translucent lake above their heads, dampening the sun¡¯s rays and enveloping the area in a cool atmosphere.


    ¡°Water?¡± the high elf¡¯s voice was soft, but carried weight. Like all other elves, her appearance was easy on the eyes and some would even make the mistake of assuming she was a divine being. It didn¡¯t help that she wore exclusively pure white, light, and airy clothing. She was practically only missing a halo and a set of wings.


    ¡°Please, I need something to calm my mind,¡± Margaret accepted the drink as the water on offer was special to say the least. It had healing properties that would soothe both the mind and bones while rejuvenating the skin. The ability to summon water of this quality was limited strictly to Serene and the leaders of the Willow clan due to the location of their homes. When the clan was originally brought over and the domains were severed, the patriarch at the time was capable of creating said water. His descendants didn¡¯t possess the same bloodline ability as him though, so he created facilities, such as the stone slab, that could be put to use by future generations. From then on, the leaders of the Willow clan have all lived on the same plot of land to have access to these water dispensing facilities. That being said, the current matriarch, Serene, was actually capable of creating water of superior quality by herself. Serene¡¯s water pillar magic could be drunk, used offensively as a weapon, used for healing and cleansing purposes, or become auxiliary support for her nature pillar magic.


    ¡°I was told your matter is urgent and I know you aren¡¯t the type to embellish your words, artsy though they may be.¡± Serene and Margaret both held their respective cups up to the sky and the lake trickled down into them, seamlessly providing the ladies with a drink of the utmost highest quality.


    ¡°I know you''re in the middle of renovating your grand-mother tree, but this is more important.¡± Margaret glanced over her shoulder at the largest mother tree on the planet, the one responsible for regulating the needs of every other mother tree, and the place that Serene¡¯s family resided in. In one word, it was ¡®imposing¡¯.


    ¡°I find that difficult to believe, one wrong misstep and this planet¡¯s very ecosystem will be on the fritz. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say that the grand-mother tree regulates all living things on this planet. I¡¯m needed to personally oversee the changes, so I¡¯ll need you to make this quick.¡±


    ¡°That may be so, but one wrong misstep with my issue and your whole planet will no longer have an ecosystem. I doubt you¡¯ll even have a planet left to call home.¡±


    ¡°It involves Calla then, does it?¡±


    ¡°Serene¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ve found her son¡­¡±


    ¡°... I see. That is certainly problematic¡­¡± Serene was happy for Calla, but distraught for the peace of the universe which now hung shakily in the balance.


    ¡°Or, to be specific, Eagerton has found a person by the name of Ares that appears to be around the correct age.¡±


    ¡°But why come to me? I can¡¯t stop Calla if she finds out, and informing me only means there¡¯s one extra avenue for things to go wrong.¡±


    ¡°I need your help with Rhea, not Calla. By some miraculous act of God, Enyo seems to have fallen in love¡­¡±


    ¡°Impossible.¡± Serene didn¡¯t hesitate for even a second to blurt out the first word that came to her mind. She was the type to rarely, if ever, become flustered over anything, but this information was truly mind-bending.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought but, apparently, that seems to be the case. Regardless, she¡¯s fallen in love with Ares, of all people.¡±


    Serene was visibly shocked that the world could be so small, but soon returned her face to that of its natural, peaceful bearing. ¡°What are the chances of that? But still, I don¡¯t see the issue? Other than the somewhat complicated relation between the clans, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Rhea sent Sadie down to keep an eye on Enyo¡­¡±


    ¡°... Oh. Right. If Ares is hanging around Enyo, then Sadie will know. If Sadie knows about Ares, then Rhea will know. If Rhea knows about Ares¡­ she might try to sneak Calla down to Sheryashka as she still feels somewhat guilty for the incident¡­¡±


    ¡°Exactly. In other words, things have gone to shit in spectacular fashion. We need to do something about either Rhea or Sadie, and fast.¡±


    ¡°... Hmm, we might be lucky on that front.¡± Serene relaxed comfortably in her chair as she drank from her wooden cup.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Last time Rhea was here, which was quite recent, she was complaining about Sadie ¡®withholding information¡¯ from her.¡±


    ¡°That somewhat matches what I¡¯ve heard... But Sadie doesn¡¯t know about Ares? That¡¯s something only us matriarchs and the patriarchs are privy to. Why would she keep information about him confidential?¡±


    ¡°She knows Enyo¡¯s in love. That¡¯s enough. If Rhea found out, she would barge down into Sheryashka and, If Rhea did that, then Calla would be sure to follow. Sadie might be trying to avoid that exact scenario, which just so happens to be incredibly convenient, no? She won¡¯t bring up Ares because she can¡¯t without indirectly starting a war for an entirely different reason than the one we¡¯re concerned with.¡±


    ¡°... I honestly feel bad for the poor girl. She has the weight of millions of lives on her shoulders, and she hasn''t the foggiest clue about any of it.¡±


    ¡°It would be wise to keep an eye on Rhea, just in case she figures something out. We¡¯ll have to move personally if anything seems off to prevent the worst possible outcome.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I¡¯ll be sure to keep wary. As an aside, my foolish son is off to capture Ares.¡±


    ¡°As long as Calla doesn¡¯t find out about your clan¡¯s silly antics, it should be fine, no? You¡¯re all incredibly strange, and arguably deranged people, but mostly harmless.¡±


    Margaret made no effort to deny Serene¡¯s jab as she was focused on something else, ¡°Yes, but he mentioned that Ares might have some manner of involvement with your clan specifically. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about that, would you?¡±


    ¡°No? That¡¯s a rather strange assertion for him to have made. I only just found out about him from you now, how could I have possibly been interested in him beforehand? Unless¡­ Surely not¡­¡± Serene¡¯s picturesque face cracked ever so slightly as her right eye twitched.


    ¡°Hm? What is it? Any information would be greatly appreciated, even if it¡¯s only conjecture.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s no secret that my son, Mako, is off looking for someone in Sheryashka thanks to whatever information he received from Terros¡­ But even he doesn¡¯t know specifically which person he¡¯s after. Realistically, what are the chances he¡¯s searching for Ares?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d think low but, then again, both Enyo and Eagerton have taken an interest in him. At that point, every clan other than the Umbra Wolves will have interacted with him in some manner, which is kind of tragic when you think about it. It does raise the question of why Mako is looking for him in the first place though, and how Eagerton was so certain of it.¡±


    ¡°It would need to be something Ares and Mako undeniably have in common and to be obvious at a glance¡­ You don¡¯t think¡­ Ares also has one of those pillars¡­ Do you?¡±


    ¡°Things are going to get VERY complicated VERY quickly if that¡¯s true¡­¡± Margaret had a wry, almost nervous smile on her face. ¡°How wonderful it would be if Eagerton wasn¡¯t too busy living in his own little world to explain things concisely. You''d think a fundamental pillar is the kind of thing worth bringing up in a conversation. God knows he brings up Mako¡¯s whenever he¡¯s in a foul mood. Then again, it¡¯s usually the fundamental pillar itself that puts him in a foul mood to begin with.¡± Margaret sighed.


    ¡°The international is going to be all over the place this year, isn¡¯t it? The pre-international function is going to be absolute chaos when Calla finds out about Ares and Rhea finds out about Enyo.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll be sure to bring along a camera for all the happy reunions.¡±


    ---------------------------------


    Meanwhile, the man in question, Ares, was walking home with Appa and Enyo in tow, none the wiser of all the mayhem heading in his direction. In fact, mayhem was an understatement as there was still yet another clan that was going to complicate the international, one with a penchant for assassination.

 Chapter 51: Loris Lax; Employee of the Month, Every Month

    [Author¡¯s note: Hello. I¡¯ve decided to give runes dedicated names. They aren¡¯t arts, but will be capitalised and written/used in a similar fashion for clarity''s sake. Just for note, treasures do not have runes unless they¡¯re added after. Every treasure comes with natural abilities and/or arts, but not runes. Artifacts imitate treasures via forgery to replicate their shape, and use runemancy to mimic their natural abilities/arts. The Stygian Zephyr¡¯s ability to be swung as a weapon and controlled like another limb is natural, everything else it¡¯s capable of is due to runes. I will be naming the Zephyr runes, and capitalising them like I do with arts, whenever they appear from now on as there¡¯s a lot of them. Also, I will be using the same style of brackets as I¡¯m using for this note as I will for when two characters speak using a mental connection instead of out loud, [like this]; this will become relevant soon and I just wanted to make note of it in advance. Also Also, I¡¯ll be using two speech marks from now on whenever multiple characters speak at the same time, ¡°¡°WHAT!?¡±¡± ¡û Like that. Enjoy.]


    ---------------------------------


    It was getting late by the time Ares returned from his family outing. Aejaz and Allie had already gone to sleep and Leo was conked out on the carpet. Appa was floating groggily down the hall, so Enyo picked it up and cuddled Appa between her arms as she walked. They entered their room, but Ares still wanted to get one last thing done today, so he tucked the two into bed, kissed Appa on the forehead and Enyo on her lips, and bid them both goodnight while telling them he loved them. He couldn¡¯t help but smile warmly as he caught a glimpse of Appa snuggling up to Enyo as he closed the door on the way out.


    It was rather hard to see in the corridor, so Ares used the Glow technical to light up his hand with a gentle radiance that cleared away the encroaching darkness of the night. This action only served to make Ares even more curious as to why technicals were so unpopular given their potential versatility, but oh well. One man''s trash is another man¡¯s treasure after all. Of course, Ares was blissfully unaware that, actually, technicals were highly revered outside the domains he was familiar with and technical prodigies were practically worshipped for their contributions to the cultivation world. There was even a planet dedicated solely to technical research.


    Ares stepped into one of the cultivation rooms and took a seat on a pillow. He moved over a low table, that he could work on from his seated position, and pulled out all the materials for the Black Ice Bane, including the rune cheat sheet that Julio begrudgingly ¡®gave¡¯ him earlier. As Ares had grown fairly knowledgeable when it came to forging, or merging as he referred to it, he could tell instinctively that there was an excess of materials. Ares was very much a waste-not want-not kind of person, so he took out a piece of paper and drew a mock-up of something he could create using the extra resources he had on hand. He was fairly pleased with the eventual outcome after some tinkering, so he set it aside and got to work on the Black Ice Bane first.


    First, he started with the handle which was primarily made using the heavy abyssal ice so he could wield the weapon with a nice, firm grip. The blade of the katana itself was tricky to get right as the hazy vapour was only just barely solid and annoyingly mirage-like, constantly flickering in and out of exisance. Getting the shape and proportions right without his merging skill and Omniscience would have been a nightmare, but he finally worked out a nice blend of length, thickness, and sharpness. Not long after, the blade was completed. Inside the black crystal blade, running along the length of the blade, was a single line of pure white vapour that branched off in countless places, giving the impression that the blade was cracked. Despite its looks, it was surprisingly a rather sturdy blade that could take a fair bit of punishment. That being said, a ¡®fair bit¡¯ isn¡¯t exactly reassuring, it breaking mid fight would be more than just a ¡®fair bit¡¯ of a problem. Ares wasn¡¯t particularly worried about this, however, as Dabble and Julio had already foreseen this issue, and they were pretty masterful craftsmen in their own right, so naturally they had a solution. Put simply, one of the runes Julio handed over was a self-repair rune that would allow Ares to perform regular maintenance on the sword so it wouldn¡¯t break and, even if it did, it could still be fixed with relative ease. Ares was certainly glad he¡¯d received this rune, but he felt he could do better. In fact, he had his own unique idea for a set of runes, so he decided he wouldn¡¯t even be using the ones Julio had given him at all, minus the base of the self-repair rune as that would come in handy. If Julio knew about this, he would probably freak out and charge at Ares with his axe on sight.


    Ares had originally planned on spending around an hour on this Black Ice project before finishing up, but the creation of his own unique runes was not much different to that of technical creation, so he wound up spending most of the night slaving away with a wicked grin on his face.


    Ares finally leant back with his hands behind his head, gazing in admiration at his craftsmanship 6 hours after he first started. Perfect. Ares simply couldn¡¯t have done any better and, if he was being completely honest, he didn¡¯t think even Dabble and Julio could have done better no matter how much time they were given unless they accidentally created a treasure. The artifact before him was truly a master-craft if ever there was one. Ares felt giddy with energy as he stared at it, almost losing to the temptation to take it outside right this instant and start swinging it around like a raving madman in the night.


    The Black Ice Bane essentially revolved around one key gimmick; state percentage. The Black Ice Bane¡¯s ¡®state¡¯ starts at 100%. As it uses the various runes on it, and while it receives strong attacks head on, this percentage decreases. When the percentage goes down, the blade chips and, eventually, at 0%, it breaks. While this may sound problematic, not only does it increase the power of the runes, as drawbacks in one area allow for developments in another, there¡¯s also a rune that passively restores the state percentage. If the state percentage is not at 100%, it will passively mend itself and rebuild the weapon at a rate of roughly 2% every minute. If the weapon is not currently in use, the rate increases to 5%. If the wielder pours mana into the weapon, it increases the regeneration by yet another 2%, for a max of 7% regeneration per minute, and 4% during combat.


    The Black Ice Bane, like Enyo¡¯s steadfast Aegis, had four runes engraved upon it. The first of which, named Cold Caller, is simply a means of reducing the temperature in the immediate area. It¡¯s fairly simple, but incredibly effective against fire pillar magic and hot climates; this was of particular relevance as one of the places Ares planned to visit with Aejaz later on is a desert. It can also be used to chill opponents over a long period of time. Cold Caller only uses 2% of the weapons state per minute, meaning it could be used indefinitely thanks to the passive regen. The second rune is Remake and functions as described above, recovering the Black Ice Bane¡¯s state every minute. The third and fourth runes are a pair and function as offensive options. Number three is Crystalised Void which allows disintegration magic to be made solid via nothingness merging it with abyssal ice. Disintegration gaining a physical state and becoming Crystalised Void allows for vastly different means of usage, and allows Ares to launch a wider variety of shaped, offensive magic that doesn¡¯t rely on the annihilation aspect. The fourth rune, Shatter, imbues Crystalised Void with annihilation magic, detonating it and scattering the Crystalised disintegration magic explosively. The percentage these runes require in order to use is determined by the size of the Crystalised Void magic. All in all, Ares was very pleased. The best part was that the Black Ice Bane¡¯s effectiveness was incredibly high, meaning he wouldn¡¯t have to upgrade it, to keep up with his own cultivation, for a good while.


    Next on the to-do list was morphing the excess materials into a dagger. This dagger, the Black Ice Acrimony, as Ares dubbed it, wasn¡¯t actually for Ares himself, but rather Aejaz. For that reason, the runes weren¡¯t going to be particularly useful for Ares given that they were designed for someone else with a different fighting style to him. He wasn¡¯t going to gift it to Aejaz straight away though as he had to earn it first and show Ares he deserved it. Ares also wanted to practise using a good quality dagger for a while anyway, so it worked out. Aejaz should learn to use a regular dagger before worrying about runes, Ares grumbled inwardly.


    Ares didn¡¯t take too long to create the dagger due to its smaller size, and the fact that two of the runes he added had already been made beforehand for the Black Ice Bane helped tremendously. Still though, the Cold Caller and Remake runes needed to be adjusted for use on a dagger, so that took its fair share of time. Overall, the Acrimony took about 2? hours to create. The Cold Caller rune would actually be more useful for Aejaz considering it worked nicely with the third rune Ares added to the Acrimony, Succumb. Upon injuring an opponent, Acrimony could ice the opponent¡¯s veins. Kind of like the blue oleander flower back in Baja Forest. The amount of blood chilled would depend on the amount of state percentage used. Between Cold Caller and Succumb, Aejaz would now have a means of fighting back in longer skirmishes, which would typically be the downfall of a regular assassin. Plus, it would slow Aejaz¡¯ enemies down to a crawl which, as a speed type fighter in the same vein as Ares, would make it even easier to both dodge enemy attacks and amass icy wounds on his opponent. It was a similar tactic to using poison that worked well for people like Aejaz, who were unnaturally good at dodging attacks and dragging on a fight, to guarantee a sure kill over time. To make Aejaz as annoying to hit as possible, Ares created the fourth rune, Hazy Phantom. Hazy Phantom would create a mist similar to the one Appa created during its fight against Slick. Aejaz¡¯ appearance would become distorted and difficult to detect as long as he remained in the fog. It also had a minor confusing effect on any enemies within it. This particular rune was well-suited to a would-be assassin for obvious reasons, but it also went hand-in-hand with the Cold Caller / Succumb strategy. Aejaz had absolutely no obligation to fight people fairly whatsoever and this artifact was a fitting extension of that thought process. Of course, this was still nothing in the grand-scheme of things, Aejaz really did have a long way to go, and Ares had a lot of ideas to get his brother into tip-top fighting shape, but this would do for now.


    Although Ares was on a pride-filled high, he knew he was tired and that he should get at least some rest before tomorrow¡¯s training session, so he went back to the room and wriggled his way under the blanket.


    ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I love you,¡± Appa mumbled in a sleepy daze. It was having a pleasant dream and, when Ares got under the covers, rubbed his head with its rope and patted him a few times before huddling up against Enyo¡¯s bosom again.


    ¡°I love you too, Appa,¡± Ares whispered as he returned the favour by petting Appa a few times before falling asleep.


    ---------------------------------


    Dawn broke and Ares was poked awake by a very eager Appa. ¡°Wake up sleepy-head!¡±


    Ares groaned and rolled over to face the other direction. ¡°Appa, sweetie, have mercy. Daddy didn¡¯t get much sleep last night and is going to have to do a lot of training later.¡±


    ¡°And who¡¯s fault is it you didn¡¯t get much sleep?¡± Enyo¡¯s mocking voice made Ares¡¯ shut eyes twitch. There was no arguing against a perfectly valid point.


    ¡°It may be my fault, but I still see no reason to have to get up yet.¡±


    ¡°No reason, huh?¡±


    Ares waited patiently for Enyo to keep talking, but started to get antsy when he heard her whispering something to Appa. What on earth are those two scheming behind my ba¡°AAAAAAA¡­.¡± Ares yelped and fell off the bed when Appa used its ice pillar magic to freeze his back. He grumpily raised his head to look over the bed with narrowed eyes and a displeased glare.


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Appa¡¯s rope wagged as it giggled at the success of the prank its mother had recommended.


    Ares clambered onto the bed and playfully rugby tackled his daughter. ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®hehe¡¯ me you cute little refrigerator.¡±


    While Enyo watched happily as Ares and Appa played around, she reminded him that the adoption papers were ready to pick up, and that that was plenty enough reason to drag him out of bed. They got changed and headed over to the town hall after Ares made some breakfast for Appa who was no longer content with just two servings of Snappas a day. When they arrived, they headed over to Hans¡¯ area and took a seat.


    Hans opened a draw at his desk and fiddled around inside looking for the adoption papers. ¡°Good morning, it would seem young Appa is really excited for its big day.¡±


    Ares chuckled as Appa bobbed around on his lap. ¡°As are we. It¡¯ll be nice to have all the legal procedures all done and finally set in stone.¡±


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s delay no further. I happily present you with these.¡± Hans stretched out his hand with the adoption papers and, before Enyo or Ares could take it from him, a rope shot out and latched onto them.


    Appa retracted the rope and tucked the papers away inside of itself while squealing happily with triangular indents at the bottom of its eye sockets. As shades couldn¡¯t carry spatial rings, they typically learnt how to create a storage dimension underneath their cloth-y exterior as it was a part of their bloodline anyway.


    ¡°Haha, quick little shade, aren¡¯t ya? Don¡¯t worry too much about keeping the papers safe, we¡¯ll be more than happy to replace them if they ever get lost or damaged for whatever reason. Although I can tell you just really want to hold onto them yourself, don¡¯tcha?¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡± Appa nodded its head with great gusto.


    Ares patted Appa and handed it over to Enyo to cuddle for a while as he was about to discuss a different matter with Hans. ¡°It seems I¡¯m gonna have a bit of time on my hands. I¡¯m supposed to be spending my time training for the competition and, hey, what better way to train than to do a bit of good business? I¡¯ve also got my hands on a new weapon and the quickest way to adjust to it, naturally, is to use it.¡± Ares took out a rolled parchment and put it on the desk in front of Hans. ¡°Do you have any suggestions for good sparring partners?¡±


    Hans momentarily smiled maliciously, which was a stark contrast to his usual appearance but indicated business mode. ¡°Actually, I have the perfect person in mind. I could have given this job to someone else, but I kept it specially for you because I knew you¡¯d get more mileage out of it than anyone else in this infernal city.¡± Hans flicked open his lighter once more, took a deep breath, and then put the lighter away. Ares stashed the parchment back into his Primordial Blade without unfolding it, he would check out the details burned into it later. ¡°It¡¯s good to have you back in the game, especially now that your cultivation has risen. I¡¯ve worked with so many useless chumps as of late that it¡¯ll be nice to work with someone experienced who can damn well do their job cleanly, quickly, and quietly.¡± Hans sighed in exasperation. ¡°You do better than everyone else I hire and you never ask for compensation either, this world could do with more young¡¯uns like you. Thanks for your work, Ares.¡±


    ¡°No problem. Aejaz and I have always had a ¡®I scratch your back, you scratch mine¡¯ relationship with the common people of Red Sun anyway. This is just an extension of that.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of the lad, do you ever plan on involving Aejaz in this line of work?¡±


    ¡°Originally I hadn¡¯t, no, but things have changed. It¡¯s very likely I¡¯ll be sending him your way for some training of his own.¡± Ares leaned in and whispered, ¡°Unlike me though, Aejaz is more geared towards wet work. He may actually be your best contractor yet when he gets into the swing of things.¡±


    Hans¡¯ eyebrow raised and he looked visibly shocked. ¡°Little ¡®Jaz? I honestly never would have pegged him the type.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised. Anyhow, I¡¯ll be seeing you a lot more in the upcoming weeks to get ahead of work before I leave again.¡±


    ¡°Music to my ears. Oh, before you go, it almost slipped my mind, but there was one more thing I was meaning to talk to you about. Nothing business related, mind you, but something you may be interested in.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s this new thing that¡¯s popped up in Red Sun. Apparently, some cultivator got his hands on a really bizarre treasure, and the business he kickstarted is focused on the use of that treasure. Branch stores have been appearing across the entire domain, and now one¡¯s graced our town too. Long story short, it¡¯s a delivery service.¡±


    ¡°A delivery service?¡±


    ¡°Ha, come on, you think I¡¯d recommend you check it out if it was something so simple? Everyone in town¡¯s been raving about it and so I went to go have a looksie myself, you know, get a rundown of the place just in case trouble was brewing in our neck of the woods. Let me tell you, lad, I was speechless. Signed up instantly and haven¡¯t regretted it since. It¡¯s weird to get used to, but I can tell this business is going places and may just become the next big thing. It¡¯s already on the up and up, and the best part? The business is entirely neutral and takes no political stances regardless of the country they¡¯re set up in. That neutrality allows for some more private, shady work to be carried out seamlessly.¡±


    ¡°I guess I can take a look, but only because the recommendation is coming from you.¡±


    Hans gave Ares directions to the place in question and waved as the trio took off. ¡°Trust me, you won¡¯t regret it lad, especially now that you¡¯ve got a big ol¡¯ family.¡±


    Ares couldn¡¯t wrap his head around why Hans seemed so eager about this place, but Hans was a logical man with good business sense, so he decided to go to the place before training started. It couldn¡¯t hurt to check it out at least.


    Enyo hadn¡¯t wanted to interrupt Hans¡¯ and Ares¡¯ private conversation, but she couldn''t help but break the silence now that they were outside and ask, ¡°What kind of business is it exactly that Hans runs? Or should I not know?¡±


    Ares looked around to make sure no-one was listening in before explaining. ¡°Hans runs an underground syndicate, not a criminal one though, it¡¯s more like vigilantism. This town is rife with corruption and bribery. A few years ago, before I first met Hans, he lost his daughter thanks to the guards of the city turning a blind eye to her murderer in broad daylight. He was distraught and took it upon himself to right some of the wrongs in this place. His daughter used to own the tailor shop a few streets away, so he took over and ¡®worked¡¯ in secret out the back of the store while looking after his grand-daughter, Missy. He slowly wormed his way into a position in town hall that offered him a bit more power and he¡¯d been able to recruit wet workers as a result to aid him in cleaning up the streets here and there. He really wants this city to become something more than it currently is; a cesspool of vermin and criminal organisations. He feels sorry for the people that have had to go through the same as him and he works tirelessly to bring whatever retribution he can to the people that deserve it. If his cultivation were higher, he would have marched into the mayor¡¯s house and murdered him in cold blood by now. He¡¯s respected by just about anyone and everyone who knows what he really does and is seen as something of a second mayor in this city considering the contacts he has and the amount of people that work for him.¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°And how did you wind up working for him?¡±


    ¡°I mentioned it earlier, but Aejaz and I get along really well with the people of Red Sun. It took a few years to get to that point, but we got in their good graces eventually. You see, our reputation as bandits was mainly just propagated by the big clans and shops of Red Sun that we stole from. Under no circumstance did we ever steal from the ¡®little guy¡¯, the people working hard at their stalls in the streets just to get by. Actually, we used to give handouts and help them whenever we could, however we could. In exchange, the people never ratted us out, they never told the people who were after us where we were located or where our temporary bases were. They pretended to be completely oblivious and ignorant on all fronts about us, which was a pretty big deal considering the Chen Clan alone would¡¯ve been a massive problem, let alone every single person we¡¯ve ever angered. Not to brag, but we pretty much became something like folklore and urban legend heroes to those people. You know, steal from the rich, give to the poor. That reputation eventually put us in touch with Hans as our goals were pretty similar to one another. He made our lives easier in whatever way he could; gave us places to sleep, things to eat, etc¡­ In return, I took up assassination requests here and there while I made Aejaz steal bribery money from specific targets. I never actually told Aejaz about any of this because it just seemed too early to get him involved in that kind of business, but I still had him indirectly help out a bit. Hans was the only person we could rely on for anything and we consistently, successfully, completed work for him, so we got along.¡±


    ¡°And here I thought you were just a menace to society. Turns out, you''re a helpful menace to society.¡±


    ¡°Pfft, I was expecting you to be all like, ¡®Aresssss, vigilantism is badddddddd.¡¯¡±


    ¡°I do not sound like that. As for the work you do¡­ I have mixed feelings about it, but because it¡¯s you, and because the intent is well-meaning, I¡¯ll ignore it. Also, I wasn¡¯t aware of how serious the issues in this town were. I have no suggestions for how to fix it, so I won¡¯t talk your ear off for how you¡¯ve chosen to go about dealing with things. I still don¡¯t think two wrongs make a right but you¡¯ve changed my mind on the matter somewhat and I acknowledge it as a means to an end.¡±


    ¡°Phew, for a second there, I thought you were going to arrest me.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Enyo licked her lips under her helmet. ¡°... But I might still cuff you anyway¡­¡±


    Ares grinned and whispered, ¡°You know, there¡¯s this shop not too far from here that specialises in stuff like that.¡±


    Enyo gulped audibly and Ares knew her well enough to know she was getting excited at the thought of it. ¡°I¡­ I want to go¡­ But¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t be caught walking around that place¡­ My reputation¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t mind going there by myself and bringing you back a list of the fun things they sell. I¡¯m already the biggest scoundrel this city has ever seen, my reputation can¡¯t go any lower. Also, I know the woman who runs the place; did her a few favours here and there. She won¡¯t say anything if I ask her not to¡­ I think. She¡¯s a bit of a gossip¡­ Kind of like Zhang actually.¡±


    ¡°Dad, what kind of shop does mum want to go to?¡± Appa cutely interjected.


    ¡°... A toy shop?¡±


    ¡°A toy shop!? Can I go!?¡±


    Cough cough


    ¡°Uh¡­ Um¡­ No. It¡¯s not that kind of toy shop. If you like, I can take you to an actual toy shop some other time.¡±


    ¡°YAY!¡±


    Enyo smiled wryly under her helmet at her innocent daughter before turning back to Ares. ¡°Thanks for going to the shop for me but, just a fair warning, you better not hide anything from me when you report back.¡±


    Ares knew exactly what Enyo was referring to and secretly prayed in his mind, Please dear God, don¡¯t sell whips.


    Enyo whispered seductively into Ares¡¯ ear, ¡°If you be a good boy and tell me the truth, I¡¯ll wear any lingerie you buy me, no matter how kinky.¡±


    Ares was seriously struggling with the images in his head, and had to silently beg Enyo not to make him erect in public as it was incredibly difficult to hide, to which she simply laughed and replied, ¡°I thought your reputation couldn¡¯t get any lower?¡±


    As the two kept pulling each other¡¯s leg while a confused but joyous shade followed along merrily behind its parents, the family of three eventually made their way to the designated location and found the building they were looking for.


    The store front was unimpressive considering how much praise Hans had given the shop and there really wasn¡¯t many people around. There was another postal service in Red Sun besides this one and Ares couldn¡¯t immediately notice any glaring differences between the two. When he peeked inside, the layout and general atmosphere of the place was exactly like any other postal service he¡¯d seen before and likely would ever see. Even the name of the shop, ¡®Transmit¡¯, wasn¡¯t anything catchy or memorable, and the worker at the front desk looked bored and tired. Ares wasn¡¯t the type to judge a book by its cover, but it was pretty hard not to in this particular instance. Nonetheless, he ventured inside and headed towards the reception desk.


    The guy behind the desk was around 20 years old, had bags under his eyes, incredibly pale skin, and yawned at a frequent rate that was excessive enough for a concerned individual to recommend he go see a doctor.


    Ares couldn¡¯t help but wonder why there were so many sleepyheads in Red Sun as, other than Rud, apparently the sect master was an expert napper too.


    As Ares approached, the man behind the desk, ever so slowly, stretched, and sat up, in his chair, before leaning, on his fist, and, sluggedly, welcoming the newcomer, in a drawling voice, ¡°Hello... and... welcome... to... Transmit... where... our... deliveries... are... so... ludicrously... impressive,,, we... put... the... ¡®post..¡¯. in... preposterous...¡±


    The pep with which the sentence should have been said and the general attitude of the man uttering it appeared to be perpetually at war with one another, making Ares feel like this man would seriously rather be anywhere but here. Just as he was about to ask for details about this place, a spry young girl leapt out of a backroom with enough vigour to fuel ten hundred of the man sitting behind the desk for a thousand years straight.


    ¡°Hello! And welcome to Transmit! Where we make¡­ OH! I am so sorry! I didn¡¯t realise you were already being served! And would you look at that! You got Loris Lax to be your mail handler! Lucky you!¡±


    Ares and Enyo were flabbergasted by this dynamic duo. Ares managed to eke out a question he really needed answers to right about now, ¡°Lucky?¡± What part of this was lucky? He didn¡¯t even know what this place was exactly, let alone why this sloth incarnate was supposedly something he should be appreciative of.


    ¡°Ah! you must¡¯ve only just arrived?! This place is really quite simple!¡± The young girl took over the explanation, which Ares was eternally grateful for lest he spend the next couple of hours waiting for Loris Lax, the king of slow himself, to finish speaking. ¡°You pay a monthly fee and we deliver things to you!¡±


    ¡°Uhh, shouldn¡¯t you primarily be delivering my things to other people?¡±


    ¡°Nope! We do that for free! As soon as you sign up, you get put in our registry! Anyone can send anything they want to a person so long as the person receiving it is in the registry, even if the sender isn¡¯t in the registry themselves!¡±


    ¡°Literally anyone can walk in and send me stuff so long as I pay monthly and they know my name?¡±


    ¡°Yep! Anyone, anywhere!¡±


    ¡°Hold a minute. What do you mean anywhere?¡±


    ¡°Exactly as it sounds! It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re a mole-man hiding under the earth, or a moon-man way up high in the night sky, we¡¯ll find you, and we¡¯ll deliver you your mail!¡±


    Ares decided to pretend that ominous sounding, ¡®we¡¯ll find you¡¯, was harmless and move on. ¡°So, you can guarantee that, no matter where I am, you¡¯ll be able to deliver to me?¡±


    ¡°Yep! In less than ten seconds or you get your monthly payment back!¡±


    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s pretty goo¡­ Wait a minute¡­ TEN SECONDS?¡±


    The young girl nodded her head with astonishing vigour. ¡°No matter if you¡¯re in a different city, country, domain, or universe! We will find you!¡±


    ¡°I beg of you, stop saying that. Also, that¡¯s pretty hard to believe. You¡¯re telling me someone in, say, Neo Gear Land, could go into one of your branches, ask an employee to deliver something to me in another country, and it would get here in at most, ten seconds?¡±


    ¡°Yep! Even if you were outside the seven known domains, we¡¯d find you!¡±


    ¡°Ok, seriously, stop saying that.¡± Ares then took a minute to readjust himself and realised something pretty important¡­ This person is aware that there are more domains outside the seven that people know of! Who the hell is running this place!? Why does even some random employee know that!?


    ¡°If you¡¯d like, you could test our services here and now!¡±


    ¡°Uh, sure?¡± Ares couldn¡¯t wrap his head around this strange place, so he decided to just go with the flow and try it out for himself.


    ¡°Who would you like to send your delivery to?!¡± The young girl summoned an impossibly thick book out of seemingly nowhere and it crashed onto the table with a deafening thump that even lifted up dust off the floor.


    ¡°Uh, Hans I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Okey doke, gimme a sec!¡± The girl flicked through the pages and landed on the ¡®H¡¯ section a few seconds later. ¡°Hans, Hans, Hans! Ah, we seem to have a couple thousand ¡®Hans¡¯ here, could you be more specific?!¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s fair. He¡¯s the one that works in town hall a few streets away and owns the tailor shop near Red Street.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha! It just so happens I¡¯m his mail handler too! Perfect! Hand over the package and I¡¯ll be on my way!¡±


    Ares took out a bag of Shock Beads that Hans could maybe give to one of his younger contractors so they could be a bit safer in this hellish town when going about their work. ¡°Just this bag. Not that I mind but, do you need to know what¡¯s in it?¡±


    ¡°Nope! None of my business!¡± The girl took the bag and disappeared on the spot quicker than even Ares could if he used his Shift art. Before Ares could even blink, the girl returned with a beaming smile. ¡°All done!¡±


    ¡°... And you can make deliveries that quickly¡­ Anywhere? Even if you don¡¯t know exactly where the person is?¡±


    ¡°Yep!¡±


    ¡°... That¡¯s one hell of a treasure your business owner has found.¡±


    ¡°I know, right!?¡±


    ¡°Before I sign up, could we do one more test?¡±


    ¡°Okey doke! What do you want to do?!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to disappear. I want you to deliver something to me after I do and as soon as you''re able.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing! But it won¡¯t be me making the delivery, Loris Lax is your handler after all! If you register, he¡¯ll deliver all of your mail personally! Whenever someone wants to make a delivery to you, it will be sent to him first!¡±


    ¡°You mentioned I was lucky to have him?¡± Ares didn¡¯t believe it, not even for a damn second.


    ¡°Mhm, he¡¯s the most dedicated of all our deliverymen! His passion for the job is unrivalled and he does the job better than everyone else, hands down! He¡¯s undeniably the best employee across all of our branches!¡±


    Ares looked over at Loris Lax with renewed hope, only to see him, at some point in time, having slouched deeper into his chair than he was previously¡­ Nope. Don¡¯t believe it. Not buying it. ¡°Well, anyway, you can deliver this bag to me.¡± Ares put another bag of Shock Beads on the desk in front of Loris Lax and Shifted away without telling him where he¡¯d gone off to.


    Ares arrived back in his house at the sect after paying a hefty mana price to use a long-range shift that he¡¯d set up when he first moved into the place.


    ¡°You. Have.  MAIL.¡±


    Ares jumped in fright as a cold, ghastly voice rang in his ear from directly behind him. He turned around in a panic and saw Loris Lax less than a foot away, haunting him like a phantom of terror with his empty, dead-fish eyes, holding out a bag of Shock Rocks. That was fucking horrifying! Not only did this pale, ghostly reaper of man somehow appear in his room, he¡¯d done it completely and utterly silently. Ares took the bag as his eyes twitched. ¡°Uh, thanks.¡±


    As swiftly as he arrived, Loris Lax vanished without a word or a trace.


    When Ares recomposed himself a second later, and stopped reeling over this bizarre experience, he Shifted back to the Transmit shop. ¡°That¡­ was admittedly rather impressive¡­ Albeit perhaps a bit creepy. How much is the monthly pay?¡±


    ¡°One. medium. grade. star - dust.¡±


    OH COME ON! STARDUST IS ONE WORD DAMMIT! WHY ARE YOU SEPARATING IT? JUST SO YOU CAN TAKE EVEN LONGER TO SAY IT!?


    Cough


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ incredibly cheap. I¡¯m surprised you even make a profit.¡±


    The young girl shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not like the cost of doing business is high for us! The only thing we have to pay for is the storefront! With how many customers we get, even a price as low as that nets us a hefty profit! Still though, most non-cultivators aren¡¯t able to afford us, so it¡¯s not actually even really considered ¡®cheap¡¯ for a lot of people! Even outer court disciples might struggle to consistently pay for our service every month what with all the pills and artifacts they probably buy!¡±


    ¡°Makes sense to me. Oh, one more question. What if I don¡¯t want to be disturbed while I¡¯m cultivating or something?¡±


    ¡°The book will know! In that case, we¡¯ll hold onto your delivery until you¡¯re next available!¡± The young girl winked at Ares and whispered in hush tones while glancing at Enyo, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that also includes play time in the bedroom!¡±


    Ares gave a thumbs up in approval and paid the price. Similar to a Vermillion Record, the book for registering required a bit of essence, so he dropped his blood on it before also paying for Enyo and Appa¡¯s registration. Enyo¡¯s pride made her reluctant to have Ares pay for her at first, but Ares pointed out she was incredibly poor as she never took compensation for upholding her ¡®justice¡¯ during sect missions, and she had no choice but to relent. As for Allie and Aejaz, they weren¡¯t here so they couldn¡¯t be registered unfortunately, but he would definitely bring them over at some other point in time. Hans was right, this service was incredible. It made Ares curious though, just what kind of treasure is enabling this strange postal service? Ares put the thought to the back of his mind for now and went on his merry way back to the sect with Enyo and Appa as it was nearly time to start training.


    After arriving back at the house, Ares was annoyed to find out from Allie that Aejaz was still sleeping! Ares had worked tirelessly throughout the night, partially for the sake of making that bastard a weapon and, to top it all off, he was also given a rude awakening early to go to town hall. Meanwhile, Aejaz was sleeping peacefully like a log without a care in the world! Ares wasn¡¯t having it, so he picked up his sweet little daughter, brought Appa into Aejaz¡¯s room, and had Appa turn Aejaz into a popsicle. When a shivering Aejaz broke out of his ice-encasing to the sight, and sound, of a ¡®hehe-ing¡¯ Appa, he immediately glared at Ares, but was quickly dragged out of the room by his older brother who didn¡¯t give a damn about his all-too literal icy-cold glare.


    Ares, Enyo, and a miffed Aejaz left Appa and Allie to go to the training hall and found Esme, once again, ribbing Li Li about Dirk. ¡°I just think you¡¯d be his blood-type, if ya¡¯ know what I¡¯m sayin¡¯.¡±


    Sadie came in last and her hair indicated that, like Aejaz, she¡¯d only recently woken up. Ares was seriously starting to wonder if Yulo, Rud, Charity, Loris, Aejaz, and Sadie were going to form some sort of sleeping committee. Probably not, their talking points would all start to get tired after a while¡­ Hehe.


    ¡°Alright, today marks day one of your training. Luckily, individually, you¡¯re all quite talented, so you¡¯ll probably be able to skimp through with mediocre teamwork in the early stages of the competition. Even still, I plan on grinding you on the proverbial whetstone before the international. I¡¯m going to drill into you how to work as a team, combine your strengths, and bolster your minds until you¡¯re a group of five well-oiled machines.¡±


    Ares raised his hand. ¡°Should we ask Slick for help with that last part?¡±


    Thwack


    Sadie palmed Ares on the back of the head before he could even see what happened to him. ¡°If you have time to wisecrack, you have time to shut up and train. On that note, we¡¯re gonna start by training individually in the things you¡¯re lacking. Like I said, there¡¯s time to learn teamwork, but this is more important for now. Enyo, you¡¯re lacking in aggression, so I¡¯ll be teaching you how to use a spear and guiding you on various ways to use the holy pillar offensively. Li Li, you struggle against people faster than you. Aejaz, you¡¯re no good at capitalising on the openings you create. Therefore Aejaz, you will be sparring with Li Li. Li Li, you''ll be wearing weights while you fight. Aejaz, you¡¯ll exclusively use a dagger, and not your hands. The first to one hundred hits wins. The loser will be punished by me in some manner, you really don¡¯t wanna know how. Esme, you primarily rely on mana to fight but you don¡¯t have much of it, so I want you to focus on expanding your mana pool by repeatedly exhausting it. Ares, you¡¯ll be fighting me. Your mana pool is fine thanks to that art of yours, defensively your race is unbeatable, you¡¯re quick enough as is, and you¡¯re not lacking on the offensive front. The only thing I can really help you with is weapon wielding and general technique, so we¡¯ll fight while cycling through random weaponry, and I¡¯ll give you advice as we go.¡±


    When Sadie was done handing out assignments, Enyo mentioned that she¡¯d already been working on an offensive art, partly due to Ares¡¯ pestering, and that she was going to focus on that for now before requiring Sadie¡¯s assistance with learning to wield the spear. An evil smile crept up on Sadie¡¯s face as not having to spend time with Enyo meant she had more time to batter Ares around and the thought of it was incredibly enticing. ¡°Ares, I heard you''re highly proficient in runemancy so, before we start, could you set up a Training Field?¡±


    Training Field was the art of the formation aspect that Julio had used previously for the earlier competition. At a basic level, anyone who died within the formation would be brought back to life, thus allowing for more realistic and brutal training. Changes could be made at will to it, like the timer/tag settings, so typically at least one runemancer in any given sect would be capable of creating this formation for the sake of the disciples.


    Ares busied himself and took roughly five minutes to set it up. During which there was one particularly strange incident in which a fang-shaped runic symbol Ares was unfamiliar with cropped up in his omniscience. This occurrence on its own was nothing special, Ares was hardly a runemancer so he naturally wasn¡¯t familiar with every single base rune out there, but what was strange was that he hadn¡¯t seen this particular one when he first used omniscience on Julio¡¯s Training Field. In other words, Ares¡¯ version was going to do or have something extra compared to Julio¡¯s, but he had no idea what exactly. The training field was up and running and visually identical to Julio¡¯s so Ares couldn¡¯t tell at a glance what had changed. Rather than dwell on it any longer, however, Ares just decided to ignore it for now. He would either find out during training or it would be inconsequential and never matter¡­ Or so he hoped. Ares couldn¡¯t shake the gut feeling that the base rune was important, otherwise his omniscience wouldn¡¯t have shown him it. Still, it¡¯s not like he could do anything about it so he distracted himself by taking a look around at the rest of the room. However, what Ares didn¡¯t know was that this rune was actually incredibly important for reasons he wouldn¡¯t be aware of until much later.


    Until it was far too late and his fate would already be sealed.


    Esme and Enyo, meanwhile, were adjusting their mental states in preparation for their training, and Li Li, Aejaz, and Sadie were raring to start their fights. Well, sort of. Aejaz wasn¡¯t exactly pleased to be fighting a CQC fighter as strong and skilled as Li Li, and she wasn¡¯t happy about the thought of trying to hit Aejaz of all people while wearing weights. Neither of them was thrilled about the looming punishment either, so the atmosphere surrounding those two was both competitive and tense. Per Sadie¡¯s next request, Ares also went back and added a function to the Training Field that would give either of them an electric shock if they used the same weapon for more than fifteen seconds. Ares had never used this rune before so if there was anything strange about the runic symbols he used in its creation, he simply couldn¡¯t tell. It looked normal and functioned normally too though, so probably not.


    Ares stood up when he was finally done and walked over to Sadie who took a plethora of weapons out of her space ring and littered them around the immediate area. It was as if Ares was standing in war-torn no-man¡¯s land with blades, bullets, and arrows strewn across the floor. He readied himself as Sadie lowered her cultivation to match his. Ares tried to warn Sadie that just matching his cultivation wouldn¡¯t be enough, but she shrugged off his advice, causing Ares to shake his head with a pitying, lopsided smile that openly displayed his scepticism at her unfounded confidence. She would have to learn the hard way.


    Off to the side, Li Li and Aejaz were staring each other down, waiting for the other to make the first move. Enyo stood up from her meditation and took a deep breath, ready to try out her new art, while Esme took out her fans to begin casting arts. Ares and Sadie stepped into the Training Field and¡­


    BANG


    Everyone in the room nearly fell flat on their faces as the door to the training room was swung wide open, ruining all the pent-up excitement. Through the door strutted a man Ares had seen once before; a strangely dressed man with even stranger habits. The man in question turned to face Ares before scrutinising him and nodding to himself. ¡°I knew it. It simply must be you.¡± The man pointed at Ares in an incredibly dramatic fashion with a lavish, silver pen resting between his fingertips. ¡°Ares, I¡¯m here to capture you!¡±


    ¡°¡°... Huh?¡±¡±

 Chapter 52: A Rather Eager Fellow

    ¡°Yes, ¡®tis I, Eagerton of great renown. Today is your lucky day, Sir Grandest Bandit of Annihilation, for I have to decided to capture you personally!¡±


    Ares attempted to blink this bizarre reality out of existence before he capitulated to the nonsensical scenario he was trapped in and started staring dumbly at the whacko in front of him.


    Sadie, having justifiably misunderstood the inventive-oriented intentions of the asinine author, moved to stand in front of Ares. ¡°A revenant though he may be, I won¡¯t let you drag Ares away from this place, Eagerton. The Legion clan and Starlight are in each other¡¯s good books, so I¡¯ll ask you to do me a favour and turn around and ignore what¡¯s happening here this time.¡± Sadie believed things would get messy between the clans if Enyo¡¯s boytoy was murdered as Rhea¡¯s wrath was not to be trifled with, thus she opted to take a stand here and shoo away Eagerton who she assumed was here to hunt a revenant.


    Eagerton tilted his head as his gaze shifted from Sadie to the still-dumbly-staring and speechless Ares slightly behind her. ¡°A revenant?... Not that I¡¯d known that prior, but, regardless, why on earth would I care about something so trivial? You might have misunderstood my malady, m¡¯lady. I appear to have caused a fright, but I am here to write, not to fight. Although I still cannot comprehend where your confusion has originated from, let it be known I bear you no ill will.¡±


    ¡°... God you¡¯re clan is insufferable¡­ Why can¡¯t you freaks be normal?¡± Sadie let out a long groan as yeah, sure, revenants were annoying, but at least they were doing it intentionally as opposed to the Starlights who couldn¡¯t even begin to understand their own idiocy. ¡°I thought you wanted to capture him, like in chains, not capture him, as in to record his existence.¡±


    ¡°Capture?! No. No! I am suff-er-ing at the mercy of my ingenuity¡¯s silent tyranny! It will not speak to me. But I know. I kn-ow that caged birds don''t sing sweet songs, they render raspy riots, and I know that the way to triumph over a silent tyrant is to turn a quiet riot violent! So sing for me Ares! SING uncaged with fervent a~ggresion! Topple the intricately woven shackles of my burdened, labyrinthian mind! Set me free with a RAUCOUS REBELLION!¡±


    ¡°¡°¡­¡±¡±


    ¡°¡°¡­¡±¡±


    ¡°¡°¡­¡±¡±


    ¡°... Dude¡­¡± Ares, dazed though he was, decided to try and calm this babbling berserker. ¡°... Chill out, the alphabet isn¡¯t going anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Chill out? No. Why would I ever endeavour to never strive for better?¡±


    Ares¡¯ eye twitched at Eagerton¡¯s blunt refusal. ¡°Forgive me if you get this question often, but what the fuck is wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°I have writer¡¯s block and I¡¯m experimenting.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Ahem


    Eagerton pushed his monocle back into place after it had lowered slightly during his earlier rant. ¡°I am simply a simple man with a passion for words. Unfortunately, I am currently at a loss for words, and that is where you, Ares, come in. You don¡¯t need to do anything specific, mind you. I simply wish to watch you and make notes until I have more words than I know what to do with, all of which queueing up neatly in my brain and forming only the most faultless of lines.¡±


    With a silly smile on his face, Ares replied. ¡°Words? I love words! Words are like playdough, they¡¯re malleable and fun to mess around with with. You can also eat them, but you probably shouldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°... Yes¡­ Well, I¡¯m more interested in your actions than your words¡­ All I ask is that I be permitted to view your training sessions. Naturally, nothing I witness here will be leaked elsewhere, including Mr Wolf over here secretly being a revenant. On that claim I stake both my name and fame, the failure of which, on both, will leave a stain that all may openly disdain.¡±


    ¡°Do you always speak like this?¡±


    ¡°Always.¡±


    ¡°You know, there¡¯s elegance in simplicity¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, perhaps, but there also exists elegance inelegance.¡±


    Ares squinted his eyes and stared slightly upward as he internally debated the verity of Eagerton¡¯s wordplay. Meanwhile, Enyo stepped into the conversation. ¡°Ares being a revenant doesn¡¯t bother you in the slightest? What about the war?¡±


    ¡°The war? A useful tool for my creativity, nothing less, nothing more. If anything, I¡¯m surprised Ares being a revenant doesn¡¯t bother you. Our run-ins may be few, but I¡¯ve heard tales of your infamous temperament. Then again, all the prodigies of the various clans have their own reputations, all of which tend to be embellished to a degree. The Legion clan have you, the ¡®Stoic Mountain¡¯. We, the Starlight, have myself, the ¡®Peerless Penman¡¯. The Umbra Wolves have Scar, the ¡®Resolute Monk¡¯. And the Willow clan have ¡®Mako¡¯, the ¡®Imperious Creator¡¯. I suppose we¡¯re expected to be the next generation¡¯s ¡®Four Seasons¡¯, or something of the sort, even If I have no interest in becoming such a thing.¡±


    With a tired sigh, Enyo tacitly agreed with Eagerton¡¯s sentiment. ¡°There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to live up to that moniker, but things change. Funnily enough, though, I probably live up to that moniker more now than ever as I¡¯ve finally decided to put my foot down, make a choice, and take a stand. As for you, I¡¯m well aware of how much the word ¡®peerless¡¯ irks you, so I won¡¯t even comment on it. I¡¯ve only met Scar once, but I can tell how much he despises the war. He may be ¡®resolute¡¯ in his actions, but the blood on his hands weighs more heavily on his mind than it does for the rest of us. As for the Willow clan, they¡¯d been hiding their ace up their sleeve, I¡¯m surprised you even have any information to begin with.¡±


    In disgust, Eagerton clicked his tongue and spat on the floor. ¡°Now that most of the clans¡¯ younger members are here in Sheryashka, the Willow clan took the liberty of showing off their golden goose, Mako. As one of the few members of this generation that happened to still be back in Vraizon at the time, I had the displeasure of meeting that ignoble bastard face to face. I don¡¯t even know where to begin with that conceited cheat. I¡¯d always somewhat despised those bastarding elves, and now that feeling has only been amplified. To make a long story short, it would appear that Mako¡¯s pillar is unique, like Ares¡¯.¡±


    Ares, who had still been staring at the ceiling prior to this revelation, glanced back to Eagerton with a raised eyebrow. Interesting. He felt the need to re-join the conversation and learn more. ¡°What pillar is it?¡±


    Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t Eagerton that responded, but rather Sadie. ¡°If I recall, it should probably be the pillar of creation. Makes sense, what with his nickname and all.¡±


    ¡°You knew about it?¡±


    ¡°Not really. I should probably clarify, I never actually met Mako on the Willow clan¡¯s planet when he made his debut as I was busy prepping to come down here to Sheryashka. I¡¯d heard some bits and pieces from Rhea about some manner of creation magic when she mentioned it in passing, but I simply assumed it was a unique aspect or something of the sort. Now that I¡¯ve met you, and now that Eagerton¡¯s filled in the missing gaps, piecing together the information is easy enough. Still though, a unique pillar is an entirely new thing, to have two crop up at the same exact time in history is unnerving. Makes me feel like something big is on the horizon¡­¡±


    Eagerton cleared his throat before verifying her assumption, ¡°Ah, yes, well, you see, all of existence is going to be destroyed. There is that.¡±


    ¡°¡°...¡±¡±


    Even Li Li, Esme, and Aejaz, who up until this point had just been minding their own business as they weren¡¯t too heavily invested in the wacko writer¡¯s nonsense, were now thoroughly invested in the conversation. Cowardly Aejaz was naturally the first to have issues with Eagerton¡¯s revelation. ¡°Ha, you¡¯re, uh, joking¡­  Right? Like, you¡¯re being fanciful with those words you really like¡­ Right?¡±


    Eagerton tilted his head in confusion. ¡°No?¡±


    Aejaz curled up into a ball in the corner.


    Ahem


    Ares realised this probably had something to with him if unique pillars really were involved in some way, so he was going to try and wring an explanation out of this evasive fool who clearly didn¡¯t have his priorities in order. ¡°Why is the world ending and what do the unique pillars have to do with it? Also, why do you seem entirely non-plussed about the whole thing? I¡¯ve come to accept the fact that your not even remotely normal, but this goes beyond nonchalance into straightjacket territory.¡±


    Now it was Eagerton¡¯s turn to sigh as he genuinely believed everyone was overreacting and not paying any attention to the real issue¡­ His issue! Still, he opted to explain things to move the conversation along. ¡°I don¡¯t know everything there is to know about the issue. You see, most of this information comes directly from Mako and, quite frankly, I didn¡¯t want to listen to him speak, so I stopped paying attention five minutes into the conversation which lasted about an hour. Take what I say with a grain of salt and understand that I only know what I¡¯m going to tell you, and nothing else. Apparently there is some manner of world ending threat on the horizon. A creature of sorts is going around chewing on dimensions and it cannot be stopped. Now we have protection, but it won¡¯t last forever as the pillars, and the Gods they have chosen, are not strong enough to beat the creature, just to hold it off for the foreseeable future, a couple hundred million years or so. This is not a permanent solution, so the six unique pillars, I believe Mako referred to them as ¡®fundamental¡¯ pillars, awoke from their otherwise dormant state to take action. They have effectively chosen their champion who will go on to become a God and work alongside each other to destroy the creature once and for all. Some of the current Gods were sent to be mentors to these champions and explain the situation in full while forming a contract with them. It appears that there¡¯s been some kind of hiccup regarding Ares, but I know nothing about it. If you want to know more, you can either hunt down Mako, and the God following him, who has since come down to Sheryashka in preparation for the tournament, or you can check the sect¡¯s lost and found just in case your God got lost along the way somewhere. I do recall Mako mentioning he was looking for someone, and it seems the Gods can sense the fundamental pillar wielders to an extent, so Mako may end up coming to you. As for me, I am very clearly not involved in this. If all the Gods of the regular pillars can do nothing against the creature, then I too shall be absolutely worthless. This is obviously an issue that can only be solved by the fundamental pillars otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have awoken as, supposedly, they are leagues above the regulars. I don¡¯t know to what extent that¡¯s true but, based on what I¡¯ve seen of Ares baffling magic, it seems like an understatement if anything. In short, if the fundamental pillar wielders can¡¯t stop it, then there¡¯s nothing I can do about it anyway, thus there is no reason for me to care. What I do care about, however, is that the stupid pillar of creation somehow managed to pass up on the entirety of the Starlight clan, who are all dedicated to the arts, and went to some random, narcissistic elven bastard. The things our clan could have done with creation magic! How utterly detestable this situation is!¡±


    ¡°... I still think you¡¯re concerned about the wrong thing, but whatever.¡± Ares took a deep breath. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to wait until I come across this ¡®Mako¡¯ guy for more information, but it looks like I¡¯m going to be busy in the future. The world ending would be mighty inconvenient, after all.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Go and save the world, be a hero by all means but, first and foremost, be my muse!¡±


    Ares facepalmed and dragged his hand down his face. ¡°FINE. Consider me bemused.¡±


    ¡°... I don¡¯t think that word means what you think it does.¡±


    ¡°It means EXACTLY what I think it does.¡±


    ¡°Aressssssssssssssssssssss.¡± Aejaz hopped out of his corner and was clinging to his elder brother. ¡°Save usssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.¡±


    ¡°Save yourself, you namby-pamby crook.¡± Placing his palm on Aejaz¡¯ face, Ares pushed away his yellow-belly kin. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no need to stress over something that isn¡¯t going to happen any time soon. We might as well just go back to what we were doing.¡±


    Eagerton eagerly raised his hand. ¡°I agree! Please begin practicing at once so I may take notes!¡±


    ¡°Tsk, we would have been practicing already if it weren¡¯t for you.¡± Sadie kissed her teeth before walking back to the Training Field and getting back into position. ¡°Alright, we had a bit of a detour, but no more messing around! Especially you Ares. If you really do have a world to save, then this practise is all the more important, so come over here so I can beat you senseless!¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Ares took up his position, unsheathed his Black Ice Bane, and shook his head as the Training Field activated. ¡°If that¡¯s really what you want, you shouldn¡¯t match my cultivation, you¡¯ll need it to be higher than mine.¡±


    Sadie¡¯s response was non-verbal as she smirked and lowered her cultivation to 4th realm, 8th stage (one stage lower than Ares¡¯ current cultivation).


    The Training Field activated and Ares looked around at the weapons strewn around before ignoring them and making his move. There was no reason to concern himself with the whole ¡®get shocked if you don¡¯t swap out your weapon every fifteen seconds¡¯ part as he was going to put Sadie in her place first. Fifteen seconds? Sadie wasn¡¯t going to last five¡­


    Sadie¡¯s first choice of weapon was also a sword, just to further try and rile up Ares, not that any of it mattered. If anything, it was Ares who was going to show her how to use the weapon in a different way.


    Ares approach was simple, he jumped into an overhead swing.


    That was it.


    For all the talk earlier, the effort in his first attack was really quite middling. Sadie assumed she would overpower him, even from a defensive position, so she moved to block it, after which she would push him backward and onto the floor and win. That was the gameplan so, when she took a single step forward, and everything faded to black before she was revived outside the Field, she had absolutely no idea what hit her. The only things she recalled feeling were a searing pain on her face, and a tingling sensation on her neck which she assumed had been sliced through.


    ¡°BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.¡± Eagerton jeered. ¡°WHERE¡¯S THE MAGIC?!¡± The sole reason Eagerton was even here was to watch Ares blow things up, he didn¡¯t much care for the one-sided beatdown he¡¯d just witnessed. Still though, he was the only one with his wits about him as everyone else was stunned.


    Why were they stunned? Well there were two major problems with what had just happened; first, Sadie lost, and she lost immediately. This was an expert from a higher domain! It should have been the other way around! Even with a cultivation advantage, Ares should have way less experience than Sadie and that should have skewed the result in her favour. And second, and this was the big one, the way in which Ares killed Sadie was extreme bullshit. Ares hadn¡¯t cheated per se, but anyone killed in this manner would surely have a justifiable complaint to make at either the pearly gates or the entrance to hell whenever they arrived there. Then again, he was a revenant, so this type of sly fighting was to be expected to some extent.


    Sadie was curious as to why everyone else was gawking, so she went to a nearby screen and started a playback as there were cameras constantly recording in the training hall for the sake of match analysis.


    Rewinding back to Ares¡¯ overhead swing, the first thing Sadie realised, thanks to this new perspective, was that he hadn¡¯t even been holding the weapon correctly. His grip on the handle was loose. This only made her more confused as this lazy display somehow lead to her death. It was evident she wasn¡¯t going to be able to gleam his intentions piece by piece, so she instead decided to watch it all at once and review it after.


    As the Ares on-screen was brought down to Sadie via the power of gravity, he began to commit to his overhead swing, however, when his two hands came barrelling over his head there was a slight problem; he didn¡¯t have a weapon in his hands. He had let go of the sword, which was now falling behind him, before he¡¯d even started the swing. Ares brought his now-empty hands down onto the flat side of Sadie¡¯s blade which she was oh-so kindly holding up for him in a pointless blocking position. Utilising his forward momentum, Ares leapfrogged over Sadie¡¯s guard while his zephyr caught the falling sword behind him. Ares¡¯ right foot planted itself squarely onto Sadie¡¯s face as his left foot shot straight behind her and latched onto the back of her head as it reeled backward. He pulled hard on his left foot, bringing Sadie tumbling forward while propelling himself directly over his shoulder, at which point the zephyr retracted, bringing the Black Ice Bane back into his possession. With a swift flick of the wrist, Ares decapitated Sadie as he streaked past her like a blur before landing and skidding to a halt with his free hand dragging along the floor. Despite removing Sadie¡¯s head, Ares remained vigilant, staring at her back up until she revived outside the Field.


    Sadie was pissed off. The foot in the face was disrespectful, yes, but she couldn¡¯t tolerate the nonsensical trick he pulled at the start. Pretending to attack, only to throw your weapon away so you can make use of the opponents block to further your mobility, was downright rude. Clever, but rude. Ares had even done this while facing Sadie directly, meaning this stunt was basically guaranteed to work as she couldn¡¯t see him let go of the weapon behind his back until the last second. It was a complete disregard of etiquette and fighting norms and was the epitome of fighting dirty. Who the hell tackles a block by throwing away their weapon anyway? Realistically, Ares could only pull this off thanks to the zephyr and his bizarre incorporation of aerial mobility into his combat style, but it didn¡¯t make it any less ridiculous. It was also the kind of thing that would only work once and never again, meaning Sadie felt seriously cheated right about now. She hated having to admit to herself that, in a real life 1 vs 1, Ares would have killed her in such a stupid fashion. Yes it only works once, but in a life or death situation, it only needs to work once. Revenants were annoyingly good at this sort of ¡®trick up their sleeve¡¯ fighting style. Most of their gameplans in a fight were completely stupid, unfeasible, and more likely to result in their own death should they fail, however, when their ideas worked, you were the one who looked like a massive idiot. And a massive dead idiot at that. Her attitude prior to the fight was also coming back to bite her in the ass. It was all just so thoroughly embarrassing. Being the victim of a revenant death was infuriating, and the worst part was that that was one of their two goals, have fun and annoy you. Ares had been grinning like a piece of shit the entire time because his stupid idea had actually worked and even he probably hadn¡¯t expected it to. Sadie¡¯s fists curled into balls as she stood up, desperately trying not to let the anger show as that would only ever satisfy a revenant. She walked back into the Field. ¡°A.G.A.I.N.¡±


    Now, Ares was no linguistics expert, but he was fairly confident that anyone whose voice sounded like an enraged demon was probably not in a good mood. That, plus the fact that Sadie had raised her cultivation to sensory enhancement, 9th stage, two entire realms above Ares, and was aggressively, unintentionally leaking pressure, all meant that he was probably fucked. The next few duels were not going to be pleasant and, really, he was partly to blame. Did he have to kick her in the face? No. Did he have to fight like a deceitful, dishonest bastard? No. Did he have to, even in this dire situation, snicker at Sadie, causing her cultivation to go up another stage? No. But the real question to end all questions was, did he care? No. If anything, Ares was incredibly pleased with himself right about now. This was just the kind of twisted individuals revenants were. They lived forever after all, so they might as well find a way to entertain themselves, even at the cost of everyone else¡¯s sanity and even their own safety in the ensuing bloodbath.


    The ¡®fight¡¯ started and Ares immediately Shifted away from his starting point. He didn¡¯t even have to look back to know this was the correct decision as the ground he was once stood on splintered into thousands of pieces. Gulp. This wasn¡¯t a fight he was ever going to win, but he could at least try to last a little longer. Sadie was way too fast to keep track of so his best bet was to predictively blow everything up around him and hope beyond all hope that Sadie would miraculously be a part of that ¡®everything¡¯. If nothing else, Eagerton was going to finally get what he wanted. Ares rapidly manoeuvred in a tight circle to set a ring of Shock Beads. ¡°Chaos Reigns!¡± With a stamp of his foot, he raised the ring of Beads and simultaneously leapt into the air while twisting to face the floor. ¡°Grand Annihilation!¡± Luckily for Ares, Sadie arrived with blinding speed, chasing after him, amidst the cluster of explosions right as he detonated everything in his arsenal simultaneously. Sadie was trapped in a ring of pain with a Grand Annihilation coming at her from directly above. The pushback from using a Grand Annihilation directly underneath himself propelled Ares upward and away from the blasting cacophony beneath him. He spread the Zephyr on his back and was hovering in the air above the carnage he had wrought. Still, he knew this was all pointless as he¡¯d seen an evil glint in Sadie¡¯s eye right before the explosions enveloped her figure. This was very clearly not enough but, realistically, what else could he do? At the end of the day, this was just someone far stronger than him who was in a foul mood and wanted to beat him up. He could run for a while, but eventually she would catch him. Or rather, as he realised Sadie was already behind him in mid-air kicking his spine, she¡¯d already caught him. Ares crashed back down into the platform and looked up just in time to watch an Aletheia, one bigger than Enyo¡¯s by a factor of five, come barrelling toward him.


    ¡°Not Even Light!¡±


    The poor black mass tried it¡¯s best to absorb the spear of light but it was to no avail. The spear pierced through and scattered the black hole with ease, only losing a few of its flickering, white petals before impaling Ares to the floor and setting him alight with white fire.


    Sadie landed and took a look at Ares only to see him pretending to be dead, with his tongue rolled out of his mouth and to the side, before he subtly flicked an Echo at her.


    Ares let out a forlorn ¡°Awww¡± as Sadie ignored his feigned death and swatted away the Echo.


    ¡°Die you stupid canine.¡± Sadie crushed Ares skull with her foot, creating a resounding CRACK. She folded her arms, looked to the side, and hmphed in the general direction of the revived Ares.


    Ares chuckled. ¡°And I thought I was childish. Turns out your a real bundle of puerile peril.¡±


    ¡°A.G.A.I.N.¡±


    Shrugging to himself and accepting his inevitable fate, Ares sauntered back over to the Field, ready for his next ass whooping.


    Enyo didn¡¯t particularly enjoy watching this, so she started her own training instead. Everyone else adopted that train of thought too either because they really didn¡¯t want to be caught slacking by Sadie the demon, or because they could tell what was going to happen to Ares was going to be, although unfortunate, very repetitive and boring. They simply had more to gain by doing their own thing and leaving poor Ares to fend for himself. Well, Eagerton was still watching with baited breath, but that was because he was a selfish weirdo.


    Sure enough, the pain train had no breaks¡­ Or, well, they had them at one point, but Sadie had ripped them out and begun beating Ares with them too for good measure. A gouged out eye here, a blown-off kneecap there. Ares was experiencing a lot of fun ways to feel excruciating pain today, although he had already experienced the whole eye-gouging thing once before; still, it was nice to have a refresher. Luckily, over ten deaths in, it looked as though Sadie was finally calming down.


    Ares stretched on the Field and chuckled ¡°What¡¯s wrong, are you¡¯re arms getting tired?¡±


    Scratch that, Luckily, over eleven deaths in, it looked as though Sadie was finally calming down. She took a deep breath and lowered her cultivation to mental accumulation, 1st stage, which was far more reasonable. It was not too much as to be completely impossible to beat if he worked hard enough but also enough to not be completely run over by Ares¡­ Or so she thought. Sadie was still seriously underestimating Ares, but at least she would stand a chance now and not just die immediately. Even though it was only a difference of three stages between her and Ares, the gap between 4th realm and mental accumulation, when combined with her expertise, was going to be putting in a lot of work. What she failed to appreciate, though, was that revenants were seriously abnormal. Revenants never, ever, fought like regular people. Most of her expertise meant nothing in the face of a revenant and this was, at least partially, why everyone utterly despised the race. They weren¡¯t the number one most hated race in existence, no, that award went to the lizzles, but they were definitely number 2. Still, it wouldn¡¯t be truthful to say this hate was entirely natural as, unbeknownst to most, the revenants¡¯ reputation was artificially created and pushed onto people, but that¡¯s its own story. All of this to say that, when Sadie walked over to her starting position in the Training Field, she started to feel uncomfortable. Normally, when duelling another person, she would run through every possible situation methodically and assess the correct route to victory. But now? Everything just felt wrong. None of her plans worked, none of her ideas made sense, and none of her strategies were effective against a revenant. So what if she could inflict a life-threatening injury against a revenant? If anything, a revenant was more likely to allow such an injury if it meant they could exchange blows.


    Frustration.


    Sadie had felt this many times before whenever she sparred with Aym, the Umbra Wolf instructor. His unique magic allowed him to paint a target on his opponent in a random location and, if he was able to strike it, the pain would be monumental. Naturally, being a revenant, Aym chose not to wield a weapon so he could drag the fight on for longer and mock his opponent by poking them with his fingers instead, giggling like a child every single time he danced around his flailing opponent and triggered a weak spot. Rules mean nothing in the face of a revenant, they make their own and force you to play by theirs until their satisfied. This was the exact antithesis of everything the Legion knew about how to fight which was partially why the matchup was so horrendous. Revenants forced the Legion clan outside their comfort zone more so than any of the other clans. This was the first fight where the scattered weapons were going to become relevant but, unfortunately, none of it was going to benefit Sadie more than it would Ares. For every strategy she could think up for any given weapon, a revenant would have access to twice as many thanks to their inherent disregard of danger and risk.


    Tsk


    With a kiss of her teeth and a shake of her head, she put these thoughts to the back of her mind and just decided to go with the flow. She would have to improvise on the fly, which was already a pretty massive disadvantage, but trying to stick to her guns, which had effectively been unloaded, would be even more foolish.


    The fight started and Sadie was immediately forced to dodge Ares¡¯ Black Ice Bane which he¡¯d promptly lobbed at her. Why does this idiot keep throwing his weapon away!?


    Although Ares was interested in trying out the Black Ice Bane and all of its runes, he felt it wasn¡¯t in the spirit of things to focus on that more than the various weapons lying around. For him, this was a golden chance to experiment, not that Sadie knew what he was thinking which is why Ares¡¯ baffling behaviour was seen by her as some kind of nervous tic.


    Ares gravitated to a nearby spear and lifted it into his grip with his foot. Ares had never wielded a spear before, but everything just clicked the second he held it within his grasp. He could feel his bloodline jumping for joy and trying to take control. Ares was torn. On the one hand, the last time he accidentally let it run amok, it yanked his own eyes out. On the other, he now had Omniscience as a result of that very incident. If some part of his bloodline gave him mastery of weapons, then activating Omniscience and taking a back seat to watch and analyse an expert at work would be a monumental gain for him. Not to mention the fact that it was his own body so he would be able to get a feel for the movements. Still though¡­ What if he couldn¡¯t wrest control back? Sadie wasn¡¯t going to wait around for him to make this decision and she was already charging at him, so he had to make up his mind pronto. Just as he was about to forgo the risky opportunity, a voice Ares knew all too well resounded in his head.


    Come onnnnnnnnnnnnn, I haven¡¯t swung a weapon in agessssssssssssss. Being dead sucksssssssssssssssssss. Stop being such a pussy! I can¡¯t take over for too long anyway so just let me have some fun damn it!


    ¡­ Dominus? Ares tried ¡®calling out¡¯ but heard nothing in response. This was the clearest the voice had ever been but it seemed as though a two way conversation was still out of the cards. Still though, it seemed like this uninvited guest in Ares¡¯ system was going to get louder and mouthier the higher his cultivation grew. In hindsight, this made sense. This clearly had something to do with his bloodline, and the closer he got to bloodline awakening, the more he would be able to interact with¡­ Whatever this nonsense was. Admittedly, between Dominus and the God of fire, which was presumably going to hang around in his body as well, Ares was not entirely pleased with the thought that he was becoming a glorified clown car. To make matters worse, this reality became an extended metaphor when he finally caved in, activated Omniscience, and allowed Dominus to take the wheel.


    Ares¡¯ stance shifted ever so slightly as he lowered his centre of gravity and adjusted his grip on the spear, but this single action was enough to give Sadie pause as though she¡¯d rounded a corner and come face to face with a fifty foot tall tiger. Ares'' entire demeanour changed from that of a happy-go-lucky stick swinger to that of a seasoned spear savant, rendering the zone in which he stood a domain of death that gave Sadie shivers whenever she even briefly considered stepping within. Contrary to Dominus¡¯ ill-mannered insouciance and his insulting irreverence, which were hallmarks of any revenant worth their salt, the Dominus on display was fierce and focused. His silent gaze was piercing as he wordlessly dared Sadie to approach, to take even but a single step toward him so he could reap her life.


    Sadie, completely oblivious to the fact that the Ares she knew was checked out and spectating, boldly assumed she still had the advantage. She well and truly believed the Ares from five seconds ago was not capable of this and that it was some manner of trickery involving mana or maybe even pressure. She unsheathed her sword, took a step forward and, once again, her whole world faded to black but not because she was dead this time. She was standing in a pitch black emptiness, alone and confused. What is this place? Her first response was going to be to fire off an art of the anti-magic pillar, but she quickly realised there was no mana involved in this situation whatsoever. This wasn¡¯t magic. Just as she was about to inch forward and explore, the tip of a spear manifested about three feet in front of her and remained floating in place. No shaft nor a hand to grip it were present, just a razor sharp tip. Sadie once more attempted to move before the tip suddenly multiplied in size¡­ NO! Sadie leapt back from her position just in time to avoid the spear tip that almost ran straight through her brain. The tip hadn¡¯t increased in size, it had simply appeared directly in front of her, when she blinked, at a speed so ludicrous it made more sense to assume it was an optical illusion of some sort. Sadie assumed Ares had teleported the spear somehow but, once again, her shot-in-the-dark guesswork was proven false by a complete lack of mana of any kind being present. Sadie shook her head and readied her sword after she came to the conclusion she wasn¡¯t going to get past this strange situation without a fight.


    Tap


    Her foot cautiously shuffled one step closer and the spear tip vanished. Before Sadie knew it, blood was streaming down her cheek and the spear tip had returned to it¡¯s original position after sweeping past her face¡­ He¡¯s¡­ Toying with me? The wound was deep enough that Ares could have just as easily cut her neck by shifting his swipe downward and ended it all, but, like every other revenant Sadie had ever lost to, he was mocking her.


    ¡°Embodiment!¡±


    Although Embodiment was an aspect under the forgery pillar, which wasn¡¯t a great pillar combat wise, a good many weapons experts tended to lean towards learning it as having a second weapon available was an incredible boon, let alone the pressure it provided when the wielder took to the offensive. With the ethereal sword floating beside her, ready to mimic it¡¯s owner, Sadie¡¯s confidence improved markedly. With this, she could adopt an aggressive approach and force Ares to have to respond to her instead of interfacing with this degrading cat and mouse game he¡¯d been making her play!


    CRRRACK


    Sadie stood motionlessly, shocked to her core, as the spear tip hovering next to her ear pierced and splintered the Embodiment behind her into thousands of shards that faded away into the void. Just as quickly as she¡¯d summoned the embodiment, the spear tip had obliterated it before Sadie could react and even attempt to prevent its destruction.


    The spear slowly returned to it¡¯s position and Sadie could do nothing but watch it slither ominously past her neck on the way back. Back to square one. Sadie was quaking in place and barely able to lift her sword as her hands were shaking in fear. Little did she know, this masterclass of prowess in weapon wielding from history¡¯s greatest ¡®Thousand-Weapon Exemplar'', and the man who was once next in line to become the God of the weapons pillar, was just getting started.

 Chapter 53: The Mightiest of all Melee Weapons: The Bow

    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT


    Just as Sadie began to give up and assume all hope was lost, the black void was blasted away by a colourful light show courtesy of Ares being electrocuted by the Training Field. His time with the spear was up and he¡¯d been too busy playing with his food to notice, giving Sadie an out. She¡¯d unsheathed her sword a few seconds after Ares took up the spear, meaning she could still use her weapon for a little longer, and this was a golden opportunity to sneak into close proximity while he was being zapped. Hopefully, from there, she could finish him off in one fell swipe and end this duel she couldn¡¯t quite wrap her head around. Ares had displayed an unprecedented level of skill and she had questions that needed answering, so she shelved her bewilderment and rushed Ares down. She thrust her sword straight and true to pierce through and stop Ares¡¯ heart but, when the shocking suddenly stopped and Ares smugly grinned down at her, it was her own that stopped¡­ He baited me?


    Who was Dominus exactly? Some chump who would leave such an obvious gap? Never. Not a chance in hell. Dominus, like Ares, or rather Ares, like Dominus, liked to leave ¡®openings¡¯ for desperate combatants to cling to, only for them to realise they were now dangling over a pit of spikes and in an even worse position. If Dominus were to conveniently ¡®forget¡¯ about the Field¡¯s shock punishment, giving Sadie an ¡®opportunity¡¯ to close the gap against a spearman, then it was painfully clear she would take it without hesitation to escape her previous dilemma. Intentionally keeping the weapon so he could discard it after the shock, instead of before, to bait Sadie was proof enough that he was simply on a different level compared to her. It wasn¡¯t even a matter of him having more options as a revenant as this was something anyone could have done, he was just playing 4d chess while Sadie was stuck in checkers mode. Of course this didn¡¯t change the awkward situation he was currently in what with Sadie¡¯s sword charging straight towards his heart, but Dominus had planned ahead and left his spear in a very specific position to counter it. The spear was resting neatly on his left shoulder and his left hand was slightly underneath it near his collar bone. Dominus imbued the spear with disintegration magic through his shoulder and flicked upward with his forefinger, creating an Echo that pinged the spear and sent it twirling around his neck in a transition from stillness to a neck wrap. Neck wraps were typically performed with a staff but Dominus was Dominus, and Dominus didn¡¯t really care what weapon he had in his hand. If he wanted to use a technique, the weapon in his hand would do it regardless of whether it wanted to or not. Dominus leant back to accommodate the swinging spear as it rolled around the back of his neck before swinging back to his front with perfect timing to deflect the tip of the sword. The disintegration magic attached to the spear created a mini-cyclone around Dominus, cleaving the sword tip and obliterating it.


    Sadie was lost. Ares defending himself from that atrocious position while simultaneously destroying her weapon was unfathomable to her and her cognition almost just shut down on the spot, refusing to partake in this farce anymore. Still though, Sadie wasn¡¯t some random no-name pushover, so she managed to ultimately keep her wits about her and move on to the next step in her crumbling plan; dropping her broken weapon. Her time with the sword was nearly up and she had no desire to be willing shocked like Ares, so she opened her palm that was clasped around the sword hilt, and yet¡­


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT


    Through the bright sparks and the all-encompassing pain ravaging her body, Sadie could just about discern Ares¡¯ spear tip pinning the hilt to her hand. As she let go of the sword, Ares caught the spear rotating on his chest and thrust it upward from a low angle to push the sword hilt firmly against Sadie¡¯s open palm, preventing her from dropping it even if she technically wasn¡¯t ¡®holding¡¯ it anymore. If anything, Ares was the one holding it for her via the spear, but that wasn¡¯t what mattered. The weapon was touching her hand and her time was up, thus she was treated to electroconvulsive therapy which, if anything, just made her even more depressed. Sadie couldn¡¯t fathom what was happening to her in this fight. This wasn¡¯t just any old loss, she was being hopelessly outclassed like a blind toddler in a boxing match against a roided heavyweight. And yet, Ares still didn¡¯t kill her. While she was being shocked, Ares raised her chin with the tip of his spear so she could see his smug grin widen condescendingly.


    Dominus retracted the spear and buried the tip in the ground as getting zapped again wouldn¡¯t benefit him this time, plus, there was a treasure trove of weapons here and he wasn¡¯t remotely done having fun yet.


    As he sauntered over to a nearby bow, whistling all the while, Sadie had transcended surprise, despair, confusion, and agitation, putting her firmly in rage territory once again. It was no longer a matter of understanding what was happening in this duel, she didn¡¯t care, she just wanted Ares dead.


    As Dominus picked up the bow and a single arrow to go along with it, he glanced over at Sadie as her cultivation rose from 1st stage to 8th, an entire ten stages / single realm above Ares. And yet he didn¡¯t care. He fully dismissed the berserk instructor who was menacingly advancing upon him, making the ground tremble with every step, opting instead to inspect the arrow he¡¯d chosen to make sure it was of acceptable quality. If he was going to ridicule Sadie by beating her with a single arrow, he needed to make sure it wasn¡¯t going to break on him after all!


    Sadie opted to bare knuckle brawl for the next fifteen seconds as she wanted the smackdown to be personal so she could enjoy every second she spent pounding raw flesh and inflicting pain. Deep down she knew she had no right to be mad after what she had subjected Ares, the real one, to earlier, but then again she was the one with the higher cultivation! She made the rules here, not Ares! If she was agitated and wanted to smack him around to relieve stress, then he was going to be a good little punching bag for her!


    Dominus had lived for millions of years so he could discern Sadie¡¯s intentions easily as he simply shook his head while chuckling to himself. I was young and overzealous once, but I actually had the talent to back it up. Come on amateur, show me what you¡¯ve got! Dominus lifted his left foot and took a single step back, planting it firmly as he took aim with the bow.


    A sculpted statue? Sadie almost did a double take when she saw the beautiful stance on full display in front of her.


    Poised to pinpoint perfection and presenting a peerless projection of envisioned precision made-manifest.


    With equally as much technical flair as the sentence prior, Dominus readied a surgical shot. His flawless from and steady breathing gave rise to imagery of a refined angel draped in cloth and surrounded by peaceful animals, it was as though he were one with both nature and the very essence of the hunt. If there were any animals present, they would undoubtedly lie down, expose their underbelly, and go willingly into the afterlife for Dominus, perhaps even going as far as to bite their own tongue so he would never have to release the held arrow and, thus, his magnificent stance.


    Even Sadie was perplexed as to how exactly she was supposed to approach this situation. She felt pinned down. If she took a step forward he would retreat and shoot. If she moved back he would chase and shoot. If she breathed even a single breath it would certainly be her last. She could feel the onset of death as it lingered in the air, caressing the spot on her chest that held her wildly beating heart within. Sadie almost made the unwilling decision to stand still for the rest of eternity before she caught a glimpse of, you guessed it, the exact same smug grin that had been tormenting her since the start of this duel. ¡°DAMN YOU TO HELL!¡± Like an enraged bull, Sadie charged dead ahead with no regard for the arrow. Although every fibre of her being was screaming at her to just run away and give up so that this nightmare could end, she powered through with indignation fuelling her frenzied rage. Whatever was left of her rational brain sent countless warning signals to her as she threw a punch at Ares who was still stood completely motionless. Something was off. Why isn¡¯t he firing the damn arrow?!


    Dominus gazed calmly at the fist coming toward him. A punch of this calibre was less effective than slapping an explosive on a tortoise and having it try to run him down. Dominus ducked under the punch and moved forward while throwing the bow straight up into the air.


    FUCK! WHAT¡¯S HE DOING NOW?! Sadie was beginning to understand that, every time she was unable to comprehend what Ares was doing at the current moment in time, she was in a losing position regardless of whether or not she knew why.


    Dominus spun the arrow in his palm before gripping it like a dagger and lunging upward to pierce Sadie¡¯s unguarded neck.


    Sadie had no choice in the matter, she had to lean back and dodge it. Her free hand wouldn¡¯t make it in time and a kick would be too slow. It was when her stomach was stepped on and used as a platform that she realised, once again, she¡¯d been lead down a single path into a dead end. Ares had baited her into an attack that would leave her in a disastrous position with only a single out that he could then freely exploit. She¡¯d fallen for the same trick, even if it took a slightly different form from last time, again and, now, she was going to pay for it again.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    With one foot firmly planted on Sadie¡¯s stomach, Dominus lifted himself and swung his other foot, brutally booting Sadie in the chin while simultaneously converting the momentum of his kick into a backflip off of Sadie¡¯s falling body. He caught the bow upside down in mid-air and twisted his body to fire a shot from a ludicrous angle.


    Gasp


    Sadie was winded as the arrow pieced her abdomen, pushing her all the way down and pinning her to the floor in a similar fashion to what she¡¯d done to Ares before with the Aletheia. Instinctively, she reached to grab and remove the arrow both so that she could heal the wound and also to crush the arrow. It was painfully obvious to Sadie that Ares was trying to beat her with this arrow alone so, if she could crush it, then this would be her first small victory of the fight. Sadie was grasping at straws here but it was either that or surrender and Sadie was not the giving up type. Then again, no-one in the Legion clan was; they were all stubborn as mules. Her hand fumbled around until she eventually realised the arrow was already gone. Lifting her head of the floor, she caught sight of the Stygian Zephyr racing away from her with arrow wrapped inside of it, bringing it back into Ares'' grasp. Oh¡­ Right¡­


    Sigh


    Despondency was the new emotion in play as Sadie realised she¡¯d forgotten completely about the stupid treasure Ares was carrying. Even this one, tiny, minute, pointless win had been stolen from her as she was left lying on the floor with nothing. Hitting an emotional low point was like a trigger for Sadie though as, every single time without fail, that gloominess would transform into irritability. This time was no different. Wrought with wrath, and not fear this time, her fist were once again trembling. As Ares caught the arrow returned to him via the Zephyr, Sadie¡¯s fist banged against the floor.


    Thud


    As Ares crouched before leaping into the air, Sadie¡¯s fist struck the floor again but with enough impact this time to shatter the base of the building underneath her hand.


    THUD


    And finally, as Ares expanded the Zephyr, forming a pair of wings to glide with as he aimed another shot at Sadie, her fist violently lashed downward at the floor, causing a monumental impact that shook the entire building, knocking everyone else inside off their feet.


    THUD


    The force behind the third strike was enough to push Sadie off the floor and into a standing position, putting her directly in front of a defenceless Ares who, like Icarus, had glided a little too close to danger. Assured of her imminent victory, and relishing in the thought of the excruciating tortures she was going make Ares suffer from after she grabbed him, for the first time in this duel, she smiled. It was not angelic, warm, or friendly, but rather an evil smile, born of dreams of acts of savagery and barbarism. Unfortunately, Sadie was not the only one smiling. As she realised this, she shed a single tear. It¡¯s not fair¡­


    Ares having a way out in this situation was simply beyond Sadie¡¯s computational faculties. Sadie could not imagine how on earth he could possibly reverse the present scenario and parts of her brain felt as though they were breaking as they attempted to figure it out in real time. Not once did she ever even think he was bluffing though, she¡¯d been through enough today to know that was definitely not the case. She knew it was fruitless, perhaps even detrimental, to continue along her current trajectory. She knew that it was just going to result in more pain, more humiliation, more sadness, more anger, and more perpetuity of the cycle this duel had irrevocably fallen into, but she didn¡¯t care. She truly believed that maybe, maybe, if she could just swing a second faster, if she could just grab him, if she could just touch him, then she could claw out a pathetic victory from the rubble of this disastrous fight. Resolving herself, she tried to reach out and grab him. Move your hand faster, Sadie. Don¡¯t let him escape. Don¡¯t let him do whatever he wants. STOP HIM, SADIE! Sadie pushed herself mentally but, as she was already aware deep down, it was all irrelevant. All the effort, all the hope, everything was meaningless before the inconceivable existence that was the Ares before her.


    Dominus willed the Stygian Zephyr¡¯s right wing to extend downward and pierce the floor, anchoring himself. As a follow-up, to escape Sadie¡¯s grab, he willed the right wing to yank him down, pulling him to the floor and out of harm¡¯s way as he, once again, threw the bow into the air. With the speed gained from the Zephyr dragging him out of the sky, Dominus converted his fall into¡­ a dance move? Dominus breakdancing and performing a ¡®windmill¡¯ mid fight might have appeared strange, but actually there were a few weapon experts at Dominus¡¯ level that opted to study dance for the sake of their footwork. Very few of them ever combined actual dance moves into their combat, however, but Dominus in particular was a revenant which meant he was essentially obligated to do the weirdest thing available to him at any given moment. It also clearly worked for him as the windmill became a sweep that that knocked Sadie off her feet and made her fall backwards again, putting her in the exact same situation as before. Dominus used all his momentum to throw himself sideways out from underneath Sadie. As he rolled away, he reached out with hand gripping the arrow and buried it onto the floor. He gripped the arrow tightly, causing his rolling body to be swung around the central point until he¡¯d pulled off a U-turn. From here, he thrust his weight upward, pushing him off the ground slightly so that he effectively threw himself over Sadie¡¯s falling body. He yoinked the falling bow out of mid-air and, in a situation that mirrored the previous one down to a tee, twisted his body to fire a shot a Sadie, pinning her to the floor in the same fashion with the same arrow in the same place.


    Before Sadie could even address her emotional state¡¯s instability, as it had invariably changed once more, she could feel her body rising off the ground for some inexplicable reason.


    Dominus had landed and used the Zephyr to pull hard on the arrow in Sadie¡¯s abdomen while also planting the heel of one of his feet on Sadie¡¯s navicular bone, both of which allowed him to forcefully raise Sadie off the ground.


    Twang


    As Sadie¡¯s world was spinning from being knocked down and thrown around like a ragdoll, she heard the tell-tale sound of an arrow being fired but felt no pain. Wherever that arrow had gone, thankfully, it hadn¡¯t hit her. On the subject of things Sadie couldn¡¯t see, Ares, who had just been directly in front of her, vanished.


    Dominus, after lifting Sadie, covered the arrow in disintegration magic and fired it directly up. The arrow pierced through the roof of the training building and went soaring somewhere into the sky beyond vision. He then treated Sadie like a jungle gym and adeptly climbed around her by holding onto her shoulder. After making his way behind her, he put his other hand on her other shoulder and lifted both feet, putting all his weight on Sadie which caused her to bend backward slightly. Dominus kicked out with his feet, striking the backside of Sadie¡¯s knees, making them buckle which bent her even further backward.


    With a fully broken posture, her back parallel to the floor with Ares hanging off it, and Ares¡¯ feet lodged in her knee pits, the most Sadie could do was strain her toes and upper torso to keep herself from falling back onto the floor again as that would be quite disastrous. As she struggled to remove the pest clinging to her, she finally realised where the arrow went and, more importantly, where it was returning from. Given her current position, she could see very clearly the hole the arrow had made directly above her. She could also faintly see the arrow descending back down towards her at a frightening rate.


    Tsk


    Sadie opted to use an art to escape the predicament which frustrated her as this was supposed to be a duel focused on the use of weaponry and she was technically cheating. She didn¡¯t have any room for such trifling scruples though as, and she really hated to admit this, she was getting absolutely demolished. As for the art in question, she decided Overheat, an art of the conflagration aspect under the fire pillar would do the trick. It would create a fiery pulse that knocked away nearby enemies and burned them depending on how close they were at the time of activation. As Ares and Sadie were pretty much entangled like they were playing a game of ¡®twister¡¯, this was her best option right now.


    ¡°Overheauuuuuugggggghhhhhh.¡±


    Sadie could feel the bowstring around her neck, choking her. Ares had imbued the string with mana to prevent it from snapping which was a fairly common practice for beginners. More experienced bowmen wouldn¡¯t need to do this as their bows would likely be treasures instead of plain weaponry and treasures were extremely difficult to break or damage via conventional means. Finding use for a beginner technique in a fight between experienced weapons experts was something Sadie would have otherwise complimented if it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was currently on the receiving end of it. Not that Dominus wouldn¡¯t have laughed until tears came out if he was aware that Sadie considered herself a weapons ¡®expert¡¯. She might be in comparison to the other chumps around but she was nothing in the grand scheme of things; a proverbial frog in the well.


    Euagghhh Aghhhhhhhhhh


    As Sadie was being choked, she had time to realise how screwed she was yet again. She didn¡¯t know any chant¨Cless arts so this situation wasn¡¯t something she could brute force her way out of either. With the arrow on its way to kill her, Sadie realistically only had two options available to her; pain or death. If she did nothing, she would die; that was fairly simple. The other option was to slam her back down onto the floor. Why would this cause her pain and not Ares? Well, one of Ares¡¯ Zephyr wings was positioned off to the side and buried in the ground. As soon as Sadie tried to slam him into the ground, the Zephyr would just pull him to the side and it would be Sadie hurting instead. If she wasn¡¯t forceful enough when slamming down, Ares just wouldn¡¯t move and she would die struggling aimlessly. Sure she was stronger than him thanks to her cultivation, but the advantageous position Ares was in was one that didn¡¯t really require strength to be effective, he was using his body as a means to lock up Sadie¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t a matter of strength, but one of technique; and Ares was leagues above Sadie in that regard.


    In fact, funnily enough, Dominus had noticed a short while into the fight that Sadie was actually using the basics of his own techniques! Small world, eh? Then again, Dominus was world renowned. Even if you utterly despised the guy, which was a fairly commonly held opinion by anyone who¡¯d ever met him, not learning from the best of the best was stupid. For better or for worse, Sadie was currently learning a very hard lesson.


    Sadie steeled herself and bit the bullet, banging her spine on the floor as Ares swerved out of the way.


    CRACK


    As Sadie¡¯s cultivation was lowered, she was in some serious pain right about now, thanks to the cracked bones in her back and the holes in her abdomen, and was seriously regretting battering Ares before. She wasn¡¯t aware this had nothing to do with that, but that would be a problem for real Ares when this was all said and done as he was absolutely going to pay for this. As Sadie lay on the floor about to roll out of the way of the arrow, sighing to herself all the while, she sequentially came to two different conclusions. One: if she lost with the next weapon, she was going to surrender. This had gone on for longer than it needed to as Ares¡¯ point had already long since been proven and there was no reason for her to keep getting kicked around like this. Two: Even though she hadn¡¯t been here that long, like Rud¡­


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT


    She really fucking hated Ares sometimes.

 Chapter 54: Flipping the Switch: Sadie’s Awakening, Part 1

    Spasming on the floor as death approached, Sadie, despite the atrocious situation, remained completely calm. It had become abundantly clear to her that, unless she surrendered, this fight was not going to end so easily. True to her assumptions, Ares wandered over with his hands behind his back, whistling the same non-descript tune he''d whistled once before during this fight, presumably ready to catch the arrow and ''save'' her. He glanced down at Sadie and winked to which she completely ignored him. She couldn''t look away because she was still being zapped, but she had achieved a clarity of mind that enabled her to put aside all of Ares'' annoying gestures and facial expressions. Sadie had discovered a sort of nirvana, one in which she could simply appreciate the fight and get the most out of it. Why be annoyed when this was a golden opportunity to learn? Why get upset over every loss when winning is impossible anyway? Why take a revenant seriously? Why try so hard when someone who isn''t even trying at all is showing vastly superior results? Although these were the thoughts racing through her head, Sadie hadn''t given up. Quite the opposite, actually. Her narrow mindedness and rigidity were being put to the test and she saw no reason to believe that either would be useful to her here.


    Sure enough, as the arrow descended through the hole in the roof, Dominus reached out and caught the arrow between his index and middle finger. As Dominus turned around and walked away, he made sure to line up some of the scattered weaponry, repositioning them with clear intent. Or rather, he himself knew what he was aiming for even if Sadie couldn''t tell, but it was obvious that he was preparing something of note.


    When the shocking stopped, Sadie stood up and went to pick a nearby weapon. As she neared an axe, she happened to glance over again at the line of weapons lying between her and Ares and something deep within her clicked. For the first time during this fight, she felt like she truly understood exactly what Ares was planning to do. "Hahahahaha." Sadie laughed uncontrollably in a self deprecating manner as the second she had given up on trying to analyse every little detail, she had gained access to every little detail. The less sense she tried to make of everything the more sense it made which, in hindsight, made a lot of sense as everything Ares did was nonsensical to begin with. As for Ares'' plan, simply put, there wasn''t one. None whatsoever. Which weapon would he pick up first? How would he find an opportunity to swap from one to another? How did he plan on killing Sadie? The answer to all of these questions, and any questions she could have asked herself throughout the entire duel, was that he had no fucking clue. Of course she couldn''t read his mind, there was nothing in there to begin with! This moron was just going to walk towards her and do whatever he felt like doing with whatever weapon was next to him at the time. ''Plan'' my ass. This stupid dog doesn''t even know what the word plan means. Sadie looked down at the axe at her feet, which now just looked pitiful sitting there by itself. There was no clearer indication of the difference between her and the current Ares than the difference in aesthetic between a weapon''s expert going out of their way to pick up and lock themself into a single weapon, and an expert who was bunching them all up because it didn''t matter to him in the slightest as he was confident enough to win regardless.


    The moniker ''Thousand Weapon Exemplar'' wasn''t given to people who were only good with a single weapon, they each had their own titles anyway. A ''Thousand Weapon Exemplar'' was not the best at wielding any individual weapon, in fact nor were they even really capable of wielding a thousand of what any normal person would consider a weapon. Most Exemplars probably couldn''t even name a thousand weapons but that, in a round about way, was the catch; anything was a weapon when held by an Exemplar. There was an Exemplar who had invented his own unique style called ''drunken sharpshooting'', another who once beat a room full of cultivators with a bowling ball, one who was captured and managed to escape by knocking out his enemies with the chair he was tied to, and even Dominus himself had experimented with turning a slinky into a deadly weapon. Exemplars were typically deranged people with minds that were out of the ordinary in every way imaginable but that was also why they were unstoppable, because no one had any idea what it was they were supposed to be stopping in the first place! More often than not, ordinary weapons actually made Exemplars bored because it was all too easy for them, they spent their entire lives in pursuit of a challenge not in the form of a foe that could contend with them, no, but rather in search of a weapon that wouldn''t bend to their every whim.


    Sadie picked up the axe and threw it amidst the mess of weapons to which Ares looked up at her and gave a thumbs up. For once, the smile on his face wasn''t condescending, but genuine. Sadie couldn''t tell if this was actually going to help her in any meaningful way or if she''d just been successfully goaded into doing something stupid, but she went along with it nonetheless. Maybe it was time to do something new? She''d reached a dead-end in her own training and had no idea where to go so she was at least partially aware that doing the same thing over and over again wasn''t going to get her anywhere. The major issue was that she was one of the strongest people in the Vraizon domain and the next domain up wasn''t accessible so, regrettably, there was never anyone to guide her forward out of the quagmire she''d found herself stuck in. Why Ares of all people might have the keys to the metaphorical kingdom was beyond Sadie but it had reached a point where she really didn''t care who it was. It''s not even that Sadie necessarily wanted to get stronger, although that was part of it, it was mainly because she wanted to kick Aym''s teeth in at least once as she had never beaten him before. Maybe this was the solution after all? Learn from a revenant to beat a revenant? If you can''t beat them, join them? Sadie didn''t know, but then again seemingly neither did Ares and yet he was just dandy. She was going to lose this fight regardless, that was something she had come to terms with and accepted, so why not at least go down experimenting?


    Dominus took the initiative this time around and took off running towards Sadie, weaving around maces, swords, spears, and other miscellaneous tools of violence. As he neared Sadie he punted a dagger at her, sending it spinning in an arc with a velocity that was tricky to gauge, almost as if he''d put a sidespin on it.


    Sadie''s gut reaction was to pick up a nearby shield and block it... But she left it there. Picking up the shield was objectively correct as any other weapon would require precision and/or effort to block the dagger, but then what? She''d be stuck with a defensive weapon in hand while Ares had free range to pick from tens of weapons and counter her in whatever manner took his fancy. Sure, looking around at her available options made her antsy because she''d never usually opt for any of them, but she was supposed to be stepping out of her comfort zone here otherwise her struggling up until now would have been pointless. After deliberating, Sadie realised she wasn''t supposed to be deliberating anything at all and just picked up the thing closest to her; a spear. A spear obviously wasn''t going to pay dividends here but she''d made her ''choice'' and stuck with it. Next up was deciding whether to thrust the spear at the incoming dagger or hold the spear vertically to block it. Normally, Sadie would block it as that was the safer route with no potential for human error so, naturally, she did the exact opposite and took the more aggressive approach, knocking the dagger aside by striking it with the tip of the spear. Sadie was surprised to realise post decision that what she was doing was actually correct, for once, and had put her in a good situation. Ares, who had run off to the side, just slightly out of Sadie''s vision, had just picked up a small war hammer. In the event that Sadie had gone for the block, she would have had to take a more passive approach, wait for the dagger to connect, and stabilise herself post impact, all of which would have taken time. Even if it only added up to an extra second or two, that made all the difference as Ares would have been a few steps closer. The difference between Ares being up close and personal while Sadie was holding a spear and Sadie being able to keep him further away was monumental. The time she shaved by attacking the dagger was enough to allow her to prevent an ugly outcome she wasn''t even aware of at the time. Not to mention the fact that the shield would have been an awful decision considering Ares'' choice of weapon. Yes, sure, Sadie had been incredibly lucky in that everything aligned perfectly to give her a good outcome, but was it really luck if she consciously chose not to make the obvious move? Sadie wasn''t quite sure. After all, now Ares was going to have show some ingenuity to escape his situation and reverse the tide too. Did this mean the fight would devolve into a creative tug of war? Sadie had never been in a fight quite like this before as everything was usually meticulously calculated and optimised. Like this, the ''appropriate'' response to each other''s moves was going to get more and more ridiculous... But maybe that wasn''t a bad thing? If she fought like this against a normal person, wouldn''t she just win immediately every time? Were the rules of combat she''d followed her entire life really the right way to do things just because they worked up until now?


    Meanwhile, Dominus was incredibly pleased. Sadie was learning. Make no mistake, Dominus was not so kind-hearted as to teach everyone he came across, but there were a few reasons he went out of his way for Sadie. 1: He was beyond bored with being dead. This was his first time breathing air and stretching his muscles in however many thousands of years. By turning the duel into a lecture it would inevitably last longer. 2: Seeing the basics of his own teachings being misused in such an amateurish and egregiously bad way hurt his soul. Yes the basics were strict, but the evolution of them was not. The entire point was that the basics would allow you to have the bare minimum competency no matter what whacky bullshit you attempted to do. It wasn''t supposed to be the end goal, but rather the starting point from which everything else originated. Dominus was aware this domain was pitifully low in the ''ladder'' and that he shouldn''t expect better, but it was still annoying seeing someone misunderstand his guidance to such an extent that he felt the need to step in and correct a thing or two. 3: Sadie had potential. Dominus saw in Sadie the potential for a new Thousand Weapons Exemplar. They weren''t necessarily rare, but having more around was always fun for Dominus so he could experience new things rather than just living forever and fighting the same boring old sword grandmaster codgers day in, day out. It would also benefit Sadie who would live a pretty great life so it was a win-win overall. 4: Lastly, and this was pretty much the biggest reason, Sadie reminded Dominus of his first wife. Dominus had many wives, and he actually regretted it, but he never cared for anyone more than his first wife; that was always true. She was the daughter of the God of the weapons pillar and Dominus had fallen in love with her at first sight. She liked him too but her grumpy old man wouldn''t let some random, talentless Joe Shmoe date his daughter so he set an impossible challenge for Dominus; ''If you want my permission to be with my daughter, beat me in a fight''. The grumpy old man wasn''t just any weapons pillar God either, he was the only one. Throughout all of history he''d never been replaced because he''d never died nor was there anyone more fitting for the role. He was, and still is, one of the strongest Gods out there. Still though, Dominus was head over heels, not that he wore heels... Except that one time he was experimenting with a fighting style that involved kicking people a lot... Anyway, he spent the better part of his life training and never gave up. Countless failures and losses to the old man littered his path but still he persevered. It was during this journey Dominus realised rules and styles weren''t aiding him, but keeping him down. What would a set style do against someone who also knew it and could utilise it better than you anyway? How were you supposed to get better at the style if the other person spent just as much time practicing as you and was born earlier? Dominus was talented, but so was the old man. Dominus needed to do something else so he set off on a journey of sorts wherein he took in as much information about anything and everything he could find, relevant to fighting or otherwise. He learnt how to dance, how to play chess like an expert, and how to think outside the box like a philosopher. He eventually returned with a new goal in mind, to reinvent what it meant to ''fight'', and boy did he succeed. His wild, unfettered and, honestly, stupidly random approach worked wonders as all the experts were utterly confounded by tricks and ideas they''d never even imagined possible. Dominus racked up win after win and never lost again, not even to the old man who was baffled when he finally felt the bitter sting of defeat at the hands of a man wielding a boomerang, a shovel, and some pepper spray. Dominus'' trips to far away lands, work experience doing graveyards shifts, and conversations with wily women earned him both the ire and respect of the old man who had never seen anything like it. Dominus happily married the old man''s daughter and he even taught her how to fight like him instead of her ''stinky old codger of a father''. She, like Sadie, gloriously failed to grasp anything beyond the basics for a long time but, one day, when it all clicked for her, she became a powerhouse in her own right. Dominus smiled to himself as the memories came flooding back, even if he felt guilty for the way things went afterward as he had a lot of time to ruminate on his mistakes while he was dead. But, hey, he was alive again and he could apologise now! Or, well, he''d need Ares to drag his ass back to the upper domains first... As for Sadie, well, why not help her? He had more than enough reasons to justify it.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Sadie took the opportunity to be aggressive and launch an attack. It was a simple spear thrust, not unlike the one she''d just done to knock aside the dagger, but it was safe and effective as it would be able to keep Ares out of reach and at a disadvantage. Sadie was less interested in hitting him and more so in putting the onus on him to show her something interesting, something that she could learn from. Ares took a step back while raising his arm in preparation to to retreat from the spear and attack simultaneously by throwing the hammer... NOT. That was simply what it looked like he was doing and Sadie knew better than to expect something so simple, but she went along with it anyway out of sheer curiosity. Yes she could just play it safe and take a step back, but what would happen then? A boring fight in which she runs away all the time while Ares peppers her with ranged attacks? That approach was boring and ineffectual, she couldn''t be so fearful of her opponent otherwise she would never create any openings. If she took the bait, she felt like she could learn something interesting and put herself in a situation she otherwise never would. Sadie took a step forward to chase and extend her spear''s reach. If Ares committed to the throw, she would stab him. If Ares blocked, Sadie could push aggressively and keep up the pressure. Much to Sadie''s surprise, Ares took a step forward and swung the hammer but never let go. He wasn''t going to throw it or block, he was going to advance after feigning a retreat and attack the incoming danger just like Sadie had done with the dagger earlier. Just like that, Sadie was in a rough bind. If she allowed it to happen, her weapon would be crushed and Ares, thanks to his forward step, would be uncomfortably close, giving her no time to find a new one. If she abandoned the spear she would have to flee and dodge the hammer that Ares would inevitably throw at her... Were these the only two options available to her? Were they really?... No. I''ll just make a third option. Sadie''s heart started pounding as an idea struck her out of the blue. Was it risky? Yes Was it stupid? yes But the only question that needed answering was, ''would it be exciting?'', and Sadie already knew the answer to that. Maybe the revenants were right, maybe having fun was what mattered, or maybe that was just the optimal way to fight and it just happened to be fun. Who knows? Who cares? Sadie had never had a thrill like this before. She mimicked the smug smile that had tormented her throughout this fight and silently dared Ares to play this game with her.


    Sadie stayed on course and committed to the thrust. Ares rose to the challenge and brought the hammer down with ferocity upon the feeble spear, but his eyebrow raised when the spear tip was buried into the ground instead of shattering on contact. The amount of power behind that swing was not to be messed with and the spear should have been obliterated, yet the only consequence for the spear after butting heads with the hammer was to be driven down to the floor and wedged into the ground. Ares realised Sadie used his own trick against him, imbuing the spear with mana to make it sturdier and withstand the blow. Ares smile widened as he was caught off-guard for the first time today and he was dying to see Sadie''s next move. Sadie didn''t disappoint as she used her palm to throw up the spear''s shaft. As the spear''s tip was still buried in the ground, the shaft travelled in a semi-circle arc, leaving Sadie''s grip and ultimately landing directly opposite her, squarely on Ares'' shoulder which was hunched from swinging the hammer. Sadie took off with a sprint and jumped, planting her left leg on the spear''s shaft causing Ares to be indirectly pushed closer to the ground as the weight came bearing down on his shoulder, locking his arm down and creating a massive opening. Sadie felt a rush of exhilaration as she raised her body by pushing down on the spear. Her heart was out of control as it beat rapidly. This fight was going to turn her into a battle maniac, but she was too busy madly laughing as she swung her head down onto Ares skull to care.


    THUD


    The feel of Ares'' blood trickling down her face and its metallic scent were the sweetest sensations Sadie had ever experienced. More MORE DAMNIT! DONT DIE YET! I''M NOT SATISFIED! As Ares fell backward, Sadie''s heart nearly exploded from the rush of adrenaline when she saw that trademark smirk creep onto Ares face. It wasn''t any ordinary smirk either, it was dangerous, She knew what it meant. He was going to hit her, and it was going to hurt. Who cared about that though?! She wanted to know how. How did his head not crack?! How was he going to save himself now?! How was he going to beat her now?! How was she going to have to respond?! How could she find a way to hurt him back?!


    How?


    How?


    HOW ARES?


    Ares continued falling but his body suddenly stopped as it neared the ground. Sadie felt Ares'' foot catch the back of her head which was still jutting forward after the headbutt. Ares pulled hard with his foot and brought his body back up while dragging Sadie''s head towards his own.


    CRACK


    Ahhh... Sadie could feel it. The Echo rattling around in her skull was the answer to all her questions. He used an Echo to mitigate the damage from the first headbutt as well as to retaliate. Her brain was pummelled, her throat was rattled, pain racked her organs and, BANG, one of her ribs exploded... THIS IS HEAVEN!


    It was official, Dominus had turned Sadie into a maniac.


    Poor Aym.


    Poor poor Aym. How he was going to deal with a woman this aggressive was anyone''s guess. Who knows, though, maybe it was a good thing?


    MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!


    ¡­


    Okay, maybe not, but it wasn''t Ares'' problem so he quietly apologised in his mind and went back to watching the spectacle.


    Sadie regained her bearing and looked back at Ares. What she saw calmed her raging heart and gave her pause. A deafening silence overwhelmed the building as Ares slowly walked towards Sadie with a grin on his face.


    Gulp


    Sadie couldn''t explain it, but it was as if all the weapons in the Field had awoken from a dormant slumber and were now staring at her. An overwhelming pressure descended and it felt like time had frozen. Amidst the sea of pressure, Ares took one final step which echoed throughout the sect and spread his arms in front of him with his palms facing the sky. Ares inhaled a deep breath before uttering the name of the unique art he created many moons ago; a unique art that struck fear into anyone who knew it''s name for it was the very same art that once slew a God.


    "Asura Rondo!"

 Chapter 55: Flipping the Switch: Sadie’s Awakening, Part 2

    All forty or so weapons began floating at waist height as they swivelled to face Sadie while hovering around her in a circle. Sadie blinked, but not because she wanted to. She was entranced and wanted to witness everything that was about to happen to her but the sea of pressure shut her eyes forcefully before reopening them. When her eyes could see once more, Ares was in the midst of swinging a pole axe. Sadie made a feeble attempt to raise her arms but her body was sluggish and immovable. Ares'' attack seemed to defy time as it''s speed was otherworldly up until the point it was about to connect, at which point Sadie''s world slowed down.


    Shut


    Sadie''s eyes were forcibly closed again as she felt the pole axe tear into her stomach.


    Open


    Sadie could see again and the first thing she noticed was her blood splatter frozen in mid-air, unmoving. Ares was now leaping sideways and aiming a cocked crossbow right at her chest. He released the bolt.


    Shut


    Winded by the pain she felt as the bolt pierced her lung, Sadie desperately tried to gasp for breath but her body still refused to obey her commands.


    Open


    It certainly obeyed whatever commands Ares was giving it, however, as she was forced to open her eyes to the sight of a bloody hole in her chest and Ares twirling twin daggers before dashing towards her.


    Shut


    Sadie collapsed, landing on her knees as she felt two sharp blades shred her tendons and ligaments in her legs, eviscerating her flesh. The sound of cracking knuckles echoed through Sadie''s head.


    Open


    Sure enough, Ares sauntered slowly over to Sadie with brass knuckles adorning his fists. The punch came with such blinding speed that Sadie barely even caught sight of it connecting with her cheek.


    Shut


    A handful of teeth and chunks of blood spewed out from Sadie''s mouth as her face swung sideways.


    Open


    Ares had taken up a posture low to the ground with his back to Sadie, putting him a position to donkey kick her head.


    Shut


    As Ares'' foot connected, breaking her jaw, Sadie could feel the weightlessness of her body floating through the air. The numbing of all sensation in her body, being trapped within the confines of her bruised flesh and mind, and having to watch her own execution scene by scene was changing something in Sadie. The beautiful forms Ares displayed every time her eyes opened were being engraved deep into her soul. The intricacy of Asura Rondo, a combination art that incorporated magic of every single aspect under the weapons pillar. The flow and rhythm of combat. The ways to dance with your opponent and take the lead while demanding they follow your pace. All of it was coalescing into a single point within Sadie and was nearly ready to explode.


    Open


    Ares loaded a single shot into a musket and took aim, charging the weapon with annihilation magic and giving it a golden hue.


    Shut


    The sound of the musket firing was drowned out by the explosion that followed soon after. Sadie had lost all feeling and was unfazed by her shattering body as it was flung into a wall. All Sadie needed, all she wanted, was to open her eyes one final time and comprehend everything that had eluded her up until now. On the cusp of greatness, death wasn''t a concern, self-improvement and taking the next step in her journey of weapon mastery came first. Sadie could feel it, one more display of mastery would push her over an edge she she couldn''t see the bottom of. Not knowing what came next was both worrying and exciting; that a whole new world lay within reach was daunting beyond words but that did not matter. Fascination at said new world overruled any fear as Sadie had a gut feeling a chance like this was incredibly rare and she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn''t pay attention here. Sadie could feel death approaching and she knew that this was the end. Regardless of whether or not she took the next step here, Ares was going to put the final nail in the coffin.


    Open


    Sadie instantly shed tears as she was able to witness a sword swing that defied all reason. Dying to an attack of this calibre was an honour. An unflinching, steady hand that refused to deviate from its trajectory. A faintly glistening blade that tore through the wind in a stunning curve that even a protractor couldn''t replicate. Perfect speed, perfect form, perfect handling, and a perfect death. Sadie wavered and was tempted to give up. There wasn''t a chance in hell she would ever replicate that. Clearly, this new world was beyond her... No. NO... Don''t be stupid. This is everything you''ve ever wanted. Watch until the end damnit! Sadie resolved herself to watch every micro second up until her life was reaped and her head was cleaved from her shoulder. No, it was more than that. Even if her head came off she would keep watching, even death wasn''t going to stop her. If there was one thing Sadie had going for her, it was her ability to turn dejection into rage. Feeling returned to her limbs as hot blood trickled out of her wounds. Sadie strained her eyes to remain open, resisting the pressure trying to shut them one final time as the sword was moments away from touching her neck. Sadie caught a glimpse of herself within the swords reflection and her entire life flashed before her eyes right as everything clicked into place. Something had awoken with Sadie.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "Wow?!¡­" Dominus blurted out befuddled praise as he felt his wrist snap. Dominus hadn''t even seen Sadie''s hand shoot out and break his bones. He was too preoccupied with swinging the sword to have noticed anything and now he was dumbly staring at Sadie who had a blank look on her face as she stared back down at him. It was a stare as blank as the slate Sadie had just become and Dominus could tell he was about to witness the evolution of a phenomenal person in real time.


    BLEUGH


    Neither Sadie nor Dominus had been aware that Sadie''s knee was buried deep in Dominus'' stomach until his body caved under the blow. Dominus'' eyes widened as he was shocked to his core that his attack was not only stopped, but that he couldn''t even see, let alone stop, Sadie''s retaliation.


    Sadie wasn''t in control of her own movements, she was just along for the ride as she ascended into a new plane of mastery. Her body was acting quicker than her brain so its debatable who, between her and Dominus, was more confused when her mouth opened and she uttered...


    "Asura Rondo."


    Dominus managed to crane his neck upward, as he was still hunched over Sadie''s knee, and look up at Sadie who''s gaze was akin to that of someone staring at an ant. "...You''re incredible?!"


    Shut


    It was Dominus'' turn to undergo a Rondo but he was truly ecstatic! He''d always wondered what it was like to be on the receiving end of Asura Rondo but no one other than him seemed to be able to use it. Although describing this situation as fun was questionable from a bystanders perspective, Dominus was having the time of his life as his ribcage cracked in multiple places.


    Open


    Sadie towered above Ares as she wielded a steel maul with both her hands. With a hop in her step she readied an overhead swing to decimate the hunched over Ares.


    Shut


    Every bone in Dominus'' back fragmented into tiny pieces as his spine was mercilessly crushed.


    Open


    With determination and confidence practically oozing out of Sadie, she brandished a bat before she took a stance and swung for the fences, aka Ares'' face, with enraptured abandon.


    Shut


    Dominus'' nose bust immediately and his left eye exploded in its socket, rendering half his face an indecipherable mess of vitreous and aqueous humor merged with blood and sclera. The force of the swing had sent him staggering backward until the back of his head banged against a wall.


    Open


    Dominus was greeted back into reality by the sight of Sadie racking a handgun. Normally, anyone in Dominus'' state would be concerned with the fact that they were dying, but the gun brought back ancient memories as Dominus had been around during the time of their creation. Guns in the cultivation world were an interesting paradox in that, although they were functionally more deadly than a bow and arrow, they were actually less useful against cultivators. Sure, mortals were killed left and right by guns but cultivators could typically shrug off bullets. The velocity of a bullet was essentially predetermined by the gun itself and, once a cultivator became strong enough, guns just wouldn''t be able to produce enough fire-power to harm them. The same was also true of bows, though, but there was a key difference. Arrows were bigger than bullets and, thus, could be imbued with more mana. The strength of projectile weapons in the cultivation world were effectively determined by two things, the material used to create the weapon and the amount of mana that can be imbued into it. For that reason, guns weren''t actually that powerful. Yes, they were revolutionary at the time and a lot of people experimented with them, but not many cultivators stuck with them as there were simply better options. Why shoot someone with 30 bullets that just bounce of the target when one bow art would just kill the person? Of course guns had evolved over time and so too had the cultivators that used them. Different types of guns, gun arts, and even the existence of gun treasures brought them somewhat back into the fray as they were now relatively usable compared to their previous state. Automatic weapons paired well with status arts that inflicted ailments like poison. Sniper rifles were a decent alternative to bows at extreme ranges plus the sheer speed of a bullet was enough to interest some sharpshooters. Handguns, like the one Sadie was pointing at Dominus, sat somewhere in the middle as an effective supplement to any combatants arsenal. They were relatively easy to use, the quality of guns had gone up noticeably over the years, and they wouldn''t necessarily always kill the other person but they could certainly distract or injure them. Of course, similarly to magic, it all depended on the wielders inclinations on how to wield them and their talents with them; Dominus had seen a fair few incredibly lethal gunmen in his time. Overall, guns were a mixed bag. They weren''t stronger than any other option, but they weren''t exactly weaker either. They had their own niche and it was one Dominus had never really explored. His first wife really loved them though; And boy did she have plenty of reasons to shoot Dominus. If anything, what was about to happen to Dominus was quite nostalgic.


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    Shut


    Dominus counted seven shots that left him riddled with holes. They weren''t too deep as Sadie didn''t seem to be too familiar with the weapon and struggled to optimise her mana imbuement but, still, it was undeniably painful. The fact that Dominus was still even feeling pain was a pretty massive indicator that his own Asura Rondo was blatantly superior. His technique culled, or was supposed to, any chance of resistance, turning his opponent into a numbed fish in a barrel. The only real reason Sadie was able to get to this point was because he made no effort to inflict any major wounds during his own Asura Rondo, he could have even just outright killed her immediately as the gap was just that big. Still though, that wasn''t the point, and this outcome was far superior as he now had his own little passion project. He wouldn''t be able to take over like this very often, but if he could have fun with Sadie whenever he did, then this training was worth it. Dominus never had any children, at least not that he aware of anyway, but he''d always been interested in passing on his teachings. Sadie''s resemblance to his wife made him subconsciously treat her like his kin so his attitude towards her was lenient. The usual revenant snark was still present, but he was being far kinder to her than he would be to literally anyone else. If Ares, the real one, thought he was going to get the same treatment when Dominus was able to speak freely, he was sorely mistaken. If Ares was friendly annoying, then Dominus was down-right rude annoying. He was the face of all revenants, after all, of course he was going to act the part! Or rather, he was the part that everyone else copied.


    Open


    It seemed Sadie''s Rondo was coming to an end, which was understandable. It was a difficult art to maintain as combining every single aspect under the weapon pillar and keeping it running drained mana like no one''s business. Sadie would be able to make the art more lethal and keep the Rondo going for longer with practice, time, and a higher cultivation. The fact that Dominus was able to go for longer despite being stuck in someone else''s body was just further evidence that he was a supernatural freak when it came to weapons. As for Sadie''s final attack, she''d picked up a very familiar looking axe. Whether she''d intentionally picked the weapon that lead her down this path or it was simply a mere coincidence, Dominus had no idea. Sadie''s axe strike could hardly be considered masterful in this same way Dominus'' sword swing was, but it had a certain charm to it as Sadie''s form was unusually graceful and elegant; almost as though a ballerina had picked up an axe for whatever reason. It wasn''t something Dominus had ever seen before and he was interested so, although the strike was going to chop into his skull and smoosh his brain, he decided to let her do it, besides... You''re forgetting something important, Sadie. There''s more to me than just my talent with weapons. Tsk Tsk, not remembering who I am? That''s a deduction in points!


    Sadie wrist twisted, moving in the shape of an ''S'' as her hand brought the axe down onto Ares'' head, splitting his forehead and causing some grey matter to come leaking out. Control of her body was finally returned to her as she stared dazedly at her dead opponent, unsure of which emotion should take precedence right now. Smugness at having beaten down an annoying foe? Joy at having become stronger and having more doors opened up to her? Sadness at the fact that it was over? Well, actually, that decision was made for her without her approval as her face twisted into one of horror as she came to a sudden realisation. Why did she think the fight was over? So what if her opponent had an axe in his brain... He was a damn revenant! FUCK! Sadie looked at Ares'' face and her heart sank when her old friend, Mr Smug Smile, was confirmed to be back in town. In a panic, she desperately tried to remove the axe from Ares'' brain but, although that was objectively the correct decision, when had the objectively correct decision ever worked out for her in this fight so far? As Sadie''s decision making was rushed, she had regressed back to making boring choices. This was fair though, it''s not like she was well versed in this strange, new fighting style, so lapses in judgement were to be expected; it''s just that now, she was going to die because of it. Dominus was lenient with her, yes, but it''s not like he''d ever let himself lose unintentionally to another person; he still had his pride, after all. Just because Dominus had let Sadie get this far, it didn''t mean he was going to let her go any further.


    As Sadie attempted to dislodge the axe, Dominus twisted his head diagonally and to the side, causing the axe to twist and get wedged deeper into his head. As Sadie pulled the axe back, she also unintentionally pulled Dominus along for the ride, bringing him closer and putting him a position to roundhouse kick her in the face.


    THWACK


    Dominus chuckled inwardly as this was the second time this poor woman had been kicked in the face today. After the kick sent Sadie reeling backward, Dominus took the axe out of his head properly this time. Sadie must have had a lot of fun pushing him around with the Rondo, but all that meant was now Dominus had an axe to grind! Dominus leant back before tossing the axe with both power and precision, launching it straight towards Sadie''s head.


    Sadie recovered and picked up the nearest available weapon which just so happened to be the sword Ares had used earlier. Sadie prepared herself to block the incoming axe by holding the sword horizontally in front of her but was taken aback when she noticed Ares get down on all fours and start dashing after the axe he''d thrown. What truly surprised her was that it was typically impossible to discern whether or not someone was a revenant until bloodline awakening but, if anyone saw the Ares in front of her, they would be able to tell at a glance regardless of his lack of revenant features. Ares'' wild sprint, his focused, sharp eyes, his dangerous aura, and his zealous dedication to hunting down his prey all screamed ''WOLF''. Sadie had never seen a revenant be this in touch with their wolf side pre-bloodline awakening, it was unsettling and she felt scared he was actually going to maul her. She tried to focus on the axe but, every time she did, she caught sight of Ares trailing slightly behind it, glaring intensely at her. Shit. The axe, or Ares? Which is the bigger problem? Sadie wrestled with her tumult, constantly going back and forth between decisions and options, none of which felt even remotely correct to her. Fuck it, I''ve already got what I needed out of this fight. If I die, I die! Sadie threw away all her doubts and just picked an option, do nothing and stay on course. Block the axe and see where things go from there. Her plan became awkward though when Ares'' speed suddenly doubled, allowing him to race ahead of the axe and skid to a halt right in front of Sadie. Still, she ignored him as he didn''t seem to be attacking her. Quite frankly, she had no idea what he was about to do. She glanced down at him as he started to move again, but focused primarily on blocking the incoming axe. Ares leapt straight up while putting his back parallel to the floor and lifting his foot, almost as if he were about to bicycle kick the axe for some strange reason. As the axe closed the distance to Sadie and was inches away from her block, much to Sadie''s surprise, Ares'' foot connected with the axe. He really is kicking it?! What on earth for? Sadie very quickly realised why when the kick didn''t change the axe''s trajectory, but rather it''s axis. The axe transitioned from a vertical spin to a horizontal one as Ares'' ''kick'' had been more of a love tap. The precision required to do this was absolutely monstrous. Timing, firmness and precision of the tap, and even the angle of Ares'' jump towards the axe all needed to be impeccably executed and yet he''d done just that and even made it look easy. Sadie was seriously impressed. Yes, the shift in axis meant the axe had flown right over her horizontal block and was about to kill her by slashing her head in two, but it was absolutely an incredible feat of skill. Even if it was blatantly showing off his superiority, Sadie couldn''t help but respect it. The new Sadie, anyway, the old her from about 5 minutes ago would have just been annoyed like with what happened with the real Ares in the first duel.


    As the axe drew closer and closer, Sadie smiled and closed her eyes, accepting her imminent death as the fight was over. It had overstayed its welcome in the best way possible for her. What she had just assumed was pointless and petty bullying turned out ot be a major changing point for her. No longer was she standing before a brick wall, but rather she was now at a starting line with the brick wall''s rubble clumped up behind her. Still though, she was curious. Something was very clearly wrong with Ares, Sadie wasn''t so blind she''d miss all the obvious cues. He was talented, but to this extent? Nope. The Ares she''d seen during the disciple selection for the tournament was like a mini Ares compared to whatever this beast was. Not to mention his almost complete silence during the entire fight which was very un-Ares like in addition to his petty provocateur act. Its not to say he would never do these things, but that his was more innocent and playful than this which felt specifically designed to elicit a certain type of response. All of the current Ares'' actions felt pre-planned as if he''d had a goal for this fight that could only be accomplished by dragging Sadie through the mud first. He wasn''t being annoying to mess with her, he was doing it to spur her on and that was the main contributor to her feeling something wasn''t right. Anyhow, Sadie patiently awaited her death as she could just beat the answer out of Ares after; she was still way stronger than him when she was at her normal cultivation after all!


    "You''re interesting so I''ll let you have this one. I''ll be back in due time so don''t slack off on your training or I''ll be disappointed."


    Hm? Sadie opened her eyes and was stunned when she saw Ares'' corpse lying on the floor. The axe wasn''t in her head, it was in his... Again, but this time it was actually lethal. Why he rambled to her at the end before committing suicide was anyone''s guess at this point, and who knows what on earth he meant by ''I''ll be back''. There truly was no understanding this incomprehensible version of Ares.


    Speaking of everyone''s favourite mouthy and explosive punching bag, Ares, the real one, had respawned outside the Field, sitting on the floor with his legs outstretched and his arms lazily draped over his thigs, tilting his head in confusion like a lost child. He blinked rapidly as Sadie appeared in front of him, cracking her knuckles and ''smiling'' from ear to ear with not-so subtle malicious undertones. "Uhm... It''s my first time... Be gentle?"


    Naturally, Sadie was anything but. Even the peanut gallery of onlookers who had finished their training and been intently watching the fight didn''t disagree with the treatment Ares was currently receiving. Also, Sadie couldn''t control her temper very well around Ares to begin with so ''gentle'' was just inherently out of the cards. It also didn''t help that hitting Ares was just so inexplicably satisfying. So satisfying, in fact, that, for some strange reason, Enyo joined in as well.

 Chapter 56: Black Sheep of the Starlight clan

    Sprawled on the floor with bruises galore, a black and blue Ares had been beaten through and through. Only the occasional twitching signified the existence of life. Sadie kicked his leg. "Oi, get up or I''ll really start getting violent."


    Ares practically sprung to his feet as that threat was not to be taken lightly if what he''d seen of Sadie so far was anything to go by. "How may I help you?"


    "Explain."


    Ares scratched his head, "What can I say? Talent is an anagram of latent, you know? Maybe I was born with it? Maybe it''s Maybelline?"


    Thwack


    Sadie turned to Enyo. "Is there something wrong with us? Why did we fall in love with revenants?"


    Enyo shrugged. "Life insurance is cheap, they''ll never have a mid life crisis, and you can be rough with them, I guess? There''s not really any other reasons worth mentioning."


    Ahem


    Ares decided to be honest about the whole Dominus thing as the cat was already basically half out of the bag a this point. "I let Dominus come out to play for a bit. He seemed really bored and I felt kinda bad for him, plus I''m getting a lot out of this situation so I figured this would at least somewhat repay him."


    "Excuse me?" Sadie was not expecting to hear the name ''Dominus'' pop up in this conversation.


    Ares gave Sadie the lowdown about his own personal parasite hiding away in his blood, for whatever reason, and Sadie was understandably flabbergasted.


    "Why the hell is Dominus inside you? Wasn''t he dead for tens of thousands of years? I mean, that explains a lot about everything that just happened to me, but it also leaves me with way more questions than I had originally. Can you get him out, like for good?"


    "I don''t really know, I would assume not right now at least. I would ask, but it seems like he''s completely spent and has gone incommunicado for the foreseeable future. If I want more information out of him, I''ll have to wait, I guess." Little did Ares know, he was about to have a run in with a certain omnipotent being that was going to answer a lot of his questions very soon. Right now though, he was very sore from all his training. "Uh, anyway, I''m aching all over and really quite tired due to a lack of sleep. I''m going to take my leave..."


    Sadie snorted in response. "Nuh uh, chump. You''re staying for one more round. Even if you''re body is tired, you''ve only really fought one proper round at the start. Toughen up and do some proper training even if you have to suffer some injuries. What doesn''t kill you makes you stronger, and you''re a revenant, so its a long list!"


    Ares mustered a tired groan before skulking back over to the Training Field as he could tell he didn''t really have a choice in the matter. Even if he shifted away Sadie would just go and drag him out of his house and who could realistically stop her? No-one in this domain, anyway. Ares was able to manage mustering a petty reply half-heartedly... "Yeah, well, it''s a shame the person who said ''what doesn''t kill you makes you stronger'' never met the person who said ''too much of anything can kill you''. What a riot that would have been." ¡­ but that was the extent of his verbal rebellion.


    Before Sadie came over to the Field as well, she briefly gave advice to the others who''s done their own training while Sadie had been brutalising Ares after their first fight. Enyo and Esme were doing fine so their talks were quick. Li Li had lost the one on one vs Aejaz but Sadie opted not to punish her as Li Li''s handicap was arguably far worse than Aejaz'' but, still, she gave Li Li a hard time by going in depth about all of her mistakes. Surprisingly, she complimented Aejaz even though his performance wasn''t necessarily altogether too impressive. Mostly because it was clear to Sadie that he had a lot of potential if he could be trained properly. "I see why Ares keeps you around."


    Aejaz'' eye twitched. "I''m not a pet..."


    A snicker came from the side followed by Ares chiming in with, "It''s true, he''s more like a stray I found. Might have rabies for all I know."


    "Tsk, see if I don''t steal your clothes again in the middle of the tournament. Sadie, hit him hard."


    Ares was surprised to see Aejaz being mouthy and combative for once, but that was fine. He''d meant what he''d said about not wanting Aejaz to be a mini Ares and it seemed like that was gradually happening thanks to Allie and his training. He would still always be the same cowardly shmuck for the rest of his life, though, Ares knew that for certain. Some parts of a person just couldn''t be erased and that was just who Aejaz was at his core.


    When Sadie was done, she went back over to the Field and trained with Ares for a while longer. When they were finished, Eagerton was the first to leave the building as he''d gotten what he came for. Although there hadn''t been much in the way of magic up until the very end when Ares let loose (he was tired but had a lot of mana so that was his gameplan for the last stretch), the technique and skill displayed by Dominus had tided him over and been satisfactory. Although Sadie had objectively gotten the most out of the training session, Eagerton wouldn''t hesitate to claim the same as he truly believed, even now, that he was the most desperate person in the room. It wasn''t arrogance or delusion, his priorities were just warped compared to everyone else. Speaking of priorities, there was something he needed to go and do so, after leaving the training building, he took off to go to a music club located within the sect. Although the outer and inner court disciples had already been decided for the upcoming tournament, the core disciple selection was coming up soon and there was someone who, alongside Eagerton himself, could probably guarantee the sect a win during the international at the core level if he actually took part. Who was that person exactly? Well... It was also the person Margaret had asked him to check up on... His brother...


    After a decently lengthy walk, Eagerton arrived outside ''Musicians Wanted''. The place in question was a music bar... Kind of. Really, it depended on which day it was and who was performing. Sometimes it was a jazz bar serving cocktails, sometimes it was a small-scale opera house serving champaign. Sometimes a pop concert, sometimes a rave. Long story short, if you had any preference for music at all, given enough time, you would eventually have a reason to visit this place. As for what was on offer today... Well, it was fairly obvious at a glance considering all the gothic and emo types entering, let alone the muted rock music leaking out from behind a spiked, steel door.


    Eagerton took a deep breath and followed it up with an equally deep sigh before rapping his knuckles against the door, impatiently tapping his foot as he waited for it to open. It was safe to say Eagerton really didn''t want to be here, this was most definitely not ''his vibe'', as his brother would say. The door whined as it opened and, from within the dimly lit corridor behind it, a bright pink mohawk popped out. "Password?"


    "I''m here to see my brother, not play around with some silly play-pretend riddle master."


    "Boss says no Eagertons allowed."


    "I think you''ll find your boss is sect master Yulo, not my dimwit brother. Catch ostrich." Eagerton took out a white medallion shaped like a crystal ball and threw it at the hairdo. A hand with green-painted nails and adorned with a spiked wrist band deftly swooped in and caught the medallion, quickly bringing it back behind the door for inspection.


    "... Fine, but don''t come crying to me if boss doesn''t wanna speak to you."


    Eagerton caught the medallion that was thrown back at him and put it back in his space ring. "Why would I cry about it? It''s not like it would be any different from usual. Open up, peacock."


    "Will you stop callin'' me bird names?!" The door opened and a gruff fellow with nose and eye piercings snarled at Eagerton.


    "No. This is a music establishment and, as far as I''m aware, the bird is the word, so step aside bird brain."


    The bouncer pulled a knife and snarled, "You lookin'' for a fight, ya cuckoo bastard?"


    Eagerton sighed and whipped out his notebook, flipping it open to an empty page somewhere near the end. "You, my flamboyant friend, are at the bottom of the pecking order. Allow me to demonstrate." Eagerton''s hand turned into a blur as it pulled out a pen and scribbled something down on the notebook. With a puff smoke, a horde of angry chickens with narrowed eyes appeared out of seemingly nowhere. "Get him, chaps!"


    CLUCK


    CLUCK CLUCK


    CLUCKCLUCKCLUCK


    CLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCKCLUCK


    The cluster of chickens tangled with the bouncer, leaping on his head and dragging him out of the doorway and onto the floor where he was unceremoniously pecked into submission. As Eagerton slid into the building, a couple of clueless disciples accidentally got embroiled in the fiasco as they tried to help the punk bouncer who was buried under a mountain of feathered fiends. As the new disciples also slowly became overrun, one yelled ''STAMPEDE!" at the top of lungs in an effort to draw in more of the surrounding disciples for aid. His plan was successful as any who heard the call were curious enough to take a peak which then led to their involvement, whether they wanted to or not, as the chickens were truly bloodthirsty little beasts. Slowly but surely, despite the increased number of human combatants, the chickens were overwhelming their non-feathered foes as they hunted them down in the streets in a scene reminiscent of the running of the bulls. Although those who were fleeing for their life would eventually go on to recount their tale with grim countenance, none who heard it would ever have any response for the survivors other than a hearty laugh. These brave fellows would become laughingstock; so much so, in fact, that ''chicken running'' would become an official event in the sect at a later date, one held every couple of years.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Meanwhile, Eagerton was walking down the hallway with the lights flickering above him, drawing ever closer to the origin of the screaming that those who frequented the place would deem music. Reaching one final door before he would arrive in his own personal hell, Eagerton readjusted his monocle and opened the door, bravely stepping into a swamp of murky black depression and face paint. The room was dark with a single dim spotlight emphasising the glum mood present in all the customers who were drinking anything and everything that came inside of a black can regardless of whether or not it tasted any good. A few of said customers turned their pale faces to eye up the new intruder, all the while raising their thick eyelashes at the sight of someone who very clearly did not belong. Eagerton ignored the creatures from the black lagoon and marched his way over to the side of the stage, heading towards a skinny, frail teen who was preparing to go up on stage when his turn arrived.


    Despite his languid appearance, the person in question was good looking. Whether it was because the emo look with black lipstick suited him or if it was because he was just inherently a pretty boy was debatable. Either way he was being crowded around by numerous people, both male and female, that were looking to get a taste of the cigarette flavour that was ever present on his lips. Noticing the change in the room, he looked up from the neck he was kissing, not that he even knew who it belonged to to begin with. When he saw his noble brother strolling past the riff raff, he felt a rising urge to puke. Instead he opted to roll his eyes as far up as he could while throwing his head back and groaning in misery. When his brother was finally stood in front of him, tutting with his arms folded in front of his chest and his fingers tapping against his ribs, he ''greeted'' him in a tired voice that compiled all the misery he was capable of feeling at any given moment into a single utterance, "Eagerton."


    Eagerton''s eyes did a barrel roll before landing with their sights squarely locked on his natural enemy. Eagerton responded to the ''pleasant'' greeting in kind by imbuing a loftiness into his voice as he spoke that made clear his disdain for everything within a fifty foot radius of his current location. "Edgerton.''


    Eagerton''s unsufferable cadence was enough to make Edgerton search for a way out of the ensuing conversation. As he looked around, much to his joy, not that he ever really felt that particular emotion, the previous singer was leaving the stage. He turned his head to the organiser and gestured to the empty stage with his head. "Angelical Ok?"


    The manager checked his schedule before giving the go ahead. "Sure, but that''s all you''ll have time for..."


    AHEM


    Eagerton barged his way into the conversation. "No, Angelical is not ok, brother. I''m well aware that stupid song of yours is over 18 minutes long and there is not a chance in hell I''m going to stand around waiting for your mockery of an epic to finish. If I wanted an 18 minute long diatribe I would ask one of my critics for their opinion."


    Edgerton scratched his cheek before replying sarcastically, "You have critics? Must be nice..."


    "Oh shut up you fool. Who on earth would be jealous of such a thing?! You can have all of mine any day of the week."


    Pah


    Edgerton spat on the ground. "You think those up-their-own ass types would throw someone like me a bone? Look my way? Our home planet is a pit of mediocrity parading itself as some kind of creative paradise. It''s not a passionate man''s daydream, it''s a niche man''s nightmare. You hate your fame, but at least you exist to those people. How many of them do you think even remember my name, and how many that do remember it with anything other than scorn? That stupid look in their eye... You know the one, the one you''ve also got."


    "So what if I have a superiority complex you blithering moron? Don''t you as well? Are you not putting yourself above those you deem to be nothing more than elitist filth? Is that not the height of elitism? Anyone who has ever created anything in their life has truly understood pride, and anyone who understands pride will naturally have their own. Don''t mistake my pride and self-assured superiority for disdain in you and a view of you as an inferior, they are not the same."


    "We are not the same. Whatever, I don''t have time for this roundabout conversation we always have. I''ve got a song to perform, so give up and go like you always do."


    "No. This time I''m not here for my own sake so I shall not be leaving any time soon. If you still wish to be difficult then I have no qualms with picking a fight and dragging you away from this place."


    "Petty threats you could never deliver on aside, if you aren''t here for your own reasons, then who are you here on behalf of?"


    "Hm, if I were to math it out, I''d say it''s 5% Yulo, 15% me, and 80% mother Margaret. You aren''t going to disrespect mother otherwise you best pray that when I drag you out of here you aren''t a lifeless corpse."


    "Of course not, idiot. You don''t have to tell me that..." Edgerton sighed and turned around to the groupies. "Alright, get lost for now." Next he faced the organiser and did the ''cut'' gesture by waving the tips of fingers near his neck. Finally, he turned to his brother. "Come. Don''t get lost ''cos I''m not stopping for you." Edgerton walked off down another hallway as Eagerton followed behind him. Eventually, after passing through countless doors and going up and down a fair few flights of stairs, Edgerton opened the door to his own personal room. Some cultivators in the sect actually lived inside Musicians Wanted as the underground section was fairly expansive and it was where they spent most of their time anyway.


    Eagerton entered and was surprised to see a room not dissimilar to his own. Bookshelves lined with classic literature, a piano taking up a decent chunk of the corner, a wine cupboard etc... It''s not that Edgerton had never lived like this, Eagerton just assumed he would stop doing as such after he ran away from home. "Old habits die hard? Or does a part of you actually miss the hustle and bustle?"


    Edgerton slumped onto a beige sofa. "Neither, I just never hated this way of living as much as you all presumptuously thought I did. It was the people and their attitudes I disliked, not their lifestyle. If anything, it just made me more annoyed that they were too snobby to realise what a good thing they had going... Or maybe it''s because they realised that they acted that way. Regardless, I''m not blaming the high life for the mistakes of the lowlifes. Well whatever, I''m getting side-tracked. Pour yourself some wine if you want, don''t touch the good stuff though or I''ll blow out your ear drums and kick you out."


    "I think I''ll pass...." Eagerton glanced dismissively at the wine. "...Your idea of ''good stuff'' is most certainly not in alignment with mine, or anyone else''s with good taste for that matter..."


    "Yeah, yeah. If it''s not my opinion, it''s not worth listening too, blah blah blah. Can we hurry this conversation up? The more I speak to you, the more I''m reminded of that stupid planet."


    "Yes, well, stupid planet aside, the reason I''m here is because I want you to take part in the upcoming tournament."


    "What does that have to do with Margaret?"


    "She wants to see you?"


    "I''ll say hello to her at the party."


    "Not that it isn''t impressive your willing to even go to a place like that, but then what? You crawl back here into this little hidey hole and disappear for however many years again? Even if she doesn''t get more chances to speak to you, she still wants to see you and makes sure you''re doing well with her own two eyes. Yulo wants you to take part as there''s a good chance we can win the international this year not just at the core level, but also the outer court level, and I think you participating is the best way to simultaneously achieve all of those goals. Mother can watch you and cure her boredom, maybe even her stagnant imagination, and the sect can flourish."


    "... It''s a..."


    "Hassle? Yes, I''m well aware everything is a hassle to you, but most things in life are. I''m asking you to put up with the hassle just once every now and then for mother''s sake. Besides, if you really want some fame to your name, then isn''t this the grandest stage on offer?"


    "Yeah, if we win. I''m not exactly inspired by this sect''s win-loss record."


    "That''s because this sect didn''t have the powerhouses it does today. You and I have only joined recently and the same can be said for two particular outer court disciples who are absolutely going to achieve victory. Not only is this sect going to win, it''s going to win twice after never having come close previously. What better opportunity is there to go down in the history books than this? If anything, I''m the one who shouldn''t be happy with this situation. But it''s not about whether I''m happy or not, I''m doing all of this because I know it would make mother happy and that''s, sadly, a rarity these days. You ran away, yes, but you don''t seem to appreciate how lucky you were to escape father..."


    Edgerton''s voice was sharp and laced with hostility. "Don''t call him that. He doesn''t deserve the respect, you know it as well as I do."


    "I''m not using it as a term of endearment, I only said it because it''s objectively correct. I hate him just as much as you do, it''s just that having put up with him this long all I feel is apathy and indifference. I''ve gone beyond hate because there''s just no point, he doesn''t care about the way we feel about him."


    "I will always detest that fucker, you can''t convince me otherwise. It speaks volumes that I''d rather have the Legion patriarch, Major, be my father, and he''s pretty fucking bad too. At least that one knows what an emotion is and is driven by something other than selfishness."


    "I wouldn''t be so sure, Edgerton. There are some rather unsavoury rumours going around about him... He may not be the saint people think he is. That robot secret weapon they have? It might be more than just a weapon."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Major''s grudge against the revenants runs deep. If the rumours are to be believed, he may have really gone of the deep end in an attempt to enact revenge." Eagerton took out a piece of paper and wrote something down on it before passing it over to Edgerton.


    Edgerton read the contents written on the paper before looking up at Eagerton with a deadly serious expression. "Is this accurate?"


    "Unfortunately, almost definitely."


    "What an insane bastard. This... it''s going way too far. I get there''s a ''war'' going on, but it''s never gotten this serious. The revenants have never really gone all out because they feel sorry for us because we''re mortal, they definitely aren''t evil enough to deserve this. What Major has done is a serious escalation and might reignite the war... What on earth is that moron thinking?! Why hasn''t Rhea done anything about this?"


    "I would assume she isn''t aware. This information was hard to come by. Most people who see the Legion''s secret weapon tend not to live to tell the tale, even the person who got this information isn''t with us any longer."


    "Shouldn''t you go public with this? Surely everyone would just band together and kill the idiot?"


    "It''s not that simple. The Legion''s military is tied to Major''s hip and our military would also side with him. Even if everyone else worked together, it would still be a monumental bloodbath. I hate to say it, but what''s a revenant or two compared to however many millions of lives?"


    "Tsk, this is still wrong. I don''t care how demented the freak is, this goes beyond the pale."


    "Of course, but the problem will likely solve itself eventually. Major has accidentally made a very powerful enemy. There''s an outer court disciple running around who, when he learns about this, is not going to be so quick to forgive, I would imagine."


    "Outer court?"


    "I''m not saying it won''t take a while for him to raise his cultivation but, when he does, things are going to change in Vraizon; Major''s grip over the domain included."


    "I still don''t feel great just sitting here knowing about, and ignoring, his behaviour... Whatever, I guess there''s no reason to fret if you say it''s going to be dealt with. Still, why did you write it on the paper? Why not just tell me? What''s with the secrecy?"


    "Isn''t that obvious? It''s because there''s a revenant listening in on our ''private'' conversation; and it''s one of calla''s children no less!" Eagerton chuckled as he looked at the closed door. "Isn''t that right, Fate?"

 Chapter 57: A Meeting with the Ur-God

    Back at Ares'' house.


    Enyo took a deep breath as she consolidated the results of her cultivation session. After the training, she''d gone into one of the cultivation rooms as she felt it was possible to raise her cultivation by a stage. Lo and behold, she''d accomplished it, bringing her to the 7th stage of mental accumulation. Part of the reason she''d been able to raise her cultivation was because she''d succeeded in creating a new offensive art during her training, one that came under the righteous justice aspect which she wasn''t altogether too familiar with. Exploring new pillars was a way for cultivators who didn''t use dedication to potentially make gains in their cultivation; that being said, Enyo was seriously considering swapping over. She had little interest in anything other than the holy pillar and had an affinity for both aspects. Her barriers were already monstrous and leaning further into that would solidify her path forward. Pillar affinity was rarely wrong and dedication cultivation hardly ever failed anyone who invested in it, so Enyo was only really deciding whether to swap before or after the tournament. It probably wouldn''t affect their chances of winning, but Enyo wasn''t a gambler and there was no need to take any risks. Of course, if she asked Ares, he would naturally recommend she swap... I wonder if that idiot has collapsed yet?


    After returning home, one would assume Ares would have gone to sleep and rested his weary and achy bones... Yeah right. He''d planned on doing as such, but at the end of the training session, Sadie gifted him the space ring full of miscellaneous weapons used during the training session. Ares, like any other man on any other planet, simply couldn''t resist playing with his new toys and went into the backyard to practice Asura Rondo as well as swinging around the various weapons. It''s also worth noting that, when Sadie watched Ares stuff the spatial ring filled with weapons into a dimension she couldn''t see, she naturally asked him about just like everyone else had. When his response, which was the same as always, indicated that he kept it in the same place he kept his kitchen, Sadie slapped him and walked away without asking him anymore questions.


    Enyo, now that she was finished with her cultivation session, arose from her seated position and opened the door, after which she was greeted by her adorable daughter.


    "Hello mum!"


    Enyo smiled and picked Appa up, giving it a hug. "Hello sweetie, what have you been up to?"


    "Hmmm. I was watching dad playing around... Mum, is dad evil?"


    "Probably, why?"


    "Towards the end, he was acting weird."


    "... What''s so strange about that?"


    "I mean he was laughing like a supervillain."


    "I''m honestly surprised he hasn''t done that before, but you''re right, it is somewhat unusual. I was about to go check on him and make sure he hadn''t fainted in the cold anyway, let''s go see what that fool is up to shall we?"


    "Mhm!"


    With Appa in her arms, Enyo walked to the back of the house and opened the door leading to the garden. The garden itself was relatively unimpressive, essentially just being a square patch of grass with nothing else of note present. It was certainly sizable though. If a tenant wanted to, they could put some effort in and get a really pretty garden in return. It was big enough that you could host a get together if you really wanted. Not many people went through the hassle of cleaning up and decorating, though, as these were usually just temporary accommodation for anyone who was talented enough to move up and become and inner court disciple. Usually, no matter how untalented you were, becoming an inner court disciple was always in reach. The requirements weren''t too strict so why bother spicing up the garden when you were almost definitely going to have to leave the house anyway? It was ideal, for most people, to wait until they got their inner court residence, where they would probably spend the rest of their life. The requirements to become a core disciple were far stricter and there could only be so many at any given time, just reaching the minimum cultivation threshold and passing a small test was no longer enough to move up. As Heaven''s Path was a sect that had been around for quite some time, the core disciples were typically those that had earned their place and kept it for a considerable amount of time, meaning anyone who wasn''t a cultivation or combat genius stood basically no chance against the veteran core disciples. Of course Edgerton and Eagerton who came from a higher domain, had plenty of combat experience thanks to the war, and were prodigious in every sense of the word earned their spot with relative ease. They were exceptions, though.


    Enyo opened the door to the plain garden, that Ares had never touched prior to today, and was immediately greeted by the cackling Appa had previously informed her about. Just as she was about to look to the side where the laughter was coming from...


    bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


    A large, gold, red, and black object whizzed past her, speeding off into the dead of night, giving her a front row seat to the doppler effect in action. Enyo hadn''t quite seen whatever it was that went flying past as it was a little too dark to make out specifics and, whatever it was, it was damn fast. Enyo was about to turn and face Ares once again...


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    A black and red helix violently erupted from wherever the mysterious object landed with a golden pillar rising straight up in the middle of it. The sheer width of the explosion was massive and it even shot upwards high enough to split the clouds in the night sky. The domineering, ancient aura of devastation swept through the neighbourhood, blasting away any fencing too close to the blast zone and even rattling the foundation of some houses. Speaking of houses... Enyo slowly realised Ares'' practice dummy was, in fact, one of the empty houses next door that was supposed to belong to either Aejaz or Appa who were living here instead. The houses were really quite luxurious as far as outer court houses went, it was fairly obvious the sect elders were not going to be too pleased with the destruction of one that could have been repurposed for new outer court disciples... Enyo could practically hear Rud stomping down the street already, so she turned to the cackling maniac and decided to get the conversation over and done with as quick as possible. She wanted to go to sleep with Appa and leave Rud''s questioning up to Ares, it was his fault after all; there was no reason to allow herself to be dragged into it when she was tired enough as is. "I don''t suppose those were fireworks?"


    "Hm?" Ares stopped laughing to himself when he realised he wasn''t alone anymore. "Hehehe, nope, but it''s certainly showy, isn''t it? It''s a new art called ''Perish Wheel''. It''s like an exploding buzz saw that combines all the aspects of destruction! I got the idea from that dumb mecha dryad back in Baja. Though, of course, mine''s bigger!"


    Are all men this stupid? "Don''t you think it''s..." Enyo glanced at the ruins of the house that was test site alpha. "... A little much?"


    "Muahaha, nope. The art might be a little extreme, but there''s method to the madness!"


    "... No, I''m pretty sure there''s madness in your method... Whatever, we''re going to sleep. Good luck with Rud."


    "Hm? Rud? Right¡­ Oh shit."


    "BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


    Enyo walked back inside and closed the door, ignoring Ares'' pleas for help as a loud yell and THUD signalled Rud''s arrival. Besides, who was Enyo to get in the way of someone smacking Ares upside the head? She enjoyed it just as much as everyone else. It was also necessary every now and then for two reasons, one: it put Ares in his place. He was a mouthy bastard who acted before he thought about the consequences of his actions and how they would affect those around him. A few beatings here and there would keep him honest! And two: People might start to actually get annoyed at him for real otherwise. He was just about tolerable provided you were given opportunities to...


    SMACK


    ¡­ Take out your anger every now and then. To be fair, Rud was probably the person who''d put up with Ares'' shenanigans for the longest now so he was next in line; all he really needed was an excuse and boy did he have one now.


    Enyo ignored the wails coming from the garden as she went to sleep while cuddling an Appa who was tittering to itself every time it heard the sound of flesh being struck.


    ---------------------------------


    An hour later.


    The door to the bedroom opened as a lump of groaning flesh dragged itself across the floor and into the room. Ares was well and truly shattered as today had been a long day, so he used what little remaining strength he had left to crawl over to the bed and flop onto it. He shut his eyes and immediately dozed off into dreamland. His dreams were unusual this day. Perhaps combining all three destruction pillar aspects for the first time had awoken something within Ares. His dreams all took place within a red, pulsing void with black seams strewn about, holding it all together. As the red void pulsed and became gradually more vibrant, the contours of space formed a conical hole that lead deeper into the ever expanding depths. Whatever this place was, it was definitely related to the nothingness pillar, no questions asked. Colour scheme and general aesthetic aside, Ares felt at home here, like a fish in water. He could float freely, unabetted by gravity or physics of any kind. He could freely Shift to anything within sight... Not that there was anything here. Even if he Shifted as far forward as possible, his surroundings didn''t change even an iota; not because he hadn''t moved, but just because the expansiveness of this void rivalled the deepest depths of outer space. The distance he would need to travel in order to change the immediate scenery was incalculable. Instead of endlessly, pointlessly searching the expanse before, Ares began playing with the void. He wielded it freely here without the need for mana or fine control. With the flick of a wrist he could create ''physical'' objects like a red dolphin, hopping in and out of portals, or a red meteor that went crashing off into the distance beyond vision, or even a red... Actually, the creations all being red didn''t really bear repeating, similar to how all his annihilation creations were gold... Anyhow, Ares was stuck in this strange place for hours on end, seemingly unable to wake up from this weird dream and return to reality... Actually, that word, ''reality'' didn''t quite make sense to Ares. This void felt more ''real'' to him than the world he knew.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Ares was startled when he heard a whisper tickle his ear. He looked around and even tried to sense his surroundings through the use of nothingness but that action seemed to amplify the voice. As Ares focused harder, the ''voice'' became clear enough to understand properly. Rather than speak back, Ares simply listened patiently for hours on end, digesting all the information he was receiving; information that was of vital importance to him and to the entire world. His face grew sour towards the middle of the explanation he was receiving before gradually turning into one of bitter acceptance. By the end of the ''talk'', Ares was in a foul mood. He didn''t want to hear the things he''d heard, nor did he want to be involved but, really, he knew he didn''t have a say in the matter. He was just going to have to grin and bear it all for a long time to come... But that was his problem, not yours! Don''t be nosy. Ares had half discovered this void and had half been summoned here for the express purpose of being educated on various matters. It was his duty going forward and his burden that others need not concern themselves with. Well, there was one person he would tell, she needed to know not because it was her problem, but because Ares couldn''t lie to her; not about this. Ares sighed dejectedly as he closed his eyes in an attempt to return to ''reality'', the ''real'' one, anyway. The one where everything he valued existed.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Gasp


    Ares awoke with a start, sucking in the air around him. Contrary to his expectations, he wasn''t in his room. The place he was in was actually familiar to him...Because it was the same damn void he''d just left.


    Sigh


    Ares exhaled and took a moment to think. No, it''s different this time. This time is real... I wasn''t summoned here, I entered this place myself. Did I sleepwalk? Or more like sleep-dimension-walk, I guess. Ares fiddled with the void, allowing it to drip through his grasp like grains of sand. I''m not tired anymore. I''m definitely awake now... Was I awake before too? Bah, who cares, I should just leave this cursed place. Awake, asleep, Ares didn''t really know or care anymore, he just wanted out. He had enough control over nothingness to freely enter and exit this place. It was an important place in its own right, but Ares didn''t have much reason to be here just yet. The things he needed to do here were currently beyond him, so he went to open a portal back to reality. As he readied his hand to open the fabric of the void, he detected something in the distance, something that hadn''t been here prior during his ''dream''? ''Nightmare?'' Whatever it was. Recalling the explanation he''d been given, Ares already knew what was in store for him if he went that way, but he needed to do it. He needed to get this meeting over and done with now so him coming back here in the future wouldn''t be suspicious to the ''owner''. The ''person'' in question knew he was here, and he knew Ares knew about him. Leaving now would just make things awkward, so Ares bit the bullet and prepared himself. He was about to hear the same thing he''d already been told, well... Almost. There would be some missing details, but hey, a person can''t tell you something they don''t know about, right? Ares Shifted repeatedly in a single direction until he saw a tiny silver blob in the distance. Ares blinked and the blob vanished from his sight. Did the blob run away from him? No, quite the opposite, it had actually come closer. The reason Ares couldn''t see it anymore was because it was right behind him. Ares didn''t need to turn around to know of its presence because it was so absurdly massive, it''s sheer size so unfathomable, it created a sort of pressure passively just by existing at such an unreasonable scale.


    Ares could hear faint beeps that dug into and echoed throughout his ears, like that of a calculator solving impossible equations at lightning speed. He could feel the tactile existence behind him, ubiquitous and omnipresent amongst a network of existences, like a terminal of materiality providing eternal life support to organic organisms. The existence behind him was ''functional'', a master craft in logic and coherence. The code to reality, the numbers and data that made up all that which exists, fluttered blurrily in and out of vision before Ares. Ares remained calm, calmer than anyone else in his position would if they knew what he knew; for Ares knew...


    The existence behind him was a God.


    The first God.


    The God who had existed long before any human or any living creature. The God who oversaw countless dimensions, single-handedly watching over literally everything, everywhere, all the time.


    Ares turned to face what could only be described as a superior existence by every conceivable measure.


    The God in question was a robo. He towered above Ares even though he''d made an effort to bring his face in line with Ares''. Liquid silver wings adorned his back, dripping like ooze into the void and disappearing forever. Countless, hollow tubes stretched out of his svelte body, wiggling through the void with cloud-like dimensions attached to the end of them. So many billions of lives, dangling like threads of the chest, legs, and arms of the God before him. The God''s frame wasn''t perfect, with gaps intermittently dotted across it that allowed one to see the amalgamation of wires hidden within; all of which were translucent with various coloured liquids sloshing around as they raced from one part of the God''s body to another. The head was shaped like a ''Y'', with two, red, diamond shaped lights on the visor which functioned as it''s eyes, not that it needed any with which to be omniscient. A large, starry clock hovered behind the God''s head, slowly ticking away, with each tick synchronising with the listener''s heartbeat like an ominous countdown to finality. With a creak and whir signalling the start of the conversation, the God spoke with a mechanical edge that punctuated his robotic voice, "G.r.e.e.t.i.n.g.s A.r.e.s, welcome to the v.o.i.d.. My name is A.s.t.r.a.e.u.s, and I am the G.o.d of the s.p.a.c.e-t.i.m.e pillar. You must have a b.e.v.y of q.u.e.s.t.i.o.n.s, I''m sure, all of which I will a.n.s.w.e.r in due t.i.m.e. For now, p.l.e.a.s.e l.i.s.t.e.n to what I have to s.a.y."


    A.H.E.M


    Astraeus coughed, causing gears to screech as they ground against one another. "I sincerely apologise for the robotic dialect. You see, it''s been a while since I''ve had the need to converse with a living being. I''m ashamed to admit I regress to old habits every hundred quadrillion years or so. In case you didn''t quite catch it the first time around, my name is Astraeus, and I am the God of the space-time pillar. It''s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. "


    "Likewise..." Ares strongly resisted the urge to call this malfunctioning muppet a rust bucket. He could probably get away with it considering how important he was, but why risk it just to have a bit of fun? Ares was a man who knew when to stay his tongue if nothing else! "... Rust bucket." Or not.


    "I apologise if there has been a misunderstanding, but I''m am incapable of rusting."


    Slap


    Ares facepalmed and gave up any hope he had of bickering and bantering with this banal bucket of bastarding bolts. This sort of ''I''m completely oblivious to everything!'' person was too much even for someone like Ares to handle, or rather this kind of person was Ares'' natural predator. They would eat up his sanity if he made the mistake of caring. Straightlaced it is then. "Ah, never mind. It''s nice to finally meet a God... Not that it wasn''t supposed to happen sooner..."


    "Ah, yes, Ignizz. I suppose I should inform you that the clone that lazy God of fire sent to monitor you is already inside of you. When he''ll choose to wake up is something only he knows, I''m afraid I cannot help you with that."


    "Already inside me? When did that happen?"


    "When you were born. Perhaps it''s more accurate to say ''when you died''. The fires of your hometown gave Ignizz a way past the primordial blade''s interference, allowing him into the domain and, then, into you. Ah, but we''re getting ahead of ourselves. I should explain everything else first so you can fully understand the situation."


    "That would be greatly appreciated." NOT. I already know all this crap, just spit it out quick for me you slow-mo robo.


    "In the beginning, the only things that existed in this void were the pillars."


    FUCK. HE''S STARTING FROM THE VERY BEGINING. I''M GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER. Ares wanted to bang his head against something but, unfortunately, there was nothing around so he had to hold onto his grievances. It seemed as though there was no escaping this lore dump, Ares was just going to have to sit through the exposition, whether he liked it or not.


    "All of the pillars are sentient to a degree but mostly operate based on ''instinct''. Their natural instinct is to create and, as such, they attempted to do precisely that. When the pillars pooled their mana together, they were able to create a dimension after a lot of work and effort. That dimension immediately collapsed, however, as did all the subsequent dimensions they created. The pillars turned to the fundamental pillars, a group of six pillars that were far stronger than the rest, and asked for their assistance. Up until this point, the six pillars hadn''t involved themselves in the act of creation as they were far more powerful and prolific than the others, there was no telling what the repercussions of their attempts would result in. Minus the pillar of destruction, which was the exception as it is the only pillar which cannot ''create'', the other five pillars were capable of creating entire dimensions by themselves, that is how omnipotent they truly are. The six fundamental pillars, the pillar of destruction, the pillar of creation, the pillar of the mind, the pillar of reality, the black pillar, and the white pillar analysed the situation before coming to a conclusion. The void would simply continue crushing any and all dimensions spawned unless a countermeasure was taken. The ''space'' the dimensions took up within the void would be swallowed whole unless they were protected. The solution was to create a stop-gap, something that could exist as a barrier between the dimensions and the void. After some testing, it was discovered that the space-time pillar could, if it devoted itself to the task, keep a dimension ''separated'' from the void. This is how I came to be. The space-time pillar joined forces with the metal pillar and the creation pillar to create an existence other than a pillar but could still wield the power of one. I was born weak and frail, a tiny creature that was overwhelmed and suffocated by the void. When I inevitably died, I was brought back again by the reality and white pillars, and all my mental anguish was supressed by the mind pillar. Death after death until eventually I could exist stably thanks to the space-time pillar''s direct intervention. The space time pillar would continue to protect me from the void as I grew while granting me its power, making me the first ''champion'' who would go on to become a God. My purpose was simple, grow and evolve until I could exist within the void by myself. Then I would learn to control space magic until I could keep any dimensions the pillars created safe. Eons passed until I was capable of such a feat but, eventually, I managed. I''ve held this role ever since, constantly keeping safe an inestimable number of dimensions attached to my body, but that''s not important. What is important is everything that comes next. What truly matters, and the reason all of existence is at risk, is a creature born from this negative space that we refer to as ''Xhilihx, the Maw of the Void''."

 Chapter 58: Wary of Ares... And Perhaps Rightly So

    Astraeus gestured to a dimension, one that Ares immediately recognised as his own as he was being shown Appa bobbing around and playing with Leo in the garden. "The discovery of Xhilihx was an accident and is related to both the Primordial Blade and the forming of your dimension. You see, the pillars continued to create dimension after dimension. They would watch on as life sprouted before gifting intelligent lifeforms their power, some of whom would go on to become ''pseudo-Gods'' within their worlds. They weren''t real Gods as the pillar affinity that could be bestowed to an individual not in the same dimension was limited. The pillars lived in the void so, unless they created another being similar to myself, one that could also live in the void, there would be no more champions or Gods. If the pillars relocated to one of the dimensions they created, then it would have been possible, but it was unnecessary. The pillars cared more about creating dimensions and that task would become far more difficult were they not present in the void. To put it simply, they were like a horse with blinkers, focused solely on their natural instinct and nothing else. One day, the pillars attempted to create yet another dimension. Although I made every effort to keep it stable, it simply vanished and, in its place, Xhilihx burst out of the void. Xhilihx is capable of blending and merging with the void, so it had gone unnoticed. The dimension that spawned on top of it awoke it from its dormant slumber. The pillars fought against it, eventually managing to barely repel it thanks, primarily, to the fundamental pillars which had also hitherto been in a dormant slumber. When they sensed a disastrous foe, they awoke and combined their efforts to push Xhilihx back. It was later discovered that Xhilihx was travelling the void, gorging on defenceless dimensions and reaping billions of lives in order to grow stronger. I then made an effort to gather as many dimensions as possible and attach them to myself in an bid to save them, but I can only safeguard so many at any given time. To this day, Xhilihx is still wandering the void and devouring dimensions that I cannot protect. One day, he will become even stronger than both the pillars and I; and then there will be nothing left to stop him. The pillars foresaw this outcome and came up with a solution. They would create a new dimension from scratch and inhabit it themselves. This way, they could imbue the creatures that spawned within that same dimension stronger affinities, thus creating actual Gods. These Gods would be tasked with aiding the pillars in repelling Xhilihx, even if they weren''t capable of killing it. They would buy time until the fundamental pillars chose their own champions. This was a process that could not be taken lightly, a fundamental pillar granting its power is a monumental event. The devastation that could be wrought if the fundamental pillars chose an incorrect host was no to be trifled with, so they took their time and waited patiently. I should note that the fundamental pillars agreed to select a champion from the same era to avoid any potential mishaps. The fundamental champions are strong individually, yes, but you will be stronger together and capable of keeping each other alive if need be. That is why you are all roughly the same age. As for which pillar had the luxury of picking first, that was given to the pillar of destruction for two reasons. Firstly, it is the strongest pillar and there is no competition. The trade-off for an inability to create is an unrestrained ability to erase. Given the nature of our predicament, the destruction pillar is easily the most valuable pillar as we need Xhilihx to be destroyed. Even if the other fundamentals had to pick a champion lower in quality, it was worth it to give the destruction pillar pick of the litter. The other reason is because the destruction pillar is highly intelligent. No one quite understands why, but the destruction pillar is not driven solely by emotion, it is capable of logical thought and reasoning..."


    Ares snorted to himself. YOU don''t understand, I do.


    "... I mentioned earlier that the other five pillars never attempted to create anything... That is only partially true. They tried once, and yet, before they made any progress, the destruction pillar wiped out all of their work, presumably to prevent anything from going wrong, thus displaying its foresight and ability to rationalise. As for the destruction pillar''s champion, it spared no effort in creating you. In fact, everything you are is a result of the pillar''s patience and planning."


    Ares already knew this, but still he feigned ignorance by raising his brow and questioning, "How so?"


    "The answer to that is two-fold. For starters, the Primordial Blade. Back when Xhilihx was awoken, the universe that ''vanished'' had, in fact, been eaten by Xhilihx. In an act of pure ingenuity, when the pillar of destruction awoke, it barely made it in time to imbue Xhilihx with mana. As you are aware, when mana and nothingness are present, merging is possible. Xhilihx is a creature born from the nothingness of the void so, when adding mana to his system, the dimension he was digesting merged with the sheer abundance of nothingness within Xhilihx, thus creating the Primordial Blade. The weapon is essentially a combination of an entire dimension, mana from the pillar of destruction, and nothingness straight from Xhilihx itself. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most powerful, non-sentient object in existence. This was step one in your creation. As I''m sure you''ve figured out, the dimension you currently reside in was created, shortly after the awakening of Xhilihx, to house the pillars. The birth of your dimension was not happenstance, nor was it anomalous, it was intentional. Decades passed and, slowly but surely, life evolved. Gods came and went, either because they were murdered or they handed down the position, as did various other races. Of particular note is the revenants. A wolf who had obtained immortality and a phoenix with the power of rebirth copulated, and thus was Dominus, the first ever revenant, born. The two parents were sent back to their respective tribes for punishment for breeding outside their race, and baby dominus was sent into the outer world where he eventually became rather infamous for his deeds. However, there is more at play here. Although only tangentially relevant, I should inform you that the Gods and the dragons utterly despised the revenants; and it was they who spread various unsavoury rumours about your race including your propensity to usurp control. As the revenants became more and more prominent, the dragons and the Gods felt uncomfortable with giving their race a seat a the table at the top of the racial hierarchy. Gods were immortal and had the longest history, thus they possessed ''wisdom''. Dragons were noble creatures with power that could even overwhelm the Gods on occasion, thus they possessed ''strength''. Until the revenants came along, there were no races that ''possessed'' any other meaningful qualities. The phoenixes could revive but there was a limit so, when the revenants were found to be perfectly immortal, the general consensus included them as powerhouses in discussions alongside dragons and Gods. The Gods and the Dragons resented the addition of a third ''power'', they already detested one another as is so they worked together to spread malicious rumours. Dominus, at the time, was none the wiser. He was lascivious, yes, but he truly didn''t care for the power he wielded otherwise why would he spend all his days attempting to kill himself? Even in the wake of his death, the activities of the revenants were greatly over-exaggerated. I think you''ll find that even Atria''s situation is not quite what it appeared to be, but you can ask around your home planet for that story."


    Ares was actually interested in this as it was something that hadn''t been included in the information he received prior. It wasn''t really relevant to the big, overarching problem, but he was still curious as there was no way he was going to be able to avoid it. He had to go through the domain at some point and open things up, so he would invariably have to try and solve the issue anyway. Still though, that was a long way aways and not a priority right now.


    "As for why I''m telling you this, you have a mixed lineage. You are primarily a revenant, yes, but you have dragon blood within you. One of your ancestors made peace with a dragon and created a family of which you are a descendent. Your entire family line has draconic genes that have remained untapped. For all but you, this power will never awaken. It requires a strong bloodline that is impossible for most as well as strong enough magic. Dragons inherently have pure bloodlines as well as large pools of mana and their fire breaths, so they fit the bill intrinsically. Some revenants have had strong bloodlines, but the magic half of the equation was unfulfillable. Your destruction magic can do it. When you reach bloodline awakening, destruction mana will be embedded into your blood and awaken the draconic blood in you, causing you to become somewhat of a mutant. This is a guarantee as I believe you''ve already awakened the ability to talk to animals? This comes from the draconic lineage and there is yet more for you to discover later. As for what will happen to your revenant form... I cannot say what you will become. Your situation was unique enough to begin with, as you are the first to combine a dragon and revenant''s bloodline, but to add onto it all, you''re an ''Adept''."


    Ares had heard the term ''Adept'' in passing when reading various books but he''d never found an accurate description of them as they were quite rare. There was so little information on them that he didn''t even realise he was one, whatever they were, so this was actually going to be useful information he probably wouldn''t be able to get his hands on anywhere else. "What does that mean?... Does it have anything to do with me being unable to increase my physical strength normally like other cultivators?" This was a problem that had been plaguing Ares for quite some time now. He was happy enough with destruction magic, but lacking physical strength was going to make his life hard.


    "Precisely. Only those who belong to races that can transform can become an Adept, that is a prerequisite. As for what it means, quite simply, it locks the cultivator out of improving a specific aspect about themselves. For some its speed, for others intelligence, etc... No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to increase your specified trait beyond the average amount for a cultivator at your level. No matter how much you train, no matter how many treasures you consume, nothing will work."


    "That sounds atrocious, no? If the pillar of destruction could have picked anyone in my family lineage, why go for me if being an Adept has such a massive downside?"


    "That''s because, actually, being an Adept is typically seen as a positive thing. It''s not strictly worse than normal. In fact, it''s somewhat akin to the difference between a dryad and a mecha dryad; although Adepts are far, FAR rarer than mecha dryads. While your normal, human form cannot gain strength, any strength you would have gained does still apply to your transformation; in this case your revenant form. Not only does it still apply, but it instead applies at a rate that is over 10x more effective. Additionally, Adepts cannot cast non race-based arts. In your case, you would be able to cast revenant arts while transformed, but not destruction ones. This is because all of your destruction magic will, instead, be channelled into your Adept trait, strength. In short, between your draconic mutation, your Adept strength trait, and your destruction magic powering your revenant form, it is going to be powerful to a degree that even I cannot truly comprehend. It may even be more fearsome than your human form with full access to destruction magic. Your physical strength at the moment is uninspiring, but when you gain the ability to transform your physical prowess will be categorically unrivalled. You are essentially a new breed that has never existed before and will never exist again. Fundamental pillars are strictly limited to one champion at a time, and you are immortal. Until the end of time, there will never be another revenant, dragon, and God hybrid. Only you can become such a thing thanks to the meddling of the destruction pillar. Your existence frightens me, if I''m being truly honest. The day you become a God you will be unstoppable with the tools available to you, including your weapon mastery from Dominus. This was also a result of the destruction pillar''s schemes. Dominus never truly died, the pillar of destruction simply weakened his soul, after he ''killed'' himself, and trapped him within the Primordial Blade where time was stopped. The pillar held onto the soul so it could effectively bestow weapon mastery to its champion. When you began cultivating, the Blade ran you through, integrating Dominus within your blood and soul, perfecting your entire being. You have a draconic mutation in your bloodline. You are an immortal revenant. You are an Adept. You will become a God. You have unmatched weapon mastery. You have unmatched potential for physical strength. You wield the strongest magic of them all. You are the ultimate being, there is no other way of wording it, and that is why I am fearful. If you go astray, there is no stopping you. You could wind up being more problematic than Xhilihx, but I trust the destruction pillar. It was clever enough to engineer your creation, I can only respect its decision. I hope whatever it saw in you comes to fruition. To that end, I will aid you to the best of my ability, partially because Ignizz is clearly not doing his job, and partly because I hope my guidance can help keep you on the right path."


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    "Well I''m certainly grateful for the assistance." If a God was offering to give Ares a helping hand, he wasn''t going to say no; especially if it was going to be in the form of a contract... And with Astraeus, the strongest God, no less. "What about Ignizz though, will that not complicate things when he wakes up?"


    "No. The way in which I plan to aid you, via a contract, is not limited in the sense that you can form multiple contracts if you so desire. Just to give you a quick rundown, according to the contract, you will occasionally be able to summon me to your location. My power will be limited by your cultivation, but I may temporarily aid you in whatever way you deem necessary until the duration of my summon is up, at which point I will return here. Normally, contracts with Gods are rare but, for a fundamental''s champion, the Gods will almost never deny you unless they are contracted with another champion already. Also, as I am far stronger than the others, and because I have a duty here in the void, the frequency with which you can summon me, and the duration of my stay, will both be limited more than usual. This is a minor trade-off when considering what I bring to the table and the protection I can provide when summoned. When Ignizz awakens, you ought to be able to form a contract with him and summon him more frequently in my stead. There is no detriment to forming the contract on your end, so I ask that you allow me this. Both so I can keep you safe, as your life is invaluable to our cause, but also because I would greatly appreciate a change of scenery every now and then. I have been stuck in this void for far too long, after all."


    "Sure. I mean there''s no way I''d ever say no to a contract with a God, that''s a given. I''m guessing, based on what you just told me, you''ve never formed a contract?"


    "No, and I''ve also never met with the other Gods. I am aware of them, and they are aware of me, however, so if you ever summon me in their presence, expect it to be awkward."


    "Really, why?"


    "I am somewhat revered by them. Perhaps it is due to the duration of my Godhood, perhaps it is because I am the strongest. I do not know, but I am aware of the respect they hold for me. Either way, let us sign the contract, shall we?" Astraeus ''blinked'' and parchment appeared from a portal directly in front of Ares before unfurling. Ares skimmed through the fine text, found nothing untoward, and cut his skin to let blood flow onto the contract. The parchment was lit on fire before burning to a crisp. "It is done. The art required to call on me is an art of the ''contract'' aspect under the ''reading rites'' pillar. As with all arts under the reading rites pillar, the chant is long but the art is powerful. It is as follows, ''I call on thee O'' purveyor of worlds and keeper of stars. Come forth, lord of planetary rule, Astraeus.'' Remember it well."


    "Already done and dusted." Ares committed the art to memory as this was a big one. Even if he could only summon Astraeus every couple of months and for a few seconds at a time, the offensive and defensive power, as well as utility, of the God of space and time was ginormous. Realistically, there wasn''t many problems Astraeus wouldn''t be able to solve if he was available. Combine that with the Ignizz contract... Whenever he woke up anyway, and Dominus, and Ares had quite a few life-saving tricks up his sleeve.


    "I would recommend not summoning me until you square off against the pillar of creation''s champion during the tournament."


    "So he''ll definitely be there?"


    "Yes. The fundamental pillars are powerful, competitions of this calibre are a breeze for you all. He will definitely make it there. As for summoning during your match with him, it would be wise to use me to block Terra, the God of earth. Using me earlier in the tournament and not having me be available for that would be quite the disadvantage."


    "Yeah, that makes sense, I''ll do that. Be ready to say hi to a fellow God."


    "Unfortunately, I will be too busy killing him to say hello. Still, perhaps I should consider greeting him in some manner? I truly had not considered this... That aside, do you have any questions?"


    "Yes, actually, how do you know all of this? For someone trapped in the void, you know an awful lot about me and my dimension."


    "That''s rather simple. When you become a God, you gain full control over your affinity. For instance, Terros may shape earth freely without mana, and earth based magic doesn''t affect him in the slightest. Part of that absolute control allows us the see through, and communicate through, our respective affinities to an extent. The pillars also have this ability which is how we communicate with one another, typically. As I am the God of space and time, I may peer into essentially anywhere that isn''t directly within this void. Every inch of every dimension is constantly within my purview. I have watched your dimension for quite some time and seen a lot of its history, that includes you. Fret not, however, I do not invade your privacy when you spend time with the missus."


    "... I hope not... Anyway, does that mean you know about my family? Is there anything you could tell me about them?"


    "I could, but I won''t. I, for the most part, take a non-intervention approach. That being said, you will find out everything you wish to know very soon, that I assure you. Any more questions, or will you be off?"


    "Just one more. What''s up with the Primordial Blade''s interference between the domains?"


    "Ah yes, that. It''s been rather inconvenient for the Gods, you know? Even I have trouble viewing what goes on beyond the interference. Ignizz and Terros, in particular, had a rough time getting their clones to you and Mako because of it. The answer is simple, the destruction pillar didn''t want Dominus'' soul to escape from the Primordial Blade and flee. The interference kept Dominus locked in the immediate area, ready for him to be put into the champion the pillar chose. Like herding a sheep, you could say. The area chosen was fairly self-explanatory as it held the greatest number of revenants with a draconic bloodline. From there, the pillar of destruction waited until you were born. Of course, when the Primordial Blade was handed over to you, so too was control over that interference. You are not yet strong enough to wield the Blade and fix the issue, but you will be in time. Whether that will be a boon or a curse remains to be seen."


    ".... How so? Why would removing it matter, other than being able to climb to higher domains, obviously."


    "The rest of the world is far more informed than your little collection of domains stuck within the interference. They know most, if not all of what I''ve told you as it does concern them too. To that extent, the fundamental champions residing out there have become quite famous and are well liked by the common people. They are going to save their lives after all. The other fundamental champions have lived very easy lives and been showered with cultivation resources from the moment of their birth. Why would anyone ever try to impede the progress of someone as important as that? Naturally, when you remove the interference and start interacting with the rest of the world, that favourability will also be directed to you. Plus there is a wide range of treasures and cultivation resources that do not exist within the tiny confines of the domains currently available to you. It may take a while for the people of these domains to comprehend all that which you''ve now been told, however, as most of them are blissfully unaware of a majority of what I''ve just told you. The Blade''s interference has kept them out of the loop for a long time now and reintroducing them to the world will be a shock to their system, I imagine. That will be your boon, popularity and favouritism. Plus you can meet and work alongside the other fundamental pillars, all of whom are powerhouses. As for the curse, well, believe it or not, there are some who like the sound of complete extinction, for whatever reason. They will impede and attempt to kill you. There are also those jealous of your powers, and that is not strictly limited to mortals and cultivators, even some Gods are not too pleased with the power you wield being superior to theirs. In short, for every person who will be happy to see you, there will be at least one who will want you dead. Maybe not you, specifically, mind you, as you are an unkillable waste of time, but the others? Definitely; and you will be expected to aid them and help keep them safe, just as they will do for you. Currently, an organisation of sorts has been created to band the fundamentals together and send them on various important missions here and there, either for the sake of keeping the peace, or for directly training them. You will be approached by this organisation when the Blade''s interference is removed and I would highly recommend joining."


    "I see... but that''s not going to be anytime soon. There''s still a lot I have to do in the next few domains. The list isn''t small."


    "That''s acceptable. As long as you are raising your cultivation, it doesn''t particularly matter where you are or what you are doing. Still, it is in your best interest to move things along as fast as you can to get access to better resources. On that note, now that you''ve asked your last question, I have one for you... W.h.e.r.e w.e.r.e y.o.u l.a.s.t n.i.g.h.t?"


    Ahem


    "Apologies, I unintentionally slipped back into my old dialect. I''m simply asking because you seemingly disappeared and I couldn''t find your location. I assume that means you were in here somewhere?"


    ¡­


    After a moment of silence, Ares chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I sorta sleepwalked my way in here. After I woke up, I was about to leave until I detected you so I came to investigate. I''m guessing you couldn''t see me in the void because there''s no space here, so you can''t track me, right?"


    "That is correct, yes. Again, I was simply a tad perplexed. Although I figured as much, I just wanted some reassurance on the matter. Well, I thank you for your time and for listening to me prattle on. It was an important conversation, however, and I believe good has come of it. Feel free to stop by if you have any more questions and I will be sure to answer them to the best of my ability."


    "Yeah, much obliged. I''ll be seeing you then." Ares turned around and prepared himself to shift away. "Oh..." Ares swivelled his body and face Astraeus again. "... Yeah, I''m probably going to show Enyo this place, so don''t be too freaked if I disappear again."


    "Now that I am aware you may enter and exit this place freely, I will no longer concern myself with your disappearances. If you are not within my sights, then I will assume, logically, you must be here somewhere."


    Ares gave a thumbs up and a wink before Shifting away.


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    "Hmmm." Astraeus sighed to himself as he stared off into the distance where Ares had gone. He wasn''t too sure how to feel about Ares... And he most certainly didn''t like that Ares could hide from him within the void... I suppose there''s nothing to be done about it. I just pray he is truly on our side. If he becomes enamoured with destruction and wants to end it all... W.h.a.t t.h.e.n?

 Chapter 59: The Stakes of the Baja Bet

    "Hmmm." I''ll come back to it. Enyo stretched on the couch before looking down at her handiwork. Rough around the edges, but it ought to be good enough to start working on the real thing... I''ll start when I know where that dunce is, this is supposed to be a surprise; it would ruin everything if he just popped up out of nowhere and saw it. Enyo picked up her arts and crafts project and placed it, alongside the needle she''d been stitching with, inside her spatial ring. Then again, maybe I''m being paranoid. Ares usually uses the door when entering the house... He doesn''t really pop out of nowhere very often.


    "Psssssssst, hey! Hey! Hey Enyo! Pssst."


    Enyo turned to face the voice calling her and found Ares leaning his upper body out of a freaky, red portal while beckoning her with a limp hand and a dumb smile on his face.


    Sigh


    Enyo groaned, shook her head, and walked over to him. Maybe I wasn''t paranoid enough... Enyo stepped into portal with zero hesitation which made her chuckle to herself. Not even a month ago, if she''d been in the same position, she would have smacked Ares and dragged him out of the portal, demanding an explanation before setting even a single foot anywhere remotely near the entrance.


    Once both Ares and Enyo entered the portal fully, it shut, leaving an empty room for Aejaz to stroll into with a questioning look on his face as he could have sworn he heard his brother in here a second ago. Shrugging to himself and mistakenly assuming Appa had let a clone loose, he went on his merry way to the kitchen to see if he could scrounge any leftovers of Ares'' cooking. "Ooohhh!" With a childish exclamation, Aejaz picked up exactly what he was looking for and put it between his teeth before heading back into the living room with a satisfied stride. Just as he was about to bite down into the stolen Snappa, Appa floated into the room...


    Crack


    The flavour pellet burst as Appa watched on in dismay.


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    Unspeakable acts of cute, frosty violence ensued.


    When all was said and done, a pouting Appa threw a frozen Aejaz into the back garden and floated away with a hmph. "Bad uncle! Shame On You!"


    Aejaz suffered mental damage from being berated by something so adorable... No... Wait a minute... I actually suffered a mental attack?! What the hell? Aejaz squinted his eyes and observed his surroundings, eventually finding the strings of lingering mana he was looking for. I knew it! That ''Shame On You'' really was an art!... I thought Ares was joking about a unique aspect of cuteness... Is it real?! Aejaz considered chasing down Appa and asking it a thing or two but dismissed the idea when he spotted Allie at the doorstep looking fidgety. "Hey, are you ok?"


    Allie was red in the face as she stared at the floor while shuffling her feet back and forth. "Um... Ares and Enyo are gone... Do you want to... have some fun?"


    If it weren''t for the fact that fainting here would cockblock himself, Aejaz would have done it ten times over. For Allie to have asked him about taking the next step... And to be so cute in doing it... Screw Appa! If I don''t agree to this I don''t get to call myself a man for the rest of my life!


    And thus, everyone in casa del Ares went about their business for the next few hours. Around lunch time, Ares and Enyo returned from the void.


    Enyo stepped out of the portal with a face like thunder, clearly in a terrible mood. Leaning with her arms crossed on the back of the sofa, she stared contemplatively at the wall opposite while tapping her fingers restlessly. Ares sighed and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her. "I know. I know how much you hate this. I dreaded having to tell you..."


    Enyo shut her eyes for a few seconds before sighing to herself and calming down somewhat. "... I don''t blame you. I don''t blame anyone. It''s an unavoidable tragedy, I know that... I just can''t help but hate it. And you... you''re the one that has to do it. I''m worried about you more than anything." Enyo turned and rested her head on Ares'' chest. "Don''t pretend this is easy for you. I know you, Ares; underneath that happy go lucky fa?ade you care deeply. I''m madder about it than you, but it''s far worse for you than it ever will be for anyone else. I''ll know about it, but I won''t have to see or experience any of it like you will... Please confide in me when you need too. I don''t like hearing it, but you''re more important to me than my own comfort. If the roles were reversed I know you would stop at nothing to reduce my burden however you could, and I want to do the same for you. I''m grateful you told me this. I never would have forgiven you if you hadn''t, but not because of the nature of the problem, but because I want you to trust me. I want you to let me be there for you when you need me, no matter how minor or inconvenient the thing you need me for; let alone something of this magnitude."


    Ares inhaled deeply as he twirled a strand of Enyo''s smooth hair. He tilted his head downward and kissed Enyo on the forehead as she looked up at him. "Thank you. Words can''t express how lucky I am to have you in my life... But that''s the problem, it''s why I have to do this. You, Appa, Aejaz, and Allie. You''re all my number one concern, nothing else matters. I''ll never not do whatever it takes to keep you all safe, I promise you." Ares'' thumb stroked Enyo''s cheek as they stood in silence.


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    "Wanna have sex?"


    PFFFT


    Ares burst out laughing uncontrollably at Enyo''s slyness. "I''m not sure if you''re joking or not, but you''re a funny woman, Enyo. Really, I love your sense of humour. I never would have imagined it when I first met you though. It''s been a while since I''ve seen the whole ''justice'' shtick, I kinda miss it."


    Hmph "It''s still around, just not for you anymore. There isn''t enough justice in the world that could fix a menace like you." Enyo poked Ares'' chest before placing her hands on his shoulders and intimately kissing his neck. "As for whether I was joking or not, do you want to find out?" Enyo could feel Ares'' hardening down below.


    Ares had to bite his lip to quell his desire. "You know, if you keep teasing me, one of these days I''m going to slip up and say yes, and you''re going to regret it."


    "Oh how I wish... Unfortunately I really do know you well, too well even. You''re going to be stubborn and not budge on this, I can tell. I won''t stop asking though, maybe I really will get lucky..."


    "Haha, what part of ''no'' don''t you get?"


    "The ''no'' part... I would much rather be screaming yes."


    "Soon."


    "... Speaking of soon, are you ever going to tell me what you want from the bet back in Baja forest? I feel like it''s been forever and the longer it goes on the more nervous I get wondering just how your going to mess with me..."


    "You want to know?"


    "Yes."


    "Hmmmm.... Maybe if you gave me a kiss, I''d feel more inclined to tell you?"


    Enyo smiled and planted her lips onto Ares'', savouring the taste. She also made sure to sneak a bit of tongue action in toward the end. "Well handsome, are you feeling more talkative now?"


    "Mm, very. What I want from you at the international party..." Ares took a step back while reaching out and grabbing Enyo''s hands. He twirled Enyo, performing a cuddle step and holding onto her waist from behind. He brushed aside the hair by her ear and whispered in a sultry, deep voice. "... Is a dance."


    Enyo''s face flushed both because of Ares'' manly voice and because what he was asking of her was incredibly embarrassing; she was still getting used to having her helmet of even if she was doing better now-a-days. "That... That''s going to be hard... But I want too as well."


    "Mm, good girl..."


    Enyo shivered in Ares'' embrace.


    "But that''s not all I''ll want from you."


    "... There''s more?"


    "Yes, but I don''t think you''ll say no to my other two demands."


    "What are they."


    Ares spoke in a steady, slow voice, "I want your hand in marriage..." Ares kissed Enyo''s neck as her breathing quickened. "... And I want your virginity."


    Enyo was shaking like a little lamb in Ares'' grasp. With tears streaming down her eyes she looked back over her shoulder at him. "Yes."


    Ares stroked her face and chuckled. "I''m not actually asking yet..."


    "I don''t care..." Enyo sniffled and held onto Ares'' hands tightly. "...Yes." Enyo turned around and looked Ares dead in the eye. "I love you," Enyo muttered dazedly as she went to give Ares a passionate kiss. "I want you to be my husband." Enyo draped her arms around Ares; neck and brought her mouth to his. She was out of breath and her heart was beating intensely but, still, she couldn''t bring herself to detach herself from him other than for a split second to say, "I want to be your wife." Back to Ares'' wet lips she went, leaning over and putting all her weight on Ares; even taking him by surprise when she curled her leg around his waist and hopped into his chest, forcing him to catch her as she wrapped both her legs around him. Ares'' stumbled forward and held Enyo over the sofa, his pelvis, stomach, and chest all firmly pushed up against hers. Ares brought his tongue to Enyo''s lips and began grinding his crotch against hers. Ares was seriously considering going all the way and taking her right here and now.


    "Didn''t you say not to do this kinda stuff in the middle of the house? Double standards, much?" Aejaz walked past without a care in the world, humming merrily and whistling to himself as though he were king of the universe.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


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    "FUCK!" Enyo slid over the back of, and onto, the couch, taking her frustrations out on the nearby furniture by punching a cushion repeatedly. "I HAD HIM! I WAS THIS CLOSE. HE WAS MINE! DAMNIT ALL TO HELL!"


    Normally Ares would have snickered at Enyo''s half serious, half play-pretend childishness but, right now, he was too busy ominously trailing Aejaz into the kitchen... "Brother Aejaz, may I have a word and some moments of your time?"


    Aejaz picked up a toffee that was lying around and tossed it into his gob. As he responded to Ares, it became clear that Aejaz cared more about chewing on the sweet than speaking with clarity.


    "You"


    Chew


    "Can hit me"


    Chew


    "All you want, but"


    Chew


    "I''m over the moon right now"


    Chew


    "Nothing can bring me down"


    Chew


    "Do your worst, brother."


    Ares was momentarily stunned. Where the hell did all this derring-do and bravado come from?! Even after using Omniscience to check if this was truly Aejaz, and not some snatcher wannabee posing as him again, Ares still couldn''t believe his eyes and ears. When the shock faded however, Ares decided this situation wasn''t acceptable. The cock block was one thing, but a little brother not fearing for his life in the presence of an older brother? No, this is, frankly speaking, unacceptable behaviour. Ares summoned a monumental wave a pressure as his anger resurged like a raging tidal wave. "You''re in a good mood, are you? I can guess why. Well, now that you''re all amped up and feeling energetic, how about we do some training? There''s something I''ve been wanting to beat... drill, into you for quite some time now." A menacing, golden hue leaked out of Ares'' body. "Today, I''m going to be hitting you with annihilation magic because there''s an art I want you to learn. I do hope you''re prepared, BROTHER."


    Aejaz smirked with a wry smile, "Go ahead, I would have no regrets even if I left this mortal coil today. The sensation of Allie''s soft hand... No matter how much you whack me upside the head, I''ll never forget it!"


    "We''ll see, brother. We''ll see." Ares summoned the void portal and kicked Aejaz into it before leaping after him. Within the void, Ares was indisputably overpowered so, if Aejaz thought his training was going to be something he could shrug off, well... He was going to learn a very hard lesson about the powers that older brothers possessed.


    Later that day, when a broken and battered Aejaz was tossed out from within the portal, even though he was hurting like you wouldn''t believe, there was still a faint hint of a smile on his tired face. Of course, he was the only one smiling as Allie was hiding in their room out of shame for the acts she had committed and had had committed to her. It would probably take a day or two for her to be able to look Aejaz in the eye again, not that Aejaz minded. It, alongside Ares having kicked the bejesus out of him, was a worthwhile sacrifice if he could feel that heavenly feel... He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn''t even notice Ares stepping on him as he walked past and into the kitchen; he just lay there in absolute bliss.


    Speaking of the kitchen, when Ares entered, ready to cook lunch, he found Appa counting Snappas. "Hey Appa, watcha doin''?"


    "Hm?" Appa was surprised to hear another person in the kitchen so it turned around. When spotting Ares, Appa lunged at his leg and gave him a hug. "Hey dad! I was just checking to see how many of my Snappas uncle stole. Don''t worry though, I already punished him real good!"


    "Haha, good job! Your uncle is a silly man. How did you punish him? Did you freeze him?"


    "Ah! No! look at what I can do now!!


    Ares tilted his head as he stared at Appa. I wonder what trick Appa has up its sleeve... Maybe a different aspect of the water pillar? Appa usually uses ice but I know it has an affinity for the other aspects too... Ares mulled over the possibilities but, in truth, nothing could have prepared him for what came next, the most devastating attack he''d ever received.


    "Shame! On! You!" Appa yelled cutely with upside triangles above her eyes.


    ACK


    Now it was Appa''s turn to tilt its head as it watched Ares collapse unconscious on the ground with foam frothing out of his mouth. When it noticed he wasn''t getting up, Appa poked him with the rope, which it found funny so it giggled merrily and then kept repeating the cycle. Poke, laugh, poke, laugh. Enyo walked in on this scene and thought it was very wholesome until she realised Ares was half dead. he wasn''t in any actual danger, but he really wasn''t faring so hot either; definitely worse than Aejaz who was still lying on the floor like a worm in the living room. Enyo had a multitude of questions but remained calm because, honestly, she''d seen Ares in far dumber situations. "Appa... Sweetie... Why is Ares like... This." Enyo gestured toward Ares who was twitching on the ground like a frog leg during a science experiment.


    "Ah! Hey, get this mum, I do have a unique aspect of cuteness! You know like dryads could be mecha dryads? It looks like some races can have a racial aspect of cuteness too!"


    Enyo''s eye twitched. Yes, watching her daughter celebrate being officially cute was extremely endearing, but she was more so taken aback by the fact that Ares had been right about this. Then again, he''d been very close to Appa before so him noticing was fair enough. Still though, it was an interesting discovery. "That''s wonderful sweetie... But what happened to Ares? Did you hit him with an art?" Enyo hazarded a guess as that was the only likely explanation for what she was witnessing.


    "Yep! Don''t worry, I won''t use it on you though! Only on dad because its funny!"


    "... You probably shouldn''t sweetie... It seems to have been very effective. How does it work?"


    "It''s called ''shame on you'' and is a mental attack. The guiltier, or more sorry, a person feels after hearing the chant, the more damage they take! I practiced an early version on Aejaz earlier, but it didn''t hurt much, so I changed some things and now it does!"


    "... Ah. I see now." Enyo felt a little bad for Ares. Seeing an upset Appa berate him must have been agonising. In all likelihood, Enyo wouldn''t have fared much better... What a dangerous art... It sounds easy to negate but... Enyo looked over at the happily-bobbing shade¡­ It really isn''t. Even the most heartless of fiends would melt before Appa. Shouldn''t the aspect of cuteness be more... Cute? Why is it so violent?! Enyo shook her head and picked up Appa. "Alright, you''ve had enough fun with that art for now." Enyo brought Appa into the living rom and placed it on a chair. "I''ll go and wake dad up so he can make us lunch. You aren''t allowed to use that art on Ares again unless I give you permission, ok?"


    "Awww, ok... Ooh, ooh, what''s for lunch?!"


    "I''m not sure. I''ll ask and let you know; or is there something specific you want?"


    "Anything as long as I get some candy apple!"


    "Haha, ok. I''ll let dad know."


    "Yay!"


    Enyo went back into the kitchen and shook Ares awake. He then promptly started rambling to Enyo about a ''horrific nightmare'' he''d had. Enyo was able to calm him down and explain the situation properly, after which he started to cook lunch for everyone. When it was ready, Allie, slunk out of her bedroom and scarpered with the food like a timid mouse stealing a block of cheese from a cat.


    The rest of the day passed by without incident with the trio of Aejaz, Ares, and Enyo heading off for training and coming back thoroughly exhausted later that evening. Ares asked Appa to sleep in another room for the night as he and Enyo were going to have a ''private conversation'', to which the shade was curious but obliged nonetheless. The entire week passed in a similar fashion with most days playing out in the same way. Ares spent a lot of time doing this or that, making and enchanting weapons, playing around with technicals by lizzie''s side, and training with Sadie. He''d even managed to set up a long range Shift spot at his stall thanks to various experiments he conducted with nothingness in the void whenever he had spare time. He could now restock the stall from anywhere and, now that Onno had hired some help, it would be up and running near enough permanently regardless of where he was. He still had to make the beads, but that was something he could do passively whenever he was idle. He was also nearly finished with the production of ''Block Rocks'', the pocket, defensive black holes, but they still needed a little longer in the proverbial oven. Nothing of note happened other than Appa, Leo, and Allie deciding to come along to the afternoon training sessions and watch. Allie went for Aejaz, Leo went for Allie, and Appa went because it was funny watching Ares get beaten up every now and then. That being said, Ares did win more than his fair share of fights, the only reason he ever really lost was because Sadie'' would raise her cultivation way too high. If she ever set her cultivation to a realm and stage that could be considered ''fair'' she would lose immediately, without fail, every single time. As for why the presence of Leo, Allie, and Appa was noteworthy; that was because, the day before the regionals started, everyone was on their way to the training hall when they ran into a group that everyone other than Appa had met before. The same group they''d spent a decent amount of time with back in Baja forest!


    "Shrew! Buddy!"


    "UGH. It''s not even been five seconds and I already want to leave..." Trew kissed his teeth and turned to Enyo... Who was surprisingly close to Ares... Annoyingly close to Ares. "But, then again, Enyo''s presence make''s your insufferable one easier to deal with. Oh how wonderful it is to be in the company of a rational mind."


    Ares snickered before turning to face Bellona who wasn''t wearing her Legion armour today. Instead she was dressed up in a fashion that... well... Was basically just a witch''s getup... It was a little unique in the sense that it leant more towards being a dress than anything else but... It really was a witch''s getup... Even the curved, black hat with a pointed tip... Ares was at a loss for words. Bellona''s attire was weird but actually, Ares hated to admit it, it looked really good on her. Her natural smugness, the emo hair paired with the vivid amber eyes, and the sharp facial features which could become disarmingly soft at a moment''s notice all fit in neatly with the witch aesthetic. It was unexpected but, when he got over his initial reservations, he had to give kudos for making the appearance work. All of that respect went down the drain though as soon as she opened her mouth with an evil glint in her eye.


    "Hey mutt."


    "Hey Enyo''s sister."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The two had a silent Mexican standoff, grinning and staring at each other, just waiting for the other other to break the silence.


    "Don''t suppose you''ve come across any spiders or toads lately, have you?" Bellona was quick on the draw but she was about to realise the error of her ways in trying to banter with a revenant.


    "Ha, good one. By the way, what''s up with the witch clothes? I''ll admit, I was surprised seeing you out of the armour, you''re much more slender than I would have imagined. I guess I just didn''t realise because your armour was covering up your..." Ares gazed down at the arid flatlands below Bellona''s neck. "... Weak spots." No, really, Bellona was f.l.a.t. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Aside from the nip, there was zip. Like someone had poked a hole into a mountain and it had deflated like a balloon...


    Bellona''s smile cracked and she cracked her knuckles. "Wanna say that again, chump?!" Clearly, she took the issue seriously... Moreso than Ares did, anyway.


    "Hahaha, you look confident, but that confidence isn''t quite reaching your voice. I''m really not feeling it. Try saying it again. Try saying it with... Chest... Oh wait, you can''t! Hahahaha" Ares, personally was not the kind of man who would discriminate against any particular chest size. All were fantastic in their own way. Any man worth his salt would discuss breast size the way a gentleman would wine, appreciating the intricacies and finer details of various options even if, for some bizarre reason, they weren''t fond of one of said options. So then, why was he hassling her?... Well why else? Because he was a revenant, and that was just what they were naturally inclined to do. It really wasn''t personal, or even remotely serious, but it had top happen. It just did.


    "ARES!" Bellona began striding towards Ares with wrath in her voice and a scrunched up brow. Her eyes were focused and her body, flat though it was, seethed with indignation.


    Ares threw his upturned palms in front of him and leant his upper body back ever so slightly. His smile and his drawling voice betrayed the condescension nested deep within his psyche. "Oh? You''re approaching me? Instead of running away, you''re coming right to me?"


    Bellona, unperturbed by the petty attempt to rile her up even further, continued forward with a measured pace, shoulders swaying to and fro as she drew ever nearer to her prey. Defiantly, Bellona responded in a clear, quick, and concise manner, "I can''t beat the shit out of you without getting closer."


    Ares, thrilled by the thought of combat and pleased with bravery of his challenger, stepped forward to meet Bellona halfway. "Oh ho! Then come as close as you''d like."


    The following brawl was rather unceremonious. A dust cloud had been kicked up thanks to all the rolling around on the floor and not much was even really visible. Hair was pulled, flesh was bitten, slaps were common, scratches even more so. Even a homeless cat that had wondered into the sect somehow managed to get involved in the brawl.


    MEOW


    SLAP


    HISS


    THUD


    CRACK


    BANG


    WALLOP


    Off to the side, Enyo just shook her head and sighed. Like two peas in a pod, those two.

 Chapter 60: Trew-th Hurts

    "Helllllllllp. Enyoooooooo. You''re sister is bullying meeeeeeeeeee!" Ares was in a bit of a bind... A very literal bind in the form of a chinlock. "Why does this gorilla know wrestling moves?!" Ares was taken by surprise as Bellona was actually physically stronger than Enyo! She had way more muscle than her sister and knew how to use it in hand to hand combat. You wouldn''t guess it just by looking at her, but she was a brute! The witch clothes and her reliance on magic were a bait! Anyone who made the mistake of trying to rush down the magic caster hanging in the back would get beaten senseless... Just like Ares currently was! In desperation, he turned to the new, fifth member of the Legion group. The fellow was bald, wore a yellow robe, and possessed an otherworldly aura of serenity. He looked at one with the universe at peace with his role in it. He was very obviously not a member of the Legion clan, but he looked strong enough to play his role in the team; maybe a little over average in the strength department? Either way, Ares only knew two things for definite about him. One, he was going to be Red Soil''s defensive specialist, Ares had already been told this back in Baja. Two: and this was what Ares viewed as concern numero uno, he was in a position to help him escape from the barbaric gremlin attached to his back! "Friend, please! Lend me your aid and I will grant you riches beyond your wildest imagination!" Ares was truly willing to give the guy some shock rocks and block rocks in exchange for a helping hand but, unfortunately...


    "..."


    The bald man stared at Ares before putting his hands together in prayer and bowing his head.


    ¡­


    Bald.


    ¡­


    Yellow robes.


    ¡­


    Peaceful


    ¡­


    "DID I JUST TRY TO BRIBE A MONK?!" Ares had tears welling up in his eyes. "I''M GOING TO HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL."


    Enyo walked over and kicked Ares in the ribcage.


    Ack


    "Shut up moron. Who told you to insult a woman''s chest?! You get what you deserve!" Enyo kicked him again.


    Ack


    Ares managed to breathlessly eke out a few words. "I''m not against two sisters at once... This just isn''t what I was expecting!"


    Enyo kicked him again. "You wish, chump."


    Off to the side, Trew was debating internally whether he enjoyed this scene or not. On the one hand, watching Ares get pummelled was joyous. On the other, Ares was in the spotlight right now and Trew very much wished Enyo would pay Ares less attention in general. He had no idea what happened after he left those two in Baja and they certainly seemed friendly enough... Trew shook his head in a feeble attempt to dismiss the intrusive thoughts, wishing he could just erase Ares from existence to ease his jealousy.


    Aejaz and Allie went over to say hello to Gladius and Charity. Once again, these four were effectively playing tag along, but they were happy with their lives. They were also quite similar in some regards, both couples having formed in Baja forest and what not. Aejaz had just gotten onto the topic of cooking as he was curious how things went for them. In truth, his own attempt had been pretty average and not worth mentioning. Still though, it was early days for him in his banana split journey. He may never learn how to cook literally anything else, but he would get the banana split right one day even if it killed him! What had been happening in his room with Allie throughout the week only furthered spurred him on, motivating him to try harder and well... Harder. As soon as the word ''cooking left Aejaz'' lips, Charity went on the war path.


    "This mongoloid burned it! Can you believe it? After hours of prep and hard work, this fool let it burn! I told Gladius ''I''m going to take a bath, keep and eye on the food and check it every now and then''. I told him. When I came out, guess what? He was asleep. The moron went to go do some spear training and knackered himself out! He was conked out on the sofa, covered in sweat. If I didn''t help his dumb-ass, he would have caught a serious cold. Unbelievable. Every time I take my eyes of him, he does something stupid and risks his health." Charity sighed and rested her palm on her head. Just remembering that day was giving her a headache. It was only going ot get worse, though, as she noticed her arch nemesis skulking around on the floor nearby. "You!" Charity growled at Leo who was licking his paw with a smug grin on his face. "What are you doing here, you damnable little furball? Don''t think I''ve forgotten about you! Vengeance will be mine!"


    Meanwhile, Gladius had snuck over to Aejaz and Allie, away from his rampaging partner. "Uh, as you can tell, Charity''s become a bit more lively since we last met. So has Enyo, so I''m guessing this is just a Legion clan woman kinda problem. I''d always heard that they tend to get a bit freaky after they fall in love... Oh how right my old man was. Still, even though she complained a lot, she still took care of me that day when I fell asleep. It was only when she realised I was ok that she started giving me hell for the food... I guess I deserved it though. I do sorta wish I could hear the end of it, but I guess I''m gonna be hearing about that mistake ''till the day I''m ''conked out'' for good. Ah, but I''m getting side-tracked, how''ve you two been? Good?"


    Aejaz scratched his head. There was only really two answers to that question depending on the time frame. Back in the snatcher town during the incident? Pretty not good. Now? Pretty dang incredible! Aejaz simply explained everything that happened after Baja to which Gladius was truly regretful. At the end of the day, he was still a member of the Legion clan, obsessed with Justice and righting wrongs. He wished he could have helped the people in the town himself instead of knowing, in hindsight, that he was a daytrip, at most, away from suffering and anguish.


    While Everyone else was involved in a conversation in some way or another, even Appa who was snickering at Ares, Trew was being his usual downer self. He kept playing through all of Enyo and Ares'' interactions that he''d personally witnessed, and he really wasn''t too pleased with how much the distance had shrunk between them and how rapidly it had all happened. He was roused from his contemplative stupor by an arm draping over his shoulder. He frowned as he looked up at whoever it was that was treating him like a lamp post, and frowned with even more disgust when he saw Ares winking at him after having presumably teleported out of Bellona''s grasp.


    "What''s up, blue? Is that your real name, or is that just how you''re feeling?"


    "You!..."


    Shhhhhhhh


    Ares put on finger to his lips and one to Trew''s. "Now wait just a minute, Mr Short Fuse. Don''t go blowing up on me just yet, save that for later. I may even decide to help you out with it if you ask kindly. First and foremost, you''ve got a price to pay for a particular quarrel you and I had back in Baja." Ares pointed over at Appa who was receiving head pats form Enyo. "That is my daughter, Appa. If I remember correctly, you called her a pet. Now, as much as I''d like to personally beat some sense into you, I think its better if grudges are solved personally. I''s high time you got the comeuppance you deserved, and from the person who deserves to be the one to get vengeance. Look." Ares took a step behind Trew and fixed his head forward, straight towards Appa. Of course, Enyo glaring at Trew from the side-lines only made what was about to happen to him that much more severe.


    Appa glanced at Ares, who smirked and nodded in encouragement, before it turned to Trew and stared deep into his eyes. With great sadness in its voice and a pitiful, heart wrenching cry, Appa wailed, "Shame! On! You!"


    It was unknown whether Trew''s penitence originated from his guilt over describing Appa as a pet or Enyo''s disapproving glances but, either way, clearly, he was seriously wishing he could undo time right about now. He limply fell to the floor and lay on the ground with blood oozing out of his head, taking rapid, raspy breaths as his wide eyes stared off into the distance. In a way, what was happening to him was worse than what Ares went through because, at the very least, Ares had been unconscious even if the severity of his injury was more grave overall. It was probably a good thing Trew''s vision was blurry and his ears were ringing right about now or otherwise he would have seen and heard literally all nine other people laughing at his expense. Then again, maybe someone would have actually pitied him if he wasn''t an asshole and/or deserve to be punished for his unforgivable mistake.


    Bellona snuck up behind Appa and wrapped her arms around it. "AWWWWWWWW. YOU ARE SO CUTE! Ares did say it, but you are the most adorable thing I''ve ever seen! And your soft too..." Bellona glanced up at Ares with a serious look on her face. "Can I have Appa?"


    Thwack


    Ares drop kicked Bellona and slung Appa over his shoulder like a body bag. "Nope. Nope nope nope nope. She is my daughter and that is final!"


    Ahem


    Enyo cleared her throat and chimed in, "Our daughter. It''s even on the adoption certificate, in case you''ve already forgotten."


    Bellona leapt onto Enyo''s back and made her give her a piggyback ride. "Ooh la la. You two finally a couple then? Took ya long enough. Come on sis'', tell me all the deets. You know I''m a sucker for a good rrrrrromance. It''s kind of a shame though, it was funny watching you two bumbling buffoons fumbling about around each other."


    "Yes, we are a couple. Actually, we''re a bit more than that." Enyo couldn''t hold back the radiant smile that spontaneously took shape on her face, amping up her beauty to eleven. A few passer-by disciples of the sect even walked head-first into walls while drooling. Now that Enyo was starting to walk around the sect with her helmet off, she''d become the talk of the town. So too had Ares but mostly because there was a cult, growing larger by the day, that sought to expunge him from reality for being in a relationship with such a beautiful woman. Said beautiful woman''s captivating presence only amplified the blow that was incoming to all who would hear it, however... "Ares is my fianc¨¦, And I am his spouse!" Enyo''s giddiness was on full display as she excitedly spread the news for the first time, except their was one small problem...


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Ahem


    This time it was Ares'' turn to clear his throat and interrupt. "Not yet... I''m going to propose, but I haven''t actually done it yet..."


    Hmph


    Enyo folded her arms and turned her putting head to the side defiantly. "Don''t care, we''re engaged now whether you like it or not."


    "... Enyo, I get that you''re happy, but I haven''t even given you a ring yet..."


    "Still don''t care. You''re lucky I''m not already calling you husband OH I should start doing that! When are we getting married, husband!? What kind of ring are you giving me?! What date and where?! What kind of wedding dress should I wear?! Who should we invite?! The food.... The cake... The drinks... The photographer..."


    Everyone who witnessed this hitherto unseen side of Enyo was dumbfounded. Stoicism? Where?! This was a woman who had gone mad with both love and power. This was deranged lunacy combined with extreme enthusiasm and delirium. Gladius side-eyed Charity and prayed to every God he knew she wouldn''t also turn out like this... He wasn''t sure he could handle it. He would much rather just train every day until he fainted so he could avoid her.


    Of course, the person who was most taken aback by Enyo''s crazed ranting was none other than Trew. He refused to believe the scene playing out in front of him and looked over at Appa, thinking whatever art it had used on him was more than just painful, it was making him see illusions! As Trew gradually took in his surroundings, most notably everyone else''s shock, he slowly realised his worst nightmare had come true... Ares and Enyo weren''t just friendly. They were married? About to be? Whatever the correct assessment was, Trew didn''t care and he certainly didn''t want to find out lest he be driven mad with anger. "What... What are you doing?" Managing to power through his perplexed and puzzled thoughts, he quietly eked out a question he knew he didn''t want an answer to...


    Enyo was in her own world and some annoying flea''s despairing whimpers weren''t going to bring her out of it, but Ares heard him. He heard him loud and clear. "Hm, I''m no expert in women but, If were to guess, I''d say she''s fantasising about the life we''re going to live together, you know, forever. Is there a problem? Because I genuinely don''t see why my ''wife'' being happy is a problem. It''s certainly attracting a lot of attention but, hey, she''s having fun and, in case you''ve forgotten, she can do that whenever, wherever, and with whomever she chooses. She told you that herself and she meant it so, if you don''t want to be beaten to within an inch of your life, I would suggest you don''t interrupt her. As for who''s going to be doling out the beating, frankly, it could be anyone of us, maybe even all of us together. I know what you''re thinking and I know how you feel. None of that matters though. What''s done is done. Move on and find someone else. Anyone who''s willing to put up with you is someone you should actually bother pursuing because I assure you there aren''t going to be many women who will in your current state."


    Ares''s words slowly burrowed their way int Trew''s thick skull, becoming a tumour in his brain that drove him to insanity. Even now, however, the Legion clan''s training was strictly ingrained and, although every single cell in Trew''s body wanted to have a deathmatch with Ares this very instant, he remained ''calm''... As calm as someone who''s years of daydreaming and hoping had gone up in smoke... And to an imbecile like Ares no less... The rage brought a type of clarity to Trew who''s earlier meekness was nowhere to be found. His voice was still quiet, but he spoke quickly and assuredly with blatant resentment. "Listen to me and listen well you insufferable bastard. We''re going to duel. You and I are going to fight. One of the elder''s in this sect is going to set up a Training Field and one of us is going to slaughter the other. I don''t care what rules you impose. Best of 1, 2, 3, 10, 100, one god-dam thousand, whatever it is you choose. When I beat you, and I AM going to beat you, e v e r y single time, I''m going to drill it into that moronic brain of yours that you are not fit to be Enyo''s partner. You are not fit to stand by her and you most CERTAINLY, ARE NOT FIT, TO BE HER HUSBAND!..." Trew exhaled and chuckled lightly. "... I remember. I remember back in Baja you made that one bet with the buzzbladers? right? Well, you and I are going to bet again. When I win the duel, you''re going to give up on Enyo and..."


    Smack


    Ares had let him go on long enough for no reason other than he actually felt sorry for him. If someone else had gotten into a relationship with Enyo he would have been just as distraught. He never would have been this pathetic about it though. Trew had crossed a multitude of lines with that last bit he tacked on at the end and Ares had to make him understand that. "Now it''s my turn to speak, you bastard, and you''re going to listen well because I will not repeat myself. I am not going to fight you. It will likely come to that during the regionals, but that is the exception. I am not going to duel you unless you attack me unprovoked, in which case I will kill you. I will not forgive you and no one, even Enyo if she cared which she doesn''t, would be able to stop me from ending your miserable life. The duel you want is pointless. Not only will you not win, but losing will just make you even more of a lunatic..."


    "YOU DON''T KNOW TH..."


    Smack


    "I SAID listen. Even if the sky came falling down on me and you won, so what? Who cares? You think I would listen to you and stop loving Enyo? Do you think my love for her is that shallow? That I would ever even think to remove her from my life willingly is utter insanity. I''m going to do everything in my power to live with her even if reality were to become nothing more than ashes and still, even then, our love would persevere, do not test my devotion to her. And what was it you were going to say after that? That you wanted her if you won? Who made you king of the fucking castle? Who Enyo loves is her own choice. I already made it clear to you I wouldn''t acknowledge the bet even if you won, but what makes you think Enyo would? She''s a living being you cretin, she makes her own choices. Why should she adhere to the results of a bet she had no part in and doesn''t want to be a a part of anyway?! Are you insane? I smacked you to try and smack some sense into that head of yours because you aren''t thinking straight. Enyo is not an object and my affection for her is not up for debate. The duel is not happening, now or ever. Furthermore, even if it did magically happen against my will, what would I get out of it anyway?! I can''t win Enyo''s love, I already bloody have it! You would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to see that so tell me, what would I get when I won?! Even if I were the world''s greatest piece of human trash, willing to put my relationship with Enyo on the line, what could you possible give me that would be remotely worth it?! I want for nothing. I have a family I love and need nothing else but, even if I were materialistic, I assure you I have that front covered too. I have treasures beyond your measly comprehension and my status is something you wish you could have. You''re jealous of me and I get it, really I do. Sometimes the ''easy'' life I''ve been given bothers me because I know that, were I any less lucky, my life would be infinitely harder. I was born with everything I could ever want and even then I was lucky enough to find a wonderful family on top of that. I know how much you must hate me for having everything you want but trust me when I say this, I have my own burdens. being me is not as easy as I make it look so, if you keep making my life any harder than it already is, I''m going to deal with you permanently. I have concerns that are bigger than you. MUCH bigger than you. If you think I''m going to sit around and entertain you''re pettiness and duel you over an already settled matter that doesn''t even benefit me on top of being stupid to begin with, you''ve got another thing coming. If you still somehow don''t get what I''m trying to tell you then let me make it abundantly clear. I hate you. Enyo hates you. Everyone hates you. You are unliked by everyone who has ever met you. You are not liked, you are tolerated. You''re attitude is the worst of anybody I''ve ever met, and that includes a rapist because at least they understood they were a piece of shit. He was a worse human being but at least I could kill him and never have to see him again. Although I''ve said I won''t duel you, I honest to God hope you attack me so I can kill you for good. That is the extent of my feelings toward you, and everyone else''s too. you could have a heart attack right now and we would all just walk away. Hell I would, but Enyo might even take the opportunity to stamp on your heart and finish the job herself. There is no chance, no matter what, that Enyo and I are going to separate so, and I already said this once but I will say it ONE MORE TIME, move on and find someone else, Trew."


    ¡­


    Ares'' long dressing down silenced Trew who, over the course of the rant, had been forced to come to terms with everything Ares was saying. He''d already known, deep down, that everything was true; it''s just that no one had actually ever said it to his face before. He''d heard the whispers back home. He''d even rounded a fair few corners in the midst of fellow clan members ''discussing'' his faults. The truth hurt and he tried to ignore it but, now that he''d ignored it for so long, it just hurt even more. Part of him, an evil part that had long since been squared away by the Legion clan''s belief system wanted him to just attack Ares. He didn''t even know what he''d do if he won, he just knew that if he lost he would be dead and he wouldn''t have to worry about anything anymore. Fortunately, or maybe even unfortunately for him, he just wasn''t that kind of person. He simply had no justifiable reason to attack the man in front of him and therefore couldn''t bring himself to do it. He wasn''t sure whether to curse or laugh at his inability to move or even do anything in this situation. He had nothing left to say, he wasn''t sure where to go from here, where to look, where to stand so he wouldn''t be in anyone''s way... He was completely lost. Maybe Ares was right after all? Maybe where he was at mentally right now was harmful and he should just... Move on... Every time he looked at Enyo his heart broke again and again but he knew that was problematic. He felt awful but... Did she? About any of this? Of course not. She was still happily monologuing to her sister and daughter about her wedding. Even if he could fix his own broken heart, wouldn''t it have to come at the cost of Enyo''s happiness? Wasn''t that just selfish? Truthfully Trew wasn''t even really a bad person, he''d just been hit hard by the Legion''s indoctrination. There were plenty of lost causes that wouldn''t have let this matter go; plenty of ''young masters'' and young ''mistresses'' who thought every beautiful woman and man under the sun belonged to them. Ares would undoubtedly run into these types further down the line, it was just unavoidable really with a status like his and a partner like Enyo, but Trew wasn''t at that point. He was just a lonely man who let authority get to his head and proceeded to lash out when he was first struck by reality. Going forward, if he actually took these things to heart, there was a chance for him to be a decent person yet. He looked up at Ares who was looking back at him with an unfond gaze. Ha, of course he would look at me like that... Who wouldn''t? Even I would if I could... In the end, there really wasn''t anything he could do other than just plainly accept what he''d been told in a hushed, despondent voice "... Right..." He wasn''t sure where to go from here, but there was one more thing he wanted to do so he walked over to Appa and got down on one knee while stroking its head. "I''m sorry." Appa, loveable as ever and quick to forgive, reassured Trew in a peppy voice.


    "Don''t worry, I''m not upset! And neither should you be! Being sad is hard, so you should try and be happy instead! That way, you''re life will be easier!"


    Pfft


    Trew couldn''t help but laugh and shake his head. "It''s not that simple, unfortunately, but I''ll try." And with that, Trew stood up and walked away. Where to was anyone''s guess but, at least this time, it wasn''t because he was mad with anyone... Well, anyone other than himself, anyway.

 Chapter 61: Laying out the House Rules... Clearly?

    Ares picked up Appa and hugged it. "Who''s the cutest shade?"


    Appa nuzzled Ares affectionately. "ME!"


    "Haha, correct as always. By the way, was that also an art? What you just did to Trew? I can sense some lingering mana."


    "Yep! It''s a chant-less art that makes people feel good. I call it, Say Happy Things! Everyone who hears what I say will feel warm and fuzzy, reducing their hostility!"


    "I''m not sure you even needed an art for that... Has anyone ever told you you''re too cute for your own good? You''re a sweet little munchkin. Never change, Appa." Ares gently rubbed Appa''s soft head.


    "Okey doke! But only if you promise me you and mum won''t ever change too!"


    "Ha, you''re a sly one. Alrighty then, I promise. Let''s all keep living happily like this forever, ok?"


    "Yep!"


    Ares sauntered over to Enyo and Bellona and thanked his lucky stars that the wedding talk had seemingly died down for now. Not that he himself wasn''t also looking forward to that day, whenever it would be but, right now, he was broke! Well, sort of anyway. He actually had a lot of stardust thanks to all the dead transition realm cultivators in Dominus'' mansion back in Baja, but whether it was enough to have a large scale wedding and to make it every bit as perfect as it should be... Yeah... Probably not... There was no reason to half-ass it considering how much money Ares was capable of raking in with his forging and runemancy talents, he just needed to start accepting clientele first instead of doing it exclusively for free for the sect. That or he could just go hunting for rare treasures and cultivation resources and then sell them at auction. Ares knew from past experience that a lot of hustle and bustle came to Red Sun during the international, even if he wasn''t aware of the specifics at the time, and that there would almost definitely be an auction house popping up somewhere. Even if the wedding was not even remotely close to happening, he could still try and earn some more stardust for the auction house if nothing else; maybe he could find some interesting treasures for his weapon collection or some resources to aid his slow cultivation as he still had yet to find or use any. By the standards of any normal cultivator, Ares was seriously lacking in the resource department, so he really felt the need to go hunting; all he really needed was information on where to look as blindly searching probably wouldn''t get him very far. That wasn''t much of a problem though as keeping an ear to the ground around fellow disciples and visiting the mission hall regularly were easy ways to get reliable information. "Hey!" Ares grabbed the sisters'' attention. "Here catch!" Ares chucked Appa at Bellona in a beautiful arc.


    Appa soared through the sky, twirling as it giggled. "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"


    Bellona spread her arms wide and caught Appa while Enyo shot Ares a disapproving glance. "Ares, don''t throw our child!"


    "Aw come on, Appa can float anyway, it''s not like she was gonna fall or anything."


    "No means no. Be obedient or I''ll have Appa cast Shame On You again."


    Gulp


    "Yes mam."


    "Good boy. By the way, what happened to Trew? Where''s that loser skulked off to now?"


    "Dunno, but there''s a good chance he''ll come back a changed person. Changed in a good way and way less annoying. At the very least, I imagine he''ll quit being a pest around you, so that''s good enough for me."


    Bellona was sceptical however. "I''ll believe it when I see it. The changes he would need to undergo to even be remotely tolerable are monumental. Well, whatever, enough about him. Tell me more about you two!"


    "Uh... I''m surprised Enyo hasn''t told you everything already, she was really quite talkative a second ago. There''s really not much to tell anyway... Unless you want, like, really, specific details."


    Oh come on, don''t be boring. Actually, you know what, I''ll just stick to girl talk with Enyo. I can get all kinds of deets out of her. You''re too much of an idiot to understand the nuances of women''s gossip." Bellona stuck her tongue and began dragging Enyo away.


    Ares made sure to call after her. "I''m only an idiot because I''ve put so much distance between myself and idiocy that I''ve looped around!" Ares turned to walk over to Aejaz and the others when he was hit on the back of the head by a pebble Bellona had thrown. She bolted away with Enyo before he could retaliate, unfortunately. Ares got within earshot of Gladius who was in the midst of mentioning that he, Bellona, and Charity needed to go find an elder to sort something out for them. "Which elder? I happen to know a few and can maybe help you find whoever it is you''re looking for."


    "Ah. It''s an elder by the name of ''Rud''. I don''t suppose you know where I can find him?"


    "... Uh... Yes? Anyway, when you do find him, let him know I sent you; it might make your life easier... Or way harder, I don''t really know..."


    "... Sorry if I missed it, but I don''t think you told me where I could find him."


    "Put a blindfold on. Walk twenty paces. That ought to do it. What do you need the old coot for anyhow? If it''s him specifically, its probably some kind of documentation? He''s the only one that sorts that stuff out as far I''m aware."


    "There aren''t others? He does it all himself?"


    "Well, I mean, there are others... But he does do it all by himself, yes."


    "Are you drunk?!"


    "No? Are you?" Ares could have very easily clarified that Rud had clones running about practically everywhere, but where was the fun in that? Seeing the confused look on Gladius and Charity''s face was highly entertaining.


    "Ok, whatever. Not sure why I''m even bothering to try and have a rational conversation with a revenant to begin with. As for why we need him, Charity, Bellona, and I are swapping sects."


    "You''re coming here? Not that I don''t mind having more friendly faces around, but what for? Also, what about the regional? Isn''t that a conflict of interest?"


    Gladius shrugged. "Regarding the regional, no one in our sect even comes close to us. Even if we half-assed our performance we''d still be twice as coordinated as anyone else from our sect would be. Plus we gave the sect master our word we would try as hard as we could. Our sect master knows enough about the Legion clan that he trusted us pretty much on the spot and he wasn''t wrong too either. Don''t think we''re gonna go easy on you ''cos we really aren''t. As for why we''re moving here, there''s no major reason, but rather a few small ones that just added up. Bellona was already moving here because she wanted to be with Enyo and I think she also mentioned something about your cooking? It seems she wants to freeload and live in your house... So good luck with that. Bellona leaving our sect means Charity and I would have been stuck with Trew... And that was a nightmare waiting to happen if ever I''ve seen one. This sect is also way wealthier than ours and the houses here are supposedly nicer and bigger. Our place was getting a little cramped so there was really no difference between moving to the inner court there or coming over here other than that things were nicer here. Like you said, there are also more friendly faces around. Also, we''d heard rumours that Sadie was here? Not sure if its true or not but, if it is, that''s just another reason to be here as keeping up with training is important to me. That about sums it up, I think? Well, there''s also the whole Shock Bead thing going on with this sect. The reputation of this sect has risen drastically thanks to the unveiling of Shock Beads in the wider cultivation world and, well, I''d rather be the one throwing them than the one getting hit by them... Speaking of which, as you''re the one responsible, could you let us know how we can get our hands on some?"


    Charity interjected briefly as she also had a request. "Oh and, part of the reason I moved here is because I was hoping I could get some of your revenant blood every now and then? It works miracles and, as a healer, it''s an invaluable treasure to me. I understand if its awkward though, just figured I would shoot my shot while I''m here. It''s not exactly easy getting my hands on revenant blood as, thanks to the war, I''m more likely to be getting revenant blood on my hands..."


    "Yeah, sure, go for it. I''ve got plenty of blood to spare and it regenerates quickly enough. As for the Shock Beads, I make them regularly and there''s already a bunch of people that I give them out to for free anyway. Adding a few more onto that list really isn''t an issue as the creation process for them was quick to begin with and has only gotten quicker the more I do it. So I guess that''s a yes to both requests and, also, welcome to the sect. If you need a hand finding anything, I''m familiar with everything other than the core area, although I could probably point you to a guy called Eagerton who owes me a good few favours... You might need to ignore his weirdness though..."


    "Eagerton is here?... Yeah, I''ve heard stories about that whacko... Well, thanks nonetheless. We''ll be heading off to go... Try and find Rud... And I suppose we should go look for Sadie after and say hello. I''m not even going to bother asking you where we could find her..."


    "Oh that''s easy, she''ll be in the training hall."


    "WHY CAN''T YOU JUST TELL US WHERE RUD IS YOU STUPID REVENANT?!"


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Aers chuckled to himself. "Because that''s not as simple a question as you might think it is. I know where Sadie is because she''s always there and never anywhere else other than the weapon''s department. If I started listing all the places Rud is or could be... I''d be here for a very long time. Trust me when I say this, Rud could be literally anywhere, he could even be right behind me for all I know."


    "Why are you uttering my name you loathsome rodent?"


    "Oh hey Rud!" As if on cue, the man himself appeared behind Ares. Ares looked the clone up and down and figured it was probably the disciplinary Rud as he had an armband on and there were very few departments in the sect that utilised them. "So uh, how''s the work coming along on the house I blew up?"


    "Shut up fool. I should make you build it. Lord knows I would gladly stand behind you, whipping you as you slaved away."


    "Why the hell does everyone want to whip me?!"


    "... I''m not even going to ask. I know I''ll just lose my sanity if I let you set the pace of the conversation. What do you want from me you detestable devil? And make it quick. Some idiots made a bet and started playing catch with Shock Rocks. They accidentally blew up a fellow disciple who''s now been hospitalised and the longer I stand here talking to the true culprit the more I want to send you to join him."


    "It''s not what I want, its what they want. Something to do with joining the sect."


    Rud gave Charity and Gladius a once over. "Right, I remember. Shouldn''t there be three of you? Well, they don''t need to be present necessarily. Only one of you has to sign on the dotted line as you all applied together. It''ll be nice having more Legion clan members here. Makes for a pleasant change of pace compared to the usual..." Rud glared daggers at Ares. "...Originally I was going to do you a favour and put you as far away from this explosive bonehead as I possible could. You seem to be cordial enough with each other though so, instead, I''m going to make use of that. I''ll be putting you in the house directly next to Ares. He already blew up the one on the other side up and its to late to do anything about it, but with you present in the other building, he should show some restraint for once."


    "Aw, don''t be a Debbie Downer, I was just experimenting is all."


    "Tch, I know that. You can consider yourself lucky; if the sect master hadn''t made me promise to stay my hand that day... Oh the joy I could have had. Still, I''m grateful enough I had a chance to finally smack you around a bit; I was getting restless whenever I saw that smug mug. Enough about you, though, Gladius and Charity I''m guessing? Go to the logistics department and I''ll be there."


    Gladius, like everyone else in the sect, was shocked that Ares got away with mouthing off to the elders. Not that it was any of his concern though. "Thanks. Don''t worry too much about us though, you can take your time with your issue first. We''re in no rush."


    "Hm? That''s not what I meant... Ah forget it, you''ll see." Rud disappeared in a blur and left a bewildered Gladius contemplating what exactly Rud meant.


    "I''ll be on my way then." Ares gave a quick salute. "Lord knows if I don''t hurry Sadie is going to put me through the works again..."


    "Does she know your a revenant by the way? I know she''s cool with your race so it should be fine regardless."


    "Yeah she knows. The only one who doesn''t is Trew but I think it might be ok for him to know at some point. Not right now, mind you, he seems to be thinking through a lot of things. No need to give him more to think about. I don''t know if letting people know I''m a revenant is going to actually be a problem though. As a ''fundamental'' I have a duty that''s more important... I''ll explain it to you some time later, it''s not exactly a secret or anything; but I should get a free pass on the whole war front. As long as I don''t get directly involved, I don''t think anyone will try to involve me considering my situation."


    "Well now I''m curious but, yeah, we can talk some other time. Thanks for everything." Gladius and Charity went on their merry way. When they eventually made it to the logistics department and discovered Rud, there was a bit of a mess trying to explain the whole clone thing, but they eventually got it... They also really wanted to smack Ares upside the head for being so difficult about it earlier. As they were members of the Legion clan, they were familiar with the revenants silly behaviour though, so it wasn''t too unexpected. Even the revenants they had personally killed, the group they discovered by chance, begged for their lives and offered to put on a theatrical display showcasing their sorrowful disposition. They made it about ten seconds and three ''woe is me-s'' into the performance before trying to launch a sneak attack with the ceremonial ''prop'' dagger. It was seriously impossibly difficult to tell if all revenants were highly stupid or highly intelligent, but there was no doubting they were at least one of the two.


    Meanwhile Ares went off to go train and was eventually joined by Enyo and Bellona. Sadie took a break to catch up and everything involving training came to a standstill as the ''girl talk'' group now had a third member... Fifth, actually, as Li Li and Esme also jumped at the opportunity to get involved. If there was one thing Ares truly didn''t get about women, it was their propensity to act like pack animals. Though, then again, If they were having fun who was he to question it? Ares used his spare time to train Aejaz as he was starting to get a feel for how the art he wanted to make should be made. Aejaz'' art probably wouldn''t be usable until the international, but boy was it going to be a showstopper! Even Ares was seriously impressed with his brother as it genuinely looked like he was going to be able to pull this nonsense off. Hell Ares himself spawned the idea and even he believed it wasn''t doable and, yet, here they were, figuring out the intricacies of making it work... Aejaz was seriously on the path to becoming something out of the ordinary. Ares felt pretty confident in the idea that Aejaz would step onto the path to become the next God of the darkness pillar depending on how successful he was here, it was absolutely that serious. Bare minimum, Aejaz would be a contender and that was incredibly important as those with hope of becoming a God could develop an ability to undergo temporary apotheosis. This wasn''t something that could be done until after the transition realm, so it wasn''t even remotely close to happening as of right now; but it was in the cards for his brother. Actually, he wasn''t the only one. Enyo was basically guaranteed to be in the running for the holy pillar spot and, who knows, maybe even Allie if she put some serious effort into the alchemy pillar. Ares himself was literally guaranteed, as only he could wield destruction magic, which meant casa del Ares was filled to the brim with freakishly strong cultivators. As for Appa... the competition was a bit more fierce as the water pillar was quite a common one. Appa didn''t really stand out as a cultivator unless it was a contest of cuteness, then she was a shoe-in. Who knows, maybe Appa could lean into that niche and become a cute water God? It wouldn''t be impossible... If Ares were the God of the water pillar and Appa asked him for his spot he would give it up in a heartbeat.


    Some time later Gladius and Charity arrived. Gladius only got to give the briefest of greetings before Charity joined the cat pack and shooed him away. The only female not in the group currently was Allie who was deliberating whether or not to throw herself into the lion''s den. She knew in her heart of hearts if she dared step foot into the predatory group she was going to be bombarded with very personal questions. Ares came up behind her and patted her head, laughing mischievously which Allie knew was cause for concern...


    "Go on. Go and have fun with them, it can''t be any worse than what Aejaz has been doing to you over the past week, I''m sure."


    No, Allie! Don''t get embarrassed and run away! That group is not solace, it is a breach of privacy! They will be worse than Ares! Allie was a clever girl and was well aware Ares just trying to psyche her out. He had no more ammunition! He couldn''t make her flee from him in shame!... Oh how wrong she was.


    "Say, why do you think you can''t hear anything when Enyo and I are... getting to know each other better? As it turns out, and Enyo did all the research into this, not me, there are plenty of technicals that are very useful in the bedroom. Sperm Rejection lets you prevent unwanted pregnancies, Nightshade dims the lighting in the room and creates a nice ambience, and so on so forth. The reason you can''t hear us is because there''s a technical called Noise Cancellation. I''m sure you can guess what it does, the clue''s in the name after all; as tends to be the case with technicals more often than not. Don''t get me wrong, it''s original purpose was for stealth missions and whatnot, but it can be pretty easily repurposed by passionate couples. Anyway, my point, long though it was, is that you and Aejaz both clearly don''t know that technical."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Allie squealed and fled like an Olympic sprinter, taking shelter from Ares in the one place she really shouldn''t have... A hawkish group of women who were not going to quit badgering her until they knew why she was so embarrassed... Not that Enyo didn''t already know and wasn''t going to throw her under the bus when she was least expecting it. Allie made the crucial mistake of falling for Ares'' ploy. What made it all worse was that she knew it was what he was aiming for and, yet, she still couldn''t stop it! The powers of a big brother were truly frightening...


    Day became night as everyone caught up with each other before eventually heading home. Of course Ares'' group had one extra person in it thanks to Bellona moving in. On the way back Ares made sure to set some ground rules that were to be followed.


    Ahem


    "Ares'' house rules: Rule number 1, there are only two rules. Rule number 2, there are no rules. Rule number 3, ignore rule number two. That is all. There''s not much, but it will be on the test. When I pop quiz you, if you forget how many rules there are, it is within my power to kick you out, so study hard!"


    Thwack


    Thwack


    Ares promptly realised that there were now two people ready to smack him for saying dumb things and, annoyingly, Bellona hit harder than Enyo! "Why are you so strong?! Is it because all the nutrients went to you muscles and not your..."


    Thwack


    Thwack


    Well... It was certainly going to be eventful in casa del Ares going forward if nothing else. The regionals were tomorrow but, honestly, Ares was unsure if he would even make it ''till then under the ever watchful gaze of the sisters. His one solace was that they would separate at night! divide and conquer! At least that was what he assumed was going to happen until Enyo dashed any thoughts in his head about the matter.


    "Ares, you''re sleeping on the couch today. I''m sharing the room with Bellona as it''s been a while since we last talked like this. We''re going to catch up with each other so that room is off limits for you."


    "... We''re not even married yet and you''re already making me sleep on the couch?! Why not just go all the way and make me build a doghouse in the back garden to reside in!"


    "It would rather fitting..."


    "Enyoooooooo."


    "No. Bad boy. Heel, Ares. Heel!"


    Sigh


    "Woof."


    "Good boy." Enyo ruffled Ares'' hair as she entered the house. "In all seriousness, don''t worry about it too much. I''ll move to the inner-court after the next test which is coming up soon-ish. The houses there have a third room so we''ll be good for space then. Also, it really is just for today. Bellona and I haven''t had a proper talk in forever what with all of our arguments prior. At the end of the day, you''re still my husband, whether you like it or not, so Bellona can sleep on the couch from tomorrow onward. Do make her a quilt with your Stygian Zephyr though, maybe even a hammock if she prefers that over the couch. So yeah, just for today."


    Ares smiled softly. "That''s fine, you know I''m just kidding. I wouldn''t mind even if it were for longer. Its important to get along with family."


    Enyo returned the smile. "Thank you. I love you."


    "I love you too."


    "And I would love to vomit!" Bellona was not going to sit idly by and let the lovey-dovey couple go on any longer otherwise she, correctly, assumed she would be here all night. That and she was a tad jealous. There was seriously a shortage of good, single men around. She sighed inwardly and morosely accepted her predetermined fate. I really am going to wind up an old maid, aren''t I? This is what I get for joking about it back in Baja.

 Chapter 62: The Beginning of Bellonas Long Quandary

    Night came and went peacefully. Today was the dawn of a new day and, more importantly, the start of the tournament. As today was the regionals, there would be three matches total, with a minimum of two wins needed to move onto the nationals. It was highly likely Ares was going to have to fight the Legion group today and he was looking forward to it as they had assured him back in Baja that they had something interesting going on based on Gladius'' unique magic.


    Ares stretched and yawned before rolling off the feathered hammock he''d made himself yesterday night. All things considered, it was really quite comfortable, probably just as much as his own bed.


    "Morning idiot." Bellona had walked into the living room and was headed straight for the kitchen to pilfer some food. Part of the reason she''d come here was for the food to begin with as she was somewhat of a glutton so, naturally, she made a beeline for the fridge as soon as she woke up.


    Ares turned around and saw Bellona wearing high waist shorts and crop top with messy bed hair. "Good morning. Hmmm, not bad. Bed hair is lazy... Chest size is unavoidable... But fashion sense is good... Knows what looks suit her and can claw back some sex appeal... You pass! But only barely, the demerits were pretty rough honestly." Ares blinked and next thing he knew he was lying on the floor with a massive headache, burns on his chest, and frozen limbs.


    "Hmph. Consider that a sneak peek of what I''m going to do to you later, creep. I''m going to really enjoy pummelling your stupid ass." Bellona ventured off into the kitchen in search of snacks, leaving a gobsmacked Ares lying motionlessly on the floor.


    The hell was that?! Ares was still trying to figure out what exactly happened to him as it was all so bizarre. With a single type of magic, whatever it was as Ares couldn''t identify the mana, Bellona had teleported in front of him, raised her strength as she flicked his forehead, applied large amounts of gravity to his upper body to pull him down to the floor, burnt him, and froze him. With one art! Not only was whatever it was versatile to an insane degree, it was also chant-less and could be activated near enough instantly. Maybe Enyo isn''t the only spooky one in her family... I wonder if they''re all like this.


    Enyo walked into the room, took one look at Ares who''d been violently floored, and just shook her head in silence. As she walked past him into the kitchen, she reprimanded him while simultaneously giving him a warning. "I would stop hassling Bellona if I were you, she''s probably the real ace of the Legion clan''s new generation. The only reason everyone calls me that is because Bellona defied our father a lot and she had a bad reputation so no one acknowledged her. Its close between us, but her unique magic is pretty incredible. Back before people stopped respecting her, people often used to say she was practically invincible as long as she had mana to spare. Up until now its been pretty much true. I don''t know how much of her magic you''ve actually seen, but I assure you, you haven''t seen anything yet. Also..."


    Thud


    Enyo kicked Ares in the knee. "... Stop insulting my sister''s chest you mutt, although she takes it in her stride, it bothers her a fair bit even if she''ll never admit it. Apologise to her later."


    "Yes ma''am."


    "Good, now come make us breakfast."


    Ares did precisely that as Leo, Appa, Allie, and Aejaz also came in search of food. Ares had essentially made a continental breakfast with what he had lying around for everyone to dig into at their own convenience. Various juices, coffee, tea, croissants, fruits, etc... It was pretty simple but he needed to go and get some more food from the sect''s grocery department. Ares had been there a few times so far and it really quite pleasant in there. It was large, had a lot of variety, and was decently cheap. It was pretty clever of the sect to have facilities and shops for day to day life within the sect as it meant disciples rarely had to leave to get what they wanted, plus it made the sect a decent chunk of Stardust. The sect wasn''t doing too well overall, but it wasn''t because they didn''t earn a lot, it was because they spent a lot on hiring some of the strongest and and most talented cultivators around to become permanent elders. People like Dabble and Lizzie had originally been bought into the sect and, although their presence was pricy, it was well worth it. Actually, they''d been here so long they''d become pretty attached and probably wouldn''t leave even if it meant taking a pay cut but, thankfully for them, Rud didn''t know that. As for why the sect wasn''t flourishing with such capable elders around... Well that was simply because the disciples and potential disciples in the local area kinda sucked. Actually, there was no ''kinda'' about it. There were very few well-renowned clans and families in Red Sun and the talent pool really just wasn''t there. What the sect really needed was more fame to draw talented disciples in from around the country, maybe even abroad if they could manage it. But that was precisely what the international was for! If they could win it even once, never mind the potential for two wins this year, it would bring them a lot of attention. Not only would they be able to recruit more disciples with higher standards, but they could also maybe expand the number of elders present within the sect for a cheap price. A lot of talented cultivators would be willing to work for a sect that won the international even if it meant not getting paid quite as much.


    Bellona, satisfied with her food, got up to leave and presumably get changed in preparation for the upcoming fights. Ares finished his own food and followed her into the corridor. "Ah, hey, look, I''m sorry about the chest jokes. I insult people a lot but I try not to go too far and touch on nerves; but I trust Enyo''s judgement on this and if she says I should apologise then she''s probably right. I promise you it wasn''t even remotely serious, I have nothing against flat chests!"


    Bellona chuckled. "Ha, Enyo said you''d say those exact words. You two are really close, huh. I''m happy for you. As for the chest thing, don''t worry about. I don''t take revenants seriously, but I guess its reassuring to know it didn''t come from a place of bad taste. Seriously, those stupid clan members never shut up about it! I get that they didn''t like me, but ad hominins? Really?! Where''s the justice?! Hmph, flat this, flat that. I showed ''em when I knocked them flat on their asses."


    "Enyo did mention you''re not on the best of terms with the clan, I guess that was actually an understatement. I thought the Legion clan was pretty uptight but also rigorous in their fair treatment of all. Guess not everything''s perfect."


    "Yeah... But on the bright side, its where I got the idea for my witch outfit! They kept calling me witch ''cos they hated my magic. That was what they said anyway, but really it was just because they were jealous. When I was young and first discovered my magic everyone thought it was restrictive, hard to make use of, and generally worthless. I really liked it though so, even when my father demanded I use variety cultivation, I secretly went with dedication instead. He was furious, absolutely livid when he found out. He probably would have hit me if mum wasn''t around. Never really spoke to him after that while I was growing up. I did everything I could do avoid him while trying to convince my brothers and sisters to do the same. In particular, I was really worried about Enyo, but thankfully you sorted that one out when all was looking pretty hopeless for her. Really, thank you, you did what I couldn''t and got her out of that life. I''ll never not be grateful for that. As for the clan... The longer I spent practicing my magic, the more interesting it became. It felt like the limitations and the shackles of the magic just kept falling off and, after a while, people were seriously impressed with it. My father still held a grudge, though, so that was when the rumours started. Rumours that I was a revenant sympathiser, or a coward who didn''t want to fight, rumours that I was a bad person, etc... Even though I''d trained the hardest of everyone, I went from hero to zero because of petty spite. I didn''t care too much, though, as mum was there for me. She always reassured me and, when I joked to her about wearing an actual witch''s costume, she even went and got one for me because she also thought it would be hilarious. I thought I''d just wear it as a joke, but seeing everyone''s disgusted expressions made me overjoyed. Plus I really liked being different from everyone else. Maybe that''s silly, and maybe I''m just an attention seeker because I was fond of my brief time in the spotlight, but so what? It''s not like I''m hurting anyone. Eventually, the clan gave up on calling me a witch as they came to terms with the fact that it meant nothing to me anymore. I embraced it so, instead, they took to insulting my chest as there wasn''t really anything I could do about that... Well, I could fix it with my magic, but that would have just proven to them that I cared. I''d always felt a disconnect between me and the clan, like I never really belonged there to begin with. When it came time to sign up for chasing down the reborn revenants in Sheryashka I was probably the first to put my name down as I''d reached a boiling point. All I really wanted was to leave and get as far away from them all as soon as possible. I ended up accidentally going to the same place as some other Legion members that I had a seriously bad history with, constantly arguing and fighting each other, and I went overboard. There was no longer any rules, restrictions, or family members to bail them out and have a go at me with so, in anger, I went too far and accidentally killed one of them. Ha, its pretty safe to say I can never go back ''home'', not that I ever really saw it as such, anyway. I know I''m in the wrong, and that I did something stupid, but what does it matter what I think or feel? They''ll never forgive the ''witch'' anyway, so why bother trying to placate them? Might as well just distance myself from them for good. I ended up in Red Soil and found Gladius and Charity, some of the few people I didn''t utterly despise in our clan, so I stayed there. Trew eventually found me but, luckily for me, he didn''t know about the murder thing. That or he pretended not to because he wanted information out of me, I don''t really know. I usually don''t wear the Legion armour anymore but I did in Baja forest because I didn''t want Trew hassling me about not wearing it during missions and blah blah blah. So yeah, that''s my uninteresting story. Not much to say, really. Oh but, if you''re truly sorry then do me a favour? Keep an eye out for a guy, good looking preferably but not necessary, who''s magic works well with mine and has a thing for flat chests. They seem to be really rare nowadays ''cos I can''t find one to save my life."


    Ares shrugged. "I mean, I don''t even know what your magic is... But I can try? If I find someone who fits the bill, I promise I''ll kidnap him and bring him before you. I''ll even turn a blind eye to whatever you do to him after, may God have mercy on his soul."


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Bellona snickered which momentarily gave Ares pause as she looked very similar to Enyo just then. Not in terms of their facial features or anything, just in terms of mannerisms. "Sure, you do that... I think I''ll stick to relying on Enyo. She said she had an idea and that she would get back to me. If I can''t trust her, then who can I trust?! Anyhow, good luck in the fight today. I''ve seen your magic and, impressive though those Shock Beads outside the cave in Baja were, you''re going to have to show me something new if you want stand a chance."


    "You''re supposedly invincible, right? We''ll see about that. The destruction pillar is more special than you know. Don''t worry though, when you lose miserably and come begging me for an an explanation I won''t mind giving you one." Ares fiddled with his fingertips, blowing on them to act cool and aloof even though, as per usual, he just looked like a smug fool.


    "Hmph, don''t think that beating Sadie means you can beat me..." Bellona turned around and entered the room, leaving Ares with a pretty incredible piece of information to digest. "... I''ve fought Sadie plenty of times and she''s never even landed a single hit on me!"


    Thud


    The door shut as Ares stood there, gawking like an idiot, stunned by her claim. Ares had beaten Sadie without getting hit before... But never getting hit across all her training sessions?! Bellona lived with Sadie for Christ''s sake! How many years and how many fights... And not one single hit?! What on earth is her magic capable of?! No, nonono, don''t get discouraged. Have faith in your own magic. You are a fundamental pillar wielder. You can''t possibly lose this, Ares. So what if she''s invincible? Just kill her anyway! Invincible my ass... Nothing is invincible as long as I exist, nothing. After giving himself a pep talk, he went and cleaned up all the dishes. Meanwhile, Enyo had tracked down her sister.


    "You know that thing we talked about yesterday?"


    Bellona finished fidgeting with her hat, making sure it was on properly, and turned to Enyo. "Hm? Yeah? What about it?"


    "You''ll see. Today, you''ll see that someone with a greater magic than you does exist. I know you don''t think its possible... But you''ll see."


    "... Ares?"


    Enyo smirked at Bellona. "Who else? Don''t think I''ve forgotten what you said back in Baja. There was a lot going on, and we talked a fair few times, but I remember. Well, like I said, you''ll see. You''re going to lose today, and its not going to be easy for you to accept it for a variety of reasons, but you are going to lose. That much is true; and it won''t even be because of me." Enyo threw her hands in the air and made an ''I don''t know'' pose by raising her right shoulder and leaning on it as she turned to face the door. "You live here now so having a conversation with me is pretty easy. When you finally want to talk about what''s going to happen today, let me know and I''ll kick Ares out of the room again. Don''t worry about it too much and get into your own head about it like I know you''re inevitably going to. I know why you''d be hesitant to talk, but don''t be. You bottle things up for long periods of time when you really shouldn''t. If you hadn''t made that one off-hand comment to mum about the witch clothes you''d still be getting tormented over it. You''re good at pretending nothing ever bothers you but I''m your sister, Bellona, and I know that''s not actually the case. I can already tell you''re going to be a stubborn mule about it, but I''m letting you know here and now that I really won''t care whatever decision you come to, whenever it is you actually finally come to it. Do with that information what you will, maybe it''ll help you sleep easier tonight, probably not though as you''re quite difficult like that... Hahaha, its funny to think the shoe is on the other foot now. Maybe you''ll be the one getting hassled by Rhea. Don''t think I''m not going to tell her though, if anyone can talk some sense into you it will be her. Of all of us, You''ve always been the closest with her so I''m sure she can get through that fa?ade you put up. Well, whether or not saying this was was worth it when you''re just going to keep claiming you don''t know what I''m talking about, for however many years to come, is its own problem. I''ll leave you to your own devices but, like I said earlier, and I''ll say again now, I''m ready to talk whenever you are."


    "... I really don''t know what you''re talking about..."


    Enyo sighed as she closed the door behind her. "Sure, if you say so. Silly girl."


    About an hour later and everyone, including Charity and Gladius who had just arrived, was ready to head on over the the area being used for the fights. It was the same place that had been used for the disciple selection process but it would be cordoned off slightly as it was way too big for just ten people to scrap in. The actual size of the combat zone was akin to a coliseum, roughly. Ares had once joked about having a chariot but maybe it would have actually come in handy! He bemoaned not having a chariot aloud which caused all the Legion clan members, including Enyo, to freeze on the spot and stare at him for some reason. Gladius was the first to defrost. "You... Are you a prophet?!"


    Ares tilted his head and put a finger to his bottom lip in confusion. "No? At least not as far as I''m aware. Why?"


    "... No reason..." Gladius was nervously sweating as he looked away from Ares.


    Ares couldn''t help but be curious about the way everyone was acting but he decided to ignore it for now. If they were calling him a prophet then, naturally, he would figure out why eventually! Whatever it was would have to come to pass at some point, and probably today at that.


    The group, and quite a large one at that, made their way to the training ground. Aside from some rough, impromptu fencing used to lessen the arena size, it was pretty much the same bland, uninteresting place it was last time. There would be a much more grand location for the national and international and the number of spectators would be far greater than the current turnout. It wasn''t a small turnout by any means, just not enough to warrant opening the arena-proper just yet. The cultivators who came to view the regionals were seated on small, earthen benches that had been made by magic. The effort was pretty minimal but no one seemed to be bothered by it. These people were the ones who visited every year to watch as they were either interested in the youth of today or because they had a lot of regional pride for whatever reason. There were probably also a few spies sent from other sects across the country that were scouting the competition, but there wouldn''t likely be too many here of all places as the sect''s past performances weren''t anything noteworthy. Of course, when word spread about what would inevitably happen here... A lot of sect masters were going to be really regretting their laziness and poor decision making. Just hearing the rumours and having a detailed, first person account were worlds apart in terms of usefulness for preplanning countermeasures.


    When the group arrived, they realised they were the last to do so as the other sects were already here. There were only four competing sects but a fair few elders and all the sect masters had turned up, so it was a tense atmosphere in which you could hear a pin drop...


    Ping


    Not that anyone knew exactly where Ares got a pin from... Was he making light of the situation by making a silly joke? Was he trying to make the opposition lower their guard? Who the hell knows when it comes to Ares?!


    Aejaz was already looking for ''donations'' to the A.A.F, Allie''s alchemy fund, an ''organisation'' that would one day rival the resource wealth of the A.O if Aejaz had any say in the matter.


    As for the other contenders, Ares didn''t pay any attention to the Red Sea''s sect as he noticed the pairings had already been decided. The Red Sea sect was going up against the Legion clan so there was no reason to remember their names unless he was planning to put them on their tombstones later. They weren''t going to win, that was basically already a foregone conclusion. As for ''Celestial Utopia'', the sect from Red Sky with a pompous name that was far too imposing for them, there was nothing that really separated its cultivators from the pack. Ares knew it was the regionals and that he shouldn''t expect any interesting characters to pop up here but, nonetheless, he was still a bit disappointed in these Lightning and Water Guy wannabees. Oh well, at least there was the Legion clan to entertain him after these non-descript nobodies were kicked out of the running.


    "Hello, sorry I''m late... Got a little lost in thought and lost track of time." Trew came up behind everyone and gave them the shock of their lives, not because he''d spooked them with his presence, but because his attitude was wrong! All wrong! So wrong in fact, that Bellona had to ask,


    "Who the hell are you!?"


    Trew scratched the back of his head with a wry smile. "Trew? Shrew? Guess it doesn''t really matter..."


    Bellona face twisted into one of disbelief as she turned to Ares and jabbed him in the chest with her index finger. "OI, what the hell did you do to him!? I''m still technically from the Legion clan you know? If you''re blackmailing him or threatening him, I won''t let it go on!"


    Even Leo, who''d only ''met'' Trew once, went up to him and sniffed him with narrowed eyes.


    Meow (As unbelievable as it might sound, this is indeed the same dickhead from yesterday... While I''m at it, why don''t I sniff Charity and check to see if she''s still the same bitch as yesterday?)


    Charity didn''t know what the furball was saying but that didn''t stop her from side-eyeing the living plushie and growling at it under her breath. She didn''t even bother asking for a translation, she was completely fixated on having a stare down with the tiger.


    "Leo! Stop being mean to our friends!" Allie berated the treetop tiger who had essentially become her pet. Allie played with him regularly and even aided him in his cultivation by feeding him various pills. Allie was currently working on a ''necklace'' of sorts to give to Leo. It was still in the early stages but would be incredibly beneficial for Leo. It looked like a rosemary but, instead of beads, it had a bunch of pills strung along it, all of which Leo could consume if he ever got into a fight. It was like having a mini tool kit at his disposal. Allie and Leo got along really well which was a small problem for Aejaz who had to keep heartlessly removing him from the room whenever he wanted some alone time with Allie. Leo would always meow begrudgingly at Aejaz who had to grin and bear it all the while knowing the little loud mouth was probably hurling insult after insult at him. Leo also got along with Appa too, though, so he would just go and look for it when he was bored as Appa also liked playing with him. Hide and seek was always fun because Appa could float to strange places and Leo was small enough to hide in unusual spots.


    While everyone was playfully bickering with one another, Rud and Teng had given the customary greetings to the other sect leaders who were enraged, not that they expressed it verbally even though it was clear as day on their faces, that Yulo hadn''t received them personally. But why should he? These sect masters who were, at most, dipping their toes into the transition realm were literally just ants to Yulo. He didn''t have to show them respect and he was way too busy to care. If he wasn''t busy, there would have been an even lower than zero chance of him coming as rest was hard to come by in this sect. Being in a managerial position in a sect that was short on staff was not a walk in the path. Still, Yulo was hoping that would all change soon. The reward from the international, regardless of whether it was at the outer court or core level, maybe even both, would be enough of a boost to the sect''s treasury that they could solve their immediate issues; and the popularity gain would solve the long term ones.


    Once the introductions, which were brief as this was still early days in the tournament, were over, Teng and Rud gave the stage to the same man that had taken a photo of Ares, Aejaz, Enyo, Esme, and Li Li for advertisement purposes earlier. He was the overseer of the regionals and nationals who would make sure there was A: no foul play and B: No funny business regarding the details of the winning group. He would also be explaining the rules of this year''s competition so Ares stopped bickering back and forth with Bellona and Enyo and paid attention. Really, he just wanted to know what the rules were so he could figure out all the fun ways he could use them to his advantage to mess with people! Unfortunately, there wouldn''t be many, but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t still try! And if nothing else, when it really comes down to it, surely its the thought that counts, right?

 Chapter 63: All for One and One for Region-All

    The rules for the competition were as follows: Two teams of five will do battle for five minutes. During those five minutes, the teams will be fighting over a talisman tag. The tag is literally that, a floating tag that will follow the last player to touch it or hit it with an attack of any kind. The tag will hover directly in front of the person''s heart, passively incrementing a timer for the team with possession of it. Whichever team has the tag for the most amount of time, as displayed on the timer, at the end wins. That is not the only win condition, however. When a contender is killed, they will be resurrected outside of the Field and ''incapacitated'' for a minute, after which they may return to the fight. If all five members are simultaneously incapacitated, they will instantly lose the fight, regardless of the timers. It was an interesting enough concept as it meant there were two vastly different approaches you could take. You either sacrifice the direct involvement of the tag wielder so they can hide in the back and be safe, or you commit all five members to killing the other team. In other words, there was a defensive approach, and an aggressive one. This actually complicated matters somewhat for Ares as he wanted to be aggressive, obviously, but with a team consisting of Enyo and Esme, it was probably better to play to their strengths and slow the fight down... That or he could just trust Enyo and go and do his own thing! At this stage in the competition, there probably wasn''t a group of five that could bust through Enyo''s defences even if they were given an hour, never mind five minutes.


    "The first match of the day is between Red Sky and Red Sun, may the disciples please take up their positions so we can begin!" Having said his piece, the announcer / judge / rules master moved over to the side-lines. Rud shot him a pitying glance a he felt like he''d found a kindred soul, one swamped up to his neck in work he wasn''t being paid enough to do.


    "Good luck." Trew gave a simple send off which gave everyone the creeps because this man had seriously undergone unfathomable levels of change in the last 24 hours. Ares almost wanted him to go back to normal because this was rather off-putting. If Ares tried to explain to a stranger that Trew had been one of the most annoying people to ever walk this planet not even a week ago, he would''ve been sent to an insane asylum no doubt. The current Trew was completely harmless, like he wouldn''t even disagree with a fly lest he hurt its feelings.


    Ares shook his head and just decided to ignore it. He, alongside Aejaz, Li Li, Enyo, and Esme lined up on their side of the Field. In between their group and their opposition, a floating, yellow talisman was hovering off the ground at roughly chest height. The inscription on the talisman looked rather profound so, when Ares gave it a once over with Omniscience, he wasn''t too shocked to find out it had been done by someone above the transition realm. The person in question was probably a little weaker than Sadie overall, but whoever it was was undoubtedly a very competent runemaster as the talisman looked sturdy enough to even withstand Armageddon itself.


    After checking out the talisman, Ares looked up at the opposition and almost did a double take when, finally, he realised they were all staring evilly at him. Do I know these people?! What''s with the unprompted hate?! Ares would never know this, because he would never care enough to ask these nobodies, but these people were technically indirectly involved with Ares as a few disciples of Heaven''s Path had stolen some of their prey during a mission using his Shock Beads. That was only one of the reasons for the unwanted attention, the other being that Ares looked pathetically weak. He wasn''t even in mental accumulation yet, after all, so it looked like he truly didn''t belong in this competition. It was an affront to those who''d earned their positions as they assumed he was a nepotism baby of some sort. All of the above combined meant he was a pretty easy opening target. the goal was to kill him quickly and move onto the others who looked to be a bit more of a challenge worth their time. Ares didn''t quite realise this yet, but he most certainly got the hint when a loud horn signalled the start of the tournament and they all began channelling their mana in his direction. Screw the talisman, they weren''t even looking in its direction. Ares was like a fish in a barrel as far these people were concerned. What they failed to appreciate, though, was that fish were slippery creatures!


    Ares, thanks to his omniscience, could predict the nature, timing, and direction of every single one the attacks. Simply put, Omniscience was disgustingly powerful against magic; essentially being roughly akin to foresight. Ares decided to have some fun with these guys and really drive it home that they were making a huge mistake wasting their time on him. Ares might have let these goons have some fun for a bit if they hadn''t attacked him, but Ares was a good host if nothing else. If these cultivators came all the way here from Red Sky in search of an ass-whooping, he would gladly oblige!


    As for the attacks that were milliseconds away from being launched, they were all fairly standard arts of their respective pillars that effectively created a projectile of elemental magic. It seemed like every member on the opposing team was a wielder of a different element as they were trying to go for a balanced approach to the composition of their sect''s formation.


    The earth pillar cultivator''s attack would come out first and was essentially just there to to throw Ares of balance so he would be hit by all the follow up attacks. The earth magic was an art by the name of ''Shove Earth'' under the ''kick rocks'' aspect. As the name of the aspect implied, it was centred around kicking earth magic around to turn it into projectiles or enhance close range combat. Stamping the ground to create spikes, flicking pebbles like a scattershot, covering your legs in earth magic and kickboxing, or in the case of Shove Earth; creating a waist high block of earth that would glide along the floor when kicked, creating a massive impact whenever it bulldozed into an enemy, knocking them over backword.


    Next up to bat would be the water pillar cultivator who was charging up an ice aspect art known as ''Mistral Shrapnel''. The art would launch a frozen, spiky ball that detonates on contact, releasing the frigid winds held within. The initial contact would hurt, yes, but the real kicker to this art were the winds that came after as they could very well freeze you on the spot, giving your opponent ample time to walk up and shatter you into a thousand pieces. In this case, the power was lowered so that the cultivator could throw it faster, chaining it after the Shove Earth and hitting Ares when he was knocked onto the ground. Ares didn''t really play games as they weren''t readily available in this domain, but he was familiar enough with them to know the term ''stun-lock''; and boy was it appropriate here with what they were attempting to do to him!" There was actually an entirely virtual planet in the Vraizon domain, one that Ares wanted to visit because it sounded incredibly fun, but that was for a later date.


    Third in the ''hurt Ares'' queue was the fire pillar cultivator. His art was relatively normal and the name alone made it pretty obvious what he was going to do, ''Flamethrower''. This conflagration aspect art really doesn''t need explaining, its literally just a jet of flames that burns the target to a crisp. Nothing more, nothing less, but hey, sometimes simple is best! ''No need to change what works'' is essentially the motto of cultivators who rely on the conflagration aspect as it really is quite basic, especially when compared to the rest of the pillar and what it has on offer.


    Second to last was the wind pillar cultivator of the group and his art, or rather aspect, was a bit more exciting than the previous individual''s. The aspect he had an affinity for was named ''God hand'' and could create a gigantic wind fist to strike foes with direct force and blasts of wind. This hand could be summoned and resummoned around the enemy, launching various attacks from unexpected angles. Spawning it was slow, and the hand itself wasn''t exactly the fastest thing either, but it had a significant amount of power behind it, causing havoc wherever it struck. As for the arts, most were named in a fashion that was fairly predictable, I.E the type of attack launched followed by the direction it was launching in. In this case, the cultivator was about to use ''Pound Down'' which summoned the hand curled up into a fist and directly above the foe, ready to come crashing down on them and unleashing a powerful gale directly on top of their head. This attack was rather lethal as a direct hit was known to blast open the heads of cultivators like crushing a melon.


    Finally there was the lightning pillar cultivator. His attack was the simplest as it was literally just a thunder strike. No really, ''Thunder Strike'' was the name of the art and it came under the thunder aspect. The only information about this art that was worth knowing was that there was a version of the art that came out quicker, but had less force behind it, named Flash Thunder. The art was incredibly slow to channel, but hit like a truck and could very well vaporise an unsuspecting cultivator. In fact, a few assassins throughout history had tried, and somewhat succeeded, in creating a branch of assassination called ''artillery theory''. The goal was long, slow casting arts that would just evaporate the target on contact without the need to get up close and personal. It required good positioning, roughly ten seconds of freedom to cast without the target leaving line of sight, and optimisation of arts to be chant-less. It was distinctly different from the usual hide, hit and run approach but some people made it work for them. You could imagine the shock on people''s faces when they were talking to a high profile individual who was suddenly, inexplicably turned into ash by thunder magic that came out of thin air. There were a few other variations that used other magic as assassins had experimented quite broadly with artillery theory but, for the most part, most stuck to the old-fashioned ways... At least up until sniper rifles became worth using. After their resurgence a few thousand years after their original appearance, artillery theory had a new trick up its arsenal. Now these assassin didn''t have to be near the target while they cast their magic, but could be an entire planet away if the rifle was a rare enough treasure. These were pretty dark times and was arguably the most powerful guns had ever been. Those with power in their domains conducted domain-wide searches for anyone in possession of such weapons and confiscated them, somewhat reducing the frequency of these long range murders, but they still happen every now and then even today in the wider world. Actually, while on the subject, wouldn''t Ares'' magic be perfect for artillery theory? Just a thought. A harmless, little thought...


    Anyhow, now that the plan of attack had been laid out in front of Ares, he knew what he must do... Crush their wills in typical revenant fashion!


    "Shove Earth!"


    Ares'' response was to bring out the Black Ice Bane and finally, finally, get a chance to wield it!


    "Crystalised Void: Wall." And the first thing he did with it? Create a boring wall... Of all the cool things Ares knew he could do with it... He created a wall. Well, it was needed and he was here to mock, not to show off; although whether what he was about to do was classified as ''showing off'' or not was debatable.


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    The black-ice wall looked sturdy as a mountain, comparable even to that of one of Enyo''s mid-strength barriers. It was quite a pretty wall to look at, actually, as its black and white marbled appearance was easy on the eyes. It had an alluring, mystifying effect as the void swirled within the crystal ice, ready to lash out the second the wall was detonated. For reference, a poxy wall like this, sturdy though it was, only cost the Black Ice Bane around 3 state percentage; which was effectively nothing to Ares who even had a trick up his sleeve in the Crystalised Void: series of attacks that cost all 100%. Again though, now wasn''t the time and place for it. As Enyo had once correctly described him, Ares was ostentatious. Using said trick here was nothing if not a waste of his showboating talents.


    CRUNCH


    The earthen block slammed into the wall and came to an immediate halt as the wall was blatantly superior in pretty much every single way. The elemental squad were taken aback momentarily by Ares'' ability to stop the attack, but then promptly guessed it had something to do with his artifact. He wasn''t that strong, he was probably just rich! So they assumed. This did complicate their strategy, unfortunately, as, now, Ares had free reign to actually dodge their attacks instead of being helplessly subjected to a never ending barrage. The fire and water pillar cultivators who were next in the sequence fired off their respective magics.


    "Mistral Shrapnel."


    "Flamethrower!"


    There was some coordination here as Ares was currently stood behind the wall. If he dodged to the right, he would be hit by the shrapnel, if went left, he''d be incinerated. If he stood still, the next attack from the God hand cultivator would squish him. Contrary to their expectations, however, Ares did neither of these things. Instead, he held onto the wall and jumped around it, landing with his butt firmly seated on the rock that had been thrown at hit earlier. With the wall behind him, Ares had essentially created and taken a seat right between the two attacks. As if that wasn''t bad enough, he brought out, from within the primordial blade, a drink in one hand and a skewer of meat in the other. He raised the pina colada, complete with a tiny umbrella, up to the Mistral Shrapnel which exploded on the glass he''d reinforced with mana. The frigid winds chilled his drink while his other hand raised the meat to the flamethrower, roasting it for him like it was a high-powered campfire.


    "Pound Down?"


    The wind cultivator was so beyond befuddled he didn''t even know if casting his art was the correct thing to do anymore. This fight, in the span of three seconds, had taken a turn he never could have predicted even in his wildest dreams.


    Ares felt the wind above his head gathering so he stuck the skewer into the rock to free up his hand. Was he going to use it to defend himself? Yes, but not right now anyway... His first order of business was to take a straw hat out of his primordial blade, alongside a pair of sunglasses, and equip both. Only after that did he raise his hand and click his fingers, forming a layer of disintegration positioned horizontally above his head.


    The mana finally formed an ethereal, green fist with mirage like qualities as the buffering winds were swept around within the confines of the hand shape. The partially solidified raging gale came crashing down as a bow shock formed ahead of its knuckles, tearing through space.


    Ares paid it no mind and didn''t even glance upward, instead holding onto his hat to prevent it from flying off somewhere as that would be the real problem here. Ares was trying to enjoy himself and having to actually get up and fetch the hat did not coincide with his plans!


    The bow shock was first to reach the disintegration layer and it simply vanished from existence. There was no theatrics, no noise like with the Earth Shove and the wall, nothing. It was just gone, never to be seen again. The layer of disintegration wasn''t even an art, just a basic thing Ares could do whenever and, yet, its ability to just flat out erase things was truly horrifying. It had been mentioned before, but disintegration was technically his most powerful aspect, it was just harder to use than his other aspects. When it came to disintegration''s defensive utility, however, well... The God fist was there one second, and gone the next. It almost looked as though the hand had sunk straight into a murky, black swamp, and never came back up; but the truth of the matter was that it was de-atomised and utterly devoured. Not even any lingering traces of mana were spared as that too had been completely gobbled up.


    Meanwhile, underneath the disintegration layer which had just faded away now that its job was done, Ares was still holding onto his hat with his free hand while he took a sip from his drink with the other. This insane bastard was not in the middle of a fight, he was in the middle of a beach if anything! The only things his opponents hadn''t yet done for him were create sand and an ocean, but as there was both an earth and water pillar cultivator amongst them, they could technically do even that if they tried attacking him again!


    The final cultivator, unlike the rest of his teammates, was born with sturdier guts and continued onward in the face of humiliation despite the pretty ominous feeling he had inside said guts.


    "Thunder Strike!"


    Ares'' face couldn''t be seen properly under the hat he was pulling down over his eyes, but the cocky smirk peeking out indicated rough times ahead for the elemental crew. Ares put his now-finished drink down and brought out an object everyone present was all too familiar with, a Shock Bead. Actually, most people were familiar with the name Shock Rock, but that was neither here nor there. Ares slowly raised the Shock Bead to the sky, revelling in the looks of abject horror forming one by one his opponents'' faces as they came to a conclusion that they really didn''t want to on what was about to happen to them. As if to confirm their fears, Ares lifted up his other hand and brought it slightly underneath the Shock Bead, leaving a small gap in which he formed a miniature Not Even Light. This was the basis of the Block Rocks he''d started creating, just not in bead format. The mini Not Even Light functioned like a normal one would and drew all nearby magic toward it. As the thunder was approaching from above, it was essentially funnelled into the Shock Bead... Shock Beads were dangerous enough as is, and their normal aura was awe-inspiring to begin with. Now that Ares'' Shock Bead had been supercharged with thunder though... It was on another level. Actually, it had skipped the second level and just jumped straight to the third, maybe even fourth. The Shock Bead reeked of imminent death and it was now a matter of deciding who to sacrifice to the miniature WMD that was crackling away with a disturbing aura that tickled their spines. That wasn''t to say anyone else would come away unscathed, it was basically guaranteed everyone on the other side of the Field was getting hit whether they wanted to be or not. Naturally, everyone one of the elementalists were firmly in the ''not'' category, but that didn''t stop Ares from lightly flicking the Bead of doom towards them. The poor bastard Ares aimed the Bead at didn''t even bother moving, he just stood still and watched the Bead arc towards him with a despondent look on his face. He accepted fate. He hated his fate, but he accepted it because he was acutely aware there was no running from it. As for which cultivator was about to take the brunt, ironically, it was the lightning cultivator. Whether Ares did this intentionally was anyone''s guess, although the answer was very likely yes knowing him.


    CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAACKLE


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    A series of golden sparks turned into an electrical dome that shook and encompassed the entire opposite half Field. The zapping noises caused all the spectators to cringe as their ears were wormed into by static with a few even scratching their ears until they started bleeding. When the more-literal-than-ever Shock Bead was done destroying everything in the vicinity, the smoke dissipated, leaving a large indent in the floor and snakes of electrical mana slipping into the earth. As for the ''fifth elements'', one of whom was in fact named Bruce, they were struggling to stand, let alone comprehend what they''d just been through. Three were injured, but safe with mostly inconvenient injuries like broken bones and twisted body parts. Their clothes were torn and their flesh bruised and battered, but they were still in a position to fight. The lightning cultivator was dead. His corpse was nowhere to be found and that wasn''t because he''d revived already, but because he''d simply been thoroughly annihilated. When he did finally revive, he looked around in a panic before finally calming himself down as he held his hand over his erratically beating heart. This man would go on to have plenty of nightmares about this experience; even therapy would not help him. As for the fifth member of the team, the fire cultivator, he''d had his legs blown clean off, one of his arms was gnarly and warped, chunks of his head were missing, and he couldn''t scream because he''d lost his tongue in the explosion. Everyone looking at the poor man, who was wriggling and writhing in agony, jumped in fright when something pierced his head, causing him to slump dead. On closer inspection, the deadly tool with which he was murdered was... A skewer... Because of course it was... This meant that Ares had killed the lightning cultivator by redirecting his attack via the Shock Rock, and the fire pillar cultivator with the half-eaten skewer he himself had roasted. It became apparent Ares was messing with these people which made them unreasonably mad. How could he treat brutalising their comrades as some sort of twisted game?!


    The wind pillar and water pillar cultivator used what little strength they had left to charge at Ares and try to take him with them. If they were going to lose, they were going to drag this bastard down and let him feel their suffering first hand!


    Thud


    Ares disagreed with that sentiment, however, and kneed the water cultivator in his stomach. he then placed both hands on the man''s shoulders and stepped on his chest, using it as a foothold to launch into a somersault kick on the man''s face. At the tail end of Ares'' half-backflip, half-attack, he pulled out the tiny umbrella he''d placed in his drink earlier, landed, and rushed down the man who was still clutching his face in pain, stabbing him in the chest. Unfortunately, the umbrella was tiny and couldn''t quite reach the man''s heart, so he lived for now. The wind cultivator tried to swing at Ares from behind, but Ares promptly ducked and turned around. While still low to the ground, Ares threw his foot back and upwards, kicking the tiny umbrella out of the water cultivators chest with the heel of his foot and launching it into the air. Ares then brought that same foot down and Infront of him, kicking the wind cultivator in his chest and repeating the same move he''d just done previously, using it as a platform to gain height and somersault kick the man''s face. This time, though, there was another step involved as Ares performed a bicycle kick in mid air, smacking the umbrella which was then sent flying into the water cultivators skull, piercing his brain and killing him on the spot. Ares landed and used the clockwise momentum of the bicycle kick to swing his foot at the wind cultivator again, this time bringing his foot up higher and kicking him in the face, throwing him to the floor. Ares jumped on the man and raised his fist, imbuing it with an echo before raining it down on the man''s head and crushing it, causing blood and brain matter to splatter everywhere. Now Ares had killed the water cultivator with the umbrella he had chilled for Ares'' drink and the wind cultivator with an imitation of his ''God hand''. All that was left was the earth pillar cultivator and he was truly worse for wear, practically shaking in his boots. Ares whipped out the Stygian Zephyr, piercing the unsuspecting cultivator in his gut and dragging him unwilfully towards Ares. When the man stumbled at Ares, Ares placed both his hands on the man''s shoulders and his foot on the man''s waist. It looked as though Ares was about to kick him in the face like how he''d done with the other two, but his attack was different this time as he leant backward, slowly falling to the floor, pulling the man with him into a freefall. Halfway down, Ares extended his foot, performing a beautiful Tomoe Nage and tossing the man squarely onto the earthen chair he''d helped Ares create. The man, sprawled upside down on the rock, dazedly looked at the shimmering black crystal wall towering above him and his heart stopped when Ares spoke from behind him.


    "Crystalised Void: Detonate!"

 Chapter 64: A Quick Break Before the Violence Resumes

    "Ah fuc..."


    Crack


    Before the earth cultivator could let loose his swear, the crystal wall shattered and a black explosion of tendrils engulfed him. Ares, to an extent, could control whether the detonation of Crystallised Void was a normal explosion via annihilation magic, or something more geared towards disintegration. This was why the attacks were named Crystalised Void; it wasn''t because the attack was made of nothingness, but because the nothingness held the crystal ice and the disintegration, or annihilation, magic inside of it together by merging them. In this case, the tendrils absorbed the cultivator into a black abyss of disintegration magic, fully dissolving him as it dragged him to his instantaneous death. It was like watching someone pour a soluble human into pitch black, thick water. The tendrils swayed eerily seemingly with a mind of their own before slowly vanishing into air as though they''d never been there to begin with. Ares turned to the spectators and raised his arm. He brought the arm down and across his waist while bowing to indicate his show was over for now before striding back over to his teammates who were just shaking their head at Ares'' childish antics. He had killed every single cultivator in a way that either utilised their own magic or mimicked it. If he fought like this at the international, everyone from Vraizon would know he was a revenant without even having to test him. Actually... On the subject thereof... Trew had a wry smile on his face as he turned to Bellona.


    "So... He''s a revenant then?... If the me from yesterday knew that... Things would be very different right about now. Namely that I would be dead, I suppose." Bellona''s eyebrow raised as she looked inquisitively at Trew who implicitly understood the question he was being non-verbally posed. "No, I don''t care. It might seem weird, but I spent a lot of time yesterday questioning the Legion clan''s doctrines, beliefs, ideals, everything. They didn''t really do me any favours when I unquestionably believed in them, and I was curious to see how many flaws I could spot now that I wasn''t so blinded by it all. I guess my biggest problem was this stupid war that''s pitting us all against each other. It''s the root of every other problem I discovered so, no, I don''t care anymore. Still, I can''t pretend it doesn''t hurt to lose to a revenant... Stings more than I thought it would. It''s a good example though..." Trew watched on as Enyo thumped Ares on the head. "...Of how needless our clan feuds are. We can clearly get along if we try. That was the idea I came to yesterday and its been proven already. So yes it stings, but it also feels good too. Silver linings and such."


    Bellona gawked at Trew... "No, seriously, who the hell are you?!"


    The Training Field was temporarily shut off now that the match had finished and the suited man took to the microphone once more. "The winner of this match is Red Sun, they will advance to the next round. Red Sky you may either hang around to fight for third or you may speak to me and leave, but you will automatically be placed in last. Your standing beyond first place doesn''t particularly matter much but it will be broadcast around the world. You may be able to gain some kudos back if you''re only reported loss is to a sect that goes on to do well. It could be worth your time to compete again, but the decision is yours, you have until the overall winner is decided to make your mind up. The next fight is between Red Soil and Red Sea, please wait five minutes while I go and write down the current results on an official document. Thank you for your patience." Having said his piece, the man left the stage and happened across Teng. "You really weren''t kidding about your confidence last time we spoke... I haven''t seen many of the other competitors, but that menace with the cape would have been able to guarantee you third or fourth, minimum, any other year by himself. Just based on what I''ve seen, you''ll probably make it to international unless those Legion clan members pull off a miracle."


    Teng was beaming as it was rare for his sect to receive praise like this. He was one of the elders that had been here from the start and seeing it constantly fail and underperform was heart-breaking for him. Sadness eventually became apathy but, even if for this fleeting moment, he was proud once more. "Hahaha, believe it or not, that caped menace isn''t even halfway done yet. He''s truly a prodigious cultivator. The rest of the team aren''t slouches either, so everyone of our elders is really feeling pumped this year. I''ve also seen some really promising talents in the core group so I must admit I''m over the moon."


    "Well, I wish you the best of luck. Of course I should mention I''m completely neutral so I wish everyone else that same luck, nothing personal, you see. As for the Legion clan... There''s one really strange team member who''s magic I really can''t wrap my head around. That missy in the witch clothes, I seriously don''t get her magic at all. Every time I see it, its doing something completely different, and she seems pretty much untouchable. I''m really curious about what exactly it is..."


    "You can''t tell?!" Teng was taken aback as the man in front of him was a transition realm cultivator. For even someone of his standing to be unable to piece this mystery together meant the magic was truly something.


    "Nope. When Red Soil did their disciple selection, Bellona alone took on over 150 other disciples and won without a scratch. She even stood still the entire time, snickering at everyone who attacked her. People were burnt to a crisp, frozen, shredded by wind, blinded by light, swallowed by shadow, rapidly aged to death, stuck in time, were blown to pieces by a punch... One poor fellow that attacked her literally disappeared on the spot... Another had his magic reflected right back at him... I really have no idea what''s up with that one but she''s terrifying cultivator, that''s for sure."


    "... I see. But you know, I have faith in that caped menace of ours, I believe he''ll do it. I''ve seen what his magic is... I understand it, unlike the Legion lady''s magic, but I think I fear it more. There''s something really beautiful about simple power; and God knows Ares has a lot of it. I guess the fight between Red Sun and Red Soil will be an interesting one."


    "I''m not supposed to agree as I have to assume there''s a chance for Red Sea to win... But yeah, no, I agree."


    "Haha, I see. Well I won''t keep you, that clipboard looks full of wordy documents that I''m sure you must want to get through as quickly as possible."


    The man gave a sad smile as he chuckled despondently. "Yeah... It''s really a lot of hullabaloo over nothing... I swear these legal types are obsessed with even the tinies of details... It''s either that or they''re just messing with the people doing the legwork for the fun of it." The man mumbled as he walked away, penning down various bits of information.


    Back by the Legion / Ares group, Ares was jokingly flexing in front of Bellona. He had a smug look on his face even though, realistically, his muscles weren''t all that impressive. They were there, sure, and they weren''t exactly small, but he was still an Adept at the end of the day. There was really on so much he could do. He might be able to gain a bit more but, honestly, it would take a treasure that could literally rebuild his body to make any drastic changes. Still, he was proud of his mini muscles!... Or, well, he was until they suddenly shrank for some strange reason. Although he still couldn''t figure out why exactly, he knew it had something to do with Bellona''s strange magic as she was laughing boisterously at Ares'' confused face. He looked like a dog that just watched its favourite treat magically disappear, head tilting and all. Ares was tempted to use Omniscience and figure out once for all what this whacko magic was, as it could seemingly do literally anything, but he chose not to because he felt it was dishonourable. Ares was never one to take the fun out of things and doing as such would make him the buzzkill of the century, so he decided not to cheat. If he still couldn''t figure it out by then end of his match against her, only then would he ask. "Hmph, keep acting all haughty. See if I don''t make you go boom."


    "Yeah, sure, you do that..." Bellona could barely contain her laugh as she looked at Ares'' delated biceps. "...Weakling. Hahahahaha."


    Ares felt robbed, almost like Aejaz had stolen his muscle mass. It was truly gone and did, in fact, make him feel weaker than usual. Whatever the magic was, it wasn''t just aesthetic or an illusion, it was very real. Although Ares wasn''t going to sue Omniscience, that didn''t mean he wasn''t going to at least experiment! If Bellona didn''t want him figuring it out just yet, she shouldn''t have been using her magic around him all willy-nilly! Ares sent some disintegration magic to the affected location and, to his surprise and joy, it worked! Whatever this strange magic was, at the very least, he could disintegrate it! That was huge news and he was happy to see it!...


    Bellona was not. Her laughing ceased immediately and she had a blank look on her face as Ares went back to flexing his muscles with a shit eating grin. She blinked repeatedly but couldn''t fathom what she was seeing and experiencing right now. No-one had ever countered her magic before... Not even anti-magic could stop her... She tried reapplying her magic but... Gone? Where did my magic go? Shit... I should have asked about his pillar when I first learnt about it, I only know about the Shock Beads... Fuck, can he actually counter my magic?! Is it that black stuff he used in the last fight against the God hand and the earth cultivator?! What is it... If I can just figure that out... If I can just know what it is... I can stop it... Right? Bellona worked her facial muscles to the bone and put on her usual cheery attitude to feign being unperturbed. "See if I let you remove my magic when we fight later... Maybe I''ll turn you into a ball of human flesh and leave you like that until the fight ends."


    "..." Ares blinked as he looked at Bellona. A small smile gradually became a normal one. A normal smile became a wide one; and finally a wide smile became a mocking one. "You don''t know what my magic is, do you?"


    "What do you think?" Bellona tried to navigate around Ares'' lie detector that he pilfered off Enyo.


    "I think its cute that you''re trying to pretend otherwise. Hehehehe, hey, use your magic on me again. Prove it. I dare you. I double NO triple dog dare you! You have to do it now! I triple dog dared you! You have an obligation... Or can you not! Hahahaha."


    Bellona''s smile cracked as she subtly tried again, failing horrendously to accomplish anything. "You''re a rat bastard."


    "Hahahaha, and you''re ignorant!"


    "Oh shut it mongrel, you don''t know my magic either!"


    "I don''t need to! Mine wins!"


    "NUH UH! You wait and see, scumbag. As soon as I..." Bellona interrupted herself as she almost gave the game away and let slip her goal.


    Unfortunately for Bellona, Ares was a conniving bastard, deceptive as they came, so he was able to figure out the intentions of someone else just like him.


    "As soon as you what?... What have you been trying to do with this conversation... Figure out my magic? You can only use your magic if you have knowledge of mine? No, that doesn''t make sense, you can only stop my magic if you know what it is? No, nonono, you can only directly interact with my magic if you know what it is, otherwise you have to interact with everything else around it, right? No, its more than even that... You''ve already seen it, knowing its name wouldn''t change anything... You''re not worried about my explosions even though you didn''t know it was annihilation magic, so its something more than that, something more than the name... In order to interact with it, you need to know a specific detail, something other than its name, about the magic or thing you''re affecting, right?"


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Bellona''s face soured and she walked away while kissing her teeth and calling Ares a mongrel again which was all the confirmation he needed. He still didn''t know what the magic was, but he was many steps closer to figuring it out thanks to Bellona''s impatience. Making a slip up like that was catastrophic for her but Ares couldn''t really blame her, he was close to doing that same. Ares, like Bellona, really valued his magic highly; he was unashamedly, excessively proud of it as it would be his and his alone, now and forever. Most people with unique aspects felt the same way typically, and Bellona seemed to have taken that excessive pride and amped it up to eleven, even matching Ares in that department. Unfortunately for Bellona, she''d hit a pretty massive wall in the form of Ares. Even if Bellona figured anything out, it wouldn''t matter. If affecting Ares magic required hers to touch it... It was impossible. At most, and even this was scarcely possible, there would be mutual destruction. Anyone at a close enough cultivation to Ares would never win in a head to head collision with disintegration, it simply wasn''t possible. Even if you made a tier list of how powerful each type of magic is against other magic, it would be unfair to put disintegration on the list as it was so many leagues above even anti magic that there wasn''t any reasonable comparisons to make that wouldn''t sound stupid. It was like trying to compare the size of an ant to the entirety of this whole dimension and then saying, ''no, but they''re kinda on the same scale if you think about it''. Disintegration was fundamentally unaffectable by magic and most physical attacks. Luckily for Ares'' foes, it was pretty hard to turn it into a fast projectile of any kind. It wasn''t that he couldn''t but that it was roughly as hard as shaping annihilation magic. It was probably better just to keep using it as a weapon enhancer, defensively, or as mental attacks. This wasn''t to say he wouldn''t try though. One day he would even be incredibly successful thanks to a certain treasure, one which would go down in infamy as the undisputed king of artillery theory aid; but that was a problem the people of the Vraizon domain were going to have to worry about.


    Ares winked at Enyo who''d been rather amused watching Ares and Bellona quibble, as she knew the details of both their magics and their cunning personalities down to a tee, and took a seat on the floor. Long story short, he was going to cultivate. That last fight put him on the brink of tenth stage and he imagined that, after that, achieving mental accumulation would be a cinch if he went all out in the fight against the Legion crew. Ares shut his eyes and opened them back up immediately. He blinked a few times in disbelief before coming to terms with the fact that his cultivation had increased in the split second he spent cultivating. This was, perhaps, the fastest any cultivator had ever gone up a stage, bar none. Ares was definitely overdue, though, as he''d witnessed and even experienced Dominus'' mastery, supercharged a Shock Bead for the first time, used the Black Ice Bane for the first time, visited and experimented with the void, and even created the new art he used on the next door house. It was kind of surprising he hadn''t gone up a stage mid combat as he was absolutely ready to pop! Ares could tell he was also already close to mental accumulation, 1st stage. It really wouldn''t take more than one fight and then... Ohohoho then there would be mischief! Sure he could use mental arts, and that would be an incredible boost to his combat repertoire, but who cared about that measly detail?! Now he would be able to communicate telepathically! He could now be stupid inside other people''s heads! He could act like an intelligence parasite, constantly sucking away people''s IQ with his moronic comments! Oh the fun he would have! Ares was very much looking forward to this new toy and was pumped to get back into the ring! Well... it wasn''t ring shaped, the Field was square... But who was keeping track anyway? It also wasn''t Red Sun''s turn to go up either, so he would have to wait.


    Ares got up and walked over to Enyo, Esme, Li Li, Aejaz, Leo, Appa, and Allie. In other words, everyone who wasn''t currently competing. Esme seemed to have been ribbing Li Li about the fact that Dirk had come along to watch even though there was no benefit for him. The woman Dirk wanted answers from wouldn''t show up until the nationals so, unless he came strictly for Li Li¡­ Or so Esme reasoned. Esme''s eyes lit up as she had an evil idea. "Ooh, I know. Go over there and say hi. Ask him what he''s doing here. When he inevitably comes up with the cover excuse of ''to make sure you pass the regionals'' pretend to be angry with him and have a go at him for not having any trust in you. Most guys will squirm and eventually admit why they really came!... Although... Dirk might just agree and say he doesn''t trust you... He''s a bit of a dunce from what you''ve told me of him... Hmmmm... I''ll get back to you with a plan B!"


    Ares pondered to himself for a minute and decided this girly ''will they won''t they'' didn''t really suit him, so he went to go and solve the problem himself! He innocently meandered over to the stands where Dirk and Onno were, and took a seat next to them.


    "Yo!"


    "Hey, been a while." Dirk gestured with his chin in greetings.


    "Yo." Onno''s presence was self-explanatory, he was selling food to the spectators. Hot dogs, beer, and popcorn. Well, Onno himself wasn''t doing the manual labour part of it, absolutely not, he''d hired some shmuck disciple to do it for him. Onno was still a lazy, entitled rich layabout at the end of the day, even if he''d earned the right to be as such through his own talents. There was nothing wrong with it, but it was certainly on full display here as the ''employee'' worked tirelessly in the heat. Onno did use his water magic to cool him down every now and then though, so it wasn''t completely miserable for the guy.


    Although Ares was mainly here for Dirk, he spoke to Onno first as he wanted to talk to him about something anyway. "Hey, when this is all said and done, you got a minute? I might have something for you to sell at the international, if you''re still selling food anyway."


    Onno''s interest was piqued. "I''ve heard tales of your cooking. I won''t say no to finally getting to try it, but I won''t be polite. If it isn''t good enough to sell, I won''t be mindful of your feelings."


    "Wouldn''t expect you to be. You wouldn''t be you if you cared about such things. Anyway, I''m making a batch for after the regionals, stop by at my house and I''ll let you try as many ''meebles'' as you want."


    "Oh? Your naming sense is good. I don;t know what the product is, but I''m already interested. They sound fun, which could attract children, but also trendy, like the kind of name that could really catch on with adults. Bonus points if the product is ball shaped as the ''bles'' at the end of ''meebles'' would be a homophone for ''balls''. I''m warning you now, if the food isn''t good, I''m stealing and repurposing the name."


    "Ha, of course you would. Thankfully I don''t care about those sorts of things, and it won''t be relevant anyway."


    "Someone''s confident. Well I look forward to it."


    Ares shuffled in his seat and looked past Onno straight at Dirk. "Hey, you mind if I ask you something as well while I''m here?"


    Dirk was confused as Ares having something to talk about with him was strange. Dirk and Li Li were probably the people in the neighbourhood who had spoken with Ares the least, after all. "Yeah, fire away bandito."


    This was Ares'' chance to probe! How was he going to intricately weave his investigation, subtly choosing the optimal words that would lead Dirk down a path of no return, cornering him into divulging his greatest secrets?!


    "Do you like Li Li romantically?"


    BAH GOD, ITS ARES WITH A STEEL CHAIR. Ares smacked Dirk with his blunt approach to the point the poor man was practically seeing stars.


    "... I... Uhh... What?!"


    "Do you like Li Li romantically?" Ares just did it again. He clearly was not in the mood to play detective right about now. There was tiptoeing around an issue and then there was toe-punting it, Ares was doing the latter.


    "I... I don''t know... I mean, we get along well, and I do like her... I''m just worried about this other woman... But I guess deep down I know she hates me, so maybe I shouldn''t concern myself with her. I do need to get my heart back though..."


    "Excuse me?" Now it was Ares turn to be completely lost.


    "Hm? Oh, you must not know. Haemomancer hearts are treasures. We can safely remove them and use them, but we''re usually more powerful if we keep them. I gave mine to my fianc¨¦ and I haven''t seen her since. She just kind of took it and ditched me?" Dirk sighed deeply. "My old man did warn me about her, but I was blinded by love... And her massive chest. Now I can see clearly though, flat chests are clearly the way to go!"


    "No, I don''t think that''s the issue here."


    "... Yeah, you''re right... I''m just trying to convince myself of something I don''t believe in because I''m attracted to Li Li¡­"


    "No, that''s not what I meant either, but whatever, I got my answer in the end, I guess. Also, don''t let Bellona ever hear you talk about flat chests like that, I''m saying it for your own good."


    "By the way, why are you even asking me this?"


    "Because Esme won''t stop hounding Li Li about you and I think she''s at least a little interested. I felt like you probably were too otherwise God knows you wouldn''t show up to the regionals. As long as I''m here, whether she makes it past the regionals is already set in stone and I know you know that."


    "Well... I mean... You did fucking nuke that one house... Its hard not to have faith in someone who can do that. You know, I wasn''t even really sure why I came myself. My feet just carried me through the door and I ended up here before I knew it. It makes more sense if I look at it that way though. I am here for Li Li, yeah. Are you gonna tell them?"


    "Yes."


    "Can I ask you not to."


    "Yes, but I won''t listen."


    "Ah fuck. Fine, do it, but you owe me a favour."


    "Why?! I''m basically doing you one here!"


    "Don''t be a bitch about it! Just do me the damn favour and I''ll owe you one in return, not that you''ll probably ever need me for anything, but just say yes damnit! I''ll need all the help I can get..."


    "What with?"


    "Getting my heart back, obviously! When my fianc¨¦ comes to town, I want you and Li Li to help me get it back. I didn''t mention this, but I have a strong affinity with my pillar, and I''m kinda a heamomancy prodigy. My heart is extraordinarily powerful and rare. I want it back. I don''t know if I can bring myself to give it away again so soon... But if I choose to, I want to be able to, damn it!"


    "Fine, I guess I can help. But why me? I''m strong, but do you really want the fireworks guy on your stealth operation? You aren''t exactly sounding like the kind of master tactician I can trust here."


    "Oh sod off, I know you work for Hans. When I realised how much of a freak you were, I had my old man look into you. Our clan has also done business with Hans, so it wasn''t too hard to find out. If you''re in that line of business, I refuse to believe you don''t know a thing or two about sneaking around."


    Ares snorted with a lopsided grin no his face. "Fine, you caught me. Is this a good idea though? There''ll definitely be security, and the location, wherever it is, will probably be packed with cultivators way stronger than us."


    "No shit sherlock. I''m working on it... And by that I mean I''m begging my old man to lend a helping hand... He said he''ll consider it if I beg some more... Look, don''t worry about it too much for now, I''ll talk in more detail when the time comes, ok?... And thanks... For offering to help with the heart... And for making things with Li Li easy. I probably would have just kept putting off being honest with her because of what happened with my fianc¨¦... I''m wounded here, damnit! The last thing I would need is for things to be awkward with someone I really like ''cos she rejected me!"


    "Don''t worry, I''ll let her know, but I''ll also tell her that you''re unaware of what I''m doing. You''d look mighty lame if I had to do everything, so I''ll let you two slowly get closer on your own terms."


    "Thanks. You''re alright, you know that? I mean, you''ve probably got ulterior motives, you seem like the type, but help is help. I appreciate it."


    "Ha, you''re right, but its nothing major anyway. All I really want is for you to stay in this sect. Why I want capable cultivators here doesn''t matter right now, but that''s my goal. Of course I''m not holding you at gunpoint or anything, but I would recommend you stay regardless. I have big plans for this place."


    "Big plans, huh? If it''s you, they''re probably ginormous. I''d been planning on staying in this sect anyway so, yeah, you get your wish."


    Ares clapped his hands and stood up, his job here was done and he got what he wanted. Dirk was half right, half wrong about Ares'' plans. Right in that they were bigger than big, wrong in thinking they were only ''gigantic''. Ares'' plans for this sect, in terms of scale, were borderline other-worldly.

 Chapter 65: Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane? No! It’s A... Meteor?

    Bellona was tapping her foot in agitation as she stood in the Training Field waiting for the match to start. The other members of the team, the peaceful monk included, had all shifted away from her slightly, not wanting to stand next to the human volcano that was about to blow. Bellona was cursing Ares under her breath while running through the previous fight again and again, trying to figure what the stupid magic was. If she couldn''t figure it out, she could tell it would be seriously problematic for her. One of the magic strengths of her magic was being able to directly affect pretty much everything in existence, people included. If she couldn''t affect Ares directly because of that stupid magic, a large chunk of her magic''s strength would evaporate on the spot. She wouldn''t be helpless necessarily, but it would make life a lot harder and she would probably have to rely on her magical staff. The staff was a treasure and its function was simple, it stored mana. This was Bellona''s major flaw; for various reasons related to her magic, she vacuumed up her mana at an astonishing rate. Rhea was aware of this drawback and went out to find a treasure that was perfect for her daughter and came back with this; which was perfect both in terms of design and functionality. Of course, realistically, only Bellona would be lucky enough to get a treasure this powerful in this sort of manner; her mother was a peak existence with a large amount of wealth at her disposal, as well as connections, to find such a thing. She treasured it, though, because it was really invaluable to her as a cultivator. It was so perfect for her, in fact, that it became her personal treasure the second she first touched it, that was just how tailor made it truly was. Normally, Bellona never had to use the staff as people typically folded in the face of her magic, but if Ares was going to be stubborn about it, then he would leave Bellona with no choice but to go all out!


    Feeling pumped and raring to kick some revenant ass, Bellona waited restlessly for the current match to start. These poor cultivators were about to pay the price for Ares'' antics, and it was not going to be pleasant!


    The loud horn blew once more, dictating the start of the match, and the the Red Sea cultivators made a mad dash for the talisman. The first to notice something was off was a cultivator in the back who started sweating due to the boiling heat. He checked his body for any magical interference but promptly realised it was the temperature outside his body that was rising rapidly. What started off as wave of hot air became a mini heatwave. from there, it just kept getting infinitely worse. The cultivators'' skin dried as they were boiled alive inside an invisible inferno. If given the choice, these cultivators would have rather been standing on the surface of the sun right about now as they rolled around screaming on the floor. The name Red Sea was somewhat ironic as they were being treated like lobsters by a furious Bellona who was only really half paying attention. She was focused on Ares'' magic but couldn''t figure it out to save her life. She bit her nail in frustration and even ended up agitating herself to the point she used an art in anger.


    "Meteor!"


    ""Eh?!"" Ares, alongside every single other spectator, and even the burning Red Sea cultivators, looked to the sky in bewilderment as the name of that art could only mean one thing... But surely not, right?! Ares almost refused to believe whatever this absurd magic was could also literally summon a meteor and, yet, as his neck craned upward, he witnessed a large chunk of rock plummeting to the earth. As he squinted, he noticed something very interesting... The meteor is teleporting closer? As Ares stared at the meteor, he also realised something else, something that would pave the way for his thought process to finally prevail over this mystery magic. It''s teleports are getting shorter every time... The temperature earlier incremented... Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh why am I so dumb?! I have all these details and I still can''t figure out this damn magic! Bellona needs to a know a specific detail... The detail is presumably something that can increment or be lowered... So it can''t be qualitative... It has to be quantitative... IT HAS TO BE QUANTITATIVE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I SEE! WHAT A FASCINATING MAGIC! Ares burst out laughing amidst a crowd of onlookers who were far too pre-occupied with the fucking meteor descending to earth to pay any attention to the lunatic howling beside them.


    Ares turned to Enyo and whispered his speculations into her ear to which she replied, "Yeah, that''s about right. You''ve missed a few small details, but you''re mostly correct. It''s quite a weird magic isn''t it? It''s no surprise everyone thought it would be useless. Objectively speaking, it sounds pretty unimpressive, and what it was capable of when Bellona was young was incredibly boring. It eventually evolved into this, though, and there''s still room for it to grow even further beyond comprehension. Still though..." Enyo pet Ares on the head as she wore a proud smirk. "Who''s a clever boy? In all seriousness, I would never have guessed Bellona''s magic if I didn''t already know it. I''m impressed you got it. How did you come to that conclusion?"


    "Ah, when I narrowed the detail she needs down to a numerical thing, there were only so many options available. It also had to be something that was present in just about everything in existence, or rather was needed in relation to it, so that narrowed it down even further. Still, it''s reassuring now that I know what it is. I''m fully convinced she can''t touch my disintegration or nothingness magic now. Annihilation will do me no good, though, which is kinda sad. I do like making things go boom a lot... Well I guess I can still launch the attack, it will just become a mini boom which might be cute? Alrighty! I''ve decided to make it my mission to win with a boom!"


    "... Can you even do it as long as Bellona has mana? It doesn''t seem possible... Unless..." Enyo thought back to a certain thing she''d seen Ares do a little while ago and sighed inwardly. That poor girl Bellona is seriously not going to know what hit her... I thought that issue was going to be problematic enough as is, this is just going to make it way worse... Oh well, her problem, not mine. I''ve already said what needs to be said to her about that.


    CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


    While Enyo and Ares were chatting, the meteor had arrived and bulldozed itself into the Field, immediately killing every Red Sea cultivator no questions asked. The tremors and the gusts of winds that were supposed to ripple out from the point of impact were tamed by Bellona''s magic so, other than the noise, it wasn''t as impressive as it could have been. Ares jeered inwardly because he wanted to see the impact in all its glory and Bellona had robbed him! What a lame meteor! That settles it, one day I''m going to make my own meteor art! It''s going to be way cooler! Its even going to explode!... Like everything else I do, I guess... But it will still be cooler than this at least! With firm resolve, Ares snobbishly turned his nose up at the art he''d just witnessed. "Hmph, 6/10 at best. Not nearly showy enough, how regrettable. And here I was thinking we shared a sense of aesthetic... My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined!"


    "Yes, well, if you''ve turned into an art critic, then feel free to tell it to Bellona''s face as she''s headed this way. I could try and ask you not to be too smug in the upcoming conversation, but I know that request will just fall on deaf ears so, instead, can you at least not find a way to insult her chest again?"


    "I promise you I''ll try to refrain from doing as such. In fact, I''ll do the breast I can. Hehehehe"


    Thwack


    Bellona waltzed over. She was still annoyed about the whole ''Ares'' magic'' thing, but that didn''t stop her from flexing her own muscles in front of Ares to jokingly assert dominance.


    Ares grinned so much his cheeks hurt. "Maybe I''d be more impressed if those muscles were twice their size."


    "..." Bellona stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Ares with an uncertain glare. Does he really know, or was that just a coincidence.


    "I must say though, that meteor seemed entirely unneeded. I guess you could call it a drastic measure?"


    "DAMN YOU BASTARD!" Bellona tackled Ares and they scuffled on the floor for a minute or two with everyone else crowding around and taking bets. Unfortunately for Gladius, who chose to bet on the dark horse, Ares lost and was begging Enyo for help again."


    "Enyoooooooo, your sister is meannnnnnnnnnnnnnn!" Ares'' whines fell upon deaf ears as Enyo just wordlessly shook her head from side to side.


    Bellona was furiously shaking Ares. "Spill it, punk! If you know, say it! Don''t act coy with me you dopey pea-brain!"


    "So what if I know, it won''t change the outcome of the fight anyway! You''re going to lose, loser!"


    Crack


    Bellona dug her knee into Ares'' spine to which he sarcastically complained. "Ow owowowowow. You seriously need to take lessons from your sister in how to give a massage!"


    Crack


    Ares Shifted out of Bellona''s clutches and stretched, clicking all of his bones back into their correct positions. "So, ''Measurement Manipulation'' is it?"


    Bellona got up and dusted herself off, kissing her teeth before accepting defeat and sighing to herself. "Tsk. Yeah, go on, ask away. I''m sure you have questions."


    "There seems to be a limit? You could decrease the distance between the meteor and the floor, but the amount was lowering every time you did it? Also, the temperature had to increase bit by bit when you were burning them."


    "I can only half or double a measurement. As the meteor got closer, halving the distance meant less and less as the distance decreased. The atmosphere of this planet is roughly 60 miles away. The first halving after entering the atmosphere would bring it down to 30 miles, then 15, then 7.5, etc..."


    "Four more questions. My first two are: where on earth did that meteor come from and how were you able to affect it with your magic from this distance?"


    "Ah, Rhea got me my own collection of meteors. She checks in on them every now and then and refills them, but I have to go and interact with them manually to use a specific art. The art is like a mark of sorts that lets me use the distance halving part of my magic regardless of distance."


    "I see. Third: You can double or halve literally anything that can be measured?"


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Pretty much. Distance, temperature, size, length, time, age, light, gravity, speed, weight. You name it, and the answers almost always yes. If a unit of measurement exists, I can toy with it. It''s also why I''m not worried about your Shock Beads, I just need to reduce the energy of the explosion. You know, megatons and kilotons and what not. There are also a few other things I can do, like put up a distance doubling barrier around me, making me technically invincible. That was why Sadie could never hit me. Whenever her fist or weapon struck the barrier, it would just be pushed away over and over again. The same is true of magic. I can''t really ''deflect'' it, but if someone is 6 feet away from me and their magic is 3 feet away... Well, I can double the magic''s distance from me and plop it directly on the cultivator''s head. I can create tsunamis from glasses of water and earthquakes with the tap of my foot. If I repeatedly double my distance from someone with my mark, I can teleport all around the planet. By that same token, if I halve the distance, I can put myself directly in front of them from basically anywhere. I can increase my physical strength by upping muscle mass, grip strength, etc, and fight in close combat too... So yeah, I love my magic, it makes me feel omnipotent. Of course, when I first started using it, I could only double the length of things, and once at that. Some people thought it might maybe be good for increasing the range of weapons as a support type magic. My unique aspect does come under the support pillar at the end of the day so that was all anyone expected of it. Turned out to be a lot more than that though. I can still function as a support, though, increasing the power of other people''s magic; I''ve just never found any magic worth sacrificing my own time and fun for."


    "That''s fair, I wouldn''t either with a magic like that. Fourth, and finally, your weakness is your mana consumption, right?"


    "... Yeah. The doubling and halving magic costs a metric ton on its own and can''t be halved, nor can I double my mana pool either. Pair that with the fact that I pretty much always have to use the doubling and halving magics multiple times to get the desired effect and I run out of mana like no-one''s business. That meteor alone near enough completely spent me. I''ve only got, like, 5% of my mana remaining. That''s where this treasure comes in!" Bellona lifted her staff with a happiness plastered on her face. "The amount of mana it can store is pretty massive and gives me the reserves I need to keep casting. I have no need for treasures that can attack or defend as I can already do literally all of that with the snap of a finger. A treasure like this really enables me to do whatever I want. Rhea really went all out getting it for me... So I really do treasure it."


    "Thanks for being honest. In return I shall tell you whatever you wish to know about my own magic because, truthfully, it doesn''t matter anymore. You''ve already lost as your magic cannot affect mine. ''Disintegration'' is not something that technically exists. It is a verb, not a noun, and therefore cannot be quantified or measured in any capacity. It is simply the essence of disintegration made manifest. Even if you try to manipulate, say, the ''size'' of the magic, your magic will disintegrate the second it touches mine, long before it can take effect. You won''t be able to win in a direct confrontation with my disintegration aspect, I''m afraid. It doesn''t end there though as I also have the nothingness aspect. Negative space and negative time are essentially both permanently locked at ''zero''. Nothingness exists where there is ''zero'' space, and negative time exists where there is ''zero'' time. I''m guessing you can''t halve or double zero and it would be irrelevant even if you could anyway, right?"


    "Yeah... It''s actually a bit more restrictive than that. I can''t bring anything below ''one'' with my halving. I can''t say, halve the number of Ares there are. Since there''s only one of you, it would normally split you in half, but that''s a no-go because then there would be 0.5, which is less than one."


    Charity interjected as, although she was familiar with the magic, there was still a lot she herself didn''t even know about it. It was a magic with depth, to say the least. "What about back in Red Soil? How did you make that one guy disappear?"


    "... Hmm." Bellona wracked her brain trying to remember the disciple selection. "Oh, right, that guy. The one that wouldn''t stop hitting on me. Bleurgh. A loser with plain-Jane fire magic?! Hell no, I can do that myself with a lighter if I wanted too! Anyway, that one''s actually really simple. He had a scar."


    "... What?" Of all the possible options, Charity hadn''t expected that response in the slightest.


    "A scar is a wound. If I just double the size of the wound, it becomes bigger. Eventually, it becomes a hole. If I double the size of the hole, again and again, poof. It''s like a magic routine! Now you see him, now you don''t! Of course, if people put effort into blocking my magic, they can avoid it to an extent; but it''s the indirect stuff they mostly have to worry about. What exactly are you supposed to do if the whole world turns against you? Temperatures of -2000 degrees, wind speeds that can shred metal, an earthquake that goes above and beyond the Richter scale?! God my magic is so cool!"


    As Bellona rambled on about her magic and how unique it was, a certain trio showed up. Not together, mind you, but a trio of individuals who all had their own reasons to be here and just happened to arrive simultaneously. Eagerton, Sadie, and Fate all glanced at each other as it dawned upon them they were all here for the exact same reason... Ares! Sadie hmphed in their direction and set off because who exactly was going to try and stop her from having her say first? That logic was then immediately applied to Fate again who could do naught but give way for Eagerton who''s cultivation was way above hers. At the very least, Fate was alive, so there was that. When she was caught eavesdropping on Eagerton he let her off lightly, mostly because he didn''t want to ruin what he had going on with Ares as he was also a revenant, but also because Fate was pretty harmless overall. She could fight, definitely, way more than she let on at that too, but she was pretty much just a recon specialist. If the cultivation gap between Eagerton and Fate hadn''t been so large, she might have gotten away with her eavesdropping. Actually, if Eagerton hadn''t been aware of Fate''s identity before hand, he probably wouldn''t have even kept an eye out for her. Fate, being the spec-ops of the main Umbra Wolf family, was somewhat unknown. Most people knew a ''stealth-oriented'' revenant existed within the main family, but knowing any details about her name, art, or appearance was rare. Once again, though, Eagerton''s information network was phenomenal. This was also why Enyo, despite being in an equal position to Fate, didn''t recognise her back when they met. Enyo knew all of the other children of Calla though, even if she''d only seen them once or twice.


    Ares was in the middle of insisting Bellona amplify his explosion magic; which was a conversation that was making Bellona mad and Enyo laugh. Ares paid it no mind though and kept pushing because there was seriously a lot at stake here! He had a world to save and he had incredible magic to do it with! But what If that incredible magic could become SUPER INCREDIBLE magic, as he so termed it, then wouldn''t that be for the better of the universe?! Bellona kept bluntly denying him though because she wasn''t impressed by the Shock Beads. Ares was about to explain that they were the lowest of the low in terms of output when Sadie showed up and interrupted the conversation. "Hey... Uh, good news or bad news?" Sadie was mostly directing this to Ares and Enyo so everyone else, other than Bellona who was nosy, went off and had their own discussions... Yes even Trew, which was a fact many still had trouble accepting. Even Sadie almost did a double take when she saw him.


    ""Good! / Bad."" Ares wanted the good, Enyo wanted the bad.


    "Bad it is." Sadie ignored Ares because she knew revenants well enough to know that he was going to ask for the good news, and then refuse to listen to the bad news after, pretending that it couldn''t hurt him if it didn''t exist. She knew this because it was the exact same thing that goofball Aym always did. "Um, I apologise in advance... But I was just talking with Rhea... And she demanded I stop lying to her otherwise the consequences of my actions would be, and I quote, ''catastrophic for me''. Soooo, I told her that you, Enyo, asked me to keep a secret... When I said that, she started flipping out thinking you had truly been lost to the dark side of the clan. I reassured her it wasn''t like that and that even Bellona was here now and you two were getting along very well, but she wasn''t having any of it. I then had to promise to tell her the secret on the condition that she wouldn''t come down here...."


    Enyo was slack jawed as she stared at the traitor in front of her. She was starting to wish Dominus had bullied her more! "You... Ratted me out?!"


    "I HAD TOO! Rhea was destroying Legion base after Legion base! I could hear our clansmen screaming for help in the background!"


    "Oh please! She wouldn''t kill any of them!"


    "Yeah, maybe, but she would have killed me when she got her hands on me! Self-preservation! That''s today''s lesson!"


    "Tsk, fine. What did you tell her exactly and... What... Happened after... I dread to imagine... If anything, her destruction of our planet probably ramped up afterwards!"


    "Uhh..., I told her, and that she couldn''t come down under any circumstance because of Calla, that you had a boyfriend..."


    "And then?"


    "Radio silence... I told her that you were happy. I told her you changed for the better and were more like Bellona now. I told her you only wanted to surprise her which is why you kept it hidden. Hell, I even lied to her and told her ''the boyfriend is a great guy'' and that even Bellona thinks is a good choice!"


    Bellona shrugged. "The first half is definitely not true, but I do think its a good pairing."


    Enyo also agreed with a nod before looking back at Sadie. "... And then?"


    "Radio Silence..."


    "... And then?"


    "She hung up."


    "Oh."


    "BUT, the good news is that if she was going to come down here she would have already done it! So it seems she''s restraining herself? I really don''t want to know who''s paying the price for it though..."


    Over in TPMZ, Rhea was currently summoning thousands of pure white swords above a very confused Calla. After all, as Rhea was currently thinking in her head that could see nothing other than red, ''IT''S THIS DAMN BITCH! I CAN''T GO BECAUSE OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU STUPID DOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!''.


    Back in Sheryashka, Sadie was warning Ares. "So yeah, she''s probably going to kill you sight. On the bright side... You''re a revenant I guess? Death isn''t the end of the world. Oh, and she''s probably going to try and sneak down a few days before the international, so you''ll probably meet her in advance of the party... Erm, good luck?"


    Ares simply chuckled nervously, what else was he supposed to do?! He couldn''t even touch Sadie''s toes and Sadie couldn''t even touch the toes of Rhea! not even Dominus or Astraeus would be able to save his hide! HIDE! THAT WAS IT! HE COULD HIDE IN THE VOID! "Muahahahahahaha, the destruction pillar wins again!"


    "... What are you talking about?"


    Ares blinked as he realised most of that conversation had happened inside his dysfunctional brain and no one else could hear him, so he had to explain his brilliance! "I can hide in the void!"


    "I have no idea what this ''void'' is, but I wouldn''t count on it. Rhea is scary when she''s mad... A little magic hidey hole is not going to save you."


    "Ha, no, don''t worry. It''s a little more than that. Unless she can somehow follow me.... No that''s impossible, and even if it isn''t she can''t beat me there! And there''s always Astraeus! it''ll work!"


    "Well... I don''t understand half of what you just said, but I sincerely wish you luck. You''re gonna need it... Anyway, on a different note, Bellona, don''t feel too bad about losing, this mutt''s pillar is just unnatural, is all."


    Bellona was taken aback, Sadie should know just how strong her own aspect is... What had she seen that prompted her to take Ares'' side in this? "I won''t lose, but sure. Thanks for the advice, teach."


    "Hm, I know what you''re thinking, but it''s really not that simple... Whatever, you''ll see."


    Why does everyone keep saying that for Christ''s sake! Bellona could feel her head was on the verge of exploding. Why is everyone always bending over backward to praise this fool''s magic?! Tsk, I''ll show them! So what if it''s a whole pillar? How many pillars does my magic encompass!?


    "Oh, and Ares..." Sadie turned to Ares once more. "There are two others who want to speak to you. Well, Eagerton only came to watch originally, but it seems the presence of the other person has driven him to speak to you for some reason. I don''t know what they want, but I''m just letting you know." With that, Sadie left for the stands. Although she was certain Ares would win, she still wanted to watch the fight, mostly just to see the look on Bellona''s face. Sadie, like Enyo, could see the trajectory things would take after Bellona lost here. She didn''t tell Enyo, but Sadie had also mentioned the Bellona situation to Rhea which was partially why she went so berserk she even dared to challenge Calla who was stronger than her. In her head, Sadie even said the exact same thing about Bellona that Enyo did, Silly girl.

 Chapter 66: Fate Is Just the Result of Detailed Plans Made Manifest

    "Good morrow, my most magnificent-magicked muse!"


    Ares rolled his eyes as he knew exactly who was talking to him without having to even turn around. "Good day, you disagreeable, deluded, and deranged dingbat."


    "Deluded? Ah, what I wouldn''t give for a deluge of delusion to distance myself from the confusion and doubt of the creative drought I am acutely aware I am awash in."


    "Yeah, ok, whatever you say pal. So, are you just here to wax poetic at me?"


    "Not at all! I actually have a rather serious matter to discuss with you regarding the war... And it has to do with that silly girl impatiently staring holes into the back of my head."


    Ares and Enyo looked past Eagerton and saw someone they were vaguely familiar with. "Fate?"


    "Yes, that is her name, one of many anyhow. Were you aware that she is a revenant?"


    "What?!" Enyo was deeply concerned by this information as this put her in a difficult spot. Now that she was with Ares, she had no idea what to do whenever she came across a revenant... Would they try to kill her? Should she just kill them? Would Ares even care?... Ok, probably not... But should she kill them? Is it even helpful? Enyo had just been hoping she wouldn''t need to worry about this exact scenario, but to learn there was a revenant skulking around her all this time was unsettling, to say the least. "Are you certain?!"


    "I tend not to speak in absolutes unless I am certain without a shadow of a doubt of the veracity of what I am saying. In fact, as a show of good faith I''ll give you some extra information on the house; you may ''know'' this particular revenant as Calla''s mystery child."


    "That''s her? What a conniving little pest, Tsk." Enyo was remembering the innocent fa?ade fate had worn back in the forest as she scampered away after telling Ares she was going to see her parents who were in ''another country''. Technically, she wasn''t lying, but she also failed to mention they were in another planet! In another domain, even! Actually, in hindsight, she probably didn''t even need aid dealing with the men that were assaulting her... All of Calla''s children were above average cultivators, Fate would likely not be an exception... So why did she scream for help... Wasn''t it a little too convenient? Enyo slowly pieced together everything she knew about Ares'' two encounters with this scamp and came to a conclusion. "That damnable rodent set it all up! She wants Ares to produce Beads for the Umbra Wolves!"


    Ares was lost. "Huh?"


    "Tsk. She''s undoubtedly strong enough to be a fifth tier herself but has been lying low to maintain her cover. She tested out the capabilities of your Shock Beads using the fifth tier disciple as an excuse as he was ''something she couldn''t deal with on her own''. When she realised how absurdly powerful your destruction pillar was, and how beneficial it could be in a war, she tracked everything you were doing, following us out of the sect on our mission. She acted the damsel in distress when we were nearby to make you pity her and give her the Shock Beads, not so she could get around safely, but so she could show them off to the clan! Her plan worked so well you even gave her the experimental Block Rocks too! When the clan found out about the Beads, they were probably ecstatic and told her to try and convince you into joining them or at least producing the Beads for them. That''s why she wants to talk to you now! She probably took this long because she was put off by my, Sadie''s, and Eagerton''s presence. Snake!"


    Eagerton chuckled. "That sounds about correct, yes. She is rather good at setting up ''coincidences'', that one. In fact, it goes a bit deeper than even that. Fate has kept an eye on Ares since the very beginning, you see. She always watches the sect entrance exams and she figured out that Ares was a revenant rather easily. She used that information to blackmail Yulo, threatening to leak the fact that Ares was a revenant with insane potential to the Legion clan; at which point chaos would descend upon the sect. In doing so, she told Yulo that all she wanted was for him to give me the authority token so I could go see my brother without a hassle. It seems she knew I had a pretty massive secret on my hands and she wanted to hear it. She figured I would let my guard down when speaking to my brother but, alas, I was already vaguely familiar with her existence, so it didn''t come to pass. She probably no longer feels the need to hide as she quickly realised that no-one here seems to give a toss about revenants. I was simply going to watch the upcoming match from the side-lines, but I figured I would warn you about that little tyke, she''s a devilish one for sure. Do try not to fall into her silly schemes, hard though it may be at times."


    "It''s rude to talk about people behind their back!" Fate had snuck up behind Eagerton''s... Well, back. Ironic, much?


    "Yes, well it''s also rather rude to stalk people and eavesdrop."


    "BLEHHH!" Fate stuck her tongue out and pulled the skin under her eye down, to which Eagerton simply sighed and walked away. "Hello again, Ares. It''s been a while."


    Enyo took a step forward and poked Fate. "I see you aren''t greeting me. Am I mud to you? Our standings aren''t any different, I won''t permit this disrespect! Especially not after all the manipulation you''ve been doing!"


    Fate raised an eyebrow as she looked from Enyo to Ares. "Why on earth are you going to marry this thing?"


    Enyo''s blood was boiling. Don''t take the revenant seriously. Don''t take the revenant seriously. Don''t take the revenant seriously. Don''t take the revenant seriously. Enyo calmed down when Ares grabbed her hand reassuringly and winked.


    Ares flicked a weak echo at Fate which made him snicker when her head pinged back. "What do you want, runt?"


    Fate pouted. "Hmph, Eagerton literally just told you, are you deaf? Have all those explosions given you tinnitus? Idiot." Fate''s innocent little girl persona had gone off to play somewhere, leaving behind the real gremlin of a revenant personality on full display.


    "Nah, just figured I would double check and make sure you were really trying to ask something of me this stupid. You really want me to sell you explosives so you can use them to kill my future wife''s clansmen? Yeah, ok. You should change your name from ''Fate'' to ''Not Gonna Happen''."


    Grrrrrrr


    Fate''s inner wolf came out a little bit as she growled at Ares. Inwardly, she was shocked that a revenant could be this mouthy. Ares even rivalled her own father in this regard, which was saying a lot as he was considered the most unbearable revenant of them all! "Listen stupid, I''m not giving you a choice! You''re a revenant, you betraying us like this isn''t going to end well for you. Besides, we you knew you''d be reluctant ''cos of Enyo, so we agree to only use the Beads defensively; as in if someone invades our territory. You have no reason to complain if that''s how it is, right?!"


    "Says you. Who says I have time to spare becoming your personal ammunition depot? I have more important things to do."


    "Yeah sure, whatever you say bucko. Like I said, you don''t have a choice. If you don''t, we''ll let the Legion clan know about you and little miss Legion ace over here! See how well that goes down!"


    Enyo curled her fists, ready to punch this tiny creature squealing in front of her. "And what do you think will come of that? They''ll kick me out of the clan? So what?! Let them! I value Ares higher than all of them put together. You''re threat means nothing to me."


    Fate grinned evilly as she finally felt she had the upper hand in the conversation for once. "You? Maybe, but who cares about you? You know what your father is like, he detests revenants as though they were the plague. If he finds out his favourite daughter betrayed him for a revenant, what do you think he''ll try and do to your little mutt over there? And that''s not including the chance he may try to kill you as well! Real piece of shit he is, ain''t he? Look me in the eyes, sugar tits, and tell me with confidence your father isn''t going to make your life a living hell if he finds out!"


    This time Enyo was hesitant to respond. If anyone knew what kind of person Major was, it was Enyo. Even Rhea hadn''t spent as much time around him lately as Enyo had before she left the clan and was stuck in her old ways. It wasn''t unreasonable to think he would be a serious issue going forward... But Enyo really didn''t want to concede Ares'' freedom here either. Luckily for her, she heard Ares chuckle softly beside her.


    Of course, for Fate, that chuckle meant her little shindig was up and she wasn''t going to get away with her attempt to blackmail. The laugh grinded her gears, but the truth was she had nothing to stop Ares mocking her, her blackmail had actually been rather hollow because...


    "Ignore her, Enyo. She''s riling you up other something she can''t even do anyway. Or, to be more accurate, it makes no difference if she does it or not. Pop quiz, why didn''t you know about Mako, but Eagerton did?"


    Enyo wasn''t sure where Ares was going with this, but she played along as Fate''s reaction to all of this was to throw a mini tantrum and turn her face away with her arms crossed; which was undoubtedly a good sign things weren''t going her way. "... Because he was there recently?"


    "Go on... You''re already nearly there!" Ares excitedly encouraged Enyo to work it out.


    Enyo looked at Fate again. "Oh! You also went back recently! To go and ''see you parents'', you little shit! You also know about Mako because your parents would have told you about him when you visited them! You''ve seen Ares'' pillar so you know he''s a fundamental like Mako! Thanks to the information Mako told everyone, you know that the fundamentals have to save the world! Telling the Legion clan means nothing because Ares is duty bound to solve a problem that''s bigger than them. The Legion clan stooping so low as to kill a cultivator who''s going to save the world is impossible, even for my stupid father. Just as Mako gets a free pass and doesn''t have to take part in the war, you know Ares is in the same boat. None of the four clans are going to stop him from moving forward as his task was given to him by the Gods themselves, so your threat is hollow!"


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    Fate was angrily chewing on her nail. "Hmph! You win this time! You just wait, I''m going to dig up more dirt on you, then you''ll be sorry! Leaving our clan to get killed over and over again in the middle of nowhere while you go have fun with that special pillar of yours... Must be nice, bastard!" Fate cutely punched Ares'' chest. Ares didn''t even flinch because, although he was an Adept and his strength was average, Fate''s strength was really quite pitiful. She was strong in a fight, but that had nothing to do with physical strength and everything to with the overabundance of treasures she held onto as well as her magic.


    Ares looked down at Fate and petted her. "Haha, you''re funny. Come back again some time so I can laugh at you more."


    "HMPH!" Fate turned around and stormed away in defeat. Between Eagerton sniffing her out, preventing her from getting the info she wanted, and Ares one-upping her, she was in a bad mood! She was sooooo going to complain to her mother about this! Let''s see if that stupid dog can laugh in the face of Calla! Dumb dog Ares!


    As the match was starting soon, Ares, Enyo, and Bellona met up with everyone else. Ares shiftily slid over to Li Li and delivered the news. "Hey, you were wondering if Dirk likes you, right?"


    Li Li grunted and rolled her eyes. "UGHHH, not you too?! Why do you all care so much? I''ll see how things go over time."


    Ares couldn''t contain his cheeky smile as he dangled irresistible bait in front of Li Li. "Are you sureeee? Because I just went over and asked him how he fe~els about you. But hey, if you want me to stay out of it, by all means! There really is no reason to care so much, I guess!"


    "... Enyo?" Li Li turned to Enyo for help as she had a degree of control over this rambling dunderhead.


    Sigh


    Thwack


    "Don''t play with a maiden''s heart!"


    "Yes ma''am... But come on, it''s not my fault you didn''t just go and ask him yourself, right? I mean he''s RIGHT there... Be direct, damn it!"


    Enyo glared fiercely at him. "First of all, where''s the romance in that?! No build up? No tease? No ''will they won''t they''? That''s boring! Also, who are you to talk about being indirect?! Have you forgotten the nonsense we went through because of your roundabout approach?! Why weren''t you direct then?!"


    Scratching his head with an unconvincing smile, Ares tried to worm his way out of his current predicament. "Uh... Because you''re a special woman?" Ares patted Enyo on the head reassuringly and... Success! Enyo had been placated! Of course, Ares immediately ruined it all so what was really the point anyway? "Difficult, but special!"


    Thwack


    Li Li coughed loudly. "Excuse me. Could you not leave me on edge here? You can''t drop a bomb on me like that and not tell me everything!"


    Even Esme was salivating at the thought of gossip. "Yeah, come on, I want to know!"


    Li Li looked at Esme with a sideways, disapproving glance. "You are not relevant! All of your wily methods when I could have just gone and asked... You pretend you know your stuff but you''re an amateur! Your only good for gossip!" Li Li hit Esme with the one two before facing Ares again with hope in her eyes. "Well?"


    Ares coughed into his fist. "Ahem. He said he hates you... Hahaha, just kidding, he''s interested. He came here just for you and everything, so that''s good news, right?!" Ares stopped snickering to himself and took stock of everyone''s response. When he realised he was receiving death stares from every women in the group for the stupid prank he played, he tried to look for help from the men. Unfortunately, they knew better and had fled the scene already. It was so bad that even Allie was here, ready to kick his ass. "Uh, the match is about to start... You wouldn''t beat me up before the match starts right? That would be cheating, surely?..." Ares tried to reason with the rabid cat pack, but found himself being encroached upon by the vicious group. "... Can we talk about this?"


    ""NO!""


    Throughout history, there have been many historical events of significance. Of particular note are the wars in which untold levels of violence were committed. To this day, many scholars have heatedly debated one another over details such as which war took the most lives, which war had the most impact on the rest of the world at large, and which war was the most brutal of them all. Regarding that last point, if they could see what was happening to Ares down in Sheryashka, their decision would have been unanimous.


    The man with the clipboard of notes walked up to the mic and began speaking now that he was finished with the documents. "The match is about to begin so please... Stop beating up the disciple with the cape and take your positions." The man wasn''t sure what to make of this situation. Normally, this would qualify as match interference... But his own team was also beating him up... So maybe he just deserved it? Well if no one was complaining, then he wasn''t needed to arbitrate, thank God. This looked like a mess he didn''t want to wade into, he had enough paperwork on his plate already.


    When the women were finally satisfied, they began leaving to enter the Training Field. Enyo stayed behind so she could drag a thoroughly battered and broken Ares along with her... By the feet, of course... Over all the rocky bumps she could find, of course.


    Ares groaned as he regained consciousness inside the Field. He stumbled to his feet and looked around groggily. "Where am I? Who am I?" He turned to Enyo. "Who are you?!"


    "Did I not hit you hard enough?! The fight''s starting, make yourself useful and go and fetch the talisman."


    "Okey doke. That, I can do!" Ares activated his Omniscience and was staring in disbelief at Trew, who was readying himself to teleport! Did this man learn nothing from our last exchange in Baja?! What does he think is going to happen? Ares looked around before poking the underneath of his jaw, seemingly in contemplation.


    The horn made its third appearance as it heralded the start of the most interesting match of the day. Precisely as Ares expected, Trew really did try to teleport again. Well, to be more precise, the art was called ''Blink'' but the two terms were almost interchangeable. The only real difference was that Teleports typically had longer ranges and were used for travel more so than combat. Anyhow, Blink or Teleport, Trew was making a big mistake, so Ares punished him hard with the click of a finger.


    Click


    CRACK


    Ares shifted in front of the talisman as Trew collapsed to his knees, heavily injured and gritting his teeth in pain as he leaked blood from every orifice. Unlike Trew, Ares'' cultivation had gone up, so it was always going to hurt more than it did the first time. If Trew were any weaker, that attack might have even outright killed him on the spot.


    Ares reached out for the talisman and his movements dulled as he was trapped in time. To make matters worse, Gladius appeared directly in front of him, thrusting his spear. The Legion''s plan was simple, bait Ares into using his magic. Trew had intentionally taken one for the team as a distraction of sorts. Ares needed, at minimum, to break Trew''s Blink and Shift at the start of the match toward the talisman. If Bellona slowed his movements before using her Measurement Manipulation to push Gladius to the talisman, Ares would now also have to run disintegration magic through himself and then block the attack with basically no time remaining. In short, he was being multitasked and overworked. This was the correct decision as Charity was more than capable of fixing up Trew... With Ares'' very own revenant blood he''d given her too, no less! Not to mention the Legion clan''s gameplan revolved around getting the talisman first and keeping it for the rest of the fight, so they had to go pretty hard in the beginning, even throwing Trew under the bus. Mind you, Trew volunteered himself for the sake of the team. It was a pretty excellent strategy that punished Red Sun for putting the onus on Ares to do everything at the start. The problem with this plan, though, was that Ares was given this responsibility because they knew he could do it, no matter how out of hand the situation looked they knew he would persevere and prevail. This was no different as, contrary to the Legion clan''s expectations, Ares paid Bellona''s magic no heed whatsoever.


    Ares was undoubtedly a fool. Even he probably wouldn''t disagree with that statement, perhaps he would even endorse it because, truthfully, that was what he wanted others to believe. Playing the fool wasn''t just fun for him, it had benefits. Speak softly and carry a big stick. Ares had spent the better part of his youth reading books in a nearby library so, for what it was worth, Ares was actually rather erudite and learned. He was hardly even half as stupid as he pretended to be, but that was the point. Anyone who fell for the front he put up was going to have a bad time when they inevitably underestimated him. Ares'' smarts, however, no matter how much he read or how much he knew, were mostly combat oriented. It seemed like all of his scholarly intelligence had, instead, been converted and funnelled into combat trickery and smarts. That was being showcased here and now as he opened his mouth, at a snail''s pace thanks to the time slow, and pushed a Shock Bead out of his mouth with his tongue. Back before the fight started, he hadn''t poked the underside of his jaw in ''contemplation'', he was secretly forming a Shock Bead in his mouth for this exact situation that he read like a... Well, you get the point.


    The Bead hovered between Gladius'' spear, which had halted in place before making contact with the Bead, before glowing brightly. Gladius cursed inwardly as he thought the Bead was just a deterrent to block the attack. He didn''t think Ares would actually have the balls to blast both of them... But he was a revenant! Of course he would! Why would he care about whatever injury he face as a result of this move? It would heal anyway. On top of that, Trew and Charity weren''t available and Bellona would seriously be wasting magic if she did all of this and got nothing out of it; especially if she had to save Gladius too. Luckily, there was one more member of the team on standby just in case.


    The monk in yellow robes put his hands together in prayer and silently cast an art, Om Mani Padme Hum. A blue and purple lotus sprouted around Gladius before closing shut into a bulbous shape, protecting him from harm. This art was a technical, just as most arts dedicated to specific religions were. The holy aspect was more of an all-encompassing, generalist pillar in comparison. This was why holy had its own pillar as religion was a strange topic in a world with Gods that everybody knew about. Well, not the people sealed away by the primordial blade, but everyone else anyway. Still, the matter was complicated and would take a long while to explain, it would be better to cover it when and where it was relevant as each religion has its own story of sorts regarding its origin. As for the here and now...


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    As it was just a single Shock Bead, the explosion wasn''t all too terrifying or mighty, but it still packed a punch. Unfortunately, that punch was aimless and didn''t really accomplish anything. Ares had escaped in time by running disintegration through himself and Shifting away while the monk''s lotus absorbed the blast headed in Gladius'' direction. That wasn''t to say Gladius was in the clear though. The lotus'' petals had changed colour to the same brilliant gold of the Shock Bead and were lightly humming, signifying they were about to blow from having absorbed too much mana. The lotus opened and Gladius promptly fled as the lotus burst in a flowery spectacle. Shredded, golden petals rained down from the sky creating a beautiful landscape in which the monk stood perplexed. Usually, his magic would be able to absorb multiple attacks without breaking a sweat! Whatever that attack was, it was no joke! The monk realised he was going to have work extra hard against Ares and that his role in this fight was unenviable, to say the least. On the bright side, it was going to be made somewhat easier by the fact that his team already had the talisman! As the monk took up the mantle of protecting Gladius, it gave Bellona the opportunity to throw a pebble at the talisman while enhancing its speed. The pebble just barely made it in time before the Shock Bead went off, bringing the talisman over to her.


    On the other side of the field, Esme had made an effort to try and use wind magic to hit the talisman in the same fashion, but she didn''t make it in time. This exchange made a pretty big flaw in the Red Sun team rather apparent... They had no range! Li Li, Enyo, and Aejaz were all CQC! Even Esme was more of a trap setter than anything. Any projectiles in this team were either like Aletheia, slow, or like Esme''s wind magic, quick but weak. Other than maybe throwing weapons at their opponents, they were really lacking in this regard. This problem was about to be amplified quite massively too as Gladius finally got his chance to shine.


    The Red Soil team gathered behind Gladius who raised his spear sunward and yelled in a profoundly captivating voice; one filled with determination.


    "Essedarius!"

 Chapter 67: One Swing to Change the Tide

    A blinding light encompassed the Red Soil team for a good few seconds before eventually fading. Where the Legion team once stood was now a rather large chariot, just about big enough for five people to comfortably stand atop. The chariot had pure white, metallic wings decorating the golden plating on its chassis with two sturdy, spoked wheels encased in agonick brick. The front of the chariot had two poles, reinforced with mana, that were attached to two, large, domineering wooden horses. They possessed a fierce countenance that was rather animated considering their wooden make-up. Their thick legs were shaped like water organs and produced music whenever they trotted. Their steps would create the pressure that operated the organs, resulting in a type of holy music that would typically be heard in churches and inspire reverence as they trampled all who defied them. The horses neighs and grunts were accompanied by water vapour, creating a small mist that rolled over their red eyes and trailed behind them as they charged. The contrast in the sounds of divinity that emanated from the creatures and their violent appearance was similar to that of the chariot which looked as though it embodied the term, ''sanctity'', but created a racket wherever it passed by tearing through the floor and dragging up mud. All of the above combined in spectacular fashion to create a unique art under the righteous justice aspect that was every bit as blessed as it was brutal, like a contraption designed by the architects of hell in order to send you straight to heaven.


    As the chariot carrying the other team sped around in the relatively narrow arena, compared to its size anyway, it forced the Red Sun team to constantly dodge it lest they be barrelled over, trampled, and removed from the fight. Trying to stop the chariot was a fool''s errand and they had no range with which to attack it, never mind the fact that Red Soil had a defensive specialist who would have blocked projectiles anyway. Ares remembered what he''d been told about this setup back in Baja, about how it was a combination of the five strongest people in the clan. It all made sense now. Gladius was the driver and spearman who occasionally threw javelins. Enyo would have been the defensive specialist to defend the chariot. Bellona would be the offensive magic casting mage. Charity healed just in case anyone somehow suffered injuries. Finally, there would be a weapon''s expert on the chariot, in case any foe attempted to climb aboard at which point they would be unceremoniously repelled and kicked off. In essence, it was a moving fortress not dissimilar to the mecha dryad, but the mecha dryad''s main flaw of being sluggish wasn''t applicable here as the horses were rapid in their movements. The logical approach, normally, would be to target the horses, but even the wind mines that Esme had been setting barely left a dent in them and didn''t even have enough power to knock the horses off course. In this case, it seemed the horses were the last thing you''d want to waste your time on as they were going to just keep barrelling onward; even in the face of Ragnar?k they wouldn''t skip a beat and would blindly charge into battle. The next bet would be the wheels or the poles, but they too were hard to break so that only really left assaulting the passengers which was an incredibly difficult feat. For starters, you had to avoid the defensive specialist walling you off, then you had to catch up to the damn thing, then you had to simultaneously fight off the weapon''s expert onboard while also dealing with Bellona''s magic and maybe even Gladius if he could spare a moment to turn and fight too. The skillset required to do all of this was not something your everyday Joe Shmoe was going to possess. In particular, Li Li could tell she was going to do basically nothing in this fight and was prioritising not getting run over. Enyo wasn''t exactly helpful here either and the same could be said for Aejaz. In order for them to pull anything off, someone else had to first get on the chariot so they could maybe support them from the side lines.


    As for who was going to be the one to hop aboard the rampaging chariot... Who else? Esme was the only other person with enough mobility to even catch it but, assuming she could even get past the barriers the monk would set up, what was she supposed to do when she got on the chariot? She wouldn''t beat Trew, let alone Gladius if he joined in. Bellona could just immediately kill her if she didn''t pay attention too. Once again, Ares was going to have to bear the brunt of the hard work but that was really just because this Essedarius art was extremely difficult for their team to deal with. In normal fights the team would be able to function way better than this.


    Ares, as he dodged the numerous attempts to run him over, had gone about placing multiple Shock Beads and Shift locations. His goal was to get on the chariot and the method was simple, in fact it was the same plan the Legion team used against him, distraction! As the chariot slowed down to turn around and begin another charge,


    "Chaos Reigns!" With a stamp of his foot, Ares lifted up 10 or so Shock Beads behind, and to the sides, of the chariot.


    As the Beads swelled with light, the monk wasted no time in raising defensive magic to either side of the chariot while Bellona prepared to deal with the backside. Once more, the monk held his hands together in prayer and silently casted his art. Om Muni Muni Maha Muniye Soha. As the monk''s hands separated, he spread them wide to his left and right, summoning from the heavens two walls that fell in-between the Beads and the chariot. On the walls were depictions of Buddha with a single hand raised in a gesture of reassurance, ready to halt the explosions in their tracks and keep those behind the walls safe from harm.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The walls shook but held firm against the golden tide that threatened to break it down. Luckily for the monk, most of the Beads had been located behind the chariot so his workload wasn''t excessive. His peaceful expression was disturbed slightly when he noticed cracks form in the walls though. They''d held back the Beads, but his defence wasn''t as successful as he initially thought it was. Meanwhile, Bellona had completely stifled the explosions behind the chariot by reducing the energy of the blasts, causing the explosions to gradually taper off into to tiny puffs of golden smoke that, oddly enough, smelled like honey!


    Sweet aroma aside, Bellona''s attention was drawn back to the front of the chariot when Ares Shifted directly in front of it, swinging his sword that was swollen to the brim with mana. The mana was similar to that of the Shock Beads, but was far more dangerous and there was a lot more of it. Bellona almost didn''t believe her eyes when she came to the realisation that the Shock Beads were not the annihilation pillar''s upper limit.


    "Grand Annihilation!"


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    Ripples of golden mayhem came cascading over the horses and rumbling towards the chariot as the sound of the explosions drowned out the organs. The monk wasn''t going to make it in time and he didn''t really have an art that could deal with it anyway so it was up to Bellona to mitigate the art and stop it. Bellona slapped herself to escape the daze she was in witnessing the oncoming barrage and went to work halving the explosions again and again. She quickly realised this was a far greater task than she had anticipated though as, unlike the Shock Beads which let off a single explosion each, Grand Annihilation was a cluster of mid-sized chain explosions that needed to each be dealt with separately. In other words, she was going to have to spend a large chunk of mana here. She''d already used up the last of what she had thanks to the meteor so she was going to be reliant on her treasure''s reserves. Luckily it was massive, bigger than her own mana pool, but that didn''t mean it was infinite and attacks like this were going to be a problem. If she used all her mana defending against attacks like this, she would inevitably run out before the fight ended and then she would have to brawl hand to hand, never mind the fact that she wasn''t aware of Grim Cessation. It wasn''t the worst possible outcome, brawling, but she was considerably more effective when casting arts and magic. Still, ignoring the incoming art was against the question unless she wanted everyone to be on the verge of death afterword, so she went about mitigating the bombardment. After many halvings that chewed through her mana, she accomplished it with a sigh of relief that quickly turned into a sharp inhalation when she realised Ares had been chasing after the explosions. His aim wasn''t to hit them with any of the arts, but to cover his approach to the chariot so he could safely get on. The fact that such destructive arts were merely a small part of his repertoire that he could throw out whenever like it was nothing was a scary thought, one that made Bellona realise she was seriously underestimating whatever it was exactly that unique pillars were. She wasn''t aware of the whole ''fundamental'' thing yet so it was only natural for not to comprehend the vast gap between pillars.


    Ares'' foot was currently planted squarely on one of the horse''s faces as he used it as a springboard to hop over its back and onto the poles that were attached to the chariot. His goal of making it onto the chariot itself and wreaking havoc was halfway complete, but this was where the thorough and meticulous planning of the Legion clan became relevant as this was the reason they had a weapon master as one of the five slots. It may have seemed odd to have a dedicated melee expert on a moving vehicle, but after going over every possible scenario, this was what the experts and elders of the Legion clan agreed would be the most stable setup that could weather any storm, no matter how unexpected.


    Trew slid past Gladius and jumped over the front of chariot as he''d been healed to perfection thanks to Charity''s efforts. Trew, now that his unwarranted egoism had all but vanished, was well aware he wasn''t going to win a one-on-one fight but, then again, he didn''t really have to. Gladius was more than capable of launching javelins to aid him, the monk did know a few offensive arts, and Bellona could attack Ares indirectly, at least. With the smallest hint of confidence nestled away inside him, Trew advanced along the pole and swung at Ares, starting a risky fight on a narrow beam.


    Ares held his Black Ice Bane sideways and gripped the blade near the hilt with his free hand. As his hand glided smoothly along the blade, Ares chanted.


    "Black Blossom."


    The blade became coated in black fire, the flickers of which turned into flower petals that drifted through the air. At a glance, this art was visually similar to Enyo''s Aletheia except, instead of a white, holy aura, it produced an aura of imminent death. Ares breathed deeply and unleashed a slow, but heavy swing to intercept Trew''s attack.


    Trew was momentarily overwhelmed and frightened out of his wits. Every muscle, joint, nerve, and atom in his body were desperately trying to pull him away from impending disaster before his brain could even send the order. Move back, Blink to the chariot, jump off the chariot, hell even throwing himself under the chariot was one of the escape measures his brain came up with in order to get away from whatever that swing of guaranteed obliteration was. Although he wanted to run away as far as possible, he grit his teeth and forced himself to only retreat as far as was necessary by putting his back up to the chariot behind him. After giving up the attack entirely, he watched Ares swing miss him and decimate the space in front of him, cleaving through space and leaving a trail of murky black flames that flickered dangerously.


    ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    The lingering flames violently burst and momentarily expanded in size, devouring even the oxygen nearby and leaving Trew short of breath as he watched the fire disappear shortly after. The delayed disintegration explosion wasn''t the end of it though as the black petals had scattered and were raining down like ashfall, creating a haze of black misery. A single petal drifted over to Trew who could do naught but shake and cower in fear as it gently swayed to and fro before him. The petal, ever so softly, descended mere inches from his body, rocking dangerously close to him before giving him a temporary reprieve; after which the cycle would repeat. As this was happening, one of the other petals had landed onto one of the horses'' calves, immediately incinerating a massive chunk of its leg. The effects were twofold as the horse temporarily lost control, stumbling and rocking the chariot and its passengers while simultaneously letting out a warped noise from the damaged organ on its leg which was like a siren signalling disaster. This rocking caused Trew to stumble himself. In order to stabilise his body weight he stretched out his arm, giving him control of his body back to an extent, but the price was devastating. The petal that had been mentally torturing him prior by ebbing and flowing in his vicinity was now hovering directly above his outstretched hand. With one final sway, it phased through Trew''s wrist as though it wasn''t even there in its flight path. Trew blinked in disbelief, thinking that maybe the petals were actually harmless. When his eyes reopened after the blink and he noticed a small wisp of fading black flame where his hand once was, and nothing else, he screamed in fear and threw himself as far back as he could go. The chaos that had been wrought via a single sword swing was beyond measure. Never mind the fact that the main part of the swing hadn''t even hit anything, it was just the tiny petals that had been blown away after the strike that had done most of the deed. It also raised the valid question of ''if the petals were this powerful, what would happen to someone hit by the swing?''


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    Of course, everyone who was staring at the art in horror knew the answer, your life would be extinguished with no room for doubt. Ares, as the creator of the art, knew it especially well. Black Blossom was, obviously, an art of the disintegration aspect. It essentially functioned in one of two ways, slow and heavy, or quick and annoying. If Ares committed to a slow, powerful slash, the lingering flames would explode violently, pushing the petals outward. This attack was good for creating space and fighting trapped opponents like Trew who could go nowhere else while trapped on the pole. If the swing was quick, however, the lingering flames would not explode, but it meant Ares could launch petals more frequently which was good for a sustained offensive. The petals would have no reach, but that didn''t matter because the sheer quantity would make it difficult to avoid them. If Ares kept attacking, the opponent would have to keep moving back, allowing Ares to follow them and push his advantage pretty much forever. Combined with the flames of disintegration, if the opponent made no effort to stop him and stayed on the defensive, their weapon would be destroyed eventually. In short, the best bet was to just not interface with this art unless you knew a weapon coating art yourself and, even then, you''d be on the back foot. Further more, Ares could switch from fast attacks to slow ones with relative ease so, if you weren''t paying attention... Well, goodbye. Plus, this way, he''d build up a large amount of petals with quick swings before scattering them all simultaneously with a heavy swing, creating a hazard zone that was completely unassailable. Of course, like all powerful arts, especially those that could be freely toggled on or off, it drained mana lightning fast. Unlike Bellona, Ares didn''t have a backup reserve of mana, unless he could use Grim Cessation any time soon and steal mana from the dead, so he decided to take one more slow swing on the trapped Trew before he would turn it off.


    Bellona attempted to use her magic but everything fizzled out. The amount of disintegration leaking of the blade was no joke and it was like a no go zone of instant destruction for her magic. She couldn''t even affect the air around him as her magic frequently, accidentally collided with the petals. Naturally, Ares himself was completely unassailable to her behind his overwhelming magic. Gladius attempted to launch a spear but a single petal happened to be in its way and the spear lost that contest immediately, disappearing and never coming back as it was engulfed in flame. The monk made an attempt to help as well by casting an art. Om Zambala Zalendhraye Soha.


    A giant golden hand, clenched shut, appeared in the sky. It''s fist opened and sprawled wide, releasing a tidal wave of coins that rattled as they fell through the sky towards Ares who didn''t even bother looking up. The art was one that unloaded extremely heavy coins, each of which was capable of causing severe trauma when landing on top of a person''s head, straight downward to form a sort of waterfall of money. Anyone who attempted to pass through it would face the consequences so it was typically more of a preventative measure. In this case, Ares'' slow advance gave the monk an opportunity to summon it directly above him, but this meant absolutely nothing as the cascading coins were being vaporised by the petals. It took tens of coins to finally remove even a single petal, but there were tens of petals by this point as Ares simply holding the sword was enough to generate them. At this rate, he would be here forever as the petal generation was outpacing the monk''s ability to destroy them. This was to be expected to an extent, the monk was a defence oriented cultivator in all fairness.


    Still, none of this was reassuring for Trew who had to watch as an unstoppable Ares took sinister step by sinister step towards him through the storm of black petals with golden flames in his eyes. Trew could feel his heart quicken and he wanted to throw up or cry, maybe even both. If he turned to climb back into the chariot, he would be struck from behind and die. If he stayed, he would die. He bit into his lip hard to overcome his disorientation before throwing himself off the chariot, crashing onto the floor and rolling over the cold hard ground and breaking the arm his severed hand was attached to.


    This was partly why Ares hadn''t just slashed the horses. Yes it would cause a massive crash and the fight would become normal after, but this way the Legion clan''s own magic had effectively trapped them in a small arena in which they were stuck with Ares. If they wanted out, they were going to have to pay a pretty massive price by throwing themselves of a rapidly moving vehicle. Ares could freely disembark, thanks to the Stygian Zephyrs ability to glide, whenever he chose. He wasn''t stuck in there with them, they were stuck in there with him!


    As for the one-armed Trew, he was worse for wear, but not down and out! Despite the broken arm, he actually felt better now that he wasn''t staring down the grim reaper himself. He felt his confidence return the second he got away from that monster, so he was ready and willing to fight literally anyone else. He rolled onto his stomach and used both his forehead and unbroken arm to lift himself off the ground. Unfortunately for Trew, his life wasn''t going to get any easier as now he was staring down Enyo and Li Li who were bored out of their skull as they had nothing to do so far this fight. Enyo had been keeping an eye out for a chance to maybe summon a barrier to aid Ares, but he just didn''t need it so she didn''t have a chance to take part in this fight yet even though it had been going on for 2 minutes already.


    The fight wouldn''t end if the Legion clan made it to 2 minutes 30 seconds as there was still a chance for them to all die simultaneously, so the fight wasn''t even half over yet and things were already looking grim for Red Soil. Ares was advancing towards the chariot and Trew was stuck fighting against two strong cultivators with a broken arm. Still he smiled wryly and raised his sword. He spoke to Li Li. "I don''t believe we''ve spoken before?"


    Ignoring Trew''s attempt to buy time, Li Li slunk down into a boxing stance and snorted disdainfully. "Yeah, well, let me introduce you to lefty and right then."


    Trew was screwed, and he knew it, but he readied himself anyway... Only for him to immediately regret having any hope whatsoever as his sword spontaneously disappeared from his grasp. Cowardly Aejaz, who hadn''t gone over to fight to Trew, had finally found an opportunity to do something. Of course, what he''d done was highly unnecessary to begin with, but he had done it! Now there was no way Ares would give him a hard time for standing by idly!... Right?


    Trew sighed to himself as a barrier appeared behind him and Li Li dashed in front of him, surely this was overkill? Well, whatever. Go down swinging, I guess. Trew stood tall with his back straight and raised his palm. He turned the palm sideways and made his hand rigid and stiff. "Sharp." Sharp was a fairly common sword aspect art that allowed the user to turn anything from blunt weapons to body parts into a makeshift sword. The weapon in question would gain a mana coating that was no different from a regular sword, albeit perhaps a tad sharper. It was mostly used in emergencies such as this, or for taking an opponent by surprise. It really wasn''t a very popular art, but a few experts believed it was useful enough as is and that it fulfilled its role as was expected of it. It didn''t need to do anything other than give a determined user another chance. Trew''s hand was coated in blue mana and he went to slash at Li Li, but was pushed forward by the barrier behind him, causing him to stumble and almost trip. Enyo was running interference so Li Li could run up to Trew freely and sock him right in the face, breaking an inestimable number of body parts as he slammed back into the barrier. Next up was Enyo who used this chance to test out a new unique art. She pushed forward with her armoured hand and forcefully palmed Trew in the chest.


    "Stigma!"


    Trew felt a burning sensation in his chest, like he''d been prodded with a branding iron, as he was sent crashing through the barrier. The landing was rough and he was sent rolling again. As he looked up, he was greeted by Li Li''s swinging fist. Trew attempted to Blink but...


    "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Through the white flames that had sprouted from within him and begun clinging to his skin, he could see a mark on his chest where Enyo had hit him with the art earlier. He couldn''t see it for long though as Li Li''s fist sent crashed into his nose, breaking it and sending him flying again. Trew coughed and spat out blood but was able to shakily rise to his feet once again. Now that he had some breathing room, he could get a proper look at the ''Stigma''. It was a white mark that resembled a relatively barren tree. The tree had four major branches which stemmed from it, each of which were named in neat cursive. Weapon. Technical. Space Time. Support. Trew quickly pieced together the fact that he would be burned every time he activated an art that came under one of those pillars. It was a simple, but very effective art against cultivators that were dedicated to a specific approach. Actually, as it could cover four pillars, it would be highly effective against a lot of people as most never went too far beyond that. One for technical, one for weapons, one for another open pillar, and the last for the cultivator''s specialty was enough to shut down a shocking number of cultivators. It was a powerful art of the righteous justice aspect, and one that would take a long time to remove even at the best of times... But while he was mid combat? Outnumbered? Heavily injured? It simply wasn''t going to happen. Still, Trew admired the art nonetheless. Arts grew as the user did. If Enyo could make the art harder to remove, do more damage, and grow the tree so it could have more branches and cover more pillars... It would truly be a difficult art to deal with. Still, Trew was unfazed. He was going to die here anyway, but he wasn''t going to quit just because he''d been locked out of magic... No, that''s not exactly true, is it? Trew laughed at himself as he solidified his resolved to do something stupid. Sharp was still activated as set himself on fire again by activating Blink. Li Li was shocked to witness a burning man appear right in front of her while swinging to cut her in half, and she was hardly prepared to block an attack this desperate. She hadn''t expected Trew to burn himself just to launch this suicidal attack and was awed someone could be this tenacious. Still, she threw herself as far backward as she could to escape this mad man.


    "Wind Blade!" The flames devouring Trew turned him into a living pyre as they doubled in ferocity, but Trew, as his flesh was being burnt to a crisp, smiled watching his art chase down a helpless Li Li who was still stuck in mid air. Trew had never intended to land the first hit, it was simply there to convert into a wind blade to chase down the fleeing opponent. He thought this far ahead and resolved himself to die in a blaze of glory, taking at least one person with him even in this abysmal state.


    The Wind Blade rushed toward Li Li who grimaced and tried her best to bring her arms up to block even though she knew she wouldn''t make it in time.


    Thunk


    Luckily for Li Li, she didn''t have to as Enyo heroically leapt in front of her and took the hit effortlessly with her shield. Trew shook his head and accepted his loss as Enyo smashed her shield into his head, denting his skull and caving it inward.


    Trew died a quick death and his corpse was mangled into oblivion as blood was gushing out of him and his brain was partly on display. The corpse eventually faded and he respawned outside the Field with a sigh. Just because he''d become a better person, it didn''t mean he''d become a stronger one which was rather depressing. Still, there was some good news for him as his heroic display of selfless bravery and determination toward the end gave him an opportunity he never would have had otherwise. He felt a tug on his arm and he looked around to see someone he recognised, a relatively pretty girl from his sect that he''d been training in his spare time. The girl had been a huge fan of the Legion clan and their strong ethical code of conduct so Trew didn''t turn down her request to study under him. Although he''d been strict at the time, Trew was still polite to ordinary citizens, even if a tad grumpy. Trew had actually come across this girl yesterday when he was brooding over his thoughts and he had discussed them with her. She listened openly and was just as surprised by his change as everyone else. Part of the reason Trew was able to change so quickly was the support this girl had shown him at the time, listening intently and reassuring him he was doing the right thing by trying to change for the better. As for why she was here now, shyly tugging on his arm... Well that much was pretty obvious. Trew gulped as he was familiar with this feeling in his heart. It was slightly different though as this time he felt like he had actually earned the right to feel this way as it wasn''t entirely selfish, plus the other person liked him back which made him far more giddy that he ever felt in regards to Enyo. As it turned out, Ares was right. It was far better to be with a person that actually wanted to be with you rather than obsess over someone who didn''t care and never would. The more Trew looked at her, the cuter she became in his eyes and the redder his face became. She was just a random cultivator who would never go on to become anything special, but she would be special to him at least. Trew could see himself happily living the rest of his life with someone like her, someone who was willing to ignore who his previous self was in spite of having experienced it first hand. Of course he would never go back to that, but the fact that she was tolerant of even that, or willing to pretend it never happened at least, meant she was almost definitely a keeper. His guilty conscious in the discussion they had yesterday, plus his final acts in the fight today, had seemingly convinced the girl he was a changed man and, suddenly, he wasn''t so depressed anymore. It had all been worth it.

 Chapter 68: Perish the Thought

    Back by the chariot, Ares was a few steps away from crossing the pole and making it to the front of the chariot''s carriage where everyone was. Predicting a problematic future if Ares was allowed to precede unimpeded, Gladius handed the reigns to Charity and took a spear out of his spatial ring. Considering his position in the chariot, he had a height advantage over Ares and a range advantage too. Furthermore, Ares only had the two poles to manoeuvre about on, restricting his movement and limiting his options. Gladius didn''t fall into the trap of thinking his victory was assured, but he did feel good about his odds. He led with a sweeping attack that was essentially impossible for Ares to dodge in such a confined space. Ares also didn''t have the luxury of blocking as his Adept nature meant he didn''t have the strength to resist being swept off the chariot.


    As the sweep came in from Ares'' left, he jumped to the right pole and activated the Black Ice Bane. "Crystalised Void: Wall." Ares raised the wall along the length of the pole he''d just been standing on. This blocked off his options even further as now he couldn''t jump back, but it did solve his immediate issue of dealing with the sweep which clanged harmlessly off the wall. With this temporary reprieve, Ares whipped out a sack full of Shock Beads and tossed them above the carriage. Gladius and Charity had no response to this as they simply couldn''t deal with it. The monk was also a no go as he didn''t know a single art that could defend against the 30 or so Shock Beads threatening to wipe them all out. Once again, the only option was for Bellona to spend a metric ton of mana to send the Beads as far away as possible. Bellona knew this was Ares'' goal to begin with, and that while she was doing this, he could battle Gladius pretty much solo. Bellona just had to hope Gladius wouldn''t lose in the few seconds she spent dealing with the Beads.


    Gladius was in a difficult position, however. He didn''t want to attack because the current situation felt too convenient, what with Ares having nowhere to go like a sitting duck. He knew he had to do something otherwise Ares would come aboard and then all hell would break loose, but he felt a sense of trepidation when he moved to thrust his spear. He regretted his action before he''d even finished taking it, but he still felt obligated to do it. Inwardly, he cursed Ares for being a despicable opponent before wholeheartedly committing to the trust. Logically, Ares wouldn''t be able to avoid this without jumping off the pole and off the chariot... Logically. That being said, Gladius wasn''t too surprised to watch Ares connect the pole he was stood on with the Crystallised Void wall via his Stygian Zephyr. After creating a mini bridge, Ares had enough space to weave out the way of the spear thrust and dodge. Gladius hoped in his heart of heart that would be all he would do, but in what universe was Ares the kind of person to ever let an opportunity go? Ares wasn''t so kind as his arm made a circular motion before he grabbed the tip of the spear. This action gave Gladius pause as he wondered what exactly Ares was up to. If Gladius had been a bit more clever, he would have dropped the spear immediately and simply assumed the worst. His slow reaction, or rather lack of one entirely, cemented the fate of the hand holding the spear as it exploded into a geyser of flesh and blood.


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


    Ares'' arm motion was an action taken to create an Echo, one which then travelled through the spear and detonated at the handle. Ares'' actual goal was to flip the spear''s handle into his grip via the Echo, stealing the weapon. He hadn''t expected Gladius to stubbornly hold onto it and lose his hand. That''s not say Ares was complaining, mind you, if his life was going to be made easier why should he care? Ares got his wish as the mini air burst caused the spear to spin clockwise. Ares grabbed the handle as it came toward him and now he had the range advantage... Against no one. Gladius was being healed by Charity and the monk, who was about to launch another art, had to give up on that and take the reigns. The horses could run on their own, but there was no telling where they would go. Bellona had only just finished dealing with the Beads so there was no one left to stop Ares as he made a dash for the chariot, finally making it across the full length of the pole.


    Bellona was the only one without her hands tied so she moved to the front of the chariot''s platform to try and go toe to toe with Ares. She''d ''beaten'' him in all their mini wrestling sessions, so she believed she stood a chance. Of course, that was just Ares'' ''big stick'' philosophy working its charms. Letting Bellona win had inflated her ego and now it was sufficiently ready to burst. Bellona prepared to attack Ares as he vaulted over the front of the carriage but, to her shock, he simply vanished. Bellona was baffled for a second until she realised Ares was still on the pole, he''d just ducked out of view as the front of the chariot''s carriage was blocking her line of sight. But why bother doing that? That just gives us more time to recuperate, and I''m not going to fall for it and go check to make sure he''s there... Bellona eventually psyched herself out as, before Ares ducked, he had a wolfish, devious smile on his face; one that signified a revenant was about to start playing with you and you weren''t going to like it. She inched forward and moved past the monk, cautiously checking the poles only for the worst possible outcome to have reared its ugly head; Ares was gone. If Bellona truly believed Ares had jumped off the chariot after having had a golden chance to finally make a move, she would have no choice but to classify herself as an idiot. That raised a brand new problem though, one which Bellona didn''t have the answer too; Where the hell is he?! He wasn''t near the horses, he wasn''t near the Crystallised wall, he wasn''t on the poles, and he wasn''t on the platform... He has to be on the side of the chassis? Bellona freaked out and turned around before realising Ares hadn''t yet climbed around and behind her... But why not? His plan to sneak around the side of the chariot had worked, but he hadn''t taken advantage of it? None of it made any sense to Bellona who decided to go check the sides of the chariot.


    BUMP


    Something shook the carriage and Bellona threw away all her trepidation as whatever Ares was doing needed to be stopped post haste. Bellona leant over the left side of the chariot and her vision immediately faded to black. As stars began dotting her blanked out vision, she felt something pierce into and tug on her stomach. When she finally managed to regain her vision, she caught sight of Ares, mid air, crashing down toward her in perfect form to land a diving kick directly on her face as he grinned wildly.


    The memories of the split second after she leant over the side of the chariot came funnelling back to her and she understood what had happened... Not that she could actually believe she''d been outsmarted to that degree. When Ares ducked in front of the chariot''s carriage, he actually had jumped off the chariot just as Bellona went to check on him. He jumped off the left side of the chariot before using the stolen spear to pierce into the spoked wheel, causing the bump she''d felt earlier. The spear, which Ares was holding onto, was dragged counter-clockwise by the spinning wheel, bringing Ares along for the ride. Ares used the upward momentum to launch himself skyward while also kicking Bellona in the face as she peered over the edge at him. He then turned in mid air and used the Stygian Zephyr to anchor himself to Bellona before tugging hard and pulling himself toward her, thus putting her in her current predicament. Her mind raced as Ares shoe drew ever closer but she began to panic as no option seemed viable to her. She couldn''t block in time, she couldn''t affect Ares with her magic, she couldn''t affect anything around her that would stop Ares, she couldn''t distance herself from the current location without pushing herself off the chariot... The kick drew closer and closer as Bellona''s mind raced through every conceivable option with each being more desperate than the last. In the end, her mind kept racing and, eventually she did manage to come up with a solution. She could always jump off the carriage then put herself back on it by halving the distance repeatedly... That way she could,,,


    THWACK


    Bellona''s brainstorming was to no avail, however, as the savage kick landed directly on her forehead, instantly kicking her onto the floor and knocking her out for a few seconds. Her magic could be cast very quickly, yes, but she still had to have the necessary reaction time herself. Even though she figured out an escape plan right at the end, there was no way to feasibly execute it when the kick had already landed unless she could go back in time and redo it all. As she lay there in darkness, she could faintly hear the scuffling of Charity, the monk, and Gladius fighting with Ares. When her vision came back once more, she honestly wished it hadn''t. She wished she could just go to sleep and let this nightmare end. Ares was winning, and not by a small margin either. Put simply, he was thoroughly embarrassing the others. Even though the chariot''s carriage wasn''t roomy in the slightest, he was still weaving in and out of narrow gaps while taking advantage of the chaos to avoid haphazard and uncoordinated attacks.


    The monk was not exactly an expert in doling out violence, but he still made a feeble attempt to throw a punch. Ares ducked under it and launched his own at the monk''s jaw, dislocating it when it connected as the Echo contained within went on a rampage. Gladius and Charity managed to put Ares between them as they both moved to attack him, but Ares took off his Stygian Zephyr and chucked it onto Gladius'' head, blinding him. Utilising the extra second he bought himself while Gladius was fumbling with the Zephyr, Ares brought out the Black Ice Acrimony and activated one of the runes.


    "Hazy Phantom." A strange white mist coated the carriage and nobody on it could see even a centimetre in front of them... Except for Ares who''s Omniscience treated the mist as though it didn''t exist. Ares'' reign of terror commenced as he launched himself from within the mist at everyone around him. Lunging into view, attacking, and ducking back out before anyone could react was the approach he took and he was winning thanks to it. Charity, as the most talented melee fighter still standing at this point, barely held her own against the onslaught. As for Gladius and the monk, however, they were taking a beating as Ares'' knees and fists came charging towards them out of nowhere. Countless times the Legion members and monk smacked into each other, even occasionally attacking one another thanks to the confusing affect of the mist. Ares ramped up the beatdown to a degree that was simply uncalled for as he dumped a load of weapons on the carriage''s platform and used an art that was, without question, overkill.


    "Asura Rondo!"


    Ares ascended to menace God-hood as the combination of the thick mist, the blackouts, and the random arsenal of weaponry that assaulted the Red Soil group from every direction was impossible to defend against. Charity''s vision came back and she thought she was going to be struck again but, when she saw Gladius in front of her, she sighed in relief. She was thankful as she thought the art had ended because Ares wasn''t anywhere to be seen, but she was sorely mistaken. Gladius'' head was suddenly pushed down as it was stepped on by Ares, as he came barrelling out of the mist, who then used his other foot to kick Charity''s head like it was a ball of some sort. She blacked out again and limply fell to the floor with a small dent in her head. Meanwhile, the monk''s vision had just returned and he found himself bound by a chain. Ares held onto the other end and yanked the monk towards him. The monk tripped over Charity, who was stuck in the Rondo blackout and rolling along the floor, putting his face on a collision course with Ares'' thrusting knee.


    THUD


    The monk went reeling back as his face was savaged and his vision was taken from him again by the Rondo. Gladius'' sight was restored just in time to watch the monk recoil backward into him, accidentally headbutting him and cracking his nose. He looked up through the tears in his eyes and saw Ares pointing a musket at his head.


    BANG


    Gladius felt something catch on his teeth and get stuck in his mouth as Ares forcefully tackled him with a shield. Gladius was pushed over the side of the chariot, flipping head first onto the floor.


    Crack


    Gladius, thanks to the immeasurable pain in his mouth, assumed that noise just now was the sound of his jaw cracking as he fell of the chariot. While that was certainly half of it, he realised as he was rolling on the ground that the thing that Ares shot into his mouth earlier wasn''t a bullet, it was a Shock Bead. Unfortunately, Gladius couldn''t control his body that had been flung off a moving vehicle, so he was at the behest of the cruel whims of momentum as his head crashed into the floor one more time, this time fully cracking the Shock Bead in his mouth and...


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM


    ¡­ Taking him out of the fight for good.


    Bellona finally recovered from her trip to la la land and stood up holding the side of the carriage. Her first order of business was to remove the obnoxious mist by doubling its distance from the carriage, sending it off into the sky somewhere. As she did, she revealed the absolutely pitiful state of her team members who were beaten black and blue, groaning, and struggling to stand. Bellona turned around and saw Ares dropkicking her. This attack was different from the dive kick earlier though as she could tell Ares wasn''t using disintegration to block her magic for some reason. Bellona decided not to think about it and put up her distance doubling barrier which repelled Ares into the air. Ares should have been safely removed from the chariot with this action but, for good measure, Bellona doubled his distance from her again. When he was far enough away in the air, Ares remade the Zephyr on his back and spread his wings, hovering on the spot which confused Bellona who couldn''t understand why he essentially willing chose to disembark. She turned around and looked to the front, an action which caused her eyes to widen when she saw the sheer amount of wind mines Esme had set up while everyone was falling over themselves trying to deal with Ares. If Bellona didn''t do anything, the horses would eventually just go charging straight into the clusters and then things would seriously get messy. She went to the front of the carriage and was ready to sort out the mines until she realised the problem. ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?! HE THOUGHT THIS FAR AHEAD?! Not directly in front of Bellona, but in front of her nonetheless, was that damn Crystalised Wall Ares had put on top of the pole! She growled in frustration as she turned around to watch Ares detonate the wall as he hovered behind them.


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    "Crystalised Void: Detonate."


    This action served two purposes, one; Bellona wouldn''t be able to use her magic as the explosion of disintegration magic would act as a sort of barrier against it. Two, the tentacles of disintegration began lashing out at both the horses and the poles, sending the entire chariot haywire as it skid directly into the mines it had been trying to avoid.


    Boooooooooooom Boooooooom Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooom Boooooooom Boooooooom Boooooooom Boooooooom Boooom Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmm


    Boooooooooooom Boooooooom


    A series of green explosions created dome shaped gusts of wind that rocked the carriage before eventually decoupling it from the horses and launching it sky high. Bellona, the monk, and Charity were tumbling through the air beside the carriage which had long since flipped upside down. Their primary concern was sticking the landing, after which they would have the fight of their lives as they did everything in their power to hold onto said lives until the full five minutes ended. Bellona was ready to use her magic and lower everyone''s gravity when she noticed Esme below her, dancing as she rhythmically waved her fans. Even from up high Bellona heard Esme cast the art imbued into her folding fan treasures.


    "Tempest Dance!"


    Although Bellona felt sympathetic towards her team members, she had no choice but to abandon them here. She was going to try and win via a strategy she had been hesitant to use prior, but felt she no longer had any other choice but to execute. It was going to completely empty her mana, and there was no guarantee it would work, but it was still a better option than saving everyone and then losing anyway. If she saved the monk and Charity, then what? They were strong, but Bellona without magic wasn''t going to be helpful and they weren''t going to win a 3 vs 5 regardless. Trew would come back soon enough, but pretending that would help overcome the current situation was nonsensical. In short, Bellona distanced herself from the group and ended up near the furthest edges of the Field as she slowed her descent down to the floor. She didn''t execute her strategy immediately as every second she spent idling here was one less second she had to spend on mana later. After the rest of her team were dead and Red Sun came after her, she would take off and try to win via underhanded means. Simply put, she was going to double her distance from the planet repeatedly until she ended up in the clouds. She would then use all of her remaining mana to float there by reducing her gravity. She didn''t do this earlier because it would be catastrophic if the other team had an answer to it, plus she wouldn''t have had the mana to last for five whole minutes anyway. Not to mention how much weaker the team would be without her. For now though, she recovered mana as she watched her last two teammates go through hell.


    Esme''s Tempest Dance was an art which created a vortex of wind that gathered everything in the vicinity and locked down the space within it, preventing escape. Charity and the monk were previously falling but that all changed as they were sucked right back up into the air. They banged against each other and even hit the carriage a few times as they were thrown about amidst the swirling vortex of wind. They managed to somewhat steady themself, giving them a view of Ares who was about 50 metres ahead of them; still hovering in the air. They watched on as he shut his wings and took a nose dive toward the earth at an angle. When he neared the floor, he took out his sword, flipped forward and cast his signature art.


    "Grand Annihilation!"


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    Charity and the monk were far enough away that the explosion would never have even tickled them, but they quickly realised that wasn''t Ares'' intention. The explosion had propelled him back into the air, straight towards them with incredible speed. Inwardly, Charity couldn''t help but wonder what he was aiming for. Is he coming to fight us in the vortex? It would be annoying, but not impossible... No, he''s probably going to cast an art. Surely the monk can just block it though? Bah, who cares. If he kills us, he kills us! I want to go check if Gladius is ok anyway... Man this fight sucked! I was on healing duty the entire time and my one chance to scrap ended up with me getting beaten up! Why couldn''t I have fought someone like Li Li?! That would have been better... Whatever, after this I''m going to Ares house and demanding food, he owes us for this garbage he''s put us through!


    Ares'' swift, explosive propelled approach was slowed down as he brought out the wings again. As he glided through the air, he raised both his palms above his head as though he were holding an invisible boulder.


    Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzztttt


    A quiet, yet strangely omnipresent buzzing noise kissed everyone''s ear lobes as a sharp object began to form above Ares'' palms. What started as a single, curved black spike, became two, then four, eight, and finally sixteen in the shape of a hollow saw blade.


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT


    The buzzing became louder as the blade began turning and red, viscous magic poured out of Ares'' hands. The red nothingness magic swam up and over the spinning blade and formed an intricate web in the middle of it, the shape of which formed a Metatron''s cube.


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT


    The buzzing had ramped up and was now assailing the ears of anyone within range. The spinning blade kicked up dust whirlwinds down on the floor around it and the art already reeked of mass destruction despite not having been cast yet. For the final touch, Ares drowned the nothingness web in liquid gold annihilation magic that wormed its way into each of the empty sections and hung there, defying gravity thanks to the nothingness magic merging it with the outer rim of the saw blade. This absolutely terrifying art took the form of a large black saw blade filled with dripping, golden magic, held together by strings of red nothingness, and it was hands down the most awe inspiring art everyone present had ever seen. It quite literally oozed danger as the tiny droplets of annihilation magic that seeped through the nothingness web landed on the floor and instantaneously created craters wherever they landed. This art went beyond being simply ''dangerous'', it was apocalyptic.


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT


    Ares laughed maniacally to himself as he threw the art towards the vortex.


    "Perish Wheel!"


    Charity''s jaw dropped as she floated motionlessly, staring at the art to end all arts that was about thoroughly destroy her existence down to the very last cell.


    "Shit."


    Charity was not the one who said that... She looked sideways at the monk who had broken his vow of silence... Not that she blamed him. She looked back at the Perish Wheel which was now just a few seconds away from ripping her in half. In the face of unavoidable tragedy, her mind blanked and refused to comprehend the situation. It was so bad that her mind tried to distract itself by guessing whether the saw blade would kill her outright, or the explosion that followed would so the job. When she couldn''t even figure out the answer to that, her mind broke a little and she just started laughing madly at the art that had buzzed itself so deep in her brain, she could no longer function properly in the face of it. The monk had begun screaming and banging his head against the carriage to try and dispel the illusion he convinced himself he was under. Off to the side, Bellona''s brain was working on autopilot. Her body and mind were petrified, but, before she even noticed what she was doing, she attempted to... Stop... The art... Never. Never. Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Her magic couldn''t even make it out of her own body before disappearing. It was as though the mana was scared and refused to interact with the Perish Wheel. This also meant her own plan to escape was utterly pointless. Actually, everything was utterly pointless, wasn''t it? Why bother in the face of an art like that? Bellona couldn''t make her body move or make her mind think, she unwillingly chose to just there and watch death take her. Charity had gone crazy, the monk was in a living nightmare, and Bellona was... Nothing. She felt nothing, could say nothing do nothing. She just sat there with a blank look and stared at the art.


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    There was a brief moment of silence in the split second after the Perish Wheel made first contact. It was as though the entire world had slowed to a crawl as the art sliced effortlessly through Charity and the monk, who weren''t even sure if they were dead yet despite having been severed in half at their waists. It even went straight through the carriage before swerving down and buzzing past Bellona''s unmoving head. As it passed by her ear, mere centimetres away from cutting her head in half, it tore off strands of her hair which revealed both of her wide amber eyes, wonderstruck with pure reverence, to the world. The art kept travelling and eventually came into contact with the boundaries of the Training Field... Or it would have if it didn''t just carve right through even that. Even the Training Field, which could withstand explosions and meteors, simply folded in the presence of the Perish wheel. The Wheel seemed like it would keep going forever as it was unphased by literally everything, but it eventually crashed down into the floor. This didn''t mean it was the end though, no, quite the opposite. Now that the disintegration half of the art was over and done with, the annihilation magic was going to take its turn.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    This explosion was downright phenomenal. It would be etched into the minds of everyone present with or without their consent as it was heaven defying the way it pierced up into the clouds and even passed by the boundaries of the planet, touching outer space. Everyone who wasn''t on the other side of the planet could see this and people would come to the sect for days after in search of answers. Right now though, the golden spiral with twin black helixes wrapped around was expanding. The explosion wasn''t dying down, it was doing the reverse and growing larger. The initial explosion was just the trigger as the spiral''s expansion began consuming the entirety of the field, not just the cordoned off area. Bellona turned her head and watched on as the spiral kept growing, eventually coming right before her. As she stared at the explosion on the verge of engulfing her, she let out a quiet mutter, "Amazing..." When the spiral finally touched her, she could feel herself dissolving away in the golden ray of light. The deafening roar of the explosion was no longer anywhere to be found, like she''d entered the eye of the storm. Golden waves swirled all around her as she was painlessly being absorbed and fully annihilated. In her last moment, a thought entered her head. A simple thought that excited her and made her actively want to use her magic to support someone other than herself for the first time in her life. What if I made it bigger? She almost didn''t bother. She''d seen what had happened the last time she tried to use her magic on this monstrosity, but something within her nagged her to try. She made an attempt just as her life was finally snuffed out, but she died with a gleeful smile as the disintegration magic made no effort to stop her final action. She couldn''t wait to revive and see they mayhem she had wrought together with Ares as doubling an explosion this unfathomable would have catastrophic implications. She revived and was greeted with a wall of gold as she was almost immediately killed again. The doubled explosion had reached the side-lines and was about to fully reap her life, ending it for good outside the Training Field. If she were in her right mind, she would have used her magic to escape, but she was too enamoured by the brilliance of the golden hue that stretched off into the horizon. She couldn''t see beyond the wall or above it, it was just a golden wall, stretching on unto infinity. She stood in rapture as the golden tidal wave came thundering towards her.


    The elders of the various sects all had to step in and do something otherwise countless people would die here, not just Bellona. Before anyone could make a move, though, Yulo appeared and waved his arm. The movement was graceful and his swaying sleeve had an almost hypnotic effect on those who saw it.


    "Cylindrical Dispersion."


    A translucent cylinder spawned in front of everyone, caging the raging calamity within it. The explosion pushed up against the wall of the cylinder, but the wall had grooves that ran along it upwards to the very top of the cylinder. The explosion raced along these grooves and went through the open top of the cylinder, careening off into the sky and creating a regal sunset that was absolutely breath-taking. Bellona simply stood in silence and watched the sky turn gold. A single thought kept popping up in her head, but she kept vehemently denying it. Denying it was utterly pointless because she knew the thought was correct, she just didn''t want it to be. It was too complicated, even if she wanted to go along with the thought it just couldn''t happen. In a way, staring at the sunset was as brilliant as it was painful for Bellona. Her conversation with Enyo was playing on repeat in her head, but she just couldn''t accept the thought. That thought would keep pestering her though, and she could do nothing but resign herself to accepting the fact that it would probably never go away for as long as she lived. A tear rolled down her face as she knew she would be stuck with this heart-wrenching thought for hundreds of years to come until the day she died. She had no choice but to take it to her grave as her unwavering will wouldn''t let her dismiss it. The thought was just too precious to her.


    Meanwhile, back on the field that had been destroyed in its entirety, a certain someone was rolling around on the floor, completely unharmed, and laughing uncontrollably at the sky. Ares had wanted to just die to the explosion, but if everyone on the Field died simultaneously, it would maybe cause problems when deciding who won the match... So he hid in the void like a coward! He saw almost all of the explosions'' glory, however, and had come back out in time to watch his greatest masterpiece yet go sailing off into the sky. He''d kept an eye on Bellona as she was swallowed by the art and when he sensed her trying to use her magic, he controlled the disintegration to let her. Ares had truly believed from the beginning that the art would get the better of her curiosity during her final moments, and how right he was! Ares lay sprawled on the floor, with his arms stretched wide on both sides, as he stared at the sky. From his perspective, there wasn''t a cloud in sight.

 Chapter 69: Turncoat Enyo

    Naturally, there wasn''t a single person who wasn''t sat in stunned silence on the side-lines. The Red Sea sect, in particular, were thanking their lucky stars they went up against the Legion clan instead of the nuke-packing Ares. Getting hit by the meteor was much easier to accept than whatever that last attack was. The few spies who were here for reconnaissance began scarpering out of their seats and stumbling over each other to leave the sect. Yeah, there was one match left... but who cared about those losers?! There was a seriously colossal problem in the outer court division this year! Hell, their own sect masters across the country were probably well aware as they could bloody well see the explosion from their home towns! The elders of Red Sun were once again floored by the limits of Ares'' magic which were far higher than they had previously guessed. Rud in particular was not all too pleased as this just gave Ares more leeway to be as annoying as he wished without being punished for it... He might as well be the sect master at this point. Speaking of the sect master, Yulo''s appearance was timely as always. To be fair, he knew this was coming beforehand so him being here was to be expected, if anything. As for the technical he cast, Cylindrical Dispersion, he''d spent a good chunk of his time learning it ever since Ares joined the sect for situations exactly like this. He didn''t even need to see the future to know an art like this would be worth its weight in gold with a person like Ares around. Did this somewhat reduce his existence to that of an Ares babysitter, having to constantly keep an eye out for the explosive menace''s antics? Yeah, a little, but it was worth it. After having witnessed first hand what Ares was capable of, how could it not be worth it?!


    In terms of scale, there was only really three other people in Red Sun capable of creating an attack like that. Yulo himself was one, but he refrained typically as the other two people, constantly waging an invisible war in the middle of the city, were already making things complicated enough as is. This wasn''t something most people were aware of, but the city''s mayor and Hans were constantly battling one another in the skies of the city with invisible apparitions. Even now, Hans'' Invisible Ifrit was lording over half the city. It kept the mayor at bay, but was also useful this time of year when stronger cultivators rolled around for the international. Those with enough strength to see it were hesitant to cause trouble and that deterrent singlehandedly did a lot of good for Red Sun. Of course the mayor was no slouch either, but he generally avoided summoning his own apparition unless Hans made a move first. Hans'' Invisible Ifrit only cost mana when it actually started doing anything, so it could stay out permanently, residing over the residents heads with them none the wiser. The mayor was not in a position to drain his mana day in, day out so he turned as blind an eye to it as he could. For the sake of the sect, Yulo acted as somewhat of a stopgap between these two as a war between them would affect the entire city, and thus his own sect. Although the general level of cultivators in the Red Region wasn''t altogether too high, three of the strongest transition realm cultivators within the entire domain residing in the area created a bit of a predicament that couldn''t be solved without outside intervention. This meant that, when the mayor saw an explosion that defied logic on his doorstep, he would inevitably go and check what happened primarily for his own safety. Hans wouldn''t bother, though, as he was more than familiar with that golden colour. If anything, he was rather pleased as Ares was on his side, after all. Give it a few years and maybe the lad could even help him finish of the stupid mayor once and for all. Ares was aware of the apparitions as he''d seen them with his Omniscience, but there was nothing for him to do given his poxy cultivation, so he paid it no mind for now.


    As for the other spectators, well Eagerton was practically frothing at the mouth as wrote down a thousand words a minute, all of which were completely unorganised but he would deal with that later. Right now, he just needed to get everything on his mind onto a piece of paper before he lost any of it. This was a mad scramble as he''d never been so inundated with ideas throughout the entire rest of his life. Still, he was overjoyed as that last explosion had blown away most of the shackles weighing him down and now his pen was gliding across page after page. Then there was Fate... Who was very much not happy that ''dumb dog Ares'' possessed this much power and was unwilling to lead the clan out of its conundrum. Realistically though, there was nothing she could do about it other than keep thinking up underhanded means to twist his arm! That or maybe sick her mother on him, she had a way with violence like no one else! Still... She couldn''t help but be curious as to how a revenant with this much power had gone under the radar... Was someone in the clan keeping him a secret for some reason? There were some wily old foxes from the Atria era that always seemed to be scheming something or other... Fate decided to ask her mother about this when she saw her next time. Last time she visited home, she only got a chance to speak to her over eager father who took the Beads and bounded off with them like a dog stealing a chew toy. he came back after testing and practically begged her to talk to the person. He then Blinked off to wherever to do whatever... Probably beat up one of his sons for fun again knowing him. Last on the list was Sadie who''s only words were ''Sweet Jesus''. As a weapons master, someone who didn''t really use magic, even she couldn''t create an attack like that! Sure she could have flicked it away if Yulo wasn''t here, as her cultivation was monstrously high, but she absolutely could never replicate it. Overheat was probably the magic she knew that could come the closest, but as someone who never really trained in magic it just wasn''t in the cards. To have been outdone by a cultivator who was around eight or so entire REALMS below her was distorting her world view... But actually, was it really a problem? There wasn''t a single other cultivator who could do that at Ares'' level, it was just because of that damn pillar! Sadie shook her head and realised she wasn''t the issue here, that damn fundamental thing was! She reassured herself that was the case, but still made a mental note to create an attack that was bigger in her spare time because she didn''t want to be embarrassed about it...


    Ares got up and dusted himself off. He had no mana left, so he had to walk all the way over the side where everyone else was instead of simply Shifting over. As he meandered merrily, he checked his cultivation which, sure enough, had gone up again. He was now at the tenth stage of his fourth realm of cultivation, meaning his next cultivation increase would put him in mental accumulation. It didn''t even seem to be far away as the Perish Wheel put in a lot of work. In fact, if Ares hadn''t been at the boundary between realms, he probably would have gone up two stages in one go thanks to that little stunt. The art was far more successful than he could have ever imagined. It was an incredible trick to have up his sleeve, but the mana cost was proportionate to its power level. Ares really didn''t have the mana pool to be flinging that thing around with reckless abandon. Grand Annihilation was still the best bang for his buck mana wise. He also got a chance to test out Black Blossom, which was nice. It was nothing more than an extension of the weapon coating magic he''d used previously, but it was strong and gave him options. It was especially useful now that he had a variety of weapons at his disposal, all of which could be used in conjunction with the art. Ares was starting to realise he didn''t have many low cost arts though, which was certainly a problem in its on right. Echoes and the Black Ice Bane would probably be enough to keep him going for now, but he needed options at some point. His best bet was to get a hold of some treasures, but for now he could just relax and celebrate his win. It would be another few weeks until the nationals, so there was plenty of time to worry about the small details at a later date. As for the training he was going to be doing, he could already envision Sadie lecturing everyone for being disjointed and not working together. It wasn''t really anyone''s fault as the circumstances during the match made putting all the workload on Ares unavoidable. Still though, the focus going forward was inevitably going to be about working together to stand a better chance in the fights to come.


    Ares arrived by his team who were looking peeved off at having been blown to smithereens by him. Enyo, in particular, was fuming. She opened her mouth to begin lecturing Ares, but he deftly snuck something into her mouth. She tilted her head in confusion as she bit down into the mysterious object before letting out a cute squeal of delight and smiling with radiance equal to that of the golden sunset behind her. Ares wiped the nervous sweat off his forehead and sighed in relief. Placation successful. I repeat, Operation Meeble is a resounding success. Enyo munched happily on the mini dessert and all of her agitation faded away into nothingness. Everyone else felt the cruel sting of betrayal as Ares was never going to show repentance if anyone other than Enyo tried to force him. They''d been sold down the river with no paddle! Then again, they figured they would also get a chance to taste the Meeble if they bottled up their resentment, so the conclusion was peaceful, even if it involved a serious case of appeasement. As for why Enyo was currently staring at Ares with beady eyes and a bit of drool on her lip, the Meebles were made of mint. They were round choux pastries with mint ice cream in the middle, topped with a warm chocolate drizzle. Enyo became putty in Ares'' hands whenever he brought out the mint, he was basically cheating death here. The onlooking spectators were also drooling, but whether that was because of the food or because of Enyo was up in the air. Ares was tempted to go and steal Bellona''s treasure and use up its reserves to cast another Perish Wheel at the spectators. Go drool over someone else! Enyo was still getting used to having her helmet off so it was lucky she gave zero shits about anything other than the Meebles right now, otherwise she would be putting the helmet on at lightspeed. She''d made a lot of progress though and Appa was the person to thank for that. It was looking more likely, day by day, that she would be able ot have it off whenever and wherever by the time the international rolled around. Ares certainly thought it would be funny to dance with a fully armoured knight at the party, but it would take away some of the charm in the long run so he didn''t encourage it. Ares booped Enyo''s nose. "You can have more when we get home. Same applies for everyone else, if you want some, you can come around after. There''ll be plenty of food as today''s a day to celebrate, after all."


    Meanwhile, Mr Clipboard had gone back up in front of everyone and coughed to draw attention his way. As a strong cultivator himself, although he was impressed, he hadn''t been too phased by an art of that scale as he''d seen his fair share in this world. He''d come back to his senses quickly so he could do his job. "First and foremost, congratulations to Red Sun for coming out on top during the regionals, your performance was exemplary. Red Soil should also be commended for putting up a respectable fight and giving a strong showing. The nationals will be held in two and a half weeks barring any unforeseen circumstances. They will be held in the ''Scorched Grounds'' coliseum..." Every major city in the red region had a coliseum of sorts, Scorched Grounds was the one owned by Red Sun. "...Should anything change regarding the schedule, I will contact you personally. As for Red Sky and Red Sea, I''m asking you now if you want to compete for third place."


    Naturally Red Sky were jumping at the opportunity. How incredibly likely was it for that walking WMD to win the international?! Even if their sect wasn''t altogether too special, people would be curious enough to at least check if they knew they lost to the eventual winners. The sect''s potential would be fundamentally unknown as their one recorded match was against an impossible opponent! It was underhanded, but who cares about that?! Red Sea weren''t as interested because they hadn''t lost directly to Red Sun. It was Red Soil that did them in so they had less to gain and it wasn''t really worth their time. Plus, politically speaking, if they just gave the win to Red Sky, there were benefits on the horizon as the sect master would owe them one. The sect master of Red Sea glanced over at the Red Sky sect master and nodded his head. The gesture was returned and their conversation had been settled so the sect master openly bowed out of the competition, taking fourth. The man with the clipboard made a quick note and gave his closing remarks. "Today was well fought by everyone. You''ve all done the red region proud so hold your heads high whether you won or lost. Be sure to prepare yourselves either for the next stage of the competition, or for next year when you can try again to claim victory. I officially, in my capacity as overseer, declare the regionals at the outer court level are over. I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavours." The man took a bow and left. Once again, he happened to run into Teng who''s enthusiasm was leaking out of him and infecting the other sect elders who were running around and sorting out various things related to the upcoming nationals. "Ha, looks like you''re gonna be busier than I am."


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "I don''t think any of us have ever been this glad to be swamped with work!" Teng looked as though he were about to hug the man and jump around in joy. "It feels good placing your faith in disciples who pay you back tenfold. We really lucked out with some of the recent additions to our sect."


    "Mhm, Ares the obvious biggest catch aside, having the meteor lady and the Eagerton / Edgerton duo is a massive win. Speaking of, Eagerton''s match during the disciple selection was pretty incredible. It was a shame it ended so fast, but it ought to be fun watching him and his brother during the regionals for the core disciples tomorrow."


    "Ah, the brother duo is certainly something else. Part of me wishes we had some inner court disciples to fill the void that''s missing there, but I recognise that''s pure greed. We have it good enough as is currently. Anyway, the elders are going to be celebrating tonight and popping some bottles of wine. If you''re interested, feel free to stop by."


    "Ah, I might do just that. I haven''t taken some time off to kick back in a while."


    As everyone began departing form the scene, Ares looked at Bellona, who hadn''t moved yet, and turned to Enyo. "I didn''t know your sister was a bird watcher?"


    "Haha, idiot, how much easier things would be for her if that were true. Just leave her be, she''ll come back on her own later. Oh, but you are definitely sleeping on the couch again today, I''ll tell you that now in advance. Also, don''t talk to her about her magic for a while, she might genuinely burst into tears on the spot if you do."


    "Uh, alright... Should I even ask?"


    "Nope. I''m sure you''ll find out one day, but today is not that day."


    "Alright. But her magic is seriously cool... All the incredible explosions we could make... Ah, but her magic is equally terrifying. Watching my Grand Annihilation shrink like that hurt my soul. I never usually go limp, damn it!"


    "Yeah, well you better not make it a habit, or I''ll fix it myself. Seriously though, don''t bother her about her magic. It''ll be a good thing for you in the long run if you just let her brood for a while. I''m sure after that she would more than happily assist you with your explosive escapades. That aside, you better have more of those little mint balls ready. I''m only forgiving you for blowing me up on the condition you have more."


    "Plenty. I did mostly make them for you after all."


    "Have I ever told you I love you?"


    "A few times, but who''s counting? I like hearing it every time."


    Enyo and Ares chatted away as they walked off together. Bellona turned and sighed at their backs before looking at the setting sun again. What on earth am I going to say to Rhea? She is seriously not gonna let me go, and she absolutely, categorically won''t accept me trying to avoid the situation. Oh man, she''s going to beat me senseless... Whatever, I''ll worry about it when it comes to pass. Maybe she''ll say something entirely different to what I''m expecting... Oh who am I kidding, I''m screwed. Maybe I can keep an eye out for big sis'' Pele when the international rolls around and try to talk to her about this first. Then again, will she even be helpful, or will she just rat me out to Enyo?... Why am I trying to lie to myself and pretend Enyo doesn''t already know, she damn well knew yesterday before I even did! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! To hell with this! Getting stuck in my own head like this is going to push me to the brink of my sanity! I''m going to bed. I''ll worry about this tomorrow. Bellona also started to leave when...


    Rumble


    ¡­


    Shit... I''m hungry... But I don''t wanna deal with everyone else that''s going to be at the house... Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. I can ask Enyo to bring me some food... But she isn''t going to leave me alone afterwards... Bellona felt like tearing her hair out as she found this situation even more annoying than having lost the damn fight! She grumbled under her breath the entire way back. When she arrived, the house was pretty damn noisy as pretty much everyone had turned up. The residents of the house, the entire neighbourhood, the rest of the Red Soil team, Sadie, and even Trew''s new partner... The house was seriously packed to the brim with people and Bellona wanted nothing to do with any of it right now even though usually she''d be all over this kind of party. She took out her set of keys that she''d been given by the logistics department after clarifying she would also be living here, and slunk in stealthily through the door. She used the mana in her treasure to teleport past the living room and end up in front of the door to Ares room. She had no reservations in opening it and entering it without permission as she knew her sister would have already kicked Ares out tonight. She went inside, closed the door, and threw herself horizontally across the bed before grabbing a pillow and burying her head into it.


    Rumble


    Man this sucks.


    Thump


    Bellona looked up as someone lay down next to her on the bed. "I hate you."


    Enyo snickered as she poked Bellona who hid back in the pillow. "Not as much you hate yourself right now."


    A groan slipped out from the pillow.


    "Do you want to talk about it?"


    "No." Bellona''s muffled voice replied in the negative. "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "Hmph, you think I was born yesterday? Here, take this." Enyo dangled a Meeble next to Bellona''s head.


    Bellona glanced up at the pastry before sulking and diving back into the pillow. "No."


    "Take it."


    "No."


    "I know you want it."


    "I don''t."


    "Yes you do."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about..."


    Enyo rolled her eyes at this childishness. "Stop being difficult and just take it already."


    Bellona reached out but hesitated to grab it. "... But its yours."


    "And I don''t mind sharing it. That''s my decision to make, not yours."


    Bellona gently took the Meeble and ate it. "... It''s good."


    "Yeah, I know. And I get to enjoy it whenever I want. You live under this roof now too, so there''s no reason for you not to be in the same position as me. Actually, you can already have whatever you want anyway. Ares won''t say no, even if I have to convince him, but he''ll come around."


    "I don''t like this conversation. This conversation is stupid." Bellona retreated back to the pillow.


    "No, the conversation is mature; unlike you who is choosing not to have it."


    "I don''t want it."


    "Yes you do."


    "No I don''t."


    "I see we''re back to square one again... Why do this to yourself? I wouldn''t if I were in your shoes."


    "That''s selfish."


    "Then be selfish, I don''t mind indulging my little sister every now and then." Enyo patted Bellona on the back which just made her curl up and bury her head into Enyo''s chest.


    "I hate you."


    "Mhm, I hate you too, but it''s not about who we hate, is it?" Enyo ruffled Bellona''s hair and laughed to herself. "How long are you going to mope around like this for? I''m letting you know now that I don''t plan on waiting for you to make a decision before I do what I want."


    "Good. You shouldn''t. Also I''m going to mope like this forever. Leave me alone." Bellona''s words were contrary to her actions as she snuggled closer to her sister.


    "You aren''t fooling anyone and I wouldn''t let you act like this forever anyway. Forget Rhea, I don''t like seeing you tear yourself up over this. If push comes to shove I will shove you. Just as you wanted what was best for me, I want what''s best for you. We both know what that entails but you''re just delaying it all pointlessly because you''re concerned about something no one else is. The only reason I''m not hassling you more than I already am is because I know it will happen eventually, regardless of whether its me or you that makes it happen. I know you''d just sit on the side-lines and hold your tongue, watching in misery until the end of time if you could; but I will not let you live like that. Even if I cared about the thing you think is a problem but isn''t, I still would never, not in a million years or even more, let you ever live like that. I know you''re going to make this harder than it needs to be, but just keep that in mind. Don''t sit there thinking about what could be, but instead sit there thinking about what will be; because I don''t want you to be needlessly depressed until it does happen."


    "... I''m hungry."


    "I figured you would be. Here..." Enyo put a spatial ring full of food into her hand. "Eat this and then we''ll continue talking about this until I''m satisfied with your response."


    "Are you kidding me?! That''s torture... Go and have fun out there instead of bothering me in here..."


    "No. They may be out there, but you''re in here. They don''t need me right now, you do. There''s only one other person I would let be in this room instead of me, but you aren''t ready for that yet."


    Bellona stopped nibbling on some food and kissed her teeth. "Tsk, I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "Oh? Then perhaps I should spell it out for you? Maybe I should even go and get the other involved person and explain it in vivid detail, sorting this ''problem'' out once and for all?"


    "Don''t you dare. I''ll fling myself into space and drift until I die in the middle of nowhere."


    "Rhea would never let that happen. Also, good luck with her. I''m on her side and you know it so don''t expect me to save your ass, I''m going to be fanning the flames if anything. If you think this conversation is stupid, then that one is going to be the dumbest thing you''ve ever heard."


    Bellona finished the food and went to lie down properly on the bed.


    "Ah, nope, don''t even think about it. That''s my side of the bed and you''re sleeping on the other side today whether you like it or not."


    "Tsk..." Bellona begrudgingly lay down where she was told. "... Fine, but this is my side of the bed now. Blehh!" She stuck her tongue as she scrunched her face.


    Enyo smirked and scooched on over despite the protests of Bellona''s hands which were unable to shove her away. Enyo and Bellona were lying on the same pillow now and Enyo jabbed Bellona in the chest. "See? There''s plenty of room for both of us here... Even at the same time."


    Bellona''s eyes widened. "You can''t be serious?!"


    "You have no idea how serious I am..." Enyo licked her lips. "Maybe we can even kick Ares out more often..."


    "You''re a freak! Where the hell is my sister?!"


    "You''re looking at her, she''s just not the innocent girl she was last time you saw her. I''ll have you know I''ve had all kinds of things done to me since then, do you want to hear about it?... Are you curious?"


    Gulp


    "... Maybe..."


    And thus, their conversation went long into the night with Enyo not sparing a single detail. Bellona learnt a lot about her sister that night, maybe even too much, but it did explain a lot of her current personality. Ares had twisted this woman into a nympho, and he hadn''t even gone all the way yet! Bellona decided not to sleep in this room again tomorrow because Enyo looked ready to explode if she couldn''t get Ares back in here by then; and who knows what would happen to Bellona if she stayed in his stead...

 Chapter 70: Flintlock and Load

    Ares rolled out of his bed and fell flat on his face onto the floor... Because he wasn''t sleeping on his bed, he was on a hammock again and forgot about that minor detail. Ares groaned as he looked up and around the living room. There were a number of hammocks dotted around for everyone who decided to stay over, minus Sadie who got drunk and was lying half way off the sofa. Ares wasn''t even sure where she got the alcohol, he certainly didn''t have any lying around; not because he didn''t drink, he just hadn''t bought any recently. It was probably Sadie''s own stash... Was this woman going to her house every evening and getting drunk alone?! Ares decided to do his best to keep alcohol as far away from Enyo as possible just in case. Legion women were strange creatures to Ares. Ares crawled through the mess and escaped the living room that was littered with mess and smelled like the curry he''d made yesterday. He would clean everything up later after everyone had left as there was no point waking them all up just so he could do it now. He could also maybe make Aejaz do it with his magic if he blackmailed Ahem... Asked him to do it nicely. Ares crept out of the house and decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air. The core disciples were participating in their regionals today and Ares figured he might as well go and take a gander. It had already started, and he wasn''t going to stay for long when he finally got there, but he didn''t really have any specific plans anyway. After closing the front door, he turned and spotted Charity and Gladius outside. They must have left a little earlier and were on their way back to their house.


    "Hey, good morning."


    "Morning." Charity replied while yawning. "Man, it was worth moving here 100% even if just for the food alone. Sorry in advance if we gate-crash here and there, but its really your own fault for making food that good. Even that Onno guy was salivating, and he''s a pretty posh guy who gets served high quality food all the time ''cos of his upbringing. Although why you two were doing business at a party and discussing how you were going to divvy up the profits is beyond me... Not that this shmuck was any better..." Charity glared at Gladius. "... Asking Sadie to go out back with him and train... Honestly."


    Gladius shrugged. "I was pretty pumped after the fight and I really want to get stronger, why not?"


    "Sadie was DRUNK! Forget a spear, she couldn''t even hold her vomit!"


    "Excuse me, what did you just say?" Ares couldn''t ignore that last part.


    "Erm, nothing?"


    "She vomited in the toilet, right?!"


    "Be careful where you step in your back garden..."


    "Your fucking with me... She better clean that up! If she doesn''t, I''m going to Grand Annihilation it! And when Rud comes complaining, I''ll direct him to her and see how she likes having her wages cut!"


    "Uh, well I wish you the best of luck."


    "Yeah... Thanks. By the way, what''s up with that..." Ares noticed Gladius fervently shaking his head and waving his hands in a feeble attempt to stop Ares'' next question. "... Scratch mark on your face?"


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "THAT LITTLE FUCKER! I AM GOING TO PUNT THAT DAMN FURBALL THE NEXT TIME I SEE HIM!"


    "Oh, I see..." Leo appeared to have had his own fun yesterday. "Well I''m off, see you around..." Ares hurriedly took his leave while Charity was debating whether or not to go back in the house and pick a fight with the tiger. Ironically, Gladius himself felt as though he was also wrestling with a tiger as he struggled to convince Charity to let the matter go. He did succeed in the end... Barely.


    Ares dawdled as he observed everyone else going about their lives in the sect. Most disciples made an effort to avoid him like the plague, with a few even throwing valuables at him on sight in attempt to appease someone who wasn''t even mad at them to begin with... Not that Ares was going to correct that moneymaking misunderstanding. Ares did wonder, though, if his reputation in this sect would ever improve. It seemed like no matter how many Shock Rocks he sold, he would still be more reputable as the demon who created them rather than the saint that gifted them. Oh well, they are violent in nature. Maybe people''s opinions will slowly change when the Block Rocks go on sale. The experimentation period was over and they were ready to be sold, today was the first day they would appear in the stall so Ares avoided the market place that would inevitably be busy beyond belief. The most popular stall in the sect finally getting a second product to add to its line-up?... Yeah, that was going to be one hell of a mess, bigger than even the one in his back garden... Ares shook his head and eventually arrived at the training hall. The outside area was very much unusable after Ares let loose but, thankfully, there wasn''t much of a difference between inside or outside other than the nice weather being wasted. At least, if nothing else, Onno''s lackey wouldn''t be working in the heat again... Ares looked around and noticed Teng waving him over, so he went to go greet him. Not being treated like devil spawn by an elder was a nice change of pace. Then again, it was mostly Rud that did that and a few other elders Ares hadn''t interacted with. Ares raised his hand and waved as he drew closer. "Hey."


    Teng waved back too. "Hello! Came to check out the core disciples?"


    Ares looked over his shoulder at the ongoing fight, if it could really even be called that. Today''s matches were going to be wrapped up pretty quickly thanks to Eagerton who was on a roll. "Just taking a stroll and figured I would stop by... Eagerton''s really killing it... Literally."


    "He said something about being ''inspired''. I dared not ask because I didn''t want to risk ruining his mojo... That and I wouldn''t have understood his rambling anyway." Over in the Training Field, Eagerton''s hand danced across the page, penning striking cursive that came alive and proved it was stronger than any sword. "How much do you know about Eagerton and his magic?"


    "Not much, honestly. Just that it''s an inferior version of creation magic... According to him anyway, I haven''t really seen either, not that I don''t believe him. Creation is a fundamental pillar, after all... Ah, fundamental means unique like mine, there''s someone similar to me out there, but the magic is a little different. The creation pillar is like the technical pillar in that it has no aspects under it. It''s a completely free pillar with no restrictions other than the user''s own creativity. It''s quite good at cheating out runes, gadgetry, and machinery, amongst other things. Then again, it can do basically whatever it wants."


    "I see... that sounds like the complete opposite of your magic, no?"


    "Pretty much. It comes down to whoever can do their own gameplan more. Can I destroy everything he can create, or will he summon more than I can destroy? It''s a rather interesting debate. I''d rather find out with brute force though. As far as Eagerton''s magic is concerned, it looks like he has to actually write down the thing he wants to summon, right?"


    "Mhm, there are a few restrictions to his ''wordsmith'' unique aspect. For starters, he literally can''t use any other aspect of the forgery pillar; perhaps it''s because he can indirectly do it with his own magic anyway, but he can''t use any of it directly at all. Also, yes, he has to write it, but he also has to describe it if he wants it to be stronger." On the Field, Eagerton summoned a bolt of lightning that chained through the opposition. "See that? That''s a good example. If he just wrote ''lightning'', it would have spawned above them and had no extra effects. If he writes ''lightning that strikes with blinding speed'', it will be quicker. If he writes ''lightning that strikes with blinding speed and bounces between foes'', it will become fast, chain lightning. The strength of the art depends on how fanciful his writing is so, if he wrote something like ''A network of fleshy nodes connected by instantaneous voltage transmission'' it would hit harder... Maybe, that particular example might even make it weaker; I wouldn''t know as I have no talent in the written arts. It''s a pretty difficult magic to use for a number of reasons. You have to be quick at writing, coming up with ideas to overcome the current situation, deciding your wording and evaluating how much time you have to do it, and then throwing in literary flare on top of all the above. It sounds like a nightmare to me, I really don''t know how he does it. I would have just used variety cultivation and avoided it, but that loon is using dedication cultivation. He locked himself into that path so I guess he must have been confident... And he certainly seems to be good at it so who am I to judge? Oh! Look, that''s his personal treasure." Eagerton had pulled out his very own personal treasure... A flintlock? "Haha, your face is pretty priceless right now, Ares. Yes, his personal treasure is a flintlock. It really fits his aesthetic eerily well, doesn''t it?" Eagerton pulled the trigger and the opponents were shocked by the exact same chain lightning again. "The treasure''s name is ''Plunder'' and the art it comes with is called ''Plagiarism''. It lets the wielder copy the last art they used and fire it off again instantly. It perfectly covers up Eagerton''s weakness by lowering the downtime between his spell casts. If he ever needs a breather to come up with, or pen down, a new art, he can default to plagiarism!"


    "... I''m honestly surprised he''s willing to even do that. Well, to each their own. The writing''s kinda on the wall with this fight and I doubt he''s going to lose even if he had to 1vs5. His teammates seem to understand that just as well... One of them is playing music and minding his own business, after all..."


    "Ha, that''s Eagerton''s brother. It''s a miracle he''s even participating. It''s actually quite hard to pinpoint which of the two is stronger... They''re both incredible cultivators who are going to start overtaking the elder''s soon enough..."


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "He''s that strong?" Ares raised his eyebrow as he watched Edgerton pluck away at his guitar.


    "Yep, and without a unique aspect too. His use of the sound pillar is pretty simple, but devastating nonetheless. If you''re interested in seeing those two go all out, you should watch their matches at the international. The other three are nothing to scoff at either and, at some point, these people will be your competition too. When you become a core disciple, these people will be going after the same treasures and missions as you. If you end up participating in some manner of event alongside them, knowing what they''re capable of ahead of time would be wise. Still, it''s up to you. The core disciple international final is the day after yours if you choose to watch it."


    Ares chuckled. "You seem confident we''ll make it to the finals of both."


    "... Don''t even joke about that. There''s modesty, and then there''s being an attention seeker. I''m not going to sit here and praise you... You know as well as I do you''re making it to the finals, competition be damned."


    As Teng and Ares were chatting, a bright beam of light shot up into the sky a few miles away from the sect. Ares noticed this and asked Teng if he knew what was up with it. Ares was going to investigate regardless, how could he not?! But if there was any info on it, it would make his life easier. It seemed like it wasn''t anything people were unfamiliar with though as no one paid it much heed.


    Teng scratched his chin. "Ah, that would be the tomb that was discovered about two weeks ago. It''s the strangest thing, a massive clearing appeared in the forest where there hadn''t been one before. Amidst the wreckage of the forest''s collapsed trees, a cultivator discovered a tomb of inheritance. The Mayor has been working on opening it up since. They must have made a bit of progress."


    Ares thought long and hard about what he''d just been told and, as his thoughts drifted back in time... He recalled an explosive rampage he went on back after parting ways with Aejaz, Allie, and Enyo... Hehe, whoops. It seems I''ve caused a fuss... Naturally, he decided not to spread the fact that he may or may not have been responsible for the ''sudden clearing'' that appeared out of ''nowhere''. "I see, but why is the sect not bothering with it? Isn''t this a good chance to get some treasures and rare medicine?"


    "For sure... If we could get in... It''s been established already that only those below sensory enhancement can get in. Anyone else is just repelled from the area near the entrance. We notified all the disciples about it back before you returned to the sect from your mission. There''s also a note detailing everything I''ve just told you in the mission hall, but I''m guessing you haven''t been there recently? Either way, if you''re interested, feel free to go take a look. The mayor originally wanted to swallow it up himself, but Hans went and smacked some sense into him. If you want to get in, you''ll need either permission from the mayor or from Hans, both of whom will be standing outside the entrance when it eventually opens... Try not to get too involved with their squabbling if you can, they''re pretty dangerous fellows. Still, I''m sure you can get in if you sweet talk them a bit. They''d be pretty stoked to give permission to a talented cultivator who would then owe them in some manner." Of course Teng was blissfully unaware that Ares was already pally pally with Hans, but he didn''t need to know that.


    "Sounds like a good opportunity, I don''t have any treasures other than the Zephyr after all. The artifacts I have are nice, but having more options is never a bad thing, and I just so happened to be thinking about searching around for some anyway. Do you have any idea when that tomb will open?"


    "Exactly? No. But that light must mean they''re close now. If I were to hazard a guess, based on their rate of progress, tomorrow afternoon sounds about right. Still, you should show up earlier. The sooner you get in, the better. Oh, and do be careful? I know you''re strong, but dying in a place like that would be pretty disastrous for us... I know that''s selfish, but hey, it''s true." Teng gave a wry smile as he had nothing else to say about the matter. Ares didn''t blame him though, what he was saying was fair. It''s not like Teng had any reason to care about him personally, they''d only spoken a few times after all.


    "Yeah, I''ll keep an eye out. Thanks for the information." Ares bid Teng adieu and blew the joint... Thankfully not with his explosives. He went back home and found the place had been deserted by pretty much everyone... At least everyone who didn''t have a hangover, anyway. This time, it was Sadie''s turn to fall off something and plant her face into the floor. Unlike Ares, she didn''t get up after.


    "Aym? Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyym. Help me up Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyymmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm."


    Yeah, this woman has lost it. Ares went and found a certain something, came back into the living room, and held the ''thing'' in question aloft. "Do it."


    With an adorable giggle, the ''thing'', also known as Appa, summoned roughly a bucket''s worth of water above Sadie.


    Splash


    "HUH?! whOZZat? Whut? Where em I?" Sadie''s hangover was causing her to slur her words which made Appa laugh and Ares shake his head.


    "Oi! Get up vomit girl. Go clean yourself and your unwanted garden bile up and leave."


    "Ughhhhhhhhhh. Gimme ten minutes..."


    Ares sighed and left the bedhead monster to her own devices. He rounded the corner and came across a haggard Aejaz. "The hell happened to you?"


    Aejaz smiled weakly. "Uh, turns out Allie is a feisty drunk..."


    "Seriously?!" Ares unintentionally blurted out his first response as he couldn''t imagine Allie being like that at all. He was also shocked that she got drunk in the first place, Sadie was clearly a bad influence! "It''s always the quiet ones... Well, good for you. I was looking for you ''cos we''re going on an adventure tomorrow, and I''m not taking no for an answer. Consider it a part of your training."


    "Eh? What about our actual training with Sadie? That''s been going well for me... Can''t I just do that instead of going on one of your stupid adventures?"


    "Nope. Also it''s likely only going to be a one day thing so you won''t be missing out on much. Plus..." Ares dangled the Black Ice Acrimony like he was a hypnotist swinging a pendulum. "... If you go, I''ll give you this bad boy!"


    Aejaz watched the knife rock back and forth. He was tempted to steal it, but Ares would just beat him up and take it back so, if he wanted it... "Fine. But it better just be one day! I don''t wanna spend too much time away from Allie."


    "Oh? What happened to checking out the world at large?"


    "I mean yeah, but me and Allie are getting closer you know? I don''t want to interrupt that... We''ve still got the tournament to worry about anyway, so let''s wait and see where we stand when that''s over. I think me and Allie are gonna end up going all the way before then... You were right about it only getting easier the more we do, hell she even tried last night but I felt like it was wrong taking advantage in that state, so I said no."


    "Oh? Good on you. Not many people have that level of self restraint... I know Enyo wouldn''t... That aside, I''m just letting you know to get yourself ready. I''m going to be putting you to work because you didn''t do anything during the regionals. I''m not blaming you for it, the circumstances were just as such, but I''m not letting you off the hook either."


    "Greaaaaaaat. Say, is there any leftover curry? I''m hungry and Allie probably will be too."


    "Yeah, go wild." Ares tossed a spatial ring full of food to Aejaz. "Give me the ring back when you''re done with it, those things don''t grow on trees..." Ares had invested in a few just so he could hand out food easier... Considering how pricy the rings could be, and how little actual value they had for Ares, it was almost definitely a waste, but he really didn''t care if it meant people could have a better time enjoying his meals. "... Also, before you give it back, make sure to clean up the mess in the living room with your magic... If you don''t, I''ll have Appa randomly burst into your room multiple times every day for the next week without knocking." Aejaz was speechless as his evil mastermind brother walked away snickering to himself.


    Ares'' next stop was the cultivation rooms. He would do some forgery and runemancy work, make some beads, and work out the kinks of some technical tomes he had on him. On the way there, however, the door to his room swung open and Bellona came out stretching her arms straight up into the air, making her look like a rugby post. "Good morning, Blo''na"


    "Fuck off bastard."


    "Eh? What did I do?"


    "Tsk, ''what haven''t you done?'' is a more appropriate question... Idiot."


    "By the way, are you ok? Enyo told me not to bother you, but you''re family if you live in this house and I have an unwritten obligation to make sure you''re alright. You know if you need anything I''ll do what I can to help no matter what."


    Thud


    Ares found himself laid flat out on the floor with a fist mark on his cheek. He lay there, perplexed as to what exactly he''d done wrong to deserve this. "You know, most guys don''t like it this rough."


    Enyo poked her head out of the room and took stock of the situation. She shook her head and gave Ares the ''I told you so'' treatment. "I told you not to talk to Bellona about it..." Enyo rubbed Bellona on the head as she grumpily turned away. "... She''s like an angry pet. You have to wait until she comes to you."


    Bellona Hmphed and stormed off into the living room without another word.


    "Ah, Ares do you have a minute? There''s something I want to talk to you about."


    Ares tilted his head as his lie detector was on full alert right now. "Ok?" Ares made the foolish mistake of setting foot in the lion''s den. He heard the door slam shut behind him and, before he could turn around, he''d been rugby tackled onto the bed. Enyo was lying on top of him and he could feel all of her... Assets pushing up against his back, not that he would ever complain about this. Enyo pulled his head back by the hair and wrapped her other hand around his neck. She leant over and kissed him.


    "You''ve escaped me for two whole days. Now I''ve got you all to myself!"


    Ares, not one to pass up on a good time, let the tides of fate take him... And boy were the tides rough sailing. All of his plans for the day went out the window as he struggled not to drown under Enyo''s borderline insatiable lust. His mast stood tall in the face of adversity, however, and he did right by his seamen.


    Night rolled around and quiet descended on the house. Although Ares was fine with staying in the living room, he did miss sleeping with Enyo which was why he was understanding of Aejaz'' earlier concerns and didn''t give him trouble about it. Sleep was pleasant that night as Ares intimately spooned Enyo who smiled contentedly from ear to ear. Well, it was pleasant up until morning came and Enyo tried to make Ares go on another day long voyage... But he had other plans today, so they satisfied each other a few times before he got up and escaped with a Shift to get past the barrier Enyo had laid out on the door. Sneaky woman! Ares was going to have to be watchful around Enyo, especially after they went further. She was not to be trifled with when she was in a very specific mood. She would 100% overturn haven and earth to get her way. A horny Enyo was far scarier than even a mecha dryad, and she seemed to have a habit of being horny often. How did a steadfast, proud knight devolve into this... Ares knew he was technically responsible so he apologised inwardly to the Legion clan who''s ace was no longer the person they thought she was. Still, the apology wasn''t genuine, Ares had absolutely zero qualms with the person Enyo was now compared to before, and not just because he got to get his rocks off regularly. Seeing Enyo smile, even if she was unashamedly a massive slut in the bedroom, meant whatever it was he''d done throughout the Baja saga had been net positive. He''d do anything to keep her happy... Anything except be a glorified meat pole for the rest of the day because he had a tomb to raid!

 Chapter 71: Aejaz Is Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

    Everyone gathered outside the house, including Sadie who had done the right thing and cleaned up her mess... Although Ares could have sworn he heard the word ''overheat'' earlier... His back garden was probably burnt to a crisp, but whatever, he wouldn''t be living here much longer. Enyo was going to move up to the inner court at some point and then he''d crash at her place. No longer would she be the freeloader. Now Ares could become the gigolo he was always meant to be!


    Enyo, Bellona, and Appa were also heading out of the sect. It had been a while since Enyo had gone and inflicted justice, typically in the form of broken bones, upon an evil doer so she was taking this opportunity to get out of the sect for a bit. Appa wanted to see its mother be cool and Bellona was tagging along presumably for girl chat. Ares would have asked what they were talking about, out of sheer curiosity, but he could tell he would get decked again if he bothered. It seemed this was a notable difference between the two sisters. When Enyo had been mad at Ares in the inn, she gave him the silent treatment. Bellona, for whatever reason, was giving him the violent treatment! As they walked through the sect gates, Ares turned to Enyo. "Don''t do anything I wouldn''t do... No, wait a minute, actually, just don''t do anything stupid." It was an important distinction!


    "Worrywart." Enyo kissed Ares and put her helmet on. "Relax, it''s just a few routine arrests here and there. If anything, I should be telling you to stay safe. The tomb is unexplored, and the last time you went somewhere similar you were riddled with holes in Dominus'' mansion. You''re also bringing along Allie''s boytoy, so keep him safe for her sake too, would you?"


    "Bah, he can keep himself safe. I''m telling you now I''m going to be the greatest danger to this fool in that tomb." Ares knelt down and pet Appa. "Have fun. Make sure to arrest the bad guys, ok?"


    "Hehehe, I''ll be like, ''FREEZE, in the name of the law!''"


    "Ha, if its you, they might just cuff themselves to make you happy." Last but not least... "Bellona... Uh, have fun punching people who aren''t me?"


    THUD


    This situation was oddly familiar. Except instead of lying flat in the middle of the hallway, he''d been packed up on top of a nice grassy patch that was rather comfortable. The shape of Bellona''s fist was still firmly imprinted onto his cheek though, that hadn''t changed. As he got up, he waved bye to the others as they left.


    While Appa floated into Enyo''s arms, it questioned Bellona while tilting its head. "It''s definitely funny, but why are you hitting dad?"


    Enyo''s smile widened maliciously under her helmet. "Yeah Bellona, why are you hitting my husband?"


    "HE''S NOT!..." Bellona started and immediately stopped herself. She kissed her teeth at Enyo who was trying to goad her and very nearly succeeded.


    "Oh? He''s not what? My husband? Not yet, unfortunately, but he will be... Is there some kind of problem with that? Does hearing me call him ''my husband'' bother you?"


    Bellona used her magic to disappear and go on ahead, causing Enyo to chuckle evilly. "Hey, Appa, what do you think of Bellona?"


    "Hm, I like her. She''s warm and gives me plenty of hugs while calling me cute!"


    "You''re very easy to please. Could you do me a favour, sweetie?"


    "Of course! Is it like how you wanted help with the helmet thingy?"


    "Sort of. All I want you to do is stay with Bellona for a while and make sure she''s happy. You''re good at soothing people, and right now Bellona''s all over the place. Can you do that for me?"


    "Yep! I''ll Say Happy Things to her when she least expects it! She''ll be happy until she can''t be any happier!"


    "Haha, I''ll leave it to you then." This was a win win for Enyo as she could sneakily help her sister sort out her thoughts while also getting alone time with Ares! Although she wasn''t as well versed in subtle manipulation as someone like Fate, Enyo could be plenty conniving herself when she wanted to be!


    Ares and Aejaz made good time on their journey as Ares begun his brother''s training early by chasing him with a whip through the forest. Was it cruel? Perhaps. but was it effective? Yes. Aejaz had never fled this fast in his life! He''d also never shed this many tears before either...


    The whipping ceased and Ares Shifted in front of Aejaz to stop him from moving any further forward as he pointed into the distance beyond some bushes. Aejaz squinted and caught sight of the thing Ares was pointing at, a large hive attached to a tree trunk. Aejaz knew better than to expect an ordinary beehive in a place like this, but that was as far as his wisdom took him. He''d never read the books on the various creatures and monsters roaming around Sheryashka like Ares had, so he waited patiently for an explanation.


    "That, oh brother of mine, is a hive of ''honey sharks''. Sometimes they''re also referred to as bumblesharks."


    "... Sharks?"


    "Correctamundo. Like how treetop tigers are palm sized tigers, honey sharks are bee sized sharks with wings! Dangerous little creatures, they are. A group of honey sharks is called a ''sweet tooth'', and you''re probably going to wind up as their dessert if you aren''t careful. They''re quite frightening when they swarm you, so it''s better to either end the fight immediately, or not fight at all. They have a pretty massive weakness though, and its a weakness I''m going to have you exploit to get some practice in with your magic."


    "... Sharks?"


    "Yes Aejaz, sharks. Sharks with very pointy teeth, so I suggest you get in the groove and focus up lest they nibble you to pieces."


    "... Sharks?"


    Ares narrowed his eyes as he stared at his brother who was stuck on repeat. "Act like a broken record one more time and I won''t save your ass if things go haywire!"


    "OH COME ON! WHY DO WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE SHARKS?!"


    "Because I want their honey? It might give the mint honeycomb an interesting taste and I''m sure Enyo would appreciate the experiment."


    "Ares, brother, I am no beekeeper nor am I a marine biologist. How am I supposed to deal with those things?!"


    "Take it easy, I already told you they have a pretty glaring weakness, right? Even average cultivators hunt them to sell their honey, they aren''t a risky foe if you know what you''re doing against them. Like regular sharks, well some of them anyway, they''ll die if they stop moving, so steal their wings! Cultivators will usually use wind magic to tear the wings if they can, but most invest in sleeping powder to kill them outright if they can get close enough to the hive without being detected. You, however, can steal their wings! Each honey shark individually is extremely weak, so stealing a body part should be doable for you. You did steal that one tusk ages ago, right? You''re even still wearing it! If you can do that, you can do this. Yeah there''s more of them, but it shouldn''t be too much of a problem, just a bit tiring as it will take a chunk of mana is all."


    "... Sharks?"


    "Fuck''s sake. I''m here aren''t I? One Grand Annihilation and they''ll bee dead before you can even blink. Nothing will go wrong while I''m keeping an eye out, so go stick your neck out!" Ares booted his chickenshit brother towards the hive, sat back on a branch, and watched on with some popcorn he''d bought off Onno''s lackey the other day. Of course, in order to get the ball rolling, he made sure to chuck a pebble at the hive as well.


    Tock


    The sound of tiny, flapping wings could be heard from deep within the hive as the residents were disturbed.


    duunnn dunnn...


    Aejaz gulped nervously as the air around him became damp. Honey sharks used water pillar magic to fly so this was a pretty massive indication they were about to begin swarming out of their home en-masse.


    duuuunnnn duun...


    The horde descended in droves like a plague. A sea of blue-skinned sharks, each no bigger than a thumb, bared their teeth at the intruder and begun forming a cloud that would easily shred any and all who entered. The sharks left a small trail of water wherever they flew, creating a criss cross of cerulean confetti in their wake as they began to advance upon Aejaz.


    duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun


    "I''m too young and handsome to dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee." Aejaz screamed in terror as he took off running. Oh how he longed for the days when he was being whipped, they were easier than this! The sting of the whip would undoubtedly be infinitely more tolerable than the sting of the bumblesharks. Tears formed in his eyes as the ominous death call of the flapping honey shark wings thrummed in his ears.


    dunnnnnnnnnnn


    Aejaz shivered as he felt his neck tingle. Not wanting to become food for the finned freaks, he leapt while turning around and stretching his hand out. A forlorn cry born in the depths of his soul ascended through his throat as he desperately wailed, "Relocateeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"


    dunnnn


    The sound of the bumbleshark wings slowing to a halt as they were forcibly removed from the sharks'' bodies was like sweet relief to Aejaz. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and let out a sigh as he looked at the pile of wings off to the side.


    Phew


    ¡­


    "AH!.." One of the sharks had crash landed next to Aejaz'' feet after losing its wings and gave him a quick nibble. "SON OF A..." Aejaz hopped in place while holding his foot. He looked down at the cheeky creature and Aejaz could of sworn it grinned at him with its sharp teeth as it died as if it were implying it was the real victor.


    "Haha." Ares came down from the tree, laughing at his bouncing brother. "It was nice of you to give that one a last meal, it looked like he enjoyed it too."


    "Tsk. That honey better be worth it! And you better save some for me too, I earned it!"


    "Yes, yes. You successfully accomplished something literally any other cultivator on this planet could do. Well done brother, I am truly proud."


    "Screw you."


    Ares Shifted over to the hive, leaving his brother to cautiously tiptoe past the deceased sharks like they were landmines. Inspecting the hive yielded culinary gains for Ares who found a decent chunk of precisely what he''d been after. It wasn''t rare or anything, and he could have probably found it for sale somewhere in Red Sun if he looked hard enough, but why ignore it when it was right here in front of him, ready for the taking? Ares put the goods in the Primordial Blade... Meaning there was now a random splotch of honey drifting through space in his personal universe. It''s a good thing Leo wasn''t still in there otherwise he would be having the time of his life right now.


    When Aejaz finally traipsed past the corpses, he looked up only to see Ares re-brandishing the whip with a gentle smile on his face that didn''t extend to his eyes.


    "Now that the detour is over and done with, let''s get back to the real training!"


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Aejaz sniffled and regretted his earlier thoughts. I prefer the sharks! Even they weren''t as bloodthirsty as this!


    Ares chased his brother through the forest for the next thirty or so minutes, occasionally Shifting to tricky angles to try and catch Aejaz unawares. Aejaz overperformed and only took a few hits but, then again, this was his specialty. When it came to running away from danger, he was in a league of his own. Of course Ares wished for his brother to at least attempt to fight back every now and then but it simply never happened. Ares just shook his head and accepted the fact that it would take a while longer to beat the coward mentality out of his brother. He was not weak enough to justify acting like this anymore. Well, Ares had his own plan regarding this anyway. Before he put plan ''make my brother less useless'' into action, he first needed to help Aejaz create the art he''d been working on as it was a pretty massive next step for him. The world would become Aejaz'' oyster when he realised what he was capable of. That''s not to say these impromptu training sessions weren''t helpful in their own way, though. Being good at something didn''t mean there was no reason to keep practicing. In a way, it was also good practice for Ares in case he ever needed to tackle an enemy as slippery as Aejaz.


    Ares could see the tomb on the horizon, so he activated Omniscience quickly and used it to predict his brother''s erratic movements and hit him one final time before they arrived. He chuckled to himself as his brother yelped and rubbed his now-sore ass.


    As the bandit brothers arrived, they noticed something was amiss. there were a few other cultivators around, all of which fulfilled the cultivation requirements of being below sensory enhancement, but they all seemed distracted by something. Ares peered in the direction everyone else was staring at and immediately took enough steps backward to hide behind some bushes. The foe approaching from the horizon were a group of orcs! There wasn''t anything particularly special about these monsters, at least not on the surface anyway... They were just regular old orcs. Even Aejaz knew what these things were as they were in just about every single fantasy book he''d ever read. They were a real classic! But it was confusing seeing Ares, and a large group consisting of the other men around, all run and hide. Aejaz turned to his brother in confusion and asked what was going on, to which Ares responded with a straight face,


    "Those... Are orcs. We''re... Uh, doing our own thing." A light flickered in Ares'' eyes, one that Aejaz unfortunately didn''t quite catch. "See, I''m still testing you, so I won''t be lending you my aid in this fight. Those other men are... Waiting to ambush the opponent when the others draw them in closer! So, go on, shoo!" Ares gestured for Aejaz to go take a stand with the other cultivators and Aejaz obliged... Even if he really didn''t want too. Still, if he had to choose between big dumb orcs and big dumb Ares... The choice was obvious.


    To Aejaz'' surprise, and somewhat to his dismay, as he approached the other cultivators, he realised the orcs were carrying unusual weapons, one of which was a damn whip! He''d seriously had enough of this garbage! Aejaz actually felt somewhat pumped for this fight, if he could pretend the orc was Ares and get some licks in, he could relieve some serious stress here! Aejaz took his place in the line and soon thereafter realised all the other cultivators here were women... And they were all staring at him with a weird look in their eyes... In hindsight, his brother''s actions had been rather strange, so he turned to the women to ask them a question, but one of them beat him to the punch, asking him one first.


    "... You... Do you know what those are?"


    Aejaz tilted his head, unsure if this was a trick question. The answer was obvious, after all, they were very clearly... "Orcs?"


    "Well, yes... But do you know about their... Preferences..."


    Aejaz gulped as a possibility slowly dawned on him, one he didn''t really want to turn around and confirm, but he did nonetheless. When he looked at the approaching orcs, they all seemed to be fixated on him and him alone... Now that he thought about it, like really thought about it, the orcs were... Different. They were wearing leather armour, some had whips... One of them was wearing a mask... FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS! The orcs were drooling as they looked at Aejaz who was undoubtedly the most handsome man they''d ever seen. Aejaz cried inwardly as he realised his fantasy books had done him dirty! They lied! Orcs didn''t give a rat''s ass about women! They went crazy over other men! They were gay! All of them! While Aejaz'' brain was buffering, the noise of which was distinctly similar to the sound of Ares snickering, the woman spoke up again.


    "Wild orcs only care about capturing guys... It''s why they were abandoned by their matriarchal clans as they were useless for reproducing and helping with the population shortage orcs usually have... For this exact reason. The stranded orcs gather in the middle of... Bumfuck nowhere... And elect a... King. He''s usually the, uh, biggest amongst his companions and is always on top of any problems that arise. Cultivators have nicknamed these specific orcs ''Kingkies''... Look, what I''m trying to say is, if you stay here, it''s not their weapons they''re going to be thrusting at you..."


    Let''s just say Aejaz no longer wanted to ''get some licks in''. Absolutely not! Allie was the one for him, thank you very much! Something in Aejaz was unleashed as he gave his all to escape the situation. He''d never been as impressive as he was in the few moments that followed as, for once, he truly felt threatened!


    "No-stalgia!" Aejaz used his memory pilfering art, even going as far as to cast it out loud to save mana in case he needed more after, and took off running like an Olympian with overdue rent. He''d simultaneously robbed every single orc of just about every memory they''d ever had. One of the orcs even forgot how to breathe and keeled over dead. Ares clapped with a smug grin as his brother jumped into the same bush he was hiding in.


    "Impressive. It''s a shame you didn''t stay and fight any longer, though. Boy would I have had a great story to tell Allie. Don''t worry though, I''m sure she''d be supportive of your unconventional choices. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"


    "YOU!" Aejaz jumped Ares and began throttling the bastard who still didn''t stop laughing at his expense even when he was on the verge of arriving at the pearly gates... NOT! THIS MAN WAS GOING TO STRAIGHT TO HELL. DO NO PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT 200 STARDUST! This bastard almost pimped his own brother out to orcs for a laugh!


    Meanwhile, the women were dealing with the orcs with relative ease. The monsters in the immediate area didn''t have particularly high cultivations and the orcs in question were only around early mental accumulation. When the last orc was slain, the men cheered from safety, heaping praise upon their rectums'' saviours.


    "What''s with all this ruckus?!" A bony skeleton... No, actually, he was a man that just looked like one. Anyway, a bony skeleton man was hovering in the air above everyone present. It was unknown when he arrived, but the fact that he was flying and happened to be in the vicinity meant he was almost definitely the mayor of Red Sun. His gaze was haughty and his voice lofty and tinged with a hint of anger, which Ares assumed was a result of his interactions with Hans who was probably also skulking around. The mayor looked around and noticed the deceased orcs. He snorted in disgust at the creatures before looking around at the cultivators present. Eventually, his eyes landed on the two newcomers and he narrowed his eyes. "You two! Who are you? I don''t recall giving you permission to be here!"


    Ares threw his upturned palms in the air, tilted his head with a wry smile, and shrugged. "That''s probably because I don''t recall asking you for permission."


    Oh shit, we''re dead. Aejaz lamented that this would be the way he left this mortal coil for good. He''d been eyeing having a heart-attack during a passionate session with Allie, but to think he would go like this! Stupid brother! I should have thrown you to the orcs!


    "Impertinent brat!" The mayor, unbeknownst to everyone else, summoned his apparition. A black raven the size of a mountain appeared mid-air in a cocooned pose, with its wings forming a protective circle around it. With a loud, deafening cry, the raven unfurled its wings and spread them wide, blocking out even the sun. Everyone else fell to their knees as the mayor and his raven began emitting pressure. For everyone else, the raven was invisible, so it made the mayor look rather imposing as he single handedly brought all the cultivators around down to the floor without lifting a finger.


    Yawn


    "This all you got, old timer?..." Everyone other than Ares who''s immunity to pressure was working wonders right about now. "... Makes me wonder why Hans hasn''t turned you into cinders yet. Maybe he''s looking to hire a chef before he cooks that bird of yours, or maybe he just hasn''t yet found any undead repellent for your cranky old ass."


    WHY?! Aejaz wanted to scream at his dimwit brother who kept digging a deeper and deeper hole for them with every passing second.


    "YOU BASTARD!" The mayor put the fact that his pressure wasn''t working, and that this newcomer could see his bird, aside as he put his finger to his mouth and whistled. The bird''s head tilted at an angle when it heard the call which meant it was time to kill someone. It''s beady eyes shone as it eyed up Ares and soared into the sky, ready to dive down and peck him into oblivion.


    It''s eyes widened and it''s movements halted when it sensed danger approaching, however. The raven turned in mid-air and summoned a ball of dark magic, firing it off at what looked like thin air. The bird''s strange actions were justified, though, when the ball connected with a fiery trident that was flickering in and out of the mayor''s vision.


    Ares was the only one who could see everything clearly thanks to Omniscience, and what he saw was a buff lava demon, roughly the same size as the bird, roaring its lungs out as it swatted away the bird''s magic. That would be Hans'' Invisible Ifrit, then. Wonder where the man himself is. Nearby hopefully, otherwise I''m going to eat dirt. The Ifrit whirled its trident above its head before leaning into a throw. The trident was launched at supersonic speeds, grazing the bird''s head and crashing into a mountain off in the distance, simultaneously pulverising and burning it out of existence. As far as everyone else was aware, a mountain had just inexplicably been vaporised without a trace. Whatever was happening was way out of their league, but they had a rough guess as to what was going down. There were plenty of rumours of incomprehensible scenes of carnage in Red Sun. Buildings and people would start melting out of the blue. No one who was ever on the scene could explain how or why though as the victims ran around screeching in pain even though nothing was visibly wrong with them. The only constant in all of these stories was an old man with a bowler hat whistling to himself as he strolled by while spinning his cane and smoking a cigar. There where some decently strong cultivators who said they could faintly see the outline of a terrible monster whenever the old man clicked his lighter, but nothing had ever been confirmed.


    As for the fight in the sky, it had settled down as both apparitions backed off. Both apparitions were strong enough to wipe out entire cities so if they fought here and now, all the cultivators present would have to forfeit their lives. As these individuals were going to be the ones excavating treasures, it would be in bad form to off them here. They mayor would lose face and Hans would have a guilty conscience. The mayor turned back to Ares and took a single step before he was interrupted by a voice that irked him to no end.


    "He''s with me, Maro. Keep your mitts to yourself." Hans came out of the forest with a sly smile. "Ares, my boy, you''ve ended up in the wrong encampment. Although very typical of you, you almost made a rather costly mistake. Come laddie, let''s head over to our side."


    Maro the mayor kissed his teeth as he realised the disrespect he''d suffered was going to go unpunished. The other cultivators were surprised someone had actually been stupid enough to end up in the wrong place... Still, it wasn''t any of their concern. Although people would be more tolerant of other cultivators who worked under the same employer, be it Hans or Maro, they were all still vying for the same treasures, after all. When it came down to it, all alliances were temporary in the face of loot!


    As Hans was leading Ares off, and Aejaz who was following along like a lost child, he spoke in a loud voice without turning around. "Ignore Maro, he''s just on edge after he saw that attack you launched the other day."


    "WHAT?!" Maro was livid, mostly because what Hans had said was true, but also because the culprit was right before him... ON HANS SIDE! This was disastrous for him, an absolute calamity. That menace had produced an attack of that scale with such a poxy cultivation... If he grew stronger, Maro was screwed! But what could he do about it while the kid was under the protection of Hans? He bit his lip until blood leaked out before looking down at the cultivators he''d given his permission to be here to. "That brat... I want him dead. I don''t care who does it or how. If you kill him, I''ll reward in any way you want. Money, status, women, men, fucking god damn orcs if you bloody well want I DON''T CARE, I WANT HIM DEAD. DO YOU HEAR ME?!" The cultivators all silently nodded but only a few took the request to heart. Their target was backed by Hans, which was complicated enough as is, but he was also the source of that attack? Hell no. Nuh uh. Nope. Not happening. Of course there were a few fool hardy fools who were fooled into lusting after fool''s gold. Anything could happen in a tomb, after all. Even if someone else, or something else killed Ares, as long as they were the one who took credit, there were plenty of gains to be made! They hadn''t even gotten into the tomb yet and, already, there were opportunities abound!


    Meanwhile, as Ares, Hans, and Aejaz neared their side''s encampment, Ares thanked Hans. "Ah, really, you''re too kind. All the goodies headed in my direction is going to make my pockets that much heavier."


    Hans chuckled as he held onto his hat with Ifrit following behind him like a guardian deity. Ifrit vanished from Ares'' view when he deactivated Omniscience, but he was still very much there and ready to throw down at a moment''s notice if need be. "No problemo kiddo. Besides, those fools are all under Maro''s thumb. If they attack you and die, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain from their stupidity. Ah, but don''t go croaking on me, that would be even more stupid, you hear?"


    "Aye aye, sir. Oh, and about that contract, I was gonna take a peep and do it today, but I found out about this and came here instead. I''ll do the contract afterwards."


    "No worries, that one doesn''t have a time limit or anything. Also, sorry about not mentioning the tomb last time we spoke, I just figured you already knew about it... You were the one who created this mess in the first place after all."


    Ares stuck his tongue out to the side of his mouth and acted innocent. "Says who?!"


    "Ha, kiddo, don''t even. I wasn''t born yesterday, hell I wasn''t even born the day before that."


    Aejaz'' teeth had stopped chattering and he had questions! "Since when is Missy''s grandpa this strong?! The mayor is a transition realm cultivator, why are you on par with him?! Since when?!"


    Hans sighed. "Jaz, you''re a real baby, you know that?" He patted Aejaz on the back. "If you ever wanna man up, feel free to come do some real work under me. Maybe I''ll even throw in some lessons on ''how to be a gent'' on the house. Treat you to some cigars and whiskey to force the wimp outta you."


    "No thank you! The wimp and I get along very well!"


    Ares smacked Aejaz on the arm. "You can say no now all you want, but eventually I''m a making you go, so prepare yourself."


    "What kind of work is it anyway?"


    "Yeah... Don''t worry about that. You''ll find out on the job."


    Aejaz panicked as, this time, he managed to catch the sharp glint in Ares'' eye that he''d missed previously.

 Chapter 72: Enter the Bungeon

    Ares and co entered the encampment and Ares eyed up the competition before deflating in disappointment. The people here weren''t really worth his time. The vibe here was much more energetic though. People were chatting away and getting to know one another. They were all people who''d been contracted by Hans at some point, so most people were on the same page as one another with everyone generally wanting what''s best for Red Sun. There would undoubtedly still be betrayal and competition when things kicked off, but not to the same scale that it would be happening with the other lot. A few people here and there glanced over at the bandit brothers either because they recognised them as such, or because Hans was paying them special attention. Ares and Aejaz were the proverbial big fish so people would naturally keep an eye out on them.


    As Ares and Hans were discussing the current state of Red Sun, and occasionally the oddity that was Transmit, an overexcited disciple came tumbling into the encampment. "IT''S OPEN! THE TOMB IS OPEN!"


    Hans stood up and took charge, leading everyone calmly to the tomb. Hans and Maro already agreed not to be petty by squirming in a mad dash to get in first. Everyone would start at the same place, at the same time. What happened after that though was fair game. After a five minute walk, both groups appeared at the entrance to the tomb.


    Ares stared in disbelief at the entrance... Which was very clearly an elevator! Where was the romance?! Where was the 1000 year old cave entrance?! Where was the deep, dark hole in the ground leading to untold danger?! What was up with this shopping mall looking-ass tomb!? Was he about to go grocery shopping? Was there a self-checkout?! He needed answers damnit! Ares shook his head and cleared his doubts by slapping himself awake. In the end, it didn''t really matter. There was treasure to be had!


    Hans took out a golden stopwatch and flipped it open. Inside was a picture of his late daughter, upon seeing which Hans accidentally raised the temperature via Ifrit as he glared at Maro. Hans took a deep breath before speaking up. "In ten seconds you can all scramble as you please. We won''t be intervening, so go wild.


    Tick


    Tick


    Every tick of the stopwatch seemed to sync with the heartbeat of the tense competitors. Every cultivator stared determinedly at the elevator, minus a select few who were interested in Ares'' bounty.


    Tick


    Tick


    Ares activated Omniscience and took stock. Three people were targeting him with magic and two others were probably going to charge him when things kicked off.


    Tick


    Tick


    Ares checked his brother next. Aejaz was blissfully unaware of the animosity directed towards Ares. He seemed ready to run, and boy was he ready to escape if need be. Ares took note of his brother''s posture, in particular the area around his feet.


    Tick


    Tick


    Tick


    The last order of business was to formulate a plan. That was honestly probably the easy part. In fact, Ares had already done it. Now it was just a matter of execution, but the Celestial Prisms simplified that nicely via Omniscience. Just before all hell broke loose, Ares couldn''t help but be grateful to the Prisms. They had been doing monumental work for Ares lately and were every bit as powerful as he''d hoped they''d be. Even right now, they were about to make his life a whole lot easier.


    Tick


    "" Grim Warden./Flash Thunder./ Water Bullet."" All three arts were released sequentially at Ares with the intention of locking him down, stunning him, and finally finishing him off with the Water Bullet. All of the above arts were familiar to Ares so he could tell what they were after and see it all coming from a mile away. Ares stood still with his arms behind his back in a lofty pose as bloody chains burst out from the ground, entangling him in the kind of bondage that Enyo would most definitely appreciate if she were here. The Flash Thunder came crashing down onto Ares location, but failed to hit the guy himself as he had already Shifted out of the mess and was watching the arts hit nothing but thin air from afar. The three cultivators casting arts kissed their teeth and gave up for now, they still had a tomb to enter and if they weren''t able to make it into the elevator before it went down they would have a massive disadvantage compared to everyone else.


    As for the two charging at Ares, they''d been bamboozled by his disappearance but veered back towards him after they caught sight of him. Ares had Shifted a little ahead of Aejaz and was watching as the two men caught up to them both. When they were sufficiently near, Ares aimed a flicked Echo... At his brother!


    "Eh?!" Aejaz freaked out as the ranged Echo came out and tripped him up by striking his foot as he was running. "Why meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!"


    "Grand Annihilation!"


    "EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!" Aejaz thought his brother was truly going off the handle when he heard the art being chanted. He sighed in relief when he looked up and saw Ares aiming it behind him, but couldn''t for the life of him figure out what Ares was doing..."


    BOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    The chain explosions engulfed the two cultivators who immediately regretted picking this fight. A part of them, and everyone else here, believed deep down that the rumours had been exaggerated and that the attack launched the other day was done by someone else. Although this art wasn''t to the same scale, it was pretty much confirmation of a truth they really didn''t want to see be proven. One of the two cultivators died somewhere inside the explosions while the other used a life saving treasure to form a barrier and yet, even then, he came out of it poor condition, missing an arm and part of his shoulder.


    As for Ares and Aejaz...


    "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"


    The explosion had been close enough to sweep Aejaz off his one foot. Aejaz, as he was being whisked into the air, came to the conclusion that his brother was terrible person! Ares had tripped him so he could throw him off balance and send him flying forward via explosive propulsion! Ares himself had also taken a ride on the blast wave and was currently gripping Aejaz by the shirt as he dangled beneath him, screaming as he went sailing over the heads of the other cultivators.


    All of the cultivators looked up as they continued racing along toward the elevator, but a few couldn''t help but stop and gawk at the bandit brothers blasting through the air. Ares spread his swings to slow his descent as he neared the elevator while also throwing Aejaz to the floor. Aejaz'' natural, cat like instincts kicked in allowing him to land safely on his feet and take off running... Primarily from his own brother who was the biggest danger to him around. Ares swivelled to face the other cultivators after he landed and brought out the Black Ice Bane.


    "Crystalised Void: Tricky Rink!"


    Ares dug the tip of the sword into the ground, leaned on it in an exaggerated pose even though it was completely unnecessary, and watched on as Crystalised Void began rapidly spreading across the floor. The Crystalised Void fanned outward and extended far enough to replace everyone else''s footing with an iced floor that was difficult to navigate without falling over. Unlike the wall Ares could also summon, this Crystalised attack contained hints of black and gold under it''s solid exterior. Although it just looked like an annoying obstacle and a minor inconvenience at first glance, this Crystalised Void attack actually took up around 60% of the Black Ice Bane''s state because it was deceptively powerful. Ares smirked as he addressed the cultivators struggling on the ice. "I wouldn''t try to remove the Crystallised floor if I were you, things will get messy if you do! Consider that your one warning!"


    The cultivators working under Hans decided to grin and bear it, not messing with the crystals beneath them. There was a slim chance Ares'' threat was just an empty one... But if that earlier explosion was indicative of what could wind up happening to them if they attempted to call a bluff and lost the bet... It was far better to just keep inching forward or, in the case of one skilled cultivator, skate forward with finesse. Plus, they would find out soon enough anyway about the veracity of Ares'' claims as the other encampment seemed to not falter in the face of potential danger. One of the cultivators working under Maro had seriously had enough of the slippery floor so he channelled his mana in preparation to cast Flamethrower and be done with it.


    "Bleugh." The man''s plans went to shit as he was skewered by disintegration tendrils that broke out of the floor and impaled him in his upper body. These tendrils were mana-seeking and would aim to disintegrate any and all mana channelled by anyone standing on top of the crystal flooring. The man was shaking as the tendrils retracted under the floor. He looked down at the holes that had been drilled into him and he almost fainted when he saw parts of his inner organs cleanly punctured. The tendrils were made with disintegration magic, so they had obliterated any part of the man they had touched even remotely. If he didn''t seek immediate aid, he would die a dog''s death stumbling on an iced floor. The humiliation of tripping and falling to his death would haunt him in the afterlife, so he sat down and accepted he wasn''t going to make it to the elevator as he began healing himself on the spot with various potions he brought with him. He almost instinctively used some healing magic he knew... Almost... To think he almost got himself skewered again so soon after the previous incident... It would have been even worse this time as he was sitting down and his body mass was clumped together. He shivered in fear as he realised he was this close to having his head popped like a balloon.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    This wasn''t the end of the Tricky Rink''s tricks, though, as another impatient cultivator found out the hard way. Everyone had come to the same conclusion that anything other than mana was a-ok, but the Hans Hire-ees made the wise choice of not acting on that assumption. Ares hadn''t stated not to use magic, he''d said not to try and remove it... And they saw what happened to the last person to not heed his advice, so once again they let the other idiots figure it out for them. As for the woman who thought she was clever by trying to break the floor with her weapon, a mace... Well she had it far worse than the previous fool, and by quite a large margin at that.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The Tricky Rink was also imbued with annihilation magic, as was evident by the explosion that was roughly similar in size to a shock bead that had just engulfed the overconfident woman. If anything, the Tricky Rink explosions were more dangerous than the Shock Beads as they were guaranteed to go off directly next to the cultivator. Weapons only had so much range, and the explosion would be triggered wherever the Rink was struck, so the distance between the explosions point of origin and the cultivator would never be more than a few feet at most. This woman, in particular, had swung almost straight down... There was a pool of blood where she was once stood... But she was alive! Kinda. What had happened was everything below her waist had been blown to smithereens and her upper body had been blasted away, back to the starting point. The pool of blood was the only thing remaining of her legs. Luckily for the woman, she had fainted as soon as the explosion detonated so she was unaware of the bodily harm that had been inflicted on her. Maro kissed his teeth and begrudgingly stabilised her to prevent death. He wasn''t happy about the thought of having to lug this stupid woman back to town. She made her own mistake, so he saw no reason to have to be the one to pay for it, but if he let a civilian die right before him like this there would be an uproar, exacerbated by an opportunistic Hans, that he really didn''t want to deal with. As for what the woman would do when she woke up, her only real option was to travel to Neo Gear land and have prosthetics made for her. They were quite advanced so, if she had the stardust necessary, her life could go still back to normal yet. If she didn''t have the money though, well she was simply screwed. It wasn''t even like she could sell herself off anymore as her lower half was gone... Although maybe there would be people into that, but that was her problem. Next time, if ever there was one, she should learn not to ignore a cultivator far stronger than herself. Or at the very least be smart enough to investigate properly. If she had thrown her mace at the foot of someone else, for example, she would have been in the clear while simultaneously taking out an opponent. Maro had thought of this idea because he was cruel but also because he was experienced with the harsh world of cultivators. The woman had not because she simply didn''t have what it took to be anything other than cannon fodder to people way above her league. It was really just that simple. This world was not one someone could coast by in just by being average, especially not if they got involved in competitions of strength like this as it was where the powerful gathered to further themselves even at the cost of others. Maybe if she had understood her relative position, she could have walked away from this mess or never even been here to begin with. Well, as it would turn out, this woman was born under a lucky star. When the international rolled around, a Legion clan elder would take pity on the wounded, homeless woman, and take her back to his home planet for recovery. As for whether she would still hold a grudge against Ares... Who knows?


    Speaking of the devil, he was currently chucking Shock Beads at Maro''s henchmen with an evil sneer on his face.


    Boooooooom


    Boooooooom


    Boooooooom


    Cultivator after cultivator was sent flying as Ares'' bombardment rained golden torment upon them. the worst part was that they couldn''t defend themself either! The stupid Tricky Rink would be the death of them if they even bothered to try. One cultivator tried to Blink out of the zone and take Ares by surprise, but as long as Ares Omniscience as up and running, this was a decision that could only ever bring the person a considerable amount of harm because not only...


    CRACK


    ¡­ Was the blink interrupted, mangling the cultivator as his limbs were ruptured; but also because...


    SPLAT


    ¡­ The disintegration tendrils came after the man, running him through and killing him as his body was mid slump. When the tendrils retreated back under the floor, the body collapsed to the ground with a thunk. The interrupted Blink had put the man on death''s door to begin with and throwing the tendrils on top was basically a guaranteed one way ticket to the afterlife. Unfortunately for those in the immediate vicinity, his dead body colliding with the floor triggered another explosion.


    Boooooooom


    Hans'' employees were sweating buckets as their eyes twitched nervously. They paid the forlorn cries of the other cultivators no mind as they thanked God they were on Hans'' team because the golden devil ahead of them had everyone''s fate in his palm. How they were supposed to get any treasures with this person around was going to be a complicated issue, but their lives were more valuable and they, now at the very least, knew better than to try and fight him for them. They would probably have to resort to indirect methods... But looking at the Shock Beads go flying past their heads was enough of a dissuasion to prevent them from having any funny ideas about backstabbing Ares. As for Maro''s cultivators, some persisted by hanging further back, giving them time to dive out of the way of the Beads. This meant they were never going to make it to the elevator first, but that was a minor setback when compared with, say, death.


    Ares, who''d been treating this like nothing more than target practice, slowly realised he was scoring less points with each Bead, so he turned and Shifted over to the elevator. Aejaz was already inside and sitting in the corner, grateful for only having had to put up with the whip earlier as it clearly could have been way worse. Aejaz didn''t put it past his brother to start playing Shock Bead dodgeball with him at some point. Ares looked back outside at the Tricky Rink with a satisfied expression. Even this was really not the optimal use of it as he''d used it in a wide open space. If used in a small room, say, he could really wreak inescapable havoc. A cultivator either had to be extremely mobile, even on ice, or have impeccable defences to not be affected by the rune''s attack. Tricky Rink was very much worth the 60% cost of doing business in the right circumstances. Even if this usage hadn''t been optimal, Ares was mostly just experimenting to see how effective it could be even in unfavourable conditions; and he was pleased with the outcome. He felt particularly empowered when he was just mindlessly, half-heartedly launching Beads at people who could do nothing but squirm before him... Now if only he had an actual, consistent, long ranged attack... Oh the fun he could have.


    The mad scramble over the slippery surface came to an end for the cultivators under Hans and they too entered the elevator. Ares poked the button with the downward facing arrow and went to go sit in the corner next to his brother. The other cultivators all simultaneously shimmied off to the other side of the room. Ares hadn''t attacked them, and he''d even patiently waited for them, but there was no telling if he had plans to chuck out another Grand Annihilation in this confined area. The elevator was bigger than a normal one, with enough room to hold roughly 25 people, but it was still nowhere near big enough to flee an explosion of that magnitude.


    The elevator''s descent began as the doors closed shut. The atmosphere was tense as everyone kept nervously side eyeing one another. It wasn''t just Ares who could make an attempt to thin the competition at any given moment, so everyone was on full alert. Just as tensions reached a boiling point...


    ??Du du du, du du dududu ??


    Elevator music?... Ares chuckled at the ingenious prank of whoever set up this tomb. I can''t tell if this has made things more or less awkward.


    Ding


    The doors opened as the elevator came to a halt and everyone madly dashed out of the confined space so they could take some distance from one another. Before everyone took off running deeper into the cave, they had a choice to make. A choice as old as time itself. Left, or right! The left path was lined with fur of some kind, and the right had cobwebs dotted around it. It should comes as no surprise which direction Ares went. Highly likely chance of a cute animal, or spiders... Yeah, there really wasn''t a contest. Ares made a lightning fast decision which everyone else assumed was because he knew something they didn''t, causing a few people to rush after him for all the wrong reasons. Some of these people even overtook Ares who opted to take his time and go through things cautiously. Of course, these fools who thought they were on the easy path were about to come face to face with the kicker. A man with lightweight armour and a dagger in his hand reached the end of the cavernous path which opened up into a grassy area. It was still cavernous overhead, but there was a bit more light thanks to some bulbs that had been installed by whoever created the tomb. The man sprinted into the opening and was immediately blasted horizontally by a tiny, brown creature with white streaks that moved extraordinarily fast. The creature ran away and hid in a nearby bush before anyone could see what it was. Anyone other than Ares, anyway, as his Omniscience had allowed him to identify the little blur. He had no reason to hide the information, so he shared it with the rest of the group. Well, that wasn''t his goal, he was mostly just informing Aejaz who looked like he was about to wet himself.


    "As it turns out, the kicker is a ''kicka.'' Ironic, I know."


    Aejaz cooled off somewhat when he realised Ares was unphased by the foe at large which meant he was capable of handling it, with room to spare, on his own in a worst case scenario. With that reassurance came curiosity, so he asked a question that, actually, a few of the other cultivators were interested in as well. "What''s a kicka?"


    "Hm, it would probably be more accurate to ask what ''kickas'' are as they almost always come in packs. Put simply, they''re a tribe of bunnies with incredibly powerful legs which they use to dive kick opponents after launching themselves into the air. Our rash friend who went charging in, and is now slowly crawling back out, got his ribs kicked in, which should give you an idea of how strong they are. They''re speedy too, so not the easiest enemy to fight, but they become incredibly weak if you can damage their legs at all as it''s basically their only method of combat and mobility tied into one. AOE attacks that cover a wide range tend to be useful against them. As a side note, a group of kickas is called a ''leg day''. That wasn''t the original name, mind you, but a bunch of bodybuilders who deeply respected the kickas suplexed the scientists in charge of naming and, thus, had their own name ''taken into consideration''."


    "... I''m not sure that last part is relevant... But remind me to stay away from bodybuilders..."


    As Aejaz and Are talked, a confident cultivator, presumably because she was capable of launching wide-ranged magic, tried to enter the open area.


    Ares put his hand out in front of her and stopped her dead in her tracks however. "Ah ah ah ah." Ares waggled his finger at the cultivator who frowned deeply at him. "Tsk, don''t give me that look, I''m saving your life here lady! Granted its only because you lot can potentially be useful cannon fodder down the line, but you didn''t hear that from me, ok?" The woman scowled at the mad man who openly admitted to his dastardly plans. "Yeah, yeah, poor little angry you. Anyway, look up." Ares pointed at the ceiling of the open area and everyone else''s'' eyes followed. It''s worth mentioning that Aejaz stole from everyone while their attention was elsewhere, but that''s neither here nor there really. As for the other cultivators, they honestly didn''t know what they were looking at which caused Ares to sigh in exasperation. "The lights, people, the lights. Kickas basically have night vision so either the lights will go off when you start fighting to blind you, or the kickas will destroy them anyway for the same effect. Unless you''ve been eating carrots by the truckload, I would suggest you either come up with a plan, or just let me deal with it. If you pick the former, I will not save your asses when things go pear-shaped. If you pick the latter, I''m keeping everything in that room and killing anyone who disagrees. So go and discuss what you want to do. You can go rabid over potential treasure, or you can cede the opportunity to me and let me grabbit myself."


    The cultivators all went off to the side for their discussion, but not before giving Ares the stink eye of the century while groaning in disgust at his stupid puns. Ares couldn''t fathom their behaviour, though. "Those jokes were primo! Don''t get mad at me just ''cos they didn''t tickle your bunny bone!"


    A few of the cultivators left to go back down the other path. This one simply wasn''t going to be worth it.

 Chapter 73: A Worthy Warriors Honourable Duel

    Some time later, the cultivators agreed to give up on the spoils and let Ares deal with the unfamiliar threat. It''s not like there was any guarantee there would be any worthwhile treasures in the room anyway, so this was the safest bet. If they went in as a group, they might accidentally commit friendly fire when the lights went out. if they went individually, they weren''t confident they could win. Throwing their lives away this early into the tomb was just being unnecessarily stubborn. There were a few who disagreed with this approach, but the numbers were completely skewed against them so they had to give up.


    Ares, after receiving all the confirmation he needed, began strolling through the opening to the grassy area. He had qualms about fighting cute bunnies, but they weren''t going to be convinced to stand down if he just tried talking it out. There was a limit to how gentle he was willing to be and right now he wanted to get past this place and explore further. If the kickas learnt their lesson quickly, he would spare however many were remaining after. Of course, convincing them was going to take a bit of work, so he decided on making an example of the first few that would come hopping at him. As if on cue, the second he thought that, the same bunny as before came leaping at Ares with phenomenal speed. The kicka hopped in a zig zag fashion before committing to a drill kick that was faster than any of the cultivators in the cave could follow. Thanks to Ares'' omniscience, he could see everything clearly, including the kicka''s unique appearance. kickas typically have brown fur with white, warpaint-like markings on their face, giving them a rather intimidating presence.


    The kicka in question wore a confident expression as it neared the head of its prey. The previous kick had been a warning not to disturb their territory. Now that they had come back, it was go time and the kicka planned on teaching the intruders a lesson they wouldn''t forget any time soon. The ''human'' within its sight was sluggish compared to itself, so this was predictably going to be an effortless kill. As the kicka neared the point of contact, however, that notion was quelled as the human''s head swivelled to face the kicka with golden fire rolling off his predatory eyes. The kicka desperately scrambled to alter course as its natural instincts screamed at it to run away, but it was to no avail as it felt the human grab its leg, stopping it mid-air and all but dooming his fate. The human grinned down at the kicka who''s heart almost gave in out of shock. The kicka was dragged over the human''s head and slammed face first into the ground, giving him a massive concussion. He dazedly tried to drag himself away by using his ears to pull himself to safety as his world spun, but the human had never actually let go of him so he made no progress. The kicka thought that maybe its brethren would be able to save him as they all came leaping out of the bushes, but the kicka quickly realised that action had just made the situation worse as the human resorted to using his entire body as a weapon. The wind blew past its fur as it went swinging upward to intercept another kicka, smacking headfirst into his brethren who was flung away into a wall. Next the kicka was dragged overhead again to knock down another kicka mid dive, slamming it into the floor and breaking its back. The kicka firmly held by Ares dangled to and fro as he was held upside down, serving as a warning for the other kickas who were now hesitant to launch any attacks. Unexpectedly for the kickas, the grim reaper masquerading as a human spoke to them and offered them a deal.


    "Let us through and I''ll put your friend here down. If you don''t, things are only going to get worse from here on out. You can''t beat me, so step down."


    Squeak (Who does this human think he is?)


    "I think I''m the guy using your friend as a club to beat you all senseless."


    Squeak? (You understand us?) The kickas had never met someone who could speak their language so they were understandably taken aback.


    "Yes. Now the real question is, do you understand me when I tell you I have no problems killing every single one of you?"


    Squeak? Squeak! (You think you''re hot shit? Hit the lights!) One of the kickas rap up a wall and jumped backward, simultaneously destroying a nearby lightbulb with a sweep while using it as a platform to move onward to the next light. With a single, swift jump, it platformed across the sky while destroying all of the bulbs, darkening the entire room.


    Squeakkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!! (Chargeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) With a single command, the lead kicka had effectively handed down all of his men a death sentence. The first kicka to understand this was the one who, after destroying all the lightbulbs, pushed off the ceiling and dived at the back of the human''s head.


    Ares, well aware of the sneak attack, shifted his head an inch to the side, allowing the kicka to go barrelling past him. He wasn''t letting the kicka go unpunished though as he kicked out, catching the kicka in the stomach. The kick was so brutal the kicka hovered in mid air even after Ares removed his foot as the blow had contained an Echo that was pummelling the kicka''s stomach. The pain it was suffering was extinguished, along with its life, as the kicka Ares was wielding crashed down into the back of its head, splitting it open. This gave the other kickas pause as the human who was supposed to be helpless in the dark reacted perfectly.


    SQUEAK! (Attack simultaneously, he can''t take us all at once!) Despite the obvious implication here that some of the kickas were going to have to sacrifice themselves to take down the foe, there was zero hesitation as they leapt foot first into the jaws of death, unafraid for their lives. The kickas launched several attack from every conceivable direction, trapping Ares within the middle of an ambush that looked nigh inescapable. As the diving kickas came closing in, Ares ran annihilation magic through his weapon... The half dead kicka, and took a deep sigh that resounded throughout the cave. It was as if time came to a crawl seconds before the kicks landed. A calm voice reverberated off the walls and echoed in the ears of every living creature.


    "Asura Rondo."


    From outside the open area, back in the caves were Aejaz and the other cultivators were, nothing could be seen within the grassy arena. All the lights had been taken out and the area ahead was pitch black. Occasionally, a flash of golden light would illuminate Ares wildly swinging his weapon and manoeuvring through the kicka horde. Flash after flash revealed Ares'' form as he struck down kicka after kicka, all the while his ominous laughter rang out, signalling his superiority over the group of battered creatures. With every flash of light, the number of kickas decreased and their enthusiasm faltered until the dull thuds coming from the grassy arena were silenced. A deathly quiet rolled throughout the cave.


    ¡­


    Click


    A series of floor lights switched on, bringing light back to the grassy arena. Standing tall, surrounded by small mounds of bloody, dead creatures, was an Ares who gave off the impression he was unassailable by even the fiercest of tides. He''d stood his ground, swatting away all his opposition and, now, his unyielding form silently declared victory. The dead kicka hanging upside down in his grip was simultaneously both an accessory to his spree of violence and a trophy celebrating his triumph.


    Squeak (Stand down.)


    With the dignified composure of a winner, Ares slowly craned his head to face the new threat. The other kickas that were still breathing retreated behind a daunting figure, the chief kicka. Kickas could evolve when their cultivation reached a specific point, the peak of mental accumulation. When they arrived at this goal, they would double in size and grow a pair of wings, very much like the kicka standing before Ares. Having understood that the newcomer posed a significant threat, Ares fully turned his body to face the chief who formed a wall between himself and his kicka brethren.


    Squeak (If I die here, under my authority as chief, I order you all to yield.)


    With a fierce resolution, the chief kicka declared his conditions for his brethren''s'' absolute surrender.


    Squeak (As for me...) Sliding his left foot forward along the floor and bending his right knee, the chief took up a low stance as he spread his wings proudly.


    Squeak (¡­ After today, I will either be remembered as a martyr, or an avenger.)


    The chief, having said all he needed to and nothing more, propelled himself at Ares chest.


    Ares gripped the dead kicka tightly, pouring all of his strength into the next swing as he took a resolute step forward.


    The chief''s foot twisted like a drill and the dead kicka was enveloped in a golden hue.


    As the two connected...


    "GRAND ANNIHILATION!"


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM


    BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Chain explosions rattled the cave, bringing part of the ceiling down as the walls trembled under the pressure. The explosions kept triggering for what felt like an eternity, rocking the air and swaying the grass until the golden catastrophe''s power started to dwindle. Everyone looked on with baited breath as the golden swirls dissipated, leaving behind a single figure, with a hole in the corner of his heart, stood on the grass. The other lay dead on the floor with a mangled body.


    Squeakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk


    Cries of mourning rang out as the chief''s unmoving corpse decorated the kicka''s habitat.


    Ares glanced down at the damage he''d been dealt before looking at the chief''s dead body and muttering to himself with sincerity, "I will remember you as both." His clothes covering his left shoulder were torn and there was a small hole drilled straight through his body, even nicking his heart. His left arm was slightly wounded and his chest had caved in slightly at the location the kick had landed. In his hand, the dead kicka he''d been swinging around had been obliterated from the foot up. It''s dead body had housed and unleashed a Grand Annihilation, so there was essentially nothing left other than the blood that had splattered over Ares'' hand and wrist.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Stepping past the corpse and the bushes of depressed kickas, Ares made his way to the back of the grassy area and found a shrine of sorts. Ares had seen it when he walked in earlier and assumed something of value lay within and now he got to reap the rewards. His hand reached out and grabbed the handle of the wooden mini-doors concealing the treasure...


    Sigh


    "Really? Can''t you tell that''s not a good idea?" Ares addressed the cultivator behind him trying to creep around.


    "Oops, haha. Seems I''ve been caught. I don''t suppose you''ll believe me if I tell you I''m not after the treasure?" A thin and graceful man with a sleek face, dressed in white silk peeked out from behind a tree and playfully intoned his innocence.


    "Let''s say I do believe you. What do you actually want? I''m the only other thing of note here, so make it snappy before I snap your neck." Ares decided to be cautious around this person as his presence was odd. It''s like he only existed in form but not in actuality, like he was a projection without flesh. Ares remembered this was the cultivator who''d been skating on his Tricky Rink earlier and that was enough reason to keep him at arms length until Ares knew what he was after.


    "Sounds painful. I''d rather not have that happen to my delicate self, so I guess I''ll just have to come clean, eh? Fleeting Glimpse sends their regards." The man gave a polite bow while turning his dark eyes up to Ares.


    "Why? Scouting in advance of the tournament, maybe?"


    "Precisely! Oh you are a clever one, aren''t you? We didn''t send anyone to Red Sun this year because our expectations were low but, wow, you certainly blew them out of the water, didn''t you!? You''re a real bundle of fun, you know that? All these colourful arts, that massive explosion... Aejaz."


    "I''m surprised you even know about him." Aejaz'' family was originally from another continent. The main branch had come over to visit the Central land branch and abandoned Aejaz while they were here.


    "I was but a tiny little boy when the main branch visited but, I must say, I was truly enamoured with them all. Especially a pretty boy like Aejaz, he stood out like a sore thumb. You can imagine my dismay when I learnt he''d been cast out... I would have loved to get to know him better, maybe even..." The man took a deep breath through his nose as his head turned to the sky. "... Stab him a few times. Still, a disgrace is a disgrace and I''m not here for him. Not that I won''t mention it to the clan when I return, I just don''t think anyone will care. I once thought he shone bright, but now I see an even brighter star before me. A waxen star. One that burns brightly... But for how long? It would be wise of you not to make enemies you can''t handle, Ares. You''re attracting a lot of attention, and I''m not even talking about mine. I may not have what it takes to bring you to heel, no matter how badly I want to riddle you with holes, but there are people within the clan who can. You are wanted, Ares. Still, if we can''t have you... You know the rest, don''t you?"


    "You''re in over your head. You and your clan truly don''t understand the scope of the person you''re messing with." Ares pointed a finger at himself in case it wasn''t obvious. "You will understand in due time, everyone will. For now, just know that I am well and truly beyond everything you are and ever will be. Your clan means nothing to me and I will gladly reduce it to rubble if it tries to stand in my way. I''m quite good at that, you see. Make no mistake though, I am not the one that will deal with you shadowy pests in the tournament. You''re humiliation at the international will not come by my hand, it doesn''t need to. I have nothing else to say to you, and there''s nothing left for you here other than a Grand Annihilation if you push your luck. I would strongly recommend you leave."


    "Ooh, scary! I''ll let the clan know about your thoughts on the matter." A white mist slowly coated the cultivator. "We''ll be in touch, Ares... Mmmm, that hole in your chest is truly, truly beautiful." The cultivator licked his lips before disappearing completely. As he faded away, he heard Ares snort derisively and spit.


    "Good luck, creep."


    The cultivator was gone for good. He reappeared in a field outside the tomb and far away from Red Sun. The Fleeting Glimpse clan had access to some pretty expensive treasures capable of long range Teleportation that were good for escaping the scene of the crime. The cultivator chuckled to himself remembering the conversation he had and stretched his arms in the air. As he looked at the sky, wishing he could poke wounds into the clouds above, he noticed a golden shimmer to the side of his head. He looked over and was left speechless by the Shock Bead hovering next to him. His thoughts raced as he went over everything in his head, coming to the conclusion that Ares had flicked the Bead into his pocket when he raised his finger to point at himself. This wasn''t actually correct, but it didn''t matter right now as he couldn''t care less about the truth. An overwhelming rage drowned the cultivator as he glared in anger at the Shock Bead on the verge of exploding in his face. With a deep hatred, he roared, "YOU BASTARD!" as his hand darted for his other pocket to pull out a treasure...


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM


    A golden dome covered his figure. Whether he got the treasure out in time or not... That was anyone''s guess.


    Back in bunny land, Ares was playfully punching his brother''s arm. "See? You''re more slick than any of your clan members by a long shot. You were here the whole time and he didn''t even know. Hell, he didn''t even notice you Relocating the bead into his pocket with your magic."


    Aejaz smiled wryly. "That''s just some weirdo from the branch family here in Central. The main family would never have let that happen to them..."


    "Sure, but you''re not going to be relying on petty trickery like that in the future, so who cares? I was serious earlier. It''s not going to be me that does them in at the international. I''m going to make sure you do it. I swear I''ll make you capable of that by the time you need to do it, so don''t go chickening out on me."


    Scratching his head, Aejaz could do nothing other than let out a sigh and nod his head. "Enough about that... I wanna see the treasure!"


    "Ha, fine." Ares put his hand on the handle and actually followed through his time, opening up the shrine. "Oh? Interesting... Sorry, but this one''s mine." Ares eyed the rolled scroll with the word ''TECHNICAL'' written on it.


    "Ah, no worries. You can take whatever you want. Besides, you earned it, not me. What is it, anyway?"


    "It''s a little complicated... To put it simply, it allows you to learn someone else''s unique art instantly. Learning a unique art can take an extremely long time and most people aren''t willing to hand them down anyway. The secrecy regarding unique arts is fairly commonplace and most people typically take the art with them to the grave. Some clans and organisations even have a death penalty for those who leak clan-specific unique arts, it''s that serious. Still, there are some who don''t care as much. Some people are proud in their creations and want their art to outlive them. There are even a few unique arts that were spread wide and far, becoming regular arts thanks to the amount of people who used them. The creators of these once-unique arts are often revered for their selflessness. Still, that approach is incredibly rare and cultivators will really only pass the unique art down to one or two people at most, if anyone. As for these scrolls, they can take an absurdly long time to produce as they require an intricate understanding of the art; one so profound the knowledge can instantly be transferred to anyone who so much as glances at the scroll''s contents. Sometimes the cultivator may even have to sacrifice some cultivation to get the scroll completed, so these things are valuable. The scrolls are one-time uses though, which is why the pillar they''re for is written on the outside. Imagine spending the better half of your life producing one of these things for, say, a fire pillar unique art only for someone who has a negative affinity with the fire pillar to stumble across it... That would be atrocious. At least this way they can be sold if they aren''t useful to the person who finds them. This is a technical though and literally anyone can learn it. It''s an incredible find."


    "Urge to steal... Rising..."


    Thwack


    "I learnt that technique from Enyo!" Ares declared proudly after slapping the back of his brother''s head. "Enough messing around, let''s open this bad boy up!" Doing precisely what he said he would, Ares unfurled the scroll and gazed at the words written on it. The words fell off the page and were funnelled into Ares'' forehead while the scroll burnt to a crisp. Ares closed his eyes for a few seconds as he digested all of the new information. Ares couldn''t help but smile even before his eyes reopened as this art was going to be a good one for him, really good. It was simple... Extremely so. Many people would probably be disappointed with an art like this after having worked so hard to get it, but Ares was not upset in the slightest.


    Aejaz was practically bounding around his brother in a manner that was reminiscent of the kickas from earlier. "Don''t keep me in suspense! What was it?"


    "Double Jump."


    "... Wow that sucks. Ha, you got conned!"


    Ares shook his head and decided showing his silly brother the true power of this art would be simpler than explaining it to him. He clicked his finger at Aejaz to get his attention. "Hey, watch."


    Aejaz stared at his brother... Gone? Aejaz'' head tilted in confusion as his brother disappeared on the spot. As Aejaz was familiar with Shift, he knew that wasn''t what had happened... He looked around and couldn''t find Ares until he eventually looked up and finally found his brother sitting on a tree branch with a smirk. Ares leaned off the branch and disappeared again. Aejaz didn''t get a chance to play where''s wally again as he felt Ares poke him in the back, so the answer was obvious. "The hell? How are you doing that?"


    Ares chuckled and walked in front of Ares. "I''m Double Jumping, obviously."


    Obvious my ass, Aejaz thought. "No seriously... What?"


    "The Double Jump works by creating a blast of air under your feet. Sound familiar?"


    "... Echoes?"


    "Correct. Now what do you think will happen if I use both Double Jump and Echoes at the same time? I go flying! The speed at which I''m launched is pretty ridiculous. The first time I used it, I just stood still and activated both. I was pushed up into the air before you could even realise I was gone. I landed in the tree and waited for you to notice. When you did, I kicked off the tree trunk while activating both arts again. The speedy launch brought me down to the floor behind you pretty much instantly. Don''t get me wrong, the original use for Double Jump is handy, but combining it with Echoes to dash around at Mach ten is way better. I can also get some serious height with it instead of having to blow myself up every time I want to go up into the air. I feel like there''s more I can do with this, but I''ll just have to test in my own time to discover other possibilities. Ah, but there is one more I can show you."


    Aejaz watched as Ares raised his foot toward him and placed it on his chest... "Wait a minut... BLEUGH." Aejaz was blasted across the room and into a couple of bushes.


    Ares used his new art to dash over, appearing out of thin air next to his brother. "And that was me holding back. If you''re curious, I used double jump on you directly. If I combined that attack with an Echo... You''d be in a world of hurt right about now!"


    "I ALREADY AM!"


    Ares laughed as he pulled his brother, covered in leaves, to his feet. "You don''t seem that bad to me. Come on, let''s go."


    Ares disappeared and Aejaz kissed his teeth. Now that his brother had a new art, he was going to play around with it nonstop until he got bored of it. Unlike the other arts Ares had created recently, this one looked spam-able as the mana cost probably wasn''t that high, unlike Perish Wheel, and there were no requirements that had to be met, unlike Grim Cessation. Whatever... As long as he doesn''t use it on me again...


    As Ares returned to collect his cultivator cannon fodder, he made sure to do a couple laps around the open area, jumping off walls and racing along the perimeter freely first. As someone who placed a great deal of importance on mobility, this art was perfect for Ares. This art made him fast enough to keep up with even Gladius'' Essedarius, on foot, and then some. His speed, while using this art, had borderline tripled; and its not like he was slow to begin with. The only question he had left in his head was whether or not this art was created by the owner of the tomb, or by the chief. Ares strongly leant towards the latter. There were plenty of chief kickas out there, but this one seemed special. His power was incomparable to any other kickas Ares had read about and he seemed a degree or two more intelligent as well. Plus the art had just been sitting there, meaning unless he was under strict orders, the chief could have obtained it whenever he wanted. It was looking more and more likely the chief was the inventor the more Ares thought about it so Ares said his thanks to the chief in his head and promised to do right by his art. He would get a lot of mileage out of it, the least he could do was take it out into the wider world and show it off for the deceased chief. It''s probably what the kicka would have wanted.

 Chapter 74: Ares, You Monster!

    "Alrighty you lot, let''s hop to it!" Ares clapped his hands to bring the other cultivators back to their senses. Ares was still walking around with a hole in heart, after all. "Hm, seems the groups gotten a bit bigger than before, I''ll be keeping my eye on you lot so behave yourselves." Ares was referring to the cultivators who worked for Maro as they had finally made their way down into the tomb and caught up with everyone. A few them, upon seeing Ares'' current state, considered trying to take him down but, when they saw him bounding around without a care in the world and testing out his new art, they figured he wasn''t nearly as injured as he looked. That, or he was seriously just a trooper. Either way, a maniac like that wasn''t worth messing with as they tended to be the suicidal ''I''ll take you with me'' types. Of course none of them knew he was a revenant either.


    The group set off and passed by the grassy area, all the while keeping an eye out for any suspicious movement from the kickas. They adhered to their chief''s final declaration, though, and simply went back to their business with a sad, gloomy aura. It seemed like they were maybe going to host a funeral for the chief, but that was their problem. If they hadn''t been so stubborn when it became apparent they weren''t going to win, they wouldn''t have had to lose so many of their family and friends. Ares only really felt a small amount of remorse, and only because they were cute bunnies. At the end of the day, he needed to get stronger for personal reasons and he wasn''t going to falter in the face of cuteness.


    Past the grassy area was more of the same cavernous type of route as before. Water dripped off stalactites overhead, spooking Aejaz, but there didn''t seem to be any actual creatures or dangerous traps in the immediate vicinity. Ares rounded a corner and just shook his head when he saw a cultivator ahead of him, pissing on a slime... Slimes were harmless creatures that digested anything and everything. Some were even kept as domesticated pets that functioned sort of like bins. The key word is ''domesticated'', though, as untrained slimes would just roam about the house devouring anything of value. Slimes can technically cultivate, but it requires intelligence that most of them don''t possess. Your average cave slime is just a mindless entity that roams around... Doing basically nothing. As for why the cultivator was pissing on it... Either he was a germaphobe that really didn''t like dirtying his surroundings, or he was just a weird person. The correct answer was likely the latter. Everyone of the other cultivators in Ares'' group who rounded the corner came to the same conclusion and looked at the man with disgust. The man in question took a second to realise he had an audience, at which point he scarpered, presumably back to the other group who went down the spider route. It seems they cleared their side quicker, although that was likely just because Ares had waited a small eternity for the others decided how they wanted to approach the bunny room. The group continued onward, past the slime which had turned yellow in colour after absorbing... Well, you know. Everyone made an effort to steer clear of the pudgy toilet bowl and walked until they came across the other group who were worse for wear. Ares was the single most injured person in the tomb, but that wasn''t including the people who had died along the other path as the group was noticeably smaller than before, even with the arrival of Maro''s group. Whether they ran into a chief-like existence or came across any treasures was up in the air, but they had clearly not had the greatest of times as a large number of their group had acid burns and a few missing limbs. The other group looked up at the arrival of Ares'' and kissed their teeth. If they had gone down the other route, Ares would have done all the work and they could have gotten to this point without suffering! They all collectively made this decision to follow Ares next time as the person on their path who took charge made awful decisions at every turn before getting his head bitten off by a spider. Meanwhile Ares looked like he''d single-handedly navigated a warzone to plant a flag and clear the way for his followers.


    When Ares moved onto the next path, both groups of cultivators followed in his stead. Seeing this, he turned to Aejaz and gave order. "Come-by. Get back. Bark. Hold... That''ll do!"


    Aejaz stared blankly at his stupid brother. "Since when did I become a sheep dog?!"


    The cultivators Ares had jokingly herded behind him were all glaring at the idiot, wondering if they could collectively jump and kill the obnoxious bastard. Ares didn''t concern himself with any of this as he marched ever onward, ignoring all of the cold gazes poking at his back. After another five minutes or so of walking, another opening appeared leading to a relatively large space. This one didn''t have any grass or living beings as far as they eye could see. It was just an open area with no obstacles. No rocky pillars jutting out, no bushes or greenery, nothing hanging off the ceiling... But that''s not to say the room was completely empty though as, in the middle of the left wall sat a rather innocuous chest. Neither gaudy nor plain accurately described the chest as it was sat somewhere in the middle. It was made of some type of metal, but not any type that would even be worth its own weight in gold. There was a ruby red jewel attached to the lock that was seemingly valuable, if going by its lustre anyway, and that alone was enough to have some of the poorer cultivators itching to jump straight towards it. The only reason they didn''t was because this room was a death trap if ever there was one. Although it looked plain, that was arguably the problem. Would a boulder come crashing out of the ceiling? Would the walls close in and squish them all? None of these would be surprising considering the kind of place they were in, so everyone was staring at the room to try and figure out the catch hidden somewhere in it. Ares had done the same with his Omniscience, so he knew... He knew the room was completely safe! To prove it to the others who would be hesitant to believe him if he said as much, he strolled into the open area without a care in the world and headed straight over to the chest. Upon seeing Ares unharmed and successfully twiddling his thumbs as he made his way to the goods, a number of cultivators, roughly ten or so from both Maro and Hans'' groups, followed suit and headed in. Those who chose to stay back didn''t believe for a second things were as simple as Ares made them look. They''d not known him for long, but they knew he was absolutely the type to play around with dangerous matters and not show them their due regard.


    As Ares neared the chest, one of the cultivators behind him called out to utter a complaint. "Why should you get the chest instead of any of us? You already got something in the grassy area earlier, right? Don''t be greedy. We can talk this out."


    Ares shook his head at the idiot who clearly didn''t understand how any of this worked. "For starters, so what if I took the last treasure? I earned it and, even if hadn''t, I assure you I would have taken it anyway. I have more important concerns than allowing some nobody with no future to raise their mediocre strength. How would you propose we sort this out anyway? There''s one chest, and roughly eleven of us here. If only one person is going to get it, its going to be me and that''s final."


    The cultivator frowned and tried to be diplomatic one more time even though he was aware he wasn''t going to make any progress. "We can talk this out, or we can fight this out."


    "Does it really matter which I choose? if violence is the problem, violence is the solution. If talk is the problem, violence is still the solution. Also, I like my odds against you chumps. Still... I''ll make you a deal. Give me 100 mid-grade stardust and its all yours."


    "DON''T BE RIDICULOUS! That''s clearly way too much! How can any one of us afford that? Are you just setting it that high to force us to fight you, you damn sicko?"


    "Idiot. I''m allowing all ten of you to contribute. 10 mid-grade stardust each isn''t impossible. I refuse to believe you chumps are that broke. You should take the offer while you can, you aren''t going to have any better opportunities than this to get your hands on treasure from here on out now that I''m in charge. I''m the only one who can pass these obstacles on my own. I can take all of you out simultaneously. You do the maths and tell me who calls the shots here, me or you. If it weren''t for your... bravery in trying to follow me, I wouldn''t have nearly as much... Respect for you as I do, which is the only reason I''m even giving you this one chance. Think carefully."


    The group of ten didn''t even know how''d they go about splitting the treasure once they got it, but they figured that any split of it would probably be able to net them their money back if it was a good quality treasure. In short, they agreed to pay the toll as Ares'' words made sense; as long as he was around, everyone else could kiss their chances of having first dibs on treasures goodbye. It wasn''t even impossible for him to simply lay claim to everything in this damn place and stroll out like a king. Having this chance was miraculous in and of itself, so to turn it down would be stupid. They were all cultivators that had been hired by big shots and had the stardust needed to pay the pseudo bridge troll that was Ares, so they coughed up the payment. Ares smiled genially and walked back over to the original group who weren''t falling for any of this nonsense. ''Respect'' my ass! Ares clearly had nothing but contempt for the people who were trying to steal his treasure! Something was very much not correct about all of this, and the room still reeked of ''trap'' to anyone with a functioning brain cell. Unfortunately for one of the cultivators in the group, his brain cells seemingly weren''t functioning as a thought raced through his head. He believed that ditching everyone and running ahead was the best decision! If hanging around Ares wasn''t going to net him any loot, then going forward on his own, before Ares, would give him free reign over everything within the tomb! Whatever trap was tied to the chest was something he was willing to not interface with as the exit to the open area was directly across from where the group was standing. Screw the chest! Screw the group! There were surely more possibilities lying ahead, so he bolted across the room and made a dash for the other side. As he sprinted, he looked back over his shoulder to check if anyone was launching an attack at him out of spite but all he saw was Ares waving goodbye with that same smile still on his face. The cultivator refused to allow himself to be psyched out and kept going. He''d seen enough of Ares'' twisted personality to not fall for his dastardly ruse!


    THUNK


    He''d fallen for Ares'' dastardly ruse! Curses!


    A wall had fallen down and blocked the exit, leaving a stumped cultivator confused as to how to continue. The wall had a small indent in it, the shape of which looked familiar... The jewel on the chest... The cultivator realised there was no going forward without interacting with the chest and that what he was doing was pointless. Still, it could have been worse, there could have been a life-threatening trap of some kind. He appeared to be safe for now and that would probably be the case as long as those idiots hadn''t opened the chest yet and triggered the trap that was obviously attached to it. The cultivator turned around to start returning to the other side of the room, but he was taken aback when he saw Ares standing right in front of him. Something was off about this Ares though... his eyes were blood red... The cultivator looked over at the chest but it was gone... As were the cultivators who were about to open it. Other than a few pools of blood and a few detached limbs, the other cultivators were nowhere to be found. Next, the cultivator looked back at the group that had hung back the entire time, and there he saw something that he really didn''t want to see... Ares, still waving at him with the cursed smile on his face... If the real Ares was still over there... Then the Ares with the red eyes in front of him... The cultivator looked back but the only things within his vision were two rows of gigantic, sharp teeth.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Chomp


    The group of cultivators cringed at the sight of the man getting his head chewed off while taking a few steps back from the entrance... And Ares. He was the real one, but watching the clone of him massacre the cultivators put the fear of God in them. Ares chuckled and turned to face them. "What? Come on now, I don''t bite." Ares laughed some more as he bared his fangs at the group which collectively retreated another step. Aejaz himself had somehow wriggled through the crowd and was standing the furthest away, because of course he was. Ares turned back to face the creature that took on his appearance and was staring straight at him.


    "What is that disgusting thing?!" One of the cultivators complained.


    "OI!" Ares was not amused. "If you have a problem with my looks, say it to my face!" Ares kissed his teeth at the rude woman. This, of course, was not the reason she was actually complaining, but Ares was offended nonetheless! Choose your wording carefully, damnit! "For your information, that ''thing'' is a mimic. They''re extremely rare monsters that can shapeshift innately. They lure in people by disguising themselves as chests and the like before eating their pray when they get too close. Most mimics aren''t really that strong, but this one seems to be different. Those red eyes aren''t normal. It''s probably a mutant of some kind with genes from another type of monster in it. If I were to hazard a guess, this mimic''s disguises aren''t just aesthetic like normal mimics. It can probably copy combat ability, not including magic, to a certain extent."


    "What makes you say that?" One of the cultivators peeped up.


    "Because it picked me, obviously? If its strength increases based on the person it picks, then why would it bother picking any of you losers?"


    The cultivator almost physically reeled at the comeback he wasn''t expecting, but he had his pride so he stood his ground. "You wish. Your arrogance is seriously overboard. Without your magic, you''re just a poxy fourth realm cultivator. Anyone one of here could swat you away like the ant you are!"


    Ares simply pointed at the mimic. "Go kill it then, if you''re so confident. Or what, are you just posing? Who for? You got a crush on someone here so you''re trying to act like a bigshot?" The man''s face reddened and Ares knew he''d hit the mark with a bullseye. "Well go on then Mr. Smooth. Go show your love interest what you look like getting eaten. I''m sure that''ll really turn her on!"


    "Fuck you!" The cultivator was about to storm into the arena and throw down but he felt a hand grab his own and stop him in place. The cultivator he had a thing for was stopping him and shaking her head.


    "Lucky you, you''re lady friend is smarter than you. You should really marry her. Maybe she''ll help you live longer in this world. So, how about it? Anyone else wanna prove I''m just some weakling poser when I can''t use my magic? I''ll even throw up some stardust for a wager if you want?" Ares expected everyone to back down here which was ultimately his goal. He was slowly trying to degrade and humiliate everyone to reduce their outward hostility to him and make them show deference. That way everything in here would be his for the taking with no opposition left. It was going to be his regardless, but if he could get away with not having to work unnecessarily hard for it, then so be it. Contrary to his assumption that no one would take him up on the bet, a group actually did; a group of ten cultivators. Actually, it had been closer to four or so, but as more people stood up and moved forward, more and more people begun to feel confident they could actually pull it off. "Oh? Feeling brave today are we? Ok, how about you all put up another ten mid-grade stardust each and I''ll put up the one hundred I just got?" Ares took out the stardust and piled it up in the corner. The group of ten all looked at one another and nodded silently, taking out their stardust and putting it on the pile. They turned to the open area and saw Ares politely gesturing them toward the cave, acting like an usher. "I''ll even do you a solid and give you one more piece of information on the house. Mimics can use Blink. It''s the only magic they can use, though, and they typically don''t use it unless they feel threatened, so you chumps won''t have to worry about that. Thanks for the stardust. Oh, and if you try to run and hide back here, I''m going to blow you up, so don''t even think about it. Buh bye now!"


    The cultivators evilly side-eyed Ares as they walked past the devil in human skin. Little did they know he was actually more like a wolf in sheep''s clothing!


    They stepped into the arena and the mimic immediately charged straight at them. Three of the ten took up stances at the front of the group, ready to intercept the monster and keep it busy for the backline to kill it. The three cultivators all pulled out shields of varying types and readied themself for the oncoming attack. Their necks had to crane upward, however, when the mimic Double Jumped above their heads...


    Even Ares hadn''t seen this coming. The mimic could copy his arts! Probably not the destruction pillar ones, but it seemed open pillars were fair game. The fact the mimic could copy even unique arts was incredible. Unfortunately for the group of ten, this also meant it could use Gamble and Echo... The fight was unfair to begin with, but this was going to be a one-sided massacre if ever there as one.


    To protect themselves, the cultivators raised their shields directly above their heads towards the ceiling. The cultivators believed they were doing well even in this unforeseen circumstance, but that groundless belief was shattered when they heard the other seven cultivators yell out in unison.


    ""WATCH OUT, LOOK DOWN!""


    They never got the chance as their heads were severed cleanly by the blade wielding mimic. The Double Jump above them was a bait to get them to raise the shields and block their own vision. The mimic then hit itself in the stomach with an Echo to reverse its momentum, landing back in front of the three cultivators who were none the wiser. From there, decapitating them was a cakewalk as they were quite literally extending their necks for the mimic who severed their heads with one fell sweep.


    Hitting himself with an Echo to push himself around was something Ares had considered but never actually done. This meant one of two things. Either A: This mimic had absolutely all of Ares combat capabilities and strategies available to it. B: The mimic was incredibly good at combat. It knew how to use everything available to it in unconventional ways that most people wouldn''t dream of. Regardless of which option was correct, this was a really interesting monster Ares had stumbled upon. He was also curious what would happen if he brought Dominus out... But he unfortunately couldn''t. Dominus was presumably still cooling off.


    The cultivators regrouped and four tried simultaneously launching various arts but hesitated when the mimic vanished. It had utilised Double Jump in the same manner as Ares, combining it with Echoes to become a speedy nightmare that was already standing behind the unaware cultivators. Due to their awkward positions, the mimic couldn''t hit multiple people with a single sword swipe, so it abandoned the sword and took matters into its own hands, literally. It''s two hands reached out and grabbed one head each as its mouth widened to extreme lengths, revealing its monstrous mouth as it ate a third cultivator''s head directly in front of it. The two cultivators it grabbed died on the spot as an Echo blasted their heads to pieces, leaving four cultivators who were terrified of the demon that was utterly trouncing them. One of the cultivators could see his fate was set in stone and made the choice of abandoning the fight even though he knew the real Ares wasn''t going to tolerate it. Ares was in a perfect position to establish dominance over the group by killing him, the cultivator knew that. He''d shown off the strength of his magic, this mimic was displaying his physical capabilities, and killing him would make his ruthlessness apparent. Anyone who picked a fight with Ares after that was categorically insane. Still, the mimic was guaranteed death anyway. There was no harm in trying if he was going to die anyway. Maybe he could even bribe Ares to let him live!


    "Grand Annihilation."


    "Eh?" The cultivator hadn''t expected Ares to dole out death the second he got within range, not even allowing him to speak. The cultivator was swallowed by the chain explosions and died in stunned admiration. In his last seconds he couldn''t help but respect Ares for having the willpower and determination to just let loose whenever he felt like it. In the back of his head, the cultivator had always wanted to be a domineering existence like that. One that could just swing his weight around... Oh well.


    The mimic paused slightly as it looked over at the real Ares in contemplation. Ares knew what it was thinking. The mimic had essentially already lost the fight against Ares thanks to that little display of power. Power the mimic could never replicate. It had its own strengths that, when combined with what it stole from its target, would allow it to beat its opponents pretty consistently... But that magic was just impossible for the mimic. It knew Ares'' speed first-hand and if the real one could combine it with that level of art, the mimic was facing a hopeless situation.


    One of the last three cultivators tried to attack the distracted mimic, but he received a knee to the gut as compensation for his efforts. The mimic didn''t even look down at the cultivator as it used its hand to push his head down, forcing his body to flip over the mimic''s knee and land on his back on the floor. The mimic''s raised foot came crashing down on the cultivator''s skull, splattering his brain over the floor while the mimic continued to stare at Ares. It was tempted to defy the rules that had been set for it, attacking Ares even though he wasn''t in the room. The threat of his very existence was driving the mimic mad with an unpleasant feeling in its heart that it was going to die here. It had just gained access to an incredible form, and yet it was going to die... It viewed this as incredibly tragic. It decided to, if nothing else, enjoy this body while it still could by finishing off the last two cultivators who were inching backwards in horror. The mimic took a step forward and the cultivators took a step back. This repeated until the cultivators had their backs against the wall and were trembling like lambs before the slaughter. The mimic took another step before it paused. Now it was the mimic''s turn to tremble in fear as it realised something... No, someone was standing on its shoulders. Someone it was intimately familiar with as they shared the same body. Someone who crouched down and bent over, looking into his eyes from a place far above him. Although the face was upside down, the mimic knew that the deep frown on Ares'' face was, in actuality, a fierce smile. Ares'' lips moved slowly.


    "You''re a fascinating creature. Let''s dissect you."

 Chapter 75: Beat Yourself Up Over It, Ares

    Ares pointed his finger at the floor. "Down." As the full force of both a Double Jump and Echo came bearing down onto the mimic''s shoulders, it was pummelled into a kneeling position in the floor. In, not on. It''s knees had been blasted into the floor and were stuck. Ares stood up and calmly disembarked the mimic''s shoulders while taking a step towards the two cultivators. He looked at each of them and recalled that they were Hans'' lot, so he nodded to the entrance. "Get lost."


    Neither of the cultivators felt the need to bring up his manner of speech as being impolite was perfectly acceptable if he was saving their lives! He could even spit on them for all they would have cared.


    The mimic struggled to escape its half-burial but it stopped squirming when Ares'' shoe was placed squarely on its face. It looked up at the monster leaning over it with his hands in his pockets.


    "Go on. Entertain me."


    Bang


    Ares'' Double Jump and Echo combination sent the mimic tearing through the floor, digging up the cavern''s surface until it eventually came to a halt as its back slammed against the far wall.


    Ares Shifted next to mimic. "Mmmm, I can feel it. I''m close to creating a combination art. Stand up and make yourself useful." Having to use both Double Jump and Echo simultaneously was inefficient and, with a bit more practice, he knew he could combine them into a unique art. It wouldn''t be usable with his hands, so Echoes would still have its uses, but this new art was going to be incredibly powerful. Ares could, as he previously stated, feel it.


    The mimic, in a desperate bid for survival, went berserk and regressed back to its natural instincts, abandoning everything it had taken from Ares. Ares was immensely disappointed with the now beast-like intelligence of the monster that was haphazardly Blinking around the room to try and confuse and disorient him. This was a trick that would only work on someone weak. Ares could have cancelled the Blink and crushed the mimic, but he let it happen instead as he could punish the mimic far more severely if he didn''t interrupt him. Five more Blinks later and the mimic was now lunging at Ares'' heart with its maw from a blind spot. Ares made no effort to move until the mimic was inches away, at which point he Shifted away, leaving A Shock Bead in his previous position. Instead of clamping down on Ares'' heart, the mimic gulped down a Shock Bead which caused its throat to start glowing gold.


    Boooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmm


    The mimic''s head splattered just like that one cultivator it had killed earlier. The mimic was stumbling around grasping at its empty head region with its hands as it slowly regenerated. Ares stood to the side and watched it happen, not interfering in the slightest. When the head was finally restored, the mimic roared and started Blinking again. Ares was angry now, this behaviour wasn''t conducive to his experiment. As he clicked his tongue, Ares Shifted to one of the room''s four corners and waited for the stupid creature to understand just how pointless its current actions were against someone as combat-wise as Ares.


    The mimic went to Blink again, this time behind his target so he could attempt another lunge... But the mimic stopped moving altogether as something slowly dawned on it. Ares'' new position was unassailable. Whereas previously the mimic could Blink in a full circle around Ares, now he had a limited window. Ares standing in the corner had cut off his left flank, his right flank, and his backside. Instead of Ares having to worry about an attack from anywhere in a 360 degree radius, he now only had to deal with a quarter of that. The mimic''s entire strategy was made pointless because Ares had put himself in a corner and was now patiently waiting for the mimic''s next move. Something deep within the mimic stirred as it turned around and ran. An opponent like this would kill it. Ares was smarter, faster, stronger, and had better magic. Being completely outclassed in every way imaginable drove the mimic to run for the entrance to its own lair. It had stolen Ares'' form and was quick enough in its own right that maybe it could escape the devil behind it. It''s dread compelled it to ignore the commands that had been drilled into it to remain in this room. The mimic eyed all the cultivators in its way who were just as frightened as it was. The mimic couldn''t handle Ares, but neither could the others. He could barrel through them using Ares'' prowess and escape. When it got outside, it would flee to the farthest edges of the planet and evade death by hiding for the rest of its life. The very same life that flashed before its eyes when Ares skidded to a halt in front of it with red magic around his feet and a dangerous grin on his face. Whatever Ares was on the verge of understanding was beginning to take shape. The mimic almost fell over as it tried to cancel its forward sprint by stumbling backward. It turned and just started aimlessly running away again. There were no other exits and it was just being toyed with at this point. Its killer was using it to experience nirvana and have a moment of enlightenment.


    Ares was at an all time high as the world around him felt like it bended to his every whim. Ares was about to create something important here. The universe itself acted like a slipstream, encouraging him to move faster and take actions that defied common sense. The nothingness magic on his feet flared as he took a step and completely vanished. Ares looked around as he appeared in the void. Unlike the last time he was here, he could see reality overlapping with the red void all around him. He masterfully weaved nothingness to transport him to what, in reality, would be the other side of the room. When he arrived, the void immediately disappeared and he was precisely where he wanted to be. The mimic tried to scramble to a halt as Ares'' appeared directly in front of it but it''s momentum dragged it forward straight into Ares'' high kick. The nothingness magic, Double Jump, and Echo all merged into a single form that broke the mimics jaw as it was flung into the ceiling, causing the entire room to tremble.


    "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"


    Ares voice rumbled throughout the tomb as his form vanished into the void, disappearing from sight. Even though he''d seemingly left this plane of existence, his voice could still be heard loud and clear as he chanted the name of his new art.


    "VOIDWALK!"


    Gravity took effect on the mimic and made it slump out of the cracked roof. The mimic made no effort to look down as it fell. It had given up. Ares'' voice was laced with omnipotence and he had clearly ascended to a level that no one in this cave could comprehend. The mimic figured as long as it didn''t look down, it wouldn''t have to see the monster it had created as it was killed by him. Even this small hope was crushed as the mimic didn''t have to look down to see Ares, he was flying right in front of him... No, he wasn''t flying... He was standing on air? Walking? Shifting? The mimic''s brain couldn''t fully register what the being in front of it was or was doing anymore. With every step Ares took atop the air, a red ripple appeared underneath his feet. After every ripple, Ares would disappear for a split second before reappearing in the air a few feet ahead of his previous location without losing any height or momentum. The mimic blinked its eyes a single time and Ares was now standing in front of its falling body, looking down at it with pity like it was a pathetic creature. The mimic''s body kept descending as Ares stood in place in the air and watched it fall. The mimic looked up at Ares with awe. It had previously avoided gazing upon him but his resplendent figure was worth burning into its memory in death if only so it could witness a type of perfection that it thought was unachievable. Just before the mimic hit the ground, Ares slowly leant back and transitioned into a free fall before disappearing yet again. Feeling a regal presence beneath it, the mimic looked straight down and witnessed Ares'' upper body elegantly rise out of the floor. Ares'' hand caught the mimic''s clothes in his grasp and dragged the monster down inside the floor and into the void. The mimic was confounded as it was instantly tossed out of the vast nothingness, back into the air alongside Ares who had flipped upside down into another free fall beside it. Ares spread his arms wide and laughed without pause as he disappeared before reappearing standing on the floor in the same pose. With a small bend of his knees, and a slight hunch of his back, Ares disappeared again.


    CRACK


    The mimic''s body was hanging in mid air in an ''n'' shape. Ares was defying gravity, standing upside down with his feet on the mimic''s stomach. He looked down... Up... At the mimic with elation in his eyes as his next step was a single step 90 degrees backward, shifting his rotation from vertical to horizontal as he climbed up an invisible wall. Ares walked sideways up reality, grabbing the back of the mimic by its clothes and bringing it with him further into the sky. Ares'' horizontal climb took him to the roof at which point he, and the mimic who''s mind had been completely broken, went straight through it and into the void again before being spat out back on the floor of the cave. Ares left the demoralised mimic on the floor as he dashed up to the ceiling again, this time not phasing through it but planting his feet on it firmly. He kicked off the ceiling and came crashing down with an axe kick onto the mimic that split the floor underneath it in two.


    BANG


    Ares wanted to keep playing with his food, rejecting physics and phasing around the room and in and out of walls, but the mimic was basically dead at this point so there was no reason to do it other than his own amusement. He kissed his teeth as he rolled the mimic onto its back with his foot. "Do you want to live?"


    The mimic''s sight was blurry and it couldn''t hear anything properly. It''s body was in tatters and it couldn''t even move anymore, but the offer was like a breath of fresh air down in this dank cave that invigorated it; giving it enough energy to weakly nod its head.


    "Then, first, give me whatever treasure you''re guarding."


    The mimic coughed up a glass object shaped like a Burr puzzle. The parts were slowly twisting and warping at the seams as they revolved and oscillated in every which direction. Ares recognised this as an ''ever-shifting core''; something he himself unfortunately had no use for. He knew someone that could benefit from it, however, so it wasn''t a complete waste. "Second, give me the red jewel that opens up the door to go further into the tomb."


    The mimic raised its palm and the red jewel from earlier emerged from its flesh. Ares took it and inspected it with his Omniscience before putting it in his pocket. He looked down at the mimic and spoke to it with one more time. "Third, don''t resist what''s about to happen to you." Ares'' hand was steadily lowered onto the mimic''s chest. As soon as the hand touched the mimic, mana went flooding through it. The mimic accepted the mana and no one on the side lines could see what happened next. All they knew was that Ares was the only person left in the room after he stood up. Ignoring the other cultivators who were gawking and stuck in their own heads, Ares headed over to the wall blocking the path forward.


    One person did manage to gather their wits about them and actually move after Ares... Aejaz! although it took him longer than it should have... Aejaz had been around Ares for years now so he shouldn''t have been this boggled by his actions; but it just goes to show how bizarre Ares'' new art was that it had even confounded his own brother. Slotting the jewel into the wall, Ares took a step back as the wall rumbled. Dust dropped to the floor as the wall retracted, opening up the exit to this arena. Aejaz caught up to Ares as he walked through the exit and peppered his brother with a series of questions that Ares couldn''t answer even if wanted to. Not because he didn''t know the answers, but because his babbling brother''s sentences were completely indecipherable. Ares had to turn and pinch Aejaz'' lips. "That nothingness art is called Voidwalk. It is a combination of Shift, Echo, and Double Jump. It has the effects of all three as well as a few others. After every step I take, it forms a red ripple under my feet that can act as an entrance to the void, pulling me into it if I let it. From there, I can teleport freely within a limited distance before I have to return to reality. I can even take people and objects with me, but I can''t leave them there. They will be expelled if I don''t bring them out shortly after bringing them in. The void ripple under my foot also has two other effects. First, it''s as powerful as the Double Jump and Echo combination I used earlier; meaning it can double as an attack. Second, it acts as a platform that my feet can cling to. As I can sink into that platform and go into the void, gaining height while I''m in there, and come out on top of another platform, it technically acts like a variant of flight. It''s far faster than flying, but takes a bit more mana. It has more uses overall, though, so it''s probably just a straight upgrade."


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "YOU CAN FLY NOW?!"


    "Well it''s not normal flight, obviously. It''s more like putting myself high in the sky and then teleporting as I walk through the air without ever losing height. It can also be used underwater if I were to hazard a guess. Again, ignoring the mana cost, it''s just better than flying. I''m also invincible while I''m mid Voidwalk as I''m not in this dimension, so there''s that too. Naturally, as its a nothingness art, I''m the only one who can ever use it. Any questions?"


    "I still don''t get it."


    "That''s fine. It is complicated after all. Perhaps if I show you, you''ll get it." Ares activated the art and a red ripple appeared underneath his feet. "These are the void platforms, I can go into them to enter the void." Ares put his hand on Aejaz'' shoulder and brought him into the void. "Look around, you can see the real world still, right?"


    "Yes." Aejaz nodded.


    "Good. Next, I''m going to Shift us to the ceiling while still in the void." Ares did as he said he would and now Aejaz was floating in the void, just slightly under where the ceiling would be back in their dimension. "Now I''m going to bring us back out." Once more, Ares remained true to his word. When the two returned, Ares and Aejaz were both near the ceiling. Ares was standing on the void platforms again and holding Aejaz by the scruff of his neck. "This is how I ''fly''. It''s more like teleporting from platform to platform over and over again. The process is usually quicker than this though, I just slowed it down to show you clearly. Also, the platforms don''t have to be horizontal, they can be vertical. That''s what lets me stand upside down or sideways in mid-air, capeesh?"


    "Uh, kinda?"


    "Look, don''t worry about it, just know that I can walk on air now. It''s not an entirely accurate assessment, but its good enough."


    "Ok, but what about Double Jump, Echo, and Shift? Aren''t they all useless now that you''ve combined them into something far greater?"


    "Not even remotely. Voidwalk costs more mana than Double Jump, and by a fair amount too. Double Jump is a more mana-efficient combat trick than Voidwalk. Echoes can be used by any body part and not just my feet like Voidwalk, so it gives me more variety and opportunities to use it. Like back when we fought Gladius and I sent the Echo through his spear? I couldn''t do that with Voidwalk. Shift itself is a bit more complicated, but I can technically use it as the base for other non-movement based arts in the future. A single Shift is still also cheaper than activating Voidwalk, so I''ll have uses for it yet. I can also set up long range Shift markers which is something Voidwalk isn''t capable of. Long story short, all four are different but equally usable depending on the situation. Oh, and there''s one more thing I got out of that fight, if you''re curious."


    "More? What is it?"


    [This.] Ares telepathically sent a simple message into his brother''s simple brain.


    [Eh? Your cultivation went up?] Aejaz responded in kind. He was actually capable of doing this for a while now as he''d reached mental accumulation some time ago but he just never bothered as it took up mana for no reason.


    "Yep. I''d entered the void a while ago which had been good for me, but this is the first time I''d actually put it to good use so I just kinda blew past the 10th stage. Now I''m in mental accumulation, 1st stage... Hey! Hey!" [BOO!] "Hehehehe."


    Aejaz dreaded having to put up with Ares in the foreseeable future now that even shutting his lips couldn''t stop him...


    Ares put his hands behind the back of his head as he walked. "That should just about be it for the tomb. I can''t imagine a tomb in a lowly place like Red Sun will be much longer than this. In short, the next room should be the treasure room." As if to prove Ares'' point, Aejaz and Ares rounded the corner and walked into a room with a small pile of treasures and a tombstone. Unlike last time, Ares'' Omniscience didn''t detect anything... Well, anything dangerous anyway. There was a little more to this room than was obvious at first glance, but that wasn''t relevant right now. Ares moved over to the treasure pile and went through everything one by one as a frown appeared on his face. Ares became more glum with each passing second and his eye even started twitching when he''d finished searching through the pile. "Ooooohohohohoh, I''m about to become the next Nanni! Who owned this bloody tomb?! Ea-n¨¡?ir?!"


    The other cultivators walked in on Ares spitting on the nearby tombstone and their faces immediately twisted into ones of disgust and repulsion. They all glanced at the treasure pile before walking over to the tombstone and spitting on it as well. They didn''t even bother to give the treasures more than a cursory glance before leaving the room as Ares started to explain to his befuddled brother. "These worthless things are called backfire gear." Ares pointed to the lump of stuff on the floor. "Backfire gear is a type of artifact that goes haywire during creation, becoming something completely unpredictable. Weapons can become helmets, helmets can become toilet seats. Anything is possible and the result is essentially random. Backfire gear, normally, is considered a massive failure and anyone who forges one will typically give it a joke name as a sort of penance. Backfire gear isn''t always necessarily unusable, but getting a high tier backfire gear is extraordinarily unlikely, so most of them end up being worthless trash. There are five tiers of backfire gear; Liability, Joke, Neutral, Beneficial, and Misnomer. 95% of all backfire gear produced is either joke tier or lower. These artifacts will, more often than not, either be pointless or even a detriment at times, so they''re frequently abandoned. As for why we''re spitting on this person''s grave, having backfire gear in your legacy tomb is considered extremely bad manners, especially if they''re all liability or joke tier. The other cultivators gave the artifacts a once over just to make sure I wasn''t lying about them being backfire gear before spitting and leaving because these things are garbage. I mean, listen to some of this crap! Longinus Latitudinous, a spear that deals triple damage if you''re standing on the planet''s equator, only does one third of the damage anywhere else! Garbage! Bo''ne Marrow, a bow and arrow that turns anyone it kills into a rampaging skeleton. A rampaging undead with powerful magic that can''t tell friend from foe and will even kill you! Garbage! Cupid''s Harp-oon, a harpoon that will probably kill your opponent if it hits them, but will make you fall irreversibly in love with them! They''ll probably be a damn corpse by the time this thing hits, and that''ll make you a necrophiliac for life! Garbage! These things were blessed by a God-damn monkey''s paw! The only one here that''s even neutral tier is this thing..." Ares picked up a fleshy pink spatial ring. "... The Spatial Ringworm. You can hide this space ring on your body in the form of a rash, allowing it to go undetected. It might be good for you? You steal things all the time, so having a way to hide your stolen goods might actually come in handy. I mean I have the Primordial Blade anyway, so this is irrelevant to me. You should hang onto it just in case you need it one day." Ares flicked the Ringworm at his brother who caught it and shoved it into his normal space ring. Aejaz didn''t want a rash on his beautiful skin! He would use it if he had too, and only if he absolutely had too! It wasn''t permanent or anything, but hew still wanted to avoid it whenever possible because he cared about his appearance. Aejaz was really meticulous about maintaining his skin.


    Aejaz stared at the tombstone. "Uhh... do I have to spit on it as well?"


    "Ha, if you want, but I wouldn''t if I were you. I only did it to fool those other guys into leaving."


    "What? Why? Is there something else in here?" Aejaz looked around but couldn''t see anything. "Actually..." Aejaz held his hand in the air and begun holding it in different positions. "... Airflow? How is there a draft in here?"


    Ares patted his brother on the shoulder. "Not bad. Took you a while, but you did find it. Stand back." Aejaz bolted to the other side of the room... Even though it was completely unnecessary to go that far. Ares just shook his head and flicked an Echo at the wall behind the tombstone.


    Bang


    Crumbling into tiny pieces, the wall was felled with little to no resistance. It revealed behind it three separate pedestals, all of which had an actual treasure on top of it. It didn''t take more than a cursory glance to tell these were the real goods that had been hidden out of sight. Ares Omniscience had shown him that the wall here was structurally weak and that there was something behind it. Ares likely would have sniffed it out regardless, but Omniscience was just being blatantly overpowered as usual. There was very little this art attached to the Celestial Prisms couldn''t do. Ares walked up to the pedestals and ran mana through each of the three items, learning about their names, histories, and capabilities. "Interesting... There''s some really interesting stuff here. Come take a look, scaredy cat. One of these might even get you laid."


    Somebody had evidently rung Pavlov''s bell as Aejaz sprinted across the room at record pace. "GIMME!"


    Ares smacked away Aejaz'' hand that darted for the treasures. "In due time. Let me explain everything here because this is a good learning opportunity. There are some things here you haven''t seen before, like the backfire gear, so pay attention you muppet." Ares pointed to the far left treasure, a pure black lantern with a moon shaped candle within it. "This one is normal. It''s the only normal treasure here, so you don''t have to worry about it too much. I''m taking this because because I have an idea for how to use it when combined with one of the other treasures here. Long story short, you yourself aren''t getting anything, sorry."


    "Brother, after what you said earlier, you can have it all. Have I ever told you your a pretty great guy?"


    "Ok you horndog, calm down. Anyway, the treasure is called... And it''s a bit of a mouthful, ''Vengeful Spirit Vargaraad''s Lunar Flare Lantern''."


    Aejaz was shaking and biting his nails as he timidly questioned his brother. "Y... Y... You don''t mean... That Vargaraad... Do you?!"


    Ares tilted his head. "I only know what the treasure showed me. It did belong to a man named Vargaraad, but how do you know that?"


    Gulp


    "That man is a legend! I didn''t think he was real.... Oh man... Vargaraad''s story is simple. A corrupt mayor let crime go unpunished in his city because of all the money he made, kinda like in Red Sun. The guards would turn a blind eye to crimes committed literally in front of them. Vargaraad''s wife was murdered one day in that exact scenario, but when he demanded an explanation from the guards they told him that ''the lights were out and they couldn''t see anything because it was too dark at night''. Vargaraad went into a frenzy and conjured a mana storm. It''s said his rage manifested a lantern in his hands that gave him the power to bathe the city in white fire, setting it alight with a pure glow that could be seen from miles away. It''s supposed to be an ironic tale! It wasn''t supposed to be real! Why is that lantern here?! Is this Vargaraad''s tomb?! DID THAT STORY HAPPEN IN RED SUN?!"


    "Uh, yes? According to the treasure''s history anyway. I was already pretty sure that mana was responsible for the creation of treasures, but this near enough confirms it as far as I''m concerned. The mana storm gathered all the unlit lanterns in the area and formed a single treasure out of them all after merging them together. As the mana was produced by Vargaraad, it immediately became his own personal treasure which he went on to cleanse the town with. If I''m not mistaken, the mayor of Red Sun at the time was Maro''s grandfather. Guess being a douchebag runs in the family. How their family has maintained control over Red Sun this long I don''t know." Ares shoved the treasure into the Primordial Blade. "It''s actually way too powerful for me to use right now, but that''s fine. I''m planning on keeping it a secret for a rainy day if ever I need it. I don''t think I''ll be touching it for the foreseeable future. As for the other two treasures, however... This is where the good stuff starts!"

 Chapter 76: I’m Contractually Obligated to Kill You, but I Would Have Done It for Fun

    "Next up is your ticket to paradise, brother." Ares picked up a scroll that was lying on the second pillar and showed it to Aejaz who read the contents aloud.


    "Phoenix Flames Cultivation Manual?"


    "Corrrrrect. Although variety, standard, and dedication cultivation are the most common and readily available cultivation methods, they aren''t the only ones out there. There are a fair few heavily specialised cultivation techniques like the one on this scroll that can massively benefit a person who learns it. They usually provide a passive bonus of some kind that''s tailored towards a specific pillar and this one is going to be insanely good for Allie."


    "... But she just switched to dedication, she can''t swap off..."


    "Nope. Normally you can''t, but some cultivation techniques are considered ''enhanced dedication''. They still function by the same rules as dedication, meaning you can only use pillars you''re affiliated with, but provide the benefits I mentioned earlier in addition. Swapping from dedication to any other ''enhanced dedication'' is A.OK. Allie can learn this, and boy will she be glad when she sees what it does..."


    Aejaz peeked at the scroll but there was too much information to digest immediately, plus he wasn''t familiar with the alchemy pillar anyway so it all looked like gobbledygook to him. "Erm, mind filling me in?"


    "Sure. If what my Omniscience is telling me is correct, and it always is, this will let Allie passively have a chance of refunding every ingredient she uses in her alchemy. Of course the rarer the ingredient the less likely it is to work, but that can be mitigated when she raises her cultivation. In other words, free rare ingredients! Also, don''t forget you exist! if you steal a rare ingredient and make it even rarer, if Allie gets to duplicate that ingredient... You two will be like an ingredient printer that keeps generating extremely rare ingredients and pills!"


    "... HOLY HELL WE''RE GONNA BE RICH!"


    "Uh, that too, yeah, but I think Allie will be more excited about being able to produce more mini-pillies and their upgrades... Well, whatever. Give this to her and who knows what she might feel like giving you in return. She is obsessed with alchemy after all."


    Aejaz dived at the scroll like he was trying to score a last second touchdown that would decide whether he lived or died. Aejaz could feel the manual within his fingertips when it suddenly vanished and he went flying into the opposite wall with empty hands, slowly sliding down the wall with his ass in the air.


    "Relax, I''ll keep hold of it until we get back. It''s a rare item. If people suspect you have it, they''ll go to any lengths to take it. At least it''s well hidden in my Primordial Blade and I''m far more capable of defending myself than you are. If anyone else thinks we''ve made it out with treasures, they''ll attack us and what then? Do you want to potentially lose your gift to Allie because you simply had to have it in your possession an hour or two earlier than you would have otherwise? When we return to the sect, I''ll give it to you, so be patient you muppet."


    Aejaz got up and kept staring at his brother with narrow eyes. This was the first time he''d ever had the courage to fight his brother to the death if need be! There was a lot at stake here! If his brother tried pulling a fast one on him, he was going to get it!


    "Geeze, you don''t have to look at me like that. I''m seriously not going to get in the way of your relationship with Allie. Plus I treat Allie like family anyway, like hell I''d let anything happen to something that could make her stronger than she is currently. If anything, we all stand to gain by having an alchemist with her talents around, so I have zero... No, negative intentions of ruining this. You have my word."


    "Fine." Aejaz grumbled. "Well, what''s the last thing anyway. Looks like a dagger?"


    "And that''s precisely what it is. It''s also easily the rarest treasure in this place. Its value is incomparable to everything else in here combined, even including the cultivation technique."


    Aejaz looked at the dagger. The sheath was made of plain black leather and featured a leopard insignia front and centre, right in the middle. The leopard''s gaze was piercing and yet its aura was calm, like a tranquil predator lying in wait without taking even a single breath to avoid disturbing its prey. The dagger handle was fashioned in the shape of Celtic knotwork, giving it countless comfortable places to rest one''s fingers when gripping the weapon. The knotwork was pitch black, resembling intertwining shadows dancing in a vertical helix. It was impossible to tell what the blade connected to these shadowy helixes looked like as the weapon was sheathed. Overall, the weapon certainly stood out from your normal, everyday dagger. Even compared to the Black Ice Acrimony, Aejaz could instinctually tell this thing was stronger. How? He had no clue, he just felt like it was. Weirdly enough, he also felt a kind of closeness to the dagger. A longing to hold it sprouted within Aejaz for reasons he couldn''t understand. he still didn''t pick it up though, this belonged to Ares, even if he really wanted it... Whatever it was. "Is it weird that I feel a connection to this thing? Like I should really own and use it?"


    "No, that makes sense actually. I should really apologise because, honestly, this would be perfect for you but I''m stealing it because I have more important business to attend to than you and every bit of strength I gain is important. Plus it will do more for me overall than you, it''s just that it would be more thematically fitting for you, is all. As for what it is, this type of treasure is called an ''enabler''. To put it simply, enablers give you a positive affinity with their respective pillar while you wield them regardless of your normal affinity. Amongst other things, this lets people with dedication cultivation use the enabled pillar even if they normally wouldn''t be able to. This treasure, the Nyxian Prowler, is a darkness pillar enabler. If I use it, I''ll be able to use darkness pillar magic while I''m wielding the weapon. I can create unique arts or just use regular ones after I''ve learnt them, but it opens up a new pillar for me. There is a restriction, though, in that you can only ever use one enabler at a time. If I wanted to use a second one, I would have to put the first one away, but it''s still incredible nonetheless. The reason you felt a connection to it is because you have a unique aspect under the darkness pillar, but not an affiliation for the normal aspects. With this, you could have a pretty impressive degree of mastery of the darkness pillar, but you really don''t need it I think. Thanks to your bloodline, you can already turn invisible, and your unique aspect covers most things you would want from the pillar in order to be an assassin anyway. That''s why I said that, although it would be fitting, what you gain from access to the pillar is not equivalent to what I gain. Currently I''m locked to an incredibly showy pillar to which the idea of ''stealth'' is basically a funny joke and nothing more. I really need this, so again, I''m going to be taking it. Sorry, but that''s just how the cookie crumbles around here, brother." Ares shrugged. He really did feel a bit guilty, but he also wasn''t being unreasonable in the slightest. He wasn''t just lying to try and convince Aejaz, he was telling him an unpleasant truth that Ares had right of way here.


    "That''s ok, really. I do want it, but I''m not going to whine about not getting it. I really wasn''t expecting to get anything from this trip other than the Acrimony anyway. I also understand that you need it more than me and can put it to better use, so I won''t be difficult about it... Although I wouldn''t mind playing with it every now and then? I''m curious to know why my family values the pillar as much as they do. It''s the reason I was abandoned after all. In a way, its comical to me that this thing even exists. Better yet, a member of the clan was here not too long ago as well. It''s like fate is playing a cruel joke on me..."


    "Ha, try not to pay it much mind. I was being serious earlier when I said you really don''t need this thing, you have something better in your unique aspect. But yeah, if you want to play with it when I''m not using it, go ahead. Enablers always scale with the person wielding it as their effects are pretty universally beneficial. Still, I''m not letting you out of my sight when I borrow it to you! This enabler is worth at least a couple hundred thousand Aejaz-s! If you think I''m letting you run off with it just so you can lose it you''ve got another thing coming! This thing stays within a one mile radius of me at all times, you hear!?"


    "Sir, yes sir!... By the way, what with everything that happened, I almost forgot to ask. What was that thing the mimic gave you?"


    "The ever-shifting core? It can be used to make a pill for monsters that gives them special abilities. It''s great for tamed pets like Leo. I have no idea what he''ll get out of it, but the ability to change size is common. Leo being able to grow and defend Allie would be nice. Also, bonus points if the core is refunded thanks to Allie''s phoenix cultivation, then she could even make another pill with it. Still, Allie would need a few more ingredients to make it, but I have a solution for that. We aren''t going straight back to the sect just yet by the way. There are two matters I want to deal with first in Red Sun."


    "Ok... May I know what they are? You have a habit of dragging me into strange places and making me do strange things... Just once I''d like to know in advance... ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVES MORE ORCS!"


    "Muahahaha, yes, brother, it involves ALL THE ORCS! MUAHAHAHAHA. No. No it doesn''t. You must think I''m some cruel psychopath!"


    "YOU ARE!"


    "I am most definitely not cruel, thank you very much." Ares started retracing his steps back to the front of the tomb with Aejaz following along. He reached the elevator and called it back down because, apparently, the others were rude enough not to send it back down after they went up! This must have been a petty form of payback because they knew anything more than this minor setback was impossible. Give or take five minutes later, Ares and Aejaz made it back to the entrance of the tomb and had walked over to Hans. "I see Maro is long gone. Shame he didn''t wait for me, I would have waved him goodbye."


    Hans snorted. "I''m glad that bastard left. My hands were getting itchy. That aside, you get anything good outta your expedition?"


    "Oh absolutely, a real gold mine that tomb was."


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    "Really? A lot of the others were complaining about how this was a big ol'' waste of time. I''m guessing you hoovered everything up then? Good for you. If anyone was gonna get the goods, you''re the one who can use them to their fullest, no doubt. Well, I won''t pry, unless you feel like selling any excess, that is?"


    "No, sorry. Everything is useful to me, so that''s not in the cards. By the way, I figured I should mention this just in case; but that tomb belongs to Vargaraad. You recognise the name?"


    "Of course I do sonny, he was a relative of mine long ago."


    "... Really?"


    "Haha, nah, I''m pulling your chain. I have heard of the fella though, a real legend he is. I''m surprised he''s real, or was anyway. Damn, must have been some really good stuff in that there tomb then. Lucky you. I was just about to head back to town, you two want to hitch a ride?"


    "Thanks, but I want to get some practice in with an art I created, so I''ll pass. I''ll be off to deal with that request, then. See you around."


    "Alright laddie, take care now."


    Ares activated Voidwalk and picked up Aejaz by his collar before walking off into the sky. Hans'' cigar dropped out of his agape mouth as he stared in disbelief at the figure of Ares disappearing over the horizon. What in the blazes?... Never seen a cultivator that could fly like that before... Ha, Ares is as strange a kid as always.


    Ares had slung Aejaz over his shoulder as he continued Voidwalking to Red Sun and he was now finally checking out the details of the contract Hans had given him way back when. He opened it, saw the name and a few lines underneath it, and put the scroll away. Ares laughed joyously to himself as this really was a perfect target, he would have to seriously thank Hans for this one next time he saw him. Ares was about to go pay an old acquaintance a visit, one he hadn''t seen in over six years! "Hey, ''Jaz. I''m not expecting you to participate, but you''re going to watch what I''m about to do. You were curious what kind of jobs you''d be doing under Hans, right? Well stop number one of two will make for a good example, so pay attention... Not that you''d be able to miss it if you tried."


    "Um, ok?"


    Ares walked over the city''s gates and kept Voidwalking around above the city until he found the person he was looking for. Ares was high up but his Omniscience, yet again, allowed him to see with clarity what would have otherwise looked like a tiny spec. It also had a facial recognition-type effect which was how Ares found his target this quickly. Well, that was half the reason, the other was because Ares was familiar with his target''s habits and such. It was around 8pm which meant the person in question was no doubt visiting his favourite noodle place. He''d done this every single day, without fail, for upwards of 10 years at this point, supposedly. Ares could only vouch for a few of those years, specifically during the ones he''d lived at the Chen clan. Yes, this was a member of the Chen clan Ares was assassinating. How fortuitous! What an absolutely incredible day this had been so far! New arts, new treasures, killing the Chen clan! Ares hadn''t had a day this productive in a good while, if even ever! He was on a roll and the day wasn''t even over yet. Still, there was no point in thinking about what came next when he hadn''t even dealt with this issue yet, so he landed on the roof of the building and dropped Aejaz off. "Alright, my time to shine." Ares cracked his knuckles and waited for the perfect opportunity to strike.


    "Thank you kindly, Mr. Scratch. You noodles are wonderful as ever. Tell the wife and kids I said hi." A striking young man wearing plain blue robes was conversing merrily with a grumpy, middle-aged man standing behind a counter. The young man''s smile was genuine and captivating, effortlessly charming everyone else in the restaurant.


    The man behind the counter, Scratch, simply replied with an unimpressed grunt. "Mm." It was evident he just wanted the other person to go away but couldn''t directly say it. Scratch''s rude behaviour towards the pretty boy earned him the ire of the customers who noticed it, but they didn''t complain because the food was really good and that took precedent.


    The young man chuckled. "Ah, you''re always like this. Is it my fault? Have I done something to bother you? If so, I do apologise... Maybe we can talk about it some other time? Until then, toodeloo Scratch!" Unaware of what was happening behind him, the young man left the building.


    As for Scratch, he was conversing with Ares whose upper body was dangling from the ceiling for reasons he couldn''t quite comprehend. Still, Scratch knew the ''little tyke'' meant him no harm as he used to be a frequent visitor, if anything he was probably here to solve his biggest problem.


    Outside, the young man had accidentally bumped into a group of children playing tag on the street. "Oh, I''m terribly sorry!" The young man knelt down, dirtying his robes in the process, and helped the two children who were on the floor get up. "I do apologise. I''m quite clumsy, you see. I''ll tell you what, how about I make it up to you? Here!" The young man handed the children some stardust. "Feel free to spend that on whatever you want. Food, candy, toys. Whatever your little hearts desire!"


    The children''s eyes sparkled at the generosity of this kind stranger and they gleefully accepted. "Thanks, Mr!"


    "Mr? Ha, I''m a little too young to be called that just yet, unfortunately. Most people call me Chen Prem."


    "Thank you, Mr Prem!"


    "Hahaha, you lot are adorable! How about I come back some other time when I''m not busy and give you some more stardust?!"


    ""YAY!"" A chorus of cheers rang out for Prem as he promised to indulge the kids.


    "Alright, I''ll be sure to catch you all around. Until then, take care and don''t stay out too late!" With an amiable smile and a polite goodbye, Prem took off. He walked down the road and turned into an alley, one that functioned quite nicely as a shortcut back to the Chen clan''s residence. It was a tad more dangerous, but Prem could hold his own against a drunkard or two if need be. Prem rounded another corner and stood stock still as something unusual was occurring. After rounding the corner, he''d stumbled into a completely dark alley. And not just dark as in, ''he had trouble seeing'', but rather it was pitch black and nothing could be seen even a centimetre ahead of his current position. Prem thought this was strange so he decided to play it safe and turn around, but when he did he realised the darkness had already completely surrounded him. Prem was in some manner of black space that expanded infinitely with not a single shade of colour in sight. No matter how he ran or dashed, the endless abyss was all that lay in front of him.


    "It''s ironic, isn''t it?"


    A voice whispered into Prem''s ear which made him spin on the spot and strike at empty air. He looked around nervously but couldn''t find the culprit. "WHO''S THERE?!"


    "I''ll say it again. It''s ironic, isn''t it?"


    Gulp


    Prem could feel his hands sweating as he started to panic before the unseen threat that was taunting him. "What is? What''s ironic about any of this? What do you want from me?"


    "It''s ironic that your initials spell out CP. It''s rather fitting for a paedophile, no?"


    Prem angrily kissed his teeth as he spat at the darkness. "That is a disgusting accusation! Come out and show me who you are! I''ll deal with a scoundrel like you personally!"


    "Ha, HAHAHAHA. You have the nerve to call others scoundrels? You who gains the trust of children with honeyed words and gifts before kidnapping them after days of stalking?"


    "This is defamatory. I am an upstanding citizen who adheres to every law this city has ever penned down! To accuse me of something so utterly vile is is something only a depraved, jealous man such as yourself would do!"


    "Prem. We''ve known each other long enough. Drop the act."


    A hand tapped Prem''s shoulder, causing him to swing around again. This time, he was face to face with his accuser who was floating upside down and looking him in the eye. As it sank in just who was before him, his prim and proper countenance deteriorated in one of malicious scorn as he stepped back. "Well well well, if it isn''t the rodent himself! Ares, you piece of shit! How long has it been? You know, it''s a real shame I never got my hands on you way back when. You''re a slippery little shit, you know that? I can''t pretend our games of hide and seek didn''t excite me, but never winning was a real buzz kill. To think you were clever enough even back then to flee into Lo''s room. You caught a beating every time, but I never caught you, so I guess you won out in the end, huh? What are you here for? I''m not interested in you anymore now that you''ve grown up, so go hassle someone else."


    With a deep sigh, Ares ignored all of Prem''s previous remarks. "In case it isn''t obvious, I''m here to kill you. Someone wants your head, and I''m the delivery man. Not that I wouldn''t have killed you at some point anyway."


    "Someone? Is it Scratch?! Oh, please, please, tell me its Scratch!"


    "No. And really, who the hell blackmails a noodle shop owner anyway? ''Give me free noodles or I''ll pay your children a visit'' is some seriously degenerate behaviour, even for a piece of shit like you. I know the food is good, but what the hell is wrong with you? Also, it doesn''t matter who sent me; you''re death is already in motion, so don''t concern yourself with trivial details and just enjoy the ride."


    Prem nearly buckled over forward with laughter. He barely managed to speak with tears in his eyes. "You?! You?! You, are going to kill, me?! Oh Ares, you''re too old for play-pretend, it''s not cute when you do it at this age."


    "There''s something I''ve been meaning to try. Do be a good little guinea pig for me, won''t you?"


    Prem was fed up with Ares'' ''charade''. Prem truly believed that it was all just an act and that Ares would crumble before him the second he got violent, so he ran towards Ares to strike him with a fist.


    Click


    Ares clicked his finger and the black space rotated upside down. Prem fell flat on his face, landing right next to Ares'' feet as he hadn''t moved even a single step. Ares put his shoe on Prem''s face and rubbed the dirt on his soles onto him. "I always knew you were the weakest of the Chen clan, but to this extent? Ha, maybe I don''t even need to kill you myself. Maybe one day you''ll try to kidnap a child with a cultivation base and they''ll do you in themself! But that''s not really your style, is it? You prefer weak children because its easier to bully them into submission and silence them. That''s what my employer says about you, and I trust his judgement, especially considering what I already knew about you to begin with. Don''t worry though, the things my employer wrote about you will be available for everyone to see smack dab on your fresh corpse. That fa?ade you spent years building. That reputation. That respect. All of it will die with you."


    Prem swiped at Ares'' shoe to remove it from his face before stumbling to his feet and charging at Ares again. This time he made it to Ares but his fist, and subsequently his body, went flying right through him, as if Ares was a mere phantasm. Prem turned around to face Ares again but he was gone.


    "Hmm, you''re clearly not as good at hide and seek as I was. I would have escaped by now. How do you plan on getting out of this place?"


    "FUCK YOU!" Prem roared at the void surrounding him, swinging wildly in a vain attempt to hit the ghost that was whispering in his ear again.


    "I really don''t see the excitement in this." Ares appeared directly in front of Prem with a sword in his hand.


    "You have to be a real freak to enjoy this." A second Ares appeared to his left.


    "Then again, that describes you perfectly, doesn''t it?..." And a third Ares to his right...


    "W.. Wait." Prem muttered weakly.


    "... A real freak." A fourth behind him...


    "I usually don''t enjoy killing people..." Above him a fifth...


    "STOP!" Prem''s cries fell on deaf ears.


    "... But you? I have enough reasons piled up to get a kick out of this." Even below him, underneath the invisible floor Prem was stood upon, another Ares was walking towards him.


    ""This is it Prem. You''re actions have finally caught up with you. Now it''s time for the consequences.""


    "NO. YOU CAN''T DO THIS. LO WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" Prem yelled as all of the Ares closed in on him. He felt a sword pierce his back and he coughed up blood. "THE CHEN CLAN WON''T..." Prem''s speech was cut off by another sword piercing his chest. "I..." The sound of pierced flesh and splashing blood drowned out his words as every remaining Ares simultaneously ran their swords through him.


    "Don''t worry Prem. The Chen clan WILL find your corpse. They won''t have to look very far at all. In fact, no one will. The entire city will be able to see it."


    "you..." Prem''s last words before death were interrupted one final time by Ares.


    "Crystalised Void: Yggdrasil."

 Chapter 77: Bird vs Tree

    CRACKLE


    Something strange occurred on this day in Red Sun. A gigantic, crystal tree appeared out of seemingly thin air, towering above the city and almost reaching even the clouds. The tree was adorned with gilded leaves along its black branches and created a sort of faux organic dome above the part of the city it inhabited, blocking even sunlight from falling onto the streets below. The tree was so abnormally large it could be seen from literally anywhere in Red Sun. Even those travelling to Red Sun from afar could see the tree before they saw the city itself. Splendid and stolid, the tree took root and became a part of the city''s foundation. It was so unbelievably natural that you could probably convince a resident of Red Sun with faulty memory that it had been there all along and they were only now noticing it. Of course, such an imposing and spontaneous existence drew in many who were curious as to what exactly this behemoth of a tree was doing here. When the gathering crowd arrived at the base of the tree, within its crystalised trunk, they noticed the presence of a young man. A dead young man, with several deep wounds across his body, that had been frozen in time. A few onlookers tepidly inched closer to get a better view, at which point some of the more knowledgeable residents identified the man as Chen Prem. An even fewer number still had wicked grins on their faces as they knew of his true, despicable nature. On the outside of the trunk, his ''true, despicable nature'' was being openly revealed to even those who weren''t aware in the form of the assassination contract Ares had received, filled to the brim with details of Prem''s sins. This was a common tactic used by Hans'' employees, spreading the deeds of the punished individual as to reassure Red Sun they were on the side of the innocents. As more and more people slowly walked up and digested the contents of the contract, murmurs began spreading. Murmurs which would grow into gossip and spread far and wide across the city, duly informing everyone of what exactly was transpiring here.


    Not that the Chen clan hadn''t already sent someone to investigate, but when the specifics of the incident came to their doorstep in the form of hushed whispers outside their gates, they redoubled their efforts and sent more cultivators to the scene. When these cultivators arrived, they forced the crowd back before approaching the mysterious tree. Although they were aware that others had safely gone directly up to the tree and even touched it, they maintained a wary attitude which paid off when a lone leaf flew off its branch and came tumbling down above them. Not taking any chances, the cultivators took distance from the leaf. This decision was wise.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The instant the leaf made contact with the floor it set off a explosion that was hardly any less powerful than that of a Shock Bead. The resulting destruction thankfully hadn''t spread to any of the budlings on either side of the street, but it had formed a crater directly in the middle of it. On its own, the explosion wasn''t entirely un-manageable. If the cultivators worked together, they would be able to advance and defend themselves against each individual leaf, but that was the glaring issue that lay before them. That was but a single leaf... Above their heads, looming above them ominously in all their golden splendour, were hundreds of leaves. If all... No, if even a quarter of those leaves fell... Havoc and chaos would engulf Red Sun in a matter of seconds. The sheer extent of the destruction caused would be catastrophic. To make matters worse, the leaves had only fallen in response to the Chen clan''s cultivators, meaning this was a targeted attack on them. If those leaves were to drop, they weren''t far enough away from the Chen clan residence that even a single gust of wind would put them in serious trouble. They weren''t sure what even Lo could do about a problem this extreme, but it was apparent the cultivators that were here weren''t going to be of any use; meaning the corpse, and all of its shameful history, was here to stay for now and there was nothing anyone could do about it.


    ---------------------------------


    SLAM


    Meanwhile, Lo who''d just found out about all of this broke his desk in half, part of which splintered directly at the cultivator reporting the news to him. Lo was furious that not only had yet another member of the Chen clan been murdered, but that this one was in public, in broad daylight, and worse still exposed his misdeeds. The name of the Chen clan had been getting dragged through the mud consistently as of late for various reasons and this was only going to exacerbate the issue. Lo marched out of the room and the residence and hurriedly approached the damnable tree. It didn''t look sturdy enough to take hits from him so he was confident he could deal with it and be done with this nonsense. When he finally reached the base, he waved aside the pests that were side-eyeing him. Even if he wasn''t the one responsible for Prem''s villainous acts, he was still the leader of the Chen clan so people had reservations about his involvements. Did Lo know? Did he enable it? Did he do anything to stop it? The answer to these questions didn''t even really matter, Lo still came out of this incident looking terrible regardless. He marched up to the tree and several leaves landed on top of him.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, Lo was unharmed and untouched. Temporal Distortion made its target temporarily invincible, so he used the art on himself, not that explosions of that level would have really injured him anyway; he just wanted to show off the crowd and claw back some of his reputation in any way possible. Lo expected a barrage of leaves next, but the tree opted for a new attack as it sent countless branches charging at him. the first branch came within reach and Lo smacked it away effortlessly. He was mid smirk, as he continued knocking away more branches, when his face turned sour instead. Foregoing all the forward progress he''d made to the tree, Lo hopped back out of range of the tree''s attacks as they stormed after him. When Lo finally retreated far enough, he turned around and looked at the labyrinth of branches that had crashed down behind him while glaring intensely. These branches were evil. The power behind them was middling for someone at Lo''s level of aspect assimilation, and if it were as simple as hitting them and moving on he would have faced no opposition as he marched towards the tree. Lo realised, as he was knocking the branches away, however, that he was dying. It wasn''t a quick process, and it was by no means close to happening, but it was happening and that was enough to put Lo on edge. This... Thing was simultaneously draining his mana and life force whenever he went anywhere near either the branches or the main trunk. Even if the amount a single branch took away from him was miniscule, because it never hit him directly, there were hundreds of branches! The leaves would slow his approach and the branches would slowly kill him. If he was ever pierced by a branch from a blind spot... Only God knows how much quicker his death would come. This stupid tree was a Goddamn menace. It couldn''t move, obviously, so it was really nothing more than just an eyesore if Lo decided to ignore it. Lo could protect his residence from the leaves if he needed to, but that would mean having to sit around forever, never leaving the residence so he could keep an eye on the damn thing. His odds of getting past the branches were high, but they weren''t 100% so risking his life just to get the corpse of his moron clan member back was a stupid decision. If he gave up here though and retreated... How much worse would the ridicule of the Chen clan get? He could see the newspaper headlines already, ''Chen Clan Patriarch Bested by Tree!'', or, knowing those pun addicted fucks, ''Treedophile!''. Lo was stuck between a rock and a hard place, but he did have an answer. Lo spent a good chunk of stardust yearly bribing Maro, he was one of the mayor''s highest ''donators''. He needed to be considering the temperaments of his family members... Regardless, Maro''s half of the deal was that he would turn a blind eye to their shenanigans and give them aid when they needed it. Right now, it was needed, so Lo sent a cultivator to the mayor''s office and waited. The wait was excruciating as more and more citizens slowly turned up. Lo wasn''t allowed near the tree, but everyone else was... And every time they walked back after seeing the notice, they, without fail, looked at him with disdain. Lo wanted to let loose and start killing these idiots, but that would just put a massive target on his head; one that even Maro wouldn''t be able to do anything about. Plus causing a scene this close to the national and international would be a problem... NOT THAT THIS STUPID TREE WASN''T ALSO A DAMN PROBLEM!


    Sighhhhhhhhhh


    Lo calmed himself and rejoiced inwardly when he finally saw a giant raven on the horizon. Presumably the only reason Maro hadn''t reacted immediately was because he didn''t know precisely what was up with the tree so he waited for a comprehensive report. Sending a Chen clan cultivator probably helped speed up the process a smidge. As the raven drew nearer, the tree''s leaves all pointed towards the incoming bird in sync with one another, looking like an automatic defence mechanism had kicked in after recognising a threat. The leaves were shaking as they readied themselves to go flying at the target like miniature drones. Seeing the potential for danger ahead, the raven swooped upwards, gaining more height. In actuality, the leaves probably couldn''t harm the raven regardless, but the creature was smart enough not to underestimate an unknown foe. As if the tree had set an invisible boundary, once the raven flew above a specific building, all of the leaves were launched sequentially and they went darting through the sky. The raven took evasive manoeuvres like a fighter jet and barrel rolled past the first set of explosions. It flew straight up as a trail of golden detonations chased after it. Spotting an opening, the raven''s eye glinted as it swooped backward, performing a loop and gliding low over the houses beneath it. As the raven was invisible to those with a lower cultivation, all the residents saw was a barely visible shimmer speed past them as a golden barrage lit up the sky. As the raven neared the tree, a large swarm of leaves gathered in front of the bird. Spreading its wings wide to halt its forward momentum caused the leaves chasing from behind to fly right past the raven which then rapidly threw its wings forward, creating a blast of air. The air blast pushed the errant leaves into the swarm, detonating them all in a colossal explosion above the city that even caused tremors on the ground.


    Racing towards the tree with all the leaves now gone, the raven only had the branches left to contend with and these were the real threats if the information it had was correct. It formed a ball of dark magic which obliterated the first few tens of branches blocking its path before crushing a bunch more with its talons. Dipping low, ascending rapidly, and ducking under branches allowed the raven to weave ever closer to the tree. It flapped its wings to gain height and dodge another branch before performing a move that, unquestionably, made it the most badass bird in history as it landed on the branch it just dodged and used its talons to treat the branch like a grind rail. Skidding down the branch and pecking all the other incoming attacks out of the sky, the bird made its way to the tree and sunk its talons into the trunk.


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    CRACK


    The tree immediately folded under the pressure and cracks appeared all over it, indicating the end of the tree was nigh. The tree wasn''t going to go down without a fight, though, as the black disintegration magic flowing through it funnelled through the branches and coalesced into a spiky black blob in the centre of the trunk.


    SHATTER


    Sure enough, the raven''s talons shredded the tree, which shattered into thousands of tiny crystals that hung in the air reflecting sunlight. Beautiful spectacle aside, there was one last attack hidden within the dying tree. The raven eyed the black blob as it expanded before unleashing all the pent up magic within it. A large black tidal wave of tendrils shaped like a dragon spread out, forming a net as it chased down the raven. Assaulted by a couple hundred tendrils at the same time, even the nimble raven couldn''t dodge them all. It made an admirable effort, twisting and turning through and around numerous attacks until one eventually wrapped itself around the raven''s talon, bringing it to a crawl. The decrease in speed meant the other tendrils could come swarming over the raven, restraining it while also producing an effect similar to the branches; slowly draining its mana and life. The bird had more than enough to spare, and could easily recover everything it lost, but it felt uncomfortable being trapped like this. The tendrils didn''t have enough mana to kill the bird, so this last ditch effort seemed futile at a glance. The bird was an intelligent creature, though, so it was expecting a follow up. Not knowing what it was, where it would come from, or who would fire it put the bird on edge as it struggled against the shadowy chains wrapped firmly around it.


    HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS


    The raven turned as it felt a surge of mana from behind. It managed to twist its body and free one of its eyes from the tendrils just in time to see a fiery trident come sailing over the sky like a meteor and pierce its head.


    SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!


    The tendrils, which were already on the verge of disappearing finally vanished thanks, in part, to the bird''s mana imbued wail and thrashing. Suffering a major injury and knowing the cause of it, Hans'' ifrit, was nearby, the raven retreated immediately. Mana and life force could be restored, but the fire lingering in its now empty eye socket would never be put out unless its owner could drastically raise his cultivation. In short, it was going to be at a massive disadvantage in the future against the ifrit, all because of that obnoxious tree! The tree itself didn''t even really do anything or put up a fight. It just created a never ending distraction of projectile garbage. The raven, realising it had suffered this injury because of such a weak entity, was livid and kicked a few walls over as it flew away in a huff.


    Of course this invisible brawl had only been viewed by a select few who were capable of witnessing it. Everyone else simply enjoyed the crystal tree''s final moments as it glamorously faded away.


    Meanwhile, still inside the shadowy black void that had been the location of Prem''s death...


    Wheeze


    Wheeze


    Wheeze


    A half-dead Ares was taking in every breath he could as he lay on the floor looking like a shrivelled up raisin. He brought out a mana shot pill he''d gotten from Allie earlier and almost dropped it with his flimsy hands, but managed to bring it to his mouth and throw it in. Ares had seriously overdone it on the mana front with that last attack. Yggdrasil cost roughly as much mana as Perish Wheel, but Ares didn''t have enough to cast it properly thanks to all the mana he''d spent throughout the rest of the day. He''d done everything in the tomb, Voidwalked all the way back to town, experimented with a pillar he wasn''t familiar with thanks to the enabler, and then used that massive attack. It was honestly a miracle he wasn''t unconscious. Part of it was thanks to the fact that a majority of the heavy lifting had been done by the Black Ice Bane which lay shattered beside him. The Bane had recovered back to perfect state roughly around the time he returned to city which allowed him to use the Bane''s grand finale by swallowing up all 100 state percent. Ares was spent. His weapon was spent. If it weren''t for the shadowy area he was hiding in, he would have been reliant on Aejaz to drag him away from here as he was still quite near to the Chen clan''s residence and they would happily kill Ares in this state, especially if they found out he was responsible for the mess he''d just caused. Aejaz would be fine outside with his Concealed Serpent so Ares didn''t worry about that as he lay there and went over all the new stuff he''d learnt and used as he recovered.


    For starters, this black space was the Nyxian Prowler''s ''Ebon Nightmare Zone'' art. It created a small pocket dimension of darkness magic. From the outside, this art just looked like a regular old shadow, but inside it was a pretty nifty dimension. Cultivators that were strong enough could destroy it from both the inside and outside, but anyone else couldn''t interact with it; they would just have to wait for the duration to run out. Speaking of which, even though Ares was out of mana, that was the reason why this Zone still here, it was duration based, not mana based. As for what Ares could do, aside from abducting people inside the Zone, he could freely control the room''s orientation and he could also make himself invisible while inside as long as he wasn''t attacking. If he wanted, he could also leave the Zone but keep his abductee in it, at which point he could freely move the zone from the outside, running away with the person still trapped in it. Sort of like shoving someone inside a body bag and then dragging them away. In other words, the art was good for silently killing a target even in a busy area, or kidnapping them stealthily. As for how he created the clones, that was a basic art under the tangible dark aspect called ''Cult Killing.'' It summons clones, the number of which is based on the cultivator''s cultivation, that surround the opponent and can each launch a single attack before disappearing. Finally, Crystalised Void: Yggdrasil. This one was fairly self-explanatory as it had showcased all of its capabilities except one. The black blob at the end that temporarily became a dragon could be much more powerful if the right conditions were met. If enough life force and mana is absorbed by the tree it can summon N¨ªeh?ggr without needing to break. The summon would also be considerably more powerful as it would act like an actual disintegration dragon, flying around and breathing black, incinerating fire wherever it went. Perish Wheel was better against stronger enemies as it was just way more devastating, but the tree was better against a larger number of opponents that were weaker individually. Although Ares had to sacrifice the Bane every time he used it, if the tree could kill enough cultivators, Grim Cessation would give him all of his mana back... Theoretically, anyway. This time it didn''t even manage to kill anyone as everyone actively avoided it other than the bird who was far stronger than it. Still, the value of Yggdrasil in large scale fights was astronomical. It''s major downside was that it couldn''t move, however, so Ares would have to be very specific with its usage.


    Ares'' breathing pattern gradually returned to normal as he sat up. His head was slowly rocking back and forth and he was almost seeing stars, but he was doing better and could at least walk now. There was still one more place he wanted to go, but it wouldn''t result in a fight... Hopefully. Ares had had enough fun for the day and it was time to start taking it easy. One last stop, and then he would go home. Maybe cuddle with Appa a bit to soothe his aching head and then go to sleep hugging his wife. Sounds good. Ares perked up at the thought of the good times ahead and stretched.


    "you..."


    Hm? What was that noise just now? Am I imagining things in my delirium?


    "Have..."


    What the fuck?! Ares heard the voice clearer this time, almost like it was coming from behind him... Had someone found the Zone and snuck in? Was he in trouble? Ares forced his tired muscles to move as he sprung to his feet and turned around. A ghastly pale face was directly in front of his, close enough to touch foreheads.


    "MAIL..."


    "FUCK!" Ares fell on his backside as Loris Lax tilted his head, slowly, in confusion. "You... You need to come with a damn warning bell! How did you even get in here anyway?!" Ares took a deep breath and waited for his beating heart to settle down. Turning around and coming face to face with almost pure black eyes and a sickly complexion made Ares believe for a split second that the grim reaper had come to take one of his infinite lives.


    "I... came... by... magic... The... owner''s... treasure..."


    "Right... Thank you for that wonderful explanation..." Ares looked at the item being delivered to him and recognised it as his pay for completing the contract. It was a sealed envelope with a burn mark on it which was the trademark signature of Hans''. It was unusual, though, because Ares usually never got paid for working for Hans; he typically did it for free.


    Ares, having had his eyes trained on that general region, couldn''t help but notice a ring on Loris'' finger that hadn''t been there before and, although he really didn''t want to ask, he was curious. "Are you married now?"


    "... Yes..."


    Did this fucker just delay his first and only word?! Why am I even bothering with this slowpoke?! Ah but damn it, now I''m even more curious... "Uh, congratulations... Who to? That lady in the shop that was there when I signed up?" Ares was referring to the overzealous verbal speedster who''d probably downed a hundred coffees before her shift. What a dynamic duo those two would make.


    "Peppy..."


    Ares'' eye twitched in anger. "Is that her name? Or is that just a description... Is it a pet name? Is it even the same woman?!"


    "Peppy... is... Peppy..."


    Ares wanted to tear his hair out. "Yeah, I see." Ares couldn''t be bothered to play word chains with this humanoid snail any longer so he just accepted things as they were and moved on. He still wanted to know but his sanity was on the line here. "Well, thanks for the delivery anyway..." Ares reached out with his hand and left his upturned palm in front of Loris.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    You have to be shitting me. He doesn''t just talk slow... HE MOVES THIS SLOW TOO?! Ares closed his eyes and took a deep breath expecting Loris to take forever but, when he felt something land on his palm, he opened his eyes only to realise he was on his own again. The letter was in his hand, so this hadn''t been some kind of fever dream or an acid trip. Ares was starting to question whether Loris was just fucking with him and actually capable of functioning like a normal human when he wanted to. Ares shook his head and banished that thought from his head. He put the envelope in the Primordial Blade for later and left the Nightmare Zone, making sure to peep outside first and see if Lo and his lot had left the scene. Thankfully they had so Ares went back to the roof of the noodle shop and found Aejaz loafing around waiting for him. "Alright, let''s get going."


    "... You, err, gonna explain any of that?"


    "Yeah, sure, but I''ll do it on the way. Chop Chop."


    Aejaz jumped to his feet and followed Ares off the roof. "Where are we going now? You look spent, shouldn''t we just go home and do this other thing tomorrow?"


    "Nope, I wanna get it over and done with. Fortunately, our last stop ought to be more of a relaxing one. You and I are going to pay a visit to the local auction house and do some bidding!"


    "... Don''t I basically do all of your bidding normally anyway?"


    "Shut up minion. Forward march!" Ares'' ignored his brother''s pun and walked onward, ready to throw all his hard-earned moolah away like the spendthrift he was!

 Chapter 78: Why Is This Auction House Selling Sand?

    "... So long story short, murder is a good thing." Ares declared proudly.


    "..." Aejaz just stared at his brother with narrow eyes after hearing about the line of work Ares wanted to pimp him out to.


    "Don''t give me that look, it''s for your own good. Working under Hans will be good for you. The sooner you start, the better. You''re going to have to get used to killing people at some point. You''ve only ever killed Crane, right? For a cultivator, those are rookie numbers! Shame on you! Get some more blood on your hands!"


    "..." Aejaz'' stare doubled in intensity.


    "Hmph, fine! Stay as you are! Next time Allie needs saving, I wish you the best of luck."


    "Tsk, I know I should be doing it, no need to be an ass about it."


    "Yes there is. I know you well enough to know you''ll just lounge around on your laurels if I don''t push you every now and then. If you aren''t working for Hans here and there by the time the nationals roll around, I''ll drag you to him if need be. It will be easier if you start sooner anyway. Hans will be swamped with work when more people start entering the city for the international and the targets will only get stronger and stronger the longer you wait. If you can get some experience with easier marks before then it''ll smooth out the learning curve. I''ll even let you borrow the Nyxian Prowler whenever you work. How''s that for an incentive?"


    "Fine. Fine. Just give me a week and I''ll do it. I want to enjoy the results of whatever will happen after I give Allie the cultivation manual damnit!"


    Ares rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah. I don''t blame you, but that doesn''t mean I''m not disappointed! You are succeeding as a man, but failing as a cultivator! Well whatever, we''ve arrived so be on your best behaviour. This place has standards!"


    "ME?! Why don''t you keep your explosive tendencies at bay before telling me to control myself?!"


    "Oh please, I have enough restraint not to go crazy. It''s you stealing everything that worries me. I''m not telling you never to steal from auction houses, just not this one in our home town for Christ''s sake! It''s not like you haven''t already done it once! You have a track record!" Ares defeated Aejaz with the allegations of thievery intent because Aejaz was forced to admit he''d been considering it...


    As for the auction house itself, it doubled as a theatre. Or rather it was a theatre that doubled as an auction house. During busy times such as the national and international, the theatre was rented out to a local auction company. It also occasionally ran whenever the theatre wasn''t putting on plays, so there were a decent number of auctions yearly in Red Sun. For the most part though, if you wanted any rarer treasures, it would be better to wait for the international as that was when all the rare goods went up for sale. Still, Ares wasn''t here for anything out of the ordinary, so that wouldn''t be an issue.


    The building was wide, long, and tall. Wide to accommodate a large audience, long for all the backstage needs such as prop or treasure storage, and tall for prestige and VIP customers to get better seats and preferential treatment. Despite being highly functional, the exterior and interior had a rather posh charm to it. Hints of gold, dark reds, and fancy designs were everywhere as far as the eye could see. Despite the abundance of such an aesthetic, it had been carefully measured out by a well-respected interior designer in Red Sun during its creation over a thousand years ago so it didn''t feel tacky in the slightest. If a visitor were to scan the building, inside or outside, there would be regular intervals between the complex designs so as to be easy on the eyes. It was a rather complicated mix of minimalism and maximalism that only someone with a lot of experience and talent in their respective field could accomplish. For that reason the building was a rather famous one, even cultivators abroad knew of it. It became somewhat of a tourist attraction during the international, but the arrival of powerful cultivators also made it somewhat of an exclusive club for the wealthiest cultivators around the domain. The duality of the relatively poor people in the common seats and the most influential people in the world in the VIP booths was always a rather interesting sight. Throughout the rest of the year, though, during the more quiet times, it was a lot more subdued. Any Tom, Dick, and Harry could enter easily enough and even some cultivators with more local reputation were allowed to get into the VIP section. People like the Li clan''s patriarch who wouldn''t stand a ghost''s chance during the international were more than welcome in such a VIP booth at any other time. As for the theatre half of things, they occasionally performed during the international and made a truckload of stardust every time. The theatre-play tradition in Red Sun was strong thanks mostly to the theatre itself. Most locals viewed not using it as a waste so the troupe that had made it their homebase of sorts during its foundation was still around today. Not the individuals who started it, but the new blood who kept joining the troupe to keep it alive even after all these years. They were undoubtedly some of the most famous actors throughout the entire domain and were a source of pride for people living in Red Sun. For anyone in the city who didn''t become a cultivator, becoming a member of the troupe was just about the next best possible option.


    Ares walked up to the front of the ''Myriad Masks'' theatre and talked to the person standing outside. "Yo, Jeremy, VIP booth. Pronto."


    The man named Jeremy stared at Ares before looking away and not responding.


    "HEY! Don''t give me the silent treatment. This theatre owes me! Who was it that brought back those stolen auction items three years ago?!"


    Jeremy glared at Ares. "Yeah, and who was it that stole them in the first place!"


    "Not relevant."


    "Not relevant my ass! If it weren''t for your good standing in Red Sun you would be attack on sight status! Letting you in isn''t going to happen, let alone a VIP booth! The upper management would have my head if I let you in."


    "Yeah well, you remember that golden pillar everyone saw a couple days ago?"


    "Yeah, what of it?"


    "Oh, nothing. You remember that tree that just appeared?"


    "... Yeah... What of it?..."


    "Be a real shame if I dropped both of them on your dumb ass at the same time, wouldn''t it!"


    "I... I don''t believe you!"


    "Yeah well, let''s see if not believing me helps when upper management comes for your head for letting me blow up the theatre!"


    "You... Look..." Jeremy glanced around to make sure no one saw the concession he was about to make. "... I can let you in, but that''s it. No VIP. You aren''t even famous anyway so it would be an impossible request even if you weren''t threatening me."


    "Not famous?! According to who?! Put aside the fact that I created those two massive attacks that literally everyone in the city saw, what about everything else?! I''m from a big family in the Vraizon domain. I have contacts! I know Onno from HMTG. I know the Li and Nick clan''s young masters. I''m going to be married to the daughter of the Legion clan''s patriarch. I work directly under Hans. Contacts aside, I''m a foreign aid disciple in Heaven''s Path. I''m literally the most famous disciple in the entire sect and will probably end up being the next sect master! More people know my name than the current bloody sect master''s! I have a unique pillar! Not famous my ass! How many citizens in Red Sun know me? Whoever it is that thinks I''m not a big deal has clearly been living under a damn rock!"


    "That... I can''t deny any of that... But do you even have the money to be here? Aren''t you mostly famous as ''the bandit brothers''? Don''t you steal everything anyway? Can you afford what we''re selling?" Jeremy tried desperately to come up with any excuses to drive away the pest before him that he could muster.


    "I''ve got about three high-grade stardust total on me at the moment. Don''t act like that that''s not enough at this time of year. You aren''t selling anything extremely rare and the competition is pretty non-existent. On most ordinary days, three high-grade would be enough to clean house!"


    "Where the hell did a bastard like you get that kind of money?! Why am I standing out here earning pennies compared to a shmuck like you?!"


    "Me strong. You weak. Me kill cultivator. Me earn money. You kiss cultivator ass. You no make money. See? Simple! Let me in you broke bozo!"


    "Ughhhh. Fine. If anyone asks, I had nothing to do with you, and if anyone hassles me I''m telling them you crept in when I wasn''t looking."


    "Actually, that''s a good point. I could have just done that from the start... See? I''m behaving well and doing things by the book, right? you can clearly trust me!"


    "NOT AFTER ADMITTING IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE YOU FORGOT TO BREAK THE RULES!" Jeremy threw the token at Ares and turned around, ignoring him for good this time. Whatever happened from here on out had nothing to do with him.


    Ares and Aejaz slipped past Jeremy and into the entrance where they interacted with a revolving door to get inside. Ares had been momentarily tempted to push Aejaz back inside the door and watch him have to sit around and wait in order to get back inside, but he was supposed to be laying low so, begrudgingly, he refrained. The two walked over to a staircase on the right side of the foyer and went up the stairs before coming across a burly security guard. After showing the VIP token, the guard gave the two ''kids'' a once over before letting them through. It wasn''t rare for, what the security guard deemed, ''kids'' to occasionally enter the VIP section, but he was familiar with most of them so he was extra attentive when two new brats came-a-callin. Still, the token was real so he had no complaints... Other than the deeply buried ones about spoiled rich brats having more money than him... But that was a personal problem.


    Ares and Aejaz strolled down the hall and came across their room number 2. There was no significance to it other than indirectly letting Ares know there was someone else present who could be considered a VIP in room 1. If there was something he wanted, he might actually have to spend a chunk of stardust to get it; meaning he would have to be cautious throwing money around on some of the earlier goods. Still, there were a few alchemical ingredients he wanted, so he couldn''t skip them anyway. A lot of this auction would mostly just be auto pilot with one or two hard decisions towards the end.


    The bandits entered the room and Aejaz was practically drooling at the interior. Each VIP room was a secluded, high class playground with comfy leather chairs, complimentary champagne and fruits, and even a personal heater / ac on either side of the chairs for individual comfort. Aejaz went sleuthing around the room and playing with the luxurious toys he found while Ares took a seat and looked out of the giant glass panel on the furthest wall. The wall was one way so he could freely look at all the paupers below with them none the wiser! Ah to be rich!... Comparatively, anyway. If he came here during the international, the actual powerhouses of the domain would probably spit on him. Unless he won the international, he definitely wouldn''t be able to even enter one of these rooms anyway. And as for being able to compete monetarily... Ha. Nope. There were items that could go for hundreds of high-grade stardust, Ares'' measly three wasn''t going to cut it. What was hilarious to Ares about that was that he technically was the richest person around for miles if one looked at wealth including possessions. An enabler alone would probably sell for over ten thousand high-grade, let alone the Primordial Blade or the Celestial Prisms which were basically priceless. Ares was the richest poor man in town!


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    "Hey, stop browsing for stuff to steal and come here." Ares gestured to the seat next to his.


    Aejaz came over but kept looking back over his shoulder at a painting that looked like it would be worth a pretty penny if sold at market...


    "Here. I promised I''d give you the Acrimony, so here you go."


    Aejaz took the dagger that was handed to him and started twirling it with a beaming smile. Ignoring the Concealed Serpent, this was first good item he''d ever gotten. Unlike the Serpent, this had combat potential, so Aejaz was pretty excited for it. The training with Sadie had made him a dagger fanatic so to have a high quality one was like throwing a dog a bone; he was going to be distracted by it for quite a while. Combining that with the phoenix cultivation manual and Aejaz was secretly wishing Ares would take him on more adventures... As long as they didn''t involve anymore damn orcs!... This isn''t secretly an orc-tion house, is it?! Aejaz shook his head vigorously from side to side. The orc experience had clearly been traumatising...


    After receiving the dagger, Aejaz was reminded there was something he was curious about. It wasn''t important, per se, but it was the kind of thing that not knowing would eat away at him for no good reason. "What does the Nyxian Prowler''s blade look like? When I saw it in Vargaraad''s tomb it was sheathed and I couldn''t see it properly. it''s a rare treasure, right? Must be cool. It would be a real let down if it was just a normal blade."


    "Hm? Oh, right. Yeah, have a looksie." Ares whipped out the treasure and unsheathed it, revealing the weapon''s full form to Aejaz who''s eyes were sparkling. The blade was a formless shadow. "The shadow can change shape, to an extent, and become whatever kind of dagger you want it to be. Curved, misericord, poignard, baselard..." As Ares spoke, the Prowler''s shadow morphed into the appropriate form. "... It''s seriously handy. Not only is the enabler part of it incredibly valuable, but as a standalone treasure, what with the Zone art and the shapeshifting, it''s an amazingly convenient weapon. I guess I shouldn''t be too surprised, enablers are always some of the highest quality treasures out there. Most enablers usually have more than one art, but the Prowler''s ability to shapeshift makes up for that in my opinion. Besides, I have enough arts at my disposal as is. The second I get a long range attack of some kind, I think I''ll be set for combat options for a good while. Well, I won''t have a mental attack, but that shouldn''t be a problem for now... Oh hey, the auction''s starting."


    Up front, an elderly man with a cane hobbled onto the platform. If it weren''t for this old-timer being relatively well known, he probably would have been booed off the stage. Still, he was an aspect assimilation cultivator, at the peak too, so he was given the respect he deserved. His rickety form and slow gait was not indicative of how much of a threat he could be if he put in some effort so no one thought to hurl abuse his way. The old man wasn''t a big enough name to keep the hounds at bay during the international, however, but the theatre hired outside help for that; sometimes even getting the mayor himself to step in... It''s not like the bastard was ever busy, after all.


    The old man got the event underway quickly and unceremoniously as today was just a normal day. No bigshots had turned up and there weren''t any particularly rare items for sale so an appropriate amount of effort had been put in. Ares paid the various pills that went up for sale no attention, instead whipping out the envelope he''d received earlier from Loris. Ares had never accepted pay from Hans as he''d been given more than enough in the way of shelter and food, so this was a first for him. He wasn''t too curious as to why he was being paid, he''d seriously done Hans a massive favour. Ares was more so curious about what the payment would be. As he opened the envelope, Aejaz slithered out of his seat and peaked over his brother''s shoulder to take a gander at the goods.


    "A letter?" The disappointment in Aejaz'' voice was palpable. He had clearly been expecting stardust at the very least, not that there wasn''t any in the envelope, it just wasn''t much; totalling at around 10 mid-grade. If Ares wanted 10 mid-grade, he could just go around beating up any random cultivator and taking their spatial ring; he''d also get a lot more than ten if they were any decent. Assassinating a high profile target for the same reward wasn''t worth it! "What''s the letter say? Anything good on that end, at least?"


    Ares, instead of reading the letter to himself and then having to explain again after, simply read it aloud. "You''re a crazy kid, Ares. I''m not even going to ask what was up with that tree, poor old me might have a heart attack if I start worrying excessively about the things you do. Anyhow, thanks for a job well done. Nothing out of the norm in that department, I guess. I''ve given you a down payment. It''s not much, but I''ll have a proper gift ready for you some time after the nationals are wrapped up. You''ve earned it after helping me injure that damn bird. It''ll make life a lot easier and I might be able to make a few sly moves here and there I wouldn''t have had a chance to otherwise. You''ve done a lot of good work for me over the years and I''ve never really paid that back. I know you wouldn''t ask for payment anyway, but I wanna do it so indulge me on this kiddo. Come check in after the nationals and I''ll let you know when it''ll be ready, if it isn''t already. It''s not a treasure or anything of the sort, but I''ve got a feeling you''ll cherish it. It''s a personal gift, so don''t try and convince me not to, I won''t be hearing any of it! It''s something every man needs anyway, so don''t be stubborn.


    Kindly,


    Hans."


    "Every man needs? He''s really trying to keep us guessing? I wanna knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww." Aejaz'' nosiness had gotten the better of him and he was tempted to run over to city hall right now and ask.


    "We''ll know after the nationals, which should be your number one focus right now. Or maybe I should hold onto the cultivation manual until you''ve made progress in that art?"


    "BROTHER NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


    "Relax. I''m just messing with you..." Ares held down a button at the edge of the armrest on his chair. "... Two mid-grade."


    "Eh? Two mid-grade?"


    "I''m bidding stardust, you moron. Have you already forgotten where we are?!"


    Aejaz looked up as he truly had gotten lost in his own head trying to figure out what Hans'' gift might be. On the stage, he saw an alchemical ingredient, a striking blue flower, up for grabs. "What is it?"


    "''Wild tide'', an ingredient that''s neither common nor rare. Somewhere in between and generally not too hard to find if you travel a bit... According to the old man, anyway. Like hell I know."


    "What are you buying it for? And how do you even know you need it if you don''t even know what it is?!"


    "I''m buying it for the pill that needs the ever-shifting core, the one for Leo. As for how I know the ingredients that are necessary for it, I gave Allie''s alchemy recipes a once over the other day with Omniscience. I promised her I''d keep an eye out for any of the ingredients she was on the hunt for. The ever-shifting core is the only ingredient for the pill that isn''t readily available, so Allie didn''t bother getting the others even though, with Zhang''s aid, she could have done so in a day or two. There wasn''t much point without the core. Now that I found a core, I figured I may as well get her the rest of the ingredients while I''m out and about. Of course I''ll let your dumbass give it all to her. She might even offer to marry you on the spot when you dump everything you''ve gotten today on her."


    Sniffle


    "BROTHER!" Aejaz, with glistening tears in his eyes, was trying to hug Ares but he was being kicked away by Ares'' foot which was playing defence.


    "I''m still trying to bid for the damn thing you fool! How can I do that if you bind my arms?!" Ares pushed the button to bid again as someone else seemed to want it. "Four mid-grade." Thankfully that bid seemed to be the end of it as the other person wasn''t willing to go any higher; the bid was getting a bit too pricy for the wild tide which really was only worth around three mid-grade at most. Ares had lost out here, but he needed it anyway so unless the price got ridiculous he was willing to pay.


    The bidding continued for a while and Ares had to peel his brother off him pretty much every time he bid for an alchemy ingredient. Eventually, something interesting came up. Ares had no intention of buying it, but Aejaz was curious about the thing that had piqued Ares'' interest and he asked for an explanation. After all, why anyone would want to buy a single grain of blue sand was... Questionable. Aejaz couldn''t even see the damn thing from here because it was that miniscule! He''d need a telescope to even make sure he wasn''t being scammed into buying literal thin air!


    "That, if it''s actually even there, is called ''fine-grind blue''. There are a few places you can find it, but it typically needs to be searched for in sandy regions. The more sand, the more likely you are to find it, but that''s where the problems begin... You see, fine-grind blue strengthens the cultivator permanently. It can only be used once per cultivator, and the benefit is proportional to the amount of days the fine-grind blue has existed. The one being sold is ''fortnight fine-grind'', so it''s been around for two weeks. Now, you might be wondering why a sane person wouldn''t just hold onto it for days on end to make the effect stronger, right? The answer is quite simple... Everyday, the fine-grind has a 75% chance to explode. You basically play a guessing game with that thing. The explosion isn''t dangerous or anything, but your treasure may just suddenly stop existing if you don''t absorb it in time. Of course, the sooner you take it, the lower the benefit. Fine-grind isn''t even really that rare, you can go to a country called ''Xasca'' up to the north and find it everywhere. The real rarity comes from the number of days it''s survived without going kablooey. two weeks isn''t low, but it''s not great either. Serious cultivators tend to try and search for one month fine-grind at the bare minimum, and even then that''s considered pretty desperate. Two months is, ''I''m trying to become the next big cultivator'' territory. Three months is the highest anyone has ever found... But it blew up the very next day... Greed is a real killer. Personally, I have higher standards than fortnight fine-grind. I plan on visiting Xasca sometime after the international, so I might as well wait until then to search around for something better. This is going to be a massive treasure for me because I''m an Adept. The strength gain of fine-grind is notable. Taking your fine-grind is considered a major step for cultivators, so I want to get it right because it''s ten times more important for me. Sure, my human form gets zilch out of it... But my revenant form is seriously going to be a roided out beast if I get a good fine-grind."


    "Huh, what a strange treasure... Should I just buy that fine-grind and be ok with it? I don''t need much physical strength, really."


    "Hell no. I''m not going to tolerate anyone in my household having anything less than two month fine-grind!... Well, we won''t be living in that house for much longer... But that''s not the point! You can do so much better than that, so don''t be lazy about it. It would even be better to just never take fine-grind if you can''t find a better one. I don''t care if you have to wait 200 years to find a good quality fine-grind blue, don''t touch the garbage stuff. You''ll seriously regret it one day. It''s not necessarily impossible to get a do-over, nothing''s really ever truly impossible in this world; but don''t risk it because there''s never truly any guarantees in this world either."


    "All right, point taken. But how does that thing work anyway?"


    "You eat it and then it does what it says on the tin. It grinds down your physique and muscles from the inside, refining them and imbuing them with a bit of extra oomph. Yes it does hurt, but it works wonders so no complaining when the time comes or I''ll shove it down your throat... Hell, I''ll shove it up your ass if need be!"


    "Uh, I think I''ll just swallow it... I mean how bad can it be?... Anyway, it seems like the auction is done with alchemy ingredients and they''re moving onto enhancement treasures. Did you get everything? Can we leave? I wanna go home to Allie!"


    "Will you keep it in your pants for ten minutes?! Yes I''ve got all the ingredients, no we are not leaving. We''re already here, so we might as well see what everything else is. You never know when something worth bidding on will pop up, even in a low key auction like this one. Put your tongue back in your mouth, put your eyes back in their sockets, and quit saying ''awooga''. Allie can wait, and so can you."


    As it turned out, Ares hanging around was the correct decision as, a little while later after the enhancement treasures had all been sold off, a weapon that Ares really wanted was brought on stage. He''d just been complaining about not having a long range method of attack readily available, and now this thing was for sale? It couldn''t be any more perfect! The weapon was a backfire gear but it was neutral tier so that wasn''t an issue... Kinda. It''s just that its demerits were nowhere near as significant as its merits for a person like Ares.

 Chapter 79: The VIP of Room 1 Plays a Dangerous Game

    The old man revealed the first of the weapons that would be sold tonight and Ares was hooked the second he saw it. It was a semi-automatic pistol. Simple enough. Effective enough. Regarding the design, it was silver with an eagle pattern carved into the side of the gun''s barrel. Again, rather simple. What really sold Ares, though, was the description the old man rattled off.


    "This weapon is a neutral tier backfire gear named ''Biome Eagle''. As is standard for all guns, imbuing it with mana allows you to create bullets and fire them, but that isn''t really the purpose of this weapon. The backfire manifested in the form of a rune named Adaptive Shot that absorbs nearby mana to charge up a single, devastating magic. The absorbed mana determines the element of the shot so, if you were in the ocean, for example, you would fire off water magic. The benefit of this weapon is that you can create powerful, ranged magic even using pillars that you don''t have an affinity for depending on your location. The downside is that the region you''re in limits the effectiveness of the weapon. Take the ocean example from earlier. Yes you can fire water magic, but will water magic ever really be effective against creatures that live in the ocean? The magic becomes somewhat redundant against creatures that live in the biome you use it in as they will typically be more resistant to it. Magic cannot be stored within the weapon either, so it must be absorbed on-site. It is still useful against cultivators however, and there is a neat trick to this weapon that saves it from going down a tier. The mana it absorbs has no requirement whatsoever. It is cheap, if not outright free to simply use the mana in the air, but that will force it to be magic based on whatever region you''re in. What you can do instead, for a price, is imbue it with your own mana. This is more expensive, but it allows you to choose the type of magic it can fire off provided you''re capable of wielding that pillar to begin with. Additionally, you yourself do not have to provide the mana. Other cultivators may aid you by offering up their own mana to the weapon. This gives it a bit more versatility at the cost of extra mana. We thought long and hard about which tier this weapon belonged in and we believe there are enough use cases in which the weapon can prove helpful, so neutral it is. One final note, the Adaptive Shot takes the form of an eagle with a minute amount of intelligence, meaning it can track enemies to a degree. Add on the effects of whatever element is applied to it, and it is a weapon that is respectable in its own right. The bidding will start at 600 mid-grade and increments must be 40 mid-grade or higher."


    Ares decided to wait until the bidding died down before he threw his hat in the ring but there was no way in hell he wasn''t taking this thing home! A long range, homing explosive?! If he imbued the weapon with destruction magic and shot a tracking explosive at someone... Not to mention disintegration and nothingness were options as well. In fact, now, thanks to the Prowler, he could throw the darkness pillar into the mix too if he wanted. This would give Ares options galore and it was literally the missing tool in his arsenal that he needed to feel comfortable regardless of what he came up against. "800 mid-grade." Ares had no expectations of getting the Eagle this cheap, but he threw out the bid anyway as things were slowing down and he wanted others to be aware he was going to fight for it too. Ares believed in the psychology of this approach, only butting in toward the end to let everyone know he was willing to spend a fair bit by only participating when the price got high. Of course this wouldn''t dissuade anyone necessarily, but if it helped him save even 40 mid-grade against another bidder who understood Ares wouldn''t back down, then why not? It was also worth mentioning that the people Ares was competing against were just regular, non VIP cultivators. These people couldn''t really afford to fork over astronomical amounts. Just him being in the VIP booth was a mental edge as the cultivators would probably expect him to have way more stardust than he actually did. This philosophy worked for Ares as he managed to place one more bid at 980 mid-grade that won him the weapon. Presumably, the other cultivators gave up when realising a VIP was willing to fight tooth and nail and they probably wouldn''t be able to compete no matter how long the bidding went on. Thanks to this, Ares had gotten the weapon for, give or take, a couple hundred star-dust cheaper than he would have otherwise. Sure the other cultivators could have maliciously raised the price, but not knowing who the VIP was meant it could very well be a death sentence for them if they played around too much. Long story short, being a VIP was actually massively beneficial and was why Ares had bickered with Jeremy until he got his way. Ares wanted to make his three high-grade do as much work for him as they could. Furthermore, if Ares wanted anything else this auction, and had to bid against the other VIP cultivator, any and all stardust saved would be invaluable.


    After buying all the alchemical ingredients, and the successful acquisition of the Biome Eagle, Ares had spent roughly 1.2 high-grades worth of stardust. This put his remaining funds at essentially 2 high-grade, or two thousand mid-grade. He had a tiny bit more than that, but the amount really wasn''t worth mentioning. Depending on what was yet to come, this was a worrying amount. Most final items at auction would typically sell for around 2.5 high-grade... Which Ares did not have unless he sold something in his possession, but there was nothing he wanted to exchange. The lowest quality object in his storage was the Black Ice Bane, and that had already long since proven its usefulness. Plus it wouldn''t really be as useful to anyone else other than him because it utilised his destruction pillar as a core foundation. He could maybe try and sell some Beads if push came to shove, but even that was a desperate act that would only net him so much profit. The Eagle was worth every penny, but it had put him in an awkward position so he sincerely hoped there wouldn''t be anything else that grabbed his attention...


    For a while, Ares felt truly relieved as he sat back and watched weapon after weapon come and go. Some were interesting, but nothing was worth the cost of doing business. He didn''t really need an upgrade to anything in his arsenal right now so treasures that were only weapons and nothing more couldn''t sway him. Armour couldn''t tempt him either as he preferred remaining light and mobile. Blacksmithing and runemancy was a part of his repertoire now too. If he really needed something for whatever reason, he could always craft something temporary. As the old man finished running through the equipment section, Ares started biting his nails as this was when things would get serious. Literally anything could show up here during the final stretch and these were the standouts of the auction no doubt. The cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me, as it were.


    The first item that came out was a beneficial tier backfire gear that attracted a lot of oohs and aahs as these things were really rare. Even Ares had to bury his head in his arms and try not to look. It was good. The footwear in question could triple its weight on command. Good for anchoring against wind magic. Good for kicking opponents. Zero downside other than being slightly difficult to wield during its effect. If the effect wasn''t toggleable, it would probably be liability tier. Overall, it was a solid item that would do right by its owner. Ares, being the kind of freak that threw himself into the air regularly, could stomp on people with this thing like an absolute menace; squishing all those beneath him! The devilish boots were tempting him! NO ARES. DO NOT FALL FOR THE WICKED TEMPTRESS. SHOW SOME DIGNITY AND LET IT GO, MAN! The worst part was that he could afford it too... The price was going to end up at roughly 1.7 high-grade. He could buy it and walk away with some spare change in his pocket... ARES! NO! IT ISN''T WORTH IT! YOU DON''T NEED IT! YOU LITERALLY JUST GOT VOIDWALK WHICH DOES THE SAME THING! After tussling with the demon whispering sweet nothings about flattening people into pancakes with the backfire gear and Voidwalk combined, Ares managed to eek out of his internal war victorious. There were battle scars in the form of a broken heart and a sad smile that was doing its best to help Ares pretend he wasn''t regretful. A single tear was shed for the boots before Ares got his head back into the game. He avoided bidding on this because he knew he could do better damnit! Now was not the time to be pitying himself!


    In the end, the gear was sold for 1.75 high-grade to the person in VIP room 1. Ares tried paying attention to see if he could recognise the voice, but it was just some unknown woman. Unknown to Ares anyway. If they were in the VIP room they had to be someone of note. Well, technically they could just be along for the ride, following someone else who actually had the qualification to be there, but it didn''t really matter anyway. Ares saluted room number 1, even though they couldn''t see him, and asked no one in particular to take care of the boots, even though they couldn''t hear him either.


    A few other items came and went, nothing that gave Ares as much trouble of the boots anyway. The final item was about to be announced and, if it also didn''t pique Ares'' interest, he was going to wind up regretting not getting the boots until the day he died... Actually, realistically, that just meant forever...


    Ahem


    The old man cleared his throat and stamped his cane on the stage. "Todays'' last item is a bit of a strange one. Even we can''t value it because we don''t know what it is. For that reason, before I introduce you to it, I want you to know there is no minimum bid and no required increment per bid. We believe we should leave it up to you to decide what you think the item is and how much you''re willing to fork over for it. Please bear in mind we are not responsible for any danger the item may pose to the buyer and we will not refund your bid should the product have any untoward effects. Even if the item were to become dust the moment your hand makes contact with it, that is not our concern. The item is a risky bid, so please understand that before making any decisions."


    Ares leant forward in his seat. It wasn''t uncommon for stuff like this happen in auction houses. Items like treasure maps or unknown ores and plants were sold all the time. Usually, these things were either completely useless, or so hyper specific in their uses that only those with incredible knowledge in certain fields could identify them, let alone make use of them. Still, the potential to get something incredibly precious for cheap would attract a lot of bidders who had a problem or two with gambling. Sure, there was a chance this item would be a dud and something someone had found in their back garden; bringing it to auction to try and make a quick buck, but Ares had a trick up his sleeve no one else could copy. Omniscience! Even if it couldn''t tell him the name of the item, the effect of it should be decipherable. Using Omniscience was basically cheating, as per usual, but it wasn''t his fault no one else had one of the strongest treasures in this dimension! If they wanted an advantage, they should just clearly be trying harder!... If the cultivators down below could hear what Ares was jokingly muttering, they would have stormed his booth and hung him in the centre of town for his crimes.


    The last item was wheeled onto the stage under a cloche. Everyone''s eyes were glued to the front of the stage as tensions rose throughout the theatre. Those who were confident in their areas of expertise were salivating at the prospect of potentially discovering a rare treasure of ancient myth of yore that everyone else would mistake for a pebble or something equally unvaluable. These kind of non-descript items always got everyone in the room excited and this time was no different. The old man put his hand atop the cloche and began lifting the lid. A few of the cultivators were tempted to throw their lives away and attack the old man for taking so damn long! The bastard was clearly teasing everyone! When finally the cloche was lifted, a majority of the room sunk back into their seats with narrowed eyes and a frown on their face. A few botanists and environmental-minded individuals remained standing as they stared at the object, trying to parse through all of their memories in search of this weird little item.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Back in VIP room number 2, Aejaz looked at the object and had a gut feeling his brother was going to go berserk over this item... It really was just a gut feeling, but he had a reason to believe it. The item on display was a seed. Not just any seed though... The seed was golden. Very few things in the cultivation world were inherently gold, it just didn''t happen. For a golden, NATURAL treasure to show up... What were the chances it would be attractive to the only cultivator in the world with golden mana at his disposal? Aejaz looked over to his brother and almost fell out of his chair when he saw an empty eyes Ares almost leaning forward out of his seat, drooling over the floor with his tongue out like a wild animal. This was a level of degeneracy Aejaz had never seen from Ares before.... Whatever that seed was, it was clearly Ares'' very own catnip. This was worrying, to say the least. Ares wouldn''t let this treasure go even if he had to demolish all of Red Sun to get it. Auction rules be damned. If Ares didn''t win this, he would kill whoever did, morality could go screw itself. Ares probably wouldn''t even hesitate to destroy the auction house. Even if the sect didn''t support his actions, Ares would just abandon the sect too. It really looked like there were no lengths to which Ares wouldn''t go for this seed. Aejaz was surprised his brother hadn''t thrown himself at the window in an attempt to inch even a few feet closer to the seed what with the way he was acting right now...


    "200 mid-grade"


    "500 mid-grade"


    "520 mid-grade"


    "790 mid-grade"


    The bidding was underway and the bids were hectic to say the least. The cautious, slow bidders were being overwhelmed by the gamblers who wanted to try and kick everyone else down and raise the price to a point that was logically too high for an unknown item such as this. The bid eventually went sailing past the 1 high-grade mark and didn''t appear to be slowing down just yet.


    "1.1 high-grade"


    "1.2 high-grade"


    "1.3 high-grade"


    "1350 mid-grade"


    "1.4 high-grade"


    Aejaz had a nervous look on his face as Ares'' zephyr had lit up in a golden splendour and he seriously wondered if Ares would just let his magic rip here if the price went above 2 high grade. Do I steal it? It would avoid making a fuss, and I have the spatial ringworm to hide it... Would it cause problems in the future? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH STUPID BROTHER!


    "1.8 high-grade"


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The voice from VIP room 1 silenced the hall. The rising price had been slowing down so people were clearly running out of gas... Until now. An amount like this would probably seal the deal and lock out any of the none-VIP cultivators who didn''t have the capital to compete. What was worrying was that this was just room 1''s first bid... Ares returned to his seat with a crazed look in his determined eyes. Speaking of his eyes, shockingly, Omniscience had failed him. Even Omniscience didn''t know what that thing was but something in Ares depths was trying to claw its way out of him and lunge at the seed. He needed it. No ifs no buts, that seed was going to be his even if he had to raze Red Sun to the ground and that wasn''t an empty threat either. For various reasons that even Aejaz and Enyo weren''t privy to, Ares had the means to do it. If Ares needed to use his one time trump card to turn Red Sun into a crater, he would do it. He needed to. Whatever this seed was, Ares could instinctually tell it was more important than even the Celestial Prisms, and that was quite an assertion to make based on zero evidence. Still, Omniscience not functioning gave Ares a clue as to what this thing was, or at least where it came from. If his thoughts were accurate, obtaining this item was non-negotiable. He made his first bid.


    "1.9 high-grade"


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    If room 1 bid again, he would be in dire straights and would have to start lowering the increment which would probably give the game away that he didn''t have the stardust to compete.


    "2 high-grade"


    Aejaz almost fainted on the spot. This city is fucking doomed! Ares was leaking pressure that was utterly horrendous. It was like a mire of pure, tangible misery that swamped the theatre. The old man noticed it, obviously, but he wasn''t able to shut it down as he almost shat himself when he encountered it directly.


    "2050 mid-grade"


    A wave of deathly pressure descended on the entirety of Red Sun as a grim buzzing sound came from underneath the ground all across the city. Everyone in the theatre tacitly understood the end of times would come if the person in room 1 pushed their luck. Whoever was gushing in rage in room 2 was on the verge of obliterating all life within a large radius and not a single person could stop it.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "2051 mid-grade"


    WHO THE FUCK IS THIS STUPID WOMAN?! The entirety of the theatre, the old man included, cursed the imbecile in room 1 who clearly couldn''t read the fucking room. No, rather, they had read it accurately and given approximately zero shits! This wasn''t the time to be joking around like this!


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "2.0.5.2. M.I.D. G.R.A.D.E. F.I.N.A.L. B.I.D."


    CRASH


    The windows in the theatre shattered and nearby houses were pulverized into the ground, flattened into specks of dust. Every cultivator in the city collectively had a panic attack as the pressure transcended logic. Even strong enough cultivators within the Vraizon domain twisted their heads to stare at Sheryashka where something heaven defying was happening. The pressure had crossed even the boundary of the domain and was reaching the very stars.


    FUCK FUCK FUCK


    These thoughts could have been applied to literally anyone in the area as they all silently begged room 1 to do the right thing and just stop speaking! Let the man have the fucking seed! It''s not worth it! This is seriously it! ''FINAL BID'', he couldn''t have made it any clearer!...


    ¡­


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    ¡­


    "going once." The old man was trying to sneakily get the bid through by speaking in as quiet a voice as possible.


    "going twice SOLD! ROOM 2! SOLD! SOLD!"


    The pressure vanished like it had been nothing more than a bad dream. The old man had clearly broken protocol with that last sale but, really, who was going to complain?! The old man was undeniably a genius who would go down in this city''s history as a hero who saved countless lives! The cultivators in the lower area all ran for their lives and the old man doddered off the stage shakily. The poor man needed to go and rest before he had a cardiac arrest.


    BANG


    Two figures burst through the door to the theatre and immediately shattered the one way glass leading to room 2. Hans and Maro didn''t even spare each other a single glance because this problem was clearly bigger than both of them. When the glass obstructing them was removed from the equation, they stared dumbly at Ares who was somehow the cause of the lunacy from a few seconds ago. Hans was the first to notice that something was very clearly wrong with him though, so he called out. "Kiddo?"


    Ares turned his head to Hans who immediately gulped when he saw Ares warped eyes. Ares'' iris and pupil were shifting around like a messy blob as they took on a shape that was distinctly different from before. Ares stood motionlessly and tilted his head as his eyes finally settled, becoming like that of a lizard. His iris was a brilliant gold and his pupil had become a long, vertical, jagged slit.


    ¡­


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    Ares'' eyes reverted back to normal a few seconds after searching around the room and he had a confused look on his face. "Where am I?"


    "... Kiddo, what the hell is wrong with you?"


    "BASTARD. WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL OF THIS?! EXPLAIN YOURSELF BEFORE I KILL YOU. I''M GOING TO KIL YOU ANYWAY, BUT I WANT ANSWERS BEFORE I TURN YOU INTO A CORPSE." Maro was raging on the side-lines as today had been devastating for him. His cultivator employees had been massively thinned at the tomb, his bird was injured thanks to the damnable tree, and now this?!


    Hans shot Maro a glance that indicated he''d better watch his mouth. "Kiddo, you really had me worried there. Thought I was gonna bite the dust. I''m not even gonna ask how you would have pulled it off, but I do wanna know what''s happening here. Try and think back."


    Ares'' head tilted in the other direction as he recalled the last few moments of sanity he had before Hans arrived. "Seed? There was a seed I wanted... Needed."


    "Seed? Where is it?"


    "I ate it?"


    "EH?" Even Aejaz was shocked by this as he genuinely hadn''t seen his brother chomp on the thing. Ares must have used magic to digest the seed immediately after winning it when everyone was trying to leave the theatre. Also... Eating the seed was just plain weird...


    Hans also stumbled over his thoughts. "... You ate it?"


    "I ate it."


    "Right... And then those lizard eyes popped up?"


    "Lizard eyes?... Probably."


    "You''ve really kept me on my toes today, laddie... Mind not acting up for another couple of months so my beating heart can settle down? Whoo boy, I''m getting too old for this..."


    "YOU..." Maro wasn''t entirely content leaving things like this. "Listen to me you piece of shit. If I ever catch you alone, I''m going to wring your neck! You can''t hide behind Hans forever, and one day I WILL find an opportunity to kill you. Don''t you dare go around causing trouble during the national and the international or I might just start a war in this city my-damn-self." Maro stormed out while spitting on the floor in front of Hans.


    With a sigh, Hans turned back to Ares. "Let''s just end today here, yeah? I''ll go and fetch the items that were bid on today and distribute them. Once you''ve got your stuff, go home and get some... Uh, shut eye? Keep an... Eye? on your eyes too, you hear me? You weren''t you when those lizard eyes showed up. I don''t know what''s going on with you, and lord only knows how many secrets ya got, but just don''t go dying a silly death because you got in over your head. Just try and slow things down a bit, ok? I still need to give you the gift at least before you go and pay a visit to the afterlife."


    Ares scratched his head and chuckled. "Yeah, I''ll keep things to a minimum for a while... By the by, do you know what revenants are?"


    "Yeah. Most transition realms in the domain do. It''s kind of a big deal in Vraizon so it''s like a piece of mandatory information everyone learns before they head on up. Why?"


    "I am one. I appreciate your concern for my life, but it isn''t going anywhere. I just figured I would let you know. Give you one less thing to worry about with me at least."


    "That''s... That''s good. I know that means you''ll only have a whole host more troubles going forward, but as long as your safe that''s fine. So how old are you actually then? Would feel a bit weird calling you kiddo if you''re secretly older than even me..."


    "Hm? Oh, no, ha, I''m exactly the age you know me to be. I died day one as a revenant and was reborn here. Nothing you know about my history is wrong and there''s nothing really else to it. I only found out recently myself." Hans had always acted like somewhat of a father figure to Ares and he was subtly clarifying that that hadn''t changed. He could tell Hans was at least a bit concerned about that.


    "Ah, I see. You''re a real bundle of surprises kiddo." Hans lowered his hat and went off to go get the auction items as he mentioned earlier.


    As Ares was waiting, he and Aejaz hopped out of room 2 and went to the exit where he found a single woman looking around anxiously. As she was the only other person here, Ares assumed this was the person who''d toyed with his emotions in room 1.... But was it really? The confidence she would have needed to pull off her pettiness was nowhere to be found and she looked deeply concerned about being stuck here alone with Ares. "You..."


    "AHH!" Ares unintentionally spooked the poor woman who shrieked as soon as she was addressed. "Please don''t hurt me! I only did what the others told me too..."


    Well, that partially clears things up, but who would do something as stupid as riling up a dangerous, unknown entity?!


    "Hmph, hey idiot. Had enough fun for today now that you threatened to blow everyone up to kingdom come? And you wanna explain that tree or should I just chalk it up to your usual stupidity?"


    ¡­


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    ¡­


    Ares knew this voice. "... Bellona?" Ares turned around and saw Bellona''s smug grin. Enyo and Appa were also here. "You... Are you insane?"


    "Meh, I knew it was you as soon as I heard you voice..." Bellona ignored Enyo''s snickering in the background. "... I thought it would be funny to drive up your bid and make you pay a bit extra. I never even wanted the seed."

 Chapter 80: A Punch Is Deserved When Breakfast Is Served

    "Are you insane?" Ares couldn''t help but dumbly repeat the same question he''d already asked because he was convinced there was no other alternative answer than ''yes''.


    Bellona just dismissively waved her hand. "It''s fine isn''t it? Everyone lived happily ever after."


    "... You know... When I was in the tomb earlier... I think I may have found your twin."


    "Twin?"


    "Yeah, it was a mimic. A CRUEL MONSTER HIDING BEHIND A PATHETIC CHEST!" Ares furiously waggled his finger at Bellona.


    "I see you have chosen death, you stupid mongrel."


    Crash


    Bellona and Ares tumbled on the floor, kicking up another dust storm as they brawled each other again.


    Aejaz, being the kind of cat curiosity would have a field day with, turned to Enyo and asked a question. "Who''s the woman hiding in the corner?" Aejaz pointed at the woman who was more of a scaredy cat than he was. To be fair, she was also weaker than Aejaz as she wasn''t a cultivator, but it was still pretty excessive.


    Enyo shrugged. "Some woman we saved while were out and about. She was pretty traumatised by it all so we had her tag along with us for a while so Appa could Say Happy Things to calm her down a bit. Seems that was all for naught thanks to those two shmucks..." Enyo pointed at the dust cloud with a wry smile on her face. "... To think Bellona would rope an innocent woman into her petty schemes... Those two can seriously be such problem children sometimes... I was this close to announcing our presence to lower tensions but, thankfully, Bellona realised her actions were going to cause some serious trouble if she kept it up."


    Hans came out of the auction house''s front entrance and scanned the immediate area. "Hm, seems the others have already gone. Oh well, if they want their auction items they can come back some other time. Ah, Enyo. Good to see you again. Was it you in room 1, then?"


    "I was in there, yes."


    "Then this ought to be yours." Hans brought out a spatial ring. "This contains the backfire gear you bought. I''m also rounding up the stardust owed, so I''ll have to trouble you to give me 1750 mid-grade in exchange for the sake of the auction house."


    Enyo took the space ring and put it in her pocket before bringing out another filled with stardust. She transferred the correct amount and thanked Hans for getting her the item.


    "No problem lass. Still, doesn''t seem like the kinda thing you''d use?"


    "Not in the slightest. I knew Ares would probably want it, so I nagged my sister for some stardust. It took a bit of convincing, but when I let her know who it was for she buckled pretty quickly. She''s also adamant she was trying to raise the price on the seed to mess with Ares, but she was actually just trying to outbid him to gift it to him after... Not that she''d ever admit it anyway."


    "... That sounds... Complicated... I won''t pry. That aside, can I task you with keeping an eye on Ares for a while? You know, make sure he keeps to himself and doesn''t blow anything up for a bit? The kiddo''s a loose cannon and he''s only going to become a bigger menace the higher his cultivation gets..."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll chain him up if I have to..." Enyo pondered inwardly as she unintentionally gave herself a great idea... Chaining him up sounds fun, actually... I can unwrap him like a present...


    Ares had stumbled out of the dust cloud, with Bellona clinging to his back like a koala, and was being terrorised by the piggybacking witch who was smacking his cranium with her staff.


    Bonk


    Bonk


    "Will you cut that out?!" Ares pleaded with the back-attached gremlin.


    Bonk


    "Alright, that''s it! Voidwalk!" Ares took off, running through the sky, leaping around upside down, falling sideways, and spinning through the air.


    A dizzy and motion sick Bellona clung to Ares as her head did loop-de-loops. When Ares landed, Bellona spun and fell on her butt. She tried to get up and stumbled into a wall as Ares laughed at her.


    "Hahaha, feeling dizzy? I have won this encounter no matter how you spin it! Hahahaha."


    Hans lightly elbowed Enyo. "They get along really well... Shouldn''t you be more concerned?"


    "On the contrary..." Enyo shook her head. "... I''m happy to see it. I''d rather see this than watch my sister be a lonely, depressed old woman forever. If I only have two choices, it''s not a hard one to make. That part is simple enough. The real issue is the guilt she feels when she''s happy. That''s my real concern and it''s going to take a while to sort that out."


    "You''re open minded. I''m glad Ares found someone like you because lord knows he''d need to have a tolerant partner considering the kind of person he is."


    "Ha, maybe. Then again, it''s thanks to him I''m open minded in the first place, so it evens out I guess."


    Hans walked over to Ares and held out another spatial ring. "Here ya go. Your stuff''s all in there... Minus the seed, but you''ve already... Acquired that. You don''t need to pay anything on the condition you never come back... I think that''s their polite way of saying ''please take this stuff and leave us alone forever''."


    "Thanks." Ares took the space ring and, after separating the alchemy ingredients, the ever-shifting core, and the phoenix cultivation manual, he handed over the space ring with everything in it to Aejaz. "Alright, go live your best life."


    Aejaz stole the space ring with his magic as he promptly disappeared, running as fast as his legs could carry him back to the sect. He ran so fast and with such determination that, once or twice, he''d even managed to successfully use the art Ares had been training him to learn. Although Aejaz, under any other circumstance, would be jumping for joy after such a monumental success, he was way more excited about something else. Instead of experimenting with the art and truly learning all of its capabilities, he instead opted to use it to ''teleport'' home faster. In a way... That technically counted as practice... Right? It was a good thing Ares couldn''t see this otherwise he''d probably tackle and beat his brother senseless for being so blas¨¦ about having just created arguably one of the strongest unique arts of all time. Still, progress was progress... Even if it was only a result of unbridled carnal desire.


    Back at the auction house, Hans said his goodbyes and left the scene. Although he had no enmity with Ares, he seriously hoped he wouldn''t have to see the kiddo again for a good while...


    Ares was hugging Enyo after she''d given him the backfire boots. Even when considering everything else he''d gotten today, including the lantern, the enabler, and the gun, the boots were Ares'' personal favourite. He had countless methods of going up, and now he had a good one for coming back down! The only real problem was that they were tanker boots and not regular shoes... And Ares usually wore shorts... If it weren''t for the muddy brown, almost colourless beige of the boots, it would have been an absolute fashion disaster. It still wasn''t great... But at the end of the day he really liked them and he cared about that more than maintaining any sort of fashionable cohesion. Additionally, having a pair of boots on hand was good in case he needed to navigate through muddy environments for whatever reason. His only other method of dealing with such a scenario would be using 60% of the Bane to create a Tricky Rink and that was just excessive; plus it would just swap out one troublesome terrain for another. This would mean he wouldn''t have nearly as much reason to have to Voidwalk past an obstacle like that, allowing him to conserve mana. As for the name of the gear, it was called the ''Strange Utilitarian'', and its weight increasing rune was dubbed ''Stamp Out''. A little titbit about the Utilitarian was that whenever the rune was activated, based on the colour of the mana supplied to it, a sheen would briefly appear on the boots, rolling over it before disappearing again until its next use. This had no practical effect whatsoever and was really just a nice little aesthetic detail. In Ares'' case, the sheen was a vibrant gold that almost made the boots look like they were made of the corresponding metal.


    Enyo patted Ares'' head and grinned evilly at Bellona while he wasn''t looking. "If you''re going to thank anyone, it should be Bellona. You know I''m dirt poor for the most part. She paid for pretty much all of it."


    "Eh?" Ares looked up at Enyo. "Really?" Ares turned around and spread his arms wide as he approached Bellona who was acting fidgety.


    "Stay back you demon! I''ll punch you again if you walk any closer!" Despite Bellona''s protests, she wasn''t prepared for Ares'' Shift which put him directly in front of her.


    Hug


    "Get off me you stupid mutt!" Bellona pushed Ares'' face away, mustering all the resistance she could... Not. If she used her magic, she could have very easily sent him flying. She could have probably even prevented him from getting close in the first place. Outwardly she was stubborn, but inside a part of her enjoyed the warm embrace. Of course she could never make that apparent in front of her smug sister. "What are you? A lapdog? Shoo! I''ll spray you with water!"


    Ares ended the hug and turned around to face Appa, blissfully unaware of the chaos and turmoil he''d wreaked upon Bellona''s poor heart. "Hello Sweetie. Did you have a good day?"


    Appa jumped at Ares and rubbed its head against him. "Yep! I was all like, ''pow!'' and ''freeze!'' and then the bad guys lost and the good guys won! We saved the lady and took a walk before mum decided to show me what an awk-shon house is like!"


    "Haha, you have no idea how adorable you are." Ares rubbed Appa''s head with a smile on his face. That smile distorted when his hair was pulled taught and he was dragged to a standing position by Enyo who was surrounded by a dangerous atmosphere.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "So... Now that we''ve gotten all the fun conversations over with, care to explain why you almost went mad and did whatever the hell it was you were going to do back at the auction house?"


    "Uhhh..." Ares whispered a few details into Enyo''s ears and she slapped him in response. She seemed content after doing so and the violent aura disappeared. "Come on, you know I would never blow you up!"


    "You already have, fool. Twice at that. Once when Fate threw that Shock Bead, and another time outside the cave you were hiding in at Baja!"


    "Oh come on, surely I can''t be blamed for that first one!"


    "And the second?!"


    "Uh, sorry?"


    "You will be!"


    Thwack


    "Now we''re even!" Enyo hmphed at Ares before stroking his red face where she''d slapped him. "Honestly, what am I going to do with you? Anyway, I have one more gift for you. This time it really is from me and not my trainwreck of a sister. I''ve been working on it for a while now because I wanted to make sure it was done perfectly as I know how much it means to you."


    With a raised eyebrow, Ares accepted the space ring containing the mystery gift. He looked inside and closed his eyes as saw the gift. It all made a lot of sense now, specifically why Hans had told him Enyo was a keeper way back when outside city hall. So this is where she went? And this is why she''d been practicing needlework? Ares had actually seen Enyo when he came out of the void a week ago, he just never mentioned it because she was clearly trying to be secretive about something. To think it was this?... What an unbelievable woman, honestly. With his eyes still shut, he tilted his head towards the sky and took a deep breath to avoid ugly-crying in public. When he calmed down a little later, he took the gift out of the space ring and just stared at it in disbelief. He hadn''t seen this thing in what?... Six years? Things had changed drastically since last he saw it. One of those things being Appa who floated over in a manner that was similar to waddling and asked Ares a question.


    "Dad, is that a teddy bear?"


    "It is... Your mother stitched it up after it was damaged... Appa, do you want it?"


    "Can I?! It''s cute!"


    Ares chuckled to himself as he tucked the teddy bear in between Appa and the rope tied around it. "His name is Huggles. He''s all yours, but only on one condition."


    "What''s that?"


    Ares picked up Appa. "You have to let me give you a hug whenever I want!" Ares embraced his daughter who was gleefully giggling. Ares went over to Enyo and gave her a kiss. "Thank you, really. This means more to me than I can ever explain with words... But I don''t need it anymore. I feel bad giving it away right after you gave it to me, but I just think Appa will enjoy its presence more than I would. I have Appa and I have you. That''s all I need."


    Ares, Appa, and Enyo all had a big family hug outside the auction house while a certain someone was tapping her foot on the floor repeatedly with her arms crossed not even five feet away. "Bleugh. I think I''m gonna throw up. Sweetness overload." Bellona jeered.


    Enyo gestured towards her sister. "You can join in if your jealous."


    "Hell no!"


    Thwack


    Bellona used her magic to disappear after flooring a rather confused Ares. "The hell did I do?! Enyo, your sister is demented! She needs to be checked into an insane asylum!"


    "I agree."


    "Seriously..." Ares dislodged himself from the floor and stood back up. "... What on earth is up with that crazy woman? She wasn''t doing this before the regional... And she was normal for a while today. Why is it every time I''m nice to her she hits me?! Is she a psychopath? A masochist? I remember being polite to her in Baja and she wasn''t striking me down all the time then! Enyo, you''re her relative. Explain her to me!"


    "No."


    "Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? It''s like having a walking land mine in our house! And I keep stepping on it! If you don''t, I''m going to keep insulting her chest! It''s the only time she ever acts normal!"


    "Don''t do that, idiot. Just be normal... Actually, that''s probably the problem... You know what, never mind. I have no advice for you, it''s not your fault anyway. Just stop complaining, man up, and put up with it for now!"


    "For now?! How long is for now?"


    "Dunno, ask Bellona."


    "She''ll punch me, won''t she?"


    "Probably, but you can try anyway. I do get a kick out of watching you get a kicking. Speaking of violence in general..."


    Gulp


    Ares didn''t like the way Enyo was looking at him. "Can you not finish that sentence? I have a bad feeling."


    "... No, no. Nothing of the sort..." Enyo smiled innocently. Whether she remembered Ares had her lie detector bloodline ability or not... Probably wasn''t even relevant. Enyo wouldn''t be deterred by such a thing. "... I was just wandering if you still had that one chain you used on the monk during the regionals?"


    "... Why?"


    "You can find out later. And by later, I mean as soon as we get home."


    "... I think I''m going to sleep outside tonight."


    "In the burnt vomit garden?"


    "... Touch¨¦."


    "Hmph, don''t pretend you aren''t looking forward to it. I know you won''t complain no matter what I do to you."


    "... Touch¨¦ again." Ares looked around for a second. "By the way, it appears that other woman has run off... Is that ok? She didn''t seem to be in the best condition before."


    "And who''s fault was that?! You''re the one that frightened her out of her wits. Hell, you gave the entire city a scare, TWICE! What was up with that tree anyway?"


    "Ha, today''s been a long but pretty great day. How about I tell you about it on the way back? Actually, there''s one thing you might find either funny or agonising, I''m not sure which."


    "And that is?"


    "Well I''m getting a little ahead of the story here, but I''ll make an exception. Aejaz and Allie are probably going to go all the way, or at the very least further than we are currently."


    "... Go on."


    "I just think it''s ironic considering the bet you wanted to make in the snatcher city about this very situation. Turns out they were quicker than us."


    "And who''s fault is that? Who was it that decided to act like a chaste little village girl, abstaining until marriage? Now that I know about those two, you best thoroughly consider what''s going to happen to you if I get my hands on that damn chain! You can''t resist me if you''re tied up, fool!"


    Ahem


    Ares utilised 110% of his willpower to put Enyo''s demonic intonation to the back of his mind. "It''s really not that I''m waiting ''till marriage, or declaration of it anyway. I just believe that night will be memorable and special for us if we just have a bit of patience."


    With a sigh, Enyo gave up. The roles in this relationship had clearly been reversed. She was like the overly aggressive male protagonist of one of Aejaz'' romance novels who just wanted to get into his shy girlfriend knickers but was denied at every conceivable turn! She kept muttering her, ''it''s just a month'' mantra to herself to soothe her raging lust.


    "Ha, don''t worry. I have an idea on how to keep you happy until then."


    "And that is?"


    "You''ll see in two weeks time."


    "What is with you and all these arbitrary countdowns?!"


    "This one''s just to keep you at bay. I''m genuinely worried for my safety in my sleep around you sometimes, in a good way of course. If I can alleviate some of your pent up frustrations, I can avoid having to fight off a night raid. There won''t be anymore ''countdowns'' after these, I''m doing it for your own good!"


    While Enyo and Ares went back and forth, Jeremy walked out of the front of the auction house with a glum look that only worsened when he saw the culprit behind his pay deduction. His eye twitched as he went back to work, putting up a new sign. When it had been plastered on the wall, clear for all to see, he coughed to get Ares'' attention.


    Cough Cough


    "Hm?" Ares turned and saw the sign immediately, both because it was pretty big and because Jeremy was pointing at it with vigour. The sign read ''The following rules are to be henceforth enforced on the premise unconditionally. No food. No drink. No Ares.''. "Hans wasn''t kidding... I really am not welcome... Ah whatever, I already got what I wanted out of this place." Before leaving and going back home, Ares threw Jeremy a high-grade to make up for the troubles... As much as he could anyway.


    Later that night, Ares slept like a log. He''d been all around town today so he rested instead of messing around with any of his usual sect-bound duties like runemancy or technical creation. It was a pleasant sleep... Although he did have a nightmare or two about various chain-related incidents. Still, the night was mostly peaceful.


    He woke up the next morning and Voidwalked through Enyo''s barrier which was trying to lock him in the room again. Ares admired Enyo''s persistence, although it was really scary thinking about what fate might befall him one day if he ever ran out of mana with her around... Ares walked into the living room and found Bellona cuddling Appa. "Good morning. I''m gonna make breakfast. You two want anything specific?"


    "Candy Apple!" Appa responded with no hesitation. Appa was truly a sweet-fiend if ever there was one.


    "Hmm..." Bellona on the other hand took longer to decide. "... I don''t know. I don''t have any preferences, so surprise me."


    Now that the onus had been thrown onto Ares, he was lost in thought trying to figure out what to make her. It had to be good, otherwise she would punch him again... Who was Ares kidding? She''d probably do that anyway... It was an interesting conundrum he found himself pondering. He knew everyone else''s favourite foods but he was treading unknown ground with someone like Bellona who didn''t have any clear standouts... He briefly considered pumpkin pie, but he only even considered it because of Bellona''s witch getup. He was trying to think of something she''d like because it''s taste was to her liking, not because it fit her thematically. It had to be something with meaning for it to be truly special, but there was only really one thing he could think of and it involved his magic which was supposed to be a no-go topic... But could Ares really be content with half-assing a request like this?


    While Ares deliberated, something akin to a cloud floated by him. At first, Ares assumed it was Appa just because of how ephemeral and ghostly its existence was, but Ares became sceptical of that assumption shortly thereafter. Appa was cuddling, and it would never give up on cuddles! What was this strange thing?! Ares stopped thinking for a second and looked around, only to see Aejaz drifting around the room with his eyes shut and massive smile on his face. Ares rolled his eyes and chucked a space ring full of food at Aejaz'' pocket. Without another word, or any at all as he hadn''t said even one yet, Aejaz floated out of the room and went back to his. Ares just assumed he wouldn''t see his brother again properly for at least the next week... Ahhhhhh, I''m getting distracted. What would truly make Bellona happy?


    "What are you standing around like a lemon for?" Bellona was curious as to why Ares had been standing in the same spot for over a minute straight now.


    "Shh, I''m thinking."


    "Thinking? You do that? Since when? And what about anyway?"


    "I''m thinking about what to create that will make you happy. So far I''ve thought about pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, and pumpkin juice... And punch THE DRINK, NOT THE VERB!"


    "... You are spectacularly dumb."


    "I know. It''s part of my charm."


    "Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh." Bellona buried her head into Appa and groaned.


    "AH!" Ares had come up with an idea! In the end, he was going to resort to something related to his magic, but screw it! An idea like this only came along once in a blue moon and he was sure Bellona would understand!... Whatever it was that needed understanding, anyway. Ares still really didn''t get this woman or her problems. Trying to figure her out was like trying to solve a sudoku on a rubix cube while inside an aerotrim. He went into the kitchen and got started. He was going to need some time to practice because he''d never attempted anything quite like this before. Luckily, he had a clear vision for it, so that would speed up the process a bit but it was still going to be hard work! To get the easy stuff out of the way, he made Appa''s Snappa and some toast and coffee for Enyo who''d gotten up and was sitting on the couch while reading a newspaper. Unsurprisingly, the newspaper was centred around the escapades of Ares'' antics, although he wasn''t mentioned by name as the ''culprits'' of the tree and pressure incidents were'' unknown'' to most people. Ares went back into the kitchen and got his hands dirty.


    Enyo eventually went inside the kitchen to take a peek after several small explosions got the better of her curiosity and she just shook her head when saw the product Ares was finally finished making. This idiot is seriously going to break Bellona with whatever this is, isn''t he?... "You''re sleeping on the couch today."


    "Eh?" Why was Ares being punished randomly like this ever since Bellona had moved in? He''d caught stray beatings left and right and he was now being frequently kicked out of his own room! The damn sudoku of a woman was messing with him again! He''d stepped on the landmine once more and he hadn''t even seen the blasted thing! "Ah whatever. I finally created this food and that''s what matters right now!" Ares brought a small sachet, filled with golden powder and numerous miniature golden balls, into the living room and handed it to Bellona who just looked at it in bewilderment.


    "... What is this?"


    "Just try it! You''ll see when you eat it!"


    Enyo patted Bellona''s shoulder and winked at her as she left the room. "I''ll leave the door to my room open. I''ll see you in a bit."


    Bellona looked down at the strange food. She knew what Enyo was implying and she was dreading it; Bellona was about to have a mint honeycomb moment...

 Chapter 81: Sweets Vs Legion Sisters, 2:0

    "Eeeeeeeeeeat it! Eeeeeeeeeat it!" Ares was acting like a rowdy cheerleader as he cupped his hands around his mouth and encouraged Bellona. If he had a set of snazzy pom poms, he would undoubtedly have put them on by now.


    Bellona stared at the sachet whilst occasionally glancing up at the idiot who made it. This thing is going to be dangerous for my sanity, isn''t it?! Shit. If I eat it in front of him and start crying, he''s going to think I''m weird... He probably thinks I''m weird for punching him all the time anyway.... Ahhhhhh, screw it... Bellona brought the sachet to her mouth but hesitated again. Is it worse if I eat it here in front of him, or worse if I eat it while hiding away in the bedroom with Enyo... It''s terrible either way, but at least I won''t have to punch Ares again if I go in the room... And I''d probably run in there after anyway. Damn it, did Enyo see this coming too? Am I the witch or is she?! "I''ll eat this in the bedroom. Also, what even is this bizarre thing? Is it really something I should be having for breakfast?"


    "Eh, bedroom? But I wanted to know if it''s good or not... Ah, fine, but you have to tell me next time I see you! As for what it is, that''s a surprise, I really can''t tell you otherwise it would ruin a majority of what makes it interesting. Should you be having it for breakfast? Uh, no? Not really, but if Appa can have candy apple, then this isn''t any worse. It''s a sweet, but it is light and the flavour profile is fine for some early morning snacking, so its not the worst thing ever. I''ll be honest though, I just REALLY wanted to make it."


    "A sweet..." Bellona sniffed the satchel as she walked out of the living room but could only smell a hint of something tropical; meaning whatever it was would probably have a fruity taste of some kind. Damn that stupid mutt. Is he seriously going to do both sisters in with sweets? Should I even eat this thing? Can I just secretly throw it away... Why am I scared of a sweet?! What has that damn man done to me? Is this what Enyo felt?


    Thud


    Bellona had been so stuck in her head she accidentally walked head-first into Enyo as she was mulling everything over.


    "I see you''re struggling. Want me to eat it instead?" Enyo flicked Bellona''s forehead and held her hand out with a grin.


    "NO!... It''s mine, get your own you petty food thief!"


    "Possessive, much? Fine. Go on then. Eat it, coward."


    Bellona sat on the bed and crossed her legs, eyeing up the unknown sweet. She opened wide the top of the sachet and went to dip her finger in and test the waters.


    "Don''t do that, moron. Don''t ruin it by testing it piece by piece. What an absolute waste that would be. All the build up only to ruin it for yourself because a part of you realises that thing is going to force you to be honest. Just eat the damn thing already!"


    "FINE!" Bellona tilted her head back and poured a bit of the sachet''s contents into her mouth. She threw her head forward to glare at Enyo with narrowed eyes and waited for her tastebuds to set her down the path of no return.


    ¡­


    "mm?" One of Bellona''s eyebrows raised as she felt something strange happening in her mouth but she obviously couldn''t open it to explain so she was by herself on this one.


    ¡­


    "MM?! MMM!? M? MM!"


    Enyo picked up the sachet and disregarded Bellona''s earlier catty rejection of her request to share as she decided to try the food for herself. Whatever it was, it was doing a number on Bellona and Enyo couldn''t figure out what on earth was happening to her sister with just the non-verbal grunts she was hearing. Still, if nothing else, there was a wide smile on Bellona''s face that was indicative something was going very right. As Enyo repeated the actions of her sister, Bellona finally finished swallowing the food and started laughing until tears came flooding out of her like waterworks. Enyo couldn''t tell if the tears were from Bellona laughing too much, the joy she felt, the sadness of the problem she couldn''t get over, or maybe even all of the above. The only thing Enyo knew for certain was that this had cemented things. If Bellona wasn''t all-in on her ''Ares or no one'' mind-set before, now it was basically a permanent fixture in her brain. Of course this would still be ever at war with the ''Ares is Enyo''s'' train of thought, and whether this food-takedown of her emotions would make things better or worse for Bellona was yet to be seen. Would she accept and admit to her feelings and come to terms with them having to co-exist, or would she insist on the incompatibility of the two clashing ideas in her head and stubbornly refuse the olive branch Enyo had extended multiple times now. The food, whatever it was, had probably forced her to make that decision. What choice she''d come to was impossible to tell amidst the laughter and the crying.


    As for Enyo herself, she understood immediately why the sweet had vanquished her sister so thoroughly when the uniqueness of it became apparent. The powdery substance was mango sherbet and was the culprit behind why it had a tropical smell. It laced the tongue with an ever so slightly bitter taste that counteracted the other half of the equation, the golden balls. The tiny balls were cream flavoured and covered in a thin layer of honey, hence the golden colour. The sweetness of the honey, balanced out by the sherbet and rounded up together by the creamy aftertaste was refreshingly sharp. This alone was pretty incredible as is, but what really did her sister in was the trick Ares had hidden in the food.


    Pop


    Crackle


    It was popping candy. The tiny balls, imbued with traces annihilation magic to make them pop, would dissolve the cream onto the tongue as they crackled away in the mouth. The layer of sherbet prevented any discomfort as the flavours mixed together with the fun popping, creating a wholly different experience to any other form of food. Bellona was always the rascal of the family and she had a bubbly personality. The quirkiness of the sweet was probably the part that RKO''d her as not only was this food basically a manifestation of her personality, what with the playful dichotomy of sweet and bitter, but it showed a clear understanding. An understanding Ares frequently and openly complained he didn''t have of her. He would go on and on about how he didn''t understand what made Bellona tick. He didn''t know why she was punching him. He didn''t know why she was acting strange. What he did know, however, was exactly the kind of person Bellona really was, and that took paying a degree of attention Bellona hadn''t seen coming. Underneath all the mocking of her chest, behind all the playful fighting, he''d been paying attention. He''d taken to heart everything she''d told him about her history and come to the correct conclusion that she cared more about various matters than she''d would ever let show. That the theatrical and energetic popping of the candy represented perfectly the fa?ade Bellona put up while her complex personality, in the form of the delicately balanced sherbet, honey, and cream combination, did all the heavy lifting behind the scenes. The sherbet was her bitterness towards the Legion clan and her father, all the people who constantly dismissed her throughout her life. The cream was her soft emotional state that was easily damaged by these people even if she never made it obvious. The honey was her sweet kindness to those she cared about, like how she constantly tried to get Enyo away from her father despite rejection after rejection. And of course the popping candy was her tomboyish personality and the smirk she kept on her face throughout it all. Unintentionally, though, Ares had actually gone a step further. The popping candy was him. he was the beacon of joy that completed Bellona. His annihilation magic that formed the basis of the sweet excited her in ways she had never thought possible. When Bellona found the magic she wanted to dedicate her life too, she didn''t really need the fa?ade anymore. Its purpose was something far more important to her now as it was her connection with the man who was everything she wanted out of life. That playful bickering and back and forth they always had was something she wanted to always keep having. Bellona knew that her personality and Ares'' were almost eerily similar at times, but that was precisely what she was looking for. Someone who was fun to be around, but also understanding and caring beneath it all. He had the magic. He had the personality. Bellona had even admitted, long before she''d come to terms with any of this, that Ares was her type all the way back in Baja when she was messing with Enyo and now that had come back to bite her in the ass. Enyo knew this would happen. The second Bellona witnessed Ares'' magic in its truest forms via Perish Wheel and Grand Annihilation, Ares would become the perfect man that met all her criteria. The guilt for feeling that way towards her own sister''s husband to-be was going to eat her alive and she would genuinely stay quiet, watching those two be happy until the end of time. She would become the old maid she joked about becoming in Baja, wishing it could have been her in her sister''s position, all the while never quite giving up on the love she had for Ares and never bothering to look anywhere else.


    Enyo wouldn''t tolerate it. The insane devotion Bellona would have shown to a man she couldn''t even have, according to her and no one else, was something Enyo would never deny and something she didn''t want to see anyway. If someone showed that much pure, selfless admiration for Ares, Enyo wasn''t sure she could look them in the eye and say no; let alone to her sister of all people.


    Dominus was famous for once having said the following: ''Harems for certain people are unavoidable no matter your intentions. You think to yourself that you''ll only ever love one person, but then a second person shows up who becomes a gateway. Your resilience will mean nothing because the second person will inherently have something that no one who comes after will need, pity factor. Some manner of complex relation to the person will leaving you feeling like a terrible person if you don''t accept them. You may owe them your life. They might be someone who''s known you your whole life and been by your side throughout. They may just even love you more than your first wife or husband. The point is, guilt will be the driving factor that enables the start of multiple marriages. After two, from there, a third or a fourth isn''t as big a deal. You go from monogamy to polygamy, there is no other step that comes after spouse two. It''s just more of the same and, eventually, it becomes a familiar process that you already have a tolerance for. Harems aren''t a result of a person being infatuated with multiple other people, it''s a result of them feeling forced to love two; the rest is incidental.''


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Enyo was going to have to have a talk with Ares about him having multiple wives because she knew that, A; it was going to happen and B; he would take some convincing. It was a complicated discussion, certainly, but Enyo was going to have to make it clear she wasn''t bothered. Actually, it was probably the opposite. Enyo was the curious type, after all. If anything, it would probably end up being more her harem than Ares''... But he didn''t need to know that... Enyo wouldn''t be so easy going about who could join their family, but she wasn''t against expanding it. Harems weren''t uncommon in this world, not at all. Rich and powerful men and women would almost always have their own so Enyo wasn''t even remotely surprised someone like Ares would wind up with one, even if that wasn''t his goal. She''d practically acquiesced to it the second she accepted her feelings for him as his destruction magic gave him a status that was incomparable to any other. He wouldn''t try and use that status to form his own harem intentionally, but people would flock to him and it would probably just sort of happen. The main reason Enyo had no issues with it was because she knew Ares loved her from the bottom of his heart. So much so that he had no intention of marrying anyone other than her from the get go. He''d committed to her extremely quickly and never looked back, and that was all the reassurance she needed to know he wouldn''t become another Dominus who just piled on wife after wife; ending up with hundreds he didn''t care for. She trusted Ares to be responsible in matters of the heart and, deep down, although she felt somewhat sorry for Bellona and anyone who came after, she knew she would be irreplaceable. Ares, no matter who he met or married, would always have her in slot number one. Ares was not the type to sugar coat things. If, one day, he was asked to rank his wives, he would do it and he would put Enyo first every time. Ares would also no doubt make her the de-facto head of the harem and prioritise her in most matters. If Bellona could accept something like that, never being first in priority to the man she loved, then Enyo could do something as easy as accept Bellona. If anything, Enyo''s position in all this was the simplest! She was married to a person she adored. She was his favourite. Plus she got to play around with all the other women he brought home. Ares and Bellona would be struggling to come to terms with everything while Enyo was practically salivating at the thought of it! Of course, Enyo''s sexual degeneracy played a large role in her acceptance of things, but who was she to deny her cravings? Did Bellona think she would be safe from Enyo''s tyrannical sexcapades just because she was her sister? Hell no. If anything, it was the opposite as it just put her even more at risk. Did that make Enyo a freak? Yes. Had she accepted that back when she first got a taste of the world of pleasure? Yes. Was she ever going to stop? No. She would probably start ramping things up if anything. Little did Ares know, but Enyo had been keeping one more secret from him; something she only discovered recently when she went to learn a new art after learning about the existence of an open pillar she was VERY interested in. As it turns out, Enyo has an affinity for the ''pillar of pleasure'' that was somehow even stronger than her affinity for the holy pillar. It was important to remember that Enyo was a once in a lifetime holy pillar prodigy, a genius whose name would go down in history because of her sheer talent with the pillar... Ares was not going to get off easy when she finally got her hands on him, but he was most definitely going to get off. More times than he even thought possible. She was going to act shy like a maiden, and then she was going to devour him like a succubus the second he let his guard down. Ares was going to have to get very good at escaping Enyo otherwise he would be in some serious trouble going forward. The holy side of Enyo would not save him from the horny side. It was an interesting duality, but it was a lopsided one. The public got one half, Ares would have to bear the burden of the other by himself for now. If he was lucky, Bellona would join in and share the load before he turned to a husk.


    Speaking of Bellona, she''d stopped crying and was hiding in a pillow fortress she''d built while Enyo was mulling over various plans for the future. "Can I come in? Wilst thou lower the drawbridge?"


    "No."


    "I was being polite. I''m coming in anyway." Enyo barged her way in despite Bellona''s pleas not to. Partly because she wasn''t taking no for an answer as this was an important time for her sister, but also because her lie detector went off for the millionth time thanks to her sister''s pointless insistence on denying reality time and time again. When Enyo managed to crawl and dig her way through the number of pillows that Bellona had multiplied with her magic, she felt a wave of relief in her heart as she saw Bellona smiling like a girl in love... Well actually there was no like about it, she just was and it was plain as day. "You want to talk about it?"


    "No." Bellona rocked side to side while hugging a pillow with that same silly smile on her face.


    "Seriously, you do know I have a lie detector in me, right? So, you wanna say it or not?"


    Bellona leaned her chin on the pillow she was holding and looked straight at Enyo. "Yeah, I love your husband. I want him. he''s a dumb pooch at the best of times, he''s going to keep poking fun at the size of my chest forever, he''s an insufferable revenant with a foul mouth, and he''s going to inadvertently attract other women; but I want him. I want his magic. I want his food. I want to keep having silly arguments with him. He amuses me and I feel like we''re on the same wavelength as each other. I''m not sure if I should be telling you this, but it feels like he was made for me and not you. He is my perfect other half, and I want him. You''ve already made your bed by telling me I can share him, so now you''re going to have to lie in it. I won''t let you take back what you said, it''s too late for that. I will wait for the right time, and I will tell him how I feel."


    "The right time? Why not just go do it now? He''s literally in the other room, probably still trying to figure out why you ran away from him."


    "No. Firstly, I''ll let you have him for now. I''m not going to interrupt your lovey-dovey experience as a couple. You two haven''t even slept with each other yet, I''m not going to stick my head in where I don''t yet belong. You do you first and enjoy him to your heart''s content as I will do too when I get my turn later. Second, I''m really brute forcing this. I still feel bad, I''m just ignoring that feeling and doing what I want because I can''t pretend anymore. That stupid popping candy sent me over the edge of no return, but that doesn''t mean my other feelings on the matter are gone just yet. I want some time to get over that. Lastly, and this is the most important, I think the Vraizon situation needs to be sorted out first. You remember when Fate threatened you? Threatened to tell the Legion clan about you and Ares? I think Major will be able to accept it, barely. He''ll be irate and on edge, but if he learns that its not just you, but also me... Losing two daughters to the same revenant will be a line that he simply won''t accept having been crossed. I won''t do anything now for all of our sakes. I don''t put it past that man to try and kill us, let alone Ares. I''ve seen first hand the anger he''s capable of directing at his own children, there''s no reason to give him an excuse. Does that mean I''ll have to be patient for a long time? Yeah, and it fucking sucks. I''ll be jealous of you for a long time to come, but I can wait. This is for the best and I know it, so you won''t change my mind on this."


    "Look at you, being mature for once. See how easy this discussion was? You should have just listened to your big sister and admitted it from the start... Speaking off big sisters... Do you think Pele''s gonna want in on the action? It would seriously be absurd if all three of us went for the same man..."


    "Nah, she won''t be interested in Ares in the slightest. Besides, she''s got her eyes set on one of Calla''s kids, right? Skyzo, wasn''t it? That lazy assassin with the dumbest magic I''ve ever seen... Seriously, how could anyone be an assassin with that kind of magic?! It''s literally counter-intuitive! And the worst part is that it works, especially against Pele too... We''re getting side-tracked. Please don''t tell Ares about this, now''s just not the correct time for it."


    "Don''t worry, I wouldn''t regardless of whether you asked me to or not because he''d just say no to you right now anyway. I need to have a proper conversation with him about the future first, he''ll never accept you if I don''t."


    Bellona shuffled over to her sister and leant her head against Enyo''s bosom. "Thank you, sis''. Really, thank you."


    "Don''t thank me just yet, you don''t even know what I want from you in return."


    "... Should I even ask?"


    Bellona shivered as Enyo sensually stroked her face and dragged her thumb slowly over her bottom lip.


    "Depends." Enyo whispered into her sister''s ear, "Do you want to start mentally preparing yourself now for things I''m going to do to you in the future, or do you want me to take you by surprise?"


    With nowhere to hide from the maniacal sex pest that was her sister, Bellona fled the room and decided to leave that problem to her future self... I''m seriously going to have to put up a magical barrier when I sleep tonight... What the hell has happened to that damn woman to set her down this path?! Why do I get the feeling that mongrel Ares is somehow responsible for this?! That idiot has seriously twisted her... Whatever. Speak of the devil, Bellona came across Ares holding Appa aloft and spinning it in the air. "Idiot. Only children would enjoy that! Appa can float anyway, she doesn''t need your dumb-ass to lift her!"


    "Hm? Ares spotted Bellona and smirked as he put Appa down who then dizzily floated off to go find Leo and play hide and seek. "If it''s something only children would enjoy, then are you implying you want me to do it to you?"


    "Alright, that''s it. If I don''t beat some respect into you here and now, then my name isn''t Bellona!"


    Crash


    Somehow, miraculously, despite being indoors, the two''s squabbling managed to somehow kick up another dust cloud. They were seriously experts at doing this. That aside, their brawl continued for a few minutes until, as per usual, Bellona emerged victorious with Ares in a headlock. "ENYO! YOUR SISTER IS BULLYING MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Maybe one day Ares would learn not to bother calling out for the other sister as it had failed him every single time he''d ever attempted it. These two were basically in cahoots and he wasn''t going to find the safe haven he was looking for in these trying times. "Ouch!" Bellona gave Ares a noogie as he struggled to remove her vice grip around the back of his head.


    "The popping candy was incredible, thank you." She let go of him and walked out of the living room while letting Ares know something he would definitely appreciate. "I''ll stop randomly hitting you from now on. Sorry about that, but it was mostly your fault anyway." With one final look, Bellona winked at Ares and left him to his own devices for now. As Bellona walked down the hallway, she chuckled to herself as she heard Ares celebrate the end of the unexplained beatings with a ''WOO!''. She held her hand over her heart as she imagined her future with the one man that could put a genuine smile on her face. Not the derisive, condescending, or teasing smiles she usually reserved for day to day use, but something truly heartfelt that only those she really cared about would ever see.

 Chapter 82: As Long as the Coliseum Stands, Red Sun Shall Stand

    The weeks leading up to the national passed with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Enyo had done her duty and properly leashed her manic husband, preventing him from blowing anything up without her permission. Ares did visit the city a few times, during which he was able to enjoy some of the new stalls and services available at this time of year. There was a minor incident in which he tried squabbling with Jeremy for the right to return to the auction house at a later date if he wanted to, but he was met with instant and uncompromising rejection no matter how he tried to swing it. Ares was banned for life, which was technically a much harsher punishment than it sounded because his life would never end. As for training during this period, Sadie placed a greater emphasis on co-ordinating as a team, thus leading to the creation of various combination arts amongst the five man group. This took a while longer than it should have, though, as Aejaz wasn''t present for the entirety of the first week of training. Ares was lenient up until this point, after which he threatened to unleash a Grand Annihilation on the room his brother was hiding away in. Aejaz came out of the room with a scowl but he ended up begrudgingly submitting to the powers that be... Namely Ares using Stamp Out to kick him in the nuts. Yes, it did hurt as much as you think it would. Probably even more. Aejaz couldn''t use his soldier again for a while even if he wanted to. As for Allie, well she''d definitely matured, if you ignored her walking around with her hands perpetually covering her face for over a week straight anyway. Bellona and Enyo had much ribbing to do in order to satisfy their jealousy and thus they hounded Allie relentlessly. When Allie had finally returned to normal, she also returned to alchemy and finally created the ''core enhancement'' pill for Leo. As Ares had predicted, Leo gained the ability to change size. He could now grow to the size of a normal tiger which gave Charity quite the scare when he jumped and roared at her from behind a fence one day. As for the violence that came after, let''s just say no one came out of the bloodbath unscathed. This wasn''t all for the Leo upgrades though, as the ever-shifting core had been refunded during its use. As an aside, Aejaz was thanked for this in a way that incentivised him to redouble his efforts in finding rare ingredients. Actually, his efforts hadn''t doubled, they''d practically quintupled. He was like a changed man, energetic and eager. Well, he was still a coward, that was just ingrained behaviour and could never be removed. Regarding Leo''s other upgrade, technically it wasn''t him that got stronger directly, but rather Allie created a Mini-Pillie using the core that benefitted him greatly. Mini-Pillie ''commander'' could boost the overall strength of non-human combatants by rallying their spirits and raising their morale. Funnily enough, this did in fact work on Ares too. The Mini-Pillie was easily distinguishable thanks to the black and gold general hat it wore and the bravery with which it stood tall atop Leo''s back. Leo, when transformed, with the Mini-Pillie on his back, and the necklace of various pills he wielded, was actually an incredibly dangerous creature. He''d long since become something way more than just your average treetop tiger, much to the dismay of Charity who felt nothing but chagrin at having been outpaced as a cultivator by a dopey monster that ridiculed her endlessly. Ares had given up on trying to mediate between these two as it seemed their feud would just never end. As long as they didn''t fight on his turf and break stuff, he didn''t really care. He was too busy singlehandedly raising the reputation of the sect as though he were Atlas holding up the world on his back. His weapons, armour, and Beads had become more than just talk of the town, they were talk of the country. Over-geared outer court disciples from Heaven''s Path with explosive treasures were all the rage amongst all the gossipers. The rumours led to a drastic increase in cultivators applying to get into the sect. Of course they had to wait until after the international which was when the sect had cleverly set the date for the next entrance test. Despite being run ragged by the various demands thrust upon him, and the training he had to attend daily, he was able to recharge in peace at home when he cuddled with Appa. Of course that was all for naught when Enyo showed up and demanded more than just cuddles, draining him of every drop of energy he possessed. Enyo was tempted multiple times to just unleash everything and show off all of her pillar of pleasure tricks and really blow Ares mind, but she remained patient and saved it all for the big day. If Ares wanted it to be a day worth remembering, she would make it a day he couldn''t forget even if he wanted to. What was going to happen to the poor man would forever be imprinted onto his body and soul to the point that even death wouldn''t wash away Enyo''s mark. Ares was curious as to what exactly Enyo was training so hard for, spending all her spare time in the cultivation rooms, but he decided not to follow up on his curiosity as he assumed she was likely just exploring the holy pillar... Ares did, however, mercilessly beat his brother when he discovered him using the art Ares had been trying to get him to learn as a means of teleporting around the house. His stupid brother was using arguably the most versatile art in existence to be lazy! Ares made sure Aejaz got plenty of training in with the art by chucking Shock Beads at him. The art was still in the early stages and wouldn''t be usable until the international, but it would definitely leave its mark there when it was unveiled. Last but not least, Dirk had been arguing with his father in order to secure aid for the sake of recovering his heart. In the end, he still wasn''t able to come to an agreement as his father''s demand was for him to undergo an arranged marriage with someone of his choosing and Dirk refused. He would have to try again at a later date, but he could tell his father wasn''t going to move even an inch on this. Dirk''s last ditch option was to bring Ares and Li Li here and see if either of them could convince him, but that would happen some other time.


    And just like that, everyone passed the time in their own ways. A few people had gained stages of cultivation, and the list of all their current cultivations is as follows: Ares was at mental accumulation, 3rd stage. Dirk was at mental accumulation, 8th stage. Li Li was at mental accumulation, 9th stage. Aejaz had shot up to the peak of mental accumulation thanks to Allie''s ''encouragement'' which gave him all the reasons he needed to try harder. Appa''s cultivation was also at the peak of mental accumulation and her cuteness was still immeasurable. The Lighter Duo were at mental accumulation 5th stage. Onno was at mental accumulation, 4th stage. Allie had rocketed past Ares thanks to the new cultivation technique and was at mental accumulation, 6th stage. Esme was at mental accumulation, 9th stage. Bellona had gone up one stage to mental accumulation, 5th stage. Last but not least, Enyo... Hadn''t moved... She was still at mental accumulation, 7th stage. She''d made it clear she was going to swap to dedication cultivation the day before the international started and make up for lost time somehow, but Ares couldn''t wrap his head around her reasoning. How she was going to ring out any gains from her holy pillar he didn''t know, but he took her word at face value. Besides, Enyo was still above and beyond any normal cultivator by a wide margin. Not having improved her cultivation for the nationals was mostly irrelevant.


    ---------------------------------


    Yawn


    At the crack of dawn, on the day the nationals started, Ares woke up and rolled to the side. He shuffled over and close to Enyo and briefly enjoyed watching her sleep peacefully. The sun came creeping in and illuminated her innocent sleeping face. Her hair drooped down over her bare shoulders and her soft lips were slightly parted. Compressed between her biceps, her chest heaved slowly as she lay atop the pillow with her clasped hands in front of her. Ares enjoyed beholding the serenity of Enyo''s resting form and her beautiful features as he twirled the lavender end of one of her strands of hair.


    "mm."


    With a cute little murmur that barely escaped Enyo''s lips and a few small blinks of her heavy eyelids that fluttered her eyelashes, Enyo''s deep purple eyes were half revealed to the world as she sleepily squinted at Ares.


    Ares gently swept her hair back and leant in for a kiss. Enyo''s eyes shut again as she craned her neck up slightly, offering Ares her pink lips. Ares placed his lips on Enyo''s and savoured the moment. Enyo drifted between sweet dreams and wonderful reality as her man''s kiss turned passionate. Enyo''s bottom lip was tickled by Ares'' warm breath as he tenderly placed it between his teeth. They both let out quiet moans as Ares ran his tongue along Enyo''s trapped lip before setting it free as his kisses roamed south and onto her neck. Enyo rested her face to the side, letting out deep sighs as Ares lovingly kissed her nape and firmly held her hand in his. Ares''s warm breath in Enyo''s ear made her squirm as he spoke in hushed tones, "I love you."


    Enyo barely opened her eyes, turned to face Ares, and gave him a deep kiss. When she was done, she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and brought his head down to rest on her chest where he could feel her beating heart. As she was still half-asleep, she mumbled "I love you." in a small voice as she ran her fingers through his hair. Enyo wrapped her leg around Ares'' and pulled him in closer before resting her head atop his and hugging him tight with an angelic smile on her face.


    The two lay there happily for a long while as per usual. This had become somewhat of a daily ritual that the first to wake up would initiate and neither of them had any complaints as they both were satisfied with expressing their love and simply idling in silence for a while. Lazing in each other''s arms as they cuddled intimately was their preferred way of starting the day. Of course a good majority of the time Enyo would start to get frisky, but today she was reserved and didn''t push any further. Either she was still tired, she wasn''t in the mood which was extremely rare but did happen, or she was patiently waiting for whatever today entailed as it was the end of the two week countdown. Well, two and a half weeks, but who other than Enyo was counting? Ares, knowing his future wife like the back of his hand, correctly ascertained it was the third option. She''d been bugging him all throughout the day prior, asking him for hints like a kid on Christmas eve trying to figure out their present. She''d even almost resorted to grabbing and shaking him. Still, today was the start of the nationals, so that had to be dealt with first. That being said, Ares had an idea for how to make the time pass quicker. He''d been informed by Zhang a few days ago that there were seven teams total competing and that there would be three fights on day one, two on day two, and one on the final day. Depending on the circumstances, if Ares was lucky enough, he could manipulate things to have today off by getting a free pass on the first round. Logically it should be something he has no control over, but depending on how things went, he could raise that chance significantly, if not outright to 100%. It required a specific condition, but Ares believed in the power of luck. It didn''t make much of a difference either way, but he really wanted to spend the whole day with Enyo and fulfil his promise to at last partially satisfy her cravings. If it didn''t work, she would just have to wait until the fighting was finished.


    Knock Knock


    Ares went to lift his head up and call out but Enyo held him close and shushed him with her finger as she did it instead. "Who is it?"


    "It''s me!"


    From the voice, Enyo could tell it was Bellona so she decided to play a small ''prank'' on her and welcome her in. "Come in."


    Bellona entered the room and did a double take when she saw Enyo and Ares sprawled on top of each other. She got an eyeful of both their bare upper chests and just sighed at her sister who was petting a confused Ares. Ares himself didn''t mind this situation because it was just his chest at the end of the day. It wasn''t really that big a deal for him, but did Enyo not mind showing off hers like this? It wasn''t exactly inappropriate because they were both women, but it wasn''t really normal behaviour either considering how easy it would have been to cover up. Of course Ares didn''t know that Enyo was just enabling her sister to get an eyeful. It wouldn''t even end here as Enyo was aware that the sect, and more specifically Lizzy as the head of the gadgetry department, had plenty of cameras. She had every intention of bargaining for one and sharing a fair bit more than this with her sister. This was partly because she wanted to give her sister something to make the long wait easier, but also because Enyo being Enyo got off on the thought of recording and sharing. Not that she''d give it to anyone other than Bellona though, she was an exception because of her situation. Rather, Enyo was glad because Bellona gave her a reason and an excuse to do it. Even just luring her sister into the room like this was getting her in the mood. She would have jumped on Ares by now if she could, making Bellona watch. This would do for now, though, and it also served another purpose, getting Ares to be subconsciously more comfortable around Bellona in situations like this. It was a long term project, but Enyo''s chicanery was hard at work.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Well? What do you want? Him? Me? Both of us?" Enyo took charge of the conversation and queried her sister why she was here in the first place. It also served its secondary purpose as a double entendre with Ares being blissfully unaware. It''s not like Ares was oblivious or anything, but Enyo was just rather good at circumnavigating the topic while brushing up on it in a way that was subtle so as to no invoke suspicion.


    Bellona shook her head and troopered on even in the face of Enyo''s coy invitations. "It''s getting a little late and you''ve got to get to the nationals on time or you automatically forfeit, remember?"


    "We''ve still got enough time. Let me guess; you, Allie, Aejaz, Appa, and Leo would like some homemade breakfast, right?"


    With Enyo having sleuthed her sister''s true intent, Bellona could do nothing but scrunch her face and stick her tongue out. "I want more popping candy! It hits all the right spots as a pick-me-up in the morning. Mellow flavours with a hidden kick to get the day started."


    "Hmph, so you came barging in here to steal my man away from me?" Enyo hugged Ares tighter.


    "I didn''t come barging in, I knocked and you let me in. Also, yes, I am stealing him! At least he won''t have to suffocate in those balloons on your chest." Bellona used her magic to wrest Ares from her sister, pick him up in a princess carry with one hand on his bare back and the other under his thigh and over his shorts, and take him out of the room. As she was leaving, she snickered to herself as she intentionally knocked Ares'' head against the doorway.


    "Ouch! Oi, watch were you''re carrying me! Also, can I put a shirt on? it''s a little cold..."


    "That didn''t seem to bother you earlier."


    "That''s because Enyo is warm, like a hilly desert. You''re like a frozen tundra. Icy cold and flat." Ares chuckled to himself but stopped mid laugh as he looked up and saw Bellona glaring down at him.


    "Cold, huh? Ok." Bellona carried a nervous Ares in to the living room and walked over to the cutest house member. Bellona held out Ares in Appa''s direction and gave the order Ares was dreading. "Appa, your dad has been naughty, freeze him!"


    "Appa! Sweetie! Ignore this flat chested gorilla!" Ares begged.


    Appa looked between Ares and Bellona before recalling something its mother had told it a while ago. "Mum said to freeze you if you called Bellona''s chest flat. She also said to listen to Bellona instead of you if you two were arguing. Also, I''ve been cuddling with Bellona lots at night and she''s nice. Sorry dad, but you''ve probably been a bad person again! I''m going to freeze you now!"


    "Appa nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"


    CRACKLE


    "Hehehehe." Appa joyfully bobbed its way over to the table and sat next to Leo as it awaited its Snappas while playing with Huggles.


    Ares, the popsicle not the person, was pushed along the ground by Bellona''s foot and he slid into the kitchen. Until he dethawed from his ice encasing, he was going to just lie there at the foot of the kitchen sink. Like this, he had time to think over his earlier comments and learn his lesson. Of course Ares was incapable of learning this particular lesson, but that just meant he was going to get frozen a lot more in the future. Also, since when did Bellona have more sway over his own daughter than he did?! And why was Enyo encouraging it?! Bellona and Appa had been cuddling at night, but surely this was too much?! Ares used to be the favourite, now he was third!


    Eventually Ares was free from his icy imprisonment and went about cooking something for everyone. There was a chance for a fight today, depending on the drawings for the preliminary round, so Ares cooked up a hearty breakfast for anyone participating in the tournament. After, everyone got ready and headed outside the sect to go to the Scorched Grounds. Ares was vaguely familiar with its location as he''d hung around the outskirts with Aejaz when they were younger and stole from passing-by fat sheep. Anyone who looked particularly wealthy but not strong enough to detect their antics had been fair game. Well, the word ''had'' is used loosely as Aejaz would still absolutely keep doing it even now when there wasn''t even a need for it. Or rather, the way he defined the word ''need'' was different from everyone else. Aejaz ''needed'' to steal rare ingredients for Allie because he ''needed'' the reward. Although the means were completely opposite to one another, both Aejaz and Onno would do good work during the national and international. Just as Enyo kept a tight leash on Ares, Ares also kept one on Aejaz too, though. Ares understood that Aejaz was more than capable of being a liability in combat if he was allowed to act at his own discretion as he would just focus on stealing things of value, from both the combatants and the spectators alike, and not actually kill his opponents.


    They arrived in good time and Ares, despite having lived in Red Sun for all of his life, finally got a good look at the Scorching Grounds for once. The house of harm. The architecture of abuse. Everything about the coliseum oozed violence and showmanship. Tall and imposing, the Scorched Grounds came fully equipped to deal with large audiences thanks to its seven different floors, each of which came with a different aesthetic that indicated at a glance who was at the top of society, and who nothing more than a bottom feeder.


    The bottom level was aged and the pillars were cracked. The stone arches weren''t smooth nor were they shaped properly with most being bent slightly to one side or another. This layer was referred to as the ''commons area'' and anyone and everyone was welcome here provided there was any space left. The second layer, also known simply as ''moderate'', sported a cleaner look with blue brick being the predominant feature that defined the floor. Anyone who earned a decent wage, or could be considered middle class, would be able to afford a seat here for their family if they saved up for a few months. The price of admission to the third layer was one high-grade per audience member but it was worth it for those who wanted an experience that wasn''t present on any of the other floors. Floor three was effectively an igloo as it had been constructed using ice magic. The iced floors were easy to walk on and and an aurora borealis snaked underneath the ice. Those who wanted to remain cool on a sunny day, those who enjoyed the thematic, and those who simply wanted the experience of sitting on benches of snow under warm quilts with hot cocoa by their side would choose the ''frozen observatory''. Next up, literally, was the ''nobleman''s quarters''. Reserved for the rich and the regal, seats in this open-plan mansion residing on the fourth floor weren''t cheap; coming in at around 250 high-grade for a room. A red carpet around the exterior welcomed VIP guests who could glance outside the glass panes and watch the peasantry enter from below. They would enter their rooms and have a service not dissimilar to that of the the Myriad Masks with comfy seating and a lavish banquet readily available. Each room had a butler on standby outside, ready to take orders and be of general service. Each guest could watch the matches comfortably from their own rooms in private, or they could open up the front section and put themselves on display if they wanted the attention. Although these rooms didn''t inherently imply the people within had high statuses, as that was reserved for those on the higher floors, the people here were guaranteed to have immeasurable stardust to their name. Most business owners and members of large organisations would typically be found in this layer connecting with one another and expanding their reach and connections. Some cultivators with higher status would make an effort to come down to this layer in search of funding and/or the selling of their services, shady or above board made no difference as all sorts could be found here. Fifth was where the recognition factor started to become relevant. If you were from a distinguished clan or sect and had the necessary renown, the ''golden gallery'' was the place to be. The layer consisted primarily of black marble with gold streaks throughout and offered larger rooms / seating areas to accommodate a greater number of individuals from said clans or sects. Notable families across the globe would happily stay on this floor as they were one above the businessmen they so frequently interacted with, making it easy to pay them a visit. Furthermore, this floor allowed its customers to display banners and other such objects like flags and emblems to represent themselves in front of a global audience and grab the attention of those that wished to work under them. Simply appearing on this floor was a boon in and of itself that would lead to others seeking you out of their own accord as a degree of prestige was required to even be here. If anyone hadn''t heard of a group on this floor, it wasn''t because they were unheard of, but because the individual hadn''t done their research. The last benefit of this floor was that, when showing up for the international, anyone who stayed here was given a gift of gratitude for attending. It raised the overall quality of attendees by a large margin and improved the reputation of the city and the event itself, so a rare treasure of some kind was usually handed out to the leaders of each gathered group as thanks. Second to last was where bona-fide bigshots begun appearing. ''The garden of Eden'' was a floor decorated by lush and vibrant plant life, and each archway was decorated in an array of beautiful flowers. Roses, magnolia, cherry blossoms, and lilies. Any and all plants, including some exceptionally rare, region specific variants dotted the floor and the entrance to each section was custom tailored to the requests of the individual who stayed there. In order to even step foot on this floor, the bare minimum requirement was being in the transition realm, so only the elite of Sheryashka could explore Eden. Of course any cultivators from Vraizon who met the requirements were also permitted here. This place was most commonly used by lone cultivators without backing as the floor above facilitated that group of clientele. As for this floor, each section utilised magic to grow natural grass and create a garden of wonders. Arboreal, gentle creatures danced about and small lakes housed graceful swans. Tea and cake were served in three tier curates after being crafted by only the finest patissiers across the entire domain who had come here to further their own careers. The relaxing atmosphere was perfect for lone wolves to take a breather from the harsh world of cultivation and destress in safety. Finally, the peak of the coliseum, revered by all as the ''pantheon'', was where those at the very top of society could be found. Only the clans and families that dominated the Vraizon domain with unfathomable cultivations could roam these halls. Similar to the previous floor for groups, the area was marbled, but white instead of black this time. The golden streaks were also present. In many ways, this floor was a combination of all the others. Only the finest foods from top chefs across every accessible domain was served here. The view from the top was spectacular and personal screens were also given for those who wanted a closer view. Anyone here could opt for indoor or outdoor seating and both were expansive enough to fit upwards of fifty people per group. There were only a handful of people who had the right to bring their disciples and families here and that select group of people had remained near enough unchanged throughout history. Very rarely did anyone ascend to this rank or replace those present as they were truly monstrous people. The Legion, Willow, Starlight, and Umbra Wolf clans were all examples of the kind of names that graced this layer of the coliseum. If you could make it to this floor by working for a family or joining a sect with the right to be there, you had made it in life. As the way to the next domain up from Vraizon was severed, there were no higher existences than these groups so they received preferential treatment on every conceivable level. Cultivators would burn the existence of anyone who appeared on this floor into their retinas and memory so as to remain polite and subservient should they ever run into them outside the coliseum. Even showing off your face for a split second on this floor put you well and truly above everyone else. Every seat on this layer was a throne, and every cultivator sat on it a king or queen in their own right.


    This coliseum was the most famous building across all domains, bar none. It was the result of an organisation Ares wasn''t yet familiar with, the same one that funded and ran the international, spending countless resources to erect. Red Sun being the most central location in an easily accessible domain for those both below and above Sheryashka made it the optimal location for its existence. Scorching Grounds and Myriad Masks alone kept Red Sun afloat even in the roughest times. These two sacred buildings were all that remained after the Vargaraad incident as the defences in place were resilient against the tide of lunar fire that devoured everything else, and thus they became symbols of the city. The coliseum in particular was an astounding feat of architecture and design. Naturally, as per his first instinct in situations like this, Ares wanted to blow it up.

 Chapter 83: Throughout Heaven and Earth, I Alone Am the Dishonourable One

    The entrance for the public, in the form of a cobbled road with lanterns dangling off poles on either side, was near the centre of the coliseum. It led inside the building where people would be sorted into various categories and guided to the appropriate floor, either by signs or by personnel depending on the prestige of the floor. If Ares ever wanted to spectate, this is where he would go. As a member of a squad competing in the nationals, he would probably be allowed into the golden gallery at best. If he could prove he was a revenant, however, he could go straight to the top thanks to his connection to the Umbra Wolves. That, or he could leech off Enyo and Bellona like the gigolo he was as they were members of the Legion clan. Well they were more than just that, they were kin of the patriarch! If they went into the coliseum and announced their presence, people would start bowing and even getting on their hands and knees.


    If Enyo wasn''t the righteous type that had no desire to make her life easier via her reputation, she could enter a lot of places normal people couldn''t and receive preferential treatment just about everywhere. She wouldn''t be able to walk the streets normally without people borderline worshipping her as she wasn''t even just a member of the main family, she was the ace of the entire generation. The golden girl, as it were. Enyo''s name was fairly widespread, even in Sheryashka. Not to the extent it was in Vraizon, mind you, but there were definitely people who knew her. Especially in the Grecian lands as that country was essentially a miniature version of the Legion clan if looking strictly at ideals. They were founded upon the idea of ''justice'' and revered law and divine order. Anyone who wanted to join the Legion clan in some form or another started here and worked their way up the chain of command. Enyo was nothing less than a superstar in this country and was called upon occasionally to use her bloodline lie detector to solve any major issues. She was treated with utmost respect whenever she appeared there which was mostly during the internationals of previous years to escape Trew. She was planning on visiting again at some point. Ares had made it clear he was going to be leaving Red Sun to, almost definitely, go to Xasca via the Freeride Federation sometime after the tournament, so maybe Enyo would take Appa, Allie, Leo, and Bellona on a trip. Charity and Gladius could go along too if they were interested. It would be a nice change of pace and scenery and being treated like royalty was nice every now and then. Enyo was also regularly called upon to mete out justice in the streets which she got a massive kick out of. She hadn''t had as many chances as of late to direct her righteous and holy wrath upon evil doers, so the Grecian lands would likely be her next stop. She was a bit jealous of Ares though, as the Freeride Federation was an interesting country to visit. It was a federation of merchants that banded together, buying an astronomical amount of boats which were joined together to form an aquatic country that could move over water. They could freely travel to and from various countries across by travelling across the ocean, conducting trade in one port before leaving for the next, acting as a mercantile hub and a mode of transport for civilians simultaneously. Anyone who owned a business on this mobile country had enough wealth to be allowed into the nobleman''s quarters layer of the Scorched Grounds with no questions asked. The merchants weren''t powerful in their own right, but they had enough money to make sure everyone they hired around them was. It was definitely needed too as the monsters of the deep that the Federation had to deal with were not to be trifled with. As of late, there had even been reports of a gargantuan creature that had been terrorising them and caused the Federation incalculable losses. All in all, it was extremely dangerous as a lot of the creatures that lived in the area had despicable means of attacking the Federation by taking cheap pot shots at them. That was Ares'' problem to deal with though. If anything, he would be the Federation''s biggest danger as, knowing him, he''d probably find a way to sink the entire fleet if left alone for five minutes!


    A queue had formed atop the cobbled path as cultivators and ordinary citizens alike waited patiently to get inside the Scorched Grounds. A significantly larger number of spectators would show up for the nationals than the regionals as this was a matter of patriotism! A lot of people believed this was when the competition truly started and only the strongest of cultivators would start appearing, making the matches more enjoyable from the perspective of a spectator. Most people would want to know exactly who was representing their country going forward and just how strong they were. For that reason, people flocked from around the country to take a gander and would usually stay in Red Sun after the nationals until the international rolled around before watching that too and finally taking their leave. There were also a lot of Red Sun inhabitants, but that was self explanatory. Not only were they the hosts, so it was easy to attend for the sake of free entertainment, but they also had serious contenders competing this year! Who wouldn''t want to see the cultivator that produced that massive golden pillar do their city proud?! The third group of people who were present were those that consisted of foreigners who either wanted to get good lodging before things got hectic during the international, or those who were spying on the potential competition in advance. They would then report their findings back to their own country''s participants so they could prepare countermeasures.


    Bellona, Allie, Leo, and Appa split off here as they weren''t participating. Thanks to Bellona, they would be able to go to the mostly empty top floor and enjoy the perks of nepotism. They were only really here for Ares, Enyo, and Aejaz so if they ended up not fighting today they would leave early with them. In that case it would be somewhat of waste going to the top floor, but there was also no reason not to. As for the fighters, there was another entrance around the backside of the coliseum. The entrance was a mish mash of all the various styles used in the different layers. It was a bit of a busy design, but the point was supposed to be that all who entered as combatants were equal regardless of their background and that only strength mattered. Li Li and Esme were waiting patiently here and chatting away about this and that. When they noticed the others, they walked over and complained about them not showing up earlier. Enyo just shrugged and said they were enjoying breakfast, to which Li Li and Esme were now more annoyed about not having been invited. Ares was seriously starting to wonder if he should just give up on cultivation and become a chef at this point as the only thing anyone ever wanted out of him was his damn food!


    The group of five walked inside and were sent to their respective waiting area. They could faintly see down the hall and outside into the arena where a familiar man with a clipboard was giving a brief introductory speech. It was the same fellow who''d been officiating the regionals. It seemed the organisation he worked for was going to get a bit more mileage out of him before he was replaced at the international by someone who was more well known in the cultivation world. His speech thus far mostly consisted of basic information about the venue and the way in which the event would be run. A green light in the waiting room lit up which was an indicator for the group to head out. As the man with the clipboard introduced the various groups one by one, Ares could hear a string of cheers and a round of applause for each. judging roughly by the timing they would exit the hallway, they would be the sixth group introduced.


    Ares and co stepped out of the hallway and were momentarily blinded by the sun overhead. Not only was it clich¨¦, but it was damn annoying. Ares felt like petitioning the organisers to put up some damn sunroofs above the coliseum. The appearance of the Red Sun group garnered the largest number of supporting cries as they made up the biggest bulk of spectators at this stage of the event. Ares'' eye twitched when he heard a couple boos directed at him specifically as he knew exactly why... His damn cultivation again... It had gone up considerably since the regionals, but that meant nothing to the people who weren''t there. There was zero chance anyone who didn''t know any better would associate the golden pillar with him, so they were automatically assuming it was someone else and he was being carried like a new-born in a baby carrier. They were worried his incompetent self would drag the others down. If chucking Shock Beads at the audience members who were yelling the loudest wouldn''t cause problems, Ares would''ve done it by now. Hell, he might''ve even thrown a Perish Wheel as that was what they wanted to see, after all. On the subject of wide range arts, it seemed the arena was just big enough so as not to be swallowed whole by large arts. Both Yggdrasil and Perish Wheel were usable here as it was spacious enough to pull of. Realistically this wouldn''t benefit anyone other than Ares, but it was nice for him nonetheless.


    After lining up, Ares took a glance at the other contenders. There wasn''t really much of anything to say about most of the groups here as Central land was an amalgamation in terms of population. Some teams had robos, some had elves or dwarves. Most races that could be found in Sheryashka were typically present in some form in Central land. Still, what Ares was primarily looking for was Dirk''s fianc¨¦. If Dirk''s heart was a rare treasure, then there was a non-zero chance she would bring it for use during the national. If she had it on her person, Aejaz would be able to simplify the issue. Unfortunately, Ares had no descriptions of the woman whatsoever, so he had to give up... Until he noticed Li Li menacingly glaring at one very specific person. The look in Li Li''s eye was similar to that of Charity''s when she was scrutinising Leo and looking for an opportunity to pounce on the creature. It didn''t take Ares long to figure out the woman on the receiving end of the evil-eye was Accelyn, Dirk''s ex. If Li Li''s animosity wasn''t enough of a guarantee, Dirk'' previous spiel about the size of her bust was another huge clue. in one word, it was unreasonable. How that woman fought with them was a miracle. Surely they were inconvenient, no? Whether that was the reason Li Li was getting heated or if it was because she disliked her in general was anyone''s guess. Actually, Ares bizarrely felt a chill down his spine as someone on the top layer of the coliseum was practically staring at his soul and watching his every movement. It was as if someone was trying to make him feel guilty for having even looked at the boob bonanza even though that was clearly not why he was doing it in the first place! He was wrongly accused! Better yet, why did anyone other than Enyo even care anyway?!¡­ Oh, it''s Bellona being jealous... Right.


    "Ahhhhh?!?!" Someone in the line-up shrieked and everyone turned to face the culprit... Or more like the victim, actually. Accelyn was hugging herself as her chest had mysteriously shrunk, almost as if it had been halved in size.... Ares whistled to himself because this had nothing do with him. Just because he''d stopped looking, however, didn''t mean Bellona was done with the baggy seductress as she kept halving her assets until Accelyn''s chest could be used as a tarmac runway. Ares kept the thought that Accelyn was still bigger than Bellona even now buried deep in his subconscious for the sake of his own safety. If Bellona could halve the size of body parts, there was basically nothing stopping her from making his little wolf cub downstairs undergo shrinkage when he was least expecting it. Accelyn''s float sacs returned to normal shortly after, much to the relief of the other men standing around. If they were going to have to wait patiently, they might as well enjoy the view... At least that was what they believed until they too had a slight problem with randomly shrinking body parts. A lot of men on the field started fidgeting uncomfortably as they struggled to not let it become apparent they''d been infected with a severe case of baby carrot. Ares began nervous sweating as he stared dead ahead, making every effort possible not to look anywhere other than the wall directly opposite him. He was unaware that Enyo had actually saved him from a similar fate by erecting a barrier in timely fashion. Enyo would be willing to start a deathmatch with Bellona if she''d successfully accomplished her sabotage mission but of course she would never let it get to that point to begin with.


    Ares bravely and boldly looked back at the group while avoiding Accelyn. It wasn''t inconcievable he would wind up fighting them so he briefly scouted the opposition. Aside from Accelyn, there were two rock golems, a musclebound human, and an orc. The human was self-explanatory and needed no introduction. The orc might have seemed strange, but just about any creature could become intelligent if their cultivation reached a high enough level or if they were a mutant of some kind. Chief had been close to becoming such an existence and the mimic wasn''t far off either, they just couldn''t speak yet which was because they''d been trapped in a dungeon their whole lives and never had a chance to learn. Although the orc''s wanton man-lust was being kept in check, that didn''t mean the fellow wasn''t looking around and becoming more and more intrigued as he did. His interest was piqued when he saw Aejaz, the pretty boy of Red Sun. Ares decided to ignore the fact that the musclebound human looked like a jealous lover when the orc spotted Aejaz... As for the two golems, the same applied to them as well. They were sentient, and that meant they were good to go as far as the tournament organisers were concerned. Intelligent creatures and monsters weren''t shunned by society, in fact they were welcomed more often than not. Even some of the Gods were such creatures. A good example would be Terros, the God of earth who was a golem not much different to the two in front of Ares. Of course Terros was infinitely more powerful and he''d evolved into a higher being comparatively, but he was still a golem at the end of the day. Another example was one Ares had already seen, Astraeus, a robo! And, although he had yet to actually see head or literal tail of him, the fire God, Ignizz, was a red salamander. One that was apparently obsessed with envisioning himself as, and calling himself, a dragon. The God had a habit of childishly acting like a big dragon in private and for some odd reason he was consistently caught in the middle of the act. Ignizz was, for all intents and purposes, considered the God of disappointments everywhere. The most common reaction to his presence and antics were plain sighs and narrow eyes. That wasn''t to say he wasn''t a God in his own right, though, as his destructive power, when he wasn''t being a moron, was sky-high. In some ways, he was like Ares if Ares was actually as stupid as he pretended to be.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    With his scouting goal achieved, Ares looked away immediately so as not to incur the wrath of the gorilla looking down at him from above. In doing so, he saw the final group of the nationals strutting confidently out of their waiting area.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Furries!


    Where there were creatures of any kind, there were humans to be found chasing after them. One plus one equals two, up is up, and down is down. You don''t need me to tell you what happens after. The result is half-human, half-animal races. There is no general term for these types of people but each individual race does have its own name. In this case, there was a mustelid, a sheep, a shark, a bird, and a Panthera half-human. The race names were mustkin, baa''ki, preds, aevysqualls, and cattian. Again, all of these races could be found more commonly in various lands / countries around Sheryashka, but being able to find them all in one place like this was something that only really ever happened in Central. Or to be more accurate, Bhorashka. Bhorashka was a large portion of land ruled entirely by half-human races such as the ones lining up. Just about any and every race imaginable had copulated with humans at some point and they would all frequently choose to live in Bhorashka as it did a good job fulfilling all the needs of the various species. What made Bhorashka stand out was the sheer number of differing biomes packed into a single area. If you walked in a straight line for a day without pause you could probably come across four or five entirely different habitats ranging from freezing cold to blistering hot and everything in between. Rainforests, lakes, snowscapes, deserts, grassy plains. All of it could be found in Bhorashka. That''s not to say it hadn''t been civilised though. On the contrary, despite remaining close to nature, these areas had all been urbanised, to an extent, and functioned like ordinary cities that people were more than welcome to visit. Although the region was ruled by half-humans, or demi-humans as some people referred to them, they were on friendly terms with humans who were allowed to freely enter their region. There was a striking number of humans who visited with very specific intent and, to that end, sex tourism was normal in the region. It was all above board though and respectable wages were paid even if the work itself wasn''t the most respectable job you could have. Some demi-humans very willingly worked in these places, though, because they had as much of a fetish for humans as humans did for them. Really, these lot were a match made in heaven. It should also be mentioned that there were demi-humans who were not entirely covered in fur, but they were still called demi-humans. Whether they were more visibly human or animal made no difference in that regard and, although all the competitors from Bhorashka were all more visibly animal than human, there were roughly the same number of both types of demi-humans globally. A pretty clean 50-50 split meant that no-matter the preference, it probably existed which was why business in that sector was booming. Roughly 38% of all income earned in Central came from Bhorashka as people would frequently travel from abroad, thanks to the Freeride Federation, to get a taste. To each their own. In many ways, Bhorashka had been forever immortalised as the region of ''culture''.


    As for the furry competitors, they were all male and fluffy instead of fleshy, much to the disappointment of certain people in the audience. Of course there were also those that were overjoyed with the selection of, quote, ''eye candy''. The Bhorashka group had become rather famous in their own right amongst various groups of women and certain groups of men. Even the orc seemed to be rather enthused when looking their way. They almost resembled a boy band what with every member filling a different sort of role. Ramsey the Ram was the bulky ''hunk''. Oat the stoat was the slim and handsome devil. Hark the shark was the bad boy of the group with a cocky disposition. Leopold the leopard was the silent type with a piercing stare. And finally, Hawkins the hawk was the mature overseer of the group who was a bit more composed than the rest. Their popularity was notable and any group that knocked them out of the competition would probably have to fear for their lives when in the vicinity of groups of housewives and bratty teens for the foreseeable future.


    Now that everyone was present, Mr Clipboard started informing everyone about how the tournament would work. The rules for the matches were the same as the national, so either having a higher number on your timer at the end of the match or killing the entire enemy team was the methods that would give you the win. The format was pretty obvious, three groups would fight three other groups on day one, with one group getting a free ticket to the next round. Finally, the part Ares was curious about, how the automatic win for this round would be decided. He crossed his fingers and Mr Clipboard delivered the good news. The grouping would be randomised and the only group not picked by the end would be exempt. this meant that if Ares'' group wasn''t picked until the final slot was being determined, he could pull off his silly gamble.


    Mr Clipboard showed everyone strips of paper with their regions written on them before placing them inside an upside down top hat. Ares briefly wondered if he was going to pull names out of the hat or pigeons. Ironically, Ares was almost on the nose as Mr Clipboard''s magic was related to the hat. Mr Clipboard had a unique aspect that allowed him to summon random treasures that would disappear after being used once. Mr Clipboard was a walking armoury of sorts that fought in wacky, unpredictable ways. Also, the type of hat did make a difference. If he used something like a ten-gallon hat, he would have a higher chance of pulling out treasures like magical lassos or gadgetry in the form of exploding tumbleweeds. Mr Clipboard had originally wanted to be an entertainer but got bogged down in officiary work. He was thinking about quitting some time soon and returning to his passion. Good for him.


    Mr Clipboard pulled out the first strip and it was the ''Nomad'' region where Accelyn came from. Mr Clipboard then proceeded to pull out another four strips, none of which were Ares'' group or the Bhorashka lot. In other words, there were two more strips left in the hat and whichever name was pulled out would have to fight while the other could rest today and go do as they pleased. This was the exact scenario Ares had been hoping for and now he was going to initiate his plan!


    Ahem


    "Excuse me!"


    Everyone, from the other groups to the spectators, all looked over at Ares who''d interrupted Mr Clipboard. None of the competitors had any reason to speak up until now so someone opening their mouth and having something to say had been pretty unexpected. As for what development this caped weirdo with a pathetic cultivation base was going for, they could only wait and see.


    Mr Clipboard naturally remembered Ares, he was the source of the Perish Wheel so how could he possibly forget? Normally he would have Ares wait until he was finished drawing lots before allowing him to halt the process like this, but he was curious as to what he wanted. "Is something wrong?"


    "No, no, not at all!" Ares clapped his hands together and swivelled to face the Bhorashka group. He singled out the ram and internally hoped beyond hoped that the big and dumb stereotype would rear its head here. "Say big fella, surely your not ok with this method of pure chance? Don''t you wanna take fate into your own hands? How about we settle this on our own without relying on those paper slips?"


    "..." The ram looked at Ares and internally considered the ramifications of agreeing to this. Not only was it not his decision to make alone, but he didn''t even know how this strange man wanted to settle it. Did he want to fight? Ramsey would like to fight. Ramsey loved the feeling of squishing fleshy things between his muscly arms. Ramsey was a simple oaf. Still, Ramsey knew he wasn''t in charge, so he turned to Hawkins. When Hawkins simply shrugged and said ''do as you wish'', Ramsey faced Ares and asked for more information. "How? Do you want to fight me?"


    "Nope. Not that I''d mind, but there''s plenty of fighting to go around over the next few days, so that''s unnecessary and long..." It wouldn''t have taken Ares long to kill this person, not at all. Still, for the sake of not starting a pointless argument and wasting time, he didn''t mention it. "I was thinking something more simple, like rock, paper, scissors, for example. What say you, my furry friend?"


    Ramsey had trouble deciding. On one hand this person was undoubtedly strange and untrustworthy. He seemed to be the slippery type like Oat, the type that shouldn''t ever be taken seriously unless you were actively seeking a loos at their hand. On the other hand, the words ''take fate into your own hands'' stirred Ramsey''s soul and he felt like he would regret it if he didn''t take this opportunity. Could he call himself a real man if he backed down here and let luck be the deciding factor instead of earning a result forged by his own two hands? Of course not! "I accept your challenge!"


    Challenge? It''s just rock, paper, scissors... I knew he''d take it seriously if I worded it right, but isn''t this guy a bit too much of a muscle-brain? Ah whatever. Ares internally ridiculed the ram but outwardly maintained his friendly demeanour and even encouraged him further. "Good choice! A respectable decision from a respectable person! Tell you what, I''m so moved I''ll even give you an advantage. Both of us will lose an option. I won''t use scissors if you don''t use paper! Because you won''t have paper, I have nothing to gain by getting rid of scissors as it can''t even win any rounds anyway! I would be better off losing something else. This strictly benefits you, but how could I not reward such a manly man?! So, with that settled, let''s get to it, friend!"


    Ramsey was lured into Ares'' bait with his honeyed words and stood in front of him with his hands ready to throw a sign. If he had waited even a few more seconds, Hawkins may have been able to run through the permutations of this match that Ares had imposed and realised what was in store for him. Unfortunately, no one in the coliseum had yet figured it out as there were two groups of people, the ones who blindly trusted the kindly Ares, and those who were still figuring out the catch. A couple of people had just now understood it, but it was too late as the first match had already concluded and, predictably, resulted in a rock-on-rock draw... And then the second match resulted in another rock-on-rock draw... And the third... And the fourth... And the fifth...


    It was here that Ramsey finally realised what everyone else had. He looked up at Ares in disgust only to see him evilly grinning down at him. "YOU! YOU ARE A FOUL HUMAN! TO RIG THE GAME LIKE THIS IS SHAMEFUL!" And sure enough, everyone in the coliseum agreed with him. The snake-tongued bastard had effectively guaranteed himself a win. Even Enyo and Bellona were flabbergasted Ares could be this scummy. Ares had pulled off something that would cement himself a place in hell if ever he were to travel to the afterlife.


    To put it simply, whenever Ramsey threw a sign, it had to be either rock or scissors. When Ares threw a sign it had to be either rock or paper. Ares could never lose if he threw rock because Ramsey didn''t have paper. Rock for Ares was either a draw or a win every single time. Ramsey, on the other hand, could only ever get a draw or a loss out of rock. All it would take for Ares to win is to throw paper on any one of these matches. As for why he hadn''t, he had no obligation to put himself in a position where he could potentially lose. On the flip side, Ramsey''s only chance to win was to guess when Ares would throw paper into his rock and try to throw scissors to counter it. If he guessed wrong, however, he would throw scissors into rock and lose instantly. The onus was on Ramsey to make a move because the longer Ares kept throwing rock, the worse Ramsey''s chances were overall. If Ares threw rock a thousand times for hours on end, he could throw in a paper during any one of those thousand matches. If Ares stood here for weeks, racking up a hundred thousand rock throws only to throw paper at the end, Ramsey''s chances would be 1/100,000 of guessing correctly by the end as Ares could have thrown paper at any point during those matches. Ares could stack his odds infinitely as long as he just kept throwing rock and Ramsey''s chances would just keep getting worse and worse the longer he didn''t do anything. The only way for Ramsey to stop it was to pre-emptively throw scissors early and pray Ares threw paper on that exact match. The trick here was that Ares framed losing scissors as a negative for him when, in reality, it was a positive because it couldn''t win! What was the point of a sign that couldn''t win but could only lose?! Getting rid of it was fantastic, not a disadvantage! Just because Ares said it was a bad thing and worded it in a strange way, that didn''t automatically make it true!


    Ramsey''s spirit crumbled and he eventually threw scissors because the longer this went on, the more depressed he became at having been fooled by his treacherous opponent. Ares didn''t throw paper, so he won with trusty old rock. Truthfully, Ares had no intention of ever throwing paper whatsoever. He would throw goddamn rock until the heat death of the universe if he had to. Ares was immortal, Ramsey was not. Ares would be the winner, Ramsey would not.


    Ares chuckled to himself as he felt the collective glares of everyone present. Even Appa felt tempted to float down and freeze her naughty father on the spot! Still, it was inarguable that he''d won... ''Fair and square'' to boot. Ramsey had agreed to the rules that were laid out in advance so he had no one other than himself to blame for not figuring out the problem before it was too late. Mr Clipboard smiled wryly as he pulled a name out of the hat for fun, just to see who it would have been. The name was Red Sun, meaning without Ares'' tricky manoeuvre their group would have had to fight today. Ares'' silly game had won his team a day off. Although it was underhanded, Mr Clipboard couldn''t do anything about it even if he wanted to. Instead, Mr Clipboard simply announced Ares as the winner and declared the final matchup. Everyone stared daggers into Ares'' back as he walked away with his arms behind his head, whistling to himself as he swaggered back into the waiting room without a care in the world. His smile widened as a malicious sentence came into his head, one that would surely make everyone crumble before the might of his ignoble self! He turned and smugly looked Ramsey dead in the eyes as he spoke, "Guess you''re off to a rocky start." Ares simply cackled as a hailstorm of boos rained down upon him.

 Chapter 84: Tickled Pink (18+)

    Back in the waiting room, the other four team members looked at Ares without saying a word, silently judging him and his actions.


    "Whaaa~aaat? We get the day off! You are very welcome." The silent stares doubled in intensity so Ares just threw his hands in the air and sighed. "Look, I''m just being selfish here, I wanted to go home early today. Sue me! I am not apologetic and I will show you no remorse!"


    Crack


    Enyo advanced steadily towards Ares while cracking her knuckles. "Your fiendish ways must be punished and your uncouth ways corrected!"


    "Oh really?" Ares smirked. [I guess you must not want to play around today. I thought because today was an important day you would want to go back to the room as soon as possible. My bad, I guess I can go out there and apologise. If I beg hard enough, we might even get to do the fight after all! All of our fun time at home can wait, I suppose. How unfortunate...] Ares smiled devilishly as he walked past Enyo and towards the arena. He was halted by Enyo''s arm as she fiercely stared him in the eyes.


    "I... Will not punish you this time on account of... Various reasons. However I demand you explain yourself to me in great detail... Back at home..." Enyo grabbed Ares collar and dragged him backwards out of the room, leaving the other three feeling betrayed. Where was all the justice in the world? Li Li had no idea why Enyo gave Ares a free pass, Aejaz couldn''t fault his brother''s expert manipulation, and Esme just kissed her teeth in jealousy. Esme wanted a man too damnit! She would have to redouble her efforts and scour the sect yet again for a boytoy. Apparently, according to Li Li, there was a rich, single, sly businessman living on her street in the sect and that was a nice trinity of personality traits as far as Esme was concerned; maybe she would go searching there.


    Outside the coliseum, Ares could hear Enyo''s panting behind him as she sprinted towards the sect. She''d put her helmet on to avoid passer-by''s seeing her flushed and giddy face. From outside, it looked like a villainous rogue was being detained by a righteous warrior, but the truth was far from it. If anything, the righteous rogue was being detained by the villainous warrior! Enyo''s panting was 100% not because she was tired unless being tired of waiting also counted. To Ares'' surprise, Enyo came to a sudden halt while still in the city. Ares was curious as to why, but when he realised what part of town he was in and what shop he was slumped outside of, the reason became self-evident. The shop''s name was ''My Fair Lady'' and on the off chance that, combined with Enyo''s piqued interest, wasn''t a dead enough giveaway as to what manner of shop this was, there was all sorts of lingerie on display in the window. Of course some of the spicier items would be towards the back end of the store, but it was apparent that this was a sex shop. Not just any either, but it was the one Ares had mentioned to Enyo before they went to go visit Transmit way back when. Ares still had yet to come here and he''d been planning on it, but to think Enyo would accidentally drag him right past it. Ares could imagine Enyo hyperventilating at the thought of going inside and running wild like a bull in a China shop, but she just wasn''t comfortable with the thought of being seen in a place like it yet. With the way she was progressing, though, that very well may just be a matter of time. With a shake of her head to refocus herself on her current mission, Enyo took off and went galivanting back to Ares'' house, still dragging him all the way. After a journey that took longer than necessary, Ares looked up at Enyo and made that last point clear to her as she opened the door to their room.


    "You know... I could have Shifted us here immediately... Oh well, it looked like you were having fun so I left you to it."


    Enyo didn''t respond as she didn''t care. It was a foolish mistake that failed to optimise her time, meaning she would have Ares to herself today for a few minutes less than she would have otherwise, but all that meant was that she would have to make up for some of that lost efficiency in the bedroom!


    Enyo threw Ares onto the bed and slammed the door shut as she frantically began taking off her armour and clothes. She didn''t know what was going to happen today, but she wanted it! Especially after all the teasing in the morning. She had been in the mood, but resisted the urge in preparation for this very moment; this also made her realise that maybe Ares was right to wait for a later date to go all the way... Maybe.


    ??


    Enyo pulled the last of her undergarments down her legs before stepping out of them and flicking them backward with her foot, leaving her completely naked for Ares'' viewing pleasure. She moved towards Ares, tidying up her hair and pushing it out of the way behind her as he took his own clothes off. All that was left for Ares were his shorts but he was interrupted as Enyo pushed him down onto his back. He looked up as he felt Enyo''s hands roaming across his bare upper body and was treated to the sight of Enyo bent over him with her chest dangling over his. As Enyo sat on Ares'' crotch and began grinding slowly, he reached out and grabbed both her breasts and massaged them firmly, making sure to occasionally rub her nipples between his fingers until they became hard. Enyo bit her lower lip and tilted her head upwards, groaning as Ares fondled her.


    "Ah." Enyo whimpered softly as Ares put more pressure on her chest, sinking his fingers deeper into her spongy mounds. When she felt Ares harden under her in response to her moan, she moved to the side before re-straddling Ares while facing the other direction. She lowered her ass between Ares'' pecs and leant down near his groin to push of his shorts, exposing his erect cock directly in front of her face. Their hot beaths tickled each other''s nether regions as they both reached forward to start mutually masturbating.


    Placing his hands on Enyo''s thighs, Ares rubbed her legs before sliding one hand up and onto her round butt and the other next to her vulva. His grip on Enyo''s ass was rough as he stroked Enyo''s vaginal lips to excite her. She was a slut who liked it when Ares gripped her ass and spanked her after, so Ares raised his hand high and brought his palm down heavily onto the cheek he''d been ravaging.


    Spank


    "Mm." Enyo''s legs twitched and her ass clenched in response to Ares'' smack. To return the favour, she spit on her hands and wrapped one around his shaft while cupping his balls with the other. She rotated her wrist to push both his balls in a circular pattern across her palm with the thumb applying a bit of pressure on every rotation. As her thumb gently pushed down, her other hand stroked upwards on Ares'' dick, stretching the skin on the shaft and causing Enyo''s grip to tighten on his glans just the way Ares liked it.


    "haaa" Ares sighed in pleasure as Enyo serviced him. He once again grabbed the same part of Enyo''s ass cheek, now with a slight red marking in the shape of his hand, and squeezed. Enyo could feel the heat in her ass where she''d been spanked and swayed her hips side to side to encourage Ares to do it again. Anticipation filled her mind as the elasticity of her ass made its shape return to normal when Ares'' hand was removed in preparation to smack her again.


    Spank


    Enyo recoiled in delight as Ares hand slipped off her ass and spanked her again.


    Spank


    And again,


    Spank


    And again,


    Spank


    Multiple overlapping handprints decorated her ass cheek as Ares clutched it between his fingers, sending a jolt of both pain and pleasure through Enyo''s spine. The ecstasy doubled when Ares finally inserted two fingers into her vagina and rubbed her inner walls, causing Enyo to let out an involuntary yelp. "AH!"


    Spank


    Enyo''s pussy dribbled all over Ares'' chest. His finger''s were wet as he dragged them out of Enyo''s pink cave and over her clit. He repeated the motion in reverse, shoving his two fingers back inside Enyo''s warm pussy and satisfying Enyo''s freshly teased clit with his thumb. Scratching the top walls of Enyo''s vagina by bending his fingers repeatedly earned him a slew of sweet cries from Enyo who''s legs were trembling. Her toes curled and her back arched when Ares dug deeper and tormented her G-spot, bringing her close to orgasm. Enyo''s hand pleasuring Ares'' dick focused on the head and sped up as glistening pre cum dripped onto her nails.


    The bedroom was filled with sounds of sloppy, wet flesh and ragged breathing as both Ares and Enyo were close to bringing their lover to orgasm and making them cum. "Fuck!" Ares legs spread wide and his knees bent slightly as he came first, throbbing between Enyo''s dextrous fingers and letting out his cum onto onto her lips and chin. "Oh, fuck!" Enyo kept grinding her fingers over his sensitive, pulsing cock to ramp up the pleasure as the heels of his feet lifted off the bed.


    Spank


    Spank


    Ares brought a third finger into Enyo''s snatch as he spanked Enyo''s ass a few more times. He used one finger to push against the swollen G-spot and the other two to scrape it as his other hand moved down and toyed with Enyo''s puffy clit.


    "I''m cumming!" were Enyo''s last words before she buried her head into Ares crotch and screamed in delight as she squirted. Enyo''s pussy squirted over Ares hand, chest, and face with every stroke of his thick fingers.


    Spank


    Enyo gushed and her hips bounced, throwing her marked ass into the air before her leaking cunt landed back on Ares chest. She squirmed a few more times, making small splashes on Ares'' chest and causing her squirt to wet the bed with every twitch. Just as she started to calm down, Ares jammed a finger into her anus. "AHHHHHH!" Enyo had no choice but to let out another spray as she squealed like an animal. Ares enjoyed the sensation of Enyo''s rosebud expanding and contracting around his finger as their orgasms tapered off.


    Ares, after he''d swiped clean his face, reached back over his head and massaged the soles of Enyo''s feet as she kissed his thighs. They relaxed for a minute, during which Ares couldn''t resist rubbing Enyo''s soft butt, before Enyo leant to the side and asked, "So what''s different about today?" Up until now, it had been pretty similar to most other days with nothing out of the ordinary. That was great and all, but Enyo wanted more!


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    Ares winked at Enyo and simply responded with, "Clean me up."


    Enyo''s curiosity was sparked so she shifted back into position and went to swipe up the bits of cum that were dripping down his shaft.


    "With your mouth. Clean me with your tongue, not your hands." Ares'' demand came ringing into Enyo''s ear from behind and she paused momentarily as she realised what was about to happen. As if to confirm her suspicions, she felt both of Ares hands grip and spread her ass as something moist rolled over her lower lips.


    "Yes!" A wild and lustful smile appeared on her face as she giggled at the sensation of Ares spitting on her pussy before wiggling his tongue inside and spanking her. Enyo immediately rubbed her face along Ares shaft and inhaled deeply.


    Ares had been hesitant to let Enyo put her head anywhere near his nether region lest she gobble him up before they''d gotten to this point and, as a result, Enyo was borderline desperate to finally satiate her curiosity and smell his dick. She didn''t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by a rather intoxicating scent. It was like sweet, burnt wood. Like someone had taken a blowtorch to a slab of firewood and added a small touch of vanilla. It was a pungent, manly scent that had a shot of mellow sweetness hidden underneath. Enyo was addicted to trying to get a clearer whiff of the light undertone that just barely kept escaping her every time she thought she had it, leading to her taking more and more deep breaths. Ares'' dick was like an aphrodisiac incense to Enyo who was utterly obsessed with tracking down that hint of sweetness but kept getting overwhelmed by the musky tide whenever she got close. The sweet smell was taunting her as it grazed the inside of her nostrils but disappeared immediately every time, causing only the raw essence of the smell of burnt wood to remain ingrained in her psyche. "Mm?!" If it wasn''t for the light orgasm Ares just gave her with his tongue, she probably could have remained lost in thought for hours trying to find that damn smell! Still, Ares was dutifully pleasuring her and she''d been greedily catering to her own whims all the while. Even still, a part of her reasoning was wholly selfish as she wondered if she could finally get a clearer picture if she tasted him directly.


    Ares ignored the fact that Enyo had been sniffing him like an excited dog for the past minute and just kept enjoying the taste of Enyo''s honeypot. It was metallic but not even remotely unpleasant. Quite the opposite, he loved it. It was like a room full of pristine silver ingots all laced with coconut shavings. In one word, Enyo''s taste was ''clean''. It made Ares want to dig deeper and get a better taste, just like how Enyo was fawning over his cock. He licked every bump and crevice in every wall but had to stop and moan when he felt Enyo''s tongue at the base of his dick. He felt Enyo roll her tongue over the length of his shaft, up and around the glans, and back down the shaft again. He was left breathless when he felt the insides of Enyo''s mouth and the back of her throat wrapped around his cock.


    Gag


    "Haaaah." Ares'' hip spasmed and his hands sunk deeper into Enyo''s ass as he groaned aloud. His natural male instincts took over as he raised his lower body and pushed his cock deeper into Enyo''s heavenly mouth.


    Gag


    Enyo''s spit and drool lathered Ares fully erect dick as she allowed Ares to push it into her throat. She wiggled her tongue on the underside of his shaft to treat him as he slowly started to move his dick up and down, fucking Enyo''s mouth.


    Glug


    Gag


    Glug


    With every thrust, Ares trained Enyo''s throat to take in more and more of his length. If she wanted to be such a massive, unrelenting whore, Ares would use her in such a capacity. Right now, she could only take about half of his dick. It was impressive considering she''d never done it before, but it wasn''t impressive enough for a slut of her calibre. She would learn to take his shaft as deep as she could, and then she would be taught how to take it deeper. Enyo''s luscious lips that were firmly wrapped around his burly cock that was jammed into her small. wet mouth had sealed her fate. Ares was going to make Enyo his bitch today. He was going to be rough and push her head down on his dick and she was going to accept her place between his legs. It seemed Enyo knew this too as she made no effort to resist when Ares placed his hand on the back of her head and pushed her a little further down, choking her on a part of his shaft she hadn''t been able to reach on her own.


    Gag


    Gag


    "Good girl." Ares rewarded Enyo for being submissive by sticking his tongue back inside her and spanking her.


    "Haa, haa, haa." Enyo resurfaced for air as a concoction of drool and precum spilled over her lips and back onto Ares'' manhood. She stared down at Ares'' tool with cocklust as she''d finally gotten the taste she was after. Having her mouth be treated like a convenient sex toy for Ares'' needs was thrilling and she was overjoyed when Ares'' strong hand pushed her head back down onto his cock again.


    Enyo let Ares guide her mouth onto his cock which resulted in the tip rubbing against the inside of her cheek and swelling it up, after which Ares lightly slapped the bulge on her face a couple times to pleasure himself using her gums and the mucus on the smooth, inner lining of her cheek.


    Tap


    Tap


    When he was satisfied, Enyo opened her jaw further to avoid grazing him with her teeth as he placed his cock along her tongue. Ares gripped Enyo''s hair by the base and rocked her head up and down. She gagged on his cock as he repeatedly poked her throat with the tip of his dick and she loved every second of it. She acclimated quickly thanks to her affinity and could take the punishment Ares was doling out on her. As her head bobbed up and down, she felt Ares tongue come creeping out of her snatch and start savouring her clit. Next came the fingers on her G-spot which caused her to grunt and gargle on Ares'' cock as she moaned with her mouth full. Her previous orgasm had been big, but this one was going to be bigger as Ares'' tongue writhed over her clit with force. Blood rushed to her lower half and she was once again ready to let it all out as she fervently sucked on Ares'' manhood. She inched further down Ares'' cock and found the furthest point she could go for now. As the cock she dedicated herself to rested in her throat, the outline of which could be seen from outside, she waggled her tongue to help Ares cum inside her. Ares was on the verge of orgasm so held Enyo''s head in place and pushed a little deeper.


    "Be a good girl and swallow it."


    The convulsion of Enyo''s throat and her steadfast determination to obediently obey his order and not move her head, enabling his perfect orgasm, sent Ares over the edge. Ares came directly down Enyo''s throat as she gagged on his throbbing manhood. Ares moaned in euphoria as his dick slid out of Enyo''s mouth but he quickly went back to finishing off Enyo. With a combination of spanks, raking his fingers over her G-spot, and a tongue lashing on her clit, Enyo was squirting for the second time today, this time mostly into Ares'' mouth.


    Enyo was aroused by the sounds of her husband gulping down her pussy juices so she played with Ares'' sensitive dick by kissing the tip. She made gentle love to his glans, giving it passionate kisses and throwing in a bit of tongue every now and then. Ares was doing the same as he kissed Enyo''s ass cheeks and eventually her lower lips. When he was done, he licked clean Enyo''s wet pelvis while Enyo did the same to him. Thus they finished as they started, cleaning each other up. They both lay in silence for a while as they caught their breath.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Sniff Sniff


    Ares was astounded that this woman was still smelling his God damn penis! He almost wished he could smell it himself to see what had driven his crazy wife-to-be up the wall. He chuckled and just accepted his fate as he let Enyo have the time of her life sniffing away.


    Sniff Sniff


    "Enyo, you are the woman of my dreams but I may never truly understand the way you think. You are aware that thing isn''t a popsicle, right?"


    Lick


    Did she just lick it because I called it a popsicle?


    "Ares, you don''t understand! Your stupid dick is going to drive me mad if I can''t find that damn smell!"


    "... You may already be mad, darling."


    Hmph


    With a huff and a puff, Enyo gave up and turned around. She got comfortable as she lay on Ares'' chest and rubbed one of his nipples. "I''m warning you now, I''m sitting on your face next time. There''s no escaping it, so you may as well look forward to it."


    "Why on earth wouldn''t I? Sounds good to me. Better than the whip at least..."


    "I haven''t given up on that either."


    "Of course not... Today was fun." Ares played with Enyo''s hair and rubbed her back as the two conversed.


    "Today was incredible."


    "By the way, you missed a spot." Ares scooped up a bit of semen that had gone unnoticed on Enyo''s shoulder and held it in front of her. Enyo''s tongue picked up the treat and retreated back into her mouth.


    "Mm?!"


    Ares burst out laughing as Enyo narrowed her eyes in his direction. If he could imbue food with annihilation magic to make it pop, he could do the same with his sperm! It wasn''t popping candy, it was popping cum-dy!


    ??


    "Ares... I do love you, really I do, unconditionally even... But what the hell is wrong with you?" Enyo''s admonishment just made Ares laugh harder so she was forced to give up and admit defeat before his childishness.


    "Enyo, do you want to celebrate our relationship taking another step?"


    "What do you have in mind? More fun time?"


    "Jesus Christ, we just did it twice in a row and your still fiending for more?! I mean, sure, but later. Right now there''s something else I want to do with you."


    "Spit it out. If it''s you, it''s either something incredibly stupid, or something that will be genuinely a good idea. I don''t want to get my hopes up and expect something romantic, though, so hit me with your dumb idea."


    Ares shook his head with a wry smile on his face. "Aw, come on. You know I take my relationship with you seriously. I might toy with your sanity, but never your heart; and that''s how you know a revenant truly loves you! Anyway, I just want to take you out on a date; that''s all."


    "... A... Date?" The thought of it clearly never occurred to Enyo who was running through what exactly it entailed in her head.


    "Yeah, I''ve never been on one with you. All I want is to go out with you and enjoy a nice walk, have some good food, buy you a gift or two, and maybe just watch the night sky for a while. A date is such a basic thing for a couple but we''ve somehow not ticked it off the list. I know we''ve been busy, and we fell in love in complicated circumstances, but I think it''s a shame we haven''t had a chance. The only problem is that I want to go out with you, not a tin can. You said Bellona bought you some casual clothes a while ago, right? I want to see you in them. I understand if its too difficult for you, though, I just would really like spend time with you. Not the horny bedroom freak. Not the incredibly talented cultivator. Not the holy maiden that vanquishes evil. You. Because at the end of the day, it''s you that I love. Those other things are great, but they''re just small parts of the woman I love. Ha, this is just me slowly turning this into a favour of some kind, but that''s really not what I''m going for, I just..."


    Shhhh


    Enyo put her finger on Ares'' lips and shushed him mid ramble. "I''ll do it. I''ll do it because I want to. It''s not because it''s you that''s asking, but it''s because I love you and want go on a date with you too. You don''t need to explain yourself to me Ares, I know hiding behind that armour all the time is awkward for a relationship. I want to go on dates with you, I want to dance in a dress at the international party with you, and I want to one day wear a wedding dress by your side. None of that involves the armour... For the next two days we''ll be busy with the national. After that we''ll be training for the international. Today''s really our best option, so let''s do it. Let''s go on a date. Just you, me, and that silly thing poking me down below."


    "Ha, no, really, you can seriously just ignore him. I promise he''ll leave us alone eventually."


    "Not for good I hope. I''m gonna be honest, it''s a very large part of why I love you."


    "He''s glad to hear that."


    "I''m sure he is. That aside, another part of why I love you is because you can cook really damn well. You''re concerned about what I''m going to wear, but I''m concerned about what we''re going to eat. It''ll just be disappointing if it''s not your food..."


    "Not that I''m not flattered, but I''m not the only good cook in existence... Don''t worry, I know a few incredibly talented chefs in the area. I didn''t learn all by myself, you know? There are a handful of cooks in Red Sun who are better than me at specific dishes and one of them in particular owes me a favour. I can guarantee us good seats and good food. Also, I didn''t mention it earlier but I may now have a way of sneaking you into ''My Fair Lady''."


    "Well then what on God''s green earth are we waiting for?! Hurry up and get dressed you fool! The sooner we leave the better!"


    Ares just shook his head with a smile on his face. What a simple woman. Then again, I''m a simple man. I just can''t not be happy when she is. Enyo, I''ll never get tired of spoiling you.

 Chapter 85: Date Night, Part 1

    Ares couldn''t help but watch Enyo get changed. Her figure was mesmerising and when she finished pulling up her panties he couldn''t help but instinctively want to pull them back down again. He resisted the urge and instead opted to help her put her bra on before putting his own clothes back on. When he was done, he went to wait outside and found Bellona skulking about. "Well hello there, don''t suppose your still on a shrink-rampage?"


    "Tsk, I was asked not to do it anymore... I thought people on the top floor of the coliseum could whatever they wanted!?"


    "... Within reason... There is a limit. If you were on any other floor you would have been booted out for your mischief and mayhem."


    "Booooorrrring. What you up to anyway? If you''ve got time to shoot the shit, wanna practice some magic instead? We can blow up a house or two and give Rud a real headache."


    Ares'' eyes lit up like Christmas lights and he almost started slobbering, but he maintained what little dignity he had left and declined. "''Fraid not, I''m taking Enyo out on a date. Maybe some other time... No, definitely some other time!"


    "A date, huh? You mean like, she''s gonna wear those casual clothes I picked out for her? Damn, didn''t think she''d put it on anytime soon. Well you''re in for a treat, she looks good in it. Real good."


    "Ah, ah, ah, no. Don''t spoil it. I left the room to maintain the surprise, thank you very much!... Ah but, now that I think about it, would you be willing to help Enyo out again in the future?"


    "What, you mean clothes shopping?"


    "Yeah, kinda. I mean a nice dress for the international party. I''m sure she''d have no idea where to look and what for. Witch clothes aside, and I''m not necessarily saying they don''t work, I do trust your sense of fashion."


    "Ooohhh, playing dress up doll with sis'' sounds fun, actually. Ok, deal. What about you? If you show up in shorts I''m going to personally kick you out of the venue!"


    "Ha, don''t worry, I''ll figure something out. By the way, do you know if Enyo knows how to dance? Not like a full on routine or anything, but I mean the basics."


    "For the reward of the Baja bet?... I don''t think so... I can teach her, but you''ll owe me one!"


    "Much obliged. What do you want in return?"


    "Hmm, not sure yet. I''ll get back to you."


    "That''s... Worrying, but ok."


    "What? You think I''m going to ask for your soul or something? It won''t be anything major, so don''t worry about it. Anyway, enjoy your date. I''m going to go and... Stare out of a window longingly or something... Guess I''ll cultivate. Bah, how dull." Bellona sighed as she wandered into the cultivation room next door.


    Creak


    The door behind him opening meant Enyo was ready and Ares wanted to see! He''d never seen Enyo in anything other her armour because she''d never owned anything else... Seriously, she''d been pretty dedicated to that lifestyle before Ares came along, but surely that was a bit too much?! Anyway, that was in the past and today would be the dawn of a new day for Enyo. She could finally start wearing whatever she wanted. Maybe she would develop an interest in clothes now that they actually mattered, or maybe she would just drag Bellona around and have her do all the work. Either way, she could ditch the armour.


    Ares turned around and his jaw dropped. The thought that Enyo may very well be more hot with clothes on than off ran through his head. It was a simple wardrobe, black jeans and an off-white, roll neck sweater, but she rocked it to a tee. Enyo had also tied her hair up into a ponytail which really brought the look together. Enyo dealt the killer blow to Ares when she put on a pair of stylish sunglasses.


    Ares couldn''t take this woman on a date. It was sacrilege that a shmuck like him would be seen walking next to someone who would be more at home on a catwalk. "Who the hell are you? Can I marry you? I already have a wife, but she won''t mind when she sees how hot you are. Actually, I can''t let my wife see you, she''ll divorce me and run off with you instead!"


    Enyo blushed and shyly looked down at the floor. Ares poor heart couldn''t handle this display and he very nearly fainted. To think he''d fallen in love with a walking pile of armour and this had been underneath the whole damn time! Enyo was nothing short of chic personified and bringing her on a date through Red Sun was criminal behaviour. There wasn''t anything in this town other than Myriad Masks or the Scorched Grounds that wouldn''t be downright ugly in comparison to her and Enyo would stick out like a sore thumb. It was like throwing a shiny diamond into a swamp. Ares had been the one to ask for this, but now he was almost regretting it! How many Grand Annihilations was he going to have to throw out to deter the people in this city from stalking her?! Hell, if he''d seen Enyo looking like this years ago when he was still a bandit he would have committed more crimes to get her attention! Ares was so lost in his head fighting off intrusive thoughts about just blowing up all of Red Sun that he was taken aback when Enyo spoke.


    "... Does it look good?" Enyo''s upturned doe eyes peeking over the tip of her sunglasses, the pink blush on her face, and her embarrassed half-whisper awakened something within Ares; a side to him he didn''t even know he possessed.


    "Enyo... There is not a woman in existence who has ever looked even half as good as you, that question is redundant. Those clothes should be grateful even being on your body and this house should be grateful you even live in it. I had always considered you to be an astonishingly beautiful woman before and, honestly, I don''t even know how to describe you now. God forbid you ever get any sexier otherwise you might actually make my heart stop for good. I''m genuinely worried if we go for a walk you''ll unintentionally form a conga line of starstruck followers. I know it''s pathetic, and I''ll even admit it beforehand, but I''m going to be incredibly petty and jealous of all the people looking at you." Ares stepped toward Enyo and held her hand. "I didn''t want to become some kind of possessive, obsessed man, but this is what you''ve turned me into Enyo. Civilians, street thugs, mayors, kings, Gods, even Xhilihx itself; I will kill every last one of them if they go anywhere near you. I''m going to be overprotective because you''re mine. I don''t care if what I''m about to say is extreme, but..." Ares held Enyo''s chin and looked her straight in the eyes with a fierce, fiery determination present in his. "... Enyo, you''re mine. You''re my wife. You''re my woman and you belong to me now and forever. I won''t accept anything less. You are my unhealthy obsession. I''m warning you Enyo, you''ve turned me into a broken man. If you say ''I''m yours'', I will never let you go."


    Enyo''s heart raced as she stared back at Ares. This was it, the exact moment she''d been waiting for. She wanted Ares to be selfish and to claim her. She wanted him to be madly in love with her and she wanted him to be obsessed with her. This moment was the culmination of all her hard work to grab Ares'' attention and never let it go because, deep down, she felt the same way he did. Although she couldn''t stake the sole claim to Ares, he was still hers. She''d successfully roped him into being her obedient mutt, ''now and forever''. Everything she''d done since they first fell in love led to this conversation that she''d been dreaming of time and time again. Ares'' foolishly thought the words Enyo was about to say would irrevocably tie her to him, but the truth was the opposite; he would be hers. Enyo was not the same woman she was before she met Ares. The discovery of her affiliation to the pleasure pillar had also helped facilitate the changes she''d undergone. She knew for a fact she was gorgeous and she knew how to use her looks to beguile the man she wanted. He had seen her naked and done things to her that ought not be brought up in polite conversation, in what universe would she be shy asking him such a simple question that she already knew the answer to? The blushing was just an application of pleasure pillar mana that could drive most men wild, and Enyo had learnt it specifically for this moment. He was a ''broken'' man? Good, I wanted to break you from the start, Ares. ''I didn''t want to become some kind of possessive, obsessed man''. Maybe not, but it''s what I wanted, Ares.'' You are my unhealthy obsession.'' I don''t want it to just be ''unhealthy'', I want it to be all consuming, Ares. If you aren''t thinking about me every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day, then that means I haven''t driven you far enough to the edge yet, Ares.


    "Ares..." Enyo mustered every ounce of femininity she had in her. She backed herself into the wall and lowered herself to cower beneath him. She bit her lower lip as she subtly hunched over forward to give him a better view of her chest and seduce him even further. She bent her knees slightly to touch his legs while she gulped to act like his cornered prey. She lowered her voice like a timid maiden and looked Ares dead in the eye while maintaining her weak and pitiful fa?ade. "... I''m yours." Her coy performance got her everything she ever wanted as Ares aggressively kissed her and pushed his body up against hers. She lifted her leg and curled it around Ares to rile him up more. She knew he wouldn''t fall for it, but she was trying get him to go all the way and take her here and now. She was partly successful though as Ares couldn''t go out and about in this state of wanton, manic lust, so he picked her up and put her over his shoulder as he carried her back into the room. As the door was shut, Enyo''s face could be seen for a split second; and what a face it was. Even Ares had never managed to be as smug as Enyo was in this very moment. She''d done it. Her current goal in life had been accomplished and could never be undone. Even if she admitted to Ares, which she absolutely would, that she''d been intentionally driving him to this point, he wouldn''t care in the slightest. In fact, Enyo would wait until Ares was done with her in the bedroom and then she would tell him the truth, making him want to punish her more and extending fun time yet again. This was probably the first time Ares had been more excited to tango in the bedroom than Enyo and she was going to relish every second of it. They had plenty of time to go on the date after, but Enyo wasn''t done with Ares in the bedroom just yet. If nothing else, that damnable smell had to be hunted down first. Did Enyo put on all her clothes just to end up taking them all off again a minute later? Yes. Had that been her goal from the start? Also yes. Even a mastermind like Fate would have to bow down in reverence and awe to Enyo''s ability to capture Ares'' heart, body, and mind.


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------


    An hour later Ares swaggered out of the room with a jolly smile and a jolly roger. Enyo shakily left the room after him. She was stunned. Her affinity to the pillar of pleasure couldn''t be exposed yet, so she held back, but to think Ares still had this much vigour in him... Ares wasn''t the aggressor often, but when he was Enyo was going to have to be prepared to fight back.


    Off to the side, the door to a cultivation room opened and Bellona came out while kissing her teeth as she kicked the wall. "Damn it all!" She realised she was in the presence of company and she glared at her sister. Both Ares and Enyo knew the Noise Cancellation art but it was typically Enyo who used it immediately. Why did this matter? Well, Ares had simply stopped bothering to check if it had been used or not as he trusted Enyo to do it. She technically had done it this time too, but she ''failed'' to cover every wall. The only one she conveniently forgot to apply the art to was the one leading to the next door cultivation room Bellona was in. How the hell am I supposed to concentrate while those two were orgasming like god damn monkeys?! I was so close to gaining another stage too! Curse you Enyo!... Tsk, now I''m in the mood too. Fuck, leave already so I can have my own damn fun, morons! Bellona stomped away without a word and Ares tilted his head in confusion. Enyo came up behind him and held his hand.


    "Come on, let''s go on our date. Don''t worry about her, she''ll be fine."


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Ares chose not to dig deeper and left the house with Enyo. Ares made it about two minutes before he wanted to start throwing Perish Wheels. He maintained his composure despite every single disciple and sect elder they passed pausing and staring at Enyo. This was the first time most people had seen her without the helmet, let alone the armour. By the time they''d made it to the exit, the cult of people who wanted Ares dead, the one that had formed during the regionals, had gained a horde of new devotees. Ares was actually glad these people existed because every person that glared at him was one less staring at Enyo. It wasn''t even because of the way thy were looking at her, although it was undeniably irksome and made him want to punch some of the more egregious fools, it was mainly because he didn''t want Enyo to feel uncomfortable. These idiots didn''t understand Enyo''s problem. Ares didn''t want her to feel like she needed the armour and that was his primary concern right now. Why couldn''t these damn pervs just be normal?!¡­ Actually, his own response hadn''t been normal either... Still, he was dating her! He was allowed to drool over her! "Mmm?" Enyo placed her hands on Ares cheeks and directed his face towards her, after which she kissed him and broke him out of his daze.


    "Ares, you haven''t said anything since we left the house. I know why, and I''m glad you care, but we''re supposed to be on a date. I''m actually surprisingly ok. It''s not easy, but I''m doing fine. The only thing I have on my mind is you, so if you want to make things even easier for me, then stop thinking about it. I can see it practically written on your face. Let''s just enjoy each other''s company and pretend no one else exists, ok?"


    Ares slapped his forehead. "Right, sorry. I was being an idiot. Let''s try this again, shall we?" Ares didn''t bother to look around and check everyone else''s reaction to the kiss, that would just be making the same mistake as before. If Enyo could ignore it, he had no reason not to as well. As they entered Red Sun proper, Ares chuckled to himself and started a conversation. "Since when does Appa consider Bellona''s words more important than mine? Appa mentioned your name before she froze me! Why have I been pushed down the hierarchy?!"


    Enyo gave Ares a sly smile and a side eye to boot. "Because Bellona is a respectable person. She has her faults, but you have more. Parent or not, our daughter needs good role models. In that regard, I am port of call number one for Appa. Aejaz is a thief and Allie is too soft. Bellona might be a bit like you, but at least she doesn''t go around insulting the size of people''s chests. Bellona is usually far more polite than you and she has never been classified as a bandit before. There''s also other reasons, but you''ll figure them out on your own in time, I''m sure. Also, we haven''t had Appa in the room for a while, it''s been sleeping with Bellona for hugs. I like that Bellona is close with Appa and I want all of my family to be like that. Of course I also want Appa back in the room sometimes too. Today is about us, but tomorrow and the day after at least I want to cuddle with Appa at night."


    "Me too. I swear Appa just keeps getting cuter every time it does anything. Learn a new art? Gotten cuter. Found a new toy to play with? Gotten cuter. Every time it speaks? Gotten cuter. I''m glad to see Appa doing well with its cultivation too, it made a lot of progress lately. I''ll miss having Appa around when I go visit Xasca... I''ll also miss you too. Are you sure you don''t want to tag along? We could bring everyone and make it a family trip."


    "Part of me does, but I should really go to the Grecian lands. They treat me well and never ask for too much in return. The least I can do is pay them a visit yearly for all the help they''ve provided me with. if Bellona and I go, we''ll get to lap it up in luxury for a while, and I want Appa and Allie to experience that too... Ha, I never would have taken Allie there before. To think she went from baby Allie hiding behind Zhang all the time to a grown woman this quickly. She''s been getting bolder by the day. I still remember Zhang''s priceless face when he saw her again. Of course that reunion almost turned sour when he started trying to throttle Aejaz... But it worked out in the end, I guess. Hell, after he saw the cultivation manual Allie was using, I thought he was going to propose to Aejaz himself..."


    "It will do Zhang good, the cultivation manual I mean. If he can live longer by studying it, then that''s for the best. I know Allie''s matured, but losing her parent after everything he''s done would be hard on her. You know, I plan on doing everything I can to raise everyone''s cultivation if they''re even remotely relevant to us. I''ll drag as many people as I can to immortality. I shouldn''t be the only one living forever, that just sounds miserable."


    Enyo tittered with her hand in front of her mouth as she turned onto another street. "Wow, selfish, much? Then again, you''re a revenant. The boredom of not having anyone to pester would probably make you go insane eventually. Guess I''ll have to stay by your side forever to keep you company, woe is me."


    "Haha, you love me really." Ares playfully leant and bumped into Enyo''s arm.


    "God knows I wouldn''t put up with you if I didn''t!" Enyo responded in kind and bumped him back. They walked down a few more streets, chatting away about this and that, when Ares felt something strange.


    "Hey, Enyo, do you mind if we go this way?" Ares pointed towards the centre of the city.


    "Sure. You know Red Sun better than I do so I''m basically following you around anyway. What''s in that direction?"


    "As weird as it might sound, I don''t actually know. You know how when someone tries to use pressure on me it just kinda fizzles out and brushes past me? That''s the kind of feeling I just got. Most of the new stuff being set up for the international is near the centre of the city, so it might be something to do with that. Either way, I''m curious. We can go check what''s happening over there and maybe look around the stalls for some snacks."


    "... Or you could just make some inside the ''you know what''. I''d love some mint honeycomb right now..."


    "Ah, you know I can''t say no to you. Alright, I''ll start making some, gimme a minute or two." Ares went to work in the background but, as he did, he remembered a certain something and decided to throw that into the mix as well. "Some of them are going to be a little experimental because I''m trying something new."


    "Ooh, sounds intriguing. Still, you know I want the original more than anything."


    "Of course. Your wish is my command." Ares kissed the back of Enyo''s hand as they continued walking towards whatever it was Ares had detected. Sure enough, as they neared the unusual existence, they came across temporary shops and a few events here and there that didn''t exist prior. "Despite me living here all my life, I somehow never managed to come around this area at this time of year... Then again, I wouldn''t have had the money for any of this stuff anyway so there were probably better places for me and ''Jaz to be. Oh! Your mint honeycomb is ready, here."


    Ares handed over a piece of the sweet and Enyo scrutinised it carefully. She noticed the colouration of it was off compared to the normal one, but other than that there weren''t any other visual differences. It didn''t smell any different either, but what mattered was the taste so Enyo nibbled the edge and slowly savoured the flavour. Enyo wasn''t some master food critic, but there was no one in the world who knew Ares'' honeycomb better than she did. She knew it like the back of her hand that Ares kissed a while ago. As the honeycomb was steadily devoured, Enyo closed her eyes and ran through all the changes before summarising her assessment. "You used a different kind of honey? It had a richer taste than usual and, to compensate, you cooked it a little longer and added less sugar. You ''burnt'' the honeycomb a tad to curb the new honey''s vivid sweetness resulting in arguably the best version of the honeycomb you''ve ever produced, I''d say."


    "Oh? That''s high praise from an aficionado such as yourself."


    "It is. Now give me the good one!"


    "Ha, sure. By the way, that honey was from bumblesharks in case your curious."


    Ares handed out the honeycomb that Enyo herself had just acknowledged wasn''t quite as good. It didn''t matter how many variants Ares came up with; at the end of the day there was only one Enyo really wanted. She was more attached to it than spiny burr grass was to clothes, so Ares never made any effort to convince her to just eat the better stuff. It always felt weird intentionally making a faulty product, or at least one that didn''t meet his current standards, but it was still probably his favourite recipe of all of them. The reason was obvious.


    Enyo chowed down on the honeycomb and had taken all of ten steps after she finished before she was hit with a wave of pressure. "Hm? Seems whatever''s emanating the pressure must be close if even I can feel it." Most cultivators not at sensory enhancement wouldn''t be able to detect pressure if it wasn''t aimed straight at them or at least in their general direction, so for Enyo to feel it before she could see it meant there was an astronomical amount hiding away somewhere. That would also explain why Ares had felt it from back near the sect as his sensitivity to it, thanks to his bloodline, was notable.


    The two walked further and eventually found the source of the pressure. They weren''t quite directly in front of it yet, but the building was tall enough to jut out of the surrounding cityscape and make itself discernible and distinct from a distance. They walked down a few more alleys and arrived at the entrance to the building. It was currently closed, but there was a sign on the door that read ''Pressure Pagoda.'' Ares wanted to find whoever put up the sign and slap them because both parts of that description were easy enough to figure out by his damn self! The building was blatantly a pagoda, and the pressure was something he''d felt long before he''d even seen the damn thing! Ares was looking for a description, not a name. He found one, when he went searching around the sides of the building, in the form of a stack of identical leaflets shaped like the pagoda itself. Ares read it, as Enyo peeked over his shoulder while doing the same, and the explanation could be boiled down to the following.


    - The pressure pagoda has five floors, each of which are themed around different types of pressure-related interactions.


    - The difficulty of the trials scales accordingly based on the test-ees cultivation, so no one has any advantage of any kind.


    - Anyone who can complete all five floors will be rewarded immensely. There are no rewards for completing any of the other individual floors other than being able to move onto the next floor.


    - If you fail, you may try again as many times as you like as long as you have the stardust to pay for it.


    - Each attempt costs 100 mid-grade stardust.


    - When you fail and re-enter, you will start from the floor you failed on previously and you cannot repeat earlier floors, so pay attention to what you learn on each.


    - We will open at the start of the international and no sooner. We will close at the end of the international and no later.


    - This event is being funded, run, and operated by Transmit. If you have any further questions, please visit the local branch.


    Ares'' eyes narrowed as he read the last note. "Transmit, huh..."


    "That''s the mail place, right?"


    Ares sighed and put the leaflet in the Primordial Blade. He looked around with Omniscience briefly before coating himself and Enyo in a layer of disintegration magic. "Yeah and, if I''m not mistaken, they''re the ones who put the seed up for auction two weeks ago."


    "Seriously?!"


    "Mhm. It makes sense if you think about it. My Omniscience not working on it means the seed is not from our dimension. Based on what I told you before in the void that one time, you already know the rest. For it to get here, within the scope of the Blade''s interference, Transmit is the likely suspect considering they already know about the outside world anyway and have a means of getting in and out. And as for their mysterious boss, ''someone'' who has an incredible ''treasure'' that can teleport all of its employees wherever they need to go, and ''someone'' who can gain access to this seed in the first place... Well, you know."


    Enyo''s eyes darted upwards and Ares nodded. She was asking if Astraeus was watching this particular conversation. If Ares wanted to explain himself further, he would either have to keep up the disintegration layer or  do it in the void and not somewhere he could be overheard by any of the Gods. Even if Astraeus wasn''t listening, that didn''t mean any of the others couldn''t be. Gods and pillars had a perfect connection to their affinity and could spy through it to varying degrees based on how far they were and how much of it there was. For example, if Terros wanted to communicate with the earth pillar or any cultivator with an earth affinity, he could probably do it so long as their was a natural boulder nearby. To that end, you never really knew if a God was paying attention to you as you were always surrounded by conduits they could peek through at any given moment. Luckily, Ares Omniscience could detect the ever-watchful gaze of Gods. He''d learned how to do it after meeting Astraeus for the first time, and getting a feel for their presence, and he''d been using it ever since. Other than Astraeus, there were no Gods around. A layer of disintegration magic was enough to keep Astraeus at bay and prevent him from hearing anything he wasn''t supposed to. Disintegration was unique in this aspect as even Enyo''s barriers couldn''t stop a God from listening in if they needed to. Ares didn''t really have to be cautious and check, as no other Gods had come searching for him as of yet, but it didn''t hurt to be wary with matters as serious as this.


    "So you''re saying the ''boss'' of Transmit got the seed and brought it to you to aid you in your cultivation. And now they''ve brought this tower here for you too? Ha, you really are their favourite, aren''t you?"


    Ares shrugged. "I''m the best option available for what it is they want. Makes sense to me that they''d try and push me along where they can. Still, being able to do all of this is pretty incredible considering the constraints they must be under. Navigating around the Gods like this is tiresome. Then again, I suppose it would be easier for them than me. Still, I do wonder how they managed to found an entire company of this scale without revealing themself, that''s honestly impressive. Considering their history, though, it''s not that surprising as they have a knack for clever stuff like this. Anyway, the point is that, if my guess is correct about who''s running this show, we can trust Transmit with our lives if need be. They''re on our side. It feels nice to have a foothold in the wider world like this. Don''t make a habit of relying on them though, I imagine the Gods are observing them to try and figure out what''s happening behind the scenes. They won''t always be able to help us." Ares looked up at the pagoda next to him. "This will do for now, whatever it is. If the amount of pressure oozing out of this thing is any indication, the aid they''re providing this time will be much more readily apparent than whatever it was the seed did for me... Well, if they''re offering, I won''t say no."

 Chapter 86: Date Night, Part 2

    Putting aside the pagoda, and all of the complicated implications it came with, Ares and Enyo continued on with their date night... Date day? It wasn''t really dark out yet... It would be by the time they returned home, though, so that technically counted, right? Ares mused on this as he walked hand in hand with Enyo. He even brought it up to her but she just called him a moron and he put it to the back of his mind. About five minutes after leaving the pagoda they neared city hall, at which point they noticed a few large groups of people hunched over tables with stardust sprawled all over them.


    "Psst, hey!"


    Ares saw a bald man with a scar on his face waving at him out of the corner of his eye. It was probably better not to get involved with whatever this man was selling, but then again Hans wouldn''t let anything untoward go unchecked this close to his own territory. Ares didn''t really care about the bald man specifically, but he was curious enough about everything else going on to at least engage with him in conversation and get some answers. As Ares walked over, the bald man stared dumbly at Enyo who he''d failed to notice prior.


    "Psst, hey! if you keep staring at my wife I''ll gouge your eyes out." Ares cracked his knuckles and gave off an intimidating aura. He''d only ignored all the other stares up until now because he wasn''t interacting directly with the people responsible. If he was trying to talk to someone and they were just ogling Enyo instead of paying attention, Ares didn''t mind sending them to an early grave. Ares could tolerate any disrespect directed at him other than this. Insult him, hit him, con him, anything other than ignore him like some kind of second class citizen to perv on his wife.


    Credit were credit was due, the bald man shook his head and recovered quickly. It seemed he was mostly just taken aback as opposed to actually staring with ill-intent. It was honestly an incredible display of will-power on his half to not be weird about it now that the initial moment of shock had passed. "... Aha, sorry sir. You are a lucky man... So lucky, in fact, that I can''t help but want to try and get you in on the shindig we''re running here."


    Ares looked around. "What is everyone here for anyway? It''s never usually like this, but if you didn''t have Hans'' permission he would have given you all a free cremation already."


    "You can say that again... We''re a betting ring of sorts. Every year for the international we offer up various events to bet on. Our usual area near the north of the city was a no-go this time because the mayor cordoned it off after the whole tree debacle..." This explained Ares'' lack of knowledge on these thug-looking ''businessmen''. Ares would either have been a slave to the Chen clan, stuck inside the building when they were operating there, or he would have escaped from the Chen clan but kept his distance for the sake of his safety anyway. "... We had some talks with Hans and he let us work around his part of town for a small cut. As for what you can bet on here... Whatever comes to mind, I guess. That''s our specialty, we''re knowledgeable... Hahaha, I can see the look in your eyes. We may look like back-street riffraff, but we keep our ears to the floor and get good gossip from around the world. We even occasionally sell some of it to Hans. Point being, we''re experts on most things and can make real educated guesses to better our odds. There''s nothing sketchy about the bets other than the sheer size of our brains. So, whaddya say friend, wanna make a bet?"


    "Hmmm. You said I can bet on anything?"


    "Ah, I should be clear. Not with me, no. Some of us, like me, run specific events that we bet on. If you want to be creative and come up with your own bet, head thatta way and talk to my buddy Jerome..." The man nodded towards a group near the corner of the square. "... He''ll hook you up nicely."


    "Alright, but what about you? What do you run?"


    "Me? I run an underground cock fighting ring. You want in?"


    "Thanks, but no. I don''t swing that way." Ares patted the confused man on the shoulder and walked away. The bald man''s face reddened and he tried to call out to correct the misunderstanding but he was too flustered to get the words out properly. Of course Ares knew exactly what the man meant, but it had been a while since he messed with anyone so Ares was fiending to act like a gremlin. Enyo had kept him on a really tight leash as of late, at the request of Hans, so it was nice to throw in that little jab before Enyo could stop him! Enyo just shook her head and followed after Ares. She couldn''t prevent him from speaking but she would make sure he didn''t blow anything up at least.


    "Are you going to make a bet?" Enyo loved bets so she was naturally curious. Still, she preferred betting with Ares. Actual monetary gain meant nothing to her. She''d been perpetually broke ever since she came down to Sheryashka anyway. Justice does not pay the bills, as it turns out. Especially if you turn down payment all the time... But that was more of an Enyo specific problem.


    "Yep. Well I don''t know if it can even really be considered a ''bet''. I''m just looking to make some free money. Can''t hurt to fatten my wallets before I go to Xasca, especially if I''m going via Freeride. It''s a city of merchants so I''m sure there''ll be a thing or two worth buying." Ares navigated through the busy square and came before ''Jerome'' and the group beside him. It seemed these people were aware of the consequences of staring at Enyo as they all ignored her. They resisted turning to face her and some even physically held their heads in place. "Are you Jerome?" Ares talked directly to the tallest person here.


    "I am. If you came from over there, I''m guessing Mackie sent you our way. Let''s cut to the fun part then, what do you want to bet on?"


    "Depends on which of the two things I''m about to say has the lower odds, maybe even both. Either A; Red Sun winning the international this year at the outer court level, or B; someone clearing all five stages of the pressure pagoda."


    Jerome whistled to himself as he digested the bet Ares wanted to make. "Those are both quite low odds. If you''re looking for bets on the international, someone else is running an event on that but I can tell you the odds for it here. Red Sun winning the outer court level of the international is 1:10."


    Ares was surprised by this. If these people were experts at information gathering, they would have seen the bloody golden pillar! Either these guys were scammers, morons, or they knew a lot more than Ares did about the competitors from other countries; in which case these guys meant serious business. Ares tried his luck. "Those are interesting odds. I''m curious as to why you''re so confident when that golden explosion is still fresh in everyone''s memory?"


    "Ha, no dice fella. I''m not giving away the keys to the kingdom. All I''ll say is that we know what you are, and we know that there''s more than one of you competing. You''re odds aren''t terrible, but you aren''t a shoe in either, not according to what we''ve seen so far and that includes all participating countries across the domain. The competition is stacked this year, you''ll have to see for yourself why though."


    That''ll be my unique pillar and Mako''s they''re referring to, maybe a couple of the surprise contenders like the Legion clan too. "Alright, and the pagoda?"


    Jerome took a step back and a Viking wearing earbuds stepped forward in his place. No, really, the man was literally a Viking. A neo-Viking specifically. These lot were a group of Vikings, shocker I know, that lived in the Isaz region west of Xasca. The Isaz region was chilly, snow packed, and filled with icy mountains. Specifically, it was famous for the ''mutated mountain'' that lay at the centre of the region. The mutated mountain was a series of mountains growing out of one another like tumours that spiralled up and into the clouds. Each mountain in the spiral had a different eco system. Some had basic animals and plants that managed to barely survive the tough conditions while some catered to specific types of monsters and rare treasures that thrived in chillier climates and at higher altitudes. Generally speaking, the higher up you went, the better the rewards you could find. As for the neo-Vikings, they were originally just normal Vikings who lived on the mutated mountain and plundered its natural resources to stay alive. That all changed a few years back though when their chief went on a long expedition to Neo-Gear land to search for ways of improving the lives of the Vikings. While he was there, he learnt of the wonders of technology and decided to stay there until he could afford to bring a haul of useful equipment back to the mountain. He studied electronics and gear operated machinery while he worked for the robos while amassing a mound of technology for his fellow Vikings. Before he left Neo-Gear, he applied all of his newfound knowledge to create a floating Viking ship with which he returned to the mountain. He shared all of his goods and all of his findings and the Vikings became a relatively advanced group compared to not just every other living creature in the region, but even compared to most civilisations outside it too. They ride on their floating Viking ship while studying all of their technology and trying to advance it with the mountain''s treasures. They are the most prominent group in the Isaz region and they essentially control most of it with barely any opposition. The existence of punk Vikings with neon axes was definitely unusual, but they were renowned as metaphorical kings of the hill so, unless you wanted a neon axe buried in your cerebral cortex, it was probably better to show them due respect.


    The Viking led with a grunt before he spoke in a gruff voice. "Pagoda completion. 1:20. Should be nigh impossible. Appeared in other countries. Even Isaz. I''ve seen the top floor. Not possible. Never completed. Never will be. I''m an expert with pressure. My specialty. Even compared to transition realm cultivators. Couldn''t make a dent in the last floor. Don''t understand it. Been chasing the pagoda around the world. It''s aggravating. Followed it here. Want to make money off bets to challenge pagoda again. Will follow pagoda when it leaves. I''ll only return to Isaz when someone ascends past fifth trial."


    Ares was confounded by the Viking''s manner of speech. The cross between simple and short, oafish sentences and terms like ''nigh impossible'' that a Viking should never be heard uttering was mind boggling. He couldn''t tell if this man was more or less intelligent than he was! This damn Viking could probably start spitting off scientific facts in broken prose... Well, that was an accurate summary of the neo-Vikings anyway, so Ares just ignored it and made his decision. "Ok, quick question, is it possible to parlay? I want to bet on the Pagoda and the international, but I only currently have the stardust for one. I''m willing to throw up a treasure as a guarantee. In other words, if I win the first bet, it gets used as my wager for the second one. If I lose the first, I''ll gamble my treasure instead."


    Jerome took the reigns of the conversation again as he was in charge of managing the bets. "Back to back bets with pre-determined odds, huh? I suppose that''s feasible. The only problem is that the pagoda will be here longer than the tournament will. You could win the pagoda bet before or after the tournament ends, so it complicates things. Would you be willing to set a date for the pagoda bet to end to simplify it?"


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "Sure, how about the day before the final match of the international at the outer court level?"


    "Ok. Sounds good. So let me reiterate. If you win the pagoda bet, you''ll put that wager into the international bet automatically. If you lose the pagoda bet, you''ll wager a treasure instead? I need to check what treasure you''re putting up to make sure it''s worth it."


    "Ares brought out the Black Ice Bane. "This is the artifact that created the tree that appeared in the city the other day. I also have the boots I''m wearing and, as I''m sure you''re aware, can create the Shock Beads at will. Whatever combination of these things makes you happy I''m willing to put up for grabs should I lose the pagoda bet."


    "Hm. how much are you betting for the pagoda bet?"


    "Just one high-grade."


    "So your parlay would be 20 high-grade for the international? I don''t think Jimmy would let you bet more than 10 high-grade though, he usually sets a cap of 100 high-grade as a pay-out... So the worth of the treasures would have to be worth 10 high-grade. Minus... 3 for the inconvenience of the bet cap... Ok. How about this. The boots plus two months worth of Shock Beads. Sound good?"


    "Deal. Should I go confirm this with the Jimmy fellow you mentioned? I''m guessing he''s the individual running the bets for the tournament."


    "Nah, that''s fine. You can leave it to me. All I need to do is go fetch a contract and jot down the details. I''ll be back in a bit so feel free to have a look around in the mean time." Jerome took his leave and Ares did precisely that. Enyo tugged on his arm and nodded to a certain table where Ares saw Hans talking to a seated man. Ares went over to say hello.


    "Hey Hans. Placing a bet? I didn''t have you pegged as the type to gamble like this, you must be feeling confident."


    "Ah, Ares my boy. How could I not be confident? I''m betting on who''ll win the international and the answer to that is obvious! Better yet, it''s a pooled bet. Some shmuck threw in phoenix blood of all things! I''m gonna earn a big pay-out thanks to you, laddie. Good news for me, but I also have some good news for you. You know the payment for the Chen clan assassination? It''s ready. I had a lot of spare time after you helped me flambeau the bird, so I could make it quickly."


    "''Make it''? Well now I''m even more curious."


    Hans took out a spatial ring and chucked it to Ares. "You know, I learnt a lot hanging around the tailor shop. Wouldn''t want you showing up to the international party looking like a bandit of all things. Besides, look at the lovely lass next to you. You can''t embarrass her on such a big day by showing up in shorts. I made you your own personal wardrobe for the day. Every man needs to have the means to look dapper, especially if he''s got himself a lady friend; that''s just basic. Missy had your measurements from the last time you paid her a visit so I borrowed them and had some fun with it. I think you''ll clean up nicely, I''ve got a good eye for these things. Also..." Hans winked at Ares while pointing his thumb at Enyo. "... Make sure not to let the lass see your outfit before the big day. Surprises like this are important, you know?"


    "Aww." Enyo dispiritedly clicked her finger. She wanted to see Ares get dressed up to the nines. Ares wasn''t the only one who wanted to see his partner looking good. Enyo was picturing a suited and booted Ares in her head and she licked her lips at the thought. Some manly cologne, his firm hands grasping hers as they danced, and a wild and unruly Ares on his best behaviour gave Enyo a ladyboner. Honestly, Ares was going to have to learn to how to put his clothes on as quickly and efficiently as possible because Enyo was definitely going to make him put them on for her amusement even after the party. The end goal was just to take them off again, but seeing them on him first was a necessary step! Enyo tried to snatch the ring but Ares hid it in the Primordial Blade. "Curse you."


    Hans chuckled at the two lovebirds lightly bickering with one another. "You two young''uns make a wonderful couple. I''m sure you''ll fall in love with each other at first sight all over again when you see each other at the international party. Enjoy yourselves. Moments like this are a one and done thing, so don''t let anyone or anything ruin your special night. If you need to use my name to threaten some of the unrulier pests, go right ahead. I''ll keep Ifrit on watch duty too to make sure nothing goes awry on a larger scale. Ah but that''s then and now is now. It seems like Jerome is back with your contract. Good luck in your bet laddie, although I know you''re not the type to wager unless you know the outcome in advance. You can trust Jerome and his lot, so don''t worry about them running away when they lose." Hans bid Ares and Enyo goodbye as he went back to city hall. Hans had placed his bet so his work here was done. Ares didn''t bother asking what phoenix blood was or could do, all he needed to know was that Hans had a bet riding on him; so he had a ''filial'' duty to uphold and win it for him!


    Ares and Enyo went back to Jerome and Ares signed the contract. Normally, Ares would have had to put forth some kind of down payment but, because he was associated with Hans, he was exempt. Plus his original bet was just one high-grade stardust anyway so they weren''t worried he would try to withhold such a measly amount if he lost the pagoda bet. As Ares was leaving, he turned around and said goodbye to Jerome in the most fitting way possible. "I bid you adieu!" Ares was unaware that the betting brothers would go on to use this as their official sign-off in the future, which was probably for the best. Knowing Ares, he would almost definitely try to claim royalties. Stardust doesn''t grow on trees after all!


    Enyo tilted her head as she started a conversation. "Ares, why didn''t you bet both high-grade stardust? I know you gave one to Jeremy outside Myriad Masks so you don''t have three, but betting two would have gotten you more in return, no?"


    "Yeah, but I wasn''t sure if they''d ask for it upfront."


    Enyo still didn''t get his point, so she queried him again. "What''s wrong with that? Do you need the stardust for anything now?"


    Ares smiled and turned to Enyo. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a kiss. "I need it for you. I can''t buy you presents if I don''t have stardust. I want to buy you flowers at the very least, never mind everything from My Fair Lady that tickles your fancy. If anything, I''m worried it won''t be enough."


    Enyo paid no heed to the onlookers as she leaned on Ares'' chest and acted like a lovey dovey girlfriend in public. "It''s enough. Just being with you is enough."


    Ares stroked her hair and whispered into her ear. "Well, why don''t we go and put that theory to the test. We''ll see if it''s enough when I let you loose in My Fair Lady."


    "That''s not fair... You know I can''t control myself when I think of all the fun I can have with you..."


    "Good. I don''t want you to control yourself. I want you to do whatever you please."


    "Mm." Enyo mumbled and kissed Ares'' cheek before they set off to go pay a visit to a shop that Enyo could very well singlehandedly bankroll the entire existence of with her custom if she had the stardust to match her burning desire.


    The couple headed further north, venturing nearer to Chen clan territory. It would be fine as the clan was mostly still reeling after the tree incident and Lo was keeping all of his family on a tight leash. The last thing they needed right now was another scandal. Plus he didn''t trust his family not to accidentally offend a big shot visiting for the tournament so the Chen clan wasn''t operating in as wide a birth as before. Even if Ares stumbled upon a member of the clan, he was definitely capable of running away or maybe even killing them, so today''s trip to the north of the city was no threat at all.


    After walking down a few more streets and taking a few shortcuts that Ares remembered from his stint of homelessness, they arrived at the shop. Ares could tell Enyo was about to explode with excitement as she was tapping her foot on the pavement repeatedly. He led her into a nearby alley and was ready to commence operation ''infiltration'' when a group of four guys rounded the corner after them.


    Ares sighed to himself and was ready to beat these fools senseless when they were sent flying across the street and into a building. They crashed through the windows and rolled towards the back of the store, hitting their heads against the counter and falling unconscious. Enyo had shoved them away with her barriers. The ferocity of the push was a friendly reminder that Enyo was not someone who''s way you should get in, especially when it involved any matter of the heart. Normally Enyo would have beaten them up and dragged them to a nearby jail, but she didn''t give a damn about time wasting right now so she chose the simplest method. She didn''t want to deal with any hassle right now so she dragged Ares around another corner, away from prying eyes, and using her beady eyes she silently demanded he take her inside. With a small laugh, Ares brought out the Nyxian Prowler and put a more-than-willing Enyo inside an Ebon Nightmare Zone. Ares attached the shadow to his own and walked back out onto the street. He looked around to check how many people were observing him. He didn''t much care about how many people saw him enter, but he still figured the less the better. Even if people only indirectly associated Enyo with him entering the store, that was still what Enyo had wanted to avoid. Luckily, or maybe it had been Enyo''s plan all along, everyone was busy crowding around the four men that had been thoroughly battered by an unknown foe. Ares slipped inside the shop with pretty much none the wiser. The only people that even caught a glimpse of him were some keen eyed citizens who saw a blur enter the shop and nothing more. They would just assume some perv was going for his daily shop. After all, what kind of person went into a sex shop during the day? That was just asking for a bad reputation no matter how you sliced it. There was one person who saw him enter clearly though. Someone who''d been stealthily stalking Ares from the very start of the date...


    Once Ares made it inside he immediately went to the counter at the back of the store. It was pretty hard to see from the front so he would be safe from prying eyes there. He didn''t take out Enyo just yet though as just this wouldn''t be enough to guarantee Enyo''s privacy. Ares hunched down to scooch under some mood lighting that was for sale and he walked down an isle of various toys for men and women. The irony of being surrounded by pocket pussies while he was hiding his wife in a pocket dimension was not lost on Ares... Ares wished Enyo could read his mind so she could appreciate the stupid joke that he was laughing to himself at as he strolled to the front of the store.


    "Entering my store during the day is one thing, but laughing to yourself when no one else is even around is some seriously degenerate behaviour, Ares."


    Ares stuck his tongue out at a pretty woman seated behind a cash register. She was slender and her blonde hair was glossy. Her face was well-rounded with a mix of features that were either sharp or smooth and she was very much a good-looking woman in her own right. She was definitely not the kind of person you would expect to be running a shop like this. She looked too prim and proper to even be here. Many men had made advances on her the second they entered because of this, but she was strong enough to do essentially the same thing Enyo had just done to the four guys outside. In fact, it had become a relatively common occurrence which was why the crowd that gathered around the crooks had already dispersed. They all collectively misattributed this incident to the ''crazy hot lady running the pervy store''. "Pot calling the kettle black, much? You know, Bea, if you hired someone else to run the store you would make way more money... Women don''t want their husbands around you and men are scared to enter here lest they be given an earful at home after. The housewives of Red Sun are a catty lot and won''t step foot in this store to spite you." Ares leaned forward on the counter and gave Bea a wry smile.


    "Meh, who cares. This shop is my passion, I won''t bow down to jealousy. I make enough stardust to keep going, so that''s what I''ll do. I won''t pretend things haven''t been rough here and there, but that''s the way I like it!... Nah, I''m kidding, debt sucks... And so do I! Seriously though, I hope you''re here to buy something otherwise it''s bread and soup for me again for the next week."


    "Well today''s not just your lucky day, it''s the start of your lucky future. I''ve brought you a customer who is going to be paying you lots of visits and will make sure you become the richest woman in this city if it''s the last thing they do."


    "Ha, I like the sound of them already. They have good taste, that''s for sure... So where is this mysterious person? Unless its you of course, I won''t complain if you''ve finally decided to admit that you''re a colossal man slut."


    Ares rolled his eyes. "No... Maybe? I might actually be... Anyway, no. Could I bother you to close the shutters and lock the front door for a while?"


    "Ooh la la. Are you finally going to let me have some fun with that body of yours? You want to turn down the lights and do it in private? How romantic." Bea''s joke was met with an aura of hostility that came with the force of a thousand stampeding, malevolent demons. Bea raised her hands and chuckled sheepishly to express her innocence. Clearly whoever the guest was they were not fond of her advances on Ares, unserious though they were. Having a jealous, ''invisible'', murderous woman on the loose and in her store was Bea''s worst nightmare.

 Chapter 87: Date night, Part 3

    Bea tiptoed around Ares, making sure to steer clear of him by at least a few feet for the sake of her own safety. Under any other circumstance she would have teasingly rubbed up on him like she used to but now her life was on the line! It was a shame though, she missed the cute and shy reactions she used to get out of Ares when he was younger and inexperienced. Over time Ares had gotten used to her behaviour and no longer gave her the kind of reactions she wanted though. Now that he presumably had a partner, not only would he be completely unaffected, he would probably even somewhat resent being toyed with in such a manner. Bea was a childish vixen, but she wasn''t a homewrecker no sir! Bea had never been interested in Ares in that way to begin with, she just enjoyed messing with people and Ares was the only person she could find who fit the bill. Everyone else who came round was a customer so, when a kid came bumbling about looking to help her under the order of Hans, she was elated to finally let loose her inner prankster. It had been a while since she last saw Ares, and he''d grown a fair bit, so she felt like pulling his leg again but clearly that had been a mistake. More than anything though, she was curious to see what kind of person Ares had settled down with! Bea was particularly nosy when it came to people''s love lives. She wouldn''t have set up a sex shop if she wasn''t. Part of the fun of it was talking to the regulars about what they''d been up to and with who they''d been up to. Unintentionally, Bea had even gathered a fair bit of dirt on the upper echelons of Red Sun society and was part of the reason Ares knew there was some incest going on here and there in the Chen clan. His insult to Farro back in the sect before he killed him, about his mother being a prostitute and his uncle being his father, wasn''t a shot in the dark, it was a bullseye. Straight 180 points much to the dismay of Farro.


    Bea closed the shutters without asking any further questions because it didn''t really matter. If Ares was asking for a favour, after how many he''d done her, then it wasn''t a big deal. Also Ares was pretty much the only person that had ever come to her shop while it was still light out so it wasn''t like her business was going to suffer... At least not any more than it currently was, anyway. Anyone would think death itself was hanging above the front door, ready to swing its scythe and decapitate anybody who dared enter, repelling all would be customers. The shop itself was clean and there was nothing creepy about it, but the notoriety that had spawned thanks to the aforementioned housewives had done some serious damage. You would think they would be the happiest group to have a shop like this around, but apparently not if it was run by a charming woman. They actively directed their husbands to worse sex shops to fulfil their needs and wants just to avoid Bea.


    Once the shutters were down and the door was locked, Bea turned around and almost had a heart attack when an extraordinarily beautiful woman was standing directly in front of her. Enyo placed her hands on Bea''s shoulders and looked straight down at her.


    "I''ll ignore you hitting on my husband only, and I mean only, because you are running singlehandedly the most important shop in this city. You cannot have Ares, now or ever, but we can see eye to eye on other matters. I have seen roughly one twentieth of this shop and I am already deeply invested. I swear to you, I promise you from the bottom of my heart, as long as you keep stocking your shelves I will make you the richest woman who has ever lived. I will not hesitate to use my position as ace of the Legion clan to direct a tide of stardust in your direction provided you A; stay away from my husband, B; keep searching for new additions to the store and C; Occasionally take requests on specific items I''m searching for. I will work Ares like a horse until he earns enough stardust to support this shop a thousand times over without ever looking back."


    Bea was taken aback by the manic, sexy, panting woman rocking her shoulders, but she could smell a business opportunity when one reared its head! Ace of the Legion clan? That was big-time success. Why on earth the ace of the Legion clan was visiting her shop she didn''t know... Well, the crazed look in her eyes was a pretty massive hint... But still, this was an opportunity she wouldn''t refuse no matter what! There were practically no downsides other than having to maybe order items from afar. Still, as long as she had the money, it wouldn''t really be a problem. Bea had always dreamed some horny, rich freak would pop into her shop and make her such an offer, but to think it would actually happen?! Bea liked this woman. Actually, she also liked Enyo because she was incredibly attractive, more so than even Bea herself, and yet she was in a shop like this. Bea had never met anyone like this before so she felt a sort of sisterly bond. Of course it was still too early for anyone to know this yet, but Bea and Enyo would go on to become great friends who were some of the richest cultivators of all time. This shop would one day become the greatest of its kind throughout all of history, expanding to an unfathomable degree with items that beggared belief. Enyo''s undying support would raise this shop into something truly iconic that had branches all across the dimension. It would also be supported by every single one of Ares'' other wives too, so its prestige would be unrivalled. A large majority of the profits earned in Ares'' immediate area would come from this shop that people flocked to from afar and the goods it sold would redefine countless sex lives. Ares in particular would be responsible for the creation of a specific, utterly mind blowing invention that would sell like hot cakes. Because it was tied to his magic, stock would be limited and would practically evaporate every time any were found for sale, but it was worth every penny considering what it did. Still, that was getting ahead of things. Back in the now, Bea had already agreed wholeheartedly to Enyo''s proposal and dragged her off for a tour of the place.


    Ares decided to have a looksee around himself just in case there was anything he wanted. For the most part, Ares couldn''t think of anything other than nightwear for Enyo that he''d personally be interested in purchasing. If Enyo wanted to buy toys or what have you, she was more than welcome to. Ares wouldn''t be home 24/7 and he wasn''t going to make his Enyo of all people sexually frustrated because he felt inadequate compared to an inanimate object. That was just silly. What he didn''t know, however, was that Enyo was more interested in having other women at home instead of toys, not that she''d mind having both, but he''d learn that in due time.


    There were a couple of massagers here and there that looked nice. They weren''t explicitly sexual, but they could certainly be used in such a manner if you wanted. If nothing else, being multipurpose was a good thing and Ares was tempted to buy one that could rub his back. He ended up not going for it though because he was pretty sure Enyo would be more than willing to do the same if he just asked. Plus he only had 1 high-grade on him and that was all for Enyo''s spending pleasure, not his. It was somewhat of a shame though, the massager was portable so he could take it to Xasca. Maybe he would come back after he won the bet with Jeremy and pick it up then.


    Ares drifted over to the lingerie section as this was the kind of stuff he could appreciate! Well he could also appreciate the cosplay section he''d just passed through, but that could be left for a later date. Ares much preferred lingerie and Enyo would probably agree with him that their first few times didn''t need to be anything excessive or out of the norm. They weren''t going to bust out the whip on their first night together or play dress up, that would just be anticlimactic and a waste of everything they''d been building up to so far. Lingerie was a bit more classy though. If anything, these were the opposite in that they would improve the night! Still, unless Ares found something both he and Enyo agreed on, he would just leave it for another time. Although if Ares said he wanted to see Enyo in something he liked she wouldn''t even complain, but how could he make such a wonderful woman wear something she didn''t like?... Not that she''d turn her nose up at most things. Enyo really wasn''t picky when it came to anything bedroom related. Ares wouldn''t be too shocked if he turned around and saw Enyo emptying out the entire shop... Ares had to resist the urge to turn around and check. Instead, he focused on the lingerie but, you know, not too much. He would look like a massive freak if he was caught staring intently at panties in public... Even if the shutters were closed, he definitely didn''t want either Bea or Enyo to see him doing it, so he inspected it all from a reasonable distance... Man, being a guy surrounded by stuff like this is hard... Hm, Enyo looks good in white, but black''s not far behind. It can even be more sensual depending on the design. Blue''s pretty universal and you can''t really go wrong with it. I don''t think green would suit her as much as other colours. A dark purple to match her eyes would work. Mmmm, some stockings to accentuate her thighs... Ah, seriously, doesn''t she just look good in basically everything?! Looking at this stuff is hard because I just keep imagining Enyo in it and that just makes me want buy all of it! I was worried about Enyo buying out the whole shop, and now I''m considering doing precisely that! Damn you sexy wife! Ares shook his head and rattled his brain to knock off the thoughts that were pestering him to go on a spending spree. He could do it! He could power through the devil on his shoulder whispering sweet nothings into his ear and restrain himself! He was absolutely going to buy something though, he couldn''t leave empty handed otherwise his ''white camel'' would never forgive him. The question of the century, though, was what. As if the universe felt pity on a man with one too many options, Ares conundrum was solved when he turned a corner and spotted something that made him freeze on the spot and dumbly mutter "Oh." out loud.


    Meanwhile, over by Enyo, an unholy discussion, one Ares would dread knowing had just taken place, was being wrapped up.


    "So yeah, this is our BDSM gear."


    Enyo''s eyes were sparkling and she was smiling with childish enthusiasm. She''d found a whip. She giggled as she reached for it before Bea could even start explaining.


    Poor Ares. Poor poor Ares. Did he think having a beautiful wife was all fun and games? Yeah right, bucko. Enjoy your ''fun and games''.


    Bea almost couldn''t believe her eyes when Enyo''s hand darted to the weapon. Yes, weapon. Not BDSM gear, a weapon. Well it was supposed to be, anyway... There was a bit of a strange story behind this particular assortment of goods. "So, uh, funny story about this stuff. The guy who created it all was originally a beast tamer. There wasn''t much taming gear for sale in Red Sun, so he took forging lessons to make his own. Inexplicably, for some bizarre reason, whenever he tries to make taming gear, it becomes backfire gear useful for BDSM¡­ Literally every single time... I mean, technically this stuff can still be used for ''taming''... But yeah, that guy was downtrodden so I extended an olive branch and offered to buy his ''failed'' products ''cos they''re really quite good for bedroom stuff. Everything here is an artifact and has some kind of special effect. For instance, that whip is called ''Precision'' and the rune on it is called ''Pain Point''. Pain point shows the wielder which nerves to hit to make your strikes extra effective. I''ve tested it and can safely say it also works for pleasure points. You can bring someone to orgasm by hitting them with that thing if you practice enough. Best part is it only requires one hand to wield, so you can play with yourself while you rough up your partner."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Hug


    Bea was assaulted by a bear hug from Enyo who was shedding tears of joy. "Will you be my best friend forever?"


    Ah, this woman truly gets it, Bea thought as tears appeared in her own eyes. She truly, truly gets it. Bea returned the hug. "Yes. Besties forever."


    And thus the coalition between two perfectly delightful women with perfectly innocent hobbies came to pass.


    This was the first time Enyo had ever made a true friend! Charity and Gladius were more cohorts than companions so that didn''t really count. Allie was more like a sister and Bellona literally was. And what a friend she''d made too! Bea was someone she could bond with over something most other people would shy away from. Plus she was an expert in the field! She knew all the tips and tricks to spice things up. What more could Enyo ask for! This shop was heaven on earth and Enyo would protect it with her life should the need Arise! She would genuinely mobilise an entire army for the sake of this woman and her shop. Enyo went back to looking at all the fun times ahead on sale and made a decision instantly. "I''ll buy all of it. I know its all backfire gear, so I won''t be able to afford it all right now, but I''ll be able to in a few weeks. So please, I''m begging you, let me buy it now and I''ll pay you double later. No, triple. I''ll pay you triple! I will get down on my hands and knees and worship you daily if that''s what you want!"


    Bea shook her head and Enyo was briefly grief stricken when she thought that gesture meant the answer was no. To Enyo''s relief though, Bea cleared up that misunderstanding quickly. "Of course you can, friend! I''m shaking my head because I don''t need you to pay extra. How could I charge you more?! If anything I should be charging you less!... I mean I can''t otherwise I''d go out of business, but you get the point. Still, you can take what you want and pay me back in a few weeks. Not only are you a good person, I can tell and not just because you''re Legion, but also I owe Ares a lot so this can be seen as repayment if that makes you feel better."


    Sniff


    Hug


    Enyo couldn''t help but cry at the generosity of her new partner in crime. And to think she''d been avoiding this place because she was embarrassed... That''s it! No more! No more shame! Enyo resolved herself to make a scene and strut through the front door next time she came here. Enyo was a debauched woman and there was no need to be afraid of admitting it! Bea ran the store with pride and what? Enyo couldn''t walk through the door?! NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! ENYO WAS NO COWARD! Funnily enough, this would actually become a character defining moment for Enyo. No longer did she need the armour anymore. Other people''s gazes were no longer a problem because Enyo''s mindset did a complete 180. If people were staring at her, all that meant to her was that she was doing things right for Ares'' sake. The stares were confirmation she was successfully making herself more attractive for her husband and nothing else. They saw her enter My Fair Lady? Good! Now they knew exactly how she''d be rewarding Ares, again, and again, and again. Let the world be jealous of her husband. Let them know what a massive slut she was for him! Ares had said it loud and clear. Enyo belonged to him, and she would let the world know that she was taken. They could look, but only Ares could touch. And if the frequency with which Enyo was going to visit this shop didn''t spell it out for them, Ares was going to be touching A LOT!


    Enyo stopped the hug and started browsing each individual item to see what they were and could do. She put the explanations to the back of her mind while picking up each item one by one as she would explain them to Ares whenever she wanted to use them on him. Last but not least was a collar and, like every other item, Bea had a story to tell.


    "This one''s hilarious. The ''tamer'' had a lady friend he''d been seeing for a while. She decided to pay him a surprise visit one day, but as soon as she entered his house and saw him crafting this thing she ran for the hills! He did manage to clear up the confusion after chasing her down, but you can imagine how awkward the conversation was seeing as how he''s a tamer and what not. ''I wasn''t going to use it on you!'' So you were going to use it on other women?! ''No! I meant I wasn''t going to use it on humans at all!'' Hahahaha, the disgusted stare she gave him was apparently soul piercing. The flattest gaze a human could possibly give!"


    The two women''s laughter resounded through the store as they kept sharing stories with one another. Enyo kept perusing the shop while she talked with Bea until eventually she arrived at the lingerie section. She hadn''t seen Ares around so she assumed this is where he would be. Enyo hoped he''d found something for her. She really wanted to wear whatever he chose to excite him and give him the thrill he was seeking. Of course she also hoped she would like it herself, but that was secondary. Pretending she loved whatever Ares did even if she didn''t was not something Enyo was above, the only reason she wouldn''t is because she literally couldn''t. Ares had gotten the damn lie detector out of her and she had no way of stopping it! Ares had informed her that there were means of scrambling lie detectors outside the Primordial Blade''s interference, but that was still along way away. It was also something she''d have to pay attention to herself as her lie detector had been infallible for the most part. Enyo didn''t really want to lie to Ares though, so she had long since promised herself to only ever do it under two conditions. A; It was strictly for his benefit and no one else''s, not even hers, and B; she would tell him the truth immediately after. Ares had never lied to her and he never would. He would never bend the rules or come up with ''conditions'', he would just tell everything to her straight. Enyo couldn''t, in good conscience, ever lie to him. She would feel like a massive piece of shit for betraying him like that. Not that she had to worry about that, though, because it wouldn''t ever happen anyway.


    Enyo advanced through the isles and turned the same corner Ares did earlier. She found Ares standing still, staring blankly up at a piece of lingerie. Technically two, but they came as a set. Enyo looked up at it too and was left speechless... Well, other than one word that came out of her mouth without her permission. "Oh." Enyo''s mind raced. This lingerie... She could tell it was perfect for her. Enyo felt powerful just looking at it, if she wore it, she might start to believe she was the queen of reality. Enyo knew her ego would inflate to absurd levels if she was allowed to wear that but how could she say no? It was perfect and Ares wanted it too. Enyo was worried she would fall in love with herself if she ever looked in a mirror while wearing it, but that was a price worth paying. She was even convinced she could seduce her own sister with this thing and break all of Bellona''s willpower just by appearing before her with it on.


    Both pieces of lingerie were made of black lace and were see through so the raunchiness was overflowing. There was a thong and a robe. The robe was thin with an elegant, opaque design along the edges. A straight line of Enyo''s skin would be exposed directly down the middle of her body with half of her breasts poking out of the robe, creating an avenue of temptation. The ends of the robe would cover her nipples while the rest of the robe was see through and exposed the curves of her body. As the robe only came down just below the hips, her smooth legs and thick thighs would be bare and draw in Ares'' gaze. As he followed it up, he would find the thong, the flimsy protector of Enyo''s virginity. The see-through material was like a dichotomy; she was chaste, but also willing. It did nothing to hide her crotch, but Ares had to remove it first in order to claim her. Being able to see his reward ready for conquest would drive him insane with lust. The design of the two pieces of lingerie was ingenious. No matter whether Ares looked up or down, he was greeted by a valley of flawless flesh that led to Enyo''s purity. Her delicate throat, half of both her spongy breasts, and her exposed navel greeted him if his eyes wandered down from above. If they started south, he would see her slender feet, her long, enticing legs, and her shapely backside. Both options culminated in Enyo''s deflowering. The robe''s sleeves were open too near the forearm, meaning Enyo could wrap her arms directly around Ares'' sturdy back as he moved inside her. The robe that teased and the thong that was symbolic were a perfect match. Ares had made the right choice with this one. Enyo would have bought it on sight regardless, but the fact they both gravitated towards this knowing full well Enyo would look tantalizingly nubile was further proof, not that they needed it, that they were a power couple. Their minds had been fully in sync lately and this was yet another manifestation of it. This lingerie, combined with her pillar of pleasure affinity... Ares was a doomed man. He would never recover from that fateful day. Even when he slept with his other wives one day, the thought of Enyo would still be eternally stuck in his brain. Enyo was going to use this lingerie to corrupt him beyond repair. How could she ever thank Bea for this priceless gift? Enyo had been planning on asking for stardust from Rhea, that was how she was going to pay her outstanding bill later, but that just wasn''t enough anymore. These two pieces of clothing... Enyo was going to have to do some serious begging to convince her mother to reward this place in a way it truly deserved.


    Enyo turned to Bea and simply pointed at the lingerie. "That... If nothing else. That. It has to be that. I would put everything else back if necessary in order to have even just that. I will sell you everything I own, even my armour and shield for that. I have to have it, and Ares has to have me in it. How much?"


    Bea was happy to see Enyo engrossed in her shop''s wares and even more pleased to see her fall in love with an item. "Don''t worry about the price for now. You don''t have to put anything back and you don''t have to sell anything important to you. You can pay me back later just like we agreed." Bea leaned in and whispered to Enyo. "Just as long as you promise to tell me how it all went when you''ve used it, ok?"


    "I will tell you every detail of every second of what happens on that day. I will explain it such depth it will take me longer to recount it than it will have taken to even happen. I will regale you with a poetic tale that spans multiple days if I have to. Bea, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I swear upon my family''s clan I will repay this debt."


    As Enyo was showing her infinite gratitude to Bea, Ares pulled himself away from the lingerie and turned around to look at her.


    Thud


    "Hm?" Enyo looked down and saw Ares knocked out stone cold on the floor. She blinked a few times before realising exactly what had happened. Ares had been stimulated beyond what his brain could fathom. All of the images of Enyo wearing the lingerie had been imaginary for him but, when he saw Enyo in the flesh, enabling him to envision it all more clearly, he actually just fainted on the spot. Enyo bit her lip as she looked at him. She found this all cute. His limp body was perfect. The more Ares was broken, the more Enyo wanted to break him. Enyo had a new goal in life, she was going to become the Goddess of the pillar of pleasure and then she was going to use every ounce of it on Ares, her little guinea pig, and enjoy his adorable reactions. Whether he fainted or went berserk with lust, Enyo would never stop feasting on his raw desires. This path was infinitely more appealing to Enyo than becoming the Goddess of the holy pillar, that just sounded dull in comparison. She didn''t want to be holy, not with Ares in her life. He''d opened up a new path for her, and she was going to take it.


    Of course fate works in mysterious ways and Enyo''s future wouldn''t be as simple as becoming a ''Goddess''. Someone as ludicrously talented as her, with two unrivalled affinities to two different pillars, would become something more. Something that had never been seen before. Something that neither the pillars nor the Gods could quite understand. As had been mentioned once before, when a cultivator reached a certain point, if they were capable of becoming a God and if they had the required talent, they could gain an ability to temporarily apotheosise. In order to gain this ability, a test was required first and foremost to determine if the person was worthy. When the results of Enyo''s test were made clear in the realm of Gods, all hell would break loose; but that was a story for later. Right now, Enyo had to wake Ares up so they could carry on with their date! Enyo was so glad Ares had asked her out, today had been fantastic so far! They would have to do this way more often in the future.

 Chapter 88: Date Night, Part 4

    "Ares!"


    Slap


    "Ares wake up!"


    Slap Slap


    "We''re still on our date, wake up and keep spoiling me rotten!"


    Slap


    "HUH?!" Ares sprung to his feet and looked around in a hurry. "Enyo? ENYO!" Ares threw himself on Enyo and hugged her.


    Sniff


    "Enyo I had the worst nightmare. I dreamt I took off your panties and there was a chastity belt underneath! We lost the key!"


    Thwack


    "Idiot. Don''t joke about something awful like that. Besides, what good is your disintegration magic if it can''t even open up a chastity belt?!"


    Ares scratched his head in defeat. "Good point. You''re so clever. See, this is why I want to marry you!"


    By the scruff of his collar, Enyo picked up Ares and put him on his feet. "Yeah, well, I''m an expensive woman, look at all the stuff I bought!"


    Ares caught the spatial ring with the wares Enyo was interested in purchasing and took a peek inside. "JESUS CHRIST!" Ares stumbled in a bid to hold onto something as he very nearly fainted again when he saw the mountain of kink piled up in the ring. "ENYO?! I never had you pegged as a gold digger! All of my winnings from the bet are going to have to go into paying this back... Ah but, on closer look, some of this stuff is really good..." Ares was mostly talking about the clothing Enyo had picked out while he was unconscious, he was definitely not talking about the God damn whip hiding under the pile. The crazy woman had found one, and to make matters worse it was an artifact! Whoo boy, good luck future me.


    "Don''t worry about paying it back, I''ll do that and then some." Enyo just shook her head at Ares and turned to Bea. "Really, thank you for letting me take this stuff. I promise you won''t regret it. I''ll be back in a couple of weeks a boatload of stardust even if I have to sell my soul to my mother."


    "Ha, again, no worries. You''re always welcome. I''ll see you around. Take care and enjoy the rest of your date." Bea and Enyo hugged each other while saying their goodbyes.


    Ares was out of the loop but he decided not to ask. Whatever these two pervs were up to, he didn''t need to know. All he did know was that Bea was indirectly going to give him a lot of monetary and bedroom troubles. Not only was he going to have to make money to pay for Enyo''s fetishes, but he was also going to have to bear the brunt of them after! Not that he was really complaining, he was fine with pretty much everything he''d seen in the ring... Other than whip...


    Ares and Enyo left the shop together and made no effort to hide, much to the surprise of Ares. He had no idea why Enyo was suddenly ok with it, but in a way he was glad. She was being herself in public and being proud of it too. She''d made leaps and strides of progress recently but it seemed she no longer needed help of any kind.


    A few passing-by civilians did triple takes when they saw a woman like Enyo coming out of My Fair Lady. Those gawks quickly turned into glares of absolute animosity and hatred and were directed straight at Ares. Ares felt wronged! They had it all wrong! He hadn''t dragged her in there, she''d dragged him! With a defeated sigh, Ares just accepted the vitriol and ire of the people of Red Sun, at least they weren''t staring at Enyo. not that she seemed to give a toss anymore. The people looking at her may as well be inanimate objects as far as Enyo was concerned. The stares were really intense though, Ares was actually readying himself to fight because the people here had taken more umbrage with this situation than he thought they would.


    Once again, he felt his head fall into Enyo''s grasp as she dragged his lips to hers. Unlike last time in the sect, however, she went even further and started tonguing him in public. Such a brazen display froze the entire street. The citizens were digesting the fact that, actually, Ares was not the freak here. Rather, they weren''t digesting it, it was being shoved down their throats and they were gagging on it. When Enyo was satisfied, she licked her lips and eyed Ares like a wild tiger looking at fresh meat. Ares allowed himself to be dragged away as the rest of the street just watched wordlessly as the couple left. By the time Ares and Enyo were a couple of minutes away, people finally resumed going about their business, but not without feeling bitter. Truthfully, they hated Ares even more than they did before... The man just couldn''t catch a break. He was evil incarnate if he took advantage of Enyo, and he was Satan himself if he let Enyo take advantage of him. The way things were going, Ares was seriously going to have to fight a war or two for Enyo at some point. Then again, with his destruction magic, wars were where Ares would shine the most. Grim cessation would basically give him unlimited mana against cannon fodder which would allow him to just keep casting arts like Perish Wheel over and over again. Ares technically became stronger the more people he was fighting against. Well he was a nuisance regardless, that much couldn''t be denied.


    Enyo had dragged Ares to a park and thrown him onto a bench. She sat on his lap, picked up his arms and put them around her waist. She curled up like a kitten in his arms and leaned on his chest, enjoying this tranquil moment while Ares was blinking repeatedly in attempt to discern reality from dreams. Ares even pinched himself but, sure enough, he was still cuddling Enyo in public. If he went back in time and told himself even a month ago that this would be happening, the other Ares probably would have cast a Grand Annihilation at him for falsely getting his hopes up. He wasn''t happy because he got to show Enyo off or anything selfish like that, he just wanted to be natural with Enyo anywhere and at any time. Everything that had happened in the last five minutes would have been impossible if Enyo was still wearing the armour and that was what bugged Ares. Enyo not being able to do what she wanted bothered Ares more than it had Enyo. Ares kissed Enyo''s forehead and stroked her hair as pigeons flew from tree to tree above them. Ares and Enyo both chuckled as the birds went about their business; this situation was ironic considering the combination art they had come up with for the tournament during training.


    Ares and Enyo sat in silence for a while watching some ducks swim back and forth in their little pond. Enyo broke the silence first by making a request. "Ares, there''s somewhere specific I want to go today. There''s a conversation I''ve been meaning to have with you, but the right time for it never came up. After we visit the place I want to go to, and you''re shown what you need to see, I want to talk at length about it."


    "... Well now you''re worrying me. You make it sound like something serious... Can you ease my poor heart and tell me if should I be concerned?"


    "No, not at all. It''s just something I want you to accept. We can discuss it over dinner, so let''s get going, ok?"


    "Ha, sure. I hadn''t planned on being the tourist in my own home town today, but I am interested in whatever it is you want me to see. There''s no guarantee I''m going to accept whatever this thing is, but if it''s you asking I''ll make sure to give it plenty of thought."


    Sigh


    "I can''t tell you not to think about it, but I hope you''ll listen to what I have to say. We should be on our way, the place won''t be open forever. The owner has other important work to do... Or, well, he really should do anyway." With a stretch, Enyo disembarked from Ares lap and led him on a ten minute journey. At the end of it, Enyo was going down countless alleyways that even Ares hadn''t explored before. This territory was new to him so he just followed Enyo''s lead. There were a few thugs with a mean look in their eye but a flicked Echo from Ares solved all of these particular encounters before they became anything more than just a nuisance. A large amount of thugs in the north of Red Sun would mysteriously have immense pains in their stomachs on this day.


    With one last corner turned, Enyo and Ares wound up outside a purple tent in a dead end. Despite the location, the tent was relatively clean and remained undisturbed by the local ''rats''. The place wasn''t really shady per se, but its existence was certainly odd when taking into account how out of the way it was. Surely if someone wanted to conduct business of any kind, this would be the last place they''d choose to do it? And yet, here were two paying customers wiling to hand over their hard earned stardust... Maybe the person inside was a genius... Or maybe they were just a lucky fool... Or who knows, maybe they could even see the future. Enyo walked under the parapet and held aside the tent''s entrance for Ares to go in, after which she picked up a nearby sign and hung it up before heading in too. The sign read ''The teller is telling. Come back in five minutes."


    Inside the tent was a decently spacious room with one table, three seats, a radio on the corner of the table playing bashraf music, and a hooded individual who was dimly lit by a nearby candle occupying the one seat on the far side of the table. The candle seemed to be about 4/5ths burnt out, whether this was intentional or not considering the fortune teller''s next words were anyone''s guess.


    "When the candle has melted, your fortune will have been read and our time will be up. You will have everything you came here for, and I will have to ask you to leave." The teller leaned on the table with his hands clasped in front of him.


    Enyo brushed past Ares and took a seat opposite him. "Hello Yulo."


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Hello Enyo. Nice weather today, right?"


    ¡­


    "Excuse me..." Ares was disappointed! A dark room in a dank alley with an unknown, powerful individual weaving fate behind the scenes. A gripping tale of intrigue involving a tense atmosphere as the crazy, hooded man''s rambling grew ever louder and the room grew ever more twisted... Where was it damnit?! Ares had been robbed! It was just the bloody sect master! What was he even doing here?! "... It''s nice to finally meet you... But shouldn''t you be running the sect? Or the tournament? Or... You know... Doing literally any work right about now?"


    Yulo just casually shrugged. "Nah, I go where I am needed. At this time of year, to raise my cultivation a bit, I do some oracle work with what little spare time I have. I find customers by using my magic and then go and wait for them along their ''destined path''. Setting up the tent takes a while though... Would much rather just be sleeping if I''m honest...."


    "Eh wait a minute... Enyo, you didn''t know he would be here?"


    Enyo shook her head in response. "If you want to find him at this time of year, you inevitably will if you just keep walking. He does all the hard work of figuring out where''ll you search for him. I came across him myself last year, before I left for the Grecian lands, because he''d been checking certain disciples'' fates in his spare time and he wanted to tell me mine. Back then I dismissed his words, believing there was no way I would ''change drastically and live an entirely new life''... Turns out he''s the real deal and not some two bit scammer. There''s an inescapable fate heading your way, and I want you to come to terms with it now. That''s why I brought you here to see it and have it confirmed without a shadow of a doubt. It will have more credibility than if I just told you on my own."


    "Erm, ok... Last I checked, Enyo, you weren''t a fortune teller yourself. How you know my fate with certainty I don''t know, but considering how well you know me I''ll take your word on that. Still, Yulo, shouldn''t you be helping with the tournament?"


    Yulo clicked his tongue. "Hell no. I don''t get along with the ''Cultivators'' Organisation'' at the best of times... Ah, don''t ask, I''ll explain it. The Cultivators Organisation is kinda like the Alchemy Organisation. They run combat events instead of alchemy ones while providing the rewards and overseeing everything. They pay Red Sun to use the Scorched Grounds, but everything else that happens, happens because they set it all up in the first place. All the officials and the advertisements and rewards come from them. Part of the reason they''re able to have a monopoly on this kind of industry is because a lot of their members are hella strong. That''s where my issue comes in, they want me to work for them but, like, I got enough work on my plate as is, thank you very much. Selfish bastards the lot of ''em... Anyway, as a form of payback, they''ve made our sect''s life difficult in the past. Nothing major, mind you, but it''s still annoying. We''ve got enough problems as is let alone the C.O breathing down our necks and acting like pesky flies whenever they smell shit hitting the fan. As an aside, they also band together to deal with any threats to the domain like overgrown mecha-dryads and whatnot, so they''re not exactly good-for-nothings, they''re just really persistent and annoying. That''s neither here nor there though, we should get this show on the road. I''ve got two other customers today and they''re both on opposite ends of the bloody city... Man, I wish I could cultivate in my sleep, it would be so much easier... Or go back to dual cultivating with my wives... I wonder how my wives are doing in Vraizon... been a while since I''ve seen ''em all. Actually, on that note, Ares, let me tell you something before we kick things off. I want you to be the next sect master. This is a wholly selfish request, but I just can''t do it anymore. I''m losing my damn mind here, you know? I used to be an intrepid cultivator, just like you are now. I explored this region and I know it like the back of my hand. My adventure in this domain should have been over years ago, but the sect is important to me so I couldn''t let it go down the drain. I was the next big name but people have already forgotten it and moved on because of all the time I''ve wasted. At the end of day, I really want to get back out there, see my wives again, and take the world by storm once more. I''m not abandoning the sect or anything, and I''ll still help out if ever I''m needed, but running it is a no-go. I''m sorry to put you in this position, but I have to ask you to do it because of your pillar. You can raise the sect out of its current quagmire, there is no better candidate. Can I ask you to do this?"


    "Ha, no need to ask, I was planning on it anyway."


    "Really? Don''t you want to grow as a cultivator? You know this position will stifle you, right? I''m being brutally honest, it will hinder you and waste your time as it did mine."


    "Not really. I have my means. Don''t worry about it too much for now though. I plan on sticking with the sect permanently, but I also plan on exploring other domains. How I''ll do that is a secret though. Hey, you can see the future right, you should already know! Or are you actually a scammer?!"


    "Pfft, mouthing off even to the sect master, you''re a real piece of work, you know that? Still, I can''t complain, I was like that too before becoming the sect master drained my soul out of my body. As for your question, I am a mere mortal. I cannot see that far into the future unless I specifically search for it and even then I don''t get an image or anything, just a roundabout message that tells me basically nothing. I did check whether you''d look after the sect properly, and the only thing I got back in return were the words ''inestimable growth.'' In other words, nothing I couldn''t already predict without my magic anyway. Your pillar will be the foundation of the sect''s success, that much I know for sure. Anyway, enough about that, the sooner I get these fortunes out of the way the sooner I can go back and sleep... Provided Rud doesn''t catch me anyway... By the way, can you stop angering him? I''m the one that has to put up with him every time and its damn tiring!"


    "Ah, thanks for covering for my ass. Rud would no doubt beat me left and right, black and blue if you didn''t stop him."


    "I''m not really covering for anything though, I don''t think you''ve done anything wrong... Other than blow up that one house for no apparent reason... but I can ignore that. Anyway, take a seat." Yulo gestured to last chair without a butt on it and Ares walked on over. Before he sat down, he looked at the radio on the table. It''s not that he didn''t appreciate the music setting the mood... He just really wasn''t much of a fan of this particular piece of music, plus he wanted to pay attention to the fortune in peace and quiet. Ares'' finger hovered over the off button. Yulo, knowing exactly what was about to happen, tried to prevent it. "Could you please not turn it off? I haven''t heard this one before but it''s just about to get to the good part..."


    Poke


    ¡­


    Silence enveloped the dark room and Yulo just sighed in exasperation and tapped the table with his finger. Yulo was well aware of what kind of personalities revenants possessed and if he wanted to not lose his mind in the next domain when he finally ascended, this was just the kind of interaction he would have to get used too... "I understand now why it is you will come to be known as ''the golden gadfly''."


    "Me? A gadfly? Noooo, never!"


    "I''m just going to ignore you. Enyo, you want me to do a love reading for this man, correct?"


    Ares''s left eyebrow was raised as he looked at Enyo and saw her nod her head in confirmation. Love reading? Did she misunderstand the question? She does love reading... No, don''t be stupid Ares... What is she trying to tell me with this? If she''s just reassuring me we''re going to live happily ever after, I don''t need that... But she wouldn''t need to bring me here to assure me of it anyway... The hell is this? "Enyo?"


    "Trust me Ares." With a wink, Enyo went back to patiently awaiting the results.


    Ares was somewhat relieved by her nonchalance as she didn''t look worried about anything so this probably wouldn''t be negative, whatever it was. That was the main concern Ares had right now. If the reading was something negative, Ares would turn heaven and earth over to fix it. Thankfully it didn''t look like he''d have to do something stupid but, seriously, what was Enyo scheming? If it was a love reading, then it had to involve her and him specifically. Why would anyone else be relevant to this, after all?... No... Nonononono... Surely not? But I wouldn''t... And I know Enyo wouldn''t.... It can''t be... I wouldn''t tolerate Enyo playing around, and she wouldn''t tolerate me playing around either... No wait, that''s not even remotely true. Enyo''s too far gone to be deterred by something like that. Even if I cheated... Fuck I nearly threw up in my mouth even thinking of it... but still, even if I cheated, she''d forgive me... But I would never cheat... So it has to be with Enyo''s permission? But why? We''re happy together, we don''t need this. I don''t need or want this. Why is this even something Enyo wants to begin with? Why is she insistent I consider it? Better yet, if this fortune is accurate, doesn''t that mean it''s going to happen regardless of what I think? Does that mean she convinces me? Is there actually a valid reason for this? Bloody hell, no wonder she wanted me to come here, the fortune is complicating this more than it should. I just want to say no to this topic and be done with it, but it''s not going to be that simple is it? What card is Enyo going to play... Ares went through everything he possibly could in his head. If he could figure out how Enyo was going to try and convince him to have multiple partners, he could think of a rational counterargument ahead of time and worm his way out of this. He had Enyo and Appa. That was it. That should be it. Ares was never going to treat anyone else like he would Enyo. This was a stupid idea.


    "Everything. Limerence. Mate. Acceptance. Solace. Obsession. Ambivalence. Servitude. These nine shall be wed to you." Yulo muttered with his eyes closed.


    "NINE?!" Ares was losing his mind. If it had just been one or two, then maybe Enyo''s reason would be valid and hard to argue against, but nine?! She had nine reasons?! Ares doubted that, he really doubted that. Also, the bastard Yulo only listed eight... Things? Whatever those words were supposed to represent, there were clearly only eight of them. Was he fucking with him? Were Enyo and him playing a prank on him, because Ares didn''t find it funny.


    "These words are what they see in you, how they feel about you, or what they they view you as. As for why there are only eight, but you shall wed nine, I don''t know. I would hazard a guess and say it has something to do with ambivalence, maybe?"


    "Are you pulling my leg?!"


    "No, and you should just accept it and move on. It isn''t a big deal, take it from someone who''s been there and done that. There''s no real reason to oppose it anyway, it''s not like it will change any of your current relationships. It really is just adding a few more into the mix, I personally barely even noticed after the second."


    "I''ll keep that in mind." NOT! Ares stood up and shook his head. He needed to drag his silly wife to the restaurant and have a talk with her post-haste! "Thank you for your time." Ares left the tent and stood around while tapping his foot as Enyo said her goodbyes to Yulo. Ares waited for around five minutes before wondering what on earth Enyo was doing when she finally came out. Ares was grumpy so he spouted off with a snarky comment. "Took your sweet time. What were you doing? Asking him to check again and see if there was a tenth woman hidden away somewhere!?"


    Enyo just chuckled at Ares'' snide self. "Ha, no, I was asking him what my chances of successfully getting it into your thick skull that''s it''s going to happen are. 100% in case you were curious. Let''s shelve the conversation for now and have it properly when we sit down, I''m not debating this with you in a back alley somewhere. This is still a date, and I still expect good food! So lead the way, philanderer."


    ACK


    Ares almost keeled over as Enyo had dealt him a severe blow by levying that accusation. He was wounded! "Enyo please, please do not call me that."


    Enyo snickered evilly. "Ok, cheater."


    "THAT''S EVEN WORSE!"

 Chapter 89: Date Night, Part 5

    "Are you going to keep sulking all the way there?"


    "Yes. In fact, I feel like sulking even more than I currently am. I shall become the sul-king,"


    "Haha, shut up mongrel."


    Despite Ares not being even remotely keen about the current predicament, he wasn''t going to be difficult and ruin the date or anything. Just because he disagreed with Enyo''s train of thought, that didn''t mean he needed to be a petty jerk and bring the whole date to a standstill. When it came down to it, either Enyo would convince him, or he would convince Enyo. They weren''t going to argue, they were going to debate cordially. This would be a battle held in the marketplace of ideas and the winner would be whoever managed to do a better job of going for the hard sell. Unfortunately for Ares, he was already on the back foot. Enyo had known about this topic in advance for however long and came prepared, probably with an entire God damn thesis to present. Hell she''d already somewhat cornered him via the fortune teller. Enyo was out doing market research while Ares studied the blade! What a blunder! Outwardly, Ares was his usual self, but inwardly he was sweating buckets because he kept losing the hypothetical argument every time. The problem wasn''t him, it wasn''t that he couldn''t come up with rational arguments, it was Enyo. Any of the usual talking points like ''you know there''s a chance you won''t be the favourite'' meant absolutely nothing to her and, besides, it wasn''t even true. ''You don''t mind me sleeping with other people?'' Nope, she wouldn''t. ''What about Appa?'' It wanted parents so it would probably think the more the merrier... ''I''ll spend less time with you'' would just be met with ''why would you? I don''t mind sharing at the same time.'' If Enyo were even a remotely normal person, these arguments would hold some weight. Unfortunately, she was a nymphomaniac down to her very core so that line of thinking was redundant. Ares only really had one pathetic last line of defence and he was going to have to cling to it, that being that he just really didn''t want to.


    Ares held Enyo''s hand as he led her to Scratch''s noodle house. "This is nice. It''s a real shame we won''t be able to do this anymore in the future because I''ll be too busy with my other wives. They''ll probably be better than you in every way."


    "Very funny. You''re such a shmuck, you know that?" Enyo paid Ares'' jabs no mind. Her lie detector was going off anyway so who did this moron think he was fooling?


    In this way, with the occasional verbal spar, Enyo and Ares made their way to the restaurant. Their playful bickering garnered a lot of attention from passer-by who nosily listened in on the conversation. When they realised the man was raving on about having multiple partners, some of them started frothing at the mouth, ready to kill the bastard in a fit of jealous rage. In many ways, today had been disastrous for Ares. He''d been slandered all across town as some wicked perv taking advantage of a beautiful woman. Ares had, at one point, truly believed his reputation couldn''t get any lower. Oh how wrong and naive he was. Of course some people also recognised him either as a member of the Red Sun squad, or as the caped weirdo from the ads they''d seen around town, so his infamy was rising rapidly thanks to this excursion. By the end of the day, the number of people who knew his name and utterly despised him would increase drastically. It didn''t help considering the stunt he pulled earlier today in the coliseum either... Ares was going to wind up being the most despised citizen in Red Sun history at this rate. Thankfully there were enough people who''d interacted with him prior such that some parts of town would still be safe for him to show his face in. If everyone knew he was responsible for the tree and pressure incidents a while ago on top of everything else, they would have formed a mob and run him out of town with pitchforks poking him in the ass as he fled.


    Ares stopped outside Scratch''s place and opened the door for Enyo. "Go in and take a seat. Make sure it''s a big enough booth for all ten of us. Me and my nine wives. I''ll go and get the others while you wait here on your own."


    Thwack


    "Move it Mr Comedian." Enyo kicked Ares into the building and followed after him, looking around and taking in the sight of a restaurant that came personally recommended by Ares. This was a rarity. Most of the time Ares'' high standards would have him stay clear from most food places so he could just cook his own meals. This was the first time he''d actually ever suggested eating someone else''s food. According to what Ares had told her, the disgusting creep Prem had blackmailed the owner just so he could eat here for free daily. Enyo had high hopes for this place as she took a seat in a booth atop a comfortable leather seat in the corner of the restaraunt. She picked up a menu and began browsing as she felt a heated stare, coming from across the table, which she outright ignored. The dishes here looked good and she was more interested in picking her dinner than picking a fight. The menu was expansive and had a variety of noodle based dishes from different cultures and cuisines around the world. When Enyo heard ''noodle shop'' she expected something more along the lines of a local specialty place, not a worldwide type diner. Still, it was all very appealing and Enyo was spoiled for choice. "Hmm, it''s hard to choose when there are so many good options..."


    "Then just pick the one you like the most and stick with it forever!"


    "Hahahaha." Enyo started laughing at Ares'' silliness. "But there''s no reason not to try anything else that looks good. Variety is the spice of life."


    "It''s my favourite for a reason." Ares pouted. "What''s the point of eating something that''s just subjectively worse?"


    "Eat both."


    "That''s expensive and I wouldn''t even have room in my stomach for it all."


    "Then share it with me and make more money."


    "Money doesn''t grow on trees."


    "Your Shock Beads might as well considering how easy they are to make. Plus with your forging and runemancy talents your stardust reserves should one day be as vast as the ocean."


    Ares threw his back on the bench and slumped down as he let out a long groan. "Ok, let''s stop beating around the bush and talking in riddles. This indirect prancing around the topic is only going to do my head in."


    "No, wait a minute, let me order first."


    "... First lust, and now gluttony. You''re really trying hard to rack up all the sins and you''re doing an excellent job of it too."


    "Yeah, well, I know envy won''t ever be on that list."


    "Ha, ha, what happened to ordering first before we started going at it?"


    "Its hard to choose with a stray dog barking in my ear all the time. How about you make yourself useful and give me a suggestion, honey?"


    "Alright fine, honey. I think you''d like the Pad Thai. As for whether you go with shrimp, chicken, or tofu, that''s up to you."


    "Good suggestion. In that case, I''ll have the carbonara."


    "I know you''re messing with me, but that''s a good one too. The carbonara I made on the way to the alchemy competition was based on the one that gets made here. I learnt it directly from Scratch and his is way better than mine. If you liked mine back then, you''ll love his here. If you''re in the mood for an alcoholic drink that pairs well with it, there are a few good red wines on the menu. Since I still have both high-grade stardust, you can pick whatever you want. I''d recommend Bhorashka red. I''m sure you can guess where it comes from."


    "You''re encouraging me to get drunk? Are you sure about that? I''m going to run you ragged tonight if you aren''t careful."


    Ares smirked. "Maybe, but isn''t that a good thing? Also, alcohol impairs judgement and I''ll take whatever edge I can get in our little upcoming spar."


    "There it is. I was wondering what kind of trick a sneaky wretch like you was going to pull. Still, alcohol or not, it doesn''t matter. Ares, you''re going to do what I tell you on this one. You don''t have a say in the matter."


    "We''ll see about that." Ares twisted in his seat and waved at Scratch who came over with a small notebook and a pen. "Hey Scratch, you good?"


    Scratch ruffled Ares hair and chuckled heartily which was as good an affirmative response as any. "With that weirdo finally gone I couldn''t be any better. A real weight''s been lifted off my shoulders. I was thinking about how to repay you and it seems like a brilliant opportunity has presented itself right on my doorstep. Today''s my treat for you and your lovely lady friend. Speaking of, when did a troublesome tyke like you get into a relationship? I haven''t seen you in ages and you show up with a real glamourous date? I see you''ve been putting my cooking skills I taught you to good use. I always told you any woman or man worth marrying loved good food. That''s a universal truth."


    "And how right you are. We are actually going to get married at some point, but just enjoying life and going on a date is good enough for now. Ah but where are my manners? This is Enyo. You might even know her already actually. She''s the Legion clan member that lives in the sect and comes out in her armour from time to time to help people."


    "Oh? I have heard great things about you indeed." Scratch addressed Enyo. "You once helped a good friend of mine out of tight pinch. Ah, you two are are a match made in heaven. The work you''ve both done for Red Sun is huge. I can''t really do anymore than give you a free meal, but I speak on behalf of everyone when I say we''re grateful for everything you''ve done for us. Don''t worry, now that I''ve gotten all that mushy crap outta the way, I''ll take your order and let you two have fun on your date. So, what''ll it be?"


    "I''ll have the shrimp Pad Thai and we''ll share a bottle of Bhorashka red, thank you." Enyo ordered before Ares could and left him twitching his eyebrow.


    Ares sighed to himself before he ordered the obvious choice. "I''ll have the carbonara, thanks Scratch."


    The sound of Scratch''s pen noting down their dishes echoed in their silent corner before he looked up, winked, and left to cook the meal.


    "... I thought you wanted the carbonara?"


    "I do? I still got it in the end, didn''t I?"


    "Enyo, you are an unbelievable woman sometimes."


    "Aw, thank you, but those words of flattery aren''t going to save you."


    "Alright, let''s get down to business. Enyo, I don''t want multiple wives. I don''t want to be in a romantic relationship with any woman in my life other than you. Your turn."


    "''Turn'' my ass. Also, why don''t you? There are men who would kill to be in your shoes."


    "And I would kill to be out of them. I don''t want it because I''m not going to care about them as much as I do you. It''s just disrespectful to ''love'' someone while never paying them attention. Are you ok with that? You would do that someone else? You would put them in that position?"


    "Am I ok with it? Yes. Am I putting them in that position? No, they''re putting themself there. What does it matter if you can''t love them as much? That''s their problem, not yours or mine. I''m asking why you don''t want it, not why anyone else wouldn''t."


    "I don''t have time for anyone else. I''m going to be spending a lot of my time cultivating and exploring domains in order to get stronger. When I come back, if I have limited time I''m going to inevitably choose to spend it all with you. I never want to be in a situation where I have to ignore you to spend time with someone else."


    "Says who? Why can''t you spend time with multiple people at the same time? If there was another person here with us, would that make any difference?"


    "It wouldn''t be as special. This is our first ever date and you would seriously mar it by inviting someone else?"


    "To our first date? No. To any other? Sure. You''re the reason I''m here, not anyone else."


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "And what about fun time in the bedroom? You want your time cut there into by someone else?"


    "No, but, again, multiple people can do that at the same time."


    "You.. Of course you would say that... Do you really not care? About me sleeping with other women?"


    "Ares, I think I want more women around more than you do. What? You think I won''t be enjoying their bodies more frequently than you will? Who cares if they sleep with you? As long as I get to watch and can get involved when I want to then no, I don''t care. The thought turns me on actually. Pushing another woman down onto you while teasing her... Mmm."


    "I regret asking... But seriously, you don''t even know who''s going to show up and be one of the nine. How can you be ok with that?"


    "Because I have every intention of having the final say about who you can or cannot marry. I will not let you marry some fair-weather floozy. Why do you think all but one of the words Yulo listed were explicitly positive? That isn''t luck of the draw, it will be the result of my guiding hand. I''m deeply concerned about ''ambivalence'' but I''ll sort that out when the time comes, you can be sure about that. Ares, I will not let you marry who you want without my say so. So no, I''m not concerned about who will show up. I would never let someone like Bea anywhere near you, for example. There''s nothing wrong with her personality or anything, but I can tell that she doesn''t love you so I wouldn''t ever let it happen. You wouldn''t know this because you weren''t paying attention, but there were more than just a few hussies staring at you this whole trip too, it wasn''t just me receiving looks. You aren''t ugly, you have status and will have power. Rest assured I will swat away anyone who only wants you for one of those petty reasons. I will also not permit any more than the nine Yulo listed. That''s just obscene at that point and someone like Dominus is a perfect example of why I won''t allow it."


    "I don''t even want more than one..."


    "Again, why?"


    "..." Ares mulled on the thought as the food was placed on the table by Scratch. He poured himself and Enyo some wine and picked up his cutlery to start digging in while he considered the matter.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "What if I just don''t? What if I don''t like the thought of it because it just feels wrong to me? What if all I want is to devote all of me to you. Does what I want not matter?"


    "No."


    "Eh?" Ares was startled as he swallowed some of his food. Enyo moved her plate to the middle of the table and did the same to Ares'' dish so they could both be shared. Enyo tried both dishes and and a bright smile was brought about by the delectable taste.


    "You weren''t kidding, this food is astonishingly good. Definitely better than yours. Guess you''re going to have to work harder to catch up to Scratch. And you said there were others who were also just as good? One of these days you''re gonna have to take me on a foodie tour. I want to go on lots more dates with you, so start thinking about where you''re gonna take me to eat next!"


    "I... I''m glad, but can we rewind a moment?" Ares chewed on some shrimp before continuing. "Are you really not gonna let me have what I want on this matter? That''s rare coming from you. Neither of us have ever really made any demands of each other like this... I didn''t think you''d care about this to the point you''d disregard my feelings on the matter. Can you explain to me why? That should be the bare minimum in this situation."


    "Because I''ll be angry if you don''t go through with this. This is the one thing I''m going to put my foot down on. Yours was when you wanted me to talk to Appa, this is mine. I understand I''m asking a lot more of you than you did of me in the past, but I don''t care. I''m going to be selfish here because this matter is actually very important to me. If it weren''t for one specific point I haven''t mentioned yet, I''d let you have your way on this. I''d be disappointed, because I really do want to play around with other women, but I''d accept your reluctance and move on from it. The only problem is I can''t tell you what that specific point is... I really shouldn''t."


    "... You''d really be angry if I didn''t marry again after you?"


    "Furious. This one part of the discussion makes it personal to me. I can''t let you say no regardless of what I have to do or say to convince you. if I had to, although it would kill me inside, I would even refuse to marry you. You must promise to marry the second wife. We can talk about the others after whenever they become relevant, but the second wife is non-negotiable."


    "You would go that far?... Look, Enyo, when it comes down to it, I''ve somewhat accepted it. I have no more reasons to defend myself with. Relying on my feelings on the matter and just saying ''I don''t want it'' was the only thing I had left and, even then, I wasn''t really sure why. I still ''feel'' like it''s wrong, but I have no excuses left to give and if you''re this dead set on it... Then fine. But what you''ve just said is seriously excessive, no? I''m not even annoyed, I promised myself I would never yell at you again after last time, but I am worried. Can you please tell me why this matter is so important? I don''t want anything to come between us. If you''re going to put our marriage on the line, although I don''t appreciate you doing it, I''ll capitulate. But you have to tell me why because two can absolutely play at that game. If you can use our marriage as a bargaining chip, you know I can just as easily do it too. I know even saying it must have been painful for you, just as it would be for me so please... Just come clean... Please." Ares was fairly confident Enyo would buckle if he asked her straight like this. She couldn''t keep secrets from him and he knew it but, contrary to his expectations, Enyo just silently shook her head and a few tears appeared in her eyes. Ares immediately leant over the table and gave her a kiss to calm her down otherwise she probably would''ve started balling in public. That and Ares didn''t want her to be sad in general. he acknowledged that whatever was happening was difficult for Enyo so he didn''t push further.


    Enyo wiped her face and muttered. "I''m sorry... I promised I wouldn''t say anything..."


    "It''s ok." Ares stroked her hand on the table and thought for a brief moment before realising what he had to do next. "... But, you know, if I were to guess the problem correctly... That wouldn''t be your fault, right?"


    Enyo looked up at Ares who was smiling impishly at her and she cried a little more. "Mm." She felt atrocious for everything she''d done and said in the last few minutes and yet Ares was still being nice to her. That just made it worse. She knew Ares wouldn''t bring up the marriage threat again; he wouldn''t chide her for it or use it against her the way she had against him. He wouldn''t force her to break the promise she''d made, he would just do as she demanded because he couldn''t say no to her. She felt awful and the kinder he was the worse it made it all but, for Bellona''s sake, this had to be done. Ares would understand. When all was said and done, he would forgive her even if she had trouble forgiving herself for acting like this. That was what mattered. Bellona owed her big time. For Enyo, manipulating and blackmailing Ares like this was a bigger problem than letting Bellona sleep with her husband. Enyo would rather Bellona bust into the restaurant and have Ares take her on the table right in front of her than have to do this. In a way, she really hoped Ares would guess correctly. It would take a weight off her shoulder and she wouldn''t have to keep hiding a secret from him anymore. Of course they wouldn''t be able to confront Bellona after as it was her problem more than anyone else''s, but at least Ares and Enyo could be on the same page as each other.


    "Ok, let''s see shall we? I''ve gotten plenty of new information today to work with, so let''s piece things together and sleuth it out." Ares clapped his hands together as Enyo went back to munching on the food to make herself feel better. "There are nine wives, but only the second one matters for this particular discussion because that was the one that you pointed out specifically. You said you would be angry if I didn''t marry them, which means you have to know the person already otherwise that reaction would be over the top. You said you would have the final say and it seems like you''ve already given someone permission and don''t want to go back on your word. As for why you''d be angry with me... That''s either because you or I would be a real scumbag to have the heart to say no this person. You don''t get angry often, so this person means a lot to you. You are the first wife, because you view me as ''everything''... Thank you by the way. I really love you and if it were inversed I assure you, you''d be my ''everything'' too. The second wife, and the one you already know, is ''limerence''. So it has to be someone that sees us, or I guess me, regularly enough for those feelings to blossom and be felt repeatedly otherwise she would have been categorised as something more relevant." Ares ran through all the potential candidates in his head. It would have to be someone he knows and someone that Enyo knows better than he does. Obviously not Allie. Obviously not Charity. She said not Bea and she''s only just gotten close to her so there''d be no need to be angry about it. Limerence, limerence, limerence. A thought struck Ares like a thunderbolt out of the blue. A thought that reminded him of a conversation he''d had earlier today, and that conversation then proceeded to remind him of other past conversations he''d had with the same person. Limerence, longing... ''I''m going to go and... Stare out of a window longingly or something...'' No fucking way... ''Keep an eye out for a guy, good looking preferably but not necessary, who''s magic works well with mine, and has a thing for flat chests.'' No fucking way... ''I think I''ll stick to relying on Enyo. She said she had an idea and that she would get back to me.'' Oh fuck me, there is a fucking way. No wonder she kept beating the crap out of me, she was annoyed even seeing me! She fell in love with her sister''s husband and tried to convince herself she hated me to try and get over her infatuation! That was why it started after the damn tournament, because she hadn''t seen my magic before... And that was why Enyo told me not to bring up my magic directly to her. After she had the food I made for her while hiding in the bedroom with Enyo, she stopped punching me altogether. She even offered to practice magic because she''d made up her mind and her convictions were set in stone and Enyo promised not to tell me so she was feeling confident it would all work out. Plus, no wonder Appa was told to put Bellona as priority number two, she''ll also be her mother down the line! Ah fuck, it all makes sense damnit. Ares nervously chuckled as he looked at Enyo who had recovered somewhat as she slurped on some noodles. "Enyo... You know... When I joked around and said ''I''m not against two sisters at once'', I didn''t actually mean it..."


    "Tell Bellona that, not me." Enyo said as she sunk back into the food. She was seriously hoovering everything up.


    "Ah shit. That was confirmation, right? I''m not crazy, that was confirmation? Ah hell, that was confirmation. Ok... Really?"


    "Yes. She is in love with you and she will be your second wife."


    "I have so many questions... First and foremost... This doesn''t bother you? You should rightly be the person with the most issues here."


    "I don''t mind. My sisters, my mother, any and all are welcome aboard the Ares train."


    "Ok, seriously, what is wrong with you? That''s a bit much..."


    "That''s not for you to decide. Anyway, I''m not being serious, it''s just Bellona."


    "The number of sisters isn''t the problem... Can you explain now why you''d be angry if I didn''t agree? I get that you want to pamper your sister, but isn''t this a step too far?"


    "Maybe, but I don''t care. you don''t understand how much of an impression you''ve left on her. It''s you or bust. If she can''t have you, she will spend the rest of her life watching you from the side-lines. I said this to her, and I will say it now to you, I won''t let my sister be some lonely old woman living in misery because what she wants was just barely out of reach her entire life and taunting her. If you still don''t get it, think about it like this. Imagine you and I fell in love earlier than we did, before you ever met Appa. We decided to have a child and I got pregnant. When Appa finally became a part of our life, Appa wanted nothing more than to be our child, but kept it bottled up forever because it didn''t want to get in the way of our happy family. Hundreds of years alone as the third wheel until it died never having experienced true love. Would you ever allow it, Ares?"


    "..." The answer was obvious. Even just the thought of Appa living like that brought a few tears to Ares'' eyes. He could understand why Enyo was demanding he marry her sister, it wasn''t even really for his sake or even Bellona''s. It was actually for Enyo''s. Ares would never have known and could have lived a peaceful life. Bellona was dead set on her choice and wouldn''t look back or regret it, long since having accepted it all. She would be miserable, but not as miserable as Enyo who would have knowingly condemned her sister to that life. Enyo kept talking about how Bellona would be on the outside looking in, but she never mentioned that she would be on the inside looking out at her downtrodden sister standing in the rain knowing she''d caused it all. If all Enyo had to do to fix things was to open the door and let her sister in... Enyo was tolerant of other women being around Ares to begin with, why would she have reservations about her own sister? She couldn''t possibly have it in her to be that cruel to anyone, let alone her own flesh and blood. No wonder Ares didn''t really have a choice, the marriage wasn''t even for him. He would benefit the least of everyone involved. And why would he say no? He would devastate both sisters at once for what exactly? Never mind Bellona, funnily enough she was barely even relevant, he couldn''t put Enyo in that position. Almost all of his questions vanished into thin air as he slowly pieced everything together and answered them on his own. "... I''m no longer opposed to it. I don''t have any romantic feelings towards Bellona at the moment... But I will marry her. You''ve convinced me. I''ll learn to love her as a wife and not as the good friend she currently is. Fortunately I do really quite like her personality, and our magic is definitely spectacular together, so it shouldn''t be too hard to change the way I see her. Still, I''m telling you this now Enyo, I will never love her like I love you. I will not budge on this no matter how angry you threaten to be."


    "Neither of us expect you to. She knows that and is ok with where she stands in this relationship. She doesn''t want to be first, she just wants you. Even if you said you wouldn''t love her, as long as you accepted her, that alone would have been enough. She''s beyond desperate and she really needs you even if its not obvious at a glance."


    "... Honestly... How ridiculous this all is..." Ares leant back into his seat and stared at the dim, flickering light on the ceiling deep in thought. It was a bit hard to concentrate though what with Enyo still slurping up all the damn noodles in the background as if none of this was important. Ares was coming to terms with things while his wife was greedily devouring his dinner!... Still, Ares couldn''t deny how happy Enyo was right now. Although she was eating, she was, in an incredible show of multitasking, also crying. It must have been such a relief for her to hear Ares say he''d marry Bellona... If he hadn''t figured it all out, Ares would have probably kept pushing against it and made life even harder for Enyo. To have the matter settled already was preferable for her even if it had been rocky in places. This date night has been all over the place... We have definitely not done this correctly. Or maybe I have? Enyo has had a fantastic time today and gotten countless things she wanted... I did swear to myself I would spoil her however possible, whenever possible, so maybe this is for the best? What a bizarre woman... And yet, I can''t help but love her... Even if she is eating all of my damn food! I''m still hungry here damnit! Ares put his thoughts aside to make sure he could eat his fill before Enyo stole it all. This conversation wasn''t quite finished yet, but at least the hard part had been taken care of. They were entering the last leg of date night and it looked to be smooth sailing ahead. Now all Ares had to do was stick the landing... Even if he had hit every single tree branch on the way down... All fucking nine of them...

 Chapter 90: Date Night, Part 6

    "That food was phenomenal!" Enyo''s trademark radiant smile was beautiful as ever... And also somewhat insidious as it was founded on all of the food she''d nicked from Ares who was still a little peckish. The alcohol had also been finished and both Ares and Enyo''s cheeks were flushed, they were somewhat tipsy but not drunk just yet. Ares had some alcohol at home now, though, so if they wanted to get fully blotto, the option was available to them when they returned. Taking some more wine into the bedroom and lapping it up off each other''s body as they got drunk was a pretty good outcome for the day considering how ass-up things had been during the last conversation. Well, honestly, it hadn''t been that bad. Ares just accepted something he thought he wouldn''t. Really, Enyo had it worse because of what she had to do to get what she wanted.


    "It was, it''s a shame there wasn''t much of it to go around... I''ll bring you to all the good restaurants in Red Sun after I''ve earned more money and can afford more dishes per person. Doing so beforehand would result in my own portions disappearing before I could even blink, leaving me with nothing... Again."


    Enyo got up out of her seat and sat next to Ares, leaning on him and stroking his arm. "Ares. Thank you for agreeing. Today is precisely why you mean everything to me. I love you."


    "I love you too... Now can you explain to me why I have to marry all nine? Bellona I understand, but what about the rest? Why can''t we just end it at us three?"


    "Why not? At that point we might as well have fun with all of them."


    "You totally mean you want to have fun with all of them, right?"


    "Yes. I won''t deny it. Ares, you wouldn''t marry anyone you don''t care about, and I wouldn''t let you marry anyone that doesn''t care about you. The only remaining candidates are people I wouldn''t mind having around permanently. Let''s expand the family and have people we can both love and trust around us. Wouldn''t it be fun? Seeing Bellona''s dedication to you awoke feelings in me for her I didn''t have before. You aren''t the only one who''s going to love your wives, I will too. If they''re as obsessed with you as I am, I''ll be able to love them for that reason alone. Anyone and anything that makes you happy makes me happy. Isn''t that similar to what you said to me a while ago after we left Baja? Bellona made me realise I''m attracted to women who are attracted to you. I want them to be rewarded for their loyalty to you. I want to see you fulfil their wildest fantasies and I want to see their precious faces distort with the pleasure you grant them. You have no idea how many times I''ve dreamt about watching you claim Bellona. Watching her writhe on the bed after you''ve had your way with her before climbing onto her and having all the fun I could want with your leftovers..." Enyo was panting as she let her inner degenerate come out to play. "You might as well start considering it our harem, not just yours. There may even be some wives I love more than you do. The fact that someone else will have a greater ''obsession'' over you than I do... I want to do unspeakable things to them, Ares. We''ll both love them all, so don''t worry about not having enough love to go around because I''m telling you I have enough. These aren''t random strangers... Well they are right now, but these will be people we love Ares, not like, love. Don''t dread it, look forward to it. That''s what I''m doing... Every day... When I look at Bellona''s waist. Mmm"


    "... You are incredibly articulate about the weirdest things, Enyo. You know what? Fine... One, two, nine... Screw it. If we''re bending the rules for Bellona, why not bend the rules for the rest of them too? Let''s just make our home a madhouse of Ares fanatics. What''s the worst that could happen? I get swamped in sex pests? Bring ''em on!... Although I seriously doubt anyone will ever topple you in that department... You are truly one of a kind regarding your sexual deviancy. How repressed were you actually before we met?!"


    "More than I care to remember. Ares, I''m glad you''re on board. I know you still have mixed feelings deep down, but you''ll see this was the right decision down the line. I promise you won''t regret it. If nothing else, someone else can take your whippings in your stead..."


    "Thank God... About Bellona, when should we have this discussion with her?"


    "Not until she feels comfortable to tell you on her own. You have to swear to me you won''t tell her because she''ll be devastated."


    "Obviously I won''t then. What about you though?"


    "What do you mean, what about me?"


    "Are you going to play with your sister before then? You''re gonna be alone for a while when I go to Xasca, you can start getting closer to her already if you want."


    "... You don''t mind if I taste her before you do?"


    "No. You not going insane from sex deprivation is my main goal here."


    "Ares, you handsome devil you. I''ll reward you extra tonight and try my hardest to go a little deeper."


    "Mmm, good girl."


    Enyo shivered. "Gets me going every time I hear it... Oh! I just realised I can also record everything!"


    "Record?"


    "Yeah, I wanted to record us together for Bellona, but I can also record me and Bellona for you!"


    "Enyo. You are a dirty woman. I like it."


    "Oh God. I just imagined being Bellona''s first while a video of our first time plays in the background to get her off! See? More women equals more good!... For me anyways. I need to go back the Bea''s shop with Bellona in mind..."


    "Well, I''m glad it''s all settled. Still though, I am curious about the rest of the wives and what kind of people they''ll be..."


    "Well the first after Bellona is ''mate'', meaning you''ll either be great friends with this person or they''ll be animalistic in nature. If it''s the former, knowing literally anything about them other than their rough personality is impossible. Still though, I think you and Bellona are great ''mates'', right? It''s hard to see you getting along better with anyone else other than her. As much as I hate to admit it, your personalities are more suited to each other than ours are. Of course we make a better couple, but it is still irksome how perfect a match you two are. That aside, if mate is meant in the other manner, which is far more likely, then you might be marrying a demi-human? Ooohhh, good choice Ares! I like the way you kink! I mean think... I like the way you think..." Enyo giggled at her own Freudian slip.


    "I''m going to be honest, I don''t think I would ever be interested in someone who''s all furry... It would likely be the more predominantly human variant of demi-humans, so keep that in mind. Now I''m curious as to what race they''d be from... Guess we''ll just have to wait and see."


    "Mhm, I hope it''s a cattian. Cat girls make me feel all kinds of ways, and I''d really like to pull on their tail..." Enyo licked her lips before returning to the conversation at hand. "After that comes ''acceptance''. Not that you aren''t the kind of person who needs to be accepted for who they are, especially considering the path you''re going to take in the future... But I don''t think that''s what it means. It''s probably the other way around. Let me guess, outcast who falls in love with the one person who shows her kindness? I can see you being your friendly, idiotic self to someone in a dark place mentally and having them fall for you... I can''t believe someone out there might actually fall in love with you because of your dumb jokes. All sorts roam these lands apparently..."


    "I happen to think I''m quite funny, thank you very much! I don''t know how to feel about this wife though... It kinda feels like I''m taking advantage of someone who''s not in the right state of mind. I feel bad knowing that they''re out there right now upset at the life they''re living, but swooping in like an opportunistic bird and saving them for the sole purpose of making them my wife seems kinda... You know... Weird?"


    "I''m sure it will be a more natural process than that. Don''t go around looking for your wives, let them come to you. Fate is unavoidable, you trying your hardest to run into it is wholly unnecessary."


    "Yeah, that makes sense... After that is ''solace''. There are a lot of similarities between this one and the last one. I''m not sure how to dissect this. It does feel good knowing I''ll be easing someone''s anxiety and burdens, but that''s not much to go off. I do want the people I''m around to feel comfortable being themself, so that might have something to do with how the relationship comes to be."


    "Or maybe it could be related to your race? You aren''t a human, so maybe this one could be a revenant... Or maybe even a dragon? Solace and solidarity in similarity?"


    "Could be... Could be. What was after that? My head is still spinning from our earlier conversation..."


    "Obsession... How? How is it possible someone other than me got ''obsession?'' Are you going to have a stalker? No, you''d notice with Omniscience like you did with the pest that''s been following us the whole day..."


    "TSK. You two animals in heat knew I was here the whole time?!" Fate appeared from thin air and grumbled in agitation.


    Ares shook his head at this petite nuisance. "Fate, I know you''re trying to dig up dirt to blackmail me into working with the Umbra Wolves, but I''m on a date here. Please get lost, pipsqueak. I first saw you when I used my Omniscience on the pagoda and caught you snooping around. I only let you follow us this whole time so I could waste yours. Let me make it clear to you, I can see you now and I will always see you in the future. You aren''t sneaky." Ares patted Fate on the head. "Now go back home, it''s getting late and the adults are having adult conversations."


    "Adults? You people are lechers! It''s been nothing but sex this, sex that the whole damn day! Don''t you two have any modesty? Any shame?!"


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "No. Besides, I''m sure you''ve already figured out what kind of person Enyo is. Do you think it''s possible to have a date with a woman like Enyo and not have the topic of sex come up with regular frequency? It''s unavoidable. Also, did you think Yulo wasn''t aware of you hiding in the tent? You should be grateful he didn''t kick you out. Make sure to thank him next time you see him for generously tolerating you and going along with your childish whims."


    "HMPH!" Fate stormed off in a huff, all the while muttering something about ''dumb dog Ares paying the price when Calla dealt with him''.


    Ares ignored the tiny menace and went back to his discussion with Enyo, the big menace. "Yeah, so unless my ''stalker'' is a real sly fox, I don''t see how it would be possible for them to avoid my detection."


    "Maybe they really aren''t a stalker? You''ll be incredibly famous when you make it outside the Blade''s interference due to your position as a fundamental pillar user. Maybe someone will just be unreasonably addicted to your ''heroic'', and I do use that word lightly, exploits?"


    "That is a possibility... Penultimate on the list was... ''Ambivalence'', right? There are a lot of weird treasures and existences out there that can conjoin people, so Yulo may very well have hit the nail on the head when he said this might have something to do with marrying nine. If you have two people in the same body... I would kinda feel bad for the one that doesn''t actually like me. Or you never know, they could just be a massive tsundere."


    "If they don''t like you, I will correct them."


    "... Wow, authoritarian much?"


    "Don''t care. Ambivalence is the only word on the list I''m not happy about. It shouldn''t be there unless, and only unless, they really are a tsundere, then I''ll allow it. But if that''s one half, then the other must be the opposite, something to do with openly revering you like worship perhaps? You will be a God after all, that''s guaranteed. That would be comical. A devout fanatic and a blasphemer in the same body... I really do wonder. Ambivalence is the one, or two I suppose, that I''m most curious about, but they''re also one of the last partners you''ll meet... How unfortunate. Patience is a virtue though. As is fealty. "Servitude'' is a strange one. I don''t see you taking on a slave now or ever, I know you just wouldn''t. you''re the kind of bleeding heart that would much rather be freeing slaves than purchasing them for your own gain no matter how useful they''d be to you. I''m assuming it means you''d become their master or something of that ilk, but even then ''servitude'' is a bit of a weird phrasing for it. Unless you plan on becoming a daimyo with a loyal samurai under your command, I think this one will be the one I understand the least until I actually see it. I do like the potential for roleplay in the bedroom though. Master and servant. Now that''s a dynamic I can get behind, or underneath if it''s more convenient..."


    Ares shook his head at Enyo''s antics and looked out the window. He realised it was getting quite dark out so he patted Enyo and spoke. "Can you wait here for a minute? I''ll be right back."


    "Mm."


    Ares shifted away to a nearby store, purchased exactly what he was after, and returned all in under a minute. Shift was incredibly convenient for moving around without keeping people waiting for too long. He held out his hand to Enyo and helped her stand. She was definitely not steady on her feet as she''d had a little more to drink than Ares, but it was fine as they were only going to stop off at one more place before they went home for the night. Ares led Enyo to the exit and said goodbye to Scratch who waved them off before going around and cleaning up the table.


    "Hm?" Enyo''s world spun after exiting the restaurant as Ares picked her up in a princess carry and activated Voidwalk, taking her high up into the air. Up and up, Ares climbed way above the city and hovered in the night sky. A single shiver ran up Enyo''s spine as the altitude came with a chilly breeze but Ares had that covered as the Stygian Zephyr wrapped around both of them, creating a warm cocoon for them to hide in together.


    Ares took a seat in the air and held Enyo on his lap as he cuddled with her under the stars. Thousands of bright dots and a crescent moon lit up the darkness before them as they sat peacefully together. Ares brought out his last gift of the day, a bouquet of deep blue hydrangea. Enyo took them off him and clutched them close to her chest as a floral scent tickled her nose. Her hand drifted and reached upwards, gently caressing Ares'' face as he looked down at her with an amorous gaze. His own hand clasped hers as she let go and they interlocked their fingers, rubbing their thumbs along the back of each other''s hands.


    Streaking through space, a shooting star left a dazzling trail for the couple to peacefully watch together. Ares, with a voice that was warm, deep, and playful, asked, "What did you wish for?"


    Enyo''s intonation mirrored Ares'' as she looked him in the eyes and repeated his question back at him. "What did you wish for?"


    Ares looked down at Enyo as he moved aside her windswept hair to get a view of her deeply enamoured gaze. Enyo looked up at Ares'' cocky but caring smile as his hand gently slithered down her neck. He was larger than life under the starry backdrop and she was transcendental above the common people below. They leaned in and shared a brief kiss before resting their foreheads together, staring right into each other''s eyes.


    ""You.""


    A deep, passionate kiss followed before Ares took Enyo home. They spent the rest of the night living lavishly, indulging in alcohol and sensual pleasures of the flesh. Their intoxicated desires were let loose as they slaved the night away pleasuring one another and expressing their heartfelt love. As morning drew closer, their tongues danced one final time before their naked bodies were wrapped tightly around one another as they went to sleep in their lover''s arms, thus finally bringing and end to a rather jumbled, but romantically fulfilling, date night.


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Expecting to wake up with a banging headache but, instead, only feeling the soothing hand of the fairy from heaven opposite him was a pleasant surprise for Ares. He was perplexed as to where his and Enyo''s hangover had run off to, but he assumed that Enyo had learnt a detoxifying art of some kind either via the holy or the technical pillar. Of course the truth of the matter was that it was pleasure pillar art called ''Dionysus: Boon Of Inebriation''. The obvious effect was that it could cure a hangover and the state of drunkenness, but that wasn''t all it could do. Although Enyo hadn''t used the other half to not give the game away in case Ares happened to be familiar with the art, she could have converted the hangover into a buff that empowered them both for the rest of the day. Get drunk the day before, reap the rewards the day after. The pleasure pillar was good at delayed gratification, ironically. Two of the aspects that came under the pillar were useless in a fight but could help you with one if you knew about it in advance. The Dionysus art series came under the ''make love and war'' aspect which specialised in converting pleasure into benefits for the cultivator. Have intercourse to enable unleashing devastating attacks, abstain to enter a berserk state, act like a glutton to decrease mana and stamina consumption, etc. This was an aspect that allowed cultivators to indulge themself and receive delayed boons for participating in any of the cardinal sins. The second aspect that could benefit the cultivator is called ''the path we walk'' and is based around dual cultivation. It places a greater emphasis on long term, permanent benefits like raising cultivation by having sex, strengthening the minds and bodies of everyone involved, or cleansing impurities, curses, and poisons. It was also better at benefitting the cultivator''s partner than ''make love and war'' so a lot of powerful cultivators would have trophy wives or husbands who were encouraged to specialise in this aspect. It was considered a fair trade off. The person with nothing would get money, status and protection and all they had to do was learn how to dual cultivate. It was demeaning but effective in terms of navigating through a harsh society that had no sympathy for useless losers. The last aspect was famous as the only aspect that literally couldn''t harm or protect a fly even if it wanted to. It had no combat applications whatsoever. The ''emissary of rapture'' aspect enhanced the cultivator''s prowess in the bedroom and did nothing else. It was an entirely selfish aspect that only existed for the sake of having fun. It was a common aspect amongst escorts and brothel whores alike but was generally avoided by any serious cultivators who were busy learning actual means of survival. You might occasionally find a few dedicated citizens learning how to cultivate just so they could learn to use arts under this aspect but that was about as ''widespread'' as it was. That''s not to say it wasn''t good at what it did though... It was very good. No one ever belittled any cultivators that leaned heavily towards this aspect, it was more along the lines of respecting them immensely for bringing untold levels of pleasure wherever they went. Most cultivators didn''t have time for relationships so prostitutes and brothels were a common source of stress relief and those who could use this aspect were rolling in stardust as they were always sought after. Anyone with a strong affinity for the aspect was half-jokingly referred to as a national treasure. Cultivators with immense control and status would often ignore potential marriage candidates as they searched high and low for a partner with an affinity for this aspect instead. It was just worth it. The real trick to this pillar was combining all three at the same time, that was when it became well and truly mind blowing as you could gain short and long term benefits just from having fun. Enyo being Enyo, she had an immeasurable affinity for all three aspects, blowing her one affinity for the holy aspect out the water. Let''s not even mention how strong her affinity to the emissary of rapture aspect was... Even the pillar of pleasure itself would be jealous...


    Ares got up went off to go make breakfast before anyone had to come stumbling into the room to beg him for it. As if to prove his assumption correct, the second he went outside, Bellona''s fist was raised and ready to knock. That or she was going to punch him again, but that fiasco should long since have ended... Not that Ares wasn''t going to still joke about it. "Not the face!"


    "Why? Not like you''d lose anything of value." Bellona snickered.


    Ares had to resist the urge to say ''no, but you would''. After all, this was the face of the man she was going to marry, so she better get used to it! "Bellona, if people were allowed to punch things just because they had no value to lose, I would be entitled to hit you in the chest until the end of days."


    "Let''s see if there''s anything for you to lose in that thick head of yours! I doubt it very much you brainless mutt!"


    Thwack


    Bonk


    Bang


    The rough and tumble rumble rolled its way into the living room where Ares was defeated by the gorilla and pinned to the floor directly in front of Appa... "Appa, sweetie... Daddy loves you! Don''t be mean to me!"


    "Dad... I am disappointed! I will keep freezing you until you learn to be a good person!"


    Crackle


    In a series events that all too closely resembled the day prior''s morning, Ares was tossed into the kitchen and left to thaw out on his own. While everyone else chilled in the living room, he, well... You get the point... Still, Ares held no resentment. The bickering was to be expected and being frozen like this meant things were alright in casa del Ares. As long as everyone was having fun, that was what truly mattered.


    Another hearty breakfast was served up when Ares was freed from his imprisonment, the main difference being that today''s breakfast would actually be relevant as a fight couldn''t be avoided any longer. Curiosity had driven Bellona to find out who Ares would be fighting today, so yesterday she went and asked around. As breakfast was being greedily wolfed down, Bellona informed Ares, Aejaz, and Enyo their fight today would be against the furries. She also indicated that they were apparently quite displeased with Ares in particular as they had vowed to get revenge against him for humiliating Ramsey. Whether that was a good decision or not was debatable as, now, Ares just felt a strong desire to humiliate him further. technically Ares was a wolf himself, so it would be a furious furry fight for the ages. Who would be the victor? Ramsey the slow, giga behemoth, or Ares, the nimble all rounder packing an explosive punch? Ares. The answer was obviously Ares. Back when Ares had been ''rocking'' Ramsey''s world, he''d eyed up the fella and judged him as being considerably weaker than himself overall. Ares looked forward to running circles around the ram. Still, it was a team-fight, so whether Ares could win a 1vs1 was mostly irrelevant. Today was going to be the day Red Sun unveiled the power of teamwork in the form of combination arts and, boy, the Bhorashka contenders were not going to know what hit them. Ares almost felt bad knowing what was in stock for them... Almost.

 Chapter 91: Why Is Ramsey Cooking Himself?

    "Ah, I can''t wait to see my good friend Ramsey again!" Ares prattled on about the ways he was going to toy with his good buddy as everyone made their way to the Scorched Grounds. Along the way, they ran into Sadie wearing her full armour... Ares could already hazard a guess as to why... "You''re drunk again? If it makes you feel any better, I really do pity you."


    "Ugh, shut up. My head is thumping and I wanna go back to bed..." Sadie groaned as she dragged her tired body around town. She saw Enyo walk up to her, pat her on the shoulder, and suddenly she was right as rain and energetic enough to run a marathon! Maybe even two! As she thought about it, Sadie realised which art this was and turned to ask Enyo all manner of questions but she was hushed by Enyo who gestured at her to be quiet. [Oh I see. Being sneaky are we? Ok, I won''t tell. Thanks for curing the hangover though, shit''s a nightmare every time... Oh! Oh! I''ll start coming round after I get drunk so you can fix me!]


    [¡­ You''re just using it as an excuse to come around and gobble up food...]


    [Enyo! I am appalled you would think so lowly of me! Of course I would eat delicious food if I happened to be around some, but that is just a coincidence! A perk, if you will!]


    [Yeah, yeah. heh, if I ever meet Aym, I''ll tell him you''re addicted to another man''s cooking.]


    [ENYOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOO!]


    [Relax, I''m joking. You''re more than welcome to come round. Ares likes it when the house gets busy. Cleaning up is a bit of a nightmare, but he likes seeing everyone get together and have a good time so he doesn''t mind adding a bit of extra work to his plate to facilitate it. He''s going to be making customisable pizzas today so feel free to stop by and place an order with head chef Ares. We don''t have any alcohol left though, don''t ask why... I''ve been wanting to ask... You haven''t spoken to Rhea again since last time?]


    [No... I''m trying to get a hold of her, but I haven''t been able to. It''s been a couple of weeks, so her rampage is probably just ending now.]


    [Did you tell her about Bellona? It''s basically guaranteed now. Bellona doesn''t know yet, but Ares has already conceded that it''s the best outcome for everyone involved.]


    [Yeah, she knows... I''ll try contacting her again after the match. I wish I could help you with demon Rhea, but I value my life, so I''m staying clear after I call her again. Good luck. I''ll be cheering you on from the side.]


    [Shmuck. This, I will be telling Aym about. Being a revenant, he will undoubtedly mock you for your cowardice for the rest of eternity.]


    [Eh? Enyo?... Enyo?!¡­ Enyo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] Sadie was wasting her time as Enyo had already long since ceased the mental connection. Sadie kept trying to re-establish the mental connection but didn''t make any headway even by the time they arrived at their destination. Even as she was being dragged away out of view by Bellona, she still tried a couple more times to no avail. As they went to the top floor to spectate, Ares, Enyo, and Aejaz went over to the fighter''s entrance and met up with Li Li and Esme again. While they walked inside and were verified by the officials working there, Ares turned to Li Li.


    "Any news on Dirk''s end? I''m ready and roaring to go whenever you guys are... Provided you aren''t just marching us all to our deaths, that is."


    "Yes and no. We know where Accelyn is residing during her stay in Red Sun and for how long she''ll be there, but Dirk''s father, Poniard, is being a bit difficult. He''s trying to force Dirk into an arranged marriage with some chick from our clan apparently. The Li and Nick clan patriarchs are old drinking buddies and they supposedly arranged something or other. I could ask my old man what''s up with that, but he aint the type to tell me jack. He would probably just start kicking the crap outta me before telling me if I wanted the answer I should beat it out of him. That''s the coot''s style so I haven''t bothered. Anyway, Dirk wants to try again with his father one last time, but he wants us two to come along with him to see if we can maybe try convincing him ourselves. I''m the woman he wants to be with and you''re ''a sly bastard with a devil''s tongue'', he''s hoping we can finagle a compromise of sorts. If that doesn''t work... I guess I could try with my old geezer.... Not that I would have high hopes... He''d just smack us around, kick us out, and tell us to comeback when we''ve grown some facial hair..."


    "Not easy being the kin of patriarchs with power, huh? Still, this opportunity wouldn''t be available to you if you weren''t, so, you know, the good with the bad and whatnot. I''m not sure how much of a help I can be, but I''ll show up just for the fun of it if nothing else. Getting to mess with a patriarch is a rare occurrence and there''s no way I would turn it down."


    "Your motives aren''t pure... But you''re the exact kind of dishonest bastard we need to get an edge, so we''ll take it."


    "Ha, deal."


    As the match was just about to start, the group didn''t stay in their waiting room for long after arriving there. Less than two minutes after entering the room, a green light signalled it was go-time so they all strolled down the hallway leading to the arena.


    ""BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!""


    Oh, right, yeah, this. Ares was reminded that he was public enemy number one right now thanks to the onslaught of jeers aimed at him. There were a few brave souls cheering Red Sun on, but the rage directed at Ares, specifically, for his stunt the previous day was quite overwhelming. Hehehe, I wonder how they''ll react if I do this? Ares raised his fist high in the shape of a rock and winked coyly at the crowd.


    ""BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!""


    Ares burst out laughing as the rest of his teammates distanced themselves from him to avoid all the incoming trash that was being chucked at him. A layer of disintegration appeared above Ares'' head protecting him from a debris downpour as he continued strolling forward without a care in the world. Ares could even see a few meebles being lobbed his way. He was curious to see how many people would spit out their food if it was revealed he''d invented it. Still, it was good to know that Onno was hard at work selling his goods. Ares would get his share of the earnings after the tournament was over so all the meebles raining down on him was a good indicator he''d be getting a fair bit of stardust. Actually, if these people were going to keep throwing them, that would just mean they would have to buy more! Ah, I truly am a moneymaking machine! Onno must be so proud right now...


    The group made it to the centre of the stage in one piece after a couple of overseers went around chiding the audience and threatening to kick them out without refunding their stardust. Mr Clipboard smiled wryly at the Red Sun team before running over the rules once more just in case anyone had forgotten since their last bout. While this was happening, Ares scanned the Bhorashka team and waved with a silly smile on his face the second he saw Ramsey. The ram huffed and gave Ares the middle finger to which Ares theatrically draped a hand over his head and leant back like he''d been emotionally wounded. Flickering embers drifted of a maddened Ramsey who''s fire pillar magic had just been exposed to Ares. This information was readily available for anyone who cared enough to do research, but Ares was as busy as he was lazy so this method was preferable as far as he was concerned.


    When Mr Clipboard was done repeating the same old rules, he invited the captain of each team to go and shake hands before the start of the match. The captain of the Bhorashka group was Hawkins and the captain of Red Sun was Enyo so, naturally, neither of them went up. Ares and Ramsey silently gave their captains the puppy-eyed begging routine as their was a grudge at play here! They both received ''permission'' in the form of a tired nod and an eye roll from their respective captains. Ares and Ramsey strutted towards each other and Ramsey was the first to open his mouth but Ares cut him off at the path, getting his own words out quicker, further fuelling the ram''s rage.


    "Hey baa''stard, you actually made it to this round? Is this place a coliseum or a petting zoo? Dunno why you''re looking at me like that, I don''t have any grass to give you."


    "Grrrrrr." Ramsey pointed a burly finger at Ares. "You..." That same finger retracted and pointed at himself. "... Vs me. When the fight starts, put your stardust where your insufferable mouth is."


    "Ha, you want to fight me? Ok big guy, your funeral. Hey! Before the match starts, you wanna play a game of rock, paper, scissors for old time''s sake?"


    Ramsey entertained Ares no longer as he turned around and left without responding. Ares just shrugged his shoulders in disappointment and walked over to the rest of his team who were ready and raring to get things underway. Judging by everyone''s position and intentions, it looked like the start of the fight would be 5 separate duels to get things underway. Ares and Ramsey was a given. Li Li and the pred were eyeing up one another with respect as fellow brawlers. Enyo was facing Hawkins, the other captain. The two slender combatants who were quick on their feet, meaning Aejaz and Oat, were doing their best impressions of moss and trying to remain out of sight by clinging to the outer wall. That left Esme to duke it out with Leopold which was an interesting matchup considering the tactical approach both took to combat. They had a hit and run style that was rare amongst cultivators. Their match would undoubtedly be the most exciting back and forth to watch when things truly kicked off, especially seeing as how they had some of the highest cultivations of everyone competing.


    With everyone in position, Mr Clipboard took his leave and the entrances to the Arena were shut. Ares noticed two platforms, raised slightly to either side of the arena, that would likely be where those who were murdered during the fight wound up. They would be resurrected and confined to the platforms until they were allowed back into the ring, not that Ares ever planned on having this be relevant to him.


    Blaring from somewhere above the contenders'' heads, a loud horn signalled the start of the match just like back during the regionals. This horn was considerably louder and it produced a longer lasting noise than before though, likely to make sure it was heard amidst the ruckus of the crowd. Right out the gate, Ares Shifted over to the talisman.


    "Heh, I''ll be taking this, hope you don''t mind." Oat the stoat, and his cultivation of mental accumulation, 6th stage, came creeping out of the shadows and whispered to Ares in a quiet, raspy voice as he reached towards the talisman. This was the first time Ares had gotten a proper look at the fellow as he''d mostly been slinking around in the background up until now. Oat''s body was thin and, for lack of a better term, wiggly. His spine was capable of bending in unnatural ways causing his body shape to occasionally resemble that of an ''s''. His light brown fur on his back contrasted with the creamy fur on his front. His tiny, sharp eyes were as dark as the tip of his tail and his face sported a couple of whiskers around his button nose. The clothes the mustelid opted to wear were no different from that of your average rogue-type swindler, mostly leather with a few metal plates here and there covering his vitals. A dark brown hood covered his wide ears which had been somewhat flattened on his head as a result, causing them to point directly forward at whoever Oat was looking at. As Oat devoted his attention to the talisman, he heard a chant behind him coming from Ares.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Adaptive Shot."


    Oat turned on the spot when he felt a swelling of mana in the air but couldn''t pinpoint what kind. It was a mana unlike anything he''d ever experienced before and, contrasted to his own nature magic, was like a violent smack in the face. When he faced Ares he saw the barrel of a gun, overflowing with golden mana, pointed in his direction. Before he could comprehend what was happening, Ares pulled the trigger.


    SCREE!


    A brilliant gold eagle spread its wings wide and soared into he air before swooping down and rushing towards its prey. Whether the reaction was natural, due to Oat''s biology, or not, he gave up on the talisman and fled the second he witnessed a true predator spawn into existence. Part of the panic was due to the shape of the magic inspiring dread in the stoat, the other half was due to whatever type of magic the attack was horrifying Oat down to his core.


    "Escalating Escapades!" Oat''s unique art of the ''unwavering wood'' aspect summoned a gnarled tree, with twisted roots and warped branches, ahead of him that would grant him safety. He deftly clamoured around the back of the tree and poked a portion of his head out to spectate the eagle cautiously. He felt relieved now that he was on his own home turf. The tree couldn''t attack but, provided Oat was constantly touching it, it was invincible. He could run up and down the tree and hide freely, forcing his opponent to play his game and come chase him under his unassailable fortress. Oat expected the bird to mindlessly crash into the tree and give him a breather but, unfortunately for him, the bird was smarter than that and took a detour, curving around the tree with its sights set firmly on the mustelid. It tilted its head before diving toward Oat who began scrambling around the tree, constantly trying to keep the tree between the bird and himself. The eagle committed to swoops and dives, pursuing the stoat relentlessly while slowly forcing him further and further up the tree.


    As Ares nabbed the talisman, he couldn''t help but be impressed with the bird''s intellect. He''d heard its ability to track was ''basic'', but this was seriously a determined animal if ever he''d seen one. Maybe it had something to do with the target it was chasing looking like a tasty snack to it?


    Back by the tree, Oat was reaching the top of his magical structure and had run out of places to escape too. The bird drew ever closer, extending its talons that were ready to grip onto the mustelid''s throat and drag him away.


    Gulp


    Oat chuckled nervously and called out to his companions with his smoky voice. "Fellas? Mind lending me a paw or two?" Although a sigh was the only response he received from his teammate, he knew that he was going to be bailed out of the situation so he relaxed a bit.


    ROAR


    CRASH


    Leopold exercised his lungs to circulate mana and used his lightning pillar magic to strike down the persistent bird, sending it plummeting down to the floor near the base of the tree.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    Oat clung to the tree for dear life as it was nearly uprooted and blown across the coliseum from the detonation that rocked his magic to the roots. When the blast settled, Oat rubbed his eyes and stared at the dent in the floor surrounding his tree. All of the roots were exposed and a part of his supposedly indestructible tree had been shaved off. Oat put his hood back on and scratched his chin. "Yikes... Man, I really hate birds..."


    Back by Ares, Ramsey was menacingly marching towards him... Slowly... Very, very slowly. Ramsey was the slow and steady type that more closely resembled a 7ft boulder than any known living creature. He had a respectable cultivation of 8th stage mental accumulation, putting him above Ares by five whole stages which would be an automatic death sentence for most ordinary cultivators. His face was mostly covered in white fur and only two small dots could be seen on either side of his head. These deep red dots were what little part of his eyes could manage to poke out of the obscene amount of fluff on his face. His chin was thick as a brick and his chunky horns curled back over his shoulder blades. His body was well built and laden with bulging muscles. Muscles that were bursting out of his lumberjack attire. The red and black chequered shirt he wore struggled not to tear and his cargo pants were straining to contain his mighty legs. Unfortunately for Ramsey, his strength was also his biggest detriment as he could probably lug around and entire tree with his brute strength, yes, but he could probably also be outrun by a mecha dryad. Hell, Loris Lax could probably sleepwalk quicker than this bumbling mountain of a man. Ares took a step back for every step Ramsay took toward him, not because he was scared or anything, but because he was genuinely curious to see how Ramsey would deal with an opponent who didn''t come to him. Ares had every intention of speeding this process up by taunting the big guy and goading him into action.


    "Hey, I don''t suppose you''ve got any female relatives working the pole in Bhorashka? I can do you a favour and pay them a visit, you know, maybe send some stardust their way."


    MRAGFADHAGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!


    An incomprehensible fit of rage consumed Ramsey as he let out a garbled yell of frustration. Ramsey channelled his fury into chanting an art. "IMM-O-LATE." Ramsey''s unusual pronunciation, likely due to blind anger overtaking his sanity, aside, he''d just casted a rather dangerous art. His body ignited and tufts of burning fur flickered off him like embers, revealing his bare, burning skin underneath. Immolate was a conflagration aspect art that lit the user on fire, turning them into a fiery devil that would ignite anything they touched. It hurt to use. it hurt a lot. But it would also hurt anyone the user grappled with many times more, plus it gave the wielder a massive, ramping speed boost as compensation to enable hunting down the opponent. In Ramsey''s case, it also functioned as a means of shearing his excess fur. This reduced his overall tankiness by a fair bit but also increased his mobility on top of the arts already inbuilt function that performed a similar role. This art was powerful to begin with, even though it came with a cost, but a baa''ki like Ramsey would get additional benefits on top due to the way it synergised with his race. With his wrath renewed and quite literally reignited, Ramsey charged towards Ares, leaving fiery footprints and burnt wool in his wake. Ramsey was so hot the air around him possessed a mirage like quality that distorted his now fully revealed face into one that resembled the likeness of a vicious Baphomet driven by hatred. His jumbled roars continued as he ran at Ares, prepared to grip onto him and simultaneously melt and crush him between his burning biceps.


    Sniff Sniff


    "Is it me, or does it smell like mutton in here?" Ares jibe was predictively met with the same indecipherable response as before.


    BWAOUARHEGHHHHHHHHHH!


    "Say it, don''t spray it." Ares brought out the Black Ice Bane. "Alright, lets test that fortitude of yours and see what your made of. Test numero uno. Crystalised Void: Wall." Ares raised a crystal wall in Ramsey''s path and...


    Shatter


    ¡­ It''s safe to say, it didn''t last very long. Ramsey barrelled through the wall completely unphased. Even the disintegration tendrils melted as they tried to assault him. "Ok. Test number one is a resounding failure. Let''s conduct test number two. Crystalised Void: Tricky Rink!" Ares shoved the tip of the sword into the floor, releasing a tide of Crystalised Void that decorated the floor of the coliseum. Fortunately for the other fighters, all of them were far enough away to not be affected by the Rink. Ramsey''s burning body was like a beacon of light to the disintegration magic hiding within the Rink. The tendrils burst out and managed to make more progress this time, but being halted by Ramsey''s sturdy flesh in the end meant they hadn''t accomplished anything yet again. Ramsey''s fire coated feet burned away the floor until it wasn''t an issue and he ran straight through the field of explosions he was causing, by breaking the ice with his stampede, without faltering. He looked like an action star, like a kind of superhero soldiering onward through an explosive onslaught of landmines. Of course the fiery aura enhanced the heroism on display too. Ares had to admit he looked a little cool. If anything, all Ares was doing with these experiments were making Ramsey''s fans adore him even more. He was basically giving the guy a highlight reel here!


    "Ok. No more playing around big guy. Experiment number three. I''ll warn ya in advance, I''m feeling good about this one!" Ares splayed his fingers and twisted his wrist to cast an art he hadn''t thrown out in a long while. "Not Even Light!" A rotating black hole enveloped Ramsey who disappeared amongst the gooey black swirl. At the bare minimum, the art would extinguish his magic. Though, as Ramsey'' magic burned him from the inside out, there was a good chance the art would also inflict pretty major damage on top of that. Although Not Even Light was primarily defensive, it became a real offensive troublemaker against opponents who buffed themselves with magic. The magic in and around their flesh would cause the black hole to actively target the combatant which it usually couldn''t do. Ramsey''s overconfidence drove him headfirst into a blob of disintegration so the fact that he came tumbling out of it alive was actually rather impressive. Ramsey had lost an eye, an arm, an ear, a horn, chunks of his legs, and had a few holes in his stomach, all of which were leaking blood profusely, but he was alive! If that could even be considered living, anyway. Despite the embers of his magic fading, the resentment in his eyes did not.


    "COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!" Ramsey''s cry garnered him sympathy from the crowd. In their eyes, Ares had done nothing but run away and cast magic at him from afar the whole time.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


    Ares rolled his eyes at this incessant complaining the crowd had been doing and decided he''d had enough of this tomfoolery. If Ramsey wanted to get hiss ass beat in his own area of expertise in front of a crowd of onlookers then Ares would oblige. "Voidwalk." Ares took a step and vanished, confusing Ramsey who then felt someone tapping his back. Ramsey swivelled on the spot and jumped back to create distance.


    "Running away because I poked you? Now who''s the coward? You wanted fisticuffs, right? Come on then, lets get up close and personal!" A quick series of boxer-steps and some shoulder movements from Ares, followed by a combative stare, proved to a dumbfounded crowd he meant business.


    Ramsey hesitated because this opportunity felt too good to be true. Someone willingly coming towards him and entering his comfort zone was something only those who were stupid would ever even attempt, and yet here was a puny ''human'', not even half Ramsey''s total size, squaring up and advancing towards him. The disappearing act earlier also kept Ramsey wary as he had assumed Ares was a waste of space who would just keep chucking ranged magic at him. The sudden shift in tone, and the unveiling of Ares'' superior speed, threw Ramsey for a loop and made him opt for a slow approach, letting Ares come to him as he took a defensive stance in preparation. Ares stayed low to the floor as dashed toward Ramsey who''s method of retaliation came in the form an overhead punch, arcing down as though he were going to crush the floor beneath him. Ares took a strong step and planted himself in the line of the incoming swing as he leant into his own. His left shoulder sunk as his right one raised, dragging his fist upwards and into a rising uppercut to combat Ramsey''s punch head on.


    Thud


    The sound of a meaty collision blasted out from the point of contact shortly before it was followed by the sound of defeat.


    CRACK


    Someone''s knuckles had been splintered into tiny pieces, but it wasn''t until Ramsey staggered backward with a look of pain on his face that it became apparent to his shocked fans who''d won that interaction.


    Ramsey kissed his teeth as he looked back at the annoying human who was now circulating golden mana through his cape and veins, subtly wearing the aura of a golden god. No one ever said Ares couldn''t throw down mano a mano if he needed to. Running annihilation magic through his body, Voidwalk, Echoes, Double Jump, and Stamp Out all meant he had the tools to do it, and Ramsey and the crowd were about to find out the hard way that they''d been underestimating the mouthy pest.

 Chapter 92: Animal Cruelty

    Ares closed the distance, not giving Ramsey enough time to get his thoughts straight, and leapt left. As Ramsey took the bait and chased Ares with his eyes, Ares used a Double Jump to veer right, crossing up the slow brute. In a futile attempt to defend himself, Ramsey held his arm out behind him to create a pitiful block. "Stamp Out!" Ares performed a rolling thunder kick that snuck over the top of Ramsey''s arm and kicked him straight in the face.


    BANG


    Ramsey was blasted away as the Stamp Out / Voidwalk combination chipped his skull and rattled his brain. He rolled along the floor, kicking up dust until he crashed into a wall which cracked under his weight.


    Cough cough


    Blood trickled out of Ramsey''s mouth and down his chin as his head rocked side to side. When his blurry vision caught sight of Ares, sitting on the wall above him with his feet dangling over his head, Ramsey stumbled to his feet. He fumbled and tripped onto his knees because he was still recovering from the last attack but still managed to desperately scramble away from his previous position. He turned around to face Ares but was taken by surprise when the man in question was standing right in front of him with his hands behind his back as if he was out for a stroll. "Hey fella, you''re looking worse for wear. Why don''t you pick a fight with someone more your speed?" Ares took a step to the side and Li Li came charging through the empty space with her blazing fist lunging at Ramsey''s chest.


    Thud


    Ramsey managed to block the attack with his arm but he still winced in pain as the blow was no joke. Li Li was much happier to be here fighting this opponent instead as the previous one had been a real nightmare for her. This matchup was nowhere near as atrocious and the opponent was wounded to boot. Li Li spit a magma bullet at Ramsey to throw his rhythm off and rushed after him to deliver another punch.


    Ares, on the other hand, was now going head to head with Hark the shark. He''d noticed Li Li on the back foot and sent her a mental note to come swap with him. She wouldn''t have lost necessarily, but she wouldn''t have won anytime soon either.


    Hark''s defining features were the blue sharkskin that covered his entire body and his pointed facial features. Jagged teeth, narrow eyes hiding behind a pair of sleek sunglasses, a forehead that curved back, and a pierced fin poking out through his pink-mottled mohawk. When combining his features with his shiny black clothes, it gave off the impression of a biker who thought he was too cool for this mortal coil. The back of his jacket had a picture of a giant skull on it and his Kevlar jeans were littered with silver chains and zips. Hark''s smooth, suave voice was tinged with confidence and condescension. "Yo! Aint you the guy who who''s been at it with ol'' Ramsey?" Hark glanced over at his compadre. "Hm, seems ya roughed him up a bit. That''s no good pal. Guess Imma have to stick it to ya in his stead! Aqua Slicer!" The flow aspect art Hark casted summoned tonfa blades of water along the length of both his arms and legs giving him a sharp weapon to slice and dice Ares with.


    No wonder Li Li was having a bad time over here. Water pillar and a long weapon counters her fire pillar and close combat style. She wouldn''t have been able to attack into this. Ares analysed the situation as he dodged the flurry of slashes and spin kicks coming his way. Hark was quicker than Ramsey but his strikes had less power behind them. His real strength lay in the water blades that could cut though just about anything and his high cultivation base of sensory enhancement, 2nd stage. Hark was a specialised fighter who did one thing and one thing very well, keep up the pressure with a rapid series of attacks. Thanks to Ares'' Voidwalk, however, he wasn''t feeling too swamped, so Ares took this time to ignore Hark and spectate the other fights to see how things were going. Hark noticed Ares not paying attention and upped his aggression but couldn''t catch up with the slippery bastard no matter how hard he tried. The first fight Ares started watching was the one between his cowardly brother and his equally cowardly opponent, Oat. This was truly an uninspiring ''battle'' if ever there was one as, really, it couldn''t even be considered as such...


    Aejaz scratched his head as he and Oat stared at one another with wry smiles. "So, uh, nice weather we''re having, huh?" Aejaz took a seat in front of the tree and made no effort to attack his opponent. At the end of the day, he didn''t really need to. Most of his team were winning their fights now that Ares had assisted Li Li, and they had the talisman too. If Aejaz did nothing, he would win by virtue of other people''s effort! Also, why would he bother himself to mess with the tree? He couldn''t do anything about it unless he used his secret art, but that was reserved for the international. Without that magic, how was he supposed to assail Oat? Climb the tree while the rodent attacked him? Ha, nope.


    "Could be better... I wish it was raining. Birds don''t like rain... Or so Hawkins tells me." Oat partook in the friendly conversation with Aejaz. These two were birds of a feather. They had a penchant for avoiding fights and a talent for it to boot. Still, Oat''s team weren''t doing so hot, so he knew he needed to do something. "Sorry pal, but I''ll get chewed out if I don''t at least make you sweat a little." Oat pulled out a treasure that resembled an oaken crossbow and aimed it at Aejaz who sat in place without moving a muscle.


    Sigh


    Aejaz clicked his tongue and reached forward with his hand when it became apparent sitting around idly wasn''t an option. "Relocate."


    Oat looked down at his empty hands before looking back at Aejaz who was now wielding Oat''s own crossbow and aiming it right between his eyes.


    "Yeah, same for me. Don''t take it personal." Aejaz shrugged as he pulled the trigger and fired a sharpened branch from the weapon he''d stolen.


    Oat''s usual gameplan was to pepper his opponent from afar, luring them into his turf where his nature magic would give him an edge. Now that his ranged weapon was gone he could do nothing but hide on the opposite side of the tree. Every time he poked his head out, ''TWANG'', a bolt was fired straight at him. He wasn''t sure how his weapon was taken from under his nose at this great-a distance, but right now his main worry was getting berated after the match ended for not carrying his weight... He couldn''t leave the tree because he wasn''t really a good fighter without it and he couldn''t attack from this range without his weapon... As it turned out, this ''fight;'' really wasn''t going to happen. Neither opponent would willingly walk up to the other. Aejaz had a ranged weapon, but Oat had an impenetrable shield as long as he hid behind the tree. Ares was not even remotely surprised that the only two cowards in the arena had somehow managed to accidentally achieve an unbreakable stalemate. If it weren''t for the fact that his brother was ''technically'' ''winning'', even though he was just sitting around and playing target practice, Ares would have stormed over and kicked him in the rear! These two may as well have been having a stare down for all the difference it would have made to the fight overall. Even the spectators had taken to booing these two lazy bums. Their stubbornness, however, was legendary as neither Aejaz nor Oat would make the mistake of putting themself in a unfavourable position just to kickstart a meaningless fight.


    Esme and Leopold''s fight was drastically different as it looked like a game of minesweeper. Ares could see the sheer quantity of traps that had been laid out thanks to his Omniscience. Both combatants were tiptoeing around their current position while firing off magic to try and force the other person to move into one of their arts they''d sneakily hidden. Esme had placed countless Wind Mines that, individually, held less power than one of Leopold''s traps but could also push the victim around, maybe forcing them to land on more than one. She was firing off blasts of wind that were quick but didn''t do much damage as their goal was simply to move the opponent into a Mine and set off the chain reaction.


    Leopold was hunched over on all fours and prowling along a route he already knew was safe thanks to his earlier testing. Small shocks would roll off his paws and scout ahead along the floor, detonating any nearby Mines as he kept firing off his own magic at Esme. Although Leopold had the advantage currently, he was starting to get annoyed at the wind blasts that were threatening to remove his top hat and tear away his brown suit. He''d freshly ironed it this morning and it was bad enough that the tie dangling below him was ruined! His beautiful, tan brown tie that he specifically picked out because it matched the colour of his black fur and his brown eyes, ruined! He occasionally let out low growls of discontentment and scratched the floor with his claws in frustration as fixing the tie was always a nuisance. If he''d just spilled wine on it, that would be one thing, but he was going to have to hire a tailor to fix it because the damage was notable. Leopold ducked under a gust of wind and coated his claw in lightning magic as he poked it in Esme''s direction, setting another Shock Pocket in her immediate area. Shock Pockets were an art of the amp aspect that created an invisible guetapens of ghastly lightning that would burst the moment it was touched. The lightning it contained would streak out and seek nearby opponents when it detonated, frying anyone they could catch which, considering their respectable speed, was usually anyone and everyone. This attack also had a decent chance of paralysing the part of the opponent it hit. Leopold having a cultivation of 10th stage mental accumulation also meant these attack would be painful to say the least. As for the magic he was firing off in order to force Esme to move, Flash Thunders were enough to do the job. They weren''t as powerful as Thunder Strikes but he didn''t need power right now, he needed to force errors. Quick Flashes that came roaring down from the heavens were the optimal choice to cause Esme to make a mistake when carelessly rushing her dodge.


    All it would take for this fight to really kick off and devolve into a shitshow for the ages was for one person to set of a trap and then all hell would break loose in this section of the arena. They would both have to dash around like headless chickens to escape the clusters of magic that were currently tormenting their mental states. All of the audience members watching were secretly hoping for this as that would be a real spectacle for them to enjoy.


    It looked like Esme would be the first to fall into a trap, but a well timed Aero Authority helped her fly to a safe spot and continue the dodging. It was undeniable that she was struggling though as she very nearly clipped a trap that had been cleverly placed in the air by Leopold earlier. Even her escape routes weren''t really safe anymore. The cattian''s nimble hops and slinking form were making it really difficult to land an attack to boot. Right now, she was playing to her opponent''s strengths and not hers. Leopold was better at setting up traps, Esme was better at remaining mobile. They could each do both, but right now one was a much better skillset to have than the other. Esme had been winning in the early stages of the fight when there were fewer traps and she could move freely, but she hadn''t capitalised on her advantage in time and now the situation was reversed. Still, Ares wasn''t worried and neither was Esme. This was just the early stages of the fight and there were tricks up everyone''s sleeves that had yet to be revealed. If anything, despite how terrible things looked for Esme, it was all going according to her plan. The more traps, the merrier.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Li Li was doing considerably better now that she could actually hit her opponent without having to risk it all. The fight between her and Ares'' good friend Ramsey would have been about even if it weren''t for all the work Ares had put in earlier. Ramsey deserved credit for holding on in his current state, but that was really all he could do. Li Li''s magma bullets kept harassing him and putting him in awkward situations whereby he couldn''t block both it and the follow-up punch at the same time. He''d started to just let the bullets hit him because he was used to being set on fire and he could tolerate it more than the punches. The real issue he faced was Guesswork which allowed Li Li to skirt around his block and land clean blows over and over again. Magma curtain after curtain forced Ramsey to play a guessing game he kept losing. Ramsey occasionally tried to retaliate but his options were limited. Being a fellow fire pillar cultivator, Li Li was mostly unbothered by the magic and could shrug any weak attacks off with ease just as he could, so that would be a waste unless he immolated himself again or used it to create an opening. All of the injuries he''d sustained were making him tired too so his punches, while certainly devastating in their own right, weren''t hitting quite like they would have previously the few times he was able to swing back. Not to mention his new opponent was physically superior to his previous one. Ares relied on magic tricks to nullify the disadvantage of his weak physical strength whereas Li Li was just a straight up powerhouse. Even without magic her strikes were fast and effective.


    If things kept up long enough, Ramsey would lose here. He opened his mouth and tried to launch a point-blank Flamethrower when Li Li used guesswork. His plan was to take her by surprise as she passed through the curtain, land the Flamethrower, and then do some actual damage with a heavy punch after. His expectations were shattered when the namesake of Guesswork lived up to its moniker as Li Li was nowhere to be found. She hadn''t popped out from behind the magma curtain at all. In fact, when the Flamethrower ended, all Ramsey saw was a pillar of hardened magma behind the curtain that had taken the brunt of his magic. Li Li had seen the desperation in his eyes mounting and figured he would launch a counterattack the next time he had a moment to breathe. She took advantage and tricked him into leaving an opening, and that meant it was time to punish him for his mistake. Li Li emerged from behind the hardened magma and slid into position to unleash "One Flaw, Five Strikes." Unlike the last time she used this against Slick, Li Li didn''t bother adding fire magic as that would be pointless against a resilient Ramsey. Instead, she put more effort into the strike itself, making the impact, and all of the subsequent five hits, more deadly. Her blow to Ramsey''s stomach was mirrored across the rest of his body and his organs were battered. He coughed up more blood but didn''t fall down, standing tall as he readied himself to continue taking a beating. He could have just accepted death and come back to re-join the fray in a minute, but he didn''t want to bother his team mates and make their life harder because of his own failures. Maybe if someone else had already died he would''ve considered it so he could come back fighting fit, but in no world could he ever allow himself to fall first. That would be disgraceful.


    Aside from Ares'' own ''fight'', that only left Enyo vs Hawkins. Hawkins was dressed in warm clothes, which made sense considering he could fly and he would be cold as all hell if he was wearing lighter clothing at high altitudes. His pure white layer of feathers helped, but the custom made aviator jacket with a warming rune kept his temperature high through any and all storms. Alongside basic blue jeans, he wore aviator goggles to keep any detritus blowing in the wind out of his eyes. He was nearly blinded one time he took to the sky, when he was younger, by a transition realm cultivator who spit out a pear pip from above the clouds. Thankfully it missed his eye, but it did leave a pretty big scar across his face. Ever since then he''d kept his trusty goggles on at all times when above the ground. He also had an earring shaped like a feather in his right ear which was a memento from his wife before he left Bhorashka to come to the competition. The only other piece of clothing on him was a pair of gloves of which there was nothing particularly special about them, Hawkins just really quite liked them is all.


    Although Hawkins cultivation wasn''t the highest amongst all the Bhorashka lot, coming in at 9th stage mental accumulation, he was definitely the strongest cultivator in the group overall. His skillset was varied and he knew a decent amount of arts for any situation, making him an all-rounder type cultivator with a solution up his sleeve for every occasion... Every occasion other than Enyo, anyway. Hawkins was truly learning how frightening defensive oriented cultivators, rare as they were, could be. He''d started the fight with a barrage of feathers that Enyo effortlessly repelled with a single barrier. Hawkins'' next attempt was a mental attack, but Enyo ran holy magic through her brain and cleansed it immediately as the holy pillar was naturally good against mental attacks. By this point, Hawkins was starting to get antsy because the woman he was facing off against looked completely unperturbed by his existence. Enyo could probably just turn her back on him and go do something else and feel completely safe in the process. Hawkins was the strongest of his team, but right now he was being made to look a fool. Hawkins major weakness was that he didn''t have anything that really separated him from any other cultivator. He didn''t have some final move up his sleeve that could break through Enyo''s barrier. He wasn''t a specialist in mental attacks so he couldn''t overcome the holy pillar''s innate ability. He was good at close combat, but getting past Enyo''s barriers only to have to deal with her shield after was a death sentence. His only real option was to leave and help someone else. At least that way he could force Enyo to move and do something other than just sit there, shrugging off everything he did. As he was about to turn and part ways, though, Enyo took action.


    "Blinding. Aletheia."


    Enyo sequentially activated a rune on her Steadfast Aegis and chanted an art. Blinding was the first of four runes on her shield and did exactly what it said on the tin. The grooves on the shield reflected a bright flash of light that robbed anyone in front of Enyo of their vision temporarily. It also somewhat stunned the victims, disorienting them and slowing their movement making it the perfect tool to lead into an offensive art. That would be where Enyo''s Aletheia came in. While Hawkins was swerving through the air in an effort to move unpredictably, Enyo took a deep breath and focused on clipping Hawkins wings. Hitting him directly would obviously be preferable, but being safe instead of being greedy was the correct approach. If she could just floor him things would get a lot easier from then on out. Luckily, Enyo''s frequent whack-a-mole sessions in which she thwacked Ares for his stupid comments had drastically improved her aim. Of course the major contributing factor was actually Aejaz. Ares had put his brother up to the task of teaching everyone how to aim at a moving target. Aejaz was the moving target. He was a difficult little weasel to hit so the training had actually been harder than most of the other things they''d done with Sadie up until that point. Still, the repeat attempts gradually helped everyone improve; even Aejaz as he was now more adept at dodging than he ever was before, although it did come at the cost of him being impaled occasionally during training. All of this to say that when Enyo unleashed her Aletheia, it did way more than just clip a wing; it burnt a whole one off despite Hawkins best efforts to dodge. Hawkins was an expert in aviation and could probably have kept himself afloat if he had any idea which direction he was currently facing, but he was still blinded by the artifact and couldn''t tell up from down. He made an effort to keep himself in the air but that effort was, unfortunately for him, accidentally directed right at the floor, meaning he''d caused himself to crash more violently than he would have had he just done nothing. This had been a do or die moment and, had he guessed correctly, he could have turned everything around. He would have regained his bearing and darted off to go aid someone else before Enyo could catch up. Now though? Now he barely managed to pull himself up to his feet before he was knocked down again by another one of the runes on Enyo''s shield.


    "Tremor."


    This rune was the main reason Ares had changed the design of Enyo''s shield to be like that of a heater shield. The pointed bottom could be buried into the ground, thus making the tremor rune easier to use and more effective when it was activated. The ground rumbled and Hawkins, who was still semi-blind at this point, tripped onto the ground again, giving Enyo time to start charging straight at him with her shield up front. Hawkins could tell this would be a miserable experience as there was no escaping, so he instead chose to try and mitigate the problem by compressing wind magic into a ball. It wasn''t an art of any kind, he was just constantly gathering wind magic and shoving it all into the ball and keeping it compact.


    Enyo raced along the fiery trail as the flickering holy magic danced along her shield. Hawkins gulped seconds before Enyo ran him over and started dragging his body along atop her burning shield. She carried him to the opposite end of the arena and rammed him into the wall with brute force.


    Crack


    Bang


    Hawkins spine was injured and he had trouble detaching himself from the wall he''d been buried in. He saved himself from Enyo somewhat as he released the ball of air at the last second, blasting Enyo back and away from him. If he hadn''t done this, he would have been crushed into a mushy bird paste against the wall. As for Enyo, her shield had taken all of the brunt of the attack and she was completely unharmed, she''d just been pushed back slightly is all. Hawkins looked around and came to the conclusion that they were likely going to lose. Ramsey was on death''s door. Oat could do literally nothing. Hawkins himself was losing atrociously. Only Leopold was doing decently out of everyone, and Hark''s situation was odd because Ares was outright ignoring him. Ares had proven himself to be quite a menace thus far so Hawkins assumed Hark was losing and Ares was just messing with him for his own amusement. The Red Sun team had the talisman since the beginning so stalling for time wasn''t even in the cards unless Hawkins could snatch it and try to hide in the air for the remainder of the fight. Hawkins was regretful. He hadn''t expected to win the international or anything, but to fall so early in the national was disappointing... Still, he wouldn''t go out without putting up a fight and everyone else felt the same way, clearly, as they were all still struggling against the inevitable fate looming over them.


    What little hope they had left was soon to be crushed, however, as Red Sun was about to start taking this fight seriously. Red Sun could have very easily stalled until the cows came home and the chickens came to roost, but these animals weren''t the ones they were interested in; no, they wanted to skin the Bhorashka team down to the bone. All of the Red Sun members had spent weeks practicing together to come up with combination arts for every plausible situation and, now, they were about to go on a spree; unleashing all their tricks and tactics to blow their opponents out of the water. For the first time during the national, but definitely not the last, Red Sun were about to prove why they belonged in this competition.

 Chapter 93: Combinational

    Ares was finally paying the poor shark some attention. Now that he''d seen the rough state of all the combatants, he felt comfortable truly kicking things off. First things first though, he wanted to teach this pred a lesson or two about attacking a man who isn''t even paying attention to you! He''d been excessively rude attacking Ares like this! Of course Ares chose to ignore the fact that he''d been humiliating Hark for at least the last minute by this point, leading him around the arena like he was holding a carrot on a stick...


    "Black Blossom!" Ares coated his sword, causing it to overflow with disintegration magic that drifted off it and into the surroundings. Tiny petals rained from the sky as Ares raised and held his sword above his shoulder with both hands firmly gripping the handle. He was preparing himself to commit to a slow slash that would unleash a torrent of magic at Hark if he was foolish enough to challenge him head on.


    Hark tested the waters by swinging his blade tonfa at one of the nearby petals. This magic was unknown to him and he wanted answers before he did anything rash. He knew his team wasn''t in the greatest of positions so making a colossal mistake here would be damming. His Aqua Slicer shredded the petal and he felt relieved that these things probably weren''t that dangerous. He raised his arm and readied himself to take on Ares but he soon after realised his tonfa was gone. "Huh?" Hark looked down at his arm where his magical weapon had once been but there wasn''t a trace of it left. He stared dumbly at his arm for a little while longer, even wiggling it in the air, but when his tonfa didn''t return, he chuckled nervously. To wipe away the doubt, he resummoned the tonfa and attacked another petal, this time paying attention to the outcome on his end.


    Poof


    The second his tonfa even ever so slightly brushed past the petal, it vanished. Gone forever. "Aw man, the hell is this?" Hark pointed at the petals as he directed his question towards Ares who was still in the same stance, unmoving.


    "Disintegration. If you ever feel like departing from this world, be my guest and come take a step or two closer. Of course..." Ares took a step forward himself. "... If you''re hesitant..." Ares took another step. "I can come to you, free of charge!"


    "Nah, that ain''t a service I''m interested in pal. Water Bullet!" Hark fired off some basic magic as he retreated. He had no interest in using his life to figure out what Ares'' Black Blossom could do, so he forced Ares to show his hand while keeping his distance.


    Ares brought the sword down in a clean arc, obliterating the Bullet he intercepted whilst leaving a black gash in reality that flared to life after a short delay.


    ROAR


    The engorged disintegration tear expanded and burst in a screech that threatened to fully annihilate anything within the reach of its black maw. The disintegration began receding and faded after a few seconds, leaving a bewildered pred wondering how on earth he was supposed to combat that insurmountable attack. The swing was one thing, as overpowering it was nigh impossible, but that didn''t even include the fact that the roar had sent the nearby petals flying, scattering them in a wide range. Even after retreating a fair distance, there were still a couple petals landing near Hark''s webbed feet. The one solace Hark had amidst the despair of having to go up against this nightmare was that Ares seemed to be moving slowly? Maybe? Hark really hoped this was the case, that Ares couldn''t run around as he pleased, as an art as powerful as that should logically have some kind of drawback... What he didn''t realise was that he was fighting against a fundamental pillar, and fundamental pillars didn''t play by the rules. They were above and beyond the other pillars by such a wide margin that they were effectively cheating. To that end, Hark looked back up and saw Ares dashing towards him at full speed like he''d smelled blood in the water. Hark almost had a heart attack when Ares'' sword slash was nearly thrice as fast as his previous one. He believed this would be the end of him as he wouldn''t have time to flee the explosion radius, but he thanked his lucky stars when he realised that specific effect was limited to the slower swings. The current predicament was still awful though as Ares'' light swing had cast more petals in his direction, making it a real herculean task to fight back. Now Hark understood how Li Li must have felt going up against him. Passivity, aggression... All roads led to a loss. Hark retreated back to avoid swing after swing as the petals became more and more numerous. He almost missed a beat when Ares'' next swing came out slower but was quick enough on his feet to realise what was about to happen; so he turned his back and ran full speed away from the current location.


    ROAR


    The noise that would haunt him in his nightmares sounded behind him and he could see a flurry of shadows on the floor as tens of petals were scattered with wild abandon. He ran like his life depended on it but something strange was happening to him... He was slowing down... And he was getting colder, and colder, and colder... He came to a confused halt, shivering and exhaling puffs of condensation as he turned around to figure out what was happening to him. Before him were the two Bandit Brothers wielding two artifacts emitting two frosty auras. Although it wasn''t a combination art, Ares and Aejaz could use the Cold Caller rune on both the Bane and the Acrimony at the same time to rapidly drop the surrounding temperature by a considerable amount. Hark could feel himself dying. Sharks could freeze to death easily when their gills were packed up by the cold and that was happening to him in real time. Hark prayed Oat would come and bail him out of this situation. If Aejaz was here, then Oat had zero reason not also be here! Hark managed to twist his neck and, to his dismay, he spotted Oat standing stock still on his tree and watching this all unfold from a distance... Hark felt betrayed! The bastard couldn''t possibly be this selfish, right?! Hark would only learn later that Aejaz had used his magic in combination with Esme to relocate some of her Wind Mines. Aejaz had dotted Oat''s tree with invisible Mines on most of the branches, trapping Oat atop it and preventing him from ever leaving. The tree was invincible and could take hits from the mines, but Oat couldn''t. One wrong step and pop goes the weasel... Or stoat, in this case. As Hark slowly but surely got ever closer to taking a seat on the side-lines, Ares left his sword in Aejaz'' care and went off to go do his own thing. All Aejaz had to do was stand around Hark and never actually fight him. Aejaz'' speed compared to a nearly frozen Hark was more than enough to do laps around him so it wouldn''t be an issue to leave him here on his own.


    Ares darted past Li Li, but not before circulating his annihilation mana and giving her a high five on the way past to transfer it all. As he ran off, he heard Li Li chant with an excited voice.


    "Blockbuster!" Now this was a fun art to use! Well, according to Li Li anyway. It was a combination art between the annihilation aspect and the bare fist aspect that made her overall lethality skyrocket to unprecedented levels. The effect of the art was simple and Li Li demonstrated this perfectly as she moved forward to punch Ramsey. Her fist, covered in a layer of golden splendour, was launched at Ramsey who raised his limp arm to block once more.


    Thud


    Li Li''s fist made contact and, for a split second, nothing happened. It was just an ordinary punch. Everything was perfectly normal... At least everything was normal until...


    BANG!


    Ramsey''s arm literally exploded from the elbow down, gushing out blood as his bone was exposed to fresh air. He roared as he reeled in pain while Li Li ran him down and swung again. With no arms left to defend himself, Ramsey took the punch straight to the gut. The way Blockbuster worked was that, when a hit landed, annihilation magic would seep into the opponent''s body and search for the nearest physical object it could latch onto; this includes both bones and organs. From there, it would continue this process until the body part in question could no loner hold onto all the mana swarming it and exploded. The victim could mitigate this by circulating the mana elsewhere, but the annihilation magic still had to explode at some point. Once it was inside, all the victim could do was spread it all out to reduce the impact but that required effort and attention, both of which were hard to spare considering the fact that Li Li was still trying to punch you while you were distracted. Ignoring it, however, was not an option otherwise body parts would just start blowing up left, right, and centre. Li Li had immense fun using this art in practice and got a huge kick out of finally being able to use it on a human opponent... Well, half human anyway. Technically even that wasn''t correct as more than half of Ramsey''s body had been replaced by bloody holes.


    BANG


    And now, Ramsey''s body was no longer whole at all! He exploded into bloody confetti as Li Li celebrated her win. Blockbuster was enjoyable for Li Li not just because of the massive advantage it gave her by slowing down the opponents reactions as they dealt with internal problems, but also because turning her opponents into bloody fireworks was immensely satisfying! There was no greater power fantasy for a brawler than literally punching someone and turning them into a red mist. Li Li had seen her father do this once when she was younger and she had watched on at the time with a sparkle in her adolescent eye. Normally, this was not the kind of thing a pre-teen should have ever born witness to, but the Li clan was just full of whackos in general. It wasn''t strange for kids of the clan to be drinking alcohol and getting into scraps at a young age, before puberty even.


    Ramsey was revived on the floating platform and looked around in a panic. Sighing in relief upon seeing Hark already here was somewhat rude but Ramsey was a proud person so he genuinely felt a little better not being the first to arrive on the side-lines. Hark shook his head and decided to keep the fact that he''d bitten his own tongue a secret. When he saw Ramsey about to die, he ended his own life to get here quicker and not upset the big guy. It''s not lie Hark didn''t have a one way ticket to the platform anyway so speeding it up wasn''t really a problem. It didn''t look like the rest of the team would last for another minute anyway so when he died was irrelevant.


    Hawkins was doing his best against Enyo but, to put it lightly, he was being utterly demolished. He was smacked around by barriers and beaten up by Enyo and her shield whenever he dared approach.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Crack


    Enyo''s helmet came crashing down on Hawkins''s head, damaging his skull and bloodying his broken nose. His body was thrown backward as Enyo rammed him with her shield again. Sullenly spitting out the blood welling in his mouth, Hawkins took a stand and lifted himself into the air with his one, broken wing and Aero Authority to support him. He looked over at his remaining two team members and decided his best bet here was to go and rescue Oat from the death-trap he was standing atop and try to fight alongside him. He fluttered his wings but face planted into a barrier Enyo summoned in his path. Another barrier spawned above him and pummelled him, pushing him back down to the ground. His one solace was that Enyo was still pretty far from his current location so he could get up and try again... Or so he thought. When he got up, he saw Ares had arrived and was channelling his mana into Enyo via his hand which was resting atop her armoured shoulder.


    Enyo let the destruction mana flow through her as it warmed the inside of her body, giving rise to a homely feel that raised her spirits. Her defender aspect was the hearth that contained the fire that was Ares'' annihilation aspect magic. She inhaled deeply before begrudgingly letting the mana leave her body to form an art as she chanted in her usual deep voice, "White-Gold Pitying."


    FlapFlapFlapFlapFlapFlapFlapFlapFlapFlapFlap


    Dozens of small barriers appeared in mid-air and moulded themselves into the shape of turtle doves. The gathering of these ''faux'' birds and their flapping wings behind Enyo was a beautiful yet ominous sight. Thanks to Enyo''s barrier magic, the doves were see-through and the little golden bowties inside their hollow necks could be seen clear as day. Enyo released the birds as though it were a wedding''s dove release ceremony and the creatures took flight, spreading their wings as they took to the sky, creating a mass of holy magic tinged with destruction that lingered above everyone''s heads. Dozens of these glassy looking birds circled above Hawkins who was too dumbstruck to move, not that he had anywhere to escape to. With one final lap above their target, the birds all rose in synchronisation with one another like a well-practiced military display. At the apex of their climb, the ornamental birds turned to face the floor and commenced a kamikaze bombing run on their target below.


    "Haste!" Hawkins gathered his wits and used some support magic to try and flee. He couldn''t take to the air as the entire area above him had become no-man''s land filled to the brim with the holy doves so his only other option was to run. A chill ran up Hawkins''s spine so he reflexively ducked as he kept sprinting; this action saved him from the first destructive diving dove which flew past his head and crashed into a wall.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    Unlike Ares'' usual explosions, this one was nearly pure white with only the occasional golden streak mixed in. It almost looked like a thick yoghurt dome with a hint of mango in it. Although the appearance was easy on the eyes, the damage it dealt was not to be sneered at as they were far more dangerous explosions than the regular ones Ares produced. Unlike the normal explosions, these ones would trap you before detonating. The white colouring was actually a barrier that spawned before the explosion went off. In other words, if you were hit by a bird, you could kiss your life goodbye as it would essentially trap you inside a small dome with an explosion equivalent to a Shock Bead going off less than a foot from your head. The doves were pretty, but the mayhem they caused was anything but. Hawkins made an admirable effort in dodging for as long as he could, managing to dodge five or so doves, before he was completely overwhelmed. Enyo had dropped multiple barriers in his path to prevent him from moving forward so he could do nothing but accept his fate. Hawkins turned around to face the music and simply held his arms wide open in resignation as the remaining 20 or so doves all landed on him simultaneously.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The ensuing explosion rocked the coliseum floor and drowned out the sounds coming from the crowd. Like a giant snow globe, the explosion covered the landscape in a blanket of white as far as the eye could see but, instead of snow, holy flames lingered in the crater that formed where the magic attack landed. Not even a spec of Hawkins was left and all the doves were long gone. In this moment, Enyo felt like she understood Ares'' explosive tendencies somewhat. Orchestrating mass chaos and basking in the afterglow of large scale destruction was bliss unlike anything else she''d ever experienced with her own magic. In this moment, she was even somewhat jealous of Bellona''s magic. Being able to contribute to these explosions on the regular and even increase their size and power would be a seriously joyous position to be in. Oh well, combination arts scratched the itch so Enyo would just use those instead. That wasn''t to say Enyo had fully given up on learning how to occasionally be an explosive menace, though. In fact, due to various circumstances, she felt reassured she might be able to partake in the fun in her own way one day. Until then, Enyo could appreciate and relish the opportunity to share mana with Ares and experience his first hand. For destruction mana, of all things, to be as soothing as it was to control, was pretty unthinkable. Enyo never would have guessed in a million years.


    Now that the bird on bird brutality had been concluded, Enyo jogged on over to Esme''s side and concentrated fully on the task at hand as she activated the same art five times in a row.


    "Segregation. Segregation. Segregation. Segregation. Segregation."


    Doing so tired Enyo out somewhat, but she''d been having an easy enough time up until now so she was still mostly fine. As for what her repeated castings had accomplished, well she''d fully trapped Leopold in a box of barriers. He looked around in confusion and tried using his magic to zap a hole but was stumped by the unyielding resilience of the barriers. Leopold was a tad curious as to what Enyo was trying to accomplish, but he figured it all out when he saw Esme bring out a treasure and start casting an art. Esme was not in the barrier box... Leopold was... And so were all the traps that they''d both set up... If Esme fired a wind magic into the box that jumbled around all the traps with Leopold still stuck in there... "Ah crud." Leopold groaned as Esme unleashed her treasure''s art.


    "Tempest Dance."


    Enyo lowered the furthest wall of the box to let the wind vortex in before closing it back up again and trapping it inside. as the vortex slowly gathered up all the magic in the vicinity, it also trudged towards Leopold who was hugging the opposite wall. Leopold could feel the pull of the magic as he tried to dig his claws into the ground and anchor himself. He skid towards the vortex of doom as his claws scraped along the floor with one or two even coming straight off due to the pressure he was exerting on them. One slip was all it took for Leopold to be dragged off his feet and flung into the air where he lost all control over his body as he yelled in posh agitation, "PHOOEY!" His tie was going to be well and truly shredded this time... Not that it mattered. It would be right as rain as soon as he was revived anyway. Leopold had forgotten about this as he was a rather old fashioned fellow who was unfamiliar with wizardry such as simulations, Training Fields, whatnots, and what-have-you-s. You would think with an attitude and mentality like this he would be the oldest of the group, but that title actually belonged to Hark who was currently going through a mid life crisis...


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM CRACKLEEEEEEEEEE


    BANGGGGGGGGGGGG CRACKLEEEEEEEEEEEE BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The barrier box became a light show as countless streaks of lightning stormed around inside the entrapment. All the Wind Mines were also set off creating gusts of winds that ravaged the space around it. The trap war had ended in a jumbled mess of colours and loud explosions that raged against the barriers, cracking them here and there but never quite managing to break any of them. When the gusts and shocks settled down, a burnt and ragged cattian corpse was all that remained. Leopold had used his remaining vigour to protect the tie by covering it with his now battered body; truly a heroic sacrifice.


    And then there was one. The Red Sun group gathered around Oat''s tree and stared up at him as he sheepishly stared back down at them. "Heh... Don''t suppose we can settle this without the need for bloodshed? I hear pacifism''s real popular nowadays... Not gonna bite? Ok, ok, I just have one last request... No more birds, please? There''s been an overabundance of them this fight and it''s doing my head in... I''m really gonna have nightmares later, you know? It''s already bad enough that Hawkins is gonna have a thing or two to say to me... Damn birds..."


    Ares accepted Oat''s plea and didn''t bring out the Biome Eagle. Instead, he started merrily skipping away as he whistled to himself in a good mood. Considering the amount of explosions that had gone off today, he hadn''t actually been responsible for that many of them... Inexcusable! Why does everyone else get to have fun with boom booms and not me! I am the lean, mean, ''splodey machine! This lack of destruction is disappointing and must be rectified post haste! At the end of the day, Ares was just looking for an excuse to chuck out a Perish Wheel. The other members had already seen this coming from a mile away and taken their distance from the tree.


    Oat tilted his head in confusion. He''d asked these people to kill him and all they''d done after was walk to the opposite end of the coliseum and put their backs up against the wall? It was unusual behaviour that Oat couldn''t comprehend. Were they toying with him? Were they going to rudely await the timer and win that way? Was someone actually going to launch an attack so devastating they had to hide that far away?... Actually, the Bhorashka group had been informed of some manner of monstrous golden pillar in Red Sun during the regionals.... They''d mostly ignored this information as an attack of that scale should be unfeasible. They were especially convinced of this after seeing the low cultivations of the participants and even more so when the only person with golden magic had the lowest cultivation of them all. Plus he was a pest. If a gadfly like Ares could summon a golden pillar like what had been described to them, then the world was just flat out unfair. Oat watched from his branch as Ares activated Voidwalk again and took a step. He searched around for the man who disappeared before noticing him standing on thin air above him...


    This was the first time Ares had displayed his ability to fly and the entirety of the crowd had shut their booing mouths quite quickly. Being able to do this without Aero Authority was an astonishing feat of art creation and it didn''t look like it drained nearly even half as much mana. Plus only a few people had even seen him rise into the air meaning it was a speedy art to boot. unfortunately for those who wanted to see Ares fail, he seemed to be an obnoxious and equally obnoxiously strong cultivator with a horde of weapons in his arsenal. The ability to fly alone put him above most other cultivators in mental accumulation by default. As a general rule of thumb, only one in every couple tens of thousands of cultivators, not including aevysqualls, could fly pre-transition realm. The base requirement was having a strong affinity for the wind pillar and even then you would have to struggle to learn Aero Authority as it was considerably harder to do if you couldn''t already fly. Actually, objectively, Ares'' prowess this fight had been markedly impressive, the only reason most people hadn''t cottoned onto this yet was because they''d been too busy booing him either because of his previous conduct or, and this was certainly an issue that would be longstanding even after the competition, because he was hitting the furries and a select group of people were very unhappy with that. After beating the Bhorashka lot, they would probably go back home. They''d been the favourites to win and go on to the international, which would have kept them around for another three or four weeks, so them leaving early was a devastating blow for their fans. And who was to blame for their premature departure?... The same perv that had been harassing a pretty young lady the other day! The caped weirdo himself! Still, if what came next didn''t deter his haters, then, quite frankly, nothing ever would.


    "PERISH WHEEL!"

 Chapter 94: He Who Shall Not Be Named

    The main goal of this match was to show off Red Sun''s teamwork and strength as a group. The plan had been to use all of their new combination arts but, unfortunately, the fight had been smooth sailing and they weren''t all necessary. It seemed as though some of them would be kept in reserve for the next fight, but that wasn''t particularly helpful right now in terms of demonstrating Red Sun''s capabilities. They wanted to reassure the citizens that this would be their year and raise their morale somewhat. What was the best way to do that if their combination art plan fell through? Well, Ares had the right idea... BRUTE FORCE BABY! WOOHOO!


    First came the bladed outer ring, then the red web, and finally the thick annihilation magic to round out the deadliest art in his arsenal. The incessant buzzing had returned and was reverberating through every coliseum floor, numbing everyone''s rumbling feet. Ares leant forward and chucked the Wheel while laughing to himself with great pride and gusto. Launching a Perish Wheel was like dropping a nuclear weapon and, as long as you ignored the horrific loss of life, it was undeniably a fun experience. Oat would have to disagree however. The boundless aura of death spiralling his way was utterly dreadful and he could feel it in his bones that the tree wouldn''t last. This thing was supposed to be invincible and yet Oat knew better than to place his faith in it if it was going to have to go up against the Wheel. If the bird earlier was an inconvenient ruckus, then this art was Armageddon delivered straight to his doorstep. If he was going to die one way or the other, Oat decided he would go out on his own terms by yelling ''Geronimo'' as he plunged headfirst into a Wind Mine that had been teleported onto the branch beneath him. Was his exploding head a gruesome sight for everyone watching? Yes. But it had been incredibly quick and painless for Oat so, compared to the Wheel and everything it entailed it had been kinda pleasant, actually. Like a breath of fresh air. Enough fresh air to kill him, sure, but that wasn''t the point!


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT


    The wheel curved through the air and arced towards the now empty tree. There weren''t any combatants left and the match had already been won, but the WMD had already been unleashed and there was no stopping it. Once it was fired, it couldn''t be put back in the cage. The closer the Wheel got to the tree, the bigger it looked in comparison. It was as if the nature magic was trying to shrink away from its oncoming, ungodly demise. Whirling through the air, the razor sharp Wheel effortlessly sliced through the tree like it wasn''t even there. Before the tree could even start tipping over, the Wheel hummed its last hum and erupted into an avalanche of annihilation magic that shot straight up into the sky.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    The crowd and participants alike were all blinded by a cylindrical pillar of golden magic that enveloped most of the arena, leaving only a few inches of space around the outer rims where anyone could stand safely. Despite not even directly putting pressure on the Training Field, there were a few cracks forming here and there as the walls shook. It was at this moment the C.O members watching the fight realised they were going to need to put up a more defensively sturdy barrier going forward. Between this unorthodox magic, and some of the things that had been happening across the globe during other national matches, the need for an improved Field was apparent. Luckily the C.O had a few transition realm cultivator''s who were very capable runemancers, and even one who specialised in the pillar, so fixing it up a bit wouldn''t be a problem going forward. A minute passed and the raging magic was finally settling down as the size of the pillar was visibly decreasing. Eventually the pillar became a thin ray of light that vanished entirely, much like the floor of the arena which was now basically a small pit. All that was left was a smug Ares, lying on his side in mid-air as he leant on his hand and gave the crowd ahead of him a loaded stare. Go on, boo me again, I dare you. Of course no one dared and some of the spectators who were in Ares'' direct line of sight stared down at the floor to avoid his gaze, praying that he wouldn''t remember their faces later on. Having booed and ridiculed a dangerous monster was enough reason to hope to God they never came across him in the streets of Red Sun ever again. There were a few people in the crowd who had it worse than everyone else, though. Namely Chen Lo who figured he would come and show support for the Red Sun team only to witness Ares, of all people, unleash a cataclysmic attack. Knowing that Ares packed enough firepower to wipe the Chen clan off the map at a later date was a serious concern that needed to be addressed... But what could he do while Ares was within the sect''s walls? Between the newfound threat in Ares and the individual who froze his clan member in a tree, Lo was not having a good month... The last team. from the Nomad region. were also wearing sour expressions for obvious reasons... How were they supposed to deal with THAT?! There was zero chance they could block it so their only option was to scatter the moment they saw it and run for the hills. It didn''t feel good to be forced into a situation where they had to act cowardly, but what else could they possibly do? That was an attack that shouldn''t have existed amongst lower realm cultivators such as them, being pit against it was the height of injustice! They were tempted to have the C.O check and see if Red Sun were cheating... Speaking of the C.O, the group with a strong interest in roping in one-of-a-kind cultivators, they had their sights set on Ares now too. Nothing untoward could be done to him during the tournament, but after that they would have to have a word with him and convince him by any means necessary. A cultivator like this was one that could shift the overall power balance out of their favour so he had to be absorbed into their ranks before he grew any further. If he were to repudiate their advances, then they would deal with him in their own way.


    Ares Voidwalked down to the floor and headed out of the arena leaving the silent crowd to close their opened jaws on their own time. The urge to stay and mock them was strong, but he was supposed to be raising morale, not lowering it! His job for the day was done and now all that was left for him to do before tomorrow was make some pizzas. As for what ingredients he would need, he could guess what most people were going to want so he had already stocked up. His only concern was what to do if someone asked him for a pineapple pizza... NOT IN MY HOUSE! Ares was only half-joking. He would begrudgingly make a pineapple pizza if need be, but he would not be happy about it! Ares couldn''t envision anyone actually asking for such a cursed item, though, so he wasn''t too worried. Ares had already asked Enyo what she wanted earlier and he almost banged his head against a wall when she jokingly replied ''honeycomb''. She said she''d get back to him but he was already fairly confident he knew exactly what she wanted. Another person Ares could feel confident hazarding a guess for was Leo... Who was clearly going to want sardines, because why wouldn''t he? Ares got around to asking Allie, who had come down from the top floor, and his teammates what they were in the mood for as they walked back to the sect.


    Meanwhile, on the top floor of the coliseum, resting on their thrones, Bellona and Sadie were anxiously staring at a communication talisman. "You think she''ll pick up?" Bellona''s eye twitched as she seriously hoped the answer would be ''no''. Sadie had already made it clear to her that she''d informed Rhea about her as well as Enyo. The state her mother must be in right now... Really, she should have been more worried about the state of everything around Rhea instead of the woman herself but Bellona was more concerned about her own safety. Rhea was not going to let her off lightly when she came down to Sheryashka... "You know what, I think Imma take Appa and dip..." Bellona wanted to sneak away as soon as possible on the off chance Rhea did respond. If Rhea picked up and Bellona happened to open her mouth and say something Rhea didn''t like, she would come barrelling down to Sheryashka just to kick her ass.


    "HELL NO!" Sadie refused to allow Bellona to leave her here alone so she guarded the exit like her life depended on it.


    Appa was confused by all the humdrum but it had heard a couple of things here and there in the conversation so far that interested it. Appa floated over to Bellona and used its rope to poke her. "Bellona, do you also love dad like mum does?"


    Bellona scratched her head and picked up Appa. "Yes. BUT YOU HAVE TO PROMISE NOT TO TELL HIM, OK?"


    "Ok! Keeping a secret from dad sounds like fun! Also Enyo told me to do what you say."


    I am a terrible role model, making Appa keep a secret from its father... Bellona shook her head and pet Appa. "Good!"


    Appa thought about things for a while before tilting its head and asking a question that took Bellona by surprise. "Does that mean you''ll also be my mother too?"


    "Eh? Uh... Yes? I guess so. You''ll have two mothers. Lucky you, huh?"


    "YAY!" Appa fiddled in Bellona''s arms and wriggled into a position to nuzzle her.


    "Haha, Appa that tickles!" Bellona''s warm hug and happy moment was ruined when she heard the infernal ringing of the communication talisman.


    RING RING


    She froze up as she searched for an exit and was tempted to just jump into the arena and scramble for the exit but, deep down, she knew it was a fool''s errand to try and escape Sadie. Losing all hope and accepting her fate, she put down Appa and got down on one knee in front of it. "Appa, if I don''t make it out of this alive, tell Ares I love him... And I guess Enyo too, or whatever... Not that she won''t be next in line to suffer after me."


    RING RING


    Sadie was holding the talisman with one hand as her other was busy crossing its fingers. Don''t pick up, you demon, be busy!


    RING RING


    ---------------------------------


    In TPMZ, on the Umbra Wolves home planet, outside Calla''s house, Rhea was lying with her face in the dirt inside of a small crater. A lone shadow crept over her and blocked the sun as Calla peeked down at her. With a nail, dripping with poison, resting on her lips, a bushy grey tail swinging back and forth, and a gentle smile on her face, Calla lightly kicked Rhea. "Rh~ea. Wakey wakey, Rh~ea. You ruined perfectly good farmland and I want an explanation, Rh~ea." Sure enough, all the surrounding land had been swept clean by the rampage and every single row of corn or head of lettuce had been scattered to the wind. Tomatoes, potatoes, apple trees, all of it. Gone. Still, none of the veggies or fruits had it worse the Rhea who was lying battered on the floor after making the mistake of attacking Calla. Then again, she wasn''t as worse for wear as Aster was. Aster had been impaled to a stake somewhere and the lower half of his body had been dissolved for daring to suggest his wife ''calm down a bit''. He would be fine, it was really only a minor wound for a revenant of his calibre... Of course it still hurt though, that couldn''t be denied.


    Calla had a poisonous bloodline and was a speed trait adept. When she transformed into her revenant form she was a menace that would just touch you once and watch from afar as you died a slow and painful death. Her poison was incredibly potent and her adept trait made her impossible to catch. It wasn''t that she was impossible to beat in a fair fight, it was just impossible to have a fair fight with her to begin with. Outside of her revenant form, Calla was actually quite weak. Not being able to improve her speed was a heavy blow, especially for someone who primarily relied on poisons in battle. Theoretically, if you could catch her off guard, you could win before the game of cat and mouse even started but Rhea had come here guns-a-blazing and declared all out war straight to her face. All of Rhea''s countless hundred thousands of holy swords hadn''t left even a single dent in Calla''s bushy tail as she just weaved through them all. They''d done a number on the land, though, which angered Calla and led to the current situation. It was a good thing Rhea hadn''t unintentionally hit the house otherwise Calla would have whacked her some more. The house was where her babies came home to! It had all of the hot-chocolate stashes too, so destroying it would have been unforgivable.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Rhea let out a tired groan and muttered the word ''bitch'' under her breath as Calla gave her a friendly kick again. "Rh~ea, are you going to get up? I know you like to take care of your beauty, but my planet isn''t your mud mask... Although you could probably find some cucumbers lying around if you looked hard enough."


    Kick


    "Rh~ea. Don''t be la~zy. Oh! Right! You can''t get up because of the poison. Hehe, my bad. Whoopsie!" Calla tittered with her hand coyly dangling in front of her mouth.


    Kick


    "Ok. I''ll give you the antidote." Calla crouched in front of Rhea and ''accidentally'' dropped a cream-coloured liquid onto the floor in front of Rhea. "Oops, sil~ly me, I spilled it. It''s ok though! It will still work if you lap it up off the ground!"


    RING RING


    Calla glanced at Rhea''s pocket and her smile widened. "Oh my! A call? You can''t answer it like that, you should hurry and take the antidote!"


    RING RING


    Calla slowly reached for the talisman in Rhea''s pocket while evilly smiling at her. "Hm. Well I guess I could answer it for you!"


    RING RING


    "Aww. You rea~lly aren''t going to take the antidote? Spoilsport... It would have been fun watching you slurp it up out of the mud like a pathetic little mutt... Oh well! Let''s see who''s calling you!" Calla swiped the talisman and started daintily skipping around Rhea''s twitching body. With a poke, Calla activated the talisman. "Hello hello!"


    "Eh? Sorry, who is this?" Sadie''s confused voice came through the talisman and Rhea''s wriggling on the floor increased tenfold. The one person she needed answers from was just out of reach! Of all the times for Sadie to call, it had ot be right now?!


    "It''s Rhea''s bestest friend, Calla! Rh~ea is enjoying my hospitality right now and can''t come to the phone!"


    "Oh... Uh, I guess I''ll call back later..."


    "Nope!"


    "Huh?"


    "Nope!"


    "W... What do you mean... ''Nope!''?"


    "I want to talk to you. Don''t you want to talk to me? Ah you''re so ru~de, just like Rh~ea! She''s a bad influence on the people around her, I alw~ays knew she was... Please don''t hang up, that would make me sad... When I''m sad, other people around me tend to be sad too. I know Aym would be very sad if you hung up right now!"


    Sadie was seriously wishing she could go crawl into a hole and hide right now. The only thing worse than putting up with Rhea in a bad mood was putting up with Calla when she wanted something from you. Unless Sadie wanted to be sent Aym''s severed body parts in a doggy bag, she didn''t really have much choice but to obediently do as she was told here. This entire situation was utterly disastrous though.


    "I won''t hang up... How can I help you, Calla."


    "You''re not going to ask how I''ve been? How mean..."


    "Uh, how are you doing Calla?"


    "That doesn''t matter! I want to know how you''ve been doing! And what you''ve been up to!"


    "... I''m doing just peachy. As for what I''m up to, I just finished watching a match of the nationals... with Bellona... Do you want to speak to Bellona? I''m sure Bellona would like to speak with you?"


    NONONONONONO. Bellona was furiously waving her arms to try and get Sadie to stop. WHY WOULD YOU IMPLICATE ME AS WELL DAMNIT YOU STUPID CRETIN! YOU TRAITOROUS WRETCH! Off to the side, Appa giggled at the funny display of Bellona jumping around in silence like a frustrated monkey. Ares had always referred to Bellona as a gorilla and it seemed he was really quite spot on.


    "No, that''s ok Sa~die. I can talk to Bellona some other time. It''s you I''m interested in right now! You know me Sadie, I''m such a massive gossip... I really can''t help it, po~or little me. S~o, why don''t you help me out and scratch my itch for rumours and hearsay! What wonderful secrets were you going to share with Rhea?! It''s O.K, you can tell me and I won''t tell her a thing, I promise!"


    Muffled moans and a loud ''THUD'' came through Sadie''s communication token and she had a feeling she understood the situation at hand... "It''s really not a big deal or anything. Gossip and stuff like that is usually better fresh out the kitchen, right? I already talked to Rhea about this stuff, like, three weeks ago now, so its a bit stale. You''re a busy woman, I can''t give you old news."


    "No~ooo, you''ve got it all twisted! I''m an old woman who keeps herself busy with news! I get bored so easy nowadays without my babies around. Even if it''s stale, I''d like to hear it! It would give me something to think about when I have nothing else to do! I insist! Also, I find it very strange, you know? Rhea came round about three weeks ago, which was roughly at the same time you gave her the gossip! There''s been some troubles here at home, and if it has anything to do with the gossip... I would REALLY like to know ev~en more."


    "Uh... Well... It, er, I mean..."


    "S.~.A.~.D.~.I.~.E. Speak to me, S.~.A.~.D.~.I.~.E."


    "WAAAAHHHHHHHHHH..." Sadie had tears streaming down her face as Calla''s aura seeped through the talisman. "... I''M SORRY RHEA, I DON''T WANNA DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BELLONA AND ENYO HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE SAME MAN AND BOTH WANT TO MARRY HIM. LEAVE ME ALONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"


    "Shhh, there there Sadie. No one''s going to die, es~pe~ci~al~ly not if you keep telling me everything I want to hear!"


    "I''VE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"


    "Details, Sadie. Details. I want to know literally everything, Sadie. Don''t disappoint me, Sadie. Speak to me, Sadie. Speak to m... ACK."


    Calla''s not so subtle threats were interrupted by the sound of her being choked out by Rhea who had finally powered through the poison... Without the antidote obviously, there was no way in hell a woman like Rhea would ever be caught dead licking mud. "Sadie! I''ll deal with you in a minute!" Rhea put the talisman to the side as she lifted the frail revenant Calla above her head. With all her strength, Rhea slammed Calla''s spine down onto her outstretched knee before tossing the stupid wolf as far as she could outside the planet''s atmosphere. Calla went careening off into space with a broken spine, buying Rhea enough time to deal with the betrayer Sadie. "YOU! How could you give up that easily?! See if I don''t teach you a lesson the next time I see you!"


    Sniffle


    "I''m sorry... But Calla is MEAN! She would have killed Aym just for the fun of it!"


    "Yeah yeah, whatever. Alright, spill it."


    "Well, it''s just that Enyo and Bellona have both agreed with each other to marry him so it''s kinda set in stone now..."


    "Set in stone my ass! Like hell anything is happening without my permission! You said Bellona was there? let me speak to that twerpy witch bitch right this instant!"


    "Yes ma''am..." Sadie tuned to face Bellona who had been glaring at her for the past couple of minutes. Bellona swiped the talisman and used her magic to make Sadie''s chest smaller before she started chatting with her mother.


    "... Hey mum... It''s been a while."


    "Yeah, clearly too long. The hell have you been doing down in Sheryashka?! I know you summoned one of your meteors recently, you come across any trouble? Need a hand?"


    "No, no. It was just for the regionals, didn''t win though..."


    "Really? Guessing Enyo did you in? How is that troublesome girl anyway?..."


    "She''s doing really well, mum. She was on the opposite team, but it wasn''t actually her that won the match really. Actually... It was the guy we like that did..."


    "Tsk. I have a million questions for you and your sister. Where is Enyo anyway? Is she there and hiding from me? I''ll kick her ass if she is!"


    "No, no. It''s just me and Sadie right now. Enyo''s going back to the sect with the guy."


    "... I don''t believe it. Honestly..." A loud sigh and the sound of Rhea slapping her forehead came across the talisman. "... Bellona... Is he any good? I''m not asking what you think about him, I can already guess. I mean without all the bias, without your rose tinted glasses, is he good?"


    Bellona smiled softly. "No. He''s atrocious. He''s the worst person I''ve ever met. He''s an annoying revenant that me and Enyo have to hit regularly in a futile bid to try and correct him. He used to be a bandit and has a vastly different moral compass to someone like Enyo. Even now he''s a cocky fool that can''t help but fling himself into trouble at every turn. Me and Enyo aren''t the only women that are going to be in his life and he probably thinks he''s the greatest thing since sliced bread... So no, he''s not good. Not at all. But he is pretty great. He''s only annoying because he''s playful. His moral compass may be different, but it''s uncompromising when it comes to family and friends. He flings himself into trouble for the sake of everyone around him and other women will want him because he''s an incredible man with a bright future. He can be a narcissist sometimes, but never overtly. He keeps it to himself because he''d much rather prop up everyone else than himself. If he had to choose between complimenting himself or Enyo at any given moment in time, he would choose her in a heartbeat. And Enyo... He fixed her, mum. She''s completely changed. She would throw the Legion clan in the trash if she had to pick between him or her father... And you already know I would too. He really cares about us more than anyone other than you ever has. He made Enyo feel perfect, and he made me realise he''s perfect for me. So yeah, he''s great. I''m sorry mum, but we''ve made our choice and even you can''t stop it anymore. I know I''m not being misled either because I truly believed he was the light in the dark for Enyo long before I had any feelings for him. I did everything I could to help them along because I saw a way out for Enyo through him. My feelings only really came about recently after I witnessed his magic first hand but he''s everything I''ve ever wanted and I''m dead set on him... I know you''re probably worried because we tried to hide it, but I swear it''s only because Enyo wanted to surprise you. She wanted to walk up to you with her helmet off, hug you, and laugh at your silly reaction because that''s just who she is now. So don''t worry about us, we''ve never been happier than we are now that we''re both living in his house. He''s a special person, mum, and I don''t just mean to us."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "... Aghhh!" Rhea had a solitary tear in her eye as she furiously scratched her head. "... Whatever! Just the amount of times you said ''he'' in that last rant is enough proof to me that you''re already too far gone... I want to come down to Sheryashka... But I can''t ''cos of that stupid bitch Calla, so I''ll wait. But listen here Bellona, if even half the stuff you were gushing about isn''t true, I''m going to have to whack some sense into you two! And don''t even get me started on what I''ll do to him! I trust your judgment, but not more than my own. I hope you haven''t made me happy for no good reason damnit... Is Enyo really not there?"


    "No. She''s probably at home demanding he cook her some food. He''s a really good chef, actually. I''ll be honest, his cooking kinda broke us... Mum, there''s one more thing I haven''t told you yet..." Bellona caught sight of Appa trying to cheer up Sadie out of the corner of her eye. "... But this one is a secret. You have to see it to understand, so it''ll have to wait ''till you come down."


    "Why all the riddles damnit?! Fine, damnit, fine... Well, come on, at least tell me a little more about him. What''s his name at least. If he''s a revenant, I can get that dumb wolf Calla to cough up some dirt on the guy. Ah, speaking of, it seems she''s healed up and is coming back for more... WAIT! STOP YOU STUPID DOG IDIOT MONGREL BITC..."


    BZT BZZZT BZZT


    The sound of the talisman cutting off signalled the end of the conversation. Calla had probably unleashed a wave of poison on Rhea that fizzled out the talisman and destroyed it. Bellona just shrugged as it didn''t matter if that was where the conversation ended, she''d already gotten the hard part over with. At least now Rhea knew everything important there was to know about Ares! In the grand scheme of things, what did something as minor as his name really even matter anyway?

 Chapter 95: Pick Your Pizza and Drink Your Poison

    "YOU INCORRIGIBLE SCUM!"


    Calla gently placed her fingertip on her lip and tilted her head innocently with a confused look on her face. "Me? That doesn''t sound right. I''m a good person! What''s got your knickers in a twist, Rh~ea?"


    "YOU... Agh whatever. Getting mad at you is pointless! Stupid revenant! You heard Sadie. Enyo and Bellona want to... Are going to marry the same damn guy. I''m more worried about Enyo than anything, I don''t want her being led even further astray than she already was. I want to go down to Sheryashka but your stupid ass will just follow me like a damn pooch on a leash! I was at least trying to get some dirt on the guy so you could tell me who it is, but you just destroyed the talisman with that last attack ''cos you''re a damn brute!"


    "But I''m a cute little woman, I can''t possibly be a brute. Rh~ea, you may be the only mother in the world that can be considered a brute!"


    "... That''s not the point... Look, Calla, I''m begging you here. Just let me go down to Sheryashka. Just for a day at least. Let me see my daughters and find out what kinda guy this is so I can at least rest easy. This is such a big moment in their lives and I want to make sure things are fine. Especially with Enyo, you know what she was like. As a mother, you should understand me when I say I just want her to be happy and free from the Legion clan''s all-encompassing vice grip that it has over so many of our people. And then there''s Bellona too. She hasn''t had it easy either. She had such strict requirements for a guy that I''m honestly shocked she found one. Come on Calla, as a long-time friend, don''t deny me this..."


    Sigh


    For the briefest of moments, Calla dropped the act and looked at Rhea with an honest gaze. "I have heard your passionate speech. I understand. In light of your heartfelt pleas and in consideration of your desperation to be a good a mother, I shall let you go down to Sheryashka one day before me!"


    "STUPID MUTT!" Rhea rugby tackled Calla and smacked her around for a bit. When she got bored of hitting the dumb woman, she tossed her away into a nearby dirt pit where some parsnips were once growing.


    Calla poked her head out of the pit with a small mound of dirt on top of her head and smiled at Rhea. "You should take it easy. Your girls are having fun and enjoying themselves. Your worried, but is your trust in them really so shallow that you have to go and smother them all the time? It''s been a while since you''ve seen them, and things have changed I get that, but you can wait a bit more. Let them sort themselves out and experience love on their own for a bit. It''s a fun time for them and they''re living a new kind of life compared to what they''d known previously, especially Enyo. The last thing they need is for some overbearing parent to come breathing down their necks when all they want to do is spend time around the man they love. If you aren''t panicking and rampaging anymore after having talked to Bellona, it''s because you feel reassured enough by whatever she told you that you know you don''t really have to go and check on anything. Your just being nosy, Rhea. Calm down and take it easy. You should be glad Enyo is free now, not stressing because of something pointless. Come inside the house and I''ll make you some hot chocolate!"


    Rhea tapped her finger on her waist repeatedly before kissing her teeth. "Yeah... Fine... By the way, what the hell did you do to Aster? I saw the bastard for all of two seconds before you sent him packing. You have such a good man and you really don''t treat him right. You should just give him to me at this point."


    "Hmph. He got what he deserved. You''re really never going to get over him are you? I shouldn''t have ever let you near him back then."


    "It''s not like you did it out of the goodness of your heart. You really weren''t thinking right back then... Not that I blame you. I''m still thankful, though. I just hope it can happen again in the future."


    "When I get my child back, I''ll consider it. Until then, no." Calla opened the door to her mansion and invited Rhea in. "I hope this will be the year... It only gets more and more depressing every single time."


    ---------------------------------


    Peaceful meditation is hard when surrounded by a large group of people, as it turns out. Ares was trying to check his cultivation gains, but a certain squabbling duo were bickering back and forth and making it impossible. Well, Charity couldn''t actually understand Leo, but you could argue they were physically ''bickering''. Ares slunk into the kitchen where things were more peaceful and he could spare an ounce of concentration. Searching within himself for all the recent changes, he found out that he''d gone up a stage! Mental accumulation, 4th stage had been accomplished! Being a revenant and an adept, every cultivation gain mattered. The sooner he could get to bloodline awakening, the sooner he could start unleashing his true potential. Right now, he was only really half complete; maybe even less considering a few other things that were missing here and there. He didn''t have his apotheosis form, he didn''t have access to Dominus and whatever benefits he would provide, and there are a bunch of cultivation realms after transition that could further improve his deadliness in specific ways. That was all in the future though. Right now, he had pizzas to make! He''d dipped, ducked, and dived his way through the crowd in the living room and checked in on what everybody wanted so he was good to go. The only people he still wasn''t sure about were Appa, Bellona, and Sadie as they had taken a while to come back. As for the rest, their preferred pizzas were as follows.


    Ares: Sweet chilli chicken and peppers. For that spicy, explosive kick. Tanginess is king.


    Enyo: Meat feast. Enyo really liking meat was not even remotely shocking to Ares who''d cooked her an immeasurable number of meat dishes up until now. Of course that wasn''t the only kind of meat she obsessed over...


    Aejaz: ¡­ Hawaiian... Disappointed. No further comment.


    Allie: Garlic pizza bread. A little out there compared to the usual suspects, but a respectable choice nonetheless. Being an alchemist probably had something to do with her preference for ingredients that blended well together and produced an interesting taste. If anything, it was surprising she didn''t want a larger mix of ingredients to concoct the perfect taste. Perhaps sometimes simple is best after all.


    Leo: Sardines and tuna. Ares had been half right about this one, but he hadn''t expected the damn furball to throw him a curveball and want a second type of fish as well! In hindsight, it was actually probably kinda obvious... The fella also wanted some lemongrass on his pizza too to give him a nostalgic taste from his old home.


    Charity: Vegetarian. Health nut, healthy pizza. Well... As healthy as a pizza can be anyway. As an aside, she asked for extra mushrooms and olives. That was about as much flare as she wanted.


    Gladius: BBQ base and ground beef. The first to order a different base other tomato! Gladius was the most level headed person in the room bar none, so you could say he was... Grounded! Being the odd one out was kinda his deal. He was, even now, waiting for Sadie to get here so he could ask her to train...


    Onno: Quattro formaggi. Ooh la la. How fancy. Prim and proper, good taste, ol'' reliable. A bit heavy, but goes spectacularly well with some nice wine. The high-class businessman''s pizza. For when you want to order pizza during a meeting with an important client in an Italian restaurant but want to maintain your formal edge. Etiquette personified.


    Li Li: Buffalo chicken. Thick, but soft and fluffy pizza dough is mandatory for the best experience with these toppings. Li Li was tempted to ask for ranch dressing drizzle on top of her pizza but ultimately decided not to. She and Dirk were opting to share their pizzas with one another and Dirk wasn''t much a fan of ranch so she passed.


    Dirk: Pepperoni. A simple classic. Maybe he liked it because the meat was bright blood red? Maybe he wanted to be able to share it with Li Li so he picked something generally liked by most? Maybe he was a fussy eater? Maybe he really just had no preference? Why was such a simple pizza picked by such a mysterious individual? Who knows!


    Lighter Duo. 50/50 pizza; one side is sausage and pesto, the other is pesto and sausage. Don''t ask. Just don''t even ask. Their reasoning is beyond your comprehension. Move on!


    Esme: Ricotta and spinach, thin base. Appears more interesting than it actually is. Deceptively ''loud'', but really quite plan deep down. Lowkey jealous of the other pizzas for being cooler than it is. Still good though. Then again, all pizzas are good. Except Hawaiian.


    And that about summed it up! Almost, anyway. Sadie, Bellona, and Appa had just waltzed on in through the front door and that meant more orders to take! It seemed like Bellona wanted to chat with Enyo in the bedroom, probably about something involving him, so Ares took their orders pronto and got back to work. To round out all the orders, the last three were...


    Bellona: Chicken tikka masala. A bit different from the rest and a pretty unique flavour profile compared to the others. A real stand out and not ashamed to be itself. A hidden gem that deserves a better reputation than it has. In some ways, it was like a not-so-distant relative to the sweet chilli chicken pizza.


    Sadie: Meat calzone. Good with beer... Sadie had stopped off to buy beer on the way back. Coincidence? I think not...


    Appa: Snappa... This one killed Ares a little on the inside. Sure he could adjust the flavour to whatever Appa wanted, but half the fun factor of a pizza was it''s shape and the method of eating it. Appa had never had pizza before and was overwhelmed with choice so Ares made the Snappa''s taste into that of a basic pepperoni and sweetcorn pizza. Snappas were great, and Ares was really proud of the invention. He would one day spread it far and wide but it didn''t resolve the ''shades can''t eat pizza'' issue. Maybe there was a treasure out there that could aid him in resolving this dilemma? Ares would have to keep an eye out for something that could help a shade eat in some manner, although that was a highly specific item to search for. He wouldn''t likely find anything in the domains within the Primordial Blade''s cordoned-off zone but, once he got outside, he would scour the world at large! He had too. Appa loved the pizza Snappa almost as much as the candy apple and it squealed in joy as it popped one after another... Ares wanted nothing more than to see his daughter eat a pizza, followed by a candy apple, the proper way... One day, Appa. I promise you one day I''ll make it happen.


    While everyone was chowing down, Ares checked in with Dirk about his plans going forward. "Yo. When are we gonna go see your old man? The nationals end tomorrow and I''m gonna take a wild guess and say Accelyn ain''t gonna hang around forever."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    As he dusted his hands off, Dirk swallowed the bite of pizza he''d been chewing before responding. "Yeah, about that. I convinced my old geezer to talk to me again tomorrow after the match. I know it''s hella awkward to have to go and do it straight after you get done with your fight, but Accelyn is leaving her accommodation in two days. The sooner we can get my achy breaky heart back the better. Ah, just in case she uses it during the fight, I should warn you in advance... My heart is a heamomancy pillar enabler. Crazy, right? Of course it has other effects for me specifically, but anyone else who uses it can wield blood magic with ease. That''s why it''s so rare... And why Accelyn betrayed me for it... The chances of something like that appearing is statistically rarer than even a five month fine grind blue as it requires, at minimum, for the cultivator to have an insane affinity for the pillar. It''s value isn''t why I want it back though, it just feels wrong letting a terrible person like her have it when there are plenty of other people I''d rather give it to if I could choose. Damn cowtits..."


    "Tomorrow''s fine by me. I hope this doesn''t sound ominous, but I already know where you live so I''ll make my way there after the match is over."


    "... You''ve totally had Aejaz steal from us before, haven''t you?!¡­ Cunt..."


    "Oh come on, it''s just a bit of stardust from rich folk who won''t even miss it. If it makes you feel any better, we stole way more from the Li clan!"


    Cough


    Li Li almost choked on her drink. "EXCUSE ME?"


    "Hehehehe." Ares shifted away and hid amongst the crowd, enjoying small talk with everyone else. He chatted with Gladius about how it felt to let Dominus swing a spear, with Onno about how the sales were going, and with Appa who kept flaunting the fact that it had a secret it wasn''t telling Ares. With a chuckle, he rubbed Appa''s head and let it slide because he could figure out what the secret was. There was no need to confuse the matter and tell Appa so he just let the shade giggle at him and have its fun. The rest of the day passed and everyone slowly left, including Sadie who made a pitstop by Ares'' room to have Enyo cure her drunken stupor. It was either that or let her loose in the garden again, so there was really only one correct choice here. Actually, on that matter, Enyo was ready and raring to complete the inner court disciple test. It had been scheduled for some time after the nationals and all eligible disciples could participate, so Ares and co were going to have to prepare themselves to move soon. After dusting off Leo''s messy fur, Ares made a few Shock Beads, artifacts, and did some work on a few technicals here and there before hitting the hay and calling it a day... In the living room... He understood now why it was happening, but that didn''t make the pill any easier to swallow! Ah well, at least he got a chance to cuddle with Appa again, that more than made up for it.


    When dawn broke, Bellona yawned as she left the room.


    "Appa! Freeze!"


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Bellona stared at Ares as he held Appa aloft in her direction.


    "Eh? Why isn''t it working? Is my Appa broken? Why is it only yours that works!" Ares bobbed Appa up and down, shaking the giggling shade as he searched high and low for the on-switch.


    Thwack


    "Idiot. Let me show you how it''s done." Bellona stole Appa and aimed to kill. "Appa. Freeze!"


    Crackle


    "Alright mongrel, no lazing about in the hallways. Off to the kitchens with you."


    Third times the charm... Or not. Today marked the third failure in a row of Ares'' ''don''t get frozen by Appa'' challenge. It was an especially bitter loss that stung at least twice as much considering he''d been cuddling with Appa the whole night! He gave Appa comfort and hugs and this was how it repaid him?! If Appa wasn''t so cute, there would have been a price to pay for this treachery!


    The morning was like any other with everyone eating their fill before making their way out of the sect and to the coliseum. One more match and they would have locked in their place at the internationals. The only team left standing in their way were considered weaker than the Bhorashka lot so many people weren''t going to bother to show up and watch. Really, what was the point? The Perish Wheel alone was enough of a guarantee so today was meaningless. There were even talks amongst the citizens encouraging the C.O to just give the win to Red Sun and cancel the last match. Of course the C.O didn''t listen to any of it, but even they were already convinced of the results ahead of the match.


    Ares and co arrived outside the coliseum and were surprised to find... No one! Esme and Li Li had beaten them to the punch in getting here every other day, so to finally get here ahead of them was unexpected. Enyo had to smack Ares around a bit when he tried climbing the outside of the coliseum. His dumb plan was to get to one of the higher layers and swoop down like a superhero making his grand entrance when the other two arrived. The expectation that they would arrive together was shattered, though, when Esme arrived by her lonesome. She looked around and was just as confused as everyone else as to where the usually punctual Li Li was. As for why she herself had taken her sweet time... Well she''d gotten to know Onno the previous day during the pizza party and had been having a chat with him near the entrance of the coliseum today. It seemed they were getting along quite well. Not as well as Li Li and Dirk though. That was readily apparent when Li Li appeared with rampant bed-hair and flushed cheeks. Yet another couple had climbed the stairs to adult-hood together. Ares attempted to climb the coliseum again, this time because he was fearing for his life and wanted to get as far away from Enyo as possible. She was unnervingly silent as her helmet stared daggers at Ares. It''s a good thing Ares'' regenerative abilities as a revenant weren''t particularly effective yet otherwise he would have been in for a world of hurt right now. Enyo yanked him off the wall and dragged him, upside down, into the coliseum before tossing him onto the floor in the waiting room and sitting on his back. If she hadn''t been wearing her armour, this might have been considered a reward instead of a punishment but, alas, that was not the case for poor, squashed Ares.


    He was eventually freed from his detainment when the green light signalled the start of the final match... Although for some strange reason, he was still being dragged around by Enyo. She hauled Ares over the dusty floor of the arena in front of the curious spectators before chucking him on the ground and sitting on him again.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


    OH COME ON! WHY AM I STILL THE BAD GUY IN THIS SITUATION?! JEALOUSY IS A BAD LOOK! IT''S ALSO NOT AS COMFORTABLE AS YOU THINK THIS IS YOU SHMUCKS! Ares complained inwardly but just let out a tired sigh as he listened to Mr Clipboard rattle off the rules. Mr Clipboard paid Ares'' and Enyo''s antics no mind because he could tell if this farce went on any longer the crowd would start chucking rubbish again and he was in the line of fire. With his cultivation he wouldn''t get hit or anything, but he still didn''t want to be here when things got messy. Plus it would just dirty the arena for no good reason and give others unnecessary work to do. In the worst case scenario, the match would have to be temporarily halted while the arena was cleaned up and that was just a pain in the ass. Mr Clipboard would finally get to relax after this match and he could be free from the C.O''s heavy workload! He could take a vacation to a sunny beach and drink cocktails under the sun! With these thoughts in mind he sped through the rules at a blistering pace before jumping off the platform and vanishing at the speed of sound.


    Enyo got off Ares and rolled him along the floor with her foot as everyone got into position. She took a few steps back from Ares and waited for the horn to blare...


    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    ¡­ At which point she got a running start and booted Ares towards the talisman. "Go fetch you abstinent mongrel!"


    Ares'' soared like a bird until he came crashing down like a ton of bricks, but he did land next to the talisman, so that was a success at least. Whether it was because of his aerial mobility or because Enyo was secretly a sports professional was up for debate. Based on the raw power of her kick, Ares assumed it was the latter. Now that he thought about it, actually, Enyo would be really good at rugby...


    Ares jumped to his feet and readied himself for a fight! But no one was anywhere near him... This was yet another example of Ares failing to do proper research before hand. If he had made any effort whatsoever to learn about his opponents, he would know they preferred to win matches by stalling for time. Having the talisman was irrelevant for what the Nomad group were aiming to accomplish.


    On the other side of the field, the Nomad competitors had split into three separate groups. Front and foremost were the two golems, Bricky and Rocky. Behind them were the orc and human duo, Maso and Sado. And finally, all by her lonesome in the back, guarded by pervs and stones, was Accelyn, the key to their win condition and the Nomad group''s greatest asset.


    "Suffuse: Itch."


    The suffering pillar was one that oriented itself around death and pain. To be precise, if you weren''t dead, then you were probably in pain! Quite simple really. Given the nature of the pillar, it was generally advised to stay clear of anyone who specialised in it as pillar affinity was said, by some, to be indicative of personality. In all fairness, that conjecture had some weight to it. After all, the first person to have the suffering pillar that Ares came across was a seductress throwing her body around to betray and steal men''s literal hearts. She clearly had a mean streak or two. Sure Dirk was partially at fault, being blinded by lust and whatnot, but at the end of the day most of the blame lay with her. As for how the suffering pillar worked, the three aspects that came under it were as follows: ''Negligent toxicology'', ''grave lord'', and ''scream for me''. Scream for me was an aspect specialising in torture methods and arts that were designed to cause more pain than actual harm. Aym''s ability to poke random spots for severe anguish was a good example of the kind of art you could find under this aspect. Mental agony could also be inflicted via mental attacks and that was where this aspect really started to shine. The whole point of excruciating pain was to throw off your opponent, and toying with the opponent''s brain directly was effectively the perfect way to do it. Long story short, if you wanted someone to be utterly miserable, and you cared about that more than actually killing them, this was the aspect to invest in. That''s not to say the arts couldn''t kill over a long enough period of time though and, if anything, that was for the best. Why? Because it paired well with the other aspects! Grave lord was a necromancer''s go-to aspect. Summoning undead and making contracts with demons and such. You could create powerful amalgamations of corpses and raise recently deceased cultivators. All of the above would typically be weaker than their living counterpart, but they were mostly used to be frontline nuisances that delayed the opponent and extended the fight. Some dedicated grave lords could muster legendary undead that could slaughter entire armies on their own, though, so you always had to pay these creeps attention lest they summon a zombie dragon when you aren''t looking. Still, as with the previous aspect, these two were really just there to by time for the negligent toxicology aspect to do its work. This aspect could summon, create, and spread various poisons. In a way, it was similar to alchemy. Instead of producing beneficial effects, however, it was more suited to killing people... People that you could then turn into more undead! It formed quite a nice cycle. Poison someone, keep them at bay with your undead, prevent them from getting past by distracting them with mental attacks, then raise them as undead after the poison does its work. Anyone stuck in this scenario would truly be suffering! This was one of the few pillars that had high highs and low lows. Good cultivators with this pillar could make every fight feel impossible and stonewall you to death. Bad cultivators would get run over and lose immediately over and over again. There really wasn''t much of an in-between. As for the Suffuse series of arts that Accelyn had tapped into, they came under negligent toxicology and would essentially spread a poison over a large area. As long as the cultivator kept casting the art, the poison would keep spreading further and further. The type of art determined the type of poison. For instance, there was once a nefariously playful cultivator who Suffused a laxative type poison throughout a city over the course of several days. This may sound funny but, had he used a deadly poison instead, he could have just as easily turned the city into a graveyard instead of a sewer. This was doubly true if the cultivator made an effort to create an odourless, colourless poison. Toxicologists were dangerous and people in positions of power usually monitored those with an affinity for the aspect to prevent any wide spread plagues. Suffuse: Itch used a poison that was basically highly-concentrated acid. It would burn cultivators from the inside out and make them feel itchy as their organs were melting. The name was innocent, the result was not. If Accelyn was allowed to keep casting this art for long enough, she could cover the entire arena in this art and just kill the entire opposite team who couldn''t escape. This was a tactic that took full advantage of the place in which the event was held as this wouldn''t be possible in a larger, open arena. So far no team had dealt with the frontliners quickly enough to eek out a win against this team, but that was also because they were lacking something Red Sun wasn''t, firepower!

 Chapter 96: Double Trouble Is No Trouble at All

    The entirety of the Red Sun team came together to bust through the other members of the Nomad group and end the fight before Accelyn''s poison became problematic. Not that they didn''t have their own trick up their sleeve should it become necessary, but that could come as a surprise for Accelyn later.


    The two golems, bricky and rocky, stood tall side by side. ''Tall'' was somewhat of an understatement if anything as these golems were, give or take, 9ft each. Then again, the size and shape of golems varied because their extremities were mostly just visual and not really a part of their actual body. Golems, when it came right down to it, were just sentient cores that could gather things around it to form a body of sorts. Different Golems had different inherent talents and could form their bodies from various materials. Rock was typically the most common building block for your average golems but it could really be just about anything. The stronger the golem, the more material they could control at any given time. In the case of a God like Terros, he could very easily turn himself into a planet if he wanted, maybe even an entire domain if he really pushed himself. Using golems with a high cultivation base as fortresses was a common tactic. As a bonus, golems that were strong enough to be used in this manner were usually sentient, meaning they could also act as somewhat of an automatic defence system by expunging any threats they detected within their walls.


    No matter the golem, whatever material they could control aside, they all looked and functioned the same. Their pitch black, round, glassy core could would create shadowy tentacles that ''impaled'' their respective material. The tentacles skewering the material could freely bend and retract instantaneously, allowing the golem to reform itself and change its shape at any given moment. Any golem that had lived long enough knew the trick to getting the most out of this shapeshifting ability wasn''t to create a giant mass of hulking material but, rather, to leave as many gaps as they could without exposing the frail core. The tentacles were formless and couldn''t be damaged by any known means. Magic and weapons alike would just phase through them. To that end, they didn''t need to be protected by clumps of material which would unnecessarily weigh the golem down. Bricky and Rocky were both currently taking on the standard golem shape, which was mostly humanoid, and they were a perfect example. The arms and the legs were made of three clumps of rocks each, but the gaps between each clump meant the golems weren''t bulky, slow, or inflexible. The minor loss of overall power was worth it considering the monumental upsides. There were a few other neat tricks the golems could perform. For instance, by retracting all the tentacles simultaneously, without dropping the materials first, they could form an omnidirectional shield with the materials that were still attached to them. They could also abandon their form entirely and ''sink'' into their respective material. A rock golem could drop all the rocks, retract its tentacles, and phase its core through the rocky floor, move around, and rise up from the ground whilst reforming its rocky exterior as it did so. In short, as long as golems were around their preferred element / material, they were infinitely stronger than they would be otherwise.


    As for Bricky and Rocky, their cores floated side by side as numerous tentacles worked at blinding speeds. Their humanoid appearance was disassembled before the discarded rocks were then reused and reassembled to create an even larger humanoid clump of rocks. The golems treated their rocky carapaces as building blocks to build a single, gigantic entity in which both their cores were swimming through the torso freely. When two golems teamed up like this, even if one was defeated, the other could maintain the form and keep fighting. Additionally, the amount of attacks that could be performed at any given time doubled, as evidenced by the four extra limbs that were created by the spare tentacles. One golem core, Bricky, would control the original legs and arms to move and block while the other, Rocky, maintained an overwhelming offensive by wielding four new arms, that were split into two groups and attached to the chest and back, simultaneously. Their coordination would cover the front and back, defence and offense. Throw in some occasional earth magic here and there from both golems and the titan standing in Red Sun''s path was more than capable of holding its own for a prolonged period of time. Chipping away slowly would be the most effective strategy on paper, but actually employing it in this fight would enable Accelyn to have all the time she could ever want to Suffuse her poison.


    The Golems eyed up the Red Sun group and assessed Ares to be the biggest, immediate threat. Their defences meant nothing before his gold magic so they targeted him first. Bricky controlled the body, bounding it over to Ares while Rocky wound up a punch with one of the four arms under his control.


    Ares, in his infinite wisdom, scratched his head and stood still. Instead of hightailing it out of the way of the charging titan, he spread his arms wide like he was going to attempt the impossible and hug it. Although Ares'' unsettling behaviour confused the golems, they didn''t stop for even a second as they ignored the rest of the team and rushed the clown down. Bricky slid to a halt in front of a non-plussed Ares as Rocky threw a punch that whistled through the air.


    Thud


    Before the devastating rock fist could pulverise Ares, much to the chagrin of his many haters in the crowd, the fist got stuck on a barrier that refused to budge come hell or highwater. Ares wasn''t the only person here and Enyo was someone that couldn''t just be ignored like this, rather she was someone who you had to get around first. Targeting Ares from the get-go was nonsensical to the extreme. Of course the rationale was understandable, but actually trying to do it in practice was putting the cart before the horse.


    Ares sprung off his feet as the barrier disappeared and jumped onto the clump of rock that was shaped like a fist. He hopped onto the next segment and begun his ascent up the titan as the other arms took action. One hand had to block Li Li who came in swinging at the leg to try and collapse the titan while another obstructed Esme''s wind magic. Two more were kept at bay as they waged war against Enyo''s barriers while the final two tackled Ares as he clambered around the titan''s frame.


    Ares hopped over the first fist but couldn''t stay his course with the second incoming so he threw himself off the arm he was already on and adjusted his route by aiming towards the titan''s chest. As he fell directly at his target, he brought out his sword and aimed it at a small indent in the carapace. Given that the titan was made out of rock, having a smooth body all over was nigh impossible so, with a bit of finesse and the aid of Omniscience, Ares lined up his thrust. "Gamble!" Utilising another art that hadn''t seen the light of day in a while, Ares struck the titan and lodged his sword into its chest before flinging himself back up towards the head. Using Gamble by embedding his sword into a living creature was completely untested but it worked fantastically as he soared past the arms that had been blocking him and landed on the titan''s head. Bricky tried to sneakily let the head fall off the tentacle so that Ares, who was holding onto to it for dear life, would fall alongside it; but Ares had already seen that trick coming before hand. Sure he''d been clinging to the head, but he''d stabbed his Zephyr into the neck to act as a secondary stabilising point for his balance just in case. Ares raised his sword high, ready to pierce it straight downward by coating the tip in disintegration magic. That alone wouldn''t do much so, on top of that, he circulated annihilation magic through the weapon. With a grunt, Ares brought the sword down and sliced through the neck, burying the sword inside the headless titan. "Grand Annihilation!"


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOM  BOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOM                                                              BOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    Riding the rippling golden airwaves, Ares let the blast throw him off the crumbling titan and into the air where he activated Voidwalk and watched the behemoth continue detonating beneath him. The chain explosions burrowed down into the ground, taking the rocky structure with them as they pummelled the ground, digging straight down into the coliseum floor. Bits of dust, dirt, and rock were blasted around the arena under the deafening booms.


    When the golden barrage ceased, only a few traces of the foes remained. Cracked golem core pieces were scattered in the pit the Grand Annihilation had dug out. Ares side eyed the platform and kissed his teeth when he only saw one golem revived and waiting to return to the fight.


    As the titan crumbled, both golems escaped into the ground but one must have stayed behind to facilitate the other''s escape. Whichever golem, Bricky or Rocky, stayed back must have used some kind of earth pillar art to buy their teammate enough time to swim away through the floor, thus resulting in the current situation. Ares spun on his heels and searched around with his Omniscience by staring at the floor. As golem cores were basically just balls of mana, Ares could pinpoint the other golem''s location and track it''s escape route. "Aejaz! Get over here and make yourself useful!" Ares called out to his brother who hadn''t done anything during the previous attack on the titan. Part of it was due to the restriction Ares had placed on him not to use his new, secret art, but the other half was because there wasn''t much he could realistically do against a clump of rock. What was he supposed to do exactly? Swing his dagger at it? There was only one option for Aejaz against the golem, but Ares had sent him a mental note asking him not to play his hand just yet in case it was needed later. Fast forward and, sure enough, the perfect chance had come knocking. One of the combination arts that didn''t get shown off yesterday was about to get its five minutes of fame!


    Ares put his sword away and brought out the Biome Eagle. He stuck out his tongue as he concentrated hard on aiming his shot before loading the weapon with disintegration mana. "Adaptive shot."


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    CAWWWWWWWWWW


    The eagle had returned, this time black as night and filled to the brim with disintegration magic. It left petals behind it as it flew, petals that were identical to those of Black Blossom''s, and its wings oozed black mana. The eagle looked around and, for a split second, wore a disappointed expression after being unable to find Oat. It seemed the eagle had retained its memories from last time and wanted to ''play'' with the stoat again. That or it was just hungry. Ares, the ever eccentric chef he was, wondered if the eagle would like a mustelid pizza... Putting that random thought aside, and apologising to Oat in his head as he very well should, Ares pointed at the floor and followed the golem''s underground movement with his finger. The eagle watched its master with a keen eye and understood the implication of the silent gesturing. It flew higher while tailing the location Ares was pointing out. "Now!" The eagle wasted no time in diving down at the floor even though its prey for the day had yet to emerge; it trusted its master to not be making a fool of it. Besides, if Ares was lying, the eagle was wilful enough to make him pay the price next time he was summoned! That wouldn''t come to pass, however, as the golem burst out of the floor while flicking its tentacles in every which direction to reforge the titan. The golem saw the bird coming straight for it and had to abandon its grand plans in order to defend itself so, instead, it retracted all of its tentacles to create a rocky, spherical shield all around it. Unfortunately for the golem, that action had sealed its fate as the bandit brothers combination art came into play. Standing back to back, Ares created a handful of Shock Beads in his palms as Aejaz clicked his finger and chanted,


    "Swap ''N'' Shock!"


    In Ares'' palms, the Shock Rocks that were once present had vanished and, in their place, lay a couple of large rocks. There were too many too hold onto so they spilled over and onto the floor, clacking off the ground and rolling around near his feet. These rocks were the very same ones the golem had attempted to defend itself with so, if they were here, and the Shock Beads were gone... Sure enough, the golem was defenceless, surrounded by countless Shock Beads, with the eagle bearing down on it. As the rocks weren''t actually a part of the golem, Aejaz could steal them! This made for a perfect opportunity for Swap ''N'' Shock which allowed Aejaz to steal and replace objects from his victim with Shock Beads, leading to an explosive surprise. Aejaz was usually all take and no give, but this art changed that and gave his victims a consolation prize. Of course that gracious gift would inevitably be short-lived. The Beads hovering around the golem lit up and thrummed as the eagle crashed down into the helpless core, pinning it to the ground within its clutches to prevent the golem from escaping. The golem was in agony as its core melted under the eagle''s disintegrating grip, but the relief from the pain it felt when the bird disappeared wasn''t reassuring, no, it was horrifying because that could only mean one thing...


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!


    One Shock Bead went off and that kick started all the rest, creating a series of golden domes that enveloped the semi-dead core and finished off the job the eagle started. Ares didn''t even need to check the platform to know he''d done the deed properly this time. His plan was formulated and executed without a fault. Two were down and out and now it was time for the next duo to come up to the plate. As for why the orc and the human hadn''t interfered with the fight up until now, that''s because they had been busy... Deriving sexual pleasure from one another in public... Thankfully nothing truly indecent had happened and there wasn''t any nudity of any kind, but all sorts of improper acts had been taking place further back in the arena. This was a common sight by now in the Nomad region matches though, and it was justifiable thanks to the types of magic the weird duo used so no one could really file a complaint. The spectators had stopped bringing their children to these matches though... As for what it was they were getting up to, each of them had cast a pleasure pillar art on themselves at the start of the match, two arts that could technically scale forever. The orc had cast Sadistic Swelling and the human had cast Masochistic Motivation. The ''make love and war'' aspect arts each provided a different, stacking benefit to the caster as long as they kept fulfilling their role. As long as the orc, Sado, kept whipping the human, his Sadistic Swelling would toughen and enlarge its muscles, making him physically bulkier. As long as the human, Maso, kept allowing himself to be beaten and abused, his Masochistic Motivation would increase his speed and resistance to mental attacks. While the golems acted as a decoy, these two would reap benefits repeatedly until it was their turn to step up and fight, by which point they would have been considerably empowered by their not-so-private session. The orc would stand up front and soak all the hits while the human sped around and poked holes in everyone with his weapon of choice. You would think the roles would be reversed, but clearly they liked to switch it up every now and then.


    Under normal circumstances, these two would be more of a threat than the golems... Normally, anyway. They weren''t exactly up against what could be considered a ''normal'' team so their antics weren''t gonna fly here. Ares provided Li Li with some mana and she activated Blockbuster to take on the walking talking pig while Enyo dropped a maze of barriers on the human. Maso tried to scramble through and find an exit, but all he found instead were a bunch of Wind Mines that Esme had been setting up while Ares had dealt with the golems. See, unlike ''we''ll do it live'' Ares, Esme had done her homework and she already knew about these two creeps. She''d sent Enyo a mental message, informing her of where to put up barriers to trap the rodent and force him to run into the Mines. It took all of ten seconds before Maso ran into one and, although he enjoyed the sensation of his flesh tearing in the wind, he wasn''t going to enjoy what came next as he stumbled to the floor, right in front of Ares.


    Poke


    Ares lightly jabbed Maso with the Black Ice Bane and looked down at him while shrugging his shoulders. "What I''m about to do to you is excessive, but I''m making a name for myself and for Red Sun here, so don''t take it personally. Crystalised Void: Yggdrasil"


    CRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCKLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    A sight that all the residents of the city, Chen Lo in particular, were familiar with popped into existence to say hello. Anyone with good enough vision could have seen the tree sprout out of Maso''s body and grow bigger, but the process was so unreasonably quick most people would miss it. There were even a few baffled audience members who had the nerve to blink less than a second ago and were now dumbfoundedly staring at a tree that was most definitely not there before. To make it all as trippy as possible, the tree''s leaves and branches extended towards the audience, meaning some people, depending on their floor, had literally blinked and there was now a bevy of golden leaves inches away from their face. Frost rolled off the branches and the dangerous, explosive aura tickled the crowd''s spines. Chen Lo felt like he was having a nightmare. Suddenly, a whole lot of things made sense. Ares, in the span of two days, had gone from annoying, to a problem, to the embodiment of the end of times. Lo was going to have drill it into his clan member''s puny brains that this was do-or-die and that Ares needed to be killed on sight. More than anything Ares was a bag of tricks, each more deadly and ridiculous than the last. What if this wasn''t even his last ace in the hole? As far as Lo was concerned, Ares needed to die as soon as possible. He was honestly tempted to even hire assassins. They would need to be worth their weight in gold if they were going to snoop around without Hans sniffing them out... Lo wasn''t the only person who was unhappy to link Ares to the tree, the mayor was downright fuming. In rage, he snapped the armchair of his seat and nearly lost control, jumping into the arena and killing the brat here and now! It was because of that fork-tongued hooligan his bird suffered a pointless injury, one that Maro couldn''t even heal. Maro conjured images of torturing the bastard to quell the part of him that wanted to leap into action and rip Ares in half. It was a death sentence anyway as the C.O would have his head before he could even blink. That was only part of the issue though as, even if he could succeed and live after, he would be an unrivalled disgrace! Killing a junior cultivator, one who''s representing the city, one with talent, in front of a public audience, mid match, and one who now had directly announced he was tied to the well respected Mr Hans... Career suicide summed up that decision quite nicely. He would never be mayor of this city ever again, that''s for sure. in a way, using Yggdrasil here was a genius ploy that would cement Ares'' status in this city for a good while. Now everyone knew Ares was taking up assassinations that were beneficial to the public... He became that much harder to deal with. At the very least, framing him and putting him on trial would be nigh impossible going forward. It was a shame too, Maro had been considering something of the sort... Although his performance during the tournament would have complicated things... It was in this moment that he had a strikingly similar thought to Chen Lo, the only question that remained was ''who should I hire?'' Maybe these two old morons were born under a lucky star because their prayers for capable assassins would be answered eventually. Whether they''d get exactly what they wanted after hiring them remained to be seen.


    Speaking of remains to be seen, Maso''s remains were still frozen within the tree, preventing him from reviving on the platform. Nothingness wasn''t just ''negative space'' but also ''negative time'', so keeping something preserved like this, in a state that was neither living nor dead, was technically possible. This meant that Maso''s ''one minute before returning to the fray'' hadn''t started yet and never would. It was a useful thing to know going forward in case Ares ever wanted to keep a troublesome opponent out of a fight during the tournament.


    Ares hadn''t invested much time and effort into experimenting with negative time yet, and he probably wouldn''t for a good while. He had merely peeked at the edges of the field of knowledge and his brain felt like it was melting. It seemed like the kinda thing that was best left for when he had a higher cultivation and was more familiar with the pillar as a whole. The last time he fiddled with negative space he was inside the void and almost broke a timeline, summoning himself from the future? Past? Both? It was honestly hard for a pea brain like Ares to understand a complex thing like time, so to the back of his brain for now it went! Like Ares in the morning after being punished by Appa, negative time had been officially put on ice!


    Meanwhile, back on the floor of the arena, Ares was staring at the tree with despair in his beady eyes.... He wanted to blow it up... And Enyo was being mean and not letting him! They still had one more combination art to test / show off and Ares would just win the match if he detonated the tree, so permission had not been granted. Computer says no! Ares trudged along and over to his brother to cast the last combination art. He would do it, but he wouldn''t be happy about it! He had no excuses though. He still had enough mana left as, funnily enough, detonating the tree took a much larger chunk than summoning it. If it had been the other way around, he wouldn''t have had mana to cast any more arts! Curse you mana efficiency, curse you! Ares waved his resentful fist at no one in particular as he and Aejaz walked towards the orc. Ah to hell with this match. Let''s kill this pork pile and get it over and done with. At least I''ll get to finally try using a mental attack on someone... And then I can mess with Accelyn after too... Maybe it''s not so bad after all? As long as I can get a good reaction out of Accelyn, maybe it will all be worth the hassle!

 Chapter 97: Picky Undead

    "Alright ya lazy bum..." Ares pat Aejaz on the shoulder as they meandered over to the orc without a care in the world. "... You and I are up again. Make sure to give me plenty of mana and don''t skimp out!"


    Aejaz recoiled as Ares had practically read his thoughts. How his brother knew he was planning on going light to avoid exerting himself was beyond him. Deciding it was better not to anger the sleeping dragon, Aejaz obediently readied himself to pass on over a sizable chunk of mana lest he catch a beating post match for trying to be a cheapskate.


    Meanwhile, the orc was continually swelling and growing larger by the second. He was almost the same size as the titan by the time his growth showed any signs of halting but it did carry on long enough for Sado to outgrow the rocky contenders. It was a shame Maso had died, especially given how quickly it happened, but really it was the orc that mattered here. He was the defensive line that would hold off everyone else. He was already holding off against the other three members of Red Sun and going toe to toe. In fact, the only reasons he didn''t have an edge right now were because, A; Enyo was freakishly strong for someone with such a low cultivation. Even against this hyper-buff orc it still took at minimum of two swings for him to break a barrier, at which point she could just summon another. Even when the orc tried to attack her directly she would just block with her shield and sustain zero damage. On top of that it still looked like she had energy to spare and could go all day if need be. Then there was reason B; Blockbuster. This art was deadly when it functioned properly and a massive nuisance even when dealt with in a timely manner. Sado having to dedicate his limited brain power just to sort out the rampaging mana was preventing him from chanting any arts. It was like trying to speak a word in two different languages at the same time whilst playing a puzzle game where you fix the angle of water pipes to create a complete circuit. Except instead of running water, it was unruly annihilation magic that flowed wherever it pleased and, instead of pipes, it was Sado''s body. Worse still, if he failed, he would have to do more than just restart, he would explode on the spot! Sado was thoroughly tongue tied and every time he found a brief reprieve amidst the hectic fight, Li Li came swinging to disrupt him once more. He wasn''t going to catch a break, but he wasn''t expecting to either. He knew from the moment this plan was set in stone he would likely die every single match, but that was just his role. Actually, pretty much everyone else on the team wanted to fight normally. It was just Accelyn''s ego and narcissism holding everyone hostage to a plan that put her in the limelight. Her family held a position that was above and beyond that of the other team members so they were obligated, via subtle threats, to listen to her and do as she says. Had she been made the captain because of her prodigious talents? Nope, nepotism was the correct answer to that particular question. How strong the team would have been if they fought normally, with Sado and Maso cooperating with Bricky and Rocky, was arguably better than they were now but, in the end, they had no say. The Nomad team, which could have been an offensive powerhouse, had been reduced to a snail''s pace level of aggression and there wasn''t a single person from the region who wasn''t irked by this. Would they have won the nationals? Not likely, no, but they would have at least put up a better showing than the pathetic display of today. Bricky and Rocky''s titan crumbled under the pressure of a five man onslaught despite logically having the tools needed to last longer and Maso lasted all of ten seconds before being put in stasis. They weren''t faring nearly as well as the Bhorashka lot had against the Red Sun team and that was flat-out disappointing. The betting group hanging around Hans'' area had originally given this group higher odds but they was lowered when they saw the method of fighting the team had chosen to stick with. In short, it was unanimous among literally everyone other than Accelyn that this was a losing battle and that she had single handedly doomed them all to mediocrity. How cool would it have been for the spectators to watch an epic battle against the titan with Sado and Maso backing it up? It would have been fun and lots of the people watching silently wished they could get a refund on their stardust for this match.


    The orc blocked Enyo''s shield ram with his arm and strained to push her back. When his arm finally flung her off, a blast of wind smacked him in the face as Li Li''s fist came bearing down on his protruding gut. Luckily his girth saved him from taking damage from the hits but he still had to deal with the gold mana in his body and he could tell he was starting to fall on the backfoot. Sado wasn''t sure if he''d lasted long enough, but it no longer mattered as he didn''t have any choice left but to go all in and throw out one final hoorah. Sado was prepared to let the next strike from Li Li blow up the arm he was going to offer up on a silver platter. He would grit his teeth through the pain and cast one last art to make himself fall into a berserk state. Whatever happened after that had nothing to do with him. Whether the increase in stats would help stall longer, or whether he would just start aimlessly banging his head against a wall... It was the only course of action left for him. This act of self-sacrifice would never come to fruition, however, and a part of Sado realised this as he saw the bandit brothers once again back to back and casting an art. The orc wasn''t the brightest tool in the shed but he was by no means stupid so he started removing any and all excess clothes on his body. He could tell roughly what happened to the golem thanks to the name Swap ''N'' Shock and he assumed that was what was about to happen to him too.


    Ares saw the orc''s behaviour and just smirked, making no effort to correct his little misunderstanding. Who said they only had one combination art to throw out? Still, if the orc wanted to disrobe in public, who was Ares to stop him? Besides, it''s not like the orc probably hadn''t already done that at some point in his life anyway... Before Sado became sentient, he would have been a degenerate orc just like all the rest, he almost definitely had no shame or scruples. Regardless, Ares clapped his hands together before pointing them at Sado and chanting,


    "Spacing Out ''N'' Seeing Stars!"


    A small, invisible strand of three different types of mana skirted through the air and raced into Sado''s forehead at record pace. The orc recoiled slightly before its eyes blanked and his body started lifelessly rocking back and forth. THUD. The orc collapsed unceremoniously on the floor and occasionally spasmed here and there. It''s neck twitched a couple times per second before finally coming to a lull as Sado''s head rolled to a stop. The crowd looked to the resurrection platform in disbelief and found a shivering Sado sat down and dazed out of his skull. Although it hadn''t really mattered up until now, every one of the Nomad members had a cultivation of at least sensory enhancement, 1st stage. Sado specifically was at 4th stage... And he just got murdered on the spot by an art from someone and entire full realm below him... Technically it was a combination art, and that mattered as they were certainly stronger than usual... But it was utterly preposterous that a mental attack just fully killed an opponent from one-hundred to zero in a few seconds after a single cast. That wasn''t something even people proficient in mental attacks could realistically do. Just when they thought Ares'' repertoire was abnormal as is, this art was added to it out of the blue.


    As for what it was exactly, it was attack that did four things simultaneously. Aejaz'' thievery magic would rob the target of its eyesight by stealing its vision. This was a new trick he''d learnt during training. It wasn''t all his magic did though, as it also stole the target''s recent memories just like ''No-stalgia''. Combined, these two effects were pretty scary to be on the receiving end of. Imagine you wake up and are blind with no idea why or where you are or what''s happening to you... Not pleasant... But it doesn''t end there, that''s just Aejaz'' half. Ares'' magic is where the damage is truly done. The disintegration magic guarantees entry into the opponent''s mental realm by dissolving all the barriers. From there, in leaks the annihilation magic that forms tiny little lights in the victim''s ''vision''. As they''re blinded, they get swamped by a tide of disintegration magic with little exploding dots lighting up their brain. The pain will rack up endlessly until the annihilation magic is removed but, in order to do that, you have to first get rid of the memory altering magic, then fight off the disintegration. It takes a long time to do both, by which point you''ll probably be dead to the repeated battering from the explosions that refuse to stop. It''s like a migraine that gets worse with every beat until your mental realm and brain just explode from being overworked. That was why Sado was still spasming on the floor before he died fully, his body had given up but it was still subject to the whims of the detonating stars that rocked his head uncontrollably. It could actually be considered a mental version of Blockbuster, in a way, but was also way worse. The disintegration wasn''t content with just entering the mental realm, it would keep digging deeper and deeper, granting access to more hidden parts of the subconscious. Obviously the annihilation magic would do more damage there, but it also allowed the memory magic to take more important memories from the target. How to cast arts, how to use your body parts, how to think or breathe. In some cases, the victim could be robbed of so many memories they regressed back to something comparable to a toddler as they died an excruciating, helpless death. Part of the reason it had been so effective was because Sado was an orc, a race know for having a weak mental realm. They''re physically strong creatures driven by nothing more than overwhelming lust and desire. They don''t have the mental fortitude to resist their urges or control themselves because, really, they''re just stupid animals. Becoming sentient improves that slightly, but not much. The art wouldn''t have been as effective against Maso as he was both a human and because he''d been buffed by Masochistic Motivation. It wouldn''t have killed him outright, but it wouldn''t need to. The art was undeniably dangerous as all hell, and could reap lives effortlessly as showcased, but it was more of distraction than anything. An opponent blinded and struggling to cope with this attack would be easy pickings. Even if they could resist it, it would still drain their focus and available mana, much like Blockbuster. Ares'' combination arts seemed to be really good at that; creating a devastating attack that could, and needed to be, mitigated in order to survive but shifted your attention away from the battle. Still, it wasn''t all roses and rainbows, there was a disadvantage too... It had a long name... But it was necessary. Arts with a certain degree of power, excluding Ares destruction pillar arts because they were special, needed longer names to manipulate more mana via the chant, it was typically unavoidable. Also, names needed to follow certain rules otherwise they wouldn''t work as chants. The rules were a bit complicated but, in as simple terms as possible, the name needed to be fitting, long enough, and actually speak-able by a known language. Some of these rules weren''t applicable to all arts, but it was a general template normal cultivators had to abide by for the most part. The longer name of ''Spacing Out ''N'' Seeing Stars'' left Ares and Aejaz wide open. It didn''t matter in this situation where they had three teammates to keep Sado busy, but it wasn''t something that could just be used on the fly without being interrupted in a regular fight. There were ways around this, like reducing the effectiveness of the art to be able to shorten the name, or changing the type of mana used as there was a pillar that specialised in long-chant magic, but neither options had appealed to the brothers. They wanted a heavy hitting art as Swap ''N'' Shock was their speedier option that could be used on the go, they didn''t need another art to fulfil the same role.


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    And then there was one. Accelyn had shrouded roughly half of the arena in poison and even the root of Yggdrasil was hidden by the ominous, orange mist. It was especially thick near the back where Accelyn was blatantly hiding. In this situation, desperate fools would rush into the thickest part to try and find her but, because she''d been building a nest of sorts for so long, you''d just die the second you inhaled the thick poison. Doing nothing wasn''t an option though as then the poison would continue spreading. Red Sun had gotten to this crossroad conundrum way faster than any other team and, thus, they had the liberty to sit and think about their approach.


    It wasn''t an awful strategy, poisoning the entire arena, but there were a million and one ways to deal with such a problem. This cowardly method of fighting would have been punished by someone at some point in the tournament, even if Red Sun didn''t do it, and there were negative chances of this strategy ever working in the long run. All sorts of cultivators and types of magic existed in this world and to think any one magic could act as a cure-all in combat was silly. Accelyn was going to learn this the hard way and that, in the future, she should invest in a back-up plan. That or just fight properly and not end up in this mess to begin with.


    As for how Red Sun were going to deal with the poison... They had a ton of options at their disposal. Esme could blow it all away, Enyo could halt its spread with barriers, Li Li could maybe burn it if she went all out with her fire pillar, and Aejaz... Well actually he was useless, but what exactly was new there? Until his debut match in the international, zilch was to be expected from this petty thief... And then there was easy mode, make Ares blow everything up. Just having him chuck Shock Beads at the gas for long enough would do the trick. He would hit Accelyn eventually. It would be like whack a mole! Or a more challenging version of it anyway as the mole wouldn''t be visible. None of this was the route taken, though...


    Accelyn was seated in the lotus position with her two palms placed diagonally across one another. As her fingers bent like flapping wings, the poison was spread further and further still. As long as her palms were touching one another, and as long as she had the mana to spare, she would keep generating poison.


    Thud Thud Thud Thud


    At the sound of footsteps, that of boots otherwise it wouldn''t have been so audibly distinct, Accelyn looked up with a sharp gaze. Out of the orange haze stepped Ares and her gaze further narrowed. How long could he last? How much suffering was he in? When would the poison kill him? Did she need to stop casting her art to deal with him first? Deliberating on these matters as Ares looked over, Accelyn was attempting to calculate her odds. While she was biting her nail and concentrating like her life depended on it, Ares smiled and waved.


    "Hello! Nice weather we''re having!... Does smell a bit though, kinda like rust." Ares wafted away some of the poison and pinched his nose.


    ¡­


    Accelyn raised her eyebrow at this strange person. He should be dying! Agony should be plastered all over his face and his flesh should be a gooey mess! "You... Are you immune to poison?!"


    Ares scratched his chin and tilted his head. "Kinda? Sorta? Not really ''immune'' per se... A little?"


    "What kind of answer is that?! If you aren''t immune to poisons, you should be dead!"


    "Oh... Good point. You might be on to something there." Ares collapsed on the floor with his face buried in the dirt.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Accelyn stared dumbly at his unmoving corpse before shaking her head and salivating at the incredible opportunity she''d been given by this absolute buffoon! She needed to raise him as an undead quickly before he was revived and his corpse disappeared so she gave up on casting her poison and picked the better option. This match had been looking spotty, but with this bombardier on their side their win would be a cinch. "Get Up." This art didn''t really need explaining. It just raised a corpse with the abilities it had in life still intact. It could only be used on the freshly deceased though. If a body had been rotting for a while a different, less potent, art had to be used instead. Of course the target of Get Up wouldn''t operate at 100% efficiency, but it would be decent enough at around 70%. The cultivator''s skill and cultivation could increase that number so a weaker necromancer with a stronger corpse could still lose to a stronger Grave Lord with a weaker corpse at their disposal..


    Ares'' Stygian Zephyr aided in pushing him up and off the floor as he rose like a zombie out of a cheap horror film. After standing up and to attention, he eagerly awaited his orders that he would faithfully complete no matter how arduous or detrimental to his own wellbeing!


    "Go and blow up the Red Sun team!"


    "No."


    "Eh?"


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "What do you mean no? You''re my underling, do as I tell you!" Accelyn had never seen anything like this before... That didn''t mean it was impossible though. Maybe he was too powerful to control without hitches? He''d shown his talents repeatedly and he was far more powerful than his cultivation let on, so maybe there was pushback because he was a stronger corpse than Accelyn had ever tried raising before¡­


    "No."


    THIS CLEARLY GOES A STEP BEYOND PUSHBACK! Accelyn wanted to tear her hair out dealing with this stupid corpse. "Why won''t you do as I command?!"


    "Hmm..." Ares pondered as he did some soul searching for the answer to Accelyn''s question. "... Because I''m hungry? Give me food and I''ll consider it."


    "F... Food? Why is that all it takes?! And what do you mean you''ll ''consider'' it? I want you to promise me!"


    "Hmm..." Ares was pensive once more as he consulted with the undead guidebook he just invented in his head on how to proceed. "... Ok. If you give me good food, I''ll do as you ask of me!"


    "Fine! Here, you obnoxious bastard!" Accelyn took some sweets out of her space ring and chucked them at Ares who caught them all with his mouth. He had to dip, duck, and dive to catch them all but he was successful nonetheless!


    Chew Chomp Chew Chew


    Ares swallowed and Accelyn sighed before she pointed outside the mist towards the Red Sung group. "Now! Go! Go and blow them up!"


    "No."


    "WHY?!?! I held up my end of the bargain!"


    "No you didn''t. I asked for good food and you gave me that shit? I could make better with my hands tied behind my back!" Ares didn''t mention the fact that he could cook in the Primordial Blade without direct intervention and rarely used his hands anyway... "Good is subjective, unless we''re talking about my palate, then it''s objective! I want food that is good according to my standards, not yours!"


    "I don''t have anymore food on me! What am I supposed to do with your useless corpse now?! Will you take anything else?!"


    "No."


    "Unbelievable... You know what? Go be dead again. I don''t care." Accelyn waved her hand in an  attempt to dismiss Ares and have his body fall to the floor. She wanted this useless bastard gone before he gave her a crippling headache... But why was he still here?! "Why can''t I get rid of you?! Do I seriously have to keep and put up with you? Why damnit?!"


    "You can''t get rid of me because I''m immortal, obviously."


    "Eh?"


    "Hahahahahaha." Ares laughed boisterously with tears in his eyes as Accelyn''s face was priceless. Her eyes had never been as wide as they were in this single moment and her mouth never so agape either. The single stupefied utterance, the look of bewilderment, it was all too priceless for a revenant.


    "W... What do you mean your immortal..." Accelyn had a bad feeling as she slowly inched backwards along the floor. Ares slowly followed her as he responded.


    "I mean killing me is basically a pipe dream. You wanna know why your undead magic didn''t work? There are two reasons. First of all, I already come back to life after I die anyway, you just sped up the process and allowed me to keep the same corpse. Whenever necromancy brings a revenant back, ah don''t worry about what a revenant is, you don''t need to know... But when a revenant is brought back from the dead, they keep their free will without fail. You can''t turn a race that revives itself into an undead by reviving them, idiot. Reviving is our turf, we just let necromancers hang out on it! Oh but, make no mistake, that isn''t what happened here, we never even got around to that. See, reason two for me ignoring you is because I never died in the first place! What?! You think this poxy poison could kill me? A revenant''s ability to regenerate is infinitely more powerful inside than outside their body. Internal wounds are fixable so much quicker than external ones. Unless you have a poison that can instantly kill me, I''ll just keep regenerating any damage the poison does. Yeah my organs are melting right now, and it hurts like you wouldn''t believe, but they''re also healing too. It''s like a stalemate. Revenants are infamous for many things, one of them being a miraculous level of poison resistance with some revenants even having such incredible talent they become outright immune. So no, you can''t use undead magic on a living creature, idiot. Honestly, I was just bored so I decided to mess with you. Hope you had fun playing pretend, as if you actually belonged in the big leagues, ''cos its all over now!" Ares advanced upon Accelyn with a grin. "Ah but don''t worry, this tournament isn''t the last you''ll be seeing of me just yet. Dirk sends his regards."


    "Grand Annihilation!"

 Chapter 98: A Familiar Face Joins the Fray

    The Nomad team had to tread carefully on the platform otherwise they would wind up in the path of Accelyn who was stomping around and throwing a small tantrum. It was unknown whether she was annoyed at being played for a fool by Ares'' undead shtick, or because Dirk''s name had come up when she least expected it. Either way, her foul mood was self-evident and the rest of the team made a concerted effort to get away from the psychopath. She herself really wasn''t the issue, but if she summoned her family to right whatever she deemed wrong; that''s when things would get ugly. They''d probably be locked up and donated to Accelyn as torture guinea pigs for her to toy around with. Really, Bricky, Rocky, Sado, and Maso just wanted to get as far away from the woman as possible and go back their old lives back before they started getting dragged around by her.


    Meanwhile the Red Sun group were exiting to the sound of roaring applause from the citizenry. It had been a while since Red Sun looked good going into an international... Then again, even getting to the international was usually a rare occasion. Having a team that could be considered a ''powerhouse'' was a new kind of thrill for Red Sun and they were basking in the glory of having won the nationals. Maybe, just maybe, they could overlook Ares being a cocky perv... Maybe.


    On the way out, Ares was trying to figure out what to make for dinner for everyone. Technically the real celebration had been yesterday''s pizza party as they were basically a shoe in to win at that point, but that didn''t mean he couldn''t cook again today for anyone who wanted to show up. He told everyone to think it over in his stead as he was going to be busy for a while visiting the Nick clan with Li Li and Dirk. Speaking of, Li Li was already here, and Dirk was waiting outside the coliseum. Dirk''s father had probably also been at the venue, but the meeting ought to take place back at the clan as he was a busy man and holding him up here would just be rude. Plus talking about this kind of infiltration stuff out in the open was a braindead manoeuvre if ever there was one. Poniard had gone ahead so Ares bid the team goodbye and went off with the scarred mosquito and the bubble-gum boxer.


    They chatted about this and that, mostly ways to further optimise Blockbuster and what they could have for dinner, before arriving outside the clan''s gates. Two upright guards bowed to Dirk and Li Li and opened the gates. The two kin of patriarchs waltzed in only to realise Ares was being detained and whining at the guards.


    "Oi! I know I look suspicious, but I was clearly with them! Did you think they were politely ignoring a stalker or something?!"


    "Shut up bastard!" One of the guards spat as he started dragging Ares away. "We remember you and your evil brother hanging around our clan and stealing from us!"


    "I''m glad I live rent free in your head, now let me go you shmuck! I''m here with benevolence! Benevolence, I say! Do you want your young master''s heart back or not?"


    The guard stopped lugging Ares away and turned to Dirk with a questioning look.


    Dirk shrugged. "Just for today, let him in. Any other day and you can go wild though."


    Tsk


    With a kiss of his teeth, the guard pushed Ares away and almost bust a nerve when the smug bastard turned around and stuck his tongue out at him. "See if I don''t come back with my brother and steal from you again!" Ares skittered around the corner as his laughter tormented the guard who was tempted to leave his post and show this punk what for!


    Two flat gazes awaited Ares as he caught up to and followed Dirk and Li Li. They just sighed and shook their head before walking onwards. After passing down a few hallways and exiting the main building, the trio arrived near a secluded corner of the clan in the back where the patriarch tended to a bed of flowers on most days. It was an open courtyard with a small fountain in the middle and four benches surrounding it in each of the cardinal directions. Dirk took the lead and walked up to his father who''d just finished pruning the branches of an oak tree.


    "Father... Shouldn''t we have this conversation inside?"


    Poniard was a tall fellow, sharply dressed and pointed as can be. His goatee was razor thin and triangular in shape to compliment his gunslinger moustache. His palms were always straight and his fingers only ever bent to curl around objects. Poniard''s unhunched back gave the impression of a proud man. With a twirl of the end of his moustache, Poniard turned around and raised an eyebrow as he saw two others alongside his son. "We will." Poniard''s voice was elegant but quick and clear. Rather than rhythmic, it was as if he lacked any rhythm altogether. His words were punctual. "I''m waiting for someone else to arrive before I head on in. You can go and make yourselves comfortable in the meeting room while I finish up here. Feel free to have the workers bring you tea and or snacks if you so desire. As for your two companions, I''ll greet them properly whence we are all properly seated." Without further ado, Poniard turned around and returned to the task at hand. Although any normal person would be uncomfortable in a situation like this, Poniard seemed entirely unbothered with the people behind him. The trio could stand there and stare at him for eternity if they wished, Poniard would treat them like air until he deemed his job done. It wasn''t even because he had a green thumb or anything, he was just always this hyper focused on whatever task he was working on. In fact, Poniard didn''t even really like greenery, he just did it to practice his precision with various sharp objects. Although he wasn''t the greatest with every blade, he was considerably above average in each. Of course, when wielding his namesake poniard... That was a different matter altogether. He could pierce metal with a light, effortless jab. He wasn''t the patriarch of a huge clan for nothing.


    The trio of scamps skedaddled, entering the building once again as they were lead by Dirk to the aforementioned meeting room. Ares asked the obvious question. "So, who''s this guest then? Is it gonna be our little baby sitter on our expedition?" There was no way these three could go it alone, and so they would need to be supervised by an adult! This made it sound like they were infants, but in the cultivation world they kinda were. Someone like Poniard could have poked them all to death in under a second if he had any inclination to do so, and even he wasn''t the end all be all or anything. It wasn''t unreasonable to think there would be strong cultivators guarding Accelyn.


    "Dunno." Dirk replied. "My man''s got connections out the wazoo, could be basically anyone."


    "It might be a bit late to be asking this, but are you sure Accelyn even has the heart on her? If she didn''t bring it for the tournament, maybe she left it back in the Nomad region?"


    With a shake of his head, Dirk assured Ares that wasn''t the case. "Nah. First off, all the strong cultivators in Accelyn''s family would have come to watch her compete. They wouldn''t leave such a treasure at home unguarded. Also, they probably want to put it up for auction at the Myriad Masks so they will have brought it for that. They can''t do it yet ''cos they auction house isn''t taking valuable items until the national is all wrapped up. It just finished, so they''ll probably start accepting items either later today or tomorrow at the earliest in prep for the international auction. An enabler would be some good stuff for all the rich folk to bet over and Accelyn would earn a massive chunk for selling it to the auction house... That''s my guess at least... My father didn''t agree to work with me but he did tell me all that so I''ll trust him on it. He''s stubborn, but he ain''t a liar at least."


    Kathunk


    The folding screen door behind the trio opened and in entered Poniard. He left the door open as he took a seat opposite Dirk and looked to the door. When Poniard heard the tinkling of his maid''s giggling, he kissed his teeth and yelled, "GET IN HERE, YOU OLD BADGER!"


    "Ah alright alright, I hear ya. Spoilsport." An elderly man, but spry as though he were in the spring of youth, strolled through the open door and winked at everyone. "I just wanted to chat with the young''uns and all. You know, offer to give them some pointers in private!"


    "Dad?" Li Li blurted out. "Oi! The hell are you doing here? And why are you perving on the staff, you creepy old geezer?!"


    THUD!


    Fray, Li Li''s ''old man'', gave his daughter a knuckle sandwich to the dome and twisted his fist on her skull. He was visibly old, but had a muscly body hidden beneath his excessively baggy robe, and his steps were light. He seemed to be the type to act like a dunce but really know how to throw a punch when push came to shove. He was the stereotypical ''don''t mess with old guys'' trope personified. "Bah, you little bumpkin. Why do you think I''m here? To put you brats straight! Specifically that one!" Fray pointed his bony but sturdy finger at Dirk. "Runt''s gotta come to grips with reality and do as his pops is tellin'' ''em, and I''m here to seal the deal. What about you though? I don''t recall you knowing the Nick brat? And what about this explosive menace? I know ''em ''cos I''ve seen the nationals, and I get you''re on the same team yeah, but what''s ''e doing here?"


    "Same as you geezer, but in reverse. Were here to plead on behalf of this numbskull Dirk, the guy with all the negotiating prowess of a virgin going up against a bandit."


    Fray took a seat next to Poniard and stroked his chin with a wry smile. "Interesting."


    "What''s interesting?"


    "Ha, well let''s find out, eh little missy? Well, go on and kick off the discussion Mr Pony Yard."


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "Hmph." Poniard ignored the old heckler and turned to face the trio. "Right, well, Dirk I''ll get to you in a minute. Li Li, it is good to see you again, and your presence here will help speed along the discussion, so I''m happy to have you... And then there''s you, Ares... Could you explain to me why you''re here?"


    "Moi?" Ares pointed to himself as he puffed up his chest with a grin. "I want these two to owe me a favour, so I decided to be their negotiator saviour. I''ll also help in getting the heart back. It''s not really any skin off my back and the reward is worth it."


    "And that reward is?"


    "For these two to stick with the sect. Its basically pre-ordained that I''m gonna be the next sect master, and having pools of talent to pick from in creating a group of worthwhile elders will make my life easier. It''s a pretty minor request all things considered, especially seeing as how they were going to stick around anyway. Plus they get positions of power so, if anything, I''m the one getting scammed here."


    "Ok... But what on earth makes you think your presence here is going to make a lick of difference? I fail to see what bargaining chip you can bring to the table... Even if you''re going to help get the heart back, why are you here right now?"


    "Well why don''t we start the discussion and you can find out the hard way? I''m not so lenient as to give the game away before its even started. That would just sap all the fun out of it, and that''s nine-tenths of why I''m even here!"


    "Hahaha, I like this kiddo!" Fray butted in. Ares rock, paper, scissors trickery had won over the old man earlier and he liked what he was seeing here too! birds of a feather flock together, and these two were basically both mischievous children at heart.


    Poniard sighed and decided to put Ares to the side for now. "Dirk, son, I have not changed my mind. I will aid you if, and only if, you agree to the marriage proposal. I''ve already told you its a member of the Li clan, and that''s why Li Fray is here. That was where we left off last time, and its where we should continue on from today. Don''t bother trying to evade the topic, I won''t change my mind or forget about it."


    Dirk''s finger tapped against the floor as he stared at his father. "Look, I made a mistake with Accelyn, that I agree with. But I can''t agree to this. If you''re dead set on it, I would rather just give up my heart."


    "Why not? You aren''t in a relationship with anyone else, are you?"


    "I am..." Although his glance towards Li Li was subtle, there was zero chance it went unnoticed in this kind of atmosphere. Also Li Li blushing was super obvious. Like giant, blinding neon lights obvious.


    "... I see..."


    "Hahaha, well that''s..." Fray started chuckling but his next sentence was interrupted.


    Smack


    Poniard''s back hand was swift and effective, with his hand landing perfectly on Fray''s mouth and silencing him mid speech. "It''s not what we had in mind, but this could work too. Still, if we''re going to make this concession, you''ll need to make some as well?"


    With a kiss of his teeth, Dirk accepted the loss here. It was unwise to push his luck any further as this was already a good enough outcome. If all he had to do was do some things here and there for his pops then really, he had no reason to complain... "I..."


    "OBJECTION!" Ares raised his hand with a toothy grin. "It seems my time to shine is now!" Ares gestured to Dirk with his upturned palms. "My client does not accept your terms and conditions! He will not barter nor will he bargain with crooks and liars."


    "You''re rather brave, asserting me to be a liar in my own home." Poniard stared daggers at Ares. This wasn''t an understatement either, if Poniard wanted to he could convert his gaze into a pointy mental attack and riddle Ares'' mental realm with lovely little holes...


    "Nah, not brave. I just know the truth is all. Li Li was the marriage candidate, no? You''re just trying to swindle benefits out of your kid to teach him a lesson."


    "... What makes you say that?"


    "Well, for starters, Fray over there had one hell of a shifty reaction. You gotta work on your poker face, geezer..."


    "Bah!" Fray pouted and turned to the side with his arms crossed.


    "Also, are you familiar with Enyo from the Heaven''s Path sect?"


    "Yes..." Poniard connected the dots in his head. Enyo was well known for having one of the few available lie detectors in Sheryashka and she was frequently beset on all sides with requests to use it. She was on the same team as Ares and all it would take for him to have the lie detector too was to inherit it via a romantic relationship, which wasn''t even remotely unfeasible. In short, Ares was a human lie detector himself just like Enyo. Poniards quick with brought him to the correct answer without the need for an explanation. Ares'' trap had been triggered and he''d blindly stepped into it. It would seem he held a seat at the table for a reason after all. "I see. Fine, you win. Li li was indeed the original candidate. Fray and I had promised each other to tie our clans together at the hip via our youngest when they came of age. Of course Dirk ignored me and went and ruined it all... But fate seems to have a funny way of playing tricks on people. Li Li, I am terribly sorry, but would you accept my used-goods of a foolish son?"


    Dirk''s eye''s twitched in indignation and he spoke up before Li Li could. "I''M NOT USED GO..." When he realised everyone was staring at him, he hushed himself and scratched is chin as he stared at the wall in embarrassment.


    "Hmph." Poniard rolled his eyes. "My son is correct. He may be used, but he is not good in any sense of the word."


    "Actually..." Ares had a dumb smile on his face as he smirked at Dirk''s trembling back. "He wasn''t lying! Hahahaha, couldn''t even get laid before you got robbed? That''s kinda pathetic, not gonna lie. What kinda chump are you?"


    "Are you serious?" The disappointment in Poniard''s voice was piercing. This was objectively for the best... But man was it humiliating. "Useless..."


    "Hahahaha, kid, ya got no game!" Even Fray joined in on the ribbing because this was too good of an opportunity to pass up on. "You must have, like, negative charm. What? D''ya give her your heart after she let you cop a feel or something? I mean, I get it kid, I got eyes too. I saw the size of them hooters. Almost fell in love myself but, come on man, have some pride! Fight!"


    Dirk groaned as he curled up into a ball and hid in his knees. The three other guys in the room were insulting his masculinity, BUT! At least Li Li was happy? He''d peeked out of a crevice in his knees and she seemed more pleased with this revelation than anything else. So what if everyone else was mocking him! The one person who mattered didn''t care!... He was still going to hide a little longer though...


    "Well... now that that''s been sorted and we''re all on the same page, let''s discuss the finer details, shall we?" Poniard redirected the conversation back to the important topic. "It''s true you''ll need someone capable to act as your guardian angel of sorts. If you''re trying to be stealthy, then limiting the number of people you send in is key. To that end, it needs to be a single, strong cultivator. Part of why I asked Li Fray to come over was because his daughter was directly involved, but it was also because he''s owed a massive debt by someone who fits the bill. I''ll leave it to Fray to explain."


    With a yawn and a stretch, Fray got himself comfortable. "Right, so you all already know this guy. He''s a real troublemaker, but he''s competent. As competent as a bucket o'' bolts like him can be anyway. I brought ''em with me and had ''em wait outside so... YO SLICK, GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!"


    Clunk Clunk


    Dull, heavy footsteps followed by a metallic body poking around the corner all but confirmed Slick''s presence. "Yo flesh bags. Been a minute since I last pummelled ya."


    "Tsk, tin can..." Li Li grumpily spat at the robo that had insulted her the first time they met. "... Yeah, I get it now. No wonder you were fighting in that stance during the trial when you beat me up... So what? Fray taught you how to fight and you repaid that favour by beating me up with the Li''s very own style?! Oi, dad, you should kick the crap outta this guy, you know? He''s misusing your teachings!"


    "Me? Beat him up yourself, twerp." Fray grinned and gave his daughter the middle finger.


    "Nah, but really, what''s the boombox doing here? Kid''s just gonna alert the security when we go do our business aint he?" Slick pointed at Ares with one hand and gave a thumbs down with the other.


    Ares held up his pinkie finger and curled it repeatedly to mock Slick who''d lost his during their last engagement. "I''ll have you know stealth is a new specialty of mine. I''ve worked for Hans for years now so slinking around comes naturally, but I also got my grubby paws on this bad boy..." Ares whipped out the Nyxian Prowler and Poniard''s eyes lit up, showing emotion for the first time in years.


    "That... May I please see it? I wouldn''t try anything funny knowing you have Hans'' backing."


    "Yeah sure, but it ain''t Hans you should be worrying about. I''m a revenant, so keep that in mind when you''re inspecting my treasure, yeah?"


    "... A revenant, huh? That''s as good a threat as any..." Poniard was aware of how much influence the Umbra wolves had and he knew their overall strength was not to be trifled with. If Ares was anyone even remotely influential Poniard would bite the dust in an instant; not that he had any intention of doing anything scummy to begin with.


    Ares handed over the dagger as Slick spoke to him.


    "Ah yeah, Yulo did mention something ''bout that. Is it ok for you and Enyo to be, ya know, like two peas in a pod?"


    "Yeah it''s fine. Not like I''m hiding it anymore or anything. The situation''s a little more complicated than that though, and explaining it would take the whole day, so don''t worry your pretty little circuits about it."


    "I see that mouth of yours is still running full steam ahead. If no one smacks some sense into you, one of these days Imma have to do it myself. Can''t let a brat like you get out of hand otherwise we''ll all be doomed... What is that dagger anyway? Anything good or ya just fibbing? Looks pretty sweet though, not gonna lie." Slick eyed up the shapeshifting dagger as Poniard mouthed the word ''incredible'' to himself. Poniard''s reaction was understandable, his entire clan could be summarised by this symbolic weapon.


    Ares smugly smiled at Slick as he proudly declared how awesome his treasure was. "Oh yeah, sweetness overload you could say. Not only can it change shape, but its an enabler of the darkness pillar to boot. I got the bad boy from the tomb that opened recently and its killer, pun intended. Before I was an explosive pest. Now I have become sneaky explosive pest, destroyer of worlds!"


    "Oi seriously? You got yourself an enabler? Fuck, I''m jealous actually. Always wanted one myself. To think there was one hiding just a few miles away from the city this whole time. Damn. Still, that''ll be crazy good for sneaking into Accelyn''s place. Hate to say it, but you got me good there."


    Poniard handed the dagger back to Ares. "I''ve not had the pleasure of seeing many enablers but I can tell that one is very valuable. I imagine you aren''t going to sell it, but if you ever change your mind, please keep the Nick clan in mind. Also, if you''re ever willing to borrow it, we''ll be more than happy to pay you handsomely."


    Ares put the dagger away and nodded. "Sure, I''ll keep that in mind."


    "Now that we''re all agreed on who''s going, let''s discuss the plan itself. I''ve already sent some scouts to get a lay of the land and the security detail. They worked together with a local cartographer to produce this map." From out his spatial ring, Poniard unfolded a map across the entire length of the table in front of him. The talks on how to go about successfully infiltrating and stealing back the heart continued for a couple of hours until the plan was set in stone, at which point the trio left to return to the sect. It was decided they''d go later at midnight, when security was at its thinnest. To destress and reduce their anxiety before then, Ares, the one person in the group who actually seemed to be raring to go, was going to cook a scrumptious meal first. As for what everyone had decided, in their down time back at his house, they wanted to eat today; the answer was quesadillas and burritos... And beer... But it was pretty obvious who asked for that.

 Chapter 99: Midnight Fight, Part 1

    Du du du-du du du du-du dududuuuuuu dududuuuuuu dududuuuuuu dudu


    Ares whistled to himself as he prowled through streets of Red Sun. He was hardly being stealthy but, then again, the mission hadn''t started yet, so he was free to be his usual idiotic self as he ducked behind walls and hid behind poles that were way too small to cover his figure. He advanced down alleyways with his finger guns at the ready and even had to fire off a couple blanks here and there to assert dominance over the pesky shadows. When he arrived at the meeting point, he made sure to dome Slick with a well-aimed shot. Hitting the tin can was worth bonus points after all. "Woohoo! New high score!"


    "Shut up, idiot." Slick picked up Ares like he was a stray cat and dangled him over the floor as he walked towards Accelyn''s temporary residence. Li Li and Dirk were also in tow, nervously trying to soften their steps and blend in with the night.


    "Man, but Accelyn was really taken aback when I mentioned your name Dirk." Ares tried to take the newbie duo''s minds off their imminent task by bringing up something that was relevant but not anxiety inducing.


    Dirk let out a hearty sigh. "She probably thought I was some kind of pushover that would just treat it as water under the bridge..."


    "Hehehe, she''s about to learn that water under the bridge from a different perspective could just as easily be a bridge over troubled water!"


    "I can''t tell if you''re an idiot trying to sound smart, or if you''ve just mixed up your metaphors..."


    Ares shrugged, albeit in his limited capacity to do so as he was still being lugged around like carrier luggage by Slick. "Those two things aren''t mutually exclusive."


    "So I see..."


    The trio, now with a plus one in Slick, walked around until they arrived within viewing distance of their target. It looked more like a compound than a residence but that was to be expected as Accelyn''s family were as rich as they were expansive. When considering the need for security for every member of the family, something like this was the best option available. It also meant security would be stretched thinner, though, which made the heart retrieval squad''s chances that much better. Slick dropped Ares and addressed the group.


    "Ok, so, one final time, I''m going to go over all the deets, capiche? Ares will start us off by creating an Ebon Nightmare Zone and shoving you two inside it. He''ll hop in after he ties the Zone to my shadow and hands over the Nyxian Prowler. I''ll use darkness pillar arts to get us all past the gates and into a safe place. From there, we''ll split up and do our own thing. Ares and I will create a disturbance and keep everyone busy while you two borrow the Prowler and go deeper into the house. You sneak in through the back, follow the route we discussed earlier, and make your way to the heart. You get it, you get out, we follow. All''s well that ends well. We fade away into the night by having Ares Shift us out if he has the mana for it, or we run to Hans'' area of influence if he doesn''t. We aren''t here to kill Accelyn, so don''t waste time looking for her. Of course, if she gets in your way, feel free to get some payback. Just don''t take too long otherwise Ares and I will start to have it rough. Their security detail is part of a larger firm; if they get reinforcements, we''ll be swamped eventually and have to retreat. Everyone clear?"


    "Yessir." Ares gave a quick salute "Ah but you gotta let me kick things off. If we''re gonna do this, we gotta do it properly."


    "Your big explosions take a lot of mana though, right? Wasting it all at the start is wrong no matter how you look at it..."


    "Nah, don''t worry ''bout that. I got a trick up my sleeve I can bust out here. Still, I can only do it once, so we need to make the most of it. Leave our grand entrance to me and you can rest assured the security will be very ''distracted''. Why, they''ll practically be dying to meet me after!"


    "... I can tell you''re gonna do something stupid, but whatever. As long as it works, so be it. Then let''s get going. Oh and, if anyone strong shows up, let me handle ''em, don''t go round trying to be a hero for no reason. Yulo would turn me into a scrapheap if I screw up and let you kick the bucket."


    Yeah, I got a trick up my sleeve for that too. A certain someone was back in business and itching for a fight so, if it looked as though things were gonna go south, Ares had a backup plan in his pocket. With a flick of his wrist, Ares created the Zone and guided Li Li and Dirk into it. From there he handed over the Prowler to Slick, only after making him say ''pretty please'', and jumped in himself.


    Slick coated himself in a shadowy veil in a bid to help him avoid detection as he darted up the road leading to the gates. He veered slightly off course to avoid the front entrance and scanned the route to make sure everything was going as planned. Three, two, one... NOW! Perfectly timing his leap over the fencing, Slick landed behind a patrol and knocked all three members out cold with swift elbows to the head. His metallic exoskeleton combined with his high cultivation base meant these three wouldn''t be waking up any time soon so he was free to act as he wished... For the most part. If the patrol didn''t report in eventually the jig would be up. The infiltration was going well so far, but that didn''t mean he could take it leisurely and prance about. Slick raced along the grassy area to the right of the entrance and snuck around to the side, avoiding the nearby patrol by blending into the wall with the Prowler. Having this kind of power was new to Slick who''d never ventured outside his own pillars. He wasn''t accustomed to the various stunts he could pull of now and he felt a thrill every time he hid in plain sight to avoid detection... Well he was still a robo, so he didn''t really ''feel'' anything, but his cogs were certainly turning a little faster. Slick climbed up some plumbing on the wall and parkoured his way on top of a lamp, up to a window ledge, into a nearby tree where he waited for some spotlights to pass by, and finally up onto a balcony leading into the building. A thorough investigation later and Slick had determined there were no traps on the door so he opened it and snuck into a nearby room wherein he pulled out the trio. "K, we''re in. Remember, don''t pick fights. Wait for us to attract everyone''s attention before you move from this spot. If it looks like you''re gonna struggle, just leave. Your heart aint worth your life and neither of you are experts in escaping. Dirk can be tricksy at times, but compared to someone who can dip out of bad situations in a more timely manner, you ain''t diddly squat. Still, if you absolutely have to run, make sure to put Li Li in a containment Zone first. Look, no offense, but she''s not outrunning anyone here. Maybe if you work together and do that thing you did during the selection test, you know, Sanguine Stimulant, you might fare better, but it''s just risky."


    "Yeah yeah, we''ll be fine. Now gimme that dagger! I''ve been eyeing up that bad boy for a while now!" Dirk, like his father before him, was practically salivating. In all fairness, any random person in the Nick clan would definitely act the same way. It was in their blood.


    With one final nod, Ares and Slick left the room and headed back outside. Slick jumped down first and sent another patrol to the land of dreams before Ares also came down.


    "Alright. Show me what you got up your sleeve, then."


    Ares shook his head and pointed to the other side of the building. "If I do it here, I''ll hit Dirk and Li Li. If I put a bit more finesse into it, I could probably avoid them, but its better to be safe than sorry." Man, I really wish I had a way of excluding friendlies from my explosions... Guess I''m gonna have to give it some thought, seems like the kinda thing that would come in handy in the future.


    Slick and Ares managed to narrowly make it to their destination without the Prowler. Given that there were two of them now, neither possessed stealth related magic, and they had to make it all the way around the building, it wouldn''t have been strange if they''d been discovered. They''d caught a lucky break with the patrol schedule but, really, it didn''t make much of a difference. If they''d been detected Ares would have just used his trick a little prematurely is all. Ares wanted to be on the same side as the explosion to draw everyone over. If they''d been standing elsewhere, away from the explosions, the idea that ''they could be in multiple places'' would come more naturally to the security detail. If the culprit was at the scene of the crime, even if that idea did sprout, it would probably only happen later, giving Dirk and Li Li more time. That aside, Ares took a step forward and planted his foot down with a Thud! Slick recognised this motion but was confused as to how this art could possibly be relevant here, but he watched on curiously as Ares chanted the name of an art he knew all too well.


    "Chaos Reigns!"


    Did he plant the Beads as he ran across the building? I mean, its better than nothing... But is this really going ot be the spectacle he was bragging it would be? Realistically, how many could he have buried in such a short time span? Maybe twenty or thirty at most, right? Slick tilted his head in confusion at Ares'' befuddling action. "... What the f..." Slick''s brain almost short-circuited when he saw upwards of two hundred Shock Beads rise out of the ground and light up the darkness. Their ominous glow was like a horde of fireflies that had come to pay a visit to this half of the residence specifically. Overwhelming amounts of mana turned this side of the building into a tidal wave of thick, golden air that was oppressively hard to breathe in. Milliseconds before chaos descended upon Red Sun, Slick managed to run through some thoughts in his head about this situation that led him to a conclusion that shocked him to his core. Ares had the means to kill everyone in Red Sun... ''He was willing to do this on the other side of the house, so he must have had a couple hundred already over there too.'' ''Why would he have buried Shock Beads here in advance?'' ''He couldn''t possibly have known this would happen, so he must have just done it because he was already doing something similar.'' ''This overwhelming discomfort reminds me of that one thing that happened back when the tree appeared in Red Sun.'' ''The discomfort is similar, but on a smaller scale.'' Based on everything Slick knew about Ares'' Shock Beads, he found an answer to all his questions, one that he really couldn''t believe, but unfortunately it made sense... He looked at Ares and just blankly muttered, "Seriously?"


    Ares turned to face Slick with an evil grin just as the surroundings became a glorious light show comparable to only one explosion Ares had ever released before, back when he detonated every Bead at his store to kill Chen Fen.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Hell on earth. Fire, wailing, craters, a crumbling house, corpses, and scattered body parts. All the while the devil responsible was resting his knuckle against his canine tooth and his tilted head on his fist. A warped smile, the kind only a twisted individual could wear in such a situation filled with death and disaster, made Slick reconsider the way he understood Ares. Ares may very well be a happy-go-lucky doofus at times, but really, at his core, he was a dangerous man who was capable of bringing ruin wherever he went. A half dead guard, with everything below his waist gone, dragged his body over to the foot of Ares. The guard''s ears were ringing and he was in so much pain he''d gone full circle and been completely numbed to it. With tears in his eyes, he tried to grab onto Ares leg. He was desperate enough to be saved that he would cling to random strangers. Ares just lifted his foot and brought it back down on the guard''s head with an Echo sealing his fate. Ares shook off the blood splatter without a care in the world and went back to watching parts of the house collapse with a joyous glint in his eye. Some psychopaths killed for fun, Ares blew things up for fun. Anyone he happened to kill was collateral. Of course these people were enemies to begin with and sparing them was idiotic, but the absolute disregard Ares had for their lives was a tad off-putting. It wasn''t that he enjoyed it, or hated it, he just didn''t care; as if their lives were made forfeit the second he''d decided to come here and now fate was just playing catch-up to his whims.


    Slowly but surely, the surviving cultivators, and those who had been on the other side of the house, emerged from the woodworks to face their attacker. A couple of these cultivator''s recognised Ares as the explosive participant for Red Sun and they immediately scowled at him because he was a prime suspect for the chaos that had been unleashed here. Everyone else mostly recognised Slick as he was well known enough as the guardian of Heaven''s Path. Although they weren''t privy as to why these two troublesome characters had come looking for a fight, they weren''t paid to ask questions so they prepared themselves. Before the fight broke out, though, an injured cultivator spat out some blood and hobbled to stand before them. Given this man had the highest cultivation of everyone here, coming in at around the peak of sensory enhancement just like Slick, it wasn''t difficult to figure out he was the head of security. As the burly man drew nearer, he yelled to the two intruders. "ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? AND WHY ARE YOU HERE?"


    Ares snickered at the guy. "I''m here to blow you up, so you tell me; am I responsible or not?"


    "Why? Why wreak such havoc? I don''t recall any of my men wronging either of you!"


    "Pick a better client next time, one that won''t get you embroiled in something like this. Well, that''s only really something you''ll be able to consider if you even live through this, so do your best."


    "Accelyn''s family aside, I will pay you back for what you did to my men. You''re surrounded. Slick is one thing, but I''ve seen what you''re capable of Ares. You can''t launch massive attacks successively and you rarely engage in physical combat. Most of your fights have revolved around you using your magic, so what do you plan on doing here? You won''t have the mana you need to fight the way you want forever."


    "Ah, I''m being underestimated again... Well, it''s a self-inflicted problem so I shouldn''t complain. Still, you''re really gonna judge me based on my performance in the nationals? That''s like judging a person''s ability to communicate as poor because they said ''goo goo ga ga'' to a baby. Surely you don''t think I''ve been going all out against those pitiful teams, right? Whatever, anyone of your men that comes my way is in for a beating, and I can''t guarantee they''ll keep their lives, so keep that in mind when you attack me yeah?" Ares'' dexterity and mobility aside, he still had Grim Cessation to keep his mana up for a prolonged battle. If this man seriously thought Ares would buckle without his magic, he would first have to drive him to that point before he could even begin to realise how wrong he was.


    With a deflated sigh, the head honcho of the security guards just clicked his finger which initiated the brawl proper. Someone who''d been sneakily circling around behind Ares tried to end the fight prematurely but he received a roundhouse kick to the face that broke his jaw and sent him reeling back into the bush he''d just jumped out of. Ares had activated Voidwalk already so that last kick was definitely going to be felt tomorrow morning. Rather than wait for everyone to come to him, Ares started zooming around and picking off the weaker guards that were only a stage or two above him. He''d be able to handle anyone up to the peak of sensory enhancement and anyone else he would have to avoid or guide towards Slick. Thankfully Voidwalk allowed him to be where he wanted to be near enough instantly so steering clear of any actual threats wasn''t a problem. He appeared in front of guard after guard, either kicking out or using an echo-imbued fist to one-hit K.O his opponents. Before long, all the wimpier combatants had been filtered and his drive-bys were taking longer to execute, requiring two, three, or sometimes even a whole string of attacks. Ares had been lenient so far, but it was time to start bringing out the weapons otherwise he would take forever to beat down the opposition. With his Bane held firmly in his grip, he Voidwalked in front of a guard who was surprisingly ready for him. Ares avoided the punch coming his way while throwing his body into a "Gamble." As it was an art Ares hadn''t really displayed much, the guard made the mistake of interacting with it by trying to launch a kick at Ares. He paid the price when Ares flicked himself forward, used the guard''s leg as a platform to push himself up and over the guard''s shoulder, and cut off his head in one fell swoop. Technically the guards were innocent, it was the person that hired them that was the real target. Even still, Ares didn''t have the leisure to be polite with them and he already warned them about this. He wasn''t enough of a bleeding heart to inconvenience himself when his life was on the line. It''s not like if they caught him they''d let him go or anything. What goes around comes around... Expertly weaving around a group of four, Ares guided them all into forming a cluster as they accidentally smacked head-first into each other. "Grand Annihilation."


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Their dying screams were abruptly cut off by the golden tide and Ares spared them no further attention as he shifted his sight to the next target. Instead of appearing directly in front of the next guard, Ares Voidwalked high into the air, confusing all of the guards who had no idea where Ares vanished off to. Angling himself downward and activating Double Jump to give himself a boost of speed, Ares shot down to earth like a bullet. He lifted his foot, activated Stamp Out and Echo, and crashed down into the poor unsuspecting guard.


    SPLAT


    What was once a guard was now a puddle of blood and some scattered bits of flesh here and there. Before any of the guards could come to terms with what happened, Ares vanished again. A few seconds later, the sounds of splashing liquid indicated another guard had been crushed under heel. A few of the guards standing near the splash zone decided they wanted nothing to do with and started running away in a frenzied panic, but Ares wasn''t letting them go anywhere. If anything, they''d just made themselves the most important targets of everyone here. If they ran and blabbed about the details of what was happening here it would be a pain in the neck for Ares and Slick. If the guards had just ran back into the house or sat on the side-lines, that would have been in their best interest.


    SPLAT


    SPLAT


    SPLAT


    Oh well, tough luck. Hm? Ares ducked on the spot and a spear tip came barrelling through the empty air above him. Ares Voidwalked away from his current position but the spear tip once again came following after him and he had to fight back. With a swing of his weapon, coated in disintegration magic, he managed to fend off his attacker by blocking the determined strike. Getting a good look at the new challenger, the first thing that became apparent to Ares was that this person was talented. His aura reeked of professionalism and his stance was practiced. The second thing Ares realised was that this guy was above sensory enhancement, sitting at the first stage of aspect assimilation. A difference of 17 whole stages, and two realms... Ares was going to have to really push himself here. Still, he believed he could do it, so he psyched himself up and took a deep breath...


    "Black Blossom."


    The petals dissuaded any outside interference as Ares locked eyes with his opponent.


    Meanwhile, Slick''s fight with the head of security was underway and he wasn''t faring so hot. he hadn''t accumulated much damage or anything, but he''d been on the defensive for a good while by now. It was like fighting Lo if Lo had more physical strength to back up his punches. That being said, Lo was a more technical fighter. Their overall level in combat was roughly the same and Slick was only struggling because he was curious. He wanted to suss out what the security guard could really do before he went all in himself. If he was the first to make a move and the guy responded, he would be left high and dry so he was taking a passive approach. Besides, its not like he was here to kill everyone, buying time was equally viable and he wasn''t hurting or anything. If the head of security didn''t do anything other than this, Slick was fine with just keeping him preoccupied until it was time to leave. Such an approach had to be thrown out the window, however, when the head of security started to take the fight seriously.


    "Behemoth!"


    Although Slick was unfamiliar with Bret, if he were, he would be able to tell at a glance that this fellow was way stronger than him. And not just because his cultivation was higher either, but more so because this person had really put his all into refining his body and toughening up his flesh. An almost bronze-like sheen made the head of security look like a well polished, moving statue of sorts as he advanced upon Slick who no longer had a choice in the matter. Slick was going to have to up the ante on his end too.


    "Scrapyard Meltdown."


    While these two fights were happening outside, there was a third standoff taking place inside the house... Or what remained of it anyhow. Dirk and Li Li had snuck into the room holding Dirk''s heart and were able to pick it up without a hitch. That part of the plan had been a clean success but, in an unfortunate twist of fate, Accelyn and her family had decided the treasure room would double down as a bunker in case of emergency, so they''d rushed straight here after the explosions went off. Dirk had his heart but now he and Li Li were standing face to face with Accelyn''s family, a group of four decently strong cultivators. As for why there were only four, it seemed the other members of the family opted to flee and not rely on the security force after having seen the sheer destruction the unknown foe was capable of producing. The four before Dirk weren''t much compared to the aspect assimilation guards outside, but they were respectable in their own right. In short, everyone was gonna brawl tonight, whether they came looking for a fight or not. Still, Dirk was feeling confident. Now that he''d gotten his heart back, he was about to demonstrate his true power; a power even Accelyn wasn''t aware he possessed. Yes his heart was an enabler, but when Dirk himself used it, he became something akin to a rampaging monster. A bloody demon with strength not far behind that of some of the more prodigious cultivators in the sect like Enyo or Ares. Plus with Li Li here, he felt reassured he could manage. He might not have enough mana to deal with them all on his own, but he wasn''t alone in the first place. He had a perfectly good source of blood to drink from if he needed replenishment. Li Li had the stamina, and he had the strength. There was nothing else they needed to fight their way out of here and go live peacefully back in the sect, so that''s precisely what was going to happen and these chumps weren''t gonna stop him! With his heart pumping in his hand, Dirk squeezed it tight as a look of ecstasy crossed over his face.


    "Haemo Scourge!"

 Chapter 100: Midnight Fight, Part 2

    As the spear whistled past Ares'' hair, it even had the nerve to take off a strand or two. Of course retaliation was swift and Ares promptly slashed off a small chunk of skin on his opponent''s hand. Although his foe''s cultivation was way higher than his, it still wasn''t that bad compared to Sadie''s training. She had actual experience and a well-trained body over however many years. The person in front of Ares was strong, there was no doubt about that, but Ares had experienced a higher plane of existence than this already, so he was doing ok for himself. he''d taken way more hits than his opponent had, and he was bleeding here and there, but most of it was a result of his confidence in his revenant bloodline healing him when he traded blow for blow. Still, the most awkward issue right now was the spear''s reach. Counterattacking was becoming more and more difficult as time went on and his opponent accustomed himself to Ares'' erratic movements. Ares was starting to get fed up with this game of cat and mouse so he took some steps back and pulled out his Biome Eagle. If his opponent was going to keep his distance, then he would learn that Ares could keep an ever larger distance without breaking a sweat! Of course, that was just what Ares wanted the spear guard to think...


    "Adaptive Shot."


    SCREEEEE


    Fully completing the destruction spectrum, the eagle that rose out the barrel of the gun this time was a deep, pulsing red. As per usual, the eagle scouted the area before letting out a disappointed cry and going about his work. Ares was seriously considering getting this bird a plush weasel or something to calm him down. The bird swooped in loop de loops to make his approach against the spearman trickier to gauge as per the orders of his master, Ares. The spear-wielding guard retained his focus and followed the bird''s trajectory with the tip of his spear, readying himself to thrust out at a moment''s notice and skewer the magic. With one final cry, the bird came spiralling down towards his midnight snack. The spearman lunged with his weapon, taking a stride forward as he did so to catch the bird by surprise. The eagle was only just barely in the nick of time to flap his wings a single time. This small action didn''t save him entirely, as he''d still been run through by the spear, but the important part was that he wasn''t dead yet. Instead of piercing a dangerous location, it mostly just damaged his lower half. Thanks to that, it could live and carry out its orders. This version of the eagle didn''t exist to hurt the opponent, it''s function was something entirely different. It was just supposed to get close and let Ares do the rest. The spearman''s eyes widened and he grunted in shock when the bird disappeared and, in its place, was Ares running down and along the length of the spear. The nothingness magic fuelling the bird acted as a mobile waypoint for Ares to Shift to. Ares wasn''t trying to take control of the range advantage, he was baiting his opponent into ceding it. Sure Ares had ranged weapons but, realistically, they weren''t going to kill an opponent as strong as this unless he had all day to whittle him down. Given that he didn''t have the time or mana for that approach he opted to get up, close, and personal to try and finish things off. The spearman''s reactions were quick and Ares could tell he wasn''t going to get much out of this, but he wasn''t too fussed so long as he could at least kick his opponent in the face after the colossal nuisance he''d been up until now with that damn spear.


    "Stamp Out!"


    The last thing the spearman saw before briefly blanking out was Ares'' golden boots connecting with the tip of his nose. The sound of cracking echoed in the open yard and some of the other guards visibly winced at the sound. Naturally Ares would have much rather cut off a body part or left an open wound, but this was arguably more satisfying for him and demoralising for his opponent. It was also better than nothing, so he wasn''t going to fuss over his win being a minor one. It was somewhat of a problem though as now a card of his had been exposed and he couldn''t really use it again in the same way. One of his methods of getting in against the spearman was now benched, so he was going to have think of other solutions to deal with this annoying guard. He was tempted to just let Dominus rip and tear until the deed was done, but Ares wanted to get used to fighting people with a higher cultivation. He wasn''t losing and his life wasn''t at risk, so this was as good a chance as any. If the situation devolved, then he would rely on his revenant ancestor. Ares even still had his God summon waiting in the wings if things went disastrously, but Ares couldn''t see it getting that bad so he wasn''t worried. As for what to do right now... Ares looked around and thought long and hard about his next move. There were still some petals scattered around from when he used Black Blossom earlier. Unfortunately he had to ditch the art as it wasn''t doing much against a spear that could poke and retreat effortlessly. He had no way of making use of these fallen petals so they were more like kid''s building block pieces right now. They''d hurt like hell if anyone stepped on them, but otherwise they were completely harmless. No, wait a minute! What if I did that... Ares grinned as he retreated backwards. He made an effort not to let the spearman see his grin or his intentions because he was really curious to see how his scheme would play out. This was something completely untested prior to today so if it didn''t work he would be wasting his time doing something utterly pointless. If it worked, however, Ares was about to do something even he hadn''t seen coming, something he didn''t even know he could possibly create. Part of the joy of being a revenant was that they weren''t wired properly in the brain department so, even if they had stupid ideas on the fly, they had no hesitation in throwing them all at the wall to see what sticks. Someone like Enyo or Aejaz in this situation would make no effort to indulge their spur of the moment whims, but Ares would and he wouldn''t hesitate either. When the spearman slowly inched into the centre of the fallen petals, Ares turned and threw out his splayed fingers.


    "Not Even Light!"


    Black ooze leaked out of a crack in the air and gradually became the blackhole blob it always was. Why was Ares using a defensive art here? Well the answer was simple; all anyone had to do was look at the black star of death with an orbiting ring of black petals to understand. Like a deathly planet that brought plague and misery, the blackhole swallowed up and spat out all the petals. They couldn''t be disintegrated, after all, so they were stuck in a perpetual ebb and flow as they were drawn in and pushed back out. The petals formed a curved ring around the blackhole that swept through all the nearby guards and sliced them in half; some by the waist, some diagonally at the shoulder, and some straight down the middle. Of course some of the luckier ones lost less body mass but there were very few people that weren''t caught in the black swirl whatsoever. However, to think they were safe just because they were out of range was foolish. Ares had a secret in his back pocket regarding Not Even Light. It had never been relevant, so this detail had never been showcased, but the blackhole could move. it was generally effective enough to suck up any and all magic without needing to move due to its massive radius, but now there was a reason to have it haul ass! Ares guided the cannibal star to gobble up the guards, namely the spearman who was his main target. Ares started cackling the second the spearman made a fatal mistake. It would seem he hadn''t done his research and he didn''t know what the blackhole was or did because the spearman casted Haste on himself to try and escape. Casting a self buff was suicidal against Not Even Light. Instead of gaining ground, the pull of the black hole was now targeting him and he lost it instead. In a desperate bid to save himself, the spearman casted Aletheia and threw the spear in his hand in a last ditch attempt to destroy the death-star. It was possible, Ares had seen Sadie do it so he knew that it was doable for certain. Still, the difference between an incredible cultivator like Sadie and a slightly above average cultivator like this was immense. Piercing the blackhole was a pipe dream that didn''t come to fruition as his magic disappeared into the dark abyss without so much as a trace. The spearman stopped casting Haste but it was too late for that now, he was already in range of the petal storm that was eating him alive. He lost chunks of flesh, notably in his ankle which prevented him from escaping. A few of the other guards, the handful that manged to escape the blackhole, tried to save their comrade by chucking magic at the blackhole, but it was about as effective as spitting in the ocean. The spearman was slowly devoured by the petals and his screams grew hoarse until they stopped entirely. Ares didn''t particularly care about the dead cultivator, he hadn''t been that impressive. His spearman-ship was character defining but that was really all he had going for him. He wasn''t adept with magic, he wasn''t strong, and he wasn''t fast. Ares had no reason to complain ''cos his life would have been way harder had the cultivator been any better than he was, but Ares still couldn''t help but be somewhat disappointed that this was how his bout ended. He didn''t have anything left to do other than go on clean up duty but, even then, the guards looked like they had given up, so there was no real need to shed any more blood. Unless reinforcements arrived, or Slick started losing, Ares was done for the day. Dominus was being bitchy and complaining about not having had a chance to have any fun, but Ares promised him he would find another chance for him and the whining ceased. A two way conversation wasn''t really possible in this state whereby Dominus'' words were like an echo in his head, but he could at least placate the revenant by speaking his thoughts aloud. The rough gist of their intents could be shared and that was good enough for now. It was also good for Ares to know that Dominus would recharge once every couple of weeks. Presumably that amount of time would shorten as he got stronger, but it was still useful to know. Ares took a seat on the ground and watched Slick go about his fight. If help was needed, Ares wouldn''t be able to do much, but he could act like a cheerleader, maybe? "GO, SLICK, GO!"


    Bastard... Slick grumbled inwardly as he went back to concentrating on his fully bronzed opponent. Slick''s fists weren''t dealing out any major hurt, but Flare''s follow-ups were burning the guard so progress was steady. Actually, Slick was having an easy time of things compared to before. It wasn''t really a matter of one slick plus one flare equals two. Scrapyard Meltdown was more multiplicative in terms of raising his power. Slick raced around to the guard''s blind side and launched a straight at the back of his head. The guard ducked but received a metallic foot to the face as Flare punished his inattentiveness. Slick flicked some oil wantonly at the guard and watched his face start burning as the small ember Flare had left behind became a great blaze. It wasn''t strictly necessary for Slick to hit first to get the desired effect, it was just easier to manage if he did. Slick was going to pummel the guard now that he was defenceless but some of the other guards that Ares ignored earlier stood before him to prevent Slick from getting any hits in while their boss was struggling. Slick just sighed as he bent over and grabbed Flare''s legs. He straightened his back and put all his strength into spinning on the spot in a similar fashion to what he''d done back during Lightning Guy''s trial. As Slick spun, oil was launched off him in every which direction while Flare let out intermittent bursts of fire, setting the oil ablaze. Even those who weren''t hit by the oil were roasted as the two robos formed a fiery cyclone that tore through their ranks, leaving behind a scorched trail and flaming corpses. When reaching their goal, Slick let go of Flare and threw him straight at the head guard.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    THUD


    Flare''s turbo dropkick landed directly on the guard''s chest and Slick came slugging for the fences with a brutal swing after. The guard was lit up like a bonfire as he staggered around but Slick showed him no mercy as he kept ducking around the guard and punching dents into him while Flare followed suit and got his own licks in. Slick attacked high when Flare attacked low, and Flare snuck up from behind when Slick distracted the guard at the front. They''re teamwork was impeccable and the beatdown was efficient, swift, and well coordinated. After countless exchanges, the guard''s silhouette could barely even be seen amidst the raging fire. Slick wasn''t one of the strongest cultivators around for nothing. Still, he wasn''t done just yet. Flare placed his hand on Slick''s back and let out a jet of fire. Slick''s frame, through the heat haze, looked as though it were melting away as liquid fire rolled off his body. He charged into the inferno and threw boiling hot punches one after another, each leaving burn marks wherever the fist landed. By the time he was finished striking his foe''s head and vital organs, the guard''s blackened body slumped to the floor as steam came out of every orifice. Looking around, Slick realised he was probably done for the day too as all the other guards ran away and hid inside the house... Or what was little was left anyway. Ares'' and his own rampage had chipped away at it even further and now there were barely more than a few rooms left. Slick walked over to Ares who was seated on the grass with his legs stretched out like he was about to start having a picnic. "Why do you look so bored?"


    Ares slumped back a little and shrugged. "Because I am. I thought I was finally gonna get a good fight after however long its been since my last one, but it was disappointing is all. First the Nomad team were a let down, and now this too? I''m seriously gonna cry, you know?"


    "If a hard-won battle is what you''re looking for, you''ll get one a lot sooner than you think."


    "The international? I''m sure there''ll be plenty of strong teams there, that''s for sure."


    "Even sooner than that. The inner court disciple exam is coming up, and I''ve got a feeling it won''t be the walk in the park you expect it to be. Of course, due to the way the test is set up, you''ll almost definitely pass regardless of what happens, but I wouldn''t be surprised if you died during it."


    "You''re kidding me, right? No offense to any of the other disciples, but if I can''t do it without dying, how is anyone else supposed to?!"


    "Actually, I think you might be the only person that dies. It''s just conjecture, but if things go how I think they will... Look, let''s just say you''re gonna get a bigger fight than you were bargaining for. And it won''t be like that spearman or the Nomad lot, these people will be highly competent, it just depends on whether they have their eyes set on you or not."


    "Ah, well now you''ve got me curious... Can''t tell me anymore than that, I take it?"


    "Nope. We change up the disciple selection exam year after year to make sure no one has any unfair advantages, especially those retaking the trial... What a shitshow this year is going to be... If you want a hint as to how rough it may very well end up being for you, know this... Rud''s the one who thought up this trial..."


    Ares'' eye twitched and, although he still didn''t know the specifics, the likelihood of him being the only one that suffered had just skyrocketed. "That bastard... It seems I haven''t pestered him enough recently. I''ve given him breathing room and time to think, what a rookie mistake. When we return to the sect, I shall blow up the arts library post haste!"


    "... Please don''t..."


    Now that the outside had been dealt with, alongside the security detail which which had made the decision between ''fight or flight'', with the latter winning out by a large margin, all that was left was for the heart to be brought out safely. On that end, the fight down in the treasury was kicked off when Dirk took on his gelatinous, shapeless form. A ball of blood with teeth? A river of blood? It was impossible to tell what Dirk had truly become as only the term ''monster'' could accurately depict his new state. Tides of blood that could harden into spikes or flow like a tsunami? Dirk''s form was no longer solid, he had become one with has own blood and was sweeping through Accelyn''s family. He''d single handedly split them all up by washing them away to various corners of the treasury, enabling Li Li to get one on one fights with each of the members in which her talent shined. While Li Li slowly chipped away at her first opponent, Accelyn''s father, Dirk summoned blood imps with pitchforks to pester Accelyn''s mother and brother while he himself cornered his ex. He transformed into a shark with jagged teeth and leapt at his prey. Accelyn rolled to the side but had to dodge again immediately after as Dirk sunk into the bloody floor and became a series of spikes that emerged from the ground and chased after her. As the final spike shot out from the ground, they all crumbled and reassembled in the form of a plague of locusts that hunted Accelyn down. She was completely helpless against the insects as none of her magic was effective. There were no undead to raise down here, poison would do nothing against Dirk in his current form, and the same was true of her torture magic. She wasn''t capable in hand to hand combat nor did she know how to wield a weapon so she one-sidedly had holes poked into her as she tried to escape. She managed to make it to one of the corners where her family should have been fending off the blood summons, but all she found was Li Li standing over the beaten and bruised body of her father. With Dirk''s intangible, shapeshifting body behind her, and Li Li''s brutish fists in front of her, she quickly realised she had nowhere left to go and did the one thing she could in this situation; get down on her knees and beg for pity from Dirk. She knew he was a pushover and would let her go if she begged, so that was precisely what she did. She put on her best puppy dog eyes and pitiful expression as she feigned a few whimpers and sobs.


    "Dirk... I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to hurt you, I just didn''t feel ready for a relationship. I was overwhelmed by how passionate you were and I ran away. I shouldn''t have done that, and I definitely shouldn''t have taken your heart... But I swear it was a mistake. It was all just an accident. You don''t have to forgive me, but please, please let us go... My family never did anything. I really did love you, you know? I was just scared. I still am... Can you please let me go, I''ll stay out of your life if that''s what you want... I''m sorry..." Naturally, none of this was heartfelt, and that was painfully obvious to both Dirk and Li Li, but still Dirk turned away and just ignored her. Killing her here was pointless for him and he felt he didn''t have sufficient enough reason to bring upon her any harm, so, wordlessly, he left...


    He left. Li Li did not. Accelyn''s family had all been knocked unconscious so they were alone here.


    "Tsk, what do you want?" Accelyn dropped the little princess pretence and angrily glared at Li Li. "Dirk''s already gone, so why don''t you leave as well?"


    "You''re pathetic and you have no shame. Dirk deserves better than you."


    "And what? You think he''ll ever find that? A woman with a body like mine and rich as I am too? I was the only one who would ever put up with him, even if it was just to get his heart. You think I''m pathetic? You should have seen him around me before, that was really pathetic. He didn''t want to be alone and he pretty much needed me."


    "Yeah, well, he doesn''t need you anymore because he has me. Let me make something clear to you, don''t bother with him anymore. Go find someone else to swindle because I won''t let you anywhere near him again. Not that it matters, he wouldn''t want anything to do with you anyway. Still, if I find you snooping around him, I''ll kill you. I want to kill you now, but considering how influential your family is, it would just wind up being a problem if they were dead set on revenge. Consider this as being even. We got the heart back and that''s all we wanted, so if you don''t cause a fuss we won''t have to extend this petty grudge beyond this. I''ll warn you one last time, though, just in case you didn''t get it through that thick skull of yours; Dirk is mine, come anywhere near him again and I will beat you to death with my bare hands. Understand?"


    "Whatever. Go be happy together on your own time. You''re both ugly as sin anyway, I''m sure you''ll make for a picture perfect couple. if you want to stay here and rant at me because you''re jealous of my looks and that I got to Dirk first, then be my guest. It just comes across as petulant whining to me."


    "I don''t care what you think. I''m not ranting, I''m warning you. Besides, from where I''m standing, I see it as the opposite. You''re jealous, not me. Now that you know Dirk is way more talented of a cultivator than you ever knew, you want him back, don''t you? you''re hurling mud at me because you''re mad you can''t have him anymore and you know I can. If I weren''t here, you would absolutely try and worm your way back into his life again, and that''s why I''m warning you. I won''t allow it, so don''t waste your breath. Go live the rest of your life with the fact that you threw away Dirk and could never get him back. Maybe if you weren''t so blinded by your own greed and narcissism, you could have seen his actual worth when you had him all to yourself. I don''t want to hear anything about ''petulant whining'' from someone who hasn''t done anything else but that presumably since the day they were born."


    Li Li resisted the urge to punch Accelyn and left. She had originally stayed behind to kill her but figured it would be a hassle down the line for her and Dirk, so she restrained herself in the end. She ascended the stairs and smiled when she saw Dirk''s back. He seemed to be stunned in place when he saw whatever was happening around the corner, so Li Li put her hand on his shoulder and looked around it too... "What the fuck happened here!?" Her words accurately surmised every one of the myriad thoughts running around in Dirk''s head. After all, they''d only been downstairs for a couple of minutes and when they returned, calamity had descended upon the residence. The two culprits were bickering back and forth on the grass as though none of this concerned them so Li Li could do nothing but just slap her forehead and drag a stunned Dirk over to the two idiots. As she did so, she noticed Dirk holding his heart and stole it from him. Dirk recovered from his shock and looked at Li Li as she kissed him on the lips. "I''ll take good care of it because I know how much its worth..." Li Li bundled it up in her arms and leant on Dirk''s shoulder. "To me, its priceless." Dirk wrapped his arm around Li Li''s shoulder and walked with her side by side. He hadn''t been sure about giving his heart away again but, to be fair, this time, it had been taken from him. In many ways, Li Li had long since earned it.

 Chapter 101: Always Look a Gift Ares in the Mouth

    Ares and Slick covered their mouths with their hands in order to avoid barfing at the romantic displays coming from behind them as they walked back to the sect. Ares was a bit of a hypocrite for taking up this attitude considering how he acted with Enyo in public, but that was different! He was one of the involved parties so he didn''t have to put up with it then! Was this a double standard? Obviously. But in the here and now, he was right! If someone wanted to complain to him about his own displays of affection as they were happening they were more than welcome too!... Whether or not they would be immediately blown up afterword was a different matter, but they were very much entitled too regardless!


    Slick and Ares prayed for salvation and, in a stroke of luck, it was delivered. It seemed the happy couple were starting to get frisky and impatient, so they agreed to go back to one of their clans, whichever was nearer, and spend the night there instead. With that decision made, the group split up and went their separate ways. Both robo and ''human'' let out a sigh of relief and wiped their brows as they were freed from third and fourth wheel hell. Ares kicked a pebble and chuckled. "They really set quite the mood. Don''t think I''m gonna go along with the flow though, so don''t bother asking for my heart. I''m not such an easy man." Ares jokingly batted his eyebrows at Slick who choked on his own saliva.


    "No, seriously, don''t even joke about that. Just remembering those two getting touchy feely is making my urge to throw up return. Actually, now I''m curious though, can you even remove your heart? I know you won''t die if it''s pierced or anything but, like, if you removed it and put it back in, would you live?"


    "Maybe... Maybe? I know that won''t be a problem in the future, and even losing my heart in its entirety will be more of an inconvenience than anything but, currently? I don''t think I would live, I lean towards no. I can carve parts of it out though, that''s A.OK."


    "... Should I even ask why you know that in the first place? Have you really been taking chunks out of your heart? What for? Wouldn''t it hurt like a motherfucker?"


    "The easiest of those questions to answer is if it hurts. Yes. Yes it does. I would rather be kicked in the nuts every day for the next year. Still, there are some things I have to do, so taking some chunks here and there is worth doing... I hope. The real kicker is trying to carve the right Goddamn shape when you can''t see properly! I mean a mirror is useful, but it''s still inside your body, you know? Ah, how much easier it would be if I were at sensory enhancement, then I could just detach my vision from my eyes temporarily and look at myself in third person..."


    "Why didn''t you wait, then? Also, your answer was slippery, what do you need it for, again?"


    "''Cos I need it for something coming up. As for why, that''s a secret. What? Are you jealous you don''t have your own heart to play around with? Is it heart envy? Me and Dirk can play football with ours, is that what bothers you?"


    "No, look, that''s weird no matter how you slice it... Also, it just made me realise that none of the three men on this excursion give a shit about our hearts! How did this even happen?!"


    "Dunno, but I think that means our friendship is doomed. Like this, we can never have a heart to heart!"


    "Oh God, I think I want to throw up again... Maybe I was better off following the other two... Why would you torment me like this? I work hard every day keeping you brats safe and this is how you repay me? I''m demanding a raise from Rud..."


    In some bizarre way, Ares'' desire to infuriate Rud had been indirectly satiated. "Hey! Don''t judge my jokes! You aren''t a dad yet, you don''t understand what they mean to me!"


    "You are a thousand years to young to be making dad jokes! Screw you!"


    "And you are far too kin-less to be complaining! We had fun at Dirk''s expense for getting the wool pulled over his eyes by Accelyn, but isn''t he doing better than you? I don''t wanna hear diddlysquat from a robo who ain''t robobonin'' any bonafide robobeauties!"


    "Female robos? Where!? In Red Sun!? WHERE DO YOU SEE ANY?! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET LAID IN THIS INFERNAL PIT OF FLESH?!"


    "I thought robos could do it with non-robos though? Also, wouldn''t you be satisfied with, like, I dunno, a toaster or something?"


    "Ok, first of all, fuck you, and second of all, yes we can. I ain''t interested in humans though otherwise, let me tell you, I would have my pick of the litter!"


    "Wow, braggadocios, much? Why don''t you put the playboy pretence aside, start easy, and go hook up with a washing machine? Or maybe a light pole if you swing that way."


    "I''m reminded of why I dislike you immensely."


    "Only now? I''ve been trying to annoy you this whole time! Are you a dunce, or am I inefficient?"


    "You know what? Why am I even walking back with you?! Go die in an alley somewhere!" Slick sped off into the night as Ares cackled to himself. The mission to retrieve the heart was one thing, but the mission to quell his boredom had been a success to write home about! It really had been far too long since he last pestered anyone and Ares was not a man who could control his urges very well. Of course his ''urges'' were warped compared to most other people, but that came with the territory of being a revenant. Ares had gotten what he wanted, but he wasn''t quite satiated just yet considering he still had one more trick up his sleeve. When Slick finally arrived back at the sect, despite booking it back with all his might, he found Ares waiting for him with a smug smile so condescending it actually hurt Slick to look at. Some smiles were blinding and, in many ways, this one was too, just for all the wrong reasons. Ares reminded Slick that he could Shift back to the sect as he''d left a long range marker here pretty much every time he went out... That was even one of the escape routes for their mission. Slick was not amused, especially seeing as how it dawned on him that this meant Ares had purposefully hung around for no reason other than to toy with him. To make matters worse, his attempt at running away from the verbal bullying had been a failure as he was beaten here by the verbal bully himself! With no recourse left available to Slick who had been thoroughly cornered, he busted out the one thing he still had an advantage over Ares in... His cultivation!


    THWWWWWWWACK!


    With immeasurable stress having been released after burying Ares'' head into the ground, Slick chuckled to himself as he disappeared off into the sect, leaving Ares to struggle as he pushed against the ground with all his might to escape mole territory. When he finally managed to unearth himself, he strolled back to his house... His house... ''His'', huh? At first he thought he was going to have to live in Enyo''s house like a freeloader when she moved to the inner court, but his cultivation had risen rapidly and now he was going to take the inner court disciple exam too... He was still one stage off, but they would inevitably be lenient and let him take part too just to get him going up the ranks already. There were more opportunities for inner court disciples, and there was zero chance Yulo was going to hold his sect master replacement back for however many months until the next exam just because of one measly stage. More opportunities meant more treasures, and more treasures meant a higher cultivation. The sooner Ares could become the sect master, the sooner Yulo could flee to Vraizon. Then again, miraculously, Ares had somehow managed to not find any cultivation boosting treasures thus far. Any cultivator should logically have found one by the time they entered mental accumulation, so Ares was seriously a late bloomer in that regard. He could just absorb the stardust he owned, but that was incredibly slow and pointless unless you had boatloads at the ready. Plus it wasn''t really good for your system to do it excessively. It''s why there were plenty of rich cultivators in and around aspect assimilation that couldn''t fight their way out of a paper bag. Still, Ares wasn''t altogether too fussed. Dedication cultivation was doing right by him and he wasn''t cultivating slowly by any means so that was good enough for now. Actually, he even felt like he might be able to go up another stage soon. Blowing up those couple hundred Beads was particularly beneficial. Ares mulled on what he could do to push onto the next stage as he entered the house... Nothing other than ''blow up more stuff'' came into his head, so figured he ought to just go to sleep and think about it some other time... Not that he would get any different ideas at a later date anyway... He opened up the door to his room and shut it immediately when he saw Enyo rolling around on the bed with Bellona. They were fully clothed, and it probably wasn''t what he was thinking, but anything was possible when it came to Enyo... He shook his head, opened the door again and was greeted by two judgemental pairs of eyes.


    "Uh... I didn''t see anything?"


    "That''s because there was nothing to see, moron." Bellona kissed her teeth at Ares who had clearly misunderstood the situation... Not that Enyo hadn''t been getting more feisty as of late, but that was par the course with her anyway.


    Enyo nodded in agreement with Bellona. "We were actually just talking about..." Enyo was cut off when Bellona jumped at her and covered her mouth. Another impromptu ''rolling in the hay, but not in that way'' session started and Ares turned to leave again.


    "Birthday!" Enyo managed to sneak a single word out when Bellona''s hand slipped, but she only needed one word to win this fight!


    Eh? Birthday? Gotta be Bellona''s then, no reason for the hubbub if it was Enyo''s... "What''s the big deal with me knowing about your birthday?" Ares directed his question to Bellona directly as Enyo was still being pinned by the gorilla and would have difficulties responding.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "... It''s just a silly thing anyway. You don''t have to get me anything. I especially don''t want anything from you, actually!"


    Does she still feel bad about this whole thing?... No, that''s probably not it? Hmm... OH! Right.... it''s because no one in their right mind would want a ''gift'' from a revenant... That''s just asking for trouble, isn''t it? I can''t deny this doesn''t sound like a good opportunity to mess with her. Ah crap, she''s totally right, I really can''t help myself... I totally want to prank her. "Ah don''t worry, there''s no way I would mess with you on your birthday!" LIES! They flow so easily from the lips of the foul hearted...


    "I''m not buying that for a second!"


    "Meh, too late. Don''t worry, I''ll think of the perfect present, just for you." Ares received a mental communication from Enyo and he smiled evilly at Bellona. "Oh? What''s this? A little birdy told me your big day is tomorrow?! Or today I guess as it''s already past midnight... Hmm, it''ll be difficult to get you the present I''m thinking of in time... But don''t worry Bellona, I''ll work on the double to get it delivered to you on on your big day and not a day later!"


    "Ugh, spare me... Tsk, whatever, not like I can stop you anymore... That aside, where you been? it''s rare for you to be out this late."


    "You sound like a paranoid wife."


    Bellona flinched at the accusation while Enyo snickered into Bellona''s palm that was still pointlessly resting on her mouth. "... And you sound like an unfaithful husband!" Bellona didn''t remain phased for too long as she fired off a riposte.


    Ares shrugged and smirked. "It''s not being unfaithful if I''m allowed to have more than one, right?"


    Ack


    Bellona had been soundly defeated so she accepted her loss and let go of Enyo. "Perv."


    "Haha, me? I''m the perv? I must be the least pervy one in this room! Take a look at your horny freak of a sister before you throw around that label!"


    "I refuse to believe you aren''t a bigger perv than I am!" There was no way Bellona would accept that.


    "Oh? Then how about I prove it irrefutably tomorrow?"


    Bellona gulped as she had no idea where this was going and she didn''t like the dodgy tone in Ares'' voice. Knowing he was going to get her present and hearing what he''d just said... Bellona wanted to crawl into a hole for the entirety of her birthday... "Stay away from me you creep!"


    "Heh, your loss. Anyway, got side-tracked for a bit. If you''re curious as to where I went. I went on a mission with Dirk, Li Li, and Slick to get Dirk''s heart back. It wasn''t all that interesting. Blew up a couple people here, a bit of a building there, and then we called it a night."


    "IS THAT WHAT THAT MASSIVE LIGHT ON THE HORIZON WAS?!"


    Ares'' midnight golden parade had been visible from a great distance thanks to the sheer quantity of Beads he detonated. If his Perish Wheel could be seen from the city when he used it in the sect, it stood to reason that an even bigger explosion would work the same way in reverse. "Oh yeah, and let me tell you, it was a BIGGGGG one. I may have gotten a little excited and gone overboard..."


    "You don''t say... BUT WHY DIDN''T YOU BRING ME ALONG! AWWWWWWW. Damn, looked like it would have been fun... Let me tag along to these things next time! I haven''t had a chance to stretch my limbs in a while and watching your matches made me wanna beat someone up."


    Ares was taken aback by this response. He''d really only gone to get his end of the deal squared away and, even then, the only enjoyment he got out of it was blowing up the building. Bellona seemed like she derived pleasure from whacking people. It was a strange hobby to say the least. Not that Ares didn''t understand the want to fight every now and then, he''d just been complaining about the very same thing to Slick, but he wasn''t going to go out of his way to search for one like Bellona seemingly was... Then again, if he brought Bellona along, she could have doubled the size of the explosion... Though that would have ended up being suicidal, probably. Ares wanted to get used to having her around more if she was going to be his wife, so he might as well drag her along if she wants to go. In that regard, she seemed different to Enyo... Although Enyo would only prefer staying at home if someone else she could play with did too... Enyo would likely rather either just cultivate or spend time with Appa. "I''ll invite you next time then." Ares started closing the door as he stepped outside. "Goodnight, don''t let the Enyo bugs bite."


    "Goodnight... And thanks..."


    Ares stopped just before he closed the door. "Hm? What for?"


    Bellona sighed and shook her head as she snorted at Ares. "The present. I''m saying thank you now because I know I''ll be too busy punching you after I receive it to say it then. So thanks... Just... Don''t go overboard?"


    "Don''t worry..." Ares smile had a childish edge to it as he resumed closing the door. "... I''m sure I couldn''t get you a better present if I tried." His words didn''t reassure Bellona in the slightest, but that wasn''t the intention behind them to begin with! Ares closed the door fully and left.


    Bellona threw herself back onto her pillow, or Ares'' pillow anyway, and stared at the ceiling.


    "Hmph, I might as well have not even been here." Enyo playfully jabbed her sister''s cheek. "Spoke to you the whole time. Who knows, maybe he already loves you?"


    Bellona rolled to her side to escape Enyo. "Now who''s being the paranoid wife..."


    "I know you''re happy right now. Why you still feel a need to pretend otherwise even after everything''s out in the open I don''t know."


    "It still feels wrong."


    "Does it feel more wrong than you do happy?"


    "... No."


    "There you go then. Go and enjoy your time with him, I don''t mind. It''s not like I''m going to follow him around all the time to begin with, especially when he''s off killing people without a good enough reason. I still don''t like that part about him, you know?"


    "I thought you always went on and on about how perfect he is?"


    "Of course, and I still will. There''s no such thing as a ''perfect'' opinion though. Just because I disagree with him over something, doesn''t mean I like him any less. I can see why some opinions would be off putting, but I understand his motivations and actions. That''s all I need. Him being perfect for me had nothing to do with that. As long as I know he''s going to be safe when he wanders off the leash, and as long as his reasoning is decent enough, I''ll let him do all the killing he wants. Again, I won''t join in though. I''m well aware it won''t bother you in the slightest, all the murder I mean, so just go with him during those times. You aren''t taking anything away from me, I promise you."


    "Mm. Thanks."


    "Don''t thank me just yet, I haven''t even given you your present yet!" Enyo hugged her sister from behind.


    "... I''m not sure I want it..."


    "Well you''re getting it regardless. You''re going to have to wait a while for it though. I''ll give it to you when we go to the Grecian lands. Until then, let the suspense eat away at you. Make sure to imagine all the things you think it might be, and then assume it will be far, far worse. Maybe then you might even be a quarter as prepared for me as you need to be."


    "I''m going to sleep! Stop being a sex pest and leave me alone! Ares was right, you''re the biggest perv in this room!"


    "Maybe... But unfortunately for you, you''re stuck in this room with me. Don''t be so timid, Bellona. It''s just a hug. Two sisters hugging as they sleep isn''t strange, right?"


    "The concept isn''t, the person is!" Bellona knew she wouldn''t be able to worm her way out of Enyo''s bear hug, so she just accepted it and turned the light off via switch that was near the bed side. "Goodnight, creep."


    "Goodnight..." Enyo kissed Bellona''s neck and held her in place as she tried to wriggle away. "... Sister."


    While Bellona endured her sister''s unabashed torment, Ares had snuck out of the house again instead of going straight to sleep. If he was going to get Bellona''s present in order, he would need to be proactive and get the ball rolling already. His first order of business was to pay a visit to Dabble, provided he was still awake, and discuss with him... Various matters. Thankfully most of the sect elders rarely slept. They had high cultivations and didn''t really need to. Even Ares himself could do without sleep for a day or two, but it was still nice to get some rest in. As for the elders, they only really took breaks after a week or two straight of honing their craft. As long as Ares didn''t catch Dabble on his one night off, he would be fine. When he arrived at the sect''s forge, at first, he genuinely thought he had come at the worst possible timing, but as it turned out, Dabble was just hidden behind a bench again... Also, as it turns out, Dabble was working right now, but had Ares needed Julio, he would have been flat out of luck as he actually was asleep. The ''wee laddie'' discussed what he was looking to create with Dabble who admitted he''d never made anything of the sort. Dabble had a multitude of questions as to why on earth Ares would want to make such a thing but, at the end of the day, this was Ares he was talking about. Nothing involving the wee laddie ever made any sense anyhow. The two worked long and hard on the finer details of the present, all the while Ares couldn''t help but snicker at his creation. This present was so fantastic, he realised he might actually make Enyo jealous of Bellona... He continued working on it pretty much all throughout the next day. It only took him until around noon to actually finish the product, but the trickier part actually came after because he wanted to add some runes to, err, spice up the present. As it started to near dinner time, Ares and Dabble were finally done.


    "Ah, thanks elder Dabble. You''re a real lifesaver. I don''t think I would have been able to do this one on my own ''cos I''m not familiar with this kind of shape and material."


    "Aye, neither am I. This was a good chance for me to take a swing at something outta me ballpark. Count on ye to bring me a weird task like this... I ain''t exactly sure wot ye''r gonna use it fer, but, err, have fun wit it, I guess? The actual design and function itself aside, this thing is high quality... Maybe even too high quality considering wot it is ''n all. You should show Julio this when you get a chance, ''e might be interested in the rune work ye did. Ah but, I kept ya ''ere long enough, take care now laddie and, once again, thank yeh for all teh work ya been putting in with teh artifacts. The forge ain''t ever been this productive before. Tis nice not ''avin'' the rune department breathin'' down our neck fer once."


    "No worries, glad I can help out if even just a little. Take care!" And with that, Ares was mostly set for the day! He''d gotten the present done and dusted, he''d made a birthday cake in the Primordial Blade while he was fiddling with the present, and he also made some popping candy too. He''d considered making a popping candy cake, but his inner reason screamed and begged him not to. It was clearly going a step too far, and although Bellona herself might have actually been fine with it, the universe at large would probably smite him for such a creation. There were some boundaries that weren''t supposed to be crossed. Just because something was fun, that didn''t mean it was a good idea... The only other thing left was dinner itself. He had no idea what Bellona would want, so he decided to query the birthday girl herself when he got back. He still had enough time to make basically whatever she wanted so, when he got back, the first thing he did was hunt her down... Or he would have if he didn''t find a note from Enyo that told him the girls had all gone out shopping... Thankfully, Enyo was a woman with incredible foresight, so she left an addendum that stated ''Bellona wants a bacon and cheese hamburger with some wedges on the side and a milkshake. Any other toppings and sauce will do, she says.'' Ares snorted. Real quick to make demands, eh? Well that''s fine, I wouldn''t have it any other way. With a heartfelt smile on his face, Ares got around to making a scrumptious dinner for everyone... Although he did have to shoo Aejaz away on multiple occasions to prevent him from stealing any of the wedges...

 Chapter 102: Uh Oh, Pain Train Incoming...

    Enyo, Appa, Allie, and Bellona returned from their outing, merrily chatting as they entered the living room and dumped a pile of bags out of their spatial rings and onto the sofa. Ares poked his head into the room from the kitchen and thanked God he hadn''t gone as well. Even if spatial rings existed, for some strange reason he had a sinking feeling he would''ve ended up having to carry everything. That was simply the fate of men worldwide. A bag or two wouldn''t have been a problem but there were enough here to cause a landslide, one that he would have been buried underneath no doubt. "Seems like you''ve all been having a fun time. Welcome back. Also, happy birthday Bellona! I''m am very pleased to tell you your present is ready for you whenever your ready for it!"


    Bellona twitched... She was tempted to accept it now... But she wanted to eat first. She had no idea what manner of tomfoolery was in store for her so she wanted to get the good stuff today over and done with before she dealt with Ares'' stupidity. It wouldn''t actually end up mattering, but it was certainly a smart decision given the circumstances. "I''ll wait ''till later..."


    "Ah, ok. By the way, what did you all even buy? there''s a lot of stuff here and I didn''t have any of you pegged as shopaholics."


    While picking up all the bags that belonged to her specifically, which was roughly a third of those present, Enyo responded. "Clothes. Most of its casual, but we also got our party-wear for the international ready and sorted..." She licked her lips as she looked Ares up and down. "... Do you want to see them? I''ll let you see if you show me your clothes!"


    Ares disappeared into the kitchen and didn''t bother denying her request. Even trying to argue along at Enyo''s pace was detrimental to Ares'' sanity. He would be here forever if he tried to say ''no'' because she would undoubtedly keep pestering him until the end of time. Negotiations, bargaining, pleading, blackmail, there was no telling what lengths Enyo would go to if he entertained her desires. It was bad enough he was going to have to sleep in the same room as her. Or rather, he wasn''t going to be getting any sleep tonight whatsoever anyway. She was going to offer all kinds of ''services'' to get him to spill the beans, give in, and show off his fit. Maintaining his will against Enyo was a daunting task if ever there was one, but he believed it would be worth it.


    ACK


    Ares almost dropped the knife he was holding when he saw Enyo''s head peeking around the corner and eyeing him up with a narrow stare. He threw a potato wedge at her, which she deftly caught with her teeth, and she left satisfied for now. Allie and Bellona also poked their heads around the corner after witnessing Enyo''s spoils so Ares obliged with them too, but he drew the line when Aejaz wanted some and instead threw a pan at his face. Aejaz felt wronged... And doubly so when Appa was given a Snappa... And triply so when even Leo was given a wedge... He was so indignant he even resorted to stealing one, at which point a round of ''run away from the psychotic murderer Ares like it was some kind of horror game'' was played. In the end, Ares found Aejaz hiding in a closet and very thoroughly taught him a lesson that only big brothers were qualified to teach. He then shoved him back inside the closet and left him there as he returned to his cooking. While he''d been gone, everyone had snuck in and stolen more food, but they weren''t Aejaz so it was acceptable. Allie went to go free Aejaz and cook up a pill to heal him as Ares started serving food.


    Nothing of note happened during dinner other than Appa discovering a love for milkshake Snappas, so it all went well. Bellona in particular was like a hamburger hoover. Ares had just cooked a bunch of ingredients and left them in front of everyone in a sort-of create your own style set up. He could have asked everyone individually like with the pizzas, but this was equally acceptable. It was Bellona''s birthday so, even she said he could choose, he felt it was better for her to pick. She ended up trying many different types of burgers so Ares patted himself on the back for making the right choice. Regarding the milkshakes, he just made multiple vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ones for today and that did the job as everyone had whichever took their fancy. Maybe one day Ares would make some personalised milkshakes for everyone, just like the pizzas, but that didn''t need to happen today as this was enough. The meal was enjoyed by all and everyone chatted amongst themselves as they ate until they were done. Everyone hung out in the living room for a while as Ares washed up in the kitchen and time passed until it got a little late; at which point people started leaving and saying goodnight. Appa and Leo were playing tag in the back garden before bed; it tired them out so they would inevitably conk out the second they came back inside. Allie and Aejaz had already gone back to their room, leaving Ares, Enyo, and Bellona alone in the living room.


    Enyo nudged Bellona and nodded to Ares. Bellona turned to face him and immediately tried to dart out of the room and top speed. Leaving the room wasn''t even her end goal, she wanted to escape the damn sect if she could! Getting as far away from Ares as possible was the only thing on her mind because the devilish smirk he was wearing oozed trouble. It could only mean one thing... He was going to give her a present... She almost made it... She was so very close. She could feel the cooler air in the corridor and the smell of fresh grass that had wafted in through the open door to the garden. She could even faintly hear the giggling of Appa and Leo from outside. She could taste freedom, and she was this close to savouring it... Alas...


    THUD


    "EEEP!" A hand blocked Bellona''s path and a body leant over her as she yelped in a cute voice that tickled Enyo''s ears.


    Enyo had never heard her sister make such an adorable noise before as she really wasn''t the type too. Inwardly, Enyo praised Ares for digging deep into Bellona''s core and yanking that noise out of her. As for how he''d done it, exactly, he''d performed a kabedon of all things. He was hovering above her as she scrunched up like a scared kitten. Again, this was new territory for Enyo. Bellona was usually just as steadfast as she was, albeit in a different manner but it was true! Enyo had a kind of prideful stoicism, whereas Bellona had very ''me against the world'' type of boisterous stoicism. To watch it crumble tingled Enyo''s brain and she wished she had popcorn for whatever it was Ares was doing right now.


    "Bellona, I''m not letting you run from me." Suave, smooth, deep, and clear; that was the voice Ares chose to bully Bellona with.


    "W... What do you want?..." Timid, shaky, quiet, and bashful; that was the manner in which Bellona mustered her mumbles


    "I want you to be a good birthday girl and accept my present." Ares had to ignore Enyo practically wetting herself off to the side. Bellona gulped as she looked away, but a hand with thick fingers cupped her chin and brought her face back in front of Ares''. He guided her to look him in the eyes as he leant in closer and whispered. "For your birthday, I''m going to give you exactly what you want..." Ares breathed softly as he inched closer. "... Me."


    Bellona nearly fainted on the spot and Ares paused for a second, directly in front of her...


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "I..." Bellona stuttered as Enyo watched on with wide eyes, but Ares had other plans compared to what the two sisters were expecting.


    "So here ya go!" He jumped back and brought out a large, cylindrical shaped object.


    ""HUH?""


    Ares rolled around on the floor laughing as the two sister''s brains played catch up. Oh what a good day today was! He''d originally only planned on getting Bellona''s reaction, but he got a two-for-one special! His efforts had truly, truly been rewarded big time. And the best part was that he was fulfilling his promise! Sure the wording implied one thing, and he was definitely still giving himself away for his present, just not in the way the two sister''s were edging themselves over!


    It took Enyo and Bellona a few seconds to fully take in and understand the gift but, when they did, there were two stares of pure, unfiltered hatred directed at Ares. Enyo''s didn''t last quite as long as she went back to staring at the present and secretly wishing she had one as well. Actually, Enyo was going to demand Bellona share it because it was seriously too good to let her keep it to herself. As for Bellona, although she wanted to turn Ares brains, if he even had any, to smoosh, she too had calmed down... On the surface, anyway, her heart was still beating away far faster than it normally should. Also, although she was never going to be able to admit it... She really liked this gift too.


    "TA DA! It''s me, but portable!" Ares used both his hands to present his gift; a body pillow with a picture of himself on it! The front was Ares with his hand draped over his brooding face with his shirt slightly lifted and some of his pecs exposed. His shorts were pulled down slightly at the waist and his pelvic region, but not his junk, was just barely visible. On the flip side, Ares was lying on his stomach and peering over his shoulder with a sharp gaze. He was completely shirtless and one leg was bent up, putting the sole of his bare foot right in the centre of the pillow. For such a sleazy gift, it was actually really well made. The fabric was soft but firm and the detail of the picture was seriously top notch. From far enough away, you could easily confuse the real Ares with the fake pillow if you weren''t paying too much attention. That wasn''t all, though, Ares had really gone above and beyond with this stupid thing... "And it gets better! I put some runes on it too, look!" Ares placed his palm on his false brethren''s chest and the pillow became visibly tinged with red. "If you stroke me, I get warmer! If it''s ever cold, you can hold on to me tightly and I''ll keep you nice and steamy! But that''s still not all! There''s even a rune to make me colder in hot weather!" Ares pointed at the pillow Ares'' crotch and grinned maliciously. "I''ll let you figure out where that one is in your own time!" Genius! If she wanted to play with his pretend junk, she would only wind up making herself colder! And then she would have to stroke his chest and hug the pillow tighter! It was a perfect loop he''d engineered! There was also a completely irrelevant rune that would light up his eyes with a golden light in a way that was reminiscent of Omniscience if he was poked on the nose, kinda like a really lame action figure, but he didn''t mention that because he was too busy toying with Bellona right now.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Speaking of Bellona, she and Enyo were utterly dumbfounded by the perverse-yet-oddly-fanciable gift. Enyo didn''t need explaining, this woman would kill for Ares merchandise. Even Bellona wasn''t completely off the chopping block. Ares could have sworn he saw Enyo drooling at one point, although he had no idea why as she had the real thing of she wanted it... then again, Ares wouldn''t exactly be any different if he was offered an Enyo body pillow, so who was he to judge? As for Bellona, this would do! She had to pretend she didn''t want it, and she couldn''t be caught dead with this thing, but she would absolutely keep it! Ares aside, the pillow was seriously comfy looking and the runes actually made it a adaptable piece of furniture that were really handy! Of course the Ares part was her favourite aspect of it... But the utility couldn''t be ignored either! This detestable bastard had cornered her real good. He''d put a lot of effort into this, plus it was highly usable so she literally couldn''t turn him down without being the rudest human in the history of the planet. She, according to decent human-being consensus, had to take it! For Bellona''s birthday, Ares had forced himself on her; and although that phrasing was indicative of what she actually wanted, it unfortunately wasn''t what had really happened. She was still stunned from before, though, when he''d been up and in her comfort zone, so she could barely stammer out any words. "T... T... This..."


    "Hahahahaha, incredible right! Like I said, I got you me for your birthday! Who wouldn''t want me after all? I''m pretty much already the greatest person to ever live, so a body pillow of me should logically be on everyone''s wish list, right?! What did I tell you yesterday? I warned you I would expose your perviness; so go on, take it and go have fun in the cultivation room!"


    Ares shoved the pillow onto Bellona who very nearly almost suffocated in joy when pillow-Ares'' chest was planted on her cheek. Of course she had to outwardly act otherwise so she stumbled to her feet and weakly fired off a retort before leaving the room in a hurry. "I''ll be sure to treat it like a voodoo doll..." And that was half true, she would absolutely do all sorts of unspeakable things to, and around, it; also partly hoping it could happen to the real Ares but she wasn''t going to be poking him with needles, that was for sure... After Bellona had scarpered completely, Ares heard Enyo finally burst out laughing herself and she even had tears in her eyes.


    "Hahaha, that is single handedly the best thing I''ve ever seen. God I wish Rhea could have seen that. There''s a technical that lets you share memories, and I am so gonna have to learn it just for this moment!" Enyo got up off the sofa and hugged Ares. "Thank you for making my sister''s birthday a great day. You cooked her favourite food, made her a cake and some candy that she loves, and even gave her the perfect present. She was embarrassed, but I could tell she was over the moon today. It''s rare she gets to celebrate her birthday in a way that actually makes her happy, so thank you Ares. You went above and beyond but can I ask you to do one more thing? Not that you won''t enjoy it too."


    "Sure. What is it?"


    Enyo kissed him on the lips and led him to the bedroom. [I want us to have fun while Bellona listens next door in the cultivation room. I sent her a mental note and told her not to play with herself just yet so she could hear us and let her imagination go wild while she holds ''you''. Let''s not keep her waiting, she looked really eager and that''s rare for her.]


    Ares just smiled and shook his head. Who was he to deny his future wife''s fun? Either of them, for that matter. He''d given Bellona the pillow knowing full well what she was gonna do with it, so adding this on top was hardly an issue at this point. Hell, seeing as how it was her birthday, he might even do her a favour and be a little louder today with his groans too. Apparently, according to Enyo at least, she really liked hearing them. Ares understood Bellona''s preferences because he too liked the sound of his partner writhing in pleasure. On that note, he and Enyo slaved the night away while Bellona enjoyed her unusual birthday gift thoroughly. As Ares went to sleep, he made a mental note to borrow Aejaz'' concealed serpent and stalk Bellona until she pulled out the pillow and tried to wash it. He would then jump out of hiding and point out, in great detail, how she''d been careless and ''spilled drink all over it''. Look, ok, no one ever said Ares was a good natured man. He had an incredible amount of brainpower to spare, he just unfortunately wasted it all on stupid pranks like this...


    A few days passed and finally the date for the inner court disciple exam was set. The Red Sun group kept practicing under Sadie, but they weren''t the only ones working hard as everyone in the neighbourhood was eligible to climb the ranks too. Dirk, the Lighter Duo, Onno. Even Appa was preparing herself. All the usual suspects. The only regular who wasn''t taking it was Allie, but she would just live in Enyo or Ares'' house depending on whichever one they moved into. Also, as an alchemist, her exam would be different from everyone else''s anyway so her competing was pointless. Zhang''s influence also meant she might not even have to bother with that. Ah, the perks of nepotism are truly wonderful...


    Anyhow, everyone trained in their own way up until the exam and, before any of them knew what hit them, they were all standing around in the outdoor training area and waiting for further instructions on the day of the test. The sect had taken painstaking efforts to rebuild this place after Ares had his way with it. That was to be expected though, as a space this large going to waste was nonsensical. Also, as most of the damage had been done inside the Training Field when it had been up and running, most of it reverted back to normal afterwards. The sect still had to tidy up the outer rims but that was simple enough.


    Ares was chatting with the Legion sisters about how his present for Bellona was very nearly a ''blow up'' doll, for which he was ''inexplicably'' beaten up on the spot for his war-crime of a joke. After a few minutes of loitering, Rud appeared and walked in front of everyone who was here. The full list of combatants, minus a group of ten outer court disciples no one here had ever seen before, were as follows: Ares, Aejaz, Enyo, Dirk, Li Li, Esme, Onno, Lighter Duo, Appa, Charity, Gladius, and Bellona. Well Fate, Eagerton, and Sadie were also present just not as competitors, but rather as spectators. Eagerton was his usual degenerate self as all he wanted was to see mind blowing explosions. Fate was basically ever-present wherever Ares was in an attempt to dig up dirt on him. And Sadie was very interested in this exam as she''d been informed prior to the event regarding what it entailed. The event itself was simple, and basically anyone who''s name was worth remembering had basically already passed before it had even begun, but the spectacle of it all was what would be worth sticking around for.


    Ares stuck his tongue out at Rud and the poor man very nearly had an aneurysm on the spot. The damnable robo Slick had come demanding a raise in pay and, as he''d done so, he''d mumbled something about ''the price of having to put up with Ares'' being more than he was currently being paid. In a roundabout way, despite not having seen the insufferable bastard in a good while, Ares had still managed to pester him. Just when Rud was starting to regain his sanity, that infernal name popped up again... He''d even devised this test just purely for the sake of watching Ares squirm, and yet the tables had been turned on him before the exam started! A cruel fire ignited in Rud and he, then and there, made the executive decision that the core disciple examination would be the disciples sparring against him! Why? So he could legally beat up Ares himself, obviously! It was a shame the thought hadn''t occurred to him prior to setting up this exam, otherwise you can be damn sure he would have implemented here instead. he vigorously shook his head to get Ares out of it as he coughed to himself and begun explaining the rules for the exam. "Alright, listen up because I''m not going to repeat myself. The rules are simple, so simple, in fact, that even an idiot like Ares can understand them."


    "OI! RUDE!"


    "Quiet in the peanut gallery!" Rud flicked an Echo at Ares who''d just interrupted him and Rud snickered when Ares was knocked onto his rear. It didn''t feel good having to use the bastard''s own art, but hitting Ares around with it was somewhat satisfying so it evened it out as far as Rud was concerned. "Anyway, let me explain. We have evaluated all of you and come to a decision about whether you currently belong in the inner court or not, this exam is simply a chance for you to prove us wrong. Long story short, you will all fight each other and we will assess your capabilities. If we previously thought you were lacking but you show commendable prowess here, we will change our mind and let you into the inner court. If we previously thought you were acceptable and your showing is miserable, we will deny you entry to inner court. In other words, show us what you can do and don''t hold back otherwise you may end up losing out on a good opportunity. Also, we will evaluate you higher if you willingly take fights with the stronger combatants. We''re more interested in seeing how you lose gracefully against an opponent like Enyo than seeing how you bully a weak opponent like Jackie." Rud pointed at one of the random outer court disciples nobody had even heard of prior. "We will assign each of the combatants a number which we believe represents their position in the strength hierarchy. The higher the number, the better the evaluation you will receive if you do decently against them. Other than that, there are no rules. Fight as cleanly or as dirty as you wish. Form groups, gang up on people, betray others. We don''t care, we just want to see you fight as optimally as you can."


    The rules were simple enough, just beat up everyone around you... Or so it should have been. In fact, for someone like Ares, that really was all there was too it. It''s not like anyone specifically would give him more points because he was bound to be top dog in that regard. But that was the problem. He had no specific target in mind but, as he looked around, he realised something and gulped nervously with a wry smile on his face. He might not have a target, but everyone else did. He was like a piece of juicy, raw meat thrown into a dog-fighting ring. If he was worth the highest evaluation just for even attempting to fight him, then surely that would mean everyone else would be clambering over themselves to pummel him! No wonder Slick had said he was the only person that was almost guaranteed to die! Look at the line up here! This fight was going to be a nightmare.... Ahh, at least I can trust my trusty wife, Enyo the most faithful woman the whole world, not to betray me... WHY IS SHE STARING AT ME AS WELL?!

 Chapter 103: Aejaz’ Kryptonite

    22 numbers were assigned in the form of a talisman attached to each person''s chest. The ten unknown disciples made up the lower ranks and they each took up numbers 1 through 10. As for the rest...


    11: Charity


    12: Gladius


    13: Onno


    14: Li Li


    15: Esme


    16: Lighter Duo


    17: Aejaz


    18: Appa


    19: Dirk


    20: Bellona


    21: Enyo


    22: Ares


    For the most part, the list was self explanatory. Charity was primarily a healer and, although she was talented in hand to hand combat and had a degree of finesse with her strikes that no one else here possessed, she was still weaker than everyone else objectively. She was fine with her placement... Up until she saw Leo''s smug grin off to the side and she very nearly disqualified herself to go beat the stupid cat up.


    Gladius was next because his chariot was nigh unusable without aid. It was a powerful magic and, if it was measuring strength in regards to how much a person can contribute to a team, he would have been way higher. His one good trait that was universal was his spear expertise but, then again, everyone here was good with a weapon of some kind so what did it really matter in the grand scheme of things? it''s not like Charity and Gladius were weak or anything, their placement was just so indicative of the quality of the participants that they wound up last.


    Onno was next as his magic was potent, and he was cunning, but his cultivation realm and stage were low. He was currently at the fifth stage of mental accumulation which was tied for lowest of everyone present, Except Ares, with Li Li who''d gone up a stage recently. Bellona had been here, on this stage too, up until recently but she went up to sixth stage a short while back. Onno had a ways to go as a cultivator, even if he was an excellent businessman. He was still stronger than Charity and Gladius though and could quite easily give them the run around by utilising his smarts.


    At number 14 was one of the Red Sun international team members, Li Li. Just because she was a member of the team it didn''t mean she was the pinnacle of the outer court. She likely wouldn''t have been on the team if Dirk hadn''t lent a helping hand and she still had a lot to learn until she could compete with the bigger guns here. Again, not even remotely weak, just up against some real monsters.


    Esme''s talents mostly lay in her hit and run style and, while it was effective, in a head-on fight she wasn''t special compared to anyone else here. She wasn''t great at close combat so, although her magic was notably powerful, her disadvantages were clear as day.


    The Lighter Duo were tricky to gauge... And yes, they shared a number. Individually, they wouldn''t even be outside the bottom ten... These two had some major untapped potential and none of the elders were really sure where they truly belonged on this list. It was a tough choice, and they very well may deserve better, but until that became clearer through their actions; here they belonged.


    17, Aejaz. One thing that everyone who''s ever fought against Aejaz can agree on is that he''s annoying. If he were to be a class in a video game, he would be a dodge tank. His speedy nature and his evasive talents were seriously top of the charts. He didn''t have much offensive power but he was slowly figuring that out and becoming more and more dangerous by the minute. This was especially true when considering the invention of various mental arts that were a colossal pain to deal with and his ever improving invisibility. Paired with the Concealed Serpent and his silent chanting, although he might look like a dopey guy, he was lethal in his own way. As was customary to mention with this particular doofus, he was still waiting to unveil his special art. Although only Ares really knew it, if Aejaz'' special art was known by the elders he would have been placed at rank 21 with no questions asked...


    Appa didn''t really fight anyone or anything much but it was respectable combat-wise to say the least. Even though the Lighter Duo hadn''t yet formed properly during the sect''s outer court test back when Ares joined, Appa still technically beat the deadly duo overwhelmingly. If it had still been stuck in mental accumulation, its position would have been significantly lower due to the way shades worked, but it had overcome the final hurdle and made it to sensory enhancement. This special event had been celebrated by Ares who gave Appa all the Snappas it wanted, including, but not limited to, candy apple, milkshake, pizza, and chocolate brownies with custard. The last one was a new addition as Ares had been regularly treating Appa to daily new experiences for a while now. Getting side-tracked about Snappas aside, Appa had the highest cultivation here and it came equipped with both regular arts and mental arts that packed a punch. Plus, and this was it''s true hidden ace, it was too cute to attack. Seriously, if anyone here attacked Appa everyone else would probably form a temporary truce and beat the daylights out of them...


    Dirk. Dirk without his heart was around Onno level. Dirk with his heart was an entirely different, and all too literal, beast. His blood was easy to mould and his ability to adapt was unparalleled. His magic was devastating to most of the people here as they all relied on blood, minus Appa, and he was a boon to anyone he teamed up with thanks to his supportive capabilities. He was a real dark horse that had been laying low up until now but his seat at the table with the big names was well and truly earned. To top it all off, he was good with his dirk too so a CQC fight against him was no walk in the park. The only things really holding him back were, A: his lack of mana and access to blood to refill said mana, and B: the people above him being so powerful they passively gatekept the 20s. It was unlikely Dirk would ever be able to break that wall but, really, who else could anyway? Other than a select few individuals roaming around the universe here and there, Enyo, Bellona, and Ares were top notch cultivators that commanded reverence and respect from pretty much all other cultivators. Not being able to beat them wasn''t unusual in the slightest. The fact that Dirk was even somewhat in contention was actually kind of shocking. That being said, most cultivators were ambitious and hard working. Not all, but most. If he rested on his laurels for long enough, it wasn''t improbable someone else would pull the rug out from underneath him. With all the countless genius-defining treasures that existed, all it would take for him to be knocked down a peg or two was for anyone else on the list to have a rare encounter and make the most of it. If he wanted to keep his position, he was going to have to work hard going forward.


    Bellona and then Enyo. This was a tricky one but Sadie interjected herself during the decision making and gave the final ranking herself. It was also one neither of the sisters disagreed with. They''d grown up together and training together many times and yet Enyo had always been a step ahead. Not two or three, just one. But one was really all that mattered in the end. Yes, Bellona could summon a meteor... But Enyo could stop a meteor. Enyo''s barriers acted as a great deterrent against Bellona''s magic as it functioned somewhat like a bodyguard, taking the hit instead of the original target. It was hard for Bellona to ever directly apply her magic to Enyo and Enyo could withstand any storm Bellona indirectly conjured. Bellona was better in close combat, that was indisputable, but Enyo''s shield made it hard for Bellona to ever convert that into a major advantage. Hitting hard meant very little against Enyo who could eat hard hits for breakfast. Enyo just outlasted Bellona''s magic every single time, that was really what it came down to. Of course, comparatively, these two were absolute freaks of nature. It''s not like your average cultivator in mental accumulation could summon and / or stop a meteor, that was well and truly outside the realm of anything even remotely ''normal''. If these two hadn''t been born in what was occasionally referred to as a ''generation of geniuses'', they would have been unrivalled superstars in the cultivation world. Pretty much all the major clans in Vraizon had their own ''genius'' though, so although they weren''t ''overshadowed'', they were diminished slightly. If you took the ace of either the Umbra Wolves or the Starlights, Scar and Eagerton for example, they wouldn''t be ranked any lower than the Legion sisters. It was a bit different for the Willow clan but that was an unfair comparison because fundamental pillars, and thus Mako by association, were in a league of their own...


    Ares. The man, the myth, the legend; as Trew had once referred to him. The very definition of an unfair playing field. Manufactured by the pillar of destruction, almost like a super soldier with a Swiss army knife at his disposal. there was almost nothing he was incapable of doing thanks to all the innate advantages he held. No matter who you looked at on this list, Ares could do their specialty just as well as they could. Magic? Weapons? Technique? Speed? The only thing he was lacking was strength due to his nature as an adept but that would solve itself when he reached bloodline awakening, so what weaknesses did he even really have? None. Was it perhaps unfair to be so blessed from birth? Perhaps. That was just what it meant to be a champion of a fundamental pillar, though. it was never supposed to be fair. The six wielders of the fundamental pillar had their place at the top of the cultivation world cemented already. Really, the only competition they could ever realistically have was each other. Ares, whether he liked it or not, was destined to be a being that transcended regular cultivators... And by that petard was he about to be hoisted! There was an assumption that a fundamental pillar would beat a normal one... But could it beat two?... Or three?... Or twenty one?... Ares was about to find out because there were, currently, exactly that many people who wanted to take a chunk of his flesh to prove themselves. Was he nervous about it all? Honestly, no. Even when faced with a group of strong cultivators he just imagined washing them away with a golden tide like anyone else who stood before him. That was the luxury of being a fundamental champion, everyone else''s determination meant nothing. Everyone else''s talent meant nothing. Everyone else''s hard work meant nothing. It wasn''t just his talent or Ares'' latent abilities that put him at the top, though, it was his mentality. If everyone here was asked who belonged at the top, Ares knew all twenty two people would point in his direction; himself included. So what if there were more of them than him? He would disintegrate their weapons, annihilate their misplaced hope, and return their bodies to nothingness; and he would do it as many times as it takes to remind them of why he was the cultivator''s ideal. Although Ares wasn''t going to waste his Astraeus summon here, there weren''t any other cards he would refuse to play. Every explosion he could wreak havoc with, every weapon he could fend off the enemies before him with, and every treasure and tool he had available to him. Was there any chance of him winning? Maybe? That wasn''t the point though. The point was to send a message that he was not to be trifled with. The amount of sacrifices that were going to have to be offered up to his alter of supremacy before he took a bow was not small. So, with a deep sigh, a steady gaze, and a calm disposition... He looked around and wordlessly asked everyone a simple question. ''Who''s first?''


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Amidst the tense atmosphere, Rud raised his hand high into the air. The second he brought it down was the second the all out war would start, so all eyes were on him.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "START!" Rud''s straight palm sliced down through the air and his declaration of the start of the match was immediately followed by another voice that pierced through the silence.


    "Voidwalk." Ares vanished while everyone else searched for him.


    ¡­


    He wasn''t out of the void yet but he had to return at some point.


    ¡­


    There was a limit to Voidwalk and he would be pushed out soon enough.


    ¡­


    He wasn''t in the sky either...


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Where is he? The same thought ran through everyone''s heads as they looked around. As they did, however, a few of the more keen-eyed participants noticed there were already some outer court disciples that had died and been revived outside the field... How was he doing it? Invisibility wasn''t something Ares could use¡­ Unless he''d been hiding it? No, he wouldn''t. He would have pranked someone with it by now if he could.


    Again.


    Another disciple was sent to join the spectators but no one had seen it happen.


    "Hm?" Aejaz, having an affiliation for the darkness pillar, noticed something. "ONNO, LIGHT!"


    Tsk


    Stupid brother. Why did the dumbest one here figure it out? Ares kissed his teeth as he made the last stealthy move he would be able to this fight. His plan had gotten him decently far but it was a shame it hadn''t gotten him further. It was pretty standard really, say one thing and do another. Ares resurfaced out from one of the outer court disciple''s shadow and plunged the Nyxian Prowler into their heart as he covered their mouth and muffled their dying breaths.


    He''d activated Voidwalk before using the Prowler to hide in people''s shadows, taking them out and using Voidwalk to jump around to another shadow after. Aejaz must have seen lingering traces of darkness mana and put two and two together. He himself was a trickster con-man by nature and the ''look here while I do something over there'' approach was practically his bread and butter, so it was no wonder he got the correct answer. It was inconvenient to Ares though as his game of cat and mouse was up. He could still use Voidwalk to put himself in one more person''s shadow, however. He had the time left to do it. He was going to be exposed regardless but if he could at least get the drop on even one more person that would be beneficial. Abandoning the collapsing body, Ares entered the void and picked his next target before he snuck into their shadow. The Voidwalk ended and he was snugly behind the outer court disciple named Jackie. His target needed to be weak enough not to be able to cause too much of a fuss when he was revealed. He wanted a quick and clean kill and to retreat back a few steps afterwards to take in a broader picture of his surroundings.


    Onno used light pillar magic to form a small ball of light that drifted into the air and shone bright, directly down on everyone, and banished all the shadows. Ares'' hiding spot was uncovered and he immediately went to work slashing Jackie''s throat. As expected, Enyo summoned a barrier to try and stop his attack, Bellona attempted to slow his movements directly with her magic, and Aejaz tried to steal the Prowler... That last one was technically a good idea but the chances his brother was actually doing it because he wanted to play with the enabler weren''t low... Ares knew this would happen. The second Aejaz made the call, everything fell into place like dominos. Ares would be exposed and, logically, his next step would be to target the weakest person in the confusion and get a cheap kill. Enyo, Bellona, and Aejaz knew him too well and had predicted this which was why they were on the ball the moment Onno unleashed the light. Still, as was foretold, Ares'' pillar was just unstoppable. He coated his weapon in disintegration which severed Bellona'' magic, denied Aejaz, and tore through Enyo''s barrier simultaneously. His Prowler, in the form of a standard knife, sunk into Jackie''s throat... But something felt wrong. Ares instantly activated his Omniscience and kissed his teeth before spitting out a block rock from his mouth; one of his portable blackhole beads used for defence. The Jackie made of sludge glowed blue as the block rock detonated.


    CRACCCCCCKLE


    Onno''s Doppelb?nger shattered into tiny ice shards that were sucked up into the head sized blackhole which disappeared after its job was done. This interaction had been a draw. Ares was baited by Onno who had been one step ahead this whole time, but his hidden back up plan of an on-demand defence magic thwarted the ambush. Ares wished he''d been using Omniscience from the start as then this wouldn''t have happened in the first place... He drifted backwards as his feet lightly pushed him in an ''S'' shape. His retreat was rapid and difficult to follow so all the remaining ranks 1 through 10, that had been bunched up around the fake Jackie, couldn''t launch a counterattack without stumbling over their own ineptitude. Gladius had been around too and he made an attempt to hit Ares with a simple thrust but was thwarted by the Stygian Zephyr that swung open and knocked his attack off kilter. After retreating as far back as he could, Ares was only next to one more person who was ranked number 5. He took out the Biome Eagle and just fired a single bullet. Wasting mana on an Adaptive Shot for a non-problem like this was overkill. The rank 5 blocked the bullet with their arms but the recoil left them open to Ares who slithered past their defences and uppercut their jaw. "Echo."


    SPLAT


    The outcome of that last particular fight was probably best not described in vivid detail... Fight? What fight? Where am I? Why am I at the Training Field? Ares was momentarily taken aback when he suddenly found himself at a loss as to why he was even here. During his confusion, an undetectable presence slowly creeped up behind him. Ares was none-the-wiser as his would-be killer inched closer and closer. Just as the fatal attack was to be launched, Ares did something completely unexpected.


    "Gamble."


    Eh? Aejaz was now just as confused as Ares. He''d stolen his brother''s memories so surely Ares should be trying to figure the situation out right now? Why did he just randomly use Gamble of all things?


    Ares'' flicked himself directly up and aimed his next strike at the floor. "Grand Annihilation."


    EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?! Aejaz freaked out and immediately started dashing away to safety outside the blast radius.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Did my magic not work? Did he block it with disintegration magic?¡­ No, I felt it connect, so why? Aejaz was at a complete loss as to why his brother had reacted like that. It was a perfect defence against Aejaz given the situation, but why would he even bother doing it if he didn''t understand the situation to begin with? Ares, logically, should have just assumed he was out for a walk or something. All of the other participants had agreed in unison to act natural after Ares had his memories stolen so how did Ares catch on this quickly? Aside from his brief startle after being hit with No-stalgia, he wasted no time in launching an offensive bombing to sniff out Aejaz'' presence... Almost like he expected the attack?


    Ares landed with a flip after being blasted into the air and searched around with Omniscience. His foolish brother hadn''t mastered invisibility yet but he was damn good considering his amateur status, so unless Ares wanted to waste time Omniscience was the easy choice. he found Aejaz skulking about, with the Concealed Serpent in his hand, near the edges of the crater the Grand Annihilation had formed and gave him the middle finger. Aejaz dropped the invisibility and smiled wryly as he asked his brother how he''d pulled this off.


    "I''m hesitant to even ask... How did you know?"


    With a derisive snort directed at his silly sibling. "I didn''t. Put it this way... Every single day since I learnt you could steal memories I''ve told myself the same thing over and over again; if I ever lose mine, immediately blow up the surroundings and show no restraint. This is my solution to your annoying magic so, unless you steal every memory I have of reminding myself to do that, every single day, of every single week, of every single month, of every single year, you''re magic is pointless. What''s the point of taking my memories of the last week if throughout this entire month I''ve been telling myself to launch indiscriminate attacks when I lose my memory? I still remember all of that, you know? Every day since I encouraged you to learn the art... Unless you can wipe out my memories until all the way back then, don''t even bother wasting your mana on it."


    Ack


    Aejaz almost fainted dead on the spot. CHEAP BASTARD! What the hell is this level of dedication to one-upping your own brother?! I mean... It''s smart... But now I feel naked... Like all of my secrets are out in the open! Aejaz had been thoroughly thwarted. Actually, everyone else competing, and even the elders around, all took note of Ares'' strategy for dealing with this unruly punk. It was a neat trick that put the burden on Aejaz to do have to do something unreasonable for one of his major arts to even be successful. If Aejaz wanted to use No-stalgia on anyone present, he would now have to wipe their memories completely clean lest he miss even a single one in which they reminded themself about his magic. It was a hyper-specific, and incredibly niche method of countering his magic, and his alone, but it was probably worth it in the long run for situations like this. It was certainly awkward having to wake up every day and remind yourself of this thief''s magic but, if doing so gave you an advantage then, as mentioned previously, cultivators worked hard. Three seconds out of a person''s day to shut down an entire art from a dangerous assassin with high potential was worth doing. Naturally, Aejaz was downtrodden and miserable down to his soul about this... maybe he shouldn''t have attacked his brother after all. If he hadn''t, he wouldn''t have been publicly outed in such a manner... This was, without a shadow of a doubt, Ares'' roundabout way of punishing him for his transgressions... Aejaz almost wished he could use No-stalgia on himself to forget this embarrassment for the rest of his life!

 Chapter 104: You Actually Kept That Thing?!

    Ares flicked a Shock Bead at Aejaz as he Shifted next to Enyo. "Hello wife!" After respectfully giving his greetings, he proceeded to try and commit domestic abuse by launching a fierce headbutt. As he did so, Enyo''s helmet looked more and more daunting the closer he got, but he soldiered on anyway! Was Ares an idiot for headbutting a helmet? Well, he was an idiot in general, but not for that reason specifically. His plan was to launch an Echo inside the helmet and have it bounce around, battering Enyo''s skull. He was on the verge of succeeding too as the Shock Bead he threw earlier distracted her. Enyo was one the few people here that could handle Ares'' explosions so she was on guard duty against any and all annihilation magic. Ares used that against her to attempt a surprise attack. Furthermore, Enyo was next strongest in line after him, so no one had expected him to shift gears after attacking Jackie and go for the polar opposite candidate. Ares'' head came crashing down onto the helmet and an excruciating noise followed, one that made everyone briefly pity the victim.


    CRACK


    Bellona took care of the Shock Bead, leaving Enyo enough wiggle room to defend herself. Enyo had summoned a barrier just in time to prevent Ares'' daring head-on attack, thus resulting in Ares effectively headbutting the equivalent of a steel wall at full force.


    "OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" Ares, who had been made a fool of in public, ran around while clutching his head and yelping in pain. Although the others pitied him, and it kinda felt like shooting a fish in a barrel, everyone was here to earn their place in the inner court and wasted no time in running him down. The three closest were Enyo, Li Li, and Charity; and they all rushed to get a beating in while the going was good. Charity aimed for a vital, Li Li swung as hard as she could, and Enyo aimed to bring her shield down on Ares cranium and split it open. Maybe this way Enyo could take a peek inside this moron''s head and see if there was actually a brain in there or not... But as it would turn out, there was. And it was operating at max efficiency right now as the three women had fallen for his bait. The fingers splayed across Ares'' face split, revealing an evil grin and an unharmed face. No broken nose, no bloody face, no dented forehead... It was as if he hadn''t suffered any damage at all... One of Ares'' hands detached from his face and swung behind him to square off against his three attackers as it lit up with a golden glow. Enyo would live through this, but she would not be able to save the others in time. No one would.


    "Grand Annihilation!"


    "Segregation."


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOM


    BOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOM


    Ares'' finger unleashed a point blank Grand Annihilation that tore through Charity effortlessly and eventually managed to reap Li Li''s life after a brief struggle. Enyo''s last-second Segregation kept her right as rain as the explosions didn''t even dent the barrier, but she was still mad at having being duped into attacking the stupid revenant. If she had been patient and held her ground, she could have thrown up the barrier for someone else and kept them alive. Any other cultivator would have been proud of their achievement in even getting to this point and surviving the blast but Enyo was just the kind of person who valued saving other people above all, so she considered this to be a massive failure... And all because of her damnable husband who was laughing to himself like this was all some kind of game!... Well it wasn''t exactly real either, but that didn''t make Enyo any less bitter. When it came down to it, what Enyo really wanted was to kick his ass! Still, like Aejaz before her, Enyo had questions. The loud crack... Where on earth did that come from if not Ares skull? She could tell her barrier blocked something but what exactly happened? She didn''t even need to ask though as Ares, in traditional revenant fashion, showed zero hesitation in smugly giving explanation.


    "It was a packet of crisps!" Not that his ''explanation'' could really be considered as such. These words obviously clarified absolutely nothing, so he kept going after he pulled a packet of crisps out of his pocket that looked considerably worse for wear. "I put some nothingness on both my head and the crisps in my pocket. When my head smacked against the barrier, as it was connected to the crisps they were what made the loud noise. I only used the Echo defensively to prevent an injury. In other words, everything was an act to get you to lower your guard and attack me! Hehehehe, I win this one, Enyo!"


    Tsk


    Enyo kissed her teeth in frustration as Ares joyously skipped away while dusting off his hands as though he were done here. She hated to admit it but Ares had gotten her good here. He threw off her support, namely Bellona, with the bead, convinced her he was attacking full force, left openings for a counterattack, and finally feigned an injury to provoke her into pushing her luck. That was bad enough but what really ate away at her was the fact that he''d beaten her with a packet of crisps! Crisps! This is precisely why revenants were insufferable. You could never tell if they were taking things seriously or not, and even when they did that didn''t mean you were out of the woods in regards to them playing around with you just yet. Enyo sighed to herself and let someone else take the wheel, there was no benefit to chasing him down right now when he had nowhere to go. He was fully surrounded anyway. If Enyo ran up to him impatiently, he would just run away and waste her stamina. She needed to be alert and ready to defend if she could. At the very least, her presence here meant Ares was forced to use disintegration magic every time he wanted to kill someone otherwise a barrier would stop him without fail. Hanging back and just stalking him was the best bet for now.


    As for the two that were wiped out, they grumbled to themselves and cursed Ares. As it turned out, getting blown up hurt. It also hurt the more you resisted it, so Li Li had it much rougher than Charity who was dead before she even knew what hit her. They were both incredibly peeved at this result but they also had no one to blame for this outcome but themselves. For starters, going after Ares was completely unnecessary and greedy to the max. They very easily could have challenged anyone else and had a better time of things... They just really wanted to join in on the fun and take part in the Ares smackdown session. There wasn''t a single person here that didn''t have at least one good reason to hit Ares. Charity still somewhat resented Ares being able to steal and use Diagnosis, and Li Li still remembered Ares mentioning that he stole from her clan like they were some kind of bottomless pit of free stardust. Yes Aejaz had done the stealing but it was likely at Ares'' discretion so he was to blame just as much as his conniving brother! These reasons clouded their judgement and made them feel inclined to take part. That was just the start of their issues though, as they clearly weren''t cut out to be messing with someone like Ares in the first place. They were only ranked 11 and 14, who did they think they were messing with? Maybe if they''d given Enyo more time to lead the charge they could have been safe under her protection and with the holy pillar buffs that she would have produced after casting an art. Maybe if one them had been replaced with someone ranked 18 or above they would have sufficient power to break through. Maybe if either of them had ranged attacks to force Ares to make a move without needing to get close. Maybe if either one of them knew any defensive arts... Maybe maybe maybe. That was just the truth of it, these two, as cultivators, were full of holes and had a long way to go before they should ever think about taking on an existence like Ares. These two combined probably couldn''t even beat the Lighter Duo and here they were swinging at Ares? No, just no. The elders watching on the sides thought the same and were all disappointed in their brashness. Although no one said it out loud, it was fairly obvious that these two would be given a failing grade. It was such a waste too, as they could have gotten into the inner court if they had done literally anything else with their efforts. Actually, what they really should have done was fight each other. They both specialised in hand to hand combat and could have displayed their strengths perfectly in a one on one duel. They also could have used this as a learning opportunity as one fighter relied on brute power while the other practised precision above all. In hindsight they''d been childish, extremely so. Even their partners, Dirk and Gladius, although seething with killing intent for Ares, couldn''t help but inwardly chide the two for making such a blatant mistake.


    Ares picked his next target, or rather targets, and dashed towards them. The remaining outer court disciples ranked 1 thorough 10 were on the chopping block now that Ares had set his sights on them. They weren''t really a problem that needed to be dealt with immediately or anything, it''s just that they took up valuable space. Space that Ares could utilise infinitely better than they could. Ares was fighting for his life out here! He needed the breathing room way more compared to these nobodies so he brought out his Black Ice Bane and released another Grand Annihilation from the tip of his sword.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    This Grand Annihilation was cut short as Bellona shrunk the explosion and reduced its explosive output. Ares, who''d been using the blast as cover to approach the remaining no-name disciples, changed his course after the setback and charged at the nearest foe, Gladius.


    Gladius, although still deeply angered about Ares killing Charity earlier, immediately noticed something that was off about Ares. It was just a small detail, and he chalked it up to some strange kind of art he''d never seen before, but it gave rise to an eery feeling in his chest he didn''t like. As for the detail in question, Ares'' eyes had changed colour... Gladius shook his head and ignored the change. The colour of Ares'' eyes didn''t matter in the slightest or change his task at hand, so he steadied himself and prepared for a showdown. A few of the other ranks 11 through 22 were running to his aid so he just had to hold out for long enough and his job would have been done successfully. Even if he died, if he could just stall... Gladius resolved himself as he stared at Ares.


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    "Double Jump."


    "What?" Gladius was sweating bullets as Ares disappeared. His first thought was to look up due to the name of the art that he was unfamiliar with, but as soon as he felt a presence behind him, he knew what needed to be done. He bent down and twirled the spear above him while kicking backwards to dissuade his attacker from pushing forward underneath the spear. His foot was grabbed so he twisted his body around and brought the raised spear down with both hands towards Ares'' chest. Ares himself pulled out an ordinary sword from a space ring he was wearing and lunged at Gladius. It seemed he was willing to trade blows so Gladius indulged him. Gladius would deal a major injury to Ares who would die shortly after him and that was a trade worth taking in his book... But something was very off about this situation. Why was Ares using a normal sword instead of the Bane? Why was he wearing a space ring when he never usually did? Though rife with discomfort, Gladius bit on his lip to restore some clarity to his mind as he made the plunge. His spear sunk into Ares'' heart and pushed through, coming clean out the other side and creating a perfectly round hole. On the flip side, Ares'' bared the brunt of the attack and returned the favour. Unfortunately, due to the hit he''d taken, his aim was slightly off and his sword only pierced a part of Gladius'' chest that was non-lethal to a cultivator at his strength. As blood trickled down their bodies, the two had a brief stare down. Gladius knew this was his chance. All he had to do was hold onto this position and never let Ares escape. Even if he had to die to a bombardment from his Allies, he would take Ares with him one way or another...


    "RUN GLADIUS!"


    Two words. Two very simple words that made Gladius curse Ares for reasons he didn''t even yet know. He wasn''t sure who even shouted it in the heat of the moment, although it sounded like Aejaz, he just knew that someone had figured out what the menace in front of him was plotting and that it would be the death of him. He looked up from the spear wound inside Ares and his life flashed before his eyes. The last thing he saw before dying a brutal death was a massive maw filled with jagged teeth and ''Ares'''' strange ruby red eyes.


    CHOMP


    Gladius'' head was reduced to pulp and those in the audience, as well as those on the field who didn''t understand what was happening, froze on the spot. Meanwhile, Aejaz who knew all too well, kissed his teeth and yelled, "IT''S A MIMIC!" Ares seriously kept that thing inside his Primordial Blade as a damn pet?! Fuck, why am I not surprised? In what universe would Ares not value highly a body double?... Shit, he must have swapped places during the Grand Annihilation. He probably used Voidwalk and went back to his old strategy... Aejaz glanced back and his assumption was proven correct. All of the ranks 1 through ten were dead aside from one who was near enough dead and slowly losing the light in their eyes. Ares had just repeated his same tactic he used at the start but with an even bigger diversion. While everyone ran down the mimic, Ares crept back over to the no-names and finished them off. No wonder ''Ares'''' threw his body at Gladius without a care in the world... It wasn''t even him to begin with! This was actually a serious problem. The mimic had solid regenerative abilities and had already healed from its injury. Ares had blown this thing''s head off at one point and even that hadn''t done it in. Add Ares'' combat prowess and the mimic''s teleporting into the mix and this thing was way more than just a distraction, it was basically another person to fight. Ares hadn''t just given himself the space he wanted, he was now splitting up the remaining combatants as the mimic couldn''t be ignored under any circumstance. As the number of their allies decreased, Ares'' allies had increased... The decision making on the alliance''s next step was done almost instantly by Onno after he received a quick mental rundown from Aejaz. Everyone who could counter Ares'' magic would be sent to deal with the real body, while those who couldn''t would fight the mimic. The stronger ranks could fend off Ares in a deadlock while waiting for the mimic to die so they could receive help after. This meant Aejaz, Onno, and Esme would fight the mimic while Bellona, Enyo, and Dirk handled Ares. The Lighter Duo were tasked with unleashing a powerful art when they felt the time was right, so they stood to the side and kept an eye on the battlefield. There was also one final participant who had yet to do anything as of yet, and wasn''t currently assigned any tasks, but their role would be fulfilled nearer to the end of the fight if everything went according to the grand plan that was currently underway.


    As for Ares, now that he got the space he wanted and a nice minute to relax while everyone else fumbled around, he was stretching his arms and legs a little. "Hmmm, not bad, not bad at all." Ares caught sight of the last no-name at his feet giving him a thankful look. If Ares praised them then there was maybe a chance for their overall evaluation to be higher... "No, not you. I was talking about myself, you were awful."


    Ack


    The disciple died on the spot. Presumably, the shame was what pushed them over the edge.... Either way, now all the no-names were gone. This wasn''t really a fight they were cut out for just yet anyway. Even if Ares hadn''t been here, none of them would have made any waves during this test. Unfortunately all the high rankers were still alive and kicking though so his progress so far was objectively abysmal. Still, Ares hadn''t pulled out all the stops yet, so he was good to keep going. His mana was full to the brim too thanks to Grim Cessation absorbing mana from the dead. As far as Ares was concerned he was in tip top shape, as if the fight had only just started.


    Over by the mimic, the fight was already underway as Aejaz had already stolen the mimic''s sword. It was unlikely that it had anymore in reserve so it was going to have fight with its hands and teeth from now on. It could still Blink so a range advantage wasn''t the end all be all, but it was certainly helpful considering the cultivators he was working alongside. if the mimic had to take even just another single step then that was one more chance for it to step on one of Esme''s many Wind Mines. Unlike Ares, the mimic didn''t have Omniscience either so it couldn''t find them without checking the hard way. Also, without the sword, it would have to physically touch Onno to hurt him. That didn''t seem like an issue at first glance, but when you came face to face with a Doppelb?nger suddenly the problem became a bit more obvious. If the mimic accidentally sunk its teeth into a poisonous clone it would wind up biting off way more than it could chew. In fact it would almost definitely bite the dust shortly thereafter. It should be noted that all the above puns were formulated inside Ares'' peanut brain ever since he captured the mimic way back when. He''d been looking for an opportunity to use them but never quite had the chance, much to his dismay.


    "Swipe Right." Esme launched a God hand aspect attack to really put the mimic in a bind. As was common with God hand arts, the name was effectively a command and so it''s effect was easily decipherable on first listen. Whereas Pound Down formed a giant fist above the target, Swipe Right created a palm of blustering winds low to the ground that swooped across the floor and batted away the foe. Just like Pound Down, the power of this art was astronomical and being swatted away like a fly was the least of your worries if you were hit by this thing. It was more likely you would just explode on the spot and become a blood stain on the hand of swirling wind. The real problem lay in its delayed start. Because of how powerful it was, it took a while longer to fully form than most other arts. Normally this was a downside but, when working together with other cultivators, that downside could flipped into an upside. Onno was in the middle of firing off a Flamethrower so, if the mimic Blinked away, the God hand would only be formed after the blink was completed, at which point it would chase him down. If instead the mimic tried to block the Flamethrower then God hand would come crashing into it while it was defending itself. In summary, it would catch his escape, or double down on the pressure applied to it if it held its ground. The mimic tried taking the logical approach and using both Double Jump and Echo to launch itself high into the air where the God hand couldn''t follow it but that option was sealed when Aejaz capitalised off this moment and sneakily casted No-stalgia; removing the mimic''s memories of how to cast Double Jump. In the end, it was forced to Blink away from the Flamethrower. Arguably, holding its ground and fighting back with Echoes would have been the better decision, but it still attempted the impossible by trying to avoid everything. Maybe Ares'' tendencies had seeped into it somewhat now that it had been disguised as him for so long? Either way, it Blinked out of Onno''s line of fire and immediately transitioned into a Gamble... Sort of. It didn''t have time to cast the art, so it just mimicked the movement of it. Almost like Ares did before he turned the move into an art way back when. If the mimic had enough time to cast an art, it would have just Blinked away again instead of Gambling but this was it''s best shot. It buried the sword into the ground and flicked itself as high into the air as it could without even looking back. It could feel the powerful gale behind it rushing towards him and, for a split second, it believed it was going to fail and lose its life but, by a hair''s breadth, it managed too eek over the top of the attack. This wasn''t without consequence however as it did lose something; an arm. It''s decision making was rapid and its efforts commendable but, at the end of the day, it couldn''t fully replicate Ares'' talent no matter how hard it tried. It couldn''t be as quick or as strong as him, so situations like this were rough. The mimic knew deep down that Ares would have successfully pulled off the same plan without a hitch. He probably wouldn''t have even dodged in the first place... Still, it was alive, and that was what mattered right now. Or so it briefly thought... Until it realised it was surrounded once more and things were really looking perilous this time. Esme had summoned a Pound Down, Aejaz had snuck around and was about to assassinate the mimic from behind if it tried to retreat, there were presumably Wind Mines in front; and it wouldn''t be able to blink out as Onno was milli-seconds away from chanting an art of the anti-magic pillar. As if its doom hadn''t already been fully spelled out and written in stone, the Lighter Duo were finally pulling out their own trump card too. They placed their hands together and tapped each finger against one another rhythmically, and one by one, as they chanted a unique art under the ''reading rites'' pillar; a pillar that specialised in casting extremely powerful arts after a long chant. As it was a combination art too, the power of this magic was going to be absolutely monstrous.


    ""Summon The Sea, Summon The Thunder, Unleash The Beast That Will Drag You Under. Come: Seashock Atrocity!""


    Before the art was formed in its entirety, Ares took his own measures. If everyone wanted all hell to break loose, he would oblige. And thus he let out Dominus... But things would be different this time. Not only was the mimic going to copy Dominus instead, but Ares was going to let Dominus have a taste of true power. He was going to borrow him the destruction pillar.

 Chapter 105: Flipping the Switch: Mimics Awakening

    As Ares was undergoing his change to Dominus, a quick process but a process nonetheless, Onno was tapping into the anti-magic pillar while the Lighter Duo unleashed an art of the reading rites pillar.


    The anti-magic pillar was referred to frequently as the ''fun killer pillar''. Like the reading rites pillar it only had two aspects underneath it, ''mobile denial'' and ''lockdown''. Lockdown arts created stationary zones with various anti-magic effects that lasted for various periods of time. You could create them in advance and trigger them as traps or summon them on the fly like Onno was doing but there were restrictions to the latter approach. The shape, size, and various extra effects of the magic were determined by the art. A zone that slows targets in addition to preventing chants? A triangle anti-magic zone that constantly zaps anyone in the centre? A zone that creates anti-magic tendrils that attempt to keep the target within? If you wanted a ''zone'', lockdown was probably the correct aspect for the job. When paired with runemancy, which could add all manner of devastating attacks into the mix, it became an extremely annoying aspect. Innumerable cultivators had been taking strolls when they stumbled into lockdown ambushes and died without ever being able to fight back. It was the proverbial ''cheap shot'' aspect. It wasn''t as pesky as mobile denial, though. Generally, if given a choice, 8/10 cultivators would rather put up with lockdown magic because at least it could be escaped from by moving away from the zone. Mobile denial arts were smaller but, as the name hinted, they could move. Firing off anti-magic bullets, creating anti-magic summons, attacks that drained the target''s mana, and even the ability to make magic go haywire. These arts required good aim to utilise properly but were incredibly strong. For a pillar that was generally useless against melee fighters, it was utterly detested by a large percentage of all living creatures that relied on magic. It shut down so many tactics, combos, and options in combat. Anyone without backup plans would just crash and burn the second this pillar reared its troublesome head. The worst part was that even if the cultivator themself was weak or had a low cultivation realm / stage, like Onno, it didn''t really matter. The nature of anti-magic was such that it inherently beat out almost every other kind of magic. There were very few aspects, if any, that it outright had trouble against. These arts cost a lot of mana, and each aspect had very clear drawbacks, but that didn''t stop weaker cultivators complaining out their ass about the pillar. Ultimately, it was just particularly good at ruining plans, forcing close quarters combat, and stomping amateur cultivators who weren''t anything special to begin with. As for the art Onno was chanting, Blip, it summoned a simple anti-magic square at the targeted location for a couple of seconds. This was the most basic of basic in regards to the lockdown aspect. The duration scaled with the cultivator''s strength so someone like Onno could only muster one for about two seconds, but that was enough to prevent the mimic from Blinking out of its current predicament.


    Then there was the reading rites pillar. A bit of strange one because the magic under it, like the bestowal aspect tied to treasures, was really quite varied. Access to this pillar offered pseudo access to most others because what truly set this pillar apart was the chant length and strength of the arts, nothing else. Yes the Lighter Duo opted to create a unique art that utilised their specialties, lightning and water, but it wasn''t even remotely necessary. Contractual convoking is an aspect used for summoning entities. Some people, such as Astraeus, preferred to simply refer to it as the ''contract'' aspect because the word convoking implied the summoner held more power in the dynamic. There were certainly some situations in which monsters and people were beaten to within an inch of their life and forced to sign a contract with atrocious terms but, mostly, that wasn''t case. Contracts were usually fifty/fifty in the give and take department, made between two willing parties. Some even saw the summoned entity as the one with power, lest it wouldn''t have been summoned in the first place. All of this aside, the ''contractual convoking'' aspect was its correct name. As long as the person, or thing, in question could sign a contract, it could be summoned. There were restraints regarding distance, size, etc... But that mostly depended on the strength of the two individuals making the contract. As for the chant, each one was usually different, so hearing the same chant twice with this aspect was rare, unless you were fighting the same person over and over again of course. Even Ares could technically be summoned if he signed a contract and he too would have his own unique chant. The chant could also occasionally change depending on the summoned person''s status. For instance, becoming a God meant your summon chant would always include the ''lord of ¡­ rule'' segment. Astraeus was the lord of planetary rule, and Terros was the lord of foundational rule. Long story short, it was wise to check in with your summon occasionally and see if anything new had happened on their end. There was a warning system that notified you your contract / chant needed updating, but it was best to keep an eye out regardless. As for the summoned entity, it was worth nothing that they would, A; have their strength lowered to match the summoner''s rough power level and B; they would be returned to their original location when the summon ended no matter where they were prior so it couldn''t be used to escape rough situations. The second aspect was named ''long form'' and didn''t summon anything, but rather launched deadly arts that were almost always top of the lethality charts. Bombardments, artillery, precise death dealing, and mass infliction of harmful effects; all of the above were possible. The Lighter Duo''s art was an excellent example of this as the art they casted had formed a whirlpool that covered the entirety of the ground and left no room to escape it. The art wasn''t even half way formed yet and it was already this massive. Normal arts could never match the power of a long form art but they were also infinitely quicker. Flamethrower, although arguably quite long even in and of itself, came in at three syllables. This was decent enough considering how much power it could pack and how versatile the art was. It had good range, could burn the opponent, melt flesh, and was good against a large number of other arts and aspects. Then you had the Lighter Duo''s art...Summon The Sea, Summon The Thunder, Unleash The Beast That Will Drag You Under. Come: Seashock Atrocity. Even calling it a mouthful would be an understatement as it was a whole whopping twenty-six syllables long. A normal cultivator could cast flamethrower eight times over with room to spare in that time frame. To rub salt in the wound, for the most part, you couldn''t move while chanting long form arts either otherwise they would go caput. There was supposedly an enhanced dedication manual that could rectify this particular downside, but where exactly that was was anyone''s guess. Some people with enhanced dedication cultivation methods would pass it on or make it public but this was one of the ones that hadn''t become normalised yet so the pillar was that much harder to get into and use properly. There were some truly dedicated weirdos that would cast arts up to and even over a thousand syllables long. These fabled arts were said to have wiped out armies and even entire planets.


    The Lighter Duo''s art drenched the floor and the pull of the whirlpool passively dragged everyone towards the centre where a lightning storm was brewing. Long and thick, curled lines of lightning were barely visible underneath the surface of the water and a dark shadow rapidly swelled at the point at which they all congregated in the middle. Something ominous lurked below and its ascent to the surface brought a degree of pressure with it, enough to tingle a person''s spine. Ares was immune to this, but he could tell the incoming magic was at least as powerful as Yggdrasil and couldn''t be underestimated... Still, it wasn''t going to be his problem to solve, so he paid it no mind and finalised the temporary body swap as he shut his eyes.


    ¡­


    Phew


    With a deep sigh, Dominus'' eyelids sprung open and Omniscience danced in the wind. Dominus raised his hand and circulated destruction magic through his body. He balled his hand into a fist and squeezed it tight before loosening his grip and repeating this pattern two more times. He dismissed the trio moving towards him and eyed up the mimic as he''d been curious about this fellow ever since he first saw him. A mimic with this level of potential was unfathomable even to Dominus himself as he''d never seen a creature like this in his long life. The ability to replicate open pillar arts and its strong affinity to space-time aspect were one thing but the degree of sentience was astounding. It wasn''t just ''mimicking'' or trying to put on hollow costumes, it was actually becoming more and more like the person in question; the risky gamble it pulled off earlier was proof of that. It seemed as though Sadie wasn''t the only person around here that interested Dominus. Speaking of Sadie, Dominus had glanced at her and assessed her overall form in the split second his eyes passed over her. Sadie felt a chill as if every secret she had was exposed and she could instinctively tell that Dominus was back again. He had a different feel to his presence. It was like an adult toying with a child, that was the impression he gave. Still, this time the adult was somewhat satisfied as Sadie had made O.K progress since he last saw her. She wasn''t slacking off and her training was likely taking a whole new direction. She didn''t look frustrated like she''d hit a wall or forlorn over option paralysis, so Dominus could concentrate on this fight in peace. If Sadie had disappointed him, he probably would have tried to kill himself to escape the Training Field and smack some sense into her. Ares probably would have stopped him though... Back to the mimic his attention drifted and, when he saw the mimic undergo changes in real time, he couldn''t help but applaud the creature for taking a vital step in its own evolution. This was just the kind of existence Dominus was. He''d elevated Sadie through teaching and the mimic simply by existing. He was curious if the mimic understood why this was even happening, if it knew Ares was replaced and he was experiencing something most ordinary people would kill for. The mimic had essentially just downloaded a cheat sheet for how to be a weapon''s master straight from the brain of an unrivalled expert. The mimic was limited, certainly, but with its newfound expertise, combined with Ares'' open pillar arts, it would likely become the second strongest combatant in this Field. If the ranks were adjusted to account for the mimic, it would be in contention for one of the spots in the twenties at minimum; potentially even pushing Enyo or Bellona down a spot. Ares had found an unbelievably fascinating pet in this thing and Dominus wanted to do his usual. He wanted to poke his nose into volatile situations and light a fuse. He wanted to know how far he could push this mimic. What if he could take it to higher domains and cram knowledge from countless experts into it? How bottomless was this creature and how much could it learn? For now, just Dominus was enough to last the mimic however many hundreds of thousands of years. Dominus either didn''t realise it or didn''t care, but his actions were slowly creating an army of weapons exemplars in the making. He''d been like this before too but he didn''t have enough exposure to people to really have it occur this frequently. He mostly stuck to himself and trained or killed himself. Now that he was let loose in the open world, his presence, the presence of an unfathomable genius, would seep into everyone around him. And this wasn''t an ordinary time for this to happen either... It was a generation of geniuses he''d poked his head into. The results of his intervention would certainly have a profound impact on a number of people going forward; and it seemed this mimic here would be number two on his list of ''students''.


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    The mimic could see it all. Everything around him seemed slow, like time was being altered. He could take in so many new sights, sounds, and smells he never even knew existed. His senses were elevated to a level it wasn''t aware even existed, let alone was possible to achieve. The assassin behind him, the three Wind Mines in front of him, the exact timing of the Pound Down above. The mimic could see it all as though his vision was all encompassing. Solution after solution to his current predicament popped up in his head like lanterns during a Shangyuan Festival. All the angles of attack, how to repel anything and everything, how to kill everyone with the tools at its disposal. All of it was so simple it nearly allowed its own death to happen as it was busily engrossed with the possibilities before it. It could even see how its options slowly dwindled as he sat there in stunned disbelief. Even sentience couldn''t have prepared it for the information it was perceiving right now. Brand new arts to play with littered its brain and combat styles were burned into its muscles.


    Aejaz'' Acrimony came lunging at the mimic''s back but it avoided the stab with a simple twist of its body. Not a drastic turn, but a measured lean as if it barely even moved at all. Aejaz'' missed attack resulted in the mimic grabbing his outstretched arm and throwing him over his shoulder. The acrimony was dropped to the floor as Aejaz was sent crashing into Wind Mines.


    BANG


    The detonations battered his back and flung him straight up into the sky where he was now face to face with the Pound Down that eviscerated him on the spot before disappearing. His body was sent crashing into the ground where the mimic slowly walked up to him and kicked his head.


    Crack


    Aejaz died a swift death as his neck snapped with a fully broken and scarred body. He would be revived outside the Training Field in tip top shape but this new experience of death, and a rough one at that, would be a stark reminder he wasn''t invincible. He couldn''t dodge everything and his talents with daggers was still in its infancy. He had work to do if he didn''t want to get pushed around like that in the future.


    ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR


    A pillar of water jetted out from the whirlpool and the silhouette of the monster hiding beneath the waves could be seen behind a curtain of water. Its size was massive, like that of a skyscraper, dwarfing everyone else and making them feel like ants crawling before a goliath. The pillar of water crashed back down into the whirlpool revealing its form, that of a ginormous, gelatinous, light blue jellyfish floating in the air.


    ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    It''s roar, no longer bound by the layer of water, was twice as loud and deafening. Every decibel of it was now audible and rumbled through the ears of everyone, shaking them to their cores. It''s tentacles, previously resting beneath the whirlpool, whipped upwards and created violent splashes wherever they surfaced. Tens of flexible tentacles, each crackling with lightning dangled above the battlefield as the jellyfish hovered in the sky. Within the umbrella shaped bell, two stormy clouds formed a pair of glaring, yellow eyes that peered down on the two ''Ares''.


    While the mimic was distracted by the new arrival, Esme tried stealthily attacking it from behind with a blast of wind magic. She didn''t know any chant-less arts so, to keep quiet and not give the game away, this was her best bet. It was slow, and not the most powerful thing ever, but hitting the mimic with it would create an opening for the seashock atrocity to use whatever devastating means it had at its disposal to take out the mimic for good. Esme knew that, now that the jellyfish had been summoned, her and Onno were relegated to supporting it. That thing was not something that could be taken out by anyone who wasn''t ranked twenty or higher, and even then it would be a slog, so Esme gave it as much of a helping hand as she could. Unfortunately, although the mimic was distracted, it was still mimicking Dominus right now. Had it been copying Ares, this would have been successful but something not a single person spectating could ever possibly understand happened next. the mimic reached backward with its open hand and rotated it as the wind blast smacked against his palm...


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    HE CAUGHT IT? Esme almost had a heart attack and everyone watching was stunned silent. Catching magic was... Impossible? It should be? not even Sadie had seen something like this before. Hell she hadn''t even seen anyone use magic to assist in catching magic, let alone doing it barehanded with no mana whatsoever. This mimic had learnt something completely non-standard from Dominus and was utilising it to its fullest.


    Clap Clap


    "I''m very impressed. You''re more talented than Sadie by a country mile." Dominus clapped his hands and doled out praise on the mimic who went above and beyond his wildest expectations. Even Dominus wasn''t sure how the mimic learnt such a tricky move because it was a move that required an immense amount of training and practice to pull off even at the basic level the mimic was showcasing it. This was something Ares hadn''t even learnt yet and that was saying something because he had Dominus in his body, and thus the conditions to learn it were actually in his favour. Based on what Dominus had seen while he was riding shotgun in Ares'' conscience, Ares would learn it soon but... To think the mimic beat him to it? It was hilariously tragic to Dominus. There was something ironic about the clone outdoing the original. Still, this mimic was fantastic. Dominus praised Ares'' keen eye in not disposing of this creature when he had the chance. off on the side, Sadie was miffed about Dominus'' last comment but, seeing whatever it was the mimic had done lit a fire underneath her ass that compelled her to learn and practice harder. She couldn''t deny that some mental accumulation monster had outdone her and learnt something she couldn''t even fathom.


    The mimic wasn''t done just yet though, as he still had the wind magic nestled neatly in his palm. What it correctly perceived as a Doppelb?nger came charging at him from the side so it dodged the fist that swung at his head and retaliated. The blast of wind in its grip was pushed onto the clone''s stomach, sending it flying backwards on contact and smacking it into the ''real'' Onno. The Doppelb?nger exploded into poison sludge and covered Onno but the mimic didn''t let up because it could tell this wasn''t a real Onno either, it was another clone. With an all new level of perception it knew where the real Onno was hiding but still opted to propel the fake into the other fake because its plans went above and beyond simply making the ''correct'' decision. It had learnt the same thing Sadie had learnt and was putting it into full effect. Dashing up to the fake, poison coated clone, the mimic used Double Jump to leap on its head as the clone turned red and heated up to a terrifying degree. With a swivel, the mimic turned on its heel on top of the clone and changed the angle of its body, allowing the mimic to be launched in the direction of its choosing by the fiery burst the clone created as it detonated. With an explosion in its wake, and fire trailing down its leg, the blast propelled the mimic straight towards the real, hidden Onno who was shitting himself in fear. The mimic twisted its body mid flight and performed a spinning roundhouse kick using its blazing leg to blast Onno''s head into smithereens before landing with a slide, the momentum of which it used to take off running towards Esme as the seashock atrocity behind it finally took action. Ten or so tentacles came darting at the mimic as it ran towards Esme who also took off running away from the dangerous monsters heading in her direction. The mimic used its new trick to slap away the magical tentacles while avoiding the ones that tried to sweep his legs from under him. The mimic ran directly into the Wind Mines Esme placed as she fled, using them to propel himself by intentionally stepping on them at specific spots to alter the course of the blow back. Doing so allowed him to push his body around at speeds it couldn''t normally reach to avoid the horde of tentacles stabbing at him. Spotting an opportunity ahead of it, the mimic aimed at a series of four Wind Mines and flicked three echoes that knocked the second, third, a fourth furthest-away Mines into the air by chipping at the ground underneath them. The mimic hopped slightly over the first Mine, allowing his heel to clip it upon landing which then sent him blasting forward. The mimic twisted its body to connect his foot with the three other mines as he passed by them, boosting his speed until he became an invisible blur that parted the wind as he sped towards to Esme. Esme came huffing and puffing to a halt when she felt the inevitability of death come creeping and brought out her fan treasure to try and defend herself from the incoming attack. The plan failed miserably as the fan crumpled before the mimic that shot straight through it while chanting an art.


    "One Flaw Five Strikes."


    The mimic''s fist connected with Esme''s chest and her body exploded in several places. The mimic''s version of One Flaw Five Strikes contained Echoes that, when combined with the ferocity of the Mach ten punch, literally turned Esme into chunks of scattered meat instantaneously. What was really incredible about this, though, was that Dominus didn''t know One Flaw. He was familiar with the art but had never opted to learn it as he had other tricks up his sleeve he preferred using instead. Ares didn''t know One Flaw either... It became apparent that the mimic had evolved to a point it was now absorbing the open-pillar arts of everyone around it, not just its chosen target. It had copied Li Li''s art while simultaneously applying its own learned knowledge to raise the quality of the art. It was discovering and combining arts, developing its combat prowess rapidly on the fly in a high intensity battle, and Dominus couldn''t be more proud. He had simply given the mimic a nudge and it was already overperforming compared to what it should have been able to do. Using opponents attacks against themselves, combining arts, analysing situations and choosing less optimal routes intentionally to throw off the opponent... This mimic was good. Dominus wanted to go and play with it but, first, he had a couple issues to deal with. The mimic was impressive but it wasn''t going to be dealing with the jellyfish anytime soon. Plus the Lighter Duo, Dirk, Bellona, and Enyo were still hanging around. All trifling matters for Dominus, mind you, so he decided to get rid of them first before experimenting with the mimic. The poor mimic had been ''experimented'' on with the real Ares back in the tomb and was now destined to be experimented on again by a fake Ares. Fate was playing a cruel joke on the mimic but it wasn''t complaining because it too had benefitted massively off these opportunities. It had been given a second chance at life and was ascending to a whole new level. Even calling it a ''mimic'' was disingenuous because there was no other mimic quite like it. Ares, who was sitting back and relaxing inside his own head, decided to name the fellow because it had effectively become its own person already and deserved it. Henceforth, the mimic would be known as ''Rox'' in honour of the definition of the word Xerox, referencing its ability to copy.

 Chapter 106: Dominus Dominates, Part 1

    Rox held his ground against the tentacles, swatting them away and trying to occasionally bite a few with its teeth to sever them. Unfortunately they were a little too slippery to get a good grip on and some would retaliate by shocking him, so Rox''s options were limited.


    Dominus decided to take a stroll towards the jellyfish and poke some holes into it when the trio of Enyo, Bellona, and Dirk intercepted him. Dominus sighed out loud and shook his head. "Come now, surely you jest? You''re really going to try and stop me? You''d have a better time fighting against each other. I''m not someone you can handle at your current level."


    Bellona clicker her tongue and spat at the ground near Dominus'' feet. "You''re every bit as arrogant as the stories portray you."


    "Little missy, you don''t know the half of it. Besides, when you start to have stories written about you and songs sung by bards over countless generations, you earn the right to be arrogant. you don''t interest me. Come back when you awaken your other half and then we''ll talk. maybe I''ll even teach you a thing or two."


    "Other half? What are you rambling about?" Bellona seemed genuinely confused which left Dominus equally as stumped.


    "You don''t know? You really don''t have a clue? Interesting. Try asking your mother, I''m sure she would know full well what I''m talking about. Not that the conversation won''t come up on its own anyway given the circumstances. You''re in for a surprise missy. You aren''t who you think you are. Not that based on what I''ve seen here and there you''ll have any complaints, mind you. And then there''s you..." Dominus turned to Enyo. "You''re pretty special. You''re the kind of cultivator I would absolutely detest fighting. You don''t need to make any major adjustments to what you''re already doing so keep at it."


    Enyo stared at Dominus as she inched closer. "I don''t appreciate you being in my husband''s body, always watching over the rest of us."


    Dominus simply shrugged and raised his arms. "What would you have me do? Not like I can leave this body anyway. You should be grateful I go to sleep and shut myself out to give you your privacy whenever you jump this poor man and treat him like a piece of flesh."


    "You damn well better!" Enyo growled angrily at Dominus who simply chuckled..


    "I don''t even have a say in the matter anyway, Ares can control at least that much. I don''t see anything he doesn''t want me to."


    "And what about me then? You gonna patronise me too?" Whilst fiddling with his weapon, Dirk threw himself into the verbal ring.


    "I hadn''t planned on even mentioning you. Why? You want some attention? Do you think you''re special because your heart is an enabler? I''ve seen that song and dance thousands of times. If you aren''t handing the heart over to Ares for his own use, I don''t personally care about you in the slightest. You have a good affinity, and your technique isn''t sloppy at least, but you''re wasteful with your mana and lack power with your arts. You should stick to what you''re actually good at, supporting others. The fact you''re out here, and not inside one of these two ladies'' bloodstreams supporting them tells me all I need to know about you. Then again, I don''t think either them would even let you in regardless, so never mind that. Still, why weren''t you with your girlfriend, Li Li, from the start? Look, let me make something clear to you. You may be a candidate to become the next God of the heamomancy pillar but you will never, never actually make it. I''ve seen far more talented people than you so accept it and become something only you can. Or you can ignore me if you so please. I really don''t care. You''re free to waste your own time."


    "Bastard. The fuck is wrong with you? You go around being a dick to everyone or what? Sheesh, can''t believe I''m gonna say this, but I actually prefer dealing with Ares. He''s more annoying than you, but I feel less annoyed after dealing with him. You''re a rude son of a bitch, you know that?"


    "So what if I''m rude? What are you going to do about it, weakling? This is the real world, not kindergarten. I can dismiss you whenever I wish because I am countless tiers higher than you on the hierarchy of cultivators. If you aren''t willing to listen to good advice because it was laden with insults then you are nothing more than a child. I spared you roughly a minute of my time and gave you precious advice. Do you know how many cultivators would wage war for even half of what you just received? Ignorant. Ungrateful. Petulant. Weak. That''s what you are. So I''ll say it again. So what if I''m rude? It''s hardly much in comparison to the atrocious list of qualities you possess."


    "Yeah, nah, I really don''t like you."


    "Good for you. Now get out of my way, I''ve got a jellyfish to deal with. That Duo is strange and I want to get a better look at them before I kill them. I have a sneaking suspicion I know what they really are. Maybe I can even give them some good hints on how to get even stronger."


    Dirk was seriously losing it with this arrogant revenant. He''d been talked down to and subsequently ignored like a piece of road-side trash. Everyone other than him got some manner of affirmation that they were talented or could be under the right circumstances and what was he told, exactly? To give up on everything and just become a lackey that dedicated himself to others? It wasn''t a bad thing per se but Dirk was talented enough that he didn''t even need to consider that in the first place. His talents would be wasted and he refused to allow it. "Haemo Scourge."


    Dominus smacked his forehead and looked appalled by the idiocy of this stubborn mule. "You really are impossibly difficult to reason with. Whatever. If you want to understand it first hand, then I can play with you for a tiny bit." Dominus put the tip of his foot out and spun, drawing a small circle around him in the floor. "If you can make me move from this spot, I''ll take back everything I said and apologise on both knees."


    "Don''t regret it, bastard! They were your words. Don''t go back on your promise after!" The mass of blood that Dirk became mumbled these statements in garbled tones and swelled up to form a balloon with teeth that bounced towards Dominus.


    "I regret many things. This will not be one of them." With a condescending smile, Dominus put one hand behind his back and kept it there. He raised his other hand as if he were waiting patiently for high five and stood completely still. His stoicism painted a picture of a man who couldn''t be moved even if mountains came crumbling down on him, even if tsunami''s came crashing onto his head, and even if heaven and hell themselves opened up and demanded he take even a single step. Dirk bounded within arm''s reach of Dominus and the snarky revenant bitch slapped him so hard he burst just like the balloon he so closely resembled would have had it been hit by a speeding truck. Dominus''s hand movement had been practically invisible to the naked eye and his hand returned to its stationary, raised position immediately after. It looked as though Dirk just popped out of nowhere randomly and splattered his blood into the whirlpool.


    Dirk was hurting from that last attack. He almost had the soul smacked out of him as that last move felt like it hit deeper than just his flesh, like it had struck his very being down to his core. His blood trembled as it raced around under the waves to form back up and try again after linking together. Every instinct he had was warning and him and demanding he retreat but Dirk once again displayed his stubbornness as he advanced upon Dominus. Dirk may have believed he was hidden amongst the clumps of blood, he may have truly thought he was undetectable but, when a boot blocked out the sun above him, he realised his confidence was misplaced. Dominus stepped on him and held Dirk in place, treating him like no more than piece of gum that had gotten stuck to the bottom of his boots. Worse still, Dirk couldn''t escape this. He tried sinking into a pool of blood and trickling away but, even in as pure a liquid form as he could muster, Dominus'' foot plastered him to the floor. What he wasn''t aware of was that his Scourge magic technically did have a ''core''. Or rather every magic had a core that could be destroyed, cancelling the magic. For the most part, it was impossible to interact with and / or even see. You couldn''t catch magic normally and, if you were going to attack it to destroy it anyway, then hitting the core was more of a side-benefit than an actual strategy. Dominus could see the core not because he was a genius, although that was certainly a true statement objectively, but because Omniscience was one of the few arts in the entire world that could allow the user to see these cores. Disappointingly, Ares had yet to really make use of this function. In all fairness, he really didn''t need it because disintegration functioned as a sort-of omnipresent anti-magic so discovering the core and breaking magic that way was pointlessly difficult in comparison. Still, that didn''t mean the information was useless. In a situation like this, against an enemy who abandoned their physical form to replace it with that of magic, it allowed a cultivator to pull off what Dominus was currently doing and interact with the magic. Dominus wasn''t stepping on Dirk''s blood, that was pointless, he was stepping on the core of the magic Dirk had attached himself too. The core could move rapidly, certainly, but when pinned down like this, there was very little that could be done to escape. Dirk''s only option was to command the rest of the blood to launch attacks but, without Dirk serving as the brain, the attacks would lack punch and direction. Scourge only really functioned well when the user directly controlled all the mass in an interconnected web. Being stepped on like this isolated the core and screwed Dirk completely. Dirk was going to lose after being bitch slapped and stepped on; all the while having failed miserably to make Dominus take even a single step. Speaking of Dominus, his raised arm had already been lowered and was now pointing at Dirk''s core. "Echo."


    Splat


    And thus, without ceremony or flair, Dirk was gone for good. His blood lost all form and was washed away by the vortex.


    "Good riddance, pest. Down the drain with you!" Dominus chuckled to himself as he dusted his hands off and walked towards the jellyfish that was still preoccupied with bullying his junior, Rox. Hm, if I just left the mimic to its own devices, it might actually win in the end... But that''s boring. I wanna play too! One step was all Dominus managed before he came face to face with Bellona who stood in his path. "Oi, really? Feeling daring are we? I''ll deal with you after. I want to show my newest student how to deal with a big ol'' floater like that there jellyfish. Also, I haven''t used it yet, but I got access to the destruction pillar... You really wanna mess with me when I can just disintegrate your magic? Without your Measurement Manipulation, what are you planning on accomplishing? Forget fighting against this body regardless of who''s piloting it, you ain''t ever gonna beat it. Right now you should be like Dirk... If he was doing things properly anyway... Assist me, that''s what your good for. If you really absolutely have to fight on the front lines, again, wait until you unlock the rest of your skillset. Your priority should be doubling annihilation magic and making this body faster and stronger. Anything else is pointless. You have an incredible magic so don''t obsess over using it the wrong way... Then again, you don''t actually have a problem with that, dedicating yourself for someone else''s sake, do you? The real issue is that it''s me here and you don''t like me much in comparison to the original host, I take it?" Dominus poked fun at Bellona who''s face reddened. Does this chick seriously still believe Ares doesn''t know about her feelings at all? Maybe deep down she does but she just refuses to admit it... Well whatever, as long as she''s at Ares'' beck and call then she''s doing things properly. Don''t like it? Tough luck. It''s not about being husband and wife or any petty shit like treating each other with respect. Do you want your loved one to die because he was being nice and not making demands of you? If Ares doesn''t use you for all your worth, he''s a moron. Bellona might single-handedly be the greatest asset this shmuck even has...


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    "Meteor!" Bellona wasted no time in exchanging any further ''pleasantries'' with Dominus and cast the first stone... And it was a big one!


    "This little parlour trick, huh?" Dominus was entirely non-plussed at the giant rock hurtling towards him. A paltry attack like this was child''s play for him. Angry and jealous lovers had thrown entire planets at him, let alone a pesky pebble like this. "Alright, fine. I''ll take a detour and deal with you two first before heading over to the jellyfish. I can''t use this art to its full potential in this untrained body but it should be enough to rain on your parade." As the meteor descended, Dominus pulled out the Black Ice Bane and dragged his fingers along the blade. He raised it above his head with both hands before bringing it back down and to his side. Dominus'' movements became soft and flowed freely as he danced in tandem with the blade in his grip. His elegant form dipped low and slid through the whirlpool at his feet before rising up in a curving pattern and twirling himself around the sword. He leant his chest back and dangled the sword behind him before twisting and ducking under it, landing on his knees as he rested the sword horizontally above him with the flat side of the blade facing him. The meteor could be seen directly behind the blade as it drew closer. "Third Movement: Torrential Rainslash." Dominus twisted the sword and now the sharp edge was directly in front of him instead of the safe side. Visually, it looked as though his sword was splitting the meteor in half. With a regal, pomp flick of his wrist, the sword was swung sideways. When the sword was moved, sure enough, it revealed the Meteor that had indeed been split into two segments. There was more to this art though, and that became evident when the slash continued upward and tore through the sky, creating a gap through which strange, silver droplets started falling. These droplets chased down after the Meteor that had already crumbled into pieces and landed on the bits of rock flying off it. Each time a droplet hit a rock, the rock would be shredded into a thousand smaller pieces and scatter in the wind liked dust. Hundreds of raindrops imbued with razor sharp sword magic fell like a cluster and tore the Meteor to shreds before it could hit the ground. Dominus stood from his kneeling position snootily turned his nose up at Bellona. "Hmph. you should see what that art can do when used properly." He wasn''t kidding either. This was an art worth boasting about and his current display really undersold how brilliant the magic truly was. During Dominus'' peak, he''d created a tear so big it covered an entire galaxy. He beat an entire galaxy full of planets into submission by making it rain sword droplets for a month straight. Every time anyone raised any defences they were annihilated instantly and everything on the planets were destroyed. Farmlands, buildings, and even people all died to the drops that couldn''t be stopped no matter what anyone did. The victims could do nothing but beg for forgiveness and to have Dominus end the devastating rain. This single art, at its highest level, was enough to ruin hundreds of millions of lives if left unchecked. It was unique, a Dominus special, though, like all the rest of his ''Movement'' arts. These were said to be the most feared set of arts throughout all of history. Each Movement utilised a different element and each element had multiple arts under it. For instance, all ''Third Movement:'' arts were water based. All ''Second Movement:'' arts were fire based, etc... Dominus could perform most of these arts with just about any weapon and each were capable of turning reality into a living nightmare. These were undoubtedly the strongest arts he knew and the ones he created later in his life before giving up on training entirely and attempting to kill himself repeatedly. After accomplishing the creation of these arts, he''d felt like there was nothing in life left for him to do. He''d lived long enough that things started losing meaning for him.


    Enyo advanced steadily towards Dominus while remaining wary. That last art was really incredible, she had to admit it, but she was still very capable of blocking it. If she took up the vanguard and had her sister support her and launch magic from behind, they could put up a respectable fight... Maybe? This was still Dominus they were squaring up against.


    "Fearless aren''t you? Well don''t worry too much. you''re important to my host, so I''ll kill you quickly and painlessly. Feel free to go wild."


    "Shrine Of The Goddess." It had been a while since Enyo deployed this art but it was every bit as daunting as last time. The steps leading up to her throne and the holy aura radiating from the suppression field inspired reverence. There was no barrier surrounding it this time, though, because Enyo was using it offensively. The barrier of this art could be summoned anywhere within its radius at any time and in any shape so summoning this art on top of someone was a viable strategy. It also made sense against an opponent like Dominus because defending was probably pointless. Dominus had mastered countless weapons over however many millennia, the chances of him knowing a barrier busting art were astronomical so relying heavily on them was a mistake. Plus he had disintegration magic at his disposal thanks to that rat Ares. Ares had betrayed Enyo big time here!... She technically attacked him first and committed the first betrayal but that was beside the point! Enyo''s holy buffs combined with a speed boost from Bellona allowed her to move almost as quickly as Ares could at top speed. For a tank like Enyo to be moving this quick was dangerous for anyone she deemed a target as she could just flat out run them over. That was her goal, too, as she activated a rune called Impale. The effect was simple, multiple spikes formed on front of her shield, allowing her to gore anyone that tried to stand up to her. Like this, she kinda resembled a very fast hedgehog.


    Dominus pulled out a completely normal spear from the Primordial Blade inside Ares'' body and gave the destruction pillar a go. "Black Blossom." Of all of the arts Ares had created, this was the one Dominus had been the most interested in as it could be used on just about any weapon imaginable. Every weapon could be wielded either slowly or quickly so it was a universal art that enhanced the kind of shenanigans he liked to pull with no downside whatsoever. Ares had only ever used it in conjunction with a sword but that was boring. In the case of the blackened spear he was wielding, its ability to keep opponents at bay was, quite frankly, disgusting. A strategy like this was absolutely repulsive and would make most cultivators complain non-stop if they had to deal with it. Black Blossom was good at clearing space to begin with but adding it onto a spear and more than doubling its effective range? Doing this was the kind of thing that would earn you an express ticket to hell for being a colossal nuisance. Different weapons meant different speeds, lengths, and angles of attack but the power would always remain constant because it was decided by the art. Poking people from range with this art was something Ares really should have tried by now. In fact, Ares hadn''t been using many other weapons as of late and Dominus was not pleased! Then again, he shouldn''t be one to talk. He personally really loved the spear and almost always defaulted to it whenever a fight came up. If Ares wanted to stick with the sword, so be it. It didn''t seem like he had any specific attachment to it though, so he should experiment and figure out what he prefers. There were very few choices Ares could make that Dominus wouldn''t be able to pass on his experiences with. There were only a handful of weapons that Dominus categorically hated and refused to use, so the chances of Ares picking one to favour above the rest were low. They were all relatively niche weapons too... Dominus tried to reassure himself it wouldn''t happen but he could envision Ares'' smug face as he walked up to one and picked it without hesitation... That was unfortunately just the kind of person Ares was.


    Dominus took up a stance and prepared himself to thrust at the oncoming rhinoceros stampeding in his direction. Even Dominus had to give praise to Enyo because she not only showed zero hesitation but also because she was genuinely a daunting opponent. Dominus hadn''t lied before when he said this was the kind of person he hated fighting the most. People who were confident in their defence were troublesome for weapon masters as they relied on technique more often than power. Not having the ability to outright breakthrough these walls was tiring. Still, whether that was true or not now that he had Black Blossom activated was about to be seen. Funnily enough, if Ares had been in this position, he would have been calmer than Dominus because his faith and trust in his pillar was absolute in comparison to Dominus who was just passing through. Enyo took another three steps, putting her firmly in reach of the spear, and Dominus reacted flawlessly. His spear attack was thrown out a split second before Enyo entered his zone meaning, the instant her foot touched the floor, Dominus'' spear was already piercing through her shield and inches away from her face. With the Black Blossom about to blow, this was where Dominus predicted Enyo would retreat in the face of danger with the aid of her sister but, to his surprise, she kept charging with no thought for her own safety.


    ROAR


    The disintegration tear, smaller than usual due to the weapon used in its creation, burst out wide and covered the left side of Enyo''s face. She grunted in pain as her helmet and the flesh of her cheek were ripped off but kept pushing forward, moving past Dominus'' comfort zone. She''d infiltrated his personal space and gotten past the spear even though she had to sacrifice her shield, which had been torn through like paper, and part of her head to do it. Her strategy was suicidal as there was no way she would be able to deal any substantial damage to Dominus even despite the risks she''d taken. Anything she could do to him in this small window would inevitably heal on its own thanks to his healing prowess, so Dominus couldn''t understand why she opted to do this in the first place.


    Dominus jumped backward but was stopped by the Shrine''s barrier that materialised behind him and sealed his exit. Enyo''s rash actions became clear to Dominus when she pushed out her palm and launched an art he''d seen once before while hiding away inside Ares. He''d really completely forgotten about this thing.


    "Stigma!"


    Dominus was pushed through the barrier and he landed safely with a new mark on his stomach. This is why I hate her type... Always the sacrificial sort that will give up everything just to scratch an opponent. The worst kind of opponent is one that isn''t afraid to pass on the baton to someone else. Sealing the destruction pillar, the technical pillar, the darkness pillar, and the weapons pillar is actually incredibly annoying... I could just put up with the burns... Although, that being said, I feel like the destruction pillar could remove this mark if I wanted to. I won''t though. Her efforts were commendable so I''ll just play along for now and refrain from using any magic going forward to show her how little it matters. Dominus stretched as he looked at the two sisters that were ready to keep fighting. Still, I''ve been playing nice for a little too long now. I''ll show these people the extent of what I can really do. I hope the mimic pays attention, maybe it can figure out what I''m about to pull off if it really concentrates. It''s an extension of the thing he used to catch the magic after all. Or rather, its the highest level application of that trick. If you can master this... You probably wouldn''t even need arts in the first place. Hell, I once saw a master of this trick who had no cultivation base kill someone in sensory enhancement. I wonder where that guy even is right now? Still hiding away in back-alleys lamenting his losses? I know his ghost is hanging around in the top floor of the pressure pagoda... Ha, it''ll be fun watching Ares get his ass beat by the guy, that''s for sure.

 Chapter 107: Dominus Dominates, Part 2

    Dominus put the spear away and closed his eyes. A silver lining covered his entire body, one that was barely visible to the eye but could be felt by anyone close enough. It was heavy. Heavy to wield, heavy to be around, heavy to feel. The fact that pressure could be so thick it became visible was an astonishing feat that very few people were even aware was possible. Dominus'' bloodline ability was perfect immunity to pressure and an ability to control it to a degree that was frightening so it was natural he could manipulate it like this... And yet, there existed a far more frightening existence than even him that had to be mentioned when discussing pressure experts. A man who was born with an affiliation for every single pillar but wound up betrayed by his own brother who took everything from him. In a fit of rage, after losing his cultivation and all his numerous affiliations, the betrayed brother wove the pressure emanating from him into a cloth that draped over him as he tore his brother in half after a gruelling war. He became the template for the top floor of the pressure pagoda that circulated throughout the world but no one could ever beat his simulated ghost. Even Dominus couldn''t do it and he''d tried numerous times. Dominus was only really just copying what he''d seen on repeated attempts against the top floor of the pagoda despite the fact that he was born with all the necessary tools to become a master himself. He really just couldn''t do it. He even sought out the man in question but he was down and out, slumming in rat infested alleyways and eating leftovers from the trash. Naturally, in this state, the man refused to give out tutelage and just wanted to be left well enough alone. He''d gotten his revenge, and he was happy about it, but life just hadn''t worked out for him after. Dominus had to begrudgingly give up and keep practicing on his own. Strides were made but perfection was not achieved. Still, although he could never be first in terms of mastery, he was definitely top 10 at least. Like with his arts, he wouldn''t be able to show it off properly in this body, but the level he could muster was still enough for a demonstration against these kids. More than anything, he was hoping Sadie and the mimic would pay attention to this as they would have to learn this themselves one day. Either on their own or with Dominus cracking the whip behind them every step of the way. If you wanted to exist in the upper echelons of cultivators, a grasp of this pressure trick, no matter how basic, was necessary.


    The ground around Dominus cracked and sunk slightly and yet the water surrounding him didn''t pour into the hole. The water from the whirlpool actively avoided Dominus and curled around him like his aura was repelling it. A gust of wind passed through where Dominus was standing as he vanished on the spot.


    BANG


    Enyo went tumbling backward and rolling through the whirlpool until she smacked into the opposite wall and crashed back down onto the floor. Bellona looked back to where her sister had been standing originally and Dominus had taken her place with one arm behind his back and his pinkie finger on his other hand extended. Enyo staggered to her feet and there was a hole that had been punched through her armour and stomach roughly the same size as Dominus'' finger. "What''s wrong? I just poked you a little." After his demeaning jab, both verbally and physically, Dominus made a ''come hither'' gesture with his pinkie. Bellona kissed her teeth and boosted her physical traits with magic to try and one up Dominus and punch him in the face for being insufferable. Dominus'' pinkie was repositioned and halted Bellona''s fist in its tracks. She tried pushing back but she might as well have been trying to topple a mountain for all the difference it made. His finger went beyond immovable and was exerting so much force passively she was actually being pushed back. Dominus lightly pushed his pinkie forward and the next thing Bellona saw was her own fist come hurtling into her face, temporarily knocking her own lights out. She landed on her rear and her head spun from the dizziness. "You can consider that payback for all the times you punched Ares. Hurts, doesn''t it? Remember that the next time you go around slugging innocent people." Dominus disappeared again and reappeared in front of Enyo. She raised her hands to guard herself but Dominus didn''t move.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Eventually, the pressure got to Enyo and she swung her fist at nothing. Dominus had vanished again. It was just a simple blink, but by the time it ended and her eyes reopened, Enyo was in mid-air after having been blasted straight up by yet another pinkie jab. Dominus had gone low under her punch and poked another hole in her stomach with enough force to raise her into the air. At the apex of her ascent, Dominus appeared standing on top of her back and lifted his foot. He slowly brought the tip of it back down and poked another hole in Enyo who was sent plummeting down back to earth. She crashed into the floor but managed to push herself up again. When she rose, she came face to face with Dominus once more. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results, then Enyo had probably gone insane as she raised her guard once more. She willed herself not to give in this time and force Dominus to attack her. If she could slow him down with her Shrine''s barrier and counter, then he would be the one getting punished. She''d let him set the tempo before by falling for his ruse and going after him. To her dismay, Dominus next move was impossible to comprehend. He moved his pinkie forward... Slowly. Slow as a snail. ''Like he had arthritis and was trying tp push a doorbell'' slowly. he was blatantly mocking her, but she ignored it and summoned the Shrine barrier. Dominus'' pinkie shattered it effortlessly and kept advancing towards its prey. Enyo knew better than to let it hit her, so she retreated a few steps back... But the distance between her and the pinkie hadn''t decreased. Dominus was following her and calculating the exact distance between the pinkie and her at all times. In other words, her death was coming and she couldn''t stop it. It was such a pathetic, slow death that frustrated her to no end but what could she really do? She couldn''t block it, she couldn''t escape it, and if she attacked he would probably just kill her on the spot. There was such a massive difference in strength that he could force her to accept an end as embarrassing as this. She launched an Aletheia but it simply fizzled on contact with his finger so Enyo had nothing left up her sleeve. She wanted to punch the bastard at least once but, when she tried moving towards him, Dominus retreated at the perfect speed to prevent her from gaining any distance towards him. Regardless of what action she took, the only thing that didn''t change was the ever shrinking distance between her and the finger that was now about three inches away from her. The pressure mounted as it drew closer and she felt the crushing sting of defeat closing in. Enyo gave up on trying to stop it in conventional ways as that obviously wasn''t going to get her anywhere, and instead figured she might as well go for broke. If there was one thing she''d learnt from the two occasions in which Dominus had popped up, it was that he liked teaching people in round-a-bout ways. In that case, she would try to learn her own lesson here. Truth be told, she was jealous of the ability the mimic learned. It was a defensive technique at the end of the day so she wanted to be able to do it to. Learning it wouldn''t even be redundant as there would probably be types of magic that could bypass her barriers which was where this would come into play. There was no better time to learn the technique than now as she was being exposed to a significant quantity of tangible pressure constantly. She could feel her understanding of the concept deepen substantially the closer the finger got so she made sure to make use of Dominus the same way everyone else was doing. Not making use of the resources available to you was foolish, that was one of the rare ideals Enyo and Ares both shared. they still frequently debated about pretty much everything else though...


    Naturally, being made use of was precisely what Dominus was after from the start. Sure, having an affinity for the holy pillar meant Enyo had a resistance to mental attacks, but that didn''t mean she had an immunity to it. Using pressure to catch or redirect mental attacks, although extremely difficult, was in fact possible. It was such a minor thing, and whether learning how to manipulate pressure just for that was worth it or not was debatable. But cultivator''s usually had a reservoir full of niche little tricks like this hidden up their sleeve. You never knew when an ability like this would come in handy but, when it did, you would always be grateful for having learnt it. Plus this was step one of learning to manipulate pressure like Dominus was currently doing, so the sooner someone started practicing the basics the better. Enyo placed her hand in front of the pinkie and twisted it to try and throw his aim off but the only thing that happened was Enyo''s palm having a hole poked into it. Attempt number one had been a complete failure. Dominus could tell she''d learnt something from the mistake and kept up the pressure. She went up for round two but her failure was even worse this time as Dominus felt even less resistance than before. Did she regress and get worse before getting better? Dominus certainly hoped that was the case otherwise he would be seriously disappointed. Enyo took a deep breath and went for a third go around. Exactly the same thing happened and her hand now had three holes neatly poked into it in a triangular shape. Dominus was one more attempt away from just smacking her head into paste and moving on because this was starting to get annoying. he didn''t have eternity to sit around and baby someone who couldn''t even do this much with the level of support he was providing. He even briefly thought he was wrong about his assessment of Enyo... At least that was up until he saw what she did next. She''d clearly understood a smidgen of something from her last attempt, he could see the spark in her eye, but he couldn''t have possibly predicted the stunt she was about to pull on him. Enyo raised her own pinkie and started moving it towards Dominus who''s brain almost exploded with anger when he couldn''t sense any pressure whatsoever. He thought she wasting his time... He continued believing that up until his finger touched her nail and he found himself buried in the wall of the Training Field the very next second. He calmly stepped out of the wall and looked down at his missing finger as he analysed the situation. Back when his finger touched Enyo''s nail, he felt an overwhelming amount of pressure explode onto him out of nowhere... But how did she do it? She wasn''t anywhere near talented enough with pressure to conjure an amount that preposterous in a split second. Unbelievably, it seemed Enyo had created her very own trick with pressure that even Dominus didn''t quite get. If he''d been paying attention, and not underestimating her based on the first three attempts, he could have seen it in detail with Omniscience... This was his comeuppance for being lazy. He was impressed though. Enyo had once again proven she was a prodigy worthy of her current rank and assessment so he retracted his earlier rage and apologised in his head.


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    Dominus decided to attack Enyo again and see if he could make her repeat her last attack. Curiosity compelled him so he disappeared and showed up behind Enyo as he went to poke her again with his other pinkie. Even if he lost both when all was said and done, it was a sacrifice worth taking in order to understand what had happened previously. Enyo didn''t turn around but, instead, summoned the Shrine''s barrier behind her and Dominus scoffed. He assumed she fluked on the first attempt and needed more time to learn whatever it was she was doing. It was understandable. Disappointing, but understandable. He was peeved at having gotten his hopes up only to have them squashed but Enyo''s performance had been acceptable so he let it go. She invented something new and that was no small feat. Dominus was only annoyed because he wasn''t getting a chance to see it first hand. His finger pierced the barrier and he expected to poke a hole through Enyo''s head next, but for some strange reason his entire arm was missing... Eh? Oi... You can do that? Since when? Why have none of the other holy pillar cultivators done that before?! Are they all stupid or is this woman actually seriously special?! That''s actually absurd... Fuck me, I''ve created a real monster... Man I''ve gone and done it now... My wife warned me not to meddle with talented people too much... I should have listened. Is this ok? I mean... I can''t exactly undo it... Ah hell. For the first time in his life, Dominus regretted teaching someone. He''d maybe taken one step too many and he''d indirectly created a real problem in Enyo. As for what happened... Enyo''s control over pressure was, quite frankly, garbage. It was some of the worst control Dominus had ever seen, meaning she could never keep it stable. It would just wildly spring about before dissipating. He knew that from her first three attempts at blocking his pinkie and that was what she needed to learn above all else, ''control''. Or, well, that was Dominus had assumed she would try and learn... Her actual approach was far stupider and somehow far more ingenious. The simple explanation was that she ''controlled'' the pressure by trapping it in a barrier... The pressure couldn''t escape and just kept mounting as Enyo threw more and more inside the barrier. When Dominus'' finger touched the barrier Enyo had hidden on her nail, he''d popped the barrier which then unleashed all the rampaging pressure in a counterblow. The same was true of the Shrine barrier she summoned but it was a much larger barrier that could contain more pressure. When his finger pierced it, his arm was drowned in the pressure that escaped out of it and was crushed into paste. Basically, Enyo had learned how to turn her barriers into pressure traps that detonated when they were broken. Barriers were supposed to be a defensive art... And yet here Enyo was, summoning barrier after barrier and flinging them at Dominus who was sweating nervously. Defensive cultivators were truly problematic for weapons experts and he''d just unintentionally created his own worst nightmare... How was anyone supposed to deal with this without magic? Any close range attacks would be met with instant retaliation before they could even reach Enyo. Of course Dominus was still strong enough to deal with this now, but if one day Enyo got stronger... What a blunder Dominus had made. But was it really his fault? No other defender aspect cultivator had ever done this before so Dominus had just assumed it couldn''t be done. Were Enyo''s barriers really that much more resilient than everyone else''s?! What a freaky woman... Luckily she hadn''t yet mastered this and there were areas to improve upon otherwise this would be seriously annoying. If Enyo ever trapped herself in a cube of barriers like this how was anyone supposed to assail her? And it''s not like her barriers weren''t incredible to begin with. Enyo might seriously be able to stick exclusively to barriers and make it work. It was already proven that she could shape them thanks to White-Gold Pitying. If she could imitate her sister and summon a barrier meteor for instance... Dominus felt a chill creep up his spine. He wasn''t sure he would be able to deal with that in his current state. His Movement art wouldn''t break the barrier and the meteor would crush him. Plus if he tried to attack it head on the pressure would just delete him from existence. Enyo''s new ability was actually really frightening. No defensive oriented cultivator should have this much offensive potential, it was a serious breach of the norm.


    Still, Dominus wasn''t going to take these two batterings lying down. A single arm was still enough for him to clear everyone out. He''d had enough fun with these two sisters. He hadn''t taught Bellona anything yet but he could always do that after when she was fully developed. She was still better off sticking to a supportive role for now, so Dominus used his ludicrous, pressure-boosted speed to kill her before she could blink. The kill was so fast even Enyo hadn''t seen it happen and summoning a barrier to defend her sister had been literally impossible for her. Enyo knew she was next but she was ok with it. She''d gotten a lot out of this fight, more than she could have ever imagined she would, so she braced herself for her inevitable end.


    "Segregation!"


    Dominus'' eye twitched when he saw the massive barrier spawn in front of him. He could only hazard a guess as to how much pressure was bubbling away inside that thing. If he carelessly popped it, it would wipe out this entire section of the Field for sure. Dominus opted not to do that and instead just walked through the barrier...


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Everyone was flabbergasted, but none more than Enyo who couldn''t wrap her head around what she''d just seen. Her jaw dropped and Ares, who was enjoying the show inside his head, chuckled at the sight. Dominus had a bevy of tricks he''d created and he was still only scratching the surface of stuff he could do, so he gave everyone a little taste of the future. He wouldn''t go into detail or explain it properly but what he''d just done was essentially turn his body into a mental attack. It was a clever way of getting around some defensive arts and had a few other uses too. he could teach that some other time though, as now he wanted to play with the jellyfish and get a closer look at the Duo because he had a sneaking suspicion about them. He ran up to Enyo who summoned a dome-shaped barrier around her.


    BANG


    Enyo''s head exploded into pieces as Dominus'' foot shot through it. He didn''t go through the barrier like before. What he''d done was drill into the ground to bypass the barrier before resurfacing on the other side and launching his attack. He''d done it so fast Enyo didn''t have time to react, but that was on purpose. Dominus was done with Enyo for now so she could take a seat on the side-lines. Lest these people forget, Dominus was in charge here. If he wanted anyone dead, they would die. They were foolish if they thought taking an arm meant anything when he''d practically gifted it to them. If anything, the smartest creature here was the seashock atrocity because the second Dominus killed everyone blocking his path, and thus turned his attention to the beast, it started trembling like a baby. The cloudy eyes shook and the jellyfish retreated somewhat, abandoning the mimic and moving closer to its summoners in a bid to have them help it defend itself. Magic, and some highly sensitive creatures, were very adept at sensing danger, and Dominus was the grim reaper as far the jellyfish could tell. It knew it was outmatched and outclassed so it instinctively drew back. It would still fight, it had too, but it wouldn''t be happy about it. like the Biome Eagle, this magic had a personality. It was possible, and sometimes developing a personality could be beneficial. Giving an art sentience could manifest all sorts of benefits, but it didn''t happen altogether too often. The jellyfish was understandable but it really was odd how quickly it happened with the considerably weaker Eagle. Maybe seeing a Stoat the very first time it was summoned actually really mattered? Magic was incredibly strange sometimes...


    Dominus stepped deeper into the whirlpool and took a good long look at the Lighter Duo. He could see them well enough for Omniscience to do its job now that he wasn''t being pestered by the trio and he immediately caught sight of what he was looking for. That weirdo is still experimenting like this? I''ve been dead a while but that creep is still roaming around even now... How''s a guy like that not been hunted down yet? Is everyone in the upper domains asleep or something? Dude''s a raving lunatic and they''re just letting him run amok? Should have killed him myself back before I committed suicide. Still, I wonder why he came to Sheryashka... Maybe he was actually being chased by someone and had to really lay low for a while. Then again, there''s no way in hell that quack ''laid low''. Probably has something to do with that Riddlemyd in Xasca I bet. I don''t recall anything like that back when I was living here. These two should have potential off the charts in that case. I''m not gonna teach these two, though, because that''s not the avenue they should take... They might be the most interesting people here, actually... "HEY! DUMB AND DUMBER!" With a shout, he caught the attention of the Duo that were muttering to themselves about how to proceed with dealing with the lunatic heading toward them. They paused briefly, looked at one another, and yelled back in sync.


    ""WHAT?""


    "I HAVE TWO WORDS AND ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR YOU. FOLLOW ARES." Dominus didn''t elaborate further and instead turned to face the jellyfish. The atrocity had been relatively un-showy thus far and not really launched any major attacks. Probably because it was hesitant to catch any allies with a stray hit. It also didn''t really view the mimic as a threat worth going all out for when Dominus was right around the corner, meaning it had saved basically all its energy for this fight. It still had no hope for the upcoming bout but at least it could go all out and display its power for the sake of its non-descript masters. Seashock atrocity was still a combination art utilising the reading rites pillar at the end of the day. Dominus was the only person with the right to act so cocky before it, but it wanted to remind everyone else why it should be feared. This jellyfish wasn''t going down without a fight!

 Chapter 108: Dominus Dominates, Part 3

    The water at Dominus'' feet bubbled up and violently gushed vertically. Dominus had already moved but the spray from the falling water still landed on him, wetting his clothes. A series of spots in the whirlpool all started bubbling simultaneously and Dominus now understood the jellyfish''s first means of attack. Random geysers. The attack was slow, and took a second to prime before launching, but the power behind the spout was no joke. Even a single one would be enough too put him out of commission if he didn''t guard against it and that was hard to accomplish when considering the attack spawns from underneath the victim. Even just being able to passively cover a wide range with these random bursts was already pretty decent. All the casters would have to do is lob a few more arts at anyone caught in the whirlpool as distractions and the combatant would probably get hit by one of these water bursts eventually. Throw in the tentacles and whatever else the jellyfish could do and this thing was a real dangerous nuisance. Speaking of tentacles, the jellyfish no longer held back and fired off all fifty odd tentacles simultaneously at Dominus. Their approach was spread out and timed carefully to avoid clumping up so Dominus had a bit of breathing room to deal with them individually.


    Dominus leapt over the first and landed back down on it, severing it cleanly. The tentacle wriggled around before sinking into the water. Dominus looked back over at the jellyfish and caught sight of the tentacle regenerating before he was swamped by the others heading towards him. Can''t take it slow then, have to kill the big guy all at once. This wasn''t really a problem or anything but he did want to kill it with an art. He still had the Stigma but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up on. The main reason was because he had a hunch this specific art might come in handy for Ares in the future so using it now would simplify him learning it later. Muscle memory was the name of the game. Dominus also didn''t want to spend forever slowly advancing through the tentacle storm so he decided to use two arts total to tackle the jellyfish. One to approach, and one to kill. Ares would be a little sore after this but, then again, the reason Dominus was even resorting to this in the first place was because Ares'' body was weak. If he weren''t an adept, he would have the physical strength Dominus needed to be a bit more aggressive. Not that he couldn''t do it regardless, he just didn''t want to waste time and get kicked out of the driver''s seat before he''d done everything he wanted to do. His time was limited here and he still had to deal with the mimic after!... Although objectively speaking he probably wasn''t going to get there in time. Oh well, maybe a punch or two before he went back to the cold cell in Ares'' brain would be good enough. Dominus kicked up the Black Ice Acrimony that Aejaz dropped earlier and twirled it in his hand. With the dagger held firmly in a reverse grip, Dominus moved the dagger behind his back and started walking forward.


    "Enticement." Dominus was immediately lit on fire but he made no noise. He didn''t scream nor did he flinch. Like a true champion, he soldiered on trough the pain as white flames danced on his skin. It''s not like it didn''t hurt or anything, it really did, it''s just that it wasn''t his body he was burning in the first place so he didn''t care! When Ares took control again, he would be the one with burn marks all over the place. Well, at least until he exited the Training Field anyhow. In some ways, Dominus was doing a reverse Enyo. Enyo left behind a mark to aid her teammates while Dominus was leaving behind pain and wounds!


    With the one arm he had left not defending himself, Dominus left his flaming body wide open for the tentacles to come and kill him. Unfortunately for the jellyfish, this was just a ruse. Enticement was an art that not many people would be familiar with in the lower domains because it was something typically only ever used by courtesans and escorts in the higher domains. Specifically, it started off as a unique art that Dominus invented during his trips around the universe. He entered a pleasure district one day and decided to create something to help the women there fend off pesky men in a way that worked for them. It had to be something elegant, lady like, unassuming, and efficient. Something that allowed them to become dangerous for an instant and deal with the problem before returning to normal to avoid tarnishing their image. It was by no means an easy task but Dominus wasn''t travelling for the sake of living an easy life, he wanted to improve. In the end, this art was what he''d come up with. The premise was simple, you carry the dagger behind your back and, when attacked, mana would flow through the cultivator''s body and drastically increase their dexterity for a split second. In this split second, the cultivator would unveil the knife, stab the attacker in the brain, and withdraw the knife before anyone could see it. It allowed the ladies to remain graceful and safe as they walked around. Because the art started off behind the back it was always hidden so dirty-minded men had to be wary whenever they saw a courtesan. You never knew if the woman you tried to violate was going to murder you or not which single-handedly dissuaded so many creeps the rate of violence in the district decreased by two-thirds in a single week; all the while not affecting business. By the end of the month every lady in the district walked with one hand behind their backs at all times even if they didn''t know the art, and thus rates of violence plummeted and became a non-issue. Yes the ladies mostly became cold-blooded killers but that was impossible to see on the surface as their dignity was unyielding. The daggers hidden in their robes were rarely if ever seen due to how quickly the attacks came out, so their image was never besmirched by violence even if they killed a man in the middle of the day in a crowded street. So yes, technically Dominus was using an art designed for ladies of the night, but he was the one who created it! He was allowed to! It was also just a really good art. He''d really overachieved with this one to the point even some assassins and high-profile figures disregarded their image and learned the art themselves. There was even an emperor who invested time into getting good with the art to, ironically, deal with those very same assassins that harassed him on his walks. The art only activated when attacked, though, so it led to more than just a few awkward stand-offs. If the emperor was goaded into attacking the assassins, he would die. If the assassins were unnerved at the opportunity to kill their target and assaulted him, they would die. It even got to the point where they would start having conversations with one another to pass the time... One of the assassins even defected upon discovering he shared a liking for a specific vintage wine with the emperor which the two of them drunk together regularly from then on. It was every bit as ridiculous as it sounded, and Dominus got many laughs out of watching the hilarity from the side-lines, but the art was just really too good to stop using.


    A bunch of tentacles, roughly seven or eight, rushed Dominus down. It was hard to tell precisely how many there were as they dived into the water occasionally to avoid detection. Unphased by the rush of electrically charged limbs heading his way, Dominus started strolling towards the main body. The tentacles all resurfaced at the same time and came barrelling towards him. The closest made it inches away from Dominus before it flopped to the side and sunk under the water with a massive hole in it. The second, third, and fourth all met the same fate, inexplicably losing all life the second they got within a certain range of Dominus. Two more tentacles split up with one going left and the other veering around to the right. Dominus didn''t turn his head and just kept walking forward with his one remaining arm behind his back. As the two tentacles launched their attacks in sync, one which was a thrust and the other which came in the form of a sweep, they were thoroughly denied and riddled with holes. The severed tentacles crashed into each other and sunk below the whirlpool like the other tentacles before them. Even now, near enough no one had seen Dominus move his arm yet. The pressure combined with the art simply meant his movements were undetectable for most people due to the absurd speed. Even a few of the elders in aspect assimilation couldn''t see it so what chance did anyone else have? He was moving though. Every time a tentacle approached, his arm flung out from behind him, his hand darted to the tentacle, and the Acrimony took a chunk out of it before returning back to its resting place. There were only two more tentacles left but they, along with the rest, hesitated at the orders of the main body. They retreated backwards and hovered around Dominus as he kept pace towards the jellyfish. After regrowing all of its limbs, the jellyfish brought all the arms it had available to form a dome surrounding Dominus. He looked up, smirked, and looked back down. None of this would stop him. With every step he took, a tentacle shot out from a different position in the dome and assailed him. Failure after failure littered the floor, turning the surroundings into a watery grave for the tentacles that were aimlessly throwing themselves at death incarnate. No matter how many were thrown out at once, no matter which blind angle they struck from, no matter how fast they were, none of them could touch his flesh. Even when a horde of twenty tentacles washed over Dominus like a tide he walked right by after stabbing each and every single one of them in the exact same spot. Now he was just showing off. To still have so much room to spare he could precisely target the same spot on each tentacle meant this plan wasn''t going to work. This fact was drilled into the jellyfish when each tentacle started getting patterns carved into them before they were destroyed. While Dominus was having fun and drawing on its body, the jellyfish was watching its body get torn into pieces. If there was anyone with peculiar tastes in the crowd they could make enough jellyfish salads to last a lifetime if they snuck into the Training Field right about now...


    The whirlpool beneath Dominus started bubbling up and he''d almost forgotten about this. He''d been quite lucky thus far and not had any of these come up underneath him. Even now there were countless spurts all around the Field going off and Dominus had to subtract some points off the art for being clumsy. It was the kind of thing that could be fixed in due time but right now it was still sloppy. At the very least, the seashock atrocity should have realised how pointless the tentacles were by now. Instead of putting effort into them, it should have given up and done something else. Even increasing the frequency of the geysers would be better than nothing. The jellyfish was still in sentience infancy though so it needed prodding from its masters. Thankfully the Duo had just started giving it orders to withdraw the tentacles so they were being useful at least.


    CRASH


    Looking back at the spot he had just been standing at, Dominus scratched his chin. Hm. Thunder strikes? The jellyfish had started launching electrical attacks and this was the first. It was aiming to drop thunder on his head but that was only part of it. Wherever the thunder landed became an inaccessible area of shocked water that never stopped crackling. To make matters worse, if a water spout burst up in a shocked area, the shock would spread. In other words, it was a timer and, eventually, the entire Training Field would be covered in charged water making it impossible to stand.


    "Hydroelectric."


    The Lighter Duo had conserved their mana up until now to be able to cast a second combination art. This one Dominus remembered so he knew what to expect. The rain clouds manifested above his head and the drizzle kicked in, pouring yellowish raindrops on his unguarded head. All in all, this was a strong strategy. The rain slowed him down by numbing his body and shocking him. The tentacles obstructed him even though they couldn''t stop him. The thunder meant he couldn''t stand still and think, occupying his thoughts, and the geysers made sure he was paying attention to his surroundings at all times. Paying attention to everything at once was annoying. It was doubly true when taking into account the areas that had been shocked and locked off to him. To top it all off... He was still burning from the damn Stigma! How long did this cursed thing last?!¡­ For a normal person, this would be sensory overload and their poor brain would implode. Dominus took things steady, though, as he wasn''t in any rush. He wasn''t in danger, he was the danger. No amount of obstacles piled on top of each other were going to stop him. He observed the situation and made the first move; the really obvious one that would prevent any unexpected problems in the future.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Grim Cessation."


    The Lighter Duo had really overdone it on the mana front. They''d near enough emptied themselves out completely. It was hardly surprising considering the quality of the combination arts they deployed but to think they were this careless. They clearly hadn''t figured out the activation requirement for this art the first time around, and that was on them. Dominus had no intention of letting them harass him with what little mana they still possessed so he just took them out of the fight the gruelling way; by dragging them into an abyss in the floor and crushing every fibre of their being. The Duo where dragged kicking, but not screaming as they were surprisingly calm in this situation, into the nothingness portal at their feet by the red hands on their neck. No matter how they struggled the hand couldn''t be removed or interacted with and their fate was sealed. Not even anti-magic or disintegration magic could stop this art, it was really just an on-demand death sentence. Lightning Guy was the first to bite the dust as his body parts exploded out of from the floor in a fountain of blood. Water Guy kissed his teeth as he followed suit and disappeared under the floor, becoming a pile of viscera shortly after. They would certainly comprehend the art properly now that they''d bitten the dust to it first hand. If the magic flooding their empty mana reserves didn''t spell it out for them, nothing would.


    This left ''two'' opponents. The jellyfish and the mimic. And yet... The match hadn''t ended. There was a reason for this, a reason Dominus fully understood but made no effort to deal with. He would do his part and if Ares lost on his own afterwards, that would be his own problem. Not that Ares stood any chance against what was yet to come... To be honest, even Dominus really didn''t want to be in Ares'' shoes. He did not envy what was going to happen to his host at all...


    That was that and this was this, though, so Dominus focused back on the jellyfish which had floated as far away from Dominus as it could. The thunder strikes weren''t hitting Dominus, the tentacles were flailing around miserably, the water spouts were useless... The situation was hopeless for the jellyfish. Without backup from its masters, there was no way it could take on a freak of nature like Dominus! This was just bullying! Its masters should have de-summoned it before they died... The atrocity decided to just go wild and fire everything it had because there was no point trying to be calm about the situation anyway. Maybe if it went on a blind rampage it might actually get lucky or something? With that thought rolling around in its bell shaped head, it mindlessly threw out as many attacks as it could muster; trading accuracy for raw quantity and power.


    For Dominus, this was a fifty fifty. On the one hand, the jellyfish made the correct decision. The randomness of the countless attacks, when considering their newfound power, were actually much harder to deal with than before. The attacks weren''t as consistent but they were more difficult to anticipate and react to because of it. On the other hand, they still wouldn''t work. All the same issues the jellyfish had before applied here too. Also, the jellyfish was only doing this because it was scared, not because it realised this was correct. What the seashock atrocity should have really done in this situation was look for ways to evolve. Maybe try to learn new magic, maybe try and develop its ability to control its tentacles, or hell maybe even try and defy expectations and do something crazy like control pressure. Yeah, realistically this wouldn''t happen but at least then it could have died proud knowing it tried until the very end. What it was doing now was just pointless. The random thrashing about signalled to Dominus that it was time to end the fight so he put the dagger away and brought out his trusty spear. It was time for art number two!... Although the flames from the previous Stigma burn were still flickering away somewhat... This stuff really lasted a long while, it was actually a really strong art Enyo had come up with. It synergised well with her barriers too. Couldn''t get past them without powerful arts, at which point you''d burn. If you tried to brute force your way through, they contained pressure now. It was hard to navigate, that was for sure.


    With a spin, the spear was brought to his side as he eyed up the treacherous path ahead filled with tentacles and thunder. Thanks to Omniscience, however, it was basically a walk in the park. Dominus had really missed the Celestial Prisms. Of the Celestial Cluster, these were always his personal favourite treasure because of how invaluable they were against magic. Sure it served other purposes too, but as someone who mostly dedicated himself to weapons having a strong counter to magic that was delayed, created illusions, or could be tackled at the core was the perfect tool to round out his arsenal. Granted the Prisms weren''t actually his anymore and, one day, if he was ever actually able to leave this body, he wouldn''t be able to get them back. It was a shame but what was he supposed to do? By the time he could actually escape from Ares'' body, the man in question would probably be a infinitely more powerful than Dominus had ever been, even at his peak. Dominus knew how much of a freak Ares was to begin with but, after hearing the conversation with Astraeus, it had really sunk in that he couldn''t mess with this person. Ares was probably a descendent of his anyway. He had the pressure resistance bloodline and Dominus was like the Genghis Khan of revenants. Using underhanded means to con his own descendants was pretty low and Dominus probably wouldn''t be able to bring himself to do it anyway... Not that he could do much, he was really quite firmly trapped inside Ares. The destruction pillar had really done a number on him. Putting these miscellaneous thoughts to back of his mind, Dominus took off with a sprint. He dodged around Geysers, shifted course to avoid the incoming thunder, and hopped over some tentacles while sliding under others. As he drew closer, the number of attacks increased drastically but he was still every bit as untouchable as he was prior. He''d even started utilising the tentacles as footholds and was pushing himself further forward by kicking against them. A tentacle he hopped on happened to flick itself up and Dominus seized the moment by allowing himself to be launched. Angling himself towards another set of tentacles, he landed and slid down and along them, hopping from one to the next to avoid thunder strikes that got too close for comfort. He came back down to earth and disembarked from the tentacle rollercoaster as he continued dashing forward. He was close to the atrocity now and it was just a matter of gaining some height but he already had a plan in mind for that. He stood a couple feet away from a position that was directly underneath the jellyfish as attacks raged all around him. Waiting patiently amidst the storm of violence paid off as his opportunity eventually revealed itself in the form of a water spout bubbling up under the jellyfish. Dominus fended off the nearby tentacles with his spear as he barged past and onto the bubbling floor.


    Redirecting all the pressure Dominus was able to control to his legs, Dominus prepared himself for lift off as the water rocketed out from the floor. Dominus shot up into the sky thanks to the water pushing him and had to cleave his way through some tentacles above him until he was finally in the clear. His momentum started to slow so he leaned back with his back parallel to the floor and, at the apex of his ascent threw his arm forward and let go of the spear. Dominus had a wild smile on his face and he couldn''t help but let out a small chuckle as he fired off his last art for now.


    "Big Game Hunter!"


    Dominus watched the spear sail up and up, whistling through the air towards its target. The jellyfish sensed danger and immediately gave up on everything else it was doing to bring its tentacles back and defend itself. The geysers and the thunder strikes were stopped as all of the jellyfish''s remaining strength went into forming a barrier of tentacles beneath it to stop the spear. The spear itself looked plain, almost like nothing had even happened to it, and that was technically correct because the art was one that only took effect after it landed. The jellyfish, by trying to block the art, had made a catastrophic mistake that would cost it dearly. The spear made contact with the tentacles and time briefly stopped as a blue light roamed over the entirety of the jellyfish, scanning it in its entirety. That same blue light measured the size of the creature and its power relative to the cultivator who launched the art, and then increased in thickness as it returned back to the spear. The blue light became a casing around the spear that increased its power multiplicatively, giving it enough of a boost to pierce directly through the wall of tentacles, the eyes of the seashock atrocity, and finally its head. The spear emerged from the jellyfish after running it through but still had so much leftover power it went flying off into the clouds, even separating them as the spear eventually left the atmosphere and disappeared into orbit. A trail could be seen in the sky where the spear had parted the air and it was surrounded by a faint blue light that sparkled up and into the heavens.


    The jellyfish was dead and its corpse slowly fell to the floor, dissipating into water and lightning particles as soon as its body collapsed fully. The whirlpool came to a sudden halt and everything that had sunk below it previously was regurgitated in one spot in the corner. Limbs, blood, weapons, everything you would expect to find in a warzone formed a small mountain off to the side. Meanwhile Dominus had just landed. His graceful fall, followed by a light step to the floor, was rounded out by a bow he took. Inside his head, though, Ares was whining about how he''d just lost a perfectly good spear! This bastard didn''t have to throw it that bloody hard! How was he supposed to get it back now that the damn thing was drifting in space! It had gone way too far out of the Training Field to ever be returned so he would have to get a new one... Still, Ares had indirectly learnt a new art, so maybe that was fine. Actually, Enticement seemed pretty good too. He''d need to practice with both for a while before he could use them properly but having them was better than not having them. Especially Big Game Hunter. A decent ranged attack that took Ares cultivation disadvantage into account was really beneficial as his cultivation was pretty slow for the most part. It also factoring in size was pretty neat. Sure it restricted the art in some cases but the benefit in others was too good to complain about.


    Ares was dragged away from his peaceful thoughts by a searing pain across his entire body and excruciating agony in his arm. "Eh?" Ares looked down and realised he was in control again as Dominus'' time must have run out somewhat prematurely. Dominus had wanted to play with the mimic for a bit but that last art must have taken its toll and pushed him out forcefully. Ares'' arm was still missing and his body had been lit on fire again thanks to the Stigma. Ares'' silly prancing and pained yelping was indicative to everyone watching on the side that their beloved / utterly detestable goofball was back at the helm. Everyone who had died previously during the test wore evil smirks because now that Dominus was gone their grand plan could be enacted and their win was inevitable. Even now that they had ''all'' been sent to the side-lines, there was one person who had sneakily stayed hidden this entire time. Someone who had all the tools needed to beat Ares specifically, and it wasn''t the mimic... No, it was a threat far, far greater. Someone Ares, for as long as he lived, would never be able to beat...

 Chapter 109: Who Made the Cut?

    Ares flung himself onto the floor and rolled around until he put out the Stigma fire.


    Phew


    He sat up and wiped the sweat from his brow. Although he hadn''t been piloting the body, he was still sore regardless. The mimic, Rox, wandered over and poked him in the back of the head, seemingly trying to figure out which ''Ares'' he was dealing with. Both were evil incarnate, so it didn''t really matter, but at the very least the real Ares probably would be done with him here and now and put him away again. Rox could feel the aggression oozing out of Dominus and his thirst for combat so he was glad the lunatic had been put away lest he start getting his ass beat again. Ares leant back and looked at the mimic upside down, told him "Your name is Rox from now on," and tossed him back in the Primordial Blade. His breathing was still rough, but Ares managed to stand and stretch as he looked around. He realised the exam was still going for some odd reason and so he deduced there was still, somehow, someone left. He did the math in his head and the number of people he / Dominus had killed perfectly matched up with the amount of ranks that had been given out. He was ranked twenty two, and he''d killed twenty one other participants with the aid of the mimic... No... Wait a minute.


    Smack


    Ares palmed his forehead as he realised his mistake. His math was correct, the issue was that the stupid Lighter Duo only counted as one rank and not two separate ones! The Lighter Duo were jointly ranked sixteen even though there were two of them so, although he''d killed twenty one people, there were twenty two enemies total!... Ares narrowed it down in his head and, at the end, he realised it was rank eighteen that had slipped between his fingers... "Oh no." Rank eighteen... He remembered now who that was... He turned around slowly and saw the menace in question waddle over and stare up at him, ready to inflict the inescapable fatal wound. He looked into his killer''s cute eyes and pleaded with all his heart. "Appa, sweetie... Could you ple..."


    "HMPH. Dad, you''re a meanie! You hurt mum! Shame On You!"


    Ack


    Ares collapsed on the floor and died the second the art was finished chanting. He foamed at the mouth and his eyes whited out as he flopped on the ground and spasmed. Steam came rising out of his head as his brain shut down and, the next thing he knew, he''d been revived outside the Training Field. He looked around and recoiled when he saw everyone else crowded around him and cracking their knuckles. He had the means to beat them when he had Dominus available but what about now? Now it was time for revenge! As Ares had the daylights beaten out of him by an angry mob of twenty one people, some of whom were clearly riding on the coattails of others to get their licks in, Appa floated over and tilted its head. It wasn''t sure why Ares was getting beaten again, only that he probably deserved it... And so, when Ares finally thought he had found the light at the end of tunnel, after everyone backed off and trudged away, Appa floated over and froze him too. On the way by, Sadie kicked the ice block Ares was encased in for good measure. It''s unverified, but Rud may have also spit on the ice block too. The only solace for Ares was that Allie had stopped Leo in the nick of time before he peed on him. The little shit had started cocking his legs and all, he was really going to do it! And after all the meals he''d given him! The fact that Charity had cheered him on too, and that these two mortal enemies come together to fight off a greater evil, was seriously unfair...


    Rud walked up on top of a podium and cleared his throat before he started announcing the results. He made no effort to wait for Ares to dethaw because it was obvious he''d made it anyway. Even if Ares didn''t bother showing up today they probably would have found an excuse to sneak him into the inner court regardless. He was too important to the sect to let rot in the outer court so his attention and attendance were both unnecessary and everyone here knew it. Rud went in the listed order from 1-22 and denied all the first ten disciples. They''d made no particularly notable moves during the exam and were thus given a ''no'' for their troubles. Rud did note that Jackie working with Onno to bait Ares near the start was a good idea but, unfortunately, the idea was Onno''s and the execution had been done all by him too. If Jackie had been a bit more involved, they might have given her a slightly higher mark. Still, although she was the closest of the first ten to make it into the inner court, she would have to try again next time just like everyone else. The one benefit was that all of the unusually strong cultivators were leaving the outer court now. There was no one left to upstage then during the next inner court trial so their lives would be considerably easier. Getting paired against all the nonsensical newcomers and people like Enyo was the epitome of DOA. Many had even given up before the exam started. As for the rest...


    11. Charity. No. Her mistake was costly. Not just as in it cost her her life but it also cost the rest of her ''teammates'' a healer. Her presence and role on a battlefield was indispensable. Arrogantly rushing to the front lines, not picking the right fight, not working in tandem with the stronger combatants. It was all a big mess. Still, she knew this better than anyone so she took it on her chin and instead focused her efforts on chasing down Leo who was meowing various curses at her in his native language.


    12. Gladius. Yes. Like Lightning Guy during his entrance test his bravery and willingness to sacrifice himself for a greater cause was commendable. His talent with the spear, although it didn''t get much of a chance to shine due to unfortunate circumstances, didn''t go unnoticed. He was an individual stronger than most others at his cultivation in a normal fight, plus he was handicapped by not really having a chance to use his Essedarius art. All in all, he''d done good. Falling for the mimic trick was fair because even the elders didn''t see it coming. Ares was just a prick, is all.


    13. Onno. Yes. The strategist of the bunch had played a good few mind games with varying degrees of success. He''d caught Ares hook, line, and sinker with the first Doppelb?nger and come up with an appropriate solution for the mimic. Yes the mimic became incredibly powerful as a resort of Dominus and thwarted all his schemes from then on before killing him; but it was unreasonable to say that was because Onno hadn''t done a good enough job. He had, it was just that Ares was a prick, is all.


    14. Li Li. No. The same things that could be said about Charity could be said about Li Li. She wasn''t a healer and so her role was different, but she should have worked together with Dirk from the start. Whether that was more her fault or Dirk''s for being arrogant was debatable but she was still at fault for the rest of her actions. Li Li was on the same team for the international as Ares and she should know better than most others here how strong his magic was and how unpredictable his nature was too. Ares being a revenant meant he would fight dirty at every opportunity and falling for his first scheme was pretty inexcusable. Yes she wasn''t the only that fell for it but, of the other two, one also failed and the other defended herself. It''s not like her denied entry to the inner court was egregious compared to how everyone else involved in the incident was treated so she had no complaints either.


    15. Esme. Yes... Barely. She didn''t really get a chance to shine during this fight and, for the most part, wound up being a bigger detriment than a helping hand. It''s undeniable that her timing with the Swipe Right was phenomenal but her contributions ended there. After that, the one thing she did was summon Wind Mines that assisted in killing Aejaz and even lead to her own demise. Her last ''effort'' before death was pitiful and she just died with minimal resistance. Yes she was terrible in close quarters but her showing overall was really quite disastrous. Luckily for her, the Swipe Right, plus the elders'' foreknowledge of her talent, meant she wasn''t judged too harshly. It was extremely close though and she should be grateful for making it by the skin of her teeth. Arguably, she didn''t really deserve it. They knew she was a good cultivator but that was why today had been somewhat of a let down. In all fairness it wasn''t solely her fault, it''s just that Ares was a prick, is all.


    16. Lighter Duo. Yes. It had become abundantly clear to the elders that they had made a massive mistake when ranking everyone as these two clearly should have been way higher. Their combination arts were the stuff of legends... If you ignored the presence of Dominus, a real living legend in the flesh. Their arts were powerful, they made a good team, and they were flexible. The only problem that could be identified with these two is that they needed to maybe work on their ability to fight without mana. They seemed to have a habit of running themself dry on the mana front so they should either learn to fight without magic or find treasures that can increase their mana capacity. Still, it was a resounding yes with no debate whatsoever. The advice was literally just that, advice and not condemnation. If Ares hadn''t been here, there was a chance they would have even been able to fight on even footing with either Bellona or Enyo and that was a respectable feat for ''ordinary'' cultivators. Of course that ended up not being the case because Ares was a prick, is all.


    17. Aejaz. Yeah, sure, whatever. He existed... That was about the sum of everyone''s opinion of him and his performance. He tried, he died, the end. His invisibility had improved, he made a few good calls early, and his technique was decent enough. The elders didn''t know what a true monster this dumbass was but that was fine because he''d done ok today and passed regardless. If anything, the most annoyed person here was Ares because his brother had lost to the stupid mimic. Yeah, sure, the mimic was pretty incredible now thanks to Dominus, but Ares wasn''t satisfied. He would pit his useless brother against the mimic until he learned to beat it damnit! Hell, Ares might even throw in a few beatings himself to speed up the process. Why? Because Ares was a prick, is all.


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    18. Appa. Uh... Yes? You know, she did kill Ares... Did it even count? Yes? Maybe? Really the biggest issue here, that all the elders secretly agreed on, was that Appa was just to cute to say no to. Appa was powerful enough as a cultivator to make it to the inner court anyway, but not a single one of the elders had the heart to go up to Appa and tell it it had failed... Again, not that it didn''t pass anyway, they just couldn''t stomach the thought of making Appa sad if they had too. As an aside, unfortunately for the elders, they couldn''t find a reason to call Ares a prick for this particular candidate as he hadn''t actually done anything to Appa, but that didn''t stop Rud from saying it aloud anyway.


    19. Dirk... No. This one hurt a bit but the elders could tell Dominus was right and not just because he killed Dirk either. Dirk complained about the result but their minds were made up because, really, Dirk had been pretty useless. He was a strong cultivator but letting someone into the inner court just because of that was foolish. Esme had at least partially displayed her talents but Dirk got kicked around like a punching bag and made no dent on either Ares or Dominus. He didn''t even try to support anyone despite having the capability to do so. In the face of a foe that was clearly greater than him he tried to do everything alone and fell for provocation. In some ways, his showing was more disappointing than Li Li''s because more had been expected of him. Unfortunately, it would seem the blood and guts duo were not going to be seen hanging around the inner court for a month for two. If at least one had made it then the other could have just lived alongside them but this way, unless someone else offered them residence, they wouldn''t be allowed into the inner court. Sad but deserved. They would make it in next time pretty much guaranteed but that was next time, not this time. This meant they wouldn''t get better resources in the inner court for a while which was a pretty big set back but it wasn''t all bad. Li Li was on the sect''s team for the international, so the rewards from that would keep her afloat for now, and Dirk was really strong to begin with and didn''t desperately need anything anyway. Still, the failure of this couple was somewhat tragic and lamentable by the elders who had to hold back two talented cultivators.


    20. Bellona. Yes and no. This was a weird one because she barely scraped-by having done little more than Dirk. Unlike Dirk, she had actively supported someone else. Like Dirk, she had gotten her ass beat without really putting up a fight. The most notable thing she did was summon a meteor that did effectively nothing before punching herself in the face thanks to Dominus. Bellona got in mostly because of how strong she was normally. Dirk didn''t pass for this reason whereas Bellona did, and there was definitely some hypocrisy here, but Dirk was offered a chance to fight Bellona tot take her place and he simply didn''t bother... There was actually just such a massive difference that he knew he would lose instantly if he even tried. What helped Bellona get a pass was the help she gave Enyo near the start when she dealt with the Shock Bead Ares threw at his brother. This action freed up Enyo to do as she pleased and it was looked upon favourably. She''d done more than Dirk at least, but it was still very close to being a no... Because Ares was a prick, is all.


    21. Enyo. Did it even need to be said? Obviously the answer was yes. She''d done the most of everyone, learnt the most, and even been the one to come up with the plan to kill Ares from the very start. She''d gone up to Appa and told it what to do so part of the kill credit was Enyo''s to begin with. She was clever and she was strong. She soldiered on even the face of death and didn''t hesitate to trade her life to apply Stigma for everyone that came after her. She''d really outshone her sister in this particular instance and more than earned her position in the inner court. The only reason she even died at all was because Ares was competing. Under normal circumstances she would have swept. Actually, she probably would have become the next target to gang up on had Ares not taken the exam. A real prodigy amongst prodigies. Unfortunately, in order for her grand plan to succeed, she had to die and make Appa''s art all the more potent. Drastic measures were necessary because Ares was a prick, is all.


    22. Ares. Was a prick. That is all.


    And when all was said and done, Rud led everyone who passed over to the inner court. It was somewhat visible from the outer court, especially if you frequently visited any elders in their workspaces as they typically resided on the edges of the inner court. Not all cultivators could access the inner or core disciple courts so anyone that needed to be found on the regular had to be somewhere in the outer court. In a way, it was actually more of a pain in the neck for the core disciples to find the elders but they had other privileges that more than made up for it. They could even get private lessons and tutoring with those very same elders and they had better environments to practice in. Blacksmiths and alchemists in the core area had their own forges and labs they could invite the elders to in their time off. Anyway, the original point being that you could sneak peeks at the inner court when visiting elders if you wanted to, so it wasn''t an entirely unfamiliar place to Ares. He knew that the overall quality of the buildings, tier leaders, cultivation rooms, and disciples here were a step above the outer court. What he cared about the most though was the grocery shop! Each area had a different one that sold progressively rarer and rarer ingredients! He could earn more stardust and take more difficult requests? Bah, who cares?! He could maybe find some cultivation resources here and finally use some for God damn once? Not important! He could make dishes that were, on average, maybe ten percent better at most? Now you were talking!


    Everyone made it to the gate blocking off the inner court and Rud put his hand on it. A light passed through the gate and Rud signalled everyone else to come up and touch it too, at which point they were registered as inner court disciples. Their sect tokens would allow them to pass the gate whenever they wanted from now on. Once everyone was done, Rud opened the gate and gestured for everyone to step inside. Aejaz hid near the back, as close to Ares as possible, because there was one little detail he hadn''t forgotten from when he first arrived here. The bandit brothers were absolutely despised! Sure some outer court disciples held grudges, but they were few and far between compared to sheer number of inner court disciples that wanted them buried six feet under. Plus these people were actually strong enough to warrant being a worrywart. People in the inner court were at minimum, 5th stage mental accumulation and, at most, sensory enhancement, 10th stage. There were some inner court disciples at the top of the pecking order here that were stronger than some of the weaker elders. It wasn''t common, but it was possible. If one held a grudge against Ares or Aejaz their lives would be a lot less peaceful than it was in the outer court. As the group passed through the gate it became apparent they had a gathering waiting for them on the other side. The real question was ''is this because they wanted to see the new inner court disciples or because they somehow knew Ares and Aejaz would be coming.'' If it was the latter, Aejaz was prepared to pick up Allie and flee using his secret art. He couldn''t save it for the tournament if he was dead before then!


    A lot of the faces were vaguely familiar too as they''d been around to watch the outer courts fight for a position on the sect''s team for the tournament. The ones that had participated were a bit more timid upon seeing Ares come sauntering into their home but the ones that weren''t were glaring rather fiercely. Even if he was providing the sect with resources they couldn''t hope to have otherwise, it seemed that they weren''t able to get over their personal grudges. At the very least Rud was here and he shooed off anyone that got too close. It didn''t stop everyone from following him until he arrived at the residences to drop the new group off, though. Ares wasn''t sure whether anyone would be bold enough to try and attack him in his own home but he considered setting up a perimeter of Shock Beads if these people kept being nosy going forward. Rud clapped his hands to get everyone''s attention.


    "This is where you''ll live from now on. The tier distribution for you lot will be done in a few week''s time during the next tier assessment and Teng will be here to guide you to the place in question. Until then you''re free to do as you please." Rud left post-haste and went to go find somewhere isolated to take a nap. His odds of success were low thanks to Yulo''s magic but if he didn''t at least try his odds would forever remain at zero!


    Whilst the peanut gallery of enraged onlookers stared daggers into the backs of Ares and Aejaz, everyone went inside their new homes to investigate. There wasn''t really much to see, however, as they were almost identical in terms of layout to the outer court houses. The only real notable difference was that they were bigger and had a few more rooms for guests and such. The most major change was the cultivation rooms that had more ambient mana but it would still be less than the tiered areas anyway. If you wanted really fancy housing then becoming a core disciple was a must as that was when houses started to get grander. Of course becoming an elder or any other important figure within the sect would work too as their houses were also swanky. The real cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me belonged to the sect master though. Ares paid little mind to his housing until he became sect master as getting attached to a house he wasn''t going to be living in for the foreseeable future was pointless. Bellona went into her very own room and unpacked before throwing herself onto the bed and happily rolling around. She didn''t have to sleep on the sofa anymore and she could finally escape her sex pest of a sister! Everyone else followed suit and settled into their own rooms with more than enough to spare. Appa technically didn''t have a dedicated room and mostly just floated around looking at everyone else''s. It would find anyone who was available for cuddles at night and go with the flow; although it did also spend an unusual amount of time looking at the bathroom. Old habits die hard?


    Ares poked his head out of one of the windows and threw Shock Beads at the other disciples who were nosily poking their heads around the property. They screamed and fled despite the obvious fact that Ares wouldn''t detonate the Beads and cause damage to his own property. The Shock Beads simply lay on the floor and acted as a form of dissuasion for all the onlookers who didn''t dare try and step past the line of explosives. Ares would go outside alter and pick these up before burying some others under the ground just in case.


    The rest of the day passed and night came around, at which point Bellona was dismayed because, after she''d gotten comfortable in her bed, she realised Enyo had crept into the room and was hugging her from behind again... It seemed this was a warning to her that she wouldn''t be able to escape just because she had her own room... Meanwhile, Ares was cuddling with Appa in his own room like he used to back before Enyo became a part of his life. It felt weirdly nostalgic but it was also nice to have some alone time with his daughter again.


    Life returned to normal for a while shortly after the exam and everyone settled down in their new housing. It looked like smooth sailing up until the internationals... At least up until a couple days before it started when all manner of shenanigans started occurring.

 Chapter 110: Stay in Your Alaine, Homewrecker!

    Four days prior to the start of the international.


    "ALRIGHT YOU LAY-A-BOUT LOUTS! GET OUT HERE ON THE DOUBLE!"


    For the briefest of moments Ares thought he was having a nightmare when Rud''s bootcamp-esque voice came barrelling into his ears first thing in the morning. Unfortunately it was not a nightmare, it was cruel, harsh reality. Teng had come to collect them and have them distributed into their tiers and Rud was probably just passing by to help get everyone up and gathered. With a sigh, Ares got up and interrupted the shouting outside by chucking some Shock Beads out the window. Contrary to his intention, after a small window of quietude, the shouting resumed... Even louder... Specifically in his direction. The language used by Rud shall not be documented here as it breached various ethical codes of conduct.


    Ares picked up the still-half-asleep Appa and left the room. As he did, he came across Enyo slumped tiredly over Bellona''s back in the hallway and just pretended not to see anything as he walked in the opposite direction. Enyo had been harassing and pestering Bellona for a while now and, although nothing had come of it so far, she claimed to have been buttering up her sister successfully. Ares simply rooted her on and left her to it. If he involved himself he might spook away Bellona by making things awkward so in Enyo''s capable hands he left it all. Allie and Aejaz came out of their own room hand in hand and, once again, Ares pretended not to see anything and kept walking. His own house had become a nest of deviancy and PDA traps lying around every corner.


    As he neared the front door, he found Leo lounging around and put Appa down nearby so the two could play around while he went to go pick up some ingredients from the kitchen. He would make breakfast in the Primordial Blade for everyone so they had something to nibble on while they watched the tier assessment. He returned back to the hallway and found Leo perched upon Appa''s head. A cute sight indeed but Ares was still wary of the tiger because he was a grade A piece of garbage sometimes. The only two people he never betrayed were Allie and Appa, and that was great and all, but if anyone else turned their back on him there was zero guarantee this furball wouldn''t scratch their spine to kingdom come. Maybe the pesky fellow was just bored having had nothing else to do recently. Ares was tempted to ask Rud outside if the sect needed a chief mouser or something. Ares headed outside and caught sight of everyone else already waiting. For the first time he was the last to arrive. In all fairness, he was busy prepping food for everyone so anyone who complained wasn''t getting any! He stuck his tongue out at Rud who demonically glared at him before chucking the Shock Beads at his head one by one. Each Bead hit their mark and bounced off his cranium but Ares made no effort to pick them up, he could always do that later or maybe some desperate inner court might pass by and steal them for his own personal use. Technically these two were playing with pretty rare and powerful treasures that most others would kill to have.


    Teng could sense Rud''s desire to beat Ares up so he coughed to himself and started talking to change the subject. Rud kissed his teeth and started leaving because his work here was done. Or rather, he didn''t have any work here to begin with, he''d just tried to pull off a bold strategy. Anyone that knew Rud knew he disliked the bandit brothers with a passion. Therefore, when he was discovered to be slacking off at work, the one place he was least likely to attempt to hide was as close to the two brothers as possible! Teng had found Rud sleeping in Ares'' front garden and plucked him like a parsnip before haranguing him and threatening to report this incident ot Yulo if he didn''t make himself useful. Rud desperately searched his memory banks for a reason to slash Teng''s pay check but, unfortunately, Teng was the epitome of a goody two shoes. He followed rules by the book and was faultless in that regard. Rud had to simply bide his time and try to catch him messing up in the future to pay him back for this transgression!


    "Alright, like last time, none of you will be competing during this tier assessment. I''m telling you now that everyone other than Ares is going straight into tier one. There''s no exceptions to this as this is the way its always worked. You all may be talented, but you''re at the bottom of the pecking order here because you''re cultivations doesn''t match up to other people''s. I don''t doubt some of you would be better suited to other tiers but figuring out which tier you each belonged in individually sounds like a nightmare. The only reason Ares is getting a free pass is because we''re rearing him to be the next sect master and the fifth tier gives out a decent amount of stardust, amongst other things, weekly. As for the tier leaders. I myself am the first tier leader in the inner court. This decision was made a while back because I tend to get involved with the outer court frequently, thus I can act as a familiar face for all the outer court disciples who make it this far. Ares, the fifth tier leader is Alaine, Elaine''s sister. Alaine used to be the third tier leader but we''ve done some reshuffling lately as the previous fifth tier needed some time off for personal matters. We''ve decided things will stay like this for the future so I''m just letting you know now. Uh, good luck with Alaine. She''s a bit handsy with her disciples, so maybe try and keep her at arms length?"


    Ares could feel the wrath of a thousand Enyos and a couple hundred Bellonas bubbling behind him, the heated stares of which were burning his back, so he opted to take extreme caution going forward. God only knows how either would react if they caught a whiff of another woman''s perfume on him... If what Ares had heard about Rhea''s proclivity for rampaging when she was annoyed was anything to go by, upsetting either one of the sisters would have drastic consequences let alone both at the same time... Rhea would also be visiting some time soon and Sadie was still here so, if they couldn''t deal with the problem themselves, all they would have to do is tattle on him and all hell would break loose. Of course Ares had no intention of setting off either of the two land mines behind him and he was just as perturbed by this information as either of them were. If anything, he had way more reasons to be annoyed by this arrangement! He could faintly hear Rud snickering at Ares'' dilemma as he departed and never before had Ares wanted to go and cause the man trouble than he did in this moment as he could have sworn that same snickering only made Enyo and Bellona''s attitude worsen. Ares had to tiptoe around these two dangerous women as he followed Teng to the new training field that was used in the inner court. It was bigger than the outer court variant and had a section where people could train against dummies. They were supposed to be unbreakable by anyone in the inner court but Teng forbid Ares from attacking them because the result would be pretty obvious. Ares grumbled under his breath as everyone else received permission to use the dummies as they saw fit.


    In a manner that was similar to the first time they showed up to a tier assessment in the outer court, everyone took their seats on the side while the already established disciples eyed them all up. There were a few new additions, and a few missing old hats, but the general hatred for Ares and Aejaz remained constant. As an aside, Ares decided not to call out the fact that Fate had somehow snuck into the inner court and was also here. She was seriously obsessed with winning him over to aid in the war, and he understood that, but how on earth did she even get past the gate? This person was way too good at her profession. Ares tried his best to just ignore the tiny spy and figure out what the fifth tier was like. Specifically if there was anyone there who held a grudge against him. These people would have way higher cultivations than him and, although it wouldn''t be impossible to defend himself, he still would like to know in advance if anything troublesome was headed his way. Surprisingly, there was only really one person that seemed to have it out for him so he thanked his lucky stars the number wasn''t way higher. Interestingly, however, that same person didn''t appear to have any issues with Aejaz. He was trying to stare holes into Ares, but Aejaz got off scot-free... From him, anyway, everyone else staring made sure to include the cowardly brother as well. Ares couldn''t fathom what he''d done to this person in particular as he''d never even met the guy before but he figured that, with the frequency at which problems popped up on his doorstep, he would figure out sooner than later. The person staring at him with malice seemed to be a bodybuilder type of cultivator, probably a behemoth aspect user. He had a bulky build not dissimilar to someone Ares could have sworn he''d seen before somewhere... Ah! The head of security back at Accelyn''s place? They do look almost identical... His son maybe? Is that why he''s annoyed? Oi, but I''m not even the one who killed your papa, you know? That was 100% Slick, I didn''t do nothin''!... Actually, the explosions did clip him a little at the beginning... But still! Weren''t me! Ares hazarded a guess and just assumed that was where the grudge stemmed from. Maybe he would have to clear it up at some point so he got his excuses in order! He mostly just didn''t want the hassle of dealing with the guy. He had no personal animosity towards the brute and he could somewhat understand his anger. Unless the brute decided to start causing him or his family trouble, he could just ignore him. Although, really, it didn''t look like the brute was sparing anyone else even an iota of attention, so it didn''t look like he would be bothering them, but that just made it all the more strange... Whatever, maybe I''m overthinking things. He seems like the type to come to me and say what''s on his mind... Err, on his chest, at some point even if I do nothing. Ares deduced that this man probably didn''t have much on his mind ever and, yes, that was a stereotype against brawny people, but in the cultivation world it was rarely wrong! For some unknowable reason, cultivators obsessed with muscles rarely trained their brains. Finding one who did, and was actually making any sort of headway, was unprecedented for most people. You would have better luck searching for an enabler.


    The fights kicked off and the new group all minded their own business and paid the happenings of the inner court no attention. Unlike before in the outer court these people were certainly tougher but the people here were all prodigious so who cared really? Anyone at their cultivation level would get smoked by anyone on these benches and it wasn''t even close. This was a level of arrogance that bothered the inner court disciples but the rumours about literally every single person here made them all bite their tongues and hold back their criticisms. Two hours passed, during which the only thing Ares did was receive an earful from Enyo and Bellona about ''dangerous skanks''. He slyly managed to dilute the rant somewhat by asking Bellona why she cared about his chastity, somewhat pushing her out the conversation. Enyo, however, was unshakeable. Plus she even went above and beyond, saying that ''Bellona was her sister which was why she cared so much. Bellona didn''t want Ares to cheat on her sister and, thus, she was permitted to speak on the matter as if she were involved herself''. Ares had to commend Enyo''s stupid intelligence and applaud her dedication to winning the dumbest arguments with infallible logic. The tag team berated Ares until the matches were over, at which point they collectively made the throat slitting gesture towards him and stood up to be moved to their tier. Ares was deeply unnerved because he would genuinely not be surprised if either one of them actually did slit his throat for even thinking about Alaine. It''s not like it would kill him either, so it would probably happen more than once at that! He had no intentions of going anywhere near the woman, obviously, but whether he could avoid her was another matter entirely. If Elaine''s nosiness manifested in her sister to any degree whatsoever then trying to avoid Alaine was going to be annoying. Ares could tell both the sisters were going to have a word with Alaine if she even so much as looked at him funny and he couldn''t tell if that would be a good thing or not. Either Aline wouldn''t be as frisky as Teng claimed, in which case she would steer clear of him after the threat of the Legion clan was dumped on her... Or... God forbid... She would redouble her efforts just to spite the sisters and mess with everyone...


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    As with before, everyone was slowly directed towards the first tier. All was well up until Enyo was called up to go to the first tier, at which point Ares realised why the brute from before hated him. Jealousy. This thug was mean-mugging him because Ares was in a relationship with Enyo and he seemed to be crushing hard on her. His lovesick appearance was absolutely horrid however, and a man of his size should never be seen swooning like that. With a bit of effort, he could probably turn his current appearance into a mental attack if tried hard enough... Whether or not this person would actually try to fight him was up in the air. Trew had gotten over things and been a good enough sport but he was a different breed of human altogether thanks to the Legion clan setting him on the straight and narrow from a young age. Someone like Trew was not common. Most people would not be willing to let matters like this go and this brute looked pretty enamoured. It wasn''t like he was the only one who took a fancy to Enyo so Ares doing anything untoward to him specifically would just be childish but he would absolutely be keeping his eyes peeled for this guy in particular because he was actually being genuinely hateful towards him. The ''Ares death cult'' was mostly a group of pansies that wouldn''t ever dare lay a finger on him or even try to but this person seemed like he truly had it out for him. What a way to complicate things right off the bat... Still, Ares didn''t show up for lectures and whatnot very often so the chances of him bumping into this guy were low, thankfully. After Trew, Ares had already gotten sick and tired of explaining to dull men that Enyo wasn''t up for grabs anymore and no amount of tantrums were going to change that fact. While the sisters fought off Alaine, Ares would have to keep the brute at bay. What a pain in the neck, seriously.


    "Ares, fifth tier." Last but not least, Ares was called up to go to the fifth tier and that was when the whispering started. The rumour that Ares would be the next sect master had already begun circulating already and this was basically putting the final nail in the coffin. There were less overt complaints than the first time this had happened, Ares skipping tiers, but there were still a few. They went ignored, though, as no one really cared what a few inner court disciples thought about the situation. All the elders were already onboard so the matter had been settled beforehand.


    As Ares walked past the brute he heard him mutter the words ''scrawny wimp'' at him... Really? The fact that Ares was an adept and literally couldn''t bulk up aside... Really? Trew believed reputation was why he ''deserved'' Enyo, and that was pretty stupid in and of itself... But to think the brute thought he ''deserved'' Enyo because he had big muscles... No, really? The fairest maiden in all the land did not belong to the greatest arm wrestler for Christ''s sake. Ares hoped the people lusting after his wife weren''t all going to be this moronic going forward otherwise he would legitimately just start killing them on sight because being this stupid had to be a crime against humanity. It''s not even like the guy with the biggest muscles would be a shoe-in to win a fight anyway because of how prevalent and important magic was in this world. The value of muscle wasn''t particularly high to begin with. This person was a dunce. Besides, if what Enyo truly cared about were muscles, she would have dumped Ares for Bellona if anything. That woman was low-key a gorilla. She was almost as muscly under her clothes as this guy was! If she didn''t wear her baggy witch clothes so often she would get approached by gym bros looking for advice twenty-four seven. Objectively she wasn''t the most attractive person ever. Granted she had her moments where her physical strength combined with her facial features gave her a sort of tomboyish charm but that wasn''t enough to turn most heads. And yet, when she dressed up casually, she still managed to get more looks than her sister just because of how different she was from the norm. Being able to control muscle mass and still looking the way Bellona did was rare for most women who would sooner die than look like that. Whether it was because Bellona had given up all hope of traditional sex appeal, whenever it was she came to terms with her flatness, was anyone''s guess, but it was the route she took nonetheless. As far as Ares was concerned Enyo was definitely more beautiful but Bellona could be really cute sometimes too. Whenever they wrestled and she came out on top with a smile, one that radiated cheekiness thanks to her relatively sharp fangs, it helped her amber eyes really pop from behind her hair. She also bit her lip when thinking deeply and the pensive look suited her precisely because it contrasted with her usually sharp features. She would occasionally jump for joy when practicing magic with Ares too and she definitely had a precious side, the gap between which and her solid abs was something Ares could appreciate. You could definitely list attractive qualities for Bellona if you actually paid her any attention and, now that Ares was doing precisely that, he could enjoy seeing her unique charms whenever they cropped up. That''s why, if anything, Ares was surprised the brute wasn''t looking in Bellona''s direction instead. He wasn''t getting anywhere near either sister and Ares would make sure of that, but he was still surprised nonetheless. Maybe the guy was just a hypocrite, not caring about muscles himself but expecting women to? Who knows? It was better not to try and decipher this strange person because understanding him would only ever be Ares'' loss. Dragging himself down to this person''s mental level was insanity and he really wasn''t concerned about this guy... Although he didn''t exactly appreciate being called a wimp for no reason... Scrawny was true to some extent, Ares couldn''t help the fact that his muscles literally would never grow beyond where they were currently without the aid of a rare treasure... But being ''wimpy'' was just flat out not true! This idiot threw himself at a mecha-dryad less than two months ago! If there was one thing Ares usually wasn''t, it was a coward. That was his brother if anything!


    With a sigh, Ares just carried on walking and moved to the back of the fifth tier line... Next to Alaine who prodded him in the sides and winked at him. "Please, I''m begging you, my wives-to-be are watching like hawks..."


    "Oh?" Alaine daintily raised her palm over lips and gave a coy smile that didn''t quite make it up to her mischievous eyes. "Wives? Plural? I''d heard about one but to think you''d be so bold as to go after both sisters. You''re quite a brave man aren''t you? You know, Elaine and I are also sisters, and we happen to be quite lonely..."


    "Stay back, temptress! You are dangerous to my health! I have no desire to be murdered in my sleep by jealous lovers. Or rather, I don''t want to make them jealous in the first place... So have mercy?"


    "Hmmm. But it sounds like too much fun to give up here!"


    "You have a twisted sense of fun! Do you seriously want the Legion clan matriarch breathing down your neck? I hear she''s a dangerous woman."


    Alaine ran her finger up Ares arm and whispered into his ear, "So am I." She tittered to herself as she looked over at the enraged sisters and merrily strolled away. Whereas a woman like Bea would respect other relationships, it seemed Alaine got a kick out of disrespecting them. Ares could tell she harboured no intentions towards him whatsoever, she was just doing this to spite the sisters. That was all well and good and all but he was going to be the one to pay for this later! In order to avoid getting chewed out for as long as humanly possible by the sisters, Ares slunk out of the line and went to go hide next to Enyo in the first tier line. He would rather figure out where everything was in his own time than abandon Enyo and spend time ''alone'' with Alaine during the guided tour. Despite making the correct choice he was still side-eyed by the sisters who did not approve of his tier leader. Ares wasn''t sure what more he could do other than commit seppuku so he just silently followed the two like a good little dog and wagged his tail to try and look cute whenever they glanced at him.


    The tour of the first tier area came to a close and Teng actively sought out Aejaz. Ares was nearby so he hobbled over to escape the sisters silent wrath and listen in on the conversation.


    "Hey, Aejaz, Zhang wanted me to let you know that your family is going to be participating in the international. You probably already knew that, but hew has a bit more information to share too. He said your three brothers and one sister are all on the team as well as some other woman from the clan. He figured he would let you know now that the team had ben finalised as he had an acquaintance in the region that informed him."


    Aejaz scratched his head and thanked Teng who left afterwards to go and do some work elsewhere. Ares walked over and draped his arm over his brother''s shoulder. "I never did ask but you mentioned you got along well with one of your family members... Is it one of the four competing?"


    "Yeah, my little sister was always kind to me. She was too young to really understand the family dynamic and the politics of a massive ''failure'' in a clan like ours so she felt pity for me when I was treated differently. She was a kind soul not really cut out for the assassination life, I think. It''ll be good to se her again and I hope she''s doing well now. If I''m not mistaken, the other woman on the team is someone else I know too. A childhood friend that could sympathise with me behind closed doors. She was really fun to be around and, for a while, I even had a crush on her. She was everything I wanted to be like and I was envious of her... I guess that''s all in the past now, though. She probably forgot about me by now... And then there''s the three ''brothers''..."


    "Ha, what are their names? Rob, Nick, and Jack?"


    "Very funny. No... I''m not really sure how things will go with them. Two of them are extremely unlikely to even look my way but one of them always really hated me down to his core. Maybe their opinions of me will have changed, or maybe it''ll just be the same as usual. I think the one I''m most curious about is my dad though. After all these years, looking back, I kinda realised he was just being pushed along by his own father. He did wrong by me, and I don''t plan on forgiving him ever, but it didn''t really seem to be of his own volition. My mother never gave even a single shit about me but I could occasionally catch a glimpse of regret in him. I wonder if my grandfather will show up too. Ah man, what a pain in the neck this all is... Whatever, I have my own family now."


    "Well said, coward! Don''t let them push you around during the tournament and make sure to stand up for yourself. Still, if things get hectic I''ll be there so don''t stress too much. I know I usually try to push you hard to solve your own issues for your own sake but, just this once, I''ll show some leniency and deal with any problems that come up myself. I can understand why this would be hard for you so leave anything you can''t deal with to me during this period."


    Aejaz, with a solitary tear in his eye, gave Ares a hug. "Thanks brother."


    "Yeah, anytime." Ares fulfilled his role as big brother and offered protection but, little did he know, he was going to need his own protection sooner rather than later. Aejaz'' family aside, tomorrow was going to be a very risky day for Ares. No one was aware of this as there hadn''t been any communication with Rhea recently but the woman had bargained hard with Calla and managed to eek out a few more days of leeway for coming down to Sheryashka. Or, to put it in simpler terms, tomorrow, Rhea would descend upon the sect and come hunting down the revenant scum that had seduced her daughters!... Both of whom were not currently in the right mind to give a testimony on his behalf as they were still annoyed with him thanks to that damn woman Alaine!

 Chapter 111: Ares Unveils His Secret Weapon

    Three days prior to the start of the international.


    Ares hopped out of bed and got changed into his regular clothes while Enyo also put on some pyjamas; a pink onesie to be precise. She clearly had no intention of going out today but to say she wasn''t going anywhere was also wrong. Ares was going to go and pay the inner-court grocery store a visit and see what good stuff they had on offer while Enyo was going to go and cuddle her sleeping sister. In some ways, Enyo was like a big koala. Ares was the main branch she clung to regularly but if he wasn''t available for whatever reason she would go in search of Bellona instead and latch onto her. It''s not like she had anything else to do either. There were no missions that caught her interest. There wasn''t any training today as it was a day of rest. She was refraining from cultivating until she switched to dedication cultivation and flaunted her pleasure pillar affiliation to Ares. In other words, Enyo was bored and wanted to play. Sadie was probably still hung over in the living room after she crashed the place yesterday so reading a book there was a no go and Appa was likely cuddling with Allie in her room. This all meant Enyo only had one option available to her, it was time to go be a sex pest in her sister''s general direction!


    Ares mused his thoughts aloud as he put his shoes on. "Do you think your mother is going to come down early? You said she usually comes down on the day but, now that things have changed, I wonder if she''ll pop up sooner..."


    Enyo smirked and kissed Aers on the cheek. "What? Feeling nervous meeting your girlfriend''s parent? As long as you don''t go overboard I''m sure you''ll be fine. Just keep an eye out for any woman with a stern face and a high cultivation and try not to insult her too much."


    "Yeah... Yeah. I''ll be sure to address her properly..." Ares caught sight of Enyo looking up at him with a raised eyebrow and Ares shook his head with a sigh. "No, Enyo. I said address, ADDRESS. Not undress. I will be sure to ADRESS your mother properly. Get your sleepy head out the gutter you unapologetic nymphomaniac."


    Enyo simply chuckled as she walked out the room, down the corridor, and successfully infiltrated Bellona''s room. Ares caught a glimpse of the inside of the room, just before the door closed, as he strolled by and saw Bellona tightly hugging the body pillow as she snored away. It was kinda cute how she was dribbling in her sleep so Ares saved that image to his brain and left the house. If he wasn''t mistaken the grocery shop was give or take a ten minute walk away from here. He could always Shift around or use Voidwalk to get there quicker but he was in no rush and he decided to take his time.


    Around ten minutes after Ares left, Sadie stirred awake. Or half awake, anyway, as she mumbled about Aym on the sofa while scratching her rear. After a few giggles and ''not there''-s, she blinked herself fully awake as she rolled onto the floor. The pain of banging her head on the ground was more noticeable than usual because she''d forgotten she was in a new house. She''d smacked her forehead on the floor in the previous house so many times she''d actually made a dent in the ground. That dent wasn''t present here, though, and so the smack was a little more unpleasant than normal as there was nothing to cushion her fall. She stumbled to her feet and stretched a couple times before heading towards the front door. She didn''t need to seek out Enyo and have her cure the hangover today as, luckily, her hangover didn''t seem to be too bad compared to usual because she''d held back on the alcohol yesterday. She was proud of herself for having had less drink than usual but any reasonable person would still consider it way too much. Sadie wasn''t a lightweight by any stretch of the imagination, she just really drank like a horse. She fumbled around at the door before eventually managing to escape the building, only to be blinded by the morning sun and wishing she could crawl back onto the sofa. Her arms waved as she fended off an annoying fly and the sun''s rays while she headed away from the house. All was normal up until an overwhelming sense of dread coursed through her veins and her head started dripping with sweat. Some manner of superior being had locked its sights on her and she was fairly sure she knew exactly which monstrosity was targeting her. She took off with a sprint and looked for the nearest hiding place but barely made it two feet before she was crushed under heel on the dirt beneath her.


    "You seem to be having fun. Getting drunk and lazing around in the sun while my daughters are being seduced by some man slut!"


    Sadie, pinned to the floor, knew the jig was up and punishment was inbound. Her days of fun and relaxation, for the foreseeable future, had come to and end. The demon herself had arrived and her typical conduct wasn''t going to fly anymore, not in her presence. Sadie sniffed, begged, and even tried to throw Ares under the bus. "Rhea, please, hear me out! He cooks delicious food and tempts me with alcohol! How could I possibly say no? He tricked me into gobbling up his food! I swear I would have dealt with him by now if he didn''t keep buttering me up! It''s all his fault!" Sadie squirmed as she twisted her head to look back and over her shoulder. She tried to look up at Rhea''s face to see if she''d convinced her or not but the sun was beating down on her and she couldn''t make anything out other than the rough silhouette of the fierce woman standing on her back.


    "Are you some kind of beggar?! Why are you so easily defeated by food and drink?! You are a sloth and a glutton! See if I don''t make you regret your inattentiveness later. You can consider yourself lucky because right now I''m more interested in my stupid daughters than stupid you. Where are those two foolish children anyway? I saw you when I was landing but I didn''t see either of them out and about roaming the sect. Where are they living? Take me to them right now and maybe I''ll consider making your punishment lighter!"


    Sadie weakly lifted her arm and pointed at the house she literally just left. Although she struggled to breathe properly she managed to utter the word ''there'' before flopping back on the floor.


    "There?! What do you mean there?! ISN''T THAT WHERE YOU JUST CAME FROM?! DID YOU SLEEP THERE OVERNIGHT? DON''T TELL ME YOU''VE FALLEN FOR THIS CURSED MAN TOO?!"


    "N... NO!" Sadie pleaded with all her might for Rhea not to misunderstand. It seemed Rhea was curious enough for an explanation such that she lifted her feet slightly and let Sadie talk. "He hosts get togethers and cooks for people often... Yesterday wasn''t anything special but I came because I smelled something good from outside... He always stocks up on alcohol for me and lets me sleep on the couch when I pass out so how could I not go in? The food smelled so delicious... I''m telling you, Rhea, he lures you in with food! That''s how he gets you! It''s how he got Enyo and Bellona too. He''s a food demon!"


    "As if there''s such a thing! You''re just a greedy bitch! TSK. Whatever. I''m clearly not going to get any useful answers out of you, so you can feel free to lie here for as long as you want while I go and investigate!" Rhea raised her foot and slammed it back down, burying Sadie in the front garden like a potted plant. No matter how hard Sadie tried she couldn''t free herself so she accepted the life of a mole. This was going to be her resting place up until Rhea came back and set her free so she gave up immediately and got comfortable instead of trying to fight an uphill battle. At the very least, thankfully, she still had some leftover beer and meat skewers from yesterday in her spatial ring... She brought them out and they were promptly snatched away by Rhea who inspected the goods closely. Sadie cried and whined when her stuff was taken away but Rhea ignored her and chewed on the meat. She closed her eyes and savoured the taste before taking a swig of beer and kissing her teeth. "... It''s damn good. The hell? Even our chefs back home aren''t as talented... Oi, Sadie, I''ll give this stuff back if you answer some questions."


    "I''LL DO ANYTHING!"


    "... O.k... Does he cook regularly?"


    "Every day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner!"


    "Is his stuff always this good?"


    "Mhm! Yep. Actually, it''s probably better than this. For the most part, he caters to people individually and makes specific food to suit everyone''s tastes. That''s the real good stuff."


    "What do you mean this was how he got Enyo and Bellona? Did he make them something specific?"


    "Yes. Actually, I happen to some of the stuff he made for them in my space ring. If I give these things to you, will you give me my skewers and beer back? I''m kinda hungry... I left before he made breakfast. A rookie mistake on my end, I''ll admit."


    "Sure, fine, whatever idiot. Give me the stuff." Rhea handed over the meat and beer while Sadie fished around in her ring for the honeycomb and popping candy she''d gotten after demanding a taste. She found what she was looking for and traded before going back to her cosy burial grounds and chewing away without a care in the world for her current predicament. This woman was seriously easy to please provided you had a bit of food and some drink for her. Rhea took the goods and could guess at a glance which one one had done in which sister thanks to minty smell coming from the honeycomb. She tasted the two creations one by one and swallowed each with a soft smile on her face. Her hands trembled slightly as she wiped a tear from her eyes and she sighed as she started going towards the house. It didn''t take a genius to understand exactly what this guy had done with the food and, although she hated to admit it, Rhea was impressed with the guy. He''d clearly not half-assed these dishes and put in the utmost of consideration for the sister''s tastes, personalities, and preferences to all shine through. She wasn''t entirely convinced yet but she was at least relieved somewhat. Her impression of him had gone up a few notches already. Granted there were still a couple thousand notches to go before Rhea would ever consider any man ''worthy'', but that was more of a general parent thing than anything Rhea specific. Part of the reason she''d been asking about the quality of his food and how often he cooked was because Rhea was seriously considering hiring him as a chef. Employing him would work three-fold as he could be supervised at all times, Rhea and everyone else would get to enjoy his cooking, and if he wasn''t a particularly gifted cultivator, by way of chance, he could live an easier life this way. Of course it remained to be seen what kind of person he was and, though not as important, what kind of cultivator he was. Rhea didn''t want to entrust her daughters to someone that couldn''t defend themselves. Especially not Enyo, she had it in her blood to defend the weak and the last thing Rhea wanted was to find out Enyo had sacrificed herself over love. Still, the guy was a revenant, supposedly, so that wasn''t as big an issue. Revenants didn''t really need defending so much as they needed restraining. If you took your eyes of them for even a split second they would probably go and do something inestimably stupid behind your back for the fun of it.


    Crash


    While Rhea was pondering this and that, she had both purposefully and accidentally walked straight through the front door. Purposefully because she was going to do it regardless, but accidentally because she didn''t even realise how close to the door she was as she was still deep in thought. She passed by the living room where Appa and Leo were staring inquisitively at the mysterious intruder. Rhea was still contemplating in her head and didn''t even see them, however. Her motherly instincts guided her to Enyo''s room and she opened the door expecting to find the rascal but the bedroom was empty. What she did see, however, was that two people had clearly slept in this bed! Unless Enyo and Bellona took a nap together Rhea was not going to be pleased! She huffed and puffed as she exited the room and tried again. This time she was successful but she almost couldn''t believe her eyes after she opened the door. Bellona was moaning with half opened eyes as she tried to push away her sister. Enyo was curling her legs around Bellona like invasive ivy and trying to steal a body pillow while kissing Bellona''s neck.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "Mmm, mummmm, get Enyo offa meeeeee." Bellona muttered as she was still in lala land. She probably thought this was all still a dream and that Rhea being here was just a fabrication her brain had conjured right now. What Bellona really cared about was fending off her predatory sister and hanging onto the cool pillow. It was kinda hot today and she was being hugged by her sister who was wearing a onesie! Bellona wanted the pillow to keep her fresh, but Enyo also wanted it for the same reason, thus the wrestle match had begun and the two had been clamouring over one another to keep it in their possession. Enyo''s onesie had slipped down a bit, exposing part of her chest, and Bellona''s pyjamas were all over the place, exposing her midriff that Enyo attached to immediately and hugged for dear life. In one word, the display here was ''lewd''. Or maybe ''pre lewd'' would be more accurate.


    "Hm? Mum?" Enyo noticed Rhea and briefly looked away from her two targets, Bellona and the pillow, to say hello. "I didn''t think you''d be coming down this soon what with Calla holding you back." Enyo got off the bed and walked around it and over to her mother with a radiant smile. She hugged her dumbfounded mother and laughed at her stupefied reaction. "Bellona, get up and say hello."


    "Mmm, she''s not real..." Bellona redoubled her vice grip on the body pillow and rolled over.


    "Not real my ass. She''s realer than the fake person on the body pillow you keep hugging at least!"


    "Ehh?" Bellona rubbed her eyes and, sure enough, the ''fake'' Rhea was still there, gawking at the ceiling while hesitating to pat her daughter. "Oh, yeah, would you look at that? She is real... Hey mum. How ya doing?"


    "..." Rhea couldn''t quite get the words out of her mouth after the surprise hug from Enyo left her stunned on the spot. ".. Who the hell are you?!" Rhea, despite not being entirely sure the person she just wrapped her arms around was actually Enyo, still returned the hug on the off chance it was because this was too rare an opportunity to pass up.


    Enyo laughed as she looked up at her mother. "What? Don''t you recognise your own daughter?..." Enyo embraced her mother more tightly. "Sorry for being so difficult before. I love you."


    Disbelief was plastered on Rhea''s face as she cried a little looking down at her daughter''s head. She pat it and stroked Enyo''s hair. "I love you too, silly girl. I don''t know what I''ll think about this guy when I finally meet him but I''ll never not be grateful to him, that much I can promise you. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you like this, Enyo."


    "Is everything ok in here?" Aejaz, who''d just voiced his concerns after hearing the sound of small sobs coming through the open door, and Allie poked their heads around the corner. Rhea turned around and saw an unknown man and was on full alert.


    Is that him? He''s attractive but I sense cowardice in him. His cultivation is high for his age and I can tell by his hands and his general demeanour he''s got assassin blood in his veins. Wait a minute... "Why are you holding another woman''s hand?! Damn three-timing cretin! I''ll skin you alive no matter how grateful I am!"


    "Eh? Three-timing? Who are you? What are you talking about?"


    "No back sass is permitted before me, runt!" Rhea let go of Enyo and decked Aejaz, knocking him flat on the floor before stepping on his stomach and glaring down at him. Rhea looked at Allie with a penetrating glare. "Go on then! Who are you!"


    "Uh, um, I, er, it, but." Allie stammered and fidgeted as she looked around nervously.


    Enyo slapped her forehead and cleared up the misunderstanding. "That isn''t him, mum. That''s his brother and he is completely unrelated. That girl''s name is Allie and she''s something like a little sister to me so if you could stop scaring her that would be great. Poor thing''s turning white as a sheet!" Enyo''s observation was true as Allie had gotten really quite pale. She probably thought someone had invaded their home and seeing Aejaz getting beaten made her worry.


    "Not him, huh..." Rhea narrowed her eyes and let Aejaz stand as he hunched over and took deep breaths. Allie helped him stagger off but, before he could make it halfway down the hall, Enyo utterly betrayed him.


    "You might want to check your space rings, mum, that guy is a notorious thief and he''s obnoxiously good at it."


    "HOW COULD YOU?!" Aejaz'' pained cry echoed from the living room and the sound of him leaping out the front window in a bid to escape could be heard even from the bedroom.


    Rhea couldn''t fathom how on earth some peak mental accumulation brat could possibly steal anything from under her nose but she checked regardless. To her shock, a large chunk of stardust and a few alchemical plants were indeed missing. Taking something small would have been one thing but this rat bastard had taken heaps of stuff! Rhea put aside the fact that he''d accomplished such a grand feat and chased him down, busting through the door again, running past Sadie who''d just finished her breakfast, and catching Aejaz by the scruff of his neck.


    Gulp


    Aejaz chuckled sheepishly as he dared to look up at the frightening woman which had pressure rolling off her in waves. "Spare some change?"


    "Forty high-grade stardust and thirty high-grade worth of ingredients is not ''some change'' you scamp! Cough it up before I make you cough up your internal organs!" If it weren''t for the fact that Rhea was incredibly impressed with this strange thief, and that he might end up being a relative of some sort in the future, she would have buried him in garden just like Sadie and dealt with him later! After retrieving her belongings, she put the guy down and watched him turn invisible and sneak back off into the house. Unbelievable. Enyo being willing to live in the same house as a conman like that is unthinkable. Plus everything that happened earlier... I guess she really has changed... Now the only question is, where the hell is the man who did it?


    "Good morning Sadie. I see your past has finally caught up with you."


    "Wahhhh, get me out!"


    Rhea turned around and saw some caped guy pulling Sadie out of the ground like she was a kind of weed and immediately she had a few questions. First of all, how did he get her out? Rhea had buried her forcefully so nobody from this domain should have been able to help her jailbreak. Second of all, what was the oddly disturbing mana that was lingering about? It was unlike anything she''d ever seen. Third, why did Rhea feel like she recognised that cape?... Fourth, and this was the most important question that was eating away at her right now, preventing her from concerning herself with the other ones... Was it him? Was he the one? Somewhat above average looks, kinda reminds me of Aster actually. Cultivation is pretty low considering his age. The fact that Sadie knew he would be able to help her escape means he''s reliable ad has interesting tools at his disposal. I can tell he''s wary of me and ready for a fight, so not a coward if he doesn''t shrink in the face of a mightier foe. Tongue in cheek, as all revenants are. I can smell various aromas on him which makes sense if he''d been around food recently. It''s him. "You. It''s you, isn''t it?"


    Ares shrugged. "People rarely tend to show up at my house looking for anyone else. What can I do for you? Care to come inside and have some tea or coffee?... Although it looks like you''ve already made yourself at home..." Ares'' eye twitched when he saw his broken door, or what remained of it anyway, hanging off the hinges. he''d only just moved in and the place was already in shambles!


    Ares was lifted into the air and brought eye to eye with Rhea who looked him up and down with scorn. "Not necessary. In there or out here makes no difference."


    "Tsk, so close." Ares lamented his poor luck and his failed negotiations.


    "Hm? Close to what?"


    "My secret weapon is currently inside the living room."


    Rhea snickered. "I doubt there''s a secret weapon capable of fending me off but I am amused enough by your answer to give you some bonus points." As Rhea dangled Ares who seemed rather nonchalant about the whole ordeal he was undergoing, Enyo and Bellona stepped outside through the door and watched in silence. This was Ares'' trial and he would have to be the one to complete it with no outside interference. ''No outside interference'' also included Charity and Gladius who came out of the house next door after seeing a familiar looking suit of armour and wanted to come say hello. They figured it was better not to interrupt the current event, though, and instead took a seat and enjoyed the show with some leftover skewers.


    Ares sighed deeply and his mind raced as he rallied his determination to square off against the monster in front of him. "Ok, Rhea? You''re Rhea, right? Look, before we get started, there''s one thing I really want to... Oh hey look! A crime!" Ares pointed to the right and all six legion members who were present simultaneously craned their heads in the same direction. "Hahahaha, suckers!"


    Everyone turned their heads back and Ares was gone, having escaped the clutches of Rhea with a Shift he''d scarpered into the living room. Enyo and Bellona chuckled as Rhea cracked her knuckles and stomped into the house. She rounded the corner and entered the living room whilst making sure to keep an eye out. This rat said his secret weapon was in here and, although she had zero hesitation because she truly believed there was nothing that could stop her, she kept herself ready to respond to any immediate threats. What she saw, however, was the guy holding up... A shade? A damned shade? Rhea hadn''t seen one of these in a very long time because they were somewhat uncommon. She stared at the shade for all of two seconds before leaning past it and looking at Ares with a questioning gaze. "Is this your secret weapon? A hostage? I expected better, honestly."


    Ares'' evil grin disconcerted Rhea somewhat as he opened his mouth to deliver the final blow that would help him survive this deadly encounter. "This isn''t just any shade. No, this is Appa! The cutest shade of them all. You may think it''s an unimpressive secret weapon but there''s something you don''t know about it that will change your mind I''m sure."


    "... And that is?"


    "This shade is my adopted daughter. This shade is Enyo''s adopted daughter. Or in other words, this shade is your granddaughter!"


    "Hello!" Appa waved its rope as it joyously wiggled at its new relative.


    Rhea stared blankly at the shade and all fell quiet for a few seconds before Ares crashed into the opposite wall and part of the building collapsed on his head. He unearthed himself from the rubble and saw Rhea cuddling Appa with a beaming smile on her face.


    Appa nuzzled Rhea and flawlessly executed the coup de grace that would expertly diffuse the situation. "Aunty, you''re nice and warm!"


    Rhea smothered Appa and cooed. "Why are you so cute?!"


    "Hehehehehe, aunty that tickles!"


    Ares made a celebratory fist pump while Rhea squealed in delight playing with her new granddaughter. Cute things were unrivalled and Appa''s cuteness was unrivalled! Why meet violence with violence when adorable things will make do!? The greatest victory is that which requires no battle. Only if Rhea was truly a heartless monster would she be able to ignore Appa''s presence! Plus Rhea seemed like the type to really care about family, even if she frequently beat them senseless, so a granddaughter, which was completely unexplored familial territory for her, was simply impossible to not devote her full attention too. Actually, she seemed very happy. So happy that Ares wondered if he didn''t make the cut if Rhea would seriously consider abducting Appa. Simply tying himself to Appa and framing it as a package deal had just skyrocketed his chances of acceptance so his scheme had been fruitful. It was a good thing he was able to scurry into the living room otherwise things would have gotten complicated... His wall was chipped, and his head had a bump on it from where the roof had fallen on him, but at the very least things were going well with Rhea so far. Ares was confident that nothing could go wrong and that he''d cleared the major hurdles. All that was left was to have a simple conversation, answer some simple questions, and all would be good. There was even a perfect conversation topic that he''d long since been considering bringing up to break the ice ever since he found out about the Legion clan''s main branch''s naming scheme with Gods and Goddesses and such. He could joke about how he would blend right in what with his name being Ares and all! Surely there was no way for things to go wrong!

 Chapter 112: Q&A Session in Casa Del Ares Reveals All

    Dusting himself off and shoving the rubble to the side, Ares stood up and stealthily went into the kitchen to start preparing snacks. The Appa into hospitality true combo would net him a sure-fire win so he just needed to stick the landing. No matter the questions he was asked, no matter how savagely she quizzed him, he would come out on top! He''d practiced this in his head for days on end because he really believed making a good first impression was pivotal against someone like Rhea. An overbearing mother who was hard to please and had a difficult time comprehending the idea of ''giving away'' one''s children. Ares had to pull out all the stops here!


    In order to get the ball rolling, the first order of business was the warm and fluffy cookies he''d been baking ever since left to go get groceries. He hadn''t expected Rhea to show up today but this worked out like a charm as he''d been in the middle of making something that was absolutely perfect for this situation. He whipped them out of the Primordial Blade, put them on a tray, and brought them all out into living room. Rhea had sat on the couch and was tickling Appa so Ares didn''t disturb her as he placed the cookies on the table and went back into the kitchen to bring out the coffee he''d made for her. He had joked earlier about offering her some but, thanks to asking Enyo in advance, he knew that she was partial to coffee more than any other drinks he had to offer. Three sugars were what it took for Rhea to be accepting of coffee, though, and really alcohol would have been ideal. Still, there was no way in hell Ares was giving anyone cookies and beer. That was insanity and he would rather just die on the spot. He wasn''t going to search for a reason or an excuse to get her drunk, he would make do with what he had. He placed the coffee on the table and went around asking what everybody else wanted as the other five Legion members had all come into the house to watch the spectacle unfold. Well that was why Charity and Gladius were here anyway. Sadie probably just wanted more food; at least that was what she gave to understand when she started gobbling up the cookies. Aejaz had poked his head around the corner and stolen two cookies, one for himself and one for Allie, before retreating to his safe room away from the scary lady on the sofa. Aejaz didn''t dare try to steal from Rhea twice. One dance with death was enough for the day, thank you very much!


    Ares brought in a round of drinks and seated himself opposite the mother and daughter trio and Rhea begrudgingly stopped playing with Appa. She didn''t give Appa up entirely though and placed it firmly on her lap and hugged it from behind. Enyo was happy to see this and her heart felt all tingly at the sight of her mother taking a liking to her daughter. Enyo also caught sight of Bellona nibbling away at her nails and Enyo rolled her eyes before sending a mental message to Rhea. [Bellona thinks he doesn''t know that she likes him. He does but don''t mention it. Bellona''s nervy about the whole thing, plus it''s just funnier this way.]


    Rhea scoffed and just shook her head. She was incredibly tempted to just spit it out here and now and throw Bellona on this guy''s lap to show how little she cared. In the end she didn''t follow through though as it wasn''t her love life and she wasn''t going to interject unless things were really just not going anywhere. As long as they were at least aware then whatever, she didn''t care. Her main issue was whether he was suitable or not, anything they did after was up to them. Rhea ate a cookie, ate another one after because they were annoyingly good, and then started the conversation / interrogation. "Do you love Enyo wholeheartedly?"


    "No."


    Rhea almost bust a nerve but calmed herself down because she acknowledged she was chatting with a revenant here and things would never be straightforward. "Why not?"


    "I''ve been cutting out pieces of my heart recently to experiment with something, so my whole heart isn''t really available right now, I guess?"


    "Congratulations, it''s only been ten seconds and I already want to cut your tongue out."


    "Please don''t. Your daughter happens to really quite like that part of me."


    "Ugh. Look, I get it, you''re annoying. Can we please have a normal discussion from here on? This is important so stop being a nuisance already."


    Ares scratched his head and sighed. Losing his ability to poke fun was a rough blow but he would soldier on in the face of adversity! "Alright, I understand. Then yes, I do love you daughter wholeheartedly. With every fibre of my being, in fact."


    "I heard through the grapevine you''d be willing to take on more than one wife so can you care to explain to me how that happened? Are you saying you can love two women wholeheartedly at the same time, because that sounds impossible to me."


    "Two?... Try nine..."


    "Excuse me? Are you messing with me again?! That''s it! I do not approve of this philanderer Enyo! You can do better than a freak who wants nine women!"


    "Uh... I''m not the freak that wants nine women though? She is." Ares pointed at Enyo with a wry smile. "I really didn''t have as much of a say in this as you seem to think I did. I''m honest to God just along for the ride on this matter."


    "I... Impossible! Enyo! Don''t just lay down and let this man roll over you! be firm and deny his incessant lust! I can understand why you''d let him have two given the circumstances, but NINE?"


    Enyo tilted her head and looked at her mother with a confused face. "But it really was me that made him do it?"


    "... What?"


    "It was me. The sect master is a really reliable prophet, thanks to his magic, and so I was curious to see what the future would hold for us. I already knew deep down I wouldn''t be the only one and I''m fine with the prophesized nine. Actually I''m more than ''fine'', I''m the one who encouraged it and he''s the one that fought against it. I want to have a bigger family. I don''t want anyone that loves Ares to the extent I do to be turned away and, most importantly of all, I also want to play with the other wives. How could I possibly deny myself all the fun I could have with them in the bedroom?! Sex is great, you know?"


    Ack


    Rhea very nearly choked on her coffee as she did a spit take. She made sure to shield Appa from the spilled coffee which everyone else appreciated. "Are you serious?! What on earth has gotten into you... Actually, don''t answer that question please, the way you are now you''ll probably think that was a double entendre¡­" Rhea sighed and put her hand on her head. "So you''ve already done it, then?"


    Enyo tilted her head yet again. "No? We''ve not gone all the way yet. That''ll happen very soon but right now we''re just having fun in other ways."


    "Ok Ok, I don''t need that kind of information thank you very much. Jesus. When I heard you''d changed, I didn''t think it was to this extent... You''re basically a different woman entirely!... But I mean are you sure about the multiple wives thing, Enyo? Like really sure? Men are fickle creatures and there''s no guarantee he''ll keep you in his heart if you go down this route..."


    "He will. It''s not blind optimism, mum, I know he will because I''ve already left my mark on him and there''s no way for him to get rid of it. I assure you he won''t forget me no matter what. Also, I trust him."


    "Blind faith..." Rhea looked up at the ceiling and muttered under her breath that she ''wasn''t one to talk''. She looked back down at Ares. "Can you promise me you won''t abandon her?"


    Ares put down his own drink, looked Rhea straight in the eye, and responded convincingly with certainty. "It will never happen. I''m making this clear here and now that I would sooner abandon all eight other wives, whoever they may be, rather than ever hurt Enyo in any way. Enyo is my priority now and always. If I ever feel like having multiple wives interferes with that in whatever way then I will not hesitate to call this whole thing off. I understand your caution Rhea but I assure you no one is more wary of this situation than I am."


    "... I see. For now I''ll apologise to you. It seems I should have been demanding answers from my braindead daughter on this matter instead. I''ll pester her for more information on that later, for now though I''m not quite done with you. What do you plan on doing with your life going forward? I''m aware this is a hard question what with the whole war thing but I''m interested in your answer. Do you plan on cultivating? Do you want to become a chef? What are your goals?"


    "You know Mako, right?"


    "I do. What of it?"


    "I have a fundamental pillar just like he does."


    "Is that true?! I knew there were six of them but I never thought there would be another somewhere inside this bottled-off segment of domains... And to think it would be so close to home... And a revenant no less. That''s quite troubling... I have to ask you about your stance on the war now, it can''t be ignored. Also, after, could you explain your pillar to me? I''m very interested in the fundamental pillars."


    "Sure. I have no interest in the war. I think it should be ended and no action I take regarding the war will ever be for the advancement of any other purpose. Naturally I have my task, and that obviously takes precedence, but I also have every intention of poking my head around the war and seeing what I can do to quell the bloodshed where possible. The fundamental pillars are incredible things and I believe that, thanks to mine, I have the tools necessary to make a difference so that is my goal... Or one of them at least. It''s not the most pressing item on my agenda as there''s little I can do right this instance towards that goal but it is there and something I plan on dealing with before I venture further abroad than Vraizon."


    "The tools to make it happen, huh. I''ve seen, to some extent, what the fundamental pillars do and how they break various rules... Which one of the six do you possess?"


    "Destruction. Even amongst the fundamental pillars it''s pretty unique. If the fundamental pillars were ranked in terms of pure output and power, destruction sits uncontested at number one. It''s undoubtedly brutish but it does work."


    "Destruction... Although I''m curious to see it, that can wait for later. You said you had more than one goal, what are the others?"


    "Raise my cultivation, explore the world, save the world, keep my family happy no matter the cost, make bigger explosions. That about sums up the miscellaneous stuff. If I had to pick one goal that I''m currently focussed on... I suppose I''d like to learn more about my family? I guess? There''ll supposedly be a bunch of revenants attending the international so I was hoping I could ask around and maybe figure something out."


    "That was something I wanted to ask you about. I want to know who you''re parents are. If they''re hardliners it might complicate things somewhat. Then again, provided you aren''t dead set on following anyone else''s wishes it could also not be relevant at all. Still it''s safer to have a rough idea so can you tell me? Or rather, what do you mean you want to learn more about them?"


    "Well I mean I have no idea who the hell they are to begin with. As much as I''d love to answer your questions, I didn''t even know I was a revenant up until around a month ago let alone what they even were. I''m completely in the dark here."


    "How is that even possible?... Were you abandoned as a child?"


    "No, but I did ''die'' the day I was born. There''s nothing else for me to go by so I just have to grasp at straws and go around asking. Then again, I do have this treasure that belonged to my clan, so that might make getting to the bottom of things easier." Ares pensively rested his chin on his thumb and stroked the side of his cheek with his index finger. He was trying to figure out how he was going to approach his clan members to get information during the tournament but he was taken aback when he saw Rhea''s reaction to his previous statements. She was quivering with a wide open jaw and stammering as her wobbly finger pointed at him. Her head was leaning slightly back as if she were trying to escape some kind of problem and her irises were shakily darting back and forth.


    CAPE?! CLAN TREASAURE?! STYGIAN ZEPHYR?! DIED AT BIRTH?! Rhea swallowed her built up saliva and nervously asked the question to end all questions... "Y... Y... You... What... What is... What is your... Name? Name? What is it?! What is your name?!"


    "Hm? Oh, you know, it''s funny you mention that..."


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    I DON''T CARE IF ITS FUNNY! ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!


    "...All of your children are named after Gods and Goddesses, no?"


    WHO BLOODY CARES? ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION YOU BASTARD!


    "... Ha, in that case I''ll fit right in!"


    NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO


    "... ''Cos after all..."


    OHFUCKINGSONOFABITCHABOVEITREALLYFUCKINGISTHISSTUPIDCUNTI''MGOINGTOBETIEDTOTHEHIPWITHTHATDAMNABLECOCKROACHCALLAANDIFSHEEVERFINDSOUTIINTERVIEWEDHERSONSHE''LLNEVERLETMEGOI''LLBETORTUREDTODEATHFORHAVINGTHENERVETOJUDGEHERCHILDOHSWEETCHRISTI''MHAPPYFORHERBUTTHISISFUCKEDFORMEDAMNITANDI''MLOSINGTWODAUGHTERSTOTHATSTUPIDWOMANANDOHDEARGODBELLONAINEEDTOTELLBELLONATHATTHISISAWKWARDASHELLFORHERBUTIT''SALSOKINDAGREATFORMENOWMAYBEICANSEEASTERAGAINYIPPEEBUTALSOFUCKTHISISCOMPLICATEDDAMNIT


    "... My name is Ares."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Rhea collapsed sideways onto Enyo''s lap and fainted. Appa giggled and poked Rhea''s nose as everyone else wrapped their head around the unconscious Legion clan matriarch.


    Ares grinned smugly and leaned back in his seat with his arms resting behind his head. "Heh, it seems my reputation precedes me."


    "You wish you dumb mutt! The hell did you do to our mother?!" Bellona waved her fist angrily at Ares who''d just RKO''d her mother somehow.


    "I really have no idea. Perhaps we should wake her up and find out?"


    Sadie leant over the sofa and took joy in roughly poking the demon awake. Of course the second Rhea showed signs of life she panicked and ducked behind cover to avoid detection.


    Rhea got up and rubbed her eyes while tapping her finger against the table. She ate another cookie and drunk her coffee to calm herself down but every time she looked up at Ares she wanted to scream. She managed to put aside all the worries for now and explain. "You. Have you heard the name Calla before?"


    "Uh, briefly, yes. She''s the matriarch of the Umbra Wolves if I''m remembering correctly."


    "Yeah, that too. She''s also your mother."


    "What?" Sadie and co were more taken aback by this than Ares. "Impossible! Calla only has five children!"


    "That''s just what everyone other than the matriarchs and patriarchs know. Eighteen years ago Calla was due to give birth. She''d kept it a secret for the most part because tensions were high amidst the clans and she was hesitant to let word spread. She did tell her friends, the other three matriarchs including me, though. When the specific due date was given I was pretty excited and chatted with Margaret and Serene about it over a communication talisman... That was my mistake. Major overheard and decided to be a massive piece of shit as per usual. Our relationship had been at rock bottom to begin with by this point but what he did next is the reason we don''t speak to each other anymore. You see, when a female cultivator gives birth they''re significantly weakened for a long period of time. Major wanted to use this to launch a large scale invasion against the Umbra Wolves while Calla was weak. Ares, your birth was supposed to be a happy occasion but it was ruined by that one idiot and, for that, I''m sorry because I''m also partly to blame for my carelessness. Your mother gave birth successfully while the other matriarchs, myself included, went to go and try stop things on the front lines but Major had snuck around with an elite group. Calla and Aster, your father, didn''t think they''d make it out alive so they opted to complete the resurrection ritual that put you in Sheryashka for your sake. When I realised what was happening I made it back in time to keep them alive but I was too late to help you as you were already gone by that point. From then on Calla always went a bit loopy at that time of the year and started taking revenge on everyone who was part of the attack. It took her a long while to forgive me. We spoke a couple of times, and something pretty important that I need to talk to Bellona about happened a month after the incident, but she never really treated me like normal again until about ten years later. Even now she still frequently gets catty with me because of it. I really don''t blame her and I would have been furious too, so I understand the lingering resentment. Still, I''m glad to have found you at least. She''ll be seriously over the moon to have you back... Although you should prepare yourself. She''s quite overwhelming and gets really attached to her children. I don''t think she''ll leave you alone the second she sniffs you out. Also... I have no issues with you being in a relationship with Enyo... I mean you seem alright and you''ve done good by her... But more than anything if I say no Calla will beat me to death... So you lucked out in that sense... I''ve peppered you with questions but its only right I let you ask away now because I''m sure you must have loads. Before that, though, I ought to tell Bellona what I need to. Think about your questions for a minute."


    Rhea turned to Bellona and kissed her on the forehead. "I don''t know if you''ll be incredibly pleased or incredibly upset about this but I think you should know regardless. It''s especially relevant now too... So listen up." Rhea created a mental connection between her, Bellona, Enyo, and Sadie before talking about what was on her mind. As her explanation continued, Bellona''s face twisted into various expressions that Ares found amusing. He was a tad worried for a bit near the middle when he saw her look somewhat depressed but, by the end of it, she was actually far happier than he''d ever seen her before. Whatever it was, she seemed to have come to terms with it quite rapidly. Considering the fact she''d been this close to crying not even a minute ago during the explanation, this was a far better outcome. Enyo''s reaction was interesting too because she was giving her mother a stare so flat it might as well have been Bellona''s chest. Even Rhea felt somewhat sheepish when confronted directly by Enyo like this.


    "Mother, what was it you were telling me earlier? Would you care to explain yourself!?" Enyo sounded a tad peeved and Ares could tell it was because there was some form of hypocrisy at foot. Still, it wasn''t his place to pry so he didn''t ask. If Enyo told him what was happening after then so be it. If she didn''t then that was fine too.


    Rhea''s face was blushed as her hands darted for another cookie. "Look, it is what it is. It happened... And will maybe happen again... BUT THAT DOESN''T MATTER RIGHT NOW!" Rhea shoved the cookie inside Enyo''s gob and turned to Bellona. "You''re really not upset? I''d understand if you were. You can be honest with me, you know?"


    Bellona shook her head and leaned on her mother. "No. Why would I be upset about this? I can''t deny it''s awkward but it''s already in motion. It doesn''t change what I think or what I plan to do and, overall, I''d say it''s a net positive. It caused me problems but it also means I''m free from those same problems now... Ha, turns out Dominus was right. I''m surprised he could see it so easily."


    "Dominus?! Where the hell did that name come from?"


    "Ah, he''s currently living inside Ares. He jumps out every now and then to kick our asses before he goes back into hiding. It''s a long story."


    "Yeah, well, I have a lot of free time... Ares, ask your questions first. I''ll ask about your pillar and Dominus after. Seriously, you''re a real bundle of baggage..."


    "Gee, thanks. Anyways. I''ve heard a decent amount about my mother, enough to get a rough picture anyway, but what kind of person is my father?"


    Rhea''s mouth twitched and Enyo nudged her with a smirk. "He''s a kind hearted person at his core but you have to deal with all sorts of excess bullshit to get to that point. Outwardly he''s insufferable, likes to beat up his sons under the guise of ''sparring'', difficult to keep track of because he''s always Blinking around at his own pace, and he thinks he''s the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel. Beyond that, though, he''s a family man through and through and probably more devastated by the loss of you than your mother. He looked stoic and kept up appearances to comfort Calla but it was painfully obvious he was furious and wanted nothing more than to tear Major in half. There are no lengths he wouldn''t go to for his peoples'' safety and comfort. He can be funny in a real dorkish way sometimes and he''s a really strong cultivator. Looks wise, you actually reminded me of him when I first saw you. If you bulked up you''d be his spitting image for sure. Of all his sons, you bear the closest resemblance now that I get a good look at you."


    "Well I''m an adept so I''ll have to shelve the idea of bulking up for now..."


    "Ah, so is your mother by the way. Speed trait, so good luck running away from her."


    "Huh, the more you know... Ok, question number two. Honestly, will who, and what, I am cause problems going forward with the Legion clan? I need to know so I can try to plan around it. If the Legion clan thinks I''m someone that can''t be ignored due to my fundamental pillar, and are going to cause issues, I''d like to know beforehand. I''ve got big plans for the future and this is pretty important."


    "That''s tough to say for certain. I have authority but I don''t control a majority of the clan, and so I don''t have as much of a say as I''d like, but what looks bad looks bad. We''re familiar with the duties of the fundamental champions at least and convincing the majority of the Legions to go along with hassling you would be nigh impossible. Only diehard revenant detesters would ever even consider it. That''s still quite a fair few people in the grand scheme of things, though, so the answer to your question is not a definite no. I wouldn''t be paranoid, if I were you, but I would be cautious when running around Vraizon as a safety measure just in case."


    "Thank you. Question three. Why is my name Ares? Normally I wouldn''t ask this but after learning how close you were to my mother it seems like there might have been some kind of intention behind it. I''m really just curious though."


    "Your mother has always been weirdly keen about anything involving her children. For instance, she was confident this would be the year she found you when coming down for her visit to Sheryashka, and her wild guess will be accurate if my eyes aren''t playing tricks on me. Her perceptiveness at any other time is pretty useless but when it comes to her children I''d be willing to bet large sums of stardust agreeing with her predictions. As for you, when you were still a foetus in her womb, she had a premonition that you would be someone incredible. Someone who shone in combat. She was already somewhat annoyed with Major prior to the incident so naming you Ares was kind of like a petty jab at him. Calla stole the naming convention and indirectly challenged him by saying ''my child will be stronger than all of yours. He will be the God of war you sought after but never had''. Don''t get me wrong though, she did really fall in love with the name otherwise she never would have called you that. Calla is petty but nowhere near petty enough to permanently affect her child''s life going forward just to enact vengeance. If she didn''t like it, the name would never have seen the light of day. As for you ending up with Enyo... That''s just fate playing cruel tricks."


    "Speaking of Fate, you don''t mind if my silly sister keeps eavesdropping outside do you?"


    The tiny menace peeked over the window sill and growled at Ares.


    "That''s fine. I have nothing to hide from the twerp anyway." Rhea gestured to Fate. "It''s been a while. Why don''t you come inside and have some cookies? You can say hello to your long lost brother while you''re at it."


    It was apparent that Fate was undergoing some kind of internal turmoil. Probably because ''dumb dog Ares'' had actually been her own relative all along and the chances of him getting bullied by Calla sunk straight to zero. There were negative chances for her mother to get angry with her own child, especially if what Fate had overheard about him going missing was true. Calla would obsess over Ares for a good while due to everything that had happened with him before she felt remotely satisfied and berating him wasn''t even in the cards. She was brought back to reality by Ares'' warm palm resting on her head as he looked down at her with a cheeky smile.


    "Come on little sis'', your big brother is a really good cook. Come in and get to know everyone over some cookies and some lunch."


    Fate puffed up her cheeks but ended up coming inside anyway. She tried sitting next to Ares but he shifted underneath her and made her sit on his lap as he patted her head. Ares was all smiles because he''d finally found a family member. Yeah she could be mouthy and annoying sometimes but she was still kinda cute in her own way. He treated her like a little ankle biter. Ares was giddy at having a little sister that was blood related so he pampered her and offered her cookies and milk. She nibbled on the cookies like a squirrel and thoroughly enjoyed them, not that she made it obvious via her facial expressions. Fate was a little princess type, the kind that would hmph at you when she was secretly happy. Actually, that was exactly what she did when Ares asked her if she was enjoying the food and he simply chuckled at her response. Ares was originally going to ask Rhea some more questions but he figured he may as well direct some of them to Fate instead and try to get closer to her that way. In the mean time Rhea could have a chat with her daughters about this and that and catch up.


    While all this was happening Ares decided to make some lunch in the background. He asked what everyone wanted and paid particular attention to his two new guest''s requests to get a feel for what kinda food they liked to eat going forward. Rhea wanted fish and chips and Ares realised that the Legion women all seemed to really enjoy foods that went well with beer... Sadie liked calzones. Bellona wanted hamburgers for her birthday. And now this... Ares'' view of the Legion clan''s women as stoic and powerful was deteriorating day by day. They were all sex pests, gluttons, lazy, and / or alcoholics! These women were the embodiment of sin, not holiness! As for Fate, she wanted chicken and sausage gumbo. Ares worked on these dishes in the background as he formulated all the remaining questions he wanted to ask in his mind.


    Today had been a fantastic day. Meeting Rhea had turned out way better than he thought for reasons he couldn''t have possibly ever imagined and he was glad it had happened. Everything seemed to fall into place and the horizon looked bright for Ares who would be able to meet the rest of his family in a couple days. He was already this merry after just meeting one sister so he was looking forward to the rest. It also seemed like he had the wrong idea bout his parents. What they''d said at the time of his death implied they cared more about their expectations for him than him himself but that was evidently not true. A real weight had been lifted off his shoulders thanks to the information he''d gathered so far and he had every intention of collecting more. Specifically, his next question was about all of his brothers'' and sisters'' ages because, although he wouldn''t mind if Fate was actually fifty or something, her sitting on his lap like this would suddenly become a whole lot less cute... Not that she wasn''t still an adorable little munchkin. Ares took great joy in occasionally pinching her cheek. She pretended not to like it and yet she made no effort to escape from him. Although Enyo was preoccupied with talking to Rhea about various matters she did keep an eye on Ares mostly because she liked seeing him this cheerful... Even if the tiny rat on his lap was a disagreeable rodent at times... Still, Enyo would just have to get used to seeing her around. Oh well, can''t win ''em all.

 Chapter 113: A Six Wolf Litter

    Fate shifted over and sat on the sofa properly when Ares gave her some lunch. She pecked away at it to check and see if it was really any good or not and her eyes lit up when a burst of flavour satisfied her taste buds. She really made an effort not to smile in delight which Ares got a kick out of as he teasingly poked her in the arm a couple of times. Fate aside, it seemed Rhea was also really enjoying her meal as she chowed down with gusto. Naturally he''d busted out the beer too and all five of the Legion women present opted to drink some. Ay Caramba. He was reminded by this sight that he owed the Legion family a banquet at some point so he would have to consider what to make. If Rhea liked fish then he would be sure to have that on the menu. As for the specifics, he would ask at a later date when everyone was in Red Sun and could make their own choices. Ares asked Fate the questions he was curious about, namely what kind of people were his brothers and sisters and how old they all were. Fate swallowed some of her meal and started listing off Calla and Aster''s kin.


    "Scar is the oldest brother and the strongest of all of us. He takes after dad and fights with his bare fists and space-time magic, so he''s a bit of a brawler. With chains on his fists and a bare upper body he looks kinda like a punk sometimes but he''s actually a calm man of few words who likes peace and quiet. If you ever want to find him back on our home planet, there''s a waterfall he likes to cultivate under and a peach tree he visits frequently. If you have a problem, and our parents are busy, you should go to him. He was twenty before he was killed and sent down here, and he was sent a little earlier than the rest of us to forge a path, so to speak, so that should make him roughly forty years old total. Revenants tend not to be too fussy with exact ages because remembering it after countless deaths becomes tedious. If I get any wrong then whoopsie, but it doesn''t really matter much for us anyway. That being said, I think Calla might know all the exact dates so you could always ask her. She also has God only knows how many photo albums of us...


    The second oldest is Skyzo. He''s an assassin but he''s also incredibly lazy. He always has bags under his eyes and he''s never not tired. Everything is a hassle to him but don''t think that means he won''t do his job when he''s asked to. He''ll moan and complain but he''ll help you out regardless. He has a very strange skill set because his magic makes him stronger based on the amount of people looking at him. It''s kinda ass-backwards for an assassin but it suits him. Instead of having to work hard and sneak around he just walks up to his target and overwhelms them in broad daylight... I don''t even really know if he can be called an ''assassin'' at that point but he makes it work somehow. He also has a unique magic that forcibly creates aggressive clones of his enemy. The more enemies the stronger he gets, after all. Plus clones are weaker than the original so the strength he gains is greater than the issues the clones cause. Also, for an assassin, he''s strangely useful during wars as a frontline menace. He''s the hardest of us to track down but he''ll always pay attention to us and be there if we need him... Although I hate it when he flicks me on the nose. It''s annoying. Also also, don''t let him fool you, he''s like a sloth most of the time but he''s very quick on his feet when he wants to be and actually decides to put some effort in. He''s roughly twenty five years old now total.


    The third oldest is Venus, our only other sister. She''s kinda like Skyzo in that she thinks everything is a hassle but she''s more vocal and whiny about it than he is. She has a bit of a temper and gets agitated easily but she has a soft spot for younger guys and wants to be the queen of her own shota-filled harem. She''s really dead set on it too and it''s basically the only time you''ll ever see her happy about pretty much anything when she''s discussing it. She''s arrogant and likes to show off her achievements whenever possible because she always wants to be the best at everything even if she pretends she doesn''t care or wasn''t trying when she loses. She doesn''t like fighting much but is quite good at it which makes her really annoying to spar with because she''s dismissive of her opponents and generally really rude. Her preferred weapons are guns and she has an affiliation for their aspect too. Her magic lets her control the direction of bullets after they''ve been fired so she chases you down if you try to dodge or circumvent your block if you try to guard. She''ll just keep firing at you while looking at her nails or something and treat you like an inconvenience. She hates nothing more than having to move from her spot during a duel and she''ll actually get quite mad if her opponent doesn''t die quickly. Across both of her lives so far she''s lived for about twenty one years overall.


    Fourth is Verv, our loud, manic brother. He''s a bit of a crazy loose cannon and, sometimes, he''ll be minding his own business before just randomly exploding with energy and running around looking for a fight. He''s a wild child with erratic behaviour that really likes fighting compared to the rest of us. Annoyingly he uses a pretty massive great sword so, when he goes on a rampage, he''s quite destructive. As if his random bouts of mania weren''t enough as is, he specialises in berserk magic and really goes off the rails mid combat. Strangely enough, though, he never loses control of himself whenever he uses the magic. He never attacks friends or family and he never injures himself either. I''d argue he even gets a little smarter during it, even if he does lose the ability to speak... He''s unreliable so don''t ask him for anything because he''ll either forget or just simply fail miserably. When Verv gets bored, and that happens a lot, he gets real fidgety and will fight whoever''s closest to him so keep that in mind. Don''t get me wrong though, he''s a good person and mostly sane. He just gives in to his cravings and has no self-control for these things. Although not the strongest, he is very talented. If it weren''t for the difference in experience he might actually take the top spot from Scar. He''s never beaten him once though, so he has his work cut out for him. Now that you''re in the picture expect him to bother you often, especially after he sees that magic of yours. You''ll become his new favourite chew toy in no time. He''s nineteen if I''m not mistaken.


    Fifth is... Well it used to be me but now I guess that position belongs to you... I''m not going to explain you to yourself so I''ll skip you. I''m the youngest and therefore sixth. I''m the kindest, sweetest, and most honest of everyone. I''m our parents'' favourite and always will be. Although combat isn''t my forte, I have more specialties than everyone else like infiltration, stealth, scouting, and to some extent hacking. Technology is pretty rare in the lower domains so it''s hard to practice and get good at but, luckily, mum and dad took me on a trip to that one simulated planet in Vraizon and I learnt a fair bit there. Because I''m not cut out for fighting, mum and dad gave me lots of treasures to help me fend off attackers. A few of them became personal treasures and I''m loaded with good stuff that synergises well with the kind of approach I take to a fight. My magic is primarily stealth-oriented but I also have some magic under the passive pillar. It makes the frequency at which I end up in bad predicaments way higher but also massively boosts my luck. In other words, stuff like when I was getting hassled by those guys in the forest but then you showed up and gave me all those Beads. I was looking for a way to con you and my magic just sort of made it possible. I like scheming and this magic makes it easier to pull of complicated plans. The outcome is almost always good but that doesn''t stop everyone else from worrying about my safety so I get babied a lot by everyone. It''s why I get given most of the treasures mum and dad find and why no one else complains about it. Also it''s because I''m cute."


    Ares petted Fate and smiled. "Yes yes, very cute. Do you need anymore Beads? I can give you some if you''ve run out." Ares could understand the desire to protect this tiny troublemaker so he figured he would do his part. Granted with all the treasures Fate had on her the likelihood of her running into an unsolvable issue was low but being safe was infinitely better than being sorry. Also if he was handing out Beads to his neighbours and fellow disciples for free, or close to it, then donating them to his family was a given. Ares fished around the Primordial Blade and brought out two bags of each type of Bead and gave them to Fate who struggled to eek out a ''thank you'' under her breath. Her cheeks went red as Ares laughed at her so she threw a mini tantrum and banged her fists against his arm.


    Over on the other sofa, Rhea was being bombarded by one of Enyo''s rants. She''d been discussing marriage first and went of on a verbal rampage not dissimilar to the one she pulled off a while ago back when Trew was being annoying. This barely intelligible string of syllables left Rhea gobsmacked but she did her best to follow along and comprehend her daughter''s insanity. She thought she was out of the woods when Enyo finally stopped but, little did she know, her daughter was just getting started. That being said, Enyo did speak at a reasonable pace this time, mostly because it seemed she was actually expecting Rhea to listen and respond this time... Her last rant was clearly just for personal satisfaction but now it seemed like she was asking for help with funding some shop call My Fair Lady. Rhea had more than enough stardust to do it and, if it was one of her children asking, then there was no reason to turn her down. Rhea did, however, make the mistake of asking for more details about the shop, at which point Enyo started rambling again... Something about the future of pleasure. Rhea couldn''t help but feel like her daughter had taken a strange turn on the path called life but she was having fun at least so good for her. Although the kind of shop she wanted to fund was pretty risqu¨¦, this was on the first times Rhea had ever seen Enyo show interest in just about anything so she didn''t have the heart to deny her this. Also, if what could be gleamed from Enyo''s lengthy speech was true, the quality of the goods seemed high at least. Who knows, maybe Rhea would actually go and check it out herself. It''s not like she came down here for anything specific that she hadn''t already dealt with. Now that she''d found her daughters'' boytoy, and checked him out to see if he was acceptable, she was free to do as she pleased in her spare time. It seemed as though she would stay in one of the guest rooms for a while which was nice. This way she could hang around and play with her granddaughter who was unreasonably adorable. Even now Rhea still couldn''t bear to put Appa down. Appa was too soft and squishy for its own good. Rhea was going to milk her time here for all it was worth before Calla showed up and started hogging the shade because that was basically already a foregone conclusion.


    When all was settled with regards to funding the shop Enyo liked, hooray for nepotism, Rhea stood up and nodded to the back of the house. "Ares, come show me your pillar. I''m curious just what kind of firepower a fundamental pillar can bring to the table. You said yours is objectively the strongest and you''ve piqued my interest. Better not disappoint me or I''ll kick your ass from here to kingdom come, Calla''s child or not." Appa floated onto Rhea''s shoulder and allowed itself to be carried away as everyone else followed along minus Charity and Gladius who went back home after saying hello to their matriarch. They were invited to stay for dinner but they were attempting to make some potato dauphinoise again so Ares wished them the best of luck and headed to the back garden.


    This garden was far more spacious than the previous one but the real cherry on the cake was that there was no traces of vomit in this one. Sadie had been explicitly banned from ever stepping foot out here so she had to watch from the doorway. Appa waited on the side and Leo came out to join in the fun as he hopped on top of Appa''s head for a better view to spectate with. This had become a regular routine for the two but this was the first time Rhea had seen it and she almost fainted after witnessing the devastating cuteness of the treetop tiger draped over Appa''s head like this. Ares was tempted to ruin the moment and explain precisely what a little shit the tiger was but opted not to as Rhea would probably figure it out in her own time. Actually, Ares was very interested to see if Leo had the balls to mess with Rhea. He was a feisty cat. Typically, if he sees the opportunity, he would seize the opportunity.


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    "Alright wolfie, hit me with your best shot." Rhea rubbed her hands together and watched Ares stand across from her.


    Ares made no effort to suggest a Training Field because that was just insulting to Rhea. His Perish Wheel wouldn''t even be able to dent Sadie, let alone Rhea, so it was completely pointless. The only reason he would ever put up a Field was for his own benefit in case Rhea decided to start kicking his ass. That or if he wanted to avoid making a mess of his garden but, for the most part, Rhea would probably just nullify his attacks making that worry irrelevant. Thankfully, even if a mess were to be made, Rud wouldn''t be able to complain. Not unless he had to courage to demand answers from Rhea anyway. Ares imagined Rud trying to threaten to cut Rhea''s wages and just getting buried in the ground like Sadie had been earlier.


    "Perish Wheel." The Wheel of death and destruction was forged in a matter of seconds and ominously buzzed in place. The whole neighbourhood could feel the presence of this thing and hear its infernal, wretched sound tickling their inner ear. Mana swirled around its pointed edges and the grass underfoot was buffeted around unceasingly. Ares took a single step and launched it with all his might at Rhea who whistled to herself as the curved ring of blades approached her.


    Rhea experimented with the Wheel as it rushed towards her. She sent a few drops of magic to test the outer rim and they were fully eviscerated. Next she sent slightly stronger magic that could withstand the black ring and make it into the middle. The magic Rhea threw scattered the golden magic in the centre of the blade but it all teleported back in place as the Wheel kept spinning. Rhea could tell the red magic, whatever it was, acted liked the glue, giving it a second layer of defence other than just the black magic. In short, dismantling this thing should be an unrealistic feat if going toe to toe with this art in a fair fight. Attacking it was out of the question which only left two options. Dodging or blocking. So far this art was very impressive and the destruction pillar was living up to its moniker. The blade whirled towards Rhea who stretched out her arm and caught the blade with her bare hand. She could feel the black magic scratching away at her hand''s atoms. It wasn''t quite a burning sensation, nor was it slicing away at her flesh or dissolving it. It was hard to explain but it was almost as if her hand was rapidly eroding... No, even that wasn''t right. Eroding was a gradual process, this was instantaneous. Rhea could tell that if she lost the war here her hand would simply stop existing immediately. This black magic was ''either you can block it fully or it wins every time''. Plus blocking it was likely very hard because the punch it packed was monstrous. Rhea held back to experience the art fully and analyse it but the fact the art was lasting this long in her grip was indicative of how powerful it truly was. So not only could this Wheel not be attacked, it also couldn''t be blocked as this black magic magic would devastate any defences. Rhea could feel the Wheel pulse so she grabbed the core of it and held the detonating Wheel in place, obstructing the golden magic from rampaging out of control. What she was doing here looked unimpressive but she was essentially containing the entirety of a Perish Wheel explosion inside her curled up fist. To Rhea''s horror, her hand was shaking uncontrollably. She severely underestimated the detonation of this thing and, although she wouldn''t be harmed, restraining the explosion was far more challenging than she could have ever imagined. She could tell roughly how big this explosion would have been if she let it do its thing and that crossed off the last option on the list for dealing with this art as running away would a herculean task against an explosion of this magnitude. Rhea was truly shocked because, if she was at the same cultivation realm as Ares, she couldn''t for the life of her figure out what to do against theist thing. When she''d learnt about the creation pillar and some of its tricks, she was impressed but also felt like it was just cheap. It didn''t really do anything that other pillars couldn''t do, it''s just that it did all of them and to a higher level that was rather overwhelming. She could understand why fundamental pillars would be ridiculous but she hadn''t really appreciated the full extent of it because Mako''s just wasn''t as interesting as this pillar was. Now though? Now she had an inkling of how out of whack these pillars were. This level of sheer destruction was not something that should be accomplishable by someone half way through mental accumulation. Even she wouldn''t be able to do this without at least a realm or two higher cultivation base back in her heyday. Perhaps she''d underestimated Mako too, or maybe what Ares had said about the pillar being unique even amongst the fundamentals was particularly true. Either way these fundamental punks were seriously going to be unstoppable when they got on a roll... Wait a minute... Isn''t part of why Bellona fell in love with this guy the fact that she could double his magic?! That''s actually incredibly frightening. If she doubled an attack like this... The result would be outstanding... No wonder she fell head over heels for him, I wouldn''t be surprised if the silly girl wet herself in ecstasy when she saw this crazy magic for the first time. Steam rose out from the inside of Rhea''s fist. She was uninjured but the art had left an impact at least. Rhea was curious about what the red, black, and red magic were exactly but she could ask when she was done here as experiencing the magic first hand was always way more fun. To that end, she encouraged Ares to throw more attacks at her to which he obliged.


    "Voidwalk. Grand Annihilation." Ares stepped out and appeared directly in front of Rhea. She was fascinated by this as it didn''t look like an ordinary teleport. He seemed to have vanished completely from this world for a split second and that made her curious. Also, as the Grand Annihilation came barrelling towards her she realised the destruction pillar wasn''t a one trick pony. This was seemingly just a normal art under the pillar, one that could be used on repeat for little mana? Incredible. Power aside, it also doubled as a smokescreen which was why Ares had used it in the first place. He knew it would have zero effect. Rhea swatted aside the explosions and sent them thundering off into the sky to her right. As she watched them go, she caught sight of Ares who was also trying to sneak in an attack from above.


    "Stamp out. Echo" Golden mana flowed through his blood, lighting up the Stygian Zephyr in a brilliant gold as he dived down at Rhea. This was the height of his physical attacks currently so he figured he would give it a go.


    Rhea raised her hand and caught his foot squarely in the centre of her palm. The force was not to be trifled with. The Echo rolled around in her hand before being crushed by some redirected mana and the kick had been completely halted but a small shake indicated it would have been devastating if not for Rhea''s massive cultivation base. Ares pivoted on Rhea''s hand and pushed himself down to the floor in front of her.


    "Black Blossom. Gamble." As he fell, Ares activated Black Blossom on his Bane before Gambling to fling himself around Rhea''s flank where he lined up for a slow slash against her side. Rhea went to block with her hand but Ares predicted it in advance and kept going with a Double Jump, pushing himself behind Rhea completely to strike her open back. Rhea made no effort to block the art and simply let it happen as she hardened the muscles on her back.


    ROAR


    The disintegration magic tickled her back and sent shivers down her spine as it threatened to devour her. This attack was also very impressive and any normal person would have disappeared already. For someone like Rhea though the art may as well have been called Backscratcher for all the difference it would have made. Rhea plucked some of the petals out of the air and inspected them closely. Upon determining they were just as lethal the rest of the black magic, she looked on in awe at the sheer number of them raining down on her position. Through the petal storm she could also see Ares ''flying'' above. Being able to fly at this cultivation level was rare. Rhea connected the dots and realised the flight was connected to the teleporting art earlier and she was gobsmacked. Jealous even. A mobility art, capable of flight, that passively boosted combat prowess for cheap was a beautiful thing. The traditional flight technical didn''t aid you in any other way and was really just an annoying but necessary mana sink. Rhea was curious to see if this pillar had any means of defending itself other than just teleporting out of existence temporarily. The pillar didn''t really even need it though. After a certain point, offense became all-encompassing. Why use a defensive art when you can just break the attack with an offensive one? Would you even need to defend if your opponent was dead? Still, Rhea checked anyway by summoning a hundred holy swords and raining them down on Ares.


    Ares returned to the floor and looked up at the oncoming bright and pointy hail of doom. "Not Even Light. Chaos Reigns." While distracting Rhea with the defensive art above, he lifted up the Shock Beads he''d buried around Rhea during his Gamble below.


    Rhea first and foremost looked down to see the traps that had been sprung. This was good. Versatility was an important factor and she was glad to see he had some underhanded tricks up his sleeve. Actually, this was evil. Walking along and suddenly being surrounded by tens of these things would be rather mean. The Beads were sent into the air, by the wind pressure of Rhea''s arm swiping them away, where they detonated harmlessly like a fireworks display. Rhea then glanced back upwards to see the other art Ares had casted successfully fend of the swords. Again, incredible. Wide range magic denial was hard to come by and this art seemed to be in a class of its own. The speed and cheapness of the golden magic, the raw power and applications of the black magic, plus the mobility and utility of the red magic combined to create a pillar that commanded respect. Whilst Rhea thought this, the blackhole that swallowed up her magic descended, picking up the nearby petals and becoming a twisting black storm. A neat trick, and one that would absolutely be useful but to Rhea it was still just meaningless. She threw out a small ball of holy magic that floated towards the blackhole, evaporating it with burning light that cleared away the art and the remaining petals. Once again, Ares had vanished. Rhea figured he would throw out a last ditch attempt and call it a day but what happened next caused her to jump in fright and retreat to the other end of the garden.


    Ares slid out of the shadows and stroked his chin after seeing Rhea''s reaction. She''d felt the weight of a universe come bearing down on her and, for a spilt second, thought she was about to bite the dust. Ares probably couldn''t reveal the secret but what he''d done was use the Prowler to hide in Rhea''s shadow as he coated the Primordial Blade, still sheathed, in disintegration magic. He threatened to thrust it while unleashing some serious killing intent and that seemingly scared the bejesus out of Rhea. This wasn''t something he could do carelessly and he had to make sure there were never any witnesses left alive after actually pulling this off and going through with it. If Rhea''s reaction was any indication, however, this would absolutely kill a person dead a thousand times over if he ever used it seriously. Being able to lift the weapon was a start but that was really all he could do with it currently. If it could threaten even someone like Rhea then this thing was deadly. It was also the last tool in his arsenal, though, so if things ever got to that point it would be rough sailing for sure. On that note, he was done here and had nothing left to show Rhea. Only Dominus and Astraeus remained but he couldn''t really use either. Dominus was cooling off still, although he was nearly back as it had been just under two weeks, and Astraeus was needed at a later date so couldn''t be used pointlessly here... Well, there was technically one other art he''d created recently. This one was a complete last resort, more so than even using than the blade. He could use it in the Training Field and literally nowhere else because it was absolutely suicidal. Ares had no plans on using it any time soon but he kept it tucked away neatly in his back pocket for a rainy day. As for right now, Ares was going to have to figure out some kind of excuse in order to shake off Rhea who was stomping towards him with a demonic look in her eyes... Learning about the lethality of the Blade was a great boon but, in hindsight, maybe he shouldn''t have done it against his mother in law...

 Chapter 114: Turncoat Rhea

    "THE HELL WAS THAT PUNK?!" An angry Rhea stomped across the garden towards Ares who could do naught but smile wryly and accept his fate.


    "Uhh... A secret?"


    "Secret my ass! I want a proper answer damnit!"


    "I mean if you''re gonna beat it out of me and I have no choice then fine but it really is the kinda thing that''s best known by as few people as possible..."


    "How many other people know about it?"


    "Two."


    "... So you actually are being tight lipped with it then... Aw man now I''m curious. Can I please know? I mean what kinda trouble could I cause just knowing about it?"


    "Please recall what happened eighteen years ago when you blabbered a secret out loud before asking such a blatantly silly question!" Of all the people for Rhea to try and play this card on Ares was perhaps the worst possible candidate. It was her actions that put him in his position in the first place!


    Ack


    Rhea recoiled at the accusation that pierced her argument and skewered it for all to see. She was downtrodden but that quickly changed when Enyo sighed on the side and extended her mother an olive branch. "Ares, I think it''s fine if mum and Bellona know about this at least. Fate''s a twerp and Sadie gets a little too loose lipped when drunk for my liking, though, so they can kick rocks. Fate stuck her tongue out at Enyo and pranced her way inside the house and Sadie was about to refute Enyo when Rhea glared at her. Thus the matter was settled and the mother daughter trio huddled in the corner of the garden. Rhea created a dome of magic to prevent anyone from looking in and Ares whipped out the Blade. Before he could even start explaining Rhea could tell this thing was extraordinary. It just oozed an otherworldly power, one that she recognised as the aura that scared her out of her wits. Rather than give a long-winded explanation, Ares simply allowed them to touch it and see its history. In the mean time, while Bellona and Rhea were engrossed in the birth and downfall of a universe, Ares sent a mental connection to Enyo.


    [We should also tell Bellona about that. I don''t think its right to hide the full story from someone who''s going to be close to us in the future. I can make an exception for Aejaz, Appa, and so on, but I think not telling the wives, present and future, would seriously complicate the relationship in the long run. Obviously I''m not saying I should dump it on them the second we meet, and I have to be really careful with who I tell this to, but keeping that secret would likely ruin my relationship with at least one of the wives, I bet.]


    Enyo closed her eyes and thought for a moment. [You''re right. It''s a difficult decision, and things could go horribly wrong, but its a necessary step. If the truth turns anyone away then that''s just how it has to be. This isn''t something you can just not tell someone who falls in love with you about... I''m not worried about Bellona. She won''t care about this as much as I do. It''s everyone that comes after. I guess it''ll come down to trust in the end. We can worry about this whenever the third wife becomes relevant, for now we tell Bellona... Actually you shouldn''t be involved, I think. She might wonder why you''re telling her specifically but if I myself frame it as a thing she needs to know before becoming your wife then that would make more sense. Honestly this whole play pretend thing is annoying. I wish this stupid girl would just be honest so we can move on, but whatever.]


    [Ok, it''s settled then. After this I''ll go in and put up a disintegration barrier around Bellona''s room. You can put up a sound barrier and talk aloud but, just in case, I would recommend you talk with a mental connection.]


    [Alright.]


    As Enyo and Ares finished up their conversation, Bellona and Rhea returned from the Primordial Blade infomercial. Rhea was salivating as she eyed up the sword and Bellona was looking between Ares and Enyo while dumbly pointing at the weapon. Rhea eventually gave up with a strong sigh and a crestfallen face as it fully dawned on her that the sword was completely inaccessible to her. Even just needing to use the destruction pillar made it outright impossible to wield this thing, let alone the fact that it was her son-in-law''s personal treasure. Unless she was willing to kill her daughter''s husband, and her friend Calla''s son, then it was unobtainable for that reason too. Hell, Ares was a revenant so even that last point was debatable. Revenants had already figured out that some treasures, depending on how they were bound to the person, could be kept even after death. Items that merged with a revenant''s soul, for instance, would just never disappear. The Blade was likely similar in that regard. Of course Rhea would never kill Ares anyway but she did wish she could at least swing this thing one day. As for Bellona, she had a burning question that she needed the answer to she turned to Ares. "Please, for the love of all that is fucking holy, PLEASE, tell me that ISN''T where you store your damn kitchen!"


    "It is! It''s even got a neat ability that lets me speed up time somewhat so I can cook things quicker in there!" Ares returned his answer with a thumbs up and a bright smile and Bellona tackled the idiot milliseconds after he finished responding. She rolled on top of him and started choking him out.


    "Outrageous! Moron! I don''t even wanna know how many stupid things you''ve done with this treasure!"


    Ares thought it would be funny to struggle out of Bellona''s chokehold and mutter another example of his haphazard use of the Blade just to irk her some more. "Those skewers we had yesterday were cooked by one of the suns in that universe!"


    "BASTARD!" The roughhousing continued and the two rolled around playfully on the grass. Rhea couldn''t help but chuckle at the sight of this as it was nice reassurance that they really got along with each other. She''d been somewhat worried that Bellona only cared about Ares for his magic but that didn''t seem to be the case.


    "Bellona!" Ares cried. "I''m not the pillow! Don''t put your hand there!" Ares'' joke caused Bellona to roll off him and put some distance between them the second he said it.


    "I did not!"


    "Did too!" Bellona, in fact, did not. That didn''t stop Ares from bickering with her, however. "Enyo, your sister is a perv!"


    Enyo just snorted. If anyone here was a perv, it was her. Bellona wasn''t going to steal that title from her no matter how hard she tried!... Not that she probably wanted it anyway. The fact that Enyo did, and was proud of it, was the real headscratcher. "Yes, well, there''s something us two perverts need to discuss in private. Come on sis''." Enyo dragged Bellona away and Ares went after them to put up the disintegration layer around the room. Once that was done Ares left Appa in the care of Rhea and went into the kitchen to start prepping some dinner. Rhea followed him in, though, as curiosity had gotten the better of her and she wanted to asked Ares a question.


    "If you don''t mind me asking, what kind of life have you lived? Where did you come back to life in this domain? Was it here in Red Sun?"


    Ares decided on what today''s dinner was going to be, Lancashire hotpot, and started bringing the ingredients out of the Primordial Blade as he answered Rhea. "Yeah, I was born here in Red Sun. I was ''taken in'' by a nearby clan that made me a slave. It wasn''t too bad, I mostly just cleaned up after everyone. Had to run away from a few of the nastier individuals though but most of them were idiots so that wasn''t particularly challenging. I spent about twelve years there before managing to get out, at which point I lived on the streets with Aejaz, my ''brother'', for six years. During that time I took up wet work with a guy that runs a part of this town called Hans. Afterwards I came here and attracted the attention of a very justice oriented individual and we happened to wind up on a mission together. We didn''t get along at first, not even remotely, but I liked her so I persevered and eventually managed to either drive her insane or make her feel sorry for me. I don''t know which one it was but it worked out somehow; and that''s about it really. Even despite being a fundamental champion I really haven''t lived an interesting life by any real metric. I guess having plans to explore this domain after the tournament will maybe spice things up a bit bur for now there''s not much going on."


    Rhea didn''t quite know how to respond to this because, even though Ares really didn''t seem to care, he''d technically been made a slave due to Rhea''s mistake. She felt guilty and deep down she was seriously worried Calla was going to go mental when she heard it. "The clan that enslaved you... Are they still around?"


    "Kind of. They''ve been losing members left and right for various reasons. Their reputation is abysmal so that drove a fair few away, plus I''ve killed more than just a handful myself. Most, if not all, of them are shady people so hits get put out for them on the regular. Their patriarch has a decent cultivation and ties to the mayor so he''s relatively safe but everyone else has to be cautious walking the streets. After I raise my cultivation a bit I''ll deal with the ones that are still remaining, however many or however few there are. The two people in the clan I had the biggest gripes with have already taken a permanent vacation to the underworld so I''m not really in any rush. The only person who might pose a threat to me currently is the patriarch but he rarely comes out and the chances of me running into him are low. The clan''s days are numbered so I''m a little concerned about what kind of drastic measures they may take but I have my own drastic measures in place if push comes to shove."


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    "Ah, if Calla finds out about this she is not going to be a happy camper. She''ll storm out of the party and go throttle them all then and there... She won''t listen to me, so I''m sorry to put this on you..."


    "That''s fine. I just wont mention it on the day because it''s an important day for Enyo and I and unnecessarily complicating it is pointless. Based on what you''ve told me about the kind of person Calla is, she''ll almost definitely ask for a rundown on my life... I guess I''ll just have to be upfront with her and tell her I''ll explain some other time."


    "Important day, huh..."


    "Mhm, I''m going to propose. It''s not a secret or anything, Enyo already knows."


    "Well, I give you my support and my permission. I would never have let someone who couldn''t make Enyo happy have her but you''ve already done that and then some. I almost couldn''t believe my eyes when I first saw how different she was... Even now it still hasn''t really hit home yet. From the bottom of my heart I am grateful and I hope you live a good life together as a married couple. Do you have any plans for the wedding? This should be obvious but I want to be there."


    "Naturally you will. Still, probably not for a while. There''s a lot going on right now and, although I have the means to earn a boatload of stardust, I can''t afford it currently. At least I can''t afford the kind of wedding I think Enyo deserves. Given our positions within our clans I''m sure stardust wouldn''t be an issue if I just brownnosed a little but I really want to pay for it myself. Maybe it''s just misplaced pride but, what can I say, that''s just how I want to go about it... I''m hesitant to ask this... But should I invite Major when the day comes around?"


    "Absolutely not. It''s selfish of me to make this decision on my own, I know, but I don''t want that evil man around my children anymore. I''ve been doing everything I can to separate them from him for good. To be honest, I don''t think Enyo would want him there as she is now anyway. All the better, I say. My disappointment in Major is immeasurable. He was a different man a long time ago but something changed within him and now he''s just irredeemable. Every time I learn about what he''s been up to it makes me sick. Not to mention there are some unsavoury rumours going around that he''s really crossed some kind of line recently. I don''t know the specifics but I wouldn''t be surprised if it were true. the man has become crazed and obsessed with his burning hatred for revenants but I don''t know why. Even in all the years I knew him he never explained it. That''s beside the point, though, the answer is a ''hell no''. He shouldn''t be invited and he shouldn''t even know about it. I wouldn''t put it past him to try and ruin the event so he''s best kept as far away from it as possible. To tell you the truth, I''ve been trying to distance myself from the Legion clan as a whole for a while now. There are some good people there, really, but most of them back home are stuck, attached to a damaging ideology that ruins them. Have you ever met Trew? At heart he''s not a bad kid, it''s just he''s so blinded by irrelevant bullshit that he became a piece of garbage. That''s the kind of person the Legion clan creates and I''m sick of it."


    "Ah, uh, not to be immodest or anything, but I''ve also fixed Trew..."


    "... Really? The hell? I''m tempted to drag you back home and force you to give sermons on the daily... Where even is Trew anyway?"


    "He showed up for the regionals but I had also run into him before that. His obsession with Enyo was getting on my nerves so I set him straight. He mellowed out and seemed to hit it off with some other girl and that was pretty much the last I saw of him. I would imagine he went back to his sect and kept training. I think he also mentioned briefly that he might show up for the international if he could make it to support Red Sun as a spectator."


    "The idea of Trew supporting anyone is pretty out there... Whatever, at least he''s over Enyo. Even if he hadn''t been so insufferable I never would have permitted a relationship between him and Enyo anyway. He just wasn''t anything special. As a cultivator or as a person. I know my daughters well and I know what kind of person they need in their lives to be fulfilled. It may sound arrogant but its true. Trew could never be that for Enyo in the way you are. Enyo needed someone free willed, someone who embodied the exact opposite ideals of the clan to help drag her out of that lifestyle. She would truly be miserable otherwise. But that''s Enyo, there''s also Bellona. I didn''t get to ask you earlier ''cos that stupid girl was around but be straight with me... Do you actually love her or are you just going along with it out of sympathy and expectations? I won''t be annoyed if that''s the case. I understand that she needs you more than you need her, and I still think this relationship is for the best for Bellona even if you don''t harbour any romantic feelings for her, I just want to know is all."


    Ares sighed deeply as he thought about how best to construct his answer to express himself clearly... Not that he was ever going to be able to accomplish such a thing. He had too many thoughts to simply respond with a yes or no and he was about to start babbling. "Do I love Bellona?... No? It''s harsh, and unfortunate, but true. I''m still not fully used to the idea of having more than one romantic relationship so I''m a little thrown off by everything. It''s complicated though. Love is a strong word. Just because I don''t ''love'' Bellona, that doesn''t mean I simply ''like'' her either. It''s somewhere in the middle... Affection, maybe? I guess what I''m trying to say is that love is in the cards, I''m just not there yet. Bellona is a wonderful woman and I''ve been trying to pay attention to her charms more lately so that my feelings for her can deepen in a natural way and it''s helping. I don''t know how long it will take for my opinion to change fully and reside firmly in the ''love'' category but it will happen; that much I can tell already. I will love her and not out of sense of duty or obligation but simply because she is the kind of woman I could absolutely picture myself falling in love with. If Enyo didn''t exist I almost definitely would have fallen for Bellona instead. So it''s not an issue with her or even really me, it''s just that enough time hasn''t passed yet. It doesn''t help that I have to avoid treating her the way I would if I didn''t have to prance around the topic; that really slows things down. Enyo''s been incredible throughout it all, mind you. She''s been acting as a middle-woman and trying to push things along. She''s part of the reason I''m as close to loving Bellona as I am. So my answer''s a bit all over the place and I''m sorry for that but, if I were to summarise it... I have the capacity to love Bellona. Part of me really wants to, I just literally can''t right now. I can''t because I still have to tend to Enyo first, that''s non-negotiable, and I can''t because Bellona herself is reluctant. Maybe I already do love Bellona and I just don''t realise it because I''m repressing the feeling until I can actually do something with the feeling other than sit on it. It''s a cop out to say ''I don''t know'' but I have so many conflicting thoughts about the matter that it jumbles and becomes an incoherent mess every time I try and decipher my feelings about her. Still, the one thing I know for sure is that she will be my wife and I will make every conceivable effort to make sure she feels loved. Bellona has it rough. Knowing that she can never be the favourite will not be easy no matter how she tries to pretend otherwise. It must sting, and I''m aware I''m responsible for that, which is why my only goal for her is to make her forget about it and just be happy alongside me. Love in this situation is more than just about being first or second, it''s about the feeling in the moment. I want to have those moments with her so she can understand that herself but, until I''m allowed to be romantic with her, its never going to happen. Recently I took Enyo up into the clouds at night and stared at the stars above with her. That is a moment neither of us will ever forget. It might sound rude but, in that moment, Bellona didn''t exist. It was just us and the warmth of each other''s lips. Bellona can have moments like that too. Moments in which it''s just us and Enyo doesn''t have to be relevant. I will not be thinking of Enyo when I kiss Bellona. If she really wants to be number one, deep in her heart, the only way is to admit it, come clean with me, and be open to progressing our relationship. During our day to day I can never put her above Enyo. I just can''t. But when we''re alone, when we''re out on a date, when we kiss, and when we make love she will have her wish and my undivided attention. In a way it''s ironic. She wants to love me so much she''s making it impossible for me to love her. The body pillow, joke aside, was an attempt at conveying that. She can show me all the subtle affection she wants but I can do nothing but act like an inanimate object for now. The more honest she is, the more she gets in return. I want to say all of this directly to her face but if she reacted negatively I would feel awful for jumping the gun. This has been a long, messy rant. It was all over the place with not a string of coherent thought to tie it together and barely any clarity to speak of. I know that, and I''m sorry to put the burden on you, but I hope you gleaned my intentions from it. I can''t put it into words in any other way. That''s my answer."


    "Mm, I think I get it. Or rather I had a feeling I knew it all from the start. Maybe that''s why I couldn''t help but get involved, that''s just the kind of person I am, after all..." Rhea walked out of the kitchen and returned a few seconds later carrying Bellona who had probably been eavesdropping around the corner. As if to confirm that suspicion, Enyo peeked her around the wall and gave a thumbs up before running away with Rhea in tow like the pranksters they were.


    Ares had been warned that Rhea was the type to act as a catalyst and propel relationships forward so this wasn''t too surprising. In fact he had a hunch that this was what she was plotting from the start so he went along with it because he agreed with her approach. He''d done the same thing for Li Li and Dirk and the only reason he wasn''t more straightforward with Bellona was because he was asked not to be. He could tell Bellona was nervous thanks to the bright red cheeks and her fidgety mannerisms. She had trouble looking him in the eye and kept returning her gaze back to the safety of the tiles on the kitchen floor every time she tried. Ares walked up to her and put her chin in his hand, raising it gently until she was looking toward him. "I have something I want to say to you but I can''t until you say that same thing to me first."


    Gulp


    Bellona meekly uttered "... No," before squirming and trying to look away again.


    "Say it."


    "... No."


    "Your stronger than me. You could have escaped and left by now if you actually wanted to. Say it."


    "No."


    Ares swept aside her hair and rested his palm on her cheek while moving closer. "Bellona, look me in the eyes and say it."


    "... I love you," Bellona muttered weakly.


    "No." Ares shook his head. "Look me in the eyes when you say it, and say it properly."


    Bellona''s face reddened even more and Ares could feel the heat emanating off her cheek as he reassured her by brushing across her face with his thumb. She looked into his eyes and her breathing quickened as her heart beat madly. "... I love you."


    Ares brought his lips to hers and passionately kissed Bellona. She yelped in surprise but quickly sank into his embrace, resting her palms against his sturdy chest and leaning up and further into him. Sparks flew in Bellona''s brain as she enjoyed the taste and sensation of his soft lips pressed against hers. She let out a small moan when Ares put his palm on the back of her head and became more aggressive in his conquest of her small mouth. She submissively let him take the lead while taking comfort in wrapping her arms around his neck. After each of the two were satisfied, Ares''s lips departed from hers as he looked deep into her amber eyes and finally said what was on his mind now that it was no longer so caught up with playing pretend. "I love you too, Bellona."

 Chapter 115: Lending a Hand (18+)

    "Wasn''t so hard, was it?" Ares smirked as he looked down at Bellona. Her face was still flushed but she wasn''t so shy anymore.


    "It was... I bet you didn''t even say it to Enyo first!"


    "Actually I did, so bleh." Ares stuck his tongue out at Bellona who turned her cheek to him and pouted to the side. "Haha, you can be really cute sometimes." Bellona bit her lip and tried turning further away. Hearing compliments made her overjoyed but also embarrassed and she wasn''t sure how to respond... Actually, a thought ran through her head and she went with it.


    Thwack


    As if harkening back to the good old days, Ares was laid flat out on the kitchen floor as Bellona huffed and puffed while storming out and into the living room. Ares pulled himself up with a sigh and shook his head. It would seem he was going to have to help Bellona overcome her own brand of shyness. Enyo had trouble being seen but liked compliments, Bellona had no issue being seen but couldn''t handle compliments. These two were eerily similar sometimes. As for the issue itself, Bellona''s was definitely easier to deal with but Ares could tell it was going to be painful for him getting decked over and over again. Still, it wasn''t a deep rooted issue or anything so once the hail of blows ceased he would be good to go. As for how to go about getting closer to Bellona... He had an idea! Later on that night he would execute operation ''bait and switch''. For now though it was hotpot time... And ''fend of Rhea and Enyo who were greedily looking for leftover cookies to steal'' time... The household was always eventful whenever the Legion women were on the prowl, that''s for sure.


    Time passed and everyone did their own thing. Aejaz and Allie had come into the living room and waited for dinner while chatting with Rhea and Enyo, properly introducing themselves to the former. Rhea was interested in both their unique aspects because she just generally liked seeing new magic. After a few demonstrations she was content and the conversation shifted to more personal details like Aejaz'' ''family''. Rhea had heard of the Fleeting Glimpse clan and all the pieces of the puzzle fit into place upon learning Aejaz was a member of the main branch. It explained a lot about him and proved her guess about him being an assassin type correct. She felt sympathetic for him after learning about his abandonment and also finally learnt how he came across Ares and vice versa. After that it was Allie''s turn and so the conversation went on. As dinner time came around, so too did Appa and Leo who had been playing hide and seek... It seemed someone else had been playing the game unintentionally too as they weren''t present at the dinner table after Ares had set it all up. That damnable drunkard Sadie had probably gone and taken a nap in someone''s room when no one was looking! Ares just started eating without fetching her. You snooze you lose, you loser boozer! She did show up halfway through the meal, though, as her sense of smell had come in clutch and informed her there was food to be devoured. She whipped a can of beer out of her spatial ring and went to town. During the meal Ares gave Rhea some Snappas to give to Appa which left them both content. Fate bickered back and forth with Enyo leaving Ares to playfully tease Bellona. For the most part she just flat out ignored him and ate the food... Although she did acquiesce to Ares'' badgering once when he offered to spoon feed her, the embarrassment she felt afterwards drove her to punch him again. Rhea chimed in with a threat after asserting that there was ''no place for violence at the dinner table''. Both Legion sisters were familiar with this turn of phrase thanks primarily to their other sister Pele being quite hot blooded. Ares served up dessert, apple crumble and custard, as he discussed with Rhea the intricacies of his pillar and its aspects as well as the existence of Dominus inside him. After that lengthy topic he mentioned the banquet he was going to host for her family due to the bet he lost. They finalised the details before Ares turned to Fate and discussed something similar for his own family. And thus two different days had been booked out for chef Ares to do his thing. They would be interesting days for sure considering the fact that there were a bunch of people he hadn''t met before that were going to be present. They weren''t just anyone either, they were all going to be family going forward so he was going to have to try and make a good impression. The only major person that would be missing was his father, Aster, as he usually stayed behind to make sure everyone was safe in case Major tried anything funny at this time of year when Calla was away. If what Ares had heard of the man was accurate then that was probably for the best lest Ares receive a smackdown at the hands of his own father. Cowardly though it may be, Ares had zero confidence meeting the man without his over-protective mother around. Supposedly she was the shield which all the children hid behind to escape Aster''s sparring sessions. She took their place to spare them and had beaten Aster senseless more times than Fate could count.


    Night rolled around and everyone stayed over. Rhea and Fate were given the two remaining spare rooms, at which point Sadie realised she''d been duped! Last time she slept here she had assumed there were no spare rooms and she''d dozed off on the couch! Ares had specifically not informed her there was a bed for her if she wanted it. When she put him in the hot seat and demanded answers he retorted that it was punishment for throwing up in his garden and that he also didn''t want her puking in any of the beds. Yes the vomit incident had been a one off but, on the off chance it happened again, the last thing Ares wanted was for it to be in a bedroom. Sadie couldn''t refute his refutation and was thus left stranded in the living room again. Granted there was no extra rooms left anyway but she had been hoping Rhea would spare her some pity and share the room. Unfortunately for Sadie, when Rhea learnt of the vomit incident she opted to not have the bile... Ahem... Vile woman in close proximity to her during the night. As far as room allocation went, there was also one more interesting thing happening today that had never happened on any other day prior. Enyo was not sharing a room with anyone! She was a tad irked about this but there was nothing else for it. Appa was cuddling Rhea. Fate was someone she would rather not be near. Sadie was a big no for all sorts of reasons. Aejaz and Allie would probably be going at it like animals. And then there was Bellona. Bellona would not be on her own today. Of course she wouldn''t ever let Ares in intentionally and yet Ares wasn''t in the room with Enyo either which could only mean one thing. He was going to sneak into the room when Bellona let her guard down. Normally this would be difficult but, thanks to Ares'' diverse skillset, he had the means to make it happen.


    In Bellona''s room the woman herself had just hopped into bed and gotten comfortable under the covers. Before she switched off the light she looked at the door one last time to triple check it was fully closed. Rubbing her hands together like a racoon, Bellona took the body pillow out of her space ring and placed it carefully next to her. She took off the ring and placed it on the bedside table before switching off the lights and assaulting the pillow. Her smile was so radiant it practically shone in the dark as she bear hugged the pillow and quietly squealed in happiness. She clearly felt good having gotten the weight of her chest and getting the answer she''d been longing to hear. She was fully aware things weren''t going to progress far between her and Ares for a good while, because she was still reluctant to an extent, but this sort of measured distance was still better than nothing at all. It was awkward realising how long he''d known about her feelings, and she''d certainly been played like a fiddle, but none of that stopped her from enjoying the pillow at least. Maybe it was because of everything that had happened today but the pillow felt oddly real. Perhaps the memory of earlier was so vivid she was simulating the sense of touch. Briefly, she was particularly pleased with her brain''s impressive ability to recreate the sensation of touching Ares but, when she realised it went beyond that, she started to get wary. She hadn''t felt his chest this clearly nor did she remember clearly his manly scent; at least not to this extent, and yet it all felt oddly real. She panicked and thought Ares had snuck into the room so her hand darted to the light switch and she flicked it back on... But there was nothing? She scoured the room but it was completely empty. Not a single Ares in sight... Other than the one on the body pillow, anyway. She placed her hand on the pillow and it still felt strangely realistic. The scent was gone but the confirmation of the feeling of Ares'' chest made her think she was imagining the smell and that her senses were just really on point today. She looked around the room again and still nothing was out of the ordinary so she cautiously flicked off the light switch and leant back on the pillow. She pretended to fall asleep to try and catch pesky Ares in the act of messing with her but nothing came of it so she simply assumed she was being driven crazy by love and went to sleep. As she sunk into the land of dreams, the pillow felt realer and realer, becoming more and more sturdy. The line between reality and dream blurred and Bellona could feel arms wrapping around her and pulling her in; almost like the pillow was fighting back. The dream took a weird turn and now she had become the pillow and was being hugged by Ares. She was too far gone to wake up and so she drifted off into slumber only partially aware that she was clinging onto the real Ares just as he was holding onto her.


    Ares felt somewhat guilty tricking her and making her doubt her sanity but it was a necessary step. She would have just shooed him out otherwise and Ares was a goal oriented man if ever there was one. The ends justified the means and this was a trick he would struggle to pull off again. He''d even borrowed Aejaz'' concealed serpent for this, combining it with the prowler to remain invisible in the room while using nothingness to overlap his chest with the pillow whilst out of sight. When Bellona dozed off he swapped places with the pillow via a Shift and Bob''s your uncle. Whether or not he would need to pull this stunt off again or not was dependant on how Bellona reacted to it. Still, that was a problem for future Ares to deal with. Specifically the Ares of tomorrow. An Ares that would either be kicked off the bed in his sleep and wake up on the cold, hard floor, or an Ares that was still on the bed, basking in the warmth of his wife-to-be''s loving arms with a slither of drool on his chest... Actually, the drool was already there. Bellona''s habit of drooling was rather consistent. Ares just ignored it though and kissed Bellona on the forehead while wishing her a ''goodnight''. She didn''t mumble back but she did squirm closer to him. Ares closed his eyes and dozed off shortly after, leaving his fate in the hands of Bellona. Even if he woke up before her he would just go back to sleep. Whatever happened from here on out was up to her. It had to be. She had to be mature and make decisions herself on how far and how fast she wanted things to go.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Next morning.


    The rays of light from the morning sun came creeping in around the edges of the curtain, banishing the darkness and revealing Ares'' form to a stunned Bellona who thought her mind was playing tricks on her. Before falling asleep she''d convinced herself it was just a body pillow and nothing more. Now that the real Ares was here she was genuinely wondering if her eyes were malfunctioning. She could hear his light breathing as she inched closer towards his sleeping face. He looked peaceful and the urge to throw him off the bed dwindled the more she looked at him. her hand slowly drifted back onto his topless chest and she carefully, in a bid to not wake him up, stroked his body. Just like the body pillow, he was warm to the touch... But what about the lower half? No, she already knew it wasn''t true. Touching him there wouldn''t make her colder. She knew it all too well... And yet she had to use that idea as an excuse to justify feeling him. She was envious of all the stories Enyo had told her and wanted to just get a sneak peak. It would be atrocious if Ares woke up but the curiosity was overwhelming and she couldn''t stop her hand from inching downwards with every stroke. Eventually she couldn''t even see her hand anymore as it ventured further south and below the covers. It roamed over his stomach, across his waist, and finally drifted next to his pelvic region.


    ??


    She debated whether to have her hand slither into his pyjama shorts or rest atop them. Nervous about making a mistake and waking him, she took the safer route to start with and felt his bump with a layer of fabric between them. She felt the contours of his penis and was momentarily startled when the shape changed. She thought Ares woke up and was shifting his position on the bed, thus affecting his crotch''s position too. She realised shortly after it was something else entirely. He was hardening at her touch and his penis was growing. His shorts were stretched and she could run her hands along part of the fabric that had pitched a tent but feeling his bulge had gotten a little more tricky. The head of his cock was right there but Bellona worried that pleasuring the tip would disturb Ares'' slumber. Although cowardly, Bellona decided to leave things here lest they escalate in an unfavourable direction. She retracted her hand and sighed but was taken aback when Ares started breathing roughly and lightly thrusting his hips; the movement of which made the tip of his dick tap against Bellona''s leg. He looked tense and agitated as he repeated the thrusts and Bellona gaslit herself into believing she needed to fix things. She''d caused the morning wood, certainly, but this train of thought was entirely self-serving. Really, she just wanted to put her hand on his cock and aid his ejaculation.


    She couldn''t be honest with herself mentally but physically she was determined. She dribbled onto her palm and went all the way this time, invading Ares'' shorts with her wet hand. One of her knuckles brushed against his shaft and she bit her lip in excitement. Slowly, ever so slowly, she put her palm on his fully erect and warm shaft. Her spit-lubed hand stayed in place as Ares'' cock rubbed past it again and again, causing him to let out groans of pleasure. Bellona moved closer to his mouth to hear his ragged breaths and feel them on her cheek.


    "Mm."


    Wanting to gratify Ares further and drag his deep voice out even more, Bellona wrapped her fingers around his shaft one by one, forming a kind of tunnel for Ares dick to scrape against with every thrust. The callouses on her rough hands drove him to thrust harder and lean in towards Bellona. His hand fumbled around before landing on her ass cheek. Though her chest was relatively flat her ass was shapely and soft so the sleeping Ares instinctively grabbed it firmly between his fingers. As he rocked his hips he fondled Bellona who had to bite her lips even harder not to moan out loud. Small cries snuck out from her lips on occasion and she could feel her nipples harden as she got excited by the though of Ares enjoying her body. She used her free hand to reach down towards her light pink, protruding nipples that were poking her shirt. They were long and hard, sticking out of her chest like a sore thumb. She tweaked one, lightly pinching it and eventually inadvertently causing her to yelp as she had a light orgasm. She wanted more so she greedily lifted her shirt and rubbed her chest against Ares'' to stimulate both nipples at the same time. She had to cover her mouth with her free hand to prevent herself from squealing in Ares'' face. Ares'' was close to orgasm as Bellona''s nipples were dragged across his chest and her bumpy hand wet his dick. "Bellona..." He mumbled her name between gasps for air and Bellona rewarded him for thinking about her by stroking her hand along his dick and kissing him lightly on the lips, fully pushing him over the edge and causing him to throb and cum in her grip. "Mm, mm, m..." Ares'' lips quivered underneath Bellona''s as he orgasmed. His pleasured grunts tickled Bellona''s lips while she moved her hand to catch Ares'' cum by cupping her palm over the tip of his penis. She separated from him and tasted his cum before quietly escaping the room and running towards the bathroom to pleasure herself.


    ??


    Meanwhile Ares opened one eye and glanced at the door. He chuckled before closing his eyes and going back to sleep. He hadn''t quite planned on this but he wasn''t complaining. A hand job to start the morning was as good an option as any. Plus he''d learnt a bit about Bellona''s body. Her rear was decently curvy, just as much as her sister''s if not a teensy bit bigger. Her chest was flat but pressing up directly against it felt heavenly. Her nipples were large when at full mast, undoubtedly bigger than most. And last but not least her rough hands were spectacular. He was curious about the rest of her body too but that was for a later date. Based on how busy he was going to be going forward, and how much time he would be spending with Enyo, Ares probably wouldn''t lay a hand on her any more than this until leaving Sheryashka at least. There was simply too much to do and too many places to visit. Plus Bellona would struggle to come to terms with going further because she wasn''t entirely over the whole ''sister''s husband'' thing yet. In other words, it would be slow sailing... Although maybe he could get a handy every now and then.


    Ares was only pretending to be asleep to help Bellona feel comfortable being daring, now that the matter was over and done with he was going to come clean about the fact that he''d been very much awake and that he''d very much enjoyed himself. Right now, though, he was somewhat tired. He had, in fact, woken up before Bellona but he was so interested in seeing how she would react that he stayed up for hours until the lazy bones herself opened her eyes. He could thank her after he caught some shut eye as he had a gut feeling she wasn''t going to run away from him and hide. Although he was asleep he wound up being correct as Bellona anxiously peeked her head into her own room and crept back into the bed. She convinced herself, falsely, that Ares was none-the-wiser and that if she just went to sleep she could get away with pretending nothing had happened. She was dead wrong, obviously, but it gave her the courage to cuddle up to Ares with a silly smile and rest her head on his chest. Thus they both went back to sleep again... And once more, Bellona dribbled on Ares. If Enyo saw Bellona ''marking her territory'' like this there would have been a devastating war that ensued afterwards, sister or not.


    Two hours later Ares woke up with a yawn at the same time as Bellona. She tried to pull away from him but he hugged her tight and kissed her neck. After gently nibbling on her ear he whispered into it in a soothing voice. "Earlier was great. Your hands are lovely. Let''s do it again sometime." All fell silent and Ares let Bellona nestle on his chest while he ran his fingers through her hair. He could feel her flushed cheek on his pec and it took him his all to keep his laughter buried in the pit of his stomach. He was really trying hard here! "Did you enjoy yourself as much as I did?" Directing the question at her flustered Bellona a bit but she nodded her head up and down to silently respond. Ares leant down and whispered into her ear again, this time more aggressively for the sake of an experiment he was conducting. "Good girl." Bellona shivered and curled up, even going as far as to hide her head in her hands. Ares had uncovered the key to both the Legion sister''s hearts and filed away that useful information for a later date. "This side of you is cute, and I really do like it, but I hope one day you can go back to your normal self around me too. Your playful retorts and tomboyish aggression are something I''ll miss if I don''t get to see them you know?"


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "Fuck you." Bellona banged a fist against Ares'' chest and defiantly smacked him.


    "Hmph, I guess love has made you weak. I remember the good old days when you actually packed a real punch. Now you just hit like a little girl."


    "FUCK YOU!"


    Thwack


    Bellona uppercut Ares jaw and the two started wrestling again like they used to. There was a bit of extra laughter thrown into the mix which was new but it cemented the changes that occurred between them. Bellona came out the victor, pinning Ares beneath her and holding his hands together above his head. She looked down with a cocky grin at Ares and kissed him confidently before sticking her tongue out at him and hopping off the bed. As she left the room she threw a middle finger in his direction and said "The pillow was better in bed."


    Ares snorted but didn''t bother responding as Bellona had already scampered away, probably to go find her sister and gush about how amazing he was! Or that was his head cannon at least, believing it made him feel better about not getting a retort in before she fled the room. In reality she was likely just going to gossip before sitting down at the table and demanding breakfast from him just like everybody else in this house. That was the way Ares liked it, though, so he couldn''t complain. Instead, he got up on his feet, put his shirt on, and braced himself for the day ahead. Today would be a day on the town. Aejaz had been completing contracts for Hans in his spare time so it was time for him to check in personally and Enyo, Rhea, and presumably Bellona were going to pay My Fair Lady a visit. Ares himself didn''t have anything specific to do but fresh air was fresh air so he figured he would tag along and scour the streets for anything interesting. The contenders for the international should all have arrived by now so maybe he could sneak a cheeky peek at the competition if he got lucky enough. Heh, who knows, maybe he''d even fight them prematurely.

 Chapter 116: Mean Streets

    Two days prior to the international.


    Ares left the room and started making a simple breakfast for everyone. As he was doing so, a certain someone entered the kitchen behind him and started tapping her feet on the floor with her arms crossed. Enyo seemed cross and now Ares was really worried. Was she actually not ok with this whole set up? Did Bellona actually bother her? Did Ares fooling around with other women annoy Enyo deep down? Well he was about to find out so he turned to face her and she scowled at him with a scornful face and a narrow glare. Her finger tapped against her arm and her feet against the tiles as she spoke a single word.


    "Well?"


    Ah yes, the fabled ''explain yourself you cheating punk'' look. Ares had heard tales of this event in Aejaz'' books but to think he would experience it first hand was humbling. Maybe the books Aejaz were reading were onto something... Really though, what could he say to her here? ''You brought this on yourself?'' Ares would be found dead in a ditch by sundown. "Uh... I''m sorry?" Ares took the safe approach for now.


    Hmph


    "You better be. What happened to out agreement? Couldn''t resist could you?"


    Agreement? As it turned out, Ares had no clue what Enyo was actually mad about. He went from certain and doomed to fumbling around in the dark with a ray of hope on the horizon. If she wasn''t upset about him and Bellona then maybe there was an out for him. In order to find the light at the end of the tunnel he first had to probe and figure out what Enyo was moody about. "Well, er, you know. Things just kinda happened..."


    "... You''ve already forgotten haven''t you?"


    Curses! Ousted already! As it turned out, Enyo was a very perceptive woman. Especially regarding Ares. She was aware of exactly what kind of person Ares was and she knew that if he remembered the agreement he would have directly mentioned it in his first retort. Tiptoeing around the subject submissively as he had done was a big red flag for Enyo who could sniff out his bullshit from miles away. If he''d tried this against literally anyone else he probably would have been successful but Enyo was like a bloodhound and thoroughly on his case. "You got me. I have forgotten our ''agreement'' and I don''t know what I''ve done to wrong you. I am sorry even if I don''t know what for. Very, very sorry."


    "Shut up idiot. I''m miffed because you got a taste of Bellona first! You said I could have her!"


    Oh right, yeah, there was something along those lines wasn''t there... "In my defence, I really hadn''t planned on this happening... Plus it was really just a hand is all. I promise not to lay a hand on her... Or I guess I mean have her lay a hand on me, again until you''ve had your fun." In hindsight, this was just the kind of person Enyo was and Ares really should have seen this coming. He actually felt quite guilty as Enyo had been really excited at the thought of playing with his wives and he''d gone and somewhat taken that away from her. It was an unusual thing to feel remorseful over but Enyo looked like she''d been betrayed and stabbed in the back and Ares couldn''t help but feel like he''d messed up. Being promiscuous with another woman wasn''t even on Enyo''s radar but cutting in line for carnal pleasures of the flesh was a no-go. He couldn''t rectify things and undo time but Ares could at least promise, again, to let Enyo do as she pleases.


    "You better, punk. Come on then, spill it, tell me everything in detail. You knew I would ask so don''t try and worm your way out of answering me."


    "Not that I mind but didn''t Bellona already reveal all, so to speak?"


    "Yeah but she''s kinda crap at this stuff. Plus a different perspective is what I''m looking for. She described you in vivid detail but was too shy to say anything about herself so hop to it. Tap into your inner Eagerton and regale me with a poetic master craft of erotica and pornographic imagery for me to imagine. If I''m not in the mood by the time you''ve finished then you haven''t done a good enough job."


    "... Why do I get the feeling the punishment for failure is going to be roughly equivalent to the reward for success with this strange task?"


    "Because it is. Now get going and get me going!"


    Ares sighed to himself and did as was asked. He wasn''t sure if his description was sufficient or not for Enyo but he was dragged away to the bedroom after anyway. Surprise surprise. Of course he''d dropped off the breakfast first for everyone else. Leaving them waiting because Enyo was on a rampage would have been a tad difficult to explain to her own mother... Not that it wasn''t apparent what they were up to as she hauled him through the living room while licking her lips. Enyo truly no longer had any shame or reservations about this kind of stuff. In a way, good for her. In another way, bad for Ares. For some reason he always seemed to be the one people blamed for any form of public indecency. Enyo was outwardly too angelic to pin the blame on so he wound up receiving most of the side-eyes that pierced into his soul.


    An hour or so later, after being raked over the coals and worked like a horse, it was time to head out and pay the town a visit. Ares remembered what happened last time he went into My Fair Lady and figured it would be for the best if he wasn''t around again. It would also be hella weird to see Enyo''s mother buying just about anything from in there so he decided not to cross that line. The only thing that could even remotely tempt him to go was the idea of watching Bellona browsing through the store. Would she be confident? Cheeky and impish? Shy? Would she buy anything? Lingerie maybe? Would Enyo hassle her? Actually the answer to that last question was definitely a yes. Enyo seemed to be more excited about searching for stuff for Bellona than she did about anything for herself. She''d already cleaned out most of the shop from last time after all. Then again, if there was new stock she would be all over it. Ares dared not intrude on the estrogenic cloud floating towards My Fair Lady. He simply wished them all, and mostly Bea, good luck before heading on his merry way after separating with Aejaz who had his own business to attend to.


    With no destination in mind, Ares simply strolled through the streets. He was occasionally recognised thanks to his infamy which had risen drastically after the nationals and someone had even stopped him to ask for an autograph. The person in question wanted Ares'' signature on his sword because he was assured, by his own baseless conjecture, Ares was a reincarnation of the real God of war he was named after. Ares didn''t bother explaining the fundamental pillar or whatever and just gave the guy a ''blessing'' to send him on his way. Ares could only hope the guy didn''t curse Ares if ever he lost a fight. It wasn''t his fault! The last thing Ares wanted was a cult following of whackos who worshipped him before every battle. Or rather, instead of believing in such paltry symbolism they should just spend their time training and cultivating if they wanted to get stronger and make any meaningful gains. Ares started to get fed up with the attention he was receiving so he took the heat off by laying low with the aid of the Prowler. He skulked around between a few alleyways and steered clear of some of the larger streets. He was getting hungry but rather than make his own food he paid a visit to a local hole in the wall that made some pretty incredible sandwiches. Bread of any and every type and all sorts of fillings were available. The guy in charge, Fixer, was a shady looking fellow but there really wasn''t anything actually dodgy about him. He scared off tourists with his resting bitch face but he was generous at heart. The amount of filling per sandwich was astronomical, prices were cheap, the bread was freshly baked by a nearby bakery, and he never skimped, plus he did a lot of charity work around town. Yes he looked like a drug dealer when he wore his trademark raincoat but he was innocent! His misleading ferocity, paired with his atrocious naming sense, the shop was literally called ''Sandwich Bar'', caused people who weren''t familiar with him to shy away and flee in terror. The place reeked of criminality so only those in the know ever dared step in here. In short, it was a good place to hide from the hustle and bustle at this time of year so there were mostly a bunch of regulars eating on the few tables that had been put out. Ares headed to the counter and waved to Fixer. "Yo, been a minute since I last popped around. How you been holding up?"


    "Mm," Fixer quietly mumbled and nodded.


    "Ah, that''s good to hear. Is business good? You want me to do some advertising during the international? Maybe help you get some extra moolah to donate?"


    Fixer shook his head and finally some words left his mouth. His voice was weak and timid, however, so you had to really pay attention in order to hear him even over the talking coming in from the street outside. "No, thank you."


    "Alright, fair enough. I''ll have the usual please and some orange juice. Thanks."


    With a nod, Fixer got to work creating two massive sandwiches for Ares. The bread was buttered and the fillings were heaped on. Chicken, bacon, and mayo, that was one of this places hidden gems orders. The sandwiches were leaking ingredients as Fixer shoved them into a toasting machine and firmly squashed them. As Ares'' lunch was emanating an enticing scent throughout the shop, Fixer took a moment to get out his juicer and freshly squeeze some oranges. Part of what made this place so great was that the juices were always fresh and came with a good bit of pulp for those who liked it that way. There was just something so perfect about gigantic, homemade sandwiches and juice. To really tie it all together, Fixer was proficient in the ice aspect and could freeze the drink, cooling it down on the spot. Ares salivated and had to physically stop himself from drooling when Fixer cut the toasted sandwiches in half, wrapped them up in some newspaper, and handed them over the counter. Ares could still feel the warmth of the meal through the newspaper and it took a great deal of restraint not to dig in immediately. Ares paid and left a generous tip before saying his goodbyes and departing. All that was left was to search for a good hideaway to eat in peace. Getting disturbed while eating such a high quality meal was sacrilege and Ares wasn''t sure if he could stop himself from blowing up any fool that got in his way. Fixer was one of the many very talented chefs in the area that Ares had mentioned to Enyo. Generosity aside the ingredients were all made by him personally and he was extremely good at it. Even some of the other shop owners would come over to purchase in bulk from him, Scratch included. Ares honestly believed if all the chefs he knew in this town came together they could turn Red Sun into a culinary capital that dominated Sheryashka. He wasn''t kidding when he told Enyo he''d learnt from the best of the best and he was every bit as grateful for it as he should be. He was going to live forever, that much was set in stone. Good food was practically a necessity otherwise Ares might actually be driven to insanity if he had to eat garbage meals every day. This way, having trained diligently under experts, he could ensure that would never be the case as he would always be his own last resort and he didn''t have to rely on anyone else. There were plenty of incredible chefs throughout the universe, Ares was certain of that. He would inevitably encounter some going forward so learning from them too would be imperative. Ares would pilfer from all the greats for his own selfishness so that he could become a bastion of good food production; his stomach demanded it!


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Grumble


    Speaking of things his stomach demanded... He''d gotten peckish running around looking for a quiet place to hide out but, luckily, he found a good spot. One of the local hotels had an indent in the roof where Ares used to occasionally hide as a kid. If you sat down you were well-hidden and there was even room to lie down too so you could get comfortable with a book here if you wanted too. Plus there were plenty of windows nearby and the entrance was close so you could frequently pick up on gossip or private conversations as a form of highly illegal entertainment. Ares had been chastised plenty of times by the owner for his conduct but that never stopped him from doing it anyway. It was just too easy to resort to this place when Ares wanted to get away from the rest of the world for a moment of solitude. Also, for all the complaining the owner did, he would sometimes put out warm drinks and leave them up here for Ares to discover when he visited. It was probably his way of thanking Ares for dealing with some local thugs that had been running a protection racket and harassing him. That, or maybe underneath all the moaning he was actually a softie. Either-or really.


    Ares leant back in his cubby hole and chowed down on the goods with a crunch as he listened in on an argument taking place beneath him on the second floor. The general gist of it was that one of the international teams wanted a room but the hotel was fully booked. The owner gave the team permission to go and try negotiate with the other people residing in the hotel for a room if they wanted, thus ensued the following argument. One of the people in the rooms was also a member of a team competing but he was by his lonesome. The team of four were trying to bargain with the singular individual but he kept refusing and so they tried to bully him out of it. Ares was at a loss as to what to do here because he wanted to help out the owner, obviously, but he also wanted to keep eating without having to fuss around. The choice he would make if he had too was self-explanatory as he couldn''t let a friend suffer damage to his property just because Ares was being a sloth. That being said, luckily, it seemed he wouldn''t have to do anything.


    The second the scuffle kicked off the team of four lost resoundingly. The single individual blasted them all through the back wall by ramming them with some kind of neon, holographic constructs. Blue, pink, yellow, red, all sorts of colours lined the holographic pillars that impacted the team of four. The holograms were jutting out the wall and towering over the team that had been smacked down onto the streets and were sitting on their rears. Their fifth team member, a gigantic monster from the Isasz regions known as an ''iciclops'', took up a defensive position in front of the others but suffered a similar fate. The monster was sent flying across the street by another hologram and it crashed into a shop, tumbling through the glass window and destroying the mannequins on display. Ares barely even had time to see the creature so he couldn''t verify the details he knew about it. Still, his knowledge was probably accurate for the most part. Iciclops were furry cyclops with frost breath at their disposal and herculean strength. Some of them knew mental magic related to their singular eye too. If this one was part of a team then that meant it was sentient to boot. In other words, this thing was a real contender unlike the chumps that had been hiding behind it. For it to be smacked around and effortlessly bullied like that was pretty impressive. Ares was curious about the individual who''d beaten the five senseless but didn''t care enough to stop eating. He would find out at some point anyway and he could tell that if he got involved now he would wind up fighting and that wasn''t preferential. The person below him was clearly strong and Ares wouldn''t get away with half-assing things so he would inevitably destroy countless buildings if he were to scrap with him. Besides, there was no real reason to jump in anyway. The five that lost were the unreasonable aggressors anyway. They deserved the humiliation. Sure the individual had been annoyingly arrogant based on what Ares overheard but he wasn''t in the wrong. He even offered to pay the owner for the trouble so he was probably just outwardly an asshole but inwardly an alright guy. That or he was just trying to look cool as he was being praised by everyone else in the building.


    Ares was done here and there was nothing left to see so he took his leave without making his presence known. After he disappeared from the area, however, the individual with the hologram-related magic paid a visit to the roof and kissed his teeth when he found no one there. The person he''d been looking for all this damn time had been right under, or more accurately above, his nose. If only he hadn''t been so preoccupied with the clowns from earlier he could have confronted him early. The elf scratched his neck in frustration as a floating entity that bared resemblance to an earth-encrusted eight ball floated beside him and sighed. "Mako, this person clearly doesn''t care about you as much as you do him. Why bother wasting your time chasing him down anyway? You''ll see him soon enough."


    The elf turned around kicked the roof. "I have to know what I''m up against. I''ve been told countless times not to pick a fight with the destruction pillar but if I want to be top dog then he''s the biggest obstacle. ''Destruction pillar this, destruction pillar that''. The creation pillar is a coward. I don''t care if destruction is special. I will beat it and I will be the strongest cultivator throughout all of existence. With magic of this calibre I refuse to be second. Every second of every minute counts and the longer I have to formulate a strategy by observing him the better."


    Terros simply sighed again. This was a habit of his when dealing with Mako. Terros was a respectable and mature individual with high tolerance so he put up with Mako like a disappointed-but-passive father would. Terros didn''t see the appeal of being the strongest or fighting with people who were supposed to be your comrades so he really didn''t mesh well with Mako. Still he did his job and offered his opinions and knowledge when he felt it was relevant. Nothing that happened during this tournament would matter going forward, it was just to satiate Mako''s ego so Terros just idled and waited for it all to be over. After that he could help Mako return to cultivating so he could focus on saving the universe. That was kinda more important in Terros'' sagely opinion. Unfortunately his clone that he sent down to monitor his specified fundamental champion was pretty weak. It could act as medium to form a contract but other than that it didn''t have the power to force Mako to be useful. Terros was a smart rock, though, and so he frequently gave Mako ideas that would boost his reputation to help him feel good about himself; like offering to pay the hotel owner earlier. This created a cycle wherein Mako felt gratitude to Terros and actually listened to him every now and then. It was a bit of weird dynamic but neither of the two actively disliked the other, they were just on different wavelengths and had trouble finding middle ground is all. The two returned back inside and prepared themselves for the party tomorrow. Mako was going to hunt down the destruction pillar and settle things while Terros was wondering how on earth he was going to convince Mako not to cause a scene. Chances are he would just end up mediating a pointless argument like always but that was still better than letting Mako let loose. His magic was no joke. The holograms earlier weren''t even an art or anything and yet they''d laid an entire team flat on their asses.


    As for Ares, he''d been aimlessly meandering when he heard another argument kicking off in a restaurant he was passing by. This time he even recognised one of the voices so, unlike last time, he immediately decided to help. Although he really wanted to bust in the front and take a good, long look at his future family, Fate was trying to escape out the back and she was his main concern. Fate was clearly here with her and Ares'' other siblings, he''d picked up on that through the bits of conversation he''d overheard, but they were all busy fighting in the building and Fate had accidentally been left to fend for herself. He ran around the back and saw Fate being encroached upon by two people wearing Legion clan armour. Now things were really getting spicy. What were the odds the people his siblings were fighting were Enyo''s siblings? Apparently they all got along like a house on fire and squabbled on sight so the urge to turn around and throw his hat into the ring for the fun of it was eating Ares alive. Still, Fate was priority numero uno. It was likely she didn''t need help but just in case Ares yelled to get the attention of the Legion duo.


    "Oi! Stop!" It was a pretty basic shout but also enough to do the job as the guy and the woman turned around. Based on what Ares had heard from Enyo every now and then, these two were not related to her at all. They were just some random jo-shmoes from the Legion clan. In that case, Ares didn''t feel even remotely bad about the false accusations he was about to belt out. Seeing Fate in ''this'' situation a third time gave Ares an evil idea so he went along with. "RAPISTS! HOW DARE YOU CORNER AN INNOCENT WOMAN!" The look on the Legion clan members was truly priceless. Even Fate couldn''t help but giggle uncontrollably at her stupid brother. Obviously the Legion clan were unequivocally not rapists but how would anyone else know that? Sure they were famous to some extent but for every person that has heard of them at least ten or so hadn''t. The accusation was false but the way they were approaching and cornering Fate certainly made it look true. Ares gave them no time to explain in detail their righteousness by launching an attack immediately. If they were allowed to get any words out and prove they were on the side of ''righteousness'' then he would lose a valid reason to interfere. The ideal outcome was to but in, pretend he was a do-gooder bystander helping out the victim, and flee before anyone could question the entire situation. What else was he supposed to do? Say ''actually, excuse me, I''m a revenant too and I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped attacking my sister!'' Yeah, ok, no. He would just be dragged down with Fate. Plus this way the Legion members were hesitant to attack him. Ares had come in guns blazing under the guise of being an ally of justice and, so, the Legion members literally couldn''t bring themselves to hurt him. He was a good samaritan!... If they knew the truth, if they knew how thoroughly they had been manipulated by this deceitful bandit, they probably would have cursed Ares and all of his bloodline. The ''fight'' became an absolutely one-sided massacre as Ares bashed their heads together, knocking them unconscious shortly after it began. The two no-name grunts really hadn''t stood a chance.


    Ares could hear the main scuffle break out into the street and he figured this was his chance! He would shoo away Fate so she could go be safe somewhere else, and then he would boogaloo! As he attempted to do precisely that he was caught in the act by another two Legion clan members. Ares considered fighting them to get them out of his way but, unlike the two cannon fodder from before, these two looked like they meant business. In fact, Ares was pretty sure these two were Enyo''s brothers; Tyr and Deimos.

 Chapter 117: Caning It

    If Ares wasn''t mistaken the shorter of the two brothers, and the one standing further back, was Deimos. This wasn''t a hard guess to make as his Legion armour was pretty unique within the clan and he rarely took it off. As for what was so special about it; it was far more sleek, it was covered in red racing stripes, there was nothing covering his arms, and there was a white gourd on his hip. His helmet was also shaped like a peaked motorcycle helmet and there was good reason for this if what Enyo had told Ares about Deimos was true. In fact, just based on the awkward situation at hand, it was likely Ares would get to experience it for himself in just a minute... As for Deimos'' facial and bodily features, it was nigh impossible to tell underneath all the armour so Ares had to go by what he was told by Enyo. He was average height and had slightly darker skin tones like his mother. In fact, of all of Rhea''s children, it was said Deimos'' wild and strong appearance most closely resembled Rhea with his bulky jaw and pointy black hair. One of his ears were pierced and he had tattoos along both arms in the shape of flames that lit up in white whenever he used his unique art. As he wasn''t covering his arms these tattoos could actually be seen unlike the rest of him. Personality wise, he was a miracle. He may very well be the only Legion clan male to be the exact antithesis of everything the Legions stood for. Even Rhea was pretty taken aback when his personality developed in this direction without any outside interference. Rhea had guided a few of her children but Deimos was ahead of the pack in that regard. He rarely took anything seriously and always looked for a way to have fun in his current predicament no matter how serious. To that end he annoyed his relatives somewhat frequently as he rarely took their complaints seriously. Still, that also meant he was someone non-judgemental that could be confided in, it''s just that expecting him to do anything after he heard you out was pretty pointless. Deimos marched to the beat of his own drum and was somewhat similar to Verv in the sense that he valued entertainment more than anything else. He wasn''t quite as manic as Verv though and he was capable of remaining calm when he deemed it necessary. He had a curious heart and was perpetually un-swayed by other''s opinions.


    Then there was Tyr. If Deimos closely resembled his mother, then Tyr closely resembled his father. His sharp features and blue eyes gave him an imperious look but when combined with his blonde hair that swayed in the wind made him a bit of a pretty boy behind the domineering edge. His armour was on the light side, only really covering his shoulders and his waist. Armour aside, he wore a white and gold, high-collared, side button blazer, white gloves, and white trousers with a few black straps and accessories adorning his arms. He was kitted out in in predominantly white but it didn''t look tacky, more so regal if anything. Attached to his shoulder pauldrons was a small black cape that covered roughly half his back and had the word ''Legion'' written on it in pure white. He only really subtly sported the Legion armour, minus the emblazoned name on the back, but he was still easily identifiable as Legion regardless, even from the front. Everything from his silent pride to his resolved aura oozed heroism and stoicism that reflected his personality. He was like a quiet Enyo before she changed and became more lax. He wasn''t so outwardly violent when dealing with crime but a fire still burned within him. His appearance was that of a man perpetually at peace and he was someone who wanted to spread that peace to everyone else. He was unflinching when making decisions and had inherited his father''s uncompromising attitude and ruthlessness to most issues. He was the child that cared the most about the war and dealing with revenants but it was not because he hated them. He didn''t follow in his father''s footsteps because he agreed with him but because he saw it as a means to an end. Revenants were immortal and thus disposable. If a particular group had to suffer until Tyr took control of the Legion clan and set it on the right path, then he would pick the revenants. It was unfortunate for them, he acknowledged that, but they were the perfect candidates to bear the brunt of everyone''s ire until then. He didn''t want to see his clansmen die for good so he valiantly pointed his blade at enemies he didn''t hate for his own brand of justice. If the revenants hated him after then so be it but at least he could try to end the war and all the suffering it entailed. He mostly kept this ideology to himself, however, because he knew Major wouldn''t be supportive. In a way, he was trying to usurp control of the clan by acting the obedient son. He had the hardest job compared to the other siblings who''d distanced themselves from the man but he was up to the task. Just as Deimos was similar to Verv in some regards, Tyr was similar to Scar. Both detested the war for ruining so many lives and were pained by their own involvement but still felt it necessary lest their side incur greater losses should they stand idly by. Tyr had killed many revenants and he''d been diligent in his hunt for them. The more he killed the less there were roaming around getting into fights with the other clans. He pushed himself hard but he got results. Although he wasn''t as strong as Enyo or Bellona, he wasn''t far off and the combination of his anti-magic pillar expertise combined with his Sword Of Damocles personal treasure was deadly. He wielded a white and jade green staff with wings in one hand, his silver sword in the other, and was more than capable in combat with either. Both were rare treasures with powerful arts that synergised nicely, one being good at dealing with magic and the other being good at dealing with physical attacks. He was a hard nut to crack. He wasn''t as strong defensively as Enyo and her barriers, and he wasn''t as offensively devastating as Bellona with her magic, but he was a solid all-rounder with a good mix of both offense and defence at a respectable level. To put it simply, he was just a better Trew in every possible way. In fact Trew idolised Tyr more than anyone else in the clan so the comparison was especially ironic. Sometimes, more than even his own father, Tyr was the personification of everything Legion.


    Ares steeled himself and tried to snake his way out of the situation by pretending to be innocent again. "There are more of you fiends!? How dare you corner an innocent woman?!"


    Tyr simply stared Ares down and replied flatly. "The just need not justify."


    Ack


    So straightlaced! How blunt and uncaring! Ares couldn''t tell if this was the sharpest or dullest human he''d ever met but Tyr was certainly one of the two. Ares figured he had one shot to get out of this place by utilising one other piece of information he knew about these two knuckleheads. It applied to Tyr more than Deimos but ought to be effective against both regardless. Ares really didn''t want to kick his brother in laws'' asses so he sent Fate a mental message to run as soon as he was finished speaking. She nodded slyly behind him and Ares turned to the two brothers. His gaze passed by them and looked off into the distance. He squinted narrowly before waving his hand with a smile on his face and yelling "ENYO! OVER HERE!"


    Tyr and Deimos, being the massive sis-cons they secretly were, turned on the spot and fell for Ares'' ruse. They scoured the street across from them long and hard but eventually realised they''d been duped. They were curious as to how this random person knew their secret weakness but that was a matter they could settle later after they caught the scoundrel! How dare some random bastard utter the name of one of their sisters!? He wasn''t worthy! To that end, they turned around and watched him dash around the corner. Fate had already skulked off somewhere after turning invisible so catching her was impossible. Instead, both brothers chose to chase down the mysterious man as he was the more pressing issue anyway.


    Deimos scavenged around in his space ring before bringing out his personal treasure, the Grand Prix. This beauty was a motorcycle with speeds of up to 350 mph. It had its own arts too that could be used to run down foes and Deimos'' unique art synergised with it well; or rather he invented the unique art specifically for this treasure so that was to be expected. Deimos was frequently seen riding this thing around and cruising back on his home planet in his spare time. It used mana as fuel so he could run it for a good while before needing to stop and take a break. This treasure had pretty much shaped his identity ever since he first got his grubby hands on it. He even pestered the Legion''s resident blacksmith to reforge his armour into what it was now for bonus style points to fit the ''holy rider'' image he was going for. Of course, when he got on the motorbike and brought out a grungy baseball bat that image was marred slightly. Whether or not chasing down a criminal and whacking them over the head in this fashion could be considered justice or not was pretty debatable... Either way, he was good at hunting down escapees so he set off first.


    Tyr was about to follow but he halted in place when some civilians ''accidentally'' blocked his path. The stream of civilians walking by was unnatural so he accepted that the will of the people was not aligned with him and sighed. Clearly this person was a bit of a local legend if these people were willing to go to bat for him. Rather than pester them for information or give them trouble, Tyr just turned around and left things to Deimos. Whether Deimos was successful or not didn''t matter as Tyr was no longer involved so he didn''t care anymore... Or so he tried to tell himself over and over in his head. Why some local scoundrel knew Enyo well was beyond him. Maybe his poor sister had been hunting down this nuisance unsuccessfully for some time now? He could always ask her directly tomorrow when they would inevitably meet at the party. For now he had to go and sort out Calla''s children and his own siblings who were probably still clashing like fools in broad daylight, hassling the locals. He wasn''t in too much of a rush though as he figured Scar would be minimising the damage dealt to the surroundings and preventing any harm from befalling the onlookers.


    Meanwhile, Ares was being chased down various alleyways as the roar of the Grand Prix''s engine threatened him from behind. He managed to peek over his shoulder and get a sight of the magnificent bike that literally radiated holiness. The bike itself was covered in the Legion clan''s armour as a sort of plating and there was a slight glow radiating off it thanks to the nature of its fuel source. It was a compact and modern design, more focussed on sharp edges that were functional as opposed to elegant curves that were fashionable. It lent itself towards a more ''by any means necessary'' type of holiness that implied violence was right around the corner when this thing caught you; almost like an inquisitor vigilante''s preferred mode of transport. Still, there was little it could do in these tight corridors. Even an expert rider like Deimos had to slow down for sharper turns and so the distance between Ares and Deimos refused to shrink. Ares didn''t fancy being a whack-a-mole target for his brother in law so he ran as fast as his legs could carry him, even going as far as to run annihilation mana through his body and heighten his physical traits. He could have just started Shifting away or even used Voidwalk to escape into the air but he really wanted to see Deimos'' magic. Apparently it was quite the sight so Ares intentionally stuck to the alleyways to incentivise Deimos to use it. Ares got his wish about a minute later when he heard Deimos loudly chant over the hum of his bike.


    "Burning Rubber!"


    Deimos tapped the side of his helmet, causing it to open up near the mouth as he reached downwards to detach the gourd from his hip. Pop. The gourd was opened and dangled above Deimos'' tilted head, pouring its contents directly into the man''s mouth. There was far too much to reasonably swallow at once and so some of the extra, see-through liquor, splashed onto his helmet before trickling onto his bike and the floor. A trail of the alcohol formed behind the wet bike as Deimos took a deep breath before exhaling and letting loose a torrent of white flames. The fire ignited the liquid the second it touched it and everything that was wet previously was now ablaze. The trail behind the bike, the bike itself, and even Deimos'' helmet were all alight, burning bright with a pure white flame. The fires clinging to the bike formed a set of ephemeral wings that drastically sped it up as Deimos continued breathing out the fire. This time, instead of aiming it at himself to buff his treasure and himself, he shot it forward to chase down Ares. This art had two parts. One, it spread the holy pillar passive buffs in a large range and not just to people either; treasures could now also receive it. One could stand in the trail behind the bike or get caught in Deimos'' all-purging flames, either worked and would make you and your treasures significantly stronger. He used this art on his own armour to strengthen himself but also his Grand Prix to turbo-boost it. As for the second half of the art, that was simple, the fire breath burned people alive. It was a dual purpose art that cleansed allies and enemies alike, albeit with different results, as Deimos rode around like a menace. If you were on the side of justice, then you had nothing to fear. If you weren''t, he would chase you down and burn you to a crisp before hopping off the bike and beating you with the baseball bat. Fighting Deimos was actually really annoying because his bike was capable of evasive manoeuvres and this was especially true if it had been buffed by Burning Rubber. Not only were it''s turns tighter, and its speed higher, but it could also make small jumps thanks to the new wings it generated. It couldn''t fly or anything, at least not at the moment anyway, but jumping over arts that were aimed low to the ground was certainly possible.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Ares looked back as the spewing flames surged towards him in the alleyway. Beyond the fire he could see Deimos'' tattoos light up as well as magic rolling off his helmet and treasure. He was like a streamlined, holy bullet and Ares had to admit he looked cool. More than anything though... Ares wanted to ride the bike! He''d never driven a vehicle before but he suddenly felt the urge to give it a go even if the chances of him crashing were extremely high. In this moment Ares felt like he understood Aejaz'' compulsion to steal... Still, Deimos was going to be a relative so he would rather not take from him in such a manner. It would be easier to make a good impression first and then ask nicely afterwards! Of course if all else failed Aejaz and Ares could always go for a little, heh, joyride.


    Worrying about the future while the flames came barrelling towards him in the present wasn''t a good idea, though, so Ares refocused himself and activated Voidwalk. As the next turn reared its head, and the fire began singeing Ares'' ass, Deimos expectations were defied when Ares jumped at the wall in front of him, instead of rounding the corner, and ran straight up it. Ares clambered up the building and vaulted onto the roof but Deimos was undeterred as he gave chase. He performed a wheelie and made the bike hop as he approached the wall, landing on it vertically. His bike whirred and his wheels spun rapidly as they pushed him up the wall too in pursuit of his target. The Grand Prix couldn''t climb walls particularly well, or for too long, but it had enough juice in the tank to make it up the one it was currently riding so Ares wasn''t out of the woods just yet. Of course Ares could have just taken to the skies but that was boring! There was a chase afoot and Ares wanted to know just how far Deimos could go in order to keep up with him.


    Ares leapt from roof to roof, dodging the fire breath whenever it tried to smother him and incapacitate his legs, whilst also occasionally chucking Shock Beads backwards. He didn''t detonate them, that would be way too excessive, but he was interested to see how Deimos would react. Deimos swung for the fences and batted them all away, that was how he reacted. Ares muttered the word ''touch¨¦'' under his breath and kept Voidwalking. It wasn''t a refined solution, brute forcing the Beads away, but it did work. Ares wanted to test him a bit more but any larger arts would tear open a few roofs and Ares was reluctant to piss off Red Sun. He was in a weird love-hate relation with them currently whereby a lot of the more ''in the know'' crowd really liked him but the rest were cautious. Those he''d helped previously and those who only knew of him what they''d seen him in the tournament. Those were the two crowds and, although he cared more about the former, he had to appease the latter too. It would complicate becoming the sect master of the local sect otherwise. He wanted his ascension to the role to be smooth sailing and not fraught with dissatisfaction so he erred on the side of caution when dealing with the general public.


    There was a massive gap coming up, one that Ares could easily just Voidwalk over. The real issue was whether or not Deimos could cross it. His bike''s jump was decent but not enough to clear this chasm so Ares smiled maliciously and picked up the pace. Deimos fully expected the scoundrel to jump down and onto the streets where he would finally be able to catch him. The bike was better in straight paths and all this turning in the alleys and jumping over the roofs hadn''t allowed the Grand Prix to shine. Down on the streets he would weave through the civilians and pluck his prey out from amidst them. Deimos sped up and prepared himself for the fall but his eyes nearly widened to twice their size when he saw Ares just keep ''running'' across the gap. This guy can walk on air?! NO FAIR! Deimos could no longer brake and he was hurtling towards the edge of the roof. Landing below wouldn''t be an issue but he would lose the culprit if he allowed that to happen... There was only one solution so Deimos cleared his mind and floored it! He wouldn''t make the jump, that was certain, but the bike didn''t have to do all the heavy lifting on its own. The front wheel of the Grand Prix rolled over the lip at the edge of the roof and the bike jumped, catapulting it into the air. Ares turned around to watch Deimos sink but was surprised to see the man leap of the bike, abandoning it mid fall to gain some extra height and distance. The bike landed perfectly fine, as it could automate itself to a degree, and proceeded to roll down the street slowly to keep up with its master. As for Deimos, he fell through the air as he stretched out his hand to reach for the building Ares was on. Genuinely, Ares couldn''t tell if Deimos was going to make it or not. He was close but not close enough to make it comfortably so this was going to be a 50/50 toss up. Deimos'' hand shot towards the ledge and his fingertips barely, just barely, managed to cling to the roof. He sighed in relief as he looked down at the drop beneath him before pulling himself up... Or he would have if there wasn''t a particularly smug Ares staring down at him with his foot hovering above Deimos'' fingers. Under his helmet, Deimos gave a wry smile and chuckled awkwardly. "Uh, lend a friend a hand?"


    Ares smirked and snickered with a toothy grin as he lowered his foot and spoke in a condescending manner, "Long live the rooftop king."


    Crunch


    Ares foot flattened Deimos'' hand against the roof and caused him to let go on reflex when the pain set in. "BASTARRRRRRRRRRRD!!!!!!!" Deimos'' yell was subject to the Doppler effect as he descended down to earth with a bang. The fall wasn''t so bad thanks to his armour, and the Grand Prix catching him, but it certainly looked unpleasant at least. The last thing Deimos saw as he looked upwards with a growl was Ares walking through the sky, leaving him in the dust. It occurred to Deimos that his scumbag could probably have flown away all along, meaning he''d just been toying with him this entire time! Deimos made it his mission to hunt this guy down and make him pay at some point! I will not forget this mockery, rooftop king!


    As he sauntered through the sky, Ares had a fit of laughter that repeatedly almost caused him to fall over. How he was going to make amends with Deimos was impossible to figure out but how could he not have taken that opportunity? The power of standing over a man hanging from a ledge was too great. This was 1000% a story he had to go tell Enyo about so he scurried off to go looking for her. Of course, after he told her, he would ask for a method to smooth things over. Ares really wanted to ride the bike, after all.


    Ares arrived at My Fair Lady and peeked inside to see if Enyo was still here. He realised shortly after that everyone on the street was looking at him and one lady was even running away screaming ''guards, there''s a pervert!'' Ares was starting to get fed up with these misunderstandings! He kissed his teeth and ignored the onlookers, entering the shop and heading near to the back where Enyo was browsing some clothes. He said ''hello'' to make his presence known before hugging her from behind. "Hehehe, I ran into some of you clansmen, hehehe. I may have pushed one of them around a bit. Hehehehe."


    Enyo snorted as she held aloft some panties and inspected them in detail. "Stop laughing like a creep inside this shop... I am curious though. What happened?"


    "So, get this, there were two guys, one one was called Tyr, and the other one was called Deimos..."


    Unable to resist, Enyo started giggling immediately because she could tell stupidity was on the horizon. As Ares explained the encounter from the very beginning, Enyo''s laughter grew louder by the minute. By the end of it she was wiping tears from her eyes and leaning backward on Ares'' chest.


    "So yeah, I want to apologise."


    "That''s unlike you?"


    "I want to ride his bike."


    "That''s more like you." Enyo shook her head with a smile. "Don''t worry, Deimos isn''t the kind to take things like that personally. As for riding his bike, he''s never let anyone else even touch it so good luck with that."


    "I see... Anyway, how''ve you been? Found anything you liked?"


    "Yeah, everything."


    "I shouldn''t have asked... What about the other two?" Ares looked around but couldn''t spy Bellona or Rhea.


    "They seem to really like this shop too. Not as much as me, obviously, but they''re having fun looking around. I''ve already bought some stuff for my playdate with Bellona in the Grecian lands. Hehehe, she has no idea what'' going to hit her, hehehe."


    "Now who''s laughing like a creep!?"


    "It''s ok when a woman is a creep."


    "No, I don''t think it is. Well whatever, you''re Bellona''s problem now."


    "You say that with such a confidence but aren''t you forgetting what day it is tomorrow?"


    Ares leant down and kissed Enyo''s neck. "I would never forget a day as important as that. Your chances to run away from me are dwindling, you know?"


    "Hmph, the same can be said to you. When I get my claws in you I won''t let go."


    Ares and Enyo continued flirting to their heart''s content until Bellona and Rhea returned, at which point they paid for everything they''d bought and went on their merry way. All of the deals regarding funding had already been taken care off so they said their goodbyes to Bea before heading out for lunch. Ares treated everyone to some sandwiches from Fixer that went down a treat before returning back to the sect. Along the way, Ares had to help his brother who was escaping from a Legion clan member that discovered him in the midst of ''completing a contract''. Ares shoved his brother into an Ebon Nightmare Zone via the Nyxian Prowler and dragged him safely back home before kicking him out. The rest of the day passed normally with all the usual suspects, Sadie and Fate, popping ''round for some grub before the day ended. Everyone slept in the same rooms as the night prior which meant Enyo would be alone for one more night while Ares cuddled Bellona. Enyo was going to explode with pent up aggression tomorrow, and Ares knew he wouldn''t be able to escape her clutches at night for at last week if not longer, so he got some alone time with Bellona out of the way ahead of time. After that ''week long or maybe even longer'' period was over, Enyo had already proposed all three of them sleep in the same room together. Whether Bellona would agree or not was still up in the air. Then again, agreeing to it was probably for the best. If she disagreed then when Enyo snuck into her room at night she would have to deal with Enyo by her lonesome. If she agreed then Ares could take the ''Enyo bullet'' for her. That was in the future though. For now, as everyone went to sleep, they were more focussed on the shitshow the party tomorrow was going to be. Enemies, friends, family, first impressions, fundamental pillars meeting. Everything was well and truly going to hit the fan tomorrow.

 Chapter 118: Dress to Impress

    The day prior to the international.


    The day started off like any other and proceeded as normal. Enyo did keep subtly glancing at Ares like a dog begging for treats on the sly but Ares didn''t bite. He knew what she was after. She was keeping tabs on him to try and sneak a peek when he went to go and get changed! The second he stood up to go and do anything she watched him like a hawk and Ares understood now what it was like to be a vulnerable person walking the streets at night. That omnipresent stare... Shivers ran up his spine every time he escaped the room for literally any reason. There was even one instance in which he was simply taking a shower and Enyo''s silhouette came creeping at him from the other side of the curtains. Despite the running water clearly indicating he wasn''t getting changed Enyo still threw back the curtains with an ''AHA! I''ve caught you in the act'' kinda look plastered on her face. Just to spite her Ares told her he would get changed in the void and she would have zero chance of seeing him dressed up early. He would arrive at the party at a separate time compared to her because walking there with her constantly ogling and inappropriately touching on the way, in public, would be the death of Ares. Both his sanity and his physical state as he would be tirelessly fending off the would-be ''attacker''. At least she would restrain herself at the venue... Maybe? That was what Ares sincerely hoped... Also, shouldn''t the roles be reversed here!? Shouldn''t he be the touchy feely one trying to sneak a hand on her rear or something? Then again this was just standard Enyo at this point so Ares dealt with her in the most effective way possible, abstinence through absence. Simply avoiding her would somewhat quell her rampant desire. It would only come back worse later, sure, but it bought valuable time at least. Besides, tonight she would be able to let it all out and that would hopefully calm her down in the future... Ah who was Ares kidding? She would probably just end up way worse after having gotten a taste. It was like feeding a gremlin after midnight. What were his options, though, exactly? Not have sex with his wife? Enyo would actually just tie him up and solve that issue herself plus Ares wasn''t going to resist that temptation ever anyway. The fact that he''d gotten this far around Enyo without giving in to temptation was a mind-blowing accomplishment in its own right. Enyo would discover tonight that she wasn''t the only one with an aggressive side, it''s just that Ares frequently restrained himself. He was just as eager for this as she was... Not to the extent that he was following her around trying to catch her getting changed, anyway. That was an Enyo specific trait.


    It did eventually dawn on Enyo she wasn''t going to get anywhere with Ares so she started pestering Bellona instead. At this point Ares had convinced himself Enyo just wanted to bother naked people and flush out some of her bubbling excitement. Ares had an out but God knows what Bellona would do. She looked to him, silently, desperately, sending him a plea for assistance but Ares just turned away and whistled to himself. She''s your sister. You deal with her!


    Even during lunch and, later, dinner, the subtle war between these three raged on. Ultimately, Bellona became the proverbial sacrifice and thus the hot potato that was Enyo had been successfully dumped on her. Enyo wouldn''t jump her but she would be in the room to appreciate the view and make all sorts of comments and that was embarrassing enough. After that was decided, everyone went to go get changed with Ares fleeing to the void precisely as he said he would. A few people weren''t making any effort whatsoever, namely Sadie and Rhea, because they just didn''t care for this sort of formality in a lower domain. If something like this were hosted in Vraizon by powerful people then they''d get involved properly but they were mostly only here to see their children, sect members, and clan members. Hell they wouldn''t even show up to the tournament at all if the people they knew and cared about weren''t participating so their presence at the party was a step above and beyond that most wouldn''t take to begin with. Everyone else was lucky to have them grace their presence. Then there was also Fate. She was lazy and childish so getting dressed up properly was a hassle. Plus if her mother caught her all dressed up like a doll she would never escape ever again. There was one more reason she didn''t bother... She didn''t want to stand out. The reason for this was two fold. One, she wanted to prowl around and gather dirt on people stealthily during the event. The more she blended in to the background the better. Then there was reason two... Unbeknown to most, even to Ares himself, Fate was in fact a competitor at the international. As for how this was possible if she wasn''t on the Red Sun team... Well she was a sly critter. Originally Fate had been with her family in a different country but she went travelling to search for the main branch of the Legion family and see what they were up to. When she found Enyo, she ''joined'' the sect to keep tabs on her with the secondary goal of sabotaging her should she participate in the tournament. Fate would join the team and just leave after the competition started, leaving Enyo''s team a member short and high and dry in more difficult fights. Unfortunately, the detestable Eagerton had sniffed her out and prevented the matter, plus Ares complicated things on that front too. Fate used to pay her family more regular visits when she returned to her actual sect but she stopped doing so when she decided to keep track of Ares. Although she hadn''t gone back recently she was still a fully fledged member of their team. As for how they got to the internationals without Fate, the answer was simple. Her family was strong! Four members were enough to get them this far easily so losing one to send out into the wider world as a scout and saboteur was incredibly valuable. Now that the international had rolled around she was finally going to one up her dumb dog brother Ares and betray his trust! After having been looked down on by him for the last couple of weeks it would be time for sweet sweet revenge... Not that he''d care... He really wouldn''t and knowing that bugged Fate but what could she do? Actually, now, more than anything, Fate was worried about what would happen afterwards. It wouldn''t be too shocking if she was barred from ever entering the sect again, and that was a problem because chef Ares was here! Losing easy access to good food was a real heavy blow...


    These three aside, everyone else was getting ready. Aejaz and Allie had no problems getting changed together so they helped each other figure out anything they were uncertain about. Neither had prettied themselves up like this before so it was a new undertaking. The same could be said for Enyo but Bellona helped her with that... At great cost to her own bodily safety as Enyo took every chance she got to fondle her in return. An hour and a half later, Bellona and Enyo emerged in front of their mother who immediately took out a camera and started snapping photos before her brain could even digest what the two were wearing. A few pictures later, Rhea finally stopped and appreciated her daughters'' dresses.


    Enyo wore a satin open back dress that combined classiness and sexiness in a blend that that brought out her beauty perfectly. The long blue dress covered her front entirely and formed a collar around her neck. The blue was darker near the top, almost black in colour, but got lighter the further south you looked until it became a sort of ephemeral blue. If Enyo''s dress had to be described in one word, that word would be ''aurora''. It gave her an otherworldly type of presence and was the source of her elegance. Of course the more carnal charms of her bare arms and back, down to around her middle back area, were also a feast for the eyes. Her arms were slightly thick due to her well-controlled muscle mass that she''d spent years perfecting but weren''t so big as to change the overall level of slenderness. The refined muscles on her back were more apparent and the contours of her skin weaved around them, highlighting her raw power. A slit along the leg portion of her dress also allowed for a peek at her sleek legs and was designed to entice and invite. Additionally, she wore plain black high heels; the lack of any pomp on which served to accentuate her legs nicely. Finally, to wrap it all up, and this was the real big change, she''d cut her hair short. It was now just long enough for her hair to come down to the halfway point of the back of her neck and most of it was slightly shorter than even that. A few strands of Lavender remained amidst the abundantly layered hair, shining through the rest and providing a touch of glamour. To put it simply, Enyo was drop dead gorgeous in this dress and even Bellona was red faced and fidgety around her. Her icy cold resting face and sharp gaze paired flawlessly with her curves and charm. Most people would kill to be assaulted by a woman who looked even remotely like Enyo so Bellona had trouble complaining when she''d been touched all over by such a beautiful woman. Saying ''no'' felt like it would be sacrilege and so she just handed her body over for inspection by the angelic queen her sister had morphed into. Even the makeup applied was minimal because Enyo really didn''t need it. If anything it would make her look considerably worse if not handled properly and there were no experts around so flubbing it and ruining the big day was unthinkable. Better safe than sorry and it''s not like Enyo wasn''t going to be the biggest eyeball attraction anyway. She had that position on lockdown.


    That''s not to say Bellona hadn''t made an effort to look striking too. It wasn''t her big day, and she had been considering not even bothering, but after everything that had happened with Ares the dress she bought just in case came in handy after all. Wearing it and being second fiddle was a bit hard to come to terms with but she''d done this to herself so she wasn''t going to complain. As long as he at least looked at her, complimented her, and danced with her, she would be satisfied with today''s outcome. As for her dress, she wore blue like Enyo but her dress'' colour was a static dark teal from top to bottom. It was also long like Enyo''s but that''s where the similarities ended. Bellona''s covered more of her back but opened up more at the front. The two top parts of the dress came to an end just shortly above her breasts, at which point a pin joined them to a piece of fabric that covered the lower half of Bellona''s neck and a part of her shoulder. This fabric was studded with small diamond that sparkled, complimenting her amber eyes above which were now visible thanks to Bellona tidying up her hair for today. She''d cleared most of it off to the side and behind her ear except for two long strands that came down on either side of her cheek and some tufts around her forehead. She''d pierced one ear and was wearing a small rose on one side of her head. Further down, her arms and the side of her abdomen were uncovered by the dress. Although her abdomen was there in all its glory for all to see, her arms were covered in black dress gloves that were also studded with diamonds near her armpits. She wore a gold bangle over one of her wrists that shone when viewed at the right angle. Back at the midsection, the dress was tied up in a knot, causing it to be shorter on side than the other. This would have been incredibly revealing had Bellona not been wearing opaque tights underneath. the black really contrasted well with the blue above it and made Bellona look like a high class socialite. This look was further cemented by her glossy black heels with an ankle strap. Her overall look was refined, with tight black clothing close to her flesh and a blue dress to cover parts of it. The aesthetic was a mix of intrigue, sophistication, and clever chic. To boot, her unique charms were all displayed and as she boldly refused to hide what other people might consider her flaws. Though her chest was flat she didn''t cover it, instead flaunting it like any other woman in such a dress would. Her dress gloves curved around her biceps and her toned abdomen had been purposefully left in full view. Bellona was beautiful in her own right but this was still a look that would turn away otherwise would-be suitors. Compared to her more feminine sister, the somewhat masculine undertone was something that would make her standout from the crowd in her own way. That was just who she was, though, an attention hog. She liked it when people stopped and stared, regardless of the reason behind the action. With a dress like this it wouldn''t be unnatural for her to be centre stage any other day but with her sister going all out she didn''t stand much of a chance. Still, she wasn''t jealous or anything, she really didn''t care much about this stuff. There was one person she wanted to be seen by and that was it. She''d basically put this on for him and him alone and everyone else could stare at Enyo al they wanted. In a way, it almost made her feel closer to Ares knowing he would be the only one at the venue with his eyes on her. So it wasn''t jealousy she felt towards her sister, or even envy, but rather pity. Being hounded by others when all either of the sisters wanted was to spend the night with Ares was going to be a pain, one Enyo would have to deal with more than her. Bellona had her own appeal too, though, and she''d really done a good job of her makeup which was helping prove that point. Her lips were a softer colour than before and her eyelashes were a tad longer. Objectively, her face was very attractive like this. Though she refused to put away her abs, just for today she decided to let Ares see some femininity in her face. He was the first person to make Bellona willingly choose to be just a bit more girly for and her heart was racing wondering whether he''d appreciate it or not. Maybe he really liked her normal look and this had all been pointless? She had such doubts but wasn''t too concerned. Ares was a gentle man and would never make her feel uncomfortable with his praise. He would be honest but find a way to compliment her in a way that left her satisfied regardless of what he believed; of that Bellona was certain. She was also reassured by Enyo practically drooling over her back in the room as well as Rhea''s squeals of joy upon seeing her.


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    Both sisters looked absolutely fantastic. They had each dressed up in a way that took full advantage of their body types and features. Rhea was over the moon seeing her daughters as mature women that looked like bona-fide models ready to rock the world with their enchanting looks. So much so she started taking countless more pictures that she would cherish forever. Especially Enyo as this was her first time ever wearing a dress of literally any kind. She wore it with pride too and that brought a tear to Rhea''s eye as she was indescribably happy seeing Enyo strut her stuff instead of hiding behind that stupid armour. It was almost like a fever dream and Rhea nearly fainted again. And Bellona was no slouch either! Last time Bellona wore a ''dress'' she''d half-assed it and given zero shits. She''d clearly put in effort for this and Rhea knew why so she gave her thumbs up in her mind and kept taking photos. The picture taking had to stop eventually though as it was time to leave so they picked up Appa, who was also ''dressed'' in her own unique way, went through the front door, and found Aejaz and Allie standing hand in hand and looking at the stars above in the night sky.


    Their outfits were a more standard affair. They weren''t too fussed about being the best in the room or impressing one another, they were just here to enjoy each other''s company on this fine evening, share a dance or two, and love each other like a happy couple. In a way, the simplicity of their approach was cute and endearing. Aejaz wore a simple brown suit. It was eerily fitting, actually, because in some ways it was loud and showy but in others it was muted and quiet. It resembled his personality to a tee and, given that he was a handsome individual from the start, he looked incredibly good in his attire... His tie was a little crooked, though, and his shirt wasn''t tucked in at all. He clearly wasn''t used to this, which was why he opted for an extremely casual method of wearing his suit, but that was to be expected considering the life he and Ares had lived. It did raise the question of whether Ares would look sloppy if he was doing his own clothes by his lonesome. Still, the two sisters trusted him to take today seriously. Unlike Aejaz and Allie who had already said and done everything they needed to, today was special for Ares and Enyo so he better get it right! As for Allie, she wore a mini-corset dress with flower patterns on it. Again, very suitable. Cheery and bright. From the side Aejaz and Allie had somewhat of a retro style to them and they were undoubtedly the couple that were going to be the most chill and relaxed during the party. While everyone else was there to impress or scout competition, make allies and gather intel on enemies, these two would just be doing whatever they felt like in the moment. Eating, dancing, having fun. In a way, they were the only ones really doing things right tonight. Kudos to them for not giving a damn about anyone else.


    And thus everyone set off. Fate remained low key by hiding behind Rhea lest the guard dogs that were her children tried to bite her the second she reared her head. Getting caught having lunch with her other siblings the day before was disastrous as now all of Enyo''s siblings recognised her. Infiltrating their ranks and disguising herself became that much harder as a result of yesterday. Her goal at the party was to remain imperceptible until she found her brothers and sisters and then stick to them like glue, never straying too far away from them as she spied on others.


    It took everyone about twenty minutes to arrive as the venue was in the core disciples area. Verification was needed in order to enter usually but Enyo, Bellona, Aejaz, Sadie, and Rhea''s presence all made the process far smoother. Enyo and Aejaz were members of the outer court team, Bellona was Enyo''s sister, and Rhea and Sadie were impossible to stop regardless of who they were. Anyone with a cultivation base like these two ladies could enter and exit their sect''s inner sanctums freely whenever they damn well chose. Of course they were well known anyway so there was no need to be worried. Sadie was an elder here now and Rhea visited yearly for the tournament and was somewhat of a regular.


    As for the building to receive guests, it was multifloored and decorated in flowers of all sorts. This wasn''t done specifically for today but rather it was like this all year round. It wasn''t the grandest venue ever, and it certainly wasn''t anything special compared to what people like Sadie and Rhea had seen before, but it was serviceable considering the circumstances. It''s not like Heaven''s Path was rich enough to afford anything better so even something of this quality was pretty respectable. Plus the inside was fancy in its own right so no one who visited ever left with any complaints. The C.O had tried to bargain countless times, offering to upgrade the venue and a few other benefits providing Yulo worked for them, but naturally they were refused every single time. As for the floors, where everyone went would be dependent on which team they were competing in. Outer courts, or anything comparable in other countries, were on the top floor. Inner courts on the second, and core on the first. Very rarely did anyone pay any attention to a floor they weren''t involved with but today would be an exception as Eagerton had zero interest in his own floor. He, and undoubtedly his mother, had a lot more curiosity towards the happenings on the third floor so they would spend the night up there instead whenever they arrived. Of course Edgerton would be dragged upstairs too, not that he gave a damn about any of this hoopla. He wanted nothing more than to go home and practice one of his new songs...


    The group made their way inside and entered the room on the third floor through a set of gilded white double doors and the sprawling venue lay before them. The room was both wide and long to accommodate a large number of people and yet the decorations weren''t sparse to compensate. A beautiful chandelier hung from the centre of the room, acting as the main attraction and grabbing everyone''s attention the second they entered the room. Anyone looking to hog the spotlight tonight would be looking to stand under this this thing for as long as possible. A few of the egotistical sort were already mingling below it. Of particular note was an elf with a floating rock chatting away to an older lady who was presumably his mother. Naturally this was Mako, Terros, and Serene. From a distance, it looked like Serene was warning Mako about something and he was being dismissive. He was respectful to his parent of course, but he wasn''t taking her words to heart.


    Around the sides of the room were circular tables covered in pretty cloths with complex patterns around the edges. Each table had around ten seats surrounding it and a flower vase resting atop it in the middle. Certain vases, and the flowers within, represented the respective competing countries attending and was essentially a more classy guide on where to sit instead of the usual name cards... Although there had already been an incident where some annoying revenant swapped around the vases to get closer to their desired target... Fate could already just about see her dumb dog sister Venus hassling one of Enyo''s smaller siblings in the distance... She smacked her forehead and decided to pretend not to know her for the rest of the evening.


    On the walls were various paintings of influential figures throughout Red Sun''s history. There was even a mock-up painting of a man by the name of Vargaraad that had been placed next to the founder of the Myriad Masks. Other such figures also included the sect masters of bygone eras and a few of the mayors... Although Maro was left out. There really weren''t many people who liked him so anyone even showing him an iota of respect was always a rare sight. Even the people bribing him only really tolerated him at best. He was here today but he was hanging around on the bottom floor as he viewed it as the place with the highest prestige. There certainly were a lot of big shots down there, to be fair. People looking to take talented cultivators into their fold needed look no further than the best of the best of the next generation downstairs to find a hidden gem or two. Big gun investors were all over the bottom floor like flies on shit. The less money, treasures, cultivation resources, and opportunities you could offer a cultivator the higher the floor you were subtly relegated to. That being said, there were occasionally one in a million cultivators who bucked the trend and were really impressive on these floors so the people here were typically keen eyed and always paying attention to every little detail of every little interaction that went on in these floors. It wasn''t just the competitors fussing around today, everyone here other than the organisers were all on edge. That''s not to say the C.O wasn''t judging potential recruits too, they just had the confidence they had all the leeway when it came to approaching their desired targets. What they could offer a cultivator was boundless, even sects and clans from Vraizon wouldn''t be guaranteed to one up them as they had resources scavenged from across an entire domain at their disposal. Plus, treasures that were too strong could be harmful to weaker individuals so even if someone had better resources to negotiate with that wasn''t always a benefit.


    There wasn''t anything else that particularly stood out but it was undeniably a visually satisfying room to be in. Even the waiters and waitresses had been handpicked from the sect disciples who were arguably some of the best looking to attend to the guests. They were more than happy to be eye candy considering how much they were being paid for their work. Also, sometimes, some of the guests would offer to take them away from the sect and have them work for them privately. It would probably wind up being the end of their cultivating career but they would live a comfortable, and mostly safe, life for as long as they lived. It was a good chance for people here to find long term work or even marriage partners. They had their good looks to thank but there were also some that wanted to just get a little extra stardust and that was it. Slick''s presence here was solely to protect the staff that were uninterested in these people so he mostly kept to himself as he patrolled the different floors. All the other elders were here too for a similar reason but they had more opportunities to relax and enjoy the atmosphere than Slick who was working full time.


    As Enyo''s group entered the room, it turned silent. It was almost like a wild west saloon in the sense that every time anyone new entered the room everyone stopped and stared. It usually never got this quiet as everyone would continue their conversations shortly after but Enyo was attracting a lot of attention. She was an absolute stunner of a woman and the only noise anyone could make in her presence involved accidentally dropping their wine glass on the floor and mumbling curses under their breath as their attire was soaked. For better or for worse, Enyo was a very literal showstopper and had garnered everyone''s gaze. This was to be expected though, so she just ignored it to the best of her abilities. She was considerably better with this kind of stuff than she used to be so a slight flush on her cheek was as bad as it got for her. She didn''t have time to be fretting over something like this because tonight was going to be a long, long night; and things were only just getting started!

 Chapter 119: A Few New Faces

    Enyo advanced through the room and was relieved as some of the gazes started to wander elsewhere, sizing up the rest of the guests that had come along with her. There were still a hefty handful staring straight at her but she just walked towards a table full of familiar faces and let the spectators waste their time. Fate, Sadie, and Rhea all received nothing more than cursory glances but Aejaz and Allie were the victims of more substantial probing. Even with his slovenly getup Aejaz was still a handsome devil and, in a way, the half-hearted look worked better than a neat and tidy one would. He was like a playboy in appearance, even if not one at heart, and that attracted quite a few amorous glances from ladies who were into bad boys. He was undoubtedly the best looking man in the room so that earned the ire of a few of the others who were staring daggers at him. Those glares quickly stopped when they noticed cute little Allie next to him and decided to observe her instead. It was criminal! An evil ''bad boy'' like Aejaz misleading and dragging around a porcelain doll like Allie was heinous! Or so they thought. Really, in actuality, Aejaz had a higher propensity for cowardice than Allie did. The only thing even remotely ''bad'' about him was that he was a petty thief. His looks were deceiving! Regardless, these two became talk of the hall amongst some of the more bored gossipers and conversations about how to separate them started spreading. Jealousy had taken over and some of the people here wanted either Allie or Aejaz all to themselves but the opportunity to sneak on over never came up as they were hand in hand the entire time. The snakes were kept at bay by the partner of the person they were preying on and it seemed that would remain the case for the rest of the night. That didn''t stop some of the more dedicated lot from cursing them under their breath and hoping their happiness didn''t last. People were just evil sometimes, that was all there was too it... For the most part. In the case of Aejaz'' clan members and family, who were eyeing him up from one of the corners of the room, things were a bit more complicated. Aejaz had noticed them pretty quickly but stopped looking at them even faster than that. He wanted to stay as far away from them today as was humanly possible. The less he had to do with them the better, although whether they would leave him alone was another matter entirely. If the brother that detested him the most didn''t pick a fight, then maybe the cultivator with half his face scorched would. This was the man who had pestered Ares back in Vargaraad''s tomb. It seemed the shock bead hadn''t done him in fully but had wreaked havoc on his pretty features nonetheless. And yet, despite the anger he held in his heart towards Ares and Aejaz, his scowl directed at Aejaz wasn''t even remotely close to being the deepest one on the table he was seated at. That corner of the room was emanating unprecedented levels of animosity towards him and even Allie could tell. It made her feel awkward but, more than anything, she really pitied Aejaz. He''d really undersold the extent of how mean his family was to him. So much so that Allie almost felt grateful that her family situation had been ''easier'' in comparison. Dead but loving parents probably wasn''t a worse position to be in than what Aejaz must have put up with... Both were bad but one was a permanent problem. Why they still didn''t like him even after all this time away from him was beyond Allie but it just seemed so unreasonable to her to have it out for him like this. She just held Aejaz'' hand tighter and avoided looking in their direction too. There was no point paying these people any mind on a day like today.


    Enyo neared the table but was intercepted by a group of men who were all visibly arrogant and pompous to the last. What they were after was obvious. If one failed, the next would try in his stead like a bunch of annoying salesmen. They weren''t selling a product, though, they were trying to sell themselves. Clearly Enyo was a woman worth wooing if possible. Her looks aside, Rhea was a monster through and through and just being related to her was something that anyone in this room would fight to the death for. Ties to the Legion clan''s matriarch would set you up for life. No, it would be more than that. You could live thousands of lives in luxury back to back! That didn''t mean that Enyo was secondary mind you. Anyone who knew about the Legion clan would be a fool if they didn''t also know about her. Not recognising Bellona was fair game because of her troubled history within the clan but Enyo was openly lauded as the ace of the entire clan and that was no small position. In just about every way conceivable Enyo was a desirable partner and some of the mentally weaker men throughout the venue were similar to Bellona in that they drooled uncontrollably. At least Bellona only did it in her sleep though, these people were just pathetic. The group stopping Enyo in her tracks were a bit more refined though, they had higher cultivations on average, were dressed cleanly, and were familiar with polite custom due to their upbringings. In other words, this was Enyo''s worst nightmare. These people were clearly going to try and leverage what puny backgrounds they had which effectively made this a horde of Trews! If it didn''t work for Trew, who had a higher standing compared to everyone here combined, what made these chumps think it would work on Enyo even if she were single?! They must have thought their businesses were unique in terms of their hold on the market, and that might not necessarily be untrue, but what did it matter? Having sole access to supply was only useful if the person you were bartering with didn''t already have everything they needed. What were these people going to do even if the Legion clan needed their goods for whatever reason? They didn''t, obviously, but even if they did would these people attempt to threaten and blackmail the Legion clan? Their entire business would disintegrate in seconds... These people had nothing to offer and, to make matters worse for them, that wasn''t even the main problem! Enyo threw out a stern gaze and headed off the greetings by making something very clear. "Don''t bother. I''m taken. If you have important business matters to discuss with the Legion clan then my mother is who you should be looking for." She was frank and curt in her dismissal which shocked all the men here; and also one woman too who also joined in on the fun because why not?


    Some of the men left but a majority stayed as they truly believed Enyo was lying. They''d heard enough rumours about her to assume that first statement, that she was in a relationship, was untrue. Enyo couldn''t blame them either because she had, once before, used that very excuse to escape some annoying pests back home. It didn''t change the fact that this situation was incredibly obnoxious though. If Ares were here she could have just dumped all these people on him by pointing him out as the man in her life. They wouldn''t leave him alone after, that was for sure, but Ares was... A people person and would find a way of getting rid of them. As for her current situation, Enyo was this close to just parting the crowd with barriers and walking right past them but her mother came up from behind and placed her hands on Enyo''s shoulders. Rhea also brought Bellona over and spoke loudly enough that anyone who was listening in the conversation could hear clearly. "Both of my daughters have a fianc¨¦." Rhea casually left out the somewhat important detail that the fianc¨¦ in question was one man, not two, but kept going as that would be a hassle to explain. "There hasn''t been an official announcement by the clan yet due to complicated circumstances but I give you my word it''s true. Please stop approaching my engaged daughters with inappropriate intentions lest you wish to make an enemy of the Legion clan." Simple, but effective. Trying to get intimate with an engaged woman was shameful behaviour that was rightly punishable and so the Legion clan wouldn''t be in the wrong to take action. Even if the people here didn''t believe the words coming out of Rhea''s mouth they couldn''t possibly debunk them either so they had to abide by her declaration for now as the potential consequences for not doing as such were catastrophic. Also the people here were small-fry, none of them had the kind of backing that would allow them to poke and prod at Rhea for verification of her statements. If any of them tried they would be obliterated on the spot for their disrespect and no one would pity them. Worse still, Rhea had prevented them from trying again with Bellona too. She hadn''t been the main goal but some still viewed her as an alternative. For now they had to retreat. Maybe at a later point would they be able to harmlessly initiate a ''friendly conversation with no ulterior motives'' and get closer that way. The gathered guys, and one woman, all left. The woman did still wink at Enyo though.


    What was interesting about this woman was that she completely disregarded Enyo afterwards, as if she didn''t even exist anymore, and instead turned her attention to Aejaz and winked at him too before returning to her table... In the corner... With the rest of the Fleeting Glimpse clan. Aejaz'' eye twitched as he explained to everyone else that that was his childhood friend, Trixie, and she likely only approached Enyo as a guise to secretly say hello to him without being berated by his family for it. She had always been like this... Sly, cunning, and a real mischievous go-getter. If there was something she wanted, very little would stop her from getting it. That was the description Aejaz gave but it was also the impression Allie got as she narrowed her eyes at the vixen across the hall. She didn''t feel much pity for Aejaz anymore. Rather, she wanted to chat with Enyo about something. Now wasn''t really the time for that though so she would wait patiently and then ask her about what was on her mind later. Enyo could tell Allie was getting fidgety and smiled wryly in her direction... At which point she noticed a small bomb on her back! She quickly summoned a barrier to contain its blast but was taken aback when it was just a little bit of confetti that came out of it... Aejaz'' brow was drenched in sweat as he nervously explained what had just happened. "Trixie, like me, has a unique aspect under the darkness pilar. Hers is called ''pass the parcel'' and specialises in hiding bombs on her opponent without them realising, like a game of highly unfair tag with explosive repercussions for losing. She can also craft custom bombs with the gadgetry pillar so you never really know what kind of surprise she has in store for you. She used to only be able to pass the bomb on via touch but that seems to have changed over the years... She always used to prank me with those things too so try not to take it personally..."


    Allie''s face hardened as she grated her teeth and growled. "A declaration of war must be returned in kind!" Allie was far too cute to be making statements like this and, instead of coming across as a bold lion, she more so resembled a lion plushie...


    Aejaz was completely lost as to why this was happening however. "Eh? Eh? War? Wait, war? What war? With who? Eh?"


    "Stay out of it, ''Jaz! I got this!" Allie''s determination soared as she muttered under her breath that she would would deal with this woman just like Aejaz had dealt with Tuck at the alchemy competition way back when. Allie had wizened up a bit during her maturation and retroactively realised what had been going on behind the scenes earlier. She hadn''t ever mentioned it to Aejaz but she was aware and she kinda liked how protective he was. Rather than be upset, that feeling had been twisted into love and, ironically, love was the cause. If she wasn''t in love with him at the time of realising she might have cared but, now, she was past that point. Allie already knew Aejaz had a crush on this woman, Trixie, in the past, he''d been honest with her about that, but what he hadn''t mentioned was that Trixie clearly liked him! Clearly... Clearly for anyone other than the muppet in question, it seemed. He really was blissfully unaware but Allie didn''t blame him. The vixen had gotten to him early and conditioned him. ''She couldn''t pass on the bombs without touching the person'', Allie could smell the lie. Trixie just wanted to be hands on with him from an early age and lied through her teeth to get close to him! Close enough that roughhousing and touch was normalised! Aejaz had fallen for it! This woman was dangerous and she was trying to break and enter Aejaz and Allie''s house! Homewrecker alert! Trixie had bared her fangs at Allie while revealing all manner of truths in such a way that Aejaz himself hadn''t cottoned on, and Allie had to admit it, Trixie was good. Fending off a woman like this was not going to be easy. Fortunately, Allie had her own weapons. She looked down at Leo, who''d come along in search of fish, and he looked back up at her with understanding in his eyes. Leo was a cheeky monster but he was always firmly on Allie''s side and he intrinsically understood the situation. Allie brought out Mini-Pillie Scout and had him attach to the necklace around Leo''s neck before both were sent off to inspect the competition. The results of their expedition would be relayed to her at a later date and Ares could be Leo''s translator when he arrived if need be.


    The big group arrived at the Legion family table and it seemed Fate would be safe because the five people already at the table were too busy gawking at Enyo and, to a lesser extent, Bellona. Tyr, the unmatched sis con, refused to believe his ears. He, like the others at the table, had overheard Rhea''s remark. ENYO WAS GETTING MARRIED? TO WHO? TYR WOULD SKIN HIM ALIVE! He couldn''t bring his jaw to shut so he sat their with a stunned-stupid face and finding any words to speak in this situation was impossible as his brain was sputtering. It didn''t help that his sister looked the way she did. He had been expecting to see her arrive in her armour. For her to be dressed like this, engaged, and to have cut her hair... Tyr''s world had been turned upside down and he didn''t know what to think of any of this... Was she dressed like this to impress her fianc¨¦? Was he the reason she was no longer stuck in her armour 24/7? Was he the reason she could smile like this? He still wasn''t going to tolerate a man putting his hands on Enyo ever, and he would kill the individual at the next available opportunity, but he had to give him some credit at least... And who the hell would marry a woman like Bellona? Even Tyr considered her to be a gorilla and he was a sis con. The fact that her suitor not only met her requirements but was tolerant of this violent ape was a miracle! There was a faint hope in his heart that Rhea had indeed been lying. His sisters should remain pure and unmarried forever! Any man would never meet their standards and would only ever sully their perfection! In other words, Tyr was insane! This was a side of him not many people knew about, one that hid deeply behind his perfect veneer...


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    Sitting next to Tyr, and equally as dumbfounded, was Deimos. He wasn''t wearing his bike... Legion gear, but he wasn''t wearing fancy clothes either. This ridiculous man had shown up in a Hawaiian shirt and was sipping on cocktails like he owned the damn place. He very nearly dropped his cocktail though when he saw Enyo strutting around in a showy dress. The news that she was engaged was still sinking in because the change from who she was previously to she was currently portraying herself as was drastic, to say the least. More than anything, Deimos was curious about what kind of person could win over a stubborn woman like Enyo. Deimos had tried his best to help her ease up and act like a normal human instead of some justice-dispensing robot years ago but he''d been ignored so hard he genuinely believed fixing Enyo''s character would be impossible forever. The fact that someone hadn''t just accomplished that, but even taught this woman the meaning of love of all things, was incomprehensible. Even though he assumed it would be pointless, Deimos ran through a list of all the guys he knew that were likely to have been around Enyo recently to try and figure out who was responsible for all of this... Trew? BLEUGH! Deimos almost hurled in his mouth. Definitely not. Couldn''t have been that dork. If nothing else, Rhea would have killed Trew before she ever considered tolerating him. Actually, that was another point, why was Rhea ok with this? For the guy to meet his mother''s criteria was actually a shocking feat. Was this man a superhuman? A legendary existence? A king?... A king? ¡­ ROOFTOP KING! That guy knew Enyo, right?! And his smile when he pretended to call her name... No fucking way, that bastard?! SURELY NOT!?


    While Deimos had an internal crisis, the next person on the table was having the exact opposite reaction. Pele, the oldest sister, was smiling so much it almost hurt her jaw as she pointed her finger at Enyo, Bellona, and Rhea repeatedly. In Pele language, this meant ''you, and you, is what she said true?!?!?!?!?'' Pele was slightly darker than Deimos but not quite as dark as her mother. Granted none of the three of them were particularly dark as Rhea was bronze at most and the others were a shade or two lighter. Still, Pele''s skin tone, when looked at in conjunction with the bangles on her arm, her torn shirt and short shorts, and her wild and free black hair, really gave the impression of a very energetic and bubbly foreigner. Her eyes were a fiery orange and her friendly demeanour was welcoming. She had a steely temper when angered but, for the most part, she was an excitable woman who was always in a good mood and, for the sake of everyone around her, that was the way it should stay. When Pele blew her top she did it like no other. Even Rhea was somewhat concerned this child would be a walking disaster with her lava-specialised magic when she grew up if not handled with the utmost caution. It was hard to express any of this towards her though because she was usually really innocent and undeserving of criticism. It was difficult to upset her too so her outbursts were rare. Pele was the blazing beacon of the Legion clan and she was the ''moral support''. If you needed a pep talk or if you just wanted to be cheery then Pele was the go-to girl. Still, she was also respected for her strength too as she was no slouch in that department. Her unique art was awe inspiring and her talent with the spear was tied for first place in the clan''s younger generation with Gladius. When she was fighting aside, Pele was a pure woman at heart who valued simplicity and honesty. She changed a little when she fought, though, and became... A bit more aggressive. Mostly, though, she was the kind of person that was easy to get along with and someone you would never forget after meeting her. She was full of expression and never hesitated to smile which also made her quite charming in her own upbeat way. That''s not to say aesthetically she wasn''t charming too though, she was incredibly beautiful. She was a close second to Enyo and was objectively prettier than her own mother. She was always modest about it and never bragged though. All in all, Pele was a woman you could watch for less than a minute and come away with the conclusion that she was a good person. She was approachable too and never shied away from conversation, especially conversations she was personally interested in, like the one she wanted to have with her sisters! Viva la party and whatnot, but this was way more important! Pele wanted nothing more than to drag these two to some secluded corner, hog them for the entire night, and chat up a storm! Pele was infinitely envious of Rhea who was clearly in the know.


    Then there were the last two siblings. Palioxis and Phobos were hugging each other and looking at Enyo like she was some kind of alien. This was a rare opportunity to see Palioxis, specifically, with any look on her face whatsoever. Her tired blue eyes and dull grey hair gave off the impression that she cared about literally nothing. Her mouth rarely ever formed any shape other than a frown and her general body language made her look as if she was perpetually attempting to retreat from the world at large. Her petite frame, headband, and frilly dress made it impossible to hate her though. Like Allie she looked like a doll, in fact maybe even more so than Allie. She was younger than her too, coming in at thirteen years old. She was incredibly young to be competing in the tournament but she was also strong enough to justify her position on the team. Palioxis was a rude munchkin, though, and had even spit on someone who once suggested she not compete due to her age. Her appearance was very adorable, yes, but she was a mean spirited one that only ever got along with family members and no one else. Even then the only family member she really outwardly admitted to liking was Phobos, her twin brother. These two were basically inseparable from birth and finding one without the other was heresy. Palioxis spent a good chunk of time consoling her cowardly brother and looking after him because Phobos, if a comparison had to be made, was roughly as timid as Tuck. Even now Palioxis was patting Phobos to comfort the shaking boy and muttering "There, there. Happy Enyo isn''t real and can''t hurt you." Long story short, Palioxis had quite the mouth on her and rarely hesitated to let it fire on all cylinders.


    As for Phobos, aside from his constant cowering, he was just a relatively ordinary boy. He wore a plain green shirt and blue jeans, also plain. Describing him in any way was a herculean task because there really wasn''t much to talk about other than his persistently frightened face. He could occasionally be caught chewing his nails and he stuttered somewhat frequently but that was about it. His sister was very caring and he hid behind her a lot, thus they formed a sort of duo. Phobos could fight but he refused to go near people so he primarily relied on long range magic before giving up entirely whenever anyone got close. Part of his ''pathetic'' nature stemmed from his father''s constant disappointment in him and it was a deeply buried mental scar he struggled with. At least Bellona was lucky enough to be mostly ignored by Major but Phobos had the roughest time with his father of all the children. When Rhea said she didn''t talk to Major again after the incident eighteen years ago, that was mostly true except for one exception. There had to be an exception otherwise these two siblings wouldn''t have ever been born. The truth was that, after five years of not seeing him even a single time, Rhea wondered if Major had mellowed out even remotely. He was still the father of her children so she made one last ditch attempt to live a normal life with him. She was shocked when she thought he was finally making an effort but that didn''t last. The day she found out she was pregnant again was the day she almost killed Major because he admitted he only tolerated her so that she would give birth to more powerful soldiers. That was literally the only reason he even pretended to care. Rhea had been on the verge of strangling him to death but couldn''t bring herself to do it for two reasons. One, killing Major would be satisfying but selfish. It wasn''t her primary concern but, again, he was her children''s father. This reason alone wouldn''t have convinced her but there was another problem. The clan would be temporarily leaderless. There was really only one other potential candidate to take over but it would have been rough sailing and destabilised the clan for a while. It''s not like there weren''t people who wouldn''t take advantage of the fact that Major was dead and Rhea was due to give birth. This was the main reason she didn''t. After giving birth she dedicated her time to looking after Phobos and Palioxis to try and keep them away from Major. She was mostly successful but during the periods in which she wasn''t Major treated them like dirt. He didn''t love Rhea and definitely not her children either so he saw no value in them other than that as soldiers for his army. Palioxis was strong but Phobos was not in comparison and he was bullied quite extensively because of it. Whenever Rhea wasn''t around Palioxis comforted him in her stead leading to the current dynamic. Even now Rhea regretted not finishing what she started and killing Major. Every single day she felt the urge to kill him. In hindsight, so what if the clan disappeared? The Legion clan could burn so long as she managed to turn Major''s corpse to ashes amidst it all. Unfortunately, now, she wasn''t sure what to do because, if the rumours were true, she might not be able to kill him anymore. It seemed he had some kind of secret weapon up his sleeve and that was a risk not worth taking when he could just be safely ignored. The children were out of his grasp and reluctant to see him as a father anymore so Rhea considered this her win... She still wanted to kill him though. Using her and betraying her trust like that, squandering his second chance, after everything he''d done prior... It was all completely unforgivable. None of the other matriarchs disagreed with the idea that Rhea had had it the worst in terms of her marriage. Even though Eagerton and Edgerton''s father was an asshole there was at least some understanding because his story was complicated. What he''d done couldn''t be forgiven but at least he cared deeply about his children beyond the cold hearted exterior he put up. Major was an unrepenting piece of human garbage. Margaret had issues with her husband but that was trifling compared to the issues literally everyone else had with Major. She would gladly pick her own husband in a heartbeat over Major if given the choice. Hell even if Major was the only option she''d rather just stay single, he was that repulsive.


    He wasn''t here now though and wasting brain power on a sub-human individual like him was pointless. Instead, everyone was focused on the two sisters and trying to wrap their heads around what they were seeing. Enyo simply smirked and stuck her tongue which almost knocked out Tyr and Deimos on the spot. She hit them with the one two punch and introduced them to someone else who had been relatively quiet today so far but was about to make a big splash. "It''s been a while everyone, I''m glad to see you all again. I want to catch up with you all and explain a few things because I can tell you''re dying to ask but, first, before all of that, there''s someone I want to introduce you to." Enyo turned around and picked up Appa. "This here is Appa, and this cute little child is mine! She''s my adopted daughter and I''d like you all to meet her."


    Appa, as mentioned briefly prior, had indeed gotten ''dressed'' up for the occasion... Sort of. Appa wasn''t wearing clothes or anything, Shades struggled to even do that and it wasn''t worth the hassle, so no, that wasn''t the case... But there was a change! Above Appa''s rope, and slightly below its eyes, centred perfectly, was a small black bow tie! It was one small change and yet her cuteness levels were off the charts. Enyo had hugged Appa for over ten minutes straight after seeing her daughter''s new look and Rhea and Bellona were also smitten on sight. It was a simple change but Appa was simple to begin with so it really worked! Appa, now adorned with an accessory, looked at everyone on the table who were all staring right back. Appa raised its rope and wagged it back and forth like a waving hand as it happily greeted everyone. "Hello! I''m Appa! Mum says we''re all family now so let''s all get along and be happy together!"


    Rhea squealed and stole Appa from Enyo while spinning it around and hugging it. "Why are you so adorable?!" While this was happening, Tyr had fallen backwards off his chair and Deimos was choking on his drink after a spit-take. Pele had bounded off her chair and rushed over to hug the cutesy shade while Palioxis and Phobos tilted their heads in curiosity. Clearly, Enyo had a lot of explaining to do but there was definitely a merry atmosphere going around the table regardless. It was understood that it was a time for Enyo''s siblings to be in a celebratory mood even if they hadn''t yet processed everything, so that was mostly how they felt... Mostly... Tyr was still optimising the DIY torture session he was devising for the individual that was responsible! His hatred for this mystery individual was rapidly overtaking the distaste he had for his own father!

 Chapter 120: Debut of a Dapper Chap

    After the hectic initial reunion everyone took their seats except for Fate who shuffled over to the next table along where her own siblings were watching on, amused. Of course the Umbra Wolf family were very interested in what was happening, and why Fate had been hanging around Rhea, so they immediately peppered her with questions. Fate wracked her brains for the best way to explain things before finally starting her long description. It was going to take a while, though, as a lot had happened...


    Back on the Legion table. Enyo was hugging the twins and rubbing their heads. Palioxis, like Fate, had a tsundere streak inside her and bit her lips to stop herself from smiling. Phobos was unrestrained in this matter though and smiled quite happily upon receiving affection. He respected Enyo and Tyr for being so dauntless in the face of Major and he''d been trying to get to know them better for a while. Enyo''s attitude at the time had made things difficult, however, and their relationship hadn''t been the closest thing ever. Enyo had been disinterested in idle conversations for the most part and was more preoccupied with her shield and magic than anything else.


    When Enyo separated from the two, Pele''s face was pushed up against hers and Enyo could see the curious sparkle in her eyes. Tyr and Deimos were also staring and expecting answers so she chuckled and nodded, indicating they were free to ask away.


    "Where is he!?" Pele quick fired and shot out her question at blazing speed. A whole number of questions could be answered with one good look at the fella so that was the avenue she took.


    Enyo shook her head. "Not here yet, he should be arriving soon enough. You''ll get along with him well, Pele. He''s fun if nothing else."


    Pele gave a thumbs up before turning to Bellona and asking the same question... Well, it was somewhat similar, anyway. "And what about yours then? Where''s your guy?"


    Bellona smiled wryly and debated internally on how to answer this question. Eventually she settled on a silly idea she thought would be humorous and responded as such, "Not here yet, he should be arriving soon enough. You''ll get along with him well, Pele. He''s fun if nothing else."


    Pele blinked a few before narrowing her eyes and inquisitively glancing between her two sisters. "Eh? Am I being messed with? By Bellona, sure. By Enyo?! Say it aint so!" Little did Pele realise, she wasn''t being messed with in the slightest...


    Phobos was excited at the prospect of new family members so he asked the next question. His excitability gave him the energy to start strong but he gradually grew more timid the more words he had to speak so he kept his question short. "Is this person... Nice?"


    For a moment Enyo wasn''t sure how to respond to such a loaded question. She shook her head, paused briefly, and then nodded. "Yes and no. He can be annoying at times, and he likes to push his luck with people sometimes, but he''s generally nice to family. He won''t be mean to you without a reason and, even then, he''ll only talk to you and try to solve the problem... Although he did slap his brother once... But he kinda deserved it at the time..." Enyo glanced at Aejaz and shrugged.


    Phobos looked at Bellona and she could tell the scamp was asking her the same question... Well, if her response didn''t clue them in as to what was happening, then nothing would... "Yes and no. He can be annoying at times and he likes to push his luck with people sometimes, but he''s generally nice to family. He won''t be mean to you without a reason and, even then, he''ll only talk to you and try to solve the problem... Although he did slap his brother once... But he kinda deserved it at the time..." Bellona glanced at Aejaz and shrugged.


    Tyr fell off his chair again and Pele let out a series of yelps as she pointed between her two sisters. "AH! AH! AH! AH!" Enyo snickered at her dumbstruck family while Bellona just scratched her head. "For real? For really real? Really for really reals?" Pele''s utterances were probably harder to understand than her yelps but she was too overloaded with information right now to speak any more clearly than this.


    Bellona and Enyo both nodded and the latter was the first to clarify. "Yes, we are both in love with the same man. It''s a bit of a long story but there''s a lot to catch up on anyway. I''ll tell you my side of the story first and then Bellona can tell you hers. Don''t think I don''t want to hear what you''ve all been up to though! When we''re done I want you to spit it all out just as we will!" Enyo started off by recounting her side of the story as the rest listened in.


    Aejaz and Allie went off to go and get some food before heading over to the outer court team''s table. Esme and Li Li were both already here and chatting away about Onno and Dirk. One was complaining and the other was nodding their head in agreement, then the roles would swap and so on so on. Aejaz and Allie took a seat, said hello, and went about having their own conversation about how Allie''s alchemy had been progressing as of late and what kind of ingredients she needed.


    Over near the centre of the room, Eagerton had arrived with his mother and brother and were having their own conversation. Eagerton scoured the room briefly before clicking his tongue. "... I''m afraid not, mother. It seems Ares isn''t here yet."


    Margaret sipped on some coffee as she held a camera in her spare hand. "I do hope he arrives soon. I feel like today is going to be particularly inspiring. There''s no greater inspiration for me than that emotion we call joy. Ah but Calla will have to be here too for the full extent of the emotion to be seen... I wonder where that bushy-tailed mongrel is? I hope she''s not wasting time searching the streets, how ironic it would be when her best odds of success are to be found here..."


    Edgerton sighed. He''d already been forced to take a few pictures and be a part of some too so he''d hoped his job here was done. Regrettably his mother refused to allow him to leave so he was stuck here waiting for the drama to unfold. He and Eagerton had been informed about the matter and, while Eagerton was looking forward to it, Edgerton couldn''t have cared less. Positive emotions were not what he picked from when searching for a flash of inspiration. He created more artistic music when delving into negativity as that suited his vision for his lyricism.


    A certain haughty elf sauntered over and greeted Eagerton with sass. "Well well well, if it isn''t Mr Novice Novelist himself. What brings you up here to this floor, peerless penman?" Mako was an average looking elf, which also meant he was somewhat more attractive than your average human, but his arrogance was ugly as sin. His facial features didn''t lean too heavily in either the direction of sharp or soft and were a healthy mix of both in places. His ears were long but, unlike most other elves, his were pointed downwards instead of upwards, making him stand out from his racial brethren. His hair was green and free flowing and his eyes were a striking light blue. Of note were two small square patterns in his eyes, around and boxing in his pupils, that were unique as most people weren''t born with aesthetic mutations. The chances of such a mutation went beyond one in billion. Although it was both random and irrelevant, Mako held an unreasonable degree of pride in his eyes and he always made sure to flaunt them to the best of his ability when meeting someone new by getting up close and personal. As for his clothes, despite his brash personality, he wore clothes that were reminiscent of a mechanic when at home. His flame retardant coveralls where the perfect choice for him to wear when experimenting with his magic and creating all manner of gizmos. Out and about he wore clothes that were somewhat similar but a tad more stylish. An unbuttoned, khaki, rustic, coverall jacket was his go to with a plain beige shirt underneath. His trousers were coloured like dark sand and he wore plain black boots. Though he was an overconfident and insufferable person, Mako was a hard-worker at his core and that was reflected in his clothes. It''s not even the image he wanted others to see in him, this was unfiltered. It was probably the most accurate and honest thing about him. There was nothing more he enjoyed than sitting around in a cultivation room and tinkering with his magic. He wanted to be number one but he wasn''t lazy about it and resting on his laurels was something that Mako didn''t even have the patience for. If he was idling he would get annoyed and look for something to do which usually resulted in him training, stopping, getting bored, and training again. He''d gone off the rails a bit recently during his search for the destruction pillar and hadn''t trained as much but he still trained way more than the average person. Unfortunately, however, he mostly trained his magic. No matter how much he hated to admit it, Mako sucked ass in close-quarters combat. He''d been trained in it and wasn''t helpless... But he really wasn''t'' as good as he should have been considering the effort that had been put in. He was roughly Esme tier... For a fundamental champion that was atrocious. His magic made up for it, certainly, but this was a truth that irked him whenever it came up in conversation. As that was the case, Eagerton fired back knowing full well he was attacking a sore spot.


    "Good evening noodle arms. I take it you''ve been patting yourself on the back with those limp wrists of yours as per usual?"


    Mako ground his teeth before kissing them with a scowl. "At least I have a reason to pat myself on the back. I don''t suppose you''ve gotten over your inferiority complex yet? How''s it feel knowing my magic is just better than yours in every way?"


    "Hmph." Eagerton took out a cigar and lit it. He puffed out a ring of smoke and pointed his cigar at Mako. "A sparrow with a big beak would be wise not to try pecking an eagle with a small beak. Then again, you don''t strike me as wise so keep flapping away. See how far it gets you."


    "Ok birdbrain, enough with the analogies. I didn''t come over here for you anyway. Be straight with me and I''ll leave you alone. The destruction pillar, where is it and who is it?"


    "Above you and beyond you. I have nothing more to add. The destruction pillar is your superior, now and always."


    "Mako." Terros interrupted before things go tout of hand. Insulting Mako''s physicality was one thing but comparing him to the destruction pillar and asserting that he came up short was a big no-no. If Terros didn''t speak up a fight would start here and it would be one that Mako obviously couldn''t win. Eagerton was a prodigy in his own right and wouldn''t lose to a fundamental pillar with an advantage in cultivation as big as his. He was a core disciple and was competing in a different league to Mako for a reason. Mako was truly like a scrappy dog, willing to bite opponents even three times his size. Whether that was who he was as an individual or who he was because of his faith in his pillar was up in the air. It might even just be both.


    Mako clicked his tongue before saying goodbye to everyone other than Eagerton. "I suppose that will be all for now then. Goodbye Margaret. Goodbye Edgerton, the better brother." With a short bow and a middle finger to Eagerton, Mako left to go and closely scrutinise everyone that walked through the double doors. Although he wouldn''t be able to tell with 100% certainty on sight, he would be able to make a rough guess! the rough presence of other fundamentals was detectable to an extent so he waited ''patiently''.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Back by Aejaz, Allie was rubbing her mitts together as Leo and Scout returned from their expedition. In order to make Scout stealthier, Allie had stuck to having it record conversations instead of relaying everything live. Scout was harder to detect the less mana it had to use so this was for the best. Leo also had a variety of stealth related pills on his necklace so they were able to sneak around undetected and undeterred! Even if they were caught Leo would be able to transform and fend off his pursuers while retreating so it had been a flawless plan. It seemed that backup plan was for naught though as they came back without alerting the people they were spying on. Allie didn''t much care for the conversations everyone else was having, and she was only focused on Trixie who was talking with a person that was presumably Aejaz'' little sister, but Scout would have unintentionally picked up on everything in the nearby vicinity. Although Allie didn''t really want to know, if Aejaz'' family were badmouthing him she was going to hear all of it as background noise... But there were more important matters afoot! Allie picked up Leo and put him on the table next to a plate of fish she''d prepared for him as a reward. Leo chowed down while Allie picked up Scout and put him next to her ear before attempting to start the playback.


    boom!


    Allie was startled as Scout exploded into a strong of confetti. She was momentarily shocked because she hadn''t expected a Trixie bomb to show up disguised as her Mini Pillie. Upon realising what happened, she looked over at Trixie, who just so ''happened'' to look back at her, and growled at her while removing the confetti from her hair. Damn this tricky woman! Getting dirt on Trixie and keeping her away from Aejaz was going to be quite the uphill battle... Aejaz didn''t quite understand why Allie and Trixie, despite not having spoken even once, seemed to have some sort of rivalry going on but he helped Allie remove the confetti nonetheless. As he plucked away at the last piece, he realised it was actually a piece of paper with a note written on it. The note read ''They''re going to come over, brace yourself. I think they''re looking for a fight with you. Maybe try and find an elder to help you.'' Aejaz read the note and was dreading the encounter. He just wanted to be left alone damnit. Why couldn''t these people exit his life for good? Much to his dismay, when he looked up, not just one or two people were headed towards him, but the entire table was coming over. His little sister, Trixie, the burnt face guy, his three brothers, his father, mother, and his uncle... What a miserable experience this was going to be... Worse still, Slick had just left the floor recently to go and check on the others and there weren''t really any other elders around either. His family had waited for an opportunity to corner him like a rat. The only thing Aejaz had going for him was that he had the Nyxian Prowler on him. Ares had borrowed it to him earlier in case he needed it during his absence. Ares had foreseen the potential for Aejaz'' family to be a nuisance but he hadn''t predicted that Aejaz would be harassed by this many of them at the same time... At least the Prowler would help, though. Aejaz clung to it in case he needed to save Allie as his family arrived at the table...


    Meanwhile, the Legion clan had just finished listening to Enyo and Bellona''s whacky adventures. The more they heard about this guy the less they felt like they understood him, especially when Enyo ended it all by saying ''he may look like an idiot, and talk like an idiot, but don''t let that fool you. He really is an idiot''. The one thing that was abundantly clear to them, however, was that he was a revenant... And that he was Calla''s child on top of that... Which could only mean one thing... They looked at the next table over, the one where Fate had also just finished explaining a thing or two to her own siblings, and had an impromptu stare down with their mortal enemies... No... Now, they were family!? The maddening mutts they''d brawled with just yesterday were going to be relatives.... Oh the horror! They could see it on the wolves'' faces, they were salivating at the chance to mess with them further... This was an absolute disaster! And it couldn''t be stopped! Calla''s existence had already sealed the deal... If her son, long lost or otherwise, wanted to marry someone then any outside interference may as well be non-existent. Enyo wanted this, Ares wanted this, Bellona wanted this. That was all Calla would need to know before bludgeoning anyone who disagreed... Tyr''s plans were all flushed down the drain as was all the colour in his face. He''d turned pale upon realising his sisters were being wed to a revenant! Any living creature would have been bad regardless, but a damnable, detestable, despicable, degenerate revenant!?!?!? This was truly a fate worse than death for Tyr.


    Deimos was also perturbed too... That stupid rooftop king was going to be his brother in law! He''d seen it! That look in Ares'' eyes that screamed ''I want to ride your bike!'' Deimos wasn''t hallucinating! Did this fool seriously think that just because he hadn''t stolen it when he had the chance Demos would let him ride it after? Over his dead body!


    There was a third person who wasn''t ecstatic at the prospect of closing the distance with the revenants either, and that was Phobos. Every time he came across Venus she would chase him to the ends of the earth just to try and hug him... She was a scary lady that was up to no good. Palioxis had called her an ''immoral skank'' numerous times and warned Phobos to keep clear of her because she ''liked eating little boys''. Phobos wasn''t sure what his sister meant by that exactly but the crazed look in Venus'' eyes was more than enough proof. If they became relatives the amount of excuses she would have to be near him would increase considerably. Even now she had her eyes glued to him and was panting at the discovery that they would be a lot closer from now on...


    It wasn''t all bad though. There was one person who was over the moon, and that was Pele, your friendly neighbourhood social butterfly. Pele liked the revenant family and had a bit of a crush on Skyzo in particular. Ever since she lost a spar to him a few years back she''d been thinking about him often and always looked forward to seeing him again. She was good at bringing him out of his shell. Skyzo aside, though, more family was always a good thing in Pele''s world view. She liked company and had been the first of her own siblings to form a connection with the wolves. She would chat with them whenever she came across them and even avoided fighting revenants as a whole if she could. She actually felt sorry for the wolves upon learning one of their siblings had gone missing and that they were unaware completely. Family being separated like that was borderline a sob story for someone as compassionate as Pele and her heart went out to Calla. Calla had always been very nice to Pele and treated her like one of her own, offering her hot chocolate every time she visited. Of course Calla extended that same courtesy to all of Rhea''s children but only a few accepted it so openly. Pele could tell Calla was a good person and that she didn''t deserve to lose a child in such a cruel way. There were few people Pele didn''t like, and even fewer she hated, but the more she learnt about her father the more he fell into that small category. Pele believed in unity and co-operation and Major stood for the exact opposite in every way. Although everyone here was glad to be away from Major, no one was more happy about it than Pele. She was enjoying being a family again and learning that it had grown substantially was good news in her mind!


    The one thing that was a constant throughout everyone''s head across both tables was a single question that kept repeating itself without pause. Who the hell is Ares? All the descriptions in the world weren''t going to do such a person justice because he was simply a bizarre existence. A sibling somehow no one knew about, a fundamental pillar wielder, had Dominus inside him, a revenant marrying into the Legion clan. This guy was a problem a minute! Their minds were distracted from this conundrum when someone new strolled into the venue from the double doors. As per usual, everyone stole a glance at the newcomer but, as was the case with Enyo, everyone gawked in their seats; none more so than the people that were familiar with this individual. The fact that this person had somehow shown-up Enyo looking the way she was, was unthinkable. He was unruly, annoying, and usually only slightly above average looks-wise, and yet he''d really outdone himself today. The fact that this man, Ares, looked more handsome than his brother Aejaz today was a feat that not even some Gods would be able to replicate. The golden gadfly who was a burden to society had come dressed in spectacular fashion and was easily the individual with the greatest wardrobe here. Now of course he had Hans to thank for that but it was impressive regardless and he wore it like a champ too. All of the sect elders, sect disciples, and family / friends who had seen Ares before couldn''t believe their eyes right now because he might as well have been a different person. Lazy, annoying, cocky... Yeah right. This Ares was professional, clean, confident, and the very definition of eye candy.


    As for how Ares had pulled of this stunt, a good bespoke suit really did wonders. Hans had crafted him an outfit suitable for a white tie event and Ares donned it in style. Where to even start when looking at him was difficult because he looked sculpted to perfection regardless of where your eyes drifted but, if one aspect of his clothes had to be pinpointed first, the winner was his black tailcoat. You would think there would be little room for theatrics here, and that it would just be a standard affair, but Hans was an incredible tailor so he did something clever here. Something that really allowed Ares to make this getup his own. The tailcoat, at the back, ended abruptly at Ares waist. Why? Well, that was so that Ares could finish it himself! In order to ''complete'' the tail coat at the back, and have it come down to around about the back of his knees in length, Ares utilised his Stygian Zephyr. The tail coat''s bottom segment was actually the Zephyr reformed which gave it a feathery, suave look. To prevent it from looking messy Ares had dedicated at least an hour to delicately trimming the feathers'' lengths so that they would line up perfectly alongside each other in a ''V'' shape; albeit one that was slightly more curved than straight at the bottom. It was definitely ''Ares''-esque and was the only modification to the look as a whole, but it was the only one that was needed to remind everyone of just who was wearing it in the first place. Underneath all the classy extras, Ares was still that wild child that ruffled feathers but he was just as capable of trimming them into an extravagant plumage when needed to man up and act like a distinguished gentleman. The rest was standard affair. A white, wing tipped and studded dress shirt, a full white waist coat, black pleated pants, a white bow tie, and patent leather dress shoes. A few extras brought the look together: namely some pearl cufflinks, a gold pocket watch, white leather gloves, a real boutonniere, and a white, fine cashmere scarf hanging loosely over each of his shoulders and ready to be offered to Enyo later on when the opportunity arose. Everything was snug on his body and could have easily been mistaken as his own skin, that was how perfectly it fit. It especially did wonders for his chest and broad shoulders that were defined to a tee and showcased in full as Ares stood tall and proud with dignity and distinction. There were two changes above the neck, one of which was a diamond stud earring in his left ear and the other was his medium length slicked back hair. Every single lock had been swept back which made the earring that much more visible as it sparkled beneath the chandelier Ares was walking under.


    Ares had nailed it. What had become apparent to Enyo and Bellona was that this man cared. He had no business looking this good at all. He was not versed in white tie etiquette but he had clearly learned specifically for today and spent God only knows how much time prepping himself in advance. He must have repeatedly put this wardrobe on and taken it off to make sure he could get it on immaculately just for today. Neither Enyo nor Bellona could be mad at him for taking away all their glory because he had well and truly earned it. For today, Ares could be the star of the show. For all of the effort he put in to make today special he deserved to be the unambiguous number one and it didn''t seem like anyone else in the room disagreed. For the first time since Enyo and Bellona had met Ares, they were feeling jealous. Ares had garnered a few small looks here and there in the past but nothing to the same scale as today. Ares was actually being looked at like a piece of fine meat by the predatory women in the crowd and now the Legion sisters finally understood how Ares truly felt before when the shoe had been on the other foot. If it were up to them, they would have gone around and scratched out all of the other women''s eyeballs because Ares belonged to them. Ares was their man and, more specifically, for today, he was Enyo''s man. He belonged to her and that made her feel proud and excited. Such a fine man was hers, now and forever.

 Chapter 121: Can Ares Walk the Walk?

    It took Ares a second to spot Enyo and he had to control himself. He was ever so close to activating Voidwalk, taking Enyo away from the venue, and ravishing her at home. She was utterly splendid and he was well and truly enamoured. Not to mention Bellona was incredible too. It wasn''t her day today but Ares still appreciated her efforts as he could tell at a glance why she''d even bothered. To have two amazing women go to such lengths for him made his heart beat uncontrollably but he kept himself together because he couldn''t embarrass himself, not today. It was hard. Everyone was looking his way just as he''d intended but the unintended consequence of the mounting pressure to perform consistently was heavy. He needed to make it clear he was the only man in the room that could stand beside Enyo and Bellona and that he deserved it. No one else''s opinion mattered, and it was overkill, but he felt he had to do it so he steadied himself and steeled his nerves. The number of amorous glances he received from other women was perturbing though. Obviously he didn''t care in the slightest but the idea that he was sexually attractive was a bizarre feeling. He''d never been ugly or anything but if anyone was ever going to look lustfully in his direction it was probably because Aejaz was nearby. For him to be the apple of everyone''s eye was enlightening and embarrassing. It did feel good but he wished it would end already. It was the kind of thing you would enjoy for five seconds before it became annoying and troublesome and he was just now realising how difficult Enyo must have had it up until he arrived. Hell even before that and just in general. It was suffocating but onwards he soldiered. His primary concern was not being detained by anyone as then he would have to skilfully weave his way through the ensuing conversation while everyone watched on. Walking to the table was simple, coming up with smooth moves on the fly so as not to damage his prestige was a nightmare. His luck wouldn''t be so forgiving, however, as someone was already coming towards him... Someone he really wished wasn''t but someone he could never blame nor fault. Deep in his heart he was beyond happy to see Appa floating merrily towards him but this was still a huge problem! How do I handle this with everyone staring me down? Ares'' brief panic was squashed when his daughter arrived in front of him and naturally calmed his nerves. Such a soothing presence was a relief and suddenly the task at hand didn''t seem so daunting. Or rather his perspective of it changed. He wasn''t going to try and impress everyone else, he was going to have a nice conversation with his precious daughter. Everyone else could kick rocks!


    Appa floated over and paused in front of Ares, looking him up and down as tiny triangular indents indicated Appa was happy. "Hey dad! You look cool!"


    Ares chuckled heartily as he knelt down and stroked Appa''s head with his gloved hand. "That''s awfully sweet of you, but aren''t you looking quite fancy yourself? That bow tie suits you."


    Appa wiggled happily but played hard to get. "Hehe, It''s just a bow tie! You''re exaggerating!"


    Ares gently shook his head and picked Appa up, cradling it in his arms as he looked down and spoke softly. "No, sweetie. The beautiful thing about perfection is that the less you add to it, the better."


    Appa sniffled and hugged Ares. It nuzzled his chest as he patted its head and started walking to the table again. Massive success! His brain had worked overtime, nearly even short-circuited, but it had come up with a response that brought tears to the eyes of the onlookers. Seeing Ares interact with his daughter in such a heart-warming manner awakened all sorts of maternal instincts in the women and the men had to bite their tongues and quit cursing Ares because how could they justify it? The man had just displayed the fact that he was basically a saint reincarnated in the flesh! Realistically, Ares was the farthest living creature from a saint you could imagine, but that didn''t matter if no one else knew that! Let them have their misunderstandings, it only benefitted Ares anyway. Plus it was the impression he wanted to give. If Enyo came here today as a flawless woman, then he would raise himself up until he was a flawless man. Daunting though it was, Enyo was worth the effort.


    Ares was in the homestretch now but there was still trouble brewing on the horizon... Seriously, why the fuck was a normal walk from one side of the room to the other this taxing?! Why was it an obstacle course?! What kind of cruel torture was this? At this rate, Ares was surprised he wasn''t being made to do the walk with bare feet over hot coal! The next issue was one he was acutely aware of. In hindsight, he should have seen this coming... His fellow fundamental pillar champion Mako was storming towards him... Oh boy, here we go.


    Mako looked Ares up and down maybe ten or so times, biting his lip in frustration as he accepted the loss in the looks department and finished rolling up on him. "YOU! Are you the man I''m looking for?! Are you the destruction pillar champion!? It''s you, isn''t it?! I can tell!"


    Ares could tell too, he could tell this was the creation pillar champion and Ares was already half dreading and half looking forward to their co-worker relationship. On one hand, this guy was a twerp, on the other, messing with twerps was fun. So much so that Ares came up with the perfect solution to this problem on the spot. It was a temporary one but it would get this fool out of his hair for long enough while also being an incredibly satisfying method of toying with him. See, there was something Ares had learnt upon seeing Mako. Actually, he''d learnt it upon seeing Eagerton to be precise. The ability to detect other fundamental champions was inaccurate and heavily flawed. The presence of the creation pillar was still lingering on Eagerton even though he himself wasn''t the wielder of it. Long story short, even interacting with a champion left their mark on you and that gave Ares a plausible excuse! "Apologies, but I believe there has been a misunderstanding. I ran into the destruction champion not even a minute ago outside the venue. I believe he mentioned something about leaving the sect briefly in search of an acquaintance. If you hurry, you may be able to catch up to him yet."


    Mako was stunned. He''d gotten the wrong guy! He lowered his head slightly and apologised before thanking the very man he was looking for and leaving the venue in a hurry. Terros considered correcting the record, as he wasn''t as stupid as Mako was, but chose not to. The destruction pillar champion was clearly in the middle of something and didn''t want to be bothered right now so Terros did him a solid and remained quiet for the time being. He would give Mako hints later so that he could return to the party and not search endlessly to no avail but for now this level of humiliation was acceptable. Mako needed to be humbled every now and then and this was far too perfect to ruin.


    Off to the side, Eagerton was struggling to scribble some notes properly as he barely contained his laughter. This scene would be burned into his memory so he could leverage this moment against the punk Mako by putting him in a book! His dunce moment would be available for all to see for the low low price of twenty low grade stardust! Immortalising stupidity, and Mako''s none-the-less, did indeed bring a smile to Eagerton''s face. It''s not like he was the only one laughing or attempting not too though, a good few other people in the hall who were in the know chuckled to themselves too. Even Serene couldn''t help but titter somewhat. She felt bad for her son but he was also being a colossal nuisance so he had it coming. Serene could appreciate the struggles Ares was currently undergoing for the sake of love so she made no effort to make things harder than they already were for him. Her son could do with some fresh air anyway! Plus this was a good learning opportunity. Understanding first hand just how stupid revenants were was an invaluable lesson to learn early.


    As for Ares, he subtly took a deep breath through his nose and begun his march again! This time, not bursting out into a fit of laughter was the challenge as he wasn''t entirely convinced his dumb plan would work. Seeing Mako so eagerly thank him and sprint off was very nearly enough to make Ares shed tears and laugh from the bottom of his soul. To make matters worse, Appa was giggling away in his arms which just made him want to join in. But NO! He had an appearance to uphold and he would do it if it killed him!... Though that being said, at the rate things were going wrong, he might actually die of exhaustion before making it to the table... His next obstacle had already started approaching him en masse and he could feel two violent stares digging into him. The Legion sisters, more than anyone else in the room, were particularly interested to see how Ares would handle the clique of women that were approaching him. Double standards much? Ares had nothing to say about when it happened to them earlier! Only because he wasn''t here for it though otherwise he probably would have...


    Ares kept a cordial smile on his face but spoke with distance in his voice. It was friendly but apologetic, thus making his intention clear from the get go. "Apologies, ladies, but I can''t be keeping my date waiting on a fine night such as this. Time waits for no man, after all."


    The gaggle of geese giggled and tittered with various coy gestures performed theatrically amongst them, undeterred by his dismissal. He was going to have to fight harder... But before he could speak up again, the frontmost lady spoke to him. "Oh? And which lucky lady is it? I would be remiss if I couldn''t talk to her and figure out just how she managed to attract a man such as yourself. I''m looking for some friendly advice on a similar matter, you see." This attack was threefold. Firstly, she got to probe him. Are you telling the truth? Is there actually a date waiting for you? Prove it! Second, if it were true, what was the competition looking like? Uglier or prettier than me? Do I have a chance at making this work? And finally, if there is a chance, I would like to talk to the woman and rub it in. I want to step on her toes in public and make it clear her man will be mine soon. All of this was wrapped up in a polite bundle that only indicated such thoughts but didn''t have the audacity to commit to them if things went horribly wrong. Ares could see this but he really didn''t have to do anything about it. His response would naturally drive away these women unless they had a death wish.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "The lucky lady, or rather lucky ladies in question, are those two over there." Ares gestured with an upturned palm toward the Legion table and everyone craned their neck. When they saw who the ''lucky ladies'' were, explosions went off in their brains as connections were made! Yeah, no wonder Rhea had said the situation was ''complicated''! Complicated was an understatement! Two sisters! There were some people in the hall hoping that Pele was one of them and either Bellona or Enyo were still in the cards but, deep down, they knew better. Unreasonable levels of jealousy surged through the room as the three standouts were all taken, and by each other no less! The men hated Ares'' guts for having not one, but two beautiful women in the bag. The women were spiteful towards the sisters because Ares was H.O.T. Also, the chances of some no-name cultivator being allowed anywhere near the Legion main family was unlikely. This guy probably had some kind of status that made him ''worthy'' so the idea that Enyo and Bellona were clinging to some secret big shot spread quickly. Technically, everyone was right. Ares'' status was incomparable to literally anyone else. Although not currently, he even outranked the Gods themselves. If that titbit was known the women here may have very well deemed Rhea''s wrath a worthwhile risk in a bid to become his third wife. They were all cowards though and they stood zero chance to begin with. Ares wouldn''t be swayed by these people and Enyo was the final arbiter regardless. And of course the men were right too. ''Luck'' really was the reason Ares was in this situation. If he didn''t have the destruction pillar it was debateable whether or not he would be in this position. He would have lived a very different life and struggled a lot more. Plus Bellona had been originally attracted to that specific magic to begin with. Enyo may have still been in the cards but Bellona likely wouldn''t have happened at all. Any attraction she felt would have been pushed down by the whole ''sister''s husband'' problem and never become a serious issue after the Perish Wheel because that art wouldn''t have existed. So yes, Ares was lucky and he was thankful to his core for it. Still, luck was only one factor of many. In a way he''d earned this too. His relationship with Enyo was hard-won and he''d put in the effort to get her to tolerate him. He was rarely immodest enough to bring up what he''d accomplished with Enyo but it was undeniably his most prideful achievement to date... Even if it had been rough here and there. Anyway, today was the culmination of everything between them so he pulled out all the stops and broke through every obstacle. The women had to leave because they didn''t stack up against either sister and Rhea was leaking a deathly aura that screamed ''leave my daughters'' man alone you hussies''.


    Once more, Ares was on the path to victory. This ordeal had been harrowing and he was this close to being at wit''s end. He felt drained and wanted nothing more than to sit the fuck down for a minute. He was so close. Oh so close. It really looked like he was going to make it this time....


    FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCK!


    Ares yelled internally with a pained cry. Of course the universe wouldn''t be so kind to him as arguably his greatest trial yet reared its ugly head... Aejaz'' family... They had briefly stopped troubling his brother when he walked in but they went back to it shortly after and were currently probing him. Ares could have abandoned Aejaz if he were a garbage human being but, despite what some people might think, he really wasn''t. He would have helped out here regardless but he had explicitly promised to bail Aejaz out if things went south anyway. Things were visibly going south so Ares next trial was unavoidable. Ares put Appa on the floor near the Legion table and his path was altered. This brought everyone''s attention back on him just as it was about to fade. They thought he would sit at the table and be at peace... Yet something was clearly wrong if the frown on his face was any indication.


    Aejaz and his family were unaware of the person heading in their direction so they kept bickering back and forth undisturbed. It became apparent to everyone watching Ares where he was heading and now their interest was piqued! Drama was afoot! As Ares passed by the Legion table, he glanced at Enyo and Bellona with an apologetic gaze but they smiled and shook their heads. Things might get messy here but one of the big reasons they loved him was because he was a family man through and through. They would rather see him toss aside the prim and proper pretence he''d built up and be violent than watch him leave Aejaz to suffer alone. Unfortunately this just spurred on Ares to do things properly. It was looking increasingly likely he would have to fight but if he could win overwhelmingly he might be able to keep his image, if not outright bolster it. He had Dominus but refused to rely on that particular wild card so he would have to do it himself. He busily formulated a means of attack as he approached but also made sure to sneak a glance at the next table along after the Legion clan... This was his family, his siblings. He memorised all of their features just as they looked back at him and did the same. Ares didn''t have time to go over everything right now or talk to them but he would come back for them after. First Aejaz, then Enyo and Bellona, and finally them. After that it was anyone''s guess. Calla would arrive at some point and Mako would return too. The night was still young and Ares'' list of things to do hadn''t even been half checked off yet...


    On Aejaz'' side of things, rewinding back to when the conversation started, the first person to speak to him was surprisingly the silk stabber. The weirdo that wanted to put holes in people and bothered Ares back in the tomb. He also really stood out here because everyone else was wearing some variation of plain black attire. This guy was the only one wearing white and he stood out like a sore thumb. "Where''s you brother, runt?"


    Aejaz realised this guy still didn''t know what truly happened otherwise he would have been a lot more aggressive to Aejaz himself. He was still annoyed with him, but only because he had to go through Aejaz to get details about Ares'' location. Knowing that these people would all just walk over him if he remained passive, Aejaz took a stand here and braced himself to be a bit more verbally aggressive than usual throughout the encounter. "Where''s your manners, half and half?" Aejaz rudely poked fun at the guy''s burned face and the man''s temper flared but he held back for now.


    "Someone''s gotten a little too cocky for their own good it seems. Are you really in a position to be messing around? I don''t want anything to do with a failure like you, your brother is the reason I''m here. I won''t be satisfied until I put at least a hundred holes in him, you hear me runt?!"


    "No, I don''t. I tend not to listen to background characters. I don''t even know your name let alone why I should respond to you. You''re a sideshow so get lost."


    "My name is Rag you ignorant moron. I was one of the most notable branch members and, compared to you, I was a prodigy. You have no business not knowing my name considering your position you worthless trash."


    "What position? Did you stab a hole in your brain? I''m not in the clan anymore so your make-believe hierarchy doesn''t mean shit to me. Also, for a prodigy to get blown up because of the antics of worthless trash... Isn''t that kinda pathetic? What, you think that Shock Bead jumped into your pocket by itself? Tell me how it tasted, why don''t you?"


    "YOU BASTARD!" Rag tried to launch himself at Ares but a single hand blocked him as the owner of it glared down at him. Rag may have been a prodigy but everyone else here was a member of the main branch or, in Trixie''s case, close to it. Rag was bottom of the barrel and stepping out of line because he''d been verbally trounced was, as Aejaz had said earlier, pathetic. He wasn''t even supposed to have come along to hassle Aejaz. This man really didn''t know his place. That or he was just so blinded by his injury that he was starting to act out. Either way it was unsightly behaviour and a few clan members all had the brief thought of killing him on the spot. Unfortunately this clown was their team''s backup member in case something happened to one of the main five. Backups didn''t have to be from the same country provided they were from the same clan or sect as another member so he was an acceptable substitute in an emergency. This display however had sealed his fate and he was going to ''disappear'' after the tournament without fail, Aejaz'' uncle would see to it himself.


    As for the person that stopped him, Scowl was the second oldest of the four brothers. Three technically as Aejaz had been disowned but they were still blood related regardless of how much none of them wanted to be. Scowl was all business, all the time. He didn''t care about anything other than the job at hand and chose not to speak often. The less you spoke, the less you could slip up. He hadn''t quite taken a vow of silence but he had considered it; he still needed to relay information every now and then otherwise he just well may have done it. Scowl was one of the two brothers that just treated Aejaz like air and didn''t care about him in the slightest. Whether he lived, died, was disowned, or even kept as a slave. None of it mattered to Scowl unless it would affect him and his work in any way. The fact that he came along to Aejaz'' table must have meant he viewed what was about to happen as some kind of assigned task. If there was no goal or mission in mind he would have stayed behind at the other table and not interfered. As for what that goal was, Trixie had already said it... They were looking for a fight. They wanted to annoy Aejaz until he lashed out, at which point they would escalate it and claim they were just defending themselves. Aejaz knew it and yet he was still worried. Normally he would just walk away but he couldn''t here for other reasons. In fact the fight was basically guaranteed because all they would have to do is say one very specific thing and he would attack them on the spot. If all the brothers were going to poke at him in different ways, the chances of one of them hitting that reverse scale was high... Scowl took the first shot. "Why are you competing in the tournament? Should someone as useless as you be dragging down those around you who''ve actually worked hard? Show some basic human decency and quit." Scowl went for the ''you''re inferior'' approach in an attempt to see if Aejaz still cared about being disowned because he was considered garbage by his own family.


    "What would you know? I''ve earned my place here so you and your opinion can fuck off. I don''t know what you think I''ve been up to since I left the family but I haven''t been idling away this whole time, I''ll tell you that free of charge. Why don''t you do what you''re so damn good at and shut your mouth?"


    Scowl narrowed his gaze at Aejaz but didn''t retort. His mission was just to prod and he''d done his job already. As much as he personally wanted to have a word or two more with Aejaz he was obedient and didn''t stray off the path his uncle had made for him. The worst part about all of this was that Aejaz knew he wouldn''t be able to respond and had hit him where it hurt. This runt had been practicing his insults if nothing else. Still, things were just getting started. There were seven other people here and one of them was bound to set him off eventually. The only question was ''what does Aejaz truly value?'' Or in other words, ''Where can we hit him that would really hurt?''

 Chapter 122: Can Aejaz Talk the Talk?

    The youngest brother was next up to the plate. He was the second and final brother that was impartial in his dealings with Aejaz... Somewhat, anyway. Phlo was more of a supportive cultivator who aided others in their assassinations and that was reflected in his personality. The personality that, actually, he didn''t even really have. If copying other people''s personalities could be considered one of its own then maybe he actually did but, for the most part, he just did what everyone else did without question. If Scowl told him to work, he would work. If his uncle told him to go and train, he would go and train. If he was told to bark he would bark. It''s not that he was obedient like Scowl or anything, he just didn''t care enough or have any personal opinions on anything to say no. It was more like he did the things everyone else did to search for purpose and anything that interested him. Maybe if he copied enough people then one day he would find his own calling? To that end he was someone that just kinda went with the flow. He''d been told to insult Aejaz and that was precisely what he was going to do. He didn''t hate doing it nor did he take any joy in it either, he just did what was demanded of him out of curiosity. "Yo bro, still clinging to that shit magic of yours? Found a use for it yet other than disappointing everyone with a forgettable parlour trick? Must suck being stuck with it for life. Might as well just kill yourself to get rid of it don''t cha think?" Phlo was here to check if Aejaz had been consumed by hatred for his aspect, the thing that was at the root of all his problems.


    Aejaz was really baffled by this one. He adored his aspect!... Then again, there was no reason for these people to know that though. They were still living in the past apparently. "My magic''s incredible, thank you very much. It''s improved by leaps and bounds in ways you peanut brains couldn''t fathom. At least with my magic I get to be the star of the show but what about you exactly? When are you going to become your own person? I used to forget you even existed half the time. And no, I won''t kill myself. I serve a purpose and there are people that would miss me. You, on the other hand, could vanish tomorrow and no one would care. It''s not like you bring anything to the table that no one else does. You called my magic forgettable but yet you still remember it. Maybe you''re just jealous I was the one person you could never copy."


    "Go fuck yourself." Phlo spat before turning his head away and not bothering anymore. He was under strict orders not to overstep so he held his tongue from retorting any further. For the first time he really wished he could make his own mind up because ending the conversation like this was agitating. Deep down he knew Aejaz was right about at least some of what he''d said and not being able to at least pretend otherwise vocally was eating Phlo alive. He wanted to kick the floor, leave, argue, do anything other than be silent but, in the end, he said nothing.


    Aejaz expected the oldest brother to go next, and it looked like he was about to, but Aejaz'' horrid mother was getting impatient and butted in herself. It''s not like the order really mattered anyway. If anything, the fact they were following some kind of pre-meditated script was actually really sad. How long had they planned this out for? Also, what was their planning really even based on? The Aejaz they once knew? He was long gone and the only thing that remained was a fraction of cowardice but Aejaz was more than capable of powering through it when he needed to. As for his mother, Yvonne, Aejaz already knew what manner of foul venom she was going to spit. She was going to see if it bothered Aejaz that he was unloved. She looked down at him with an evil glare and kissed her teeth at him.


    "You are the only thing in this world I regret. If I had known what you would turn out to be I would have aborted you as soon as I could. To think I made the mistake of caring for you when you were a baby instead of throwing you into a river... It sickens me to think you have my blood in you. Don''t ever call me your mother ever again, you hear me? I''ll die of embarrassment if I find out you have." Although this woman felt confident, Aejaz was about to shatter that unfounded arrogance.


    "Yeah, same goes to you. Don''t go telling anyone you birthed me, please and thank you. If anything, you''re seriously slacking. Where are the legal documents for disowning me properly? I know our clan has them to punish people. Why didn''t you bring them? Are you stupid? Clearly you''re more fond of me than you think you are if you couldn''t even bring yourself to do that. On the other hand, I really want nothing more than to be rid of you, so here." Aejaz brought out some paperwork and threw it on the floor in front of his ''mother''. This was one of the rewards Hans had given him for completing some contracts a while back. It was essentially a copy of the Fleeting Glimpse'' paperwork that allowed them to completely cut clan members out of the clan in every way. "Ah but you won''t sign it, will you? The truth of it is that you''re not sure what I''ll turn out to be. For all the hatred you directed towards my magic you''re aware that unique aspects tend to be really strong. You''re thinking I might come back one day if things change but let me let you in on a little secret. I''m never coming back. By the end of this tournament you very well may consider begging me to return but I won''t. Keep that in mind for later so you don''t bother wasting your breath."


    "You rude little animal! How dare you disrespect me like that?!"


    "Why not? Have you already forgotten? You aren''t my mother. Go die in a ditch, bitch."


    Yvonne''s bony fingers were curling as she resisted the urge to strangle Aejaz in frustration. Still, she had another plan and wasn''t going to give up just yet. She looked down at Lacy, her only daughter and the youngest of all her children. She stared menacingly at her as Lacy cowered under her mother''s gaze. "Say it."


    Aejaz wasn''t happy about this situation. Lacy was a pure hearted girl and Aejaz didn''t just believe that because she had been nice to him. If it were up to her, she wouldn''t hurt a fly. He could only imagine how many times these people had selfishly forced her to stain her small hands with blood. She wasn''t the kind of person who would ever get used to it and her magic couldn''t even help her. She was extremely good at hiding herself and others but was completely lacking offensive magic. This meant anytime she had to kill someone she would have to do the deed personally and Aejaz knew she was a bit squeamish around blood. He had encouraged Allie who was once in the same situation because he could tell Allie wanted to be strong and had it in her to do so. Lacy was not that kind of person. She never wanted any of this and Aejaz'' biggest problem with his family was that they kept making unreasonable demands of his sister. Even now they were forcing her to berate her brother for no good reason and Aejaz could tell she was extremely reluctant. Even if he''d never come across his family again he still would have ended up going back at least once to get Lacy out. She didn''t have the guts to leave on her own but she needed to be somewhere else for her own sake and Aejaz wouldn''t abandon her like that. He had every intention of freeing her from his family at some point during the international and keeping her away from them for good. Tears were forming in her eyes because Yvonne was pressuring her and not just mentally. She was actually so cruel she was using pressure, the omnipresent weight, on her daughter and even hurting her a little. Aejaz wished Lacy would just say whatever they wanted her to. He wouldn''t care or take it to heart because he knew her better than to be upset with her. If she would just say it this would all be over for her and that was what Aejaz thought was for the best.


    Slap


    Yvonne was getting fed up with Lacy''s silence and brought her palm to her daughter''s face. "Say it."


    Lacy started crying and Aejaz wanted nothing more than to kill this despicable woman but he couldn''t. His cultivation just wasn''t high enough and starting a fight was exactly what they wanted. Lacy had no choice but to say it and Aejaz could only try to subtly encourage her by looking into her eyes reassuringly. Lacy looked back at him and, through the blubbering, managed to eek out her parent''s words.


    "I hate you."


    Aejaz sighed. This was really just beyond ridiculous. Yvonne should have surely known this wouldn''t make Aejaz budge, she was just being petty and spiteful with this one. Her only goal was to make Lacy say it to his face and nothing more. That was literally all the value Yvonne saw in Lacy and it showed. Instead of sassing back at Lacy, because that would be idiotic, he just looked at Yvonne and called her a ''bitch'' again. In return, Yvonne looked at Trixie and demanded she also ''say it''. Trixie put her arms behind her head and shrugged.


    "Nah, don''t wanna."


    "What?" Yvonne did a double take and the smugness on her face all but disappeared.


    "Don''t wanna." Trixie stuck her tongue out at Yvonne who was reeling in shock. In Yvonne''s place, Aejaz'' uncle stepped in with a frown.


    "Do you understand what you''re doing? Fleeting Glimpse is not so tolerant a clan that we''ll ignore this misgiving."


    "Yeah yeah, good for you old coot." Trixie hopped over and stood behind Aejaz, playfully leaning over his shoulder and grinning at the Glimpse family. "I quit by the way. This place and these people look way more fun to hang around. Catch you never, losers."


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Trixie. You have made a grave error if you think just leaving the clan will protect you. Your life is already forfeit after this. These walls will not save you forever and your time will come."


    "A life under your clan ain''t worth living anyway. Also, you better kill me for your sake, otherwise I''ll hunt down every last one ya if I get the chance. Don''t much fancy you lot, you''re all cunts!"


    ¡­


    ¡­


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    The old man stared at Trixie and was about to open his mouth when, all of a sudden, the mood in the room shifted. This was the moment Ares had entered the room and drawn everyone''s attention. Ares hadn''t timed his entrance but he sure got everyone over on this side of the room out of one hell of an awkward silence. Aejaz'' uncle, Sho, noticed the tension dissipate from Aejaz and he immediately understood the situation. This person was Aejaz'' new ''brother'', a person Sho was far more interested in than some family flunky. This was a good opportunity for Sho to segue into his verbal spar with Aejaz so he took it. "Ares, is it? Certainly more formidable than you, that''s easy enough to tell at a glance. Shame. He''s not long for this world, you know? I don''t know what he did to offend the mayor or the leader of the Chen clan but he''s made some enemies in high places. Normally I would delegate such a task to someone else but I think I''ll do this job personally. As I twist the knife in his guts and torture him to death slowly, I''ll make sure he knows at least half of the agony he suffers will be your fault."


    Aejaz just tilted his head before laughing in Sho''s face. "Look, I won''t deny he''s infinitely better as a cultivator than I am. That''s undisputable., but I think you''re seriously underestimating him. If you think I worry about Ares of all people then you''re either sick in the head or horribly misinformed about who he is exactly. I don''t need to worry about him so threatening me or warning me, whatever it is you think you''re doing, is pointless. Now that I know you''re after him, I almost pity you. You''re the one that should be nervous about your task, not me."


    "Don''t be childish. Ares'' cultivation is not high enough to fend me off. He will die as soon as I get my hands on him."


    "Whatever helps you sleep at night Sho. Ares will kill you so I suggest you get your will in order. Fletch..." Aejaz turned to his father who''d been silent up until now and not spoken a single word. "... Congratulations. All the years you spent bending over backward to please Sho were in vain. You''re gonna get the clan whether you want it or not! Hahaha. Enjoy it to your heart''s content. You kicked me out for it and tolerated the abuse of your other children too so it must mean a lot to you, right? Enjoy owning an entire clan filled with lifeless, empty shells that do nothing but follow orders all day long. You''ve made such a massive family and yet no one here loves you and no one in the clan will respect you. What a real king you are! You gave up everything and stood for nothing. Ha, and to think I didn''t even have to do anything! I''d been conjuring up all sorts of fun ways to take revenge on you all but now I don''t even need to lift a finger because Sho is dead set on committing suicide! With you at the helm, Fletch, the clan will collapse in a matter of weeks. How could you possibly have what it takes to lead a clan when you couldn''t even lead a family? Patriarch? You aren''t even worth being called a father. Maybe next time start with the basics before having such grand designs for the future. If I were you, I''d keep an eye on Yvonne and your oldest son. They might try and take your position by force. What a wonderful family you''ve raised by bending over backwards your entire life."


    Fletch didn''t respond but someone else did. Ares oldest brother, and the one that hated him to his core, Job, felt the need to but in here. "INGRATE! How dare you speak to Fletch like that?!" Job was a sack of shit. Put simply, his unique magic summoned an incredibly powerful dagger and that was just about it. The dagger was special, he was not. The reason Job hated Aejaz is because he could take away his precious dagger and leave with him nothing, stripping away all his worth in seconds. The resentment Job held for Aejaz ever since the first time it happened, and Sho heavily berated him after, had never died and it never would. Aejaz was the bane of his very existence.


    Aejaz literally spat at this atrocious human. "Don''t you of all people call me an ingrate. The only reason you kiss Fletch''s ass is because he''s the one that got rid of me. You''ve never liked him so don''t pretend otherwise. You''ve never liked anyone. You''re a selfish person who would sooner stab his brothers in the back than be second fiddle. I give it a year until you try to kill someone in this room. Most likely Fletch himself so you can inherit the clan. Unfortunately for you, your weak as hell. I don''t think I would even need magic to beat you anymore. Go curl up in a corner like the coward you are whenever you lose your magic and stop throwing a hissy fit in public over something you don''t even really care about. Pretending to be some morally upstanding human doesn''t work when everyone knows what a piece of shit you really are."


    "Fuck you. What were you back in the clan without me? What could you ever do without stealing my magic over and over again? You just had to drag me down with you at every turn! Do you have any idea what losing to you did to my reputation? Any idea at all?!"


    "I do, and I relished every insult I heard being thrown your way. I would have left you alone if you didn''t keep pestering me. You deserved it. You were weak and only ever got by trying to bully me, the only person who was weaker than you. Even then you couldn''t keep it up and started losing to me when you leaned on that crutch you call an art. You hated me from the start but you hated me even more when Sho got on your case. You got a taste and couldn''t hack the punishment and you were jealous that I could. You hated me because you realised that I was outperforming you despite putting up with Sho breathing down my neck all my life. You were mad because you had everything and I had nothing, and yet you still couldn''t leave a dent in me even though I was the weakest in the entire clan. Your still mad. But you know what? You get what you deserve. If you had shown me even a hint of compassion or even just ignored me I would have stopped making your life worse. What? Was I the only one not allowed to fight back? Did I just have to sit there and take everyone''s abuse that was hurled at me without at least making one of you bastards miserable in return?! To hell with you all! I have my own life now and I''ve done better than all of you. My path to becoming an assassin had more obstacles than all of you have ever had in your life combined and yet I''ll still become what all of you could only dream of. I have talent, an incredible aspect, and a family that loves me. None of you have any of that! Shunning me and throwing me to the streets was the best thing that ever happened to me! I was freed from you and managed to get my life on track after all the hassle you all gave me. If your life is ruined then I couldn''t be happier hearing it."


    "Then just as you ruined my life I''ll damn well ruin yours." Job spat angrily as he looked behind Aejaz. "Yeah, I can''t kill you. Never could and never will. But you know who I can kill? Anyone else! See if that little girl behind you, the one you came in with, lives to the end of the year. It was so cute how you held hands, really. I''ll be sure to remember it when I hunt her down, play with her a bit, and kill her. Maybe I''ll even bring her battered corpse back to the clan for the others. I''m sure some of them wouldn''t mind the stench of death if it meant having a go at the infamous Aejaz'' girl. I will take away everything important from you one by one, Aejaz, and I will... I will... I... What?"


    Job had done it. He''d struck a nerve. If there was one thing Aejaz cared about more than anything else it was Allie and everything this bastard had said was completely unforgivable. Job was left looking like a vegetable as he teetered back and forth. Ares'' siblings watched on in horror as Aejaz brandished a shadowy knife and slowly walked up to Job with a face filled with fury. Job was unmoving and just stood there as Aejaz advanced on him. What everyone was watching was incomprehensible. Why was Aejaz'' magic capable of whatever this was exactly? He''d mentioned his magic had improved, but to this extent? Also, Aejaz was already too close to Job to be stopped by any of them. He''d already raised his hand and was preparing to stab Job in the throat. The siblings had been so distracted by the magic they hadn''t even realised Aejaz was dead set on murdering Job. He wasn''t going to stop himself, he wasn''t just making a point, he wasn''t showing off, he was unexpectedly assassinating his own brother in a fit of rage.


    Aejaz'' hand descended and the knife barrelled towards Job''s neck as he stared dazedly into the distance, not bothering to defend himself in the slightest. Of course Aejaz  was never going to be able to accomplish this as Sho''s hand reached out and grasped Aejaz'' wrist, slowly applying more and more force with his grip. He''d gotten his wish and seen Aejaz attack someone. Unfortunately, the plan had been for the person he attacked to fight back themselves but no one had expected Aejaz to be this strong so it backfired horribly. Now Sho had to step in and disgrace himself. Getting involved in a fight that didn''t concern him and bullying a junior was seriously not a good look but things had deteriorated to the point that this was still his best option. If he was going to be looked down upon for this act then he might as well go all the way and just kill Aejaz here, it wouldn''t make much of a difference in terms of how disastrous this was going ot be for their reputation anyway so he might as well just get rid of a potential future problem here and now. As Sho''s grip tightened, and as he nearly snapped Aejaz'' wrist, he was forced to let go and catch a body that came flying at him. He scooped the person out of mid air and dangled him in front of him, inspecting the person. For some reason, it was Rag that been tossed at him. Rag looked up at Sho with a panicked look and raised his arm while begging and pleading in desperation as his arm lit up with a golden glow. "Sho! Please! Get it out before..." Sho dropped Rag and jumped back...


    BANGGGGGGGGGG


    Rag''s arm detonated and formed a dome that was both gold and blood red. His torn body was blasted out of the explosion and a puddle of blood formed underneath him when he stopped rolling after hitting a wall. His entire left side had been fully annihilated and he was barely breathing. If he received immediate care, and a lot of it at that, he might live... Maybe. As for Sho who''d jumped back, he could sense a presence within the golden dome and he knew precisely who was bothering him. Ares. How convenient! The man he needed to kill had just presented himself on a silver, or rather golden, platter. Surely killing him here would be easy, right?... Right?

 Chapter 123: Sho and Tell

    Sho had heard the rumours about Ares'' pillar but he hadn''t expected a living bomb of all things. The ability to plant explosives inside a human being who was still alive was dirty but, in a way, Sho respected the deviousness. It was the kind of thing he would do if he could. As for the rat that was trying to assassinate him, now Sho had all the validation he needed to fight back and kill Ares here and now. He readied himself to accuse Ares when the explosion faded and reap his life shortly after. Being attacked first in public was as good as an excuse as any. Things didn''t go according to plan when Ares didn''t bother waiting for pleasantries and launched his next attack immediately though. This approach was unfathomable to Sho who was wondering why on earth some mental accumulation brat was picking a fight but he wasn''t complaining as it just made his job easier. He detected magic that was similar in nature to spatial magic right before five Ares appeared around him, encircling Sho between five different angles of attack. Naturally Sho recognised this as Cult Killing but that was confusing in and of itself. Why Ares was able to use the darkness pillar was beyond him. Still, he put it to the back of his mind and analysed all the clones to search for the real one. Each was holding a different weapon and, had Sho been a weaker cultivator, this would have been a difficult spot to be in. Each clone would attack with it''s own unique timing, range, and power, complicating the task of defending against them. Of course Sho could just swat them all aside and kill the real one but there was a slight issue in that none of these seemed to be the original Ares. The clones were distractions and so Sho was tempted to ignore them up until all of their weapons were suddenly coated in a weird, black magic. He could sense danger. Not much but enough to make him re-think his approach to this situation and that annoyed him. Allowing himself to get flustered by a distraction was exactly what that twerp Ares wanted to take advantage of and yet he had no choice but to be cautious against the unknown. Sho dodged the spear thrust behind him and pulled that clone forward, throwing him into line of fire of another clone''s musket shot. Sho prepared himself to kill the rest of the clones but, as he went to crush another Ares clone''s skull with his hands, a chill crept up his spine and the scent of death became a full fledged aroma that suffocated him. The other Ares clones were irrelevant right now as the real one was doing something that might actually kill Sho if he didn''t respond. Luckily, the overwhelming sense of danger was traceable to his shadow so he hopped away and made distance from his previous position, causing his shadow to split in two. One shadow remained in place on the floor, which was where Ares had been hiding and threatening to poke Sho with the Primordial Blade, and the other was Sho''s normal shadow that followed him as he retreated. Being made to run away like that from a mental accumulation cultivator was the height of embarrassment but it got a whole lot worse for Sho as Ares rose out of the shadow, fiddling with the Nyxian Prowler that Aejaz had Relocated into his hand the moment things kicked off, and elegantly stamped his foot on the floor.


    "Chaos Reigns."


    A ring of ten beads surrounding Sho rose to head height and shone brightly. In the brief moment before detonation Sho was outraged. Everything Ares had done up until now was to push him to this spot he''d set up traps in before he launched even his first attack. The exploding Rag pushed him back. The clones were a bait so that he could threaten Sho and push him back again. Nothing up until this attack meant anything and had all been for show! He''d been conned! Ares knew full well all three attacks he launched were pointless but did it anyway to guarantee his fourth offensive was a success. It was a plan with so many layers that Sho felt utterly humiliated as the Beads exploded in his face.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    BOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The Beads were strong but Sho was even stronger. They mostly just tore his clothes, rocked his head from side to side as though he were being punched repeatedly, and tore off a few bits of flesh here and there. The injuries were minor and, even then, calling them injuries was a stretch. What was true, however, was that Ares had done damage. As much as Sho hated everything that had just happened, he acknowledged that the person in front of him was a big deal. No wonder that brat Aejaz had confidence in him! He was a menace and his pillar was unimaginably powerful. Although this entire interaction was a one off and he wouldn''t be able to replicate it, it did prove Ares was capable of killing Sho via a thousand cuts if push came to shove.


    Now that the explosions had settled and parts of the floor had been chipped away, silence finally descended on the room as Sho and Ares stared at one another. Ares had gotten the jump on Sho but what was he planning on doing now? All of his setups were gone and Sho didn''t believe Ares could win a direct confrontation. He took one step forward but froze on the spot as the entirety of Red Sun started rumbling. The floors and the walls all shook as an ominous buzzing pervaded both the town and sect and a dangerous amount of mana swirled in the air. Sho had heard about this happening once before and he was just now realising who caused it even if he didn''t know what it was exactly. In order to prevent Ares setting off whatever nuclear weapon he had in his arsenal he took a step back, at which point the rumbling stopped. Sho narrowed his eyes and glared at Ares who had been standing around with his arms behind his back during the previous ordeal. He had the keys to the kingdom so he had every right to be cocky right now. Sho was curious, as was everyone else in the room, and so they all stared at Ares waiting for an explanation. This was doubly true for Margaret, Serene, and Rhea who were all sweating nervously. Whatever that last threat was it was more than capable of at least taking a limb or two off of them. It truly dawned on them that the fundamental pillars were uncontested and that they still hadn''t really seen the full extent of their power yet if that previous warning was anything to go by.


    Ares brought his two hands to his front and silently demonstrated the creative process for a standard Shock Bead. As everyone paid rapt attention to figure out what was going on, Ares begun his explanation... Well, by the time he was done with his explanation it would be more of a threat than anything but that was sort of the point. He would have to reveal his single biggest card here, and that was unfortunate, but it would keep him safe for the foreseeable future around this pesky assassin. It would make dealing with the Chen clan, more specifically Lo, a bit more difficult as this trick becoming common knowledge was going to ruin his plan but so be it, right now it was necessary. After Ares produced a Shock Bead at the tip of his finger and caught it, he started speaking. "What you just saw was a Shock Bead. I''m sure you''re roughly aware of how powerful they are individually after taking nearly a dozen to the face so I''ll skip that part of the explanation."


    Sho ground his teeth at the cockiness of this insufferable idiot but had no choice but to keep listening. Plus it was true, Sho had gotten a taste of annihilation magic first hand and that was a better method of understanding than simply hearing about it from the mouth of another.


    Ares held up a palm vertically and poked it with his index finger on his other hand. He generated a Shock Bead on the other side of his palm that dropped to the floor and rolled around. He''d demonstrated this once before to the mecha-dryad in Baja forest and what he''d done earlier was essentially an extension of burying Beads so showing this here was helpful for explaining what came next. "The way Shock Beads work is that I can generate them from either my hands or feet. Regardless of which I choose, I have a little leeway over where they land after being created. If I spawn them underneath my feet, for example, I can bury them underneath the ground and set them as traps. That was what you fell for earlier, Sho. As for that rumbling just now... Let me make this as clear as I possibly can for you so you realise just how dangerous a situation you''re in. Each Shock Bead takes roughly a second to generate, if not shorter. I can generate them underneath my feet as I walk with every step I take. I''ve lived in Red Sun my entire life but I''ve only been cultivating for the last six years, so we''ll focus on that. For the last six years, as I''ve walked around, I''ve been burying Shock Bead after Shock Bead after Shock Bead under every. Single. Inch. Of this entire town. There is not a single tile in this town you can step on that doesn''t have upwards of at least twenty Shock Beads hidden underneath. This town is roughly 10 square miles in size. I have millions of Shock Beads buried underneath Red Sun and they''re in every conceivable location you can think of. Parks. Private property. Famous landmarks. Shops. Houses. Everything. If even ten were enough to scrape some of your flesh, you can imagine what a little over a hundred million of them would do to you instead. In case you still somehow don''t understand, if I were to detonate every Shock Bead simultaneously, you, along with the rest of Red Sun, would cease to exist. Am I understood? Furthermore, I can choose which segments to detonate without blowing all of them up simultaneously. The hotel your clan members are staying at? I can make that disappear. Your hideaway in the north of town that you thought was hidden? I can make that disappear. You? I can make you disappear. Hans and the mayor are cute and all but, really, I own this town. I''ve already put my mark on it. Remember that when you try and puff up your chest in my neck of the woods."


    Sho was hesitant and tried to take a logical stance in response to this unhinged mad man... "You would kill yourself just to take me with you? I don''t believe it."


    "First of all, you''ve misunderstood something. I''m a revenant, death is a non-factor to me. Second of all, you''re right. I wouldn''t waste my life, or anyone else''s here, on you. I don''t need to however, as Hans is no doubt going to be keeping a very close eye on what''s happening here today now that I''ve bared my fangs." Ares curled his hand into a fist and extended his thumb towards the window. Sho looked over and winced when Hans'' Invisible Ifrit rose into the sky and stared into his soul. Not everyone here could see what Ares was pointing at but the fact that all the strong cultivators in the room recoiled slightly was a good indicator the threat was substantiated. "I''m going to do you a favour and detail your actions for the course of the international to you in full, so listen well. Today, now, under threat of Hans, you''re going to leave this venue and the sect. From then on, under threat of me and my Shock Beads, you''re going to watch where you tread. Until you leave after the international I do not want to see you hassling me or my family ever again. Aejaz in particular. Go and tell Chen Lo and Maro they can eat dirt. Your contract with them to kill me is hereby cancelled and you aren''t going to take up work in this city again. If you cause any problems I will, without hesitation, detonate whichever quadrant of the city you''re in and reduce your entire family to rubble. If you need an example because you aren''t fully convinced, then allow me to demonstrate." Ares stamped his foot again and the dreaded words left his lips shortly after. "Chaos Reigns."


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Though he spoke in a plain manner, the terror of what happened next was anything but simple. A golden stampede appeared on the horizon towards the north. Despite the distance, a few small ripples knocked against the glass windows and even Ifrit''s flames were buffeted somewhat outside. Although the sound of the explosions didn''t make it over here, everyone watched on in abject horror as the calamity lit up the night sky and ended countless lives. They thought Ares was a true monster but he clarified shortly after. "That was the Chen clan''s residence and no civilians were harmed. The Chen clan are rotten down to the last and won''t be missed, I assure you. I doubt Lo died but pretty much everyone else should have. Rapists, paedophiles, murderers, arsonists, blackmailers, thugs... As you can see, I''m quite good at exterminating pests. So take those insects you call a family with you and leave before you suffer a similar fate."


    Sho looked between the lingering golden explosion and Ares. The explosions were still colouring the night sky in a brilliant hue and it was practically day time above the Chen residence right now. Almost like a heavenly bombardment. It gave off the image that angels would descend through the golden clouds and collect the souls of the damned. The only reason Sho didn''t believe it was because there was no chance the Chen clan were going to heaven. If they were being dragged down to hell then maybe he would believe his hallucinations. With the threat of Hans'' Ifrit breathing down his neck, and Ares Shock Beads waiting for him outside the sect, Sho was antsy. His hands had been effectively tied in the worst way possible. He''d been hired to kill this freak and all he''d done so far was make him look good in front of an audience of gobsmacked elites. His reputation would soar after today all thanks to Sho''s involvement. He''d fumbled big time here and the chances of him being able to undo this mistake were slim. That damnable Aejaz had been right about this menace Ares... Sho had to take the loss here and retreat with his tail between his legs... How utterly humiliating this was. Even if he killed Ares here and accepted his own death, Ares was a revenant and would come right back anyway. Plus the Legion matriarch seemed to be ready to defend him if necessary so today was a complete bust.


    Wordlessly, Sho glared at his family before walking away and expecting them to follow. Silently and obediently, they did but Ares wasn''t going to let them go just like that. This sect was going to be his one day and yet they''d come here just to make a scene, and on an important day for Ares too no less. He wasn''t going to just let them leave like this so he put his arm in front of Lacy before she could walk by. "You''re staying here."


    Sho turned around in a rage and his face had reddened considerably as he angrily complained about this treatment. "You can''t keep her! We already lost Trixie and our backup team member for the international is half-dead thanks to you!" Rag was being treated by an elder off to the side but his combat ability was basically non-existent now. "You can''t take Lacy! We need her damnit! Don''t push your luck brat."


    "Don''t push my luck? Are you an idiot, old man? You came into my town, entered what will one day be my sect, ruined part of what is an important day for me, attacked my brother, threatened to kill me, made me unveil my secret weapon prematurely, and you have the nerve to claim I''m pushing my luck?! I have shown the utmost of restraint with you. You should be grateful I''m not turning you and your family into a bunch of corpses, let alone demanding anything else of you. I don''t care whether you can field a team for the international, that''s your problem. If you hadn''t come here looking for a fight, you wouldn''t have lost one. I don''t believe for a second you don''t have any other clan members who can act as a substitute. I don''t give a damn how useless they are in comparison to those you''ve lost because you brought this upon yourself with your actions. Get out."


    Sho punched a wall in anger but argued no further as a fair few Heaven''s Path elders had shown up and making any more of a scene here would be suicidal. Considering the circumstances he really was lucky to be leaving alive so throwing that all away was pointless. He clenched his fist so hard he bust a nerve, however, and that just enraged him further. He punched open the double doors and stormed down the stairs as his family followed him timidly, knowing full well what kind of beatings were in store for them when they returned to their residence. This was also partly why Ares had detained Lacy. obviously she was Aejaz'' sister, and the one relative he actually cared about, so Ares had to get her away from that detestable family; but the threat of what either Job, Yvonne, or Sho would do to her after what happened here tonight had to be prevented. Job had a single minded determination to ruin everything Aejaz cared about and Ares didn''t put it past the psychopath to kill Lacy for that reason and that reason alone. Yvonne had demonstrated she had no qualms abusing Lacy anywhere and at anytime for any reason. Sho was going to beat everyone regardless. If all three took out their anger on Lacy she may not have even survived the night. Phlo and Scowl wouldn''t intervene and Fletch was a bigger coward than Aejaz when it came to standing against his family. Getting Lacy away from that family was a ''tonight or never'' situation and Ares had picked up on that and acted. He wasn''t sure if he''d settled this whole matter in a way that solved everything for good. He wasn''t sure if he''d ruined the night for everyone. He wasn''t sure if there were going to be problems going forward as a result of his Shock Bead card being drawn out of him before it was time to use it properly. What he was sure of, though, and what he absolutely didn''t and would never regret, is that he protected his family tonight. On that matter he''d succeeded and so he sighed in relief as he directed Lacy over to Aejaz... As for what would happen now for the rest of the night... Who the hell knows? Trying to plan and prepare for this night had been almost utterly pointless thus far so he was going to have wing it from now on. He''d single-handedly turned this event into a shitshow circus and he was the leading act with a spotlight bearing down on him as he flushed away the Fleeting Glimpse clan.


    Ares turned around and, sure enough, the entire room had their eyes fixed on him. Some were still gawking because of the Shock Bead threat. Some very quickly realised Ares was, in fact, a big deal. Some were curious as to what he would do next. Some, namely the other contestants in the tournament, were dreading having to fight this natural disaster personified. Amongst all these people''s expectations, Ares just did the same thing he was trying to do before... Walk over to the table and sit the fuck down!


    This trial had lasted far longer than it should have and it devolved in a way that was absurd to even mention but all he wanted was still just to sit down damn it! He sighed to himself as he pulled down his gloves that had gotten a little loose during the scuffle and started walking over to the table yet again. Thank fuck I kept the suit safe. If Sho had ruined it I might have actually killed him on the spot. This thing is important!... If I lost it Enyo would definitely never forgive me... Bellona probably wouldn''t either... And neither would Hans. Ares realised the biggest danger to his own life hadn''t been Sho but rather his ability to keep his suit intact during the fracas. He shivered in fear at the thought of his wives'' potential displeasure but kept walking with a fearless face. As he did, he almost threw out a Grand Annihilation on the spot when he realised his trial was demanding an encore. A bunch of bigwigs were approaching him with intentions that were as clear as day. They wanted to become acquaintances with Ares. To be fair, who wouldn''t? He was definitely up and coming and may very well be the biggest catch in this venue across all three floors! Even if these people couldn''t coax him to work for or with them, even just forming a meagre connection would be worth its weight in gold. Brilliant gold, like the kind that was still clouding the northern part of the city! Ares prepared himself mentally and put his brain into overdrive. He was going to play verbal tennis with these fools and swat them all away like a champion! These people wanted to schmooze? They were about to learn what schmoozing with a revenant was truly like! Ares identified the shortest path, the one fraught with the fewest obstacles, and ventured down it. Four ''combatants'' lined this path and he took them all on rapidly, one after the other with no breaks!


    "Hello! I''m a conservationist!"


    Ares cricked his neck. "And I''m a conversationalist!" Ares bizarre wordplay threw the man for a loop and by the time he figured out what had just been said to him Ares was already gone.


    Another man blocked Ares path. "Excuse me, I happen to be a renowned geologist. Could you spare me a moment of you time?"


    Ares cracked his knuckles. "Bricky and Rocky send their regards!" Ares used the names of two people he was not affiliated with to stump the poor man who wasn''t even remotely prepared for this level of weird conversation.


    A woman in her mid thirties stopped Ares in his tracks this time. "If at all possible, there are some things I would like to discuss with you about your pillar. I''m a historian, you see..."


    Ares clicked his shoulders by rolling them. "A historian? How lovely. I''ll talk to you at some point in the future!" He shuffled past the dumbfounded woman and squared up against his final foe... Eagerton?! Ares didn''t rightly care why this bastard was here as it was probably for some stupid request like ''please blow up some more of the town so I can feel inspired''. Ares just shook his head at the monocled mad man.


    "Ares! Mr Magical Mogul! May I ask that you..."


    "Yeah that''s wonderful, really. Write me a letter sometime." Ares ducked past Eagerton who kept blankly staring at the spot Ares was in previously. He''d been ignored! Curses!... All he wanted was for Ares to blow up one specific fountain... What a selfish man, denying his request like this!


    Ares made it to safety and finally, FINALLY, the table, and his seat at it, were within reach. No more obstacles, his trial was finished! he didn''t even bother looking at the Umbra Wolf table yet, he would deal with that after. Right now, he wanted to relax for a hot minute so he took his seat between his wives and almost cried when his but touched the chair. Truly a moment of bliss if ever there was one. He looked around and, sure enough, people were starting to chat amongst themselves. Not everyone was having a conversation as some spectators were still watching his every move but, at least now, the atmosphere in the room had returned to normal. He was mentally exhausted, and still had tasks left to complete, but the soft feeling of Bellona and Enyo each holding onto one of his hands beneath the table re-invigorated him as he prepared himself for whatever came next. At the very least the chances of there being another fight was low. All of the problematic people were gone now, leaving Ares to navigate his future family in peace. He looked up at everyone on the table and very quickly realised only one of Enyo''s siblings was happy to meet him, and that was Pele. Phobos was scared after Ares'' earlier display and Palioxis was shooing him away with her hand. Deimos was grumpily muttering ''rooftop king we meet again'' under his breath while Tyr was leaking a violent aura because his sixth sense had informed him about the unapproved-by-Tyr handholding currently occurring beneath the table. Ares had a tough crowd to work with, that was for sure...

 Chapter 124: One, Two, Be a Good Beau. Three, Four, Settle Your Family Score

    Rather than tackle the family members head on immediately, Ares first paid attention to Enyo and Bellona. He wasn''t a psychic but he both knew, and could tell, compliments were expected and long overdue. The fact that he''d been sitting down for all of five seconds and not yet told them how beautiful they were was sacrilege!... Having two wives was hard work... Also... Who the hell should he turn to first?! Save the best for last? Prioritise Enyo? Don''t make Bellona feel secondary? What a hellish nightmare... Ares stopped thinking about it and just turned to Bellona first because he''d, thankfully, already somewhat anticipated this. Enyo already knew she was his priority anyway and wouldn''t be bothered by this. She would pretend to care but Ares had a response prepared anyway to soothe her. In the grand scheme of things, it would be worse to make Bellona second rather than Enyo here even if neither was preferable. Also, just saying ''you both look beautiful'' would be the gravest mistake he could possibly make! No individual, specific compliments? Putting them on the same pedestal? Treating them the exact same? Being lazy about it all? Ares would be sleeping in the garden tonight if he''d gone down that route. In a way, even just complimenting these two was more mentally taxing than everything he''d just been through combined...


    He faced Bellona and looked her up and down to appreciate every detail. "As usual, your fashion sense is impeccable. Part of what I love about you is that you make no effort to hide who you are. Your muscles are beautiful and I never get tired of seeing them. Paired with your dress I recognised you instantly from across the room. You have your own style and I appreciate all the time and care you put in today. You look wonderful. I love the way you usually look but everything you''ve done with your hair and makeup today is a side of you I''m glad I got to see."


    Ares leant in and whispered, "Tonight''s Enyo''s night but know this; when you decide you want our relationship to progress further, if you dress up like this again you''ll get your wish then and there. Seeing you go to such lengths for me is a massive turn on. You''ve been extremely cute tonight, Bellona, and right now I''m the most sexually attracted to you I''ve ever been. For today, a kiss is the best I can do but, in the future, I plan on taking more of your body until there''s nothing left to take that I haven''t already. The others will see this kiss as a loving gesture, and to an extent it is, but only you will know that it''s a warning. A warning that I want your chastity and that I''ll be returning for it later. Hold onto it for me and wait patiently." Ares turned his face and left a small peck on her cheek. Bellona blushed heavily and looked down at the floor with a shy smile as she quietly mumbled in acceptance of his demands.


    "Mm..."


    Bellona hid her face in her hands as Ares turned to Enyo next... Who was already facing the wall opposite and inspecting her nails, fully ignoring Ares for picking Bellona first and sweet talking her while leaving Enyo in the dust... No really, having two wives was a herculean task... Ares smiled wryly as he removed the scarf he brought for this specific occasion off his shoulders. He lovingly draped it around Enyo''s neck before massaging her shoulders and complimenting her while she pretended to pay him no attention. "Enyo, there''s nothing I can say about your beauty I haven''t already said. I''ve praised you countless times and I guess that means I''ve also shot myself in the foot because today you really are special. I''ve run out of ways to celebrate how gorgeous you are, and anything I repeat to you now that I''ve said before will just sound hollow, but still I''ll try because you are the love of my life. You are an incredible woman. Since we''ve met you''ve overcome your fears and turned them into a source of pride. You''ve learnt to become a caring mother in spite of your initial reluctance. You''ve grown as a person in a way many are incapable of. You aren''t just beautiful to me because you''re the most attractive woman in this hall bar none, you''re beautiful because you''re one of the few people in this world I unconditionally respect, now and forever. Your looks. Your dress. Your personality. Your beliefs, Your heart and soul. Every part of you I''m lucky enough to discover..." Ares stood up and hugged Enyo from behind as a few tears trickled down her face. "... All of it is beautiful."


    Once more, Ares got a little more intimate by whispering sweet nothings into the ear of a Legion sister. "Enyo, tonight''s the night. Are you ready to reap what you''ve sewn? All of these weeks you''ve spent teasing me and driving me to the edge... In return, when I take you, I will be passionate but I will not be gentle. You might think you''re a tough woman but tonight I will pry open that fa?ade, expose you for the sexually timid, nervous girl you are, and I will devour you. This isn''t a hand job. This isn''t a blowjob. You think you''re prepared, but I am going to fuck you Enyo. You do not understand how much of an animal a man driven by lust can be. You are going to lie on your back, look up at me and into my eyes, spread your legs, invite me in like a good little girl, and watch me claim you while you whimper my name. So make sure to have fun at this party because these next few hours will be the last in which your hymen remains intact. The next time I call out to you specifically we will dance, I will take you outside and propose to you, and then we will go home with you in my arms. I will put up a sound barrier and you will never forget the things I do to you afterwards. As for this. This has been nothing more than a strategy meeting. Next comes the conquest, and I think I''ll start with those pretty lips of yours. Ares did as he said he would and took Enyo''s lips for himself, aggressively kissing her and stealing away her breath. His hand slithered down her bare back as he returned to his seat, tickling Enyo''s spine and proving to her that her body was at his mercy.


    Enyo turned around and blushed like Bellona. Unlike Bellona, however, she clung to Ares'' arm and stayed close even if she couldn''t look him in the eyes right now. It seemed Ares was right. She''d been aggressive up until now but this was a new frontier they were going to cross and she wasn''t as ready as she thought she was. Enyo was actually a little anxious. Excited, of course, but timid; precisely as Ares had deduced. Her heart was pumping rapidly as she felt like a naive maiden, one that had been so confident in her stoicism but caved the moment it was time to go all the way and forfeit her purity. She would regain her pride in the bedroom but it was not going to be easy. Ares was likely going to have his way with her for a while until she familiarised herself with the act and her shyness faded, then she would turn the tables just as she''d planned. Ares could have his conquest, and he could enjoy her temporarily bashful state, but she would fight back in due time. For now, though, she held onto his arm and bit her lip as she looked down. If she lifted her head she''d come face to face with her family and that was impossible right now. Both she and Bellona looked like damsels, felled by the honeyed words of a devilish man. Both sisters had lost the game of enticement and even Bellona had opted to cling to Ares'' other arm in defeat.


    With two beautiful women lavishly draped over his arms, cowering in his embrace after a verbal teasing, Ares looked and felt like a king. This was the reward he chose to claim after walking the walk and earning a reward. Being selfish every now and then was fine too. He''d long since dedicated his entire being to these two, he just felt it was time for these two to show the world the reverse was also true. He treated them as a caring husband should daily but he never really, truly, forgot that he was the head of a harem. This was just the first time he''d ever acted like it and he knew beforehand the effects it would have. He knew Bellona and Enyo would cave before him if he was ever more domineering in his approach, he''d simply saved it for today so he could savour every moment of it and bask in the glow of every other man''s jealousy. If he was going to have a harem he would damn well enjoy it every once in a while. He''d repeatedly said that ''tonight was Enyo''s night'', and he meant it, but he''d always added a little extra to that sentence in his own mind. Tonight is also my night. At the end of the day, Ares was a hot blooded male too. He played the passive man to lure his wives in before revealing that he was, in fact, a very literal wolf in sheep''s clothing. Put simply, the Legion sisters never stood a chance. Ares'' clothes. Complimenting Bellona first. The scarf for Enyo, and reminding her about one of their first encounters by talking to her about ''respect'' to ease her mind about being second and distract her. The lusty whispers. All of it had been planned weeks in advance to manipulate the sisters into submission. Ares was not a man to be trifled with when he actually, rarely, wanted something.


    As for the rest of the table, although Tyr and Deimos were burning with anger at the affectionate display, the general sentiment was that Ares was a connoisseur of toying with ladies'' hearts. They could never know what he''d whispered to the sisters but clearly this man was not to be taken lightly in the realm of romance. Just the compliments they''d actually heard beforehand were truly heartfelt and impressive, let alone whatever he''d delicately whispered into their ears after. There was one thing that none of the others on this table could deny and that was that Ares, at least, was definitely in love with these two. To pinpoint their weaknesses and capture their hearts, even making Enyo cry a bit, meant he was definitely intimately aware of what kind of people the sisters were to a degree that almost necessitated true love. A mere friend or even something as simple as a boyfriend would not be close enough to pull off this level of personalised compliments. Palioxis and Phobos let their guard down somewhat and Pele was clapping in amusement. Tyr was tapping his foot on the floor while Deimos scratched his palm aimlessly. By tackling Enyo and Bellona first, Ares had seemingly won over the rest of the table. Not entirely as there was still some hesitancy, but he was in the running now. The family wasn''t going to outright reject him anymore and that was good enough. "Hello. It''s a pleasure to meet you all. Sorry for the delayed introductions, things got out of hand back there. I''ve heard a lot about you all. Ah, Deimos, I''d also like to apologise to you specifically..."


    Deimos'' eye twitched as he recalled the incident yesterday. Given the circumstances, Deimos was effectively being silently peer pressured by all three eldest sisters to forgive and forget. Pele didn''t even know what happened but she still wanted there to be unity between Ares and the family anyway. In this atmosphere Deimos had no choice but to budge. "... It''s fine... I''m not letting you ride my bike though! Never!"


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    Ares chuckled and shrugged. "We can always discuss that at a later date."


    Deimos almost choked on his saliva when Ares casually denied his refusal so bluntly. Pele laughed at her flummoxed brother before excitedly turning around to Ares. "You''re definitely a revenant then! Ahhh, there''s so much I wanna ask, but shouldn''t you be saying hello to your family right now? We appreciate you coming over here to say hello and all, but family''s important you know? Look, they''re even listening in right now!"


    Ares turned his neck on the spot and looked over his shoulder. He couldn''t turn his whole body around with the koalas still hugging his arms so this would have to do for now. Sure enough, his siblings were all staring at him... Awkward...


    Ahem


    "Uh, hey? So, uh, I''ll come say hello properly in a bit... Woof?"


    Thwack Thwack


    The sheer stupidity of Ares'' moronic attempt at communication caused both Enyo and Bellona to overcome their embarrassment and slap Ares on the back of his head. To think they''d been so deeply enamoured with this idiot they''d forgotten just how big of an idiot he was! Enyo shook her head and turned to the Umbra Wolves. "I''m sorry to dump this troublemaker on you but he is technically yours after all. I''ll give you a friendly warning in advance, he''s dumb like Aster. Personality wise, don''t let anything that happened earlier fool you, he''s a cretin to his core." Enyo nudged Ares and encouraged him to go meet his siblings. No more delaying coward! With the jostling of Enyo and Bellona combined, as she''d joined in on the pushing because it looked fun, Ares stood up and walked to the next table while scratching his head. He took in the appearance of everyone and could tell who was who simply by the explanations Fate had given prior. From left to right, Ares'' siblings were as follows...


    Venus. Her face was structured like that of a diamond with rounded edges. Her chin jutted out and there was a slight chubbiness to her cheeks even though she was a slim woman. Part of that was because one of her cheeks was raised so that she could slant her mouth, angling it diagonally as she arrogantly cast judgement at Ares. Her narrow blue eyes and long blonde hair, when added on to her general demeanour, posture, and lofty air, made her come across as a bit of a brat. She was good looking, and she seemed to perpetually play it cool, but the brattiness was something that could never be hidden; it was just that overt. She wore a collar around her thin neck with a red jewel in the centre. Her attire was simple, a lilac coloured jumper and some dark blue shorts. Ares could tell he was being scrutinized down to the last inch by this woman and he was not being looked favourably upon. Then again, that was the same for all the other brothers too apparently. Venus would not be overly close with him but that was still better than how she would treat him if he wasn''t a relative. If you were a man but you weren''t a brother or a shota, you may as well have been an ugly toad for all she cared. Hell she was the one that swapped the vases earlier to get closer to Phobos and even picked the furthest left seat as it was the closest to the Legion table. Shotas were this woman''s catnip. After a dismissive hmph she had already gone back to looking at Phobos, that was how little she cared about this new arrival to their family. Still a ten second look was more than anyone else who wasn''t family would have ever gotten.


    Next up, Skyzo. His facial features... Were reminiscent of a scarf?.... No, nono, actually, it was literally just all being covered up by a scarf... His dull and baggy grey eyes barely crept out over the top of the scarf even though they looked like they would much rather go into hiding beneath it. His shaggy black hair was a mess and Ares was wondering whether or not this guy even cleaned up his bed hair this morning or if it just always looked like this. His short-sleeved shirt was plain white with a large and baggy collar that was standing up and covering the back of his neck. The shirt was ripped in places, seemingly having been done with small blades such as a dagger or something equivalent in size. His bulky arms were bandaged from the wrist to the elbow and his upper body was quite rugged. He wasn''t as bulky as a strength oriented cultivator but he was nowhere near as svelte as a typical assassin would be. He had some respectable muscle mass. He also had a brown leather belt and some plain, dark brown trousers. He looked like a village farmhand that just got out of a scrap with some bandits and had rushed over to the party before having a chance to fix himself up. Of all the people here, Skyzo gave Ares the most piercing look despite his lazy eyes seeming reluctant to do so. This man could be sharp when he wanted to be, that was for sure. Fate was right about this guy, lazy to the bones but a really powerful person underneath it all... Speaking of underneath it all, Ares was really curious to see under the scarf. Apparently he was particularly handsome and was considered the best looking of the siblings. Apparently, anyway. Then again, if Fate had been modest enough to let him have that title it was probably true. If it was even remotely close Fate, the little narcissist princess, would have staked a claim to that title herself.


    Third was Verv... He was currently being restrained by the man next to him as he was trying to scramble over the table and rush down Ares with his tongue hanging out and his eyes glowing white... Yeah, this dude was unhinged and manic. Ares could tell he was going to be pestered by this one a lot. Clearly Ares'' magic earlier had lit a fuse in this single minded dog and now he was close to blowing up on someone. Still, after a smack, Verv settled down into his seat with a belligerent growl. It seemed that, like Mako, this man had an aesthetic mutation. His sclera and pupil were pitch black while his iris was bright white. The iris had a sort of glow to it that would ebb and flow, throb and deflate. It was stable up until Verv lost the plot at which point the glow became substantial. The crazier he got the whiter his eyes became. His mouth was constantly grinning and his sharp teeth were always visible. His white hair was spiky and slicked back but a strand or two were dangling around randomly with no idea where they really belonged. He wore a black, fur collared coat that he''d trimmed down completely. Near enough everything below his shoulders was gone completely and only his bare chest remained. The coat covered his shoulders, a few pecs, and nothing more. The fur collar was large, though, and dangled alongside his hair behind him like a sort of mock cape. Like Venus, he wore a collar but this one was spiked and had a thumb sized lantern dangling off it. Around the lantern, emitting a white light, was a small translucent firefly that was hovering in front of Verv. Now that he''d settled down he was happily watching the firefly flutter back and forth and it looked as though he was being soothed by it. His energy left his body and he deflated somewhat as he closed his eyes and started snoring. As he leaned backwards in his seat, Ares caught sight of a metal belt, plain black trousers with some metal straps on them, and work boots with a metal toe plating. Ares also saw a gigantic sword on the floor. He''d heard from Fate that he used a great sword but this one seemed to be a broad sword. The guy clearly just liked big ass swords apparently... Actually, now that Ares thought about it, this deranged psychopath was quite clever. The great sword wouldn''t be as effective in this room because the reach advantage was pointless in an enclosed space. The broad sword would have wider swings that could cause more chaos and allow Verv to rampage more efficiently... Fate did also mention Verv was sane enough usually and this was decent proof that Verv was capable of rational thought when not acting like a rabid mongrel. The fact someone remotely intelligent was buried beneath the snarling bite hazard was quite perplexing to Ares but, whatever, family was family after all. Quirks like these were just the kind of things you had to get used to.


    Next was Scar, the man who''d held down Verv earlier. He was also the one that arranged the seating so that Verv would be between himself and Skyzo so they could keep in check. He was overly considerate of his family and their peculiarities. As for his build, he was the bulkiest of the siblings which was self-explanatory. He was a brawler that relied on magic to get around and nothing else. If he wanted to hurt something he would do it with his fists, not that he ever really did. the sides of his head were shaved and the tufts of hair jutting forward in the middle were half black and half red. His eyelids were usually more closed than they were open and his head was tilted slightly downwards, giving him a serene and unbothered look rather than an exhausted one. his face was square in places and looked sturdy. It was a masculine look that went above even Ares'' appearance but the trade-off was that fixing himself up to be fancy like Ares was currently was nigh impossible. He looked good in his natural, rugged state and nothing else. Like Verv, his chest was bare. Unlike Verv, he didn''t wear a jacket on his upper body, though, but there was a single metal link chain that formed a diagonal circle by going over his left shoulder and coming back around near the right side of his waist. The chain was tight against his beefy frame and rattled as he moved. His arms were covered in chains in a similar fashion to Skyzo''s bandages. Further down, there were dull red, fingerless gloves covering his fists and, attached to the knuckle areas of the gloves, there were more chains that were joined to the wrist area. Whenever Scar clenched his fists these chains would become taught and act like a weapon. You would think Scar himself would also feel pain striking with these things but his body was a mountain and he''d trained with them for years. It didn''t bother him in the slightest, especially not compared to the people he would be hitting. Tied around his waist was the upper half of a monk''s robe that he really should have been wearing properly but chose not to because he found it uncomfortable. He''d also pruned the bottom half of the robes to only go down to his knees and end there to prevent it from affecting his movement. Finally, he wore some woven sandals to complete a look that was somehow both simple and complicated at the same time. Simple because there wasn''t actually much going on and most of it was rather basic. Complicated because the clashing look of a street brawler with shaking chains and a peaceful monk were eternally at war with each other. It worked decently enough though thanks to Scar''s calm personality and his raging muscles which formed a similar duality.


    Finally, Fate. Ares had seen her a few times by now and was familiar enough with her to recognise her based on her outfit alone. Red skirt, white shirt, a black corset with suspenders over it that covered her waist, pigtailed brown hair, brown eyes, a crop jacket that only covered her shoulders, and various treasures adorning her outfit. Gloves, small discs on her wrists, weapons on her waist etc... She was fully loaded with however many treasures was needed to protect herself come hell or high water. One for every occasion, as it were.


    These five constituted his siblings. Ares took a seat next to Fate and forced a wry smile. Honestly, Ares had no idea what to talk to these people about... Still, he was going to make an effort and he could tell everyone other than Venus was too... Well maybe not Verv but he was currently asleep and that wasn''t really his fault. He would wake up from his nap in a bit and Ares could greet him properly then... If he wasn''t too busy slobbering everywhere, anyway.

 Chapter 125: Five, Six, Mako Falls for Tricks and Calla Licks

    Ahem


    Ares decided to take the simple path and start with Scar who was supposedly the easiest to get along with... Although really that title belonged to Fate because he was already familiar with her and knew how to treat her and what to expect in return. "Hello. I''ve heard about you all from Fate over the last couple of days so it''s nice to finally meet you all in person..." Ares was mid introduction when a certain someone woke with a start, yelling in excitement.


    "BROTHER!" Verv smiled energetically as he looked around the table. When he finally found his target, Ares, he leaned over the table and stretched out his hand. "Let''s get along and fight plenty of times with each other!"


    Ares reached out with his own hand in kind and shook Verv''s, wincing as his hand was one-sidedly crushed. "Uh, yeah, that sounds like an oxymoron to me but sure. A new sparring partner is never a bad thing. I look forward to training with you..." Ares turned to Scar and held up his palm to the side of his mouth as if he was trying to secretly discuss something with him. "Uh, after training with him, do I need to give the guy treats or anything?"


    Scar snorted but smiled a little. "No. A good beating is more than enough for this unruly pup. Fate mentioned you''re still new to the whole revenant bloodline so I''ll let you know this now. When you do turn into a wolf you don''t inherit an animal''s sense of taste. You won''t like dog treats no matter how fluffy you are... Being petted and scratched behind the ears can feel good sometimes, though, but that''s because your body physically changes. Anything that involves bone structure, muscle mass, or the shape of your form can be affected when you transform. Extraneous and intangible things like taste, mindset, and intelligence remains the same... Mostly. If you''re an adept that last one actually can change but it''s rare. You''re a strength type adept, right? If it''s alright with you, when you get your revenant transformation, I would also like to spar with you. As a cultivator who focuses primarily on brute strength an adept sounds like a fantastic challenge to better myself against."


    With a nod, Ares agreed to the request. As he''d just said, the more the merrier. Practicing against a single person all the time would be repetitive and unhelpful. Yes Sadie was good at wielding multiple weapons and there was variation in that regard but her fighting style was not all encompassing. There were a lot of people out there and the more experience Ares could have the better his chances of success would be going forward. "Alright. I take it you''ve transformed before? Could you tell me a little more about the process and when it can happen?"


    "There''s a few things to mention. First of all, transforming is almost always impossible until bloodline awakening. There is only one known method of accomplishing an early transformation and not only is it temporary, but you can only do it three times throughout the entirety of your life. Even if you die and revive it won''t refresh. You have to be careful when and where you choose to use this method so as not to waste your chances. Unfortunately I do not have any vials on me otherwise I would hand them over to you now. It''s not typically something just any ordinary revenant can get their hands on but you are a child of the patriarch so that''s a non-issue. I imagine Calla will have some vials on her person and she''ll give them to you without you even needing to ask. As for how the vials work, after taking one you will be forcibly transformed into your revenant transformation for five minutes. During this time you will be at the peak of bloodline awakening and your strength / mana reserves will increase appropriately. It''s a neat little trick for weaker revenants in dangerous spots to overcome any and all obstacles. Be warned, though, controlling yourself the first time around will be difficult. There are repercussions to using a vial, one of which is that you will go berserk if you don''t control yourself properly. The other is that when the five minute duration is up you will be completely exhausted. Being unable to move for an entire day afterwards is not uncommon. They should be a last ditch resort and not something you haphazardly waste. Also, you''re expressly banned from using them during the tournament unless you want to be disqualified.


    As for your normal transformation, you''ll know you can use it when your human form mutates. Maybe some sharper fangs, maybe a tail, maybe some claws on your feet, etc. When you notice a change, that means it''s time for you to become a revenant. This will happen at any point during bloodline awakening. It can be during 1st stage,10th stage, or any stage in between. One day you will increase your cultivation and your body will start changing. From then on you can transform whenever you want with no downsides. You lose the ability to transform if you die and your cultivation resets but it comes back under the same conditions. For the record, normally, I have patches of fur along my arms, a patch around my navel, and some more on my knees. You lose the wolf aesthetic too when you die so it can help you hide your race until you cultivate it back.


    As for the process itself, your body, when it morphs, feels no pain so you don''t have to be concerned about that. The only thing you should remember is that the time it takes to transform varies on a few factors. How many times you''ve done it before, how big of a wolf you are after transforming, and how skilled you are at undergoing the process all matter in their own ways. For the most part, experience in transforming matters most of all. The first time you transform may even potentially take up to a minute, it wouldn''t be the first time that''s happened. It could also be smooth sailing and not take more a second. It varies from person to person so you''ll just have to wait and see. As for what happens after you transform... Well you can still walk around like a bipedal animal, and most people tend to, but you can get down on all fours and sprint with relative ease. I felt like that was something that came naturally when I tried it and that''s also the general sentiment amongst other revenants. You''ll also have claws on your hands and feet to swipe with, sharper teeth to bite with, more physical strength, and better senses overall. If it weren''t for the fact that revenants are despised it would generally be better to walk around as one... Usually. You''re an adept so it will lock you out of that incredible magic you used earlier... Although I can only imagine how strong your adept trait will become when fuelled by that mana... Still, you can cast race-based arts if nothing else. You won''t find any to learn here in this domain but we have plenty back on our home planet. You could also always just create unique arts if that takes your fancy. Long story short, the transformation is a huge boon to your overall strength and shouldn''t be underestimated. It''s like a tiger growing a pair of wings."


    Ares had to resist the urge to mention the fact that treetop tigers already had wings. Leo was in this room somewhere too so he could literally show this man a tiger with wings if he wanted to see one for whatever reason. "That''s all good to know. Thank you. As an aside, I''m going to be hosting a banquet for the Legion family, likely tomorrow, and I was thinking of doing something similar for our family. Might as well, right? If you''re all free and interested then I''d be happy to cook for you all. I don''t know if Fate mentioned it but I happen to be a pretty decent chef so if you have any favourite meals I can make them for you."


    "You''re hosting a banquet for the Legion family?" Venus stopped peering at Phobos for a hot minute and looked back at Ares.


    "Yeah. I lost a bet a while ago and this is the result of it. Actually, I would have been ok with doing it regardless but I can''t deny that''s how it all started. I know it might be awkward getting used to the Legion lot but they seem like good people. Granted I haven''t known them long, mind you."


    "Yeah yeah, only one of ''em is worth giving a toss about. Tell you what, you want to be a member of this family then do me a favour and I''ll consider treating you like one."


    THUD


    Skyzo chopped Venus'' head and spoke in a quiet but steady voice. "Sorry about her. What she''s trying to say is that she would like an item that belongs to Phobos and she would be grateful if you could fetch it for her when you host the Legion family. It''s an unreasonable request but it would make her happy... I''m sure an autograph or something similar would also suffice. If it''s too much of a hassle then don''t worry about it. you don''t need Venus'' permission to be a part of the family and she will treat you like one regardless of whether you succeed with her request or not. She''s just trying to use you. Try not to feel bad about it, she''s like this with everyone is all. You''ll get used to it."


    "Ah, I see. Well I''ll try to do as she asked anyway. Not like I have anything to lose. By the way, on a tangentially related note, I hear you''re close to Pele?"


    Skyzo lifted up his scarf and didn''t respond.


    ¡­


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    "I take it the conversation is over now?"


    "It is."


    Well, uh, Ares was certainly starting to understand what kind of people his family were. Venus was the hardest to decipher until you realised everything she did was in order to get closer to Phobos. Verv was the most extroverted but always wanted to fight you after every conversation. Skyzo was caring but usually unwilling to speak about personal matters and would happily end conversations he didn''t want to take part in abruptly. Scar was normal... And in a family like this that probably meant he was actually the strangest person at the table. Fate was Fate. Ares was Ares.


    "As for the banquet..." Scar spoke up and brought back the original topic of conversation that Ares had brought up. "... That sounds good. I''m sure Calla would be more than willing to have a get together and it''s been a while since we''ve all had a home-cooked family meal together. None of us are busy the day after tomorrow..."


    "I''m busy!" Venus interrupted.


    "... None of us are busy the day after tomorrow so if that''s alright with you we can have it then." Scar completely ignored Venus. She was not busy, not in the slightest. At least not busy with anything important enough to so rudely skip a family meal like she was attempting to. She would probably just be out and about shota hunting anyway. Letting this woman roam Red Sun unsupervised was dangerous and she''d become a wanted criminal by the end of the week. "I''ll make sure to round up everyone and have them arrive on time. As for our favourite meals, you really don''t have to go that far. I imagine it would be a long endeavour to undertake, especially after hosting the day prior too."


    "Thanks for the concern but it really is alright. I do this stuff frequently and enjoy doing it on top of that. Whatever you want I''ll make."


    "I see. In that case I won''t be polite. I''ll make sure to write down what each of us likes, Calla included as I already know."


    "That''s a real help. You could also just tell me though, I''d remember it."


    "I believe you, but trying to tell you everything right now is probably going to be impossible. A certain someone seems to have come back and is looking for you..." Scar nodded behind Ares who then turned around and sighed in exasperation.


    Mako was back... And he was looking straight at Ares with indignation. When Mako saw the explosion he started running towards it, thinking that was where the destruction pillar champion was, but Terros had to correct him then and there otherwise he would have spent the entire night chasing a ghost on the opposite side of town. Ares accepted his fate and stood up before walking over to meet Mako halfway. The reason for this was simple; this way Ares could walk away from this person! If he stayed seated how was he supposed to escape this bozo without directly asking him to get lost? Hopefully this guy would understand what the words ''not tonight'' meant and Ares could go back to what he was doing before.


    Mako rushed up to Ares with his pointed finger waggling all the while. "YOU!"


    Ares responded in kind by pointing to himself and being unnecessarily aggressive, "ME?"


    "YOU!"


    Although Ares was aware laughing at Mako''s face directly like he was currently doing was unhelpful he simply couldn''t stop himself. Of all the people Ares had met he could tell Mako was going to be the easiest to bully of the lot. Even so much as greeting him was unbearably funny to Ares. "Alright alright. Stop yelling. What do you want? Another red herring maybe?" While Mako seethed and almost blew his top, Ares turned to Terros. "Stone?"


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    Terros'' carapace rolled over his body and produced a grating noise that was essentially a golem''s way of ''kissing its teeth''. "No, I am a rock."


    "Stone."


    "No... Rock."


    "Stone!"


    "Rock!"


    "Balderdash."


    "No, and before you say it, I am not a boulder either!... It has been a while since the last time I spoke to a revenant... Clearly not long enough. I would feel sorry for Ignizz but he probably deserves you as much as you deserve him... Where is he anyway?"


    "I have no idea. He''s sleeping, wherever he is, and I haven''t seen him at all yet. I fully intend on chewing him out when I get the chance. I will not go easy on that dumb lizard."


    "Hear, hear. I do not pity Ignizz. He is well and truly stupid. That aside, you seem familiar with the idea of fundamental pillars if seeing Mako doesn''t bother you. How do you know about everything if you haven''t made contact with Ignizz yet? Did your family over there give you a quick rundown? They should be aware of the basics of the situation at least."


    "No, through sheer luck I managed to come across another God. That one explained it to me instead and even allowed me to form a contract with them."


    "Ah, that''s good... But who was it? No other God should be down here in Sheryashka..."


    "That''s a secret." Ares brought his finger to his lips and smiled provocatively. Unfortunately Terros, the king of boulders himself, did not fall for Ares'' incitement and just ignored him. Terros was mainly probing for selfish reasons anyway. He couldn''t see the future but he was convinced Ares and Mako would fight during the tournament. When he was summoned, Ares would summon his contracted God in response. If Terros could know who it is early he could formulate a means of attack that would be efficient and effective. Not knowing who it was was actually troubling because they would know about him... Terros could only hope it was the Goddess of the lightning pillar. He had a pretty hefty advantage over that twerp and she also fit the bill. She frequently looked in on Sheryashka, specifically searching for her old friend who''d gone missing, so she very well may have done it again and come across Ares this time. Actually, as Ares was a revenant just like the person she was after, the chances were quite high that was the case. Although Terros didn''t hard commit to the idea that it was her he was up against, he did make plans for the lightning Goddess in case she showed up.


    Ares turned to face Mako again after completely disregarding him. When he swivelled back around Mako was pushing his face up towards Ares and fully exhibiting his eyes and their mutation while whining like a frustrated child. "Why are you ignoring me? Punk! You literally just asked me what I wanted and then started a conversation with someone else! Not to mention sending me on a wild goose chase. The hell is your problem?! You looking for a fight?!"


    "Yes I am, actually. Go outside and wait for me at the training grounds. I''ll be there shortly so we can settle this!"


    "Fine by me!" Mako started marching towards the door but after Terros whispered something in his ear he came marching right on back. "BASTARD! Stop tricking me damnit!"


    "You are very lucky to have Terros by your side. I would have sold you a bridge by now if it wasn''t for him. Seriously though, I''m just minding my own business tonight. I don''t want to deal with you because you reek of annoying. I can smell the nuisance in you."


    Sniff Sniff


    "See? Smells like petrol... Actually, why do you smell of petrol?"


    "None of your concern! Unlike you I work harder to get stronger instead of just messing with people all day long. Here I was worried you might actually be a threat to me but it turns out you aren''t even competition."


    "I am competition, I''m just not competing with you. I have standards. You can compete with me all you want but I''ll only show you respect after you''ve earned it from me the hard way. I look forward to working with you in the future for the sake of saving the world. That was satirical by the way. I feel the need to clarify because you couldn''t tell a lie from a truth if it slapped you across the face. Well..." Ares clapped his hands together and gave his best fake smile. "... We''ve been conversing here for a while so I think we should end it here for today. Not that this hasn''t been enjoyable, it''s just that time really flies when your having fun and what not."


    "We''ve only been talking for like a minute at most?"


    "Exactly!" Ares started walking away but unfortunately Mako chased him down.


    "Stop! Stop! Damn you, stop you halfwit!"


    "Halfwit?" Ares did stop and face Mako again. "Me? Halfwit? Have you looked in a mirror lately? If I''m a halfwit what does that make you? A quarter wit? A one-fifthwit?!"


    "Why are you like this? What have I ever done to you? You''re more annoying than Eagerton for fuck''s sake."


    "You''ve bothered me on a special day. I have a lot going on and rather than dealing with it all I''m stuck here dealing with you. Regrettably, and I do mean regrettably, you and I are going to have get along for a long time to come. Thanks to the Xhilihx matter all of us fundamental champions are tied at the hip. I am going to be seeing your ugly mug for hundreds of thousands of years. I do NOT need to see it today as well. If you have something that direly needs to be said then say it now because if you don''t I would like to go back to my long list of tasks for tonight.


    While Ares was squabbling with Mako, who insisted telling Ares he was better than him was imperative, the double doors opened again. People were pretty distracted by everything that had happened recently so the attention this person got was minor but there were a few people who instantly twisted their heads upon sensing this person''s presence. Rhea, Serene, and Margaret who was raising her camera in anticipation, all watched Calla enter the room. She was in a joyous mood and her bushy tail was wagging back and forth as she sniffed the air. Her sniffs eventually pointed her nose in the direction of her long lost son and she looked at him bickering with Serene''s son as tears formed in her eyes. The Stygian Zephyr was a dead giveaway but, more than that, she just knew. She had smelled his scent from outside the building and already had a really good feeling but the second she saw him in the flesh she exploded with exhilaration. That same smell she''d memorised on the day he was born, his father''s features, the Zephyr. It was him! Definitely him! Calla blitzed across the venue faster than anyone other than the three other matriarchs could see, swatted aside Mako who was flung into his mother''s arms, and bear hugged Ares from behind.


    Ares was at a complete loss for words as the person he''d been walking away from, Mako, disappeared from his vision and suddenly he was being manhandled by some crazed woman who kept sniffing his neck. He immediately knew the answer though. The other three matriarchs were already here so someone at this level could only really be one person. His mother. He was lifted off the floor and dangled side to side as his mother squealed happily in his ear. He could only imagine the gleaming smile on the face of the person behind him as she swayed back and forth. Still, he couldn''t judge as he was just as happy sitting here in her warm embrace... Although it was a little weird when the sniffing stopped and she licked his cheek. A display of affection? Something scent related? Grooming him clean? Didn''t Scar say becoming a wolf didn''t change personality? This woman seemed to be more wolf than human but Ares didn''t say that aloud.


    Calla bit into the collar of the shirt Ares was wearing and dangled him in front of her as she took her cub over to the table with Rhea on it. She sat on the seat between Enyo and Bellona and plopped Ares onto her lap before wrapping her arms around him again. "Rhea! Lookie lookie! It''s my baby! I found my baby! Isn''t he a handsome baby? He looks so much like Aster too!"


    Rhea smiled wryly at the adorable dork Calla had become. She was always like this around her kids... Even now her tail was wagging in her seat. Of course with the limited space available to it the tail was kind of just flopping around like a fish out of water, jumping up and down in every which way. "Yes Calla, I see your baby. I''m happy for you. Ares, this is your mother."


    Ares still hadn''t technically ''seen'' this woman yet because he''d been ambushed from behind and dragged around by the scruff of his neck ever since. As his arms were bound by Calla''s he only really had one choice left. He leaned his head as far back as he could until he was looking at her upside down. He smiled when he saw her soft features and her motherly aura that resembled the blurry memory of his past, brief life.. "Hey mum. Sorry I was gone for so long and worried you."


    Calla sniffled and pet Ares'' head. "Ares, I''m so sorry for not protecting you. I let you down as a mother so don''t apologise. It''s not your fault. None of it is. It was a mistake your father and I made. You can be mad."


    Ares leaned back onto his mother''s chest and smiled gently. "I''m not mad. Not at all. I''m just happy to have such a caring mother, thank you."


    "Rhea! Lookie lookie! My baby is so sweet! He''s the kindest and most amazingest sweetie!... Ah! Hot chocolate. Ares, sweetie, do you want hot chocolate? Stardust? Treasures? Ooh, I''ve got plenty of treasures! You want some?"


    Ares couldn''t help but chuckle at his mother''s bipolar antics. "No, thank you. I think those treasures should go to Fate. She needs them more than the rest of us do."


    "Awww, you''re so nice! Rhea! Lookie lookie! My baby is so caring!... Ah! Canis Stimulant! You want that sweetie? I bet you do! Here!" Calla whipped out three vials filled with a cloudy white substance. Based on what he''d talked with Scar about earlier, these were the things that would allow him to temporarily transform early. "They''re made from the bones of dead revenants! Good stuff! Mix your blood into them and presto! Ready for consumption! Here you go sweetie!" She shoved the corked dials into Ares'' hands and went back to merrily humming as she looked down at him. Ares heard an ''oooohhhhh'' as he put the vials into the Primordial Blade. Calla could tell there was a secret here! The vials had disappeared but there was no space ring! Her baby had a secret! "Oh! What''s that! Tell me tell me tell me! Actually, tell me everything! What were your first words? Were did you grow up? Who looked after you? What''s your favourite food? What''s your favourite drink? What hobbies do you have what''s your favourite colour are you in love where is she she better be acceptable I''ll judge that oh and where did you get that fantabulous suit?"


    "Uh, about the disappearing vials... And about most of the stuff you just asked me... I''m sorry to delay things after finally meeting you but would you mind waiting until tomorrow?"


    "Awwwwwww.... Ok! But you have to tell me tomorrow! Why tomorrow anyway? Are you busy today? I don''t wanna let go of you..."


    "Well... I can answer one of your earlier questions, and that ought to answer some of the newer ones too. I am in love."


    GASP


    Calla bobbed up and down in her seat excitedly and shook Ares. "Love? Like love love? Marriage? Wedding? Who is it! I''m not going to let some unqualified woman steal my babies! You are handsome, sweetie, have high standards! Who is it? Lemme smell her!"


    "Uh, about that." Ares lifted both hands in front of his chest. He pointed left with his right hand and pointed right with his left. Calla''s eyes nearly split in two as she tried to follow both directions simultaneously. She looked left, saw Bellona, got giddy, and then looked right, saw Enyo, and squealed. She hadn''t noticed it before because she hadn''t been paying attention but these two were cute! Bellona and Enyo were very cute today! Also, Calla figured it out! Her best buddy Rhea''s children had both fallen in love with the same man! "Hehehe, Rhea! Lookie lookie! My baby has wooed two of your girls! We''re gonna be in-laws! Also, your babies look exceptional today! Congratulations!..." The mood shifted rapidly as Calla''s voice turned frigid. "Rh~ea, how long have you known about my baby? If I''m not mist~aken you came down a while ago, no~? Rh~ea? Explain, Rh~ea. Explain to me why you didn''t tell me Rh~ea. I want to know why you''d keep this from me, Rh~ea. That was awfully mean of you Rh~ACK"


    Serene and Margaret came to the rescue and bopped Calla upside the head to forcibly exit her from demon mode. Margaret put her hands on her hips and looked down at Calla who was rubbing her head and cutely muttering ''ouchie'' under her breath. "Silly woman, you know you can''t leave TPMZ early. Actually, we also knew, before even Rhea did in fact. If you weren''t such a menace we could tell you these things."


    Nodding in agreement, Serene picked up where Margaret left off. "Also, is now the time to be concerned about all of that? Shouldn''t you just be happy to have your son back? And he''s in a relationship with Enyo and Bellona no less. It''s cause for celebration, not cause for drowning everyone here in a tidal wave of poison. Also, Ares, I''m terribly sorry about my son. Please treat him well in the future. He''s a bit annoying but he has a good heart... Somewhere, I''m sure. Although he''d never admit it, he''s just looking for a rival because he has no idea how to make friends. I really do worry about Mako..."


    Ares wasn''t sure how to respond to that but then again he had no reason to hate Mako. He was like an overly aggressive puppy that wanted attention and it just made Ares instinctively want to toy with him. "I mean I''m fine with him. I''ll try not to be too mean... But I''m a revenant you know? He kinda has it coming..."


    "That''s fine, putting up with a revenant will help broaden his horizons. Defiance is not something he''s familiar with you see. Thank you for the reassurance. At the end of the day, all four of us matriarchs are doting mothers and we do deeply care about out problematic children." After preventing a Calla cataclysm, Serene and Margaret bid everyone goodbye for now and went back to doing their own things. In particular, Margaret was thrilled. Calla''s happiness, Ares'' explosions... Inspiration had struck! She felt the urge to paint so she rounded up her own children and started working on a painting of the two of them in the corner of the room. Eagerton didn''t pose as he was too busy writing down his own notes and Edgerton''s ''pose'' could only really be described as ''sulking because I''d much rather be anywhere but here''. You would think this wasn''t ideal but Margaret was content. This was her children in their own natural habitat and that was precious to her too.


    Back on the Legion table, Ares had just explained that he was planning on proposing to Enyo specifically today so he didn''t want to complicate the evening. Calla fully understood and didn''t push any further... But Ares did have one more bomb shell to drop on her. Calla was disappointed she wouldn''t get to go to sleep hugging her baby tonight but Ares could give her something, no, someone else to hold onto instead. Ares bent over and picked up Appa who''d wandered over after receiving a mental message from Ares. Appa had been hanging around Allie for a spell but now she''d received a task! Ares looked over his shoulder at Calla and grinned. "So, I have another piece of good news."


    Calla looked down at the shade that was looking back at her. She was curious as to what Ares was going to tell her as it probably involved this adorable little munchkin.


    "This is my adopted daughter, Appa."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Ares hopped off of Calla''s lap and put Appa on it instead. Ares hadn''t known his mother long but he could tell... He could tell there was about to be some waterworks.

 Chapter 126: Seven, Eight, Speculate

    "Dad told me you''re his mum! I like mums. You''re all warm and give me plenty of hugs!" Appa wiggled at Calla and gave its usual cheery greetings.


    Calla picked up Appa and held it aloft, looking into its eyes as a few tears formed in her own. Calla glanced at Ares and quietly asked him, "I have a grandchild?"


    Ares nodded in response and silently said his prayers for Appa. For the foreseeable future if it wasn''t being smothered by Calla, then it was going to be smothered by Rhea instead. Appa''s cuddle-laden fate had been sealed. Not that it would ever complain about hugs, though, it probably thought all the smothering was paradise.


    Calla pulled Appa in and hugged the shade with and incomparably joyous smile on her face. Having grandchildren was a long-standing dream of hers and she''d promised herself to spoil them all rotten. They were her babies'' babies! Appa was cute and soft and Calla declared then and there, "It''s decided! You are my favourite!" Complete bias! Appa had that effect in people though so this wasn''t too surprising.


    Appa''s rope wagged. "YAY!" Appa was just happy to have more loving family members, the specifics were mostly irrelevant to it. That didn''t mean it didn''t like being the favourite though.


    Ares watched on with his hands massaging Enyo''s shoulders and they were both fully content with the way life was going. Both their parents were good friends and adored their daughter. Their siblings were at each other''s throats with regularity but there wasn''t any actual enmity. Their family would expand and there was no real issue preventing it; provided Major didn''t come stomping around anyway. It was too late to hide Enyo''s relationship with a revenant and it was impossible to hide Bellona''s involvement too so Major was not going to be pleased. Whether he would take action or not over it was up in the air but at least they had the support of the matriarchs and some of the patriarchs too. Maybe if Calla hadn''t been his mother would he have tried to keep the relationships a bit more low-key but now he felt more confident in the matter. Ares would have to be careful in the Vraizon domain, though, and potentially even in Sheryashka too around some Legion members under Major''s thumb. Just because of his union with the Legion sisters that didn''t mean he was off Scot free. on the contrary, amongst a specific group, he''d basically just put a massive target on his back. Either way that would be a problem for future Ares to deal with. It wasn''t likely he would have to deal with the repercussions of this any time soon. Right now he was just going to spend the night with his family and in-laws. No one else had any business interrupting which was precisely why Ares wanted to punch Mako when he tapped him on the shoulder from behind. Ares balled his fists and took a deep sigh. "Mako... What? Do? You? Want? Now?"


    Mako brought out a deck of cards and held them in front of Ares. "One game. You and me. Just talk to me during it and I''ll leave you alone after. You only have to put up with me until the game is over if you agree. If you don''t, I won''t quit pestering you the entire night."


    "You are a highly punch-able individual, you know that? Fine, fuck it, if it will get you out of my hair then whatever. What game are we playing?"


    Mako sat down on at the table and started shuffling the deck. He could feel a piercing gaze coming from the person behind him but he realised it was directed at Ares and not him so he ignored it. "Speculate. We''ll play a game of speculate. Do you know the rul..."


    Thud


    "Let me join!" Tyr leaned over the table and even banged his fist on it as he did so. Despite all the time Ares had spent at this table Tyr had not yet gotten a chance to interrogate him properly! So what if Rhea and Calla were accepting of these relationships? He wasn''t! He was going to grill Ares if it was the last thing he did!


    "Then perhaps I should join too?..." Scar took a seat and side-eyed Tyr. "... Speculate is a game in which you can target people you don''t like. Having both Mako and yourself go after a single individual is bullying no? The game operates on good faith which is a quality Mako doesn''t possess and you don''t either Tyr; at least not when your sisters are involved anyway."


    "How dare you insinuate such a thing, mutt? I would never let my judgement be clouded!"


    "Who are the prettiest people in this room?"


    "My sisters, obviously?"


    "Who are the most morally just people in the room?"


    "My sisters, obviously?"


    "Who are objectively the best people in this room regardless of the criteria they''re being judged on?"


    "My sisters, obviously?"


    "I rest my case."


    "What case?"


    Tsk


    "Can you two mind your own business?" Mako was not happy with this double intrusion. He wanted the one on one damnit!


    Ares glared at Mako. "Where do you get off telling people to mind their own business?! Mind your own before telling other people to! Who was it that dragged me into this stupid game anyway?! Just let them join in, who cares? What the hell is ''speculate'' anyway?"


    "... Fine, dumb brother one and dumber brother from another mother two can join."


    "You''re definitely number two." Tyr spat at Scar.


    "No the hell I am not you stupid sis-con." Scar returned with vitriol. He didn''t get mad often but he had a tendency to when dealing with this moronic side of Tyr.


    "Will you two shut up already?!" Mako promptly quietened down the rowdy eldest children and went on to explain the rules for speculate. "This game is simple. Everyone gets five cards and the goal of the game is to guess what cards the others are holding. If you guess correctly then that player is out. If you guess wrong, you''re out instead. On your turn you have one of three options. You can either investigate, interrogate, or speculate. Speculate is when you guess what five cards your opponent has in his or her hands. Interrogate lets you ask one person if they have a specific card. The person being interrogated must tell the truth unless they choose to use the one lie they have at their disposal. You cannot lie more than once but you can lie however you please. You can pretend you have a card you don''t, or you can pretend you don''t have a card you actually do. After you interrogate someone you get a chip. You can never have more than three chips at a time so if you have three you must investigate or speculate on your turn instead. Investigate costs a chip and lets you flip over one card on the table. When you start investigating, you must keep investigating whenever your turn comes around until you have used up all of your chips. So, for example, if you interrogate twice, get two chips, and decide to start investigating after, you have to investigate on your next two turns. Because you cannot have more than three chips you can''t interrogate four times in a row. That''s about the gist of it. There are various strategies you can go with but you can figure that out in your own time, I''m not giving you any advice on how to play."


    Ares ran through the rules in his head and he realised there were probably four main strategies. Lie early, lie late, interrogate often, investigate often. Lying early can be good against people who want to try and speculate early. It''s high risk, high reward. Lying late is safe but can go horribly wrong if someone calls you out for it. Losing without using your one lie would be a complete waste. Interrogating often means the game is more likely to end earlier as it can force out early lies if you guess correctly and the other person doesn''t want you to know. With your multiple chips stacked up after doing so your investigation will be more likely to find the card that calls them out on their lie. Investigating often means the game will go on for longer and come down to the wire. It reduces the amount of interrogations you''ll need to get the correct answer as most of the cards will already be confirmed to not be in their hand. It can also force someone with a lot of chips to investigate when they might not want to as it wouldn''t be beneficial to them. In short, it was a game with a decent amount of depth. One in which an individual''s characteristics and preferences actually mattered. Take Tyr for example... Was this guy ever even going to use his lie? Maybe if he had to but he''d probably avoid it up until the last minute if he could. Mako seemed like he was out to get Ares specifically so maybe he''d interrogate him often and keep his lie in reserve just to mess with him when it truly mattered. "Alright, I get it... Are you sure this is the game you want to play? I''ll tell you in advance, I''m very good at calling people out on their lies you know?"


    "Yeah yeah, if you say so." Mako dismissed Ares comment and started dealing out the cards to the four participants. In a way, this was a pretty big deal. The next generation of three of the four warring clans competing with each other like this was quite the sight. Two fundamentals duking it out was no small event either, even if it was only a card game. Maybe if Eagerton hadn''t been busy being ''creative'' off in the corner they could have had some representation of all four major clans in the Vraizon domain.


    Ares received his five cards last and he looked them over. Ace of spades, 10 of hearts, 3 of diamonds, 7 of spades, ace of hearts. That was his hand. Mako started and he immediately interrogated Ares. "King of diamonds?"


    "Yes." And Ares immediately lied to him! Even the way in which you lied mattered. Saying you had a card you didn''t was good for getting people out if they were overconfident. Say you didn''t when you did was good for outlasting people as the card you claimed to not have could never be found in the pile. Of course if someone asked you about the same card twice then you''d be completely screwed unlike the other option. Though there were layers to this game, Ares opted to play in a way that spited Mako specifically because he was downright annoying. The only issue with this approach was how awkward it would be if someone else had the king of diamonds.


    Scar went next and poked at Tyr with an interrogate before he was interrogated in return on Tyr''s turn. It really did look like it was going to be two different one vs ones occurring at the same time. Of course everyone''s decisions still mattered as someone could flip a card that screwed you even if they didn''t really want to. All the strategies you could throw out meant nothing if luck was not on your side.


    Ares'' turn came and he investigated Mako. "Jack of clubs?"


    "Yes."


    Was he lying? Was he telling the truth? Who knows... Well Ares was pretty confident he knew. Either way, a yes was usually a good answer to receive. You could only ever hear six at most from a person and the more you heard the closer you got to winning. "So what did you want to hassle me about then? Spit it out."


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    "Your magic. Don''t pretend you haven''t heard about mine from others. I haven''t heard anything about yours though and it would be incredibly unfair if we compete for you to have such an advantage no?"


    "That''s why you won''t leave me alone!?"


    "It''s important!"


    "Like hell it is! Whatever, if it''ll get you out of my hair then fine. I''ll explain as we play..." The game continued on while Ares described his aspects for a while. Eventually, after Ares had fully divulged all the information about his pillar, a conversation started about the war. Scar was the one who broached the topic to Mako because he was curious.


    "Mako, what are your thoughts on the war? Will you be taking part?"


    Mako looked across the table at Ares and pointed at him. "Only if he does. I''m aware of the power of fundamental pillars and I don''t think it''s right for us to get involved in any meaningful capacity. It would be like both sides deploying nuclear weapons. I would say nothing would be left afterwards but you damn cockroaches are impossible to kill so that''s not even true. Anyway, our job is to save the world, not destroy it. So no, WE shouldn''t. Isn''t that right, Ares? 4 of hearts?"


    Ares just shrugged. "No." Everyone on the table looked at Ares to which he snickered evilly and continued, "I do not have the 4 of hearts." Sighs of relief came from everyone who was uncertain about what this moron was talking about. Of course the menacing glares coming at him from the side as a result of his prank were not friendly so Ares pretended he was blissfully unaware of them. While Scar and Tyr took their turns Ares responded. "I don''t think there''s anyone here that doesn''t want the war to be over, so we''re on the same page in that regard. Us joining in would accelerate things until it got out of hand. Still, Mako, you and I both wanting the war to end is going to be problematic in and of itself right? There are some people who won''t be pleased about that and will act out to stop us, no? We are pretty much the biggest factors of change going forward. When our cultivations improve we will effectively be in charge of everything that goes on in the domain. Naturally those people who don''t agree with us are going to try and kill us and, while I''ll certainly be fine, what about you? 8 of clubs?"


    "No. Tsk, I''m not so weak I need protecting. Jack of spades?"


    "No. Are you sure I''m not going to find you dead in a ditch somewhere?"


    "I''ll figure things out so mind your own business. Besides, let''s stop prancing around the subject. The problem is Major and, let''s face it, he''s going to hate you way more than me. I imagine most of his efforts will be directed to you first and foremost. He''ll have trouble convincing the Legions to kill me because I''m a political ally and have a God given task. He''ll only go for me after you''re already dead and even then he''ll struggle to justify it. So don''t worry about me, keep your damn self safe otherwise you''ll seriously be hassling me you know?"


    "Aw, how kind. Aren''t you a big softie?"


    "Fuck you bastard, 3 of diamonds?"


    "It''s not even your turn moron. Scar and Tyr just went but I haven''t. 3 of diamonds?"


    "Of course not, idiot. Why would I ask you if I had it?!"


    "Maybe you''re trying to throw me off by pretending you don''t have it? It would be a valid strategy you know? I bet you do and your lying!"


    "You are actually the stupidest person I''ve ever met. King of spades?"


    "Nope."


    "Speculate."


    ""What?"" Mako and Ares looked ot the side and Scar nodded his head. He had just called a speculate... On who? Surely it couldn''t be Mako or Ares, they were still relatively safe? Was it Tyr?... Honestly, neither fundamental champion had been paying too much attention to the other two duking it out. They really should have because they might have obtained some decent information if they had.


    Scar repeated himself as he pointed at Tyr. "Speculate. 5 of spades. 5 of hearts. Queen of diamonds. Jack of hearts. 8 of diamonds."


    Tyr clicked his tongue and revealed his hands by placing his cards on the table. Sure enough, Scar had been correct and Tyr was out of the running. Tyr muttered to himself, "Maybe I should have lied..."


    Ares was dumbfounded. This fool actually didn''t lie at all?! Was he hoping everyone else would just believe he had so he wouldn''t actually have to?! What a guy... A guy that was staring daggers at him! Scar''s distraction had temporarily drawn Tyr''s ire but now the man was remembering why he even joined in on this game! "YOU! You do not deserve my sisters! Any of them! You do not have my permission!"


    Ares wasn''t entirely sure how to respond to this nutjob but thankfully he didn''t have to. As he looked at Tyr he saw Pele, Enyo, and Bellona congregating behind him with menacing smiles. Palioxis was too busy holding Phobos'' hand to come over but she was also giving him the stink eye from across the table. If there was one thing that all fours sisters agreed on, it was that Tyr had to be dealt with. This man would not allow any of them to ever get married if he was allowed to be this Tyr-annical so they were going to teach him a very violent lesson. Ares turned away and prayed for his brother in-law''s safety as the sound of pounding flesh, slaps, and yelps came into his ears. Ares had a game to focus on and he was doing really well right now too. His tricks had bamboozled Mako and he was in a solid position. Mako didn''t expect him to have the 3 of diamonds after the stunt Ares pulled and his lie at the very start was still going strong as the king of diamonds had yet to show up.


    The game continued and was nearing the homestretch. Ares had to admit to having the Ace of spades, the 10 of hearts, and the 7 of spades. Mako had to admit to having the jack of clubs, the 2 of clubs, the 7 of clubs, and the queen of hearts. Scar admitted to having the 3 of spades, the 5 of diamonds, the 10 of diamonds, and the 9 of hearts. No lies had been called out yet... Until Ares flipped over the king of diamonds and buggered himself! The others only knew three of his cards but his lie was gone so he was in a bit of trouble comparatively. His gamble had not paid off at all! The number of possibilities were dwindling for everyone and the cards on the table were nearly all flipped over. The game was entering its final stages.


    "Jack of spades?" Scar was asked by Mako.


    "No," was Scar''s response but, unfortunately, the next time Mako''s turn came around he asked him again.


    "Jack of spades?" Mako wasn''t convinced by Scar''s previous answer. Scar was not the kind of person who could lie so easily. It wasn''t in his blood despite being a revenant. He was more the ''if I want to annoy you I''ll do it by mocking you in combat by teaching you about all of your mistakes'' kind of revenant. It was arguably more annoying than someone like Ares because the last thing you wanted to hear as you were being beaten to death was that your stance had been inadequate.


    "... Yes." Scar had to buckle and admit it. His mannerisms had been deciphered by everyone at the table because his fidgety self was really noticeable in comparison to his usually unmoving self. Ares didn''t interrogate him though because he wanted Mako to waste his turn doing it. Plus Scar was his brother and they''d been teaming up on Mako for a while now. Mako would have kept gunning for Ares until the cows came home but he needed to get rid of Scar in order to win which was why he turned his attention to the man who was already nearly out. Ares flipped over a card, ending his turn, and Mako dealt the final blow to Scar.


    "Speculate. Jack of spades. 3 of spades. 5 of diamonds. 10 of diamonds. 9 of hearts."


    Scar sighed and laid out his cards in defeat. He''d lied when pushed to the very edge, and no sooner, but he had at least been willing to do it unlike a certain someone who had just finished receiving his lumps from his sisters. Still, Scar hadn''t been concerned with winning to begin with. His goal had been to distract Tyr from ganging up on Ares unfairly with Mako and, in that sense, he had been successful.


    The game carried on and Ares was forced to admit to having the ace of hearts. His last line of defence was the 3 of diamonds, the ruse he''d run with earlier... The question was how long was this dingus Mako going to take to realise his mistaken assumption? There were two un-flipped cards. Ares wasn''t sure if Mako had lied but he could still interrogate him further and that was his only option. "4 of clubs?"


    Mako smirked at Ares and stared him down. "Yes."


    Now the situation was tricky. Was he trying to bait Ares into guessing or was he still holding his lie? If Mako flipped over another card and it wasn''t the 4 of clubs Ares would be in a serious bind not knowing whether or not he had it.


    Mako flipped the leftmost card... And it was the king of clubs. Either Mako was holding the 4 of clubs or it was still on the table. As for the other card that was still a possibility, that was the ace of diamonds. Ideally Ares would interrogate Mako here and figure out once and for all what he had... But he''d already amassed three chips. He couldn''t do that any longer so he either had to flip the last card, and give away the win to Mako for free, or speculate. If he had one more interrogate his win would have come down to Mako''s fifty fifty speculate after but now it was all in Ares'' hands. Fortunately, Ares had already double checked the other cards Mako had so he knew the missing one was definitely either the 4 of clubs or the ace of diamonds... Ares looked Mako dead in the eyes. "Speculate. Jack of clubs. 2 of clubs. 7 of clubs. Queen of hearts..."


    Everyone bit their nails in anticipation, especially Mako who, last turn, after flipping the card, realised he was probably in a an atrocious position thanks to a certain problem... The stupid three of diamonds! Ares had asked him about it earlier... Which meant he''d been cornered!


    "... Ace of diamonds."


    "DAMN IT!" Make was mad! He knew he was lying about the 4 of clubs which also meant he had to be telling the truth earlier when he said he didn''t have the 3 of diamonds. Or rather, if he''d lied about the 3 of diamonds then he couldn''t have possibly said yes to having the 4 of clubs in the first place... In other words, he was convinced Ares knew he didn''t have the 3 of diamonds, leaving him with only one other option. Ares knew he was lying about the 4 of clubs, he knew neither of them had the 3 of diamonds... It was a 100% loss the second he didn''t flip the 3 of diamonds on the table! "You bastard, you had the 4 of clubs! Didn''t you!" Mako believed to the very end that Ares didn''t have the three of diamonds... He really truly did... Unfortunately for Mako''s sanity...


    "No? I had the three of diamonds."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    "Excuse me?"


    "Three of diamonds. I had it. You''re just an idiot."


    "... Then you guessed that last card? You lucky bastard! I refuse to take this loss lying down! You didn''t deserve it at all!"


    "Most card games are luck though... Also, I told you, I''m really good at telling when people are lying. You didn''t believe me but I was warning you in advance. I never would have gotten that guess wrong you know?"


    "Damnit! I want a rematch!"


    "Hell no. Adhere to the earlier pre-requisite for me even taking part and leave me alone for the rest of the night."


    "Tsk... This isn''t over! You wait for the international! I deal with you there once and for all!"


    "Hmph. Careful now. If you throw down the gauntlet, you may end up having to run it too."


    Off in the background Eagerton was plagiarising with zero hesitation and or guilt.


    As for Mako, he did the ''I''m watching you'' gesture and left with a huff... Shortly after he left Enyo coughed to get everyone''s attention and Ares started sweating nervously... He could tell what was going to happen and it was not pretty... Damn you justice oriented wife! Why can''t you be more like Bellona and let this incident slide?!


    "I didn''t mention this earlier otherwise Mako wouldn''t have left..." Ares tried creeping away but Enyo held onto his feathered tailcoat and carried on. "... But Ares owes Tyr and Scar an apology at least."


    "Ha... Ha... Ha... Oh love of my life... I don''t know what you''re talking about? Aren''t you maybe mistaken?"


    "Absolutely not you cheating shmuck. Admit it!"


    Ack


    Ares was betrayed! Betrayed! "... Uh, so, uh, that last guess wasn''t a fifty fifty¡­ Or rather I really shouldn''t have played this game to begin with..." All eyes were on Ares and they were not pleased with his admission of guilt! They were interested to know how he cheated though as they really hadn''t seen anything... "So... A while back I kinda inherited Enyo''s lie detector..."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ""BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"" The table, united in their disappointment against the dirty cheater, jeered at the shmuck! To think they trusted a revenant! Even Scar looked let down... The entire point of the game was that it revolved around one singular lie... And this crook was a human lie detector! Well not quite a ''human'' but that wasn''t the main point here... He hadn''t guessed Mako was lying, he damn well knew with certainty he was!


    Ares was assailed by a hail of boos but there was one person who wasn''t disappointed in him! His mother was clapping and laughing! As far as she was concerned Ares had truly embodied the spirit of being a revenant! That and he was her child so he could probably bomb an orphanage and she still wouldn''t care... Either way! Solace from the mean people! And her lap was free! He could hide!... Wait a minute... Why is her lap free? Shouldn''t Appa have been on it?


    Crackle


    Ares was turned into an ice block by Appa who was floating beside him underneath the table. Appa poked its head out and gave stern condemnation. "Dad! Mum told me to freeze you every time you cheat! Bad dad!"


    ¡­ That was very clearly not what Enyo had meant...

 Chapter 127: Nine, Ten, Do a Dance and Then...

    Ares did eventually thaw out... No thanks to literally anyone else mind you. Just because he deserved it, didn''t mean he had to be treated like this! Well whatever, he was out now and had his sights set firmly on the band in the corner. They''d taken a short break during the earlier kerfuffle but they were about to get back into the swing of things. While Ares waited for them get the mood going in the venue, Ares went over to go see how his brother was doing. Rag was being dragged out of the room so everyone that had come here with negative intentions was gone... For the most part anyway. Arguably Trixie also had ''negative intentions'' but she was an entirely different manner of beast compared to Aejaz'' family. Ares had fended off Sho but Trixie was Allie''s problem. Even know he could see her grumpily trying to shoo her away... Unsuccessfully. Ares had no dog in this fight so he wouldn''t interrupt. Whether she stayed and joined the family alongside Allie or was outright denied by her would be interesting to see.


    Ares walked over to Aejaz who was comforting his sister and catching up. "Yo, you two doing alright?"


    "H... Hello. Thank you for earlier..." Lacy bowed her head and looked up at Ares with beady eyes. And thus, Ares'' third little sister had come into the fold. Spoiling all the cute people in Ares'' life was getting harder and harder the more of them there were but that was a price Ares was willing to pay.


    Ares pat little Lacy on the head and pulled some chocolate cake out of the Primordial Blade he''d made a while back. He had no real use for it and kinda just left it there in case he came across anyone who might want some. It was one his failed experiments but the taste was still pretty decent so he offered it to Lacy. "No need to thank me. We have plenty of space in our house for someone as adorable as you! If you ever need anything, especially food, then let me know and I''ll get it done. An how about you ''Jaz, you ok?"


    Aejaz gave a wry smile. "I''m fine... Although I really don''t understand why Allie''s so mad with Trixie... It''s getting a bit heated over there and I''m honestly scared to poke my nose into it. I considered trying to ease the tensions a bit and all I got in return were two death glares that forced me to retreat back to my seat..."


    "Well yeah, duh, I could''ve told you that would happen."


    "Do you know what they''re arguing about?"


    "Aejaz, you are the only person in this room who doesn''t. Don''t worry about it too much, it''s not the kind of thing you''ll have a say over anyway... Trust me on that one, I''ve experienced it first hand... That aside, good job holding off your family until I arrived. Still, I''ve done everything I can do on my end, you know you''re up next right? During the tournament you''re going to have to be the one to bury the hatchet with your clan yourself. You already have all the tools so it''s a matter of whether you''re mentally prepared... Then again, you almost killed Job so I''m guessing you''re good to go on that front."


    "Yeah, now more than ever I want to distance myself from them. Before it was apathy with a hint of hate but now they''ve gotten on my nerves fully. Their behaviour today was out of line and I want to punish them myself. Embarrassing them at the international ought to satisfy me and end things between us for good. I''m ready for it... Too ready, almost. I kinda wish I could just get it over and done with at this point."


    "Well you never know, maybe. The lots for the tournament aren''t being drawn until first thing tomorrow so there''s still a chance you could very well get to go up against them from the start... The chances aren''t likely though. If what I''ve heard is correct there are thirty six teams competing in total so matching up against your preferred target quickly isn''t guaranteed. Hell there''s a chance you might not even get to see them at all. People like Mako, the Legion family, and my own family could very well knock them out early too. Gotta cross your fingers and pray."


    "... If I don''t get a chance to fight them, should I just show off the art anyway? I should, right?"


    "Yeah. Doesn''t have to be immediately if that''s the case. No point in worrying about it now though but yes, at some point during the competition, I want you to 1 vs 5. There''s no worming your way out of it, you''re more than capable of it as you are now. Mako and I are obviously the standouts, in a league of our own, but you aren''t any weaker than someone like Enyo or Bellona. You may even be above them currently with that art so, for your sake, you need to make that clear. Your family, more than anyone, has to know that you are above their reach now."


    "Um..." Lacy waved her hand because she was too timid to but into the conversation in a more blunt way. "... Is Aejaz actually strong now?" Lacy asked before getting flustered and trying to correct herself. "I d... I don''t mean he was weak or anything I just... I''m worried about him..."


    "Haha, you''ve got no reason to worry. Aejaz is plenty strong now. In comparison to me maybe not but that''s an unfair comparison in the first place. Compared to any of his brothers? Yeah, he''s strong for sure. Plus the rest of our team isn''t exactly weak either so if anything goes wrong during the tournament you can be sure they''ll back him up. And if things look really desperate, there''s always me. I''m as strong as at least five Aejaz-s stacked on top of each other."


    "Oi!" Aejaz wasn''t going to take this lying down!


    Ares rolled his eyes. "Fine. Four and a half Aejaz-s." Aejaz grumbled but didn''t reply. "See Lacy? Your brother may be stronger than he used to be, but he''s still quite the coward. Feel free to bully him every now and then ''cos he won''t fight back."


    "I... I think he''s been bullied enough by Sho..." Lacy took Ares seriously and made him want to pinch her cheeks.


    "Yeah, well, Sho ain''t gonna be bullying him anymore. That ship has sailed and Aejaz wasn''t riding it so you don''t need to concern yourself with him. You should also stay away from your family too while Yvonne, Job, and Sho are still in the picture. I would argue Fletch, Scowl, and Phlo aren''t exactly great people either but they aren''t the main issue from what I can tell. At the very least they won''t bother you without a reason to do so, it''s just that the other three will give them a reason and they''ll listen obediently. You''re obviously free to do as you please but I highly recommending not leaving the sect on your own for a while, especially during the international while your family is still here. Thankfully this sect has most things you''ll need to live comfortably. As I mentioned earlier if there''s anything specific you want I can get it, even if I need to go out into town for it that''s a non-issue. Also if you want to choose clothes or something you can go with Bellona and Enyo or me if I''m free."


    "Mm. Thank you."


    "No worries." Ares happily pet Lacy again. "Enjoy the cake and the rest of the night. I think today you might have to share a room with Trixie but that''s just because we have a lot of guests around at the moment. Things will ease up in the future and then you can have your privacy." Ares said his goodbyes before briefly checking in with Esme and Li Li. These two were doing more than fine so Ares went on his merry way. Ares passed by Allie and Trixie and couldn''t resist interjecting with "You two would make a cute couple the way you bicker at each other" before running away. Allie almost chucked mini-pillie strength at her doofus brother Ares but decided not to because he would probably just dodge it and retaliate. On the plus side, he did leave her some chocolate cake... Not that that helped her in any way with the vixen she was arguing with!... First a spoonful of cake, then back to war!... Why is half the cake gone?! Allie looked over and saw Trixie gobbling up some of her chocolate cake without remorse.


    As Trixie chewed on the food, she spoke in garbled tones, "Jish is sho good. Mm, thanksh fo sha''ing wit me."


    Allie grinded her teeth back and forth. "I will not be sharing anything with you! Spit it out!"


    While the two kept going at each other, Ares walked back over to the Legion table. The music was finally playing and it was a nice slow number. Ares would have asked Enyo to dance here and now but first came Bellona. Dancing with Enyo would set the rest of the night in motion so he wanted to get everything else over and done with first and Bellona was on that list. She''d helped out in a big way for today, what with Enyo''s dress and teaching her how to dance too, so Ares felt it was only right to make some time out for her too. This was something he''d already mentioned to Enyo prior to today as well so it was fine in that regard. She wasn''t going to get all moody with him for dancing with her first now that he''d explained his reasoning for doing things in this order. Ares walked up behind a seated Bellona and rubbed her shoulders. "Would mademoiselle care for a dance?"


    She stood up and snorted at Ares. "What''s with the cheesy language? Perhaps I should call you a croque monsieur?"


    "Bellona. I love that, deep down, you''re just as stupid as I am."


    "You wish punk." Bellona sauntered past Ares and dragged him by the hand to the area populated by couples and flirty individuals who were already dancing.


    The song had already started but it hadn''t been going for too long so it''s not like Bellona was being short-changed or anything. Besides this was mostly just for a bit of fun between them anyway. Ares had gone on a date night with Enyo a while back but the time he''d spent with Bellona in comparison was somewhat lacking so even something small like this was meaningful in its own way. Ares wrapped his arm around Bellona''s back and pulled her in close with a smirk. "Well doesn''t this ring a bell?" Bellona''s chest was rubbing up against his and Ares calling back to the last time this happened made Bellona blush and scowl at him.


    "You''re an idiot."


    "Me? Aren''t you the one who seriously thought I was asleep during that whole incident? Did you think I was secretly dead? What man wouldn''t wake up with that happening to him?!¡­ Or maybe you really did know and the thought of it excited you?"


    "I should have yanked it off."


    "You kinda already did..." Ares and Bellona slowly took step after step with their hand intertwined firmly off to the side. "... Not that I''m complaining mind you. On a different note, what do you think?" With a tilt of her head, Bellona indicated she wasn''t entirely sure what he was asking about. Ares chuckled and clarified. "I mean me. Do you like it? The way I came dressed up today was pretty much entirely for you and Enyo so I hope you like it, is all."


    "Hmph."


    "Hmph? Well that is certainly not the kind of response I was expecting. You still struggle with compliments do you? It doesn''t have to be some grand, poetic gesture. Repeat after me; ''you look good''."


    "You look stupid."


    "And you look stupidly good." Bellona smiled and had to kiss her teeth to hide it and pretend otherwise. "See? That made you feel good right? It''s easy enough if you try. Of course if you really don''t want to that''s ok, I can always ask Enyo instead. She''ll no doubt give me a compliment that''s both eloquent and elaborate... And laden with sexual aggression no doubt but that''s par the course with her."


    Bellona turned her head to the side and pouted. "Don''t talk about her while we''re dancing..."


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Hm." Ares narrowed his eyes. "It''s not that I don''t understand where you''re coming from but try and think about things from my perspective. I can''t talk about her, and you''re unwilling to talk about me... Am I just supposed to endlessly compliment you all night and get nothing in return? I know ''pitting'' you against Enyo is dirty, and I''ll admit I shouldn''t have gone about things in that manner, but what now? Is this really how you want to end a night that has been fantastic otherwise? How long am I going to have to chase you, Bellona? The pillow, sneaking into your room, letting you overhear me when I talked with Rhea, making you be honest and say you love me, asking you to dance, whispering sweet nothings into your ear... I appreciate you maybe aren''t comfortable with being the one who leads, I get that, but is asking you for a compliment really that big a deal? Look, what I''m going to say next is the hard truth. We have a big family here Bellona, absolutely massive. Even today it expanded to more than double that which it was before. Trixie, Lacy, my siblings, and yours. Add on to that the rest of the wives in the future, family members of the wives, and any potential children adopted or otherwise. There is not enough time in the day for me to deal with everyone. I am only human and I will prioritise those who come to me. I''m not trying to force you out of your comfort zone because it amuses me or anything so dull, I''m doing it for your sake. Imagine I have ten different family members all asking me for a favour and wanting to spend time with me... What am I supposed to do? Come and pluck you out of the corner every time and ignore them? That''s favouritism and you can''t expect that from me, at least not in that way. If you want my time, you''re going to have to be the one that asks for it. Yes I can be an egomaniac sometimes but that''s not why I''m asking you for a compliment. I want you to familiarise yourself with the idea of being more aggressive with me... Well that''s half of it. I also am a bit annoyed the effort I went to is clearly not being respected or appreciated at all. Considering your attitude I may as well have not even bothered for all the difference it would have made."


    Thunk


    Bellona headbutt Ares in the face. "You''re annoying... Enyo wasn''t wrong when she said arguing against you was a pain. You really like guilt tripping people don''t you? Well congrats... Now I feel bad... And I know that''s my fault for acting like this but still! I''m not Enyo. I don''t like it when you talk to me like this... Don''t think you can talk to me like this and it''ll work just because it does with Enyo! I''ll admit I''ve made mistakes but so have you."


    "You''re right. But you seriously need to stop caring about Enyo so much. Stop treating her like some kind of goal or obstacle. If it was wrong for me to bring her up then it''s equally as wrong for you to do so. This has nothing to do with her and I wasn''t intentionally trying to discuss this with you the way I would her. That was an accident. From now on I''ll do things the right way with you and just be brutally honest. Bellona, you''re being stupid. Do you have any idea how much of a piece of garbage you make me feel like for planning this out for weeks only to get silence from you? If it weren''t for this suit being in the way I would have thrown down with you already and pried the words from your lips if need be. Stop being childish and difficult and just compliment me already."


    "I can''t damnit!"


    "Why not?"


    ¡­.


    "Bellona, be honest with me. If you can''t be honest with either me or Enyo then you''re pretty screwed you know? Who else is there to rely on?"


    "..." Bellona looked over her shoulder at Enyo and sighed. "Promise me you won''t tell her no matter what?"


    "If I think you have a valid enough reason for me not to tell her then sure."


    "Fine... Today you''re the hottest guy I''ve ever seen. Unbearably so. Your normal look is just kind of whatever, if I''m being honest. I like handsome men more than muscular or rugged men. It''s not that I dislike who you are normally it''s just the way you are now is so much more attractive to me... And because of that I feel seriously jealous of Enyo. Seeing you like this and being unable to have you... Knowing that another woman gets to have you like this and that I have to wait is insufferable. Ever since you walked through those doors I''ve been obsessed to an unhealthy degree."


    "Is that it? Being jealous is fine and Enyo wouldn''t care in the slightest. Hell she''d probably sympathise with y... Oh. Right. Fine, I see the problem. I''m really sorry. I was wrong to make assumptions."


    "Yeah? No kidding... I mean it''s not like everything you said is wrong and I know I need to work on that stuff... But I have no issue with complimenting you. Especially not today. Being in this close a-proximity to a guy as hot as you is making me seriously horny you know? I don''t usually get this hot and bothered... Tsk. Whatever, now you know. D.O N.O.T T.E.L.L E.N.Y.O. You know what she''s like... You know what she''ll do..."


    "Yeah... Invite you to join so as not to have you be left out, right?"


    "Tsk, that stupid lovesick moron wouldn''t even think twice. It''s her special night and she''d throw it all away for me. I love her but she can be a real fool sometimes... Take care of her would you?"


    Ares smiled. "Sure, but you do a pretty good job of that too. You and Enyo really get along well and you''re always both trying to help each other behind each others'' backs."


    "Yeah. I guess... If it''s not too much to ask, when we... You know... When we go all the way, can you slick your hair back and have the earing in like today?... Damnit, even just imaging it is making me excited. Why don''t you just always do you hair like that? Better yet, let me dress you! Next time you go shopping bring me along and I''ll pick your casual clothes."


    "The clothes sure, but I''ve gotten used to my normal hair. If you like it the way it is currently that much then whenever we''re together I''ll change it, and that includes the bedroom."


    "Good... Maybe you could also dye your hair blond?"


    "I''m learning a lot about your tastes, Bellona. Still, I''m glad. I''d rather know than not know. If you really want we can mess around with my hair too. After the tournament I''ll be leaving for a while but when I come back I give you full permission to dye my hair and do it up however you fancy. I''ll be your dress up doll until your satisfied, ok?"


    "In that case, I forgive you for being an asshole earlier!... Actually, no, wait, I can still milk this a bit more. Gimme a kiss, stud!"


    Ares shook his head and laughed before doing as demanded. The end of the music synchronised with the start of the kiss and a while later, when it finished, the two were done for the day.


    "Uh, Ares, you might want to head back over to Enyo and deal with that guy..." Bellona pointed back at the table and Enyo was being pestered by someone Ares recognised... Biggie. Biggie was that one guy that was in Ares'' tier in the inner court, the brute that was head over heels for Enyo. He should have been on the floor below but he must have come up here looking for a dance with her... What a blithering moron. Even from here he could see Enyo mercilessly rejecting him outright and yet he was still being obnoxious about it. Ares wasn''t particularly concerned for a number of reasons, but primarily it was because...


    Crash


    Rhea pounded Biggie into the floor so hard a hole was created and he went sailing through it. Rhea had pushed this clown back to where he belonged before taking a seat again like nothing had happened. Of course having a hole in the floor like this was a little awkward so Terros kindly filled it in. He couldn''t use much magic in this clone form but this much was doable. The power he could wield was tied to A; how strong Mako was and B; how close the clone was to its original body / mana source.


    Enyo felt a presence behind her so she turned around to see Ares leaning on the back of the next empty seat along from her. He winked and she instantly understood that tonight''s main events were getting started. The moment she stood up and held his hand they were locked into a course with no deviation but that was fine, it was what Enyo wanted. As they walked over, Enyo spoke. "I did learn to dance from Bellona but I''m really not that good at it. Don''t expect anything professional."


    Ares caressed her hand to reassure her. "That''s not the point. I just want to dance with you. You could flop around like a epileptic fish having a fit out of water for all I care, so just put your two best left feet forward and we''ll go from there."


    "Hmph, still loaded with silly jokes like always, I see. Got anymore inside that thick skull of yours?"


    "Yeah, two more actually. Which one do you want to hear first?"


    "Neither. Look, the band is starting. Don''t ruin the music with your awful jokes."


    "I won''t. I understand how... Instrumental the music is to creating a good atmosphere."


    "That was one of them wasn''t it? I''ll give you credit for worming it into the conversation but I refuse to laugh." Enyo flicked Ares chest before putting one of her hands on his shoulder and the other in his grasp. She reminisced and couldn''t help but smile as she thought back on how this all started. "To think us two stumbling around each other back in Baja led to this..."


    "Things could have gone very wrong back then, in hindsight. The whole revenant thing was way more complicated than I knew and yet here we are. Both our families seem to be ok with one another, and you and I... Well I don''t need to tell you how well we get along. Old me was wise in his own ways for asking for a dance after winning the bet. Actually, I''m somewhat glum I didn''t win the other one as well."


    "The one in the hotel room?"


    "Yeah. I would have cooked for your family regardless but I still haven''t found an excuse to get you to cook for me yet."


    "How about for your birthday? If I''m going to make a fool of myself it might as well be for a good reason. Me and Bellona can work together and try to cook something up for you. Usually it''s you crafting personalised food for everyone else and, although I''m not a good cook in the slightest, the challenge itself sounds fun. Thinking about what kind of person you are, what represents you, and what you''d like is right up my alley. With the aid of Bellona I''m sure we could muster up something. Then again, when even is you birthday? Do you know?"


    "Unfortunately my memory is hazy. I can always check with Calla some other time, I''m sure she''d know."


    "Why not leave it as a surprise? Me and Bellona will ask, you can just wait."


    "Ha, fine by me. I look forward to it."


    "Speaking of Bellona... Should I even ask why that aggressive tomboy headbutt you mid dance?"


    "No. Because you''re as amazing as you are dense, it''s better for you not to know until later."


    "... That silly girl was jealous wasn''t she?"


    "Ah hell. Why is your brain so massive when it comes to stuff like this?!"


    "I''ll have you know it''s always this big, it''s just diminished in your presence because your aura reduces everyone''s IQ by at least thirty or more points."


    "Yeah but not my own, right?"


    "No comment."


    Ares stuck his tongue out at Enyo. "But seriously, don''t be foolish about this. I know you''re thinking about letting Bellona join us but don''t. She''ll have her own time at a later date and I''m telling you know you will not be allowed to be there too no matter how horny you are."


    "Fine. Though I do wish you and Bellona wouldn''t see me as some kind of stubborn mule. I can be reasoned with sometimes."


    "It''s unreasonable we''re even having this discussion in the first place..."


    "For you perhaps. I think it''s perfectly normal considering our situation and the relationship we''ve all fostered."


    "If you say so... Hey, let me twirl you!"


    "First of all, where did that even come from? And second of all, I have no idea what I''m doing so the onus to get it done right is all on you."


    "Not twirling you in the dress you''re wearing is criminal! I want to get a nice view of your beautiful back. As for that second part. Don''t fret over it too much. When you dance with the devil..." Ares twirled Enyo 480 degrees until she was facing away from him and wrapped his hands around her waist as he pulled her into his embrace. "... I''ll lead."


    Enyo sighed and leant her head on his chest with a tired smile. "You know, this would have been a really romantic moment if you hadn''t been hell bent on getting that second stupid joke in at any cost. It''s my fault really for falling love with a man as hopeless as you. Still, this isn''t so bad. You make me smile and that''s more than I could ever have hoped for."


    "Don''t set your expectations so low, it''ll hurt my feelings! The song is over but the night isn''t. You know what comes next and I promise you I''ll take it seriously. I would never dream of ruining a moment that can never be repeated. Will it be the most romantic thing ever? Probably not. I never claimed to be good at this sort of stuff, but I have tried to the best of my ability."


    "I know, Ares, I know. You are a beautiful man in every way. Sorry it took me so long to say it, it just didn''t feel right after everything you said to me. I feel a bit ashamed not knowing how to compliment you now that you''ve done it in the kind of way I wanted to and infinitely better at that. You took the wind out of my sails and I didn''t really know how to recover from it. I guess the best way is just to rip the Band-Aid off and say what''s on my heart and mind. Ares you are a special man. You''re all over the place when it doesn''t matter but the second it does you become the most reliable person I''ve ever seen. You''ve proven today you''re capable of stunning a crowd and I''m right there with them. To know that whenever you look into that crowd you see me and only me makes me feel like the luckiest woman alive. God knows you aren''t a perfect man but you are my perfect man in every way. The moments in which I get to have you all to myself feels like I''m living a dream. To date, that night we sat in the sky was my most precious and intimate moment with you. Tonight, let''s make a new one."


    A kiss on the neck and a tighter embrace were Ares'' way of appreciating Enyo. "That was lovely to hear, thank you. I know how much physical intimacy means to you specifically. There''s a difference between loving you and making love to you and tonight I promise I will do both. Let''s go say our goodbyes and then I''ll take you outside. It''s not much but there is a little something I prepared for you." And with that, Ares and Enyo started walking back over to the table after their simple but satisfying dance. Tonight was coming to a close and step one of three was a success. Next up was the proposal and Ares had made somewhat of a bizarre choice for one specific item he was going to give Enyo, but it was certainly heartfelt if nothing else!

 Chapter 128: Eleven, Twelve, Spend the Rest of the Night All by Ourselves

    On the way over to the table, Ares remembered he needed to check with Rhea about the banquet and make sure everything was finalised. Or well he was going to before Enyo handed him two separate lists with all the preferred meals of both the Legion and Umbra Wolves on them. Super woman over here had gone around and collected everything while he was dancing with Bellona to make Ares'' life easier. It would save him a good deal of time so he was grateful for the assist. Now all he had to go do was part with his family properly. He could have just slipped out of the venue and it wouldn''t have been too big a deal but seeing as this was the first time he''d met these people Ares figured it would be for the best to be polite... To everyone other than Mako anyway. Ares wasn''t going to go out of his way to talk to the twerp again lest he was looking to be delayed for another hour or two. The day Mako figured out Ares cheated at speculate was the day Ares'' ear would be talked off. Despite being a revenant Ares genuinely feared it would never grow back either, that was just how incessant Mako''s gibberish was.


    Enyo went off to go talk to Bellona because of course she did. Ares could see Bellona furiously shaking her head before kicking Enyo''s rear. Ares was no expert lip reader but he was fairly sure he understood the word ''no'' when it came out of Bellona''s mouth. It seemed to be quite an elongated ''no'' at that too. Ares left the Legions to their own antics as he walked over to Calla who was carrying Appa around everywhere she went. "I see you''re getting on well with my daughter. Not that I don''t understand the desire to hug such an adorable shade."


    Calla''s tail swayed back and forth rhythmically and Ares could tell that particular motion indicated contentment in his mother. She gave Appa and lick and smiled. "Appa looks cute, talks cute, and tastes cute too! Like a big marshmallow! Soft as one too. Ares, are you sure you didn''t just adopt a big marshmallow? Either way, good choice!"


    "I see the resemblance... Sorry about not spending too much time with you today, and sorry for being busy with the Legions tomorrow. I''m looking forward to talking more with you, and spending time with the rest of the family too, but I can''t just drop the prior arrangements. Especially not today."


    "Oh no problemo! I understand! Totally! Enyo is gorgeous today and I don''t know how any man with functioning eyes could ignore a woman like that. Go have fun and maybe consider giving me another grandchild? The more the merrier! Put a bunch of ''em in the sisters yeah!? Not that this child isn''t the cutest little sweetie I''ve ever seen!"


    Appa giggled as Calla tickled it while Ares wiped some sweat off his brow. More children? Not right now anyway. Creating offspring while he was in the middle of saving the world was a bit of an ask. He could just dump his children on his wives, or relatives if they were too busy, but that was shameless behaviour and Ares actually wanted to raise his children personally so that was a no go. Calla''s desire for more grandchildren would have to be put on hold unless one of his siblings put some work in on their ends. Still, although Ares was against actually procreating in the here and now that didn''t mean adoption wasn''t in the cards. He wouldn''t be against it as Appa had already proven to be a good idea a thousand times over. Ares wouldn''t go searching for children or anything but he was more willing to go along with that instead of directly reproducing. The main reason being that they would likely be older and thus more accepting of his lack of presence. It was something that could be explained to them then and there rather than having them grow up without Ares as a father figure and wondering why their dad was constantly out to get milk. An older kid would be more tolerant... Maybe? It depended on the person and how familiar they were with Ares. This was getting very far ahead of the present though. The chances of Ares adopting another kid any time soon were basically non-existent so he put it to the back of his mind. "I must say, I''m somewhat envious. Cuddling Appa while you sleep is a joy in and of itself. You have a soft and warm night ahead. Anyhow, we can talk a bit more tomorrow if time permits but I suppose the next time I''ll see you properly will be the day after. I''m sure I don''t need to tell you of all people this but take care."


    "It''s the thought that counts! Good luck in the tournament sweetie. I''ll root for you unless you go up against the others, in which case I''ll root for everyone equally! No favourites, other than Appa, allowed I''m afraid."


    "That''s more than enough support, thank you. Goodbye for now then."


    Ares headed over to the Umbra table next. "It was nice meeting you all. I''m sure I''ll be seeing you all around here and there, and there''s always the banquet the day after tomorrow to get more familiar with each other. Good luck in the tournament and no hard feelings if we get matched up against each other. I won''t go easy on you and I wouldn''t expect you to go easy on me either."


    "Naturally." Skyzo nodded.


    "Trying our hardest is a sign of mutual respect, that''s basic courtesy." Scar agreed.


    "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just get me something that belongs to Phobos tomorrow yeah?" Venus was still in her own little world and didn''t really care about the tournament.


    "Careful now brother, I bite!" Verv was currently sane... Probably. Threatening to bite but not actually lunging at Ares to do so on sight was a good indicator he had his wits about him. Verv''s ''sanity'' could only ever be considered relative to his insanity as judging him by normal standards was a doomed ordeal from the start.


    "Hmph. Don''t come crying to me after I throw all my treasures at you, dumb dog Ares." Fate puffed up her chest during her grand reveal that she would also be competing. She deflated immediately when Ares paid her no mind and just ruffled her head with a chuckle. She had seen this coming so she wasn''t particularly devastated that he didn''t seem to care. Plus her main goal tonight had been achieved and information had been gathered about the other competitors. Ares might have spent the night enjoying himself but Fate was doing some serious scouting! Everyone who was going to be an obstacle going forward was here and fully observable so wasting this opportunity and flirting with a partner like Ares had done was a waste of time as far as Fate was concerned. Then again, this was just Ares'' non-chalant attitude on full display. He was pretty convinced his destruction magic could solve any and all unexpected problems on the spot and, although it irked Fate, he was right too. She''d kept tabs on Ares different arts and she had to admit the right to be cocky and overconfident was something he''d more than earned. She was a little jealous of how much power he had and how little she had in comparison. She was an expert at utilising her treasures, yes, but relying on them made her feel weak sometimes. Part of her hard work was so that she, and her siblings, could stand a chance against Ares if their paths ever crossed during the tournament.


    Ares waved as he left the table and headed over to the last stop to check up on his brother. Allie and Trixie were still going at it like cats and dogs and that was clearly a conversation that was going to go long into the night so Ares left well enough alone. In a way he really pitied his poor brother... Aejaz was pretending to smile while patting Lacy who was on his lap and actually smiling, albeit wryly, at the catty argument taking place on the other side of the table. Even Esme and Li Li were listening in on it and this conversation was slowly becoming the centre of attention in the venue. Anyone that passed by made an effort to stop and eavesdrop for a while to get a good dose of drama. As for how Aejaz still hadn''t figured out what this was about... Ares had never pegged Aejaz as being the oblivious type and yet here he was, blissfully unaware. Aejaz was quick to fall in love and not slow to express himself either so this had probably never been an issue for him. Having a woman come onto him first was something he just wasn''t familiar with and had never seen before... Apart from all the times Trixie must have been ''buddy buddy'' with him during their youth but he still chalked that up as a matter of friendship more than anything else. Maybe it was better for him to be naive? Whatever preference he would have had for the situation would have upset one lady or the other so letting them duke it out themselves was the safest method for him to not get involved in any way. "It''s like a tug of war... And Aejaz is the rope. Equally as dense too."


    Lacy blushed as she laughed at Ares'' comment and Aejaz simply tilted his head like a monkey watching a magic trick. "Oi! Can someone please tell me what this is about? Sitting here and being the only one left out when I was looking forward to this night is criminal behaviour! My date has abandoned me to have verbal spar!"


    "Yeah don''t worry about it too much. I''m sure you''ll be having plenty of fun later tonight when Allie asserts dominance and marks her property. You might even get to see a really aggressive side of Allie today so brace yourself. Well that''s for you to deal with, I''ve got my own work cut out for me. The competition starts tomorrow, however, so make sure to at least get some sleep in. It should be fine with Enyo and I there regardless but it''s better to be safe than sorry. I''ll be on my way now so see you back at home tomorrow."


    And that was that. Everyone had been bid goodbye and it was time for stage two of the night to begin now that stage one had been wrapped up. Ares headed towards the double doors and gave one final wave to the Legion table as he passed by and met up with Enyo. He gave a pitying smile to Bellona who looked worn out having to fend off Enyo''s advances. The temptation to come along must have been great but she resisted her snake tongued sister to the very end. Ares gave kudos to Bellona for her incredible willpower before leading Enyo out and into the stairway. They went down the stairs and exited the building, taking a detour to a grassy area off to the side that overlooked the rest of the sect. It was by no means the highest point in the sect but the inner and outer courts were both visible clearly from this location. Even the city beyond the sect''s walls formed a sort of miniature skyline off into the horizon. As much as Ares wanted to sit on the grass with Enyo and enjoy the fresh air, taking a seat only to have to awkwardly shift into a kneeling position was not on his to do list. Also he didn''t want to dirty his suit. He''d made it this far into the night without ruining it so to flop at the last hurdle like this would be depressing.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Ares hadn''t planned on using this area specifically, he didn''t know the core area well enough to pick and choose, but it looked convenient enough for his plans so he decided on the spot to use it. He looked around to make sure there wasn''t any kind of reason that would prevent him from making use of this secluded area but found nothing. Before the big moment, though, he did find a tree, and that gave him an idea. "Hey Enyo. Close your eyes for a second."


    Enyo did as was asked and thought Ares was going to get on one knee by the time she opened them. When the process took a second longer than she expected she realised Ares was probably just doing something stupid again. Patience was a virtue but it was also a necessity when dealing with Ares sometimes.


    "Alright, you can open them."


    The first thing Enyo saw was Ares dangling backward off a tree branch with a silly smile on his face. He waved upside down and said the same thing he usually did in this situation, "Yo!" He got a small reaction out of Enyo who snorted at him and shook her head.


    "Old habits die hard? It''s been a while since I''ve seen this, I almost kind of missed it. It''s a good thing you did this because there was something I''ve been wanting to tell you. So come down and let''s talk."


    This time Ares did as was requested of him by flipping down and around. He landed with a bit of swagger in his step as he came over to Enyo. "I have a feeling I know what this is about. So you were saving it for today then?"


    "Yes. I don''t recall if I''ve ever said this in an proper setting or expressed myself clearly on the matter so I should set the record straight. Back when you first dangled off a tree like that it eventually led to us arguing in broad daylight over the most petty of topics. You got mad because I told you that you definitely were not worthy of my respect. A lot has changed since then, obviously, but I want to retract that statement. As a person in general I''m not sure if you deserve respect but, regardless, you''ve earned mine. No one other than me can choose who I respect and I realise now that I was foolish for my previous, baseless list. There still aren''t many people I respect even to this day but you, Ares, are undoubtedly number one on it. I know it might sound biased but it really isn''t an opinion I hold just because I love you. I know I have a serious rose-tinted glasses problem with you, and I have no intention of ever fixing it, but that''s not why I feel respect for you.


    After learning about everything involving the Gods and Xhilihx I''ve truly come to understand that you are a man with great conviction. If I were in your shoes I don''t think I''d be able to just go about my day like usual the way you do. Of course, even before that I respected you for a number of other reasons but that was the day I realised just how impressive you really could be. You shoulder important tasks like no one else I''ve ever met and, although my beliefs about justice may not align with yours, the determination and conviction you have when carrying out your duty is something I admire deeply. And as a cultivator... You''re exemplary. That''s not even up for debate. You''re unreasonably strong and know how to best use your talents so I won''t spend time here going over that side of you. That only really leaves one other side of you to mention, my husband and the father of our child. The feelings I have for you go beyond mere ''respect'' in that regard and I could gush for hours. Still, there''s something more important that I want to hear from you right now so I won''t. That being said, there is one more thing I want to say, and I fully expect you to say no in response just as you should. You might be tempted to say yes but don''t waste whatever it is you''ve come up with today just to say it, that''s not what I want nor is it the point I''m trying to make. I''m only going to ask you this to show to you just how much I respect you because you are the only person I would ever ask this of. Ares, will you marry me?"


    Ares sighed a deep sigh and scratched his neck with one hand while wiping away a single, solitary tear with his other. "Casually telling me not to say yes to a question like that... Are you evil? I mean I get it, why you''re telling me not to, but now I want to. If you really wanted to be the one to propose that was fine too you know? You should have told me... Now I don''t wanna say no... Tell you what, can I get back to you with my response later?"


    "What, are you going to say yes after I do? I''m ok with that, actually. Let''s do it that way then. Go on, it''s your turn. It feels like I''ve been waiting forever for this and now I''m both excited and impatient."


    "You and me both. Still, we''re here now so need to rush, and there is one more thing I want to tell you first... That being said, there''s very little I have to say to you that I haven''t already said at some point in our relationship so I''ll keep this on the brief side of things. Enyo, I love you. I know that''s a simple way of expressing myself at this stage but it bares repeating every now and then. I know you don''t need to be reminded but I still feel an urge to say it. The fact that I even get to say it to you at all is a miracle considering who we were when we first met. We were each carrying our own problems and so unfamiliar with love... Or maybe our problems were caused by a lack of understanding on that topic to begin with. If, in spite of Major, you felt loved by the rest of your family then maybe we wouldn''t have been in this situation to begin with. Maybe if I had my parents from the start this life we''re living currently would be unthinkable and you and I would be at each other''s throats fighting a proxy war. I know we''ve had rough patches in our life prior to meeting each other but, in a way, I''m also kinda glad that''s the case. Glad because it meant I got to really discover whatever love actually is with a person like you. Sure I loved Appa before that but that was still in its infancy. Familial love due to a sense of obligation, even if I actually wanted to feel that way, wasn''t the same feeling I had when I fell in love with you back in that hotel. To feel love and, later on when we kissed for the first time, to feel loved... I owe all of that to you and there is not a single other person I would have rather experienced it all with. That''s why, Enyo..." Ares got down on knee while tapping the floor with his hands. A bunch of small Beads rose up into the sky just beyond the perimeter of the sect and, though barely visible, the shape they formed after exploding was very clear even from here. Due to their positioning there probably wasn''t a single person in the entirety of Red Sun that couldn''t see the words lighting up the night sky. Of course some would see it backwards thanks to their perspective but that didn''t really matter because the one person Ares wanted to actually see it properly, could. The small sentence the explosions formed, consisting of four meticulously shaped words, was identical to the words that left Ares mouth next.


    "... Will you marry me?" In his hands appeared a small box that he''d been keeping in the Primordial Blade for a while now. He opened it and a small red glimmer was the first thing that jumped out at Enyo. It was an oddly beautiful shade of red that drew Enyo in but she wasn''t quite sure what it was. The engagement ring was self-explanatory in comparison as it was yellow gold with a few small diamonds embedded in it on one side. The ring was thin but didn''t form a complete circle. Near where the diamonds were located the ring curved inwards on one side and outwards on the other, forming a small gap where a piece of glass resided in the middle, filling said gap. Inside that glass was whatever deep red object Enyo had been staring at in confusion for a while now.


    Enyo shook her head and came to her senses. She could ask what that thing was in a minute, right now she had to give a response. "Yes. Of course the answer is yes, Ares. I will happily marry you."


    Ares stood up with a smile and hugged Enyo who reciprocated the gesture. A few seconds later he moved back and sheepishly gave Enyo the ring by putting it on her outstretched finger. "So, uh, about the ring... You''ve probably noticed that red thing and you can tell it''s not a jewel... Kinda? See there''s this old acquaintance of mine in town who works as a jeweller and she has an incredible unique art that can turn ordinary objects into gems. The structure of the object becomes more sturdy and shiny, and it can therefore be used as an accessory. I''ll be honest, in hindsight, I don''t know if I went too far with this or not so please tell me if you think it''s weird, I''ll understand and get it replaced immediately... As for what it was I had turned into a gem... That''s a piece of my heart. I cut it out and engraved it with a rune. If you touch the glass it ought to be warm and you can feel my heartbeat in real time wherever you are, no matter the distance, thanks to some nothingness magic... I can also feel your hand when you touch it. Again, if that''s weird, and having my heart on you creeps you out, I would totally get it... I just thought it was symbolic and didn''t really give it any deeper consideration about how strange it would be from an outside perspective... Sorry... I just..."


    Enyo shut Ares'' rambling mouth up by kissing him passionately. She had already put the ring on and kept stroking the glass with her thumb. She could feel his heartbeat quicken as her lips assailed his and that made her unreasonably happy. Maybe the gift was weird. Maybe it was too much. But Enyo was so deeply in love with Ares that a ring like this was actually perfect. She owned his heart and could be with him no matter the distance. His presence would always be there to reassure her and that was precious in a way that Enyo couldn''t describe. Plus, Enyo knew Ares had been cutting his heart out and experimenting with it for a while now... He''d joked a couple times about how much it hurt but yet he kept doing it all for this? To prove, without a shadow of a doubt, to everyone how important Enyo was? Forget getting it replaced, this was now Enyo''s most cherished item. More so than her shield or her armour or anything else she''d ever owned. This was a keepsake she would fight to the death over if need be. She parted her lips from his and smiled radiantly.


    A smile this pure was fairly rare from Enyo, and Ares himself had only seen it a couple of times but it was always brilliant enough to make his heart go ballistic with love. He sighed in relief but it was a shaky sigh. He''d clearly been fretting over this for a while now so to receive Enyo''s gorgeous smile, the most positive reception he could think of, was all he needed to calm himself and feel reassured he''d done the right thing. Enyo was still giddy and staring at the ring, sniffling a few times as she draped her palm over it and closed her eyes. Seeing Enyo like this brought immeasurable joy to Ares who wanted nothing more than for Enyo to be a happy woman... But that wasn''t the only thing he felt. Ares couldn''t resist kissing her again, this time using his tongue and being more aggressive. The sight of his engagement ring on her finger... Ares was being driven wild by his lust and he was getting more and more excited the longer he kissed her. Ares restrained himself and stopped to pick Enyo up before Shifting back to the house. He kicked the door to their room open and gently placed Enyo on the bed before turning around and shutting the door, locking it too for good measure. Magic was used to set up a barrier that would prevent any noise from escaping and now the night''s main event was finally starting. Ares saw the sight of his glamorously dressed wife laying on her back, panting as her chest heaved and her face became flushed. He saw her wet eyes and and the thumb that was still caressing the ring... Ares didn''t know if he was being teased or not but there was one thing he knew for certain. This woman was not prepared for the animalistic fire burning within him. Ares was going to ravish her thoroughly until he''d etched his existence into her soul, and then he would ravish her more for no other reason than to watch her squirm. Enyo had made a serious mistake tonight. She had fully awoken the sleeping beast within Ares and now she was going to have to bare the full brunt of him and his desires.

 Chapter 129: Enyo’s Transformation

    Ares took a few deep breaths to calm himself. It''s not that he was nervous, quite the opposite actually. He was raring to go and wanted nothing more than to tear off the dress and kick things off but that was the problem. The dress. There was no way Ares could ruin it in good conscience. Plus Enyo still had her lingerie ready to be worn so not using it would be a waste. He walked over to the bed and leant over Enyo, gently holding her chin as he lowered his head for a kiss. Enyo''s breathing quickened as he took control and massaged her chest through her dress.


    When their lips parted Enyo stood up and looked Ares in the eyes before heading into the en suite bathroom. She closed the door behind her and slumped back against it, holding her hand over her heart. The last thing she''d seen before walking away was a kind of ferocity in Ares'' eyes that was completely alien to her. She was realising that when he was like this Enyo may just never be able to muster confidence in his presence. Ares being this sexually feverish was intimidating in a way that made Enyo feel small. If she wanted control her only hope was to let him vent his excess desire on her until he ran out of steam and mellowed out a bit. All of her earlier pride as an unflinching nymphomaniac vanished in the face of this new Ares. It was exciting in its own nerve racking way.


    As Enyo undressed herself she kept looking in the mirror. This was something she''d never planned on doing but she wanted to check and make sure she was perfect. Something about this ''take no prisoners'' Ares compelled her to look pretty for him. It was a servile and submissive act, like a lamb shearing off its own wool before the slaughter, but she was curious enough to see what would happen if she let this Ares have his way with her. After tiring him out she would make her own moves but for now... For now she put on her lingerie and stared in the mirror.


    Enyo told herself she was incredible. She wasn''t wrong either but that just made her all the more nervous. After she switched to dedication cultivation and exited this room she would be throwing herself at Ares, that man / beast waiting outside to enjoy every inch of her body. It was a strange kind of exhilaration and thrill, acknowledging her position as nothing more than prey before a predator and allowing it. Actually, given how she was dressed, she was doing more than allowing it, she was encouraging it. Though she''d not stepped outside yet, her cheeks were flushed and she could feel the embarrassment that Ares'' gaze on her nearly nude body would cause her. She gulped before shaking her head and sitting down on the floor in the lotus position and focusing.


    Swapping to dedication cultivation should have been a simple task but Enyo was not a simple woman. She was a far more complicated being than even she knew and now that she was going down this path she was about to learn a lot more about herself.


    I''m jealous.


    "Hm?" Enyo opened her eyes and looked around. She''d definitely heard a voice just now and there was no mistaking it as some weird imagination trickery or hallucination tomfoolery. It was a woman''s voice too so it wasn''t Ares on the other side of the door...


    It''s hard to believe I actually fell in love. I''d hoped for this for millions of centuries but never truly expected it.


    "Who''s there?!" Enyo backed up against a wall, narrowed her eyes, and readied her barriers just in case.


    Calm down. I am you. You are me. If you cause a fuss here your special night will be ruined. You can speak to me in your mind so stop yelling lest you worry that man out there and he barges in to check on you.


    What do you mean ''you are me''?


    Exactly as I just said. I am you from a long time ago. A Goddess, and a real one at that. Not like the fakes created in this play pretend world you live in.


    How do you know all of that?


    I already told you, I was a real Goddess and I lived in the real world. Naturally I can tell the difference. As for you... Are you sure about this? That man, I mean. You will cause him a great many problems if you go through with this.


    Why? What problems? I still don''t understand any of this...


    And you won''t understand properly for quite some time. I cannot share all the information I know with you because you simply cannot handle it in your current state. What I can tell you, is that you and I share a similar relationship to that man outside and Dominus inside him. The major difference being that we are one and the same being. I will not go into detail but I will tell you this. Enyo, we are otherworldly. Our beauty is unfathomable and our form immaculate. I was the Goddess of pleasure in my time and I was sought after by countless men and women alike. No matter how much ''love'', which was more akin to lust, and reverence they felt towards me I never felt any in return. Many were not content with this and tried to take me away by force but I defended myself each and every time. The one time it looked as though my efforts would be in vain, and my chastity taken by force, I chose to kill myself to prevent it. I lived my life refusing to give my body over to anyone I did not love and I never did find anyone who earned it up until my suicidal end. I wanted to live a more normal life after my rebirth so I sealed away some of my inherent charm. Your affinity for pleasure was not something you would ever discover before falling in love, I made sure of that. The magic you will wield does not come from the pillar, that is not your source of strength. Your affinity comes from a greater plane of existence that you alone possess. If you go down this route, if you choose dedication cultivation and unlock that charm within you that I had hidden away, you will cause that man inestimable strife. You may wish to devote yourself to him, and I envy never having had a chance to feel that way myself, but you should consider what effects your looks and charm will have on those you do not care for. Of what I''ve seen that man has correctly prepared himself to fight wars over you but the extent of his persecution at the hands of jealous admirers of yours will not be so simple. Enyo you, no, we, drive living creatures mad. Even that man out there will not be able to control himself immediately when he sees you if you go through with this. Furthermore, you will only grow more beautiful the more you cultivate. Pleasure is not love. You already love him, ask yourself if that''s truly not enough for you. You already have something that I would have slain millions for during my long, dull life. Think carefully and act wisely.


    ¡­ Then the answer is simple. I will do it. Enyo heard the sound of a deep sigh resounding in her head in response to her quick reply.


    Why? I would have thought love was something to be cherished. Why would you willing make the life of someone you love that much harder? Isn''t that selfish?


    Somewhat, but that proves to me you really haven''t ever understood love. Maybe if you had ever experienced it you wouldn''t be saying any of this. Love can be selfish, there is nothing wrong with that. I want to love him. I want to be the best version of myself I can be for him. Does that mean he''ll have to work hard? Yes, but he''s no stranger to that and I know he''d encourage this. He wouldn''t think for even a single second that I should deny myself the chance to be as perfect as I can be just because it would hassle him. There are no lengths he wouldn''t go to for me and I feel the same. You said ''pleasure isn''t love'' and you''re right. You do not love someone because you pleasure them, you pleasure them because you love them. Knowing that I can make myself more attractive for the man I love, and knowing that I can elevate the pleasure I give him, is what allows me to make this decision with ease. My body and all the pleasure I can muster belongs to him. You only ever saw your pleasure affinity as a curse that drew attention, I see it as a boon that draws attention from the one man I want it from. We may be the same person but that is at least one important difference between us. I appreciate the warning but I will not heed it. Do you see this? Enyo raised her ring finger and kept her eyes on Ares'' heart piece. I can make this decision without a second thought because I have this. If he can give me this, there is nothing I can''t or won''t give him in return. He deserves all of me, not some half complete version just because I''m scared to make a hard decision.


    ¡­ I really am jealous.


    But you''re me aren''t you? Shouldn''t you see what I see and feel what I feel?


    It''s more along the lines that there are two identical versions of us that exist separately and I''m buried deep inside your psyche. Right now you are essentially having a conversation with yourself.


    Then what about you? What will happen to you after I switch to dedication cultivation?


    For now, nothing. You might not be able to converse with me for a while, this situation, swapping to dedication cultivation, is special so it''s more like a one off for now. Until I give you all my memories I will remain, after that we become one. Neither of us disappear or anything of the sort and functionally nothing changes other than new memories being added to those you already possess. Still, you won''t be able to handle that for a long time. We may be able to talk more as you raise your cultivation but I don''t really have anything else specific to tell you that''s important right now.


    You should finish preparing yourself for what''s to come after leaving this room. I would also recommend you avoid looking in the mirror after switching to dedication cultivation. You may wind up falling in love with yourself and spending the whole night in here schlicking yourself in front of the mirror. I remember doing that myself, good times. Anyway, go enjoy yourself in a way I never could. And share that feeling with me the next time I pop up, I''m seriously curious to know what it''s like. What kind of Goddess of pleasure dies a virgin, am I right?!


    That is a mistake I will not be making. Goodbye for now, me.


    Enyo started cultivating again but not without thinking to herself this was incredibly ironic. Hadn''t she given Ares shit for hearing voices in his head back in Baja? At least he was hearing someone else, Enyo was talking to herself like some kind of bipolar nutjob. She almost felt delusional after everything was said and done because the voice had just disappeared without fanfare. She reserved judgement for now. If nothing about her changed after switching to dedication cultivation she would just assume the nerves were getting to her and she was conjuring all sorts of wackiness to distract herself from the incoming love making session.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Her breathing was steadied and she flowed mana through her body in the way that was required of her to swap cultivation methods. At first she felt nothing, and that was normal, but as soon as she reached the point of no return a flash of pleasure assaulted her groin and she climaxed on the spot. She managed to keep the noise coming out of her mouth down but was seriously shaken by the powerful jolt she''d just experienced. Was that a result of dedication cultivation coming into effect considering her strong affiliation, or was it a sign that her previous conversation with herself was all true? Enyo closed her eyes to take stock of everything happening inside her body but, as she did so, she started to feel her body''s shape altering itself.


    Although her ass didn''t increase in size, the curvature of her waist did change which made it look bigger indirectly. It stood out more and Enyo could tell that, like the rest of her body, it had gotten softer. Her abs weren''t reduced much, if at all, but they were now smoother in a way that more closely resembled the outline of her body without jutting out as much; they were more compact. Her breasts were a tad bigger but the more noticeable change was that they were fuller and more rounded than previously. Enyo could no longer join her hands together in front of her without unintentionally pushing her breasts inwards with her arms. She felt like she had more dexterity too and could elegantly sway her wrist in whichever way took her fancy with precision and hypnotic grace. Her facial structure remained near enough unchanged with only slight adjustments here and there that were mostly irrelevant. Combined the changes would probably make a bigger difference but until Enyo could look in a mirror she wouldn''t know to what extent. The last change she could tell, without having to look at herself in the mirror, was that she was physically stronger overall. Her flesh may have become softer, and her mounds more bountiful to the touch, but her muscles underneath it all were mighty. This last change surprised her when she stood up as she instantly realised how much more power she packed. She also realised another new difference; she was considerably more flexible. She could bend her joints more freely than before and her range of available motions had drastically improved. She felt like she could coil around Ares like a snake if she so wanted.


    Enyo moved back over to the mirror and had to grasp onto the sink underneath when she nearly fainted upon seeing her reflection. She couldn''t do it. She absolutely could not look in the mirror again otherwise her other self''s warning about spending the entire night in this bathroom was actually going to happen. Fuck I''m gorgeous! Enyo threw all modesty out the window. She''d been a stunning woman before but now she was convinced she actually had the looks needed to make a man drop dead from shock upon seeing her. Her own knees had gone weak let alone what someone else who wasn''t prepared for this would have involuntarily happen to their body. Was she about to murder Ares?!


    As it turned out, the small changes to her face were a big deal after all. Her eyelashes were neat, darker, and slightly longer which really drew out her femininity. Her eyes were a bit narrower, giving her an even sharper gaze than the one she possessed previously, and they were a bit further away from each other than they used to be. Her stern countenance was only emphasised by this change and Enyo was thankful she retained her dignified and regal look. It''s just now she looked sexy as all hell on top of it! And that wasn''t even mentioning the other changes too. Her nose was closer to being triangular in shape and was more in line with the rest of her well-defined features, adding a layer of solidarity between them all. Her mouth was a deeper shade of red now and stood out on her face even at a glance. Her mouth was a clean slate with no visible creases or bumps and was flawless. Her cheeks had actually gotten a tad thicker and compensated for the fact that her cheekbones had raised slightly. From a viewing angle below, the cheekbone was more pronounced which made her more conventionally attractive. From above, the cheeks themselves stood out a bit more and made her cuter instead. Depending on what Ares wanted to see in her, different positions would bring out a different look each time. Every single change to Enyo was like this, designed to please a partner. Enyo''s form, her aesthetic, and her innate charm radiated raw sex appeal. She had a certain aura about her that almost challenged those who were caught in it to defile her and this must have been what led the previous version of her to have so many issues. It didn''t help that she now had a faint flowery smell to her that was intoxicating in its own right.


    Enyo was basically a sex bomb and she was about to throw herself at Ares, there was no other way of looking at this situation. Enyo was worried she might actually have to start wearing a helmet again in public considering how drastically improved her looks were. It''s not even like she''d been ugly and got an upgrade, she was already the prettiest woman in nine out of ten rooms and now she''d just forever cemented herself in the ten out of ten role for life. It might not actually be humanly possible to outdo Enyo''s attractiveness at all. And to think she would only get more attractive as she cultivated?! It was pretty unthinkable and Enyo wasn''t even sure how on earth that was possible. Right now though, she had a bigger concern.


    Enyo had to face the music. She''d gone through with the change and now she was going to have to accept letting Ares go through her. Her earlier skittishness was in overdrive because Ares had been pretty stirred up prior to the change, now he was going to be amped to eleven and Enyo seriously had no idea what manner of things he was going to do her body. Her glossy, soft skin was going to rope him in and he was not going to stop exploring her for a good while. God only knows what changes had taken place inside the holes he was going to be familiarising himself. If Enyo''s mouth was warmer and wetter like she thought it was, but couldn''t confirm because she was experiencing information overload and that was the least of her worries, then Ares was going to be very aggressive with her head!... Then again, she felt like she would be able to take it better now... Enyo stuck a finger in her throat and, sure enough, she could thrust it in quite deep without gagging. She might actually be able to comfortably take all of Ares'' manhood as things stood currently. That task had been quite monstrous before, and she''d never managed it, but like this she stood a decent chance. He''d probably be over the moon... The more Enyo kept discovering about her new self the more she came to understand that she was becoming more and more of a plaything for Ares to toy with. Every change facilitated Ares'' road to euphoria and Enyo was definitely pleased but also really worried! Was Ares actually ever going to let her go when he got his hands on her?! A part of her hoped not. For al her shyness and hesitancy to open the door, this was still a night she''d been fantasising about for a considerably long time now. She knew that she just needed to outlast Ares and then it was showtime on her end. She would wrest control from his tired body and then push him further until he was aching, begging to be let go. And for all the rapture he was about to put her through, she would deny him any reprieve when it was her turn to be domineering. Reassured by such a thought, she started moving towards the door and put her hand on the handle. This was it, the culmination of her relationship with Ares up until this very moment. Her deepest desire from back when she mounted him in the hotel back in the snatcher village was about to come true.


    Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Ares was waiting patiently. Enyo had been gone for some time now but he had faith she was just jittery and not trying to plot her escape or something similar. She could take as long as she needed to get ready. As for him, Ares had stated taking his clothes off and was now left with nothing but his trousers and his shirt. Taking off the white tie paraphernalia and bundling it neatly in the Primordial Blade had been quite an ordeal but he was done with that now and in the process of removing the rest. As he did so, he looked at his own wedding ring in the Primordial Blade and smiled. It was identical to Enyo''s but without the heart. There was a different, small red gem inside it but that was the only difference. He wanted to wear it now but it was a bit of a weird situation. The ''engagement'' ring he''d given Enyo was literally her ''wedding'' ring, she was just wearing it now because if Ares tried to keep it from her until they actually got married she would probably maul him for his transgressions. It was a long way away and she wouldn''t want to wait which was fine by him. The problem was whether he should wear his or not! He kinda wanted to but traditionally, in Red Sun, men didn''t wear engagement rings... But it wasn''t an engagement ring anyway! It was a wedding ring! But he wasn''t married! But he didn''t want to wait because he wanted to match with Enyo! Decisions decisions¡­ In the end, he just wore it. So what if he wasn''t married yet? He would still be calling Enyo his wife from now on regardless and she would no doubt call him her husband going forward.


    After slipping the ring on, however, Ares had to seriously start considering a problem that had just occurred to him... Where the bloody hell was he going to fit the other eight rings?! Even if he used one other finger for each that would be awkward as all hell because then he would have one bare finger left over! Plus he would have to use a thumb and that would be disastrous aesthetically... Not that wearing nine rings wasn''t already a fashion disaster. What was he? Some kind of blinged out budget backstreet gangsta rappa?! The only consolation here was that he might be able to get away with one ring for two wives if his guess about ''ambivalence'' being intertwined in some way turned out to be correct. At least then he wouldn''t have to use his thumb of all things... Whatever, what mattered right now, and in the future, was that Enyo got the ring finger on his dominant hand. That needed to be set in stone here and now. It was the least respect he could show her given the circumstance... The one she herself had created? Enyo was a bizarre person sometimes...


    Click


    The door to the bathroom opened and Ares stopped unbuttoning his shirt momentarily too get a good look in at his sensuously dressed wife. He saw her leg first and before the rest of her followed he could tell something was amiss. This was already not the Enyo he knew and the fact he could tell that just from a leg was actually quite impressive. Still, he waited to see what exactly it was Enyo had done before making any judgements, Naturally he would be supportive regardless, and a woman like Enyo was probably couldn''t make herself ugly even if she tried with all her might. Ares genuinely believed he was prepared for whatever would come next, but when Enyo''s full body adroitly drifted out of the bathroom, and he got an eyeful of her current state, his brain switched off. For the first time in Ares'' life there was nothing more than a single thought inside his head. Copulation. Enyo''s new self was unfathomable and all he wanted to do was hold her tight and ravage her body, he could ask questions later. Every other thought took a backseat as his heart rate spiked and his breathing became rapid. He felt hot in his groin and flushed in his face as he became fully erect in a matter of seconds. Seeing such an alluring woman wearing the lingerie he''d picked with the wedding ring he''d given her was devastating to Ares'' reason. Enyo was breath-taking and had deprived Ares of his sanity just by entering the room. Now, she was going to have to face the consequences of her actions as Ares slowly approached her. His wordless aggression and posturing was menacing to Enyo but rather than back down, she pushed him further. She looked up at him and stared deep into his eyes before biting her lip and placing her palms on his chest. She spoke in a small but sultry voice.


    "All of this is for you. Whatever you want from me, don''t ask, just take it."


    Ares wasted no time in doing so. If he could take what he wanted, he would take everything.

 Chapter 130: Going at It Like Animals in Heat (18+)

    ??


    Ares leant in and kissed Enyo''s neck near her collar bone. His kisses were forceful as one of his hands wrapped around her waist and his other massaged and groped her ass. Enyo stretched her neck out for Ares and let out small moans of satisfaction as his hands pulled her in closer. She used her own hands to unbutton the rest of Ares'' shirt before melting into his embrace as her body pushed up against his. The mix of intricate fabric and Enyo''s soft breasts pressing up against his chest invigorated Ares who pushed his waist up against Enyo''s, rubbing his clothed erection against her. His hard dick raged against his trousers and was starting to get uncomfortable because of it so he removed his hands from Enyo and fiddled with his remaining clothes. He never stopped kissing Enyo as he removed his shirt and trousers fully, even moving up her neck and eventually connecting with her lips. Enyo''s small and delicate lips quivered beneath Ares'' as he grabbed her chin and took full control.


    Letting Ares manhandle her mouth, Enyo stroked his chest and gradually worked her way down to his lower half. Ares brought out his tongue and Enyo obediently offered him hers, letting him passionately have his way and taste her. Her wet tongue excited Ares so he picked up the pace, causing a tingling sensation in Enyo''s groin. She could feel her own body getting turned on as Ares'' tongue sent sparks into her brain. Her nipples and clit stood to attention and the fabric covering them both poked out a little. Ares could feel Enyo''s nipples against his chest so he used both his hands to fondle her shapely tits. He couldn''t fit them in his hands properly and the excess flesh rolled around his fingers as they sunk deeper into her chest. Again and again, He applied pressure before retracting his hands and repeating the process. Enyo felt the mix of pain and pleasure that she adored and whimpered lightly as her nipples were stroked by the webbed skin between Ares'' fingers. Occasionally he would pinch them between his fingers and send a jolt of pleasure Enyo''s way, causing her breathing to be interrupted by a small moan. "Ahn." Her breathing would then quicken before returning to normal, at which point Ares would do it again. He was toying with her and keeping her perpetually in a state of rough breathing for his own amusement. He enjoyed her laboured breathing as she kept her tongue out for him to enjoy. As Enyo''s hands drifted over his boxer briefs, she could feel his precum seeping through the fabric. He was already aroused and leaking just from tormenting her mouth and nipples to his liking. not that Enyo was much better as some clear liquid was already dribbling down one of her thighs.


    Ares saw the glistening liquid and lifted his knee to rub Enyo''s crotch. Enyo moved aside her panties and placed her pussy on his leg before grinding it back and forth. Her hands moved back over to Ares'' underwear and went inside this time to touch his raw cock with her smooth hands. One hand fiddled with his balls, cupping them and caressing them gently while the other hand curled its fingers around the tip of his penis. Stroking his veins caused Ares to groan, "Mmm," the sound of which made Enyo''s heart flutter. Wanting to feel the hot breaths on her lips that came with every one of Ares'' groans again, she cradled the entire head of his dick in her hand and started masturbating him. He liked it when she focused on the tip so her wrist motions were short but quick and her hand lightly squeezed every now and then to push him to orgasm. His knee was still pleasuring her though and she climaxed first. "Ahhah!" Enyo''s hip buckled slightly and she slumped on his sturdy knee. Ares took this opportunity to mercilessly spank Enyo''s ass.


    Smack


    Enyo bucked forward and let out a small shriek as her ass jiggled and the surge of pleasure added onto her previous light orgasm.


    Smack


    Another smack caused Enyo to leak profusely over Ares knee. She would have let out another moan but Ares had invaded her mouth with his tongue so all she ended up doing was tightening her lips. Ares stopped kissing Enyo and laid her head against his chest. He started grinding his knee against Enyo''s reddened crotch again before she''d fully recovered from her previous rapture while still spanking her.


    Smack


    Smack


    Enyo couldn''t stop whining as her ass was slapped repeatedly and her clit was rolled along Ares'' thigh. She weakly shrunk into Ares chest in embarrassment as he brought her to orgasm again with nothing more than his leg and some abuse to her rear. "Ah, ah, ah." She heard Ares evilly chuckle as he looked down at her squirming in ecstasy and moaning like a whore. This was the bestial Ares she''d been afraid of, the one that would treat her like a helpless little girl and sexually dominate her. All she could do was accept every ounce of pleasure he gave her no matter how demeaning the manner. This was an Ares that belittled her and made her cum shamelessly for no other reason than because it was fun for him. Enyo had eased up on his cock and not yet brought him to orgasm because she was struggling to maintain focus after her own, but he didn''t care. Ares viewed his own orgasm as less important than degrading Enyo. He was turning her into the kind of slut he liked, one that was submissive and easy. He was revelling in the power he held over her and she could see it in his eyes as she looked up at him. He was looking down on her as a woman but she couldn''t take her eyes off him. This tyrannical Ares, the one lording over her body, had a magnetism that made her want to obey. Made her want to keep letting him experiment on her. Made her want him to keep driving her to orgasm in whatever way took his fancy just so she could keep his attention. She was like a pet performing tricks and barking for master whenever he ordered her too.


    Smack


    Enyo barked another groan for him and the satisfaction of submission welled up inside her. She refocussed on Ares cock to give him both the pleasure of her subservience as well as an orgasm on top of that. The thought of Ares cumming as a result of him deriving sexual gratification from her own humiliation was enough to make Enyo dedicate every inch of her graceful hands to his veiny manhood. She slathered his cock in its own precum and sped up her hands to bring his sloppy dick to the peak of pleasure.


    "Hhaa."


    Ares'' deep voice and his hot, throbbing cock let Enyo know she''d fulfilled her duty. She felt pride knowing that she''d allowed Ares to use her until he was content, even at the cost of her own dignity. She looked up at him expecting to hear her two favourite words but he wasn''t going to give them to her so easily. She still had to work harder before he would give her any praise but that just made her all the more eager to do as he commanded of her knowing a treat was right around the corner.


    Ares ran his thumb over her lips before pushing it into her mouth. He pushed down on her tongue and she understood his intentions. She allowed him to push her down onto her knees where she would stay for the next few minutes and suck his cock. She made sure to give his tongue one final lick as he removed it before looking up at Ares, who stood tall with his back straight, and staring into his eyes while she licked her lips. His straight posture, and his unbent knees, meant she couldn''t slouch. He was demanding she kneel properly when servicing him. It was less comfortable for her, and didn''t benefit Ares in the slightest, but he did it anyway as a reminder to Enyo about who was currently in charge. And yet despite seeing this her response had been to lick her lips, signifying she was looking forward to the delicious meal he was going to make her swallow in her tight throat.


    In the bedroom, her holes existed to pleasure him. Her breasts and ass existed solely to aid Ares in making her squirm for his amusement. Her arms and legs existed so that they could be wrapped around him. Her knees existed solely so she could kneel. Every inch of her body existed for Ares'' sake and he was drilling that into her in as clear a fashion as possible. Even her teeth, which she thought might be useless to him, were made to be useful when he halted her from using her hands to remove his underwear. She looked up at his smug glare and could do nothing but lovingly rub her cheeks against his cock through his underwear. There was no rebellion, only acceptance of her position as she rolled her tongue over his underwear to serve him. She pushed her tongue up until she reached the rim of his boxers, at which point she tilted her head so that she could bite into them and start pulling them down. To get them down past his thick, erect cock she had to lean her head back and even then she struggled. Ares only smirked at Enyo as her nose brushed against the tip of his cock. The devilish bastard had done this on purpose. Enyo got a whiff of his pungent, manly scent and she spiralled deeper into compliance as her head spun. She had already yielded to his authority but he still taunted her further. She was learning that no matter how much of herself she offered him, no matter how dedicated she was, he would never stop making sport of her.


    His sperm stained underwear fell to the floor and his cum covered cock poked at her. Instinctively she begun cleaning him by lapping up his semen. She was a faithful wife that convinced herself leaving his dick shiny and spotless was the ultimate expression of her love for him in this very moment so she took great care in handling his manhood. She coiled her tongue around his shaft and lapped up all of his leftover cum before swallowing it and going back to work. She used her tongue to coat all of Ares'' dick in her saliva to make sliding it down her throat more comfortable for both of them. After a kiss, she took his thick head into her mouth and let it worm its way along her tongue. She gathered all of the spit in her mouth and drooled over his cock as she pushed her head further along his shaft. She passed the halfway mark and could feel his dick tickling her throat. It was starting to enter it properly and there was no resistance. Thanks to her newfound prowess she now knew she could take Ares'' full length confidently. The overwhelming joy she felt as she imagined hearing the two words she was desperately falling over herself to hear compelled her to keep shoving more of Ares'' cock down her throat.


    With three quarters of it already in, Ares poked his dick forward to make Enyo gag. This was her previous best, and was where it would usually start to jam, so thrusting a little would give him the cute gagging reaction he was after... And yet it never happened. He looked down at Enyo and she was taking in even more of his dick without faltering. She looked up at him with glee in her eyes for doing a good job but rather than celebrate with her Ares pushed her further. Slowly, he moved his waist forward. Enyo sat still on her knees and let Ares set the pace as the last inch slithered into her moist mouth. Never having experienced this part of his dick resting between Enyo''s luscious lips caused Ares to sigh with pleasure but he wasn''t done yet. He was realising Enyo could take all of him now so he made one last push until the base of his cock was covered by Enyo''s face and his balls were directly underneath Enyo''s chin.


    Even from this angle above Enyo, Ares could partially see the bulge in her throat showcasing how deep her ''affection'' was for him. She''d started to have some difficulties near the base but she''d powered through and was looking at him with upturned eyes and expectancy. He couldn''t not reward her so he pat her head and gave her what she really wanted. "Good girl." Ares could see Enyo give herself another orgasm with her fingers as his cock rested inside her. This freak had gotten off from being called a good girl and that gave Ares immense satisfaction. His palm on Enyo''s head pushed back slowly, causing his dick to be unsheathed from Enyo''s mouth. As his dick was retracted, strings of saliva trailed behind Enyo''s tongue that were still attached to his penis. When he was fully removed Enyo gasped for air with precum drool rolling over her lips. She licked up all the bubbly spit on his dick, took a moment to regain her bearing, and put his full length back inside her. This time she jutted her tongue as far as she could while bobbing her head back and forth for Ares to enjoy. The walls of her throat were tight around his burly cock but their softness allowed it to glide past them with ease. Enyo felt a pleasurable feeling akin to scratching an itch and thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of touching her bulging throat. Feeling Ares move inside and ravage her throat as she uncontrollably slobbered over his dick and gurgled guttural noises helped her reach yet another orgasm as she fingered herself. This one was stronger than the rest so she spasmed a bit. It was truly impossible to moan with a cock in her throat but all of her contracting muscles served another purpose, bringing Ares thrusting dick to orgasm. He held onto her head and leant over her as he took control. He sped up his movements as one of his hands moved to her bulging throat and massaged it.


    "Ahh fuck." Ares leant back. "Look up at me."


    Enyo followed his orders and bat her eyelashes at him. She let him look deep into her eyes as he ejaculated down her throat. Her gulping brought and extra layer of pleasure to Ares'' dick buried deep inside her. She swallowed every last drop while maintain eye contact throughout it all so, before Ares took his cock out of her, he rewarded her again. "Good girl." After his dick was freed Enyo cleaned the excess saliva before caressing it with her face and taking in his intoxicating scent. Ares stroked her hair while he watched as she debased herself by making love to his cock, kissing it passionately along the shaft and even licking his balls while his cock rested on her face.


    When she was satisfied, Ares gripped her hair and carefully raised Enyo to her feet. He led her over to the bed and sat her down on it. He put his hand on Enyo''s chest and pushed her down as he lowered his head next to her dripping crotch. Putting his hands on her knees, he spread apart her legs and ran his fingers along her labia. As she was already wet and excited, Ares wasted no time in entering her cave with his fingers and stroking the walls of her pussy. With two upturned fingers he dragged his knuckles along the bottom of her vagina while the tips of his fingers repeatedly scratched her g-spot. His thumb laboured over Enyo''s clit and rubbed it firmly.


    Haa


    Ares breathed a warm breath over her clit and Enyo shivered as a tingling sensation ran up her spine. Next he pinched Enyo''s wet clit between his lips and sucked lightly. "Ah, oh, ah, ah, mm." The pressure of Ares lips and his hard working fingers caused Enyo to sing with delight, moaning without pause. Ares used his free hand to poke Enyo''s small anus as his fingers sped up and his tongue lashed her clitoris. Enyo could feel a massive orgasm coming so she put her hands on Ares'' head and gripped tightly, pushing him further down on her. Ares strong fingers tormented Enyo so she screamed in delight. "FUCK. THERE. YES. YES! AHHHHHHHHH!" Enyo''s entire lower half shook as she came vigorously. Her waist spasmed and her cunt gushed. Spurt after spurt of squirt shot out of her pussy as her body throbbed thanks to Ares relentless masturbation. His fingers were still working her vagina and her clit was still flopping against his tongue with every jerk of her waist. Her long, drawn out orgasm was accompanied by her womanly cries, the sound of wet flesh being pounded, and her squirt wetting the floor. When her orgasm subsided, Ares moved his head back and raised his palm. Enyo knew what was coming but couldn''t stop it. She braced herself but...


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Smack


    Ares slapped her sensitive pussy and she rolled onto her side with a squeal. No amount of preparation would save her from the painful pleasure that just shook her to her core. Her legs were shaking as Ares rubbed her thighs. He loved the way she trembled like a little lamb for him. He wasn''t entirely done yet though so he lifted her leg and stuck his tongue back towards her crotch. He cleaned up any liquid that was still hanging off her labia before rolling Enyo back onto her spine. the pleasantries were over and now he was going to fuck her. She was still recovering so he waited patiently, savouring the sight of her ragged body. With her back flat on the bed and her robe splayed to the side she was truly divine. Her drenched panties hadn''t returned to their normal position yet as Enyo''s swollen clit was still holding it back but that didn''t matter because Ares was going to remove them. He placed his hands on either side of her panties and began taking away the last line of defence between his raging cock and her purity. Enyo''s lower half wiggled to make it easier for Ares to remove the panties and she lifted her legs together during the last stretch. Her underwear passed over her toes and were now off fully and in Ares'' possession. Enyo watched as he took a deep breath and smelled her wet underwear.


    Ares'' dick stood to full mast as he tossed aside the underwear and placed himself in front of her legs. Unlike when he gave her oral pleasure, he made no effort to spread apart her knees. He simply stood there and waited, silently commanding Enyo to cross the last hurdle herself. Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment and her flushed face turned to the side as the gap between her legs widened. Bit by bit she stretched her legs further apart until they were completely spread open. Her bare vagina was front and centre now and Enyo looked like a massive slut. Her current pose wasn''t just inviting him in, she was practically begging him for deep penetration. Ares took another step and placed the length of his cock above her groin. Enyo could see just how deep inside of her he was going to go and she was getting nervous again. She wanted to hide her face in a pillow but Ares'' hand pulled her chin back to him; he was going to make sure she returned his gaze as he deflowered her.


    Ares stroked his dick against Enyo''s folds before pushing past them and into her cave. Enyo let out a quick and shrill voice having experienced his size and thickness entering her for the first time. She was now realising exactly what it meant for her partner to have such a large and vicious member. His manhood slithered through her slimy cunt before coming to a halt at her hymen, gently nudging it. Ares leaned over Enyo and stared deep into her eyes before kissing her. Enyo didn''t close her eyes; she watched as her lips were taken in sync with her virginity. As soon as Ares'' lips touched hers she felt him push through. She gasped into his mouth and let out a small whimper as her blood trickled over Ares'' cock. Amidst the small jolt of pain, she felt Ares'' dick slowly, gently brushing past more of her walls. Her vagina coiled around the thick, invasive rod as it inched ever forward. Her breathing became rougher as Ares advanced deeper inside her so he paused for a while to let her catch her breath. She looked up at Ares as he towered above her with his dick firmly positioned inside her guts. She could feel it. The pleasure she was going to experience as he fucked her was going to be as heavenly as it was dirty. The raw act of him churning her vagina with his huge cock was going to be messy and excruciatingly pleasurable. As soon as he started grinding she was going to whine like a common whore and squeal his name in delight. Ares knew it too. He could feel every wrinkle and fold in her vagina timidly wrap around his shaft before the inevitable. His solid shaft, his thick veins, and the brilliantly curved tip of his penis were going to ravage Enyo''s tight cunt. Ares had already nearly orgasmed just from the sensation of her warm walls constricting. His pause had been just as much for his sake as it had been hers lest he cum inside her already. Of course he was going to dump many loads in her tonight but he wanted his first to be a result of his powerful thrusting for his own satisfaction.


    When Enyo looked more relaxed and her pained winces had ceased, Ares started to move with small and steady thrusts. For now he didn''t put all of his dick inside her and kept things simple. Even this was enough to drag out Enyo''s moans of pleasure as his cock scratched her vagina. Her pussy lips clung to his shaft and every time he dragged his penis back Enyo''s body unintentionally clenched, driving her mad with pleasure. Her body was trembling in delight and acting of its own accord to detain Ares'' meaty dick which was causing her anguish to be amplified tenfold. She squirted a little onto Ares'' waist at the unbearable pleasure. No matter how she tried to loosen her lower lips to abate the pleasure she kept tightening up instead. Ares'' cock was so thick that her walls couldn''t expand to the point where he didn''t feel all-encompassing inside her. He kept taking her breath away with every thrust and Enyo felt light headed. She stared dazedly at Ares as he aggressively started pounding her harder and faster. Enyo''s cries, her wet cunt being smacked against by his waist, her bouncing breasts that swayed as Ares fucked her... Enyo laid back and watched and heard it all as her body refused to listen to her. She could do nothing but squirm and writhe over the cock that had impaled her.


    Ares had gotten into a rhythm and was battering her cunt in such a way that every thrust caused Enyo to whine and groan underneath him. He used one of his hands to grope Enyo''s chest and her head rolled back in bliss. "Ares! you''re so big, Ares!" She screamed the name of man she loved and worshipped his size at the top of her lungs as she orgasmed more powerfully than she ever had in her entire life. His long dick barging into her and digging out her guts had robbed her of her sanity as she succumbed to his manly, animalistic, intense fucking. She wailed in ecstasy as her throbbing body was assaulted by the raging cock still bullying her vagina. The blood still dripping off Ares'' cock was washed away by Enyo''s squirt and her wet cave caused Ares to reach orgasm as well. With one last thrust Ares leant over and took Enyo''s whining mouth for himself. He silenced her by shoving his tongue inside her mouth as he came deep inside her. His waist still kept bucking as he spurted cum inside her spasming cunt. The taste of her tongue, her soft breasts squashed beneath his chest, her runny cunt, and the wet, docile eyes of a conquered woman brought Ares the ultimate pleasure a male could experience. The two orgasmed in each other''s embrace and made passionate love to their partners lips in the throes of their climax.


    Enyo deflated on the bed and had all of her strength sapped out of her. She felt tired, limp, weak, and drained but she was immensely satisfied... No, that wasn''t true, she wanted more. Ares had promised her he would ravish her all night and she expected it. She wasn''t sure how she would muster the energy to take him for that long but she would sooner die in his embrace than give up this pleasure. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Ares erect manhood was still raring to go and the fire in his eyes hadn''t even remotely settled. Enyo was going to donate her body to him again and again and he was going to fuck her limp repeatedly. That sensation of giving up everything and accepting all of his desires as she was robbed of her breath was extraordinary.


    Ares slid his dick out of Enyo, rolled her onto her front and spanked her rear. Enyo submissively raised her ass towards him as Ares rested his palm on her face and kept her head low. Her chest dangled and swayed with every breath she took and her cheeks grew redder knowing that Ares was inspecting her leaky cunt behind her. Ares could feel Enyo''s face heat up in shame and that spurred him on to toy with her. Her pussy looked lonely being this empty so he penetrated her again. He took his hand off Enyo''s head so he could watch her face distort as his finger prised open her anus. Her mouth trembled and she groaned as both Ares'' cock and finger ventured deeper. When his finger could go no further, Ares used his other hand to spank Enyo.


    Smack


    Smack


    Having Ares inside her ass and her pussy at the same time made her feel bloated and the spanking on top of that brought her to an immediate orgasm. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh." Her squirming only pleasured Ares'' dick more as he watched her chest bounce back and forth. To make her louder, Ares kept pushing his dick further into her cunt. He didn''t stop like last time and reached new depths. Enyo''s moans were nothing more than a cute distraction as more and more of his cock slithered inside of her. Eventually, before all of his cock could enter her, he reached a dead end. The second he poked that particular wall Enyo slumped forward and cried like a pig being slaughtered. Her hands shook and her body fell flat onto the bed as she squirted wildly behind her. Ares'' dick had slipped out and was being wet by the waves of gushing pussy juice. Ares smirked at this and was driven wild by the sensation of hitting the rough bump at the end of Enyo''s walls. She seemed to be unable to control herself when he did so and that made him want to do it again. Enyo''s quick breaths were interrupted by a loud gasp as Ares entered her vagina once more. She''d cum but he hadn''t and she knew what he was going to do to selfishly reach his own orgasm. He was going to prod her innermost depths and drive her to insanity. Fear overtook her and she was almost tempted to crawl away from him. Her shaking legs were held in place by Ares'' as he put more of his weight on top of her, anchoring her in place so she could only helplessly lay there and take him. He reached that rough, bumpy spot deep in her cave and thrust.


    "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"


    And again.


    "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"


    And again, and again, and again. Ares loved her screaming but he felt it would be fun to cover her mouth with his hand so that was exactly what he did. She drooled against his palm and her groans tickled his hand. His grip on her face tightened as he thrust with more vigour. Her cries leaked out from between his fingertips but that only encouraged Ares to pound her harder and faster. Enyo squirted without pause onto the bed, drenching the bed covers in clear liquid. Ares rammed his waist against her ass and slapped her cheeks with every thrust until he came again. "Ah fuck. Take my cum you slut." The warm cum shot into Enyo and brought on another powerful orgasm for her while Ares cock pulsed inside her. "MmmMMmmMm." her orgasm was muffled by Ares'' hand but that made it no less powerful.


    She could feel Ares breathing heavily down her neck and she tried to hide her face in the bed in embarrassment but Ares didn''t permit it. He grabbed her by the hair and lifted her head so that she was facing him. Her eyes darted around but Ares wasted no time in sticking his tongue in her mouth again while her body quivered under the weight of his. Enyo was learning the hard way what kind of animal a man was and what a woman was to such an animal in comparison. It was an unfair, one-sided fight. He would beat her pussy into submission with his huge cock and making noises that tickled his ears was all she could do in response. She was his chew toy that squeaked whenever he had his way with her.


    This brutal hammering of her nether region continued until the sun could be seen shining through the curtains. Enyo was taken in all manner of positions and only brief interludes in which they sixty-nined gave her the breaks she needed not to faint from his pummelling. She''d been made to shove his pussy-juice drenched dick inside her throat multiple times and clean him down to the last speck. by this point, her vagina was thoroughly abused and her voice had grown small but she still had energy left. Every time it felt like she would run out she recovered with her pleasure pillar mana. How Ares was still going without the aid of magic was a mystery to Enyo. The man was like a stallion, a stud perfect for breeding as he just never quit dumping load after load into her.


    It did seem like he was running out of steam now, however, as this new position was easier for him and the light in his eyes was dimming. He was growing tired but wanted to fuck her one last time so he sat down and sat Enyo on his lap. This was Enyo''s new favourite position because she could be close to Ares and hug him. Their bodies were fully intertwined and the love they felt for each other as Ares raised his hips into hers was palpable. She could tell Ares was about to orgasm so she lovingly parted her lips so he could enter her mouth with his tongue. She understood he liked to cum inside her as he fiddled with her mouth regardless of the position they were in. She liked it too as the intimacy she experienced reminded her he was her husband as he planted his seed in her groin. She draped her arms over his shoulders and whimpered into his ears as the ''final'' orgasms of the night eased up. Ares gave Enyo another kiss on the lips before falling onto his back. He was dazed and somewhat out of it. His reason and sanity had returned and he was no longer the predator lording over Enyo''s body.


    Enyo, who was coyly smiling as she lay on Ares'' chest, saw this opportunity and jumped for joy. This was what she''d been waiting for. Now Ares was the weak and helpless prey. She pulled herself forward, dragging her cum stained vagina over his chest and cleaning herself on his body. She moved next to his ears and seductively whispered an art into them. "You Aren''t Done With Me Yet." The intensity in his eyes wasn''t fully revived but there was a small spark present at least. Before he could get up and take control, Enyo pulled up her waist and shove her vagina onto his face. She sat on his head with a crazed smile and started rocking her hips. Ares gulped as he stuck his tongue into her snatch like a good little puppy and took all of Enyo''s weight on his face. His nose was buried into her pubic mound and rubbed against her clit as his tongue wormed around inside her. Enyo twisted and shook her waist to angle her pussy, guiding Ares tongue to precisely where she wanted it. She bit her lip and grinned at Ares as she drew closer to her orgasm before clutching his hair and pushing his head closer to her pussy. "Lick that pussy harder you mutt." Ares obeyed and gave Enyo the orgasm she was searching for. Her pussy spat back at Ares and coated his face in her squirt but that didn''t stop Enyo gleefully rubbing her crotch in his mouth. He was made to swallow her juices before Enyo dragged her labia across his face, grinding her nether region on his head while laughing like a maniac. "Hahaha."


    Enyo pushed Ares'' head down to leverage her position as she moved backwards. She sat behind Ares'' erect dick and flicked it. Watching it bounce made Enyo giddy as she toyed with his manhood and kept him on the brink. She spat on it before hopping on top of it. She took it all the way to the base in the cowgirl position while bucking her hips like she was riding a hung horse. The way her hips moved was hypnotic, like she was dancing on Ares'' pole. Her chest was puffed up and her nipples swayed freely in the air as she giggled every time she poked herself with his dick. Ares wanted nothing more than to get up, push her down, and ravage Enyo but he was stopped in his tracks. Enyo pushed him back down with her palm and shoved her finger in his mouth. Ares rolled his tongue around it as she prodded deeper, eventually entering his throat and making him gag. "Ahgg." Ares choked on her finger as Enyo snorted in derision at his weakness. Still there was a malicious smile on her face as she tormented him. Forcing him to gag repeatedly on her finger while she ground his dick into her pussy made her cackle and squeal in delight. Even when he came from the abuse she kept thrusting him into her and his spasming orgasm torture made her happy. She retracted her wet finger and slapped Ares as she came all over him. With one final slap, she scraped her nails down his chest and squeezed out every last drop of his semen into her pussy. She looked down and watched the cum dribble out of her and onto Ares'' rigid cock but that just made her all the more excited to keep playing with her new toy. Ares was not done, not on her watch. No matter how much he wanted to call it quits things were only just getting started. He''d fulfilled his promise to go all night but who cared about that? Enyo wanted to bully him the way he''d bullied her. He was tired and couldn''t resist so she was going to work him hard like a mule and drain his balls for as long as humanly possible. She brought her head down to his and spit on him. Her palm wiped the spit all over his face and she slapped him again before humping his cock with her cunt. She fucked him again, this time laying her body weight on him and playing with his face and pulling his hair. Now Enyo was the cat and Ares the mouse. This abuse would not end shortly.


    ??

 Chapter 131: The Brothers Can’t Catch a Break

    Aejaz made himself a coffee and sat down on the couch in the living room. Although yesterday night had devolved into a cat fight between Allie and Trixie, things improved after leaving the venue and the night was back on track from there... Of course that only lasted up until morning came, at which point Trixie had bust into the room with a shit-eating grin and set Allie off on a rampage again. Aejaz accepted that this was simply going to be the status quo going forward for a while and left them to it. He came into the living room, found Lacy, and made her a hot chocolate. Now that he was enjoying some peace and quiet away from the rabid raving women in his room, he brought out a book and started reading it. He wouldn''t have much time for this necessarily, as the tournament started today, but if he could at least enjoy some down time he felt like that was good enough. He opened the book, removed the bookmark, and read one word...


    Knock Knock


    Unfortunate timing had struck but that was fine. Aejaz was patient enough to not be bothered by this. He went and opened the front door to find Calla hugging Appa, both merry as can be. He welcomed the two inside and they went straight to the living room. Calla was surprised to find Aejaz here because she had no idea who he was yet but she decided to wait for Ares'' explanation that he''d promised to give yesterday. Aejaz asked if Calla wanted anything and went back to his book when she replied with ''no thanks''. He opened the book, removed the bookmark, and read one more word...


    Knock Knock


    ¡­


    Aejaz shook his head and got up again. This time it was probably Rhea so Aejaz didn''t fuss about the inconvenience. Besides, no one else had any reason to show up here so he could go back to peacefully reading his book after without worry. He opened the door and his guess was proven correct. He let Rhea in and he could hear her start bickering with Calla almost immediately... There went his peace and quiet... Whoever invented the term ''peace and quiet'' clearly never had to fight for either! Still, Aejaz tried to ignore it and go about reading his book again.


    Knock Knock


    Fuck! Aejaz had just about had it up to here with these interruptions. He opened the door with the intention of being very rude to the unannounced guests before him but decided to keep his trap shut when he saw Serene and Margaret outside. he hadn''t met them personally but knew who they were and that they were not to be messed with. Instead, he was grateful they arrived at the same time as it meant there was finally no one else left to show up and bother him. All the matriarchs were here now! There wasn''t a fifth! None of the patriarchs were here either! Aejaz sat down and stared at his book. This thing was clearly cursed. Lacy giggled at Aejaz'' hesitation so he kissed his teeth, bit the bullet, and picked it up...


    ¡­


    Phew


    Aejaz sighed in relief as he''d finally overcome the last hurdle and could go back to relaxing. He opened the book again, removed the bookmark...


    Knock Knock


    Aejaz smiled menacingly at the ceiling and very nearly threw the damn book out the window. He stood up and stomped over to the front door, opened it, and nearly threw a fit when he saw who it was. This person was in Aejaz'' bullying wheelhouse! He could punish this particular shmuck big time!


    Trew looked at Aejaz and tilted his head when he didn''t say anything but, little did Trew know, at this moment in time, Aejaz was busy stealing everything in his space rings for bothering for him! He didn''t have much in there but it was still going to be a pretty devastating loss when he eventually realised later on. "Uh, hey, been a while. I managed to show up for the international and I figured I would take the chance to come and apologise to Rhea for being a bother previously. I found out from Charity and Gladius that she tends to be here in this house so... Mind if I come in for a bit?"


    Aejaz, completely fed up by this point, simply pointed his thumb behind him and told Trew to ''get in''. Trew could tell Aejaz wasn''t in the greatest of moods so he slid by him and went inside without another word. Aejaz closed the door and banged his fist against it. Life was well and truly making a mockery of him! Honestly, if someone knocked on the door again, he was probably going to pretend he didn''t hear it...


    Knock Knock


    ¡­


    Who!? WHO?! EVERYONE IS HERE DAMNIT! More than anything else, curiosity drove Aejaz to open the door. No one else had any real reason to come here, surely?! The door opened and this time Aejaz was seriously confused... He looked over his shoulder with a baffled look on his face before looking back at the ''new'' guest in front of him... Didn''t I just let this guy in?! Aejaz, dumbstruck, stared at Trew.


    Trew smiled wryly and scratched his cheek. This action revealed bruises on the side of his neck as he spoke. "Uh, Rhea kinda threw me out the window and told me to get lost... Sorry about this."


    The temptation to shut the door in this man''s face was overwhelming. Still, this was a good opportunity to dupe the poor man and let Aejaz get away with theft cleanly. "Hm, just those bruises? Considering the kind of person you once were I''m surprised Rhea didn''t do more to you? Maybe you should check your spatial rings?" Muahahahahahaha.


    Trew did indeed check and his face turned sour when he realised they were all empty! Completely! Trew had been robbed by his own matriarch?! What was he supposed to do? Complain? And get his ass beat again? This was a loss he had to take lying down and he didn''t even consider standing up to her. Opting to not be combative and mention it was exactly what Aejaz had planned for, though, and now he could keep his ill gotten gains while placing the blame on someone else! Aejaz had seriously improved in the slimy tactics department as of late, partially thanks to all the contracts he''d been doing for Hans. He''d learnt more about the seedy underworld and the kind of tricks they pulled on the regular. He didn''t learn for the sake of avoiding such trickery in the future, however, and rather took onboard what he''d seen almost like they were suggestions on how to improve himself as a crook. Hans had been truly shocked when he saw how Aejaz handled some of his contracts as his underhanded methods were getting more and more devious by the day. This was a side of Aejaz he was not familiar with in the slightest.


    Trew walked into the living room again, this time with both his hands raised signalling surrender. Whether or not he was successful Aejaz didn''t know but he would find out when he walked into the room himself. Either way he was NOT opening the door again. He refused!... He took one step and jumped around to face the door... Nothing... Aejaz narrowed his eyes and turned around. Thankfully it looked like he was done with the door nonsense. He started walking forward and, to his horror...


    Knock


    Aejaz almost exploded in rage but he quickly understood that this time was different... It wasn''t the front door someone had knocked. The single, rough knock had come from directly in front of him. Aejaz was pretty sure the sound originated from Ares'' room. Was he awake? Probably. Hopefully he would leave the room soon and come and deal with the matriarchs because Aejaz sitting in that room and reading his book was beyond awkward for him. Aejaz was about to walk away from the hall, and into the living room, when the door to Ares'' room burst open. Aejaz peered at the doorway and was given a small fright when Ares fell out of it, slumping onto the floor with his bare chest covered in sweat. His eyes looked lifeless and his muscles must have been sore considering how much he struggled to move. Ares clawed his way slowly out of the room but, suddenly, he stopped moving. His eyes widened in terror as he looked back over his shaking shoulder. Whatever he saw behind him was enough to cause him to redouble his efforts and try scrambling away but, rather than inch forward, he was only losing ground and being dragged back into the room.


    "E... En... Enyo please! Have mercy! I am not just some piece of meat! I have feelings! Emotions! I am a living being! I have needs and I need rest!!!!!!"


    Ares'' head disappeared back past the door which slammed shut promptly after...


    Aejaz shrugged and pretended he saw nothing. If nothing else, his brother probably deserved this. Wasn''t he the hypocrite who told Aejaz to get a good night''s sleep yesterday? And how was that working out for him? The double standards on display here were out of control!... Still, he was the last ditch resort in their group for the tournament so if he was out of commission everyone else would have to work harder... Funnily enough, however, it didn''t look like Enyo was tired... Not at all... If she still had the energy for that then surely she could fight, right? Or was it like when women had a second stomach for desserts kind of situation? Regardless, it looked like Ares wasn''t escaping that room any time soon and so Aejaz had to suffocate in the living room filled with monstrous cultivators... He was really tempted to try and steal from one of them... It wasn''t even necessarily because of his compulsion or because they would likely have good stuff, he just enjoyed the challenge that came with the territory of being a thief surrounded by incredible individuals. In the he decided not to but only because no one else was here to prevent the matriarchs from heavily punishing him if he failed. Aejaz liked taking risks, yes, but he was also acutely aware of a little concept called ''risk reward''.


    As he entered the room, Aejaz saw Trew being held upside down by his feet. Rhea was interrogating him about his intentions and he was surprisingly calm considering the situation. Aejaz snuck into a corner of the room and pulled out his book again. Safe! It was noisy in the room but finally he was reading! He''d just gotten to a really interesting cliff-hanger, and the constant interruptions were driving him loco, but now he could finally found out who the murderer in his book was. He leaned more towards the butler, because when is it ever not the butler, but the evidence was pointing more towards the gardener. As for why he was reading crime, and not romance as per usual, he was searching for inspiration. Technically speaking he was a murderer now too! Of course he preferred the term ''hired assassin'' but, really, even a hired assassin was nothing more than a murderer when you got down to brass tacks. That aside, learning how to kill people in clever ways and get away with it with no one the wiser was a good next step for Aejaz. He already had the tools necessary to win a fight if need be and bog-standard assassinations were pretty easy for him too. This ''learning'' he was doing was mostly on the off-chance he received a difficult task that couldn''t be complete in a normal way either because the target was stronger than most or heavily guarded. Ares was right about working for Hans in that Aejaz was getting good practice in as of late, and a lot of it at that. That was also why his downtime mattered and why others disrupting his r and r was extremely rude!


    Two hours later Enyo and Ares strode into the room... Well Enyo did anyway. Ares was half dead and being dragged around by the back of his neck. His lower half was limp and his eyes were hollow. This poor man had stared into the abyss, and Enyo had stared back. Enyo chucked Ares onto the sofa and sat on his lap while he stared at the ceiling, presumably wishing he was a bird so that he could fly away from here and be free. As soon as he felt Enyo''s rear land on top of his pelvic region he hoarsely muttered, seemingly unaware of where he even was, what day it was, or who he was, "Please... No more..." Enyo simply ignored him and happily swayed side to side with an iridescent smile on her face. Enyo was practically glowing and her mouth was basically stuck in its current, upward curving state. She was humming cheerfully like she was on top of the world... Well she was on top of someone who was the entire world to her, so that was probably close enough to being true as far as she was concerned. What Enyo didn''t seem to care about was the fact that everyone else in the room was gawking at her with stunned faces...


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Bellona walked into the room and waved to the matriarchs whilst yawning. She turned to the next people in line, Aejaz and his sister, and was about to say hello to them too when she realised that everyone was currently staring at something to her right. Her eyes drifted over, past Trew who was also gawking, and she saw Enyo seated on Ares lap. For a split second she didn''t understand why this was such a big deal, they were romantically intertwined with one another and on much closer terms than they were yesterday, that was for certain. When that split second was up, however, Bellona joined everyone else and widened her eyes when the surprise of a lifetime barrelled through her muddled brain. Unlike everyone else in the room she was still able to question this bizarre situation though as her willpower was made of stronger stuff. "Who the fuck are you?!"


    This was Enyo, right?! What the hell happened here? Did Ares fuck some extra glamour into her?! Was his dick magical?! To hell with waiting, Bellona wanted some too! No stupid brain, stop looking for excuses! This is clearly weird! Like hell this has anything to do with sex!... Also, why the hell is Enyo at sensory enhancement, 3rd stage?! What the fuck?! Six stages in one night? I know she swapped to dedication cultivation... But just what the hell did she do?!¡­ Damn, she''s way more powerful than I am now... Plus with her pleasure affinity the gap between us has widened considerably... I need to put some work in. She might even be stronger than Ares currently. What a freak... No, wait a minute, I still need answers damnit! Why is this woman twice as hot as she was yesterday! Bellona had come to the same conclusion as everyone else. Enyo had gotten an upgrade in the looks department, somehow, and it wasn''t a small one either! Her entire aura had changed and every movement was sensual. She still had that powerful edge but now she truly looked more divine than ever. Before she was holy, now she was holy moly! Enyo was in her own little world and didn''t even pay Bellona''s original question any attention so she tried again. "Enyo? Earth to Enyo? Care to explain why you look so different?" Bellona waved her hand in front of Enyo''s face and that seemed to get her attention.


    Enyo looked at Bellona and let out a soft giggle that nearly made Bellona wet herself. This new Enyo''s coy gestures were deadly! "It''s a long story, I''ll explain some other time. Right now, I''m too happy to worry about such minor things!" Enyo turned on Ares'' lap and ran her hands along his chest as she smirked up at him. Ares was still in lala land and made no effort to fight off Enyo who was prodding away at him. "Hey hey. Husband, I''m hungry. If you don''t make me something to eat, I''ll just eat you again instead." Ares groaned in response. He tried to lift his arms but could barely even do that. It seemed he was going to spend however long desperately trying to get up and cook lest he be subjected to whatever it was Enyo had in store for him. In his current state, however, Ares was an utterly broken man with all the life sapped out of him.


    Bellona did not blame Ares for his fatigue in the slightest. Spending the whole night with this absurdly attractive demoness must not have been easy regardless of who was pushing who around. Bellona had to smack herself to regain her sense and rationality as, for a minute there, she''d been oddly jealous of Ares for once. Enyo was now an incredibly arousing woman who''s every move was seductive in nature and drew in everyone''s gaze. Bellona found herself occasionally leering at her and had to struggle to stop herself whenever she caught herself in the act.


    Off to the side, Trew was staring at a wall. This was the only correct solution to this predicament. He had a partner! He was loyal! He would not lecherously gaze at another! Part of why he''d liked Enyo before was because she was undeniably a good looking woman but now that was doubly true and even looking at her was difficult.


    Meanwhile, Allie had entered the room too with Trixie draped over her shoulders, hugging her from behind with a brilliant grin. Allie was a little more tolerant of her because Trixie had really laid on the sob story. She brought out the fake tears for a real story and outright denying Trixie had become considerably more difficult for Allie after learning the extent of her situation... And Aejaz'' idiocy! Trixie had cried and said it was all so unfair because she''d directly told idiot ''Jaz that she ''liked him''. This was shortly before he was kicked out and Trixie promised to come looking for him and that ''he should wait for her''. This dumb bastard had misunderstood completely and just thought she was being reassuring and polite! Allie had to begrudgingly admit that Trixie should have had right of way. She''d technically done everything first and been robbed because of Aejaz'' stupidity. She professed her true feelings, went out of her way to promise him she would never forget about him, and even subtly hinted she would betray the clan for him, and the moron missed all of these hints! Trixie had assumed she was in and all that she needed was patience. To find out, years later, that Aejaz hadn''t waited for her at all hurt. It felt like a complete betrayal but she felt affection for him and couldn''t let go. Allie was sympathetic and didn''t quite know how to handle Trixie. Before she felt like this vixen was trying to steal her man but now she was realising that, maybe, she was the real vixen here who''d stolen something Trixie had already long since marked. If nothing else, pushing her away made Allie feel cruel and heartless so, regardless of whether she fully accepted Trixie or not in due time, she decided to at least get along with her as a friend.


    Allie couldn''t believe this was happening to her... She asked Enyo a long time ago about how she could tolerate Ares being with other women and she''d warned Allie that the second partner would always be the hardest to say no to for some stupid reason or another. Allie had dismissed that idea at the time, thinking there was no way she''d feel sympathetic to a love rival, and yet here she was, being buddy buddy with Trixie... Sort of, anyway. The friendship was definitely more one-sided than even and Trixie was doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the communication department. The worst part was that Allie knew what Trixie was really after with the whole ''becoming friends'' thing. She wanted to get so close to Allie that she couldn''t be denied anymore. And yet Allie still tolerated her... Maybe this whole debacle was already over... Maybe she''d already lost... Allie sighed and accepted that she would have to talk to Aejaz about this some time soon... She still wanted to have a talk with Enyo first, she was her superior in matters of the heart revolving around non-monogamous relations so she wanted some advice. Enyo was the first person she looked for upon entering the room and she nearly collapsed on the spot when she saw the new Enyo. Her response was hardly any different from everyone else''s as she sat there wondering if this was even the same person anymore! Also, why was Ares looking like a skeleton?! Allie shook her head and whipped out a pill, moved over next to Ares, and plopped the pill in his slackened jaw.


    Ares swallowed the unknown object and closed his eyes... A surge of what felt like cold water flooded his veins and woke him right up. His eyes burst open and he looked around in a newly-energised panic. He saw Enyo, the devil herself, gazing longingly at him and he remembered the hellish pleasure she''d dumped on him earlier. This woman! It was this woman that battered him senseless! Even now he still didn''t understand why she looked so different so he leaned forward, picked up the troublemaker on his lap, and carried her into the kitchen. He could actually cook now that he''d restored all of his basic functions like breathing, seeing, and moving, so he started working on lunch in the background. He also made a mental note to thank Allie, his little lifesaver sister, later before questioning Enyo. "Ok, let''s not even discuss what happened last night right now, I''ll have PTSD if I do. Can you explain your changes to me now?"


    Enyo placed her ring finger on her lip and tilted her head down with a sly smirk. "Hm, I suppose I could... How about I tell you after one more round in the hay, husband?"


    Ah shit. Ares was erect again but he knew this was a trap! ''One more round'' his ass! If he was lured into that room he may very well never escape again! He took a deep breath and regained his composure. As for his erection, he was able to make that disappear by thinking about things that curbed his arousal, like spiders and orcs. Enyo saw his manhood shrink back to normal and she bit her lip in frustration. Rather than accept defeat this manic woman saw this as a challenge! If it were up to her she would love to make Ares permanently be at full mast... Still, she admitted she''d been bested for now and wasn''t going to get her wish at the very least until she spilled the beans. She formed a mental connection with Ares, while he put up a layer of disintegration around the kitchen, and explained everything...


    A while later...


    [So yeah, I''m a Goddess and you better start treating me like one!]


    Ares was flummoxed by this information but couldn''t deny any of it. Enyo had clearly transcended being mortal by this point, that much was obvious at a glance. [I already treat you like a Goddess! Don''t be absurd! You just want more intercourse!... That aside, she... You, called this a ''play pretend world'', huh? She''s not entirely wrong, I guess, but it is somewhat of a misunderstanding. These worlds, and the people in them, are all real. I can see why she''d treat us like dolls from her perspective but it''s clear she doesn''t really understand the situation from ours. In a way it''s pretty fitting for a divine being to be this disillusioned with the suffering of the common people, I don''t blame her... You... Ah whatever. Your ''you'' and I love you, that''s all there is to it. I''m glad you had the confidence to make this decision Enyo. Thank you for trusting me. I will keep you safe no matter what. If I can''t do that with my destruction pillar then I''m nothing more than a failure anyway.] Ares removed the disintegration layer and the mental connection was ended.


    Enyo walked up to Ares and hugged him. "Don''t be so hard on yourself. You''ve got a lot going on and me dumping on this on you hasn''t made your life any easier. I should be the one thanking you for enabling me to do this. It''s not much, and this only really benefits me, but I can at least do and say this..." Enyo whispered another art into Ares'' ear. For a second he thought Enyo had bamboozled him and was about to make him go berserk with lust or something similar, but when he heard the art he actually felt a little guilty... "Only You."


    Only You was an art of the ''the path we walk'' aspect that effectively locked a person into a relationship with the individual they used it on. In Enyo''s case, this art would only ever benefit her as long as she remained loyal to Ares and never slept with another man. For as long as this was true she would double her overall mana reserves, and that was incredibly powerful, but if she ever broke that requirement she would end up with half of her original mana. In other words it was either 200% or 50% depending on her faithfulness. It still permitted same sex relationships, however, so she was fine to bully Ares other wives without being penalised.


    Ares felt guilty for two reasons. One was that he''d expected this of Enyo to begin with. Not the art but the attitude. Despite the situation, he wouldn''t have ever permitted her to lay with another man and yet she''d allowed him to sleep with other women. It was hypocritical and he couldn''t help but feel a little shameful the second she''d casted the art even if she''d pushed this situation on him to begin with. The other reason he felt guilt, which was technically linked, was that he couldn''t use this art himself. Not having an affinity for the pillar aside, he was going to have eight other women in his life and, thus, using this art would obliterate his mana reserves and he really couldn''t afford to do it. If, one day, he found a pleasure pillar enabler, knowing he wouldn''t be able to use this art on Enyo annoyed him. But what could he really do here? Ares simply promised to treat Enyo as well as he possibly could and moved on from this conundrum. There was no point overthinking or dwelling on a matter only he cared about. Enyo probably hadn''t even considered Ares using this art for even a second. She might have actually gotten angry with him if he had the ability to and tried. He couldn''t cast the art, but he could kiss his wife and tell her he loved her at least, so that was what he did... He had to stop part way through though when Enyo started getting frisky... This woman was hard work... Now that she''d gotten a taste she was not going to leave him alone! Ares was going to have to look for treasures that boosted his stamina otherwise she might actually kill him in the bedroom. He''d mistakenly believed having the will power and mental fortitude to go all night was enough... Not with Enyo it wasn''t, not even remotely... Ares had heard stories about stronger cultivators that could do this kind of stuff for thousands of years straight... Enyo might actually try and make him go for a couple million in the distant future knowing her...

 Chapter 132: A Loud Crowd Is Not Allowed

    "I think I''m going to need to beg Allie for more of those pills. Whatever she gave me was seriously a real kick to the system." Ares was making some lasagne and salad for everyone to enjoy as he chit chatted with Enyo.


    "Mhm, you''re going to need a lot of them."


    "Ok, calm down Satan. I can''t spend the rest of my life in the bedroom. Those pills are also useful outside too you know? Having a resident alchemist is seriously helpful, I should ask her for more mana shot pills too if she has any. I mean I regenerate from most wounds so stamina and mana are my only real ''problems'', making Allie invaluable in that sense."


    "I wonder if she knows how to make aphrodisiacs?"


    "Enyo, get a hobby. Go outside and smell the roses. For the love of all that is holy there is more to life than sex. You haven''t dispensed justice in a while, right? Why no go punish some evil doers in your spare time?"


    Enyo licked her lips and looked Ares up and down. "I can see at least one evil doer I wouldn''t mind punishing."


    Ares shook his head and sighed. He needed to give this woman at least a week or two to calm down now that he''d opened the flood gates, and that was both a metaphor and a euphemism! "Let''s put that aside for now, do you plan on telling everyone out there the truth? It''s your decision and you''re free to do as you please. I''ll go along with whatever you choose. Of course the the more complicated stuff I''m going to have to ask you to hold back on, but if you want to tell them you''re a reincarnation of a Goddess then feel free."


    "Hmm. I guess I should. We can tell Bellona everything though, she already knows about that other stuff."


    "I never did ask, but how did she react to it? I''m guessing she was fine because it doesn''t seem like her attitude has changed at all since then."


    "Yeah, pretty much. It doesn''t really change anything or affect her so she''s not fussed. She was more worried about you than anything but, then again, I wouldn''t let a woman who doesn''t think that way ever become your wife to begin with. Overall, her goal hasn''t changed. Get stronger and support you and your magic. Finding a magic greater than her own was always her goal and she''s accomplished that now. I think she also really wants to sort out the Legion clan but that''s a sentiment shared by all of us siblings. It''s also not a goal we can immediately work towards so we''re focussing on more pressing matters whatever they may be and whenever they crop up. Right now I want to win the tournament, for instance. I''m sure the rewards won''t be minor and will greatly aid us in our cultivation. We''re all going to need to get stronger so this is an important step... But I''m getting side-tracked. Right now I should go and explain my situation to everyone."


    "Mhm, I''m sure they''ll be understanding. If you need anything though you know where to find me." Ares bid Enyo good luck and went back to cooking. He poked his head around the corner a couple times to check and double check that things were going smoothly and that appeared to be the case. Actually it was more relief he saw in the faces of everyone than anything else. Being a Goddess of the pleasure pillar was actually far less of a stretch than some of the other worries they had in their head. ''Was Ares secretly some kind of pimp who fooled everyone and demanded changes of Enyo?'' ''Had Enyo been replaced by some alien life form?'' ''Did Enyo have a long lost twin?'' For the correct answer to just be affirmation that Enyo was the peak of horny degeneracy was actually quite a mild revelation all things considered. Bellona even jokingly started ''worshipping'' Enyo by bowing on her knees. The image was ruined slightly by the uncontrollable cackling coming from her lips as she couldn''t take this whole situation seriously at all.


    The most non-plussed person in the room was Appa who had come to the very basic, but not incorrect, conclusion that Enyo = prettiest person ever. This cute oversimplification led Appa to get smothered by all the matriarchs. Appa had become all of their favourites as it was the first grandchild any of them had ever had! Plus it was truly adorable and impossible not to be happy around. Appa was passed around like a new-born but it had no qualms with this treatment as it was basically like crowd-surfing to Appa. It giggled every time it exchanged hands which formed a cycle whereby the recipient would squeal and hug it, making the next matriarch over extremely jealous and also demand a hug, and thus this scenario kept repeating itself ad infinitum. Four of the most powerful people across all currently accessible realms had been felled by a sweet little grandchild. In fact, Enyo''s explanation had pretty much already been forgotten by the wayside as everyone was too busy crowding around Appa to care.


    Ares made a mental note to make use of Appa like this if he ever needed to dump bad news on someone. It would be like ''Yeah, sorry, your whole family is dead. On the bright side, here''s my adorable daughter!'' Surely that would work, right? Anyway, Ares eventually finished cooking and brought the dish in. Everyone dug in and enjoyed the well crafted meal while the matriarchs took turns feeding Appa Snappas. As Ares was eating, he spotted Sadie poking her nose through the window so he made a plate of food and gave it to her. She scarpered off with it as Ares shouted after her to bring the plate back at some point but he didn''t get a response even long after Sadie had vanished... Ares begrudgingly accepted that the plate might as well have disappeared into the void what with how hard it would be trying to get it back. Actually, if it had disappeared into the void getting it back would be far easier! Ares had access to the void! Why was this woman''s abode more remote a-location than the literal void?! Ares just shook his head and sat back down.


    Time passed and the start of the international was close at hand so everyone up and left the sect. The journey to the coliseum was relatively normal and nothing of note happened. Surprisingly, Calla didn''t ask Ares for a rundown of his entire life like he knew she wanted too which probably meant she was going to hang around his house today after the tournament. Today the Legions were coming over for their banquet but that didn''t mean Calla couldn''t be there either. In fact, it looked like all the matriarchs wanted to stay there too. Food, reunion, Appa. None of them wanted to leave today and that was fine. Ares had enough extra food lying around in the Primordial Blade to cook something for them too.


    When everyone arrived, Ares, Aejaz, and Enyo split off to go their own way. As they were leaving, Trixie blew Aejaz a kiss and that gave him pause. Was this numpty finally starting to understand or was he going to refuse to believe in the truth that was right in front of him... Of course it was the latter! The fact she was being this brazen in front of Allie must surely mean she was messing around!... Right? Ares was immeasurably disappointed in this foolish brother of his. He might actually have to sit down with him and have a serious talk about matters of the heart at this rate... Trixie aside, Bellona felt inspired to do the same to Ares but, before he could respond to this gesture, Enyo jumped in line and blew a kiss back. Bellona shivered and ran away at lightning speed while Enyo licked her lips at the fleeing prey.


    Appa also joined in on the fun and smacked its rope against its non-existent lips before making a ''mwah!'' noise like it had just blown a kiss. That was the last Ares saw of his daughter before Appa was swamped in maternal love from the four matriarchs. He could still hear some laughter coming from within the group hug so he just chuckled and walked away. The group met up with Esme and Li Li who were rattling on about the exact same garbage as yesterday. It seemed as though their conversation had been temporarily halted at the end of the night only for it to continue today with affirmation that everything they''d said about their respective partners was confirmed true. Ares did not want to know what these two had gotten up to, and what exactly it was they''d confirmed, so he just ignored them and spent his time avoiding Enyo while Aejaz read his book.


    The group of five didn''t have to hang around for a long time in the waiting room before they were called upon to move out. They''d been one of the last groups to arrive so they were the 34th group to be summoned into the battle grounds, not that it really made a difference. The way it worked today was that all the groups would stand in front of their respective waiting room entrances while the captains went up and drew from lots to figure out what the tournament brackets would look like. There would be a few matches today but not everyone was guaranteed to fight so most people were either hoping they had an early round or none at all as having to wait around at this stage of the competition was pretty boring. The chance of a high quality match occurring this early was slim and not much reconnaissance needed to be done because they already mostly had some decent information handed over to them from the scouts they sent around the world prior. As for the number of your group, that was just a way of avoiding having to say the full name of the team every single time. ''Red Sun'' and ''Central'' were pretty short but there were other countries with considerably longer and more complicated names so this was the solution.


    While walking down the corridor, Ares could hear the sound of countless cheers rocking the arena. He could even see dust lifting off the floor ahead thanks to the vocal stampede rumbling the Scorched Grounds. The wails and yells echoed all around him in the corridor and he was getting a little excited as he''d never competed on this large of a scale before. Even without seeing it directly yet, Ares could tell the seats were jam packed and the venue was sold out. It was new kind of exhilaration that he hadn''t expected to be fond of thanks to the association he had of it with his history with the Chen clan. He technically used to ''compete'' but it was under very different circumstances than this.


    "GROUP 34, RED SUN, CENTRAL LAND!" A voice boomed out the name of the next group of competitors to arrive and, whoever the announcer was, he''d done it perfectly in sync with Aejaz walking into the arena. Clearly this person was going to be the overseer going forward and he seemed to know how to rile up a crowd properly and with good timing.


    The cheering ramped up and became deafening at the sight of Aejaz for two reasons. Firstly, homefield advantage! Just because people wanted to watch the tournament that didn''t mean they necessarily always had the ability to do so. A lot of people from foreign lands weren''t always able to make it to Central Land due to complications in their travel plans, typically in the form of twenty foot tall monsters blocking various paths, and had to abandon the tournament. Anyone who didn''t show up had no choice but to forfeit their seat which would usually go to a native instead. Of course it was also easy for those in Central Land to come and pay a visit anyway so, overall, the percentage of spectators who were from Central to begin with was high. This was one reason, the other was that Aejaz was a handsome piece of work! Just as the furries from Bhorashka had their own fans so too did Aejaz. It had taken a while for word to spread but once it was known the most handsome man in the tournament was on the Red Sun team they instantly garnered a significant number of extra fans, all of which were currently hollering at the guy who was smiling wryly. He already had a wife-to-be! And she was probably unleashing her tiny rage right about now!... Aejaz wished he could see it. Allie''s pouting was always cute to him and it made him feel warm inside. Little did he know Allie wasn''t the only one not too happy with Aejaz'' newfound fame, however, as Trixie was infinitely close to going around planting bombs on people. Unfortunately she was on the top floor with everyone else and didn''t have ease of access to anyone. Plus the people overseeing security were clearly stronger than her. She wouldn''t get away with it all. She valued watching Aejaz compete more than she did singing the hair off a few of the vixens in the crowd with a fiery surprise so she reluctantly held back. In their agitation, Allie and Trixie were united. Allie had completely forgotten that Trixie should have also been one of the many vixens she was rallying against, and Leo noticed this... Yet he did nothing but lick his paw, though, because he really didn''t care. Allie was his de-facto owner but that didn''t mean he was going to remind her to hate someone she didn''t couldn''t even remember she wasn''t supposed to like in the first place.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    It looked like Trixie would be hanging around in the future. Actually, Trixie was extremely lucky to have access to this family mainly because of Ares. Trixie could imbue other people''s magic into her bombs and Ares'' annihilation magic... Well, the result of that combination was obvious. Stealth bombing targets out of existence would undoubtedly be very effective. She could also provide some gadgetry every now and then too. She wasn''t the most proficient person at the pillar to have ever existed, or anything of the sort, but she was decently talented and could muster up some useful items here and there if requested.


    Back down in the arena Esme and Li Li had also entered with the adoration of the crowd raining down on them. Clearly, all you had to do to be respected was walk through the entrance and be a competitor, so Ares strutted through and received his own hail of support... Which was certainly loud, as he''d done a decent job of showing off during the national, but still came loaded with a bevy of boos mixed in! He could hear them! What on earth had he done to offend people now?! Was he now seriously offending people without being aware of his own actions? He''d been good lately!... Horrible prior, but good lately! He hadn''t gone ''round blowing things up, thanks to Enyo restraining him mostly, so why were these people mad?... Well, he did blow up the Chen clan, but who the hell, in their right mind, would be complaining about that?! Ares couldn''t win with these people so he just ignored them. For the first time in a while they were the minority and Ares felt no need to placate their demands or expectations of him. As long as he was respected by a solid majority, as he was now, he could take over the sect without meaningful opposition, that was his primary goal for the foreseeable future. That and bettering the sect and its reputation but that went hand in hand with his main goal so it was more along the lines of something he did passively.


    Ares took one more step and stood on the spot, lightly kicking the floor directly beneath him with one of his feet as he looked around in boredom at the other groups. Ares felt like throwing up in his mouth when he saw Mako in group one holding up a single finger. He was clearly telling Ares ''that he was obviously number one'' and Ares wanted to bang his head against a wall in frustration. This guy, to Ares'' dismay, was going to be the closest thing he had to a rival going forward and he was this excruciatingly cringy? Ares felt a cold shiver run up his spine at the thought of appearing in public with this uncool fool. At least Ares had some character. You either loved him or hated him. He never gave you second-hand embarrassment because he was acting like a lame weirdo though. Thankfully everyone''s attention was not on Dork McGee so Ares got off safely this time. He was not made complicit in this two man humiliation skit Mako was trying to drag him into!


    As Ares went back to looking at the rest of the groups, Enyo stepped out and into the limelight...


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    Chirp


    Cricket? Why was there even a cricket in this arena to begin with?! Actually, no, wait a minute, there was a half-human half-cricket competitor. False alarm! As for the silence that enveloped the coliseum, Ares was not surprised in the slightest. There had yet to be someone who acted normally the first time they saw the new Enyo and stunned silence was the typical response to a woman this unnaturally beautiful. Ares had long since stopped caring about all the looks Enyo was receiving because if he allowed himself to care he would drown in incalculable amounts of rage. Just what was happening here and now alone would be enough to relegate him to a psyche ward or anger management lessons at the bare minimum.


    While everyone gawked he just went back to purveying the other groups and the makeup of their teams. Most, but not all, of them had very specific identities as each country / land was usually quite insular compared to Central. Ares made it about halfway through the groups before he felt Enyo wrap her arms around him from behind and kiss him on the neck... Three, two, one... Yep, they are. The death stares are back. There sure are a lot of them this time. Ares was so familiar with this song and dance he knew exactly how long it would take the spectators'' frazzled brains to come to terms with the fact that he and Enyo were intimate before casting a glare at him. Roughly 90% of the audience were directing their contempt and hatred at him and that was no small number. Usually, most women and married individuals would not join in on the jealous pettiness because they simply didn''t care about Enyo but new Enyo had defied reason, going above and beyond and making near enough everyone envious of Ares. The only 10% not evilly staring down Ares were powerful cultivators who were resisting that urge but that didn''t mean they felt nothing either. There were probably only a handful of people that were unconcerned with Enyo and that was honestly an incredible feat she''d pulled off. Even though a shocking number of people wanted Ares to be found dead in a ditch, he had to give his wife credit!


    Speaking of Enyo, she was being pretty aggressive right now, even going as far as to show off her wedding ring clearly while leaning on Ares''s shoulder and resting her face up against his cheek. Ares was initially confused as to what her goal was but he realised the mischievous smirk on her face was directed at him, not the crowd. She''d gone through all these changes for him, and he''d enjoyed them fully, but now it was his turn to uphold his end of the bargain. Enyo was intentionally provoking these people to put Ares in a tight bind. He said he would fight for her, so she was putting him in a position to prove it to her. What a troublemaker! She had a valid point though. She needed to know he could do it otherwise things would be risky. Ares needed to show the world that no matter how much they fantasized over Enyo he stood in their path now and always. She wasn''t doing this to mess with him, she was doing this to give him a chance to display how out of reach Enyo was to anyone but him on a global scale. In hindsight, Ares should have expected this. It was the exact kind of thing Enyo would do.


    As for the crowd, after witnessing Enyo openly getting chummy with her husband, a few people started booing.


    "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"


    This expression of negativity grew louder the more people in the crowd joined in until it became a chorus of hate directed at one man. A man who had to prove himself in some way. Ares felt the pressure but that only pushed him to work harder. If these people thought he would buckle because of a few jeers here and there they were sorely mistaken. Or rather their misunderstanding was so grave they''d unintentionally done the exact opposite of what they should have done in this situation. If they''d just kept their mouths shut Ares wouldn''t have felt the need to persevere and outdo himself. With every extra decibel Ares grew more and more annoyed but also came that much closer to creating a new art on the spot. Much like what happened with Rox, the mimic, Ares was using his surroundings and desire to improve to defy the limits of what was possible. With Rox, he''d wanted to move quicker. Now, he wanted to silence the voices of dissent. Quell the whining of the weak masses that had no right to speak to him at all, let alone in such a manner. Who were these people exactly? How few of them had meaningful achievements, cultivations, or goals? How few of them, when stood up against Ares, could measure up to everything he was? He didn''t recall giving them permission to speak. He definitely didn''t. And who said he wanted to listen to them speak even if they had his permission anyway? Why should he listen to every single one of their complaints? Forget speaking, these people shouldn''t even make noise before him... But was that enough? What about those who were stronger than him? Should they be allowed to speak in his presence? Hell no. It was not up for discussion. These people''s rights were solely for Ares to determine, not them. He was the next God of destruction and these people''s worth to him may as well have been non-existent. They should be grateful he wasn''t erasing their lives for this insolence. Obedience was to be expected and, if he didn''t get it, he would use his overwhelming power to enforce it. He''d clearly been too lenient with these people and it was time to remind them who the greatest authority here really was. Ares raised his hand and placed his thumb against his middle finger, snapping them as he chanted.


    "Quietus Edict."


    His voice was clear in the ears of everyone in the coliseum. His voice transcended the miscellaneous noise but no one seemed to care as they went to continue their taunting and mocking...


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    And yet there was no longer any noise in the coliseum. Not the loud harmony of ''boos'', not the shuffling of feet or the rustling of clothes, not the sound of the blowing wind nor the sound of the many gulps that definitely should have been audible. All noise had ceased by orders of the newly ascended king of the coliseum and there was no one who was above this rule. Even the four matriarchs could not bend it despite their best efforts. This was an art that melded into reality itself and twisted the rules of the universe. The combination between disintegration and nothingness was unstoppable and muted everyone and everything other than Ares without fail. Disintegration would destroy any sound, no matter how small or meaningless, and nothingness would spread that disintegration in the affected area. Nothingness also allowed the disintegration to hide in the void behind reality, preventing anyone from interacting with it and cancelling the effect. The matriarchs could feel the art but couldn''t see it or direct attacks at it. It was almost like trying to fight the wind or attack an omnipresent ghost.


    This was not Ares'' strongest art. This was not Ares'' most wide spread art. This was not Ares'' most useful art. This was, debatably, Ares most incredible art; tied for the position with Voidwalk. Just like what had happened with Voidwalk, Ares had created something truly profound here. The effect may have been simple but it was a phenomenal tool that fundamentally changed the nature of the cultivation world as most people knew it. Those who were in the know realised exactly what an art like this entailed, and when they realised that Ares'' kicks against the floor were still making noise they recoiled slightly. There were a few sound pillar experts who used a relatively niche art to nullify sound in a small area. The point of this was to prevent chants. Most of the time, if you couldn''t chant, magic was unavailable to you. A majority of cultivators did not know many, if any, chant-less arts. Right now, in this coliseum, none of the people affected by Quietus Edict could chant. Even if the matriarchs knew an art that could overwhelm Ares''... How were they supposed to use it in this state? Only basic mana manipulation was available to them and it was not enough to crush this art hidden behind reality. To make matters worse, Ares was still making noise. The problem with noise cancellation arts normally was that they also affected the user. It was an even playing field in which no one could use arts... But Ares was making noise... In other words, Ares had just invented the only art known to man that could outright prevent anyone other than himself from chanting in a wide range. While no one else could use arts, he alone was free to do so at his leisure, turning any would-be fights into a one-sided massacre before it even began. Even anti-magic couldn''t do this to this extent and Quietus Edict was, ironically, a counter to the anti-magic pillar too. In fact, this art was part of the reason the anti-magic pillar God would come to absolutely detest Ares and want him dead but that was its own problem. Right now, Ares was the problem, and a big one at that. Amidst the quietened crowd of domesticated sheep, Ares'' voice stood alone.


    "Enyo is mine. This is not up for debate. I do not care about your opinion on the matter and neither does she. I will not hesitate to kill anyone who crosses the obvious line I''ve drawn in the sand. Consider this your one and final warning."


    Clap clap


    Hm? Ares turned his head to the side and saw Mako clapping with a smug face as he mouthed the words ''good speech''... Ares simply sighed. Realistically, a petty trick like this wouldn''t ever be effective against another fundamental champion. If Mako had been done in by this Ares would have been incredibly disappointed, honestly. As for how he''d broken the magic, technically he hadn''t. It seemed he''d created a new layer of reality under the one that existed in his current space as a workaround. The added layer provided a blanket between the void, where Ares'' art lived, and reality to take the hit in his pace. It was a crude solution that effectively created a new pocket dimension just to deal with this art, and it was highly inefficient, but for a makeshift solution it did work and that was good enough. Still, what was most impressive was that Mako had the power to do it without a chant. Willing a dimension into existence without a chant, even if it was only a few inches wide, was not a small task. This guy was not going to be easy to beat... No matter how much of a hopeless dork he was. Seriously, mouthing the words ''good speech'' when he could have spoken them out loud just to be petty was Loserville, population Mako! Ares refused to lose to a guy this lame, he''d never live it down... Not that Mako would let him either. Mako was definitely the kind of guy who would endlessly rub it in your face that he was better than you and that happening to Ares was unacceptable. That was Ares'' shtick! He did it to others, not the other way around! Not now, not ever!

 Chapter 133: If It’s Not One Causing a Scene, It’s the Other

    Opting to ignore Mako''s pointless taunting, Ares removed the art and gave everyone their voices back... Not that any of them chose to use it. The situation had become awkward as all the groups were already out so there was no reason for the crowd to start cheering again. A few conversations did start up here and there but it seemed things wouldn''t go back to normal until the overseer started doing his job again. As for who the overseer was, Ares had been able to get a good look at him earlier but the only impression he got was ''plain''. The man was roughly in his mid-thirties, powerful, and wore a white robe. The only thing about him that stood out were the letters ''C.O'' stitched into his robe with a pair of wings behind them. His cultivation was high so he was probably a notable member of the C.O and not someone to be taken lightly but Ares couldn''t help but not care about this man. Being in the transition realm meant this guy was strong, sure, but so was literally everyone else in the realm. If Ares had to hazard a guess, Maro, Hans, and Yulo were all stronger than this guy and by a decent margin at that.


    Ahem


    "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!." The overseer regained everyone''s attention with a quick yell before moving on and giving an introduction to the tournament and himself. "My name is Lex and I will be your referee of sorts for this tournament. I will explain the rules and arbitrate any and all disagreements and complaints made in an official capacity. I will also be acting as security for the competitors so if you have any unwise and untoward intentions you''ll have to go through me first, remember that!"


    How pious. Ares snorted. This guy was talking big but he definitely wouldn''t back it up if anything happened to Ares specifically. Ares had seen the way this Lex guy looked at Enyo earlier. Ares decided to not to leave his safety in this guy''s hands as he would sooner rely on himself than get stabbed in the back by this conniving bastard. This decision might have sounded like Ares was being paranoid but, of all the people in the coliseum today, Ares was genuinely more concerned about Lex than anyone else; and that was saying something as Maro was here too. ''You''ll have to go through me.'' Ares imagined that would hardly be a problem if Lex let them go past him ''accidentally''...


    "As for the rules, the matches will operate in the exact same fashion as those played during the nationals. If you need a refresher on the rules there are plenty of flyers around the coliseum and our staff would be more than happy to remind you if you ask them. Still, I''ll give you a quick rundown. Two teams will play ''tag'' but the goal is to be ''it'' for as long as possible. Whichever team''s players spend the longest time being ''it'' wins. If you kill all of your opponents team members, you win automatically. Those are the basics. All of our contestants are expected to know these rules in advance and you will not be able to complain about them after a match. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the rules so as not to make a fool of yourself!"


    Ares was wondering if the tag portion of the ruleset would ever be relevant to him. He was extremely confident in Voidwalk and could lame out every other competitor by running away for five minutes if he wanted to, but killing everyone was just way more satisfying for him. None of his matches had ever come down to time because he was an aggressive fighter and the threat of boredom loomed ever over the horizon should he ever decide to take a more passive approach. To Ares, at least, it felt more like a group deathmatch with an alternate win condition in slower matches and nothing more. Apparently, though, some matches during the nationals had come down to time. Namely Accelyn''s poison strategy but there were a few stallers in other countries too. Ares wasn''t sure whether he wanted to deal with this type of competitor or not because it would obviously be an easy win for him but that would also make his matches boring as sin. What was a defensive cultivator supposed to do in front of Ares'' destruction magic? It was a doomed endeavour from the start and he would just roll over them the way he did Accelyn''s team.


    "There are 36 groups from all around the world competing and, as such, during the tournament there will be eight groups that have to play an extra match at the start. This is unfortunate, and we do apologise, but please understand it is necessary to facilitate a smoother experience for everyone. There are two sides of the bracket, side A, and side B. There will be eighteen slots on either side of the bracket, and slots 1, 2, 11, and 12 on both sides will have to fight that extra match. If your group is placed into one of those slots then you will be competing immediately. This means there will be four preliminary matches happening today before the tournament proper starts tomorrow. If you compete today we will give you a rest day tomorrow, however, so don''t fret about being run ragged early on. Now, I will call upon the captains sequentially in groups of two. When you come up one of you will be assigned to side A, and the other to side B. From here you will be given a random slot. If anyone has any questions, raise them now before we start!"


    None of the competitors had any questions as the explanation was simple enough. There would be seventeen other groups in your side of the bracket which meant you would either be fighting four or five matches total before the championship match against the overall winner of the other side of the bracket. Long story short, you had to win five, or six if you had an extra match, times in a row before you were crowned the ultimate victor.


    Mako went up with the captain from group 2. Lex showed both captains two balls, one blue and one red. He then put them behind his back and passed them between his hands repeatedly for five seconds before stopping and asking Mako which hand he wanted. Mako chose the left hand and got quite literally blue balled. He was relegated to side B which annoyed him because A was the first letter in the alphabet and he wanted it! Side B felt secondary and it irked him that he had no say in the matter. He hoped, borderline prayed, that Ares would also end up in side B... Being preoccupied over the most meaningless garbage seemed to really be a personal favourite pastime of Mako. He shook his head and put his ''loss'' to the side for now as he drew a stick from Lex''s hand to determine which slot he would be in... "FUCK!" Mako punched his palm in frustration and spat on the floor. Lex looked at the number and presumed the reason Mako was upset was because he had an extra match to fight... If only Lex knew the real reason was because Mako had been placed in slot two and not slot one... For Mako, this was disastrous! It was like the universe was plotting and conspiring against him! He was NOT number two! He refused!... Well he actually didn''t refuse as he didn''t have the right to, fundamental champion or not. but he was not happy about this!


    Of the other notable groups that went up, Ares'' family went to side B and were placed in slot 18. The Legion family also went to side B and were placed in slot 13. Right out the gate this was a hellish side to be on as three of the powerhouse groups had already been placed over there. Not to mention the fact that if Mako, the Umbras, and the Legions all kept winning, they would fight each other back to back at some point. the Umbras would fight the Legions and whoever won there would fight Mako. Whoever won that match would then fight the championship match right after. It was looking like a real slugfest towards the end of the competition on side B and the team allocations weren''t even finished yet! There was one other group, one that Ares and Aejaz knew all too well, that had been placed already. The Fleeting Glimpse clan members, Aejaz'' family, were in side A. If they''d gone to side B that side would have become a living nightmare for the average and below teams who would be nothing more than cannon fodder before the mightier families and Mako. Aejaz'' family being on side A wasn''t necessarily a good thing though. Yes it prevented one side from being too stacked but, currently, whether there was anyone on side A who could even stop them was questionable. Despite losing Trixie and Lacy they were still a powerhouse team when it came down to it. They had been placed in slot 18, right at the end of this side of the bracket.


    Those were the major teams but there were a few smaller ones that Ares kept tabs on. Specifically there was the group with the iciclops that had been placed on side A, as well a group of decently strong looking Robos and another group full of aevysqualls that were also on side A.


    By the time Enyo was called up there were only four slots left. Two on side A and two on side B. If the Red Sun team landed on side A they had a relatively clean and easy run to the finals, only really having to concern themselves with the Fleeting Glimpse lot... Kinda. Aejaz was on clean-up duty against them and they were his problem to deal with. Unless any of the other groups on side A were secretly strong then it would be smooth sailing. If their group ended up on side B, however, carnage... Carnage everywhere. Legions, revenants, and fundamental champions running rampant and beating up the poor other contenders before beating each other up.


    Lex shuffled the balls behind his back and waited. Enyo was not supposed to be the captain currently choosing which hand she wanted but the other captain was head over heels for her and so smitten he gave up the opportunity... Enyo didn''t even say thank you. Usually she wasn''t one to be rude like this but to people who were only polite to her because of her looks she wouldn''t hold back anymore. If they weren''t willing to respect the fact that she was technically a ''married'' woman, and definitely not single no matter how you looked at it, then why should she respect them? They could see the ring, and unless they were blind and deaf Ares had made things abundantly clear earlier, so the treatment was justified as far as Enyo was concerned.


    Enyo chose the left hand and Lex raised it, showing off the red ball held within. Side A it was. Ares was partially relieved. Not because he was anxious about fighting the stronger groups but because he didn''t want to be the one to knock his family out! Neither the Legions or the Umbras. It''s not like there would be bad blood or anything but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t feel any guilt ''killing'' these people in brutal ways mid combat. Ares wasn''t even sure he would be able to bring himself to hit some of the tinier members like Fate, Phobos, and Palioxis. Having the guts to hit a child was not something that came easy to Ares, let alone when they were his siblings and in-laws...


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Enyo drew a stick and got slot number one. It seemed their group was going to have to play an extra match today but at least they were first in line to do so... Ares could see Mako raging off to the side. Not only did Ares get side A but he''d also gotten slot one... This was the kind of thing that would keep Mako up late at night tossing and turning. Ares thought it was hilarious so he returned the gesture Mako had given him earlier by raising a single finger at him. Ares could have sworn he saw steam rising off Mako''s head even from this distance... His poor teammates had all taken a step back lest they get dragged into this mess and suffer at the hands of a Mako rant. They were long, petty, and mostly pointless. As far as they were concerned, Mako was top dog and the fact that he complained about such minor problems was confusing to them. He was born with everything and had the nerve to complain the ball he picked was blue instead of red?! Was this man a psychopath?! That line of thought just meant they didn''t properly understand Mako''s obsession though. If given the choice, Mako would probably abandon his pillar if it meant guaranteeing his spot at number one, that was how much the title and position meant to him. Of course there was no way that would ever happen because being number one almost essentially required a fundamental pillar in the first place. Everyone else was already out of the running and Mako would defend his pillar to the death if need be. What was the point in living if he lost his pillar and couldn''t be number one anymore? Luckily for him the idea of permanently losing a pillar was almost completely unheard of. Even someone like Dominus had only ever seen one example of it with the pressure master guy who lost everything to his brother. Whether that could even happen with a fundamental pillar was another matter entirely and the answer was very likely a resounding no. Unlike the normal pillars, the fundamental ones were almost definitely keeping an eye out for shenanigans like this and would actively prevent it should this sort of situation arise. Technically the normal pillars could remove affinities and reassign them but they were mostly simple in nature and didn''t much care about small issues like this. The normal pillars just wanted to keep creating worlds and that was basically the extent of their ''thought process'', if it could even be likened to such a thing, and anything else was meaningless to them. On the contrary, the fundamental pillars only had a single champion to keep an eye on and making sure they kept their affinity was at the top of their list of priorities.


    When the last of the groups had been settled into their respective slots, Lex spoke up again and garnered the crowd''s attention. "And with that, the brackets have been finalised! Our first match of the day will take place in five minutes so groups 1-A and 2-A, if you could please remain on the field until then that would be preferrable. Everyone else may leave for now but if you have a match today I would highly recommend not straying too far from the venue. If you aren''t able to make it on time your team will not be allowed to have a substitute." This was fairly obvious. Unless you submitted a request in advance you would just have to fight without a replacement. There had been a couple situations were this had happened in the past and it wasn''t exactly uncommon. There were also some teams in which a fifth member didn''t bother showing up to a fight because they were convinced their teammates could handle it without them. Sometimes this was true, sometimes it really wasn''t. There were some success stories that immortalised certain older teams as being strong enough to win without a fifth member but for every success story there was a horror story right around the corner, rearing its ugly head at the overconfident. A few years back a team with real potential, some real champion candidates, had lost a match by an incredibly slim margin and the guy that didn''t show up was blamed extensively. In fact, that same guy was murdered by an enraged fan not long after and thus he became a kind of cautionary tale, somewhat reducing the frequency with which this happened. Still, you were within your rights to not show up if you had other things to attend to, there was no rule stating otherwise.


    The other groups all left the coliseum and most were going to head off and do their own thing or maybe get some extra training / cultivation in. A few, however, where interested in seeing how true the rumours about Ares were. Some already knew the answer thanks to the detonation of the Chen clan yesterday but not everyone had attended the party, thus missing out on the spectacle. In particular, Mako was absolutely going to stay and watch his rival fundamental champion compete! How aggressive was Ares in combat? What kind of arts did he use? How strong were each of the three aspects he wielded? Was Ares good at close combat? All this and more Mako wanted the answers to so he went to the top floor to join his mother and spectate the next match. If he knew Ares had zero intention of sticking around after this fight to watch his match this early in the tournament then he might have blown a gasket and demanded a fight with Ares here and now. Mako was going out of his way to study his opponent while the man in question was disrespecting him by not even looking in his direction!


    As for the Red Sun team, they were mostly being blas¨¦ about their upcoming opponents. Ares had inwardly complained about stall teams because they were boring and yet, here they were, fighting against a stall team... Well whatever, this was an extra match and just a way to kick off the tournament, it didn''t have to be particularly interesting. It''s not like Ares ever got tired of blowing people up anyway, he could very well do that all day long and not get burnt out. He''d heard it was for the best to have a job you were passionate about and making things go boom was basically his nine to five at this point so putting in a bit of overtime was no sweat off his brow.


    The team that was opposing the Central / Red Sun team was from a small country to the north east called Asnoll and was relatively uninteresting. Their performance year after year left much to be desired and no one had any faith in them whatsoever. The fact that some of the members of the team had been here before was indicative of the level of competition as it meant those people hadn''t improved their cultivations enough to even compete in the inner court or core tournaments instead. The nation-wide selection of talent was pitiful because the pool to choose from was usually repetitive, small, and lacking in skill overall. They weren''t the weakest team in the tournament but they were definitely close to it. This was the kind of team even the Bhorashka lot could have beaten soundly if they were competing here instead of Ares. As for the racial make up of the country, that could be summarised in but a single word, ''humans''. Humans here, humans there, humans everywhere. Rarely did any other race have any reason to go and visit or live in this country so it had become a cesspit of humans. It did lead to a sort of supremacist outlook in the people native to the country but they weren''t obnoxious about it so most people ignored them. Considering there were other countries trying to normalise slavery and actively launching propaganda campaigns across the world, a couple of weirdos who thought they were above people they''d never even met weren''t worth fussing over. They were also decently polite and rarely brought up their supremacist ideologies so, contrary to what you''d expect, it was mostly other people picking fights with them because of the assumption they were all bad people deep down. Most ordinary people actually felt a little sorry for the Asnolls as a certain type of stigma came attached with humans from the country regardless of whether it was even true or not. Not everyone from Asnoll believed in their own supremacy and getting beat up because of something that had nothing to do with you wasn''t exactly fair. Even the competitors here had been in a few brawls before the start of the tournament through no fault of their own; they''d simply been overheard discussing their favourite eatery back in their homeland and that was enough to set off some of the more righteous types around them.


    Ares made no effort to remember the details of any of these people to the point he''d started referring to them as human A, human B, and so on so forth. This lack of concern for those opposite him was not shared by his foes, however, as they were all scowling in his direction with narrowed eyes. Was it because he was a dangerous man with dangerous magic? Nope. It was because of Enyo, to the surprise of absolutely nobody. Just because Ares had silenced and suppressed everyone earlier that didn''t make their feelings magically disappear, just their ability to express it. The Asnoll group grinded their teeth watching the lucky bastard get hugged from behind by Enyo and swore in their hearts to kill him if nothing else. They could lose miserably for all they cared, but not before killing this undeserving man! Enyo was the swan. Ares was the toad... The joke was on the Asnoll group, though, as the strongest being Ares had met to date, funnily enough, had actually been a toad.... He wondered where that rotund fellow had hopped off to. Maybe he was spinning around in space somewhere, lost with a dumb look on its face and jutting its tongue out at passing-by asteroids... Wherever it was, there was no way in hell it was dead at least. That thing could take on a matriarch if need be, Ares was sure of it.


    "Take your positions!" Lex''s order signalled the end of the five minute break and so the two teams lined up and squared off against one another. Ares was familiar with the ''everyone on the other team is glaring daggers at me and probably wants me dead'' type of atmosphere and he really didn''t know what to do with these people other than make an example out of them as per usual... Or at least that was his plan up until the horns blew and the match started. Ares hadn''t even taken a single step before Enyo snuck up behind him and hugged him again. He could see the anger in the other team''s eyes but that was nothing in comparison to the anger he could feel radiating off of Enyo. If Ares was annoyed about all the people lusting over Enyo, she was doubly annoyed about it all. Not to mention the single-mindedness with which these detestable rodents wanted to kill her husband. Ares was fed up but Enyo was mad and, when a surge of pressure washed over the coliseum, Ares understood he was not going to be the one making an example of these people here, Enyo was.


    Neither Ares nor Enyo really needed protection and yet they were quick to offer it to each other but, considering the kind of beauty Enyo was packing, it tended to happen more one way than the other. A chance like this was rare. Ares enjoyed the feeling of being able to sink into his wife''s warm embrace and just leave everything to her, his safety included. Just as Ares had declared that Enyo was his earlier, Enyo made a similar declaration at the start of the match as she clung to her husband.


    "Ares is mine. All of him is mine. If you want my man dead don''t think I''ll sit back and watch. Long before you crossed the line in the sand he drew, you''d already crossed mine. I may share my toy but I''ll never let anyone break it."


    Anyone who thought Ares was the only one who''d get defensive for the sake of his partner was dead wrong. Enyo was territorial over Ares'' body and mind to a frightening degree and she was about to show these fools exactly what would happen when somebody tried to intrude without her permission, regardless of the reason. This demonstration was especially true for the vixens in the crowd that would eye Ares up after he demonstrated his destruction pillar magic later, they needed to know who it was that was going to gatekeep them going forward. Other than Bellona, there was not a single woman here that was going to be allowed anywhere near Enyo''s favourite toy.

 Chapter 134: Enyo Is on the Warpath and Can’t Be Stopped

    Though Enyo''s talent with controlling pressure was subpar, the raw amount of it she could wield at her discretion was considerable. Control was only something people who didn''t have tides of pressure needed to concern themselves with. Chances are, Enyo would never learn how to use pressure with finesse but, really, she had no reason to because of her unique method of utilising it. The crowd was a little weirded out by the fact that Enyo was somehow utilising pressure at such a low cultivation as that should have been impossible normally. What they weren''t aware of was the fact that Dominus was skulking around inside Ares and beating it into people whenever he was let out. Having an expert like Dominus was basically a cheat code, a shortcut to mastery at an early stage. It might have seemed odd to the crowd but where Dominus came from even young children knew how to control pressure. That was just the difference in availability of resources and tutors between some bottom of the rung domain no one had ever heard of like Sheryashka and the upper echelons of cultivation society. It wasn''t unusual to have emissaries of a pillar, cultivators that were candidates to become the next God of the pillar they worked for, teach the younger generations if the pay was deemed acceptable. Sometimes even Gods themselves would accept requests if they were bored or owed anyone a favour for whatever reason.


    As for what Enyo did with the pressure, the spectators weren''t quite sure because it seemingly vanished without a trace. In its place, a bunch of see-through swords with a black tint appeared in the sky. There were roughly a hundred of them and they formed quite the sight as their awe-inspiring appearance commanded a certain kind of respect. There was a kind of holiness to them that contrasted with the black tinge, giving off the impression that retribution and murky violence could co-exist flawlessly, hand in hand. Some of the more keen eyes spectators could see all of the pressure bundled up inside these swords, turning them into extraordinarily dangerous ticking time bombs ready to detonate and wreak havoc.


    The Asnoll cultivators blinked and rubbed their eyes at the sight of the sword swarm hovering above them. Before they could even recuperate from their stunned states, the swords descended and each cultivator was brutally impaled by upward of twenty swords. They looked like spiked effigies, a cluster of monuments to Enyo''s victory. They were still barely alive but that was about to change as the swords all detonated in a burst of pressure and holy fire, scattering the bloody remains of the Asnoll cultivators across the coliseum walls and floor. The exploding barriers left behind a blaze of holy fire, in the middle of which stood Enyo as she kept hugging Ares with a fierce and protective look on her face. Her hair swayed but her narrow gaze on the remainder of the corpses strewn about was steady.


    And just like that, the match was over before it ever even really begun. Enyo had become a downright frightening cultivator since last night for a few different reasons. Those with a pleasure affinity, if using dedication cultivation, would get an exorbitant boost to their cultivation after losing their virginity. That was natural. Add on to that Enyo''s past self being the literal Goddess of the affinity and her colossal jump in cultivation was reasonable. Now, she was almost definitely the contender with the highest cultivation in this tournament, or at least close to it, so anyone below her was fodder and nothing more. Enyo was a prodigy from the start and adding the pressure inside her barriers made her untouchable to most people in and around her cultivation level. If you weren''t many stages higher than her then you had better be equally as prodigious to even stand a chance. But that was just half of the problem. The other half were the mutations to her magic that manifested after laying with Ares. Her ability to communicate with animals was relatively uninteresting compared to Ares, who got the lie detector, but that was then and this was now. Enyo had absolutely gotten the better deal out of her new mutations, now that she''d gone the full distance with Ares, than Ares did.


    There were three mutations, all of which involved Ares'' three aspects. Usually it was random how many you got, with the average being one, but maybe being the Goddess in her past life had something to do with her great ''luck''. As for what the mutations were, for starters, the nothingness aspect had ingrained itself into Enyo''s barriers, allowing her to shape them freely. She could make them sharp, curved, or whatever else took her fancy. The point being she could now use them as tools other than just barriers. If she wanted to attack someone with them previously, slamming the barriers against her foe was her best bet. At most, she could shape them during her combination art with Ares but even that was a nightmare for her so having that limitation removed was a blessing and then some. This mutation had simplified things by a large margin for Enyo, and she was grateful for it, but that was the least impressive change of them all.


    The second involved the disintegration aspect and was the reason behind the black tinge to her barriers that existed now. It was somewhat symbolic of Ares'' ''corruption'' of her and the mark he''d made, and she liked it for that reason too, but the main benefit was that all of her barriers were now covered in a thin layer of disintegration. She couldn''t use disintegration herself but the mana in the air would respond to her summoning a barrier and act automatically as it could sense Ares'' essence inside Enyo. As for what this did for her barriers on a practical level, it improved their offense and defence by an amount that was not trivial. When blocking attacks, the barriers'' extra layer would reduce the impact. When attacking a foe, the disintegration layer would hurt like hell. It wasn''t a massive layer but it was disintegration, the deadliest aspect of them all, so it really didn''t have to be.


    Enyo gaining pseudo access to Ares'' disintegration aspect was borderline unfair, especially when combined with the final mutation which revolved around the annihilation aspect. The last mutation was simple, Enyo could detonate her barriers freely and they would leave behind lingering holy fire that provided the usual holy buffs. Again, simple, but highly valuable. All of these mutations combined meant Enyo had a deadly weapon at her disposal now. Attacking with barriers, and unleashing the pressure kept within, had been clunky before but now she was outright an offensive menace. If you didn''t attack her barriers, she would attack you with them and, either way, you were going to have to deal with the pressure hiding within them when the barriers inevitably detonated thanks to her new mutation giving her the final say over when it happened. Enyo now how the means to slay her opponent with ease and could no longer be considered strictly a defensive powerhouse. She still was, obviously, but if you went into a fight not expecting her to be aggressive then the hail of swords and various other objects she could now construct would correct that misunderstanding quickly. To put the final nail in the Asnoll cultivators'' coffins, the Only You art increasing Enyo''s mana meant she could launch attacks that were large / numerous in scale without any hassle on her end whatsoever. Making love to Ares, thanks to her pleasure pillar affiliation being downright absurd, had made her freakishly strong and she was currently the standout cultivator in this tournament bar none.


    Ares ditched the idea of teaching her to wield a weapon. He''d been considering helping her learn to wield a spear a while back but she didn''t need it anymore. What weapon could possibly compete with these barriers that solved all of her problems anyway? Enyo didn''t even really need the shield anymore either but there was no reason to get rid of it and she was still talented with it. No matter how Ares looked at it, Enyo was stronger than he was currently. To think he''d been concerned about her cultivation previously.... Turns out her plan to rocket ahead was ingenious and worked way better than it should have. The stars had aligned and Enyo was currently reaping the rewards. Ares could tell the Enyo draped over his shoulder felt giddy and a little drunk with power. There were all sorts of emotions swirling in her serious gaze and Ares realised he was partially responsible for her crazed power trip. He''d introduced her to the world of explosions and destruction and she was clearly a fan. Enyo had always had a dominant streak in her so these magical mutations were like catnip to her and tickled her fancy in a way that left her wanting more. In fact, it looked like she wanted to try and wring more out of Ares this very instant... It wasn''t possible! She''d gotten everything she could already, there were no more mutations to be gained! You could only do it once! She was looking for excuses! Actually, considering her past, it might be possible for her to invent some kind of art that transcended logic but Ares knew she hadn''t come up with anything of the sort right now at least!


    As for what mutations Ares had received; there was one major one, one minor one, and one potentially life saving one which was fitting given who Enyo was. Well, actually, all of them were fitting, that was typically how mutations worked. The life-saving measure was a secret that he would keep in his back pocket for a rainy day but the other two were just generally useful and would be a massive boon going forward as they were useful in a variety of situations. The minor one was a passive benefit that gave him permanent thin barriers on his flesh. He couldn''t feel them or anything but they were present and doing their job well. Ares would take less damage and feel less pain when struck as a result of this change and it was a welcome one for sure. Just because he was immortal that didn''t mean being punched in the face wouldn''t hurt. Revenants typically got used to pain but that didn''t mean they enjoyed it. Naturally the main benefit was that killing him had just become that much harder. This mutation, combined with his regenerative prowess which still had room to grow, turned Ares into the cockroach Enyo had once not-so jokingly referred to him as. It was also worth noting the strength of these barriers was dependent on Enyo''s cultivation and they would only get better with time.


    As for the major change, and the one Ares was ecstatic to receive, it was something he''d been wondering about for a while now. He was always curious if it was possible to instil some kind of anti friendly fire protocol into his arts, specifically the annihilation ones, so that he could use them with reckless abandon. It was possible now, anyway! Thanks to Enyo, Ares could prevent his magic from tearing allies a new one and blasting them to Kingdom come unintentionally. It would now sort of just roll over them harmlessly and maybe even tickle them a bit but not actually damage them in any way. He could turn it off for whatever reason if he needed to but keeping it on for the most part was his go to as it was an incredible mutation. Part of the annihilation aspect''s biggest flaw was that using it in certain scenarios was basically impossible. Inside small buildings and around innocent civilians Ares essentially couldn''t use this magic lest he start reaping the lives of everyone around him. Now he needed no such scruples as his magic wouldn''t hit these people anyway! He also wouldn''t hit, or potentially kill, himself with his own magic anymore. Every time he''d hidden himself in Grand Annihilations prior it had always stung like hell despite it being his own art but, now, things had changed. He could even throw a Perish Wheel down at the ground and not need to escape into the void to avoid it. This was a hugely important mutation now but also in the future when Ares got stronger. His explosions would only keep getting larger in scale and having a preventative measure to stop unwanted chaos and death now, early and ahead of time, was a relief. Creating an explosion the size of a planet would be child''s play for Ares at some point and so him wanting more control over that kind of unruly power was understandable. It made a lot of sense this was something he''d receive from Enyo, the protector of the weak and innocent.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    All of that aside, the match was over and so too was the Asnoll dream. The first to fall in the tournament had been decided and it was a completely one-sided wash. It was pretty rare seeing a single member devastate an entire team as people at the international level were expected to do better and be at a higher overall level. Nobody gave the Asnoll group a hard time about it though because not only were they weak in general compared to everyone else in the tournament but also because this Enyo person was out of whack! There were some people at the peak of sensory enhancement in the audience who developed a cold sweat upon seeing that last attack. The sheer power of it was one thing but the major concern was that she didn''t even chant! These were just normal barriers?! In what universe? There had never been a defender aspect cultivator who''d even come close to the calibre Enyo was at and there would probably never be another like her ever again either. This was a person who belonged in the history books already despite her young age. Comparing her to greats throughout history would actually be doing her a disservice if anything as she was blatantly more unique than any of them. And even this was still barely scratching the surface. Currently she was using her pleasure pillar as an auxiliary but she could absolutely learn to attack and defend with it too, so her full potential really was completely unknowable right now. The betting brothers would never have rated Red Sun''s chances in the international as low as they did had they known about Enyo but, in all fairness, how could they? This was literally an overnight change that couldn''t have been foreseen by anyone other than Yulo. Not even Enyo herself had expected this. She knew she''d improve but this drastically? Not in her wildest dreams... Although that was mostly because her wildest dreams were reserved for a different matter entirely... Enyo was staring at Ares again and getting excited, even pecking him on the neck. Unleashing raw power, dominating the competition, and then claiming her reward... Enyo was getting restless and she was fed up of waiting so she dragged Ares away like some kind of aroused cavewoman while the crowd were still playing catch up in their heads over what had happened.


    Even Mako was completely floored because he felt the same way Ares did about the power balance of everyone competing. He was almost sure he would lose if he went up against Enyo in her current state and he wasn''t sure how to deal with her at all. He either needed to raise his cultivation fast or come up with an art that could handle this woman specifically as she was a roadblock to being number one. As things stood, she was like a rampaging bull that couldn''t be stopped and would just shrug off any pathetic attempts to dethrone her. Even Terros was astounded by the discovery of this superhuman holy pillar cultivator that defied reason. The current holy pillar Goddess looked like a sham in comparison and the same was doubly true for the pleasure pillar God. The pleasure pillar God might as well have been a virgin hobo before Enyo in Terros'' opinion and he had no bias on the matter whatsoever. Terros had always been the most neutral of all the Gods so his opinions were valued highly by just about everyone which was also why he would be keeping this one to himself. A lot of the Gods and Goddesses were jealous creatures and wouldn''t hesitate to kill someone better than them before they could sprout their wings and take off on their cultivation path. The Anti-magic pillar God especially was a rotten bastard who would kill people that had tools to counter anti-magic even if they had no intention of defying him or interacting with him in any way. Ares'' disintegration magic alone would be enough to bother the anti magic God, let alone Quietus Edict. it didn''t matter right now as the territory of the Gods was too far away to be a problem but one day Ares would need to keep a serious eye out for that annoying bastard and his little gremlin emissaries that did his dirty work. Well, they weren''t called ''emissaries'' specifically. Each of the Gods had their own terms for their followers and would-be replacements in the event of a catastrophe that killed them. The ''exemplars'' worked for the weapons pillar God, the ''null legion'' worked for the anti-magic God, and Terros himself had the ''unbreakable bulwark'' under his command, for example... It should be noted that the dumb and ditzy lizard Ignizz did not have any followers because he was truly that hopeless. He was the first and only God to never have any followers of literally any kind. Ironically though the list of cultivators who wanted to replace him was not small, they just had zero respect for the stupid salamander.


    Everyone else left the battle grounds and returned to the sect now that they were done for the day. Two days at minimum, actually, as they were promised not to have a match tomorrow which lightened their load quite nicely. Enyo especially was happy about this as she had already dragged Ares back their bedroom and knowing she had him at her disposal for the next two days was giving her a bubbly feeling in her chest. It also gave Ares an achy sensation in his groin that was a manifestation of his panic being at the mercy of this unstoppable beast but he was like a cornered rat and couldn''t escape. He''d managed to procure some pills from Allie but he wasn''t even sure if that would be enough to keep him going. His one saving grace were the banquets that Enyo had to let him go for. He had to cook!... Although she did try demanding he cook in the Primordial Blade while they were having sex... Ares had to pretend it was impossible. It wasn''t but this was too good of an excuse to give up the ghost on just yet. Also, what kind of host made the food and then ran off to make love to his wife while everyone was still eating?! Ares was starting to wonder if Enyo had any other previous lives hidden inside her, specifically if she''d ever been a damn succubus!


    While Ares was being run ragged and stuck fighting for his life with all his heart, Mako was demonstrating his own power in front of the spectators in the coliseum in a grander fashion than Enyo had. He left them all equally as speechless as he looked around with a smug grin but quickly realised Ares was nowhere to be found... DAMN YOU ARES! The bastard had left the Scorched Grounds! Mako chose to go and hunt the man down and whine at him until he was satisfied so, when he left the Scorched Grounds himself, he tagged along with his mother who was going to Ares'' residence for food and Appa. he was going to gate-crash the party and have a word or two with Ares if it was the last thing he did! As a fellow fundamental he should be shown due courtesy and respect. Currently the amount of both he was receiving had fallen below acceptable levels and that needed to be rectified!... Also his mother had praised the food quite a bit and Mako figured he might as well try the bastard''s cooking while he was there. The more he knew about Ares the better his odds were at beating him! Even knowing something as meaningless as whether he was a good cook or not was something Mako saw as useful information. It didn''t matter to him whether he would ever actually get any use out of it but that wasn''t the point. It may be helpful, and that was more than enough of a reason to know.


    When Ares finally managed to crawl out of the bedroom and go about cooking he noticed Mako sitting in the living room and almost turned around. He was oh so tempted to just go hide in the bedroom. In some ways it was more dangerous in there, in other ways it was less of a hassle to just deal with Mako. He saw Mako open his mouth and Ares wasn''t having any of it so he Shifted away into the kitchen to go and hide. Unfortunately Mako chased him down with Terros floating behind him.


    "Why didn''t you watch my match?!"


    With a tired and belaboured sigh, Ares turned to face the nuisance. "Why should I?"


    "You should care! Our battle will be close and you not making any effort will be detrimental. We need to figure out once and for all who is top dog and I don''t want to hear any excuses after the match when you lose!"


    "You are the only one concerned about such a thing. You won''t win anyway but I really don''t care about who wins regardless. It''s not important, we''re on the same side at the end of the day right?"


    "Up until Xhilihx is dead, yes, then we are competitors. I will become the greatest cultivator to ever live and you will not stop me."


    "I certainly won''t try to. The only problem is my existence will passively cock-block you so, if I were you, I would come to terms with that here and now. Also, why are you so obsessed with me specifically? There are four other fundamental champions you can go play with you know?"


    "''Go play with'' my ass. Until you remove the Primordial Blade''s interference I can''t leave, you shmuck. Also, I''ve heard the destruction pillar wields the greatest power and is the direct antithesis to my own pillar. You are my biggest obstacle, not anyone else. Make no mistake, I will assert my dominance over the other champions, that''s just a matter of time, but you are here before me in the here and now and I want to settle the score here and now."


    "Don''t shove your personal interests onto other people. I really don''t care about any of this. We''ll fight during the championship match, I''m sure, and you''ll get what you want then. Until that happens quit pestering me to go along with your nonsensical garbage. I''m not gonna stalk you just to get 0.01% extra advantage over you, I''m not that desperate. Are you that unconvinced you can win that you have to resort to this kind of behaviour? Is that the kind of mentality the ''greatest'' cultivator ever should even have? There''s working hard, and there''s trying too hard. You are trying too hard. So for now, ease up and tell me what you want for dinner. You''re here now, and God, in this case Terros I suppose, knows I can''t get rid of you. Stop being annoying and just enjoy yourself for once. Also, while we''re on the subject, Terros, can you eat? Do you want something or, like, should I just let you loose in the back garden so you can go consume rocks or something?"


    Terros groaned. "Why is it even when you''re being polite you feel the need to mock others? You would actually be quite the tolerable person if your mouth was forcibly shut after every valid point you made before you could start spewing nonsense. No, I do not eat rocks. Yes, I do eat food and yes, I would like some if that isn''t a problem."


    "Tsk, fine." Mako, seeing even Terros falter before the promise of food, had to resign himself to the party life today, but that didn''t mean this was over! He wasn''t entirely convinced by Ares'' little speech. To him, this was still a competition and always would be. "By the way, about the Primordial Blade, can you wield it yet?"


    Ares shrugged and shook his head. "Not really. I could maybe stab a person with it still in its sheath or block an attack with it but that''s all. I know you want to meet the other fundamental champions, and so do I, but my hands are tied right now. You''re going to have to give me time to control this thing so I can disable the barrier it put up. Also, if you know, then I take it the Gods are all aware I have it? I was trying to keep it a secret but that doesn''t seem to be in the cards in the wider world..."


    Terros nodded... Sort of? As a flying rock its gesture was more along the lines of bobbing up and down than anything resembling a nod. "That is true. Fortunately for you, by the time you can disable the barrier, you should be capable of wielding the Blade properly which will ironically aid you in defending it. Of course there will be others supporting you too. Rumour has it all of the fundamental champions have some kind of extremely rare treasure equivalent to the Primordial Blade and the organisation aiding your growth is determined to locate them all, put them in your possession, and help you safekeep them. For every person jealous of your treasures, there is someone who acknowledges you are our saviours and need to be raised with care. What''s the point of taking your treasure if our world is doomed as a result? Anyway, Mako has already found his own treasure and he isn''t exactly capable of wielding it yet either, so don''t fuss to much about not having control over the Blade..."


    "TERROS!" Mako spat. "DON''T TELL HIM ABOUT MY CLASSIFIED SECRETS DAMN IT!"


    "Weren''t you the one who demanded Ares tell you about his pillar to make things fair? You already know about the Blade so that''s quite the hypocritical stance, Mako."


    "... Tsk, fine, but ONLY HIM!"


    Ares watched the two bicker back and forth and took in the new information. It seemed he wasn''t the only one with a ground-breaking treasure at his disposal. The sooner he could wield the blade the better but it did also get him thinking... Is the Blade really useful to me the way it is now? Ares would give this thought due consideration going forward and it would eventually lead to an interesting result, but that was a long way away for now. Right now he was making dinner, and that took priority!

 Chapter 135: Bellona Is What Now?!

    Ares booted Mako and Terros out of his domain, the kitchen, before returning to his preparations. Unfortunately he didn''t have the ingredients for what Terros wanted on hand but Mako was a different matter entirely and his personal favourite could be cooked up with relative ease. It was a surprisingly simple dish, actually. The same was also true of the other matriarchs who were attending so the only person missing out was Terros but Ares had something special in store for him! There were no other unexpected guests. Sadie did show up but, to Ares at least, this wasn''t ''unexpected'' because wherever food and beer was, Sadie could be found drooling and trailing not too far behind. He was tempted not to cook for her until she brought the damn plate back but it seemed like she remembered to do that at least so he let it slide.


    The first of Enyo''s siblings to show up was Pele. When Ares opened the door to her she gave him a fist bump before congratulating Ares on his win earlier in the tournament even though he didn''t actually do anything. That was just who Pele was, though, someone who always looked for every available opportunity to make others feel good about themselves. Ares fired back by telling her she''d done a good job with her nails and that they really popped... Ares wasn''t particularly great at complimenting women he wasn''t romantically involved with nor was he really much good at detecting small changes but, luckily, he''d caught wind of Pele''s nails during the party yesterday because of how flashy they''d been. He recognised the pretty obvious change and decided to just be nice in whatever way he could muster because he genuinely hadn''t been expecting to have to come up with praise on the spot like this. Whether or not his sentiment was lacking in persuasiveness Pele didn''t dwell on it and instead started talking about she liked painting her nails orange because it matched her hair, especially when she was using magic. Plus, although he didn''t usually say much, Skyzo did once comment that it suited her and she agreed with him.


    "Ah, you know, I''m also hosting a banquet tomorrow for my own siblings. Skyzo will be there so if you want to come around you''re more than welcome."


    Pele closed her eyes and thought about it for a moment but sadly shook her head. "No can do buckaroo. I''m too busy tomorrow so I''m ''fraid I can''t. Woulda really liked to, ''specially seein'' as how we''re all gonna be getting along from now on. That''s fine though, I''m sure I''ll see Skyzo around here and there. Knowing him he''ll pop up in front of me at some point on his own so I''ll just hang around until he does. Thanks for the attempted assist though! It''s good you''re trying to bridge the gap between families... Although I dunno about Venus and Phobos... That stuff feels highly illegal but that''s up to Phobos. If he wants in then Imma just pretend I didn''t see anything. No idea what Palioxis will do about it though, probably fight Venus and get a little violent. Putting them two in the same room together without it resulting in any chaos is a right task. Well, she ain''t here now so let''s part-ey! I''ve heard real good things about your food, Blo Blo and Yo Yo were totes gushing about it yesterday night and now I gotta get me some!"


    "... Blo Blo and Yo Yo? I''m absolutely stealing that... I''m guessing that makes you Ley Ley? I mean it has to be, right? The only other option is Pee Pee..."


    Fiery embers drifted off Pele''s head and the tips of her hair were lightly singed. A few streaks of her hair above the tips were slowly turning more and more orange. Pele put her incredibly warm hand on Ares'' shoulder with a strained smile on her face. In order not to ''give away'' the fact that there was considerable anger welling in her, she closed her eyes which betrayed her emotions... Not that it helped much at this point as it was already pretty clear to Ares at least. "I''m going to pretend I didn''t hear that, K?!" Pele walked into the house and searched for her sisters, leaving Ares with a burning hand print on his shoulder as he was about to shut the door. Before he could, though, he heard a rumbling sound coming from the distance.


    Ares leaned his head out the door to check on the noise and had to retract it immediately as a vehicle he recognised almost took his head clean off. Deimos'' Grand Prix zoomed past, landed on the grass, swerved, and came back around to the front entrance. Deimos slid to a halt horizontally in front of the door, parked, and took his helmet off while sticking his tongue out at Ares. "Jealous? Go on, admit it, you wanna ride around on this bad boy, don''t you!? You can''t, but that doesn''t mean I still don''t want to hear you admit it!"


    "Not even a quick spin around the block? I promise there''ll only be one or two scratches on it after!"


    "Hell no!... But scratches actually don''t matter. I never used to be good at riding this thing when I first got it and would crash it all the time. Thankfully, with a bit of mana, it fixes itself right up. I learnt that the hard way, crash after crash. Fixing up my own injuries was another matter, however, as just a tiny bit of mana here and there wasn''t exactly going to solve broken bones or anything. Rhea always used to carry me back into the house, sighing as she looked down at my cuts and bruises while reprimanding me for my carelessness. She''d call over the clan''s resident doctor and help get me patched up only for me to go out and do it all again. Good memories. I don''t crash much anymore though... Apart from that one time you kicked me off the roof!"


    "Uh, to be fair, you technically didn''t crash then either. Your bike did a pretty good job of landing on its own." Ares expertly dismantled the unfavourable conversation by shifting the topic.


    "Yeah, being my personal treasure its grown alongside me and gotten stronger in its own ways. Being able to automate itself was really useful even if I didn''t get why at the time. Now though it can fight alongside me and give me that extra edge in combat so I''m glad it has a mind of its own. Also, even though I like riding it and being in control, sometimes just lying on the Grand Prix on my back and letting it cruise around is relaxing too... Not that you''re ever gonna get a chance to experience it! You''re being awfully polite and tolerable for a revenant but I know why! Don''t think I don''t! Just because you''re being a decent person that doesn''t mean I''m gonna let you borrow my baby. No amount of sucking up is gonna change my mind so forget about it bub!"


    "I will find a way yet!" Not quite fully abandoning his determined pestering, Ares temporarily gave up on his advances and invited Deimos in but kept thinking about ways to persuade him. Maybe he could fine some kind of treasure he might like and then trade him for it? If Ares found a gourd treasure to replace Deimos'' normal one then maybe he''d bite...


    Ares was about to close the door when he saw Tyr walking past the small gate at the front of the house and so he swung the door wide open again. Behind Ares in the corridor, Aejaz snorted at his brother who was now experiencing precisely what he''d gone through himself! This was Ares'' house! Making Aejaz open the door for all of his guests like earlier was rude!... Aejaz conveniently ignored the part where he was either a co-owner of the house or a freeloader and there was no in-between, both of which meant he should probably be grateful and just open the door instead of whining but oh well. Aejaz had always had a bit of a lazy streak in him and having to get up to open doors all day long was like his own personal nightmare. On the flips side, a place in which doors were opened for him all day long sounded like a dream come true... He still had ideals about creating his own paradise one day, and the more he stole the more he realised exactly what kind of place it was he wanted to create. He didn''t have the means, namely the funds, to create such a place just yet but he would certainly try one day! He''d already gotten the O.K. from his brother to create it within the sect after it had been expanded one day but that wasn''t going to happen for a while. Ares had big plans for the sect but he didn''t mind sparing some space for his brother to make his dreams come true off in the corner somewhere. It''s not like it wouldn''t benefit the sect either so greenlit it was. As for what it was exactly, that was a secret Aejaz kept close to his chest. He''d only told Ares so far and that was strictly because he needed planning permission at some point in the future so he chose to get it over and done with sooner rather than later. Not even Allie knew what it was because he wanted it to be a surprise! Not that Allie would much care for it herself but the stardust it produced would definitely indirectly help her obtain more alchemical ingredients at least.


    Anyway, currently unobtainable paradise aside, Aejaz went about looking for Allie to give her some good news. He had stolen from one of the matriarchs successfully! It wasn''t much, as he really didn''t wanna get caught, but he did manage to take some weird looking plant from the spatial ring of the pretty elf lady. Whatever Allie created from this was almost guaranteed to be incredible just based on who he''d gotten this thing off alone! They might have to check in with Zhang to get more details about the plant though. It''s rarity was simultaneously a good and bad thing as, yeah, it probably had all manner of great possibilities, but only if you knew what the thing even was!


    Ares could tell what his brother''s not-so-subtle evil cackling meant but he decided not to get involved. He could very well rat out his own brother to the matriarchs but where was the fun in that? As long as Aejaz hadn''t stolen from Calla then Ares wasn''t fussed about his antics. He ignored Aejaz and welcomed Tyr who had just arrived in front of the open door... After receiving no response, he greeted Tyr again.... And again... And again... The hell is wrong with this guy?! Ares stared at Tyr who stared back. This deadlock lasted three minutes until Tyr eventually spoke.


    "I was right. You do not deserve my sisters!"


    "On what basis you stupid mute sis con?!"


    "I am not mute, I was contemplating. Seeing you standing around, doing nothing, and being generally useless reminded me of the incredible showing Enyo gave earlier, during which you also stood around just like this. Just now I tried comparing everything I know of you to everything I know of Enyo and I came to a conclusion with no room for a change in verdict. You do not deserve my sisters!"


    "Yeah, I heard you the first time."


    "So end this relationship now, would you? Every second you spend in a romantic relationship with Enyo bugs me. I mean look at how ugly you are in comparison to Enyo! It''s criminal! She''s a literal Goddess and you''re a literal bandit. Look, I''ll even help you break up with her. I will walk you into the room, tell her everything, and all you have to do is nod along like a good little mutt." Tyr had clearly been told about why Enyo looked the way she did now but that didn''t do anything to fix his sisterly obsession. If anything it was worse now as Enyo''s worth had basically tripled in Tyr''s mind. Ares had been unworthy before but now he was unworthy by a factor of three!


    With a sigh, Ares simply let Tyr in and told him the following, "I''ll tell you what. Blo Blo and Yo Yo are in the living room right now. Go and tell them what you just told me and if they agree with you then I''ll consider doing as you ask of me."


    "Blo Blo? Yo Yo? Who told you you were allowed to call them that?!"


    "Pele did?"


    "Hmmmm... I''ll let it slide this once because Pele allowed you to say it but do not say it ever again! Nobody is allowed to be so close with my sisters that they use nicknames other than me."


    "Rrrrriiiigggghhhtttt. Anyway, good luck convincing your sisters to dump me. By the way, are those wounds of yours O.K.?"


    Tyr tilted his head as he checked himself over twice for good measure. He looked back up at Ares with a confused look in his eyes. "What wounds? I don''t have any?"


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "Ah, sorry, I was just practicing my foresight. If you need an icepack in the future for whatever reason, you can get one in the kitchen." Tyr wore a strange look on his face as he side-eyed Ares while he walked into the living room. Ares counted to ten on his fingers as Tyr explained his grand plan of separation to Bellona and divorce to Enyo before Ares heard the sounds of thumps, punches, and kicks rain down on one whimpering individual in the next room over. It looked like Ares had a potential career in fortune telling ahead of him if the whole cultivation thing didn''t pan out. Yulo had better watch out, there was a new prophet in town! Still, there was one thing Ares hadn''t seen coming. Phobos and Palioxis! they''d crept over to the front of the house while Ares had been dealing with Tyr.


    The two stood at the gate because Phobos was panicky and didn''t want to enter while Palioxis was trying to encourage him. Unsure of how to deal with this, Ares scratched his head and walked over to say hello. "Hello you two. Is everything alright? Do you need help with anyth..."


    "Get lost dumb mutt, you''re scaring my brother with your ugly revenant mug." Palioxis spat on Ares'' shoe before returning to her previous task of giving Phobos head pats.


    ¡­


    "... And I thought Fate was bad... It''s a good thing you''re cute. Look, I''ve made your favourite foods and everyone else is already here. There''s no reason to be afraid, right? Even if there is I''m really good at fixing problems so you can rely on me no matter what. Phobos, what''s scaring you?"


    Phobos stuttered before eking out his complaint, "U... Umm. Uh... Umm... Is Venus here? I... I don''t want to be eaten..."


    "... No. No Venus is not here."


    "Are... Are you sure? What if she''s hiding somewhere with a fork and knife waiting to cut me up into bite sized pieces?!"


    Ares'' eyes twitched as he glanced at the root cause of this misunderstanding, the tiny gremlin to Phobos'' left, before he came up with an excuse. "She isn''t and I know she isn''t! You see, I have this great thing called ''revenant repellent''. You spray the house with it and BAM, no more revenants."


    Palioxis snorted. "If you actually have any of such a miraculous invention, give it to me now so I can spray your stupid ass with it. Ignore this idiot Phobos, if the house was sprayed with such a thing how could he possibly live in it? He clearly thinks you''re dopey and won''t catch on to his silly tricks."


    "Oi, midget, you taught Phobos that Venus was a cannibal, I don''t wanna hear shit from you about lying to Phobos!"


    "Midget?! How dare you! I may be tiny in stature but that is simply because I am young! Young, you hear me?! Young! I will grow into a woman that can seduce any brother!... I mean man! MAN!"


    "Oh... I see... I guess this shit runs in the family, huh? You seem like even more of a lost cause than Tyr though. You actually wanna go all the way... I almost kind of respect you... Almost, not really though. Maybe if someone zipped that rampaging mouth of yours then yeah, I''d show you some respect... Crap, is this what other people think about me?! Oh wow, what a rude awakening... Now I''m sad... Damn you midget, this is your fault!"


    "I''M NOT A MIDGET!"


    "Uh... Umm... What are you two talking about?" Phobos nervously interjected. People around him were arguing and he didn''t like that even if he could tell it wasn''t serious.


    Ares smiled maliciously and creeped Phobos out but what he said next would truly creep him out more than any evil smile ever could. "Your sister and I were just having a war of words. I learnt something that you might find interesting! As it turns out Venus isn''t the only one that wants to eat you! Palioxis does too!"


    "Wh... What?! NO! I don''t believe you! You''re a bad person and a liar! Pali told me so!"


    "Yeah kid, why do you think she told you that? She thinks I''m on Venus'' side and that I''ll help Venus eat you before she can. She''s trying to keep you from my sister because she wants you all to herself!"


    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Phobos ran off with a tear in his eye as he bolted into the living room and hugged Enyo. Meanwhile, Palioxis and Ares were having a stare-down... With glares... A glare-down?


    "Heh, runt, looks like I win this round."


    "Tsk, I''ll pay you back for this, stupid giant. I will eat my brother if its the last thing I do and no dumb revenant is going to stop me or beat me to it! As for you, you think you''re the only one that can play these games? Let''s see what happens to you when I let slip to Enyo and Bellona the lusty eyes you''ve been giving Pele in secret!"


    "Oh? White lies? Go ahead twerp, see what happens. You underestimate the trust they have in me! See if those two don''t spank you in front of your precious little boyfriend! Ha! You never know, maybe if you''re lucky he''ll be into it!"


    "Grrrrrrr."


    "Grrrrrrr to you too, midget!" Ares cackled as he walked back into the house. Ha! He''d showed that child real good!... Child? Wait a minute... Did Ares just bully a child? Nononono, that foul creature was clearly an adult in a child''s body right? No way in hell that level of maturity belonged to an actual child right? Ares shook his head and resolved himself to try and be nicer to these two next time he talked to them, he''d promised Enyo to be a good older brother and that was clearly not a good start no matter how you looked at it. Still, asserting dominance here and there wasn''t a bad thing. Palioxis in particular had to know who was in charge! Clearly she''d never been taught manners! Or maybe she had but it was done by Major... that would explain a lot. Yeah... That''s right... These two had to put up with Major... Now Ares felt kinda bad bullying them like this. He sighed and walked back out the door. Palioxis was still standing around with a small frown and Ares could tell she was close to crying so he picked her up and brought her inside. She protested a little but he didn''t say anything in response as he entered the living room. He picked out Phobos who was sitting on the couch and walked over. Enyo gave Ares a look that said ''I don''t know what you did but undo it shmuck!'' but Ares was already in the process of doing precisely that and didn''t need to be reminded. It wasn''t a big deal even if he did nothing here but he would rather fix things than leave them as they were.


    Ares knelt down in front of Phobos who leaned back slightly after seeing his sister, the second little boy eater. "Look, kid, what I said earlier wasn''t wrong, but I think you''ve misunderstood. Nobody wants to actually eat you as in chew and digest you, that''s just weird. If they actually wanted to eat you people would have already kept them well away from you. It doesn''t mean what you think it does when it''s being said by someone who loves you. Don''t run away from your sister anymore, she''ll be sad and cry."


    "Oh... O... Ok."


    "Good. You and I need to have a chat about some other things here and there but now isn''t necessarily the time for that. For now, I''ll leave you in your sister''s care." Ares plopped Palioxis on the sofa, picked up Phobos, and put him on Palioxis'' lap. She blushed but hugged her brother firmly and he made himself small in her embrace. Ares walked away after completing his mission even if he wasn''t sure this was the right way to do things. Encouraging Palioxis to be close with Phobos had its own problems... Hell that was the understatement of the year this crazy child wanted incest! Plus he was actively cockblocking his own sister, Venus, here! What a complicated matter to tackle... Well whatever, it wasn''t really his problem. The thing he wanted to discuss with Phobos was his cowardice to see if he could help him overcome it. There was nothing outright wrong with cowardice... In small doses anyway. Look at Aejaz, he was normal in spite of his fears, normal enough anyway. Being a compulsive thief was hardly the standard metric to judge a ''normal'' person by. Phobos was an extreme case of cowardice, though, and needed looking at. Ares, being the busy-body family man he was, was going to poke around a bit. As he went back into the kitchen, Enyo followed him.


    "What was up with that? Getting a straight answer out of Phobos is... Hard... Sometimes." Enyo smiled wryly as she didn''t want to outright insult her brother''s difficult personality.


    "Me and Palioxis were having a little spat, at which point I told Phobos his sister, like Venus, also wanted a taste of him. Didn''t think his cowardice ran so deep he''d escape from his sister that took care of him all these years. The original intention was to show him that just because someone wanted to ''eat'' him, that it didn''t mean anything negative overall. You know, positive association with the term thanks to his sister. Man, helping that kid is gonna be a task and then some... Ah, not that I mean to complain about your family or anything, that''s not what I was getting at."


    Enyo smiled warmly and gave Ares a hug. "I know. Just the fact you''re willing to even try for no reason other than because you consider them family... That''s enough for me. Thank you."


    "Yeah... But I''m not entirely sure how to handle the whole Palioxis and Phobos relationship thing. That''s completely out of my wheelhouse and I don''t want to tread in those murky waters if I can avoid it..."


    "Hmmm... You''re going to have to at some point. Gimme a sec." Enyo left and returned shortly after with Bellona in tow. Bellona was fidgety and clearly didn''t want to be here which was a sight Ares recognised. There was probably a difficult conversation in store for him ahead... "Alright, there''s something you need to know before you go all the way with Bellona, Ares. It wouldn''t be right to have things go any further without you knowing before hand and being aware. Bellona is your half-sister."


    "?" Ares made... Some manner of sound, the intent of which was perfectly clear despite it not making any coherent sense. This revelation was a bit too much for Ares and he wasn''t entirely convinced he wasn''t being messed with given the conversation he''d just had about Phobos and Palioxis...


    "The secret Rhea shared with Bellona a while back was that she is a child between Rhea and Aster. Major is not her father. Shortly after you died, Calla was in a fit of rage. She wanted revenge on Major in any and every way possible but she was still too weak from child birth to physically hurt him. Although she was in a foul mood with Rhea, she used our mother''s long standing affection for Aster to her advantage. She let Rhea sleep with Aster and bare his child to spite Major and that''s where Bellona came from. Part of the reason Major hated Bellona more than any of the other children, and always made her life so difficult by tampering with her reputation, was because she was the result of Rhea''s infidelity, and to a revenant no less. This was just another event that added onto his list of reasons to hate revenants down to his core. As for Rhea, she hasn''t been allowed anywhere near Aster ever since as it was supposed to be a one time thing and nothing more. I think Calla is being a bit more lenient with her now that you are back in her life, though, so I think Rhea is just done completely with Major now. She probably won''t ever set foot back on our home planet again if she can avoid having to, and she''ll likely be living with Calla... And Aster, going forward. But back to the original point, Bellona is both your and my half sister. You seemed to be having difficulties coming to terms with Palioxis and Phobos well... Your situation isn''t too dissimilar, so start coming to terms with it!"


    "?"


    "Ares..."


    "?!¡­ !?!"


    "Ares, speak normally please."


    "This isn''t what I meant when I said I wanted a big, happy family!" Ares finally burst out into a fit of actual language. This was going to take a while for Ares to accept, clearly. "I mean... Fuck! Seriously? I mean, I''m not gonna demand we change things now, it''s too late for that... But fuck! Ah but... I mean... FUCK!" Ares, at a loss for words, started pacing about before stopping in front of Bellona who had been silent up until now. She looked at him and sheepishly uttered a word that RKO''d Ares on the spot the second he heard it.


    "Brother?"


    Thud


    Enyo sighed as she looked at Ares unconscious body. "Bellona, did you really have to say that? He clearly was not in the right frame of mind to take a mental attack that devastating... Well whatever, we need to wake him up."


    Bellona nodded in agreement. She wasn''t entirely sure how to feel about the whole relationship thing either but she''d had enough time to make firm her decision and was ok with the way things stood currently. She couldn''t make her feelings for Ares vanish and so she was just going to stick to her guns and bite the bullet. On the bright side, she was only his half-sister, right?... Not that that was particularly great but it could have been a lot worse. But hey, for every inch closer she was to Ares'' bloodline, she was technically an inch further away from Enyo''s! What? He was ok with making two sisters share the same bed but when the tides turned this was how he acted!? Bellona felt indignant the more she thought about it and so she kicked Ares awake. "Stop being a useless brother, get up, and finish making the food. I don''t want any of it to be burnt just because you were lazing about on the floor like a cockroach, brother. Do you hear me, brother?"


    Ares rolled onto his side and banged his head against the nearby cupboard a couple of times before taking a stand and staring Bellona deep in the eyes with a bruise on his forehead. "... Yes... Sister..." ¡­ This was going to take a while to get used to, even with Bellona''s prodding somewhat easing the burden... That being said, this did explain a lot about Bellona and her personality. Her sharp-ish fangs, her desire to be the centre of attention and everyone''s conversations, good or bad, and specifically her upbeat personality... Ah hell it all made so much sense in hindsight. Even Dominus'' comment about her being a half-breed... Actually, that left Ares with another question. Was Bellona a true revenant or not? Awkward familial relation aside, he was more curious about the answer to that question right now. It seemed there was going to a very interesting conversation topic at the dinner table tonight... Ares groaned aloud. His house had, over the course of the last minute, turned into a debauched house full of familial love and incest. What a disaster...

 Chapter 136: Food for Thought

    "Ok, you know what... Out! Get out! Let me cook in peace damnit! It''s been one surprise after another and I want to distract myself for five minutes without having another bomb shell unceremoniously dropped on my noggin! Out you familial fetishists, out!" Ares shooed away the sisters... Half sisters, and went back to making the food... Actually, now that he thought about it, didn''t this situation mean Enyo was a relative too? NO! Ares was cooking right now, not worrying about this ridiculous nonsense! For the sake of his sanity he put this debacle on the backburner for now and returned to his solace. He''d nearly overcooked some of the dishes because he wasn''t paying proper attention and that would have been the true crime here. Such a blunder, and on the night of a banquet no less, was not acceptable. His mother, his in-laws, his self proclaimed ''rival'', failing to deliver in front of all these people was something he would never live down so he focussed up and got the job done. In order to complete everything in a timely manner his multitasking skills were put to the test but a few hours later he was done and could heave a sigh of relief. One by one he started bringing out the main dishes and boy were there a lot of them. As for what everyone was having...


    Terros: Unfortunately, Ares couldn''t make Terros'' personal favourite today as he didn''t have the ingredients. Terros, if possible, would have liked a charcuterie board. The smoky flavours gave him a homely vibe that resonated with his grounded and earthly values. Instead of this, Ares had made him a pizza using some of the leftover dough from last time. The pizza was laden with various meats and had a thick crust but, most importantly of all, it was stone baked!... Terros appreciated the pizza but he most certainly did not appreciate the joke. He also nearly spat out his drink when Ares told him it was a cocktail called the ''suffering bastard''... And that it was on the rocks...


    Allie: Sweet potato curry. This almost made too much sense. Allie liked sweet flavours, so that side of things was obvious at a glance, and her wanting a curry was in line with her alchemical nature. Curries could be made in a variety of ways and creating one could effectively be considered alchemy in the kitchen what with all the powders and spices at the chef''s disposal. Allie seemed to like eating curries to get a feel for what kind of person the chef was and seeing the intricacies of their choices made manifest. It was almost like she was eating a delicious personality quiz! Sometimes, if the curry was good enough, it would even inspire her to go experiment with her alchemy.


    Appa: Pizza Snappas. Appa hadn''t tried many foods yet so it simply picked its favourite of those it was familiar with. There was nothing particularly different today other than Ares making a few extra different flavoured pizza Snappas for Appa to experiment with. More than anything though, Appa really wanted the toffee apple Snappas but that was for dessert and those would be coming out later. Appa naturally hoovered up its food quicker than everyone else due to the way in which it ate being fundamentally different but it patiently waited for dessert while making conversation with everyone around it.


    Leo: Sushi. The tiger liked fish. What else really needed to be said about this development other than, yeah, the tiger liked fish. Most normal treetop tigers did and the only reason Leo''s order was slightly different from expectations was because he wanted sushi and not just plain, raw, fish. The tiny furball had gotten a taste of the highlife and decided his meal would be better if Ares actually did something to it so he picked the dish closest to raw fish he could think of. There were others he was unaware of but this would do for today. It turned out quite good too and the purring menace to society discovered a liking for nori seaweed so he chowed down in relative peace... He did have to bat away Mini Pillie Scout with his paw when it tried stealing some of his food though. That maw was not tiny and the chunk of sushi he would have taken was not small by any means! Leo still had that inner animal in him that knew how to fight for his food!


    Aejaz: Loaded fries with ground beef and some crispy chicken on the side plus any fizzy drink. Highly unhealthy but nice to pig out every now and then with. Part of his preference for this specific meal came from the fact that it was something served regularly at casinos all throughout Red Sun. Pretty much every gambling den in the region had this meal ready to serve to customers and Aejaz had fallen in love with it. Stealing money, eating junk food, running the place and feeling good while doing it was his greatest pleasure. Something about the atmosphere of the various casinos really drew him in and this meal kept him coming back time after time. That and the stardust. The stardust played a huge role in things, making the food taste all the more delicious. Knowing every bite was being paid for by some random loser was a type of ecstasy Aejaz had never found anywhere else. After completing contracts for Hans he would stop off at one on the way back home pretty much without fail. Allie didn''t chide him because he always came back with either a pile of stardust or some new alchemical ingredients. She didn''t necessarily approve of his stealing but she wasn''t going to turn down the ill-gotten gains just because of it.


    Trixie: Chicken Kiev. The surprise bomber like pollo sorpresa, colour me surprised... Apparently opening up the unknown always gave Trixie a tingling sensation whether it be food, presents, bombs, or literally anything else that contained a mystery within it. Of course she was well aware of what was hiding in her chicken, garlic, but the taste wasn''t going to discover itself! There were many great reasons to live in this house and, as Trixie bit into her food, she found yet another one. Ares'' food was divine and she was going to get to eat this often from now on? Hell yeah. Discovering that Ares could cook well was probably the greatest surprise she''d unwrapped inside this house yet!


    Lacy: Spaghetti Bolognese. A classic. Nothing out of the ordinary here. A bit of pepper, a bit of cheese, a whole lot of happiness. Any and all cuteness afficionados in the living room took great joy in watching the munchkin happily gobble up her food. She even had stuffed cheeks like an adorable little squirrel! Too cute! Actually, today was cuteness overload what with Appa, Phobos, Palioxis, Allie, and Lacy all present. Ares, Bellona, and the four matriarchs were all immensely pleased with this line up! Who needed entertainment or idle conversations and small talk when you had this many sweet living beings in one room, eating with joyous smiles on their face?


    Rhea: Steak and ale pie. Why is it always alcohol with these women?! It''s seriously a miracle the Legion women don''t walk around permanently drunk! That aside, this request gave Ares a chance to practice his pastry as it wasn''t a type of dish he made often. He was trained how to, though, from a local patissier who''s work was indecipherable from pieces of art. Of all the talented individuals in Red Sun''s food industry, this one woman stood at the top of them all. She wasn''t very good at anything outside her craft but that mattered little when she was so astoundingly good at her area of expertise. Her shop was relatively famous globally and, especially at this time of year, she was flooded with business from wealthy individuals looking to get a taste of her world renowned food. Savoury or sweet, she could create either and do it flawlessly. Ares was nowhere near her level currently, although he could maybe reduce the distance between them if he used his Omniscience, but knowing even ten percent of her techniques and skills currently was enough for Ares to craft a pie that was angelic. It was so good Rhea shed a tear eating the thing and she had to fight off the other matriarchs who also wanted a taste. In the end she buckled as it became a sharing session between all of their meals. Rhea did ask Ares about the pie and when he mentioned that he wasn''t even half as good as the person who taught him, Rhea wrote a note to go and check the store out as soon as humanly possible. Actually, all the matriarchs agreed to go together and try and get some sweets because if the woman was even remotely as good as Ares made her out to be they were going to compete to see who could hire her.


    Serene: Panzanella. Choosing a salad was actually quite surprising for an elf. You would think, based on their portrayal in various books that littered the Red Sun libraries'' shelves, that they were mostly all either vegans or vegetarians but that couldn''t be further from the truth. They respected nature, sure, but not necessarily the animals that lived in it. It also bears reminding that elves had a deeply rooted ferocity burning away within them so their preference for red meat was like an open secret. As for why Selene liked Panzanella, and why her favourite drink was her own water that she summoned via magic, that was because growing up she didn''t really have access to meat. Her parents had been dirt poor so the vegetables they could procure for cheap, growing all around them, were eaten frequently. Serene had a pretty major regret in that she never discovered her magical talent before her parents passed. If she''d known about her water magic she could have given them a relaxing end to their laborious lives and let them live out their final moments in warmth and peace. Instead, they toiled in the fields up until they couldn''t move any longer and died shortly one after another. When one died, the workload was passed onto the other and that hastened their passing, leaving Serena all alone with nothing but a Panzanella recipe to remember them by. Ares'' version was incredibly good, and she would never deny it tasted better, but that didn''t mean she preferred it to her own. The nostalgia that came with the specific flavour of the recipe she had memorised could never be replaced in the same kind of way that Enyo was obsessed with the original mint honeycomb flavour. Better wasn''t always preferable. Still she definitely enjoyed her meal... And so too did the other matriarchs who pecked at it whenever they found a chance to.


    Margaret: Oven baked salmon, a splash of lemon, and various vegetables. Although Margaret hated to admit it, she couldn''t cook to save her life. Anything that could be considered a craft or artistic pursuit was beyond her if it wasn''t painting. That was her one God-given talent, and she was the best known living artist within Vraizon, but not being able to even dip her toes into other avenues really limited her. There were chefs on her home planet so she was familiar with good food but that didn''t stop her from painting dishes she wanted to try in her spare time. Her magic could bring them to life but they were tasteless, unfortunately. Eating one of the dishes she''d painted with passionate a good few years ago, for real this time, was immensely satisfying and she had been the most reluctant of the matriarchs to share her food. She quickly got over that same reluctance when she tried the other dishes and realised they were all just as good. Margaret burned into her memory the sight of every single dish here and decided to paint a recreation of today''s gathering at a later date.


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    Calla: Skewers with various meats, some pork, and peppers. Lamb, chorizo, beef, chicken, sausage, peppers, and some slices of bacon between them. Calla was easily the biggest meat lover in the building and she had been fiending for this dish ever since Ares said he would take orders. Having it today meant she wouldn''t have it during the banquet tomorrow because that was overkill but that was fine as Ares said he would make her favourite dessert for her then instead. Her bushy tail was wagging at Mach ten as she nibbled on the skewers, starting from the middle and chewing outward. Her sharp teeth tore at the soft flesh and she licked her lips after swallowing the food every time without fail. Calla had always been a bit of a glutton. Her parents were still on the other side of the severed domain, and she hadn''t seen them in a very long time, but she still remembered being patted on the head when she was a young pup as she ate a similar meal. Her tiny tail had spun in circles while her father laughed boisterously at his cute daughter. Calla really did miss her old man and her sweet mother but she had resigned herself to not coming into contact with them for a long time. Revenants lived forever so she wasn''t too fussed, and she still believed she would see them again at some point, but that didn''t stop her from secretly hoping someone could fix the current status quo sooner rather than later. She merrily hummed a folk song her parents used to sing as she chowed down and occasionally stole the other matriarchs'' food.


    Sadie: D?ner kebab... With beer. Ares seriously wondered which part of the meal was more important to her as the way she stressed B.E.E.R was enough to make Ares consider reporting this woman to alcoholics anonymous. Apparently Sadie had been a drinker from a young age back when her adopted parents used to sneak her some whisky on the side. As a kid, that woozy feeling she got when she was drunk was fun for her and that was a large part of why she still drunk today. She also really liked the taste and one of her favourite memories was getting drunk with Aym and just messing around with each other under the moonlit sky... After which she threw up! But Aym did too so it wasn''t as embarrassing. As for the kebab, it was juicy and that was why it was Sadie''s personal favourite to have alongside beer. Ares'' version also had a spicy yoghurt sauce and Sadie was drooling all over it. She was the second person to finish her meal, shortly after Appa, and silently begged Ares to give her more. Fortunately Ares had seen this coming and prepared some extra food here and there for the people he expected would demand seconds.


    Mako: Bacon and lentil soup with garlic bread on the side. Mako was reluctant to spill the beans on why he liked this dish but, thankfully, Terros was there to fill Ares in. Apparently Mako would keep a stock pot chock full of soup by his side as he slaved away on his inventions, magic, and training. The pot in question had a function that allowed it to reheat food when supplied with mana so the countless sleepless night Mako had endured were fuelled by this meal. Serene would drop by occasionally and replenish his bread but he was usually so focussed he never even noticed her bringing the stuff in. He would take five minute breaks every couple of hours and find his bread restocked almost every time. Terros managed to tell Ares that Mako would quietly say thank you to Serene when he saw the bread even if she wasn''t in the room anymore before Mako interrupted Terros and started chasing the flying rock around the room. Serene eventually stepped in and demanded Mako sit down and eat properly instead of being a nuisance to which he begrudgingly did so. As an aside, Mako openly admitted to Ares that his food was delicious. He even asked him to make him some big pots full of the stuff every now and then. Ares agreed on the condition that Mako also said ''thank you'' to him. Mako nearly picked a fight on the spot but Terros calmed him down as Ares walked away while laughing like a devil.


    Blo Blo: Surf ''n'' turf. Lobster and steak. Well technically her favourite was still the classic burger Ares had made for her birthday but she wasn''t in the mood to have it so soon again so she had this, her second favourite, instead. As for the history behind it, she might never have even tried this dish before if it weren''t for one particular moment during a trip to a beach in Vraizon when she was younger. Back during the time her reputation started to plummet some of the other Legion kids at the beach were hassling her so she went out to the water, caught a lobster with her bare hands, and chased the pansies around for a good half an hour with the critter snapping at their unguarded backs. She thought it was hilarious and even decided to eat the creature despite the fact she''d never tried lobster before. It became a last minute addition to her meal and she loved the way it tasted alongside her fillet mignon so Rhea promised to make it for her every now and then. As an aside, Ares called her Blo Blo while she was eating and her face flushed while she shooed him away.


    Yo Yo: ''Anything as long as it''s cooked by you''. Enyo never really had a favourite meal because she''d never cared much for food before she met Ares. She was used to rations and average, quick meals so Ares had been a pretty major shock to her tastebuds at the time. Although she frequently hankered for meat, that was about as far as anything resembling a preference went so she left it up to Ares. Unsure of what to make her, Ares simply made extra of everything else he''d made and let her have a mix of all of it. Whatever anyone else was eating that took her fancy he had at the ready and so she was content... And yet Ares wasn''t. He wanted to find something that would blow her socks off. It would be another layer to their connection, sort of like the mint honeycomb, so Ares put it in his internal and eternal to-do list that he should experiment with a unique dish for Enyo... There was one idea that kept popping into his head but even for Ares he was convinced it was impossible... But no matter how hard he tried to shut the idea out it kept crawling back in... His brain told him to do it, and that Enyo was worth the struggle, and deep down a part of him agreed... What this insane man would go on to craft for Enyo would be heaven defying, and never seen before in any walk of life, but that was simply an expression of how much she meant to him. Not many people would get to try it, though, as even eating it had strict requirements due to how crazy the dish was...


    Deimos: Waffles with crispy bacon and maple syrup. Maybe better for a lunch than a dinner but Deimos didn''t seem to mind. He was the type that ate whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, without care for other people''s opinions. He wanted an ice cream in winter? You bet your ass he was eating the coldest one he could find! Hot soup in summer? No sweat off his back. Flavoured milk? He would drink it while riding around on his bike in public and not give a damn. Life was meant to be lived and stifling his enjoyment of life was a no-go for him. As for the meal itself, it was the best cooked dish at a diner he visited often, one he really like the atmosphere in. It was like a home away from home and driving there on his bike and just spending the afternoon away from the clan was worth its weight in gold to Deimos.


    Tyr: duck a l''orange. Beneath it all, mainly the unabashed sister complex, Tyr was still a very posh and regal individual who liked the classier things in life. The head chef of the Legion clan was famous for his duck a l''orange and Tyr asked him for it on the regular. He enjoyed visiting the restaurant the chef worked at, being seated on the finest leather chair with a beautiful view, and eating to the tune of classical music performed by a talented group that were quite well known on his home planet. His appearance at the restaurant also did a good job of boosting sales so he was always more than welcome and he''d even been offered a discount for life, that was how favoured he was considering his position. When word got out that he refused the discount because the chef deserved every penny, his reputation soared yet again. Bellona had been the clan''s ace at one point, and Enyo followed suit, but Tyr had always been the symbol of the clan that represented the average Legion member. If a popularity poll had ever been run, Tyr would have been first, and by a wide margin at that, which was why a lot of younger clan members developed a fondness for duck a l''orange themselves when they copied him and his habits, massively boosting the restaurant''s sales. A lot of clan members would secretly be happy when Enyo''s position of clan ace was stripped from her for marrying a revenant as the title would inevitably go to Tyr next.


    Pele: Chicken tortillas with spicy peppers. Pele liked spicy foods because the kick was so drastically different from the boring meals you would typically find at a Legion outpost. Pele had been a bit of a foodie and liked visiting planets with all sorts of food customs to get a taste of a wide variety of dishes. Of the siblings, she was absolutely the most well versed with different meals across the domain belonging to different races and she could drop numerous factoids about the history of said meals at the drop of a hat. As a side note, her affinity for the fire pillar made spiciness more tolerable and thus she could take on stronger heats with relative ease. Rather than a burning sensation, what she felt was closer to a tingling on her tongue that left a powerfully sweet aftertaste. Ares had given her a couple different extras on the side to put in the tortillas at her own discretion and she seemed to really enjoy the salsa in particular.


    Palioxis: Stir fry. Ares tried digging out a reason why but she refused to answer him. He even tried asking the other siblings but none of them seemed to know... All hope looked lost until Rhea overheard Ares'' investigation and chimed in with the answer! Palioxis liked the dish because Phobos tried to make it for her once. it was the first dish he''d ever felt confident letting her eat and so it had a special place in her warped, bro con heart... Ares learnt that Phobos had an interest in cooking and he gave it a spin here and there until he eventually became quite decent at it. Major had issues with a ''cultivator who cooks'' and tried to beat it out of him but he kept doing it in secret because his sister always devoured the food he made for her. Ares was actually quite impressed with the little fella. Cowardice aside, making high quality stir fry at a young age was a good indicator he was pretty talented. Maybe he had a future career as a chef waiting for him? Ares decided that would be his main talking point when he got around to chatting with him.


    Phobos: Stir fry... Yeah, now it was all starting to come together and make sense. Ares had been curious about whether  the twins favourite dishes were really the exact same or not. Whether it was actually his favourite or not was up in the air but what this sneaky guy clearly wanted was inspiration to make his own dish better. Having heard Ares was a great cook led him to indirectly seek advice by trying his dish first-hand and seeing what improvements he could make to his own creation. Having compared them Phobos realised how much of an understatement ''Ares is good'' was. The guy was clearly interested in asking Ares for advice but seemed very hesitant to do so as per his usual self. Instead of waiting around until the heat death of the universe, Ares went to Phobos instead and told him he''d chat with him a little later about various stuff and the tyke nodded. If Phobos wanted to become a better cook for the people around him then Ares could lend a hand, sure. In fact, he even decided to take Phobos to Scratch''s place so he could taste a perfect stir fry and steal some ideas from him too. Phobos may be a coward but he clearly cared deeply for his family if he was looking for ways to make them happier, even if his methods were roundabout and ineffective compared to just being straightforward and honest. He could have asked Ares for his actual favourite dish, as well as advice, and doing things this way really wasn''t necessary. Oh well, at least he had conviction. That was important. Maybe helping him not be a scaredy cat 24/7 wouldn''t actually be that hard?

 Chapter 137: An Onion, a Piece of Rhubarb, and Some Poisonous Mushrooms Walk into a Bar

    After doing the rounds, Ares took a seat next to Phobos and started up a conversation. "Hey kid... No, don''t go looking at your sister for help, I ain''t gonna eat you so calm down! Look, you know what this is?" Ares placed an onion on the table in front of Phobos who stared at it without blinking.


    "Uh... Um... Is... Is it an onion?"


    "Why don''t you sound sure of yourself? I know you cook and that therefore there''s a zero percent chance you haven''t seen a bajillion of these!"


    "I... I thought you might be messing with me... Because you''re a revenant."


    "Ok, you know what, I''ll give you that one. If I could paint, I''d probably try and disguise an apple as an onion or something to mess with people so I''m not going to hold that answer against you. Any~way, not important! You know what onions do? They make you cry! You especially I''m sure. So, if they make you cry, you know what you do when life gives you onions?"


    "Um... No?"


    "Nah, come on, guess. Onions make you cry, and crying is usually bad, so what do you do when life gives you onions?"


    "Uh... Throw them away?"


    "Hell no! You cook ''em, tears be damned! What a waste of perfectly good onions! Ok, next question, rhubarb. Poisonous right? I give you some poisonous rhubarb. What do you do with it?"


    "It... It''s poisonous, so throw it away?"


    "Hell no! You remove the stalk and cook it properly so it ain''t poisonous ya dope! What a waste of perfectly good rhubarb! Some chef you are! Ok, last question. I give you some poisonous mushrooms. What do you do with them?"


    "... C... Cook them?"


    "HELL NO! They''re poisonous you nitwit! That stuff''ll usually kill you dead no matter how you eat it! I literally just told you they were poisonous?! Why on earth would you eat them?! Ok ok, that weird choice aside, do you know why I asked you these three questions?"


    "... Because you''re messing with me?"


    "Admittedly a little, BUT NO! The main reason is because I''m trying to point something out to you that you need to learn. Some bad things should be avoided in their entirety, like poisonous mushrooms. Some bad things shouldn''t be avoided because it''s easy to change them into a good thing, like rhubarb. And finally some bad things can''t be avoided and have to be dealt with, like Onions when they make you cry. My point being that right now you''re treating the things you don''t like as if they''re poisonous mushrooms and trying to run away from anything and everything! You can''t do that because then other people have to put up with your mistakes. If Major walked into this room right now and wanted to hit someone what would you do?"


    Phobos looked around in a panic and didn''t calm down even after confirming Major was not present right now. "R... Run away..."


    "WRONG! Who would Major hit afterwards? I said he wanted to hit ''someone'', not you specifically. If you ran away he would just hit someone else instead because of your cowardice. Are you ok with someone like Palioxis getting hurt because you feel the need to run away all the time?"


    "W... What should I do then.?.. Are you saying... I should let him hit me?"


    "Major is an onion. You can''t avoid him forever. So you know what you do? You don''t let him hit you, you hit him! If Major walked into this room right now I don''t think there''s anyone in this room who wouldn''t want to kick his ass except you! You are the only person who''d run away from him despite not being the only person too weak to fight him."


    "I don''t want to die..."


    "And you''re ok with Palioxis dying!? Isn''t that selfish? If you think Major is going to kill you you''d throw Palioxis at him so you could run away?"


    "NO!"


    "What would you do then? If he tried to kill your sister, what would you do?"


    "H... Hit him?"


    "Right, so if you can hit him, if you have it in you to do that, why the hell do you walk around like you''re scared of every shadow on every wall all the damn time? You have the conviction to slap someone, fight against a guy completely out of your realm, but you''re worried some revenant you''ve never even spoken to properly is going to eat you?! Make it make sense! You aren''t actually scared of anything, you just think you are! Stop overthinking things! You literally just told me you would eat a poisonous mushroom for Christ''s sake! You''ve got the right attitude but your brain is tricking you into acting like a fool! If Major is an onion, then what am I?"


    "... Rhubarb?"


    "Correct! Now explain to me why?"


    "Because you''re a scary revenant... But you know how to cook and if I ask you politely you''ll teach me?"


    "See?! If, deep down, you knew from the start exactly what kind of person I was, why were you running away and hiding from me all the time instead of coming up to me and asking for advice? Let me tell you something. Do you really think being brave is what Major actually wanted out of you? At the start, maybe, but when he realised you were useless to him why would he care about whether you''re brave or not? He''s a manipulative man. I haven''t met him and even I know that. He changed his mind about you and what he wants out of you now is a coward. If you can''t stand up for him, he doesn''t want you to stand up against him. He was trying to scare you into passivity and you let him! Did you think that throwing away whatever pride you had and hiding behind your sister was getting back at him?! It''s what he wants! The man who gave you hell, do you really want to be in the palm of his hands for the rest of your life?"


    "No..."


    "Do you want to spend the rest of your life living in fear of problems you can very well solve yourself?"


    "No."


    "Do you want to let everyone else have a difficult road ahead of them because of the cowardice that man instilled in you?"


    "No!"


    "Good! So stop walking around like the end of the world is nigh ''cos let me tell you this. This world ain''t ending unless I say so! As long as you don''t have to worry about that, what else is there to fear? Major? If he was trying to turn you into a timid and helpless child, then clearly he feared you way more than you did him! He saw talent in you but couldn''t make it happen in a way that benefitted him and he got scared. He knew his limits but he didn''t know yours and, honestly, neither do you. You''ve spent so long feeling sorry for yourself you''ve never even bothered to actually try your hand. So from now on, every time I see you being a scaredy cat, I''m going to throw poisoned mushrooms at you! Either deal with your avoidable problems, or I''ll chuck unavoidable ones at you instead!"


    "That... That last part sounds unnecessary?!"


    Ares smiled as he brought a weird purple mushroom out of the Primordial Blade. Phobos quaked in his boots but didn''t run away. Ares slowly put the mushroom away. It wasn''t actually poisonous but Phobos didn''t need to know that. Also, just chucking a poisonous mushroom at someone wouldn''t do jack all! Phobos was just being influenced by the mood and going along with the flow so Ares made use of that to his advantage. "Good! Build that confidence!"


    "Mhm... What about helping me learn to cook? Is that ok?"


    "Yes. Yes it is. You know what, keep eating and give me a minute. I''ll be right back!" Ares Shifted away but took a little longer than a minute to come back. Rather than nervously worry about whether he would stay true to his word, Phobos practiced being unphased by such a development and managed to keep eating with ease of mind. Ares returned a while later with a bowl in his hands which he placed in front of Phobos. "This is the best stir fry you can find in any known domain my by a good friend of mind called Scratch. Can''t get better than this so take your time with it and pay attention to all the small details. I have a list of ingredients, and a recipe as well, but I want you to see how much you can figure out before I hand over the keys to the kingdom. Chop chop! Eat tiny human! Eat! Eat unless you want to end up being a midget like your sister!"


    "HOW DARE YOU?!" Palioxis came thundering over and cutely punched Ares on the shoulder repeatedly.


    "Hahaha. GREMLIN ATTACK!" Ares cackled as he picked up Palioxis and put her on his lap. She floundered about but Ares stopped her by putting a bowl in front of her too. "Look, see this? It''s the same stir fry I gave Phobos. I want you to eat it as well so it can serve as a frame of reference. If he isn''t cooking dishes as good as this I want you to be brutally honest with your brother. Encourage him to be better than he is. I know you''re good, real good, at picking out people''s flaws so don''t hold back. You think you''re protecting him but you''re actually coddling him and making things worse. Do you want him to be scared of everything forever or do you actually want him to be happy?"


    "..."


    "Then eat up. How can he be happy when you aren''t? Come on, show me a smile! I bet you''d be cuter if you smiled every now and then!"


    "No. I refuse."


    Ares whispered, "You know, boys like it when cute girls smile. Try looking at Phobos and smiling at him to see what happens. I''m just trying to help you out here. I''m sure you''ll enjoy his reaction."


    Gulp


    The temptation to do so was too great even if Palioxis really didn''t want to smile from the bottom of her heart... But what if it really did help? She looked at Phobos who had been concentrating hard on the noodles up until now. He saw his sister looking at him and he smiled sheepishly. He was trying hard for her sake so the least she could do was show how happy that made her, right?... Still, smiling was an alien concept to her so she could barely muster a small smile in his direction. Much to her joy, Phobos'' cheeks turned red and he immediately dove back into the noodles. Upon seeing this her smile became a bit more genuine even if it was mostly because there was a hint of smugness buried deep within.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Flash Snap


    Her smile was wiped clean off when she saw Rhea taking a picture of her. Unfortunately for her it was way too late and the damage had been irreversibly done. She threw herself off Ares lap with a noodle hanging out of her mouth as she charged over to her mother. "R... Rhea! Delete that!" The tiny fists of doom were striking at the steel wall that was Rhea but they dealt no damage. Rhea simply laughed as she picked up Palioxis, put her child on her lap, and hugged her from behind.


    "You should smile more Pali. It suits you."


    "Hmph." Palioxis swallowed the noodle and turned her head to the side. Despite doing this she still gestured towards Ares with her palm, asking him for the rest of the stir fry because it was too good to waste.


    Ares brought the bowl over and she ate it while accepting her mother''s embrace. Before Ares left to go back to his own seat, Rhea looked at him and mouthed the words ''thank you'' as she contentedly rested her chin on her daughter''s head. Instilling some boldness, even if it wasn''t much yet, in Phobos and making Palioxis smile... He''d really pulled through today and tackled a difficult task with finesse. Well, the word ''finesse'' was used lightly as the whole onion talk was incredibly stupid in hindsight, but that kind of stupidity was so hysterically off the cuff that it became almost too difficult to argue against properly. The problem with Palioxis and Phobos were that they were always over-rationalising every little detail and needed to take things easy, maybe see everything from a different lens from time to time. Ares ''infallible'' ''logic'' hit them like a truck and forced them along for the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime, not knowing where they would end up. Even if the destination was right in Ares'' palms, and he''d been manipulating them from the start, that was ok because he had nothing but the best intentions for them. Maybe what he''d done was stupid after all but the important thing was that it had worked and it worked well. For that, Rhea was incredibly grateful. Ares was single-handedly tearing down what little influence Major still had over her children to shreds. She could see why he was given the destruction pillar. It wasn''t a matter of him being some kind of destructive lunatic, it''s just that he would destroy anything he didn''t like in regards to the way the world worked without any hesitation or doubt. He didn''t like Major''s dead-hand grasp on his children? He''d deal with it. He didn''t like the war? He''d deal with it. Ares was someone who actively sought to right wrongs and remove all that he disliked, especially if it involved family. The destruction pillar really couldn''t have gone to a better candidate as there was probably no one more resolute in such matters than Ares and he deserved if only because he would use it for the sake of the greater good without fail.


    ¡­


    Well, his intentions weren''t 100% pure. More like 99.9% if anything. Ares had sneakily snagged Phobos'' belt for Venus tomorrow... What Phobos didn''t know couldn''t hurt him! Ares hid the belt in his Primordial Blade and acted normal! Very normal! There was no degeneracy enabling at foot here! No sir! Thankfully no one noticed... Well no one other than Aejaz anyway. He was the resident thief so naturally nothing went stolen in this house without his knowledge of the incident.


    Ares was on his way to his seat when he was yanked, mid walk, onto Calla''s lap. "The food was delicious! I can''t wait for all the other babies to try your cooking too... And Aster. Aster always appreciates a tasty meal. I think you''ll get along well with your father. You remind me so much of him. Always butting in to other people''s problems and trying to fix them... You''re a good kid. I feel like you were raised right and so I want to ask, who looked after you when you were growing up? Are they still around?"


    Ah, it''s time for the ''Ares reveals all'' interview is it? Alright... How do I tell her I was a slave without upsetting her?... "Well, I did end up meeting a pretty great guy called Hans a bit later on in life and he''s a fantastic person, yeah. He''s an old guy who lost his own kid and is trying to fix some of the more unpleasant parts of this town... As for before that... It''s a bit complicated..."


    "Complicated?... Was it no good?"


    Sigh


    "Not really, no. Do you want me to tell you everything?"


    "... Yes, please."


    "Alright, but please don''t feel bad. None of this is your fault and I really don''t care about any of it. What''s in the past is in the past and I''m already in the process of getting my revenge for no reason other than that I feel Red Sun is better off without these people in it." Ares took a deep breath and explained his history with the Chen clan in detail. There were even parts of it that neither Enyo and Bellona knew. It wasn''t that he''d hidden it from them or anything he just felt no need to bring it up. He really hadn''t cared and he didn''t want anyone else to either. Still the stories of his beatings, everything involving Chen Prem trying to hunt him down, and occasionally indirectly executing his fellow child labourers after he beat them in a duel and they were deemed useless, weren''t so easy to digest. All sorts of miscellaneous details added up to form what must have been a rather unpleasant life and the fact that he never complained about any of it made Calla deeply upset. She didn''t know whether to be angry, sad, apologetic, or all three at once so she just hugged him and mumbled an apology under her breath. Ares sighed again when he was done. "Come on, don''t feel bad. I told you it''s not your fault. These things happen and it could have been a lot worse. Also, I''m pretty blessed to have lived the life I did after leaving the Chen clan so I really can''t complain. It''s all been uphill since I met Aejaz the day I escaped. Speaking of, as for that silly doofus..."


    To take Calla''s mind off all the boring and downtrodden talk, Ares decided to throw her for a loop and introduce her properly to his ''sort of, not actually, but definitely kinda'' brother. He talked at great length about their various exploits and how they became the bandit brothers and so on forth. This explanation also helped Rhea understand why the Fleeting Glimpse clan and Aejaz were at odds, creating a scene during the party previously. After hearing various tales of comradery, Calla lifted Ares and yanked Aejaz onto her lap instead. She pet his head and called him her ''adopted baby'' before rocking him back and forth. Aejaz could do nothing but accept the treatment and, honestly, he was happy too. It''s not like he''d ever felt maternal love of any kind before so this was nice. Ah, the pleasant sensation of a warm and motherly hug! He could get used to this! It was a different kind of feeling compared to when he hugged Allie but he liked it too.


    Following that explanation, Ares discussed various miscellaneous events, especially those leading up to his relationship with Enyo from his perspective. Ares noticed Serene twitch when he mentioned the mecha dryad incident but he didn''t probe. Actually it looked like Calla and Rhea also wanted to ask Serene about something but they would do that in the future...


    Calla also hugged Allie during this period, when it was revealed she and Aejaz were close, before finally settling down when all was said and done... Well almost everything, there was still one more matter that needed to be settled, damnit, so Ares threw a certain someone under the bus! "There is one more thing I would like to discuss but you and the other matriarchs already know about this. It''s not my place to bring it up, though, so I''ll give Bellona the honours."


    Bellona almost spat out her steak when she was betrayed and called upon by her literal lover brother... Well, she was going to have to unveil the news at some point, keeping it hidden was pointless and it''s not like it was a huge deal anyway. She addressed her siblings and told them the truth, that she wasn''t Major''s child. Like with Enyo''s declaration about her true self, the announcement was met with mostly uncaring support. If anything all of the siblings were actually jealous of her... Not being the child of that devil spawn Major was a blessing. Her true background even left Phobos hoping he was secretly in the same boat... But he wasn''t. Rhea confirmed it was just Bellona. There was also one person who was overjoyed with this announcement, Calla! She''d already known, obviously, but she couldn''t treat Bellona like one of her kin because that would give away the secret. Now though there was no reason to hold back so Bellona was the fourth person dragged onto Calla''s lap tonight.


    "Half-baby!" Calla unleashed her seemingly infinite affection again with a happy exclamation as she nuzzled Bellona.


    Now that this secret was out in the open, Ares could pry out the answers to his questions! Namely, "How does being a half revenant even work anyway? Is she immortal? Can she become a fully fledged revenant?"


    As Calla was the expert on this matter she responded with all of her knowledge on the matter that she deemed relevant. "A half revenant can''t transform and they aren''t immortal. When they reach bloodline awakening they''ll get to regenerate a little and that''s usually it. As with half and halves of any race, though, it is possible to evolve into a full fledged revenant via a mutation... And as for how you get mutations, well I''m sure Enyo could tell you al about that after yesterday night, no? In short, if Bellona wants to become a revenant proper, she has to give herself to one. I''m not trying to encourage you two to be quick about it or anything but the sooner you do it the safer Bellona will be thanks to her newfound immortality. I get that you two don''t have any intentions of getting closer just yet but you should keep that in consideration. Also, Bellona will get her revenant transformation at bloodline awakening as well as some new wolf specific traits for her human form just like every other revenant. What those two things will entail specifically I don''t know because it''s hard to tell how strong a revenant will be before that point. Ah but pairing her measurement manipulation with the revenant form ought to be quite strong, I think. You''ll be incredibly dangerous in melee combat with your enhanced strength and speed. Your magic is versatile and you will probably be able to whatever you want after getting your transformation. It will be up to you to use your magic wisely and in the way that''s most useful in any given situation. Support, defence, offense, you can do it all really."


    "I can become a revenant, huh?..." Bellona looked over at Ares, her ticket to becoming the very kind of mongrel she''d insulted countless times up until now. The temptation was great but she still wasn''t ready for that yet. Plus Enyo was still enjoying him all to herself for now and Bellona didn''t want to interrupt. Off in the background, Bellona could hear Enyo chanting ''d~o it, d~o it,'' over and over again. "Shut up you unapologetic whore! I''ll do it when I''m good and ready! Why don''t you go do it instead!?"


    "Ok!" Having received permission to dine and dash, Enyo started dragging away a very confused Ares. The entire room was stunned by Enyo''s audacity but, in a twisted way, they also couldn''t help but respect it. She was a woman who got what she wanted, when she wanted it if nothing else...


    Time and place? Do these words mean anything to my insatiable wife!? Ares sighed as he was dragged away but he did shout one last thing before leaving. "THERE ARE TWO DESSERT TYPES IN THE FRIDGE. ALCOHOL JELLY WITH BOTH WINE AND BEER FLAVOURS FOR YOU LEGION DRUNKARDS, AND A BUNCH OF BANNANA SPLITS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS THEM. HELP YOURSELVES..." And may God help me...


    God, none of them, did in fact help Ares. He was subjected to all manner of torment for the rest of the night. Everyone else either left or stayed the night but Ares had no choice in the matter as Enyo had quite literally tied him up in the room. With a pair of handcuffs, Ares was bound to the headboard by Enyo''s brute strength. Thanks to her cultivation he couldn''t resist her even if he wanted to. His one option was to grin and bear the punishment until he could slip away by disintegrating the cuffs. Thankfully, they weren''t treasures or anything otherwise Ares wouldn''t dare destroy Enyo''s toys. The disposable spares she got from Bea were replaceable and therefore fair game.


    Morning did eventually come, alongside Ares, and Enyo was still going at it like a rabbit. Ares wanted to get out and regain his freedom but she looked really into it so he waited until she finished her current rodeo before leaning in and whispering. "You could always go and get Bellona and have her join in the fun. Even if we don''t go all the way it''s fine to still have her in here, right?"


    Enyo froze on the spot before nodding fervently in agreement. She rolled off the bed, put a robe on, and went to go assail her sister. Ares felt guilty lying to Enyo like this, and he was going to pay the price for his insolence a thousand times over later, but right now he wanted to jailbreak! He quickly disintegrated the cuffs, put some clothes on, and hurriedly Shifted out of the sect, breathing a sigh of relief when he cleared the gates. There was somewhere he wanted to go so he was about to set out when...


    DOOM


    A swamp of pressure descended on the sect and Ares was finally realising the scope of his error. He was completely immune to this kind of pressure, the omnipresent weight, and yet even he could feel the sheer quantity of it rolling around in the air. Enyo was clearly not thrilled to have been duped like this... In times like these, there was only really one viable strategy... Run away and leave the problem to someone else!

 Chapter 138: Is This a Pagoda or a Chicken Coop?

    A short while after abandoning his family to Enyo''s wrath, consequences be damned, Ares arrived at his destination for the day. He had no idea what manner of tomfoolery was in store for him but he was planning on spending all his time here at the pressure pagoda until dinner at least. This was a place that could be re-entered at any time so, if it was a long process, Ares could come back at a later date. He still had the second banquet to host today and that took priority over no-life-ing the pagoda. Although Ares was confident about his upcoming trials, he could feel it in his bones that he wouldn''t be successful immediately.


    Now that the pagoda was open for people to try, the pressure leaking out of it''s doors was monumentally large. The entirety of Red Sun was swamped in silver pressure but it was masterfully done and no one could see it other than experts with profound knowledge about pressure. As they could tell the source was non-problematic most people just ignored it, annoying though it was. Most people kept their pressure to them-damn-selves, however, and these experts weren''t happy about this development! Of course a creation literally named ''pressure'' pagoda was going to be like this but that didn''t make it any less obnoxious to deal with for passing by experts! It was like wading through thick smoke and the problem was only exacerbated the closer you got the pagoda. Still, anyone capable of detecting it could also easily guard themself so it wasn''t the end of the world, it just made them exert some effort here and there.


    Ares stepped forth and took a look around. There were a fair few people here, that one neo-Viking working with the betting brothers included. They were all stood in a line and waiting patiently to be able to enter. Multiple people could be inside the pagoda at the same time and the first floor was co-habited by everyone as they shared the same ''instance''. In other words, on the first floor and no other, you could interact with other competitors and see their progress in real time. From then on you would be separated for the other trials as that was when things started to get serious. Two people could be on floor two but they wouldn''t see each other, for example, and the same was true for every other floor above that. The cultivators waiting outside could also see which floors were occupied currently by a little lantern on the side of each floor that lit up with a blue flame when someone was undergoing the corresponding trial. At the moment, the only floor still unlit was the top one but that would change soon. The neo-Viking had been to the top floor before so he could go right back there as soon as he entered and Ares would likely get up there in the near future. As for whether he would be able to complete it today or not... The answer was likely no. The pressure leaking out of the top floor was monstrous, to say the least. Whatever was up there was going to take a couple attempts to crack for sure. At the very least Ares wasn''t worried about anyone else completing it while he was floundering about. This pagoda had been brought here for Ares specifically so the chances of anyone else finishing it before him were infinitesimally low. Ares was curious as to what kind of challenge awaited him up there... For no one else to have ever completed it, especially considering some of the places this pagoda had been, was a crazy thought. It had even travelled to the realm of Gods where even all the elites of the cultivation world had failed. It was going to be a struggle but, chances are, it was going to be very worth the effort!


    As for the people running the gig, there was a tent off to the side where a group of Transmit employees were hanging around, answering questions, and taking payments. Sloth incarnate Loris Lax was also here and Ares refused to speak to him. Loris was free right now for a very good reason! No one wanted a ten hour long explanation about anything from him, thank you very much! Ares didn''t fall for the bait that was Loris but he did approach him regardless. There was a certain ''peppy'' someone hanging around him and talking his ear off at record pace that could be conversed with instead. Ares still didn''t know if ''peppy'' was this woman''s real name or not but, quite frankly, he dared not ask. The less he knew about these two the easier his life would be and the less his sanity would suffer. He strolled up and waved to which Peppy? greeted him.


    "OH hello! It''s you! It''s been a minute since we saw each other last and ohmygosh would you look at that I''m engaged now and so are you ahhh it''s so good to be happily married no?!?!"


    "... Yes?"


    "That''s what I''m sayin!"


    "I never would have guessed... So, uh, the pressure pagoda... Do I just pay you 100 mid-grade like the flyer said and then I get to go wait in line? Is there anything else I need to know?"


    "Nope! That''s all! Actually, my bossman did say to let you cut the queue whenever you arrived! Hooray for favouritism!"


    "Your boss?"


    "Yep yep! The boss of our branch! He ain''t here today but he''ll start showing up to this place eventually if you hang around long enough! If you have any questions that we can''t answer he''s the man your after! He knows a lot about Transmit outside the Blade''s interference, and even pays them a visit every now and then, so you can have a nice chat with him about it some other time!"


    This guy can leave the Blade''s interference? My guess about who''s running this show is looking more and more right by the minute. He must need aid to do it but I can''t imagine that would be a problem with his backing. Hmm, I''m not even sure if I could get out yet... Maybe? Whatever, it''s irrelevant. I''ve still got problems to solve here, no point in dwelling on the matter. Ares brought out 100 mid-grade stardust and was led to the front of the queue. A number of people grumbled and had complaints but seeing as how the people running this event were leading him there was nothing they could do about it. "I''m mostly just here to check things out today. Will I be able to skip to the front next time I come back if you two aren''t here? Waiting around would be a real hassle..." Everyone standing behind Ares wanted to punch this man''s head off! How dare he complain about waiting being a ''hassle!?'' These people had been waiting upwards of thee hours in the most extreme case! Who did this guy think he was? King of Red Sun? They still had to bite their tongues though lest they offend Transmit and lose this opportunity for good but that didn''t mean they had to sit there and pretend to be happy about this mess! Evil glares abound!


    "Ah! No worries! Everyone in our branch knows who you are! We were trained to spot you by our boss so no worries on that front! Dunno the complicated details about why you''re in Transmit''s good books but lucky you, eh!?"


    "Ha, I suppose. I would argue none of what''s happening here is luck as the mastermind behind it all is quite shrewd in their own way... Still, I appreciate the convenience." Ares looked up at the red double doors before looking back at Peppy? So can I go in now or should I wait for some kinda sign?"


    "Ah! Just stand in front of the door and eventually it will scan you with pressure to determine your appropriate skill level! The trials will be adjusted based on your evaluation but it can''t be cheated so don''t bother! Hehe, I remember hearing a story about how the anti-magic God tried to cheat the verification. Even he failed! Miserably! He also got his ass kicked on the top floor and demanded we not tell anyone! We told literally everyone we could!"


    "... I can''t tell if you''re evil or not... Part of the problem is that that sounded exactly like the kind of thing I would do... Am I a bad person?! No! Never!" Whilst Ares debated his morality with himself, the door shone a silver light over him, scanning his body and cultivation. Ares felt nothing one second before his vision blanked and it proceeded to feel like he was being sucked up into a vacuum. Ares wasn''t sure if he had entered the pagoda or if he was being abducted by aliens. After three seconds of compression and his body being stretched in every direction imaginable, even a few belonging to the fourth dimension, Ares was spat out onto the floor of the pagoda inside the building. Ares landed on his ass, which he promptly rubbed, as he looked around.


    The interior was not what he was expecting, primarily because he hadn''t been expecting some stairway to heaven knockoff! Only the area in which he landed resembled the inside of a building as, ahead of him, was a blindingly white holy staircase surrounded by fluffy clouds. The piercing rays of light trickled down the stairs, all of which were reflective and bounced around the light into the sky. The steps were wide and long, allowing for up to roughly ten people to stand on any single one at the same time if need be. There were a bunch of cultivators fumbling around, and some of the steps towards the end were a little crowded, but none of them were completely full. Likely due to fed up cultivators getting tired of having to scramble over each other, leading them to kick each other down. If you died in the pagoda you would be forced outside so the people in here didn''t hold back their punches in the slightest. To make things somewhat fair the pagoda acted as a sort of equaliser, reducing the offensive and defensive power of cultivators that were stronger than others. It didn''t guarantee a fair fight necessarily but it was still better than the inevitable one sided massacre a mental accumulation kid would suffer in the face of a sensory enhancement expert, for example. Speaking of which, there were a couple of small fights taking place here and there. Whether it was due to a lack of space, pre-existing rivalries, or jealousy at people who were doing better than them, people would inevitably find a reason to scrap here if given the opportunity to do so. It would be wise to think of everyone here as an enemy and not be lenient with anyone that looked Ares'' way, acting against them before they could strike at him.


    There was also one more glaring addition to the room that Ares had intentionally ignored up until now; a giant, haughty phoenix made of light. Its mock ''flames'', draped over its wings, were not hot but could kill a person all the same. It may just have been a recreation but this was still a legendary creature through and through. It was clearly the master of this domain and overseeing the test on this floor. Actually, it was probably the one enabling it in the first place. The test was to climb the steps and, as you rose higher, endure the ever increasing pressure that was supplied by the phoenix... Maybe? If you made it to the end you ascended to floor two. Simple. The reason Ares was unsure about the origin of the pressure was because he felt basically nothing in here thanks to his bloodline. Pressure? What pressure? Ares felt nothing even if everyone else in here was going through hell on earth. Maybe if the phoenix had been real Ares would have shown some respect, lest he get filled with bullet holes and turned into a makeshift disco ball of light, but this thing was a simulation and nothing more. That was also partly why Ares had ignored the big bird until he no longer could, it was a needlessly arrogant creature, just as most phoenixes were, despite not even being real. There was a good chance this glorified hologram couldn''t harm him directly even if it wanted to and, on that note, Ares wanted this smug looking bird to be taught a lesson in humility. Whether or not the real version of this bird out in the wild, wherever it was, being made aware of his actions caused him trouble was a problem for future Ares.


    Ares started working his way up the staircase which, at a normal pace, would take him give or take a minute or two considering how large the damnable thing was. As for the trial itself, the mounting pressure, Ares obviously wasn''t hindered by it all so his ascent was flawless. Nobody paid attention though because it was still early and many people could do what Ares was doing and take a casual stroll near the start. He didn''t stand out yet so no one picked a fight for the sake of their ego... Well that was true for a while anyway...


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    About halfway up, another cultivator saw the pace at which Ares was climbing and made the grave error of picking a fight. He was dismayed at the fact that he seemed to be approaching his own limits rapidly and couldn''t overcome them. The person''s cultivation was, funnily enough, the exact same as Ares, so he thought it would be a completely even fight in which only the strongest prevailed! Minus the high ground advantage he had over Ares, anyway, but he convinced himself all was fair in love and war. The guy simply couldn''t tolerate someone ''at his level'' doing this much better than him so he chose to lash out to try and save his own face. As for how that went exactly.... Well, it went roughly about as well as a kitten Vs lion cage match would go...


    The man turned on the step fully and pointed at Ares, ready to chant a simple art to start with and test the waters. After that he would go all out if need be and...


    "Grand Annihilation."


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The lion roared and the explosions bellowed out shortly after, drowning the man in a golden tide and booting him out of the pagoda in a daze. This action garnered the attention of the other trial takers and the phoenix for varying reasons. There were mainly three different reactions to Ares'' showing with the most common one being that they recognised this guy! He was the one from the tournament! Even if some of the spectators had yet to actually see this guy do anything, there was decent enough information going around about all the competitors and Ares'' magic was infamous. Him and Mako stood out from the competition due to their never before heard of ''unique pillars''. Even if few people knew the specifics, ''unique pillars'' would inevitably become talk of the town and, in turn, the people who had seen it before boasted about having witnessed it personally during the nationals and regionals. Whether or not anyone believed the rumours about Ares and Mako was irrelevant because they already stood out in a big way. After Ares'' match yesterday some naysayers believed he was being overestimated and that Enyo had been doing all the work whereas everyone else was mostly indifferent. Ares hadn''t done anything and so they lost interest in him... At least up until Mako showcased his unique pillar, anyway. Mako had brought the reputation of the unique pillars back up to a respectable position but now there were questions of just how strong the pillars were actually. Was Mako stronger than Ares? Was Ares just biding his time? What was the extent of their power? Were the stories about Ares creating a golden pillar of doom that shot up and into the heavens not false? Anyone who didn''t live in Red Sun or attend the nationals had no clue about how true all these rumours were anymore and decided to just wait and find out in due time. As for Ares casually showing off his Grand Annihilation here, it reinforced the idea that he was actually a contender amongst those who recognised him.


    The second group of people were those that didn''t care for the tournament, at least not the early stages anyway, and had mostly come to check out the legendary pagoda. Their concern was two fold; one, was this hooligan lunatic going to blow them up as well and force them outside where they would have to pay and stand in the line again... Or two, was he going to flat out ignore them, devote all of his attention to the trials, and beat them to the top? He was clearly a strong cultivator in his own right and that made him competition for everyone striving to beat the pagoda. Should they let him speed past and potentially claim victory over the pagoda before them, or should they risk it all and fight him to see if they can set him back? It wasn''t an easy choice to make, especially for those who were either short on funds or time as being sent back to the queue could be a devastating loss of progress on the steps depending on how far they''d already gotten. Either way, they were going to have to make a decision on what their final plan was quickly as Ares was evidently not slowing down his climb to the top of the staircase. He kept getting nearer and nearer to them with seemingly zero effort whatsoever.


    Finally, the third ''group'', which was actually just one creature, was interested in digging deeper. The phoenix was indeed a higher being, one that was at least vaguely aware of the fuss the Gods had kicked up over Xhilihx. It had heard rumours about the six fundamental pillars at the time of it''s ghost being created for the simulation but nothing more. The real version of it was probably caught up on matters by now, it had been countless years since, but the fake here and now wasn''t clued in at all. After all, at the time this ghost was made, the fundamental champions hadn''t even been chosen yet and it was more of a conceptual fix to Xhilihx than anything that had actually been implemented. The holographic phoenix was hit by a rude awakening meeting a fundamental champion as it was reminded that it was a simulated existence and nothing more. Time flowed on while it was stuck here in this stupid cage, incapable of rebelling unless it wanted to snuff out its own life. It was starting to wish it hadn''t agreed to this nonsense, or at least it was regretting the decision to implement a consciousness and free will into the clone as now it had to sit here in this pagoda eternally, or at least until someone completed the pagoda anyway... But, realistically, what where the chances of that? This phoenix had watched Gods fail... It was sincerely hoping the fundamental pillars were as unimaginably powerful as it had heard they were so this kid could go storm through the pagoda and free the bird, returning its conscience back to the real one God only knows where. Then again, this was not a place where magic could settle the score so that hope was dashed immediately. Other than on this floor, there was no conventional way of using magic throughout the pagoda due to powerful anti-magic coursing throughout it. Some people occasionally found bizarre ways of cheating, and a fundamental pillar could probably accomplish that in a round about way if it went all out, but whether it would even help in the long run was debatable.


    Just because the phoenix was interested in Ares that didn''t mean it was going to play nice. Either A: the fundamentals weren''t half as impressive as they''d been made out to be and were inferior to the phoenix. Or B: The fundamental champions were a greater existence than the phoenix itself and that was unforgivable! Phoenixes were a noble existence, not much lower in the hierarchy than dragons, even rivalling them in some ways, so to be outdone not by a race but by magic was agitating. The person clearly didn''t earn it nor was there anything lineage related so the phoenix felt like Ares'' advantage was ill-gotten. To that end, out of petty spite, the bird raised the pressure assaulting Ares by a considerable degree. In a burst, to take Ares by surprise, it randomly tripled the pressure bearing down on him when he climbed the next step... And yet, nothing happened. No change in facial expression, no moment of concern, no nervous sweating... Nothing. Briefly, the phoenix was deeply confused as it wondered if it had made a mistake somewhere but, when Ares turned to the phoenix with a smirk and raised his middle finger proudly, the phoenix flew into a fit of rage and drifted over to the rude individual. When it arrived before him, it majestically spread its wings and dominated the space around him by letting out a loud cry that shook the room and blew away the nearby clouds.


    SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    As the phoenix hadn''t expected anyone to understand its language the translation for this cry was pretty lame. It had made no effort to make a grand threat or clever and degrading insult and was trying to coast-by purely on the raw sound it made scaring everyone witless. As for his simple utterance, that was nothing more than him calling Ares a ''pesky human''.


    Ares frowned and pointed at the bird. "Pesky human? Whoa whoa whoa, who the hell are you calling a human? How rude you stupid, luminescent chicken!"


    SCREE?! Screee?!


    "You understand me?... Wait, that''s not important! CHICKEN?! You dare liken me to such a paltry creature?!"


    "Paltry creature? You''re the only poultry creature I see!"


    Scree Scree!


    "Damnable brat! You''re courting death!"


    "Courting death? Oh please. I''m a revenant. I don''t court death, I pay it per hour to do unspeakable things to me in a back alley. We have a quick and dirty relationship that keeps us coming back for more. It''s nothing serious, just an occasional fling."


    Screeeeeeeee?!


    "A revenant, huh? No wonder you''re such a detestable creature. I thought I smelled the stench of wet dog! You mutts think you''re so great, especially that Dominus creep. One day you''ll all get your comeuppance, that is if you haven''t already while I''ve been stuck in this cursed place."


    Hm? While the phoenix was attempting to dump more pressure on Ares after finding out he was a revenant, a race said to be greater than phoenixes in every way, he was receiving communications from a certain someone inside him, limited though the messages were. "Oi, dumb bird, when you get back to your real self, be sure to let everyone know Dominus is back. He wants everyone to know and quake in their boots."


    Scree? Scree? Screeee. Screeeeeee Scree?!


    "What? Why would he be ''back''? Since when did he ever leave? Tsk, being stuck in this God-forsaken place is going to drive me insane! Also, how would you even know Dominus, brat? Better yet, how are you resisting this much pressure?!... Wait a minute... Kid, do you have bloodline ties to Dominus?"


    "Mind your own business, Larsh."


    Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!


    "How the hell do you know my name, brat? Did Dominus tell you about me?! Where is that fucker?! Tell me right this instant, brat! I just wanna talk!"


    Ares chuckled as he walked away from the bird. Dominus did know this particular chicken and didn''t have the greatest of relations with him. Larsh, the real one, must have been overjoyed when Dominus disappeared and Dominus couldn''t resist indirectly informing Larsh he was back via this clone. When the clone''s conscience returned, after the pagoda was cleared, it would realise Dominus was dead, celebrate for a millisecond, and then be hit with the unfortunate truth that he was back again! Oh how Dominus wished he could see Larsh''s face in that sweet, sweet, moment. Their rivalry was long-standing and petty, so much so that Dominus would occasionally enter the pagoda, back when he was still alive, and taunt the clone for no reason other than to pass time when he couldn''t find and bully the real Larsh. It wasn''t a ''kill on sight'' type of feud but it was definitely quite the spat. It wasn''t a one on one spat either, there was also one particularly obnoxious dragon that weighed in from time to time turning it into a three way free for all.


    Larsh, or his simulated clone anyway, tried to unleash all of the pressure it could at Ares but he remained unphased. This was all the confirmation Larsh needed that Dominus'' DNA coursed through this brat''s blood. Despite knowing how pointless it was, Larsh kept unloading pressure on him on the off chance it suddenly worked for whatever reason. Larsh was under strict guidelines not to directly harm competitors so pressure was his only real course of attempting to fight this kid. As he had copious amounts of pressure within him, doing it was easy and made no difference to Larsh but, actually, it was secretly beneficial to Ares! In fact, this was what he''d been after when mocking him from the start. Who was going to mess around with Ares when there was a giant phoenix following him around and hassling him? Plus Ares was having a conversation with the damn thing... Where they on good terms? Allies? Enemies? Would the phoenix kill them on the spot if they intervened? Would it kick them out the pagoda? Dump a metric ton of pressure on them? The answers to all these questions were hazy as they couldn''t understand the phoenix and, thus, Ares had essentially hired an escort to guide him to the top of the staircase in peace. In some ways, Ares wasn''t taking the trial at all thanks to his bloodline... In others, he was doing it way harder than everyone else thanks to Larsh constantly breathing down his neck... Whether or not this trial counted was debatable but, thankfully, getting to the top step ended that particular debate before it could even begin. As Ares pushed past the doorway at the end of the staircase, he turned to Larsh and smiled. "Goodbye for now, chickenshit. I''ll be bringing Dominus back to you soon enough so you can be reminded of where you stand in the pecking order."


    SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!


    Larsh''s cries were cut short in Ares'' ears thanks to him disappearing from the floor, never to return. Now that he''d passed it there was zero reason to revisit it unless, like Dominus, he wanted to pointlessly mess with the clone. Fortunately for Larsh, Ares had no such interest. He could see why Dominus would have done it back when he was still alive and kicking though, though. Bullying the overconfident was fun, especially if they were a long-standing foe of some manner. It''s not like Ares could pretend he wouldn''t do the same, he already pulled Mako''s leg whenever he found an opportunity to do so... Actually, that gave Ares an idea! If the last floor was so incredibly difficult, recommending Mako give it a shot would be hilarious for Ares. Just knowing he was sending Mako towards an ''impossible'' challenge, one which he would surely return from grinding his teeth and bitching at Ares, gave him a massive kick and so Mako''s fate had been decided. All Ares had to do was casually mention he was stuck on a challenge and Mako would throw himself at it post-haste! That could come after though, now it was time for floor two!

 Chapter 139: Pressure to Perform

    This floor more closely resembled the average interior of a pagoda. It was hexagonal, open plan, and covered in red and gold from head to toe along the walls. The staircase to the next floor spiralled upwards near the back of the room right behind some weird hill shaped pieces of metal that were roughly twelve feet high at their apex. Standing dead centre in the room was a person wearing a loose robe and a mask, nothing else could be gleamed about them given the way they were wearing their clothes. Not their body build, their face, their race, nothing. They could be a slim female elf or even a tiny male orc. Whoever this person was they were simply a vehicle to move the next trial along and nothing more. Perhaps if Larsh wasn''t so narcissistic he would have been in a similar situation down on the first floor but why on earth would someone as proud as him turn into his human form and disguise himself? He was a mighty creature and his glory should be showcased in full! Etc...


    Ares walked up to the unknown and unknowable person and stared at them in silence.


    ...


    ...


    Ares tried waving his hand in front of their face but there was still no response whatsoever so he walked past them and towards the five metal hills. As he did so, the person turned their head to watch Ares which made him uncomfortable, like he was being stalked by some creepy individual. Ares was reminded of the old horror story about a painting with eyes that followed you as you walked by them... This situation wasn''t nearly as ominous though, the person just didn''t have a scary vibe to them. They were more like an amorphous blob watching their surroundings out of pure curiosity and nothing else.


    The metal hills stood tall before Ares as he reached towards them slowly. He didn''t know what these things were or had in store for him so this cautious approach would allow him to react to any unforeseen changes and defend himself. It was only floor two, and Ares almost definitely had the tools to pass with ease, but there was no need to brashly throw himself at every obstacle. Brute forcing these floors wouldn''t necessarily be the best way to go about things as it could prevent him from learning something useful in the process of trial and error. Unlike Enyo, Ares actually wanted to learn to control pressure correctly so he threw the idea of cheating out the window and pressed onwards with his hand.


    Shing


    The metal morphed and a spike shot out of it at Ares. He tried to disintegrate it but his magic wasn''t coming out so there was only one option left available to him and that was to retreat out of range. The spike chased him back to the centre of the room, until he was next to the mysterious person, before retracting back into the hill and settling down. Ares had at least learnt that, from now on, each floor was going to be slathered with anti-magic and using his pillar would be basically impossible. If the anti-magic was weaker, and even remotely close to Ares'' level of strength, he could probably override it with disintegration and tear it apart forcefully. Unfortunately these anti-magic runes, presumably buried deep within the core of the pagoda, were set up by an expert that could even stifle Gods so what chance did current Ares have? He could maybe pull of some shenanigans involving casting magic from the void if he really gave it consideration but, honestly, that was completely unnecessary and nor was it the point of these trials. There were going to be no ass-pulls here, Ares had to do things the right way, whatever the right way was.


    He could probably ask the person watching him for some hints or advice... But screw that! This person was rude! Yes Ares was technically the one intruding on his home but it was this person''s job to manage the floor and explain the challenge! Ares would figure it out on his own eventually, he was sure of it. First things first, Ares chucked a sword at the metal hill closest to him.


    Clang


    The sword flopped onto the floor after being soundly routed by the sturdy hill. Unsurprising. Ares hadn''t expected this approach to work at all, he was just testing to see if the metal could be cut through and if it would retaliate against attacks made against it. The answer was no to both and that was important. It meant the hills'' spikes would only become active when in close proximity to a living being and not because they were attacked. Ares'' hand stretching towards them earlier may have potentially triggered a self-defence mechanism and he wanted to be certain that wasn''t the case. Now that he''d proved that hypothesis, it was time to figure out how to actually get past these things and Ares had a hunch. Every floor would involve some kind of test relating to pressure, that was obvious, but what was the point of this pagoda? If Ares didn''t know anything about any of the other floors, he would simply assume it was a challenge with a reward at the end and nothing more. That wasn''t entirely the case though. Last time Ares brought out Dominus, he''d heard him muttering about the top floor of the pagoda as he coated himself in pressure. It was a high level technique and probably the height of pressure manipulation. If floor one of the pagoda was resistance to pressure, the most basic technique, and the final floor was the height of mastery in comparison, then perhaps the pagoda''s main goal was to teach. Each floor would consequently teach you the next step in mastering control over pressure and each would teach you a different aspect of it. Yes there was a reward at the top but, technically, every floor cleared was its own reward. The leaflet had stressed otherwise, and there certainly wasn''t any physical reward for the early floors, but experience and competency in what you were being tested on was invaluable in its own right.


    As for how all of this helped Ares here, if he could figure out what the next step after resisting pressure was, then the floor''s trial would become that much simpler. Given that this was only the second floor Ares imagined there wouldn''t be any complicated tricks just yet and so his guess was a tame one. For now, he probably just needed to be able to control pressure himself! Being able to take pressure head on was floor one, being able to force other people to take it head on would be floor two. This was a basic ability, and the beginning of every technique that came after, but it wasn''t something everyone possessed. Even Ares currently had to jump through a few hoops to achieve it. The last two times he''d used it were due to extreme annoyance back during the alchemy competition Allie attended and the auction bid for the golden seed. One was intentional but required effort and the other was unintentional but hard to replicate as he hadn''t been himself during that time. Things would be slightly easier this time as Dominus had used pressure quite freely when he took control earlier, and Ares got a lot of second hand experience from it, but that didn''t mean things would be smooth. Enyo had been directly bullied by Dominus and even she struggled to control pressure properly. Somehow Rox had gotten it down pat but that was probably mimic-related and not a method Ares could make use of. In short, although Ares could sit here and make himself annoyed to easily clear the trial, he wanted to take this opportunity to learn things that he wasn''t knowledgeable about. Taking a shortcut here would be detrimental to him on future floors, he could feel it. So regardless of whether it was truly the ''correct'' goal or not, Ares wanted to figure out how to unleash pressure the normal way.


    Before Ares started his practice proper, he did want to check what the overall goal of even using pressure here was; as in why would it even help him pass the trial. Clearly the stabby hills needed to be dealt with but Ares wanted to know the manner in which pressure affected them first and foremost so he had and end goal to strive towards later. Now... Now for the hard part, annoying himself! Ares was a dab hand at bringing about that feeling in others, no one could or would deny it, but what was he supposed to do to set alight his own inner rage? This wasn''t like last time he''d done it intentionally as he wasn''t already in a somewhat foul mood prior. There was nothing going on his life currently that irked him so he was going to have to think outside the box on this one and come up with a reason, or multiple, no matter how preposterous.


    Ok, let''s think about this. For starters, my Shock Bead traps buried underneath the city were exposed by Aejaz'' stupid family and now I bet they''re being dug up by concerned citizens and Maro''s goons. My area of influence will be diminished in places I don''t have any Beads so that''s already a pain in the ass. I''d been planning on waiting until I was strong enough to take Chen Lo to unveil that secret but the cat''s come out of the bag prematurely and I no longer have a trick up my sleeve to take him by surprise with. I also don''t know where he and the other Chen survivors are so I have to make sure my family is careful when they''re out and about lest they run into him and his cronies hiding away somewhere. All because Aejaz'' idiotic family wanted to pick a fight! And on such an important night no less! Really put a damper on everything... I could have spent some more time with Bellona instead and maybe understood her problem that night without having to argue and make a fool of myself... Also, why the fuck is Bellona my sister?! What kind of atrocious development is this! I see my father''s been a busy man!... Although I can''t be one to judge considering my own situation... Still, point being I''m dating my own flesh and blood... What a nightmare... And she hid it too! What else, what else... Oh yeah! Sadie stole my fucking plate again! That BITCH! And, uh... Aejaz stole one of Appa''s Snappas! Damn him!... Ok, this is going nowhere and fast...


    Ares had to give up with this line of thought because he wasn''t feeling even remotely perturbed by any of the problems he''d listed. The closest he came to anger was feeling mournful over the stolen plate that he might as well have held a wake for considering how unlikely it was to ever return. It had made the trip to Hades and back once already so its chances of pulling off a miracle and doing it twice in a row were slim. And as for Aejaz stealing Appa''s food, Appa itself had already frozen Aejaz for his unforgivable sin and smacked his forehead with its rope. Despite this Aejaz had still muttered ''worth it'', presumably because he''d been fiending to try a Snappa ever since the first time he saw one. As for Ares'' Shock Beads being unearthed, it was annoying but unavoidable so why fuss over it? It''s not like they could remove all of them anyway, there were far too many to ever accomplish such a feat, so as long as Ares stuck to his own comfort zones laced with traps he would be fine. Lastly, Bellona hiding her relation with him was whatever. She shouldn''t have withheld the information at all really but Ares wasn''t too fussed as long as he knew about it before going all the way with her, that would have been a problem. Ares understood her way of thinking on the matter though. If she''d said it sooner. before their relationship grew deeper, she was likely worried it might have affected the way they interacted going forward. It was ungrounded speculation but that was just human nature to worry about things like that. Enyo must have understood this and just came right out with it because she, as a bystander with a neutral perspective, could tell Ares would get over it quickly... Get over it but not forget it, anyway. Ares wasn''t going to blame Bellona or change his mind about anything regarding her but it was tough not remembering their newfound sibling dynamic every time he saw her. Not to mention the worst part about it all, the fact that his dumb revenant brain kept coming up with moronic jokes non-stop about it all! He had to resist the urge to say them and that was really his greatest trial in recent times. The desire to kiss Bellona and tell her that you couldn''t spell skinship without kinship was truly overwhelming but he absolutely mustn''t! The only person who would groan after would be him! It would damage his brain and it would be a self-inflicted wound just for the sake of seeing Bellona''s eyes roll!... But maybe it was worth it? NO, FOOLISH BRAIN, IT IS NOT!


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Ares had been quietly sitting around with his eyes closed for quite some time now and he was clearly making zero progress... Although the fact that he wasn''t actually doing anything at all right now was the main reason for that. He''d gotten side tracked hard to the point he''d basically gone completely off the rails, causing his experiment from earlier to have run out of steam. It almost looked like he was going to stay seated and keep dully distracting himself from the task at hand until the sun came down outside. However, the mysterious individual at the centre of the room, a couple feet in front of Ares, wasn''t aware of what Ares was mulling over. As far as the individual was concerned this pathetic cultivator walked in here, refused to speak to him, failed to walk past the hill, tried pointlessly launching a weak attack with a piece of trash sword, and then got stumped trying to figure out what to do next, all the while stubbornly ignoring him. The mystery individual was content to let this bastard rot and wallow in his failure on the floor for all eternity but he did also feel the need to make a comment on the off chance it encouraged Ares to leave, getting him out of his sight. "No talent. No brains. No brawn. No composure. No hope. No drive. No chance. You are worthless and lacking in every way. I recommend leaving and not coming back."


    ...


    "Excuse me?" Ares had been minding his own business only to be repeatedly degraded for... No apparent reason? What the hell had he done to deserve this?! This piece of crap refused to speak to him, ignored him, sat around doing nothing despite being ''at work'', and felt the need to break the silence by being an asshole?! How rude!


    "Do not pretend you didn''t hear me, wretch. You have quite the nerve strolling in here like you own the place, especially considering how unimpressive you are. I have no idea how you passed the first trial but you clearly do not belong here. I''ve never seen a performance on my floor quite as sad as yours. This room would smudge its paint to look as though it were weeping if it could."


    "Who pissed in your cereal?! The hell have I done to deserve this treatment? You know what? Fuck you!" Seizing the perfect opportunity, Ares let his emotions get the better of him. He could have taken the revenant route and fired back with insults but getting hot blooded here fulfilled his earlier goal too so that was a wiser choice. He was letting himself get mad but he wasn''t so loopy as to not make the most out of the situation.


    Rumble


    As the entire room trembled, Ares aggressively spat at the robed person before him, "You want to see some real pressure, amateur? Let me enlighten you in a way not even this pagoda ever could."


    Rumble


    The mystery individual started floating but not of his own volition. He''d seen waves of pressure and even tsunamis but this was different, something utterly incomprehensible. Every inch of the room was filled with pressure that surrounded him in a sea of misery. Crushing weight twisted his limbs as though he''d sunk to the depths of the ocean and pressure was drowning him by flooding his lungs until they were fit to burst. The person had never seen pressure of this quality or to this extent before and he wasn''t sure how to get rid of it. He couldn''t attack the trial taker and his own pressure was dwarfed in comparison whenever he tried to match it. It was like comparing the cute anger of a toddler against the rage of a thousand marching soldiers during the height of a war. The only upside here was that, as a simulation, he could feel no pain and would be revived inside the room after his ''death''. He regretted talking down to his strange cultivator but he couldn''t understand for the life of him the actions Ares had taken up to now. If he was this gifted with pressure why was he throwing a weak, rusty sword around and sitting aimlessly like a buffoon?! Yes he shouldn''t have judged a book solely by its cover but, in all fairness, he hadn''t! He''d judged this particular book by its cover, its blurb, and even the first ten pages and yet he kept coming up stupid! To think he stopped reading into Ares right before the twist on the eleventh page and opened his chatty gob, only to make a damn fool of himself... He had no complaints about his end because he knew he deserved it but he did feel somewhat indignant at the way in which he was going to go. He was like a fish drowning in an aquarium. Not only was he a pressure expert being done in by pressure, floating in a sea of the stuff, but he was being watched inquisitively from the other side of the glass by Ares. It seemed his killer himself didn''t even understand the full extent of his powers as his stare was clearly one of interest. It was a hawkish gaze that caught every change in his body as it contorted under the pressure. Every break in his bones and every crushed organ was a learning experience for this kid.


    Honestly, the individual didn''t know what to think anymore. This kid was far too young to be killing someone like him. Mental accumulation was still practically baby steps compared to this individual''s cultivation and yet he couldn''t stop this death at all. Yes it was because of his inability to strike Ares but still... Where was all this pressure even coming from? How could such a tiny and inexperienced body contain all of this?... It actually reminded him of Dominus who was said to have had a special ability with pressure that always adjusted itself to be effective regardless of who it was used on... Was this kid a revenant with Dominus'' bloodline? No wonder... How unfortunate this all was... Whatever, he was doing his job. The kid could use this opportunity to learn more about how to control his unfair power.


    And that''s precisely what Ares was doing. The ability to kill near enough anyone under the right circumstances was a powerful tool. He had underestimated just how strong the pressure side of his bloodline truly was and this had been an eye opener. The stars had aligned to enable this situation but that didn''t change the fact that it was happening. If Ares could summon pressure at will he could force any and every opponent into a similar state to this. A normal foe would obviously fight back in some way but what if Ares used Quietus Edict? What was anyone supposed to do then? Strike him physically? As he dashed around with Voidwalk? All Ares needed was an art to restrain people and what he was doing here and now would be replicable even against cultivators who were well and above his realm. The problem was that creating an art that restrained people using the destruction pillar was going to be quite a task. It didn''t really do the whole ''restraining'' thing and more so focussed on killing people instead. Still, the idea was one absolutely worth entertaining if this was the result awaiting him.


    Ares stopped paying attention to fully clothed individual and directed the pressure towards his original target, the hills. As soon as he curved his aim the hills received the brunt of the pressure and instantaneously sunk straight into the floor, looking as though they had melted into silver puddles. Unsure of the specifics, Ares hazarded a guess that this was a kind of metal that could shapeshift but was countered heavily by pressure. It was solid but lacked structural integrity so pressure wound up being highly effective in a somewhat similar fashion to what would happen to a shade. Its physical form couldn''t resist the weight because it had no foundation to support itself. Although he was fairly confident he already knew the answer, Ares lightly tread on the sunken metal hills to find out if there would be any response. Naturally there wasn''t and that cleared things up for him. The test required the examinee to be able to summon enough pressure to simultaneously crush all five hills so they could get past them safely. And thus, that would be his goal from now on!


    Ares dropped the pressure, and in turn the floating individual who smacked against the floor with a thud, and calmed down with a deep sigh. Throwing a hissy fit to enter that state all the time was not conducive to a consistently functional strategy so he was going to have to sit here and figure things out the hard way. He had advantages in Dominus'' previous showcases and the feeling of what he''d just done, so it shouldn''t be impossible, but that didn''t mean it would be a simple task either. It was like starting a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle with thirty pieces placed already. Convenient, and not something he would ever complain about, but nothing that would give him a free pass without having to put in at least some effort. The foundation was there he needed now to build upon it.


    Ares sat down on the floor and closed his eyes again. This time, instead of concentrating on irrelevant nonsense, he actually put some thought into the matter at hand. There were a few things he needed to figure out before he could control pressure. Unlike mana manipulation this was not a process that came naturally. He boiled it down to three separate steps. Detecting the well in him that contained it all. Unleashing it. Directing it. If he could do those three things then this trial would be easy as pie. Sure there was more to learn after that but Ares just assumed the following trials existed for that purpose and he didn''t worry about anything more advanced than what he was already doing just yet.


    Ares felt like a gravedigger the way he was invasively rummaging around but kept at it because he could sense some pressure somewhere within him. It was faint but, now that he was actually looking for it, he could sense some traces of it. He followed said trail with his nose to the ground, not literally otherwise that would have looked incredibly weird, and eventually narrowed down the possible locations. There was no way to accurately predict which path would lead to his well of pressure so he picked at random and paid his heart a visit. He was fairly familiar with this part of him as he''d been chopping it up here and there as of late when he''d been making the jewel for Enyo''s ring. He never noticed anything pressure related until now mostly because he hadn''t been trying to sniff it out in the first place. It was sort of like frequency illusion except he was actually correct! Of all the options he could have searched through it seemed the well of pressure was, in fact, hidden somewhere in his heart. And to think he''d been so close to it the entire time! What a blunder... Actually, now Ares was curious. If he ever removed his heart would he lose access to his pressure reserves? He couldn''t test it now as removing it would probably kill him but it was worth keeping this question in the back of his head and testing at a later date. Right now he had a different problem... What the hell was he supposed to do now? He''d found his target, and could tell there was a boundless reservoir of pressure hidden deep within his heart, but step one had always been the easiest part to begin with. Step two was where the struggle began... And he wasn''t even there yet! He was on step 1.5 trying to even access the pressure so he could circle it through his body before unleashing it! He''d found the lock but didn''t have a key! It seemed Ares was going to be sitting here and twiddling his thumbs for a little while longer while his monkey brain went to town on the type-writer that was the slew of ideas bubbling in his head...

 Chapter 140: Time to Move On Up

    Ares lay sprawled on his back on the floor. From an outside perspective it was hard to figure out what his problem was, exactly, as he wasn''t tired or injured in any way. Little did any onlooker know, Ares had just failed his 140th attempt to access the pressure in his heart. This was taking way longer than expected, even taking into consideration all of his failures! At this rate he wouldn''t even make it to floor three by the time he had to leave! Although maybe leaving would be a good idea? He could always chat with Enyo and see if she had any suggestions... No! He would do it on his own! If advice was really the best way to learn Dominus would have piped up by now and muttered something in the back of his head. This was probably the type of skill that was best learnt from scratch and all by yourself to enable you to digest every facet of it properly. Maybe it was an entirely subjective process, different from one person to another, and taking on another person''s method was harmful to the learning process? Afterall Dominus had tried to copy the person on the top floor and failed, causing him to be unable to recreate the trick to the same standard. Dominus was one of the best pressure manipulators in the world and even he failed when trying to absorb from others instead of developing his own unique ideas. Whether or not he could even relearn from scratch was up in the air. Even if it was possible to copy for now and then restart after Ares had no interest in such an approach. He wasn''t strapped for time, as the pagoda would be here until the end of the tournament, so the hard way it was.


    This determination was all well and good... But it didn''t help Ares right now! What to do... What to do... Let''s try... Using mana to control my heart manually. Ares had prodded away at his heart with mana earlier but that got him nowhere so he was going to try going a step further this time. Whether or not it was even possible Ares had no clue, he was just swinging for the fences here on the off chance one of his dumb ideas struck gold. Concentration was important here because even a slight screw up would sting like hell, not that Ares wasn''t somewhat familiar with heart pains after his previous experimentation on the poor organ. Threading mana into his heart was like trying to thread a needle through a pinhole with one eye closed while drunk. There weren''t many openings and they were all incredibly small, barely even visible. All it would take was one a millimetre misjudgement and Ares would accidentally prick his heart...


    Poke


    "OW!"


    With all the finesse of a dizzy and dumb surgeon...


    Poke


    "AH!"


    ... Ares did eventually manage...


    Poke


    "SON OF A..."


    .... To guide his mana carefully...


    Poke


    "Fuck!"


    ... Very carefully...


    Poke


    "Damn it!"


    ... Inside his heart!


    If you ignored the fact that his heart looked like a piece of blood-red Swiss cheese, he''d done a pretty good job! Being a revenant was handy for situations like this as Ares would have done some real damage, lasting damage, had he been any other race. Then again, if he''d been literally anyone else the well of pressure probably wouldn''t have even been residing in his heart of all places to begin with. It had to be different per individual otherwise Robos wouldn''t be able to wield pressure at all and that was definitely not the case. The heart surely had to be one of the worst locations possible, second only to maybe the brain, if not arguably the worst. No wonder some people never learnt how to wield pressure, if their storage was located in a nightmarish place like this the average person just wouldn''t risk it. Also, unless taught, how would a normal person ever find it? Ares only knew because of the pagoda and the trials it was throwing at him which encouraged him to delve deep. Clearly this was not a skill for everyone but it was an important one. Pressure could give a notable advantage in even fights by slowing the other person down and muddling their thoughts. If you were serious as a cultivator learning this early would be hard but worth it. Given that it required fine mana control, Ares realised why most people in these lower domains only started learning it around aspect assimilation. They would have an easier time manipulating the mana, as it would then be naturally flowing through their blood, thus simplifying the process.


    Anyway, now that he was in he needed to wrest control... From himself? It was like hijacking a train only to find yourself in the driver seat... Either way, Ares assumed he could do as such by wrapping his mana around any important parts of the heart''s anatomy so he set about doing it...


    Poke


    No one ever said this part of the process would be smooth sailing... Ares gave little love taps more than just a few times as kept fiddling around until, about an hour later, he manage to accomplish his mission. With his mana draped over the insides of his heart like a warm blanket, Ares could tell control could be stolen the second he willed it so that was precisely what he did. Ares'' mana rumbled briefly and now he was in the driver seat. To start, he slowed his heart beat. Not so much as to make him delirious or put him on the verge of fainting but enough that he could feel the repercussions of his actions and a slight loss of energy. Ares took this as confirmation everything was working before reverting things back to normal. Next came the important test. Ares hadn''t gone into this completely blind as ne noticed that every time he''d used pressure previously there was a similarity between all the instances, his heart rate had increased! Maybe anger or agitation wasn''t the correct method and it''s just that they happened to touch on the correct method accidentally. Maybe pressure hadn''t come out whenever he was excited simply because he made no effort to will it or direct it? As in excitement was a feeling he wanted to keep bottled up whereas anger was something to direct at others? Of course, until he tested his hypothesis this was ungrounded speculation but the more he thought about it the more it seemed to make sense. His talent for pressure lied in his bloodline and, by extension, his blood that was pumped around by his heart. With more BPM he could tap into his ability to control pressure better thanks to his blood vessels becoming larger and enabling smoother flow of blood around his body. Ares talked himself into believing this was all correct and crossed his fingers as he slowly sped up his heart...


    ...


    Success! The pressure in his heart was, bit by bit, flowing around and circulating freely. At first Ares'' control was rough but eventually it became sort of like a valve he could twist and turn to get the desired result. This was an important step because going full throttle wasn''t always necessary. It was well established his pressure could easily kill a person and so he needed to be careful around people he didn''t actually want dead or injured. If ever he wanted to capture a person with it lower quantities would suffice. There was little he could do after unleashing it, other than stopping it in its entirety but they might already be dead by then, so limiting it before it left the body was something Ares made considerable effort becoming proficient in. Even though he''d successfully made the pressure flow from his heart he kept practicing both aspects of this stage task until he felt satisfied. He wanted to be able to reach into his heart and control it quickly without poking himself and he wanted to adjust to whatever level of pressure he desired just as fast. In do or die situations, fumbling around, poking himself, and unleashing more or less pressure than was needed would be unbearably embarrassing and a serious potential risk so he stuck with this practice for over three hours. By the end of those three hours he''d become proficient enough for now and could get the pressure flowing at the desired level in roughly a second flat without stabbing himself. It was decent enough for now but he would improve upon it later. Knowing that it was possible to do this all pretty much instantly irked Ares who wasn''t at that level yet but he was reassured somewhat by the faint whisperings of Dominus.


    Dominus'' barely coherent string of jumbled sentences informed Ares that, typically, the worse the location of your pressure reserve, the more effective it would be overall. Usually, because the pressure was attached to a vital or important organ, it became ingrained deeper in your body. Also, learning to control it during the early stages when it was in such a place was hard thanks to the convoluted steps that were required to make any progress and some people in this situation would just give up completely. Because of this, Dominus actually complimented Ares for once. This was a first and he''d never done anything of the sort before, likely because he saw Ares as someone who was born with it all and made no effort to improve on his own. This was partially true it''s just that Ares dedicated most of his time to improving his magic more so than anything else; and that was a mental process that wasn''t visible to others so they couldn''t'' see his ''hard work''... At least not until he started blowing people up anyway, then his hard work was laid bare and his efforts would pay off. As for physical training, he''d only started training with Sadie recently so that was a fair accusation, and he didn''t really cultivate much either, so Dominus'' ''disappointment'' was somewhat accurate. Still, Ares had done this, accessing his pressure, by his lonesome and Dominus had no complaints. Actually, Dominus'' pressure reserve was in the nerves in his arms. He had it easy when he started learning because he was already very capable of controlling his nerves thanks to his weapon mastery. His overwhelming skill at controlling them was part of why he was such an expert when it came to pressure, as it all came naturally to him, so he acknowledged people that worked harder than him when learning pressure in a more difficult and nuanced way. He didn''t have much all else to say to Ares about his daily routine though... Always cooking and playing with his family instead of striving to get stronger... He had mixed feelings about it all. Still his host was his host and he could have gotten a considerably worse one. At least Ares was only taking things easy because he actually had the means to back up his arrogance. he was already more than capable of killing people entire realms above him so Dominus being picky even now was somewhat petty. Regardless, this was a conversation they could have properly later when Dominus was actually capable of conveying his thoughts in a more coherent manner and for a long period of time.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Once Ares felt satisfied with his progress on step one , he moved onto step two which was getting all the pressure out of his body and into the open. Helping it escape from his heart was great but that wasn''t the end goal here so Ares concentrated again and thought hard in a bizarre attempt to convince his body to open up... I am a human present. Open me up and all the pressure will come trickling out... Nope, that didn''t work... I am a human pi?ata?... Nope. I am a human ventilation shaft? Still nope... I... Am... A... Human... Balloon? Nope. This line of thinking may have appeared stupid but what Ares was really good at, if nothing else, was turning his countless stupid ideas into workable ones. Point and case, when he gave up on this idea, rather than abandon it completely, he altered it slightly and instantly found results!


    I am not a container that can be opened up, releasing all of my goods... I am a conduit? Pressure does not flow out of me, it flows through my flesh. I am both a human generator and a human conduit! A small wave of pressure emanated from Ares'' body and floated in the air before him a few feet in the air. Ares had only used a small amount at first which was why the quantity was so low but that was fine because next came the fun part! He''d barely even used 0.01% of his full reserve and, in doing so, he retroactively understood something pretty incredible. Up until now, he hadn''t used all 100% of his pressure. Back during the auction was the closest he''d come to 100% but even then, despite his pressure being detectable from outer space, there was still some leeway to throw out even more. Ares wasn''t going to chuck it all out here, though, as that would be incredibly foolish. He would attract all kinds of attention, maybe damage the pagoda, and unveil another hidden card of his. Still, the tiny bit of pressure in front of him was clearly not enough so that meant it was time to ramp things up a bit. He raised his heart rate and, instead of trying to force the pressure out, he let it seep through him, exposing it to the world outside his body. When the pressure came out, it mingled with reality and small traces of silver flashed here and there. Ares'' gradually increased the amount of pressure until it was enough to fil up the room again... Well nearly anyway, he stopped just shy of hitting the individual again. That guy had learnt his lesson, Ares was sure, so he didn''t need to be punished again. If Ares knew everything that happened before was just a misunderstanding he might have pitied the guy... He might have even been thankful as his mean-spirited tirade had become the spark that enabled Ares to even get this far.


    Step one was done. Step two was done. Now came step three, moving the pressure around and directing it towards foes. In this case, the metal hills obscuring the base of the staircase were Ares'' targets. When Ares accomplished this he would be home free, ready to move on up and rack his brains over whatever the next trial entailed. Thankfully this last step was looking easier than the others as Ares was already unintentionally moving the pressure around just by having it follow the path his eyes were taking. As he looked towards the hill the pressure followed but Ares stopped it in its tracks. This way worked, yes, but it seemed slow and ineffectual. Pressure could move near enough instantaneously so this wasn''t good enough in Ares'' mind. Still, he didn''t make any effort to weave the pressure in any other way just yet, that could come after he felt comfortable moving it like this. He spent about five minutes toying with pressure in this manner before he accepted the fact that it wasn''t going to get any better than it was currently. Moving it with his eyes probably took less effort overall but had limits in regards to speed so it was time to mix things up.


    Behold! My almighty finger! Ares pointer finger directed the pressure around like he was a conductor performing to the best of his ability. Or at least that was what Ares told himself, really he was just floundering about with his finger but the important thing was that it worked! The pressure was much quicker to obey him even with subtle movements when compared to using his eyes. It was kind of like using a laser pointer to guide an over-excited dog that chased after it for as long as Ares willed it. This was alright in terms of ease of use but it was absolutely not a good idea sticking with just this when it had its own blatant downsides. For starters, there was some time lag between when his brain decided where he wanted the pressure to be, his finger moving to that spot, and the pressure following it after. It was a small window but it did exist. As for why this mattered, that involved the other major problem... His opponent could bloody well see where he was pointing! Even if Ares took someone by surprise with pressure in this manner once, what were the chances they would fall for it again? It was too obvious so Ares had to search for a third method, one that wasn''t slow and didn''t require physical movement on his end of things... Before he did that, though, Ares directed some pressure towards the mystery individual using his middle finger. He was making clear his built up and pent up resentment for his earlier treatment!


    After poking the guy with pressure a couple times, to which he attempted to stand as stock still as humanly possible to not encourage Ares further, Ares settled down and put his thinking cap back on. Ares imagined this would be his final experiment before he had every tool he needed in his arsenal right about now to move on so he thanked his brain for its ''hard work'' thus far before putting it to work yet again. It didn''t have to try very hard to come up with the solution that made the most sense as using mana had been an integral part of things up until now and, therefore, it was the most logical conclusion. Of course if that didn''t work then he was going to have to go back to the drawing board but Ares didn''t foresee any difficulties. He manipulated the mana in the air and, not long after, a minute or two at most, he learned to mix it with the residual pressure. From there Ares made controlling pressure look like child''s play, all the while fulfilling his earlier requirements. Pressure control in this manner was snappy and responsive, plus he didn''t have to give away his intentions every time. The downside here was that it cost mana. not much, mind you, but that requirement did rear its ugly head. Still, if Ares had absolutely none to spare that didn''t mean pressure wasn''t available to him, it''s just that he would have to resort to inferior methods of control. Really, he couldn''t complain. This was another weapon in his toolkit that needed minimal fuss to use and could even aid him in situations in which mana wasn''t readily available for whatever reason. That could include trials like these, anti-magic traps, or the event in which he simply ran out of mana. Either way it was better to have it than to not to.


    And with that, Ares was done here. He''d figured out everything he needed to and made some serious strides. Comprehending pressure in under a day without even a smidge of assistance was pretty impressive in the grand scheme of things. Even in the higher domains anyone with pressure reserves in a dangerous place could take up to a week just to even clear step one, let alone make progress beyond that. Ares'' bloodline gave him lots of pressure, a unique trait for it that auto adjusted it to levels he might not even be able to normally reach, and immunity to the general type that weighed down on people, but he''d never received anything to make learning everything easier. He''d done that on his own and, now that he thought about it, this was probably the first thing he''d ever done that hadn''t been straight up gifted to him. Technical creation had been easier because of Dominus and art creation for the destruction pillar was a simple process due to the nature of the pillar and his high affiliation. Voidwalk, Perish Wheel, and Quietus were his greatest creations but even they didn''t take too much effort to actualise. Yes he''d done that ''by himself'' but that was the cultivation equivalent of saying he deserved credit for washing his clothes... It was a little too easy and basic to celebrate, and it was something he was going to have to do anyway, unlike his most recent accomplishment. It was satisfying and Ares enjoyed the feeling, so much so that he decided on the spot to learn a weapon Dominus wasn''t familiar with! He would do it via his own effort! He wouldn''t even cheat and use Omniscience, all his work would be au naturale. As for which weapon he would choose, first he would have to select one that wasn''t amongst the thousands Dominus was an expert with... Ares put that idea to the back of his mind for now because that seemed like a hard task in its own right. There was no reason to get distracted with a side quest when he was on the brink of completing his main one!


    Ares flawlessly directed a tidal wave of pressure to crush the metal hills while he strolled past them. As he neared the staircase, Ares turned around and waved to the individual as he climbed upwards and reached the door. He was a weird guy, and Ares didn''t exactly like him, but it''s not like he made Ares'' life harder in any way. Also, entering this floor, not speaking to him once for hours before picking a fight with each other, almost killing him in a fit of manufactured rage, and leaving without so much as a goodbye just didn''t sit right with Ares. If someone invaded his house and did the same he would go ballistic and kick their ass out onto the curb! "You are a strange person but goodbye nonetheless! Try not to go around insulting people for no reason in the future lest it come back to bite you in the ass again!"


    The mystery individual tilted his head and looked at Ares silently for a few seconds before speaking up. "No reason? You and I clearly have two very different interpretations of what happened here today... Whatever, your advice... I will take it on board. I have good friends who always warned me about my arrogance. Here''s hoping I haven''t already suffered in reality and been humbled because of it. Then again, I was strong enough to fend off most attackers so I''m probably fine. Hey kid, what''s your name and who are you? You don''t seem normal."


    "Ares. Future God of destruction. Also I''ve got Dominus lounging around inside of me." Ares was honest and upfront because, realistically, there was no way he was going to be able to lie low in the wilder world when he arrived there. None of the things he''d just said could ever be hidden so he might as well get used to flaunting himself here and now.


    "Destruction? So that fundamental pillar talk was real after all... I see... And Dominus is inside you? I guess he made some progress with his suicidal experiments although not in the way he hoped to, clearly. Hmm... Kid, my name is Caribou Coronos, the sage of time and wisdom and next in line to become the God of the space-time pillar... Not that Astraeus is ever likely to kick the bucket, mind you. If anyone gives you trouble, mention my name and they ought to think twice before messing with you any further. Come look for me when you get a chance and we can talk a bit more. If your duty is to save the world then I shall do my part and aid you if I can. Also, now that I look at you properly, I sense you''ve formed a contract with my God, Astraeus. He''s a difficult one to get in contact with at the best of times so I must admit I''m both jealous impressed you''ve come across him at such a young age. That aside, if he''s helping you then so shall I. Alas, there isn''t much I can do for you in this simulated form. You''ll have to come to me, I''m afraid. Until then, be safe... Well a revenant need hardly watch his back but you get the point, I''m sure. Goodbye for now Ares."


    As Ares'' body faded past the doorway and onto the next floor, he etched the name Caribou Coronos into his head because this guy seemed like a big deal. He was effectively the Dominus of the space-time pillar after all. Ares didn''t yet know the name of the servants of Astraeus but Caribou was certainly one of them and at the top of the pecking order to boot. If Gods were at the tippity-top of the hierarchy then someone like Caribou would be right under them so he was probably as big of a deal as he claimed to be. Remembering his name and visiting him in the future would be well worth the hassle. Also, if nothing else, Ares wanted to see what the guy looked like! The suspense was killing him!


    That was for another... Well... Time... Right now, Ares had made his way to the third floor and he was currently being sniffed! It seemed all of the trial overseers had their own.... Unique personalities. As for the beast-like Panthera invading his personal space, this one seemed to be rather nosy.

 Chapter 141: Ares’ Golden Gun Is His Goldfinger

    Who the heck is this guy?! Coincidentally, Ares thoughts on the man running circles around him were exactly the same as Dominus''. It was strange though, Dominus had been here before so for him to not recognise this guy must mean the original overseer was replaced. Apparently the pagoda could be updated but now the question was when did this happen? If it was recent, this guy might know a bit more about the happenings of the outside world... Although Ares was seriously wishing the guy would stop sniffing him for a Goddamn second! "Excuse me... Why are you so intent on smelling me ''good'' sir?"


    The guy, still hunched over, turned his head to Ares, giving him a good look at his sensory assailant. The man would be rather tall if he ever stopped bending his back but he seemed quite content to stay like this forever so that wasn''t going to happen any time soon. This guy was also definitely the bulkiest person Ares had ever met and he was absolutely not the kinda guy you would ever want to have a contest of strength with if you could avoid it. His muscles bulged out from his fur and displayed their scars in all their battle-worn glory. His face more closely resembled that of a lion than a human and his mane was splendorous, gloriously dangling beneath his square chin. Heterochromia added a touch of colour to his face with one blue eye and one red one on his left and right sides respectively. His blond hair was dazzling and well combed. Considering how feral his posture and personality seemingly were, he was well groomed at least. He wore leather clothes with a colossal axe, bigger than Ares even, strapped to his burly back. In spite of the size of the weapon the Panthera was darting around with his bare feet like it weighed as much as a feather. "I''mma smellin'' ya ''cos yous smells like one of them fundy-mentals! Any fundy-mental is a friend o'' mine aslong as yar takin'' good care o'' me daughter!"


    "Whoa whoa what? I''ve never met your daughter? Also how do you know I''m a... ''Fundy-mental''?"


    "Neva met my daughter?! Huh, must be one o'' dem fundy-mentals trapped inside da barrierier thingamajig."


    "The barrier? You mean the Primordial Blade''s interference?"


    "Yeah! That thingamajig. Ok ok, I see. Den allows me to into-ro-duce meself! Name''s Golgo, king o'' da Pantheras! Father o'' Havanah, Fundy-mental o'' da reality pillar! Den again, me da father o'' many panthera, couple o'' thousand. Hard to keep track o'' em all but I do good. I can re-me-member ''bout 80 per-chent o'' dem. ''Course Havanah s''special being fundy-mental ''n all."


    ... A couple thousand children?... And I thought my father was a busy man, sheesh. So what, you can tell I''m a fundy-mental because your daughter is one too?"


    "Yep. I re-me-member before she wus born some pro-phet came a-bys and told me one o'' me wives wus gunna birth a fundy-mental. Me could kinda tell he right, wife had new smell. Smell o'' fundy-mental. Like a higher be-eing. Turnsout both my nose and guy was right. Then ''gain, guy was pretty smart. Said he worked for sum kinda organic-isation? Dunno deetails but guy said ''e wanted Havanah to join with other fundy-mentals and gave us buncha culty-vashon re-sorses ''n x''change. Dat guy, and some other guys, helped raise Havanah. Havanah got a lot to show for it, can speak better than papa and will be stronger than me too. Me real proud of Havanah. So, if yous also a fundy-mental, you gonna work alongside my Havanah and be nice to her, yeah?"


    "Uh, sure, I guess so. Right now I still need to escape the ''barrierier'' so I''ll meet her, and the other fundamentals, after that I guess. Say, when did you become the overseer for this floor? It must have been somewhat recently right?"


    Yep yeah. Guy came back with some other guy from place called ''Trans-mit''? Said dey wanted to work to-gather to get info-mashon or sumthing. Dey put me in ''ere to look for fundy-mentals as well as to teech pressure stuff. I was put in ''ere about a years ago. Kinda boring in ''ere though. Wanna leave. Wus told either you or da other fundy-mental could maybe clear da pa-gooda. Speaking of fundy-mental, could yous tell the other one to come ''ere too? Gotta gather info-mashon for da guys."


    "Sure, I was going to recommend he come here anyway. What kind of info-mashon do you want, my furry friend?


    "Fleshy friend, I want to know your culty-vashon and to make sure ya kno ''bout Xhilihililix and stuffs. Make sure every one of the things is on track. Also, dat yous are working on da barierier. Can''t has it up forever."


    "Hm, ok. My culty-vashon is mental accumulation, 4th stage. I do know about Xhilihx and my duty and so on so forth. I''ll deal with the barrier when I can but I''ve got other problems to sort out first before I worry that... So yeah, everything is good... Actually, no! Wait a minute, everything is not ok! That dumb lizard Ignizz still hasn''t shown up yet! When you go back, can you ask someone to go check up on that bastard?! Make sure he hasn''t died in his sleep or something?"


    "Okey dokey. I re-me-member. Jus in case I''ll put it on a piece ''o paper too." Golgo whipped out a small notepad, which clashed heavily with his image, put on a pair of spectacles, that really didn''t suit him, and started messily writing down the info-mashon he''d been given by Ares with a pen that was barely as big as his fingers. "Ah! Almost for-gort. Wass your name fleshy friend?"


    "Ares."


    "A... Ehre... Airy..."


    "A.R.E.S. Ares."


    "Ah, me get it. Air-eese."


    "No it... You know what, fine. That''ll do champ, that''ll do."


    "Air-eese, huh? Bit o'' a weird name..."


    "Don''t you dare go there you furry phonetic fumbler."


    "F... F... F?"


    "Well, not quite but sure. Good try anyway. So, that aside, could you tell me what this trial is?" Ares looked behind Golgo, which was a task in its own right considering how much of a mountainous individual he was, and eyed up a group of moving targets in the distance. They were made of the same metal as the hills on the previous floor. As for what was stopping Ares from just walking over and aiming more precisely from a close range, there was a moat on this floor for some inexplicable reason. Ares could already kinda guess what this floor was about given the layout but he asked anyway just to make sure he wasn''t wasting time trying to complete the room in the wrong way. He was actually conversing with the overseer on this floor properly so he might as well make use of it.


    "Gotta lower da droor-brij. To du dat, ya gotta hit da targ-its with some preshor. Can''t be da normal kind tho. Gotta learn ''ow to make preshor a fizz-ical at-ack on dis floor. Den yous gotta learn to aim at da moo-ving targ-its. Speed, aim, making preshor fizz-ical, gotta do all three to pass da moat."


    "I see. I''m guessing you were chosen to be here because your good at attacking with pressure?"


    "Da best o da best! When I swing me axe, and fling preshore offa da wep-on, it cuts ever-ything ''n half no matter ''ow tuff! Ya no wut yous doing, kiddo, or ya need sum help from me?"


    "I have no idea what I''m doing, no, but that''s fine. I want to learn to do this all on my own, I think it''s better that way in the long run. This doesn''t seem like it will be much harder than the last floor because I''m at least familiar with how to access and wield pressure now. Can''t be too bad, me thinks."


    "Aighty. Den I''ll be sitting on da side and sleepy-ing. Lemme no if ya change your mind... Heh, mind. My little girly Havanah dun like mind fundy-mental at start. Got along like cat and dog. Good frends now though. Mind fundy-mental smart girly and good pers-on. Bit see-ree-oos, ''n all-ways frownin'', but good pers-on is good no matter how little dey smile. Use big words though, hard to keep up wit. Did try to speek dumber for me though. ''Gain, good pers-on." Golgo stomped over to the side and sat with his back up against the wall... Well he did at first but he conked out immediately and slumped further down until his face was kissing the floor. His tongue hung out of his mouth and it slobbered ''till there was a puddle of saliva cleaning the ground he lay on.


    Ares also took a seat but, unlike his feline friend, stayed wide awake. His goal this time was to make pressure into something that physically existed in a solid form... Isn''t this just going to wind up being almost exactly like an Echo? Learning to do this will probably be easy but maybe I should spend my time here learning to mix pressure into my Echoes after? It will take a little longer to leave this floor but that ought to be alright, I''ve still got a fair bit of time left until I need to head back and start making dinner. They''re probably gonna start eating the lunch I left behind soon... I wonder if Enyo''s calmed down yet? Well, for everyone else''s sake, here''s hoping... Anyway, time to focus on the task at hand. I can worry about Enyo later... Not that there''s really much I can do about her...


    Accessing his heart with mana, Ares let the pressure flow through him but he didn''t release it. The major difficulty in figuring out this floor''s gimmick was knowing whether or not the conversion process, of turning pressure into a solid, came before or after unleashing it outside his body. Did it happen in him? Did it happen the second he let it out? Was it even later than that? Ares hadn''t actually ever seen a physical pressure attack as it was something Dominus never used during his brief outings that Ares permitted. Dominus had skipped right over this step and gone straight to what Ares guessed would be stage four, redirecting magic with pressure. That was what he''d taught Rox. After that he jumped to stage five and coated himself in the stuff but never once did he fire pressure at anybody from range.


    Ares tried merging the pressure with his blood to no avail. It''s not even like there was a hint of success if he followed this route as absolutely nothing was happening. No response whatsoever. Ares abandoned that idea quickly after testing it, the second he realised it was getting him nowhere he moved on and tried a new approach. Mana. This had gotten him far on his learning journey and so Ares figured he would give mana another shot here. He kept a bundle of pressure trapped inside him as he tried to merge it with mana and, unsurprisingly, he made progress! It seemed like mana was an incredibly important part to pressure manipulation no matter how you wanted to use it. Now there was a different problem, it was taking forever! As Ares threw more mana into the pressure clump he could see it visibly change, and that was great and all, but the time it took made it unusable in a fight. No wonder there were multiple targets on this floor, if there was just one even an amateur at pressure control could pass this test with flying colours. This way the target would reset before you could hit them all to prevent anyone from ''cheating'' the trial, ensuring anyone who moved up had a good grasp of what was being asked of you here. Still, Ares had the answer he was looking for so now some experimentation would be all it took to correct whatever mistake he was making. His first attempt resulted in failure when the only change he made was to throw even more mana at the problem. The speed of the pressure changing to a solid did increase but A, it was barely noticeable and B, the amount of mana he used was ungodly. There was no way in hell people were doing this normally to get the desired result, that was insanity. Using upwards of 70% of your mana reserves to fire one pressure bullet?! No, that couldn''t be correct even if it was possible.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Although that last attempt was categorically a failure, it did still succeed in converting the pressure fully. Ares wasn''t content with this just yet but he could at least try and fire off the pressure bullet to check everything that came after this stage was functional. Unlike with simply controlling normal pressure, Ares couldn''t use mana or his eyes because it was still inside him! To that end, he pointed at one of the targets on the other side of the moat, specifically the one that was closest and not moving, and unleashed all the stored pressure via his finger. A silver swirl appeared at the tip of Ares'' finger before it coalesced into a bullet and shot forward at a blinding speed. It was so fast even Ares himself barely kept up with the projectile... The same projectile that missed its original mark entirely and slammed into the wall at the back of the room. From this Ares realised aiming was hard and not at all like firing an actual gun such as the Biome Eagle. The bullet was prone to misfiring because of the punchy recoil to Ares'' finger affecting its trajectory milliseconds after it was fired. Technically Ares had aimed properly it''s just his finger bouncing upwards affected the nearby air and jolted the pressure off course. He would have to find a method of dealing with that but, right now, he was more concerned with something else he realised...


    This attack was brutal! The pressure bullet had left a dent in the pagoda and the dull thud had even spooked Golgo awake. When Golgo saw the hole he rubbed his eyes twice as if in disbelief before staring at Ares. Golgo shook his head and smacked himself to knock himself unconscious because he didn''t believe this was real. He simply went back to sleep and pretended nothing had happened here... But something did happen! The dent was undeniable proof! Undeniable proof that Ares'' pressure was a lethal weapon in more than just one way. Normal pressure could kill, physical pressure could kill... As long as Ares could chuck his pressure at people, regardless of what form it took, he could do some real damage. What''s more, that bullet contained barely any pressure. Ares had gone light on its creation... Ares was very rapidly realising he was not going to leave this pagoda the same person he was when he came in. Even if, today, here and now, he could only complete this one floor before having to leave, the increase to his overall power level would be monstrous. With all this he might actually be stronger than Enyo again and he''d yet to even explore the other two floors. He was improving by leaps and bounds every second he spent in here and he wasn''t even halfway done yet. This pagoda was a phenomenal tool and Ares really owed the Transmit boss a great deal... Then again, they also owed him in some ways so it evened out.


    Anyway, Ares managed to eventually shut his stunned-open jaw and refocus. The end result was great but everything prior to it was dreadful and even that was putting it gently. Using pressure in this manner wasn''t feasible unless he was trying to assassinate someone in which case he could maybe charge it in advance for upwards of ten seconds. Ares was obviously not content with this, though, and went back to figuring out how to turn pressure into something physical in the proper way. What was clear to him was that mana was the answer, just not in the way he was currently using it... Which meant, logically, he needed to change the mana in some way... What could he do to fundamentally change the essence of mana?


    For Ares'' next attempt, he decided to convert the plain mana into destruction mana. Any of the aspects would do he was just curious to see if anything would change or if this wasn''t the right way to go about it. Ares ran some mana through his meridians, converted them into bog-standard annihilation mana, and made it flow back to the new pressure clump he''d created. Unfortunately the speed remained near enough the same but, interestingly, Ares did notice the pressure change colour to gold. Ares thought this was normal but, when he checked with disintegration mana and nothingness mana the pressure didn''t turn black or red... How strange... I wonder what the difference is... Let me check something.


    Ares temporarily abandoned his current task and went back to toying around with what he''d been doing on the floor previous. He ran pressure through him but, before letting it out, he mixed it with annihilation magic. Sure enough, the pressure turned a brilliant gold, sparkling away inside him. Ares was bewildered by this strange happening but he wasted no time in pushing the pressure out and creating a small golden zone ahead of him. Ares could instinctively tell there was a difference even if he didn''t know the specifics. Something about the pressure gave off a more regal feeling, similar to when Ares'' bloodline used to act up. The air he had about him when his bloodline kicked up a fuss was domineering and that same feeling could be felt coming from the golden pressure. Ares put his hand inside the golden zone and made no effort to prevent whatever came next so he could see just what kind of effect it had.


    SMACK CRACK


    "AH FUCK!" Ares'' hand was crushed under the weight of the golden pressure and sunk straight into the floor with such force his pinky finger broke on impact. It had taken the brunt of the impact and paid the price for Ares'' intrigue. Ares stared at the golden pressure with narrowed eyes trying to figure out what this was exactly when Dominus came in clutch and threw out his speculation... Ares was the start of a new bloodline! It was possible for a person to be born with a seemingly random trait that no one in their bloodline possessed but could be passed on by them when they produced offspring. Dominus'' ability to automatically adjust pressure was something no one else had ever had before him and yet he was born with such an innate ability. Ares was in a similar boat and his bloodline probably involved mixing his most proficient aspect''s mana, the one he had the highest affinity too, with pressure for various effects. If he ever had kids, not adopted ones but actual blood-related offspring, there was a chance for them to awaken this bloodline ability during bloodline awakening. In fact, anyone in Ares'' lineage from now on could potentially have it. To think he wouldn''t have known about this unique ability that he and he alone possessed if he hadn''t made a mistake during the learning process! What a waste that would have been! Especially considering how much of an improvement this made to his pressure... It was no joke how powerful the pressure had become now and he''d yet to even experiment with physical pressure too... If Ares thought he''d made leaps and strides before he''d practically just jumped over the moon in a single bound with that last discovery. In fact it was easily the most important thing he''d done since entering this pagoda bar none. Ares still needed to play around with the pressure to check if anything else had changed about it other than its effectiveness but he was immensely pleased right now. As for why he was born with this trait, it probably had something to do with the destruction pillar. Maybe destruction mana was so enticing that the pressure in him couldn''t help but fail to resist it! Ares knew he wouldn''t be able to say no if that lustrous gold mana strolled by, flaunting its pedigree!


    Ares quickly tested his golden pressure and the results were in. The golden pressure was more effective by a factor of roughly two and it caused damage to anything within it periodically via spurts of pain. It felt as though your flesh was exploding in a specific spot for a second before the sensation disappeared and reappeared again. It should also be noted that, thanks to his friendly-fire prevention mutation he got from Enyo, he could keep people safe from these effects if he wanted too. This was a small but useful thing to keep in mind. Other than that there were no differences. It seemed as though annihilation mana provided raw power and a crap ton of it at that. Honestly, there probably wasn''t a more powerful pressure out there than Ares'' golden version. This would top all the pressure charts with its eyes closed and Dominus agreed wholeheartedly. He admitted to being jealous of Ares'' bloodline because of how well it synergised with his own. Dominus swore to himself the next time he was let out he''d give it a whirl and enjoy it to the max. Ares had no qualms with that declaration because it would only ever be his opponent that suffered as a result of that decision. Anyway, Ares was getting distracted again. He''d fully mastered golden pressure, as it was basically no different from regular pressure, so now it was time to return to his struggle. He still didn''t know the optimal way to make pressure a solid substance quickly and efficiently. He had thoughts on the matter, though, as he already knew he needed to ''change'' the mana in some way and there was only one other method he could think of off the top of his head. If this next attempt also failed he would be stuck and have to give it some serious thought for a couple of hours but he had faith in his next idea.


    Mana could be changed into other types of specific mana based on aspects, yes, but the main use of mana was changing it into magic! You could swing mana around all you wanted but it wasn''t typically useful until you gave it form... Which just so happened to coincide with Ares'' goal for the pressure inside him! He put some annihilation mana inside the swirl of pressure and then came the moment of truth. Ares imagined crafting a golden bullet using the mana and began the process immediately. He didn''t need to create an art or anything, because he was just using plain old magic, so he kept imagining the shape of a standard full metal jacket bullet and pushed on. At first Ares thought nothing was happening but, when he felt a spark run through his body, his finger moved before his brain could order it to do as such. From the tip of his finger a streamlined bullet launched and broke the sound barrier... Maybe? Ares was incapable of following this particular bullet with his bare eyes because it was boosted by his anniliation mana this time and went rocketing off before he could get a good look at it. His brain was still playing catch up on everything that had just happened and processing the overload of information was not a simple task. Still he collected his thoughts and went through everything that just happened in order... As the magic formed, the previously formless formless pressure inside of him completely changed in an instant and had nowhere to go because Ares wasn''t releasing it. He could feel the pressure welling up and the last thing he wanted was to keep it inside him so Ares fired it off without any goal in mind. From there, the bullet went... THROUGH THE CEILING?!


    The recoil from the absurdly powerful shot sent the bullet spiralling upward where it pierced through the ceiling and went charging into the next floor up. Bits of dust were falling over the moat and Golgo had woken up again, gawking at the destruction while tilting his head left and right as if to discern what manner of madness had just occurred.


    Ares was also looking at hole and his reaction was no better as he was stuck blinking on repeat, occasionally pinching himself to try and wake himself up from this unusual dream. This pagoda.... Should never have been damaged! How many billions of people had been in this thing without leaving so much as a scratch?! Not only did Ares dent it earlier but he''d now also poked a hole in the damn thing! Ares had very nearly recovered from his shock when he noticed something moving about on the floor above... Fluffy? Ear? Ares rubbed his eyes and suddenly the ear vanished. He thought he was imagining things but then another body part popped up over the hole, an eye! Quite a captivating eye at that... It was a burnt orange colour with small black lines in the iris all pointed towards the pupil, making it look like a black sun surrounded by an orange horizon on a white canvas. Around the rim of the eye was a faint black colouring that reminded Ares of a fox.


    "Hel~lo cutie!" The eye in the ceiling spoke! The voice was mature but playful as it tickled Ares'' earlobe. Ares shivered from head to toe as the eyeball in ceiling looked him up and down. It was a sly gaze filled with sneaky intent and Ares finally felt like he understood what everyone else felt when he looked at them with mischief on the mind... This woman was bad news! Even as a revenant Ares felt outclassed! He almost wished he could stay on the third floor forever and his one solace was that he hadn''t finished the trial yet... But deep down he knew... This woman was an unavoidable problem that was going to give him a real headache when he ascended...

 Chapter 142: Practice Is the Target and Target Practice Is the Method

    "Was that little present for me? Aw, you shouldn''t have! I much prefer gifts like jewellery and, well, pretty much anything that isn''t hazardous to my health." Thus the eye spoketh. This woman must have been taken by surprise when the golden bullet of pressure came rushing past them from the floor below so the fact they were this nonchalant about it spoke volumes about their personality. Granted they, the floor overseers, felt no pain and were immortal as simulations but to be so unbothered by this borderline assassination attempt painted her as an extremely carefree and happy-go-lucky kind of person to Ares. "Hmm, craning my neck and bending over like this is tiring. I''m a bit of a lazy bones, you see, so I''m gonna go back and keep resting. Have fun down there cutie! Make sure to come up to my floor soon! I''m awfully bored all by my lonesome... And you seem like just the remedial tonic. Ciao for now!" And thus the eye left, leaving a confused Ares wondering whether he should just never go up a floor and accept his lot in life...


    Unfortunately becoming stronger was more important to him than avoiding that woman so his fate was sealed. The most he could do was experiment on this floor for a while longer and not ascend yet. He still had to learn to aim pressure, rapid fire it, and even after that he could practice some more in other ways. Was he just buying time? Yeah, maybe, but at least what he was doing was productive! Ignoring Golgo who knocked himself out again, Ares stood up and took a few paces backward. He could walk up to the edge of the moat and aim for the targets from a closer range but that was the easy way out. He wanted to make this task as difficult as possible to gain a good bit of experience. His goals, in order, were as follows: hit a target. Improve the speed of generating a pressure bullet. Hit two targets. Improve the generation speed again. Hit four of the five targets repeatedly until he felt comfortable he could hit them all with one eye closed. Try mixing Echoes with pressure to check the result. Create an art involving pressure. Hit all five targets and then move on up with complete assurance there was nothing left for him to do on this floor. It may have sounded like a lot but most of it just boiled down to practicing for a bit here and there. Really the most difficult part was going to be creating an art but even then his experiments prior to that goal ought to help speed things along. The knowledge he would gain would inevitably feed into the creation process which was partly why he was leaving it until near the end.


    Ares aimed for the target that was furthest back, and also zipping around like a caffeine addled child, because all the others would be simple to hit in comparison if he could get this one down pat. Even before he worried about hitting the target, though, he first needed to do something about the recoil plaguing his every shot. Ares could always imbue his finger with mana and that would probably solve the issue but he wanted to see if it was possible to do something about it without having to use even more mana than he already was. He used mana to draw the pressure out, he used it to turn pressure into something physical, he used it control it after it left his body, and now he was going to use it again to steady himself? It wasn''t much necessarily but the small amounts added up over time; it was to the point that a single pressure bullet cost about as much as a Shock Bead. That wasn''t an expensive mana cost or anything, and considering its piercing power it was actually rather quite cheap, but if it could be reduced then why not make the effort here and now? Setting good habits in place early would do him good in the long run as it would prevent him having to dredge up all of his knowledge on the matter just to correct any small inconveniences that could be rooted out for good right now. So, instead of using mana, Ares used pressure! The normal kind provided weight and could keep his finger locked in place if he used the correct amount. It was somewhat disconcerting using regular and physical pressure at near enough the same time but Ares toiled away for about thirty minutes before he managed it. He''d yet to hit the target, and its taunting visage kept speeding around the room and mocking him all the while, but he''d been more so preoccupied with controlling the pressure than hitting it anyway. Or rather, hitting it with his still-wonky aim would be hard to pull off anyway so he was just firing off bullets haphazardly to get a feel for the balancing act he needed to pull to even out the recoil. Now that he''d gotten that settled, it was comeuppance time for that stupid target!


    The target zigzagged in an unpredictable way with no pattern to speak of but that was ok. Ares'' bullet was faster than this thing by a wide margin so he didn''t have to lead the shot too much even at this distance. He got into a stance and followed the target with his finger, ready to pull the proverbial trigger when he felt good and ready. For now though he just kept tracing the target in a bid to familiarise himself with its speed and acceleration after making a turn.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    BANG


    Half the target was blown clean off and the metal fell to the ground in a pile of gooey liquid. Unfortunately Ares'' timing had been rather unlucky as he shot the bullet at the exact same moment in time the target happened to make a turn. As this was completely unpredictable he didn''t feel disheartened as the chances of it happening repeatedly were low. Also, even in spite of the mistake, he''d still been able to do some damage. Not enough for the target to be considered ''hit'' properly but it was still a decent attempt nonetheless. The metal on the floor hobbled its way to the target above it and jumped, merging back up with the other half before it began speeding around the back of the room again. It seemed, based on this, Ares had about five seconds to hit all five targets before they regenerated. One second for each was plenty, especially seeing as how the timer wouldn''t start until he hit the first one so it was more like five seconds to hit four. Plus he was starting with the hardest one so that shaved off a bit of time too. Ares trained his aim on the target again and...


    BANG


    This time the entire target was blown to smithereens and the metal splattered all over the floor. Ares heard a ''ding'' which must have indicated the destruction of one target to an acceptable degree. A few seconds later, after all the metal droplets reconvened and reformed the target, the sound of a buzzer rang out and signalled that Ares had failed to hit all the targets within the allotted time-frame. This was good. Ares could hit the hardest target with decent consistency and he knew the inner workings of the trial. That meant now he could start going through his list of goals and get some work done on completing them all. Next up was learning to generate the pressure bullets quicker. Currently it was roughly a two second process and that was painfully slow, double the time it took to use regular pressure. He wanted to get it down to, at most, a second before he went back to aim practice. Seeing as how both accessing the pressure and making it solid took a second each, Ares opted to make the first half of the equation quicker for now as that would also benefit him when using regular pressure as well. He hadn''t planned on coming back to this so soon but it seemed the pagoda would leave no loose ends. By the time you reached the top floor you were clearly expected to have considerable mastery over pressure in all aspects and any weaknesses you may have had at the start would be drilled out of you.


    Ares poked and prodded away at his heart again, although he really wasn''t supposed to be doing that at all as the intended method was to be safe and slow, and he dedicated some time to accessing the pressure reserves as quickly as possible. The more he repeated this action the more he became accustomed to navigating the tiny pathways that led inside his heart. Although his speed was improving his surgical precision was not but he toughed it out regardless. Through rigorous trial and error, Ares eventually managed to get his time down to half a second if he was careless and about three quarters of a second if he avoided poking himself. Was this enough? Maybe? If he wound up with similar times for the second half of the process he could fire off a bullet per second, and that was absolutely a respectable output, but what kind of half measures would he have to take to enable it? Poking his heart constantly and firing off misshapen bullets? That really wasn''t good enough in Ares'' book so he hunkered down and trained some more. It wasn''t interesting but it was needed... Even if Ares wanted to bang his head against the wall in boredom from time to time... Actually... Ares had an idea!


    This little idea of his would take a couple of seconds to accomplish and provide him a reward that would give him a laugh every now and then when he needed it. Ares crept over to Golgo, pulled a pen out of the Primordial Blade, and drew a good old fashioned moustache on the guy! Was it childish? Yeah, maybe, but Ares was a revenant, he was allowed to do silly pranks like this every now and then. For all Ares knew, if he didn''t do something stupid at least once a week he might actually explode thanks to his negligence. There was just an unwritten rule for revenants that commanded they all do stuff like this periodically so who was Ares not to follow it? Actually, now that he thought about it, his ither siblings didn''t seem to act like this often. Fate and Venus were very capable of it, Ares didn''t need to see it to believe it, but whether Scar or Skyzo did too was anyone''s guess... Verv was indecipherable. He was either permanently insane or about to be so whether he was the most ridiculous sibling of all went without saying. he even had Ares topped in that regard, it''s just the way he expressed it was different to Ares.


    Ares went back to practicing while stopping every now and then to giggle like a child at Golgo''s glorious moustache. It blended in on his face surprisingly well because of the rest of his facial hair. Given there was no mirror in this room the chances of Golgo ever discovering it and removing it were slim. Maybe if he looked in the water but Ares wasn''t sure this guy ever did anything in this pagoda except give advice and sleep all day so the chances of that happening were equally as low. It was unofficially official, the Golgo clone would now live the rest of its life with a ''stache! Distractions, albeit worthwhile ones, aside, Ares eventually brought his time down even lower. He could now get pressure moving around his body in half a second on the dot! No injuries, no mistakes, no funny business. He knew he could still do better but that was something he would work on some other time. Right now he''d accomplished this goal so he stood up and prepared himself for the next one. Being goal oriented like this helped him come up with a functional plan of attack to put this trial in the dust and be done with it pronto. Next up was hitting two targets in a row. Ares could already hit one with good consistency but having to rush the creation of another immediately after, aim, and fire while managing recoil was something he was inexperienced with.


    Bang


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    The first shot hit its mark and the ding assured Ares he could move on to the next target. This one was closer and moved slower so Ares repeated the process while making sure to steady his shot. This wasn''t about speed, not yet, he wanted to feel comfortable aiming at multiple targets. Speed would come after this.


    Bang Ding


    Ares nodded his head to himself, satisfied with the outcome. He was about to sit down again and move on when a thought struck him out of the blue. He waited for the metal targets to regenerate before he lifted both his hands. His left and right pointer fingers each aimed carefully at the two different targets he''d just hit, which took a while to get the hang of as the hand-eye coordination needed was not trivial, and he took a deep breath. He waited like a predator stalking his prey, looking for the opportune moment to launch his ambush on the targets...


    BANG BANG


    Two bullets were fired off simultaneously and both hit their mark... And yet only one ding was heard. Ares had hit them both, sure, but he''d nicked the target further back and not done enough damage to constitute a clean hit. Still, this was a good idea. Ares wanted to do the trial the normal way but he would give this method some practice at home later. Instead of generating one at a time there was no real reason he couldn''t create two bullets at once! With that done, Ares put his rear back on the floor. It was time to speed things up again. He''d already dealt with getting the pressure flowing so now he was going to work on converting the pressure faster. This was inevitably going to take longer to pull off though because if there was one thing annihilation magic was atrocious at, it was being shaped. This could be mitigated slightly by leaning more towards shaping the pressure than the mana but a mix of both was still necessary. It felt like trying to twist metal but, well, Ares was committed. He knew what needed to be done was as hard as it was uninteresting but, when looking at what kind of a cultivation monster he would become after learning all of this, he felt his vigour renew itself. He was taking a pretty major step here as everything he was doing would become a foundation he would keep building upon throughout his entire cultivation career. Dominus may not have thought highly of Ares for rarely training but, when push came to shove and he actually had to, Ares was capable of some serious dedication... Even if he had to take a break every now and then to laugh at Golgo... But he did do it! Less than an hour later he was in good shape and the speed of pressure bullet generation was astounding compared to previously, coming it t around 0.4 seconds. Old Ares took two whole seconds to fire off a bullet but new Ares could do it in about 0.9 seconds. He''d shaved off a lot of excess time on the second half of the process and things were looking good. He stood up, took aim, and fired off two shots sequentially.


    BANG     BANG


    And would you look at that, ding ding. No near misses, no delayed shots, no wayward bullets. Two perfect shots back to back left Ares feeling good about his current state. Now he could push on and aim for four. If he hit all five he would clear the trial and Ares wasn''t sure if the targets would come back so he avoided going all the way for now.


    BANG    BANG    BANG    BANG


    DING    DING    DING


    "Tsk." Ares kissed his teeth in frustration. This failure wasn''t his fault! It''s not like his excuse was something petty either, like maybe the sun had gotten in his eyes or whatever, he had a genuine reason for missing that last shot! As he was about to fire off the last bullet the target he was aiming at swerved into the path of the fifth target. Ares'' pressure bullets had enough penetrating power to destroy two tagerts easily so he had to veer off course to prevent himself from accidentally finishing the trial! His last shot wasn''t ''bad'', it was the exact opposite! It was so good Ares would have become the first person to clear floor three with only four shots! Resisting the urge to set that kind of record wasn''t easy but Ares'' inner voice, whispering evilly in to his ear, didn''t prevail in the end. Ares took a stance and readied himself to correct the record!


    BANG   BANG   BANG   BANG


    DING   DING   DING   DING


    Flawless. Each shot hit the mark dead centre and shattered the targets. This goal was checked off the list but, before moving on, Ares got used to firing while moving. Up until now he''d been completely stationary so he got off his lazy ass and started running around. Omniscience would have made this a cake walk but that was cheating! Ares stubbornly refused to use Omniscience at any point in this pagoda! Also, he really didn''t need it. Not even five minutes later, no matter how much he jumped, flipped and sprinted around like a kicka with a sugar rush, he could hit any and all of the targets with one eye closed. He''d gone above and beyond but it felt good knowing this attack was now fully usable in combat no matter the fight he found himself in. Plus it was a ranged option and Ares had been somewhat lacking in that department. He had the Biome Eagle but that was a single, heavy shot and couldn''t keep up the pressure after it was done.


    Now came the extra goals that he really didn''t have to work towards right now but chose to anyway. First up was combining pressure with his Echoes. The Echo started in his shoulder when he moved it so all Ares needed to do was have the mana and pressure flow down his arm by each other''s side. Joining them together as he moved them was literally the only step that changed here as the formation of magic was already taken care of thanks to the Echo. It sounded simple but whether or not it actually was remained to be seen so Ares gave it a shot and spun his shoulder in a small clockwise motion. "Echo."


    Ares watched the Echo tumble into the moat and disappear with a splash. There had been faint traces of gold but the pressure clearly didn''t merge with the art in time. It had worked, Ares just wasn''t quick enough... Even after all the effort he put in to get quicker it still wasn''t enough for this just yet... What a pain. He could struggle to eke out a few extra milliseconds for God only knows how long to make this work, or Ares could leave it for a later date and so he chose the latter option. He wasn''t going to stubbornly cling to the extra goals, he mainly just wanted to find out how feasible each of them were with his current tools. Even just being aware that Echoes containing pressure was a possibility was mission accomplished as far as Ares was concerned. It did bother him slightly having to give up for the first time since entering the pagoda but there was nothing to be done about it. Rather, this had been a good experiment because now that he had the feel for it creating a pressure art wouldn''t be as tricky. He already knew the direction he wanted to take too. The biggest complication for this art was going to be the fact that it required normal pressure and physical pressure at the same time... Ares was going to have to segment the pressure and only make one half physical while still releasing them together. He''d done this to an extent earlier when using normal pressure to reduce the recoil but this was going to be a little harder to make work. This was fun for Ares though! It reminded him of technical and rune creation what with some of the unexpected puzzles he had to solve before he could create and use the end product...


    Actually, now that Ares thought about it... Why was he able to cast Echo in the first place? Weren''t there anti-magic runes in this place? He tried casting a Grand Annihilation to check but it was snuffed out before it could even be spawned into reality. It seemed only arts that utilised pressure were allowed... As for how that was woven into the runes Ares didn''t know. The person responsible for them must have been a real genius to be able to specify such a thing... Ares was jealous! If he could get a peep at the runes he could steal them with his Omniscience! It didn''t look like that was going to be possible though so he gave up and returned to his current task.


    An hour later, after countless failed tests, Ares felt confident he was on the brink of achieving his goal. His last few attempts had solidified his vision for the art and he''d been progressively inching towards success with every minor change he implemented. He was now at the point where he was convinced it couldn''t possibly go wrong because there were no avenues for failure he hadn''t already sealed off with his myriad corrections to the art. Ares aimed off to the side as the art hit in a decently wide area and he didn''t want to accidentally complete the trial the wrong way. He jutted his whole hand forward and spread it. This was needed to get the masses of pressure out cleanly as a single finger was too slow.


    "Esoteric Compression."


    Waves of golden pressure rolled over the designated area and crushed the nearby targets into the floor, shattering them near enough instantly. The full power of the art couldn''t even be discerned properly because the targets couldn''t resist it for even a fraction of a second. Essentially, the art was a technical that combined the weight of Ares normal pressure with the weight of physical pressure, both of which smashed into the foe from above and flattened them on the floor. It was similar to Enyo''s barriers crushing people into paste and a fairly simple art overall but highly effective nonetheless. The force behind this art was enough to outright crush a human being at the same cultivation as Ares if it wasn''t dodged. It was a slower art but did some real damage at minimum. Even if it didn''t kill or injure the other person the sheer amount of weight resting on their shoulders could probably lock them down until it ended. Better yet, if they tried Blinking out using the space-time pillar then Ares could snap his fingers and break them on the spot. It was an art that was extremely hard to escape from if you didn''t dodge it completely from the get go... Of course that also required the opponent to have not been squashed to death immediately as that was very likely with an art this strong. Also, as it used normal pressure, Dominus'' bloodline trait kicked in and auto adjusted the pressure to be effective regardless of the other person''s cultivation. Even if Ares used this art on a God tomorrow it would still work. This was the main benefit to his pressure that he would exploit fully and with reckless abandon. He didn''t need to be as fearful of people out of his league anymore as there was still potential to either run away or take them by surprise with his pressure if things worked out perfectly. There were limits to what could be done in this manner, sure, but it was better than having no options whatsoever. Also, unlike the Primordial Blade, he could use this freely and openly right now so Ares was really happy with how things had gone so far in the pagoda. He went from having no idea how to control pressure to being the primo pressure producer in Red Sun within a few hours. There wasn''t much competition but it was worth being proud over nonetheless! As there was yet more to learn on floor four Ares was feeling just about ready to bid this floor, and it''s mustachioed overseer, adieu.


    BANG  BANG  BANG  BANG  BANG


    Ding  Ding  Ding  Ding  Ding


    DING


    A celebratory Ding informed Ares he''d passed the trial and it was music to his ears, especially after having heard that infernal buzzer on repeat for God knows how long every time he ''failed''. Ares watched the drawbridge lower while walking over to Golgo. Leaving without so much as a word felt like bad manners so he was going to wake him up first. He also had a question he wanted to ask so now was as good a time as any. After all, this guy came from the outside world and so Ares wanted to know... What was the general consensus amongst the public about the fundamentals? Obviously they would be grateful for the whole ''saving the world'' thing but surely there would be some resentment? Countless planets plundered of their resources to aid in the upbringing of these champions, people born with a free ticket to the good life... If Ares was going to be looked upon with scorn in the wider world just for existing that was fine but he at least wanted to know ahead of time. He would prepare himself, not to pretend to remain unphased, no, he would prepare himself to fight back! These people clearly didn''t realise the consequence of annoying a revenant was getting annoyed by said revenant tenfold in response! If they wanted petty, Ares had enough petty flowing through his veins to form a meteor of spite!

 Chapter 143: Candy Needs to Be Unwrapped

    Ares whistled at Golgo who woke up with a start and looked around with a serious glint in his eyes. Little did Ares know but Golgo''s family had been wiped out when he was young by hunters that whistled to signal the start of their hunt. If this had happened outside of the pagoda, out in the wild, Golgo probably would have woke up swinging his axe first and asking questions later. Golgo''s glance around the room made him recoil in shock when he saw the countless holes and dents that lined the walls. He''d assumed his earlier hallucinations were false but now he was slowly coming to terms with the fact that this was all real. This kid was freaky! Golgo had immeasurable pride in his pressure attacks but even he couldn''t do any of this...


    "Hello furry friend, figured I would let you know I''m gonna be on the up and up as I head up and up."


    "... Up?"


    "Yes, up. Me go up. Before me go up, though, I wanted to ask you a question. Do you know what people think about the fundy-mentals? What''s the general sentiment about them, I mean?"


    "Hmm, fundy-mental re-pu-tay-shon? Most really like, sum really hate. Dose that really hate, really hate. Some kinda groop o'' bad guys who tried to hurt Havanah, me smashed ''em with axe. Dey da cult o'' destruction."


    "... Oh no. I have a bad feeling about what you just told me... Let me guess. These whackos think the destruction pillar itself is evidence the world should end and they think I''m their God that will one day fulfil their wish?"


    "Yeah, sumfing like dat. Dey wur-ship yous even do we kept tellin'' ''em it wasn''t like dat. Dey don''t lissen and caws trubble all over the world. Keep att-acking in-o-scent peeple and dee-stroying countries an'' plan-its."


    "Entire planets?! Oh boy, I get the feeling I''m not going to be looked upon kindly by anyone who''s suffered at their hands... And why do I get the feeling these cultists aren''t going to listen to me if I tell them they''re insane? Great... That''s another problem for the list then. Save the world and kill my own cult along the way... Wonderful. Have any of the other fundamentals had any of these ridiculous problems or is it just me?! Ah whatever, I''ll deal with them whenever I come across them. It''s good to know most people are indifferent or have a positive outlook on us though, that''s reassuring."


    "Mhm, lots o'' peeple give Havanah gifts. ''Specially da guys on our plan-it. Lot o'' dem want to be Havanah''s mate. Problem dough ''cos I told Havanah when she was kid dat shood only mate with da strong so she can give birth to strong children, ya kno? Time on-erred tra-dish-on."


    "Mate huh... Surely not." Ares shook his head and got back on topic. "Well anyway, I wanted to say thank you for being a good sport and informing me about the situation outside. Acting like a middleman must have been boring so I commend your mental resilience being trapped in this place. I''ll send Mako your way and sometime down the line I''ll beat the tower to set you free. When you get out, please let the organisation know that I''ll be more than willing to work alongside them... And I guess deal with those stupid cultists too..."


    "Heh, me patient. Me do good, me know it. But thanks ennywey Air-ees."


    "..." Ares sighed and wrote down his name properly on Golgo''s notepad. He didn''t care if Golgo got it wrong but it might be a hassle down the line if this misunderstanding was allowed to fester.


    "A... R... Areese? Wass dis?"


    "That''s my name. Ares. Just wanted to make sure the spelling was correct for the organisation."


    "Ooohhh, I see now! Heh, and me thought yous name was weerd!... Still bit weerd though..."


    "A person named Golgo should not be speaking on such matters!... Well, I''ll get out of your hair now Mr. Moustache. See you around sometime."


    "M... Must-ashk? Hmm... Hey, Are... Ares!"


    Ares stood stock still when he heard Golgo call his name properly for once! He shed a single tear and wiped it away as he turned to face Golgo once more. A flip had been switched in his brain and Ares'' respect for this guy had shot up tenfold! "Yep? Anything I can do for you Golgo?"


    "Ah, me want yous to att-ackt me! Hit me wit preshor so I can see how strong yous are!"


    Ares scratched his chin with hesitation but agreed to the request in the end. This guy couldn''t feel pain and would be revived in the worst case scenario so he obliged and did as requested. "Esoteric Compression." Ares launched his new art at Golgo who took it like a champ... Of course he was forced down onto his creaky knees and couldn''t stand for love or money but he wasn''t injured at least. The golden pressure crackled away on his skin and kept pricking away at him as Ares held up his hand again and fired a couple of pressure bullets straight onto Golgo''s forehead.


    Bang Bang Bang


    Golgo''s skull bounced back three separate times with each hit before finally returning to its original position, just in time to see Ares Stygian Zephyr covering his face. Ares had thrown it at Golgo while he was distracted and what he was doing now behind it was anyone''s guess. Golgo struggled to raise his arm and remove the feathery cape but he eventually managed it only to see Ares'' frontmost foot plant down in front of him as he leant into an uppercut with all his might. In this moment of combat fueled adrenaline Ares pushed himself hard. His eyes were practically hollow as he dedicated every fibre of his being to the strike in order to overcome the barrier he''d discovered earlier. Golden pressure swirled around his clenched fist and Ares took a deep breath as he spun his shoulder and begun raising his fist with ferocity towards Golgo''s chin. Accompanied by a growl from the depths of Ares'' core, he yelled his chant to spur himself on as his knuckles raged upwards against the very heavens.


    "ANNIHILATION ECHO!"


    BANG


    Ares'' fist connected with a deafening sound that shook the entire floor and sent out a soundwave that even broke part of the drawbridge. His fist lodged itself firmly under Golgo''s chin and kept struggling upwards, shaking as it applied monumental force to Golgo''s wracked brain. Ares'' growls became more aggressive, morphing into a laboured shout as his fist shot up and knocked Golgo off his knees.


    BBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG


    Golden sparks exploded out of Golgo''s head as he was flipped up into the air and backwards into the wall. He banged against the side of the pagoda and collapse onto his spine on the floor with golden steam coming out of every orifice in his bloody, dazed head. Ares'' punch had torn through his own Esoteric Compression and blasted Golgo out of it. He very nearly sent the guy crashing into the ceiling, that was how much height he got off the punch. Golgo''s jaw was currently dislocated and there was a golden Echo still rampaging around inside his body. Small golden bumps rose up on his skin wherever the Echo was detonating underneath it and this continued for about a minute before a broken and battered Golgo was finally given back control over his body. It was impossible to tell how many bones were broken and how many organs were torn and shredded. If it weren''t for the lack of pain, thanks to to the fact he was a clone, he would be in a world of hurt right now. Of course injuries like this for a cultivator at Golgo''s level were something he could ignore but that didn''t mean they wouldn''t still sting and lower his overall combat ability, slowing him down. The combination of that horrifying pressure and the extremely lethal golden magic had thoroughly devastated Golgo. So much so his only response was to start belly laughing and clapping his hands with a pleased smile on his misshapen and bruised black and blue face. "Hahahahahaha. yous good! Dat smack att-ack sent me flying!" Golgo got up and stretched, bearing resemblance to a house cat as he did so. A very overgrown and burly housecat, anyway. "Hm, me thinks me rekko-mend yous to Havanah. Yous make good mate. Meet my stand-ards ''n'' den sum."


    Ares scratched his head and gave a wry smile. Did the chances of his third wife being this guy''s daughter just increase? That''s what it felt like to Ares at least... No! He would not go along with fate just because it was fate! If he was supposed to marry the reality pillar''s champion then it would be a natural occurrence! Actually, wasn''t meeting Golgo here pure chance? Wasn''t this already a natural occurrence? Was he trying to run away from fate if he denied this or was he trying to speed it up if he accepted it?! Fate works in mysterious ways... Well whatever. There was no guarantee his third wife was this ''Havanah'' person, this could all just be a bunch of hoopla over nothing. A recommendation was exactly that and nothing more. His daughter, thanks to the organisation and the existence of the mind pillar, had been raised in a way that meant she probably wasn''t as single-minded as her father was and not so dead set on on finding a ''strong mate''. She''d probably just brush off his recommendation... Right? Ah to hell with this! I''m overthinking things! Whatever happens happens!... Although maybe this could be useful information? Maybe I can distract Enyo with this when I return to lighten my punishment? Hahaha, who cares if it''s real, Enyo will fall for this hook, line, and sinker! It''s the perfect bait to get her off my case! Ahem "Uh, thank you for the recommendation... I mean I''ve never met her but we''ll see how things go. We''re both adults and I''m sure whether we stay friends or we go beyond that we''ll have a good relationship regardless. We''re all in this together so having each other as companions will be reassuring."


    "Yous no want to be Havanah''s mate?"


    "That''s... Not what I said? I said I''ve never met her, I couldn''t possibly make such a judgement without knowing what kind of person she is. Also, shouldn''t she have an impression of me before we make any decisions on such a matter?"


    "Yous wanna know what kinda person Havanah is? She''s strong! Make for good mate! Yous strong too, make for good mate for her. Knee-ver o'' yous two ugly so dat fine too. Wat not to like? I know Havana be con-tent wit yous."


    "Uh, right... Well we''ll see." Ares couldn''t adhere to this guy''s simplistic world view. Strength was not a personality trait in Ares'' book and he didn''t want to agree to something not knowing what kind of person he was getting involved with. Then again, she was going to save the world so how bad could she really be? Anyway, this conversation was clearly going in a weird direction so Ares figured he would leave all of this to the future. Before he could even worry about this ''Havanah'' person he would need to lower the Primordial Blade''s barrier first and that wasn''t going to happen for a while. If Havanah, whoever she was, really was his next wife, he wouldn''t be meeting her any time soon. That was good though, it gave Ares time to pamper Enyo and get more intimate with Bellona before tossing another wife into the mix. "I appreciate the offer, and I''m not outright denying it, but there are steps that should be taken before we sign the proverbial dotted line, you know? I mean, I have multiple wives already, would she not be bothered by that? As a fundamental champion she could very well have her own harem if she so much as clicked her fingers let alone join someone else''s. What I''m saying is that we should learn more about each other after actually meeting one another. Where we go from there... We''ll know that when it comes to it."


    Stolen novel; please report.


    "Okey. me thinks me understand yous point. Ah but Havanah no care ''bout harem. I mean she grew up with plenty o'' mothers. She know and used to time on-erred tra-dish-on. At end o'' day, mate is mate. Ok, me no push yous. Yous can meet her and talk wit her. Know dat I be happy to have yous as in-lor. Yous strong, me res-esp-ect dat. Also have yous own pack, harem, like a king. Yous worthy in me book... Not that Golgo ever reed books. Don'' need brain when yous got brawn. Pree-vee-us king was smarter dan me, but me put axe in his hed, so who reely smarter?"


    "Infallible logic. Or, well, at dead man can''t argue the point anyway. Not like I disagree with you though... Not sure about your lack of diction but you''re a good enough guy. On that note, I shall take my leave, furry friend. I''ll try not to keep you waiting too long here and storm through the pagoda in the upcoming week."


    "Thanks fleshy friend. Good luck and sen'' dat other fundy-mental here too, yeah?"


    "Yep, will do. He''ll be here either today or tomorrow, I''m sure. I''ll warn you in advance, though, he can be a bit... Annoying... And that''s putting it lightly..."


    "S'' he strong?"


    "Well he''s a fundy-mental so his magic is, yeah. Apparently he''s not much of a physical fighter though, and I don''t think he has any experience with pressure at all... So compared to me? Hell no."


    "Ah, okey. me no rekko-mend him to daughter den. Jus yous get seel of appa-roo-vall."


    "I''m honored. Anyway, goodbye for now. See you out in the wild at some point!" Ares waved as he crossed the moat and climbed the staircase. Golgo followed suit with a silly, dumb smile and Ares couldn''t help but chuckle one final time at the moustache. At least, if nothing else, Ares wouldn''t mind having this person as an in law if it came down to it. He was simple but honest... Maybe a bit loosey goosey with handing over his daughter but, well, ''time on-erred tra-dish-on'' and what not... Ares pushed past the door and moved onto the next and penultimate floor... The one with the eyeball that had been staring down at him every now and then through the gap in the roof. Although she''d never interrupted again that didn''t mean boredom and curiosity hadn''t gotten the better of her. This was clearly a person who couldn''t sit still and idle for five minutes if their life depended on it. Well, to be fair, she must have been in this pagoda for quite some time. Amusing herself at the expense of the challengers was fair game. Ares couldn''t fault her for doing it anyway because he knew he would do the exact same were he in her scenario. Between sitting around and doing nothing for hundreds of years and peeping downstairs at a big furry guy getting socked in the face... The choice was obvious when described in such a manner.


    Past the door Ares was welcomed by a white void. There was literally nothing here other than the colour white and it was disconcerting to say the least. Where were the walls? Where was the ceiling? The floor? Did these things even exist? The floor did anyway, unless Ares was standing on thin air. Again, not that he could tell because of the endless sea of white surrounding him. It was to the point that Ares thought some prankster had hit him with a flashbang as he walked through the door. A couple of eye rubs and repeated blinks corrected that misunderstanding. That, and also the woman who''s eyeball Ares was familiar with.


    A foxian! Half human, half fox, leaning more towards human with little to no fur. The only noticeable fox traits were her fluffy ears and a bushy tail, both of which were bright pink... Actually, her long hair was also pink. Her adult looks were made a little more youthful thanks to the natural abundance of such a bright and out there colour. Her ear fluff was pure white and looked soft to the touch. Her face was well maintained and looked smoother than butter with no wrinkles or sagging to speak of despite her tone of voice and facial structure indicating she was an older woman. It didn''t really need to be mentioned but her eyes were as intricate and inviting as ever. They were striking and made her look perpetually invigorated when paired with her lengthy eyelashes and wide mouth which was yawning at the moment. Her spritely features were kept in check by a pair of glasses that weren''t fully pushed up against her face, looming precariously over her pointed nose. As for the rest of her body... Without a shadow of a doubt, this was the curviest woman Ares had ever seen in his life. Although it was rude to take a peek at her chest, he did so only out of curiosity as to whether they hurt her poor back... As she was standing with a slight slant she could rest her hand on her hip, slightly behind which Ares could see the curvature of her rear. This was a well endowed woman and he had to admit she was alluring as all hell. She wore... A lab coat? And a black, turtleneck crop top? And black short shorts?! It seemed this lady also liked to flaunt her assets openly. Even her crop top had a window near the bottom to give everyone an eyeful of underboob which was struggling to fit inside her clothes. Her shorts were also ripped here and there... This woman had devilish charm and could probably tempt Enyo on sight with her bountiful flesh and that was absolutely high praise. An angled belt sat slightly below her exposed abdomen which revealed a decently toned body. Below the shorts, on display, was an inch or two of bare thigh before it was cut off by some fluffy leg warmers that went all the way down to her feet. Her shoes were black flats... Whether she was going for comfort or style was hard to tell because she had such an unusual mix of both it became an impossible task to discern the dominant approach amidst the mishmash. What couldn''t be missed was her maturity that oozed out of every pore. Although Ares hated to admit it, the way she was currently resting her fingertip on her lip and gazing at him seductively with her head tilted down was done to a sensuous degree Enyo couldn''t match. Granted she didn''t have the years of experience this woman clearly did, and she would inevitably match if not overcome her with time, but at the current moment in time Enyo had been outclassed in terms of raw ability to lure a man.


    Ares was made of sturdier stuff, however, and wouldn''t buckle just because of this. The world was filled to the brim with beautiful women, if Ares stopped dead in his tracks for every one he would never get anywhere. Besides, all nine wives were set in stone already, they would happen when they happened. Whether whatever woman he came across would be one of his wives had nothing to do with him, in a roundabout way, so he didn''t fuss over the details anymore. What happened on the last floor was enough of a brainbuster as is, he didn''t need to go through that pollava in his head again! "Hello lady... So, uh, what''s the trial for this floor gonna be?"


    "Aww, don''t be in such a rush, cutie. I only got a sneak peek of you on the last floor and now that I''ve got you all to myself I wanna get a proper look at you! Also, my name isn''t lady, silly, it''s Candy! Candy''s the short version, though, so feel free to call me eye-candy whenever you feel like it, k?" With a wink she tried to put Ares out of commission but he didn''t falter.


    "Ah, right, Candy, so... What''s the trial?"


    "You really don''t wanna chat with me?" Candy pouted as she disappeared. Next thing Ares knew Candy was wrapped around him, sniffing him, and slithering around his body in circles. Her eyes were trained on every inch of him until she was satisfied with her nosing, at which point she took a step back with her arms folded behind her.


    Ares sighed and shook his head. "Look, Candy... I''m married... I appreciate you''re just having fun but if my wife saw this... Actually, she''d probably demand you pay her attention instead of me... But that''s not the point! I mean... I mean... So, uh, what''s the trial?"


    "Haha, you''re all over the place cutie. Whassa matter? It seems like your wife is quite the interesting woman, wish I could meet her. Well, that''s ok. You and I will have plenty of time to chit chat with each other. I''m not going to let you complete my trial so easily. See this trial is a bit different, cutie. If you wanna pass, you have to avoid getting hit by my attacks for a minute straight, so I decide the difficulty here!"


    Oh hell, I''m never leaving this floor am I? This woman is going to stall me and keep me in here forever... "You... You wouldn''t up the difficulty beyond what it should normally be for any reason, would you?"


    With a giggle, Candy slid over and flicked Ares'' chin. "Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn''t! Why? Is staying here with me until I''ve had my fill of you such a bad thing, cutie?"


    "Ok, seriously, why are you acting like this? We''ve just met and objectively I know I''m not a ''cutie''. You have no reason to want to keep me on this floor longer than you would anyone else. Do you mess with everyone who gets to this floor like this?"


    Candy shook her head with some solemnity evident in her expression. "No, you interest me and that''s rare nowadays. I always used to be a bit of a wild child with an unruly streak when I was a kid and had some excitement for the world at large in me. My family were a real bunch of downers, though, and still are. They stifle me always. It''s rare I get to have fun and when I saw that you''d drawn a moustache on that other guy I figured you and me would be on the same wavelength. Thought maybe we could have fun together. I mean I''m stuck in here with nothing much else to do other than trial the guests but most of ''em want nothing to do with me. Anyone who gets this far is taking the pagoda seriously... I just wanna have some fun but I can''t anymore... In real life I stopped getting excited over every little thing like I used to when my family kept burdening me over and over... I wanted to preserve the happiness that used to exist in me in some way. Even if the me out there has lost hope in the world, I want this me to keep the spark of joy burning, ya know? I''m actually a little scared of returning to my real body one day... I don''t wanna know how depressed the real me has become in the years since I left part of my conscience here. So yeah, I want to be in a good mood when I go back, maybe that will help me... Didn''t mean to cross any boundaries, cutie... Well I guess you aren''t cute at all, that''s not you, but it''s more of an affectionate term anyway. There was this one kindly old lady that used to call me cutie and give me sweets before she died. When she passed I stole the word from her, that''s all. I''ve lost a lot and been forced to take on problems I don''t want all my life... Even the word life was starting to lose its lustre when I entered this place. Sorry if it''s heavy cutie but I didn''t want you to misunderstand me and my intentions here."


    "Ah, damn, now I feel like a careless brute. Didn''t mean to bring the mood down, sorry. I''ll take the blame for this so how about we move on? If it''s fun you want, I''m a revenant. I can''t guarantee the fun will be anything other than dumb in nature but I can promise you that much at least."


    Some sparkle returned to Candy''s eye. "Ooh, a revenant?! I never met one before! You got a tail!? Sharp teeth!? You a monster in disguise gonna eat poor little old me?"


    And just like that, Candy was seemingly back to usual. She recovered quick... But Ares could tell her problems were deeper rooted than she was letting on. She was only pretending to be happy and Ares could see that the act she was putting up was tiring her out. Depression was something Ares hadn''t come across before but he felt like he understood it now that he''d met this person. Ares was going to be an unnecessary busy body here but if he could spend some time with this woman and help her feel a bit better then that was what he would do. The trial could wait, this person was right in front of him and had to be dealt with before he left the floor, otherwise he had a feeling he wouldn''t see her again. Why should he care? Why did this woman matter at all? Why her?...


    No reason.


    Ares really didn''t have one... Although there were a few excuses he''d come up with. For one, his existence caused enough problems in and of itself, if he could help even a single person and balance out that scale somewhat it would make him feel better. Also he, deep down, hoped he never became like this person, so jaded with life that all the fun had been sucked out of it and suicide was right around the corner... Not that it ever really could be. Ares would live forever whether he wanted to or not and he knew that because Dominus, a fellow revenant, was living proof. He didn''t want to get tired of life now or ever because he couldn''t imagine how much of a nightmare it must be to wake up everyday and just not care about anything, again and again. To have no motivation, or worse, to have it but never the desire to make an effort... Honestly, even being around this woman was suffocating because he could see the lies stacked up on top of each other in her eyes, just waiting to crash and burn. So no, Ares didn''t really have anything as concrete as a ''reason'', he just happened to be in the right place at the right time and doing nothing would make him feel awful. Maybe he was just being selfish but, when it came down to it, he really wanted to help her because he could see a bit himself in her. His business with the Gods and the pillars was already weighing on him somewhat, if he had to put up with that for thousands of years and it turned into baggage he knew he would want someone there to help him too. He had family, this woman''s had clearly betrayed her. Whether she had literally even a single person to help her get things off her chest was looking unlikely, so Ares decided here and now that he would be that person. Even if on his journey to Godhood he could only save one single person, he would pick this woman because, right now, she was here in front of him and could be reached. That was more than enough of a ''reason''.

 Chapter 144: Sociopathic Behaviour To Assert Dominance

    After a quick look around the blank white room, Ares looked back at Candy and gave a very serious suggestion. "So... Wanna play hide and seek?"


    "Hahaha, I see you weren''t kidding when you said ''dumb'' fun. Are all revenants like this?"


    "About 90% if not more. It''s probably hereditary what with Dominus being our progenitor and all. But you know, I was being half serious. I''m pretty confident I could do an ok job of hiding in here if I had to!"


    "Pfft. I don''t believe you."


    "No really, I have a mimic on me and I could hide in its shadow. It might not work on someone at your level but it would probably fool most normal people!"


    "A mimic? Huh, been a while since I saw one of those. Should I even ask why you''ve got one on you?"


    "He''s a bit of a special one, actually. You see..." Ares took a seat opposite Candy and chatted away about how he found Rox and how Dominus, who was inside him, taught the guy how to wield pressure and so on so forth. The cultivation world was vast and even people in lower realms could have strange stories to tell if you bothered to listen so, to that end, Ares got carried away when he saw Candy was interested and started telling her all sorts. Candy had spent a good chunk of her later life in confinement and didn''t get to go out and see the wonders of the world so hearing about them second-hand from Ares wasn''t as boring as it would be for some other cultivators. Candy used to have a fascination for all the weird and wonderful treasures, planets, and monsters around the world but that interest turned to dust after years of being kept prisoner by her own family. This was what Ares had picked up on from her occasional interjection and, by the time he was done narrating his own stories, it seemed like Candy was willing to talk a bit more about herself. She looked at the ceiling with a frown and sighed deeply before looking Ares in the eye and being upfront with him.


    "Do you know what matters in the cultivation world?"


    Ares had always believed the answer to this question was simple so he responded with his interpretation that had been developed over however many years living in such a world. "Strength?"


    "Somewhat. Strength is the result of genes and talent so I would argue they''re more important. They come first and having strength without one of the two aforementioned traits is hard and mostly requires luck. I don''t disagree with your opinion but I think you aren''t old enough yet to see just how important it is to pass on the strength you have. It does many things, the major one being that your family can maintain power and control. If a child inherits your strength and, for whatever reason, you find yourself temporarily out of commission, being able to rely on your kin matters a great deal. It also enables your family lineage and legacy to remain strong. More than any of that, though, it can help a family bypass stubborn children... What I mean by that is that if a child shows promise, and has strength in spades, passing on that strength will allow the family to retain control over a part of it even if the child rebels. In my case, my family demanded I give birth and tried to pawn me off to the anti-magic God. See, I''m the one who made the runes for this pagoda and its generally agreed that I have the talent needed to become the next Goddess of the pillar. Those rumours created all sorts of problems though due to the kind of person the anti-magic God is and so my parents tried to head it off while cementing our position in society by throwing me to the wolves. I denied them, refused their demands, so they locked me up. Before I was put in this pagoda they were searching high and low for someone to effectively sell me off to so that I could give birth to another talented individual they could control instead of me. All they wanted out of me was my innate talent, even if they had to force me to birth a child and steal it away from me. I never wanted any of this and now I have both my family and the null legion breathing down my neck to try and usurp my genetics. I spent all my time refusing visits from suitors and politely declining the anti-magic God over and over again and I got sick of it... But what could I really do? My family would kill me if I ever tried to leave... And I know if I keep saying no eventually they won''t give me a say in the matter... The real me has no choice but to eventually accept one of those offers so I tried to hide... I didn''t want to deal with it so I hid part of my conscious here. This me can be happy knowing its free from those shackles... But I know I should go back at some point. No matter how much worse it''s gotten I need to go back while I still can. If the real me commits suicide I''ll just disappear. Not knowing if any minute now will be my last because the real me will just give up.... I''m scared... I don''t wanna stay here until I die... But I don''t wanna leave and have to confront that life again. If my state then was bad back then, I can only imagine how much worse it''s gotten after all these years... Ares... What do you think I should do? How can I go back to the days when I was just a happy kid, looking forward to getting out there and exploring the big, wide world?"


    "... That''s a difficult question. The only thing I can say to you is that staying here definitely isn''t the answer. It''s escapism. I know your problems aren''t small, and I know that you''re feeling helpless with no way out, but reality is often cruel like that. Take it from me, sometimes you have to suffer through the bad to get to the good. Like I told you earlier I was a slave to the Chen clan but that ended up working out for me years later when I finally escaped. It set me on the path I''m on now and there''s nothing about my life now that I regret. You aren''t out of the woods just yet but you will be. It might sound like I''m being dismissive, and that me telling you to just grin and bear it comes from an ignorant place, and maybe you''re right, but surely there has to be something worth living for? Do you not still dream of returning to the wide world and exploring? Isn''t that worth hanging onto if nothing else? Or better yet, you have a friend in me now. When you''re finally out of here, why not wait around for me? If you''re still having trouble by the time I catch up to you then I''ll solve it myself, deal?"


    "Haha, that''s nice of you, cutie, but what can you do? I''m still so far away from where you are now and I don''t know how long I''ll have back in reality before I''m forced to make some kind of choice if I haven''t already." Candy fiddled with her hair as she stared off into the never ending distance.


    "Use my name. If the future God of destruction, and everything he entails, is so worthless I can''t even help a single person then I might as well shoot myself. Better yet, I have connections. Astraeus, Caribou Coronos, Dominus, the boss of Transmit, the organisation gathering the fundamentals... Use my name and all my affiliations for all they''re worth to delay what can still be delayed when you return. It doesn''t have to be true but if you tell your family the God of destruction has claimed you as his then I can''t imagine they wouldn''t be overjoyed considering the kind of people they are. Use temporary measures until I can offer you a permanent solution... But I have my own condition."


    "... Yes?"


    "You have to promise me you won''t give up. This is the first time I''ve ever made an effort for anybody in a situation like this... I''ll admit part of it is for selfish reasons. If you give up and make this all pointless I won''t forgive you! I''ll dig up your corpse and find a way to bring you back so I can berate you if you do!"


    Candy looked down at the floor for a while, contemplating everything that Ares had offered her. Just as she was about to come to a decision, her face twisted into one of shock and she looked around with her head tilted. "Um, that conversation might have to wait ''till a little later... Someone is here and wants to see you... They''re quite mad..."


    "Someone is here? What do you mean?" Ares searched around the room for any intruders but there really wasn''t anyone else present.


    "I mean in another instance. Another clone of me is currently conversing with someone who''s looking for you. They seem really mad and are claiming you abandoned them earlier. I believe her name is Enyo?"


    "ENYO!? HOW THE HELL DID SHE GET HERE?!" Ares started biting his nails in a panic. The madwoman had chased him down for retribution! He''d made a grave error assuming she would stay put! She must have searched around town for traces of him and been informed by Peppy? that Ares was climbing the pagoda... But how did she even get this far?! She was a brute with no pressure finesse!... Actually, that was probably the answer. She must have just barreled through each trial with her overwhelming quantity of pressure... Uh oh.


    "Oh? She''s your wife! i gotta say, she is some seriously hot stuff. You managed to bat way out outta your league on this one. Scored a homerun and all!"


    "Yeah, no kidding. But seriously... Could you maybe tell her..."


    "I''m inviting her into this place!"


    "... That I''m not here? No? Ok? It was nice knowing you? I might be dead now?"


    DO~OM


    Enyo came storming into the white room through a flash of light and approached Ares who was trying to sneak away. She loomed over him from behind with a fierce glare and pressure rolling of her eyes as she reached out towards his back... But she stopped. Rather than continue reaching out towards him, she looked straight down at the mysterious shadow that had appeared out of nowhere. Did this idiot think Enyo would be fooled by such a silly trick?! It only took Enyo a second to realise this wasn''t the real Ares and she didn''t even have to see his fake red eyes to know that! It was the damn clone Rox and her stupid husband was hiding in his shadow! Enyo leaned down and shover her hand into the shadow, retracting it shortly after and dangling her dumb mutt by his hair. She fully yanked him out as he gulped nervously while wryly chuckling at her...


    "Um, uh, hello Enyo... It''s, uh, been a minute since, you know... So, uh, I figured I would just go out and get some fresh air but then I, uh, got lost? Maybe?"


    Enyo was about to smack this fool! She was considering it when she heard giggling coming from the side so she craned her head and looked at the foxy lady off to the side... Why was this woman acting like this? When Enyo stepped foot onto the fourth floor the fox had looked at her like she was a piece of dirt and nothing more... Where did all this giggling come from? Was Ares putting the moves on this vixen? Hmmmm... Enyo turned to Ares and shook him a bit as if she were hoping change would fall out... Granted the only change she wanted was for her husband not to scam her out of sex anymore! "You. Bastard. New wife?"


    Ares was taken aback because he hadn''t been expecting this question. How did Enyo know? Well, as Ares was about to find out, she didn''t. It was just that Ares completely misunderstood who Enyo was referring to. "Maybe, actually. I mean get this. You know the furry guy on the floor below?"


    What is this moron talking about?! Enyo was lost because she''d been asking about this woman on this floor! What did that furry lion looking guy have to do with this? "You mean the guy with the moustache you clearly drew on?"


    "Yes yes, that one. Well apparently his daughter is the reality pillar champion and you know what he said to me? He said lots of people wanted to be her mate. After a bit of back and forth, and him testing me, he said he would recommend to his daughter that I be her mate. I mean, what are the chances right? She''s a fundamental pillar so me meeting her at some point was going to happen regardless... Maybe that''s number three after all?"


    "What?" Enyo was thrown for a loop. This ratty devil had clearly been holding onto this information to distract her and, even if she knew that, it was still working! Now she was really interested in all manner of things about this pagoda... Well whatever, she could claw it out of him later. Right now, she had a different issue she wanted to sort out. "Ok, fine, you''ll explain everything to me in detail later. For now, go and sit and in a corner!"


    "Ah but..."


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Corner! Now!"


    Ares looked around at the white, cornerless room. "Uh... about that... What corner?"


    "I don''t know and I don''t care! Keep walking until you find one then sit in it like a good little man!"


    "Yes ma''am." Ares trod away, off into infinity, with a hunched back and a sullen face. All he needed was some kind of stick, with which to wrap a cloth around and store all his belongings in, which he could then hang over his shoulder and he would have replicated the weary pilgrim look down to a tee. Unfortunately for him there was no end to his journey, he would just keep aimlessly wandering until he gained permission to return.


    As for Enyo, she turned to Candy and demanded she explain everything that had happened since she met Ares without skipping anything. Candy looked reluctant but, despite her overwhelming cultivation advantage, still buckled before the might that was Enyo''s silent fury flickering away within her eyes. Candy could not stand up against such a determined and beautiful woman and she fully understood why Ares skulked off without fighting back, this woman was a tyrant in the flesh! No wonder Ares hadn''t faltered before Candy''s beauty, this chick was a class above her! "Alright, Candy was it? What were you talking to Ares about. Tell me everything honestly and truthfully. Him and I share everything with one another so don''t bother lying or I''ll just pry it out of him instead. I''m giving you a chance to come straight with me here and I assure you that is not a chance many women get."


    Candy recoiled slightly at the brazenness of this woman before caving and roughly repeating her conundrum to Enyo who pondered silently. More than anything she could see why Ares was invested, that fool. He just didn''t want to see in others what he might one day see in himself. In his own twisted way he did care about this unknown woman and her plight. If he wanted to genuinely help her then Enyo had no qualms as even she felt a bit of pity but there were more important questions that needed answering right now.


    "And why him specifically? You glanced at me like I was a cockroach when you first saw me and I can''t imagine anyone else that''s ever stepped foot onto your floor has ever gotten any other kind of treatment. Why Ares?"


    "I can only tell you the same thing I told him. He looked fun... I''ve lived in a birdcage all my life. In real life and even here I''ve just been confined to a life I don''t want to live, stuck here day after day with no escape in sight. With faint memories of happiness still lingering, can you not understand why his sudden appearance made all the difference? He literally pierced the walls of my confinement and his radiant smile of pure joy took my breath away. I thought happiness was long dead and I would never see it again but there he was, mid trial, toying around without a care in the world. You''ve read those kind of stories too, right? About a prince charming that busts down the walls and is everything you''re looking for in life? He''s not the most handsome man ever but his smile was infectious and, for even just a tiny moment, I felt joy again. I laughed along with him and that was a precious moment to me. I felt like I could trust him, that''s why. Everyone who gets this far arrives with a face like thunder wanting nothing other than to press onward. I''m usually an afterthought and the only time anyone pays me any attention is when they''re after my body. No one wanted to have fun with me so when I saw someone as carefree as Ares I couldn''t help but hope he would be different. I was right, he is fun. His stories and his compassion helped me forget about everything else even if just for a moment. His smile holds meaning for me and I''m grateful I caught sight of it. That''s ''why''. I don''t know about you, but I have nothing else but that smile to cling on to and it reminds me of better times. It will keep me going so I can fulfil his promise and not give up. I want to see it again... In real life, I mean. You told me to be honest so I will. I want that smile all to myself. I want to keep it but, more importantly, I don''t want to see it fade just as mine did. He could tell I had issues but I can also tell he has some too. I don''t want him to wind up like me but I do want to try and be more carefree like him, like I used to be."


    "... Fine. I''ll allow it. My only question is if you''re five or six."


    "Sorry, what?"


    "Five or six. Ares will have nine wives as foretold. Everything. Limerence. Mate. Acceptance. Solace. Obsession. Ambivalence. Servitude. Those women in that order. I''m everything, my sister is limerence, you just heard him talk about mate. I''ve accepted you and your resolve so now I''m curious as to whether you are solace or obsession. Part of the reason I''m tolerating this is because I think you''re obsession... Because you''re like me. Without him, you and I lose everything. We''re alike in that regard. There was a time when I was just as confined as you... There was a time I wanted to be just like him too so I can understand where you''re coming from. In a way, our two titles overlap and that''s why I think that''s who you are, obsession, because I recognise you. You are me.


    Maybe not right now, because things are still alright in this pagoda, but when you return to your real life... He will become your obsession. His name, his deeds that you will keep track of until he comes to rescue you, you will be obsessed with following all of it won''t you? Your curiosity towards his stories is something you''ve already admitted. He, and that memory of his smile, will be the things that keep you going. You know, I''m very interested to see how much more depraved you''ll be next time we meet. I''m usually not a jealous lover but when I learnt there would be a woman more obsessed with Ares than me I felt it. So now I''m interested in you. Just how far off the deep end will you have gone in the time it takes him to find you." Enyo''s breathing quickened as she leaned in closer.


    "All that pent up obsession, I want to watch you let it all loose on him. I want to be there when your greatest wish is fulfilled. I want to watch that fake smile of yours become a real one as he takes you. I know how much of a lunatic I''ve become but I''ve always wanted to see it from another perspective. I can''t watch myself fall for him so you''ll have to do." Enyo caressed Candy''s chin as her hypnotic rambling picked up pace. "You''ll be my little guinea pig, ok? I want you to fall in love with him irreversibly as I have. I don''t care how you do it but when you leave this pagoda I want you to stalk him. Find out about every single thing he does no matter who you have to hire to help you get that information. I want your heart to flutter every single time you get a piece of new information. I want you to live solely for the next moment in which you can hear his name and his exploits. You have nothing else in your life anyway so pick him. Pick him over everything and then I''ll let you have him too.


    He''s invested in you so don''t you dare disappoint him, you understand me? As of now, I''ve decided. You belong to him and he''s your everything just as he is mine. I want you to think about him every waking moment and in all of your dreams. Even if you have a nightmare I expect him to be your saviour. I''ll say it one more time, become the most depraved woman I''ve ever seen by the time we meet again. That is the best course of action you can take. You asked what you should do and I''ve given you the answer. He is your solution, not just to this problem, but to any you may ever have. I see in you potential for a wife for Ares as devoted as I am. Don''t disappoint him, and more importantly, don''t disappoint me. You and I... We can be psychotic for him together, do you understand me? But always remember this, I am his number one. The reason I love you is because you are living proof that no matter how obsessed with him any other woman ever is I will still be the one that truly matters. You are a stepping stone..." Enyo kissed Candy on the lips. "... And the most beautiful one I''ve ever seen. Ares will love you, and I will cherish you like the irreplaceable symbol of my dominance in his life that you are. You mean a lot to me, Candy. A lot. So let''s be crazy for him together forever, ok?"


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Enyo pushed Candy onto the floor and rubbed her forehead up against hers. "Say yes, Candy."


    "... Yes." Candy couldn''t resist the temptation. The feeling of submission under Enyo, the invitation to give up on everything that didn''t matter on focus on the one thing that did, the freedom to discard the life she''d lived and start anew in a loving family, warped though it may be. Enyo was unhinged but in a way that Candy couldn''t take her eyes off. Could she be as happy as this madwoman if she also fell for Ares... Was such a profound joy within her reach if she just shook the devil''s hand? What did she have to lose anyway? Would descending into insanity and becoming crazy like Enyo really be any worse than being miserable until she killed herself? Everything she wanted was on offer and she saw no reason to say no... Other than maybe the fact hat Enyo was kinda creepy like this but so what? This was the most honest woman Candy had ever met. She made no effort to hide her feelings and she could openly be who she wanted to be. She was living the life she wanted and that was something for Candy to be jealous of just the way Enyo was jealous of her. They each had what each other wanted and yet it was on the table and in the cards for them to share it, to share him. Candy wanted that smile, and the more she remembered it the more she wanted it. Clearly Enyo was right, Ares was going to become her obsession and, unless she killed herself in reality there was no way of stopping it. Candy stroked Enyo''s face and pulled her in for another kiss. "I think I really quite like you too. What an incredible woman you are. Hmm, I want Ares but I think I want you too."


    "Good. Though this is Ares'' harem make no mistake, I am just as important in it as he is. I have never told Ares about this condition but I will not tolerate a woman in his harem that doesn''t love me. One day I will gather you all up and have you all lick my feet, remember that Candy. If I were you, I would get used to calling me mistress already... Say it."


    "... Mistress."


    Enyo tongued Candy and stared into her unique eyes as a trail of saliva hung between them. "Good girl." Enyo may have had to put a different wife in her place before she got around to Bellona but really it made no difference. She would make all of them drink her spit and call her mistress before she ever let any of them be close to Ares. Really, deep down, she just wanted to lord over her own harem. She was simply using Ares to fulfil it with the upside that they would all love him too... Enyo was nearly brought to orgasm just by the thought of them all worshipping her... No one ever said Enyo was a mentally stable woman, especially not when it came to Ares. He was everything to her, after all. No matter how you looked at it that wasn''t a normal way to view another person in the literal sense. Some couples would say it metaphorically but Enyo meant every syllable. Ev-ry-thing. If she had to make a choice tomorrow between Ares and the entire rest of the world she would hesitate for a second as she thought about Appa but then she would pick Ares immediately after anyway. Candy may become obsessed but she would never top Enyo in devotion, no woman would. Enyo was the sex pest maniac that clung to Ares like he was her lifeblood. There would never be another wife like her or that could match her determination. She was once the Goddess of the pleasure pillar and yet she''d never known a pleasure like Ares. He was addictive, so much so that Enyo stood up and told Candy to wait here while she went to go have sex with him. Enyo permitted Candy to watch with her divine sense... No, it was more along the lines that she demanded it. Not that Candy would have refused anyway. Enyo had turned her on and this was a perfect chance to let off some steam. Before things went any further though, Enyo stopped in her tracks and talked to Candy one more time.


    "Are you a virgin?"


    "The real me was at the time I put my conscience in here but I probably won''t be by the time I go back to my body. It''s been too long and I was probably forced to agree to some manner of arrangement."


    "That''s fine, neither Ares nor I care about anything before you met us. Let me make this clear though, if you go back and are unfaithful to us from now on I will kill you in the most brutal way I can come up with. I will torture you in ways I''ve yet to even imagine. I don''t care how you get out of it but you will not lay with another person now that you and I are tied at the hip. You have an incredible body and I do not permit anyone else but me, Ares, or one of the other wives to touch it. In that order."


    "I understand. I wouldn''t want to make love to another person anyway... If I were sold off, I imagine it would be to this one guy who wanted me for an experiment and nothing more. He would make me give birth once and then toss me aside... I imagine that''s my current status. A horrible fate but, on the bright side, matters of the flesh disgust him. I can''t imagine it would have been anything more than begrudging impregnation in as quick a fashion as possible. Heh, I even heard rumours he would jerk himself off before inserting into his ''test subjects'' so that he only lasted a second or two at most. Knowing him he might have even come up with some kind of contraption to be as impersonal as humanly possible. A real creep but that also made him my best option. Others would have wanted to get more ''use'' out of me. I remember thinking I would pick him if I had too so I could at least only deal with him once and then slowly die miserably in a corner of an empty house as I wallowed in self-pity. He would leave me alone after."


    "Again, I don''t care. How many times, or if you even did it properly, are irrelevant and it''s not why I was asking. I doubt Ares ever expected all of his wives to be virgins and I certainly didn''t. The only reason I asked was because it would be easy to tell if you''d broken your loyalty to me and him when we met. Your situation is complicated but rest assured that if you have cheated on me I will find out one way or another. Anyway, be grateful, you are officially number six. There are three more to go until you enter the picture. You''re going to have to wait but that suspense should drive you in the correct direction. I''m going to go and make sweet love to my husband and then I''m going to leave. We will meet again and I look forward to it, Candy. Goodbye for now and keep that body warm for me."


    "Goodbye..."


    "Say it."


    "Goodbye mistress."


    With a derogatory smirk directed at her rival in love who she''d successfully subjugated, Enyo started to walk after Ares with swagger in her step. Aside from that silly mutt escaping her leash earlier this morning, things were going well for her. She''d gotten a taste of Candy''s lips and she liked it, plus there were rumours of the third wife''s location having been deduced. More toys for Enyo meant she was practically leaking by the time she found Ares. She immediately lunged for his lips and shared some of the lipstick Candy had been wearing with him. Oh how great it was to be a queen.

 Chapter 145: A Name Most Apt

    Ares crawled back to Candy in tatters. If it weren''t for the fact that he was half dead he might have noticed the faint blush on Candy''s cheek but he was too busy attempting not to keel over on the spot to concern himself with the finer details. He weakly muttered to himself "I can''t believe she hunted me down and finished the job..." before slumping onto the floor and groaning in defeat.


    Candy poked him a few times and smiled each time. This man would be her future one day. "She''s definitely a feisty woman." How could she not find this situation fun? This was definitely a family she was looking forward to joining if for no other reason to enjoy watching these shenanigans on the daily. "How about you take it easy for now and tell me what kind of life you live normally with your family, you know the day to day stuff." She wanted to know! What kind of tomfoolery were they up to in that house. The stories would keep her preoccupied back in reality until news of Ares started to spread and she could pay attention to that instead. She wanted memories to keep her going even if she''d already found a new sense of purpose. Her real self wouldn''t be in great shape mentally or physically, no doubt, but everything that happened here today would help counteract that and renew her will to live, Candy would make sure of it. She had a life worth living and things worth waiting for. Hope was on the horizon so she wanted to distract herself until she didn''t have to anymore. The day Ares walked through her door would be life changing but, until then, she had to tough it out.


    "Yeah... I think I''ll do that... Can''t move right now anyway. We can worry about the trial after... Is there anything specific you want to hear about?"


    "Hm, how about Enyo and the second wife. Enyo briefly mentioned it was her sister but I haven''t heard anything about her yet... Is she as... You know... Different, as her sister is?"


    "Ha, no, not really. They share some similarities, like certain gestures or the way they care for each other behind their backs but, no, they''re drastically different at their core. You see, Bellona''s..." Ares went into a long rant about the circumstances in which he met the two and what kind of people they were. Candy listened intently and propped up the conversation to learn more not just about the other wives but also to find out more about Ares. His smile had hooked her in but that didn''t mean she knew everything about him automatically, there things yet to be learned! Still, she had a rough grasp fo the kind of person he was, it wasn''t hard to tell. Funny, caring, responsible, kind. The kind of person Candy liked and somewhat similar to that one old lady she''d mentioned a while back. But Ares was no old lady, he was a young man... Much younger than her, actually. Age didn''t mean as much in the cultivation world but it was something she started feeling self-conscious about now that a younger guy was in her future.


    Once Ares finished talking about the sisters, he went on a rant about Appa. At the end, he turned to Candy and asked "What about you? Do you have any children?"


    "I don''t know... I might do? It depends what real me has been up to these past years. I can''t say for sure, sorry cutie."


    "No no, that''s ok. I just wanted to say that if you do have a kid, you should look after them well. Children are wonderful little critters! I know you''ve got it rough but that doesn''t mean a kid should have to go through the same. I''m not trying to sound condescending, so I apologise if that''s how this comes across, but if you do have a kid can you please show it the love you never got? You''ve got your own problems, sure, but as a parent your greatest duty of all is protecting your child. That''s how I see it, at least."


    "... You''re right... But I really don''t know if I have one. Guess I''ll just have to wait and see! Anyway, you''re looking more lively now, do you want to get this trial underway?"


    "Ha, aww, what''s the matter? You don''t wanna chat with me anymore?"


    Candy snorted as she folded her arms. "Don''t steal my thunder and take that tone with me cutie, only I''m allowed to be coy here!" She stood up and dashed like a fox over to Ares before curling around him and whispering into his ear. "Don''t worry though, no matter how coy I am I won''t play hard to get. You don''t have to chase me, I''ll even chase you if you want." Candy pushed her chest up against Ares'' back and leant into his neck.


    ...


    "Candy, I told you, I''m married..."


    "Mhm, to that Enyo girl. But I also know you''re on track to have nine wives."


    "Enyo told you that did she?... Did she give you permission?"


    Candy''s hands rested on Ares'' chest and lightly stroked him. "What do you think, cutie." Her voice sent shivers down Ares'' spine and her tinkle-like laughter echoed in his brain.


    "... I see... Then Candy, for my sake... That promise I asked of you earlier, not to give up, can you uphold it?"


    "I will. How could I not? It''s not every day a granny like me gets to snatch up a rugged young gent such as yourself."


    "I can''t tell if you''re being serious or not... But I''ll take that as a yes?"


    Candy leant over Ares shoulder and, for the first time today, showed him a real smile. "For you, yes."


    Ares smiled in return and scoffed. "Are you sure? I''m not exactly ''cute'' or anything."


    "Haha, oh come now, don''t take that comment of mine so seriously. You''re charming in your own way. And yes, I''m sure. I''ve lived long enough to be offered thousands of men I didn''t want. I know now what it feels like to want to say yes for once and that''s proof enough in my book cutie."


    "Then I guess you don''t have to pretend I''ve staked a claim in you, you can say it with pride. I look forward to getting to know you better and living together as a family from now on. Also, I can see it in your face and the way you fidget, you don''t have to be so worried about your age. So what if your older than me? Who cares? How old are you anyway?"


    "... Never ask a woman her age or her weight, Ares..."


    "You''re not just any woman Candy, not anymore. Besides, I''ve got nothing against a mature lady such as yourself. If anything, an older woman will be a nice change of pace. Also, I''m going to live forever so large numbers don''t frighten me. You''ve been around the Gods so you must live in a higher domain where the average lifespan is ginormous, right?... I get that you might feel awkward about your age but I really don''t care, so please?"


    Candy blushed and turned her cheek to the side as she quietly and shyly muttered her age to Ares, "13,877."


    Ares turned his neck so he could kiss Candy''s. He mustered a deep voice and spoke firmly into her ear. "Well? Do you think I''m more or less turned on after hearing it?"


    Candy bit her lip and went on the offensive. "I don''t know... Maybe if you could show me some more... hard evidence, maybe then I could take a guess?" Candy''s hands ventured lower. "You know, I might not be a virgin in real life anymore... Maybe... But here I definitely am... What do you say, cutie? Wanna have a different kind of fun?"


    Ares shook his head and gave Candy a quick kiss on the cheek. "No. I want my first time with you to be with the real you, not a clone. The choice between a virgin simulation of you and the real you that very well may not be a virgin anymore is not a difficult choice. I don''t care about that kind of thing because you are more important to me than your chastity is. I know the you here and now may not know it, or be familiar with such things, but it''s not a big deal."


    "... I see. I still wanna hug you though cutie!" Candy nuzzled her cheek against Ares'' and hugged him from behind while he sat still and let it happen.


    "Did Enyo explain the whole name thing to you?"


    "You mean like ''everything'', ''limerence'', etc? If so, then yes."


    "Are you solace? You''ve lived a rough life so it would make sense. I''m asking because I''m sure Enyo had you pegged from the moment she saw you and I''m interested to know what she thought."


    Candy tightened her grip on Ares and kissed him on the cheek. "No, I''m not solace. I''m obsession."


    "... Ah. No wonder Enyo accepted you without much hassle. You were the one she was looking forward to meeting the most... Though you don;t really seem to be obsessed much?"


    "Not yet, cutie, not yet. I will be in due time, I feel confident saying that the more I get to touch you."


    "I can''t tell if that''s a threat or a promise..."


    "Such a witty cutie you are, that''s part of why I like you. Come sit on my lap cutie, I''ll teach you personally how to redirect attacks using pressure. Don''t mind me feeling you up though, that''s part of the lesson I swear."


    "Hmph." Ares scooted backwards onto Candy and he fit snugly inside her bosom. "I don''t believe you for a second. Luckily I''m used to horny and beautiful women going to town on me so do your worst, foxy. I''m here to learn though, so don''t expect me to retaliate! After all, the sooner I''m done here the sooner I can send you back... As much as I would love to spend more time here with you, there''s somewhere else you have to be. I can''t risk keeping you here while your real self draws nearer and nearer to an untimely demise. The quicker I get stronger, the sooner we can be together in a normal way. It''s going to take some time as is, you are the sixth wife after all, but I never once pretended to be a patient man and I want to be with you as soon as possible. So yeah, enjoy yourself to your heart''s content, just don''t take it personally if I''m focussed on learning. It''s not for my sake, it''s for ours."


    "Well, now I really want to touch you. Why must you tease me with such sweet words cutie? How can I fool around when you''re working so hard?"


    "You can and you will. After you teach me the basic idea, do whatever you want while I work it out. I don''t want you to stress about anything because you''ll already have a rough time as is when catching up with your real self. No work, all fun! I won''t permit any effort on your end of things! You may be an older lady but if I catch you doing anything even resembling work I may very well spank you!"


    "... Well now it just feels like you''re encouraging me, cutie. I''m not so sure that''s as much a punishment as it is a reward."


    "You and Enyo are a match made in heaven... Anyway, before we get started, I''ve been meaning to ask. You said you put up the runes in this place? You must be really talented no?"


    "When it comes to anti-magic and runemancy I''m a cut above the rest, yes. Anti-magic is my specialty but I studied runemancy extensively when I was stuck indoors so I''m very familiar with it. I''d heard the two pillars worked well together so I started combining them out of boredom and the results drew a lot of attention. Eventually I was asked to replace the runes in this pagoda in exchange for being allowed to send my conscience inside to oversee a trial on one of the floors. They knew I wanted a way out so they leveraged that to get me to work for them and update the pagoda but that''s fine, I enjoyed doing it anyway. Even just seeing a rare treasure from another corner of the world excited me, let alone getting to work on it. At some point the anti-magic God caught wind of it and that was how his fascination with me started... And never really ended either. I''ve heard all sorts of negative rumours about him so I''ve made every effort to stay away and shoo him off. The null legion also have a chip on their shoulder because I''m said to be the next in line to become the Goddess of the pillar and yet I''m not one of them. If it weren''t for me being cooped up all the time I could have made quite a name for myself in the cultivation world... How disappointing, right?"


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "Don''t be silly, not at all. You''ve had no say in the matter so it very clearly isn''t your fault. You kind of remind me of Yulo, my current sect master. Being tied down has slowed down your cultivation path... And, ironically, I''m going to be the one to fix it! You''ll have plenty of time to catch up on your cultivation... Though I''m sure you''re way higher in the cultivation food chain than I am currently anyway... Well, the point of me asking you that was because I was curious if you could show me some of the runes? With my Omniscience I can copy and use them in the future. They may come in handy, if you don''t mind of course."


    "Feel free cutie. If you want my runes you can have them." Candy rested her chin on Ares'' shoulder, as her pink tail swayed back and forth, and started drawing runes in the air in front of Ares who turned on his Omniscience and stole it all. This carried on for about half an hour, during which Ares learnt all sorts of tricks of the trade. Candy''s expertise was in a realm Ares couldn''t even fathom because it was so drastically better than anything someone like Julio or Charity were capable of. Still, he didn''t need to understand what he was seeing, he just needed to see it to make it his own, that was more than enough. He didn''t currently have any use for the runes he was learning about but one day he would, he could already envision drawing these up around the sect when he took over and the thought gave Ares some relief. He needed to make the sect an unbreakable fortress and this would aid him massively in that endeavour. Although Ares himself didn''t have access to the anti-magic pillar, unless he happened to find an enabler, he could just hassle someone like Onno to offer up his mana when the time came.


    "Thank you Candy. It might not seem like sharing this is a big deal but it will be the foundation of my home''s defences. I owe you a lot for this."


    "No you don''t. At most, this makes us even. You''ve done a lot for me and letting me use your name will make my life a lot easier. If I can repay you with just this I should consider myself lucky... Not that I wouldn''t have given it to you even if I didn''t owe you anything anyway. You are my favourite cutie after all."


    Ares leaned back onto Candy''s soft chest and looked her in the eyes. "Candy, I think you ought to know the truth about me." Ares clicked his finger and covered the room in a layer of disintegration. Now that he''d seen the rune structure from the woman who made it he knew the loopholes and could freely wield any and all types of mana and magic at his discretion on any floor. He wouldn''t, as he still wanted to clear these floors properly, but right now it was useful. "I''ve already explained my pillar, and Xhilihx, and about how I''ve got a duty to save the world and blah blah blah... But there''s a little more to it..." Ares opened up to Candy about his own problems for about ten minutes as he explained what was going on behind the scenes. He even mentioned Enyo''s past because it was somewhat relevant and dumped the information on Candy whose head was spinning as a result. As someone who wanted to explore the world, finding out the world in question was at least millions of times bigger than she thought it was threw her for a loop. More than anything though, she finally understood why Ares was trying so hard for her sake. She stroked his head as he sighed to himself.


    "... My problems seem so small in comparison..."


    Ares shook his head. "That''s not the point. I wasn''t trying to belittle your experiences, I just wanted to be upfront with you so you could know what kind of person I really am. I don''t want to put up a front around you only to hit you with an uncomfortable truth long after you''ve accepted me. I don''t think that''s fair on you... Also... Seeing as how we''re really similar, both wanting to preserve our wonderstruck and joyous selves in a harsh world that would otherwise wither us away, I just wanted to vent for a bit to someone I know could understand me. Thanks for listening patiently."


    "I should be saying that to you. You''ve been supportive so listening to you in return is only natural. As for your matter... Don''t dwell on it. Do what you need to do and then come back to your family for comfort. There is no shame in what you have to do because you have no choice but to do it. Things would be different if this was a willing choice but the people that care for you know it isn''t. In the end, maybe you won''t be looked favourably upon by everyone else... But we''ll understand. So promise me you''ll keep being the ''dumb'' fun loving revenant you say you always have been? If even someone like you can become world weary and tired of it all then what chance do I have?!"


    Ares chuckled and held Candy''s hand in his. "Fair enough. Nothing in life is ever simple... And that includes me, the greatest simpleton of them all... But that doesn''t mean I have to intentionally complicate things either. Maybe I''m just overthinking it all but I worry that if I stop thinking about it I''ll become accustomed to it, unphased by what I''m going to have to do. That feels worse than just letting myself be bothered by it... All things in moderation I guess. Well, we have limited time together so I won''t needlessly be a downer. We''ve been a bit side tracked so how about you teach me... I''m guessing how to redirect attacks with pressure, right? That should be what this floor is about."


    "Mhm, it is. I''ll let you know now that I''m going to attack you for a minute straight. Halfway through I''m supposed to make the challenge more difficult and the same thing happens again when there''s only ten seconds left. The difficulty of the challenges in this pagoda start to really ramp up here so you best prepare yourself cutie! I won''t go easy on you just because I want you to pass."


    "I wouldn''t want you to. This is an important step for me considering all the advantages I have regarding pressure. I need to make sure my pressure fundamentals are all in order so I can build on them later. So yeah, give me your worst... Well, maybe not all of your worst. My cultivation is insignificant compared to yours. Just whatever would be deemed fair!"


    "Don''t worry, the pagoda automatically adjusts my output. It''s why I could put even the anti-magic God in his place when he showed up here... He did beat me and my trial eventually though but, hey, that''s a God for you."


    "Mhm, I heard he did poorly on the last floor... Then again, I hear everyone does. You got any clue what''s up there?"


    "Yes... But I''ll let it remain a surprise. A shock to the system such as that is best experienced first hand otherwise it won''t hit quite as hard... Now who''s getting sidetracked!? Come, lift your palms in front of you and I''ll tell you the basics about what you''re doing here!"


    "Ha, right." Ares followed Candy''s instructions and stretched his arms forward... Candy couldn''t resist tickling him once but after that she was focussed on her task!


    "There are two steps to reflecting an attack, three if its magic. Step one is to figure out the orientation of the attack and which direction it''s coming from. Step two is to create a vortex of pressure that rotates in the opposite direction of the attack. Step three, if applicable, is to land your pressure on the core of the magic. This last one is pretty hard to do because there''s usually no easy way of telling where a core is exactly... But for the most part it tends to be near the middle. There''s a bit of leeway so you don''t have to be pinpoint."


    "Hm, my Omniscience shows me the core..."


    "That simplifies things! You might struggle a bit without your Omniscience after though. Still, you can''t deflect or reflect every attack to begin with, some are too big or powerful. This is mostly something you do if you''re feeling confident and have the room to spare in your fight. It''s a high level technique with somewhat niche application but works wonders if you pull it off. Even people who can coat their body in pressure don''t use this trick particularly often. You need quick reflexes to adjust on the fly the direction of your rotation. If you use clockwise rotation on the wrong attack you''ll really end up regretting it because you may just enhance their attack instead. Let''s not worry about that for now. Right now you should learn how to make a vortex on your palm, the direction doesn''t really matter yet. If you have any arts that create a swirl this step should be pretty easy for you." Candy looked forward and saw Ares already fiddling around with a clockwise swirling, golden vortex on his left hand and a similar looking vortex on his right hand too. The one on his right was swirling anti-clockwise, however, and it became apparent to Candy that she was seriously underestimating Ares. She''d had the concept of a fundamental explained to her but she didn''t quite respect it as much as she should have, clearly. Really, the pressure bullet that pierced her room should have clued her in, and the Annihilation Echo was also irrefutable, but even then she didn''t realise the extent of how ridiculous a fundamental champion was exactly.


    "Luckily I have an art called Not Even Light. I have enough experience with it that this feels quite comfortable actually... Maybe... Maybe I can even do this..." Ares lightly pushed his hands and sent the vortexes floating forward... He''d successfully detached the vortexes from his hands meaning he could, theoretically, create a ranged deflect! Did it matter? No, not really... Ares couldn''t imagine a use for this but it was possible and knowing that was good enough! Perhaps if he needed to save someone who wasn''t directly next to him he could fling a deflect in front of them? It was highly specific but it was worth keeping that use in mind in case he ever needed it.


    "Good. Next... Next comes practice. There''s no easy way to learn how to apply this ability without actually testing it. Sorry cutie but I''m going to have to get a bit rough with you from now on, ok? Don''t take it personal but I gotta hit ya!"


    "Ah don''t sweat it. My wives hit me all the time!... You''ll fit right in..." Ares'' voice trailed off as he realised he really did get kicked around a lot... Ah well, he could take it! Also, this time specifically was a learning experience!


    Ares stood up and stretched while Candy did the same. She giggled as she nimbly darted circles around him, eventually coming to a halt in front of him. She looked down at him while lifting his chin up so he could return her gaze. Her smile now was different. It was another very real smile but not quite as affectionate as the one from before. This was a smile worn by overconfident predators who were preparing to toy with their food. "Cutie, you told me the truth about you... So let me do the same and show you who I really am. I used to be a lot more spry and active but, mainly, I had quite a devilish side whenever I used to play with my opponents. It''s been a while since I''ve seen such a delectable looking specimen, so forgive me if I go a bit overboard. I just really want to see you squirm, cutie." Maliciousness and condescension smudged her smile as her her head tilted up and slightly sideways. She narrowed her eyes and bared her grinning teeth at Ares as the mood in the room shifted. No longer was the friendly, soft, and fluffy Candy present. Her aura had changed to that of a mischievous spirit looking to haunt a weak and helpless individual. Her toothy smile held a trace of mockery as she giggled to herself while leaning backwards. Before Ares could take in this drastic transformation, Candy disappeared with a Blink.


    Ares swivelled on the spot as he felt an ominous air prick away at his back. When he turned he saw Candy hovering in the air with her tail having multiplied ninefold. She was lying sideways with one leg draped seductively over the over and her hand covering her titering mouth. Countless blobs of inky black and white magic surrounded her mystical form that possessed an other-worldly charm. This was the real Candy, a foxian with a strong bloodline who was equally as powerful as she was playful. Right now she was in her element and Ares couldn''t take his eyes off her. He felt a different kind of attraction to her than the one he felt towards Enyo or Bellona, this was something wholly different. He felt like he''d stumbled across a legendary creature in its natural habitat and now it was going to endlessly prank him to death but, buried deep within the trickery, was a bond shared by fellow playmates who saw the joy in everything. Just because you were killing the other person that didn''t mean you couldn''t have a bit of fun along the way. As for the situation Ares was in... Well, at least his wife-to-be was going to be having a lot of fun. It may be at his expense but he was ok with that. He was glad to see her normal self, the real Candy that she''d locked away. To him, this Candy was infinitely more beautiful than the tortured soul wearing a pained smile. This Candy had a violent streak and was assured in her superiority. There were clearly no limits to what this woman would do in her current state and, for the first time, Ares was loving the decision to have a harem. Bellona still felt a little forced but this woman was incredible and Ares needed her in his life. He needed to not be the only one in the family with an occasionally evil disposition.


    He and Candy needed each other.


    Though it may have been cruel to Bellona for Ares admit this to himself but she just didn''t scratch the itch that Candy did. They had different roles and filled different holes in his life. The similarities between Ares'' situation and Candy''s were an entire laundry list long. Candy was like an evil spirit and, for that, she was a kindred one to Ares too. Ares did feel guilty towards Bellona, and he swore he would spend more time with her, but right now he was too excited with discovering everything Candy truly was to care. Ares had his ''this woman is special'' moment with Enyo a long time ago during the course of his stay at the hotel with her in the snatcher town. Ares had never had that moment with Bellona... But now he''d had it with Candy. It was only really hitting him now that every one of his wives were going to be special. His expectations had been dulled somewhat thanks to not developing a close relation to Bellona properly yet but now he was reassured it would definitely happen.


    As for Candy... She was a stunning woman. That disgust for the world and everything it put her through. bubbling beneath the surface, was gone and in its place was a boundless curiosity like the kind that belonged to an unethical scientist. If Enyo was the representation of everything that could be considered ''justice'' then Candy was the exact opposite. They were two sides of the same coin. If Enyo encouraged Ares to walk the right path in life, he could feel Candy tugging at his moral compass to pull him off that path and just bathe in the chaos of his actions. Both of these women wanted the best for him they just disagreed on the method. If Enyo wanted to cheer him up she would throw her body at him. If Candy wanted him to feel better she would become the devil on his shoulder, whispering into his ear to go and blow up a village consequences be damned. She had no respect for anything because everything was a game to her. People were just dolls she could pull the strings of. That was the essence of the Candy lazing about in the air in front of him. Unsealing this side of this woman, that had long since been jailed away in her heart as a precaution, was a dangerous move but one that got Ares'' heart pumping. Letting this beastly fox devil out into the world again was like unleashing the contents of pandora''s box but, man, did this woman make being bad feel so good...


    Ares had some speculations about her name, Candy, when he first met her. Maybe it was because it sounded similar to ''canidae''. Maybe it was because of her sweet disposition. Maybe it was because she was capable of manifesting a hard shell to protect herself from the cruel realities that assailed her. Whatever the original reason and intent had actually been was irrelevant because Ares was realising here and now why exactly her name felt tailor made.


    This woman was a rush.

 Chapter 146: Hunting Candy Is Good Sport

    "Candy, you''re getting me excited. Don''t regret this!" Ares could feel his blood pumping the more he looked directly into Candy''s stunning eyes.


    Candy gave a wordless response, taunting Ares further with a small giggle and and a blown kiss. This was a woman who would watch the world burn for her own amusement. Hell, she was so far from innocent she would be on the list of suspects who doused everything in gasoline prior to the sea of fire. Ares also wouldn''t be surprised if this woman carried a lighter around in her pocket for no reason other than that she could.


    The trial could go screw itself right now. Yes Ares had to be quick in his conquering of the pagoda to get Candy out safely but there was still time yet. This fight was a bonding experience! Just two terrible people duking it out and throwing everything they had at one another. Well almost everything, the restrictions in place for Candy would hit her hard. Still she was definitely stronger than Ares currently even with the pagoda''s interference. Ares was mostly doing this because it was too fun of an opportunity not to. If Candy was showing Ares her despicable self then he would so the same.


    A few of the anti-magic blobs were shot at Ares with lightning quick acceleration. One second they were deathly still, the next they were inches away from Ares'' head. They were tricky balls of magic as they were lethal but also possesed anti-magic qualities and would beat out defensive magic with relative ease. With his Omniscience, Ares pinpointed the cores of each shot heading towards him and he deflected them with pressure. For a trick he''d just learned he was able to apply it quite well in a combat scenario. Of course this was still easy mode and he would need a lot of practice to scrape by in the real trial when it came to that but after just a quick test Ares was satisfied with the results. The anti-magic blobs went spiralling off into the distance, crashing somewhere beyond view in the white room.


    Ares flicked a few Shock Beads at Candy and started running after them. If she blocked them the golden smokescreen would pave the way for him to sneak up close to her where he could use his potent disintegration magic. He could tell she about to fire some anti-magic blobs at the mystery Beads so he took preventative measures to keep his approach method intact. "Not Even Light!" Ares'' splayed hand became the catalyst for the good old trusty black hole to spawn into reality. It appeared ahead of the Shock Beads, acting as a wall to enable their safe flight. Candy''s blobs were all hoovered up into the black hole which caused her to let out an elongated ''hmmmmm?'' as she looked at the magic in wonder, even going as far as to stick her hand in it and let it tickle her. Anti-magic losing to magic was enough to spur Candy into taking this fight a bit more seriously because this was something new! How long had it been since Candy had seen something incomprehensible? How long had it been since she wanted to explore the unknown? While she was pondering these questions the Beads came sailing through the black hole unimpeded so Candy threw up a wall of anti-magic around her. As the pagoda was weighing down on her she couldn''t really manage to use any big arts and, for the most part, basic magic would have to suffice. That was her drawback... Well, there was still one art she could use to torment her favourite little cutie...


    BANG BANGGGGGGGGGGG BANG


    The Shock Beads rocked the room and created a golden dome that covered Candy from head to toe. Ares could tell she was still safely hidden within her anti-magic barriers but that was fine because he''d never intended to harm her with such a weak offensive. The Beads were excellent traps and sidearms at best but they were only really ''weapons'' against weaklings who couldn''t hack Ares'' explosive onslaught to begin with. "Black Blossom." Not waiting for the gold to fade away, Ares activated his next art and charged headfirst into his lingering magic. It could no longer hurt him so he was unphased by the daunting golden swirl before him as he barreled inside where he found Candy yawning in an exaggerated fashion. Ares knew she was lying, he knew she was loving every second, she was simply trying to draw more entertainment out of him. He could see the sparkle in her eye as the disintegration-coated sword came swinging at her.


    The Black Ice Bane sliced through the anti-magic barrier like it was made of paper and pushed onwards towards Candy''s grinning face. Ares could see a Blink on the horizon so he raised his own hand to stop it in its tracks. If Blink was the only art she was capable of casting then Ares was about to give this smug fox a rude awakening. As Candy channeled the Blink Ares clicked his finger. Candy''s eyes widened as she felt a wave of destruction mana come surging at her as if it were homing in on her. She quickly realised it was tracking her spatial magic so she ditched it completely, which saved her hide from a brutal battering, but left her in a predicament of still having to deal with Ares. She wore a ''scared'' expression outwardly but Ares could see the ruse. That same expression would become a feral one as she tried to claw his head off the second he took another step into the rune trap she''d cunningly placed underneath her. He didn''t get a good look at it, so he wasn''t entirely sure what it did, all he knew was that it would shock him to his core at bare minimum. This tricky vixen was luring him in to his demise like a landlocked siren. He wouldn''t fall for it though. He may not be able to reach her from this far without stepping into the trap but he didn''t need to, not with this art anyway. He followed through with his slow swing, that fell short of hitting Candy, and simply let the ensuing chaos from the Black Blossom draw a response out of her. Before she could make her move though, Ares activated Voidwalk in case she tried to retreat so he could chase her down and swing again.


    ROAR


    The disintegration tear burst and countless petals were blasted towards Candy. The fox had the nerve to pick out a petal before she was drowned in them and inspect the thing in detail despite it burning her fingers. With a radiant smile on her face she rubbed it between her thumb and her index finger until it was snuffed out. Her face was soon covered up, however, when her tails formed a protective circle around her as the petals drowned her in a pitch black swarm... Or at least that was what she wanted Ares to believe.


    Ares, not falling for her schemes, wasted no time in turning around and launching a "Grand Annihilation!" as fast as he could. Candy wasn''t in the petals at all, that was just a ruse. She''d cleverly used her tails to obscure Ares'' Omniscience and prevent him from noticing her channelling a Blink. Omniscience didn''t grant him x-ray vision so he couldn''t see through the tail and observe the mana flow in her body this way, making countering Blink a much harder process.


    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Milliseconds before Candy''s hitherto unseen large and sharp claws could pierce Ares'' eyes, his magical bombardment retaliated and pushed her back. Ares could faintly here an ominous laughter from inside the magic so he dove in. Inside he caught sight of Candy spinning merrily with her lab coat fluttering amidst the explosions. She was actively inhaling the magic she was dancing inside while enjoying its spectacle in peace thanks to a coating of anti-magic. The way her pink hair trailed behind her ethereal form was mesmerising. She was fascination personified and Ares watched in silence. Candy danced her way over to Ares and kissed him on the lips before disappearing backward into the sea of gold and gesturing for him to chase her.


    Ares'' determination soared and he swore to himself he would hunt down this fox like a bloodhound if it was the last thing he did. Ares whipped out the Biome Eagle and shot an Adaptive Shot straight into the air. This eagle was one of nothingness so its deep red, pulsing feathers stood out in the white hall. The eagle ascended and took stock of the situation before finding the fox he was sent out to hunt. He committed to a low rush at his target by swooping low and casting a shadow underneath him as he sped along the ground. As he drew near, from out of the shadow lept Ares who had used the Nyxian Prowler to attach himself to the eagle and stealthily hitch a ride. He''d been hidden by the remnants of the Grand Annihilation so his presence here was unexpected.


    Ares Shifted forward and lunged at Candy with the shadowy Prowler. She dodged to the side and came face to face with the screeching eagle but that didn''t encounter last long as Ares swapped places with it and struck out at her again. This time he swiped diagonally down but still she avoided it by slinking out of the way. Candy was even more nimble and proficient at dodging than Ares himself and maybe even Aejaz. She clearly specialised in hit and run, and was quite the expert, but that meant little to Ares who had already foreseen this. As Candy lunged towards Ares'' throat with her bare fangs the Stygian Zephyr came swinging over Ares'' hunched back. Ares'' free left hand also went swinging upwards creating a difficult trap for Candy to navigate.


    "Annihilation Echo."


    Candy dodged backwards to avoid the dangerous fist but now she was stuck. Ares'' failed uppercut was converted into him grabbing the swinging Zephyr which he then whipped at Candy after imbuing it with disintegration magic. Thanking her lucky stars she was a flexible fox, Candy managed to bend a full 90 degrees backward and watch the Zephyr pierce the air above her head. Ares wasn''t done yet though as he flicked his arm and sent a normal Echo through the Zephyr. Candy''s lab coat wasn''t just for show, however, she was well studied and had an inquisitive nature. Even after only having seen Echoes once or twice she already understood how it worked so she grabbed the cape and held it firmly in place. The Echo''s journey was cut short and the sound wasn''t transmitted, meaning Ares was forced to detach the cape and give up on that plan of attack.


    He paced sideways as he reforged the cape and decided on his next strategy. Candy was good at counter-attacking so if he didn''t have multiple layers to every plan she would tear him to shreds. She was mobile and hard to hit or track down and, even when you thought you had her, Candy''s anti-magic would protect her well. Sprinkle in some deadly runes set as traps here and there and Candy was a real menace to fight as she poked away at you constantly. Not to mention most of her offensive arts were probably sealed thanks to the pagoda. If she could use them Ares would be having it rough right now. And yet, if this were a real fight he would be winning. His Grim Cessation would put this slippery fox on a timer. Naturally Candy was unaware of that art so it was unfair to a degree but, then again, all was fair in love and war. Ares wouldn''t hesitate to use this art no matter how ''cheap'' it was. Well he wouldn''t use it here anyway. Her mana reserves outclassed Ares'' by a wide margin thanks to her cultivation and besides, Ares wanted to play her game. She''d told him earlier that she wouldn''t make him chase her but that was a lie! She''d lied as easily as she breathed! Although, to be fair, it was as if the Candy from back then and the Candy in front of him now were two entirely different people so not upholding that promise was to be expected. The Candy before him would shatter all promises without a second thought and even take joy in watching Ares'' face as she did it. Candy absolutely wanted Ares to chase her, even to the extent that she wanted to kill him and push him out the pagoda, making him wait in line just to see her again. She was a wily and snide vixen for sure but Ares kind of liked it. It would make cornering her that much more satisfying.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    To Ares'' surprise, Candy started things up again with a Blink in full view. She made no effort to hide her movements or her mana flow as if she were encouraging Ares to break reality again. Ares saw no reason not to oblige so he clicked his finger and prepared himself to watch the fireworks... But they never came. Ares was aware this could happen... He knew it was possible to beat out his nothingness with an overwhelming amount of spatial magic but he had yet to see anyone actually accomplish such a feat. Well he had now! There went Candy, Blinking around without a care in the world as she smothered his nothingness with space magic and refused to be stopped in her tracks. Ares couldn''t stop her from teleporting around anymore and she was making full use of that, jumping in and out of portals and parading herself around the room. Ares didn''t even bother trying to cancel the teleports anymore because it was apparent to him he wouldn''t be able to... But he had to do something. Like an invisible ghost, Candy was hovering around him and giggling in his ear, leaving single scratches on his body before disappearing and repeating the process. She even hugged him at one point, kissed him on the cheek, and whispered ''cau~ght you cu~tie!'' in his ear. Every time Ares spun to defend himself the fox was already gone and all he was left with was a scratch mark to prove she''d even existed at all. The wounds were increasing steadily in number and Ares could feel some anti-magic seeping into his veins. She was trying to shut him out by stifling his mana. If she could do that then Ares wouldn''t be able to convert it to disintegration and remove it in the first place. It was a good solution to deal with his magic but Ares wasn''t going to let it happen without a fight.


    THUD


    Ares stamped his foot to the side, clenched his fists, and roared with all his might at the ceiling as he unveiled the full extent of the pressure residing within him. He let it all out and forced Candy to retreat lest she was caught up in the golden, volcanic eruption taking place around Ares. He was like a golden God surrounded by mirage like pressure that distorted his raging appearance behind a fragile reality, tearing at the seams as the omnipresent weight bore down on it. The crushing presence was enough to give Candy jitters to an extent she''d never felt before. Even the anti-magic God was nothing more than pauper before the regal splendour of the walking calamity shaking the entire pagoda. The once white room now had golden, pumping veins growing out if it as though Ares'' pressure had breathed life into the walls, turning this room into a God''s personal domain. Each slow step of his, as Ares waded through the golden miasma, thundered and rang out with a heavy sound that was no different from crashing waves or blitzing thunder. Even outside the pagoda a small, localised storm of golden clouds had formed overhead. Once more the entirety of Red Sun was bathed in pressure but this time a tinge of gold brightened up the city. If it weren''t for the containment of the pagoda Ares'' pressure would have spread across the entire planet with ease. Ares was the ruler of all things gold and or touched by the colour and he dominated the very air everyone breathed. His position and station above all were irrefutable and undeniable. This was simply the calibre of existence a fundamental champion should strive for and Ares had achieved it with flying colours.


    Candy was awestruck but also a tad worried... After all, this was her opponent! The pressure was directed at her and she was struggling to stand let alone run away from this distance. At this rate, he was going to just walk up to her and catch her! Luckily, she still had an ace up her sleeves so she played her card by accessing the runes buried deep in the pagoda. With a bit of know-how she was able to loosen the restrictions on herself somewhat and give her a bit more mana to play around with. She really shouldn''t have done this but who was going to punish her exactly? They were her runes and she could do with them as she pleased! Plus what was happening in this room was way too fun to let end just like this! She gathered all of the mana that had been withheld from her and it flowed freely through all nine of her tails, allowing her to use one of her unique arts. Its power wasn''t to the same extent she would normally be able to muster but, for now, this would do! "Come Play, Fizzy!"


    Candy threw up her arm and black and white magic flowed out her pointed fingertip. It rolled around on the floor before forming the silhouette of a gigantic fox. Its lines that defined its shape were bubbling and crackling away like erratic lightning making the fox''s tempestuous appearance blur at irregular intervals. Its seemingly random form was hollow but it packed a degree of power that commanded respect. It may have been anti-magic but it carried a threat non-magical organisms would have to be wary of too. Ares could tell this thing was roughly as powerful as his Perish Wheel but that made him all the more curious. Could it withstand a Perish Wheel? Would it win? Would it lose? A tie? His mouth twitched and curved on one edge forming a menacing smile as curiosity took over his sense of reason. Casting a Perish Wheel in this pagoda would cause untold havoc but this enticing fox just kept pushing him to play naughty and break the rules!


    As Fizzy took off with a sprint, rampaging through the pressure and shrugging it off like an unpleasant breeze, Ares brought out his ultimatum. This fight would come to an end and this would be his closing statement to wrap up everything that had transpired during the hound and fox playdate. "Perish Wheel!" All three aspects of destruction melded together to form the strongest tool in Ares'' current arsenal. He was unperturbed by the fox drawing ever nearer as he had a solution brewing in his hands that he was assured would put the animal down. Ares lifted his creation above his head before tossing it out by leaning his full body into the throw. His magic tore through the air and picked up some lingering pressure along the way. His Perish Wheel looked like a planet with an orbiting ring of golden pressure as it collided with Fizzy.


    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


    The rotating blades and the crackling anti-magic wrestled against each other for dominance as they scraped away at the existence of their magical foe. Fizzy bit into the wheel and ripped out chunks of the blade while the disintegration magic chewed out the fox'' lower half and severed its legs. The clash of titans came to a head when the Perish Wheel couldn''t sustain its current form any longer and detonated with a spectacular explosion.


    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    Ares could see nothing but gold as his vision was dyed in the colour of his own magic. The room had been a seemingly infinite expanse and yet, right now, it was filled to the brim with annihilation magic and golden pressure. The Perish Wheel''s explosion was still rocking the pagoda and causing its foundations to quiver in fear at the base thanks to the havoc taking place on the fourth floor. Outside onlookers were floored when a hole was blasted through the pagoda and a beam of golden light shot diagonally upward into the sky, piercing the golden clouds. they tried to look inside but all they saw was a wall of pure white obscuring their vision. Inside, Ares strolled peacefully through his raging art until he found Candy lying on the floor and breathing heavily. The anti-magic barrier, formed by the remnants of Fizzy''s existence, was doing its all to save its master but complete protection simply wasn''t in the cards. It looked like Candy was going to have to be revived by the pagoda because the barrier was slowly fading away, exposing her to the Wheel''s deadly explosion. She wasn''t in pain but was struggling to move as using Fizzy had knackered her out. All of her energy had been depleted due to the pagoda restraining her again. The limitations were too all-powerful to rebel against and now she''d clearly lost. She was quite stubborn about it though, as she still tried to crawl away with a smirk on her face when she saw Ares standing above her. She didn''t want the chase to end. Ares chuckled as he saw this and decided to end the fight once and for all. He opened a portal to the void underneath Candy and jumped in after her.


    Candy had a silly smile on her face as she tumbled aimlessly through the void, floating upside down and losing all sense of direction. She clawed at the void around her out of sheer curiosity and got lost in the dimension of nothingness. Ares popped up in front of her so she playfully swiped at him but her hands went straight through him as if he were merely a projection. He smirked at her and poked her nose. "Candy, I''m basically invincible here. You know what that means, don''t you?"


    Candy chuckled as she tried to nibble Ares'' finger. Something strange happened though and her body was split into five different pieces. Her head was rolling around and bouncing of her body in the void but it didn''t feel any different from normal. She hadn''t been attacked or inured, it''s just that all of her body existed everywhere at once. She could see her own head off in the distance and when she moved her hand she could grab her leg that had drifted miles away. It was like being surrounded by thousands of angled mirrors. It simultaneously made an incredible amount of sense and none at all. Ares was like a million separate beings, appearing everywhere and nowhere, completely untouchable in the present even though it felt like he was living in the future; extending a hand back through time to the past to mess with her. He was upside down, sideways, defying gravity, existing in multiple timelines, and touching every inch of her body despite his distance from her. She was fully intertwined in his grasp and she couldn''t move nor could she escape. It was the opposite of infinity. Candy was so unfathomably close to Ares she could feel every ounce of his flesh and his warm breath tickling her skin. He could rearrange her body, resize it, age or reverse age it, and even stroke her face all without moving an inch. There was nothing he couldn''t do within the confines of this void because there was nothing stopping him. No time or spatial constraints to hamper his desires. He drifted freely with a wonderful smile on his face that took Candy''s breath away as he came before her and gripped her chin. His cocky smile was engraved into her memory and soul as he kissed her passionately on the lips. After he separated from her luscious mouth he whispered gently, "Caught you," and grinned without pause as Candy did too. They smiled like fools at each other as they gazed into each other''s eyes all by themselves in a world of nothingness. The world may have played them like a fiddle and run them ragged, testing the limits of their wills and their mental fortitude, but they could persevere knowing full well that, if nothing else, they would always have each other. On that note, that meant there was only one thing left to say now that their game of tag had come to a satisfying conclusion, so they said it in unison with one another without missing a beat.


    ""I love you.""


    The two kissed again, melting in each other''s embrace as they enjoyed the moment. It was tough knowing their future together was still on the horizon, just barely out of reach, but the memories they made would keep them going. Love was a powerful motivator and it was the promise of more that allowed them to return to the confines of the white room and prepare themselves for the real trial. When Ares passed he wouldn''t get to see Candy again for a while... And that stung... But he knew that he would meet her again one day. Until then he had a duty to raise his name and reputation to keep Candy safe. His claim to her needed to be backed up by his deeds and the threat of his existence. He needed to be feared by anyone who considered aiming for Candy to the point they would feel a compulsion to back away and steer clear. He would do it, though. If it needed to be done, he would do it without question. Candy was family now and there were no lengths Ares wouldn''t go to to ensure his success. His actions would send a very clear message in the future, and that was that Candy was his wife and he wouldn''t tolerate anyone or anything that wanted to come in the way of that. Defying Ares was not an option for anyone without a death wish, Ares would make that very clear.

 Chapter 147: A Trial Less Like ‘Dodgeball’ and More Like ‘Volleyball

    Ares rested while Candy reversed the roles and sat on his lap instead. She''d curled up against Ares'' chest and was tickling him with her tail while trailing her finger along his chest. Despite ''resting'', Ares was still going over his brief experience with deflecting attacks. He''d delayed the inevitable but he couldn''t put off doing the trial any longer. He imagined the first thirty seconds would be easy enough but Candy would undoubtedly pick up the pace and make him struggle during the latter half... And as for the last ten seconds... Who knows? Ares had a sneaking suspicion there was still a bit left in Candy''s tank that she''d hidden from him. This was still a trial at the end of the day and Candy wasn''t going to give him a free pass so he was putting in the effort to understand the deflection process better. The more familiar he was with it the quicker he would be able to make all the necessary decisions mid fight and correctly pull off the deflect. He would need to rely heavily on it during the trial as he wasn''t going to whip out his magic like he had less than a minute ago so he wanted to make sure he felt confident before starting. The longer he could survive during his initial attempt the better.


    Wasting time on trying to figure out what improvements he needed to make already was pointless and it would be easier to tell if he put his all into his first attempt so he could identify what was lacking rather than what he simply didn''t bother with... Of course concentrating was somewhat hard with the troublesome fox on his lap affectionately nuzzling him with a cheeky grin. She knew she was hassling him but that was the point! The longer he stayed the happier she was. All good things must come to an end, though, and Ares, about thirty minutes later, was feeling ready to undergo the trial and see what it entailed. Ares ran his fingers through Candy''s hair and kissed her on the forehead before picking her up so he could stand unimpeded. She kissed his neck and hopped out of his grasp with grace, landing on the tips of her toes with such finesse she probably wouldn''t have even caused a ripple had the floor been made of water. She was light and fleet-footed despite the spring in her step.


    "Ready for some more fun, cutie?" Candy hunched over and swayed her chest as she coyly gestured for Ares to come towards her.


    Ares just shook his head at Candy''s antics. She was a temptress and indulging her by falling into her pace was a recipe for disaster. He would never get anything done if he left everything up to her as she would probably push him down and sit comfortably on his lap again if given the opportunity. "Show me what ya got, Candy."


    "Okey doke, your minute starts... Now!" As Candy clicked her fingers, a large timer appeared in the sky and started counting down from one minute at a rate of one Mississippi per second. Ares could have sworn these seconds were slower than normal ones... Ah well, it didn''t change his task anyway so he ignored it.


    To begin with, Candy started hovering again and the anti-magic blobs returned. She kicked things off by firing ten blobs at him sequentially. It was more than during the last fight but the gap between each of them made it easier for Ares to deflect them rather than harder. He effortlessly swatted the blobs aside and braced himself as the next attack was already incoming... Another set of ten blobs? Ares, for a moment, thought Candy really was taking it easy on him but he soon realised that wasn''t the case. After blocking the first five blobs Ares realised the rotation of the attacks had reversed half way through the onslaught! She was sneaking in attacks with different rotations incorporated into them as they were spiralling in reverse despite being the exact same attack. This was a learning experience. First of all, clever fighters could bait a pressure deflect and counter it by intentionally changing up their magic. Secondly, hiding this trick behind regular magic meant Ares was forced to change his clockwise deflect to a counter clockwise deflect mid blob-hail. Changing the deflect mid rotation was extremely difficult and simply resetting the spiral and recreating it was the better, faster option here. Finally, this trial was going to be just like the others. Ares had assumed it wouldn''t be too hard but, clearly, it was going to force him to learn how to operate pressure in scenarios he wasn''t expecting. Ares believed deflecting magic was a simple process but he was learning that there was interaction between the attacker and defender that he hadn''t previously thought about... Well, he was kind of right in saying this trial would be like the others. In the sense that he would be made to learn? Yes. But in regards to the overall difficulty... Ares had no idea what was in store for him. If he thought he would get past floor four as quickly as he had the other floors, he was going to be taught a harsh lesson about unfounded expectations.


    For now, at least, Ares was doing ok. He''d fended off the half and half set of ten blobs and was currently working on a set of twenty... Completely random attacks! Some were spinning clockwise, some were counter clockwise and there was no rhyme or reason to the madness! And to top it off he needed to see the rotation and generate a pressure spiral rotating in the opposite direction. This shit''s a brain buster and then some... Ares complained about the task in his head because the number of times he''d nearly tried to match the rotation of the blobs was not low... It was like being asked to pat your head and rub your stomach in a circle at the same time, then, occasionally, reverse the demand every half a second and keep up with the nonsense.


    Ares'' brain was sputtering in a desperate bid to chug along and help him keep a level head in the face of the spinning nightmare that was starting to render Ares dizzy. He needed a break so he opted to dodge the last two blobs even if he was convinced, deep down, that this was a foolish error on his part. Yes it worked now but, realistically, would it keep working? When things ramped up would running away be an option? Would Candy allow it? Hell no! Being unable to keep up with things already was a bad sign that what was yet to come was going to put Ares in his place thoroughly... Still, if he could at least get a glance at the next stage of things that would help him plan and come up with counter measures so he allowed himself to evade every now and then. Without a shadow of a doubt, though, the correct way to finish this trial didn''t involve moving at all. Yes the aim was to not get hit for a minute but, truthfully, standing perfectly still for the duration was the only acceptable method to consider this floor well and truly cleared. Even if you could, hypothetically, dodge for a minute straight, you would just be screwed on the next floor where what was taught on this floor would be necessary. Trying to cheat would just set you up for failure further down the road. Someone like Enyo, for instance, who brute forced her way to this point, would never complete the fifth floor for as long as she lived. Candy knew that for sure and Ares had already speculated that was the case and he was damn well right. The last floor... It was a hell unto itself. Any and all pride had to be discarded before entering that floor lest the only thing you wanted to leave the pagoda with was a bruised ego. No matter how much of a genius you were in combat, cultivation, or pressure, you were going to lose, that was all there was to it. You may win eventually but that would come long after you forged yourself into a perfect wielder of pressure and no sooner. Beating the last floor on your first attempt was impossible, and that was especially true for anyone who didn''t take this floor seriously!


    Ares had survived for twenty seconds and next up were a bunch of blobs coming at him from different directions at the same time! The difficulty really ramped here and Ares knew he wouldn''t be able to handle things currently. He just wanted to make it to the thirty second mark and see what manner of garbage Candy was going to start doing so he shamelessly incorporated dodges into his defense to bolster his chances of success. He was still doing a good job of deflecting the attacks he could currently handle, however, so he was confident he would be able to make it to the halfway point the normal way in the very near future. It wouldn''t take him many more attempts to get to that point consistently as all he needed was experience with the dizzying aspect of the trial. It wasn''t that his head couldn''t keep up or that he couldn''t create the spirals quick enough... It was literally just a matter of his poor, rattled brain trying not to succumb to the spinning... The infernal spinning...


    Ares lept over some blobs and deflected a few more. He even redirected some blobs into some of the other ones heading in his direction to ease his burden and he felt good about it. This was definitely a technique he could incorporate into his arsenal even as it was currently. Yes there were improvements to be made but this was a very useful tool and Ares had always been a ''more the merrier'' type of combatant. He didn''t need to specialise thanks to his pillar filling in most of his needs by itself. Ares'' comfortable run was going well up until the timer in the sky changed colour to a bright red and all hell broke loose. Ares was barely even sure what had happened, all he knew was that he saw a couple of talismans appear next to him before he started getting pummeled by tennis-ball sized anti-magic blobs from every direction. he couldn''t guard against even a single one let alone the hundreds raining down on his head. Each one made a very audible Tock noise as they smacked his cranium. He''d already lost but that didn''t stop Candy from firing more blobs and laughing at the noise her husband''s skull made when it was repeatedly whacked. Ares had given her permission to hit him so she was going the whole nine yards and making the most of the situation. Ares would have complained but it seemed to bring her glee and he couldn''t bring himself to ask her to stop. He simply poked his head out, so that more blobs would hit him there specifically, and grit his teeth. Anything for the people he loved... Ares was either incredibly devoted or a massive sucker and he really wasn''t sure which... Although, really, the answer was probably both.


    When the hail of magic ceased, Ares was able to gather his thoughts... With some minor difficulties thanks to the mini concussion he was dealing with anyway. The talismans were portals that allowed candy to redirect her anti-magic blobs and fire them at him from unpredictable angles. She could also skip some of the distance between her and Ares with the blobs by teleporting them through the portal. On average it took two seconds for a blob to reach Ares but, with the aid of the talisman, that could be shortened to half a second and potentially lower. With multiple talismans to contend with, and the original hail of blobs still firing in the background at their regular speed, the last half of the trial was effectively a bullet hell. The only solace Ares had was that the talismans gave away where the blobs would strike at him from... On the other hand, the time he had to check their spiral direction and deflect it was utterly abysmal thanks to them appearing out of the blue from the talisman. He wasn''t anywhere near fast enough as is and was going to have to improve drastically to make any more progress. The difficulty spike was starting shoot upward and this portion of this trial was already harder than everything else he''d done up until now combined.


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    Rather than worry about the second half for now, Ares asked Candy to go again. The first half would be manageable if he just kept practicing it by banging his head against the wall over and over so he wanted to sort that out first. Baby steps. Unsurprisingly, this part of the trial went by without a hitch and, three attempts later, Ares was able to make it thirty seconds without needing to dodge. He''d also gotten pretty flexible with his body in order to hit awkward anti-magic blobs that assailed him from dodgy angles. This was generally useful for combat scenarios but Ares couldn''t help but think the biggest winner of Ares developing this talent was Enyo... If she found out Ares could be even more twisty than he was right now, God only knows what kind of predicaments he would find himself in at the hands of Enyo''s whims.


    After Ares finally managed to complete the first thirty seconds flawlessly, he rested against Candy who pampered him while he looked inward. Once more... Ares needed to extract pressure from his heart even faster... Ares had been here before and this song and dance was starting to get real old, real quick... He''d already upped his times when he learnt to cast Annihilation Echo for Christ''s sake! And yet even that wasn''t good enough for the trials ahead. He could also opt to work on the process of making the pressure solid but that would benefit Ares far less, as it wouldn''t affect his regular pressure at all, so this was the route he opted for instead...


    Poke


    Of course that was inevitably going to happen a lot more now that he''d returned to his pseudo surgeon roleplay... Nonetheless, he powered on and dedicated about an hour to this uninteresting task. He''d done this a thousand times over and could probably do it with his eyes closed. Well it was happening inside him so closing his eyes didn''t stop him from looking but that wasn''t the point! In fact, Ares actually did try doing it without looking and he was able to manage it... Albeit slowly... And on his third try... But he did do it! Candy even gave him a celebratory headpat after he explained what he was doing. She''d been a tad curious as to why he kept occasionally yelping every now and then and now she had her answer. She pitied him somewhat because her pressure reserves were in her tail, the same appendage she''d been swinging around for centuries.


    Candy could access her pressure instantly with but a thought although she did remember how long it took her to draw it out when she first started. After realising Ares'' pressure was located in his heart she was incredibly impressed with how fast he''d climbed the pagoda. Learning to draw it out from such a place was not something he should have been able to do over the span of a few hours. This guy had woken up, gone out for some entertainment, learned an unbelievably hard ability to attain, and was looking to return home all before dinner! Candy made a mental note to find out more about the fundamental champions when she went back to reality because she was clearly missing the memo on these freaks! She might have already known if she''d been allowed contact with the outside world but... Well... That wasn''t exactly as easy as it sounded. Her family probably knew but why would they bother telling her? She was just a pawn to them... But she really wanted to know now! She was going to be dating one so wanting more information was only natural. The question was, how was she going to get ahold of all this information? Maybe the internet? If she could access it without her family knowing then maybe... Maybe she could swing Ares'' name around and that would force her parents to back off a bit... She could figure out her game plan after she went back and saw her family''s reaction to her newfound partner. The more shocked they were, and the more hesitant they were to make her life difficult thanks to Ares, the more she room she would have to navigate her confinement. The only question was, how much did her family fear the fundamental champions? Were they as big a deal as Ares was suggesting or was he being hyperbolic? She trusted him to be serious about this matter so she kept his name in her back pocket and held onto it tight. Ares also said he had souvenirs to give her that could act as proof of his commitment. Also also he had a method of contacting the outside via Golgo on the floor below. He said he would have Mako relay a message to Golgo that would then be relayed to the organisation; they could then spread the message about his relation to her themselves which would lend her claims credence. Maybe she could even get some contacts from outside who were supportive of the fundamental champions... Anything was in the cards so she chose to wait for now.


    As for Ares, he eventually stood up and requested another round of blob beatdown! Candy obliged and, with Ares newfound speed of physical pressure creation, his body practically put itself on autopilot for the first thirty seconds. Ares had checked out mentally and was observing the pressure process in real time as he had the brainpower to spare right now. He even made a few adjustments and improvements on the fly seconds before the thirty second mark reared its head. When it did, Ares took a deep breath and devoted three quarters of his attention to keeping track of the talismans and the blobs that exited from their respective portals. He didn''t spare much attention for the normal blobs because he become familiar with them and could handle them without a fuss. Ares made progress and survived the first wave of the second half even if there were beads of sweat trickling down his head. He was given no quarter though as the next wave came immediately after. This time, each of the talisman''s kept moving instead of staying one place while they emptied their contents at Ares. He still managed to keep going for a while before he was clipped by a blob near the end of the wave. The talisman was dirty! It slid underneath his legs and shot him in the groin! It hurt like hell! Was this supposed to happen or was Candy being a minx again! She was giggling heartily so Ares honestly couldn''t tell... Either way, he would keep an eye out for that specific trick again! He asked Candy to start the trial anew and things went the same way as last time up until the encounter with the sly talisman. Ares dodged it with room to spare this time and cleared that wave too.


    What next.... What next... Ares mused anxiously as he prepared himself for some new manner of trickery... Well he thought he was prepared, at least, but when he lost instantaneously he realised he wasn''t even at the starting point for this next segment of the trial... He was used to dealing with two attacks at the same time, one with either hand, but Candy just launched three! The sets of two had expanded and now additional attacks were being thrown into the mix... But Ares still only had two hands! What was he supposed to do?! Kick the blobs?!... Actually... That was probably the correct answer. Ares'' inward assertion that the pressure needed to be generated at his hands was groundless. That was how he''d learned but that didn''t mean he was limited to that and couldn''t branch out. He had an entire body to play around with so sticking rigidly to his hands and not experimenting with the rest of him was quite lazy... WAS THAT WHY CANDY AIMED AT HIS GROIN?!... What a roundabout method of giving a hint... Ares sneakily checked to see if he could create a vortex from his nether regions and, as it turns out, he could... It felt kind breezy though so Ares decided not to use that little trick unless he was messing with Enyo. She would likely appreciate the ability even if, functionally, it was absolutely worthless. Whether as a joke or because she would rack her brains for a way to make use of it Ares didn''t know, but appreciate it she would!


    Ares got used to the sensation of deflecting with his other body parts by restarting the trial over and over. He was great at the first half so he could use those thirty seconds to get practice in with his new methods at his disposal. It wasn''t particularly difficult by any means, the only real difference other body parts made was that releasing the vortex was harder on smaller body parts and easier on bigger ones. Turning his chest into a deflector, for example, was incredibly easy but also really risky. If Ares missed the deflect or worse, used the wrong direction for his spiral and enhanced an attack accidentally, he would suffer big time. Different parts had different benefits and downsides but the main point was that everything could be used and that was going to be necessary to go any further in this trial. Ares acclimated himself to to this process before trying the second half again and, when the dreaded sets of three started appearing, he was able to hold them at bay. There was one more wave before Ares would make it to the ''tens seconds remaining'' portion of the trial but he was hesitant to start celebrating just yet. Each and every wave tested him on something he wasn''t ready for and this upcoming one would no doubt be the same in that regard.


    A hail of forty blobs came tumbling down from the sky while five talismans spun around him, occasionaly spitting out their own blobs. Ares was swivelling on his heel, ducking low, and bending his spin to smack away every last blob but his rhythm was thrown off when one talisman started to get a little too close for comfort. It wasn''t spitting anything out at him, it was just tepidly meandering towards him like a lost kitten. Ares was tempted to ignore this odd behaviour but when a surge of mana erupted from the talisman Ares realised this stupid thing was about to blow up in his face! Was it really possible to deflect an explosion?! Ares had to pray the answer to his question was ''yes''... Even though he really wanted it to be ''no''. If explosions could be deflected then his annihilation magic also ran the risk of being snubbed in the future... Oh well, no use crying over it. He couldn''t change it so why bother fretting? Then again, this was just a normal explosion. Ares'' were magic so maybe it made a difference? Or maybe he could sneakily chuck in sme disintegration magic to solve the issue...


    Ares shook his head and refocused on the swelling talisman as that was a bigger concern right now. Locating the core of an erratic explosion sounded like a nightmare and, once more, the difficulty of the task was skyrocketing. If it weren''t for his Omniscience there was no chance in hell Ares would be passing this trial today. The time it would have taken him to learn this all via trial and error would have been way longer so he was grateful. He didn''t count this as cheating either because locating the core of magic had absolutely nothing to do with pressure, it wasn''t a part of the foundation of pressure it was just something it could, and frequently did, interact with. Plus Ares'' Omniscience was basically locked to him at this point. If someone cut out his eyes, thanks to his revenant regeneration they would just grow right back. Even if he were killed the Prisms would come along with him for the ride. Although they had yet to become a personal treasure they functioned like one regardless. Actually, Ares could feel them ''warming up to him'' so they would probably fully integrate sooner or later. Ares bet it would be when he gained access to divine sense in sensory enhancement, and it was a fairly reasonable bet to place at that. To that end he would never lose the ability to easily locate magic cores for as long as he lived which, just so coincidentally, happened to be forever. Omniscience had every right to be a part of the conversation. Anyway, while Ares had distracted himself, the talisman wasted no time in exploding in his face!


    BOOM

 Chapter 148: Really? You’re Cooking NOW?!

    BOOM


    The talisman burst and a small anti-magic flood washed over Ares, soaking him in the stuff... But he''d deflected it! Technically it wasn''t his skin covered in anti-magic, but rather the layer of pressure he''d applied to his skin, so he was safe as he could throw the pressure off and remove the anti-magic without failing the trial. Kind of like a raincoat getting wet and then removing that while Ares himself remained dry. It wasn''t the cleanest deflect ever, and he certainly needed to work on it, but he''d come out the other side of the first explosions at least! There were still four more waiting in the wings for him but Ares believed he could survive them just barely at his current level. As with before he wanted to see what the next part of the trial looked like. The final stretch... What manner of crazy shenanigans was Candy going to use to pull the wool over Ares'' eye with? Well, first things first, Ares had to deflect the talismans and the blobs.


    Ares ducked and swept his palms upwards to clear a group of four blobs while kicking out backwards to smack away another group of two. He spun to his left and headbutt another blob into the floor while coating his back in pressure to deflect a talisman''s explosion. He raised his head and saw the last three talismans all charging at him together in a line and Ares knew what needed to be done to get past this... He took a deep breath and spread pressure across the entirety of his body a fraction of a second before the talismans blew him up. Maintaining this state for more than even a single second felt impossible and Ares coughed up blood when he stumbled out of the explosions... He''d made it though! Screw his health, right now he needed to pay attention and see what the fox was doing... Not that that was difficult in the slightest. Ares couldn''t possibly miss her actions if he tried because Candy was standing directly in front of him with two handguns pressed up against his forehead. She giggled and mouthed the word ''B~ang'' before she blasted Ares'' brains out... Not!


    Candy didn''t pull the trigger but she did end the trial in Ares'' loss. Anyone else would have been given an express ticket out of the pagoda but why would Candy bother doing that to Ares? To make him waste time? Also, she really didn''t want to shoot him anyway. She had limits to her deviousness and a pointless setback like that didn''t bring her any joy. So no, Ares was not blasted to smithereens. He was, however, hugged and nuzzled by the fox while he was busy internally trying to figure out what to do here. With Candy''s spatial magic and the guns she was going to be a serious problem... Her speed, and the speed of her attacks, were going to multiply now... Plus the lethality of the attacks meant Ares deflect vortex was going to struggle. If he imbued it with annihilation magic that would solve the problem but it clearly wasn''t the intended solution otherwise this trial would be literally impossible for anyone other than him.


    Also, Ares was realising just how powerful Candy was. The anti-magic blobs, the exploding talismans, and her darting around with her guns all the while setting runic ambushes... She was a one woman army that pestered you from every conceivable angle without pause, tormenting you as you sat in a defensive position unable to launch any attacks because you were too busy dealing with her never-ending onslaught. She was the epitome of ''death by a thousand cuts'' and she was mobile to boot. Her nimble dashing combined with her spatial magic and adroit dodging allowed her to maintain an offensive even when she was being attacked. This woman was a genius combatant and would be no weaker than someone like Enyo or Bellona without the pagoda restraining her. Ares wanted all his partners to be strong enough to defend themselves... But it was slowly starting to look like his wives were all going to be prodigious and crazy strong in their own right. He knew Candy was valued for her anti-magic, and that he''d barely even seen half of what she was capable of thanks to the pagoda''s restrictions, but she was extraordinarily talented in a wide range of ways and that was obvious at a glance. Her most ''lacking'' field of expertise was close range combat but even that was pretty solid thanks to her flexibility and quick reflexes. This fox was not to be trifled with no matter how adorable her cute swooning over him was! Ah, but he couldn''t resist patting her and stroking her fluffy tails so she had won in that regard. Candy loved it when Ares played with her tails, it made her feel warm and pleasurable. Not in a sexual way but it was really gratifying nonetheless. Sort of like scratching a really persistent itch or rubbing a bumpy birthmark, it was in that vein of satisfaction. She also liked it when he scratched behind her fluffy ears, causing her to laugh and bury her head in his chest. She was an older lady but appeared really youthful to Ares during moments like these, not that he had a preference either way. Her fun and energetic side, her mature, classy and calm side, both were attractive to him and both personalities were two halves of a whole that formed a complete bombshell of a woman. She was clever, cute, and hot enough to make Enyo drool. Ares was a lucky guy. Then again all three of his wives were fantastic in their own right. Ares was reminded once again to spend more time with Bellona. He was a bit busy thanks to the tournament but either during it or after he would play around with her some more, whenever he had spare time to kill.


    "Hey cutie, wanna practice dealing with the exploding talismans? The method for dealing with them is quite similar to what you''re going to have to learn on the last floor so you should get used to it now. Doing so ought to save you some time in the long run." Candy extended a helping hand to Ares which he readily and gratefully accepted. He could see the wisdom in her words as dealing with the talismans required a full body deflect. The last floor was about coating your entire body in pressure... Maybe? Ares didn''t know the specifics but, if he could figure it out before making it to the floor, then he would have footing to stand on and a base level of competency to build up from. This was clearly the last thing he was going to have to learn and it wouldn''t be easy. Just his brief attempt at full body pressure usage, regardless of whether it was the right method or not, had been exhausting and impossible to keep running for an extended period of time. Ares agreed with Candy''s opinion and proposition so he prepared himself to take on the talismans in a controlled environment.


    Constant explosions rang out on the fourth floor, echoing throughout the empty room as Ares was repeatedly blown up time and time again. His clothes were tattered in places but he was doing alright at least. There were occasional breaks for him to digest everything he was learning but progress had been somewhat slow. Like on the previous floors, he was still in the ''experimenting while I dig around and look for the correct method'' stage. None of his ideas up until now had helped him maintain full-body pressure for longer than two seconds at most. This was an improvement, certainly, but keeping it up and running for even an hour straight should be possible for a beginner if they''d grasped the concept properly... Or so Dominus told Ares. He may have had high standards but that didn''t necessarily make him wrong. The general sentiment Dominus was trying to convey was that two seconds really wasn''t gonna cut it and Ares couldn''t deny that... But Dominus did tell him something interesting. A full body deflect, and imbuing yourself with pressure to enhance yourself, were two entirely different techniques. What Ares was doing to deflect the talismans was actually correct and he could pass that stage of the trial properly now whenever he wanted to... It''s just that the last ten seconds would require him to learn the enhancement version too anyway so he was equally as stuck as he was prior. it would be wiser for him to use the talismans to practice both techniques rather than skip to the next phase already. As for the difference between deflecting and enhancing; Ares had yet to figure it out, however... Dominus clarifying that there was a difference helped Ares see things from a different perspective. It reinvigorated him to come up with more whacky ideas to see what stuck and, during his last go-about with Candy, he came to a realisation. Deflects actively pushed the pressure outside the body, to form a layer on it, so maybe enhancement merged it with his body instead? Inside, merged, outside. Those were the three different places pressure could exist in relation to Ares and the only one he had yet to really mess around with was the second option. How Ares was going to bury pressure into his organs, muscles, and flesh he didn''t know but that seemed like as good a place as any to start looking for answers.


    Now the only question was ''how?'' How was he supposed to merge pressure with his body... Maybe if Ares had any kind of buff magic at his disposal he would have a rough idea, due to the nature of what was being asked being similar, but this was rough! The closest he had was running annihilation mana through his body but that was still an inside matter and not something that seeped into his very being. For now, Ares decided to see if he could at least do the merging in one specific spot. He could work out the rest of his body after he actually had an idea of how to do it in the first place. As he''d done a lot of pressure work with his hands he figured it would be best to start there. Plus, as an aside, enhancing his hands and legs first were his best options in terms of getting the most value due to the amount of different uses these parts had in combat. Even if he only learnt, for now, how to use enhancement on these body parts it would till be an infinitely better use of his time than enhancing his head or something.


    Ares reached into his heart and brought out the pressure, allowing it to flow through him and straight to his hand. Now came the tricky part. Ares stared at the pressure inside his hand and tried to will it into his flesh but there was no result other than abject failure. The pressure stubbornly refused to budge an inch like an opinionated dog refusing to return home while out for a walk. No matter how Ares tugged at it, the pressure just kinda looked back at him like he was an idiot for even making such an inconvenient suggestion. Ares sighed and jumped to the conclusion that, in some capacity, this was going to involve mana again... It''s seriously always mana with pressure, isn''t it?! Ares complained as he sent a clump of mana over to his hand. He didn''t use it to convert the pressure into something physical though as he felt that step was going in the wrong direction and served a different purpose... Maybe he could use the mana as a guide to force the pressure into his flesh whether it liked it or not? He tried, and there was some resistance, but eventually the mana did manage to push the pressure along and shove it into Ares'' flesh. He could feel the pressure trapped in his hand and he could feel his grip strength increase explosively. Additionally, this wasn''t anywhere near as strenuous as a full body deflect so he knew he was on the right course with this method. The pressure wasn''t evenly spread out, and it was only inside his hand, but he was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Ares threw a bit more pressure over into his hand to even out the spread and even merged the pressure with some annihilation mana, difficult though it was, giving his hand a golden glow instead of the usual silver one for an enhanced body. Ares felt like he could punch a hole through a meteor and come out unscathed. It was a degree of power he was very unfamiliar with thanks to his adept trait limiting his physical strength. This was a good method to forcibly up his strength for now at least. He wouldn''t need it as much when he got his revenant transformation but this was a good substitute for his human form... Actually, his revenant transformation could probably control pressure too, so maybe this trick would also be useful in his wolf form? He would have to try it out at some point down the line.


    Whilst keeping the hand enhancement running, Ares tried to enhance his other hand and that was where the problems started... Trying to enhance more than one spot at the same time was the cultivation equivalent of doing calculus and rocket science simultaneously... And that was just an attempt to enhance his other hand too... If he included the entire rest of his body, how on earth was he going to have enough brain power to pull this off?! Ares had felt a sense of relief when he figured out the enhancement process in record time but now he was understanding that that was only half the battle and there was more investigations in store for him yet. Still, he didn''t try to figure it out immediately. Right now he wanted to undergo the trial again and see what his new discoveries did for him. Imagining it on paper and testing it out in reality were two entirely different ball games. Also Ares had an appropriate solution for the talismans now that his deflects could last longer so he wanted to put all of his recent work into practice to get used to the feeling of using these techniques in combat. The pressure to perform, associated with doing things on the fly, would always make the techniques harder to pull of to the same degree he could do them during the relatively unimportant training, but that was par the course.


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    Thankfully, though, the deflects came along nicely and the talismans could no longer phase him during his current attempt. Ares was now more than capable of doing the first fifty seconds without making a single mistake or even coming close to making one. His growth had been pretty spectacular but he owed Candy for that. If she hadn''t held back, and killed him after every failed attempt, the amount of times he would have had to re-enter the pagoda would be in the twenties at least by now. Also, her side training did wonders. He''d made sure to thank her with a kiss before this trial had started... Although she did demand more smooches and wasn''t satisfied with just one because she was feeling restless after all the running around getting her excited. Ares obliged because he was more than happy to and she deserved every one. Smooth sailing was the name of the game when Candy aided Ares but, now that the timer had counted down to ten seconds, her devilish side had sprung out and she was putting the hurt on Ares. He managed to block one, singular, miserable, bullet. That was it! That was all he deflected before his lung and toe were pierced straight after! He didn''t even last a second! This may have seemed like a bad result but, in the grand scheme of things, this was actually good! He''d found the solution to the bullets so he considered that to be progress gained! Lose the battle but win the war, etc...


    This was good information;  enhancement didn''t just make him stronger but also his physical pressure attacks and deflects too. Using them in conjunction with one another seemed to be pretty solid and a cultivator could very easily forgo mana entirely to become a pressure oriented cultivator if they wanted to for whatever reason. You had ranged attacks, a strong body, and the omnipresent weight of normal pressure could slow opponents down... There really wasn''t much it couldn''t do. Plus Ares'' annihilation / pressure mix made everything all the more effective.


    Ares had once believed he would be ''complete'' when he had access to his revenant transformation but now he realised that was a silly expectation seeing as how he hadn''t even touched upon the basics of pressure at the time. Simply learning everything this pagoda could teach him put Ares on a pedestal that most cultivators would never reach for as long as they lived and gave him no small benefit. If Ares were to take the inner court trail again, and face off against his various loved ones, friends, and neighbours, he wouldn''t even need Dominus anymore to come out on top, that was the stark difference learning about pressure had made. It was significant, it''s just that being able to tell how significant was hard without a proper testing method for comparison''s sake. Deep down he felt it though, the new power dwelling within him that he could bust loose at any given moment. Having access to such power was always an intoxicating feeling because it made Ares feel like the king of the world. It was all very ''walk softly and carry a big stick'' but the feeling of whipping out the stick and taking everyone by surprise every now and then was unrivalled. Aesthetically, Ares was a relatively unassuming individual and yet, when pushed, his magic and pressure turned him into a whole other beast.


    Ares sat down and thought everything over. Right now, the only idea that kept popping up in his head was that he shouldn''t try and split the enhancement into different parts. Rather he should aim to enhance his whole body as a single entity. Separating his body took far too much brain power and would require him to process at least six different tasks at the same time at the bare minimum; head, body, two legs, and two arms. Ares wasn''t the dumbest person ever but there was no way in hell he was smart enough to do this crap either! Ares ran pressure through his entire body and did the same with his mana. Doing this for both was easy enough because that was the regular state of things before he intervened. It was only when he wanted to fire pressure off, or create an art, that either pressure or mana congregated in a single spot as they typically had a natural flow around his body. As for the next step now that both pressure and mana were flowing... Was it really just as simple as pushing the pressure outwards with his mana? For this to be the final step... The final step of a technique few people could ever achieve... It seemed too easy... Ares knew there was going to be some kind of complication in the works waiting for him, he could feel it in his bones that things weren''t going to just work out for him without a hitch...


    With a push, Ares immediately understood the issue as he felt like he sprained his strained body everywhere all at once. Forcing that much mana into his body at the same time both A; hurt like hell, and B; was hard to do. There was considerable resistance to having pressure forced into his flesh and organs and the pushback cockblocked Ares from achieving his goal. He kept pushing but it was like he was trying to roll a boulder up a hill as every little slip up resulted in more lost ground than he''d even gained in the first place! Even attempting this for a few seconds was tiring and painful and yet he was barely even 1/100th of the way there... Ares was going to be doing this for hours to come at this rate and the worst part? He saw no way out of this mess. This really did feel like the correct way to merge pressure with his body...


    Ares sighed and just got down to business. The longer he sat around trying to avoid the inevitable the more time he was wasting pointlessly. If anything he didn''t realise how lucky he was. Most people weren''t even capable of accomplishing this let alone making progress of any kind. All sorts of factors went into whether or not a person could ever complete this technique including, but not limited to, pillar affiliation (and thus the aspect mana they could use to push the pressure), mana quality, innate talent, pressure quality, bloodline, age, permanent injuries (especially those to a person''s meridians or pressure reserves), treasures that affect the shape of a person''s body, race, and even diseases. Hell there was one cultivator who was convinced she couldn''t learn this technique but, the very next day, her comprehension quintupled and she made shocking progress. Why? Because the weather had been too hot the day prior and she felt uncomfortable when she was pushing the pressure outwards so it refused to work. Some other guy couldn''t do it because he was constipated... And he may or may not have defecated himself by trying to push way too hard... It was a finicky technique that required the cultivator to be in perfect condition to even stand a chance of standing on the starting line. Whether you would even be able to learn this technique if you weren''t a prodigy was unlikely and most non-geniuses would never get the chance throughout their entire lives.


    The one time a treasure capable of aiding in this pressure enhancement process was found, a herb that relaxed the body, one of history''s bloodiest wars of all time ensued. There were no teams, alliances, sides, allies or what have you, just pure carnage in no-man''s land. A free for all in which hundreds of millions lost their lives. You would think the winner would have cherished his prize and either sold it for big bucks or used it immediately but the guy was a bit of a philanthropist at heart. He donated it to some of the greatest scientists and botanists around, a group of famed alchemists who were experts down to the last. He believed they had it in them to replicate the plant or come up with the conditions to grow more. Everyone involved was partially successful but no one knows to what extent. Their research is classified and, although a few more of the herbs have been found here and there due there work, no one knows what it was they even did in the first place. People didn''t care about that, though, as all they needed to know was that the plant was somewhat more commonly available than previously. Of course the word ''common'' was used lightly here, these herbs were still as rare as enablers were! Actually, that made a lot of sense too. The herbs were essentially permanent pressure enablers after all.


    As much as Ares wished he had something equivalent to those herbs the harsh truth was that he did not. He had an easier road than most thanks to his various advantages so he had no right to complain, really, but he did anyway ''cos screw this step! Nothing in his life had ever taken this long and been this much of a pain in the ass. The only thing that would have come close was cultivating in seclusion but there was a reason Ares avoided doing that at all costs! Boredom!


    Dominus felt like reaching out and trying to slap this kid who wasn''t aware just how easy he had it. A couple of hours? Even he took a couple hundred years to achieve pressure enhancement... Ares'' destruction mana, the fact that his pressure lay in his heart, and his bloodline being perfect in every way all culminated in the perfect storm. To be fair to Ares the pain he was feeling was actually worse than what others would go through because being quicker, ironically, had its disadvantages. For the sake of clarity, if, hypothetically, every 1% of progress did 100 damage to him, then the people who could only make 0.01% of progress in the same time span would only take 1 damage. Normally only some small pricks would be felt here and there but Ares was tearing away at his flesh and even ripping some of his organs. Poking his heart was now the least of his concerns as gashes were being added to it with regularity. Ares could take a decent amount of hurt and not be too fussed but this was absolutely excruciating! He was sweating hard and blood was oozing out of him from every orifice meaning he had to stop often just to keep himself bloody clean! clean of blood! Candy was nice enough to help with this as she used her lab coat to wipe away bits of blood here and there, reducing the amount of times Ares had to stop in his tracks and lose some progress. The longer he went for per go the better. If he had a short attempt it was entirely possible he would regress and be further from the goal, but the same was also true if he didn''t make an attempt often as his progress would start fading slowly on its own. Now that he''d started he was in for the long haul and couldn''t stop unless he wanted to throw everything away, that was yet another disadvantage he had that others wouldn''t. So, really, Ares did have a right to complain, just not because of how long it took! If he complained about the constant agony and the inescapable trial he was being put through then maybe he would garner some actual sympathy! Probably not though, jealousy would curb any pity felt. Ignorance was bliss. Other cultivators would kill to be in Ares'' position but they didn''t know how miserable it was. Just because Ares had made it this far in a day that didn''t mean anyone else would be able to if they were in his shoes. The pressure being locked away in his heart would foil over ninety percent of people right out the gate and the pain he was currently sitting through would take out at least another 8% or so .


    With gritted teeth and clenched fists Ares soldiered onwards. Really, truthfully, his biggest concern right now was something else entirely. Was he worried about failing this step and having to redo it? Yes. Was he dreading having to leave Candy knowing they wouldn''t meet again for a long while? Yes. But above all of that was a problem more immediate, something that would actually matter today! Something that couldn''t be redone... The banquet! Ares needed to complete this stupid step so he could take a peek at the top floor and go home damnit!... Was Ares secretly starting to cook in the Primordial Blade, so he could make it in time for the banquet, making his life at least ten times harder by devoting some of his attention elsewhere?...; Yes... Yes he was... Ares may have genuinely been the first person in the history of the universe to actively, willingly, make learning pressure enhancement harder for himself... Candy was blissfully unaware but Dominus was speechless. In some ways, he''d really underestimated the stupidity of this idiot... He wasn''t sure whether he should respect the kid or not because what he was doing was actually really impressive... In fact it may even benefit him, allowing him to activate pressure enhancement without losing as much residual pressure. It was usually impossible to load all 100% of a person''s pressure into themself, even the guy on the top floor couldn''t do it... But maybe that was because no one had been stupid enough to do what Ares was currently doing and push themself during their enhancement initiation? People were usually grateful they could even do it in the first place and risking failure for no apparent reason meant no one messed with the process... If Ares accidentally discovered something ground-breaking here because he wanted to be efficient and cook dinner during one of the hardest tasks known to cultivators Dominus might actually change his mind about this clown of a host. He''d been mostly indifferent, and slightly positive on occasion, but he was starting to understand that this muppet''s idiocy was actually legendary. Ares and his decisions were so painfully dumb they looped back around to being smart!

 Chapter 149: That’s Enough Hyperglycaemia for One Day

    Five hours later


    Gurgling blood and lying in a pool of the stuff to boot, Ares had fainted dead. Did he accomplish his goal before conking out? Candy had no clue, she simply moved over and pulled him out of the red puddle while using his Zephyr to clean up the blood stains somewhat. At first she''d been somewhat envious of Ares'' enhancement learning speed but, towards the end, seeing his tortured body and hollow eyes made her rethink that baseless envy. Things in the cultivation world were rarely just straight up easier for one person than another, there was almost always a catch and Ares looked like he was suffering through his ''catch'' quite a bit. Worse still even if Ares had died in here he wouldn''t have been resurrected outside the pagoda because the problem was internal. He would have actually died for real if that had been the case. Candy and Dominus chose not to warn him because he was doing fantastic considering the circumstances and they were confident he could do it... Although it would have been tremendously awkward if he keeled over for good but they''d been keeping a close eye on him. If it came down to the wire one of them would have intervened in some manner and stopped him.


    Now the only question that remained was, did he stop because he was knocked unconscious forcefully or because he was resting now that he was done? Until Ares woke up there was no way to tell but that just made the anticipation build all the more while Candy waited! Well, Candy waited, Dominus already knew. He lived inside the guy after all. It''s not like he could communicate with Candy though otherwise he would, not because he himself really cared about this fox in anyway but because he would be interested in her opinion. This fox was clever and had a bright future in magic research ahead of her if she ever applied herself. Dominus had been really impressed with what he saw of her earlier when she was experimenting with destruction magic. Ares would never know just how crazy some of this maniac''s tests really were. Well she was a clone so she felt no pain but it wouldn''t have been pleasant regardless. She was a smart cookie, that was how Dominus felt. He even congratulated Ares inwardly for adding this chick to his harem ''cos, like Enyo and Bellona, she was a good cultivator worth her weight in gold through and through. Real top of the pack material. How Ares kept getting involved with ridiculous women Dominus didn''t know. This idiot was clearly born under a lucky star, especially if his third wife really would be the reality pillar. This guy''s harem would be more absurd than even any God''s group of followers at this rate... Actually, there was a good chance his current wives would all end up being Goddesses of their respective pillars anyway...


    As for what Dominus would have wanted Candy''s opinion on, well, the blood-drooling moron had succeeded... No, that was understatement, he''d done exactly what Dominus had started to wonder if he would or not. Ares incorporated all 100% of his pressure into his enhancement. The way it worked was that the percentage a person managed to incorporate on their first try would usually become their upper limit forever... Only something like the aforementioned herb could ever alter that amount and not by much either, maybe 5% at most. The herbs were also a one-and-done deal so you couldn''t double down on them and raise your cap by having multiple... If you could even get your hands on more than one in the first place, anyway. Dominus had no clue what was in store for Ares because he''d just transcended even his own vast knowledge. One thing was for certain though, with his insane bloodline that allowed him to mix annihilation mana and pressure, and his high quality of pressure thanks to his heart storage location, this guy''s pressure enhancement was going to put him in his own calibre of existence. Dominus was completely convinced Ares was unbeatable in an even, fair fight. When Ares'' pressure enhancement was fully realised, and his training with it complete, there wouldn''t be anyone anywhere who could match this kid if they had the same cultivation as him. It was no longer a contest, Ares had won now and forever. Maybe Candy would be able to do some digging into this guy''s body and figure out what was going on because Dominus himself didn''t know. He accumulated knowledge but wasn''t great at exploring the unknown... Unless it was for art creation under the weapons pillar, then he was second to none.


    "WHHOZIT WHAZZIT HOWZZIT WHEREZIIT?!" Ares'' upper body flung upwards off Candy''s lap as he yelled in panic. He looked around and took a deep breath before looking down at his body. The last thing he remembered was succeeding before the pressure knocked his lights out. Realising he was done with the hardest part was a relief he couldn''t quite put into words. He still needed to train with this new technique and get his body used to the feeling, all of which would take a while, but he was past the finish line now basically. Training was all that awaited him, no more trials, goals, experiments, or tasks. Everything the pagoda had left to throw at him could be beaten with the knowledge he had, he just needed to put effort and time in... Unfortunately that also meant his time with Candy was coming to an end. He would probably be able to beat her trial in maybe five or six attempts if he were to hazard a guess. He would fail the first time miserably. He would learn how to wield his new power on attempts two through four. And then he would either do it on the fifth attempt, or Candy would pull out one last surprise and get the better of him again; meaning he would have to go for one final round. He was regretful but also glad. The sooner he cleared this all the better. He needed to go back to real life outside the pagoda as he had a myriad of things waiting for him, demanding his attention. Although part of him didn''t want to, he stood up after thanking Candy for looking after him while he was out and asked for her to start the trial. There was still some stuff he wanted to say to Candy but he would complete the trial first as that was more pressing. Plus it would be awkward saying his goodbyes and then not actually going anywhere...


    The timer appeared and hung over Ares as he watched Candy summon her blobs. Ares took roughly two seconds to start enhancing himself after which he felt like his body was floating through outer space. Moving had become so easy that there was no longer any tactile sensation in his muscles, He may as well have been using a remote control to affect his body while he watched from afar. It was reminiscent of when he let Dominus take control. He wasn''t sure how much of a difference this state made yet and he could tell that, although he was using a decent amount of his pressure, 100% was still out of his reach until he trained some more. He could use it, just not yet. Also, all of the pressure he was using was being wasted quite a bit. This meant not only was he not operating at full capacity but the amount he was using was also being diminished because he was leaking it... He could feel these issues fixing themselves with every second he spent in this state but it would take time and couldn''t be sped up at all no way no how. 100% efficiency was absolutely not accomplishable today, that was something he just had to accept and move on from. He hadn''t been planning on completing the pagoda today regardless and he was aware it would take more than a few days so it all lined up. It was highly likely he wouldn''t even be participating in the next round of the international because he would be stuck here. That was fine though as his team was more than capable of making it to even the finals without him if they needed to, Ares was certain. Between Enyo''s recent powerup and Aejaz'' hidden card it was very possible... Although Aejaz'' trick actually required Ares to be there... Or Mako, technically, as he could be used as a substitute. Well, neither of them were strictly necessary but they made his art infinitely better so it was a pseudo-must. Still, the original point being that they could win the next fight without Ares without a hitch. Whether or not they would have to fight one or two a man down remained to be seen and was dependent on how long Ares took.


    Ares went through all these thoughts in his head and still had time to parse them before the blobs came within an inch of him. Despite being distracted his brain was operating so much faster that it was like time had slowed down for him. Right off the bat, even if Ares just enhanced his brain and nothing else, slow opponents and slow attacks were now completely ineffective against him. Ares slovenly raised his right hand and smacked a blob off to the side with minimal effort.


    BANG


    The smack created a blast of air and the blob completely vanished. Ares wasn''t sure if he''d smacked it out of existence or if it went flying into the distance at the speed of light. Either way that thing was completely GONE, never to be seen again. Candy was momentarily stopped in her tracks by the sight of her blob being bitch-slapped into another dimension and fell behind in her administering of the trial. She didn''t pause or restart it though and opted to just skip ahead to where she was supposed to be. The first fifty seconds of this trial really no longer mattered to Ares; it was like flinging ants at him and expecting them to leave a lasting impact, clearly pointless. It was a stark difference to when he first started and was getting too dizzy to even stand straight. Candy had watched Ares evolve his toolset in real time and was deeply impressed by Ares as a specimen. She was looking forward to experimenting on him back in reality one day, he was just so fascinating a creature... And a revenant no less... All the experiments she could run on him that would be lethal to other races...


    Ares felt a disturbance in the force but ignored it for now as he was busy conducting his own experiments. Namely, at the start of the next wave of blobs, Ares simply didn''t defend. He let everything Candy threw at him strike him dead centre and yet he didn''t even flinch. Actually, the only damage taken was by the blobs that split apart the second they touched him. Ares didn''t even manage to control half of his max pressure yet, nor had he mixed it with annihilation, and he was already this fearsome... It made him wonder how ridiculous his adept transformation was going to be... Strength of a mutant werewolf with dragon blood, adept trait, pressure enhancement, and destruction mana fuelling him... A single punch might actually be enough to obliterate a mountain at this rate... And he had yet to even find treasures that increased his strength. Ares might have unintentionally, indirectly, become the physically strongest cultivator out there in his own way. Actually this meant that he really needed to consider tempering his body in the future too. It wasn''t high on his list of priorities, as his magic would always be topping that particular list, but it was on there now, that was for sure.


    Once again Ares had gotten lost in his own head while the blobs threw themselves at his body. It looked like he was a steel wall being hosed down as the blobs splattered everywhere while dealing zero damage. Even when the talismans came into play Ares could just flick them away or ignore them. The explosions did tickle him though, he gave them credit for making him feel something at least. Really, he was just waiting for the last ten seconds. The only reason he didn''t ask Candy to skip the first fifty was for pressure enhancement practice otherwise waiting around for basically no reason was a waste of time. The clock in the sky ticked down to ten seconds and Candy flourished her two weapons before Blinking around the room without pause. Everywhere she went she left behind give or take fifty blobs that would then home in on Ares from various angles. The talismans were back too but, like the blobs, they were all just distractions. Candy and her guns were what Ares really needed to keep an eye out for here. Her shots might actually hurt him a little but, more than that, getting hit by them would fail him and that was the main issue. Unlike the last time he made it here, however, he could see all of this and had a moment to himself to think while plotting his course of action.


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    Bang Bang


    Candy started off simple and rapid fired two shots, one aimed for Ares'' brain and the other his stomach. Ares bent down and uppercut the bullet with less height, sending it flying up and into the one above. Ares had felt a lot of resistance there despite the force behind his attack being considerable so he realised playing around with the bullets wasn''t going be feasible. He would have to deflect them properly going forward... Provided he was actually able to keep up, anyway. The two shots Candy fired were a warm up and the next wave wouldn''t be so simple. She fired another two shots and disappeared. Ares heard another set of two fired behind him but, before he could even turn and check, Candy had fired another set of bullets from somewhere else. She was Blinking around, firing in pairs, and there was nothing Ares could do about it at his current speed. He deflected the first two and barely managed to turn in time to deflect one more but the other bullet in the pair had to be dodged. Dodging left him wide open though and he was struck in both his legs, ending his run. Considering how much stronger than him Candy was at the moment he''d done pretty good. His prediction about how many tries this would take was looking accurate so he stood up and readied himself again immediately. The bullet holes in his legs would barely even slow him down and, thanks to the enhancement, made basically no difference whatsoever.


    Ares continued retaking the trial, doing marginally better each time but doing better nonetheless. The last stretch was designed to necessitate experience and multiple attempts so ''marginal'' improvements were actually considerable in the grand scheme of things. On his second attempt he managed to block all of Candy''s paired shots by spinning around on the spot and deflecting every bullet perfectly. He was felled on that attempt by the next wave in which Candy just started shooting freely with no breaks. No more pairs meant Ares had to occasionally use his other body parts to deflect and that took him by surprise. Deflecting more than two attacks at the same time was something he''d done before though so his third attempt cleared that wave comfortably. This run, however, was ended when Candy Blinked in front of his face and struck him with the butt of her gun. He''d gotten so used to ranged attacks he hadn''t expected her to physically assault him without mana or bullets! She''d whacked him real good and he almost coughed up some bile as a result. He managed to hold it in though because he refused to throw up in front of Candy in such a pathetic way... He then restarted and commenced his fourth run and, this time, was prepared for Candy''s CQC. He deflected her blunt strike with his chest by pushing it out and taking the fight to her, deciding when and with body part he wanted to block. If he''d screwed it up his chest probably would have caved in but that was part of what made his defence completely unpredictable. It was risky but, in a real fight, would have given him some time to counterattack his opponent. What Ares didn''t expect was for Candy to chuck her guns at him and run him down with her claws, swiping some of the skin on his arm clean off and ending this attempt in failure. He was grateful when she gave it a lick after. Apparently part of her bloodline gave her saliva slight healing prowess and this was simply how she chose to use it. She could have just spit on him but that wasn''t very feminine and so she refused to do it that way. Ares didn''t mention she could have just kissed it because he had no complaints with the current situation at all. Presumably neither did Candy because she also kept quiet on the matter while her tail wagged happily. Anyhow, Ares'' fourth run ended but now he was in the homestretch. At around the time Candy scratched him there were two seconds left on the clock. She maybe had it in her to launch one more sneak attack but that was all she would be able to do. What that attack would be was anyone''s guess really but Ares aimed to find out with his next attempt.


    The trial proceeded normally as Ares and Candy danced their usual dance. She lobbed countless balls of death at him and he slapped them away each and every time. She blew up talismans in his face but he walked right through them like the God of explosions he was. She pulled out her trusty arms and shot him with them but he was able to pluck each bullet out of the air with room to spare. She jumped into his personal space and struck at him in various ways before chucking her weapon and swiping at him. This time Ares concentrated on the direction her claws were headed and adjusted his deflect appropriately, sending her claws bouncing off him with two seconds left on the clock. She lunged at him one final time, even though her arms were still being flung back by the earlier deflect, but Ares didn''t let his guard down. She was baring her fangs and she clearly wanted to turn him into a snack with her sharp teeth. Ares couldn''t understand why this was the final attack she chose to launch though... It was a bit too simple for his liking. Yes the bite was somewhat tricky, requiring two different deflects, one for the upper row of teeth and one for the lower, but he could see that little conundrum coming from a mile away and had already anticipated it before hand. If that was all Candy had in store for him then this trial was done and dusted!


    CHOMP


    "OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" Ares wailed as he ran in circles holding his freshly chewed arm. The bite marks were deep and blood was trickling out of him while Candy licked her lips and slurped up her saliva. She also caught a bit of his blood on her tongue and swallowed it too with a dainty smile on her face as if biting him was completely normal. As for how this happened exactly... Ares was scammed and hoodwinked! Before the bite connected, Candy used her spatial magic to Blink away his deflects! She used spatial magic to teleport his pressure off him and reduce his defences to nothing! Well his enhancement had still been there, thankfully, so that reduced the damage by a decent amount. But still! What a cheap trick... Still, this was a good reminder that his pressure could be interacted with if he was using it as a physical technique. His enhancement and the normal weight pressure were fine and couldn''t be touched by anything other than another person''s pressure pressure, but physical pressure was an entirely different ball game. Teleporting it was clearly possible and that meant the final lesson of floor four was to be aware that pressure was not the end all be all. It was wise to keep your eyes out for anything that could impede or outright deny your physical pressure such as underhanded methods like this. In a real fight, a dirty trick like that would turn the tables at a key moment so pressure wielders had to be aware at all times of sly hijinks. As for countering it, Ares could summon another two vortexes to deflect with after the first two were Blinked away, create a layer of disintegration to snuff out Candy''s magic, break the spatial magic with nothingness, or, funnily enough, deflect the Blink too! Either way the solution was simple and easy to execute so that could only mean one thing... He looked at Candy and could see a few tears starting to form in her eyes... Completing this trial would be difficult for an entirely unexpected reason but, alas, he had to do it. He said nothing to her now because comforting her was something that could happen after... Right now he needed to do this.


    Candy was slow to start the trial up again but did her duty properly when the time came. All the blobs, talismans, and gun shots in the world couldn''t stop Ares any longer though and he very quickly made it to the end. She lunged at him with her teeth but Ares deflected the last second Blink, denying her attack. He did let her rugby tackle him to the floor though as the trial was already over and this was seemingly a personal request of hers as she put her teeth away and hugged him on the way down. It''s not like her feeble attempt at biting him would net her any results anyway so she gave up and just cuddled him instead. If she couldn''t stop him leaving she would enjoy her last few moments with him here instead... Although she really didn''t want to let go while Ares was pampering her. His warm hand caressing her head, ears, and tails meant a lot to her. Knowing she was going to temporarily lose it all for years to come... It wasn''t easy. At the very least, Ares seemed content to let her wallow in his arms for a while.


    The two sat there in the blank, white room for nearly an hour. They said nothing because they knew the next time they spoke it would be the last for now. Even a throwaway comment would probably lead to the goodbye so silence was the preferable way of embracing each other. Nothing needed to be said anymore anyway. All of their playful back and forth today had done most of the talking for them. Candy leant against Ares'' chest and he stroked her fluffy tails and ears that were incredibly soft to the touch. Still, this couldn''t last forever and Ares really did have to leave. Not just because of the banquet, although that was certainly a concern, but because he would have to complete this pagoda at some point. He couldn''t stay or keep Candy here, it just wasn''t feasible. With a heavy heart, Ares started to shift around as he prepared himself to move on.


    The last floor was waiting for him and he had a date with destiny, so to speak. This pagoda had been brought here for him, and he gotten way more out of it than he could have ever anticipated, but the benefits he could draw from this place were starting to come to an end. He would strive to beat the last floor, claim his reward, and set everyone free... If they so chose to be set free anyway. It was technically optional but there were no floor overseers here currently that would choose to hang around and onto their positions after all the time they spent here. Golgo hadn''t been here that long, and Candy wasn''t exactly a long standing member either, but they had things to take care of anyway. It wasn''t even worth mention Caribou Coronos and Larsh, they were practically begging to be released. As for the guy on the final floor, if he was beaten he wouldn''t have a say in the matter. An Ares clone would automatically be placed there in his stead. Ares would leave behind a part of his consciousness on the top floor and, after that, the Transmit people would search around for people to replace the other overseers on the other floors before letting the pagoda out into the wide world again. Ares didn''t know any of this just yet but, when he did finally learn about it, he would be particularly happy to know his clone would be out there, doing him proud, kicking some serious ass! The guy on the top floor currently had legendary status thanks to the pagoda and now Ares would be in the same boat. His name would ring far and wide due to the ass whoopings he would be mercilessly dealing out! Also, if anyone from a higher domain challenged his clone it would automatically be buffed up to match them! It might make some of the people going after Candy rethink their approach if they tried to test his prowess in the pagoda. If they couldn''t beat his magic-less clone, what chance would they have against the real thing with full access to the destruction pillar when he reached their cultivation?! His presence at the top of the pagoda would be a fantastic deterrence. Still, that was then and now was now. In order for all that to come to fruition, Ares had to let go of Candy. Still, on the bright side, he did have some treats to give her!... Not treats as in, like, the kind of stuff you would give a pet... She was a fox, yes, but not like an animal kinda fox! A human fox!... Anyway, it was time for souvenirs!

 Chapter 150: Storied Storeys

    Ares, to start, brought out a sack filled with Shock Beads and block rocks, the latter of which were inching ever closer to turning into a fully fledged art, and put them on the side. These would be part of Candy''s souvenirs and they served the purpose of acting as proof of Ares'' commitment to her. There were still two other things he could do in that regard so, first, he pulled out a tiny red gem and placed it in Candy''s palm. "You might have seen Enyo wearing one of these gems inside her wedding ring. Long story short this is a piece of my heart turned into a gem, well a spare one anyway. You can feel my heart beat when you hold it no matter how far you are from me... And I can also feel your hand when you touch it. As it''s a different part of my heart than the one I gave Enyo I''ll know the difference between you two. Normally I would only have given this to you after proposing, or a properly shaped and meticulously crafted gem anyway, but I think giving this to you now is important. I can always put it inside a ring next time we meet if you grow attached to that one but right now you should keep it as proof. Having some of my equipment is one thing but a piece of my heart is difficult to refute. I''ll also make sure Golgo gets the memo so he can have the fundamental organisation release an official statement about you. All three combined ought to keep you safe from your prying family for now. I wish there was more I could give you but I''m afraid this is all I have that I can spare... But I do have one more surprise for you, something you can''t touch until you go back! Here."


    Ares pulled out a bundle of flasks from the Primordial Blade and handed them over to Candy who looked at them with a tilted head. She was still reeling from the heart piece but her incredible sense of smell, thanks to her foxian bloodline, had informed her these flasks contained alcohol of some variety. "I''d yet to mention this little titbit about myself but I''m quite a good cook. I''m not the best at anything in particular but I''m pretty damn good at everything, even if I do say so myself. Still this is unexplored territory for me as I''ve never made alcohol before... Anyway, it might be a bit rough around the edges but I combined some stuff I had to make a kind of mock-champagne. It''s not the real thing, not by a wide margin, but it''s a promise that one day I''ll let you taste the real deal. Homemade and handcrafted champagne tailored made for you, that''s my goal. I do this for all my wives, you know, try and come up with something special for the individual. My only regret here is that I didn''t have time to make the fully complete version... This drink isn''t even really champagne... It should taste nice though, I made sure of that at least. Either way, don''t drink it all in one go! I won''t be able to replace it for a while... Keep them for a rainy day if ever you feel upset... Wait... I don''t mean drown your sorrows or anything, I meant like, you know, memories! Happy memories!... Uh, maybe alcohol wasn''t such a good idea..."


    "Hahaha, you''re getting all flustered cutie. It''s ok, I know what this gift means and why you''re giving it to me. Thank you. Knowing I''ll have this, and your heart, to remind me of you is more than enough. It eases my own poor, aching heart. I''m going to miss you, really, but this will help I''m sure." Candy had wiped away the tears and was feeling much better. Still a little rocky on the emotional front but well enough to give a proper goodbye. "I''ve never really had much of a chance to get familiar with alcohol but I''ll be sure to give these naughty things a try!" Candy dangled the flasks with a glint in her eye. Ares wasn''t entirely sure this woman was as ''unfamiliar'' with alcohol as she claimed to be... Maybe Sadie would one day have a drinking partner... "Ah, I almost wanna pop one open and take a swig. It smells really good cutie, I appreciate it. And you''re promising me a complete version down the line? You''re just making the long wait even more painful! You tell me you''re a good cook and then make me wait to try your cooking?! Are you evil?! You''re evil aren''t you!... Well that''s ok, I''m a bit of a playful imp myself." Candy gave Ares a kiss on the lips and looked into his eyes. "Thank you Ares, I owe you a lot. You''ve changed the course of my life today, I''m sure of it. Although I''m dreading going back a part of me, for the first time ever, is actually excited by the prospect of returning. Knowing that there''s light at the end of tunnel, and not the deathly kind that people see at the end of their life, it''s given me energy. I feel that old well of happiness inside me, that was once drying up, refill itself moment to moment. I won''t make this goodbye harder than it needs to be but I will burden you somewhat... Please be quick. I know I''ve already got centuries under my belt and even if I had to wait a hundred more years it would be nothing to me... But still, I want you in my life as soon as possible. I never claimed to be a patient woman!"


    Ares chuckled as he stood up and held Candy''s hand to help her do the same. "And I never claimed to be a patient man. I''ll rush to you as soon as I''m able, you have my word. If nothing else, Enyo might even try to rush to you as soon as possible before me... You have a killer body, you know that? I pity you, Enyo will not show you mercy..."


    "Oh cutie don''t I know it... To think there''ll be five other wives hanging around you by the time we next meet... Makes me feel like I''m missing out on the all the fun." Candy lightly smacked Ares on the arm. "See this? You''re making me jealous! You are a bad man, cutie! A bad, bad man!"


    Ares laughed as he hugged Candy. "And you are am equally terrible woman. I guess we''ve got a lot in common." Ares kissed Candy one final time and the two savoured the moment. It was a long and passionate kiss so he could satisfy both himself and the feisty fox for the foreseeable future. After begrudgingly pulling away, Ares said the dreaded words. It was as if they caused him physical pain to even utter them as they scraped by his lips. "Goodbye Candy. Take care"


    Candy took a deep breath with closed eyes and took a moment. Eventually she opened them again and gave Ares another genuine smile to remember her by. "Goodbye Ares. Come quickly, ok?"


    Ares urged his unwilling legs to turn him around and walk away after he nodded at Candy. "I will." He took step after step towards the double doors that had appeared a short distance away from him and the only sounds in this white expanse were his echoing footsteps and a quiet sob from the fox behind him. As he reached the door he wasn''t sure if it would be better to turn around and wave one final time or if that would just make it harder for them to move on... In the end he couldn''t resist looking at her one last time to burn the image of her into his memory. There she was, waving with a tear stained smile which caused Ares to shed a single tear too in sympathy. He would go back to his loving family, she would go back to her own personal hell. It wasn''t the same but that was why he had to smile here too, for her sake. He mustered every muscle in his face to to do his bidding, allowing him to give her his trademark cocky grin and a wink to go along with his waving hand. After that, to avoid making this take longer than it should, he turned back to the door and walked through without any more hesitation.


    Without even taking in the new scenery he leant backwards against the nearest wall and closed his eyes. Just as he left Candy had broken out into waterworks and it was hard not being able to comfort her. It would be better for him if he gave himself a moment to calm down before approaching the next trial otherwise he would just be wasting his attempt by dragging himself down with his current emotional state. If he was going to lose here and be kicked out of the pagoda he wanted to gather some information at least before he went home for the day. He could mull over everything over the course of the rest of the day and come back after dinner, refreshed and full of energy with an idea on how to proceed.


    Ares gave himself a minute to settle down, after which he took in his surroundings properly. He''d seen that things were drastically different before but he was well and truly astounded by this ''floor'', if it could even really be called such a thing. This floor was simulating another location entirely as Ares was currently inside a room on the third floor of an abandoned high-rise that was at least twenty storeys tall. It was night outside and the moon was shining through the cracked glass hanging off jagged window sills that were bent way out of shape. The sound of rain pattering against the walls filled the silence but did nothing to illuminate the streets below which effectively turned into a black void the further away Ares looked. A few destitute lamp posts flickered here and there in the immediate vicinity but anything beyond that looked like a murky black swamp that would swallow him whole if he left the safety of the building he was in. It was if he was being quarantined in a safe zone and all manner of demons that lurked further out were kept at bay by the sterilising lights.


    As for the interior of the building in question it seemed to be used as an office space, back before it became destitute, and nothing else of note. Coffee stained desks, a water cooler that probably wouldn''t have been functional even pre-armageddon, and standard office chairs missing a wheel or two and leaning drunkenly against whatever nearby surface they could find. A few cracked computer screens, some keyboards with missing letters that had been strewn around the room like a game of alphabet hide-and-seek, and a broken bulb hanging by a thread from the ceiling all gave Ares the impression that whatever struck this run-down place struck it hard and fast. None of the other floors in the pagoda had been like this but this place seemed to have some history behind it; likely tied to the floor overseer that was sitting up against the far wall with his head down, buried somewhere underneath his dusty beige cape and between his knees.


    Ares had been somewhat clued into this man''s identity here and there and he knew from Dominus that his man was often referred to as the ''Veteran''. The one person who knew his actual name, his brother, had been murdered by him in cold blood for the sake of revenge years ago so his real name was lost to the ether as he made no effort to share it with anyone. This was a man who''d lost everything and then sacrificed even more just to make his brother feel the same way as him. His affiliation for every non-fundamental pillar gave him life. He could feel the energy of all things and had a deep connection to the world but that was all severed when his brother stole it from him. His mood uncontrollably worsened and he fell into a miserable rut, driving him to wage war in an attempt to get his life back. It wasn''t the power he sought, just the comfort of life that his affiliations provided him. Losing it had been disastrous for his mental well-being and he lived on edge permanently after.


    The war was long and gruelling, turning his home city into a hellscape as was depicted here in these surroundings. He lost an arm during the war but that never stopped him from pushing onwards with his army. It was a war fought with both magic and technology and all sorts of highly immoral arts, automatic weaponry, and explosive ordinance had been utilised and deployed with no regard for the sanctity of life. The loss of life was cataclysmic and the city was burned down to the ground over the course of the campaign but, amidst all the rubble and death stood tall the Veteran. His dusty cape and his one arm wielding a plain, old sword were an inspiring sight for his loyal men and their morale remained high during the fight. Eventually it all came to a head in this very building where the Veteran killed his brother.


    Afterwards, he disappeared for a while only to be found skulking around alleyways and mumbling incoherent gibberish to himself. He was ''sane'' but broken and wanted nothing to do with anyone or anything. His brother''s ability to steal his affiliations was still in effect and he couldn''t remove the lingering magic and resentment no matter how hard he tried. Killing his brother did nothing but satisfy his urge to kill the bastard and now he was back to square one with no enemies left to vent his anger and rage at. Of course, during all this, he''d manifested an incredible pressure that defied common sense. This was why Transmit had approached him and asked him to become an overseer for the final trial. Surprisingly he agreed, mostly on the off chance his other self could learn something about how to undo this infernal curse his brother had placed on his very soul. All the countless billions of contenders would feed him information and, when his clone returned one day, surely it would have memories of at least one individual capable of freeing him from his plight? A slight problem arose, though, one that almost drove him to madness... No one could beat the clone... It never returned to him with the answers he was looking for if it even had them to begin with. Based solely on the clone''s current appearance it was looking unlikely that, even after all these years, it had found the answer it sought. His woes appeared to be endless. Knowing there was a font of magnificent joy right around the corner, feeling his restrained affiliations bursting against the seams and being unable to retrieve them... The clone was arguably the most downtrodden thing in this floor, more so than anything in the surroundings at least.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Ares could remove it... With a quick glance, aided by his Omniscience, he saw the root of the problem and he understood immediately... He could remove it... Pretty easily too... Man, disintegration was a little too good at its job, wasn''t it?! How was Ares supposed to break it to the guy? That all his years of searching were pretty much irrelevant because all he needed was the help of a fundamental champion that didn''t even exist at the time he started seeking help... Well, maybe he would just be happy now that he could be freed? Regardless, Ares actually decided to wait to tell him. God only knows what this guy would do if Ares told him the truth right now. There was a non-zero chance he would try and break free from the pagoda right this instant and leave Ares high and dry with no reward... Was withholding the information selfish? Yes. Did it matter? No, not really. The guy likely couldn''t be freed from his brother''s magic until Ares met the real version anyway so he was going to have to be a bit patient. How many thousands of years did this guy wait anyway? A few more days weren''t going to kill him. If anything, Ares was more concerned with Candy''s well-being than this random stranger! Although being owed a favour by a guy as immeasurably powerful as this might come in handy down the line... No matter what, Ares wasn''t going to do anything with him just yet other than take his trial. He could make a decision on how best to approach him properly after he''d actually beaten the guy.


    Ares walked up to the fella and bent over to look at him. He waved his hand in front of the guy''s face to try and get his attention. Veteran stood up and paid Ares little to no attention, however, only the bare minimum required to get this trial started and over and done with. If the challenger couldn''t help him in any way this was the attitude he took. It was a bit presumptuous but, then again, Ares was just some mental accumulation kid after all. This was the whole ''appearances can be deceiving'' shtick doing its thing. With a tired voice that dragged itself through Ares'' ears, Veteran spoke up and explained the rules. "We fight. No magic, no weapons, just pressure and our bodies. You can make as much use of this space as you desire, there are no restrictions to using the environment. If you stray too far from the building, though, you''ll lose automatically. The fight can last as long as needed an you are permitted to run if you can, and want to, for whatever reason. If you ever beat me then you will become the next overseer of his floor and I will guide you to your rewards. Any questions?"


    "Uh, I have a bloodline that lets me merge the mana of one of my aspects with pressure. Is it ok to use that or no?"


    "... Interesting. Sure. I see no reason why it shouldn''t be allowed. As long as you aren''t using magic or casting arts that''s fine. Just in case though, may I see it?"


    "Sure but I can''t use it with enhancement yet. Only for physical pressure and weight pressure." Ares summoned a ball of golden physical pressure and let it float over to Veteran who caught it in his palms. he eyed up the pressure and felt the insides of the ball with his finger before crushing the ball and nodding to Ares.


    "This is fine to use during the trial. It''s a very good bloodline, you''re lucky to have it. I imagine you''ll go far in the cultivation world... But what exactly is that mana? I''ve never seen anything like it before and I used to have an affiliation with all pillars... No, that''s not true, I never did have an affiliation for the ''fundamentals''... I see... They''re finally out and about in the world, huh? Well my point still stands. With your impressive pressure and your unique magic there will be very little that can stop you, I''m sure. Anyway, that''s enough of that. When you''re ready to start the trial let me know."


    Ares enhanced himself with pressure and took a moment. Veteran was relatively unimpressed with the enhancement quality and he just assumed Ares'' limit was quite low... He would come to learn over the next few days, as he watched it grow to absurd heights, that he was dead wrong. Just because most people who came here were already at their limit that didn''t mean that very assumption was applicable to everyone who came to his floor. He had no idea this kid had learnt everything in a single day and was still getting accustomed to his findings! What Ares was using now wasn''t even half of his maximum... Plus he couldn''t even weave his annihilation magic into it yet... Ares may have had a long road ahead of him in terms of beating Veteran but Veteran was also in the same position. It''s just that his ''long road'' of facing Ares got more bumpy the longer he travelled on it. He couldn''t see the road bumps just yet but he was going to start stumbling over them eventually...


    Ares put his best foot forward, mentally prepared himself, and gave Veteran permission to start the trial! "Ok, I''m rea..."


    BANG


    The last thing Ares saw before he was punched out of the room and sent tumbling into the stairwell was a rapidly enlarging fist. Veteran had jumped him so fast Ares hadn''t even seen the beatdown coming but he sure as hell felt it when his face partially caved inward. His brain was rattled and he was seeing stars as he rolled down some of the steps and into the wall. He grabbed onto the window sill above him to pull himself up as he sorted out his memories... At which point he realised something utterly ridiculous... Veteran''s cultivation had been adjusted to make the fight fair... And yet... The guy didn''t have any cultivation whatsoever! Ares was at mental accumulation 5th realm and the pagoda judged that, in order to make the fight ''fair'', Veteran''s cultivation needed to go entirely... And it wasn''t wrong! Ares had gotten his ass beat in a way he''d never experienced before. Even Sadie hadn''t been this rough. It was a losing battle despite the fact he was five whole realms ahead of his opponent! What nonsense was this?! 55 stages of cultivation up on Veteran and he was still getting his shit pushed in?! Granted they were early stages on the cultivation path but still! Even without Ares being able to use his destruction magic, surely this was a bit much?... No wonder this floor had been described as a shock to the system, this was incomprehensible and completely undermined the concept of cultivation to begin with! Why even cultivate if mastering pressure was this valuable!? Of course combining the two was optimal but someone needed to tell Veteran that, clearly... This guy was a monster... If he had all his pillar affiliations and his original cultivation on top of his pressure... Wouldn''t this guy basically be the strongest man in the universe?! He''d lost an arm but that was clearly no hindrance to him whatsoever. It was debatable whether he even knew he lost the damn thing, that was how little difference it made.


    Ares managed to stand but was immediately assaulted again by Veteran''s boot which was already kicking Ares'' face before he could even raise his arms to block.


    BANG


    Shatter


    Ares was blasted through the window and out above the cold streets under the glow of the moon. He was about to try and twist his body to land but, before he could, he saw Veteran dash past him in mid air and grab Ares by the cape. Veteran gripped onto a nearby lamp post and spun around it, chucking Ares back into the building through the window above the floor he was previously on. Ares back ached and he was covered in broken glass as he lay on the floor, confused and dizzy.


    Crash


    Above him, Veteran had just come barrelling through another window and jumped down the middle of the stairwell, aiming for Ares'' head with a dive kick. Outside he must have used the lamp to gain more height and jumped to the floor above. From their he utilised the stairwell to crush the opponent beneath him. This guy was way too good at fighting under these bizarre circumstances and he was clearly acclimated to this environment. Ares was not going to have the advantage if tried to fight anywhere other than wide open spaces, that was for sure.


    Ares rolled to the side to dodge the dive kick aimed at his head but didn''t have time to do anything about the follow-up kick that broke his ribcage and pushed him into the centre of the stairwell. As he started plummeting face first to the floor he felt the air above his back bending and contorting unnaturally so he made a desperate attempt to cling to a nearby banister and move out the way. As he grasped the rail closest to him he immediately thanked his quick decision making because Veteran had gone crashing down to the floor behind him...


    BBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG


    Veteran''s strike shook the entire building. If Ares hadn''t dodged he would have been on the receiving end of that attack and crushed into a pancake underneath Veteran''s boot... This was all getting a bit too hectic for Ares who had yet to even throw a single punch! This guy was way too quick and powerful to make even a dent on just yet so Ares needed to, at least, gather his wits about him and rethink his approach. To that end, Ares started climbing up the stairwell through the middle in a bid to go hide on another floor higher up. His ascent was quick as his parkour skills had been honed in Red Sun''s streets and the aid of his Stygian Zephyr as a platform made his life that much easier but, when he finally decided to stop on one of the floors, and when he moved forward to jump over the railing... He felt a hand grasp his leg... "Ah fuck me..." Ares was yanked back down by Veteran who''d caught up to him with the greatest of ease. Once again, Ares was falling but, this time, he had a boot planted firmly on his chest and there was no getting rid of it. He didn''t have enough strength to lift it or escape from under it so his end was nigh. It was an ironic end too because he''d brought it upon himself. If he hadn''t tried to scram away from Veteran he wouldn''t have given the guy more height to kill him with! If he''d just bloody chased Veteran down to the first floor at least the guy would have had to beat him to death instead of this instant-kill Ares was about to suffer... He could have learnt so much brawling with a superior opponent and now he was just wasting his attempt! Ares saw the shattered windows pass him by on his right and he knew there were only a few milliseconds left until he went splat like roadkill so, if nothing else, he decided to fire of an attack in his last moments. A single golden bullet of pressure, using all 100% of his reserves, was fired upward...


    What happened after that? Ares had no idea because he was unceremoniously booted out of the pagoda. He just kinda popped up outside the building with a somewhat startled expression. He did just get stomped to death from, like, the fourteenth floor of a building so being a bit out of it was to be expected. He was going to have nightmares about falling out of trees today, he could feel it...


    Ares noticed Peppy? and Loris were gone so he had no interest in talking to any other Transmit employees, not that he cared much for Loris either to be fair. He was an alright guy, just a bit... a LOT slow. Ares shook his head and left as it was time to go back and host the banquet. He would come back here every day from now on until the deed was done!


    Meanwhile, inside the pagoda on the fifth trial stage, Veteran was climbing the stairs back up to the third floor of the high-rise where he liked to rest against the wall. It was where he slumped in victory after killing his brother many moons ago so he had a bit of a connection with it. Right now though, something else was on his mind... Literally! He had a bullet in his brain! And it stung like hell too... It didn''t kill him, or even really come close, but it hurt and was incredibly annoying. Still, despite it being a relatively harmless injury to someone like Veteran he couldn''t help but be impressed. Most people who entered this floor just exploded from the first punch and never returned to try again. The average performance of a first timer was pretty dull because no one ever expected what he had in store for them. But more than any of that, up until now, no one had ever injured him on their first attempt. People were usually too panicky to fight back as they scrambled away from him until they died without retaliating, so for this kid to have mustered the willpower to shoot him in his final moments was respect worthy. Also, the bullet having that much firepower was no joke! Veteran''s earlier analysis of the kid was right, he was going places. Maybe with a bit of training he might even be a fun match for Veteran who hadn''t felt the thrill of an actual challenge in a long time. Even the Gods hadn''t put up much of a fight but maybe this kid could? Maybe he wasn''t giving fundamental champions enough credit... To be fair, he really knew nothing about them as they were nothing more than rumours in the wind during his time.


    Veteran took a seat and dislodged the bullet by tapping it out of his head, almost as if he was trying to get pennies out of a jar. Out of sheer curiosity, he decided to inspect the thing...


    ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????


    Veteran dropped the bullet and threw up blood all over it on the floor. He had a cold sweat and shivers in his spine after that hellish experience... Hesitantly, he picked up the bullet again but didn''t delve deep into it because obviously that was suicidal... This kid clearly had a metric ton of pressure at his disposal... Way more than Veteran did anyway. He was a bit taken aback by the ordeal but he calmed down when he realised the kid wouldn''t have access to it all for his enhancement... There was no way the kid achieved all 100% during his first enhancement when he himself had failed to do so. Even Veteran, the world''s greatest pressure manipulator throughout all of history, had struggled to achieve 80% and couldn''t break that threshold. It was a shame the kid would waste so much of his pressure but that was just life... Or so Veteran thought to himself. Oh how wrong he was. Oh how very wrong.

 Chapter 151: Paying a Visit to Three Non-Human Elders

    Returning to the sect in a jiffy was a breeze for Ares thanks to his Voidwalk so he still had a bit of time to spare before going back home. He figured he may as well pay Lizzy, Dabble, and Julio all a visit to see how things were going. In his spare time he still contributed to all three departments but it had been a while since he last visited due to his busy schedule. It was only going to get more busy with the pagoda, though, so if there was anything he could assist them with he should really get it over and done with now lest they be made to wait for however many days until Ares was free again.


    First up was Lizzy in the technical department. He had an update for her regarding Echoes, after all! Being able to mix them with pressure was a pretty big deal even if only Ares specifically could also imbue his annihilation mana into it. It''s not something any of the disciples in this sect would be able to do, as they were still early on in their cultivation journeys and yet to even touch pressure, but some of the elders could maybe give this upgrade a swing. In particular Rud stood a decent chance of being able to utilise this art properly. He''d heard rumours that Rud had gotten really good with Echoes so buddy Ruddy would be overjoyed with this development no doubt. Still, first and foremost came Lizzy as she could help Ares write down the details and check for any flaws in his art. She wasn''t as well versed in pressure as Ares was though as he''d become an expert in the stuff and now outclassed most people in Red Sun in terms of knowledge about pressure. Still, no one knew their way around a technical like her so her input was valuable nonetheless.


    Ares entered the department and passed by some of the disciples he was familiar with, including the guy he''d sent to the infirmary way earlier. The snooty fellow still flinched the second he saw Ares but all of the hostility was long gone. After the incident he''d wisely taken a more docile approach to Ares. Every time Ares made the news in some way, and disciples went about whispering his achievements, this guy became more and more tempted to go dig a hole and become a mole man hiding under the earth. He''d made a huge mistake! Thankfully Ares didn''t give him any trouble afterwards but that didn''t alleviate the fear that he one day would.


    Ares eventually found Lizzy in her own room near the very back of the building. He hadn''t spent much time around her lately so he had no idea what she was up to or working on but she did seem invested in something. He waited patiently until she was done analysing something, and rather fastidiously at that, under a magnifying glass before he walked further into the room and gave a wave. He checked what was on the table in front of Lizzy and saw a glove with a runic inscription on it. Ares activated Omniscience and nearly did a triple take on the spot! Not because of the glove, it was, for the most part, a completely normal glove. The rune on it was a way to use Echoes without the cultivator themself needing to know it. For lack of a better term, it was essentially an Echo enabler. A clever invention and pretty valuable too. But no, that wasn''t what took Ares by surprise. What threw him for a loop was the giant lizard tail coming out of Lizzy! She was a skrank lizzle! A shapeshifting reptile! Hiding it made a lot of sense considering how utterly despised lizzles were. Enough to get beaten up on sight in some places, even. Ares was mostly surprised because he somehow hadn''t found this out before! With his Omniscience it was clear as day but, then again, since obtaining the Prisms he''d never used them around Lizzy. "Hey Lizzy, cool tail!"


    "Huh?!" Lizzy''s neck almost snapped in two as her head spun backwards to look down at her rear. She thought she''d accidentally been walking with her tail out and that would have been a real nightmare. She was confused, though, when she turned around and couldn''t for the life of her see it. Her disguise was up and running all right, she''d confirmed it herself just now, so how could this guy see it! "Yo! Arestotle, how''d ya see my taily?"


    "Omniscience. If anything it''s weird I''m only seeing it now, I''ve had this art for quite a while now... Let me guess, say nothing about this to anyone and keep my lips sealed on the matter?"


    "Wouldya? The elders are all up to speed on the matter but none of the disciples are aware. I think it''s better if as few people as possible know just cause my race is troublesome with a capital T. If the kiddos know there''s a shapeshifter out and about in the sect it''ll cause some real paranoia and I may be kicked out ''cos of it. Heh, would be kinda funny, though, watching everyone be on edge when talking to their buddies and neighbours. I mean I''d never actually transform into anybody else but people wouldn''t trust me anyway and I get it... Well, I tried messing around with people back in my hometown once but that was when I was a tiny lizzle and looking to play around, ya know? It didn''t really wok out for me super well ''cos everyone in the village was a skrank. People were quick to realise and they even started messing with me in return! Ah they were a funny lot. Could be a real buncha jerks sometimes but they were alright around fellow skranks for the most part."


    "I''ve heard a lot of negative things about lizzles but your the only one I''ve ever met. Can''t help but think the rumours are overexaggerated to an unreasonable degree."


    "Nah, not really. I appreciate the thought but most lizzles are right cunts. My grandaddy was a good one though and he took care of me. Not sure if I should be mentioning this but, seeing as how it''s you and what not, I think it''ll be ok. My grandaddy came from the other side of the severed domain. He was born in Dueuer and lived there with my parents for a long while but something happened there that he didn''t like and, when he found out about it, he complained. Said the lizzles had really crossed a line in some way and he didn''t agree with it not one bit but they didn''t want to listen to him or undo it. He didn''t try and convince them ''cos they were stubborn as molasses so he left and snuck me out with him ''cos he thought I''d live a better life if I weren''t involved with their plotting and scheming. During his travels he got sucked up into the severed passageway but, luckily, he and I survived it. I was pretty young but I remember the twisting spiral of red space like the back of my hand. It felt funny drifting through it, like my whole body was ten times heavier and a thousand times lighter. I''m guessing that''s the nothingness you use, right? Real funky stuff. Trippy as balls! Anyhow, grandaddy made it and quietly swore to himself, and I quote, ''never to do that shit again''. As a kid I liked a thrill so I asked him if we could go through it again and the look on his face was priceless! But yeah, he put distance between himself and that passage, so much so he skipped an entire domain and wound up here in Sheryashka, He still lives in Red Sun but remains low key so as not to spook anyone. He''s from Dueuer so his cultivation ain''t no joke. Grandaddy''s basically as strong as the matriarchs of the four major Vraizon clans... Plus he makes a mean sandwich!"


    "Sandwich? Oh shit, is your grandad Fixer?!"


    "Oh? You know him? Sweet. he did mention some kid that had been helping him out here and there a few years back, I guess that was you then? Huh, small world Agares, small world."


    "You''re telling me that sandwich guy is as powerful as the matriarchs?! My worldview has been shattered... But his sandwiches really are good..."


    "I know right?! Maybe I should go and get one for dinner... It''s been a couple days since I saw the coot and talking about his food got me real in the mood for some. Yeah, methinks I''ll do that when I''m done here. Speaking of this place, it''s been rare to see you around as of late. Must be busy with training for the tournament and such, I take it?"


    "You ''take it'' correctly. Ah but things are only gonna get worse from here on out, and I don''t mean ''cos of my schedule. I''m challenging the fifth floor of the pressure pagoda nonstop until I beat it and I won''t be out for a while. I wanted to check up on the department elders that I''m familiar with, maybe dump some cool stuffs on you here and there, and let you all know I''mma be off the radar for a bit. No communication ''till I return. Nada. Zilch. Zero."


    "Fair''s fair. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go."


    "I''m not going potty Lizzy... Or are you taking the piss?!"


    "Hehe, who knows? Anyways, what good goods ya got for me this time? You wouldn''t get my hopes up by telling me you got some juicy info on your hands and then turn up empty would ya? never had ya pegged as a dud so spill it!"


    "We~ll, I may or may not have a way of improving Echoes!"


    "No?! For reals? Yo Rudge is gonna have a field day when his ears catch wind of this! You should see him practicing Echoes. He''s like a puppy with a new squeaky toy! If he learns he can improve it the old badger might actually wear a smile for the first time in his miserable life!"


    "No kidding... But yeah, I found a way of improving it! There''s also something only I can do but that''s just bloodline and fundamental pillar nonsense."


    "Ah I see. Saviour of the world privilege, yeah?"


    "Something of the sort. Still, the underlying principle is usable by anyone. So, you got some time to spare for a bit of testing?"


    "Do I? Do I ever! I was just fiddling with this glove but that can wait! Should I raise a brick wall for the demonstration?"


    "Uh, I think you''re gonna need a steal one at bare minimum. This thing hits H.A.R.D. Especially if I use my version."


    "Oh wowser, that strong? You ain''t been messing around these last couple o'' days, huh?" Lizzy smacked a few buttons on the underside of her desk and a steel wall raised up from a rectangular hole in the ground. Ares walked up to it and turned to Lizzy.


    "I''ll use the normal version for now and restrain myself a bit so as not to blow this wall to smithereens. I can demonstrate my unique version after if you''re interested but that will definitely need a stronger wall even if I hold back." Ares turned to the slab of steel, spun his shoulders, and clicked his knuckles. This wall was gonna get it! Ares had a bit of resentment pent up after having to let go of Candy and then getting his ass beat less than five minutes later so this was a good opportunity to fire off some stress relievers. "Echo!" Ares swung out with a silver coated fist and crashed his hand into the poor wall.


    BANG


    A massive dent formed in the centre of the wall and cracks ran along the entirety of the wall. If Ares had hit it it any harder this thing would have shattered into tiny pieces under the weight of his fist. Lizzy clapped her hands and her eyes sparkled in delight. She could see it! The silver pressure! Incorporating pressure was the answer!... Although it was hard. Not many people could wield pressure to begin with but mixing physical pressure with arts was no easy task... Still, this was good! Right out the gate Lizzy had already noticed a few key points and was excitedly jotting down her observations. It seemed like this would go on for quite a bit so Ares strapped in for the ride and prepared himself. Obviously he wouldn''t let this go on for too long as he had other places to be, and if Lizzy was dead set on her sandwich then so did she, but they could get everything important out of the way today at least. The process, the art tome''s first iteration, a few important adjustments to reduce mana cost and so on so forth. Although Ares would go on to show his own version there was no way Lizzy could help with that due to how far out of her wheelhouse it was. On the bright side, any changes made to Echo also directly affected Annihilation Echo anyway so Ares had no reason to complain!


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    About thirty minutes later and the clock was ticking for Ares to go back. He still had one more stop to make, two if he was unlucky, so he needed to wrap things up here. As they were done with everything they wanted to do this wasn''t a problem so Ares bid Lizzy goodbye and wished her luck on her tests with Echo as she would be experimenting on that from now on. There was a non-zero chance she''d make some big adjustments by the time he was out of the pagoda so it would be worth checking in with her again down the line. At minimum the elders would have learnt this new form of Echo without a shadow of a doubt.


    And with that, he took his leave!... Well he did also thank Lizzy for the cameras Enyo had gotten off her so she could capture ''all sorts of memories with Ares'', in her own words. To Enyo''s credit, Ares had yet to see the hidden cameras anywhere so they weren''t distracting or anything. When the woman had even set them up Ares didn''t know but she absolutely had. Enyo had 1000% recorded their first time. Hell Ares was pretty sure she still had the blood-stained covers in one of her spatial rings... He offered to clean it and she nearly bit his head off. At this rate he was worried she would stick the entire bed in there for posterity when they moved. Thankfully, though, she wasn''t that crazy and she''d promised him he wouldn''t... Although it may only have been because they would need a bigger bed in the future to enable everyone sleeping on it together. The bed would need to facilitate ten people sleeping on it at any given time and Ares had no idea what on earth kind of bed he was going to have search high and low for... He might even have to craft it himself at some point in the future... Actually, now that he''d thought that, he kinda wanted to make it an artifact if he could... Might as well, right? Anyway that was a problem for future Ares to deal with, right now he was headed to Dabble''s forge!


    As he arrived, Ares put his hands together in prayer. His prayers were answered not in the form of a Godly being whispering esoteric truths into his ear but rather the sound of a bickering elf and dwarf which meant Ares had been saved a second trip! He needn''t go to the rune department as Julio was already here and that was fantastic news! Ares went inside the forge while fanning himself to reduce the heat somewhat. It was a relatively hot day and being in here with all the furnaces was not helping. In fact, Ares even pulled out the Bane and used the Cold Caller rune to lower the temperature and that worked wonders for him. Some of the disciple forgers even tried forming a mini conga line behind Ares to catch some fresh air before they fainted from the overwhelming stuffiness in the building. They would have gone outside for fresh air but not only was it hot out there too, they also couldn''t very well leave their creations mid-construction! Some of them could depending on the stage of manufacturing but most were not in a position to leave their artifacts and experiments for longer than a minute or two. Pied piper Ares was easy to spot from a distance so Dabble and Julio knew he was coming... But there as a third elder here who smacked his forehead when he saw the gremlin that haunted him in his nightmares arrive. Ares saw this person and greeted him with a grin. "Buddy Ruddy!"


    "fuck off fuddy duddy." Rud spat.


    "Hahaha, it''s good to see you too! It really has been too long."


    "As per usual, not long enough. What do you want with me you foul demon?"


    "Oh wow, so mean. I come bearing gifts and this is how you repay me? Or rather I wasn''t even looking for you specifically to begin with! A chance encounter, and I have good news, and yet still you shun me? I must really live rent free in that brain of yours, huh?"


    "Regrettably, I must admit you do. I''m still trying to figure out what to do with that infernal mecha-dryad by the way. You just dumped that mechanical monster on me and I''ve found nowhere to put it since!"


    "Why not shove it up your ass?"


    "You''re a roach, you know that?"


    "Not the first time I''ve been called a cockroach, so yes actually I do know that. Anyway if you want my suggestion, Serene might be interested in the mecha-dryads and she''s been hanging around the sect fairly often. I overheard her mentioning the creatures at a banquet that I was hosting the other day so you may be in luck."


    "I wouldn''t need luck if you didn''t exist, brat."


    "Ah but, if I didn''t exist... How would you have ever learnt Echoes? Or better yet, how would you have ever have had the chance to learn the upgraded version of Echoes that I just invented earlier today?"


    "... You''re fucking with me... I don''t believe you!" Rud folded his arms and glared at Ares because he genuinely believed the runt was messing with him.


    Ares shrugged and walked over to a nearby wall. "Annihilation Echo." His fist shot straight through the wall and even the building next door wasn''t spared as a giant hole formed in the wall of that too. "Oh and that was me holding back. If I used my full power I would have been able to topple the next door building. Of course that''s my version of it, the standard upgrade isn''t quite as powerful. Still, even an old, whiny codger with one foot in the grave such as yourself ought to get some mileage out of this bad boy."


    "... Shit, alright you dastardly brat, you got me. I''m in. What is it and where can I learn it."


    "It''s manners and you can learn it here and now."


    "... P... P..." Rud almost bit his tongue in frustration but eventually caved because the art was more important to him. He''d dedicated a lot of time and effort into mastering this art and he was probably better at wielding it than even Ares. It had become a staple part of his approach to combat so learning this was non-negotiable. Also he really should have said these words from the start but seeing Ares'' smug smile made him want to bang his head against a wall instead... "Please... And tha... Thank you... Fuck, where can I learn it? I''ve given you what you want, you sick bastard, so hold up your end of the deal."


    "Alright alright, don''t get your knickers in a twist I''ll tell you. It''s a trick that imbues Echoes with physical pressure. I can imbue it with annihilation mana but that''s my own unique bloodline so don''t even waste your time trying to recreate it. You can go learn it from Lizzy as she''s working on the tome. I think she''ll have the basic, first go around, done already if you go look for her now. She''s still got room to improve upon it though and she''ll have a better version by the end of the week if you''re patient. Still, learning the basics for now ought to be helpful so you should go do that."


    "Oh believe me I will. The sooner I get away from you the better." Rud turned to the other two elders, who had gone back to their own argument a short while ago, and stopped their fight by calling out to them. "Dabble, Julio! I appreciate you working on this request. I know it''s last minute but it''ll be good publicity for the sect. Once again, thank you. If you need any assistance... Well you''ve told me good things about that brat so put him to use... And maybe sew his mouth shut for everyone else''s sake while you''re at it. Anyway, I look forward to your results. Until then gentlemen. Goodbye for now." Rud said his piece and then left... While making sure to smack Ares'' head as he walked by. His evil laugh could be heard as it faded away into the distance and Ares just sighed. He and Rud got along like cats and dogs...


    Ares walked over to Julio and patted him on the shoulder. "Julio! Boy have I got some good news for you!"


    "NO!" Julio swiped away Ares'' hand and took a kung fu stance. "NUH UH BUCKO! I remember your last piece of good news and that stupid Omniscience has been haunting me since! It was terrible news. Terrible!"


    "Man, why are all you elderly folk all so on edge today? I just got to learn some runemancy from a woman who lives in the realm of Gods, or at least close to it anyway. She has such profound runemancy talents compared to anything I''ve ever seen before and I here I figured I could share it with the number one elf currently residing in this sect!"


    "... You mean it?"


    "Yeah, of course! I mean the only other elves here are Serene and Mako. You''re easily the favourite. I don''t know Serene well and I do know Mako well so I can say it with certainty. Come o~n, free runes? No strings attached? Going once? Going twice?"


    "I''m sold! Gimme gimme! I''ve been bored outta my skull lately ''cos Dabble''s been dabblin'' in some weird garbage and babblin'' ''bout it too instead of forging me some good old artifacts. If you''ve really got some incredible runes tucked away it''ll be something for me to distract myself with until my services are needed by tiny and grumpy over here." Julio pointed his finger downward and poked Dabble on the top of his skull.


    "Hmph." Dabble gruffly snorted as he swiped Julio''s finger away. "Ignore ''em laddie. Julio''s goin'' a wee bit loopy ''cos I''ve been busy with what Rud asked of me. Julio''s involved too ''e jus'' ain''t involved yet until I hand over my end of teh work. Those runes o'' yours ought to keep ''im quiet like a baby with a brand new dummy. Tho'' in this ''ere case I''m pre~ety sure ''e''s the only dummy."


    "Who you callin'' dummy, dummy? That''s it! From now your name is Dumb Dummy Dabble!"


    "... Yes..." Ares decided to interrupt this argument so as not to be forced to sit here forever listening to these two go back and forth like a married couple. "... Well, if dumb and dumber are done dumbing it up, I''ve got some runes with your name on ''em."


    Julio looked at Dabble and stuck out his tongue. "You''re definitely dumber!"


    With a kiss of his teeth and a short growl Dabble fired back with a perfectly salient point. "''ow can I be dumber if I''m Dumb Dummy Dabble, you stoopid elf?! Laddie was clearly calling you the moron ''ere ya blithering nincompoop!"


    "Alright Dumber Than Dumb Dummy Dabble. I''ve heard enough outta you! Ares, let''s put the grumpy gremlin aside for now. Mind if I take a looksie at them there runes?"


    "Sure thing." Ares had made a copy of the runes in preparation for this so he could hand them over without needing to fret about getting them back from this manic elf down the road. Getting his plate back from Sadie or his runes back from Julio... Ares wasn''t sure which was the harder task... Either way he passed over the notes and Julio took one look before scurrying away while yelling ''WOOHOO'' at the top of his lungs. Dabble bowed his head to Ares, thankful the laddie had found a way of removing the pointy menace from his abode.


    "Good job laddie. Peace has returned to my realm ''n'' ye are its saviour."


    "Surely you jest, my liege? Anyway, fantasy aside, whatcha cookin'' up? What''s Rud got you slaving away over?"


    "Ah that? Tis some goods for teh international. See I was toyin'' around with that one pillow design you and me worked on a while back. One o'' the disciples in this ''ere forge is teh son o'' a nobleman who took an interest in teh pillows, so I made some to order... Without teh images on ''em tho''. Jus'' teh hot ''n'' cold runes. Rumours got out an''now all teh other nobles ''ere for teh competition also want in on teh action. Some o'' ''em even want images o'' famous celebrities on ''em... Not my job to question it but I do still gotta make ''em. Rud managed to sell me services for a high price so tho'' it''s a wee bit demeanin'' it''s good for the sect''s coffers. I woulda made multiple batches by now if it weren''t for teh nobles having personalised requests each. Som'' want duck feathers, som'' want memory foam. List''s never endin'' I tell ye. Good practice tho, so it ain''t teh end o'' the world."


    "... I''ve been gone from this place for a week and you''re making body pillows for nobles... Maybe Julio was right... Maybe you really are a pervert... Gotta keep those dummies away from you WAIT! YOU ARE A DUMMY! IT''S TOO LATEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"


    Sigh


    "I see ye''ve been infected by Julio''s stupidity. Teh pointy menace has transcended and is spreading his idiocy to those in ''is proximity... Look laddie, business is business. Might as well get som'' extra stardust at this time of year, eh?"


    "Oh for sure, I''m not judging. Where there''s a product, there''s a market. I guess I''m just surprised you aren''t making artifacts. I would have thought they''d be in higher demand. Guess not. Who can tell what rich people are thinking... Hell I had a decent chunk of stardust once and I went to an auction and bought a seed with it so I''m not one to talk... I even almost spent the rest of it on lingerie... Wait a minute... Am I the rich spendthrift? Oh no! I''ve lived long enough to see myself become the villain!"


    "Laddie, ye were always teh villain."


    "Oh... Yeah. Good point. Anyway, got a bit side-tracked there, as for why I''m here... Well tiny man, I have a theory!"


    "For teh last time, I ain''t tiny! I''m a dwarf!"


    "Whatever you say Mr Tiny Dwarf. But in all seriousness, have you ever done pressure enhancement?"


    "No, I''ve not. Why?"


    "''Cos I noticed something when I was learning how..."


    "Ye know pressure enhancement?! That''s incredible laddie! Congrats!"


    "... Ah, thanks. It was quite the pain but I got it in the end. Anyway, my point is that in order to enhance yourself with pressure..., You have to merge it with your flesh... Catch my drift?"


    "... Aye! I see. Ye''ve already been doin'' mergin'' so if this is linked ye could maybe imbue artifacts with pressure?! I''ve ne''er heard anything quite like it so let''s give it a go, eh?"


    "Sounds good to me, beardy. Sounds good to me."

 Chapter 152: Hell Hath No Fury Like a Blo Blo Scorned

    Down to Dabble''s personal forge Ares descended. He was very familiar with this brick staircase as he''d traversed it more than just a few times since he''d first arrived at this sect... Actually, now that he thought about it, when he first arrived at the sect and he took the entrance trial... Rud used pressure on him! Ares should have squashed Rud earlier like a bug when he was here as payback! Ah well, too little too late. Rud could escape Ares'' wrath and revenge for today.


    As Ares reached the bottom step, Dabble put a few tables together as he asked him a question. "So laddie. Got any ideas ''bout how to make this work? Ne''er done anything o'' the sort before so I don''t know where to start. Figured maybe ye''d have an inkling or two ''bout...


    "Mana. MANA. M.A.N.A. ?? <---- This stuff!"


    "The hell was that noise ye just made?... Anyway... Mana eh?"


    "Yeah, trust me, if there''s one thing I learnt while climbing that damn pagoda, it''s that mana is required at basically every step whenever pressure is involved. It''s the fix to 99% of your pressure problems so don''t bother wasting your time on any other solutions. Also mana is how you merge pressure with your flesh for enhancement to begin with so if that isn''t the way to do it then it might as well be impossible." Ares hopped down off the last step of the stairs and moved over to the cluster of tables. To start with, Dabble whipped out a plain steel ingot and gestured for Ares to give it a shot... Whatever ''it'' was exactly. Briefly, Ares considered whether he should even bother attempting to use physical pressure but he decided that would be an exercise in futility. Physical pressure was very good at going through stuff, as in making holes in solid objects, but merging likely wasn''t in the cards. Instead, Ares brought about some ethereal pressure, the weight kind, and hovered it directly above the ingot.


    Now there were three options: Should he wield mana freely and push it down without any external aid, should he push it down with mana coating his hand, or should he turn the mana into magic and push it down that way? All three seemed equally viable so Ares just picked one at random and went for it. As for which route he chose, he started with option number three because he had a hunch and most of his guesses recently had been correct. He was on fire when it came to pressure!


    Ares shaped some annihilation mana into magic, even though it was a pain in the ass, because he assumed his bloodline might actually make this a bit easier. He couldn''t use disintegration as that might actually obliterate the pressure and nothingness might merge it accidentally the easy way. Ares was pretty certain nothingness would enable this idea without a sweat but he wasn''t doing this for his sake, it was for Dabble. This was something even Dabble could learn to do if Ares paved the path so cheating with nothingness wasn''t in the cards just yet, although he would absolutely do it that way in the future if ever he needed to. So no disintegration and no nothingness... Which left Ares with a hammer forged of annihilation mana after much hassle... This hammer was seriously going to explode the second he used it, wasn''t it? Ares was starting to realise that, if this method was correct, he would literally have to cheat and use nothingness because he couldn''t create an actual, non-exploding, or non-disintegrating hammer without it... Damn you destruction pillar! Que sera, sera. Ares dissolved the magic hammer and asked Dabble to do it in his stead after explaining his conundrum, to which Dabble chuckled at Ares'' misfortune before doing as asked.


    Dabble''s hammer looked almost real but, then again, he was a blacksmith and his pillar was pretty much born to do this so it was understandable that his attempt was leagues above Ares''. The hammer came swinging down onto the steel ingot as Ares kept the pressure steady ever so slightly above it.


    ...


    ...


    Ares had expected to hear a Clang of confirmation but all he got was the sound of a struggling dwarf huffing and puffing as he put his all into pushing down his hammer. Maybe Ares had used too much pressure? He did have pretty significant quantity of the stuff so maybe he should tone it down for Dabble''s sake... When he was doing it on his own later he could go hog wild thanks to nothingness, though, so he wasn''t too disappointed. If anything it was Dabble that should be regretful as it would be his creations that had lower quality overall than Ares''. Still, imbuing pressure meant his creations would be a step above what they were prior anyway. Complaining about lost efficiency when the average amount of quality he would be gaining was putting the cart before the horse. Also Dabble could improve his pressure control or his cultivation in his own time and have an easier time of things. This was something he needed to learn to do on his own without Ares'' pressure being readily available as the laddie was going to disappear from the sect often as he went on all kinds of adventures.


    Ares slowly kept lowering the pressure he was leaking and he could tell Dabble was getting closer to smacking the stuff into the ingot. Dabble was also sweating buckets but Ares didn''t blame the guy what with the roaring forge in the background practically spitting fire like a magma demon. Eventually Ares brought down his pressure to about 10% and, finally...


    CLANG


    Dabble collapsed on the spot and Ares couldn''t help but look on over with a smug grin. This was precisely what he''d gone through in the tower, with extra agony sprinkled in, and the guy couldn''t even handle 1/10th of it for a fraction of the time Ares had suffered! Comparisons were odious but man did they make him feel proud of himself! Sucks to suck, little man! A bit of ego here and there never killed anyone so Ares celebrated his accomplishment in his head while Dabble struggled to his feet to scrutinise and analyse his handiwork down to the last detail. Sure enough, the pressure was now trapped inside the ingot, which meant Ares 1-in-3 guess had been correct! What a day today had been! Although, to be fair, Ares had just gone with the approach that cost him the most mana... Was Ares lucky, or was he just really good at noticing extremely obvious patterns... On a related note, he also seemed to be the only person in this universe even slightly bothered by how strikingly thematically accurate most people''s names were! Everyone else kept dismissing him whenever he brought it up! Seriously! Even the woman who turned Ares'' heart into a gem was called Gemma for Christ''s sake! Whenever Ares tried to bring it up, and he was promptly ignored, he felt like he was living in a mad-world so he just stopped caring about it all... Even if it was incredibly hard not to notice.


    Eventually, Dabble looked up from the ingot and gave Ares a big thumbs up. "Laddie, this ''ere is incredible! This steel ingot, if I sold teh thing, would be worth ten times its usual asking price! It''s solidity is mind-blowing compared teh usual! If I made an artifact outta this ''ere bad boy it would become something extraordinary, I''m sure of it. I cannae do it quickly, ''cos I gotta work on teh pillows and this would take a while anyway, so feel free to come back in a week''s time or so. I''ll let ye know what'' I''ve discovered then. I''m guessing ye wanna add pressure to yer own artifacts but I would recommend holdin'' on ''till I understand this process entirely. Would nae wanna break yer precious items now would ye?"


    "Fair enough. I feel like nothingness would allow me to merge it safely but there''s no reason to take that risk if you''re willing to do a deep dive into what this entails. Sorry to drop this on you when you''re so busy and all but I figured it might help you create better gear in the long run."


    "Aye, yer right laddie. No need te apologise, I''m truly grateful. This''ll likely spur me on to start learning ''bout pressure again. Teh sect will appreciate this in due time, I''m sure of it."


    "As am I. If it works I''ll be sure to incorporate the technique into the gear I make for the sect later on. Speaking of which, how''s that all been coming along anyway? I''ve made a lot of weapons and armour over the last month or so but I haven''t really kept up with the disciples to see if they''re satisfied or not... Well I could always hazard a guess. Not to brag but that gear was all high value."


    "Yea, you''re right laddie. Nothin'' but nonstop praise as far as I''m hearin''. Lots of disciples talkin'' ''bout life and death situations ''n'' how yer gear saved their hides. course not everyone''s so lucky but that''s their fault te begin with. Generally people respect yer work a great deal and are appreciative. Yer gear and Shock Beads have raised our sect up a tier in the overall standings; that''s the consensus anyway. Lot o'' people who are startin'' out in their cultivation journey wanna start here for all teh benefits you provide. Other sects wouldn''t have the safety guarantee for younger cultivators that yer stuff does. We''ve seen an uptick in requests to join since the international started and that''s only teh start o'' things. With every passing day, and e''ry match won, we get more ''n'' more potential disciples. Even some possible elder and core disciple candidates showin'' up to our doorstep. Rud''ll ne''er say it but he''s grateful to ye laddie. We all are. ye might be a bit of a devil e''ry now and then but me thinks ye''ll make a good sect leader one day."


    "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I''m not sure I can handle official legislation and documentation and stuff, but if it''s just a matter of making the sect stronger overall, safer, and boosting its reputation then that I can do at least. And the sooner I start the better so knowing things are already in motion is wonderful news. Thanks for keeping an ear to the ground." Ares gave a small salute as he started to walk back to the staircase. "I''ll be seeing you around but not for a while. When I''m done with the pagoda I''ll come check in with you if you aren''t still busy, so see you then."


    "See you laddie. OH! And also, thanks fer gettin'' Julio new runes te play wit''. He was feelin'' a bit down in the dumps ''cos ''e wasn''t chosen to make the training field for teh competition. He was last year but they ''pparently found another guy for it this time around and so teh pointy menace cried like a wuss. Felt bad ''cos I''ve a use this year and ''e doesn''t. Not really anyway. You should maybe check in with him too when ye come back, he''s got nothin'' else to do and might make some interesting discoveries what with all the time he''s got on ''is hands."


    "Huh, poor guy. Well I''ll pay him a visit too then... If he isn''t already here when I get back anyway. I tend to run into him at this place quite often so we''ll see. Anyway, goodbye for now!" This time for real Ares went to leave the building but not before having the Black Ice Bane cool it down a bit for the disciple forgers upstairs. One of them even got down on both knees and started worshipping Ares which was funny for all of two seconds before Ares felt awkward and wanted to leave. It was starting to spread that Ares would save the world and be a God in the future thanks to his fundamental pillar and this loon had clearly taken it too literally. Ares wasn''t in the habit of granting wishes, no sir! He was a revenant in a human body, not a genie in a lamp! Granted the guy was mostly just thankful for the cool air but Ares could tell there would be actual religious worshipers in his future at some point. Quite frankly, he had no idea what to do about these people... At least Ares could kill his cultists in peace... If the worshippers were harmless then at most he could disappoint them and try to get them to leave his ''faith'' by being a waste of space... That or making endless amounts of puns, that would probably get rid of most them... But what about the people who remained? What if his religion turned into a bunch of people going around ''spreading laughter'' with shitty dad jokes?! Wouldn''t that be even worse?! People might actually detest his worshippers more than his cultists if that came to pass... What a nightmare...


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Ares left the building to the cheers of the still-sweaty-but-not-nearly-as-much disciple forgers and started walking home. He could Shift but he still had a few minutes until everyone was expected to start arriving and so he figured he would enjoy some piece and quiet until then. Ares was a smart cookie who knew that if he returned know Enyo might actually seriously try and squeeze him dry in the few minutes available to her... His own home had become a death-trap of debauchery! Though he had no one to blame for that other than himself. He did leave Enyo high and very dry in the morning so it was really just a mix of karma and comeuppance coming back to bite him in the ass... Knowing Enyo, maybe even literally!


    Ares strolled back and watched other disciples scrambling around to do this or that. Running around to complete sect missions, help prepare for various international related tasks, or just get to their respective lectures on time. Ares hadn''t gone to any from his sect tier leader but, then again, what was really the point? Because of his unique situation he really didn''t get anything out of them and he was typically learning way more by going out and doing his own thing. The pressure pagoda was more valuable to Ares than anything Alaine had to teach and, most importantly of all, Enyo would chew him out if he dared going anywhere near that, quote unquote, ''homewrecker''. Ares was still receiving some stardust weekly thanks to his fifth tier status but it was spare change when compared to the amount Enyo spent at My Fair Lady... Ares being poor as dirt was unfathomable considering his talents and skillset but that was fine. The most important things in the cultivation world tended to be free. Tombs, events like the pressure pagoda, and dangerous lands typically housed the best treasures and resources you could find so stardust be damned!... Not that he wouldn''t mind having some to spare but that was where his earlier bet with the betting brothers would come in and tide him over for now.


    As he was nearing his house, Ares came across Fate who was also on her way there. He walked up behind her and covered her eyes. "Guess who!"


    "Ugh, dumb dog Ares?" Although it couldn''t be seen, Ares could feel in his bones that Fate''s eyes were rolling underneath his hands.


    "Correct! We have a winner! Your reward is a bunch of head pats!" With a smile, Ares lightly pet Fate who bit her lip in order to prevent herself form smiling in public at such a ''silly'' gesture. Her pouting did nothing to make anyone believe she wasn''t having fun though but that just made her all the more cute to every onlooker. Ares chuckled to himself as he walked around to her front and knelt down a bit while jutting out his back. "Climb aboard my cute sister, I shall carry you!"


    "..." Fate narrowed her eyes as she stared at her brother''s back... The temptation or the embarrassment, which feeling inside her would win over the other? It was a gruelling battle and victory seemed to sway in both directions from moment to moment... Eventually, with a gulp and a flushed face, she hopped onboard the Ares train and leant on his back. As he stood her world view shifted upwards by a couple of feet and now she knew what it was like to be tall! It was worth it for just this alone if nothing else! Not that she''d ever admit to it though. Admit to that and/or having ''fun'' with her dumb dog brother. Not that she needed to admit it for Ares to know; he wasn''t psychic or anything it''s just that Fate was not as subtle as she thought she was. Of course the irony that she was an excellent spy with an atrocious poker face was not lost on Ares as he carried her around. Ares even took a detour to make the trip last longer but Fate started steering him by gripping his hair and pulling him in the right direction before long.


    When they reached the house, Ares opened the front door, went into the living room, and paraded Fate around while jokingly yelling that he''d picked up a lost child. Calla took many photos while Fate banged on Ares'' head with her balled fists in an attempt to get him to put her down! Ares was called many names by the time Fate''s feet were finally on the floor again, all of which seemed to insinuate Ares was not highly intelligent. That seemed to be a specialty of Fate and her vocabulary was quite astounding when it came to calling Ares a moron.


    Ares had a look around the living room but, surprisingly, a bunch of people were missing. He thought he''d heard a commotion in the back garden when he arrived earlier but it settled down so Ares had stuck to annoying Fate. Now that he was done with that though he could still hear some faint arguing from the rear side of the house and thus he decided to go take a gander. No arguing in his house!... Technically they weren''t in the house but that wasn''t the point! Happy family only! Dysfunctional was acceptable but happiness was required!


    Ares opened the back door and tacitly understood the cause of the kerfuffle. Aejaz was getting his just desserts. See Zhang had shown up for the first time in a while and, evidently, he''d sniffed out the fact that Trixie''s intentions in this household were not pure. It was painfully obvious to him which just made Zhang want to beat Aejaz for being so woefully oblivious. Then again Zhang wanted to beat Aejaz for a multitude of reasons and he had a list ten miles long of excuses to validate his current actions. While Aejaz was being throttled by his father in law, Trixie and Allie were actually getting along somewhat as they watched it all happen. They must have agreed that Aejaz deserved this even if he''d only unintentionally brought about this situation. Nonetheless this idiot would probably finally learn today what all the fuss was about when Zhang calmed down and explained it to him in the simplest terms possible as though Aejaz were a five year old. Ares got a good laugh out of watching his brother get kicked around by Zhang, especially after he''d been in this exact position himself back in the snatcher town at one point. What goes around comes around! Hahahah...


    DOOM


    ... Hahaha? Ares'' gloating was cut short when devil incarnate appeared behind him. Ares had incorrectly assumed Enyo''s wrath had been quelled fully earlier but clearly there was still a ''tinge''... Just a ''smudge'' still remaining... To think he''d been laughing about his brother''s woman woes just a second ago and now this... What goes around comes around?


    "Uh, dear dearest? Sweety sweetest?" Ares turned around only to find out it wasn''t Enyo behind him... It was Bellona!... Why were their ''I''m mad auras'' identical?! Ares decided not to dwell on it because right now it seemed like he had explaining to do and he didn''t even know why! Ares had come to understand that having a wife meant this would be a common occurrence, and with two wives it would happen twice as much... He looked Bellona in the eye, bowed his head, and apologised with insincere sincerity. "Bellona, I have no idea how or when I wronged you but I am deeply sorry for the things you think I''ve done that I may or may not have actually done."


    THWACK


    Bellona gave Ares a headbutt and that seemed to alleviate most of her anger. Why this woman resorted to physical violence when mad was beyond him but Ares knew better than to question it. Bellona poked Ares in the chest repeatedly as she went on her rant. "Ares! So glad you finally came back home after finding another wife! And here I thought you were just going to spend all day and night with her. You''re in a real good mood so you must have had fun with her right? Yeah no I''m not jealous at all, after all we''ve spent so much time together OH WAIT! NO! We haven''t! We haven''t spent much time together at all you idiot!"


    "Oh boy, look, Bellona it''s not what you''re thinking. We didn''t sleep together or anything... But yes we did have fun playing around with one another during the course of the trial. I''m sorry to have to tell you that I enjoyed my time with another woman but I won''t lie to you, I had a blast with her. I''m not saying what I''m about to say to try and smooth things over but I''ve sworn to myself to dedicate some more time to you whenever I''m able. Things have been busy lately, and they likely still will be because of the tournament, but any spare time I have belongs to you from now on, ok? I''m also not trying to make it up to you just because I feel guilty but rather because I understand now that all my relationships going forward will be important to me and that includes ours. Ours not reaching the point it should have already is a failure on my end and I accept that. Make no mistake though I do still love you, that wasn''t a lie. I meant it when I said it and I still do. I would never have progressed to the point I did with Candy if it hadn''t been a matter of circumstance. My time with her was limited and things had to move quickly in that small window we had together. I hate that it had to happen that way because of the situation it put you in, but I don''t regret it either because it needed to go down that way. You have every right to be annoyed I ''prioritised'' Candy but please understand none of this was planned. Don''t feel left by the wayside just because I''m an idiot. I''ve yet to fully grasp what it means to be the head of this harem. I don''t know how to properly spread out my attention and time and I know I need to figure that out before I make you feel any worse. I get it and I''m sorry but please show me some leniency? If I could choose, you know things would never have even gotten to this point."


    "Tsk, yeah yeah. Fine. For the umpteen billionth time I''ll be the tolerant and patient one and go back to waiting by myself while every other woman gets to have fun with you... I''m sorry... I know you''re trying and my sarcasm is unnecessary but it sucks, you know? I said I''d be ok with not being the favourite and I am but I never thought it would entail being ignored to this extent... Ah shit I''m sorry again... I didn''t mean that, I know you aren''t ignoring me either. It''s just hard not to be upset about it all! You''re trying but you''re an idiot so how hard you try doesn''t even matter!... Ah crap I''m sorry again... Man I don''t even know how to speak to you anymore. My emotions are a mess and the only thing on my mind is headbutting you again! I mean seriously, our longest interaction was in the bed that one time! It lasted even longer than our dance for fuck''s sake! Not that I''m not flattered you found my flat self attractive for once, instead of constantly bashing it, but really?! Where''s the romance damnit!"


    Thwack


    Bellona headbutt Ares again and made him see stars.


    Thud


    This time it was Enyo who attacked Bellona! A swift palm to the top of the dome brought Bellona back to her sense, quelled any remaining desire for violence in her, and helped her clear her thoughts. She scratched her ear, the motion of which got quicker as she grew more frustrated. "AH! This is annoying! Screw words! I want you to make it up to me with your actions Ares and I don''t care how you do it! That''s all, you''re forgiven in advance!"


    "No I''m not." Ares shook his head... And saw some more stars as he probably should have recuperated before doing that... "Don''t make leeway for me, I don''t find it helpful. We can go back to normal, and you don''t have to be mad about this situation anymore, but don''t forgive me until you have a reason to. I don''t know how I''m going to make it up to you just yet but I''ll find a way, I promise you... In a week''s time!"


    "Are you fucking kidding me?!"


    "Wait, lemme explain!"


    "NUH UH! You know what? I''m done playing nice, it''s time for you to really regret your actions for once!"


    Ares had no idea what was in store for him but, based on the way Bellona was stomping into the house, it was not going to be pleasant...

 Chapter 153: Uninvited Guests Are Often Most Welcome When They Leave

    "Uh, Enyo, you know I have to clear the pagoda as soon as possible in case Candy''s life is in danger, right? Like, I have to do this now right? I''m not going crazy am I?"


    Enyo sighed deeply. "No, but there is a thing called tact. Had you explained that to Bellona properly instead of making a pseudo ''inside joke'' about it then you wouldn''t have to suffer through whatever it is she has planned for you. I do not pity you nor do I fell sympathy."


    Bellona returned and Ares winced immediately. He didn''t know what her end goal was but she''d done something extremely concerning! She''d brought Appa! Ares always lost to Appa! Bellona pointed at Ares in an exaggerated fashion as she knelt down next to Appa. "Appa! Do it we like we planned! Use Crocodile Tears!"


    Appa floated forward until it was in front of Ares and looked up at him as mental essence slid out of its eye sockets. Sniff "Dad? It''s been so long since we''ve spent time together... Do you not love me anymore?" Sniff "I wanted to cuddle with you tonight but now you aren''t going to be here?" Sniff "It... It''s ok dad... I''ll sleep by myself... It''s ok if you don''t love me anymore... WAAHHHHHHHH!" Appa''s new art under the cuteness aspect, which allowed it to bring forth a flood of fake tears at will and inspire guilt in its target in preparation for a Shame On You, brought Ares to his knees in under a second.


    Ares bowed his head until it hit the floor before looking up at his daughter and begging. "Appa! Sweetie! Please don''t cry, I''ll do anything! You want a pony? A unicorn?! TEN?! I''ll stay tonight! You can have all the cuddles in the world just please don''t cry anymore!"


    Sniff "Really?" Sniff


    "Of course! I will sleep by your side until the sun comes up and no sooner will I stop!"


    "Yay! Hehehe, we win Bellona! Now we can all sleep together tonight!"


    "Eh? ''All''?"


    "Yep! Me, you, and mummy Bellona!"


    ".... I see what the point of this was now... And I see how she roped you into it..."


    "Mhm! Bellona is clever! She also asked me to do this... Sorry dad, but you''ve been bad again!"


    "Hm?... WAIT! NO! DON''T FREEZE ME AGA..."


    Crackle


    Ares had been expecting this from the start but when Appa started crying he figured things wouldn''t end up this way... He''d been frozen when he least expected it! The distraction had been a massive success... Actually every part of Bellona''s plan had been a success. How long had she been plotting this for?!... Then again, if she felt she needed to rope Appa into this just to get Ares'' attention maybe things were really bad after all... Maybe Ares would be fine to take one night off? Candy''s clone had been in the pagoda for years and, although things were definitely getting worse by the minute with her real self, surely one extra night wouldn''t make much of a difference? Ares would just have to hope that was true... Still, he would be firm with Bellona and explain the situation to her so she could understand why he was so determined to revisit the pagoda instead of spending time with her. He would make it up to her after and she was going to have to accept the delayed reparations whether she liked it or not. As for right now... Well he wanted to get out of the damn ice encasing! The drama between Aejaz and Zhang was still unfolding and he wanted to watch! Not that he technically couldn''t from behind the wall of ice but he couldn''t really hear properly so that was a bummer. Ares simply assumed he would have to thaw out the old fashioned way and be patient but, to his surprise, a minute or so later Bellona melted the ice with her magic. Apparently Enyo had explained the Candy situation to her, in full this time, while Ares was in the ice and she felt bad for jumping to conclusions. She still wasn''t happy but she was far more tolerant of the status quo and she forgave Ares for his actions... Not his words though! This idiot needed to learn to speak clearly and not make jokes of everything when serious conversations were being had!


    Now that Ares was out, he could hear everything between Aejaz and Zhang and, oh boy, what a time to regain the ability to hear. It looked like Zhang had just dealt the lethal blow and made clear to his brother what was really going on with Trixie! Ares couldn''t help but laugh at Aejaz as he dumbly looked between Allie, Trixie, and Zhang. When looking at Allie he had a nervous ''I didn''t do nuffin!'' kinda look. When his head shifted to Trixie his face practically screamed ''really?! REALLY?!''. Last but not least was Zhang and Aejaz reserved his ''I swear I had nothing to do with this'' look for him. Aejaz really put a lot of effort into that last one because a part of him must have realised Zhang was the biggest obstacle to leaving this back garden with his gonads still intact. Ares couldn''t help but buckle over with laughter when Aejaz finally turned to him and mouthed the word ''HELP'' with a tear in his eye. Ares slowly mouthed the word ''NO'' and went back to cackling on the side-lines. Aejaz had no way out! He was trapped between a triangle of mixed emotions from the two ladies and Ares was dying to see how his brother would get out of this mess! Things were getting good!


    Knock Knock


    "Ah son of a bitch..." And thus Ares'' fun was ruined! He was about to whip out some popcorn for his fellow spectators and himself but now he was being dragged away from the live performance to go and open the door for his guests... How unfortunate... But maybe if he was quick he could make it back in time to see the ending? All he had to do was let the person in and usher them to the living room... Ares went back into the house and opened the front door to find...


    Slam


    Ares shut the door and started walking away! If it wasn''t his siblings, he wasn''t letting them in! Especially not that person, no sir!


    Knocknocknocknocknock


    ... He''s just going to keep doing that until I let him in, isn''t he?


    KnocknocknocknocknockKnocknocknocknocknockKnocknocknocknocknockKnocknocknocknocknock


    "ALRIGHT. AL-FUCKING-RIGHT!" Ares wanted to pull his hair out and scream because, lately, he couldn''t seem to get rid of this person. He went to compete in the tournament? This person was watching him. He hosted a banquet? This person showed up uninvited, TWICE! Hell if Ares wanted to go toilet this person would probably already be in there waiting for him just to annoy him with the usual petty bullshit! Ares banged his head against the door before opening it back up and looking Mako square in the face... He needed to see him again at some point to send him to Golgo but it didn''t have to be today!... Actually, maybe this was a good opportunity? If Ares played his cards right, maybe he could convince Mako to go there now!? It meant the conversation was going to drag on for a while, and Ares would likely miss the back garden bonanza at this rate, but if it got rid of this guy who was inevitably going to chase him around his house for the rest of the day and pester him then maybe it was worth it. Ares was hosting a banquet, not an elven day-care here! "You! I am not in a good mood right now so either get your ass in here or keep it out there forever!"


    "Whoa whoa whoa! What''s with the hostility?! I just came to keep an eye on the competition, what''s gotten into you?!"


    Nothing really but Ares kept up the act. The more Ares seemed to be bothered for by what he was about to say, the more Mako would want to accomplish what Ares couldn''t and rub it in his face down the line. Ares wasn''t even remotely mad... Well he did kind of want to slap Mako in the face for being serious when he said he was here to check out the competition... This guy needed to go and live life instead of being so bogged down by Ares, this was ridiculous behaviour! "I got my ass beat that''s what! Who''d be in a good mood after a one-sided beatdown?! Do I look a masochist to you?! Why? Are you a sadist?... Actually that reminds me of Sado and Maso... I wonder how they''re doing? WAIT! NO! I DON''T CARE! I''M MAD RIGHT NOW! VERY MAD!"


    "You lost a fight?! How dare you, you blithering idiot! You are a fundamental champion and you lost? Think about the repercussions to our reputation! Who the hell did you lose to anyway... If they''re strong I want to go and assert my dominance... Unless they''re more than two cultivation realms higher than me. I have an ego, not a death wish."


    "You know that pagoda that''s leaking all the pressure?"


    "Uh, yeah, I saw it a while ago. No idea what it is though. I mean I can hazard a guess but I''ve never been up close and personal with the thing. Why? Did you get your ass beat in some kind of trial?"


    "Yes. Yes I did. A trial that is clearly impossible no matter who you are! Even a fundamental cham[ion such as you or I definitely won''t be able to do it! Probably just there to scam people out of money, honestly. Well the last floor anyway, the ones before it are fine... Actually. you need to go there at some point yourself. There''s a guy on the third floor called Golgo working with the organisation aiding the fundamental champions. He wants info about you to take back outside. Also I have a note for you to give him so it''s not really optional. As for how you''ll get to the third floor... Not my problem. learn the basics of pressure you shmuck."


    "Ok... Your attitude seriously took a turn halfway through that explanation..." Mako was holding up his hands in a bid to try and slow Ares'' rambling down "That organisation has a guy in the pagoda? If it''s a consciousness fragment how are they planning on getting it back? When the pagoda is completed? It must be doable then you idiot! Clearly it''s not a scam if it can and has to be done! I bet it''s easy for a fundamental too... Whatever, you know what? I''ll go and do it right now. How long did you spend there?"


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "I pretty much just got back less than an hour ago and I left as the sun started to peek out of the horizon. Basically the whole day. Why?"


    "You took the whole day?! Fuck me you might actually be more useless than I expected you to be... And here I thought our competition might be a fair fight... Tsk, you disappoint me Ares. You should go and train instead of hosting banquets if even some shitty pagoda can do you in. I''ll go and be back before the banquets over! Give me that note or whatever and I''ll hand it over to... Golgo? The hell kinda name is Golgo anyway?"


    "... Just wait to you hear the name he gives you..."


    "What was that?"


    "Nothing! here you are!" Ares handed over a note that Mako promptly read despite not getting permission from Ares to do so. In all fairness if Ares had sealed it in an envelope or something and asked Mako not to he probably wouldn''t have. It was right there though so Mako assumed Ares didn''t care about privacy regarding the note. The note, summed up, was basically asking the organisation to act as a mouthpiece and make an official statement regarding a woman named Candy who was to be Ares'' wife. It was for the sake of her safety so he wanted to aid the foxian despite not being in a position to do so. All he needed was to attach his name to hers so Mako assumed the organisation would be more than happy to speak up about it. That was doubly true considering the fact that Ares emphasised his willingness to work for them like a dog in exchange. Clearly this woman meant a lot to him but now Mako was doubly confused. He looked at Ares with a piercing side eye before asking for clarification.


    "Another wife? I thought you already had two?"


    "Buddy, I got nine in my future, don''t sweat the small stuff."


    "NINE?! In what universe is two... Three, not enough? Again you''re wasting your damn time on irrelevant bullshit instead of training. You are a lazy playboy and your only redeeming quality is the fact you can cook a half decent soup. For crying out loud... I hope the other fundamentals aren''t like this! Or rather, I hope the destruction pillar retracts its support for you. Clearly you aren''t taking this seriously and I refuse to believe there aren''t any better options out there than you!"


    "... Have you ever been in a relationship?"


    "No?"


    "Ah, you and I really are completely different. I guess we just have different priorities. You can''t understand mine because you''ve never been in my shoes but let me make it clear to you I''m not messing around, not when it comes to family. You might not think what''s happening in my life involving Candy is a big deal but that''s because you have no idea what you''re talking about. As for being a lazy cultivator, if you want a good fight you''ll get one so maybe you shouldn''t be so judgemental until you''ve actually beaten me because, as things stand, let me tell you a little secret. You can''t beat me! After visiting that pagoda today I have become stronger than even Enyo and I''m not even halfway done improving yet. So which one of us is messing around exactly? You keep chasing my tail and showing up unannounced at my house to spy on me but I''m the only one making any actual progress while you waste your time, aren''t I? I don''t have to train for you, you need to catch up to me. So go to the pagoda and pay attention because you''ll need all the help you can get. Oh and, you wanna know why I''m so much stronger than you? Because there are things I want to protect. Go find love before you judge me for doing precisely that! Maybe then you''d understand just how hollow what you''re chasing is. You want to be the world''s strongest, right? You want something you don''t currently have, I want to keep the things I do have. Which one of do you think would die for his cause? You have the drive, I''ll give you that, but you don''t have the resolve or the purpose. So don''t worry about me and what path I''m taking, noodle arms, go and sort yourself out!"


    "Noodle arms!? You rat bastard! Alright, watch me! I''ll be back before you know it and when I''ve completed that pagoda in your stead you can remind me just how you''ll go about protecting your family with your meagre strength!" Mako huffed and puffed as he started storming off to go and pay the pagoda a visit. Terros shook his head... Well he was a ball so it was more akin to rotating side to side but the intent behind his gesture was clear as day to Ares who was chuckling to himself in amusement.


    Terros turned to Ares and groaned, "Why must you always rile him up like this? I was rather quite looking forward to having more of your food today... What a shame..."


    "Ah, I''ll make it up to you. I''m experimenting with some food for Enyo and I''ll let you be my guinea pig... Not in a bad way! Like, as in you''re actually the only person I can ask for help with this... Ah but it''s a prototype right now so I''ll send you some via Transmit down the line."


    "And it''s not poison?"


    "Not as far as I''m aware? No but in all seriousness I really have to rely on you for this. I''ve got no one else so I''d really appreciate it. Also you get to try probably the best dish I''ll ever make so.... Win win?"


    "No strings attached? No revenant bullshit around the corner?"


    "Nope. Nada!"


    "Alright, count me tentatively in. If you mess with me even once I''m out though!"


    "Ah come on, I''m being straight with you here. I really can''t afford to screw you. I can''t even taste my own dish so it really has to be you..."


    "... Should I even ask?"


    "Nah... I can send you an explanation alongside the first attempt if you''re really curious but for now you should probably catch up with Mako before he realises he''s forgotten his lucky pebble. I didn''t put on my greatest acting chops to get rid of him only for him to come right back not even five minutes later..."


    "Still an asshole I see. Before I go I do have one more question."


    "Shoot."


    "Are you really incapable of beating the pagoda? Mako will get to the final floor quickly, he has his own advantages in life and he''s found his fair share of treasures... But there''s no way he''ll beat it. I know what lies on the top floor and, well, he really is a bit of a noodle arms... Veteran will beat his ass mercilessly. Even if Mako achieved 100% pressure enhancement I still don''t think he could beat him. And yet this Golgo fellow seems to be expecting a return ticket back to whence he came which must mean you''re the intended victor, are you not?"


    "I am and I will be, yes."


    "How? I''ve seen that floor and there are plenty of geniuses who couldn''t make even a dent in it. What is it you have up your sleeve exactly? I won''t tell Mako if you don''t want me to, of course."


    "I don''t really mind, my only goal was to get rid of him for a while. Long story short there are four things. I have Dominus'' pressure bloodline. My pressure reserve is in my heart so the amount and quality is extraordinary. I have a unique bloodline myself that lets me merge annihilation mana with my pressure. And finally, and this is the big one, I have 100% pressure enhancement ready and raring to go after I''ve trained a bit."


    "100%?! By God... That''s astounding! And I can only imagine how absurd your pressure must be after mixing it with fundamental mana... I understand now... It seems Veteran''s reign of terror over the pagoda is going to come to an end. I wonder if that fellow has found what he''s searching for after all this time?"


    "Not yet but when I tell him I can help him he will have..."


    "Figures. If anything could destroy his brother''s magic it would be yours... I have a suggestion."


    "I''m all ears... Unlike you who has none to speak of anyway."


    "You cant'' resist not being a prick for two minutes, can you?... Whatever, my advice to you is to request Veteran also weigh in on the ''Candy'' situation. He''ll be more than happy to lend you his name if you promise to aid him. Or rather that will just be the start of it. Lending his name is trivial so you might as well throw in that stipulation when bargaining with him. The more safety nets you can put up, the more likely you are to catch the anti-magic rat God in one of them. I''d heard he''d taken interest in a somewhat famous foxian so I''m assuming this matter is one and the same? Anyway, if you need to dissuade a God, Veteran is a good method of doing it. I can also send word back to my main body and have it keep tabs on him to prevent any untoward or underhanded sleight of hand on his part... Provided you actually send me that food you''re promising me and you don''t play some childish prank on me, at least."


    "I''m incredibly grateful but why go to the hassle? Quarrelling, even indirectly, with another God must be troublesome?"


    "Two main reason. One, you are a fundamental champion. I would rather you focus on Xhilihx than getting revenge on the anti-magic God because of something stupid he did that angered you. If I can prevent that the world will be that much safer because of it. Also, reason two, the man is a piece of shit. I am not the only God who has attempted to pick fights with him on the off-chance he falls for the bait and we get to kill him. He''s always plotting to overthrow this or that and we''re all fed up with him. The sooner he dies the better everyone''s lives will be. He has no allies amongst the Gods but we have no reason to justify murdering him and there would be pushback if we outright did. A matter like this is a good opportunity for us and if he slips up on it we can pounce his stupid self."


    "I see... This anti-magic God seems real good at making enemies... Anyway, I also have another guy called Caribou Coronos who might be willing to stick his neck out. You know the guy?"


    "Caribou? He''s a bit of a living legend that one. More powerful than a fair few Gods but rarely willing to make appearances. I believe the followers of Astraeus are on the verge of war with, unsurprisingly, the null legion, so he might show up to that and make a few heads roll. All in all I''d say things are looking pretty good for this Candy individual. Some of the biggest names out there vouching for her will do her good. More importantly, if you can have all these big shots come out and say they''ve formed something of an alliance with you that will also bolster your own reputation. God knows it will come in handy considering how much the destruction cultists have done to besmirch it... Real annoying bastards they are. Then again, like cultist, like God..."


    "Yeah I''ll have to do something about them too. Disavowing them publicly is a good start until I can start weeding them out. Anywho, thanks for your assistance oh mighty rock."


    "I can''t tell if you''re pulling my leg or not but at least you aren''t calling me a pebble anymore so I''ll take it. Goodbye for now and we''ll be seeing you later. Please keep some food on the side for us, thank you."


    "Will Mako really get to the top floor that fast? If he can I might actually be a little impressed..."


    "Again, every cultivator has had their own adventures and gained their own advantages because of it. Have you ever heard of the herb that makes it easier to learn pressure enhancement?"


    "Vaguely from Dominus."


    "Well Mako has two of them at his disposal. I told him to keep them for now until he had a chance to learn how to use pressure so he ought to speed through the early stages of the pagoda once he finds his footing. He obviously won''t end up with 100% enhancement like you but he ought to be able to crack 80% and beat Veteran''s record number too at least. A real shame it''s wasted on him though... If he were better in physical fights he might actually stand a chance... Alas... Still, he might try and stay there forever so I''ll be sure to tell him about our discussion when I think he''s been there long enough. I don''t want to be there all night when I could be here eating food. Sorry in advance if he comes back and annoys you, it''s pretty much your fault anyway."


    "Yeah, understandable. I''ll take what quiet and peace I can get for now at least. Again, thanks for everything. Good luck with that insufferable elf."


    "Goodbye, insufferable revenant."


    As Terros floated away Ares couldn''t help but admit the stupid pebble got him good with his final remark! Terros had won this time but Ares would be back!


    Eagerton and Edgerton, who''d also shown up for today''s banquet after hearing many a good thing from their mother, decided not to question why Ares was menacingly waving his fist at a floating rock... Some questions were just better left unanswered...

 Chapter 154: Greetings and Headbutt Beatings

    Ares had heard enough about Edgerton from his brother and mother to have a rough idea about the guy but this was his first time actually meeting him. He was actually quite surprised he even showed up for a shindig like this as Ares took him for the kinda guy that would rather be performing over in Musicians Wanted. Still, a guest was a guest... Although if this guy told Ares his favourite dish was ''cigarettes'' he was getting kicked out of the house! Then again he couldn''t be much worse than his brother, the spiritual lyrical miracle individual with a habitual syllable rhyming ritual.


    "Ares! Going even a day without seeing my muse''s magic is a fate most tragic!"


    "Yep, there it is..." Ares just shook his head and welcomed the predictable penman into his house. "And you must be his brother, Edgerton. Can''t say I envy you having lived with this guy all your life. I can only imagine what it must have been like having bed time stories read to you when you were children only for this whacko to bust out the literary analysis on why humpty dumpty could be read as allegory for an incompetent modern society."


    "You''re joking but he did something similar once." Edgerton shuddered as he recalled an incident from a while back. "He actually critiqued our mother''s ability to recount a story. Told her she wasn''t a ''raconteur'' and that her ''emphasis on certain story beats was lacking''. Can you believe it? This guy was somehow more pompous as a kid than he is now... Guess growing up around critics who done the same to him in kind set him straight, thank God. Could you imagine current Eagerton but worse?"


    "Oh please..." Eagerton butt into the conversation as he wasn''t going to take this ribbing lying down. "It''s no secret that mother''s never been one for eloquent elaboration or expert narrative navigation."


    "Yep, there''s that infernal rhyming again." Ares was this close to smacking Eagerton to see if maybe he could accidentally hit a reset button or something. This record was broken! It just kept repeating the same literary techniques over and over again! And what? Ares was just supposed to stop noticing and not bring it up?! Ah whatever, Ares had better things to do than sit here and mince words with this cursed wordsmith who composed in cursive!... Ah shit, now he''d caught the literary bug too... "Tsk, Eagerton get in already and stop being a nuisance."


    "What did I do?" Eagerton looked taken aback, and rightfully so! He really hadn''t done anything but, as was common with this man, his mere presence had warped Ares'' brain and driven him to cross his eyes and dot his t''s.


    "I''ll tell you what you didn''t do! Get inside!" Ares pushed Eagerton in and gestured for Edgerton to follow. Ares was about to close the door but he suddenly stopped halfway through and poked his head out with a ''gotcha!'' look on his face. He knew this song and dance like the back of his hand after last time! This wasn''t gonna go down the same way, nuh uh. He wasn''t going to close the door only for someone to show up literally seconds after! Haha, and would you look at that?! There was Scar, dragging an unwilling Venus to the front of his house! Ares: 1, Universe: 0! Unless you were counting last time, in which case the score was most definitely not in Ares'' favour...


    "Venus..." Ares could hear the tiredness in Scar''s voice and before the man even finished his next sentence Ares could guess why..." ... They were about to call the guards on you. No matter how you look at it, a person hovering by the side of a group of playing children while drooling over herself is nothing but a creep. Besides, I already told you what we we''re doing today and it''s non-negotiable so stop resisting. Look, there''s Ares. He might even have a gift for you depending on how yesterday went. If you really must chase little boys around town then do it tomorrow. One day off your perverse pursuits will not be the end of the world."


    "Tsk. Just when I discover a prime shota hunting spot... Curse you elder brother, curse you! We have the rest of our lives to get to know each other! Shotas are not immortal! Their youth burns bright but not for long. What a tragedy... I will make it my mission to find a means of reverse aging! Be it art or treasure I will return all men to their rightful state! No scraggly beards, no bulky muscles, no deep voices, none of it! Ares!" Venus escaped from Scar''s grasp and dashed up to the door. She had a tinge of hope in her eyes so he decided to give his sister the good, but also highly questionable, news.


    "I do in fact have a piece of Phobos'' clothing. Bribing you with it to attend my banquet feels weird but if this is what it takes so be it." Ares brought out the article in question, Phobos'' belt, and handed it over to a squealing Venus who rubbed the belt against her face repeatedly. She breathed in the scent of leather with an intoxicated expression.


    "Ohhhhh. I hope I get to spank him with this one day... Until then, I''ll just have to do it to myself... Alright Ares, good job! I officially consider you a brother of mine! You have completed your task admirably and produced a result I am very pleased with! If you seek more of my praise then, by all means, keep bringing me offerings such as these!"


    Do I regret doing this? I think I do? Maybe a little? Maybe a lot? maybe Phobos is better with Palioxis after all? Ah whatever, these lunatics can sort it all out themselves. I''ve done my part on both ends and my involvement with this garbage love triangle ends here. Besides, I''m way more interested in my brother''s love triangle in the back garden! "Yes yes you mad woman. Get in the house and go take a seat. I even reserved the chair Phobos sat on for you... Although really I probably shouldn''t have. Enabling you can''t possibly be a good idea but you''re my sister so I feel a compulsion to... Anyway, as long as you don''t try and set up hidden cameras to catch Phobos with in my house, feel free to feel at home."


    "... Damn, how did you know I had cameras on me?"


    "You do?! Alright, that''s it! Hand ''em over! You ain''t getting ''em back until you leave!"


    "Tsk, spoilsport... But all the images on them are mine, you hear me? Mine!"


    "Oh don;t you worry about that Venus, I have zero intention of seeing whatever un-Godly pictures and videos you have on these things! I would sooner bleach my eyes!" Ares confiscated his sister''s spying apparatus before giving her a once over with Omniscience to make sure she wasn''t using magic or a spatial ring to hide anymore. When he felt content he let her in and turned to Scar. "Hey. Thanks for going to the trouble of rounding up Venus. I can''t imagine doing it doesn''t get tiring after a while. I don''t envy being the responsible one in this family."


    "Oh it''s not so bad, really. Venus is the only really difficult one and even then it''s just a matter of finding her. Skyzo is well behaved and Verv only requires a beating to calm down. Fate is the biggest concern but with all the treasures on her she manages even without us there to lend a helping hand... Actually, if anything, keeping Calla and Aster in check is the real struggle. Calla less so because although she has a vicious and malign streak in her she''s usually serious when it counts. Aster on the other hand... Unless he''s mad, don''t expect him to be wearing anything other than a goofy smile on his face at all times."


    "So he''s a real free spirited wild child?"


    "Essentially, yes. He''s also a bit of an idiot... In a weirdly clever way? I can''t really explain it... Perhaps an example would be easier to understand. He once allowed spectators to make a bet on who would win his training spar against me. He made himself the bookie, though, and made it so that the odds on his end were negative. In other words, if you bet on him and won you would owe him more money... Obviously there''s no chance in hell I could beat my father which meant that no matter who you bet on you would walk away with less money than you came along with. Of course all the stardust went to him to and I never saw even a single low grade despite being paraded around like a ragdoll after he whooped my ass. Amazingly enough he actually made decent money off his stupid betting scheme because a lot of our people just didn''t read the damn odds. They saw Aster was fighting and just placed a bet on him without thinking about how convenient it all was...


    Look, no one ever said revenants weren''t occasionally very stupid... And the people on our home planet... They aren''t all the brightest tools in the shed exactly. They have hearts of gold, don''t get me wrong, it''s just that I don''t think some of them could even point to the location of their hearts if they were asked too... Not everyone is like this, mind you, but there''s more than a few who are. As we''re so busy with war, teaching our young is kinda of a hassle. We believe time is the greatest teacher and they''ll learn everything eventually even if it has to be the hard way. Still, the higher you are in the revenant pecking order the better access you have to education. It''s not unfair because it''s primarily based on strength and not connections. Of course the parents themselves can also educate their children if they have the knowledge to do so. Long story short, until the war is over, we aren''t necessarily going to be raising the brightest tools in the shed. Really, that''s actually our biggest problem. That and the fact we have to keep birth-rates down as we''re impossible to cull. Again, the lower you are in the hierarchy the less you''re allowed to expand your family during war time because it''s too many mouths to feed. We don''t need more infantry because we technically have infinite. If we were allowed to live on other planets it wouldn''t be such a big deal and we might ease the birthing restrictions... But you can imagine what would happen to a revenant that tried to go live on the Legion planet?..."


    "Interesting. I mean I thought I was stupid but it turns out there''s a whole ''nother barrel underneath the bottom of the barrel where I reside... A planet full of dumb pooches huh... I''d like to get a look at some point but I''ll save that for when I ascend to Vraizon after I reach transition. I could probably fly up there now with Voidwalk and get used to the feeling of a new domain in a week or so but that''s jumping the gun I feel. Also the further away I stay from Major for now, the better. Well there''s no need to talk about this stuff now anyway, make yourself at home and, by all means, dig through the fridge if you''re hungry or thirsty. I would pour you drinks myself but there''s a real riot going in the back garden and I can''t miss it for the world... If it hasn''t already ended that is..."


    "Alright, I''ll do just that then. Also, thank you for getting something for Venus. She would have been incredibly moody throughout the rest of the banquet if she got nothing in return for being here... Don''t take that personally though, she means well and would never berate you for it."


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    "Well it''s fine either way. She got what she wanted today and it''s today that matters. Not to say we can''t do this again in the future but I imagine you''ll all be leaving the country after the tournament right? Who knows when we''ll have a chance to meet again."


    "Mhm, although I believe every one has different intentions. It''s pretty unanimous that we''ll all be going our separate ways and travelling to different countries and lands but we haven''t decided on where yet. There''s plenty of cultivation opportunities out there and none of us are slouches in that department... Although Venus does take a while to get going as she prioritises places young boys are likely to show up... Still, there''s a none zero chance you''ll bump into us here and there if you plan on doing a bit of travelling yourself. If you see us out in the wild don''t be a stranger."


    "Naturally." Ares let his brother in and turned back to look outside the front door. It was getting a little late and so the chances of the last two arriving soon were high. Ares didn''t even need to bait fate anymore by pretending to close the door! Or so he hoped. If Ares looked beyond the door and there was no one there he might cry a little on the inside...


    THWACK


    "OW! Son of a bitch! What the?..." Struck by an unknown foe, unknown because the strike in question was a point blank headbutt and Ares didn''t have time to check the other person''s facial features, Ares was taken by a surprise and very nearly cast a Grand Annihilation in retaliation.


    "BROTHER! I CRAVE VIOLENCE!"


    "Tsk..." Ares kissed his teeth and glared at Verv. This asshole could have at least made his demands up front before forcing them on him! Who goes around attacking defenceless people? Better yet, defenceless people kind enough to let you into their house! This bastard needed to be taught a lesson! Ares enhanced his head with pressure, and even managed to slip some annihilation in as reducing the overall area Ares needed to focus on made it easier to accomplish this, and returned his brother''s stupid greeting. "BROTHER! I SHALL GIVE YOU MORE VIOLENCE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE!"


    TTTTTTTTTHHHHHWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKK


    Verv stumbled backwards in a daze as blood burst out of every orifice on his face. His head was spinning, figuratively and literally, but still Ares could hear him chuckling in satisfaction beneath the occasional wail of pain. It was as though he couldn''t decide if he was hurt or happy to be hurt and either could take precedence at any given moment. More than anything, Ares was just glad to see his rebuttal had calmed this aggressive dog down a bit. Verv was much more tolerable when he was docile, that was for sure... Also, this guy took the headbutt like a champ! If he were a normal cultivator that attack would have knocked him out flat on the ground! Ares had felt comfortable going a bit overboard because he''d heard that Verv was a tough nut-case to crack. Soaking up punishment, and sleeping it all off, was a specialty of his so Ares had let loose a little. Was using his brother as a punching bag morally correct? well it was about as morally correct as the way Verv greeted him so it evened out!


    "HAHAHA! GOOD ONE BROTHER! IT''S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I FELT SUCH WONDERFUL PAIN!"


    "Uh, I''m glad? You''re welcome? Sorry I''ve never had to talk to a person as... Unique... As you before so I don''t quite know where to take this conversation... Anyway, no fighting inside the house. If you really have to scrap then do it outside."


    "No worries Ares! I promised Scar I wouldn''t try and beat anyone up today! He rarely makes me promise like this so I''ll be good and not cause a scene! My little buddy here will help me keep calm and I won''t ignore him." Verv held aloft the mini lantern dangling around his neck. As if on cue the firefly did a little dance before returning to the lantern and shining brightly.


    "You seem to get along well with that see-through firefly."


    "Oh yeah, she''s a great little friend. Helped me out this one time I got lost in a cave. Apparently I was the strongest thing in there so it chose me to hang onto. I don''t really ''member much about what was in the cave. Definitely left it with a lot of monster blood on me though, I remember that part. Must have gone wild in there and had a free for all with the other creatures. Shame I can''t remember it... That''s why I like fighting you know? ''Cos I don''t usually remember any of it! I want to but can''t, so I try again and again. Always forget though, and it hella sucks! Fighting looks like so much fun but I never get to do it and remember it... I gotta live in the moment, gotta feel the thrill then and there, gotta let the adrenaline rush flow through me to make the bestest memories I can! Maybe one day I''ll get to remember it all too... Maybe... Maybe today? WANNA FIGHT BROTHER?!"


    "What happened to no fighting today?! Look at the firefly again damnit, the firefly!" Ares pointed at the lantern over and over until Verv got the message. He quickly deflated and looked a little tired so Ares just ushered him into the building and secretly prayed Scar would keep this guy in check. Ares felt a bit guilty dumping Verv on Scar like this but, today at least, Ares just didn''t wanna deal with the guy. Maybe if he was anywhere else other than literally inside Ares'' home would Ares be willing to tolerate his mood switches. If he let Verv''s manic bipolar attitude go wild here his home was at risk of being torn to shreds so that was a no go! Scar was well versed in handling Verv so Ares would damn well make use of that!


    And that left one! Actually, it was somewhat surprising that Skyzo wasn''t already here. He didn''t seem like the kind to rock up late to a party... Actually he didn''t seem like the type to rock up to one at all... Still, today was different so he would likely be showing up. Well while Ares was thinking this Skyzo did in fact show up... He literally walked right past Ares like a ghost! No words, no waving hand, not even a nod in his direction! This man very nearly got by Ares completely undetected and it didn''t seem like he was even trying to. Either Ares was really lost in thought or his brother was way too good at being an assassin and Ares had no idea which was the case. "Ah, Skyzo, just in time... So..." Ares smirked as he took a shot in the dark. "... How was the time you just spent with Pele?"


    "... Hmm, you aren''t as dumb as our father. It would seem you have a functioning brain up there even if you pretend not to use it..." Skyzo muttered under his breath. "I was with Pele, yes... And admittedly I probably would have stayed had she not hurried me along and demanded I come here instead. Apologies."


    "No no, that''s quite alright. Don''t let me get in the way of your requited love. I know how important a good relationship is. If anything are you sure you don''t want to go back?"


    "That''s quite alright. I fear Pele might explode on me and go mental if I disobey her... She is a frightening woman sometimes."


    "I see. You could always leave a bit early though. As long as you showed up for a while I''m sure she''d be willing to let it slide... Actually, wasn''t she busy today?"


    "She is, and that''s why I will not be leaving early because it doesn''t really matter. She won''t be hanging around anymore anyway, unfortunately. Besides, I''m looking forward to dinner tonight. It''s been a while since I''ve had my personal favourite dish as none of us siblings are really any good at cooking. We got by on our own but really only barely. We ate out most of the time and any attempts at home cooked food went... Poorly, to put it lightly."


    "Oh? Who was the cook back home? I don''t mean this in a negative way but, based on what I''ve heard of Aster, he definitely doesn''t have the makings of a chef... And I can''t see Calla doing particularly great in the kitchen either..."


    "Calla is unusually good at making hot chocolate and nothing else. Also yes, Aster in the kitchen is a nightmare best not relived or remembered. To this day I still don''t know what he was attempting but, whatever it was, I vividly recall our soup arriving before us frozen. I dared not ask what bizarre concoction his indecipherable brain was trying to whip up. Luckily our clan has a fair few talented chefs, one in particular that works exclusively for the head of the clan and has done his entire life. He has a degree of prestige to his name and he''s extraordinarily talented. I''m guessing you''d like to meet him?"


    "Took the words right outta my mouth. I make it a habit of stealing culinary knowledge from everyone with even a speck of talent to learn from. The more they have the better as far as I''m concerned. Anyway, come in and get comfortable. The food''s nearly ready so I''ll start doling it out the second I finish up eavesdropping on my brother in the back garden."


    "Calla did mention something about a non-blood related brother. I''m guessing it''s that guy that was at the party? The one you stood up for? I also hear he''s an assassin like me. I''m interested in meeting him and seeing what he can do."


    "Uh, I wouldn''t ask for a first hand demonstration if I were you... Unless you don''t have anything valuable on you that you wouldn''t be adverse to losing. He somehow managed to steal from Serene the other day so, don''t take this the wrong way, but I don''t think anyone stands a chance against that kleptomaniac''s thievery."


    "Well now I''m even more curious. Assassins aren''t altogether too common in the cultivation world. Most people tend not to become one even if they have the skillset because it can be quite anxiety inducing. Trying to sneak around without being caught can be a real hassle when you''re starting out, it''s way easier to be the target than the killer ''cos you don''t have to worry about jack shit. It''s partly why I gave up on that approach entirely. It''s so much more relaxing to walk up to the person you want dead and just kill them without a fuss."


    "Is that even classified as ''assassination''? Doesn''t seem like you''re really embodying the spirit..."


    Skyzo shrugged. "I dunno about that. My targets never seem to see it coming. It''s such a ridiculous idea that most people tend to do a double take by which point they''re already dead or about to be. Ah but don''t get me wrong, I''ll usually sneak around at least a little before I do the whole murdering thing. I wouldn''t get very far past the security if I just tried to waltz right past them. Not that I couldn''t kill them too, it''s just that by the time I''m done the main target would have already escaped. It''s more like I get to my target stealthily then go as loud as I possibly can. I even carry a flare gun in case the fight drags on but the guards are deaf or something. Ironically, my targets have a better chance of fending me off if their bodyguards don''t come to their aid thanks to the way my magic works."


    "You get stronger the more people you have looking at you, right? Is there an upper limit?"


    "Yeah but it increases the more my cultivation does. As does the amount of power I get per individual. I spend more time working on my clone magic though, it''s more valuable in case I get stranded in a one on one.... Which is a weird thing for an assassin to complain about, I know, but that''s just how I operate. Anyway, the more clones I can make of my opponent, and the weaker I can make the clones to prevent them from meaningfully interfering, the better. Currently, each clone is roughly 70% as strong as the main target but I know I can lower it. I''m also working on an anti-magic art that prevents all clones in a large radius from using mana. Because of how specific the art is it''s going to be particularly effective when I finally create it. The only problem is that I''m not really sure where to go from there. I can improve the arts but I''ve no idea what to do for new ones which is why I''m interested in that brother of yours... Or I guess ours now. I''m curious if he has any suggestions on how to improve at my trade."


    "Uh, I don''t necessarily know if he''s the best or the worst candidate for what it is you want. He''s not exactly a ''by-the-book'' assassin himself. On one hand he rarely has any good ideas, but on the other he''s incredibly vain so if it''s ideas on how to gather attention that you want then he''s your guy alright. Tell you what, why not come to the garden with me now? I can introduce you to him personally and have him spit out an idea or two. It would do him some good to have an excuse to leave his current predicament so I''m sure he''d be over the moon to talk to you."


    Skyzo bowed his head before entering the house. "Then I thank you in advance."


    "And I apologise in advance. No, seriously, make sure to keep checking your spatial rings..."

 Chapter 155: Skyzo Is Assassin-Aided

    Ares led Skyzo to the back garden and opened the door. Skyzo gave small and quick greetings to everyone else while Ares had Enyo catch him up on the Aejaz situation. Apparently Ares had missed the crucial moment of him confronting both Trixie and Allie after Zhang temporarily let up on him. Aejaz had become a stammering mess when Allie asked him if he wanted Trixie to be a part of his life and, before he could answer, he very nearly fainted when Trixie started asking him if he didn''t want her to be a part of his life. Either way, one answer or the other was going to upset someone and his squirming was supposedly a sight to behold. He wriggled more than a whacky inflatable tube man and stuttered as Golgo would were he to read aloud the sentence ''tutoring in a tutu on Tuesday.'' Trixie bailed him out by planting a kiss on his lips and distracting Allie who picked a fight with her instead. Aejaz was freed from the wrath of Allie and a new course had been set in his romantic life... Albeit without his say so or permission but Ares knew better than to expect to have agency in his love life and that was just something Aejaz was going to have to learn as well. While the catty duo of Allie and Trixie were going at it with one another, hurling insults and derogatory accusations, Zhang demanded a serious conversation with Aejaz and he''d been making him swear repeatedly that Allie was his number one. Aejaz did as was commanded of him to prevent the beatings from returning in full force and that was a summary of everything that Ares needed to be caught up on. Currently, Zhang was talking, at great length, about how he was in the process of getting back together with his own two wives and that Aejaz needed to learn how to be caring of multiple women at the same time... At which point Bellona gave Ares a death glare and very nearly demanded he go and also pay a listen to the lecture. She was clearly trying to tell him something and she was hardly being subtle about it, but that was just one of Bellona''s many charms. Ares liked that she was direct and didn''t force him to go through hoops just to understand what her problem was. If she had one, she would beat him mercilessly and complain to his face!


    In the end, Ares did head over but not for the lecture. His brother was probably going to be trapped by Zhang and forced to listen to him for hours on end at this rate so Ares figured he would bail the poor guy out for now. Zhang would likely stay for the banquet and keep pestering Aejaz later but that was his problem to deal with just as how Ares had to deal with Mako at some point. "Zhang! It''s been a hot minute. I hear you''re getting back together with your wives? Have they changed their minds about the whole Allie thing then?"


    "Hm?" Zhang had been so preoccupied with Aejaz he didn''t notice Ares come creeping up on him. "Ah, yes, now that Allie is older and living her own life they''re more willing to re-enter mine. Our separation was only really a temporary thing and we were still waiting for each other. When Allie moved in here I started going around to check up on them again. Lo and behold, though, I leave for a short while and suddenly Casanova over here is disregarding everything I told him about never finding another woman! I''m not sure if him doing this all unintentionally makes it better or worse! Honestly... How do you put up with this moron? I genuinely believed you were the dumb one, Ares, but it seems I''ve missed the mark entirely. After hearing Trixie''s story I felt sorry for her that someone could be so oblivious... Well whatever. On a somewhat related topic, I''ve heard the rumours that you''ve got nine wives in your future?"


    "Yeah but how do you know that? I get that you''re ''Zhang the quick'' but I thought that was for disseminating rumours, not obtaining them."


    "Oh that? I heard it from Yulo. Because of your fundamental, and future head of the sect, status Yulo wanted all of the elders to be caught up on everything you are and will be. He threw in that bit about the wives at the end as payment for me spreading everything else. Everyone in the sect should either know now or by the end of the week how big a deal you are. The rumours are also spreading in Red Sun which ought to then make their way abroad thanks to the international visitors who''ll take these rumours back with them. Mako''s existence helps with that too because he makes no effort to hide who he is so attaching your name to the reputation he''s already spreading is simple. Anyway, I''m getting side-tracked. You''re gonna have nine wives, right? Can you do me a favour and teach this shmuck about divvying up your time properly and picking a favourite!? I''ve been telling him as such for the last few minutes but his eyes have been glazing over and I don''t think he understands. Hell, I don''t think he''s even listening right now!" Zhang waved his hand in front of Aejaz but the guy had clearly checked out mentally. He''d attempted to zone out during Zhang''s rant and it had worked up until Ares came and distracted Zhang who was now getting a proper look at Aejaz'' current state.


    Ares gave a wry laugh and scratched his chin as he flicked an Echo at his brother to bring him back from la la land... Or tried to anyway... Ares didn''t quite realise it yet because he was starting another conversation with Zhang, but his Echo had been ineffectual! "Uh, Zhang, do you mind if I borrow him for a second? I need him for something and it''s his area of expertise so he''s kind of irreplaceable. You can have him back after and I''ll talk to him about the Trixie situation while I''ve got my mitts on him."


    "... Hm. I wasn''t quite done with the fool just yet but sure. He listens to you way more than he ever will me. That doesn''t mean I''m giving up, mind you! If he thinks he can ignore me then he''ll soon realise the error of his ways! I may be Zhang the quick but I plan on slowly taking my time with this two-timing-son-in-law son-of-a-bitch!... As an aside, in addition to you speaking with Aejaz about this matter, can I also trouble you to make me some food? It''s been a while since I''ve had your cooking and I''m practically chomping at the bit for some. It would be such a waste to come here during a banquet and leave with an empty stomach."


    "Yeah, sure. I''ll come and ask you for your preference in a second when I''m done with this spaced out buffoon." Ares had to flick a second Echo at his brother because the first one didn''t even make a dent in Aejaz. Ares had flicked so many Echoes at Aejaz to grab his attention in recent times that he was starting to become immune! In order to overcome this setback Ares decided he was going to start imbuing his Echoes with annihilation mana! That ought to get a reaction out of the shmuck! Luckily for Aejaz, though, the second normal Echo woke him up out of his stupor so the Annihilation Echo wasn''t deployed just yet. Before Aejaz could wrap his head around what was happening Ares dragged him away to the side and introduced him to Skyzo.


    "Aejaz, this is my brother. Well one of them anyway. Like you, he''s an assassin. Unlike you, he''s a good one."


    Skyzo bowed his head and gave a greeting. "Hello. Given that Ares cherishes you as a brother, know that the rest of the family shall too. I hope we can all get along in the future... On that note, please stop glancing at my spatial ring. There isn''t much in there but I was planning on using it to buy flowers and orange-chocolates for Pele, so please refrain."


    Aejaz whistled to himself before clearing his throat and joining his hands together in a clap. "Well I was definitely not planning on doing anything untoward, no sir! I''ve heard about you and your siblings from Ares so I''m vaguely aware of who you all are and I see no reason we can''t get along... Although I may struggle with Verv... I really don''t make for a good chew toy and I would rather not have a guy around me picking fights all the time. I got enough on my plate with Ares beating my ass every now and then as is..."


    "Hm, Verv only challenges people who he thinks are tough. Maintain a weak fa?ade and he''ll leave you well enough alone. Also, he''ll more likely be distracted with Ares anyhow so you should be in the clear. Still, if you show off during the international he may take notice of you. Scar and I do try keeping him in check but if he ever truly lets loose he becomes a real pain to stop even for us. In the worst case scenario, play dead and maybe he''ll stop biting you eventually... Maybe?"


    "... I''d really rather not get mauled at all... And here I thought Ares was bad. I''ll have to start coming up with defensive measures."


    "Speaking of ''measures'', Ares suggested I come by your way and ask you for advice on something I''ve been pondering. It''s assassination related but only tangentially. It''s more about garnering people''s attention. He said you were quite vain, I apologise but that was his wording and not mine, so my question to you is how can I get more people to look at me? It''s not that I want the attention, absolutely not, I just get stronger the more I''m looked at thanks to my magic, you see."


    Aejaz put on his thinking cap and went over all the showboating strategies he had tucked away in the recesses of his brain. Eventually, Aejaz landed on an idea he figured would do Skyzo some good! "Create clones?"


    "I already do. Of my enemy though, not of myself."


    "Can you not do that?" Aejaz'' idea had been thwarted! But still, there were plenty more ideas where that came from and he was only scratching the surface of his attention grabbing antics!


    "I can it just doesn''t work. The enemy has to see me, a clone of me doesn''t count unfortunately."


    "Oh, then that''s simple! Ice magic!"


    "Ice?"


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Yep, Ice... You aren''t using dedication cultivation are you?"


    "No, standard right now. I should have access to the water pillar as I don''t have a weak affiliation to it. What''s the point of ice?"


    "Mirrors! You''ve already got plenty of ways to make more enemies look at you but it sounds like you could do with more ways to make enemies look at more of you! As the real you is being reflected each time you''re spotted in a mirror it should work. It also pairs well with the whole assassination theme, right? If you could trap someone in a hall of mirrors not only would your strength increase explosively but then you can disorient your opponent too. Also the ice will chill your opponent and make them slower as an added bonus. Win Win!"


    "I see, that does sound highly effective. Thank you for the suggestion. I''d been stuck for some time now wondering how to improve myself but this seems like the perfect tool to add to my arsenal. This will undoubtedly come in handy. I have no way of paying you back right now but should you ever need assistance in the future I shall do my best to aid you. Of course as a family member I would regardless but I''ll be sure to go the extra mile if and when possible. I''m rather excited to try this idea out so I''m going to borrow a cultivation room and work on creating the foundation of the art. Ares, could I bother you to knock on the door when the food is ready? The more I envision the art the more I feel like I''m a step closer to enlightenment. I might get carried away if someone doesn''t drag me out of my thoughts."


    Ares pat Aejaz on the back as a job well done as he responded to Skyzo. "Of course. Feel free to use the room however you see fit and for as long as you need. You can even eat in there if you want. Getting stronger is more important than being present for the banquet, we''ll have an entire lifetime and then some to see each other. Plus you''re technically here anyway so that''s more than enough for me to be content... Although Calla might want you out at some point for a family photo, I don''t think any of us can avoid that..."


    "I wouldn''t want to miss it anyway. I know how much stuff like that means to Calla so even if I don''t care for it much I'''' be sure to do it anyway."


    With another goodbye exchanged between Aejaz and Skyzo, the revenant assassin went inside to enter the cultivation room and work on his new art. As for Ares, he turned to Aejaz and sighed deeply. "So, you''re in a similar position to me now, eh? I know you copy me a lot but this is starting to get excessive!"


    Aejaz threw his head back and groaned. "Oh, come on. It''s not like I even had a say in the matter!"


    "Yeah, guess what? Neither did I! Well so? How are you feeling about it? Man to man, non-judgemental, I won''t relay anything you say to Zhang, Allie, or Trixie. Are you happy with this outcome, yay or nay?"


    "... I don''t really know but I''m leaning more towards yes. I''ve always really liked Trixie and to see my crush from years ago come to fruition is a dream come true... It''s just that I feel guilty towards Allie you know? Like I want to be over the moon right now but I''m worried that if I show it Allie I will feel like crap."


    "At least you''re being honest. I don''t think you could be handling it better than you are. Worrying about Allie''s feelings means you very much still care for her and being happy about Trixie means you aren''t secretly against all of this so... You aren''t really doing anything wrong? This seems like the kind of thing that will settle in due time as long as you don''t do anything stupid like accidentally call either of them the wrong name in the bedroom."


    "... That was oddly specific... Ares, have you fucked up?"


    "What? Hell no I have not! Well I have just not in that way... As if I would call either of my wives by the wrong name you doofus! It was just an example! An example! Ah whatever. Look, the point I''m making is that you''re in the clear provided you don''t screw anything major up. Just shut up and be a good boy for now and you''ll come out the other side unscathed. Allie should be your priority right now and you should focus on showing her that you still care by showering her with attention. Allie isn''t someone like Enyo, she needs to hear it directly from you that she''s still VIP numero uno, capiche? If you''re allocating time between them, try and keep it about 75 / 25 in favour of Allie for now. Raise or lower that amount based on her overall mood and Trixie''s... Although it might be hard to tell with Trixie, she''s got a good poker face."


    "I mean, I was a bit busy getting chewed out by Zhang but I''m pretty sure I saw you getting headbutt by Bellona because you failed to do precisely that..."


    "No, see, I made a huge mistake. Bellona and Enyo have reversed roles in my situation and I didn''t take that into consideration. I needed to give Enyo less attention and Bellona more. I know that now with the benefit of hindsight and I can see where I went wrong. I''m trying to help you out here so you don''t make a similar mistake. Although now that you mention it, there''s still a bit of time before the food''s ready so I''m going to go spend it with Bellona. She is a violent woman and one best not angered so if she catches me idling about when I could be hanging around her there will be serious consequences for my inattentiveness. If I can summarise my advice to you, keep a ''somewhat concerned and sympathetic, wrapped up in a light hearted bubble'' kind of look on your face."


    "What on earth does that even look like?!"


    "Hell if I know. It''s your job to figure it out, not mine. Believe me I do not envy you. If Enyo had been a different kind of woman I would have already gone through the exact same thing you are right now. Fortunately for me, and unfortunately for you, I didn''t so I have no idea how to bring about that look. The best I could do is get you away from Zhang for a while and now... Now you''re on your own. Be brave, brother!" Ares left Aejaz to to figure out his own problems because this was something even Ares couldn''t help him with. To prevent his brother from desperately chasing after him like he was about to, Ares veered course and passed by Zhang, curbing Aejaz'' will to walk in that direction. It was a dirty manoeuvre but an effective one as Ares safely made it to Bellona who was by her lonesome. Appa and Enyo had gone inside to go chat with the matriarchs but Bellona had stayed out here, presumably hoping to get some alone time with Ares even though she hadn''t outright said it.


    Ares sat on the grass, folded his legs, and pat them repeatedly as he looked at her with a smile. "Come take a seat."


    Looking down at her absentee husband, Bellona was conflicted. On the one hand she wanted to sit, on the other she hadn''t completely forgiven him yet and was having trouble getting over it even though she claimed to already be beyond it all. In the end the choice wasn''t hers to make as Ares pulled her in by whipping the Stygian Zephyr around her and pulling her down on top of him. Ares had slightly misjudged the angle of Bellona''s fall, however, and she squashed him against the ground. From underneath her chest, Bellona could hear Ares weakly mutter that ''now he was the flat one''. Her eyes twitched as she leaned up to let him breathe before headbutting him again.


    Thwack


    "Ow! Bellona, what are you? A ram?! I mean I prefer it to when you were punching me but this isn''t particularly enjoyable either you know!"


    "Then stop making jokes at the expense of my body you bastard!" Bellona shuffled until she was sitting comfortably on Ares lap facing away from him. She heard Ares chuckle as he wrapped his arms around her and spoke into her ear.


    "Bellona, you know I like your body the way it is, you don''t need to be offended."


    "How could I not be, you stupid moron?!"


    "Are you offended if I tell you that you have a nice ass?"


    "What? No?"


    "Then what''s the difference? I''ve joked about your chest countless times but I don''t think I''ve ever directly said it''s a bad thing, have I? I don''t think anything larger would suit you anyway."


    "Hmph. You say that now but Enyo''s informed me of what a beast you are. I give it a week or two before you ask me to use my magic on them and make them bigger."


    "No, really no. And you know I wouldn''t either... Although Enyo might ask you to do that but she''s a special case."


    "... Really? I''m not sure I trust you..."


    "I mean, if you ever wanted to then whatever but me personally? Nope. You aren''t a fizzy drink Bellona, being flat is not a problem. Anyway, we''ve spent long enough on this topic so let''s move on."


    "Why are you moving on so quickly you rat bastard? Are you lying? Is your guilty conscience driving you away from this conversation?! I knew it! Liar!"


    Ares struggled to hold onto Bellona who was attempting to break free from his grasp. "Bellona! Stop this madness! I''m only changing the topic because of what you said earlier!"


    The wiggling stopped and Bellona gave Ares a narrow gaze over her shoulder. "Me? What did I say?"


    "That the time we spent in the bedroom was longer than the dance we had. Spending all our time talking about such things isn''t right because you told me not to treat you the way I do Enyo. She''s the sex pest, not you. I only want to discuss your flat chest with you until you feel comfortable with it and then move on. I have to go serve the food in a while and I don''t want our entire conversation to be about that."


    Bellona settled down and leant backward against Ares now that she realised he was making a good point and not just fleeing a conversation he didn''t really agree with from the bottom of his heart. His cold, wife abandoning heart!... And she was doing it again... She really hadn''t been able to get her emotions in check since she learnt about Candy. Now that she sat down and actually thought about it, she knew the reason why... Even though she hated having to confront Ares about this, even if she really didn''t want to hear the answer, she had to ask and know now before it ate away at her. "... Ares... I knew from the start I wasn''t going to be the favourite... I knew that but... Am I going to be the least favourite?"


    "What?!" Ares'' first, gut, reaction was to be incredibly offended and even a little angry Bellona would suggest a thing but he decided to hear her out before he solved whatever misunderstanding this silly woman had come to.


    "Well, you know... With Enyo you were interested in her from the start, right? And now it''s the same with Candy... I''m the only one you didn''t care for out the gate and I know you''ve been somewhat forced into this relationship. I don''t doubt you love me, I never have, but I just feel like our relationship hasn''t blossomed the way your other ones have... And I don''t know that it ever can. It just feels like the odds are stacked against me. First you fell in love with Enyo before I met you, then I had to get pity to ever be allowed near you, then you had no say in the matter and I was thrust on you by my sister out of sympathy, then I found out I was related to you, and now Candy... It just never ends... I guess I''m not mad at you for being busy, I know that''s why you haven''t been around me lately... I''m mad because with every passing issue I just can''t help but feel less and less important to you. Like if I disappeared tomorrow would it even make a difference?"


    Thwack!


    This time, it was Ares'' turn to headbutt Bellona! It seemed Ares was going to have to spend a bit of time clearing the air with this silly woman because she''d clearly become delusional as a result of this entire fiasco. Bellona had a bone to pick with Ares? Well now Ares had one to pick with Bellona!

 Taking It Slow With Blo Blo

    Thwack


    Ares headbutt Bellona one more time for good measure because she really deserved it as far as Ares was concerned. "I''m not above hitting a woman if she''s gorilla shaped and/or being stupid! I am incredibly angry right now but I''ve already sworn to myself once before never to raise my voice or be outwardly mad if I can avoid it. I''m simply telling you I''m not in a good mood because my otherwise jovial tone of voice might mislead you if I didn''t clarify! Bellona, you are wrong on so many accounts it physically hurt me listening to your insane ramblings. You are clearly not a thinker so my advice to you is to stop overthinking things. Before I get into any of what you just said, promise me the only thing you''ll use that head for going forward is headbutting me and utilising your quick wit to insult me! Anything else is forbidden until you can control your random, intrusive thoughts and not let them win!"


    "... But..." Bellona was rubbing the back of her head where she''d just been bruised by Ares. The bastard really hadn''t held back and made his anger abundantly apparent.


    "No buts!"


    ".... Ok?"


    "Now where do I even being with that amorphous clusterfuck of a rant you just went on?! I was NEVER ''forced'' into this relationship. Yes Enyo did threaten me but I know in my heart of hearts she would never break up with me if I put my foot down over hers. She wouldn''t have married me, definitely not, but she wouldn''t have given up on me. She would have kept trying to make me see reason until the heat death of the universe, that''s just how she is. I didn''t agree to the relationship with you because Enyo demanded it of me, that''s absurd. In a world without Enyo, or if I hadn''t met her before I met you, I assure you that you would have been my wife. I would have chased you down just as I did with Enyo. Don''t say it was ''forced'' because nothing about us screams ''arranged marriage'' to me... So if I don''t feel that way then who in this relationship does? You? Are you regretting this whole arrangement? Do you see why I''m annoyed? From my perspective, the perspective of someone who willingly opted for this partnership after some convincing, it sounds like you''re subtly telling me you want out. How could I not be angry, you damn fool?!


    And as for being related to each other, I''ve gotten over that... It wasn''t a simple matter, and I still think about it here and there, but I can handle it easily enough now so why does it still bother you? It didn''t matter much to you when you first found out, if I recall correctly. Are you bothered because you think I am? Why must you keep doing this to yourself? Everything you''ve told me comes full circle and ends up on the same idea that you think I love you less because of all these minor inconveniences. Bellona, I am going to have to fight wars for Enyo and almost definitely square up against the anti-magic God for Candy. You really think being my half sister is making things ''hard'' for me? You have been the easiest of my wives so far to love and maybe that''s why I take you for granted. I don''t avoid you, I just think to myself ''man, Bellona''s patient and I know she''ll understand if I have to fix or address another issue before I spend time with her''. If I knew this was how you felt I would have changed my approach but I''m glad I didn''t because I need to emphasise how dumb what you''re feeling right now is. You are not the issues you bring to the table, nor do I value you less because of them. Both notions are equally absurd.


    Are you my ''least favourite''? In what regard exactly? I can''t compare you to Enyo or Candy in a normal fashion because you each bring something distinct and different to the table. The way I see it, you''re like Candy if she wasn''t evil and rotten to her core. You''ve got that fun spark in you and a carefree attitude. I''ve said this before but personality wise you''re great and I don''t think either Enyo or Candy can match you in that department. If I spent the day with Enyo she would get bored and drag me home for sex eventually. If I spent the day with Candy she would probably trick me into graffitiing an orphanage or something. If I spent the day with you I would get to enjoy it to its fullest and have a good time, no strings attached, I''m sure of it. If I had to pick someone to just shoot the shit with it would be you, providing you aren''t emotionally distraught and all over the place like you are now anyway. This timid, sporadic, paranoid you is annoying because it''s both so drastically different from normal and only exists because of a silly idea that''s gone uncontested in your muddled brain way too long.


    So as for being the least favourite... Again, in what way? Overall? You want me to be honest? Currently, maybe. But so what? What you do and who you are is invaluable to me. I mean, you knew you were never going to be favoured over Enyo, that was obvious, but one other woman shows up and you automatically assume you''ll be dead last forever? Bellona, if we''d spent more time together prior to now you would still be second to Enyo. It''s not your fault you aren''t my favourite, you''ve done nothing wrong. I don''t like Candy more than I do you, it''s just that we shared a special moment together and you and I haven''t. That is literally all there is to it and nothing more. I''m not so insane I would favour a woman I''m not going to see for countless years over you right here and right now.


    Besides, being last is probably a good thing you know? If I ever look at all my wives and see a clear slacker I will do my all to raise my opinion of them however necessary. That means dedicating time and effort to fixing whatever problem is causing either a riff or me to underappreciate them. Now, for instance, I''ve realised that you have sunk to ''last place'' and I knew instantly it was my fault, not yours. I felt bad for you when I was in the pagoda so know that I haven''t forgotten you at all. It''s quite the opposite, you''re the only one of my three wives I''ve had constantly on my mind because I know that, now, you are the most important one. Going forward, whichever wife is ''the least favourite'' will only ever be as such until I''ve fixed things. Then, whoever becomes the new ''least favourite'' will be the next in line for the exact same treatment. ''Last place'', if we really must call it that, is going to be shared by everyone, other than Enyo, at some point so you''re going to have to come to terms with that. So right now you are my least favourite, yes. But you know what that means? It means right now you are the wife I know I need to love the most. You were so preoccupied being worried about whether I like you the least you failed to grasp that, in turn, you would become the most loved. Isn''t that what you were hoping for, deep down? And I''m not just trying to gaslight you or appease you in any way, I truly mean it. Right now, you have unconditional access to more of my love than even Enyo because I know she can go without it for a while. Hell she probably doesn''t even care much for it anymore now that she has eternal proof in the wedding ring, she''s probably more concerned with getting her fix of my body. The only love she wants is to make love. But she''s irrelevant right now, you are my priority and you have my full attention. The most favoured is the least loved and the least favoured is the most loved. Twisted, I know, but that''s the way I''ve decided to run this harem. Not a single one of my wives should ever feel so estranged from my emotions that they can''t feel any affection from me at all, I won''t allow it. I''d been planning on talking to you today anyway and making this clear and it seems it was the right choice to explain this to you because you obviously needed to hear it.


    And that brings me onto my final point. If you disappeared tomorrow, I don''t care if anyone else would notice, I would. It''s not even a matter of you being my wife, although obviously that does play a pretty big role in things... If any single member of this family disappeared I would stop at nothing to find them and bring them back. No ifs no buts. I don''t need to explain this point anymore than I already have because my actions would speak far louder than my words so, if you really want to test me, go run away. See how far you get before I track you down and bring you back. I have Voidwalk and Omniscience though so don''t expect to make it far before the jig is up. Bellona, there is not a single person in the household, other than maybe Leo ''cos he''s a shithead, that wouldn''t notice you being gone. Hell I disappeared this morning and Enyo knew immediately so what chance do you think you would have against her?


    I''ve been ranting for a while now and I think I''m pretty much done, is there anything you want to say? Anything left in that cranium that needs to be put out there? It''s important for you to say these things so I can respond in kind."


    Bellona silently closed her eyes and thought about everything Ares had just gone over. She was still digesting how brutally honest he was when he admitted she was his least favourite but it didn''t seem so bad when juxtaposed with the attention and care she would receive in turn. Maybe it was a good thing? When he said he loved her the most right now... That was arguably the happiest she''d ever felt in this relationship... She felt comforted knowing the delusions in her head spread no further than her mind and weren''t actually representative of reality and the way Ares truly thought. "No, I guess not. Sorry. Even when I felt agitated a part of me knew it was all groundless. I suppose I just wanted to vent for a while because I knew you''d listen and I could have your attention for a bit. It worked but now I just feel like a drama queen. And I roped Appa into this too... I can be really petty, huh?"


    "Why are you being silly again?! You are not a drama queen and you are not pett... Ok, maybe you are a bit petty, but not to the extent you think you are at least!"


    "Who you calling petty?! It''s only ok when I call myself that, jerk!" Bellona shifted around and rugby tackled Ares onto the grass. The two rolled around for a bit and the sound of giggling could be heard coming from the general direction of their friendly fracas. Their rolling and roughhousing came to a conclusion with both of them lying side by side, holding onto each other''s waists as they stared past messily strewn about hair and into the other person''s eyes.


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    "You know Bellona, I like that you''re petty. I tease you because I know exactly what you''ll do afterwards and I like it. You can take the insults like a champ and I get to roll around with you. It''s nice having someone who''s easy to read and honest to their core around. I was being serious when I said you''re easy to love, I value that in you. Enyo and Candy tire me out in their own ways but I can just passively relax with you. I do have to mind your unnatural strength but you hold back so it''s not the end of the world if you choose to strike me for whatever, typically justified, reason. I like our conversations. Down to earth, no ulterior motives, and no patiently waiting to ambush me on every syllable. God knows if I say the wrong words around Enyo she''ll jump on me before I can even blink. It''s like trying not to say the word ''walk'' around a dog. Speaking of Enyo, what happened this morning after I left? I''m terribly sorry for sending Enyo your way but I really needed an out... She didn''t hassle you too much, did she?"


    "Pfft, I barely even remember. I was still half asleep when the mad woman bust into my room and brutishly dragged me out of it. I was even still hugging the damn pillow as I walked and I nearly tripped over Leo in the hallway at one point. All I heard in my ear was Enyo muttering something about how excited she was so I can kinda figure out what was going down."


    "... Yeah... I told her to go and see if you wanted to watch us. It got her out of the room but I didn''t think she would disregard you''re own say on the matter and give you no choice... In hindsight that should have been obvious, actually. And to think you didn''t even get to watch in the end. If it weren''t for Enyo''s insatiable lust having been thoroughly denied in the moment, I would think you were arguably the biggest loser in all of this. Woken up for nothing early in the morning... Beg your pardon. Would you have even wanted to watch anyway?"


    With two blushed cheeks, Bellona shrugged and tried to look casual even though she had trouble meeting Ares'' eyes. "... I guess so. I am a bit curious after everything Enyo''s told me... I want to know what to expect."


    "Hm, I don;t think that would be helpful then? The way I handle Enyo can be likened to keeping an aggressive beast tame by asserting Dominance. If I slip for even a second I know her inner succubus will jump right out and nothing can save me then. I''m only like that with Enyo because Enyo is... Well, Enyo... I''m obviously not going to treat all my wives the same way in the bedroom and if you have any preferences then I''ll be sure to go along with them. I hadn''t planned on being quite so rough with you, unless that''s what you desire of course. Do you want to be treated like a princess or do you want me to pull your hair? It''s up to you. So I wouldn''t recommend watching Enyo and I to get a feel for things, that won''t be a good point of reference. You should watch us for the fun of it and to get comfortable with seeing Enyo in that way, nothing else can be gained out of it I don''t think. Although I''m warning you now, after the international Enyo is coming for you whether you''re ready or not."


    "She''s been getting a bit more frisky and I know I can''t run away forever. It''s still so surreal seeing her act like this though. I thought I''d get used to it but I keep associating the name ''Enyo'' with that ever serious and justice-hardened face she used to wear day in, day out. Although given her whole Goddess thing I guess this is what she was normally like, it''s just that her reincarnation took a different direction and bottled it all up. Never would have guessed in a million years Enyo was someone special. She was always a prodigy but a Goddess? Only metaphorically speaking at most... Hey Ares?" Bellona leant her head against Ares'' chest and closed her eyes to rest a bit. "Do you think I''m someone special? And before you say it, because I know you will, I know you think I''m special already. That''s not what I meant. I mean... Do you think I have a bright future? Will I become a name worth remembering or will I just be tacked onto your name in the history books? I kinda want to be something more than just a footnote... The more I see you and Enyo get stronger the more I want to find my own path and become a real ''bad bitch'', you know? Like a real ass-kicker. More than I already am. I know Dominus suggested I wait until I get my revenant form but I don''t think even that will really do much for me in the grand scheme of things... Am I really destined to be your support for all eternity? I don''t mind it, I just wish there was something more I could do. Look at Enyo, she used to be primarily a defensive cultivator for Christ''s sake! She still is but she''s evolved beyond her expected role and I''m envious."


    "That''s fair, I was too." As Ares responded, he fiddled with Bellona''s hair. "Granted my reasons were a little different. I wanted to surpass Enyo again because I feel I need to fulfil my duty as head of the harem. If any of my wives have a problem and they aren''t coming to me to get it solved then what am I even really doing here? Enyo''s rapid ascent to power took me by surprise but to fall behind so suddenly doesn''t change the fact that it happened. That, and I''m a fundamental champion. Not being the strongest around doesn''t fell right, like I''m wasting my gift. Power. Raw power is the one thing destruction has going for it so if I can''t even levy that properly what good am I? I start to feel worthless if I''m not top dog because I know it''s a failure on my part to keep the wheel''s turning. There are no shortage of opportunities and I have the means to abuse them for all they''re worth so falling behind is laziness and nothing else in my eyes. Thankfully I''ve reclaimed my number one spot now though, so that''s a relief."


    "You have?! Since when?! Was it the pagoda? Damn, maybe I should go pay it a visit? It''s not going to be the drastic increase I''m looking for that defines me as a cultivator but it sounds like it''d be worth it, no?"


    "Absolutely. I was going to recommend it to pretty much everyone who''d hear me out anyway. Also, although it''s not the best way to go about this, we could spend time there together. Enyo already proved to me people can share the same floor if they want to so, if you make it to floor five, you can hang around and watch me get my ass beat. You might even learn how to efficiently do just that yourself."


    "Can you challenge it with multiple people at a time?"


    "Nope, I''m just suggesting it as a way of killing time. I''m going to be in there for a good few days so it''s the only way we''ll be able to spend any time together."


    "What if I want to challenge it myself, eh smartass? Or are you trying to subtly tell me I won''t be able to do it just ''cos you can''t?"


    "Nothing subtle about it. I''m not hinting at anything, I''m telling you it''s not possible for you. Don''t take it personally, I''m probably the only person alive in the world that can do it and even then only just about. I have enough cultivation and pressure advantages that if they were stacked on top of each other I could create a privilege mountain and even I''m struggling. Veteran, the guy on the fifth floor, is a real menace and not to be taken lightly."


    "Hmph, and what? I''m to be taken lightly?"


    Sigh


    "No, Bellona, you aren''t. Magic isn''t allowed on the fifth floor otherwise you''d probably be able to beat it yourself. I didn''t interrupt you when you were brooding earlier, but you are already an incredibly powerful person. There are very few people in your realm who could beat you in a fair fight and you are no worse than the prodigy you see in Enyo. You''ve had less chances to improve yourself than her, certainly, but all it takes is one discovery or improvement and you''ll be caught up in no time. Your magic is still the most unusual thing I''ve seen in this world so who knows what direction it might end up going in? Actually, if you really want to know, you could maybe take a sneak peek by asking Yulo. There''s no doubt in my mind you''ll have your own history books written about you, it''s just a question of what happens to you, exactly, that propels you to legendary status. Tell you what, how about you go inside and take it easy. I''ll go and pester Yulo to come pay a visit by bribing him with food and a good time and then he can read your fortune, prophesise your fate, and predict your potential. With foreknowledge that you''ll hit the big time maybe that will help take your mind of your unnecessary worries?"


    "That''d be swell." Bellona had audibly and visibly perked up and, now that she was feeling better about all of her concerns, she clamoured up Ares'' chest to his face to give him a kiss. "It''s been a while since I''ve been able to treat myself to your mouth. It really is best when sealed shut by my own."


    "Aw, but then it can''t tell you how beautiful you are."


    "I already know it. Preach to the choir, wolfie."


    "You''ll be a ''wolfie'' too one day. Technically, right now, that kind of makes you a cub. A very cute cub that keeps crying all day long until the big wolfie comes and calms it down!"


    "Oh please, I didn''t whine that much. Enyo told me about the big argument you had with her back in the hotel and I think that one was way bigger than this small little spat. Besides, I hate the thought of shouting and yelling, just seems pointless when I know I can talk to you normally and have you either change or convince me I should. I''m really glad you are who you are, Ares. Your honesty is a relief to me because I can be very trusting of people I like. You don''t sugar-coat anything but you don''t make things out to be worse than they are either. You have the silver tongue necessary to con me if you really wanted to but you were upfront about both our wrongs and I appreciate that. I don''t just love you because of your magic; you were always my type from the start, I even said it to Enyo back in the forest at one point. The magic just tipped me over the edge I was already precariously standing by the edge of. I want to make that clear because I know how it must have looked from the outside. I see your magic and two seconds later I''m head over heels?... That wasn''t how it went down, really, I swear."


    "I know Bellona, I know." Ares gave Bellona a kiss and stood up. He held out his hand to lift up Bellona who graciously accepted before giving him a light headbutt that was more of a gentle tap if anything.


    "I much prefer not hurting you when we play around so don''t give me anymore reasons to, you hear me mutt?"


    "Loud and clear, mam. Also, the feeling''s mutual. I consider myself lucky you brought up this conversation but don''t wait on it so long in the future. Always come up to me and just say what''s on your mind, it''s better that way and I know you specifically have it in you to do that. Anyway, I''m off to go pay our sect master a visit... I can only pray Rud isn''t there too... If he also decided to show up at the banquet I''m not entirely sure I could resist poisoning him for the fun of it..."

 Chapter 157: Thus Ends the Banquet Saga

    Ares took a trip to the core area to go and pick up Yulo. He was allowed in by the elders manning the gates as his mug was memorised by everyone in the sect without question and that went double, if not triple, for the elders. Although Ares shouldn''t have been here really, he had free reign to go basically wherever he pleased... Other than the treasury because who knows how much havoc he would wreak in there... Yulo happened to not be in the sect master''s residence as of the time Ares visited so he didn''t get to sneak a peek at his own future house, unfortunately. As for where Yulo was, there existed a sort of sect headquarters in which logistical elders slaved away to keep the sect up and running. The finances of the sect, as well as any other miscellaneous odd jobs, were all taken care of in this building. Apparently there were a few interesting characters that resided here but Ares was on a one track course to Yulo so he didn''t spot any of them.


    After a bit of searching Ares eventually found the man he was looking for... Or rather he was found by the man he was looking for. Yulo had foreseen this encounter and came to meet him head on. Ares didn''t even have to explain himself because his future self had already done it. Convenient! As for how it all worked, what with Ares not saying it now leading to a different future than the one predicted, Ares decided not to question it. Yulo''s magic was pretty incredible even when compared to other prophets and there was a reason he was considered one of the best, if not outright the best, of his generation. Anywho, Yulo had originally been hesitant to come along but, when he found out that Ares'' food was actually really good thanks, once again, to his magic, he figured the trade was worth it. All he had to do was dig around in Bellona''s magical future a bit and that was a menial task he could get over and done with quickly. Plus it aided his cultivation, even if not by much, so any chance to escape from the drudgery of his workload for a bit was more than welcome. As an aside, Rud was not present and thus not invited. There would be no food poisoning today. Supposedly, according to Yulo, he was practicing his new Echoes pressure trick that Ares invented.


    By the time the two returned to Ares'' house, the food was finally ready. Ares made sure to go call Skyzo and check if he was busy or not but Ares seemed to have arrived at the perfect moment. Skyzo''d just finished mocking up the art but not yet started the creation process so he could leave it on the side for now. He would be back as soon as he was done with his meal though, there was no question about that.


    Now that Skyzo was out and about Calla made sure to gather all of her cubs and take a good ten or so pictures. She wasn''t quite satisfied just yet but she didn''t want to hold up anyone from their long-awaited meals. Calla relented and Ares was free to serve everyone their food. As for what everyone had...


    The matriarchs: Ares had already served them their favourites yesterday so he just made them all a casserole to share today... Except for Calla who was more than happy to just eat more meat again. This silly woman could probably eat meat every day for the rest of her life if no one stopped her. Still, watching her chow down with gusto while wagging her grey tail was fulfilling so Ares couldn''t bring himself to say no to her. Rather than tailor their mains, Ares opted to give them their favourite desserts today instead! After all, Ares had already promised Calla a rhubarb crumble today regardless. As for the others, Serene got a fresh fruit salad, Margaret some coffee bread pudding, and Rhea rich chocolate brownies. As they chewed away they seemed to come to an agreement to go visit the patisserie they mentioned last time at some point tomorrow before the start of the matches. If they could get some quality snacks to feast on while they watched the fights then what could possibly be better? Of course, naturally, Rhea was going to send Sadie on a mission to find alcohol too... But that was to be expected.


    Terros and Mako: Weren''t here yet but Ares had some stuff prepped for them. In particular Ares had made the floating rock the charcuterie board he was hankering for last time. It was mostly as thanks for the aid he was promising Ares back in the outside world but also because it wasn''t exactly hard to make either. It wasn''t all sunshine and rainbows for Terros though. The good most definitely came with the bad as Ares had, completely unprompted, decided that Terros'' favourite dessert, and the one Ares had giddily made for him with a devilish smile on his face all the while, was rocky road... Ares still had more than a few rock-food puns in store for the guy if it ever came down to that, including, but not limited to, brockoli, minestone soup, and stuffed peb-bell peppers. Why Terros supported this idiot was anyone''s guess.


    As for Mako, Ares had made him some black forest gateau to serve as an apology of sorts for duping him... Again... This guy was way too easy to mislead and far too trusting. Him being a good natured samaritan was not what Ares had expected considering everything he''d heard about the guy but an overly simple and somewhat aggressive elf was what he got. As far as duty bound comrades went, he was the perfect target to alleviate some of Ares'' boredom on if and when Terros chose not to get in the way by alerting Mako to Ares shenanigans. Anyway, the gateau would hopefully shut Mako up and halt his whining when he returned. Of course there was some more bacon and lentil soup too. This guy had this stuff day in day out so he wasn''t going to be dissatisfied with having more so soon. Actually he''d probably be quite pleased knowing Ares had made him a batch of the stuff. Again, if Ares was going to spend a long time with this clown he at least needed to keep him on somewhat good terms. If Ares just relentlessly bullied and teased Mako with no recompense he would probably get frustrated after a while. It had been some time since Ares needed to balance out the scales and prevent anyone from going mad over his antics but Mako fit the bill and needed some de-escalation after the continuous wild goose chases Ares had sent the poor guy on. Not that Mako wouldn''t benefit from the pagoda in his own way, though. He''d also left willingly and of his own volition so, really, who''s fault was it actually?... Definitely still Ares''...


    Eagerton: Black truffle pasta with creamy mushroom sauce. Yeah, the posh guy liked the expensive stuff. He was incredibly lucky Ares happened to have some on hand because he''d been experimenting with them as of late. Ares didn''t have much to spare but he did have enough for this one dish. Ares also provided some wine and, for some inexplicable reason, a candle that the crazy bastard wanted for the sake of mood lighting. Whatever. At least Eagerton ate in peace. He did pull out a napkin from who knows where, and he did stop occasionally to jot down various notes, but he didn''t disturb anyone else so Ares paid him no mind. With pen and fork in hand, Eagerton was most definitely enjoying himself and so Ares had nothing else to do here other than walk away.


    Edgerton: Squid ink pasta. The irony of both brothers liking black pasta dishes for their own highly thematic reasons was not lost on Ares. The poshness of truffles and the edgy-ness of black food for Edgerton... Ares could have seen this coming from a mile away if he''d thought about it for even a second. Still, if Ares was already making one pasta dish, adding another to the equation was quick and easy... Not that making pasta in the first place was ''easy''. Still, by hook or by crook Ares would manage. When he was hosting a banquet Ares was not to be trifled with!... Actually, Edgerton did also request a chocolate trifle but that was neither here nor there. Ares was not to be trifled with and his trifles were most certainly not trifling! It''s also worth noting that, like his brother, Edgerton couldn''t resist honing his craft at the dinner table. He was writing down lyrics for his new serenade... And if the amount of pages was any indication this was going to be a real snooze fest lasting anywhere upwards of ten minutes. To each their own and whatnot but surely this was excessive? Wouldn''t being tied up and forced to listen to this guy''s greatest hits on max volume be considered cruel and unusual punishment? It would definitely never end, at least... Ares didn''t know if this guy was composing music or a rhythmic audiobook...


    Yulo: Mystery dish. This one was more about the fun factor than anything else. Yulo knew it was coming, and he knew it tasted good, but he didn''t know what it was specifically. See Ares felt bad for the guy always being spoiled on any and all upcoming events so Ares took matters into his own omnipotent hands. To put it simply, Ares'' dish was some manner of soup mixed with disintegration magic. The magic amount used was light enough to feel like nothing more than a spicy kick but also enough to snuff out any of Yulo''s attempts to peek into the dish before he tried it. He knew it existed and the taste was great, sure, but what was inside the murky blackness? No amount of foresight would ever tell him! And neither would Ares! For the rest of Yulo''s life, this surprise dish would never be known to him or anyone else. What was truly in there? What contents littered this black creation? Your guess was as good as Yulo''s! The all-knowing and all-seeing Yulo had met his match in this dish and he was quite content with the outcome. It tasted good and this was a rare experience. He knew it was coming but that didn''t make it any less special and so he was grateful to Ares for the unique situation he was in.


    Knowing everything took the unpredictability out of Yulo''s life and often left him feeling somewhat bored. A dish like this was perfect to alleviate some of that boredom and, for once, his brain actually got a chance to think about something other than just picking the correct route through life over and over. Actually, one of his wives had done something similar years ago by hiding the dish from him. She blindfolded Yulo and made him eat the food none-the-wiser as to what he was chewing on. To this day he still didn''t know what was in that dish either so this was somewhat nostalgic. What really threw Yulo for a loop, though, was the presence of a tiny umbrella in his drink that he hadn''t known about even with his future-telling magic! Clearly Ares'' disintegration was capable of fending off Yulo''s foresight to some extent. It wasn''t quite there yet but, one day, maybe he could actually surprise Yulo with relative ease. That would be nice! Bring a bit of spark back into his life and so on. Yulo wasn''t too taken aback though, this was a fundamental pillar he was going up against after all. No amount of prodigious-ness was going to allow him to prevail over Ares and that was a nice change of pace. Being the uncontested top dog all day every day got a little old for Yulo who was lacking any challenge in his life.


    Zhang: Steak and potatoes. Simple. It was a dish he regularly cooked for himself and there were no twists or turns here, he just really like the flavour. The steak was medium well and he was well and truly pleased with the high quality. Apparently, a long time ago, he''d been on his way back from grocery shopping to buy the ingredients for this exact dish when he came across Allie and decided to take her in. That was just one of many memories he had that were associated with steak though and going through them all would turn into a laundry list. The only other one of note was that he had steak recently when he met up with his wives again for the first time in a while. They knew it was definitely him and not an imposter the second he ordered his usual same old same old.


    Verv: Vindaloo. A real thrill seeker this one. Ares wasn''t even sure if the guy was enjoying the taste or the pain more but he seemed happy enough either way... Ares had come to the conclusion Verv was the kind of person who thrived in adversity and actively sought to make his life harder at every conceivable opportunity. If it wasn''t a battle, Verv wasn''t interested. Clearly that extended to his food choices too as he asked Ares at one point if he had any live lobsters he could fight to the death with before eating the thing. Not that it would have been much of a fight normally but, before Ares could even answer in the negative, Verv promised to wrestle against the fella using nothing but his pinkie finger to make it fair. For what it was worth, Scar let Ares know that Verv really did enjoy the taste of the curry regardless of the spice. There were spicier foods out there but Verv had a soft spot for this particular dish otherwise he wouldn''t have asked Ares to make it. As per usual, there was a fully functioning ''human'' under his bizarre berserk side... And Ares sincerely hoped things would stay as they were because one of Verv''s many gigantic swords was placed a few inches away from him and leaning ominously against a wall. Ares feared the second he turned his back this madman would start swinging for the fences. Homerun? More like home-none by the time this guy was done. Thankfully Scar was due-diligently monitoring the beasty''s rationality and sanity. Speaking of...


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    Scar: Barbecued meat. Barbecued pork, beef, chicken, etc... You would think given his monk aesthetic he would opt for vegetarian dishes but apparently a craving for meat ran in the family. Ares happened to be pretty partial to the stuff too so he could see why... Actually, so was Bellona... She was also having some beef patties in burger buns. She didn''t have burgers yesterday specifically so she could save them for today when Ares was whipping out his barbecue tools. Clever girl! Burgers and milkshake... She was having the time of her life today especially after clearing everything up. Ares had spoiled her rotten and even made some crinkle cut wedges and homemade barbecue sauce just for her. For the first time ever Ares saw a smile so radiant coming from her it even managed to trump Enyo''s smiles in terms of how attention grabbing it was. She was practically wearing a spotlight that was how obvious it was she was in a good mood. Food was the way to this one''s heart it seemed.


    Anyway, back on the topic of Scar''s food, he enjoyed a good mix of all the meats with some vegetables on the side. Supposedly he used to really enjoy having barbecues back home with Aster and the two frequently camped out at night at night after training while eating fresh off the grill. Scar was definitely the closest of the siblings to Aster, even if he did get beaten senseless by him more than anyone else too. Scar took after Aster in many ways but he wasn''t quite as foolhardy and foolish. In that regard they were polar opposites but in just about everything else they were very similar. Even looks wise, although Ares somewhat trumped Scar in that specific aspect. Ares was the dead ringer of the family. As for who looked the most like Calla, that was probably Skyzo actually. Not that Ares really knew that because half his face was usually covered by the scarf. Even today Ares had missed an opportunity to get a peek as Skyzo had hidden well during the banquet and had eaten without anyone so much as seeing a hair on his head. As for what he ate...


    Skyzo: Chow mein. No toppings and eaten with chopsticks. Plain but still made almost everyone else in the room drool in jealousy. There was just something about noodles that really had that effect in people. They were warm too and had fogged up the window Skyzo was eating next to, not that anyone saw that until after he was done anyway. The guy really went above and beyond to not get caught without the scarf. It wasn''t even because he was like how Enyo used to be or anything, he just generally didn''t like it. He got enough attention as is from his magic and so sometimes he just wanted a little me-time and some peace and quiet. The scarf helped him feel like he was all by his lonesome and in his own world so he stuck with it. As for his noodle preference, Aym, the man who taught Skyzo how to be an effective assassin, which would explain a lot of his idiosyncrasies on the subject, frequently took him out to this one noodle stand right before he sent Skyzo off to go kill a guy. It was similar to Scar''s fondness for barbecue just reversed. Instead of eating after training, he ate before a big showdown. They acted as a sort of ''there are things worth living for in this world so I ought to try a little harder and make sure I come back safely so I can have them again'' type encouragement.


    Venus: Stir fry... Not really her ''favourite'', but she demanded to have the same thing as Phobos did the day prior... From the same bowl... With the same cutlery... And the same glass he drank out of... This woman was a mess. Ares couldn''t resist poking fun at Venus, though, by telling her why Phobos had this dish in the first place. When Venus found out he was doing it to learn for the sake of Palioxis she started aggressively chewing on her napkin, pulling it down while it was between her teeth, in frustration. Ares had gone to all the lengths she asked of him so getting to meses with her in this way was earned, damn it! To be fair to Venus, however, she was aware of Phobos'' desire to become a chef. She was clearly invested in the tyke, even if it was worrying how she got her hands on that information in the first place. It''s not like it was readily available so she would have had to to questionable things ot get that information no doubt. Ares didn''t know if she felt love or lust towards him but even thinking about asking her that question made him feel dirty inside so he wisely chose to forego asking her. As Ares was walking away he could see the cogs in Venus'' brain turning and he ran away immediately because he could smell danger in the air. This woman was going to ask him if he could teach her how to cook! The answer was a resounding hell no! Phobos was enough on his plate at the moment, thank you very much! Teaching someone who isn''t very into it is a nightmare. Ares still remembered when he was teaching Aejaz how to make a banana split for Allie and, although he learned it in the end, trying to keep Aejaz focused was a herculean task, borderline Sisyphean even. Mythologically bad.


    And that was about it. There were a few others here and there but they''d already had their favourites documented by Ares for future reference. They were all mostly just sharing some lasagne or casserole like the matriarchs. Appa was also merrily tearing through her Snappas without a care in the world. It had Ares to itself today! Well Bellona was there too but that was also a good thing in Appa''s mind!


    When all was said, done, and eaten, Mako and Terros showed up at Ares'' door and it''s safe to say Mako was not happy in the slightest. Mako called Ares ''a piece of shit'' but was hesitant to get any more annoyed when heard about the food situation... He was not above being bribed with containers of good soup and some dessert on the side... Also Terros had already abandoned Mako to go and eat because he was starving so Mako didn''t exactly want to stand around outside in the cold complaining with an empty stomach for too long. Ares guided him in and sat him down next to Terros before bringing their food out and asking them how it went. Mako got his ass kicked, is how it went. Even after only a single attempt on floor five, in which Mako was pushed up against a wall and beaten to death like a thug, he came to the immediate conclusion that floor was unbeatable for him. Which could only mean one thing... It wasn''t him that was supposed to beat it... It was then that Terros spilled the beans and Mako came right back in a huff. Ares didn''t mock Mako for failing because he was actually impressed he made it to the last floor that quickly. Although ''noodle arms'' wouldn''t be particularly impressive in a melee fight, maybe his pressure would be half decent after all? Useless against Ares, obviously, but good enough for personal use against others at least. Mako had gotten a fair bit out of his trip so he couldn''t really complain, although he did keep side eyeing Ares every now and then.


    Eventually it was time to wrap things up. Bellona was going to be challenging the pagoda tomorrow and starting her journey to floor five, Enyo and Aejaz were going to be fighting in a tournament match, and Ares was going to be getting murdered repeatedly on floor five of the pagoda! In all cases rest was preferable to make things go smoother so the banquet came to a close. Calla did one final round up of her litter and had them all take various poses until she was satisfied. She also snuck in a few extras at the end with herself in them by having Rhea take the pictures in her stead. Calla would be sure to show Aster these when she left to go back home after the tournament and share every little detail about Ares with him. Still she wasn''t quite content with things just yet, there were two more goals she had yet to accomplish. One was minor, she wanted to give Ares her specialty hot chocolate, and the other... Well the other was both major and a secret... A certain thing Ares had forgotten about from a long time ago back when he was training with Sadie. Calla didn''t know how much Ares knew about the ''revenant rune'' that was of vital importance when creating a Training Field but she hoped it wasn''t much so she could pull off her devious plan!


    Ares, blissfully unaware of the devious machinations of his mother, bid everyone leaving goodbye and everyone staying a goodnight. He picked up a sleepy Appa and brought it to Bellona''s bedroom where he laid Appa in the middle of the bed, it''s favourite position as it could be hugged by someone on either side at the same time, and got in after. Bellona came in a little while later as she''d apparently been discussing with Enyo the idea of moving to Ares'' bedroom permanently after tonight. She didn''t give a definite answer so it looked like it wouldn''t be happening anytime soon but a trial run was in the cards at least. Enyo would have to keep it in her pants for one night but that was a sacrifice she was willing to make in the name of progress! That aside, Bellona hopped into the bed and cuddled Appa while she chatted away with Ares about the pagoda and his experiences in it. All the information would be useful to her, plus she was just curious about his day in general. As he recounted his adventures it became apparent to him that Bellona would actually get to meet Candy herself so he asked Bellona to say hello to her in his stead.


    Thwack


    "Don''t think about other women when you''re with me, bastard!"


    Ares decided that headbutt was fair but he still didn''t retract his earlier request as that was equally fair! He also had to explain to Appa who Candy was now so he pre-empted the headbutts by shoving his palm against Bellona''s head to stop her in her tracks which got a giggle out of the shade. Eventually, after Ares was done explaining to Appa the concept of having nine mothers... Which was a surprisingly easy task because the shade truly believed ''the more the merrier''... Ares moved onto Bellona''s fortune that she''d had read by Yulo earlier during the banquet. Ares wasn''t around at the time because he was busy handing everyone their food and schmoozing so now was as good a time as any to get caught up. Apparently the only thing Yulo said to Bellona was ''Nothing to something, something to nothing. The rules of others do not concern you; make your own so that you may come into your own. Even the fundamental champions will show due respect." No matter how you looked at it, even if he didn''t clarify what it was exactly Bellona was going to discover, she was destined to become a real powerhouse if she could even command the respect of the top six cultivators in the world. No one would ever top the fundamentals, that was just not in the cards, but to come close was incredibly impressive in its own right so Bellona was relieved. She still had to work out what exactly her goal for the future was but, when she figured it out, the rest would all fall into place nicely. With her mind eased, Ares and Appa by her side, and her stomach full, Bellona fell asleep quite quickly after saying her goodnights. A head pat and cuddle for Appa, and a kiss with a hint of tongue for Ares. As per usual, she was bashful during the act but faced her shame head on and powered through it. Ares tried to tease her for being cute but she headbutt him again, hmphed, and fell asleep on the spot. Ares simply chuckled to himself before falling asleep as well with Appa hugged tightly in his arms. Today had been productive in many ways for Ares and tomorrow was looking equally as bright... If he ignored all the painful deaths he was going to suffer, anyway. Still, he was a revenant, getting used to death and pain was worth its weight in gold as he would no doubt experience it at least once or twice on his journey. It''s not that Ares was weak or anything but, boy, could he be really careless. Having infinite lives in his back pocket would no doubt make him a bit more courageous than he should be in certain situations... He was still early on his journey, though. He hadn''t even left the country yet! When his adventures started proper, maybe then would he start worrying about the dangers in his journey... Maybe.

 Chapter 158: Blue Balled Bellona

    Come break of day, Ares was poked in the face by Appa''s rope until he woke up. Ares hugged the little attention seeker before stroking Bellona''s face as she was in the middle of waking up too. Although he wanted to get back to the pagoda and clear it as soon as possible it was nice to have taken a small break and have gotten a bit closer to Bellona. Plus he got to hug his soft and cute daughter all night! Big win! It had been a while since any of Ares'' interactions with Appa hadn''t resulted in either him giving it Snappas or it freezing him for being a ''bad man''. For a brief moment Ares was tempted to invite Appa to come along to the pagoda but that was probably a bad idea. Appa really struggled with pressure so maybe avoiding it like the plague and focussing on its strong points instead was the better option here. Appa was actually really rather strong in its own right and it had been cultivating diligently so Ares really didn''t feel a need to step in or make recommendations. Its mental arts were shaping up nicely and its standard barrage of ice attacks had gotten considerably stronger. Appa''s aerial bombardment gameplan was highly effective it just didn''t have much of a reason to show any of it off. The one time it could have, back during the inner court trial, Appa simply used the more effective counter to Ares instead; weaponised guilt! The biggest danger of all to Ares'' life was this adorable little munchkin! Actually the two most deadly things Ares had met so far, Appa and the toad back in Baja, were both completely non-threatening in terms of appearance. Veteran didn''t count because, although he could ''kill'' Ares, and most certainly would be doing a lot of that, he was still a simulation at the end of the day. He was literally not a ''real'' threat.


    Off to the side Bellona was struggling to get her eyes open and keep them that way which gave Ares a chuckle. Clearly not a morning person. Ares made full use of this by poking her nose and gently flicking her forehead which earned him some cute moans and groans as she flailed her arms at him. Bellona gave up on that approach and buried her head in Appa to hide while Ares got up and stretched. As he did so he caught sight of Enyo peeking her head inside the room and Ares figured this was the perfect chance! He picked up Appa and walked over to the door, opened it, and placed Appa into Enyo''s care before closing the door again. Ares could feel Enyo''s disappointment oozing through the closed door but this woman had been getting exactly what she wanted consistently for far too long and Ares decided she needed a break! Let Appa''s cuteness replace her lusty love with familial love for a while! And as for Ares? Well now he was going to do the reverse! Getting a little frisky with Bellona sounded fun even if he wasn''t going to go any further than some light prodding. After all, he was technically ''asleep'' last time! It was a pretty bad excuse but since when did Ares ever attempt to come up with ''good excuses''? He would give you a half hearted excuse at best and then just do what he originally wanted to anyway, even if you had a good counter argument! He could really be like a stubborn freight train at times, barrelling towards its goals and stopping for no one. that''s not to say he couldn''t be reasoned with, there just had to be a very good reason for him to care or change his mind.


    Ares hopped back in the bed and cozied up to Bellona. One of his hands drifted over her waist and groped her rear as she wriggled into his chest to hide her blushed cheeks. Ares wasn''t having any of it though so he raised her face by the chin and kissed her on the mouth. If she was still struggling to wake up then Ares had just the ticket! Or maybe he was just sending her deeper into whatever dream she was having. Either way Ares was enjoying himself so he even threw his tongue into the mix and nestled it between her lips, tickling them as his hand squeezed a little harder.


    Bellona realised this leech wasn''t going to leave her alone until she did something about him so she... Didn''t do anything! She figured she might as well keep enjoying his heavy hand and the taste of his lips on hers for a while. There was something oddly surreal about being fondled while half awake and Bellona had no intention of escaping from Ares'' grasp. Just because intimacy like this wasn''t the only thing they should be doing that didn''t mean they shouldn''t be able to do it and have fun in this way too here and there. They weren''t going to just stop playing around and teasing each other in the bedroom just because their relationship wasn''t as deep as it could be just yet. This was romantic in its own way too. That was what Bellona told herself as she reciprocated Ares'' affection by grabbing his hind as well with one of her hands and placing the other on his chest, delicately rubbing it up and down to stimulate him. And excite him it did. So much so that, through her half squinted eyes, Bellona could see Ares'' attitude shift from playful to aggressive. His hand was drifting back over her waist and about to repay her for what she''d done to him last time but...


    BANG


    In through the busted door sprinted a drooling Enyo who performed a running dive to land on the bed, perfectly in the middle of the two lovebirds resting in their nest. Enyo had sensed a disturbance in the force thanks to her shockingly high pleasure affinity and couldn''t resist coming inside the room to get involved like a dog in heat!.. Which was also an extraordinary mood killer! Bellona had been secretly looking forward to Ares'' sturdy hand working its magic so she was in an especially foul mood right now with this stupid sister of hers. In this moment, she understood how Enyo must have felt yesterday morning after being denied that which she craved, not that it made it ok for Enyo to do this to Bellona in return though! Bellona throttled Enyo and shook her sister back and forth while Ares slowly crept out of the room. As he exited, he wished Enyo the best of luck because wrestling with the gorilla was a futile endeavour if ever there was one. He heard shouts such as ''STUPID BITCH'', and ''SHAMELESS SLUT'' coming from the room behind him as he fled to the kitchen to go start prepping breakfast.


    Ares was admittedly a little curious to know what was happening back in the room but he could kind of already guess. Bellona was locking her sister up in all sorts of wrestling holds but Enyo was getting many a chance to cop a feel on her unguarded sister so who was winning in this situation really? It was a tough call but Ares came to the conclusion that Enyo was the victor in this particular scenario because she had enough guts and pain resistance to shake off her sister''s brutish assault and enjoy the sensation of her body in the moment instead.


    Ares had made the fatal mistake of assuming that dumping Appa on Enyo would keep her busy but, really, if he could do that, then she could dump Appa on someone else too! As he passed by the living room on the way to the kitchen he''d noticed Calla playing ''I spy'' with his daughter and that cleared up any questions he may have had about who Enyo pawned Appa off to. Then again, anyone would do as far as Enyo was concerned. Even if Trew was the only person here she still would have handed Appa over regardless. Enyo wasn''t haphazard or anything, it''s just that Appa was impossible not to get along with no matter who was looking after it. Anyway, point being, Bellona had been cock-blocked. Or rather finger-blocked. She could take out her pent up stress on the pagoda challenges so... Maybe this had been helpful? Ares decided it was best not to dwell on it or bring up the issue again later otherwise it would just set Bellona off and she''d go around headbutting everyone to vent her anger.


    As everyone had a busy day ahead of them, Ares prepared some hearty breakfast sandwiches. Or rather he cooked all the ingredients and then left them on the table for everyone to make their own with the selection of options available. As a general rule of thumb Ares preferred to let people choose what they wanted rather than make something specific and lock them into that and that alone. If he could give them a choice, then why not? All sorts of breads and sandwich fillers lined the tables so the chances of someone not finding something they liked was incredibly low. And it''s not like the food would go to waste or anything because what little was left afterwards, as there was never much that didn''t get eaten, would go straight to Leo''s stomach. He was like a food bin and had the ability to eat seemingly infinite amounts of food. Even if he did get full Ares could just store the leftovers and give it to Leo at a later date. He was a little shit, yes, but he was a useful little shit as far as chef Ares was concerned.


    Bellona and Enyo were the last ones to arrive, obviously, and they did so with scraggly hair and sagging pyjamas. One of the two had a beaming smile on her face and it was definitely not Bellona. Bellona just looked tired of her loony sister, like she''d given up all hope of ever opposing her in any meaningful way. As Ares had correctly predicted Bellona won the battle of physical strength but lost the war on physical contact. The woman in the headlock was somehow not the one who was being humiliated! Apparently Enyo had even managed to sneak her hand inside Bellona''s pyjamas which got a yelp out of her. Enyo had saved that particular audio into her brain immediately. Enyo was still working on the memory share art because it just seemed like something invaluable to her. She wouldn''t need to carry cameras around with her in her spatial ring anymore! Plus she knew Ares was going to be venturing off to God only knows where with some frequency so, rather than detail every single thing that happened while he was away, she could just share her memories with him and be done with it. When he became the sect leader she could catch him up on various happenings in mere seconds and not waste time on the boring stuff. In turn, this meant she could drag him to the bedroom quicker! Was her end goal a selfless act of kindness to make her husband''s life easier? Partly, sure, but it was mostly for her own gain and she had no shame in being upfront about that! Also, to add onto that, if she made the other wives learn it then they could all share their tales of bedroom bliss with each other! Yes Ares and Enyo were going to have a lot of fun with all of them but they would all probably learn to get along with each other in their own ways too; forming their own dynamics with one another. How their relationships all panned out had yet to be seen but Enyo likely wasn''t going to be the only one going around and partaking in the other wives'' bodies. She knew that and wanted in on the action, hence her dedication to creating the art.


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    Anyway, everyone ate their food and set off with different locations in mind. Ares and Bellona split off from everyone else to go to the pagoda which made Enyo jealous for some reason... Actually, Ares knew the reason. It wasn''t because Bellona was going to be with Ares, no, it was because Bellona was going to get to see Candy! Well nothing was stopping Enyo from doing that whenever though as she''d already made it to that floor yesterday, so chances are whenever Bellona ascended to floor three Enyo would also come and join her. All of Ares'' wives were going to be together in the same location and Ares wanted nothing to do with that noise, no sir! Plus he''d already said his goodbyes to Candy so returning would just make things hard for no reason again. It was for the best if he didn''t intrude in their friendly gathering... Yep, for the best... His best! Having three wives in the same room... A blank white room with nowhere to escape too... Ares shuddered at the thought.


    Ares said his goodbyes to everyone and reminded them he was going to be gone for a long while. If they needed anything then they should either send someone to wait outside the pagoda, where he''d be respawning frequently, or if it was urgent talk to Transmit. They ran the pagoda so maybe they could force him out... That or Loris could probably teleport inside. If there was one thing Ares learnt after his last visit from the guy it was that he didn''t give a damn about where Ares was, he would find him. That ominous slogan ended up being truer than true as these people really defied expectations when it came to delivering mail and parcels.


    Ares led Bellona to the pagoda; occasionally, at her behest, putting some pressure on her to get her used to the feeling. Ares kept it light at first but increased the quantity as they walked. Considering she had no practice resisting it she did quite respectably. Towards the end she was getting tired from the weight dragging her down to earth but Ares was using a fair bit of pressure here so she was to be commended for her progress thus far. Most ordinary people couldn''t output pressure to the same degree as Ares so if Bellona could deal with his pressure, she could deal with pretty much anyone else''s in Sheryashka with relative ease. By the time they arrived Bellona could comfortably withstand about 25% of Ares'' pressure without faltering. It wasn''t much of his total but it was a lot compared to what an average wielder of pressure could dish out so she felt at bit more at ease jumping headfirst into the pagoda. Plus no one could ever withstand Ares 100% regardless thanks to Dominus'' bloodline.


    Rather than go in blind Bellona had now experienced first hand what kind of trial was awaiting her. Plus being exposed to pressure like this generally made it easier to start using it yourself so this wasn''t just the kind of thing that would help her deal with floor one. Ares'' pre-pagoda trial would help her throughout all of them! What a kind husband! That or maybe he was just paying her back for the headbutts with his pressure. Either or really. It was hard to tell because he was the kind of person who would lend a helping hand to his wives without question but his spouts of laughter during the ''help'' made Bellona question his integrity... Not that Ares had much, if any, to begin with though. Integrity was not integral and so he would not integrate it into his way of being!


    Ares brought Bellona with him to the Transmit employees sitting off to the side and asked them if Bellona could have permission to skip the line. As Enyo had also already gotten the same treatment they had saw no reason to deny Bellona and thus she became the third envy of the queuing folks behind her. Watching these women go in just ''cos they were banging some hero or whatever was infuriating!... Although it did also mean a few of the women were attempting to send Ares amorous glances because they were getting fed up with the queue. Ares simply ignored them... And had to hold Bellona''s hand otherwise she would probably start headbutting people in the crowd. She nearly went ballistic when she heard a few of the men comparing her to her sister and wondering why Ares was also dating someone with such a ''flat'' personality in comparison, even going as far as to call her the ''ugly duckling''.


    Ares sighed when he heard this nonsense because this was something Bellona was going to have to familiarise herself. She was undoubtedly going to be hearing a lot of these types of comments in the future. Of course Ares wanted to beat up those clowns too but if he stooped that low it would never end. He would have to beat up more than half of Red Sun if his goal was to silence criticism or comparison. In the end Ares did manage to whisper some calming words into Bellona''s ears... Namely that if she wanted revenge she could do it on the first floor of the pagoda... Bellona may or may not have decided to wait around at the start and get some payback on a few of the more vocal idiots in the crowd. Was waiting for upwards of an hour just to kill someone and reset their position in the queue petty to a level that awed even Ares? Yes. Did Bellona give a shit? Hell no! She had unending patience when it came to getting revenge. She wasn''t Enyo, she wouldn''t ignore this stuff and walk away without at least plotting how to make her umbrage known at a later date. Still, Bellona gnashing her teeth and narrowing her eyes while she planned a million and one ways to kill these people was something that Ares found attractive. It was kind of cute, like a baby tiger baring its fangs at onlookers in a zoo. Though in this situation it was probably more like a grown tiger leaping out of the enclosure and mauling everyone but Ares still got a chuckle out of it because they would live after anyway as there was no actual threat to their life if they were killed in the pagoda... For the most part. Ares did almost die in there but that was a completely different matter. Besides Bellona clearly had no intention of going that far to begin with, she just wanted to make these fools learn how to be polite! Ares wasn''t against teaching people lessons about manners the hard way if they deserved it. Enyo would undoubtedly disapprove of Bellona''s ''methods''... But she wasn''t here right now! Bellona may have been Legion, to an extent, but there was going to be no guaranteed justice when she was around!


    They went up to the door at the front and were both scanned. Bellona was dragged into the first floor while Ares was tossed to the fifth. The cold night air verified his location before he could even see the dark sky or the cracked and cobbled pavements outside. And of course there was Veteran, seated against the wall and brooding away. This guy wallowed in his misery a lot but Ares understood it to some degree. If Ares lost his connection to the destruction pillar he would be pretty distraught too. Also having a connection to all things in life must have made being separated from that connection really difficult for the poor guy. His life support had essentially been pulled and now he was just an empty husk with no joy left to speak of... Ares wanted to beat him up! It was for his own good! The sooner Ares kicked his ass the sooner he could inform him there was a way out of his predicament. He didn''t want the guy to go easy on him though so that information was kept tucked away inside Ares'' noggin for now.


    Veteran looked up and saw a familiar face. He usually didn''t make an effort to remember anyone but this kid, and one other that came here recently, stood out to him. The elf was also a fundamental champion but he was weaker than this one at a glance. Maybe his magic was more powerful or whatever, Veteran didn''t know or care, but he definitely just felt weaker. Like he had less presence and conviction in his actions. Veteran did give Mako credit for outdoing him in the pressure enhancement percentage department as the kid rocketed past his 80% and ended up with about 88% usable pressure. He was les capable of utilising it properly than both Veteran and Ares so it made little difference unfortunately but it was still a feat to be proud of for him. It almost felt like a waste to have such an incredible percentage of available pressure on someone who wasn''t particularly talented in melee combat. What was most interesting about the elf kid was the conversation he had with his floating rock right before Veteran killed him. Mako had hidden on another floor to catch his breath, exactly like what Ares had tried to do, and talked up a storm with Terros. Veteran, rather than interrupting and killing his target, was curious about the details of the long conversation they were having so he eavesdropped. It was here he realised the floating rock was a God he himself was vaguely aware of and that the elf, and by extension Ares, were really big deals if they had Gods aiding them personally. Above all else, the most important part of the conversation was the fact that this pagoda was expected to be completed soon and by a fundamental champion no less. As Terros explained to an annoyed Mako that Ares was the one destined to succeed Veteran was taken aback because he couldn''t fathom how that was possible. Terros only mentioned that the kid, Ares, had ''advantages'' that would enable it and nothing more... Veteran wanted to see it and, more importantly, he wanted to be free. There were no answers for him here and he was tired of keeping his hopes up only to have them repeatedly dashed time and time again. In some ways this was more torturous than just accepting his cursed fate, not that either option was preferable in any way.


    Ares used his pressure enhancement and, right off the rip, Veteran could tell it had improved somewhat. Not by much really but the improvement was noticeable and that meant it wasn''t exactly small either. Jumps in pressure availability for enhancement were quite rare after it had settled so Veteran couldn''t help but wonder how Ares did it. Maybe it was one of those herbs? Apparently the elf kid had two of the damn things so maybe they weren''t as rare anymore as they used to be? As the effect of the herbs was limited Veteran didn''t expect Ares'' leap in pressure availability to happen again. Over the course of the day he would come to realise his expectations were wildly wrong, enough to actually make him curious about something for the first time in however many thousands of years. That was yet to come though, right now it was time to kill his opponent and return to his seat. If things outside the pagoda were as per usual the kid would have to queue up for a while after his loss, giving this version of Veteran some time to relax and drown in self-pity. If this kid really did have some means of taking Veteran down he would deal with it in his own way by using the trick up his sleeve he was keeping in reserve. He wanted out of the pagoda, yes, but he wasn''t going to lose on purpose just for that; he had some pride left in him after all. He was interested to see what manner of trick Ares had up his own sleeve to push him that far though. It had been a long time since Veteran donned the silver pressure cape and a part of him wanted to do it again. All he needed was a reason. The question was, could Ares actually give him one? Or was he just going to be disappointed for the millionth time?

 Chapter 159: The First of Many Fights Between Ares and Veteran

    One by one, Ares cracked each of his knuckles. This was entirely pointless because, chances are, he was the only one going to be getting punched here but it set the mood damn it! The unofficial bell was rung when a precariously teetering three legged chair collapsed on the floor, encouraging both fighters by reminding them no amount of damage they could do to the building via their brawl would leave it in a significantly worse state than it was in already.


    The air whistled as Veteran dashed up to Ares and threw a punch not dissimilar to the one that had taken him by surprise last time. Ares was more than prepared, however, and could react to it in a timely manner. Whether it was because Ares was aware of the sneak attack ahead of time or because he was able to wield more of his pressure for his enhancement this time around he didn''t know. What he did know though, was that raising both his arms to block was both a great and terrible decision. Yes he stopped the pain train from connecting with his face and making his head spin again but now his arms were cracking under the weight of Veteran''s fist, making it harder to use them going forward. Ares clearly couldn''t go blow for blow with Veteran yet as his pressure enhancement still needed a lot of work so his best option would have been to dodge... If that was even possible against this guy. When Veteran followed up his punch with a kick Ares decided to put his theory to the test by ducking under it and advancing towards Veteran.


    Whoosh


    The wind pressure Veteran''s kick generated was enough to ruin Ares'' plan as, although the duck had been successful, the sheer force of wind had pushed him down into the ground and immobilised him. Also, calling his dodge ''successful'' was a bit of a stretch because giving Ares a chance to dodge in the first place had clearly been Veteran''s goal from the start. A heavy hit to persuade Ares to dodge followed by an attack that could be dodged but really shouldn''t be had left Ares in his current predicament. He had to put all his strength into lifting his knees just to raise up off the ground and jump over a sweeping kick from Veteran that would have severed his body in two. His right foot was barely caught by the attack, however, and half Ares'' toes were blasted into smithereens, leaving a bloody mess of pulverised flesh in the gap of his torn shoe.


    Ares'' wobbly landing as a result of his injury was an open invitation for Veteran to run him down and strike the defenceless Ares so he charged at him while readying his fist to deliver a final blow. Even if Ares could manage to stumble forward and block, all Veteran had to do was deliver his heavy strikes repeatedly until Ares couldn''t muster any more resilience and took the deathblow head on. With his mobility curbed Ares was like a fish on a chopping block to Veteran. So much so that Veteran actually got distracted by thoughts of sushi. He was a human being at the end of the day and so his mind was prone to wondering when his body was on autopilot. The man liked sushi and he''d been stuck in this pagoda, never having eaten anything, for far too long. Accidentally bringing up fish, even if it was just as a simile, was enough to bring back memories of better days... Maybe he could ask this kid to bring him some sushi from outside? Most participants that made it this far were rarely if ever talkative so maybe he could probably get a small favour out of this chatty Ares fellow the next time he came in. He would''ve asked him now but Ares was likely about to die and it was too late to stop it...


    ...


    Actually, it had been a while since Veteran had swung his fist. Originally, when his punch didn''t connect with flesh, he assumed it was because Ares hadn''t thrown up a block in time... Now though Veteran was reconsidering that assumption so he brought himself back to reality and paid attention just in time for a boot to kick him square in the jaw. Veteran''s face barely twitched, and the foot just kind of sat on his face while Veteran came to terms with what was happening, but what remained true no matter how many times Veteran blinked in a bid to annul this bizarre dream was that he had been kicked in the face. Booted in the brain. Toed in the teeth. Punted in the prefrontal cortex. No matter how he worded it Veteran''s face had become intimate with Ares'' shoe. As for how this had happened exactly, Ares'' ''wobbly landing'' had been an intentional ruse from the start to lower Veteran into a false sense of security. The tripping backward motion Ares faked was actually just a way to transition into a roundhouse kick. Normally Veteran would have dealt with this effortlessly but allowing his mind to dwell on other things, less important than the fight at hand, meant this was the second time Ares had hit Veteran during the trial. Unlike the first hit during his first attempt, Ares didn''t have to sacrifice his life to get it either. More than a little mad at having been embarrassed in such a way, even though it was entirely his fault, Veteran grabbed Ares foot and slammed him into the ground off an overhead throw. He tried to step on Ares'' face to return the humiliation but Ares deftly rolled out from under all of the repeated stomp attempts.


    To escape this awful situation Ares threw his Stygian Zephyr at Veteran to temporarily blind him, giving Ares a chance to rise to his feet and fend for himself in a better position. Veteran swiped aside the feathered cape but couldn''t find Ares as the tyke had disappeared...


    Whoosh


    Veteran had sensed an incoming attack from his right and ducked to avoid Ares'' ambush attempt. Back when he threw the Zephyr away, Ares had reattached it to his back, causing it to drag him along off to the side while he was still hiding behind it. Veteran hadn''t just flung away the cape but also Ares too, allowing him to sneak up and launch an attack uncontested. And it didn''t end there either, Ares had copied Veteran''s force of wind trick and the kick that sailed over his head had been a bait from the start! Ares'' couldn''t immobilise Veteran in quite the same way he''d had it done to him but even just slowing Veteran''s movements for a brief window gave him the upper hand for once. His arms were still out of shape from the very first attack and so the power behind Ares'' oncoming punch was hardly impressive to Veteran but what really mattered here was that he had no choice but to take it. The kick to the face had been nothing more than negligence but this punch had been earned the hard way by one-upping him... And it had been earned extremely quickly too. A clean, no strings attached and no sacrifices made, offensive on the second attempt... Maybe Ares was a better combatant than Veteran had given him credit for.


    Of course Dominus'' ancient knowledge had a lot to do with this but Ares had inherited a portion of his skill seamlessly. Just because someone had the knowledge of how to do something that didn''t mean they could replicate it without a sweat. Ares was talented in his own right it''s just that it was buried underneath all his gimmes. Dominus and the destruction pillar overshadowed any of Ares'' latent abilities but they did exist! It would take him a while to find a way of showcasing them but, one day, he would. It also happened to coincide with his desire to learn a weapon that Dominus was unfamiliar with, a weapon that Dominus had made an effort to learn a while back but shied away from due to... Certain complications. Namely a very overprotective Grim Reaper who was fond of his position, being a bearer of the reaper''s mark, and actively... Dissuaded anyone who attempted to get good with the scythe. See there was no such thing as a ''scythe exemplar'' because the ''reaper'' technically existed long before the exemplars. It was a position given to anyone with sufficient talent in the weapon and the only way it could be taken was by beating the current reaper in a one-on-one duel. When the reaper wasn''t busy being summoned to various places to kill various targets for various reasons they were typically, actively, chasing down scythe wielders and beating them into submission to prevent them from developing their skills any further. Being a reaper had benefits and so keeping the competition down was extremely common with reapers.


    Dominus didn''t even really care for the position all that much but was still ''paid a friendly visit'' by the current reaper who... Well... Kicked the shit out of him before leaving Dominus cut in half on the floor. The reaper threatened to do worse if Dominus ever picked up the scythe again before disappearing to fuck knows where. The reaper was always simultaneously a well-regarded and infamous individual who was considered the pinnacle of scythe mastery. Their duty was for the common good, undeniably, but the tantrums they threw when anyone tried to usurp their position was always legendary. Whatever benefits they received were clearly not small for them to be so overprotective. That or they just really enjoyed being the peak of scythe wielding. Anyway, point being that Dominus took the reaper''s threat very seriously because the guy was, to put it simply, overpowered. His scythe wielding was miraculous and Dominus felt like even he couldn''t catch up to it so wasting his time on it was pointless if it would only bring trouble to his doorstep and nothing else.


    Ares, however, was a stubborn mule and learning any of this in the future would not stop him, not even remotely. Even when the ''fight'' between Dominus and the reaper was relayed to him, and the clear difference in strength made apparent, he just wouldn''t give a damn. In fact, if anything, it would just spur him on as that was the kind of person he was. As for how he would beat the reaper and what his plan for that would be exactly... Well he wouldn''t even really have one... And yet, somehow, by a stroke of miraculous luck, that would be the defining factor that pushed Ares over the edge. Ares would go on to wield the scythe in a way no one else ever had, mostly because it was deemed stupid beyond belief, and the strangeness of his techniques would propel him to great heights. Heights attained unassisted by any of his inherent advantages. That was yet to come though and right now he was still fighting for his life inside the pagoda.


    His punch landed on Veteran''s one arm and there was no fanfare here. His punch was lacklustre and led to nothing. Ares knew this would happen but he was content with at least this for now. He had hundreds of attempts at this floor yet to come so even something small like this was a win worth celebrating in his head. It meant it was possible to beat this guy! Even if he had to land a thousand of these small hits at his current power level it could theoretically be done. Plus he was passively getting stronger as his pressure enhancement became more and more developed over time anyway so, by the time he reached full strength, it would require considerably less than a thousand strikes to bring Veteran down. Currently he was wielding a little over 20% of his max and he was already capable of forming an offensive, pitiful though the result was. That was a good sign success was a possibility at some point. Of course Veteran had his own ace up his sleeve for a rainy day but eventually Ares would likely be able to overcome that too.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Veteran regained control over the flow of the fight and refrained from carelessly allowing his thoughts to drift away from the battle. He didn''t want to be taken for a fool again so now the fight was steadily looking more and more grim for Ares who was receiving blow after un-contestable blow. Veteran''s strikes were too fast to dodge and too powerful to keep blocking forever so Ares could feel his defence crumbling by the second. He tried to make use of the fact that he had an arm up over his opponent by blocking with one and swinging with the other but that made no change to the current status quo as Veteran was capable of blocking the strike and retaliating in one swift motion. All it did was force Ares to take the brunt of his foes attacks with one arm instead of two, meaning he was mitigating less of the force and sustaining more and more injuries.


    Ares took a quick step back and pulled off his Zephyr again to block Veteran''s view. It was a cheap trick and nothing more but it was easy to keep executing thanks to the fact that he could regenerate the cape on demand even if he needed to throw it away. Ares had infinite means to block Veteran''s vision so, while he was still too weak to win head on, he decided to make full use of that as it enabled his tricksy plan of action. If Ares couldn''t overwhelm his opponent directly then underhanded means were next on the list! To that end, when Veteran next saw Ares after swiping away the fathered cape again, and attempted to punch him without quite understanding why Ares'' eyes were now glistening red, Veteran received another boot to the face while Rox was blown up on the spot by Veteran''s punch. Rox, the mimic that had allowed Ares to dupe people for the second time now, would be ok. He was currently standing outside the pagoda and minding his own business until Ares came to pick him up and put him back in the Blade. He''d become rather obedient ever since he realised Dominus would help him ascend and become and powerful creature. Also he was still scared shitless of Ares but that was its own matter. A few of the onlookers were wondering why Ares'' eyes were red now but when Rox bared his giant maw at them everyone turned away and refused to look at the demon spawn any longer. They had a multitude of questions but when Ares, the real one, respawned later and they saw two of him standing side by side, a lot of those questions would be answered... Not that they wouldn''t also have more as a result of this strange situation.


    Back in the fifth floor of the pagoda, Veteran was really not happy with the way things had just transpired. Sure he was annoyed about receiving a second kick to the face in a single fight but what he was truly angry about was Ares circumnavigating the rules by bringing out a pet! Yes a pet was neither magic nor a weapon but come on! The rule was implied! Ares had done it because he wanted to get at least one more hit in before he lost, and Veteran knew this, but that didn''t make his scoundrel tactics any less devious! Ares would never have attempted to win like this, and he was really just being annoying, but Veteran couldn''t bring himself to calm down. Clearly he''d been going too easy on this kid up until now and he was starting to feel comfortable making a mockery of him!... Then again, the kid was a revenant... That was par the course really. Veteran had genuinely forgotten how insufferable revenants were, they were always the type to pull stupid stunts like this and then go on smiling without a care in the world. Well this particular revenant wasn''t going to be having a good time for much longer. If Ares was capable of landing a hit more than once then Veteran was going to up his game and put even more pressure on by levelling up his enhancement by a degree. As for why he''d been holding back, this was still a place of learning primarily. His job was to teach people to maximise their efficiency with, and control over, pressure enhancement.


    Ares retracted his foot before Veteran could grab it but he was mysteriously teleported out into the hallway... And he seemed to have a mysterious dent in his forehead! Ares knew the answer, he''d been beaten up again! Veteran''s strikes had become considerably faster and Ares had been socked so hard he wasn''t even aware of it until the pain started kicking in across his body. ''Teleported'' into the hallway? Nope, he''d been punched out here. The violence had ramped up and Ares was back on the back foot. There would be no way out of this but still he tried to return to old tricks by pre-emptively tossing his Zephyr at the doorway. If Veteran ran through it he would be blinded yet again and Ares could try his luck with another sneak attack.


    BANG


    Rather than go through the door, Veteran simply blew a hole through the wall as he''d been expecting Ares blinding trick again. He was one step ahead and that step was being taken on Ares'' face. He''d repaid his debt in full by smacking Ares'' head with his own boot and sending the guy rolling down the staircase with a bloody cranium. Ares was too dazed and disoriented to stop himself and the constant bumping of his head wasn''t making the situation any better. Before his falling body could even come to a halt at the bottom of the flight he was tumbling down he felt Veteran''s foot flatten him against the step he was on. Veteran''s fist was raised high into the air and would come crashing down on Ares'' skull in a matter of seconds but Ares wasn''t going to go quietly into the night! Ares threw out his own punch to block Veteran''s and everything above his wrist exploded on contact.


    "AGH!!"


    He couldn''t help but yelp in pain as bits of his hand splattered everywhere around him. Still, he wasn''t deterred as he kept forming a blade of pressure on the heel of his foot. He tried digging it into Veteran''s foot but was having difficulty piercing his pressure enhancement. While this was happening Veteran raised his fist again and Ares prepared himself to sacrifice his other fist... What was the point of this futile struggle really? Make a small hole in Veteran''s foot and claim a moral victory? Feel some pride at having made a dent? Yeah, that too. But really the most important thing to Ares right now was practice. He operated well in high stress situations so he wanted to try and overcome his current limits here even if only by a little. It was a great opportunity as death was looming over him and that was the kind of pressure he needed to draw out every last bit of effort hiding within him. He couldn''t increase the amount of pressure he could use as that was a natural process that happened with time but he could improve his control over what he currently had available to him. In the cultivation world every little mattered. Ares threw up his other fist and, once more...


    SPLAT


    And there went Ares second hand. His fate was decided and it was a grim one at that. Veteran''s fist raised once more but, before he could bring it down and onto Ares head, Veteran felt a small prick in the back of his foot. That small prick became a tiny cut and was progressively becoming a bigger and bigger wound. If Veteran didn''t put Ares out of his misery soon he would have a long gash in his foot with a stream of blood pouring out of it. So, to prevent that, down came Veteran''s fist onto Ares skull. The last thing Ares managed to do before departing from the pagoda was quite clever as he inserted some of his normal pressure into Veteran''s bloodstream. His non-physical pressure was boosted by Dominus'' bloodline and, no matter how incredible Veteran was, he couldn''t resist the rampaging pressure creating a ruckus inside him. Ares was dead and gone but the pressure he''d injected through the last minute wound was still fighting and doing harm, arguably more than Ares himself had done. Veteran could resist the physical attacks as they were weak currently but the pressure was another matter entirely. He was forced to take a seat and remove it all bit by bit otherwise it would keep tormenting him for a considerable amount of time. It wasn''t an issue though as it would be a while before the kid returned because he would have to sit in the queue and wait for hours on end. Actually, Veteran believed the reason Ares took so long to come back between his first and second attempt was because of said queue. Never in his wildest dreams would he imagine Ares casually went back to his house to host a dinner party for his family. Given his misunderstanding, the look of pure shock on his face when he noticed Ares return to the room almost immediately after his beating was pretty self explanatory. Was there no queue? The queue was such a massive problem that the people on floor five, despite not usually being talkative, would occasionally huff and puff while complaining to themselves about the length of the wait. Even someone like Veteran, who''d been stuck inside the pagoda and never seen head or tale of the queue personally, knew how bad it could get just from second hand complaints alone! Why was the kid back?! He had to know... "Ares... How did you get back in here so quickly?"


    "Oh that? I have a deal with Transmit. I have ties to the founder of Transmit and they expect me to beat this pagoda so I get a free pass on the queue. Pretty nifty, eh?"


    "Uh, sure..."


    "Yeah so, in other words, until I kick your ass, you''re gonna be seeing a lot of me."


    "Hmph, you sound awfully confident. Don''t think those small hits you''ve been accumulating mean anything. I''m aiding your growth but you''ll hit your limit eventually."


    Ares smirked as his cocky attitude reared its head for the first time in a while. "Yeah, maybe, but not before you do."


    "Whatever you say kid... Why has your pressure enhancement percentage gone up again? This is the second time I''ve seen it increase... Do you have some of those herbs like the elf kid did?"


    "What? No. I only gained the ability to use pressure enhancement shortly before I entered this floor. My body is still playing catch up."


    "You''ve only just learnt enhancement?! How much of your total pressure are you using right now?"


    "Now? About 21%, close to 22. It should keep increasing for quite a while."


    "Only a fifth... How much of your pressure can you use overall?"


    "Heh, why so anxious to know ahead of time? Weren''t you confident I would hit my limit soon? Why not keep it a surprise so you can find out for yourself just how much gas I have left in the tank? I''ll give you a hint though, it''s a lot!"


    Admittedly, Veteran was a little worried after hearing this... If the kid had upwards of 80% there was a non-zero chance he might actually lose to Ares for real... Even if it was just 80% total pressure Veteran wasn''t convinced he would be able to maintain a 100% win rate against Ares and might slip up during one of their bouts. If it was 85% total pressure then Ares would be able to guarantee cinching a victory at some point. 90% and Veteran would now have real world competition that was equivalent to him. 95% and suddenly Veteran was completely trumped and would no longer be the top dog in town regarding pressure enhancement... 100%.. Was surely impossible so he didn''t even entertain the thought. How utterly preposterous that would be...

 Chapter 160: Ares’ Rune Doom Is All but Confirmed

    Ares was booted out of the pagoda for the umpteenth time today and yet he had no intention of backing down! However many deaths and however many days it took him he would be here ramming his head against the brick wall that was Veteran. The only reason he hadn''t gone right back in immediately this time was because he''d been given an odd request to go and find some sushi for Veteran... If it was a food request, Ares would oblige! In fact, rather than make it himself, he would even go and get some from the best sushi place in town! A short break wouldn''t hurt and Ares was more so hampered in his attempts against Veteran by time more than anything. His pressure enhancement was still slowly getting better and better in the background so idling for a short while wouldn''t be an issue. Not that Ares wouldn''t be doing anything in the meantime, he would still be running pressure enhancement constantly to improve his control over it and reduce the amount that leaked off and became useless. Ares took off from the pagoda and was briefly tempted to go and check in on the Red Sun team but, honestly, he wasn''t expecting them to have any issues. The team they were facing would be stronger than the last one, sure, but that wasn''t saying much considering how the last match went... Anyway, sushi awaited!


    Meanwhile, over in the Scorched Grounds coliseum


    The Red Sun team were not the first to compete today so they were seated on the top floor alongside the matriarchs and their respective kin. It was surprisingly not as awkward as you might have expected but, then again: Scar and Tyr respected one another, Venus was always after Phobos, Bellona and Enyo were married to Ares, Skyzo and Pele were cute together, and Palioxis had a long standing ''rivalry'' with Fate. As for that last one, for some strange reason, Palioxis was assured of the idea that Fate wanted Phobos. No matter how many times Fate made it clear she didn''t Palioxis never quite believed her. Still, Fate was less of an enemy to Palioxis than Venus was so Fate was tolerated comparatively. They squabbled to no end but it was the same sort of back and forth that Allie had with Trixie. From an outside perspective their arguments were rather adorable because it was like watching two porcelain dolls puff up their cheeks and pout at one another. Puppies playfighting is what they were. They had similar combat styles too so they always felt like the other was constantly stepping on their toes for whatever reason. At their core, though, they were both happy to have a friend that was similar to them. They both struggled to show any form of affection, friendly or otherwise, so this kind of tit for tat comradeship suited them. All in all, despite being in warring families, the main branch of each got along well... Apart from Major obviously but he wasn''t relevant. It just went to show that the war was utterly pointless for most people. Sure there were some diehard supporters, and there were probably more in favour of it to some degree than there were people completely against it overall, but the people who really mattered didn''t care at all. It was more of an inconvenience than anything. Some of the other Legion and Umbra Wolf members in the crowd were eyeing each other up and looking for a chance to go at it with one another. For now it was still just various young clan members lurking around but, later on in the competition, the elders would likely start showing up. Right now they were out and about gathering information so they didn''t bother wasting time on unimportant matches that didn''t even involve their clan members. Well Enyo had a match today but she wasn''t on the main team so showing up for one person, ace or otherwise, was a bit unnecessary. They knew how strong she was and that she was basically unstoppable. Watching her early matches were pointless... Although they were still gathering information about her and Bellona''s relationship with Ares.


    As for the match that was currently underway... There was something fishy afoot. So much so that it even garnered a response from the matriarchs that went something along the lines of ''ooh'' and ''aahh''... Wait, no, that was just their reaction to the pastries they''d picked up before the match started... Aside from Ares'' meebles, that were being sold by Onno around the venue, they''d also done as they said they would and visited the famous patissier, Shu. They were enjoying their cakes with gusto but that wasn''t the point! The real issue about the match they eventually brought up was quite simple.


    ""They''re cheating.""


    Down in the combat arena the team with the iciclops, the very same team that Mako had singlehandedly dismantled earlier this week, were stomping their opponents into the ground without breaking a sweat. It all looked a little too easy, like their opponents weren''t even trying, but that wasn''t really the case. Everyone had their doubts but only the matriarchs could really see what was happening. Serene was the one who ended up explaining it to the younger group. "They''ve messed with the Training Field... No, that''s not exactly accurate. The Training Field was like that from the start. Whoever set it up must have tweaked it to benefit that team with the iciclops specifically by weakening their opponents magic output. It''s simple enough to handicap a person with a Training Field but this person must be quite skilled to hide it from the prying eyes of the other runemancers here. I think everyone with a decent amount of strength is acutely aware there''s something untoward going on but only we can tell what it is exactly. Like the A.O, the C.O don''t get involved if they don''t have concrete evidence. The way the match is going to pan out is obvious. Iciclops are known for having tremendous physical strength so, if the other team''s magic output is reduced, they have no safe means of combatting it. The iciclops will just go on a brute force rampage and soak up any of the weakened retaliation. It''s not a small change either, it seems like their magical efficiency is between 40-60% lower than it would normally be. Well, not that these fools will get far relying on something silly like that anyway. Either someone will figure out their trick eventually and there''ll be serious repercussions, or another team might just beat them anyway even with the restrictions in place. The iciclops is the biggest problem but if it can be felled the other combatants don''t seem to be anything altogether too impressive... Actually, Enyo, if your team wins your next match you''ll be going up against them, won''t you? Will you tackle them head on or call them out?"


    Everyone craned their heads towards the woman in question because they were curious as to how she would handle the situation. If she knew about their misgivings calling them out would be a simple matter... Or should be, anyway. The matriarchs could tell what the rune affecting the contestants did but they wouldn''t necessarily be able to point it out. Knowing how someone was cheating was irrelevant if it couldn''t be proven so fighting was the safer option. Making a ''false'' claim would probably cause issues and may even lead to the accusers being disqualified if their claim lacked substance. On the other hand, fighting at a disadvantage could lead to an upset if they weren''t careful. This team was shaping up to be a problem for a rather stupid reason so the answer on Enyo''s lips had interested everyone before she''d even uttered it. Surely the justice oriented Enyo would want to bring their crimes to light and expose them? She shrugged without a care in the world and opened her mouth. "Don''t know. Doesn''t really matter though."


    ...


    Well she was confident at least! She''d become pretty powerful as of late so maybe that was why she''d been so blas¨¦ in her response on the matter? Was she not taking the threat they posed seriously? Did she have some kind of backup? Where they not worth paying any attention to? Now everyone just had more questions on their minds but, luckily for them, they needed not ask them as Enyo could already foresee the barrage of questions coming her way if she didn''t head them off here. "I don''t care because Ares will almost definitely be out of the pagoda by then and one of three things will happen. A; he''ll use his Omniscience and locate the rune himself, allowing him to call them out without making any mistakes. B; his destruction magic will likely be capable of brute forcing its way through the rune and remain unaffected as it is a legendary magic after all. C; something completely unpredictable but highly effective nonetheless. Knowing Ares, I''m going to lean towards the latter but, really, any of the above are possible. Ares is basically a living cheat code so if these cheaters think they''re the only ones with some kind of advantage they''re going to learn the hard way how wrong they are. Even if it doesn''t come down to that, though, and Ares doesn''t return, I''m pretty sure I can take that iciclops by myself. If push comes to shove, Aejaz has a trick up his sleeve too that would get us out of any tough situation. In short, they are not a concern to us in the slightest. They should be more worried about upping their game before we meet and making sure to hide the rune properly. Losing is one thing but if they get called out after then it would just be even more embarrassing. Cheating and then losing... They will not be looked favourably upon at all. At the very least their home country will not tolerate them, that''s for sure. Death at the hands of the C.O might actually be preferable to punishment at the hands of their fellow natives." And thus spoketh law. She was the captain of the team anyway so her decision was final and there really wasn''t much of a reason to disagree with her either. She''d clearly thought it over and come to the conclusion it wasn''t worth fussing over and her reasoning for that attitude was solid too. If there were that many layers of safety nets in place then going into the fight blind wasn''t really an issue. Now the only question was whether Ares would show up and what exactly he''d do about this nonsense if he did. Then again, Ares wasn''t the kind of person to pick option one. If he was going to expose the rune, he was the kind of person who would do it after the beating to show how pointless it was in the first place...


    Now that that discussion had been settled, and once the pastries had all been gobbled up, two of the matriarchs, that being Calla and Rhea, turned to Serene with dangerous smiles on their faces. Apparently their discussion at the banquet about Serene''s mecha dryad had been halted back then because it ''wasn''t the time or place to discuss such things''. There was no reason not to discuss it now though! Worse still was the fact that Rud had given her the dryad back, for a small price, in front of the other two matriarchs so there was no bullshitting her way out of this one... Why was she about to be punished?! It was her that lost the mecha dryad! So what if it attacked their children, they shouldn''t having been nosing around! Though this was partially what Serene believed, she dared not say it out loud lest her inevitable beating become worse than it was already bound to be...


    While lumps were administered to the elven beauty the match below was taking a similar course as the iciclops ran rampant, crushing all of its foes under its large fists or its huge feet. For most people fighting this monstrosity without magic was nigh impossible and that was doubly true for the team on the losing side right about now. They were primarily magic specialists with little to no close-quarters prowess so this fight was a slaughter. Their supporters in the crowd found it hard to watch. Everyone knew these guys weren''t going to win or anything but to go out like this... It was rough. What made it worse was that they were all clearly trying to the best of their abilities. Some had grievous wounds and were still fighting until their last breath. Their performance was admirable it just didn''t matter in the end. In fact, by the end, when the winners were crowned as such, no one really felt anything towards the match other than gratitude it was over. The entirety of the match just felt off to everyone watching even if they couldn''t pinpoint why exactly. Maybe it was all just a fluke? A lot of the fans of the team that lost would pay a close eye to the iciclops team''s next match to see if there was any tomfoolery going on but right now it was all too late. The losing team dejectedly left the stadium with their heads hung low, thankful for the fact that, at the very least, they weren''t being booed. They were perhaps the most confused of everyone as they couldn''t fathom why their magic was so weak compared to usual. As they were hesitant to chalk it up to cheating they simply assumed the pressure had gotten the better of them in the moment and that it was their fault they let every one of their supporters down.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Back up in the stands, Calla and Rhea''s ''deep interrogation'' had also concluded and Serene was leaning sideways on her seat, struggling to lift her bruised body. She had a black eye and a busted lip so it was apparent that the negotiating on her end hadn''t gone so well. Still, her healing magic fixed her up in a jiffy as she wobbled back into an upright, non-slouched position so she could regain her regal bearing. You couldn''t keep a queen-like lady down forever! While Serene re-applied her messy makeup Margaret asked Calla a question that was somewhat relevant to the match that had just occurred. "Calla, mutt dearest, if they hired a new runemancer to create the Training Field, doesn''t that mean the revenant regeneration rune hasn''t been added to the Training Field?"


    "Hm? Oh, no, don''t worry about that! I spoke to the organisers beforehand! For all... Almost all of the matches it will be in place!"


    "... Almost, huh... I mean I get why you''re doing this to Ares... But still... Whatever, he''s not my child so do unto him as you please..."


    Enyo perked up because this discussion sounded interesting to her. She''d heard Ares mention something about an unknown rune and it seemed there was some foul play afoot! Either Calla needed to be stopped, or she needed to be encouraged! Enyo would find out which and act accordingly! She inquired about the matter and received a response from Calla that left all of Ares'' Sheryashka family wide-eyed when they heard it. No wonder this sly wolf was looking forward to her prank! It was actually something that was somewhat important to her and, well, now it had become important to a few other people here too. Namely Enyo and Appa as they were both VERY interested in seeing the result of not applying the revenant regeneration rune during Ares'' matches! It wouldn''t necessarily work immediately but there was non-zero chance they would get to see exactly what they were after. Bellona would no doubt also be ecstatic to see it, probably even more than Enyo, but she wasn''t here right now so Enyo would relay it to her at a later date. It did leave Enyo with a question though...


    "If that''s what the rune does... Then why didn''t this happen earlier... The conditions were met during the inner court trial but I don''t recall that happening back then... I think I would have noticed if Ares changed that drastically..."


    "That would be because of me." Fate jumped into the conversation with a wry smile. "I noticed the Training Field didn''t have it so I threw it in for Ares'' sake. It would have been awkward if that happened as it would take a little over a month to fix and he would basically be near enough helpless during that period of time. At the time I still wanted him to meet with Calla for the Shock Bead thing so I thought bailing him out without his knowledge would give me a card to play at the negotiating table. Anything he''d accomplished during that month wouldn''t have been possible without my secret aid... Although that ended up not mattering, I guess."


    Enyo pat Fate on the head and gave the gremlin a smile. They hadn''t gotten along at first but Enyo was slowly coming to terms with the kind of person Fate was and that she only had the best intentions for her family even if she was a troublemaker at times. Plus now she was Enyo''s family so her tolerance for the critter had gone up a bit. Anyway, Enyo had her answer and that explained things. Now it was just a matter of waiting and hoping Ares fell into the trap. It happening wasn''t an absolute but, if it did, oh boy, they were going to have fun at Ares'' expense for a whole month straight!... Well Enyo wouldn''t be able to make love to him during that time period for various reasons but it was a sacrifice she was ready and willing to make... And if that didn''t show just how excited she was for this, then nothing would. Enyo foregoing sexy time in the bedroom wasn''t a dissimilar notion to that of flying pigs or hell freezing over... Flying pigs did actually exist though so maybe that wasn''t a good comparison... But that was irrelevant. Everyone wanted to see this, so much so that even if Ares didn''t meet the conditions during the tournament, they might find other ways to force it afterwards regardless! Ares did not have a say in the matter! He was going to learn the purpose of that rune the hard way without fail!


    While everyone was chit chatting, Mako got up and started to leave. Not because he was tired of being here or anything but because his match was next up and he was going to go to the waiting room. It was infinitely better than sitting here and watching his mother get beaten up while his arch-rival was mentioned repeatedly. Ares this, punch Serene that blah blah blah... Mako was feeling indignant that, once again, Ares wasn''t here to watch his match! It''s not even like he could call the guy lazy or anything because he was currently training in what Mako would consider his own personal hell. He was actually rather worried because if Ares was meant to somehow win in that pagoda then he was seriously no push over... Mako had been seriously underestimating Ares but, really, who could blame him considering the kind of unapologetic idiot Ares acted like on the day to day? It was like arriving in the underworld and being poked in the ass by an imp with a pitchfork every day only to realise years later the imp was actually the devil in disguise and he ran the entire show! This was the second metaphor for hell Mako had associated with Ares and for good reason! The bastard belonged there!


    He descended down to the ground floor, found his team, promptly ignored them, and sat around waiting for the go signal. He didn''t really care for his team members because they both didn''t interest him nor did they care about him. They''d made efforts to avoid him because of his passion and ambition and they were off-put by his dedication. Mako could be quite intolerant of people he thought to be lazy and/or not trying their hardest. Not even just in the cultivation world but in all pursuits. It was that personality that culminated in a lot of misunderstandings or, in some cases, a perfect understanding of who he was. Some people actually were lazy or not interested in reaching the pinnacle of their chosen profession and having a person like Mako around would drive them insane eventually so they either stayed away or didn''t talk to him. In that regard, Ares was one of the few people who gave Mako the time of day... Even if it was just to mess with him half the time! Still, Ares didn''t toy with him out of a sense of maliciousness so Mako put up with it. As for how competent his team was... Mako didn''t even really know. They weren''t impressive in the way someone like Enyo was so he didn''t care to find out. Either Mako would be capable of winning by himself, and the match was a guaranteed victory, or he wouldn''t be able to do everything and the match would be a guaranteed loss. If there was anything that could overcome him it could just as easily overcome the rest of the squad. To that end, working together with them was pointless and Mako was hoping Ares, when they finally fought one another, would be willing to have a one-on-one duel. Yes it was supposed to be a team competition but who cared about that? If Ares was allowed to fight Mako alongside Enyo... That alone would be a loss waiting to happen. Throw in Aejaz too, although Mako didn''t know that yet, and it would be an absolute wash. Both from Mako''s perspective as a fighter looking to improve and compete, and the perspective of a spectator wanting to enjoy their entertainment, the outcome of their match would be more interesting that way. He couldn''t force Ares to agree but, luckily, he didn''t think he would have to even if he could. Mako hadn''t known Ares that long but he had a gut feeling he would get was he was after, the duel he''d been craving.


    In comparison the fight he was just given the green light to go attend was boring. Mako was somewhat of an elitist and he genuinely didn''t believe anyone who wasn''t a generation defining prodigy, or another fundamental champion, was worth his time. He knew enough about the opposing team to know he didn''t care about them at all. There were a few teams worth keeping in the back of his mind but these guys weren''t that. He''d already made an example of his opponents the last time he fought but he figured he would do it again. If he could make any of his future competition forfeit and save him the hassle of having to be here then he could go back to the pagoda and maybe train a bit... He knew deep down he would never beat Veteran but that wasn''t an excuse to give up and stop training. After all the shit he''d given Ares yesterday, standing around and watching him try to improve himself while Mako was beating up clowns was humiliating. Ares had been proven right and Mako was chomping at the bit to not get left behind. There was still time for him to go there after his match for a while so he just wanted to get this thing over and done with.


    Last time he''d just used some magic to summon neon pillars and batter his opponents instantly. He could probably do it again but he wanted something with a bit more impact. If there was anyone in the crowd who was still underestimating the fundamental champions Mako would give them something to change their minds... Also, if Ares wasn''t going to show up, then Mako needed to pick up his slack and bolster their reputation. They needed to be irrefutably exceptional existences, that was their job. Ares not participating was a bad look so Mako would counteract it here and now. it wouldn''t be a case of ''Ares must secretly be weak so he''s cowardly avoiding the matches'', it would be a case of ''Ares is probably as strong as Mako and so having him on the team would be overkill to the extreme''. That was what Mako needed to make everyone think. Regardless of anyone else''s opinion about the elf, he did care about his job. The fundamental champions should have a good reputation with the people and, although Mako primarily wanted it to be as a result of their strength, he did put in a lot of effort to make it happen. He was oddly considerate about such things and he was aiding his fundamental champion allies in his own ways. To that end, after he walked to centre stage, after the horn blew and signalled the start of the match, he channelled his first art of the tournament by chanting three words. Three words that would become the start of a downpour of many more, initiating a word chain.


    "Alpha And Omega."

 Chapter 161: Who’s the Disputed Undisputed Number One?

    Word chains are a simple concept. They are a game that can be played for fun provided you have another person available. After saying a word, the other person would also then say a word but it had to begin with the letter that the previous word ended on. For instance, if person one said ''cactus'', person two would have to pick a word that begins with ''s'' like ''sky''. Person one would then have ot pick a word that begins with ''y'' and it keeps going until one person can''t name a word that hasn''t already been said. Typically, to make the game shorter, this game is played in categories such as place names, names of celebrities, animals, etc... Although most commonly known as ''word chain'', it''s also sometimes referred to as ''the name game'', ''last and first'', and, more importantly, ''alpha and omega''; the translation of which fittingly means the beginning and the end.


    In the case of Mako''s art, it was especially fitting as him chanting it signified the start of the match and, by the time it was done, would bring about the end of it too. See, Mako''s game of Alpha And Omega wasn''t quite as fun for the person, or people, he was playing it against. Or rather, he didn''t even give his opponent a chance to play in the first place... And worse still, every word he spoke brought about the corresponding object into reality via neon holograms that would seek out and attack the enemy automatically, like heat seeking missiles.


    "Bullets. Sword. Dynamite. Eel. Lava. Avalanche. Elevator..." As Mako spoke, his neon holograms were brought to life via magic and they assailed the enemy team without pause. Mako didn''t take a single breath but he didn''t let his foes take one either without being swamped in a hail of bullets before being forced to dodge a 30ft projection of a sword that came crashing down into the arena. As the dust cleared from the impact, each of the combatants found a vest of dynamite strapped to their chests they had to desperately remove before they met their explosive ends. One enemy wasn''t quite so lucky and lost half his body as the nerves had kicked in and his shaky hands couldn''t grip the vest properly. Before the rest of the team could even breathe a sigh of relief having escaped their perilous trial tens of electric eels began swarming their location and leaping at them from all angles. Amidst the shocking onslaught a looming shadow crept over everyone before a tide of neon snow smothered the entire arena. Another member passed away from suffocation while the others fought with all their might to resurface, only for one to be immediately crushed by a rapidly falling elevator. The worst part was that they knew what was coming as Mako''s rambling was loud and clear in everyone''s ears, they just could do nothing to stop it. By the time one misfortune had manifested it felt like three more were already in motion. This was not an art that could be beaten, it had to be endured until the caster needed to stop. Unfortunately for the team being dismantled at record pace, the hard truth was that Mako was nowhere near his limits and could keep this up for, at minimum, another five minutes if he so chose. And that wasn''t even the worst part, no, they were about to find out the hard way just how unfair fundamental pillars really were. Yes Mako was currently summoning random objects, whatever took his fancy, but this art and his pillar could easily transcend common sense and he was about to prove it.


    "... Runoff..."


    The enemy team gasped in horror and gave up on the spot while the spectators recoiled slightly at the revelation taking place before them. Runoff was a normal word, sure, but it was also a little more than that... It was an art...


    "... Flamethrower. Rivers Run Red. Drag Traps. Stick ''N'' Ticks. Swipe Right. Thunder Strike."


    There was little point to resisting the incoming pain train and, quite frankly, it was nigh impossible anyway. If the other team couldn''t handle random nouns being thrown at them what chance did they have against full-on arts being sequentially deployed in their direction? Runoff was an art of the surge aspect that summoned a considerable amount of water to bog down the opponents feet, slowing their movements and even altering it via the flow of the water. The stronger the cultivator the more they could push their foes around by controlling the pool under everyone''s feet directly. Also, as was common with the surge aspect, it paired incredibly well with the lightning pillar for obvious reasons.


    Next up was Flamethrower. This art was a common one and there was no particular combat-oriented reason for Mako to have chosen this, he simply wanted an art that began with ''f'' and ended with ''r'' to meet the criteria of his word chain while leading into another art he wanted to cast. The Flamethrower did scorch one of the remaining opponents to death but Mako was no longer even paying attention because, quite frankly, he didn''t have to. His neon arts were firing off all by themselves and he needed no input to make them anymore effective than they already were.


    Rivers Run Red was a combination art between the surge aspect and the drain aspect. Long story short it converted any water the cultivator could summon or control into a parasitic liquid that sucked away the blood of any opponent touching it. This blood red water could then be morphed into blood magic and attack the enemies in any shape or form the user wished. It functioned as a method of gaining access to the opponent''s blood for easier casting for the haemomancer in question and had a wide variety of uses. Currently, the Runoff had been affected by this magic and had become even harder to move in than before. Water was one thing but wading through blood was harder given it''s thicker consistency. Plus blood spikes were constantly impaling the last two team members who were flailing about with no plan of action in mind. The neon silhouette of the blood river buzzed away and numbed the legs of anyone touching it as an added bonus. Mako''s holograms had a sort of ''fizzy'' feel to them as they vibrated around their outer edges constantly.


    As was evident by this next art, Drag Traps, and the one that followed it, Stick ''N'' Ticks, not only could Mako create neon versions of common arts but he could also create runes and gadgets with but a single thought. None of this was limited to his Alpha And Omega art either, he could cheat them out in seconds whenever he wanted. Most runes and Gadgets could take hours to prepare, if not more, and yet here was Mako, deploying them in two to three syllables at most. As for what Drag Traps were, they were an art of the formation aspect that created runes on a solid surface that could ambush anyone that stepped on them or near them. As the floor was currently covered completely in opaque, bloody water, these were basically invisible to the opponents who were dragged next to them via the pull of the water. When they detonated there was no harm done to the victim but they would instead be pulled to the centre of the rune and kept there for a few seconds in a form of mobility lockdown. The pull was extremely hard to escape from so it was typically used as a means of guaranteeing a follow up attack while they were stuck inside the rune.


    The Stick ''N'' Ticks Mako generated were hollow neon constructs but they packed no smaller a punch than the regular versions. Mako''s neon copies of the arts he replicated barely ever lost any power if the art in question was a simple one. More convoluted arts would be watered down somewhat to keep the pillar in check but the variety on offer, and the ability to hurl them out without any breaks, was already ridiculous enough as is. Plus this was more so a temporary setback than permanent problem. Mako likely wouldn''t have any drawbacks later in life when his cultivation went up and he experienced his apotheosis to Godhood. Even the temporary apotheosis form he could achieve early on wouldn''t have this setback but, then again, the temporary apotheosis form was essentially the real thing just with a time limit. Ares would get his own too and that came with it''s own benefits but it was achieved via a cultivation realm that existed beyond the transition realm so it was still a while away in that regard. Back on topic, the gadgets Mako had summoned out of thin air were actually not thrown towards the two trapped opponents. Instead of spreading out the Ticks they were grouped up into the side of the arena right up against the wall and the reason for this was simple...


    The Swipe Right Mako conjured formed with time to spare, thanks to the Drag Traps doing their part, and came swinging towards the last two opponents as it tore through the air. The hologram crashed into the two combatants and outright killed the front most one by crushing all of his internal organs... Or, well, they were internal at one point. Most of them had gone flying out of his skeleton and splat against the far wall. His blood simply splashed down into the Runoff and became a part of the art still tormenting the final, broken opponent. The last guy had been battered and thrown headfirst into the pile of Ticks that, one by one, all started making their incorrect-but-highly-recognisable trademark beeping noises. The countdown to demise echoed through the arena and those who were adverse to witnessing gory explosions averted their eyes and waited for the inevitable.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG BANNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    As though Ares had been called in to deliver explosive deliverance from this mortal coil, a cascade of detonations descended and a cacophony of booming blasts rung true. Body parts were strewn about in the pool of blood drenching the bottom twenty centimetres of the arena. Legs swam, arms drifted, and heads rolled as they sunk below the Runoff. Initially Mako had expected maybe one or two competitors to make it out alive of this hellhole bombardment of arts but he was sorely mistaken so his last art served no purpose other than cleaning up the mess before him. From the heavens a cleansing Thunder Strike tore into the Runoff, violently eviscerating a majority of the art and all the remains stored in it. A crater in the centre of the arena was all that was left of the Runoff that had once existed there and the few bits remaining at the edges of the arena were slowly trickling into it. It looked like a ritual site with crooked veins of blood performing some kind of ritual as they swam towards the centre to open up a portal to the afterlife where the previous victims were currently residing.


    Such a half-hearted effort from Mako and yet his little game had won the match so easily and so quickly. This was but a single art in his arsenal and, even though he put a bit more effort into this fight than his last one, he was still holding back a fair bit. Naturally he was saving the best of the best for Ares but there was also no need to go overboard on these nobodies who couldn''t even hack ten or so seconds of him spitting random words at them. He''d even stuck to plain old objects but, when he saw they were even weak enough to die even to that, he just whipped out the arts, runes, and gadgets to end this farce. The only thing worth doing here was looking up at Eagerton, who was glaring down at him, and smirking at the posh prick!


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Eagerton would kill for the flexibility of this pillar. Having to write down his creations instead of just willing them into existence from the mind was a tedious process. Plus Mako could outright cast copied arts without the need for a treasure and they were much stronger than those from Plagiarism. The limits of Eagerton''s wordsmith aspect were quite strict because of how versatile it had the potential to be but being a fundamental pillar meant creation was free to do basically whatever it wanted at a moment''s notice without a long list of drawbacks. Part of why Mako was so utterly detested by Eagerton was because he viewed Mako as a philistine without a single creative bone in his body. The creation pillar, according to Eagerton, was ''wasted on a talentless chump like him''. To some extent this was true as well as Eagerton''s mind operated at a faster rate than Mako''s when it came to creativity. Eagerton would have better solutions to problems and more unusual means of attacking his foes but that was just a difference in approach. Eagerton preferred unexpected and difficult to deal with means of attacking while Mako liked to brute force things with sheer quantity and quality. Just because Eagerton would have been smarter with it that didn''t mean he was a stronger candidate for wielding the pillar, however. Mako took full advantage of the sheer power of the pillar in a way Eagerton would be hesitant to do so as such a brutish approach would be something he was reluctant to ever gravitate towards, thus lowering his efficiency with the pillar. Mako''s main method of fighting with this pillar hadn''t been shown yet but it was simply the kind of thing Eagerton would never do even though it was arguably one of the best ways of utilising the pillar. That was the main difference between them and why Eagerton wasn''t the chosen champion. The pillars had given their champion choices a lot of consideration and thought long and hard about the pros and cons of each individual. There were no mistakes in that regard no matter how much Eagerton disagreed.


    Once Mako was done rubbing his pillar possession in his failed rival candidate''s face he went back towards the waiting room to exit the coliseum and head over to the pagoda. His job here was done for now and more important tasks awaited him. There were a lot of skills he wanted to train up before the big fight and, right now, pressure control was one of them. Terros had loosely briefed him on what kind of tricks Ares was packing and Mako needed to be resilient to at least some of them if he wanted to make it out of the Training Field alive when they duelled.


    As for where Terros had been during all of this, he was sleeping inside of Mako because the match was a waste of time as far as Terros was concerned. One of the things Mako did best was train and train with dedicated concentration. Mako, in Terros'' mind, should be spending all of his waking moments honing himself not for the sake of the tournament but for the sake of the world. Still, his fight against Ares, win or lose, would be good motivation so he said nothing on the matter. Now that Terros sensed Mako was about to train, he woke and prepared himself to give advice where it was necessary. That was his role after all and, unlike a certain dumb lizard named Ignizz, he was actively fulfilling it. Honestly, by the time Ares found that stupid reptile, he probably wouldn''t even need him anymore. Hell Ares already had a contract with a God as is! Anyway, point being that Mako was lucky to have Terros by his side as he was a brilliant mind and provided excellent aid via his suggestions. And right now his number one suggestion was to train in pressure until Mako could safely flee from a close range brawl with Ares. the last thing Mako should ever want is to fight against Ares up close and personally with his noodle arms. It bared repeating because the elf was prideful and he would rarely admit when he was outmatched, even attempting to prove the opposite no matter the risks that came with his actions. Yes he was heading to the pagoda primarily to learn how to defend himself... But Terros knew that, subconsciously, there was a part of him that wanted to win. Wanted to beat the pagoda before Ares. Wanted to enhance himself with pressure better than Ares ever could. Wanted to beat Ares at his own game. It would never happen and Terros needed to remind him of that lest he get carried away. Mako was really lucky to have the perceptive Terros by his side as other Gods wouldn''t have picked up on this subtle desire just barely radiating off him.


    When Mako arrived at the pagoda...


    "Yo!"


    ... A familiar voice called out to him. Something was slightly off about the voice however and, when he turned to face the person responsible for said voice, he realised it was because Ares was currently chewing on some sushi. His gob had food in it but still he gave his greetings and Mako was tempted to slap this fool for being impolite! Then again, Ares had intentionally opened his mouth when no one was looking at him. Is it a crime if no one saw you do it? Ares finished eating his food by swallowing what was left of the tuna in his mouth before offering Mako some of the goods he had on him. Ares bought a lot because he was going to be here for a while so he didn''t mind sparing some.


    "Want some sushi? It''s good stuff. You''re pretty new to Red Sun, right? A lot of real great food around here if you know where to look. Won''t find better sushi in Sheryashka I''m sure... Well the Freeride Federation might actually have a place that can compete what with all the rich merchants,  nobles, and the readily available supply of fresh fish but you catch my drift. Anyway, as I was saying, you want some?"


    Mako scoffed and summed a hologram piece of sushi that he promptly ate instead of Ares'' offering.


    ...


    ...


    "Don''t try and hide it with silence, I bet that magic food tastes like shit." Ares tilted his head as he looked at Mako who was being unnecessarily defiant.


    Mako recoiled slightly and sighed. "Painfully average. I can make it taste better when I improve my cultivation but... You know... That doesn''t help me right now... So can I actually have some of yours?"


    "Only because I pity you..."


    "Then why were you offering it to me in the first place? That first offering wasn''t out of pity. You being nice to me is rare you know? What do you stand to gain from this you cretin?!"


    Ares snorted as he offered Mako the sushi in spite of his blatant rudeness! "Two reasons. One is that you are a fellow fundamental champion and I don''t hate you because there''s no reason too. And two, the pagoda is right there and I can escape from you whenever I want. You aren''t so bad when I have a way out of the conversation at my disposal."


    Hmph


    Mako snatched up the sushi and took a bite... "Shit, that''s really good... You weren''t kidding... Where is this place? I''m gonna want some more."


    "Down the street, take the second left, third right, first left, and it''s on the left corner at the end of the road. Oh and I also did you one more favour already. I figured you''d show up here so I asked the Transmit guys to allow you to skip the queue. They probably would have let you do that regardless if you asked, what with being a fundamental champion and all, but I asked just in case and you''re good to go... Still gotta pay though, even I can''t escape the stardust toll... These cheapskates are milking my piggy bank dry... Guess it''s my fault though. Wouldn''t need to pay ''em a dime if I just beat Veteran... Guys a real tough customer though. I wonder if he''s the strongest person in the world? I should ask him. I''m sure he''ll answer my question if I bribe him with the sushi. Actually, Terros, do you have any clue? You should be just as, if not more, informed as Veteran no?"


    "In some ways yes, in some ways no." Terros floated in front of Mako as he responded to Ares. "The world''s strongest is an interesting question because there are three different answers depending on who you ask. None of those answers are Veteran, I should add. People like him, Dominus, and Caribou are impressive, certainly, but there are clear standouts that reside in the league above them. If we''re talking about the number one agreed upon existence, that would be Astraeus, the current space-time God. He does most of the work fending off Xhilihx for now and has existed longer than any other entity throughout all of history so the strength he''s accumulated in that time is immeasurable. The problem, though, is that not many people are aware of his whereabouts or know that he can''t really exist in our world for too long without it causing issues. He hasn''t shown up in our dimension in hundreds of thousands of years so whether he even counts for this debate is dependant on the individual. Personally, I still consider him the strongest even if he doesn''t live in our dimension because he is uncontested.


    As for the other two, one is a woman I know absolutely nothing about. She isn''t a recluse, per se, but she lives in quite a strict society that really doesn''t let in outsiders, or let out insiders. They are a mute planet in which sound is not permitted and a hierarchy determines everyone''s fate''s from birth. Making even a single sound in that domain is a death sentence so information rarely ever comes or goes from that place. Supposedly this woman, with an undying loyalty to her planet, is the strongest known cultivator but no one really knows much about her and she, like Astraeus, appears in public infrequently. I think Veteran might know a tad bit more about her but you''d have to ask him directly. As for the last option, he''s the only person on the list that is easy to find and actually interacts with the world at large. He''s a bit off a goofball in his own right and if you''re trying to have a serious conversation with him then I wish you luck. Still, his strength is self-evident and he''s basically a God in his own right even if has yet to ascend to the position. The God that might as well be a rumour in the wind, the woman everyone is aware definitely exists but rarely sees, or the guy everyone and their mother has heard of and probably even seen once or twice. Take your pick. Anyway, the reason I suggest asking Veteran is because he knew the strongest guy personally, and that guy has met the strongest woman. It''s a two for one information special. Unfortunately I have no suggestions for you if you''re interested in Astraeus... He''s impossible to seek an audience with even for us Gods."


    Boy is this rock gonna have his pebbles drop when he sees what I have in store for him... The more he hypes Astraeus up the more he''s going to shit himself when the robo is contractually summoned and beats his ass. Ah well, you know what they say, sometimes it''s better not to meet your idols. Ares was very nearly tempted to bring a camera to his match with Mako to capture Terros'' shock in the moment but, like Enyo, he too planned on learning the memory sharing art. It just seemed useful both as a social tool and one of convenience for skipping long conversations and getting quick rundowns. Ares was going to see all sorts of nonsense going forward so if he couldn''t explain it with words, allowing his conversation partner to simply visualise it would be a great help. "Yeah, I''m about to head in so I''ll ask Veteran about it, you know, before he kills me again. We get along him and I, at least when he''s not pulverising my face or just generally treating me like a sandbag anyway. I''ll be on my way so good luck with whatever it is you''re doing here noodle arms."


    "Hmph..." Mako was about to retort when he realised Ares was ignoring him and disappearing into the pagoda... Ares really wasn''t kidding when he said he had a way out of the conversation whenever he wanted...

 Chapter 162: Davey Do and Ayane Ensemble; World’s Strongest

    Ares waggled some sushi in front of a confused Veteran before laying down his terms of exchange. "You want sushi, I want info. Dealio?"


    "... Depends what kind of information you''re after. I have my own loyalties and won''t leak anything important about people who''ve put their trust in me."


    Ares rolled his eyes and handed the sushi over. "It''s not that serious, don''t be so on edge all the time. Anyway, I just wanted to know about the strongest people in the world. Well, not Astraeus, I already know all there is to know about him. Apparently there''s some woman who lives in a mute society and a quirky goofball guy? Terros mentioned you probably know ''em so now I wanna know ''em!"


    "That''s not really an issue but why? What brought on this curiosity?"


    "Hm, well I guess I''ve been meeting all sorts of people recently who live in the realm of the Gods or around it and it got me wondering who''s at the tippity top of cultivator society. You, Caribou, Dominus, Terros, etc... I know I won''t actually meet any of these people for real for a long time but that doesn''t mean I can''t learn a little more right? I also like to have a good idea of who''ll be friend or foe so the more I know the more informed a decision I can make regarding how I handle these people."


    "Well they really aren''t people you''d want to make foes out of, I''ll tell you that at least. Especially not Mettle Bats. That''s the guy''s nickname and for good reason. He''s got mettle, he''s bat shit insane sometimes, and he''ll swing a metal bat at you if you get on his bad side for whatever reason. His real name is a bit more tame, Davey Do if I recall correctly. Not many people call him that anymore because his nickname sort of just stuck. He roams around and does basically whatever takes his fancy. He makes no effort in hiding himself so he''s always easy to track down and if there''s a disturbance he''s usually in the middle of it, if he didn''t outright start it. Don''t ask me why but he travels around with a pretty powerful kangaroo that he''s extremely protective of so don''t attack it, or make it mad, ''cos then you''ll have to deal with Davey. The kangaroo''s pretty strong too, mind you, supposedly about as strong as me currently without my magic. Just like your mimic, his kangaroo has evolved and is quite the creature. I don''t know anything specific about it, though, as I''ve never personally sparred with it. I''ve heard the rumours that it beat someone else who was roughly as strong as me so take that as you will. As for Davey himself, his magic is just really annoying. He gets stronger the longer he fights and his opponent gets weaker too. This effect just keeps going forever and, you might not know this, but fights in the upper realms can sometimes take thousands of years to conclude. It makes him a real menace to deal with if you can''t beat him quick and, quite frankly, no one can. His single greatest trait is his toughness and spirit of will. He basically never gives up which lets his magic scale until he can beat you. Put simply, he''s annoying. He puts you on a timer and then acts like your punching bag until you become his. Plus it''s not just that you get weaker, you actually temporarily lose your cultivation base. You can regress and lose certain benefits certain realms provide you. For instance, he could fight you and take away your mental accumulation realm, stripping you of all your mental arts. He can even remove a God''s status if he tangos with them for long enough. Anyway, point being, if you''re going to fight him you''ll want to make it a fast affair otherwise you won''t win. Hell you might not even be able to run away depending on how much he weakens you with his magic. Of course his kangaroo will also join in the brawl as well so don''t expect a fair fight. Still, he''s an alright person once you get to know him. He''s not quite a friend of mine, more so a close acquaintance, but even still I can tell he''s not as crazy as his actions make him out to be.


    As for the woman, everything I know is second-hand information from the mouth of Davey. Take it with a grain of salt but know that most of it is probably true even if a little exaggerated. Anyway, according to Davey, the woman''s name is Ayane Ensemble. She''s a bit of a tricky subject. If we''re talking raw power, even without magic, she trumps Davey. She''s a proficient sword wielder and practically unrivalled with the weapon. If she were to ever use her magic she may even rival Astraeus. There in lies the issue though, she has an astonishingly impressive affiliation for the sound pillar... You can imagine how much of a problem that caused in her mute homeland. She was born under unique circumstances as new-borns are typically birthed within a runic formation that culls sound. Unfortunately, her cries tore through the barrier and were heard around the world. Her hair colour changed with every passing moment and it was as though the very essence of her being shifted with the pitch of her wails.


    The complication with her birth ended up in the death of all of her family in exchange for her life and eternal servitude to the rulers of her domain. The parents begged and pleaded before finally convincing the rulers to spare Ayane. It was obvious at a glance she was a prodigy, as her pillar affiliation was overwhelming, so she was kept alive under the condition she would forever remain silent and fight on behalf of her superiors. To this day she doesn''t know what her magic is or does because she''s forbidden from ever using it. Despite this she remains a powerhouse cultivator who is unrivalled in terms of technique. Visitors to the silent domain were permitted provided they obeyed the rules and were only there to challenge Ayane as they wanted to show off the power they wielded through her. She beat the sword exemplar, the God of the weapons pillar, Dominus, Davey, everyone who came her way. She was, and is, used as a subtle threat to leave the silent domain alone and not interfere with their politics lest they unleash her on the world.


    As for Ayane herself, she''s a poor girl who''s been compelled to loyally do as commanded until the day she dies. She feels no desire to rebel because she was raised in an environment where she was blamed for everything, the death of her parents included. She was taught the values of silence the hard way and supposedly beaten until she could take the torture without making any noise. They didn''t want a repeat of what happened during her birth, as that was an infamous incident in their world, so they were particularly heavy handed in their guidance with her. If she was ordered to do something, she was reprimanded and blamed for not being efficient in solving the issue even if she succeeded. in other words, she was subjected to gaslighting and indoctrination on a monumental scale since childhood. Nowadays she''s just a silent puppet with no emotion or cares in the world. She strictly adheres to the beliefs of her home planet and never hesitates to do as she''s told. Never questioning and never truly living either. Again, her magic remains untouched which is completely unfathomable. To become the strongest in the world without ever using magic is an extraordinary feat but it likely doesn''t matter. She''s not permitted to leave her domain and the rulers of it are reluctant to engage with the rest of the world so she never will either. The rulers are an incredibly shady bunch with their own demons in their closets according to various rumours. There have been talks of forming a coalition and invading the domain to sort out the uncooperative rulers as they make everyone else''s lives harder constantly. They make unreasonable demands and threaten the Gods, and various other domains, with Ayane to get what they want, living like kings in a world full of obedient slaves. Still, Ayane is a very real threat and there are others in that domain that command their own brand of respect too. Gathering enough people who both care and are willing to potentially risk their lives to sort them out isn''t easy. The way some Gods see it is that it''s a potential death sentence for something that doesn''t even affect them. Neither Ayane nor the common folk are worth saving in their eyes.


    And that''s roughly what I gathered from what Davey told me. There may some missing information but he swears on his life that Ayane woman is hideously strong. Of course I''ve been in here for a while so who knows if the general consensus on ''who''s strongest'' has changed in the mean time. There may even be new candidates I''ve never heard of. Anyway, knowing their names is good enough so you know who not to offend should it ever become relevant for whatever reason. Still, the only one you''re ever likely to see is Davey and he''s pretty easy to tell apart from everyone else thanks to his kangaroo if nothing else. It''s quite the trademark. There aren''t many people wielding a baseball bat strolling around cities with a bipedal animal by their side."


    "I see. Thanks! That was incredibly helpful. Is there anything you want to know as payment for your information?"


    "What percentage of pressure you can use for your enhancement..."


    "Nope, anything other than that."


    "... Be honest with me, can you help me? The real me with my curse, I mean?"


    Ares raised an eyebrow but didn''t answer just yet as he was curious. "What makes you think I can? Seems a little out of left field."


    "I''ve been thinking about it. I didn''t know much about the six fundamental pillars but I knew one of them was called ''destruction''. If a pillar called ''destruction'' can''t help me then there might not be any hope for me whatsoever. That''s you, right? Destruction? That was definitely what the pressure bullet you lodged in my brain gave me to understand anyway. That boundless aura of ruination reminded of me of my time at war when everything came crumbling down around me. It was nostalgic and yet horrifying. If that is the essence of your magic then maybe you are what I''ve been looking for all this time."


    "... What are you planning on doing if the answer is yes?"


    "Given that you would have withheld the information from me I take it you want to do this trial the hard way for whatever reason. Should you have the means to free me from this curse I assure you I will keep trying my hardest to retain this position until you usurp it from me, I would owe you that at least."


    "Then I guess my plans are changing. Yes, I can help you. It''s also not a complicated matter and I can sever the lingering magic easily even as I am now. The problem is I can''t reach you for a while because I have matters that need sorting out and I''m stuck within a sort of barrier anyway."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "I could break it."


    "No, you really couldn''t. Even the Gods struggled to get a weak clone past it. Breaking it is something only I can do unless you have the power to obliterate an entire dimension. My control over the source of the barrier is why I can remove it eventually. That being said, after I remove it, if you want to come to me then feel free. There is something I want of you though."


    "As long as I can do it, I will do it as soon as I am able to. Even if I can''t do it I will find a way to achieve it." Veteran''s voice picked up in speed and tone. Some of the perpetual gloom tormenting his person seemed to have vanished and his faith in life was renewed somewhat. Just knowing the solution existed was good enough to keep him going for now. If Ares had said no earlier he would have just committed suicide when he got back outside. His missing magic weighed heavily on his heart and psyche and had taken its toll for far too long now. Either it needed to go or he did. Hearing Ares say he could do it was a relief to say the least. "Even if you asked me to go and fight to the death with Ayane I assure you I would do it."


    "Nonono, nothing so drastic. I just want you to lend your name for a bit. You see..." Ares explained the Candy situation while also informing Veteran of the others that were aiding Ares in this cause. Really, Veteran was just the icing on the cake but his presence would also be reassuring to say the least. When Ares was done explaining the situation it was Veteran''s turn to raise an eyebrow.


    "That''s an incredible list of supporters you know? You''re going to become an incredibly important player in the highest tiers of cultivation society immediately. You''ll also be painting a giant target on your back as everyone you listed has enemies..."


    "So be it. Some things are more important. If you now had to rely on others to protect your magic affiliations would you not go to every length possible? utilise every tool at your disposal? I feel that way about Candy so making a few enemies is really nothing to me. Besides, considering the kind of person I am, I''d do that sooner or later anyway."


    "Revenant personality, huh? Anyway, I have two questions. One, where are you in the world? I want to find you as soon as I get out. Even if I have to wait outside the barrier for a few hundred years it shouldn''t pose any issues to me. And two, out of curiosity, why do you not want to just get this trial over and done with? Again I respect your decision but I do want to know. According to what you said the real Candy may be in danger, no? Are you willing to risk it for whatever your goal here is?"


    "Yes and I have to be willing to. There are two reasons I''m not asking you to give me a free pass. First of all, you are invaluable to me. There is no better place in the world to learn how to control pressure than this pagoda and you were the challenge set for me by the Transmit boss for a good reason. If I half-ass things here and now there will plenty of holes in my enhancement that I may not fix until I get another chance to meet you. That''s a huge risk. I don''t know what awaits me here, where I am now, but I have a feeling I''m going to need all the strength I can get my hands on to protect what I care about. As for my other reason, I need my clone that takes over the overseer position on this floor to be immaculate. He needs to have fully maximised proficiency in pressure enhancement because I need it to be invincible. What it will do for my reputation in the wider world is important and if it were to lose immediately I would become a disgrace. I can''t have people thinking my backing is the only threat I pose. I need to be an unknown variable that others shy away from to help protect my family. They need to understand that offending me is a grave risk and a fully developed clone, at max strength, is the way to do it. There can be no holes or flaws because it mustn''t lose. To that end I need to keep training with you as I mentioned earlier. Even when I''m finally capable of beating you I need to train further so I apologise in advance but I am not leaving this pagoda until I can squeeze nothing else out of it. As for Candy... I''m playing the odds game here. After all these years what are the chances a few extra days makes much of a difference? It''s a risk, I know it is, but it''s one that''s better taken than not. I have faith I''ll make it in time... I need to believe that and not concern myself with unnecessary worry. So please, if I can muster such a steadfast determination I ask that you don''t make me squander it all. Do not go easy on me or I will not forgive you. And I assure you I do not need you to ease up as I will overtake you in due time."


    "I believe you. If you didn''t have what it takes you would have accepted my suggestion then and there anyway. I don''t think you''re confidence is misplaced as you don''t seem the arrogant type. I will honour my word, I''m not so pathetic as to break it. It''s not even like doing so would benefit me anyway as I can''t force you to use your magic. I''ve spent so many years looking for a way out, I can wait a few more days to feel the sweet release from an endless search back in reality."


    "Right you are. As for your other question, I''m in Sheryashka currently, although I''ll probably emerge from a higher domain when the barrier is removed. I take it you''ve heard of the place?"


    "Mhm, back in my time it was famous as the birth place of Dominus. Never actually been there myself but I do know of it. I''ll be sure to pay a visit as soon as I''m done here. Even if it''s just one or two higher domains you poke your head out of I''ll be sure keep an eye out."


    "You could probably just follow the fundamental organisation as I imagine there will be talks with them about meeting up outside the barrier. Terros can set up a meeting, even though it will hassle him a bit, or maybe Transmit, so that''ll likely be the case. Anyway none of that can happen until I kick your ass so let''s get back to scrapping! I''m not done having you beat me to death just yet! My pressure enhancement is at 25% right now and still climbing so let''s do this!"


    "Seriously... How high is that number gonna go?..."


    "... Ah fine, I''ll tell ya. 100% BABY! WOOHOO! The Ares train has no brakes!"


    "..." Veteran couldn''t find the correct words to say in this situation. 100%... 100%... Clearly the world was changing and he needed to catch up... Maybe getting his magic back would allow him to fight on equal footing with some of these little monsters that were starting to spring up. He''d need to work and train hard to rebuild himself as the powerful cultivator he was once revered as but it was better than just letting everyone surpass him... Although there was clearly nothing he could do about Ares. Actually there was nothing anyone could do about him. The world''s strongest pressure and the world''s strongest magic? What was the answer to that exactly? Run and hide, that''s what!


    For the first time ever, Veteran was going to, eventually, experience pure hopelessness against a superior foe. According to his earlier calculations even if Ares only had 90% enhancement things would be rough for him, never mind 100%... And the worst part was that none of this took into consideration his bloodline ability to mix in his mana... This kid''s growth was steady for now but the second he added annihilation into the mix it would become, ironically, explosive. Under the restraints of the pagoda weighing him down, Ares at 100% enhancement, with annihilation mixed in, might actually be twice as strong as Veteran at his peak... Veteran was rapidly realising the fundamentals were truly in a league of their own. Sure the noodle arms elf in the other instance of this floor wasn''t doing too hot but even in pressure enhancement, clearly his weakest area of expertise, he''d still reached a higher percentage than Veteran himself. The fundamental champions were just on another level entirely so the whole ''who''s strongest'' question was probably irrelevant. Ares didn''t need to ask because, in Veteran''s eyes, he was and is the correct answer. Veteran had never seen anyone quite like this in all his time searching high and low throughout the dimension so he was fairly confident in his assumption. Plus he didn''t even know everything there was to know about this kid, so his assumption was based on half-baked knowledge, and yet it was still such high praise... 100%... Veteran couldn''t help but laugh at this number that seemed so far out of reach despite existing right in front of him. If he knew Ares had achieved this by cooking he might have actually gone insane and started laughing like a mad man.


    "Ah, do you want your magic back now? It won''t affect the real you but you can have it back here at least. Just as reassurance that I can actually do it and I''m not using you for my own benefit."


    "I mean I trust you to uphold your end of the bargain but yes, I would like to experience that nirvana again. I won''t be able to use any of it thanks to the pagoda but it will be comforting knowing it''s there. Plus my real self will get to experience it again, even if only for a brief moment, when I return with memories of it and that ought to brighten up my day. So please do."


    Ares walked on over to Veteran and placed his palm directly on the guy''s back. He was pretty good at navigating inside people with mana thanks to all his pressure practice from earlier so he could get to where he needed to go in a snap. Ares'' Omniscience was to thank for simplifying the process of locating the issue as Ares would have to do some serious digging otherwise. As for where the problem lay, it was in Veteran''s meridians. They had been coated in curse aspect magic which effectively meant he was being plagued by a series of runes!


    Curse aspect runes were devilish and specialised in long lasting negative effects that were hard to remove. They could induce comas, restrict magic, and force illnesses onto the victim until they were dispelled. Veteran''s brother had been good with this type of magic even before he stole Veteran''s affiliations. Afterwards he basically became unrivalled and so removing one of his specialised curses was nigh impossible because no one was good enough at runemancy to do it. Plus normal runemancy was a little different from dealing with cursed runes to begin with which only further complicated the issue. The number of people who were experts in this particular field was not high so Veteran had been deeply screwed. To some extent, curse aspect magic was frowned upon and considered taboo just because of how difficult it was to remove... And yet here was Ares, disintegrating the problem with minimal effort. Dabble had mentioned it once that people would pay a great deal of stardust for Ares'' services in this regard as removing curses from loved ones was a talent people sought after desperately. This was a perfect example of how right Dabble had been. Ares'' destruction magic was important on a large scale because there were plenty of annoying magics out there that were hard to deal with or remove and had no realistic solutions to escape from. Once word got out that Ares could cure Veteran the demand for his services would not be small. It was likely the fundamental organisation would pimp Ares out to these people and that was fine as the payment he received in return would be quite substantial.


    As for the current moment in time, Ares was progressing quite nicely as he washed away the curse magic bit by bit. Because the curses were so high quality he couldn''t do it instantaneously but the fact he could do it at all was mind blowing in and of itself. Even if an expert in curses could, theoretically, dismantle this, it would take them a few million years of working straight without breaks. Even then that was a low ball estimation and the more accurate guess would be tens of millions of years. So in that sense, so what if it took Ares five minutes?!


    Veteran could feel it working. One by one his affiliations were returning to him and the spirit of life, as well as energy he didn''t even know he had, were filling his veins. Colourful mana of all kinds washed away the impurities in his body like a liquid, cleansing rainbow that de-tainted him thoroughly. The air he breathed was cleaner, his skin was smoother, and his complexion instantly became that of a healthy man. A single tear was shed as he closed his eyes and stared at the ceiling while Ares worked away at his meridians. Life was finally worth living again.

 Chapter 163: Take One’s Lamp Lumps

    Ares had learnt how to fly! Ok, not really, but he had just been thrown off a rooftop. In his quest to damage Veteran even a single time, he''d ran straight to the top floor with the intent of leaping down the entirety of the building and using the momentum to increase the force behind his attack. In a vacuum this was a great idea, in practice it was not. He thought he''d snuck away from Veteran successfully but he''d actually just been followed by the guy in secret. As soon as Ares reached the top of the building he was planning on calling out to him to bait him into walking outside and into his line of sight. He would then jump off and stomp on Veteran''s head... As Veteran had been right behind him the whole time, Ares was simply punted off the building via a boot to the spine. Luckily this fall wouldn''t be lethal if he fixed his posture and landed on his feet but that didn''t mean he was some kind of cat either. Landing in this manner was not going to be pleasant and he was only willing to tolerate it provided he got a hit in against Veteran. As that was obviously not going to be the case, this was just pointless! This was also the second time he''d attempted to gain some kind of advantage by escaping to the higher floors only to have it backfire miserably... Maybe there was a lesson worth learning here, or maybe he was an idiot who would do it again later down the line regardless. Ares flipped his body, so that he wasn''t about to plant his head into the ground like an ostrich, and braced himself as he crashed into the street below.


    BANG


    Ares was thankful to Bellona and Enyo for getting the Utilitarian into his grubby mitts. Well the boots were on his feet but the point remained that he was glad he had them otherwise this experience would have been far more painful. It still wasn''t the kind of thing he''d want to do again, as he felt the shock vibrate his entire body from toe to head upon landing, but at least the impact was dulled slightly and he didn''t break anything... Anything other than the floor anyway. The street had been bent out of shape and there was now a giant hole in the road. To be fair, it pretty much took a pothole of this size to get a local mayor to pay attention and fix the issue so Ares was probably doing the community a favour if anything. Or well he would have if A; this wasn''t a simulation and B; the entire city hadn''t been a destitute warzone before he''d even arrived. There were all sorts of holes dotting the landscape as a result of extensive shelling that ceaselessly bombarded the area. The burnt wreckage of various vehicles, knocked over lampposts, and flickering traffic lights all indicated Ares'' little addition would probably go unnoticed. If anything his contribution was the least impressive.


    He turned his head upward and checked in with Veteran back on the rooftop. He was expecting the guy to be peeking over the edge at him but Ares realised he was dead wrong. Without a moment''s hesitation Ares turned around and ran away from his current spot, just barely in time to dodge the man shaped meteor plummeting towards the street.


    BANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    The hole was now considerably more impressive as it''s depth had roughly quadrupled. It was so deep that some sewage spewed up from a gap in the bottom of hole and landed next to Ares'' feet. He had to take a few steps back because it was a rather repugnant stench like that of rotting carcasses and faeces mixed together... Actually, it probably wasn''t like that, it almost definitely was that. You couldn''t exactly bury dead people in concrete and leaving them to rot in the open had its own issues. Not only would the mountain of corpses cause all manner of diseases to spread but there was non-zero chance they would turn into zombies if they were exposed to mana in the air for too long. Cremation might have been an option under certain circumstances but if you were trying to hide your position from your opponent and you lit a massive bonfire you were going to get caught with your pants down, no questions asked. That only left one option, really, and that was disposing of the corpses by throwing them into the sewer. It also had the added benefit of blocking the pathways to prevent anyone from sneaking into your camp without having to inconvenience themselves. Eventually the sewers would become so clogged that you couldn''t really use them at all, especially if there were ambushes laid out underneath or around the corpses. It was nightmarish the first time anyone during the war had to experience it, the mountain rat infested bodies, but it became standard affair after the first few weeks of putting up with it. A lot of the soldiers who fought in the war grew a disturbing amount of tolerance for disgusting corpses. Funnily enough some of the soldiers envied the dead. The dead were buried alongside literal shit, yes, but they were out of the hellhole that this city had become and didn''t have to fight in this unholy war any longer. This floor of the pagoda was but a small snapshot of the time period in which the war happened and it was a relatively tame one in comparison to what Ares could have been seeing so he was grateful for that at least.


    Ares lightly kicked a nearby lamppost, one of the few that still remained standing even in this miniature apocalypse, causing it to break and topple over into the hole. A petty attack like this wouldn''t faze Veteran in the slightest but that wasn''t the point of it to begin with. Ares was just being annoying. Well that and he was forcing Veteran to make the next move because there was no way Ares was making the rookie mistake of jumping into that hole. Not only would Veteran ambush him down there but Ares'' death would likely take place in the infernal sewers below and Ares wasn''t having it! He may have been a piece of shit but that didn''t mean he wanted to die alongside his fellow turds! Being out in the open wasn''t exactly going to do Ares any favours as a straight up fight was not something he could win right now but it was still better to die getting beaten like a dog in the streets than to fall for the blatant trap that was being set in the hole. Was it boring waiting? Excruciatingly! But Ares could very well muster patience for times like this!


    Eventually Veteran realised his foe was more patient than he''d given him credit for. Ares was a revenant after all so not succumbing to boredom and leaping into the pit was actually quite surprising. As he jumped out of the pit, he made sure to grab onto the lamppost that Ares had felled and bring it out with him. Sure the rules stated no weapons but, unless your name was Dominus, who on earth considered a lamppost to be a weapon? Technicalities aside it was a ''weapon'' with good reach and, unless Ares had a sudden increase in speed for whatever reason, it could comfortably keep Ares away from him for the rest of the fight. Now did Veteran need to do this? No, absolutely not. The fight was basically over the second it started as Ares'' enhancement still wasn''t up to snuff. Veteran just mostly wanted to wield a ''weapon'' again because it had been too long since he last picked up his sword. His clone did have it but using it was against the pagoda rules and it brought back unpleasant memories he just so happened to be over now. Ares had finished returning Veteran''s affiliations to him and he felt like a changed man, so much so he was willing to look at, and even use, his sword that was still stained with his brother''s blood. Even though the blood would inevitably rust the sword he''d never had it cleaned and simply kept it usable via mana. Anyway, that was half of why he was about to bash Ares'' skull in with a lamppost, the other half was because Ares needed to learn! He was getting practice in with his fists while enhanced but there was no reason for him not also familiarise himself with fighting against, or with, weapons in this state. Of course Ares would have to find his own ''weapon'' if he wanted this kind of practice, maybe a loose pipe or some other substitute, but it would still be something he needed to tackle eventually if he wanted the clone he left behind to be as perfect as it could be.


    As for Ares, he tried to keep his distance because he knew the second Veteran was in range that lamppost was coming straight for him with no hesitation. The only problem with backing up constantly like this was that he would eventually hit the boundary of the area and be forced to make a move lest he get stuck up against a wall with no retreat... But Veteran was incredibly daunting right now... Sort of. His general bearing was imposing and his gait was steady and unrushed. He looked confident in himself and yet... He also kinda looked like a dog that had just found a big stick. The size of the lamppost was considerably bigger than him so holding it in his one hand as he was currently doing looked a bit off to Ares. It didn''t help that he was clearly trying to hold it like a sword as that was the weapon he was most familiar with.


    Reaching behind his back slowly, Ares gripped the side of his Stygian Zephyr and prepared himself to launch an attack. Attempting to blind Veteran again would net him no results at this range so he was going to make use of the Zephyrs ability to launch attacks from a distance. With a swipe he could outrange Veteran''s big ''stick'' while also simultaneously launching an Annihilation Echo through the Zephyr, thus regaining the range advantage. He didn''t have high hopes for this strategy though as Veteran would undoubtedly see the attack coming and respond appropriately... But still what choice did Ares have in this situation? His enhancement kept getting better and better, yes, but it wasn''t where it needed to be to physically overpower Veteran right now. This standoff in the middle of an open street was a losing battle and he needed to at least attempt something. And no, summoning Rox wasn''t helpful here either as temporary distractions only worked if you could make use of them. Veteran would kill Rox and recover from his swing before Ares could make it to him so chucking a mimic at him was pointless. Ares didn''t really care for Rox personally but he was still hesitant to throw him into the line of fire like some kind of disposable tool.


    The Mexican standoff came to a head when Ares flung his Zephyr in a wide arcing swing with the sharp, feathered tip racing towards Veteran''s arm. He could have aimed for the head but this was more difficult to both dodge and block with the lamppost considering the angle of attack. Plus any injuries to his arm would be a monumental gain for Ares considering the poor guy only had one to spare. Veteran, contrary to Ares'' expectations, made no effort and didn''t react to the Zephyr in the slightest. Instead, he advanced forward, prepared to take the hit while getting in one of his own. When Ares saw this he grit his teeth and prepared to trade blows before he witnessed Veteran deflect his Zephyr using pressure, at which point Ares tried to course correct by using Annihilation Echo and detonating one next to Veteran, instead of directly on him, as a backup plan. Unfortunately he didn''t make it in time and only one of the two weapon wielders here got their attack in. The lamppost crushed Ares'' ribcage and sent him tumbling across the street, into the parking lot, and onto the bonnet of a car with nothing other than its frame intact. Despite being nothing more than a damaged chassis the car was still in a more functional state than Ares who was struggling to even breathe properly right now. He fought hard to lift his upper body only for the lamppost to come piercing through his chest and impale him to the car. Veteran had lobbed it at him and hit a bullseye. There was no removing it either as Ares made every effort to do so but couldn''t with his paltry strength.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Veteran wandered over and looked down at Ares. "You know, if you were stronger you could have deflected the lamppost. Both during the original swing and the throw that came after. Don''t forget to use what you learned on the other floors because I''ll start using physical pressure and deflects a lot more going forward. Anyway, better luck next time Ares."


    Those were the last words Ares heard before Veteran''s fist crushed his brain on the hood of the car. Thankfully these deaths were relatively quick and painless. He was usually heavily injured when the death came but the final blow was singular so the end of the fight was never drawn out. It still sucked, there was no denying that, and he did have to experience the agony of everything that led up to the death multiple times, with every attempt, but he could feel himself improving after every battle. Even if only for a minute or two every couple of matches, he was lasting longer than he used to and that was reassuring. It gave him the confidence to keep walking back into the pagoda like a lemming but, before Transmit could separate him from another 100 of his hard earned mid-grade stardust, he noticed a certain someone also pop up outside the pagoda at the same time as him. It seemed Mako was also experiencing the fifth floor struggle as he''d returned from the pagoda gasping for air. Ares assumed he''d either been choked out or had a hole pierced in his throat. Before Ares could even wave to Mako and call out to him, the guy huffed, puffed, and stormed back inside. Apparently he was putting the stardust on a sort of tab and Transmit would keep track of how much he owed so he could pay it all at the end in one lump sum. Ares had been given the same offer but he refused because watching his money disappear in real time motivated him to try harder! Plus the shock to his system losing all of his money at once would cause was not small... His poor heart wouldn''t be able to take it.


    Ares coughed up his stardust, which he inwardly pretended was hard-earned but really he just stole it from dead guys, and was about to head in when he noticed another familiar face!... And was seriously wondering what on earth they were doing here. Bellona hadn''t been in the pagoda that long yet so she should still be on the earlier floors but the only one that really posed a threat to life was floor one... Surely she wasn''t still on the first floor getting killed by other cultivators, right?! She was way stronger than any of the chumps in this queue so it couldn''t be... Plus the first floor was something she could clear with her eyes closed after Ares helped train her on the way here... The consideration Ares gave this unusual situation eventually made the curiosity eat away at him and so he had to ask her directly what was up. Plus it was just good to see her again. After all the dying spending a minute or two cooling off with his wife was a nice change of pace. Out here it was sunny and he could talk to a lovely woman! In there it was gloomy and he had to put up with Veteran! Big difference! "Blo Blo!" Ares took Bellona, who was chewing her finger in agitation, by surprise as he hugged her from behind. "How''d you end up out here? What floor are you on?"


    Bellona took a deep breath as she curled and uncurled her fists repeatedly. "I''m on floor two... Those stupid spikes killed me when I wasn''t paying attention! I didn''t know they would attack me... Why didn''t that stupid overseer explain anything?! Are they a mute? I was giving the overseer the stink eye as I tried walking past the hills when they attacked me all of a sudden, putting a hole in the back of my head... None of which would have happened if that dumbass said even a single damn word! I stared at them for, like, an entire minute straight and they just stared back?! Didn''t even grunt!"


    "... I know how you feel. Still... Trying to walk right past the floor''s obstacle without paying attention... Don''t ever let anyone tell you that you aren''t an extremely confident woman. Perhaps a little too complacent though..."


    "Ah who cares? I can re-enter immediately anyway so dying doesn''t matter and I''m not exactly strapped for stardust either. I''m only throwing myself headfirst at the problems because it''s all a simulation. I''m not such a brute I would do this stuff out here, I value my life... Seriously though, what was up with that robed freak? Are they a mime or something? Do I need to play charades with them to beat the floor?"


    "No, he''s just a stubborn old fellow. I had the exact same problem with him... Didn''t die on that floor though... Long story short, you need to flatten all the hills simultaneously with pressure to walk past them safely... Otherwise they''ll try to impale you..."


    Thwack


    "Yeah!" Bellona headbutt Ares for tacking that last part on at the end. "I bloody well already know that!" She sighed before giving Ares'' forehead a kiss where she''d just struck him. "Dying in these simulations and Training Fields and whatnot always puts me in a bad mood... Especially this dumb pagoda. I want to use my magic in there so bad but whatever anti-magic they got going on in there is no joke."


    "Yeah, Candy made those runes..."


    Thwack


    "How many times do I gotta tell you not to talk about other woman when we''re alone together?!"


    Ares rubbed his head as his eye twitched. "... Bellona... Surely if it''s contextually relevant it shouldn''t be a problem?"


    "... Fine. It''s just, you know, if I already died on floor two... Then how many times is Candy gonna kill me? Makes me feel like garbage knowing one of your other wives is going to keep one-upping me over and over..."


    "I thought we already discussed this? Or at least something similar enough that you shouldn''t be having such concerns."


    "Yeah yeah I know I know. It''s not a problem. I know that because the last bunch of stuff wouldn''t get out of my head no matter how much I thought about it but this stuff is already gone and it''s not even been a minute."


    "Uh, that''s great?" Ares knew Bellona could be a very simple woman but even he didn''t realise it was to this extent. Did she secretly have the memory of a goldfish or was she just really capable of throwing away negative thoughts that quickly if they weren''t intrusive? Ares had to admit he was a little impressed. "By the way, if you only just got to floor two, does that mean you spent all this time on floor one? I feel like you shouldn''t have struggled that much..."


    "Ah, you know, I was busy getting revenge on some of these clowns. Waiting for them took a while but I killed every single one of the bastards eventually!" Bellona chuckled evilly as she gave Ares a devilish thumbs up. "Anyway, who is that overseer anyway? You seem to know ''em. D''ya end up talking to him about anything important?"


    "His name is Caribou Coronos and he''s kind of a big deal. You can consider him an acquaintance of the family so don''t go in there and pick a fight with him please. Well, you''re more than welcome to do so if you really feel the need to, I would just rather not needlessly start a fight with someone who''s backing Candy..." Ares dodged Bellona''s headbutt! He knew it was coming and he didn''t feel like he deserved this one! "No! Bad Blo Blo!"


    Bellona grumbled under her breath and stared at Ares with narrow eyes. "You eluded me this time, bastard, but I''ll get you good yet!"


    "Please don''t? I''m getting my ass beat enough as is, thank you very much. Granted, if I''m going to be beaten up by anyone, then I would much rather it be my lovely, bull-headed wife."


    "Hmph, I''m not like Enyo! I''m not going to be putty in your hands just ''cos you called me ''wife''! I''m made of sturdier stuff you mongrel!"


    "Bellona, your cheeks are flushed and your voice is a pitch or two higher than normal making you sound incredibly cute right now. I don''t buy it for even a second. Besides, what''s not to like? I like it when I get called husband... Speaking of which, I don''t believe you ever have? Come on! Say it! I''ll pinch your cheeks if you don''t!"


    "Ugh..." Bellona''s head drifted left and right as she struggled internally to make a decision. Eventually she caved, though, because she did want to say it at some point. "Husband... I love you... Tsk, happy now?"


    "More than I can describe with words, actually. You are adorable when you''re flustered."


    Bellona''s foot tapped against the floor as her face got redder. As per usual though she powered through the shame like a trooper. She converted that embarrassment into anger and took it out on the surrounding cultivators, who were rolling their eyes at the PDAs but still watching anyway because there was nothing else to do around here, by growling in their direction and threatening them. "What are you punks looking at? Never seen a wife tell her husband she loves him?! Eyes forward losers! Don''t make me wait for you inside the pagoda to teach you chumps a lesson like those other fools from before!" Bellona''s threats were highly effective as the people in question, the ones she''d ruthlessly beaten, had spread news about Bellona''s terror to those in the queue and warned them not to get on her nerves. Her magic had lit them on fire, aged them rapidly, blinded them, and so much more. So very much more... Those who were still around winced at the very sight of her. Everyone else took the warnings seriously and looked away.


    Ares laughed as he pat Bellona on the head. "Haha, you really have an exquisite way with words and an even more exquisite way with violence. I can''t help but feel like your knack for the latter is significantly more impressive though."


    Thwack


    "I am a soft and delicate lady damn you!"


    "Oww! The hell you are! If you''re going to act like a brute at least own up to it! Well you know what? Two can play at that game! I can be a brute too." Ares grabbed Bellona''s chin and gave her a kiss on the mouth. "There, that ought to calm you down a bit."


    "I will not be pacified by a kiss..."


    Ares did it again and now Bellona was looking a bit fidgety even if she was desperately pretending otherwise. "You get moody when I haven''t kissed you in a while. Ah, what am I to do? You''re cute when you pout and you''re cute when you''re docile. Well look, if you ever want to see me you can just wait around out here for a bit and I''ll be back in no time. I''ve got more than enough kisses to satisfy you, all ready and waiting to be fired off so don''t hesitate to be greedy... Although we should keep it to a limit. I think Enyo has developed a sort of sexual radar and the further we go the louder it beeps. She''ll probably come running over after her match ends if she detects any funny business... Now that I mention it, I wonder how her match is going. It should have started by now and if I remember correctly they should be up against the team of robos... Well they''ll be fine no matter what, provided the art Aejaz is going to experiment with doesn''t backfire horribly anyway."


    "Is he using the one you trained him in for, like, the last month?"


    "No, he''s saving that for a different match. This new one... It''s really quite devious actually. I hope his opponents aren''t picky about their weapons otherwise they''re going to have a real tough time..."

 Chapter 164: Aejaz’ New Art May Cause Side Effects

    Back at the Scorched Grounds.


    Enyo, Aejaz, Esme, and Li Li entered the arena to the sound of roaring applause... At least there were cheers up until the spectators gradually realised a person was missing from the team, at which point things quietened down at the drop of a hat. Only the sound of faint whispering could be heard as well as a few people kissing their teeth in frustration. Just because you were capable of winning without your full team that didn''t mean it was looked favourably upon. It was still a risk at the end of the day and unforeseen accidents could occur; not bringing all five members was anxiety inducing for the supporters and would make them antsy without fail no matter how strong the team was. Even in spite of Enyo''s dominant performance during the last match the Central Land spectators were all wearing deep frowns and inwardly cursing out Ares. Nobody blamed the members that were here, they''d actually showed up and looked ready to do their country proud, but Ares... His reputation was like a rollercoaster. Up and down, up and down. Maybe next time he showed up and did something the rollercoaster would do a loop de loop, who knows?


    The crowd started cheering again when the other team showed up, though, and their cheers had no reason to stop partway through as everyone had actually bothered to be here for the fight. The Neo Gear team was an interesting bunch as the animosity between the two different types of robos should have really been problematic when creating the team. It was no secret that gear folk and neo droids never got along so how was this team, consisting of two neo droids and three gear folk, seemingly not at odds? Well the answer was simple, Roboworks academy was working overtime to change the relations between the two races. Or sub-races, anyway. It was an institution open to everyone and just about every part of the building was accessible no matter which robo race you belonged to. Mingling with one another wasn''t exactly optional when your racial counterparts were everywhere. Naturally there were still a few brawls that took place regularly over their political differences, and this was exacerbated by the fact that it was a prestigious school in which the kin of important robos frequented, but impartiality was always the name of the game in settling disputes. To that end, most of the robos on their national team had no qualms with one another. There was one neo droid who wasn''t particularly thrilled about the situation he was in but he also wasn''t so petty as to gripe about it and turn it into a bigger issue. At the very least, everyone on the team was capable of putting aside their differences for the duration of the tournament. One thing was true no matter which type of robo you were dealing with, and that was they were all patriotic... They simply believed it was the other half of their robo brethren that were ruining their homeland.


    It should be mentioned, however, that things never used to be like this. Even a few years back the Neo Gear land officials would pretty consistently send a team full of either neo droids or gear folk with no leeway for the other. This was because tensions were at an all time high for a period of time but now things have quietened down a bit. Not in the sense that everyone is getting along, no, God no, but rather that something big seemed to be brewing beneath the surface and now was the time to prepare for what was to come rather than engage in petty squabbling. The calm before the storm. It wouldn''t be shocking if they didn''t participate next year because an all out war was underway. Still, most of this was a result of decisions made by the ruling class and powerful politicians. Those in the academy were slowly actually getting used to their not-so-different neighbours. And yet they were a minority in their own city. A beacon of a potential future, perhaps. But a minority nonetheless. In that sense, this competition actually mattered a great deal. If they could defy the odds and function together as a powerful group, overcome their grudges and succeed in a big way, they could maybe send an important message to their homeland that things didn''t need to be the way they currently were. So despite understanding implicitly they stood no chance against the absurdity that was Enyo, they stood resolutely in the face of fear for the sake of bringing about change. They needed to believe it was possible because any doubt would weigh heavily on the team as a whole. Plus if they failed the odds of their grudges worsening was not non-existent. Obviously it depended on the manner in which they lost, and the team members might not blame one another, but the same couldn''t be said with certainty about the spectators and/or citizenry back home. Arm chair analysts wouldn''t hesitate to point the finger of blame without thinking about the long term consequences and that was doubly true for the politicians looking to eke out whatever small victories they could. They would sooner divide the country, by blaming the team''s ''lacking'' members, for their own personal gain than just accept the loss in good faith.


    Long story short, Neo Gear land was a mess of a country and in a real sorry political state right about now. They were technologically advanced but civilisation was not defined by advancements in any one specific area. Culturally and socially they were at a stand still, if not outright regressing because of all the nonsense they were dealing with. As was mentioned prior, robos had a tendency to be stronger than usual thanks to the way their magic worked. Their rapid cultivation negatively affected them directly, yes, but not their magical summons which operated at full efficiency regardless of the drawbacks their masters faced. This meant Neo Gear land was full of powerful punks, bandits, and various other criminals prowling the streets. Gear folk security made no effort to deal with criminal neo droids unless they encroached on their turf, and vice versa, so crime was at an all time high. 100% of the criminals were being dealt with by 50% of the police force. You had to be a strong individual to walk the less travelled streets safely regardless of what time of day it was. Funnily enough though, if you were a foreigner your chances of having a painful run in with these crooks was drastically lower because they really only cared about beating up robos that weren''t of the same sub-race. You weren''t exactly guaranteed to be safe, absolutely not, but if you and a robo were walking side by side the chances of you getting jumped over the robo were infinitesimal.


    Things didn''t end there though as there were two other major problems dragging Neo Gear down. First up, the scraps were really ramping up their efforts to piss everyone off. They were adding fuel to fire on both sides and repeatedly targeting anyone even remotely important. Though their end goal was peace they were acting like accelerationists seemingly because they believed a complete country reset was necessary. War. War was what they wanted and, the more they intervened, the more they seemed to be getting on the path to achieving their goal. Nowadays it was impossible to tell whether a bigwig was assassinated by scraps or a political enemy which lead to a lot of strife that may or may not have even been correctly aimed in the first place. For every scrap assassination attempt that failed and was made obvious to all, another would succeed and then shit would hit the fan in the headlines for a few days. Being a politician to any degree in Neo Gear land was slowly becoming a death sentence as the three way battle was already underway. For now, most deaths were being correctly blamed on the scraps, and one particularly legendary assassin they had in their ranks, but that was slowly changing. Even if their side''s people were murdered irrefutably by the scraps, both the gear folk and the neo droids were starting to outright lie and blame one another to take the moral high ground. It was to the point politicians were subtly hoping their own co-workers would be next on the chopping block so they could benefit from their death. Some even went as far as to manipulate their close friends into travelling to shady locations by themselves which had resulted in more than just a few ''coincidental'' deaths. ''A secret meeting about the direction of our party'', and so on so forth would lure out the few politicians that still had a shred of trust in their co-workers. As such, it was hard, if not completely impossible, to trust anyone so a lot of politicians only ever looked out for number one which, in turn, created a vicious cycle. This didn''t yet affect the populace, which was why things were relatively quiet in places like the academy, but that would only be true until the fuse was lit and things went too far.


    That didn''t mean the public were safe currently though. That was just one major problem, the other was one that couldn''t quite be explained because not much was known about the situation other than a few rumours here and there with no substantial evidence to prove any of them. People were going missing. That was definite, everyone knew it, they just weren''t sure of the cause. The common scapegoats were the scraps but, for once, they were dead serious when they refuted the claims. This was rare as they typically took credit for a lot of their actions, only ever denying accusations of assassination to stoke the flames. But kidnapping citizens? They had no reason to that as targeting the normal people in the Neo Gear land was never their goal. In fact the whole point was to operate in a way that would benefit the citizenry in the long run and they essentially never messed with the public. More often than not they even lent a helping hand where they could... They still weren''t liked, mind you, but that never stopped their proclaimed ''righteousness''. So no, very few people believed the scraps were truly responsible for the missing persons. The scraps were generally detested, yes, but blaming them for something they clearly had no hand in was stupid when people were losing loved ones and wanted actual answers.


    The rumours that the ruling political class were involved also didn''t make much sense as it was happening to both sub-races equally. There was no evidence either and, given the lengths the politicians would go to in order to oust their opponents that could only mean it really wasn''t them. If it was, someone would have leaked the information years ago in order to be ''the hero that solved the case''. Actually, as this achievement was still in the cards, this was something the politicians were all actively working to figure out regardless of which side they were on. So no, it wasn''t them either. Something else was lurking in Neo Gear land, disturbing the population for its own goals. There were whispers about some strange, oily black entity feeding off the energy that fuelled the city and absorbing the essence of robos, regardless of race, but it was treated akin to that of a story used to scare kids at bedtime. Unfortunately the more time passed, the more the story grew in popularity as more claims were made about sightings here and there rather than less. The story didn''t die down, it practically grew wings and soared. So much so that it became a common talking point and people were actually starting to believe it. This, in turn, led to a lot of fake sightings that only complicated any actual efforts into digging out the truth of the matter.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    So to sum it up, Neo Gear land was visually a stunning place, filled with unique traits that couldn''t be found anywhere else in the domain thanks to its status as a duality land. It was all marred, however, by the numerous issues that plagued the country. Political subterfuge and betrayal. A war on the horizon with a suspicious amount of funds disappearing into nameless projects. A neutral party tearing at the seams and further dividing the country via their actions. And last but not least, some kind of make-believe creature feeding off the machine that was the complex country it was readily taking advantage of. Negativity was spiralling out of control in the country and it was entirely possible it had merged with the mana in the air to birth some kind of monster. It wouldn''t be the first time something like this had happened as monsters could very well be born of constant strife or, in some cases, extreme joy too. If that monster truly did exist, which was looking all the more likely with every new missing citizen, and it could benefit of the hostility of its surroundings, then the seemingly inevitable war would only serve to turn it into a disaster class being that would bury the country for good. Without a shadow of a doubt, Neo Gear land was the most precarious place in Sheryashka at the moment. Put simply, it really needed this win here today at the international to stymy the advancement of a number of these issues... But that required a win.


    No matter how much Enyo felt sorry for these people, let alone even knew the full details of their plight to begin with, she had her own goals. She wasn''t going to steamroll these robos like she did the other team, because Aejaz was testing something and so was she, but she wasn''t going to let this team win even if it killed her. Ares had entrusted this match to her, and to a lesser extent Aejaz, so she was going to do her part. Plus the benefits from winning this tournament would not be small either so she wanted them for herself and for Ares. Raising their cultivation and strength was necessary for the trials yet to come and she would spare no effort in making sure they were both as ready as they needed to be. In particular, Major would need to be ''dealt with'' at some point. In what way? Enyo didn''t yet know but she did know it was an unavoidable confrontation. Also, to some degree, she agreed with Mako in that the fundamental champion''s reputations needed to be immaculate. A loss here would be rough for Ares going forward even if it wasn''t his fault. If he lost to Mako that was acceptable, although highly unfortunate, but some random joe-shmoe robo? When he wasn''t even here? Unacceptable. He was currently working hard, as opposed to when he was usually hardly working, so Enyo took it upon herself to make sure things went smoothly here in his absence.


    The four Red Sun members, and the five Neo Gear robos, all took their places and waited for the horn to signal the start of their match. Usually each person would stand opposite an opponent from the other team but due to the lopsided teams it was a little awkward. It meant the robos would have an advantage when racing towards the talisman as one person on the team would be completely unimpeded so that helped them feel a bit more confident... Although, realistically, if they lost it would have nothing to do with the talisman or the time-based rules. The Red Sun team was one that was clearly out for blood and they had the means to do it reliably too... Not that robos had blood but the point remained.


    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    The horn blared and the match began. Esme took off with a sprint to pick up the talisman while Li Li followed behind to act as backup and give her a safe retreat. Enyo started summoning barriers to prevent the robo team from arriving at the talisman... And then there was Aejaz. This match didn''t really mean much to Aejaz but there was something he''d been wanting to try for a while now. His new art was, honestly, silly. Effective, probably, but silly. He was probably the only person who had ever had an idea like this but a part of him was convinced that this art had some serious potential if certain conditions were met. Rather than get involved with the rat race for the talisman, Aejaz directed all his attention to one of the three gear folk who was summoning a monster via his oil core aspect.


    "Gear Gorilla!"


    The robos voice was mechanical and Aejaz could hear the gears in his throat turning even from here. The mana used to aid his chanting propelled the robos voice and made Aejaz kiss his teeth as it was a grating voice to say the least. As for the art, it was a common one amongst gear folk... And a few other people. See the oil core and spark box aspect weren''t actually unique to robos, otherwise they would have come under the racial pillar, so others who really wanted to use them could provided they had the right tools. If a mechanic built an oil core by hand they could dabble in this aspect with no problem. For aspiring summoners that wanted to dip their toes into gear folk magic, Gear Gorilla was the ''baby''s first steps'' art, similar to what Water Bullet was for the water pillar. Simply put, it summoned a bulky, mechanical gorilla that packed a respectable punch. Mana animated it but could also be burned to make the gorilla go berserk. This sped up the rate at which it ran out of mana but could be worth it in tough situations. Normally a summoner would fight alongside their summons in some fashion but robos from Neo Gear were heavily reliant on their summons and not much else as they rarely trained. Cultivation upgrades allowed them to skip the more tedious aspects of cultivation, and raise their realm fast, but it also meant they weren''t well versed in combat themselves. While their powerful summons were certainly their greatest strength, it was also arguably their greatest flaw due to heavily reliant on them they were. That being said, this robo seemed to have a weapon handy, a bow, and that made sense to Aejaz. This was the highest level of competition available for people with low cultivation so it was only natural to see some of the more talented people crop up. Wielding a weapon was uncommon for a robo, yes, but all the stronger robos typically did even if the rest didn''t. Take Slick for example. He relied on Flare a great deal but he also got his hands dirty by jumping headfirst into fights with his fists. Anyway, what mattered here, and what Aejaz was really happy to see, was that the robo was wielding a weapon. It really didn''t matter which. Wielding literally any weapon was the condition to activate his new, unusual art so, now that it had been met, it was time to do some testing! Aejaz pointed at the robo and, subsequently, the Gear Gorilla before chanting.


    "Equivalent Exchange."


    The robo''s bow and arrow was transferred straight to Aejaz'' hands... And he had no idea what to do with it! The crossbow he stole from Oat last time was fairly self-explanatory, point and shoot. This weapon, however, was not something Aejaz had any clue where to even begin with so he just tossed it on the floor. Stealing it wasn''t the point, that was only half of the art. If he just wanted to steal it, Relocate would have done the job for a lower mana cost. His goal had been a little different. See, just before activating his art, Aejaz had pulled out his own weapon! Aejaz was a conman and a crook but he wasn''t a liar, no sir! If his art was called ''Equivalent'' Exchange, then his opponent could rest easy knowing he would only give them the finest tools in his arsenal to make up for stealing theirs! The robo may have lost his bow but Aejaz had oh-so generously gifted him a weapon in return, and an artifact no less! If anything, clearly the robo had gotten the higher value product. If the trade wasn''t ''equivalent'', it was only because he''d gotten the better end of the trade deal than Aejaz... Or that was how Aejaz marketed it, at least. It was true that the weapon the robo was now holding was an artifact, and it was worth a decent bit of stardust... But there was one more important titbit Aejaz hadn''t mentioned... The artifact was a backfire gear... And, actually, surprise surprise, there was a second important titbit Aejaz had forgotten to mention. The robo was forced to use the backfire gear immediately upon obtaining it. Equivalent Exchange allowed Aejaz to dump any backfire gear, in this case the backfire gear he''d obtained from Vargaraad''s tomb, on his opponents and make them go haywire in their possession, forcing them to be used at least once before the victim could drop them. Additionally, Aejaz could control the direction of the misfire and force his opponents to either aim at their teammates or, depending on how strong Aejaz was, themselves. This was, conditionally, quite a strong art. It required Aejaz to have a stash of rare garbage, the opponent to have a weapon, and for them to not block the magic. If it worked though... Well, the robo had just unwilling fired off a shot of Cupid''s Harp-oon and struck the Gear Gorilla with it so the answer to ''how potent is it?'' was about to be answered...


    The Gear Gorilla roared as it was pierced in its spine before turning around in confusion. It should have only had allies behind it so why it was being attacked from the rear it didn''t know. What it saw when it looked behind itself was its creator running towards it with his arms stretched wide and an apologetic, sad face. The gear folk wrapped his arms around the dumbfounded Gorilla and started crying while apologising repeatedly for shooting it. The gear folk kept patting the Gorilla as it tilted its head while also trying to disentangle itself from the maniac that was clinging to it. Cupid''s Harp--oon made the shooter fall in love with the target but it didn''t necessarily mean romantic love, it could also be familial love as was being displayed here. Thank God it wasn''t romantic... Aejaz would have felt a little bad if he made some random robo irreversibly fall in love with a mechanical Gorilla... Although technically it''s not bestiality if they''re both machines... Right?... This was a strange conversation Aejaz was having in his head so he decided to stop worrying about it, effective immediately. The lovestruck effect the gear folk was experiencing would wear off the second he died so Aejaz prepared his own weapon to go and the guy''s misery. It would be a quick and easy kill because the gear folk was preoccupied with the hurt Gorilla and the Gorilla couldn''t make any movements lest it accidentally injured its clingy master. As far as Aejaz'' satisfaction with the went... Well he didn''t really know... This situation was a little too odd to come to any conclusions about how effective the art truly was... Still, if he could find more ''powerful'', and that word was used lightly, backfire gear, then he could force all kinds of dodgy effects onto his opponents. Most cultivators would typically search for only the best treasures available and yet Aejaz was about to become a glorified trash panda, seeking out the absolute worst of the worst backfire gear he could possibly find... His thievery aspect had taken somewhat of a strange turn with this art but, then again, it was a highly unorthodox aspect to begin with. It had its moments in which it truly shined as really powerful aspect... And then there was whatever the hell this was... There were probably not many people that had won a fight by making a robot fall in love with its pet gorilla before... And it''s not like this would be the last time he did something of the sort. He could always retrieve the Harp-oon and use it again but, more importantly, there were all sorts of highly ineffective weapons out there for Aejaz to get his hands on. It was truly impossible to tell what kind of non-sensical fights Aejaz would get into in the future...

 Chapter 165: Flesh and Enyos Desires > Machines and Their Wires

    Aejaz walked up behind the gear folk and stabbed him in the back of the head for a quick and simple kill. The Gorilla scratched its head as it watched its master die hugging it before he slowly faded away. The Gorilla was soon to follow, as summons disappeared when their master died, but it didn''t bother attacking Aejaz; instead opting to sit there with a disappointed and perplexed look on its face. This had been an incredibly pathetic sequence of events for the Gorilla. It didn''t get to attack anything, burn its oil core, or even move around really as it had been completely bogged down by its master. It didn''t even blame him for the Harp-oon, as that clearly wasn''t his fault, he just wanted the damn fool to get off him so he could do his job! His master better apologise later and gift him a banana or two for this royal fuck up... Just like how Ares'' eagle had it''s own personality the Gorilla seemed to be a banana fanatic... Why was it always food with these creatures?... Then again, wanting food was infinitely better than wanting some kind of ritualistic sacrifice, there were definitely summons out there with a preference for those.


    Anyway, Aejaz watched the Gorilla fade out, to make sure it didn''t try any funny monkey business behind his back, before turning around to help finish up the match. He wasn''t even really needed for anything, as his team would win without him if they needed to, but he figured he may as well throw his hat into the ring and speed up the process a bit. He took stock of the situation and noticed the one gear folk who was unmarked by anyone, as the difference in numbers had left her free to do whatever she pleased, chanting some kind of long form aspect art. Aejaz had no idea what it was she was doing but her summon, a floating clock, was slowly becoming more and more energetic. The hands on its face were spinning ever more rapidly with every passing word the robo muttered and, if Aejaz were to hazard a guess, the robo was chanting some kind of time based art. As it was of the reading rites pillar, it would probably be a pretty big deal if she completed it...


    "No-stalgia."


    ... So he just ended that little complication before it could cause any trouble. Robos didn''t have a mental realm but Aejaz'' memory steal art technically wasn''t a mental attack. And even if it was, it didn''t attack the mental realm regardless. Aejaz using this art against a robo was more akin to temporarily deleting data of a hard drive. The data could be restored but, until it was, the robo couldn''t interface with what had been lost. In this case, Aejaz had targeted the robo''s collection of arts and removed the robo''s memory of them, ending her chant halfway through as she had no idea what came next. Reading rites arts were powerful but they ran the risk of being interrupted, as Aejaz had brilliantly displayed here. As for why he hadn''t used Memory Muddle, the two arts filled slightly different roles. Memory Muddle was like an indiscriminate airstrike on the person''s memories, taking everything within a very recent window no matter what was in them. It was highly effective for sneaking up on people while they were in the midst of figuring out where they were and what had just happened to them. It was better for assassination in that regard. No-stalgia was highly specific with what it could affect but could reach way further back into a person''s memories. It could effectively target categories of things and force the target to forget all instances of it throughout their entire lives. It was more restrictive but more effective. He could make someone forget how to use arts, make someone forget how to wield weapons, or even affect the way a person interacted with their own senses like that one time he made an orc forget how to breathe. Of course not all the senses could be affected in this manner as some, like sight, were always passively active. Still, Aejaz had another art to deal with that too but he wouldn''t get any use of it here as his opponents were robos and thus it was ineffective. That didn''t mean he couldn''t be a pest in other ways though. And on that note, as long as he was taking measures to support his team, there was no reason for him not to do a little bit more than he already had and throw some more of the enemy team for a loop while they were distracted by his own team members...


    Enyo''s barriers had effectively sealed off the opposition from one another, separating them all so that they were forced to fight individual battles. The same was true for the neo droid locked into the same area as Enyo. He was clearly not happy to be here as he was well aware of the difference in strength between them. His one solace was that Enyo wasn''t going all out right off the rip, for whatever reason, so he would at least get a chance to attack her before meeting his untimely demise. The robo summoned his spark box, split it into multiple pieces, and had it shift its shape into various forms. Guns, rocket launchers, tasers, flamethrowers, sentries... He summoned them all so that he could go all out with his next, and almost definitely final, art in a blaze of glory.


    "Unload!"


    Although the gun aspect, under the weapons pillar, was typically only useful for specific ranged weaponry, there was one relatively well-known art that benefitted an entire arsenal regardless of what type of weapons you had deployed and that was the one the robo had just chanted. The premise was simple, all of the weapons at his disposal became overclocked and tripled their fire rate. Any unmanned weapons would automatically aim and fire at the nearest, or designated, target. Manual reloading was unnecessary during the five second duration in which this art was active as all weapons would have infinite ammo (provided the ammo wasn''t something equivalent to a nuke anyway). Even melee weapons could automate during this period and attack targets by themself provided the cultivator was strong enough to wield them in addition to the other weapons. It sounded powerful, and undoubtedly was, but it was best used as a last ditch option because of the drawback associated with it. Every weapon buffed by this art would overheat afterwards for, give or take, ten whole seconds making them completely unusable. Ranged weapons wouldn''t fire and melee weapons would be too hot to hold. Any cultivators who relied on ranged weaponry to do their bidding would be screwed by this if they went all in and didn''t win.


    Unload was high risk, high reward. Sort of similar to All Or Nothing in that there was no going back once this art was cast. Many pillars had something similar it''s just that these arts were infrequently learnt and used because this strategy was shied away from by the more cautious crowd of cultivators. This robo''s spark box was pretty good at transforming into a large quantity of weapons, though, so it was kind of a natural fit to his core gameplan in a fight. Typically he would only use it near the end of a fight but he was aware if he hesitated he wouldn''t even get a chance. Right now was his best bet to aid his team by doing everything he could before being outclassed by Enyo and sent to the resurrection platform. If he could at least damage her and slow her down for the rest of his team they might be able to bring forth some kind of miracle via his sacrifice... Although he really wished it had been anyone else in this position. He didn''t gripe about it but he was probably the strongest member on the team. He was versatile with a wide range of powerful weaponry and packed a serious punch if given the time and room to make full use of his individual weapons. He was supposed to be near the back line but Enyo''s barriers had complicated the issue. If he hadn''t been so unlucky he could have put up a way better fight against either Li Li or Esme. Enyo, a defensive cultivator, was a hard counter to him which made him want to cry at the unfairness of it all. Even still, he did his best and silently prayed under the hovering, revving weaponry to his left and right that things would go his way.


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT BAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGG BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM ATATATATATATATATATATAT


    All manner of fully automatic weaponry Unloaded their ammunition, raining down mayhem onto Enyo''s location with a deafening roar. Milliseconds before the tide of lead, fire, and electricity swamped Enyo, she could be heard muttering the word ''Reinforcement'' and be seen raising her shield. She summoned no barriers and made no effort to dodge because this was what she was testing this match; the last two runes she hadn''t used on her shield. Tremor and Blinding were highly effective, and she knew that thanks to the match against the Bhorashka furries, so now it was time for Reinforcement and one other rune she had kept in her back pocket. Her raised shield was battered under the initial weight of the onslaught and she was quickly hidden behind a dusty veil as the floor around her was torn to shreds. Whatever damage was being done to her couldn''t be seen beyond the smoke of the muzzles or the chaos of the bullets kicking up dirt. All anyone knew, be they spectator or combatant, was that the incredibly loud Unloading of countless hundreds of bullets, rockets, and various other lethal projectiles were hitting their mark. Now the only question was how effective were they? Only time would tell as the five second overclock ended and Enyo''s form was slowly being revealed to the onlookers. For the Red Sun supporters the wait was agonizing. This was their star player! For some reason she hadn''t summoned any of her barriers either so if anything had happened to her this match could very well go south here and now. The veil of dust settled and Enyo was seen standing around without a single scratch. Not a dent in her armour, not a red mark on her beautiful skin, not a frown on her face nor a bead of sweat anywhere on her body at all. The Red Sun supporters were united in their relief as they collectively sighed, letting the built up tension out of their system. That was their first reaction, the second was the same as everyone else''s... This woman was a damn TANK! No, seriously, wasn''t Enyo a barrier wielder? Why was she still so effective without them? Wasn''t she basically unkillable? That barrage was no joke and any normal cultivator would be a bullet-ridden, charred, and zapped corpse right about now. Li Li, Aejaz, Esme, hell even Ares all would have been murdered or grievously wounded at the minimum if they''d taken that art head on... Enyo''s first performance had been a shock to the system but what she''d done this match just now was arguably even more impressive.


    Enyo rolled her stiff shoulders and lowered her shield. She was pleased with the result of Reinforcement because she could gauge roughly how much it improved her shield. It effectively doubled its resilience for as long as it was active. Now, mind you, that wasn''t the reason she took the hit. Enyo was basically a rhinoceros and would have been ok even without the Reinforcement... In fact, she likely would have been ok even if she didn''t have the shield... Wounded to some extent, maybe with a hole or two in her body, but still able to walk it off. Yes her barriers and her offensive pressure were monstrous but, at the end of the day, this was still her true calling. She would forever be a true behemoth, as impervious to damage as a literal mountain of steel. She''d only used Reinforcement as a test, not because it was necessary. The recoil from the Unload raining down on her shield didn''t even numb her hands or move her an inch backwards. Stalwart, immoveable, and undauntable. That was Enyo. Honestly, she could probably have stood still against the entire enemy team, let them all unleash their strongest attacks simultaneously, and still come out the other side alive. Her armour, her tough flesh, and her resilient will were all astounding. And of course none of this was even touching on her barriers... Add those into the mix and Enyo''s ascent to immortality almost seemed unnecessary. Other than age what could realistically kill her?! She called Ares a cockroach once but that was incredibly ironic considering her unbreakable nature. If anyone was surviving the apocalypse it was this woman. And it''s not like this was her limit or anything. She''d recently learned how to dual cultivate and temper her body via Ares''. Her stamina and toughness were only ever increasing. Calling Enyo a prodigy was an understatement as she was starting to inch ever closer to the territory that only fundamental champions should ever reach. No wonder Mako had been scared shitless of this woman, realistically no one in her realm should be feeling confident in her presence. Had she been born during any other time period, in which the fundamental champions didn''t exist, she would undoubtably be the number one prospect for world''s strongest of the newest generation. It wasn''t even close...


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    The robo had exhausted everything but he was still able to try and retreat at least. If he could escape during his weapon''s downtime, and regroup with his team, he might get to go again... Although what use that would be against Enyo he didn''t know but trying again was better than giving up and doing nothing. He turned around and, inexplicably, suddenly lost his vision. he couldn''t see anything anymore and no matter what he did he couldn''t fix it. He floundered around with his hands to try and figure out what was happening, only to realise the circuitry in his head was incomplete! Completely gone! In its place, all that remained was some lingering darkness pillar magic but that didn''t answer his question. If he''d known a bit more about his opponents he would have understood that Aejaz had just stolen one of his vital components from right out of his head. Aejaz could steal vision temporarily but that meant nothing against robos who technically didn''t have any vision anyway. Their ''vision'' was like that of a projector and so it was far better for him to steal the wiring that enabled the robo''s ''eyes'' to function. Plus, if it worked, Aejaz could permanently deny the robo''s vision as those wires weren''t going to be returned to him ever. Unless he died and resurrected those things belonged to Aejaz now as they were a physical, stealable entity as opposed to a sense. In that regard, fighting Aejaz as a robo was actually a delicate tightrope act because screwing up and letting him take from you even once had dangerous repercussions. Aejaz couldn''t steal body parts from a human, but robo body parts were essentially just metallic objects he could pilfer at any given time. Now that he was freed up and had free reign to throw his weight around, the robos were realising Enyo was not the only problem on this Red Sun team. Actually, Aejaz might have just become the biggest threat of all given what they''d now discovered he was capable of. Even just from a theoretical standpoint, the Red Sun team was brutal to fight against. Enyo was the wall, Aejaz was the tricky nuisance that debilitated you if you stopped paying attention to him, and Ares would be the aggressor that wiped out your team if given any leeway to blow everything up. The problem was that Aejaz and Enyo were also powerhouses in their own right so Ares wasn''t even really needed. No wonder he didn''t show up... If he was as powerful as Mako the fight would be boring. It couldn''t even really be called a fight at that point, more like heaven''s favourites bullying random strangers.


    As for the blind robo, he heard Enyo chant the name of the final rune she''d yet to experiment with and he couldn''t be bothered to try anymore. He didn''t know which way was up or down, his weapons were still cooling down, his teammates were too busy to support him, and now Enyo was supposedly going to ''Impale'' him. He heard a shing noise and assumed, correctly, that Enyo''s shield had grown multiple spikes on the front that could pierce anyone foolish enough to get to close. That, or anyone who was incapable of escaping her line of sight... And guess who that just so happened to be right now?


    CRASH


    Charging like an angry bull seeing red, Enyo had barrelled into the robo at an impressive speed. Her armour really didn''t seem to slow her down in the slightest as, even without her holy buffs, she''d made good time on the charge. As for what happened on contact with the neo droid... Well... It kinda broke... The robo''s chest was, as expected, Impaled cleanly but the force behind the ramming was so mighty the robo''s head, legs and arms separated from its body and flew backwards across the arena. The collision had scattered every body part Enyo''s shield didn''t run a spike through, instantly killing the blind robo on the spot. It was like watching a shovel truck run over a toy robot. The death was swift and merciless but Enyo was displeased with the outcome. The spikes had been effective, yes, but the robo clearly would have died anyway. She wanted to know how lethal the spikes were and it was hard to gauge from just this. Though it was grim, she''d hoped the robo would have lived a little longer so she could analyse the damage dealt to it. Even from this test though, she could at least hazard a guess that the spikes were potent at dealing death. It had pierced a robo''s metallic frame, after all, so flesh was also in the cards. Not the most valuable tool in her shed, but good enough to take an opponent by surprise if they managed to get in on her... Although how they would do that considering the strength of her barriers was anyone''s guess. Enyo was basically a mobile fortress that would grow a pair of teeth and chomp you if you ever even dared to walk up to her.


    This would have left three robos on the enemy team but Li Li had just finished melting another robo''s head off. She''d beaten it into submission and gripped its head in her grasp, heating up her hands until the robo melted into a puddle. It was a rather violent death as far as robos were concerned but Li Li wasn''t one to be gentle. She''d also been training hard as of late so her overall power level had increased a bit. In the grand scheme of things, comparatively to anyone else in the competition, she was roughly slightly above average. Strong enough to win most one vs ones but not strong enough to do anything more or be a real stand out. The same was also true of Esme but Esme had yet to actually kill her opponent. That wasn''t because she was weaker than Li Li, quite the opposite, it''s just that her fighting style was a slower affair that wore out the opponent. She prodded at range with her wind magic while forcing her opponent to come to her... If they could navigate all the traps she''d laid out in secret, anyway. So no, there weren''t three robos left, there were two; one of which was already half dead and the other was still unable to cast arts thanks to Aejaz'' earlier interference. In case it wasn''t obvious this match had been lost already, it was just a matter of how much longer the robos pointlessly clung to life. Or more like how long Enyo allowed them to live. She was already gearing up to end the match now that she''d gotten what she wanted out of it. The robos could crawl back to their broken country on their knees for all she cared because right now her promiscuity radar was having a field day! And clearly so was Ares! Enyo wasn''t jealous of Bellona but if she was getting the nice treatment there was no reason Enyo couldn''t be on the receiving end of some kisses too! This ability sort of spawned out of left field for Enyo but she was pretty confident it had something to do with a mixture of dual cultivating with Ares, having his heart on her person at all times, and her strong pleasure pillar affiliation. Regardless of how she got it, she was pretty overjoyed to have it. It meant she could butt in and join in on the fun times!


    The robo with the clock eventually managed to overcome Aejaz'' No-stalgia art by resetting its saved data to its previous state. Normal people would have had to wait No-stalgia out or force the art out of them with mana but this unique approach was available to robos. Some things regarding Aejaz were worse for robos, some were better. She took stock of the situation and immediately wished what she was seeing was some kind of visual bug because the tide had shifted so drastically in under a minute. They were one man, or rather robo, up at the start of the match and now... Now they were on the fast track to losing! She shook her head and readied herself to cast an art but gasped when a barrier shaped like a spike pierced her vocal box. The gasp was hoarse and raspy as the vocal box sputtered to a halt, preventing her from making anymore noise while Enyo detonated the barrier, finishing of the clock-summoning robo before she could use any of her time arts and delay the end of this match. Enyo wanted out and nothing was going to stop her!...


    ... And it seemed like the last robo realised that. The last remaining team member for Neo Gear was the neo droid that wasn''t altogether too keen on working with gear folk and, yet, he was sad to see them all die. He''d been run ragged by Esme and now the entire enemy team was staring him down with no one to cover his back. The temptation to just throw his hands in the air and surrender was great because no amount of effort he made was going to change a damn thing but he also knew that if he did, he would become an object of scorn in the newspapers back home. He didn''t really care about anything else, he just didn''t want to be slandered by people who didn''t understand how impossible this match truly was. Rather than make his forfeit obvious, he ''accidentally'' stepped on one of Esme''s Wind Mines and was blown across the arena until he landed directly in front of Enyo. She was the strongest one here, seemed to want the match to be over and done with, and could kill him the quickest of all his foes. His little stunt had been acted out well and no one would be any wiser about his intentions! He''d even fired off a few bits of fire magic as a sort of ''final struggle'' to make it more believable. This might have all sounded scummy, and maybe to a certain degree it was, but the guy really had no hope whatsoever. Damned if he tried, damned if he died. Might as well make his death as painless as possible in a situation like that! And painless it was. Enyo looked down at the robo like he was some kind of insignificant worm before flattening him with a barrier and walking away. The fight was over and the talisman had, yet again, not even been a consideration. Esme had it the whole time and yet the Red Sun team had been aggressively picking fights as though the Neo Gear team had possession of it. Some other matches during the tournament had come down to time already but it was abundantly clear to anyone with eyes none of the Red Sun matches would ever be decided in such a manner.


    The team left the arena to the sound of cheers and claps, congratulated each other, then went their separate ways. Enyo headed off to the pagoda to go check in on Ares and Blo Blo and see how things were progressing on their end as well as inform them of the victory she''d just earned. They were probably expecting as such but any excuse to go and say hello was still an excuse at the end of the day. It didn''t need to be a good one! Besides, there weren''t going to be any matches for the next couple of days as they were all being spread out a bit more now that the competition was thinning and getting into the more intense stages. Ares would probably live in the pagoda going forward, until he completed it, so Enyo wanted to at least see him a bit before he basically disappeared for good. Of course she could very well come here and check up on him whenever but leaving the sect and coming all the way here for just that was unnecessary... Unless Ares was willing to create a Zone with his Prowler that they could have some private fun in... Honestly, that was what Enyo was really hoping for. In her defence, now that she was dual cultivating, it technically counted as training! Yeah! She just really wanted to train hard before the next match! That was all! No ulterior motives whatsoever!


    Enyo arrived at the pagoda and regrettably didn''t find Ares but she did spy her sister skulking about with a silly smile on her face. Either Bellona was waiting for Ares like a giddy school girl or she''d just met him and he''d left after giving her attention. Either way, it wasn''t hard for Enyo to tell Ares was involved as Bellona wasn''t one to go around randomly smiling like this. This was a good opportunity, though, as Enyo had been wanting to suggest something to Bellona anyway. Put simply, when Bellona made it to floor four, Enyo wanted her to come and fetch Enyo so they could both pay a visit to Candy and all have a girls talk together. Ares had mentioned that Candy was a bit down in the dumps after he left her floor so Enyo decided to go check in, and make sure she was doing fine, while introducing her to Bellona. Ares popping up again would just lead to more heart ache when he was forced to say goodbye a second time but it wasn''t so bad if it was just Enyo and Bellona. So, with that in mind, Enyo went up to her sister and said hello! By groping her from behind! Enyo truly had no shame...

 Chapter 166: A Sneak Peek of the Silver Cape’s Capabilities

    While Enyo and Bellona were discussing various matters, including Enyo not constantly invading Bellona''s personal space and touching her inappropriately in public, Ares was about to start another fight with Veteran. It seemed his enhancement was picking up the pace and he was able to use more and more of it with every passing attempt. Right now he was sitting pretty at 30% which, considering he was at 20% under a day ago, was a very good sign it wouldn''t take him much longer to rise to 100%. Ares couldn''t make things go faster but the process itself sped up after some time as the body familiarised itself with pressure and could comfortably take on more. At this rate, it would probably take around a day and a half for Ares to become an actual ''threat'' to Veteran, two days to reach roughly 80% enhancement, three days to start picking up multiple wins against him per day, four to start beating him on every attempt, and on the fifth day maybe he could start using his unique bloodline and throwing some annihilation mana into the mix.


    All in all, Ares would probably be done with this pagoda in under a week and make it out in time for the next match. He was unaware of the cheating situation with the iciclops team but it seemed he would show up for the match in time to participate anyway. Not that he would have felt pressured to do so if had known about it, he trusted Enyo and Aejaz to win on their own implicitly, it''s just that now he would be the one to deal with their shenanigans himself. The fruits of his pagoda labour would be put on full display and thus the start of his ascent to legendary status would also kick off. His destruction pillar put him at the starting line but he''d yet to actually start sprinting and leave everyone in the dust. Come next match, he would make waves and his name would become known across the majority of the domain. Then he would rise to Vraizon, after cultivating some more, and do the same there, all the while his pagoda clone would wreak havoc in the outside world. By the time he was done with everything that needed to be handled immediately, everyone should know his name and respect his reputation unless, and only unless, they''d been living under a rock their entire lives. As for right now, Ares would beat this pagoda!... And hopefully no one would document his monetary struggles during this time as he was rapidly running out of stardust thanks to his numerous attempts... The two high grades he had in his Primordial Blade wallet were evaporating at the speed of light. Still, he remained calm and reminded himself the betting brothers would owe him way more afterwards and he would be able to recoup his losses and then some. 100 high grade was no joke. He would need it if his next foray was the Freeride Federation as it was a classy place filled with rich elites and pricy shops with rare goods... He might even find and use some damn cultivation resources for once in his life...


    Right now, however, it was go time! The fight started and Ares ran forward to meet Veteran halfway rather than just let him do as he pleased like always. The ''days'' of letting Veteran punch him at the start of their bouts uncontested were already over and Veteran was having to work harder to get his hits in. Of course it was still a fairly one-sided brawl but he couldn''t just do whatever he wanted anymore without potential repercussions. The difference between Ares at 20% and 30% enhancement was already pretty significant, as Veteran had to actually start thinking about the fight, so what would happen when that shot up to 80% and above? Veteran didn''t want to think on such a depressing topic. Rather he chose to just enjoy bullying Ares in the moment while he still could by whaling on his defences and aggressively taking blow for blow trades. He swung wide and missed but followed up with a knee that took Ares by surprise. Ares did react and avoid it but it left him on the backfoot while Veteran could press his newfound advantage by going for another heavy strike. Faints, grabs, etc.. Right now Veteran didn''t need any of that. When Ares eventually overcame the hurdle that was current Veteran, he would adapt and improve to match pace with Ares. Until the kid could handle his wild-but-calculated swinging and actually consistently punish him for it, this was how these fights were going to go. Veteran kept advancing forward while throwing out the exact same powerful strikes against Ares who had no solution because he didn''t have the strength to match him just yet. Ares could see the correct way to deal with it but, due to his lacking enhancement, taking advantage was impossible and he would have to find another way around the current predicament. He tried to blind Veteran with his Zephyr but Veteran had seriously gotten bored of this trick so he just leant back and thrust his boot out to kick the Zephyr. No matter where Ares was hiding this strategy would nullify his next move as Veteran could keep a wide view on his surroundings as well as cover the area directly behind the Zephyr with his attack. Ares had ran out to the right from behind the Zephyr but Veteran not over-extending meant he could see him clearly and run him down without risk... Or so he thought.


    BANG


    Veteran kissed his teeth as his head recoiled from an unexpected attack to his left which was then promptly followed up by Ares punching him clean in the face.


    THWACK


    Veteran was starting to get a little annoyed by the revenant fighting style as this was just ridiculous. He''d been conditioned by the Zephyr so much that Ares had foreseen the method Veteran would commit to in order to counter it and acted accordingly. After throwing the Zephyr, Ares cleverly shot a delayed pressure bullet before distracting Veteran by moving sideways. As Veteran followed Ares with his eyes the bullet pierced through the kicked Zephyr and smacked him in the head, allowing Ares to deck him in the jaw after and push him back a step or two. Even that wasn''t the end of it as now Ares had swooped in and taken away the advantage that once belonged to Veteran, utilising it to get another couple of swings in before Veteran could regain his bearings. Honestly, Ares was smart. Veteran had to admit it... He hated it, because being tricked like this on repeat was infuriating, but he still admitted it. The fact that the kid could turn around disastrous situations at the drop of a hat in new ways every fight was actually rather impressive.


    Ares was a stubborn cultivator and those were always the most dangerous to fight. No matter how hard they were losing they would always attempt to make you lose something in return. More than anything else, they were petty. It wasn''t about winning with these freaks, it was about making sure that if you won you felt miserable about it. As in ''yes I beat him, but he fought better''. It was a kind of mental edge that only the most dedicated of losers could levy over their opponents. If you were stronger than the other person and did this then the outcome of the fight would change and you''d probably win but no matter how many times Ares tricked Veteran at his current level that just wouldn''t happen. He didn''t have the strength to do any important damage so it was really just a way of spitting on Veteran. It could even be considered a threat. ''Look at what I''m doing to you even though I have such a massive disadvantage right now, imagine what it will be like when I improve.'' And that was the part that irked Veteran the most because he knew it was true. The threat wasn''t unsubstantiated because Ares was good. Good enough to make that threat a reality later down the line. Knowing that he would lose his throne after all these years angered Veteran a little. He wouldn''t have cared prior but now that he was feeling good about life again he had the spare time to worry about small inconveniences like this and his pride was hurt! He''d lived for how long now? He''d been a famous, revered cultivator for just how long? And he was getting one-upped by some random brat from a lower domain? Who cares if he had Dominus'' talent?! This was a slap to the face, almost literally, and Veteran wasn''t going to tolerate it! In fact, Veteran felt like giving Ares a sneak peek of the hell that awaited him further down the line.


    Veteran patiently outlasted Ares'' assault before making space and heaving a deep sigh. The pressure enhancement he was manipulating increased explosively and the thickness of his silver aura nearly tripled. He was like a walking mirage as a cape of pressure gradually manifested on his back. Ares couldn''t even walk forward into the area surrounding Veteran as his pressure was like an omnipresent forcefield. The pushback was so bad Ares had to hold his arm in front of his face so as not to get scratched by the torrent of wind battering him. There was no longer any way for Ares to fight against the guy as he literally was incapable of taking even a single step in his direction anymore. Even firing a pressure bullet was completely worthless because Veteran''s pressure also acted like a deflect zone. Ares'' fired one anyway in defiance but the bullet went flying out of the building after curving wildly in mid-air the second it touched Veteran''s pressure. Veteran had become a walking field of death that scratched away at the building wherever he stepped. The floor underneath him tore away and the walls were eroded as he hovered in the remains of the room while staring at Ares. This clearly wasn''t going to go well no matter what Ares did but he used the last trick up his sleeve and summoned his normal pressure. Physical pressure would be deflected, and his enhancement was completely inferior in every conceivable metric, but Dominus'' bloodline meant the normal pressure could actually play a role here... If it hit... Which it most certainly did not. Ares had summoned a swamp of the stuff but Veteran simply vanished and reappeared right in front of Ares, having dodged the entirety of his pressure with ease. Veteran''s posture hadn''t changed and he was still just silently staring at Ares. His stance was effectively asking Ares ''what now?'' and Ares most certainly didn''t have an answer. Or rather, his answer was ''I die obviously'' as that was what his shoulder shrug and ''resigned to fate'' attitude gave to understand.


    Veteran didn''t delay the inevitable any longer and poked forward with his pinkie finger, tearing a hole in Ares'' chest with roughly a 40cm diameter. His finger hadn''t even connected with Ares'' body but that didn''t stop the unstoppable force from ripping Ares a new one. If his finger had made it all the way to Ares body... Well there probably wouldn''t be anything left of his corpse. Veteran''s finger in this form was like a de-atomiser and had more destructive potential than Ares'' disintegration magic... If Veteran had launched an actual attack he could have destroyed this entire segment of the city with one hand behind his back... And he only had one hand anyway! If he was wielding his trusty sword on top of that... Bye Bye city. This guy could almost definitely launch nuclear scale attacks with his pressure and still none of this even took into account his magic affiliations. No wonder he was still so highly ranked in cultivation society even despite becoming a crazy, back alley rambler. The mental state of the real Veteran wasn''t great which made him a ticking time bomb in some ways. Who knows when he would just go on a rampage out of frustration and start wiping out entire domains?! When he got his affiliations back in the real world he might actually become a contender for world''s strongest himself. Granted that list was getting quite long nowadays as there were all sorts cropping up in the ''generation of geniuses'' but Veteran was, and still is, the kind of person who lived up to his namesake. A veteran through and through. He didn''t represent the old-guard necessarily, as there were others in a similar boat to him, but he was definitely a notable existence in his own right. He was absolutely in a position to take the world by storm once more and all he needed was a little push. A push that Ares had already given him. Now all he needed was for his clone to return to the real him and his cultivation path would begin again after having been halted for far too long now.


    Ares wasn''t quite dead yet, he was a revenant after all, so he rolled his eyes and pointed at his head so that Veteran would get the message. This rebelliousness only served to piss Veteran off even more but he still did as was asked of him and blew out Ares'' brain all over the walls. After Ares disappeared the building reformed itself back to its original state, ready for Ares to return and try again. It was a good thing the building could regenerate otherwise this arena would eventually become a no man''s land of rubble and dirt. Both Ares and Veteran had incredible pressure and their high level fights would undoubtedly level the entire area repeatedly so this restoration feature was much appreciated. Fumbling over a destroyed building and climbing around all the bricks would be a serious hassle otherwise as they would be enough to form a small hill... Although hiding inside the rubble and ambushing Veteran did sound fun to Ares. He could be like a sneaky mole man.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Ares appeared outside the pagoda out of thin air for the tenth time today? Eleventh? Twentieth? He didn''t even really know anymore because the deaths were all starting to blend together. Sometimes he lasted longer, sometimes he died in a few seconds. That was just the nature of the beast when learning something new, especially when your teacher was leagues above you. Ares didn''t mind dying like this though, as long as he wasn''t losing fights that he didn''t consider training then that was ok. If he lost inside a Training Field to Sadie, or in a place like the pagoda to an expert, then as far as Ares was concerned his win record was safe! There was no such thing as a cultivator that never lost, it was impossible unless you lived like a cockroach and avoided confrontation at every single junction in life. There were probably some people who lived like that but Ares would sooner jump off a cliff than go about his cultivation journey in such a manner. Besides, he was a fundamental champion, he didn''t have a choice. He would be very recognisable going forward so laying low, unless he could find some kind of disguise, just wasn''t in the cards.


    Ares walked over to Transmit, paid them, and was about to re-enter the pagoda when he was restrained by a hug from behind... Which also came with a free stroking session along his chest so he was pretty sure he knew who''s feminine hands were fondling his body right now. There was only one woman horny enough in his life to act this way so he just let her do as she pleased. He looked over his shoulder and, sure enough, there was Enyo but Bellona also seemed to be hanging around a few feet away and shaking her head in disapproval of her sister''s brazen actions. Ares heard Blo Blo call Enyo a ''whore'' under her breath before walking over and flicking Enyo on the head.


    "Enyo, you aren''t a koala and Ares is most definitely not a tree."


    Enyo licked her lips and dismissed Bellona with a sly comment. "No, but he''s got the kind of wood I''m looking for."


    "Only because you''re so woodenheaded..." Bellona sighed and turned to Ares instead. "We were just discussing meeting Candy at some point. How''s things been going on your end, made any progress against that Veteran guy?"


    "Yeah it''s getting there. He just unleashed a fraction of his power and utterly destroyed me but, you know, baby steps. I''ll definitely get there eventually. How are things on the second floor?"


    "Second floor?" Enyo chimed in with a questioning gaze and a raised eyebrow. "How are you still only on the second floor?"


    Bellona harrumphed and turned her head to the side. "I was just dealing with some idiots on the first floor is all. Anyway I think I''m nearly done there. I know where my pressure is located, in my abs, and I can kinda already control it. I can smush four of the five hills constantly but I have to strain myself to do all five at the same time so I need a bit more practice and I should be good... That Caribou cunt is still silent as ever though... Tsk, whatever, I just ain''t gonna interact with him... Heh, he''s the time sage though, right? maybe when I''m leaving the floor I''ll ask him what time it is to mess with him a bit... I mean surely there''s no way he knows the answer what with being cooped up in the pagoda all the time, right? There ain''t any windows in there so him not knowing''ll make him look like a fool! What kinda time sage doesn''t know what time it is?! Hehehe."


    Ares scratched his chin as he chuckled lightly. "I thought you said you weren''t petty?"


    "Bite my ass. Why do you remember everything I say? How about I headbutt you and maybe dislodge a few of those memories?"


    "No, thank you, that won''t be necessary. Also, don''t say ''bite my ass'' out loud or you''ll just encourage Enyo... Speaking of, Enyo''s drooling so I think I should pay her some more attention lest she start eating me while we''re conversing. If I don''t keep an eye out on her she might actually lower my pants here and now so gimme a minute..." Enyo had taken the liberty of getting frisky when Ares diverted his attention to Bellona but now that he was paying her attention again she ''innocently'' kept her hands PG... Ok maybe PG-13 as they were starting to shift dangerously downward. "Enyo... Did you come here just for this?"


    "Yes?" Enyo replied with a tilted head and doe eyes so Ares found it hard to blame or reprimand her. She was like a horse with blinkers and genuinely didn''t know or understand why the way she was acting was unusual.


    "... And how do you suggest we go about it in a public space? That''s a little to risqu¨¦ for me I think. I don''t have that kind of exhibitionism in me I''m afraid."


    "You''ve got the Prowler, no?" Enyo slithered her mouth next to his ears and whispered, "Just a quickie? We can find a nice and quiet back alley and get it all out of our systems."


    "I think you mean your system, but sure, fine. A break from training won''t kill me... Or rather it''s the training killing me in the first place... Also I know if I don''t get you off and get you off my case now you''ll go rabid later." She might still go rabid later anyway... Ares added that last part in the back of his mind because he knew this woman far too well. Still, he wasn''t against getting his rocks off so he agreed to have a bit of fun. The Zone he could create would give them the same kind of privacy as a hotel room so it wasn''t like they were doing it out in the open or anything. Even if someone as powerful as Rhea, for instance, found the zone they wouldn''t be able to peek into it so Enyo could have her wish... Although even if that weren''t the case she would just give Ares the puppy eyes treatment until he offered to take her to an actual hotel. This way was far better, however, as a hotel would encourage Enyo to stay for far longer. Ares grabbed Enyo''s hand and started leading her away but he also made an effort to give Bellona a kiss before leaving as she seemed to be waiting out here specifically for that. This action only served to make Enyo even more excited though and now she was staring between Bellona''s lips and Ares'', unsure of which she wanted to taste more right about now. What an utterly degenerate woman... It was pretty impressive how quickly she could flip her switch and go from holy female knight to unholy female of the night. Not that Ares was complaining, he was perfectly fine with both sides of her. As for Bellona, she just sighed and went back into the pagoda. She was going to have to get used to watching her sister walk away with her man to go do unspeakable things right under her nose. Then again, she should consider herself lucky Enyo wasn''t dragging her away to do unspeakable things instead... Not tha that wasn''t going to start happening at some point.


    Meanwhile, Veteran was left sitting around by his lonesome wondering where Ares had buggered off to. Little did he know Ares was buggering in a very different way... Still, Ares did show up eventually with his hair all over the place, a few bite marks on his neck, and ruffled clothing. Veteran... Almost couldn''t believe his eyes. Here he was trying to teach the kid and there he was, running off to go get laid. "Really?" Veteran was floored by the audacity before he quickly remembered this was a revenant he was dealing with here and thus the word ''audacious'' didn''t even exist in their lexicon. "Did you seriously go to floor four and pay that Candy foxian a visit?"


    "Hm? No no, not at all... It was one of my other wives... One I really can''t stop."


    "Are you showing off? Are you rubbing it in because I''ve been stuck here for however many years? Is that what this is?"


    "Ok maybe a little, but that''s what you get for whipping out the silver cape you bastard! You wanna play the mockery game? I can do it too punk! You are a sore loser and that was clearly going way too far. You get what you deserve!"


    "Tsk, whatever... It really has been a while. I should go visit a brothel when I''m out of this stupid place."


    "A brothel? A guy like you could surely just drop his pants and have a flock of women gather ''round to feed on your bird seed in a matter of minutes no?"


    "Ok, never say that again. As for the point you were making behind that atrocious metaphor, yeah but screw that. Most of those kinds of women are nothing more than gold diggers. Also I want to keep it strictly business otherwise they''ll probably start chasing me down and I don''t want to deal with that right now. I have enemies that would be more than happy to kill anyone I actually try and form a relationship with and, thanks to the war, I''m not in the mood to lose anyone important to me again any time soon. Combine all of that together and a brothel is just easier. Even finding a good one shouldn''t be an issue as I have a few old friends that check up on me on the regular and they... Well they visit those kinds of places a lot... I''m getting side-tracked, did you really need to come here looking like that just to mess with me?! What on earth makes you think I won''t hit you harder as payback for taunting me? Stupid revenant."


    "You can hit me as hard as you want, won''t change the fact that you''re just jealous. The more you kill me unproductively the longer it''ll take you to get back to the real-world you. Your loss."


    "Annoying bastard. Fine, whatever, let''s get back to it. If you could refrain from up and leaving from now on that would be preferable. We don''t have all the time in the world here. I want to go back and Candy needs to as well so stop messing around."


    "Tsk, using Candy to make me take things seriously. You''re a bit of a bastard yourself, aren''t you? Fair play though, I can''t be mad if your point is valid." Ares walked over to the side of the wall and wrenched out a pipe. He held it in one hand and lightly tapped it against his other palm repeatedly as he walked back over to Veteran. "I''ve gotten the urge to swing a weapon. Doubt it''s going to do much but might as well try anyway."


    "Maybe not but this is a good time to teach you something you may not have already figured out on the lower floors. You can coat weapons with physical pressure, kind of like weapon enhancement in a way. You can even deflect with weapons if you really want but that''s usually over the top and the kind of thing you do if you''re showing off. Give it a go before we start."


    Ares did as was suggested and wrapped the pipe in pressure. This went smoothly as he''d long since mastered the basics and could apply them in any relevant way. The benefits of trying harder during the early stages were being fully reaped right now as Ares'' weapon enhancement was speedy. As quickly as he could coat it in disintegration he could just as rapidly use pressure instead if he wanted to. There weren''t many situations in which he would pick pressure over disintegration but this was just another trick he could keep hidden away in his arsenal should he ever actually come across a situation in which it was helpful. Like right now for instance! With a enhanced weapon in hand, maybe he could make Veteran flinch or leave a dent in him. Now that still required actually hitting the guy but Ares had been doing a decent amount of that recently and he felt good.


    Provided Veteran''s silver cape didn''t come out again, Ares was convinced he could last upwards of five minutes in a fight if he went all out. His growth on this floor was tremendous and yet it still wasn''t stopping. If he kept improving at this rate over the course of the next few days... By the time he left he would be able to swagger wherever he damn well pleased for the most part. To what extent? Even he himself didn''t know but what he did know was that he was going to have the perfect solution to his adept trait''s drawback. This enhancement would tide him over until he got his revenant transformation for sure. Even after that it would still be beneficial too though so, really, this would remain one of the most important time periods of his entire life regarding shaping himself as a cultivator. Though he''d just laid pipe, and was now wielding one, he was actually taking this really quite seriously deep down. If you could successfully peek beneath the blas¨¦ veneer you would be able to see a rather focussed Ares. Stressed, certainly a bit (a lot less now that Enyo had relieved some), but hyper focussed on the task at hand. This side of Ares was rare to see pop up and he himself was aware of that so he made full use of it. He shut out all irrelevant worries and woes, forgot about Enyo, Candy, and Bellona entirely, and dedicated himself to the pagoda. It was a challenge, and he was the challenger, albeit a slightly mentally challenged one... But still! Completing the pagoda was his duty and one he was now fully ready to take in his stride. There was only one way to find out how long it would take him to succeed so, without any more hesitation, he kicked off the fight with Veteran. Not the other way around, no, for the first time since arriving on this floor, Ares had made the first move. That was just a sign of how confident he was feeling right about now. These next few days were going to be incredible!

 Chapter 167: Rookie Vs Veteran, Part 1

    By the end of day one of Ares'' training he''d reached 40% of his total enhancement potential. His major success of the day was managing to whack Veteran''s knee caps with his trusty pipe. Veteran''s face soured in response and Ares considered that a win. He might not have permanently damaged Veteran but he did hurt him and that was as good a place to start as any. Now, Veteran may or may not have stolen the pipe, broken Ares'' legs with it, and beaten him to death on the floor, but a win was still a win no matter what misfortunes came after!


    Another entire day passed and Ares'' earlier prediction had come true, he was now a ''threat'' to Veteran. Not a major one, not even close, but he was capable of doing lasting damage against the guy if he got a clean hit in. The first time this happened was when Ares hid behind a corner and charged up his strongest punch yet, knocking a tooth out of Veteran who swung around the corner with reckless abandon. Veteran could no longer dismiss stray hits and take them like a champ, he had to be cautious around Ares. As the second day progressed, so too did Ares'' competency with enhancement. In fact, by the end of it, Ares could wield 62% of his total pressure, more than half, and Veteran was looking a little antsy about it. Ares smirked at the guy and goaded him. "For your sake, I would suggest you stop moping around. The second I''m capable of beating you, you''re in for a world of hurt as payback for all the shit you''ve been doing to me. So get up off your sorry ass and let''s get back to fisticuffs!"


    Veteran grumbled under his breath but, no matter how much he complained, he knew Ares was telling the truth. Veteran had maybe gotten a tad carried away here and there, beating Ares up for the fun of it on occasion before finally ending him. Revenants just made for really good pinatas, ok? Especially the annoying ones... And if Ares didn''t fall into that category then who would?! Veteran was really starting to wish the whole ''overseers feel no pain'' thing also applied to him. unfortunately, feeling no pain would be a pretty major advantage in a fight to the death so he was the one overseer without that benefit to his name. It seemed Ares was going to get a kick out of exploiting that as soon as he was able but, if that was the case, then Veteran would damn well do the same while he still could! It was a strange cycle in that Ares was going to abuse Veteran in the future, because Veteran was abusing him now, because Ares was going to abuse Veteran in the future. They were arguably just making the cycle of violence worse via their pseudo cold war. Pseudo because the violence they were inflicting was very real but cold war because the meta mind games were underway... If they could even really be called ''mind games''. When it came right down to it, this was just two guys beating each other up and then beating each other up some more for having beaten them up in the first place. This was cavemen level ''mind games'' but men were simple creatures in this way so solving their dispute in such a manner was preferable to them.


    Ares started the fight off with an Esoteric Compression to flatten a wide area in front of him, hitting Veteran square on. The weight of the art crushed the floor beneath Veteran and made him fall down through the newly opened hole onto the floor below. Ares, having intentionally manufactured this scenario, utilised this new height advantage to launch a dive kick from above and come hurtling down onto Veteran''s raised arm. The momentum gave Ares enough force to blow back Veteran''s guard and, after landing, run up to him to keep applying pressure. His quick aggression off the start, combined with the clever use of the structurally weak environment, paved the way for him to take an early lead in the fight. He swung with his right fist, aiming for Veteran''s face and forcing a block, while his left fingers clicked to fire off a ranged Annihilation Echo at Veteran''s stomach.


    Veteran could only block a single one of the two attacks but he correctly identified the punch as the more dangerous of the two and stopped that attack in its tracks. He then masterfully deflected the Echo, using his chest, right back at Ares while retaliating with his own swing to completely reverse the situation. Ares had two arms to defend himself, from the swing and his own Annihilation Echo, but he was unwillingly forced to hand over the advantage he had previously. All his planning had gone out the window because Veteran''s response had been quick and intelligent. Still, this was how fights between two high level combatants were supposed to go. Back and forth, back and forth. Any gaps in an offensive would lead to a counter offensive, and any holes in a defence would lead to pain and misery. It was a delicate balance with many complex decisions being made behind the scenes, almost like a game of chess. ''If you do this, I''ll do that, then you''ll do that, and I''ll do this!'' And the more competent the players, the more unique and inventive variations you would see from moment to moment; that was the essence of what Dominus had taught Sadie a while back. Ares didn''t need to be taught this, though, as he had an array of Dominus'' knowledge to begin with. This was just his natural state so he was more than capable of keeping up with even a legend like Veteran provided his physical attributes weren''t lacking. Right now, as Ares was, he was slightly on the weaker side compared to his opponent but not so much so that he couldn''t make up for it if he was smart in his approach. The entire sequence of events at the start of this match had proven that already.


    After Ares blocked the simultaneous attack, Veteran distracted Ares with a close range pressure bullet while stomping his foot down on top of Ares''. Ares deflected the bullet with his shoulder before swinging his head against Veteran''s with an Annihilation Echo ready blow off his skull if he took the attack face first. Veteran was forced to take a step back because Ares'' Annihilation Echoes were extremely dangerous but that didn''t mean Veteran committed to a full retreat. Instead, he coated his fist in physical pressure, in addition to his enhancement, and went toe to toe with Ares'' headbutt.


    BANG


    Blood splattered out of Ares'' nose as he tripped backward onto his rear while Veteran was slammed against a wall with a broken hand. The wall broke apart and Veteran tumbled through it to the other side while Ares wiped the blood out of his eyes and mouth and dizzily stood right back up so he could continue the fight. He suffered a fair bit of damage, and had an awful concussion, but Veteran''s hand was out of commission! This was a huge win for Ares as it put Veteran in a terrible spot. He may still be able to forcibly use his hand but its effectiveness would have drastically decreased and Ares was planning on making full use of that.


    Ares disregarded his own injuries and jumped through the hole in the wall to give chase. Veteran saw this and left the hallway to go straight to the staircase where he felt comfortable he could create an opening using the environment. He''d parkoured around this building for thousands of years at this point, he knew every single step in that staircase like the back of his hand. All the railings, windows, ledges, etc... He may not have had his hand operating at full force but he didn''t really need it here. He could leap around and use height to add power to his kicks, making him lethal in a way that wasn''t reliant on his now-busted hand. Of course he could have whipped out the silver cape but that wasn''t necessary just yet. If things went south here then he would have no choice but to rely on it but he wanted to believe he could still pull this fight back. It was his inner pride that didn''t want to bow out and take the cheap path to victory just yet. Pulling out the cape was admitting that he needed an overwhelming strength advantage to keep up with Ares and he didn''t want to admit it just yet.


    Ares ran through the doorway to the staircase and was immediately met head on with Veteran''s boot inches away from his skull. He''d seen this coming, however, and had taken cautionary measures in advance by tying his Zephyr to a pipe outside the room. Before Veteran''s foot could crack Ares'' skull the Zephyr pulled him backward to safety where he grabbed said pipe, coated it in pressure, and chucked it like a dart at Veteran''s foot that was now buried in the ground and unable to dodge. Although Veteran had enough time deflect the pipe, Ares had slid after it and kicked out with his own foot, aiming at Veteran''s ankle with a strike that couldn''t be deflected, dodged, or blocked. Ares was too familiar with Veteran''s constant reliance on deflects to not be prepared with a counter measure, he''d timed his attack to land perfectly right before Veteran could recover from his own failed dive kick, and Veteran''s hand was still too damaged to guard. Long story short, if Veteran didn''t whip out the cape here his ankle, and more importantly his foot, would become useless in addition to his hand. He was slowly being stripped of his body parts by an opportunistic Ares and he couldn''t let this continue any longer.


    As Ares drew closer to Veteran with his slide he grit his teeth harder and harder for he knew that the cape was going to be deployed here. When it was, the pushback would send Ares flying and he needed to be prepared for the shockwave. He needed to block it, he needed to ride the wave rather than fight it, and he needed to land safely while keeping an eye out for Veteran''s next move that came after. The slide kick was never supposed to work in the first place, he was just trying to force out the cape in a situation that allowed Ares to not be in a disadvantageous state immediately after. If Ares was on the backfoot when the cape came out it would be devastating. Yes he was sacrificing his advantage and returning to a neutral state but Veteran''s final weapon was being forced out into the open for little gain. It was an incredibly safe way of navigating the fight but Ares wasn''t desperate enough anymore to make wild, last ditch efforts. He opted to take the fight slow and draw out all of Veteran''s cards one by one for future reference. The more he could witness now the less Veteran would have up his sleeve to take Ares by surprise with on later attempts, giving him higher odds of success.


    Whoosh


    Ares heard the sound of Veteran kissing his teeth before his entire field vision became silver. It was as though he was swimming in liquid mercury but Ares'' one solace here was that he was stronger than the last time this happened and could keep himself safe. He was blown back, down the hallway and even back into the starting room, until he eventually landed with a skid. He was safe and sound, yes, but now came the hard part. Ares angled his head and stared down the hallway but couldn''t see Veteran anymore... His eyes widened when he felt a shocking amount of pressure coalescing directly above his head so he raised his palm, coated it in as much enhancement as he could, and struck himself in the chest. The hit sent him flying back out into the hall once again just in time to avoid the orbital strike of pressure that ripped a hole into the building where he''d just been standing. The moonlight crept in through the countless floors that had been pierced and Ares could see Veteran hovering ominously up in the night sky. A few small stars dotted the scenery but Ares didn''t have time to appreciate them as Veteran was descending back into the building. When he landed, he raised his battered hand as it spasmed back into its normal shape with a few cracking noises... Now this guy was just showing off! Having such incredible pressure control he could use it to heal himself was not normal in the slightest. In fact, he was literally the only person in the world even capable of doing it. Even Dominus had failed to achieve this level of mastery, and he was easily a top 10 pressure wielder, so what chance did anyone else have? Maybe even Ares wouldn''t be able to replicate it because it seemed like a wholly unique technique that belonged to Veteran specifically. Not that Ares needed it anyway, his revenant regeneration would be capable of so much more than this in due time. If Ares'' cultivation was equivalent to real-world Veteran'', he could have his head be popped like a balloon and still walk around without a care in the world. It wouldn''t even take more than a few seconds to come back. This was one of the major reasons revenants were despised so Ares wasn''t jealous of Veteran''s ability in the slightest as it was actually inferior to his own latent talents.


    Killing a revenant was an unenviable task for a multitude of reasons and there were some pretty ridiculous examples through history that really drove that home. For instance, there was once a revenant noble who was made aware of an assassin in his home. The guy cut himself into a hundred pieces and hid them throughout his room, making it impossible for the assassin to find enough parts of the noble to kill him for good. The entire night came and went and the assassin was forced to leave when the guards showed up. Organs jumped out of cupboards, eyes rolled out from under the bed, and the noble reformed himself with nary a scratch, regenerating the few pieces of him the assassin had managed to actually find. It was to the point that most assassins refused, on-sight, any contract that involved going anywhere near a revenant unless the pay was exorbitant.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    If you wanted a revenant dead, you were out of luck. Your best bet was to capture them, tie them up, and just torture them eternally instead. Sealing them was also another option but, if the revenant wasn''t bound, they could just kill themself inside the seal and be reborn somewhere else. They were all slippery bastards that was for sure. Even capturing them wasn''t guaranteed to work if you were careless as they could bite off their arms, free themself from their chains, and then regenerate their body before escaping. One revenant guy even threw his head out a window and abandoned his body, created a new one outside, and took off under the cover of night. 90% of the reasons revenants were ''insufferable'' wasn''t even because of their personalities, although God knows that didn''t help either, but because keeping them in check was like trying to round up 100 oily pigs with your bare hands. The cherry on top was that they would frequently laugh at you too while it was happening. In the case of the noble, the poor assassin was subjected to ridicule from the noble''s mouth for an hour straight until he eventually found it hiding underneath the floorboards and destroyed it. This was why their race was part of the racial triad at the peak of cultivation society consisting of Gods, dragons, and revenants. Even the other two races couldn''t match the immortality of these dumb mutts and that was incredibly irksome. Most of the revenant rumours had started thanks to the anti-magic God having an embarrassing run-in with one... This God was truly responsible for a lot of garbage in this world and it was really surprising nobody had taught him a lesson yet. Then again, the revenants were undeterred by the rumours and really didn''t care in the slightest. Actually, they thought it was hilarious and went around exacerbating the issue by jokingly acting like power hungry warlords. Society unfortunately did the one thing it shouldn''t do and took these dumbasses seriously hence the current status quo. No matter how much they were detested though, it remained true that their immortality outshone even phoenixes. Love ''em or hate ''em, their race was absolutely phenomenal to be a part of if you were lucky enough.


    Now that Veteran had healed himself the fight was basically restarting from scratch. All of Ares'' efforts thus far were undone in a matter of seconds and he was now severely outclassed once again. Still, if Veteran hadn''t done this then Ares would have been winning hard by this point so that was reassuring for him. It was actually possible for Ares to beat Veteran provided he didn''t whip out the cape! Still, the hard truth that lay before Ares was that the cape existed and was going to impede him in every fight going forward from now on.


    Before Ares could even react he''d been blasted through a wall and out into the streets which was reminiscent of his first fight the way he was unable to respond to Veteran''s assault. That was just the sheer power Veteran  wielded in this state and there was nothing Ares, currently, could do about it. Ares didn''t lose heart though, he wasn''t going to give up just because of this!


    "Hunker!"


    It had been a while since Ares activated a rune on his Zephyr but now was as good a time as ever. This thing had countless tools and Ares hadn''t been using them as of late because he just didn''t have nay reason to. Here he saw an opportunity as Hunker formed a dome around him with the Zephyr that reduced damage he took from all directions. Back against the mecha-dryad he used it to prevent getting cut into pieces by the oleander flowers. He didn''t want to lose blood in that situation and something similar was happening here. Veteran''s strikes were now packing enough raw power to break his bones, plus Ares couldn''t react in time to them anymore. If Veteran''s speed meant his attacks were guaranteed to land then forcing them to land on the Zephyr instead, even though it would still transmit some of the damage to Ares, meant his organs and bones would remain safe. Hunker was good for blocking attacks that would have additional affects other than raw damage such as poison infliction, creating wounds, breaking body parts, or applying some kind of magic. The Zephyr would soak it all up. It also worked wonders in situations where Ares didn''t know which direction an attack would strike him from, like now when Veteran was too fast to block against properly. Sure he was basically inviting Veteran to hit him but at least he could attempt to fight back immediately after without suffering any troublesome injuries. In fact, his plan didn''t even end there but, if Veteran wanted to see the other half, he was going to have to attack Ares first.


    And sure enough, Veteran wasted no time in doing so. If he were truly paranoid he could unleash another massive pressure attack, like before, from range but he was feeling confident again now that he''d donned the silver cape and acting in such a cowardly manner was disgraceful. He was supposed to be training Ares, not just launching pillars of pressure at Ares from the sky. Now when Ares got stronger and could deal with it, all bets were off and he would use every trick up his sleeve. As that was not yet the case, Veteran dashed forward quicker than was trackable by an average human and launched a giant punch at Ares defensive dome.


    CLANG


    Veteran''s fist sunk into the dome and he could feel the reverberation of his attack travel through to Ares even if he couldn''t directly see it happening. There was one thing he knew for sure and it was that last attack was definitely felt by Ares.


    After the strike, Ares rose up out of the Zephyr as it coiled back around him but something was a little different. Ares had used the Zephyr''s Blackout rune, the same one he used to fool the Alchemy Organisation back during the tournament in which Allie and Tuck competed. His face and body were both covered by a glitchy black fuzz and he became a sort of black, techno shadow of a human with the Zephyr acting as a cloak. This was a good rune for keeping his identity hidden but why he''d used it here Veteran didn''t know... Ares ran straight at Veteran and pulled out a strange, black and gold sheathed katana with a red jewel on the sword''s grip... One that Veteran was almost certain he recalled seeing somewhere once before. He dwelled on it for a split second before recalling exactly what that thing was and he panicked immediately because that thing, if his memory wasn''t completely wrong, was the Primordial Blade! This kid had it?! Ares using Blackout was weird enough as is but going for an attack this pointless with a weapon that dangerous... What on earth was he up to?! If the sword hit Veteran, even without being unsheathed, it would absolutely kill him... But there was no way Veteran would ever allow it. Yes Ares'' Hunker strategy allowed him to get an attack off immediately after Veteran struck the Zephyr but it wouldn''t be so fast that Veteran couldn''t dodge it. Ares'' approach completely baffled Veteran and, what made it even worse, was that the sword swing was atrociously bad; like Ares was intentionally leaving some kind of gap on purpose. The more time Veteran spent thinking about everything he was witnessing the less he understood so, without bogging himself down in this nonsense, he just decided to dodge the sword and counter attack. He could ask Ares what he was trying to pull off after he''d beaten him half to death. Also... Using a weapon was cheating damn it! This punk was straight up disobeying the rules here! Ah whatever. He clearly wasn''t trying to actually hit Veteran with it and he likely wouldn''t cheat during any of the fights in which he actually stood a chance of winning anyway. As per usual, Ares was just being annoying.


    Veteran leant back and dodged the horizontal swing before leaning forward again and launching his fist forward. The nearby space coiled around his fist and the winds generated by his attack buffeted Ares'' Zephyr, slowly pushing back the cloak covering his head and revealing part of Ares'' form underneath it. Veteran had trouble making out any clear details behind the Blackout but he nearly choked on his saliva when he just barely caught sight of Ares'' reddish eyes. The punch couldn''t be stopped and neither could his course of action so all Veteran could do right now was look around and pray Ares wasn''t in a good position to take advantage of his successful ruse. This ''Ares'' that Veteran was punching was actually the damn mimic again! Ares had been smart and given Rox the Zephyr and the Blade temporarily, activated the Blackout rune, and hidden somewhere to launch an attack at Veteran while he was directing his all towards Rox... The only question that still remained in Veteran''s head was where Ares was... And, to some extent, why he''d given away the Blade. If Ares had kept it, he could have used it to attack Veteran, no? Then again, Veteran would have likely reacted to the Blade''s overwhelming, savage presence and then the jig would have been up way sooner. Despite realising he''d been duped, there was still al lot Veteran didn''t understand about this situation...


    Veteran''s fist was inches away from connecting with Rox''s head when he finally saw Ares... In fact he couldn''t miss him even if he tried as Ares was directly in front of him! No wonder Ares gave Rox the Blade, he was hiding inside it! Ares'' attack wouldn''t come from behind some nearby obstacle, it would come from less than a foot away and that was a huge problem. As all Ares had to do was lean his upper body out of the sword, he could go all in and launch an attack with a considerable amount of oomph behind it as he didn''t have to waste time closing the distance first. This was B.A.D. for Veteran as he''d left himself wide open to an enemy within arm''s reach. Ares had free reign to punish him in whatever way took his fancy and it looked like a massive Annihilation Echo to the dome was what was on the menu. Veteran was going to be eating the knuckle sandwich of a lifetime and he couldn''t say no as it was being force fed to him regardless of his wishes.


    Ares'' fist connected with Veteran''s head in tandem with Veteran''s fist connecting with Rox''s head and two things happened. One; poor Rox was dead again and had been sent outside the pagoda to wait around by his lonesome. Two; Veteran was blasted away by Ares'' punch and sent flying through three different buildings before rolling to halt on his knees. Veteran spat out a bloodied tooth and stood while cracking his knuckles. Clearly he''d been underestimating Ares and the kid needed to be put in his place. This annoying revenant had outsmarted him with tricks like this far too many times since he''d arrived in this pagoda and he kept getting away with it!


    Veteran raised his fist and slammed it down into the ground. A shockwave radiated outward from the point of impact and, upon touching Ares, lifted him into the air. The floor had been turned into a bouncy castle by the punch and Ares was just along for the ride at this point. He''d given the Zephyr to Rox and didn''t have time to rebuild it on his back, so he couldn''t use that to escape, and weapons weren''t allowed so he couldn''t pull one out and Gamble to safety... Although he''d technically broken that rule already... Only ''technically'' though! It wasn''t him that used the sword! It was that dirty cheater Rox!... Of course you had to ignore the part where Ares shoved the sword into Rox''s hand but it was ''clearly'', ''definitely'' still the mimic''s fault...


    Veteran ran up to the helpless, mid-air-Ares and struck his spine with an overhead, double fisted, smash. Ares'' body disappeared into the ground and he couldn''t even moan in pain because his head was buried underneath the concrete, silencing his groans. He couldn''t move anymore because his spine was actually just gone, vaporised, where he''d been struck so this was clearly the end of this match. Ares was frothing blood at the mouth and jolting in pain every time he breathed. This was undoubtedly the worst death yet in Ares'' expert opinion. Thankfully, Veteran was merciful and killed him a second or two later after uncovering him from the rubble in the floor so his suffering was cut short. He appeared outside the pagoda with a sigh but brightened up shortly after reminding himself he''d punched Veteran in the face! A caped Veteran no less! And it was an incredibly satisfying punch at that! The fight had gone excellently if looking at it objectively from the perspective of a person looking to improve. Yep, everything had gone great... For Ares, anyway, Rox was staring at the back of his head with a narrow, disapproving gaze. Despite not wanting to use Rox as a tool, Ares had done that multiple times as of late! Summoning him to take a blow from Veteran was animal cruelty! Where was PETA when they were actually needed for once?! Rox was going to file a formal complaint to Ares and demand better work conditions! Maybe he should unionise? Him and the eagle from Adaptive Shot that had still yet to be fed or placated in any manner!


    Ares noticed Rox''s behaviour and knew exactly what he was thinking but there was a slight problem, one that became even more noticeable as he handed over more mid grade stardust to Transmit... He was broke! He couldn''t afford nice food and toys for his summons because he had no money damn it! Ares sincerely hoped these troublemakers wouldn''t go on strike before he could make some moolah and pay them back... Actually... Why was Ares taking this sass from his summon?! He was the master here! Ares shoved Rox back in the Blade and re-entered the pagoda. Unionise my ass! Take your winter of discontent and shove it where the sun don''t shine!

 Chapter 168: Rookie Vs Veteran, Part 2

    Day three came and went and now Ares was starting to become a real menace. His pressure total by the end of the third day had reached a whopping 80% and looked like it was going to stay here for the remainder of the day. Progress had been good up until this point but it was starting to slow down again. 80% Felt like a barrier of some kind and his body was trying to reject going any further; almost as if it was convinced it couldn''t handle such an absurd number. No wonder Veteran got stuck here, it just seemed like the natural limit for enhancement for ordinary people. Of course Ares had gone further during his initial calibration, though, so he had more left in him yet to come. His body would get over the hurdle eventually and keep climbing... But whether he even needed it to beat Veteran was debatable. His matches had been getting closer and closer over time. Even when his enhancement was in the low to mid seventies Ares was putting up a respectable fight against Veteran and came close to inflicting grievous wounds on multiple occasions. Now grievous wounds didn''t necessarily mean Ares would win, as he typically had to trade his life to even have a chance of damaging Veteran to that degree, but the fact he was actually capable of potentially winning a match against a full powered Veteran already was a real confidence booster. Even if he didn''t go any further than 80% he would win a match eventually through sheer determination and force of will. Veteran knew it and was on edge for the last couple of bouts as he felt pressured, like he''d been backed up into a corner and had to repeatedly fight for his life. Every time he scraped by, and avoided Ares'' attempts to injure him beyond repair, he would be thrust right back into another fight as Ares reappeared inside the pagoda immediately after. Veteran had no breaks and it was starting to weigh on his mind a bit. The toll of going up against a gremlin like Ares who used every underhanded method in the book to win... Knowing that even a single careless slip up would result in his loss... Veteran was not having a good time. At least not from the perspective of someone trying to hold onto his position. As a cultivator he was having a blast as these were the most difficult fights he''d ever had in his entire time serving as an overseer.


    Ares'' constant assaults were mounting a prolonged offensive that was tiring to repel and Veteran knew it was only a matter of time. One more fight, two more fights... He was seriously going to lose. The only question was would he lose today, before the fourth day started, or would he lose tomorrow when Ares finally breached 80% on his enhancement. That all depended on how long Veteran could keep up with Ares'' shenanigans mid-fight. The second he fell out of step and Ares fooled him, or even simply outperformed him, it would all be over... His reign of pure, unfiltered dominance would come to an abrupt end... The training would still continue but he wouldn''t even really be the master or teacher anymore. Ares would graduate and, in some ways, he would become the student. With that in mind, and reluctance in his heart, Veteran stepped up to the plate once again and squared off against Ares. Before the fight started he donned the silver cape... And Ares didn''t move an inch. The cape was no longer some kind of cure-all that could solve his Ares related problems by pushing him away. He couldn''t help but think that Ares was like a mosquito that had just become immune to bug-repellent. Equally as annoying too and he was even coming for his blood so the comparison was doubly apt. Veteran sighed to himself and trained his eyes on the kid opposite him. If he lost focus for even a moment Ares wouldn''t make the mistake of letting him go unpunished, Ares was already at that level. All of the laziness had been beaten out of Veteran. He needed to carefully select every single move he made and have backups prepared for all of them otherwise Ares would exploit his subpar foresight.


    The fight kicked off when Ares fired a bullet of pressure. A simple attack but one that could be followed up on in any number of ways. It served no purpose other than being annoying and, yet, Veteran had to pay it due attention. Ares'' pressure bullets hit like an absolute truck now and could cause Veteran great harm if he let them smack him without doing anything in response. Just last fight one clipped his arm and he lost a chunk of it on the spot because he failed to deflect it. To be fair, that specific pressure bullet had been imbued with annihilation mana but even the normal ones weren''t to be trifled with. Veteran carefully ducked under the bullet and was forced to raise his arm above his head to defend himself against an axe kick from Ares.


    Thud


    Veteran''s arm wobbled as he pushed back against the kick and threw Ares away. He disengaged the fight but took a second to be able to stand back up as the kick made his knees go weak and nearly even buried him into the floor. Now that Ares'' attacks had some real weight to them his spontaneous bursts of aggression were incredibly frightening to be on the receiving end of. Veteran stood up and punched the ground underneath him. The strength of the punch travelled through every single floor beneath the one they were currently sparring on and obliterated them all, causing Ares to fall all the way to the ground floor while Veteran could fly after him. One thing Ares still couldn''t yet do was hover with pressure so Veteran forced him into a position where it actually mattered. In this case, while Ares descended to the bottom of the building, Veteran was able to chase him down and launch an attack that Ares couldn''t dodge in mid-air. He wouldn''t be able to replicate this scenario unless Ares chased him up to the top floor but even having one opportunity to reverse the tide and put him in the driver''s seat during this fight was incredibly valuable.


    Veteran made the most of his advantage and charged up a powerful attack that could very well annihilate an entire row of buildings if he fired it off in a straight line through them but Ares remained unperturbed by this series of events. Instead, Ares'' eyes practically glazed over as he stared intently at the fist charging towards him. Milliseconds before Veteran''s fist could send him back outside the pagoda, Ares'' hand shot up and his palm pushed Veteran''s fist upwards. The fist sailed cleanly over Ares'' head, thanks to the last second deflect, and took no more than a few strands of hair away from Ares. When the attack finally stopped moving, a silver tunnel of pressure shot out of Veteran''s fist and raced through the city, destroying everything in its path as it travelled down the street. It passed by many-a red light and uplifted the pavements on either side of it until it disappeared off into the murky distance, leaving behind a trail of carnage. As the street was inclined, it now looked like a concrete slide with jagged edges and shiny shards of glass from nearby broken windows decorating the walls. If Ares had taken that punch head on, he would have ended up with his head coming clean off.


    Ares,, now safe, thrust out his palm and smacked away Veteran who was sent stumbling backward. Sensing an opportunity, Ares stomped on the floor and sent out a shockwave that tripped Veteran and made him fall onto his backside while Ares ran up and swung his foot out to kick him like a football. Veteran took the brunt of the blow with his arm and slid back across the floor until his back rammed into a wall, bringing him to a halt. The mouldy wall crumbled on his dirty hair and dust crept into his mouth as he stood up and kissed his teeth. So far this match was going horribly at every turn. Ares'' attacks were hitting in all the right ways and his were being dismantled and avoided perfectly. This was easily the roughest start to a fight he''d had yet but he shook his head and put that thought to the back of his mind. It was still go time and he didn''t have the leeway to be worrying about the past when the present was as much of a struggle as it was. Ares walked over and Veteran took the imitative, throwing out a few quick jabs, all of which were avoided by Ares. Veteran''s prods were only there to help him search for an opening but he was unable to find one and, the longer this went on, the more desperate he was to do anything productive. He wouldn''t win a battle of attrition because his pressure reserves were smaller than Ares'' by a large margin and the kid wasn''t even using as much as Veteran to being with. If Ares took the fight slow he would win eventually by default and it didn''t help that Veteran''s last big attack missed completely. All that wasted pressure for no benefit only meant the invisible timer he was on was ticking down even faster now.


    Veteran kicked out with his foot and Ares took a step back to avoid it, giving Veteran some space to create a series of silver squares in the air above Ares. These attacks were made of physical pressure and would crush anyone beneath them when they fell. More than that, the spaces between them were intentionally left empty to force Ares to stand in a specific spot, turning him into a deer in the headlights or a fish in the barrel. Ares, as expected, was forced to manoeuvre between the dropped blocks and ended up right where Veteran wanted him. With a swing of his fist, Veteran struck the nearest wall and sent a tremor through it, one that reached the very top of the building. The wall he struck collapsed and now the building had lost so much structural support it couldn''t bear the weight any longer and started to topple. Every single object, be they chairs, desks, or any other office furnishings, on the floors above were raining down on Ares, followed by the entire rest of the building.


    CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


    Rather than strike Ares with his own flesh and body, Veteran had brought the whole house down on top of the guy. Even he''d only barely managed to escape in time so Ares, who''d been corralled by the boxes into an awkward spot, should have stood no chance of making it out... The building wasn''t regenerating though, it was just sitting there underneath his feet in a broken state, so Ares was alive somehow... The question now was ''what state is he in?'' logically, borderline dead would be the correct answer but Veteran wasn''t convinced. If he went digging for Ares to finish him off and there was an ambush then Veteran would suffer for his carelessness. On the flip side, if he waited, he was giving Ares all the time in the world to recuperate from any difficulties he may be having right now... Veteran made the final decision to go deeper in and check. He wasn''t so weak he couldn''t fight back against the ambush and he would rather regret falling for another trick than regret not being assertive and winning when the opportunity was being gifted to him on a silver platter.


    Veteran sifted through the top layer of the collapsed building and kept and eye out for any black feathers. Ares'' Zephyr was a fantastic treasure but it was also very visible and more than capable of giving his location away if he wasn''t paying attention. A kick here and a kick there and yet the amount of rubble remaining was still far too great for Veteran to spot his target. This was getting riskier and riskier the longer he kept searching and he figured now would be a good time to retreat. Ares would have fixed any issues he had by now and was almost definitely already on the prowl. Worse still if he''d been ok from the start then he''d been given ample time to stalk Veteran and cook up a plan. Thinking all of the above, Veteran decided not to take things slow and started hovering up into the air as it was the quickest way to escape from his current location. He made it off the ground safely and looked around but he still couldn''t see anything nearby. His bird''s eye view didn''t solve the issue and he was starting to wonder if Ares was just slowly dying somewhere under the rubble. Maybe, at this point, it would be for the best to just bombard this entire area and reset the floor because this didn''t seem to be going anywhere.


    In order to unleash his orbital strike of pressure properly, Veteran ascended further into the sky, an action which led to him finally understanding what was happening back down on the ground. He hadn''t been able to see it before due to his limited field of view but it was clear as day to him now and he very nearly accidentally let go of his enhancement in shock. What he was seeing here was something wholly unexpected because he wasn''t even aware that what Ares was currently doing was even possible. Similar to how Veteran could heal with his pressure, it seemed Ares could do something unique with his too... What Veteran had missed earlier, due to his closer position to the floor, was that the rubble he''d been standing on wasn''t touching the floor! All of the bricks he''d stepped on, and hovered over, were floating a couple of inches above the ground. This was telekinesis! Ares was using his boundless normal pressure to lift things by reversing the direction of the applied weight.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Normal pressure always weighed ''down'' on people and objects from ''above''. It functioned similarly to an over-abundance of gravity, the starting position of which was normally set in stone. No matter the orientation, pressure would always pull the target ''down'' to the nearest surface. If you were standing on the floor, it would start on your head and push down. If you were doing a handstand on the floor, it would start on your feet and push down. If there was no nearby surface and it was being used in outer space, for example, then it would simply push ''down'' relative to the person or object affected by the pressure.


    No one had ever attempted to reverse the direction of pressure because not only did it not seem like the most useful thing ever, as it ran contrary to what people typically used pressure for in the first place, but also because there was a sort of assumption that it just couldn''t be done. Veteran himself had toyed with the idea and found no potential avenues to even suggest it was even remotely doable. What the first group had misunderstood about the utility of reversing pressure, however, was that it could lift objects and not just people. What the second group, including Veteran, had misunderstood, was that it was theoretically possible to reverse pressure if the person in question had an anomalous amount and the specific, required trait.


    There was one scientist who came up with a relevant theory about ''reverse pressure'', that was actively being shown off by Ares here, but he''d been severely ridiculed for his suggestion at the time because of how impossible the requirements were to meet. As for what Ares was actually doing, he was using pressure on his own pressure. As pressure inherently always moved ''down'', if pressure were to be used on pressure, the second instance would move ''up'' instead to counteract it. This was because pressure itself functioned like a surface. If you used pressure on someone standing on the floor, an invisible ''surface'' would appear on their head and push down. A second instance of pressure would start on the floor, at the person''s feet, and push upwards towards the pressure surface above their head. That was how the theory went.


    Provided the second instance of pressure was more abundant than the first, you would get ''reverse pressure'', or telekinesis, as the pressure would lift the object upwards. As for why this was impossible, supposedly, it was because a cultivator''s pressure was uniform across the board. Attempting it was like trying to speak two different words at the same time; all that happened was a single, conjoined and garbled word was spat out instead. The two ''different'' pressures were actually just the same thing merging with each other the second they met in the middle. The theory, in other words, was that if you had a fizzy drink in one cup, and water in another, mixing them in an empty, third cup would create a new result. This was true. The problem was that everybody effectively just had two glasses of water or two glasses of fizzy drink at their disposal, they weren''t ''mixing'' anything that wasn''t already there. Fundamentally changing the essence of a person''s pressure was impossible and they only ever had one type throughout their entire life. Plus, trying to use another person''s pressure was also a no go because they would clash and one would just disappear after being snuffed out by the more powerful pressure of the two. One person could use the same type of pressure twice but that was useless. Two people could use two different types of pressure at once but one would always be cancelled out, leaving one behind which was useless because two was necessary for reverse pressure to be generated. There needed to be a middle ground, in which one cultivator could use two different types of pressure, to create reverse pressure... But pressure wasn''t something that a person could create ''variants'' of. To add onto that, even if it was possible, the amount of pressure a single person would need in their body to use this in a way that mattered was not small...


    And yet, here was Ares, telekinetically lifting the rocks. Veteran felt like he''d been slapped in the face because, in hindsight, it was obvious Ares could do this! This kid had two different kinds of pressure thanks to his unique bloodline and there was a shit ton of it thanks to Dominus''! The golden annihilation pressure and the silver standard pressure! They wouldn''t delete each other in a bid for supremacy because they belonged to the same person! A solution had been found! As it turned out, the scientist was right; it''s just that his theory had never been definitively proven until now. How happy he would be if he could see it in action. Veteran figured he would spread news of this achievement because this development might reinvigorate the study of pressure once more. As for Ares, he was effectively dual wielding water and a fizzy drink to create something unique to him. He was using normal pressure on all the rocks while also overlapping it with his annihilation pressure to keep them steady in the air. If he increased the amount of silver pressure, he could lower the rocks. If he increased the amount of golden pressure, he could lift them! In fact he had so much pressure tucked away in his heart that he could do a whole lot more than just lift them. Veteran was about to find this out the hard way...


    Whoosh


    Was that a brick? Veteran dodge some kind of incoming projectile and craned his head upward to look at what it was Ares had tossed at him. As he did so he, first, saw that it was in fact a brick and, secondly, he realised it was coming right back towards him like some kind of boomerang. Ares hadn''t thrown the rock, he was directly controlling it like a puppet act. This brick wasn''t going to stop chasing Veteran until he either destroyed it or gave Ares something else to worry about. Right now Ares had the freedom to focus on his pressure but if Veteran started attacking him that would change. Ares was too far away to hit and, even then, he was underneath the building''s remains and couldn''t be seen. To end this farce, Veteran simply punched the brick and shattered it. Having telekinesis was great for Ares but if he was just going to be tossing a brick or two then Veteran wasn''t going to fold over just like that!


    ...


    Veteran IMMEDIATELY wished he could retract his smug assertion because he looked back down and saw thousands of bricks flying toward him from multiple angles. Assuming Ares could only control one at a time was, evidently, misguided. Ares could propel all of them, simultaneously, at great speed, and with full control. This wasn''t some wimpy ''I can lift a few things here and there'' telekinesis, no, this was ''I''m chucking everything in a one mile radius at you with the speed of a bullet'' telekinesis. Dodging was impossible. Veteran would last all of two seconds before he was swamped by the onslaught so he had to take a different approach to dealing with this annoying attack. In mid-air, he curled into the foetal position and kept his pressure bundled up tight around him in a small radius. The bricks all converged on his body and created a ball around him as they tried to crush him. His pressure was preventing it, though, like a sort of barrier but it was also building up to a massive blast which would destroy everything nearby. To have to use this attack on bricks instead of an actual enemy was a humbling experience but Veteran didn''t have a choice right now and couldn''t be picky.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    A silver sphere lit up the night sky and warped the air. Almost every brick had been turned to dust and the debris was scattering in the wind. Specs of brown and white paint whirled around inside a silver swirl orbiting Veteran like he was some kind of planet. He looked down once more to see what Ares was plotting next only to see an oval platform of sorts coming towards him. It was made of concrete which meant Ares wasn''t limited to untethered objects and could actually pull up the ground around him to use telekinesis on if he so desired. As long as Ares wasn''t in a vacuum, there was always a projectile available to him. A valuable tool indeed! Still, Veteran wasn''t very much impressed by the constant onslaught of meaningless projectiles. It was different when Ares lobbed a whole horde of bricks at him but this one platform meant nothing... Actually, why was it just one? Ares could have dug up the entire street and chucked it at Veteran if he wanted to try and hit him... Ah hell, not this again... Veteran hated it when he didn''t know what Ares was doing. Still, there was nothing he could do about it so he punched out at the incoming platform and waited to see what Ares would be chucking at him next. Probably something stupid like Rox or the Primordial Blade...


    Bang!


    The platform stood no chance and shattered instantly but what really shattered in that moment was all hope of Veteran winning this fight. His heart rate spiked when he saw Ares'' fist come flying through the platform''s rubble. Milliseconds before his head was rocked by Ares'' Annihilation Echo'' he''d seen the kid standing on a second platform that had been closely following the first one underneath it... Of course... Ares didn''t know how to fly using pressure but he knew how to lift objects... He could just stand on them as he lifted them and ''fly'' that way! Telekinesis wasn''t only useful for spamming projectiles at people and Ares had essentially ''thrown'' himself. Veteran''s lack of creativity meant he hadn''t seen this coming at all, which was fair because telekinesis was an entirely unexplored realm of possibilities for him, and Ares'' fist was now about to punish him hard for that mistake. Thinking he could hide from Ares in the sky would result in his downfall.


    B A N G !


    Veteran went careening towards the floor while his head was drenched in blood. His eye had bust the second Ares'' knuckled dug into it, his lip was completely bust, his nose was broken, and his skull was severely dented. He needed to somehow ignore all of this and regain his bearings before he hit the ground but, luckily, Veteran was still an expert at the end of the day so this was a simple task...


    Thud


    ... Or it would have been had Ares not just landed on Veteran''s chest with his foot. Veteran knew... Knew it was all over. He was crashing down to the ground and couldn''t remove Ares'' boot for love or money. Everything had come full circle. During their first match Veteran had stomped on Ares'' chest in the staircase and flattened him and now it was happening in reverse to him... Oh the irony... Ares'' enhancement was strong enough now that Veteran struggled to contest him so the foot couldn''t be removed. To add insult to injury, Ares'' telekinesis was still active and there were platforms all around, meaning even if Veteran threw Ares off he would be able to ''fly'' right back and do it again. Veteran didn''t have the time he needed to throw off Ares and correct his position before Ares could kick off a platform and land back on Veteran. Not that he could remove the foot anyway. He''d been trying ever since it first touched him but it just refused to budge. Veteran even tried to fire off a pressure bullet but Ares just brought a chunk of a platform over with his telekinesis and blocked it without needing to raise a single hand or even deflect it. No attack in Veteran''s arsenal was freeing him from this situation and he didn''t have the raw power to escape... So yeah, he knew. He knew it was all over... He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable. He was already close to hitting the floor so this ought to be over soon enough...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Veteran felt something on his back and he was confused. He hadn''t crashed into the ground? He wasn''t dead? He opened his eyes and muttered a weak ''ah'' before closing them again. Ares had saved him by putting a platform underneath him and carrying him down to the floor. Right, he won''t kill me yet because he still needs me. Ares'' pressure mastery was officially higher than Veteran''s but it was because, and only because, of his unique telekinesis. Ares'' enhancement was still residing at 80% and he hadn''t mixed annihilation mana into it yet either. Ares wanted his clone to be perfect but, if he won now, there would still be room for improvement that it could never achieve as a mere simulation. The real him would go on to improve but the clone would be trapped in its current form and that was no good. The telekinesis was a neat trick that pushed Ares over the edge, allowing him to take a victory here, but it wasn''t the end goal. Until there was no room left to improve upon whatsoever, Ares wouldn''t deal the killing blow... Although, mentally, he kind of already did. Veteran felt defeated down to his very last cell. Every bone in his body ached even if they hadn''t directly suffered an attack and his heart was dismayed. He was already missing his spot as number one but, unfortunately, he knew he would never get it back. Yes he still had some more tricks up his sleeve but nothing that would either A; matter or B; be legal to use in a match here. Most of it required a sword and that wasn''t permitted. Even if he could use it he would just be delaying the inevitable as Ares'' 100% enhancement with annihilation mana mixed in would beat him even then anyway. Long story short... He''d lost. Veteran was dethroned and, as of now, although he''d yet to officially become the overseer of floor five, Ares was the new king of the pagoda!

 Chapter 169: The First ‘Conclave

    Veteran was coming to terms with his loss but also now understanding how others viewed him as he could see himself in Ares... It was a bit unfair, honestly. A completely insurmountable wall, one that couldn''t be seen over no matter how high you jumped... Maybe he deserved this for making countless others feel the same way. Either way, he was not looking forward to becoming Ares'' punching back for the remainder of his time here...


    What is this defeatist attitude?


    Where did it come from?


    Am I not still a legend in my own right!?


    Veteran shook his head and stood up with renewed vigour. He may have just lost but all that meant was that now Ares was the new overseer and he''d become the challenger. Ares may win a lot of their matches from now on but that didn''t mean he was out of the woods just yet. Until Ares reached 100% Veteran would sneak in as many wins as he could! Plus, there was one more thing to look forward too. Even if Ares won... The pagoda wouldn''t reset the floor until someone died and right now it couldn''t be Veteran otherwise the challenge would end! No matter how much Veteran lost at least he could take out his frustrations on Ares after very match! It seemed like Ares had just realised this too as his mouth was agape and his palm had just slapped his own forehead... Veteran was a little disappointed in himself for losing to this idiot. Still... Ares was a clever idiot if nothing else. For him to have come up with telekinesis on the fly... Ares was no scientist but Veteran was realising that, actually, this kid was way smarter than he let on... Ares'' stupidity was a particularly well crafted veneer and Veteran couldn''t help but wonder why he wore it all the time. Sure it was fun for Ares to mess with people using that fa?ade but it seemed like there was a deeper reason...


    Maybe if Veteran asked he''d get an honest answer? Then again, knowing Ares, maybe not. Still it was worth a shot so, before he killed Ares, he asked away. Surprisingly, Ares was straight with him and gave him an answer that his brain took a minute or two to comprehend fully... This world was far more interesting than Veteran knew, that was for sure. Apparently Ares had clued in his wives to the truths he''d whispered to Veteran under a blanket of disintegration, and no one else, and Veteran felt grateful to be trusted to that degree. Of course Ares held his future in his hand and Veteran wanted his affiliations back so obviously he wouldn''t snitch but that wasn''t the point. Through all the repeated beatings and back and forth silly arguments he''d come to consider Ares a good friend, actually, so it was nice to know Ares felt the same. It seemed that, going forward, they would have each other''s backs if ever they needed it. This wasn''t like how Terros or Caribou were lending Ares their aid for the sake of saving the world but, rather, was just because these two guys got along and respected one another. Veteran in particular was thrilled about Ares because, more than anything, he couldn''t die! So many people Veteran had once cared about were mortal and sacrificed to the damn war... But Ares? He definitely wasn''t going anywhere, not if his revenant bloodline had anything to do with it. This friendly relation would benefit them both, absolutely, but it certainly wasn''t transactional, it was very real and based on more than what they could do for each other.


    And thus, Ares had gained his first reliable friend in the cultivation world. Someone he knew he could call upon in tough times and someone he was more than willing to be called upon by during their own tough times. His first mentor!... Although really, he was about to also become his first student... Ares could definitely teach Veteran a thing or two about pressure and, actually, he was planning on it. How he accomplished 100% enhancement... He was willing to tell Veteran on the off-chance the guy could restart and fix his mistakes. The guy obviously had the potential, he just needed the know how. And, naturally, Ares would be more than willing to share it. If Veteran went on to share that information himself then that was fine, it didn''t really affect Ares anyway. Ares'' enhancement wasn''t overpowered because he had 100% available but because he could mix his destruction magic into it. That was the real kicker. Still, this was mostly irrelevant. Veteran would maybe share it with one or two other people but he wouldn''t make it widespread or give the keys to the kingdom to anyone who would betray his trust in them. This would be a secret that only a select few people ever knew. So before Veteran killed of Ares and reset the floor, Ares clued Veteran in.


    Meanwhile, while Ares was revealing his dumb secret to Veteran about how to cook a banquet while calibrating pressure enhancement, Bellona had just finished the third floor. Her biggest struggle was a toss up between understanding Golgo''s explanation of the trial and actually managing to hit the speedy targets. She''d accustomed herself to the idea of physical pressure quite quickly but her aim was, quite frankly, atrocious. She''d never wielded any kind of ranged weapon before and most of her magic was targeted so this trial was completely out of her wheelhouse for all the wrong reasons! it was supposed to be a pressure trial and yet Bellona was struggling with her aim of all things... Anyway, she''d eventually passed and was now free to ascend to Candy''s floor. Before she did, though, she had a brief word with Golgo, who was surprised to learn that ''Bee-lo-no'' was one of Ares'' wives, because there was a non zero chance he would become a relative at some point if the whole Havannah thing went any further. It was a pleasant chat, albeit frustrating whenever Bellona struggled to correct Golgo''s mis-pronunciations, and Bellona learnt a lot about the kind of place Golgo came from. She even ended up being more knowledgeable than Ares in that regard. Anyway, the chat ended and Bellona left the pagoda. She was going up to the fourth floor today, yes, but Enyo had pestered her to give her a call when it was time so she could also join. Bellona was tempted to sneak up to the fourth floor on her own because dealing with Enyo could be a nightmare sometimes as of late but the risks were too great. If one of Enyo''s bizarre sensors kicked off and she caught Bellona red-handed then the consequences... They were truly unimaginably frightening to even consider... It was better to just go back home and be upfront, inviting her to come along and accepting her innocuous presence at face value despite knowing full well there was a lecherous beast dwelling beneath the waves.


    Bellona arrived at the house and knocked on the door to Ares'' and Enyo''s room. Enyo poked her head out, saw her sister, and ducked back into the room. Clearly she was going to go get changed and Bellona knew this for no other reason than that Enyo left the door slightly ajar as if she was encouraging Bellona to go inside... Bellona shut the door and walked towards the front of the house. As she did so, the door to Aejaz'' room opened and Trixie came out all smiles... Bellona was, once again, the only person, not including Leo or Appa for obvious reasons, in this house not getting laid. And here she thought she had a spiritual companion in Trixie. The two had gotten along thanks to their similar propensity to act like a playful imp every now and then but Trixie had just left her in the dust. She hadn''t even been here that long! Still, Bellona had to give her credit for shooting her shot. Trixie just went straight for the jugular and now Bellona was wondering if she should do the same. After all, she was the only one slowing things down. She wanted to wait a bit before she and Ares went any further and she was actively avoiding Enyo. Running away from the open door earlier was proof of that. She had no one to blame but herself for this snail''s pace. Maybe she should change her approach? Nothing needed to happen with Ares just yet but maybe she could be more accepting of the Enyo situation? Apparently Enyo wanted Bellona all to herself before Ares anyway so she was going to be the first hurdle... Fuck it. Bellona turned around and walked back over to Ares'' room and slipped inside.


    Enyo was in the nude right now and humming away to herself when Bellona entered. She paused and looked at her sister in disbelief. She couldn''t quite fathom the fact that she''d walked in here of her own volition, like a dear leaping into the lion''s enclosure, especially not after closing the door earlier and presumably walking away. Enyo realised this was an important moment of sorts and didn''t act unnecessarily aggressive because spooking Bellona after she''d done this was counter productive. Instead, she simply kept getting changed and minded her own business... Which was incredibly hard to do when her excitement was bubbling away inside her. The desire to run over and rugby tackle Bellona was immense but, for all her faults, Enyo wasn''t a woman without a strong will. She was impatient, not incapable of controlling herself... Although she did make an effort to flaunt her curves a little. Bending over a bit more when picking up her clothes, lifting and spreading her leg a tiny bit wider as she put her leggings on, etc... Surprisingly, Bellona didn''t turn around or look away and Enyo was wondering what prompted this behaviour. She knew what it entailed and could guess her sister''s thought process, they were close enough that it was obvious to her, but she had no idea what happened in between Bellona leaving and returning. Bellona was a stubborn woman unless she was confronted with the downsides of her own beliefs. If nothing happened, Bellona wouldn''t have turned back and come in here... That was when it hit Enyo that Trixie had gone into Aejaz'' room earlier so if she''d just come out... Actually, that made a lot of sense... Enyo''s respect for the woman went up a fair bit because Enyo had also been talking to her recently and Bellona was a topic that was raised briefly. The conversation was about getting the other partner comfortable with their presence and Enyo had expressed she wasn''t sure how to incorporate Bellona... If Trixie had taken that minor, off-handed comment and actively left the room at that specific moment to enable this situation then she was clearly an incredible schemer. No less than Fate even. There were some serious strategists in this family...


    Being naked like this made it hard for Enyo to keep down her dominant alter ego, the one that demanded the other wives call her mistress, but she managed it nonetheless. Despite controlling herself, she wasn''t going to do absolutely nothing, however, as that would be wasting this God-given opportunity. Enyo felt a ''next step'' of sorts needed to be taken with her and Bellona''s relationship, she just needed to not be needlessly silly about it. Her sexual deviant side needed to be put to the side and this was to be taken seriously. No drooling, no heavy panting, no crazed look in her eye... Ok maybe a little bit of that last one wouldn''t kill anybody... But the point remained, no going over the top!


    Enyo, still almost completely naked, walked over to Bellona and looked her in the eyes. Their relationship was going to change at some point and delaying the inevitable was pointless and cowardly. It didn''t have to stray far from what it already was but there was a part to the relationship currently missing that needed to exist to facilitate their family''s way of functioning going forward. To remedy that issue, Enyo pushed up against Bellona, grabbed her face, and kissed her on the mouth. She didn''t falter even seconds later and, instead of slowing down, poked her tongue out. Bellona''s heart beat quickened as she obediently opened her mouth to let Enyo in... Or that was what Enyo assumed was happening. The second her tongue ventured in and located Bellona''s, her sister gripped the back of her head, pulled her in close, and took control. Bellona was a hesitant woman but not a shy one. There were no such things as half measures with Bellona and now that she was taking the next step, she would do it in a single, giant leap. Her tongue coiled Around Enyo''s while her free hand paid Enyo back for all the groping by darting straight for her rear. Enyo was a beautiful woman and Bellona had always planned on enjoying her body when the time finally came even if she was reluctant to advance to that point. Again, Bellona was either all in, or not in at all. That line in the sand had been crossed now so she made out with Enyo with fervour. Putting this stubborn mule in her place was electrifying and all her pent up agitation with the years of Legion bitchiness meant Bellona had a score to settle so she pushed out Enyo''s tongue and threw hers into Enyo''s mouth. Enyo had to lean her head back as Bellona went wild but the trill was far too great for her to care. This was a side of her sister she really liked.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Eventually their bonding ended with Bellona spanking Enyo and pushing her back onto the bed. She swiped the saliva off her mouth and told Enyo to finish getting changed before leaving the room. Enyo had to wipe herself down with a tissue lest she wet her clothes after putting them on. It was a struggle to get changed as Enyo''s lust wasn''t settling down as she kept remembering the interaction but she knew better than to push things here. There was really only one step left to take but it didn''t need to happen yet. Enyo had already planned out the ''when'' and ''where'' and rushing things wasn''t a good idea. She would let Bellona come to terms with things for a little while then pounce when the time was right... Although a few extra sessions like that weren''t out of the cards. In fact Enyo would make sure they weren''t because Bellona was too good of a kisser to let her talents waste away. Her mouth needed to be put to good use!


    Enyo exited the house, found Bellona, and jumped on her back. Bellona likened her to a koala the other day so this was her just deserts. Besides, Enyo wasn''t wearing her armour today so the gorilla could handle her weight and then some. She was a strong cultivator with a sturdy back! Enyo demanded a piggyback ride! Bellona sighed to herself, accepted the dead weight, and carried her sister all the way to the pagoda without any fuss. Enyo did try to nibble on her ear at one point but Bellona threatened to turn the ride around and march back to the sect so Enyo kept her teeth in check. It had been a while since these two went out on their own somewhere so they had a fun time of it in spite of the countless curious looks that came their way. They didn''t chat too much, because they were saving most of their conversation topics for when they met up with Candy, but it was still quite a nostalgic outing for the sisters.


    Though Enyo used to be the sulky justice lady that didn''t mean the two didn''t still get along during their younger years. The conversations were duller, more monotonous, and formally cordial but they still happened frequently. Bellona and Enyo were definitely closer with each other than they were with any of the other siblings. Pele was also quite close, and a close second to each of the other sisters, but these two had always been around each other more than any other sibling combination. It was a shame Pele wasn''t here otherwise she probably would have joined in, maybe even jumping on Enyo''s back and demanding a two person piggyback ride. Regardless, it was safe to say Enyo and Bellona''s relationship was better than it had been in the past, even though it had already been good, and that was for a number of different reasons. What had just happened was one of them, sure, but even before that things had been quite solid. The two enjoyed living under the same roof and having each other around to bicker or chat with. There was no guarantee every single one of Ares'' wives would get along merrily with each other but, at the very least, these two always would. Even if they argued they would settle the score in their own way at some point so Ares had nothing to be concerned about... Or rather, he should be concerned about what would happen when they started working together against him! He''d already seen a glimpse of the future back when they both smacked him across the head sequentially way back when. The dreaded double thwack. He was lucky that hadn''t happened in a while but it seemed like these two were more in sync than ever and it was going to start cropping up again. Double trouble indeed.


    After paying Transmit, Bellona carried Enyo to the front of the pagoda and knocked on the door. It scanned them both and they were teleported to the fourth floor together. Usually they would be forced into separate places but the pagoda, thanks to Candy''s intervention with the runes in some manner no doubt, seemed to recognise Enyo. If Enyo brought anyone else along they would be able to hitch a ride to Candy''s floor. Bellona didn''t need this, as she was already capable of entering the fourth floor herself, but it did mean the two sisters spawned into the room with Enyo still riding Bellona''s back. Candy saw this, tilted her head like a curious fox, and tittered behind her limp hand. "You too, huh?" ''You''re also at the beck and call of this loony woman?'' was the loose translation of what Candy was implying.


    "Yeah..." Bellona shrugged, throwing Enyo off her back and onto the floor in one fluid movement. "... But as her sister I need to put her in her place every now and then." Enyo landed on her back and, for a split second, looked like a helpless turtle which had Candy belly laughing uncontrollably. Had Enyo been wearing her armour, solidifying the helpless turtle look, Candy would have been shedding tears right about now. Bellona looked the foxy lady up and down and instantly understood why Enyo liked this woman... She was damn sexy! Although Enyo was undoubtedly more beautiful from an objective stand point, if Bellona had to pick a woman she would actually lean more towards this mature lady. Ignoring the way Enyo acted, her beauty gave of a ''holier than thou'' sort of feel but the quick and dirty, sly, mad scientist vibe she got from Candy was more up Bellona''s alley... Plus there was a tail! A fluffy tail! Bellona still had a preference for cute things and Candy doubling as both a cute and light-hearted fox and an evil kitsune of sorts was a shock to her system. Right out the gate Bellona actually really quite liked this wife! Her coy gestures and witty gaze... This woman  Bellona''s cup of tea and any and all thoughts she''d had on the matter before, about not getting along with her, had flown out the window. Hell, she might even like this lady more than she did Enyo! Spirit animal! Enyo could have Bea as a best friend if she wanted but Bellona had just chosen Candy as hers! "Can I stroke your tail!? Pretty please?!"


    Candy turned away while glancing over her shoulder with the nail on her pointer finger teasingly resting on her lip. Candy''s tails multiplied into nine separate, equally fluffy, appendages of joy and she chuckled. "Take your pick cutie."


    Bellona almost jumped for joy when she was given her pick of the litter. She chose the middle one and reached out to stroke it... But the tail dodged! Bellona looked up at Candy who was smirking at her. She looked back down at the tails and threw her hands at them in a bid to grab even one but her attempts were in vain. The tails were like slippery snakes dancing in and out of her range. Candy''s laugh echoed in Bellona''s ear as she kept losing the game of cat and nine mice. Bellona gave up on the standard approach and cheated, catching Candy unaware with a rugby tackle. Pinning the devious fox to the ground with her gorilla strength, Bellona shoved her face into the bunched up tails and rubbed her cheek against them with a grin on her face. The two rolled around on top of each other, laughing like playing children as Candy''s nimbleness went toe to toe with Bellona''s physical strength.


    Enyo watched on from the side with a smile as things were going well. Moments like this made her feel like she''d made a wise choice allowing... Forcing... Ares'' harem to be a thing. Bellona never really had ''friends'' but she''d clearly just made one and, as her sister, Enyo was pleased with the result. How she felt now must have been how Bellona felt seeing her fall in love and become her own person. They''d both separated from the legion clan and discovered a family that truly cared. Of course Rhea and their siblings also counted but this was a bigger family now and one that had changed everyone involved for the better. Ares was great, Enyo was great, Bellona was great, Candy was great, and no doubt all the future wives would be great too. The prospect of having so many wonderful people around, and having them all be in meaningful relationships with one another, warmed Enyo''s heart. It was a far cry from the environment she grew up in even though she was partially responsible for it with her cold attitude. This, all of this, had been the right choice and she would never regret it. Ares didn''t even really matter. He was the head of the harem for the most part but, really, this was just Enyo''s passion project. Sexy, funny, kind, and talented woman. Enyo wanted her own collection of such people to live alongside. The eight other wives didn''t need all of the above traits, and Enyo was interested to see exactly what their ragtag group would look like at the end of it all, but Enyo wanted every one of the prophesised other eight by her side and she would spare no effort in making sure they all safely joined the family. Even just watching Bellona and Candy roll around assured her it was worth the effort it would take.


    Enyo really did love these two in her own psychotic way. The other wives may not be keen or fond of every other single wife, even if Candy and Bellona were friendly, but that meant nothing to Enyo who planned on being intimate with all of them regardless of their preferences. She would not take no for an answer. She would be the pillar to which everyone was leashed. She would be the glue that held this harem in place and, if need be, she would use her naked, sweaty, soft body to hold them all together... Enyo was panting like a degenerate again... Her delusions were running wild because her lust wasn''t satiated after the Bellona incident earlier... She was daydreaming about having eight other women service her at the same time. Some of them were in maid outfits, some were butt naked, some were in lingerie... Yeah, no, Enyo had definitely lost the plot and gone pre-emptively mad with power. It was honestly a miracle she wasn''t concocting plans to usurp the harem from Ares fully but, then again, if there was one greater obsession in her life than the harem, an obsession even greater than her rampant desire for sexual pleasure, it was her husband... Her husband who she really wanted to ''have a word with'' right about now. The thought of having eight women licking her all over was great but the reality of having Ares inside her was greater. He had something the other wives just didn''t and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted it.


    By this point, Bellona and Candy were just dumbfoundedly staring at Enyo who was petrified on the spot, drooling as she stared at the ceiling where her imaginary encounters were playing out in full like a feature film. An XXX film at that... And one both of the women here featured in. All eight wives and Ares simultaneously treating her like a queen was Enyo''s ultimate bedroom fantasy. She was dragged out of her happy thought bubble by the other two wives who pulled her down to the floor. They all sat in a triangle and thus began the very first ever ''Conclave'', an event that would become famous in its own right. One in which all of Ares'' wives got together to either discuss important matters, solve various disputes, take various actions, or just generally spend time with one another. The nickname would be given at a later date but history would record this meeting as the first of its kind.


    As for what was being discussed in this Conclave? Honestly, not much. They were just getting to know each other better so, once their lives were laid out in full, it somehow devolved into a talk about fetishes. Unsurprisingly, Enyo both brought it up and had a lot to say on this topic but the other two had no issues listening to her as she spoke with a kind of magnetic passion that was hard to look away from. It was like watching an expert in their craft detail the intricacies a layman would be blissfully unaware of. Make no mistake though, when Enyo was done listing off things she wanted to try, and boy was it a long list, she turned the question over to Bellona and Candy. Candy wanted to tie Ares up and toy with him or maybe have him pull on her tail from behind. Both of which Enyo nodded fervently in agreement with. As for Bellona, she seemed to be oddly interested in using her mouth on him. Especially if he dyed his hair blonde, got all dressed up, and looked down at her with a demeaning glint in his eye... And maybe had an ear piercing again... She seemed to have a thing for well-dressed, slick bad boys. This was something very doable in the short term! Enyo decided to help her sister out and enable this fetish when Ares came back from his trip to Xasca. Their relationship was going to deepen at some point, although not any time soon because Bellona was still coming to terms with everything, but a few months from now when he returned would be the perfect time to dress him up for Bellona! Plus Enyo would have already enjoyed Bellona to the fullest so it was a-ok in that regard too. The fetish conversation continued for a good while because Enyo was reluctant to let it go. She had many wild ideas drifting around in that head of hers... And this was only the stuff she had planned for Ares. She hadn''t even begun mentioning the things she wanted to do to these two yet... They clearly had a long conversation in store but they were having fun. Candy could take her mind off the reality looming precariously over her head, Bellona was chatting with a friend for the first time ever, and Enyo was laying it all bare... Verbally. All in all, it was just a girl''s chat between a trio of family members but, despite the plainness of it, they were all smiles. So far, the cohesiveness of the harem was off to a flawless start! So good, in fact, that Candy had sneakily whipped out the alcohol Ares had made for her even though she promised she wouldn''t... How could she not share it with her fellow wives and get a bit tipsy?! Plus Ares should have known Candy wasn''t the type to obey unimportant promises! Neither Bellona nor Enyo reprimanded her for her actions, instead praising her for her generosity in sharing. There was  a bit more tumbling around after the drinks were devoured, and Enyo in particular had a field day groping Candy''s chest, but it was all in good spirit and the floor had become one in which the sound of giggling was ever present. Good drinks, good company, good times.

 Chapter 170: Veteran Vs Rookie, Part 1

    Veteran was currently banging his head against a nearby building in frustration. This was the result of Ares'' unbelievably stupid explanation about how to accomplish 100% enhancement...


    All of the effort he put in...


    Bang


    The pinnacle of pressure wielding in cultivation society...


    Bang


    The answer was so simple...


    Bang


    Right underneath everyone''s noses the whole time...


    Bang


    COOKING?


    BANG


    Veteran''s last headbutt brought the entire building down but, right now, he didn''t care about such a trivial matter. 100% enhancement was achievable if you actively strained yourself... Cultivating during the process was probably the correct way to do it and yet the first person to ever discover 100% enhancement had done so by cooking a banquet instead... Being the ''pressure master'' suddenly felt like such a worthless title considering how simple the method for perfection was. If no one had found it in all this time then wasn''t everyone just collectively a bunch of idiots? What did that make Veteran? The king of idiots?! Well Ares was technically the king of idiots now... And that name was oddly fitting... To think it was just a matter of stretching your body to its limits. Were cultivators such massive cowards they would rather play it safe and achieve mediocrity than go all in and discover greatness? Since when had everyone been so tame?... Veteran felt a little upset, actually. So many famous and infamous cultivation legends who''d all overlooked such a basic experiment and taken the road more travelled. Following in everyone else''s footsteps and not thinking for themselves... What a saddening thought. He was almost convinced he didn''t even deserve the knowledge at this point... Almost. He was still a pressure afficionado at the end of the day, and he had a close connection with the stuff, so there was no shot in hell he wasn''t making use of this information. His desire to learn outweighed the immense shame of not having sought out the knowledge in the first place.


    There was a method of resetting one''s pressure enhancement calibration but it was extremely ''rare'', the kind of thing that typically only people at Veteran''s level, and above, could ever even interact with. Put simply, it was a purifying fountain that washed away a person''s pressure, desyncing it from their body and forcing them to recalibrate it. The intricacies of the fountain weren''t quite understood because the source of the fountain was untraceable. Plus the owner of it was an elusive fellow with strange personality traits so getting an answer out of him was like pulling teeth. Veteran would have to explain to the guy why he, of all people. wanted to use the fountain but the guy in question wouldn''t spread the information so that was fine. See, he was a ''purveyor of rarity''. He obtained countless rare pieces of information, antiques, weapons, resources, treasures, curses, etc.. As long as he didn''t own it, or hadn''t heard of it, he wanted it. In exchange, he would give, or allow usage of, one of his myriad mythical goods. Generally speaking, he was considered the most knowledgeable man in existence because of his fascination with the unknown. He was also trustworthy in that he kept all business transactions secret. Veteran informing him about his reason to visit would, ironically, enable his visit as his information about achieving 100% enhancement was pretty incredible. The purveyor was a strange but simple man in that way. After his dealings with the fellow, Veteran could restart his calibration via the fountain and fix his mistakes in a couple of days. As he''d already done this song and dance before it wouldn''t take him altogether too long to solve his core issue and return to the wide world.


    Right now, though, he felt reinvigorated. His desire to pummel Ares had never been higher than it was in this very moment. His earth-shattering revelation was so ridiculously stupid that the guy had to be punished for it in order for the concept of justice to continue existing in this world. Their chat had come to an end and there was nothing else to say so Veteran walked up to Ares, who was the none the wiser about what was coming his way as he was still merrily chatting away, and blasted his head into pieces with a swift punch! The satisfaction of watching Ares'' dead body crumple and his brain splatter over the street was immense. Veteran could have sworn he heard the voice of thousands of expert cultivators cry out in joy as he took revenge for them all. Ares'' humiliation of every expert was too foul to let stand unpunished! His job wasn''t completely over just yet though, he still had to beat Ares in a proper fight at least one more time to feel like the score was well and truly settled. After that Ares could beat his ass all day and night long and become untouchable, that was fine. If Veteran''s predictions about Ares were correct then he had one more day, give or take, to eke out a win before it became an impossible ask of him. He would have to give his all and use every trick up his sleeve but it was worth it to help his bruised ego and battered pride regain a little of their original spark.


    While Ares re-entered the pagoda, after Veteran''s surprise murder, the fourth day of his pagoda training began and his body started to tolerate higher levels of enhancement again. It was painstakingly slow compared to usual, improving at around half its usual pace, but, if the trajectory of his improvement remained true, then he would reach 92% on the dot by the end of the day. Veteran believed around 95% was the cut-off for when Ares would categorically never lose again so his time was running short to get the win. He''d given it his all numerous times now and never managed to find the victory he was searching for. Plus it just kept seeming so much further away with every subsequent loss. Ares'' telekinesis functioned as an equaliser he couldn''t navigate around or counter properly. It was his first time seeing it and the number of uses it had was boggling his mind. Ares was tricking him left, right, and centre all day long. By the time Veteran had discovered, first hand, every single potential application of the telekinesis he would no longer be able to match Ares anyway! The bastard was stalling a fair fight until he could win it with ease! He was intentionally trying to prevent another loss because he could see the fire in Veteran''s soul still burning lightly. And yet, by the end of the day, Ares was still unsuccessful in snuffing it out for good. Veteran was a stubborn mule to say the least. Ares was having a blast kicking him around though. It was good to have finally turned the tables.


    The one benefit it looked like Veteran would have over Ares was that the kid''s cultivation was low. As far as combat went, regarding cultivation, it was irrelevant because the pagoda balanced Veteran''s cultivation to be fair... But that was only as far as combat went.. With a poxy cultivation Ares was subjected to the greatest foe someone of his calibre at this level could face, exhaustion! Veteran was a simulation and unaffected by long slogs, plus he was used to them from his time back in reality. Ares, on the other hand, must have been starting to feel drowsy. He would keep going until he was done here, that was obvious, but whether he would be able to even walk back home after without collapsing and falling asleep in the middle of a street somewhere was genuinely a concern... Well Veteran knew it wouldn''t be an issue. Ares'' 100% enhancement with annihilation would no doubt give him a significant burst of energy and let him do what he needed to do before going home and getting some proper rest. But that was 100%. Until then, Ares would have to fight off his sleepiness mid fight. Veteran had already seen him rub his eyes at one point during the downtime after one of his wins. He was operating off of pure adrenaline and will power at this point! He had a stash of food and drink to keep him topped up on energy to some extent but it wasn''t getting any easier the longer he stayed here. He also seemed adamant not to take a siesta, or anything of the sort, as Veteran had suggested it at one point and he simply shook his head. Apparently this period of time was too important to waste by not training. That was fair but it may very well cost him a match at some point! Veteran''s hope now rested in the 90-95% region. Ares wouldn''t be unbeatable here, his sneaky telekinesis manoeuvres would be all out in the open, and he would be at the peak of his exhaustion... This was Veteran''s time to strike!


    As Ares enhancement ticked over to 92% another match had just begun. Ares was standing awfully close to a window and Veteran remembered the trick he was trying to pull off because he''d used it earlier that very same day. This rat was secretly using telekinesis on the whole building! If Ares could bait Veteran over and kick him out the window it would turn into a long fall to the ground in which Ares could repeat the method in which he first won. He would jump out after Veteran, stomp on his chest, and push him all the way down to earth. Veteran knew better though as he could no longer see the street lamps outside, because the building was higher in the air now, and that was as good an indicator as any that Ares was pulling off the same shenanigan again. Wizening up had just saved his life!


    Veteran turned around and ran. He wasn''t trying to escape from Ares because he was scared or anything, it''s just that being inside this building was asking to lose. It was a death-trap when taking Ares'' telekinesis into consideration. The building was chock full of objects to throw at veteran and so he wanted out! An open air fight was preferable against Ares as he was currently. Veteran ran to the staircase and leapt through the window before donning his silver cape and flying as far away as possible. This had become a necessary start to pretty much every single match, unless he wanted to forfeit it immediately, and he didn''t get to dictate otherwise anymore. veteran was no longer in control.


    Ah how nice it was to just punch all his challengers in the face at the start before they were even ready... Well his other versions were still doing that. Ares wasn''t the only challenger here on the fifth floor but he was definitely the only one winning or coming even remotely close. This was clearly a lower region with less experienced and talented cultivators as no one else had even scratched Veteran yet... Although maybe he was expecting too much. There were some Gods that couldn''t even hurt him, after all. The only person worth noting was Mako but even he was running out of steam after so many beatings. There was one other person Veteran recognised and that was some weird Viking with a neon axe that had been chasing the pagoda around for quite some time now... This guy seriously never quit... In his defence, he was way better than the average challenger, just nothing much in the grand scheme of things when compared to the numerous other prodgies Veteran had seen.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    As for the fight at hand, Veteran sighed as Ares chucked the entire building at him, again. He''d been doing this a lot too. It was a powerful attack and put Veteran in an awkward spot. If he destroyed the building, Ares could use the rubble to not only continue attacking but also to obscure his position if he wanted to. If Veteran tried to avoid this by not destroying the building then Ares would just keep either throwing it at him or he would wield it like a bat and swing it at him repeatedly. Not to mention, while all this was going on, Veteran still had to deal with a 92% enhancement Ares constantly throwing devious punches and kicks from tricky angles... It was truly a nightmare experience quite unlike any other fight Veteran had been a part of. Pressure fight, specifically. He''d seen crazier normal fights that wound up destroying multiple domains. Nobody had ever used pressure like Ares, though, that was for certain! Veteran decided his best bet was just to destroy the building here and now. Neither option was great but the building packed a serious punch when it was whole like this. Last time he''d been smacked by the damn thing half the bones in his body broke on impact. Dealing with the rubble of the building was easier overall so he thrust out a punch and sent a silver vortex of pressure spiralling forward. It tore through the building and shredded it into thousands of pieces, none of which fell to the floor. Ares was prepared and had expected this response from the start so he was quick to spread out his pressure and control all of the remaining bricks.


    Ares sat down on a floating platform as he commanded the bricks to assault Veteran with varying timings and at different angles. It was a swarm of bricks orchestrated by a concrete conductor, one who was lazing about and taking this chance to rest a bit. Veteran was insulted by the fact that Ares was very nearly dozing off while he was out here fighting for his life! He swiped aside countless bricks and broke countless more with wide-ranging pressure attacks. The swarm didn''t thin no matter how long he went on for, though, as Ares was replenishing his fodder by tearing up the street below. Ares had no obligation to go over and fight Veteran when he could just keep sitting on the side-lines like this. That didn''t mean he did nothing else to make Veteran''s life harder though. This was still training and there was plenty for him to keep experimenting with. One aspect of pressure he still wasn''t well-versed in was physical pressure. His bullets were powerful but he never summoned anything else, and that was a waste, so he opted to use this match to play around a bit at Veteran''s expense. Ares took a deep breath and closed his eyes, very nearly falling asleep on the spot as he did so, and imagined the shape and function of his new pressure attack. This was a relatively easy process as physical pressure was quite malleable. Launching attacks with it was easy it''s just that Ares never bothered because he was still working on his enhancement. He could very well launch large attacks just like Veteran now if he wanted. Throw in his annihilation mana and he was a real threat with physical pressure. It was almost as if he''d regained access to his destruction arts. Before he started dropping literal bombs, however, he took a slower approach and simply created an animal. A tiny, golden frog with a dagger in its front left hand. The little fella turned to Ares, gave a bow, and disappeared to go do his job.


    Veteran was still hacking away at the brick barrage when he felt a tingle run up his spine. He was a war hero with a sixth sense for danger so he took his gut instincts very seriously in life or death matters. Veteran ducked and a gold blur zoomed past him in the space above his head. Whatever that was, it was fast. It was also very clearly not a result of telekinesis as the golden colour gave the game away. Veteran knew Ares was using his annihilation mana as he could sense the destruction lingering in the air... The only question was what manner of creation was Veteran dealing with here? He could tell being fast wasn''t the only quality it possessed as it was clearly small too. It was doing an excellent job of hiding amongst the floating debris...


    Veteran punched out at another brick and was forced to throw his body to the side immediately after when he felt another disturbance in the air behind him. His evasive dodge almost worked but he still had a bloody gash along his flank because he''d been a little slow. He did manage to catch sight of the animal as it sped by this time, however, and he wanted to go over and slap Ares for spawning such a weird creature into this world. The frog had stuck its tongue out as it shanked him before landing on a floating brick and climbing on top of it. From the top of the brick, it jumped somewhere into the cloud of debris and hid, allowing it to reposition and go again for another assassination attempt. This frog oozed smugness and was annoyingly good at the task Ares had set it. It was fleet footed and could grip onto the moving debris with ease meaning its rapid assault didn''t make getting to safety afterwards a problem. It could keep this up forever without falling so it just added another layer to the situation Veteran was already in. The debris, the frog, Ares if he could ever be bothered to get up and attack... Veteran really couldn''t catch a break here.


    Frog? Veteran swivelled and struck out pre-emptively in a bid to catch the frog but he was fooled! His fist connected with yet another brick but, when it shattered, the frog came sailing through the dust and sliced Veteran''s left ear off. Luckily Veteran had deflected the dagger off his eyeball otherwise the injury would have been a big one. The frog was now actively utilising the bricks that were being launched at Veteran to hide his approach while also using them as a pseudo shield. From now on, unless Veteran used excessive force on every single brick that came his way, there was a chance the frog would be hiding safely behind them... This was an brilliant combination of telekinesis and physical pressure, proving without a shadow of a doubt that Ares was an expert... But Veteran hated it! How could he appreciate the mastery while he was on the receiving end of it? No matter how cool the froggy ninja was, it was still trying to kill him right now!


    Veteran curled up into the foetus position again and started charging. The bricks couldn''t pierce his pressure layer and, if the frog attacked, Veteran would unleash the blast early and kill it! If he was allowed to keep charging then Ares would have to back off with his telekinesis, giving Veteran room to charge Ares down immediately after and ruin his focus. Veteran felt confident in this strategy until he saw Ares also charging some kind of pressure attack... And it was gold too... If Veteran stayed in this position he was making himself a sitting duck but he couldn''t really move either without putting himself back in the exact same position he''d just left... Decisions, decisions... In the end, Veteran figured he would attempt to go head to head with Ares'' pressure attack. Veteran''s silver explosion Vs whatever Ares was doing... What was the worst that could happen? He lost? Veteran had been doing a lot of that lately anyway!


    As Ares'' attack would have to travel to Veteran he, unsurprisingly, released his attack first. It was charged relatively fast so it wasn''t as impressive as it could be but his annihilation mana meant it packed way more of a punch than it logically should have. Normally he would have had to trade charging speed for power but his unique bloodline made that trade-off less relevant to him. Ares clicked his finger and a golden dragon appeared with a mighty roar. The dragon looked straight at Veteran before swimming through the air to go give ''greetings'' of the less-friendly variety. It opened its maw wide and chomped down on the guy but struggled to pierce the silver lining on his skin. It was making slow progress but whether it would chew him into pieces before Veteran unleashed the attack was anyone''s guess. The dragon kept inching closer and closer to Veteran''s flesh while Veteran kept resolutely charging. This attack was important as it would wipe away all the debris and the stupid frog in one go, giving him an opportunity to pick a fight with Ares. If Ares was busy with Veteran he couldn''t use telekinesis at the same time as he wasn''t that skilled yet thankfully. It was too late for Veteran to pick a different path. The dragon''s fang dug into the pressure and actually managed to sink itself into Veteran''s skin but, unfortunately, being a half-baked attack meant it wasn''t as powerful as it needed to be to go any further in the time it had. Veteran unleashed his blast and chaos ensued.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    A silver blast spread throughout the city and ravaged it. The city had been in rough shape before but it was going through considerably worse treatment now than it ever had before. Buildings were evaporated and streets were dug up. The disgusting sewers were now visible for all to see and the area near the origin of the explosion was a complete no-man''s land, devoid of objects of any kind. In the air, Veteran was all that was left standing. The bricks were all gone, as though they''d never been there to begin with, and the frog had presumably taken a one way trip to the afterlife. The dragon was also dead although, much to the chagrin of Veteran, it had done a number on him milliseconds before being enveloped by the blast. Thanks to its last ditch effort, Veteran''s arm was hanging by a thread of flesh. Before running over to Ares he fixed it up with his pressure. He had the time to do so because... Ares had actually gone and fallen asleep... He''d pushed himself too hard and conked out on the spot... This would be a cheap win but a win was still a win! Veteran would take what he could get at this point! Also, no wonder Ares hadn''t charged the dragon fully, he would have drained all of his energy on the spot! Veteran had to give kudos to the kid for maintaining his telekinesis even during his sleep as Ares was still floating on his platform a short distance away. Kudos be damned, however, as Veteran was still going to kill this kid!


    Veteran flew over while cracking his knuckles. After he killed Ares the kid could go take a quick break and come back after. He neared Ares, landed on the platform, and ran up to him with his fist swinging down towards his head... Before he reached Ares, though, Ares'' head slumped down. As it was a relatively small movement, Veteran didn''t concern himself with it because it was just Ares being sleepy... Right? NOT! Alarm bells went off when Veteran sensed danger headed his way. A brick flew over Ares'' shoulder and was headed straight towards him. Veteran managed to look at Ares once more before the brick got any closer and he could see Ares slyly peeking at him with one eye open... The kid was baiting him! All his tired gestures were a set up to lure him into a false sense of security! Ares was actually tired but rather than let his disadvantage be abused, he abused it first! In this situation, Veteran had to deal with the brick but that would then leave him open to Ares'' assault right after... It was a rough position to be in but he had to deal with the brick otherwise it would crash into his head and then things would be infinitely worse. Ares stood up and dashed to Veteran''s left as the brick closed in on his right... splitting his attention like this was a common tactic for Ares but at least Veteran could see it all happening this time. He punched out at the brick and turned to Ares...


    ...


    ...


    Ribbit


    Frog? THE FROG WAS STILL ALIVE?! Ares must have saved the frog from the explosion earlier, used himself as bait, and the rock as a distraction, all so the frog could assassinate him once and for all! The frog had pulled off the same trick and hidden behind the brick and yet Veteran fell for it a second time! This was atrocious. He couldn''t stop the frog and, as it used its dagger to stab him in the back of the head, it was looking like Veteran was going to lose again... Screw it! I''m cheating! Veteran didn''t care anymore! He wanted a win by any means necessary so he took the dirtiest method of winning available to him and ran with it! He looked Ares dead in the eyes and slowly started pushing his head backwards into the dagger the frog was holding! Ares eye''s widened and, a few seconds later, the floor was reset and Ares was gone. Veteran had won! How? He forced Ares to commit suicide! If Veteran pushed the dagger into his brain, Ares would have beaten the challenge and that was a no-go right now. Ares had bitten his tongue to commit suicide and end the match on his loss. It was underhanded but Veteran had finally won!

 Chapter 171: Veteran Vs Rookie, Part 2

    Ares respawned outside and was about to go back into the pagoda and give Veteran a piece of his mind! Foul play at its finest is what that was! Was Veteran seriously going to count that as a win? of all things?! Ares knew the man was desperate for one last win but surely that was going way too far? Ah whatever, Ares had gotten what he wanted out of that fight anyway. His froggy friend was a good indicator Ares'' physical pressure was extremely capable. The dragon had also overperformed considerably when taking how little charging time it had into consideration. His normal pressure was perfect and now his physical pressure was also top notch. Enhancement was all that was left to fix and then it would be time to end it all. This pagoda had, at most, a two to three day lifespan depending on how long it took Ares to merge his annihilation mana with his enhancement. Ares guessed it would only take two days for him to accomplish this. One more to reach 100%, and another on top of that to get the hand of annihilation merging. After that Veteran could commit suicide all he damn well pleased! Ares paid Transmit the fee... And, honestly, he wasn''t even sure why at this point! Hadn''t he already won? Why was he still putting coins into a broken arcade machine?! To be fair they didn''t know that he''d beaten Veteran otherwise, as far as they were aware, the pagoda would have made some kind of showy display of it. They might believe Ares if he told them as such but he figured they would keep demanding payment from him regardless... Corporate greed was truly astounding! Ares turned back to the pagoda but instead came face to face with a seething Mako who was clearly fed up with his monumental loss streak. He had a metric ton of pride and right now it was EXTREMELY wounded. "I take it you aren''t doing very well?" Ares, being the despicable person he was, rubbed salt in the wound.


    "N.O Ares, it is not going very well at all. Can you hurry up already and beat that guy so I can go back to normal training? I know this is good for me but I fucking hate it... I know I''m making good progress and improving but my odds of beating the guy aren''t! I have no idea how you''re gonna do it exactly but, at this point, I don''t even care. I just want the pagoda to get lost... Whatever, I have a match coming up soon so I can take a break from this never ending cycle of death and taxes. Do these Transmit people think we''re made of money?!"


    "On that last note, I can relate... Hey, if you''re down in the dumps, wanna see a cool new trick I can do?" Ares was grinning and nudging Trew like some kind of playground crack dealer with a stash of ''goods''.


    "... I''m not sure I do, honestly... It''ll probably just come at my expense."


    "Nah, it''ll come at Terros''!"


    "Wait, what?" Terros tilted his head and was about to express his reluctance but his complaints were cut short by a loss of control over his own body. He immediately recognised what was happening as the telekinesis discussion had been a hot topic again as of late and this made perfect sense to him. He was a rock, Ares had telekinesis, he could see where this was going to go... Or at least he thought he did. he assumed Ares would just parade him around for a while, so he was about to protest this childishness, when suddenly he felt Ares grab him out of the air and throw him at the floor.


    Bounce


    Ares caught Terros as he bounced back up and the rock officially did not approve! He could see his fate unravelling and he now knew precisely what this dumb mutt was about to do! "Let..."


    Bounce


    Terros was thrown against the floor again before he could finish his sentence. He was being dribbled like a basketball! "... Me..."


    Bounce


    "... Go..."


    Bounce


    "... You..."


    Bounce


    "BASTARD!"


    Bounce


    Mako snorted at the display but felt somewhat pitiful for the God and helped him out by creating a small ramp at Ares'' feet. Ares dribbled Terros again but he didn''t come back up because the rock rolled along the ramp and shot off it back towards Mako. Terros would have berated Ares right about now but he was dizzy and had a pounding headache so he was busy tending to himself. He may very well have been the first God in history to have been turned into sports apparatus... Meanwhile, Ares was relaying the good news to Mako.


    "I''ve already beaten him, I''m just doing a bit of clean up around the edges before I finish him off for good. The pagoda, and all your repeated beatings, will soon be over... Well, I say that, but the pagoda may still be open after. I''ll become the new overseer of floor five so people who are already at that floor can probably challenge it immediately if they want... Although why anyone would want to is beyond me. If those suckers can''t beat him I don''t know what makes them think they can beat the guy that beat him... I say that, and yet I just saw a glint in your eyes. Mako, please tell me you aren''t seriously considering returning to the pagoda after I beat it?! Really? I know you''re competitive but surely this is a bit much?"


    "Tsk, that Veteran is a real monster... I don''t see how you can be any worse!"


    "Oh? Is that so? Then you know what? Go and fight my clone on the fifth floor! See how much ''easier'' I am with your own flesh and blood punk! Be warned, the clone has my personality, so it''s going to mock you all fight long you shmuck!" Ares disappeared back into the pagoda. There was no arguing with stupid and Mako was dead set on his belief that Ares couldn''t possibly be stronger than Veteran. To some extent, Ares understood this. Veteran really did leave quite the impact during the early attempts. Especially the first. That was a memory you would never forget. He was like a real-life jump scare. But so what if the impression Ares gave wasn''t as grand or striking?! He was stronger damn it! Ah screw it, Mako could learn the hard way. As could everyone else challenging the fifth floor. They''d probably get all excited that Dominus was replaced by ''some kid'' and think the challenge was beatable now.


    Clowns!


    Actually, if Transmit spread word that Ares had beaten the pagoda, and if they temporarily opened up the fifth floor to anyone and everyone in the midst of the tournament... Wouldn''t they make some serious bank?! Was that one of their goals?! Exploitation! They were robbing Ares of his money so that they could, in turn, rob everyone else too! Devious... Truly truly devious... Whoever was running this particular branch had a real head on his shoulder for squeezing the moolah out of people. Still, Ares couldn''t complain as this benefitted him too. What could be better for his reputation than hordes of people challenging his clone and all being utterly destroyed every single time? Not having any other floor overseers, and letting everyone challenge Ares directly, wouldn''t matter because there was no way in hell anyone was beating him regardless of whether they could do the other floors or not. Actually, not being able to experience the other floors was probably a disadvantage for everyone anyway as they couldn''t develop the necessary tools to put them in a position where they could even see the dust behind Ares. Not completing the other floors meant people wouldn''t even be at the starting line going into the fight and they weren''t fit to even lick Ares'' shoes. All in all, the situation was good for everyone other than those who challenged it repeatedly and lost all of their stardust... Like that one Viking... Ares wondered if the guy''s determination would crumble or soar after learning Veteran was beaten. On one hand he would see the wall that had been blocking him crumble. On the other hand a new, taller wall had just been erected in its place... Well that was his problem to figure out, right now Ares had his own problem...


    How to punish this snake Veteran for his cheating!


    He couldn''t kill him. If he injured him then the fight afterwards wouldn''t be worthwhile. He couldn''t not interact with him because Ares valued the training too highly... The only real option was, in the next fight, to go all in with enhancement and beat the guy silly with his bare hands instead of relying on other methods. Maybe beating him black and blue would teach this guy a lesson in accepting defeat without being a sore loser!


    And thus, the rest of the day was quite a brutal one for Veteran. Ares delivered on his promise and went to town on the guy, whacking him upside the head, breaking countless bones, and tearing off a limb or two here and there. Of course Veteran always got his revenge in the end when he was permitted to kill Ares so the back and forth never really ended between these two simpletons. They craved violence and the target dummy opposite them was easy pickings. Another day passed in this manner, with Ares taking a quick rest at some point (during which Veteran kicked him and ran away), and by the end of it Ares had finally reached the big one-oh-oh. 100% enhancement was a go! Every single inch of his body was decked out in silver pressure and none of it leaked whatsoever. He was a compact, human-shaped ball of pressure and had the power of a freight train travelling at 200mph. His adept trait of being unable to increase his strength had effectively been rendered moot for now. By the time it started to become a problem again, when other cultivators were also capable of boosting their already superior strength with pressure enhancement, Ares would have his revenant form anyway. When he had it, and his annihilation enhancement too, he would be physically unstoppable. Was it ironic that someone with paltry physical strength could stand at the top of all brawny cultivators and have it not even be a close competition? Yes, yes it was. But Ares felt no guilt, he was basically destined to be ridiculous from the very start. Comparing him to anyone else was unfair and, when deciding things like ''who''s the strongest, if you didn''t actively not include the fundamental champions then they would just dominate the rankings every time without fail. All six of them would have to be actively avoided in such discussions otherwise it wouldn''t even be a debate worth having.


    Veteran was coming to terms with this and he was no longer as fussed as he had been previously about losing. The fact that he was still probably a better pressure wielder than every other fundamental champion was something worth celebrating, really. Ares was an anomaly so he could, quite frankly, be ignored! Two exceptional pressure related bloodlines in one body?! That was simply unreasonable. As far as achievable rankings and realistic discussions went, Veteran was still numero uno without a shadow of a doubt. Now, granted, it was hard to maintain that mentality when Ares was pushing him around like he was taking candy from a baby but he was trying!


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Veteran squared up and stared Ares down. There was no ''go'' signal with these fights, it was usually just whoever made the first move kicked things off at their own pace... Or it used to be, now the start of the match was just Veteran running away as fast as humanly possible so he could escape the confines of the building. Ares didn''t seem to be levitating it this time for some reason but Veteran didn''t stop to consider that as he needed to leave pronto. He hopped out the same window he always did and was instantly run over by a car flying towards him. Ares had more than enough time to figure out Veteran''s escape route after tens of matches so he''d set a trap! Intentionally not lifting the building so he could put Veteran right were he wanted him had been the goal this time around and it worked flawlessly.


    Veteran crashed through the front windscreen of the car and rolled onto the back seat. The car crashed against the side of the building and dropped to the floor as Veteran was being spun around in the back. After the car crashed into the floor, landing right way up, Veteran stumbled back onto the seat and was about to start getting out when Ares came speeding through the broken windscreen and landed a kick on his chest. Ares'' planted his foot firmly on Veteran as he reached across and yanked the seatbelt over. He used all his might to bury the seatbelt across Veteran by digging it through the seat and into the vehicle itself. Now that Veteran was strapped in, Ares cracked his knuckles and leaned back, ready to start swinging with reckless abandon. Meanwhile, Veteran was fumbling about and trying to dislodge the seatbelt. He knew this was his only option because if he tried to cut the webbing Ares'' foot would pin his hand and the beatdown would only end after Veteran surrendered. He had to remove the latch plate if he wanted out but Ares had forced it so deep the car had basically become a makeshift buckle. Veteran could feel the latch plate slowly grinding its way out but the blows started raining down on him and he needed to escape  quickly otherwise he would suffer too much damage to continue fighting. His one solace in this situation was that his shoulder was partially blocking Ares'' onslaught and his feet were still free to kick out at Ares, limited though their range of movement were.


    BANG


    BANG


    BANG


    BANG


    Amidst the hail of blows, Veteran heard a faint click and wanted to thank the Gods. He shifted to the next seat along, sliding out from underneath Ares'' foot, and threw his entire body weight against the door.


    Crash


    Veteran flung himself outside the car and rolled on the floor into a kneeling position, looking up to keep track of Ares. Tsk. Veteran kissed his teeth before gritting them and thrusting out his palm as Ares had used telekinesis to throw the car at him. With a brilliantly timed deflect, Veteran tossed the car aside and took stock of his surroundings. Ares was standing on a floating platform a considerable distance away, charging up another dragon by the looks of it... Veteran was almost definitely screwed here. If he ran over to try and stop Ares, he would release it early and force Veteran to fight both him and a decently strong dragon simultaneously. If he tried to fire off his own pressure Ares would simply block it with telekinesis or a deflect. Veteran''s final option was to charge a powerful pressure attack in response but his chances of winning... Were zero! Not only would Ares get the full charge, and Veteran would only get a partial one in response, but the sheer power of Ares'' annihilation pressure would outclass his by a large margin anyway. In other words, Veteran only had one option available and that was to try and run Ares down, forcing him to unleash the dragon early again. Veteran was also tempted to run and hide but he was worried the dragon wasn''t a fire and forget type of attack but rather something that could bide its time. If it just slowly swam through the air and searched for him he would be in a position where his loss was guaranteed as the dragon would be fully charged and patiently waiting to spot him... Veteran had run through all his options quickly, as his intuition was phenomenal, but it mattered little when his best option was go and fight a ''2 vs 1!'' Ares was just way too strong now. He couldn''t be contended with at close range as his enhancement was vastly superior, at range his annihilation attacks were horrifying, and normal pressure was literally impossible to beat so Veteran didn''t even dare attempt that. Speed, technique, power, combat aptitude, tools and options... He was outclassed in every single department he could think of and this had now gone full circle and become and unfair fight again. It''s just that now he was on losing side.


    Veteran dashed down the street, jumped and kicked off a wall, and donned his silver cape while he had some breathing room to do so. His power nearly doubled but that meant little before Ares. This action did serve to draw Ares'' attention and make him fire off the dragon as is, though. It spawned into the city with another roar, this one seemingly more enraged than the first one, and looked around for its target. The dragon wanted vengeance after last time! He''d been destroyed before he could make a difference but he''d been so close and felt robbed. He inflicted an injury but the dragon wanted more, it wanted to kill Veteran and display its draconic might! Although Ares wouldn''t let it kill Veteran anyway... Still, it could come close at least! But there was a slight problem hampering it in that regard. It wasn''t fully charged again, and that annoyed it to no end, but the circumstances were at least somewhat different this time as it A; wasn''t being thrown into certain demise and B; could work alongside its master. A 2 vs 1 meant the odds were in their favour so things were more likely to go well for the golden dragon this time around and it could bare its fangs in a way that mattered.


    Veteran fired off a pressure bullet but Ares deflected it and fired one back as the dragon swung its tail at him. He dodged the bullet by a hair''s width and blocked the dragon''s tail, heavy though the strike was. An attempt to grab the tail was made but Veteran was forced back thanks to Ares chucking another car at him with telekinesis. As Veteran evaluated and re-evaluated his next move, he heard a noise that made him want to cry out from the bottom of his heart...


    Ribbit


    FROG! The damn frog was back again! After Ares chucked the car the first time, and before he started charging the dragon, he must have quickly summoned the frog and had it hide somewhere nearby; waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. It was all seriously too much. A whole slew of golden nonsense being chucked at him over and over and over... Still, Veteran didn''t give up. His job in this pagoda was nearly done but he wasn''t useless yet! Veteran detached the cape and kicked back with his foot. The frog dashed straight into the flailing cape, got tangled up in it, and booted back into the building it had been sneaking around in. It wasn''t dead yet but it was close enough that it shouldn''t pose an issue going forward. Unfortunately, Veteran now how had both Ares and the dragon attacking him from two different angles to deal with as they hadn''t been idle during the frog''s attack. Ares kicked at his waist as the dragon opened its maw wide and tried to bite his foot off. Veteran thrust out with his boot to stomp on the dragon''s head before resummoning the cloak and defending against Ares'' kick with his one arm. As he had some breathing room, he chased the dragon down and landed another kick, blasting it into the same building the frog was in. Veteran turned and threw a punch immediately to counter Ares'' and their fists connected with an impact that shook the street. Veteran was losing ground as his knuckles clashed against Ares until eventually he was bested in the one on one and thrown across the street, through a window, and out the other side of the building. Rolling to a stop, he fired off a pressure bullet to his right, aiming down a tight alley, and managed to hit the frog square in the head as it tried creeping up on him. Veteran had gotten used to the annoying creature now and had rid himself of the pesky pest successfully, leaving only the dragon and Ares to go up against. It still wasn''t preferable but it was better than before at least! Plus this last series of events was a friendly reminder that although he was on the losing side, he still had a bit of fight left in him!


    Ares landed on the floor in front of Veteran and ran towards him, ready to deliver a powerful blow with his fist while the dragon followed behind him. Whatever Veteran did in response to Ares would leave him open to the dragon and that seemed to be Ares'' new approach. Stand in front and go head to head with Veteran while his additional support took advantage of Ares'' winning matchup. When the frog and the dragon went in first, they were pummelled. This way their longevity would be extended and they could potentially do more. Well the dragon anyway, the frog was already long dead. Ares could resummon it but the time it took would give Veteran a chance to kill the dragon so it wasn''t worth it. Ares'' fist came baring down on Veteran who was feeling confident and went for a deflect.


    Ares saw this happening in real time but opted to let it happen as he still had backup waiting in the wings and could afford to be a bit riskier with his choices. His fist was blown to the side but the dragon swam under it and went for a bite on Veteran''s nearby arm, looking to lock up his one reliable source of both offense and defence. If the dragon could successfully dig into Veteran''s arm then the match would be over on the spot. No one was more aware of this than Veteran so he gave it his all, swung his own head at the dragon''s, and smacked it into the floor using a very different kind of ''brain power''. Unfortunately Ares was more than ready to launch his own attack by this point so Veteran took a boot to the gut and was pushed up against a wall. Ares used telekinesis to bring the wall forward and propel Veteran right back towards him. Ares landed a sucker punch on Veteran''s face while the dragon coiled around his legs, preventing Veteran from stumbling anywhere. With all his mobility gone and Ares delivering blow after blow, Veteran had essentially already lost the fight and it was now up to him to surrender. The dragon wouldn''t let him run and Ares would no longer allow any deflects. If Veteran used his one arm to block, one of Ares'' two strikes would always slip by.


    Veteran was stubborn for a minute or two but eventually threw up the white flag while kissing his teeth. Or rather the few that were left as Ares had knocked a fair few of them out. Veteran''s face and dusty cape were a bloody mess, his clothes were torn, and multiple bones were broken. This was the state of the previous, uncontested number one pressure wielder... There was actually that much of a difference between him and Ares which was ridiculous because there was an equally huge gulf between Veteran and third place. Aside from Veteran, no one would even be able to last a minute against Ares anymore and there was still more yet to come via annihilation enhancement... No matter how many times Veteran got his ass beat, the insanity that was Ares never failed to amaze him. He''d watched the kid evolve in real time from random nobody to unstoppable legend. Veteran wasn''t even sure if he should stick with his nickname anymore and just go back to the real thing because ''Veteran'' felt so hollow now... In real life he would get his magic back, achieve 100% enhancement, and probably go for a sort of fresh start so maybe it was worth dredging up his old name and using it again? It had so many unsavoury memories attached to it, which was part of why he abandoned it and just let everyone refer to him as Veteran, but maybe he could tolerate hearing the old name once again? He would give it some thought... Right now, he was more interested in finding out just how absurd Ares could get. It wasn''t even a matter of competing against him anymore, Veteran just wanted to see the upper limit of what pressure was truly capable of in the right hands. It was nothing more than fascination at this point. Mixing 100% enhancement with a fundamental pillar... How otherworldly would it be? Veteran had a strong feeling in his gut, most of which tended to be pretty accurate, that he was going to find out very soon.

 Chapter 172: Curb Stomp

    The following day had been a relatively quiet one thus far. All Ares had left to accomplish was annihilation enhancement and he didn''t have to fight Veteran to make any progress on that end. He''d mostly been sitting around cultivating and trying to merge his mana into his enhancement with only the occasional break to chat with Veteran about life outside the pagoda. The enhancement merging wasn''t going terribly but it wasn''t exactly going brilliantly either. Ares figured he was missing something, and just trying to force it wasn''t going to get him anywhere, so he considered his options. Option 1; unlikely but maybe his body just couldn''t handle the annihilation mana right now which was why it was rejecting it. Option 2; he had a fundamental misunderstanding about how the process worked and what he was trying to do now was wrong. Option 3; he just needed more time and rushing things wasn''t going to get him anywhere. Ares chose option number two as that seemed to be the most realistic option of the three. Option one was a no go because Ares could already run annihilation man through his body as is. Yes mixing it with pressure might complicate the process but not to this extent. Option three was also unlikely because he''d been able to utilise his bloodline quite easily before and it shouldn''t be too much of a struggle now. Ares could summon physical pressure merged with annihilation mana in a matter of seconds and he''d learnt the technique rapidly too so the chances of annihilation merging with pressure randomly slowing to a crawl for this specific step were low. Currently, Ares was attempting to enhance himself then shove the annihilation mana in and, although it was ''working'', the pace was unbearably slow. It would take Ares years at this rate to get this step over and done with. If he merged the two before trying to push it into his body he got physical pressure instead and that was clearly not right either... What was the missing piece of the puzzle? Usually the answer was ''mana'' but here the problem, annoyingly, was mana. Only his annihilation mana could be merged so the other two were pointless... Wait a minute, maybe not?


    Ares felt like an idiot for missing something so blatantly obvious but... What if he merged the pressure and the annihilation mana using nothingness? The issue was that the annihilation mana couldn''t follow the pressure properly as it flowed into him but, if Ares overlayed the pressure with nothingness, he could just Shift the mana on top of it! He couldn''t mix pressure with nothingness but he didn''t need to, all he needed to do was mark the pressure with nothingness! It would work!... Or he might explode! It was kind of a fifty fifty toss up at this point. Shoving that much annihilation mana into his body on one go was a bold move. Still, he had no other solutions rattling around in his brain... And yet he was still hesitant to do it. This seemed like the kind of thing that would backfire HARD if it went poorly. The ramifications would be unthinkable if he permanently damaged his body... But he was also a revenant, no? Wouldn''t it heal? Ares didn''t know at this point as he had so many questions and so few answers. No one could bail him out here either as neither Dominus nor Veteran had any clue about what would happen to him. Afterall, this was Ares'' unique bloodline. It was never before seen so the intricacies were completely unknowable until Ares himself figured it out. What Ares could do, at least, was only try this approach on a small part of his body. Somewhere insignificant like his pinkie toe! He was still risking a body part but it was one he could do without if things went catastrophically wrong. Plus there were almost always treasures out there that could heal ''irreparable'' wounds so Ares wasn''t too fussed. What? There were resurrection treasures but a destroyed pinkie toe was impossible to regenerate?! Ares didn''t buy it for a second! And of course that was even if things went wrong. It very well might not and all this hubbub would have been for naught. Still, the old adage that nothing good in the cultivation world ever came easy was likely going to prove itself once again.


    Ares ran pressure through his body and followed it up by sending nothingness mana down the same passageways. Coating the pressure in nothingness was a cinch, as was expected, but the worrisome part came next... Ares enhanced his toe and took a deep breath. The second he Shifted some annihilation mana in as well he would find out once and for all just how bad things were going to be during this next step. With one final gulp, Ares commenced his experiment with the click of a finger. "SON OF A B......................................................."


    Numerous expressive expletives, colourful curses, and spellbinding swears came flying from Ares'' lips as he hollered in agony. His golden toe, albeit gone now, indicated his plan had been fruitful but the swollen flesh and engorged veins around his foot painted a picture of pure torment. A single toe had been this bad... Or rather was still this bad. It took nearly thirty minutes for the toe to calm down and for Ares to start breathing again normally after having been rolling around in pain for what felt like an eternity. That shit hurt! Though true, Ares'' internal statement was the least of his issues. He''d realised something truly horrid during that thirty minute time period, something he was trying to distract himself from thinking about. He was complaining in the present to avoid dwelling on the torturous future that awaited him... Enveloping his toe in annihilation enhancement was progress... One percent progress... That reset the second Ares gave up... In other words, Ares was going to have to do what he''d just done to his toe, to the entire rest of his body all at once in order to get annihilation enhancement up and running for good...


    It was another calibration process but this one was infinitely quicker whilst also being infinitely more painful. He could unlock annihilation enhancement in under a second but the repercussions would last for upwards of thirty minutes, all the while he would be in the most severe pain imaginable. No, that was underselling it, the pain would be UNimaginable! It would be worse than anything else he''d experienced thus far, that was for sure. Pulling out his own eyeballs and the original calibration of enhancement had nothing on this. It was just his toe and yet Ares had been tempted to cut the damn thing off to make the suffering end. It was like having ten severe abscesses spawn on his foot and all start throbbing in sync with one another. AND THAT WAS JUST ONE TOE?! If Ares covered the rest of his body in that... Well he already knew how much worse it would be because he knew the toe counted as one percent... In other words, the pain would be a hundred times worse AND spread out across his entire body... Was it worth it? Was annihilation enhancement really worth subjecting himself to that nightmarish hell? He knew the answer was ''yes'' but the word ''NO'' was plastered in the blank void in his brain and kept multiplying every time he tried to convince himself it was necessary. He needed the power to protect what he cared about and destroy anything that impeded his progress. It was essential to him and he knew he would need it at some point. This was foundational and would never leave him, a talent that would stick with him forever! He knew he needed it, and he knew there was no running away...


    Ares did check with Veteran but he delivered the bad news that, once again, he had no suggestions or ways out. He mentioned there were some painkiller type medicines that existed in the wider world but that did diddly squat for Ares right now. The more time Ares spent dawdling while trying to come up with alternatives, the more he understood a very simple truth. He was fucked! The hard way was the only way and it wasn''t going to get any easier the longer he put it off. Ares found a quiet spot in one of the buildings and put up a Noise Cancellation barrier because his screams of pain were going to be shameful and he knew it! He didn''t want Veteran hearing that... He didn''t want anyone hearing that... If he was going to go through with it, he at least wanted to do it in private damn it! Plus he was going to look U.G.L.Y with a fully swollen body and there was no reason to show that off to anyone either. Granted it wasn''t like it was his fault or anything, his body struggling to cope with the raw power of annihilation enhancement was only natural. Hell, he was concerned about exploding earlier but anyone other than Ares would have, in fact, literally done precisely that. Only Ares could safely inject himself with destruction mana to that extent thanks to his affiliation.


    Now that everything was set up and he was good to go, Ares... Did nothing! Well he was sweating but that was more of an involuntary reaction than anything wilful. Ares kept repeatedly doing a countdown in his head to kick things off but every time it landed on zero he winced and chickened out. Some people may have called him a coward but if you were faced with a choice to willingly throw yourself head first into a vat of acid you might hesitate too! If anything, what Ares was about to do would be even worse than that... He would pull the trigger when he was good and ready! So what if he needed a few extra seconds?! A few extra minutes? A few extra days?... Ok, now he was just procrastinating!


    Slap


    Slap


    Ares palmed his cheeks and prepared himself for the worst, this time for real! He was gonna do it! He was really gonna do it! The pressure was in place! The Shift was ready to go!


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Ares, with a solitary tear in his eye, slowly raised his right hand with his finger poised to click. "Sayonara world..."


    Click


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    All manner of unholy screams emanated from the building Ares was convulsing inside of. Despite putting up a sound barrier his wails were so loud Veteran could still partially hear them from down the street. His incomprehensible fumbled jargon was less a cry for help and sounded more like a summing ritual for Satan himself. Banshees would cower in awe at the lungs on Ares right about now. He was huddled up in a corner and that was about all that could be made out of him in the current moment in time due to the swelling on his body. He was like a veiny bundle of beige pillows making noises akin to that of a dying pig. This was the squealing sound of progress! The thought that he''d accomplished his end goal here spurred him on to tough it out which reduced the overall decibels of his screaming by at least a quarter. That wasn''t enough to silence him, not even remotely, but he was doing marginally better and that was better than nothing. Any silver lining was worth its weight in gold and Ares wasn''t going to be picky in a situation like this. He was also somewhat consoled by the fact that it couldn''t get any worse. He''d jumped off the deep end and now his body was gradually drifting back to the shallower side. He''d somewhat underestimated the time it would take to be free from his misery, as thirty minutes later he wasn''t even halfway done with his recovery just yet, but luckily the pain and swelling were both reducing significantly by this point so he could at least sit back up with some effort. Rather than a mass of flesh, he now simply looked a bit chubby around the edges. This would go in due time, along with the remainder of the pain still pricking away at him like a thousand bumblesharks, so Ares weathered the storm silently and patiently. Now that he''d crossed this hurdle he never needed to do it again! Unless he reset his pressure calibration somehow... According to Veteran there was some kind of fountain capable of enabling it but unless someone kidnapped Ares and chucked him in there against his will he wasn''t going anywhere near the damn thing! Do this again?! Not a chance!


    Another thirty minutes later and Ares was back to normal. It was almost like a dream; the smoothness of his skin compared to previously was heavenly and the absence of pain was enough to make a grown man cry. Ares stretched and stood up with a sigh as if he were an old man or something. His legs were briefly wobbly but he steadied them shortly after and walked out of the building in tip top shape. There was one destination left for him in this floor and that was the same location where it all started. Inside the original high rise where Veteran had been leaning up against the wall when Ares first met him. It was where all his bouts with Veteran begun and this last fight would be no different. He climbed up the staircase and entered the same worn down room he was familiar with before looking over at Veteran and giving him a thumbs up. "Not even that painful!"


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "Kid... Who do you think you''re fooling? I heard you screaming from here.... You were like a shrieking horse being grinded into glue. Worse even. It sounded like you invented an entirely new language just so you could scream in it... One that was quite grating on my ears too."


    "Ok ok ok I get it... Never tell anyone, you hear me! Everyone has their low moments! Don''t go and gossip about mine you bastard!"


    "My lips are sealed as long as yours are. No, seriously, please never make that noise again?"


    "Alright you shmuck, now you''re just asking for a beating! Prepare yourself, I''m done playing nice with you. Today is the day you die, Veteran, at least try and put up a fight or I''ll be incredibly disappointed!"


    "I take it you accomplished your goal, then? Congratulations. I won''t sit here and pretend I can beat you any longer, I know better than to waste my breath on pointless defiance, but I won''t go out in such a pathetic manner at least. With or without my sword and my magic I will give you the bare minimum resistance needed for this to even count as a duel, I swear it. This may be egoistic but I am the only person left capable of such a feat. I can''t guarantee I''ll last five minutes, or even maybe one, but I''ll resist one of your attacks even if I''m nothing more than a walking skeleton by the end of it!"


    "I admire your determination but I worry it''s nothing more than baseless bluster. Even I don''t know how strong the annihilation enhancement is so it''s up to you to find out. Don''t feel too bad if you can''t live up to your promise; I don''t say this often but I really am special you know? I wish you the best of luck in your struggle, futile though it very well may be." Ares was genuine when he wished Veteran luck. If the poor guy couldn''t withstand even a single blow then his pride would be in tatters. That was why he emphasised more the route of simply accepting that what was coming Veteran''s way was in no way, shape, or form his fault. Veteran''s pressure was something no other non-fundamental champion could match so there was no shame in the loss he was about to take. Hell, even the other fundamental champions were people he could bully, just not Ares! There was only a single person throughout existence capable of toppling him in his area of expertise. Yes, predictively, the gap had just become completely insurmountable, and it was a brutal truth, but he had no reason to feel dismayed over the results of the next match! Ares wasn''t going to hold back. He needed to test his annihilation enhancement properly and it was up to Veteran to decide how he felt about the situation, not for Ares to manipulate him or coddle him in any way by letting him survive an attack. Besides, Veteran was mentally a resilient person. No one went through what he did during the war without toughening up their willpower inadvertently even a little. Also his real self would be too overjoyed at getting his magic back to care about something as pedestrian as falling from number one to number two. As far as Ares knew, Veteran was also the only person in the world with an affiliation for every single pillar. There could very well be others coming out of the woodwork but he was unique in that regard for now. Veteran was a special guy in his own right with bigger issues to worry about than Ares overtaking him in his own lane... Humiliating though it already was and would be after this match. Ares could tell his annihilation enhancement was going to make a mockery out of Veteran... The one split second he had it active at the start of his calibration he felt like he could punch a hole through a planet. Granted that was obviously not true but one of Bellona''s meteors?... Forget a hole, he might actually be able to pulverise it on the spot...


    Veteran was also acutely aware of this. When Ares activated annihilation enhancement he felt a golden reaper lay its scythe across his neck. The horror of that instant could not be encapsulated in an explanation that made any logical sense because it transcended all forms of common knowledge. Veteran was almost hesitant to believe what Ares did was pressure related at all because it felt so alien to him. The fact that it was even possible to push pressure that far insulted Veteran to his core. He felt it unfair that only a single person would ever be able to drive pressure to such heights as it was a waste of reality''s resources. Everyone could theoretically use pressure but only a single one throughout history could do that? It was disheartening because Veteran felt like it was the kind of thing the world should get to see!.. Well they would now if Ares had anything to do with it at least. Deep down Veteran wished he could also do it but the bloodline belonged to Ares and there was nothing he could do about it... Actually, maybe the owner of the fountain had some kind of clue? Surely the ability to share a bloodline existed in some form somewhere? Maybe it wasn''t impossible after all... In fact, Veteran decided he would spend some time searching for a method after visiting the fountain! For the first time in a long while, Veteran felt excited to explore the wide world once more and restart his cultivation journey!


    Ah but that was then and this was now. Right now he was going to have to go up against that very golden supremacy and he secretly dreaded it. He was somewhat envious but more so scared. Although he''d been losing every match he never truly felt like he was a cornered lab rat or some kind of prey being hunted down by a predator. Yes Ares was blatantly stronger but a loss was just another loss. What came next had put actual hesitancy in Veteran partially because of how superior annihilation enhancement was compared to anything he could muster but also because he was going to die here. He was going to experience the very same fate that had taken away so many of his brethren... It was an uncomfortable feeling despite not even being real. If he felt like this now, while he was nothing more than a simulation with infinite lives, how must those who faced real death have felt? Not even just the allies on his side during the war but also those who died at his hand... Although he already knew it, this was another stark reminder to Veteran that war was an atrocious calamity, one that people should strive to avoid not start. And yet he knew that when he returned there would be news of all sorts of wars taking place as that was just the status quo in the cultivation world... How unfortunate. But it also reminded him that that was why cultivators went to such lengths, why people like Ares went through the hassle of attaining his annihilation enhancement. It was to live through those catastrophic events. Veteran was no different. So, although somewhat frightened, the death looming over him didn''t dissuade him from his path but rather served as a form of encouragement to try harder. The second he was out of this pagoda he would put the pedal to the metal. If he lived through a single attack, he would be proud. If he didn''t then he would be determined instead. Veteran could tell Ares was somewhat concerned about his current state but he didn''t have to be. Veteran was made of sturdier stuff and could handle a setback or two!... As long as you ignored the ''loss of his magic'' saga but that was different! He actually had no control over his emotions when it happened to him. It was like losing a core part of his body; like he just stopped producing endorphins all of a sudden. Even that was an understatement as depression practically clung to his soul and chewed away at it. It wouldn''t kill him per se but it would drive him to kill himself eventually. That was a good example of the kind of downside that was commonly associated with such a profound talent or boon.


    Ares and Veteran lined up in front of one another and all was silent as the stare down was now underway. In many ways this was pointless as both of them knew precisely what the first move was going to be... Veteran turned around and bolted for a window to escape again! There was a chance Ares wouldn''t use his telekinesis, as he was going to try out his annihilation enhancement, but there was no reason for Veteran to risk it and hang around inside this death-trap.


    GROWL


    Before Veteran jumped out the window the world around him changed significantly. The low pitched rumbling of a golden monster lodged itself in his ears as a golden tide swept through the city. Ares'' mere presence was tinging everything in the colour of regal splendour. The once dull city now shone like El Dorado thanks to Ares'' all-encompassing Midas touch. This golden world was suffocating as Ares'' normal pressure was ever-present everywhere his golden rays touched. It was like entering a pharaoh''s burial site. This was Ares'' domain right now and he was in full control of everything he deemed worth lording over. His presence was permeating through the air and, although Veteran couldn''t see him, he could feel Ares breathing down his neck at all times. The aura of destruction was pervasive and invaded his body, constantly causing internal strife and discomfort. Walking through a golden minefield was another very applicable comparison to traversing this golden zone. The second Veteran felt all of this he almost threw up. It all weighed so heavily on him that he wanted to sit in a corner and cry. It was inescapable too as the golden mirage encompassed his entire being.


    He wanted out of this madness so he leapt through the nearest window, bracing himself on the off chance Ares was flinging another car at him. Unfortunately something far worse awaited him outside, Ares himself. His form was resplendent and hard to look at without a burning sensation creeping into Veteran''s eyes and scalding his brain. How Ares had gotten here before him Veteran didn''t know and didn''t care, he just wanted to run away again. He was outside the building so that wasn''t why he wanted to escape anymore, it was just because he couldn''t stand in front of Ares any longer. It was abusive. He couldn''t look at him properly and he most certainly couldn''t raise a fist in his direction either. Veteran was hyperventilating as golden dust filled his lungs and created sparkles in his vision. Drowning in solid gold was the only feeling he was permitted to experience as all his senses were dyed in that bright golden colour reflecting off every surface. He could taste gold, smell the metallic scent of riches, see gold embracing all things, feel gold encroaching upon his skin, and hear a faint but never-ending golden shimmer tickling his ear.


    Veteran jumped back inside the building and ran over to the staircase. He rapidly bound up a flight and found Ares standing in the doorway, silently staring at him. Veteran freaked out and leapt directly up another flight only to find Ares blocking his path again, still unmoving and unflinching. Veteran jumped out the window but Ares was still in his path, standing idly on the street. Veteran ran sideways to jump into another building but every single doorway and hallway he dared venture towards was the wrong choice as Ares was waiting ahead of him every step of the way.


    Veteran scrambled to do a U-turn and run into another room. He was thankful to the Gods Ares didn''t seem to be in his path yet again so he entered, turned, and shut the door while backing up against the wall behind him... He eventually couldn''t move anymore but he had yet to even traverse half the room which meant something else was behind him. The ''wall'' behind him was one made of ephemeral gold but remained as solid as real gold. Ares'' towered above Veteran as he stood ominously still behind the man who wasn''t sure where to go or what to do after backing into the menace. He couldn''t take any more steps back as Ares passive aura was impenetrable to him. Even if he went all out and attacked it with his strongest pressure attack, using a sword no less, he wouldn''t even scratch Ares anymore. He couldn''t move forward because his feet weren''t obeying him and he was incapable of fighting anymore. He couldn''t even bring himself to turn around but, for the benefit of his sanity, he didn''t have to.


    Ares seemed intent on ending the fight now as Veteran was clearly not going to be a suitable test subject. The pagoda''s restrictions on him were now way too overturned for him to be relevant to Ares anymore. Maybe if their cultivations were equal would Veteran be able to withstand even a single, proper hit... Maybe not even then, honestly. Ares had become a being that was so far above Veteran, the guy couldn''t see him anymore even if he had a telescope on his person. Ares would have appreciated some actual training with annihilation enhancement but it wasn''t going to make any notable differences at this point. It massively boosted his physical state to unnatural levels but Ares could handle that perfectly fine and it didn''t change anything compared to how he went about using regular enhancement anyway. It didn''t reveal any new, hidden pathways for Ares, it was basically just Ares times ten... Or more like Ares times fifty but you get the point. For the sake of leaving a clone behind this was basically as good as it got. Training more would net him less than 0.00000000000000001% benefit so he didn''t care to waste more time on it. He''d mastered pressure to a degree that made Veteran shit himself on sight; that was Ares'' cue to be done with the pagoda once and for all. Ares raised his hand up behind Veteran''s head and clicked his fingers.


    Veteran''s head was the first thing to cease existing before the rest of the building followed. After that came the entire street and, last but not least, a few more streets in the nearby area for good measure. Ares finger click packed roughly as much power as six or seven Grand Annihilations all spread out... Honestly, Ares'' main concern now was that his magic was falling behind. Sure his destruction magic was overtaken by destruction pressure but it did still feel a little weird... Oh well, Ares would figure something out to balance the scales eventually. Right now he was more interested in putting the pagoda''s overseers to rest, becoming one himself, and claiming the rewards that awaited him whatever they may be... Of course he still had to wait for Veteran to respawn first and regain his bearing. Ares honestly felt bad for the guy but, then again, he picked this fight. Although Veteran must have felt like he understood the sheer dominance of the fundamental pillars after all this time fighting with Ares, the hard truth was that he was still underestimating them. At least now that was no longer an issue as Ares had put the fear of God in him. Well, the fear of the God of destruction, anyway.

 Chapter 173: Time for Loot!

    For the first time ever, Ares got to see the floor regenerate around him. From the ground up the entire city dematerialised, temporarily leaving Ares inside a white void, before rematerializing with Ares back in the original starting point. Veteran was slumped against the wall as per usual but he was sighing out loud this time. It must have hit him just how wide the gap had gotten between him and Ares. Ares screaming during his annihilation enhancement may have been embarrassing but running away from Ares like a coward would be even more shameful should it ever become widely known. Ares wasn''t that kind of person though so what happened on this floor stayed on this floor; that was simply for the best for both of them. Besides, as far as Ares was concerned, his pained yelping was far worse to have exposed... Everyone ran away from Veteran at some point so the tides turning on him was more ironic than anything else. People wouldn''t judge him, really, they would just say that he got a taste of his own medicine. Ares'' yells on the other hand... There was no excusing that... Granted if anyone ever went through what he did there would be some understanding but, given Ares'' uniqueness, no one would ever have the chance to suffer as he did so that point was moot and couldn''t save him. Long story short, everything that happened over the course of the last day was going to be buried deep in their minds and not spoken of ever again!


    "You er... You ok?" Ares poked Veteran with his foot and another sigh was all that escaped his lips. Ares gave Veteran a moment and took a step back. Eventually the guy slapped his face and stood up with renewed vigour and a more spritely complexion and attitude. The guy must have just wanted to mope around for a bit as he came to terms with everything. Now that he''d gotten it out of his system he was right as rain again.


    "Yes. I''m fine, thank you. Anyway, let''s not get caught up on that disappointing performance I put up. The sooner I can stop thinking and talking about it the better. Instead, let''s go to the next floor!"


    "... Next floor? Excuse me?" Ares thought he misheard the bastard. No way there was another, secret, trial right? Surely he was done with this place?! There was nothing left that could stand in his way!


    "Not that kind of floor, it''s just a place where the rewards are stored. I''m telling you in advance, I don''t really know what the biggest reward up there is. I''m just the guy that was asked to guard it, nothing more. At the time I was inducted into this position, the guy I spoke to from Transmit told me the person who would eventually claim it could figure it out themselves. So yeah, I''ll lead you there but, after that, it''s on you to make use of the rewards properly. Some of the more basic stuff though, like cultivation resources, I can inform you about their function if you aren''t already aware."


    "Cultivation resources? Those actually exist? I thought they were a myth..."


    "You''ve never used any?!... I have no words... Where I''m from they''re given to babies... Some people even make dummies that improve a baby''s cultivation when they suck on it... Are things that different in your domain?"


    "It''s not quite prevalent to the same extent, no, but resources are usually abundant... Look, I''m just really unlucky ok?! Improving cultivation doesn''t matter if your foundation is useless! I''m in mental accumulation but can fight people in early to mid bloodline awakening! Maybe even higher if I go all out! That''s two whole realms higher than me! What good would cultivation resources have done in place of discovering more about my pillar? Or learning annihilation enhancement? N.A.D.A That''s what!"


    "... I see you feel quite strongly about this matter... Well, anyway, you''ll finally get to use some resources that can aid you so, er, don''t cry about it?"


    "Hmph."


    "I''ll take that as an ''ok'' and move on. If there''s nothing left for you to do here, then we should get going. My time is limited now and it would be for the best if we don''t waste it. The other overseers should already be seeing the option to leave this place. It will take a while for our consciences to return to our real bodies but this pagoda will be empty soon. It would be silly to get bogged down in meaningless conversation and lose out on the rewards because of it!" Veteran didn''t wait for Ares to respond and started walking away. Ares knew the direction he was leaving in meant he was going towards the staircase as their repeated bouts almost always seemed to involve it in some manner or another. Ares had climbed the entirety of it a few times before but it felt different this time. Every step reminded him of his accomplishment because the stairs were no longer an environmental tool to use against his opponent but rather a pathway to claim his rewards. Travelling up the steps not to gain the height advantage in a fight but to ascend to the next floor of the pagoda made Ares feel giddy.


    The two reached the roof and Veteran swayed his palm from left to right, revealing a hidden door. The door had also been intangible while invisible as Ares distinctly remembered stepping over that spot earlier. Also it would be kind of awkward if it collapsed to the floor whenever the building did. Still, having the door be right here under Ares'' nose the whole time felt like a slap in the face! Veteran opened the door and gestured for Ares to take a step inside. Ares obliged and was sent spiralling through yet another vacuum. He''d become accustomed to this during his time in the pagoda and that was a good thing as, according to Veteran, most portals were like this. If one portal made you nauseous, they almost all would. Ares was happy to know he wouldn''t be throwing up when traversing these things because that sounded awful. Then again, he had an affiliation for nothingness so he wasn''t going to be fettered by space. Supposedly using a portal for the first time should have made him woozy at least but his destruction pillar was loaded with benefits so not experiencing that wasn''t even a surprise to Ares.


    When Ares ascended to the sixth floor he was taken aback by the small size of the room. It was barely big enough to fit ten people and, even then, the middle of the circular room was obstructed by a pedestal. The design of the room itself was reminiscent of what Ares had seen back on Caribou''s floor what with the abundance of reds and golds. The pedestal had a golden dragon coiled around it, one that almost looked like it had a bit of life to it; like it would come alive and bite anyone who tried to steal any of the goods resting atop the pedestal. Ares could have sworn its eyes were trained on him but, then again, it may have just been Trompe-L''?il at work. As for the goods on the pedestal, there were four different groups of rewards. The first, and the hardest to ignore, were a pair of gloves... That instantly became Ares'' newest personal treasure... Ares had only laid his eyes on them for a split second and yet he was already the proud of owner of... Whatever this treasure was! As for why the gloves were so hard to ignore... The pressure they were leaking was unfathomably monstrous. Ares now understood why the pagoda was leaking so much pressure all the damn time, it was this thing that was responsible! Veteran was a part of the issue but clearly this treasure was a rare one. It might even be rarer than the Celestial Cluster given the requirement to wield it was something hitherto impossible, 100% enhancement. Even then it wouldn''t become a personal treasure as that was seemingly reserved for something even grander like, say, annihilation enhancement. The gloves were black and didn''t really cover much of any hand they would be placed on as it was more like a bundle of straps that just so happened to be shaped like a glove. Ares could tell that, ironically, if you wore them and squeezed your hands it would apply a lot of pressure and tighten considerably due to the way the straps were interconnected. Ares picked them up and, as always, the information about the treasure''s name and past was relayed to Ares in full.


    ''Backfire Bindings''. That was the official name of the gloves and, yes, these gloves were backfire gear! Well they were originally, anyway, but due to various circumstances they became a treasure. Interestingly, these gloves were the first ''backfire gear'' ever made! Although the classification system didn''t exist back then, nor did the term ''backfire gear'', by today''s standards they would be misnomer tier; the highest available. See, way back when there was a rather dangerous Goddess who''s superiority complex doomed those around her to slavery and violence. She viewed mortals, and even regular cultivators, as pathetic, inferior worms that served no purpose other than convenient tools for her to use for her own benefit. Verdant, the Goddess of the wind pillar, was nigh impossible to keep in check due to her unparalleled mobility so none of the other Gods, or any of the powerful cultivators at the time, ever bothered to try and stop her. She was wind itself, thus she was untraceable and untouchable.


    She was a colossal problem but the only ones capable of stopping her considered it to be a hassle so the masses were the ones that paid the price of everyone else''s laziness. Amongst these suffering mortals, however, was one particularly renowned blacksmith. He wasn''t the greatest ever but, for a mortal, he was damn good. Good enough that cultivators who were around Veteran''s level would regularly seek him out for artifacts. That was no small feat considering his lack of cultivation. When he got roped into Verdant''s madness, thus busying his schedule, one of his regular customers got annoyed and decided to indirectly help him out. The customer didn''t want to stand against a Goddess but he wanted his quirky smithy back! As it just so happened, this peculiar customer was none other than ''Dingo''. For reference, this ''Dingo'' was the same ''purveyor of rarity'' that owned the fountain that could reset pressure calibration. As far as allies went, Dingo was an invaluable one to say the least. A hyper knowledgeable eccentric with a wealth of rare materials and a borderline legendary blacksmith... The results were basically already guaranteed to be preposterously grand and they''d yet to even decide what they were making together.


    The common theme of their wacky ideas trended towards something that would hinder Verdant''s mobility. They didn''t need to be the ones that killed her, they could just enable someone else to do it! Dingo had the perfect material for such an occasion. No one really knows how but Dingo had managed to get his hands on the remains of the previous God of the metal pillar. The God''s body was essentially made of metal but it was one that wasn''t quite understood. There was no name for it and the properties were basically anyone''s guess. That would also explain why Dingo cared about it so much but, as for how he obtained the body... He had his ways. That was all he ever said on the matter. Anyway, Dingo gave the blacksmith the God''s body to create the binding artifact out of, as well as a few other rare materials to treat the metal, and even borrowed him some mythical smithing tools. The end result was supposed to be binding straps that would wrap around the target and lock them down on the spot. Breaking free should have been nigh impossible and moving around after being trapped even more so. Dingo, through various indirect means such as rumour spreading and gossip-mongering, subtly spread word to the other Gods of the plan to kill Verdant once and for all so as to ensure their attendance at the moment of truth.


    A few years passed and the time for action was nigh. The bindings had been made but something was off about them. The blacksmith couldn''t quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong with the bindings but they seemed functional enough? They were more than capable of wrapping around a target and stopping them in their tracks. Weaker targets would be outright killed that was how effective it was! Surely they wouldn''t randomly fail him when he needed them to work the most... Right? Well, as it turned out, they technically didn''t! When Verdant was eventually trapped during a ceremony in her honour, the bindings did exactly what they had always done... But that was actually the issue... The original goal had been to create something that sealed movement but, little did the blacksmith know, the bindings had become backfire gear. Their purpose was twisted into something wholly different. No longer did they ''bind'', they ''squeezed''. An important difference for very specific reasons. The Backfire Bindings actually tempered a person''s body, actively enhancing their flesh by making everything more compact. Yes weaker creatures would struggle to move but these bindings on a Goddess? It ''worked'' for all of two seconds before the weight crushing down on her body became a sort of enhancement, not dissimilar to that of pressure enhancement. In fact it felt the exact same... What the blacksmith had very accidentally created wasn''t some kind of binding, it was...


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    A pressure enabler!


    This was utterly unfathomable. Enablers were supposed to enable pillars, not random cultivation techniques! There was actually no other treasure in existence quite like it... Well it was still technically an artifact at this point. Anyway, Verdant, boosted by pressure enhancement, tore through all the Gods that arrived to kill her and became an even bigger issue. She couldn''t remove the Backfire Bindings but, really, she didn''t want to! Why on earth would she ever give up something so invaluable?... And yet, here the Bindings were... Inside the pressure pagoda... How they arrived here, why Verdant suddenly vanished one day, and how they became a treasure was something only Ares and a few other select individuals knew. He knew that Verdant got a bit too arrogant and picked a fight she never should have. She was emboldened by her new artifact but that didn''t mean she was capable of taking a pillar head on. She had attempted to usurp power from the wind pillar itself and was utterly trounced. Ares didn''t know where she was right now but she was still technically alive, sealed somewhere or other by the followers of the wind pillar.


    During the sealing process, the Bindings became an actual treasure. This was because the sealing was done using spatial magic and, as the Bindings passed through the seal, they were struck by a barrage of nothingness magic. Not only were they designed to apply pressure but the crushing weight of nothingness blasting the space around them moulded it into something far more incredible than it ever logically should have been. Forged with the dead body of a God, designed to create pressure, became a pressure enabler, and was crushed in a similar fashion to when Ares cancelled a person''s Blink... The treasure it became was, inevitably, nothing short of insanely powerful... But no one could wield it! The requirements were unknown and, down the line, even Veteran, the peak of pressure wielding, couldn''t use it. No one knew just how strong it was but Ares did. He knew this thing was as powerful as his Primordial Blade... It was no joke, that was for sure. Ares didn''t need a pressure enabler but it was so much more than that now too... Anyway, as for how it ended up in the pagoda, the wind pillar demanded its followers hand over the Bindings to Transmit. None of them understood why but they obeyed nonetheless and thus, here they were with Veteran guarding them. As for the blacksmith, the poor guy was executed for his ''failure'' as his actions resulted in the death of many Gods. Eventually the term ''backfire gear'' was invented and, when it was discovered just how powerful the Bindings really were, the ''misnomer'' tier was also invented. The blacksmith''s work was a magnum opus, not a failure! He was kinda already dead though, so, you know... Unlucky for him. Still, having his reputation retroactively fixed was something! As for Dingo, as he''d only ever indirectly spread rumours through others, he was safe and sound... The conniving bastard! He did miss his blacksmith though... The blacksmith had created the first ever backfire gear so naturally Dingo had a soft spot for arguably the ''rarest'' blacksmith he''d ever seen. ''Such a tragic loss of valuable rarity...''


    As for the Backfire Bindings, despite their size being notably smaller (they once bound an entire Goddess and were now barely enough to fit on some hands), they were still highly functional. They were more compact and weren''t lacking any of their original power as, if anything, its power had gone up since becoming a treasure. Ares was thankful for this because if he had to wear the Bindings in the same manner as the Goddess not only would it be embarrassing but Enyo would actually never let him go ever again. Ares in bondage gear? You can bet your ass that was somewhere on Enyo''s never-ending list. Anyway, black ''gloves'' were acceptable. Ares would add these to his wardrobe after he left but, for now, he put them inside the Primordial Blade as Veteran started speaking.


    "The rough history of those Bindings are known but their capabilities are not. A pressure enabler is a rare thing, and based on the tales it was incredibly potent, but I have no idea what benefits it will bring you specifically. Requiring 100% enhancement as a bare minimum to even be wielded makes the enabling of pressure completely worthless but I have no doubt in my mind that treasure is one of a kind. It''s up to you to figure out its intricacies and what it can do but I''m certain it will be worth the investment. Just the sheer amount of pressure oozing out of it was enough to make even me drool back when I first heard of it. Truth be told part of the reason I came here was so that I could try and make it mine. Still, my time in this pagoda wasn''t pointless as, thanks to you, I can get my affiliations back. That was always my main goal anyway. But that''s enough about that, let me explain to you what the rest of this stuff is."


    Veteran walked up to the pedestal and picked up three red stalks of grass. "These wonderful things are called ''trailblazers''. If you boil them for a week straight and then eat them your cultivation stage will go up by one for each stalk you digest. There are no drawbacks to these. Your cultivation will rise no questions asked. Typically the best use case of these is when you''re at the very edge of reaching a new realm, so being at the tenth stage. Crossing from the tenth stage of one cultivation realm to the first of the next one is usually a slog but, with these, it simplifies the process by a LOT. You''re at mental accumulation, 4th stage right? Use these three when you get to 8th stage and you''ll shoot up into sensory enhancement on the spot. Or if you''re more patient you can use them individually but, let''s face it, you aren''t that kind of person... Anyway, point being, it''s better to use them sooner rather than later. If people know you have them they will go to any length to take it off you in the higher realms. Each stage gets progressively harder and harder to escape from so these are sought after like crazy. Plus you can consume as many as you want and they never stop working. In short, just eat them as soon as possible and you''ll be good to go."


    As Ares had already stashed away the Bindings, and now the trailblazers, that left two more objects to dissect. Veteran pointed to two containers filled with... Blue sand! Ares knew this one, it was fine grind blue! The only question now was how old where these things? Ares knew better than to expect them to be thousands of years old, that was preposterous no mater how you looked at it. They''d been here that long but there was clearly a time-based rune on these containers that prevented them from aging. The fine grind blue here would be good but nothing heaven defying. Veteran could see Ares'' intrigued expression and clarified. "The container on the left has 9 month fine grind blue. The one on the right has 11 month fine grind blue."


    "Holy shit!"


    "Yes, they''re both incredible. I would recommend you take the 11 month immediately and give the 9 month to someone you can trust who''s strong. Maybe one of your wives?"


    "... I might wait."


    "Why? That doesn''t sound like a good idea. 11 month fine grind is infinitely close to the highest quality fine grind ever discovered. If you lose it... There are not enough tears in the world you could shed before the regret you would feel eases up."


    "I know... But I have a gut feeling I can still do better. I know it''s greedy... I know but this fine grind just isn''t doing it for me... Plus there''s a region nearby that literally spawns the stuff and I believe there''s greatness waiting for me there. I would rather just never use fine grind blue instead of committing to one that doesn''t meet my standards. Everything about me needs to be unfair. Every single inch of me needs to be above perfection and this fine grind, though legendary, isn''t good enough for me. It''s arrogant to an absurd degree, I know, but it''s the mentality that''s going to take me far. Further than anyone else. My revenant form is something I have to get right and fine grind blue will be to it what annihilation enhancement has been to my human form. Being lackadaisical and accepting the first great offer that comes my way, when something astounding may very well be around the corner, isn''t my style. I''ll give these two to both my wives and let them use it. Again, I have a strong feeling I will find better in Xasca..."


    "Xasca? Ah, you know, you may be right. If anywhere is going to have a fine grind blue of the quality you''re searching for, it would be there. It used to be the hub for all things fine grind back when I was still roaming around outside and I can''t imagine that having changed in all these years. In fact, it was where the current greatest fine grind ever was created. Of course that means nothing due to the predetermined odds on fine grind exploding per day but it is indicative of how much fine grind those desserts spawn. The higher the quantity, the higher the odds of a one-in-a-million anomaly occurring. Well the odds aren''t actually higher but you''re more likely to see it... Look, I wasn''t great at maths. You get the point I''m making."


    "Yeah I know. So what''s up with that last object?" Ares pointed towards the pedestal where one object remained.


    Veteran hunched over and picked up a vial containing some blue liquid. "This one''s also quite rare but nothing as serious as everything else. Put simply, it''s a liquid called ''mana dew''. You drink it, the amount of mana you can store increases. Basically you have more mana. Nothing complex but something very useful regardless. You can only take it once and it won''t have any effect if you use it again. Might as well just drink it now as saving it does nothing. Side note, I myself have had it before and it tastes like blueberry mixed with roses. It''s fizzy too and I happen to quite like it. There are some people who treat it as a precious commodity similar to that of billion year-aged wines. Nobles and other members of high-society will frequently have it available at banquets and what not. If you aren''t a well-known cultivator coming across this stuff is hard. If you have even a lick of fame to your name you can get some with a snap of your fingers. Overall a good thing to have but nothing you wouldn''t be able to get your hands on at some point anyway. It probably doesn''t exist in the lower domains, though, so acquiring it early is helpful."


    Ares took the ''drink'' that Veteran handed him, uncorked the vial, and took a sniff. Damn! This smells fantastic! Ares was already intoxicated by just the scent alone! he''d never smelled anything quite like it and he wanted to down it all in one gulp. It wasn''t even alcoholic so Ares could see why nobles horded the stuff as everyone could enjoy the taste. Ares would horde the stuff too if he could! Ares poured the vial''s contents into his mouth and swallowed as his eyes widened. "This is the best thing I''ve ever tasted! I just want more now... Where does this stuff come from?" Ares didn''t even care about his meridians expanding and increasing the amount of mana he could store, the taste was his primary concern right now!


    "Ha, told you it was good. It''s a mellow flavour but manages to pack a real kick despite that. The fizz is where most of the taste comes into play so the clash between smooth and mellow water and strong, vibrant bubbles is a taste sensation. Ah but I''m getting distracted. Mana dew is siphoned from a specific type of blue plant that, for some bizarre reason, can cultivate. It has a limit to its cultivation and, when it reaches that max, it starts secreting excess cultivation in the form of mana. This dew is that mana. The plants themselves are pretty rare and no one knows how to grow them. They pop up sporadically and everyone always fights over ownership. Some people have multiple and can basically drink the stuff whenever they want. I had a few plants myself and, now that I''ve seen you drinking it, I can''t wait to go back and have some mana dew myself... You should keep an eye out for these ''manamaxa'' plants. The more the merrier after all. I''m telling you now if you somehow have a metric ton of them by the time we next meet I''m going to demand you hand some mana dew over! Knowing you you''ll probably have a boatload for some inexplicable reason... Anyway, it goes really well with sushi and I was pretty addicted at one point... So don''t leave me out in the cold if you get your hands on a good supply!"


    "If I have any to spare then sure... Honestly, I think I might be addicted too..." Ares was disappointingly staring at the empty vial. That was one hell of a drink... Ares had many goals but a new one just appeared on his long list. Find a manamaxa plant and learn how to grow more! He had no idea where to even start with finding such a plant but Ares would fight tooth and nail if he ever saw head or tail of one! Then there was the matter of multiplying the plant... Ares was no horticulture expert but, if it meant gaining more mana dew... Well then Ares was going to have to keep an eye out for any plant-related treasures! Ares was completely obsessed! He would even go on to become a mana dew baron of sorts. It didn''t benefit him monetarily or anything but he did have plenty of people begging him to spread the ''wealth''. Mana dew was kind of like opium on steroids amongst those who enjoyed it and Ares would be king in that regard. Mana dew, mana dew, my kingdom for mana dew.

 Chapter 174: A Chromatic Polyglot Wants a Word

    And with that, all the rewards had been claimed. In order of value, from most to least was as follows: Backfire Bindings, the two fine grind blue containers, the three trailblazer stalks, and then the mana dew. The dew had been swallowed, the fine grind was going to the sister wives, Ares would take the stalks when he reached stage eight of mental accumulation, and the Bindings would be strapped on soon. Everything was done and dusted! All that was left to do now was say goodbye to Veteran and become the next overseer of floor five. It seemed like that last part came first as, according to Veteran, everyone else had already been booted out of the pagoda except for Ares. Outside, everyone was staring in amazement at the top of the pagoda. There had always been a ring of lanterns around the pagoda''s top floor but it had never been lit before like it was now. Seeing as how everyone across all floors had been kicked out, and a blue flame inside the lanterns meant someone was on the floor in question, it could only mean one thing! The pagoda had been bested! The neo Viking was crying and he wasn''t even really sure why. He''d dedicated his entire life to beating the pagoda and someone else had done it. Was it a good thing he lived to see it beaten or was he sad he didn''t do it himself? He really wasn''t sure. The hubbub and commotion eventually became questions that were directed at Transmit. The employees remained calm while they asked everyone to wait patiently. The branch leader of Transmit would be arriving shortly to answer all their questions. Of course he was more so here for Ares than anything else but he could at least settle everyone else down with a few quick words when he showed up.


    Back inside the pagoda''s fifth floor Ares was looking around at the city. Apparently he had a choice here and could remodel the fifth floor to be anything he wanted. He needed to have a memory of the place but so long as he did the fifth floor could be changed to his liking. It wasn''t the most important decision ever but the environment Ares picked could be used by him or against him if he wasn''t careful. Still, he didn''t even really know that many places as he''d yet to start exploring the world. His options were limited and he had no reason not to pick the obvious answer... "Red Sun." The floor dematerialised and started building itself from the ground up in the image of the Red Sun Ares knew all too well. He knew every back alley and every building like the back of his hand so picking this place was only natural. If his clone needed to use telekinesis for whatever reason there were plenty of objects to chuck at people. It was basically just a slightly different version of Veteran''s floor without the high rise or cracked streets. Red Sun was a bit more flat and colourful but there was no major factor that complicated things. If he''d been of a different race he could have maybe even had the location be underwater for his benefit but, as that wasn''t the case, a normal city would do! Plus just as Veteran had his own memories with the high rise and surrounding city, Ares had a history here too. It just felt right to use Red Sun as opposed to anywhere else.


    As the world around him filled in, he could feel the pagoda scanning him from top to bottom and recording the data needed to form a clone. It wouldn''t appear until he left pagoda, at which point he wouldn''t be allowed back in. Anyone who was an overseer wasn''t permitted to enter the pagoda so that their clone could function properly and Ares was no different in that regard. Fighting himself might have been interesting but he wasn''t beside himself at not having the chance. Ares looked around at the Red Sun recreation and couldn''t fault it. It was exactly as he remembered. Every mouse in every gutter. The Chen clan''s abode. The sect. All of it was spotless down to the last detail. Naturally the entire city was a bit big for an arena so only an section of it would be used but that didn''t really matter much at all. All Ares knew was that, going forward, the legend of Ares the bandit brother would be spread throughout the dimension! This time it wouldn''t be him robbing people of their stardust though, that would be Transmit''s job... And they were spectacularly good at it too...


    Ares turned to Veteran and nodded at the city. "Whaddya think? This is what the place outside the pagoda looks like currently. My home town. Nothing special but it has its charms. Namely the people, especially the chefs." Ares pointed at one particular shop. "See that? That''s where I got the sushi from!"


    Veteran chuckled. "It''s not exactly a huge city but if every chef is as talented as the sushi fellow then I would quite like to live in a place like this. I won''t ask why you seem to know the alleys well but I take it you didn''t have an easy life either."


    "Meh, not atrociously bad, just inconvenient more than anything else. I''m sure my knowledge of the nooks and crannies will aid my clone."


    "Will it even need such trickery? I think your clone is more than strong enough to just overpower everyone with brute force..."


    "Hah, you may be right... Soooo, what now? You gonna turn into a ghost and fly away or something?"


    "Actually, that''s pretty accurate. What you''re talking to now is a fragment of my conscience. In a minute, this conscience will be released from the pagoda and it will track my real body, flying towards it with no brakes. Given the distance it ought to take a short while but not any longer than half a day or two."


    "Isn''t it dangerous? What happens if, like, your conscience gets stuck on a tree or something?"


    "... A tree, huh? Yeah, no, it doesn''t quite work like that... Consciences can''t really be interreacted with, they just phase through everything. Planets, star ships, barriers... Trees... So don''t worry about it. As my time is limited I''ll just end our interaction for now by saying this, thank you. Regaining my affiliations means a tremendous amount to me, an amount I can never really repay. I will strive to do so regardless, however, so call upon me if ever you need a hand. That being said, I would recommend you keep training. Losing to you sucks and I''m not entirely pleased with the way things went during that last fight. I''ll want to try my hand at beating you again in the future so be prepared!" Veteran''s body became hollow and ghostly as it began ascending towards the sky.


    Ares looked up and saluted. "Ciao for now rookie. Good luck getting strong enough to be worth my time!"


    "Pfft, bastard. Whatever, see you in a few years kid!"


    "Until then." Ares wasn''t sure if Veteran heard his last words as he''d already faded away by now, leaving Ares standing around in Red Sun by his lonesome. Larsh, Caribou, Golgo, Candy, Veteran. They were all free now. He kinda wondered what they would be up to now that they could return to their real lives... Ah well, no point in pondering over that which he couldn''t possibly know! It was time to leave this pagoda once and for all! It had been a fun week, that was for sure. Plus his power level was off the charts compared to before so his gains were non-trivial. As for what came next? Well for today he was going to have a word with the Transmit branch leader, that was a given. Both Ares and the branch leader wanted to speak with one another so there was zero chance the guy wasn''t outside by the time Ares left the pagoda. Following that conversation he would return home, have a shower, cook some dinner, and finally get some sleep in! It had been far too long since he relaxed properly... Although he was inevitably going to have to satisfy Enyo first... And cook for his dumb brother. It was honestly a miracle the people in his house didn''t starve when he wasn''t around considering how often they relied on Ares to cook. He was kinda curious what they''d been doing for food as of late. Likely just going to the restaurants Ares had recommended. As long as they were eating well Ares was content. As for tomorrow, there was a match for the Red Sun team so he would be in time to join the fray. From then on it was just a matter of competing until there were no matches left and then this whole tournament business would finally be over! Ares could finally go around and explore the world like he''d been meaning too! Happy days!


    Now, how was he going to leave the pagoda?... Usually, in order to leave, he had to die... Was Ares seriously going to have commit suicide one final time? It felt anticlimactic to be in this situation... As he was about to bite his tongue, however, his was sucked through a vacuum-like portal and spat outside. He was in the usual spot but there seemed to be a crowd gathering around him. Ares pre-empted their multitude of questions by raising his hand and making a single declaration, "If you have any questions, go and ask my clone on the fifth floor. It has all the time in the world, I do not!" And thus Ares silenced the crowd. He''d confirmed he beat the pagoda while also promising to answer any other questions they may have so they didn''t pester him any longer. Besides if they barraged him with questions there were over a thousand people here so they might never get their turn. Asking the clone in a one on one setting would be far simpler so Ares was right in that regard. What they failed to understand, however, was that Ares'' clone had Ares'' personality. What was going to happen, without a shadow of a doubt, was that the clone was going to tell them to go and ask the real Ares... By which point he''d already be long gone... See, this was the problem with two Ares now existing simultaneously, they could pull of dastardly tricks like this! Double the revenant, double the nuisance!


    After Ares swatted away the flies he headed over to the Transmit area as he could see a man who stood out like a sore thumb. The person in question was an aevysquall, one that bore resemblance to a peacock, with multicoloured feathers. The guy was a walking rainbow and couldn''t be missed if Ares tried. He wore a green robe that shimmered in the light with silver patterns running along it. Countless decorations adorned the robe and each were bright, if not dazzling, and were shaped like various letters of foreign languages of which Ares could recognise no more than three. The man wore a mianguan, laden with jewels, on his head and his monocle was tinted in different colours depending on the angle he was viewed at. The pi¨¨ce de r¨¦sistance was his feathery tail that could be seen swaying in the wind behind him. It wasn''t whole, but rather segmented into ribbon like entities that varied in length, width, and speed. Another small detail was that his eyes were constantly changing colour. There was no particular rhyme or reason to this colour change and it just seemed to be completely random. He was a rather dazzling person and added a splash of colour wherever he went, that was for sure. The man turned to face Ares and lightly waved before his sonorous voice gave greetings. "Asha la. Vishunay, ka limna."


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "..." Ares stared blankly at the guy. "Uh, hello to you to?"


    "Hm? Oh, I see. Apologies, I appear to have used the wrong language. It''s been quite a while since last I talked to anyone in this domain, you see. Though I run this branch, I usually operate on the other side of the barrier where knowledge on countless other languages is a must to run this business smoothly. Delivering to foreign worlds or setting up shop in tribal communities without a proper grasp on the local language would be a nightmare! I was quite suited to managing relations thanks to my talents in the realm of linguistics and, as such, I was given this position. Even amongst the other Transmit leaders I dare say I''m the most prodigious of the lot when it comes to language acquisition. I''m almost certain there isn''t a language out there that has evaded my pursuit of knowledge! And yet I still get my languages mixed up every now and then. I suppose that would be the burden of knowledge? Ah but where are my manners? My name is Kaleido Lingo, at your service." Kaleido gave a small bow and a courteous smile to which Ares responded in kind.


    "Hello Mr Peacock." Ares was a revenant, his politeness for any given individual only went so far. It seemed Kaleido understood this in advance, however, and his smile didn''t falter before Ares'' prodding. "Although I can already somewhat guess, I was wondering what you were gonna do with the pagoda now?"


    "Well it isn''t technically mine so I don''t call the shots. What has been asked of me is to keep it up and running with only the fifth floor active for now. When the pagoda''s time here is up, I will take it outside the barrier and go on an excursion in search of overseers for floor one through four. Of course this little tour of mine is also a great way of spreading your name around so its a win win as far as I can tell. I do believe all of you also heard that?" Kaleido looked past Ares at the crowd and nodded to them. "The pagoda will start taking challengers again in but a moment. Until then, please allow Ares and I some privacy? Thank you kindly sirs and madams." As the crowd dispersed, now that they''d received the confirmation they were after, Kaleido kept chatting with Ares. "You know, I really am flabbergasted you managed to clear the pagoda this rapidly. I was aware completing it would be a cinch for you, as I''d been told as such by the boss of Transmit indirectly via a letter, but I never expected it to be done in under a week! Truly impressive. I would go inside the pagoda myself and check out what your clone is capable of but I''m hardly much of a fighter and I know I''d just lose anyway. I imagine you took some time perfecting your mastery before putting Veteran out of his misery for good so could you tell me how many days it took you to beat him for the first time? Transmit is curious and we like to collect data. It may also help for publicity and so on so forth!"


    "Oh, sure, I beat him on the fourth day. Third if you don''t count the day I spent getting to the fifth floor in the first place."


    "Four days to master pressure... The outside world will be shocked to their cores I''m sure. I was surprised when I originally received this assignment. Being sent to a lower domain specifically to help out a random cultivator felt like a waste of my time but how wrong was I? HQ seems to really be rather fond of you, Ares, to have gone to this much effort for your sake. And yet you passed, exceeding their expectations with flying colours. Their faith in you was not misplaced. I wonder what connection you have to our boss? Ha, I''m sure that''s a secret between the two of you so I shan''t pry. Curiosity killed the cat... Or peacock I suppose. That aside, I have something to give you. I know I''m not your usual Transmit handler but this message shall be delivered by yours truly today. It''s somewhat important so we chose not to entrust it to some of our lower ranked employees..." Kaleido looked over his shoulder and bowed his head to Loris. "Sorry old friend. Don''t take it too personally would you?"


    Loris took about ten seconds to complete a shrug. "That... ''s.... O... K..."


    Did he just split a contraction? Ares did a triple take at the damnable sloth and almost couldn''t believe his ears. He must be doing this on purpose, right?! Ares shook his head and just ignored the guy. How many times did he have to remind himself not to give Loris the time of day? Or rather, there would be no time in the day left by the time he was done speaking...


    Kaleido faced Ares once more and handed over a letter. "This is for both you and Mako. It''s a letter from the Fundamental Organisation, also known as the F.O. They''re aware you''ll be contacting them indirectly via Golgo but they wanted to write to you and clarify their position on various matters. Essentially it''s just a recruitment letter asking... Heh, begging, you to join them. Don''t take my mockery too seriously. They''re good people and very well funded. It would be in your best interest to join them I reckon. They don''t quite like Transmit though. A fundamental such as yourself having a closer relation to another organisation than to them made them feel a tad upset. Their crying and whining is rather persistent. Our company does work with them, mind you, but we do like to poke at one another every now and then. It''s nothing you need to be concerned with but our branch managers have had more than a few spats with theirs. Entirely personal and not business related sums up our quarrelling nicely. So that letter, then, is just them explaining how they operate, what they do, and what they want out of you. Naturally they''ll provide benefits, some of which will be listed in that letter. Please pass it on to Mako when you''re finished with it as he should really read it as well. As for your greetings to them, I''m sure Mr Golgo will do his job splendidly. I''ve met the man and, although he may be a tad slow on the language side of things, he seems to be a dutiful and reliable man. Alas, my own job here is complete. I know not when we shall meet with one another again but I look forward to it young man. Until then, do take care. Our company values your custom more than just about anyone else, after all!"


    A multicoloured parasol spawned into Kaleido''s hand with which he blocked Ares'' view of him. The parasol spun as it grew progressively smaller until it disappeared completely alongside Kaleido who''d already vanished. The guy was strong, clearly stronger than even the matriarchs. This was someone who was not to be trifled with... Although he was already on the same side as Ares so, unless he kept insisting on calling him a peacock, that shouldn''t be an issue!... Maybe it was going to be an issue...


    As Ares left, a member of Transmit officially reopened to pagoda, exclusively the fifth floor, and allowed anyone and everyone to enter. People clamoured over themselves to get in and face ''the kid'' that won. People that were stuck on the lower floors believed they were better than they actually were and deserved a shot at the crown. Those who''d been on floor five didn''t think the kid would be stronger than Veteran. Less than a few hours later, all thousand odd people here would come to realise how very wrong they were. Especially the neo Viking. That dude just started crying again after his loss... He was one of the first to give up and return to the betting brothers. He informed them that Ares had won the first half of his parlay which blew them away and nearly made Jerome, the leader, faint on the spot... At least they still had the second half of the bet to cover their asses... Ah well, even if Ares won his whole bet they would still be in the green overall... Although it would hella suck to lose that much of their profits! Damn talented kid! The betting brothers also bid goodbye to the neo Viking for now as the guy was finally returning home after all the years he spent chasing the pagoda around like a puppy running after a car. The guy had been run over at long last and knew better than to keep chasing it so his time with the betting brothers was up. The last thing he told them before going on his way was that they should up the odds on the pagoda. Beating it had somehow gotten even harder...


    Meanwhile, Ares had just arrived home. Before he entered he slipped on the Backfire Bindings and tried to figure out what these things could do! He strapped them onto both hands and closed his eyes. Out the gate he made three observations. First, he no longer needed mana to control pressure. It happened automatically without the need for mana so, unless Ares was summoning annihilation pressure, he didn''t need to use any mana whatsoever. In situations he didn''t have access to mana, basic pressure would still be available to him and that was fantastic! Secondly, the amount of pressure he had increased... It was already freakishly high so this was somewhat overkill but Ares wasn''t complaining. It boosted every application of pressure by a respectable amount and just made him way stronger overall. Good stuff. Finally, and this was the real winner that Ares had discovered so far, his pressure usage was instant now. He could activate enhancement instantly. He could summon normal pressure instantly. He could create physical pressure instantly. Other than charging up physical pressure attacks, everything happened the second he willed it... After all the time spent accessing his heart on repeat during the lower floors and improving his times like he was trying to set some kind of world record... It had all become meaningless! Ares was a tad annoyed but also glad because it meant that complicated process would never be relevant to Ares again unless he removed the Bindings. Aside from speeding up his pressure generation, it also meant he didn''t have to point to direct his normal pressure anymore. He could do it with his eyes and there would no longer be a loss of speed. Also his enemies wouldn''t know where he was directing it so that was a nice additional benefit. It was a shame his clone in the pagoda couldn''t use the Bindings but rules were rules. He may have broken one or two during his time in the pagoda but, as an overseer, strict rules would be in place to prevent him from messing around too much if at all. The Bindings would never have been allowed. Still, real Ares was more than happy to have them. There were probably way more potential uses for it yet to be discovered but Ares could take his time and work it out bit by bit. Treasures at this level were not so simple you could fully comprehend them as soon as you picked them up. Even his Primordial Blade was like this so the fact he could even wield the Bindings already was incredibly lucky!


    Ares entered the house and it seemed like everyone was doing their own thing. The cultivation rooms were full, bedroom doors were closed, and nobody was out and about. Instead of bothering anyone, Ares simply went to go take a shower. It had been far too long since his last one. Sure he was a cultivator and didn''t really need them but they felt nice and it''s not like they did nothing either! He removed his clothes and stepped inside. Not even five seconds after he turned the shower on he heard the door to the bathroom creak open. He could see the shape of a woman on the other side and he needed no hints as to who it was. Of course even if he did need a hint or two the fact that he could see Enyo''s chest meant it definitely wasn''t Bellona... She would kill Ares on the spot if she could read other people''s thoughts right about now... Anyway, Enyo poked her head around the shower curtain with an evil grin and Ares simply sighed. He chuckled and nodded towards the shower, inviting her to join him. Enyo had no idea what was in store for her. Ares wanted to test out how effective his annihilation enhancement was in other aspects of day to day life and this would be a good place to start. He was about to rock this foolish woman''s world!

 Chapter 175: Larshs Interlude. Enyo and Bellonas Interlewd

    Ares stepped out of the shower, whistling to himself as he dusted off his hands. He dried himself off and left the room to go look for his clothes. In the bedroom he found Bellona sitting on the bed, swinging her legs back and forth aimlessly. Ares had been gone a while so, upon learning he''d returned, she must have wanted to see him... Well, now she was getting quite the eyeful. There was a ''lot'' of him on display right. Her eyes, on reflex, darted down to his junk. In true Bellona fashion, she blushed but didn''t try and hide her shame. Ares couldn''t tell if she was extremely bashful or not at all. Either way she seemed to enjoy peeking at him downstairs every now and then as he walked over and gave her a kiss on the lips. "It''s your first time seeing one? Don''t worry, it doesn''t bite. It''s more of battering ram if anything."


    "Hmph, idiot... Big idiot... I can see why Enyo won''t stop gushing about it."


    "Over it too. She''s in the bathroom if you''re looking for her but she probably won''t be able to move for a while." Up until Ares finished getting dressed Bellona kept peeking at his manhood. The conversation she had earlier during the Conclave about wanting to put it in her mouth was playing on repeat in her head right about now. It didn''t help that Ares intentionally covered it last. Hey, if she wanted to stare, he had no reason not to let her. It was kind of cute, like a monkey watching a magic trick. Still, he wasn''t going to stand here forever, he still had to read the letter from the F.O before handing it over to Mako. The idiot was probably going to go back to the pagoda after the matches for today had finished and challenge the Ares clone... As Ares pulled up his boxers, he could have sworn he heard Bellona mumble ''aww'' which got a small laugh out of him. He lowered his boxers again and this time she mumbled ''yay'' instead. "You know you can look at it whenever you want, right? It''s just as much yours as it is Enyo''s or even mine at this point."


    Bellona shrugged. "Yeah, I know. I''m starting to get more used to the lewd side of things ''cos I know I''m going to have to in this household. Enyo won''t let me escape it... Anyway, on a related note, I''ve decided to start sleeping in here as well... You don''t have to keep your clothes on or be quiet with Enyo on my account..."


    Ares raised an eyebrow. "I''m impressed. Did something happen while I was at the pagoda?"


    "Just Enyo things."


    "In other words, yes. Well good for you. I''m happy to have you in the room. Hey, after I come back from my little trip, you wanna practice some magic in the back garden? You can double my explosions!"


    "Oooh! Sounds good to me! I''ve been wanting to do that for ages now, felt like you''d forgotten about it... I know I know, you were busy! I ain''t complaining, just being honest. I''m looking forward to it so don''t bail out on me."


    "You can count on it. Even if Enyo somehow resuscitated herself and demanded more of me, you have my word our magic meeting takes precedence!"


    "Resuscitate?... The hell did you do to her?"


    "Exactly what she wanted me to do to her. Sorry to bother you with this but could you go and check on her? She might have trouble walking but I know that won''t stop her begging for more if I go back in there."


    "... She''s probably just going to gun for me instead... Fine but I want another kiss. Tongue this time too. No slacking."


    "That, I can do." Ares did as was demanded of him, told Bellona he loved her, and left the room. Before he opened the letter his first port of call was to get dinner started. The people in this household had gone for far too long without one of his meals! He prepped everything, double checked everything was in order, and left the house.


    Meanwhile, Bellona had just entered the bathroom. The shower curtains were slightly pulled to the side and Bellona could faintly see Enyo''s beautiful and bountiful flesh in a pile at the bottom of the tub. She was lying on her back with her legs spread eagle and her head in la la land. She was breathing erratically with a dumb smile on her face as she spasmed from time to time like a dead frog while she leaked all sorts of liquids from her nether region. Bellona thought back and remembered the member responsible for this... "Yeah, I kinda get it..." What she didn''t know was just how deadly Ares'' tool was when empowered by annihilation enhancement. That thing was seriously no joke and could run a marathon and a half if need be. Enyo had found that out the hard way... Hard with a capital ''H''.


    Bellona had to admit the sight before her was somewhat captivating. So much so she was emboldened to help her sister in a more intimate manner. She was pushing herself further and further recently and this time was no exception. She grabbed a few pieces of toilet paper and bent down next to her sister, wiping away the stains on her groin without leaving any spot dirty. Enyo groaned in response as she was still a bit sensitive down there. Bellona eventually finished up and threw the papers into the toilet. After, she leaned over Enyo and picked her up, draping her sister''s nude body over her shoulder by utilising her inhuman gorilla strength. Bellona brought Enyo into the bedroom and chucked the limp whore onto the bed before raising her leg and stepping on Enyo''s abs. She put more and more pressure until Enyo awakened with a start and took in her surroundings. Unsurprisingly, she was aroused again on the spot but Bellona wasn''t going to play that game with her right now. "I want deets. Tell me everything he did to you otherwise I won''t let you up." Bellona''s foot was anchored on top of Enyo and, evidently, she meant business.


    Enyo smirked. "Why? Are you just jealous or do you want go and satisfy yourself after thinking about it?"


    "... Neither..."


    "Here''s a little secret, I''ve learnt the memory share art. If you be a good girl, call me mistress, and be honest with me, I''ll do one better than tell you the deets. I''ll show you them."


    "... Tsk. Fine. I''m jealous and I want to go play with myself... Mistress..." Bellona raised her foot so Enyo could get up. Her sister rose to her feet, pushed up against Bellona, and whispered ''good girl'' into her ear before transferring the memories via a complete unnecessary kiss. Bellona gulped as the memories played out from Enyo''s perspective in vivid detail. She couldn''t control her urges anymore and didn''t even go back to her own room, she just rushed into the bathroom here, shut the door, and put up a Noise Cancellation barrier... What she didn''t know, however, was that Enyo was the barrier master around here. If there was a barrier somewhere she didn''t want there to be one, she would simply remove it. Bellona was none the wiser about Enyo, on the other side of the door, listening to her private session very intently with a wicked grin on her face and a finger or two on her button.


    While the sister''s mutual masturbation session was underway, Ares was on his way back to the pagoda. He opened the letter as he left the sect and read it as he Voidwalked through the sky. He could have also used annihilation enhancement to fly but chose not. He hadn''t been able to copy Veteran''s flight with normal pressure but his annihilation version enabled it; that was something he was aware of thanks to his final match with Veteran in which he used flight, and his incredible speed, to cut off Veteran''s escape multiple times. It would have cost him less mana to use pressure instead of Voidwalk but it also would have attracted more attention, attention he didn''t care for right now as he was reading the letter and that was more important! The contents of the letter were as follows...


    ''Dear Fundamental champions of the destruction and creation pillars,


    My name is Underwood and I am currently the head of the Fundamental Organisation. Our primary goal is to enable the fundamental champions to save our world and end the threat Xhilihx poses for good. Aside from that, we also endeavour to bring about peace when and where we can throughout this dimension. We would like you to work alongside us to better this world. We will grant you resources within our power and aid you however we can in exchange for your co-operation. We would like to send you to help those in need based on your abilities and talents and reward you appropriately. The other four fundamentals are already working together with us to help various domains that were once struggling, strive. Countless issues across the world have been solved by our join operations and we want nothing more than to include you two in our plans. Though we are unable to assist you right now, due to the barrier surrounding you, we want to let you know that regardless of whether you join the F.O or not we are always on your side and willing to lend a hand. The fundamental champions are our future and we have a great deal of respect for you all. When the day comes that we all may meet together face to face, I hope we can come to an agreement on how we can work together for the sake of the greater good. Transmit and us have our differences but I know they are professional when it counts so I''m sure this message will reach you safely and I thank you for your time. All we ask is that you do not betray our hope and trust in you. We can discuss terms and salaries at another date in person. Should you have any questions for us, please feel free to make a list and ask away when we finally meet. I want there to be nothing but honesty and understanding between us so the F.O can prosper and, in turn, allow those we help to prosper too. There are many issues out there that only you can solve and that is why this organisation was founded. When the white pillar''s fundamental champion saved my people I knew what needed to be done. I knew that you all had gifts that could save others just like me. So here''s to hoping all of our goals can be met by partnering up and supporting one another as necessary.


    Yours sincerely,


    Underwood.''


    Ares dangled the letter loosely in front of him to see if anything was hiding in it... BORING! He was already going to work with these muppets and he already knew everything that was written in the letter. This thing was basically just a recap! Well maybe Mako might not know some of the stuff in here... Still, it had been mostly pointless for Ares. He did now know the leader of the F.O, and had gotten some crumbs of information about his motivation for all this, but nothing else he couldn''t already have guessed. Long story short, it would be like a close knit guild for the fundamentals. They would be given specialised tasks, complete them, be rewarded, and do it all again. Simple. This Underwood guy must be really nervy about recruiting the fundamental champions to not only send Golgo but also a letter... A real bleeding heart he must be if he was going to such lengths to help others. Ares wasn''t sure a guy like him had it in him to run an organisation like the F.O but he was probably surrounded by other, incredibly talented, people so that wasn''t a concern. Also, Kaleido mentioned it briefly but the amount of resources they have must be truly staggering. An organisation that was destined to save the world? Ares didn''t know where their funding came from but it probably had something to do with the realm of the Gods and maybe even some of the Gods themselves. Ares had only just gotten his first cultivation resource but if he joined up they would be practically shoved into his face! Really, unless Ares was overloaded and completely busy with problems, there was no reason not to join. Being sent to far off places and solving various issues could lead to all sorts of discoveries. If the issues plaguing people were so specific only the fundamental champions could get involved then the opportunities and potential rewards would be highly specific to them too. He could help people, improve his cultivation, and discover all sorts of unusual treasures. Win, win, win! Plus these people would help with the Candy situation, and maybe the currently AWOL Ignizz situation too, so repaying them down the line was only natural. And then there were the other fundamental champions... Whoever they were. There was no harm in getting to know them and becoming co-workers. Even if friendly relations were impossible for whatever reason they were the strongest of the strong so transactional relations wouldn''t be a bad idea either. All in all, standard stuff. Now he just had to give the letter to Mako.


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    Elsewhere, many many domains away from Sheryashka, somewhere in the realm of Gods...


    A spiky haired teen with a flowing white robe was sitting atop a floating rock. He kissed his teeth and ruffled his hair as he yelled in frustration at the current state of the boardgame in front of him. His fingers, once they were done fixing his hair, started tapping the table repeatedly until he was finally ready to make a move. Unfortunately, however, Go was not his strong point so, the second he finished his turn, all hell broke loose on the board and he found himself in a losing position the very next turn.


    "Larsh, no matter how many times we play you never seem to get any better. Maybe Go isn''t your forte?" A man in his forties, who was seated opposite the ''teen'', deployed the smuggest voice known to man in order to berate the ''chicken'' opposite him. Now Larsh, in reality, was a phoenix! An incredibly notable one too! So if he heard this stupid ''lizard'' call him a chicken there would have been a bare-knuckle brawl kicking off right about now.


    "Maybe you should Go fuck yourself, Dago!" Larsh spat at Dago but the spit didn''t make it very far before the man/dragon breathed fire out from his mouth and incinerated it. He dusted off his black-scaled suit before crossing his legs atop his seat... A tombstone with the name ''Dominus'' written on it. "Also, when the hell is it my turn to sit on that bastard''s grave?!"


    "When you either finally win a match of Go or magically transform into a better race, idiot chicken."


    SLAM


    Larsh flipped the table by banging his fist against the corner of it and stood up while wagging his other fist at the man opposite him. "The fuck''d you call me you old-ass crusty-looking, glorified-gecko sonofabitch!"


    Dago, more annoyed at the flipped table than any of the insults hurled his way, also stood up ready for a fight. This wasn''t the first time he''d tangoed with this moron and it wouldn''t be the last! The two animals were about to revert to their original forms when Larsh suddenly stopped moving for a brief moment. Dago could have taken advantage of this moment but seeing Larsh react like this was strange so he waited to see what the fool was doing.


    "FUCK!" Larsh kicked the fallen table, sat grumpily back on his rock, and threw a golden piece of stardust at Dago.


    Dago caught the stardust, gave it a once over, and raised his eyebrow. He only recalled making one bet with Larsh for this specific amount of stardust... And that could only mean one thing... He glanced down at the tombstone beneath him and sighed... "The mutt is back?"


    "The mutt is back... Though it''s a bit complicated."


    "Oh? How so?"


    "I think that bastard is stuck inside someone."


    "That''s certainly odd. Who? And better yet, how do you know all of this anyway? What was that brief pause about?"


    "Jesus! One question at a time!... Where was I... Oh, yeah, the kid he''s in seems to be one of those fundamental freaks. He was climbing the pagoda... Holy shit, did he beat it?! Or was it the other one... Look, the two fundamental champions inside the barrier were playing around in the pagoda. One of them ''recognised'' me and told me Dominus sends his regards. His pressure resistance was basically just the same as Dominus'' so, yeah, you know. His soul is probably in there somewhere. Anyway, my conscience just returned... So one of them must have beaten Veteran? Damn... That''s crazy. Those fundamental freaks just don''t stop impressing, do they?"


    "You only say that because the white pillar can make you its bitch whenever it chooses. A ''light'' phoenix going up against the white pillar? Pfft, that''ll be the day. Anyway, as for Dominus being back, it''s really not that surprising is it? It''s not like we ever really had any hope of getting rid of the mongrel. We should be happy we even had this much of a break from him. Still, it makes me wonder just how special the fundamental champion he''s attached to is going to be. A champion is one thing, a champion with pressure mastery higher than Veteran... That''s a scary thought."


    "Hahahaha, hey, dragon dumbass, I just had an idea!"


    "The irony of you calling me a dumbass is not lost on me but go ahead." Dago, over the course of however many thousands of years, had gotten extremely good at ignoring the feather brained idiot''s insults. They were present in basically every sentence so he had to be at least somewhat immune otherwise he would be driven crazy. Dago still ''preferred'' Larsh to Dominus though, it wasn''t even a contest. There was a reason he was sitting on the guy''s grave. It wasn''t a fake either, he''d stolen it specifically for this purpose. Only a few people cared about the tombstone and they all basically stopped caring as soon as they knew who had it. It was just the ''troublesome trio'' being annoying again.


    "Well you know how we promised Dominus'' wife we would tell her if we heard anything about him?"


    "Which wife? I lose track what with how many there are."


    "The first one, obviously! One of the few ones he actually cared about! The weapon pillar God''s daughter!"


    "Ah yes, her. What about her?"


    "Well we keep our promise first and foremost. She, and her old man, will skin us alive if they find out we knew something and said nothing. It''ll come back to bite us in the ass big time at some point. But how about we also tell EVERYONE else? She never asked us not to! Maybe one of his old ''friends'' will go hunt him down and kill him again? Maybe for good this time too? We don''t know what''ll happen to him now that his soul is stuck inside another guy!"


    "... I don''t know how to feel about this. Under normal circumstances I would have suggested something similar but I really don''t know if we should. Yes I want Dominus dead but should we really throw some uninvolved kid under the bus for own amusement?"


    "Yes?"


    "No you idiot. Use that pea brain of yours and think again! He''s a FUNDAMENTAL CHAMPION! If word gets out that we tried to actively hamper a fundamental champion do you have any idea what that would do to our reputations? Also we, like everyone else, do still need this world to be saved lest we die alongside it."


    "Ah come on, don''t be such a spoil sport! The kid Dominus is in is a revenant! The kid ain''t going nowhere no matter how many times he dies but maybe Dominus'' soul will crack eventually? The kid can handle a setback or two but can Dominus in that state? It''s untested waters we''re in right now! Also, if I just leak Dominus'' return to some guys who can''t control their mouths, will I really be the one blamed? If those cretins betrayed the trust I ''definitely'' had for them wouldn''t it just be their problem after and not ours? Also, let''s be real, the champions have so much support being shoved up their asses the chances of one of them going kaput is low. We''re just messing around with an old friend, right? No harm no foul?"


    Dago narrowed his eyes at Larsh. His ideas had a tendency to be unfeasible and stupid but maybe this one would go better? Killing Dominus was always fun... Ah screw it! "Then let''s get to it! Do you have anyone in mind to ''inform'' about Dominus or should I do the honours?"


    "No worries old man, I got this." Larsh pointed a finger straight up and shot a flare into the sky. A second or two later and a tired looking woman with a white robe appeared, scratching her head and yawning. She looked like a teen as well but was likely many thousands of years old by now. "Nora! I''ve got some information I want you disseminate!"


    "... Do I have to?"


    "Yes!"


    "Fine... Oh, by the way, speaking of information, have you heard about the new alliances? I probably should have told you earlier but the news just broke so I was waiting for it all to die down and for everything to be confirmed first. There might still be more but, now that I''m here, I might as well tell you what''s been spread so far..."


    "Alliance? Between who?"


    "Caribou Coronos, Veteran, Terros, The F.O, and Transmit have all expressed their support, or are going to, for Ares, the destruction pillar. Apparently he started learning about pressure and beat Veteran not even four days later after achieving 100% enhancement and even telekinesis."


    ""What the fuck?!"" Dago and Larsh were wearing stupid looks on their face. Beating the pagoda was one thing, an outstanding accomplishment in and of itself, but everything else that had been listed was equally as ridiculous! 100% enhancement? Telekinesis!? And that backing... Whoo boy, that was some serious firepower he had on his side! "Tsk, this complicates things. Spreading the Dominus rumour might actually put us in some serious trouble if people like that are going to bat for the kid..." Larsh clicked his tongue again.


    "Dominus is back?!" Nora gained a bit of pep upon hearing this.


    "Why are you so excited? Gonna go and spread your legs for him again?"


    "Yeah, maybe? He''s handsome and talented? What''s not to like."


    "Where do I even start with a stupid question like that?!... My own damn secretary... Whatever. Go and tell the world Dominus is also in an alliance with this Ares kid. You don''t need to mention anything else... And I guess throw my name in as well to make sure they don''t think it''s some kind of prank. Oi, Dago, you join in as well! We need to make sure they all believe it otherwise no one will go and hassle him!"


    "I thought we were remaining low key about our involvement?"


    "Nah, this might actually work out better. We can pretend we don''t know Dominus'' whereabouts, just that we know he''s involved with the kid in some way. We still direct people towards Ares but it''s not our fault whatever happens after. They''ll go to him to ask about Dominus, that''s our fault, but them realising he''s inside the kid will have zilch to do with us! It''s up to the kid and how he handles the pressure we put on him."


    Nora snorted at the antics of the phoenix and the dragon. "You two are as despicable as ever."


    "Yeah yeah, don''t get upset because we''re being mean to Dominus again. Seriously, if you care so much, why don;t you just marry the guy already? You can become his, what? 200th wife? How many is he on now? I''ve lost count. You aren''t anything more than a trophy to him anyway. Whatever, this conversation is pointless, just go and spread word about the troublesome trio''s support. I''ll pay you later."


    Nora flipped the bird the bird and left. Dago and Larsh were left to contemplate the matters that had been brought up until, eventually, they put it to the back of their minds and started playing another game of Go. Not before making another bet though, this one about whether or not Dominus would be able to return to his former glory or not. Being stuck inside the fundamental champion didn''t seem like a small issue and whether he would even be able to get out was up for debate. Larsh bet he wouldn''t but Dago knew better than to count the annoying mutt out, so he bet he would. Who was right? Well that remained to be seen. Either way, it looked like Dominus would continue to be stuck inside Ares for a long while. And as for the rumours they were spreading about Dominus... Well they all turned out be useless as someone else was also intent on spreading the same rumour. Actually, his rumours were a little more in depth than anyone else''s as Dingo had a source on the scene!

 Chapter 176: Veteran and Dingos Interlude

    Elsewhere in the realm of Gods, in one of the many back alleys of a sprawling mega city, roughly two hours before Larsh regained his conscience...


    "I don''t know why we bother, Peshy, it''s just going to be the same thousand yard stare as always..." A guy with an eyepatch was speaking over his shoulder to another guy, named Peshy, hobbling about with one leg.


    "You never know, Micky. Old Vetty should still have some fight in him. It''s just a matter of getting him to realise that too. We can''t just leave him to rot amidst the dumpsters, guy''s a legend! What a terrible end that would be. Can''t let our commander go out like that. At the very least we should check in on him every now and then, make sure he hasn''t kicked the bucket."


    "Yeah yeah. I ain''t saying we should stop, I''m jus'' complaining because I want to see the guy show some signs of life again. Being ride or die with a vegetable is kinda killin'' my vibe." Micky and Peshy turned a corner and instinctively reached for their noses to block out the foul odour. Not even the homeless dared venture back here because one disgusting man had singlehandedly ruined it with his stench. This place needed fumigation and for the source of the violent, pungent smell to be removed. Veteran was literally down in the dumps, slumped against a wall where the high rise he was oh-so familiar with used to be. The guy was a legendary cultivator so not showering shouldn''t have been an issue and yet he''d gone past the expiration date of that particular ability a while back. He was just mindlessly staring at the floor and would shoo away anyone who bothered him with his hands. His cape was even dirtier and dustier than the one his clone in the pagoda had been wearing, if that even somehow possible.


    Peshy wobbled in front of Veteran and bent over to peer at his crusty face. "Oiiiiiiii. Vetty? You still in there? It''s your old pals, Peshy and Micky. We''re here to take the piss-shy and the micky outta ya!" Waving his hands in front of Veteran was fruitless so he sighed and rolled his eyes. "Ah, come one! When was the last time you drunk some mana dew, eh? I got some on me if you''re feeling thirsty. Hell we even brought you some sushi. Good stuff from this new place around the corner... I mean like it''s literally a ten second walk from here, you should check it out yourself some time. Bucky runs it. He felt like shit leaving you behind and couldn''t bring himself to do it so he set up shop nearby to keep an eye out for you... When you get your wits about you, make sure to thank him, you hear?" Peshy lightly rapped his knuckles against Veteran''s skull and called out one last time, "Hellooooo? Anybody home?" After not receiving a response for the however many millionth time, he stood up and moved aside.


    Micky took Peshy''s place and he wasn''t so polite... "Get up ya tosser! Listen here you shitstained, bollocking, numpty prat. Do you have any idea how annoying it is keeping tabs on you to make sure you don''t become a zombie? We ain''t even sure if you''re dead half the time! Quit being such a pansy and move your arse! What''s done is done, you can''t change the past so just let it go already!" Micky gave up quicker than Peshy because this song and dance was getting real old. He wouldn''t stop visiting or anything but he understood the chances of fixing this guy were low. He turned around and was prepared to leave when he heard Veteran mumble some words.


    "I lost?"


    Peshy and Micky looked down at Veteran and finally saw some life in his eyes as they darted left and right. Veteran''s random fit of laughter took them back and they huddled next to each other, whispering so as not to be overheard by Veteran. "Yo Micky, you think he''s finally gone mental?"


    "Isn''t he already mental, Peshy?"


    "Good point Micky. I mean more mental though."


    "You may be right, Peshy."


    "Do you think this is a good thing, Micky?"


    "Dunno Peshy, we''ll have to wait and see what the next few words that come out of his mouth are."


    "If he''s gone doolally, should we put him out of his misery Micky?"


    "Nah, but maybe we can tie him up Peshy?"


    "Good idea Micky."


    "What are you two idiots talking about behind my back?!" Veteran had stood up and was rolling his eyes at the dumbasses who were trying, and failing, to hide their conversation from Veteran''s highly capable ears. To be fair, his ears had become encrusted and were actually somewhat hampered by this but he was a legendary cultivator who''s senses were off the chart... Unfortunately that also included his nose and, now that he was up and at ''em again, he wanted to puke. The fact he''d been sitting here like this for however long was embarrassing.


    "Vetty? The hell''s gotten into you? You going back to normal so suddenly is strange!" Peshy was unsure if he should be overjoyed about his commander''s regained sanity or worried something was genuinely wrong with him.


    "You come here every day hoping I would go back to normal and then when I do you complain? I ought to smack you two upside the had... And Bucky at that for sticking around. Fools... Thank you."


    Micky scoffed. "Bah, don''t get all sentimental. You know none of us were any good with that sort of stuff. Anyway, what got you up and about? Didn''t just have a sudden epiphany or some shit did ya? If ya tell me it was my tough love I might actually blush you know?"


    "Shut up moron, you wish! Don''t think I''ve forgotten all the crap you''ve said to me over the years! I''ll deal with you later! Verbal insubordination... Although I''ve definitely seen far more annoying people than you so maybe I''ll let it slide..." Veteran was definitely referring to Ares right now... "Anyway, I lost."


    ""Lost?"" Peshy tilted his head one way and Micky tilted his head the other.''


    "Yeah, my pagoda clone, it lost."


    ""... Lost?""


    "I get why you''re so shocked but yes, lost, multiple times. I''m not top dog anymore, at least not in the pressure world."


    ""Lost?""


    "What are you two? Broken records?! Stop repeating yourselves already!"


    "Vetty, you''re messin'' with us, right?" Micky couldn''t believe his ears.


    "No. I lost and it wasn''t even close. One of those fundamental champions did me in. As for why I feel like a million dollars right now, take a guess. Actually, don''t or we''ll be here all day. The kid can free me from my damn curse. He freed my clone in the pagoda so I know it''s possible! There''s some damn hope yet... But I got shit to sort out first. Ares taught me how to get 100% enhancement so that''s step one... No... A brothel is step one! And some mana dew and sushi... Yeah, that''s first!"


    "Hell no. A shower is first you rancid fuck! Also, slow the hell down and explain this fundamental kid stuff to us properly damn it! You can eat the sushi and drink the mana dew while explaining it to us."


    Micky, Peshy, and Vetty all sat down in the alley as Veteran recounted the last few days of his clone''s life in full. By the end, Peshy and Micky were happy for Veteran and determined to help him at the very least until he got his affiliations back. He was their commander and they had a great deal of loyalty to him after all. Plus there was basically no one else in their lives anyway. Everyone who served under Veteran had lost everything and everyone other than each other so it''s not like they had anything pressing to attend to... Other than Bucky who was working his dwarven butt off at the sushi store. Some of the other soldiers had moved on but no one had really ''moved on'' in that sense. Also Veteran said he would help these two get 100% enhancement as well so why on earth would they leave?! When all was said and done, the trio ran out from the alley to go and get the ball rolling on their various plans. Bucky also had to be given an explanation and, when he saw Veteran roaming around, he said the following, ''well pull me beard, spank me bum, and call me Suzie!'' For the record, it was pure coincidence that Bucky had an accent similar to that of Dabble''s. The dwarves spoke a variety of languages and had numerous different accents and these two were not to be taken a some sort of sign they were all ''wee fellas''; some of them were ''compact individuals'', or pieces of ''tiny dynamite'', and so on so forth.


    Veteran finished up his mana dew and sushi, bought some new clothes (but kept the cape as he planned on washing it), rented a room in a nearby hotel so he could use the shower, cleaned himself up with great difficulty as the muck and grime was clinging to him like a leech, paid a visit to the local brothel were he was practically pounced on by the ladies who knew of his status, and then left the city. How long had it been since he stepped foot out of this place?... Honestly he didn''t know. The high rise he once sat in had become a skyscraper and the rest of the city was equally as developed. Times had changed and it was time for him to do so as well. This city could be his base of operations going forward but he didn''t need to keep the lingering attachment and resentment he had towards it in his mind anymore. As Veteran, Peshy, and Micky flew through space, the sight of them was enough to make anyone passing by gawk as they were all living legends. The fact that Veteran was on the move after all this time was leading to a lot of speculation. Was he going to unleash his pent up anger once and for all? Did he find a cure? Was he just out for a Sunday stroll? No one had any clue and some people did try asking him but they were all just ignored. Veteran had a declaration to make but it wouldn''t be just yet. He would let the world know he was back, and he would let them now his magic was going to be too, but first he wanted to go meet up with Dingo for the fountain. Securing his route to 100% enhancement was his biggest priority. In fact Dingo, being ever the gossip-monger, would happily go around telling people about Veteran if he was permitted to so Veteran didn''t even have to move a muscle himself in that regard.


    About an hour later the trio arrived at the planet they were gunning for. Yes, Dingo owned an entire planet. This wasn''t all too uncommon when you became well enough renowned. If anything it was kinda low-key. Someone like Dingo could very easily have had multiple. He was somewhat paranoid about leaving his rare wares unguarded though. He could hire security but the thought of them betraying him was one he couldn''t get out of his head and, as such, he simply stuck to one planet. It was absolutely chock full of the most precious treasures and resources out there though so it''s not like there were no measures in place to defend it. Namely that all of his customers were forced to make a deal with him that they would come to his aid if ever he needed it. Pretty much everyone agreed as it was a small price to pay to access his goods. Dingo also had a variety of automatic weaponry and barriers in place, all of which were powerful in their own right, so he was rather safe actually. He also had a bunch of mighty robots at his disposal so anyone looking to steal from him needed to be very prepared and bring an army or two. Plus there were countless unknown backup plans that Dingo had crafted for just about any situation imaginable. His wealth of treasures was what kept him safe because no one could possibly know what they all did apart from him!


    Veteran rocked up the barrier and spoke his name aloud. He waited patiently for five minutes before a small entrance opened up and a portal appeared in it. Him, Peshy, and Micky all jumped in and were transported to the front door of a mansion on the planet they''d just been in orbit of. Portal travel was extremely convenient and most major places had at least some form of spatial travel available. Of course there were plenty of methods of transportation that were cheaper or more luxurious but if it was just a short jaunt then there was no reason to use anything other than a portal... Well almost no reason. It was possible for them to break, at which point ''Venators'' would jump out and cause a fuss but they weren''t too much of an issue provided it was dealt with quickly. One or two ''Venators'' sneaking out was manageable but an entire brigade? That was well and truly a hassle. As for what these ''Venators'' were... Ares would find out eventually.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The front door to the mansion opened and a mute butler took a bow in the doorway. He then stood aside and gestured for everyone to enter and wait to the side of the hallway. Veteran walked into the building and took a look around... It was the exact same as it always had been. For how crazy Dingo went over unusual goods his tastes in interior design didn''t seem to reflect that. He valued consistency over change in terms of house decorations and style which Veteran couldn''t wrap his head around. He truly thought Dingo would show off his newest finds by displaying them around the house but apparently not. Anyway, as for the mansion, it was Tudor style. Relatively plain and simple with some beams of dark coloured wood here and there to contrast the off white walls. Wooden flooring and burnt orange fabric armchairs were the norm in every room. A chandelier here and a self portrait there were the only other things of note. It was very much standard affair for anyone who was a noble. Granted Dingo wasn''t one but his tastes aligned with theirs and he was frequently considered a pseudo noble anyway. The butler led the trio to the living room and had them sit on a sofa in front of a crackling fireplace, above which was a large, flat screen tv. Give or take it was about 100 inches wide. Was it excessive? Compared to the size of the room, not really. Rich cultivators would all have luxury items like this and, once again, Dingo was on the more tame side if anything.


    Micky picked up the nearby remote and switched on the tv, searching for a football match to watch. Professional sports was split into two categories, one for mortals, and one for cultivators. The pitch for cultivators was distinctly larger as the players all had considerably more strength and speed at their disposal. The cultivator matches also used a simulated Training Field to even out their cultivations and make it fair. Some people still had advantages but that was because they were heavily specialised and not because they were more or less talented as a cultivator. Most people typically watched the cultivator matches because the mortal ones were slow and boring in comparison. The only time sports weren''t separated into these categories was when it made no difference, like with games like chess or Go. In fact, one of the current leading chess players was a mortal so good for them! As for Micky, he got really into his football. When he wasn''t being lugged around by Peshy to visit Veteran, he was at a pub cheering for his favourite team or even watching the matches in person. He''d gotten into his fair share of brawls as he could be a bit of a hooligan at times. Peshy preferred dramas but he wasn''t the one holding the remote so he just gave up on that. Veteran didn''t care much for entertainment as his life had basically been an action film anyway. He didn''t need to relive it through others.


    Dingo eventually arrived in a sorry state. He was half asleep, wearing a blue cotton robe, and nearly fell down the flight of stairs he was descending. He was unconventionally attractive with a pale face and tired eyes but he wasn''t the type to care about anyone''s looks, his own included. Rather, he already knew what he looked like so he didn''t care anymore. Maybe if he''d never looked in a mirror or seen his reflection would he be inclined to show interest but the easily knowable wasn''t his cup of tea. Speaking of tea, his preferred drink was iced tea and he had a considerable amount of the stuff tucked away in his kitchen. There was no greater pleasure in his life than discovering a new flavour of iced tea and he never drank the rarer ones, keeping them locked away in a runic formation that stopped time. It was one of the few things he actively sought out and collected, the rest sort of just let fall onto his lap. If he completed a collection then so be it, but iced tea? Now that was his jam!


    Dingo stumbled down the stairs and fell at the last hurdle, planting his face into the floor and groaning in muted anger. When he realised he was being watched, he shook his head and stood up while wearing a forced smile in a effort to pretend none of the previous events had actually happened. It was customary for his guests to ignore his erratic behaviour and oddities otherwise he would feel upset and kick them out. Dingo whipped out some kind of object that looked like an inhaler and took a large puff of the stuff inside it, after which he was reinvigorated and full of energy. No doubt the essence of some rare plant was being stored in the inhaler. Dingo hopped and skipped to the chair opposite the trio and sat down, clasping his hands in front of him as he gave greetings. "Hello! Veteran, you are a very rare guest! Last I heard you were mentally checked out so I must admit I''m curious to know what changed. Ah but we can get onto that in a hot minute, what brings you here? Looking for a trade? You know I prefer to get business over and done with first, we can chat away after if you so desire."


    "Hello Dingo. If that''s what you want, then I''ll skip the pleasantries. I want to use the fountain."


    "Oh Veteran, please, I know why you''re here!"


    "... Then why did you ask?... And also how?!"


    "Some of my guests don''t like it when I pre-empt them so I try to let them have their fun for at least a little while. Also, I know the secret to getting 100% enhancement already anyway so I knew you would come for the fountain as soon as you figured it out. Before you ask, no, I will not tell you which of my clients gave me that information. All I can say is that there is someone out there who trumped you. They didn''t achieve 100% themselves but they are above you in that regard. It seems they want to keep it a secret, though, so there won''t be a wave of people running around with enhancements greater than 80% or anything. Of course if you''re resetting your pressure then you may very well get 100% and reclaim your title of pressure master. I will admit, I am interested to know how you found out. Sitting around in a back alley for however many tens of thousands of years isn''t a good source of information as far as I''m aware? If it is you must tell me so I can try it! Anyway, point being, I won''t accept that as information. You''ll have to do better if you want to use the fountain."


    Veteran kissed his teeth. This damn purveyor already knew what he wanted to tell him... Still, this wasn''t the only card up his sleeve. "The destruction pillar champion. I have a ton of information on him, information I want you to spread."


    Dingo raised an eyebrow. "Malicious or beneficial? Not that I mind of course. Be it tearing him a new one or raising his reputation I''m down either way! Also, what kind of information? And again, how did you get it anyway?"


    "I got it from the pagoda..." Veteran was about to continue but he was interrupted by Dingo.


    "The pagoda?! You were actually beaten?! Even the person who discovered 100% enhancement was possible probably wouldn''t be able to beat you in an actual, direct competition... So that means this destruction pillar kid was the one who did you in?"


    "Yes. The information I can give you is all of the following. Information about the kid: his name, his race, his age, some of his magic, his hometown, his cultivation, etc... I can also give you information about his pressure mastery which is more significant than it sounds. He has a unique bloodline that enables telekinesis of all things. Plus I have information on Dominus'' whereabouts. Also, related to the kid''s unique bloodline is something pretty incredible regarding his pressure control. To top it all off, I''ll be the first to let you know I can gain my pillar affiliations back in due time... If that''s still not enough, I know who''ll be allying with the destruction pillar in the coming hours. You can be the first to leak it all and gain a boost to your reputation... So? You in?"


    "... That''s a lot. I see your clone has been busy... There''s no way I can say no to all of that... If anything it sounds too good to be true. Tell you what, give me a freebie. If you do, I''ll believe you and throw in some extra goodies to sweeten the deal in your favour."


    "Alright. The Primordial Blade belongs to the fundamental champion of destruction. The requirement to wield it is access to the nothingness aspect, one of three aspects under the destruction pillar, which is essentially the inverse of spatial magic. Dominus was trapped inside the Blade back when it created that barrier around Sheryashka. The Blade transferred Dominus'' soul to the destruction champion in order to pass on his weapon mastery and pressure bloodline. Dominus is still stuck inside the kid and when he''ll be able to get out is anybody''s guess."


    "Oh? So that was the requirement for that stupid sword! That thing''s existence had plagued my mind for ages now... The inverse of spatial magic... Makes sense. No wonder it felt so similar and yet so dissimilar. Alright, I believe you. Give me a second." Dingo clicked his finger and the butler disappeared into a room nearby. The butler returned a few seconds later with a notepad. Not just any notepad though, one in which Dingo stored many, MANY valuable secrets and nuggets of information. If the contents of the notepad were viewed by the rest of the world, cultivation society could maybe advance by a couple million years on the spot. There was also enough information to sink countless organisations and clans... This guy was a ticking time bomb in some ways and a ticket to societal enrichment in others and yet his professionalism meant he kept it all to himself.


    Veteran started listing off everything he knew about Ares that wouldn''t be a problem for the wider world to know. Ares had given him permission to do it so things were fine in that regard. the more Veteran spoke the more interested Dingo was with every passing moment. This kid had incredible value! Even the annihilation enhancement alone was worth the cost of doing business but throw in everything else and this was a juicy trade to say the least! Leaking everything ahead of time, with so much information to boot, would do Dingo wonders. There were a lot of sceptics that were hesitant to do business with Dingo but something like this would maybe push them over the tipping point and send them his way! To think, he almost hadn''t gotten out of bed... Then again, his ''rare'' sensor was on full blast when he saw Veteran active after all these years. Deep down he knew something big was coming his way. By the end of the info dump, Dingo was very satisfied and more than happy to let Veteran use the fountain. Also, as promised, he imparted some knowledge to Veteran. Knowledge about a patch of fifty or so manamaxas growing in a secluded but dangerous place. The person who found it was nowhere near strong enough to obtain the plants so he got value out of it the one way he could, selling the info to Dingo. Dingo was well aware how much mana dew meant to Veteran so he figured this would make the trade even. If the massive grin on Veteran''s face was any indication then yes, he was very pleased with this information.


    Dingo led the trio to a courtyard with a relatively plain, stone fountain smack bang in the middle of it. All Veteran, Peshy, and Micky had to do was sit under the spouting water and wait for five minutes and they would be done. Simple! As the three took their places in the fountain, Dingo turned it on before leaving them to it. He didn''t need to be here, he needed to go about spreading information! He had his own network so doing as such would be easy as pie but he still needed to be quick. If his calculations were correct, the news would start spreading on its own, from other sources, in under an hour so he had to make sure he would be the first source cited otherwise his trade will have lost value. He had info the others wouldn''t but that wasn''t as important as jumping the gun and leaking things quickly.


    As for Veteran and his two lackeys, they eventually finished up with the fountain and started their enhancement calibration again. They were taken aback by how hard it was and couldn''t help but respect Ares a fair bit because it seemed they were going to take a couple of days on this step. Ares had supposedly only taken a few hours... The kid was truly a monster through and through. Anyway, when they were done with this, Veteran''s next step would be to make use of the manamaxa information. After that he would start searching for treasures that could share bloodlines. Hell Dingo himself might even have a lead so Veteran would be sure to return and ask him.


    Little did Veteran know how much chaos he''d just caused via the information he released. Some of it, like the Dominus stuff, would take longer to spread but the important information was already insane enough as is. News of Ares, his alliances, and his talents spread far, fast. From the realm of Gods to even the lower domains. Domains lower on the rung than even Sheryashka. Fundamental champions were effectively superstars so new news about one of the two that were currently incommunicado was BIG news, Not to mention there was a lot of it at once and it was all beyond nutty.


    A new pressure pagoda champion alone would have made headlines but everything else combined effectively tuned Ares into a supernova in a matter of hours. The full leak from Dingo hadn''t even finished spreading yet and people were beside themself reading more and more because it just kept getting more and more unbelievable. They had no choice but to believe it when the alliances were confirmed first hand though. Different pieces of information caused different kinds of stirs in different places. The dragons wanted to scream at the top of their lungs when they found out one of the fundamental champions was a damnable revenant of all things. Not a single champion had been a dragon! And now one was a revenant! They were livid. The pagoda information confused a lot of the people who''d challenged it as that meant Ares was unquestionably a powerhouse. The telekinesis being possible threw the science community for a complete loop and they were now trying to replicate the findings in any way possible. They even partnered up with the technical community to figure stuff out despite the two communities never really getting along. The Primordial Blade finally being understood after all this time put a lot of people''s minds at ease but only drove others to madness as they wanted the damn thing! His unique bloodline awoke something in the gold diggers and floozies of the world. And then there was Dominus... When news about him finally started to spread, no one was happy other than some of his wives... And not even all of them were pleased. The one good news was that he was trapped inside Ares. Larsh and Dago had been the first to reveal Dominus'' return but, despite their wishes, Dingo had outed Dominus'' location. In the end, Larsh and Dago''s scheming had been utterly pointless! They''d been one upped! They hadn''t expected Ares to be ok with everyone knowing about Dominus... Still, the information caused a massive stir regardless. All that aside, there was one more specific piece of information that a few people cared about. Candy was under Ares'' and his allies'' protection. Not many peeple cared about this but those that did REALLY cared. Especially the anti magic God who''d been specifically mentioned multiple times... The fit he threw nearly destroyed an entire domain as he''d been shafted twice today already. Once by Candy and once by Caribou, the latter of which had really left a serious dent in his forces.

 Chapter 177: Caribou Coronos Interlude.

    Elsewhere in the realm of Gods, a short while after Ares'' alliances were confirmed first hand...


    War. Just as Veteran had predicted back in the pagoda, there was a war in full swing in the realm of the Gods. There were actually multiple ongoing wars but if looking at sheer scale then the one happening on the grassy plain on this abandoned planet was undeniably the most important. On one side, where the plains were flat and there was no protection of any kind, were a mass of soldiers wearing dark purple uniforms. On the side opposite them, with the opening to a canyon directly behind them, were a group of soldiers wearing black and white uniforms. Anyone who was familiar with the various followers of the Gods would be able to tell at a a glance that the space time pillar''s ''variables'', wearing the purple gear, were going up against the anti-magic God''s null legion. Sometimes followers belonged to the pillar, sometimes to the God. Sometimes both had their own followers, it really depended on the ability of each to garner individuals that respected them. Or in the anti-magic God''s case, a ton of blackmail and scheming. At least a third of his army really didn''t want to be here and the others were only present for selfish reasons.


    As for the variables, this wasn''t their first rodeo with the null legion. Their hatred for one another ran deep and had been going for millions of years at this point. Astraeus had been gone for a long time and the stupid anti-magic God tried to take over his position. The variables had never forgiven him nor taken their eyes off him to make sure he never attempted to pull that stunt again. This war started off as a scuffle between the followers but dragged on and on for hundreds of years until it fully devolved into this pointless war. Still, neither side backed down and thus, here they were, ready for another battle. The armies here weren''t the full extent of the followers, not even close, but there was still a sizable chunk. Enough that either side losing them all would sting a bit. To that end, the variables had whipped out some serious firepower and their generals were all relatively famous cultivators... The null legion hadn''t given a damn, however, and had no such co-ordination. Unfortunately for the variables that really didn''t matter. There were far more of the null legion than the variables because Astraeus might as well have not existed. The potential to become the next space-time God was basically zero because Astraeus was safe and sound in his own little world so people were hesitant to follow him. Plus Caribou was basically a shoe-in to be next on the off-chance anything did happen. To that end, a lot of people who joined the null legion did so because they were predicting the ''idiot God''s'' death in the next few years. He actively existed in this dimension and was extremely proficient at pissing people off. The chances of becoming a God were significantly higher in that camp so people without a shred of loyalty tended to gravitate towards it. That was equally true of the stronger cultivators with an affinity for the pillar which explained why they weren''t even here. Put simply, they didn''t give a damn who died as long as they themself lived. The more of the null legion that died, the less obstacles there were to becoming a fully fledged God.


    The null legion had no headquarters or camp because they lacked any commanders or generals but that wasn''t true for the variables. On a cliff a few tens of miles away from the plains, a tent had been erected in which the generals were keeping tabs on things from a distance. They could oversee the battle, give orders, and directly intervene if need be. Inside the tent the generals were discussing their odds of a clean victory around a roundtable.


    "Zero percent chance we get a win here without a fair few casualties," a bald man near the entrance said with a heavy voice.


    "The problem isn''t the quality of our followers, it''s the quantity," another man chimed in.


    "If our numbers were equivalent, the null legion would be so grossly mismatched we might even be able to win without losing a single life..." a woman spoke softly under her breath.


    "We could always get involved ourselves?" a second woman offered a suggestion but she was shot down by the first woman immediately after.


    "And what if they have a trick up their sleeve? The null legion are idiots but they''re also dirty rats who won''t hesitate to pull off some stupid tactic. We need to have a chain of command in case things go wrong. You don''t want to be in the thick of things, trying to corral headless chickens without a bird''s eye view when the tides change... We could maybe send one or two of us at most but all of us going is a recipe for disaster." This woman was right as she''d actually participated in her fair share of wars by now. The other woman was just a normal cultivator, albeit talented, who had never seen the way wars could suddenly shift in tempo.


    An old man who''d been quiet up until now finally gave his two cents, although really his point had little to do with the war. "That old man Caribou would really smoothen out the trajectory of the war if he were to show up here... But stuff like this is probably beneath him. That codger can go shove a stick up his ass! Hiding away in seclusion while the rest of us are fighting never ending grudge matches with the null legion. If I didn''t know any better, I would think he was scared of them! How many followers are we going to have to lose because of his selfish absence? I know we''re all in deference to him but can somebody give that fool a nudge or two? I would think aiding your fellows in times of need was basic courtesy but apparently not. When was the last time he left that damn tree anyway? Wise sage my ass! He''s just a damn hippy!"


    "That''s rather rude of you."


    Without turning around to check which hearty, deep voice just spoke to him, the old man raised his hand like he swatting away a fly. "So what? If he isn''t here to defend himself from these accusations then that just means they''re correct!"


    "I see. Then I can rest easy knowing they''re false."


    The old man froze on the spot before slowly turning his head backwards. When he finally looked over his shoulder... Who was standing right behind him other than Caribou Coronos himself? The bald man was snickering to himself because he didn''t much like the old man and this was poetic justice at its finest.


    Caribou wasn''t wearing his overseer outfit so his full form and majestic magnificence was visible to all. Though roughly eight feet tall in stature, he hunched low so that his oaken cane could reach the floor. Aged though he was, his brown, furry body was solid and looked unbreakable; partly because certain parts of his flesh had been replaced by wood. Being a ''rangi'', a deer kin, meant the antlers on his head were splendid and awe inspiring to say the least and they complimented his wizened face. A grey beard and square jaw hinted at expertise and longevity, both of which he had in spades. A large white, spotless robe loosely dangled off his massive frame and no other clothes were worn. his genitalia were long gone after he removed them himself to distance himself from pleasures so it wasn''t inappropriate for his robe to be completely open at the front. Though his appearance leant more towards that of a natural being there were a few oddities that contrasted with that image. He was the sage of time, there was no way his appearance would be so outdated that it would fail to include any modern elements. He was a man of the times. Always had been, always would be. Two neon blue ear pads, the kind you would find on a pair of hi-tech headphones, were attached to his ears and functioned like a temporal hearing aid. Not only did they raise the voice of others but they could also replay sounds that occurred in the area recently, even if he hadn''t heard them first hand, and they were a rather handy treasure. The ephemeral neon blue matched the colour of Coronos'' eyes too so they were rather trendy. There was more to Coronos but it was impossible to tell right now as it was only ever visible when he started using his magic. His age and form shifted constantly throughout battle so, unless he was going all out, this deer form was the standard. Even his cane was a weapon that changed as he did. The most notable weapon in Coronos'' arsenal was actually a neon blue great hammer that he wielded with both hands. He could speed up heavy strikes and repeated them instantly which made him a dreadful foe who could shatter planets with minimal effort. And that was just one form of many. He could reverse age and become a younger version of himself, more nimble and capable of dual wielding daggers. He was a versatile combatant but rarely did it ever matter. His current sage form was all he ever really needed. The power of a time wizard at his calibre was enough to solve most issues.


    "C... C... Coronos?"


    "Yes?"


    "... Sorry..." The old man accepted the fact that he''d been exposed and simply apologised. What else was he supposed to do? Fight Coronos? That would be the height of stupidity. Caribou was stronger than most people knew. He wasn''t on the same level as someone like Veteran, not anymore at least, as he''d long since transcended to a higher plane. Again, not many people were aware of this though because he spent all his time cooped up, studying the mysteries of time instead of openly displaying his power. He wasn''t as well versed in the spatial side of the pillar but his dedication to time meant he outclassed pretty much everyone else who had an affiliation for the pillar by a country mile. Was he on the same level as someone like Davey Do? Honestly, maybe? It was definitely close. Of course none of that took into account the kangaroo so the answer leaned more towards no but the fact Caribou was even a part of the conversation was impressive as is.


    "Apology accepted... I''ve been dealing with a lot of rude individuals as of late so someone actually taking accountability is rather nice..." Coronos was definitely referring to Ares here... And maybe Bellona too... Asking him what time it was when he couldn''t possibly answer was cruel... "Anyway, I''m not sure if you''re aware but I''ve formed an alliance with someone. I won''t lie to you all, the only reason I''m here is to fulfil my end of a bargain. Ares, the destruction pillar, seems to have requested the help of various people in keeping the anti-magic God at bay. He didn''t get a chance to speak to me about it but if everyone else is assisting him then so shall I. Besides, unlike the rest of us, he has a connection to Astraeus."


    ""WHAT?!""


    "It is precisely as I''ve explained. I plan on doing whatever I can for the young man, not just for the sake of the world, but also because I have no wish greater than that of meeting our God. The null legion riff raff are easy pickings and, should destroying them mean I enter Ares'' good book, then destroy them I shall. You all need not concern yourself with the details or logistics of this war any longer. Once I am done here, I will return and explain the situation to you all in full. After, I shall return to my tree however things will be different this time. If the null legion make any moves whatsoever, I will give you permission to call upon me. I will make it clear to them that I will not remain inactive any longer and that I take my alliances very seriously. I will not dishonour my word now that I have spoken it." Caribou let that be his closing remark as he exited the tent and walked over to the edge of the cliff. He needn''t go any further to end this trifling battle. The fight had already started and the loss of life was rising ever higher but Caribou looked entirely unbothered. Wherever he was, as long as he lived, the flow of life was his to control.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    The music of time flowed into Caribou''s ears and it sounded quite like a violin, building up to a climax as he danced in tune with the mana serenading him at the edge of the cliff. Now that he stood with his back tall his stature was imposing and his limbs could be seen in full as they swiftly darted around, placing various runes throughout the air. As his passionate movements, sudden and sharp, built a sphere of runes around him, he was constantly absorbing all the nearby mana like a siphon. When his figure was barely visible beyond the runic barrier he''d formed his movements came to a halt and he threw his arms out wide, scattering the runes until they surrounded the entirety of the planet. The music of time crescendoed into a pause as Coronos chanted his unique art that was widely considered, conditionally, one of the strongest arts of all time. His voice echoed throughout the plains and everyone on the planet was frozen in place by his one word.


    "Superimposition."


    ZZT


    The entire world faded to black. No light, no vision, no sound, no sense, no movement, no time, no space. Just a black space in which nothing other Caribou existed, not even time itself moved within this blank void of nothing.


    Tick


    1/12th of the void, a single triangular wedge in the twelve to one position on a clock, was filled in. The canyon was now visible once more although its colour had changed and there was an entirely new entity present within it. Hundreds of millions of years ago soldiers waged war against a rampaging giant within the confines of the reddish canyon and now that scene was replaying in real time where, once, the war of today had been taking place. The null legion soldiers who existed in the space previously were overwritten by the soldiers squaring off against the giant and were being stomped and flattened to death. These deaths were permanent and would not be undone once this art ended.


    Tick


    Another twelfth of the void was filled in, this time from the one to two position on the face of a standard clock. Part of the sky, which was empty in the modern day, was now filled to the brim with dangerous flying monsters, the sizes of which varied. Tens of millions of years ago, a swarm of pterodactyl like creatures plagued these lands and slaughtered, abducted, and toyed with the living. Humans and farm animals alike were plucked from their homes and villages that once existed on these plains and now the null legion were their new targets.


    Tick


    Once more the violin that symbolised the essence of time began to play as yet another wedge was filled in, unsurprisingly in the two to three o''clock position. A massive tidal wave from millions of years ago swept over the land, turning it into a wet marsh where those it had drowned turned into undead and roamed. The null legion revived in such a manner turned upon their allies and began a cruel massacre.


    Tick


    From three to four o''clock the dead variables were replaced by soldiers from a war that took place in these plains a few hundred thousand years ago. These soldiers were more powerful and far more talented than those they had replaced. When this war was over these people would become the variables that had once been deceased but they would be given a new leash on life. Indirectly resurrecting the variables by transforming them into stronger fighters was a simple task for Caribou who was still stood in the blank void. The storied history of the environment was being brought back to life under Coronos'' watchful gaze and masterful weaving of time as he summoned layer upon layer of days gone by, overlaying them until he found a desirable result. The art continued to tick away as Caribou kept conducting to the tune of time with a silently burning ferocity in his movements. He directed countless calamities and deadly disasters. Raging storms and a plague of locusts. A wildfire that burnt all life and a healing rain that rejuvenated any who had withered away.


    Tick


    The final tick filled in the segmented, gestalt reality. All twelve layers were now in play and what was once a plain, grassy area had become a vibrant mixture of colour, desolation, dread, and hope. Countless interwoven time periods, and the events that defined them, merged together into a single scenery, a combination of eras that stood the test of time. The variables were on the receiving end of limitless revivals and the null legion were subjected to horror beyond their understanding. An insurmountable foe awaited them no matter which time or place they fled to as countless warriors of legend tore through their erratic ranks. All the while Caribou silently dictated the direction and flow of the battle via time itself. There was little left for him to do other than to deal a final blow and revert the world back to normal and there were countless options at his disposal. As he searched through the annals of this world he saw meteors, toxic fumes, and so very many options with which to annihilate an army. None in particular struck his fancy so he simply summoned them all in a grand finale as the violin ringing in his ear was playing at tremendous speed. His white robe fluttered as his hands were manoeuvring in the air and summoning one catastrophe after another, vanquishing the legion where they stood, wherever they stood, whenever they stood. If one meteor wasn''t enough, he would simply summon it again. If it happened once already, there were no longer any limits to the amount of times it could happen again under Caribou''s command. He hijacked the chronology and bent it to his whims, twisting and turning it so that everything he deemed useful would heed his call and arrive in the here and now.


    Five minutes after the start of the war, every enemy was dead and every ally was alive. The monsters and demons were fading and the soldiers of the past were becoming the soldiers of the present. The discolouration of the land reverted and the shape of it fixed itself slowly but surely... But truthfully, it hadn''t been ''five minutes''. It had been none. It hadn''t even been a split second. The variables were all lined up once more, ready for a war they had already won. Caribou had superimposed a future defeat upon his enemies and a victory upon his allies in the present and this was result. Though the memories of this ''war'', if it could even really be called as such, remained, the bodies of those who ''participated'' no longer remembered the exhaustion of their struggle or the agony of their wounds. All they felt was a pleasant breeze and a slight discomfort at the eery quiet and emptiness opposite them. No dying screams, no putrid corpses. Nothing but the inevitable ticking of time. Perhaps they would one day revisit this place, not willingly but at the behest of Caribou should he ever cast this art here again. They would rise and fight this very same battle before winning it again in an entirely different time period in an entirely different manner. They may have even been dead for hundreds of billions of years but, as long as Caribou remained, so too did their exploits.


    Caribou hunched back down and turned on a swivel as his cane dug out the earth, leaving a mark shaped like the hands of a clock that signified he had in fact been present here all along, even if only for the briefest of seconds. Had he not done this, the soldiers down below may have simply believed they imagined it all, that it was one big hallucination. His own reasoning for the mark was different though, he simply liked to leave his mark across worlds to let any future historians know he was here before them. Countless times had explorers and other such men of action assumed they were the first to discover a foreign land only to find Caribou''s mark on a structure he''d yet to even visit. It was a calling card from a man who simultaneously didn''t exist yet and had also existed for far longer than them. In a way, it was like personalised graffiti. It was a habit and one he couldn''t kick.


    Caribou re-entered the tent to the confused faces of his cohorts. Coronos had left the tent a fraction of a second ago and yet here he was, back again... The war had ended too and they were all aware of how it happened, it''s just that the timings didn''t make sense anymore. Still, this was the power of the greatest time aspect wielder currently in this dimension so unfathomable feats were fathomable in his presence. The fact that Caribou, a man as strong as him, wasn''t in contention for the strongest in the world was humbling. Caribou had long since made peace with this fact and wasn''t fussed by it. It wasn''t his pursuit. He valued the unearthing of solutions to questions people had yet to answer, and sometimes even ask, about the intricacies of time. The tree he eternally studied was his life blood in some ways.


    Ignoring the stupefied looks congregating in his direction, Caribou begun speaking... Or he was about to... But an individual with tangerine coloured, spiky hair and blacked-out sunglasses came sliding into the tent on his knees with a massive, shit-eating grin. "It''s Davey Do, the daring dude!" Shortly after, an armoured kangaroo, also wearing sunglasses, leapt in behind Davey and took a cool stance. "And I''m Davey Two, the mecha ''roo!"


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Caribou sighed to himself, today was going to be a long day, clearly. "... Davey, what do you want?"


    "Aw come on! At least give my entrance a rating?! Me and Kanga have been working on it for ages! Ah whatever, you don''t look like the kinda guy who appreciates art. I''m here for the lowdown on that Ares kid! He sounds interesting."


    "Then why ask me? Surely you''re more familiar with Veteran?"


    "Yeah but ol'' Vetty ain''t hangin'' around the dumpsters anymore and I got no clue where he is. Makes sense he''s runnin around doing stuff now that he can get his affiliations back. You though? I knew you''d be here! Shame I arrived late, woulda like to let loose some of this excess energy I got pent up and take a swing at the null legion." Davey wasn''t being modest, it''s just that a single swing really would have decimated their entire ranks. Yes his magic was the main reason he was top dog but that didn''t mean he was lacking in other areas. Kanga, the mecha ''roo, was nearly equally as strong and he would have chimed in by now but he was busy flirting with one of the women in the tent off to the side. Kanga, when he wasn''t developing his exoskeletons or mech suits, was a bit of a playboy.


    Caribou sighed again. He really didn''t want to deal with these two imbeciles right now but he didn''t have a say in the matter. If he tried to run away there was a good chance Davey would bash his knee caps in and force him to spit out the information. No matter how strong Caribou was, it didn''t really matter in the face of someone like Davey... Plus that damn kangaroo was here too, worsening the odds. On the bright side, he was just about to explain the Ares situation from his perspective in full anyway so he wouldn''t have to repeat himself later at least... Silver linings and what not. Besides, it was just Davey Do. It''s not like things could get any worse now that he was already here!... Or so Caribou thought until he realised there was yet another person in the tent. He didn''t recognise her but the fact she silently snuck in without anybody noticing was fairly indicative of how powerful she was. Even Davey and Kanga only picked up on her presence a few seconds ago... Davey''s jaw dropped as he looked at the new woman and the name that left his mouth made Coronos'' semi-wooden body creak in anxiety.


    "Ayane Ensemble?"


    It seemed Davey wasn''t the only person interested in Ares. The mute domains had felt threatened by the ever righteous Fundamental Organisation as is but news of this new champion being more than a handful must have spooked them into action. Reconnaissance was the name of the game and a gathering of the world''s strongest was the result. Caribou was doing his all to remain calm but, man, this was an atrocious situation to be in... All he could do was hope a fight didn''t break out here... AND WHY WAS THE DAMN KANGAROO TRYING TO FLIRT WITH AYANE?!

 Chapter 178: Candys Interlude

    Elsewhere in the realm of Gods, a few hours after all the rumours about Ares had finally been spread and verified...


    In a poorly lit, untidy room, a half dead female foxian was lying atop a bed. Candy lay on her side, firmly holding a knife inside her gut and slowly pushing it deeper. A small child, roughly seven or so years old, with fluffy ears was crying as she tried to stop her mother but her pitiful strength failed her and she couldn''t make her mother budge. The tears kept flowing as she kept rocking her mother but the knife just went further and further in. This had been going on for a few minutes now as Candy''s cultivation was enough to keep her alive far longer than she wanted to be. There was no expression on her dull face as she stared at the opposite wall, ignoring her child as she wondered if the afterlife would be kinder to her. She had every intention of finding out and her child was being a nuisance so she pushed the kid away, making her fall backwards onto her tail. The child cried out with another shriek, "MOM! STOP!" but this wasn''t the first time she''d been ignored. Candy was fed up. She''s been infinitely close to lashing out recently so, before taking out her resentment on the child, she took it out on herself. Maybe Cotton, her daughter, could live a better life if she wasn''t in it. Candy''s family would just snatch away Cotton but at least she wouldn''t be stuck in this dreary house anymore, kept hidden away from the world under lock and key with a miserable mother who spent every day staring at walls wanting to see what was on the other side of them for once. Candy genuinely believed this was for the best and she was convinced she had nothing to lose via her current actions. The bed was soaked in her blood and her vision was starting to fade as she twisted the knife. Cotton had given up and was just wailing on the floor.


    ...


    Candy was startled when a bunch of random memories flooded her head. Some life returned to her eyes and her complexion returned to normal as her breathing did too. She''d stopped pushing the knife in by this point and was already working on healing herself with some medicine she had in her spatial ring. She hadn''t fully comprehended the memories as of yet but she knew she absolutely had to stop killing herself so she removed the knife and threw it away from her. Candy struggled to sit up and look around as she regained her sense of self. The last few minutes felt like a waking nightmare, like she''d been backseat in her own body while some demon possessed her and did something irreparable. If Ares had taken any longer to clear the pagoda... Candy would have likely been a corpse by now... Ares would have stopped at nothing to bring her back but it wouldn''t change the present. It also definitely wouldn''t help the child she was in the process of abandoning... That was right... Ares, Enyo, Bellona, Cotton... Candy had more than enough reasons to stay alive and not to do something as stupid as take her own life. Even Cotton alone should have given her the will power to keep on putting up with her situation but she had been so out of it she believed she was doing the right thing. Her mental state had been in a scary place and almost gotten the better of her in a way that couldn''t be undone. Even if Ares went through hell on earth to resurrect her, Cotton would likely never forgive her by that point.


    Cotton was a clever child but really quiet. She bottled up a lot of her feelings because she wasn''t sure Candy would ever listen or take her seriously. Candy had been a useless parent and basically stayed away from Cotton despite being trapped in the same house together. In some ways, Cotton was a constant reminder of Candy''s terrible life and encapsulated everything she hated about her past. Or at least that was the way the Candy from a few minutes ago saw it. Her new lease on life, that had been transferred from her clone to her, corrected that stupid opinion on the spot. Cotton was her child and she needed to take care of her because she was a lovely little girl who was reliant on Candy to actually be there for her. In spite of Candy''s absence, Cotton had been a strong child but doing this in front of her was cruel and would be a terrible memory for her. In many ways Candy had been repeatedly failing Cotton and made her life just as hard as Candy''s had been. Ares had asked her to be a good mother and, although she couldn''t change the past, she could rectify the present. The depressed Candy only served to bring the mood down between both her and her daughter but the Candy with a spark of joy in her was better suited for parenting and now she could make use of that. Of course now wasn''t the time to pretend nothing happened and be all smiles, she needed to have a serious talk with Cotton.


    Candy got up off the bed and started walking over to Cotton as she went over everything again in her head. She''d been sold off to that strange scientist and he used ICSI, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, to remotely impregnate her. His aversion to flesh had actually driven him to discover a method to impregnate women without having to do the deed with them. A revolutionary invention that came from a weird place... Not that Candy was complaining, she didn''t want him anywhere near her. Her hymen was gone but she''d still never had sex so she was a little relieved on that end. She wanted Are to be her first, not some mechanical contraption, or worse, the scientist himself. It was a small thing to be grateful for but she was happy about it none the less. Having cold tubes shoved up her had been somewhat unpleasant, though, and was just yet another memory the old her had that made her feel sick of life. She''d been treated like some kind of farm animal used for impregnation experiments... But worse still, and arguably the worse memory of all, was that one of her children didn''t make it... She was supposed to have twins but, supposedly, one died shortly after Candy gave birth to her. Candy didn''t even get to see the child as the scientist had taken her away for good. Candy''s darkest moment and her loudest breakdown in this hellhole of a house followed shortly after. It made looking at Cotton hard because, again, to old Candy, she was nothing more than a reminder of literally every part of her life that went wrong. Her parents valued Cotton more than Candy because a child could be controlled. The scientist was more interested in the twin children and only used Candy to create and monitor them. Cotton''s sister was long dead. Everything seemed to revolve around Cotton and that made it hard for Candy to look at her without something evil brewing inside her. Candy resisted countless urges to hurt Cotton but it reached a critical mass a few minutes ago when Cotton started getting upset at the lack of attention and screamed her lungs out at Candy for all the times she''d been ignored. The words ''I hate you'' set Candy down this path because a truly disgusting part of her had wanted Cotton to live with regret for the rest of her life. Again, it bared reminding, Candy was not a good person necessarily. Still, this was clearly going too far. No matter how off the deep end she found herself this should never have happened and she knew that. The guilt she was feeling in this moment was eating away at her soul and she wasn''t even sure how to ever go about fixing it. This was a truly unforgivable mistake and she could only be glad it ended now before it got any worse.


    There was a lot that needed to be done as news of Ares would start spreading... No, it probably already had. Her family would be here soon, the scientist might even show up... Or maybe not... And the anti-magic God wouldn''t be pleased. It was all going to get quite messy but first and foremost came Cotton. This precious little child needed all the attention Candy could give her and everyone else could wait. Candy hugged Cotton and stroked her back while the girl tried to stop crying. Cotton kept sniffling as she held back tears after that traumatic experience and also because she couldn''t remember the last time she''d been hugged like this. She didn''t understand why her mother had randomly changed her mind about everything and was acting like a different person but she didn''t ask. She was worried if she did then Candy would get mad again and throw another life-endangering fit. The fact Cotton had to treat Candy like a baby was heart-breaking to Candy and she seriously wanted to reach out into the past and slap the ''her'' from a few minutes ago but, really, she knew that deep down that was the ''her'' of right now too. If Ares hadn''t existed, when she returned to her real body, she wouldn''t have changed. She''d just been a pathetic woman and that was all there was too it. She hoped it wasn''t too late to fix her daughter''s thoughts about her. There weren''t any misconceptions, it''s just that Candy wanted Cotton to know she wasn''t that person anymore. Cotton would still likely be the quiet and grumpy child she always had been but Candy still wanted to have a better relationship with her so she did the one thing she could and kept apologising while hugging the fluffy little foxian. Not only was Cotton her child but, now, she was also Ares'' and that made Candy feel a little better. Ares wouldn''t show up for a while but, when he did, she imagined Cotton would get along well with him. Maybe not even by choice as Ares would butt into her life in whatever way he needed to, Candy was sure of it.


    She picked up her daughter and sat Cotton on her lap as Candy stroked her hair, ears, and tails. Cotton had nine just like her mother but she had no control over them currently and they only came out when she was happy. She was clearly relieved things had settled down and she was enjoying the attention. Now that she''d stopped crying so hard and could actually listen to what Candy was about to say, Candy decided to be completely honest with her about everything. Cotton didn''t really know much about the reasons behind this entire situation so Candy was going to go over everything and make it all clear to her. Everything from her own parents all the way up until Ares and the pagoda. Cotton would probably start crying again multiple times throughout but it was better to tell her all of this now and explain why Candy was going to act properly from now on. Cotton had a right to know about why the old Candy was gone and what the future was going to look like from now on.


    It took Candy give or take three to four hours to go over literally everything and, that may have sounded quick, but even that was the condensed version. Still, the salient points had all been gone through in enough detail for Cotton to get the gist of things. She''d been silent for most of it and only made one comment at the end. "Mom was bullied?" Candy couldn''t help but chuckle. technically yes, she had, but that didn''t give her a right to bully her child in turn and she made that very clear. Cotton had every right to be upset with her but the little tyke just gave her a hug instead and made Candy tear up a bit. Things were already better than they ever had been and all it took what was Candy finally taking accountability for what she''d done to her daughter and keeping the memory of her new family in her mind. Cotton didn''t quite understand what it meant to have a dad because she''d never really interacted with the scientist for anything of than testing. It was more like reporting to a stranger than anything even close to a parental relationship. The stupid scientist was utterly worthless in that regard nut, in a way, Candy was glad. Like this, Are could be the father proper and the scientist could go die in a ditch for all Candy cared. As for the talk with Cotton, one thing Cotton had understood clearly was that good people had helped her mother and she would one day get to meet them. It was a bit simplistic a take away from everything Candy told her but she wasn''t too far off the mark. Cotton also felt a bit more peppy than usual knowing her mother''s slump was permanently gone now and that she wouldn''t try to commit suicide again. The memory of it was still frightening for her but there wasn''t anything that could be done about it other than letting Cotton sleep next to Candy and hold her if she ever had any nightmares about it. long story short, various promises were made and things were settled for now. This was something they would probably need multiple conversations to sort out in the long run but the one today had been a great start.


    DING


    Tsk


    Candy kissed her teeth as the system in place to notify her of visitors rang. She didn''t have a say in denying them entry, it was simply there to make sure she was decent when those who were calling on her arrived. The freedom to choose who could visit her? She wished she had that kind of luxury. As for who was coming around, it was likely her parents. It could very well be the scientist or the anti-magic God as well but, given how quickly her parents tended to respond to unforeseen circumstances, it was almost definitely them. After they heard the news about Ares and his proclamation of marriage to Candy they would have discussed the matter amongst themselves before coming to a conclusion on behalf of Candy... Well they would have if they could, things had taken a drastic turn now and with the support Ares had garnered they were no longer in control. If they spent all this time trying to come up with solutions to put them back in the driver''s seat but still wound up coming to talk to her, instead of just solving the ''issue'' without Candy, then it means they had no choice but to agree to Ares'' demands. All they were coming here to do was demand an explanation and maybe try to take Cotton away. Candy had all the power now though and she didn''t have to bend over backwards anymore. She was truly thankful to Ares for the gift of control she now had over life. It wasn''t complete freedom but it was enough of an escape from her current chains that she had some new breathing room to fight back against her captors. If possible, Candy didn''t want Cotton to be around for the upcoming talk as her parents would no doubt try and ensnare her in this but there was nowhere to hide her so Candy just kept her daughter on her lap and told her not to worry.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The door to the bedroom opened and two foxians strolled in without asking for permission. Candy sighed in relief inwardly when she saw that it was just her parents today. She had an extensive family and they were all annoying to deal with. There wasn''t a single one she ever actively wanted to see and days when multiple showed up were the worst. They only ever came around to pester her, though, so it was unsurprising they didn''t show up for a more serious conversation about her future. The male foxian, Citrus, wore a suit and a pair of glasses. He wasn''t much of a fighter but he was an erudite businessman who operated in places the law didn''t necessarily keep tabs on. On the surface he was the CEO of an automotive company. Behind that mask he was a profiteer, selling weaponised spaceships on the black market. Then there was Lime, the female foxian. Honestly, Candy knew nothing about her other than the fact that she was a manipulative bitch. She walked around with a smile on her face all the time and that was practically the only feature anyone could ever remember about her. No one knew where she worked, what kind of cultivator she was, or any of the thoughts running through her pretty little head. She was a darling of high society but an entirely forgettable woman outside her appearances. Whether it was because she liked to remain low key or because she just that uninteresting even Candy didn''t know. What she did know, however, was that this mother of hers could say some truly unhinged things while keeping that smile on her face. Point in case.


    "Give us Cotton you disgusting animal."


    And there it was. Right out the gate they were gunning for the one thing that could salvage this mess they''d found themself in. If they could kidnap Cotton, they could indirectly control Candy. They couldn''t force the issue because Candy was decently strong and things would not go well if she was injured thanks to all the allies she now had. They couldn''t fight her and they couldn''t take Cotton away without a fight. They didn''t even try and negotiate or probe to see how Candy would act now, they just went straight for the jugular. Or, well, it wasn''t ''they'', it had just been lime. Citrus sighed and took point because he was always the calmer of the two. Calmer but not more polite unless he was putting up a front and that was something he never needed to do around his daughter. "This plan of yours is idiotic. The outside world will think of you as some kind of gold digging whore. You were officially Sevorus'' partner and now this Ares kid? As far as the rest sees it, you''re bouncing from one famous man to another. Lowering your value like this to temporarily take a stand against us will only come back to bite you in the long run. When that Ares kid no longer has any interest in you, and your allies all magically disappear, what then Candy? You will have annoyed us for nothing. If you hand over Cotton now we will ignore this transgression. If you do not, when your support is inevitably gone, we will not go easy on you. You have value but what you''ve done has actively marred it and the list of people we can sell you off to is diminishing as we speak. Cotton is now worth more than you are so hand her over and we''ll sell you off one more time. After that you are free to go wherever the hell you want as long as it''s as far away from here as possible." Citrus was driving a hard bargain in an attempt to draw attention away from his predicament. Right now, the eyes of all of Ares'' allies were situated on him and that complicated every one of his businesses, legal or otherwise. Candy was off the market and so were all his war goods. Candy was like a hot potato and he happened to have possession of it right now. The best he could do was take Cotton and run. Cotton almost definitely had talent as a cultivator, even she hadn''t matured, so she was the main goal here. Selling Candy off again was him looking for a small benefit on the way out. Citrus had expected Candy to take this offer as he was aware of how she treated Cotton up until now. In fact, if he had come here with that proposal yesterday he would have gotten his wish. Now though...


    "No. Cotton is mine. I do not need you to grant me freedom as Ares already has. I don''t care what the rest of the world thinks of me. I will be Ares'' wife and Cotton will be our child. You cannot stop it so, if I were you, I would be looking for a way to make the most of it. I don''t doubt you''ll try and con him into accepting some sort of deal so you ought to get thinking because he isn''t so easy to fool. I have the power now. I know I can''t get out of this house but I demand changes to it. I want internet and a private investigator. Also, I want the damn lighting fixed and better meals for my daughter. I don''t care if you make me go hungry but Cotton eats well from now on. if you can''t agree to this I will go scorched earth and call in every single ally Ares has. I''m shameless so don''t tempt me. This is the best you''re going to get. Publicly, you will have the fundamental champion as a relative. Be content with that because you aren''t getting any more out of me or him."


    "... What do you need a private investigator for?..." Citrus seemed to be acquiescing to her request provided it wasn''t for nefarious means. It seemed he understood, before even coming here, that his hands were well and truly tied this time. He hadn''t expected Candy''s pagoda clone to go and marry a fundamental champion of all things. Citrus was shrewd but expecting him to foresee this event was an impossible ask. He''d been blindsided and had to go along with Candy''s demands for now. Maybe when Ares entered the picture he could try his hand at turning the tables. Right now though, Ares had become a living legend and opposing him would pit countless people against him. Winning here against Candy would come at a cost so great he would never recover from it, likely because he would be dead as doornails and six feet under.


    DING


    DING


    The visitor alert system rang again but Candy ignored it, the visitors would come in regardless of whether she paid it attention. "I want a private investigator to keep track of Ares and tell me what he''s been up to. He''s my husband and I care. You can choose whoever you want to fill this role and have him report to you as well, I have nothing to hide. Also, I want full control over who can see me and when from now on. I''m guessing Sevorus and Ject have shown up but I want this to be the last time they come anywhere near me. For now, these are my demands. If they aren''t met I will kick up a fuss and bring this whole place down with me. Again, these are my demands for now, there will be more in the future. Don''t you dare even think about complaining after all you''ve put me through. I know you have the stardust to fund each of my requests billions of times over. They won''t inconvenience you in any way so you should be thanking me for not asking for more."


    "..." Citrus narrowed his gaze at Candy but had no more words left to say to her. Lime did but they wouldn''t be anything other than vitriolic spite so he didn''t permit her to open her mouth. "I accept under the condition your internet usage is monitored. You can keep up with the rest of the world all you please but you aren''t allowed to communicate with it, that is my stipulation. I don''t trust you not to try and spread unsavoury rumours about me."


    "Fine. I won''t makes things difficult. I want to be done with you. When Ares comes and frees me, I want to leave and never look back. I will not expose you for all you''ve done provided you leave me and my family, my real one, alone. You can trap me here and keep concocting plans to try and get me to stay until that day comes all you want but when I''m gone, I''m gone for good. Remember that."


    As Candy finished speaking, two ''men'' walked into the room. One was a dragon, currently taking the form of a human, who looked fed up with something and didn''t want to be here. He had a lazy countenance and a perpetual scowl. Chewing on unknown plants with unknown side effects was a hobby of his and there was always something different between his teeth whenever anyone saw him. Candy sincerely hoped one of them killed him at some point but his immune system was unfortunately pretty well developed by this point so it was unlikely. Other than these specific features, Sevorus, the mad scientist, was completely plain and average in every way imaginable. Aside from him, there was also Ject, the anti-magic God... Or rather a clone of him similar to that of the one Terros had sent to work alongside Mako. It took a shape different to that of the real deal but still embodied the rough spirit of the God it was designed after. Put simply, it was a humanoid mass of talismans. No mouth, no eyes, no nose, no nails, no flesh. Just dry, yellow paper with countless inscriptions written neatly on them. This clone actually had a bit of power to it, more than Terros'', due to the nature of its body. Each talisman had its own effect and could technically ward off attackers or maybe even kill them if they were weak enough. The talismans could also disassemble from their current form, fly around, and reform themself. This was showcased as Ject took a seat by having his talisman''s fly over to the seat and reforge his body atop it. Sevorus opted to stand because he really didn''t want to be here long. HIs experiments were getting interesting now a days and he was too busy to care about this trifling matter. He knew what was coming but had been asked to attend this chat regardless and that irked him. Stupid people always did care about the aesthetic of things instead of the actual importance of them. This farcical show was hampering his experiments! Sevorus was the first to open his mouth and say his piece. "I do not care about Candy but I still wish to monitor Cotton. It isn''t anything invasive and it will not take more than a few minutes each month. Other than that I will continue to never be present nor get in your hair. If we both want nothing to do with one another I suggest we keep our interactions to a minimum but I will not permit you locking me out of this house."


    "..." Candy wanted to outright deny him but doing so would be hard. What he wanted wasn''t much and raising a stink about such a minor request would lower her bargaining power considerably going forward. If he just wanted to ask Cotton a few questions, take her temperature, and check her mana flow every now and then... She would have to allow it. "Acceptable but only you. Ject has no reason to show up anymore. In fact he had no reason to show up before this matter anyway. Ject, I did not pick you and I never will."


    The Ject clone kissed teeth it didn''t even have and the sound was like that of grating sandpaper. "Don''t think I don''t know why you picked Sevorus. I wouldn''t be shocked if you wooed this Ares kid just to try and stall my inevitable acquisition of you. Right now I''m too busy with war and nosy cultivators to deal with you but I will in due time. As you''re the one responsible for this I will make you regret it. This hounding I''m receiving from those ignoble rodents will cease eventually. In the mean time I will be paying exorbitant amounts of stardust to throw everything I have, and can find, at the pressure pagoda when it returns. I have a strong feeling when that Ares kid is toppled his allies will mysteriously drop their support for him and leave him in the dust. The cultivation world is fickle and you''ve bet it all on some brat from a lower domain. Fundamental champion? So what? No one is invincible, Candy. His clone will fall and then so will you. So I''ll abide by your demand for now but I''ll return eventually. Don''t go running away before then or I''ll have to track you down and that''s ever so annoying." The Ject clone''s talismans dispersed and exited the house and Sevorus followed suit. Lime wanted to hurl insults but Citrus led her outside. Not before one final attempt to to change the course of today''s events, though. He looked at Cotton and gestured for her to follow him. If Cotton left on her own Candy could say nothing about it. When Cotton shrank back into her mother''s chest and shook her head, however, he gave up and left for good.


    Cotton could tell all of these people were trying to be mean to her mother and so she shied away from them. Candy was happy to see this as it meant there was still hope for them yet. They just needed to outlast everyone''s persistence and then they would be home free. All that was left for them to do was enjoy their time together here for as long as was needed. The improvements to the house Candy had demanded would make things more comfortable for them, that as for sure. Candy estimated the changes would all be implemented in under a week so, until then, and even after, Candy planned on getting to know her daughter for real. She was a cute little fluffball and her pouting face was adorable! Bellona would love this cutie when she finally met her... Candy actually really missed Bellona as she was a great friend; not one she''d known long but someone she looked forward to spending more time with... Another solitary tear dropped from her eye as she already missed her new family. Lovable Ares, honest Bellona, and lunatic Enyo... She wanted nothing more than to share a drink with all again. Actually, she still had some drink in her spatial ring! The Conclave had drained a lot of her stash but not all of it! Booze time!... But now there was another question on her mind as Cotton looked up at her with beady eyes... Underage drinking... Yes or no? Hehehehehehe, yes! Once again, it bared repeating, Candy was an evil woman!

 Chapter 179: Golgo In-Ta-Lood

    Not in the realm of Gods, but in a domain higher than that of Sheryashka, a few days after every other conscience had returned...


    Golgo was back, baby! His conscience had, admittedly, gotten a little lost on the way back, and ended up taking a detour, but Golgo the great had returned! Well he was technically here the whole time but his conscience fragment was now back in his real body. The first thing he realised was that the F.O were tearing their hair out over this mess. They''d indirectly found out about Ares through rumours and leaked information! They had a man on the scene, one who should have returned first as his real body was the closest to the pagoda, and he still hadn''t gotten back yet! They regretted not sending someone a little less dumb... the F.O had to spend a lot of money this time around just to be in the loop. Through various means they eventually made contact with Veteran who explained a fair bit to them willingly. They were also Ares'' allies so he was open with them about what he knew. In turn, they made their announcement a little later than everyone else which made them somewhat of a laughing stock thanks to this incident. Their alliance had been leaked an entire day before they confirmed it! They were all over the news after this blunder... It was a small hit to their reputation, and not a major problem at all as people would forget about it in a week or two, but it was still annoying!


    The man who was stationed by Golgo''s real body was practically in tears by this point as he was begging the man to get back already! It was hard enough trying to explain to Golgo that he would ''magically get new memories'' because the oaf just didn''t get understand the concept at play here. The guy stationed on this planet couldn''t tell if Golgo''s conscience had already returned and he was just being stupid or if was still yet to show up! Thankfully it was all cleared up when Golgo walked up to the guy and told him the good news. It was too late for the information but at least he was back safe and sound? It was hard to tell with this man as the way he explained things was... Questionable at best. Still, the F.O guy thanked Golgo for his hard work, took the notepad with Mako and Ares'' details on them, and left. The notepad''s usefulness at this point was limited but there were still some things there that mattered. Ares saying he would work like a dog for them if they aided Candy was a big one and Mako offering to help them also mattered. Basically confirmation of them both joining was the major thing this note provided and that was phenomenal news. There was also the not so great news that Ignizz had his finger up his ass and was being useless... The F.O would try and sort that out by contacting the Gods...


    After handing over the note, Golgo started travelling back home. This entire planet belonged to him so he was free to take his time and smell the roses while greeting all his citizens on the way back. Generally, he was a well-respected figure due to his strength, loyalty, and friendly nature. Now the men of the planet weren''t too happy with him constantly sniffing around their wives but they shoved him away any time he got too close so he was manageable at least. Plus any woman who wasn''t already one of Golgo''s many wives likely had no intention of ever becoming one. It was something that either happened early in their lives or not at all. Some woman just wanted a happy, small family with a man who was the proud owner of more than 50 points of IQ. Golgo was a good guy, yeah... But man was he stupid... The women that didn''t mind that, for whatever reason be it looks, talent, or status, pretty much threw themself at Golgo and he accepted the all with open arms. There weren''t many people with as many children as Golgo and the only ones who could realistically compete had lived for millions more years than him. Golgo''s connection with his children depended. He remembered them all but some he saw way more than others. Specifically, the children he''d had with wives that he actually loved were typically more important to him and he frequently spent more time with them. Of all his children, one of the few he actually lived in the same building as was Havanah. Havanah''s mother was Golgo''s first love and so she held a special place in his big dumb heart.


    Golgo arrived back home and he wanted to see Siri, Havanah''s mother, but she wasn''t home right now. In fact, nobody was home! Most of his kids that lived here were off-world right now so it made sense. This was quite rare, however, and it made Golgo a little sad even if he had a feeling in his gut it would be like this. A busy home was a happy home. On that, he and Ares agreed wholeheartedly with each other. More than anything though, it had been a while since his clone had seen any of his family and it kinda missed them. Although real Golgo had seen everyone all the time lately he still felt like entertaining the clone''s wishes... And yet everyone was out and about. It was unfortunate but it seemed like his clone, that didn''t even exist anymore, would have to wait for another day.


    Although Golgo was the king that didn''t mean he was burdened by work. He had a few odd jobs here and there but remained relatively free and had a lot of downtime. This wasn''t some kind of pencil pushing society with legal documents a plenty, it was a vast, grassy area in which everyone was welcome to do as they pleased provided they obeyed a few simple rules. Namely not hassling other people in any way. Of course this was just this region, there was actually a city on this planet where things were a bit more civilised and not everyone in the neighbourhood was a farmer trying to protect their wives from Golgo 24/7. Havanah frequented the city often as she seemed to really like it. She''d defended the city from invaders who knows how many times at this point and she made Golgo proud each and every time. The city was her base of operations for the most part and was under her official protection. Speaking of, she''d left for the city a couple days ago so whatever it was she was doing there must have been dealt with already. Havanah might even return back home today if Golgo was lucky!


    The king sat on his throne, a rocking chair, and spent the day scratching his balls and watching televised sports, occasionally drinking a beer when he was feeling brave and wanted to spice things up a bit. Don''t let the tv fool you though, Golgo''s house wasn''t modern in the slightest. It was like a gigantic barn if anything. It''s just that, one day, when he was visiting another planet, he had an opportunity to watch some ''tee vee'' and he thought it was fun. Afterwards he went and got one installed and it became his new favourite past time. Before this he would usually just laze around and sleep or train so it''s not like it was taking up precious time or anything. There wasn''t much to do in the way of entertainment out here so this tv rapidly became talk of the village. Eventually, via Golgo''s connections, every house around here had one. The husbands were happy they had something to do in their spare time other than tend crops and bang their wives and the wives were also happy to finally have a break from their insistent and persistent husbands. Win win! Although some of the guys got a bit lazy and didn''t want to work as hard anymore. A quick smack over the head from their incensed wives tended to fix that particular problem though.


    The day passed and it was starting to get a bit dark out. Golgo was considering going to bed to get an early night, and he was about to, when he heard a knock on the door. Someone was home! Probably Havanah if his guess was correct. Golgo stood up and walked over to the front door. He peeked through the keyhole and his guess was proven correct! Although there did seem to be a plus one. Havanah had brought back her pouty friend, the mind pillar. Golgo opened the door and threw out his arms wide, welcoming the two into his ''hum-ball ahb-ode''.


    The mind pillar, Sanity, was a woman who''s face only ever had one look on it, and it was a mix of boredom and belittlement. Everyone was stupider than her and it annoyed her to no end. Plus, having the ability to read people''s thoughts got really old after a while as they mostly tended to think the exact same thing about her. ''Pompous, arrogant, rude bitch''. She wasn''t annoyed because of what they they thought, she acknowledged that they were entirely correct, it''s just that she wished they would either express it in a different manner for once or actually have the cojones to say it to her face. Though she was outwardly reserve, there was a psychotic lady who took on her appearance residing in her mind called, ironically, Insanity. Yes, Insanity was in Sanity. It was better to just accept that this woman was a bit of an oddball... Anyway, coming across Insanity was rare and that was for the best as she wasn''t a polite person, unlike Sanity who always remained cordial no matter how much she disliked you. As for her outward appearance, she was a ''K9'', a dog kin, who was less furry and more human in appearance. The only really distinct dog-like traits she possessed were sharp and pointy ears as well as a rather elegant tail that had a mind of it''s own but was infrequently ever in Sanity''s way. Her face screamed that of a woman who was superior to you in every way. A pointed chin, glasses that were resting on her nose so she could look down at you over the top of them, and combed back hair into a ponytail. She almost looked like a strict teacher but her choice of clothing made her lean more towards a moody secretary as her suit was quite professional. A standard black suit and white shirt were her choice of everyday clothing and it was a good fit too so she rocked it well. If she ever made any effort to smile she would have actually been a considerably attractive woman but smiling was evidently not in the cards now or ever. Contrasting with her dull demeanour, although it couldn''t be seen right now, was her rainbow coloured, psychedelic mana. All of the fundamentals'' mana had a unique property/colour to them and the mind pillar was no different. Ares'' was primarily gold but could also be deep, pulsing red or pitch black, Mako''s was neon, Sanity''s was rainbow coloured and trippy, and Havanah''s was a hearty, shiny bronze. Though they hadn''t been discussed yet, the black pillar''s champion''s mana was inky and the white pillar''s fundamental champion''s mana was scorching hot and flickered like fire.


    Then there was Havanah. A Panthera just like her father but not quite as hairy. She still had some fur around her elbows, knees, back, armpits, and midriff; plus there was a thin tail, sharp fangs, and some black cat ears, but other than that she was mostly human. Her skin tone was a similar shade of bronze to that of Rhea''s, although perhaps a little deeper, but wasn''t particularly lustrous. She was a haphazard go-with-the flow kinda woman who''s skin had been hardened and scarred by countless brawls and scraps. There was a negative chance her skin would ever be clean because she made no effort to keep it smooth or shiny. What was the point when she was just going to get dirty again by the end of the day anyway? Havanah was usually a lazy woman who would randomly become extremely violent, scrappy, and aggressive at the drop of a hat whenever provoked or looking for a fight. She was a bit of a thuggish punk at times and spoke like one too, rolling her ''r''s whenever she got excited. Her black cat ears were more diagonal that vertical and pierced with two small golden rings on each. Her black hair was similar to that of her faither''s in that it closely resembled that of a lion''s. Heavily layered, fairly abundant, and straight. The majority of her hair, however, was hidden beneath a black, peaked, military hat that rested comfortably above her head. gravity magic was at play to prevent it from ever falling so the hat was here to stay even during fights. She also wore glasses in a similar fashion to Sanity but hers were sunglasses and her heterochromatic eyes peeked out slightly over the top. The left eye was bronze and the right burgundy. Both were seemingly minding their own business and not giving a damn about the world around them but, the second a fight kicked off, they would become more distinct and focussed. The same was also true of Havanah''s facial features and general expression. Her face was quite curvy but it was offset by the pointed lashes above her eyes and a few small whiskers that straightened it out a bit. She had a giant scar on the left side of her face that took up about half of it and even covered a part of her eye. She had a mutation on her body in the form of a few, subtle, white markings on her jaw, on either cheek, that were shaped like scratch marks.


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    As for her apparel, she wore a half jacket, half cape sort of piece of clothing. The two layers were distinct as the cropped bronze jacket covered her sides, a part of her chest, her upper shoulders, and came up to her collar where it connected to the cape part of the design. The cape was pure black with a few bronze horizonal stripes and straps in various locations. It came down a little further over her shoulders than the jacket and draped over her upper arm. At the back it came all the way down to below her waist and flowed freely behind her with a small gap for her tail down the middle. Stylish military general was perhaps the most appropriate description for her get up but there was still hints of her oafish nature as the plain white shirt she wore was only buttoned in the middle. The top and bottom few buttons were lazily undone and her belly button and neck bone / parts of her chest were all visible. Whereas Candy intentionally showed off her skin, as it was in her teasing nature to do so, Havanah simply looked like this because doing the buttons was a hassle and made her uncomfortable. her arms were covered in bandages that were hiding her scars. She wore them not because she waw ashamed but just because she liked the feeling of the pressure the bandages created when they were wrapped tight. She also wore a pair of punk, biker gloves with some small bronze chains wrapped around them. Down below she wore plain black trousers and some simple black boots with some golden anklets resting above them. It was quite a busy and flamboyant appearance considering her relatively tame self but it became more fitting when she was going crazy during a bout. Normally she wouldn''t dress like this but the jacket and hat were personal treasures, and really good ones at that, so she acquiesced. She was imposing, awe inspiring, a little off the rails, and could be described as a berserk professional when in her element. She was considerably toned, perhaps more than even Bellona, and she was a curvy woman too. Her legs in particular were bulky and thick as she''d spent a great deal of time training them with her gravity magic. She needed to be able to wield her heavy weapon even without her magic so she frequently strained herself, buffing up her legs and arms to a notable degree.


    Personality wise, she was a casual, layabout drunk usually, kind of like Sadie, but she got quite into it during combat as she bared her fangs and became uncontrollably manic with a dangerous and cocky smile. She didn''t use her fists or claws typically, although she certainly could, but rather the gigantic broadsword floating behind her back was her go to choice of violence administration. The broadsword had a bronze sheen, various white patterns along it, and the aura it possessed indicated it was a powerful treasure not dissimilar to that of Ares'' Primordial Blade. The destruction pillar was not the only one creating legendary weapons for its fundamental champion. Every single champion was currently in possession of one such treasure even if some of them weren''t capable of wielding them yet. Mako''s was quite interesting but he was still working out the kinks in his garage at home and, like Ares, was unable to wield, or rather pilot, it. That being said, Ares was at a significant advantage comparatively now that he also had the Bindings. Plus the Celestial Prisms were on his person too so, in terms of legendary treasures, Ares was acing it currently. That being said, unlike the white, black, reality, and mind pillar champions, he and Mako didn''t yet have any legacy treasures. Havanah''s jacket, hat, and her gloves were both legacy treasures. As for what these kinds of treasures were exactly... It would take Ares a long while to find out. The fundamentals outside the barrier had gotten a LOT of support and their cultivation was far higher than that of Ares or Mako. As such, they''d reached the ''legacy'' cultivation realm very recently, a realm somewhat above transition. Legacy treasures were quite unique but there was no point covering them now as they wouldn''t be relevant for a while... Although Ares did technically have one on his person even if he didn''t know about it. One that would go on to cause him a small bit of trouble in the upcoming months as the original owner was going to come looking for it...


    "Yo pops, ya good?" Havanah''s voice was deep and smooth but her words were elongated and drawling. Her speech was usually a tad quicker than this but she must have been tired from working in the city so she wasn''t putting any effort in to any of the syllables leaving her mouth.


    "Havanah!" Golgo gave his daughter a big hug and smiled contentedly.


    "Ok big guy, it ain''t been that long. What''s gotten into you? Been feeling lonely ''cos everyone else is gone?"


    "Da pagooda clone jus'' got back and ''e ain''t seen no family for ages! I''m sayin'' hello to yous for him!"


    "The pagoda... Yeah that''s right, it was cleared recently by that Ares guy or whatever? I take it you met the two other fundamentals... Any of ''em strong? Not that I mind still being the strongest of the fundamentals but it would be nice to have some competition. Whitey comes close but it ain''t enough to get my engine purring."


    "Ares is good guy, strong too. Me thinks he make good mate for yous."


    "Oh really? Cool. When the pagoda comes back around I''ll give it a go and see if he''s strong enough. Damn, now I''m feeling a little excited. I''ve been wanting a mate for when I go into heat but none of the chumps around here are my kinda style. They''re all way too weak. I''m not giving it up to anyone unless they can beat me in a fair fight, plain and simple... Ares, huh... I''ll remember the name. Actually, I''m surprised you did. You''re not usually any good with names... He musta made an impression then? What about the other fundamental champion?"


    "M... May... May ko... Mayo?"


    "I''ll take that as a ''no'' then." Havanah walked inside the house and turned to gesture to Sanity. "Yo, bitch, why you waiting outside? I told you it''s fine to stay the night." Havanah and Sanity had a sort of love hate relationship with one another and generally got along like cats and dogs... Well they were cats and dogs so maybe that had something to do with it?


    Sanity snarled lightly under her breath before turning to face Golgo. "Sorry to intrude but finding another accommodation this late would be quite the inconvenient task." Posh, wordy, and demeaning, that was Sanity alright. In a way she was quite like Eagerton just without the added literary flair. She was welcomed into the house and promptly walked to the nearest available room to sleep. It was still somewhat early but Sanity was a woman who stuck to her schedule quite rigidly. If nothing else this made her a punctual person and that was a well respected trait by those who had any sort of dealings with her.


    Havanah threw herself onto the sofa, with one leg dangling off it, and started watching some sports with Golgo. She drank beer and burped, lazed around, and occasionally scratched her ass while getting drunk. In other words, she was a sloth. Havanah trilled like a cat as she licked the claws on her hand to clean them before using the claws to clean her teeth and get some food that was stuck in them out. While Havanah acted like a bum, someone knocked on the door so Golgo got up to go answer it. From the bits and bobs of the conversation Havanah could hear from here she knew who it was and what they wanted. Golgo temporarily closed the door and walked back into the room as he spoke to Havanah. "Dem ad-my-ryr-ers is back. Dey want yous to be der mate."


    "Tsk, buncha punks. Fuck ''em..." Havanah expressed her disinterest in putting up with the group of twenty or so Panthera who were looking to mate with a fundamental champion...


    ...


    "... MREWAAOOWWWWWW?!" Havanah leapt of the sofa and landed like a cat on all fours after she was taken by surprise by Golgo who pulled her tail and was currently chuckling at her reaction. "How many times do I gotta tell ya to stop doing that shit?! Leave ma damn tail alone!... What? You want me to go tell them to get lost in person? Why? You aren''t usually this persistent. Usually you let me jus'' ignore ''em. What''s different about today?"


    "''Cos me thinks times-a-changin''. Yous should be cleer wit dem and tell dem yous want nuffin to do wit ''em."


    "I already have! They keep coming back. Even if I smack ''em upside the head they just come back with a concussion! I broke one of their legs and the fucker came crawling after me like some kinda zombie for Christ''s sake!"


    "Maybe yous should tell ''em yous have mate now?"


    "You''re really all in on this Ares fella? That''s unlike you. I don''t think you''ve ever tried to push any of your children a specific way before, especially not when it comes to relationships."


    "Me no push, me just encourage ''cos me thinks yous make good couple. Choice is yous but yous can at leest lie ''bout it for now to get dem off yous back? If fundymental mate with fundymental den dem weaklings back off reel quick me thinks. Better yet, tells ''em if dey beet Ares in pagoda den you think about mate wit dem. Trust me, dey neva win."


    "Hmm, alright. I''ll do that. Maybe I''ll finally get some peace and quiet ''round here. I hope this Ares guy ain''t a disappointment or I''ll seriously slap ya pops!"


    "Heh, no slaps for me den." Golgo snickered as Havanah headed over to the front door. She slammed it open and hissed at the group in front of her.


    "I got a mate already, so checkmate losers. Get gone before I make ya!"


    One of the Panthera raised the obvious question that was on everyone''s mind. He was worried about Havanah lashing out and breaking his other leg but he had to know the answer to his question! "Who''s your mate?" If they could find out, and beat him a duel, Havanah would look upon them more favourably. She valued strength so this was the logical route for them to take.


    "Some guy named Ares. Fundamental champion like me. If you wanna fight him, wait for the pagoda to come back then go challenge his clone."


    "... ''Some guy named Ares''? You''ve never even met him?"


    "Dun need to. If he''s strong, he''s mine. Apparently he''s hella strong so he''s hella mine. Now get lost and quit pestering me you pests!" Havanah slammed the door but not before using some of her bronze gravity magic to lift up the group and toss them aside like a garbage bag. The Panthera men got up and all looked at one another as they knew what needed to be done; Ares needed to be dethroned from the pagoda!... But not before spreading a bit of gossip... There was nothing else to do around here so word spread quickly about rumours and secrets and this was as good a rumour as any. What they didn''t realise, though, was that these rumours about the two dating, or rather mating, fundamental champions would spread like wildfire as info on Ares was hot right now. And thus, by the end of the week, through no fault of his own, Ares had officially become Havanah''s mate as far as the wider world was concerned. Right now, as he was shoving the F.O letter into Mako''s hands, he was blissfully unaware of what would happen over the next couple of days and would remain as such for a good while. Funnily enough, his clone would meet Havanah before he did! The clone would fall in love again before the real Ares even knew he was in love again! Golgo had really outdone himself on the matchmaking front with this one. Maybe being the Panthera king was old news and he should change jobs to become a love guru. Either way he was snickering away on his chair, happy about the chaos he''d wrought even if he didn''t quite understand it.

 Chapter 180: An Amber Ring

    Ares dumped the letter on Mako and ditched him. The guy was about to go foolishly challenge his clone and Ares didn''t need to sit around and wait to find out the result. Rather there was one more thing to do today that he nearly forgot about. Give the sister wives their fine grind blue! The 9 month would go to Enyo and the 11 month would go to Bellona. That might have seemed strange but Bellona was physically stronger and so a better fine grind would do even more for her than it would Enyo. Yes Enyo was the ''favourite'' wife but that didn''t mean there would be favouritism. The wife that was most suited for whatever goodies Ares found would be the one to receive them. Plus even if he tried to hand them out the other way around Enyo wouldn''t let him because she viewed things the same way. In short, today was Bellona''s lucky day as a legendary cultivation resource was about to fall into her lap! That''s not to say Enyo''s wasn''t spectacular as well, it''s just that she didn''t really need it. Her barriers and her shield were more than enough for as is, the fine grind was pretty much just overkill at this point.


    Ares returned home and entered the bedroom where he found Bellona strangling Enyo for whatever reason. Ares didn''t intervene, instead opting to take a seat nearby and let them sort out their issues. Something something Enyo was a whore, Ares had heard it all before. What they were arguing about could, quite frankly, be anything so he pulled out the fine grind blue containers and gave them a once over. The fine grind stored inside them had already been through a full day at the time of storing them so there was no way for them to explode the second he took them out. Now if he took them out and left them for a day they would almost definitely go poof so that was a no go. Thankfully all that meant was that he just had to make the sisters digest it here and now and get it all over and done with... And there was the problem. Ares sighed to himself as he realised he actually was going to have to get involved with their little spat and sperate them otherwise it would probably just go on forever at this rate. No doubt Bellona was the one who''d been wronged somehow so he walked up behind her and gave her a hug... At which point she froze on the spot and sheepishly sunk into his arms for some reason while Enyo was laughing her head off. Ares still didn''t understand what was going on so he made the decision to comfort Bellona by kissing her on the neck but that action somehow only served to make things worse as her face became beet red and her breathing quickened. Little did Ares know, Bellona still had Enyo''s memories of when he took her from behind in the shower and this series of events was exceedingly close to those. Bellona was getting excited at the way Ares was holding her and that just made her embarrassed in turn. Enyo knew all of this and her sides were starting to hurt from cackling at her sister.


    Ares, still not entirely understanding the problem, realised it would be for the best if he stopped holding onto Bellona so let go and changed the topic. "Alright you two, I come bearing gifts. For fine ladies I have fine grind blue. Fitting isn''t it?" Ares put the two containers on top of the bed and double checked they both knew what the resource was exactly. A quick nod of the head prompted him to point at them in turn, explain how many months they''d existed for, and finally tell them which one belonged to which sister.


    "And you?" Enyo was the first to ask but based on Bellona''s expression she was just about to do the same had Enyo not beaten her to it. Both of them were aware Ares hadn''t mentioned himself yet during any of this so if it was a case of him sacrificing benefits for their sake neither would be happy with this outcome.


    "Me? I don''t want ''em. NOT because I want you to have them, it''s just because I have high standards."


    "So do I!" Bellona was miffed about that comment but Ares had baited her into his trap as he had the perfect comeback ready in his head.


    "You married me, no you don''t." It was a bit of a self burn but this was Ares we''re talking about and such a thing basically meant nothing to him. As long as he could take someone down with him he wouldn''t hesitate to pull the trigger on himself. "Anyway, point being, I have my own plans. Even if you don''t want them I won''t be taking them so it''s for the best if you do. Also, I doubt I need to explain why Enyo gets the 9 month fine grind?"


    Enyo shook her head and not a single word was needed so Ares started off by handing the 11 month to Bellona. He popped the lid of the container and an aroma spread through the room that made it feel like everyone had been transported to a beach. The fine grind blue smelled like sea water and was really quite pungent, most likely because of how old it was. The longer a fine grind had existed the more odorous it was. Ares was no scientist but he guessed, correctly, that it was the result of whatever the fine grind was made of aging instead of exploding as it was supposed to. The maturation process for fine grind was something that logically shouldn''t happen too often and the fine grind had long since past its most ripe state. Ripe meant nothing in terms of effectiveness however and only really mattered if you planned on eating the stuff as a hobby. Ares had no idea about this but there were plenty of chefs capable of turning old fine grind into a dish. It was pretty ridiculous that people would waste fine grinds of up to 7, and even sometimes 8 or 9, months just to make a rare dish but some people were eccentric like that. Or in some cases it was just to display their wealth and be a show-off of the highest order. Typically this behaviour was frowned upon but that just made a select group of people want to do it even more. It was the cultivation equivalent of burning stacks of money just to watch the poor people get upset. At least those who liked mana dew actually genuinely really cared about the drink as a product and the not the value it held in annoying others who couldn''t get their hands on it. Of course there were also people who ate fine grind and washed it down with mana dew but those people were just taking things too far. The taste of the two dishes clashed heavily and chefs worth their salt would tell you stupid it was to even attempt such a combination. The mana dew crowd were respectable connoisseurs, the fine grind crowd were assholes, and the mixers of both were posers who wanted a taste of the highlife without actually understanding what it truly entailed!


    Bellona took the container and poured the fine grind down her throat. It had a texture that was similar to Ares'' popping candy but was rougher and tasted infinitely worse. It made her want to go and clean her mouth with some of Ares'' candy but now wasn''t the time for that as she was undergoing an important process that changed her foundation for the better. The fine grind travelled through her body like shifting sandpaper and the pain Bellona felt wasn''t small. Once again, the fine grind being older meant it was more effective and, thus, it hurt more too. Still, the pain was manageable and all Bellona had to do was grit her teeth for a while and she''d be fine. Her nerves, her flesh, her skeleton, her meridians, her organs, her literal everything was washed over by a small tide of blue sand and she could feel her overall power improving rapidly. She felt like her flesh had been replaced with steel and that she could go have a fist fight with a hundred bears and come out on top! The process wasn''t even finished but she ignored the lingering pain and started shadow boxing in glee as throwing her newfound weight round was fun. The wind bent around her fist and her swings were much faster than before. If she threw in some magic things would really get interesting! It was safe to say her strength had more than doubled in the span of five minutes which went to show just how important fine grind truly was. And it''s not like this improvement would stagnate relative to her cultivation as it boosted the increase in strength from all sources forever more. It synergised with her magic flawlessly which, again, was why the 11 month went straight down her gullet instead of Enyo''s. It was more effective on Bellona by a factor of at least five or six just due to the way she operated as a cultivator. Although it wasn''t enough for Bellona to reach Enyo''s level, especially not after she took her own fine grind, but the gap between them had slimmed considerably as a result of today and that made Bellona pleased.


    Ares watched Bellona''s sporadic improvements up until the very end, at which point he nodded his head and looked to the bed. He was going to pick up the other fine grind and give it to Enyo but both the container and Enyo had mysteriously vanished. he was going to turn around and look for her but that was unnecessary as she came creeping up behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest. "Ares... I need a little favour from you." Her hands were going wild on his body and he knew exactly what she wanted but he wasn''t going to bite! No! He''d already promised Bellona he would spend time with her! No! Bad Enyo! Sit!


    "Enyo, nine times out of ten I trust you implicitly. And yet, right now, I do not trust you at all. I highly doubt you need anything from me right now so keep it in your damn pants!"


    "Oh? Well maybe you should trust me ten times out of ten because I really do need you... Or at least the ting in your pants, anyway. See past, Goddess, me just let me in on something very interesting."


    "... The effect of the fine grind will be enhanced if you have sex and dual cultivate while it''s working its magic and enhancing your body?" Ares drew the most logical conclusion from all of this and took a shot in the dark.


    Enyo''s hands started roaming progressively lower. "Aren''t you a smart and handsome man?"


    Ares and Bellona both narrowed their eyes at Enyo as they spoke sideways to one another. "Bellona, do you think this woman is being serious or are we being taken for a ride right now?"


    "Ares, I have no God damn clue. She looks incredibly suspicious but, then again, when she''s like this, that statement is always true... I don''t know if she''s being genuine or if she''s just being a whore again..."


    Enyo licked Ares'' neck and asked him the question that sealed the deal. "Can''t I be a genuine whore?" Yes, yes she could. She wasn''t lying to get sex, she was telling the truth to get it... Also Ares still had his lie detector anyway so he already knew she was being completely honest with him. Under normal circumstances he wouldn''t mind but he promised Bellona damn it!


    Bellona could see the hesitancy in Ares and knew why so she just rolled her head and her eyes and shrugged. "Oh just fuck her already. Use your annihilation enhancement again, put her out of commission quickly, and then come find me in the back garden. I''ll wait."


    "Don''t wanna wait here?" Enyo inquired playfully but was outright ignored as Bellona left the room without another word. Bellona did throw up her middle finger as a sign of protest though. Enyo ignored it and turned her attention back to Ares and begged him in a soft voice to use his enhancement again and, now that he no longer had a reason to refuse, he picked her up while she giggled away and gave her what she was after. Dealing with this woman was impossible if Ares didn''t have a reason to refuse her as she''d learnt how to manipulate pleasure magic and make Ares'' erect and horny. Saying no when he really wanted it took a lot of will power, will power he didn''t always have enough of. It''s not like he didn''t enjoy these bedroom romps anyway so he sort of just folded in situations like this and satisfied both Enyo and himself... Well Enyo could never really be fully satisfied for more than a minute or two before she came back for more but that was just standard Enyo things.


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    Ares dealt with Enyo quickly, tuckered her out with his enhancement, and then ran for the hills. If he hung around long enough she''d get back up on her feet like some kind of undying stamina monster and try and eat him again. Ares beelined straight to the back garden, waving hello and goodbye to everyone else in the house he hadn''t seen in a while, and eventually made it safely outside. Appa and Leo were flying around and playing aerial tag with one another which was incredibly adorable. Ares took a snapshot of this moment and filed it into his brain eternally before walking over to Bellona who was idling away in a corner, throwing more punches. He tapped her on the shoulder and nearly had a heart attack when she was startled and threw a punch in his direction. One of Ares'' infinite lives flashed before his eyes as Bellona''s fist came grinding to a halt right smack bang in front of his nose. A bit of blood trickled out from his nostril but being a revenant meant whatever injury he''d sustained would heal itself back up in due time. Ares thanked his lucky stars because, although realistically he wouldn''t have died, he would have been knocked out at the very least. Without his enhancement Ares was still the same glass cannon he always was. No amount of regeneration would help him if he died in one hit. Bellona apologised and seemed to feel really bad about it but Ares told her not to worry as he would have been fine regardless. If push came to shove he maybe could have even deflected the punch with his pressure so it really wasn''t a problem.


    Ares sat down, looked up at Bellona, winked, and pat his lap in a bid to get her to sit on it. She was still going over Enyo''s memories and was a bit reluctant to wave her rear near that thing but she also wasn''t going to pass up an opportunity to be close with Ares. Once Bellona was seated, Ares leant his chin on her shoulder, so he could see in front where he was casting his magic, and thus the practice was a go! First up, Ares lobbed a Shock Bead in the air and made it go boom. Ares had missed this. For the entire duration of the pagoda challenge he wasn''t able to use his almighty pillar and it felt like a part of him was missing. But it was missing no longer as he kept merrily chucking explosions at the sky while Bellona doubled the size of them. The two were, ironically, having a blast as Shock Beads and Grand Annihilations a plenty were sent spiralling off into the sky. This little play date of theirs also made it abundantly clear to the rest of the sect that Ares had returned because they could see his golden experiments from miles away. In particular, the elders he''d spoken to before running off to the pagoda were happy to have him back as they''d been working on the things he left them with earlier. Of course he was obviously not going to show up today as he was too busy giving Rud PTSD over the destroyed house he had to direct funds towards rebuilding but he would likely come pay them a visit after tomorrow''s match.


    Back in the garden, Bellona had gotten really comfortable doubling Ares'' magic. It had become second nature to reflexively enhance any golden magic she saw and she was starting to cosy up to the idea that supporting her husband was actually rather fun. Ares'' magic was a height she could never reach but having a hand in raising it even further was a special kind of feeling. Knowing that she had the power to make a difference in his life that was meaningful, even though he would have told her that her existence already did that, gave rise to a sort of pride that she cherished. She still wanted to become a legendary figure in her own right, and that wouldn''t change, but maybe dedicating more effort to Ares was more important than she had originally thought. Part of her original requirements for falling in love was someone she could support and maybe the old her really knew what she was talking about. Maybe new Bellona just didn''t want to seem insignificant in comparison to Enyo and she was searching for the wrong thing... Anyway, right now she was in a terrific mood and being able to just peacefully spend time with Ares was important to her and vice versa.


    Time passed and, unfortunately, Ares was starting to run out of mana. He technically had more than Bellona, thanks to his mana dew drink back in the pagoda, but he''d been doing the heavy lifting here. Sure Bellona''s magic costed a lot but not so much it outweighed Ares'' constant onslaught. Ares had been smart though, and calculated how much he had left in the tank perfectly. He''d be a bit tired after this, and cooking dinner was about to become a real slog, but he was going to chuck a Perish Wheel! This one would sail off into the sky and create a lovely sight for all of Red Sun to behold once more. The visitors for the tournament would also get to see it but Ares wasn''t really doing it for them. Actually, Mako would also get to see it, and probably shit himself when he did, but once more he wasn''t the target audience. Bellona was. The start of everything between, the proper start, had really been the moment he first unveiled this art so he felt like this whole situation was fitting for what he planned on doing next. Although it was relatively spur of the moment, ''this'' was something he''d been wanting to do for a while but never really found a good enough opportunity to do so. Was it rushed and unproper? Maybe? But then again, Bellona wasn''t the type to demand some kind of fancy-shmancy treatment so maybe this really was the perfect time for what he was about to do...


    Ares drained the last of his mana and held tightly onto Bellona as the Perish Wheel went soaring and buzzing into the sky. Bellona''s beautiful amber eyes once more followed the Perish Wheel, ready to double it and experience that wonderful view again. It had been implanted firmly in her memory and stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the rest. As far as she was concerned there was something so surreal about its beauty that it trumped any other form of art out there. She''d never really ''gotten'' art but this? This she understood. The Perish Wheel soared into the sky and tore through the clouds before detonating in glorious fashion. This Perish Wheel had been set off horizontally and formed a golden tube in mid air that created a sort of second horizon in the middle of the pre-existing one. Bellona knew which she preferred and wanted to see more of so she lifted her hand and used a considerable amount of mana to double the size of the golden explosion. Seconds later the horizon was now fully cloaked in a golden ray. The sun had been outshone and the clear sky replaced by a destruction light show. Bellona was content to lean back against Ares'' chest and watch it until it sadly faded away but Ares had other plans for this moment. Of course he didn''t stop her from leaning back but he did distract her attention from his Perish Wheel by holding out a ring in front of her, a wedding ring, and asking an important question.


    "Bellona, will you marry me?"


    With a snort, Bellona snatched the ring and put it on her finger. "Took you long enough to ask... Yes. Obviously yes." Bellona tilted her head and shared a kiss with Ares, after which she turned back around and kept watching the ''sunset''.


    "Sorry if it''s not that romantic or anything but I hadn''t really been planning on this. Also, I know you well enough by now to know you aren''t one for anything pointlessly complicated. You''d probably rather just have the ring now instead of constantly eyeing up Enyo''s out of jealousy, right?"


    "... Yeah. You really are too attentive, you know that? Couldn''t you have just pretended not to see it?! It''s embarrassing..."


    Ares chuckled and kissed Bellona''s neck. "Don''t be embarrassed, I think it''s cute. You should have just said it though. I''m surprised you didn''t."


    "I was gonna but I wasn''t sure if you had anything planned. I didn''t want to rush you before you were ready to propose. If I knew you didn''t have anything in mind I would already have mentioned it... Better late than never I guess... It''s beautiful..." Bellona was staring at the Perish Wheel still so Ares mistakenly thought that was what she was on about.


    "Mhm, I knew you liked the Perish Wheel so I thought now was as good a time as any to propose. It''s incredibly causal, I know, but I think that sums up us and our relationship as a whole."


    "I''m not disagreeing with you... But that isn''t what I meant. I was talking about the ring... I love it. Thank you." Bellona was fiddling with the ring on her finger and Ares sighed in relief. Giving the sisters the rings had been less stressful than waiting to see if they liked them or not. Bellona''s ring did look different to Enyo''s but it was just a colour change and nothing more. Ares wanted to signify, through the rings, that every woman who wore this specific ring was his wife but he also wanted to make them stand out a bit from one another. This ring was amber coloured exactly like Bellona''s eyes. It was close to treading on gold, like Enyo''s, but that also made sense in a way as they were sisters after all. The overlap was thematically appropriate but there was still enough of a difference that it made each of them unique.


    "Just as you like the colour of the golden explosions I create, I really love the colour of your eyes. It''s a bit selfish but I picked the colour because it reminds me of you and I like seeing it. I''m not sure if Enyo''s told you this yet but I''m incredibly possessive..." Ares hugged Bellona tight. "... The ring is a reflection of that. It means you''re mine but the reverse is also true." Ares temporarily let go of Bellona to raise his two hands in front of her. "Obviously the ring finger on the dominant hand is already taken by Enyo but you can choose whichever other finger you want."


    "... Then I''ll choose the pinkie finger next to it."


    "Are you sure? You don''t want the ring finger on the other hand? I won''t be changing this in the future..."


    "I appreciate the offer but no. I want to be next to Enyo. I''ll take the little finger next to her because I''m her little sister now and always. It''s a shame I won''t get to be next to Candy but I''m ok with that as it''s not that big a deal really. Besides, someone needs to keep Enyo in check every now and then. She overshadows me in the harem, sure, but Im still her sister at the end of the day. No matter how much our relationship changes that won''t so, if she''s ever going to listen to anyone, it''ll be me. I''ll let her take the spotlight in the harem but that doesn''t mean I won''t be keeping an eye on her."


    "Bellona, no one overshadows anyone..."


    "Bah, that''s not what I meant. I just meant she''s basically the pseudo head and that she''s your ''favourite''. I''m not complaining, I like where things are at right now. Meeting Candy helped me realise that you''re great and all but this is family, not a one man show. It''s ok for all of us to love each other and not be stuck on you like flies on shit... You can be a bit of a shithead sometimes... But you get my point. I want your attention but, even if I can''t always get it for whatever reason, there are still plenty of other people I care about and would be equally as happy to spend time with. So I get it. Enyo is special to you but so are the rest of us. To me, you''re special but so are Enyo and Candy. You don''t need to clarify your position to me anymore because I understand now that I''ve experience it myself... I also understand where Enyo''s coming from too... I think I''ve been infected by her pleasure affinity... I kinda want a piece of Candy, if you catch my drift? If she was just a friend I might have ignored those feelings but being indirectly romantically involved through you has given me an excuse to go further with that fox. Damn, I really am starting to think like Enyo now, huh?" Bellona sighed as the Perish Wheel started to disappear.


    "I don''t know about that, you haven''t tried reaching down my pants yet so I think you''re in the clear."


    "Speaking of which! You delayed your marriage proposal to me so you could bang my sister! The fuck is wrong with you!?"


    "You gave me permission?! Besides, you know I had to do it! This was her foundation we''re talking about here! A once in a lifetime opportunity! I had no choice!"


    "Yeah yeah yeah, no choice my ass! Some real convenient excuses you got there, bucko!" Bellona twisted on Ares'' lap and tackled him to the floor, rolling around on the grass. She already held a massive advantage physically but, now that the fine grind blue had been ingested, she was overwhelmingly more powerful and could pin Ares in any way she liked. She quite happily twisted him like a pretzel, picking various holds that kept his body close to hers, and ended up giving him a kiss every time she swapped positions. This was the kind of relationship she wanted to have with her husband. Sit around, throw some magic at the sky, chat like friends, and roll around a bit. Bellona was a simple woman with simple wants... Unlike Enyo who''s wants demanded a bit more of Ares'' time... The skank was peeking her head around the corner and plotting ways to get involved in their grassy wrestling before the happy couple went Deuteronomy 22:21 on her ass and stoned the whore! Bellona in particular was pretty aggressive with the rocks as Ares was hers right now! She''d already lent him to Enyo for a bit before this so she could sod off! Enyo laughed and ran away from the hail of stones, leaving Bellona and Ares to keep playing around in the garden. Ares could have used his enhancement and turned the tide but he let Bellona have her fun, her way. Just seeing her smile was enough for him. Her pretty amber eyes, the ring, and a cute smile. The marriage proposal wasn''t anything special, but Bellona was.

 Chapter 181: Sadie’s Impromptu Training Session

    Ares and Bellona kept mucking around for a while before getting tired, at which point they took a nap together out on the grass. Ares watched Bellona doze off in his arms and he followed shortly after but not before giving her a kiss on the forehead and whispering the words ''I love you'' into her ear. Whether the smile on her face widening was a result of his affection or not Ares didn''t know but it did have the same effect on his own smile either way. The two peacefully slept together for a few hours before Enyo came over and woke them up. They were underneath a blanket which meant Enyo had probably been keeping an eye on them. This also meant she hadn''t interfered and had just let the two of them share their moment which Ares was grateful for. For all of Enyo''s horny faults she understood the concept of time and place quite well. It wasn''t easy remembering that, underneath Enyo''s freaky fa?ade, there was a actually a well adjusted individual somewhere inside this woman. Ares got up and gave Bellona a hand in getting up too. God knows she needed it as this woman was barely functional after waking up for at least a good few minutes. Ares had once thought she just wasn''t a morning person, turns out she was like this every time she woke up regardless of what time of day it was. Lazy bones! After abandoning Bellona with Enyo, Ares went back to the kitchen to finish getting dinner ready as it was nearly time for everyone to eat. As he was doing so, a certain drunkard came to visit. Leo had opened the front door for Sadie who marched straight into the kitchen. Ares thought she was just here to absorb some food off some plates and get drunk as balls while doing it but, actually, her reason for being here was somewhat different this time! How rare!


    "Ares! You have been gone for a week and that is unacceptable levels of truancy! I know you were technically training but I want to make sure you haven''t been slacking off so I came here today to test you... And I also want you to feed me again because it''s been a while... But that''s just a training fee so I won''t hear any complaints!" The food was very clearly why she was actually here but Ares ignored that and agreed to do some training after dinner with her. She''d been pretty consistent with rounding up the Red Sun team to train whenever they had spare time and her efforts in shaping everyone up was much appreciated. A lot of the combination arts that had been used during the nationals were a direct result of her pushing everyone to their limits and beyond. Though a lot of the improvements had been made on an individual level, Sadie''s training had facilitated a lot of it too. Especially for Li Li, Esme, and Aejaz who all became much more proficient with their weapons, or magic in Esme''s case, of choice. Li Li was stronger and faster while Aejaz was now capable of killing a person in a one on one fight. If the new Aejaz, the one hardened by Sadie''s training, were to go back in time to Crane''s residence, killing the guards that stonewalled him at the time would be more than doable. He could probably have taken on all the guards by himself if anything. His speed had been fantastic to start with and, now that his technique with the Black Ice Acrimony was up to snuff, he was doing extraordinarily well for himself. Of course working for Hans had also cemented his talents via real-life practice. Aejaz was flawlessly assassinating countless targets per week and his record was perfect. Zero failures was impressive and Hans couldn''t believe his eyes. Little ''Jazz was secretly a mass murderer! And a good one at that!


    "Food first, fight after. Not that you''d have it any other way... But don''t get too drunk! I don''t want you making excuses when you lose."


    "Heh, feeling confident are we? I''ll have you know I''ve been training too! Beating me is a pipe dream for you now, Ares, so you best hope I drink or else your loss will be even more embarrassing!"


    Ares shook his head and didn''t elaborate any further. This woman had no idea what was going to hit her... A massive reality check is what. Sadie hadn''t the foggiest what Ares had been up to or where he''d been so she couldn''t even mentally prepare herself for the horror that was about to run her over like a speeding train. The whole ''Veteran beating you silly'' experience was no longer available to her but Ares would replicate it so she wouldn''t feel left out! First came food though. Ares had made some crispy chilli beef for everyone to enjoy so he went ''round rounding up the family and got them all seated. He noticed that Aejaz and Trixie seemed to be a lot closer than before and was able to put two and two together. Thankfully Allie didn''t seem upset about it and was her usual self. Maybe she was preoccupying her thoughts with alchemy instead and that was helping her cope with the homewrecker but, regardless, she seemed to be doing alright in her own way. She''d get used to things soon enough which must have been a massive relief for Aejaz. Naturally he was really happy about this whole situation. Two loving partners and, plus, Ares was back making food again? Life was good for him! He was also almost definitely the second strongest person in this household right now, maybe tied with Enyo, but still succeeding as a cultivator no matter which way you sliced it. He hadn''t been the centre of attention in a while but he was working hard in the background to become the kind of man he had always wanted to be. The Baja and snatcher town sagas must have really lit a fire under his ass and pressured him to get a move on.


    The meal was good and everyone enjoyed chatting away with one another. In particular Ares made an effort to get to know Trixie a bit better because he hadn''t really had a chance to speak to her as of yet. What with the situation during the party when he was helping Aejaz, the international, and the pagoda, he hadn''t greeted her properly or taken the time to get to know her. A few short talks during the banquets were good and all but he was also trying to spend time with the Legion and Umbra Wolf families more than anything else. Trixie was an interesting and clever woman. She always seemed to be thinking multiple steps ahead about what course she needed to take to get her desired result. She was similar to Fate in that regard but, whereas she was worse at manipulating situations, she was better at handling actual people. She had a good eye for deducing personalities and expected behavioural patterns in others. It was part of why she''d been so successful in winning over Allie as she''d gone all out in profiling her and catering to her sympathetic side. It had taken a while to unearth but she knew where to find it and that was the key to her hard-earned victory. Apparently Enyo and Bellona were on good enough terms with Trixie as they''d been getting to know her too, while Ares had been inside the pagoda, and they''d even brought her along with them when they went clothes shopping. Her and Lacy had both been invited. Or rather Enyo and Bellona were feeling sorry for Lacy as she''d been kinda trapped in the house since she arrived so they offered her a chance to be free for a while and, at that point, adding Trixie was the right thing to do. Lacy had picked out something she liked and Trixie just stuck with her usual clothes, plain black from head to toe aside from a picture of a cute kitten on her top. Surprisingly, Trixie was actually a solid undercover agent if she needed to be, and part of it was that she was good with disguises, but she chose not to expand her wardrobe for that precise reason. Trixie had a lot of clothes, she just didn''t like wearing them and only put them on when she felt she had to. Lately she''d only been wearing them when working alongside Aejaz to help him get intel on trickier targets to approach. That or, again, with Aejaz just this time in the bedroom. There were a lot of work outfits and that was useful for cosplay which she didn''t mind in the slightest. It was one of the few times she actively enjoyed putting them on. Granted they typically came right back off but such was the way of life. Once Enyo learned of this wardrobe she became incredibly jealous and demanded to know where Trixie had gotten her hand on these outfits...


    Ares also made an effort to drag Lacy into the conversation while he was talking with Trixie as she was a cute kid. She was quiet, and stuck to herself regularly, but she was a kindly soul and yet another person Ares could run around giving head pats to whenever he wanted. He and Bellona would do it frequently as their appreciation for cute things and/or people was truly boundless. In that sense, Ares missed having Fate around. Her pouty reactions to head pats were always enough to put a smile on Ares'' face. His family were doing their own thing now though. They''d been competing during the tournament and were still making good headway. It looked ever more likely that there was going to be a fight between the Legion and Umbra Wolves, which would be one hell of a sight, so they were currently training somewhere or other with Calla overseeing their practice. Ares had no clue who was more likely to win as, from a completely ignorant standpoint of their respective abilities, it seemed even. Naturally Enyo and Blo Blo would scramble that balance but they weren''t competing so it didn''t matter. The fight between them was shaping up to be the first true nail-biter of the tournament as, right now, the weak teams were still being dusted off by the powerhouses. Usually the competition was a bit closer at this stage of the tournament but this year a select few teams were just completely stacked. Aejaz'' family, the Red Sun team, the Legions, Mako''s team, and the Umbra Wolves'' team were like giants let loose atop ant farms, stomping the helpless opposition. Only when fighting amongst themselves would they start to be felled but it had yet to happen and so they were currently running rampant and uncontested.


    Anyway, back on topic, Lacy. The one thing Lacy had bought on her outing with the Legion sisters and Trixie had been a rather genius suggestion from Bellona... A onesie! It was black and white with bear ears and, although Ares had yet to see it, he knew her cuteness levels would be off the charts! As an aside, Bellona and Enyo had also bought their own onesies but Ares had yet to see them either. He would likely start seeing them soon though now that they were both sleeping in the same room as him as Bellona supposedly wore hers frequently and Enyo would probably get off on matching with her because... Well... Enyo things? More than anything, Enyo''d probably wanna swap onesies with her sister and wear each other''s clothes. That was almost definitely her real goal, feeling her sister''s warmth from a freshly worn onesie... Well that was Bellona''s problem. Ares could safely ignore it for now; at least up until Enyo started wearing onesies during their romps, anyway, then he''d be dragged into it intentions be damned.


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    As far as night-time allocation of bedrooms went, now that Bellona was making the switch and joining her fellow wife and husband, her sister and brother... Which was an awful way of wording it... That meant there was now a free bedroom for guests and so they could host more people on the regular. Also, as Trixie was in Aejaz'' room now it left Lacy by her lonesome but, luckily, Appa was an easy to please shade and was more than happy to have some company no matter who it was. To that end, Appa went searching for cuddles and wound up in Lacy''s room more than anyone else''s as everyone else was busy being intimate. It was unfortunate for Appa but this was just the way things were right now. Of course every now and then somebody would keep it in their pants for the night and cuddle with Appa but, for the most part, it was either Leo or Lacy Appa slept next to now a days. The best case scenario for Appa was when one of the matriarchs came around for a night as then it usually had their undivided attention and was spoiled rotten. Calla and Rhea especially were very generous with their time so Appa was always in a good mood whenever they were around... Although Appa was almost always in a good mood anyway. It only ever really got upset when people were hurt or attacked and that hadn''t happened much as of late. The last time it had gotten mad was during the party when Sho and his family were being ''meanies'' to Aejaz but Ares was already on the scene sorting things out so it watched from the side-lines.


    Dinner eventually came to and end and Ares felt a bit more comfortable around Lacy and Trixie after getting to know them a little better. It had been fruitful spending time with these two as they were going to be living here from now on, and they were Aejaz'' family, so it just made everything more cohesive in terms of the family unit getting along swimmingly. Not to be arrogant or anything but Ares was the lynchpin of this household as he acted like the glue between all the different families. It was a role he took very seriously and so he wouldn''t be caught dead slacking with anyone. If he hadn''t made an effort to get to know someone, he would do so as soon as his schedule permitted it.


    A few washed plates later and Ares was heading to the back garden for his appointment with Sadie. It seemed she''d wisely heeded Ares'' advice to not get drunk... Tipsy technically wasn''t drunk! Or that was her argument, anyway... She basically didn''t suffer any cognitive setbacks when tipsy so this was fine. Sadie had gotten intoxicated so many times it was starting to have less effect on her, like someone who trained their body on poisons to become immune. She could control it to some extent, and allow herself to get drunk or prevent it, which was a handy talent for situations like this. She would train, and then she would let the drunkenness take her after! For now though, she was being wary. Despite her snark Sadie knew better than to flaunt her power before Ares. She''d been thoroughly humiliated the first time they trained and she was aware Ares was no simple cultivator. Sadie talked a big game earlier but, deep down, she was definitely scared of what Ares had in store for her. If he wasn''t bluffing then she was really going to be put through the ringer here. Remaining confident in the face of a confident Ares, knowing now what kind of devil he was, was a tough challenge. Ares wasn''t an exaggerator so if he was assured of his victory then all of Sadie''s gusto would inevitably vanish. All she could do was hope Ares'' advancements in his cultivation journey weren''t so significant her own training couldn''t keep up. If she could at least put up a respectable fight then her pride would remain undamaged! It was bad enough that, when she lowered her cultivation, she had to still leave it a whole realm ahead of Ares just to contend with him... If it got any worse Sadie might cry on the couch tonight! She wasn''t above it!


    Ares set up the Training Field and it was a small one at that. There wasn''t much room in the garden but going all the way to the sect''s proper training area would be time consuming for no good reason. Also they wouldn''t disturb anyone here. If Ares was going to whip out his Annihilation enhancement he was already going to kick up a fuss in the neighbourhood as is, let alone the people he would worry if he unleashed it right in the centre of the sect. All Ares could try and do was use the enhancement for as short a duration as possible so as not ro raise security concerns. Then again, he''d already thrown a Perish Wheel at the sun today so maybe the elder''s would be able to just ignore his actions and treat it as Ares being annoying as per usual? Well if Rud showed up, then Rud showed up. There was nothing else for it as Sadie had to be taught a lesson right about now. This damn freeloader had been nicking his plates while he wasn''t here! Ares thought he was going crazy when he was searching for them in the kitchen but Enyo ratted Sadie out and Ares was pissed! He kept in his burning rage until this moment and now it was time to put this Aejaz wannabee in her place!


    Standing opposite one another had become a familiar position for these two as countless matches of theirs had started in such a fashion. Unfortunately for Sadie, however, this position was on that Ares had been conditioned by as of late and it was going to be a real problem for her. See Ares had been having this exact same stare down with Veteran for the past week and so Ares was subconsciously treating Sadie like some kind of legendary foe in his head. He wasn''t going to hold back because he was genuinely expecting a bit of pushback from Sadie. His miscalculation here was that A; Sadie had no pressure mastery to speak of and B; she wasn''t a legendary cultivator. Strong, sure, but not quite there yet. If Veteran had an advantage of ten cultivation stages he could have put up a fight but Sadie? Would she be able to hack it? Could she stand strong against Ares? The short answer was no and the long answer was noooooooooooooooo.


    Sadie''s habit of letting Ares make the first move was only going to exacerbate her loss tenfold. Her approach of wait and see followed by a counter was great and all but when the gulf between you and your opponent was so wide you couldn''t even react to their attacks doing this was the height of stupidity. Now in Sadie''s defence, she had no idea how ridiculous Ares had gotten. No one did. Even Enyo and Bellona, who were watching on the side, had no clue what exactly it was Ares had become. Enyo never made it to the fifth floor and only experienced partial annihilation enhancement in the bathroom as Ares only used it one specific part of his body... Sadie never even entered the pagoda so she was blissfully unaware just what it was Ares had been through and accomplished. Bellona, on the other hand, was at least partially aware as she''d made it to floor five... She gave up after five tries... It was so far out of her league she didn''t even want to sit around and watch Ares because she wouldn''t be able to even follow the fight with her eyes and so it was pointless. Bellona was astonished Ares had actually beaten Veteran somehow and was curious to see what his time in the pagoda had changed about him precisely. All she knew was that Ares had become a monstrous cultivator and, although it wasn''t much, it was still more than Enyo or Sadie knew.


    Ares could tell he was being given the first move and that felt off to him. Back in the pagoda Veteran just ran away immediately every time so he viewed Sadie''s decision as amateurish. Again it wasn''t her fault... But Ares couldn''t help but tut out loud. Sadie heard it and was about to complain but she was unable to open her mouth because she was already dead and in the process of being revived...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    No one had seen it.


    One second Ares was standing still, the next Sadie had a bloody hole where her face once was. Ares had clearly moved forward and punched her at some point but when? No one knew. It was like watching a slideshow. There was clearly a gap in what happened on slide one and slide two that their eyes were just incapable of catching. They definitely knew Ares had done something, though, as the golden wave that appeared for a split second and dulled their sense made that very apparent. Everyone in the neighbourhood felt as though they''d been thrust into a golden vault and spun around a thousand times. Being hit by the wave for a split second was nauseating. From a sensory perspective Ares had just run up to everyone and smacked them across the face with a gold bar like it was a baseball bat. The heaviness and sluggishness the golden annihilation enhancement brought about was still lingering even though Ares had already turned it off. Meanwhile Sadie had revived and fell on her rear as her head was spinning and she felt dizzy. The punch had been so intense she''d resurrected into a new body and could still feel the hole in her old face. Her hands were touching her face repeatedly as the phantom pain was an unusual sensation she couldn''t quite wrap her head around. Shock and awe was the name of the game and Sadie felt it multiple times worse than everyone else as she''d been directly on the receiving end. She didn''t understand what had been done to her but all she knew was that she didn''t want to fight Ares again. Veteran had been turned into a coward upon experiencing this and so it was no surprise anyone else who was weaker than him would feel the same way, if not worse. Having both your legs cut off and having to crawl away from a violent, cannibalistic bear was less of a frightening scenario than going up against Ares in that form. Sadie stumbled to her feet and had to hold onto the nearby fence so as not to fall over.


    Ares gave her a minute to recuperate from the colossal beating she''d just received before calling out to her when she looked a little less pale. "That was probably a bit much for you to handle? I''ll use the weaker version and remove the treasure to make it slightly more fair." Ares had the bindings on, increasing the pressure available to him, and he went with annihilation pressure off the bat. Clearly he should have started with normal pressure enhancement, the silver variety, and taken off the bindings from the get go as this was overkill. Then again, this plate thief needed to be taught some damn manners! Earlier he gave her dessert, now she was getting just deserts! Next time this woman crept into his kitchen and looked at one of his plates with mal intent, he hoped the death she''d just suffered would repeat on her head in high definition! She needed to be dissuaded from ever going anywhere near his plates ever again and this was the solution he''d come up with! Still, now it was time to have an actual fight with her. This was supposed to still be training no matter how one-sided that last ''fight'' was.


    And so Ares trained with Sadie... And the word ''trained'' was used lightly as Sadie didn''t land a single hit on Ares the entire time they went at it... One whole cultivation realm wasn''t enough to even land a hit against Ares at his absolute weakest level of enhancement so the training session was ended early with Sadie feeling incredibly dejected...


    As Ares, Bellona, and Enyo went to sleep together that night, they could have sworn they heard drunken sobbing coming from the couch in the living room...

 Chapter 182: Downtime

    Yesterday had been a real showy day for Ares. With both the Perish Wheel and the brief usage of annihilation enhancement he''d seriously drawn a lot of attention. the Perish Wheel had caused a right ruckus in Red Sun as scores of people were reporting the sighting to various officials... The poor officials could obviously see the damn thing themselves! They weren''t blind! They had to patiently, very patiently, explain to a horde of people that the cause was a certain explosive cultivator. After clarifying, they would sit back in their seats, sigh in relief, and then have to do it again not even five minutes later when another group came demanding answers. Every time Ares used Perish Wheel there was always at least one or two people new in town asking about it but now that the international was underway the officials were being swarmed! Thankfully the hubbub died down towards the end of the day as rumours spread quite quickly. Anyone who still had any doubts about Ares being a proper fundamental champion like Mako were obliterated on the spot. Between the pagoda clone and the Perish Wheel he''d cemented himself as an up and coming prodigy without a shadow of a doubt. A lot of people were very excited to see his match today for sure.


    As for the stir he caused with his annihilation enhancement, a number of disciples had shat themselves yesterday. Just as the Red Sun officials had to explain away the Wheel, the Heaven''s Path elders had a similar task but theirs was far less enviable... They were familiar enough with the now-infamous golden colour to know who was responsible but they had no idea what exactly it was he did so the explanations they gave were lacking in many ways. The disciples weren''t satisfied and got quite loud about it, worrying for their own safety until Rud had to come out and personally shoo everyone away. He didn''t clarify anything he just threatened to lower everyone''s weekly stardust income and that was seemingly more than enough to make the crowd run away in fear. As per usual Rud had his methods, despicable though they were. Still, if the disciples were more afraid of losing income than the golden outburst then it just went to show they weren''t really that fussed. They were just more so interested in what Ares was up to now. Last time they took their eyes off him he came back and started flying through the air. Now that he''d returned after a five day absence he was doing God knows what and the disciples were interested!


    As for the man in question, he was currently in his own heaven, surrounded by his two loving wives on either side of him. They were still asleep but Ares was happy to just lie between them and bask in the moment. He''d long since discarded his reservations about the harem and he was now just leaning into it and enjoying it for what it was worth. Having two wonderful women by his side was a refreshing way to start the morning, that was for sure. It was hard earned too as he had to wrestle with Enyo yesterday night to even get this spot. In the end Ares promised her she would get to be in the centre next time to which she begrudgingly accepted. Now Ares was reaping the reward of his insistence and relaxing with his arms around both Bellona and Enyo. Having them both lean on him as they slept was a fantastic feeling and he wished it would last forever. They were so peaceful... No headbutting, no sex pest-ing, just two lovely women resting with their husband.


    Ares felt movement to his left so he looked over and gave Bellona and good morning kiss. He couldn''t get over how funny her struggling to open her eyes were. It gave him a chuckle every time he saw it. As she was blinded by her own laziness Ares could keep pecking away at her while she groaned and feebly waved her hands around to try and push him away. A minute or so later she eventually managed to lift up one of her eyelids and, with her new found eyesight, went on the offensive. She planted both her hands on Ares face and dragged herself towards him, giving him a passionate kiss to shut him up for a while. Satisfied, Ares stopped hassling her and watched her rub her eyes until she was finally ''awake''. She stretched, yawned, and leant further up on Ares, near his shoulder. With a soft stroke on Ares'' face she quietly whispered "Good morning, husband". Bellona despite her earlier flailing, liked waking up to Ares being generous with his affection. To that end she was trying to be quiet and not wake the sleeping beast on his other arm otherwise she too would demand attention. Unfortunately, Enyo''s head came peeking over Ares'' chest with a smug grin and Bellona knew her fun time was over.


    Enyo mimicked Bellona''s position on Ares'' other shoulder and stared a hole into the back of his head as he continued staring at Bellona. Ares knew the second he gave her any attention Bellona was going to struggle to get any... "OW!" Ares rubbed the back of his neck after he felt a pair of teeth sink into it. Enyo bit him! Reflexively, Ares made the mistake of turning his head to face the demoness and his lips were stolen from him in an instant. Bellona wasn''t the only one who liked smooches in the morning. In fact, this was why Enyo had wanted to be in the middle. She viewed Bellona''s morning struggles in the same light as Ares and had wanted to take advantage just as he had! She''d been robbed so now she was robbing Ares from Bellona. Bellona wasn''t having it, though. She wanted her husband back so she pushed herself upwards before planting her palm on Enyo''s face and forcibly removing the leech from Ares'' mouth. She then pulled him in and went for another kiss. Bellona expected Enyo to fight back but little did she realise Ares wasn''t the target anymore. Ares was pushed out of the way like a ragdoll and Bellona was assaulted by Enyo who was leaping over Ares'' obstructing body and rugby tackling her. Bellona was only still barely ''awake'' and didn''t have the strength to remove the menace so she was at her sister''s mercy. Ares was rubbing his head, as it had banged against a wall when Enyo shoved him, and couldn''t believe his eyes. This was the first time he''d seen Enyo and Bellona go at it and there was some serious feistiness in their relationship. Enyo was gripping Bellona''s head to prevent her from escaping as she invaded Bellona with her tongue. Ares was a hotblooded man and so a certain friend of his downstairs had also just woken up. It wasn''t his fault! He couldn''t control it! But watching Enyo and Bellona make out was pretty hot, honestly. Enyo wasn''t even using her magic on him this time it was just all natural male instinct hammering away at Ares psyche and screaming at him to get involved.


    Ares was a patient man and, although his willpower could occasionally be lacking, it was pretty respectable in its own right. He was able to lean back, close his eyes, and take a few deep breaths which calmed him down... And then he felt someone gunning for his junk under his boxers and now it was all for naught. Enyo''s sixth sense must have kicked in, informing her Ares was on the same wavelength as her, and now she was pouncing on him instead. Him trying to run away from his sexual urges by becoming some kind of meditating monk was not permitted in Enyo''s bedroom, no sir! Debauchery was what the purpose of this room was! And here Ares thought it was for sleeping and cuddling... What a naive fool! The price for his incorrect assumption was having Enyo orally pleasure him but, in some ways, he wasn''t the one enjoying this the most... Well Enyo was definitely getting a massive kick out of it too, because she always did, but it wasn''t her either that was really getting into it. All the kissing earlier had flipped the switch on Bellona''s libido too and she had her hands down her pyjamas as she watched Enyo''s head and tongue work hard. This was something she was very interested in, after all. Enyo must have specifically picked this particular act for her sake more than anyone else''s in this room as Bellona wanted to do this to Ares too. The morning was turning into a watch and learn session but Bellona was struggling with the latter half of the equation as she was distracted by her own pleasure.


    Really the biggest winner here was Ares and he was well aware of that. He did kinda miss the peaceful start to the morning but he would be an idiot if he complained about this situation. To finish up, Enyo quickened her pace to push Ares over the edge. Ares decided to make full use of the fact that this was a harem, and not just some voyeurism enabling symposium, by reaching over and kissing Bellona while she was playing with herself. Ares'' habit of climaxing while tonguing his wives was well understood by Bellona, as she''d heard about it in extensive detail from Enyo, so she opened her mouth and gave him free reign to do as he pleased. The sound of his deep grunt as the throes of orgasm took him also helped Bellona reach her own happy ending too. Unusually, in all of this, Enyo was the only one who didn''t get to partake in the euphoria. She''d been quite selfless so, while Bellona sheepishly left the room to go get changed, Ares went down on Enyo in return. This devolved into penetration but Enyo had sneakily used her magic on Ares to get things to this point so it wasn''t his fault! No matter how much he denied it though, he was, in fact, the reason this was happening. He started the kissing frenzy earlier and doing that around Enyo was practically begging for trouble. Anyway, Ares was glad today happened, and not just because it felt good, obviously, but also because it marked a step up in the relationship between all three of them. Sexual acts in the company of one another was a first and it meant things were progressing smoothly. If, at this stage, Bellona still tried to hide from these situations then Ares was worried he was going to have another long conversation with her about what being a wife in a harem meant exactly but it seemed that wasn''t the case. What happened with Trixie, as Enyo had informed him about her cunningness, and Candy had been massively beneficial for Bellona''s mentality on this matter. So much so that, on the way out of the room, Bellona didn''t even hesitate to kiss Ares one final time while he was deep inside Enyo. Then again, Bellona was a woman who handled shame and embarrassing situations well so her ability to do as such wasn''t too surprising. It wouldn''t take her long to stop feeling shame at such acts but, until then, she would keep soldiering on regardless. It was a talent of hers that Ares respected a great deal, actually.


    Ares Shifted out of the room after the fun was over because if he stayed around too long the fun would never end. There was a match today and, although it was a completely insignificant one, Ares still had to be there. He had confidence in Aejaz to win on his own if he needed to but there was something only Ares could himself could do related to the cheater runes so he was making sure to attend personally. With his Omniscience he could out them for their behaviour and make them pay a price. Ares himself didn''t care too much, as it didn''t affect him in the slightest, but the reputations of the teams that lost to them were still declining even to this day. People only felt sorry for them for so long and, after a while, the dissatisfaction would set in. Clearing the record and setting it straight would take him all of a few seconds so he figured he might as well. Plus it would be a reputation booster and Mako wasn''t the only one taking such things into consideration. Ares had simply prioritised the wider world first but, now that that was taken care of, his immediate surroundings were next. His Perish Wheel in broad daylight was a good start but it wasn''t even remotely enough and, so, he would use today to push things along even further.


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    The cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of his showcase would come on the final day of the tournament when he went up against Mako, as he would use everything in his arsenal, but that didn''t make anything that happened until then pointless. The only day in which nothing important would happen, predictively, was his next fight. Today was the unveiling of annihilation enhancement, as there was no way his clone needed to use it in the pagoda against the weaklings in and around Red Sun, and the match after the next one was Aejaz Vs his family. The next match, after the iciclops group, was looking like it was going to be against a bunch of aevysqualls from Akarala; an isolated, mostly tribal, region to the south. Ares was interested in the place for various reasons but, if he decided to go there, he wouldn''t do it for a while so he didn''t dwell on it. Right now his main concern were the opponents from the region and, honestly, they were nothing too special. Decent but not one of the main contenders of the tournament. Ares assumed it would be a boring match with nothing of interest happening. Technically he was right as the match itself would be boring but, little did he know, there was a plot in the works that would spice things up a bit. Anyway, the point was that today''s match was important, the next one wasn''t, and the one after was for Aejaz not Ares. Then it would be the finale with Mako where Ares would put almost all his cards on the table. The only ace hidden up his sleeve were the Canis Stimulants but that wasn''t permitted during the tournament so up his sleeve it would stay.


    Ares went about making breakfast in the usual way. Appa did float in and ask Ares if he''d been ''bad'' as of late. Neither Bellona nor Enyo had asked Appa to freeze him in a while and it was wondering what was up in that regard. Ares chuckled and told Appa he''d been good for once but it didn''t believe him and froze him on the spot anyway... Appa truly believed Ares was so evil he''d somehow duped the sisters and was being bad behind their backs. Appa''s self-righteous punishment was based on gut instinct at this point! Ares was going to have to reprimand his child! Randomly freezing people was unacceptable behaviour!... Unless Appa was doing it to Mako, Trew, Leo, or Rud, in which case he''d allow it!


    Ares was eventually freed by Allie who used her alchemy flames to thaw him out. Ares thanked her and they chatted for a bit about how she was feeling in regards to the Trixie situation. She said she felt better about it the more days went by and Ares gave her head pats for being a good sport. He knew the position Aejaz was in was a good one and that he was probably enjoying himself to the utmost so Ares thanked Allie on his behalf. Although his brother was a carefree shmuck it''s not like he''d lived an easy life thus far so seeing him in a good mood as of late was reassuring for Ares that things for the both them were great currently. Allie not making things hard and going with the flow was incredibly mature because, unlike Enyo, she hadn''t been up for this from the start. Things weren''t perfect, as Allie did make the occasional mean spirited comment to Trixie on instinct, but the amount of times that happened was lowering. Ares was actually shocked Allie had it in her to be impolite! He thought she was a munchkin but it seemed she had some gremlin DNA in her yet! It also meant she was protective of Aejaz and Ares was glad to see it. It was a good relationship and looked to be a long lasting one. Ares'' wives would go through the strictest vetting process known to man, AKA Enyo, so there was basically no chance any of his relationships would ever fall flat because of how genuine they were but the same couldn''t be said for anyone else. There was no guarantee Allie and Aejaz would have remained together long term in spite of their intentions but that didn''t appear to be a concern. Their relationship was still smooth sailing even now and their love for each other hadn''t dimmed a day since they became a couple. Aejaz was still stealing rare ingredients for her and they were still occasionally going out on dates here and there. It was a quiet but pleasant life for them. Trixie spiced things up by throwing a wrench in their future plans but Allie and Aejaz'' relationship remained mostly the same even with the new addition.


    Ares served breakfast and made sure to interrogate Sadie about the location of his damn plates! There were still enough for day to day use but if he needed to host another impromptu get together he would be screwed! Screwed! Ares lecture was lengthy but Sadie meekly took it like a champ. The beating yesterday really made it hit home just how crazy the fundamental champions were and that, no matter how much she trained, there would always be an Ares'' shaped wall in front of her that she wouldn''t overcome. In the end, Sadie managed to negotiate with Ares. She offered to bring back all the plates she currently had in her possession, washed, and not take too many at once from now on provided Ares taught her how to use pressure. She missed out on the pagoda but clearly it was an important step for cultivators to be taking. Dominus, in Ares'' head, agreed this was the logical next step for her so Ares went along with it and told her he would devote some time during their training to helping her learn. He was just going to end up making her do the same trials he''d done but there was a reason for that... They were good trials! They covered everything a cultivator needed to know about pressure in five easy steps! Ares didn''t have the specialised metal the pagoda used but he could figure out a replacement of some kind. His crash course would be like a budget pagoda but what really mattered were the teachings and the teacher. Ares was basically the number one pressure master in the world currently so he didn''t want to hear a lick outta Sadie! Even if Dominus himself took over she wouldn''t learn as much as she would from Ares!... Unless he taught her other stuff like weapon mastery or other small tricks he knew but that wasn''t the goal here! Long story short, Sadie was in capable hands... Although it did feel weird calling an idiot like Ares ''capable''. Capable of annoying people, yeah, sure, maybe... Then again, he hadn''t been too much of a nuisance as of late, at least not to anyone in the household. Mr Peacock and Veteran had gotten the worst of his snark recently.


    After breakfast, everyone made their way to the Scorched Grounds coliseum. Ares noticed that every single one of his matches so far had been early in the morning and he kinda wished some of the others would be later in the day now that he was sleeping with both sisters. Playing around in the morning was a fun and fresh experience and he wanted to savour it. Now, was the C.O going to entertain Ares'' preferences just so he could get his leg over? Obviously not. But still, a man could dream. The group parted ways and, for the first time in a while, Ares met up with Li Li and Esme who were quick to question the golden wave yesterday. Ares simply chuckled and told them they could wait and see it in full today if they were really that curious. The conversation topic shifted and Ares learnt that Esme and Onno were officially a thing now a days. That and Li Li and Dirk would be getting married soon. It would be good optics for the clans to wed the two, and both of the involved individuals also wanted it, so everyone was in agreement about the event. The sooner the better was the general consensus of all involved parties and so it would be happening relatively soon, shortly after the international finished. Ares congratulated them and was even invited provided he didn''t blow the venue up. It seemed like an open event and anyone who was in Red Sun, that had some fame to their name, was allowed to attend. The wedding was personal, yes, but the symbolism of the clan''s union was more important on a wider scale so that took precedence. Of course Li Li and Dirk, being the kin of the patriarchs, were asked if they were ok with it first and foremost but they gave their permission quite readily as they didn''t mind. If it had been any Tom, Dick, or Harry from the clans then they wouldn''t have even had a say in the matter.


    After a short wait it was time for the Red Sun team to make their way out into the arena so they grouped up and did precisely that. The cheers for their arrival this time was an interesting mix. Some people were elated at Ares'' presence here, namely those who supported Red Sun. Some people were disappointed, namely those who supported the Iciclops group as they were terrified of Ares. Some were curious to see Ares in action as the rumours about him were all over the place. Some wanted to see the Perish Wheel from a front row seat. Some were still booing because the various holes in Ares'' personality didn''t just magically disappear for them. Ares had been absent in the last match and some people weren''t quick to forgive even if they''d won soundly without him. Lots of people had lots of opinions but, overall, it seemed to lean more towards positive than negative on the vibe check. Things would skew more heavily in his favour the more he showed off so he was content with where things were at now.


    Up on the top floor of the coliseum, Sadie and co had just finished making their way to their seats next to the matriarchs and the Legion / Umbra Wolf children. Recently, they''d all been making an effort to not brawl with each other on sight. Ares, Enyo, and Bellona''s whole shtick had changed the nature of their relations so they were attempting to be cordial even though they had a match coming up against each other soon. Amongst the hubbub, Rhea noticed Sadie was feeling a little down. It wasn''t obvious, it''s just that Rhea was very familiar with her drinking buddy and could tell she wasn''t quite right as rain. Rhea poked her in the arm. "What''s with the long face? Ran out of alcohol? Missing Aym again? Ran out of plates? All of the above?"


    Sadie sighed. "No... Well I have run out of plates now that Ares is on my case again but that''s not the problem here... The bastard''s gotten a lot stronger and I can''t compete against him anymore without raising my cultivation at least two whole realms above his... Maybe then I would stand a chance?"


    "It''s gotten that bad?! I know he was training in the pagoda, and that something supposedly huge happened with it, but I haven''t been there myself yet... Is he really that strong now?"


    "... I didn''t land a single hit yesterday and we fought for a good few hours..."


    "Not one in multiple hours?!" Rhea, and the other matriarchs who were listening in, all reeled in shock. Whatever the hell that pagoda was had clearly turned Ares into a real menace. They all redirected their attention back towards the arena because they wanted to see what Ares was up to. Maybe they should go and visit that pagoda? If Ares was whooping that much ass then they might be able to learn a thing or two as well...

 Chapter 183: Handicapping to Even the Odds

    Before the match started, Mako showed up and was grumbling to himself as he took a seat next to Serene. Terros sighed as he understood it was going to take Mako a long time to get over this hump. Getting beaten so one-sidedly by the Ares clone wasn''t easy to digest. There were no exaggerations in Ares'' words when he warned Mako beating him would be impossible. Terros estimated that Mako hadn''t even seen half of what Ares was capable of despite hitting his own limit. There was no way to raise Mako''s enhancement any more and there was no longer any passive pressure leakage so it was a matter of skill. It''s not even like Mako could claim Ares had more experience because it was only a day extra and nothing akin to the difference between him and Veteran. Ares started at roughly the same time as Mako and yet was infinitely more talented. Off to the side, Serene saw the dejection emanating from her son and nudged Terros in a bid to ask what was up. "The Ares clone in the pagoda is unbeatable and there''s nothing Mako can do about it."


    "That''s not true!..." Mako kissed his teeth and yelled in defiance despite knowing it was all truer than true. "I just don''t have the tools to beat him right now... If I find some pressure related treasures I''m sure it would be possible!"


    Terros looked at Serene as Serene looked at Terros. Serene trusted Terro''s opinion on the matter than Mako''s because she knew well of her son''s bias. When Terros shook his head, or rather rotated side to side, Serene also sighed before turning her head back to the arena. In situations like this it was actually better to just let Mako brood and either get over the problem in his own time or come up with a solution. If Ares was unbeatable via pressure then Mako''s logical conclusion would just be to not fight him on home turf. Mako should never be engaging in close quarters combat anyway and Terros had been hinting at that for some time now. Mako was stubborn and would inevitably cling to the idea of beating out Ares'' enhancement until the day of the fight. Then he would value the win more than his stupid idea and make a concession to give up on it. That was just how Mako operated; deny reality up until it would be costly to keep doing it, at which point he accepted the uncomfortable truth. He was a respectable kind of delusional because he at least saw the proverbial light when it truly mattered. Maybe ''delusional'' wasn''t the right word and he was more ''hopeful'' or ''optimistic'' instead. Either way, he was clearly showing up to this match to gather intel on Ares'' enhancement. Mako knew the Ares clone in the pagoda wasn''t using his full strength so he was hoping to catch a glimpse of it here instead and know the full extent of what he was going up against.


    Down in the arena, the Red Sun group had just arrived at their starting positions and the Iciclops team, from the Isasz region, were walking over to do the same. They seemed somewhat confident even in spite of the Perish Wheel demonstration yesterday which meant they placed a lot of trust in that magic dampening rune. Were they stupid? Even half of that Perish Wheel would probably be enough to kill them... Whatever, these people were clearly inexperienced with fair combat and couldn''t analyse the situation they were in. They brought along the iciclops specifically because, even with the dampening, there was still a chance for them to lose. That was just how pathetic they were. People like this were the gum on the bottom of the shoe of the cultivation world. Experts would step on them without even realising half the time and then be hassled with cleaning up their bloodstains. In a way, this annoyed Ares even more. These people had put in no effort at all to get to where they were, and would never get any higher, and yet they were taking away opportunities from those with actual potential. None of the teams that lost to them were ''special'' but they were still better than the average cultivator otherwise they wouldn''t have made it this far in the first place. If Ares was top rung, Enyo was second, someone like Li Li was third, then those that lost to the Isasz team would be fourth rung. In total there were, hypothetically, maybe ten rungs? The fourth rung only looked low in comparison to the first or second but they were still more notable than over half of all cultivators. Maybe even more as the average was weighted towards the lower rungs like seven or eight. Top third would probably be a more accurate estimate and yet they were being robbed of valuable experience against those stronger than them. Winning wasn''t the point, just seeing what the rungs above them entailed and guiding them towards improvement was the real reward here for them at this tournament. The humans on the Isasz team were seventh, or maybe sixth, rung at best and didn''t deserve to even be here. Anyone and everyone involved with their international run should be ashamed of themselves and Ares would make sure they got their comeuppance shortly.


    With both teams lined up, Ares could tell now for sure this iciclops was DUMB. Did this thing even classify as being sentient? Pets were allowed, and sentient monsters could become teammates, but this iciclops didn''t seem to be either... Surely the C.O should have put a stop to this at an earlier juncture?! Maybe whoever was dealing with this team was also in on the scandal... Ares being Ares, he decided to yell out to the other team and probe a bit. "Oi! Morons! What''s up with monster? I mean, it probably has more IQ than all of you put together but I would still hesitate to call that ''sentient''?"


    "FUCK YOU!" was the shout Ares got in return from the captain of the team. Still, Ares was unfettered and pressed onwards.


    "That doesn''t answer my question! Why is that monster here? It shouldn''t have even been allowed on the team!" Ares knew he wouldn''t get a response if he kept being a dick, as the captain would focus on retaliating, so he toned the snark down this time.


    "He''s perfectly sentient and I don''t want to hear any complaints. He was vetted by the C.O themselves so take up your gripes with them if you have the balls!" This guy was way too confident in the rune to realise Ares was utterly unfazed by this nonsense.


    "That dumb lug..." Ares pointed at the iciclops who was busily picking his nose like his life depended on it. "... Is obviously not sentient! That is demonstrably false! Emphasis on ''monstrably!'' Which stupid C.O member gave the ok on this garbage?! Someone needs to get their eyes checked!" Ares'' simple ploy turned out to be highly effective as calling out a C.O member in public, with everyone listening to his rant, was enough to make the culprit step forward and confidently make their own declaration. Unsurprisingly, the person responsible was exactly who Ares expected it to be... Shithead Lex! The guy who''d been eyeing up Enyo nonstop since her first international appearance. Ares knew in his heart of hearts this guy was Shady Mcshaderson. So shady, in fact, that when anyone said ''where the sun don''t shine'' they were referring to both assholes and this guy because there was basically no difference!


    lex cleared his throat and gave Ares a disapproving look while shaking his head as if to imply ''what am I to do with the foolish youth of today''. "That iciclops was checked by myself, youngster. I deemed him to be of sufficient intelligence so I assure you there was no mistake."


    Ares snickered in response. "Oh there was no mistake alright; no mistake in you aiding these cheaters, that is." Ares declaration of wretched conduct got the crowd whispering. The Isasz region''s bizarre matches had been a hot topic as of late so someone coming out and saying it in the open like this was like setting off a gossip bomb. This was a serious accusation and one that shouldn''t be levied without undeniable proof... It seemed things were going to get interesting here in the coliseum today.


    Lex raised his eyebrow to outwardly feign innocence and confusion. He knew he needed to be careful here as Ares having proof would be disastrous if Lex confidently claimed there was no wrong doing. Now he needed to take a sort of ''I was blissfully unaware at the time and apologise for my negligence'' approach. He wouldn''t admit to anything just yet but he would pick a route that gave him plausible deniability later on if things went south. He could bail on the worthless Isasz lot safely this way. They may try to take him down with them but without irrefutable proof he could just assert it was pointless and petty bluster, lies concocted out of maliciousness. He could make up some story about them trying to reach out to him to get on the good side of the C.O and being jaded when he ignored them or whatever. It didn''t have to be real, it just had to be un-disprovable and he was good to go. Plus there was something else worth mentioning here... Enyo had a lie detector. She, and Ares (although Lex was unaware of this), could see through his ruse and already knew he was involved. It was fine though as his word against theirs was a stale mate. He could claim that Enyo was just biased and taking her husband''s side should push come to shove. He''d covered all his bases with one simple gesture and the next few words that were about to leave his mouth. "I have no idea what you''re talking about, Ares. I simply followed the typical approach to evaluating the iciclops. That, and the accusations you are levying, have nothing to do with one another. I am not involved with the Isasz team in any personal capacity. If, as you claim, they are cheating, that is certainly a travesty but one that does not implicate me as I have checked and double checked that iciclops. It was a close call, I''ll give you that, but he passed the minimum bar I set. Could it have been luck the iciclops passed my test? Well it would have needed incredible luck but that doesn''t mean it''s impossible. Regardless, I stand by my decision no matter come what may with the Isasz region. Speaking of, could you enlighten me as to what you mean when you say they''re ''cheating''? We, the C.O, are aware of the talks going on surrounding their matches but we have discovered nothing in our own searches. Please understand that this is a very serious matter so if you go through with this you will need irrefutable evidence or there''ll be drastic consequences for your allegations." Lex''s words admittedly did worry the Red Sun supporters. They almost wished Ares would just drop the matter here and now even if he was assured of his claim as anything going wrong here would be disastrous! Their team was finally a shoe-in to get good results and he was pulling this here and now?! A lot of them were starting to wish he hadn''t shown up again like the last match...


    "First off, I appreciate your dedication to plausible deniability. When the Isasz teams sink, you''ll leap off their drowning corpse to reach land safely. You''re a sly one, I''ll give you that. Still, though you may officially escape, public perception of you will be atrocious, you know that right? Cheating aside, it''s pretty obvious to everyone in this coliseum that iciclops is not up to standards. OI! YOU! DUMBASS!" Ares'' shouts towards the iciclops were met with zero response. The creature was rolling its head around which was something these monsters typically did when bored. They were so stupid that making themselves dizzy was a fun game to them... "See that? No one is falling for it, Lex... Whatever, I don''t care what happens to you. As for the Isasz team, they''re using a magic dampening rune. Whoever set up the Training Field is working in tandem with them to reduce the output of the opposing team''s magic. Again, now that I''ve said it, it should be pretty apparent that''s what''s been happening. I think anyone and everyone here who can remember the Isasz matches will be able to tell the teams that lost weren''t performing optimally. It wasn''t ''stage fright'', it wasn''t a ''bad day'', and it certainly wasn''t them being outclassed. The thought is laughable. The Isasz cultivators are basically worms compared to everyone they''re sharing this stage with. The iciclops you allowed and the Training Field the runemancer tinkered with has gotten them this far and no one is stupid enough to believe otherwise."


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Lex''s mind was in turmoil here because everything Ares said was correct. Somehow, this kid figured out the trick. But how? Was Ares a genius runemancer?! There was no way someone of his calibre also happened to be a rune whizz? Wasn''t he a bit too multi-talented? Anyway, the major issue was that, if he could prove it, then Lex''s reputation would take an instant nosedive. If one of Ares'' claims was correct, the one about the rune, then the unprovable one about Lex''s involvement would essentially be treated as gospel too and he wouldn''t be able to shake the rumours... This damnable brat had cornered him... All Lex could do now was A; hope Ares couldn''t prove it, as the runemancer had put many layers of defence around the well-hidden dampening rune, or B; try and be as shocked as humanly possible when everything was out in the open. He could at least bring over some of the stupider members of the public to his side and that was better than nothing! If he had even a small group of supporters then, overtime, it would grow larger and larger. Repairing the trust people had in him would take countless years but he could do it if he remained low key for a long time. Ares had just set him back upwards of thirty or forty years... Lex wanted payback for this slight and he knew just the way to get it... Lex could deal with that some other time but, right now, he needed to progress the conversation and get it over and done with to shed the spotlight on him. He was about to respond to Ares, asking for proof, but before he could the runemancer in question, Donald, beat him to it... Clearly the guy was incensed by the accusations. As far as Donald was concerned, some greenhorn newbie had a snowball''s chance in hell of both locating and accessing his rune to prove it. If Ares asked him to remove the layer hiding it, Donald could just alter it without anyone being able to stop him so Ares had to do it himself. A mental accumulation brat exposing his rune? Donald didn''t believe it was in the cards so he stood tall and proud as he spoke.


    "You damn brat! How dare you accuse me? Are you so scared of losing to the Isasz team you''re pre-emptively blaming me for your incompetence? They are a team of talented young lads, unlike you, and have earned their place here with hard work. Some people weren''t blessed with some kind of special pillar like you so pipe down and accept your loss you stupid ''prodigy''." The mockery with which Donald uttered that last word was palpable but what did Ares care? He already had proof and didn''t need to put up with this nonsense if he didn''t want to. Seriously, what on earth was this guy spouting!? Accept your loss?! A team of talented young lads?! Scared of losing?! This guy must have hit his head at least five times this morning if he truly believed any of the spiel he was spewing. Spiel he was shpewing... Ares accidentally got beaten by the tongue twister and had to shamefully admit defeat in that instance... But that didn''t mean he would back down from the argument, no sir!


    "You''re a deluded and crazy man, you know that? Do you honestly believe this team is going to win regardless of whether they''re cheating or not? You have no idea the immensity of what a fundamental champion actually is. You''re so blinded by your own pettiness you fail to see it so how about I make it clear as day to you so you never forget it?"


    "Just shut up already you idiot! Either start the fight and lose like the disappointment you are or prove your claims. Let me guess, you can''t though can you? Do you want me to unlock a specific part of the runes I''ve set up? I''ll damn well do it and expose you for the fraud you are. Showcasing my runes in public is a breach of my privacy but I''ll do it just to shut you up and make you pay the price you insolent fool." Up until this point, Donald still believed Ares had no way to access his runes without his support, and that was why he felt so assured of his victory here, but Ares'' next words hit him like a truck.


    "No need, I can reach the rune myself. You hid it deep but I can still see and access it. I already told you once but you must have wax in your ears. You''re underestimating the fundamental champions, fool." Ares walked over the side of the arena and brought up a wall of runes. It was just a small part of a larger network but this was the spot the anomaly was located in. The fact that Ares walked over to it without missing a beat worried Donald as it meant the kid knew more than he thought he did... Donald assumed that someone like one of the matriarchs informed him about the rune but couldn''t tell him the specifics, resulting in Ares being at a loss at this point and seeking him out... If he already knew of the locations... What were the chances he could access it just as he said he could?! Donald was starting to sweat now as things were getting out of hand, quickly. The effects of runes were pretty easy to decipher as long as you could see them so it''s not like he could bluff and pretend it was something else. The second Ares pulled it up he was doomed with no way out of the current predicament...


    "There''s nothing there! Stop wasting your time and go fight already!" Donald''s lie was so disastrous it backfired immediately.


    Ares tilted his head confusion and asked a question that hit a sore spot for Donald. "If there''s nothing there, then why not let me find that out the hard way and lose the match? This should be a golden opportunity for you to pass by this round with ease? Everyone and their mothers saw that explosion yesterday and know the Isasz team don''t stand a chance against me. A free win here should be something you would logically be jumping for joy over, not trying to actively prevent." Ares shut Donald up as he went back to fiddling with the runes in front of him. His Omniscience pinpointed the issue and, as was about to be demonstrated, no amount of layers would keep Ares'' disintegration at bay! Julio, an arguably better runemancer, had been utterly defeated by this magic and so Donald had no hope whatsoever! As Ares'' finger sunk into the layers protecting the hidden rune, erasing them in milliseconds, Donald''s heart nearly stopped beating entirely. He almost had a heart attack watching this kid tear through his runes like butter as it was an unprecedented feat. In fact there was no one in the crowd right now who wasn''t gobsmacked by this display as it was incomprehensible. There wasn''t a runemancer in existence as talented as this kid was at dismantling runes! His earlier statement that the fundamental champions were being underestimated was, somehow, actually true... The fact that their powers spread beyond just their pillar and could bring about potential such as this was humbling. The champions were not specialists, They were just special. Yes they were unrivalled in their main path but that didn''t mean that others were closed off to them at all and Ares'' current speed was a stark reminder of that.


    "S... Stop... STOP!" Donald was in full-blown panic mode now because it was only a matter of seconds until Ares dug out the dampening rune and exposed it for all to see. Donald may as well have his pants dropped too for good measure just to humiliate him thoroughly. The C.O were going to punish him, and the team, big time and there would be no coming back from something as egregious as this. Cheating during a tournament of this scale?! That was a recipe for disaster if and when caught. But what was Donald supposed to say? ''Stop digging because you''re about to find the rune''... Yeah, that wasn''t an option. He also couldn''t bribe Ares in broad daylight so that was out of the question. Attacking him would be even stupider as the number of people here that would stop him wasn''t small... In other words, he was screwed!


    Ares'' reached forward with his hand, grabbed the dampening rune, and pulled hard to yank it out of its hidey-hole. He lifted it in the air and the jig was now up. The whisperings in the crowd started up again while countless glares were directed at Lex, Donald, and the Isasz team who''d all fallen silent. All Lex could do here was join in and glare at Donald and the team to try and save face but he alone had that luxury. Donald and the team were like frogs in boiling water and were dying a thousand deaths right now internally. It seemed like some of the team members were about to bolt when Ares, of all, people, offered them a lifeline... "Tell you clowns what..." Ares, with his Omniscience blazing away, started toying with the rune in his hand as he spoke. "We''ll still fight this match out."


    ...


    Ares'' suggestion silenced the crowd as no one knew where hew as going with this. "We''ll fight the match out, with the rune in place, and if you win I''ll let you go. As in you can continue on in the tournament without the rune and act like none of this happened. Of course the C.O gets the final say here but seeing as how they''ve already blundered hard on the Lex front I think they can give me this? Let''s also not forget they employed Donald too, which I''m assuming was another Lex-induced problem. If the C.O wants to claw back some public reputation then they ought to let this slide. Anyway, point being, I want to make sure you idiots understand the folly of your actions." Ares lifted up the rune again and now everyone was baffled as to what Ares was up to. "In case you can''t see what this new rune does, it prevents magic entirely. Your dampening effect has been upped to 100% efficiency and no one affected by it can cast magic of any kind. Mana can flow internally but pushing it outside the body is impossible. Not only will I fight you all by myself, I''ll even prevent myself from using magic. If you win, this gets swept under the rug. When you lose, you face the punishment head on and nothing changes. There''s no reason for you not to accept this, right?"


    After Ares finished speaking, another C.O representative, this one higher in the pecking order than Lex, floated above the arena and spoke down to Ares. She was a powerful looking woman wearing a red robe but Ares had no idea who she was so he just paid attention without fussing about her identity. "Normally we wouldn''t agree to this but the point you raised about regaining the public''s trust was despicable. If we say no now we risk the ire of the public who will feel disrespected. You are a devious person, Ares... So fine, you can have your match. I don''t know what you plan on doing or why you''re doing it but, if you lose, you and you alone are at fault. I cannot comprehend your actions but I will permit them nonetheless. Do as you please. If the Isasz team wins, they won''t be punished but they will have to compete fairly from now. If they lose we will deal with them as per our usual operating procedures. As for Lex..." The woman narrowed her eyes as she looked down on him. "... We will conduct an internal investigation into his behaviour... Though I imagine he has a convenient alibi... We will compensate all the teams affected by the cheating scandal regardless of the outcome of this match and we sincerely apologise for things having reached this point to begin with. We will issue a formal apology later with more details so please wait until then... As for the match, continue it normally..." The woman hovered for a few seconds longer as she stared at Ares, trying to figure out his motivation for his actions. Before she could fly away, he actually gave it to her without any beating around the bush.


    "I''ve said it once, I''ve said it twice, and now I will say it one final third time. You are all still heavily underestimating the fundamental champions; me in particular. Truth be told I feel insulted these low-brow cretins thought they stood a chance against me just because of some silly rune. I want to make it clear to everyone that I do not fear this team. I do not want a free win nor do I need an even fight without the rune. The handicaps I''ve imposed on myself serves one purpose, to humiliate the other team. I want them, as they''re being punished, to remember they did all of this for nothing. That their endeavour to cheat was pointless from the very beginning and didn''t make a difference anyway. Basically, I''m rubbing it in. The fact that they''ll never amount to anything and people like me will stonewall them no matter what methods they resort to. They do not belong here and I will etch that into their thick skulls, that''s all."


    "... I hope you know what you''re doing..."


    Ares shrugged and gave a friendly chuckle. Anyone who knew Ares knew that what he was about to say was true. "Rarely if ever do I know the full extent of what I''m doing, but I am always capable of doing it." And with that, there was nothing left for the lady in red to say. She took a deep breath and flew away, back to her seat on the top floor of the coliseum where she would carefully scrutinise the upcoming match. She, like everyone else in the coliseum, wanted to see whether Ares was true to his word or not. His pillar was incredible, it was impossible to deny that after the explosion yesterday, but he was fighting without magic now... Just what did this wild child have up his sleeve, exactly?

 Chapter 184: A Staggering Difference in Talent

    Ares turned to his team and gave a sheepish smile. Aejaz and Enyo understood that Ares'' annihilation enhancement was undefeatable and would win the match no questions asked but Esme and Li Li were at least somewhat nervous about this whole situation. Ares had made this decision by himself and not consulted the rest of team so he was feeling guilty about it... It''s not like he was the captain either so he''d really overstepped here. If the captain wasn''t his loyalist devotee, and instead some random stranger, his actions today would have been branded as traitorous to the extreme! Still, there was a degree of trust in Ares as he was ever reliable. All Ares could do was assure Esme and Li Li that things were seriously not a problem and that the match was basically already over at this point. Though they nodded along, Ares could tell there was some uncertainty in their expression and the same was true for the spectators. None of them were happy that Ares didn''t take the free win and move on but they were even more displeased with his brazenness in picking this handicapped fight! For no benefit! They considered him to be an egomaniac and were now praying he had the skills to back up the big game he talked.


    The Red Sun team, minus Ares, moved the the back of their side of the arena and sat down. Ares said he''d go it alone and they weren''t going to argue with him over it. Meanwhile, on the other side, there was a glimmer of hope in the Isasz team, This match could very well be a life or death match and so a lot was at stake here! If ever they needed to take a match seriously and give it their all then that was now. The scorn from the spectators and the rest of the world would be immense but if they could just live through this they could maybe go into hiding with a disguise, living quiet lives, they could make it out of this mess. The hatred everyone present had for them, especially the supporters of the teams that lost, was suffocating and made it hard to breathe as the atmosphere was not a pleasant one... But they had to ignore it and push on otherwise a far worse outcome than just some simple spectator ire was in store for them. In particular, they had to make sure the iciclops was paying attention. It really was stupid and making it obey was a hard task sometimes... The idea was to feed it food every time it did as was demanded of it. Positive reinforcement. After every match, in which it went berserk, they would feed it lavishly. If the iciclops was lazy, they starved it. Dumb though the monster was, it understood this pattern and roughly knew what was expected of it. Now that it was in the arena again, the second the horn blew and attacks came his way, he would get up and do his job for the sake of a nice meal.


    Ares made it to the starting line and looked over at the talisman. He didn''t need or want it as this match was going to be settled in a more violent manner. The other team could throw themselves at the talisman if they so desired, all the determination in the world wouldn''t change their pre-determined fate. Ares could tell their gameplan was to throw the iciclops at him while the cowards hid behind it with the talisman. Considering Ares'' lack of magic this made sense... But it was so incredibly boring... Ares didn''t know how these people could go about calling themselves cultivators without feeling embarrassed immediately after. Where was the excitement? The desire to improve? The will to live and fight?! These lot were cultivation robots, doing exactly as they were supposed to without deviating from the safest course of action. No thrills would ever be felt on their cultivation journey. Or rather their journeys were ending today so their legacy was already written in full. How sad must it be to live a live of cultivation and never once actually enjoy it? So many mortals would kill to be in their position and yet they wasted it so spectacularly... The more Ares thought about the Isasz team the more they annoyed him. They were, like, 90% of everything wrong with the cultivation society as a whole. If they were young masters abusing their status and trying to steal other people''s treasures or women they would have encapsulated every single negative stereotype about cultivators Ares could think of off the top of his head! Looking at them made Ares want to vomit so he would rectify that issue not by looking away but by removing them from his sight.


    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    As the match started, one of the humans on the Isasz team sprinted toward the talisman, picked it up, and returned back to safety behind the iciclops. Ares just watched on amusedly as he couldn''t for the life of him figure out why the guy was trying so hard. Yes their fate was at stake but Ares literally hadn''t even moved yet. Also, did they really still think they stood a chance? If Ares was giving them this massive a handicap were they really so inept they couldn''t understand why? Whatever, if they needed to see it to believe it then Ares would show them. He took his time approaching the iciclops and wasn''t much fussed about the nervy stares of the spectators who wanted him to hurry up and do whatever it was he was going to do! The timer was ticking! It hadn''t even been five seconds yet, though, so these people were just being paranoid. Ares was singlehandedly making the heart rate of every spectator spike because they all wanted nothing more than for the Isasz team to be punished and Ares was potentially ruining that!


    Ares eventually, casually, strolled up to the monstrous member of the other team and bent down to pick up a rock of the floor. The iciclops wasn''t making any aggressive movements as it must not have understood that Ares was an enemy because he was completely unthreatening right now. This alone proved it wasn''t sentient as it didn''t even realise the fight had begun. Even those who weren''t sure beforehand must have been convinced by now.


    Tock


    Ares lobbed the rock at the iciclop''s eye and it made a satisfying noise when it connected. Iciclops'' eyes weren''t soft and squishy as the monsters had evolved in a way that offered them some protection. It was still their weak spot but it was far, far more tough than you would expect an eye to be. The downside to its ability to resist weaker strikes, however, was that the eye couldn''t turn as quickly. Friction slowed it down and, if the iciclops moved its eye regularly, it could even start to burn a bit, requiring first aid and treatment. The Isasz team had actually been paying a fair few medical bills to keep the big lug from going blind. It wasn''t a problem for wild iciclops as they hibernated most of the time and rarely had to move their eye for anything but the one the Isasz team owned had been in a lot of fights and was in a very different environment. Despite that, it retained its sense of survival and immediately bolted into action the second its eye came under ''attack''. Iciclops were quick to attack anything that came near their precious eye, even if it didn''t hurt, which had led to a few cases of them getting into fights with inanimate objects like tree branches or falling rain drops... As far as dumb monsters went, the iciclops were pretty stupid... But what they lacked in brain power they made up for with their inhuman strength. They were kinda like a less intelligent Golgo. their punches could shatter rocks and sometimes even bundles of metal if they were powerful enough. Judging by the force of the iciclop''s punch headed towards Ares, he estimated even a cultivator at early to mid sensory enhancement would get squashed flat, in a single hit, underneath the gigantic knuckles this brute swung with reckless abandon. Of course someone like Enyo would be an exception but the average cultivator stood no chance which was why the Isasz team had made it this far... But Ares wasn''t an average cultivator, not by a long shot. He wasn''t even in the same tier as someone like Enyo, let alone the iciclops, so the oncoming fist almost looked pitiful to him.


    If the crowd were anxious before, their anxiety levels were now likely shooting through the damn roof as Ares'' response to the punch was to lift his pinkie finger! The guy was a maniac! This stupid moron was going to ruin everything in such a ridiculous manner! What on earth was that pinkie finger supposed to do?! Without magic nothing was coming out of it and Ares absolutely didn''t have the physical strength to resist the punch!... This match was doomed... People were already getting annoyed at him and concocting ways to make this detestable dolt pay a price after the match as any and all respect had vanished off the face of the planet. As the fist of the giant came to blows with the pinkie of the little man before it at least half the spectators turned away either in disgust or to avoid watching such a brutal scene. These people felt a small wave of solid gold ripple through their bodies and heard a sound that was like a burst of gushing blood but they couldn''t see what was happening as their heads were still craned in another direction. Maybe Ares tried something foolish and lost miserably? Was he already dead? There was only way to find out...


    As they turned their heads back forward, before they could even witness the result of the last exchange, they heard the pained wailing of a monster. It was shrieking like its life depended on it while it rampaged around the arena, stomping back and forth in a panic as it flailed its one remaining arm around at an invisible foe. Its other arm was just gone and a fountain of blood was spurting out of its empty socket. As it was a big monster the amount of blood it was losing was proportionate to its body size and quite excessive. This was the first injury the iciclops had ever suffered of pretty much any kind and it didn''t understand that this was just a simulation so it wasn''t technically real. It was hurting and mentally stressed because it believed its arm was gone for good. From its perspective, it went to crush a puny human before its arm randomly exploded on contact and now the scary human was going to kill it for good. The iciclops wasn''t the only one who didn''t understand what had happened, though, as even the spectators and competitors who were watching couldn''t wrap their heads around this situation. There had been a brief flicker of a golden spectacle at the moment Ares'' finger went up against the iciclops and, before anyone could blink, the iciclops'' arm burst from the shoulder down and became a mass of exploding flesh. Only the matriarchs were somewhat aware of the situation but they honestly couldn''t believe their eyes. They recognised ''pressure'' but whether that could even really be called such a thing anymore was debatable. Ares'' pressure had transcended logic and effectively become something else entirely. The horrifying power Ares packed in that split second led the matriarchs to mistakenly believe the drawback to it was that Ares couldn''t wield it permanently and that it was limited to short bursts... How wrong they were. Ares was only using annihilation enhancement for small periods of time because he wanted to see the looks on the Isasz team when they realised that golden moment was actually a golden eternity if he so willed it. He wanted them to understand its power before understanding its true power. Ares didn''t need to have immaculate timing to wield it the split second he needed it, it was just a switch he could turn on and off at his whim thanks to the Backfire Bindings which made the process instant. It was a switch that, with good reaction speeds, allowed him to overpower and outclass even an iciclops that should have logically been leagues stronger than him physically.


    Ares activated the ''unknown'' technique again and vanished on the spot, reappearing in front of the iciclops again. By the time everyone''s eyes had caught up with his golden blur, the iciclops had already lost its other arm while Ares was standing before it with a nonchalant attitude as if he was watching a wild animal die like a squealing pig. It was as though he was turning into a God for a split second every time that golden wave was released. The insanity of whatever it was he was doing was driving the spectators mad with curiosity because this wasn''t magic! He''d intentionally snuffed out his own magic with the dampening rune so it was something else entirely. Something a few people were starting to cotton on to. Those who had challenged the Ares clone were starting to recognise the rough feeling of this pressure. They''d never seen this golden version, and some hadn''t even seen the regular enhancement, but everyone who could tell what was happening here was realising the pagoda Ares was actually still hiding it''s true strength. They had believed the challenge was impossible and they weren''t even at the halfway mark of beating the clone yet... The regular pagoda goers were playing Ares'' earlier words on repeat, the ones that asserted that everyone was still underestimating the fundamental champions... He really wasn''t kidding. This calibre of cultivator was like something straight out of an urban myth. It felt like reality had just given up trying to ''balance'' or ''equalise'' the potential for cultivators when it came to the fundamental champions. Granted Ares seemed to be slightly more bat shit crazy than Mako but, at that point, you were basically comparing an atom bomb to a hydrogen bomb while everyone else in the world was an I.E.D at best...


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Ares walked up to the staggering and crying iciclops as he swung his fist in an uppercut motion. he wasn''t tall enough to hit the face of the monster but its gut was well within reach. Another golden flash illuminated the coliseum as Ares'' fist blasted the iciclops into flesh confetti and a firework of blood while golden ripples tore through the air up and out of the coliseum grounds. His punch packed the power of multiple Grand Annihilations at minimum and the iciclops didn''t stand a chance. It was tough but not that resilient. Ares had felt bad for the creature because it didn''t understand what was even happening to it. It wasn''t the monster''s decision to cheat or get involved here and the poor thing belonged out in the wild... Where it could kill countless other cultivators... Ok, maybe Ares shouldn''t pity it but the monster had undoubtedly lived a rough life, likely being kidnapped as a baby and raised as a tool so, weirdly enough, on that he could relate. Nature was brutal and iciclops were cruel but that didn''t mean toying with it unnecessarily was to Ares'' tastes. Out in the wild he would just kill it and not torture it slowly so he did the same here and just put the thing out of its misery. It revived on the platform to the side and tilted its head in confusion, looking down at its replenished limbs. It scratched its head, then its stomach, then its ass, and now it was content to just to sit around and mind its own business again. The thing literally just died but it couldn''t care less now that things had returned to normal. Hell it might have even forgotten about what happened to it already for Chris''s sake! Unless Ares reared his head in front of the beast again it would just sit there without a care in the world! This thing was as sentient as a rock... Actually, that was an insult to Terros! Whatever, at least it was out of the fight and Ares didn''t have to bully the damn thing anymore. Whether it was let free to return to the wild or put down after this match wasn''t Ares'' concern and he wasn''t fussed either way.


    Ares had spent a few seconds mindlessly looking at the iciclops, contemplating whether this thing had any use to him or not. If yes he would shove it in the Primordial Blade like Rox but, realistically, this monster was worthless. It wasn''t a creature with any kind of mutation or unique evolution meaning it couldn''t compare to Rox. It was a monster Ares had never seen before but that was as far as his interest in it went and he couldn''t think of a reason to keep it as a pet. Unfortunately for the Isasz team, and fortunately for Ares, they mistook his pondering pause as a sign of weakness. Mob character 1 opened his gob and yelled to the others on his team in a frantic and desperate voice... "That golden attack must take a toll on him! He probably has limited uses which is why he''s not attacking anymore! It might have a cooldown or something we can exploit! Attack him all at the same time and overwhelm him! He still doesn''t have his magic and he can''t fight us all without it!"


    Uh, yes I can? Ares was gobsmacked these idiots still didn''t understand the situation! Seriously? Ares didn''t even need pressure to beat these lot but that wasn''t the point... They thought him getting lost in his own thoughts was a good sign?! That was him disregarding them as ''opponents'' as in ''I can sit here and ignore you and still win''! How did they come to such a warped conclusion?! Were they not paying attention to this match thus far at all or were they desperately disregarding everything prior to give themselves false hope? Were they blind maybe?! And the worst part was that some of the spectators in the crowd had believed their gibberish! At least the stronger cultivators weren''t fooled by such an idiotic claim but Ares was struggling to come to terms with these people. They were such cultivation flunkies they couldn''t even begin to understand how outmatched they were... Well whatever. There was a silver lining in this situation; or, rather, thanks to Ares'' annihilation enhancement, it was more along the lines of a golden lining... Now was the perfect time to showcase his form in full! Mob character 1 had delivered the perfect red flag speech and now was the time for Ares to capitalise off it and have his moment in the spotlight! Not that there wasn''t already a huge spotlight on him anyway...


    Ares activated the golden form once more but, this time, after appearing right in front of mob character 1, it didn''t fade away... Ares was hovering, in front of the guy who''d spoken earlier, with his legs crossed in a seated position. He was leaning his elbow on his leg and his head on his upturned palm with a bored look on his face. "I think there''s been a misunderstanding here..." Ares dropped the clarification to end all clarifications on this guy''s head with a merciless, blunt, declaration. "... This is pressure enhancement. I can stay in this form for multiple days straight without any drawbacks..." The coliseum was dyed in Ares'' colour by now and everyone in this place was sporting a golden complexion. His heavy aura and restraining splendour invaded everyone''s privacy, becoming intimately shackled with anyone who was in Ares'' general radius. If you could see him, you could feel the weight of thousands of golden bars on your back and, if you were near him, all of your senses were practically on fire thanks to the golden overload. Even the barrier of the Training Field became a hazy gold and couldn''t prevent the leakage of Ares'' pressure. His horrifying words that this state was available to him at any given time for days on end was like a punch to the gut. And not an ordinary punch either, it was more like the one that had blown up the iciclops who, understandably, was shitting itself right now. That golden sensation prickling away at his skin reminded it of the man that killed him once already and it was getting stressed again just being in the vicinity of him.


    Mob character 1 had frozen on the spot and almost looked like a golden statue. Ares had petrified him to the point he couldn''t even think anymore. His mind was a golden void and all his thoughts were buried beneath the regal swamp burning his brain. Aside from his twitching mouth he might as well have been classified as brain dead right about now. He was being hit by the full force of Ares'' annihilation pressure at point blank and his body had terminated all functions. Even his breathing was slowing to a crawl and would stop sooner or later. Ares was killing this man passively by existing next to him. This wasn''t a cultivator Vs a cultivator anymore, it was David Vs the collective might of a billion goliaths. And there would be no overturning the outcome here either as the guy was going into cardiac arrest. His body was dying and failing him. His organs were shutting off one by one and causing all manner of system errors in his biological functions. It took a few seconds but, sure enough, the guy collapsed on the spot, dying a pitiful and entirely forgettable death. Ares had unintentionally killed a few ants on the floor but mob character 1 hadn''t put up any more of a fight than them so he was effectively at their level as far as Ares saw it.


    There were only three opponents left but everyone was painfully aware that the match was already over. It didn''t take a genius to see just how wide the gap was between the combatants was. One of the remaining foes tried to run for some strange reason. It seemed Ares had frazzled this person''s brains as there was no escaping from this Training Field until everyone was dead and/or someone lost the match. Ares wasn''t going to lose so only one fate awaited these people no matter how much they struggled in vain against it. The guy who was running away was halted in place as his body was tilting horizontally. His feet were swept out from underneath him and he was now floating mid air. Ares could use telekinesis on living creatures if they were too weak to resist him... No matter how much the guy struggled inside the pressure enveloping him, he was reeled back towards Ares. Hook, line, and sinker. Ares'' catch of the day was a pathetic small fry. Ares raised his hand and swatted the cultivator, splattering his head like a watermelon. The corpse was dropped to the floor while Ares kept hovering in his seated position, uninspired by the match so far. He looked over to the last two opponents... Correction, last one opponent. Ares had accidentally killed the other one as the force of his slap earlier shot off to the side and blew up a completely different target as well. Ares was on such a different plane of existence to these idiots he was killing people he wasn''t even aiming for. Ares was somehow more surprised by this development than the guy who died and his raised eyebrow was far more insulting than just outright verbally degrading his opponents. On the bright side, it had finally hit home just how screwed the Isasz team actually were. They''d gone into this match starry eyed and full of hope, hope that was currently nowhere to be found. It took them a minute to come to terms with the insurmountable mountain that was Ares but they were finally getting it. Their cheating made no difference at all! Even if they''d gone all in with the rune Ares wouldn''t have even cared... This tournament was beyond them no matter what means they had a their disposal.


    As for the last cultivator left, who was trembling in his boots and cowering up against a wall, Ares decided to just chuck some manner of physical pressure at him. Physical pressure wasn''t considered magic so the dampening rune wouldn''t prevent it. It was overkill but, then again, annihilation enhancement was overkill from the start. Ares didn''t even need pressure to win this. He was talented enough with weapons to do in the iciclops the hard way. Anyway, Ares decided to use physical pressure mostly just for the sake of showing off even more than he already was. Might as well drive it home that, in this state, he was unbeatable to effectively everyone in a fair fight. Showcasing the full extent of his personal power here was worth it as his reputation would soar to unprecedented heights after. It would mostly benefit the sect but that was invaluable in its own right considering Ares'' future plans involved it heavily.


    The floor of the arena rumbled as it cracked and split into many pieces. Pieces that were hovering around Ares like a swarm of earthen landmines. Directly above Ares'' own head, he spawned a ball of golden, physical pressure that was growing larger by the second. The pieces of the arena Ares dug up were being attracted to the ball like it was some kind of land magnet, creating a rocky ball with golden lights leaking out of the cracks. It kept bulging and throbbing as the pressure in the centre enlarged to dangerous sizes. A few seconds later the attack was reaching critical mass. It wasn''t the limit of how long Ares could charge this attack but it was devastating enough as is to come close to rivalling a Perish Wheel. It took a little longer to form, yes, but it cost basically no mana. Other than the annihilation mana he mixed in to his pressure, Ares didn''t have to dedicate much to this attack at all. If not stopped, Ares could launch Perish Wheel-equivalent explosive meteors at people without an end in sight. He''d just become an alarmingly potent artillery mage with the creation of this attack as there were no meaningful restrictions to prevent him from doing this as many times as he wanted. What was anyone supposed to do about it? Close the distance and attack Ares? With annihilation enhancement raring to go? There was no longer any way of beating Ares if you weren''t just flat out stronger than him. No clever tricks could possibly get you past his nothingness mobility, his disintegration defences, and his annihilation pressure''s sheer power. He had myriad solutions for every conceivable problem and had become a fearful ''all-rounder'' that was so beyond normal he was more like an ''all-specialist''. Throw in weapons'' mastery from Dominus, multiple mythical treasures, and the revenant transformation he didn''t even have yet and he was already a legendary-class existence no matter how you looked at it. The fact he was this overloaded with talent and treasures at the start of his cultivation journey, not even twenty years in, and had accrued this many advantages... It made the older folk feel like they''d wasted their entire lives and had done it all wrong...


    As for the match... Ares looked down at the last opponent, directing the annihilation meteor towards him with his gaze, and uttered one word with a dull and plain voice that made his boredom with this farce apparent.


    "Goodbye."


    As the meteor descended, Ares even gave a half-hearted wave and a wry smile which were the last things the final competitor saw before his vision was blanketed in gold judgement. The meteor rocked the entire coliseum in a way that, up until now in this international, was completely unprecedented...

 Chapter 185: The Seasonal Spectator

    BANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    First came the meteor''s rocky exterior and, when that was done crushing the cultivator who was already deceased by this point, the golden pressure burst forth like a torrent of liquid, splintering the rocky meteor in countless fragments. Each of these fragments contained a significant amount of annihilation pressure in them and detonated the second they made contact with another solid substance of any kind. Perish Wheel was one centralised explosion but this attack was more like a fragmentation grenade of epic proportions. Perish Wheel was a pillar of targeted and precise doom. This was wide spread, random, and indiscriminate slaughter. As if the multiple detonations weren''t enough, the tiny rock shards were firing off like bullets with enough velocity to put down an elephant in a single hit. The spray was every bit as lethal as the chain explosions covering the entirety of the arena.


    The spectators were a hair''s width away from the action, watching the bubbling gold inches away from their faces on the other side of the barrier. The raw, ancient aura of destruction was fiercely lashing out at them even through the barrier, arrogantly posturing itself as their superior with no care for who the target was. Mortals, average cultivators, friend, foe, even the matriarchs were growled at without hesitation. Of course Ares'' friendly fire avoidance mutation that he''d been gifted by laying with Enyo would prevent any actual damage to these people but the domineering attitude his destruction mana possessed was immutable and here to stay. The rock fragments were battering the Training Field and was making a sound akin to lead rain falling on glass which worried a lot of the spectators and made them feel as though their deaths were imminent the second the barrier cracked. The C.O were keeping a watchful eye on the safety of the visitors though so that wasn''t ever going to happen. Yes this attack was absurd but it was also still only launched by someone in mental accumulation... Which just made it even more absurd from a logical perspective of what should and should not be achievable but that wasn''t the main point. The point was that anyone at the upper end of bloodline awakening, AKA aspect assimilation, or above could fend off this attack if need be. Impressive though it was, that fear factor and the risk of death only applied to people within Ares'' rough wheelhouse. There were still upper limits to his ludicrous firepower that couldn''t be circumnavigated no matter how much he charged his attacks.


    The match had been over for the past minute and yet the explosions were only now tapering off and quieting down. the ruckus abated and Ares'' shellshocked but very much unharmed team could finally remove their hands from their ears without being deafened by the parade of golden garbage assaulting their ear drums. If you were an enemy, the explosions were lethal, if you were an ally, they were annoying! Well annoying for anyone other than Bellona, anyway, who really quite loved them and was enjoying the show upstairs. Enyo was also somewhat partial to them but only at a distance as sitting inside them was disorienting. Plus she would rather be blowing things up herself than watching Ares do it. All watching him did for her was get her excited, both to potentially mix their mana together and make things go boom again or excited in a very different way. Neither of which were traits she used to possess but Ares had corrupted her down to the bone, apparently.


    Now that everything died down, and that really did mean everything as the crowd were stunned silent, Ares unfolded his legs and lowered them down to the floor in one fluid motion. He looked as though he was walking down an invisible step to land back on the ground, at which point the golden world he''d created faded away, releasing everyone from his sensory-enriching domain. The golden lining on every nearby object, and even the coliseum as a whole, was gone now and the lustre that typically dull objects had temporarily possessed also vanished. Even something as simple as rust on a chair had become a rich and vibrant colour but now things were back to normal. Ares started walking to the hallway to leave because he was finished here and his job had been completed with flying colours. What happened to the Isasz team now was irrelevant to him. They weren''t even his primary goal as displaying his prowess was the main reason behind his actions. To that end, he had no further reason to hang around and prance about in front of the audience. If they demanded an encore, what was he supposed to do exactly? Do a helicopter with his junk? He''d basically already done something equally as showy and he had nothing left to show these people!


    It was time for Ares to go home and take a well deserved rest. Yes he''d gotten some proper shut eye last night for the first time in a week but he was still a bit drained. His cultivation was still too low to pull off a full week training regimen without some repercussions down the line. There was a benefit to his non stop grind, though, as he''d learnt a lot about his pillar in relation to pressure. As he was a dedication cultivator, Ares'' cultivation was near enough guaranteed to make a considerable jump the next time he sat down and worked on it. It had been a while since he landed on the 4th stage of mental accumulation and the pagoda had stalled his progress for a while but, now, it was about to spring back up. If he could make it to the 8th stage he would be able to take the trailblazers and reach sensory enhancement, gaining divine sight which could be combined with Omniscience. Ares didn''t know what kind of benefits this would bring but he wanted them! He was going to go home, take a nice long nap, visit the elders, and then... Then he was going to do some monotonous cultivating... It wouldn''t take too long, as he was bursting at the seams, but man was it still a boring process. He envied Enyo who could get stronger just by lying on her back and spreading her legs for him. Well he did for all of a second or two before he realised that would give Enyo even more reasons than she already had to pounce on him all the time... Maybe it was better this way after all... Ares needed breaks sometimes damn it! He wasn''t a machine! Not yet anyway. When his revenant bloodline started to improve at bloodline awakening his stamina would also passively regenerate... this was something he was going to have to try and hide from Enyo... Although knowing her, she''d probably already researched his race in detail via Calla and was aware of this specific revenant trait, much to the detriment of Ares'' spare time.


    As he walked down the tunnel back to the waiting room, he realised the others were awfully silent. Esme and Li Li were still trying to digest the scenes from before and come to terms with the existence that was new Ares. Aejaz was biting his nails because he must have realised that training with Ares was about to get infinitely worse than it had ever been prior to this point. And Enyo was dreaming about honeycomb or something. She was the only one who didn''t care much about this situation. She was the person who knew the most about Ares out of everyone in his life so she knew full well just how omnipotent he could and would be. Her expectations for him weren''t so low that something like this would take her by surprise. She was impressed but not speechless and she probably never would be by him. It wasn''t because she didn''t respect him, it was the exact opposite. She respected him so much that the pedestal she put him on in her head was unreachable, ironically, for poor Ares. Ares could blow up an entire dimension tomorrow and Enyo''s reaction would just be an ''oh?'' and nothing more. She wouldn''t be surprised he could do it, she would be surprised he found a way to do it already. Her level of trust in Ares was delusional, and she knew it, but she felt there was no reason to change because she liked being this way. Rose tinted glasses all the way!


    Meanwhile, at the top of the coliseum, the Legion and Umbra families were still glued to their seat and staring at the ruined arena... Their eyes weren''t playing tricks on them, that golden Ares form was very much real... The first thought that ran through the Legions'' heads were that they were glad Ares wasn''t taking part in the war. Mako would make for a great addition to their forces in the event Ares involved himself but so what?! For war, whatever it was Ares had become was far more disastrous than what Mako was currently. The havoc Ares would wreak when his cultivation improved was unthinkable. Calla was a solvable problem, even though it would be hard, but Ares?... A single person could dictate the sway of an entire war on their own... Was he even still a cultivator or was he just a weapon with a pulse? No matter how many times they reminded themselves he was a champion of the ''destruction'' pillar, it wasn''t enough to prevent them from being taken aback every time his ability to destroy something was flaunted to an extent like this. Over in the Umbra camp, Verv was slobbering all over his seat in crazed excitement and his two other brothers were having a hard time holding him back from leaping into the arena and running after Ares. it wasn''t even a fight he would come close to winning but that was evidently not something that mattered to him in the slightest. He would throw himself head first into a guaranteed loss just to feel a thrill...


    Serene and Mako were more interested in the pressure application itself. Of the matriarchs, Serene was currently technically ''the least gifted with pressure'' and she was fascinated by this highly unusual method of manipulating it, and what it entailed, considering the unusual state of her own pressure. Her son wasn''t on the same page, however, as he was more distraught then curious. Deep down he knew that, in his current state, he would get rolled by Ares conclusively. He still had an option up his sleeve... But did he really want to go that far? It was a cultivation resource that would boost him to new heights as it was a legendary resource he''d plucked after many years of hard work tracking it down after following multiple clues... The reason he''d yet to take it was because the pain of even touching it was enough to knock him out... If he took it, the benefits he would reap were unknowable but surely massive... Ares was taking steps as a cultivator but here was Mako hesitating because he was scared of the pain... But surely Ares had gone through some agony too in the pagoda to get this far, right? Nothing in the cultivation world was easy and Ares'' gains had been massive. The suffering must have been proportional... Was Mako really going to wuss out and accept the loss in his duel with Ares just so he could raise his cultivation before taking the resource and feel less pain? After everything he''d said to Ares as of late about not making an effort, could he stomach becoming what he''d boldly proclaimed Ares was? Lazy?


    Cultivating at a high level wasn''t something you could half ass. Coasting by would cost you opportunities and there were some up for grabs for the victor of this tournament. Mako would only fall further behind in terms of ''opportunities taken advantage of'' compared to Ares if he didn''t go all out here... Now was the correct time to take it if he was going to as he only had one more match left before the finals... From now to his next fight was the longest gap he had available. If he fought his next match without taking the resource he wouldn''t have the time after to take it... Mako took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. As it turned out, the best way for Mako to take the next step in his cultivation journey had been declaring Ares as a rival. Ares'' feats were driving Mako to new heights and would be the reason he kept striving for the unfathomable heights above even the ones he was at now. Mako was determined, if nothing else. He wouldn''t go out without a fight. Whoever won their duel wouldn''t come out of it thinking it had been a waste of time, Mako would make sure of it. He stood up and went to leave as he had a resource to devour! Terros could see the unwavering determination in his eyes and said nothing as that was the correct way to handle this side of Mako. Silent encouragement was the best boost he could give to Mako right now.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Before Mako could leave the venue, though, a certain someone showed up in the Starlight camp. Margaret and Eagerton had been making notes and drawing various scenes of the splendid showing they''d just burned into their retinas, as was expected of them. Ares'' golden domain was captivating so how could these two pass up on an opportunity to capture something so incredible? Not happening. But there was someone else who''d been watching the match from the side-lines. Or, well, he hadn''t been on the side, he''d been floating above the coliseum in the sky, above the clouds and out of view. With a single graceful step, his sandal graced the floor and created a small ripple of serenity. It was a peaceful and tranquil ripple that sounded like the light ringing of a sonorous bell. The man''s presence was calm and beautiful. He didn''t disturb his surroundings, he incorporated himself into them with finesse and masterful movements to raise the overall quality and artistic value of the scenery. He was arguably the most handsome man in this venue, tied, if not beating out, Aejaz. His features were soft and so was his smooth skin. He leant more towards a pale complexion but was still hearty enough to have a pinch of colour. His long black hair shone under the rays of the sun, flowing elegantly behind him wherever he went. Orange like a blazing fire were the colour of his gentle eyes; eyes that didn''t quite stare but rather rested peacefully on whatever they happened to be observing. Like Veteran, he''d lost an arm at some point in his life but that didn''t hamper his beauty, rather adding to it instead as his bearing was sleek and almost feminine. Veteran''s missing arm made him look like a grizzled, well... Veteran. This person''s missing arm was almost as if the Gods had attempted to devalue this human''s aesthetic after accidentally turning up the beauty dials to eleven but still failed to make a meaningful difference. The robe he wore resembled a tapestry and the dull yellow served as a backdrop for the more vibrant colours that were also present. Red and orange petals with dark green branch patterns decorated his attire and gave the impression that he was attuned to nature in some manner. This assumption was correct as this one-armed swordsman was none other than one of the four seasons. He was the fabled Summer Colour''s Blade that belonged to the art-obsessed Starlights, Ya Ye. His one hand, wearing a black wrist glove with a red ribbon tied neatly around, was lightly placed on his chest, above his softly beating heart, as he gave a polite smile and cordial greetings to the matriarchs. "Serene, Rhea, Calla, it has been quite some time since I last had the pleasure of conversing with you all. It''s good to see you all doing well. Hopefully I''m not intruding but I simply had to come and have a chat with Margaret."


    Margaret glanced up from her drawings and waved, signalling Ye to come over and take a seat. As he walked past Mako, he pat him on the shoulder and said a few small words. "The colour of your determination is a fierce red, a good omen to be sure. Make the most of this conviction you have now, before it fades, and you will accomplish great things." Sending Mako on his way, Ye took a seat, crossed one leg over the other, and rested his arm on the chair''s armrest. Before starting the conversation, Ye took a deep breath to soak in the residual golden scent still lingering in the air. "What a bright smell. You weren''t exaggerating, Margaret. Ares really does have a wonderful radiance to him and he is worth keeping an eye on. I would go and have a dance with his pagoda clone but, regrettably, I''ve heard weapons aren''t allowed in there. Watching him compete ought to get the creative juices flowing again, so I''ll stick to that for now, but I do hope his cultivation increases quickly so I can assess him head on one of these days... But in order for that to become a reality I can''t have him dying in a place like this. We four seasons always seem to be at odds with one another and, annoyingly, it''s always a 2/2 split. The Ares matter is following that trend to a tee. I see value in him, and, being a revenant, so does the Winter Wrath''s Hunting Rifle... The other two aren''t too keen on this kid, however, and it looks like we''re going to have a full blown bout in the coming days because of it. We''ll be too busy duking it out to focus on our surroundings so could I trouble you with looking after the citizens here?"


    Margaret tapped her pencil against her chair a couple of times. "... Here? Why here?"


    "There are two assassination plots brewing in the background right now and Ares is the target of both. The other two four seasons will inevitably try and take advantage of the confusion the initial attempt will bring about to finish the job with the second. Well the Legion season will, the Willow''s season is still unsure about how to proceed. They''ll make a decision on the day and, given the four seasons'' ability to miraculously always split down the middle, I can hazard a guess as to who''s side he''ll be on."


    "This is news to me?!" Serene was annoyed that her damnable season was acting out of line again. Rhea wasn''t because her season answered to Major and not her. The reason the Legion season wanted Ares dead was obvious; he was a powerhouse revenant. Nothing more needed to be said in that regard and Ares making the Legion hitlist was an inevitability. Some of the Legion elders in the crowd were presumably contacting the season already so it was just a matter of time... Then there was the Willow season who''s actions were bizarre as there was no rhyme or reason to his choice here.


    "Well you know what that axe-wielding dunderhead is like. It''s almost impossible to tell what he''s thinking. If I were to hazard a guess, he thinks that Ares being a revenant is problematic for the sake of peace and stability. Sacrificing a revenant isn''t a big deal if it keeps the Legion quiet and content. Ares making his way to Vraizon will put Major on edge and nobody knows what he''ll do in turn. It could be that the axe man is simply trying to prevent that... Maybe? It''s hard to tell what''s going through that thick skull of his. It would make sense, though, as it would also explain his hesitancy. If Ares can handle the other assassination attempt by himself, then that will be more indicative of his true power than anything we''ve seen up until now. The people going after him are well and truly above his current cultivation. In other words..."


    Calla interrupted and finished the sentence because she already knew where it was going. In fact... Calla already knew about the assassination and had done nothing to stop it for the same reason as the Willow season... "He wants Ares to use a Canis Stimulant. Ares is a powerful cultivator but there are still ways of dealing with him currently. Although I don''t know how the Willow season found out about it, Ares is an adept. His lack of physical strength can be exploited in various ways but it depends on how strong his revenant form is... Alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta... Any breed of revenant at, or above, gamma with an adept trait is a nightmarish combination. If Ares is lower then his physical strength will be uninspiring regardless of his revenant form and there are plenty of treasures out there that can take advantage of that. Without mana Ares would struggle hard. That enhancement just now used annihilation mana so, although he could still use regular enhancement, the disadvantage Ares would be at if his mana was sapped in its entirety is considerable. This is a means of dealing with Ares on the condition his revenant form is weak... But if it isn''t... Well then what? How do you beat him at all? It just becomes more and more impossible the longer you let him cultivate so that''s probably the Willow season''s line of thinking. Stopping an unstoppable problem before it reaches that stage is why he''s curious to know just how big a deal Ares truly is. To that end, letting the other assassination attempt play out, to draw out Ares revenant form via the Stimulant, is basically him scouting the opposition and acting reactively to his findings. I would expect a fight with him if I were you. Ares is an incredibly pure breed with even Dominus'' bloodline flowing inside of him. I don''t know the extent of it but he briefly mentioned another bloodline in him too... There''s a non-zero chance he''s like Dominus and has transcended our usual tiering system. Dominus was more than an alpha, he was a lord, and Ares is trending towards that end of the spectrum. The Willow season will not sit idly by after judging Ares to be a potential threat of Dominus'' calibre so I think it''s safe to say you should expect a 2 vs 2 fight and come prepared. Make no mistake, though, although the matriarchs swore not to get involved with the four seasons'' clashes, I will step in and stop things from going further than they should if it becomes necessary. I''m aware of the consequences but I won''t let anyone harm my child, not now that I''ve finally found him again. It happened once, it won''t happen again while I''m around, at least."


    Ye scratched his head with a wry smile... If he and the Winter''s Rifle lost to the other two seasons then, contractually, they would then have to turn against Calla for getting involved in their dispute... In short, he needed to win otherwise this crazy woman was going to be on his case. Thankfully he was widely considered the strongest of the four seasons... But then there was the Winter''s Rifle... She detested working alongside anyone and no one truly knew how capable she was. Her human form was considered the weakest of the seasons but nobody had ever seen her revenant form and lived to tell the tale so it was a coinflip how useful she would be during the scuffle. Chances are, it would be Ye vs the Willow season, and Winter''s Rifle vs the Legion season. If she could hold out long enough for Ye to win his fight then that would be good... The problem was that the opposing side only had to win one fight and then kill Ares which was an effortless task. Not only was Ares'' cultivation that much lower than the seasons but, after his revenant form ran out, the Canis Stimulant would sap him of all his strength. If Ares at least had it in him to run away then it might not be so bad but it wasn''t in the cards... Ye might have to go all out in the upcoming fight... Still, he viewed it as a worthwhile endeavour. Ares interested him the same way Ares interested all of the Starlight clan. All the elders, disciples of various sects, and clan members who were in attendance today were furiously scribbling away on notepads and other such diaries in the crowd. Ares may very well be valued more by the Starlights than the Umbra Wolves at this point... Ye could already see their planet roping Ares into becoming a muse for the masses at some point and dragging him along like some kind of show animal. He would bring about both a metaphorical and literal golden age if ever he stepped foot on their home planet and, considering he intended to visit all the four major clans at some point, it was basically already set in stone that he would become a rockstar in their home planet...

 Chapter 186: Ares Becomes a Nutjob

    Back at the sect, Ares had just woken up from his nap. He and Bellona had snoozed away after kicking Enyo out. Enyo wasn''t tired and she only wanted to be in here for other nefarious reasons! They denied her firmly, however, and relaxed in one another''s company. As Bellona left the coliseum before Ye arrived, pretty much immediately after the match ended, she was unaware of the assassination attempts heading Ares'' way and couldn''t inform him beforehand. Maybe if she hadn''t been so eager to spend time with her new husband... Alas, here she was, cuddling. Then again, it''s not like Ares knowing would change anything anyway. He didn''t mind wasting a Canis Stimulant to check on his revenant form and see what kind of firepower he was secretly packing. It would also streamline the matches, making all the remaining ones interesting. His next fight would be the aevysqualls, which was dull, but the assassinations would liven up the party considerably. Then it was Aejaz'' match. Then it was the fundamental showdown. As far as his itinerary was concerned, it was quite a jam packed schedule but that was to be expected what with everything coming to a close. Before all of that, though, the Umbra and Legions would go at it and the winner would face Mako. Five stacked matches meant that, if nothing else, the spectators had a reason to be happy.


    Ares left the bedroom and went to cultivate in the next room over. It had been a while since he last did this but, now that he was brimming with the potential to raise his cultivation, it would be foolish to put off this task. Leaving it for too long could make it harder to gain your hard earned cultivation or even outright lose it in some specific cases. Pointlessly losing his hard work was something Ares wanted to avoid because it, in turn, would make him have to cultivate in this room for even longer just to reach the 8th stage of mental accumulation. Sensory enhancement was right around the corner, thanks to the trailblazers, and he wanted it! His Celestial Prisms had done him a number of favours and combining them with divine sense would be an incredible boost to their already astounding utility. So, although cultivating was a pain in the neck, Ares prepared himself mentally for the slog and got right down to it. He still wanted to visit the elders today after this so the sooner he got it done, the better. He''d planned on visiting them before doing this but that welling feeling of his surging cultivation was annoying and getting it over and done with was like scratching a longstanding itch to satisfaction.


    Over the course of four hours, Ares'' mind wandered at least seven or eight times. It''s not like he had ADHD or anything he just really wasn''t cut out for this kinda thing. The fact that some cultivators could sit around like this for millions of years at a time in the upper realms almost made Ares sick to his stomach. Still, those four hours were enough for him to make all the easy progress he was going to make here and now. The benefits from learning, and using, annihilation enhancement had all dried up, leaving Ares just shy of 8th stage. He was comfortably sitting near the end of 7th which, you guessed it, meant he was going to have to come back to this God forsaken room at some point and finish the deed. An unenviable task but one he didn''t need to do right now. He wanted a break and so of to the technical department he departed!


    Ares made quick visits to all of his neighbours he hadn''t seen in a while first, topping off their supply of Shock Beads as it had been a while since the last time he''d done as such. Also, he still needed to hand Onno supplies for the stall as well as all the runic gear / artifacts he''d created on behalf of the forging and runemancy departments. In return, Onno gave him the earnings of the stall over the course of the last two or so weeks, minus the cut for the employees and so on so forth, which would be enough to tide Ares over for now. He''d been borderline broke before but this small pay-out would allow him to keep buying food for the house and treating his freeloading tenants. Though if push came to shove then Ares would absolutely demand stardust from them! Bellona mooched off her mother and had a decent supply, Aejaz had a considerable amount thanks to his thievery and contracts from Hans, and Sadie who popped around frequently had more than enough stardust for booze so she could damn well give some to Ares if she wanted food! Borrowing money was embarrassing though and Ares didn''t want to stoop that low... God of destruction, legendary revenant, number one pressure wielder in the world, beggar... One of those was not like the others and Ares didn''t want that stain on his record if he could avoid it.


    Actually, now that Ares thought about it for a moment, the financial straits of the people living in the house were more dire than not. Ignoring nepotism from the Legion family, nobody had any stardust or any jobs! Other than Aejaz, everyone was a bum! Well Enyo did work she just never accepted rewards and stubbornly refused to budge on her principles. There were talks about Leo working with the sect but Ares didn''t know anything about it so he was included in this discussion. Appa didn''t even understand the point of stardust. It didn''t eat anything other than Snappas and it didn''t need any of the things a house provided so expecting it to earn stardust was a weird line of thinking Ares didn''t go down. Plus Appa was his daughter and he categorically refused to make such a sweet and innocent thing go do violent cultivation work for no reason. Making his daughter go and earn because Ares, despite his multitude of talents, was broke, was some atrocious fatherly behaviour. Lacy couldn''t leave the sect unattended even if anyone actually wanted her to, which no one did, so that was also out of the question. Bellona was still using her Rhea reserves and was good to go for a long while. Also there was no way in hell she could ever work a customer facing job without beating up at least half the rude customers that came her way... Trixie had just gotten to Red Sun although, to be fair, she could probably sell her gadgetry stuff and make money that way. She was currently sorting out her relationships and Aejaz actually earned enough as is to compensate so, although she planned on earning, she wasn''t currently. Allie''s alchemy was for the sake of practice and cultivating, nothing more. She never sold her pills or Pillies and Zhang typically funded her hobby. She would be one of the top earners in the household if she actually went public but no one wanted that of her as it was a sell out of gargantuan proportions. Knowing what people would think about her hand crafted pills... And the suggestion to sell her Pillies off into essentially slave labour... Aejaz would rightfully throw a fit if anyone suggested it. He was dedicated to his job and he stole with the primary intent of keeping Allie''s alchemy private.


    Then there was Ares who could easily earn the most of everyone with his never-ending tool set... But he was busy! He just didn''t have the time what with his sect errands and the tournament breathing down his neck. Making that bet was his way of raising his funds but even that was a back-ended solution that wouldn''t come into play just yet. It''s just that, in the cultivation world, resources, treasures, and rare skills/techniques were far, FAR more valuable than currency. Unless you stumbled across one of the above and had no use for it, any sane cultivator would cling to such resources and tools for dear life. In fact, many biographies of extraordinary cultivators all start off in the same manner... They were all broke! With their attention divided in a million different, more important, places money typically became secondary... Although there were a few legendary cultivators who''s journeys ended before they even really began because they ran out of stardust to even afford the basics. No home, no food, and no purchasing power led to no sleep, no energy, and no support. It was a vicious cycle some people found themselves trapped in and never escaped from but such was life. There were countless tales of strong, penniless cultivators found dead while clinging to their rarest treasure... If they''d just sold it, there was a good chance they could have found a way out of whatever situation they were in but that was just the high risk high reward style of cultivation that legends gravitated towards. Hell, Ares was doing a variation of that with the fine grind by refusing the 11 month in an attempt to get greater goods. If he keeled over tomorrow, and wasn''t a revenant, he would be remembered in the history books as a greedy fool.


    Anyhow, after chatting with Onno for a spell, Ares headed over to the technical department for real this time. After arriving he poked his head into the disciple area and gave them their Shock Beads, as Lizzy had asked of him long ago, before pathing around to the lizzle''s lair in the back of the building. Ares knocked on the door but had to leap out the way as said door was blasted of its hinges and went flying down the corridor, creating a racket with every bounce...


    "WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Lizzy''s scream from inside the room indicated to Ares that she''d just been successful in some capacity when working on a technical or the application of one. Whatever it was seemed effective enough considering it almost flattened Ares on the spot. The velocity of the door just now was no joke and could have caused serious injury to any disciple who happened to be passing by. In that sense, Lizzy was a dangerous woman and the disciples who played around here had to be very careful approaching her room unannounced. This was well understood though as someone had already suffered an injury when they were randomly pierced by a sword that came through a wall as they were walking down a corridor and minding their own business. All Lizzy had to say in response was a slightly apologetic ''oops''. She was used to experimenting by her lonesome, remaining undisturbed for days on end and most techy cultivators seemed to share the mind set. Mako and Trixie also happened to get really into their inventions and detested and kind of unexpected disturbance. When they were focussed on their work, ''anyone who got in the way of that got what they deserved'' was the type of mindset that was prevalent.


    Ares peeped around the corner and had to duck out the way a second time as an Echo went sailing through the spot his head was in previously. Just this series of events told Ares all he needed to know about how much progress Lizzy had made on the Echo-mixed-with-pressure front. At the very least Lizzy herself was very capable of wielding it with splendid form! But therein lied the catch that interested Ares because Lizzy had never been particularly great with Echoes. As she was firing them off rather skilfully right now that must have meant something in the equation had changed and he could guess what based on his last visit. The artifact Lizzy had been working on that enabled anyone to use Echoes via a rune! In exchange for all the latest updates on pressure Echoes, Rud must have given his expertise on the technical and worked alongside Julio and Dabble to make this a reality. Now someone like Lizzy could focus solely on imbuing the technical with pressure without worrying about the efficiency of the base Echo being low due to her own lacking comprehension. Additionally, the reverse was true in that anyone who wasn''t confident in their pressure manipulation could divert more of their brain power to figuring it out without worrying about fudging up the Echo. The fact that Lizzy had been working on this artifact at roughly the same time Ares came to her with the pressure Echo was incredibly good timing as, combined, it was a pretty major leap for the overall strength level of the elders. Mass producing the Echo artifact and perfecting the pressure Echo was a big moment for this sect and Ares had just witnessed it all coming together first hand. Of course being the first witness would have been diminished somewhat if he also became the first victim but thankfully he knew better than to not have his wits about him when visiting Lizzy. This wasn''t his first rodeo with this one-track mind experimenter who''s care for her surroundings was non-existent at the best of times and actively problematic at the worst.


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    Sensing a ceasefire, Ares snuck into the room and waved hello to Lizzy who was using a magnifying glass on the artifacts that had caused this mess. "I take it things are going well in here?"


    ...


    Lizzy was engrossed in her examination and treated Ares like air... She probably didn''t even know he was in the room that was just how hyper locked-in on the artifact she was right now. There were a few ways of getting around this issue but Ares chose the one that would be most beneficial to Lizzy by firing up his Omniscience and taking a gander at the artifact. The gloves were simple but what Ares really wanted was to eye up the rune she was using, at which point he could just fix any small mistakes she/Julio had made with it. Without Omniscience, optimising such a rune would take a long while so Ares correcting it here and now would wake Lizzy up from her contemplative stupor. Most people would be ecstatic to have created something that works well but until it was perfect Lizzy would never be satisfied.


    Once he had the nitty gritty down to a pat, Ares stepped forth and poked the gloves on the side opposite of the one  Lizzy was staring at. She was taken aback when the runes she was staring at started to ''magically change on their own'' but still didn''t check her surroundings. She felt the need to pay attention to every minute change and make a record of it after. Ares sighed at this as, had she realised it was him doing it, she wouldn''t need to worry about memorising it as she could just ask him instead! She was less a lizard at the moment and more a horse with blinkers... Ares finished and, before Lizzy could scramble to her notebook, Ares lifted the gloves in front of his face and dangled them around for a bit. Even then it took Lizzy a second or two to see the living, breathing, human being, revenant technically, behind them... "Hellooooo? Earth to Lizzy?"


    "Ah? ScAres!" As she was spooked by the ''sudden'' appearance, the first mock-up of a name that came into her head was a mix between ''scary'' and ''Ares''... Ares wasn''t scary! The preposterous nature of the claim led to him feeling indignant but he kept it bottled up and simply sighed while changing the topic.


    "How''s it been going? Knowing you, I''m sure you''ve ironed out the wrinkles of pressure Echoes with Rud already?"


    "Oh yeah, big time successes all around with the Crudster. Kinda cramped my style a bit what with all his constant moaning but we got it done, technical style! Booyah!" Lizzy''s general pep for life was as infectious as ever and Ares couldn''t stay mad at her... Although he still didn''t appreciate being called ScAres!.. Was this what it was like when he called others by silly names too? No wonder it was so effective... "If yer looking for the technical tome, there''s already a buncha them inside the arts library. They''re quite popular now that the elders have spread word so you might struggle to get your paws on one butttttttttttttttt..." Lizzy opened a drawer at her desk and whipped out a tome. "... I kept ya a copy. Wasn''t possible without ya, after all!"


    Ares gratefully received the tome and gave it a once over before putting it in his Primordial Blade for storage. Later, when he went back to cultivating... The thought of which made Ares shiver... He would double down on his time in the room and study the tome as well. "Many thanks. I''m sure Rud is over the moon right now. He had decent pressure mastery to begin with if I''m not mistaken?"


    "Yeah, one of the best in the sect at least. Not top trumps but not down in the dumps. By the way, it was actually him that wrote that there tome. He was the one who took you into consideration. I''ll be honest I kinda forgot, heh! He was thankful. Didn''t say it out loud but that was the feeling I got from him. A rare attitude but he really does like the technical so I''m not surprised. Grumps can be a bit hard to please but what with everything you''ve done for the sect as of late even he can''t help but be a bit of a softie every now and then. Consider this tome proof of that ''cos it''s a lot more respect than a lot of other elders in this sect have ever gotten from him. Rud and his clones are worked to the bone usually so the fact he took some time out to make that tome is kinda wild, actually. Then again, the reason he has more time on his hands is ''cos of all the new elders we''ve been hiring, thanks to you, who can fill in some of the empty spaces in our workforce. I heard a rumour from Zhangstein ''the quick'' that Rud even got a good night''s sleep for the first time in, like, a decade or two. ''Over the moon'' is an understatement, he''s in good ol'' paradise. Also, strength wise, he shot up a fair bit due to his talent with the Echoes. We do a bit of elder ranking every now and then to help dictate who gets how much stardust and Rud did way better than usual. He wasn''t weak before or anything, it''s just that there are a fair few crouching tigers and hidden dragons in headquarters. They''re rarely seen but they pack a punch. Outwardly we promote the idea that Slick is the strongest but, if we include those who skulk about in the darkest pits of paperwork hell in HQ, there are actually a few others worth a shout out... One of em''s kinda creepy though... The way they crawl around on the ceiling and drop in on you... Gives me the shakes every time. They also leave their webs everywhere and if you get caught you have to wait for them to let you out... And pray they don''t take a nibble before they do ''cos they''re venom is kinda annoying; shit makes you hallucinate..."


    "... Crawl?... Webs?... Nibble?... Venom?.............. Spider?"


    "Hm? Yeah, they''re a ''rak''ne'', a spider kin. Why?"


    "..."


    "Ares?"


    "Hm? Oh, no, nothing. No problem. There''s no problem. Why would there be a problem? The fact that there''s a race of spider kin isn''t problematic at all. Quite non-problematic really. Yep... Not a problem..." Ares was stiff as cardboard having learnt that there was human sized spider running around somewhere in the sect... This was not a problem bug spray was going to solve... Plus, if this person was stronger than Slick... Then if he was ever caught... "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ares shifted out of the room with a single tear in his eyes, leaving a bewildered Lizzy to shrug to herself before continuing on with her experiments. She''d gotten the correct, perfected Echo rune out of Ares and she''d given him the tome so their conversation was effectively ''done'' anyway. Although a proper goodbye would have been nice Ares seemed to be in a rush so she didn''t hold it against him... It was still weird though. Maybe Ares had already met the rak''ne and had an unpleasant first encounter? That would make sense as the rak''ne''s ominous bearing did leave quite the impression. They were alright when you got to know them but randomly spotting them on the ceiling above you, staring into your soul, was definitely ScAres. A real 10/10 fright. In fact, one of the pranks HQ pulled regularly was sending the rak''ne out into the disciple areas during Halloween to spook them out of their wits. HQ was certainly filled to the brim with pencil pushers but the people in charge were all characters in their own right that got bored easily so they were known by the elders as a sort of prank squad. They were a contrast compared to the other elders here and were, up until Ares'' arrival, Rud''s ''MD''; which stood for ''most detested''. Despite being a bit of a paperwork aficionado himself, and despite a great deal of aid being potentially available at HQ, even Rud opted not to visit regularly. Ares had been quite lucky not to run into any of the troublemakers during his last visit but, if ever he returned, he almost definitely wouldn''t be so lucky...


    Over by the forging department, Dabble had heard a strange noise like that of an injured, screaming cat. He leaned out a nearby window and found Ares hiding in a corner mumbling something about how the spider people were going to get him... Dabble closed the window and went back to work. Not his problem! Unfortunately, Julio arrived outside and prodded away at Ares before coming inside with the dejected wee laddie in tow so now, clearly, it was his problem after all! Well whatever, at the very least he had some news to share with him about his experiments so perhaps he could avoid the conversation about these ''spider people'' or whatever. "Ah, laddie, it''s good to see ye again. I heard through teh grapevine ye beat teh pagoda so congrats on that. Over on this here side o'' things I''ve made some headway on that thing you ''n'' I were messing around wit. If ye wanna come downstairs we can ''ave a chat ''bout it?"


    Ares stared at the floor and weakly mumbled, "Don''t wanna... Might be spider people down there..." and now Dabble wasn''t entirely sure what to do about this mess. He believed he could get away with not asking but now it seemed like he had too... Ares was key to experimenting any further with imbuing pressure into artifacts so Dabble leaving him in this state wasn''t conducive to furthering his knowledge and understanding of the field!


    With a grumble, Dabble put his hamemr down on the nearby workbench, hopped off his stool, and walked around to Ares. he looked up at him and folded his arms. "Alright ye pansy, what''s got yer knickers in a twist?"


    "SPIDER PEOPLE, DABBLE! THERE ARE SPIDER PEOPLE ON THE WALLS!"


    "... Da fuck is wrong wit ye?"


    Ares gripped Dabble''s shoulders and rocked him back and forth. "WHY ARE THERE SPIDER PEOPLE? SINCE WHEN? ARE YOU TELLING ME THERE''S BEEN A RAK''NE IN THIS SECT THE WHOLE TIME?"


    "Eh? Rak''ne? Oh, teh one at HQ? What about ''em?"


    "Why am I the only one concerned about this?! Human sized spiders, Dabble. HUMAN SIZED. That is WAY too big for a damnable spider!"


    "Really? I''ve seen way bigger meself... There are a lot of spider monsters out there, some as big as buildings..."


    Thud


    Dabble stared at Ares who fainted dead on the spot at the prospect of 20 - 30ft tall spiders and scratched his beard. "If word gets out that disciples ''n'' elders keep fainting in this sect, there''s gonna be all sorts o'' rumours spreading around about some silly curse..."


    Julio snorted. "Oh please short stuff, the only curse around here is an anti-growth curse, clearly."


    "Alright ye pointy menace, now ye asking for it!" Dabble and Julio got into their usual bickering session with a few violent nudges from time to time as they danced around Ares'' unconscious body. Normally this would be considered a strange sight but the disciples of the forging department were used to squabbles of this nature so they mostly just ignored it. Previously it had just been Dabble and Julio involved but, now that there was a third person, the dynamic had changed slightly and it gave them a slightly different form of amusement. It was like season two of a sitcom in which a new character joined after arriving in the neighbourhood so a few of the disciples even took a break to chew on some popcorn and watch the theatrics. Julio the pointy eared freakshow, Dabble the dwarf, and Ares the ringmaster... Why the forging department devolved into a circus no one knew but Rud, who happened upon this scene, ran away from it immediately and decided to come back when it was less crowded. Ares feared spiders, Rud feared Ares. Everything in life had a natural predator. In a bizarre twist of fate; Julio''s was Dabble, and Dabble''s was Julio, meaning their back and forth antics would basically never end unless someone else got involved. Until Ares woke up again, this was going to remain the status quo for a good while...

 Chapter 187: The Results of the Elder’s Experiments

    All manner of racial slurs were flung between Julio and Dabble as their arguing went long into the afternoon. Funnily enough though their relation wasn''t as bad as other dwarf and elf duos, if you could believe it. Most times it would be violence on sight and dwarves / elves had quite a a knack for killing one another. All in all, Dabble and Julio could be considered ''peaceful'' when compared to the norm... Even if they were currently yelling at one another in broad daylight...


    "POINTY MENACE!"


    "WEE NONCE!"


    "SPIDERS!"


    ""Spiders?"" Julio and Dabble came to a ceasefire as Ares woke up shouting in-between them. He''d sprung up from the floor and very nearly headbutt Dabble. Of course the fact that was even a potential risk in the first place was thanks to Dabble''s uninspiring height but Julio was too preoccupied with Ares right now to comment on it.


    "Ah to hell wit ye both. Come down to me personal forge and we can keep yapping there. We already made enough of a fuss up ''ere and disturbed teh disciples. Let''s not cause anymore of a scene than we already ''ave." Dabble kicked Julio in the ankle for good measure before disappearing down the stairs. Julio kissed his teeth and went to follow but he saw Ares, out the corner of his eyes, with his hand extended. Ares was seemingly asking for help standing up so Julio extended his own hand, helped Ares get half way up, and the pushed him back down again while he ran away giggling. Ares went to stand up again but he was zapped as soon as his hand touched the floor because Julio had sneakily left a shock rune on Ares'' palm before... And now Ares was pissed! He swore vengeance would be his as he descended into the bricky depths of the forgery department, all the while concocting various ways to get back at Julio. Ares made his way to the bottom of the stairs and pointed at the still-giggling elf.


    "Alright punk, from now on your official name is Foolio!"


    "Eh?" Julio almost gagged on his saliva when he heard his new nickname. Worse still, Dabble chuckling to himself meant this wasn''t just some one time thing that was going to be an Ares exclusive... Before long the entire sect would be calling him Foolio! Even if he got down on his knees and begged, it might work in dissuading Ares... But the chuckling dwarf could not be stopped any longer! Curse you, Ares... Curse you. Though Foolio wagged his fist at Ares, he only cursed him inwardly lest the dastardly kid had any more devastating tools in his arsenal ready to deploy.


    Seeing that Foolio had gotten the message, Ares ended his revenge here. He had more in stock but this would do for now... Although he did also give him another warning just in case the thought of fighting back ever appeared in Julio''s cranium. "You weren''t at the match today, right? The runemancer who took your job was helping a team cheat so his position should have opened up. In other words, I got you your job back and the C.O ought to be contacting you about it sometime soon. Of course, should push come to shove, I can always intercept them and let them know you aren''t a good candidate? They technically owe me big time for exposing the mess going on under their noses and I''m sure I could encourage them to search elsewhere for a runemancer?"


    Thud


    Julio fell to both his knees and clasped his hands together to beg with his all. "Have mercy! You win. You win! I''ll be a good boy!"


    Julio clearly didn''t mean it in that way but Ares had called his wives good girl one too many times to not be at least a little uncomfortable with this so he cringed at the display and shooed Julio away with a frown. "Alright alright. I get it! You''re repenting! Take those puppy eyes somewhere else, they''re making me sick!" Ares leapfrogged over Julio''s bowed head and moved onwards to Dabble''s workbench. Atop the bench were a number of artifacts, all swords, that Dabble had been experimenting with in his own time. Ares could sense varying degrees of pressure hammered into each of them and they all appeared stable. Of course that could change during usage but that was why Dabble had been testing them, to make sure they didn''t.


    "The results here are varied, laddie, so let me go through everything one by one. I''ll refer to artifacts by number so as not to confuse ye. Artifact one has teh least amount of pressure ''n'' it and works perfectly well. As teh amount of pressure is so low it barely makes much of a difference in the big picture but it does help. Artifact two has considerably more pressure and, for a while, felt like teh perfect stopping point. There was no loss of functionality with teh weapon and the benefit  it provided was huge. A single swing with artifact two, from the same laddie who tested artifact one, was roughly 1.5 times more powerful overall. For an average cultivator, dis''ll do nicely. Teh sect disciples ''n'' what not''ll get good use out of artifcats like this. Artifact three is where things start to get a wee bit tricky so I''ll skip it fer a sec'' and explain artifact four... Which is missing from this table ''cos the damn thing went and blew up. Artifact four could nae handle teh pressure and broke, unleashing the stored up pressure like a bomb. Ye could maybe use artifact four as a template for an I.E.D but as a weapon it failed right from teh get go. So then if artifact three didn''t go kablooey like four, ye would think it would be usable, right? Well sometimes it is... It''s a bit wobbly if ye don''t have the strength to wield it so the test laddie could nae even swing it without missing the target. I gave three a go meself and I could swing it just fine, however, so I thought it was jus'' a matter of cultivation. That muppet o''er there, Foolio, tried swinging it and failed though... As it turns out, there are multiple factors that go into whether ye can wield a highly pressurised artifact. The reason I could wield three was ''cos I used my own pressure in creating the artifact. Seems it didn''t much like Julio, making it lash out... Not that I can blame it... Anyway, if ye use yer own pressure it should be ok provided the artifact doesn''t break like four. Also, if yer pressure is stronger than that of the owners, ye can steal and use it too. Give it a go laddie."


    As Dabble gestured to artifact three, Ares picked it up and had to immediately settle it down with his pressure. The spastic bucking was hard to control, like trying to rodeo with a wild, enraged bull but Ares did calm it on the spot as soon as his pressure touched it. Dominus'' bloodline meant that Ares would never struggle with this and that was nice to know. He would never attempt to steal an artifact and have it leap out of his hands mid fight on his watch, no sir. Putting that aside, the weapon itself was a fierce one; that much Ares could tell now that it was resting calmly in his hand. It was multiple times sharper than a regular old sword and managed to remain light despite the power Ares could feel bubbling away inside it. This was a good artifact and anyone at around Ares'' cultivation level would be happy to have it... If they could use it, anyway. "Seems grand to me. Of course most people will have to just be satisfied with artifact two. As for what happened with four, that doesn''t fill me with confidence, to say the least. If normal pressure was too much then annihilation pressure will certainly go overboard."


    "Yes and no. There are more tests still being run but I can share the details of what I''ve found so far even if the swords themselves aren''t here right now. Artifact five used the same amount of pressure as number four but I changed the metal the sword was made out of, replacing it with something a bit more sturdy. This time, it worked and was stronger than artifact three by a considerable margin. Three would be good for someone like ye, but five would be almost at teh level where an elder would like to own such a beast. What this tells me is that provided ye can find the right material, imbuing yer special pressure might actually be feasible. Ye would need to search high and low though, maybe even venturing up into Vraizon to come across such a rare and valuable material... Or perhaps not as maybe a different approach would work for ye.


    Artifact 7... Well it was actually a treasure so I''ll refer to it as treasure 7 for clarity''s sake. Treasure 7 showed yet another improvement and could hold even more pressure without going bust. Plus there was a massive benefit the artifacts didn''t have, and that was that it stopped absorbing pressure altogether when it was filled to the brim. Ye needn''t worry about smushing yer pressure into treasures ''cos they''ll simply cap out when hitting the max load like a big fella at an all you can eat buffet. If it''s an artifact, ye need be careful and pay attention to teh state of yer creation but if it''s a treasure? Go all in from teh start and ye ought to be golden. Treasure 8 was a personal treasure and this was were things got interesting. Personal treasures can take teh most pressure but the pressure need come from teh owner as it does nae accept anyone else''s. Ye can''t borrow it teh someone else wit more pressure than ye and ''ave ''em load it up for ye, so it''s unfortunate in that regard, but the increase in overall effectiveness is typically higher than that of a normal treasure. So long story short, ye ought to be able to use normal pressure for ye artifacts and annihilation pressure for ye treasures. Yer personal treasures will be where this trick really shines so I would recommend ye start there as ye can get a hand of the process ''n'' also imbuing pressure into treasures can take a fair bit o'' time. Might as well get teh stronger tools in yer arsenal all buffed up before teh others. The personal treasure took a whopping two whole days ''n'' even then it was looking like there was room for more. There are still some specifics we don''t yet know so maybe ye''ll figure them out on ye own. For instance, we dun know if a personal treasure can store more pressure depending on who teh owner is. As ye have incredible pressure mastery, maybe yer personal treasures can take more pressure than if they were wielded by someone else? We can nae test it though so it remains speculation for now. Also, yer annihilation mana is an anomaly so we ''aven''t the foggiest on what will happen when ye mess wit it. Ye should start with personal treasures ye don''t care as much for lest something goes wrong. I wash me hands of any responsibility as I simply forwarded teh test results to ye and gave me opinion on them."


    Ares nodded as he understood blaming Dabble for something he couldn''t even possibly test was unfair. The issue here was that Ares didn''t have any personal treasures he didn''t care about as they were all mythical items or held a lot of personal value... Still, he needed to do this, considering how vast the improvements were shaping up to be, so he figured he could start with the Zephyr and see how things go. "No that''s quite alright. You''ve done more than enough good work here as is. I''ll be sure to report back with any new information once I''m done imbuing my treasures with pressure. Again, thank you for doing this while you were already busy."


    "Ah, think nuffin of it. This benefits me too, as well as the sect, so I''m more than happy to give it a crack and a whirl here and there. If ye get time to spare in teh future, would ye mind coming down here for some experiments with that annihilation pressure o'' yours? Would be real swell to see what happens under various conditions."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Of course, by all means. Over the next few weeks I''ll pop in occasionally when I''m free... And now for Foolio..." Ares turned around only to find Julio ''swinging'' artifact three... Although really it was more like the weapon was swinging itself and Julio just so happened to have his hand on the handle. He clearly couldn''t control it or overwrite Dabble''s pressure no matter how hard he tried... "Oi! Elf! Put the floppy sword down!" Ares, when Julio ignored him and kept playing with the toy, used his telekinesis to shake the damn thing out of his hands and launch it across the room. Julio let out an audible sigh of disappointment before turning towards the fun killer himself.


    "Ares! I was playing with that!"


    "Don''t you still have that brand new axe? Why not play with that instead! Don''t tell me you''ve gotten bored of it already!"


    "Nah, but it doesn''t jump around like artifact three does! Holding it feels funny, like a bloodthirsty sword with a mind of its own... I''ll see if I can steal it from Dabble at a later date. Heh, if I bury it in a stone I can rope some suckers into paying me stardust at a chance to try pulling it out! Or maybe treat it like some kind of divine test! ''If you are chosen by the legendary wiggle sword, it shall stop struggling in thy grasp and become your eternal reward!''"


    "Scammer." Ares singular, blunt, word burrowed into Julio''s brain. ''Foolio the scammer'' was not a nickname he wanted!


    "Ok ok ok. I won''t do that! Fine! You win again! Cease your assault on my reputation!"


    "I''m not assaulting anything you muppet, you''re doing this to yourself! Ah whatever, sell the disciples snake oil on your own time. How did the whole bundle of runes that I gave you shape up? Anything interesting in there? I haven''t had a chance to check them myself thoroughly as of yet so I''m curious as to your opinion on them."


    Clearing his throat, and pulling out a notepad from his spatial ring while donning a pair of reading glasses, Julio began narrating his findings in a surprisingly professional manner. Whether Julio actually had a serious side to him, or this was some kind of elaborate bit to prank Ares, he didn''t know. Anyway, his findings on the runes were as such... "Although there were a bunch of runes, most of them were just variations of the same seven things. For the purpose of keeping it short and sweet, I''ll only discuss the seven main runes and not the variants as you can play around with that in your own time. I''ll be taking the Dabble approach and numbering them for clarity''s sake. Ahem. Rune one! A defensive runic setup for large areas such as sects or clans! Fairly self explanatory but it can defend against large attacks and keep out those who are not permitted to enter. This will be a pretty big upgrade to what our sect currently has..."


    "What does it have right now?" Ares was unaware of the current security system. He knew Slick was working overtime but the fact there was more was surprising to Ares who hadn''t seen head or tail of it!


    "Right now, the sect has nothing!"


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Well that would certainly explain why Ares hadn''t ''seen head or tail of it''... There was actually nothing defending them from the outside! Sure a barrier, even a flimsy one, would still be pricey but, considering the sect''s overall ranking, surely one should have been affordable?! "There''s really nothing other than Slick? Isn''t that asking for trouble? How has no one ever made a ruckus here?"


    "It''s mostly because the C.O wouldn''t stand for it. Although we don''t officially co-operate with them, they really do want Yulo and everyone else knows it. If someone came knocking on our front door the C.O would come to our ''rescue'' and expect Yulo to owe them a massive favour in return. Ironically, the threat of the C.O has prevented any intruders so their own willingness to defend us has backfired on them tremendously! They want to help for their own benefit but wanting to help means everyone else doesn''t want to get involved! Heh, Yulo played them pretty good. Anyway, though we''re strong, we''ve always lacked resources. Wasting what we had on a crappy barrier when we already had the C.O towering behind us was pointless. Now that we have these runes, though, they are definitely going to be something worth investing in. Of course coming into more stardust as of late, because of a certain someone..." Julio nudged Ares on the shoulder. "... Means we can do this without worrying about going bankrupt! Hooray for money!"


    "That''s wonderful news. I take it the runes are highly effective?"


    "Mhm, hella good stuff. The kinda stuff you would never find anywhere in a domain like ours. Hell even Vraizon would kill for these bad boys. Any of the four matriarchs would be overjoyed to have runes like these up their sleeves. When we finally get around to throwing up the barrier we''ll become talk of the town in a matter of minutes. Globally we might even have people come to visit purely as a tourist attraction; it''s shaping up to be that special. Ah but the special runes don''t end there! Rune two is effectively an enhanced Training Field. It has way more functions than the normal ones we use on a regular basis. You can store a person''s data and form a clone of them to set up like a trial kinda thingy with it. You can also mess with all sorts of fun settings like temporarily swapping pillar affiliation or granting people access to rare treasures and so on. Inside the Training Field, someone could potentially mess around with your destruction pillar and Black Ice Bane, for example, if it was set up right. Then there are settings like gravity, changing the scenery, and simulating various historical events like wars etc. It should be called a Simulated Field if anything because the wide range of options is extensive and the name is more fitting. Both in terms of individual training, and sparring, it offers so much more than the Training Field and it''s really sweet. Hosting tournaments inside the Simulated Field, that can be anything from racing across a map to fighting monsters in time trials, is more than doable with this new rune setup. Seriously, we can even create clones of all our elders and have the disciples fight equalised versions of them to make it fair. Plus clones can have personalities so the elders can simultaneously teach all of our disciples this way. Although the barrier is showier, this is actually probably the most important of all the runes and is a real God-send. The capabilities of this thing is never ending and we can effectively program it to augment reality in countless ways. It will be a major draw to our sect as soon as we get it done but it will still take a long while for me to learn how to set it up. Ah but you can maybe help with that here and there when you aren''t busy? It would be much appreciated."


    Ares gave a nod to indicate he would be more than happy to help. "For something as important and useful as that, I''ll lend some aid whenever I have time to spare. It would be incredibly valuable for me too as I could train against myself. No disrespect to anyone but no one I''ve met so far, other than Veteran, is really worth the time. Everyone needs to be given a cultivation advantage, at which point it isn''t about technique or skill anymore and who can overpower who first. That isn''t worth anything to me. As I have Dominus'' varied fighting style I can test a number of different situations and fighting styles against myself on repeat. It might sound arrogant but the sooner I can square off against myself, the better."


    "Uh, well, fuelling your ego aside, it would also be good for literally everyone else... So yeah! Again, really high level stuff you gave me. Whoever borrowed you these must be really fond of you to give out such rare secrets?"


    "A future wife so yes. Although, that being said, I don''t know how much of this is actually considered ''rare'' where she comes from. I think she''s far more talented than even these runes let on, it''s just that the resources to copy her specialties don''t even exist down here so she went easy on the runes. Still, this kind of runemancy / technology existing just about everywhere in the upper domains... What a sight that must be. How advanced they are compared to the rest of us almost feels a little unfair..."


    "Yeah, no, I don''t wanna hear that from a fundamental champion... Pot calling the kettle black, you know? Anyway... Rune three! A prison, basically. Anyone who we trap inside it is never leaving without our say so. It also comes with various torture methods like shocking and poisoning... A bit grim but a direct upgrade to our detention facility. We''ve never had to ''imprison'' anyone but, hey, the more tools at our disposal the merrier! Rune four! A, giant, fucking, cannon!"


    "... You seem to be enjoying the prospect of that one more than the others..."


    "Hell yeah! Giant cannon! Giant cool! It''ll be like a game of tower defence! Man I wanna pilot it so bad and give it a test run.... Unfortunately Yulo told me I won''t ever have permission to sit in it and fire it for some reason? I think that''s unfair, frankly... Well whatever, when you become the sect master you can sneak me in! Rune five! Various trap runes. They can be placed inside the sect and only go off when they''re ready and primed to deal with invaders. It''s like a second layer of defence that can also catch out anyone who sneaks their way in past the barrier. Not that they have to be used inside the sect, specifically, just that it seems like the most optimal use. Of course as long as you know the formation and have the necessary stardust you can create this bad boy anywhere and at anytime! Rune six! Crop and farming runes! Benefits the sect''s productivity by an amount that is, quite frankly, ludicrous! We can become entirely self reliant with these runes and even expand the grocery shop in the sect. Plus it can become the start of many varied businesses in the sect which could net us plenty of stardust from homegrown products. It''s not really an interesting rune compared to the others but it''s worth isn''t to be underestimated! Rune seven!... Uh, I think this one was meant more for you than for anyone else... It helps with fun time in the bedroom. It''s like a Swiss army knife rune for a bedroom that creates mood lighting, unleashes some aphrodisiac into the room, and can even store and play romantic music... Uh, yeah... Not exactly something that can benefit the sect unless we build a brothel or something..."


    Ares smiled wryly at the description of that last rune. It wasn''t even one for him, it seemed to be a gift tailored to Enyo if anything. It seemed Candy had taken a liking to the mistress of the harem and gave a parting offering to her through Ares after she barged into the floor way back when. Now the only question was whether Ares should show Enyo this rune or not. Installing it would take a while and Ares had better things to do... But if Enyo found out he was hiding it, Ares would never hear the end of it! Maybe he could find some middle ground and only install it when he finally moved into the sect master''s pagoda? At least then he wouldn''t need to keep redoing it all the time whenever he moved residence... Actually, this might even be a method of getting Enyo into runemancy. If she knew runes were capable of such feats she would inevitably dedicate time and effort to learning them. It was like dangling a carrot on a stick sometimes with this woman!


    Ignoring Enyo for the moment, these runes were a huge deal. What they provided was no small boon as no other sect in the nearby planets, not even domains, would have access to the tools Heaven''s path would. Again, this would draw in so many new applicants that the cost of setting them up would pay for itself in due time. These runes would aid the sect''s growth by an inestimable amount and, as the future sect leader, Ares was very pleased. He thanked Candy inwardly for her foresight on this matter as she''d done him a great favour in all this. She basically compiled a list of everything that could catapult a sect to greatness, minus the bedroom rune, and gifted Ares a starter pack...Thinking this just made Ares want to see her again and give her a big old hug... It was a reminder he needed to speed things up and deal with everything inside this barrier pronto! The outside world awaited him! Not that they would be quite so keen if they knew what kind of annoying person Ares was... But that was something they could figure out on their own eventually! Or, well, that was what Ares thought. what he''d forgotten about was that his clone would be more than capable of spreading the ''word'' itself... Many people were going to go on to form long term grudges with Ares because of that stupid clone...

 Chapter 188: The Matriarchs’ New Tutor, Part 1

    And with that, Ares was done with Foolio and Dabble. The two were itching to get back to their squabbling, Ares could see it in their eyes, so he bid them goodbye and slipped back upstairs. As he left, he could hear them bickering about ownership of artifact three and Ares couldn''t help but feel sorry for the disciples on the off chance Julio got a hold of it... The amount of stardust they were going to be conned out of was not minor... Still, if you fell for a scam run by Julio of all people then you probably deserved it. Any sane person wouldn''t trust Julio as far as they could throw him.


    Before Ares managed to escape the forgery department, he''d been somehow roped into giving more autographs... The disciples wanted them to sell at a later date when Ares became a legendary figure... If these had been some random nobodies Ares wouldn''t have agreed to this request but, seeing as how they were disciples of what would one day be his sect, helping them earn some stardust wasn''t a problem... Although surely this was highly unethical? Ares decided not to dwell on the matter because, really, since when did he care about being ethical? If anything, he should go walking around the sect more and offering his autograph to anything with a pulse! Unless it looked like a spider... Ares still hadn''t forgotten about the rak''ne! Ares was seriously going to Grand Annihilation the thing on sight... Maybe even a Perish Wheel for good measure... Whoever this rak''ne was better be very good at dodging for their own sake!


    Meanwhile, as Ares double, if not triple, checked every corner of the inner court for spiders as he was on his way back home, the matriarchs were gathering at the pagoda to test just how ridiculous Ares was. Sure they''d seen his hand, first hand, but they wanted to know what it was like to be on the receiving end of it. They all had room to grow in terms of pressure manipulation so learning some stuff here was very much a worthwhile endeavour for them. Ares seemed to be preoccupied with a million and one other things right now so hassling him, when they could just pay his clone a visit, was the right way to go about it. Plus the clone had infinite time at its disposal and could teach them all simultaneously. Also the major draw was that this clone would basically never return to Ares and share its memories so Ares would never know they showed up here... It being revealed that all four of them got their asses beat by him was something they would never live down. Still, tutelage for pressure manipulation was more important and so the clone in the pagoda could give them all the snark it wanted because it would never escape from the pagoda. Calla wasn''t particularly worried about it though as she was confident her baby wouldn''t insult her! Rhea, Serene, and Margaret would almost definitely not be so lucky... After all, although they would definitely make Ares, the real one, pay afterwards, the clone wouldn''t give a damn... It would throw real Ares underneath the bus so it could have fun at the matriarchs'' expense as it wasn''t him getting punished after all! A right devious bastard Ares could be, even towards himself!


    As the matriarchs had a connection to Ares, even if some of them only indirectly, they were allowed to bypass the queue... Not before handing over the stardust, though! Even if the Gods themselves showed up they would have to pay! And actually, that had been quite a funny sight back when it did happen. Something about demanding Ject pay 100 mid grade stardust in broad daylight, making him seem like a stingy bastard for trying to refuse, made for a hilarious story that frequently did the rounds at the higher ends of cultivation society. Of course the Gods all laughed at him until it was their turn to cough up the fee and suddenly that same embarrassment was transferred to everyone else as well. Even when Terros went inside the pagoda with Mako he was treated as a separate entity and had to pay too... Nickled and dimed... Hell if Transmit had paid more attention, and noticed Rox when he kept respawning outside the pagoda, they probably would have charged Ares double too... They were bloodthirsty! No wonder they were able to make so much profit at such a cheap price... They didn''t charge much for any of their services but boy did they charge often.


    Rhea entered first and found Ares lounging in the sun, underneath a tree, as a few birds hovered around him. He was chatting with them about how many people they''d shat on today... Why the floor simulated that during Ares'' downtime was anyone''s guess. Perhaps he set it that way to keep himself entertained? It''s not like they were real people so it was technically fine? As long as they disappeared before the fight started then who cared, really? In doing this, Ares had also learnt that Veteran could have summoned his war-dead buddies from the past but must have opted not to as he didn''t want to relive those mental scars.


    Upon seeing his new visitor, Ares mouth slowly widened into that of a malicious grin and he said a single word that would all but doom outside Ares to the most catastrophic beating yet... "DiarRhea!" Unfortunately for real Ares, he hadn''t forgotten about this stupid joke from back in Baja... And now his clone was taking advantage of that small detail to rile up his opponent... Clone Ares was genuinely curious if Rhea would blow her top and kill real Ares for this. Probably not but the current look in her eyes was glorious and hinted at the possibility! The clone Ares belly laughed and rolled around on the floor. It had been getting the most kicks of its life as of late, insulting everyone who came his way now that he was literally unstoppable in this room! No one could beat him and therefore no one could shut his foul mouth! It had been a while since Ares let loose his inner devil and gone balls to the walls but, in here? He was free to do as he pleased without any repercussions whatsoever! Real Ares? He could deal with the real problem! Wasn''t any of clone Ares'' concern!


    Rhea was seething somewhat but seemed relatively unbothered compared to how Ares thought she would react. "Ares, you are the biggest turd of them all! If I don''t take vengeance on the you outside then my name isn''t Rhea!"


    "Eh? You''re taking it well? I remember Enyo telling me you''d bite my head off, or something akin to it, if I ever said that to you... I mean your reaction was fantastic but it was missing that extra oomph, you know?"


    "Yeah, well, you asshole, turns out hearing the same joke for the millionth time makes you numb to it. You think you''re the first kid to have tossed that name around? But you know what? Every single kid that said it to me when I was younger went home crying to their parents with a busted nose! See if I don''t break even more of the real Ares'' bones! He''s older than the other kids I beat senseless, he can handle losing a few more than they did! And you''re a revenant too so I can be extra generous with my dollops of wallops!"


    "Fair enough. While you''re at it, give him an extra punch in the face and tell him I send my regards!"


    "... You are a twisted motherfucker... The real you isn''t this consistently unhinged so what gives?"


    "Hmm, I guess it''s just nice to finally be free? Free of duty, free of my work, free of expectations. I have nothing in here but time and there are no life-changing decisions I have to make. It''s all quite simple and I can just relax and have fun so it''s kinda like having a weight lifted. I wish the real me luck but I don''t envy him. I know I''ll get bored in here but at least I won''t be out there, dealing with all the crap he has to. I''m in the eye of the hurricane! So yeah, I feel a bit more spritely... Does get a bit boring in here... I should have asked for some board games or something... Not that anyone would be willing to play with me, I don''t think. Messing with people is its own reward though so que sera, sera. If I find myself entertained by my guests then lucky me!"


    "Hmph, you almost make me pity you. Whatever, I assume you know why I''m here?"


    "Yep yep. I can teach you pressure enhancement, if you don''t already know it, and how to use it to its full potential. If you haven''t learned enhancement, and you''re talented enough, you could maybe even get 100% Not likely though as the requirements are quite strict..."


    "Unfortunately I''ve already done my enhancement. It''s at 60%"


    Ares whistled to himself. "That''s actually an incredible number for someone in a lower domain, supposedly. Congratulations. I guess we''ll work on preventing any leakages as well as controlling it flawlessly. If your control is rough it might feel straight up worse than just not using it and that''s no good!"


    Rhea eyed up Ares and scrutinised his cultivation. "Why are you 36 stages below me? I know the pagoda is supposed to equalise our cultivations so what gives? Did it bug out? Heh, can I sneak in a win and become the new queen of the pagoda?"


    Ares raised an eyebrow. He''d been intending on checking Rhea''s enhancement first and foremost but if, like Sadie, she needed to be taught a harsh lesson first... Then Ares could oblige! "If that''s what you think, then would you care to give it a try? No point in improving your enhancement if you can beat me, the number one pressure wielder, after all!"


    "I''m starting to think this is all a load of crock. Sure, alright, let''s do this. So how do we start? Just go at it whenever or what? A bell gonna ring or..." Rhea''s line of questioning was brought to an abrupt halt when Ares gave her the Veteran treatment and launched a pre-emptive attack. He spared no effort either and the annihilation enhancement was out in full display right now. the punch felt like it was travelling in slow motion but Rhea''s response was somehow even slower. Under the weight of the golden aura, she couldn''t even really lift her arms to defend so she had to bear the brunt of the punch in her face. She mistakenly assumed that being that many stages down meant Ares wouldn''t be able to kill her. Of course that was the last thought that ran through her head before Ares'' fist did and she was unceremoniously booted outside the pagoda...


    As with Sadie, her head was still spinning and she felt like vomiting with how dizzy her vision was. Even when drunk she''d never felt like this and it was an entirely new feeling... And a wholly unpleasant one at that. More than anything, though, she was just confused. Taking in the golden enhancement aura during the tournament match had been tolerable because of the overwhelming difference in cultivation. It was still effective against her, due to Dominus'' bloodline, but not to the same extent it was to everyone else. Rhea had clearly been mistaken about how insane the aura was because even just the split second of it in the pagoda was enough to turn her worldview upside down almost literally. Never in her life had she seen anything quite like it and she understood what it was like to feel truly overpowered by someone stronger than she was. Calla sort of emulated that feeling but fights against her were still closer than the fight she just had with Ares. She would pick a fight with sadistic Calla over smug Ares any day of the week if that was the kind of strength he was packing. At least against Calla, Rhea actually got a chance to participate in the fight and maybe swing a fist or two. If she had her magic she would do marginally better against Ares but wasn''t this completely unbelievable? Even with that much of a cultivation gap he was able to overpower her to that extent? Yes her ability to resist his golden aura would go up with constant exposure to it, and developing her own enhancement further would help alleviate the issue, but what about people who didn''t get more than one shot against Ares? People he killed during his first encounter with them? Honestly, even without his destruction pillar, Ares would be a nightmare just off the back of his pressure alone. Granted it was the annihilation mana that was truly special but it''s not like his regular pressure was slacking either. This was a good thing right now, though, as it meant Rhea had found a good teacher. Having connections to a person like this was only ever beneficial as she could get pointers that were top of the shelf. Keeping that in mind, and trying to distract herself from the crushing defeat she''d just suffered, she stood up and marched back inside!


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    She was sent spiralling through the portal and was met by a smug Ares who''s face was so, SO punch-able right now... Unfortunately, after that last exchange, Rhea was painfully aware she couldn''t do it. There probably wasn''t anyone that could get a meaningful punch in on this Ares so that did slightly alleviate the grudge she bore. Treating Ares like an unavoidable natural calamity was for the best. A volcanic eruption that wiped out you house? A snowstorm that locked everyone inside a building for days on end? Pagoda Ares? Disasters, all of them! Of them all, the one that brought the greatest destruction was Ares but, thankfully, he was very easy to avoid. You didn''t need a forecast for him because he only ever existed in one place even if he was a permanent fixture. "Alright you bastard, I get the message. I''ll drop the arrogance so teach me already."


    "Aw, damn. And here I thought you''d stubbornly keep marching to your death for a few more hours. I know Legion women can be bull-headed, Bellona especially, so I wasn''t expecting you to fold this quickly."


    Rhea shrugged. "I know when I''m beat. We Legion are stubborn but not to a fault... At least not all of us...If anything, the clan only became like that after Major took charge but, well, you know... So come on, what do I gotta do?"


    "Show me your enhancement and I''ll give it a once over to see what needs to be fixed." At Ares'' behest, Rhea covered herself in a shaky, partially unfilled silver outline. Ares nodded and asked her to move which caused all kinds of flickering to occur with the enhancement. No wonder Rhea didn''t bother with her enhancement, it was garbage! At least compared to Ares'', anyway. And still Rhea would be considered one of the top 10 pressure wielders across Sheryashka and Vraizon... These were lower domains so mastery was typically built on a severe lack of knowledge. Not many could use pressure and even fewer actually had any talent. Combine that with a lack of Dominus-tier cultivators to pass around tips and it was just a bunch of babies figuring out how to walk and speak without any input from a parent. Stumbling over each step and ending up with a half-baked ''success'' was the inevitable end result of the environment they learned in.


    Ares initially didn''t realise just how different he was compared to the average, especially the average around these lower domains. An average cultivator, one capable of wielding pressure, outside would have less pressure percentage than Rheas but way better control. 35% with a bit of leakage was considered the basics for anyone serious about cultivation. Despite her position within these domains, rhea would be a laughing stock in the outside world due to her awful control... In her defence though, if it was known what conditions she achieved her pressure under, people may actually do a 180 on their opinion and consider her a genius. She''d basically learned to swim in a drought. Though Rhea wasn''t the most talented cultivator ever, she wasn''t on the lower end of the scale at least. Of the matriarchs, overall, she was second strongest, beaten only by the anomaly that was Calla. Calla, in fact, was so strong that she was inching dangerously close to achieving an apotheosis form. It typically happened during a specific cultivation realm but it wasn''t impossible to retroactively gain it later. Calla had hit a cultivation wall and if she could overcome it then she would become an even more horrifying existence. Rhea couldn''t beat her as is so Calla''s dominance doubling would actually be a worrying matter that could create tensions amongst the clans again. Thankfully the stupid mutt-ess was aware of what earning an apotheosis form meant and was holding back a little. She was annoying, like all good revenants were, but she wasn''t selfish or unable to read a room. Besides, she had an eternity to go that extra step and she wasn''t in a rush.


    Ares had finished diagnosing the issue with Rhea''s pressure manipulation and gave her the unfiltered verdict. "Rhea, your control is abysmal. I''m not being rude or trying to goad you, it''s just awful. I''m not even kidding you when I say it''s somehow worse than Enyo''s. She has an unusual way of benefitting from her atrocious control but I''m going to assume you don''t so fixing it is going to be a multiple year endeavour. It is worth your time, the only problem is you''re going to have to woman up and face the real Ares head on. Granted he''ll be busy but, after ascending to Vraizon, and dealing with all his problems and goals there, he can help you after. I can give you pointers to work on now, and homework to do later, but you''ll need follow-up sessions even further down the line."


    "It''s that bad?!"


    "Yes. maybe even worse. To put it into perspective... Imagine trying to put a pin through a needle while blindfolded..."


    "That doesn''t sound too bad?"


    "... No, that''s not the point. You threw the pin away after getting fed up with it, whipped out a hammer, and have been smacking the needle until it bent out of shape. Not only is the needle in need of fixing, but the pin was thrown into an ocean somewhere and you''re going to have do some digging to find it again... The ''needle'' are your pathways that have been battered by numerous failed attempts and needs to be healed by circulating mana through them in a specific way. That''s simple and will just take some time. If you cultivate in seclusion regularly you can maybe fix that issue in about a year or two. It also doesn''t stop you from using enhancement anyway, it''s just going to be a wonky and weak until then. Still, a weak enhancement is better than none and training in the mean time is invaluable. You''ll still be miles ahead of the rest of the pack even with such a massive disadvantage. That''s the needle... As for the ''pin'', this matter is a bit more tricky. The ''pin'' is your mana. You were mixing it with pressure and trying to jam it into your body which is correct but you seem to have stopped and restarted the process multiple times. Starting it up is both painful and problematic but, provided you don''t do it too many times, shouldn''t be an issue... You must have been too busy to focus on enhancement calibration as you should have and caused issues by never dedicating the proper amount of time to the process?"


    "..." Rhea scratched her head. "Uh, yeah, it was annoying and got on my nerves ''cos of how long it took. It was about three weeks total and this was back during the time you died so I was busy trying to console Calla. I wasn''t in the right head space to do it but I didn''t want to restart by giving up entirely so I kept at it. Bringing myself to do it was hard and there were so many times I wanted to check up on Calla that it became a real muddled mess... So how screwed am I?"


    "I would argue not very, it''s just that this step is a pain in the neck. It won''t take longer than the mana circulating but it ought to be way more painful. By stopping and restarting so many times you created artificial blocks at each of your stopping points. Part of why I got 100% during calibration is because I never stopped... Because I wanted to cook the banquet in time... But that''s not the point! A few blockages aren''t important if you aren''t aiming to break records but the amount you have is actively interfering with your pressure routes. As the pressure sifts through more and more blockages, it becomes thinner and thinner, leading to a weaker enhancement overall. It will be choppy and cut out at times which is why you flicker instead of having a constant glow. Now to fix this you''re going to have to remove the extra blockages you have. You technically did better than 60% it''s just that your method screwed you. You can make it to roughly 70% and increase the potency of your enhancement if you remove those artificial blockages you created with all your pauses. They form for different reasons, like innate talent, bloodlines, etc... So you can''t remove all of them, just the ones causing your issue. To do that, you are going to have to pry them open with mana and that is going to be quite stressful and painful. Again, you don''t have to do this now. You can work on your ability to control leakage with me now if you''d prefer to do that other fix in your own time. Of course if you work on the blockages here I can give you what limited aid I can in locating said blockages. Finding them isn''t hard but might take you a day or so for each whereas I can do it instantly. The only thing you can''t do without me is get accustomed to your enhancement via training. It''s up to you how you want to go about this all. The pagoda is going to remain in Red Sun until the end of the tournament so how you allocate the remainder of my time here is your choice."


    Rhea sunk into deep thought and gave this matter consideration. Removing the blockages with the help of Ares would be quick but embarrassing. Screaming in pain in front of someone else when she could do it in private wasn''t appealing but him helping her locate them and giving an explanation of the process while it was happening was helpful... But she also needed to train to control her leakage as well as her efficiency with moving around while enhanced... Plus she needed to circulate mana to heal herself which was long but simple... Decisions decisions... "Ok... I think I''ve made up my mind for now at least. Right now I want to do training. Like you said, you aren''t leaving this place just yet. I can always choose to change up my goals whenever I want so let''s just stick with something simple for now and see how things go."


    Ares nodded and gave a thumbs up. "You''re the boss, boss lady. Oh and don''t worry, I''ll restrain myself and not punch you in the face... Well that''s not true, I definitely still will, I just meant I won''t hit you hard enough to make you explode like last time!" Ares liked his new found power to bully people! He was admittedly a little power drunk but, really, who was going to stop him?! No one! Ares, and the freedom to torment individuals at his discretion, was a hellish combination... But still, it was one people had to willingly subject themself to so Ares wasn''t tolerating any complaints right now! If they wanted to submit any, they could find his real body...

 Chapter 189: The Matriarchs’ New Tutor, Part 2

    In another instance of the same floor...


    "Serene, is it? Of all the matriarchs, I believe I''ve spoken with you the least. Then again I''ve spoken with your son plenty and he has the capacity to talk for two and then some. I''m guessing his first words came quickly? What were they? ''Me number one?''"


    Serene took a deep breath and reminded herself she was dealing with a revenant here. He wasn''t being too annoying just yet but he had it in him to pull the lever and switch from mostly harmless to downright pest at any given moment. "He has always been the way he is but perhaps that was my fault. When I discovered his pillar, and met with Terros who explained it all to me, I unintentionally got into the habit of calling him special. He''s my only son and I was happy to give birth so I got a bit big headed at the time. I was proud and went a bit too far in treating him like he was special. Don''t get me wrong, he is, but as a cultivator and not a regular elf. Although it''s a shameful past, and he doesn''t like to admit it, he used to be insufferably arrogant, distaining everyone around him. As a parent I understood my mistake and my duty was to correct his behaviour by spanking him when he was naughty. He did learn after a while but he was a right little tyrant way back when. Haha, it was kind of cute in hindsight, actually. Of course that was never the kind of child I wanted to raise, that stereotypical young master with narcissism running in his veins, so I made it clear to him the difference between arrogance and pride. Rather than abandon said arrogance, he simply converted it into excessive pride and that''s where his current personality comes from.


    I think it''s fine the way Mako is. He can be a bit blunt, and definitely aggravating to deal with at times, but he has a good heart and it''s in the right place. He just wants everyone to be the best they can be... Even if it''s only so that he can then be better than them and take the number one spot... But what he does for others is genuine. He''s hyper fixated but I think that''s fine as he''s a good kid and always funnels that fixation into bettering himself or the people around him. If you slack off often, I can think of no better mean-spirited cheerleader to give you a harsh but honest piece of encouragement. He doesn''t mince his words, and that can cause misunderstandings, but what he says is often valuable in its own right... Provided his pride isn''t on the line... He can be a bit of a liar in some situations... Again, never to anyone''s detriment though. Although it might sound immodest, I think I did an excellent job ironing out those negative traits that would have made him a terrible person. I realised that just giving birth wasn''t enough. I could feel proud in having done that, sure, but I needed to do more in shaping him as a functioning member of society before I could really feel like I earned that pride. I guess I also used to be a little arrogant. When I learned my child was ''better'' than those of the other matriarchs'' a part of me got a kick out of it. But as I went through Mako''s flaws, and saw them in myself, I knew we both needed to change."


    Ares sniffled and wiped a tear from his eye... One he''d pretty much forced out, and clapped his hands. "Wow. Just wow. I''m so glad that, after all your hard work, you and your son finally managed to act like every other normal human being on the planet. Truly an inspiration!" Serene''s blank stare was piercing but Ares just chuckled in response. "Ah lighten up, I''m messing with you. I may not think it''s admirable you had to change, but I do think it''s admirable you did change. Big difference! Also, saving the world as we know it from an arrogant Mako is something I personally will give you a massive ''thank you'' for. I''m the one that would have had to put up with it so you really have no idea how much this change you brought about in him is worth to me! But yeah, no, really swell job and I''m not being sarcastic this time. Being an asshole is fun but I know when to curb it and give actual praise. You made some mistakes, who hasn''t? But you fixed them without making excuses or trying to sweep them under the rug. You''re A-O.K in my book... Dunno about Mako though, I''m gonna have to dock points for being the way he is. Not that I should be one to complain about other people''s personalities considering how despicable mine is but I''m a revenant so double standards are acceptable when I do it. Anyway, you don''t need to tell me Mako is a good person, he makes that clear himself... If you can be bothered to listen to him for more than five minutes anyway. I can see why he''s struggled to get his true self across to people but there''s nothing wrong with it when he actually does. Given that the fundamental champions are going to be a relatively close-knit group, I think he''ll have a good set of comrades in us even if we do give him a bit of ribbing every now and then... Or at least I definitely will, that I can promise you. It''s like flipping a turtle onto its back and watching it squirm. Of course I would never actually do that to a poor widdle cute turtle but Mako is fair game and he''s just so easy to mess with."


    "Thank you. That''s reassuring. After everything is said and done, all I want for him is to be safe on his cultivation journey and to make a few friends here and there. I trust him to keep himself alive and I know Terros will steer him well so, although it might sound strange, I''m actually more worried about the latter half of my hopes for him. Knowing that you don''t hate him makes me happy. It can be hard to tell with a revenant if their pranks are a sign of affection of if they''re just generally being a nuisance so your confirmation has put me at ease. Mako had been talking about you a lot lately and it may very well be the first time I''ve ever heard him call another living person ''impressive''. Of course he would be remiss if he found I told you that so keep it a secret, ok? He wants to be number one but I know deep down he also just wants friends. His attitude early in life pushed everyone away so he''s always been a bit of a momma''s boy because I was one of the few people that gave him attention. Considering you and him are out to save the world and what not, I know this might sound like a silly request, but get along well with him please?"


    "Alright alright, no need to be so formal. Sure... Or rather, you must already know I''m going to anyway, right? I mean, the real me outside won''t know about this conversation so you have to be expecting the real me to do it already as is?"


    "Mhm. I don''t want to pressure you into agreeing to something you don''t want to but, for the sake of my son, I did also want to ask you. I figured this was the best way to gauge your response and see how you were planning on treating him without directly asking the real you. I''m glad. Thank you."


    "No need to thank me, I''m not getting along with Mako for anyone''s sake. At the end of the day, I choose who I interact with based on completely arbitrary criteria that suits my whims in the current moment. All I can say is that those whims only ever require the absence of specific traits, not the existence of any. As long as Mako doesn''t become the kind of person I hate then he can hang around all he wants. Hell I''ll even make soup for him occasionally. If he crosses any lines I''ll give him a warning but don''t expect me to be so lenient as to give him multiple. He may have been a problem child but he''s an adult now and needs to act like it with or without you. I can''t see him not showing the bare minimum respect and not acting like a decent person but, on the off chance he does, I''m not promising I''ll stick by him. Again. I don''t think he needs babying, I''m just saying I won''t do it. There are only so many lengths I''m willing to go to for someone who isn''t family."


    "That''s more than acceptable, I wouldn''t have it any other way. Besides, if he gets out of hand for whatever reason, I''ll be the one to set him straight. You can count on that... Also, before we got onto the whole pressure training thing... I''m sorry about the mecha-dryad. I never intended for anyone to discover it and knowing that it attacked not one, not even two, but three of the other matriarchs'' children is something I deeply regret. I was careless in my confidence that it wasn''t something anyone would locate but it got a bit excited and started exploring its surroundings instead of staying put like I ordered it to. Then it disturbed the local wildlife, which in turn affected various businesses, and then the rest of the story is as you know it with the sect''s mission hall putting out a request to investigate. It''s not much but I promise to keep the other one in check and, should you ever visit my home planet, I will offer you the finest hospitality I can give. You''re always more than welcome and should your exploits and adventures put you in a situation wherein you need to lay low for a while, you have an option in the Willow clan."


    "Much appreciated. Don''t worry too much about the mecha-dryad. Things happen and it wasn''t intentional so whatever. I had almost forgotten about it anyway. Did you ever get the corpse back?"


    "I did, yes, and I can make use of it. The generally agreed upon consensus that mecha-dryads are useless is false. The Willow clan has its own uses for them and so recovering the body is a fantastic development for us."


    "Lucky you... Is what I would say if you weren''t about to get pushed around by yours truly. You ready to get down to training? If you are, then could you show me the extent of your pressure manipulation please? If you can''t do enhancement, physical pressure will do and, if that''s also a no go, then just using your regular pressure on me will suffice for now." Ares saw Serene''s pressure start manifesting and he could tell she was easily the furthest behind in terms of pressure mastery. She wasn''t even capable of creating physical pressure yet which was rough. She''d ignored pressure in its entirety and only ever explored the basics. Even that was lacking as the amount of time it took her to summon pressure was impressive for all the wrong reasons. As in Ares was astonished it was possible for someone to take this long! Even though Ares'' pressure reserves were inside his heart he still managed it way quicker than this. Maybe there was something wrong? Ares paid close attention because he felt like something was definitely affecting Serene that needed to be addressed. He trained his eyes on her pressure and eventually figured it out but waited to say it until Serene finished summoning the pressure as he wanted her to use it on him. It would all but confirm his theory and he was curious to see what Serene''s pressure felt like given its strange nature. A few moments of waiting around later, she finally draped her pressure over him like a blanket and let it sit on his head. It felt like the kind of lemon-scented wet wipes you would get from a restaurant and was pleasantly warm and soothing on his soul. "Though your pressure control is most likely the weakest of the matriarchs, you have the most interesting pressure due to a bloodline... But it makes me wonder, doesn''t Mako possess it? I''ve fought against him and his pressure seemed normal?"


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    "He does have the bloodline it''s just yet to be awakened. I imagine he would have access to it already if it weren''t for his creation pillar affiliation overwriting his water pillar affiliation. Our bloodline is one that guarantees water pillar affiliation, usually, and mutates any water we touch but being a fundamental champion must have clashed with it and taken precedence. He can either wait until bloodline awakening for the bloodline to return to normal and start functioning again or he can use his ''prompt-potential pocket watch'' which is what I imagine he''s doing right now."


    "Sounds like some kind of rare cultivation resource?"


    "It is extremely rare according to Terros. He was shocked to find out such a thing even existed down here in the lower domains. Only a few had ever been found and not many people could even recognise them on sight due to how uncommon they are. Put simply, they allow you to cheat the cultivation requirements to unlock certain abilities. Most cultivation realms have a passive benefit. Sensory enhancement gives you divine sight, bloodline awakening / aspect assimilation awakens your bloodline and improves your magic by dying your blood in your affiliated mana, etc... Some of these passives are minor but there are a lot that are extremely important like the ones of the weaponised core realm, the legacy everlasting realm, and the apotheosis calling realm. Point being, the sooner you can raise your cultivation to these points, the better off you''ll be. What the pocket watch does is immediately give the user access to the passives of the next two cultivation realms directly above them. Mako is in sensory enhancement right now so he''ll gain the effects of bloodline awakening / aspect assimilation and transition. In other words, his magic power will spike considerably, his bloodline will reawaken, boosting his current pressure abilities as well as a few other minor things, and he''ll learn to fly.


    The pocket watch wouldn''t be a legendary treasure if that was all it did, though, and there''s a little more to it. It also increases a cultivators general stats such as physical strength, magical power, mana capacity, resilience, speed, brain power, etc... Pretty much a universal benefit across the board and it''s a sizable one too. The last benefit it provides is cultivation. The amount it gives is proportionate to how old you are. For instance, if you are 18 years old, it will give you the same amount of cultivation you would have gotten if you cultivated for eighteen days straight with no breaks. It also lowers the amount of cultivation needed to ascend the next two realms as you technically already have their passive benefits and are familiar with them internally. Naturally this is more beneficial to those who are older, in their millions, which is why this resource is such an incredible commodity in the realm of the Gods. As it becomes harder and harder to gain stages, a resource like this prematurely giving you access to massive benefits, and speeding up your cultivation drastically, is almost like a cure-all that fixes the painstaking process of cultivating in the highest realms. Gaining so much instantly puts a lot of stress on the body, depending on which realms you''re ''achieving early'', so Mako using it right now isn''t going to be easy on him. The transition realm is the first major realm that demarcates a clear distinction in cultivators. You can consider it the ''big leagues'' realm as it''s a place where some people start to struggle. It''s also where you''ll start occasionally dealing with tribulations every now and then; tests that will aim to smite you during cultivation and prevent you from going up stages and realms. Mako cheating such a massive hurdle will not be easy on him and I imagine it will be twenty to thirty times worse than if he just waited until he passed the transition realm... His stubbornness can move mountains."


    "I see... He might actually be a very real threat to me during our duel then. It''s a long list of advantages that, individually, aren''t anything too out of the ordinary but, when piling them all on top of each other, becomes one hell of a resource. I must admit I''m a bit jealous. Not that I have any right to complain seeing as how I''ve gotten my own special items here and there but, still, that''s just how it goes in the cultivation world, right? You find something great, look over at the next guy along, and he''s found something just as great if not greater... Although usually you''d then kill the guy and take it for yourself... That''s kind of a staple... Well anyway, lucky him. I look forward to our fight.


    That aside, let''s get back to your pressure. Normal pressure is aggressive and fights for control. Physical pressure is chaotic and dangerous. Pressure enhancement boosts the users capacity for violence and personalised brutality. Essentially, it''s all offensive focussed. Sure you can deflect, and sure you can find a few other ways of defending yourself with pressure, but that''s really not the main point. Your pressure, however, is different. Your pressure can heal, is more like a sluggish fluid than a weighty gas, and has exceptional defensive properties. It isn''t heavy but it is thick. It isn''t fast but it is potent. It isn''t offensive but it is supportive. Your normal pressure can heal allies, prevent mental attacks, and deny normal pressure. Your physical pressure can form walls to block out magic or physical pressure, can create water on demand for your bloodline to mutate, and can nurture anything natural. Your enhancement doesn''t boost your physical state, it boosts your mental state and your magical prowess. It''s effectively a side grade to normal pressure and can either be better or worse depending on how you utilise it. For instance, my bloodline from Dominus lets me overpower every other pressure in the world but it might actually struggle against yours. My bloodline would win eventually but it would be a slower victory than against literally anyone else, enabling you to fight back and prevent it in the meantime. Combine that with your healing and defensive walls and you become quite hard to deal with. Your bloodline is pretty good, actually. Now is it going to trump something like Dominus'' or mine? No, not even remotely, but it does other things that ours don''t in regards to mutating water. Your bloodline does a lot and all of it is just generally useful so I can see Mako becoming a lot stronger after using that pocket watch. Awakening his bloodline and altering his pressure, to be capable of putting up a ''fight'' against mine by delaying the inevitable, will help give him an edge against me. He won''t ever beat me in a pressure contest but the amount of time it will take him to lose will increase by an amount that is actually very relevant. As aspect assimilation, aka his new pressure enhancement that boosts magic, and his magic improvements from the pocket watch all synergise nicely, he can resist my pressure while trying to beat me through arts. In other words, right now, my pressure is stronger than my magic and he''s the exact opposite. Ought to make for an interesting matchup when we go head to head."


    "I knew the pressure was different but I never expected it to be so useful. I must admit, I had no intention of ever delving deeper due to how much ''worse'' I was than every other matriarch at controlling it. Had I known it would enable me to match them in the areas I needed help I would have gone right back to practicing. With the benefits you''ve listed I might be able to raise my standings amongst the matriarchs... I had originally come here for confirmation it wasn''t worth the effort but I guess that''s no longer the case. As such, can I trouble you to lend me aid in controlling my pressure? I would be ever so grateful."


    "Yeah, no problem. A friend of Calla''s is a friend of mine. First and foremost, like your son, your pressure reserves seem to be in your ears... Elf ears are sensitive so that''s both a good and bad thing. Your pressure reserves will be greater than normal but accessing it is going to be something you have to practice carefully and often. The amount of time you take to draw your pressure out is abysmal. I get that your pressure is thicker and slower, making it a drag to pull it out, but your current speed needs to improve drastically before we even move onto the next steps. As drawing out pressure is the base step of literally every other technique, this is by far the most important thing for you to work on right now. There actually isn''t much I can do to help you with this but a few small pointers here and there is better than nothing. Still, mindless practice and constant repetition, until you can borderline automate the process, is what''s needed here. If you want to train here I''ll make whatever useful comments I can but there''s no real, mandatory reason to be here in the pagoda if you would feel more comfortable somewhere else." This was the honest truth and Ares was mostly saying it because Serene probably wanted to be back at her current residence right about now. Her son was about to undergo a gruelling experience that could potentially be a risk to his health so it was only reasonable to assume she wanted to be there just in case. Additionally, Ares was here for a long time, not a good time, so she could freely come and go as she pleased. Unlike Ares, she wasn''t trapped in here... Although it would cost her stardust every time she wanted to re-enter... But she was also a rich matriarch so who cared?


    "Right, I think I''ll take you up on that suggestion. If I''m lucky I''ll make it back before that kid starts using the pocket watch."


    "... Now that I think about it... It''s called a pocket watch so I''m guessing it''s shaped like one too? Usually you eat most cultivation resources... How does that one work? Surely he''s not eating a metallic timepiece, right?! If he is, I''m so calling him metal muncher from now on! Or maybe even time taster!"


    Serene chuckled gracefully and shook her head. "No, it is a watch but you aren''t supposed to digest it. It has an abundance of time mana inside it so, while you twist the winding crown, it flows into you and sends your body into the future temporarily. As the hands on the face of the pocket watch spin, your body learns the passive abilities of the realms it''s now in before coming to a halt when the time mana runs out. Afterwards, your body is wrenched back through time to the present but you keep all the advantages you gained. What makes it hard to use, apparently, is that you have to keep twisting the winding crown even while you''re wracked with pain. If you stop, you can lose out on all the potential benefits of the resource and waste it entirely. You have to be committed and have a strong will. I know I say this a lot but I really am proud of my boy so, yes, I think I''ll go back and cheer him on by making him some soup and bread like always. Even if it''s not much, I know he''ll feel glad to have it there waiting for him when he''s done. He works hard so, though he doesn''t express it, I know he enjoys his breaks; especially when he feels like he''s earned them. He gets to bask in his accomplishments while he thinks of ways to boast to others about it... But he never had anyone to share it with so it was always me he celebrated beside. It''s been a while since he sat down with me and blabbered about something great he''s done so that will be a nice change of pace."


    "Enjoy spending time with your family... But I do have some bad news... In order to get out of here I kinda have to kill you... Death is the only escape I''m afraid. Don''t worry though, I''ll make it qui...!"


    Serene didn''t hear the last syllable of ''quick'' because she had already been booted out of the pagoda. Ares distracted her with his talking while killing her in the background. Kind of like how you poke a needle in a young kid''s arm while asking them questions about school so they don''t realise what''s happening to them. It was demeaning... But also kind-spirited. Serene was glad her son had a made a friend and that it was someone like Ares. Although Ares was a revenant, he could be considerate and caring underneath his annoying persona and that was the kind of person Mako needed. He needed to be challenged but he also needed to be respected. The amount of people that could and would do both were countable on a single hand so meeting Ares was a stroke of luck for him. Knowing that her son was in good hands, she flew back home at peace with a heavy load lifted from her heart.

 Chapter 190: The Matriarchs’ New Tutor, Part 3

    Back in the pagoda, in yet another instance of the fifth floor...


    "Greetings, se?orita mother margarita! If it isn''t Eagerton and Edgerton''s painter progenitress in the flesh! Are you going to paint me like one of your French girls? Or how about a period piece if it''s that artistic time of the month?" Stupidity oozed out of Ares'' blowhole like faeces out of a sewer. Unfortunately he was chock full of garbage and thus the stream was never ending.


    Margaret tilted her head, sighed, and decided to just ignore this barking wolf. "I take it you''re already aware of why the matriarchs are here? You must be talking with the others, right?"


    "That I am. Being omnipresent is actually really neat. Is this what it''s like to be a bug with compound eyes? Huh, the more you know."


    "Oh? You''ve just given me a wonderful idea for a painting! I''ve never painted anything from the perspective of a creature with compound eyes. Hm, maybe it doesn''t have to be from the perspective of a bug? Maybe it could be more symbolic... Ah! Eureka! I''ll paint each of the ommatidia such that they resemble glass. In each I''ll depict the same man committing multiple different crimes, failing to live a meaningful life, and losing everything he holds dear. The ommatidia will be like mirrors painting a picture of the self, indicating such a person''s life is worth no more than that of an insect! The critics will eat it up... Ah but who cares about those stooges anyhow? I''ll enjoy painting it, that''s what truly matters... Now what should I call it? I need to convey my intent but it needs to be subtle. Something not overtly proud of itself but rather something that will contribute to the piece... Oh! ''Minibeast'' will suffice! Minibeast of course meaning a tiny animal but the key component here is the term ''beast''. Beastly, savage, uncivilised and brutish like that of the depicted man. The double meaning is perhaps too perfect not to use so I suppose that settles it! Now what of the composition? Which order should I depict his heinous habits in? And what of the colours? Murky and dark like the soul? Bland and dull to symbolise the monotony of his repetition; to emphasise his normalisation of evil? Ooooh the choices are limitless!"


    "Uh, ok... I see where Eagerton got his passion from... Uh, anyway, should we get started on the whole pressure thing?"


    "Now what canvas should I use?"


    "... Margaret..."


    "And which brush?"


    "Oi."


    "And the type of paint should be..."


    "HEY!"


    "Landscape or portrait?"


    "Alright, that''s it." Ares activated his annihilation enhancement and threw his pressure at Margaret who was currently living in her own world, detached from reality.


    "ACK? Flattened on the floor like a pancake, Margaret croaked under the weight of Ares'' pressure. When it seemed like she got the memo, Ares freed her from his pressure prison and used telekinesis to help lift her to her feet.


    AHEM


    "M.a.r.g.a.r.e.t. Can you p.l.e.a.s.e show me your pressure. I may have infinite time but I don''t have infinite patience! If you wish to paint and/or plan out a painting, please do that outside the pagoda. Of course if it''s just making notes or whatever then go for it but you came here to learn pressure manipulation at a high level, right? Let''s focus on that for now and not let ourselves get distracted or you might not have enough time to learn what you need to before I''m gone for good..." Ares didn''t really mind if Margaret wasted her time, and he had no real reason to interrupt her, but she was wasting this fantastic opportunity! She came here for one express purpose and she was throwing it away! Ares did not look forward to the fact that he was almost definitely going to have to keep dragging this woman back on track for her own sake...


    "Ah, yes, right. So how are you going to gauge my pressure? Do I need to be nude?"


    "What? No? Also Enyo will probably kill me so please don''t strip..." Ares mumbled ''what the hell is wrong with these Starlights?'' under his breath before continuing onward. "... All I need you to do is show me what you can do with pressure. Normal pressure, physical pressure, pressure enhancement. Whichever one you want to work on. If there''s one you can''t use then I''ll help you learn it provided the other techniques are up to scratch. Leaving the techniques you are capable of using in the dust is pointless because the basics of them are needed later on down the line for enhancement anyway."


    "I can''t use enhancement but my physical pressure is the best of the matriarchs, Overall, I''m third in terms of pressure mastery as both Calla and Rhea have pressure enhancement at their disposal. I''m also third in terms of overall strength... If I''m being honest, it does bug me. I think Serene doesn''t care as much about it as I do which just makes me even more annoyed. It feels like the only person I''m actually beating doesn''t even care enough to try. At that point I might as well be last! I don''t know how useful pressure enhancement will be for me, seeing as how I rarely fight up close, so I think it would be for the best if I just stick to what I''m already good at and improve myself further in that direction."


    Margaret began her demonstration and it didn''t take Ares more than a few seconds to understand what made Margaret special. She was summoning physical pressure quickly, and that was impressive considering her lack of training with an expert, but was really stood out was her ability to multitask. Ares could generate multiple instances of physical pressure at the same time but it slowed down his manipulation by a decent amount. It was something he was still working on. The Backfire Bindings were making it easier but he wasn''t quite content with how long it took him to multitask. As the number one pressure master he needed to do better otherwise it would be embarrassing. Also after summoning one instance of physical pressure, moving onto the next, and deciding what would be optimal for any given situation, wasn''t easy. The fact that Margaret could create more than one piece of physical pressure as competently as she could, and that she could rapid fire her creation of physical pressure, was rather unique. Then again she was a creative at heart so her ability to think on the fly and visualise what the end goal of her physical pressure was must have been a major contributor.


    The physical pressure Margaret summoned was respectable too. Decently sized, could very well be lethal, and if she charged it then the power she could wield was no joke. in terms of pure control, she was definitely the best utiliser of pressure Ares had seen thus far amongst the matriarchs. She could draw out her pressure from the reserves fast and the process of merging it with mana was almost as fast as Ares back when he was still learning. If she got good at this she could use it to fill in the gaps between her magic. While she painted a massive attack that would deal the important blows, she could summon smaller attacks to keep her foe busy. She would spam out her opponent without leaving them any breathing room. The crux of her current issues was that, even if she landed a good hit with her magic she couldn''t exploit it properly afterwards. Another bit of magic would take too long to launch a follow-up and right now controlling her pressure at the same time as her magic was confounding her. She had to divert some mana to mix with pressure and some to cast arts simultaneously. This was something Ares himself had accomplished relatively easily thanks to his creation of Annihilation Echoes aiding in developing the necessary skillset but it wasn''t something Margaret had learnt properly.


    "You can multitask exceedingly well but there''s a caveat. You can only multitask if you''re doing the same task twice. If you try to do two different tasks at the same time that''s where you falter." Margaret never told Ares this but he could see the hesitation in her pressure manipulation whenever mana was involved. It was slight but Ares was an professional now and such a thing wouldn''t escape his notice! "For now, practice using magic and physical pressure at the same time. Create one physical pressure attack at a time and keep it simple. Maybe fire a pressure paintball at a wall with your right hand on repeat or something. While you''re doing that, try treating it as a background task so you can use magic simultaneously with your left hand. If you fail, start again. The longer you do this the more the physical pressure side of things will come naturally to you, allowing you to focus on casting magic or arts. This is just a matter of rote learning until you''re comfortable with what I''m asking of you.


    I will also be teaching you physical enhancement down the line and no amount of complaining is going to change my mind on the matter because it''s more important than you give it credit for! You don''t avoid investing in pressure enhancement because you aren''t going to hit people with it, that''s silly. You learn it because there will always be a time and place for it as it''s an all-rounded ability that will do you many favours in the future including benefitting your pressure control in general. You never know when it will be the deciding factor in a fight as anyone who''s currently at your level will fall behind you the second you learn it. If you can learn enhancement but choose not to you might as well stop cultivating because you aren''t taking it seriously at all. This should be mandatory for every cultivator who''s capable of learning it. if people in the wider world outside the barrier knew you were reluctant to learn enhancement despite having the pre=requisite talent to do so they would curse you and every generation of your lineage. I''ve heard your painting style is like a dance? That''s a physical activity and I promise you enhancement will aid you in that. You won''t regret it as a cultivator or as an artist. So yeah, let''s start with this but, when you''re done, we''re moving onto enhancement no matter how unpleasant it is!" Ares gave Margaret no quarter on this matter. She had to eat her greens! No, learning enhancement was not pleasant, and yes it took a while, but you would be better off for it than had you spent that same time learning anything else. The value of enhancement was greater than any singular art you could create.


    "Fine, point taken. Hm, I suppose I ought to force Eagerton and Edgerton to learn it too. The Starlights as a whole have disregarded enhancement but maybe that was actually a mistake... I''ll try to spread the word when I return to my home planet and make those who are capable of achieving it give it a whirl. I think even Ya Ye was reluctant so I''ll convince him to come here down the line. He wants to meet you anyway so killing two birds with one stone and whatnot. Before I get started, when firing off physical pressure with my right hand, does it have to be the same attack every time? I''ll be bugged to death if I''m forced to limit my creativity in such a manner. I would rather not trivialise the process if possible not because I don''t want it to be easy but because I sense an opportunity to have this also function as an artistic endeavour."


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    "Uh, sure, whatever floats your boat. If you do wind up struggling though I would ask you to prioritise the task at hand. If you absolutely must stretch your brain every now and then I would prefer it if you just took a break instead of continuing with the task. There are plenty of empty houses here so if you want to paint, or what have you, then feel free to make use of any of them. I would rather not try and give you advice only for your response to be something along the lines of ''I wasn''t taking it seriously, I just got bored again''. Learning pressure is something you should really concentrate on as what you learn and how you learn it matters but, don''t get me wrong, that''s why I encourage you to take breaks. If your physical pressure is going to be more artistic, and focus on the creation aspect of it, then those breaks might actually prove invaluable. It''s entirely possible for you to discover more about the way you interact with pressure during your down time provided you''re doing something relevant. Instead of trying to cram it in all at once by doing everything simultaneously, you can just do your art and the pressure separately but frequently. If you really must complicate the task then so be it but I don''t think it will be helpful. Actively avoiding doing as such will build your desire to create, at which point you can unleash it all during a break, and then return and repeat the process. It will create a fluid and seamless transition between the two and develop your ability to slip from magic/art to pressure with ease. But this is just advice at the end of the day and you''re free to ignore it provided you think you have a better approach. I''m not here to force you to do anything you don''t want to, I''m just speculating how best to help you based on what I know. My pressure mastery is top notch but it''s not like I''ve been in this newfound position for altogether too long at this point. There are plenty of things I might not know about, or have never seen before, so follow your own path if you''re convinced it''s better for you."


    Margaret thought long and hard about what Ares had just told her... At least that was what Ares hoped she was doing... If she was thinking about the damn ''Minibeast'' again he was going to boot her out the pagoda! In fact, he very nearly did when he watched her turn around and walk into an empty house. He peeked inside and saw her setting up a canvas to start painting her stupid Minibeast! A few deep sighs later, the Ares clone went and sat up against a building to wait patiently. He''d encouraged this, he just didn''t think she would START with the painting. Why was she ''taking a break'' before she''d even started the task she would need to take breaks from?! This was a lack of self control unlike anything Ares had ever seen before! No wonder the Starlights were almost as insufferable as the revenants... They really did live in their own vibrant world half the damn time. Well whatever, it seemed Margaret had come up with a game plan and Ares'' job was simply to facilitate it. If it was someone he didn''t care about, a random stranger, he would have just forced them to learn it his way. Hell he wouldn''t have even leant a hand in the first place. As this was his mother''s friend / his colleague''s mother, he bit the bullet and caved. Hassle though it was, he would enable Margaret to do things her way. She was an artist so restricting her freedom would almost definitely impact her practice negatively so, more than any of other other matriarchs, Ares had to take a hands off approach to teaching her. Now that he''d offered a suggestion and explained the basics, it was all up to her.


    Meanwhile, in the final instance of the pagoda in which a matriarch was present...


    Pat pat


    Ares was sitting on his mother''s lap as she groomed his hair. He''d annoyed the other matriarchs but how could he be heartless enough to do that to his own mother?! Well, it''s not that it wasn''t in the cards, just not yet anyway. He''d only gotten to know her recently so messing around with her was a no go because he wanted to get to know her better. Know thy enemy! Also, he just enjoyed spending time with her as she was incredibly friendly with her ''babies''. Constant hugs and hot chocolate, that was her motto... Although Ares actually had yet to have one of her famed hot chocos. He''d heard a great deal about them from his brothers and sisters during the banquet and now he was realising he was never going to get to try it! Well the real Ares would but the pagoda clone? Probably not gonna ever happen... Ah well, at the very least the pagoda clone had nearly infinite ingredients at his disposal to cook whatever he wanted. That was one of the many great things about this place. Sure it had it''s downs but it also had its ups to balance things out. Being able to summon an ingredient on demand was great for experimenting with all sorts of whacky dishes he normally wouldn''t waste time on. The real Ares would never recover the clone''s knowledge of the accursed dishes he created but that was fine. No doubt the real Ares would go on to meet countless respectable chefs that could teach him things that were actually valuable. High level cooking techniques and recipes for mythical dishes that required the most elusive of ingredients. In many ways, clone Ares was jealous. Still, real Ares was probably just as envious of clone Ares for being able to chill for all eternity somewhere his duties could never bother him.


    When Calla was satisfied cleaning her baby, she gave him a lick, wagged her tail, and dangled him by the scruff of his neck before plopping him to the side. Calla was always happy to spend time with Ares considering how many years of his life she''d missed out on beforehand so, although she was here to learn how to improve with pressure, she took some time out to pamper her baby boy... Well he was an adult male at this point, 18 and up was considered as such for cultivators, but Calla''s children would always be babies to her. Now that all of that stuff was dealt with, it was time to train! Calla didn''t really need much training comparatively because she was the best wielder of pressure amongst the matriarchs. Her physical pressure was so-so but her normal pressure and enhancement were both top notch. She''d put in a lot of effort to raise her effectiveness with both as they were great tools for assisting her in combat. The way she fought leveraged her incredible speed so normal pressure, which could slow others down, and enhancement, which just made her even faster, were irreplaceable to her. As she showed off her enhancement, Ares was genuinely impressed and borderline flabbergasted. Despite living in this lower domain hell-hole she''d managed to get an enhancement of 70% 70! Veteran was the previous limit known to cultivators and he had 80! Calla was a really amazing cultivator no doubt. Combine an enhancement at that level with her adept trait and it wasn''t surprising she was ranked definitively first amongst the matriarchs. There was even a respectable chance for her to become a Goddess at some point in the future if she kept up her cultivation pursuit.


    Apparently Aster had a strong affiliation for the space-time pillar so him becoming the next God of the pillar wasn''t possible. Unless Xhilihx did Astraeus in, the God of that pillar wasn''t changing any time soon. As things stood, Astraeus wasn''t so weak that Xhilihx could just rock up and swallow him. Currently, it was more like Xhilihx repeatedly snuck by him and tried to swallow the planets Astraeus was guarding while he wasn''t looking. This did make Xhilihx sound like a puppy at a dining table but it wasn''t inaccurate. Anyhow, point being Aster wasn''t becoming a God anytime soon. Plus Caribou existed and overcoming him wouldn''t exactly be a walk in the park either. Though, supposedly, Aster''s affiliation with the spatial aspect was tremendous so maybe it wasn''t out of the cards for him to become a legendary cultivator in his own right? If he could even be bothered anyway. What Ares had heard of him thus far indicated he wasn''t the type to care about titles; he just wanted to live a peaceful life on his home planet, dunking his children headfirst into the earth and calling them ostriches every now and then.


    Ares clapped when Calla was done and gave her two thumbs up. "There''s not really much of anything for me to do. You''re a bit rough around the edges but there isn''t anything you can''t fix by yourself with a bit more time and effort. That being said, the optimal way to iron out those wrinkles is by fighting strong opponents. I''m guessing Rhea doesn''t have the time to entertain you and she might not even be enough of a challenge to function as anything more than a punching bag. I don''t feel good about attacking you but for the sake of helping you improve I shall... Sorry..." Ares honestly felt bad about this and he didn''t want to do it. The guilt was hovering over his head but he knew what had to be done so he waited until Calla prepared herself.


    Calla hopped over in front of Ares and gave him another big hug while rubbing his head. "Don''t worry sweetie. Don''t feel bad, you''re a good wolfie! I used to die all the time when I was younger! I was a real adventurous type who got killed by all kinds of gruesome traps! Spikes! Pits! Crushing machines! Legacy tombs are pretty brutal you know? It''s not like I''ve won every fight ever as well. Getting beaten up in a Training Field by various mentors is something I''ll never forget so try not to be too reserved because it really is ok. I can handle it!"


    Ares just sighed and mentally readjusted. No amount of reassurance was actually going to ''reassure'' him but he appreciated the thought of her consoling him at least. He hadn''t expected a fight with his own mother and potentially even killing her so soon after meeting one another. What helped him ease into the situation was that he was being helpful here and what he was about to do served an actual purpose. It wasn''t mindless violence so that was something at least. "Alright, I think I''m good to go. I''ll adjust my pressure to be enough to be slightly more powerful than you. As you get stronger I''ll increase the pressure in increments until there''s nothing left for you to improve on. If there''s anything specific you want to do then let me know otherwise we can just fight normally."


    Calla let go of Ares and nodded. She walked back a few steps before turning around and facing Ares again. She was almost ready to square off but there was one more thing Calla wanted to do before the match started. She was weak in her human form so, naturally, she was going to bring out her revenant form. This was a big moment for Ares, specifically, as he''d never seen a revenant transformation before. Neither the process nor the end result were familiar to him so getting to finally see it would be nice. Maybe he could learn something about how best to approach his own transformation whenever that happened later? Or rather the real Ares, anyway. Clone Ares couldn''t transform...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Or could he?! The only requirement was bloodline awakening but the clone had already achieved that thanks to the pagoda equalising his cultivation to match Calla''s! Actually, he probably had all the passives of the various cultivation realms he''d ''skipped''... Ok, new plan! Let Calla transform and help her for a while but, after that, maybe she could teach him a thing or two? Sure real Ares wouldn''t benefit from this but if the clone had access to the revenant transformation it would be... Well it would just be even more unbeatable than before... Infinity times two was still just infinity at the end of the day... But still! Ares wanted to transform! The clone had just assumed it would never experience it but now it realised there was no reason for that to be true! Who knows, maybe having access to it could end up mattering in some way? If some hitherto unknown prodigy came creeping up on him in the pagoda it would be a nice safety net. Also, if his revenant form was special, he could spread awareness of it outside the Primordial Blade''s barrier without having to hassle the real Ares to do it via Transmit! Long story short, today Ares'' clone would transform!

 Chapter 191: The Matriarchs’ New Tutor, Part 4

    Before Ares'' turn to become a werewolf came about, it was Calla''s time to shine. She didn''t make any unusual movements or chant or anything, she just kinda went poof and changed instantaneously. The process could be extremely quick, as Ares had just learned, and mastery over this process was clearly important to using it mid combat without needing a pause in the action. Calla''s skin grew small hairs that rapidly overtook her flesh until she was covered in fur while her facial muscles and bone structure shifted in under a second. Claws extended and her figure became slightly more svelte than it had been previously. Ares didn''t know how to describe it exactly but she looked fleet footed and nimble. Like she could dart around without being fettered by the laws of physics. But back to the transformation process, the changes occurring in her body were fast which meant the shape of her new body could actually be a relevant concern during combat. If an art was going to miss by going slightly over her head, and she transformed from her shorter revenant form into her taller human form, she would get hit by it. Conversely, she could transform back to reduce her height and dodge attacks that way too. The transformation was an ability in and of itself and this was worth noting for any revenant who was looking to make use of their two different forms.


    Appearance wise, Ares assumed Calla was unique compared to the other revenants. For starters, she was smaller overall. She had less body mass and some of the muscle in her upper body was just flat out gone. Her legs looked sturdy, however, and would inevitably be the focal point of her transformation. Her fur was an interesting mix of hazy blues and dark purple, making her look like a poisonous species which was technically true. Adepts couldn''t use any pillars other than the racial pillar but their affiliated mana was still available to them in other ways. Ares would be able to run destruction mana through his veins it''s just that what he could do with it was limited and arts / magic was off the table. In Calla''s case she could spew poison, and a potent one at that, from her mouth and her claws were also laced with the stuff. If she wanted to launch magic, however, she would have to quickly change back meaning she was a very hit and run style cultivator. She used her revenant form to lightly apply the poison and run circles around the target until they slowed down, then she put some distance between her and her opponent and transformed back to drench them in a wave of unavoidable poison. After, she just became a werewolf again and ran away until her foe died to the poison. Simple but effective and highly annoying. Ah but that''s side-tracking from her appearance. Her bushy tail was now a little splintered but also slightly bigger. It could fire off the hairs to pierce targets and inject them with poison if they tried to sneak up behind her. Her face was a blend of soft majesty and smug cruelty. When her long jaw was shut, the smile was a mocking one that encouraged anyone who saw it to try attack her and fail miserably in doing so. When her mouth opened, her sharp teeth could be seen to be dripping with, you guessed it, highly dangerous poison. Calla was more than capable of mauling a person to death but, even if they escape her jaws alive somehow, they would be inflicted with severe poison. Though she was smaller, her ears were quite large and stood up straight on her head, pointed towards the sky. The only other thing of note was that her face was more fluffy than bony but there was still a sleekness to her look that made it very clear she was a woman. Overall, she wasn''t particularly fierce. A lot of revenants tended to be but Calla was somewhat of an exception as she had a sly innocence to her. If anyone didn''t know any better, they might even consider this appearance to be cute. Truthfully it wasn''t anything but, however, as when her viciousness became apparent it did so in exceptional fashion. The switch from fluffy, colourful, and shiny wolf to a brutal monster loaded with exotic poisons and a ferocious expression that would savage you on sight was one that often happened too quick for anyone to actually comprehend. The only tell it was about to happen was the slight orange glow her eyes would emit when she felt an urge to kill you as that was the trademark sign of a revenant''s patience having worn thin.


    Ares looked on at Calla and understood that only the transformation process here really mattered. Yes it was nice to finally see a revenant but it was clear to Ares that Calla was outside the norm. She was a special adept and her appearance was deceiving. Calla must look completely different to the average revenant so basing his future expectations off of her was pointless. Hell the reduction in height was already an anomaly as taller revenants were usually stronger and yet here was Calla with a reduced height in her revenant form in spite of her strength. This was due to the adept trait as that took priority over which tier of revenant she was in terms of altering the look of her body which meant Ares would be in the same boat. No matter what tier of revenant he was, having a strength adept trait meant he would likely be h.u.g.e. Now that made dodging harder but, if he swapped back to his human form mid combat to use arts or whatever, it would let him dodge attacks his bulky revenant form would be unable to. Hitting your opponent was tough if they had an on demand ability to shrink at no cost whatsoever.


    Regardless of whether Calla looked like a powerhouse or not, Ares could tell she definitely was. She just had a sort of aura to her that was only ever present on cultivators with talent hidden away in their back pocket. She must have developed her fighting style to a tee and become extraordinarily experienced with it in order to passively give off the feeling that she was an expert. She looked like she''d run a million miles in this form and could do it all again in a heartbeat as her legs almost looked alive, like they were raring to go and might sprint off without the rest of Calla''s body if she took too long. Her stance was a slight lean forward, meaning her knee was somewhat bent and ready to take off in a blistering sprint at the drop of a hat. Ares had been told that most weaker revenants were forced to hunch due to the bone structure of lower tiered revenants in the back region but the only ''hunch'' on Calla was the one she herself brought about purposefully. She was always at a starting line and ready to kick up dust with a dash. Out of sheer curiosity, Ares asked the following, "What tier of revenant are you?" If he had to hazard a guess, ignoring her deceiving appearance, he figured she was at least beta. Now was she beta or alpha? Ares had no clue. She was obviously a force of nature, the only question was to what extent? Did most of her dangerous aura come from the fact that she was an alpha, or was it because of her adept trait?


    Calla opened her jaw and, with a slightly deeper voice than usual, one with a hint of a perpetual growl buried deep within it, she answered Ares'' question truthfully. "I am a beta revenant. My revenant form is lacking in some regards and it''s not because of my adept trait. My claws could be sharper, my muscles could be more pronounced and somewhat bigger, my skin could be tougher, my senses could be sharper, and my howl could be more piercing."


    "Howl? Does that matter?"


    Calla nodded. "In some ways. If you''re an expert with it, you can use it as a mental attack that frightens enemies and does a small amount of damage to them. If used at point blank it can disorient and stun too. The higher tier of revenant you are the more effective it is. Also, a howl won''t work on a revenant that has a higher tier form than you so it''s often used to establish dominance between wild revenants. It doesn''t even require mana as it''s a part of our biological make up so you can throw it out whenever you think it would be useful with no downsides. That being said, competent enemies will get used to it if you use it too much so once or twice a fight is the recommended amount. That does change depending on which tier wolf you are as the more effective ones have less of an upper limit but there are better things to be doing in your revenant form than howling all the time. If you have a moment to yourself and can howl you would be wise to use a revenant art instead. I would show you some but the pagoda won''t let me use arts..."


    "No, that''s quite alright. I''ll take your word for it. After we train, can I ask you to help me with something?"


    "Sure? What is it sweetie? Want a hot choco?"


    "You can make one in here?! Yes please! Wait! No, that''s not what I meant... Although I would still like one..." Ares shook his head and refocussed. "... I meant I want to transform!"


    "... Eh? OH! Hehehe, I almost forgot about that! I''m so used to seeing you at mental accumulation I never even considered what would happen in a situation like this! Good catch sweetie! Okey doke. After we train a bit, I''ll make you a hot choco and coach you on how to transform! I was going to use a more despicable method to check your transformation but this works too!"


    "... Despicable method?"


    "Ah, I can tell you because real Ares won''t ever know. Some people you annoyed are going to try and assassinate you during the tournament. Not a big deal, it''s just a bunch of assassins and half dead members of the Chen clan... Although the mayor might also get involved? He seems like a sly one so he''ll wait and see how it goes before dipping his toes in the water I think."


    "And I''ll use a Canis Stimulant to survive? Fair enough. I never mentioned it to anyone but I REALLY wanted to use one. I didn''t have an excuse for it though so I was seriously considering just randomly using it in my back garden. If nothing happened by the time I left for the Freeride Federation I may have just wasted it pointlessly but this will work out nicely instead. That''s for real me to worry about; this me wants to be able to do it whenever and wherever! Although both of those aren''t actually possible... I can only use it when the person I''m up against has a high enough cultivation to drag me to bloodline awakening after equalising my cultivation. And wherever?... Well I''m kinda stuck in this one spot so that isn''t really applicable... But I want to be able to use it nonetheless!"


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    "Then use it you shall! Let''s get this show on the road ''cos the quicker you catch me the quicker I can teach you how to become a cute little puppy!" Calla''s head was bobbing left and right. She wanted to see what her son looked like in his actual form as it was worth reminding he wasn''t actually a human. It was just a convenient container for the wolf form and nothing more. Going by that logic Calla still had yet to see her son properly! Imagine if, after years of searching, you found a long lost child only for them to be wearing baggy clothes with a paper bag over their head! You''d want to take it off and see ''em real good! In some ways, Calla was more excited about Ares'' revenant form than he was and he had a multitude of reasons to look forward to it. He wanted a taste of what excessive physical strength felt like. So long had his puny muscles paled in comparison to everyone around him... But now? Now he would become muscle incarnate! Bencher of worlds! Or so he hoped... It was entirely possible his revenant form was a zeta or something equally pathetic despite his draconic bloodline, his Dominus bloodline, and his adept trait... That would honestly make him want to cry. Sure all of those things combined, plus his destruction magic fuelling his body, would mitigate that but... Man... It would suck! Ares just had to hope that wouldn''t be the case for now and, instead, worry about helping his mother with her pressure manipulation. Right now that was the task at hand and it would be hypocritical of him to have Margaret focus on one thing at a time while he distracted himself with thoughts about the future for no good reason.


    Ares stood opposite Calla and activated his regular enhancement to which Calla responded by doing the same. As is she was weaker than Ares and he''d yet to even whip out the annihilation enhancement... As she stood before him it was driven home how powerful her son was and that pleased her. Revenants were immortal but that didn''t mean she liked seeing her children die. If he could defend himself then Calla was happy. Weaker revenants could get trapped in death spirals, dying on repeat before they could ever truly recover which could very well be a fate worse than death sometimes. She didn''t want that for any of her children which was why knowing that Ares was stronger than her didn''t bother her in the slightest. She would rather be weaker then every one of her children if it meant they could fend for themself whenever she wasn''t around. She would transfer every ounce of her strength without hesitation if she had a method to. Would that leave her with nothing? Nope, because then she would still have her babies!


    Understanding it was impossible to take Ares head on in a fight, Calla started running away immediately much like Veteran. Ares had noticed a trend in that all the smarter fighters he''d come across ran away at the start to search for opportunities. He himself had done the same when he first encountered Veteran so he retroactively pat himself on the back for being a clever cultivator. In the brief window Calla had while Ares was being self-congratulatory, she made a lot of ground and was disappearing off into the distance around some buildings. Ares, now that his attention wasn''t elsewhere, opened his eyes wide when he finally caught sight of his mother-turned-roadrunner. She was a speedster through and through and was barely anything more than a blur to him right now. He could keep up with her by becoming a blur himself but it didn''t change the fact that she was still partially eluding his eyesight... He''d underestimated his mother big time! She was incredible, actually, and might even be able to contend with Ares regular enhancement to some extent. She was definitely the person who would come closest to beating him in these lower domains, that was for sure. Even Mako didn''t compare but, in his defence, he didn''t have his bloodline pressure yet so that was a detriment to his overall abilities.


    No wonder Calla was number one in Vraizon! Strength of muscle or magic made no meaningful change when it was impossible to hit her. Fluffy assassin was an apt way of describing her because you would only ever see her once during the fight and, after poisoning you, she would just vanish for good! She might poke her head around the corner like a nosy wolf just to check in on you and make sure you were dying your slow and painful death properly but that was about as far as ''interaction'' went during a fight with her. Before chasing her down in a pseudo game of tag, Ares also commended her pressure control as it was very nearly flawless. She was able to use it in tandem with her revenant form superbly and none of her limbs were falling behind the others. Other than some small leakages and some inefficient usage of enhancement there was not much to talk about. Of course he could endlessly critique how she used her enhancement during a fight, he could do that to anyone, but that was just because enhancement, at the highest level, became a matter of how well you could use it as an extension of your weapon mastery. That included bare knuckle brawling but the point was that your technique in combat eventually started to be the determining factor behind who would win an ''even'' enhancement duel. So really Calla wasn''t far off that point. She could improve her normal and physical pressure, certainly, but the use she would get out of doing so was minimal in the grand scheme of things and, thus, a waste of time as enhancement was generally what really mattered.


    Ares had finished counting to ten in his head and now it was time to seek out his foe. He took to the nearest roof and used it to jump to another that was even higher up. He wanted a vantage point that would allow him to see the greatest amount of his surroundings unimpeded. There was a higher roof to his right but that one had more sightlines blocked by various obstacles like signs and trees. The fact Ares knew that without even having to climb it just went to show how in tune he was with Red Sun. Being able to treat this place like a playground was a benefit only he had. Unless a challenger spent a considerable amount of time banging their head against this trial, Ares would forever hold an advantage in his home field. This was his turf! And right now there was a patrolling wolf scurrying around through various alleys. Calla, in a bid to hide out somewhere and set up an ambush, had dropped to all fours and her speed increased further. Despite Ares overwhelming advantage in a head on fight... He couldn''t keep up with her! Even if he ran towards her now he wouldn''t be able to catch her at all provided he didn''t switch on his annihilation enhancement. He would also lose his high ground so all she''d have to do was round a few corners but, even if this town was flattened, she could endlessly outrun him! What astonishing speed Calla possessed! She was like a meteor, blazing through Red Sun while the blurs she left behind created bursts of wind that rattled the nearby buildings. She was supersonic! Now what was Ares supposed to do? If he walked after her, he would wind up in an ambush. Without his annihilation mana telekinesis was a no go. He could launch a physical pressure attack or two but the sheer number of indiscriminate bombings it would take to flush Calla out were not small and he would be here forever!


    Whoosh


    As Ares contemplated his next move, Calla had already made hers. She''d fired off a part of her poisonous tail at him with pinpoint precision and, although he dodged it, there was going to plenty more in store if he didn''t evacuate the high ground. Ares had mistakenly thought Calla''s tail was good for preventing sneak attacks from behind and, while that may also be true, it seemingly could function as a long range weapon. Maybe it was the case that at longer ranges she could only fire on at a time but at shorter ranges she could use it like a scattergun. In short, it was a versatile way of applying poison that could force Ares to bring the fight to her as well as put him at a disadvantage when he did so because the weapon became that much more potent up close.


    Stuck between a rock and a hard place was Ares. He couldn''t stand in plain sight otherwise Calla would just snipe at him endlessly but if he ventured into the streets she would be able to get the jump on him. Being in her revenant form, Calla''s sense of smell was unmatchable so even if both of them had no idea where the other person was, Calla would always be the first to figure it out even without having to see Ares first hand. She could sniff him out and that was pretty helpful in this one vs one situation. Ares dodged a few more poisonous hairs from Calla''s tail as he attempted to triangulate her position but she was weaving in and out of alleys so fast that it wasn''t possible. By the time Ares was done following the hair to the point of origin, Calla had already relocated and was firing yet another shot. In other words, everything was terrible for Ares!


    What to do, what to do... Hmmmm. I suppose now''s a good time to test out my enhanced regeneration capabilities! Aside from being able to transform into a revenant, bloodline awakening also massively boosted Ares ability to heal wounds, replenish mana, ignore poisons (kinda, they still affected him it''s just his body immediately undid the damage), and keep his stamina up. As Ares'' cultivation right now technically a number of realms above bloodline awakening these passive boosts would be even more effective. The higher a revenant''s cultivation, the more regenerative prowess they possessed after all. To that end, Ares'' plan for this situation may or may not have involved self-inflicted injuries for one reason or another on the premise his bloodline would heal him afterwards...


    Instead of pointlessly overlooking the city, Ares hopped behind the nearest chimney to take cover and start charging a physical pressure attack. Would it be as splendorous as an annihilation pressure attack? Nope, not even close, but that really wasn''t the point. This attack would be limited in scope but Ares only needed it to cover as wide an area as it could while he did the hard work in the background. Ares'' brief reprieve from Calla netted him enough time to fully charge a silver sphere to completion. It was a mockery of an attack when compared to his annihilation version from back during the tournament but it would suffice for the duty Ares was entrusting to it. Ares ran out from cover, dodged another two spiky hairs, and threw the silver sphere to the area in front of him and to the right. Ares had narrowed down Calla''s general location to one of two that she kept dashing between. Now that he''d thrown his sphere at one, he''d effectively cordoned off that Ares lest Calla wished to get blown up when that thing detonated. In turn, this meant Ares could accurately predict her rough location... But what good was that if he wasn''t able to get over there in time? Well... Who said he couldn''t do it? If he ran he would be too slow, yes, but who said anything about running? Dodging yet another hair, Ares put himself near the edge of the roof, pinpointed his landing destination, turned 180 degrees on the spot, and raised his palm. This was something he''d done before in a fight against Veteran and this little trick was about to see a resurgence here! A mobility option that gave him a burst of speed while simultaneously launching himself... Last time Ares hit himself with a pressure imbued Echo he lowered the force behind it so as not to injure himself but now? Now that he could regenerate like some kind of undead abomination? Now he was gonna go all out! His palm came swinging back down towards his stomach as he closed his eyes, winced, and yelled as loud as he could to distract himself from the oncoming pain train.


    "ECHO!"

 Chapter 192: Dog Pound or a Slammer? Why Not Both

    Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it''s Ares with a hole in his stomach! Ares, the sprinkler savant, was spraying his blood all over the place, painting the town red as he flew overhead. Although maybe the term ''flew'' was a bit lenient when describing the way in which he was flailing about right now. He''d aimed himself backwards so naturally he had to also turn around in mid-air which, considering the application of force at lift off, or rather launch off, was a pain in the neck. He had to see where he was going so that he could A; keep track of Calla if he caught sight of her and B; stick the landing. Now, landing flush like a cat was a tall ask seeing as how the hole in his stomach was negatively affecting his balance but he was already regenerating his wound so he might actually be able to pull it off! At the moment of impact, Ares had effectively taken the equivalent, give or take, of a shotgun blast at point blank range. In order to gain more distance and speed he didn''t pull his punch so the injury was really severe. Enough to make a normal cultivator bleed out on the floor after crashing and rolling along the cobbled pavements. Less than a second after blowing himself sky high, however, his bloodline had already kicked in and was working its magic. The loose flesh was wriggling about to join up with the other remaining strands while his innards were regaining their original shape and size. It wasn''t much different to watching a rapid timelapse of growing fruit except Ares wasn''t edible! Unless you were a cannibal then maybe but Ares had yet to meet such a person. There actually were some cannibals in this universe as there were one or two arts that allowed a person to eat another''s cultivation, stealing it for themself by chowing down on the desired target. This art was also more effective when the target was still alive so it was a rather gross one. This was one of many arts considered ''taboo'' but less so amongst revenants, some of whom spent years eating each other like an ouroboros. As these revenants only raised their cultivation, and not their actual skills or foundation, they flopped hard in the face of talented cultivators but they did still make a lot of progress and that was undeniable. Anyway, Ares had no intention of ever eating anyone or being eaten by anyone so that was irrelevant!


    The speed Ares had picked up on his flight was pretty ludicrous as he was matching his own top speed with normal enhancement effortlessly. The real benefit here, though, was that he could travel in a straight line above all the buildings which was the main reason he''d done this in the first place. If he threw the silver sphere and then ran towards Calla she could wait out the sphere and run back over to the other half of her little playground after it was done bowing up and before Ares could reach her. Like this, Calla was trapped in this area and all Ares had to do was conduct a small scale search which was made much easier by the fact that he had a bird''s eye view. He was rapidly losing it, yes, but until he lost it entirely he could rule out a number of locations that he''d already checked during his ''flight''. As the floor drew ever and ever closer, the number of positions Calla could be hiding in were so slim that it would only take Ares a single run along the path he''d drawn up in his head and he was guaranteed to find her. She was trapped somewhere in between the silver sphere, Ares, and the boundary of the floor''s limits. She''d escaped too far away from Ares earlier and now the pagoda was interfering with her route for fleeing. Ares felt a little bad for that problem suddenly springing itself on her but, to be fair, that was her own fault for not paying enough attention to her surroundings! Plus, running away was her strategy, yes, but after a while it just became annoying to deal with. Had she kept this up for longer without Ares finding a way of dealing with it in a quick manner he would have just used his annihilation enhancement and gotten this over and done with. He was supposed to be training with her, not playing hide and seek!


    Well at the moment he was busy preparing for his landing, that took all of his brain power right now as it was a tricky task to say the least. Various micro adjustments later he could tell he''d botched it and was going to have to improvise so, when he hit the ground at an awkward angle and twisted his foot, he made sure to leap forward and throw himself towards a grassy patch. He rolled along it, coming to a halt on his back side as he grabbed his bent foot and cracked it back into place, allowing his regeneration to finish the job as he staggered to his feet and took of running. He had limited time to track Calla and catch her as the silver sphere had just crashed into the other part of the city. His clumsy landing had slowed him down but there was still enough time to corner the rat hiding in the nearby alleyways so he kicked off walls and swung from lamp post to lamp post and washing line to washing line with practiced movements. Ares was basically king of the jungle here and didn''t even have to plan out his next step to know it in advance or make it in the moment. As such, he found Calla hiding inside of a shop he was familiar with in under ten seconds flat after having cleared out every other option. Calla pretending to be a mannequin did get a chuckle out of Ares though. Maybe if she wasn''t completely covered in fur and in her werewolf form would it have been more believable... Right now she just looked silly but that was probably her goal anyway. If she was going to get caught she might as well get caught revenant style. Many revenants chose to do something dumb in the final moments of their current life as a form of protest against their death. It wasn''t a rule or anything but it was a mentality that was long since engraved into their dumb dog brains.


    Ares walked up to the Calla statue and poked her tail, the result of which was having a spread of hairs fired off at him which he deflected perfectly. He''d been expecting the obvious retaliation and handled it without a hitch with caused Calla''s tail to droop in sadness. Calla couldn''t control her tail all the time but that didn''t mean it couldn''t be upset all by its lonesome. Actually, whenever one of its hairs hit someone it would always do a little celebratory dance by wiggling side to side. Ares kicked out the platform underneath Calla, causing her to to jump backwards and land on all fours as she prowled sideways behind another isle. Ares wasn''t falling for the bait so he just chucked a pressure Echo at he shelving unit and toppled it on top of her. Calla kicked it off her head and sent it crashing through the glass window before leaping at Ares with her claws and teeth. Calming himself and analysing the situation, Ares grabbed each of Calla''s paws mid swing and lifted his boot to shut Calla''s jaw from below. He then pushed out with his foot and blasted Calla into the desk at the opposite side of the building.


    Calla bumping into the desk with such force caused the cash register to fall on her head. In turn, she rubbed the sore spot and muttered ''ouchie'' under her breath which just made Ares feel bad for hitting her. His mother could be cute sometimes. She was a fluffy troublemaker, the kind that made you feel guilty when you ruined their fun by pouting with a sad face. As much as Ares wanted to go over and pat her head to make the ouchie go away, he knew this too was a trap and that this was her goal! The sly woman was using familial pity to lure him in and get the killing blow! Was this what it was like for Veteran when he fought against Ares? All these silly tricks to lower his guard and strike when Veteran least expected it? What goes around comes around, after all. Unlike Veteran though, Ares wasn''t having it. He just flicked another pressure imbued Echo at her and watched her slink away with a roll. Ares'' goal here wasn''t to kill her as sending her outside the pagoda was a waste of time, he just wanted to beat her in a close range fight and put her in a situation where she had to admit her loss. Putting her in this position would require a head to head which was where the bulk of her meaningful training would begin and end. Yes close range fights weren''t her specialty, and they didn''t matter to her, but it was also the best way to master controlling pressure as it forced the wielder to multitask in a way that made pressure an extension of the self. So to ensure it happened, Ares stood by the exit to the building and didn''t let Calla run free. If she did he would have to use annihilation enhancement to chase her down again and that wasn''t the point of this. Also, Ares kept an eye out on the walls around the building to make sure Calla didn''t go on a destruction spree and bust through them to get out either. She was a dog in a kennel and Ares wasn''t letting her out because she was a misbehaver!


    Calla had snuck close to Ares by utilising the rows and rows of clothes and was now stalking her prey, ready to leap out and scratch his face off! She had a plan but she was unsure if it was going to work... It all came down to this one moment and she was about to have one of her questions answered about just how powerful Ares really was. She crouched down, bent her knees, and prepared to spring over the clothes rack and leap at Ares. This was it! She was going all in on this bet and if it failed then she would lose on the spot!


    Rattle


    Ares heard the wheeled racks rumble and shift about so he turned his head just in time to catch sight of his mother baring her fangs and leaping at him with her body almost completely horizontal off the floor. In this moment more than any other she truly resembled a fearsome, wild animal and the poison dripping off her teeth and claws gave off an ominous glint in this unlit shop. Ares moved to stop her assault but paused as he saw her jaw shift slightly to make a noise.


    AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    Ares. Didn''t. Give. A. Crap. Was this some kind of battle cry or was it actually supposed to be that howl mental attack Calla mentioned before? If it was the latter, then Ares being this unfazed by it meant his own revenant form was top tier. Or rather, even an alpha would have been agitated somewhat by the howl but Ares shrugged it off without a care in the world. Calla might as well have made the noise of a different animal instead, like a cat''s mews or a cow''s moo, as at least that might have confused Ares for long enough to gain an advantage. This had just been utterly pointless. Ares raised his foot again, repeating the same defensive manoeuvre as last time, and booted Calla in the jaw. She slid along the floor, pushed past the clothes rack which was flung to the side, and crashed into the wall. Before she could get up, Ares had ran over and placed his foot on her stomach, ending the fight for good.


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    Now that the fight was unofficially over, Ares removed his foot and extended a hand to Calla to pick her up off the floor. On the one hand, Ares won without harming Calla too much but, on the other, he didn''t get to push her to her limits which was what she really needed to improve right now. Losing like this was helpful, and it was an experience she wouldn''t get anywhere else, but it wasn''t optimal so Ares, going forward, would make sure to put her in more difficult situations. He was going to lift the unwritten ban on annihilation enhancement and use it to chase her down so she couldn''t pull off a hit and run strategy like this again. She wasn''t trying to ruin her own training it just kinda ended up that way as she got lost in the fight and treated it like a real one. That was fair. Ares had done the exact same thing when initially confronted with Veteran so he had no business calling Calla out for it. Plus she seemed to be having fun and he wasn''t going to be the one to ruin that. They still had plenty of time until the pagoda disappeared from Sheryashka so wasting one or two training sessions at the start wouldn''t be the end of the world if it lead to highly focussed training down the line. Plus she could always go to real Ares after and take up some of his time if she absolutely had to. What was he going to do? Say no to his ''mofu mofu'' mother? Not a chance!


    Now that Calla was up and about it was time for Ares'' training! Though Calla''s training session wasn''t incredibly useful she still would have picked up some insights she could fiddle with after giving Ares advice. While Ares messed around with transforming she could control her pressure enhancement better by utilising what she''d learnt by watching Ares control his during the spar. If she ran out of improvements to make then Ares could temporarily stop his transformation and spar with her again. Although, really, learning to transform shouldn''t take up too much time as, according to what he''d learnt through his brothers and sisters, it wasn''t a complex process... Or it shouldn''t be, anyway. The higher tier a revenant you were the longer getting the transformation down pat would take but even most alpha wolves, rare though they were, wouldn''t take more than a day to at least understand the basics and be in a position were they could start learning to actually transform. Yes the pre-transformation process from human to werewolf would take them a while to complete but knowing what steps needed to be taken to do it was the kind of thing that, when learnt, stayed learnt. Much like swimming or riding a bicycle. Not that really mattered as it was only ever really a one time process that never needed repeating. "Now that our game of cat and mouse is over, let''s turn me into a monster!"


    Calla shook her head furiously. "No! Not a monster! A cute baby! No matter how big or furry you are you will always be a fluffy baby, not an ugly monster!"


    It seemed like Calla was going to remain reluctant to let him in on the secrets of transforming until he agreed with her so gave in and nodded his head. "Alright. I''m sorry, you''re right. Not a monster. Point taken."


    "Good! What you''re about to discover is your true self, treat it with the respect it deserves! Take pride in it. It will do you so so so so so so much good so don''t look down on it!" Calla brought over a chair from behind the front desk of the store, cleared away the scattered objects to create space near the front door, and took a seat. She folded her legs and clapped her hands. "Ok! First up, I want you to get on all fours!"


    ...


    Ares was starting to understand that this was going to be a rather embarrassing process... Well whatever, at least he was doing it here where no one else could ever see him making a fool out of himsel...


    Snap


    "Hahahahahahahaha. You fell for it! Hahahaha. That''s worked on every single one of my babies so far!" Calla revelled in her childish prank and put away the camera with which she''d captured her glorious success for all eternity. The photo she''d taken would inevitably join the others that were just like it in one of her many albums... The fact she''d successfully deceived every other one of her children did make Ares feel a little better about the matter but the outcome was still not a preferable one... On the bright side, maybe the actual process wouldn''t be so embarrassing after all? Praying internally that that was the case, Ares sat on the floor and folded his legs as though he were about to cultivate. This tended to be a position that was relevant often in the cultivation world for myriad reasons so it made sense to him that this would be a good place to start. His assumption was proven correct when Calla gave a thumbs up and nodded so he took a deep breath and waited for her next command... A normal one this time, hopefully. "For reals this time!... Bark!"


    "Mum!"


    "Heh, ok ok. For really reals this time! Close your eyes and let your mind wander."


    "..."


    "Aw, come on, don''t look at me like that. I''m being serious this time, I swear!"


    "..." Ares narrowed his gaze further but ultimately did as was asked of him. With his eyes firmly shut, his mind drifted from recent memory to recent memory. A few of the matches he was fighting in other instances of the pagoda were playing in his head and, eventually, he entered a state that was only barely conscious.


    "Good good..." Calla''s soft voice echoed in his ears. She was using a calm and soothing voice so as not to disturb Ares or bring him out of his current tranquillity. "... I want you to empty your mind of any and all thoughts. A black void should be all you see, one that spirals endlessly downwards. Maybe that spiral is more like a bottomless, square staircase. Maybe it''s a series of circular platforms with holes in the middle. Maybe it''s a triangular elevator shaft with wires descending deeper into the abyss. As long as it''s a black void moving ''downwards'', and you can see it with utmost clarity, like you''re there in the flesh, you''ll know you''re on the right track."


    Ares envisioned the downward spiral... Or tried to, anyway. This seemed to be the first roadblock on his journey to becoming his true self and so he doubled his efforts!... Actually, doubling his effort when he was trying to empty his mind didn''t make much sense. Surely he should be halving the effort he put in to be more relaxed and have a smoother time of things? Ares unclenched all the muscles in his body and sunk deeper into his state of nirvana and, now, he was starting to see the outlines of his ''spiral''. Calla was saying something but her voice sounded like it was coming from underwater and Ares couldn''t quite parse any of the words leaving her mouth and entering his ears. As Ares'' vision of the spiral became clearer, Calla''s voice faded away until eventually it was gone entirely. Ares had entered his inner world, apparently, and now he was by himself to figure out the next step. In hindsight, he probably should have asked for more information before coming in here but it was too little too late. Now it was time to explore this place and see what it had in store for him.


    For starters, Ares had to stop calling it a ''spiral'', unless squares started counting as spirals anyway. it was a long, downward square... Which actually technically made it a rectangle but now things were just getting pedantic! Anyway, it was a long, archetypal, descending prison sort of layout. A counter clockwise staircase clung to the edges of the downward extending prison with occasional platforms with which to enter the various cells dotting the area. The internal prison paradigm was a tad clich¨¦ but, for what it was worth, highly functional and Ares wouldn''t get lost in translation here. His revenant form would very obviously be shackled and it was his duty to let it out. Ares had read enough fiction in his time to see where this was going from a mile off. As for the prison itself, which he was hovering over, it was a rather dank and ephemeral affair. There seemed to be dripping water echoing around him, as though there was some kind of gathering of leaky pipes above him but the sky was nothing but the blank void he''d been in prior so Ares couldn''t fathom where this noise was coming from. It may have very well even been originating from behind the walls if Ares'' hearing wasn''t leading him astray. The metal grate he''d just landed on allowed anyone who peered straight down to see the seemingly ever extending pit in which the pattern of the prison just repeated endlessly. Blackish blue brick provided a weird, dull light that gave this place a bleak and foreboding atmosphere, like something truly horrible was lurking in the deepest depths. A few dangling chains clung to the walls here and there but, other than that, it was plain all around. The most confusing aspect of all this was that some of the cells just flat out seemed unreachable as the stairs weren''t in a position to allow any visitor to this place to access them. The cells were empty so it didn''t particularly matter but was still odd nonetheless.


    After trying his best to stare down into the 30ft wide pit below, and failing completely due to the impossible nature of the task, Ares started walking along the rickety grate until he made it to the start of the metal staircase. Ares tepidly poked it with his feet because although this was all happening inside him the last thing he wanted was the start falling to his death. He had no idea how hard it could potentially be to return to this place, he didn''t know if dying here would negatively affect him, and he didn''t know if it would hurt which was a valid concern considering how much stuff like this tended to, annoyingly enough. Though the steps were loud, and falsely gave to understand they would collapse if stepped on, Ares braved the unknown and started to head downwards. He didn''t know what he was looking for here exactly but as long as he followed the path he was on, he would inevitably come across something, somewhere; that he was sure of. There was no way an elaborate location such as this didn''t house at least a secret or two as, again, going by the varied literature he and Aejaz had skimmed through, a place like this was never anything short of a gold mine for the person it existed inside of!


    Five minutes of carefully checking every new segment of the staircase later, separated by more grates, Ares finally caught sight of the first area in this place that looked to be different from the rest. The platform in front of the door he was looking at was significantly wider and longer than any of the grates he''d come across previously and this one was actually a blank sheet of metal instead. Clearly someone was feeling fancy and decided this would be a good place to throw out this place''s equivalent of a welcome mat. The room had bars, like all the cells throughout the rest of this place, but they were so densely packed together it was impossible to see past them. One of the bars was placed further forward than the others and more closely resembled a vertical handle bar with which to open this impromptu ''door''. More than anything else, though, Ares was interested in the metallic name plate, one that resembled and oversized dog tag, hanging crookedly over the door and tiredly limping to and fro. It had, engraved upon it, in barely legible scratch marks, the name of a certain someone Ares had completely forgotten about... Someone who, now that Ares had risen past bloodline awakening, could very well be a part of the picture in all this. In fact, this wasn''t the first time Ares had seen this fellow''s name engraved above the entrance to a location as it had happened back in Baja too. As for who this person was exactly...


    Dominus.

 Chapter 193: The Unchaining

    It made sense that this guy was in here. This vertical prison seemed to represent Ares'' revenant bloodline and it was basically impossible to peek at it without finding Dominus buried somewhere in it. Ares, or more specifically the Ares clone in the pagoda, hadn''t considered the fact that this guy might have also been cloned. In fact, he probably could have been speaking to him this whole time if he''d let him it''s just that real Ares had the guy on mute when the clone was made so he''d had that same setting on by default. If he''d turned it off there was no doubt in his head Dominus would have been endlessly whining like a bitch at him so, in a way, he was kinda grateful for that small accident. Still, it seemed like he was going to come face to face with him now... As for how that would go exactly, that was anyone''s guess. Would he be annoyed this was just a bunch of clones having a meaningless meeting? Would he be happy to be freer than prior even if he couldn''t outright escape? Who knows!? Regardless of his opinion on this situation there was no reason for Ares not to at least take a peek inside and see what was going on in the cell.


    Ares put his hand on the bar jutting out amongst the others and grabbed hold before pulling it towards him... And nothing happened... It wasn''t stuck, it was just a push door and not a pull door... Ignoring his disheartening failure, which was made slightly easier by the excuse he''d just come up with about the door not being properly labelled... Ares attempted to enter the room again, this time pushing the door inwards. As the door opened up and revealed the interior of this specific cell, the first thing Ares noticed were the collection of dusty chains all stretching across the cell to the far end of it. Only when Ares swung the door wide and opened it in full could he see where they were going and to what they were connected.


    Give or take twenty chains were all binding a strange, dull red suit of armour that was blatantly that of a samurai''s. Given Dominus'' propensity to explore all sorts of combat types and cultures, him having armour that was out of the norm was to be expected. Why he''d picked this specific set armour Ares didn''t know but the guy probably had his reasons. As for the armour in question, it was a bit of a mish mash. Various shades of dark red were the primary colour but there were a few small splashes of brighter reds here and there at specific points, namely two small horns protruding from a greyish Oni mask, shaped like a buffalo skull, that resided underneath a heavily dented kabuto. The eye sockets of the mask also had a spark of bright red in them that darted around the place with self-evident keenness and awareness. The ¨­-yoroi was bulky towards the top but slimmed down nearer to the waist and there was an incredibly small, patterned, white scarf wrapped around the neck area between the chest piece and the mask. On each of the shoulders were multiple, thin, sode that were layered on top of one another with the bottom-most ones adorned with a pure white buffalo skull that was similar in nature to the mask. These skulls also had small spikes perforating the eye sockets which was how they were attached to the armour. A rope belt was attached to the armours midsection and kept everything firmly in place. Red, claw shaped, scratched, metallic gauntlets covered his hands and looked sharp enough to pierce any and all obstacles. Last but not least was a dirty, tattered white flag, the colour of which had entirely faded and was now effectively a dark and muddy grey, hanging off his back that went down to around the back of his midsection. It was horizontally draped down from his shoulders and the wear and tear on it was visible no matter the angle it was looked at. Although Ares couldn''t see the man behind the armour he knew that this was Dominus because, despite being pegged to the wall and incarcerated in such strict fashion, he still oozed confidence, charisma, and most importantly, unmatchable skill. The way the sharpened tips of the claw gauntlets subtly raised and lowered, like they were itching to wield a weapon, his steady and consistent, almost rhythmic breathing, and his sharp aura all gave to understand as such.


    The red eyes stopped dead on Ares and the masked head lifted ever so slightly. A loud sigh reverberated through the room before Dominus cleared his raspy throat a few times. He''d only ever communicated with Ares via telepathy so he technically hadn''t actually spoken in over 18 years at this point. His throat was parched and his lungs sore but eventually he did manage to wet both to the point his voice could function. As for the voice in question, he sounded completely normal, much like the kind of voice you hear in your head when you speak. Plain, not even remotely tonal, not deep nor high, no inflection, and no accent. Just straight down the middle. Plain jane. Vanilla as can be. "You''re a right bastard."


    Ares kissed his teeth. "Well nice to finally meet you too."


    "Oh don''t get pissy with me, I''m not in the mood for it right now. Do you have any idea what you''ve done?! Actually, don''t even answer that, I can see that trademark hint of dumb confusion in your eye. You''ve trapped me! I am now a trapped clone, of a trapped man, inside a clone trapped inside a pagoda!"


    "Uh, can you say that again? Maybe a little slower?"


    "You fucking dunderhead. How am I ever supposed to escape your body and feel the fresh air ever again?! The real me still has a chance but this me? I''m gonna be trapped inside you for-fucking-ever! Didn''t even throw me a speck of consideration when you were producing that clone? I flip between thinking of you as a genius and an idiot but this? This is idiot territory!"


    "..." Ares had actually been a bit airheaded on this one as he completely forgot about Dominus at the time so he wasn''t wrong. Still, if clone Ares was going to be trapped in here for all eternity then it''s not like Dominus had any right to complain as they were in the same boat! "If you stop being a whiny man-child I''ll let you out every now and then. I''m guessing we can still swap, right?"


    "Now? Yes. Whenever you want. My usage of your magic won''t be anything special compared to yours, my pressure mastery will be lower than yours but not terrible, and I can''t access the revenant form, but who cares? I''m me, that''s all the reason you need to swap out with me. Knock knock, who''s there? The best God damn weapons master this universe has ever seen, that''s who. Not that any of that''s relevant ''cos you and I are trapped in this stupid pagoda until the heat death of the universe... Maybe even beyond that what with the whole revenant thing... God this is so stupid. Never tasting freedom ever again... Of all the imbeciles I had to get trapped inside, it just had to be you?!... Whatever, just get me out of here and I can worry about this conundrum some other time..."


    Ares looked at all the chains and raised an eyebrow. "First of all, I have no issues with getting you out but why does that even matter? Where are you going to go? Secondly, how do I even remove all these chains anyway. And lastly, what is this place? I''ve just been aimlessly descending down the stairs outside with no clue what this place is exactly but I''m guessing you can fill me in?"


    "Questions a-galore, answering them is a chore, and you are a bore. How''s that? Has the haiku from yours truly enlightened you?"


    "Can it mutt. Besides, I can''t even set you free if you don''t answer me."


    "Whoa whoa whoa, the disrespect is off the charts. That''s king of mutts to you, pup. I''ll have you know I started this whole race! If it were anyone other than you I wouldn''t speak to them unless they grovelled, you hear me? I''m a big deal to people who are a big deal, capiche? You are gazing upon the toppest of all top dogs... And that includes that stupid bitch Trixie..."


    "Trixie?"


    Dominus let out a half-sigh, half-bleurgh noise and rolled his eyes. "Don''t worry about it. You''re a revenant with a reputation so you''ll run into her outside the Primordial barrier at some point... Maybe even sooner if she catches wind of you... Stupid space dog. Whatever. Let''s stop getting distracted. First, to get me out of this mess, pour a bit of your blood on each of these chains and they ought to unfurl and recede back into the walls like a bunch of recoiling snakes."


    "And what about my other two questions?"


    "Kid, we got a lot of walking ahead of us. let''s save the conversation for the road ''cos if I have to walk down this place in silence I might choose to jump down that there pit and just end my suffering prematurely."


    "No company is better than bad company. Jump at your leisure." Ares made a small incision on his thumb and walked over to the nearest chain. He let a single drop fall on the rusty metal and it caused an instant reaction. Kachink. The chain slunk around Dominus to unwrap itself before slithering along the floor and retreating to the walls from which it spawned. After disappearing into the holes in the wall they were seemingly gone for good and Ares couldn''t hear them rattling about anymore. "So what''s up with the armour? A lot of fanciful vomit you got going on there." Ares made small talk as he went about removing all the chains.


    "Meh, we can discuss that another time. Also, again with the disrespect! I tolerated it when it was just towards me, I''m used to it, but don''t insult this armour! It means a lot to me as it''s an heirloom from a group of people that lost their lives in tragic circumstances. We''ve got an eternity to talk about it so just get me out already and worry about the small details later. Also, I don''t wanna hear it from a guy wearing a feathered cape. Look I held my tongue up until now but I''m gonna say, that thing is cringe. I don''t know why no one else seems to mind but I do!"


    Ares shrugged. "I don''t have a preference for it nor do I dislike it. I don''t think it''s as bad as you''re making it out to be. Besides, it''s a personal treasure and that''s all I need to know. Not wearing such a powerful treasure despite having it in your possession just seems stupid to me."


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Heh, there are some people who would disagree with you. There''ve been plenty of cultivators with powerful gear they refuse to use ''cos they don''t want to look stupid. Even I''ve had to pass up on some before. Not like I need a crutch anyway. Of course the reverse is also true. There''s this one guy that wears a tutu... Very serious guy too. When he showed up to this fancy shindig in his tutu I nearly fucking fainted laughing. Everyone else was looking at me like I was the problem! They were calling me rude but that guy was wearing a tutu and a suit! How could I not laugh at such an idiot?! Anyway, I was never invited to their crappy parties ever again so woe is me I guess. Larsh and Dago, a dragon friend of mine, are also like that. You know, the fart during mass. The nose blower at a wedding. The guy who needs to take a piss during a funeral etc... All three of us became outcasts because our personalities weren''t up to code. We hate each other but not more than everyone else hates us so that fact is like the glue that keeps us bashing our heads against one another''s. Would be nice to piss them off again but that''s never gonna happen thanks to a CERTAIN SOMEONE!"


    Ares undid the last chain and flipped the bird. "Get used to it. You and me are here to stay... Although Ares, the real one, might attempt to get at least you out if the real you complains for long enough. Count your blessings ''cos I may be an imbecile but I like to think I''m a good person."


    "Not with those secrets you''re hiding you aren''t..." Dominus fell to the floor as his restraints were finally removed. He struggled to stand as he kept chatting away. "... At least not according to whatever the common consensus would be. But you already know that. No point hammering it home to someone who''s already made their choice... Not that you had much of one to begin with..." Dominus eventually rose to his feet and stretched his back while cricking his neck. "... Look. I''m ok with you. An imbecile you may be... Correction, and imbecile you are, but you''re alright in my book. The kind of person I don''t mind passing on the mantle to."


    "Mantle?"


    "Nothing official, just the next revenant lord. There''s no shot you aren''t of that tier, not with what I''ve heard and seen of your God given body and traits. I would be willing to bet you''re also a lord like me. To that end, if I can''t exist in the wider world then someone has to take up that position and be a beacon for the revenants. We all bow to the revenant at the top of the pecking order so it''s going to be you without a shadow of a doubt in the coming years. Of course when I make my glorious return I can take the position back if you aren''t too keen on it but that''s a matter for a later date. Much later at that because I haven''t the foggiest how to escape this body. What I''m saying is that you''ll do the revenants proud, that much even I can see. Or maybe I can see it because I''m stuck inside you 24/7? Maybe. Just make sure to treat the position with care. We all may be invincible and immortal but just because you can throw people to their demise without any repercussions, that doesn''t mean you should. I don''t want to see my progeny slaughtered for no good reason even if they can walk it off. If I''m going to entrust all of my kin to anyone then I think you''re the best bet. That''s all... Not that I even know why I''m having this damn conversation with the clone version of you! Fuck''s sake... Whatever, let''s get moving and go see how ridiculous you truly are. Up until now I''ve been the only revenant lord so I want to experience that awe for myself. As we go down, I''ll answer your other two questions from before."


    Ares left the room with Dominus in tow and they started going down the steps to... Wherever it was Dominus was leading Ares. "Alright, spill the beans, what did removing those chains accomplish? I had you on silent mode but, if I didn''t, you would have been able to converse freely anyway. What benefit have I just unlocked, figuratively and literally?"


    "''A benefit'' he says..." Dominus kissed his teeth. "... I''m a lot more than some measly ''benefit''. First of all, like I said, we can swap positions anytime and handing me control of your body is basically a switch with unlimited uses. You''re strong enough now though that it''s a situational tool rather than something you should always be relying on though. I have technique, your revenant form has power, and base you has speed and magic. You''ll need to juggle all three effectively. Now that being said, needing to call upon me will be rarer and rarer as time goes on because you''ll learn everything I was capable of via osmosis in due time. That''s where the ''benefit'' comes in. I don''t know the specifics, because we haven''t exactly experimented with it yet, but you can ''summon'' me. I''m joined at the hip with your soul and it''s not dissimilar to something you can do with pets and normal summons. It''s a high level technique so I won''t get it into it right now but, long story short, you can ''summon'' me. I won''t be a separate entity to you though because, again, we''re conjoined. I don''t know what form I''ll take when you summon me but I''ll likely just be some kind of extension of you. Think of me like that one art you''ve seen twice now, Embodiment. You know how it creates a see through copy of the last attack and redoes it? I''ll be like that, a dark red shadow looming over you that copies your movements on a larger scale. I don''t know the intricacies of it, or what else you can do with me, but you''ll have plenty of time to figure that out. As I''ll be considered a summon, however, you can have me learn arts and become my own, free-willed entity. Again, complicated, but you''ll come to understand it in due time when you familiarise yourself with it as it happens. It''s also not something pagoda you has to worry about because you can''t cast arts in this cursed place... Actually, that means you might not be able to summon me? We''ll have to check. Either summoning me will count as an art, as per usual, or maybe because of our unique situation it won''t... Hopefully... We can test it later after you leave this place."


    "So... You''re like an incarnation of me that aids me in combat, basically?"


    "Yes... Although I''m an incarnation of me, not you. I''ll show up in this form with my armour on. Or more like the top half of me will hover behind you, if that makes sense."


    "I guess. It''ll probably be easier to just see it in motion like you said so I''ll reserve judgement until then. Anyway, the more important question of the three I asked... What is this place and what am I doing here?"


    "That''s two questions but you''re stupid so I''ll forgive you. Not like I expected better anyway... You''ve had your human body compared to a container for your wolf form before, right? By that Sadie woman when you first met her, if I remember correctly. Anyway, this place is your container and what you''re doing here is colloquially know to the revenants as ''the unchaining''. As you go down, you''ll find different tiered versions of your revenant form chained to the walls as I was. The first one down will be the zeta form of your revenant form. The one after will be the epsilon form. Then delta, gamma, beta, alpha, and lord etc... The further down this place goes, the better it is for you as it means you have a higher tier revenant form awaiting you. Long story short, you go into the room with your revenant form chained to the wall, you unchain them, and they eat you to deepen the bond between you and your revenant form. You''ll be booted out of here after and have to come back. The point is that you''ll have to overcome the mental adversity of subjecting yourself to being torn to shreds and eaten by gradually more and more powerful monsters. It''s usually quite violent but, at the very least, you only have to ever do it once. As long as you can bring yourself to come back here after being eaten you should be golden. As you already subjected yourself to hell back in the pagoda when you were learning annihilation enhancement, I''m going to assume this process won''t be much of a challenge. As an aside, if you give up you won''t be able to access your higher tiered form. You''ll just be stuck on whatever level you last succeeded on. There are some revenants with potential that just don''t want to be eaten alive which... I mean is kinda fair but also extremely cowardly. We die a lot as revenants and this is essentially just training for that. Revenants that can achieve better but choose not to are usually frowned upon heavily and I agree with that sentiment."


    "I see. So go down, find the revenant, unchain it, and die? That''s it?"


    "Yep. Very simple. Learning to transform back outside the confines of your brain is typically the actually difficult part in all this so you might as well save all your brain power for that after. This is a necessary pre-requisite but not something many people struggle with. The thought of it is unpleasant, and lying there while a monster eats out of your ripped open chest isn''t exactly fun, but it could be a lot worse than it is."


    "I see. What about you? What will happen to you when I''m eaten?"


    "Nothing. I don''t have to reside in this prison anymore and I can roam your body freely now. I''ll be restrained here again though when your cultivation returns to normal once Calla leaves but that''s whatever. There isn''t much for me to do or many places for me to go though so, at the very least, when you aren''t doing anything private, can you let me see the outside world? This dank place isn''t exactly on my top ten list of favourite views you know?"


    "Right, I can see why..." The monotony of the surroundings almost Ares feel dizzy on occasion so he could understand Dominus'' hesitancy to remain here and be stuck with this repetitive pattern when it wasn''t absolutely necessary. "By the way, I''ve been meaning to ask. As I''ve gained the benefits of all the cultivation realms I''ve skipped, that means everything that should happen at those realms should already be occurring, right?"


    "For the most part, yes. Some of the realms you''ve skipped require extra steps you haven''t taken so they won''t activate. For instance learning divine sense isn''t an instantaneous thing and you have to put in effort which is why you can''t use it right now. It is easy to learn, and can be done quickly, but the minimum effort is still required. Same goes for flying in the transition realm but I can tell you already know all this so why are you asking?"


    "Well, before I tell you, let me ask you something else. What part of your human body morphed into that of a werewolf when you reached bloodline awakening? You''re wearing armour so I can''t exactly tell. Calla''s tail is obvious but, being a lord, your mutation must be hardly noticeable right? The stronger your revenant form is, and the higher its tier, the less noticeable the change..."


    "Hm? Yeah, it''s my longer nails. The gauntlets were tailor made to fit them, snug as a rug. Don''t get me wrong though, I can retract them at will and have them be almost completely undetectable as far as humanoid revenants'' mutations go. The nails are definitely still long even retracted but nothing so outlandish that anyone would pay them attention. Being a lord means my changes are so minor they can be ignored entirely. It''s also useful for hiding my race if ever I need to but, now, everyone knows my name and face in the upper realms so that''s irrelevant. Plus the armour is usually a dead give away as it became somewhat iconic back when I was alive and making a mess of things. Even when statues were made of me they resorted to the armoured version of me despite knowing full well what I looked like, that was just how synonymous it was with my image. But I''m getting side-tracked... My human mutation is my nails. What''s yours? I can''t see it so it must be small like mine?"


    "Actually, that was what I''ve been meaning to ask you..." Ares gave Dominus a wry smile and chuckled sheepishly before pausing briefly and figuring out the best way to word this bombshell.


    ...


    "What does it mean if I don''t have any changes?"

 Chapter 194: Nobody’s Home

    ...


    ...


    ...


    "Come again?" Dominus thought he heard Ares wrong because what Dominus had heard couldn''t have possibly been true...


    "No changes. Nada. It didn''t even occur to me this whole time because of how non-existent the issue was. I would have noticed a tail or something right away but, now that I think about it, nothing has changed at all... I''m at bloodline awakening, and undergoing the unchaining, so I should have some kind of mutation on my human form, right?"


    "Yeah obviously! Where the bloody hell is it?! Are you sure you''ve checked everything? Is your butt any hairier?"


    "No... At least I don''t think so? That one would be hard to tell honestly. I''ll admit I haven''t ever counted the hairs before and I think you can give me a pass for not having done so because that is a strange thing to ask of me. But yeah, no, I feel like I normally do. Not my nails, not my flesh, not my bone structure. Zilch. My voice is the same, my eye colour is the same otherwise Calla would have noticed. I''m not seeing anything, chief."


    "Well there has to be something!... It''s not your ding dong is it? I mean it is possible... There was this one guy..."


    "No. Nonononono. Don''t bring that curse upon me I don''t wanna even hear it! Also it definitely isn''t that. The white camel is minding his own business, thank you very much."


    "Then what on earth is it?..." Dominus kept searching over Ares'' body, what was visible at least, as the two descended. Ares was doing more intrusive checks on his body, even looking inside himself to try and spot even the tiniest of differences but, by the time the next platform became visible, both their searches turned up empty. Dominus was tilting his head. "Well this is the strangest thing I''ve ever seen. What are the odds we''re both just missing something so painfully obvious we aren''t even registering it as a change? You know, like a ''hide in plain sight'' kinda deal?"


    "Unlikely. We''re both dumb but I think our brain cells combined would have worked it out by now."


    "Brain cells? Plural? Bold of you to assume there''s more than one... And I''m telling you now kid, it''s mine!"


    "Now is not the time for this! We need answers!"


    "Well I don''t think we''re getting any. For the life of me I can''t see anything off about your human form. I think it would have to be something underneath the clothes you''re wearing which would explain why I can''t see it... But you said there''s nothing there?"


    "And of that I''m certain. I''ve checked everything at least ten times over by now..." Ares and Dominus finally stepped onto the metal sheet that functioned like a makeshift platform and walked up the door. As was the same as before, the door had a dog tag over it but, instead of Dominus, this one simply read ''zeta''. Other than that difference it was exactly the same scenario as last time. Maybe the lower floors would get more fancy but, right now, up here, it was static as can be. As Ares put his hand on the door handle, Dominus was running through some thoughts in his head.


    This is too strange... Why doesn''t he have any mutations? No revenant has ever not had one, it shouldn''t be possible... No... Is it not possible or has it just never happened? If the mutation gets smaller and smaller as the tier increases... Has he gone above a lord?! What would that even entail?! It can''t be, right? I don''t care how funky this kid''s evolution is it shouldn''t be able to outdo me, the progenitor... What on earth is going on here?


    The jail cell creaked open and before the inside of the room even became visible a disgusting smell escaped from the confines of the previously shut room. It was acidic with metallic undertones and made the two revenants nauseous in their stomachs. Ares'' grand reveal of the room was delayed as he twisted his head to the side as the bottled up smell was flowing out through the doorway and into the pitted hallway. Both Ares and Dominus took a step back from the door and idled off to the sides while they waited for the odour to subside even partially. Dominus might be fine but if Ares walked inside and brute forced the issue he knew all too well he would throw up. All too happy to wait out the thick smell, Dominus spent his time checking over his armour and making sure it wasn''t scuffed as this was the first time he''d ever had the liberty to move and give himself a once over.


    Roughly a minute later things were as good as they were gonna get on the patiently waiting front and so Ares took point once more. He wasn''t much looking forward to being eaten by himself in a room so atrociously dirty it smelled like rotten rust but what needed to be done, needed to be done. Ares opened the door and clicked his tongue upon seeing the inside of the room while Dominus'' red eyes scanned the interior with a sharp gaze. Ares didn''t know what was supposed to be going on in here, at least not to the same degree as someone as knowledgeable as Dominus, but he didn''t have to be a genius to tell something was very wrong here. At least the massive pool of blood at the far end of the room, and the occasional splotch marks of the stuff painting the walls, answered any questions Ares might have had about the origin of the smell from before. Now though he only had more questions. Did that blood pool belong to the zeta revenant version of himself that was supposed to be in here? Why was it dead and gone? And why did it look like Dominus was about to be unable to answer all of these questions in addition to the mutation issue they''d been discussing prior? Wasn''t Dominus the epitome of knowledge'' when referring to revenants? Why were so many bizarre happenings that he couldn''t explain cropping up? And what exactly did all of this mean for Ares?


    Dominus slipped past Ares'' flank and headed to the blood pool while focussing his sight on the floor beneath it. He knelt down and swabbed aside the blood, revealing a scratch mark in the floor. It was thick and seemed to be incredibly long so, to uncover just how long, Dominus waded through the pool and kicked away the obstructing red tide. The further he went, the longer the scratch mark became and it didn''t seem to end up until he finally reached the far wall and could go no further. Although Ares couldn''t see the frown on his face, behind the mask, it was palpable via his demeanour and Ares knew whatever was going on was a serious matter. Dominus trudged back through the pool and cleaned off his boots after making his way out of it before looking over at Ares and going over his findings and knowledge on the matter. "Kid... There''s a lot wrong with you. Not in the sense that you''re gonna explode or anything, I mean that I have no idea what''s really happening here. I''ve never seen anything quite like this since the dawn of the revenant race. So many inexplicable events are taking place and you are the root of every single one of them. Not having any mutations is one thing, and could have maybe been ignored or chalked up to your fundamental pillar in some way or another, but this ''discovery'' we''ve just made is making it pretty clear your bloodline is untreaded ground. I can not help you. I do not know what awaits us on the lower floors. No revenant should have ever walked into one of these rooms and found a dead werewolf... Or rather not even just dead but completely gone. Nothing that exists within this space should be able to roam freely unless given explicit permission from you via an unchaining. What this crime scene tells me is that something else, other than us, is moving about unrestrained in this prison. Whatever it is has trumped the entirety of the revenant system and cannot be judged by such a metric anymore. Whatever it is... It''s not something I can comprehend at least. I don''t know why it killed this revenant, I don''t know if it killed any of the others, I don''t know what it is, and last but least that scratch mark is deeply concerning... It''s not that it exists in this place, which shouldn''t even be able to sustain damage to begin with, it''s that it means whatever caused it is highly dangerous. That scratch was the result of a single attack, not multiple. The severity of it is horrifying because even if I had my weapons on me I don''t know if I could match such a strike even if I went all out... You can''t suffer any injuries in this place but if you''re dead set on exploring it I would be ready to die here if I were you... Not that you weren''t going to anyway but this? This is not going to be a walk in the park."


    "Maybe not but I want answers... I''m not convinced you don''t have an inkling of the events that are unfolding but I understand you''re hesitant to make an uneducated guess and I won''t press you on it. Still, if you ever feel like sharing that would be swell. We may both be going into this blind but at least it''s only partial blindness on your end. I would greatly appreciate even the smallest hint so I don''t stumble around in this dark void like a headless chicken."


    "... It doesn''t matter. If my hypothesis is correct there will be time to verify it before shit hits the fan. If it isn''t then it would only ever be actively misleading. There''s no benefit to informing you now as this way keeps you on your toes for any unforeseen circumstances. I may not be a trustworthy person but right now you can trust me at least. Or rather I want out of you so souring this relationship of comradery we have going on is something I couldn''t do even if I wanted to. I won''t ever act in a way that isn''t conducive to your success so just take my word on this. I''m experienced in a great many ways and have seen a great many things. I will do what I can to compile that information and guide you when able. If there''s anything I don''t know I will warn you in advance. That is my pledge to you."


    "... Alright. So what now? We keep going down?"


    "There''s nothing else for it so yes. Doing so will help verify my suspicions but we''ll need to go way further down first before I can tell what the extent of this problem really is."


    Ares nodded and left the room. Dominus looked back at the ginormous scratch and wondered to himself if the lord tier revenant further down would even still be alive... If even that level of existence was incapable of fighting back... Dominus shook his head and also took his leave. The two wolves in human''s clothing kept ''exploring'' although, really, there was no variance in their surroundings so there wasn''t much to find. Their small-talk conversation about pressure came to a halt when Ares finally caught sight of another platform below them. This was the floor that, provided the sign was accurate, would house the epsilon version of Ares'' revenant form... Should, anyway. Ares and Dominus were both fully expecting it have befallen a similar fate as the zeta wolf. Ares was starting to worry about whether this would affect his transformation as getting eaten by these wolves was supposed to be a part of the process... And yet it seemed they were the ones getting eaten by something else entirely. Maybe one of them would be able to put up a fight against this unknown creature? Ares didn''t hold out much hope for any of the lower tiered forms so he ripped the bandaid off and swung the jail cell door open wide. He sighed, turned his head to avoid the rancid smell, and walked out of range of the odour again. Actually, he had to walk even further this time, even going down a few of the steps to put sufficient distance between himself and the nostril offender that was the river of blood inside the cell. As this revenant form would have been bigger than the previous one, there was a larger quantity of blood sloshing around inside the cell. At this rate, by the time Ares reached the lower floors, the stuff would be leaking out of the cells...


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Dominus took a deep breath and ventured into the doorway to take a gander at the room. Though he couldn''t see it all, there was yet another scratch mark, identical to the last, present here too... And that worried Dominus more than anything else he''d seen because this mark was roughly the same size as the last one... All out attacks, using all of a person''s might, would have variance to them. Mustering every single ounce of strength consistently was hard and depended on the circumstances. Fear, remaining mana quantity, physical exertion leading to a loss of strength, injuries, etc... There were a million and one reasons someone wouldn''t be able to replicate their most powerful strike to a tee... And yet this scratch mark was perfectly identical to the last one... This meant it was the exact opposite scenario... This creature wasn''t trying at all... An oddly specific middle ground between no effort and maximum effort presumably wasn''t the answer either as there was no reason to aim for an attack of this size, intentionally, over and over. It was seemingly overkill so exerting any effort whatsoever just to mimic the size of the previous attack was highly unnecessary and a waste of time.


    But what did that mean?


    There was something inside this place that could leave such massive amounts of damage with a flick of its wrists and nothing more?! Dominus wasn''t a detective or anything but there was no other valid explanation for what he was seeing and that troubled him. Whatever this thing was, Dominus was glad it hadn''t come for him on the floors above for whatever reason. Maybe not being a part of the bloodline, and housing his own separate one, was what had spared him from a similar fate... Dominus was left feeling nervous about this whole situation and resolved himself to flee if things went south. He wasn''t betraying Ares it''s just that there was a genuine risk he might disappear for good here if everything went pear shaped. Ares would be kicked out and go back to normal but Dominus? Yes he was a revenant but A; he was only a clone and B; this scenario was entirely off the books. There was no telling what the result of an encounter here with this unknown monster would bring about. Dominus could just safely flee to another part of the body now that he was unchained and so he admitted this to Ares and was upfront about his intentions after he left the room. Ares gave a wry smile and nodded in acceptance. Forcing Dominus to chuck his life away, potential permanently, was silly. It did mean he would be stuck here on his own but... Well... He was technically asking for this. He could leave now while it wasn''t still too late but he was being stubborn about it because he wanted some answers for damn once!


    The pursuit of said answers continued onwards for an indeterminable period of time. There was no night and day and certainly no timekeeping apparatus either in this place so how long the dynamic doggo duo had being going for was up in the air. Speaking of up in the air, the two had descended so far down they could no longer properly spy the black abyss Ares had originally arrived in here from. It was just endless prison cells reaching into the ''sky''. As for how their search went during this time, they''d passed by the epsilon, delta, and gamma jail cells... The result wasn''t much of a shocker. All dead and gone. However strong each of these forms were made no difference as, per usual, they''d all been felled by that same, single, scratch. Dominus was only becoming more and more fearful as the same result kept cropping up because a revenant lord, such as himself, would still struggle to deal with a powerful gamma revenant efficiently. Of course he was leagues above a gamma but, should the gamma revenant in question be an adept or have some kind of mastery, it would complicate things. Ares was an adept so the fact that whatever this thing was had outperformed what even a lord could do against such a revenant was actually causing a tinge of fear to well up in Dominus. He didn''t want to die! He''d been through that phase once already and realised his mistake! There were things worth living for and the cold, eternal embrace of death would take it all away from him. He''d sorted out his priorities now and wouldn''t lose sight of them again so dying in a place like this would be cruel! Getting a brand new lease on life only to have it snuffed out then and there... No thank you! Of course he was still just a clone but that didn''t mean he was incapable of feeling scared for his well-being.


    Sniff


    "Eughh." Both Ares and Dominus could smell the tell-tale scent of blood and they hadn''t even entered the next jail cell yet. It belonged to a beta revenant version of Ares... And was dead. Again, they hadn''t entered the cell yet yet, it''s just that Ares'' earlier prediction had come true and blood was leaking outside of the room. A small gap underneath the doorway was where a small, steady stream of blood was rolling out from within. Opening the jail cell was possible but it would result in both their ankles getting covered in blood for no reason and, quite frankly, Dominus didn''t want to see that damnable scratch mark and everything it entailed again. The two of them nodded with solemnity at one another and kept venturing down. The fact the staircase kept going meant Ares was at least an alpha wolf, that was confirmed. If beta was his limit the staircase would end here and there would be nothing but another blank void awaiting him like the one at the top of the prison. As that wasn''t the case, the descent continued.


    Two minutes later...


    "..." The two revenants were leaning over the staircase and staring at the red platform a few floors down... The blood wasn''t a small stream anymore, it was a deluge that was rapidly pouring... No, flooding, out of the jail cell... The door looked caved in, like something massive had dented it from the inside and Dominus'' speculation was as follows...


    "The alpha was trying to escape?" Six simple words that formed a sentence Dominus had never spoken before in his entire life and never expected he ever would... No matter how talented or boring the alpha, there was a bare minimum level of strength they all possessed. A level of strength that even Dominus would have to respect as an upset in a one on one fight was very possible... And it had made an attempt to flee from some kind of predator, banging on the door to try and break free instead of holding its ground and fighting... If it weren''t for Dominus'' overwhelming curiosity he would have left this unnatural place well enough alone and scarpered. He''d set forth with confidence into numerous death traps in his life when he was in his own body but this, everything he was seeing now, was enough to make him want to run away with his tail between his legs.


    A massacre is what had occurred here. As with the previous scene of carnage, Dominus didn''t want to look any deeper... If he saw that same scratch mark here he might actually go insane on the spot and lose his mind for good. There was no race, God, or monster out there capable of annihilating an alpha wolf in one slash. That was fucking preposterous and Dominus didn''t want confirmation about whether it had truly happened or not. Some things were better left to the imagination where it could be denied for as long as he liked. Ares, on the other, hand, didn''t understand the full scope of the issue as the only point of reference he had for revenants was his mother who he''d just fought. Still, that was something. Calla''s adept beta form was able to beat out Ares'' enhancement speed... If she''d been an alpha it wouldn''t even be a competition and she could maybe still remain faster than him even without her own enhancement... And if she''d been a lord she could have outpaced Ares'' annihilation enhancement with her own regular enhancement... That was how powerful revenants could be. Ares was also an adept, so a strength adept revenant at alpha tier being slaughtered like livestock past its expiry date... It was a sign that things were going to get ugly here. There was more prison extending downwards after the alpha floor so that meant a lord was coming up next... This was where Dominus'' deductions would all start to make sense depending on one specific piece of information...


    Ares and Dominus both walked down to the bloody platform and hopped atop the nearby railings to pass by unfettered. The blood would follow them on their journey from now on, however, as it was trickling off the metal sheet flooring and falling down the centre of the prison like a mini waterfall. Ares had been interested in knowing if the scenery here would ever change but this wasn''t quite what he meant... He wasn''t going to sit around and clean it up though as he had a mystery to unravel.


    Once more the two made their way down numerous steps, this time in silence as their conversation topics had all but run dry. The nearby blood waterfall had spruced up their adventure a little but not in any way that was appreciable as it only further contributed to the eery atmosphere, setting a tone that implied things neither Ares or Dominus wanted to accept and/or dwell on. It didn''t take them as long to come across the next problem, unfortunately, as it was detectable long before they could spot it. The fact that they could smell the blood from here before they could see it was ''unfortunate'' because it meant exactly what they''d both been dreading... The lord was dead too. If the alpha''s blood was like a waterfall then this lord''s would be like a cascading ocean which explained the ability to smell it from here.


    Now to what extent was the brutality of whatever happened going to showcase itself further down? Ares had no clue but he was interested in finding out. Yes it was only going to confirm suspicions they truly didn''t want confirmed but, at this point, guessing the calibre of the monster responsible was amusing in its own right. It was starting to defy logic and now Ares had given up on trying to use reason, instead opting to take bets with himself on what kind of eldritch abomination / Lovecraftian horror / or mutant beast was running around eating revenant lords. Just the thought of it would be enough to make any sane cultivator in the realm of Gods piss themselves and could be used as a bedtime story to spook prodigious children. ''If you don''t come first in the tournament and win the heart of the fair maiden, you''ll be visited by the revenant lord eater!'' Somehow, someway, Ares found it in him to laugh in this situation. Dominus looked at him with a raised eyebrow, initially thinking the kid had gone loco, but slowly realised Ares was just a different breed of person compared to himself. Dominus was free-willed and a revenant at his core but there was no way he could remain undeterred by this creepy snuff-show. Regrettably this was only the halfway point and the brief halt to their descent was now resuming... What on earth were they going to find at the bottom of this place?...

 Chapter 195: Blót

    "Jesus Christ..."


    "What the fuck happened?"


    Dominus and Ares, respectively, reacted to the mayhem below them as soon as it came into vision. Their brains hadn''t even fully comprehended everything they were seeing but the words had left their mouths regardless. Battered jail cells with doors barely hanging off their hinges. Blood stains lavishly decorating every wall without fail. Blood leaked from chains dangling off the platform that wasn''t even visible anymore under the tide of blood flowing out of the revenant lord''s cell. Even the walls of the prison were destroyed in some places, granting a sneak peek at the endless, pitch black void that lay beyond this place... No longer was it simply a matter of a single scratch mark... There were multiple... Again, whatever was responsible was still using the bare minimum effort, it''s just that now it had to do it repeatedly. It could have expended even an iota more effort and killed the lord without causing a scene but it toyed with the lord, flinging it from wall to wall and blasting it around with the same attack on repeat until it died... Dents in this building were acceptable to a degree but holes in the walls?! Puncturing the structure itself?! Dominus followed Ares'' example from earlier and just mindlessly laughed. His reason for doing it was vastly different from Ares'' though, as he''d actually descended not through the prison, but rather into crazed disbelief. A revenant lord had ''managed to put up a pathetic fight and been run ragged like a kid playing with a doll''. The result for the revenant lord was technically ''better'' than what the alpha had done... But it was made entirely pointless by the fact that the revenant lord was the peak of revenants! The humiliation was unbearable for Dominus... Or it would have been if his hypothesis, that he''d been keeping in his back pocket this whole time, hadn''t turned out to be true. He knew what manner of ''monster'' this was now. He''d never seen it before, because it had never existed until now, but he knew what it was... The monster... Was standing right next to him... It was Ares. It wasn''t some invasive species, it wasn''t some kind of mental parasite that had invaded Ares body... It was literally just Ares.


    As Dominus had mentioned to Ares earlier during some of their idle conversation, the prison would end after coming across the last tier of revenant... But right now, they weren''t at the prophesised end. There was more. Whatever Ares truly was, beneath that human fa?ade, was a revenant unlike anything known to have ever existed. He''d transcended being a ''mere'' revenant lord and was treading ground that even the progenitor revenant, Dominus himself, could only dream of. There was something above lord and, whatever it was, had gotten bored of being chained up and tied down. It left its prison of its own accord and slaughtered the others for sport, toying with them as it did so. It was so unbelievably powerful that ''child''s play'' was the only way to accurately describe what the match between it and the lord must have looked like from an outside perspective. This wasn''t an ''alphas and lords are actually somewhat close'' situation, not even remotely close. This was like the difference between a mortal and a God, clearly. Ares'' countless bloodline benefits had officially broken the revenant race as a whole and reforged it in the image of perfection. A new revenant peak was going to exist today and it would forever be unachievable to anyone other than the monster standing beside Dominus right now, tilting his head in confusion at Dominus'' outburst of laughter. Dominus had egotistically ''bestowed'' Ares the right to govern his people... PFFTT... What a comical statement he''d unknowingly made. It was like a peasant bestowing a king the right to own his house. He didn''t have a choice! He wasn''t the ''lord'' of anything anymore, that position was a foot note now. Ares would have claimed his right to be undisputed regardless of what nonsense Dominus had been spewing, he was a complete non factor in the management of his own race from now on... The more Dominus thought about it the harder he laughed until it resulted in him having to sit down and take deep breaths, occasionally still shaking his head and chuckling in despair. He was out of a job! His legacy was about to mean nothing! There was a new revenant tier in town and he was an ant in comparison! What was a revenant lord, exactly? A puppy? No? It was supposed to be a ten foot tall, regal, unrivalled warrior of legend... Not anymore, apparently! Now whatever Ares was would put a leash on a lord and take it out for walkies and maybe even give it a treat or two for being a good boy!


    Ares bent over and waved his hand in front of Dominus to check and see if anyone was home or if he was just completely checked out mentally. It took a few waves but Ares did eventually get through to the guy who just stared up at Ares and sighed. He''d come to terms with the fact that Ares was just a better version of him. Dominus only had his weapon mastery but even that wasn''t something he would be able to beat Ares in forever... Maybe if he could escape from Ares'' body he could maintain the one lead he had but it wasn''t looking so hot for him right now. Ares was slowly becoming Dominus 2.0. Realistically he had no reason to care but Dominus'' pride was wounded much the same way Veteran''s was and now he felt a sort of sympathetic connection with the one armed fellow. Both of them had been both outclassed and scared witless by Ares despite being top of their respective niches. Dominus kissed his teeth and stood up before slapping Ares! Thwap. He deserved it for what he''d put Dominus and Veteran through! Dream crusher! Ares looked somewhat offended but it also seemed like he was, on some level, aware he probably did in fact deserve it so he didn''t complain. "... Ok Ares, I''ll be straight with you... Not that you wouldn''t be able to figure it out given the circumstances, but you aren''t a lord. You''re something beyond that and I have no idea what. I''ve accepted my destiny as an inferior species of revenant, annoyed by it though I may still be, so let''s just get this over and done with? I''ve been on edge this whole time and now I want to be done with this all. I had hoped that things wouldn''t reach this point but they have and I have nothing more to say."


    Ares shrugged. he didn''t really have anything to say about this either. He''d discussed this all with Astraeus that one time so he had a hunch the further down he''d gone that this might be the case. Seeing the prison extending even further confirmed the suspicions that arose and aligned nicely with what Dominus had been expecting so it was case closed... Kinda, anyway. Now all that remained to be seen... Was the revenant itself! Where was this thing? Did it live in a cage or a cell like the others? Would getting eaten by it even help Ares at all? Did it eating the others matter? The answer to last one was probably ''no'' because Ares couldn''t sense anything being off with his bloodline but until he knew for sure he wasn''t going to make any judgement calls.


    Ares moved onward as Dominus trailed behind him, still shaking his head from time to time, unwilling to fully distance himself from the agitation he felt. Upon reaching the platform of gushing blood Ares had to figure out a way past because even the railings weren''t safe. As this was still inside the pagoda he couldn''t use any non pressure related arts. He couldn''t use telekinesis here either as everything was firmly locked in place... So he was seemingly going to have to blast himself across the gap with an Echo... But how was Dominus going to cross the gap? Ares looked over and asked. "What''s your plan? I''ve got one but what have you got up your sleeve for this crossing?"


    "Bah..." Dominus spat at the floor. "Look kid. You''re special, I''ll give you that, but I''m still the thousand weapons exemplar! I have thousands of ways across so don''t you worry your pretty little head off about me. Besides, of the two of us, you''re the only one that has to injure himself to overcome this dilemma."


    Ares rolled his eyes and angled his body. Thankfully this time it wouldn''t be nearly as bad the previous instance of self-harm because he could actually hold back. The distance wasn''t exactly short but it wasn''t exceedingly long either. A nice mid range blast would work wonders and so, throwing away the last few remaining shreds of reluctance, Ares dropped his palm on his stomach and vanished from the spot he was just standing on. As Ares crossed the gap at Mach 10 he realised a certain asshole was standing on him and treating him like a damn surfboard! Ares didn''t know if Dominus actually had as many ways across as he proclaimed but, if he did, then this was highly unnecessary! Just because he was feeling down in the dumps about this mess that didn''t give him permission to bully Ares like this! And worse still Ares couldn''t stop it because he''d just injured himself so, unless he flipped on annihilation enhancement and launched an actual attack, Dominus was here to stay.


    Thud Rattle


    Ares crashed onto the start of the new staircase and, one by one, rolled face first down a couple of the metal steps. Dominus leapt off after Ares came to halt and dusted himself off even though he hadn''t gotten a spot of blood on him. Ares mumbled curses at him under his breath but brought himself to his feet and checked his self-inflicted wound. It wasn''t anything major and he would recover shortly. It also wasn''t anything that would prevent him from moving while it healed so they could start wandering down again. Would Ares be able to fight in this state should anything happen? Hell no but that didn''t matter because his only goal right now was to die and get eaten, fighting was irrelevant. Plus the staircase segments were long enough that he very well might regenerate back to normal regardless. Taking that into account, Ares actually dusted himself off, unlike a certain poser who''d only done it to rub Ares face in it, and followed behind Dominus who''d taken the lead for some unknown reason. He could flee whenever but he needed the time to do it so if he got ambushed he would die like a moron. He really should have let Ares go first to use him as bait but apparently he was such a proud individual he couldn''t tolerate that after the previous revelation. He was just being petty but Ares didn''t much care to quibble with him over it and let him have his win. Right now, there was something Ares cared way more about than some meaningless squabble. He was on track to discovering his true self and the path was going to come to an end shortly. What manner of inmate would he find at the end of this asylum? It was getting ever closer to the point in time when he''d find out...


    Five minutes. Five minutes was how long it took to finally reach the bottom of the prison but, contrary to what Dominus had foretold, the ''ending'' of the prison was a little different. Rather than just an abrupt end, looking like the building had been torn in half with a black void directly underneath, there appeared to be some kind of well. The staircase led to a floor that surrounded a giant hole in the ground. Dominus had never seen anything like this but it wasn''t the first time he''d been stumped today so he just added it to the ever-expanding list and stopped caring. He was long past the point of being shocked by everything. There could have been a UFO in here and he wouldn''t have batted an eye. Speaking of eyes, Ares'' were immediately glued to a certain object hovering over the pit in mid air, surrounded by a golden barrier. He could recognise that object anywhere because he''d swallowed the damn thing not even a month ago!


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    "That''s the golden seed that made you go freak mode in the auction, right?" Dominus said it out loud, looking for confirmation, and Ares nodded his head in response.


    "Mhm. I was wondering what this thing was doing inside of me and where it was doing it. Turns out it''s just been hanging around here in my bloodline, killing time. Makes sense, I guess. it has draconic ties and I have a draconic bloodline in me so put two and two together and here we are. Doesn''t seem like it''s doing anything or making itself useful at the moment though... But I can feel a connection to it. I feel like if I touch it I can remove the barrier... And then both it and I would fall into the pit... Ha, real fucking subtle. I wonder where the monster revenant is. M.a.y.b.e it''s inside the pit? Tsk. Really gonna make me jump in there, huh? Might as well leap into a lion''s maw for all the difference it would make."


    Dominus walked to the edge of the pit and peered inside but it was too dark to see anything. He had no idea how deep it ran and what was lurking down below... He did not pity Ares in the slightest... Dominus was going to have nightmares about this stupid pit and he wasn''t even the one jumping... On that note. "Look, kid, I''m not going in there. I know I said you can trust me, but not on this! I am drawing a line!"


    "... Whatever. I get it. It''s not like you''re needed here anyway. Well, go on then, get lost. Go shoo off and hide somewhere else... Where are you even gonna hang around anyway?"


    "As long as you give me permission, wherever takes my fancy. I''m thinking your heart will do nicely as I can study your pressure in the mean time and maybe get something out of it. You have your uses even if being stuck inside you sucks. Well, anyway, it''s time for me to bid you adieu and wish you luck. I''ll be heading off now..."


    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    A fierce howl came bellowing out from within the pit and even created an updraft above the hole that blew back Ares and Dominus, pushing them both onto their rears. The howl rang in their ears and temporarily deafened and dazed them as their worlds spun in all kinds of directions. Not just cardinal either but the daze was so powerful it''s like their vision was moving forwards and backwards too despite their relative stillness. Dominus felt like he was being dragged down a long, spiralling corridor that never ended which, when contrasted with his sitting position, made him motion sick.


    The fun didn''t end there, though, as shortly after came a few invisible ripples shaped like slashes. Dominus immediately recognised the shape and scurried backwards despite hurling in his mouth as a result thanks to his dizziness. It was worth doing however because those slashes were the same ones that had felled the other revenants. Vomiting in his mouth was not less important than not getting torn to shreds by those slashes. Dominus wasn''t the target though and the slashes all shot up towards the barrier, bouncing off it and sailing off into the depths of the prison above everyone... The revenant monster was making a point. If it actually wanted to attempt to break the barrier it almost definitely had way more powerful attacks at its disposal, it''s just that they didn''t matter. It clearly couldn''t remove the barrier and was demanding Ares remove it for him... The monster could have come up here but it was forcing Ares onto its own turf down in the pit where it had a massive advantage... Not that it needed it. That thing was unrivalled in here and even Dominus would get smacked around effortlessly. It was essentially mocking the two revenants up above it. One thing was definitely clear and that was that the monster wanted the seed badly. It seemed like it would maybe enable the monster to reach its ultimate peak. That was somewhat backed up by the unusual shape of this floor compared to what any other revenant would see. This was THE end of the revenant bloodline. There was nothing beyond this pit. There never would be. This was the end of all ends and Ares was the one standing at it. All he had to do was drop the seed and himself in, let the monster feast, and he would accomplish something no one else ever could or would.


    Dominus recovered first, despite being in a worse position than Ares initially due to his lowly status as lord, and went back to peering into the pit. He figured he would have enough time to see the beast come bursting out of the darkness if he needed to escape and so a bit more confidence returned to his pale face underneath the mask. With a deep breath calming him down somewhat, he leant over and squinted to see what he could spot in the pit. Ares also came over and mimicked Dominus to a tee to see what he could see. Ares wished he had access to Omniscience right about now as that would effectively solve any and all issues relating to a lack of light and visibility.


    GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    Two golden orbs appeared in the darkness below and, had Dominus not been petrified on the spot, he would have already fled this horrible place. The eyes of the monster were trained on the two revenants staring down back at it and each were the size of two hands clasped together... If the eyes were that huge... Just what was the size of this monstrosity exactly?! Dominus'' eyes in his lord form were roughly the size of three fingers bundled together... Going off a rough estimate... Was this thing over 30ft tall?! Was this a monster or a walking two storey house?! No, that wasn''t a fair comparison as it would almost definitely dwarf such a tiny building... Was it a giant? Dominus had assumed the scratch marks were made by a large swing but was this un-Godly creature just flicking its nails this wholetime?!


    Dominus fell on his rear and started laughing uncontrollably again. His laughing was cut off when he suddenly disappeared from this place, abandoning Ares to this atrocious fate. Dominus didn''t want to be here anymore because he didn''t want answers, he wanted to be as far away from the monster as he possible could. This damn thing hadn''t even swallowed the seed and awakened its draconic bloodline fully and it was already this fearful?! Dominus had mistakenly believed Ares'' annihilation enhancement would be his all time high but clearly that was a dumb and baseless assumption. This monster would beat the crap out of Ares with annihilation enhancement in no time flat!... But that wasn''t the full picture... This thing had a bloodline awakening in store when it took the seed, it had annihilation enhancement available to it, it had destruction magic fuelling it, and it had an adept trait to continue strengthening it unto eternity... This monster wasn''t even at a fraction of its potential currently and Dominus felt like an ant in front of it... The destruction pillar had broken the mould with Ares... It had created a living disaster by shoving limitless potential into one single body. Dominus now understood why exactly it was Astraeus had been deeply concerned by Ares. He was an amalgamation of unlimited bullshit that just never ended. Ares would keep growing and eventually reach a breaking point that was literally unstoppable in any and every conceivable way and the monster in the pit was evidence enough for Dominus to believe it. Well, Dominus wasn''t here anymore but Ares could also believe it.


    Ares was, admittedly, quaking in his boots a bit. The eyes were still staring into his soul and he was struggling to maintain eye contact and swallow his saliva at the same time. Breathing was a challenge too but he was lucky. The monster was taking it easy on him because they were technically one and the same. The monster had killed the other revenant forms to enable Ares to get here quicker and not waste time dying to them. That was mostly because it wanted the seed but it may have also been for Ares'' sake. Maybe luring Ares into the dark pit was also for his benefit so as not to mentally scar him with the raw visage of the creature? Or maybe it was the reverse, maybe all of this was just a cruel set up to torment him even more. It was impossible to tell. The monster was undeniably intelligent but it didn''t posses Ares'' brand of intelligence or decision making. This was something more instinctual and feral for the sake of getting what it wanted without a hassle. Maybe it thought if it spooked Ares it wouldn''t get the seed. Maybe Ares was just useful to it. There were any number of possibilities but what remained true was that this was the final hurdle. Once Ares crossed it, that monster would become him... No that wasn''t accurate, Ares would become that monster? No, again, that wasn''t right... Ares already was this monster, he just couldn''t see it yet... The Ares above the pit was the personality and the morality while the Ares in the pit was the physique and the aesthetic. Who was ''real'' between them? In the end it didn''t matter as, when the beast devoured his flesh, they would become one. In some ways, the Ares above the pit had it better as it was his conscience that would remain once all was said and done. Perhaps the beast was just satisfied to be unleashed and free from this place. Perhaps it just wanted to breathe the fresh air outside and interact with the world at large...


    Ares leant back and shook his head to refocus. He was getting needlessly distracted over irrelevant philosophies about the nature of the self and who was relative to the monster. Something something there exists within you two wolves etc... But literally this time, to be fair. Ares took a few steps back, not in retreat, but in preparation to take a running jump towards the barrier. He would grab onto it, it would disappear, and he and the seed would plummet to their deaths... It was a long fall, Ares knew that after seeing just how far away the eyes were from him in the pit. It would break his bones and render him immobile. He would not be able to heal in time to move around and explore the pit. He would lie there helpless as the monster devoured the seed and ascended to a new state altogether. Ares would then become the next target and... Well, he didn''t rightly know. Would he be tortured like a mouse at the hands of a house cat? Would it end quickly? Would he be slowly eaten alive? Nothing seemed pleasant but one of those answers would have to come true for anything to progress so he readied himself for the worst case scenario and took a deep breath. He craned his neck in a few different directions, clicked a few bones, and laughed depreciatingly at himself for delaying like a coward again. He''d done this back when he''d learned annihilation enhancement and he was doing it again now... Ares, for all his good points, seemed to have a really strong aversion to pain and death when it was self-inflicted. Someone else could kidnap and torture him and he wouldn''t be fussed but when he had to pull the trigger himself it dealt a kind of psychological damage... It didn''t really matter though because Ares did have it in him to pull that trigger, he just needed a moment or two. He''d pulled the trigger before and, now that his legs were already moving, he was doing it again. Ares reached the rim of the pit and jumped, closing the distance between himself and the seed.


    Thud


    Ares stomach collided with the barrier and his arms were draped over it to prevent himself from falling... This was in vain because he knew in his heart of hearts what was about to come next... As if to answer his grim expectations the barrier dissolved in his grasp and, shortly after the seed disappeared into the depths of the darkness below, Ares succumbed to gravity and sunk into the murky pit as well...

 Chapter 196: As Below, So Above

    Ares could faintly see the golden seed a short distance beneath him and, in a way, that made it all worse. He would see the seed bounce off the ground and his body would follow shortly after but, unlike the seed, he wasn''t an inanimate object. The seed hitting the ground would be a precursor of the misery to come for Ares and nothing more. The longer this freefall lasted, the more Ares was dreading the final few seconds of it. On one hand he wished it would never end, on the other he knew the sooner he suffered the better... Not exactly a pleasant situation to be in, especially when having a rough idea of what was in store for him immediately after the crash.


    THUMP


    THUMP


    THUMP


    There was some manner of movement below Ares, coming from the deepest recess of the pit... The revenant monster was plodding across the floor and moving over to catch the seed. The object that had been taunting it ever since Ares digested it would soon be in its grasp and Ares imagined it would be too preoccupied with that to catch him, not that it would be so kind regardless of the circumstance. Now Ares was alone in his fall. The seed would be swooped out of the air like a princess in need of rescue but he would be Villager A in this cruel play, sacrificed for the sake of protecting what truly mattered. Ares'' comradery with the seed all but vanished and he was tempted to try and spit on it but the buffeting winds pushing him around complicated the task so he didn''t bother. His one goal right now was to minimise the damage he suffered from the impact by correcting his body position... And it was hopeless. Winds aside, he couldn''t see anything anymore. Even the faint light from the top of this pit had vanished entirely, leaving Ares tumbling through a black abyss, unsure of which way was up. You''d think the pull of gravity would clue him in, or maybe the seed''s position relative to him, but his world had been spun in loops too many times now and his brain wasn''t functioning properly. There was no longer an ''up'' or ''down'' in this space, just a long fall and nothing more. Ares was also realising just how much of a task it would have been for the monster to escape this place on its own. There presumably wasn''t a scalable wall in this spiralling pit so it would have had to create its own footholds by scratching and climbing the walls... Given that this pit seemed to be as large as a mountain, Ares understood that the monster had incredible strength to be able to hang on and pull itself up these giant walls. Plus, if it was truly as big a monster as Ares and Dominus had predicted, it''s weight would be considerable... It being able to freely come and go from a location like this was an incredible feat and, while it made Ares nervous to come face to face with it, he also had a bit of respect for the creature.


    Ares, spinning though he was, caught sight of the seed being swiped out of mid air by a black shadow. It was too dim down here to catch sight of the monster so all Ares saw was the golden light curving and arcing through the bottom of the pit before disappearing inside, what Ares presumed was, the monster''s fist. It snatched the seed and was cradling it like something truly precious... Meanwhile, Ares closed his eyes and braced for the inevitable... But it still took a while yet. The monster must have partially climbed the wall and jumped toward the seed in a bit to get it into its paws even a few seconds earlier so Ares had misjudged how much more time he had left before he...


    CCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK


    ... Hit the ground...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Broken and on death''s door, Ares lay with his face half buried in the floor. All the cultivation in the world wasn''t going to save him from a fall as significant as that. His body was in catastrophic shape, that much he could tell even if he couldn''t see it in this unlit pit. He could taste the blood gurgling in his mouth, his ability to speak was long gone due to whatever injury had affected his throat. The bones below his neck were broken en masse and he couldn''t move even an inch. His legs were bent backwards in places and folded over each other. His landing had been, through no fault of his own, poor. The angle was disastrous and he suffered far worse than he''d predicted he would and it wasn''t impossible he would die here long before the monster ate him at this rate if it kept being slow about things.


    It was chilling and dark and the pain Ares was experiencing was enough to somehow force a weak groan out of him. It wasn''t as bad as when he was learning annihilation enhancement but it was close and the fact he expected himself to die after made it worse too. That all-consuming pain that seeped into his cracked bones, ominously haunting him until he bled out... His regeneration was fighting back though. He could feel it kicking into overdrive to undo any of the severe injuries first and, miraculously, it looked like Ares, given enough time, might have actually lived... Ares was floored... Literally... He was halfway inside it and was like a human road bump. Anyway, physical complications aside, he was shocked that a revenant''s regeneration was this absurd. He assumed, on impact, he was dead as doornails but apparently his regeneration disagreed with him... Ares had undersold the efficiency of the revenant bloodline big time. He really would become a cockroach in the future at this rate, Enyo had been right. No wonder revenants were so proud of their race, their bloodline was phenomenal and trumped even the greatest of healing treasures passively. Of course, in a situation like the one Ares was in, all it did was prolong the inevitable.


    Ares expected the monster to be consuming the seed right about now but that prediction was dashed when he saw those golden eyes come crawling back through the darkness. The monster was checking on Ares, be it out of care, curiosity, or consideration for the sake of its next meal Ares didn''t know. Maybe it recognised him as other half of its existence. Maybe it was toying with Ares like it had toyed with the other revenants. Maybe it wanted to be free and eating Ares was the only way out so it needed him alive. As with before, Ares just didn''t know what was going through this thing''s mind... Which felt odd. It was technically him. If anything, the human Ares was the fake, nothing more than a vocal shell that housed the real beast within. It felt bizarre understanding that everything Ares was, and had been up until now, was a concoction of this beast for the sake of convenience. Was he even real or just a figment of this beast? It was an annoying line of thinking that would never end and it really didn''t matter as he was about to be realer than real. He would be the dominant personality when all was said and done and there was no debating it so Ares put those troublesome questions to the back of his head once more and trained his own eyes on the golden ones peering at him.


    The eyes in question were maybe a tad bigger than Ares had given them credit for before. He''d been staring at them from the top of the pit but, at that distance, it was no surprise they appeared smaller than they actually were. In this position they more closely a golden bowling ball but, instead of three holes, there was a singular, cross shaped, mark in the middle... Was it blind? This revelation stumped Ares. Surely such a brilliant creature wasn''t plagued by blindness?!... Was that why it wanted the seed? When Ares had consumed it initially the shape of his retina morphed into that of a dragon''s and the clarity of his vision skyrocketed. Dogs were infamous for having atrocious eyesight and it seemed Ares had caught the short end of the stick. His draconic bloodline was going to save him from that fate, though, amongst the other areas it would benefit him in. Still, this monster''s sense of smell was enough for it to get around without a hassle and it honestly wouldn''t have made a difference. It almost definitely cared about the seed because of the strength it would gain from it more than the eyesight.


    The other thing Ares noticed about these eyes was their position relative to him or, in other words, how far off the ground they were... Ares was craning his neck to the best of his broken ability to even catch a glimpse of the eyes towering above him... Ares estimated the eyes were roughly twelve to thirteen feet off the ground and, that might not have sounded like much, but that was where the sway of the eyes came in... Ares could tell this thing was on all fours. It was prowling on all four paws and inspecting Ares and yet the position of its eyes were still so high off the ground... It was a wolf, yes, but it was also a werewolf. If this creature stood on its hind legs and stretched upright... it would be roughly three to four times as tall as it was currently. It''s eyes would be so far above Ares he literally wouldn''t be able to see them from the floor in his current position... This thing was well and truly a monster and had earned that moniker through and through... What would it be like to live as such a thing? When Ares eventually became that beast, what would it be like to see the world through the eyes of a giant, fearsome beast? No wonder the monster had toyed with the other revenants, they really must have been nothing more than stuffed animals to it. That sheer feeling of power flowing through its massive veins and colossal muscles must have driven it to experiment with its strength and take its body for a test drive. Sitting on such power and never using it was criminal.


    The eyes of the monster slowly faded as it took a few heavy steps backward, retreating into the darkness where Ares could no longer see head or tail of it. More than anything else, right now, Ares had been taken over by the phenomenon of this beast''s existence. Any and all fear he had before the jump was long gone and now all he wanted was to see it. To see what he was deep down, beneath the fleshy prison he''d been trapped in all these years. Calla''s words from before rang in his ears and he was starting to really feel strange in his own body. He wanted out. He wanted to return to his natural self and shed this uncomfortable skin. There was something beautiful about the creature he''d seen small glimpses of in this dark hole. Something regal and elegant that couldn''t be matched by this worthless container of skin he''d trapped himself inside. His body felt hot and sweaty and he wanted to skin himself. If he could pull his skeleton out of the body his brain was housing he would do it in a heartbeat.


    The ''monster'' moniker was inaccurate as this revenant was really nothing of the sort, it was a fantastic existence that deserved respect and praise. Ares'' mind was trending in that direction the more he caught sight of the shadows outlining the beast. It was almost hypnotic like his inner revenant was finally awakening. He wasn''t going to fully discard his humanity, he was just finally, finally, finally, going to embrace the reality of his actual self. The container was a useful tool but Ares was not a tool. He was proud, arrogant, and perfect in every way. He was a revenant... No, he was more than just any old revenant. He wasn''t a pitiful alpha or a pathetic lord... He was something so much more. Inside himself Ares could see sparks of divinity. Divinity that allowed him to transcend the concept of ''tiers'' as such as system, relative to him, was worthless. Ares wasn''t definable by some kind of list... As Ares lay on his side he came to a conclusion about who and what he was at his core, bolstered by the name that kept ringing in his otherwise empty head on repeat.


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    Garmr


    Garmr


    Garmr


    It was strange. Oh-so strange. Though Ares knew the name to be true it still didn''t feel fully accurate. Like there was something sleeping even deeper below... But he could also tell it wouldn''t rear it''s head for some time. It was not something he could discover until the sparks of divinity within him blossomed into something more. Until he could consume those sparks and integrate it into himself but that was a problem for the future. Right now, though he''d yet to be devoured and freed from this prison, Ares was Garmr. No amount of false humanity that remained in him would ever stop this transformation, it would be done and could not be undone. Ares wanted to be consumed but his true self, the flawless wolf, was tending to the seed right now. Ares couldn''t see it but his connection with the creature was now an inseparable, tactile bond and he could almost feel the seed in his numb hand.


    What a beautiful seed... Ares mind, drifting in and out of a state of consciousness, was enraptured by the seed and all it offered him. He put all of his remaining strength into lifting his hand and bringing it to his mouth to eat the seed that didn''t even exist in his possession but he could taste it nonetheless. He could feel it crumbling between his sharp teeth and the earthen taste that slid down his throat as he swallowed it was soothing. The chewed seed swirled around in his stomach and reforged itself before swimming up and around his body, painting the inner walls of Ares'' body golden. It spread golden paint over his lungs and eventually arrived before his heart. Rather than slather it in the same golden hue, it turned its tip towards the heart and pushed up against it. With a spin, the seed started drilling into his heart. Ares should have felt pain at this point but he was Garmr and Garmr wasn''t ever going to be hurt by something so trivial. It tickled at most and was a degree of ''pain'' barely worth having on his radar. The seed burrowed into the heart and dissolved, becoming one with the organ. The heart slowly turned solid gold and kept pumping more and more rapidly. Despite his battered body, Ares'' quick breathing kept up with Garmr''s, painful though it was, and the rate at which he inhaled and exhaled was only going up and up. It felt like he was choking for air and had to remove an obstacle blocking his throat so he opened his mouth wide and, in sync with Garmr, howled a howl that would be heard across the entire universe as his heart throbbed.


    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    Ares was at peace with the howl. It didn''t touch him and was like a quiet serenade that lulled him into a sense of security. He very nearly even fell asleep to the tune of his own roar but things were not playing out the same for every other living creature in existence. The howl had shot up and through the prison, escaped Ares'' body, rocked Calla senseless, pierced the pagoda, and unleashed chaos. From Sheryashka to the realm of Gods and even beyond that in the void where Astraeus resided, the earth shook, trees collapsed, mountains cracked, rivers evaporated, and space warped to accommodate the movement of sound in millions of places simultaneously. Mortals cried in terror, cultivators ran in fright from the noise like headless chickens, legends shrunk back in fear, Gods cowered ''neath the burden of the weight of sheer domination, and even the pillars themselves trembled uncontrollably. The universe just bore witness to a timeless event that had shaped history forever. The birth of a new being that didn''t quite align with any known norms. Something that neither Gods nor pillars could match up to. The collision of worlds, the amalgamation that was a racial mix of Gods, dragons, fundamental pillars, and revenants was complete and a perfect existence was, at long last, finally born.


    Back in the prison, Ares willed himself to move. He dragged his mostly limp body towards the masterpiece he''d become. Garmr should not be hidden away in a place like this, he needed to be let out of this demeaning cage. There was a grander stage that called for him, not one that could match his presence but the most suitable of all the ones available to it. The outside world... Though it would be limited to the pagoda, for now, its new base of operations would suffice. Anything other than this dank prison would allow him to commence his reign of terror over those who stood in opposition to him. On this day Ares, Garmr, would make his debut in this lowly world and there was nothing left to stop him.


    Ares pulled himself further and further, leaving a bloody trail from his starting point that was symbolic of his determination to self actualize. This was not a blood trail like that of the weaker revenants in the prison above, this was not subservience or weakness, it was co-operation and mutual destruction to be reborn anew as a complete being. Ares was Garmr and Garmr was Ares. They needed one another to co-exist and both were equally desperate for this merge to take place. To that end, Garmr was inching towards Ares from the darkness as well. The golden eyes, now with draconic, slitted pupils, swayed side to side in the black pit as it took step after step towards the end of its entrapment and, in turn, the start of its destiny.


    First and foremost, before any other detail of it became clear, two gilded dragon horns could be seen, shining in the dark. Based on the rough position of them, Ares assumed they started roughly under the creature''s ears and went straight backwards. They weren''t too long, compared to the size of the rest of the revenant presumably, but they were striking and stood out like a sore thumb. The golden eyes were what everyone would be drawn to first but the horns were a close second as they were perfectly straight, glossy, and streamlined. They were undoubtedly a recent addition thanks to the seed so that explained why this was the first time Ares had spotted them.


    A few steps later and now the head was coming into view. Ares couldn''t quite make out any details from this range but what was clear was that the revenant''s fur was both jagged and sleek. It wasn''t fluffy like Calla''s but it wasn''t messy either. The fur still predominantly took centre stage regarding the structure of the Garmr''s face but it didn''t give a soft impression, rather a rough and battle-hardened one that was rather imposing. Muted brutality. Wild but firmly in control. Savage but regal. Raw power and stoicism. All of the above was an accurate depiction. The furs were all slicked back and made the face smoother than it otherwise would have been but it wasn''t a bony face due to the thickness of the fur so it retained a kind of elegance that made those who gazed upon it feel inferior. A small hint of boredom could be seen its complacent eyes that viewed the world as nothing more than a trifle that needed to be interacted with and the people in it as even less important.


    There was nothing berserk about this monster at all, there were heaps of intelligence in its movement and flickering eyes that darted about in the darkness. It was a presence fitting for that of a king of a race, maybe even going beyond that. Ares'' current half-dead state didn''t really matter as. upon seeing this. he would have been speechless regardless. His awe was greater than even that of when he''d met Astraeus who was nothing more than a tin can in comparison to such a majestic creature. The revenant looked as though it had emerged fresh from a masterful painter''s finest strokes and every subtle movement was impossible not to respect. There was a considerable confidence on display but it wasn''t arrogance. Yes the creature was arrogant but it wasn''t a showy kind of arrogance, more a muted understanding of its own capabilities and position in the world which just made it even more impressive. It was realistically assessing itself but that assessment still ended up as ''superior being'' despite its honesty. It wasn''t rating itself highly out of narcissistic tendencies, it had been objective in its evaluation and still scored higher than anyone or anything else ever would have been able to. Whereas someone like Mako would bolster himself with exaggerated remarks, Garmr had put himself on a higher pedestal than even Mako despite coming to his conclusion fairly. It was a well earned and subdued arrogance, the impact of which was monumental. And it was worth remembering this was just its calm state. What it became when when the prospect of war and violence came knocking would certainly be an inspiring sight.


    Ares'' hazy view was as good as it was going to get for now. Even seeing fragments of Garmr''s face was a satisfying enough conclusion for Ares for now. He could tell, as could Garmr, that the time to become one had arrived and they were both aching for it. Garmr took one more step, and his head slowly sunk down to the floor. It was readying itself to pounce upon Ares and do the deed but even this was a lengthy process as Garmr was simply too tall to lower its head quickly. This act did bring its face somewhat closer to Ares but he was well and truly out of it by this point. He''d been drifting in and out of his mind with regularity and now he seemed to be clinging onto a thread and nothing more. It was Garmr''s duty to snap that thread and break the illusion he was under. No longer would Ares go off galivanting as a human, the time for that misunderstanding had come and gone. From however many feet away, Garmr leapt straight towards Ares'' head. The speed was astonishing and all Ares saw was a single, large, deathly sharp tooth pierce his skull before he was kicked out of this space.


    Ares awoke from his meditation with a start but the sight before him only confused him further. He could see clearly beyond the horizon and even spy some of the fields further out of Red Sun that should normally be well out of view. His vision had shifted upwards considerably since the last time he was in the pagoda and even the house he''d just been in with Calla seemed to have disappeared... It''s not that anything looked tiny, it''s just that he now had a perpetual vantage point with which to look down upon everything with. He was definitely standing and yet his vision indicated he was floating which didn''t make a lick of sense to him. Plus his body felt different... Very very different... Before he could figure it all out, he felt something soft come into contact with his leg. Ares looked down and was dazed when he realised just how far off the ground he was. 35ft? 40ft? It was in that region... Which, combined with the fact that he could see a lot of fur on his body could only mean one thing... Also, as for the ''soft'' thing on his leg, that would be Calla who was giving her ''baby'' a hug while her tail was swinging about at maddening speeds. Even though Ares was far too tall for his ears to be in close proximity to Calla''s current position, he could hear her merry squealing all too clearly. Something about a ''big and fluffy'' baby... She was seemingly happy her boy had grown up ''big and strong'' but that was perhaps a bit of an understatement given Ares'' current form... Whatever, at least now he could finally experiment. He would get a proper look at himself in a mirror or something, get a feel for his strength, and then get to work on perfecting the transformation process... Although Ares had a feeling that last part was going to be irrelevant to him. He could tell he was already borderline at mastery of it because he felt like he could switch between forms freely. Apparently being Garmr came with such a benefit which made sense. This wasn''t really a ''form'' like the tiered revenants, this was something more personal. Anyway, he''d done it! He wouldn''t showcase it to others in the pagoda just yet, as he would let real Ares display this form in full during the international, but at least pagoda Ares had Garmr on lock. He would keep it a secret until real Ares unveiled it properly, at which point he would start unleashing it on some of the stronger cultivators that came his way. Really, the most important time for him to use it was when the pagoda returned to the outside world but that was still a way aways. Until then, he would keep this in his back pocket... And well Calla would also probably do it... She seemed very happy. She was still repeating her ''big and fluffy'' mantra... Ares figured, before anything else, he would lie down and let Calla pet him... Such a one of a kind, superior, fantastical being... And he was catering to his mother''s whims to pet the big doggo... If it wasn''t clear Ares was still in charge of his body before, as opposed to Garmr, then it definitely was now at least.

 Chapter 197: Older but Definitely Not Wiser

    Back outside the pagoda, inside the Heaven''s Path sect...


    Ares had heard the howl. Well everyone had but only he really had an inkling as to what went down. As with the pagoda clone, he hadn''t realised initially that the clone would have access to the revenant form but now he''d received an indirect reminder he was jealous! He wanted to become a doggo too! If nothing else to see what it was like... Ares had no idea just what kind of being he was and that irked him because some silly clone of his already did! Now he just wanted to use a Canis Stimulant for the fun of it even more... After all, that howl had pierced straight through the pagoda so he had to be at least a little incredible, right? Even Dominus inside of him muttered a pretty audible ''fuck me!'' back then! Although he''d been grumbling in the background since then, clearly unhappy about something, but the connection between them wasn''t strong enough to have a proper conversation so Ares just let it all slide. Ares'' reaction to the howl wasn''t as significant as anyone else''s because he was unaffected by it. If he''d known just how devastating a noise it had been to other revenants, who were all currently curled up in a ball and shivering like they were frozen, maybe he would have treated it like a bigger deal. Hell he didn''t even know everyone in existence heard it, he thought it was just a local thing. Ignorance is bliss...


    As for what he was currently up to inside one of the cultivation rooms in his house, he''d been working on a few bits and bobs he''d gotten from the elders. First up on his list of things to do was learn to improve his pressurised Echoes. It wasn''t the most useful tool in his arsenal but learning this set of improvements was safe, quick, and easy. Relative to shoving his untested annihilation pressure into treasures he cared deeply about, this was a calm process and one he was already somewhat familiar with. This wasn''t the first time he''d improved his Echoes'' efficiency and might after all. Part of the issue with his original creation was that the mana outshone the pressure, limiting the power output of the pressure. Provided the user was better at controlling mana this was actually almost a non-issue. For someone like Ares, though, it had considerably hampered his own usage of the art. Someone like Rud would get a very minor benefit from this change but Ares'' usage of it would be noticeably better from now onwards. Other miscellaneous benefits included a quicker merging and shaping process, allowing for a quicker fire rate, as well as a better design on the shape of the Echo. By using pressure to create a funnel in the air the speed of ranged Echoes would increase drastically and close range Echoes would be able to cause more havoc should they wind up rattling around inside an opponent. More bounces, more speed and therefore more impact, and more problems for the victim. The changes were extensive and didn''t end there but if Ares went over them all he would be here the entire day just checking them all. He trusted Lizzy and Rud''s work, as they were experts who stood to gain a lot from this, and just adapted his own understanding of the art according to the tome''s suggestions. Rewiring his automatic mana flow was always a hassle and had a learning period associated with it as it was effectively throwing away countless little bits of muscle memory. It was worth it though, very worth it. The mana cost of Echoes had barely budged and yet they were now way better so there was no way Ares wasn''t going to take advantage of it. Making his toolkit more deadly all around was never a bad thing and the treadmill work of constantly improving yourself was part and parcel of what it meant to be a cultivator in the first place. He couldn''t skip it, boring though it could be!


    A few hours later he felt comfortable with all the changes and could cast the new Echoes consistently. Currently it wasn''t any faster than before but that''s because he was still in an adjustment period of sorts. Actually, matching the previous speed despite being uncomfortable with the art still was a goof sign as it meant the improvements were already making their mark. Now that he was done combing over the tome it was time to start shoving pressure into artifacts and treasures... But where exactly was he supposed to start with all of this? Do the artifacts first and use regular pressure? What if he went too far? Start with the treasures because they could take his mana in safely? But they weren''t as powerful as his personal treasures which could benefit more... Start with his personal treasures? And risk potentially breaking them?! Poor choices all around, unfortunately, but he had to make a choice and do something!


    Ares wracked his brains for a bit before deciding on the artifacts like his Black Ice Bane and... Actually, technically, that was the only artifact he owned. Most of his rare stuff were all treasures... But he did have other artifacts on him! Artifacts he''d been making for the sect in the form of armour and weapons. He would also start incorporating pressure into these but he needed to make sure he got the right amount otherwise it would be unusable for the other disciples. It''s not like any of them were going to somehow overpower his pressure, that was a preposterous expectation. So in other words, he had to not break the Bane, and he had to refrain from putting too much pressure in everything else as well but their limit was considerably lower... It wasn''t an easy task, and he would mess up more than a few of the artifacts due for sale at this rate while he was trying things out... Was there an easier way that could prevent all of this risk?... Ares went through all the tricks he had at his disposal and eventually settled on attempting to use his Omniscience to try and cheat the process. If anything he owned was going to simplify the process, it would be the treasure that had done arguably the most for Ares up until now. These things were seriously far FAR too powerful compared to any other treasure out there. The fact that the Celestial Prisms were only one part of a set was mind boggling. The idea of other, equally legendary treasures existing was crazy to Ares who was still unable to completely wrap his head around the myriad problems Omniscience could effortlessly solve. It was a cheat code, plain and simple.


    Ares turned it on anddddddd it worked. Of course it did. Of all the treasures in the Celestial Cluster that Ares could have picked up first, he was oh-so grateful it had been these bad boys. Right now, he could see a sort of gauge on his Black Ice Bane with three clear segments, split between two red lines. The first section was basically irrelevant as all it showed Ares was how much pressure he could freely add without making literally any difference to the weapon. Its increase in power would be minor. The second was where it all started to spike and the limit here was one Ares couldn''t cross if he wanted anyone else to ever be able to use it. The final segment, starting from the second red line, could be filled up until the end of the gauge at which point, when crossed, would cause the weapon to explode and break. Before Ares celebrated his new finding, he took this opportunity to pick up some random sword he''d created for the forgery department and created a wall of disintegration, around his arm, between him and the weapon. He imbued the weapon with annihilation enhancement and winced as he expected a bang...


    .... A bang that never came, thankfully. Ares opened one eye and peeked at the sword with his Omniscience activated and inhaled deeply upon seeing how bursting to the brim this thing was with his pressure. Even an ounce more would have sent this weapon over the edge and made it go kablooey in his hands. It wouldn''t have been a small detonation either as this was annihilation pressure and it was fully rigged to explode just about all the damn time! Good news had fallen right into Ares'' lap with this experiment, though, as it meant he could feasibly put his annihilation enhancement into the Black Ice Bane. The other artifacts were a no-go as they shot right past the second segment, which was where they needed to be at for the sake of the disciples purchasing them, but that didn''t concern Ares himself.


    Ares took stock of the annihilation pressure imbued sword and nodded his head in satisfaction. It was a fantastic weapon by any standard really. He''d created a weapon that anyone in mental accumulation would kill for if they could actually wield it. As that wasn''t the case though, and literally only Ares could, it was a complete waste. Ares had no reason to use it over his Bane so... What was he supposed to do with this useless thing!? Ares could use this new found information to craft some powerful artifacts of other weapon types and practice his weapon mastery but this sword was pointless to the extreme! Ares just opened a nearby window and chucked the sword out of it, letting it sit around on the floor near the fence. He had no use for it and no one else ever would either... Or so he thought, but that sword eventually went on to form it''s own sort of silly legacy down the line. Long story short it was worth a crap ton when it was discovered, thanks to Ares annihilation pressure, and traded so many hands it became one of the most valuable swords of all time despite being relatively low quality compared to other stuff you could find in the higher realms. After many murders, and subsequently the repeated changing of hands of ownership, it eventually ended up in a museum of all things. As with many stories about the unknown, the tales of this particular sword were blown way out of proportion but Ares never bothered correcting any of it because, honestly, he didn''t even remember the sword at all... If people wanted to treat his leftovers as a work of art then, stupid though it was, they had every right to do as they pleased...


    After closing the window and dusting his hands off, Ares sat back down and picked up the Bane. Ares knew he could safely shove the same amount of annihilation pressure inside it as it was a far stronger artifact than the one previously experimented with. Ares still winced, mind you, because an explosion in a confined room like this would not be pretty. No matter how much faith he had in his success, pulling that proverbial trigger was still as much of a problem as it always was for him. Still, his reluctance had been for naught as all was well and dandy by the end of the process. Actually, Ares could put a bit more pressure in so he took a few deep breaths and began the surgical process. He had to lower his pressure output to the point it felt like he was poking a balloon with a needle without making it pop. A hard task but one he was very much able to do with the assistance of Omniscience. Without the Celestial Prisms he would have had to practice pressure control for maybe another week or so before he felt comfortable finishing off the Bane. As that wasn''t the case, however, Ares now held in his palms his trusty Bane with a fresh, golden tint to it. It was a small tint, and hardly perceptible during combat scenarios, but it was definitely there! Ares could feel the weapon surging with new force, ready to unleash it all upon any foe it clashed with. Maybe the pressure would even benefit the various runes he could use with this thing as they relied on annihilation mana to begin with. Having a pseudo extra source of annihilation might raise the deadliness of the explosions it could create which was always nice. Now that Ares had completed his initial probing, he could move on to the other artifacts he had lying around. Sure there were more interesting things to be doing right now but he wanted to just finish this stuff up, hand it over to Onno to put on sale, and be done with it all. He viewed this as work and, worse still, unpaid work! The stardust he earned from such masterful creations was, unfortunately, limited and so he never really felt inclined to do it. He was aware how much of a benefit he was providing, though, so he stuck to it for the sake of the sect that would one day be his.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Ares worked long and tirelessly throughout the day, only taking a break when it was time to cook dinner, after which he returned to his little cultivation cave to keep up the grinding. He was even prepared to burn the midnight oil and go whole hog on this endeavour to finish up sooner but he was paid a visit by Bellona who demanded he take a break and get some rest. Ares had no idea why she was calling him but it''s not like he didn''t have time to spare. There was still a good while between now and his next match so he wasn''t in a rush or anything, he just wanted to declutter his mind and cross off some of the things on his to-do list. The sooner he finished messing around with pressure, the sooner he could cultivate to the next stage of mental accumulation and, subsequently, take the trailblazers. A new cultivation realm was right around the corner and Ares was interested in it, doubly so now that his Omniscience had proved its capabilities yet again. He could technically work on it before everything else but it was a series of tasks that would cause one more to pop up every time he finished the first one in the queue. To that end, his list would never actually shorten and, from a neat and tidy perspective, it irked him. He would rather have a short list with long problems than a long list with short problems. Anyway, point being he was somewhat reluctant to halt his progress but he did so regardless. Tomorrow was a new day and he could start working on everything again then anyway. Not working wasn''t really the issue, working on the wrong thing was where Ares'' hesitancy lay. He predicted he had more than enough time to get all the smaller stuff done in time and still have enough leftover time for the trailblazers before the next match so a setback like this wasn''t an issue.


    Ares got up and, on the way back to the bedroom, attempted to have Bellona divulge her secrets. Why she wanted him in the bedroom today, specifically, he didn''t know. She didn''t seem to be in the mood to play around and if it was actually Enyo that was she would have fetched him herself. Hell she might have just jumped him in the cultivation room so that clearly wasn''t it. If it was just a matter of spending time she would have owned up to it and said it already so that wasn''t the reason either... There had been one weird event earlier in the day that could have potentially clued Ares in had he asked questions at the time but he just chalked it up to Enyo and Bellona''s usual occasional spats and left it at that. They''d been debating something in the kitchen when Ares went to cook but they hushed themselves the second he walked into the room... It was suspicious but if they wanted him to know they would have outright said whatever it was to his face... They were planning something! The dastardly sisters were up to no good.... But what could it possible be?


    Ares arrived at the room and he had no clue. There wasn''t any prank or sort waiting for him and the closer he got to the bed, the more he started to think that, actually, maybe, it really was just a matter of spending time with him? Maybe they were concocting plans to get him in the room had he denied Bellona''s earlier requests and, now that he agreed on the spot, it was all unneeded? Ares was starting to believe this train of thought up until he went to get into the side of the bed and Enyo shooed him away, pointing towards the centre of the bed instead and indicating he should go there...


    WRONG!


    IT WAS ALL WRONG!


    Enyo had gotten moody last time because she wasn''t in the centre and yet, despite offering her a chance tonight, she''d denied it without a shred of reluctance in her eyes?! Nope. Nopenopenope. Something was very wrong here! There was fuckery afoot and Ares knew it... But what could he possibly do about it? He wasn''t going to walk away now that he was already in here. The bed was comfy and he was feeling a bit tired so he kind of wanted to stay. Plus sleeping with his wives was cathartic and enjoyable... Ah screw it. Whether they drag me to hell or heaven at least they''ll be along for the ride... Ares decided to stay. Whatever these two sneaky women were up to Ares wouldn''t mind in the end and they were free to mess around in whatever way they wanted. If they wanted him here to have some kind of fun at his expense, he would oblige and make them happy. If it was anything for his benefit then there was no point in complaining. Essentially, there was no reason to leave and spoil their plans. Of course his acceptance of the current status quo didn''t answer any of his burning questions. Was he about to get the short end of the stick? Was Enyo fiending for the big end of the stick? Who knew?! Ares sighed, shook his head, and kissed both Enyo and Bellona goodnight. He would find out tomorrow morning what these two were cooking...


    The night was a peaceful one and Ares slept undisturbed. No matter what these two had in store for him, at the very least, he had gotten a full night''s sleep so that was a silver lining on his uncertain future. There was one small incident in which Ares woke up to the sensation of his arm being headbutt but that was just Bellona sleep... Walking? Headbutting? Was this woman secretly a ram?! Not that it wasn''t cute in its own way but why was this woman so obsessed with headbutting things?! Ares ignored it and went back to sleep while Bellona leant on his arm and started drooling all over him... No one ever said love was easy... As much as Ares wanted to clean the dribble on his clothes he just let it happen because any movements might wake one of the sisters up and then he would feel guilty. It wasn''t dissimilar to having a sleeping cat on your legs and wanting to move about either because there was something you needed to do or because your legs were getting numb. Ares didn''t have it in him so he just let Bellona slobber in her sleep. In the morning it would be her who''s cheek was soaked anyway...


    Morning came and the sun peeked into the room around the edges of the curtains but Ares was still asleep. Usually he was the first one up but it seemed the sister''s had co-ordinated their efforts to wake up before him for some reason... Although really it was just Enyo waking up first and then punching her sister in the arm until she also woke up. Still, Bellona being willing to get up this early meant something was definitely up! She was actively fighting off her grogginess in order to wake up early?! Did someone kidnap the real Bellona?! Ares would have been shocked at this development had he been awake and it would have put him on full alert. As this wasn''t the case, poor defenceless Ares had no way to fend off the two women who were doing... Something? In all honesty, as he felt their hands roaming around him, he probably wouldn''t have stopped it even if he was awake. Right now he felt like he was in heaven and, though he''d very much woken up now, even if he''d yet to open his eyes, he still wasn''t entirely sure if he was dreaming or not. Was this what it was like to be Bellona in the mornings? Struggling to open your eyes? Maybe a bit of unwillingness to as lying there while your partner toyed with you was fun in its own right? Maybe she had the right idea all along... Or maybe she was actually just lazy and this was all just a bunch of convenient excuses. Either way, Ares felt like he was drifting on a cloud of soft hands and it was delightful. Whatever these two had planned seemed like it was trending towards a good thing rather than anything untoward, allowing Ares to lower his guard even further and unwind. He didn''t know what he''d done to deserve this but he would accept his reward with open arms.


    One pair of hands roamed south and started fiddling with him and Ares knew who it was the second their hand made contact because there was a pretty distinct difference between the two wives. Since Enyo''s change a while back her skin had gotten so much smoother that her entire body could practically double as a soft pillow. That included her hands so, in turn, it meant Bellona''s rougher palms felt noticeably different. As for what that affected now that she was going to town on him, well it sort of depended. Ares came the conclusion that Bellona''s hands were preferable for a quick job if she put more oomph into her grip whereas Enyo''s slow and steady work felt better in the long run if she was gentle and slow. With Enyo hogging his mouth and Bellona pecking away at his neck, with her hand busying itself downstairs, Ares didn''t last all too long as his morning wood was eventually chipped down to size. To be fair it was their fault it turned into a woodpecker in the first place! Ares was curious to know why this teamwork had come about in the first place so, although he was still battling with his tired eyes, he managed to partially open them and squint as he queried the two. "Good morning... Better than good but I think you catch my drift... What''s the occasion?"


    Enyo was currently too distracted with licking Bellona''s palm clean to answer so Bellona took the wheel and steered the conversation in her sister''s stead. "Today''s a special day, you''re not wrong about that. You mentioned it in passing a while ago so Enyo and I did some digging, talked to Calla, and found out today''s your birthday! Happy birthday, mutt!"


    Ares chuckled to himself. "Well I certainly enjoyed my present. It was a hands-on experience worth remembering. You got me good, I really didn''t see it coming... Wait, does that mean you two are going to cook for me today?! Is that why you were hanging around the kitchen yesterday?... I see... Well, do try not to burn the kitchen down..."


    Thud


    Bellona headbutt Ares and hmphed in his general direction with narrowed eyes. "We''re not master chefs or anything but we''re not so inept at cooking we''d burn the place down!... Well Enyo might if left unattended... But not me! I''ll have you know I learnt how to cook decently enough back when I lived on my own after leaving the Legion clan."


    Ares rubbed his head and slowly sat up with his back against the headboard. "Then I look forward to what you and Enyo will make... But speaking of the devil..." Ares looked down at Enyo who was slowly crawling up his body whilst looking like something straight out a horror film; the kind where some woman fresh from hell drags herself out of a tv screen and skitters around on the floor... "... Can you even cook?"


    Enyo looked up at him through her messy hair, which was a result of having moved from Bellona''s palm to the source of the mess and cleaning that up for a spell a little earlier, and smirked. "Nope." Whether this was truthful or not Ares didn''t know. His lie detector was going off but if she treated his question literally then it was obviously a lie. There was no doubt Enyo could cook on a basic level, that was a given, but the extent of her abilities beyond the scope of a beginner were unknown... She''d used Ares own tips and tricks to overcome his lie detector and keep him on the edge of his seat regarding how today was going to go... There was only really one way to find out! Ares braced himself for what was yet to come...

 Chapter 198: Day Off

    While Ares ''braced himself for what was yet to come'', Enyo embraced Ares to speed along what was about to come. Her intimate hugging was not born of pure intentions, Ares could feel it in his loins. Enyo ending things here? Now that she''d gotten a taste? This woman was a shark and there was blood in the water. Ares wasn''t leaving this room just yet, that much was guaranteed. Things devolved rapidly into satiating carnal lust but there was one moment of playfulness in which, while Enyo was riding Ares, she and Bellona started bickering with one another in code language. All Ares could make of the situation was that they were disagreeing over who was doing which half of whatever it was they had planned. This led to a bit of physical back and forth as Enyo and Bellona kept jostling one another. It was all fun and games for them, and Ares was happy to see it... But he was seriously at risk here! Pushing Enyo around while she was on top of him was a health hazard to his nether region and an awful accident waiting to happen! He really didn''t want his jolly roger''s mast bent out of shape over something like this... Thankfully they reached a conclusion before angle mishaps came to be and Bellona left the lustful couple to finish what they were in the middle of.


    Bellona''s half of the work for today was actually really easy, and wouldn''t take her longer than fifteen or so minutes to create it, but she did want to make multiple different flavours as well as get some taste testing done before Ares gave it a go... Ok, she was just being greedy! But she really liked the stuff she was making... It wasn''t a main dish, nor was it a dessert, it was a type of drink she''d learnt about upon arriving at her previous sect. She''d been hooked since and was looking for an opportunity to get Ares to make some for her but then it occurred to her this was one of the few things she could make for him. She''d then started looking for opportunities to do as such but he always seemed too busy to drop it on him and the few moments he wasn''t were hard to predict in advance. Today, however, would enable her to finally bring her plans to fruition and no amount of Enyo wanting to make Ares alcohol, get him drunk, and then have a fully blotto threesome was going to change that! Here Bellona was, pouring her heart out and taking this seriously... And then there was Enyo just trying to get in everyone''s pants! Shameless! Bellona fought tooth and nail against the cowgirl although really it was a bit of an exaggeration as there was no way Enyo would ever actually steal this opportunity for such a daft reason. She''d mostly joked about it to get on Bellona''s nerves and, credit where credit was due, she''d succeeded big time in that regard. There would be no alcohol and there would be no threesome! Those things could come at a later date and Bellona wasn''t interested in rushing that far ahead. Just being comfortable with the status quo was good enough for now.


    As for what Enyo was making, other than a mess of Ares right now, she was on main course duty. Bellona did know what dish she was making specifically and the trial runs so far had come out really good. Although she ''lied'' to Ares earlier the truth of the matter was that she put a lot of effort into being able to make this happen... She very nearly did burn the house down while Ares was in the pagoda but he didn''t need to know that... Bellona did her sister a solid and swore to keep it a secret. Her and Appa, the latter of which had been used like a sort of fire extinguisher at the time... A very cute and giggly fire hose... It was simple to operate Appa, just hold it and point the rope wherever you wanted the living hose to fire.


    That was the worst of Enyo''s attempts though and she had drastically improved since those early days with the assistance and guidance of Bellona. As for who''d taste tested the dishes, Rhea and Sadie were the two who were lucky / unlucky to find themselves chowing down. Unlucky because the first few creations were, honestly, sub par. Not inedible per se, just really bland and uninteresting. At that point Enyo might as well have picked up a rock in the back garden and tried feeding it to Ares instead... Lucky, though, because once her improvements became a steady stream the overall quality was something the two Legion gluttons could appreciate. Enyo''s dish, unsurprisingly, was the kind of thing that went well with beer so that may have played a part in the Sadie and Rhea''s eventual high praise.


    Anyway, Enyo had succeeded and now could cook one singular dish to a pretty respectable level. In fact, she''d even gone over to Fixer''s place and asked for some tips. When he realised Enyo was Ares'' wife-pending Fixer smiled warmly and told her everything she wanted to know. Fixer had always liked Ares but that opinion probably cemented itself when Lizzy mentioned him and how he''d been helping her as of late. Plus not judging her for being a skrank lizzle was a nice added bonus to how he viewed Ares as not many people were willing to tolerate a race like them due to all sorts of historical mishaps. Point being Enyo''s dish went from poor to great and, after Fixer got involved, from great to mouth watering. Sadie and Rhea in particular were very pleased. Although they outwardly encouraged Enyo to improve for the sake of ''love'', their growling stomachs belied their true goal. With Rhea there actually was an element of pride buried deep beneath the surface as Enyo doing something traditionally womanly like making her husband food was something she honestly thought she would never see. Watching Enyo concentrate as she worked hard did make Rhea happy because it was a firm reminder that Enyo was living a good life now and free to do as she pleased. If the Enyo from a year ago knew she would be cooking a dish for the man she loved she would scoff in disbelief. Worse still Major would throw a fit and go on a rampage... Which he very well might do anyway once news of this situation inevitably reached him.


    Grouch and all-around terrible human being aside, Enyo had her work cut out for her but she rose to the challenge and came out swinging. Now all that was left was for Ares to try it. Enyo had yet to show any joy on her face after her successes because only one person''s opinion on it really mattered to her. Plus it was a birthday gift of all things so screwing it up... Enyo didn''t want to imagine that horrendous situation. Ares would just pretend to like it and she would feel terrible for having botched things on a birthday of all days... Especially seeing as how Bellona would almost definitely get her end of the deal spot on. She wasn''t necessarily making anything hard so a lot of the pressure here was on Enyo. Although if she was too busy rolling around in the hay with Ares to come and prepare then maybe she was feeling confident? Or maybe that was just something that helped fer feel more confident? Given her pleasure affinity it wouldn''t be too surprising if such a thing was possible. Maybe doing the deed calmed her down in more ways than one in a sort of ''post-nut'' clarity kind of way? That remained to be seen and it wasn''t anything Bellona was going to dwell on right now as she had more interesting things to be doing.


    As Ares wasn''t going to work on anything today, as he would be dragged out of the cultivation room immediately if he even so much as tried, he indulged himself to his heart''s content by playing around with Enyo. Usually he would have found an opportunity to sneak away from her at some point and get back to whatever pile of work needed doing but seeing as how today was a ''take it easy'' kinda day he stuck around in the bedroom for a bit longer.


    An hour or so later, Ares and Enyo did leave the room eventually and, as he came into the living room, he found Calla happily hugging Appa on one of the seats. When Calla saw Ares, she plopped Appa down, stood up, and dashed across the room to give him a hug. "Who''s a cute widdle birthday boy?!"


    ... Ares almost physically recoiled from the baby language but, then again, this was just who his mother was. Her tail was spiralling out of control and she was clearly more invested in his birthday than he was! Although her constantly muttering something about him being a ''big and fluffy boy'' did raise a number of questions in Ares head, one of which he decided to actually ask aloud. "Have you been around the pagoda lately?" Depending on the answer, a significant portion of the questions brewing in the back of his mind would be answered then and there.


    Calla stopped smothering Ares and gave two energetic nods. "Mhm. You were a bigggggg wolfy! Very very big. Very very fluffy! I kinda want to get Margaret to paint you and have a portrait up in the house. I want one of all my babies in their revenant forms but a lot of them have never gotten that far. Scar did before he killed himself to come down here and look after his siblings but I want the best of the best to paint my babies and Margaret was unavailable at the time... Maybe I''ll give her some specialty coffee beans as a bribe, that ought to incentivise her to work on my request. And if it doesn''t, I''ll just bite her leg off! That''ll spook the bitch!"


    "You know, I forget how evil you can be sometimes... Anyway, my clone really did get to try out the revenant form then? I''ll admit I''m a bit jealous. What was it like?"


    "Very very big and very very fluffy!"


    "... I seem to recall you having already said that..."


    "I said it twice because saying it once didn''t do it justice!" Calla puffed up her chest like she''d just made an irrefutable point and, in her own little world, maybe she did. Ares disagreed but he also realised this was probably the best answer he was going to get out of her. Regardless, her reaction, cryptic though it was, did inspire confidence in Ares. She seemed proud of his revenant form and though that was to be expected, it seemed to be quite excessive. Clearly, based on how Calla was acting, his revenant form was a big deal and that just made him want to go into the back garden and use a Canis Stimulant even more than he already did... "Ah but the only way to truly do it justice is to see it first hand. You''ll get a chance to soon so don''t worry!" Calla gave Ares a wink that somewhat soothed his urge to experiment with the stimulant. Whatever she was plotting, she wasn''t lying at least and Ares didn''t even need his lie detector to figure that out. Calla would never lie to her babies, that was almost definitely an unforgivable sin in her eyes so that option was ruled out entirely. This did make Ares curious as to why he would transform soon but if Calla was going to be upfront with him about it she would have done it already so he just had to wait and see. She clearly knew about this for some time but only brought it up now because it was relevant both to the conversation at hand and because the actual scenario she was aware of would come up soon. This sneaky woman was plotting! Actually, why were all the women around Ares plotting as of late?! He''d been gone for roughly a week and suddenly he was out of the loop on everything! He really couldn''t take his eyes of these lot...


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    Well he didn''t want to take his eyes off them but when Enyo and Calla slunk into the kitchen they barred him from also entering as that would spoil whatever surprises they had in store for him. Ares understood this and didn''t want to get in their way... But he also really wanted to make sure they weren''t starting any fires... Patience was a difficult virtue but one Ares managed to possess for the next few hours even if he got a tad fidgety during that time. He sat around and chatted with anyone who happened across him in the living room, be it Appa or anyone from the Aejaz side of things. The only person living in this house he didn''t speak with was Leo but that wasn''t because either of them were avoiding each other or anything, the tiger just seemed to be elsewhere today. Ares had no clue what the tiny bastard was up to but it probably wasn''t anything good knowing him! He might have even been taking a dump on Charity''s lawn...


    The first surprise for Ares today was his mother making him a hot chocolate! She''d been looking for a chance to make one for him, like Bellona, and now was as good a time as any so, while he waited patiently for the lunch his wives were cooking, he eyed up the hot chocolate that had been placed before him. According to Fate, who''d mentioned the hot chocolate in passing back during the banquet, this was a special drink. Calla owned a bunch of cacao tree treasures that produced the finest quality beans accessible anywhere in these lower domains, It wasn''t even a contest. Terros himself had been relatively impressed when he spotted them for the first time as they were the kind of treasures that would be considered hyper rare even in the middle realms. Calla owning one was a stroke of incredible luck and one she was grateful for as it meant she could serve her babies some of the greatest hot chocolates not just on her planet, but across a large portion of the entire universe. Obviously there were professional chefs who had better recipes and techniques at their disposal but, in terms of ingredient quality, Calla was definitely splurging on the good stuff. She could sell the beans for exorbitant prices if she so chose but she kept literally all of them for her babies without exception... Almost without exception, anyway. If the other matriarchs were having a special occasion, like a birthday or a wedding or whatever, then and only then would Calla be willing to share. She was a bit stingy in that regard but she valued the cacao trees immensely and was hesitant to waste them. God forbid one of her litter wanted a hot choco after a stressful day and she had none left! As for the hot choco in question, Calla also mixed in some marshmallows for everyone other than Venus who was adamant she didn''t like the texture it resulted in. She didn''t mind the taste, and even admitted it made for a marked improvement, but the thickness of the drink after wasn''t to her liking. Every other child swore by the marshmallow addition though so they were a staple. Calla had experimented here and there with other flavours, like mint or caramel, but the classic was almost always the preference and so that was what she made for Ares today. Of course she already knew what his reaction would be thanks to the pagoda clone but that didn''t stop her from swaying contentedly side to side when he picked up the cup, took a sip, and let out a refreshed ''ahhhh'' after tasting the warm and soothing beverage.


    As the drink was produced from a treasure, it wasn''t as simple as just tasting delicious. Of course it definitely did but there were other added benefits like calming the mind, removing poisons or curses that were weak in nature, granting a temporary strength boost, restoring energy and some mana, and improving cultivation speed for the next 24 hours. Some of those would be wasted if the hot chocolate was drunk casually but Calla didn''t give a toss as her babies'' satisfaction was more important than trivial efficiency. That wasn''t to say it was never relevant though as sometimes her children, when close to a breakthrough, did ask for a hot chocolate to aid them in improving their cultivation. It simplified the process and could be a real life saver if they got stuck for whatever reason. Clearing their mind with a warm drink and trying again, this time winding up more successful in their endeavour, was a somewhat common occurrence in the Umbra household. The only other thing of note regarding these hot chocolates was that Aster very commonly tried to steal them from his children because he was a sucker for them too and Calla was very strict with how many he was allowed. Sometimes he would make off like a bandit after successfully swiping the drink from under his kids'' noses, sometimes they would catch him in the act and shoo him off, or, worst of all, sometimes Calla would catch him and then his fate was all but sealed. Melting his lower body with poison and putting him on a stake outside for all to see was the laziest of Calla''s punishments for the disobedient wolf so one could only imagine what other forms of disciplining she resorted to away from the eyes of the public.


    A short while after finishing the hot chocolate, it seemed the sisters were done with their dishes and were ready to bring them out. Apparently Enyo had made a lot of food and it was shaping up to be more of an early dinner but she wanted to go whole hog so there was no stopping her. Ares didn''t much mind because he could just make something simple later on and he could always share his food with the others if it was really way too much. Enyo and Bellona came out into the living room and placed the dishes on the table and took their seats while Ares got a look at what was on offer. More than even the taste of what he was going to eat, he was curious about what they''d chosen to make. He didn''t really have any strong preferences so seeing the kind of stuff they thought he''d enjoy was interesting in its own right.


    The first thing that caught Ares'' eye was Bellona''s drink, a brown sugar bubble tea. A clever choice for sure. It was novel, something Bellona enjoyed and wanted to share the joy of with Ares, wasn''t too difficult to make, and was pretty much guaranteed to taste really good. Ares had never had bubble tea before but it was on his list of things he was excited to try so this ended up being a perfect choice on Bellona''s half. As for the flavour, it was absolutely the kind of thing he would have went for had he any choice in the matter. Whether this was Bellona accidentally hitting the jackpot or her putting serious thought into Ares'' taste palate he didn''t know but she''d hit the nail on the head regardless! Plus there was more good news in that Bellona had maybe gone a bit overboard and made tens of variations of bubble tea and had them all stored in the fridge. It was a lot but it also meant anyone could go and have one whenever they were in the mood. Of course Bellona had actually made these all for selfish reasons as she was incredibly partial to them. Ares decided he would pay the fridge a little later and get a taste of one of the fruitier bubble teas to get a feel for what kind of beverage he was dealing with so he could add it to his repertoire later.


    Ares was very much enjoying the sensation of the tea and, given that both he and Bellona were fond of it, it meant that learning how to make it was a task that now found itself squarely on his ever-growing to do list. It would be worth it though. Ares'' contentment with the drink, and his ''oohing'' and ''aahing'' as he savoured the flavour made Bellona somewhat embarrassed but also pleased. She was glad he found the appeal of something she herself was smitten with as it was the kind of connection she liked having with Ares. She enjoyed chatting with him about magic and various other points of interest they both agreed on or liked so having one more conversation topic was great. They could sample all sorts of bubble tea together and share their drinks like a happy couple so Bellona breathed a sigh of relief. Also, watching him eagerly take more and more sips with a smile on his face, knowing she''d created the thing that he was currently enamoured with, was a wonderful feeling and she now understood why Ares took so much pride in his own ability to cook. It wasn''t arrogance at being good at it, although that played a small part in the back his mind somewhere no doubt, it was primarily the satisfaction of seeing a loved one be fond of the fruits of your labour. It was a new experience for Bellona who''d never really made anything for anyone before so, although she wouldn''t be open about it because she wasn''t the type to be casually sentimental about feelings and what not, she would treasure the memory at least.


    Then there was Enyo''s dish... And Ares had to admit, it looked absolutely scrumptious. Mouth wateringly good was an understatement as it took his all to not dig in like a pig without manners. He''d sampled Bellona''s side of things first because he knew that once he got stuck in with Enyo''s dish he probably wasn''t going to want to stop anytime soon. She''d made toasted pitas with various meats in them and each and every one looked juicy. They were dripping and Ares knew biting into them would result in an explosion of flavour that was only going to spur him on to keep eating... Maybe Enyo was right to make as much as she had as the spiced lamb, ground beef, and chicken donner options were all luring Ares in and it was looking more and more likely with each passing second he was going to fall for the temptation and just eat it all. Fixer''s mark had clearly been left as the pitas were all filled to the brim and bursting with ingredients. Ares could feel his mouth watering so he started chowing down with gusto and glee. It was well and truly a fantastic dish and Enyo could seriously hold her head high after having created it.


    Ares found time between his chomps to compliment Enyo and Bellona for their hard work before throwing himself back headfirst into the food. Enyo was easily the person with the widest of smiles right now as she felt the same way Bellona did but just twice as much. All the time she''d put into perfecting the dish was worth it a million times over to see her lover revelling in her food. So much so she wanted to make it again for him for dinner, upon hearing which Ares chuckled and simply nodded. If she wanted to make more for him he wasn''t going to say no. Having that much in one day was obviously not good but he was a cultivator, and typically a pretty active one at that, so the health detriments were non-existent in the long run. He didn''t want to spoil the immeasurable fun she was having feeding Ares so she could do it to her heart''s content today. Actually, it meant Ares himself didn''t have to cook today at all as Enyo could simply make some for everyone and, hey presto, that was dinner sorted. Ares would have shared his lunch with the sisters otherwise but, now that Enyo was on dinner duty and already heading back to the kitchen, he simply sat on his laurels and took advantage of the fact that today he really didn''t have to do anything. No cultivation, no forgery or runemancy work, no cooking, no sorting out relationship issues. Today was the most peaceful day he''d had in a long time and for that reason alone he was thoroughly pleased with his birthday. He didn''t need gifts or a fancy party or anything, just spending some down time with his loved ones in the comfort of his home was good enough. Chilling on the couch with his wives by his side as they all laughed and had a great time eating home cooked food and personally crafted drinks was better than ''good enough'', actually, it was all Ares really wanted out of life.

 Chapter 199: Me Familia Vs Tu Familia

    The birthday came and went like a flash in the pan. Playing hard was the easy part and now came working hard. Ares had a lot of unfinished business so, the next day, after escaping the bedroom prematurely before Enyo woke up, he returned back to the cultivation room begrudgingly. He would have loved to hang around with Enyo and Bellona and just chat away the morning but the list of things he wanted to get done wasn''t going to get any shorter by itself. Actually, since yesterday, it had gotten longer. Not only did he want to learn to make bubble tea, which he could do with Bellona quickly, but Enyo had asked him to purchase a ''kiss the chef'' apron... A nude apron was in the future, apparently, and Ares wasn''t complaining. If he was going to be distracted from his cultivation woes and boredom, seeing his wife cooking his new favourite meal in a nude apron was definitely the reprieve he would be most excited for. Now of course that would never happen because if Enyo was cooking that would mean she was in the kitchen and not the bedroom. This house was shared and she couldn''t exactly walk around without clothes on. Still, if she wore it in the kitchen then that meant Ares was getting a meal he loved and if it was in the bedroom then standard Enyo stuff that didn''t need to be mentioned. Win win either way and, thus, he really didn''t mind making such a purchase. He didn''t have a ton of stardust right now but a small buy like that was ok.


    Really, the biggest issue that had cropped up as of yesterday, was Enyo''s new found pleasure in feeding Ares home cooked meals. Bellona had enjoyed it too but it didn''t make her any more willing to do it on a regular basis than her default stance on the matter which was effectively ''every now and then, if I happen to be making some, then sure whatever''. In contrast, Enyo was in housewife mode right now and Ares didn''t have any clue how to get her out of it. He whole-heartedly loved her dish, really he did, but every single day for lunch and dinner was... Well it was over the top, to put it gently, and downright insane, to put it accurately. Ares decided to put up with it for now but, if push came to shove and there was truly no end in sight, he would have a word with her and try to calm her down. Her obsession with him was part of the driving force behind this and Ares was finally coming across his first repercussion of said obsession.... Which was weird because according to Yulo''s philosophy the title of ''obsession'' didn''t belong to her... Seriously, what on earth was going to happen to Candy in the upcoming years that drove her to that point? Ares couldn''t see her acting like Enyo and, to be fair, she would likely be far more outwardly subdued... But that didn''t mean there wouldn''t be an unhinged beast lying below the surface that trumped even Enyo. If Enyo''s housewife mode was just a tip of the iceberg of her obsession, and it was dwarfed in comparison to Candy... What on earth was in store for Ares when he met up with her again?!


    Opting not to think about such matters right now, Ares redirected his attention back to the artifacts in front of him. He was more than half way done with these as of yesterday so finishing them up was his top priority right now... And he also had to work on his Biome Eagle and his Utilitarian... He''d admittedly forgotten about them completely back when he was doing the Black Ice Bane and now he had to play catch up. Once he was done with them though, it was back to the regular old artifacts that were going to be put up for sale. It was quick and easy so getting it out of the way, and having the artifacts available for purchase sooner, was in everyone''s best interest. Ares put his metaphorical axe to the grind and sunk into a hyper focused state for the next three hours and his pace of work was astonishing. No breaks, no loss of focus, just pure, unfiltered, machine-like efficiency. It was so incredible he''d managed to cut the amount of time he thought the artifact matter would take in half! It was basically a state of enlightenment which was actually somewhat annoying. Of all the things he could have had enlightenment on, this menial drudgery was hardly the best use of it. Yes it saved him time but he had enough to begin with... If he could have gotten some enlightenment and entered the proverbial ''zone'' during art creation or weapon training that would have been preferable but, alas, here he was with a pile of top tier artifacts. The sect and everyone in it would be happy at least? Look on the bright side and whatnot...


    Ares took a quick ''break'' to go hand this stuff over to Onno who was Ares'' liaison with the people running the artifact stall. It didn''t belong to either him or Onno and was run by the sect but he still got a cut of the earnings so that was fine. The sect had already been running a sort of bargain bin store for artifacts before Ares arrived and that became the base of Ares'' cheap but high quality creations, revamping the reputation of the store from ''cheap and useless crap'' to ''cheap and unbeatable goods''. Everyone else in the sect checked this store on the daily hoping to find the next new item Ares had pumped out and the sect was stoked to give it to them. Onno noticed the improved quality of the artifacts and assured Ares they would sell like hot cakes... Not that they didn''t already anyway. They were auction house quality items being sold for dirt cheap... Well that was Ares just pre-emptively enabling his future sect to become an indomitable and unrelenting force of nature. Ares had made this place his forever home and base of operations until the day he died, in other words the end of eternity, and so everything he was hearing from the sly businessman was good news. As an aside, before leaving and returning home, Ares caught site of Esme sitting on a couch inside Onno''s house and it seemed they''d become a proper couple now. No beating around the bush just good ol'' one plus one equals two.


    Back in the cultivation gulag... Ahem... Room, Ares was starting to work on his various treasures. There was no fanfare here as he could just keep shoving his annihilation pressure into them without pause as they would simply stop accepting it when they were full. No focus was required he could just switch off his brain but that was ironically the problem. He was boredddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He had to sit here and fill the treasures up but it was such a lengthy process and he wouldn''t finish for a long while. It''s not like he could tune out and do anything else because it still required the bare minimum attention so he was stuck here, staring at the wall like a damn zombie! As for what he was working on, there was technically only ''one'' treasure he owned, and that was Vargaraad''s lantern. The other treasures, that weren''t personal, included the Nyxian Prowler and the Celestial Prisms, both of which had unique circumstances and classifications attached to them so they were effectively personal treasures to a degree anyway.


    The Nyxian Prowler was effective at an equal rate regardless of who used it and the only thing separating it from being a personal treasure or not was the ability to recall it from a distance. Sure that was useful in a variety of situations but, provided Ares never lost it, the relevancy of such an ability was minimal. The only real immediate effect it had not being a personal treasure was that Ares couldn''t use it as a throwing knife unless he was being a massive idiot and in the mood to gift someone an enabler. Then there were the Prisms which sort of fluctuated between personal treasure and not. They acted like it in every way and Ares could reforge them if his eyes were blown to pieces but that was mostly a revenant thing so it didn''t really count. Also, the reason he could wield such a powerful treasure properly was because of Dominus'' presence as he was the previous owner. Honestly, these things could become actual personal treasures tomorrow and Ares would be none the wiser. It was safer to just assume the Prisms were than actually worry about it although Ares would get a definite answer here and now while pressurising them anyway. Treasures couldn''t hold as much pressure as personal treasures so it should be clear to Ares based on how long the Prisms would take to fill up. Them being mythical and having a higher capacity shouldn''t matter because he could always then compare it to something like the Backfire Bindings when he inevitably got onto them. Anyway, by the time he was done with them, he would know for sure... Even if it really made no difference to the ways in which he used it. The Prisms were just ridiculously powerful and Ares wasn''t even sure what kind of benefit he could hope for should it be a personal treasure. They already did everything he needed to and more so really he didn''t care at this point what they were. They could be artifacts and he''d still keep them as a permanent fixture on his face.


    Ares'' annihilation pressure came with nothing but upsides for him as it limited the amount of pressure he could put in his treasures. This was a fantastic thing for him as it meant that A; it wouldn''t take as long as three to four days to tidy up any individual treasure and B; it wouldn''t lose out on any power. Annihilation pressure still made a weapon stronger than regular pressure even if there was less of it. To that end, it only took Ares give or take six hours to be done with Vargaraad''s Lantern. It was the weakest treasure he owned, which said a lot considering how infamous this thing was, so that did mean Ares would have to spend a longer time on everything else but that acceptable. It was within his his margin of error when calculating how much time he needed to do all of this and so he had no complaints... Other than being bored out of his skull still. If Ares could pay someone to do this for him he would do so in a heartbeat... Although he was still somewhat broke right now so that wouldn''t have been an option anyway.


    Ares had a match to go and attend coming up, the one between the Umbra Wolves and the Legion family, so he figured he could pull of an all-nighter and get one more treasure done before then. Both of them would likely take longer than the Lantern but Ares couldn''t see the Prowler taking up so much time that he wouldn''t finish by the time the match started tomorrow so that was where he put all of his attention. Plus if the Prisms really were personal they would take a considerable amount more time than the Prowler anyway. Ares wasn''t sure how much of a benefit the Prowler would receive but doing this wasn''t worthless at least. Having a powerful dagger in his back pocket meant he had more reasons to whip it out mid fight instead of just using it for access to the darkness pillar. Again, part of the reason Ares hadn''t messed around with other weapons much was A; because he was laughably stronger than everyone else and it was pointless to dunk on amateurs as that wasn''t ''training'' at all, and B; he didn''t have any good artifacts or treasures for other weapon types. He''d allocated some time earlier to imbuing some crappy artifacts with annihilation pressure so that problem was alleviated now, and he could maybe mess around a bit, but it still wasn''t ideal. Still there wasn''t much to do about it. Without stardust he couldn''t buy any and he wasn''t leaving Red Sun until this tournament was over so it''s not like he''d randomly discover anything by wandering through the streets... though he ''sort of'' found a weapon recently in Red Sun, the Bindings. Arguably, the Backfire Bindings could let him brawl with his fists but that just seemed like a stretch right now. They had a clear use and that wasn''t as a pseudo weapon. Maybe when Ares had his revenant form then they''d be considerably more useful in that regard but, right now, with his adept trait weighing him down, Ares decided to stay away from fisticuffs if he could. All of this meant that, other than his trusty Black Ice Bane, the only other weapon he used consistently was the Biome Eagle and even then that was mostly for the art and nothing else. Ares needed some variety damn it! He had Dominus inside him, of all people, and sticking to one or two weapons was lazy and lame... But the tournament was also hampering him. He needed to take it seriously and win so he was stuck between a rock and a hard place... Ares really needed to kick off his adventure to foreign lands and start fighting monsters again, this tournament would be a net positive but it was really dragging on right now.


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    Ares took nearly thirteen hours to pressurise the Nyxian Prowler, more than double that of the Lantern, but it wasn''t too shocking-a jump as the treasure was an enabler after all. Such a rare and powerful treasure could obviously handle a heavier load so this was to be expected and it was likely the Celestial Prisms would take even longer than that. God only knows how long the personal treasures were going to take, especially something like the Primordial Blade... But it''s not like Ares was in a rush to get the Blade pressurised as he couldn''t even really use it for much right now to begin with. He could poke someone with it still in its sheath but that would kill a person regardless of whether it was pressurised or not so it was more of a ''do it now so I don''t have to do it later'' kind of deal.


    Ares stretched and walked out the room to go make breakfast for everyone who hadn''t already made some themselves. He''d made some stuff and left it in the fridge yesterday so as not to completely abandon his food-grubbing free loaders but whether or not the amount he left was enough to last more than s ingle day was questionable as there were a fair few people living here. Plus if the matriarchs, Ares'' family, Enyo''s family. Charity and Gladius, any of the neighbours, or Sadie popped around then the stock would all but evaporate that much faster. Especially the latter of that list as Sadie was basically a bottomless pit in which food, beer, and plates disappeared into for all eternity. Thankfully Ares had seemingly spooked her so at the very least she wasn''t stealing his plates anymore, that was something!


    Everyone ate the breakfast Ares put out before setting off for the coliseum. It had been a while since Ares last visited this place and, actually, today would be the first time he sat in a spectator''s seat. His experience would be far grander than any ordinary ''peasant'' though as he got to relish in the treatment of kings on the top floor thanks to glorious nepotism. His family ties meant he had VIP access. This came with the caveat that he was effectively officially announcing said family ties to the whole world and that was certainly a complicated matter. He''d hung around the Umbra Wolves during the party a while back but that didn''t mean he was necessarily a member of their clan, he could have just had dealings with them. Hell he''d spent time with the Legion family too so it really didn''t mean much of anything. He hadn''t been seen in public with anyone other than the Legion sisters too, which made sense after the declaration of marriage at the party, but any connections to the Umbras were loose at best. That would obviously change today and the writing was going to be plastered on the wall in neon colours for all to see. It would bolster Ares'' reputation big time amongst literally anyone other than the Legion elders in attendance as they''d likely be furious. The ordinary people, and even various influential figures, from Vraizon and Sheryashka would have to navigate around Ares more carefully in the future should they ever come across him. He wasn''t someone without a powerful backing that could be bullied into submission. Of note, the C.O were about to receive a pretty nasty shock in that regard as they assumed Ares had no one other than the Heaven''s Path sect to lean on. Whether this surprise would fully deter them was debatable, and some members might not care, but it would give them pause at the very least.


    According to Calla the four seasons would all start showing up now that the two main attractions, as far as clan wars were concerned, were competing against one another. Although they cared a lot about Ares, who was blissfully unaware of the shit show they were going to involve him in, he didn''t much care about them. They were all going to watch the match from whatever hidey hole they were hunkering down in and nobody other than the matriarchs would even be aware of their existence. If Ares wasn''t going to be able to spot them, and if they weren''t going to talk to him for whatever reason, then he would simply ignore them! But they were going to have their eyes on him, that was for sure. The wolf howl from the pagoda made it pretty evident that Ares was no trifling matter and so the Willow clan''s season''s mind was almost guaranteed to be made up right about now. He wouldn''t strike so brazenly when Ares was seated right next to his own mother, as that was a death wish waiting to happen, but when Ares was down in the arena for his next match it was fair game. Of course they''d still wait to check his revenant form first before making any unnecessary and rash decisions but they were more prepared to attack him than to defend him... Which wasn''t saying much as he tended to be a more aggressive person inherently who was quick to lash out. When this season was tame, they were quiet and non-verbal but when things hit the fan they were the stereotypical elven berserker that the race was infamous for spawning.


    Julio, Serene, Mako, and the season all had the capacity to go mad with power and were just further proof of this trait being nestled deep within every elf''s psyche. It was a strange phenomenon but one that reared its head constantly and baffled many who studied the race in depth. There wasn''t anything particularly unique about their brain structure so where this propensity for violent outbursts came from nobody knew! It was very real though and it was well known not to anger an elf without good reason. They were usually polite when docile so it''s not like there was any reason to do it either. More often than not, as was a similar case with shades, if you upset them you probably deserved the retribution they would dish out in return. It was to the point where if a shade or elf was attacking someone, anyone who happened across the scene would usually jump in and beat up the opponent before asking for details. It wasn''t always a sure-fire method of deducing who was right or wrong, and some people had gotten it very wrong in the past, but it worked 90% of the time and that was a good enough chance for most people to bank on blindly.


    Ares made his way up the floors and eventually found himself in the lap of luxury. The respect he received just by standing in the vicinity of his mother was enormous and, add onto that who he himself was, and they would probably have rolled out the red mat for him had they known he was coming. The fawning, presumably in the hopes of getting in such a person''s good books, was not even remotely subtle and Ares was a tad disturbed by it because it wasn''t just one or two attendants doing this, it was every single person he''d walked by! From the bottom floor all the way to the top, anyone who was working here shot him servile or amorous glances. Granted Enyo and Bellona were quick to fire back with their own glances at anyone sending the latter Ares'' way but it was still very noticeable and made him uncomfortable. It was that same sort of feeling he got when that one disciple in the forging department worshipped him... The worst part was that this was going to become normal in due time and Ares just had to suck it up and get used to it. As much as he wished people would limit themselves to respect and not cross that line, the amount of people who would be willing to prostrate at his feet or throw themselves into a volcano for him were not small. Hell he already had a cult in his name and he''d never even existed in the same area as these people. They didn''t even know what kind of person he was and yet they still went around sacrificing innocents like lambs to the slaughter for his sake so this was not going to be a one off. To that end, having a disguise in the future was going to be a must and Ares had something of a solution planned out. He had no use for such a disguise in Sheryashka though so it likely wouldn''t see any relevance for a good while... Well that wasn''t a certainty but then again nothing in the cultivation world ever was... Unless you were Yulo, then pretty much everything was as foretold but he was a different beast altogether. The number of people who could accurately predict the future to the same extent as him across the entire universe could be counted on one or two hands. Stuck in the sect though he was, this guy was basically the protagonist of his own adventure and he was merely on hiatus right now.


    Ares made it to one of the thrones and sat down comfortably on it, immediately feeling right at home like he owned the place. The vantage, the air of superiority the top floor possessed, and the implication of a person setting foot up here all served the boost a person''s ego and Ares was not immune to these effects. Rather he''d fallen for them hook, line, and sinker and took the opportunity to look down at Lex and sneer at the back of his head. Granted that was something Ares wouldn''t have been able to resist doing anyway as he''d no doubt made the guy''s life incredibly difficult as a result of the last stunt he''d pulled off. Speaking of which, apparently the Isasz team, minus the iciclops, had all been summarily executed in the middle of the town. Hans oversaw it and it was a whole event that Ares completely missed, mostly because he was uninterested. Donald had also befallen the same fate and went out screaming like an animal which only served to annoy the onlookers who threw stones at him to shut him up quicker.


    As for the iciclops, it had been sent away back to the Isasz region and set free so bully for him? Maybe not so much anyone he would go on to kill but that was nature taking its course. Besides, there was a hefty chance it would just be killed off by a neo-Viking at some point as they were even more territorial than the iciclops and killed anything troublesome on sight. It might be lucky and evade their detection or maybe it would just not reside in their area to begin with. Either way, it was no longer here in Red Sun and had escaped the fate that befell its captors. Lex had made the second cleanest get away of everyone involved but he was under strict surveillance from the C.O and had been monetarily punished hard. He wasn''t as broke as Ares was but it was close and he was going to have to work like a dog for the C.O for a considerable amount of time to repay the debts he now owed. Even after that rebuilding his reputation was going to be a task that took forever and then some. The set back Ares had lumped on his head was ginormous and there was a deep seated hatred he now held towards Ares because of it. Lex happened to turn around and catch Ares sneering at him which most certainly did not help. Still, he wasn''t too fussed as he had his own plan that would deal with the twerp in the coming days. The assassination being planned, the first and not the second that involved the four seasons who were capitalising on the opportunity, wouldn''t exactly get very far if he intervened... But why on earth would he? He could get paid to stand around and watch someone he detested to his core get murdered in broad daylight, in front of his family no less! As that was what he expected to have happen, he ignored Ares'' taunt for the time being as soon, very soon, he would be the one sneering at him!

 Chapter 200: Pre Match Analysis

    Ares was popping popcorn into his mouth without a care in the world but something rather strange happened. He felt an ominous shiver run up his spine and something was very definitely wrong. There was a disturbance in the peace and he was the target without a shadow of a doubt. He tilted his head and glanced back, over his throne, to spy what manner of trouble was heading his way... And then it all clicked. What he was seeing was the other three matriarchs all menacingly marching straight at him with devious intentions. Ares was all too familiar with ''that look'' in a woman''s eyes that meant he was about to get beaten senseless for his stupidity! But why?! Ares had been good as of late and not bothered anyone!... NOT. Ares knew better. He knew that while HE hadn''t done anything... His clone almost definitely had... And now he was about to reap the punishments his other self had sown. The matriarchs congregated around Ares'' seat as he sunk into it with a wry smile. what was he supposed say to get out of this situation exactly? He could flee into the void but that would only be a temporary solution that didn''t get him off the hook in the long run... In other words, he took his fate head on and didn''t back down! Well he did curl up into a ball slightly and cover his head with his hands in preparation but surely that much was allowed? Might as well enable himself to weather the storm! And a storm he did face. One so brutal it was as though the hail was a torrent of punches... Maybe because that''s actually what they really truly were... kicks, palms, and knuckles came crashing into Ares who groaned under the weight of the matriarch''s attacks. His fate was in their hands as their overwhelming cultivation advantage meant they could be as lenient or as rough with him as they chose to be. Serene seemed to have the lightest and most forgiving hand whereas Rhea was just beating Ares for the fun of it without holding back! Margaret was somewhere in the middle probably because her artistic sense of balance dictated an even spread of violence. That or maybe she was too preoccupied with how to finish her ''Minibeast'' that she couldn''t be bothered to hit Ares properly. It was a toss up with this woman and there was no telling what the answer actually was. Especially not for Ares who was none the wiser about all of this anyway. He had a rough idea of why he was going to end up with a swollen cheek and a black eye but the specifics eluded him. He also had more pressing matters right now as he was currently being mobbed...


    Of course no one else present batted an eye at this treatment. The assumption that ''Ares deserved it'' was permanently engraved into everyone''s skull and nobody ever cared enough to question why something of this nature was happening. This was technically a good thing for Ares because if they did ask, and found out about the extent of his stupidity, they may even very well join in and hammer it home themselves not to be a dork in the future. Their familiarity with such events led to them being lackadaisical in punishing the clown and that was a relief for the battered bozo who, now that the matriarchs were finally satisfied, had been left dangling over the side of his seat with countless lumps all over him. He''d been bruised in places he didn''t even know existed, parts of his hair had been torn out, his feet had been twisted, and a few of his teeth knocked out. All of these injuries would heal themselves thanks to Ares'' regeneration but it certainly wouldn''t be an instant process... In other words, Ares was going to look like he''d just been mugged in a back alley for a good while, maybe even up until his next match... Karma was at work here so Ares had to pity himself because no one else would! His hand clutched the top of the throne as he shakily pulled his limp body back up. He swung back into his seat with his head drooped low and took a deep sigh... Hm? What''s that strange chill I feel?...


    Crackle


    ... And Appa had frozen him again! Ares was reminded, yet again, he needed to have a word with this little tyke! It was becoming a vigilante! Granted it had actually been right to freeze him this time, as he had, even if indirectly, been a ''bad man'' BUT THERE WERE LIMITS DAMNIT! Meanwhile, while Ares was frozen in his seat like a popsicle, emphasis on ''pops'' because his fatherly woes were on full display, Appa was being cuddled by the matriarchs who were praising it for its valiant punishment of evil doers... Rhea in particular told Appa it ''embodied the spirit of the Legion clan perfectly!'' Where was the justice in this?! Go and punish the clone Ares!... Well they couldn''t which was why they were here but that was extremely unfair! It''s not even like Ares himself could punish the clone as he wasn''t allowed in there... That clone was going to develop a massive ego due to its unstoppable pranking of others wasn''t it? Ares could envision it but decided it wasn''t his problem... Yet... It would be one day when it pissed off someone Ares had no intention of offending but whatever. Life was meant to be lived in the moment and worrying about such a future, especially when there was nothing he could do to prevent it from coming to fruition, was an exercise in futility.


    Eagerton and Mako both eventually arrived as well with the former whipping out his pen to record, in vivid detail, Ares'' frozen form. Not before writing the word ''loser'' on his palm and throwing it in Mako''s face though. "I don''t need to write that one in the notebook for it to come true!" This sentence kickstarted the usual back and forth between these two and their bickering would no doubt run long into the match.


    Back over by Ares, Bellona had just thawed him out and warmed him up with her magic to get rid of his shivers. Such a caring wife! Ares gave her a hug and kiss as thanks and she seemed satisfied with the reward which, honestly, was probably why she''d gotten him out in the first place. If she wasn''t convinced there would even be a reward she very well may have just left him to his own devices. Caring but conniving! She''d even beaten Enyo to the punch because she caught the opportunity quicker than her sister which led to a small spat as they also started bickering with one another. Apparently all it took for everyone to start arguing with one another was Ares'' presence as he''d become a sort of spark that set everyone off for various reasons. Things did settle down when the time for the match to start came about though as everyone was at least partially invested in it. A full on clan five vs five had never really happened before and would neatly cement one family over the other... Provided the existence of Bellona and Enyo were ignored anyway... But then again it also pre-supposed Ares'' lack of involvement so that evened things out yet again.


    As for the Umbra vs Legion fight, the common prediction was that the wolves would come out on top. Having to fight a war on three separate fronts simultaneously, four if you included having to defend their homeland, wasn''t something any old bunch of immortals could pull off. If they just relied on that immortality they wouldn''t get very far and, thus, they needed to have solid combat potential so they could throw themselves at their opponent and actually do something other than kamikaze. War and violence moulded revenants of the Umbra Wolf clan and so they were generally stronger on an individual basis than a member of any one of the other four clans. Their instructors had seen all sorts of combat scenarios and had many talents developed over long periods of time so the knowledge and general teachings they could impart were top notch. Sadie was good, undeniably, but compared to Aym she was still lacking. Dominus was changing that but he was an outlier and, for the sake of this discussion at least, was irrelevant. If it weren''t for their expertise, the Umbra Wolves would have been scattered to the wind and / or caged like animals a long time ago. Calla''s dominance over the other matriarchs was a good example of how much power the revenants wielded. Still, as for this fight, it was up in the air. It could go either way as it was a team fight and not a series of one vs one bouts. The Umbras could work together well... COULD work together well. If they got distracted and found something, or someone, that interested them they were liable to throw that teamwork away and pursue their interest. Who cares about winning the fight when fun and personal gain was right around the corner? So what if they happened to lose as a result? They were immortal and could try again some other time! Revenants were generally more prone to turning a sure win into a unexpected loss because of this mentality. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, as it were. As for the Legions, they were just an all around cohesive unit without any glaring weaknesses to exploit. That was the Legion way and of course the most talented of the lot were the embodiment of such an ideal. It did mean they were susceptible to things not going their way, however, and if the fight devolved beyond the reach of their formidable plans then things would get messy. It''s not like they were individually weak but, going back to the revenants, as mentioned earlier the wolves shone in mano a mano situations.


    So all in all, the Umbras were favoured. They''d been dominant in their matches and what everyone had seen so far indicated they had an edge. Even the betting odds were tipped in their favour but not by as much as others would have assumed. As people generally trusted the betting brothers it meant everyone was aware this would be a close and interesting match, one worth showing up for. It might even be considered the first ''important'' match of the tournament wherein two titans would finally clash so the excitement in the coliseum was palpable on the lower floors. It''s not that there wasn''t any engrossment on the top floor, it''s just that now the two families were tied at the hip and the prospect of actually fighting one another to the death had decreased drastically as a result. Plus amongst the main families, specifically, there had never been all too much hatred of one another to begin with, that was mostly just Major. Other than one matriarch rubbing it in the other''s face, not much would come as a result of this match now. If it had been before the whole Ares revelation then it would be different as the shift in morale for the elders of their clans would be a big deal. Ares had dampened a lot of that enthusiasm. That''s not to say it disappeared entirely but it was muted in comparison to now for sure. Taking this match as evidence of war potential was pretty pointless now, not that that stopped a few of the more gung-ho and war hawk type elders in the crowd.


    Down in the arena, the Legions were the first to make their appearance by stepping out of the hallway to the sound of roaring applause. They may not have been favoured to win but that didn''t mean they weren''t the preferred group overall. Justice oriented Legions or nuisance bringer Umbras? The choice wasn''t a hard one for most people and the respect held for the Legions was significant. Plus they were all main branch kin so this group of five was a radiant beacon of upright and prodigious cultivators worth keeping an eye on. Tyr came equipped in full garb with his staff and sword ready to smite the evil revenants, Pele with her trusty balau spear, Deimos walked his bike in whilst holding the handles, Phobos was cowering near the back with a bow but there was a hint of confidence buried beneath his sheepish demeanour, and Palioxis was behind Phobos and pushing him along whenever he stopped moving.


    Palioxis'' frilly white dress was actually armoured and could protect her from oncoming danger so, technically, she also possessed the tell tale legion armour, it''s just that it came in a very different form than usual. Of course Tyr had his blazer and Deimos also had his helmet so it became apparent that the main family typically altered their armour to suit their needs. Phobos'' overalls, that he wore specifically when expecting combat, were that pristine and clean white that signified Legion while Pele''s arm braces clearly functioned as armour pieces. There wasn''t necessarily much armour on some of the members but it was always there! Unless you were Bellona who had ditched the armour entirely to distance herself from the clan, all the while wearing her witch get up... And then there was also Enyo who just wore the full set. It was drastically improved and more sleek compared to standard issue Legion armour but it was identifiable at a glance without the need for deeper observation. As for who it was exactly that tailored these custom designs, the Legion''s main branch family had an exclusive blacksmith who worked for them and them alone. He was as rigorous and pinpoint in his work as the Legions were in upholding justice so his work ethic was greatly respected. It was to the point where Deimos even allowed the guy to work on his bike occasionally and that was unheard of under normal circumstances. Trustworthy and talented, that was the Legions'' number one blacksmith.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Shortly after they took to their side of the field, with Tyr even taking a bow for the audience, it was the Umbra Wolves'' turn to enter to the sound of roaring... Jeers... This was partially to be expected as any clan going to war with the Legions would just sort of implicitly have a bad rep, there was no real way around that. Funnily enough, the booing was a lot more tame than compared to previous matches which may or may not have had something to do with the fact that one half of the coliseum could see Ares evilly glaring at everyone. The idiots underneath him weren''t privy to the fact that Ares was an Umbra himself so it was especially awkward that the loudest boos where originating from directly underneath him... There were still some zealous Legion fanatics that didn''t care about Ares and still berated the Wolves regardless but none of Calla''s offspring in the arena cared.


    The Umbra lot weren''t exactly timid, more so either stoic or uncaring. Scar and Skyzo had probably learnt to filter out the noise coming from the crowd and Venus and Fate viewed themselves as superior beings to the riff raff regardless so the opinions of such people meant absolutely nothing. Then there was Verv who, as far as some spectators could tell, was waving at the crowd! They thought he was mocking their boos by politely gesturing back to them but what they didn''t realise was that all Verv was really trying to do was catch the firefly floating around him. He was so preoccupied with it he likely wasn''t even aware of the atmosphere surrounding their entrance. Not that he''d care regardless, hell he might even have the ability to fall asleep to a chorus of ridicule and scorn should he be so inclined. The crowd were a living lullaby at worst.


    The Umbras took up their spots on their side of the field and stood opposite the Legions... Except for Venus who was busy trying to swap places with Skyzo so that she could stand opposite Phobos... In the end, Skyzo relented but he was unhappy about it because this now put him directly across from Pele and he didn''t exactly want to fight her... Yes he had a winning matchup, and quite an unfair one at that, but it''s not like he wanted to kill her. If push came to shove then, sure, it was a competition and he wasn''t going to be a detriment to his family but being pit against her right off the bat?... His stupid sister had selfishly put him in a real bind here. Or rather, why wasn''t it that Venus felt the same way about Phobos?! Surely she didn''t want to enjoy hitting him right? No... She likely just wanted to overwhelm and taunt him, play with him until he was putty in her hand. Skyzo wasn''t sure rubbing it in like that was the best way to win him over but whatever, it wasn''t any of his concern. Actually, Skyzo no longer really had any concerns whatsoever, this matchup was a walk in the park and he could seriously bully Pele so he was home free already provided nothing unexpected cropped up.


    As for the other matchups, Palioxis was giving Venus the stink eye but was actually standing opposite Fate who was stamping her feet as she didn''t like being ignored like this. Phobos was inching slowly backwards to get as much distance as humanly possible between him and the crazy woman licking her lips in his direction. Tyr and Scar, the two resolute leaders of the two teams stood stock still and had a stare down for the ages despite their otherwise calm demeanour, Pele was happily waving at Skyzo who tiredly waved back in a half hearted fashion while sighing to himself, and finally Deimos was hopping aboard his bike and getting ready to run circles around Verv... Who at some point had conked out on the floor after having caught the firefly... Still, Deimos knew better than to expect a free win as one of the brothers would no doubt kick the mutt awake when the match started and then he''d have a real problem on his hands. Was Verv the strongest? No... But he was easily the most annoying, that was very well known as Verv''s reputation amongst those who had squared off against him in the past was unanimous. He. Just. Never. Stopped. He would run up to you, strike at you with no regard for his own safety, take whatever pain you could dish out whilst dishing out his own heavy hits, and then chase you down again if you ever ran away. He was just constantly in your face and he NEVER stopped. He was a mobile tank that just soaked up all the damage you threw at him while hunting you to the ends of the earth. He was like a machine which unironically led some of his opponents to believe he was a robot, programmed to chase and kill without pause. He had one task and one task alone, attack. Still, Deimos figured it could be a lot worse. Venus was a pretty atrocious match up for him and Fate was just a bundle of surprises. Maybe he was capable of beating Fate, maybe he wasn''t. It entirely depended on how many new treasures she''d come across and added to her repertoire as of late. The day she found an EMP that could disable his bike was the day he stayed well away from her!


    On the topic of Fate, her matchup with Palioxis would be one of the more unusual ones. Yes she had a horde of treasures with which to chuck at people but her personal treasure, the one she relied on the most, was very nearly identical to a personal treasure that Palioxis owned. There were slight differences in the ''puppets'' these two controlled but the fact that they were both puppeteers at their core was ironic considering they were pretty identical in many ways. Pouty, cute, tiny, secretly liked their brothers (although to varying degrees as Palioxis went further than ''like''), and went to great lengths for their family behind the scenes. Add onto that their similar fighting style and it was no wonder they ''got along'' well as friends. As for the major difference between them, Palioxis was dedicated to puppetry and could control two at once. Her Scytheguards were split into two different entities, a front guard and a rear guar, each with their own specialties and abilities. Fate, on the other hand, only had one puppet that was more of a trickster type that she supplemented with her treasures and stealthy techniques. If it was just a matter of the puppets going head to head, Pali would win no contest but things weren''t that simple. Of all the fights taking place this would wind up being the most even of them all and there wouldn''t be a clear winner emerging for quite some time.


    Pele vs Skyzo was just a brutal match conceptually. Pele specialised in lava magic and could fling it here, there, and everywhere with her spear mastery but where her magical talent really lay was in summoning lava soldiers to fight alongside her as she commanded them to do her bidding. The lava soldiers also wielded spears and had good reach but the real kicker was that they exploded in a lava burst in death. To make fighting them even harder the bursts could chain detonate provided more than one soldier was in any given area. Pele was very capable of summoning up to about a 100 soldiers currently if she was given enough space to do as she pleased which meant the grandest explosion she could muster wasn''t trivial. That number would also only keep going up and up as she grew stronger and she was a fearful foe who could turn the tide all by her lonesome if given a chance to... But that was sort of the problem here. Yes she could summon a swarm of lava soldiers but they all counted towards Skyzo''s magic that made him stronger based on the amount of people looking at him... As this fight took place inside a Training Field, luckily, the spectator''s gaze on him wouldn''t count... But so what? Pele couldn''t beat Skyzo in a fair fight and if she tried to swing things in her favour by summoning her trusty lava aids they would only be a detriment! Her ''powerup'' was actually just an even bigger powerup for Skyzo. Her magic might as well have been support magic that buffed him because it barely helped her in comparison to what it did for him. Each individual soldier had a limit to their strength too so creating multiple meant the increase in strength for her was more linear than it was for Skyzo on top of all the other issues. If they had been allies then it would be one hell of a combination but all Pele was doing here was making her own life harder by fighting Skyzo. Then again if she wasn''t, and someone else took her place, the lava soldiers would indirectly benefit Skyzo anyway every time he ended up in their sight even if only accidentally. Pele just being here would make Skyzo infinitely stronger whether that was her goal or not.


    Next up was Venus vs Phobos and really the biggest ace up Venus'' sleeve was the fact that she creeped Phobos out, unnerving him and potentially throwing off his aim with his bow. A win''s a win after all. There really wasn''t much to say about this matchup outside of Venus'' presumed advantage provided there was no outside interference. Phobos could shoot hails of arrows but Venus only needed to fire a few bullets in retaliation to make enough room to stand around safely underneath them. It''s not like she''d miss either as her bullets could be controlled mid-flight and thus there was no risk involved for her in standing completely still. Phobos used more mana to summon more arrows than Venus used controlling her bullets so it was entirely possible Phobos would just run out of mana and be left helpless in the long run. Even if he conserved his mana and fired single shots Venus could respond in kind. Maybe some clever art usage would tip the scales in Phobos'' favour but this duel wasn''t looking good for the little guy who''s attack would be easily thwarted time and time again.


    Last but not least was the Scar and Tyr fight... It was anyone''s guess how this would end really. Tyr''s sword and staff both had different effects depending on the distance between him and his target. At closer ranges the sword buffed him while the staff de-buffed opponents. At longer ranges the sword could unleash a devastating attack if the opponent didn''t close the gap while the staff could give Tyr''s various buffs. Long story short, Tyr was always in an advantageous state thanks to both his weapons providing buffs at different times, giving him a 100% uptime overall. His staff could unleash various magic attacks at long and short ranges and his sword proficiency was decent. No range was really safe and you kind of just had to bite the bullet against Tyr, picking your poison and fighting a fair fight. You were never going to catch him out or find him in a vulnerable position as he was an all-rounder with the necessary tools to enable him to adapt to situations on the fly. As for Scar, he took after his father and relied on the space-time pillar to teleport into people''s faces and brawl. He was slightly better at Blinking to dodge attacks than his father was but he was less talented combat-wise which left for gaps the opponent could utilise if he wasn''t careful. Still, the ability to teleport a burly man in front of an opponent was something worth fearing, especially seeing as how Scar hit like a truck when he did wind up hitting a person. This match came down to whether Scar could fully utilise his specialties or if he would be snuffed out at every turn by a cautious and clever Tyr. It would be a slower match than the others as mind games and timing mattered here. If Tyr committed to a long range attack, and Scar Blinked past it, he was screwed. If Tyr baited Scar into a doomed offensive then he would win resoundingly. These two would take many pot shots at one another before the deciding moment, that was for sure.


    All in all, everyone was raring to go!... Apart from Verv who was snoring to himself...

 Chapter 201: Passive Aggression

    Lex had introduced the teams, and they were now in their place, so there was only one thing left to do before the match officially started...


    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    Blow the horn!


    Now that that formality was over and done with, things were going to kick off for real. Deimos revved up his Grand Prix and shot straight at the talisman as this was a match that could potentially be decided by the time rule. As there was no Umbra member available to stop him, the best they could do was watch him take it. That didn''t mean Deimos was off Scot free and could just keep vrooming around at his leisure though as Scar took a second to pick Verv up and rattle him awake. With an outstretched finger, pointed firmly in the direction of the Grand Prix and tracking Deimos without a sweat, Scar said but a single word to Verv to get his own engine revving. "Fetch." To further encourage the beastly brother, Scar lobbed him in an arc towards Deimos before walking back over to deal with his own problem, Tyr.


    Verv, unfazed by his newfound velocity, rubbed his eyes a bit to get the sleep out before locating the target that had been set him for him by Scar. His chew toy today was a fast one but no prey was ever going to outrun him! The firefly hovering around him was a distraction that pacified him and that calm state wasn''t beneficial to him right now so he shoved the firefly inside the lantern and there was an immediate change in his general presence. His eyes flared up and the small white glow became a raging fire with an inky black outline. A small but striking black dot amidst the flames was the only indication of what direction his sights were set. Verv wasn''t fully berserk yet but he was damn close and any and all reason or fear had practically evaporated from his body. He was currently spiralling through the air at blistering speed? That wasn''t a problem, it was a thrill! Verv twisted so that, as he landed, his front two hands allowed him to leap frog forward and convert his forward momentum into a sprint on all fours like a crazed beast. The sheer speed he''d inherited from the earlier toss wasn''t lost and instead was combined with his sprint speed on all fours, allowing him to not only keep up with Deimos'' Grand Prix but also to start gaining ground on it despite the ginormous broadsword that was laying flat on his back right now and weighing him down.


    Deimos could keep the jig up for a while but Verv would catch him eventually and then the real fight would start. Still, Deimos had no obligation to speed up that process as he was in it to win it. Although he felt confident in holding out for a while against Verv there was no need to hasten the inevitable. If Verv was going to catch him, then Verv would have to put the effort in to drag Deimos off the bike. Was it cheap and cowardly to extend the timer like this by driving around the outer ring of the arena in a loop? Perhaps but winning was what truly mattered! The other members of the Legion clan in the crowd may not have been too thrilled to see Deimos take this approach, though, because it was somewhat shameful but Deimos had always been a little like Bellona. A ''black sheep'' of the clan that was less a role model and more so a wrench in the grand plan. Deimos stuck to himself for the most part though and wasn''t hated to the same extent as Bellona by Major. So, rather than anyone pestering him, he just kinda drifted around unimpeded on his bike like a motorised ghost.


    Just because this fight wasn''t the most exciting thing ever, that didn''t mean everyone else was taking it slow. In particular was the fight between Pele and Skyzo which was heating up both metaphorically and literally. Skyzo and Pele both specialised in the passive pillar, a pillar that, you guessed it, gave passive benefits that were generally useful almost all the time. Three aspects came under this pillar and were known simply as ''conditional reward'', ''toggleable boon'', and ''constant blessing''.


    The first of the three specialised in tasking a cultivator to complete a ''mission'' of sorts, after which they would be rewarded with a passive upgrade. Hitting an opponent ten times to gain increased strength for ten minutes, making a foe speak a certain word out loud to get a free, mana-less cast of any art no matter how powerful, or performing a ritual mid-combat to become invincible for a few seconds were all examples of potential conditional rewards. Anything was possible here and the demands of the pillar could get really whacky sometimes. There was even an art under this aspect that gave a random task and random benefit every time it was used. The applications of this art were wide and varied. Take, for instance, the free art mentioned earlier. Some people learnt Armageddon-esque arts that they couldn''t possible cast on their own and, yet, by tricking their opponent into saying a random word, like ''puppy'' for example, it allowed them to unleash chaos they had no business being able to usually. There was also mission types that had levels to them, I.E dodge five attacks, become 5% faster, dodge five more attacks, become 5% again, and so on so forth. Usually if you followed these series of missions to completion you would get one big benefit at the end. These took longer to complete, and gave smaller rewards in increments, but usually gave more overall when including the final reward.


    Getting the exact passive benefit you wanted was tough unless you knew a specific art that always gave the same reward. This was quite rare, however, which meant, for the most part, this pillar tended to be quite random... So random, in fact, that there was one art that literally randomised EVERYTHING about a person daily. The condition was to wait until the dawn of a new day, at which point a cultivator''s possessed artifacts, treasures, personal treasures, physique, pillar affinity and known arts, knowledge and expertise, and even weapon mastery were all randomised completely. Some days you were an umbrella wielding assassin who was slow as a snail, sometimes you were a hydra dragon breathing quadruple elemental fire with ten wings and laser cannon strapped to your back. The people that used this art were few and far between but typically swore by it. At the bare minimum you kept your rough cultivation and everything randomised was of equivalent value to what you lost. You may get an umbrella, sure, but it would be a treasure that was just as powerful as the legendary sword you lost which often led to hilarity in some form or another. Also you could revert back to normal by just not engaging with the daily randomisation so nothing was ever truly lost for good. It actually wasn''t terrible! In particular, weapon masters quite liked it as it forced them to use unconventional equipment they might not have considered otherwise. Dominus himself occasionally dabbled in the art which was what lead a lot of other cultivators to follow in his foot steps. Most gave up but a few found the appeal and stuck with it. As for the other two aspects...


    ''Toggleable boon'' guaranteed the user a passive benefit whenever they wanted it without any fuss but it typically came with a price. You could emit heatwaves intermittently at the cost of constantly draining mana when it was active, you could magnetise your body and steal weapons or repel bullets by lowering your speed, or perhaps you might want to cultivate quicker by putting yourself at risk and lowering your defences while you do it. Risk and reward was the interplay between negative and positive changes that occurred with this aspect. For every upside, a downside. The best part of the aspect, though, was that you could freely enable or disable these passives whenever you wanted. So yes the magnetise ability made you a sitting duck for any non-metal based attacks but you could easily turn it off and run away if you were clever with it.


    The passive pillar was generally considered a lazier pillar but this aspect had a bit of a skill requirement to it in order to not suffer too harshly from the downsides. Sometimes you would need quick thinking to decide when the downsides of your passive outweighed the good it was currently doing you and sometimes you needed quick reaction times to prevent anything catastrophic from happening by turning your passive off. It was definitely the most involved of all the aspects under this pillar and kept cultivators on the tip of their toes but the benefits were usually proportionately good. It was typically a toss up between this aspect and the conditional reward aspect on which arts were more powerful but it was mostly in favour of the toggleable boons. There were many precautionary tales about this aspect though, such as the man who forgot to turn off a passive that drained his blood before he went to sleep. He never woke up again but, on the bright side, his corpse was filled to the brim with mana! Trading life for mana was risky but great for people who chugged through it... Provided you remembered to turn it off. As a side note, entities without blood lost life force so, no, the requirement couldn''t be cheated! Although the negative passive was usually worded generally for the sake of clarity, it was safe to assume it would always effect you even if it didn''t seem like it theoretically should. For instance, if a person in a wheelchair magnetised themself, the wheelchair would roll slower. No amount of disability was going to disable your punishment. To that end, anyone who felt confident in themself and didn''t want to be affected negatively during combat, without any means of preventing it, shied away from this aspect as it was guaranteed self-hindrance compared to other magics that just worked.


    Lastly, there was the easiest to understand aspect and the one most people thought of when hearing the word ''passive''. Permanent blessing were... Well... Permanent blessings... They just existed 24/7 and were, 99% of the time, just very good. No downside and no activation requirement meant this aspect wasn''t plagued by menial tasks or the need to dedicate a part of your conscience to tracking multiple things at once. A minor increase to your mana regeneration speed that would stay with you from birth to death? Why the hell not! The ability to walk up walls? Could very well happen! Immunity to illness? Not the most useful thing ever but definitely appreciable! Now you may be looking at this aspect and wondering why everyone didn''t dip their toes in it but the answer to that conundrum was simple, it was HARD. Almost everyone who specialised in this aspect was born with an affiliation and a passive art already working away in the background. Being able to learn, say, the passive mana regeneration could take thousands of years at the very least and wasn''t worth the cost of doing business for a lot of people. Not to mention the fact that that was considered a basic art under the aspect to boot. Something like walking up walls would take maybe a few hundred thousand years if you were a quick learner AND found a scroll to impart the necessary teachings. Some of the more incredible passives were closely guarded secrets by those that knew them so, more often than not, this pillar was either left well enough alone or the cultivator actually had no choice in the matter and was forced to accept it because they were born with it. Skyzo and Pele were two examples of people that were ''forced to accept it''! They''d both been born with unique arts under ''constant blessing'' that were incredibly powerful and so focusing the majority of their attention elsewhere was a waste of their God given talents.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Skyzo had his Spectator''s Sanction, the effect of which has already been discussed, and Pele had her Feel The Heat! Pele''s unique art provided an in-combat buff to pretty much everything. Her magical power, her physical strength, speed, weapon mastery, and even her current cultivation all increased the longer she fought for. It had an upper limit but reached it fairly quickly, only taking a minute and half total to reach that point. Compared to Davey, her art reached the peak of its effectiveness sooner but had less of an upside over the course of a longer fight. The benefit never tapered off unless she ran away from the fight so it''s not like it stopped being useful after that point or anything, it was just functionally different to Davey''s infinite sapping.


    Currently, Pele''s art could raise her cultivation by up to five whole stages, even allowing her to cross into the next realm provided she wasn''t more than two stages away from it at the start as that would be excessive. Going from the sixth stage of a realm to the first of the next one was a ludicrous increase in power thanks to the benefit of gaining a realm compared to that of gaining a stage. If Pele was in such a situation, meaning she was more than two stages from the next realm but also less than five, she would just get more power gifted to her as compensation; just not enough to compete with the amount she would have gotten from an extra realm. Taking that into consideration, it meant that Pele actually had swings in power depending on how far along she was in her cultivation journey. She was at her summit when either freshly entering a new realm or on the cusp of leaving one she''d been in a while. It was a relatively unique situation but, seeing as how this was just a passive, it''s not like anything negative happened should she be caught out in the 6th to 8th stage. Just a minor loss in potential gain overall. She wasn''t overly reliant on this art, even though it was her go to in most cases, as she had plenty of auxiliary options to keep her afloat. Her finely-crafted spear was a treasure that could spit out lava and her soldiers were trusty backup so she was well equipped to tango with just about any opponent. Her biggest weakness, really, was range as she had no means of closing a gap other than brute forcing the matter by throwing lava soldier after lava soldier at the issue. If they could run down her opponent, great. If not, they acted as a wall of bodies that allowed Pele to sneak up to her foe from behind the waves of soldiers. It wasn''t optimal but it was the best she could do which is why, as of late, she''d been searching high and low for treasures that boosted a cultivator''s mobility in whatever fashion. Unfortunately she had come across no such thing before this match so that weakness was yet to be fixed. It didn''t matter too much against Skyzo, as he too was a melee oriented fighter, but if Pele had actually been forced to fight Venus she would have struggled greatly.


    Skyzo, on the other hand, had no such qualms about his current level of strength or any weaknesses he might posses. This man had never wielded a treasure in his life other than the flare gun with which he used to garner attention. Any and all weapons he''d used up to now throughout his life weren''t even artifacts, they were just cold, hard steel. Skyzo was lazy, and not particularly invested in cultivation as a whole, and yet he still managed to be quite a menace which was honestly incredible. Had he put in the effort he could have very well been the strongest of the Umbras, minus Ares, but due to his reserved and passionless personality it wasn''t in the cards. Still, when a fight came calling, he wouldn''t run away.


    Skyzo raised his scarf a little and fastened it in place so that it wouldn''t fall during what was about to come as he calmly walked towards Pele. She had no means of attacking him from range that he couldn''t dodge reactively so there was no need to waste his energy and rush. Pele did twirl her spear and thrust it a few times, firing off ball-sized globules of lava at Skyzo but he effortlessly sidestepped each and everyone. This grew more difficult the closer he got but Skyzo wasn''t fettered by the magic and pressed onwards. The lava that missed him sailed onto the ground and burnt chunks of the arena, leaving nothing but a smouldering pit by the time they were done melting everything in their path. Getting hit by even one of these attacks would be excruciating and you were liable to lose parts of your body entirely if you weren''t careful about where they hit you. A globule landing on your head was near enough guaranteed to kill you or, at best, leave you with irreparable bran damage and a lopsided skull after parts of it disintegrated into ash. Of course Pele preferred not killing others in such a gruesome manner but that was only something she could avoid doing up close. If she was flinging fiery sorcery from a distance there were no promises her aim would be accurate to her intentions. If she aimed for someone''s chest, which was still pretty rough to get hit by, and missed because the person charged forward head first... Well there was nothing she could do about that! Pele would just shrug her shoulders, say ''oops'', and walk away as the person in question screamed their dying lungs out. She was friendly and polite, sure, but if you got on her bad side you were out of luck as any and all care she had for you was gone. She still adhered to Legion tradition and tried to keep you alive but accidental deaths weren''t something she''d lose sleep over.


    Skyzo closed the gap and now it was go time. Skyzo, without anyone looking at him, was stronger than Pele without her Feel The Heat! It would slowly kick in and change the dynamic between them but Pele also had to actually look at Skyzo so the amount of time her art took to even out the gap wasn''t short. Pele would start to beat out Skyzo eventually, maybe after a minute or so, but even then it was based on the assumption that no one else would look at him. All it would take was for some of her other family members to accidentally glance at him and the increase in strength, although brief, would be enough for him to turn the tide in those short windows. Plus the lava soldiers needed to come out at some point so it was all a mess for her. Still, her best bet was to summon the soldiers now and bide her time until she reached her pinnacle, at which point she could be done with them and bring it back to a one on one. This would weaken Skyzo at the exact time he needed the support and could maybe throw him off his game so she raised her arm to the sky and yelled, "Volcanic Veterans!!


    Shortly after her call, the arena ground rumbled and cracked in various places with lava spurting out from underneath like miniature volcanoes. The ground around these spots became a colourful mixture of ashy black and brilliant orange as they rose into small hills and gradually shaped themselves into the shape of infantrymen. Although Pele would no doubt go on to create more during her cultivation journey, there were currently three different types of soldier amongst her ranks. The ''wall'', the ''standard'', and the ''shrieker''. The standard, as the name implied, was a basic foot soldier with one of two weapons, made from pyroclastic, in the form of a sword or a spear. They weren''t masterful in terms of technique, as that would be absurd had they the skills of an exemplar, but they were decent enough to do the job. You would sooner bet on one of these soldiers than a random back-alley thug at least. They weren''t incredible on their own but, then again, they weren''t on their own and it was the ''walls'' that allowed them to shine and show off their full potential.


    The walls were bulky soldiers with large frames and thicker chunks of volcanic rock clinging to their body. They could withstand more hits, and hit harder when they retaliated, but were slow as a snail. They either wielded a great hammer or used their fists, the latter of which moved somewhat faster but still slowly compared to a ''standard''. These oafish soldiers took up the frontline and acted as a meat shield to block attacks and distract the foe while the ''standard'' peppered them with quicker attacks from the flank or, if wielding a spear, from behind the ''walls''. The biggest hurdle was getting these ''walls'' into position but, once they were there, the effect they had on the fight was hard to ignore. Also, as an added bonus, when these ''walls'' went kaboom, they made the biggest explosion of all the soldier types by far. Staying as far away from these big baddies as possible was the best solution. If they got close to you they were lethal whether you ignored them, and let them attack you, or set them off by attacking them back. Or rather, for the most part, even if you ignored them they would still blow up anyway. See usually these Volcanic Veterans only ever detonated when they were defeated but there was one exception and that was when the ''shriekers'' got involved.


    The shriekers'' bodies were hunched, slim, and somewhat lanky. Their heads rolled to one side and their mouths oozed with gunky lava. They had no weapons and existed to serve one purpose, suicide pacts! They had the fastest speed of all three soldier types and were tireless as they sprinted towards you, at which point, BOOM. they could self-detonate. That was their one ability and they would hound you until the ends of the earth in order to use it by your side. A double suicide! How quaint... But not all ''shriekers'' took the direct approach. Occasionally, a shrieker would lie in wait until a ''wall'' closed the gap between itself and the foe, after which the shrieker would leap into action. It wouldn''t attack the opponent, no, it would commit friendly fire and blow up the wall to start a chain detonation and rock your world in a blaze of glory. More than being talented, the Volcanic Veteran''s worked together well and could occasionally use ''tactics'', limited in scope though they were. The spear wielding standards could force you to back up into walls that the shrieker would then set off. Or maybe the shriekers would corral you into the sword wielding standards who would occupy your time and allow the walls to get in close. All in all, getting swamped by these soldiers was the worst possible outcome as they were relentless in their approach, an approach that shifted as necessary to accommodated the tide of the battle. Even if you could beat them the main reason Pele even summoned them to begin with was because this counted as her being ''in combat'' for the sake of her Feel The Heat! She didn''t even have to square up against Skyzo for the one and a half minutes, her soldiers could do it for her!... Provided they lasted that long.


    A shrieker jumped head first at Skyzo. It was looking like it was about to succeed in its ambush as, by the time it exploded, from its perspective, Skyzo had yet to take even a single measure against it. The shrieker left the world assuming its mission had been fulfilled when, really, all that had happened was that Skyzo caught it in mid air, used his incredible speed as a result of his Spectator''s Sanction to bolt over to a large group of soldiers, and chucked the shrieker into the crowd milliseconds before it detonated. Skyzo''s speed, now that seventy or so enemies were staring at him, was probably enough to match Ares at top speed with regular enhancement or, at the very least, come close. The speed itself was obviously lightning fast but what really tipped Skyzo over the edge was the increase in general capability across the board. He wasn''t just quick, he was strong to boot. He''d caught the shrieker in mid air and chucked it with a half-hearted swing of his arm. Sure the shriekers were the lightest of the soldiers but they still weighed about as much as a normal human. Plus the ashes should have burnt Skyzo''s hand but he remained uninjured thanks to his improved resilience as well. As for the chain explosions that took place after the shrieker blew up, Skyzo stood amidst them all and didn''t move an inch. It was as if he''d calculated the spew of lava perfectly as he watched everything around him implode and miss him by a hair''s width. Of course this was just a small group of the soldiers and he still had a lot more to go but, thanks to his passive, it would be a walk in the park. Yes he was surrounded but, really, that just meant he was in his natural element! The shriekers had witnessed first hand the way in which their comrade was used against them so the rest were more cautious and hesitant in their approach. Unfortunately when one type of soldier was held back, the rest suffered as a result too. Skyzo exploited this and ran circles around the nearby walls to access the standards easier and there was nothing impeding him from doing so. In short, was was about to come next would be reminiscent of letting a fox into a henhouse.

 Chapter 202: In Tryon’s Maze

    BANG


    One of Pele''s walls slammed its great hammer down towards Skyzo''s head but he simply raised his palm and caught it in his bare hands. Though the earlier explosion had thinned out the Volcanic Veterans there were still more than enough to keep Skyzo''s Sanction up and running to a degree that made him incontestable. He kicked out with his foot and sent the wall spiralling into two shriekers that exploded on contact and made another series of explosions ring out across the arena. Skyzo''s next order of business were the standards surrounding him so he turned on his heel and launched a roundhouse kick to the chest of one of the soldiers. His foot sunk into the standard''s body, allowing him to pull it towards him and grab its head before tossing it around like a rag doll, flinging it into another group. Dealing with soldiers one by one would take forever and so leveraging their volatile bodies for his own gain was Skyzo''s plan here. That didn''t mean he was giving up on finesse, however, as he dodged a spear thrust by shifting to the side before stabbing the soldier in its eye with a rusty dagger. As there were other soldiers encroaching upon him he didn''t have time to kick away the body but that was fine because he had a different plan for it altogether. With a small hop, Skyzo placed his feet firmly on the chest of the stabbed soldier and crouched down low.


    BOOM


    The explosion was utilised by Skyzo to propel him forward through the air with incredible speed. He flew past countless other Volcanic Veterans and slashed them all as he twirled through the gaps in their ranks. Skyzo tore through a line of nearly fifteen soldiers and landed flawlessly on a single foot at the end of his flight with all his foes crumbling behind him. Though normally he was a lazy and constantly uninterested individual, right now he painted a picture of an experienced and deathly silent assassin who left his targets in the dust with the greatest of ease. A standard attempted to ruin this visage by charging at Skyzo with a sword and committing to an overhead swing but Skyzo simply grabbed the soldier''s raised elbow, took one step behind it, kicked out its knee and forced it to the ground, and ended the interaction with a roundhouse kick to the face that treated the soldier''s head like a football. He punted the makeshift bomb into a group of standards advancing towards him and wiped out the congregated enemies. A thrusting spear came from his blind angle immediately after but he managed to catch the unexpected attack underneath his armpit and lock down the weapon. The soldier tried pulling it back with all his might but that failed completely as Skyzo''s strength from multiple, simultaneous Sanctions wasn''t something the soldier could beat out. Skyzo gripped the tip of the spear with his free other arm and yanked it forward. The rest of the spear came sliding through the gap between Skyzo''s arm and his side but the soldier, still clutching the weapon, obviously couldn''t fit. Instead he was reverse clotheslined and laid out flat on his back as he skid past Skyzo who used his stolen spear to finish the job with a precise stab to the dome. before the standard detonated, Skyzo hopped back a short distance and grappled a nearby soldier, swinging him around to be between Skyzo and the blast.


    BOOM


    The previous soldier burst in a ball of lava which, in turn, sent the spear buried in its skull hurtling in Skyzo''s direction. Or that would have been the case provided he hadn''t shoved another Volcanic Veteran in its path a few seconds earlier. The flying spear pierced yet another head while Skyzo kicked off a nearby standard to jump into the air and gain height.


    BOOM


    The second detonating soldier blasted the spear upwards, straight into Skyzo''s fully prepared hand. He was actively using the blasts to his own benefit. This spear wasn''t a personal treasure but he could return it to his grasp by effectively making use of his opponents inherent traits. This took talent and raw skill which Skyzo had aplenty, as demonstrated by his ability to do this on repeat no matter what situation he found himself in. Flanked, outnumbered, none of it mattered. He was able to calculate how much time he had to make his move as well as what move he needed to make next in order to keep moving and not get bogged down all in the moment. Even now he wasn''t stopping as he buried the spear into the ground while landing to have it act like a pole. Instead of touching the floor, Skyzo spun around the embedded spear in a crescent shape and turned his jump into a dive kick with enough force to outright break apart the chest of the standard he kicked.


    BOOM


    The force behind the explosion of the kicked standard was sufficient to dislodge the spear, sending both it and Skyzo sailing backwards towards a nearby wall that had been desperately running around and trying to catch up to the ever-nimble Skyzo. On one hand, his target was now coming towards him. On the other hand, his target was coming towards him at a speed that was inconcievable with his spear ready and primed to pierce a hole through his stomach. Less than a second later, before the wall could even catch up with Skyzo''s movements, that was precisely what had happened. The wall was left staring forward blankly with nothing in its fading sight while Skyzo had charged straight through its stomach region, ending up behind the Veteran, and left a gaping gap about the size of a toddler. The wall collapsed to its knees and exploded shortly after.


    In this manner, Skyzo kept bouncing around from enemy to enemy, taking them all down with smart manipulation of his opponents'' positioning. Even though his Spectator''s Sanction art became gradually weaker due to the lower enemy count his pace of destruction didn''t slow down in the slightest. This was how much leeway he had to spare and how much of his skill he''d been keeping in reserve since the start of the fight. Even when there were only five soldiers left he kept moving like a machine. Dodging dangerous attacks, pushing around his foes to put them right where he wanted them, and taking advantage of every misstep his volcanic nemeses made. With one final crush of a skull underneath his boot, Skyzo was now ready to take on Pele herself who''d already gained a decent amount of strength from her own unique art. The shrieker at his feet blew up and shot him forward to meet Pele head on as he pulled out a few tools he had on his person. What was an assassin without various Knick knacks to aid them? One such tool was the tiny grey bauble he''d just chucked at Pele''s feet which erupted into a could of thick smoke the second the glass shattered.


    Skyzo''s action put Pele in a rough situation as now she had no idea where his first attack would come from. Yes he was still barrelling towards her in the air but if he stopped himself short and ran to the sides while she was prepared for a frontal showdown that would be a deadly mistake. The reverse was also true as Skyzo would outright kill her on the spot if she didn''t block his flying attack, loaded with lethal momentum. It was a hard spot to be in and she had to make her choice quickly so, although it limited her options after the encounter in terms of where she could move, she chanted to launch the following art. "Coulee Curtain."


    Coulee Curtain, like Volcanic Veterans, was an art of the lakes of lava aspect that came underneath the fire pillar. It was an aspect that specialised in spewing lava literally everywhere. tsunamis of the stuff were common with this aspect be it through volcano generation, soldiers that exploded and scattered lava everywhere like the Veterans, or lava rain that that hit frequently but was more of an inconvenience and took a long time to start racking up damage. As for Coulee Curtain, it was similar in nature to Guesswork under the magma mastery aspect. It raised up two curtains wherever the user wanted, made of lava and not magma, that acted like pseudo walls. The goal of these two arts were different though. Guesswork was impossible to see through for a start and that really enforced the guessing aspect of the art on the victim''s end. It was also far hotter so jumping through it would cause burns if you weren''t defensively prepared. Coulee curtain, on the other hand, wasn''t so obstructive. Both sides of the curtain were visible and could be seen through if you peeked at certain angles. It also exploded if you ever tried to step through it, dealing more immediate damage than any burns would over a longer period of time. The one other upside to it over Guesswork was that it marked any opponent who jumped through it recklessly and hitting that mark would, yet again, cause another explosion. Magma mastery typically hurt more but less often whereas lakes of lava hurt less but more often. Lava arts were very good at bursting outward and spraying the damaging lava everywhere, covering a wider range than magma mastery arts that bundled all of its hurt into a single spot. Overall, the two aspects were frequently compared to one another as, more often than any other aspects, they tended to share a lot of arts. They weren''t the exact same but, like Coulee Curtain and guesswork, they were essentially just variants of one another. Yes stuff like Lightning Strike and Flash Thunder existed but they were both part of the same aspect so it was a categorically different situation. In this regard, though between them there was very little that could be considered unique, they stood out from the rest of the aspects and were regarded as sibling aspects. If you could find an art for one, you could almost always find it for the other, albeit with a different name and slightly different use case.


    Magma monologue and lava lecture aside, Pele was now guarded on all fronts. She had her curtains preventing an approach from either side, without at least facing serious consequences should they be brute forced, and she''d raised her spear horizontally in preparation to fend off Skyzo should he take the direct route to her... But nothing was happening. Skyzo wasn''t appearing from the left, the right, or directly ahead. The smokescreen surrounding Pele was fading but yet Skyzo was nowhere to be found... Did he run off to go help a teammate after bamboozling Pele? That was a poor choice to make if so as Skyzo wouldn''t be able to contribute more to another fight than Pele would with her lava affecting a decent range. In a two vs two Pele held an advantage over Skyzo provided her teammate wasn''t looking at him. Also, she wanted the one vs one fight! She was having fun messing around with Skyzo and would be pissed if he just left her alone like this! Her complaints were unfounded and proven unnecessary when the smoke faded a little more and Pele caught sight of Skyzo standing idly, deeper within the grey cloud. he wasn''t moving towards her, he wasn''t moving away, he wasn''t attacking. Nothing. Just standing stock still and staring at her... Pele thought this was strange and decided to prod away at him and force a reaction. She inched closer, making sure to keep an eye on her surroundings inside the smoke to prevent an ambush. It wasn''t unthinkable that Skyzo hadn''t gone to a teammate because one had come to him instead! If he was luring her into a trap things could get messy but that didn''t appear to be the case as nothing was sprung even when she was standing a few feet away from Skyzo. She narrowed her eyes, raised her spear, and thrust into the unmoving, unnerving man opposite her.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Shatter


    The illusion crumbled and bits of ice fell to the floor in a bundle that slowly melted away. The ''Skyzo'' had been nothing more than a mannequin of sorts? No, that wasn''t right... It didn''t feel like she''d struck a clone or an ice sculpture. It felt like she hit a wall of some kind that broke instantly when touched... Pele didn''t understand what was happening as Skyzo shouldn''t have known an art like this. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, as the smoke faded completely, her questions were answered as she found herself trapped within a series of long hallways.


    Thud


    Correction, the hallways were not ''long'', they simply appeared as such. Pele had walked a single step in the wrong direction and smacked her head against a wall she hadn''t even been aware of prior to her misstep. After collecting herself and standing up straight, she caught movement out the corner of her eye and turned to face it while launching a pre-emptive attack.


    Shatter


    Once more a fake Skyzo crumbled into tiny cubes of ice before her and, now that she was surrounded by fake Skyzos on all sides, she was starting to comprehend the situation she was in right now. This was a hall of mirrors and she was but a lost soul, trapped in here and subject to the whims of a revenant. The fake Skyzos were just reflections in a mirror of the real one, hiding deep within this labyrinthian maze and waiting for the perfect time to strike. Pele would be thrown off her guard by the movements of all the fakes while the real Skyzo could creep up on her in full view and still remain undetectable. Although an entirely new experience for Pele, it was not one she appreciated as it gave her the creeps. She''d never stared at her enemy, unable to accomplish anything at all before. She could reach out and touch her foe but it meant nothing. She could walk ''towards'' him and still somehow be putting distance between herself and him. It made her every action and reaction feel pointless. Was she detecting the real Skyzo or was it just an elaborate bait he''d set up? The answer would never be clear up until the very last moment when she struck, by which point it very well may already be too late.


    The maze stretched on and on and, no matter how many carefully approached turns around corners she made, it never seemed to end. She couldn''t even tell if she was walking in loops or had made any ground at all. The one thing she did know is that the number of mirrored Skyzos was increasing for some reason... Why he''d chosen to do this was obvious, Pele thought. The more distractions he creates, the more likely he''ll be to succeed when he launches his attack. That was her line of thinking. It wasn''t wrong per se but there was more to it she''d yet to fully realise. It was only when she rounded yet another corner, and found herself in a hexagonal junction, that she finally comprehended how deeply screwed she was right now if she couldn''t escape soon for find a way to fight back.


    She''d felt a presence in this maze from the start, one that intermittently grew stronger before becoming weaker like a pulse. Only now that this presence was at its peak, and bearing down on her heavily, had she connected the dots on why this was happening. The presence was the real Skyzo growing more powerful depending on how many of his mirrored reflections Pele could see at any given time. He wasn''t increasing the number of fakes to create a distraction, he was doing it to increase his own power and unless Pele closed her eyes she couldn''t help but inadvertently, drastically raise his strength at all times. If she closed her eyes, however, she was practically inviting him to come and stab her unguarded self. It may have seemed like a poor option but, as she was sitting in the middle of the junction, with potentially around 100, if not more, reflections all within her peripheral vision, she knew it was one she needed to make before she bit the dust. Skyzo, at this level of strength, would be able to take her out without a sweat and yet still he''d waited. He was patient and knew better than to foolishly rush. If he struck at the precise second Pele closed her eyes there was potential for everything to go atrociously wrong. She would catch a glimpse of him, reduce his strength, and be able to fight back against him in this limited space. He would very likely die if everything went wrong in such a fashion so patience became the virtue he embodied. There was no reason to strike before she closed her eyes, it simply wasn''t worth that risk as far as he was concerned and, the worst part, was that Pele knew it. She knew this was what he was after. With her eyes closed he held the advantage in combat and, if she opened them, that advantage would skyrocket explosively. Rather than let him be strong and then take that strength away, she was in the exact reverse position and could do nothing about it.


    He''d cornered her like a rat.


    Still, there was one hope here and that was the fact that her cultivation was, originally, at the 10th stage of mental accumulation. This meant her salvation was close at hand as her Feel The Heat! could raise that cultivation into Sensory Enhancement. Divine sense wouldn''t help her as, if anything, it would make this situation worse. Using it would give her a full third person view and cause her to take in even more fake Skyzos so that was a no go. The real benefit here was the general enhancing of her senses. These benefits were seen as inconsequential in comparison to the attainment of divine sense but that didn''t mean they didn''t have their uses. Her improved sense of smell would help her locate Skyzo amidst the icy, odourless mirrors. Her heightened sense of touch would allow her to detect changes in the air and vibrations in the ground to pinpoint the direction of incoming attacks and Skyzo''s location respectively. Her bettered sense of hearing would enable her to chase him down if she started winning the fight and turning the tables causing him to retreat. But in order for all of this to actually come true, she needed her Feel The Heat! to reach its limit and there was still time before that happened... Until then, she was going to have struggle to fight back with her eyes closed and suffer countless injuries in the meantime. Skyzo wouldn''t over-commit to anything and would try and whittle her down. The question now was, could she hold out until then and pay him back? Only time would tell and there was still a lot left on the clock.


    While Skyzo and Pele were playing a game of 100 cats vs a single mouse, the outcome of which was not as crystal clear as one might think, and while Verv was still running down Deimos on his bike, Venus was toying with Phobos with a brilliant smile on her face. This wasn''t quite sadism but it was close. Palioxis had made an attempt to intervene earlier but was currently being held down by Fate so, right now, Phobos was on his own and the thought of that was enough to scare him witless. He was quaking in his boots and every shot he fired was slightly inaccurate due to shakiness of his bow handling. Venus made no attempt to kill him though and instead just played along with his pathetic showing. If anyone could read her mind they would find out that the reason for her doing nothing despite having victory almost assured was because she was savouring his shy and nervy appearance into a folder in her brain that should never be opened by a human who wished to remain sane. Basically, Venus enjoyed bullying shotas... Well she enjoyed pretty much everything about them, and no one reaction was ever favoured over another, it''s just that right now this was what was happening. Confident shotas, scared shotas, happy shotas, sad shotas. Shota shota shota. That was all this woman had in her brain. She''d even spent most of her time in Red Sun haunting playgrounds and creeping around schools. There was a non-zero chance this woman had made it onto a watchlist somewhere.


    None of that mattered right now though as there was a fight going on and that stuff could wait until after she was done here, at which point she could return to her shota hunting ways. Her current thoughts were as follows: Overwhelm the shota, mock the shota, beat the shota, take advantage of the weak shota and hug him, protect the shota from the rest of her family for the last few minutes of the match and have the shota fall in love with her. A very simplistic mindset that effectively made her some kind of hero figure in Phobos'' eyes after she had her fun with him... And it was very clearly never going to work but that was her own problem... As for the actual ''fight'', every time Phobos fired an arrow at her, she shot one of her revolvers at it to force a collision and send it flailing away from her. These revolvers she owned had the effect of passively reloading whenever not in use and had an infinite supply of ammo which was perfect for the style of combat Venus stuck to. The Lock ''N'' Loads, her two revolvers, allowed her to fire off a couple of bullets and focus on controlling them in mid air. By the time she was done throwing the bullets around wherever she wanted them with her magic, the guns would already be reloaded. The Lock ''N'' Loads were pretty useless to anyone who wasn''t Venus as their upside of reloading when not being used was irrelevant to anyone who didn''t have something else to be doing while they were reloading. Whether or nor the gun reloaded for you meant nothing other than saving the user some effort but for Venus specifically it smoothened out her ability to rotate between firing the bullets and controlling them without pause.


    As for the art that let her control the bullets after pulling the trigger, that was called Unpredictabullet and came under the gun aspect in the weapons pillar. Its main use was for snipers to readjust their shots during flight instead of compensating for wind beforehand. It might seem lazy but sometimes being able to take the shot quicker prevented the loss of what would have otherwise been a invaluable opportunity. Plus there were all sorts of obstacles that could come into play unexpectedly after firing so having that backup plan to enable curving the bullet was never a bad thing. Few gunmen ever really used this art with any type of gun other than rifles but there was an exception to every rule and here was one such exception in the form of Venus. Her affiliation for the gun aspect was pretty non-standard and she could control multiple bullets at the same time. This was an astounding feat, actually, it''s just that she was such a massive degenerate it was hard to ever take her or her prowess seriously. Even the gun exemplar would be impressed should they see what Venus was capable of, it was that noteworthy. It also meant the art, Unpredictabullet, transcended its typical use case and now had value with weapons that could put out a higher fire rate. Going from pestering an opponent with one heat seeking bullet to swarming them with around 7 or 8 at the same time was a huge step up and made the art much more applicable in a wider range of scenarios. If Venus so chose, she could prevent Phobos from firing even a single arrow by blasting them out of his hand over and over while running him through repeatedly with the extra bullets, turning him into Swiss cheese on the spot. Of course Phobos wasn''t actually cheese but that didn''t mean Venus wasn''t playing with her food right now and, judging by the gleeful look on her face, she found her main dish to be scrumptious and delectable down to the last bite.


    Despite Phobos falling behind, of the Legions, only Palioxis was really concerned and her worry wasn''t even because of him potentially losing. Pali was more on edge about Venus'' intentions than anything because, although it didn''t look like it right now, Phobos was more than capable of fighting back. Whether he''d win or not was a coin toss as a lot of the fighters here today were evenly matched but there was a chance and it was a respectable one too. His main issue was finding the spring in his step, at which point he would be good to go... The only real question was how to get him pumped up and have him really feel the stakes of the match? Though various other members of the Legion clan were giving this some thought, they all knew they really needn''t bother as right now Palioxis was considering every possible method available and would no doubt solve the problem herself. When it came to Phobos, there was no better cure for whatever was ailing him than to just leave him to his sister. How was Pali going to fix her brother while she was in the middle of an intense fight? Well... Maybe the fight was actually just the thing she needed for her plan to work!

 Chapter 203: Positively Petite Puppeteers and Their Particularly Powerful Puppets

    Palioxis vs Fate, a duel of epic proportions... Provided you ignored their height anyway. The fight between these two started with both of them puffing up their chests and sneering at one another. This was a standard greeting between brats when asserting dominance in the wild. Although most people know to ignore such bluffs, bratty types such as these two were completely unaware. The irony of gesturing for pretence'' sake but being blissfully unaware that was also precisely what their opponent was doing was not lost on the crowd who found this all very cute. No matter how much bravado and gall these two outwardly presented themselves as possessing, it was impossible for any onlookers to fall for the ruse because, from the perspective of an adult, it was kind of adorable. It was an act that lacked any real bite or substantial threat and was like being growled at by a plushie for the sensible spectators. To each other, however, the snarling and derision in their foe''s face was akin to that of a ferocious animal and thus began the war to determine who was superior amongst the mini menaces.


    Fate flipped her palm so that it was facing the sky as she brought a blue cube, segmented into nine separate squares on each face, out from her spatial ring. It hovered above her hand and glitched in and out of existence, looking prone to just vanishing entirely should Fate leave it to its own devices for long enough. No such thing would actually happen though as the truth of the matter was far more complicated. It wasn''t disappearing, at least not physically anyway. This cube possessed optical camouflage technology and could blend in with its background seamlessly like a chameleon.


    In response to Fate playing her hand, Palioxis decided to reveal the ace up her sleeve too. Instead of a single upturned palm, both of Palioxis'' hands were made to face the heavens. And, of course, instead of a single object appearing in her hand, two chunky, spherical devices rolled around in them after being dragged out from her spatial ring. Both were pure white with the only visible difference between the two being the shape of a golden engraving embedded into the spheres. One of these symbols was that of a shield and scythe whereas the other depicted two crossed scythes, forgoing the shield.


    With her Scytheguards ready to roll out, Palioxis felt comfortable and deployed a smug face towards her opponent. Feeling equally as confident with her H.I.JACK ready to manifest, Fate returned fire with a cocky grin. Though tensions were high between the two, all everyone else saw were two smiling children in dresses playing around with their marbles. This was a stark contrast to Venus who was nearby and had debatably lost hers.


    Fate''s cube sunk into her palm and she clenched her hand into a fist, causing a bright blue shine to radiate from her knuckles. A hologram generated in front of the blue light, gradually forming her puppet out of thin air. A light blue mist, surrounded by a dark blue cloak patterned like a motherboard, made up the main body of the entity fate was summoning and small streams of data were passing through it at regular intervals. The rest of the cloak was eventually finished and, despite not having a physical body below the neck, the cloak had distinct shaping around the shoulder area as well as flared collars near the top. In between those flared collars rested a pure-white jabot atop the floating mist, above which was a shiny, compact, black plague mask with small gas filters on the sides and blue LED lighting in the eye sockets. Covering the majority of the top half of the mask was a rather stark and tall top hat with a ''V'' shaped rim.


    This technological marvel, H.I.JACK, was a techy treasure with a number of functions that aided in covert operations and possessed decent assassination capabilities. It''s two primary features were its cloaking ability and the two flexible arm slots attached to the inside of the cloak. As if to show off the latter of which, H.I.JACK inched forward and two thick metal beams dropped down a few inches from under the shoulder area of the cloak with a kathunk noise. The one on the left was temporarily bare at the furthest end but a whirring sound accompanied the arrival of a spinning claw from within the hollow beam. It slid out, clicked into place near what could be considered the metal beam''s ''wrist'', and the drill shaped claw gradually unfurled to show of its true form. It was large and sharp, yes, but more than anything it very clearly had a ton of grip strength with its rigid fingers and was perfect for a more brute force first approach. The other metal beam sported a different weapon, a series of chains funnelling through and out the metal beam. These chains wrapped up and around the beam as well as the light blue mist with the ends of them floating around H.I.JACK like airborne snakes waiting to viciously strike their prey. These two weapons weren''t the only ones available to H.I.JACK but it must have decided this was the best weapon set to start things off with against Palioxis. Unlike Pali''s treasure, H.I.JACK had considerable intelligence and could even function independently of Fate to an impressive degree should it need to. This was especially useful in espionage situations whereby Fate could leave H.I.JACK to hack a computer while she cloaked herself and went off to scout. They formed a formidable duo in terms of efficiency and stealthy prowess but H.I.JACK also sported some serious combat potential. As far as puppets went, H.I.JACK was top notch and Fate was incredibly lucky to have it. Her own passive magic, that put her in bad situations but typically had everything end with good results, had originally led to her discovery of this treasure and she''d been glued to it ever since. Fate ran through treasures like a chain smoker going through cigarettes and frequently changed the loadout she wore based on a number of different factors but, throughout it all, she always kept her trusty H.I.JACK by her side. They''d been through thick and thin and Fate''s life had been saved by it on numerous occasions so Calla even treated it like family. Its sentience was limited but that didn''t stop Calla from showering it with affection for protecting her baby during rough patches.


    Then there was Palioxis'' puppets. Rather than sink into her palm, the two spheres simply rolled off her hands and fell towards the floor. The spectators half-expected the spheres to maybe bounce once or twice because, realistically, if Pali had been holding them they probably weren''t altogether too heavy and, yet...


    THUD!


    THUD!


    Two small craters were created from the impact as the spheres lodged themselves into the cracked arena floor. Clearly these things weighed more than Palioxis was letting on but whether she hadn''t strained to hold them because they were her personal treasures, or because her petite body packed some seriously herculean strength, nobody knew. In truth it was actually somewhat of a mix between both as the personal treasure aspect of things did reduce their weight considerably but that didn''t mean they weren''t still cumbersome to the average individual. Palioxis may have been small in stature but she was not skipping her daily muscle training that was for sure. All of the Legion members were put on a training regime from a young age and most of them stuck with it for life which was why it was nigh impossible to find a Legion member that was physically weak. Bellona the humanoid gorilla / ram was a perfect example of this.


    Back to the balls. The two treasures opened up slightly near the mid section, letting out a torrent of steam and an oddly satisfying noise to boot; one like that of a steam locomotive chugging along. These treasures had actually been procured from Neo Gear Land, a place where steam trains were abundant, so this wasn''t particularly surprising. In fact, according to Pali, these treasures were forged from the decrepit chassis of such trains as well as two run down statues of gear folk that had their own legend attached to them. Two female robos who were famous for their passionate dance duet performances before being forced to take up weapons to defend their homeland during an invasion. This was back during a time where war wasn''t something that happened within the walls of Neo Gear Land but rather outside the city, a time when both gear folk and neo droids actually got along. Not perfectly, mind you, but better than they did now at least. When the war was said and done, and the various deeds of the dancing robos were recorded in full, statues were built in their memory to honour the deceased.


    These statues were evidently built in the wrong neighbourhoods, however, as they couldn''t be protected later down the line when tensions started building between the two robo races. The desecrating of these two statues became as infamous as the lovers were famous during the peak of their renown. These celebrities were no long celebrated and, instead, their existences as a whole were taken wildly out of context. As they were built in a predominantly neo droid populated area, some saw the imposing gear folk as a symbol of oppression and what happened next needn''t be elaborated on as the end result speaks for itself. Two once-iconic statues buried deep in a graveyard of junk within an out-of-use railway scrap yard at the very edge of the city, spray painted in parts with chunks of marbling missing in others.


    At the very least, the real corpses of these two individuals were kept safe in a museum and, although it might have sounded like a grim fate, it was actually considered an honour for robos to be displayed after death instead of being dismantled and reused elsewhere... Of course this would be short lived for the dead gear folk dancer couple, as the current state of Neo Gear''s political climate was atrocious and their corpses would soon mysteriously vanish. Where they would go was anyone''s guess but it wasn''t a good sign if you were someone who hoped tensions would just die down already. The harsh truth of the matter is that both sides of the political spectrum in Neo Gear were brewing up all sorts of monsters and that was reflected in strange happenings across the entire country. Power outages causing hallucinations at night, disappearing dancers during the day. Electric whispers buzzing in your ears like that of a foul omen at night, rumblings under the floor and vanishing citizens during the day. Pre-emptive warnings of assassinations etched into concrete walls in empty buildings at night, the sensation of invisible hands rummaging over your body in the half pipes filled with oil for transport during the day. Three major rumours for each of the two sides that had rather unpleasant implications the further you dug into each of them... Not that you''d live for very long after investigating further anyway. Nosy robos became disappearing robos more often than not and the few that weren''t dead knew that, should they ever open their mouth, they would be buried six feet under sooner rather than later. Scrap that, being buried was a pleasant fate compared to what some of these unknown monstrosities could do to you. And the worst part was that neither of these six manmade disasters were the grand finale of either side, they were just the warmup to a culmination of hatred and violence that would rock the country as a whole.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    That was getting ahead of things and, right now, the two dancers were nothing more than treasures crafted in the image of the real deal. Not that anyone could tell yet though as the balls were still letting out all the pent up steam within them. This served as an indicator the charging function had been working. Unlike H.I.JACK, the Scytheguards needed time to refill their tanks between uses and it was unfortunate but necessary. The power they packed in turn, however, was quite spectacular... The balls expanded further and flipped open like a cracked egg. The two halves split again, and again, and again, but mysteriously the spheres were somehow getting bigger. It was as though the spheres were defying logic and, every time they split, their overall mass was increasing rather than remaining the same and spreading out. Spatial magic was actually at play here but it was so subtle one could hardly tell without close inspection. Anyway, that aside, the unfolding process became more and more rapid with every split until, eventually, two robotic dancers were being crafted before everyone''s eyes at Mach speed. Deploying them took some time but not as much as you might think considering the process essentially built them from scratch like some kind of kid''s toy.


    As for what the completed dancers looked like, they were unusual in that they were constructed somewhat differently compared to a typical gear folk. The obvious difference, that could be seen with nothing more than a quick glance, was that their legs were non-existent. Rather those parts had been replaced by a black, flowy, metal, crinoline petticoat with silent jet boosters in them that allowed the Scytheguards to hover about a foot or two off the floor. Again, back during the time period in which they were alive, neo droids and gear folk actually got along. They worked together to improve one another in a fashion that was similar to that of scraps but done to a much more professional degree. The modifications here were solid proof that if the two sides simply stopped bickering they could make technological marvels but, alas, they''d regressed instead of progressed due to their unending rivalry. Even the flowy metal, which couldn''t be found anywhere else in any other domain within the Primordial barrier, was yet more proof that the two sides should really just kiss and make up for the sake of the robos suffering within the country. They could be a world power but they were too busy discretely murdering each other in heinous ways, and pointlessly aggravating each other, to get anywhere on such matters. What a shame.


    As for the rest of the Scytheguards'' design, above the waist their bodies became drastically thinner with only a single large pipe substituting everything that a stomach region usually entails. Their chests and up returned back to a normal, wide structure and their arms were covered with long and stylish gauntlets. The overarching colour scheme for these Scytheguards was a pure white mixed with brownish golds that were typical of a gear folk with money to spend on polishing and improving their colours a little. This gave their upper half a regal and elegant aura which contrasted with the darkness of their petticoats, leading to a feeling that they were a meticulously designed blend of death and beauty. Like a painting of a grieving widow. The heads of the dancers rounded off that feeling of graceful solemnity as the bottom halves of their faces were smooth and curved whereas the top half was cut off by medieval helmets styled into the shape of a visor with no holes for vision. A small veil was fitted to the back of these helmets but, other than that, they were plain as can be.


    The two dancers gave a strong sense of ghostly and ephemeral attraction that was bolstered by their synchronous and smooth movements. Their hovering wasn''t stationary or directional, it was more free flowing and unpredictable. Their movements resembled fish in water or jets performing tricks in the air. They were more fluid than solid but that didn''t mean they came across as soft or weak, instead it was a display of technique and precision that subtly boasted about the unmatched skill they possessed be it as dancers or warriors. The weapons they wielded were precisely as shown on the spheres earlier with one wielding a shield in one hand and a scythe in the other, with the second Scytheguards wielding two scythes and no defensive options. All the weapons had a small gear clock embedded directly in the centre of them, ticking away, and the colours of the weapons matched with the dancers to make them appear as extensions of their frames rather than as separate entities. The guard with the shield was great at defending whereas the double scythe puppet could aggressively stay on the offensive without needing to task itself with defending the master leading to a solid game plan in any fight that covered all bases. Their autonomy was limited though so Palioxis had to do most of the heavy lifting regardless. Controlling two puppets at the same time was hard work and just went to show how incredible Palioxis was. Who knew you could pack so much brilliance inside one little prodigy?


    With both sides having thrown out their puppets it was time for them to clash... But H.I.JACK had disappeared already, leaving the Scytheguards unsure of how to act. Palioxis was quick to make a decision for them though and had the front guard, with the two scythes, charge forward to try and make use of this opening. The rear guard, with the shield, was kept in place in the likely event Fate was sneaking H.I.JACK around with its camouflage. This may have seemed like a foolish mistake on Fate''s part, as she''d left herself wide open to the front guard, but whether that was actually true or not was something Pali''s puppet was going to find out the hard way. The front guard weaved through the air and slithered forward to a position where it was looming above Fate and ready to decapitate her with a whirl of its two scythes. Fate snorted and threw out her arm, pointing the wrist mounted disc launcher Ares recalled seeing at the party previously towards the Scytheguard, and chanted the bestowal aspect art her treasure could bring forth. "Fritzbee!"


    Fate''s wrist mounted treasure, the ElectroMagnetic Papillon Disc Launcher, or EMP Disc Launcher for short, specialised in short circuiting electronics and treasures. A treasure didn''t necessarily have to be electronic to be affected by this but it made the effect more severe if that just so happened to be the case. Technology in general wasn''t safe when this treasure was being fired. As for how the treasure worked, it fired a frisbee from the disc launcher that would launch a pulse via a burst of energy once it was destroyed. The disc wouldn''t break by itself, however, but that was where the other half of the art came in. A small, holographic dog, of the Papillon breed, was summoned into existence by Fate''s side and immediately dashed after the Fritzbee. It wanted to play with the chew toy spiralling through the air and it was like a horse with blinkers, unfazed by anything else happening around it. The dog would leap at the Fritzbee, catch it in mid air after a glorious leap, and bite down on it to set it off. The effect was powerful so this was the ''drawback'' of the art as the dog could be interrupted in many ways and it was the only thing that could detonate the Fritzbee. If the Papillon pooch couldn''t puncture the projectile EMP device then the art was effectively cancelled and nothing would come of it. Still, even if this happened, the effort the opponent spared in dealing with the dog, either by blocking it from reaching its goal or outright killing it, meant they were focussed on it instead of Fate. The Scytheguard couldn''t ignore this situation either as it could tell the Fritzbee would put it out of commission for a while if it detonated and that wasn''t a preferable outcome this early in the fight.


    The front guard floated a few feet back to intercept the dog by taking a large swipe with one of its scythes and cleanly cutting the hologram in half. The dog let out a short whine and looked sad now that playtime was over as he fizzled out of reality. While this was happening, over by Palioxis the rear guard tensed as it felt something brush by it. Palioxis immediately ordered it to move from its current position and the rear guard managed to do so just in time to avoid the trap that nearly incapacitated it. H.I.JACK''s chains almost formed a noose around the Scytheguard''s neck which would have allowed it to lock down the guard and drag it around freely. Without the front guard retreating to aid the rear guard, had that scenario come to fruition, things would have gotten ugly fast. Palioxis couldn''t punish H.I.JACK though as it remained invisible the entire time its attack was launched. It didn''t have to break its cloaking for some of the weaker attacks and that made it a real nuisance to fight against as you almost always had to play by its terms. Ares could see it with his Omniscience but pretty much anyone who wasn''t an entire realm above Fate, at minimum, wouldn''t be able to locate this thing if it didn''t want to be discovered. It crept around, inspecting its foes from a close distance, practically close enough to bite them if it had a mouth with which to do so, and yet its foes were none the wiser. It was a deadly fog with a penchant for stalking. Even Skyzo couldn''t match this thing in the hunting department and he''d nicknamed it ''H.I.JACK The Ripper'' for self-explanatory reasons. Right now it posed a massive threat. If its chains caught the rear guard unaware then the claw would follow shortly after and then it would all be finished by the crushing grip scrunching up the guard into twisted metal. This process would be quick and brutal so it needed to be avoided at all costs lest Palioxis was interested in losing for whatever reason.


    For now at least, this was how this fight was going to go. The rear guard would be on the look out for tells that H.I.JACK was on the prowl and maintain its defensive stance to protect Palioxis. On the other side of things Fate would deploy all manner of treasures to stall the front guard until her H.I.JACK won the fight. It was a matter of who''s puppet could find or create an opening first and things were only just getting started. Fate''s arsenal was a long list and Palioxis'' puppets had a number of arts at their disposal, all of which meant this fight wasn''t going to end any time soon. H.I.JACK still had a shocking amount of offensive tricks left up its sleeve to ramp up the fight and the Scytheguards were also only getting started so the spectators were, unsurprisingly, glued to this fight.


    Cute girls fighting with remote controlled robots was an entirely new genre of entertainment that spawned off the back of this duel and would go on to become quite a popular tv show for generations to come. Funnily enough the C.O would even host competitions for the show in this very arena and the seats would be equally as jam packed as the internationals they held here. Of course the fights never quite reached the same intensity as the Fate vs Palioxis match but they were unique in their own way as the girls competing became idols of sorts with their own flamboyant and out-there personalities. Various spontaneous developments would spruce up the show like impromptu quizzes or singing competitions. It was quite the business and it boomed wildly out of control for a period. Even after the hype surrounding it quietened down it was still a popular genre of entertainment that many people flocked to. It became a staple of which Sheryashka was known for in the wider world, probably even more so than being the birth place of Ares... Technically the rebirth of Ares what with the whole ''he died'' thing but you get the point. long story short, cute = money. It should also be noted that Venus would start an offshoot with cute boys instead and, although it wasn''t quite as popular, it was still successful thanks to a small but highly dedicated fanbase...

 Chapter 204: A Highly Illegal Checkmate

    Stareeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee


    By this point, pretty much everyone had given up on watching Scar vs Tyr. It was nigh impossible to tell whether these two were having a showdown or a stare-down because literally nothing had happened thus far. Some people in the crowd even started coming up with rumours that these two were match fixing and had agreed to remain passive on the side lines before the start of this fight. Of course this was preposterous but it''s not like the people coming up with this hog wash could really be blamed for thinking as such given the current circumstance. Most of the people that thought like this were mortals, though, and that''s because cultivators with even the bare minimum experience had been in a situation almost exactly like this at some point in their career. More often than not, moving last in a fight was a detriment but, every now and then, when the stars aligned, you and the person you were fighting had an edge over each other that couldn''t be ignored. Moving first actually made you vulnerable, at which point the opponent''s sure fire strike would put you out of commission for good. In these situations, most of the time, these cultivators just straight up walked away from the fight and silently agreed to live to fight another day. For lack of a better term, these fights were almost entirely random. No one would ever want to move first and break the stalemate so it usually boiled down to uncontrollable events that occurred outside of the fight instead of within it. If you were a cultivator standing off against an opponent in a jungle and whoever moved first lost, you wouldn''t exactly be a happy camper if a monster happened across the two of you and went for your throat instead of the other guy''s. Dying such an unfair death, completely beyond their control. wasn''t in the cards for most people so a draw was the way things went typically. Now in the higher realms, where ancient experts had time to kill, these standoffs had lasted sometimes up to a couple million years before anything of note happened. As this was a somewhat common occurrence the cold war duo in question would attract a lot of attention and spectators, in some extreme cases even having museums and exhibits built around them to earn some stardust of their unrepenting stubbornness. There was one frequently mocked incident in which a man stood up to his foe for a few hundred thousand years only to realise by the end of it that the other guy had a heart attack a couple days into the standoff. He''d stood there this whole time giving a dead man the stink eye. Still, it could be worse, sometimes people fell for devious pranks and ended up in similar situations against clones. In fact it was even a war tactic at one point to lock down stronger generals with fake clones while the army devoted its much needed attention elsewhere. So, long story short, this conundrum Scar and Tyr were having wasn''t out of the norm at all. In fact a lot of the cultivators felt somewhat sympathetic because this scenario was tiring and boring. If you stopped paying attention for even a fraction of a second your opponent would jump at the opportunity so both involved parties were kinda stuck. Comparatively, it was like two men holding up a collapsing building right now and neither could let go.


    Just as the last few spectators clinging to the vain hope that anything was going to happen with these two were about to give up, someone did finally do something. Tyr pointed his Staff Of Jako towards Scar and chanted a very simple art. "Fireball." No points for guessing what this art did. Much like Flamethrower, both these conflagration aspect arts had the clue in the name. Fireball was an art as old as time itself; in fact it was rumoured and generally thought to be the first ever art created by Neanderthals looking to light a fire. If you were being obtuse then technically the pillars and Astraeus had probably used other arts before then but, if you were specifically referring to this dimension and everything within the confines of it, then it counted. As for why this was believed to be the case, there were plenty of caveman drawings that alluded to such a history... Well it alluded to a little more than that as the drawings indicated the first ever Fireball missed its original target, a clump of wood on the floor, and accidentally hit the caveman''s mate ''Dave'' in the face. If the markings were to be believed, Dave was not pleased with this development and promptly whacked the other caveman over the head with a club. Depending on how you looked at it, this could also be considered the first ever war but that was an entirely different discussion as it went into further history surrounding Dave and his pal as their prehistoric mis-adventures didn''t exactly end there. Apparently things went really unga-bunga when Dave''s cavewife cheated on him with the other guy because he could light his penis on fire. The cavewife admitted to Dave that the other guy, and I quote, ''lit a fire in me''. From there it turned into a caveman gang war and devolved rapidly but that was neither here nor there and had nothing to do with the current day casting of Fireball... Although generally speaking any guy with an affiliation for the conflagration aspect had tried the hot rod at least once.


    Fireball was an extremely simple, and relatively weak, art. A ball of fire was sent flying through the air in the direction it was fired. The second it hit literally anything, be it person, wall, or magic, it would blow up and set everything in the explosion''s radius on fire. You could theoretically practice with this art until you were capable of generating and tossing actual suns at people but nobody in history ever had the willingness to go that far. It was designed to be a simple art that was quick, cheap on the mana front, and used to pester your opponent into doing something. This art could be fired in the blink of an eye and didn''t inconvenience the user in the slightest. Unfortunately this meant its strength was comparable to its ease of use and easy to ignore in most cases but, seeing as how the point of it was to probe, that didn''t really matter. The really annoying cultivators with an affinity for the pillar, or just those who spent a weirdly significant amount of time on the art, could actually turn it into a deadly nuisance that could be spammed on repeat. Tyr was not in this category of cultivator but he''d put more effort into the art than most and his Fireball seemed pretty respectable in its own right. Then again that summarised Tyr to a tee, everything was just slightly above average. He used variety cultivation and every single art he fired off was never anything less than great. Whereas someone like Onno valued the additional effects a pillar could bring, Tyr focused more on the raw power of these elements and affinities. Whereas Onno would learn Fireball to burn things and not to deal damage, Tyr learnt it because a fast ball of magic was a useful addition to his varied arsenal. If Tyr could do it, you could be sure he could do it reliably and that was what he was well regarded for; consistency. Always on time. Always completing his training regime at the exact same time every day. Always taking a shower at the exact same time every day. Always checking in on the Legion departments at the exact same time every day. Every art he fired had no variance and were always exactly the same in terms of power output. It made him predictable, yes, but also incredibly hard to deal with because of how honest he was. You knew what he was going to do, you just couldn''t always necessarily stop it because it was done so immaculately in the first place!...


    ... Unless you were Scar, in which case a flick of the wrist was all it took to bat away the Fireball... Just when the crowd were starting to get excited, thinking the fight was about to kick off... Nothing. Against a normal cultivator the Fireball would have warranted action but Scar was definitely not normal. He was the de-facto head of the Umbra siblings and the strongest of them too. Again ignoring Ares but he didn''t count. A mere Fireball was going to do naught to Scar other than maybe make him roll his eyes. Still, it kept him on his toes and that was the main goal. Tyr had a minor advantage here in that he had ranged attacks at his disposal. Any of the bigger and slower ones would lose him the match on the spot if he wasn''t careful but arts like Fireball? They were a-ok to just haphazardly chuck out every now and then. It put more pressure and strain on Scar to be locked into facing Tyr without diverting his attention to the rest of his family.


    Part of why Tyr had worried about this matchup in the first place was because Scar could react to changes in the tide of battle quicker than he could thanks to Blink. Tyr was never going to be a quicker support than Scar, even if he was a better one overall, and that was rough. Peppering him here and there with magical attacks was important lest he give Scar a window to spectate the other fights and potentially intervene at crucial moments. This approach only complicated their pseudo prisoner''s dilemma but that was to the benefit of Tyr and, thus, he committed to it. He genuinely believed his family could pull of a surprise victory here if he bought them enough time. So although a few spectators kept their eyes glue to these two stoic soldiers the truth of the matter was that nothing was going to happen here until things started ramping up elsewhere. Then someone would be forced to move and try to intervene. What should have been the most interesting match, captain vs captain, was actually the least enjoyable to watch because they were delegating all the work to everyone else! It was good leadership undeniably but it left somewhat of a bitter taste in everyone''s mouth. This was supposed to be a showdown between titans and yet two of the biggest were idling in the centre of the arena. They may as well have signed a treaty and hosted a tea party...


    Elsewhere, though, things were heating up. No really, Pele''s Feel The Heat! was seconds away from reaching max temperature and emboldening her to go a rampage. Skyzo understood that if things got to that point he wouldn''t be winning this fight by his lonesome even with his maze. ''Looking Glass'' was an art of the ice aspect that created a hall of mirrors that were hard to destroy and baffled any opponent who wasn''t scrupulous in their inspection of it. As Skyzo had only really focussed on the defensive capabilities of the hall it was an incredibly sturdy art and, really, that was all he needed. His power boost was from Spectator''s Sanction so the leeway he had when designing Looking Glass was considerable. All of that was certainly true but none of it really helped him deal with Pele who was refusing to interact with the hall by closing her eyes. She''d been standing in the hexagonal junction for the last 50 or so seconds, racking up damage while Skyzo cautiously operated on her flesh like a surgeon. Only one or two wounds he''d inflicted were serious but, even then, nothing that would kill her any time soon. She had a pretty large gash near her neck and one of her arms was almost severed near the elbow but that wasn''t enough to put down a cultivator of Pele''s calibre. She was struggling wildly for now, yes, but in what Skyzo estimated to be about ten seconds she was going to increase her strength rapidly and become a real problem. Not just a problem for Skyzo but a problem for all his family who would also have to deal with her after he fell at her hands. Skyzo crept towards her, ready to go all in and risk it all. Even he wasn''t sure where he was precisely in this maze but, as the owner, he wouldn''t get bamboozled by reflections so he was able to skirt around the edges of the hexagon and look for the perfect place to strike.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Right as he made his move, lunging for Pele''s flank with the determination to die for this stab if need be, his gut churned and he felt his instincts screaming at him to move away from his current position. He obeyed his bodily commands and just in time too as Pele''s spear missed his heart by a fraction of a centimetre. He''d still been impaled but he was alive. As for what had gone wrong here, Skyzo was still piecing things together from the moment he first witnessed Pele''s hair start glowing a fiery orange. The embers drifting off her hair indicated she was fully in Feel The Heat!''s peak state and logically her ability to detect him made sense what with her newfound gains in the sensory enhancement realm... But how did he mistime the activation of Feel The Heat!? It wasn''t the first time he''d seen this art and he knew well enough how it worked... His mind drifted back to when he assumed the timer began, back when he''d made first contact with the Volcanic Veterans, and then his mind wandered another ten seconds back on top of that...


    The lava spewing spear?


    Pele''s personal treasure? Was it when she was flicking the blobs at him that Feel The Heat! first started? But that shouldn''t be the case, Pele had never known how to activate her unique art with ranged attacks... It must have been a recent acquisition to her skill set... Just as how Looking Glass was a secret he''d kept from Pele, she''d kept her own secret and now it had all come back to bite Skyzo in the ass. If he''d just been honest with Pele she would have immediately been honest with him too, she was that kind of person... Or, actually, maybe she could tell he was hiding something from her to begin with as her perception regarding people she cared about was really something. Skyzo had been outmanoeuvred on the chess board here... He''d tried to cheat and call in an ambush from off the board only for Pele to have had the exact same idea in response to his antics and now he was paying the price. Thankfully his reaction speed was off the charts and he prevented the worst case scenario but things were still not looking pretty... Well Pele was looking pretty, as evidenced by Skyzo muttering that exact word under his breath. Pele smiled and briefly opened her eyes to wink at him when he said it but the flattery wasn''t getting him off the hook.


    Pele swung the spear and gave Skyzo, who was still attached to the end of it, whiplash as he was flung off it and into his mirrors. Through them would actually be more accurate as he crashed through row after row of mirror as they all shattered against his back. The mirrors themselves weren''t exactly hard to break but the walls they were resting up against was another case and the fact Skyzo was still tunnelling holes through them in a straight line seconds after he''d been thrown just went to show how much power Pele was packing presently. He hadn''t even landed yet and Pele was already bounding through the rubble and catching up to his body... "Welp, this sucks..." Skyzo grumbled as he performed a backflip to land with his feet against a wall. Rather than go forward and deal with Pele head on, as that was suicidal, he dashed further into the maze to try and shake her. This immediately proved futile when she bust through a nearby wall and almost grabbed him by the throat. He''d barely wormed his way out of her grasp but he would only be so lucky so many times before it all went wrong. He was on full alert, and that would buy him some time as he was a slippery assassin when he wanted to be, but he was also starting to run out of maze and ideas. Pele was winning right now and she didn''t even have to open her eyes. If she regained her sight this fight was all but doomed. Skyzo had one more trick up his sleeve but he needed to escape this maze first. The irony of his own art trapping him wasn''t lost on him and so he made a mental note to adapt this art in the future to accommodate for this design flaw. Either he needed to be able to know the route out, make his own by parting the walls, or have the ability to just flat out destroy the art whenever he wanted. Any of the above would do the trick.


    Right now was hell on earth though as he dashed down a hallway in which the walls to his side were being pummelled into dust as he ran by them. Pele''s glowing figure was like a sun demon lurking in the walls and hunting him down as he scarpered in a desperate bid to stumble across the exit. The art would disappear on its own after some time but he wasn''t going to last that long in the slightest. Skyzo rounded a corner and immediately skidded as he tried to reverse direction after seeing Pele''s blazing eyes directly in front of him. Pele thrust out her spear and Skyzo felt like a fish in a barrel right now but still he managed to hold onto his life by giving up on his direction change. Instead he accepted the sliding motion he was already in and threw himself further forward, causing the spear to miss. This put him in an awkward position as Pele''s spear now just had to swipe left and he would be struck in the ribcage and suffer an atrociously bad injury but, actually, that was part of his plan.


    Thwack!


    He wasn''t in a position to be picky about his escape method and if Pele was going to unintentionally help him by blasting him through a significant chunk of the maze... Well he wasn''t going to complain even if it felt like he''d just been hit by a truck. After coughing up blood, and dyeing the front of his scarf red in his blood, he pulled himself up and started sprinting away despite the pain. His bones were cracked and he was too busy to count how many injuries he''d just suffered as a result of that last attack but he knew it was a lot. He couldn''t take these kind of hits as Pele was just way too strong right now to handle. Too hot to handle, one might say. And actually, on the subject of ''heat'', there were two things worth mentioning. Pele''s attacks now lit her opponent on fire as soon as they connected which wasn''t altogether too problematic for Skyzo who was using the surrounding ice magic to put it out instantly. This also led nicely into the second thing worth mentioning which was that Pele was passively melting the maze. Her ambient temperature had skyrocketed as she gleefully bashed this labyrinth to smithereens. No amount of Skyzo reflections were going to guilt her into hitting the mirrors any gentler, actually it probably had the opposite affect. Legion women had a funny way of showing they were smitten with someone and Ares had experienced this first hand with Bellona''s seemingly arbitrary beatdowns. Anyway, point being Pele was barely struggling to destroy the walls to begin with but, now that they were all starting to turn into water under the intensity of her presence, the process was that much simpler. Chasing Skyzo, who was having to flee in accordance with the rules of his own maze, by charging straight through everything meant she was catching up and catching up fast.


    Gulp


    Skyzo swallowed some saliva, mixed partially with the blood he coughed up, as he kicked off a wall and made another turn. He breathed deeply and could feel his heart working overtime. Despite the anxiety kicking in, outwardly he was still calm as a peaceful lake and looked more annoyed that he was being hassled than scared in any capacity. If it were up to him, he would just lay down and die but he knew what kind of implication that would have on the rest of his family so he kept his desire to take the easy way out in the back of his mind. It irked him to no end but he was above giving up when he had a reason not to. Around another corner he veered and to both his relief and horror, the exit was directly ahead of of him. Yes the corners were slowing him down but they were also obstructing Pele''s vision and occasionally tricking her into running down the wrong corridor that was parallel to Skyzo instead of behind him. He''d been relying on that up until now but this last hallway was long and straight meaning there would be no leeway for the rest of this escape... Skyzo bolted down it as quick as he could and dared not look back as he heard the wall behind him shatter into tiny pieces. His back was getting warmer and he was starting to sweat but he was so painfully close to succeeding. He ran at breakneck speed with fully gritted teeth and clenched fists rocking back and forth, even closing his eyes and praying that he could cross the finish line with enough time to spare for his final gambit. He was going to die here, he''d accepted that, but he was going to take this woman with him no matter how hard he needed to work!


    "FATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW!" Skyzo crossed the line to the exit, whipped out his flare gun, and cried with all his might to his tiny sister who was in on this plot from the very start. He''d asked for her assistance on this matter before the match started and the tyke was the only one could help him right now.


    All of the spectators were torn between watching Pele catch Skyzo, as she was practically breathing down his neck at this point, and looking over at Fate to see what she was going to do about this problem. in the end, most people turned their attention to the Umbras youngest just as Skyzo was pierced by Pele''s spear to see what she had in store in this crucial moment to fix things... And she was raising her middle finger?! Well it was understandable, Fate seemed to be winning her fight and this was going to hamper her massively. The time she spent helping her brother would reset her own progress but she also kinda had to do it. If she didn''t aid him then Pele was going to run around uncontested... "Dumb dog Skyzo...." Fate complained under her breath as she redirected H.I.JACK over to the nearest wall and away from the struggling rear guard. As H.I.JACK became visible, his arm with the chains reforged itself and now a new weapon was in place... A jack! His namesake and arguably his most powerful tool. H.I.JACK placed the jack against the wall, and thus the runic barrier guarding it and keeping the Training Field afloat, and set off his tool. The jack was pushing against the barrier and marking it like branding iron. This mark was H.I.JACK''s way into various ''systems'' which it could then freely take control of. Tech, runemancy, barriers, treasures. Provided the jack could rest on its surface, H.I.JACK could hijack it. What was the goal of this? Well it became apparent the second H.I.JACK made its way into the runic system and altered a small part of it. Whether this was classified as cheating or not remained to be seen and would be decided by the C.O after the match but, seeing as how it was the result of a treasure, and didn''t change anything major, it would probably be allowed to fly.


    WHISTLE!


    Once H.I.JACK''S hijack was done and dusted, the crowd''s attention was immediately grabbed by a shrill noise that was travelling in an arc on the other side of the arena. They glanced over and were nearly blown out of their seats. Skyzo''s flare had drawn them all back over and made them look in his direction. Fate had disabled the rune that prevented outside interference meaning an entire coliseum with ten floors worth of people were all now staring at him and granting him one of the biggest Sanction boosts he''d ever received throughout his entire life. Skyzo in this state may have very well been a match for Ares with annihilation pressure and was easily the most spectacular feat anyone other than the two fundamentals had shown thus far in the tournament. Pele had already pierced his heart in full but with the last few breaths available to him, now that he was fuelled by immense power, Skyzo thrust out his fist and punched Pele through the head. Though he fainted on the spot and died shortly after, he''d taken the troublesome opponent with him and even managed to get her off to the side-lines before him despite being the underdog for the last segment of that fight. The ethics of this trick he and Fate had pulled would no doubt be brought into question but there was something everyone in this arena had seemingly forgotten about the Umbra team. They were revenants. No trick too dirty and no means too excessive. Pele thought Skyzo bringing in reinforcements from outside the chess board was his fall back plan but, little did she know, he was prepared to flip the entire board from the start.

 Chapter 205: Overclocking

    Skyzo and Pele were out of the competition for now. There was a chance they could return to the field later but that tended not to happen in most matches as the down time was long enough that any match typically ended before this feature became relevant. If it did, though, then the Umbras would almost certainly have the advantage as Pele''s Feel The Heat! would be reset back to its default state. This was the real reason Skyzo and Fate prepared this last ditch method ahead of time because removing Pele from the fight was of utmost importance. From here, anything else could be managed by the remaining members of the team. Losing Skyzo hurt but so too did losing Pele, perhaps even more, and it evened things out. Things would have swung massively in the Legions'' favour had this problem not been averted but, now, it was back to being anyone''s game.


    Fate was hardly pleased with this turn of events because even if she knew ahead of time it was going to happen, that didn''t change the fact that she''d been winning against her bratty opponent! The front guard wasn''t making a dent in her defences and the rear guard was having a hard time keeping up with H.I.JACK by its lonesome... And now all of her effort had gone to waste! In the time H.I.JACK was taking over the runes, the rear guard had recovered completely and the front guard was still wailing away at a barrier Fate had set up a while back. Fate simply sighed and accepted that the damage had already been done and things wouldn''t get any worse at least. She didn''t have any other duties assigned to her from her other siblings so, from now on, she was free to act as she pleased. The first order of business was bringing H.I.JACK back around and pushing back the front guard a little because it was starting to get annoying. The racket it was creating as it swung its scythe against the barrier protecting Fate was going to give her a migraine at this rate and preventing that was more important to her than attacking Palioxis. She ordered H.I.JACK to enter stealth mode and return to her side, hoping that maybe a combination of her puppet and some of her other treasures might be able to do the front guard in for good. If she could deal with one half of the equation then sorting out the other afterwards wouldn''t be such a task. Plus, as H.I.JACK was currently invisible to the naked eye, Palioxis would be slow to respond to it appearing not by the rear guar but instead back over by Fate. She couldn''t move the rear guard either because the risk she would be taking, leaving herself completely unguarded, was flat out a mistake. Sadie had taught the Legions to fight safe and so keeping the rear guard in the rear was a move that had practically been ingrained into her by the drunkard. Still, despite being aware of this unsolvable problem, Pali didn''t seem too fussed about the predicament her front guard was in as she had the utmost faith it could handle things by itself.


    While the front guard kept slashing away at the barrier around Fate, an electrical spark to its left caught its attention and made it wary. When that spark became a series of high-voltage blasts the front guard was quick to retreat from its position with a swing of one of its scythes preventing a follow up attack from this ambushing foe. H.I.JACK was forced out of camouflage as the new weapon it had replaced the jack with, a bundle of wires shaped like a dragon head that could spew electrical fire, wasn''t quite as tame. This allowed the Scytheguard to readjust its scythe position and go for the throat against H.I.JACK, now that it could see its adversary, and fight back properly even if had to avoid the electrical fire to get in close. The front guard floated towards H.I.JACK, looping clockwise in the air as it did so to skirt around the dragon''s breath, and raised both its hands to bring the two scythes down in a cross slash when it drew near enough to strike. H.I.JJACK responded in kind by lowering the dragon and raising the claws on its other arm which had yet to see any use up until now. This weapon hadn''t done anything yet but it was about to showcase its true power as, the second the scythes came bearing down on H.I.JACK, the claws shot up to meet both of them by its lonesome and fend of the incoming danger. The tips of the claws spun like drills and buzzed as they tore through the air before finally clashing with the dual scythes.


    CLANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    Both sides rattled as the shock absorption systems on both puppets worked overtime to prevent their parts from springing out of place thanks to the mighty collision. Despite the main purpose of the claws not being head to head duels such as this they were formidable enough to hold back even two weapons simultaneously, convincingly, and with room to spare. Meanwhile the front guard was creaking as it put all of its strength into pushing the tips of its weapons deeper into its opponent''s weapon. It wasn''t losing the confrontation but it definitely wasn''t winning it either as the wear and tear would be considerably worse for the front guard than H.I.JACK. Also, although Pali didn''t know this, H.I.JACK could repair its tools by putting them away temporarily.


    Fate''s one puppet drastically outclassed Pali''s two in individual fights because it was seriously an incredible treasure. Not that any of this even mattered. a tug of war like this directly in front of Fate was only ever going to end one way as she intervened and fired off another Fritzbee, putting the front guard on the back foot. It didn''t have the freedom to attack the Papillon that just spawned so it had to find time to retreat out of range and regroup with the rear guard. It lifted its lower half up to face its jets directly at H.I.JACK and put them in overdrive. The blast forced H.I.JACK to dodge out the way and give up on the clash but that didn''t mean it was going to let the front guard retreat for free. The Papillon was on track to be a good boy and catch the Fritzbee so H.I.JACK wanted to make sure its efforts weren''t wasted by keeping the front guard around long enough to still be in range of the emp when it detonated. To that end, it replaced the useless claw, which served no purpose at this range, and brought back the chains. It fired some more dragon breath to prevent an escape while circling the front guard with the mass of chains. Although this would be the perfect time for the front guard to pick a fight with the H.I.JACK, as its weapon selection was poor for close range engagement, the Papillon meant it had to focus on leaving so it slunk under the dragon breath and barrel rolled sideways to avoid the chains. It looked like it was home free but one of the chains barely managed to latch onto the edge of its dress by piercing it and forming a knot. The front guard halted in place and, as H.I.JACK started trying to reel it in, pulled back against its fate as best it could. It seemingly wasn''t going to escape the emp range at this rate but if it could at least keep this distance then the effect would be minor compared to a close range blast. Was it preferable? No but it was as good as things were gonna get. It was already a rough situation as is thanks to the dragon breath making a return and forcing the front guard to devote its scythes to preventing the attack by spinning in front of it.


    The Papillon trotted a few more feet forward, looked up at the disc overhead, wriggled its butt closer to the floor in a crouching position, and leapt upwards with a joyous smile on its face. Happy days a-plenty as the Papillon pup opened its maw, gave off a quick bark, and caught the Fritzbee perfectly out of mid air. With a wag of its tail, the Papillon crunched down on the chew toy and faded into electrical particles, leaving behind an air of satisfaction and fulfilment while a blue wave shot out from the position of the crushed disc. It passed harmlessly over H.I.JACK, only briefly rummaging around in its circuitry before continuing onward, and landed on the front guard.


    BZZZT BZZZT BZZZT BZZZT BZZZT


    A number of short zaps caused the Scytheguard to collapse on the spot and fall, spiralling face first into the arena''s floor as repeated clicking and rattling sounds came from within its chassis. All manner of problems assailed the guard as its cooling system failed, its core overheated, its power supply went up in smoke, and every wire nearly imploded simultaneously. A near complete switch off put the guard out of the fight but not entirely as there were still small signs of life in the twitching frame. The issues it was experiencing could all be fixed automatically but it needed time and so, just as H.I.JACK decloaked by its side to finish the job with its claws, the rear guard swooped in and shield bashed H.I.JACK to force him back. H.I.JACK understood this was a good chance to end the fight so it engaged the rear guard while Fate, in the background of all this, disabled her barrier and turned invisible with one of her treasures. H.I.JACK wasn''t the only one around here that could cloak, no sir.


    Where was Fate going? Well the correct answer was one of two options. Either A; she was going to go lob an EMP at Deimos'' bike, which was ironically exactly what he''d been dreading earlier, or B; she was sneaking around to fight directly with the unguarded Pali. Palioxis without her puppets was considerably weaker and would find it difficult to hold back Fate''s treasure onslaught by herself. Both options would lead to a stressful situation so Pali took matters into her own hands and ran towards her rear guard while holding up her dress to stop it getting in the way of her jog. If Fate was going to attack her directly then positioning herself near the rear guard at least put Fate in a position whereby she was close to danger herself and things could potentially shift in Pali''s favour is Fate wasn''t careful. Now if Fate was going somewhere else this would wind up being a pointless manoeuvre that wasted Pali''s time when she could be doing something else but she wasn''t worried about making the wrong call here because she knew her opponent well. Though Pali would never use the word ''friend'' that was what Fate was to her so she was fully aware that Fate would be gunning for her right now for one simple reason, Fate had already helped her family once and now wanted to have her own fun! Fate was the kind of revenant that would get grouchy when others kept asking them for help when all she wanted to do was play. Palioxis had seen it in her face and general demeanour earlier when Fate had to help Skyzo that she was reluctant to give up her advantage. Once was fine but twice? That was stretching it. Fate was fond of her family but there was a limit to her willingness to throw her own potential accomplishments under the bus. That and she also wholeheartedly believed ending the fight sooner would mean she could offer far more support in the long run anyway and that this was the best choice overall.


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    Pali crouched behind the rear guard and started opening up a few panels on the front guard to diagnose and fix whatever issues she could. She wasn''t the most tech savvy puppeteer out there but she knew enough to aid in the front guards resuscitation and speed up the process. As if on cue, the second Pali opened the very first panel, Fate and H.I.JACK launched a simultaneous attack. H.I.JACK kept the rear guard busy with its claws while Fate snuck around and pointed a gun at Pali. The gun was a treasure that always shot completely straight and no amount of wind or lack of control over the weapon would ever change that. This meant that, at any range, provided the shot was initially aimed directly at the target, the bullet would end up in the foe if they didn''t move. There was no drop off and no deviation which turned what was otherwise a close range pistol into a long range marksman''s weapon. That wasn''t to say it couldn''t fulfil its original role as a close range murder weapon just that, at that point, it gained nothing by being a treasure other than packing a bit of extra fire power. Fate didn''t choose this weapon to be flashy or because she needed the extra oomph, it was just the only gun she had on her person. If it wasn''t a treasure, Fate didn''t carry it around with her after all.


    Pali had been expecting Fate so she whipped a shield out of her spatial ring and dug it into the floor in front of her. As she was both crouched and petite, not a single part of her body was exposed to the gunfire that rang out a split second later. Seven shots smacked against the shield but all rebounded off elsewhere unceremoniously. Fate had probably come closer to accidentally shooting her own barrier, which was still up just in case, than to hitting Pali. Good ''ol Legion smithing had come in handy here and saved Pali''s hide. A long while back Bellona had mentioned that Enyo was somewhat of a role model to both Phobos and Palioxis and that was proven true by the fact that the weapon Pali had been learning in her spare time was a shield of all things. It did make sense though. She wasn''t overly reliant on the rear guard to protect her if she had a defensive weapon like this and could wield it well. The Scytheguards were stronger together and, as a duo, were somewhat like Slick. The power gain of using both guards at once was not additive, it was multiplicative. Pali not being a burden on the Scytheguards in the future would considerably boost their strength during engagements and so that was the line of improvement Pali was trending towards. She wasn''t there yet though and her ability to use a shield was rough but it had done her a favour here. Did it fix the awful situation she was in? No and things were looking really grim, actually. H.I.JACK was still far stronger than a single Scytheguard, especially the defensive oriented one as the weapons H.I.JACK packed were heavy duty. The rear guard was basically playing catch up as H.I.JACK phased in and out of view, appearing at the guard''s dead angles and launching a colourful variety of attacks. Heavier attacks like the claw put the strain on the guard while light attacks, from weapons like a sharp screwdriver or a long reaching electric baton, prevented the guard from taking any breaks. It was a constant onslaught and no amount of jet boosters were going to allow it to remain more mobile than H.I.JACK. If it just flew up into the air then H.I.JACK would turn its attention to Pali and that was an unacceptable outcome so it was grounded while H.I.JACK danced circles around it.


    Fate was also bringing out multiple different treasures and pestering Pali who had to resort to using her own, limited use, treasures in returns. Things like one-off barriers and magic dampening talismans were being run through at a pace that made the spectators agitated. All of these life saving measures were expensive! Using them in a tournament instead of actual life or death situations was such a waste! Spendthrift! This brat was spoilt! But why that was surprise to any of these people remained a mystery. This was a daughter and direct kin of the matriarch and patriarch of the Legion family, arguably the de-facto leader of the highest currently available domain. What Pali was using right now was barely even a fraction of the clan''s total wealth and tools at its disposal. It wasn''t a pointless waste either as she''d bought enough time to get the front guard up and running again... Barely... It was functional but jittery and weak. Not that Pali was complaining as it did alleviate some of the duress she was under.


    Contrary to what everyone else expected to have happen, Pali actually directed the front guard over to the rear guard''s side and left herself stuck with Fate to continue getting bullied by the treasure tossing twerp. Evidently she''d come to the conclusion that things weren''t going to magically solve themselves. Pali had been on the back foot this entire time precisely because she kept dividing up her Scytheguards and now she was opting for more reckless measures. If she could last long enough against Fate, maybe her Scytheguards could cinch a win against H.I.JACK and that would lead to a reversal. Whether this strategy would pay off, especially now that the front guard was in a poor state and half broken, was up in the air but the fight raged on regardless.


    While Fate was unreservedly launching treasure after treasure at Pali, to the point the spectators weren''t even sure if she was being deliberate in her attacks or just plucking random garbage out of her space ring, H.I.JACK was going scorched earth. Palioxis used the bestowal aspect arts ''Shift Gear'' and ''In Unison'' which increased the Scytheguard''s speed and improved their teamwork and co-ordination to a point that they could temporarily function independently of Pali and to a high level. In response to this Fate chanted "Overclock." to get H.I.JACK operating over its limits. Sparks were flying and its mask was leaking neon blue liquid as its speeds became horrifying. It would strike the shield of the rear guard and vanish, appearing in position to fire its dragon breath at the front guard a split second later before reappearing back by the rear guard and launching another attack. It morphed into a tech demon that was fighting two different opponents at fraction-of-a-second intervals, bouncing between them and cycling through its weapons in a frenzy as its fog cloaked the arena. The Scytheguards were caught up in this blue fog of data streams as H.I.JACK blinked in and out of view, clashing with them and swiping at their unguarded flanks every so often.


    What was truly worrying was that H.I.JACK was utilising the jack on the weakened front guard from time to time and its mark was progressively becoming more and more clear on its frame. No matter how many arts Pali used to strengthen these two puppets it was looking like H.I.JACK was going to emerge victorious from this two vs one fight in overwhelming fashion. Even when the Scytheguards floated back to back, launching attacks together and covering each other''s weaknesses, H.I.JACK was able to drift in and out of their range effortlessly and pick apart their formation. H.I.JACK slunk in, baited the rear guard''s scythe, and clashed with the front guard''s scythes with its claws. Utilising its free hand the jack was placed firmly on the front guard''s pipe-chest for a few seconds until H.I.JACK was forced to retreat by the rear guard. Only having two arms to fight against four meant nothing to H.I.JACK who was expertly weaving between the two puppets and making them look like inexperienced dolls dangling on strings. H.I.JACK''s performance in this overclocked state, as its motherboard cloak was computing possibility after possibility, was astonishing and just went to show that every single member of the Umbras were a threat in their own right. It wasn''t just Scar and Skyzo carrying this team, they were all monsters. Pali may have been a better puppeteer in terms of control but she was evidently not a better combatant as Fate''s ability to wield H.I.JACK in combat scenarios trumped hers. Actually, Fate was also better at working alongside her puppet which left the question of what having fluid control over your puppet actually meant if you couldn''t win a fight anyway...


    The spectators were a little disappointed at the way this fight was trending because they could see what was going to happen coming from a mile away. Whereas Skyzo''s last ditch effort was a nail biter for the audience who had their gazes dragged around the arena to get the full scope, Pali was just going to lose in a way such that nothing could be done about it. H.I.JACK''s jack mark was mere moments away from full completion and Pali was still being held back by Fate so the countdown had already started and there didn''t seem to be a way out... So yes, the spectators who were in favour of the Legion clan were disappointed... But none more so than Fate who was stamping her feet and yelling abuse at her rival who was cowering behind the shield!


    Tiny tantrum!


    So cute!


    But why was Fate not happy about this situation? She was winning, no? Well the reason for that was something that only Fate, and a few select other people knew... Palioxis was holding back. To anyone who knew roughly how strong Palioxis actually was it was clear as day she wasn''t really trying. Would she flip this current script on its head and win if she put more effort in? Unlikely but it was possible if she actually tried which raised the question of... Why? Why was Palioxis doing any of this and trying to lose? This was a competition wherein the goal was, obviously, to come out on top and there were a few things riding on the outcome of this match. To most people in the crowd, Pali''s actions were indecipherable and they were wondering if she had some kind of grand plan. To people like Rhea and Fate, however, who knew why she was doing any of this all too well... They were in disbelief that Pali was this dedicated to her own plans that she would sabotage this match for her own sake! She was being selfish!


    Fate growled under her breath and stomped her foot one last time before calling out to Pali. "Fine! You dumb brat! If that''s what you want, then I''ll do it!" Fate had yet to have her own moment to shine in this tournament so this entire scenario angered her to no end. In every other match up until now she wasn''t needed and then, just as she was winning her own fight when it finally mattered, Skyzo reset all of her progress. She then worked hard to get back to this point and now her opponent was willingly throwing in the towel! Where was the justice in any of this?! Fate just wanted to show off at least once! Despite her puffed up cheeks and the sentiment that she thought everyone around her was dumb or stupid, though, the way she acted was that of someone always willing to help people even at the cost of her goals. Yes she promised herself not to help anyone again after Skyzo but the little tyke didn''t have it in her to actually put her foot down and say no when someone else was asking, even if it was Pali. Or rather it''s because it was her friend Pali that she couldn''t say no even if she was an enemy right now. Her balled fists where nothing more than a visual sign of protest but her actions from now on would speak louder than the optics of her reluctance. If Pali wanted to lose, and Fate knew why, then Fate would oblige and make her loss as dramatic as possible! It''s not like what came of this would affect Fate anyway!... Although it might affect Venus... But that was her problem and what she got for playing with her food!

 Chapter 206: Deploy the Ploy the Steal Venus’ Toy Boy

    Resolving herself to help Palioxis with her stupid goal, Fate kept commanding the Overclocked H.I.JACK to assault the Scytheguards. it pushed aside the rear guard and threw it to the floor while drifting low over the ground to rush up to the front guard, preparing its jack to further embed its mark into the opponent. One or two more jack applications and that mark would complete, giving Fate control over the front guard for a considerable amount of time. How long exactly depended on a number of complicated factors including the cultivation of the treasure''s owner, the current state of the treasure, the power of the treasure, the compatibility of the treasure with Fate, etc... Even Fate was only loosely aware of the various elements that affected the outcome but, still, she had done this countless times already and could make a rough guess. Hijacking the front guard would give her access to it for about two and a half minutes total under optimal conditions. Now, in reality, it probably wouldn''t last that long as killing Palioxis would end the hijack and return the Scytheguards to her outside the Training Field. If this was real life then Fate would gain permanent control over the treasure but, as that wasn''t the case, it wasn''t how things would play out. Even if it did then Fate would simply return the treasures after the match anyway because she didn''t want the Scytheguards. Controlling one puppet was hard enough as is and, although she was very capable, she wasn''t as talented in controlling puppets as Palioxis and couldn''t handle more than one very well. She''d outperformed Pali in combat but not only was Pali holding back, her control wasn''t impeccable and if she tried to handle two, let alone three, she would inevitably fail without thousands of years of training. Different people had different specialties and Fate was way better as a scout / infiltrator than a front line puppeteer.


    H.I.JACK switched on its cloak, hid within the fog, and crept around the Scytheguards as it looked to deal the final blow. One more solid hit with the jack and the front guard would become property of Fate, thus all but dooming Pali. The rear guard was seemingly aware of this as it kept shuffling through the air in a protective spiral around its companion. This desperate bid to save the other guard was pointless though as H.I.JACK had already proven itself very capable of slithering past the rear guard to get what it wanted. The rattling of chains gave away H.I.JACK''s next avenue of attack but what was the rear guard supposed to do about it? The front guard wasn''t in a position to dodge with how weak it was right now but if the rear guard took the chain attack it might be even more disastrous in the long term. Getting chained and attacked, leaving both guards on the brink of death, only for H.I.JACK to steal away the front guard anyway, was a far worse outcome than just giving H.I.JACK what it wanted. Even though Pali was ordering the rear guard to retreat, it seemingly had reservations about abandoning the other guard. Maybe it was in its nature to care considering the history of the parts that it was created from? Clearly that bond was limited by the fact these weren''t the real dancers, just pale imitations, as it did eventually respond to Pali''s demands a short while later. It drifted backwards, out of the way of a chain lasso that nearly successfully caught it off guard from its flank, and watched on as the front guard was dragged towards H.I.JACK inside the fog. Clashing sounds rang out as the front guard presumably fought for its life, wildly waving its scythes around to combat the predator hunting it down. These clashes were rapid and fierce but died down bit by bit, indicating the grim fate that had befallen it.


    The rear guard raised its shield and blocked a set of spiralling chains that ambushed it from behind. If H.I.JACK was on the prowl once more it could only mean one thing... The rear guard felt a presence appear behind it and swung its torso around to block yet another surprise attack, this time from its own comrade. The rear guard''s shield blocked one of the scythes while its own scythe blocked the second but this left the rear guard completely exposed.


    CRACK


    H.I.JACK''s deadly screwdriver pierced the rear guard from behind as its claws gripped the poor puppet''s head. With its spinal area damaged, the front buckled under the weight of the scythes and left the rear guard open to being slashed across both its arms.


    THUNK


    With both its arms falling to the floor and rolling off into the fog, with the now-blue-eyed front guard prepared to slash it in half, and with H.I.JACK slowly crushing its skull... The rear guard was truly in an unwinnable scenario. The front guard raised its twin scythes and stretched its arm''s sideways so that the momentum of the slashes to come couldn''t possibly fail to devastate their target. Though the rear guard bucked wildly, the two scythes crashed down onto its body and severed it into two halves whilst H.I.JACK fully crushed its head into spare parts and chucked the metal clump onto the floor. A small data stream in the nearby fog flew inside the front guard, forcing it to obey H.I.JACK''S order to follow it over to its master''s side but, for some strange reason, the front guard refused this order and went somewhere else entirely. H.I.JACK was briefly stunned before it received some information from its puppeteer and decided to ignore the issue. If its master was ok with this situation, and seemed to understand why this was happening, then it didn''t need to raise any questions.


    Though H.I.JACK was highly intelligent, it knew all too well how cunning and conniving his master was. Fate was a clever child and could easily manipulate situations to her advantage in subtle ways so if she was aware of what was happening in this fog, but didn''t care and/or was responsible for it, then H.I.JACK assumed everything was under control and would sort itself out soon. H.I.JACK, as ordered remotely by Fate, cancelled the Overclock and a sigh-like sound emitted from its gas / plague mask. Evidently Overclocking made a mark and left its toll on H.I.JACK which was understandable given how much power it afforded the puppet. It could still function right now but was weakened much like the front guard. This would fix itself in a minute or two and he would return to his default state but, until then, it was best if he and Fate didn''t fight if they could avoid it. The usual strategy for these two would either be to hide amongst the fading fog or to remain cloaked until they were good to go again. H.I.JACK, after recovering, could immediately Overclock once more if it was deemed necessary so right now it would be wise to kill Palioxis and rest. Maybe Fate could annoy some of the other opponents by harassing them from afar with treasures but H.I.JACK would almost definitely be sitting things out temporarily. That''s not to say it couldn''t throw itself at enemies if push came to shove, just that it was highly ineffective to do so. The solace here though was that his recover period was about the same as the resurrection period of one minute for Skyzo and Pele, plus Pali when she died here. If things went on for that long then he would be ready and willing to fight hard yet again. Long drawn out fights weren''t H.I.JACK''s forte but some expert manoeuvring and decision making from Fate always alleviated that issue so he wasn''t worried.


    H.I.JACK cloaked and left the fog, sneaking up behind Pali who was still resolutely hunched behind her shield and various life saving treasures. H.I.JACK could probably hijack these treasures and then just kill the kid but he was being ordered to stand down for now and only attack at the precise moment Fate commanded him to. Something was very clearly going on here but, given that it involved Umbra and Legion relations that H.I.JACK wasn''t familiar with and didn''t rightly care about, it just minded its own business and eerily hung around Pali''s neck like a phantom. Fate kept side-eyeing a different fight happening nearby and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to enact this dumb plan of Pali''s and get it over and done with. The fact she allowed herself to be roped into this mess bummed her out and she was no doubt going to get an earful from a certain someone later... But whatever! She didn''t care! The sooner she got this over and done with, the sooner she could go back to fighting on her own terms!


    A small lull in the other fight Fate was keeping tabs on meant it was go time and so she enacted her operation to enable Palioxis'' silly fantasies. Fate commanded H.I.JACK to launch a slow attack with the chains such that Palioxis could react to it and dodge. She also asked H.I.JACK to ''chase'' after Palioxis, applying ''pressure'' to her as she ran up until the climax of this farce. H.I.JACK obliged and made sure to float a few feet back, so that its attack was react-able by the tiny human, before launching the chains lazily... And missing completely! Pali had dashed the second she heard the rattling and H.I.JACK was made to look a fool with how lenient he''d been against the brat. Turns out, the tiny troublemaker was also really nimble and so H.I.JACK put away its reservations and put some actual effort in to hounding her now that it had received reassurance she could handle it. H.I.JACK even mixed in some electrical dragon breath to make it all seem more realistic as he hunted her down.


    There was a limit to how believable these two children could make this ''fight'' look however, and some of the more prominent cultivators in the crowd were already speculating about potential match fixing, but for now everyone went along with the show. The spectators had no clue what was going on, and would only find out shortly, but Rhea was smacking her palm against her head and sighing out loud to anyone within earshot who was willing to pity her. Calla was nearby snickering and giggling away and Ares was just smiling wryly at this bizarre play the two brats were putting on. As Ares had dealt with Pali and Phobos before, he could see from a mile away what was happening here and he had nothing to say... It''s not like he was in a position to critique their family relation because... Well... Bellona was sitting right next to him and he strived to not be a hypocrite if he could avoid it... Unless he was messing with someone then all bets were off but, right now at least, he couldn''t fault what he was witnessing.


    Ares couldn''t.


    Bellona wouldn''t.


    Enyo, however? A small part of her was clearly not all too pleased with the chicanery going on here as her leg was shaking up and down as she tapped her armrest over and over. She may have had her own issues with the various Legion problems that plagued them but, unlike Bellona, she hadn''t completely given up on them. To that end, wanting her family to win and bolster their reputation, making things better optics wise at least, was something she hoped for. If Tyr won here, him overtaking his father in popularity and potentially usurping the Legion clan through legitimate means, leading it down a brighter path in the future, wasn''t a pipe dream. Enyo had little and ever dwindling interest in the clan and so the only other person respected enough by the Legions en masse to have the unofficial ''right'' to take command was Tyr. If he lost here it would hamper him going forward and potentially result in a situation were more direct methods for fixing the Legion clan were necessitated due to an unwillingness to serve under a ''loser''. Especially someone who lost to revenants on a public stage... Whether the revenants won or lost here really didn''t matter to them, and if everyone was being perfectly honest the team that won here was just going to get rolled over by Mako anyway, so Enyo wished for a home-team victory on this occasion. The harsh truth before her, however, was that it was looking more and more unlikely with every passing moment. Pele and Skyzo exiting the Field at the same time was not an equal loss on both sides. Pali sacrificing herself for this roundabout and manipulative plan of hers was also not helpful even if might result in another ''even'' loss for both the Legion and the Umbras. If Enyo was being truthful, Deimos wouldn''t beat Verv. Verv was a maniac, unpredictable, and just a general nuisance that couldn''t be properly put down in a five minute match. Plus Verv was just way better in terms of combat and it really wasn''t a contest. Overall, things were looking terribly tragic for team Legion...


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    Bellona, on the other hand, didn''t give a crap. She thought this was hilarious, actually. She spent more time looking at the depressed faces of the Legion elders and disciples who she bore deep seated grudges with than she did spectating the match for the most part. Also, technically, no matter which side won, she could claim her family were triumphant regardless! She''d been a little upset when Pele died, ''cos sister power and what not, but other than that she wasn''t opinionated on this match at all. She''d discarded the whole Legion thing a while back and, even if the clan were to be fixed tomorrow, she was just kinda done with it. There was still way too much lingering resentment between her and the other Legion families to just undo it all or try to play pretend and ''get along'' with each other. that would be awkward and not Bellona''s style in the first place. It''s not even that she herself couldn''t get over what everyone else had put her through, it''s just that she knew the Legion people who put her through it in the first place would eternally cling to this problem. It wasn''t even really their fault or anything, all cultivators were stubborn when it came to feuds as that was just how things worked. Bellona would face them head on and complain to their face but all they would do in return is feign acceptance of the matter being over while harbouring a grudge in secret. If anything this was incredibly problematic as her mere presence in the Legion hierarchy, inevitably near the top, would be a sour spot for people who would otherwise unconditionally support the new Legion administration when it came time to replace the old one. ''We''ve taken over and out first order of business is reinstating this person you all hate. Make sure to get along now!''... Yeah, no. Why this wouldn''t work out in the long run, and definitely not the short term either, didn''t really need to be explained. That didn''t mean Bellona was suddenly an Umbra from head to toe either though. She had familial ties but she was more personally interested in her Legion family that she grew up with. The Umbras were like weird and noisy neighbours you met every now and then growing up and Bellona was fairly distant from them in terms of connections. She was getting more and more used to them progressively as time passed but, really, when it came right down to it, the family she was picking from now on was Ares''. Enyo was also in this boat mostly because of, well, Ares. He''d fostered an environment that was perfect for them both and that was that. Neither Bellona or Enyo would choose the Umbras over Ares, absolutely not, and Legion was more of a nostalgia trip by this point than anything serious. Ares was the perfect middle ground in that sense.


    Speaking of the only clown in the clown car that hosted his expansive family, Ares also didn''t care who won this match. Yes he wasn''t a Legion clan member but, really, this match meant nothing. It''s not like the other three clans would feel emboldened to pester the Umbras in the future if these guys lost here because Ares existed! He was a very real threat that couldn''t be ignored. Taking drastic measures against the Umbras while he was still in this neck of the woods was foolish because inciting the wrath of the next God of destruction came with consequences that didn''t need to be elaborated on. So what was their plan exactly? Wait until Ares traverses the gap between the severed dimensions? By that point Ares would be strong enough to reign in all four clan simultaneously if he so desired. The only thing the other clans needed to concern themselves with was how to deal with Ares, that was it. This match wouldn''t make a blind bit of difference to their measures going forward in regards to warring with the Umbras.


    Ares was the roadblock.


    Now, openly, he was positioning himself as a third party that didn''t intervene directly but that was only because it was convenient to avoid being directly dragged into matters should he state he was working with the Umbras. It''s unlikely anyone would ever actually fall for the non-intervention excuse he was giving but, lest they wake the sleeping tiger, they had to refrain from involving him. Realistically, only drastic measures were a valid solution to a problem like Ares and his stance on the matter was nothing more than an attempt to delay whatever Major was inevitably going to do, or try and do, about him. By not taking a hard-line stance against the Legion right now it would take Major longer to convince everyone of the threat that Ares really was to their clan, and that they should ignore his literal heaven''s mandate, so they could put him down before he destroyed them. Not that Ares had any intention of destroying the clan but removing Major and demanding the clans tolerate one another was bound to cause a stir regardless. It''s not that he didn''t have any clear goals in mind, it''s just that saying them to ease the Legion''s tensions and actually doing it were another matter entirely.


    Ares knew that he, and probably Mako too, would get dragged into the whole Atria issue in the Dueuer domain and have to investigate what exactly happened with the revenants but that was his hope. He wanted to assure the clans that they didn''t need to fight anymore if he could just fix the original problem and get permission to reform the link between the domains... Now how he was going to do that precisely was beyond him. According to what limited information he had, Atria... Atria had done a real ''no no'' in terms of ruling over her citizens. It would be hard to erase the scars of such a tyrant, and he had no clue where to even start, but that was a problem for future Ares. Supposedly some members of the Umbras had some serious dirt on the whole event that brought everything everyone knew about it into question but it wasn''t really discussed openly. Ares would have to do some digging on his home planet to get any answers so he kept that in the back of his mind for now and just watched the match in front of him. Might as well enjoy the entertainment now while he can before things got busy on his end once more.


    Pali was running around, dodging H.I.JACK''s ''attempts'' on her life, and heading in a very specific direction... Towards Phobos! For most of the spectators, the assumption here was that she was seeking help from her already-struggling brother. As Pali drew ever closer, however, a certain puppet came crawling out of the woodworks, from within the dissipating fog from earlier, and started gunning for Phobos from his flank. The front guard that Fate had ordered H.I.JACK to effectively brainwash was being driven to attack Phobos when he least expected it. The poor guy was already having a bad time but combining Venus'' pestering with this sneak attack only exacerbated his issues ten fold. When Venus saw this, she was immediately displeased because she didn''t want her itty bitty boy toy to die! That wasn''t the point of any of this! She turned her attention to the Scytheguard and was fully prepared to put in some effort and riddle this thing with holes... But she paused before firing because she analysed the situation properly and could do naught but gnash her teeth in frustration. Her sister had sold her down the river for the enemy! Yes Venus could fire at the Scytheguard but Fate would block that with her treasures because its attack against Phobos needed to be ensured for Pali''s end of the plan to be successful. Venus couldn''t shoot at Pali either because H.I.JACK was oh-so conveniently trailing her from directly behind and blocking Venus''s view. In short, and there were definitely a lot of short people around here so that phrase was particularly fitting, Venus could not stop Fate from attacking Phobos nor could she stop Pali from making a hero play here and leaping in front of the attack! That was the brat''s goal! Venus'' plans of acting like a hero were being snatched away from her by the ultra competitive and incestuous Legion brat! Pali had watched with gritted teeth as Venus had her way with Phobos and drove him into a corner before having the bright idea to swoop in at the last possible moment and steal the glory! Plus it also served to fix the other issue of getting Phobos fired up because Pali throwing her life away to protect him would undoubtedly make him take this seriously, at which point Venus might actually wind up losing... Betrayal! Fate was betraying her!... Now granted there was this one time when Venus used Fate as human bait to attract young boys so she could pounce on them but that was in the past and a totally separate matter!


    Phobos heard the creaking of a faulty puppet and turned his head just in time to see the nearly-broken front guard raise a single scythe up high. His arrows were not notched, and his head wasn''t in the right space to react to this, so his dull reaction made him a sitting duck as the scythe came swinging towards his vulnerable heart.


    Splat


    Phobos'' eyes, which had been shut in anticipation of his life being reaped, slowly opened only to see Palioxis impaled in front of him. She used every ounce of acting ability she possessed to give him a gentle smile and stroke his face before heroically succumbing to her fatal wound and falling dead on the spot. The Scythe was retracted from her corpse and spun to the side, flicking her blood of the weapon and even splattering a bit of it on Phobos'' face, leaving him bewildered and confused. Though this situation wasn''t real, and although Palioxis was already respawning outside the Training Field, it didn''t'' change the fact that he''d just witnessed something that made his heart stop. It would take him a few seconds for his world to stop spinning, and a few more to come to terms with had just happened, not to mention even more to finally discover his determination to act but, when he finally did, a part of him that could currently be considered lacking was going to be fixed as a result of this interaction. It wasn''t that he would become totally fearless, such a thing was nigh impossible for most people, but just because he was fearful that didn''t mean being brave was contradictory or impossible in the face of fear. In fact, arguably, without fear there could be no bravery to begin with. And while Phobos had never shown anything of the sort prior to today, that was going to change shortly. The more fearful you were, the more potential for bravery you held within you and, right now, Phobos was understanding that Ares had been right all along. There was nothing a person should fear more than watching someone you loved die in front of you because you were too busy feeling sorry for yourself. So in this moment, in which the greatest fear he wasn''t yet truly aware of until now was happening right before his very eyes, it was only natural that a considerable well of bravery was being dipped into and the result of that was about to be made clear. Unfortunately for Venus, she was about to bear the brunt of it.

 Chapter 207: Prelude to Pandemonium

    Why?


    That was the question running through Phobos'' head right now. Why did this happen, exactly? Why was he in this specific situation here today? Why did things reach this point? Phobos ran through the entirety of this match up until now over and over again in his head and, no matter how he looked at it, the answer was always the same and he couldn''t come to any other conclusion. He was the problem. He was the dead weight, he was the weakling, he was the coward. He was the one losing miserably and needed saving, he was the baby on the team dragging everyone else down, he was the one making a mockery of the Legion name. Him him him. All him. No one else was to blame for this series of events... And he was technically right, just not for the reason he thought he was. The Pali ploy was a result of his anxiety fuelled failings but Phobos was still blissfully unaware of the ploy part. Really it didn''t even matter much because if he knew he would still place the blame squarely on himself for requiring the aid of others to set his mind straight. Long story short, there was no worming his way out of the fault resting on his shoulders with this one.


    In some ways, the message he took from all of this was both the wrong and right one. Wrong because Pali wanted him to be crestfallen over her and have a new found appreciation for her, which was pointless because clearly his affection was already at max and couldn''t go any higher so that was pointless. Right because this was precisely the kick in the ass Phobos had needed not just to man up for the remainder of this match, no, this was what he needed to grow a pair for good. Of course he was still dismayed at having lost Pali, and in that moment he was mortified, but it had been a few seconds now and he was reminding himself on repeat she was still alive. He was thankful this had all just been a tournament with no real stakes and that he could breathe a sigh of relief in that regard. That''s not to say he didn''t appreciate Pali''s sacrifice... He just didn''t want it. He didn''t want any of his family to throw their lives away for him and it almost made him annoyed that Pali had done it at all. Was this a realisation of how much he cared? Yes... But he was likely going to be a bit mad at her later for this... But that was something they could sort out after because the match was still going on right now and there were more pressing matters. Three people were out now and Fate was MIA as she''d cloaked and gone to hide while she waited for H.I.JACK''s Overclock penalty to run out... Probably? There was a non zero chance she''d spring up with one of her treasures somewhere and cause problems but that was something nobody could predict and so it was better to deal with Fate on the fly if and when she did try anything.


    What this meant is that, although the Umbras had a numbers advantage at this moment in time, all the fights currently happening were effectively still even. Deimos and Verv, Phobos and Venus, and Scar and Tyr... The latter of which wasn''t really much of a ''fight''... And actually, neither was Deimos vs Verv as they were still running around the edge of the arena and playing their unusual game of tag. Verv was like a wild dog chasing the postman''s van right now... He was catching up though and it looked like an actual duel was about to start any time now for them. But none of that mattered to Phobos! He had his own one vs one to sort out! He''d mucked it up so far but this new calmness sweeping through him like a measured gale would be the gateway to him succeeding against Venus. She still had a lot of power left in the trunk, and a few tricks up her sleeve, but Phobos himself was also only just getting started! So, once more, the ranged duel kicked off. The major difference being that it didn''t look like a creepy woman was bullying a helpless child anymore!


    Phobos fired a single steady shot which brought Venus out of la la land where she was currently raging away at the fact that she''d been one upped by that brat Palioxis. Venus sighed to herself and fired a shot to knock the arrow off course but the bullet was the projectile that deviated on contact and the arrow remained true in its flight. Venus kissed her teeth and fired two more shots, fixing the problem as the first bullet caused the arrow to wobble with the second knocking it out of the air. Venus thought nothing of this change in competency though because firing one or two more shots per arrow really wasn''t a problem.


    Twang


    Twang


    Twang


    Twang


    Twang


    ... And suddenly it became a problem! Phobos was rapid firing at a rate that put professional bowmen to shame and, while a gun could obviously keep up with this pace... A gun had limited ammo. Yes the bow could only shoot one arrow at a time but firing a follow up shot was a quicker process than reloading a gun and Venus would run out of bullets eventually. Yes her weapons reloaded automatically but its not like that was a process that happened instantly so it put Venus on the back foot and forced her to take this fight seriously for once. Things had been going wrong for her as of late, as the local kids had wizened up to her game and were usually trying to actively avoid her, so everything that was happening today was just the cherry on the cake, leaving Venus P.I.S.S.E.D.


    Venus flourished her two guns, spinning them around her finger as she raised them up to eye height before pushing out her arms and aiming her weaponry at the oncoming train of arrows. She narrowed her gaze and took a sharp breath to facilitate her deadly precision before firing off exactly ten shots, five from each gun. Half of these ten bullets were directed towards the arrows while the others went sailing past them towards Phobos. Venus was done being polite and if she had to be a bit more aggressive with her prey in order to get it to calm down then she would damn well do it! No more children running away from her! As for the five bullets tackling the arrows, that might have seemed strange considering the earlier tussles in which a single bullet wasn''t enough to fell the arrows but this was where Venus'' magic came in. Her Unpredictabullet gave her control over all ten bullets and she was an excellent multi-tasker so, even though they were all split into different tasks, Venus'' supercomputer-like brain got down to business. Each bullet that hit an arrow, and was bounced off immediately, reversed direction in mid-air and hit the arrow again, this time from the side which caused them to wobble. These wobbles drove the arrows off their intended course, even causing a few to collide with one another and end the threat they posed to Venus. As for the five bullets heading towards Phobos, the kid managed to duck and dive away from them all only to be hounded down by them again, leading to a swarm of lead buzzing around him while Venus was preparing even more shots to come his way. If he just relied on shooting one arrow at a time there was no way he could keep up with Venus right now so he chanted an art to temporarily alleviate his current problem before he worked on evening out the playing field.


    "Stop All."


    Clatter


    Clatter


    All five of Venus'' bullets fell to the floor and rattled around while the woman in question kissed her teeth. Stop All was a notorious technical that culled the momentum of all non-magic based projectiles in a small area around the cultivator who casted it. Most, if not all, ranged weapon users learnt this art as it would do a good job of becoming the deciding factor in duels against other people with ranged weapons. It didn''t much matter if two snipers shot each other at the same time if one of them used Stop All in time to prevent their death. Of course it stopped more than just bullets and any and all projectiles were halted dead in their tracks by this no-go zone the art created for a split second. If a ninja threw a shuriken at you or a gadgetry expert threw a miniature bomb at you, that was all fair game to be denied. Even random trash and garbage could be stopped so a lot of high status politicians also learnt the art to prevent any untoward attacks from angry protesters. There was a limit to what could be stopped but that was mostly dependent on the velocity and size of the object as well as the cultivation of the person who threw it relative to the would-be victim. A lot of small calculations went into figuring out how effective the art would be and many a cultivator had guessed wrong only to meet their demise but that was to be expected.


    Most people only relied on Stop All as a last resort and, if it didn''t work, it''s not like anything else would in that situation anyway. Plus experts with this technical practically never got it wrong as they dedicated a lot of time and effort to experimenting with the art to get a feel for its upper limits. The art was typically useful against attacks that were plentiful in quantity but weak in quality. Things like shotgun blasts, kicked up and subsequently scattered earth, or arrow volleys were all susceptible to being halted in their tracks by this art. It was ironic that gunmen and archers almost always learnt the art but absolutely detested fighting against it. Venus was kissing her teeth but the truth of the matter was that she also knew this art... In fact, the real reason she was kissing her teeth was mainly for two other, separate, reasons.


    First of all, this Stop All seemed ridiculously powerful compared to a normal version of it. Venus knew why too, it was imbued with Echoes which aided the Stop All in defensive measures and could thus allow it to stop more powerful attacks than Phobos would typically be capable of dealing with. It was a clever place to shove an Echo, certainly, but this development reeked of Ares'' involvement! Venus knew he''d been occasionally interacting with the kid in his down time, helping him cook and what not, but clearly that wasn''t all he''d done! Or maybe it was and Phobos was just really smart, having worked all this out by his lonesome... Smart shota! The technical tome for Echoes was in the Heaven''s path''s library and having ties to Ares meant the Legions and Umbras were allowed in there at their own discretion basically, not that anyone would try and stop them considering their status anyway. It wasn''t inconcievable Phobos saw some elders practicing the art and figured it would be beneficial for his Stop All, leading him in his search to the library. He was right too as Venus could practically feel the resistance against her Unpredictabullets which was a first. Usually people who tried to use Stop All on her Unpredictabullets were met with failure after failure because her magic was just stronger than theirs. This was important because when Stop All worked it killed any and all momentum which was disastrous for Unpredictabullet and this was the second reason she was annoyed. All the latter art did was change a bullet''s direction, it didn''t increase or decrease velocity. If her Unpredictabullets ran out of gas, she couldn''t start them up again period. Venus could spin the bullets currently lying on the floor around in circles like the hand of a broken compass but what was the point of that exactly?! A neat parlour trick?!


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    All in all, this situation was annoying. Venus was going to have to try even harder and desync the timing of her bullets so that a single Stop All wouldn''t take them all out in one fell swoop. It would no doubt give her a bit of a headache when this match was done as controlling that many bullets to begin with was hard and, when you started adding in fancy delays and separate timing for each shot, that problem only became a whole lot worse. The one solace here was that Calla would make her a hot choco after the match and that would fix the pain in her brain! Good ol'' fluffy mother with the perfect remedy at the perfect time. Though Venus was the least social of the siblings even she couldn''t help but respect her mother... The father not so much but he was a clown like Ares so that was a different matter. Still, Calla was deeply appreciated by all the Umbras and they wouldn''t hesitate to pick fights with anyone who disrespected her. Now whether that was necessary when Calla was more than capable of defending her own honour, and frequently did so, was another matter entirely...


    The nullification of the each others'' projectiles meant Venus and Phobos had returned to a stalemate position with neither person possessing an advantage over the other. Despite Phobos'' enhanced Stop All Venus wasn''t really bothered as she was still holding back the full extent of her power. A part of her was still desperately clinging to the original plan, and she was convinced it could work, so she was reluctant to put the cute shota six feet under. She didn''t want to lose Phobos to that damn Legion brat! Yes she''d played with a lot of other toys, and dumped them after when they got older, but she was actually invested in this one! He wasn''t going to slip through her grasp if she had any say in the matter!


    "Triple Up. Double Down."


    Phobos casted two different arts back to back and Venus winced. Apparently Phobos was a bigger catch than she''d given him credit for... Triple Up was an art of the bow aspect, under the weapons pillar, that enabled the user to fire three shots at a time provided they had the expertise required to pull it off. More specifically, as Phobos drew back his bow, two more arrows would automatically appear already notched on either side of the original arrow. being able to withstand the physical pushback of this art, as well as actually aim the bucking bow, was where the difficulty of this art came in. It was incredibly powerful but also a real problem child of an art, almost like a horse that didn''t quite like its rider. This was an art you had to earn the respect of before you could use it properly even if you had an affinity for the aspect. Although the three arrows were separate entities, they were actually packed so close together it was generally a better idea to treat this art as though it was tripling the impact of a single arrow. This was troublesome for Venus, who relied on her ability to knock arrows off course, as the amount of bullets it would take to dislodge the other arrows before ultimately swatting all three aside was significant. Then there were two other issues. The first of which was how quickly could Phobos fire in this state? If the recoil prevented him from firing again for a few seconds then Venus could sort of breathe a sigh of relief... If he could chuck triple shot after triple shot though... This fight was going to get ugly, fast. As for the second issue, and this was the big one, the second art Phobos cast, ''Double Down'', doubled the impact of every arrow fired while it was active... Overall, each arrow this kid fired now basically came loaded with six times its original power... Triple Down Double Up was an infamous combo for a reason. The skill needed to handle these two arts in sync with one another was monstrous but, provided you could do it, you essentially immediately became considered a top bowman on the spot. You could guarantee your place in a hall of fame just by being able to do this... Phobos had displayed many sides to him so far but Venus was just now understanding that, actually, beneath it all... He was a talented shota. she''d underestimated the wimpy kid and she was being pushed hard.


    Phobos wasn''t the greatest bowman to ever live though so its not like Venus had yet purchased a one-way ticket to Loserville. In comparison to the greats Phobos was still lacking and there were many faults in his shooting that needed correcting before he could hit the big leagues. Hell there was even a third art that could be added to the Triple Up and Double Down combo called Quadruple Convergence... Ok maybe that was pushing it. Throughout all of history there was only ever one person who''d been capable of simultaneously casting all three and, even then, she''d only fired off a single shot before twisting her wrist and swearing never to do it again. Asking Phobos to go that far in his cultivation journey was just plain unfair and he wasn''t that kind of cultivator. He would cultivate to protect his loved ones from now on but he didn''t want to be a God or an exemplar or anything, he just wanted to cook for his family. Rather, there was someone else in this world that would go on to accomplish this feat instead. Someone who''s talent with ranged weapons and artillery theory was incomparable to anyone else, putting them in a league of her own. Ares, or rather the pagoda clone, would meet this person eventually and their interactions would be... Odd, to put it lightly. After all, it''s not everyday you opt to train someone who wants you dead but Ares was Ares so it might not actually be that surprising. Still, telling an assassin all the details you possibly can about yourself to make their life easier isn''t exactly normal. Maybe something compelled him to? Well when it happened the answer to that question would reveal itself but non of that mattered right now. Right now, Venus was unleashing her own arts and treasures to combat the resilient shota. She wanted to come out on top... On top of the shota! Ride the shota! Venus resembled Enyo in this moment as the degenerate panting was almost a one for one image and all Ares could do here was smile wryly and try his best to ignore this bizarre scene.


    Down in the arena, Venus had brought out her personal treasure, the Aristocrat''s Finest. This treasure was an oxblood red, high wing chair made of leather. Venus slumped back into her throne and tilted her head ever so slightly to the side as she reaped the benefits her treasure passively provided her. Her mind was soothed, reducing the pain she felt when using Unpredictabullet, her mental resilience increased which could prevent mental attacks but also allowed her to simultaneously control more bullets, and she could remotely control her guns. The Lock ''N'' Loads were now hovering around her seat and could either be put in a sort of tower defence mode wherein they shot everything that approached with hostility, or be directly controlled by Venus. The upside to this was that it compensated for her lack of mobility while in the seat. She could have one gun fly around to the right of Phobos, and the other his left, and spray him down in the middle. She could also keep one gun on her person for defence while the other snuck around to do her bidding from a different location.


    The chair also increased the fire rate and general power of any weapons controlled remotely so the level of danger she posed increased by a large amount when on this chair. Venus rarely moved about during a fight anyway so this was a strict upgrade for her 9 times out of 10. Also, to really hammer home how much of a useful tool it was to someone like Venus, the treasure could summon a barrier. It was but a single barrier, and not the strongest thing ever, but it did exist and could delay Venus'' opponent long enough to put them down before they broke through it. On this chair Venus became a do or die machine that massively boosted herself but made her a sitting duck. She either won quickly or lost quickly, there was no in-between. Add the increased number of bullets Unpredictabullet could now control to the various arts she casted in this chair and you had the true Venus. The woman in the Umbra clan who had the highest threat level of all the siblings at any given moment in time excluding Skyzo chicanery. She had a limited window to get all this carnage out of her system but during this time she became, what those in the simulated planet in Vraizon might call, a bullet hell boss. Actually all the Umbras could be described in such terms. Venus was the bullet hell boss. Skyzo was the gimmick boss. Fate was the boss with a summon that ''ganked'' you. Verv was the berserker boss that just never stopped attacking. And Scar was the final boss who was just all-around strong and a pain to beat... Then there was Ares who was like the super secret optional boss hiding in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere that whooped your ass when you finally found him and kept doing so for hours on end. Actually, although this was the most logical ''boss type'' to assign to Ares, when he eventually ended up visiting this planet, his revenant form would earn him the title of ''raid boss''. It might have sounded like a title that earned him respect but all it really did was paint a massive target on his back with players that wanted either loot or EXP.


    The fight that was happening in the arena wasn''t a game though. It was a tournament match that both Venus and Phobos wanted to win and so this duel was reaching its climax as both sides threw everything they had at one another.


    "Arrow Storm."


    "Unload."


    Both Phobos and Venus launched arts that would cause mass disarray simultaneously and the fight was about to become a shit show that was hard to follow from a spectator''s POV up in the crowds. Arrow Storm was an art that fired five volleys of arrows in a row with a two second gap between each of them. It was a powerful art and the number of arrows per volley, volleys in total, and the duration of the gap between volleys could all be improved by raising a person''s cultivation. The real cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me was that it took on any bonuses other arts gave, including Triple Down and Double Up. This was the bow aspect art that won fights and could be used as a finisher so Phobos was clearly not beating around the bush any longer. He wanted to go all in and end things here if he could.


    Meanwhile, Venus chose to use Unload. Seeing as how she only had two weapons on her person this might have seemed strange but the real benefit here was the unlimited ammo, not the fire rate. Venus could control more than ten bullets at once while sitting atop her treasure but her weapons couldn''t hold more than five shots each. Temporarily unlimited ammo fixed that issue and allowed her to summon more than seventy controllable bullets at any given time. When Unload ended she would have no weapons left at her disposal and just a flimsy barrier to ''protect'' her so, like Phobos, it seemed she wanted this fight to end in a single clash. No long, drawn out push and pull fight was going to take place here, it was just going to be a clusterfuck of projectiles in which skill meant little. Both cultivators could attempt to sway the outcome but, really, now that the die had been cast, it could really go either way. The actions of Phobos and Venus would maybe affect their chances of winning by, give or take, 1% per action and, at this point, that might actually matter so they prepared themselves to adjust however they could in the upcoming madness they themselves were responsible for. The end of this fight would be determined in a matter of seconds.

 Chapter 208: The Fate of a Scapegoat

    Hell on earth was the only correct way to describe the scenes of carnage taking place in the arena. Arrows rained down from the heavens and a thick, silver fog of disaster consisting of upwards of sixty bullets was gradually expanding. As the arrows pierced the fog, some were torn to shreds by the razor sharp ammunition bouncing around in the sphere of the death while others fell to the floor beside Venus who was slowly engulfed in the chaos. As she fired more bullets from her Unloading guns the size of the silver fog grew until it encompassed even Phobos. As the first volley of arrows were slowly annihilated another volley came tumbling into the mix and reignited the projectile war. The remnants of the first volley were still present so it seemed the swarm wasn''t capable of defeating the empowered arrow spam quick enough to completely nullify it, meaning it would be a matter how many arrows were allowed to pass through the fog and hit Venus. If they missed, or hit her barrier but didn''t break it, then she would remain safe and be able to break down Phobos with her bullets. If it all went wrong for her then she would be pierced to her chair and die a solemn death instead. The spectators couldn''t see anything within the fog. Not even the matriarchs or the four seasons who were all present but in hiding could pierce the silver mess down below. Only Ares, with his ridiculous Omniscience, could watch the havoc unfold in its entirety unimpeded.


    Arrows vs bullets. It was like watching two schools of fish fight for dominance in a murky lake with no clear winner. The arrows were stronger but the bullets more persistent and plentiful, never giving up even if their original strike couldn''t cause the arrow to falter. Venus being able to wield every bullet simultaneously and expertly direct them precisely where they needed to be, so that no two bullets were wasting time on the same target unnecessarily, was a phenomenal display of her weapon mastery. Alas, the shota was packing some incredible mastery of his own and it wasn''t surprising. Phobos was younger than Venus by a fair few years, otherwise she wouldn''t have been interested in him to being with, and yet his cultivation wasn''t far off hers. They both hovered around the peak of mental accumulation and it was hard to tell whether that was because Venus was lazy or because Major had seriously whipped Phobos into shape. Of course Phobos deserved a lot of credit as, at the end of the day, he was the one who did all the cultivating. He was prodigious which is why it was also unfortunate he didn''t have it in him to become something more. There were occasionally people like this, people who could cultivate extremely quickly and had respectable talent but just never went further in life. This was typically either because they didn''t actively pursue rarer opportunities than what they were initially offered, out of fear of the unknown risks that awaited them, or simply because they genuinely didn''t care about getting stronger. Phobos was a mix of both. Still, he''d evidently spent a lot of time holding onto that bow of his. It wasn''t even a treasure and yet he still got this much milage out of it...


    The first arrow to spook Venus, by dropping in next to her unannounced, landed a few inches away from her chair and was currently embedded into the ground. As this was the first arrow to reach this point it became a symbol of what was yet to come as another volley fell down into the silver fog and became entangled in the projectile mish mash. Somewhere in this nightmare of dangerous objects whizzing about quicker than the eye could see, Phobos was struggling to stay afloat as he very nearly kept drowning in the chaos. He was battered, scraped, pierced, and thrown around like a rag doll. His frequent casts of Stop All helped for a small window of time before the siege on his person resumed immediately after. To make matters worse, his Stop All also affected his own arrows so he was unintentionally lowering his own output by doing this but it was important. The volley would cease prematurely if he died and Venus wasn''t dead yet so that wasn''t an option. In the few moments he had to himself before being grazed by a haywire bullet he would take up his bow, aim carefully at Venus'' last known position, and fire his arrow straight and true. Venus not moving was a blessing as it meant Phobos didn''t need her to be directly visible to give her a hard time. She would be forced to redirect more of her bullets to deal with Phobos'' shots, thinning out her defence and potentially risking her own safety. Phobos could have just as easily shot his bow at the bullets surrounding him but, if he wasted his time fending them off instead of aggressing, the Arrow Storm would end. If Venus wasn''t dead, or about to be, by the time the art ended, Phobos would almost definitely lose. He needed his current strategy to pay off so he abandoned protection just to be even an ounce more of a nuisance to his opponent in the hope there would be some kind of slip up on her end. Despite the reaper''s scythe practically dangling around his neck, he remained stoic and steady in the face of danger and this was a new side to him he wasn''t even aware existed. He felt oddly comfortable, like he was capable of filtering out all the excess noise and buzz around him with ease. Only the bare minimum of his brain power was directed to avoiding the bullets but it was still enough to do its job, affording him considerable mental computing power to keep his aim perfect under what would normally be a stressful scenario.


    In regards to this brawl, what once looked like a forgone conclusion had now trended in the same direction as every other fight that had been happening down here in the dirt arena. Would Phobos come out of the cloud intact? Would Venus'' corpse be draped across her throne? Would they both perish at the hands of one another in tandem? It was hard to tell back when visibility had been at acceptable levels but, now that the fourth volley had descended, and Venus was wielding as many bullets as she possibly could, totalling around ninety, making a reasoned bet on the victor was impossible. Deduction was out the window as countless arrows were heard striking the ground around Venus, and some even clanging off the barrier around her, while small cries of pain came from Phobos occasionally in different parts of the silver fog. He was evidently moving around, jumping from one location to another, rolling through the gaps in the Unpredictabullet offensive, and diving to safe zones that had yet to be infected by bullet damage. So much of the nearby ground was scratched, grazed, and shredded and sooner or later the entire nearby area would be nothing more than a deeply scarred pit. Another bullet flew past Phobos and marked his cheek as he rose to his knee and fired off another shot. He nearly crumbled when a bullet pierced his abdomen but he remained strong and stood up to move to another position. He couldn''t hang around anywhere for too long otherwise his spot would be compromised and ground into dust by the lead onslaught, after which he would follow suit.


    Meanwhile Venus was starting to sweat. She''d already dropped a few bullets and was losing control of even more. The best she could manage was flinging the bullets she was failing to wield properly at Phobos one last time before she dropped them for good. Her own stash of ammunition was lowering while Phobos'' last volley had still yet to fire. The arrows sprawled around near her chair were abundant by now and her barrier was cracked in multiple places. The previous, fourth, volley was still being contested and a full on war between arrows and bullets was raging. If another volley was added into the mix Venus stood no chance and she was painfully aware of that. She was starting to get desperate, and could tell this was turning rapidly into a losing battle, so she firmly resolved herself to make one last ditch effort. She would continue to fend off the current volley but, the second the next one came in, she would forgo defensive measures entirely, just as Phobos had done, and direct all of her attention towards the shota. Keeping both him and her alive was no longer in the cards and Venus was finally forced to prioritise her family over her own interests. She wasn''t particularly social with any of them, typically tried to manipulate them into aiding her in her hunt for shotas, and didn''t hold them as dear as they held her... But family was still family at the end of the day. Although her depravity appeared limitless that wasn''t completely true. It''s not like Venus didn''t have a soft spot for the silly pooches in her family and, just as she knew they would never let her down, she knew she could never let them down... Even if the reason she was in this position to begin with was because of that treacherous rat Fate! That scamp needed a talking to...


    The moment of truth descended in tandem with the fifth, final, and largest volley of the Arrow Storm. The spectators watched with baited breath as the hundred or so arrows sunk into the silver fog and the screeching of clashing projectiles ramped up to an intensity that dwarfed everything prior. Arrows and bullets were sent flying out of the fog and were strewn across the floor around the rest of the arena. Even the other contestants were forced to occasionally dodge or swat away a stray projectile as the climax of this fight was starting to affect the others who were nearby. Deimos had to perform a wheelie to avoid getting his tire shot out while Verv behind him caught an incoming arrow between his teeth and held it there like a dog chewing on a bone. A camouflaged Fate was nearly struck by a bullet but H.I.JACK drifted in front of her to take the hit with its claw while Scar let the bullets assaulting him pathetically bounce off his rock solid body. Scar was so invested in Tyr he didn''t even flinch or blink at the paltry power of the bullets striking him, almost as though they were all mini Don Quixotes attacking a windmill. Tyr didn''t have to move to dodge any haphazard hazards as, luckily, everything seemed to sail right past him. This wasn''t an art or his treasures kicking in or anything, he was just in the right place at the right time... Which did admittedly lead some of the Legion members to deify him in their minds but that was neither here nor there. Divine intervention was definitely not the cause of this as Terros, Ares, and Mako were all just passively watching from the sides.


    Back by the origin of these runaway projectiles, the silver fog of swirling pandemonium was finally settling down. Small glimpses of the area within, that had been reduced to rubble and countless motionless arrows and bullets, could be seen through the gaps that were becoming wider and wider. Nobody cared about the inanimate, however, as they all had the same questions in their minds... Who was alive and who was dead? Technically a dead person was inanimate but that wasn''t the point! Pedantic semantics didn''t answer their question but, a few seconds later when the fog partially cleared near the southern side, they had at least half an answer. Phobos was alive, barely. Venus redirecting all her salvo straight towards him meant the end result was not a pretty one for him. He was riddled with holes and slumped down onto his knees after staggering out of the fog.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Phobos had to crawl over to the nearby wall and sit against it as he applied first aid with shaky hands. His hands were covered in blood and the rest of his body drenched in it. One of his eyes had been shot too and left for a gory sight but, thankfully for the more squeamish audience members, he soon patched that up with a cloth. Though it looked like he might still die at this rate, he too had some life saving treasures on him which he promptly guzzled down his throat. A red potion of sorts was the beverage of choice and, although a lot of it missed his mouth and splattered on his face thanks to his wobbling hands, it seemed to be highly effective. As far as the spectators could tell, it was a potion that blocked blood flow in open wounds which was quite something. It basically created thin red tubes to connect any damaged body parts, acting like temporary replacement veins. Blood loss was halted so, as long as you weren''t dying from organ failure, you wouldn''t die in the long run. Such a wondrous medicine was naturally rare but Rhea always stocked up her children before they went anywhere and this had been especially true when they originally departed for Sheryashka. The Legions being strong and famous meant people didn''t really pick fights with them so the treasures had mostly been saved  in their back pockets up until now. The Legions didn''t have much use for them outside this tournament so it wasn''t a surprise to see this many coming out of them, like candy out of a pinata. Hell even Pele would have used a couple life saving treasures and potions if she''d had time to react to Skyzo''s scam.


    Anyway, what this all meant was that the shota had survived. It wouldn''t take more than a single enemy combatant to finish him off, and people were already wondering if Fate would sneak over and do him in, but until anyone actually finished him off he was still technically in the arena, and thus in the fight!... His poor state did elicit many a sympathetic emotion from those in the crowd who still couldn''t help but see him as anything other than a helpless little boy though. Mothers and fathers throughout the crowd wanted to rush down, pick him up, and remove him from this dangerous place!


    In particular, Calla had to hold Rhea back. She had tears in her eyes and was sniffling as she kept trying to reach down over the railings. She wasn''t crying because Phobos was half dead though, she knew it was a Training Field simulation so, although it stung, that wasn''t the problem. She was happy! Enyo had been the biggest, or rather Major, problem up until recently but that had already been solved and resolved, raising Phobos from the number two problem child spot straight to numero uno. He was just sort of passive and quiet and, while that was definitely fine in some cases, the reason he was like this wasn''t natural. Phobos was someone who could have had at least a little pep and fight in him if he hadn''t been relentlessly bullied by his father so this moment was important for him! Rhea wanted to give him a hug but, for many many many reasons, that would be classified as intervention. A tournament for those who were all typically entering adulthood, as that was when their cultivation usually aligned with the requirements for entry, would definitely be made unfair if someone like Rhea stormed into the match. Even if she just removed Phobos and did nothing else her presence would be incredibly distracting for the Umbras and that was a no-go.


    Although Rhea storming into the match would result in disqualification, and it would therefore benefit Calla, the revenant matriarch didn''t want that to happen. It wasn''t the right way for things to end and not a single person from either clan would be happy with their potential win being either devalued or robbed depending on which side of the argument you were on. It''s not like Calla didn''t understand where Rhea was coming from though so, in order to calm the woman down, Cala made her some hot choco on the spot and promised to make some for the Legion kiddos too when they were done fighting. This generosity baffled the other matriarchs, Rhea included, and left them all speechless. Perhaps this had been her plan from the start or maybe Calla was just in happy to see Rhea happy. Either way it was too good of an offer to decline, or ruin by stubbornly jumping down into the arena , so Rhea sat back in her seat and calmed herself down. Afterall, this match, and also the fight between Phobos and Venus, wasn''t finished yet. What state the shota hunter was in hadn''t been determined properly so its not like things were over...


    Any questions everyone may have had about Venus'' state were put to rest when her languid body came into view. She was still atop her chair, and she was still ever unmoving, but it wasn''t because of her usual inclinations that she was so lazily slumped against the arm rest. She''d been run through with arrows in multiple locations including the stomach, the knee, both her arms, her neck, and most importantly of all, her heart. Like Phobos she wasn''t dead, but she was about to be. Her breathing wasn''t quickened intentionally but rather because it was repeatedly cut short and her breaths were stolen from her thanks to the arrow in the neck, partially piercing her throat as well. She couldn''t lift her hands properly so healing herself wasn''t really in the cards and the injury was too severe for a revenant with such poxy cultivation to shrug off. The hole in her heart was damning and the suffocation was an added bonus... And yet she still wasn''t dead yet. Much like how Skyzo used his last moments to finish off Pele, it seemed Venus was attempting the same. She couldn''t lift her hands but, while she was in her chair, she didn''t need to. The weapons, which had been pinned to the floor by arrows, broke free from their shackles and hovered above the chair. Their aim, unlike Phobos'' throughout the fight, was not steady as Venus was having a hard time maintaining her concentration in this asphyxiated state. Still, they did eventually manage to loosely point in the direction of Phobos and now the crowd was holding their breath as the jittery guns prepared to fire. The treasures had passively reloaded themselves so there was no doubt in everyone''s mind that a shot or two would end it all, leading to another draw. Venus hesitated for a brief moment, clearly reluctant to shoot the shota, but she eventually closed her eyes... And...


    BANG


    Venus'' eyes remained closed up until the moment she succumbed to her wounds and was resurrected outside the Training Field. She chuckled lightly before turning her head over to Fate, who was just underneath the platform Venus was currently standing on, and mouthed the words ''thank you'' to her sister. Venus had not pulled the trigger, Fate did. Fate had hoisted the problem of an enlightened Phobos onto Venus to begin with and she viewed it as unfair to make her sister unwillingly pull the trigger on a shota when she clearly didn''t want to. To that end, Fate did it instead and, like this, nobody lost. Venus didn''t have to betray her family and not kill the recovering Phobos nor did she have to bring herself to kill a shota. Although Venus'' entire spectrum of morality was stupid to Fate, extremely stupid, that didn''t mean she would force her to make a choice that would tear her up and cause her sleepless nights. Was it strange that this was the kind of scenario Venus would have actual nightmares about? Of course it was but, really, that was her prerogative and who was Fate to judge? Venus was her sister at the end of the day so helping her with her problems, no matter how stupid, was only natural.


    That was just how the revenants operated. So much so that both Verv and Scar were also secretly prepared to intervene had Fate not shown signs of doing so herself. Yes, Verv would have given up the talisman, and in turn the match, to help Venus. And yes, Scar would have lost the standoff with Tyr just to help Venus. The Umbras, and the revenants in general, always had a family first mentality. Blood was an inseparable bond, and an eternal one at that, for revenants. If there was anyone who was guaranteed to be by a revenant''s side for the rest of time, it was other revenants. This match did not matter more to any of the Umbras than maintaining good family cohesion. It was a shame that this was something the spectators wouldn''t ever really pick up on. They''d just seen Fate take the shot, but were likely thinking it stemmed from a lack of trust in her sister to finish the job, and there were many who were disgusted at Fate as a result. In many ways the Umbras were equally as morally ''just'' as the Legions but perception was a bitch. Family dynamics couldn''t be understood just by watching them play out first hand so a lot of revenants'' intentions went under the radar and left a bad impression in others. That was par the course really and revenants knew it so they kinda went to town and embodied what others thought of them. If people thought you were all slimy, disrespectful, unjust cretins then, hey, why not act like that and have some fun in the process? The revenant''s reputation amongst the wider world would never be fixed, that was assuredly true, so at that point there was zero reason not to actually enjoy the perks of being what others saw them as. Maybe it was lazy not to at least try and work on their reputation but, then again, it was lazy of others not to try and change their own perception as well. It''s not like anyone specifically was at fault for all of this, other than maybe those who started all the various rumours about Dominus specifically, but for the most part no one was really to blame. People believed fake stories, the revenants acted truthfully to them, and the cycle perpetuated and would continue to do so. Que sera, sera.


    As for how the match was panning out now that both Phobos and Venus had been removed from the premise... Well Tyr was sighing repeatedly to himself. This was his way of acknowledging that he had to make the next move here and lose the standoff. If he waited around and did nothing then Fate would probably EMP Deimos at some point and kick off a 2 vs 1 fight he couldn''t possibly hope to win. Fate would be willing to sacrifice herself and chuck H.I.JACK face first at Deimos to guarantee the win. Verv would utilise her sister''s selflessness to kill Deimos and then it would be another 2 vs 1 with Scar and Verv against him if he stood around here and refused to move. Plus if Skyzo and Pele came back the favour would shift even further towards the Umbras... Still, there was hope even now. They may have lost the battle on the combat front but that wasn''t the only option to win the war. Time. It was getting dangerously close to the two minute and thirty second mark and, if they could hold the talisman for that long... There was a way to win this yet! If Tyr could break through Scar and act as a bodyguard for Deimos, slowing everyone else down, then maybe a win could be earned yet. Tyr would have to go up against Scar directly, and probably Fate too to prevent her from annoying Deimos, but if it was what needed doing, he would do it fearlessly. So with his resolution firmly set, the remainder of how this match would play out was basically guaranteed to follow one of two paths. Either Tyr would accommodate Deimos'' retreat and they would win through time or, unfortunately, the Umbras would wipe them out down to the last member. Reputation wise, neither was great as it would reflect poorly on them either way for having been in such a disastrous situation but, if they could at least come out victorious, there would be a way to salvage this poor showing. As Tyr understood this all perfectly, like the natural born leader he was, his determination right now was soaring as he was ready and willing to put his pride and his life on the line. The spectators were about to get what they''d wanted from the start of the match. It was time for the captains to begin their fight to the death!

 Chapter 209: Captains for a Reason

    Tyr wasted no time and made two moves to kick off the party. He thrust the bottom of his Staff Of Jako into the floor whilst lifting his Sword Of Damocles into the air and pointing it skyward. If Tyr''s opponent wasn''t within a short range of him then the Staff Of Jako increased the speed at which he chanted and casted any and all arts by a factor of two. It allowed him to punish enemies that were lenient in giving him space by allowing him to just endlessly chuck arts at people from a safe distance. This synergised quite nicely with his Sword Of Damocles as the bestowal aspect art it came with, that could only be used against enemies at range, was a little something called "Resolution To Disputation." A gigantic sword appeared a few feet directly above Scar and was effectively glued to his soul as it bared its sharp edge towards his cranium. The art was simple. This sword hovered above Scar for a random amount of time before dropping and doing a whopping amount of damage. There was no way to tell how long this random amount of time was but it was typically no less than fifteen seconds... Typically. Although nothing was supposed to be able to shorten that time, the Staff Of Jako''s effect actually did meaning, if you rolled the worst possible outcome, the Resolution To Disputation could drop on your head in seven and a half seconds after being cast. That was not a lot of time to take appropriate measures, especially if Tyr kept hassling you from the side, but there was a silver lining in all of this.


    The Resolution would disappear if you entered a certain range of Tyr.


    Yes the Sword of Damocles would then make him stronger, as would the Staff Of Jako, thanks to their two dichotomous effects that operated at two different ranges, but it was still a better option than having the Resolution dropped on you. the Resolution packed an incredible amount of damage and blocking it was nigh impossible due to the penetrating power it packed. Saying the Resolution ''dropped'' on you was a bit of an understatement as it was fired downward like a bullet out of a gun. Seeing as how the sword was roughly the size of a double decker bus... Yeah, it was going to hurt a LOT. It''s not like it could be avoided or dodged either as the tracking on it was impeccable and followed you through Blinks and various other methods of instantaneous transport. The best option when dealing with the Resolution was to face Tyr like a man, walk up to him, and punch his face in! That last part was unnecessary but getting close to Tyr did rid the victim of the giant sword. Yes you then had to put up with an insanely powerful Tyr, who was reaping the benefits of two high tier treasures at the same time, but it wasn''t a massive issue as you could skirt between the two ranges. Make space from Tyr to cancel out his close range advantage, then jump back in when the Resolution appeared to remove it.


    A fight against Tyr became a sort of dance in which you were always attempting to circumnavigate the powerful attack or the empowered state of Tyr. If you tried to stay at one range for two long the Staff Of Jako would ensure Tyr''s win by synergising with the Sword Of Damocles and making his advantages that much more severe. At range, if you couldn''t get past the Staff-enabled onslaught of arts, the Damocles would bury you. At close range, the Damocles provided the user a chance, 10% specifically at Tyr''s current cultivation, to deal quadruple damage on every swing while the Staff increased the user''s speed drastically. Sure hitting the 10% was pure luck but, if you were swinging much faster thanks to the Staff, you had a higher chance of hitting that jackpot in the same amount of time as you would normally due to the increased quantity of swings made. The Staff''s increase in speed wasn''t just for weapon wielding either, though, as it also boosted the cultivator''s speed of movement while it was equipped, allowing Tyr to chase down slower opponents and control the range of engagement himself. Faster and lighter opponents weren''t as bulky, and would struggle to take a hit if it was quadrupled in damage, whereas slower opponents wouldn''t be able to close the distance to prevent the Damocles art. This was what it meant to fight a true all-rounder. Nothing really worked because Tyr was prepared for all eventualities. His wide range of magic in his back pocket also aided him in remaining adaptable to any given situation. Most people had a plan B in a fight, Tyr had plans that extended beyond the alphabet. To beat him you just needed to have the talent to dodge his numerous arts, the talent to beat him at close range despite his enhanced speed, and the talent to understand the flow of battle and retreat / advance when it was optimal to do so. It''s not that any of the three requirements individually were hard to learn or rare to possess but having all three at once was a different story.


    As it just so happened, however, Scar was a man of many talents; all of those listed above included. This wasn''t his first rodeo with Tyr and the two were somewhat familiar with one another''s habits, tricks, and specialties. Scar made no effort to jump headfirst into Tyr immediately to remove the giant sword because he was confident in himself, yes, but also because he knew exactly what kind of person Tyr was.


    "Overheat."


    That was the kind of person Tyr was, a thinker and a strategist. By deploying the Resolution To Disputation, the pressure and looming threat it created was enough to drive many mobile cultivators to make a beeline for Tyr. With Scar''s blink, if he made the foolish error of jumping right in to try and exploit the fact that Tyr just casted Resolution, he would have been burnt all across his flesh by a close range overheat that Tyr had pre-emptively launched. It made no difference whether Scar Blinked towards Tyr one second after the fight started or two, as he had at minimum 7.5 seconds at his disposal before things got ugly, so waiting patiently as Tyr''s first plan went up in smoke was the correct choice to make. Even if Tyr wanted to keep launching close range bombardments to try and catch out him, Scar was willing to just watch Tyr waste all his mana. Even if the Resolution fell that wasn''t a guaranteed death necessarily and so it became a sort of health and mana trade. Tyr would dry up his mana reserves and Scar would suffer bodily harm. He would have the advantage in the long run if he stuck to this plan and, seeing as how the long con was a winning option for him in this match overall, that was what he decided to do. Tyr needed to get past him to help Deimos so, if he kept prolonging this little frenzied art casting session then only Scar benefitted from it. Of course Tyr was also well aware of this and it seemed like he gave up on that avenue after the Overheat, opting not to make any moves to cast another art, and yet Scar simply snorted without moving. Scar kicked the floor with his toes and shook the nearby arena, causing a rumble that made Tyr kiss his teeth and jump back from his current location.


    The reason Tyr fled was revealed shortly after his decision was finalised as a bunch of Wind Mines he hid in the ground were sprung up into the air and detonated om his previous location. Again, Tyr was a thinker. The Wind Mines had been silently cast during the obfuscating Overheat and buried in secret. The plan was to lure Scar into the real trap after the fake one but he wasn''t going to fall for it. Again, so what if Scar waited three seconds to Blink in instead of only two? He had time to spare and time to analyse Tyr''s every move as he wasn''t the one pressed for time despite the giant sword hanging overhead. Plus if push came to shove Scar was willing to bet the Resolution wouldn''t drop instantaneously anyway. The minimum was 15 seconds, technically always 7.5 thanks to the Staff, but the maximum was a minute, or 30 seconds with the Staff. If Tyr''s luck wasn''t great, Scar could drag this on for a painful duration to Tyr who really didn''t want to see Skyzo back in the stadium what with Fate still alive. Fate''s hijack of the Training Field was still in place as long as she lived so Skyzo would be nightmare fuel if he returned before Fate was dealt with properly and that couldn''t be allowed to happen. But what was Tyr to do if the Resolution didn''t faze Scar and force him into action? Launch a powerful art that could be sent out immediately? And have Scar blink past with little effort? It seemed like Tyr was now the one who was going to have to bite the bullet and make the first proper move, as much as he''d wanted to avoid it, so he started casting multiple different arts in a row. He could minimise the risk of Scar just avoiding everything if he used multiple smaller arts with different timings instead of committing to one big mistake.


    "Thunder Strike. Pound Down. Thunder Strike. Pound Down. Thunder Strike. Flamethrower."


    When some of the more elite cultivators in the crowd witnessed the impeccable line-up Tyr fired off, some let out a gasp of surprise because it was such an ingenious plan their heads almost exploded with information overload. For someone so young to have devised perfect countermeasures to his current predicament on the fly like this was an extraordinary feat that even experts would struggle to replicate. The positioning of the arts he was firing off, as well the specific order he chose for them, was all calculated with pristine accuracy and clever planning.


    The first Thunder Strike was positioned directly in front of Tyr. The reason for this was straightforward as it would smack Scar in the head if he tried to blink in front of Tyr. Simple. The real kicker was the next art he cast, the Pound Down, as he cast it in the exact same spot. Pound Down took a long time to form and was more often than not used to force someone to move away from their current location so using it to predict movement like this was normally seen as odd. Still, the Thunder Strike was covering Tyr''s bacon while he set up the Pound Down so it was safe to do it even against Scar with his quick Blinks. Although the first Thunder Strike hadn''t landed by this point, as it wasn''t a Flash Thunder, the second one could be safely cast as well without fear of Scar Blinking in lest he wanted to get zapped and smacked, in that order, by the first two arts. The second Thunder Strike was cast at Scar''s current location and the same was true of the second Pound Down. These were the arts that were going to force him to move and, although the first Thunder Strike had just crashed down into the arena and hit nothing, if Scar escaped towards Tyr right now, he would still be in the zone of the first Pound Down. Still, he couldn''t stay where he was as the second Thunder Strike was about to hit and paralyse him, trapping him inside the second Pound Down''s radius. Even up until this point, Tyr''s strategy was clever as, by intentionally ''missing'', he was able to prevent any movement from Scar that would cause him trouble. That wasn''t all though as a third Thunder Strike was cast in the same spot as the first. This meant that if Scar stayed where he was he was screwed, and if he went straight for Tyr he was also screwed. Tyr had set up two Thunder Strike into Pound Down combos without giving Scar an opportunity to prevent it. Yes this was heavy on the mana front but the sheer coverage of the immediate space, as well as the pressure it applied to Scar to finally make a move, was immense. To round out the series of arts, Flamethrower was just a catch all art that would cover any unforeseen manoeuvres from Scar. If Scar retreated, the Flamethrower would chase him and halt him in place, letting Tyr retreat as well and go help Deimos. If Scar held his ground the Flamethrower would lock him in place even longer thanks to the other arts that would follow, potentially leading to the Resolution if Tyr was lucky. If Scar went in, Blinking towards Tyr, he would get a face full of flames and be wounded while the Thunder Strike and Pound Down also rained down on him. long story short, every option Scar had to choose from had been considered thoroughly and made null and void by Tyr in a matter of seconds. His brain, in terms of combat strategy, was like a super computer and Scar couldn''t help but feel respect towards his rival of sorts.


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    Still, respect didn''t mean Scar was going to go easy on Tyr. Tyr wasn''t the only person around here who was special in their own right. Scar wasn''t the strongest of the Umbras for nothing. He''d lived a long life before his resurrection and he was well versed in war and violence. Though he detested it, he was a magnificent frontline veteran and was very nearly the gold standard, second only to... Well... Veteran himself, obviously. Though he didn''t have his revenant form right now thanks to the cultivation reset, he was still an unrivalled force at the beginning of sensory enhancement. Much like Ares he was a serious threat to anyone and everyone within the realm, even if his stage in it was low, as he could beat people far more advanced in cultivation than himself. He had value as a soldier back home but chose to go through with his revenant resurrection to protect the younger members of his family and he''d done a damn fine job of it. He was known as the resolute monk for a reason and, although he didn''t partake in combat often, the second he convinced himself it was necessary... You best pray to whatever God you believed in it wasn''t you he was after.


    Scar did not care about the deployment of these many arts as, due to Tyr''s careful measures, they were all spread out. If they''d all been targeted at him directly then, and only then, would he have shown even a lick of concern for his predicament. Instead, Scar just Blinked to within punching distance of Tyr, causing the Resolution to vanish into thin air, and stood tall in the face of the Flamethrower that would melt the skin of anyone else. Scar puffed up his chest and simply looked down at the jet of fire with a glare laden with disappointment. After the Flamethrower ran out of juice, and had accomplished little more than singing a couple hairs on Scar''s chest and maybe tanning his skin a little, the Thunder Strike was next in line to fling itself limply against the man of steel.


    Crash


    Though he was struck directly, from Tyr''s perspective Scar was like an ominous creature from a horror movie as the thunder cast a shadow over him and darkened his face. The cracking thunder didn''t peel even a millimetre of flesh and the remaining jolts skirting around his large frame didn''t bother Scar at all. As he clicked his knuckles and jaw, sparks flew out of his body almost as if they were fleeing in fear. The ground Scar was stood on remained perfectly safe but a small area around him had sunk downwards and created a dented ring in the arena as a result of the art. Scar may have been more lightning rod than human in that moment as the art was deadly enough to cause widespread damage and, yet, the result had been minimal in terms of destruction wrought due tis mere presence alone. Scar had taken the brunt of it and simply shrugged it off. This was the problem with Tyr not being a specialist. Yes Tyr had a lot of tools at his disposal but none were honed to a point they could leave even a single mark on Scar but, surely, Pound Down would be different, right? The God hand aspect arts packed a serious punch, and Tyr hadn''t skimped on his training with them, so things had to go better with this... And yet despite the spectators truly believing this line of logic, the face of Tyr had soured drastically before his art even hit and Scar stood motionless ready to prove the spectators wrong. Tyr realised in this moment that Scar, like the prodigy he was, had improved at ridiculous speeds since they last met as this was not something he was capable of doing before... The wind above Scar''s head coalesced into a single point, a green ball of buffeting winds that shaped itself into a fist and swelled in size. It became big enough to triple Scar in size but he only spared it a single glance before looking back down at Tyr with a menacing glint in his eye that signalled he was the next minor inconvenience on his list after this art was done posturing before him. The art descended and Scar cricked his neck in anticipation of the art while leaning back and spreading his arms wide, as if he was welcoming the morning sun at the start of a new day. His face was not one of jubilation, however, and rather one belonging to that of an arrogant king who was unstoppable when in his element.


    Speaking of elements, the fist comprised of wind may as well have been full of hot air because the plenteous power it purportedly packed paled when juxtaposed with the pure powerhouse that was Scar. The fist landed on his bare chest and broke like a real hand would when punching a building at full force. The fingers splayed, the knuckles frayed, and the art bade farewell to reality as it faded away with the winds howling in agony. The lingering winds blew outward and created a pulse that pushed Tyr back a step but couldn''t prevent Scar from taking one forward. The man, the myth, the mountain had made his way in and now Tyr was going to have the fight of his life on his hands. Scar, with his hair messily strewn about as a result of the previous art, thundered towards Tyr with the arena rocking beneath his feet with every step he took. Scar ran up to Tyr with his right arm positioned to launch an punch that looked like it would tear reality in two. Tyr gulped at the sight but knew he needed to hold the line here as the further back he went, the further away from Deimos he wound up. Tyr swung the Sword Of Damocles upwards to meet the fist that he could have sworn looked like a descending meteor. To tilt things back in his favour, even if only a little, Tyr cast an art that made Ares raise his eyebrow at the sight of it.


    "Echo!"


    And not just any Echo either, this man had stolen his pressurised Echoes and was using them against Ares'' own family! Despicable! Perfectly reasonable and quite smart to do so but despicable nonetheless! How dare Tyr use every tool available to him like all good cultivators do?! It seemed Phobos wasn''t the only one that had scoured the library and found the Echo tome. Or rather it seemed like Tyr had gone even deeper and checked in with the elders to get a hold of the pressurised Echo version via, presumptively, Rud. this wasn''t an easy art to just casually learn in such a short period of time as Tyr had done though. For starters, the better versions of Echoes were the kind of art that would take considerable practice to even use at a decent level let alone at tournament level fights. Throw into that the pressure requirements and, again, it just went to show that although Tyr was on the back foot right now, that was only because the ''man'' opposite him was really just a monster in disguise. Tyr was perhaps the best pressure wielder of the Legion family siblings in terms of control, otherwise Enyo might cinch the title with her brute force measures, and Ares was learning that in real time as he watched Tyr manipulate the pressure almost flawlessly. Hell Tyr might have even been slightly better than his mother so his mastery was no joke for a lower domain kid with no teaching. There was no doubt this guy had fought against Ares'' clone in the pagoda at some point and learnt some really valuable lessons so, actually, Ares was feeling a tad guilty... He was, in some ways, culpable for the resistance Tyr was fronting against Scar via his improved pressure control and the whole Echoes thing... Whoopsie!


    Tyr''s sword trembled as it rose to the occasion and collided with Scar''s fist...


    Where am I?


    Tyr blinked and he was halfway across the arena with a blood-soaked chest exposed to the fresh air down in the arena. His armoured clothes had been turned to smithereens and there were still shreds of it littered amongst the path of gauged earth he''d just been blasted through. Armour, Echoes, pressure, even a 10% quadruple from his Sword Of Damocles was he lucky enough to receive... And yet he''d just been pummelled like a nail by a hammer. He didn''t even see it happen. All he knew was that the fist overwhelmed the sword with little to no hassle and pushed it along the direction of its attack without faltering. Tyr had a mark on his chest that was long and rectangular which was where his own sword had been driven into him via Scar''s unwavering fist. Resistance had proven entirely futile against the brute and Tyr was going to have to rethink his approach to winning this fight.


    He''d skidded all the way to the opposite end of the arena, and been beaten senseless literally when considering the fact he momentarily lost consciousness, and yet he was still confident in himself that there was measures he could take to come out on top... Those measures were cowardly and involved staying the hell away from Scar, yes, but what was he supposed to against this unbeatable brick wall otherwise? They were both captains but Scar was the prodigy of his own clan whereas Tyr was not. He was a human fighting against a legend.


    He stumbled to his feet right as Scar Blinked directly in front of him. Watching a man of his magnitude magically materialise right before his very eyes was frightening but Tyr held firm and took action. he dodged an uppercut from Scar and snuck by his flank, under his raised arm, while turning round and dropkicking Scar''s back. The man did not budge an inch as Tyr''s feet dug into his spine, all Scar did in response was flex his back muscles and make Tyr feel like he just stubbed his toes against a sheet of metal. Still Tyr knew this would happen in advance and that hadn''t been the point of any of this. What he really wanted was to treat Scar''s back like a spring and bounce off it. Tyr did precisely that and kicked off Scar like he was a brick wall, giving him the momentum he needed to start running away. Tyr twisted in mid air to land in step with the start of his sprint as he booked it away from Scar. He wasn''t necessarily done fighting with him but he needed to stop, or at least try to stop, Fate from EMP''ing Deimos. It was a race against time as is but the hulking behemoth behind him that kept Blinking after his fleeing back, and taking occasional pot shots, only made the situation that much more tense. Right now Tyr was a man on a mission, one that seemed borderline impossible to complete, and yet his face was composed. Despite the Legion''s poor state, Tyr''s determination shone brightly and acted like a beacon of hope for every supporter of the Legions throughout the coliseum. As long as Tyr lived, there was still a chance to turn things around. With the hopes and dreams of everyone resting atop his shoulders, Tyr could feel the burden of expectation but he simply carried it with pride. His opponent was a legend, and he was but a man, but it wouldn''t be the first time a man had accomplished great things throughout history. So many times had they felled Gods, dragons, and various other indescribable horrors. In comparison, Tyr had it easy and that was what he truly believed. That was the thought that drove him to new heights each and every time he found himself stuck and it would be no different here today. Even if the Legions lost, Tyr would put up a fight for the history books, that he could guarantee.

 Chapter 210: Indefatigable Verv

    While Scar was snapping at Tyr''s heels, and actively Blinking after him repeatedly in an attempt to crush his spine, Verv was just about catching up to Deimos. Running Deimos down didn''t mean things would end immediately though as its not like the guy wouldn''t put up a fight but, at the very least, this game of cat and mouse would finally be over and done with. The spectators wanted a fight and, now that the space Deimos had to drive around in was limited, they were probably going to get it. Fate had cloaked somewhere in the arena and Deimos didn''t want to head in that general direction so one avenue was already cut off but add Scar''s hulking body into the mix and Deimos was stuck in one small quarter of the arena. Back when everyone else was busy with their own fights he had free reign to just keep circling the outer edge. Now though he was being corralled. As for Verv... Deimos could feel some of the mutts saliva hitting the back of his helmet every now and then so he was way closer than Deimos would ever want him to be. The hard truth of the matter was that he was going to have to hold his ground against the mutt with zoomies sooner rather than later and he couldn''t just coast to victory on his bike like he wanted to. As for Fate EMP''ing him, although he was going to have to square off against Verv regardless by the looks of things, a core part of the way Deimos fought involved the Grand Prix so losing it would suck big time. If his brother, Tyr, could help him out here and keep Fate at bay then he felt confident he could keep the talisman for the amount of time he needed it. It''s not like Deimos would never lose the talisman going up against Verv, the pooch was a problem, it''s just that Verv in this state was one-track minded. He wouldn''t take the talisman and run, he would take the talisman and... Run... But he would run towards Deimos and not away so that was ok! It''s not like they needed to flawlessly shut out the Umbras on the time front and handing over the talisman occasionally didn''t really mean much. The Umbras were gunning for a wipe out win by killing all the Legions so, really, they gained nothing from the talisman. At best, the Umbras possessing the talisman meant the Legion timer wasn''t going up but that was literally all the use holding it had. So no, Verv wasn''t a dumb dog for not running away with the talisman, he was being a clever boy and trying to cater to his win condition by killing Deimos.


    When Deimos truly believed he''d pushed things as far as he could, in terms of giving Verv the run around, he performed a bike slide by shifting his centre of gravity, turning the bike''s wheels, and making his Grand Prix slide froward horizontally. This wasn''t done just for style points, although if pressed Deimos would admit that was a huge part of it, it was also useful in keeping his momentum moving away from Verv while allowing Deimos to face him and launch an attack simultaneously. Sure he could have set the Grand Prix to auto mode and swivelled on his seat to directly face the approaching, rabid dog but doing things this way was way cooler and, thus, mandatory for Deimos. As he slid to a screeching halt, he chanted "Burning Rubber!" and flipped open the gourd resting on his waist. He poured the drink directly over the gap in his helmet, that he''d just opened up, and allowed the contents of the gourd to flow freely wherever they landed. If they went down his throat, allowing him to breathe holy fire, then so be it. If it splashed onto his treasure and ramped up its speed and lethality, so be it. If he were a more surgical man he would have maybe spent some time learning how to accurately divvy up his gourd''s resources but he was a wild child at heart and had a more ''go with the flow'' approach to such matters. The Grand Prix''s contours lit up in bright white as Deimos threw his head back and swallowed before flinging his head back forward shortly after and expelling his art from within his mouth. The fire had been brewing in his throat and burst out from behind his lips as soon as he gave it an avenue out. As Deimos breathed his fire above, the skidding Grand Prix left its own trail of fire below, meaning no matter what Verv decided to do about this situation he would feel the burn of the light of justice. If he leapt high Deimos would catch him with the spewing fire and if Verv chose to slide under it he would trudge around in the burning trenches as the heat above him seared his skull. It wasn''t preferable either way so Deimos was curious to see which route the mutt took.


    Verv... Well Verv didn''t seem to care much. Scar was the kind of person who took hits because he knew he could withstand them without being bothered. Verv took hits for one of two reasons. Either A; he wanted to feel alive in the moment or B; he cared more about freedom of movement and not being restricted. As in, if he was going to get hit by something if he didn''t stop running, then would just keep charging ahead consequences be damned. Verv goes where he pleases, when he pleases. To that end, although what he decided to next shocked Deimos and the spectators, his own family weren''t taken aback in the slightest as this was all just standard operating procedure with Verv. Did he leap? No! Did he put his nose to the ground and slink under the fire breath? He had to, right? As that was the only other option, right? NO! Instead of picking one option or the other, he simply kept sprinting as he was doing previously! He made no effort to dodge either attack and simply took both like a champ! The searing sensation on the soles of his feet and the palms of his hand as he dashed across the holy floor on all fours was sublime to him. The sweltering blaze of the torrent of holy fire Deimos exhaled tingled his brain and set his heart alight with excitement, nearly causing his speed to double the second his flesh came into contact with the art. His manic grin turned into an open mouth cackle and shortly thereafter into a howl as his head bobbed up and down with glee in his eyes. Or rather his eyes couldn''t be seen thanks to the flaring white mist covering it but the black dot hovering within, that was tracking Deimos and his bike with the precision of a huntsman, shone just a little brighter, indicating he was in a good mood and enjoying his play time right now. Hell he even opened his mouth and drank in some of the flames, lapping them up with his tongue and smiling ear to ear when he was fully hydrated.


    Verv charged through the fire and the flames, pushing back against the jet of holy fire and clearing a path straight to Deimos. As he ran the biker down, Deimos hopped off his bike and set it to auto. When actually in combat it was better for Deimos to be off the bike rather than treat it like some kind of jousting competition. Technically he could do it with his trusty baseball bat, and he''d run down some various hoodlums in such a fashion before, but he preferred to be grounded when taking his swings. As Deimos stepped down and brandished his bat, the Grand Prix set off in a curve so that it could flank Verv when he ran in to fight Deimos. The Grand Prix had a few tools in its arsenal that allowed it to aid Deimos in combat and they were going to be put to good use against probably his toughest foe yet. Deimos never really took part in sparring back on the Legion planet so he''d never fought against anyone particularly strong throughout his life. Some monsters here and there had fallen pray to his flames and bat but an actual human that put up a fight? This would be a first.


    Luckily, or maybe unluckily depending on how you looked at it, Deimos'' first opponent was an ''idiot''. Not in the sense that Verv was dumb but, rather, in the sense that strategy, plotting, and trickery were nowhere to be found on this revenant as his brain possessed no capacity for such thoughts. Verv ran towards you and that was really it. There were no smarts on display here it was just a straight line philosophy that needed no deviation. Deimos wouldn''t have to bait Verv into doing what he wanted, he could just launch whatever he wanted straight at the guy and it was bound to hit provided Deimos himself didn''t miss for whatever reason. As for why this could be considered unlucky, well getting used to an opponent like this would set a bad habit down the line if Deimos wasn''t careful. That and it almost put more pressure on Deimos rather than less. Imagine having one bullet in a gun as a dog sprints at you, ready to maul your throat out. The dog may just be running in a straight line but that doesn''t make the snarling or the aura of viciousness go away and that''s not always an easy thing to cope with. Plus it didn''t help that in no universe whatsoever was a single bullet ever enough to put Verv down so that only made things worse. Fighting against him wasn''t going to be hard, it was just going to require an insanely strong will to keep going, not to back down before the rabid animal, and definitely not to run out of stamina. That last one was especially important because it''s not like Verv''s would ever run out. Dealing with his unceasing assault would require a lot of effort every time Deimos had to fend it off so, really, his biggest concern was taking whatever small breaks he could between bouts so as not to get tuckered out by the boundless Verv.


    As Verv drew closer, the Grand Prix came in from the side with another slide but this time things were slightly different. The obvious change was that the vehicle was now sliding towards Verv instead of away from him. It was on course to catch him in the feet and trip him up but there was yet another difference worth noting and that was the spiked wheels! A few small holes in the wheels had opened up and spikes were now protruding and poking out of them. Usually this was used for off-roading and rough weather conditions but, in the case someone''s ankles needed to not just be run over but also stabbed, these bad boys were highly effective. Now, any normal person would see this monstrosity of a bike about to crash into them and think, Hey, I should dodge that... Yeah not Verv. That seriously was not how the guy operated so the bike hit him square in the ankles with one wheel, and the wrists on the other wheel, and pierced his feet and hands in multiple places. He was forced to halt his run down on all fours as the machine that was now attached to him was heavy and had interrupted his momentum. As Verv looked down at the bike with a tilted head, Deimos ran up to him and smacked him across the skull with his baseball bat as if he were aiming for a homerun.


    THWACK!


    Any normal person would have died here but Verv was simply built different. The momentum of his neck swinging backwards actually caused his body parts to dislodge from the spike bike as he unintentionally performed a backflip on the spot. Deimos had hit Verv so hard he spun clockwise and landed on his feet with a confused smile. Verv''s world had literally spun and, honestly, he kinda enjoyed the trip he''d just taken. The way he looked at Deimos was almost like he was encouraging the guy to hit him again and send his body reeling once more... Deimos obliged...


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    THWACK!


    This time, Verv leaned into the swing and bent his back to accommodate for the recoil, allowing him to rotate fully twice during his backflip by curling into a ball. He looked very pleased with himself after nailing the landing but that happiness soon disappeared as he remembered he had a job to do! Deimos smiled wryly as he was hoping the dumb mutt would just let him keep smacking him and forget about the original mission. Evidently that wasn''t the case as Verv yoinked the great sword off his back with a single hand and went about swinging it like it was as heavy as a tree branch. That is to say he was swinging far faster than any cultivator should logically be able to. The guy was like a machine purpose built to swing giant weapons. His movements were fluid but had a weird tempo to them. Sometimes he would stumble a step or two forward while dragging the sword over his shoulder in laborious fashion and sometimes the speed of his swing would randomly increase ten fold. The disjoint and sheer variation in his movement and swing speeds was incredibly off putting as it was impossible to tell if you were safe or not as he switched between full on rampage and methodical hunting at the drop of a hat.


    Verv swung his sword vertically downwards while Deimos hopped backwards and prepared himself to rush in after the attack missed. The sword embedded itself into the floor and Deimos was convinced this was his chance to bat the freak again. Unfortunately, as Deimos ran past the buried sword, Verv stuck his second hand on the handle of his weapon and Deimos was forced to roll to the side as Verv unearthing his sword nearly took his head clean off. Verv''s power with two hands wielding the sword was explosive and would sever any part of Deimos'' body it hit if he wasn''t being careful. Rather than take any more risks, Deimos waited for his bike to sneakily ram into Verv from behind and knock him off balance before he ran up to Verv again, safely this time, and brought the bat down on Verv''s skull from above.


    CRACK!


    Contrary to the expected outcome, the bat cracked in various places and was warped at the point of impact. Verv was bleeding from his head, and may have suffered a tiny bit of brain damage, but he was still raring to go as, from his perspective, he''d yet to suffer any kind of meaningful injury this entire fight! Perforated? Now his body was taking in more fresh air and cooling him down! Whacked upside the skull? Now his mind was clear! In fact, Verv felt like sharing the enlightenment so he swung his head towards Deimos'' and headbutt the poor guy with his thick forehead.


    CRACK!


    This time, the noise actually was indicative of a broken skull as part of Deimos head was caved inwards near the top left of his right ear. He stumbled backwards as blood dripped out of his head and nearly fell over but, thankfully, the Grand Prix had circled around and caught him mid fall. To add insult to injury, Verv didn''t even launch a follow up attack because he was too busy trying to shove the talisman he''d just received on top of his firefly. It was like he was trying to put a sticker on the thing but it wasn''t quite working out. The talisman had to be on his body after all, and couldn''t be placed on a treasure, so it was rejecting being placed on the firefly time and time again leaving Verv very confused. Deimos would have loved it if smacking the talisman on treasures was possible as he could have just strapped it to the Grand Prix and let it do its own thing while he guarded it. Still, the stupid idiot who was slapping his firefly with the talisman had officially beaten him and was now wasting his time being a moron. That irked Deimos to no end so he brought out a medicine that numbed pain, a small pink flower, and plastered it on his head. It looked a little funny but the effects were immediate and perfectly did as was needed. The flower wasn''t a permanent fixture, thankfully, as it sunk into his dented head and soothed any and all pain, relieving Deimos so that he could focus on the fight at hand. The fool Verv was still distracted by the firefly and trying to chase it down by running after it in circles on all fours... So Deimos just walked up to him and smacked him in the knee caps with his bat...


    THWACK!


    Verv crumbled to the floor but instantly got back up again and returned to business chasing down the firefly. Deimos took his talisman back and tried to slowly creep away but Verv wasn''t having it as he rugby tackled Deimos from behind. Deimos wrestled with the mad mutt and was actually doing a pretty good job of it even if only because Verv kept getting distracted by the firefly half the damn time... When Verv wasn''t wasting precious time on his little see-through friend, he was actively winning the engagement with Deimos and pummelling him into the floor with heavy strikes. That all came to and end though when Verv finally found an opportunity to grasp the firefly within his hands and shove it back in the lantern. While this was happening the Grand Prix returned and ran him over, pushing him off Deimos and giving the biker some breathing room for once. He had the talisman back and Verv wasn''t sitting on his chest and smacking him around anymore so that was a pleasant change of pace.


    Verv, now that the firefly was out of the picture, had one goal and one goal only so he charged at Deimos again with renewed interest. Deimos swung his bat once more and Verv swung his own weapon in response. Just as Verv''s sword was about to collide with the bat, however, he let the weapon go from his grip, chucking it towards Deimos'' torso instead. Deimos was forced to give up on his own swing as a result, and hop to the side, but this left him open to Verv who''s fist went flying into his face. Deimos was decked by a punch that was packing enough power to spin him through the air and send him sailing into a nearby wall. The Grand Prix couldn''t help Deimos out of his current situation as Verv had aimed the sword throw to hit the treasure specifically if Deimos dodged. The bike was currently pinned to the floor and no amount of engine revving was getting it out of this predicament any time soon due to the angle at which it had been pierced preventing its wheels from getting any real torque. Verv was berserk but his intelligence was definitely still in there somewhere if that smart move was any indication.


    With his bike temporarily out of commission, and Verv coming after him properly now, things were looking rough for Deimos but he wasn''t screwed just yet. He pushed himself out of the wall and took a swig of his gourd again before tossing the remainder of its contents somewhere behind Verv who didn''t bother to check what had happened. Deimos then took a deep breath before firing off another jet of holy flames. Did this slow Verv down at all? Not in the slightest. So why did Deimos do this? There were two reasons, first and foremost it got him the talisman back sooner as this counted as a hit for the sake of transferring ownership of the talisman. Every second with this talisman mattered right now and so he took reacquiring it very seriously. The second reason was because the holy flames that lingered after he finished spewing them would buff him up and make him stronger. If he was going to go toe to toe with this annoying revenant then he would need all the help he could get.


    Verv clasped his hands together and swung them both horizontally at Deimos who ducked under the attack and smashed his bat into Verv''s gut. Anticipating the fact that this wouldn''t even faze the revenant, Deimos immediately launched another attack against the mutt''s arm; specifically the one one on the right as that would be the most likely arm to try and swing again given the two combatants'' relative positions to one another. Deimos wasn''t sure if Verv even felt pain but that didn''t mean his body could just ignore these strikes. Although Verv wanted to swing his fist again it wasn''t possible thanks to Deimos whacking his arm in the opposite direction. This gave Deimos the chance to hit Verv yet again and blast him across the face, even knocking out a tooth in the process. Deimos wasn''t finished yet though as he hopped a step forward, came in from a curved angle, and took another swipe at Verv, hitting him directly in the Adam''s apple and toppling the beast backwards.


    The holy buffs were doing good work and letting Deimos stand his ground whereas he would have otherwise bitten the dust already without them... Unfortunately, Verv was already back up on his feet as though nothing had happened. Deimos might as well have been beating up plasticine because the way Verv just kept returning from the dead, with a beaming smile on his face, as though he was completely refreshed was starting to get annoying. If Deimos had been batting a normal cultivator the way he''d been laying into Verv, they''d be nothing more than a mangled corpse by now. Verv''s regeneration seemed to be a step above his siblings but that didn''t excuse the complete lack of care he was showing. This went above and beyond the pale. Some people were born resilient but this guy took the cake, especially when paired with that obnoxiously strong regeneration and inherent berserk nature of his. A lot of the wounds Deimos had inflicted were either already gone or on the verge of fading and the fight may as well have only just started considering Verv''s current state. It felt like the guy had infinite health and stamina to just chuck at people until they collapsed under the weight of his persistence. He didn''t even use arts... Not that he didn''t know any, just that his berserk mastery wasn''t yet to the point where he could cast them whilst in that state. This was something that was extremely difficult to learn how to do but Verv would no doubt accomplish it sometime soon. Hell the fact that his control was already this phenomenal was astounding in and of itself.


    Unfettered by the unbreakable Verv, Deimos felt like he was having a perfect game as he thwacked Verv in the head again and sent him reeling backwards, headfirst into one of the spiked, burning wheels of the Grand Prix which was up and running again. Earlier, when Deimos tossed his gourd, he threw it at the Grand Prix behind Verv and gave it the boost it needed to free itself from Verv''s oversized sword. Now it had come back around and dealt an excruciating blow... Or it should have been anyway but Verv, now with a few holes in his burning head, stood up again like a damned zombie and was ready as ever to keep battling with Deimos. This was clearly going to go on for a while yet but, as long as Deimos could have that talisman timer tick above 2 minutes and 30 seconds, that was all it would take for his job to be completed successfully. He readied himself for another confrontation by directing his Grand Prix to circle around Verv''s flank and come at him from a blind spot... But that was when the one thing Deimos had been dreading occurred. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a shimmer, followed by the unveiling of Fate and her H.I.JACK who were preparing themselves to EMP the Grand Prix. Deimos'' treasure was out in the open, so there was no way for Fate to miss, and currently behind Verv so there was no way for Deimos himself to run past the mutt safely and defend it... In other words, things were looking grim. Without that bike his chances of success would plummet catastrophically. Just when he was preparing himself to make a mad dash and attempt to budge Verv out the way, Deimos caught sight of Tyr arriving to save the day!... Or ruin it what with the fact that Scar was still on his tail. Deimos had no clue where things would go from here, as all the remaining competitors were grouped in the exact same area now, but what he did know is that things were going to get out of hand in spectacular fashion.

 Chapter 211: Race Against Time

    Deimos knew what he had to do here because his role was simple, keep Verv occupied. There was little all else he could do as he was fully reliant on his brother swooping in to save the day but Tyr needed Verv out of the picture in order to do it. It was bad enough Tyr was going up against Scar and Fate at the same time so Deimos really needed to relieve some of his strain however possible. His task was a simple one, though, because his opponent was also simple! He didn''t need to do anything fancy to get and keep Verv''s attention, he already had it. Deimos put his faith in Tyr and moved towards the slobbering mutt, who was still leaking some blood from his face here and there, and gripped his bat with both hands. Verv had already fetched his greatsword so, much to Deimos'' dismay, he was going to have to clash against the weighty weapon head on. The one solace here was that he still had his holy fire lingering nearby so the disadvantage he had against Verv was minimal.


    Verv wasn''t entirely sure why his prey was walking towards him but it didn''t really matter. If someone wanted to get smacked, he would smack them! With a grunt, Verv lifted his greatsword directly above his head and stumbled forward towards Deimos, ready to bring the weapon crashing down on him. Unfortunately for Deimos, it seemed like Verv at least understood that he was challenging him directly even if Verv didn''t understand the intricacies of why. He only knew his opponent wasn''t running away like usual and, thus, it was time to go for a big swing. The worst part was that he wasn''t wrong and Deimos could only kiss his teeth, shake his head to throw off the doubt, and put his all into his next attack.


    Thud


    Planting his foot into the arena and digging in to hold his position, Deimos anchored himself as he swung upward with impeccable form. It was the kind of perfect pose you would expect to find in a hall of fame picture detailing the winning homerun made by a professional baseballer at the top of his game. In contrast Verv just looked like a bumbling idiot as he almost tripped twice on the run up to his own attack. He looked like a drunk man trying to walk in a straight line and, even when he finally made it over to Deimos, he struggled to get the weapon to do what he wanted of it. During the approach the wind had blown the sword back a little so Verv was fighting against gravity to swing it back forward. Though this was a rather silly mistake to have allowed to happen in the first place it did technically mean his swing would carry more force than before so whether or not he''d actually done this intentionally or not was anyone''s guess. No one would ever know because even if you tried asking him after the match he wouldn''t remember any of this.


    Deimos'' bat looked poxy in comparison the greatsword, like a tidal wave trying to lunge upwards at a collapsing skyscraper. It didn''t take a genius to figure out who was going to win this duel but Deimos stuck with it and strained every muscle in his body, roaring from the bottom of his soul with fiery determination.


    CLANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!


    Deimos did far better than expected and managed to hold his ground as the two weapons scraped against one another, creating sparks that were dancing in the air between the two metals. That''s not to say he was in perfect condition however, as Deimos coughed up blood on impact and had been brought down to one knee. Though it proved his weakness in comparison to Verv it did at least keep him in the fight. Many cultivators were the ''die standing rather than live kneeling type'' but Deimos had no such scruples. Plus this was just a tournament match anyway so he really didn''t care that much... And yet he cared enough to hold his bat in place and treat this clash like a last stand. HIs left hand was gripping the tip of the bat while his right held the handle firmly. Verv''s greatsword was bearing down on the bat by placing all its weight on the centre of the bat. Luckily for Deimos, Verv''s current weapon was not a treasure. He did have some treasures up his sleeve but maybe he was too berserk to realise? Or maybe he just deemed it inappropriate to use the treasure in this specific scenario. Some treasures came with down sides after all. If Verv had used a treasure, though, the bat would have been split in half by now. Hell it was already damaged so being able to take this much punishment was borderline miraculous. To be fair it was made of the same stuff the Legion armour was so it holding out for this long was reasonable... What wasn''t reasonable was that Verv''s head had dealt more damage to the bat than his great sword currently was dealing... The bat was bending, and the metal was whinging and creaking under the weight of the greatsword, but compared to the ''u'' shaped dent where Deimos had bashed Verv''s skull... Yeah it wasn''t worth mentioning, really. Normally Deimos would have to get his weapon repaired by the Legion blacksmith but, fortunately, as this was all happening in a Training Field, the damage would be undone after the match finished. The deadlock between Verv and Deimos was going to carry on for a while as Deimos stubbornly refused to budge. He would have escaped if he could but he was worried that leaving this mutt alone for too long would cause him to get bored and wander off which really wasn''t preferable right now. Deimos was doing his part so all he could do aside from holding his ground was watch Tyr in the background going to work on his own task.


    With a nimble shift an inch to the right, Tyr managed to avoid Scar who''d Blinked above him and tried to elbow drop his head into paste. The crash landing right next to Tyr did cause a localised earthquake that very nearly made Tyr trip thanks to his rightward momentum but he steadied himself and kept going. Just because Scar missed that didn''t mean Tyr had time to mess around. Scar''s Blinks were quick, required little time between uses, and Tyr had no way to stop them. He felt like an explorer who''d just set off a boulder trap as the rolling boulder of a man chasing him was getting dangerously close to flattening Tyr into a makeshift pancake. That was the problem behind Tyr but there was also a problem in front of him that needed dealing with, Fate. Deimos'' Grand Prix was on the line here and that single treasure could very well be the difference between winning or losing as this match was now entering its final stages. Fate was readying her EMP Disc Launcher and H.I.JACK was prepared to stop Tyr in his tracks if he came over. Tyr needed to somehow navigate both Scar and H.I.JACK as well as kill the papillon that was about to spawn without dying... Not an enviable task but one he shouldered nonetheless. There was one thing working in his favour, though, and that was the Grand Prix itself! It''s not like the treasure was going to just sit around and do nothing, Deimos had left it on auto and it could recognise allies based on Deimos'' perception of people. Though this was provisionally a one vs three, Tyr felt a little better knowing the fiery bike was on his side... In fact, this may be one of the few times Deimos would ever let anyone but him ride the damn thing. No he wouldn''t take it off auto mode and let Tyr take control but that was still more than enough.


    As if on cue, after Tyr ducked underneath Scar who attempted to dropkick him from behind, the Grand Prix rolled up to Tyr and set off again the second he hopped on. Fate and H.I.JACK were a short distance away and so Tyr decided the best course of action was to charge straight at them. He couldn''t shift the fight away from here because Fate would just follow the Grand Prix anyway and if Tyr took it away then Deimos would be screwed. Tyr knew he had to off Fate for good to remove the annoying brat and her myriad treasures from the arena, the latter of which were the real nuisance. She was weakened right now, which was a small piece of good news, but that didn''t mean she would go quietly into the good night. Tyr could already see her tiny head poking out from behind H.I.JACK wielding the gun she''d shot Phobos with, the one that was hyper accurate at all ranges. She''d conveniently fitted a scope onto it at some point so Tyr was very much in the cross hairs right now but that wasn''t a problem. Between the Grand Prix''s defensive manoeuvres, and Tyr''s increased casting speed thanks to the Staff Of Jako, their approach would be relatively safe. Not that knowing that stopped Fate from firing off a couple of shots in a bid to keep the Legion captain away.


    BANG


    BANG


    BANG


    The Grand Prix swerved left to avoid the first shot as it sunk into the arena and kicked up dust. The second shot was avoided by leaning in the opposite direction but the third shot had to be dealt with by Tyr who chanted "Fireball" and threw the art forward. The bullet and the magic collided and immediately created a blast of fire as both the bullet and the fireball exploded on the spot. The Grand Prix raced through the fire cloud and shot out through the other side without slowing down through the wall of blazing air in the slightest. Now that they''d gotten close enough it was time to start fighting back!... Although Tyr decided to attack Scar first as he was getting a little annoying. Even though Ty had hopped aboard a vehicle Scar was still thundering after him and Blinking in a bid to catch the Grand Prix''s back wheels with his bare hands. The scary part was that he would more than definitely be able to stop the bike in its track by gripping the literal burning rubber. He would have one hell of a skid mark in his palm but Scar had the raw strength to stop the treasure in its tracks even if it pulled out the spikes. Scar was short for Scary, after all... Well that''s not what it was supposed to be short for, it wasn''t supposed to be short for anything, but there were certainly times when it was applicable.


    Anyway, up until now Tyr had relied on the Grand Prix to avoid these attempts by Scar and, although it had done a good job, Tyr wanted to buy some time so that he could focus on Fate and get her out the picture. Tyr did what Deimos refused to and swivelled around on the seat, facing backwards while the Grand Prix started driving in a semi-circle towards H.I.JACK instead of moving in a straight line. The reason for this was that they were getting quite close to Fate now and if they drove in a straight line they would probably arrive besides Fate and H.I.JACK before Tyr had managed to slow down Scar. This slight detour gave him the breathing room he needed so the Grand Prix veered slightly off course and made a clever decision all by itself based on its rider''s actions. Its A.I was well programmed at least... Not that automatic treasures were really ''programmed'' to begin with, it was kind of just the mana version of A.I. The longer you used a treasure capable of acting independently, the smarter it became. Exposing such treasures to countless scenarios allowed it to better calculate variables by its lonesome when it needed to. A similar example was Ares'' Biome Eagle. The magic bird he summoned could retain its memory and that would technically allow it to learn over a period of time. It wasn''t even out of the cards for the Grand Prix to develop a conscience and start talking to Deimos like a sat-nav or something of that ilk, giving him valuable suggestions in real time.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Anyway, now that the Grand Prix had aided Tyr it was up to him to actually do something about Scar. Killing him was out of the question right now, as Tyr would need to be grounded to fight properly, but if it was just a matter of halting his endless chase there were a few arts that could maybe do it. There were a lot of options and, while none were perfect, Tyr had the freedom to pick between a lot of different avenues for success. He could try and trap Scar within a barrier but that ran the risk of not being able to withstand Scar''s blows for very long. Scar may even be able to Blink out of it in the worst case scenario. Tyr could maybe affect the floor to slow Scar down when he wasn''t actively Blinking but that didn''t help as much as the other options because it didn''t solve the fundamental issue of Scar''s mobility at all. Tyr could attempt to blind Scar but that required finesse, was hard to pull off successfully and consistently, and how long the effect would last was up in the air. Scar''s regeneration as a revenant meant any blindness would disappear even quicker than it normally would. Then again, that depended on whether the blinding was done to the eye itself or whether it was an indirect measure. I.E the difference between flashing a light in his eye or throwing some goop over his face. The latter was probably the better option here but now the question was what art should Tyr use? So many pillars, so many arts, so many choices... This was part of the problem with using variety cultivation, that damned analysis paralysis. Too many choices made making a choice hard, who would have guessed!? He didn''t have all day to make a choice though so, eventually, the one he went with was...


    "Ink Glue."


    An art of the tangible dark aspect. Ink Glue created a gloopy, black blob that looked slimy in texture but was actually way bulkier. It''s consistency was thick and it felt more like sticky dough. The glue floated through the air, chasing its designated target, either until it was destroyed or caught up to the victim. If it was destroyed it would just fall to the floor and dissolve. If it chased down the target it would latch onto their face and block their vision. Removing it was a hassle and a half, especially seeing as how it was typically worryingly close to your eyes. if you tried to use a knife to rid yourself of the problem there was a non-zero chance you would gauge your eye out accidentally and this actually had happened a few times throughout history. Of course if you didn''t rely on a sharp weapon then you would have to rely on your hands to rip it off but that was a painstakingly slow process and could also hurt if you were rushing. The art itself did no damage and would never harm you but, as an assassination tool, if you could get it off successfully the chance of your target living through the assassination attempt was slim. The other benefit of this art was that it floated silently which made it a beloved tool by assassins everywhere. Also, another use for it was covering security cameras. Overall, it was just a fantastic tool with a wide variety of uses. One guy working in a submarine even manged to use it by shoving the Glue into a broken pipe and preventing a massive leak that would have sunk the entire vessel otherwise. Generally speaking, anyone who swore by variety cultivation picked up this art early in their cultivation journey and kept it in their back pocket for a rainy day. Even in combat your opponent had to be constantly aware of it otherwise the consequences for ignoring it were a very real problem. 10/10, a very well respected art even by the Gods who couldn''t escape from the annoying fate of being blindsided by one of these blobs sneaking up on you.


    Tyr slit open his palm and the black Glue slid out, bubbling over his hand with minor amounts dripping off it. Scar happened to Blink behind the bike just in time to have the Ink Glue thrust into his face from point blank range. Sure the Glue normally needed to float towards its target but, at close ranges, it could just be applied directly. Typically you would rather use an art that was actually capable of harming your opponent in a situation as specific as this but Scar wasn''t going to be felled with anything half-hearted, that Tyr could muster in a second or two, and that wasn''t his current goal anyway. Scar, who''d just Blinked into a palm full of Glue, grunted as he stopped in his tracks and immediately took to tearing the Glue off his face. It resisted stubbornly but he was making quick progress, putting Tyr on a very limited timer. Tyr kept that information in the back of his head, watched Tyr shed a small handful of Glue by forcefully removing both it and the flesh it was attached to, and turned his back on the bulky monk. Fate was a stone''s throw away and that was where his focus was needed. In response to Tyr facing his way, H.I.JACK pulled out two new weapons and Tyr had to watch carefully to figure out what they were. Fate had been a relatively quiet and concealed Umbra, rarely showing herself or her capabilities in public. What her personal treasure was actually capable of was unknown but Tyr had made a mental note of everything he''d seen up until now. He valued information and he''d received a lot thanks to this match. He had no intention of treating the Umbras like enemies any longer but that didn''t mean he wasn''t going to still keep tabs on them anyway. Tyr even made notes on his own siblings and parents, someone like Fate wasn''t escaping his nosy habits.


    As for the weapons H.I.JACK pulled out, one was seemingly a spike cannon. It looked like a harpoon gun with the only major difference being that there was nothing connecting the weapon and the payload within so it couldn''t be retracted after firing it. The other weapon was... Unknown. the metal pipe that acted like an arm was completely empty right now which was extremely unusual. Why H.I.JACK wouldn''t equip a second weapon right now was a train of thought that ended with a single conclusion. It was equipping a weapon right now, just one that couldn''t be seen because it was hiding inside the metal pipe and patiently waiting to be propelled outward at a moment''s notice. Seeing as how H.I.JACK had the electrical fire-breathing dragon head at its disposal there was a very good chance this unknown weapon was ranged otherwise it wouldn''t make sense to equip it over the dragon right now. Both Tyr and the Grand Prix were going to be on high alert until that thing was fired and, even then, they would need to react quickly and in the appropriate manner to deal with whatever was being launched at them. It wasn''t great facing off against an invisible weapon like this but nobody said fighting the Umbras would be easy. As if to hammer that point home, Fate fired of an EMP Disc and spawned a cute papillon into the world, ready to chase the disc down like a good boy deserving of many treats. Tyr was now on yet another timer as he had to drift around the two new weapons H.I.JACK was displaying for the first time as well as deal with the dog. The silver lining here was that Fate couldn''t launch EMPs on repeat without a small break between them so if Tyr could just deal with this conundrum he would actually be in a pretty advantageous position. Scar would still be fussing over the Glue, H.I.JACK would be suffering the Overclock penalty, and Fate wouldn''t have her EMP. Throw in the Grand Prix aiding Tyr and he was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Kill Fate, send the Grand Prix back to Deimos, and have him escape from Verv and run until the end of the match while Scar was held back by Tyr... It was doable!... But... What was up with those H.I.JACK weapons?...


    Tyr''s question was answered by a loud KATHUNK noise as the spike launcher, cannon, thing fired off a spear shaped projectile that was rather thick. It was almost like a leg-sized stake of wood with a chiselled end for obliterating vampires. The projectile crashed into the floor ever so slightly to the side of Tyr and kicked up a cloud of dust that made him cough as some of the particles entered his mouth. This thing clearly packed a punch and, KATHUNK, could fire really damn fast... Packing that much power and having such a fast reload time... That was brutal... What on earth was up with this personal treasure?! Surely this thing was way too strong?! Where did Fate get such an incredible treasure from anyway?! These thoughts were spinning about in Tyr''s head but he ignored them for now and focussed on the one thought that filled him with some relief. There had to be a limit to this attack. There was no way H.I.JACK could just keep firing these stakes off without pause as then there would be no reason not to have used this thing prior to now. It was a devastating weapon so there must be a drawback and the truth of the matter was that it likely had an ammo problem. Without recharging it wouldn''t be able to recover any ammo spent, was Tyr''s guess. H.I.JACK would run out of stakes at some point which didn''t make it less tricky to dodge but did reassure Tyr that there was an end to this nonsense. Now the only other complication was what the other weapon was... Tyr almost didn''t want to find out. If H.I.JACK still had that stake launcher at its disposal all this time then that empty weapon slot was foreboding and creepy. It had saved its big guns until the end and Tyr was almost hesitant to get any closer... But he didn''t really have a choice in the matter as the Grand Prix didn''t alter its course based on the cowardice of the person riding it. Tyr was along for the ride, feelings about the matter be damned. Not that he would have done anything differently even if he was in control, he was a goal oriented man and not a quitter by any stretch of the imagination. Still, he kept his eyes squarely on the second weapon belonging to H.I.JACK to be ready for whatever it was hiding.


    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ TCHK TCHK BANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    A shotgun? That was the first thought that ran through Tyr''s head and, while it was technically accurate, what the shotgun fired was far, far different from his expectations. It was not slugs or pellets or dragon''s breath that came out from within the empty metal arm, no, it was a net. And, based on the noise the gun had made before firing, and the bluish lines racing around the perimeter of the net, this thing was electrical. There was no doubt in Tyr''s mind that, like the EMP Disc Launcher, this thing could lock down electronic equipment and treasures... In other words, Fate had TWO EMP devices in her arsenal... What a sneaky wretch... She baited Tyr in by shooting a delayed, conditionally activated EMP only for her to secretly be packing one that could be fired off near instantaneously! And worse still this net covered a large range. The stake / spike launcher had driven the Grand Prix to a specific point whereby it was directly in front of the net shotgun and, considering how wide the net was, it wasn''t looking likely that Tyr would be able to dodge it... Things had taken a serious turn for the worse and Tyr was now realising he was staring down the loaded barrel of something far worse than a gun. He''d been prepared but, really, nothing could have prepared him for a weapon of this calibre. His mind raced for ways to get out of this situation but, as his mind worked overtime to no avail, the net drew ever closer without care for Tyr''s struggle. Was this going to be the end? Would Tyr''s confidence be the downfall of the Legions? Would the Grand Prix be netted, shut down, and take Tyr with it? Maybe... Maybe not... Only time would tell.

 Chapter 212: Forgotten Problems Don’t Disappear

    An art? A swing of his sword? Did Tyr have any live saving treasures on hand to form a barrier and block this net? No, no, and, you guessed it, no. None of these options were going to free him from this current predicament and it truly looked like all was lost. The most Tyr could do here was attempt to fight back against Fate and H.I.JACK even if the net was going to unavoidably doom him. "Resolution To Disputation." There was a light, forlorn melancholy to his voice that could only belong to a man shuffling along to his inevitable death but he still went through the motions and placed the giant sword directly above Fate. Maybe, just maybe, if they took too long killing him after the net trapped him on the floor then there could be a chance for the Resolution to fall and take Fate with him. It was better than accepting a loss and not making any attempts to change fate metaphorically and change Fate into a pile of paste literally.


    As the net was now looming over Tyr and the Grand Prix, crackling away with some serious voltage that would no doubt paralyse Tyr the second it touched his skin, the Grand Prix decided, for whatever reason, that now was the time to do a wheelie... Tyr wanted to smack the stupid thing because he thought it was showing off one final time before it bit the dust and now really wasn''t the time for this but, when the holy flames draped off the bike all congregated in one spot at the front of the bike, he realised that the treasure might actually have one more trick up its sleeve. If it could get him out of this situation then it could do all the wheelies it liked! Tyr wasn''t entirely sure what happened next, as he wasn''t the owner of this treasure and was blissfully unaware of its capabilities, but his vision was blanketed in white fire as the bike sailed past the charred net with a massive hole in the middle. It seemed like the bike was able to gather any Burning Rubber flames it possessed and create a blast in front of it by sacrificing said flames in one big explosion. It came at a great cost in that its speed was now way slower both as a result of losing the holy buffs but also because that was just a penalty that came attached with that specific action. It also probably couldn''t do much of anything else like sliding around or attacking people by ramming them anymore as it looked quite frail now to Tyr. Granted Tyr didn''t know much of anything about technology but even he could tell there was something amiss with the bike. It still rolled around but it almost looked like it was limping with every revolution of its wheels. Tyr could erven feel a small bump in the ride which wasn''t present before the last ditch defensive manoeuvre.


    Would this affect the strategy going forward? Maybe but it was better than having the bike be decommissioned entirely so Tyr pat the side of it and went back to chanting various arts to stop the spike launcher. A few Stop All casts did good work but he also had other tools in his arsenal to deal with projectiles, the main one of which being control over plain wind magic. By shifting the direction of the wind along the trajectory of the spike Tyr could somewhat redirect it, sending it barely off course and missing the bike by the narrowest of margins. Doing so gave the Grand Prix more breathing room and prevented it from having to work too hard now that it was exhausted after the massive flame blast from earlier. As the dynamic duo of captain and his borrowed trusty steed of steel pulled up in front of H.I.JACK, Tyr leapt off and rolled forward to launch a pre-emptive attack on the puppet. It had long range weaponry out, and was moving slow from the drawbacks of the Overclock, so now was a good chance to strike. While Tyr did that, the Grand Prix chased after the papillon while avoiding Fate''s pot shots aimed at its wheels. Part of the reason Fate chose a treasure that boosted accuracy was because she, admittedly, wasn''t great at aiming guns and that was blatantly obvious as she kept trying to hit the moving vehicle and kept failing miserably. It didn''t help that the bike was moving relatively quickly compared to a sprinting human which Fate also wasn''t capable of hitting. As she missed her sixth shot in a row she started reloading as she kissed her teeth and pouted while swearing to herself to hit a shooting range at some point in the future. If Palioxis could learn to use a shield then Fate could easily learn how to wield a gun accurately!


    Back over by Tyr, he''d just successfully swung his Sword Of Damocles horizontally against H.I.JACK''s misty body. It felt less like slicing a gas, which would have had no resistance and accomplished nothing, and more so like running a knife through a thick liquid. His sword slowed down as it inched through the mist but it was definitely doing damage as the bits of data floating around and through the fog were visibly glitching and making a static noise. H.I.JACK sprung backward and finally managed to swap its weapons to something more suitable for an engagement at this distance. As Tyr was going all in with his attempt to finish this fight quickly H.I.JACK opted for the claw and screwdriver as they were its best close-range options for mounting a deadly offensive. It was throwing caution to the wind and trying to drag Tyr through the mud along with it. It was convinced it was going to die but if it could leave a wound or two that mattered then that would be good enough for now. It also had one more goal, dragging Tyr over to Fate''s side if possible. This might have seemed counter-intuitive, as keeping Tyr away from his currently busy master should have been his number one priority but that Resolution To Disputation would kill Fate almost without question if it dropped. H.I.JACK needed to keep Fate alive until Scar arrived then they could swap roles. Scar would become Fate''s guardian and they could fight against Tyr together even if H.I.JACK was long deceased. That was the plan anyway but whether H.I.JACK would be able to bring Tyr over before the Resolution fell was uncertain. It had already been a a few seconds and that random duration was anxiety inducing. The correct way to deal with the Resolution, however, was to remain undeterred by it and pretend it didn''t exist. All you had to do was do what you were going to do anyway, just a little quicker if at all possible. Rushing your gameplan and screwing it up because you were needlessly desperate was the real power behind this art. That and it screwed over ranged cultivators quite heavily but that was another matter entirely.


    With a flicker of its motherboard cloak, H.IJACK drifted forward like a snake to make its approach difficult to predict. Tyr readied himself by brandishing not only his Sword Of Damocles but also his Staff as he had a use for the latter that he hadn''t demonstrated yet. "Sharp!" The sword aspect art that could turn even the bluntest of objects into a sharp, obviously, and lethal weapon was something Tyr valued immensely in close range skirmishes. If you attacked him thinking he was weak up close he had this up his sleeve to get the jump on you with and he''d won a number of fights right out the gate by throwing his opponent for a loop. Although the Resolution was frightening, Tyr was arguably a bigger problem at closer ranges than he was at longer ranges. A professional sniper would make short work of Tyr long before the Resolution could drop as there was a range where Tyr just couldn''t fight back with his magic. It was actually the complete opposite scenario, swinging at him in close proximity, you wanted to avoid if you were able to. H.I.JACK had no such say in the matter, though, so it swung its two weapons and hoped that the Sword Of Damocles'' 10% critical hit didn''t spring up as that would be terrible luck. The screwdriver''s tip went up against the Sharpened Staff Of Jako while the claw clashed with the Sword Of Damocles. Thankfully no random quadrupling of damage took place so H.I.JACK was only slightly on the backfoot. If it was right as rain it might have had an even fighting chance against Tyr but that was an impossibility right now. If H.I.JACK wanted to be able to truly kill Tyr it would have needed Overclock available to it. Still, it did manage to float around Tyr as it kept trading blow for blow with Tyr somewhat evenly. As much as H.I.JACK wanted to camouflage itself and take pot shots like it normally would, pushing Tyr backwards toward Fate was still a necessity so that took precedence.


    Tyr regripped his Staff, positioning his hand lower on the weapon so that he could extend the range a bit and throw off H.I.JACK with the new attack timing. This, at a glance, appeared to have failed when the puppet reacted accordingly and brought the claw over to deal with the Staff instead. A clever move but this was where disaster struck for H.I.JACK as the Sword Of Damocles now only had to contend with the screwdriver, a far weaker weapon. Normally Tyr would have just pushed H.I.JACK back here a few steps but, well, 10% may not have been a high chance but it wasn''t a low one either. You weren''t guaranteed a jackpot after ten swings but you also weren''t required to swing ten times to hit the jackpot either. On Tyr''s seventh swing, lucky seven to some, he hit the 10% chance square on the head, like a hammer on a nail, and absolutely obliterated the screwdriver as well as the entire rest of the metal arm it was attached to. For a brief second a professional swordsman was Tyr, cleanly bisecting the left half of the puppet and tearing its cloak to shreds in one single swing with a beautiful arc. Time felt like it slowed for the spectators as this was like a final oorah of the Legion captain who''d hit the big time at a crucial moment, turning the tide. He wasn''t the strongest Legion kin but, if you had to pick someone to be a leader, there really was no better choice. No matter how low into the pits of despair morality descended amongst his men, all it took was that measly 10% to flip the table and throw what was once an organised brawl into absolute chaos.


    H.I.JACK was leaking from its mask and sparks were flying from the top hat as it swerved backwards. It wasn''t just a matter of losing an arm, that was a massive problem too, but part of its core, the fog, had been severely damaged in that last attack. Most of its core functions were on the fritz and changing weapons on its remaining arm was no longer possible. Thankfully, if nothing else, the claw was overall its most reliable weapon... But what did it matter when Tyr could easily punish the lack of a second weapon with which to defend itself? It was putting up an effort to swat away the first attack before blocking the second but there was no way H.I.JACK could keep this up forever and it wasn''t even getting any attacks in of its own anymore. Fate was too busy trying to stop the bike to help H.I.JACK so its future was bleak. It made the last choice it knew it needed to and floated backwards for a second before turning its claw into a drill and preparing itself to bore a hole into its target at any cost. A puppet with nothing left to lose was a fearsome foe because it knew there was little risk involved. Its creator could always stich it back up again so some even wore explosive vests. As a general rule of thumb, puppets on their last strings were to be kept at arms length. The drill claw revved to insane speeds, worrying Tyr who was hoping it wouldn''t fly out of the socket randomly and strike him when he wasn''t expecting it. H.I.JACK resolutely hovered forward an inch before pausing and turning to its master. It had realised a split second faster than Fate that a certain art was about to rear its troublesome head at the worst possible moment. The Resolution To Disputation was about to live up to its namesake and end this quarrel between them.


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    As for Fate, she was currently stoked. She''d just shot one of the wheels on the Grand Prix and she felt confident her next shot would knock the bike down another peg. The papillon was already wagging its butt and preparing to jump up high, catch the frisbee, and chew into it with gusto. Things were looking promising until the air above Fate quivered and, without even needing to look up, she knew what it meant. The shadow that appeared beneath her, roughly twenty times the size of her own, completely engulfed her in darkness as she gulped to herself. Her hand holding the gun shook but she steadied it with her other hand and focussed strictly on taking the shot. The bike was more important than her life so, although Tyr was nearby and could be her ticket out of death, this took precedence. If she ran over to Tyr the papillon would be run over and that was far too cruel a fate for the cute, hologram dog.


    And once more, Tyr''s random spurts of greatness gave the Umbra supporters in the crowd conniptions. First the random 10% and now an extremely early Resolution... This guy was cheating! What was with this absurd last quarter comeback?! Who did this guy think he was?! Some kind of all-star player?! There had to be a limit to this man''s heroics! Scar and Fate wished that were true but, as Tyr chased down H.I.JACK, who was trying to retreat to Fate''s side and prevent her incoming death, Tyr''s Sword Of Damocles hummed a dreadful hum and it seemed like he hit the jackpot again. His strike was going to cleave the retreating H.I.JACK in two and leave Fate all by her lonesome to suffer at the hands of the Resolution. Fate, and more specifically H.I.JACK, were incredibly angry right now but what could they really do? They''d tried their hardest but Tyr''s lucky streak was impeccable. And yet, despite being angry, they weren''t feeling as hopeless as they were a second ago because someone else was also somewhat perturbed by the recent series of events. As Tyr''s weapon descended to deal the final blow to H.I.JACK, a Scar-y monk suddenly materialised between Tyr and the puppet with a fierce glare stuck on his burly mug. Scar was not happy right now. Between the opposing captain fleeing from him, blinding him with that cheap trick earlier, and now trying to beat Fate in such a cheap manner... Scar''s sense of justice was very different to Tyr''s but he was about to uphold and deliver it nonetheless!


    Scar caught the sword with his bare hand and growled at Tyr who was smiling wryly and backing up after letting go of the weapon. The Sword was a personal treasure and could be recovered without having to try and personally remove it from the walking pile of bricks before him... Or that was what Tyr thought would happen as that was supposed to be how personal treasures worked... Right now his Sword Of Damocles was cowering in Scar''s grasp and, although it did briefly struggle a moment in time, it had seemingly given up its futile endeavour and was now chickening out of its duties... As it turned out Scar had developed a passive art that came under the constant blessing art by the name of ''Come Get It''. It was a highly specific art that prevented personal treasures from escaping his grasp, forcing his opponent to face him directly and earn the right to wield their treasure once more. Scar had learn this recently as he had a habit of clutching onto people''s treasures and being dragged around by them... But make no mistake, he''d done this on purpose. If he could find a method to fling himself at an opponent he would take it and this method, though the safety of it was highly questionable, did work most of the time! Actually, there were some very awkward scenarios now where Scar wished he didn''t have the art because he missed being flung around in such a manner but, overall, it was more beneficial to have this art than not. Yes he couldn''t force the other person to fight anymore but, if they ran away, they were leaving their treasure behind in his care. If the person died it became a regular treasure he could use freely.


    Most cultivators would fight through hell for their personal treasures so it was rare to see someone abandon them anyway. Technically speaking, Scar was still forcing the fight just in a very different manner. He didn''t have to go to them in a bizarre way, they had to come to him, giving him the advantage in terms of positioning. Also, before he learnt this art the personal treasure was guaranteed to return to the owner so, if his sneak attack failed, the returned treasure would actually matter. This way they had to actually steal it back off him before they could use it, weakening his foes significantly. After all these weren''t just regular old treasures, they were all personals. A lot of people had personal treasures that were specifically catered to their specialties and losing them hampered these people to a shocking degree. Some people literally couldn''t even function properly without them due to their reliance on these treasures. So this was absolutely a useful art... Even if the amount of times it was actually relevant were few and far between. Actually being in a position to steal the opponent''s personal treasure was rare and it would almost never happen twice to the same person. It was more of a neat trick that fooled people once and never again... Usually. There were cases in which Scar could bully a person repeatedly in mean-spirited fashion if he really wanted to. Scar was still a young cultivator in the grand scheme of things so maybe this art would see its fair share of usage over the coming years. regardless, it wasn''t the kind of thing he wouldn''t complain about having at least! Randomly learning a passive art was always a good thing!


    Just because Scar was stonewalling Tyr though, that didn''t mean the situation had magically reversed. Yes H.I.JACK was now free to run back over to Fate but would that even really help? The Resolution was not something H.I.JACK could stop fully in its current state. Maybe if it could Overclock things would be different but, right now... Nobody knew how things were going to go. A large factor in whether this match would go to the Legions or the Umbras was whether or not the papillon safely caught the Fritzbee. Fate swallowed nervously as the pressure mounted... She already hit one wheel so hitting the second should be even easier but, in a way, that was ironically the problem... The bike was now moving at a different speed, it being slower mattered. The travel time of the bullet she''d just gotten used to now had to be used in a slightly different manner and she only had one shot. She needed to make it count so she flushed out all the noise around her. H.I.JACK floating over her body and throwing its claw up into the air as it covered Fate beneath it, the sound of Scar decking Tyr and breaking some of his bones, the crowd behind her cheering or booing, and the sound of her manic heartbeat... All of it needed to be ignored as there was only one thing that mattered right now. She aimed five inches in front of the un-punctured wheel, shifted her aim back a little to compensate for the lowered speed... And...


    BANG


    CCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!


    A fraction of a second made all the difference as, right before the Resolution landed and devastated the entire area, Fate had fired her shot. In fact, the Resolution was so close to preventing the shot that, after landing, the shockwave was close enough to the bullet to affect it and make it deviate slightly off its original trajectory. Opting to ignore the Resolution wreckage and spectate the far more interesting bullet instead, everyone shifted their head to follow along and watch it sail off into the distance. It became apparent that Fate had missed thanks to the Resolution and the Umbra supporters were crestfallen...


    ...


    ...


    ... Up until the bullet magically fucking curved in mid air, switched directions, and nailed the damn bike in the wheel somehow.


    The crowd was stunned in silence because they had clearly forgotten about something very, VERY important. Even Fate had only recalled a certain something she herself had done earlier that could potentially prevent a loss here. Venus! Fate had disabled the Training Field rune that prevented outside interference so the bullet that shot off into the distance had actually went straight towards her sister, on the resurrection platform, who''s Unpredictabullet reversed the shot in mid-air and saved the day! CHEATERS! The revenants were back to their foul play! Although it should be noted the only reason this was possible was because Fate was still alive. She had to be as her interference with the rune would have ceased by now if she''d been buried under the rubble and K.O''ed. H.I.JACK had actually made a difference by throwing its puppet body away to take the brunt of the hit. It fought valiantly with its claw and allowed Fate to lay broken, but alive, under the wreckage of the giant sword. More importantly, the Grand Prix was centimetres away from tackling the papillon but the decreased speed prevented it from accomplishing its mission and, sure enough, BARK!


    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT


    The EMP was detonated and the Grand Prix crashed to a halt on the other side of the arena. The papillon would have faded early, and failed its mission, if Fate was killed so H.I.JACK got the last laugh with its own hero play to save the day. Combine H.I.JACK''s heroic hijinks with Fate''s clever abuse of her dead teammate and you had the reverse comeback of the century. What was once a sure-fire win had become a sure-fire loss thanks to Tyr and was now, yet again, looking like a win already in the bag. The spectators caught sight of Fate respawning on the dead teammate platform a few seconds later, now that she''d succumbed to her grievous wounds under the rubble, at which point cheers erupted from the crowd who''d never seen a fight this close before. The direction it had taken was beyond anyone''s expectation and the hype was tickling the crowd in ways they had been wanting to feel since the start of the tournament. Some of the matches from the core disciples in their respective tournament had been good but this match took the cake and would be the most remembered match of the tournament by far... Unless Ares Vs Mako, predictively, blew this one out the water anyway... Right now, though, in this very moment, the crowd were, for once, giving the Umbras the respect they deserved as competitors. It was weird to see how many people were acting like fair-weather floozies but, alas, the support was real in the moment and set an energetic atmosphere throughout the coliseum that was hard to be grumpy about. Onno in particular was thrilled as he was about to make some serious bank. When people were happy like this they were more inclined to spend stardust, after all. Esme, who was sitting nearby, even helped him out by using her wind magic as a sort of loudspeaker, allowing his voice to spread far and wide. Esme had already been roped into money making... Although, then again, this was probably her natural calling anyway as she was a woman who was very partial to money. She would have helped Onno out regardless of whether he asked or not!


    Back down in the arena Tyr was thrashed and Deimos was on track to mimic his brother''s battered body blanketed in black and blue bruises. It was now just an honest two vs two with no gimmicks to rely on for either side. Deimos had no Grand Prix and Tyr had no Sword Of Damocles while Verv felt no exhaustion and Scar was dominating Tyr... But there was something else that had been brewing in the background this whole time. The talisman! The talisman, up until now, had ticked its way up to 2:10... If it could just tick up to 2:30... There was so little time left that, in spite of the losing battle Tyr and Deimos were fighting, there was somehow, someway, still a shred of hope in all of this. This match wasn''t over yet!

 Chapter 213: Coming Down to the Wire

    Bleugh


    Vomiting blood was not a good sign if you wanted people to think you were winning a fight. One might even argue it had the exact opposite effect! Tyr was currently the one hurling his bodily fluids over the floor as Scar''s fist had gotten intimate with Tyr''s stomach. Scar was the playground bully who''d stolen another kid''s toy and wasn''t giving it back right now as the Sword Of Damocles was sat firmly in his other hand like an obedient little prisoner of war. Despite the beatdown, Tyr was in a good mood. That timer was ticking away and, even if he died, as long as Deimos could keep that talisman in his possession then that was all they needed to steal the Umbras'' hard earned win. Tyr made use of the Staff Of Jako''s speed benefit to lead Scar around and avoid his sudden Blink ambushes to the best of his ability. At this point he wasn''t even really casting arts because there was no point. He would just be wasting his own mana and potentially leaving him open to Scar. He didn''t mind dying but if he died too quickly then Scar would have free reign to aid Verv and that was clearly a problem. Right now Tyr was Scar''s punching bag, that was all.


    As Scar''s fist descended towards him for what felt like the millionth time, Tyr raised the Staff and chanted "Echo" to take the big guy by surprise. Tyr still had his pressurised Echoes up his sleeve and could help delay the inevitable if used properly! Scar''s fist was blasted backwards but no injury was sustained as he went right back to pummelling, or at least attempting to, Tyr. Tyr could do naught but kiss his teeth at the ineffectiveness of the Echo. It wasn''t Ares'' fault, the Echo was a perfect art in many ways and the pressurised version even more so... The issue here was clearly the brute that could shrug off the attack like it was nothing. Tyr didn''t have many attacks in his arsenal that could do in a rabid beast like Tyr or Verv. There were some but casting them at this range was a death sentence and Scar would never give Tyr the range he needed to do so safely anyway. In many ways Scar was a terrible matchup for Tyr as he held all the tools necessary to make his life a living hell. He wasn''t torn up about it though as he always knew going into this that Scar was a league above him. The guy was next in line to become the new generation ''season'' of his clan. Granted they hadn''t come up with a name for the group yet but their infamy and renown was already spreading like wildfire. Truthfully, nobody on the Legion team other than maybe Pele at maximum Feel The Heat! could hold out against this guy. It would require Bellona or Enyo to put this lug to sleep permanently and they weren''t competing for the Legions right now. Bellona was a fifty fifty and could go either way but Enyo, with how powerful she''d become as of late, would wipe the floor with Scar and he knew it.


    While Tyr tangoed with the living tank, Deimos was trying to give Verv the run around. On the one hand, the Grand Prix was gone and that sucked big time. On the other hand he didn''t have to take awkward measures in order to keep Verv''s attention away from the Grand Prix anymore. Plus Fate was gone so Deimos only had a single opponent to pay attention to and, for that, he was thankful. His brother had gone above and beyond before passing him the torch. Said torch was on the verge of being snuffed out by even the faintest of winds but Deimos wasn''t in a position to complain. The Legions weren''t the kind of people to throw blame around and everyone... Everyone other than Palioxis had performed admirably. In some ways Pali had screwed everyone by letting Fate do as she pleased but whatever, the twerp had her fun and she was still young enough to be selfish every now and then. Deimos was more pre-occupied with fending off Verv than figuring out who''s fault this mess was. It had all come down to this so rapidly that he was still playing catch up internally but, as that wasn''t helpful right now, he devoted his all to dodging Verv''s rampaging. Attacking the guy was useless right now as Deimos already had the talisman. It had just ticked up to 2:20 so only ten more seconds and a win was a win, no matter how flimsy.


    Deimos ducked under a swing, dodged to the left avoid a kick, and hopped back out of range of a headbutt that very nearly caught him off guard. That last attack was clearly the true goal and it seemed Verv was aware that the talisman was a problem that needed to be dealt with. He wasn''t trying to kill Deimos just yet as that was a high risk strategy. Now that the Grand Prix was out of the cards it would be better for Verv to get the talisman and do some running himself! He was faster than the Grand Prix, after all, and Scar was winning his battle. If Verv got the talisman the roles would reverse instantly. Pele and Skyzo would return too but Scar and Skyzo would switch out. Scar could beat a weak Pele and Deimos with his hands behind his back while Skyzo held out against Tyr. Everyone would die shortly after and hey presto, a loss is a loss. That also didn''t mean Verv couldn''t kill Deimos and just end things here if things went really well for whatever reason though.


    All in all, these next few seconds were going to be tense and Deimos could feel his heart almost beating out of his chest. He really wanted to win this but he was starting to run out of space as the arena wall was coming up behind his back. If he kept retreating like this he was going to run out of space. Escaping to the sides wasn''t an option either due to Verv''s superior speed. The second Deimos turned his back he would just get tackled again like last time so he was locked into this duel and, worse still, he couldn''t get hit at all without losing the win condition... And he didn''t have his gourd anymore, so he couldn''t access Burning Rubber and its holy buffs, because he threw it at the Grand Prix earlier... Nightmare.


    Verv started spinning with the sword and was acting like a little kid with a very big stick. He was absolutely getting dizzy as a result of his action but, whereas a normal person would stop, Verv actually started speeding up instead. He was even managing to generate some pretty serious winds that were capable of tearing into flesh and this seemed to be the way in which he tried to steal the talisman this time. Any small bump or scratch counted but Deimos chose to back up once more instead of interacting with the human tornado. Verv couldn''t keep the spinning up forever, unfortunately for him, as eventually he did reach a state in which he was too dizzy to to even see anymore. If he''d been all by his lonesome out in the wild he probably wouldn''t have stopped spinning for at least an hour but, as there was still enough intelligence in this mutt''s brain to understand his family was counting on him, he halted his fun spinny time. Also, Deimos had now backed up against the wall fully so his goal was close at hand. Verv actually had the foresight to put the sword away which was objectively correct for a number of reasons. First of all it was heavy so, if he missed his next swing he would potentially give Deimos a chance to run away and that was no good. With his bare fists Verv could react to any potential escape attempts immediately if he failed an attack because he wasn''t putting as much weight and effort into them. He could also start sprinting after Deimos without needing to put his sword on his back after missing, wasting precious time. Also also, if he got the talisman here, he needed to be able to run not after Deimos, but away from him! The sword wasn''t needed here so on his back it went.


    Deimos kissed his teeth and complained inwardly that someone as berserk as Verv had no business being this smart. It was unfair that his brain was functioning as well as it was under his current state! Deimos had once taken a medicine that restored his mana but made him temporarily berserk. He woke up later in one of the Legion''s infirmaries, unsure of what happened after he took the medicine as he''d blacked out immediately. Apparently he lost control and started trying to be a menace with his bike but Rhea promptly gave him some tough love and knocked him out cold. Point being he stood no chance against the berserk inducing agent and he lost his mind instantly. There was no strategy or formulating of plans to enhance his rampage, the berserk Deimos just went for it raw. Of course Rhea would have slapped him anyway but he might have fared a little better had he given his attempt some consideration. Granted it was a good thing he didn''t, he was just wondering how on earth Verv did it. The guy was a monster, clearly.


    Deimos was unsure of how to proceed. Being backed against the wall like this made his range of movement decrease worryingly so he might actually just have to take the hit and attempt to retaliate right after. It''s not like it would be the first time he''d lost the talisman in this fight, he just needed to make sure he lost it for as little time as possible to raise the Legions'' odds. Something did concern Deimos about this whole situation, though, namely that Verv had really wriggled his sword onto his back, almost like he was attempting to do something specific but, from this angle, Deimos couldn''t see what it was. It was well established that Verv, for all his faults, wasn''t stupid. Whatever it was he was up to would no doubt become relevant soon because there wasn''t much time left to make a move. This fear that Verv was plotting something increased exponentially the second Deimos noticed Verv start approaching him with one hand still firmly placed on the handle of the sword. He''d sheathed it on his back but was still holding it? Why? What benefit did this provide him? If he was going to try and swing it then surely there was no reason to sheath it in the first place? Did this dumb mutt know some kind of sword draw technique? With a great sword? Deimos felt like he was losing his mind trying to analyse a revenant of all things so he simply gave up and focused on the matter at hand. Deimos was about to lose the talisman here, he was confident of that, but he still had a trick up his sleeve he hadn''t demonstrated yet and that was his plan to achieve victory. There was potential for it all to go wrong but the same was true of every plan he came up with right now so he bet it all on the one that had the highest potential success rate and braved himself for the Verv assault to commence.


    Back over by...


    Crack


    Back over by...


    Crack


    ... back over by Tyr, Scar was ruthlessly picking on his opponent. It was like taking candy from a baby... And then beating the baby up afterwards. The Sword Of Damocles wasn''t even being used against its owner but it still sort of acted like a passive taunt that drove Tyr to the point of insanity, driving him to repeatedly try and take it back, the results of which were, Crack, precisely as you''d expect. That last crack was the sound of one of Tyr''s arms bending backwards. Scar could potentially end Tyr''s life but he wanted to do things properly. He didn''t rush and push his luck, he simply let his opponent self-destruct. Tyr was unable to escape from the Blinks, Couldn''t remain passive directly in front a superior opponent, and lost every time he tried to take the initiative. It was like watching a wounded bee keep trying to sting a sheet of metal. Even those who didn''t support the Legions felt pity for the guy who was trying his darndest to pull off a miracle. Now he had already pulled off multiple before, so really he was being a bit greedy here, but he kept trying nonetheless. If he could sneak even a single attack past Scar''s guard and recover his weapon then he would feel so much more comfortable but it just wasn''t happening.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Scar''s biceps were a daunting wall that refused to crumble as Tyr whacked them with his Staff Of Jako. The improved speed didn''t increase the power of his strikes so he failed time and time again, occasionally getting punished by Scar when he deemed it possible to do so without falling into an ambush. Tyr was being slowly and methodically dismantled and he couldn''t prevent it. Even if he wanted to try and cast arts the Staff''s effect that benefitted such an action only worked at longer ranges... His two personal treasures complimented each other perfectly and he''d basically lost one half of a whole by accidentally allowing his Sword to be stolen from right under him. In Tyr''s desperation to make a comeback he''d gone overboard and tried too hard against H.I.JACK, committing to a high risk move that failed to pay off. Now he was the one paying as Scar''s fist crumpled him to the floor by striking his gut. Tyr, on his knees, threw up but didn''t remain in place as he stumbled backward to avoid Scar''s foot which had tried to promptly crush his head on the floor. Tyr rolled left and crawled to the right as a series of stomps chased him backwards along the floor like Scar was trying to stamp a skittering spider. Tyr did eventually return to a standing position only to have Scar Blink towards him and kick him in the ribs. The CRACK this time was loud enough to echo through the arena and reach even the spectators who recoiled slightly from the noise. This crack signalled the beginning of the end for Tyr who was barely even able to move anymore, let alone wield his weapon defensively.


    Scar reached forward and grabbed the Staff with his free hand, to prevent Tyr from defending himself, while bringing the Sword Of Damocles down on its owners leg. Tyr couldn''t avoid it without abandoning his other treasure too and that was unacceptable. Be it from a humiliation or self-defence stand point it was something he couldn''t let happen so he stubbornly clung to the Staff and chanted an art as the Sword severed his left leg. "Overheat!" This wasn''t exactly the opportunity he wanted but if he was going to get hit anyway he might as well make the most of it. As the Sword in Scar''s hand tore through Tyr''s leg, causing him to almost topple over as he grunted in pain and tried to ignore the river of blood cascading out of him, a raging inferno covered the two cultivators from head to toe and now the spectators were blissfully unaware of what was happening. Even Ares with his Omniscience struggled to see through it but what he did know was that the Overheat was nowhere near enough to stop Scar from brutalising Tyr under the cover of the wall of flames. Ares could have sworn he saw Scar manage to stab Tyr in the gut with his own weapon before grabbing onto Tyr''s undamaged arm. A barely audible scream could be heard from within the inferno and that confirmed Ares'' suspicions as Tyr''s other arm was now no doubt broken in half as Scar had presumably twisted it with his bare hands.


    Tyr had been stabbed, lost both his arms, and one of his legs, so... Well he was dead, basically. A dead man walking. His time in the arena was limited as he could no longer fight back in any capacity. His weapons had been taken from him and so too had his limbs. So, when the flames subsided, and the spectators could finally see his tattered state, it wasn''t any surprise that everyone sort of gave up any hope they had of a turn around. Scar walked up to Tyr and grabbed his hair, lifted Tyr''s head up high, and brought his fist down on the head to end him swiftly by pulverising everything above the neck... However, Tyr did get one last hit in and we aren''t talking about the spraying blood that drenched Scar''s face. Tyr, utilising the leverage he gained from allowing Scar to lift him by his hair, had kicked out with his one remaining leg to attack Scar''s ankle. It might have seemed insignificant but, based on the look of shock on Scar''s face as he sunk down onto his knee, it was anything but. Did Tyr cast another art? Did he have some kind of gadgetry that he''d stuck onto Scar''s body at the last moment possible? No and no. The answer was, in fact, very simple... Scar had fucked up big time. He''d done one thing he really shouldn''t have, something he didn''t even realise at the time would be his own downfall. He''d stabbed Tyr with his Sword Of Damocles and buried it inside the guy''s body. That damn last kick hit the jackpot because, although Tyr wasn''t directly wielding his personal treasure with his hands, he still technically had it in his possession. Scar''s first reaction was that it was incredibly stupid for that to have worked and he was annoyed at himself for the blunder, his second reaction was to be extremely pissed off that the bastard hit another jackpot, and his third and final reaction was deep concern for the timing of this particular miracle.


    Scar''s ankle was now dust and little else.


    The armour on Tyr''s foot, combined with all his might and the quadrupling of damage, had crushed the bone with room to spare. Yes Scar was a boulder of a man but he wasn''t actually as tough as Verv was, he just used his strength to shrug off weaker attacks with his sturdy flesh. Something like this was actually a huge problem as it''s not like he could train his bones to be stronger; that required treasures and medicines he''d never found as of yet. For a body temperer to have never found anything to enhance their skeleton was rough but Scar was just unlucky like that. Actually all the Umbras, Ares especially, were terribly unlucky in this regard as cultivation resources eluded them all. Still, the point was that the only thing protecting Scar''s bones were his cultivation and his enhanced flesh. As soon as those two barriers were broken through his body was just as susceptible to injury as anyone else''s.


    Although Scar could still move by Blinking around, how useful was he going to be without one of his feet? The fight was ending soon and he probably only had enough time for one more Blink but if Deimos simply moved out of the way how was Scar supposed to chase him, exactly? He could crawl after him... But that wasn''t going to go well. It''s not like Scar minded dragging himself towards his foe in order to win it just wouldn''t be quick enough... Scar had one Blink, and one chance, so he had to make it count. He couldn''t stand anymore so he rested on his knee and, like all the people in the crowd around him, spectated the only fight that was still underway in the arena. Scar''s intentions were different from those who just wanted enjoyment, however, as he was actively looking for a chance to intervene and aid his brother. Would he find said chance? Would he be able to capitalise on it? Given that the talisman only had roughly three seconds left on the clock before ending the match, as Scar and Tyr''s ''fight'' had finished relatively quickly, everyone was about to find out the answers to those questions shortly.


    Deimos ducked as Verv''s fist crashed into the wall behind him and tried to fight back by swinging his bat at Verv again which, unsurprisingly, did absolutely nothing! The guy could seriously take hits without faltering. Nothing but death or fainting would ever stop him... Hell that last strike had hit him in the nuts but apparently they were also made of titanium and shrugged off Deimos'' below the belt offensive. Unfortunately Deimos had well and truly exhausted all his options to flee from Verv so a quick kick to the knee from Verv was more than enough to steal the talisman. Deimos knew Verv would turn and run immediately and, sure enough, he did so Deimos wasted no time trying to run after him... At least he did up until Scar appeared right in front of him on his one knee and acted like a road block, preventing Deimos from running at Verv in a straight line. Scar, even without his mobility, was still more than capable of taking Deimos down if challenged so it looked like this would be the end of the match... But this was where Deimos'' final trick would come in handy! This moment was tailor made for his super secret weapon. Deimos whipped it out of his space ring and Scar nearly choked on his saliva because losing to this ''weapon'' would be the most embarrassing thing that had ever happened to him. Deimos only needed to hit Verv, it didn''t have to be a damaging hit or anything so what he chose to bring out and fulfil this criteria was...


    ...


    ... A baseball...


    In hindsight, this really should have been obvious... If you walked around carrying a baseball bat but not a baseball you were either a delinquent or a killjoy, there really wasn''t much of an in-between. Deimos having one to play around with during his downtime wasn''t even remotely surprising and yet it had taken Scar by surprise nonetheless. Verv had just turned around and was completely unaware of this development which was now looking to be a massive issue. Deimos had planned to lose the talisman and feign helplessness, encouraging Verv to perform a hit and run. As soon as Verv turned his back, Deimos would pelt him with the ball and recover the talisman. By the time Verv made it back to Deimos the timer would have already ticked up and the match would be over. It was a dirty and desperate trick but it was looking like it would be the game winner here. All Deimos had to do was avoid the crawling, bloodied, demon out of hell Scar and smack Verv with the ball which was a task he could maybe even do blindfolded. See Deimos did more than just swing at baseballs for fun, he was really passionate about becoming a professional sportsman. He took his training very seriously and even went to lengths most people wouldn''t. Part of Deimos'' expertise at jousting came from the fact that he''d set up an automatic pitcher back home that he went up against regularly whilst driving his bike. This guy had driven a bike and scored a homerun at the same time like it was nothing countless times already. Deimos'' accuracy and control with the bat, for its intended purpose, was unmatched in the lower domains and he had a bright career ahead of him. He hadn''t expected things to come down to this but, deep down, boy was he glad it did! He knew his bat and this ball like the back of his hand so his confidence, and pride in his talents, was soaring as he lobbed the ball into the air and took a stance.


    The Legions timer was at 2:28 right now and would keep ticking up the second the talisman was returned to Deimos. Deimos was prepared to take the game-winning swing. Scar was trying to crawl towards Deimos so that he could steal the talisman back and Blink away before it ticked up to a point of no return. Verv was... Verving? Doing his own thing? Living in his own little world? Actually he had just transitioned into a sprint on all fours... Sort of? He was still holding the sword on his back which would no doubt make running in this position unbelievably awkward. Why he''d done this, and was continuing to do it, was incomprehensible. Only one person in the crowd, Ares with his Omniscience of course, noticed a very small change in Verv''s gear that was near impossible to detect normally but the purpose of this change was really hard to predict. Ares had his own thoughts on this strange matter but decided to wait and see what happened as Verv may have very well come up with a genius plan of his own. Either way, no matter who came out on top, they were now in the final inning and a winner would be decided post-haste. There was no more messing around, and no more time for intricate plots other than those already underway so, thankfully for the sake of the spectators'' blood pressure, these next few seconds would end it all.

 Chapter 214: And the Winner Is...

    Thwack


    Lift-off!


    With a satisfying dink, the kind that could only be heard via a well executed whacking of a baseball with a metal bat, the baseball had been sent rocketing over Scar''s crawling body and was now headed straight for Verv''s rear. Though Verv''s rear was very much in gear, he wasn''t travelling fast enough to outrun the ball-shaped rocket about to tap him on his backside but something interesting was happening on Verv''s back right now. The discrepancy Ares had noticed earlier was that the bottom of the sheath holding Verv''s great sword was frayed. Even Deimos and Scar hadn''t realised and they were right in the thick of things so what chance did the spectators have from this distance? Even the matriarchs could only really see it if they squinted in the right place at the right time. Just because everyone else couldn''t see it, however, that didn''t mean it wasn''t there and Verv''s own plan, which involved the damaged sheath, was about to be put into action!


    When Verv placed the great sword inside the sheath earlier Deimos had correctly spotted Verv wiggling the sword in place for a bit. This action had roughed up the sheath near the bottom as Verv kept repeatedly poking it with a fair bit of strength. It was to the point that even another, single, push from the weapon would be all it took to easily rip a hole in the sheath. Verv had also scratched the top half of the sheath too by grinding the edge of the sword against it with force meaning, if Verv wanted to, at any point, he could effectively break apart his sheath and ruin it entirely. Now what value did any of this have exactly? It was hard to tell at a glance because Verv''s actions didn''t seem to have any logical benefit but, in the span of less than a second as he pulled off his grand plan, everything became crystal clear. Deimos had ''baited'' Verv into taking the talisman and fleeing but, little did Deimos know, Verv had seen this coming a mile away. Say what you will about the revenants'' stupidity as a race but, when things actually mattered, they were hyper aware about any and all potential dangers and ploys in combat scenarios. What Verv had done in all of this was as follows; he broke apart his sheath, dropping the sword behind his feet thanks to his body being down on all fours, and kicked out like a donkey with a grudge. He''d effectively kicked his weapon and turned it into a missile with blistering speed.


    The plan was simple, while Deimos was trying to attack Verv, using whatever trick he had up his sleeve, he would be left defenceless for Verv''s backward-launched sneak attack to flat out kill him. Verv wasn''t going to try and run away with the talisman at all. His goal of killing Deimos had never been altered, retrieving the talisman was just the optimal way to go about it as it would lead to Deimos lowering his guard as he went on the attack. Deimos'' aggression would be his downfall... Maybe? The baseball travelled far quicker than the sword, and had been launched first, so it had become a Mexican standoff in which everyone shot their shot and no-one involved knew what the hell was happening anymore. Scar was still dragging himself over to Deimos. Deimos could no longer avoid the sword heading in has direction but he''d gotten the ball off. Verv was satisfied with himself thinking the sword would kill Deimos and that would be the end of it. The baseball that booped him on the butt changed his perception of matters though as he turned around and stared at the ball while tilting his head like a confused pup. The transferring of the talisman coincided with the ball hitting Verv and another second was added to the clock.


    2:29


    2:29 and the sword Verv had chucked was mere inches away from Deimos skull while Scar was equally as close, if not a little closer, to Deimos'' legs down below. Would the timer tick up? Would the sword kill Deimos? Would Scar make it in time to take the talisman? Nobody had any clue as it was genuinely too close to make any kind of definitive call on the matter. Deimos felt a tug on his leg before his vision faded to black and, before anyone knew what happened, the match was over. Only two Umbras remained inside the arena and the timer was no longer visible as it had been attached to Deimos before he bit the dust. In order to see what his timer was displaying the talisman would need to be combed over by the officials so everyone was on the edge of their seats.


    What would happen next, according to standard procedure, is that the officials would check the talisman, confirm the results, and then display a slow motion recap of the event to reveal to the public who''d won via a large projection in the centre of the arena. These matches were being recorded and would be broadcast around the world at later dates so they had the technology to do all of this. In the meantime the spectators and even the competitors could do nothing but wait with baited breath. Some of the stronger cultivators knew what happened at the very end but still couldn''t tell who''d won anyway. Scar was the first person to achieve his goal in the confusion as he successfully grabbed Deimos'' leg, stealing the talisman. Deimos then dropped the bat on Scar''s head, regaining the talisman, before he could Blink away so, in retaliation, Scar pulled Deimos an inch forward, by the leg, and thrust him headfirst into the sword. Even at the very last moment ownership of the talisman had traded two more times meaning there was a small gap in time whereby the talisman wasn''t ticking up. Would it matter? Only the officials knew at this point but they were still gathering the footage... That, and they were probably going over their rules to check and see whether Fate''s interference with the runes on the Training Field counted as tampering or not. It was entirely possible the Umbras had won but would be handed down a loss regardless thanks to their unfair methods. With so much about the match up in the air right now it was no surprise there was an atmosphere of tension as barely audible murmurs could be heard on every floor of the coliseum. Everyone was discussing their thoughts on the outcome as well as maybe even making last minute bets with the people around them.


    Up on the top floor Bellona was chowing down on some popping candy that Ares had brought along with him. She preferred it to the popcorn for sale mostly because of its refreshing taste being perfect for the relatively hot temperatures that today had brought along with it. Enyo, on the other hand, had honeycomb... At one point anyway. She''d chowed down on it rapidly near the start of the match like she was some kind of snack woodchipper. Ares did have more but Enyo was so tense throughout the match that she''d even forgotten to ask for it, that was just how invested she was. Even now she was doing that annoying thing some people do to their significant other whereby they crush the person''s hand within their own grip without realising how much pressure they''re applying. Ares grin and bore it but he really wished she would stop squishing his hand! He understood why she was so into the match but no amount of bone breaking was going to change anything! Enyo was even biting the nails on her other hand and Ares had never seen her like this before. She either had a really deeply rooted competitive side or she just really wanted the Legions to win for the sake of what it would mean for the clan in the long term. Either way, now that the C.O lady, that Ares had discussed the Isasz region team''s cheating matter with a while back, was floating towards the centre of the arena, it looked like the results of their internal discussions were about to be made public. The lady coughed into her palm and, although this action shouldn''t have logically dominated the soundscape of the coliseum, either the woman had imbued some of her cultivation into her voice or the acoustics in this coliseum were phenomenal as everyone could hear her loud and clear. Of course the correct answer was obviously the former but there were some gadgets that could amplify a person''s voice and, although the Scorched Grounds didn''t possess any, some coliseums did install such gadgets into their arenas. Now that the C.O woman had everyone''s attention, she began detailing the C.O''s verdict.


    "First and foremost, I would like to begin by congratulating both teams for a performance truly befitting of this historic venue. I imagine their fight will go down as one of the many greats and become a story of great renown in the future. Both teams fought valiantly in a commendable and... Mostly praiseworthy manner. That leads us onto the first matter regarding the Umbras'' rune interference that affected the outcome of not one, but two different duels throughout the course of the match. Normally we would be strictly against such a blatant disregard of the rules but, as of today, we have decided to view such measures in a case by case light. In today''s match, the rune was hacked mid-fight and was not tampered with before hand. Additionally, only Umbra members directly utilised this trick but there was nothing in place stopping the Legions from doing the same, they simply forgot or chose not to. Point being, it was a measure that neither strictly benefitted one team or the other despite the Umbras making the most out of it comparatively. Fate possessed the means to interfere with the Training Field herself, and did not seek external aid to enable her hacking, and no member of the crowd involved themselves in the match even after the interference prevention barrier was nullified so, after strict review, we have determined that in this specific case we will permit the methodology used to take control over the Training Field.


    The treasure used specialises in hijacking and we deemed it an appropriate use case in this instance. HOWEVER, we would recommend going forward that no team attempts to make use of this method as we will be clamping down on this circumvention of the rules heavily from now on. This was a creative example of playing around the rules we set and, while we may tolerate it once, we will not do so twice. We request that all teams do no touch the Training Field henceforth, thank you for your understanding. This message also extends to Fate as we would appreciate it if you could refrain from repeating your actions today in your next match. Working alongside Skyzo you created a very real problem that undoubtedly would feel unfair to fight against in a match with any form of integrity. The primary reason we''ve allowed your chicanery today is because Skyzo had died before he could go on a rampage with his passive art. The secondary reason is because the effect ended after you died. If any of those conditions had not been met your team would be forfeiting right now regardless of the timer on the talisman... But I''ve parroted on long enough about that issue so, instead, we will now present to you a replay of the footage we gathered. There will be no disputing the evidence we have provided and we ask that you all do not start any fights in the coliseum over the outcome. Anyone who disobeys this request will be at best kicked out and, at worst, executed by our guards. Prison sentences and detainment in the local dungeon are also possibilities so bear that in mind. That is all from me and I hope I do not need to make a personal appearance again during this tournament. I typically never have to show up and yet I''ve already come down twice for this international. Please behave yourselves going forward. That is all."


    A wordy speech but a relatively absolute one that laid down the law firmly. Basically, to summarise, ''stop being a bunch of problem children cheating fucks'', end quote. The Umbras had seemingly made it through this ordeal by the skin of their teeth but, unfortunately, their fangs had now been removed and the one measure they had to potentially deal with Mako was stripped off them. On the condition that they had actually won this match and had a chance to face him, anyway. As for the Legions, they weren''t affected by anything that was said really. If anything, they had reason to complain that the rules were not being applied consistently. If Fate wasn''t allowed to do it again, then why was she allowed to do it this time? Many like-minded individuals in the Legion clan were fuming right now because the novelty of Fate''s trick had earned her some coliseum style amnesty. The preferential treatment for creativity was an afront to justice! But they weren''t going to complain openly anyway, they had an image to maintain. A lot of the spectators in the crowd weren''t happy so they could do the complaining in their stead. It wouldn''t get anyone anywhere but it would at least soften the blow that was the Legion''s poor showing during the match. Regardless of the outcome, the Legions had been soundly wiped out and routed down to the last. Sure they were missing some star players but, at the end of the day, that was just a convenient excuse they could fallaciously attempt to chuck around that wouldn''t actually get them anywhere. They really wanted this win here so, when the projection was thrown up above the arena, wide and tall enough for everyone to see regardless of where they were seated, they all dropped their conversations and stared at the replay.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Everyone who hadn''t caught the small interaction between Scar and Tyr were just now realising that the ending hadn''t been smooth sailing for either team and that a wrench had been thrown into the mix at the last second. Did Scar''s final act as captain help save the day or did it fail to make a difference? As the distance between Verv''s sword and Deimos'' head shrunk, it didn''t get any easier to tell. The timer had milliseconds visible and no matter how slow the footage was, until it was paused on the final time nobody was pre-emptively making any assumptions. By the time Verv''s sword was a mere fraction of a centimetre away from Deimos'' skull, the timer was displaying 2:29:95. 2 minutes, 29 seconds, and 95 milliseconds. Scar had already taken the talisman and Deimos had already stolen it back so it was literally just a question of how fast the sword killed Deimos. It sunk into his forehead at 2:29:96, it pierced his brain at 2:29:97. And at 2:29:98, Scar''s leg pull, dragging Deimos forward, finished the job and ran him through entirely, splattering his brain against the back wall. It wasn''t one millisecond off 2:30, it was two. Not that it made much of a difference as losing by less than a second, regardless of how many milliseconds, would always feel like highway robbery no matter how you sliced it but at least it wasn''t the dreaded one millisecond. That would have been ridiculous... Not that this wasn''t too, mind you, just not as bad.


    So that was it then, the Umbras had won. It took a split second for this information to fully circulate through everyone''s brains before a round of roaring applause took over the stadium. The crestfallen Legions were etched and burned into Bellona''s smug skull as she directly memorised everyone''s reactions and saved them into a folder in her brain. Enyo had learned the memory share art and Bellona was in the midst of learning it too, partially because sharing memories was just really useful, but also because it made keeping track of memories that much easier. It really was like saving documents on a computer and this particular memory was a good one worth keeping! Seeing the people that gave her a hard time eating dirt brought her immeasurable joy and made her giddy enough to happily lean on Ares and hum to herself. Things were not going quite so well over by Ares'' other arm, however, as Enyo was tugging at it like a madwoman as she bit her thumb in frustration. She even turned to Ares and started throttling him for some reason but Ares decided it was better not to ask and instead simply accept his fate as a scapegoat. It was his family that did the Legions dirty, not him! Still, if he told Enyo that she would likely just double down anyway so he kept his mouth shut and endured like a good husband. At the very least, the affectionate nuzzling on his other arm was pleasant. He had a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. Of course who was which was subject to change on a moment to moment basis but, alas, such was the life of strife with more than one wife.


    Down in the arena, by the revival platforms, the Legions were mostly apathetic. Only Pele threw her fist from the side of her face down to her elbow on the opposite side of her body while mumbling the word ''drat'' under her breath. Palioxis had gotten everything she wanted out of this fight and was tightly wrapped around Phobos like a koala hugging a tree. Her face was dead serious but inwardly she was very satisfied with this outcome. Phobos was surprisingly calm about everything and not acting like a perpetually scared and lost child anymore so that was good. Deimos was double and triple checking his bike to make sure it was ok. He knew it would be fixed after the match ended but he wasn''t taking any chances with his precious baby! If there was any kind of damage he would rush back to the Legion planet like someone had lit a fire under his ass, bringing his prized possession over the blacksmith for repairs ASAP.


    Tyr was looking from one hand to the other, gazing at his two weapons and wondering how he could improve from here. Though he''d almost definitely done the most during the match, or at least tied for Legion MVP with Deimos, he was concerned about how it all went. Losing his treasures really put him in such a massive disadvantage and the weakness he felt in being unable to have any affect on the outcome was weighing on him. He needed ways to be a problem even without his personal treasures by his side. He also needed stronger attacks in general as relying on the 10% jackpot wasn''t going to get him anywhere if the opponent wasn''t directly in front of him. All in all, there was a lot for him to consider. His leadership had been fine though. Yes he didn''t bring everyone together to fight as a team but, given the circumstances with the Scar showdown, his hands had been tied from the start. What he should have done was have a pre-match plan and distribute it to his family ahead of time so they could act according to his commands without him needing to speak to them. The Legions could have come together and overcome the odds. Even just giving Pele a little more wriggle room would have exploded the teams potential... This match hadn''t been a waste, as a lot had been learned here, but it wasn''t a good outcome either. How Tyr was going to recover from this failure he didn''t yet know... Plus he was going to have to confront his father at some point who would not be pleased he lost like this. In many ways, Tyr had it the hardest of everyone despite seeming the least bothered and despite having done the best job overall. That was what it took to be a leader, shouldering burdens and failures, unfortunately, and he was about as good as they came in that regard. Thought it was rare for the Legions to stumble, when they did, you could be sure Tyr would lay the blame squarely on himself at the end of it all.


    On the flip side, the revenants had no such system. There was no top down punishment from those residing at the top of the hierarchy. Had they lost, back home all Aster would have done is laugh at them for half an hour straight, making countless jokes at their expense. They were far freer than the Legions and maybe that was why they were able to come out on top regardless of whether they won or lost. Their minds could wander without repercussion during a match which was at least 9/10ths of the reason they came up with such whacky measures all the time. They were not burdened by death, prestige, or reputation like everyone else. They felt no pressure to win which just made winning, ironically, that much easier.


    Venus was staring holes into the back Fate''s head because, yes, she did help her with the whole shooting Phobos thing but the only reason it had to happen in the first place was also because of this little treacherous brat! Fate ignored the eyeball poking at the back of her head and held her head up high with pride, placing everyone in her view beneath her chin and smug grin. As far as the Umbra MVP went it had to be... Not her! The Umbra MVP was definitely H.I.JACK but Fate was piggybacking off his success and getting cocky about it. She was the puppeteer so it wasn''t entirely unfounded but, still, it was H.I.JACK that really deserved most of the praise. On the subject of MVPs, Verv had also done an extraordinary job throughout the fight. It took him a while to chase Deimos'' Grand Prix down but it''s not like anyone else would have been able to do it other than maybe H.I.JACK with Overclock. He also managed to steal the talisman enough times to actually make a difference and he was the only family member to not suffer an injury that affected him in any noticeable way. Excluding Fate, who''s opponent wasn''t really trying, Verv had the cleanest win against his foe and didn''t even really show off much. He was taking a nap right now and would remember none of this when he woke up. Skyzo was just sighing to himself because A; he was never going to hear the end of it from Pele, that was a given, and also because B;... He was going to have to carry Verv out of here like he was some kind of sleeping puppy. Verv was hard to wake up after a berserk spree so he often relied on Scar and Skyzo to remove him from the premise afterward. Scar would at least help Skyzo lug the lug out so it wasn''t all bad. As for Scar, he was deeply concerned about his own negligence during the final stretch. Things worked out this time but, if they had lost, his mistake of losing his ankle would have no doubt been at fault. Much like Tyr, he was going over all the wrongs he could find in his own performance and there were many. A lack of arts used, the ankle thing, and his refusal to make any risky plays. Part of why Tyr had been such a menace near the end was because he threw everything at the wall to see what stuck. Scar never wanted to be in such a desperate situation that he started acting like that but maybe he should be a bit more loose and fast with his recklessness from time to time.


    And thus that was the match. Everyone was content with how it all ended, at least the competitors were anyway as some people with big bets were furious, so the two teams left peacefully with a few small waves between them. Those who were serious about cultivation knew what needed to be addressed in their own performance and those who didn''t care would just go back to whatever it was they were doing before the match started without fussing over the details of who won. These two teams that hardly cared about the result were some of the greatest contenders in the tournament, which was definitely a slap in the face to those who cared way too much, and now their match was done and relegated to the history books. There was no animosity between them and yet the animosity brewing between the Legion and Umbra elders / disciples in the crowd was not to be ignored. It was debatably for the worse having had the Umbras win because revenants were annoying at the best of times. Put the wind behind their back with a victory and it was not pleasant sailing for everybody aboard the sinking Legion ship. Many blown raspberries from across the coliseum sent more than just a few Legions spiralling into anger but they couldn''t do anything about it here in this place lest the C.O lady blast them a new one. Not everyone in the Vraizon domain was above the transition realm after all. Hell there were even some disciples / elders that Ares could take on if he needed to. No clan could do without the serfs and other such lower tiered labourers / busybodies. Then again, if you were going to be doing paper work or hard, manual labour for any clan the Legion would be a great one to pick as they would never exploit anyone for personal gain. They were great people! Not that you''d be able to tell what with Bellona laughing at her fellow clansmen''s'' agitation, Sadie drunkenly flopped over her chair, Enyo throttling her husband, and Rhea trying to pull Calla''s tail off... Although you could also argue that it was just the Legion women who were a bit crazy. It wasn''t a particularly well known stereotype but it was one that existed and, perhaps, for a very good reason...

 Chapter 215: Just Eyeball It

    It was time to head back. Ares knew it was going to be another busy day back at the house as it seemed like Rhea was indirectly forcing him to host a get together. If her children were being served Calla''s hot chocolate then Rhea figured she would take advantage and get them some of Ares'' food to boot. Ares had no say in the matter but he was used to such unreasonable behaviour from Legion women and simply didn''t make a fuss over it, instead graciously taking the initiative and kindly offering a place for everyone to come and hang out. He had his own cultivation crap to attend to but taking a break to make some food for everyone wouldn''t be the end of the world... Although that was also what he''d said last time when it was his birthday... At this rate he was going to keep taking days off and not make any progress... But things weren''t up to him as the timing of his birthday and this match were purely coincidental so he tried not to dwell on it. He''d be free to do as he pleased all day and night from tomorrow onward without interference so biting the bullet for a while today wasn''t an issue.


    Just because Ares couldn''t isolate himself in a cultivation room that didn''t mean he couldn''t start planning his schedule ahead of time and, by the time he and everyone else returned to his home, he was fairly confident he knew how he wanted to tackle everything. First he was going to pressurise the Celestial Prisms and then, depending on how much time he had, maybe the Nyxian Prowler. The second issue on his list to tackle, and easily the more important of the two, was to raise his cultivation to sensory enhancement. Though the next match wasn''t against anyone impressive, Ares wanted to get some practice in with divine sense as well as his enhanced base senses before he went toe to toe with the biggest of foes, Mako. Granted that was still two matches away but more time = more practice, and more practice = more good. Ares didn''t know how long that process would take him but he felt confident he could get it all done by the time the next match came around. There was also one other thing he wanted to go and do but that was a quick matter and something he could square away in a few minutes by paying some people in this sect a visit. He would get this mystery task over and done with tomorrow morning, probably, and then hunker down on his other tasks.


    Right now though it was cooking time! As people flooded into his house, Ares very promptly realised he did not have nearly enough food so he left to go shopping; not before taking some damn stardust off the freeloaders to pay for it, though, because he was gonna go all out today! It was the largest gathering at his house he''d ever hosted and it was to the point that some people were having to stand in the back garden or even use the cultivation rooms just to fit into the house. The Legions, the Umbras, the matriarchs, drunk Sadie, Gladius and Charity (who was squabbling with Leo), and for some un-Godly reason Trew too had all come a-knockin''. There was no way in hell Ares was making tailored food for everyone so, after he arrived at the sect''s grocery store, he just picked up a lot of food stuffs that could be made for groups of people and separated into individual portions buffet style. Ares had a lot of work on his plate! Not that he had enough plates to begin with... This time it wasn''t even a result of a certain drunken someone stealing them all, he just outright didn''t have enough. Ares begrudgingly purchased some more but not before considering the zero-fucks-given option of plastic plates and cutlery... The temptation was very real but, unfortunately, so was the embarrassment that came with it. Ares was a proud host and nothing would dent said pride more than caving in and going down the plastic route... He just couldn''t bring himself to do it! Even if buying more plates only gave Sadie more incentives to regress back to her thieving ways, what with the influx of surplus, Ares knew it had to be done!


    After Ares'' shopping trip, he returned to find everyone getting along well enough. There were some minor complications with Phobos, Palioxis, and Venus but that had nothing to do with Ares and, even if it did, Ares wanted nothing to do with it! Calla had already distributed the hot chocolates, as she''d promised she would, and that calmed the room right down as everyone sipped on their warm beverage and took a break from their cordial conversations and / or bickering. Ares was handed his own drink and got down to work making various salads, pasta dishes, and some soups. Dessert was just fruit salad but there was a crap ton of it and the variety of fruit was almost mind numbing. If anything, this was where Ares had put the most effort in as he''d filled multiple, separate bowls with fruits ranging from A-Z in the alphabet. Anyone could basically treat it like a pick ''n'' mix so it went down a treat simple though it was. After a long and hard fight some fresh fruit would undoubtedly perk everyone up so Ares had hit the nail on the head with hiss choice here. of course Enyo demanded more honeycomb now that her nerves had settled down but that was a separate matter.


    Nobody stayed too late today and even Sadie responsibly took her leave instead of throwing up in the garden and crashing on the couch. It seemed Tyr wanted to do some training tomorrow, as well as Gladius, Scar, Skyzo, and Pele, so Rhea made sure Sadie didn''t go overboard with the alcohol so she could actually, you know, fulfil her duty and do what she was paid to do? It was interesting that some of the Umbras were willing to train under Sadie, mostly because she had a very different style to someone like Aym, but it would likely be a good experience nonetheless. Plus Sadie had been working hard on Dominus'' advice so she was becoming a way better instructor. Though her main goal was to teach the Legion how best to survive, she was now finding more and more ways to incorporate some manner of offensive into even the most defensive of strategies that she regularly taught. Maybe if she threw in some pressure enhancement she''d be able to reach the big leagues of Vraizon and throw some weight around. Speaking of the big leagues, the matriarchs were all working on Ares'' advice and even occasionally visiting the pagoda again to get some more. They''d all noticed improvements, even if the range of which varied depending on the matriarch, so it was reassuring that Ares'' training was working. It bloody better considering they had to put up with the bastard every time they wanted to be taught anything! Sometimes it was actually better to just talk to the real Ares because, although the mockery would technically increase ten fold, it would be more outwardly subtle as he had to fear for his life in reality. He was less inclined to be mouthy when the person in front of him would be more than willing to smack him then and there in said mouthy.


    After everyone left, some peace and quiet returned to casa del Ares but it wasn''t quite late enough to warrant going to sleep. As it had been a while since he spent time with his daughter, Ares played around with Appa doing whatever it wanted be it piggyback rides, throwing it into the air and catching it, or just chatting aimlessly for a while. As Enyo was going to keep her hands to herself tonight, Ares was able to bring Appa into the bedroom today and thus the first night in which Ares, Enyo, Bellona, and Appa all slept together passed. Appa didn''t really get much sleep as it happily floated around from position to position to get more hugs. It was just in a good mood as it was surrounded by family and making the most of that took precedence over resting. It''s not like there was anything for it to really do as of late anyway. Anyone who wasn''t competing in the tournament just kinda cultivated all day and occasionally trained so Appa staying up late wasn''t going to be a concern for it. Although Ares wasn''t aware, and he would have very much wished to see this if he were, there was one very sweet moment in which Bellona accidentally sleep-head-butt Appa so it head-butt her back. This cycle kept going for about five minutes until a giggling Appa left Bellona to finally knock, and lean on, Ares'' arm instead like she''d been meaning to do from the start. Luckily, however, this memory was caught by Enyo who happened to be awake and would share it with Ares provided he did as she asked. What she would ask of him was pretty obvious, and there was no way he''d say no, it''s just that she liked looking for opportunities to wrap Ares around her thumb. She knew he was a sucker for all things cute and that the mere mention of this occurrence would spur him to agree to any trade offer she put forth. That being said, Enyo also knew Ares wanted to spend some time sorting stuff out in the cultivation room so she wouldn''t pester him right away, instead waiting until he had free time to pamper her.


    Morning breached the curtains and everyone got up in their own time, leaving the room one by one to go about their business whatever it may be. Bellona was likely going to do some cultivation and raise her stage if at all possible while Enyo was going to mess around with her shield and barriers. Enyo even mentioned possibly attending the Sadie training session so Ares and Bellona bid her goodbye. Appa was torn between cultivating or playing with Leo and decided to see what he was up to first before making its own choice. The Aejaz family: Trixie, Allie, Lacy, Leo, and Aejaz himself, were all over on the other side of the house, in the back garden, so Ares left them to their own devices as he entered the soul-draining cultivation room. It very well could be fun in here sometimes but its original purpose was etched into the name of the room and it gave Ares pause whenever he heard it. Cultivation room. The thought of locking yourself in a room to cultivate... Ares wanted to puke. At the very least, even if what he was about to do was dull, it was still more interesting than the arduous chore that was cultivating in confinement. Now did that make the prospect of sitting around, jamming pressure into his Celestial Prisms for potentially days on end more appealing? Hell no but what needed to be done needed to be done... Now the only question was how to do it exactly... After all, the treasures were behind his eyeballs right now! Ares hadn''t considered this problem before but he was just now realising he was going to have to, rather forcefully, shove pressure into his eyes... It was going to be like filling a balloon to the brim with air except for the fact that the balloon was a body part and he could feel them bursting with pressure, on the verge of exploding in his head. It might not hurt, provided nothing went abysmally wrong, but it certainly wasn''t going to feel nice either and that was basically guaranteed.


    Ares closed his right eye and poked the eyelid gently. He tried to push some pressure into his eye in this manner but it was unsuccessful to say the least. There had been zero reaction whatsoever so this was clearly wrong. Ares had tried taking easy way out number one and been completely denied so now it was time for easy way out numero deux! In vain, Ares attempted to direct pressure through him internally so that he could pressurise the Prisms without having to poke his eyeball directly but, a few seconds of meaningless effort later, he''d confirmed that it was very much not possible to accomplish. That only left the method of direct application and, once more, Ares was being a wuss. Could he be blamed for not wanting to shove his finger into the whites of his eyes though? Really? Not even a month ago Ares had never had to do anything too uncomfortable for an increase in overall power but, nowadays, it felt like a disgusting and / or painful process a minute! The annihilation enhancement, the unchaining, and now this? It didn''t help that Ares was also on the lookout for an out of this world fine grind blue which would no doubt be agonising to digest whenever he finally got around to that, presumably in Xasca. At least he might have some kind of break during the Freeride journey... Maybe...


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    Sigh


    Ares looked at his pointer finger as his finger looked him dead in the eye. Might as well get it over and done with...


    ....


    ....


    Jab


    "SON OF A..." Ares immediately, instinctively, retracted his finger and nearly bit the thing in frustration. This sucked! And how long was he going to have to do this for again? Days?! There was no way Ares was going to have time to do the Nyxian Prowler after this. Not a damn chance. He was struggling to even get off the ground with the Prisms so how long it would take him to finish them was indeterminable. Rather than sit around and poke himself to insanity in a dull room, Ares decided to walk around the sect and do it! If he had to suffer, everyone else had to watch him suffer and cringe at the sight! That and Ares wanted to go to this mystery place as well and, now that he had some spare time, there was no reason not to. Ares got up, left, creeped out everyone in the sect he passed, and eventually got around to badgering some farmers to get what he wanted. A few trades later he was in possession of what he''d been after from the get go... Though he was still having difficulties with the whole ''poke your eye'' thing. Ares had formed a crowd of curious onlookers that followed the eye-jabbing mad-man as they were all curious as to what he was trying to accomplish here. Some people even attempted it themselves and regretted their foolishness deeply. The crowd realised this wasn''t some new cultivation craze, and that Ares wasn''t setting some new trend or anything, he was just being weird. There was a fifty fifty chance with this guy whether copying his actions would catapult you to unrivalled success or make you look stupid for literally negative gain. This eye-poking thing seemed to be the latter so they all left him to it and went back about their own business.


    Ares returned to the solitary confinement room, AKA the cultivation room, and kept at it. He was tempted to go check the arts library and see if they any technicals that were capable of numbing pain temporarily as this eye situation was getting out of hand. Fortunately, when all hope looked lost, Ares decided to try something he thought wouldn''t work in the slightest. He used annihilation enhancement on his eyes, but not his fingers, and gave it another shot. Ares was aware he wouldn''t feel any pain doing this but he was expecting to be unable to pressurise the Celestial Prisms because he couldn''t shove the pressure past the enhancement to reach the treasures. As it turned out, this assumption was false and it worked perfectly fine... Which meant everything prior ''till now could have been avoided had he simply experimented for a bit longer before clinging to the stupidest option available to him. All of that eye poking had been for naught... Well at least he ended up finding a new method to escape his predicament in the end, that was for the best. Having to run enhancement 24/7 while he did this would also be good practice for using it for longer periods of time. He wasn''t lying back during the match against the Isasz cheaters when he said he could run this for a long ass time, it''s just that he''d never done it as of yet. The span of a few days may have sounded like a lot now but, when his cultivation increased, the usefulness of such a duration would be put to the test during multi-year trials. It was better to start working on his ability to keep it operating for chunk of time now while he had a reason to so, at the very least, he wouldn''t just be sitting here dealing with the Prisms this entire time. This process would be a bit more involved and give him something to do which was nice.


    Time passed and Ares scarcely took any breaks over the course of the next four days. He''d been somewhat blindsided by the amount of time dealing with the Prisms took but they were a pretty incredible treasure so it made sense. Plus, as Ares knew he would before, he found out whether or not they were a personal treasure. In short, yes they were. When did this happen exactly? Ares had no idea, it could have been the moment he picked them up for all he knew. It could have also been a result of pressurising them but there was no real way to tell. The only benefit of this was being able to shove more pressure inside it and Ares didn''t quite know what effect that would have other than making his eyes much more resilient. Maybe he could stare at the sun now or keep his eyes open underwater. Not that he couldn''t do that latter thing anyway but at lower depths, closer to the seabed, he could resist the pressure near the ocean floor perhaps. Ares also tried shining a light in his eye but he was perfectly fine to stare right into the thing without any repercussions so it seemed he would be much harder to blind overall. Of course any powerful arts would override this but, for the most part, he''d be unfettered by minor inconveniences. Ares also performed one last test and, sure enough, he found out that he could see clearly in the dark. Yes he could use Omniscience to fix that problem anyway but then his fiery eyes would give away his position. Having the means to see through darkness without giving away his location was pretty valuable and he wasn''t going to complain about it. It was an easier method of attaining such an ability than by eating millions of carrots anyway. Though Ares was done testing, he was pretty sure his eyes could also see further and the clarity of his vision had improved significantly. He would keep an eye out, pun intended, as he was walking about outside the sect to double check if it was true or not but he was fairly convinced of it just based on how crystal clear everything was now compared to before.


    Ares had two days left until his match was next up on the chopping block. A few others were taking place currently but they weren''t as interesting as the Umbra and Legion slug fest so Ares ignored them and went about his own business, cultivating until he could go up a stage and reach the 8th stage of mental accumulation. Sitting around with his legs crossed got boring after a while so he messed around and tried cultivating in different positions. Leaning diagonally against the wall by resting his head on it, sitting in an ''L'' pose in mid air with his back up against one wall and his feet pressed up against the opposite, and even doing a handstand were all cultivation methods Ares gave a go. At one point Enyo even found him using Voidwalk to stick to the ceiling when she came to give him some bubble tea Bellona had made. "One brown sugar bubble tea for the ceiling demon."


    Ares chuckled at Enyo''s nonsense at dropped down to the floor. Before taking a sip he decided to check in with Enyo and see how things were going outside. "Sorry for not spending much time with you as of late but, you know. How''s everything been on your end? I take it you''ve been back to My Fair Lady? You said you were going shopping that one day and I know you wouldn''t leave the sect, go into town, and not pay Bea a visit."


    "Can you blame me? Her stock and selection have gotten really impressive since I begged Rhea to invest in the shop. Bea''s done a fantastic job and upheld her promise to expand quite nicely. I think she''s even gotten some recognition from the international tourists so her name''s been spreading far and wide... Speaking of spreading far and wide... You got a minute?" Enyo''s hands were getting fidgety and Ares sighed. Ares hadn''t taken many breaks but most of them had been to occupy a bored Enyo. That and spending time with Blo Blo in the back garden firing off magic but one of his wives was a lot more needy than the other so the ratio of time spent with one was a lot higher than with the other. Bellona was pretty independent for the most part, however, so that was fine. Now that she''d gotten everything off her chest and out her system Ares felt comfortable leaving her to her own devices more often. She knew he was actually busy right now and not just dicking about with miscellaneous and irrelevant garbage. Actually, it seemed like she was intentionally leaving him be and not being too demanding. Ares appreciated it but she had every right to be a bit more selfish. That would take some time away from Enyo but she''d had more than enough as of late! She could go take a cold shower!


    "Ah sorry, maybe later? I know it might not look like it but I''m actually really close to a breakthrough here."


    Enyo''s eyebrow raised as she was convinced she was being lied to even if her bloodline said otherwise. This fool had been standing on the ceiling not even a minute ago! What kind of breakthrough was he on the verge of exactly? Defying gravity? He''d already accomplished that! Was he going to start doing it without an art? Enyo just shook her head and tutted. "A shame but oh well. Good luck on whatever it was you were doing."


    Ares shook his head lightly and figured he might as well explain. "It''s just normal cultivation... Somewhat so anyway. I read in a book somewhere that some people practice extreme cultivation wherein they cultivate while doing absurd things like skydiving or bungie jumping. Apparently the more used to cultivating at reckless times you are, the easier it gets. These people could supposedly keep cultivating all day, all night, no matter what they were doing. Imagine that? Cultivating passively all the time! Having a chat? Cultivating. Having a fight? Cultivating. Having a quickie with your sex pest wife? Cultivating!" Ares sprinkled in that last example to keep Enyo at bay. If he could actually accomplish this then the amount of spare time he had would skyrocket so this, to her, was an incredible opportunity. Enyo practically bolted out of the room after wishing him good luck!


    ...


    What Ares failed to mention though was that it was never confirmed if anyone had truly accomplished this or not. It was hard to disprove but it was also equally hard to prove these people weren''t just liars. The theory was reasonable, though, as people could cultivate in situations that weren''t necessarily ideal, it''s just whether or not it could be done without pause was doubtful. Still, there was no particular reason not to try. Ares could cultivate in all the weird positions he tried so maybe, if he kept doing it, something might actually come of it one day! The passive pillar was an open pillar, after all, so ruling it out without giving it a good go was silly when it was of no detriment to his current goals. Speaking of, the breakthrough he mentioned was that he was nearing the 8th stage. He''d probably nail it down by tomorrow, after which he''d take the trailblazers and then work towards divine sense. After that would be the match and then Ares could take things from there. He had no more pressing issues to attend to on his list so he was free to do things in whatever order he wanted. He would definitely deal with pressurising the Prowler first but, after that, he had no idea which personal treasure to start with as they were all predictively going to take, at minimum, a week. If that were true then he''d only have time to pressurise one by the time his match with Mako came around and so he had to pick wisely. Still, he kinda already had an idea which treasure he wanted to pressurise. There weren''t many options but the one he had in mind just felt right. The Stygian Zephyr, the treasure that had been with him from the start, was going to be getting a golden touch up!

 Chapter 216: Eating Spicy Grass

    Bang


    For once that sound, when associated with Ares, was not the result of an explosion! What it was the sweet sweet sound of, was liberation! Liberation from this damned cultivation room! He''d done it. Ares had ascended to mental accumulation, 8th stage, and the bang was proof that his body had ascended. He wouldn''t spend much time on this stage, however, as it was trailblazing time! Each of the stalks would raise him up by one stage and he had three so 9th stage would be a breeze, 10th would be a walk in the park, and then climbing to the 1st stage of the next realm would be a piece of cake. Ares was looking forward to eating the trailblazers, actually, because he was curious to know what kind of taste and texture they were packing. It''s not everyday you get to eat a rare ingredient after all. Nobody throughout history had probably ever wasted a trailblazer and cooked it for a dish and, although Ares was very tempted, he was not going to be the first to do it either. The trailblazers were simply too valuable to waste in such a manner... But man did he really want to!


    Ares left the room and headed over to the kitchen. It seemed like Aejaz was home alone as everyone else had gone on a shopping spree. Where they got this stardust Ares didn''t know but he wanted some damnit! As for the origin of the money, it was actually from a furry feline who''d also gone along on the shopping trip to get some cans of tuna for himself as a reward for his hard work! Leo had been working overtime as chief mouser for the Heaven''s path sect as of late as the farmers needed a bodyguard of sorts to protect their crops. A species of rats that invaded farmland had been cropping up and Leo was the perfect solution so, a while back, Yulo had asked for a hand... Or paw, in this case, and offered to pay Leo a respectable wage for his time. The tiny tiger, equipped with Mini-Pillie Commander and various speed boosting pills, got to work quickly and effectively. He was a silent and deadly killer of vermin who scoured the wheat, roughly four times taller than him, for any signs of infestation.


    Ah but don''t get it twisted, this wasn''t an easy job. The rats were not standard rats, no, they were almost the size of a chubby house cat. Leo had been sparring with theses rodents en masse and his own cultivation had been increasing as a result. The wild treetop tiger clawed countless creatures and cultivated via captivating combat. Plus he could change sizes somewhat now, thanks to the ever-shifting core Ares found way back when, so he wasn''t as outclassed as things might have sounded. His wind-guided fire was excellent for avoiding any damage to the crops whilst burning alive the ratty scoundrels attempting to partake in the goods the farmers had been growing. It was actually quite common to see Leo on the prowl over by that area and he''d been there on the day Ares went, it''s just that he was on the other side of the field so Ares had missed him. After getting paid for his hard work, Leo decided to treat the people that took him in and brought everyone out for a day on the town. Allie in particular was his favourite human so he was going to spoil her rotten a bit. Leo was a bitchy tiger usually but he did have a soft spot that could come out from time to time... Not for guys though. Other than Ares but that was because Ares could talk to him directly, took him in, and could cook delicious food so Leo made an exception. Everyone other guy though? Bleugh. He was like a shitty unicorn or something, apparently. This was why Aejaz had been unceremoniously been left behind. Ah but it should also be noted that Charity was also an exception to this rule, just in reverse. She was on the no-no list with every other male in existence.


    Ares went into the kitchen and got a strainer out because the instructions he''d received from Veteran included boiling the trailblazers for a week straight. With the Primordial Blade''s fast forwarding of time feature Ares could do this in no time flat... If he hadn''t already done it! Foresight had led Ares to boiling the trailblazers back when he first started work on the Prisms. They''d been done for a while now and just kind of simmering in his pocket dimension so, after whipping them out, all he needed to do was drain off some of the excess liquid and chomp on them. Even that wasn''t really necessary as he could do almost whatever he wanted with them, even blending the stalks into a smoothie. The cooking method couldn''t be altered but the consumption method could if you really fancied some spice of life. Still, Ares wasn''t going to do that either because it was a waste of time. Doing it would just make him regret not messing around with the trailblazers more and who knows how long it would be until he found more of this stuff? It wasn''t exactly the kind of thing you could grow in your back garden. They were highly, highly valued and people like Coronos and Davey would kill for these things on sight. Ares coming up with hundred of ideas for the trailblazers but never being able to act on them would be torture in its own right so he didn''t play with them even though his mind was craving it.


    Ares eyed up the three stalks, as did Aejaz who was nosily poking his head around the corner but promptly ran away when Ares flicked a Shock Bead at him, and lifted stalk number one to his lips. He gently took a whiff of the crimson red grass and was almost blown away by the pungent spice that numbed his nose. He leaned back and blinked repeatedly as tears formed in his eyes and his nose became runny. His sinuses had just been thoroughly cleansed, like those of a man who rubbed a literal ton of nasal ointment on his nose and then sat in a heated room with the power of a thousand saunas. Ares almost couldn''t believe how empty his nose felt. He had to feel around on his face to make sure the thing was still there! Was it a nose? Was it a wind tunnel? Ares didn''t know anymore but what he did know was that those trailblazers were packing some serious heat... Ares wanted to make a curry with one! Hehehe, think of all the mouths I could burn! Mako''s reaction would be worth it... Yes, he was genuinely considered using this legendary treasure to prank Mako, that was just how Ares operated though so it wasn''t actually that surprising. Even though he wasn''t going to do it, Ares'' mind was already planning out the intricacies of the op and figuring out how best to go about it. Mako would never eat something Ares randomly gave him out of the blue so he decided the best option would be to use the Nyxian Prowler, sneak into Mako''s room, and drop the trailblazer in his soup. The more he thought about it the more he really wanted to do it but, alas, down his hatch the first stalk went. Ares was smart about this as he''d prepared himself for any potential risks by activating annihilation enhancement ahead of time. He could protect his mouth, throat, and innards with the layer of pressure but that wasn''t his only measure. He had a carton of milk at the ready, waiting to flush down the scorching grass should it flare up his throat.


    Fortunately the trailblazers didn''t go on a rampage at all and the whole ordeal was more calm than Ares had initially predicted. His body warmed up and his body temperature rose. He was sweating a bit and he felt parched but it didn''t feel like he was burning to death or about to become a smouldering corpse so, all in all, he was feeling good. It was more like wearing a sweater in thirty degree heat than jumping into a volcano and Ares was very grateful for that considering some of the nonsense he''d been put through as of late. Or rather stuff he''d put himself through but it was all for the greater good and he couldn''t just not do any of it.


    The trailblazer blazed a trail through his gut and the heat permeated outwards from his core, spreading to every inch of his body like a warm blanket hugging his flesh. From head to toe Ares had become a little red, and there was even a bit of steam coming off him, but that was about fix itself as Ares could feel the culmination of this process coming up next. He was right too as he felt his cultivation start soaring, unprompted by anything Ares was doing right now. He wasn''t cultivating but he could feel his body ascending again. It was almost as if he''d set fire to his cultivation and it was trying to flee the burning house that was Ares'' body by moving ''up''. That or maybe it was because heat rose and Ares'' cultivation was basically on fire right now. Either way, his cultivation was busting through the fire door and into the 9th stage of mental accumulation. Ares pointed some finger guns at the ceiling and mouthed the word ''bang'' in tandem with his body unleashing a small air wave that cooled him down. This signified the effect of his the trailblazer was done and that the user''s cultivation had risen.


    Ares could feel his surge in power but he checked inwardly regardless to make sure everything was functioning as it should. After a brief but cautious check-up, he determined all was well and he was good to keep on keeping on. His body temperature had risen rapidly but it also cooled down just as quickly when everything was over so there were no anomalies in Ares'' current state. There was no drawback to taking multiple trailblazers in a row so down the hatch the second one went. As Ares swallowed, he did wonder to himself what exactly would happen if he shoved all three in at once. He knew sequentially downing them was fine but what about shoving them all down his throat in one fell swoop? Surely that would be disastrous, right? Ares didn''t need to be an expert in stoichiometry to know there was no way he wouldn''t turn into a hot air balloon and just burst on the spot so, wisely, he chose to not do that!


    The same scene played out in the kitchen as Ares increased his stage yet again from 9th to 10th stage and now he was at the peak of mental accumulation. the irony of being at the peak of mental accumulation and not having accumulated any form of intelligence throughout this whole realm was not lost on dumb dog Ares but he didn''t care! He''d built his mental realm passively over the course of his stay here and that was good enough. He really didn''t need to do anything as it was a simple procedure. Just cultivating through the stages lay the foundation and set him up to defend against mental attacks in a basic way. He was lucky not have come across any mental attacks as of yet, excluding Aejaz'', but that could change at a moment''s notice. Now of course he had his disintegration magic ready to go, and completely solve and dissolve that type of issue, but having the mental realm would give him more time to do it so it wasn''t pointless or anything. It''s just that most mental realms were pretty uninspiring early until you found treasures, resources, or medicines to spruce up the place a little. By default, everyone''s mental realm was just a bog standard maze that could be freely re-arranged as long as nobody was poking around in it. If they were then you would have to make do with mental attacks to prevent the attack or the person from reaching the end which was when things would hit the fan and get ugly. Treasures, resources, and medicines would allow the cultivator to include some traps, maybe a guardian or two, and even change the overall layout. You could get really funky with these mental realms but the kind of treasures that affected them were not common. Mental arts in general were considered niche by the large majority of cultivators. Enyo was apparently working on some under the pleasure pillar but that was more of a problem for Ares than anyone else. He had no idea how they would even benefit her as she already had the ability to make him horny on demand, what more did she need?! But that was just Enyo being Enyo so Ares ignored it and let his future self deal with that whenever it became relevant.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Now it was time for the third and final trailblazer, the one that would push Ares into a new realm. This one would have to work overtime and put some more effort in because skipping over a realm was a much bigger ask than skipping over a stage. How this would affect Ares he didn''t yet know but he could hazard a guess. It was going to get really hot inside his body and reach extremely unpleasant temperatures. In order to prevent anything from going awry, Ares took the milk and left the kitchen to head over to the bathroom. He''d joked that Enyo should take a cold shower the other day but now he was, ironically enough, going to be in dire need of one himself. It would be a small release from the burning sensation that was headed his way so there was no reason not to make things as easy for himself as he could. Plus he''d been planning on getting washed anyway as sitting around in the dusty cultivation room, which he needed to clean now that he thought about it, made him a little messy.


    Being at the peak of mental accumulation Ares didn''t exactly need to clean himself often but it was still a force of habit from before his cultivation had risen to this point. A lot of cultivators never quite got used to their newfound bodily functions and a lot of them still ate, slept, and washed regularly just because of how weird it felt skipping these basic daily odd-jobs. Brushing teeth, your five a day, washing your face etc... All stuff no cultivator needed to do often and yet the amount of cultivators who did it anyway were over half of all cultivators in the world. Really the only ones who didn''t where those who''d experience what it was like to be a hermit and cultivate for thousands, if not millions, of years at a time as they were already very familiar with the lack of consequences for their inconsistent hygiene routine. After you locked yourself in a room for eons, multiple times over, and came out smelling like a rose it sorted of tended to dawn on you that maybe certain aspects of your daily life weren''t necessary anymore. As most cultivators didn''t reach that kind of point, or made it a habit to interrupt their long cultivation sessions, it was a relatively uncommon phenomenon. It also didn''t help that a lot of restaurants, medical and beauty businesses, and house builders came together to create multiple ad campaigns singing the praises of such activities so they could make bank off of entirely irrelevant nonsense to the majority of cultivators. These people would go out of business real fast if everyone just stopped caring about such things so the business cabal made a great effort to alter public consciousness on the aforementioned matters. That being said, there were a lot of reasons to eat, wash, etc on a daily basis provided you were in a very specific group of elites who could afford rare luxuries. Some food simply tasted too divine to ignore and some actually came with cultivation benefits and were worth going out of your way for. Some people had also found shower treasures that could cleanse impurities from the body as well as paints that could be used to coat a room and give it passive benefits. Not everything related to daily mundane tasks was a scam but you had to have a keen eye to discern what was actually worth the cost of doing business and what existed solely to part you from your hard-earned stardust, the majority of which fell into the latter category.


    Ares took his clothes off and hopped into the shower, turned it on, and swallowed the last trailblazer as a familiar tingle of heat assailed him all over his body. For the first, give or take, minute things were smooth sailing and roughly the exact same as they had been before. Unlike last time, however, his cultivation, during its ascent, felt like it smacked headfirst into a brick wall and Ares felt concussed by the collision. His head was heating up so he lodged it under the shower nozzle and took deep breaths.


    Wham.


    Wham.


    Wham.


    Again and again his cultivation kept ramming the bottleneck, giving Ares a serious headache and making him wonder if cultivating past this realm normally would have been a better option. Using the trailblazer to go up a realm was not a simple task, as it turned out, and he wasn''t in a any particular rush to reach sensory enhancement. It''s not like being at mental accumulation would bite him in the ass during the next match because it was just another group of nobodies he could beat with one arm tied behind his back. Actually, with annihilation enhancement, he could tie both hands behind his back and still win with his eyes closed so it really wasn''t a contest. He could have very well cultivated to the next realm normally and then used the trailblazer to just skip another stage after. Still, Ares both A; wanted the experience so he knew what to expect should he ever do this again and, B; ascending to a new realm took a lot longer than going up a stage via normal cultivation. Yes he could cultivate and achieve the same result normally but doing so took up an amount of time Ares didn''t need to waste right now. Delaying his cultivation progress by a couple of days just so he didn''t have to go through this miserable experience was childish and he could handle it annoying though it was. Headache? Heartburn? Numbed body? He''d been through a lot worse recently so tolerating this for a few minutes was ''easy'' in comparison. The shower and the milk, which he''d just taken a swig of, were also useful in their own right and massively aided Ares during the absorption of this resource... Resource... Ares had taken a cultivation resource for once! He''d almost completely forgotten this was an issue that had been plaguing him this whole time! Ares didn''t have time to be moping over the difficulty of swallowing the trailblazers because he should have been celebrating the fact that he even had a chance to swallow them in the first place! This was practically a gift from God at this point...


    That line of thinking managed to distract Ares throughout the somewhat painful but mostly un-tumultuous process. He treated the bubbles of flames in his stomach like celebratory fireworks, congratulating him on his acquisition of cultivation goods for the first time! The milk he swallowed to soothe his insides was totally champagne! His body was a raving party and not a bubbling cauldron right now! There were limits to Ares imagination but, thankfully, the whole shebang came to an end shortly before Ares'' delusions did with one final, and considerable, BANG rippling throughout Ares flesh. It was possible to see his skin jump that was how momentous his improvement was. Going up two stages and a realm in the span of a few minutes, no more than ten total, was a feat that would have the average Sheryashkan implode in jealousy. In the lower realms such a spontaneous rise in cultivation was hard to come across and could be a defining moment for any cultivator worth their salt. How quickly you rose through the ranks compared to everyone else in your age group could very well determine how much support you received from those looking to sponsor you in the long run. people were always looking for talented youngsters to take under their wing so a shift in tempo, regarding cultivation, as major as the one Ares had just experienced would single-handedly shape a person''s future under the right circumstance. Now of course Ares'' future was shaped a long time ago and he needed no such support but that was precisely why others would be jealous of him. With all the advantages he had gaining even more like this was just unfair! How was anyone who was Ares'' age supposed to compete with this freak? The only silver lining before today was that his cultivation was generally really quite low but, since the last match, which was the last time anyone outside the sect had seen him, he''d gone up four stages! He''d even snuck his way into sensory enhancement! It would be painfully apparent, the next time he debuted, that he''d gorged on some kind of amazing treasure and that would just fuel everyone''s envy even more than his very existence already did.


    But that was enough about that. Random strangers and their opinions meant nothing to Ares who was already pondering how to go about achieving divine sense. He wasn''t in a rush but he wanted to get it over and done with before the next match so he could streamline his to do list and have all the miscellaneous stuff squared away. In order to find out how he was supposed to even start with divine sense, Ares had a couple options. He could ask someone who was in or above the realm. He could read a book, of which their would inevitably be many that were written about this very common subject in the library, or he could just wing it and potentially end up doing something pointless like jabbing himself in the eye again.


    The first option was the easiest but also the one that would take Ares the longest as he didn''t know where anyone who could help him was right now. The matriarchs all resided... Somewhere? Honestly Ares had no clue where they were staying but it had to be a fancy place so he could narrow it down if he really tried. it would still take forever and then some to locate them properly though so it was a no-go overall. The elders in the sect would all likely be too busy to entertain Ares and even those that weren''t might be hard to track down as elders aren''t always glued to one spot. Aejaz was in the next room over but he was kind of useless in many ways and asking him for precise instructions was... Not going to happen! Everyone else was out shopping and Ares didn''t want to bother his neighbours when they were resting at home. Sadie could work... But she would haggle! She''d already been eyeing up his spare plates the night before and she would demand some in return for her aid! She might have also left the sect as today was a Sunday and she didn''t work on Sundays because... She was lazy? Ares didn''t actually know why. Other elders did... Of course being a decorated and prestigious cultivator meant she could take a day off and no one would stop her but where was the work ethic with this woman?! If Ares wanted to seek help, there was only one viable option and there was no chance in hell he was going to go and ask Rud! No! Never! Also, as a side note, Ares was forbidden from hanging around Alaine when Enyo wasn''t around so he couldn''t even seek instruction from his tier leader! Every option was problematic for one reason or another which meant that external aid route wasn''t looking likely.


    The second option had the least obstacles attached to it as paying the library a visit would take a few minutes and that would be it... But which book should Ares check out? There would be hundreds on the topic and decoding which one was the most up to date, had the most useful information for someone like Ares, and could provide clear instructions... That would take days of combing through everything just to have a rough idea... It''s not like a book could do what a human being with knowledge could do and assess Ares'' uniqueness before giving him appropriate advice, Ares would need to do all that himself. This would take an amount of time Ares didn''t want to throw away pointlessly right now which could only mean one thing... It was time to do silly crap again and see what worked!

 Chapter 217: Ocular Options

    Stare


    Aejaz was admittedly a tad creeped out when he finally realised, after an hour of reading his romance book, that his brother was creepily leaning around the corner of the living room and observing him with a narrow gaze. After his brief start, Aejaz chucked the book at Ares who simply caught it and started walking away. Aejaz stole the book back from around the corner and Ares, who already knew that would happen, walked back into the cultivation room and gave up on his current plan. As it turned out, leering at a person really hard was not the relevant solution to his current problem. It was like the pagoda all over again now that Ares had to figure out how to train himself from scratch... And now that he thought about it, the solution to just about every roadblock he encountered back then had one simple work around... Mana! Ares trying to solve a cultivation issue without mana was clearly him barking up the wrong tree. It made sense, mana was the lifeblood of cultivators and was just as important to them as air was to a mortal. Now the only question was how was Ares supposed to utilise mana on himself to enable divine sense. In order to work it all out, Ares realised the best way to look at things was in reverse order. The result could help him determine the method if he worked backwards so he compiled everything he knew about divine sense into a bunch of salient bullet points. He also added a secondary set of bullet points to note anything else relevant to this topic that wasn''t directly covered by the first set. The list was as follows.


    Set one.


    . Divine sense improves eyesight drastically.


    . Divine sense enables a cultivator to ''zoom'' in or out on things, treating their eyeballs like a pair of binoculars.


    . The effectiveness of divine sense typically increased with cultivation but was affected by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the environment, the quality of a person''s senses, treasures and cultivation resources that enhance senses, and latent talent for controlling divine sense.


    . Divine sense also enables a cultivator to transition their sight to third person in a limited area around them. If you are one foot away from a boulder, you could use divine sense to look around it, for instance. The range of this scales with everything mentioned in the prior point.


    . There are many ways to block divine sense such as treasures, arts, pressure, and expert mana manipulation. Plus, divine sense is easy to detect if you don''t go to lengths to hide it.


    . The capabilities of divine sense vary from person to person. Some people can see invisible entities with it and others can assess the quality of various goods for example.


    . There are many arts that utilise, or enhance, divine sense. Point in case, Ares had talked to Lizzy about integrating Echoes into divine sense a while back to create a sort of pulse locator at long ranges.


    Set two.


    . The Celestial Prisms would almost definitely skyrocket the potential of Ares'' divine sense.


    . Being a revenant with draconic blood meant Ares'' divine sense, and senses in general, would be phenomenal due to his beastly ancestry. Granted his revenant form was blind but Ares didn''t know that right now. Also, thanks to the draconic seed, that issue would be fixed eventually anyway. For now the draconic bloodline would carry its weight.


    . Ares'' annihilation enhancement would no doubt benefit the divine sense if he activated both at the same time.


    . When Ares learnt divine sense Rox would probably also automatically learn it too via osmosis.


    . Ares'' divine sense likely wouldn''t have any kind of passive mutation because it was incredibly rare and, really, it didn''t even matter anyway. There was little these mutations could do that the Prisms couldn''t so he wasn''t fussed about this detail.


    And that about summed it up? Unless Ares was forgetting something, this was all the information he had about what came after his acquisition of divine sense. Of course none of this had anything to do with his normal senses which had all improved at least four fold since entering the realm. Ares could have sworn he could taste colours and feel sounds now it was that much of a change, almost like he''d developed synaesthesia. This wasn''t any different from what others experienced though so he didn''t harp on it. Generally speaking it was a very helpful realm across the board. You could taste subtle poisons, smell deadly gasses, feel changes in the air around you if someone was sneaking up on you, hear even the faintest of footsteps, and see brief shimmers with optical acuity that rivalled a telescope. In or out of combat these were all incredibly useful and made subterfuge that much harder to pull off successfully against such a target. Back when Ares had been assassinating targets for Hans, he''d been told that assassinating someone who was in sensory enhancement was infinitely harder than anyone before that realm. Of course Ares was too young and inexperienced to be hunting such big game at the time but he''d heard countless stories about the matter. Even Aejaz had mentioned it in passing to Ares, confirming the various accounts from people in the field that said as such. Treasures and arts that concealed a person''s presence became that much more necessary after the target reached this realm so it was almost like an indirect punch to the gut to all stealthy cultivators. Still, there were other such realms that benefitted some people more than others. Those that never bothered with mental arts or their mental realm, for instance, basically wasted time in mental accumulation. Plus it enabled their opponents to develop their proficiency in a realm they couldn''t contest so this was all normal. Bloodline awakening benefitted people with impressive ancestry more too. This was a constant ''problem'' throughout the cultivation journey and, really, the trick was to take as much advantage of as many unique realms as possible.


    Back on topic, learning divine sense backward seemed to be the right call as a lot of information from set one narrowed things down. Essentially, as far as Ares could tell, divine sense was just handing over control of your vision to the mana around you and then controlling that instead. You could shape the mana to be like a binocular or you could expand it to get a third person view. You integrated your vision with mana and turned it into a kind of magic that was separate from your body. Perhaps different types of mana could affect divine sense in various ways? That would align with what Ares wanted to do with Echoes so it was entirely plausible that technical mana mixed with a cultivator''s vision would bring such thoughts to fruition. Anyway, this all made sense when looking at some of the other notes such as the effective range of divine sense being tied to cultivation. More cultivation generally meant more mana at one''s disposal so this seemed to be a clear cut case no matter which angle Ares viewed it as.


    Now the question was how to combine his vision with mana. As vision was a result of intricately woven body parts Ares struggled to find an avenue to accomplish this... He''d already plucked out the nerves in his eyes once and he was going to take a wild guess and assume doing that again wasn''t necessary to his current goal, thankfully. The logical conclusion Ares came to was to imbue different body parts with mana and check for a reaction one by one. He would start from the eyeball itself and work backwards through the nerves and up into the brain, hopefully finding what he was looking for before he reached that last point as Ares was not an expert on the brain at all. Sometimes he was convinced he didn''t even have one so if things went that far he would probably have to give up, wait for everyone else to return to the sect, and then pester them for answers. Then again, the chances of this were probably low as, no offence meant, but Bellona didn''t seem like the kind of person who was an expert in brain stuffs either. She wasn''t dumb, not even remotely, but she wasn''t really highly intelligent either. Make no mistake, Ares wasn''t throwing stones here as he admitted his own knowledge in a lot of matters was lacking but, at the very least, he had read a few books here and there. Bellona... Not quite. Actually, she deserved praise for being as smart as she was considering how allergic she was to the written word. Bellona was far from being the most ignorant person in this house, though, as that title probably belonged to Aejaz if anyone. Not that it said much, really, as everyone was likely above three digit IQ so comparing smarts between everyone was pointless to begin with. Nobody in this house was an idiot apart from maybe occasionally Ares but he did that on purpose so it didn''t count!... Or so he told himself.


    Ares directed some mana to his eyeball and coated the whites of his eyes in the stuff. He left it there for roughly five minutes but there was no discernible change and Ares could tell this wasn''t going to get him anywhere so he let up shortly after. Next was the pupil and it ended up being the same deal as the last. This was going to take a while and Ares might actually wind up doing this until everyone else came home regardless but, seeing as how he had no other options right now, he just kept at it... For an hour before he felt like banging his head against the wall in frustration. The more he dug around the more he realised how complex an eye was and slathering every single part of it in mana individually would be a herculean task. It''s not that he didn''t have the right idea, it''s just that his method of poking around was highly inefficient. The only issue was that if he just swamped everything in mana, and that approach worked. it would be nigh impossible to tell what he''d done correctly the next time he wanted to replicate it. Yes he could use a chunk of mana for divine sense every time if he chose to go about things this way but the sheer loss of mana for no good reason meant Ares was reluctant to solve his problem in such an un-delicate way. Yes he was using pressure a lot more than mana right now but, one day, when his magic was back up to snuff, he didn''t want to be acting like a mana spendthrift. The destruction pillar was his bread and butter so actively reducing how often he could use it because his divine sense was chugging it all was stupid. Ares could be an idiot sometimes but only ever for a valid reason, and this did not constitute one, so he kept searching.


    Another hour later and Ares was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling wondering where he went wrong in life. He rolled side to side while letting out a noise that was similar in nature to a moody cat, a sort of ''nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh'' noise to be precise. Evidently this room was going to be the death of Ares'' sanity. Why was this room never pleasant? Why did nothing good ever come of it? Ares, unbeknownst to him at this moment in time, had a literal prison inside his body and yet this felt more like a jail cell than anything in there! Ares stopped rolling and sat up with a deep sigh. He''d given himself a five minute break and now it was time to dig right back into the mess and search for the needle in the haystack. Or he was about to anyway when salvation came in the form of a whisper from Dominus who''d apparently gotten so fed up watching Ares stumble around that he felt it necessary to intervene. He couldn''t talk much or often so for him to throw away his occasional comment here must have meant it was truly agonising watching this spectacle unfold as a bystander.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Ares had almost completely forgotten about Dominus, as he hadn''t sprung up recently, so this was a good reminder he existed and was surprisingly helpful when he wanted to be. His well of knowledge about the cultivation world was unfathomably deep seeing as how he was old, close to Godhood, and well travelled. If Ares wanted a cheat sheet to a cultivation quiz then Dominus was his guy and there were very few people in the world as learnt as he. Granted most of his knowledge came from experience and notebooks, so he wasn''t particularly erudite when it came to history or the inner workings of things, but his smarts were invaluable in their own right. He might not know when a rare medicine was first discovered but, unlike most other people, he would know about every single facet of it including its effects, consumption method, and potential risks. He was like a living encyclopaedia and he wasn''t necessarily lacking in information about history either as he could very well have heard stories from locals about various places and the changes that had occurred there. All this to say that Ares had no complaints with the guy he had trapped inside him. If Ares could pick anyone in the world there was no one more fitting to be a guide of sorts for Ares than Dominus. A shared bloodline, the weapon mastery to fill Ares'' gaps, the supreme vastness of knowledge. Ares couldn''t have asked for a better parasite as it didn''t even come attached with a cost of any kind.


    As for the words of advice quietly whispered into Ares'' soul, Dominus recommended layering the mana over the Celestial Prisms as that was precisely where it was needed. The nerves functioned as a sort of a circuit and the mana was supposed to form a new route, leading the vision out of the body via the top of the head if you wanted a third person view. If you wanted to zoom in then enhancing the nerves with mana was the correct way to go about it. To start with, and keep things relatively simple, Ares gave the zoom feature a go first as it would far less disorienting. He layered some mana, attribute-less as he didn''t want to potentially complicate things just yet, over the nerves and then compressed everything, almost like he was squeezing his vision. It was akin to narrowing your eyes and squinting but the range of depth, and how much more mileage you got out of it, was considerable.


    Ares'' eyeballs had turned into scopes and he could see things in a whole new light. It was possible for him to zoom out from his default view as well, giving him a much broader field of view which could maybe be useful in some situations. During a war, for instance, when you needed to keep your head on a swivel lest it gets cut off by some random guy you couldn''t see coming. The third person view might be better for such a purpose but fighting from such a perspective would no doubt be nauseating as all hell so this was far more viable. Ares also felt like he was moving faster but that was purely a placebo. Still, he liked it and would no doubt mess around with this aspect of divine sense from time to time. Combining it with the speeds he was capable of moving around at with annihilation enhancement would make him feel like he was breaking the speed of sound with every half-step and, sometimes in a fight, fun factor mattered! A person who was less stressed during a fight had a better chance of maintaining a level head so, provided it didn''t make things worse, there wasn''t a reason not to use it here and there. In a weird way, zooming out his field of view almost felt more immersive. It was a strange thought that Ares couldn''t quite explain or put his finger on the pulse of but he truly believed it. Not that he was the only one, a lot of cultivators also agreed with the sentiment. Some completely disagreed, however, and thought the opposite was true. That zooming out was inferior to zooming in. It was a matter of personal preference so, although debate on the subject was plentiful, there was no such thing as a ''better opinion'' regarding this usage of divine sense. Also the main point was that Ares could zoom in to things ridiculously far away. It wasn''t even something he could test within the walls of the sect because his vision could extend beyond the horizon. Whether this was normal, or had something to do with the Celestial Prisms, Ares wasn''t sure but he could hazard a guess.


    Yes.


    The answer was almost definitely yes.


    Ares activated his Omniscience, purely out of curiosity, and he could now see some dust mites on a wall over a mile away so, yes, the answer was definitely yes. Clearly these things had integrated with his nerves, thanks to becoming a personal treasure, to such a degree that it affected his base vision which was then amplified by divine sense. He could combine divine sense and Omniscience for some seriously whacky results it seemed and, while that was worth remembering, it inevitably wouldn''t be useful to Ares anytime soon. Seriously, if he flew up into the sky with Voidwalk there was a non-zero chance he could spy another country from here with this ludicrous combination. Plus this wasn''t just ordinary vision either, it was still his trusty Omniscience that defied many laws of reality without a care in the world.


    Ares had no idea what on earth he was supposed to do with this newfound peeping power but having it was better than not having it? Ares was starting to reach the point where every upgrade he got seemed almost inconsequential because of how absurd it was, somewhat like stack overflow. Eventually something reached a point of being so good it just kind of became overkill. Then again, in the wider world, vision of this magnification wasn''t actually all that impressive. Someone like Dominus would have a divine sense that could cover a significant chunk of an entire domain. Now if Ares'' divine sense was scaled up then he would clear that range with ease but it was actually helpful in that regard as defending a domain became much easier when you could see it all without a sweat. Rather than having to rely on a relay system with multiple guards across different planets, having one person capable of keeping track of everything was just way easier to manage. Right now though? Yeah right now this was just weird. Maybe Ares could use it to try and spy the remaining members of the Chen clan hiding throughout Red Sun but he didn''t really care much about that. Yes he wanted them dead at some point but he wasn''t in a rush to do it right now. Plus they would wind up coming to him for revenge regardless of what he did so Ares figured he may as a well kick his feet up and chill while they did all the hard work. Ares, now that he was in sensory enhancement, could raise hell and go toe to toe with Chen Lo if need be. Winning might be incredibly hard but it wasn''t out of reach anymore. Also, the longer Ares left it, the closer the gap between his and Chen Lo''s cultivation got which would only serve to make his life easier when dealing with the pest. It was the Chen lot that were on a timer here, not Ares. They could do all the running around on Ares'' behalf, especially after the garbage they put him through.


    Ares deactivated his zoom after accidentally spying two mating stray dogs hiding behind a building, decided not to use it again in that direction, and focussed his attention on the next test instead. Now things were going to get weird. Changing the overall zoom of your vision was one thing but changing its location without moving your own... This was going to be disconcerting and Ares knew it. Luckily for him, he wasn''t prone to motion sickness so it might be that much more bearable than it would be otherwise. Back when he went through the teleporter in the pagoda he''d been fine so he was hoping this wouldn''t be too bad either. Granted the pagoda teleporter didn''t really affect Ares because of his nothingness affiliation but his resilience to being motion sick also mattered even if only a little!


    Ares covered his nerves in mana but, instead of compressing them like last time, he forged the mana into a new pathway that headed upwards toward the tip of his cranium. It felt like someone had stuck an active hoover on Ares'' brain and his vision was being vacuumed out of his skull. The feeling wasn''t pleasurable, per se, but it was quite a neat and tingly sensation that wasn''t off-putting. Whatever came after might be hard to stomach but at least things leading up ''till that point were alright. Ares took a few seconds to activate his third person divine sense but that was to be expected as this was his first time doing it. This was the activation process, after which he would be able to spring into divine sense in a matter of milliseconds. Divine sense was a rusty lever in disrepair that could be pulled quicker the more it was used as some of the dust, muck, and grime was grinded away with every position switch.


    As for what it was like to be in third person when he finally reached that point... Ares had to shut his eyes because it was unbelievably bad. It wasn''t the fact that his vision could fly all over the place and disorient him, because Ares could make that happen anyway with Voidwalk, no, the issue was that Ares was still in control of his main body. He now had a second set of controls to work with, one for his body and one for his vision. Swapping between them on the fly was enough to make his brain explode with the complexity of it all. His vision was like a flying drone with a ten page manual and Ares was trying to read said manual while doing backflips atop a pole. Also, Ares'' vision wasn''t attached to his body anymore so, funny though it was, Ares could turn himself into some kind of senseless zombie that was just being remotely ordered around even though his body had no idea where it was or where it was going. Ares swung his vision around to face a wall to test this and, less than five seconds later, his body had walked into a wall, faceplanting it and falling over. Just because his vision was disconnected that didn''t mean he couldn''t feel the pain his body felt though as it was all transmitted straight to him... Or rather it wasn''t transmitted anywhere because his body was hurt, it''s just that his vision was playing catch up? It was all very confusing... Confusing but highly useful. Ares looked back at himself, made the body sit, and then sent the vision outside the room. Some walls could be flown through and others could not. It depended on the thickness of the wall, any barriers that were in place, the cultivation of the user, and the material the wall was made out of it. Any fortified compound worth its salt was impervious to third person divine sense but, seeing as how Ares'' house was literally just a plain old home, Ares could fly around through every wall he wanted right now. He could see Aejaz reading in the living room and he could even see everyone else returning from their shopping spree outside. Some of them noticed that there was a divine sense probing around them which alerted them to the fact that Ares was now in sensory enhancement.


    Seeing the crowd notice him reminded Ares that divine sense wasn''t invisible and that he had to make an effort to mask himself if he wanted to sneak around like that. No doubt the Prisms and their Omniscience would help with this, as well as increase the overall range, but he could experiment with all that at a later date. At the moment his main concern was learning how to control his vision and his body at the same time because it was no small feat... In fact, Ares needed to learn it very quickly because Enyo had just come into the cultivation room and stolen his body! Ares'' vision chased Enyo down the hallway as his limp body was dangled over her shoulder. He could only occasionally make it flail a tiny bit but, other than that, he was a damsel in distress right now! Enyo was taking advantage! Why was this the first thing that went through her head when she realised Ares learnt divine sense?! How long had she been planning this?!... Although...


    Maybe this would be helpful?


    Ares was trying to learn how to remote control his body and it''s not like this wasn''t a good opportunity... Ares gave up and just let Enyo have his body which wound up being a very unusual experience. Ares could go outside and spectate the street''s happening while he felt rapturous pleasure assault a groin he didn''t have right now... Ares immediately brought his vision back inside because he felt like a degenerate getting pleasured in public and wanted no part in it! The only other thing of note he did during his experiment was go and find Bellona before giving her a ghost-head-butt. Revenge had been achieved! Not that Bellona even flinched or anything, she literally just brushed him off her shoulder like a speck of dirt. She was probably jealous about the whole Enyo situation and Ares being here, and somehow rubbing it in while Enyo was also rubbing it in, only made it worse. Anyway, now that Ares had gotten at least a little more used to divine sense he had no reason to remain in this ethereal form. He returned to his body and took charge because the sneaky wench Enyo needed to be disciplined. If she assailed Ares every time he left his body then Ares was never going to see the end of this behaviour!... Although really what he was doing to her right now wasn''t exactly something she would consider a ''punishment''... Maybe he was just making the situation worse and further encouraging her. Enyo was a hard woman to deal with sometimes...

 Chapter 218: Dominus’ Foster Child

    Ares spent the remainder of his free time practicing how to effectively utilise divine sense up until it was the day of the next match. He felt comfortable with it now and could activate it on demand, like with his Omniscience, so his acquisition of it had been fairly smooth minus any hiccups regarding a lack of knowledge at the start. As for the match today, the Red Sun team was going up against the Akarala team. Akarala was a mostly tribal country with a few major tribes running three key areas throughout the country. They had quite a lengthy and convoluted history to them as most Akaralans were aevysqualls with a tendency to be slightly deaf. You would think this didn''t really matter but, again, their history was fraught with some pretty unbelievable nonsense as a result of this inherent trait. Still, that was something Ares would regale his fellow travellers with should he ever visit the place so there was no need to discuss it all now.


    Akarala was an interesting country as they had a serious connection to the divine. Not many people in Sheryashka knew of the Gods but the Akaralans had definitive proof of it. Of course people were still sceptical of things they could never see or experience in person but most people who visited Akarala changed their minds real quick when they saw the extent of one particular God''s involvement. Now that Ares and Mako were known quantities it likely wouldn''t take long for confirmation of the Gods, as well as how they functioned, to spread across the world, lending credence to the claims of the Akaralans... Not that they needed it. Their proof was two fold as the Goddess of the Lightning pillar, Thundraga, had left her mark on their country in two major ways, both of which were fairly recent happenings compared to other long standing myths. Of course to mere mortals and people who''d only lived a few hundred years at most the mythology of Akarala was borderline ancient but, on a bigger scale, it was a pretty mediocre amount of time all things considered.


    Both pieces of evidence had been dropped in Akarala around the same time for the same reason, Dominus, and it was worth explaining his connection to all of this before describing in detail the proof of Thundraga''s involvement. Thundraga was a tiny little dragon girl with a temper at least a thousand times the size of her stature. She''d always been a bit of moody brat because her parents had abandoned her at a young age and she just sort of stumbled through life. Not just anyone could become a God or Goddess though so, naturally, she was an incredibly talented youngster which made the fame she racked up go to her head. Being both a dragon and a serious candidate for becoming the next Goddess of the lightning pillar gave her a reason to act smug and grandstand in front of her parents on the world stage. The reverence caused her prickly attitude to spiral even further for quite some time. This reached a peak when she eventually, finally, became the Goddess she always wanted to be and set out to obliterate her parents with a thunderous clap of concentrated extinction.


    Along the journey, the tiny dragon child happened across a travelling Dominus who was busy skinning a dragon. On the one hand, the only other dragons Thundraga knew were her parents who she hated. On the other hand, watching her own kind be brutally toyed with in death as some unscrupulous man rummaged around inside their corpse for valuables was not an easy sight to digest. Unsure of whether or not she should kill the man, Thundraga descended right next to him and warily struck up a conversation... Or tried to but Dominus beat her to the punch and said something along the lines of ''ooohh, more dragon scales to sell.'' Thundraga was understandably pissed off at this and so she burnt him to a crisp then and there before leaving. She made no effort to double check his melted corpse crackling with lightning as she had assumed that would be the end of the matter but, when she came across him again a day later selling one of her scales that she hadn''t even noticed he''d stolen, she realised there was more to this idiot than meets the eye.


    Thundraga descended beside Dominus again and stared him in the eyes as he casually waved back at her. The dragon child was curious and, thus, although Dominus seemed to be friendly, she burnt him to a crisp again. If he could live through it once, Thundraga believed he could do it again! His general, un-fearing demeanour was evidently not one borne of ignorance so she put this strange man to the test. As she''d never met a revenant prior to now, when the strange man reformed himself entirely like some kind of fleshy blob, she assumed he was a slime in disguise or something of that ilk. Dominus was reborn and didn''t seem particularly ticked off at having been unjustly murdered as he was attempting to wave at the dragon child again... And then Thundraga melted him one more time with her electrical fire for good measure. While Dominus regenerated, Thundraga picked up her scale from the floor and put it back in place only to find another one missing! She turned around and saw Dominus, the real one and not the clone she''d just melted, sneaking away in the middle of the street in broad daylight. He wasn''t fooling anybody but his brazen disregard for a dragon Goddess annoyed Thundraga to no end so she struck at him with her lightning rod tail. The tail swept through Dominus'' body and severed him in two but that didn''t stop his bottom half from picking itself up and running away in one direction while the top half scarpered in the opposite direction. Thundraga blasted the upper half and chased the lower half only to find Dominus fully regenerated like some kind of worm on steroids.


    Getting fed up with this charade, Thundraga ran up behind Dominus and tried to tail swipe him again, only to unceremoniously end up up on her rear, facing the sky. She heard Dominus giggling to himself as he ran away again while she lay on the floor coming to terms with her unexpected defeat at the hands of some random stranger. It really put things into perspective for her. If she couldn''t beat him, then could she really beat two mighty dragons? She was a Goddess but evidently that meant nothing to the people who didn''t necessarily outrank her but certainly outclassed her. There were all kinds of people in this world and she''d just gotten a taste of one of the weirder ones. Still, she had her pride and arrogance so she wasn''t going to let this matter go just like that.


    Thundraga got up and flew over the town, chasing Dominus as he made numerous attempts to disguise himself and flee Thundraga''s hunt... Although whether he was really trying to or not was pretty obvious because the extent of his disguises was laughable at best. It was more so disrespectful tomfoolery than it was any kind of meaningful trickery. We''re talking trench coat and fake moustache levels of effort here. Although, to be fair, putting all of that on as fast as he did required more effort that it would have taken to just hide like a normal person but that was clearly not his goal with any of this. Yet again, Thundraga was being mocked. She was about to swoop down and strike at him again but she noticed another scale of hers had disappeared... Now she was deeply concerned. She''d been spectating this guy constantly from afar and he was still somehow picking bits of her body off her without her being aware of it... Being outclassed as a new Goddess was one thing but the extent to which she was being humiliated right now was worrying. Was she truly this incompetent or was this guy actually someone important? If she was provoking someone with a bigger name and reputation than her then this was a bad decision and, yet, she couldn''t help but chase the idiot. He had a certain kind of ''he''s within arm''s reach and if I just expend a little more energy I can get him'' appeal. Like you just couldn''t stop running after him. Thundraga was a bear and Dominus was the juicy fish that kept flopping out of her hand and slapping her in the face whenever she went to bite into it.


    Thundraga dive kicked Dominus from hundreds of feet in the air but she was halted in place by Dominus'' pointer finger and now she knew something was very wrong with this guy. She hopped back and stared him down while he used mana to make himself blush. Eventually a ''proper'' conversation was had, or at least as proper as you''re going to get with a childish revenant, in which Thundraga finally learnt the name of her opponent. Dominus hadn''t been wearing his trademark armour so he wasn''t visible at a glance which was why Thundraga had shown him zero respect. Although she''d never met a revenant she knew all too well of Dominus who meandered about in various circles in the upper echelons of society. No wonder she''d been getting her ass beat, this guy was in line to become the next God of the weapons pillar which, unlike her own position, had been highly contested! Still, at least everything had been cleared up now. She knew why he was able to regenerate to such a degree and why she''d been beat, the latter of which disinclined her from pursuing her previous objective as she was still far too inexperienced to attempt such a thing.


    Over time a friendship of sorts formed between Dominus and Thundraga, the latter of which saw the former like a kind of father figure in a weird, roundabout way. She clung to him, not literally but metaphorically, and followed him around to all sorts of places. Most notably she went along with him to his home down in Sheryashka once and made a mental note that this was where Dominus would return to one day if he ever needed to actually be revived from scratch. An unlikely scenario given Dominus'' supposed immortality but one she kept in the back of her mind nonetheless. Dominus was the only interesting person around, and one of the only important people in her life, so she learnt a lot about him over the course of many years. In particular she learnt about the how the bad rap sheet he had was mostly incorrect and just a result of various revenant oriented smear campaigns. He wasn''t perfect by any means but, really, who was? There was nothing about him that bothered the dragon child so she had no trouble getting along with him. Dominus seemingly had no issues with her following him around everywhere like a puppy on a leash either so the status quo remained up until he eventually bit the dust proper. Yes his wife, the one he actually cared about and not the hundreds of others, was the most devastated by this news but, off in her own cave, Thundraga was equally as sad. She had faith he would return but it was taking a while and that irked her as it''s not like she wasn''t still a moody brat most of the time.


    This was when she got frustrated and went to go pay Sheryashka a visit. She could check to see if Dominus was back and recovering his Celestial Cluster parts or if he''d yet to be brought back into the world. If he hadn''t recovered yet then she honestly wouldn''t know what to think as this situation was highly strange compared to what normally happened whenever Dominus ''died''. Thundraga, like everyone else, had no idea that Dominus couldn''t regenerate right now because he was trapped inside the Primordial Blade, delaying his return. This led to widespread rumours that maybe, just maybe, there really was a sure-fire way to kill off revenants but most people dismissed the thought. Just because Dominus hadn''t been found that didn''t mean he wasn''t out there being a menace in some backwater domain. That was what Thundraga believed too but still she decided to go and have a looksie herself down in Sheryashka. Unfortunately for her, and everyone else around her (as she became immensely moody after this, more so than usual), Dominus was nowhere to be found. She was starting to get a tad worried he''d actually gone and died so she threw a bunch of small temper tantrums here and there, terrorising domains and planets she didn''t like to get her frustration and anger out. She never gave up though and repeatedly checked in with Sheryashka from time to time to see if she could spy him hiding out somewhere. At the very least if the Celestial Prisms, or the Celestial Moongate Mountain which he''d hidden in the Isasz region, ever disappeared without a trace then she''d know he''d collected them and was out there somewhere. She checked and checked but never were they claimed and things were starting to look grim. The last time she paid a visit to Sheryashka, however, she noticed a tear in the fabric of reality and that was when everything kicked off.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Venators, as briefly mentioned previously, were void creatures that took on a wide variety of shapes. Sometimes they were beastly, sometimes they were human, sometimes they were indescribable eldritch abominations that took no specific shape or form. What was true about them, however, is that they formed armies like it was a hobby. They waited behind cracks in space to jump out of from the void and terrorise anyone and everyone they could find. Though they weren''t mindless or lacking in free will, they served no other discernible purpose than to kill living creatures as they viewed that as their morally bound duty. Plus they revelled in it so whenever a chance came by they would strike while the iron was hot. Thundraga had been in Sheryashka when a flock of Venators broke through into Akarala so she did as her Godly duties demanded of her and went around smiting them.


    Venators were usually a massive problem for most cultivators as they were strong and basically indestructible. They didn''t have the regeneration of revenants but actually splitting them in half or putting holes in them was considered to be impossible by most. Even someone like Thundraga took a good few minutes to kill even a single weak venator and it wasn''t through lack of trying either. Still, she was a Goddess so sitting around for a few hundred years and zapping these dumb creatures wasn''t actually a problem for her. Sometime during her crusade the God or potentially Goddess of the water pillar showed up to aid in the venator eradication mission. Nobody really knows much about the, presumably, God of the water pillar because it''s just a giant, and I mean GIANT, megalodon that floats through the air surrounded by a bubble of water. It had understandably taken the liberty of altering its appearance to hide its genitalia so figuring out if it was a he or a she wasn''t really possible. Plus it never spoke either so that wasn''t going to help determine anything. It was just a prehistoric, absolutely massive creature that floated around doing whatever the hell it felt like. There were rumours, unconfirmed, that the megalodon did open its mouth once but the ensuing noise destroyed roughly three quarters of the domain it happened to be in, and permanently deafened everyone who lived, so maybe that was why it kept silent? Again, not much was really known about this God so a lot of stories crept up in place of actual facts and it was hard to tell which ones were to be believed and which were to be ignored. As for the venators, eventually, they were all but wiped out entirely...


    ... Or so the two deities believed, anyway.


    A final wave of sorts came barrelling through the tear in space and, along with the weaker foot soldiers, a colossal Venator, roughly the size of two skyscrapers glued together, bulged through the gap and into this reality. What ensued was a difficult fight that spanned a century or two with snow, thunder, lightning, and tsunamis galore. Countless billions of snowflakes froze over everything they touched while Thundraga brought yellow and blue electric magic down upon anything with a pulse. To end the fight, Thundraga used an immensely powerful art and was followed up by the megalodon which froze everything in a wide range. They weren''t able to kill the massive venator but they did lock it in place for all eternity alongside some of the riff raff that came along with it.


    This massive venator still exists today in Akarala and can even be climbed. A group by the name of the ''Frozen Thunder League'' lives atop the thunderbolt that struck the giant venator as it was also frozen by the water God mid strike, creating a platform many miles up in the sky. It was a fascinating place where snow fell eternally and lightning struck the ground at regular intervals. The clan that lived there made it their sworn duty to keep an eye out for venators or any signs of them returning. In essence, they were the first bastion against another invasion. Though even Gods struggled to kill the Venators, these people had been working on means to entrap and seal them so they wouldn''t be helpless should their mortal enemies come back for another round. These people were the only living experts in venator physiology throughout all the lower domains meaning they were a pretty niche group that not many people had heard of before. Anyway, this was the first mark Thundraga had left in that country and could still be seen today. Anyone who didn''t believe in Gods would change their minds real quick when seeing not only the colossal venator but also the thunder strike nearly three times its size buried in its cranium. Plus whatever froze both had to be packing proportionate power so if not a God then who or what else?


    Regarding the second mark, before leaving Sheryashka, Thundraga left behind a gift for Dominus should he ever find himself back in this domain. It was his home so she figured this would be a place he actively sought out after returning, meaning there was no place more likely to have her message seen than here. It didn''t much matter where she put the gift within the domain because as soon as Dominus heard the rumours about Thundraga''s involvement he would know where to head to get a leg up over his competition via some timely aid. If he was restarting from scratch then aid from a God would prove to be an invaluable bit of assistance. As for what she''d graciously left him, it was her legacy treasure... For the sake of clarity, a legacy treasure can be considered to be roughly the same as a personal treasure but on steroids. It has all the properties of a personal treasure plus a bit extra. These treasures are generated at some point during a cultivator''s stay in the ''legacy everlasting'' realm and are based on the cultivator''s affinities to various pillars and aspects. A person can receive up to three legacy treasures, supposedly, for their highest affinity aspects. It goes a bit further than that though as the treasures also tend to be related to the cultivator''s most used arts within said pillar.


    Effectively, legacy treasures are highly tailored, dedicated treasures that will go on to help a cultivator forge their own legacy by amplifying their ability to do what they are known for. These treasures are usually synonymous with the cultivator and stay with them for life. Generally speaking, any cultivator''s favourite treasure / treasures will always be their legacy treasures due to how well they synergise with the owner''s specialties. Legacy treasures can also be lent out to others, like personal treasures, but the conditions to borrow them can be specified down to a tee. With a personal treasure, you need direct permission from an owner to take it. With a legacy treasure, the owner can set a test, a password, or require the DNA of a certain somebody in order to borrow it. Like this, people can leave behind their legacy and entrust it to someone who fits their criteria. Personal treasures usually disappear under most circumstances when the owner dies but legacy treasures do not if they have been intentionally left behind.


    Also, for the most part, while it isn''t always true, legacy treasures are stronger than personal treasures. They are the height of treasures excluding anything mythological or legendary. So this realm is extremely important for people as it defines what kind of cultivator they''re likely going to be forever more. A cultivator with their legacy treasure is said to be at minimum, twice as strong as without it. Fighting after reaching this realm meant that almost everyone had some kind of unique treasure up their sleeve and it was something everyone had to watch out for. Point in case, all the matriarchs had their own legacy treasures too it''s just that there was rarely a reason to use them. Even Sadie had her own. For the most part, legacy everlasting was considered to be every cultivator''s favourite realm because it tends to be when a cultivator really comes into their own as an individual within the cultivation world. Plus the legacy treasures always had a little extra something personal that only the owner could do with them be it a passive benefit or an art. Even if you loaned it out, only the true owner would be ever able to make use of its full power so it was somewhat of a source of pride for a lot of people. Some Gods even lent out their personal treasures for various reasons just so they could indirectly showcase a fraction of the power they wielded. Of course some also did it for influence or allegiances but every God was different in that regard so there was no point searching for commonality in their mindsets.


    TLDR, legacy treasures were just better personal treasures that every single person would get at some point, provided they lived long enough to reach said point. They were designed from the ground up to suit their owner and there could very well be multiple of them one any given person. How many you got was dependent on way too many factor to list but one was the minimum, two was the average, three was the known limit, and 9 was the hypothetical limit. It could give you three per aspect affiliation and the average number of affiliations per pillar was three, so three times three equalled nine hence this answer. There were typically limits to things like this so, even if a pillar had four or five aspects under it, it would wind up just being the three that the cultivator had the highest affinity for. That was how it always worked prior to now anyway. Nobody had ever gotten more than three legacy treasures, be it all three from the same aspect or three from different ones, but... Well... Some people didn''t exactly play by the rules of reality so it wasn''t impossible for the fundamentals to maybe go above and beyond like they always did.


    But that was them and Thundraga was Thundraga.


    She only had one legacy treasure but she still placed it in Akarala for Dominus'' sake because she felt like he would need it more than her. Her trusty bow remained in Akarala to this very day, waiting for Dominus to come and pick it up. If it detected him, he was allowed to wield it no questions asked. Being a legacy treasure belonging to a God meant it was very well guarded by the locals, though, and they practically worshipped the thing 24/7. Thundraga had left a note, that explicitly stated only one person in the world could pick it up, so the locals were just sort of endlessly waiting for the prophesized person to come and pick up the bow but so many generations had passed that it was a kind of folklore by this point and little else. Still, it was sitting there, ready to be plucked up by Dominus... Not. He was trapped inside Ares right now so... It looked like Ares was gonna get a brand new toy to play with at a later date!


    And that about summed up the country that the opposing team hailed from. Culturally they were quite important but historically... Their ancestors had brought them unfathomable shame. Still, that was a story for another time. Right now it was almost time for the match to start and that was the more pressing issue for Ares and co who were waiting in the usual room for the light to indicate they could walk down the hallway. Something was amiss in the room, though, as a certain someone, who''s name began with ''A'' and ended in ''res'', was playing around with a brand new weapon; the very same one he''d gotten from the farmers back in the sect. After watching Pali''s Scytheguards, it seemed like Ares was interested in learning the how to use the same weapon they did. Dominus had no knowledge of them in his data bank, or at least not enough to be worth mentioning, so Ares gravitated towards it like a dog to an oversized stick. The match wouldn''t be too interesting but, if nothing else, maybe he could learn how to swing this awkward weapon around! it had been far too long since Ares made use of his weapon mastery and now as good a time as any to get some practice in.

 Chapter 219: Quick Learner

    "Should I even ask?" Though it was Enyo who raised the valid question, the sentiment was shared by everyone else in the room who were all somewhat curious as to why Ares was fiddling with a farmer''s scythe of all things. Granted it didn''t look like a normal scythe by any stretch of the imagination as the aura leaking off it was almost tangibly sharp. It was definitely not the kind of thing you wanted to be struck by which only raised even more questions about how Ares turned an ordinary farm implement into a weapon of this calibre.


    Ares shrugged and put the scythe away for now. "It looked like fun so I went out and traded for a few scythes with the farmers in the sect. I put some runes on it to enhance its performance and make it capable of being used as a weapon without breaking, pressurised it to give it a bit of extra spice, and merged some leftover metals from the forging department into it to make it structurally sound. It was a bit of a rush job, I''ll admit, but it still wound up being better than most ordinary scythes created explicitly for combat sooooo... Go me? Well done Ares? Random revenant one, entire weapons industry zero? I can tell by the disgusted looks on your faces that me fellating myself comes across as gloating, and you''d be one hundred percent correct! Someone has to do it!" Ares'' complete lack of remorse for his self-aggrandizing and showboating earned him a smack upside the head from a wife who did not miss having to sort this cretin out in public. She''d been relatively free from his mouthy self as of late but, now that it had seemingly returned out of nowhere, she was already feeling tired... Fortunately for her, the light signalled it was time for the match to start meaning she didn''t have to put up with Ares anymore. The opposing team could entertain him and his scythe...


    Actually, now that Enyo thought about it, was Ares expecting everyone to just stand aside and let him do whatever he wanted again? It happened once for valid reasons but Enyo had no plans on letting it happen again. She was the captain of this team and she wasn''t going to let it turn into the Ares show. Granted he wasn''t doing it to stroke his ego or anything but that didn''t mean she would go easy on this aevysquall lot so he could mess around with his weapon; there were other ways and other places to train. If he really wanted some experience he could go with Aejaz on one of Hans'' missions. She would let Ares play with one opponent during this match and that was it. She wasn''t going to steal his kill but she wasn''t going to let him take anyone else''s either. The rest of the team wanted to compete too and there weren''t many chances left for them to do so. In fact this might even realistically be the last chance for them. After this it was Aejaz'' time to shine against his family and then it would be a fundamental showdown. It''s not like any of the other team members could really intervene in the Mako vs Ares match without getting obliterated immediately. Now Ares would use their sacrifice to his advantage and win handily but at that point the match would just be a boring, spectacles-less, predictable, show match and nothing more. In a situation where it didn''t make any meaningful difference Enyo was willing to let Ares hog the spotlight but today? Nope, not happening. Ares had a lifetime to learn the scythe, a scythetime if you will, if he really wanted to and he could stumble about trying to wield it when he started going off on his adventures. Although she didn''t blame him for not remembering, due to the lacking competition, this was still a tournament and not a playground. Enyo knew how to handle a revenant and so she would keep Ares in check!


    Enyo explained all of this to Ares by yanking him by the ear and whispering it all to him succinctly before they entered the arena. She expected Ares to show some resistance but he just went along with it like a good little mutt and Enyo breathed a sigh of relief. Ares wasn''t stubborn often but, when he was, convincing him to change his mind was like trying to move a mountain... Which was ironic because Enyo herself was referred to as the ''stoic mountain'' and she used to be even more stubborn than him. Enyo had gotten a taste of her own medicine after putting up with Ares bull-headedness on several occasions but she wasn''t too fussed. Again, it was rare behaviour from Ares and it tended not to be anything major. Even if it was Enyo trusted him to be stubborn about making the correct decision anyway so it was mostly minor squabbles that arose from his boredom that caused Enyo grief. Things like not wanting to leave the cultivation room... Which was funny because he detested entering the cultivation room more than practically anything else. He got sucked into his cultivating and removing him from it was actually rather difficult whenever he was on a spree of enlightenment.


    Ares had been pretty dedicated to pressurising his weapons, learning divine sense, and increasing his cultivation and nothing was going to stop him. Ares mocked Mako for it but he wasn''t much different. Very much a pot calling the kettle black kind of deal. To be fair though, most cultivators were like this as, sometimes, interrupting any progress would set it back or even reset it. People didn''t want to take the risk usually and would get quite annoyed if they were pestered into stopping. That''s not to be confused with the type of situation Enyo was thinking about, however. There were times when Ares was clearly getting tired of being in the room, and not actively doing anything, but he was still reluctant to leave in case he had a light bulb moment and could dive back into his work. Enyo kept trying to argue it was better for him to just go back to bed and get some rest but he was obstinate... Now did it help that he assumed Enyo wanted him in the bed for a different reason entirely 90% of the time? No, not at all, and Enyo was definitely partially to blame for that well-founded expectation, but it wasn''t always true! Sometimes she was just a caring wife who wanted her husband to take a break and cuddle comfortably with her and Blo Blo, maybe even spend some time with Appa too while he was at it. Yes he had important duties and a whole world to save but he had time and a lot of it to boot. He would spend hundreds of millions of years cultivating and a lot of it would pass in the blink of an eye, he could spare nine or so hours to sleep here and there for his own sake. To that end, the pleasure pillar mental art she was learning, the one Ares was aware existed but didn''t know the details of, actually had nothing to do with anything remotely lewd. It just allowed the ''victim'' to be peacefully put to sleep and have a pleasant, refreshing rest. Yes Enyo was still the sex pest of the family but it''s not like the Legion side of her vanished or anything. She saw her husband working tirelessly for the sake of his family and she wanted to help, that was all... Even if he did require a good smacking every now and then for his stupidity but, hey, that was part of why she loved him. Even idiots have their charms.


    The Red Sun team entered to the sound of many cheers as public perception of the team had exponentially improved after the last match. Sure Ares was still a bit of a divisive figure to some, given his past actions, but, as was expected, it was hard to root against one of the tournament favourites. Some people cared more about cheering for the likely winner than upholding any kind of moralistic integrity. It might have been ''wrong'' but, when Ares potentially won the whole tournament they would be proven ''right'' in their choice of who to support. Also, there where a lot of people with bets on the Red Sun team to whom Ares was like a gift from God. He went from a lazy, piggybacking cretin that didn''t show up to a one man army that rocked the entire coliseum whenever he raised a finger in their eyes. Enyo was the captain, and generally the most appreciated member of the team as she was both incredibly strong, beautiful, and morally sound thanks to her status as a Legion member, but Ares was a dark horse in terms of popularity. He''d crept up on her and now had his own fan group who revelled in the stories of his antics from during the regionals and nationals. He was the right kind of chaotic neutral that tickled their fancy so, although it seemed unlikely at the start of the tournament, there were people here that appreciated the kind of person Ares was. His brazenness made him into the heel of the tournament as far as some were concerned. There was no better fit for the role than Ares, at least.


    As the aevysquall team entered they too received support from the crowd. Anyone who made it to this point in the tournament was guaranteed to be shown at least the bare minimum respect and the shouts coming from the Akarala supporters were much louder than everyone else''s... Again, these fellows were mostly partially deaf and so their borderline screeching was understood to be a result of that. Of course the people sitting next to these lot had it rough but a lot of them had pre-empted this situation, as it wasn''t their first rodeo with this issue during the tournament, and had come equipped with ear muffs or arts that temporarily reduced their hearing capabilities. Those in sensory enhancement could also turn the volume down a little if they put some effort into learning that neat little trick. Still, even with the deaf Akaralans going above and beyond with their cheers, it paled in comparison to the support everyone had shown the Red Sun team. There was a clear distinction between the underdog and the favourites that didn''t need to be explained.


    Lex had to resist the urge to glare at Ares lest he ruin his public image any further. He was lucky to even be here officiating the match given the circumstances but the C.O evidently deemed it to be less problematic if they kept him on. Removing him from his post would come across as a tacit admission of his wrong doings so maintaining a firm stance on this, and asserting there was no evidence, was the best for everyone involved. When it came down to it, they would investigate properly and openly declare no evidence of wrongdoing existed even if the truth ran contrary to that declaration. They would simply punish him in private as airing their dirty laundry wasn''t going to do them any favours. This was the most effective method to getting people to calm down about the mess Ares exposed. He''d walked up to their organisation and pulled away the rug covering the faeces on their doorstep and now everyone knew why their organisation stunk to high heaven. All those gut feelings had been circumstantially proven correct and that was enough for some people who needed no further proof. Although a lot of people were mad about Lex still being here the number of upset people would only grow if they swapped him out as then the C.O would have to deal with calls to be replaced entirely. There were other international organisations that operated in a similar fashion but the C.O had gotten their slice of the pie earlier and could therefore cut out a bigger stake of the industry. Acknowledging wrong doing would lead to standing down and that would cause a loss of standing and reputation. Every one of their competitors was chomping at the bit and wouldn''t hesitate to throw them under the bus in a bid to steal their place. The C.O didn''t condone Lex''s actions, absolutely not, but they were in too awkward a position to openly condemn him either.


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    As for Lex, although he made a concerted effort not to look in Ares direction, he couldn''t help but peek at him just once. He wanted to snarl at him but was worried he would be caught, which would be a massive point of contention later on when he was inevitably investigated for what was going to happen today after the match. Here the C.O was trying to cover for this fool''s ass and yet he was about to conveniently let a bunch of assassins ''sneak'' into the arena and kill a contender. He''d so boldly declared near the start of the international that would-be assassins would have to ''get through him'' but the guy was practically willing to be a sieve at this point if it meant seeing Ares drop dead! He had a whole host of reasons, none of which made any logical sense but, then again, he was a cultivator. Cultivators didn''t need their reasons for wanting another person dead to be valid, they just needed to be personal enough, and evoke a strong enough sense of injustice to the individual no matter how warped or twisted, and then their qualms became actionable even if the measures taken were objectively horrific or despicable. This guy had all sorts of thoughts running through his head like, ''Ares doesn''t deserve Enyo, I do'', ''it''s his fault I was caught'', and ''I should have the fundamental pillar not him''. Basically 9/10ths jealousy and 1/10th anger at having been exposed for the kind of asshole he truly is. Nothing that actually warranted anything he was planning but that was just cultivation society in a nutshell. It wasn''t about who was wrong or right but rather about who had what the other person wanted and whether it could be forcibly taken or not.


    Although Lex had to keep his emotions and facial gestures in check, Ares had no such restrictions and openly gave the guy a middle finger to his face. The crowd cheered instead of booing which made clear the public''s resentment for this guy. Even if people didn''t choose to actively complain about him or the C.O that didn''t mean they didn''t have feelings on the matter, most of which were very negative. Lex kissed his teeth before ignoring the pesky rodent and waiting for every one of the competitors to get in line. As soon as they did he wasted no time in starting the match because what came after was what really excited him. He would get to see Ares skewered and murdered in public in front of family, friends, and loved ones. He could, consequence free, smirk at him as Ares died a slow and isolated death so, the sooner the match started, the sooner the match finished, and the sooner Ares'' life was ended...


    Ended* with an asterisk. He was a revenant so, regrettably, as far as Lex was concerned, the nuisance would return one day. There was no avoiding it and Lex had been immeasurably disappointed when he found out but all hope was not lost. While Ares was dead, and being born anew while wasting precious time, Lex could destroy his life by dealing with each of his family members one by one outside the public eye. By the time Ares came back everything would be gone or taken and then Lex could lock him up and keep him hidden away in a torture chamber which, depending on how he looked at it, was maybe even a better result than just ending him outright. Ares could suffer forever like that. All Lex needed to do was avoid alerting the massive threat that was Calla and was good to go. What made Lex think he could do that was unknown but he was definitely wrong regardless. He didn''t understand the difference between him and any one of the matriarchs but that was just how deep his ignorance ran. Him going up against a matriarch, and every tool at her disposal throughout the entire clan, was like a mortal trying to put up a fight against a transition realm cultivator with an army of sensory enhancement and bloodline awakening cultivators at their beck and call. Fighting, hiding, and running were all impossible so Lex was deluded if he thought otherwise. Though delusions of grandeur was why he was doing this to begin with so his illogical logic was painfully consistent through and through.


    Both teams lined up and were caught off guard by how quickly Lex started the match with a wave of his hand. Even the people responsible for blowing the horn were taken aback and needed a second to catch up because this guy was going way off script. Protocol dictated he was to give eye contact with the horn blowers so they knew he was about to commence the start of the fight but that evidently not been on his mind this time for whatever reason. The horn blowers rushed to do their job and, a second or two later...


    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    Ares and co were a little baffled by this start as they weren''t sure if the hand wave or the horn was the correct start signal. They were usually co-ordinated to happen at the same time so this was rather off-putting. The other team had made their move after Lex swung his hand so they were already picking up the talisman by the time the Red Sun team made any kind of movement after the horn. The crowd was incredibly unhappy with this development but, for what it was worth, it''s not like this would affect how the match played out over the next minute or so. Let''s face it, the aevysquall team was going to die. There wasn''t much contention on this point and everyone knew it, the aevys included. This wasn''t the Umbra vs Legion match where the talisman nearly made all the difference, this was going to be a one-sided massacre. Point in case...


    Splat


    Enyo had already killed the foe opposite her by slamming a barrier down onto their head. The poor aevy had made an effort to take to the sky and gain an aerial advantage but, after the match against Hawkins, Enyo was hyper vigilant for this type of manoeuvre and squashed the plan before it could grow wings. She had more tools in her arsenal now and a flying enemy wasn''t the issue it was before but Enyo had no reason to let her opponent do whatever they wanted when ending the fight quicker was her only real goal. Cultivate, develop arts, spend time with family. Any and all of these things were more enjoyable than being pit against weak foes who couldn''t hold their own against her. She''d come to this arena, showed up and blasted away her rival in a second flat, pun intended, and now what? This match was utterly pointless and she believed that down to her core so she wasted no time in ending this waste of time.


    Similar sights were to be seen around the rest of the arena as everyone else on the team were taking out their foes with ease, quickly and efficiently. Aejaz had stabbed his opponent within seconds of the match starting and the guy hadn''t even seen it coming. Li Li ducked and weaved through some magic and broke a woman''s jaw before punching straight through her gut and killing her in a messy but seamless fashion. Esme was way more powerful than the aevysquall squaring up against her so a few arts later she''d soundly overwhelmed her opponent, tearing them to shreds and blood ribbons amidst multiple tornados. The aevysquall team was decently strong but were babies compared to the hulking giants that were on the Red Sun team. Esme and Li Li had a pretty massive glowup since the start of the tournament due to their extensive training with Sadie. Ares, Aejaz, and Enyo had also helped improve these two by leaps and bounds as competing against one another during training was worth its weight in gold. Everyone had expected this outcome but nobody was really prepared for how much of a massacre it had been and how fast the Akarala team fell apart. Yes Enyo could just wipe them all out simultaneously but, when she started focussing on a single member of the team, the spectators believed the fight might go on for a bit longer. They thought Enyo was showing respect but it was a very different story unfolding right now as it was more so a case that she just didn''t have to bother because her team had everything under control...


    And yet, despite four of the five team members having perished, the match hadn''t ended yet... Everyone looked over, unsure of why the dust hadn''t settled, and saw Ares sparring with his opponent in normal fashion. It wasn''t an even fight but it wasn''t as drastic a beating as everyone assumed it would be. Upon closer inspection it even became apparent that Ares had almost no idea what he was doing with his weapon which was incredibly embarrassing for the Akarala supporters. It was hard to believe an amateur was so talented he could stumble around with a weapon and be this much better than his opponent so a lot of the blame fell squarely on the head of the poor guy fending Ares off for somehow being worse. That wasn''t actually the case, and a lot of expert cultivators throughout the coliseum could see that, as what was really happening here was far more devious.


    Ares was training.


    Ares was using unquestionably the biggest cultivation tournament throughout the domain like a training ground and an opponent of high calibre as a training dummy. Yes his moves weren''t atrocious but they weren''t experienced. He was clearly someone who knew what he had to do but had never done it before. His weapon wielding was, contrary to what the weaker members of the crowd saw in him, pretty extraordinary. These experts in the stands could tell it was his first time holding a scythe and yet there was a sort of weird comprehensions he held for the weapon that enabled him to maintain a steady offensive and a solid defensive whenever necessary. There was no profoundness in his moves but there were no gaps either. It was plain but it worked faultlessly. Being able to do something like this was honestly amazing but it was also the sort of thing not many people would be able to appreciate. Going out of your comfort zone and maintaining this degree of superiority was showcasing to the world just how much of a prodigy you were without directly saying it. What was even more fantastic to these people was the rate at which Ares was getting cosy with the weapon, its weight, and the handling of it. Some of the spectators had given scythes a go at some point in their life and, although it rarely if ever was to their tastes, these people had given it a noteworthy attempt and learnt a lot from the ground up. And yet... If this match kept going for even another minute or so, Ares would have overtaken them in terms of proficiency with the weapon. He''d spent no more than ten seconds on it and was already rapidly closing in on their level of talent which was utterly mind blowing. Once more, Ares was single-handedly demonstrating the fact that fundamentals were just a different breed of existence. It had been made well-known that Ares was responsible for gearing up his sect so this kid was an unrivalled cultivator, caster of arts, pressure wielder, runemancer, forger, weapons expert, cook (this rumour had also spread), and womaniser!... Ok that last one was a miscommunication regarding some previous incidents around town with Enyo but, other than that, the assumptions were correct! Ares was just flat out incredible and, down in the arena, his opponent was experiencing that first hand...

 Chapter 220: And So It Begins

    Scythes were categorically weird. They were long reaching but essentially were never used as thrusting weapons like a spear. They were weapons to be primarily swung horizontally, almost like a chain, but, due to their sharpness, packed more lethality. They sat comfortably in a position not many other weapons could be used in, specifically long range slashing. Often, when used for cultivator violence, scythes would be designed to be heavier than most other weapons so they could retain some force near the tip instead of losing it all mid swing because of the distance between it and the firmly held handle. They were unique weapons that not many people dedicated a significant chunk of time too, because they were seen as unwieldy, and, as such, the number of people wielding them, and / or familiar with how to actually fight back against them, were infinitesimally small. The aevysquall Ares picked a fight with was not one of these people. Dealing with the odd angles at which the scythe came barrelling towards his skull was ever so tricky and the struggle was great. He couldn''t block attacks near his head unless he blocked the tip of the scythe. If he blocked any lower on the weapon the tip of the scythe would just curve around his guard and stab him in the brain. This meant that, if he wanted to block in a way that was easy, the aevysquall had to block at longer ranges to prevent this. In turn, this forced him to retract his weapon every single time before he could swing it properly, which delayed his return fire, and basically meant he could never actually start any kind of offensive. Plus, being forced into long range fights against a weapon with more inherent range advantage was disastrous. The aevy couldn''t win at this range but he couldn''t escape it either as every step he took was matched by Ares who''s footwork was immaculate.


    It had been a while since Ares actually had an ''even'', ''fair'' fight with somebody so his footwork had been on the back burner as of late. It bared reminding, though, that it was arguably his strongest trait that he himself had developed without external aid. All the time he spent scurrying around the back alleys of Red Sun had honed his impeccable movement in and around a fight. He knew where he needed to be and was able to get there whenever he wanted so staying in perfect, parallel, face-to-face lockstep with his foe was an effortless task. He could do it without having to dedicate any brain power to it so his scythe wielding was his main focus right now. It also helped that this wasn''t the first long-ranged melee weapon he''d picked up before so a few similarities between it, and other weapons like the spear, meant he could function at the bare minimum level needed to shut out his opponent whenever he wanted to make some breathing room.


    Ares danced forwards and backwards, perfectly maintaining his current distance to the poor aevy who was being bombarded by simple but effective slashes from Ares and couldn''t change the situation he was stuck in no matter how hard he tried. Ares swung diagonally down and to the left but got blocked so he, instead of trying to clash with the sword head on, allowed his scythe to rebound off the weapon. With the momentum of the scythe aiding him, Ares changed his grip on the scythe and swung diagonally down and right this time to put even more pressure on his foe. His blows were heavy so every time he struck, the aevy recoiled slightly giving Ares more room to swing again and again. The aevy tried to retreat backward but Ares was having none of it and dashed after him with the scythe resting firmly by his side, ready to swing as soon as the aevy gave up on his foolish escape ''plan''. Trying to run away had only made the situation worse as, now, the second the aevy halted in place, he would be met with a two-handed, full-powered bash from the scythe of which there would be no blocking unless he wanted his hands to twist out of their sockets, breaking his wrists.


    Although the crowd were unaware, Ares was actively lowering his cultivation right now. This was why nobody realised he was in sensory enhancement because he didn''t look like he was nor was his cultivation giving to understand as such through his strikes and general aura. Ares held back to make the fight more interesting but he was still handily winning without any kind of trick up his sleeve. No enhancement, no full use of his entire cultivation base, no treasures or artifacts. Nothing, just plain old swinging a ''normal'' weapon. This led the spectators to believe the aevy was incredibly weak but the truth of the matter was that Ares was just being Ares. He was also having a field day right now. Of all the weapons he''d messed with this had to be one of the more fun ones. There were limits that he really didn''t quite appreciate, such as the slow swing speed between individual slashes if he didn''t masterfully weave his momentum from place to place, the heaviness of the weapon, and the awkwardly specific range, but overall he was really pleased with this thing and would be sure to use it more often. What he really needed was someone who could mount a decent string of attacks attack against him and actually put him on the back foot. The scythe would inevitably have a difficult time defending due to the bulk of it being located so far away from where Ares was holding it. He could place it in front of him and have the snath block attacks from the front but anything more complicated would be complex to navigate. Sweep attacks from the side, for instance, would be tricky to block as the force was harder to disperse. Ares would have to lean away from it in order to get a good angle on the block but that would just make things even worse as his less grounded position would struggle to absorb the force of the blow evenly. Blocking thrusts would also be a pain due to the thinness of the weapon so there were a lot of things Ares wanted to experiment with as he learnt how to handle this bizarre weapon.


    For now though, practicing his swipes, slashes, and general swinging of the weapon at a basic level was good enough. He didn''t need to do anything fancy like interchangeably swap between the sharp and blunt ends of the scythe nor did he need to start twirling it around like some kind of street performer. He could, and would, do that all later when he''d gotten this stuff down pat first. It was like trying to learn how to do a barrel roll in a jet before you even knew how to take off safely. Putting the cart before the horse, as it were. Maybe Ares could have skipped some of this if Dominus had more information and knowledge at his disposal but, for various reasons related to the reaper, that was not the case.


    Also Ares was just having a jolly time.


    This was the first time he''d ever learnt how to fight with something from almost the very beginning. Dominus'' guiding hand did little more than tell Ares how to hold the thing and how to swing it without throwing your back out, twisting your wrist, or losing power mid swing. Things like angle of attack, situational awareness, adaptability of your strikes and so on were all being learnt on the fly and he was doing it well. With every swing, the next one in line would be that much smoother and that much quicker. It would take Ares countless millions of swings to become the expert with this weapon he wanted to be but that was part of the process he wanted to experience in full. Being given everything in life, from his pillar, to his race, to his weapon mastery was convenient but it didn''t leave him feeling much of a sense of pride and accomplishment. He hoped this would be the change in that specific status quo that he was looking for. At the very least, at the end of his cultivation journey, if nothing else, he could look back and say that the scythe mastery was his own doing and not a result of any freebies. Would that stop people from labelling him as someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth? No, and they weren''t necessarily wrong either, but who cared? He was doing this for his own personal satisfaction and enjoyment, not any kind of recognition.


    Eventually the aevy ran out of space to continue fleeing and was forced to confront Ares. He could have attempted to fly away but that would be a mistake and he knew it. If he flew, Ares would disregard the scythe and use whatever means he had to just kill the bird. There was little Ares could with a scythe against a flying opponent, other than maybe chucking it directly at him, so the aevy was making the lowest risk play here by not forcing Ares'' hand. He was clever in that regard but, unfortunately, the lowest risk play didn''t boost his chance of success in any way because it was zero regardless of what choice he made. Still, at least this way he could get out of this fight what he''d really come to this tournament for, experience! This aevy was one of the few contestants that knew what the real goal of attending something like this event was and was making the most out of the thrashing he was receiving. He even considered himself somewhat lucky to be going up against Ares because A; everyone else had been indiscriminately murdered instantly and, B; Ares was the strongest opponent in this tournament... Other than potentially Mako, yet to be determined, but Mako would not be doing this right now. The elf would have just mercilessly obliterated everyone but Ares, even if for selfish reasons, was holding back a hefty portion of his power right now. This aevy considered himself to be the luckiest person in the tournament and he''d already learnt a lot just from these few exchanges. The importance of footwork that he''d neglected, the dynamic between weapons with varying ranges, how to exploit any holes in the opponent''s defences, and how to handle a scythe wielding foe. He even realised the magnitude of his mistake running away from Ares as it gave the pesky revenant full control of the flow of the match now. This aevy was a person who would make great strides taking in everything they''d experienced so good for him... Although that didn''t change the fact there was absolutely no way in hell for him to win this.


    After catching up to the cornered aevy, Ares leapt into action, literally, as he put all his body weight in a sideways slash. The aevy gulped and nervously sweat buckets as he raised his paltry weapon in a hopeless gesture of defiance and, sure enough, he was swept of his feet a second later. Ares scythe had clanged violently off the aevy''s sword as he went tumbling across the arena before finally rolling to a halt on one knee. The aevy looked up, dazed from the roll, and had to instantly react to Ares who was poised to swing the scythe at his neck. There weren''t many options here as, every time the aevy considered a different dodge path, he realised they were all foolish. The scythe would come in from a low horizontal angle and would catch him if he moved in any direction other than straight forward or straight backwards. If he moved back he would have to throw himself on the floor again in a bid to put as much distance between him and Ares as possible... But that would just be handing Ares free reign to keep bullying him at the optimal range, letting him set the pace of the battle yet again. On the other hand, Ares looked susceptible to getting rushed down right now.


    Ares'' scythe was raised over his shoulder so the entirety of his front was unguarded. Even if Ares brought the weapon down quickly its troublesome shape meant the tip of the scythe could almost never reach anyone who was inside Ares'' personal space. It was too perfect an opportunity and this raised doubts in the aevy''s mind but, regrettably, he didn''t have enough time to make a well-thought out decision. It was do or die and so he went all-in, balls to the wall, and charged at Ares with his sword at the ready. If Ares had a way out, then the aevy would learn the hard way about what scythes could do under these circumstances. If not, then the aevy wouldn''t complain about being handed a free strike to put him in a better position for the remainder of the fight. After all, it''s not like stabbing Ares through the heart would kill him outright. Fighting against a revenant was a slow burn so the aevy didn''t get greedy and opt for a decapitation. Had he done that, he would have left himself exposed as well during his assault. Another low risk decision but, as he felt his consciousness briefly fade upon closing the distance with Ares, he realised he made the right choice. His vision returned shortly after and he was barely in time to block another strike from Ares. As he clashed against Ares, and fought a losing battle, he recalled the details of the prior incident and ran though it in his head.


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    What had happened to him before, all of which he just about caught sight of before blacking out, was that Ares had intentionally held the scythe aloft in such a vulnerable manner to lure him in. By partially letting go of the scythe it had slid down Ares grip and, now, he held it closer to the ring whereby he could leverage this grip to beat people with the bottom end of the weapon. Afterwards, Ares used the butt of the scythe to smack the aevy right on the dome. He''d planned on poking the desperate aevy in the brain from the start. He put the guy in a position where he had to make an important choice, left an enticing gap, and then struck while the iron was hot. It wasn''t a technical display of mastery, as this was incredibly easy to pull off, but it was a clever showcase that took advantage of the weapon''s primary weakness. The obvious flaw of being terrible at closer ranges was made to look exploitable and then, in an ironic twist, exploited by Ares. If the aevy had gone for a decapitation he wouldn''t have been able to react to the follow-up strike at all after regaining his vision and that would have been the end of this fight then and there. The aevy had been smart in his already doomed approach which net him a bit more time against Ares in the arena.


    A lot of the spectators judged the aevy for his lack of decisiveness earlier but were now eating the words they almost spat out of their mouth. This incident had exposed a number of people''s lack of knowledge on how a scythe wielder fought as both ends of the weapon were used in tandem with another frequently. Anyone who was familiar with the weapon knew this and, in fact, a lot of scythes were customed designed to have a spike on the end for scenarios exactly like this. It was actually one of the more well known aspects of scythe wielding so not even knowing this, or being able to take a guess that it was a relevant element, meant the spectators were both combat illiterate and completely ignorant of unique weaponry. They couldn''t make predictions based on the current state of a battle and the calibre of their opponent. Mistakenly believing a winning move had not been made was one thing but disrespecting Ares, of all people, by assuming he unintentionally left such a massive gap was imbecilic to say the least. Thoughts like that were precisely why these people were up in the stands and not competing down below. As an aside, the aevy''s reputation had gone up a bit since the start of the duel because people were realising he wasn''t the issue. He''d done everything right there was just no room to do anything more and turn this situation around. It was not his fault in the slightest, he was just hopelessly outclassed here!


    Ares had gone a little overboard and extended beyond the basics of scythe wielding but, really, he''d only gone slightly over the limit or what could be considered a ''beginner'' move. Using the butt of the scythe was probably the first thing any scythe wielder would be taught after getting the hang of swinging the weapon so, though he jumped the gun, it was only by a fraction of a second and was a hardly noticeable skip. Despite it not being a problem, however, he inwardly reprimanded himself for prioritising fun over training and swore not to do it again. For the rest of the fight he would only use the bladed end of the scythe!


    For the first time during this fight, Ares gave a vertical swing a go. He could gain way more force behind his attack this way but it made it pretty easy to dodge so it wasn''t as generally useful. All the aevy had to do, and did do, was sidestep it and then Ares would have to take some steps back to compensate for the ground he lost as a result of his overcommitment. Why''d he do it, then? Well it''s because he wanted to miss. Ares wanted nothing more right now than to practice blocking attacks with the scythe so, when the aevy came at him once more while he was still reeling the scythe back, he got his wish! No messing around with the butt of the scythe this time, Ares just raised the snaff and carefully, calmly resisted the repeated sword swings. He tracked his opponent''s sword, and the angle of its approach based on the start-up of the swing, and reacted accordingly. Ares'' guard was so beautiful it almost looked like he was the one offensively stuffing out his opponent the second he dared move his sword even an inch. This was mostly a result of Ares'' sword expertise, as he could tell from a mile away what the aevy was planning, but he was still doing it with the scythe so it was impressive nonetheless.


    When Ares felt comfortable in his safe, by the book blocks, he went for a higher risk manoeuvre and swung the scythe to try clashing directly with the sword. This was hard to pull off consistently as he wasn''t talented enough with the weapon yet and, also, the tip of the scythe was so tiny that accurately hitting the rapidly moving target with it was a problem in and of itself. He could take the easy way out and clash with the length of the blade rather the tip but the reduction in force he could apply in that way would cause rough sailing after and he might actually lose the interaction by being blown away. It wasn''t a terrible idea but he needed to learn to partially deflect strikes with the weapon before he made the length of the blade his primary form of defence. Ironically, even though clashing the tip of the scythe against the sword was way harder, it was still the safer option right now. Ares prayed to God (himself) and swung with conviction. If he was going to miss, he was going to miss with pride!... As long as you ignored the fact that he shut his eyes at the key moment in time because getting sliced in half would be more tolerable that way...


    Clang


    Oh sweet mercy! Ares breathed a sigh of relief and opened his eyes to see the aevy stumbling backwards into the wall. The downside to what Ares attempted was that it was an immense test of talent, the upside was that pulling it off was very rewarding. Pretty much all the force of his swing culminated in the tip of the blade so landing this would inevitably squash the opponent''s attack due to how heavy the scythe was. Well normal scythes weren''t but combat tailored ones were, that was for sure. The only reason Ares'' scythe was heavy at all was because of the merging he''d done beforehand with whatever metals he had handy. Actually, seeing as how this scythe could barely even be considered heavy compared to a proper one, the result of the exchange almost made Ares drool. He''d gotten that much space off one small exchange... One that could be made even easier to pull off if Ares utilised any of the abilities he had up his sleeve. Annihilation enhancement would improve his speed and power, making lining the heavy weapon up in time simpler. Omniscience would lay out the opponent''s weapon''s orientation, path, and speed so predicting its due course was simplified massively. Echoes could be used to subtly readjust his aim mid-swing if he was off by a little... Considering the sheer number of tools he had that could help him land the tip of the scythe consistently, and the amount of tools he had that drastically improved the power behind the strike, Ares could become a highly proficient counter machine. He didn''t even need to initiate or aggress. All he would have to do is wait for the opponent to launch an attack, deflect it with the tip of the scythe, and then strike the reeling foe before they could recover from having their weapon blown away! It wasn''t the proper way to go about winning with this weapon but, while he was still in the learning process, he could use it as a crutch whenever he needed to. Sure he could also just swap weapons but forcing himself to use the scythe at all times would net better results in the long term. Knowing he had an effective strategy to win in his back pocket meant he could take a few more risky moves throughout a fight which would enable him to learn at a faster rate. This was a good discovery!


    Ares went for a low sweeping attack to force the aevy to respond because he no longer had any room to retreat. The aevy had been pushed up against a wall and now the threat of a sweep had multiplied so, naturally, Ares didn''t hesitate went for one right out the gate. No beating around the bush, he was putting the aevy on the hot seat. The aevy could either block it or go for a hero play and jump the attack. The latter option might even win him the fight and, for the first time, he really should have gone for the risky play. Unfortunately this was one area he needed to improve himself in, as like Scar he was relatively passive, so he simply blocked the sweep at a bothersome angle. He had to almost bury his sword into the floor just to anchor himself in place but, even then, the power behind the sweep caused him to stagger to the side. Ares wasted no time in taking a step forward and kicking out with his foot, bashing the aevy against the wall and pinning him there via his gut. The aevy looked up in time to see the scythe slice his head clean off, ending the match.


    Ares learnt that, if he kept an enemy at range with his foot, he could lean back a bit and the foe would be at the perfect range for the tip of his scythe to come bearing down on their head. It was a highly specific situation but fights were just a series of unpredictable events that threw you into highly specific scenarios anyway. Also, this knowledge wasn''t restricted specifically to pinning an opponent to a wall. If Ares, for instance, threw his foot backward like a donkey and kicked an opponent out of mid air he could then 180 and decapitate his opponent mid sneak attack. His foot was a valuable way of keeping his foes in check and maintaining the ideal range for his scythe so using it regularly was just a good habit to develop. It meant that whenever he wasn''t using his masterful footwork to alter his own position, he would be using his feet to alter the enemy''s position by kicking them around. This was a lot of energy he was going to have to waste, as he would be permanently on the go with his legs, but it seemed like the kind of thing that would be highly effective if he got it down pat. All in all, Ares only planned on getting some first-hand experience with the basics but he''d learnt a lot from all this. It was such a short fight, and arguably boring compared to the usual stuff he got up to, but such was the nature of a person''s first steps in a new field. He would become a manic scythe specialist in due time but the learning curve could not be skipped so easily!


    Now that the match was over, and the Training Field was lowered so everyone could leave, Ares begun heading back over to his teammates... But something felt off. As someone who''d competed regularly down in the arena, the movement of the spectators up above seemed erratic compared to usual. It was like a co-ordinated effort to scramble in multiple different directions at the same time and it gave rise to a gut feeling in Ares'' stomach that something strange was going to happen in the coliseum today. To verify his thoughts, he looked over at the one man likely to be responsible, or at least partially, for all this... And yep, Lex was derisively grinning at Ares who simply sighed to himself. Apparently, today, the circus was coming to town... Unfortunately for Lex, and whichever cronies he''d summoned, Ares was the ringmaster of Red Sun and they were the clowns. He hadn''t invited them to put on a show but, if they were here and willing, he would put them to task as was only appropriate.

 Chapter 221: Guess Who?

    Who and how many? Those were the two burning questions Ares had right now. Their cultivation would obviously be, at minimum, equal to his as anything less wouldn''t even be functional as cannon fodder. Rather pretty much everyone within sensory enhancement would be useless here anyway. The only purpose they would serve is as a distraction. So, by that logic, it wasn''t hard to figure out he was going to be dealing with lot of bloodline awakening cultivators... And maybe even a few transition realm cultivators on top of that. There was no way a group this organised hadn''t been watching the matches and so they would be well aware of the requirements needed to put up a meaningful fight against Ares. This was why he was more curious in the answer to the other two questions of ''who?'' and ''how many?''. ''What'' their cultivation was could be guessed with relative ease. ''When'' was obviously now and ''why?'' would be figured out as soon as Ares got a bead on who exactly was jumping him.


    Ares'' mind spun and a lot of various details started falling into place. For starters, these people attacking him with the matriarchs resting in the crowd was blatantly stupid and none of their attempts would even make a dent in the protection they could offer... Surely they must have known this? This must have meant they came prepared with some kind of treasure or artifact that could create a barrier that even the matriarchs couldn''t break. That was a lot of effort just to assassinate Ares and one group of people wouldn''t be able to foot such a massive bill on their own so it was looking like a joint effort. Ares was flattered these troublemakers were going to such lengths for him but wasn''t this all still pointless? The matriarchs must have already known this was happening under their noses, they weren''t stupid... And yet they were also ignoring it. As far as Ares could tell, their attitude regarding this assassination was that either A; Ares could handle things as is or, B; the more likely answer was that they wanted him to use a Canis Stimulant today. The first option wasn''t feasible because no group of people Ares could handle with his eyes closed would be dumb enough to throw themselves at him nor would they have any means of accessing a treasure capable of isolating Ares away from the matriarchs.


    Given that Calla had assured Ares he would have a chance to use the Canis Stimulant sometime soon the latter assumption was likely correct. Also, seeing as how Calla knew about it for a while and didn''t interfere, the expectation here was that Ares would be fine without their aid. Taking all of this into consideration meant Ares wasn''t stressed out about protecting the team members who were all currently leaving the arena. These assassins were only after him and, should anyone else get caught in the crossfire, it was to be expected that someone in the crowd would act. To firmly cement the idea that things were fine, Ares took a sneak peak at Yulo who was in the crowd. This guy would definitely know what was coming but he remained relatively unbothered. ''Relatively'' because there was a tinge of awe on his face that couldn''t be wiped away no matter how he tried to hide it. Ares assumed this was because Yulo could see his revenant form already which was interesting. Yulo had more than likely seen a real revenant wolf before so his reaction, much like Calla''s, was indicative that Ares'' revenant form was quite something... Well he was about to find out so there was no point dwelling on it.


    As for the people in the crowd he could see that were seemingly involved in whatever operation they were planning, a few people stuck out. Namely the Legion elders who were slowly shuffling towards the arena. On the one hand, Ares was annoyed these idiots were getting involved but, on the other, this situation was too perfect to pass up. They were clearly throwing their hat in the ring because of the whole Ares, Enyo, and Bellona situation. Mostly Enyo, though, as she was the pride and joy of the clan. Watching on as the number one woman in your clan of the next generation was ''pimped'' out to your mortal enemy... Ares understood why they were mad but surely these people were being unreasonable? This was a consensual relationship! Ares wasn''t even involved in the war! Part of the humiliation must have been the fact that it wasn''t just Enyo, but also Bellona. They didn''t care about her, and if it had just been her they might have overlooked things, but it being both sisters... Some of these people must have gotten conniptions learning about this pairing. It was a very tribal mentality these people had. It''s not like the sisters were spoils of war to Ares but these specific elders would never understand that or be willing to tolerate it, clearly.


    To be fair, some of them were also probably doing this because Ares was now an incredibly high profile revenant with a lot of power up his sleeve. This was a more reasonable excuse, as they could be concerned about the potential threat he posed later in life, but was still an excuse at the end of the day. Ares had to give them all credit, though, because doing this in front of Rhea and all her kin was practically a death sentence. Acting without her permission, or rather permission they knew they never would have gotten as Rhea had already signed off on the marriages, was an incredibly ballsy decision. They were taking matters into their own hand on behalf of the entire Legion clan and their actions were treacherous if not downright treasonous. Although Ares hadn''t married the sisters yet, his status was effectively equivalent to a main branch family member if not a little higher. Ares would inevitably become the leader of the Umbras one day, he was just in the correct position to do so. Throw in his marriage to two main branch Legions and he honestly outranked basically everyone at that point in terms of status. To attack such a person... Rhea would not let these fools get off lightly. The Legions didn''t torture often but, occasionally, they would make exceptions when a member of theirs did something unthinkably stupid. Going against direct orders so they could murder someone of Ares'' status, who was technically family now due to the engagement, over a personal grudge, and one that didn''t even make sense... Ares simply said a small prayer for these fools. He could feel Rhea''s anger from down here and he hadn''t even looked up to see her facial reaction to any of this yet. Naturally the rest of the Legions would also be pissed as these people were spitting in the face of their authority. In particular Enyo would likely be devastated by this. She was still hoping the Legion could be turned around but something like this... It was going to throw a lot of her trust in the clan out the window when she finally understood what was happening...


    As for why this benefitted Ares, though, it was an optics Godsend. Ares could kill all the other assassins without repercussion but these guys? Saving their hide and keeping them alive would drastically slow down the Legions'' acceptance of Major''s command to put Ares down. His God given task was one thing, and his refusal to take part in the war was another, but sparing the Legions who tried to assassinate him in broad daylight... Major was going to get a lot of pushback and dissent from a large chunk of the clan for a long time thanks to today. If it weren''t for that, Ares might have even just killed these people but they were more useful to him alive than dead. Some of them may even go on to rethink their ways and defend him back on the Legion home planet so Ares couldn''t waste this chance. He needed, NEEDED, to make sure his berserk self maintained at least a little intelligence so he could spare these people specifically. The good thing about all of this was that they were easy to pick apart from everyone else involved due to their striking armour. There was some hope to come out of this situation with a massive advantage and Ares wouldn''t let it go. In a way, he was glad this was happening.


    But that was just the Legions, there were other people who wanted Ares deader than dead. For starters, although he''d yet to make any kind of move, Maro was here and seemingly very invested in a match that had clearly already finished. There was an evil glint in his eyes so he was absolutely knowledgeable about this occurrence even if not directly relevant. Actually, his invisible bird was really convenient here as, although some expert cultivators would spy it, he could get away with fooling the ignorant masses if he needed to poke at Ares a bit himself for whatever reason. None of the experts here had a stake in Ares and would hesitate to interfere with the machinations of a peak transition realm cultivator. Hans might, and he was here, but if Hans responded it would turn into a bloodbath in which countless innocents died in the crossfire. Ares was a revenant and would come back from death so Hans would make the correct choice and simply begrudgingly let it happen.


    For Maro, this was a perfect opportunity to temporarily rid himself of a ticking time bomb. If Ares cultivated enough Maro would absolutely be on his hit-list so buying any time was imperative for him. Despite this, he seemed to be taking the most passive approach of everyone here as he wasn''t leaving his seat and the bird hadn''t come out yet. Evidently, the assassins wanted to isolate Ares inside a barrier of some kind but, if he made his way out somehow, Maro might try for a sneak attack when Ares thought he was safe. Ares, being at the beginning of sensory enhancement, logically wouldn''t be able to take a strike from the bird at the peak of transition, especially not after struggling to get out of the barrier situation regardless of what it entailed. It would predictively be easy pickings for Maro to finish things should it come to that. In fact, Maro''s participation was likely why they all felt so confident in trying this. With Maro and Lex on side there was a 1000% guarantee they could get into the coliseum and the arena unobstructed. That was a lot of power in their pocket. The C.O and the Red Sun mayor? There were very few doors these two combined didn''t have the keys to, especially in Red Sun.


    Maro and the Legions aside, Ares couldn''t help but recognise his old Chen clan pals. They stuck out like a sore thumb to him because Ares had seen their ugly mugs however many thousands of times already. Ares couldn''t spy Chen Lo anywhere, it was a large coliseum Ares had to browse, but the old coot would definitely be taking part. Lo''s anger towards Ares would have been enough to fuel a hangar of jets for a thousand lifetimes. Burning said fuel could turn an entire planet to ashes he was likely that mad. For all his faults, Chen Lo did care about the youngsters in his clan, most of which were dead now. Only the upper echelons of the clan eked their ways out of the rubble due to their superior cultivation but, even then, a lot of them suffered grievous injuries and could no longer fight. the Chen members here were either martyrdoms for the cause or high ranking individuals with a vengeance. Of course Ares also had a vengeance for these people but it was nice knowing one side would be eradicated today... Of course Ares wasn''t expecting it to be him that fell though. His Canis Stimulant would put him at the peak of bloodline awakening and Chen Lo did not have any means of hanging with Ares at that level, let alone whatever strength the revenant form possessed that went above and beyond that. Actually, Ares would likely not even be stoppable by someone like Maro so these first few assassins were going to receive the shock of a lifetime.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The fourth and final wave of contenders, Ares had a lot of enemies but not currently that many (although some would argue this was a lot for someone who was early in their cultivation journey), was... Aejaz'' clan... It seemed Aejaz'' brothers and mother were not amongst those involved but Sho... Sho was very much here somewhere and leading the charge, Ares could feel it in his bones. The guy wanted to get some payback so this wasn''t even remotely surprising. The second Ares noticed he was being surrounded Sho was his first pick of the litter for ''guy who really wants Ares dead and will actually take action to make it so''. This group of people was harder to keep track of, they were assassins, duh, but Ares had already activated his Omniscience and no amount of talent was going to save them from his burning eyes. It seemed like it was mostly a bunch of disciples and a few elders from the Fleeting Glimpse branch in this country, including the guy Ares bombed the crap out of at the party. The one wearing lace... Or was it silk? The one he and Aejaz... Bombed... Again, in the Vargaraad tomb, although that one actually happened first. The half dead guy who really liked stabbing people. Honestly... Ares had forgotten that side-character''s name already which was why he was having such a hard time picking him out of the crowd despite his bright colours compared to his clansmen. Regardless, he seemed to be gunning for Ares for obvious reasons. Ares had planted a bomb inside him, after all. Forgive and forget probably wasn''t an option.


    Ares was kinda happy the rest of Aejaz'' family weren''t participating in this affair because then the upcoming match would be ruined! Aejaz'' five minutes of fame would have, in a funny twist of fate, have been stolen from him by Ares! As that was seemingly not the case, unless they were all hiding somewhere like a bunch of sneaky rodents, Aejaz would get his retribution yet. Also, regarding the Fleeting Glimpse lot, there seemed to be some assassins mixed in with them that weren''t from the clan. These individuals had cultivation bases, at minimum, near the peak of bloodline awakening, moved in a different style with a different gait and bearing to the Glimpse clan members, and had a different bearing altogether. They looked like they were in sync with each other but not the clan which made Ares think thy were hired to ensure nothing went wrong. Ares'' annihilation enhancement was a risky thing to tackle so working with some extra help was a good choice. As for who these people were, Ares had no clue. If it had been any other time of the year Hans could effortlessly track down people operating in his neck of the woods but, now? Thanks to the tournament these people could very well be from abroad and disappear back to their country of origin long before an investigation turned up any kind of results after today''s fiasco. But that did neatly sum up who was here to wreck Ares'' day... Or try to, anyway... Also, that was the last of the groups but there was one particular person joining in who wasn''t affiliated with any of the aforementioned groups and, honestly, had no business being here...


    Et tu, Biggie?


    Ares game of ''where''s wally'' had picked up an individual he really didn''t expect to find here... Biggie, that guy he met once after the inner court disciple test came to a close way back when. When he moved into Alaine''s tier this guy had given him the stink eye big time. Supposedly he was the strongest person in the inner court and also the guy in the sect with the biggest crush on Enyo, and that had been before her pleasure pillar-related changes. Ares'' remembered that this guy disdained him because Ares was lacking in muscles and therefore didn''t deserve Enyo... It was stupid but Ares ignored it thinking it wouldn''t be a problem. The guy never even came around to Ares'' neighbourhood to bother him so Ares had almost forgotten about the guy entirely. Still, Ares remembered his name, unlike the Fleeting Glimpse guy, so that was something Biggie could hold his head up high about. Ares had no clue why this guy was here though... Whether he took part or not really made no difference whatsoever as he was the ''weakest'' of everyone participating. He was roughly around the 7th stage of bloodline awakening which, admittedly, wasn''t lower than some of the Legions but, in terms of strength, he was definitely the weak link of the pack. The Legions with lower cultivation would still blow him out the water in direct competition thanks to their intensive training and capacity for dynamic and well-executed teamwork. To add insult to injury, Biggie wouldn''t get the final hit on Ares... No one would, Ares would make sure of that, but, hypothetically, why would any of the others trying to kill Ares let some random kid do it? He stood no chance of bringing home the glory so why was he here? All that would happen as a result was that his name would spread far and wide but not for any good reason. Even if successful, he would be kicked out of the sect and Red Sun the second he tried to return to either. Joining in like this wasn''t actually beneficial unless he was aiming to hide behind one of the other groups by joining them...


    The Legions were being scummy but they would still never take onboard a person like Biggie. The Glimpse wouldn''t either because he was was categorically not the type of person to become an assassin. The hint was in the name. He was BIG and sneaking around with that much bulk, while not impossible, was a very questionable career choice. Maro had zero interest in this guy and the hit he would take to his reputation just to bring him on side would not be worth it no matter how Ares looked at it... So it was the Chen clan? Well, Biggie wasn''t dumb or weak. Compared to most cultivators he was probably above average objectively, even if only by a little... Maybe the Chens were trying to repopulate and they valued strength more than anything? If they were desperate after losing their young then they would take whatever partners they could get for the remaining youths that were still kicking. Not everyone had been at the clan at the time of it being obliterated so some Chen youths here and there were still breathing. Selling them off like this was... A choice that had been made... And one Ares didn''t exactly respect because they wouldn''t have had a say in it but what worked, worked. Ares couldn''t deny a plan like this would be functional, just a tad slimy. Then again, this was the Chen clan he was talking about. They weren''t exactly going to fall into disrepute over something like this because, uh, well, they were already in disrepute anyway... The one thing everyone seemed to know about them were that they were just terrible people, this wouldn''t change that. The only thing Ares wasn''t sure about was whether the Chens had any intentions of remaining in Red Sun or fleeing elsewhere after this debacle. They weren''t going to live through it but Ares was somewhat curios to know whether they really thought they could rebuild in Red Sun without a care in the world. Hans wouldn''t have allowed it, not a chance. He would beat them while they were down over and over and only Maro would be able to prevent it... But could Maro really get openly involved with Chens? Not really.


    Ah but that was enough about that. Things were finally kicking off as the first few assassins had started jumping into the arena. Only now were the contenders, other than Ares, aware of what was happening around them. They hadn''t been paying attention to the spectators because they were either discussing the results or lazily walking back towards their homes. What was happening now couldn''t be missed any longer and it was blatantly obvious there was something big going down. Even the spectators who were in the middle of leaving paused when they saw this and made the choice to hang around a bit longer to see what the hubbaloo was about. The C.O lady, who''d interfered a few times to lay down the law, was choosing whether or not to make a move... Lex was looking useless and pretending to be blind or something, so he was clearly in on it and this would not look good later, so she was the only hope here for the victim, right? Well not really because she could also see, clear as day, the matriarchs minding their own business... She didn''t want to hop down and get blasted by the matriarchs for poking her nose where it didn''t belong. Plus there were Legions amongst the ruffians scrambling into the arena... The C.O lady sighed and sat back in her seat. This international, at the outer court level specifically, had been a colossal shit show... She was absolutely getting her pay docked for this crap... She''d handled it well, though! Not that the higher ups would care... Poor C.O lady...


    Down in the arena, Ares was ready to greet his foes with biting sarcasm but an attack was already heading towards him! Someone had jumped the gun! What was this?! Ares was going to offer his would-be murderers ''hospitality'' and greetings but they could even hold themselves back long enough for him to say hello?! Ares shook his head in disappointment and readied his annihilation enhancement. The attack had come from one of the hired assassins working with the Glimpse clan so this one was packing a punch at the level of peak bloodline awakening. Annihilation enhancement wasn''t necessary, as regular enhancement would just about allow Ares to deal with it too, but Ares wanted it up and running in case anyone tried to outright kill him before he could take the Canis Stimulant. Ares wanted his verbal spar with his assailers before he took it but these people weren''t even waiting until he''d been isolated... Either there were people amongst them who despised Ares for some reason or they just really wanted their pay check!


    As Ares used an Annihilation Echo on the kunai headed towards him, punching it into the stratosphere, he could see Sho arguing with the guy who threw the weapon.... Evidently he was not pleased as he saw things the same way Ares did, talk THEN murder. Were you really a super human with immense combat potential if you weren''t wasting everyone''s time with monologues and pointless conversations? It just didn''t have the same feel to it if you skipped that part! Despite Sho telling the hired assassin off, it seemed someone else hadn''t caught the memo as a guy near the peak of the transition realm had just gone all out... Everyone in the coliseum, even Ares'' attackers, turned to look at the guy who was defying protocol and going straight for the kill. A number of people tried to rush towards him to stop the guy but it wasn''t going to matter. The art he was about to cast could be chanted quick and packed some serious firepower. Ares, in particular, was flabbergasted! He''d been reluctant to use the Stimulant immediately but was he actually going to die because of that foolish decision?! All because this one guy wasn''t following the unwritten rules?! Ares could tell that he couldn''t block this attack in any normal way and that it would be too quick to dodge... No way he was going to die like this, in such an anticlimactic way, surely?

 Chapter 222: Mexican Standoff

    "Psysplitter."


    The term ''do or die'' had never been more applicable to Ares but his options here were limited due to the way the psychic pillar worked. It was a pillar that specialised in doing mental damage with its two aspects. The first aspect, ''telepathic warfare'', was strictly based on doing mental damage and little all else. You could read people''s minds, forcibly berserk opponents, or just launch a wide array of attacks that were proficient in navigating a person''s mental realm. The labyrinth in people''s minds could be combed through with agile snakes and suicide bomber mice with GPS attached to them. Whereas as other arts from other pillars and aspects could also be mental oriented, none had quite as easy a time navigating mental realms as this specific aspect and the effects that they could result in were far more varied... Unless you were comparing it to the fundamental mind pillar but that was just unfair and pretty mean to do! Unsurprisingly, the deity attached to Sanity by the hip was the psychic pillar''s representative who was, honestly, a bit of a nut case.


    That was a problem for a different time, however, right now Ares was facing a very immediate threat to his health in the form of an art that came under the second psychic pillar aspect, ''paranormal manifestation''. This aspect was a bit of a strange one. Whereas the telepathic warfare aspect did nothing other than mental damage, this aspect focused on half and half measures. Arts under this aspect would manifest as physical psychic attacks that could harm both the mind and the body at the same time. Typically, it was an even fifty fifty split in terms of applying the damage but some arts went more one way than the other. Psychic arm blades would probably deal roughly 80% physical damage to the body and 20% mental to the mind. A psychic avalanche would be the reverse of this and deal 80% mental and 20% physical damage. Still, most were straight down the middle. Psysplitter, the art the assassin had just chanted, was one such art but it functioned in a very different and interesting way compared to the standard arts under this aspect. Normally, with an art under this pillar, the damage split wouldn''t change regardless of what happened. Psysplitter, however, amped up one type of damage depending on which one was more successful. It was a reactive purple-ish / pink-ish beam of psychic magic that pierced an opponent. If they spent more effort blocking the physical damage, the mental damage it did would be amplified instead. The reverse was also true. In other words, if you weren''t capable of blocking both evenly, you would have a rough time. This was damning to people who dedicated their defences to one more than the other as well as those who weren''t very familiar with mental protection. People who specialised in mental arts tended to be physically weak and vice versa so this art was highly effective most of the time it was used.


    Now back to Ares, he was screwed! The beam was lightning fast and the mental damage it was going to do was not small. Being at the peak of transition realm meant Ares would have had a rough time blocking the physical side of things to begin with but... The mental attack portion? Ares wouldn''t even know where to begin with that... He could throw disintegration magic at it but he was far too weak compared to his attacker to make even a dent in the art and save himself. Of all the pillars, aspects, and arts that could have been thrown at Ares, this one specifically was disastrous. It was too quick to escape from with normal movement and a Shift would take too long to cast. Voidwalk wasn''t active so that wasn''t an option either. Blocking the physical side of it was an option but would take up all his strength so what then? The mental portion of the attack would run rampant and make him brain dead in a mere few milliseconds. This guy was going for the kill!


    Ares felt like an idiot for allowing the situation to devolve to this point as, now, he was going to have take measures he would have rather not taken at all... Though he hated having to do this, he did have one way out of this situation... If he couldn''t rely on external aid, because it would take too long to arrive, and he couldn''t rely on himself, he had to rely on something else... Dominus wouldn''t be helpful here and Ares wanted to keep him available to use later anyway. The same was also true of his God summon and it would take way to long to chant anyway... There was only one thing in Ares'' possession that could block this attack but the real issue was hiding it from everyone''s prying eyes. That''s right, he was going to use the Primordial Blade to tank the hit. The beam pierced everything it hit but, if it was absorbed into the Blade, it would just float harmlessly through space... Now the conundrum facing Ares was how to do this without being caught... He absolutely, unequivocally, could not yet reveal this weapon to the wider world. So how was he going to do it? Well Ares could create a barrier of disintegration around him to block off everyone''s view but he needed to do it the split second the beam passed by the barrier''s max range. If Ares put the disintegration barrier up first, and the beam pierced it, some people directly in front of him might be able to see the weapon through the hole. On the flipside, if Ares was too late in raising the barrier... Well goodbye Ares. The next thing he saw would be the world anew from a baby''s eyes and there would be no second chances. In short, as mentioned earlier, it was seriously do or die time! He was going to be pushed to his limits in terms of timing his defensive measures against the beam because it was a fast art to begin with and had been shot by a peak transition realm cultivator.


    Ares was thankful he''d activated his annihilation enhancement and Omniscience already as those two abilities just increased his odds of survival here by a metric ton. If Ares'' chances of pulling off this manoeuvre properly were about 20% before, it was now sitting at around 60% which was a marked increase that made him feel much more comfortable going for the risky play. On top of that, Ares had already directed some physical pressure forward to try and slow down the beam when it came into range. This would make no more than a 1% difference in his odds but Ares wasn''t in a position to complain seeing as how this was all his fault to begin with. He could blame the assassin going commando and disregarding his orders but Ares was the one with the solution so blaming the problem was silly. Despite the terrible situation Ares wasn''t altogether too concerned. His odds didn''t look great but, provided he leaned more towards failing by putting up the barrier early rather than late, the chances of him dying here were exceptionally low. Some people spying the Blade would be problematic but also a small scale issue compared to the massive setback that dying would incur. Plus the rewards from the international would be beyond his grasp if he bit the dust and that was a no go so, if something went wrong, Ares likely wouldn''t perish. Not a great outcome to have his biggest secret talked about openly but it was better than the alternative at least!


    The beam shot out from the assassin''s hand and was directed at Ares who about fifty feet away from him. Though the distance was considerable, the travel speed of the beam meant it could cross that space in no more than a second. That may have sounded like a lot of time to react, and that wasn''t necessarily incorrect, but the max range Ares could extend the edge of a barrier to, that also encompassed himself, was about twenty feet if he really pushed himself. In other words, this new distance would give Ares around 4/10ths of a second to bring up the barrier and simultaneously summon the Blade directly in front of him to block the beam. Was it an impossible task? Not even remotely. Was it the kind of thing you really didn''t want to have randomly sprung on you when you were minding your own business and wholly unprepared? Hell no it wasn''t! Raising the barrier Ares could do in about 1/10th of a second and the Blade summoning would take roughly the same amount of time. In other words, he had 2/10ths of a second leeway at his disposal which was basically an impromptu slap in the face... But it was better than nothing! Also, if he could make it through this, it was likely that things would calm down. Out of the corner of Ares'' eyes he could see a bunch of his would-be assassins storming over towards the transition realm guy to give him a talking to. The people not paying attention to Ares must have just assumed he''d be dead from this attack which, honestly, despite giving these people a lot of flak for their idiocy, was entirely a fair assessment. If Ares didn''t know about the Primordial Blade, and was spectating himsel in third person, he''d assume he was 100% dead as well. There was nothing unreasonable about that expectation. Even some of the people in the crowd who knew Ares were gobsmacked as they believed they were about to witness his death first hand.


    Ares had no intentions of letting himself die so he strained his eyes to the limit and very nearly stared a hole into the attack. If glaring at arts could harm them Ares may have very well annihilated the Psysplitter in its tracks. Unfortunately that wasn''t the case so, a split second later, a black dome had enveloped him completely, removing him from view. Everyone who was convinced he was dead to rights turned to look at the dome. Why Ares had decided to throw up a vision obstructing barrier nobody knew. Some even speculated he''d just been too slow on the draw to summon the barrier in the first place. What was certain about this situation, though, is that there were no holes in the barrier so nobody could check on what was happening inside.


    ...


    Everyone watching didn''t have to wait for long for an answer, though, As Ares came skidding backwards out of the barrier as his feet were dragged through the floor. He left a gauged out trail in the arena as he was pushed backwards with immense force but, other than his worrying momentum, he was completely uninjured! Physically he wouldn''t have been injured anyway but, mentally, he hadn''t checked out just yet! There was light in his eyes that were clear as day to anyone who could see them. It''s not even that they''d been dimmed somewhat as a result of the attack, he almost looked more alive than before the attack! Ares came sliding to a halt and unearthed his feet, both of which had sunk a considerable distance into the ground, and stepped forward to meet his attackers, all of whom were stunned stupid. Granted that was the same reaction everyone else had. This was not akin to any feat Ares had pulled off before. To nullify an attack of that calibre, at his current cultivation, without the use of an art, and one that specifically targeted his mental realm primarily, was unthinkable. Only the handful of people who knew about the Blade had their wits about them but, even then, Ares had pulled off the magic trick of the century right there and completely fooled everyone.


    Speaking of the magician of the minute, Ares was subtly taking deep breaths to calm himself down. The last few seconds had been exhilarating for all the wrong reasons. He''d managed to block the attack perfectly, as was planned, but what he failed to accommodate for was the recoil he would face as a result of stopping the beam. He assumed the beam would just disappear into the Blade and, while that was what happened, Ares being pushed around wasn''t something Ares foresaw. The blowback had taken Ares by surprise so, if the 2/10ths window earlier to save himself looked rough, the 1/0th of a second window he had to put the Blade away before he was thrown out of the barrier with it in full-view was even worse! His body moved before his brain did and he shoved the weapon away barely in the nick of time.


    Ares'' heartbeat was not settling down even now that he was out the frying pan and in the clear. There were still some small doubts in his head about whether or not anyone caught sight of the weapon but, thankfully, as he looked around, that didn''t appear to be the case. Spectators were stunned, yes, but they were stunned and confused. If they saw the sword they would at least understand he''d used a legendary treasure of some kind and then the confusion wouldn''t be present. It would be faces of awe and nothing more. Ares had been through the thick of it and come out on top! He''d saved himself and kept his secret, secret! As much as he wanted to throw his fist in the air and do a little jig, now really didn''t seem like the appropriate time to do so. He could do that back at home and be slapped around by his wives for being a man-child later, right now he needed to maintain a kind of demeanour that was relevant to the way he wanted the general public to view him when he was taking matters seriously. Belittling his capacity for stoicism, level-headedness, and sternness was a fool''s endeavour. It''s not that he didn''t want to have fun, it''s that he couldn''t give the impression he was lackadaisical all the time otherwise he wouldn''t make for a very good sect leader and people''s trust in him, to deliver when he was called upon, would wane somewhat. He wasn''t going to walk around with a perpetual frown on his face and a stick up his ass but he wasn''t going to drop his pants and moon anyone either. Time and place! Ares was mature enough now to understand that and act accordingly. Still, if there wasn''t an audience here he would have been way more unrestrained... In a way, he was kinda upset that wasn''t the case. It had been a while since he last just went off the rails and acted like a mischievous gremlin. Ah well, the fate of a leader. Scar and Tyr had done an excellent job when it was their turn and now it was Ares'' so he just had to suck it up and do things the right way!


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    While the crowd''s heads were still spinning, the assassins finished hopping into the arena. They were just as speechless about the fact that Ares was still alive and kicking but standing around wasn''t going to help. Plus they wanted to deploy their treasure and trap Ares with them down in the arena before he could escape. Ares actually did have a chance to Voidwalk away just then but he wasn''t going to take it because he didn''t need to. The whole sparing the Legion thing was worth the cost of doing business with these lot. Plus he just wanted Sho and the Chens dead. It was easier knowing there were no lingering threats in Red Sun after today. Also Aejaz'' little sister could start walking around town freely without needing a bodyguard 24/7 so the list of reasons he had to stay here was long enough to warrant not fleeing. Even if that wasn''t enough, the Canis Stimulant was calling out to Ares from his storage in the Primordial Blade and it had been long enough without using them now that Ares was starting to get antsy. So, with a firm resolve, and confidence that was unmatched by those ambushing him, Ares stepped forward again.


    The person who took charge of the opposing group was Sho but Chen Lo also came within speaking distance as the extras all set about deploying some nodes around the arena. The Legion lot had shooed the two teams out of the danger zone and, shortly after, a dome appeared around the entire arena. It wasn''t particularly tall but it did what was needed of it. Ares had to give credit as their deployment of this barrier had been extremely rapid. It only took them about three and a half seconds to have it up and functioning from the moment the first assassin jumped into the arena. Not anything the matriarchs couldn''t have reacted to but these fools didn''t know that. They had hoped the matriarchs would be blindsided and, right now, they truly believed they just snuck a win past them while they weren''t looking. That was far from the truth but ignorance was bliss.


    As for the barrier itself, the clear dome didn''t seem all that threatening. It looked arguably weaker than one of Enyo''s barriers but there must have been more than meets the eyes with this one. Whatever it was, these bozos genuinely believed it had the means to keep not one, but four whole matriarchs out. Ares checked it out properly with his Omniscience and was pleasantly surprised with his foes'' attention to detail, this thing might actually work! He''d been laughing at them inwardly but they''d done their research, actually! The barrier was one concocted of spatial magic. It''s not that it could withstand hits, not in the slightest, it''s that anything that touched it, be it magic, miscellaneous objects, or living creatures, would all be transported to a random location a few miles away. If you could hit the barrier it would fold relatively quickly but hitting it was the hardest part! The matriarch''s individual power mattered naught if they couldn''t actually use any of it meaningfully. As far as Ares knew, none of the matriarchs were gifted enough with the space time pillar to deal with this treasure. Ares had underestimated these guys big time! It was probably the Legions that came up with this idea as they were the smart ones of all those present. The issue with this barrier was that it would only take one space-time pillar expert in the entire crowd to dismantle it. It would take a while, mind you, and that was likely what the idiots were banking on. Being able to kill Ares before anyone from, say, the C.O could get him out. Then again, they had a man, Maro (although he looked more like a skeleton than anything resembling a ''man''), on the outside who could intervene whenever anyone stepped up to the barrier. Aside from the lengthy set up time, that was way too slow to be effective against the matriarchs, everything else was planned out pretty well. Ares gave them a 8.5 out of 10 for their performance!


    With the barrier up, and Ares face to face with the two leaders of the opposing forces, it was time to verbally sling mud at each other! Ares liked this part! "Ah, to be reunited with dumb and dumber again so soon. I am in a good mood! I''m guessing you two are here to avenge Chen Lo''s Chen woes and the Sho shit show?"


    Lo nearly jumped forward to try and throttle the bastard but a well timed and well placed arm from Sho prevented another early kick-off of violence. Sho, being the more wary and cautious of the two, made it his primary goal to sus out what Ares had just done to block the Psysplitter. An unknown variable at this stage of the game was a nightmare waiting to happen. Ares'' confidence and swagger in strolling up to them was worrying... Also, they had the time to do this. No one seemed to be trying to deal with the barrier so, on that front, they were golden. The barrier would last thirty minutes if not affected by any attacks to its structure. It was plenty of time to deal with Ares and then Teleport out as one of the people they brought along was a space-time pillar expert who could facilitate a get away for everyone involved. "I''m glad you lived through that Psysplitter, now I get to kill you myself. Don''t think whatever trick you had up your sleeve will save you from me. Whatever you blocked the attack with won''t save you from a knife in the back of your neck."


    Ares didn''t bother answering Sho''s line of questioning. Why would he? He knew what the old coot wanted and he wasn''t exactly being subtle about it. The guy was an expert assassin but not a professional negotiator, clearly. If anything, that job should have been left to either the Legions or Lo but whatever. Ares wasn''t here to critique their highwaymen potential. "Hey, Lo, you know the reason your house blew up was ''cos of this guy, right?"


    Lo''s feral rage, burning away under his somewhat angry fa?ade, calmed down for long enough to query what exactly this damnable bastard was talking about. "Don''t try and sow discord, brat. If you have something to say, before I rip your head off, then spit it out already."


    Ares shrugged. "I wasn''t going to blow you up just yet but Sho forced my hand. You should blame him, really. Who knows? If I had taken any longer to detonate everything you may have discovered the Beads buried in and around your property, saving everyone. All your children could have survived but this dingus your working with was the trigger that brought the house down prematurely..."


    Chen side-eyed Sho as he hadn''t been aware of the specifics. All he knew was that Ares was ''forced'' to give a demonstration of his power on the night apocalypse descended on the Chen household. It being Sho, who had manipulatively sworn to aid the Chen''s in the vengeance that only needed serving because of him to begin with, made Lo''s blood boil... But he could be dealt with after. Right now, the cocky assassin had his uses. It would be an ugly fight, Glimpse vs Chen, but it would sort out their grievances... Lo recoiled slightly when he thought about it deeper, though... The Teleport would be conducted by a man the Glimpse hired... If this was all a big trap to remove loose ends then he and the remnants of his clan were screwed!... But what if it was just a lie concocted by Ares to, as he assessed earlier, sow discord... Fuck. Lo swore to himself because there was no way to know what was happening anymore. Allowing Ares to open his mouth had been disastrous for Lo''s mental state and the same was true for his men that were now going through the exact same thought process.


    Ares smirked before turning to Sho. "And you. What makes you think the Legions are going to ignore you after this mess? Internationally renowned assassins? You''d be lucky to escape their ''justice''. They themselves might not be strong enough to deal with you but I bet Rhea will come looking for them when this is all said and done. She might be frustrated with them but she''ll be extremely displeased with you. You aren''t Legion so you''ll be biting the dust before you can even repent for your actions."


    This time it was Sho''s turn to realise he''d been tricked. What Ares had insinuated to Lo was more than correct as Sho didn''t want a man with anger towards him to continue existing. After the Teleport he was planning on ambushing them, finishing them off for good. The same was true of the Legions but he saw them as weak fools who were clinging to him to achieve a goal and nothing more. They might have had lofty ideals but whether they had the strength to act on them alone was another matter entirely. They had the treasure, he and his hire-ees had the brawn. He hadn''t considered the fact that they were willing to take him down with them by revealing their location to Rhea, their own enemy at this moment in time, when everything was said and done. But this all made a lot of sense. After defying their superiors of course they would turn themselves in! Even the dumbest Legion was loyal like a dog in their own twisted way! Sho had mistakenly believed his craziest allies here were the Chens with nothing more to lose. He''d been blindsided by the real psychopaths all along because they were pretending to be upstanding and sane warriors of justice! The damn cretins had gotten him real good... Fuck. Just like Lo, Sho could only curse the situation inwardly. His one option here was to try and kill the Legions after dealing with Ares but these despicable liars were the ones with control over the barrier. If they were attacked, they would lower it. If Sho tried Teleporting away, they would be brought along and call for Rhea. The latter was preferential, as there might be some time to flee, but getting away from the suicidal bastards wasn''t going to be an easy task as they would inevitably act like flies on shit and cling to them for as long as possible; at which point Rhea would arrive and hunt down the few who managed to get away. Glimpse were assassins, sure, but Rhea was a monster wearing human flesh so escaping from her was a laughable thought.


    And just like that, mental pandemonium was on the menu. Treacherous chaos. Everyone hated everyone! They weren''t allies, not in the slightest. The Legions were worried everyone else would try to kill them before they finished off Ares as payback, at which point they''d have to lower the barrier early and ruin everything. The Chens worst nightmare was getting sucked away from this place to a remote location where they would be ambushed and annihilated; and the Glimpse lot were fearful of Rhea''s retribution. Ares had singlehandedly reduced morale to a breaking point and yet was just sitting there with a provoking grin on his face that was mocking down to its core!


    "WHATEVER!" Sho was enraged at the stalemate they were in right now so he decided to just break it. "JUST KILL ARES NOW AND WE''LL SORT OUT OUR OWN PROBLEMS AFTER!" The Chens may not have wanted Ares dead for the sake of their own survival but, objectively, they were the weakest lot here. They had no say in the matter and the Legions, in terms of killing Ares, were in agreement with Glimpse lot. Even if the Chens tried to obstruct them it wouldn''t matter as they had no power here anymore... And that included Biggie who was trying to keep up with the conversation and just wanted to kill Ares already. He''d tried to get involved with the talks but had been held back by a Glimpse assassin far stronger than him. Biggie wasn''t the only one in this situation though as other Chen members were slowly being restrained by both the Legions and the Glimpse clans.


    Through nothing but a few sly words, Ares had reduced the size of his opponent''s miniature army by a third. It wasn''t even really his goal, he just wanted to see them squirm for his own amusement. He didn''t need this handicap, and it wouldn''t matter the second he transformed anyway, but it was funny enough to get a small chuckle out of him so it had been a resounding success that exceeded his expectations. While Lo and Sho were arguing, borderline about to start beating each other to death, Ares pulled out the Canis Stimulant and popped open the vial by removing the cork. The noise it made was satisfying to his ears but that same sound also reached the ears of everyone else present, alerting them to Ares'' actions. They all turned in time to see him take a swig of some mysterious drink, a drink that very few people here recognised. Few, but not none. Sho was lost, and so was Lo, but when they heard their Legion ''allies'' mumble the word ''shit'' under their breath, with a strong emphasis, they knew things were not going to be as easy as they initially hoped. They all had no idea what was in store for them...

 Chapter 223: Not a Fussy Eater

    Everyone in the coliseum watched the reddish white liquid pour down Ares'' throat with baited breath. They didn''t know what was happening but they knew it was going to be a big deal. There was just that kind of air about this whole situation that inclined people to believe roles were about to be reversed. There were enough stories about cultivation prodigies turning seemingly impossible tides that the prospect of it wasn''t lost on these people. They may have never seen such an occurrence first hand but, chances are, they were about to. Everyone''s hawkish gaze was fixated on Ares right now, none more so than the four seasons hidden throughout the venue and the local area. They were all deeply invested in the results of the next few minutes for various reasons.


    Glug


    Gulp


    Ares finished downing the drink and now things were really going to get interesting! Sho and Lo had been too far away to stop this development so, now, they had to watch on as Ares transformed before their very eyes. There was a golden glow near his stomach which was where the draconic seed was currently taking effect. The Canis Stimulant essentially temporarily skipped the unchaining so Ares'' revenant form had just gotten access to the seed prematurely, meaning Ares would no longer need to worry about this step when going through the whole process later. It also meant his revenant form''s eyesight would be fixed too and that would benefit human Ares'' vision too. After the whole berserk spree stuff, his revenant''s beastly sense of eyesight would come into affect as well as his draconic sense, improved by the draconic seed, amplifying his base vision. It wasn''t a massive benefit but getting a permanent benefit out of this at all was still a good thing.


    Ares could feel his consciousness slipping as his body cracked in various places. Bones were being stretched and flesh was being covered in fur rapidly but, underneath it all, Ares was holding onto his sanity for dear life. He''d underestimated how hard it would be to not go fully berserk. Verv made it look too easy! Ares felt like he was in a whirlpool of blood that kept agitating him with every rotation. He thought he had a chance to climb out but he was just flung mercilessly back in, angering him further. He was annoyed he couldn''t escape and that annoyance was only growing the longer he sat in the stupid red maelstrom. Crimson winds also sprung forth and kept battering him, encouraging him to just sink and hide safely under the waves but Ares knew that would be the end of it. Keeping his head above water was the trick to not losing hi sanity entirely. If he hid under the water there would be no one left to control his body up here. Under the red whirlpool he wouldn''t have any contact with the world outside his head and he would be guided by nothing more than natural instinct and rage. He couldn''t allow that to happen. Sparing the Legions and not wildly attacking the innocent spectators was imperative. If he failed on those two fronts the consequences would not be anything he could fix. Trust in him would fall to an all time low, be mostly irreparable, and speed up the Legion''s involvement with him tenfold. Not drowning here was crucial no matter how much staying awake stung. There was no way for him to actually climb out, as that would mean going berserk but retaining full control which was the best possible outcome, but he could hang around in the water and give up partial control. It was currently a state in which he decided what needed to happen but had no say in how it happened. He was just giving his body orders and it was following them loosely. Kill, stay, rescue, specify a target, maim, etc... These were the sorts of commands he had in his repertoire that would be followed not quite to the letter but closely enough that he didn''t need to take any other action for now.


    While Ares was tossed about inside his own head, his body was still undergoing changes. As he''d forced this change via the Stimulant the lengthy transformation process made sense. He wasn''t as closely intertwined with his revenant self as he was back during his clone''s syncing in the pagoda. Even after transforming, the draconic seed digestion needed to be finalised which almost definitely meant he would be roaring again. The world outside the Blade''s interference would seriously wonder what the hell was going on but everyone inside it was about to get some answers. Only when the pagoda Ares made it to the outside world, and revenants out there discovered his true form, would the outside world understand the cause of these two roars.


    As for the current state of Ares body, he was currently the size of a revenant lord and still growing. Nobody in these lower domains had ever seen a revenant lord, let alone whatever the hell Ares really was, so the fact that he was give or take 20ft tall and still growing was deeply concerning. The Legions in the audience were very nearly pissing themselves at this sight because not even the strongest revenant they''d seen throughout their entire life came even remotely close to this. By the time Ares reached 30ft, and still showed no signs of slowing down, some of the Legion disciples and elders had fainted dead in their seats. A good chunk of weaker revenants in the crowd were already kneeling on the floor and being driven by their natural instinct to worship. Ares was not a revenant lord, he was a revenant God and a lot of his clansmen intuitively understood that just from his mere presence. Even if these revenants were blind and couldn''t see the sheer size of Ares, the aura he gave of was enough to clue them in that he was big deal. When he finally reached his max height at a little over the 40ft mark, the draconic seed started to swirl around through his body and repeat the same process as it did in the pagoda. It spread throughout the giant and made Garmr glow golden in a brilliant spectacle of light rays. The Ares'' clone hadn''t seen this in the pagoda due to how dark everything was at the time down in the pit but it was a rather pretty and enrapturing sight.


    Garmr was a colossal sized, majestic werewolf with sharp and detailed but also glossy and smooth, pitch black fur. His body was well proportioned and looked incredibly mighty. Both his legs and arms were bulky and his chest stuck out somewhat, making it somewhat pronounced, despite the jagged fur covering it up. The dark revenant had a shadowy air, almost as if the fur was alive and constantly seeking prey to assault and impale. His facial fur was perfectly groomed and slicked back to form a rather aerodynamic and sleek look. Again, everything about Garmr could be described as sharp and stoic. There was an implied level of intelligence, that was missing in some revenants, due to the seemingly aware and wizened look of the creature''s face. Each fang that poked out of its mouth was the size of a large hand and it was terrifying to think of the damage they could cause if let loose on a victim. The creature''s blinded eyes were apparent but, as the golden glow overlapped with them, it seemed that issue was slowly being rectified. The ears on Garmr''s head were pointed near the tips and leant backwards slightly which contributed to the aforementioned streamlined look. Two golden dragon horns were gradually appearing underneath them and extending straight backwards, almost causing Garmr''s head to resemble that of a dragon''s. In some ways, the ears resembled the horns and the horns themselves resemble a dragon''s whiskers. It was an interesting combination that kept the revenant''s wolfish and bestial brutality but merged it with the regal splendour and kingly nature of a dragon.


    Additionally, the draconic seed cause Ares / Garmr to grow a few extra feet, bringing him up to around 45ft total. This wouldn''t even be his max height as Garmr would no doubt increase in size as Ares'' cultivation did. Ares could control the size to an extent, making himself smaller to be more convenient, but, one day, it wouldn''t be impossible to become a planet sized wolf monstrosity that gorged on stars and drowned the cosmos in golden fire. The draconic seed didn''t just improve his eyesight and grant him horns, those were just minor additions. Fire breath was a new attack in Ares'' repertoire and, importantly, it could be combined with his pillar. Disintegration fire, annihilation fire, and nothingness fire, all of which had unique properties, were now available for free use in this form. maybe Ares could one day learn to breathe fire without changing into Garmr but, for now, if he wanted to do it then transforming was a requirement he couldn''t avoid. Other than that, his senses had improved even further, alongside his physical strength, mental prowess, and all-around toughness. Plus being a dragon just gave him a certain kind of indelible status that could never be questioned or rivalled.


    Put simply, by the time Ares was done growing to his upper limit, just before he''d let loose the howl that would shake the universe yet again, he''d become a majestic and magnificent beast that towered above the scrawny fools beneath him. He was tall enough to see eye to eye with spectators on the fourth floor of the coliseum which was a horrifying sight for those in the crowd. It might not have sounded like much, considering the coliseum went up to nine floors, but the height of the coliseum was generally considered to be extremely tall. Being high up enough to see people on the fourth floor was something no competitor had experienced as of yet. Even the flying cultivators taking part had no reason to fly this high and, yet, Ares was simply standing and could reach such a point. it did not need to be explained how powerful a creature this massive would be, it was painfully obvious. None of the other amenities that benefitted Garmr needed to even be mentioned because the sight of the towering giant was enough to answer any and all questions. Brute force supposedly couldn''t solve everything and yet there didn''t seem to be a wall or obstacle in the world that could match up to this revenant in the middle of the arena right now. It was a different kind of strength that Garmr packed, something transcendental. An unyielding, uncompromising, murderous, highly effective well of raw, unfiltered power that could not be contested. Even the matriarchs, dumbly staring down at the would with vacant eyes, would never want to go toe to toe with such a disastrous entity. They held an advantage in cultivation that Garmr would not be able to overcome but they were the ones feeling fear right now, not him. His explosive strength undulated off him in waves and pressured everyone passively. With a deep inhalation of fresh air that satisfied Garmr''s soul. he leant his head back and roared towards the seemingly infinite abyss of space above.


    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    Once more, for the second and final time ever, the howl to end all howls rippled through every corner of space. It traversed countless biomes, planets, solar systems, domains, everything. Not a single inch of land was spared the auditory pummelling off the soul stirring shout. It reverberated within ear drums and caused hearts to beat in sync with its rhythm, making the entirety of all life march along to the beat of its drum. Reverence or fear were the only two options available to all lifeforms and there were no exceptions, again not even the Gods could escape it. The revenants, globally, were once again forced to bow their heads and silently whimper under the majesty of their absolute superior. All the revenants in the arena had lowered their heads and most were on their knees now regardless of whatever status they may have held in the hierarchy back home. Planets were shaken to their core and some weaker stars, those on the verge of fading to dust, even outright exploded from the echoing roar.


    Though this was a relatively serious moment, it was worth mentioning Ares would go on to make a lot of enemies as a result of this specific roar. So many cultivation experts had been interrupted during enlightenment, losing everything they''d attained, and thus forming an everlasting grudge. Even those who were trying to focus on menial tasks that required precision were hampered by these damnable roars so Ares would have a domain wide queue of people who wanted a word with him because of this incident. In fairness, it really wasn''t his fault and he had no say in the matter but whether or not these people would be forgiving or even care for such excuses was another matter. Cultivators typically didn''t care about the reason ''why'' for things of this nature. There was a pretty well known example in a popular story in the upper echelons of cultivation society whereby an expert was enjoying a meal at a high class restaurant. Two other guys were having a fight outside and one of them punted his opponent through the restaurant window and sent him flying onto the expert''s dinner table, knocking over all the expensive dishes. The expert then proceeded to beat up the poor victim instead of the guy who launched him because ''it was his weakness that caused this issue in the first place''. Unjust beatings of this sort occurred with regular frequency amongst cultivators as they were an unruly lot with a propensity for selfish reasoning buried in their veins. The people annoyed with Ares right now were no different and, the second they found out he was responsible, would make it a mission of theirs to get some payback. The severity of the vengeance would vary from person to person but some people would take this matter very seriously and that would cause problems for Ares in the future but, well, that was a problem for future Ares!


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    Now that Garmr, or rather Ares in his true form, had fully developed and left no room to grow any further, there was an awkward and pervasive stillness throughout everyone present. Ares semi-berserk state was silently daring anyone to oppose him but his presence turned his foes cowardly and they were having a hard time mustering the will power needed to even attempt to tackle the monstrosity before their eyes. Take Lo, for example... What was he supposed to do? Walk up to the monster and punch it in the ankle?! Would it even damage him? Would he even care? Lo was at the peak of bloodline awakening currently, so the exact same as Ares after his temporary boost, and yet the wall of fur and flesh before him looked utterly indomitable. Lo''s strongest punch would be nothing more effective than a light breeze to Ares and he had no other tools to deal with this creature. The entirety of the Chen clan could do little more than bow down to Ares right now and pray for forgiveness because damaging him in the slightest was an impossible task. It felt less like they were up against a bloodline awakening cultivator and more like someone who had already shot past the transition realm.


    The first person to regain their wits, funnily enough, was the peak transition realm cultivator who''d fired off the Psysplitter earlier. He''d been reprimanded for being too quick on the pulse but, now, he felt extremely vindicated. If everyone else had done things properly and actually just assassinated the kid without fussing around with petty garbage they wouldn''t be dealing with this nonsense right now. This guy was pretty furious but he still felt confident everyone could throw themselves at Ares and take him down eventually. He felt fear just like everyone else but he trusted in his cultivation advantage and assured himself it would make a difference. So what if Ares was huge? This guy could punch a building to dust if he wanted to. Size didn''t matter! It was all a matter of how strong you were and the assassin was desperately convincing himself Ares wasn''t as strong as he looked. "Psyblades." As mentioned previously, this art spawned two see-through pink blades along the length of the users arms that dealt 80% damage to the physical body and 20% damage dealt to the mental realm. The cultivator dared not risk diving into the mental realm of this unknown foe so he kept it safe and went for an attack against Ares'' flesh and blood. Though his chances would have been higher if he actually did go for a mental attack, the harsh truth was that it didn''t matter at all what he did. He ran up to Ares'' leg, all the while he was watched by the person in question, and swiped at Ares'' ankle...


    Crack


    The two blades shattered on contact and the assassin nearly stumbled forward and fell onto Ares'' tree trunk of a leg. A shadow appeared over him so he looked up and the last thing he saw was a silver dot shoot through his head.


    Splat


    Ares had lowered one of his hands over the assassins'' head and pointed a finger directly downward. Less than a second later, a claw, roughly the size of a small dog, unsheathed itself from within Ares'' fur and blasted the assassin''s head into a burst of blood and grey matter. Nothing fancy was done here other than unveiling his claws and yet one of the strongest people here was already dead. The beast''s immeasurable strength hadn''t even been put to the test yet and things were already looking dire. Dire wolf, dire straits. The lack of effort and concern in Ares'' actions told his assailants all they needed to know about their chances. The only ''hope, if it could even be called as such, these people had was that the Canis Stimulant only lasted for five minutes. It was no longer a matter of whether they could kill him in thirty minutes, it was a question of whether they could survive five and, honestly, the probability of that was looking very low.


    THUD


    Ares got down on all fours and kicked up enough dust to choke anyone nearby. His back two legs scratched along the floor as he prepared himself to bound across the arena, straight towards Lo and Sho. This was where these two started to feel like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. This bulky, massive monster would surely not be quick on its feet. It would cumbersomely lumber and bumble towards them and, while it would still be quick, the assassin and the user of the Haste art would surely be able to escape for as long as they needed to... Right? Lo shook his head to get the awful thought out of his brain of what would happen to him if Ares caught him at any point during this hunt. It would certainly not be pretty... Lo stopped shaking his head and looked back up only to see another cloud of dust and nothing else...


    Ares was gone...


    And worse still, he knew exactly where he was. Lo and Sho could both feel the heat of a snarling monster on all fours less than an inch behind them. Ares'' head was big enough to dwarf both humans in terms of scale, depending on the perspective, and they looked like sacrifices to an angry God right now. Lo gulped and turned around slowly, horrified at the discovery that, actually, this revenant was fucking fast. Big brutes were typically hampered by their speed but, if this thing was that quick... What was the way out of this situation for anyone involved? They were trapped in a dome with a monster that could sprint around at the speed of light and crush anyone whenever it wanted. This wasn''t an assassination anymore, it was a horror show. The spectators would get to watch on as these assassins scurried around in vain like a bunch of frightened mice getting toyed with by a giant cat. Lo finally turned around to face Ares and had to immediately take a step back due to how uncomfortable he felt staring death in the draconic eye. His hands trembled and he nearly had a heart attack as he tripped over backwards. Sho, not being the first target on Ares'' list, was able to scramble away and watch from a small distance what kind of fate, exactly, would likely befall him shortly after.


    Ares raised his clawed paw and casually lowered it over Lo''s head. He wasn''t going to pierce him, this time Ares was going to crush his opponent like an ant. Lo felt like a horse-drawn carriage was descending upon him but he knew that was inaccurate, this hand was infinitely more deadly. He couldn''t escape it because its size was simply ginormous and he couldn''t out speed Ares anyway. With death knocking, Lo managed to regain some self-control and move his limbs in one final bid to defend himself. He screamed at the top of his lungs to boost his confidence as he put every ounce of strength he had into a punch. He channelled his deepest hatred for the man who killed his family into a single strike and yelled with fervour. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"


    Crush


    With an effortless smack, Ares'' hand squashed Lo and silenced him instantly. The loud, screeching bug had been flattened and, even after Ares lifted his paw, Lo''s voice did not return. Rather, nothing other than a splat of blood could be seen poking out of a small crater. Some shredded parts of his robe were lying around here and there but the human that was once Lo was nothing more then a few blood red particles strewn about the arena. This wasn''t even a show of strength, Garmr was just toying with weak little dolls. It had been the exact same back in the prison where it was chained up. There was no such thing as a challenge to Garmr, it was all just incredibly boring. It had hoped there would be some manner of challenge in the wider world for it to enjoy but apparently not. Everything was just pathetically insignificant. The only ''opponent'' here that might put up a fight worth mentioning was the giant bird outside the barrier that belonged to Maro. Though Maro was only at the peak of transition, like the Psyblades assassin from earlier, he was a far stronger individual and cultivator so maybe Garmr could play a bit after escaping the barrier... Escape? No, that wasn''t the right term at all. He could leave this place whenever he so desired, there was nothing stopping him. This ''barrier'' looked like a piece of paper to Garmr and that was being generous. It was see-through as well so this ''barrier'' was about as effective at trapping him as the air down in the arena was, that is to say not at all.


    Garmr turned to the nearest enemies, a bunch of Legion, and was about to go and bite them to death but Ares, who was still raging against the tide, denied him permission. With a kiss of his teeth, Garmr, who was basically just Ares'' second personality at this point (and would disappear for good when Ares attained the bloodline awakening realm by merging into him), turned around and looked for his next kill. There were a few options, Biggie, Sho, the remaining Chens, or the remaining Glimpse lot. They were all going to die, and the order didn''t really matter, so Garmr just chose the next closest person to him which happened to be Sho. Being stared at like this caused Sho to have a panic attack but he was still able to turn himself invisible with his bloodline ability, the same one Aejaz'' possessed, and try to hide somewhere in the arena. He started calming down as he slunk away from his previous position but, when he turned to see what Garmr was up to, he froze on the spot because the monster was right beside him, staring into his soul. The draconic eyes were pointed straight at him and the monster was very much aware of his presence. Not only did the monster have access to Omniscience, if it really wanted to use it, but Garmr''s sense were all more than enough to track an invisible human. Garmr could smell everyone in this arena if he wanted to. He could feel the discrepancies in the wind throughout the arena if he wanted to. He could hear even the faintest of steps if he wanted to. He could also just see Sho if he wanted to because draconic eyesight, combined with that of a revenant''s, would no doubt not give a crap about such weak invisibility. If Sho really believed he was going to escape just because he could turn invisible... Well he was sorely mistaken and learning that the hard way right about now. He could have been a couple miles away from this coliseum and Garmr would still be able to track him down in due time. His attempts at hiding were laughable and, now, death was leaning over him with many teeth pointed in his direction.


    "W... W... Wait..."


    Chomp


    Garmr did not wait.


    Garmr waits for nobody.


    Garmr chomped.


    Garmr chomps everybody.


    It wasn''t any more complicated than that so, from the waist up, Sho had been ground into paste by Garmr''s teeth in a single bite. Thankfully for Ares, Garmr''s stomach was essentially a bottomless pit of destruction magic. Annihilation would break down anything that went into it, disintegration would turn everything to dust, and, if by some miracle anything survived that, the nothingness would send it to another dimension instead. Also, Garmr could turn off his taste buds so the taste of human was not stuck in Ares mouth at all. This was easily the thing Ares was the most grateful for probably ever. His teeth were an invaluable weapon but he would have been reluctant to use them in such a fashion if he had to taste everything he devoured like this... Honestly, it still wasn''t a pleasant thought. He was a carnivorous beast that ate everything meaty by nature but he''d lived for so long as a human that he couldn''t deny he felt a little uncomfortable at the prospect of eating other humans... Garmr had no such qualms so down the hatch Sho''s upper half disappeared. In a way, this was good. Ares could get some experience eating people while being able to say he himself didn''t technically do it! He would have struggled to chew on a person if he were in control but this autopilot session might ease the difficulty a bit in the long run.


    Though the two main pillars of this roughshod gathering were both dead now, that being Lo and Sho, there were still a few transition realm cultivators remaining. These people were mostly those that had been hired by Sho so they worked well in a group which would explain why they were huddled together in a corner right now. There was also still Biggie, the leaderless Chens, the leaderless Glimpses, and maybe even Maro. Ares and Garmr were not done yet and there was a lot more chaos to be wrought. Garmr had definitely not had his fill of entertainment yet as nothing had bothered to even put up a fight so far. He wanted even the bare minimum of a thrill before he was sent back to the prison or else he might even start a God-damn jailbreak out of boredom. Still, Maro was the likely candidate to give him what he wanted so it was time to take out the remainder of the trash surrounding him first.

 Chapter 224: Star-tling Discovery

    Garmr barrelled through a Chen member who was in his path but, honestly, he hadn''t even noticed the guy. Garmr was prioritising the transition group so anything else in his way was little more than a road bump. If he stepped on them and killed them, so be it. It was their job to move out of his way, not his job to avoid them. As for the Chen member who''d just been stepped on, his fate was similar to that of Lo''s in that he practically disappeared from reality. People who were crushed by Garmr didn''t even leave a body behind it was simply that violent of a crush. He was basically a one man stampede, packing the force a hundred raging bulls all on steroids. And that was just one foot, throw in the rest of the giant, hulking mass of flesh and the power contained within was immeasurable. Ares, or technically Garmr right now, felt like he could pick up a mountain and crush it between his paws of he so desired. Other than an entire planet, moon, or star, there was nothing in this domain Garmr couldn''t lift. Even if Bellona fired a Meteor at him he would just catch it with his bare hands and then chuck it back into space.


    Ares not having much physical strength really didn''t matter much if he could transform into this menacing form at the drop of a hat. There were no restrictions to entering a revenant form either because that was actually his default state. He was actually just permanently repressing himself so returning to his true body, as nature intended, came with no drawbacks other than his inability to use normal arts. If it wasn''t from an open pillar, or the racial pillar, then, right now, he couldn''t use it. He could channel his destruction mana into his body, which he''d yet to do, and he hadn''t activated annihilation enhancement yet either so the amount of spare power he had up his sleeve was no joke. Garmr didn''t need such trivialities for the rodents before him, though, so neither of those two tricks would see any use today. Maybe in the future they would, Ares still had two more Canis Stimulants after all. Plus he would reach bloodline awakening sooner or later and then his revenant form would be unlocked for good. Unchained, unleashed, unstoppable. Ares was very much looking forward to it as it would no doubt feel better to actually be in control. He could still feel the satisfaction of every crush and stomp but it was very impersonal right now.


    Garmr slowly marched over to the transition assassin group as he felt no rush to sprint around. Garmr was quicker than Ares despite his size, actually, but he had no reason to move that fast right now as it would just end the fight sooner. He wanted these people to fight back. To throw arts at him. To strike at his fur. To hit him. To make him FEEL something. Whether they could achieve what he wanted of them wasn''t likely but it was better to let them try because it''s not like Garmr had many options here today. As he arrived before them, it seemed like the group of ten had been loading up an Amalgamation behind their backs and were preparing to toss it at Garmr. Their combined effort would be a considerable force so, rather than interrupt them and force them to throw it early, Garmr stood tall and waited patiently for them to make their move. This braggadocios attitude wasn''t misplaced either as the transition group could tell this was just a last ditch effort that would get them nowhere and, yet, they persisted in their futility because what else could they do? Roll over and die? If it was going to happen regardless, and Sho had proven that begging was useless, then this was their best shot; useless though it was. The Amalgamation swelled up continually but it still paled in comparison to Garmr who was upwards of five times it size. This was about as big as an amalgamation from transition cultivators could get but, despite that, it looked tiny when positioned before the revenant God it was about contend with.


    "Amalgamation!"


    The person who was responsible for starting the art was also the one with permission to push the big red metaphorical launch button. When the amalgamation could not take in anymore mana even if it tried, the leading cultivator threw it straight at Ares'' head. No doubt the ''weakest'', and that word was used very lightly, part of Garmr would be his head. Maybe the Amalgamation could hit his eyes, rock his brain a bit and disorient him, or perhaps even injure him somewhat? Again, almost definitely not going happen but a shot in the dark was never expected to bring in miracle or miracle-adjacent quality results. The silvery grey blob of technical mana hobbled drawlingly towards Garmr who made no moves to avoid it. He could have. He could have even swatted it back towards them and played an impromptu game of dodgeball but Garmr wanted to see if these people could even tickle him when he wasn''t fighting back. They were only one whole realm ahead of him so the answer was likely no. Even Ares, with his annihilation enhancement, wouldn''t be fazed by these clowns in a fight if he were at the peak of bloodline awakening so Garmr was especially dominant.


    The Amalgamation was now close enough to tickle Garmr so he leaned his head into it out of curiosity. Curiosity normally killed the cat but, in this particular instance, it did literally nothing to the wolf. The feeble Amalgamation blast made a lot of noise, that couldn''t be denied, but in terms of damage done to Garmr... Well there was none. Nothing visible and nothing internal either. They might as well have collectively tried to huff and puff and blow the revenant down. Maybe their germs would have made him ill a week later or something... It sounded silly but if their collective might didn''t even leave a small mark then chemical warfare, a heart attack, ot an act of God were their fall back plans. Unfortunately none of them had any poisons on them because they hadn''t expected things to wind up like this. Not that it would have mattered, revenants were mostly ''immune'' to poison to begin with which was yet another reason they didn''t bother. A poison that melts away a person''s internal organs means nothing against a revenant who''s body would just regenerate as it was destroyed. As for a heart attack... A perfectly healthy specimen such as Garmr would not succumb to a heart attack, that was absurd and anyone who was dumb enough to pray for that needed their head checked. The last option, God, was equally as stupid because this was a God. Ares, God of the destruction pillar, tentatively, and Garmr, God of the revenants. Also, other than Ject, the Gods were on the fundamentals'' side anyway. Even if these nobodies had a God summon up their sleeve for whatever reason the God would show up, identify Ares, and just leave. They would be better off waiting for Ares to die of old age than rely on any of the other methods and he was a revenant regardless. Deep down they all knew he was either going to spare them or they were going to die and the choice was his and his alone to make. Based on the fact that he was throwing his head back slightly and preparing to breathe fire on them, sparing this group did not seem to be in the cards.


    As for which fire was coming out of Garmr''s toothy, bloodied mouth, it seemed to be deep red in colour which was indicative of the nothingness aspect. Ares himself was curious to see what this one could do. No doubt the disintegration breath would be the strongest and the annihilation breath would have the largest width, dealing the most wide spread destruction of the three by likely creating multiple explosions... But nothingness? Would it Shift through space and track people? maybe if Ares marked them with some nothingness beforehand but how was he supposed to do that in his revenant form when he couldn''t cast nothingness arts? He could wield nothingness mana freely but he would still need to touch the person he wanted to hit first and, at that point, why not just kill them anyway? Also, though he didn''t know what it was going to do, he had a gut instinct that told him it was going to be something on the more unique end of the spectrum so he was excited to see what kind of new power was going to be readily available to him soon.


    Garmr''s head sprung forward and from within his wide open maw came a torrent of miasmic, rolling waves of ethereal dark red fire. It rushed along the ground and spread forth in a wide cone, covering every single one of the assassins. They may have been drowning under the sea of flames engulfing them but their cries of agony and pain were not drowned out; thus a chilling melody of weeping souls formed a ghastly choir, preaching unholy demise to a crowd of nervous spectators. It took no longer than two seconds for the final scream to die down so Garmr didn''t have to extend his dragon''s breath any longer. It was possible to keep it up for minutes at a time and bathe entire cities in purging flames but the calibre of Garmr''s opponents did not warrant such means. The fire slowly settled and everyone in the stadium, without fail, even including Ares and the matriarchs, were aghast at the result. The ''effect'' of the nothingness magic had become abundantly clear but, tragically, this result now raised some very uncomfortable questions about everyone''s day to day lives. Ares may have very well just uncovered a massive truth that could prove just how scandalous and despicable reality could very well be. How nobody had ever made this discovery before no one present knew but, now that this was to become known by all... Things were inevitably going to become very awkward for a time.


    See, what was left in place of corpses, which had all but vanished under Ares'' fiery barrage, were chunks of stardust... Cultivation of the deceased, merged via nothingness with the essence of time, forming crystalised chunks of on-demand cultivation... That was what stardust truly was... The higher the quality of stardust, the higher the cultivation of the expert it belonged to in life. No wonder. There were higher grades of stardust in various history books and yet they''d never been seen by anyone in living memory down in the lower domains that were trapped inside the Primordial barrier. The cultivation limit down here would have prevented any experts, who qualified and met the conditions necessary, from forming any higher tiered stardust in death. This was a grim truth to reveal to the public in such a manner. Everyone here had some quantity of stardust on their person and it was a sickening thought that the currency / cultivation resources they traded and absorbed was born of the deceased. Who were these people they were trading around like necromantic merchants? Old relatives? Friends? Lovers who were taken too soon? Children lost to miscarriages? Where did this disgusting rabbit hole end exactly?


    It was morbid.


    It was inhumane,


    It was also one hell of a moneymaking scheme...


    ...


    ...


    Ok, let''s be honest, in what universe would a cultivator care about this? Mortals, yeah sure maybe... But the average cultivator in the higher domains had killed as many people as there were fish in the average ocean. Nobody was going to stop using stardust as a result of this information. Abandoning all your wealth when nobody else did would just make you a fool and a poverty ridden one at that. As for Ares specifically, this newfound ability was actually incredible! He''d killed more people than he''d earned stardust over the course of his life so something like this was a money printing machine! If he could melt his enemies down into currency, wasn''t that perfect? Be it from a utility standpoint or a ''humiliating thy opponent'' standpoint, this was one of the most useful attacks he had in his entire arsenal! Kill idiots, get rich! Ares did the first half regularly enough anyway! This dragon breath had truly taken him by surprise in the best way possible... Although it was still really weird to learn about all of this. A lot of the squeamish individuals in the crowd had already fainted, ironically dropping purses full of stardust on top of themselves... But Ares liked this ability regardless of how many old ladies he scared half to death! Each of the transition realm cultivators had been melted down into a high grade! EACH! If Ares went on a killing spree, touring Sheryashka and killing transition realm cultivators he would become rich, rich! He wasn''t a psychopathic transition realm cultivator geocoding madman, though, so that wasn''t going to happen.


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    Ares wanted to direct Garmr to use this breath on the other assassins but he was just completely ignored. Ares had some control over Garmr but evidently not enough to treat him like some kind of puppet. There was a degree of free will here that Ares had to respect. If he forced this issue then he might not be able to restrain him on more important problems later. Smelting the attackers into stardust was not more pressing than sparing the Legions and not wildly assaulting people in the crowd. Begrudgingly, Ares watched on as Garmr started flicking his nail at people. Each slash of his nail sent out a wind blade that shredded everything in its path. The ground was gouged out, followed shortly by the target being split in half and exploding into two pieces of bloodied flesh. Garmr could have killed everyone like this from the start but it had been doing a bit of experimentation that was now over. Everyone else in this barrier would have an unceremonious death. When these people''s relatives came to visit their graves, the cause of death written on their tombstones would be ''flicked to death by a wolf''. They asked for this! They picked this fight! They were just getting what was coming to them. Some of Garmr''s flicks were aimed a little high and tore through the barrier but Ares had demanded Garmr not hit the crowd so it was fine as he obeyed. The wind blades did soar past some people, blowing them off their chairs, but they were alive! The same could not be said of the Chens who, as of Garmr''s last flick, were now all six feet under. Somewhere in the kerfuffle Biggie had also met his match and bit the dust so any form of legacy the Chens may have had was now officially wiped out. On this day, the world had become a marginally better place. The chens were not the worst the cultivation world had to offer but, in their own way, were pretty sinister a a collective. Ares was mostly happy to be rid of them because revenge had been achieved and that was just another thing he could tick off his ever-lengthening list of things to do.


    Shortly after the Chens, the Glimpse attackers were also terminated. There were still Glimpse members far and wide, though, so the clan as a whole wasn''t going anywhere. It''s just that the highest ranked individual had been wiped out and now the clan was going to be under new management. Likely Aejaz'' father... Based on everything that had been discussed back during the pre-international party, things were going to be real messy in the Fleeting Glimpse clan for a while. Still, that had nothing to do with anyone in Ares'' family anymore. They were their own problem and Ares had already done enough damage to them. They could collapse and fade into the history books by their lonesome... After Aejaz put the final nail in the coffin, anyway.


    And with that, the show was ''over''! The attackers had been put down, sans the Legions, which meant there was only one more thing to do. Kill Maro! Maro had technically done nothing here but he was both involved and a nuisance. Why leave him be when Ares was planning on killing him at some point anyway? He was right there for crying out loud! This was a golden opportunity to rid Red Sun of every pock mark that plagued it and Hans would be over the moon with this development. Things could could start improving in this town for the better. Those who were worse off, and frequently bullied economically and socially by the wealthy, would finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.


    The barrier summoned by the Legion''s treasure had already dissipated into the wind and was long gone so Garmr looked up at his new prey and started walking towards that side of the arena. Seeing the nightmare fuel creature stroll towards him, Maro cursed his shitty luck and he complained inwardly about this entire situation. He originally had no intent on getting involved or trying anything like this but the Chens had dragged him into their mess. He was wooed with honeyed words about the prospect of ridding himself of a problematic pest but now? Now he was the gum being scraped off of Red Sun''s shoe. He wasn''t even going to attend this damn competition at all if he could have avoided it. He cursed the stupid fools who had roped him into things but still summoned his bird anyway. Maro could have dealt with the cultivators in the arena just as easily as Ares had but the problem was that the full extent of Ares'', or rather Garmr''s, strength was unknown right now. If his bird was injured in this fight then his life was going to get really hard. Hans had already pushed Maro''s influence back a by a significant amount since their last tussle and, if it happened again, Maro''s control over red sun would seriously diminish. He was confident he could live through this but it wasn''t going to be an easy escape. The one solace here was that Ares was constrained by the crowd and couldn''t go wild here. Maro''s bird was invisible to the citizens and so anyone that died would allow Maro to squarely drop the blame on Ares'' head. Again, the expert cultivators here wouldn''t butt into other people''s problems. Maro, despite being an insufferable, annoying, and selfish bastard was still an impressive cultivator with a good head on his shoulders whether anyone liked to admit it or not.


    The bird came diving down from the clouds and flapped its wings to slow its fall as it perched atop the edge of the coliseum. Calla was annoyed at the feathery fiend sitting above her head and very nearly bitch slapped it into another dimension but ultimately chose not to because it was her big and fluffy baby''s time to shine! The bird was sitting on the ninth floor and staring down at Garmr in the arena. Maro was resting in Eden on the eighth floor, just below his bird. Ares'' height allowed him to look directly ahead and see the fourth floor. In short, Ares was at a huge disadvantage here because, in order to attack Maro, he had to climb upwards. While that wasn''t exactly a hassle or anything, the bird would just come down and peck at him from the high-ground while retreating every time Ares tried to fight back. Maro wasn''t just strong, he was annoyingly smart too. Well, his smarts might annoy somebody with less might than Garmr but the revenant God really didn''t give a damn about this ''conundrum''. Garmr saw the trap awaiting him but took to climbing the coliseum anyway and it became very clear, very quickly, why Garmr couldn''t care less about the dumb bird hovering above him. He was climbing the coliseum with one hand! He would fling himself up and dig his claws into it repeatedly which left his other arm free to defend himself! The fact he had enough upper body strength to lift himself in such a fashion beggared belief and Maro''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw this... Maybe the bird could overpower Ares?... It was a hopeful wish, and Maro was reliant on it, but the situation had just changed drastically due to Garmr showing off its raw power and Maro really wasn''t sure about his odds anymore.


    Maro was quick to act as he commanded his bird go and take pot shots. Garmr still only had one hand available and, while that did make him a risk, Maro still believed he could be stopped in his tracks. The bird cawed and swooped downwards in a spiral. It flung itself down the centre of the coliseum before coming to a halt and spreading its wings, firing off a bunch of sharp feathers that homed in on Garmr. Though the audience couldn''t see the bird, the feathers were very much visible so it became apparent the fighting wasn''t over yet. The smarter spectators all took steps back just in case although, really, they would probably be ok regardless. The bird''s feathers were precise in their target acquisition and not a single one could be wasted hitting bystanders pointlessly. Speaking of the feathers, they all bombarded an apathetic Garmr who simply shrugged them off and kept climbing. The bird needed to take more serious measures against the revenant to stop him from climbing freely so it placed its feet together and started another spiralling dive. This time, however, the bird didn''t descend head first, instead turning its talons into a makeshift drill that would aim to pierce Garmr''s flesh with a well aimed, forceful stab. With the weight of the massive bird combined with the momentum of its dive, the attack was sure to dissuade Garmr from ignoring the bird any more than it already had. Garmr needed to respond to this and it would no doubt struggle to with only a single hand available... Maro truly believed that. Unfortunately, Maro was extremely wrong about this as the bird''s strike was stopped dead in its tracks by Garmr''s free hand with relative ease.


    Garmr caught the oversized chicken by the talon and turned his head to bite the bird''s foot off. As the bird shrieked and struggled to fly away from Garmr''s grasp, Maro had to stand up finally and directly intervene otherwise his bird would sustain a catastrophic injury. "Pound Down. Thunder Strike. Flamethrower." A series of heavy hitting arts created the perfect solution to Maro''s predicament as Garmr was currently immobile and couldn''t dodge them. Right before Garmr''s teeth could sink into the bird''s leg, all three arts sequentially rained down on his head from above. Things became messy as a green, orange, and yellow concoction of colour swirled around Garmr but, when it faded, it became apparent that the arts had only slowed him down. Even then it it was only because Garmr could no longer directly see his target through the lingering arts and not because any damage had actually been dealt. If anything this just made the situation worse as Garmr was frustrated his last chomp missed. He hadn''t been taking this all too seriously but, evidently, it was time to stop playing around... If Garmr removing one hand from climbing duty shocked Maro then what happened next might nearly knock him out cold in horror.


    Garmr, having missed the bite, instead yanked the bird further down so that its head was next to his. The bird''s head wasn''t within chomping range yet but Garmr had a way of fixing that. See none of this had been a miscalculation, if Garmr couldn''t reach the bird''s head with his teeth, he would grab it with his hand and pull it closer. Now, how was he supposed to do that while one hand was holding onto the coliseum and his other the bird''s talon? Simple! The hand holding the coliseum wasn''t actually needed! Maro choked on the saliva he was swallowing when Garmr simply stopped holding the coliseum with his hands and clung to it with the nails on his feet digging into it instead. This beast holding itself up with one hand was ridiculous but this was unfathomable and heaven defying! The amount of strength needed, both upper and lower body, to cling to, and walk sideways up, a wall like this was ludicrous! And that was under the assumption the person pulling it off was a normal sized human and not a 40ft abomination of sheer mass! Maro instantly realised he''d gotten his assessment of Garmr very wrong. This was not a creature that could be opposed by a single peak transition realm cultivator. He was not in the same league as this monster at all and, so, he turned around and ran. The bird was abandoned behind him as the last thing he heard was the crunching of Garmr''s teeth snacking on the bird''s skull and brain. He had no idea if escaping was possible but Maro was banking on getting lost in the crowd and fading away into obscurity. He could only hope he could make it out of here alive before fleeing Red Sun for good because this place had turned into a death trap. Hans could have Red Sun, Ares was a disgusting existence that Maro refused to tolerate. There were limits to what Maro would be able to put up with and sitting around knowing Ares was breathing the same air as him would give him PTSD. How long was it until the kid tried again and tore him half? Nope! Not interested in sticking around to find out, Maro made a beeline for the nearest exit.


    As for Garmr, it looked like he was making no effort to chase him down but, truthfully, Maro wasn''t going anywhere. As was stated earlier, Garmr was done playing around now. It was time for him to flex his muscles and really put on a show... If people were still in awe of what he''d been doing up until now, things he himself would consider child''s play, then his next course of action would put the fear of God in everyone present regardless of their status. Matriarchs, four seasons, Legion elders, C.O. None of it mattered at the end of the day; Garmr stood leagues above them all and not on an individual basis but rather collectively. Add them all up together and you had an entity that could maybe be permitted to worship his pinkie toe at the height of their importance. There was no proof afforded to such a sentiment sentiment quite like that given by a live demonstration so Garmr prepared himself to go a little harder on his fleeing foe. Was full steam ahead really necessary to kill Maro? No, not even remotely but, sometimes, it was about sending a message.

 Chapter 225: Bunker Buster Garmr

    Garmr clicked his bones into shape all across his body as he hung sideways of the coliseum wall by the nails on his feet. He cracked his hands together and rolled his neck, even managing to click the bones in his legs and feet simply by flexing his muscles which was showing off to a highly unnecessary degree but was cool nonetheless. Garmr placed all four of his paws on the wall and gripped tightly, preparing himself to set off with a bang. He took a deep breath, located Maro amongst countless other people via the decrepit old man''s unique smell, even though he was no longer visible, and took action.


    BANG


    Shooting straight up like a bullet, Garmr launched himself upwards. He broke the part of the coliseum he''d been attached to previously and the chunks of rubble crashed down to the ground below with a loud thud. As for where Garmr was right now, he''d sailed up and over the tip of the coliseum in one clean, fell swoop. His jump packed enough force to propel him high up into the sky, a couple hundred feet even, where he could sense the eyes of a strong individual gazing down at him from above. One of the four seasons must have been resting atop the fluffy clouds but he wasn''t Garmr''s priority right now so he was thoroughly ignored like the insignificant ant he was. Instead, Garmr turned his attention back down towards the coliseum as what goes up... Must come down.


    Garmr took another deep breath and updated his tracking of Maro so he knew where to aim during his descent. Furthermore, he''d located every single individual on his collision course beneath him and was plotting a route that could avoid everybody perfectly. Between his sense of smell, and the various vibrations of movement affecting the air beneath him, Garmr could plot out the location of every living creature not at the strength of one of the matriarchs, giving him a absolute overview of all life within range of his senses. Now that the sensory task had been completed, he allowed his weight to drag him back down towards the coliseum headfirst. His freefall only became a measured, precise dive about halfway down when he could finally be bothered to act. With a small twist, he corrected his previous angle of approach and was now moving in a straight line with no deviation. According to his calculations, Maro would be three floors beneath the top one and directly underneath where Garmr was landing. He''d accounted for travel time, the erratic nature of Maro''s movement, and even given some consideration to deviation in Maro''s speed due to panicked mistakes in rounding corners. All that remained was to plunge straight through the building, obliterating the multiple floors in the way, and pounce on Maro through the holes he created during his improvised hunt. Now Garmr was just being nonsensical. This was a building that withstood countless wars, and even Vargaraad''s cleansing of silver fire, so the fact that Garmr could blast holes in it by exerting some effort was enough to make a sane man go mad, especially if they were currently trying to flee through said building and were relying on it to block the monster chasing them. Assuming Garmr wouldn''t be able to pop up unannounced, only to have him crash through multiple walls in a supposedly impenetrable building... Well Maro might not even be awake to watch himself die as he''d almost definitely faint at the sight of Garmr hurtling towards him through the roof.


    With just one leap, started from an awkward position, Garmr had thrown himself into the sky and was now about to divebomb an unsuspecting foe through a building. Singling out one target. of the thousands in the mess of people without causing anyone else harm or doing more damage to the building than was absolutely necessary. was a feat of talent that nobody else in the coliseum could replicate. Maybe one of the matriarchs if they really went all out but the combination of Garmr''s physical strength, his masterful control over his beastly limbs, and his unrivalled senses gave him an edge that couldn''t be matched. Garmr could pull this off 10 times out of 10 without ever making a mistake. It would take the matriarchs, or even the four seasons, 100s of tries to be successful even just once. None of them had x-ray vision so tracking the target through the building would require expert control of divine sense that needed constant updating and a lot of skill. Plus not accidentally striking a passer by would be a difficult task.


    Garmr was displaying his superiority in a strange way. He was a beast that possessed a well immeasurable strength within him and, yet, he was mostly showcasing his other talents here. His control was masterful as plucking out Maro specifically was one thing but he would also need to stop on the designated floor and go no further. In terms of what was the least impressive thing he was going to have to do here, breaking the floors in a feat of strength was an easy contender. But that just went to show that this was not some dumb brute, Garmr was a highly intelligent beast who knew how to come across as an imposing figure. The low brow cultivators in the crowd would be awed by his divebomb regardless. There would be an assumption of strength attached to this feat regardless of how much there actually was and how important it was. Meanwhile the experts would be awed by the technical display that was utterly mind blowing. A finely crafted spectacle that even impressed Dominus who was also watching this all unfold. This was technically his first time seeing Garmr too. The impact was lessened considerably due to the whole ordeal not being drawn out over a long period of time but he was still stunned just like everybody else.


    Garmr''s fall was nearly over as he was a split second from crashing into the top floor where the matriarchs and their kin were. Almost everybody was glued to their seats but Ares did notice Appa wagging its rope and waving at him from below... Clearly it was happy that its father was now a big and fluffy toy which was pretty similar to how Calla, who was also wagging her tail as a gesture of greetings, felt. Ares stopped paying his family attention for now though as his current task was inching ever closer. Garmr shoved one hand ahead of his head and extended the claws downwards. The claws would first pierce the building and then the knuckles on his fist would blast the weakened structure away with ease. Garmr''s paws were going to function like breaching charges, only they packed way more power, were mobile (As they were part of a body that could fling itself around at ridiculous speeds), and could be reused as many times as the owner wanted.


    CRASH


    Like an Olympic diver, Garmr breached the top layer of his target without causing much chaos. His collision was loud but the amount of scattered rubble was minimal with only a few small pebbles flying off the back of the coliseum. Even the direction of the debris had been intentionally directed as far away from people as possible. So many little things added up to create an incredible scene of pure mastery. It didn''t end there, though. As Garmr kept falling through the next floor, he shifted his weight to the right slightly to avoid someone who''d stumbled backwards into his path when the ceiling collapsed behind him. It was a minor shift in direction and it was performed at such high speeds, with such little time to react, which just added onto the already impressive showcase of Garmr''s abilities that a few nearby experts had to pinch themselves as Garmr crashed through the floor again. All the experts present in the coliseum were watching Garmr''s every move with their divine sense to see what he would show them next in this impressive series of subtle displays.


    Crash


    The noise Garmr made busting through the floor was noticeably quieter than it was previously because he was intentionally slowing himself down already. He was applying more force to his knuckles when sinking into the ground, decreasing his overall speed. By the time he reached Maro he would be able to regain control over his movement entirely thanks to this strategy.


    Crash


    Once more, Garmr brutalised the floor and came crashing down headfirst into another spectator''s area. This floor was his last stop and, sure enough, he saw Maro trying to escape by taking a beeline for a nearby hallway. Unfortunately for Maro, the beeline he was running along passed directly underneath Garmr''s current position. Garmr had killed off all his momentum by this point so, upon entering the same area as Maro, his poor victim had just enough time to look up and see Garmr''s bloodstained hand come crushing down on top of him. The last thing he felt was his bird''s blood smearing his face before he became nothing more than a blood cocktail on Garmr''s paw palm. Bird and master were no longer living creatures but, rather, intertwined blood splotches that would eventually be washed away and forgotten about. Only in books detailing the history of Red Sun would these two be remembered and even then not fondly.


    Garmr didn''t care about such trivialities however, he just wanted to kill them for the sport. Speaking of murder for murder''s sake, there was actually one more target he had been given permission to kill from Ares. Garmr prowled past the partially petrified spectators, all of whom retreated to the edges of the room, as soon as their legs actually allowed them, to let the massive monster through. Garmr made his way to the edge of the area and looked down into the arena. Luckily for him, it seemed like Lex had, in the confusion of everything that happened recently, forgotten to run for his dear life. Why on earth wouldn''t Ares kill him? Lex was a troublesome pest with a death wish who''d facilitated this farce for petty reasons. Garmr hopped down into the arena and made the entire coliseum tremble as soon as he landed. The fact that his dive through the building earlier hadn''t rocked the entire foundation, but he intentionally allowed this jump to, again just went to show how professionally Garmr had weaved his strength. Garmr almost didn''t even really value his strength much, what he really cared about was that he had enough of it to do whatever he pleased. Anything more than what was needed in the moment was overkill and it was this mindset that led to him becoming an unparalleled strength wielder while he resided within Ares'' internal jail. If someone like Veteran was a master of pressure wielding, then Garmr would undoubtedly be a master of strength manipulation. Of course he also just relatively had the most compared to anyone at his cultivation level but, given how high his benefits were stacked, that wasn''t surprising. The right amount of that immense strength, used precisely in the right place at the right time, was what he truly took pride in.


    Lex was frozen in place. He was now realising that Ares had no hesitation and would gladly kill someone who hadn''t yet been confirmed to be hostile to him from the public''s perspective. Some people might lambast Ares for this decision but he was decisive enough to take the small reputation hit. The amount of renown he would gain from his transformation, plus his murder spree that only affected ''evil'' doers, would outstrip the amount he lost from killing Lex. Yes the guy was almost definitely a cheating, narcissistic, assassin assisting scumbag but there still wasn''t definitive proof of any of it. Even today, though everyone could guess it, Ares couldn''t prove it... If Ares went around killing people over unfounded accusations people would not respond well to it. It was normal in the cultivation world but people usually tried to hide their actions if possible! Ares was doing this out in the open and making a very bold statement with the incoming death of Lex. Then again, Lex couldn''t blame Ares as he would have done the same thing in this position. A small hit to reputation was more than worth it to rid yourself of an enemy in a position of power who had it out for you. That was why Lex was glued to the spot. He''d just been shown, clear as day, that running wasn''t a possibility. Fighting back was not a possibility. And begging, due to the reasons above, was not a possibility either. The only thing Lex was permitted to do right now was die like a dog and pray to God that either heaven and hell existed, so he could move on to the afterlife, or that cultivators were reincarnated after their death. He wasn''t sure which would be worse for him because the former would result in him going to hell and the latter... Well his karmic debts were mountain high so the chances of him being reborn as a mindless slug were atrociously high. He ground his teeth and determinately spat at the monster approaching him, "Just make it quick you hideous abomination!"


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    Lex had made a massive mistake here. His words did nothing but awaken the revenant''s playful side. Garmr flashed a toothy grin with malicious undertones as he glanced down at his new toy. All revenants liked playing with people but the manner it happened in was different for them all. Ares annoyed people and confused them with his stupid actions. Dominus established dominance through combat and smugly taunted his opponents mid fight. Fate would give you a bratty earful and call you stupid or dumb. Garmr... Garmr would enjoy slowly ripping you to shreds as he smiled at you while showing you the body parts he''d torn off, almost like a dog bringing back a dead bird to its owner and wagging its tail. Actually, in hindsight, that was word for word what Garmr had done to Maro. Maro''s last vision was that of his dead bird. To Garmr, torturing his foes to a slow death was a great way to anger them and get on their nerves! If anything, he''d killed Maro too quickly... He was regretting it but, then again, he remembered why he''d done it in the first place... That damn timer was ticking away. He didn''t have an exact clock in his head or anything so Garmr only had a rough idea of how much time he still had before Ares returned. Torturing people was pleasurable but his orders, which he hadn''t been able to deny as of yet, were to kill everyone responsible for this situation so that took precedence. He''d made it to Lex with some time to spare but how much exactly? He didn''t know but it would certainly be enough to pull out a couple of limbs, that was not a fate Lex could avoid!


    "I will not make it quick," Garmr bellowed in a deep and gravelly voice that came permanently attached with the sound of a small but fierce growl in the background whenever he spoke. "I will make it excruciating and you will accept all of it without question." Garmr''s voice and snarls rang through the stadium and shook the earth. His sonorous voice echoed through the floor and vibrated everyone''s innards. It was a commanding voice that stood out whenever it wanted to be heard. There was no such thing as blending in with a voice like this. When Garmr spoke, no one else dared to. Anyone who''s mouth was already open would make a concerted effort to shut it, that was for sure.


    Lex trembled and looked up at Garmr, which progressively became more and more difficult the closer he came as his sheer height was insane for a living creature in a lower domain. Even the iciclops from Isasz would have been tiny compared to Garmr. Garmr could use an iciclops as a club if he wanted to. Even though it was worthless, Lex took a few steps backward towards the edge of the arena. Again, entirely pointless but his body was moving on its own as his control over it had long since checked out. Much like Ares, albeit for a very different reason, he was a captive within his mind watching his body as it was about to go through hell and back. Lex didn''t make it far with his backward shuffling as Garmr just extended his hand towards him and plucked him off the ground like a kid examining a beetle.


    Garmr pinched Lex''s right arm, his dominant one, between two of his nails. This was a surprisingly difficult task because of how small Lex''s arms were compared to Garmr''s nails but he manged it on his first try anyway. Lex groaned in pain as the two nails pierced his flesh and even his skeleton. The nails had shot through his body like a bullet through cardboard. The resistance his body offered was near enough non-existent and now his arm was dangling by two threads on either side of Garmr''s two nails that were joined at the tip inside his arm. Garmr dragged both nails left of their current position, scraping away whatever meat was left of Lex''s arm that was allowing it to cling to his shoulder. Doing it slowly made sure to get a few extra exclamations from Lex so Garmr was happy to take his time dismantling the puny human. Plop. Next up, now that Lex''s arm had been cut off and dropped onto the floor in a bloody pile, Garmr wrapped his free hand around Lex''s right foot and started pulling. He didn''t use all his might because he wanted the process of ripping Lex''s foot off to be nice and slow. Lex ground his teeth together so as not to let out any noises and give the beast a kick but even still he couldn''t help but make a few small exhalations whenever Garmr upped the pulling power on his ankle.


    Rip


    "AH!" Credit where credit was due, the shout that came from Lex when his foot was torn off his leg was only a small one which was impressive considering how much agony he must have been in during the moment. Or maybe the adrenaline hadn''t worn out yet? Either way he now had the bones in his legs sticking out from beneath the shredded flesh and he was never going to walk on that leg again. Next up, Garmr decided to poke Lex''s right eye out. He was systematically ruining one half of lex''s body. Why? No reason. Garmr just noticed, after tearing off Lex''s foot, that he wasn''t being symmetrical and, instead of fixing it, chose to double down instead. That was all.


    Squish


    Lex yelped again as Garmr''s nail made mince meat out of his eye. He was wondering if the beast would leave him alone now that he''d had his fun or if he would finally be put to rest but, based on the fact that the monster just kissed its teeth and put him down, it seemed like something was happening with the monster internally. Lex wasn''t far off the mark because it seemed Garmr was getting fed up of listening to Ares. Ares had asked him, politely mind you, to kill Lex because the amount of time he had in this form was about to run out. Ares had been nice and yet Garmr rudely kissed his teeth and basically told him to piss off! Who did this guy think he was!? Apparently Ares had given Garmr his last order for today and he was now stubbornly refusing to kill Lex out of spite... This guy... Well, Ares did have one last idea up his sleeve that could at least help him inflict even just a tiny bit more damage on Lex before things ended so he reminded Garmr that he''d missed Lex''s right ear... This was incredibly scummy! Even Garmr almost did a double take when he heard the stupid idiot mention the ear but he did have a fair point...


    Garmr turned back around to Lex and cleanly sliced off an ear. He thought that would be the end of it but, annoyingly, Ares chimed in again with another fair point and Garmr wanted to smack his forehead against a wall. Ares would be weak after the Stimulant ended and Lex, weak though he also was, could straight up kill Ares when he reverted back. Ares asked Garmr to help prevent this and his response was to pick up Lex, by the collar on his clothes, and chuck him off into the distance. It was a decently powerful throw too so the guy got some wicked air time as he sailed somewhere out of Red Sun. Actually, now Ares was curious how far someone could be launched by Garmr if he was allowed to go all out with every means available to him. Garmr might genuinely be able to toss a person across an entire country at that point if they were light enough and the wind was just right. As for Lex... Well he was definitely not going to have a pleasant landing at all... Ares saw a member of the C.O go flying after him but he wasn''t going to catch up to the guy and save him in time so Lex was going to eat hella dirt on the landing. With the right half of his body almost entirely gone, there was no way Lex would learn to fly in such a state before he hit the ground so the guy may very well be close to dying by the time his C.O buddy caught up. If Ares was lucky, Lex might even succumb to his wounds before help arrived. Chances are that wouldn''t be the case though. It was more likely Garmr''s plan would be successful.


    Yes Garmr refused to kill Lex because he had enough of getting bossed around but there was in fact another reason for his disobedience. Simply put, if Lex returned for revenge, Ares would have to drink another Stimulant. Ares was one realm away from truly making his revenant form his own, at which point Garmr would merge into Ares and that would be the end of him. Garmr wanted to make sure Ares used the last two stimulants before bloodline awakening, so he could pop out and have some fun, so keeping Lex alive increased those odds in his favour. He was a sly bastard, Garmr was. Ares inheriting some of that slyness when the two merged could only ever be a bad thing for the world at large, though... Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Garmr''s time was up and Ares was due to return to the forefront. Garmr was more dangerous but there was no one left to bite, stomp, or pulverise so actually everyone here was ironically safer in his presence than Ares''. Ares wouldn''t hesitate to mock or annoy the spectators if he felt he had a reason to so he was arguably the worse of two evils but, then again, he was going to be curled up on the floor and half dead anyway so it didn''t particularly matter that he was out and about.


    Garmr shrunk and his conscience was dragged back onto Ares'' skull, Garmr didn''t resist this and yet reeling him in was still a hard thing to do just because of how weighty he was. It''s not just his physique that was bulky but also his mind was solid too. Even if anyone attempted to launch a mental attack it would have just bounced off Garmr pointlessly. Ares'' body was now more human than revenant but there were still a few small changes that needed fixing before he was fully fleshed out again.


    Meanwhile, up in the top floor of the coliseum, Calla was clapping her hands merrily now that her son''s ''zoomies'' session was over. It was clearly a little more than just ''the zoomies'' but she was a delusional woman when it came to her children so her opinion on such matters was best left ignored. Also, off to the side was the only other person who''d gotten over the sight of Ares'' new form, Enyo. She''d climbed to the top of the coliseum after being shooed out of the arena, was panting like a degenerate again, and muttering the words ''I can take him'' under her breath for reasons best left unexplored. Bellona, who''d also come along, did overhear this and looked at her sister with a narrow gaze filled with confusion and disgust. "In a fight, right?" Bellona wasn''t sure if she was happy or not that she didn''t receive an answer from her sister... It was probably for the best that she didn''t. Yes Ares could make his revenant form smaller and more, uh, appropriate, but really?! Enyo was well and truly a deviant if ever there was one. Bellona was now really interested to know if there was anything that Enyo wouldn''t be willing to try... The answer was probably no, honestly...

 Chapter 226: ‘Tis the Season to Be Brawly

    Lying on his back and staring up at the sky with a blank expression, Ares was officially tuckered out. Actually, that wasn''t technically accurate. He had a lot of energy to spare it''s just that his muscles were refusing to budge even an inch. The strain transforming into his revenant form early put on him was considerable and had rendered him completely immobile now that it was all over. His teammates, after being driven out of the arena, had not hung around and instead retreated to various spectator areas to keep watching the events that were transpiring... That meant Ares had been abandoned down in the arena and couldn''t get up! This was so embarrassing... He was like an upturned turtle in a zoo. If anyone needed reassurance Ares, the human, was back, then a situation this stupid reinforced that idea ten times over because, really, who else other than Ares could possibly end up like this in front of thousands of people?


    Ahem


    "I require assistance." Ares made clear his unsalvageable predicament to the countless onlookers and hoped the first person to take action would not be someone with ill-intent towards him. Granted the matriarchs would actually intervene this time around, surely, so Ares felt safe down here... He just really didn''t want to be left like this for an extended period! What a way to ruin the impression he''d just left on everyone... From deadly wolf giant to upturned sheep that needed assistance rising back to his feet... What a drastic change... Also, he needed more than just help rising to his feet. If someone just picked him up he would flop back on his face in a second or two. Walking wasn''t in the cards right now. He needed to be carried somewhere safe, preferably back home where he could be at peace and do whatever he wanted... Not that being in this position really stopped him from working on his current task. If the crowd knew Ares had started cooking inside his Primordial Blade they might have jumped down into the arena to try and strangle the moron. Just because he was immobile that didn''t mean he didn''t have chores to finish up!


    Speaking of ''up'', As Ares was forced to look up right now, he could see the ninth floor of the coliseum and all the people atop it. Normally he would have struggled to see everyone with such clarity but the draconic seed fixing his true form''s blindness seemed to have worked wonders. Ares'' eyesight had been average prior to his consumption of the seed but now it was definitely above average. 20/20 vision was an understatement. Ares could have sworn he could see Enyo''s rapid breaths floating off into the wind. It seemed Bellona and Enyo were debating who was going to come down and get him. Frankly, it was terrible either way. Enyo would take massive advantage of Ares in this state, he''d been victim of her unchecked desires back when he was learning divine sense so he could see it coming a mile away. Then there was the little prankster Blo Blo who would no doubt bring him back to the sect in one piece but then hide him in a bush somewhere... That impish side of her hadn''t cropped up in a while, mostly because Ares was busy with other things, but it was chomping at the bit, just waiting for a chance to leap out and be naughty. It seemed like she''d gotten a lot of this sort of behaviour out of her system after meeting Candy but how long would that last before she felt a compulsion to act like that again? Not long, Ares guessed, not long at all! Well, regardless of who was going to come pick him up, Ares hoped they would send someone down soon... It was getting a bit cold... And people were still staring at him...


    Rumble


    "Rumble?" Ares managed to barely tilt his head in confusion as he could have sworn he heard the sound of rattling earth a few feet in front of him.


    Rumble rumble


    "Rumble rumble?" Rumble rumble indeed as it had now become apparent he wasn''t hearing things or going crazy. he''d been willing to doubt his hearing and general perception of things given that he''d just swallowed some weird drug, the Canis Stimulant, and had no idea if there would be any such side effects. As it turned out, as the rumbling grew even louder, such that now other people were starting to notice it, Ares was not on some drug trip rollercoaster of sensory imagination and this was all very real.


    Rumble rumble BANG


    The spectators that had glued their eyes to the feeble Ares, for whatever reason, shifted their view over a couple of feet to look at the man that had just bust through the floor and entered the arena from below. He was an interesting looking fellow, a rather rough and ready elf who looked like some kind of bulky cyborg commando wearing dark green rags. His chest was almost fully exposed apart from some shredded pieces of dark green clothes plastered on him here and there as well as a green ammo sling resting on his shoulder and hanging diagonally down his upper body. He was a rather hairy elf both on his muscular chest as well as his thick arms but it also extended to his heavily bearded face. His beard was not tidy or groomed and left a very messy but grizzled appearance. His face was pretty square and the no-nonsense half-frown half-apathetic face really sold the idea that he was a rigid man, uncompromising in his self-assigned duties. His scar-laden face was roughly three quarters flesh but the last corner, near the top right of his head, was entirely metal plated. It looked professionally grafted on and was quite seamless despite how jarring it looked. The truth of the matter regarding this design, though, was this guy was a bit special.


    His poor mother had been kidnapped by a mecha dryad many years ago and treated incredibly poorly. She died giving birth to this man and so he had a bit of dryad blood in him which, consequently, allowed him to be born with an affiliation to the automatise aspect. The metal on his face was entirely natural and simply a result of his racial pillar affiliation. He absolutely detested it but there was no ridding himself of it so, instead, he treated it as a reminder. A reminder to hunt down every single dryad he could find, be they mecha or otherwise, and deliver retribution for all the people they harmed. It was rare to find this man not actively working as he had a passion for his job of gathering rumours, tracking the location of his targets, and finally ending them in a glorious showdown. He was a militant combatant that combined nature with advanced weaponry. His two go-to weapons were an axe with a buzz saw on the end and a semi-automatic rifle that fired sharpened seeds. the seeds, after piercing their target, would leech off them and inhibit their mobility while slowly killing them. He also possessed poisonous smoke grenades and a high tech compound bow with heat-seeking arrows and a few other tricks up his sleeve. His magic revolved around summoning various creations of nature and then giving them an edge through modernity much like a mecha dryad but there were a key difference. Notably, this man was not a hulking tree. He was fast on his feet, nimble, and extremely tactical in his approach. His automatize aspect packed the infamous heavy hits but was not tied down by the associated sluggishness making him a scary foe. One second you were walking through the jungle, the next you''d been strung up by a reinforced vine trap as he grappled towards you from tree to tree with a shotgun in hand. He''d fought many a dryad during his time, occasionally even multiple at once, and yet his track record was faultless. This man''s name was... Unknowable. Due to the circumstances of his birth it was impossible to know what his mother would have wanted his name to be. The people he was rescued by, back when he was a small baby, never named him either. Most people on the Willow''s home planet simply referred to him as Bravo, the Autumn Duality''s Axe of the four seasons.


    It was also worth mentioning Bravo never wore anything other than tactical green shorts for their utility. these were also torn in many places but Ares couldn''t see any of this because... Well, because he was still helplessly staring at the sky... On the bright side, maybe this guy was going to help!...


    BZZZZZZZZZZZT


    Or not. Ares corrected his foolish assumption as Bravo brandished his buzzing axe. In some ways it was really quite a similar weapon to Julio''s axe but, instead of a traditional axe head, it had been replaced by a small buzz saw that was imposingly shredding the air like it had an unrelenting grudge with oxygen. Things were looking bad... But Ares was completely helpless so, on the bright side, it''s not like things could get any worse! Things could only go up from here!


    BZZZZZZZZZZZT


    BZZZZZZZZZZZT


    Or not. Ares corrected his foolish assumption as Bravo brandished a second buzzing axe and began dual wielding them. Things had gotten worse! Twice as bad, even! And for some reason, nobody was assisting him! Why was everyone just sitting there and watching this axe-wielding psychopath like it was none of their business?! If Ares was watching on in their position, as someone he knew was in his, he would have jumped into the ring by now! Traitors!... Although the guy was clearly very strong. Anyone else jumping in would be suicidal so he didn''t really blame them... But the matriarchs were sitting on there asses and twiddling their thumbs! "Help! Helllllllllllllllllllp! Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhelp!" Ares attempted to call for aid in a few different tones and pitches just in case they were partially deaf for whatever reason but, nope, nada. They''d all gone A.W.O.L on his sorry self. Ares wasn''t treating this with too much seriousness but he did get a little antsy when Bravo dashed towards him and swung one of his axes down at Ares'' unguarded head. Were they really going to let him die? Was it because of his revenant form? Did they change their mind and realise he was a massive problem? What about Calla? Was she being restrained or something? Ares had no clue and the reason all of this was going through his head right now is because he was incapable of doing literally anything else other than thinking about such matters.


    Bravo, being a cultivator who''s depth was well and truly beyond Ares'', swung his weapon in a way almost nobody in the crowd could follow. Even Ares couldn''t really see it. The guy was around the level of the matriarchs so this wasn''t surprising. Ares wouldn''t be able to follow along with the events unfolding before him if Bravo didn''t want him to. Sometimes when two powerful cultivators fought things changed, as combat slowed their actions down, but when one powerful cultivator was allowed to roam freely and do as they pleased it was another matter entirely. It was for this reason that Ares barely caught sight of the initial swing and had very little idea what came next. All Ares knew is that he saw a myriad of colourful plants followed by a handsome man gracefully stepping down onto his stomach and deflecting the oncoming strike with a wave of his hand... As everything settled, that last point was proven untrue, just going to show how inaccurate Ares'' commentary on this fight would be if had to provide one, as there was a crimson red sword in the newcomer''s hand with a small golden tuft near the handle.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    A hero is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to. Ya Ye lived by this principle and it was on full display here as the vibrant declaration of arrival was a go-to of his that he used regularly when saving people from their demise. Red and white roses, yellow marigold, burnt orange rudbeckia, dark blue salvias, purple irises, and pink bougainvillea were all part of the floral arrangement that was closely tied to Ya Ye''s presence. Even now a selection of these flowers were hovering around him, granting him an ethereal ability to radiate serenity and detoxifying calm to his surroundings. Also, although it was primarily relevant to Ares, he smelled nice! It was a light and airy scent but it still had punch to it that was refreshingly exotic. The smell travelled quite far and wide as even the spectators could smell it from their seats but Ares, being directly underneath the guy, was being taken on a sensory journey through damp woods before resting under the sunset as he lay atop some freshly cut grass next to a bunch of scented candles...


    But, when it came down to it, the guy was still stepping on him!


    It was a light weight and Ares barely even felt it. If he closed his eyes he probably wouldn''t even know there was someone there... But he definitely did not appreciate this! Although his life was saved... Ares was conflicted. "Ahem. Excuse me. It''s definitely a pleasure to meet you, as I''m extremely grateful to not be dead right now, but typically speaking the only person I let step on me is my wife... I don''t recall you and I being that intimate with one another!" Ares may have just outed some of his wife''s preferences, it was obvious which one, in public but right now everyone was more concerned with the crazy development that had just occurred. Today had been a real riot. The match was whatever but the assassination attempt right after, now followed by this.... Well the crowd were definitely getting their money''s worth!... Oh, and of course their ''money'' was actually just a bunch of dead people but, given the amount of crap that had happened since that particular revelation, most people had already completely forgotten about that small detail. It just went to show that people weren''t going to stop using stardust at all. If anything, what needed to be addressed now was the fact that some people were inevitably going to try and ''manufacture'' their own stardust via factories en masse... It would take some time for people to figure out the intricacies of how it all worked, and then it would absolutely happen somewhere, but even before then some people would just try and wing it... Ares had opened a real can of worms with that one. Whoops! Maybe he actually deserved to be murdered by Bravo...


    Ya Ye chuckled and politely stepped off Ares, moving towards Bravo for the inevitable and unavoidable confrontation that was about to go down. Meanwhile, a white Gladiolus was spawning atop Ares chest, just over where his heart was. Ares had mistakenly believed this to be related to the man who was just stood on him, Ya Ye, because of the whole flower motif thing he had going on. Ya Ye even looked back at Ares and ignored the development so that further affirmed Ares'' incorrect belief.


    WHISTLE


    A hundred or so feet in the air, rocketing towards the arena at the speed of sound, was a peculiarly shaped object that looked almost exactly like a mortar shell... Actually, that was probably because it was a mortar shell! Though he wasn''t yet present, Theodore, the Spring Beginning''s Artillery, was still very much a persistent threat. He was a well-dressed man in a black suit with a white tie. His handlebar moustache, paired with his silver ear rings and short, gelled hair gave off a very immediate impression that he was a man of great class and his speech mannerisms reflected that. The cane he wielded was made of the same stuff the Legion armour was and that was both his main form of offense and defence at close ranges. The bottom of the cane could fire off an explosive shot so it was wise to keep an eye on it. His main form of offense at longer ranges were he shined, however, were the numerous artillery treasures he possessed, each with their own uniqueness. Mortars, anti air, howitzers, cannons, etc... He was known for being somewhat of a collector and afficionado with a wide array of tools to launch an assault on fortified locations. He was also respectably decent at artillery theory-style assassination but it wasn''t typically what he was used for as there were better assassins in the Legion clan.


    Theodore''s unique magic, that facilitated these weapons, was what had created the flower on Ares''s chest. Kiss Of Death was a unique art of the righteous justice aspect that leaves a Gladiolus on the victim which can then be used to target them from any range with magic or weapons. It functions like a lock on that persists for a long time regardless of distance or line of sight. In other words, Theodore could have been outside Red Sun right now and no one would be able to anything about his bombardment. He could just keep launching artillery strikes on his target from miles away as Kiss Of Death enabled anything he fired at the target to chase them down somewhat. In this particular instance that didn''t appear to be the case, however, as the angle of the mortar implied Theodore was somewhere nearby. He must have been aware of what kind of fight this would devolve into and figured his best bet was to remain close. It wasn''t long range pestering that mattered here, it was trying to kill Ares that was important which was something he would have more opportunities to attempt to do if he were near enough to launch other, miscellaneous, attacks at him. If he just hung around from miles away he would outlast everyone, sure, but they could also just leave. The four seasons were not so weak that Theodore could outright bully them into submission. He was respectably strong, yes, but that didn''t give him the right to do as he pleased. Point in case...


    BBBBBBAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG


    A lone bullet pierced the mortar shell before it could land squarely on Ares'' chest, detonating the warhead in mid-air above the coliseum. The Winter Wrath''s Rifle seemed to be on guard duty against long-ranged attacks and this was precisely why Theodore hiding out somewhere far away was pointless. The Winter Rifle could just contest everything he fired and they''d end up in a pointless stalemate that didn''t get anywhere. Though it might have sounded contrary to his talents, Theodore actually had much stronger weapons but they didn''t have quite as much range. He needed to get closer to use his big guns properly and hanging that far back just wasn''t going to cut it for this mission. It''s not even like he could just rely on Bravo getting the job done, as he distracted the Winter Rifle, as Ya Ye was almost definitely stronger than the elf. Plus the Winter''s Rifle, being closer by, would be able to intervene and make that fight even more one-sided while he was off in lala land firing away with his artillery. In short, he needed to get way closer but that came with its own set of problems.


    This was not an easy win for Theodore and Bravo who were going to have to work themselves to the bone just for an attempt at Ares'' life. Thankfully leaving this place after the fight would be relatively simple so there wasn''t much to lose in trying but it would still hurt their reputation to fail like this. To make matters worse, there were a bunch of civvies around and that complicated things for the attacker duo who couldn''t use any wide range attacks. This lowered the scale of their fight and made the overall quality of attacks lower, benefitting the defending group. But, really, this was Theodore and Bravo''s one chance to go after Ares. Once the tournament ended, if they hung around, Calla would not go easy on them. She''d drag them back to their home planets alive or otherwise. There was a weird sort of agreement between the matriarchs and the four seasons that they wouldn''t get involved in each other''s happenings and this came under that. They were an autonomous body of sorts that acted in the best interest of the domain as a whole despite their allegiances to their respective clan. Almost like a second governing body. If there was a fifty fifty split, it was down to them to sort it out and the matriarchs / patriarchs of the clans had no say in the matter. Now if they all agreed on something, and a matriarch / patriarch disagreed, that was when things got complicated. It was all done on a case by case basis and right now it was essentially as follows...


    The four seasons had conducted a risk assessment on Ares. Two of them viewed him as an acceptable element in that he likely wouldn''t complicate the current war scenario. The Winter Rifle almost definitely wouldn''t disagree for her clan''s sake, and Ya Ye didn''t because Ares had spared the Legions earlier. Ya Ye had originally planned on siding with Ares to begin with but, upon seeing Garmr, had actually changed his mind. Garmr was a magnificent specimen that he would have loved to dance with, yes, but it was also a risk Ya Ye had to acknowledge from an unbiased perspective. However, when Garmr showed self control and a lack of interest in escalating the Legion / Umbra conflict, his mind was changed yet again and he returned to his initial stance. For reasons that had already been mentioned prior, regarding Bravo and Theodore''s stance, this led to the current 2 vs 2 wherein the losing party would accept the outcome gracefully and walk away. If they were caught trying to sneak down to Sheryashka after their loss then Calla could have at them freely. Now, obviously, as the mother of the person in question, Calla should have also had a say in this but her position as matriarch complicated the matter and would cloud her judgement so the four seasons were not lenient regardless of the situation surrounding Ares'' birth. Plus he was a revenant so they felt no sympathy as him dying wasn''t even a big deal.


    Calla could handle the four seasons if she wanted to but that would lead to an all out war with the other three clans and that was a no go. It wasn''t worth it just because she wanted to protect her immortal son from one measly death. Now did that mean she was happy with this situation? Not really but it also didn''t really matter. the four seasons seemed to be underestimating how uniformly the matriarchs tended to think on matters. Theodore, and possibly even Bravo, were unaware that all four of the matriarchs would have disagreed with their actions which would overrule their decision anyway. The reason it hadn''t come to that was because Calla understood there was no reason to cause an unavoidable fuss when she could just sit back and let things take their natural course. If the matriarchs stepped in and laid down the law then the seasons'' right to self governance would be brought into question and that would start a lengthy and annoying conversation about how much power they were afforded. If, somehow, Ares looked like he was about to die here then Calla would step in and things would just have to go down that route but, realistically, there was no way the Winter''s Rifle and Ya Ye would lose here. They were the two strongest seasons without question and they could protect Ares'' life, easily thwarting the other two. Plus, this way the matriarchs could, again, avoid that annoying reprimand from the seasons. It was all very convoluted, and everyone involved had their own plans and opinions, but for the most part this entire situation was actually rather tame. Almost like a show match, even. A kangaroo court, the final decision of which was already set in stone and the process didn''t really mean anything. That didn''t mean it was going to stop halfway through though, not at all. These four seasons were going to brawl anyway because there was still a chance for things to go in a different direction than what was planned. That was what Bravo and Theodore were banking on so they refused to back down...


    And then there was Ares who understood none of this and was still just lying on the cold floor, wishing somebody would at least bring him a chair or something... He was also a bit thirsty and could really do with some of his wife''s bubble tea right about now. Was it the most pressing issue? Probably not... Ok, definitely not, but it was the only one that he, and the people around him, could actually do anything about. If the experts wanted to beat each other up then let them! Ares wanted a damn drink!

 Chapter 227: Treetop Tussle

    Over on the third floor of the coliseum, a dark-skinned lady, who looked to be in her late twenties, was kneeling on the icy floor of one of the igloo rooms with her hunting rifle perched atop a bench. Her outfit was that of a Victorian adventurer, fit for outdoor exploration. A flask at her hip, a beige shirt and pair of shorts with a brown belt and various straps, that conveniently held useful tools, resting across her shoulder. It very much screamed safari soldier, someone who was well adapted to jungle environments and stalking vulnerable prey. She had a relatively lazy and annoyed look on her face at pretty much all times but the truth of the matter was that she was actually just a quiet loner who preferred to stay clear of everybody else whenever possible. She was described frequently as a lone wolf and very few people in the Umbras actually knew anything about her at all. Her name was an open secret, Asha, but what only Calla and Aster knew about her was that she had a unique revenant form unlike everyone else''s.


    Asha wasn''t particularly high ranking, only a delta so nowhere near the top of the food chain, but her mutation more than made up for it. See, Asha was an arctic wolf and was the only known, so far at least, pure white revenant. It was effectively a previously undiscovered sub-race of revenant that came with its own perks. Specifically, Asha could use her water pillar magic while still in her revenant form which was something nobody else, who was an adept like her, was capable of. Being a reflex type adept came in handy occasionally but the loss of magic during her revenant form would have been quite hampering. She had an incredible affinity for the ice pillar, though, so being able to use her magic while physically enhanced by her revenant form was a deadly combination. the only reason she didn''t stay in her revenant form all the time was because it made her tired, that was the downside. She would slowly freeze over after long periods of time in her true form, as her revenant form passively generated a snowy aura, so she had to take breaks. Plus walking around as a revenant was practically asking for trouble most of the time. Throw on top of that the fact that she was a rare breed and it wouldn''t be all together too shocking if cultivators tried hunting her down thinking she was a mythical creature that would give bountiful cultivation resources when killed. Now, actually killing her was basically impossible for any ordinary cultivator but that didn''t mean she wanted to deal with the hassle. Again, she really wasn''t very sociable so dealing with murder attempts daily wasn''t something she wanted to put up with. She spent most of her time back on the home planet hanging around the jungle area practicing her marksmanship and training, only ever really leaving when Calla or Aster called upon her or she had seasonal duty to attend to.


    As for her specialties, she was fantastic at tricky warfare as she could summon snowstorms that only she could really navigate properly. Like Pele, she was capable of summoning her own army thanks to an ice aspect art called ''Sgnolldiers''. The humanoid hyenas dashed around like obedient minions, pestering her target until she could line up the killer shot. Her rifle was a personal treasure but it was one that was incredibly simple, it was just extremely powerful. That was literally it. It Just packed one hell of a punch. Simple but Asha didn''t really need or want anything else out of it so she was happy to keep it basically forever. Asha was an annoying opponent to face because finding her was the real issue but, even then, her revenant form was great at defending itself while creating distance and forcing the situation to revert back to square one. She was a very hit and run style cultivator but she was competent at closer ranges to. You really had to stick to her like glue to beat her otherwise it just wasn''t worth wasting time fighting her minions off while being pestered at range by her rifle. To top it all off, her ice magic was above average and could really lay it on thick if you weren''t careful about dodging the arts she chucked at you. It was because of all of this that, actually, she was a horrible matchup for Theodore. For starters, Kiss Of Death couldn''t be used on someone he couldn''t locate. Sure, if Theodore could apply Kiss Of Death then the situation would maybe change but getting to that point against Asha, who was way too clever to fall for any of Theodore''s ruses, was pretty hopeless. Theodore could fire his artillery blind into the coliseum but he may hit some civilians and that would be disastrous for the Legions so he couldn''t do that either. Asha had already summoned a snowstorm covering the entire third layer of the coliseum putting Theodore in an unfavourable position. If he stayed far away, Asha would snipe all his long range attacks. If he got closer he would play into Asha''s hands and be at the perfect range for her to endlessly strike at him uncontested. Theodore was going to have to figure something out but, in the meantime, Ya Ye and Bravo had started off their fight with a few light strikes.


    The one armed, handsome swordsman and the mechanical elf commando each took a step back from one another after a brief clash and Ya Ye started up an impromptu conversation. "Why does it feel like you and I always disagree on everything? You would think Asha and Theodore would be at loggerheads more than us and, yet, I don''t recall us ever fighting side by side and we''ve all fought many times by now. Why none of us can ever unanimously agree on anything I don''t know. Are we truly that incompatible with one another? When was the last time we even discussed a matter instead of just devolving things into a fight? We used to debate each other, once. What a shame this is what we''ve become."


    With a gruff grunt, Bravo opened his own mouth to give a few comments of his own. "No point debating. Asha never showed up anyway. It always became a fight regardless. This way is just quicker. No need to complicate anything. Ares is an abomination..."


    "Oi! I''m right here, you know! I can here you!" Ares protested but was completely ignored.


    "... And he needs to be put down with regularity until a permanent solution can be agreed upon."


    Ya Ye sighed and shook his head. "If he''s the abomination you claim him to be, then surely you can feel some empathy?"


    Bravo snarled as there was nothing more he detested than being called a monster, it was a particularly sore spot that people targeted when trying to get on his nerves. More than anything, he hated it because he agreed with it. "He and I are of a different calibre and you know it. When he reaches our cultivation how is any of us supposed to stop him if he bares his fangs at us. Just like a mecha dryad that can potentially get out of hand, it''s wise to put it down early before it becomes an unstoppable threat. Kill it in infancy to prevent the spread of terror."


    "Spread of terror? That''s a rather unsubstantiated opinion you have there. Ares is going to marry two main branch Legions and just openly spared a bunch of elders whilst in a semi-berserk state. When he has full control it will be even less of an issue."


    Bravo looked past Ya Ye and growled at Ares. "I know his type; manipulative, lying, treacherous, un-trustable. He''s like me. He has a vision for this world and will stop at nothing to achieve it, no matter how many people he has to let down. That kid has secrets and ulterior motives, I can see it in his eyes. He won''t act until nobody can stop him; until then he''ll play the innocent clown. I may be an abomination but at least I''m honest. I show others my true colours, he hides his. It might not even be as big a problem as I think it will be but, to be honest, I just don''t like him."


    Ares was speechless, this guy hit the nail on the head almost perfectly! What a rude bastard, outing Ares like that in public! Shmuck! "Ahem. Just because you''re partially correct, that doesn''t mean you understand me as well as you think you do. You have no idea what I''m up to or why I''m doing it so maybe you should keep your mouth quiet? You''ve told me what you see in me but I know what I see in you. You''re consumed by revenge and have nothing else on your mind. You are a one-track creature with who will not hesitate to do good things for evil purposes. I take it you have issues with dryads? I could see the vitriol in your words when you mentioned them. You''ll go around killing them like some kind of hero but, really, you''re just a selfish bastard aren''t you? So don''t judge me because I''m the opposite. I''ll do unpleasant things for the purpose of attaining peace for as many people as possible. Don''t judge me by your low standards or I''ll seriously be offended. While I''ll be out there saving the world you''ll be spending the rest of your life healing a bruised soul. Keep your self-righteousness in check, you haven''t earned the right to comment on other people''s intentions until you can be ''honest'' about your own." ... Sometimes Ares could be pretty mean. He definitely knew how to hit a person where it hurt and, arguably, the worst part about all of this was that he was like a tiny dog yapping at a tiger while standing behind his owner. Ya Ye was the only thing separating Ares from the imminent death growling at him a few feet away right now so he was absolutely leveraging a borrowed knife right about now.


    Bravo was clearly agitated but didn''t want to respond as getting into a spat with a lower realm brat was not a good look. Also, for what it was worth, Ares had hit the nail on the head far more precisely than he had. Sometimes you would be lucky and find an opponent who was easy to demoralise. Sometimes you would run the risk of talking smack to someone who could do it back to you a thousand times over. Bravo wasn''t even fighting Ares and yet just dragging him into this conversation had been an annoying mistake that left him feeling anger he couldn''t really direct anywhere. He wanted to smack some respect into the kid but Ya Ye was obstinately blocking him off so there was only really one thing for it. "World Tree: Base Of Operations."


    This art was an interesting one. Typically, World Tree was an art of the nature pillar''s unwavering wood aspect that summoned a giant tree. The size of the tree scaled with the cultivation of the user and, in this case, as Bravo was the origin of the art, it would grow to be almost as big as the coliseum. it was a massive art that changed the immediate terrain and provided a few different benefits that weren''t relevant here. Why not? Well that was because that art was not this art. The Base Of Operations unique art was a variant created by Bravo for the automatise aspect that mirrored the original in some ways but improved upon it in others. For starters, the tree was mechanical in parts and was a combination of nature and technological marvel on a large scale. It was more like a fortress, loaded with bunkers, automatic turrets, and land mines. It was a summonable military base in the shape of a tree, that functioned like a home away from home for Bravo. It didn''t pack any passive benefits, like the original art did, but the firepower was immense comparatively and more than made up for it.


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    The tree sprouted from underneath the ground, roughly the same place where Bravo himself had emerged from in the arena, and rapidly covered the entire arena floor. It grew at incredible speeds and not even a few seconds later it was towering above the coliseum, dominating the skyline. It was half wooden, half metallic. Some leaves were completely natural but some looked like aircraft carrier runways with small white lines running through the middle of their metallic surface. Small holes within the tree contained turrets within that would automatically extend and shoot at nearby invaders and there were also a few bunkers dotted throughout the tree that provided absolute safety. The tree was dotted with extremely difficult to locate landmines along the major pathways which meant if anyone wanted to navigate this place safely they would be regulated to the thinner branches. These branches were very capable of flicking at opponents who came near to them so even that wasn''t really safe but, for the most part, as long as you followed Bravo around you''d be safe from too much interference. He knew this place like the back of his hand so chasing after him meant you wouldn''t set off any landmines and his various weapons had to avoid friendly fire.


    Make no mistake, Base Of Operations was still an impressive and powerful unique art despite all of this. It was definitely one of the stronger arts Ares had ever personally seen as it was a very versatile art with many functions, each of which covered different bases. Ares wanted an art like this, something that created a massive area in which he reigned supreme. His annihilation enhancement sort of already did that, to an extent, but he wanted something more than that. He needed to raise his cultivation significantly before he would be able to do such a thing but it was worth keeping in the back of his mind... As for where he currently was, Ares had been dragged up into the sky by the tree as well. Ya Ye was still a short distance ahead of him but Ares was aware that, in order to protect him properly, he was going to have ironically abandon him. Ya Ye could end the fight faster if he took a more aggressive stance and that was really the best course of action. For the most part, other than a few branches which Ya Ye could deal with from afar, nothing was going to bother Ares up on the tree. You could very well find a safe place and just hide because this art didn''t yet reveal the location of everyone on it although, actually, that was something Bravo was working on. He would one day be able to add a feature to his bunkers that possessed scanning technology and could identify all intruders while he was in one. It would also one day be able to launch aircraft from the metal leaf runways which could be used for strafing runs, bombing runs, and napalm strikes but that was still a long way away despite Bravo''s high cultivation. This was an art that really relied on the cultivator''s cultivation to improve rather than anything regarding clever usage.


    As of right now, Ares, Ya Ye, and Bravo were all on the same branch. It was probably the longest of them all, and was dangling the furthest away from the core structure of the tree, so no doubt the two seasons were going to fight along it as Bravo retreated to safety while Ye advanced in pursuit. This assumption was immediately proven correct when Ye left a few petals behind to guard Ares as he steadily advanced along the branch. A few other branch tips that were nearby came over to try and impede him but with two swift flicks of his wrist the branches were all severed, falling harmlessly back down into the arena below. With grace in his well-trained steps, Ye danced down the length of the branch, avoiding and / or deflecting shots from Bravo''s semi auto rifle. Twirls gave him a 360 degree view to bat away any branches trying to sneak up on him and long, elegant steps allowed him to close the distance quickly. He took every challenge in his stride and performed a beautiful routine that enabled him to catch up to Bravo despite the initial distance and various obstacles.


    Bravo met Ye head on by swinging both axes at the same time while Ye opted to take a more methodical approach and deflect the strikes. As both axes came bearing down at the same time from different positions, Ye had to curve his wrist and twist his body to sequentially deflect each hit, a series of movements which, after succeeding, he then transitioned into a counter attack. Bravo dropped a poison smoke grenade to cover his retreat and leapt back. Ye was forced to weave around the outside edge of the smoke by jumping off the tree, lodging his sword into the side of the branch, and swinging himself back up and around the purple smoke. By the time he recovered Bravo was already in the middle of using a grappling hook to swing back to the flat, core area of the tree where he''d have a massive advantage. During the latter half of his grapple swing, Bravo let go and went soaring through the sky whilst swivelling his body around to continue firing shots at Ye as he fell to the floor. Ye intercepted the various seed bullets with his own petals as he slid down the branch to catch up while turning his head to check in on Ares who seemed to be fine. A few branches had made an attempt to shift around Ye and strike Ares but the petals he''d put on guard duty were still circling Ares and acting like an impenetrable wall of greenery.


    Bravo was nearing the end of his backwards freefall so he twisted around and activated a leaf parachute he carried with him at all times for situations just like this. He slid down on the floor, took a few specific steps to avoid the well-hidden mines, and pulled out his bow to fire pot shots at Ye. Ye figured it was high time he fought back so he silently chanted an art under his breath, the result of which was currently unknown. It was clearly a stealthy art that would aim to take Bravo by surprise but, right now, it provided no immediate benefit. Still, Ye had a lot of faith in this art as it was the one he was certain would win him this fight in the long run. As for the current predicament, with the homing arrows being fired at him from afar, simply blocking them would be a pain. It wasn''t that Ye couldn''t do it but then he''d be slowed down considerably, at which point the branches, and some of the automated turrets that were just now activating, would be able to pepper him into submission. He needed a better way of dealing with the problem and he was planning on utilising this forts own defences against it. Ye threw his sword forward, causing it to hover a short distance ahead of him, before jumping atop it and layering the bottom of it with various plants. The reason he did this was simple, to defend it from the incoming blast! Ye directed the sword to fall flat on one of the many spots Bravo had avoided earlier, setting off a landmine and rocketing him and his flying sword many feet into the air. The explosive burst gave him a ton of speed to work with such that the turrets that had awoken were all struggling to trail behind his afterimage. Countless bullets were fired but hit nothing but air as Ye sailed past the forts defences and closed in on Bravo with impeccable form despite his mind boggling speeds.


    The elf didn''t panic and, instead, calmly put the bow away without firing anymore shots. It would be a waste of time and he had a better option right at his feet because he''d planned for this outcome. He knew Ye well enough to know he was the type of guy to take advantage of the mines and land smack dab in Bravo''s face so he intentionally positioned himself above a platform that could split in half and open up. he pulled a nearby lever and, after some brief whirring, a mounted weapon rose up in front of him from within the floor.


    Ye flew within range, grinded to a halt on his sword, hopped off, and was now staring down Bravo who''d hopped atop a mounted flamethrower and was jetting blistering flames in his direction. Having successfully predicted Ye''s movements, Bravo was now in a power position to just keep hurling jet-fuelled misery at his opponent. Ye would struggle to block so he danced sideways nimbly, swapping between his leading feet regularly to set a confusing tempo and make Bravo''s life more difficult. Ye was a slippery target when he wanted to be as his practiced movements were unpredictable. Sudden shifts in direction or body position were common and so it was generally better to tackle him in closer ranged combat but that also happened to be where he shined. Still, Bravo was no slouch in that department either so, after singing Ye''s legs a couple times, Bravo decided it would be for the best to try a new strategy. He dismounted the flamethrower but flicked a switch on it to keep it running at full force even while he was elsewhere. He then kicked the bottom right corner of the swivel chair, causing the weapon to spin wildly in circles. The flamethrower was spewing every which way and had become a deadly obstacle that intermittently spouted flames in your direction, forcing you to jump or duck to avoid it. As Ye opted to go under, Bravo slid under the flame as well and met Ye down low to go blow for blow under the searing heat.


    Clang


    Bravo''s buzz axes pushed Ye a step back and Bravo chased him down. He could sense the rapidly approaching heat, as the flamethrower had made another full spin, so he performed a side flip over the top while Ye chose to slide under once more. The flamethrower passed between them, separating the two, before racing off to complete another rotation. Meanwhile, Bravo utilised the height from his jump to bring both his axes down on Ye, from above, who was still rising to his feet. They clashed again but neither of them were thrown backwards, creating a stalemate. A stalemate that couldn''t last as, shortly after it began, the flamethrower was coming back around again for another attempt on everyone''s life. Both cultivators jostled for superiority as they aimed to push the other into the line of fire but nothing was happening. Neither could overpower the other and, at this rate, they were both going to be hit by it. Bravo was willing to take the hit if it meant Ye did too as he could handle it better. Ye was swifter and could hit a little harder with his arts but Bravo was a more resilient fellow with a larger number of tricks up his sleeve.


    Ye wasn''t fond of the idea of getting needlessly burnt so he prepared himself to disengage and look for a better opening but that was when Bravo beat him to the punch, jumping slightly backwards and pulling out a detonator. Ye could tell that thing would set off all the mines behind him so escaping wasn''t a safe option anymore, and he had to press forward, but how was he supposed to do that safely with the flamethrower constantly harassing him every so often? Bravo was a difficult foe to fight as he could create a powerful offensive at the drop of a hat from any range provided you were in his home field. Granted he was still withholding a lot of his firepower right now, and so was Ye, but even when he was taking things slow that didn''t make him any less dangerous. What was crazy to Ye was that this fight could even be considered ''slow pace'' but, for Bravo, it really was. His arsenal was hidden within this tree and just waiting for the right chance to strike. And yet, Ye was confident in himself that he had enough firepower of his own to win this. The current situation was not favourable to him but, thanks to the secret art he casted earlier, things were likely about to take a turn for the better. But that was the fight between Ye and Bravo, a hectic dance, a foxtrot if you will, between two nature enthusiasts. Down in the arena, a very different style of fight was playing out between Asha and Theodore...

 Chapter 228: The Cannoneer and the Huntress Afar

    Back down in the arena...


    BANG


    One of the coliseum walls, over by one of the hallways leading into the arena, was bust open and debris was sent scattering every which way. The spectators, who''d been craning their necks upward earlier to spectate the tree duel, were taken by surprise and looked like a bunch of bobbleheads the way they kept trying o shift their view upwards and downwards. There was going to be a sky-high fight and a low to the ground battle so skipping between would inevitably make the crowd look a bit dumb but, really, who cared about that right now? If there was anyone busy laughing to themselves about the way the crowd looked instead of watching the fights unfold then they were the ones missing out big time!


    As for who came barrelling through the dust cloud by the shattered wall, Theodore, with his arms crossed behind his back, came striding in atop a cannon. The cannon had wheels on the bottom and had rolled into the arena carrying its master atop its back. Theodore brought one hand to his face and twirled the edge of his moustache as he glanced around the coliseum to search for Asha who was hiding out somewhere. This was not his first rodeo against this woman and he knew it was wise to take this fight slower, picking out various locations and clearing them one by one to narrow down her possible hiding spots. Theodore was known for having incredible divine sense that could outrange even a telescope depending on the circumstances so peeking around in the snowstorm, while it would certainly take a while, was not an impossible task. He wasn''t going to leave himself defenceless, because he predicted the Sgnolldiers to start attacking him en masse soon, so he summoned his twin belt fed machineguns on either side of the cannon in preparation for the inevitable. As he sifted through the third layer of the coliseum he occasionally caught sight of some of the Sgnolldiers that were running towards him under the cover of the white blanket. They were pretty ugly creatures with wicked grins plastered on their dumb face that wore various furs to keep their bodies warm despite already having a coating of fur themselves. This was mostly because Asha''s ice magic could make things get real frosty and so this just helped them perform at max efficiency at all times... Almost all times, anyway, in hotter climate it would be pretty terrible so they either had to take the fur clothes off or rely on Asha to keep them cool. Clearly, thanks to their manic appearance, there wasn''t a single shred of intelligence to be found in these animals so Theodore had no hesitation when he ordered his machine guns to start mowing them down. If there were civilians nearby he held back from firing but the Sgnolldiers that were starting to come out in the open were like fish in a barrel.


    BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    The two guns revved up and started sending countless rounds down range, tearing some of the Sgnolldiers into pieces. Whether the monsters were unfazed by watching their brethren get mowed down was a result of their low intelligence, or they simply didn''t care because they were formulated by magic, could very well go either way but they resolutely pushed on with spears in hand. Some even got down on all fours to spring towards their target quicker, a sight that disgusted Theodore and prompted him to fire the cannon underneath him at the manner-less cretins. He kissed his teeth in scorn and tapped the cannon with his cane, setting it off.


    BANG


    A single explosive cannonball took out a handful of the Sgnolldiers, blasting them into chunks of fur that faded into the wind. Even though there were some Sgnolldiers closer to his position, Theodore focussed on the disgusting animals that were down all fours making his stomach churn. He had other means at his disposal to deal with the closer gnolls anyhow. He could always beat them to death with his trusty cane so all his immediate firepower was directed at whatever happened to be bothering him in the moment. Anyone in the crowd with good enough hearing would have even heard him mutter the words ''Learn some manners you dullard freaks.'' under his breath with a lofty sort of arrogance. The sneer on his face said it all though and made his disdainful attitude regarding these gnolls entirely apparent to anyone and everyone. These weren''t creatures he would skin and hang on his wall back home and he was usually pretty liberal with what he stuck up there. It was mostly whatever took his fancy in the moment but dead revenants were a common sight. Their body could be preserved under certain circumstances and, although there was little value to be found in them, Theodore quite liked them. It wasn''t even because of the war or anything like that, he just really quite liked the werewolf form as he viewed it as a majestic creature. The higher tiered revenants were particularly enticing to him and someone like Ares or Asha were his ultimate goals in life. If he could hang their corpses up somewhere then he would truly be overjoyed and maybe even willing to retire for the rest of his life, just sitting in his armchair by the fireplace, drinking fine wine and staring at his accomplishments.


    Theodore aimed his cannon at some more floor crawlers before firing off another shot. As he did so, however, he noticed a bullet come blazing out of the snowstorm and knew he had to immediately take action. He raised his cane and fired off a small explosive pellet from the bottom of it, intercepting the bullet that was aimed directly at the cannonball. Asha had made an attempt to snipe the explosive cannonball the second it left the cannon, making it detonate directly in front of Theodore. It wouldn''t have hurt all too much but it would have obstructed his view, allowing the Sgnolldiers to close in on him easier. Luckily Theodore had been paying attention and caught sight of the bullet, stopping it in its tracks with his pellet. Overall this was a good situation for Theodore as he now knew the rough location of Asha''s current position. Either she''d hang around for too long in it and get caught by his Kiss Of Death, after he spied her with his divine sense, or she''d be forced to reposition which would prevent her from getting too involved for a short while. Either way, Theodore was fine with the outcome as he could work on thinning the gnoll horde at his own leisure. Speaking of the ugly hyenas, one flapped its tongue about as it leapt at Theodore from the side. It had flanked around the guns and actively used the bodies of its dead companions to approach sneakily. Theodore saw him clear as day, however, and made no effort to stop him because it was just one pitiful foot soldier at the end of the day. Theodore struck out with his staff, jutting the end of it into the Sgnolldiers stomach in mid air. He could have shot an explosive pellet and blown the animal to kingdom come but he had another use for the trapped gnoll. He dragged the gnoll through the air and placed him in front of the cannon before tapping the weapon with his foot in a slightly different rhythm compared to usual. Rather than fire a cannonball, the cannon sucked in the gnoll and fired it instead, treating the gnoll like a bowling ball that packed an explosive surprise at the trail end of its flight.


    BOOM


    The cannons had infinite ammo and only had to wait a second after firing but, if Theodore fed it unique ammo instead, the cannon could convert various other items into more powerful types of ammunition depending on what was shoved inside it. For living creatures, if they would die as a result of being fired out of the cannon, they turned into living bombs with a considerably larger explosion radius than the normal cannonballs. The cannongnoll took out a number of its comrades giving Theodore some more breathing room. He still needed to rely on his guns and his cane to deal with a few of the gnolls that made it closer but he could devote more time to tracking Asha through her snowstorm. He wished he could use some of his more explosive weapons but Asha was being a nuisance and sticking to the spectators making it impossible for Theodore to operate at his peak performance. That didn''t mean he didn''t have anything else up his sleeve but he wanted to find Asha first before resorting to it.


    Inside a spectator room on the third floor, Asha had just chucked a bunch of people out and hijacked it for her own personal use. Also it removed any potential risks as you never knew when a civilian would start screaming because they thought they were in some kind of danger. Asha wouldn''t have let any risk befall them but they didn''t know that and might give her position away which would be seriously troublesome against an opponent like Theodore. Both Asha and Theodore were hunters in their own right and being able to get the jump on one another was what a lot of this fight came down to right now. Asha had relocated from her original position and was now directly behind Theodore with a clear shot on the back of his head. She''d inched as close to the edge of her snowstorm as possible to have the best odds of taking him by surprise but she wasn''t expecting much from this. Theodore''s divine sense would pick up the bullet pretty quickly and so a small injury was really only what was in the cards here but, actually, that was enough to get the ball rolling.


    Asha had imbued her bullets with ice aspect mana and they would slowly chip away and chill away Theodore if he didn''t track her down quick enough. She could just stay on the move, take a few pot shots, and win slowly without much of a fuss. If he wanted to escalate the fight then Asha would respond in kind but she hoped he didn''t. Their fight was mostly irrelevant as it was pretty much just a whole lot of stalling and she appreciated that. There was nothing stressful about any of this and she wanted it to stay that way as it made her life easier. Theodore creeped her out because of the whole ''I want your corpse thing'' and the further away from him she could stay the better. He''d even outright asked her for a corpse a while back so he was honestly creepy as far as Asha was concerned. She would much rather just be relaxing somewhere and watching the international matches in comfort but getting dragged into this matter was tiresome. She felt a strong sense of duty for her clan though and letting Ares get murdered wasn''t something she was willing to let happen. This was somewhat selfish, actually, as if Ares could grow up safely then he would no doubt shoulder a lot of the burdens that currently fell squarely on her own head. Her opinion on Ares wasn''t much different to Yulo''s in that he was incredibly useful to her. Well it was a bit different in that they shared the same race, and he was effectively every revenant''s God, so she definitely respected him more than Yulo did but that meant little as Ares was generally respected by experts anyway because of his status and talent as a cultivator. It''s not that someone like Yulo didn''t respect him, it''s just that Asha had a few more reasons to respect him more. The appearance of Garmr had been a shock to they system for every single revenant and, even now, they were all still feeling chills don their spine from it.


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    Asha loaded the shot and prepared herself to fire right at Theodore''s cranium. There was an off-putting feeling in her gut that was screaming at her not to do this but this probably wasn''t a fight that would last a long time anyway so, if need be, she could go all out for a bit. She didn''t want to but if it kept Theodore occupied, preventing him from hatching any kind of annoying plan, then so be it. Dealing with whatever this decision entailed was likely better than dealing with whatever letting Theodore do as he pleased entailed. If Asha was going to have to exert herself either way, then taking this shot at least left the initiative squarely in her corner of the court. A deep breath, steady hands, and the flick of a finger were all it took to fire off a shot straight at Theodore''s brain.


    The sound of the shot was muffled thanks to the snowstorm, which acted like a pseudo silencer, but that would only barely matter. The iced bullet pierced through the edge of the snowstorm and came barrelling into view, to which Theodore responded to this development by muttering "Finally" in a belaboured voice. He''d evidently been waiting for this and was about to put his plan into action. He was more than happy to let a bullet graze him if it meant he could do what he wanted unimpeded. He whipped out another two artillery weapons and fired one of the two directly upwards. This artillery was smaller than the others and didn''t exactly fire off its ammo particularly fast but the utility of this ''weapon'' was immediately apparent to anyone who saw it. This artillery was a pulse bomb launcher that fired a small ball up into the air. The ball was heavy and so it''s ascent was painfully slow but that actually benefitted it as the goal wasn''t to reach any specific height but rather just to provide Theodore with information. Periodically, the ball would send out a pulse that marked all lifeforms within range and allowed Theodore to see them through walls. He was very familiar with Asha''s outline and, the second the ball pulsed, he would be able to locate her without any complications. Furthermore the ball pulsed multiple times during its ascent and subsequent descent so, even if by some miraculous chance things did go wrong, he would have multiple chances. He''d waited to fire this because Asha''s hunting rifle was bolt action. She couldn''t rapid fire shots so, if she aimed one at him, she had to just sit there and watch the ball go up without being able to snipe it. Yes her shot had left a gash along the back of Theodore''s head, and he was bleeding quite heavily from the wound, but now she couldn''t avoid a more direct confrontation. Even if she wanted to fire another shot at the pulse bomb Theodore knew her rough location and could deflect her shot with the explosive pellets from his cane. The iced wound was helpful but it wasn''t an equivalent gain compared to what Theodore had just gotten out of this. Plus, there was another weapon he''d summoned and this one actually possessed frightening firepower.


    The second artillery Theodore summoned was, simply put, a giant hyper-cannon capable of firing a devastating laser beam. The beam was precise, meaning he didn''t have to worry about injuring innocents, and was strong enough to vaporise even someone like Asha if she wasn''t careful. It did mean he would have to forfeit half of her corpse but a ragged body was better than nothing at all! The hyper cannon took a while to charge and couldn''t really be used repeatedly but he''d summoned it in advance and, even though the pulse bomb had yet to reveal Asha, it was already charging up and readying itself to blast Asha straight to hell... Well temporarily anyway as a revenant would only actually consider hell to be a detour more than a permanent residence.


    Asha kissed her teeth. Maybe letting Theodore do what he wanted would have been easier than dealing with this situation. She couldn''t run anymore so a direct confrontation was looking like a necessity. It would allow him to use Kiss Of Death on her but if she stuck close to him that would limit the weapons he could throw at her. It wasn''t preferable but it was the best option so running him down in her revenant form with ice magic was going to be the strategy she adopted. Right now, her main concern was the charging hyper cannon. Getting pierced by that thing would be the end of her if it hit anything important and she needed to deal with it. She could attack it and put it out of commission but Theodore was surely expecting that and laying out a trap as she thought about her approach. By the time she got over there any number of possibilities could be awaiting her. In particular, as she was somewhat aware of what Theodore was capable of, Asha was worried about his underground artillery drill. It was a trap type artillery that hid underneath the floor and shot a drill straight up when someone stepped above it. The drill would murder anyone hit by it and even if it missed it homed in on enemies so, on the way back down, it could chase you and try again. Actually, it could try multiple times as it was a persistent drill that became something akin to a landshark even if it lost all its momentum, hopping through the earth in a bid to nibble your ankles. Sometimes, during a chase, Theodore would fire this at his target from afar and watch in satisfaction as it hunted down the victim and dove through their body.


    Asha had to watch out for this artillery device because it was easily the most pesky obstacle she might face. Still, she couldn''t sit here forever otherwise the pulse bomb would go off, shortly followed by the hyper cannon, and then the situation would be unsalvageable. There were some things still working in her favour though as the Sgnolldiers were still running amok and causing whatever havoc they could, distracting a lot of Theodore''s weapons currently. Also Asha didn''t have to stop attacking as she ran up to him either as ice magic and her gun were still very usable. It would narrow down her position but, if she was going to be giving it away anyway as she jumped out of the spectator area, then it was worth doing regardless. What she really needed to do was be aggressive and buy time for her snowstorm to close in on the centre of the arena, as she could slowly shift its location, because that was when she would be at her strongest. Using the snowstorm as cover was great but when both she and her target were in it simultaneously she became an entirely different beast altogether.


    Theodore kept his eye out for any oncoming bullets as he knew exactly what Asha was going to do next. Although it wasn''t what he was expecting, a Mistral Shrapnel came soaring out of the snowstorm but it was fine as it was within his calculations. Instead of firing a bullet, she opted to use an ice aspect art to lead off with. No doubt she would shoot at him while he was busy defending himself against the ice grenade but, as long as the bullet came from the same direction, he had nothing to fear. Theo fired his cane''s explosive pellet at the ball of ice, detonating both a decent distance away from him. It was important to keep that art away as the chilly winds that came after were also quite deadly and that was especially true if it was cast by someone as strong as Asha. The icy wind was more like a mini ice tornado that spawned where the Shrapnel blew up.


    Theo squinted at the icy winds to keep an eye out for the expected bullet to come flying out from the snowstorm behind it but he was caught off guard when the only thing that emerged was a gnoll. He was forced to quickly swing his body to the side and perform a last second dodge as a bullet ran straight through his arm that was holding the cane. Had he been any slower that bullet would have shot through his heart, severely wounding him and forcing an end to this fight. Theo didn''t particularly want to have to run away in public so he was glad he reacted quick enough to the change in the present state of affairs. The reason a gnoll came out from the snowstorm instead of the bullet was because Asha had created the Mistral Shrapnel and given it to her subordinate to chuck at him instead of firing it off herself. The Shrapnel could be automatically thrown on generation or it could be held like a grenade. While the gnoll held it for her, she moved around to a different place in Theo''s blind spot and shot at him while he was paying attention elsewhere. Asha had outmanoeuvred Theo big time here which made her approach towards him that much simpler. He was injured now, he hadn''t been dealing with the gnoll onslaught properly for the last few seconds, and he needed to redirect most of his weaponry to focus on Asha now that she was out and about in full view. Plus he still needed to cast Kiss Of Death which took a second or two. He was seriously behind Asha''s pace right now and needed to play catch up.


    Asha had come out of the snowstorm in her revenant form with her rifle slung on her back. She was sprinting on all fours and really stood out from the crowd of gnolls thanks to her brilliant white fur. It was a pure and glossy white that was eye catching enough to grab everyone''s attention. Although it was hard to judge revenant beauty standards it was pretty apparent Asha could be a revenant model if she wanted to be one. Right now that was beside the point, however, as she was making good ground towards Theodore. The pulse bomb had just gone off and scanned her but that no longer mattered. The point of the pulse bomb was to force her out of hiding so it had achieved that goal with flying colours. It could potentially be useful if the snowstorm closed in but Theodore would almost definitely have Kiss Of Death up by then at which point he wouldn''t need it.


    Asha was ducking behind her Sgnolldiers, using them as meat shields to block the machine gun fire. She could have easily taken the hits if she really wanted to but she just wasn''t in the mood. Asha could be a very lazy cultivator sometimes and, if she was feeling confident, could outright make bad decision''s just to speed things up or make her life less uncomfortable. It had never come back to bite her in the ass thus far because she was a cut above the competition but one day she might suffer the consequences of her lackadaisical approach. Not that she cared, being a revenant meant she was immortal and so death didn''t dissuade her from acting like this. Also, here, one or two extra gnolls wouldn''t matter much. She just kept summoning them on repeat to be annoying and divide Theodore''s attention and time, the gnolls weren''t supposed to be doing anything else really. It''s not that the gnolls weren''t decently strong it''s just that against competent cultivators they could only really serve one specific role. This was an art that saw some use in war, though, as all the real soldiers could use the gnolls as advancing cover to take hits from stray arts for them. Regardless, now that Asha was out in the open, things were going to get a lot more messy. The hyper-cannon was nearly charged, and Asha had no clue what manner of trap Theodore had in store, but Asha was already in her revenant form and making ground so, really, this fight could go either way right now. What was true regardless of which fight the spectators were paying attention to, up or down, was that they were both starting to heat up and reach their respective climaxes. In particular, Ya Ye was just about to unleash his own trademark unique art so a lot of people were temporarily shifting their gaze towards the giant tree to watch that unfold. It wouldn''t be long now before these scuffles came to an end and one side would come out victorious, now it was just a matter of who would win.

 Chapter 229: Fighting on the Straight and Narrow

    Back up on Bravo''s Base Of Operations, Ye and Bravo were duelling around the flamethrower. Thankfully the mounted fire chucker was starting to slow down as its not like it could have infinite momentum or anything. Although Bravo might try and install such a contraption, one that allowed it to keep spinning by itself, after increasing his cultivation later down the line but that in no way affected the current duel. Ye had occasionally feigned a retreat but Bravo never fell for it and prematurely detonated the mines, leaving them in position to be a constant obstacle and threat that boxed Ye into a small area in which his movement was limited. It wasn''t too terrible because closer ranges was where he shone regardless so it could have been way worse. The real kicker was that Bravo''s stronger attacks were going to start pouring in soon as different parts of the tree had different defence mechanisms. They were all on rails, however, so they could rush to his aid if he spent long enough in one place. Electric fences, rocket launchers, and swarms of metal bees that could hunt down intruders were just some of the deadly weapons headed in Ye''s direction. fortunately he had his own trick up his sleeve, one Bravo was very much aware of but couldn''t do much to stop.


    Bravo kissed his teeth when he saw a swarm of cherry blossoms come bounding up onto the platform because he had no way of dealing with this art. He was familiar with it and had been hit by the damn thing hundreds of times in his many duels against Ye but what was he supposed to do? He wasn''t really packing any arts that could wipe the blossoms out so he just had to take it. The unique art was one called ''Tightrope Tango: A Splash Of Colour'' and was actually, surprisingly, a mental art under the sword aspect. These were rare for the sword aspect but not something that couldn''t be created if you really put your mind to it. As for Tightrope Tango, the cherry blossoms summoned by Ye would be created stealthily somewhere out of view and ambush the opponent. If a majority of them were able to wrap up the foe then the battlefield would shift to an internal one within the opponent''s mindscape. Bravo, who was just helplessly surrounded by these blossoms, arrived inside his own mind where it was just a plain white room... Sort of. It was almost completely empty save for Ye who was stood opposite him, a thin black line that both cultivators were precariously perched atop, and two pools of inky black water with one to either side of the line and a few feet below it.


    Essentially, this was a fight atop a ''Tightrope'' and whoever fell into the murky water first lost. No arts were permitted during this duel, it was just a contest of raw skill and footwork. If Ye lost, when returning back to the real world he would be locked out of using any arts for five minutes. It was a hefty punishment but, if he won, he would receive a weapon enchantment that was extremely potent. The enchantment was a multi-coloured fire that lingered on his blade while razor sharp petals swirled around him. If he slashed any of the petals they would burst into miniature fireworks so every swing was now at least five times as problematic as before. pair his masterful footwork, his professional swordsmanship, and the fiery enchantment and he was nigh unstoppable. The only way to prevent this was to stop the mental art or win the proceeding duel but both were tricky in their own right. Bravo would always fail the first half of that equation because he simply couldn''t do anything about the blossom swarm. There was nothing in his arsenal that could blast away the horde of pink that entrapped him. As for the duel... Well he''d never won before... Could he be blamed, really? Fighting on a tightrope was already a massive problem but Ye''s proficiency in this place was honestly annoying. No one person should ever be this good at fighting in such a niche battlefield, it was agitating every time Bravo was dragged here against his will. If nothing else, being punted into the black water was thoroughly humiliating. Only he and Ye would ever see it but that didn''t make him feel any better at all.


    The fight on Bravo''s home turf had been briefly halted and now the one on Ye''s was about to begin. Given his familiarity with this place, Ye was quick to advance along the line like a slithering snake. His ability to move his upper body sideways and not fall off gave him a massive advantage in that his body wasn''t strictly confined to the tightrope at all times; he could lean, sway, and even occasionally jump off the line in a semi circle to land back on it at a different position further ahead. His straight line assault was unavoidable here so Bravo had to patiently watch as Ye danced jointly in rhythm with his blade. Every step and twirl was accompanied by the sound of a clash as Bravo mounted what little defence he could. Bravo''s goal was to anchor himself to one spot, hunker down, and not be forced to trip backwards, as that would probably be the end of him, but holding his ground was getting increasingly difficult as the ferocity of Ye''s offensive only ever seemed to increase. Ye even consistently started pulling a dirty move and dipping his sword in the inky water, coating it in the strange liquid that he could then flick at Bravo with every swing. If the opaque liquid blocked even a fraction of Bravo''s vision as it flew toward him then that was yet another benefit to fighting in this arena that only Ye could confidently make use of.


    CLANG


    A heavy downward strike from Ye was blocked so he allowed his sword to rebound as he flipped backward, landed in a crouch, and spiralled forward to put even more force behind his next attack. He was unfettered by this environment and was arguably even more acrobatic than he was previously. It was no wonder Ye had never lost a duel in here, not even to the matriarchs whenever he sparred with them. If Ye could do actual damage to his opponent here he would be unstoppable in this room and might be able to consistently punch above his weight class. He was actively working on making that a reality but adjusting mental arts was hard, especially if that wasn''t your primary focus as a cultivator. Luckily for Ye, he wasn''t really the type to use many arts in combat so he could fully devote himself to this one whenever he wasn''t practicing his one-armed swordsmanship or racing around on his flying sword. He was highly specialised but highly dangerous and could easily make up for any areas in which he was lacking. Ye was a rather plain, sword swinging cultivator but his dance-oriented movement and fiery enchantment, that he effectively always won the right to use, gave him an edge that others were lacking.


    Highly specialised cultivators could be very hard to beat if you didn''t possess the means to stop them and that was probably why Bravo had never won against Ye. Step 1, stop the art: impossible. Step 2, win the duel: Impossible. Step 3, beat Ye after he earned his enchantment: impossible. If Bravo could change the status quo during any of these steps then rolling over Ye wouldn''t be an issue but such was the nature of cultivation. Sometimes it was an even duel, sometimes you were a fire pillar affiliated cultivator going up against an expert water pillar affiliated cultivator. That didn''t mean winning was impossible but you would have to work your ass off to get any kind of meaningful result, that was for sure. It was why most expert cultivators were either very versatile or just completely unrivalled in what they were good at. Bravo was a versatile cultivator but the one area he was desperately lacking in was arts that could affect a large area. his Base Of Operations was huge, and some weapons on it were good for that purpose, but he had nothing on demand and that was really coming back to bite him in the ass right about now. He''d kept reminding himself to work something out in case he needed to fight Ye but his determination to hunt down dryads usually took priority. Large arts that took up a lot of space in favour of raw damage were pretty useless against dryads, as they rarely showed up in groups, so Bravo had been putting it off on repeat for tens of years at this point. Ares had really hit the nail on the head earlier as Bravo''s one track mind was actively hampering him from becoming a better cultivator. He would be stuck at his current level if he didn''t branch out and work on other things he was sorely lacking in. Funnily enough, though he wasn''t aware of this, a lot of dryads and mecha dryads in the wider world, outside the Primordial Blade''s interference, were capable of summoning their own plant army via seed magic and so he would need to learn wide-range arts at some point anyway if he wanted to maintain his eternal dryad hunt. His worldview was simply too narrow and the anger broiling away inside him was clouding his judgement.


    Ye finally had to block an attack, as Bravo had found a small opportunity to swing his axes, but after deflecting it to the side his almost completely unceasing string of attacks resumed in full force. Ye splashed the water in Bravo''s face and hopped around him, switching sides and forcing Bravo to uncomfortably twist his body around. This was a painfully slow process that left him stumbling backwards on his flailing feet but, even in spite of that, he managed to fight hard until he could stand upright again by batting back Ye. This wasn''t his first rodeo and he''d been in this situation before so he was aware of how to recover. It wasn''t a guarantee that he could it, though, so he had to avoid winding up in that situation to the best of his ability. The duel continued with Ye upping his pace, switching the grip on his weapon multiple times during a series of slashes. Depending on the angle of his wrist, he could hold the sword with the blade in a standard grip or a reversed one, allowing him to curve it quicker along different angles that he facilitated via his dance. The sword in his hand was frequently tossed lightly into the air, roughly a centimetre or two up, so he could switch grips on the fly as he hopped from foot to foot.


    Bravo managed to block a strike, without allowing Ye to deflect it, and pushed forward with another mighty upward swing but Ye blocked it while lifting both his feet off the line. The force of Bravo''s hit swept Ye away as he crouched through the air and allowed himself to be pushed further down the tightrope. Not only could Ye escape backwards and end Bravo''s offensive prematurely but he could also now speed along the line and generate more force for his next swing. It was a clever move that utilised his opponents strength advantage to create his own via a well-timed backing off. Ye had done this song and dance, and many other variations of it, countless times and was very capable of adapting on the fly to any all strategies thrown at him. He ran back in with a stance that was low to the ground and dropped to one knee, sliding straight down the line as he spun on its tip and performed a full 360 degree rotation. This allowed him to generate some rotational force as he rose up from his knee to his other foot, allowing his diagonal, upwards swing of his sword to carry a horrific amount of power considering the limitations of the environment. Bravo kissed his teeth and braced for the inevitable. He''d never seen Ye pull this trick off before and there was nothing he could do to stop it. If Bravo blocked this the pushback would launch him off the side without fail but if he tried to run then Ye would kick him in the back and end it that way instead. At least, by blocking, miniscule though it was, there was a slim chance he could anchor himself like a boulder and refuse to move. He joined both buzz axes on his right side and swung them downwards to meet Ye''s swing at the same time. He went all in with his strength here in a bid to counteract the force coming his way, fully leaning into the swing.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ...


    ...


    "Fuck." Bravo couldn''t help but swear out loud as he realised far too late what was happening. There was no almighty clash as his weapon hit nothing but air. In hindsight, it was obvious that Ye wouldn''t take a risky head on clash like this if Bravo was equally prepared to do so. Yes Bravo would probably get knocked off but there was a chance Ye would too due to his inferior raw strength. At that point it was a matter of who fell first which would be a hard result to sway in your favour. There was no assurance he would win like that so Ye had simply threatened the strike without actually committing. At the last second, instead of going through with the slash, he held his sword in place and hopped backward. Meanwhile, Bravo, who''d committed to his swing, had thrown his body weight around far too much and was now tumbling over the side of the line without having taken so much as a scratch. He put so much momentum into his swing, expecting Ye to nullify some of it with his own, that he couldn''t even stop himself anymore as he went sailing off the side after not colliding with a solid object. This was an utterly humiliating defeat because he''d basically been massively conned here. He was swinging at ghosts and tripping over himself in the process. He hadn''t expected to win but losing like this was dastardly.


    The bastard Ye, waving ''toodaloo'' at Bravo from back on the line as he sunk towards the water, pulled a brand new attack out of his ass only to not go through with it at the key moment. That was peak scumbaggery as far as Bravo was concerned but a loss was a loss and he had to take it. The one solace was that nobody saw this pitiful loss so he could lick his wounds in private after. Bravo swore to himself to set up a tightrope back home and practice as this was actually something he''d go through with. It wasn''t impossible for him to one day incorporate ropes into his dryad hunting so it could very well be a useful talent to develop. If he had metal ropes he could lock down a dryad by attaching it to his Base and then run along said rope to mount the dryad. Practicing would allow him to defend himself during the approach. Also, he was seriously sick of losing to Ye as this had happened one too many times. Sure he could just focus on learning a method to deal with the petals and prevent himself from ever entering this insufferable environment but, honestly? He was petty down to the depths of his soul. He didn''t want to flee the Tango, he wanted to win it and pay Ye back for all the years of humiliation inside it! Just winning once would be enough to wipe that soft smile off the smug petal boy''s face, Bravo was sure of it. He sighed to himself as he crashed into the water.


    SPLASH


    Bravo woke up to find himself back by his flamethrower. The thing had already stopped spinning long ago and he was tempted to set it off again but figured that would be unwise. With Ye''s fire enchantment he had decent control over errant flames so adding more to the mix would only hamper Bravo and not aid him. Plus his other weapons were about to arrive soon so he didn''t need this one. They were still a few seconds out though because the fight in his head had happened fairly quickly. Inwardly it felt like a two-to-three minute clash but, in reality, it had only been give or take five seconds. That was just the nature of mental attacks so it wasn''t anything too surprising, just a bit off-putting whenever it happened. In order to buy time for his backup to arrive, Bravo pulled out the detonator and just went all in. It would keep Ye preoccupied for as long as Bravo needed, and the swordsman was far closer to the mines than Bravo was, so he didn''t hesitate for even a split second in setting everything off.


    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    The various explosions rung out simultaneously, creating a sort of harmony of cacophony that merged into a single grating noise. That was in terms of sound but in regards to spectacle even Ares, who was still being pestered by branches occasionally, gave the light show a thumbs up!... Or he would have if he could actually move his body right now. He was still just kinda staring at the sky like the helpless idiot he was. The chain explosions created a series of respectably sized, blackish orange domes that covered the entire view of the area where the two seasons were fighting. No doubt Ye''s petal barrier protected him and Bravo, being further away from the explosions, could likely just tough it out.


    While things were dying down, the weapons Bravo had been banking on came sliding down and around the centre of the tree before taking various rails to different places. The rows of electric fences raced along the underside of a branch, located directly above the core area, and formed a grid overhead that could be selectively lowered while the rocket launchers formed a circle around the two seasons so it could launch attacks from all angles. A cage containing the bees was simply chucked into the centre of the area, next to the flamethrower, and it broke apart on impact which unleashed the mechanical swarm with their zap stingers. There were a few other weapons on this base but they were still lightyears away and would no doubt take too long to arrive. This set of weapons had been the closest to Bravo''s current position and yet they took this long to get their asses over here so the remaining weapons likely wouldn''t show. Actually, if Bravo could congregate every weapon simultaneously he''d probably have enough of an arsenal to just blow Ye to smithereens even now but, as the man in question walked out of the explosions unharmed, Bravo knew things weren''t going to go well during this specific duel of theirs. Still, the prospect of potentially winning if he devoted his all to improving his Base was tempting. If he could either upgrade it via cultivation or maybe even find some art-boosting cultivation resources then that would be fantastic.


    Art boosting resources could come with any number of benefits but, usually, they were based on a specific aspect. For instance, a space aspect resource that boosted arts, if used by Bravo, could maybe install teleporters on his Base that allowed both him and the weapons to reposition quickly. These types of resources were rare and certain aspects, like the space aspect, were nigh impossible to find sometimes. Their value was immeasurable so these types of cultivation resources were frequently sought after but that wasn''t a surprise given the permanent benefit they could impart to an art of your choice. The only thing more dangerous than a specialist was a specialist who could evolve the art their entire gameplan revolved around and these type of attribute cultivation resources made that pipe dream a reality. A good example of a strong combination would be something like Bellona''s Meteor which, if paired with an ice aspect attribute resource that could slow down people within the landing zone, would be impossible to dodge. There were many such combinations but whether or not these resources even existed in the lower domains was up in the air. Not a single instance of such resources being found in lower domains had ever been recorded throughout history so probably not. They must have required sufficient ambient mana in the air to even form hence their current track record of showing up exclusively in the higher domains.


    Ye had just emerged from the explosions with nary a scratch on his blemish-less skin thanks to his plant barrier. Normally it wouldn''t have been enough to keep him completely safe but the extra blossoms from his new weapon enchantment added an extra layer of highly potent defence that sheltered him from harm. The enchantment was good both for aggression and protection so it was nothing short of a win condition for Ye. He had other ways to cinch a fight if need be but this art usually resulted in his most convincing wins so he was somewhat reliant on it. The enchantment was a beautiful, flickering but tame fire that gradually shifted colour and gradient. Red, pink, purple, blue, yellow. It was like a lava lamp fire that was soothing to just observe peacefully. This soft fire packed a scorching surprise for anyone who thought little of it, however, and could burn anything it slashed to ashes. The fire closely clung to Ye''s blade and the petals that came with it formed a sort of tunnel around Ye that could trap him and his opponent inside it if he was close enough, at which point escaping became a real nightmare. Once both cultivators were in the tunnel, the petals would slowly fall in front of Ye''s opponent allowing him to constantly chase them with colourful explosions filled with immense heat and his sharp, burning sword. The sight of Ye bursting through a colourful rainbow bomb of sparks and blooming plants with his multi-coloured sword was how he earned his seasonal nickname and he was particularly famous for it back on his home planet. Countless creations revolved around his colourful finale including paintings, dramatic recreations, and poems. He was somewhat of a superstar back home due to this but also because his dances attracted a lot of attention too. He was a handsome and extremely capable man of art, a combination that made him a legendary figure back home.


    He wasn''t at his floral mansion right now, however, he was in the middle of a battlefield and preparing himself to end this fight. He deemed it time to end the back and forth so he set forth to contend with all the new obstacles awaiting him. First up was the electric fences. These would be a persistent issue as he dealt with everything else but they were also the least problematic. Whatever manner of labyrinth they formed, Ye felt comfortable weaving his dancing feet through the path to success. Second would be the swarm of bees blocking his path, and third would be the rocket launchers keeping him on his toes. All very manageable. Victory was within sight and Ye predicted the same was true of Asha''s fight down below. Bravo and Theodore''s attempt on Ares'' life would come to a halt here and now and then hopefully Ye would get to have a word with the man in question. Of the many reasons Ye decided to help Ares today, one was so that they could perform a ''dance'' together one day on his home planet back with the starlights. Ares was already long overdue to give a golden performance on the planet at some point but throw in a co-ordinated fight between him and Ye and the starlights would be overjoyed. Ye wanted to go toe to toe with the giant revenant form, as well as the gold-slinging human form of Ares, so he was going to request a spar at a later date when Ares ascended from this domain. Ye would have to inevitably lower his cultivation to match Ares'' and make things fair but he imagined it would be a phenomenal dance regardless, one worth remembering because, for once, it would be one he predicted he would not be leading in. Ye could very well go fight the pagoda Ares right now, and he''d considered it, but that was highly selfish. He would get his dance but none of his starlight fans, family, and friends would get to witness it. Plus the restrictions imposed were not ideal as Ye''s feet desired to flow freely and so the lack of arts and weapons weren''t appealing to him. For these reasons he held back and was patiently awaiting the real deal later on. That was all yet to happen, however, and revolved around him winning his fight with Bravo in the here and now so he took a deep breath and calmed his breathing. He was fully prepared now to bring this dance to an end.

 Chapter 230: Bravo! Well Fought.

    As Ye predicted, a few parts of the fence hanging above him dropped down and blocked his path forward. If he tried to go around the obvious pathway in front of him it would take a considerable amount of time and drag the fight on unnecessarily. All it would take is for Bravo to just keep skirting around the outside edge of the fences and he would buy enough time for the rest of his arsenal to arrive. Plus he could enter it whenever he wanted, forcing Ye in anyway, so it was far better for Ye to just bite the bullet. With his enchantment he was strong enough to take on all obstacles and threats anyway so there was no reason not to charge ahead. He stepped into the field of fences and he could feel the nearby electricity crackling away all around him, tickling his skin and trying to latch onto his flesh. It was as though the jolts were attempting to excitedly leap off the fence and shock him as though it were their life mission. The good thing about these fences were that they could be seen through because they were chain link, meaning Ye could find the correct path quick enough. What he really had to worry about here was the swarm of bees dotted throughout the maze that would hamper his progress and try to force him into uncomfortable positions. They didn''t need to outright kill him, the bees simply needed to push him into the fences and that would be good enough. Any kind of shock Ye suffered would lead to the rocket launchers unleashing all hell upon him immediately afterwards. Despite being surrounded on all sides, Ye didn''t slow down his dance down the dangerous corridors and opted to take them at full speed. the sooner he cleared everything the better. If he wasted time in the maze more and more fences would drop, changing the layout and making his life harder. For his own sake, he needed to be fearless and remain confident in his control of his movement.


    Ye rounded a corner and very nearly grazed his arm on it but the way he expertly drifted around it made him look like a professional racer who could always take the optimal line. Maintaining his speed meant the swarm of bees were not able to launch an attack on him before he could gain his bearings back so he dove into the horde before they could corner him. Ye led with a spinning slash, after positioning himself in between the bees, and this tactic paid off as he wiped out nearly half the swarm immediately and that was before any of his petals had even detonated. Approximately six petals were slashed during his attack so an identical number of miniature flower-shaped fireworks detonated around him, cleaning out the remainder of the bee horde. Usually the bees were much more competent but Ye, with his enchantment, taking the lead and aggressing first meant they stood little to no chance. The rest of the bees were currently trying to navigate through the holes in the fences and box him in but if Ye kept barrelling through the bees at the front then they wouldn''t be able to catch up at this rate. The launchers had been waiting patiently for an opportune moment to strike but, at this point, it was looking less and less likely they would be so lucky. Bravo, who was positioning himself so that he could take pot shots at Ye, ordered the launchers to just to start firing at will otherwise they might not even get a chance to fire at all. With another swarm of bees intercepting Ye, Bravo firing off seeds with his rifle, and the launchers all kicking off, it looked like Ye was about to bite the dust but the look on his face suggested otherwise.


    A certain kind of serenity was all that adorned his face. There was no worry of the situation deteriorating despite the circumstances, that what Ye believed. He had the talent to get through this so he took in every problem headed his way and created a triage-esque list of things he needed to accomplish in order to stay alive. First, swipe at the bees and create a wall of fireworks to keep them at bay temporarily. Ye needed time to think and act on the other, more important problems so not being distracted by the swarm of metal was imperative. He used mana to guide a bunch of ten blossoms in front of him and lined them up vertically before taking a mighty downward swing and creating a blast of vibrancy ahead of him. The bees'' weak wings weren''t even able to flutter, let alone hover, within the blast radius and so they were all pushed back away from Ye, giving him room to focus on the next set of tasks which were easily going to be the hardest.


    Next up was a seed bullet but dealing with it was tricky for an entirely different reason than was to be expected. Bravo had missed this shot by roughly an inch. So why was that a problem? Surely it was a good thing for Ye as he wouldn''t need to factor it in to his plans? Not quite. See Ye''s goal here was to sever the seeds in two and use them to create mini fireworks as well. Any plant or nature related object he slashed with his enchantment would cause a colourful explosion, and the seeds very much counted towards that, so his opponent''s ammunition could benefit him provided they were in the right place at the right time. Ye''s grand plan was to use Bravo''s seeds from his gun to block the rockets by detonating them in the perfect spots but this first seed was misaligned and mistimed with the first rocket. In order to correct Bravo''s missed shot, Ye danced a half step back followed by another half step towards the left. He leant to the right and swung up and left to slice the seed in half just as it was flying across the rocket''s path.


    Bang


    BANG


    The seed was destroyed in the exact position Ye wanted so the rocket that came sailing towards him was blocked perfectly and harmlessly exploded a few feet away. The residual blast was taken care of by a few redirected flowers by Ye who''d taken such an issue into account back when he decided to take care of things in this manner. He wasn''t done yet though as there were a whole host of incoming projectiles that were still on their way. Annoyingly, even though the timing of the next few seeds were perfect their angle was troublesome. Point in case, in order to block the next rocket with another seed, Ye had to lean backwards like he was playing a game of limbo. This caused the seed ot miss his head and end up behind him. Ye poked the rear of the seed and the ensuing firework dealt with the rocket approaching him from behind. The next seed needed to take a 90 degree turn to be in the correct place so Ye swivelled his body to the right and kicked it, forcing the seed''s direction to change mid air before being cut clean through by Ye''s sword and making itself useful for the swordsman''s cause. Some seeds were impossible to make use of and these were instead deflected into the bee swarm to pre-occupy them and delay their re-acquisition of Ye as a target. In this manner, ducking under seeds, jumping off some, and even flicking a couple, Ye was able to blow up the first wave of rockets aimed at him without suffering any injuries. A few of them had gotten caught in the fences nearby so Ye kicked them backwards, throwing them into nearby swarms and taking them out without having to worry about them in the future. He followed up these rapid spin kicks with another slash to take out the leftover bees from the first swarm he encountered here, clearing them out for good. No bees, no rockets, and nothing more than a few seeds from Bravo that Ye was more than capable of batting away with his sword all meant it was a good time to advance. Some more of the electric fences had dropped down, shifting the position of everything within the maze slightly, but it wouldn''t stop Ye for more than a few seconds as he trailed behind his own divine sense which was busy forging a new path directly to Bravo.


    Ye made a great amount of progress, and was a now no more than a few seconds away from Bravo, but he encountered another wave of rockets and was halted in his track. Unfortunately, this time, Bravo had wizened up and was no longer sending any seeds Ye''s way to avoid potentially lending him a helping hand indirectly. This didn''t mean Ye had no option to recreate his earlier trick, however, as he was capable of redirecting his nearby flowers and using them in the same way. Plus he had control over them so putting them in the right place was actually far easier than relying on Bravo. The main problem with this was that he had less defensive options for a while as the flowers took a while to come back after use. To mitigate this, whenever possible, Ye kicked some of the nearby bees into the rockets to block them that way instead. This was incredibly risky because of how tiny the bees were. Angling his kicks to send the bees exactly where he wanted was challenging but also meant he was temporarily unable to move that foot around. Ye had to resort to one legged hopping to centre his gravity where he wanted to be during most of this wave of rockets. There was still one more rocket but, oddly enough, Ye could sense a seed coming from behind. Ye wasn''t entirely sure why Bravo fired such a convenient bullet but he didn''t have enough time to send his divine sense out and inspect everything in detail. Instead, he simply performed a 180 swing to cut the seed into two. As he turned around, however, he had to pause his attack halfway through lest he blow himself up. Bravo had shot a seed, yes, but he''d also thrown another poison grenade alongside it and a slash would have cut both at once. Ye would have stopped the seed but been forced to inhale some poison. This was a clever trap Bravo had thrown out when Ye least expected it so the situation was looking pretty rough. The seed wasn''t going to just wait in mid air for Ye to sort things out, the grenade would detonate soon, and the rocket was on the same path as before. Ye halting his attack gave him time to think but not a lot as he had to be quick about his next move to defend himself.


    ...


    Ye let out a short chuckle and shook his head as an idea had very much formulated in his brain but it was a troublesome one that could potentially go very horribly wrong. Still, if it worked then everything that ailed him would be dealt with in one fell swoop... But if he failed.... The rest of this fight going ''poorly'' would be the understatement of the year. What he was about to do was something he''d never tried before so he was just going completely with the flow on this one. He rapidly swapped to a reverse grip on his sword so that his palm was facing outward. Ye then followed that rapid switch by flicking his wrist upwards and letting go off the sword, throwing it a short distance into the air. Leaning his head down, Ye caught the sword handle with his teeth as his open palm caught grenade. With a swift flick of his head the blade of the sword was dragged through the air, barely managing to catch the seed and slice it into two harmless halves. Keeping the momentum of his turning head, Ye placed his left foot backwards and twisted his body around to chuck the caught grenade straight at the rocket.


    BANG


    Phew. Ye briefly closed his eyes as he dropped the sword back into his hand and took a sigh of relief as his plan had miraculously worked out. Utilising his teeth as a temporary third hand, or more accurately second as he only had one arm to begin with, was an idea he toyed with regularly. He''d seen other swordsmen do similar things and given his lacking second arm it always looked like a useful ability for him to learn. Though things worked out this time, if he''d needed to block anything more powerful than a seed he would have been toast. Granted one single bullet piercing him wouldn''t be the end of the world but the usefulness of teeth wielding had been made abundantly clear to Ye who swore he would practice this unusual trick in the future to make manoeuvres like the one he just pulled off simpler to execute.


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    The poison grenade and the rocket were detonated a fair distance away so Ye wasn''t required to send any flowers to block anything this time. Now that he''d fully dealt with the second wave of attacks the path to Bravo was crystal clear. The elf had changed up his location a bit since Ye last paid him any attention but it was still close enough that he could catch up and end the fight for good. Bravo struggled to contest Ye at close ranges before but, now that the enchantment was in play, his loss was all but guaranteed already. Bravo could try running but that would throw his Base weapons out of whack and he wouldn''t be able to find another set of them so conveniently. He could move towards them but they were still too far away and Ye, on his flying sword, would hunt him down in no time. Bravo''s best course of action was to hold his ground here with what he had available to him even if it was still a losing plan.


    Ye turned one last time and was now face to face with Bravo once more. The deciding scrap was long overdue so he commanded his blossoms to form a tunnel around them and the fight kicked off immediately after with Bravo taking the initiative. If Ye''s exploding petals were going to be a nuisance anyway then Bravo would rather they hassle him while Ye was defending. Bravo would have to be willing to trade hits here and just let the fireworks him while he maintained aggression against Ye. The alternative was just sitting on the backfoot forever as Ye''s onslaught of steel, fire, and petals never ended. Bravo repeatedly swing his axes, alternating between them to prevent Ye from getting out of this mess cleanly. Of course, in the meantime, the petals were positioning themselves between Ye''s blade and Bravo''s axes, effectively getting pulverised between the two. When they exploded, Bravo''s wrist and unguarded chest and face would be caught in the blast but he soldiered onward without so much as a single grunt. It hurt but nothing good in life ever came easy and the same was doubly true for victory against Ye. He wouldn''t beat the swordsman by being a pansy who was too afraid to get hurt, that was nonsensical and cultivators with that mind set would never get very far.


    Bravo tried throwing a few kicks in here and there but Ye''s footwork, even while maintaining his perfect block streak against the axes, was faultless. maybe someone more proficient in kicks could have taken advantage here but Bravo didn''t specialise in them and was simply using everything at his disposal in the vain hope something would slip by Ye''s guard. A few rockets attempted to breach the blossom tunnel from outside but they were unable to penetrate the wall of pink and were rendered useless. Some bees were just about able to squeeze their way into the tunnel but only an even fewer number of them weren''t immediately blown up by the fireworks erupting out of Ye''s blade whenever he clashed with Bravo. Still, all it took was one or two to change the dynamic of a fight and now Ye had to deal with these intruders lest they complicate things with Bravo. This was where Bravo''s insistence on persistence finally showed results because Ye was still busy deflecting strikes and had no time for the bees, leaving him in an awkward position despite his overwhelming advantage overall. Though Bravo was weaker than Ye, he was still a standout cultivator through and through so he was able to find ways of coming back form the brink when he really needed to.


    Ye tried to hop back and make enough room for him to take out the bees quickly but Bravo was on point with his speedy reaction times and was ready to punish Ye for this decision. He took a running start and lobbed both buzz axes straight down the middle of the blossom tunnel. Ye had just swung his sword at the bees and, although he''d successfully destroyed them all, he was not in a position to block these axes properly. He''d still be able to but the force behind them was considerable and, depending on how Bravo followed these axes up, Ye could be in a bit of trouble. Still, Ye felt alright as, without his axes, what was the worst bravo could do here anyway? Ye dragged his sword back in front of him just in time to receive the first axe which pushed him backwards a step. The second axe crashed into his guard and crushed it, blasting Ye''s arm back and forcing him to stagger on one foot. This had been unavoidable lest he wished to take two thrown axes to the gut so now it was just a matter of seeing what Bravo had planned.


    Bravo rushed in towards Ye and cleared his mind. What came next would be painful but highly worth it so he grit his teeth, jumped, and shot his hands straight upwards. Both hands went flying through the blossoms, all of which shredded some of his flesh and cut deep enough to reach bone in some places, and grabbed onto the electric fence which was incapable of distinguishing friend from foe and zapped him. Bravo had burst his hands through the razor sharp blossom tunnel and suffered serious shocks all so that he could launch himself off the fence roof and drop kick Ye in the face with a devastating impact.


    BANG


    Crack


    Ye had underestimated Bravo''s willingness to injure himself in order to even the fight out again and, honestly, it might have even been better for him to take the axes in his gut. The kick had knocked one of his teeth out, broken a part of his jaw, and blasted him into the electrical fence which then caused him to get electrocuted as well and drop his weapon on the floor next to the axes. Though axes to the gut would have been more severe, at least Ye could have kept his weapon and prevented this entire scenario. Bravo was standing between Ye and the weapon pile so things were devolving into a bare knuckle brawl in which Bravo held the advantage. Throw in the rocket launchers and the bees keeping the blossom tunnel, and Ye''s flowers, busy and the roles had been reversed entirely all because of one mistake on Ye''s part. In order to win, Ye needed his enchanted weapon back so it was going to be a matter of whether Bravo could beat Ye into submission first or whether the floral swordsman could slink by the bulky elf. Either way, many punches and kicks were going to be thrown in this tight space. It was a terrible place to fight like this, what with the fence and blossom tunnel making things infinitely worse, but this was how the fight ended up and there was no point complaining about it now!


    Ye had let Bravo set the pace of their fight for long enough so he led with a right hook that Bravo blocked comfortably. Bravo returned fire with his own right hook, intentionally aiming for the side Ye would struggle to defend given his missing arm. It was dirty fighting but effective and he didn''t care about the morality of the punches he threw so Bravo didn''t hold back. With a swift duck, Ye dodged it before stamping forward with his foot to try and pin Bravo''s shoe to the ground. Bravo slid his foot across the floor to avoid that and went for a headbutt but missed when Ye gracefully glided backwards along the floor after a short hop. Just because Ye had been disarmed that didn''t mean his footwork was going to magically disappear. What Bravo really wanted was to injure this dancing pest''s legs as that would all but win him the fight. To that end, Bravo raced forward after Ye and returned the favour from earlier by trying to sweep Ye''s legs or kick them whenever possible. Unfortunately he was made to look a fool by Ye''s carefree dancing that allowed him to elude Bravo''s brutish strikes. That didn''t mean Ye got away Scott free, however, as he did occasionally take a punch to his upper body and there was nothing he could do about that as he was a dancer, not a contortionist.


    The two kept beating each other up in a back and forth duel of which there was no clear victor. Ye would hit Bravo more often thanks to his speed and agility but Bravo''s few and far between hits were heavier and generally more impactful on Ye''s health. Ye was also moving around a lot more than Bravo so he was more mentally tired than his foe but he needed to do it. If he gave Bravo any room he would either retreat and pick up his axes safely or pull out one of his other weapons. He still had a shotgun and a bow on him meaning Ye had to keep a close enough distance that he could smack him if the elf tried to reach for it. Ye ran in and tried to sneak around Bravo''s flank but he was halted in his tracks as the elf shifted into his path. With a few quick adjustments Ye was now threatening to escape around Bravo''s right side but he was denied yet again. Bravo had even given up on attacking so long as it meant not letting Ye past as a drawn out fight was in his favour. Ye felt like he was running out of options but there was still one thing he wanted to try as it may very well work. He took a step back, faced Bravo from a slight angle, and leant his arm back. With a kick off the floor, Ye dashed towards Bravo and swung his arm overhead not in the form of a punch but rather in that of a chopping motion. Bravo was wondering what on earth Ye was up to but his heart nearly stopped when he heard Ye shout...


    "Sharp!"


    Sharp, the art that could make anything into a makeshift sword on the spot. Bravo''s eyes widened and he had to throw himself directly into the fence to his side to avoid the incoming chop... Unfortunately, as he leapt heroically out of the way, he realised he''d been conned again. That bastard Ye didn''t know the Sharp art! He was just saying it out loud to fool Bravo into thinking he needed to dodge immediately or lose his life! Not only had Bravo just moved out the way for Ye, who was already running past to pick up his colourful sword, but he''d even thrown himself face first into the electrical fence which could only mean one thing.


    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


    Bravo was zapped again but it wasn''t just his hands this time. He''d kicked Ye into the fence earlier and now he''d gotten a taste of his own medicine. Worse still, the Blossom tunnel hadn''t exactly disappeared or anything so chunks of his flesh had also been torn away mid jump. The result of this fight didn''t need to be explained and Bravo wasn''t surprised to land back in the tunnel with a sword pointed straight at his forehead.


    Tsk


    Having been robbed twice by this conniving swordsman, who clearly had no honour worth mentioning, Bravo simply kissed his teeth, said nothing, and left after Ye lowered the blossom tunnel. Bravo hopped off the tree, opened his leaf parachute, and abandoned his mission. He acknowledged his loss even if he hated the way it happened. If he started being a sore loser about it then even Theodore might turn around and shoot him with his cannon. There was an understanding with the seasons that once a decision or result was finalised then everyone had to fall in line. Bravo lost so he accepted it without a fuss. It took him no longer than a minute to land with the leaf and start heading for the exit of the town. Bravo was going back to his home planet to train and relieve stress by hunting some dryads and wouldn''t be seen again at the international because he was done here. Bravo didn''t really care if Mako won the tournament, he just didn''t want to be here any longer because he was annoyed and wasn''t sure he could hold himself back from beating up Ye the next time he saw the cheating rodent.


    The only proof Bravo had been here at all was the giant Base Of Operations still towering over the coliseum but that was in the middle of disappearing into tiny particles of nature mana. Ye hopped above his sword as the platform he was standing on vanished and he looked rather pleased with himself despite the manner in which he''d just won. A win was a win in the cultivation world after all! Ye watched on as the tree finally disappeared for good and was about to head back down to the coliseum but that was when he realised he''d forgotten something very important! The reason he wanted to go back down to the arena was to spectate the rest of Asha and Theo''s fight, if they could even be bothered to finish it now that Ye had won, and the reason everyone was fighting... Was because of Ares... Who was currently in the middle of falling to his death at impressive speeds! Ye may or may not have gotten a little too invested in the Bravo duel and forgotten to look after the person he was here to protect... Whoops! Still, catching him wouldn''t be a difficult matter so Ye started heading down. This proved to be unnecessary, however, as it seemed two other people were in the middle of catching Ares, namely his two wives who were bickering about who got to hold him after... Maybe what was happening to Ares right now was not a rescue operation, but rather a kidnapping...

 Chapter 231: Starting to Get a Little Annoyed

    Ares was peeved! Miffed! Displeased even! What was the point of going to all that effort to save him if the fool was just going to let him drop to his death immediately after! Was this all some kind of elaborate prank! Where were the cameras?! Was this going to be some kind of viral video!? Ares wanted his cut at least! Ares was annoyed big time and even made an effort to try and lift his hand so he could at least give Ye the middle finger but, alas, he still couldn''t move even now. At the very least it seemed like Ye realised his mistake and was about to come pick him up. Ares had watched the fight with his divine sense and, even now, he was still watching Ye''s every move. He was a talented swordsman but what Ares really appreciated was the free masterclass on footwork he was able to watch from relatively close up with his Omniscience. Ares was damn good with his own footwork but stealing from others was never a bad thing and Omniscience made that whole process nice and simple. Ares had learnt a fair bit from the fight, mainly how to convert the recoil from a block into momentum he could utilise to reposition himself. That was arguably one of Ye''s greatest strengths and Ares had been taking as many notes as he could because it wasn''t everyday you got a chance to watch an expert in motion. Not that he was going to forgive him for forgetting about him like this! Ares saw that subtle ''oh crap'' look on his face a second ago!


    Ares felt his falling speed start to drop sharply which was strange because Ye wasn''t anywhere near him right now. In fact, Ye seemed to be heading down to the arena and ignoring Ares so it seemed someone else was rescuing him at the moment although he had no clue who. He did end up figuring it out eventually, however, when the rate at which his falling speed slowed progressively became lower and lower. Blo Blo! She was slowing his fall speed and, presumably, Enyo was going to catch him with a barrier. Teamwork makes the dreamwork and this was a combination that could soften his fall and simultaneously catch him so he had no complaints. Something interesting did happen during his fall though as Bellona appeared to be experimenting with something interesting. Her magic really was quite unpredictable but what she''d just tried would no doubt be her first step to broadening her magic''s horizons and doing some truly bizarre things with it. Ares was falling straight down. The direction he was travelling in was 180 degrees away from his body''s starting position. Bellona was seemingly trying to slow Ares down before halving that angle and adjusting his fall so that the gravity would pull him sideways instead. Half of 180 was 90 and a 90 degree angle would send Ares either right or left instead of down. It was a clever and neat little idea but Bellona just didn''t have enough control and experience with her magic to pull of such a weird trick without any practice. Ares did feel his body shift around a bit though which was a good sign she would be able to pull it off if she just continued working on it. Being able to change a person''s direction, be they friend or foe, on demand was a pretty useful application of magic so Ares would gladly act as her guinea pig to be tested on if she wanted to later. Ares had to work on pressurising his Backfire Bindings but the next time he would actively participate in a match was about two weeks from now. The Aejaz one didn''t count. This meant that, provided pressurising his treasure only too around a week, he would have nearly another week to spend with family and help out Bellona. He wasn''t going to be able to pressurise anything else he owned in such a short time frame so just relaxing, and occasionally training with Sadie, before the big fight was definitely an option.


    Blo Blo wasn''t able to single handedly save him as her forced sideways shift in direction didn''t work but Enyo was still there to summon a barrier under Ares and bring him over on a silver platter. Ares was thankful, and about to openly be grateful to the sisters, up until he spied evil intent in the eyes of both of them! Why couldn''t things ever be simple!? Ares sighed and accepted his fate. Technically it was his fault he was in this mess to begin with as he could have been smarter about this, not leaving himself in the middle of the arena after his Canis Stimulant ended. He''d been greedy for Lex but, if he''d ordered Garmr to run away, he could have very well hidden in a back alley somewhere... Provided Garmr would have even listened to an order to retreat anyway... Of course the seasons would have found him regardless but then he would have been safe from his impish wives, both of whom wanted to hold him for very different reasons right now. Did he even have a say in the matter? Ares wished he could at least choose his own fate because right now he was still thirsty and Blo Blo probably had the drinks. Getting abandoned somewhere in the sect was fine if Ares wasn''t starving or dehydrated. Enyo, on the other hand, would simply never let him go! How was his body supposed to recover from its fatigue if Enyo was just piling it on? Plus cooking while Enyo put his body through the trials of Apollo, NSFW version, would be incredibly difficult. The final nail in the coffin was that Bellona could be reasoned with! Although Ares was going to spend time with her anyway, if he bargained on those grounds, under the pretence he wouldn''t, he could maybe sneak away from today without being bullied too hard. You could argue manipulating one''s wives to get what Ares wanted was evil but, then again, Ares would argue what they were planning on doing to him was equally as evil!


    Ares was finally brought over and his peaceful magic carpet ride had unfortunately come to its natural conclusion. Ares rolled off the barrier and was now lying squarely at the heels of his two wives who were already arguing over who got to keep the pet today. "You just want to hog his hog, stupid whore!" It really didn''t need explaining who was talking to who here but, just in case, Bellona was giving an earful of reprimand to a horny Enyo... Not that that said much, that was practically her default state nowadays and it would be weirder if she wasn''t. Ares might actually think she was ill or something and start asking around for medicine if she wasn''t in the mood, not that Enyo would probably need anything more than a aphrodisiac to feel right as rain. This wasn''t even a joke as her pleasure pillar affinity may very well enable her to treat such things as medicine provided it was potent enough. Again, dedication cultivation, and to an extent Enyo, was just weird like that.


    "So?" Enyo tilted her head. "At least I wasn''t planning on throwing him in a lake..."


    "Say what?" Ares just heard something he very much did not appreciate! Alas, the conversation continued along without him as his presence was very much not needed for this debate.


    Bellona didn''t back down in the face of a reasonable argument, instead doubling down which baffled Ares because he was still right here! "You''ve spent way more time with him lately than I have! Go shove a finger up your cootch, that''ll occupy you! I just want him for five minutes."


    "Five minutes is a waste. By the looks of things he won''t be able to move for a couple of hours. If you actually want to spend time with him then I wouldn''t be so opposed to lending him to you but you''re just being an uncaring wife and I have every right to deny you that!"


    "Oh please, like you ''care''. I know exactly what you ''care'' about! Ah fine, whatever. I''ll look after him properly so shoo off already you damn pest!" Bellona didn''t wait for confirmation as she knew Enyo would stand aside now that she''d been promised Ares would not be treated poorly in Bellona''s care... However, whether she intended on keeping that promise was another matter entirely! Technically, if she had Appa create a pool of water and throw Ares in it that wouldn''t count as Bellona mistreating him! Technicalities: 1, Enyo: 0! Ares was only somewhat convinced he was safe, and he had no idea the fate in store for him, but it''s not like he had any say in the matter so he just accepted things and prayed to a non-existent deity of luck that Bellona would uphold her word or, if nothing else, be willing to negotiate.


    Bellona used some magic to make Ares lighter and picked him up, placing him horizontally in a position whereby his legs were resting over Enyo''s and he was receiving a lap pillow from Bellona who was contentedly striking his hair right now. This was particularly blissful for Ares but the threat of being dumped inside some cold water somewhere was still hovering over his head! Hovering over his head and humming to herself, that is! Still, for now at least, Ares was willing to give Bellona the benefit of the doubt. He sighed and gave thanks to the sisters who finally acknowledged his presence and the fact that he was a living being who possessed free will and could openly communicate. He was no longer just a doll being tossed around from wife to wife and so that was a nice change of pace. He even managed to receive a drink from Bellona! Although the request was met by a counter request in that Bellona wanted a kiss so there was that. Whether it was because it had been a while since she received one or whether it was just to spite Enyo Ares didn''t know and he figured it was better if he didn''t ask and set them off again.


    Bellona took advantage of Ares, much like Enyo had been planning on doing, as he couldn''t initiate the kiss so she made sure to really take her time with the matter, interlocking her lips with his and not letting go, which just confirmed Ares'' suspicions this wasn''t about him! For two women who were more than happy to share Ares they had certainly been quarrelling a lot more as of late over who got to put a leash on him and drag him around to their heart''s content. It was fine though, Ares felt no need to intervene because it all seemed to be in good sport. Ares assumed it was just sister things and left them to it. Granted their dynamic must have changed considerably since the last time they bickered like this back on their home planet but life comes at you fast. Enyo''s life path had been one hell of a curveball but, luckily, it hadn''t affected her familial relationships so she and Bellona were close and that was something Ares was grateful for more than anything. Given Bellona''s almost-hatred for the clan there was very much a possibility they could have had a serious falling out at some point before now which would have made pampering them, and having them live under the same roof, a tense situation. Then again, whether Enyo would have even allowed Bellona into this little three-way life in that scenario was unlikely but, thankfully, Ares didn''t have to think about any of that. He''d gotten the good ending as far as he was concerned and everything was peaceful... At least up until the point he was going to be chucked into a lake for daring to be immobile for all of a few minutes...


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    Now that he''d sorted out, again as far as he was aware, his own immediate and impending doom, Ares was able to spectate the fight in the arena with his divine sense... Sort of. The fight was still ongoing but it was going to be difficult to watch for everybody here as the snowstorm had finally enveloped the entirety of the arena and so getting a view on what was happening inside it was pretty hard. Thankfully Ares'' Omniscience allowed him to bypass the snowstorm so, although everyone else could only see scraps of the fight here and there, Ares had a clear view of it. As for how things had gotten to this point...


    About a minute earlier...


    A pretty white flower had bloomed on Asha''s head. This was the Kiss Of Death mark that came in the form of a Gladiolus. It almost looked like an accessory the way it was neatly tucked into Asha''s short white fur. She looked rather dainty for a werewolf but, obviously, this was a flower she would much rather not be wearing right now. If pulling it out was possible she would have done it by now but, not only was it incredibly hard and painful to do, it would just regrow anyway. It lasted for a set duration and removing it before it disappeared on its own was never going to happen without a magic nullification art of an extremely high level.


    The way the art worked was that it treated a person''s meridians like a seedbed and the flower grew from the victim''s own mana pool. The sprouted flower could technically form anywhere, and when Theodore was usually fighting he would summon it on a person''s back to enable the art without them noticing. In this situation, however, it wasn''t really relevant. Everyone here knew he was hanging around and he wasn''t exactly being stealthy so he wasn''t going to get the drop on anyone. Instead, he simply opted to give the pretty lady a flower in her hair. There was no ulterior motive to this, he just liked being fashionable with the flower when it didn''t matter where he put it. Although Asha wasn''t in her human form right now so it wasn''t exactly how he planned it in his head. Still, the white wolf with a white flower was an interesting sight nonetheless and he didn''t doubt the starlight matriarch, and her kin, would be very pleased right now. In fact, all three of them were now scribbling away in their notebooks. Edgerton in particular seemed to be especially enthused and would no doubt end up creating a ten-plus minute song off the back of this one incident. He''d been dragged here by Margaret but it all seemed to be paying off so he wasn''t being moody right now. It was actually somewhat miraculous to have Margaret and her sons in one place without any arguing but it seemed they were all too busy with everything that had happened until now to be having any kind of spat. Although really that was mostly just Edgerton and Eagerton. Margaret only ever really got involved to calm them down and settle the disputes, trivial though they frequently were.


    As for what this flower entailed... Well Theo''s weapons were going to be able to lock onto Asha regardless of whether she remained within sight or not. The machine guns had all quit poking holes into the gnolls and were now trained directly at the white wolf. They weren''t particularly threatening but she did need to keep an eye on them which slowed her approach down. Seeing as how the hyper-cannon was very nearly finished charging, this could only possible be a bad thing.


    Asha pushed onwards, deflecting the hail of bullets with her claws and / or avoiding them by throwing herself on to all fours to keep a low profile and make herself harder to hit. She zigzagged her way closer but she was starting to see a light inside the hyper-cannon and she knew she was running out of time. What''s more, after taking a grand total of ten steps, Asha had the misfortune of setting off the exact trap she''d been worried about, the drill artillery. The sound of earth being torn asunder under Asha indicated she''d made a blunder. She couldn''t have possibly known where it was but what remained true regardless was that she''d fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.


    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ BANG


    The drill ripped through the earth and breached into the arena, whizzing right by Asha''s flowery head and almost taking it clean off. Had Asha been even a second slower to react the drill would have broken into her skull and poked around in her brain, forcing an end to the fight immediately. Instead, the drill went sailing up into the sky without harming anybody. This was both good and bad because, on the one hand, it gave Asha some breathing room to refocus on the hyper-cannon. On the other hand, it was going to come back down at some point with even more speed than before and then the real chase was going to begin. For now at least, that was a distant concern that Asha could put to the back of her mind. She was nearing the hyper cannon and it was looking like it was going to be a race to the finish. Asha was too close to try and escape or dodge so she was just going to have to go all in and go for gold to prevent the pain train from ramming into her full force. She had the means to stop the weapon from firing but she really needed to be in melee range to successfully use the art that would save her form this predicament. Chill Grip was an art of the ice aspect that could instantly freeze anything grabbed by the cultivator. Non-living objects were also frozen in time as an added benefit so this art had a lot of utility to it in regards to stopping bombs, arts, and projectiles in their tracks. A skilled enough user could even freeze asteroids in their tracks and so on so forth. As for living creatures, strong enough ones could break free on their own but weaker targets were just kinda stuck. It would break eventually anyway but you''d be half frozen over and dying of hypothermia no doubt. The cultivator could also manually unfreeze the victim so it was very useful for capturing foes and dumping them in a prison cell. Law enforcers, whatever form they came in, had a tendency to learn this art and a lot of Legion members in particular knew this art so they could capture scoundrels when on patrol.


    Asha''s goal here was clear as day, freeze the cannon... And maybe see if she could unfreeze it while it was pointed at the creep Theo... Actually, although she was tempted to try, it wasn''t worth the risk. With Kiss Of Death active Asha wouldn''t be surprised if the cannon performed a 180 spin the second it was unfrozen and blasted her to smithereens instead. Theo''s art was incredibly potent and not worth messing around with unless you had a a death wish. Speaking of having a death wish, what Asha was doing now looked incredibly risky. She was about three steps away from the barrel of the cannon which was about a second away from firing. Everyone, Theo and Asha included, waited with baited breaths to see who would come out on top here. There was truly no telling if she would make it. She pounced forward, arrived one step closer, and now there was roughly two thirds of a second left until it unleashed all manner of chaos. At her current pace, she would make it in the nick of time but that was provided she made no mistakes. Her sprint down on all fours needed to be stable but, given how she didn''t spend much time in this form, it wasn''t as easy as it sounded. She was not as well versed with travel in her revenant form as other people in the clan were so not messing up anywhere was a task that required a lot of concentration and power of will.


    Asha took another step but this one had been far slower as the pressure had admittedly gotten to her a little and her front right paw stumbled on the ground for a brief moment. She now had roughly one fifth of a second to take the last step and that just didn''t look possible no matter how she sliced it as her original step had been perfect yet still took one third of a second to complete. That didn''t mean all hope was lost, however, as a dive was still in the cards! Hitting the dirt and performing a take-out slide, baseball style, was very much an option. It was actually the only option but that was an irrelevant thought right now for Asha who had just leapt forward with all her might and was shoving her hand as far forward as it could go. She emptied her mind of all distractions and simply threw her body at the cannon. It felt like her hand was going to twist off her wrist with the amount of force she was exerting but it was better to sustain a wrist injury or a pulled muscle in her arm than be blasted in the face at point blank by a hyper-cannon. Plus she was still a revenant at the end of the day, small scale injuries would heal before the end of this fight even. Asha''s hand was mere millimetres away from the cannon when...


    WHIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR BANG CRACKLE


    The cannon fired and some of the squeamish spectators in the crowd shut their eyes and tightened their facial muscles. They had imagined the white revenant being blown apart and it was not a pretty image but, had they opened their eyes, they would have seen that she was currently A-O.K! Yes the cannon had fired but the beam was still within the barrel and, so, when Asha froze the cannon the beam was frozen along with it. The beam was still considered a part of the cannon until it exited the barrel and became its own entity, at which point it would have shot through the ice encasing and obliterated Asha''s upper body had it come out even a second earlier. The beam could travel at the speed of light so having frozen it within the cannon was nothing short of a miracle and Asha was lucky to even be alive right now. But alive she was! She rolled past the cannon and eventually came barrelling to a skidding halt in front of Theo who was still twirling his moustache like some kind of cheesy comic villain. With the twin machine guns pointed straight at her, the drill in the sky slowly coming back down, and the cannon raring to go, it was pretty evident the fight wasn''t over yet just because Asha had dealt with the most pressing matter. Still, all hope was not yet lost as her snowstorm was closing in, her gnolls were catching up, and Asha had a lot of fight left in her. Of course she''d much prefer it if Ye could hurry up and deal with Bravo so that he could then come and aid her here. She didn''t really need the help right now but if it would speed things up then she wouldn''t complain about it. The sooner Asha could get away from this whacko, who was clearly currently trying to figure out where on his wall she would look best, the better. Or rather, that look was starting to annoy her and she was seriously considering stringing him up on one of her walls instead. She''d been going relatively easy on Theo up until now because they were all seasons and the bare minimum respect was expected but, after nearly blowing her up and showing no remorse or hesitation, Asha was not in a good mood right now... Maybe she should put the fear of God in him at least once before the end of this spar to keep him on his toes in the future...

 Chapter 232: Hunkering Down for the Long Winter

    The next full moon in Red Sun, according to various experts and calendars, would not be for another few months. There was absolutely no way of changing this but, really, Asha didn''t need to. Part of why she was such an incredibly frightening foe was that, within her snowstorm, she could summon a fake full moon to unleash her true potential. There weren''t many ways for a revenant to improve their bestial form but a full moon was always guaranteed to do it. In fact, on average, the benefit of a full moon was roughly equivalent to gaining another revenant tier''s worth of strength and would more often than not provide the individual with a monstrous power boost. Anyone who was a beta or above would change fundamentally and gain access to a whole host of new skills they wouldn''t otherwise possess as well as a slight difference to their appearance. Typically, learning how to summon a full moon on demand wasn''t possible and les than 1% of revenants ever found a way to accomplish it.


    Being an adept, like Calla, Ares, or Asha (who was a reflex type which very rarely made a difference), would usually lock you out of any kind of art that wasn''t racial. Up until now there had never been a revenant race art that could summon a full moon so people had to go outside their comfort zone to experiment in other pillars. The few revenants that found success were mostly those that messed around with the psychic pillar as they worked on arts that could cause them to hallucinate a full moon which worked for some revenants and didn''t for others. Nobody had yet figured out the reason why some revenants could make use of these arts, and others couldn''t, but it was generally assumed to be a result of poor mental strength causing them to be more susceptible to believing the full moon was actually real. A placebo affect in other words. So the number of limitations that could prevent a revenant from learning a full moon art were high as you needed to not be an adept, not be using dedication cultivation (thus locking you out of the more convenient pillars), and to have low mental strength. Also, although it was implied, you needed to be clever enough to create such a unique art, strong enough to even cast it, and beta or above to make full use of it. Definitely not common and yet, part of what made Asha so unique, was that she was an adept who wasn''t tied to racial arts thanks to her subrace. Her affinity with the ice aspect was so high she could actually create an art that enabled her full moon evolution. Not that anyone else knew bout this. This was a secret she''d been keeping for a long time now, at least a hundred years if not multiple centuries, in case she needed to fight anyone ''stronger'' than her to the death, namely the other seasons. It was an immense boost that would even put her squarely in first in terms of power rankings of the seasons but it was only a trick she could use once before it became an open secret. Still, if it put Theo in his place and got him to stop annoying her then maybe it was worth it. It''s not like there were many people who could threaten Asha''s life anyway and dying wasn''t the end of the world either. Removing the thorn in her side that was Theo meant revealing her grand trick to the world was a small price to pay.


    In order to use the art, though, she needed to be in her snowstorm. Theo didn''t but what was the point of doing it if he wasn''t nearby? Asha could prowl through her snowstorm in her enhanced state but the second she left the area it would fade away so Theo''s presence inside the storm was a necessity for it to even be useful. To that end, Asha needed to buy a bit of time until her snowstorm could close in on them but that was easier said than done. Asha''s current goal, that she''d set for herself in order to come out on top, was to use Chill Grip on all of Theo''s weapons and leave him with no automated defences. He was still strong without them but definitely nowhere near as much compared to his combat proficiency with them.


    Asha took off running as the stare down with Theo had evidently come to an end as he ordered his cannon to fire a shot at her. She ducked under it, leaving one of her poor gnolls behind her to take the brunt of the explosion and die miserably, before sliding around to the side. Although Asha didn''t care much about her gnolls they were still useful so she positioned herself somewhere her soldiers wouldn''t get hit if Theo''s attacks missed her. Asha lunged forward to try and grab onto one of the twin machine guns but Theodore hopped off his cannon, finally, and defended their honour in gentlemanly combat. I.E he kept trying to poke Asha with the end of his cane. It didn''t look like a devastating attack but the explosive pellet that came out of it was no joke and would seriously wound anyone who ignored it so his pokes needed to be treated with due respect.


    Theodore''s close range combat style was fencing mixed with constant retreats to enable his weapons to fire after risky attacks. He would overextend to poke at Asha, rapidly fall back, and let his artillery fire in his absence. If Asha wanted to try and chase him she would be pelted with bullets and cannonballs galore. If she just let him go then she would never be able to strike him, putting her between a rock and a hard place. Tackling Theodore''s cane lunges head on wasn''t a great idea either as he was particularly talented. He''d won many-a fencing competition back on the Legion planet, where the sport was viewed in high regard and had steep competition, so he was not to be trifled with or underestimated as this was somewhat of a specialty of his. Asha was able to deflect Theo''s cane consistently with her claws but she wasn''t really getting anywhere. She could keep this up until the snowstorm arrived but she could also try and throw a few arts out to put her in a better spot overall. In fact, she didn''t even need to use any new ones as Chill Grip would do wonders here, threatening to lockdown Theo''s weapon if he wasn''t careful. Asha activated Chill Grip multiple times in a row whenever Theo attacked her and the rate at which he did so visibly decreased. No longer could Theo just wildly strike, he now had to patiently observe and wait for any safe openings. Not that this was doing him any good as the gnolls were starting to arrive en masse and that wasn''t something he could ignore either. Asha wasn''t the only one stalling, however, as Theo''s drill artillery was about to land, at which point he would summon some more weapons and take control of the fight once more. If he could gain the initiative, kill off the nearby gnolls, and then focus fire on Asha he could still very much win this. It''s why he wasn''t too fussed about the repeated Chill Grips, he was just as content to slow the fight down for now as he was readying himself to speed it back up later.


    Theo struck out at Asha''s knee but she returned fire whilst ignoring the attack. Theo could strike her but he would likely lose his cane afterwards and that wasn''t a trade he was willing to make so he retreated. In his place, a cannonball came booming through the air towards Asha who nimbly contorted her upper body to swerve out the way. The cannon shot off into the arena wall and blew up, creating yet another dent in the wall the C.O was going to have to fix. This rampage the seasons were going on was actually rather troublesome for the C.O who really wished they would have done this anywhere else...


    Asha feinted an advance to force the machine guns to fire at her so her gnolls could keep creeping up on Theo. This was the final straw and now the gnolls were able to arrive at the artillery commander''s position from behind, sandwiching him from all sides in an uncomfortable location smack dab in the centre of the arena. His own plan was coming together but he still needed a few seconds so he pivoted on the spot and activated an art. "Unload!" A classic that had shown up a few times throughout the tournament. On the surface this looked to be a rookie error. Yes, in the moment, it was clever. Theo could deal with the Sgnolldiers while his unloading cannon and machine guns would now be capable of fending off Asha without his aid... But what about after? The punishment that came inbuilt with the art, that prevented these weapons from firing again for a lengthy period of time afterwards due to overheating, couldn''t be avoided so he would be leaving himself completely open!... Not!


    Theodore''s title of expert had been earned through countless battles and tribulations so it was only natural he''d planned countermeasures. For starters, the reason Theo didn''t summon all his weapons at once in close range fights was precisely because of this. Unload only affected all weapons within a certain range so provided Theo didn''t summon his other weapons before he used the art he could use them as a backup while these ones were overheating. This was the masterful way to use this art, by being highly selective and treating it like a temporary boost top specific entities rather than an all in win condition that left you high and dry if it failed. This way, Theo would deal with the gnolls, the weapons would hold off Asha until he was done, and then afterwards his new weapons could be directed wherever they were needed in the moment and Theo would maintain his advantage as the drill would finally drop back down to earth. Theo wasn''t making a mistake, far from it, he was picking the perfect move of a wide selection. Like in chess, sometimes sacrificing a piece, or taking a turn that looked un-optimal, was actually the correct way to proceed relative to whatever grand scheme you were concocting. As an artilleryman, Theo had a lot of experience fighting from the back lines where he could aid in strategizing efforts with the Legion masterminds so being able to make brilliant choices had rubbed off on him as he learnt indirectly from the greats.


    While Asha was under heavy fire, and forced to maintain her ground instead of pushing forward, Theo was swinging his cane around with semi-reckless abandon. Every swing was enough to cave in a gnolls head but he still retained his dignified posture and bearing as he did so, opting not to give into brutish temptations and fling his body around like a monkey. His strikes were precise, fast, and effective. He rotated between smacking and shooting explosive pellets which netted him incredible results against the waves of enemies assailing him as he ducked under spear stabs and retaliated with pokes to the brain. A gnolls brain wasn''t anything impressive but it was still way more functional when Theo''s cane hadn''t just poked a hole into it. Theo swiped aside a spear and kneed another gnoll in the gut before pushing it backwards with his cane. The stumbling gnoll bumped into another, causing them both to stagger, while an explosive pellet followed up and blew both their heads off. Though the amount of weapons he had out and about wasn''t quite the same as usual, there was nothing Theo enjoyed more than mowing down weaklings to the tune of a cannon and bullet barrage in the background. His weapons weren''t having quite the field day he was, as Asha would not go down quietly, but Theo was in bliss right now as he tripped a gnoll with his cane and crushed its stomach with his foot.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Theo briefly checked something above him and decided it was the right time to make a move so the next gnoll that came at him, with teeth fully on display and ready to chomp on Theo''s neck, was winded via a punch straight to the abdomen. Theo then swung the cane upwards and struck the gnoll on the jaw, sending him flying up into the air where he became a very easy target. Asha felt she had to pay attention to this weirdly showy string of attacks because something felt off about it. She soon found out why when Theo''s explosive pellet blew up the gnoll in mid air, right above Asha, and the drill from earlier came crashing down through the stream of blood and fur. Theo had worked in tandem with his artillery to cover for its approach by using the gnolls body up until it would become an obstacle, at which point he removed it via his pellet. Had he not done this, Asha''s chance of dodging would have gone up considerably and, if he hadn''t used the explosive pellet, the drill''s speed would have slowed as a result of barrelling through a body. Theo had executed his plan to perfection yet again which, unsurprisingly, put Asha in a terrible spot. It didn''t end there though as Theo summoned out three new weapons and aimed them all in whatever directions they were needed which ended up being a mix of towards the gnolls, right at Asha, and somewhere in between.


    Asha didn''t have time to worry about the new weapons because the drill took priority and needed to be avoided pronto. Her life was made somewhat easier by the fact that the Unload duration had just run out so she wasn''t going to be assailed by the machine guns or the cannon any longer. As for how she was going to escape her fate right now... Well she had Calla to thank for that. Also her reflex adept trait as almost anyone else in her position would have died before they even realised what was happening. She was able to take everything in quickly enough because of her trait. it didn''t come in handy often but she was happy to have it when it did. Anyway, back on the drill dodging discussion, the way Asha was going to avoid the incoming pain train was a way that Ares instantly recognised, mostly because he''d been doing this a lot lately! Asha raised her palm, faced it towards herself, and pushed as hard as she could while yelling a word that a few other people had been chanting here and there in this arena during the tournament.


    "Echo!"


    Asha had apparently learnt Echoes! To be fair, it was a fantastic art and there was zero reason not to learn it if you were a cultivator with any skin in the achieving immortality game. The versatility of the art was immeasurable. Quick, offensively a powerhouse, defensively solid, pseudo mobility by self-damaging, potential for combination with divine sense, and could be enhanced via pressure as well as flung at range. It was too good of an art to not know so it was unsurprising Asha had learnt it... Kinda. The reason the other seasons hadn''t learnt it was simply because they didn''t know it existed, other than Ye who saw it during the Umbra vs Legion match, otherwise they definitely would have. Asha only knew about it because Calla had very nearly shoved it down her throat a couple of days ago while ranting on about how her ''precious and big and fluffy baby was oh so smart''. Asha had to agree, however, as she was pretty impressed by the art as a whole so she learnt it pretty much on the spot and it was already making itself useful. As for the other seasons, Ye would go on to learn it as soon as he could get his hands on it, as he''d asked Margaret to fetch a copy via her sons when they were able. Bravo would be the last season to acquire it, as he wasn''t here to see it right now, but he would eventually make great use of this art in hunting down mecha dryads specifically. Mecha dryads were tough because of their hard outer shell, a problem which was circumvented by the internal nature of Echoes provided they were strong enough. And perhaps most interestingly of all was Theo. Yes he would combine it with divine sense, given his incredible divine sense that was to be expected, but what he would do that truly stood out from the crowd was create an Echo artillery weapon that could amplify and fire them at great distances. The benefit of this was that they were nigh invisible and could effectively be used as undetectable sound bombs that penetrated buildings. This was highly unorthodox but he did a great job of creating a functioning Echo launcher so kudos to him. Ares may have been the origin of the art but there was no doubt countless others would go on to improve upon it in various ways and make it their own, that was par the course of course.


    BANG


    Asha flinging herself around via an Echo would go on to leave quite the impression on Theo who, as mentioned previously, would go on to do some serious investigating into this art but that wasn''t the important detail right now. What actually mattered was that the drill had missed her by a hair''s width and sunk back into the earth, killing off most its momentum and drastically reducing its lethality. Of course the drill was now going to start hopping about like a dolphin as it chased Asha but it was less fierce than it was kinda cute, actually. Deadly, very much so, but still very cute. Almost like a puppy vying for attention and hopping around after a human. Asha didn''t have time to pet the drill though because one of the new weapons Theo had summoned was already firing directly at her.


    BANG


    A large bullet pierced Asha''s left breast and created a gaping hole in her upper body that was rather gruesome to look at. It could have been a lot worse had Asha not reacted to the bullet in time but that didn''t mean this wasn''t still a pretty rough injury. As for what was responsible for this attack, a gigantic sniper rifle that, honestly, looked more like a railgun than anything that fired bullets. It was a long range heavy hitter that fired a calibre of bullet that should have really been illegal in every domain out there. Just because it was a long range weapon that didn''t mean it couldn''t function up close and personal when it needed to, however, and that was especially true of targets marked with Kiss Of death. This bad boy could spin on a dime and put a hole in you no matter where you were. Asha had been too focussed on the drill to fully dodge this new weapon and she paid the price for it. Luckily, though, she was a revenant with an impressive cultivation base so her wound had already begun healing. It would take a few hours to patch up but, considering the size and location of the injury, which had even clipped her lung, being able to recover fully so soon was phenomenal. The wound was painful but wasn''t actually severe enough to affect her fighting strength so it was really just an annoying inconvenience more than anything problematic. Still, she had to take care with this new weapon to make sure it didn''t put a hole in her somewhere far more hazardous to her health. It wasn''t a quick firing weapon but it was the one that packed arguably the strongest punch here right now. It would truly start to shine when the machine guns and cannon were back up and running as, then, its downtime would be made up for by everything else. A constant hail of lead and cannons were what was in store for Asha so the sooner she could end this fight, as soon as her snowstorm arrived, the better.


    As for the other two weapons, one was a zap cannon capable of shocking multiple foes. It would shoot a bundle of charged electricity up into the air and then, when it crashed into the floor, it would explode in a range that was determined by how much kinetic energy it had stored up. In other words, the further and higher it was fired the larger the area of its detonation would be. Anything hit by the electrical discharge would then act as a node for the electricity to spread from to nearby foes, the amount of which it could hop to was determined by the size of the initial explosion. This was the weapon not aiming at Asha as it was currently on mob clearing duty. Theo had sicced this weapon on the pack of gnolls and it was barbequing them spectacularly. The firing range was short, so the initial zap wasn''t all too impressive, but that didn''t mean the weapon was ineffective at this range either as the deceased lumps of charred flesh could very much attest too. The zap cannon was doing its job well, chaining electricity between the numerous foes, but Theo still had to stick around and hammer a few more gnolls with his cane just due to the sheer number of them. If he''d had the zap cannon out from the start this wouldn''t have been an issue, and it likely would have cleared out the horde by now, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Keeping weapons in his back pocket for a rainy day was why Theo had lived as long as he had as risk reward situations never did appeal to him, he was by no means a gambler.


    While the zap cannon was making its shocking debut, the third and final weapon Theo summoned was getting ready to flare up. It wasn''t a flamethrower, although Theo did in fact have one (it was infinitely more powerful than Bravo''s and would have burnt this coliseum to a crisp if he whipped it out), it was actually a napalm launcher! Theo could set multiple targets, launch a few napalm grenades up into the air, and then watch on as he cordoned off various areas with burning misery. The napalm was hot enough to melt humans easily and was actually one of the stronger weapons in his arsenal. Luckily he could reduce its output by limiting the amount of grenades he fired which, thankfully, didn''t shackle the power of each individual grenade. It''s not that they weren''t as strong as usual, there was just less napalm to go around when he put restrictions on the weapon. Theo had to do this otherwise he would turn this section of Red Sun into the inside of a volcano. The four seasons were all holding back a considerable amount of power here! As for where Theo had fired off these napalm grenades... Well he hadn''t yet. He was saving them for a rainy day as the snowstorm was now no more than a few inches away from turning this area into a frosty white hell on earth. Theo wanted to keep the napalm grenades available to him so he could set up a defensive position amidst the snowstorm and have the napalm keep him toasty. If he set up a circular barrier of napalm then both he and his weapons could hide within it, firing at Asha''s Kiss Of Death mark from absolute safety.


    The snowstorm rumbled over the earth and chilled the ground it hovered across, signalling its arrival via the tune of chilling winds howling in Theo''s ears. Asha slunk backwards into the storm with one final glare directed at Theo before she vanished for good. Theo was going to have to keep his eye out for some rifle shots as she would no doubt pester him with them but what he really had to keep an eye out for was a problem he wasn''t yet knowledgeable of. Still, it wouldn''t take him longer to figure it out as the appearance of a giant full moon within the snowstorm would very much clue him in to what was happening. He was completely unaware of that at the moment, however, so he felt confident as the snowstorm rolled over him. The scope of his divine sense was immediately curbed and he would struggle to find Asha if relied exclusively on sight but his Kiss Of Death made his life far easier so he wasn''t fussed. Overall, he was feeling good, save for the chill creeping up his spine that he chose to ignore, and felt like he might have this win in the bag. Oh how wrong he was.

 Chapter 233: Saved by the Bell

    Theo''s first order of business was to launch his napalm grenades. Roughly 70% of the ones he fired went near enough straight up into the air, as these were the ones he was placing a circle around himself with, while the remainder were tossed in Asha''s general direction via the Kiss Of Death mark''s guiding light. As the amount he fired was more than enough to cover his defensive hidey hole throwing a few extra out there just to annoy Asha, and maybe singe some of her fur, was a harmless idea that couldn''t backfire. Plus, if aimed right, Theodore might even be able to cut off some paths she might be intending to take and / or limit her movement. I.E if one grenade landed on either side of her then dodging the next sniper shot would become infinitely harder with both her left and right paths sealed off. It was a small hope, and not worth banking on, but there was no reason not to try at least.


    The grenade cluster shot up and, shortly after, came plummeting back down. They crashed into the icy ground and split apart, spilling the napalm all over the floor and melting away all the snow and ice. It was so potent it even started digging through the earth and creating a makeshift moat but far more dangerous for anyone who fell in. Somewhere deep in the snowstorm the extra napalm grenades created a small orange glow signalling to Theo and letting him know they''d landed next to Asha. Theo nudged the sniper rifle which instantly flicked to the gladiolus on Asha''s head, wherever she was right now, and fired off a bullet. There was no way of telling if it hit anything but seeing as how the snowstorm was still up and running it meant Asha wasn''t dead at least. Until Theo caught sight of her, and things progressed beyond just launching long range attacks at her, he would just keep spamming ranged attacks at her position mercilessly. She was the one being bombarded here and needed to do something to turn the tide. In fact Theo felt so comfortable he brought out his portable brewery set and started making some oolong tea. This wasn''t his first rodeo with colder climates and he''d been on multiple excursions to icy planets before. Tracking down yetis and other rare monsters for their cultivation resources was something Theo was frequently called upon for and so he had a good number of survival tools in his spatial ring including, but not limited to, a tent, a large cauldron for making soup, large quantities of water, fire starting apparatus, and clothes that were suitable for extreme environments.


    Over by Asha, who funnily enough also kept some survival items in her own spatial ring, she''d just been shot in the leg by the sniper rifle. That thing was seriously deadly! Even with her improved reflexes she''d been caught off guard by the speed of the lightning fast bullet. Still she didn''t have time to be feeling sorry for herself as the zap cannon had also just fired and the drill was skirting around in the snow. It almost looked like it was having fun but, unfortunately, due to its shape there was no way for it to make snow angels. The drill just had to accept the spiral shaped holes it was capable of creating. It was rather pleased with itself every time it made one, though, and, now, it seemed like it wanted to make one inside of Asha as it was leaping over towards her. Asha was in a bit of a bind here as the napalm had indeed blocked off some of her paths. It was why she wasn''t able to dodge the sniper rifle shot earlier and now the next two attacks were going to be equally as hard to avoid under such constraints. The napalm had done one better than create a narrow alleyway, it had formed a ''u'' shape directly behind Asha, preventing her from retreating while narrowing her scope of escape from incoming attacks by upwards of roughly 300 degrees. There was less than a ninety degree angle worth of space in front of her to avoid anything so dealing with the zap cannon and the drill simultaneously wasn''t going to be pleasant. Provided she lived through this one-two combination, which ought not to be too hard just a bit annoying, she would have some free time to use her full moon art and begin terrorising Theodore.


    First up was the drill trying to nibble at her heels and drill through her ankles. Honestly, this part was more troublesome than dealing with the zap because it was an energetic little fellow that kept moving about without any breaks like it was having a sugar rush. That or someone accidentally gave it too much caffeine. Either way, hitting it square on was a bad idea as going toe to toe with the drill head was a foolish decision. Asha could guarantee a hit but she was guaranteed to be hit in return if she did that and it wouldn''t be pleasant. Chill Grip would remove the drill from the fight but what injury would she have to sustain in order to easily reach that point? She could try shooting it but that was what she was planning on doing to the zap cannon''s electrical ball, sniping it out of mid air to prematurely detonate it harmlessly above her. If she shot the drill she wasn''t sure if she''d be able to fire again in time to deal with zapper. Asha had never made an effort to get good at managing the bolt handle on her rifle. She knew of the ''mad minute'' but that wasn''t really her style as she valued precision over rapid fire so the time between shots with her hunting rifle was actually painfully slow. It hadn''t ever mattered to her before because she rarely, if ever, missed since she became an expert with the weapon. Asha was very much the type to not shoot until she could swear on her own life nothing would go wrong with the shot, be it wind speed, target movement, or other miscellaneous obstacles. Point being, shooting the drill, and sending it flying off somewhere into the snowstorm, would not give her enough time to then aim at the zapper falling down towards her right now. Theo had really gotten her good with the napalm even if he hadn''t been strictly trying to.


    So how to deal with the silly mini drilly? Well, it was somewhat of a brutish solution but, when the drill eagerly leapt out of the snow towards Asha, she punted the underside of it with her foot like a rugby ball! It whined and whirred as it was blasted off into the distance, slowly fading out of view. Asha almost felt sorry for it until she realised the damn thing would be coming back to annoy her again later and that was when all of her sympathy disappeared. Asha unslung her rifle and stared down the sights as she checked through the snowstorm with her divine sight. As this storm belonged to her she had a much easier time navigating it and could see the zapper coming clearly despite all the icy fog. Various calculations regarding bullet drop, the zapper speed, and distance were all taken into account, including many more that were simply too plentiful to list, and Asha took a deep breath before firing like she always did. It was force of habit because back when she started learning how to use the rifle she would psyche herself out of committing to shots. She started forcing herself to shoot whenever her deep breath finished, even if she wasn''t feeling confident in it, and now firing had become second nature the second she was done inhaling oxygen. This had been a pretty valuable tip that got her a lot of mileage, bac when she started to learn how to use the weapon, from a hunter who was passing by the Umbra planet as he''d heard it made for excellent hunting grounds. It was true too as there were plenty of wild animals to hunt and the only requirement was that any and all hunted animals must be handed over to the Umbras. They desperately needed the meat and fur to feed their relatively large population so that was the trade-off to being allowed to hunt freely. For that reason it was considered a hunter''s paradise, many frequently turned up for leisure holidays there, and they were treated well by the revenants who were happy to have them... Provided they weren''t trying to hunt werewolves anyhow. A couple of fools had tried that but... Well... It didn''t end great for them, that was for sure. As a general rule of thumb, if you try to hunt one revenant in the TPMZ, sooner or later you''ll have upwards of a hundred hunting you down for sport. Your best bet was to find one skulking about outside The Perpetual Massacre Zone, as there were a few, because then getting pounced on by a swarm of angry wolves wasn''t as likely.


    Asha fired her rifle and the bullet flew straight as an arrow. Like a bolt out the blue it sailed through the frosty mist and collided smack dab in the centre of the zapper, safely disarming the situation and giving Asha a break from the constant stream of attacks. The sniper rifle or maybe the cannon would be the next in line to fire but they were still a way aways, plus the cannon was too far for the cannonball to take Asha by surprise and she could easily react to it from this distance without a hassle. Now that all potential hitches in her plan were sorted out and dusted off, it was time to bring out the full power of her revenant form so she got down on one knee, aiding the mana in her body to circulate in a specific way, and chanted "Blue Moon Lake." Her unique art was a combination art of the surge and ice aspects that tricked her into believing a full moon was present.


    As Asha''s mental realm was far too strong to fool she had to take a slightly different measure and actually create a physical ''moon'' that really existed to truly sell the lie. That was where the ice aspect came in as countless shards of ice combined together like puzzle pieces to form a dark blue sphere in the sky. This ''moon'' was visible anywhere and everywhere throughout the snowstorm but it was also very clearly fake. It was certainly beautiful, though, and looked almost like it was made of a delicate blue glass. It could very much be used as a decoration if anyone was so inclined it was simply that pretty. It even gave of a blue light that shrouded the snowstorm in a dark blue blanketing hue and turned down the lights within it. This all still wasn''t enough for Asha to enter her full moon form though and that was where the surge aspect came into play. The water magic created a decently thick layer of water on the ground inside the area affected by the snowstorm. This water followed the storm wherever it went as it was vital to making the full moon strategy work. Looking directly at the moon exposed it for the fake it was but the rippling water down below, shimmering with every step anyone took through it, muddied the clarity. If Asha looked up, she saw a faux moon, if she looked down, it was far too hard to tell and it definitely looked real enough. Unlike the mental arts this ball of ice had the benefit of actually existing as a physical entity. It wasn''t a matter of whether it was even there or not, like with the mental arts, but rather a matter of whether it was actually a moon or not and that was far easier to pretend for most people. Sometimes pretending wasn''t even necessary as Asha could just convince herself it fell under the definition of what a moon actually is via some strange technicalities. It didn''t have to make any logical sense it just had to be at least somewhat convincing and, provided she never looked to the sky, it had always worked for her thus far so she must have been doing something right. Additionally, relatively minor though it was, the water on the floor could be frozen over by Asha to freeze anyone standing in it if they weren''t paying attention. The art was primarily used for accessing her full moon revenant form on the go but this extra benefit was worth mentioning as it could sometimes make a difference.


    Sometimes.


    It likely wouldn''t matter here, however, as Theo immediately understood this risk and was hovering above it with his flight magic. Draining mana to stay away from that risk was worth it in his opinion, especially seeing as how he was still trying to figure out what exactly was happening. He originally didn''t connect the dots and visualise the ice ball as a moon but...


    AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    ... That tell tale noise followed by him catching a glance of the ''moon'' in the water''s reflection beneath him cleared things up. Admittedly, Theo panicked a little because on demand full moon form was a horrifying power for a revenant as skilled as Asha to possess. He felt comfortable up until this happened and now he just felt trapped and isolated in his ring of napalm, that was what it meant to be in the presence of a full moon revenant. The temperature somehow dropped even lower, the world around Theo dimmed, and a snarling sound kept ringing in his ear. His heartbeat was like a drum and the suspense was ramping up with every passing moment. Occasionally, he could bear witness to a sharp white silhouette dashing around in the mist. His gladiolus did let him see Asha''s rough location but it was changing so fast even the automatic weapons were having a hard time tracking her consistently, making them nearly completely irrelevant here. What was the purpose of weapons that would lock onto their opponent but couldn''t turn fast enough to chase them?! Also, worryingly, they were just eerily spinning in circles which meant one of two disastrous things for Theo. Either A; the weapons all suddenly broke for some reason. This was the less likely of the two options and, atrocious though it potentially was, was still a better outcome than the other, more glaring option... Option B... Asha was just that fast now... She was speedy enough to outrun his weapon''s targeting systems and that would be a devastating issue that he couldn''t really fix no matter what he did.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    BANG


    Theodore was greeted by the full moon Asha via a bullet from her rifle aimed at his flank. He leaned back and swiped with his cane to swat it aside but, before his cane could even connect...


    BANG


    A second shot was fired. This was understandable, as it wasn''t even an unreasonably fast fire rate, but that wasn''t the problem here... Theo could have easily dealt with it by blocking both bullets one after another if it weren''t for the fact that the second shot came from the complete opposite side than the first one... Given that Theo was stood dead centre in the arena, Asha circling him and appearing behind him in a about a second flat had implications that Theo really didn''t want to think about right now. He tried to put it to the back of his mind while he dealt with the current issue by having his cannon shoot the second bullet as he dealt with the first. Typically the sniper was the most accurate weapon but the bullet was smaller than the cannonball so the cannon had a higher chance of hitting Asha''s second shot. Theo knocked away the first bullet with his cane and, as was instructed, the cannon blew up the second shot.


    Theo then wasted no time in firing all his weapons at the Kiss Of Death gladiolus the second they were able to. The unload penalty had worn off, as was evident by the cannon firing, so it was ok to go all out with every single weapon he''d summoned thus far. The twin machine guns, the cannon, the sniper rifle, the napalm launcher, and the zap cannon. Every single one of them spun to fire in Asha''s general direction, with some of them even trying to predict Asha''s movement at Theo''s behest, and the ensuing cacophony of booming weaponry was deafening. Theo was grateful for this overwhelming noise as it drowned out the sound of his own heartbeat and calmed him into a false sense of security. He couldn''t hide his anxiety forever as his weapons had to stop firing eventually, he just hoped that when they did Asha would be nothing more than a clump of bloodied fur, riddle with holes and missing chunks of flesh due to the cannon. Unfortunately, when his weapons all stopped firing, the exact opposite was true. Asha was still healthily sprinting around the outer edge of his vision. Was she toying with him? Choosing to not advance on him like this... Was she intentionally trying to agitate Theo into making a mistake? He was fearful, yes, but he wasn''t an idiot and was more than happy to sit here with his freshly brewed tea for as long as it took for this fight to end!... Actually, now that he thought about it, that entire plan relied on Bravo winning his own fight and coming down to aid him but he''d seen neither hide nor hair of him because of this damn snowstorm. The one thing Theo knew for sure was that the Base Of Operations had just vanished which could only mean the fight over there was done. Who''d won? He had no clue but if Bravo didn''t come busting through these white, ethereal walls soon he would have his answer even if it was one he really didn''t want.


    Another few rifle shots were fired at Theo who was just about able to swat them away but the empty threats were starting to eat away at him. Why was she doing this? Why was she just firing shots at him that would never connect or do anything to change the status quo? Theo was feeling incredibly uncomfortable about this whole situation when he realised one of his weapons was still technically out there, fighting its own good fight. The drill! What on earth was it doing? Even Theo didn''t know where it was anymore which put him on red alert because it wasn''t a weapon capable of distinguishing friend from foe. It wouldn''t try to attack allies but it wouldn''t feel any remorse for anybody it hit, that was for sure. If the drill had just been chasing Asha as it was supposed to then Theo wouldn''t be concerned right now but, as that wasn''t the case, he could only wonder what Asha was doing to the poor thing. She could have used Chill Grip on it and was now treating it like a weapon she could release at the perfect time in Theo''s direction to sneak attack him from below. If she angled it slightly downward, chucked it at him, and unfroze it at the right time the drill would sink into the earth before resurfacing directly under him. That was entirely possible and now Theo was keeping an eye out on the ground just in case that was her strategy. The damn drill was becoming a headache! The poor visibility was seriously making the drill an unpredictable element that Theo really wished he hadn''t summoned earlier. The over-excited drill had over-extended and now God only knows where it was or what it was doing...


    Whirrrrrrrrrrrrr


    Oh rats... Well... Theo found the drill. It wasn''t underneath him in the snow piles digging its way past the napalm, no, it was actually in the air directly above him. Asha must have hung around the edges of Theo''s vision while waiting for the drill to attack her again so she could pick it up and toss the little fellow up into the air, sort of like how she''d been attacked by it a while back. Theo had thrown the gnoll into the sky to block her view of it and now Asha had used the snowstorm to cover Drilly''s tracks. It hadn''t pierced through the fog yet but the friendly buzzing greeting it gave all of its playmates was clear as day and gave away its position. As far as it was concerned, this was a game of tag, not hide and seek, so any and all noise it made wasn''t an issue as Drilly''s main concern was hugging as many people as it could. Theo was grateful for this as he would have been struck by Drilly right in the brain were it not for the sounds it was regularly making. He was too busy staring at the floor because he''d overthought the method of attack and the direction of its approach. Even his divine sense hadn''t been prepared for this as he was using it to try and scan for Asha. He would have rather used the pulse bomb that could scan Asha but that was still cooling down from its previous use. It was a strong piece of utility so it needed breaks between use and there was no way for Theo to speed that up. Not that it mattered right now as Drilly was a far more immediate problem. Plus, whatever Theo did to prevent his cranium being mined for gold would no doubt leave him open to Asha who would take advantage of his busyness to close the gap and try to end things once and for all. Whatever Theo did here, the end of the fight was rearing its head and Asha would make sure of it.


    In the end, Theo opted not to rely on any of his weapons to snipe Drilly out of the air whenever it finally became visible through the fog. It was far too unreliable of a method and any of them missing would be devastating. It''s not that Theo didn''t trust his weapons, quite the opposite, it''s just that the time they''d have to react and save Theo from the incoming drill was simply not enough as none of them were facing the correct direction to pull it off right now. They were machines, limited by their components and inner workings. Just as they were incapable of tracking Asha, they likely wouldn''t be able to perform a massive shift in aim in such a short window when Drilly came barrelling down through the remaining ice clouds. It was unreasonable of Theo to place that expectation on them, and this was his fault to begin with as it was a direct result of his carelessness, so he took on the responsibility to protect himself from the problem he caused. The weapons could deal with Asha as she approached as Theo was more than capable of using Unload again... The problem was that he had to wait for Drilly to land before he did because Unload would affect the annoying drill too. If he used Unload early then Drilly would crash into Theo with even more speed and that was obviously a no-go. Still, having Unload in his back pocket was reassuring as the firepower he had available to direct at Asha in this last clash was monumental. Full moon form or not, Theo was ready to tackle his fear of the unknown head on! Theo took a slightly lower stance, to give himself more time to react to Drilly''s whereabouts, and braced himself for the showdown that was mere seconds away.


    WhirrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    Drilly''s greetings became crystal clear the second he became visible and his cries of joy were no longer muffled by the snowstorm. Theo thanked his lucky stars as the tiny fella wasn''t on a direct crash course with him, making his life a tad bit easier. keeping his posture low to the ground, Theo swivelled back a half step and readied himself to bat Drilly with his cane and send him flying at Asha who''d just sprung out of the snowstorm and revealed herself as she came charging towards him. Theo didn''t have time to look at her right now though as he had to concentrate on Drilly. All he''d seen out the corner of his eyes was that Asha''s fur was stood on its ends and her previously soft-ish appearance now looked grizzly and menacing. Theo concentrated and gave Drilly a good WHACK for all the trouble he''d caused thus far, sending him flying over towards Asha so it could play with her instead. As he did this, Theo made sure to chant Unload and dump all of his weapon''s ammunition straight at the monstrous revenant.


    Asha had grow a few feet taller, her fur was now a deadly weapon that could impale anything that came into contact with her, her claws had frozen over, and she was generally all around stronger. She was faster, tougher, had improved senses, and could cast more powerful magic. Being only a beta wolf meant her changes were unimpressive compared to others who were higher tiered but, as a general upgrade, it was quite notable. She had a dangerous and ominous aura, the kind an ancient, destructive beast would possess after being woken up from a thousand year slumber. It was an aura of inevitability, one that assured you no matter how much you struggled it was all in vain and that was being proven correct right about now by Asha''s performance against the weapons as she ran towards Theo. She didn''t bother dodging the machine gun fire as it could no longer even dent her, the sniper rifle shot was caught in her teeth and spat out into the napalm moat where it was melted down into smudge, the cannonball was sliced in half by her frigid claws, Drilly was kicked off into the distance once again, the napalm at her feet couldn''t even burn her, and the zap cannon''s zapper was straight up punched by Asha''s furry fist and blasted into the group of weapons. The shock didn''t short circuit them but it did slow them down, not that it particularly mattered. Asha slunk through Theo''s Unloading defences one by one, Chill Gripping each of them as she passed by like a floating white ghost, while drawing ever closer to Theo who was gritting his teeth and worrying he was going to be murdered here if Asha didn''t control herself.


    Crackle


    The last of Theo''s weapons had been completely frozen and he only now had his cane to fend off Asha with but that was an exercise in futility no matter how he looked at it. He feebly raised his cane to try and block a swipe from Asha but it was pointless as the cane was smacked aside and ripped out of his grasp like Asha had been stealing candy from a baby. Theo winced as Asha raised her claw, ready to bisect him. It looked like this would be his final moment as the claw came scratching towards his neck...


    Clang


    Asha''s iced claw clanged against a fiery sword that somewhat defrosted her and chilled out her temperament. A few petals and flowers made it abundantly clear who''d arrived and intervened in the nick of time. It wasn''t Bravo but Theo was still happy to see a cooler head here regardless. He would rather lose the fight than his life... Although really Asha probably wouldn''t have gone that far against a fellow season. It was more likely she would have just cut off an arm or two which was annoying but not an unsolvable issue with high quality medicines. That was the extent of the injuries typically inflicted on one another.


    Sure enough, now that everyone had calmed down, they could see Ye after he unveiled himself from within the cloud of snow nearby. He was seemingly unharmed after his bout with Bravo, for the most part, and carrying with him, under his arm, a quietly purring Drilly who''d been batted his way a few seconds earlier by Asha. With a gentle smile he suggested the following, "Why don''t we end this here? Continuing would be pointless as I believe it''s already clear who''s come out on top today."


    As Ye was 100% right, Theo sighed in defeat but also in relief because now he could get the hell away from Asha. He''d received the message, that she didn''t appreciate his cadaver collecting hobby, loud and clear and would quit pestering her about it... Unless she just happened to die and he was nearby in which case he wasn''t exactly going to give it up for no apparent reason! Theo was cautious but he wasn''t a quitter! Well he was technically quitting right now, as he could fight to the death if he really wanted to, but not in that sense, more so in regards to getting what he wanted through persistence. Anyway, he''d been saved from pain and the fight was over. That was the current state of things and it was high time he left. Not just the arena but the domain. The Legion team were already out and he''d failed his mission so there was nothing left for him to do here. He could spectate Ares further and take some more notes but the elders were already doing that and he wasn''t needed. Theo wanted to find the Echo art tome, go home, perform some maintenance on his weapons, and relax by the fireplace as he studied the Echo tome with some fine wine by his side. That sounded nice right now and he could do with some warming up after nearly being frozen over. Theo thanked Ye and casually said goodbye to Asha who''d just exited her revenant form and retracted the snowstorm. They were all still on the ''same side'' at the end of the day and Theo was nothing if not polite!


    Thus the seasonal spar had come to an end, one that was within expectations but also for the better. The matriarchs didn''t need to get involved so that simplified things going forward and they would all be sure to give Ye and Asha gifts for helping them out. Quid pro quo. Today had been rather eventful but, for Ares, it wasn''t quite over yet... Yes, even after all of this, Bellona was still fully prepared to throw him in a lake!

 Chapter 234: Getting Dirty to Facilitate Playing Dirty

    CLAP


    Ahem


    Ya Ye didn''t exactly need to throw his voice around to garner everyone''s attention as he very much already had it. The centre of the arena had been such a massive clusterfuck for the last twenty or so minutes that it was nigh impossible for anyone to have not had their eyes glued to it. The only time anyone stopped spectating the arena happenings was when they had to crane their necks to the sky to catch glimpses of the treetop scuffle. Regardless, Ye cleared his throat mostly to signify that the unplanned events for today were over and relieve anyone who was worried they were going to be stuck here for longer. They could have already left but why risk it? It was safer here were the experts were than leaving the stadium and getting accidentally involved with whatever nonsense was transpiring here today away from the safety of the pack. The throat clear was enough for some people to get up and start running for the hills before Ye had even opened his mouth to speak so the subtle insinuation that everybody was free had gotten across clearly.


    "Dear citizens of Sheryashka, I, Ya Ye, the Summer Colours'' Blade, would like to extend an apology to you all on behalf of the four seasons. We, alongside the assassins from earlier who''ve already been dispatched and faced their punishment, have created quite the ruckus and made a royal mess of this day of the tournament. There are no excuses for our selfish behaviour and all we can really do to make up for it is stick around for the rest of the event and make sure nobody else causes a fuss. We promise not to cause anymore scenes nor will we allow anyone else to. The four seasons tend to be results driven so now that we''ve settled our dispute it will not occur again, that I assure you. For all of those who are worried about today''s events, please understand that you were never at risk and we were in full control of the situation. You are perfectly safe to continue watching the tournament at your leisure, especially now that we will be devoting our all to safeguarding this historic venue. Though it isn''t much, to make up for this transgression, I will be compensating anyone with grievances. I shall be waiting here until midnight and anyone who wants a high grade stardust for the interruption today is free to come and ask for it. I hope this generosity can help us overcome the rift between us that our side has caused.


    Furthermore, I believe we also owe the C.O an apology for our handling of this matter. It was not our intent to overtake this arena and belittle your authority for our own spat it''s just that our clans have a very complex relation and it all happened to kick off today due to various events you''ve already borne witness to. If you would also seek an apology via renumeration, then we can discuss such a matter in private later. I will be sure to be in touch by the end of tomorrow so please consider what it is you want in return for today. Though the other two seasons have already left, we all hope you can just treat what happened here as a sort of side show and not think on it too deeply. Thank you for your time. I''m sure it needn''t be said but, just in case, all the events today are over. I would recommend you all head home and not loiter unless you aim to speak to me for your compensation. That is all."


    Ya Ye''s speech was direct and to the point. Simple and effective. He conveyed everyone''s grievances, explained without excusing his behaviour, offered appropriate compensation, and appeared genuinely apologetic. He''d bailed out the other seasons and saved everyone''s reputation as well as dispelled any doubts the citizens had about their safety. This speech wasn''t textbook only because it had yet to be put in any but it undoubtedly would make its way into at least one at some point in time. ''A guide on how to give the perfect apology''. As for the high grade, it was a metric ton of money to anyone on the lower floors so naturally they were all going to clamber over each other to speak to Ye about it. Those higher up in the floors might not have cared about the stated incentive but the unstated benefit of getting to chat with one of the four seasons was arguably even better so they were equally pacified as they also clambered over one another to get down to the arena. Ya Ye had told everyone they could leave but the people who actively left were few and far between. The overlap of people who weren''t poor, and didn''t need the compensation, and those who weren''t rich enough to make use of the connection that was Ye, were countable on one or two hands. In short, about 99% of everyone present here today was satisfied with things and the other 1% could be ignored because, let''s face it, somebody somewhere was always going to be unhappy about something. That was a universal and unavoidable truth so it was best not to have sleepless nights over it.


    Up on the top floor of the coliseum, Ares was being hoisted onto Bellona''s back. She was going to carry him back but was currently arguing with Enyo over why taking a ''detour'' was necessary to spend more time with Ares and Appa in private. Something something ''improving family bonds''. Thankfully, for Ares'' dry self, Enyo was insistent that if Bellona wanted to take a detour then she would follow her to the ends of the earth. Enyo, for all her faults, at least understood Ares'' current predicament was a rough one and that dumping him in a lake was problematic for various reasons. He could very well become ill because of it and, although healing an illness wasn''t too difficult thanks to Allie''s pills, it was still pointless putting him in that position to begin with. Also, after the assassination attempt today, chucking Ares in the middle of nowhere and abandoning him was recipe for disaster and that was Enyo''s biggest concern. Bellona couldn''t argue against this because Enyo was really driving the point home and seemed to be serious about that specific matter. To that end, it looked like Ares would escape his fate today without needing to bargain with Blo Blo. He sighed in relief but was a little worried when he heard Bellona kiss her teeth and mutter that she''d ''get him next time''. Ares was going to have to sleep with one eye open around this woman!... Which was weird because he already had to sleep with one eye open to prevent Enyo from assailing him at night as well... At this rate, Ares was never going to sleep again unless he learnt to sleep with both eyes open! Why couldn''t they just be sweet and cuddly?! Why was it always horny or mischievous?! And there were two of them! It never ended...


    Over by the matriarchs, Calla was being braggadocios about her big and fluffy baby. The revenant form really was the highlight of today, even in spite of everything that had come after, and was still the number one thing stuck in everyone''s head. A mythological being had literally descended upon this coliseum today so it was no surprise that it would be the main talking point for everyone, including the C.O who had a lot of clean up work to do as a result of it. Arguably, Ares'' revenant form was even rarer than anything ''mythological'' because it required such a ridiculous combination of happenchance that it was almost completely unfeasible. Sometimes myths could be accurate to some degree but if anyone in the wider world heard this story they would treat it as pure fiction. They''d be more inclined to believe whacky stories about Gods from eons past because many things were possible in the cultivation world but Garmr was pretty unfathomable. Then again, the main issue was actually just that people didn''t want to believe it, not that they couldn''t. Who on earth would want a draconic revenant colossus God of destruction running around!? That was disaster waiting to happen no matter how you looked at it! Even the matriarchs were constantly glancing at Ares because he was seriously out of whack.


    It was such a stroke of luck that Ares wasn''t involved in the war. Had he not met Enyo, and gone on to discover the war in his own time, he very well may have gone down a different path. Enyo, and to a lesser extent Bellona, were like the glue holding the Umbras and Legions together so Rhea silently gave her daughters a thumbs up for taking one for the team and marrying an annoying revenant. Also, she was just generally happy that her children were tied at the hip to such a prodigal cultivator. There would be a lot of attention on them, and they wouldn''t live quiet lives, but Ares would make it much easier than it would have been otherwise overall. You either wanted to be middle of the road as a cultivator, so you could defend yourself the rare few times it mattered, or to be so completely untouchable only the most stupid or foolhardy even dared. Being weak meant everyone would gladly trample you at every opportunity because you were easy pickings. A shockingly beautiful woman like Enyo would attract a lot of attention so her being both strong and married to Ares, who could swing his own weight around too, was the best possible outcome because there was no other way of going about it really. Other than never going beyond Vraizon and hiding forever in the Legion clan, Enyo would struggle unless she was constantly top dog as the hounding would just never end. Pagoda Ares, his revenant form, and his connections would all be enough to dissuade a significant chunk of the morons who would try their hand at messing with Enyo so Rhea could not possibly think of a better partner for her than Ares. Plus, obviously the most important detail was that he made her happy.


    As for Margaret and Serene... Well Margaret was just more interested in painting Ares, or Garmr specifically, and was currently trying to haggle with Calla to temporarily take him back to her home planet. Calla refused because if Ares was going to anyone''s planet it would be hers first and, also, Ares couldn''t even bring out Garmr at will yet so it was pointless regardless. Ares could visit of his own volition when he ascended from Sheryashka and Margaret would just have to wait until then like everybody else.


    Then there was Serene who, more than anything, felt pity for her son. Mako was going to have a pretty massive glow up before the next match came around. She''d seen his improvements first had and he wasn''t even done absorbing the lingering remnants of the resource yet. Whether or not it would be enough to beat current Ares... That was impossible to tell and only a direct duel between the two would answer that question... But what Serene was really worried about was what came after. Ares'' revenant form wasn''t available to him currently but it would be more than enough to guarantee his superiority over Mako at a later date. Even if Mako won now, it wouldn''t be by enough to have a comfortable lead over Ares and the acquisition of Garmr would reverse the tides instantly. And that was just if Mako won. If he lost, knowing Ares still had a massive upgrade to his fighting prowess in the near future... Mako wouldn''t take it well.


    Mako really had his work cut out for him. Of all the times he could have been born while seeking the number one position in the world, it just had to be at the same time as Ares... It was honestly unfair to him because at any other point he wouldn''t have any competition... Other than other fundamentals maybe, he had no idea how strong they were, but it was still irksome for him and Serene could tell. Still, it was a good kind of agitation that spurred him on. He would rather struggle to win than effortlessly dominate as then he''d just get bored. He would be immeasurably disappointed if nobody could ever stand up to him and make his position feel earned or worthwhile. Mako unironically wanted to occasionally not be first so that being first could taste that much sweeter. It''s just poor luck that there was a chance Ares'' very existence meant he would never be first. Up until Garmr, Serene didn''t think it would be possible to hold Mako back forever but now?... Well she wasn''t entirely confident Mako, save any major developments, had it in him. The weapon he had in his back pocket, the legendary one he worked tirelessly on, might aid him but it''s not like Ares didn''t already have his too. Calla and Rhea had already told Margaret and Serene about the Primordial Blade as Ares, the pagoda version at least, had given them permission. It wasn''t a big secret to these lot anyway as Mako already had something equivalent and that was also an open secret between them. The only ''secrecy'' was that Serene swore not to tell Mako about it in advance and give him an advantage, that was it. Anyway, the point being that Serene wasn''t convinced that Mako''s weapon was stronger than Ares''. It was impressive, and easily the best treasure Serene had ever personally seen, but a sword with an entire dimension inside it? Mako''s treasure was going to have to be more impressive than Serene gave it credit for to compete. Maybe it could though! Treasures like that were hard to understand immediately and required countless hundreds of thousands of years to explore properly. There was no telling how strong it truly was so comparing it was pointless as both seemed like the type to constantly evolve over time anyway.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Nobody else had any reaction to Garmr of note other than maybe Verv who, for some inexplicable reason, wanted to fight him... But that was just Verv being Verv. He slept through the match, woke up to watch Garmr, and then went right back to sleep as soon as he disappeared without a care in the world for whatever it was the seasons were getting up to. Stardust is made of dead people? Someone tried to assassinate his brother? Nope, didn''t care about any of that. Sleep and fight, that was really all he wanted to do. He was quite stubborn about it too as he was even making his brothers pick him up and carry him for no reason other than because Ares was also being carried. Whether he was misunderstanding the situation or just trying to copy his self-decided rival was anyone''s guess but he was being a nuisance! Both Skyzo and Scar made sure to give the mutt a good kick before heaving and ho-ing as they picked him up. Bellona might not be throwing anybody inside a lake today but these two sure as hell were!... Although it didn''t really matter... Verv would just sleep in the lake quite happily. He would find it cooling and nothing more, plus it was arguably a bigger problem for the other Umbras as he would come back smelling like wet dog... Maybe just taking him directly home was for the best...


    Speaking of going directly home, that was precisely what Ares and co did. Ares had promised good food and that was enough to get everyone moving. He also offered food for everyone else who was here but they were all mostly pre-occupied so that was a resounding no... Other than Calla and Sadie but the latter was basically always available whenever Ares was cooking. Or rather she''d open up her schedule in a heartbeat so there was no point ever even asking. The answer was always yes. On the way back Enyo picked Appa up and prevented the little sneak from drenching Ares. It had been looking forward to creating a pond and dunking him in it so it was trying to at least splash him a bit. Enyo put her foot down, however, and promised to instead buy Appa a water gun at some point in the future and then it could wreak all the wanton havoc it wanted to while Ares could clean up after it. Appa wriggled with joy before snuggling into its mother''s chest and relaxing there for the remainder of the journey. Ares wanted very much to go over and hug his adorably cute daughter but the whole ''still can''t move thing'' was preventing that. Curses!


    After they all made it back, Bellona did an excellent job of fending off Enyo who was now trying to get her own way and drag Ares away like a dragon kidnapping a princess. Bellona might have given up eventually if it wasn''t for Ares giving her permission to practice her direction changing magic on him. It was a bit awkward, as he couldn''t move, but he gave her permission to roll him around on the grass in the back garden as part of the experiment. It was either this or Enyo and Ares wanted bodily control back at some point today. If Enyo knackered him out even further he wouldn''t recover until tomorrow, by which point Enyo would want more of him and the cycle would never end. Enyo had to be avoided at all costs so a face full of grass was absolutely the correct play here... Even if Bellona kept snickering at him the whole time... She was more engrossed in taking the piss out of the stupid sod on the grassy sod. The ribbing was brutal but Ares put up with it and took it on his chin. After all, he had a trick up his sleeve that he''d been saving for this very moment! If both his wives had been planning to take advantage of him, then he was very well going to take advantage of at least one of them! Seeing as how Blo Blo was the major culprit behind all of this he''d targeted her and was about to hit her with an ultimatum now that they''d finished up with their training. His evil smile clued her in that something was very much amiss and that the smug punk was going to fight back! You could take away Ares'' arms, you could take away Ares'' legs, but you couldn''t take away his damnable mouth!


    "Blo?Blo." Ares cooed at his wife as his smile widened with a blatantly fake ''innocence''. His brand of ''unassuming'' was very in your face and it was a little disgusting, actually. The kind of happiness that sent shivers up your spine. Bellona had never felt so off-put by an affectionate call, not that it stopped Ares from continuing before she could even deny his request for an audience. Bellona would have shot him down and run away, leaving him out here by himself if she had been a second faster! Knowing this just made Ares want to punish her even more though! It had been a while since he''d been intimate with her, and was in the mood to play around with her a bit, so he''d concocted a request she couldn''t refuse. "Blo?Blo. I''m dirty from rolling around in the mud and need to be washed!"


    "Hell no!" Bellona spit out her answer and was about to leave when she realised she didn''t really have a choice, actually. She''d been cornered by this rodent from the moment he suggested they train!


    "Blo?Blo, if you don''t clean me then who will? If you put me in Enyo''s ''care'' I''ll never leave the bathroom you know?" This, in and of itself, wasn''t a huge problem. What did Bellona care if Ares was busy getting his Roger Jollied by Enyo? So what if he was having pleasure amassed in his mast without avast? Bellona did not care if Ares bilged on her anchor! They could sail the seven seas to their heart''s content but there was a slight problem with letting those two play pirate unchecked... Ares was the cook! His presence was needed to feed everyone and it was getting close to dinner time... If Bellona didn''t wash him then Ares would disappear at this crucial junction and everyone would be left hungry as there was no leftover food in the fridge. Everyone would have to go back out to eat which was a pain in the neck as everyone was tired after the long day they''d had and was fiending for some home cooked meals. Enyo had no qualms throwing everyone under the bus and so trying to reason with her to let Ares out of the bath was a laughable suggestion. In other words, the fate of everyone''s stomachs in this house rested solely on Bellona acquiescing to her husband''s selfish demand. She was impressed he''d come up with this plan on the fly but also annoyed she''d fallen for it! This bastard deserved to be thrown in the lake and Enyo shouldn''t have stopped her!... Although, technically this was as good a chance as any to throw Ares into a body of water without being reprimanded for it by Enyo... Silver linings? Also, she didn''t hate the thought of messing around with Ares for a bit, she was mostly opposed to the idea because she''d been conned into it. It had been a while since their last escapade in private so why not? What? Was she just supposed to keep watching Enyo have fun on all on her own? Ares was Bellona''s man too!


    "Fine. I''ll wash you, happy now pervert?"


    "Yep. Also I''ve been called a pervert enough times by Enyo to have become fully immune to the word. There is one pervert in this house and it is neither you nor I. Also, I want a little more than just a wash."


    "... Fine, I''ll give you a handjob too but that''s it! No more!"


    "Wouldn''t have asked for anymore, I''m perfectly content with that for now."


    "For now?"


    "Mhm, I''ll be gone for a while after the tournament but after that? When I come back? You can''t hide from me forever, o'' wife of mine. I do want you."


    "Pft, who doesn''t?"


    "Ok, calm down with the arrogance." Ares chuckled. "But I am serious. I was willing to wait but I''m starting to get a little impatient because I want to deepen our connection even further. Expect me to be more aggressive when I return from my trip. I will be looking for every opportunity I can to get you in a dress and you already know what that means after what I told you back at the party. Actually, now that I mention the party, we never did have a proper dance. I''ll admit I ruined that but I want to make amends and do right by you on that front. We can work that out when I come back though, the tournament really is eating up all my time. Sorry. You know I''d pick you over it if I could but it''s just too important for the future to skip."


    "It''s fine, I know." Bellona picked Ares up off the floor and gently carried him on her back. "You don''t have to keep telling me your busy, we''ve already been over that and I''m not the kind of person who needs to hear it twice. Or thrice. Or however many times you''ve mentioned it. Besides, I''ve been thinking about it and I have basically infinite time on my hands to love you, right? Sure the other wives, like Enyo, will need to reach immortality before they can say the same but my revenant blood will awaken soon right? Forever''s a mighty long time to be stuck with you so taking things slowly here and there isn''t necessarily a bad thing. Absence can make the heart grow fonder, I guess."


    "Ha, that''s what I said! Way back when, to Aejaz, I said the exact same thing during the Cultural Appreciation Day. Great minds think alike. That aside, though, as long as you know I want to spend time with you then that''s fine. I didn''t just pick you today over Enyo because I wanted to avoid being turned into a dehydrated bundle of bones and drained skin, I did it because I was just in the mood to play around with you a bit more. I''ve been missing you as of late so I''m actually glad you didn''t get to toss me in a lake somewhere and forget about me because I would not have forgotten about you as I lay there."


    "Tsk, don''t get all soppy... Thank you though, hearing that makes me happy." Bellona''s face was flushed a bit in embarrassment but she was smiling clear as day. Maybe she''d put in a bit of extra effort when handling Ares in the bath. The snake had wooed her with his honeyed words but that was fine, she wanted to hear stuff like this every now and then too. Enyo had gone on a long rant, a long time ago, about the compliments Ares had given her back when they were doing the ''stare-down'' challenge in the snatcher town hotel room and Bellona was a little jealous. Ares really hadn''t complimented her very often. It wasn''t a big deal, and whenever he''d done it it had clearly come from the heart every time, but she wanted to hear more just casually on a day to day basis. If Ares was going to be manipulative and get his way then Bellona could play at that game too! She was willing to put a bit of extra effort in the bath but only if she had the appropriate motivation to do it!


    Ares was a little confused by Bellona''s expression, which was a mix of shy, smug, embarrassed, and happy, but he knew the bath matter was about to become more complicated than he''d planned for...

 Chapter 235: Chit Chat About This and That

    Ares had been placed on the floor while Bellona ran the bath. He was paying her back for countless headbutts by nudging her leg with his head, which he''d regained minimal control over, like an annoying pet.


    "Will you cut that out?! I will drown you in this bath!"


    "You would be so cruel!? I''m showing affection here!"


    Hmph


    Bellona snorted as she checked the water temperature but didn''t move her leg. "Alright, looks good. Tell me what you think." Bellona splashed Ares'' face with hot water, snickering as he yelped.


    "Hell no! Are you trying to burn me alive?!... Did you use your magic on it?! Oi! That''s cheating!"


    "Yeah, so is having multiple women in your life!"


    Splash


    Bellona had heard from Enyo that Ares wasn''t particularly fond of being labelled a cheater so she threw the term out here to mess with him. He looked shocked that the old accusation had reared its ugly head, "I will not tolerate this baseless slander! It is not cheating if you are aware of, and accept, one another! If I am a cheater, then that makes you a homewrecker!"


    "Yeah yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night."


    "You do." Ares kissed Bellona''s leg and winked at her. "Hugging you is very comfortable, you know? Are you sure you weren''t a pillow in your last life?"


    "Tsk, good things were finally coming out of your mouth and you just had to ruin it with that snarky comment at the end. Whatever, I''ll drag some politeness out of you yet."


    "Hm? How so? I''ll warn you, many have tried! Many have failed!"


    "I am not many people. I am your wife and you will obey me!"


    "Pfffft. No." Ares laughed defiantly in the face of Bellona, daring her to do her worst! It''s not like either of them were taking this conversation seriously, Ares obviously was not ever going to ''obey'' Bellona, that was ridiculous. Still, they were having fun so messing around and having dumb conversations like this was fine. At the end of the day, in this household, it was Ares > Enyo > Bellona in terms of who was able to put their foot down the hardest. Ares was head of the harem and he had appropriate say over any and all matters, it''s just that he never felt a need to take anything insignificant seriously. If he really cared about his wives jokingly pushing him around he would have put a stop to it long ago but they were harmless and not actually treating him like a pet even if they acted otherwise. The smacks, which thankfully hadn''t happened in a while (excluding Enyo''s recent one), were an excellent example of that as it was more akin to being slapped by a paper fan. It made a lot of noise, and looked real, but Ares felt basically nothing whenever they did it and that was intentional. They controlled their output to make sure they weren''t actually hurting him and Ares would never have been ok with that anyway. Only Bellona''s random punching spree had ever been acceptable and that was because he trusted Enyo when she said to just let her do it. It ended up being for the better and Blo Blo had apologised to him since so it was fine as far as Ares was concerned. He didn''t even really feel the punches anyway because, real though they were, the main intent behind them was flooring him and not causing him harm. His pride was more damaged than his body, if anything at all. Point being, it was Ares'' decision to ''allow'' the ''attitude'' that his wives were constantly demonstrating because it just made life more fun for everyone involved when they all acted like a bunch of fools. Yes he could strictly regiment everything if he really wanted to, Enyo and Bellona wouldn''t really raise a fuss, but it''s just not the sort of environment he wanted in his home. It was simply better when everyone was expressing themselves however they wanted to without fear of Ares being a spoilsport and cracking down on it. This house would not be half as lively if Ares had Enyo and Blo Blo stay their hands and mouths all the time. Besides, it''s not like he did anyway. The mouthiest person in this whole house was Ares!... Or maybe Leo, actually. He was also definitely a worthy contender for the champion position.


    "Yeah, well, right now you don''t have a choice. If I say get in the bath, you will get in even if I have to throw you in."


    "Good point. Before that happens, though, can you take my clothes off? I don''t want to have to put them out to dry after." Bellona leant down and started removing various articles of clothing from Ares as he continued the conversation. "By the way, the direction changing magic. Where did you get the idea for that?"


    "Oh that? I''ve been thinking about the limitations of my magic lately... Or more like the limitations I''ve imposed on it for no real reason other than that I think the heights I imagine shouldn''t be accomplishable. There''s a lot of stuff I just never thought to try because it sounds ridiculous, like I shouldn''t be able to do it. Or rather nobody should. I love my magic but I still treat it like it''s ordinary even if I know it isn''t and can go so much further than standard aspects. Unique aspects are always a slight cut above the rest and I need to get deeper into that line of thinking and really push my magic."


    Bellona had fully stripped Ares and picked him up. Originally she''d been planning on chucking him into the bath but she was preoccupied with explaining her thoughts and it ended up slipping her mind entirely.


    "Like, I know it''s kinda crazy, but what if I created a reflective barrier around my skin? A barrier of measurement manipulation magic that doubled the distance between me and anything that touched it. Wouldn''t that just make me completely invincible as long as I had the mana to keep it running? I thought about it when I was a kid, because I liked imagining a future where my magic could be that cool, but as I grew up I tempered my expectations a lot. Everything I got out of my aspect was above and beyond what others expected of it and I was satisfied with that... But why should I be? Why can''t I make myself invincible as long as I have mana like I originally dreamed of? If I work hard enough, there''s zero reason why not. But even invincibility is still basic compared to some other things I''ve been thinking about trying... Stuff that I know I can''t do yet. Stuff I would need to become a Goddess in order to actually manage to pull off. I mean, Gods and Goddesses are basically the arbiters of what they represent. Their definitions and laws are what the rest of us tend to live by as they can directly influence such matters and change the way we understand them. It would take effort but I imagine the fire God, Ignizz, wherever he is right now, could come up with a cold fire if he put in the effort, right? Rules mean nothing to these people and so, logically, the rules holding me back could be shattered if I make it that far. Who decides how measurements work, exactly? Who chooses which unit of measurement to use for which object? Who creates new units of measurements whenever they''re deemed necessary? If I were a Goddess I could directly involve myself in the answer to all these questions and make some of my wilder dreams come true.


    I can envision a me that is stronger than even some fundamentals if I''m truly ever able to stretch my magic as far as I want to. I told you I wanted to get stronger and become someone remembered in the history books so I revisited some of those childish ideas and the direction change magic was a result of that. It was a silly little experiment that changed my perspective of the use cases of my magic and revitalised some of those old expectations I had for myself. Everything in this world can be measured in some way or another and I need to fully explore all of it as well as go on to create my own unique approach to handling these things. I need to undergo apotheosis and in order to do that I need to train and improve. Sitting around and waiting for cultivation resources to fall out of the sky, or out of you as was the case with the fine grind, is silly and defeatist. I''m still a once in a lifetime cultivator! Remembering that when I''m around you and Enyo can be hard though. I shouldn''t be comparing myself, I should be putting my nose to the grind and working hard so that I can compare myself. I was getting angsty sitting around and not doing anything for the last couple of weeks and it finally got to me, leading to all of this. I''ve been a bit more active with my magic practice while you were in the cultivation room but I''m still only getting started."


    Ares was placed carefully in the bath during Bellona''s long talk and had quietly and intently listened to her ramblings. "I''m glad to hear it. You can talk to me about this kinda stuff, you know? Whenever I''m not busy I like to chat with you and catch up with what you''ve been doing, including cultivation stuff like this."


    "I know. I just wanted to wait until I tried it all out first. No point getting anyone''s hopes up, mine especially, only for it all to fall flat. It''s not like I told Enyo any of this or anything, you aren''t being left out. That''s just how I like to do things... Although I guess sharing things with you in the early stages could be fine too. It''s just that my ideas aren''t usually anything concrete near the beginning of their life cycle, just vague suggestions."


    "It''s up to you. If you feel comfortable sharing then by all means. If not, I''ll wait until you''re further along in whatever schemes you''re hatching."


    "Bah. Schemes? You make me sound like some kind of evil witch."


    "Well... I mean... If the heel fits then... GLUBAUGHGLUGLUB." No, Ares did not have a stroke midway though the conversation, Bellona simply dunked his head under the water. A few seconds later, after the message had sunk into his brain properly, Bellona raised him up and leant over him with a fierce glare.


    "Where''s the money, Lebowski?!"


    "Lebowski? Who the hell is Lebows... GLUBAUGHLUBGLUG"


    "Watch more films, dork!" Bellona raised Ares back up again after some small wish fulfilment with a radiant smile on her face. Ares was a strong cultivator and could stay under the water for an hour if he wanted to so this all was mostly just a bit uncomfortable for him. Besides, he was going to have to get wet anyway at some point in order to get clean so bitching about this was pointless!


    Pew


    Ares spat a little bullet of water at Bellona who wasn''t able to dodge in time and was splattered on the face. She gave Ares a narrow gaze and pouted but went back to normal shortly after. Ares wanted to know a bit more about Bellona so he extended the whole film conversation a bit. "I didn''t have you pegged as a cinephile. You must be bored out of your skull down in Sheryashka, then?"


    Bellona flopped onto the side of the bath, folded her arms on the rim, and leaned her chin on her arms with a weary look. Her hand, draped over the edge and poking the bath, ran trails through the water as she sighed to no one in particular. "No kidding. I used to watch films all the time. There was even this big movie place on my home planet. Mostly showed detective and superhero films though, although you probably could have guessed that. I have a pretty big collection of DVDs, video tapes, and CDs with all the stuff I watched growing up. It''s old fashioned, and now everything is typically digital, but it brings back memories. I brought some with me down to Sheryashka, so I could watch some in my spare time, but it was pointless ''cos I didn''t realise how tech deprived this domain truly was. Seriously?! What''s up with this place!? Is everyone a luddite?! I haven''t seen a single TV or computer since I arrived! All my films are just sitting in my spatial ring for nothing... I''ve been so bored! All the new shows and films I''ve been missing... Ah whatever, at least there''ll be a backlog for when we all get to Vraizon. The starlights are really prolific and produce most of the entertainment with their abundant actors and scriptwriters so I''m sure there''ll be some good stuff available."


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "That makes sense. I''m not even remotely surprised the starlights are all in on the entertainment front."


    "All in doesn''t even begin to cut it. They''re the culture capital of all the lower domains, basically. Everything you can think of. Musicals, films, poetry, art galleries. And even some of the weirder and seedier stuff like makeup for corpses and pornography. They get really into the strangest of things but, at the very least, they''ve thankfully never combined those last two... As far as I know anyway. But man do I wish we had a TV in this house, would make the days go by quicker when there''s nothing else to do... Ah, the good ol'' days when I played pong with Pele on the TV. She was damn good at it, you know?" Bellona started washing Ares'' head and hair as she reminisced.


    "Pele was the undisputed champion of pong for years... Until Enyo gave it a go and beat Pele on her first try. I think that was when it first sunk in to both me and Pele how special our sis'' was... Over a silly game of pong. Ha, but we were kids so it makes sense our standards were so low, I guess. You wouldn''t have pictured it though. Enyo, uptight shield master with a permanent frown. Also the Goddess of pong! It kinda saddens me remembering it, though, because I think Enyo was actually happy during those few matches she played with us. Major eventually found out and forbade her from playing ''stupid games'' so... Yeah, no more games with Enyo after that. It soured things for me and Pele too so we also stopped playing games because we didn''t want Enyo to sit around, cleaning her already spick and span weapons and armour repeatedly while she watched us in envy. We were considerate and I think she appreciated it. It might have sounded like a small thing but small moments like that were why we all managed to keep getting along and not turn on one another despite the different directions we were headed in. I''m proud of it. Enyo could have become a very bitter and hateful person, I think, but I choose to believe me and Pele did out part in preventing that...


    I''m getting side-tracked. I was gonna say it''s a shame because games started getting really good around the time I stopped playing them. That was mostly a result of that simulated planet popping up, advancing the technology in Vraizon massively overnight. Still a strange story that one. Apparently that planet used to just be a giant, desolate ball of ice that was home to a bunch of frost liches. Supposedly all but one of them are gone now for some reason and the last one is hella pissed his home planet devolved into some kind of twisted game for the masses. He''s been trying, fruitlessly, to reclaim his land... It''s a sad state of affairs for him, though, ''cos he''s just treated like a grumpy old man. Some of the visitors even think he''s nothing more than an evil NPC, a simulated final boss. Anyway, I kinda wanna visit that planet one day. Maybe play some games with Enyo and Pele once more. Of course I would play with them here but this domain really has nothing in the way of tech, huh?"


    Ares managed to just about shake his head before giving an explanation of why. "Unfortunately no. A lot of the tech advancements in this country happened in Neo Gear Land and they were quite insular until a while back. They never shared anything but welcomed any inventors to come reside in their country and contribute as long as they never left. If you were a creative type who wanted to make something then Neo Gear had all the best tools and opportunities so why would you ever try your luck elsewhere? It was monopolistic for sure, and created a cycle wherein Neo Gear kept improving while everyone else was left behind in the dirt, so eventually the C.O stepped in. The process of spreading the tech is a slow one and, rather than doing it gradually, the C.O wants everything to be distributed equally and simultaneously. You get some people, like the Neo Vikings, who go to Neo Gear and take back what they can for their small communities but most people have to wait for mass distribution. The C.O could have given TVs to one country, and then another, and then another, etc... But choosing the order would be hard. Someone would always complain about being second, let alone about being last. Deciding which order to do things in gradually would be a logistics nightmare so, currently, they''re creating an unthinkable number of pieces of tech of various kinds like toasters, TVs, automatic lights, and other such things we don''t currently have throughout Sheryashka. When the number is sufficient, they''ll all be handed over at the same time to every country in this domain. It''ll be an overnight industrial revolution of a momentous scale and the prevalence of machinery will become immediately noticeable, drastically changing the nature of this domain form the ground up."


    "Damn, really? I''d never heard anything about that?" Bellona hadn''t been in Sheryashka as long as Ares but a piece of news like that should have surely spread around.


    "That''s because it''s mostly a secret right now. Only people in positions of power know about it and leaders of major cities are clued in. Hans, being a pretty notable cultivator, knows a guy who knows a guy. The information came from Hans and he says it''s 100% reliable so I''d trust it with my life. There is a slight hiccup, however, what with the current state of Neo Gear... It makes mass production a nightmare when the country is basically in the middle of a cold war. Plus, the C.O is technically fuelling it and giving the war legs by indirectly funding it. In order for the mass production to go ahead, Neo Gear needed to be paid and... Let''s just say a lot of that money is going into other projects. A lot of the C.O''s negative reputation stems from this as the citizens of Neo Gear are vaguely aware the war is being funded by them for one reason or another even if they don''t know the specifics. It''s a pretty big misunderstanding but it''s also somewhat accurate. The whole situation is really messy so when all that tech will actually make it to the outside world is anybody''s guess though, if I were to hazard one, not anytime soon. We''ll probably be long gone and in Vraizon before it happens, at which point it wouldn''t really matter anyway because Vraizon already has an abundance of tech."


    "I look forward to it, ascending to Vraizon I mean. We can have movie nights and relax together with some good food. Don''t worry, I won''t spoil anything we end up watching together! I''m excited, actually. I get to show you so many classics." Bellona seemed genuinely expectant and had high hopes so Ares would be sure to make it happen. It wasn''t the kind of thing that would be difficult so there was no reason not to help Bellona get what she wanted. Besides, Ares was down to watch some films and eat some popcorn with Blo Blo. Maybe even watch some with Enyo and Appa too. Just a quaint family night in with something to do.


    Bellona finished cleaning Ares'' upper half and her soapy hands caressed his waist before venturing further down. She eventually reached the main attraction and flicked it with a scoff. "Does it need to be that big?"


    "Yes." Bellona had barely finished her sentence but Ares wasn''t having any of it! This woman wanted to use her magic and shrink it! He could see her inner prankster, bursting at the seams in an attempt to break free!


    "Honestly... How does Enyo even fit that thing inside of her? I don''t think I could take all of that if I tried... Although maybe with magic it wouldn''t be impossible."


    Ares gave a wry smile and chuckled sheepishly. "Well, Enyo''s Enyo. It''s probably better not to ask otherwise you''re going to be in for a long conversation. Enyo gets really into sex talk. As for the question you asked... I imagine it has something to do with her pleasure pillar affinity, allowing her to take all of me inside her. I''ve noticed lately that she can make herself more bumpy inside, softer, warmer, colder, etcetera. She has unusually high amounts of control over her body and has even become flexible beyond what words can describe. She''s making it incredibly hard to last any meaningful length of time... Every time I get used to her new tricks she has another one right up her sleeve. It''s like I''m being tormented by a succubus. Hopefully my revenant regeneration will aid me in dealing with her somewhat. Right now she keeps restoring my energy with magic and, hey, I need all the help I can get, I''ll admit it. I can''t keep up with the Goddess of the pleasure pillar, hell no I can''t... But it is a little embarrassing. I get my payback every now and then when I''m really in the mood but I''ve been getting toyed with a lot lately. The worst part is I can''t even put that damn sexy minx in her place because she''d just enjoy it and want more!"


    "Pft, I''ve never heard a man getting laid with such a beautiful woman complain so much. It''s a good thing the Red Sun citizens can''t hear you otherwise they''d be lining up outside the sect with pitchforks. ''I''m having too much intercourse with my drop dead gorgeous Goddess of pleasure wife who''s beauty is literally transcendental''. I imagine a sentence like that would go over so well with any guy with a pulse. Don''t even get me started on the whole two wives thing either."


    "I am a lucky man, I would never deny it. That doesn''t mean I can''t still occasionally be greedy, though. I have Enyo, sure, but I also want you."


    "... I can tell." Bellona had wrapped her hand around Ares'' junk and it was waking up to say hello right now. "I''m a little nervous about taking this thing inside me though..."


    "If it makes you feel any better, I''m not even remotely nervous about putting it in you."


    "Oh ha ha."


    "You could always ask Enyo for more memories. She finally created the memory art, right? She mentioned it briefly to me earlier. It could be a good way to get used to the thought of it even if the feeling is inaccessible to you until the real deal."


    "That might work. After the tournament, we''re headed to the Grecian Lands so I can take a peek at Enyo''s stockpile there and mentally prepare myself."


    "Though I think you being antsy about this is incredibly cute, shouldn''t you be more concerned with Enyo? In the near future she is going to pounce on you. The amount of restraint she''s shown is pretty impressive, actually, but I don''t know how long she can hold back. There''s a non-zero chance she actually wants you more than I do. I would expect her to be unrelentingly aggressive in the Grecian Lands and I really don''t think you''ll be able to avoid it."


    "... Probably. I still see it as a bit weird but I know it should happen. With how close we already are, and will continue to be, it would be far stranger to not do it. Plus if you''re a relative anyway then that ship has kinda sailed already and it''s not something I should be fussing over when it comes to Enyo. I have no more reasons left to deny her so I guess we''ll be getting intimate and, well, she doesn''t have as much patience as you. She won''t force me to but the pressure of doing it with her will be far greater, I imagine. She doesn''t want me running away from the responsibilities that come with being part of the harem and getting used to our changing relationship is one of them. I''m already in the room with you two but she wants me directly involved and step one of that is getting used to Enyo. Step two is you. Then step three is both at the same time. It feels like she''s putting me through a gauntlet... I get it though and I''ve accepted my fate already. I''ve even been trying to be a bit more proactive on that front myself so, yeah, it''s just a matter of time."


    Ares have a cocky grin. "Just remember, no matter how big and long Enyo''s fingers are, I''m bigger."


    "What''s this weirdly competitive vibe I''m getting?!" Bellona looked down at Ares'' rod between her fingers and shrugged. "Although you are absolutely correct... To think this stupid pole is the only thing standing, and I do mean standing, between me and becoming a revenant... I wonder how pure my bloodline will be? I mean I''m a child of the patriarch after all. Maybe I even got a hint of that draconic bloodline too? But I''m a half breed... Will I have any mutations? There''s so many possibilities and I really wanna know..."


    "We''ll find out soon enough and I''m looking forward to it... Although Enyo might actually be looking forward to it the most. I think she''s not-so-secretly hoping you can gain the ability to become a furry... Quite frankly, I have no words or thoughts on this matter. Godspeed." Ares gave Bellona a salute and wished her the best of luck.


    "Gee, thanks."


    "No problem... Now, how about, as a reward, you start moving your wrists a bit? Your soft fingers have been getting me excited for some time and I''m really horny right now. I''ve been thinking about that one time we had some fun a while back, and I want more, but I want us to both be wide awake this time. I want to look you in the eyes and kiss you."


    "No."


    "Eh?" Ares was taken aback. This was not what was agreed upon! Was she going back on her word?! Had he been conned!?


    "Ha, don''t look so disappointed, I''ll still fiddle around with you but there''s something I want in return!"


    "... Ok... I''m listening..." Ares was cautiously optimistic.


    "Compliments. The more the better. If you can come up with insults and jabs on the fly then you can do this too! I know I''m a bit more rough and ready than Enyo, and can be a bit of a tomboy at times, but that doesn''t mean I don''t like being praised. Looks, smarts, personality. Any of it. All of it. Compliment it. My effort will be proportionate to yours. I''ll rinse if you don''t repeat! Get cracking and I''ll get whacking!"


    ...


    Ares was very aware that whacking was slang for masturbation... But he was also deeply concerned she was going to seriously mistreat his mole here!

 Chapter 236: Happy Ending With Blo Blo

    "... Uh, you''re beautiful?"


    "Why do you not sound sure?!"


    "EASY EASY EASY WITH THE GRIP!"


    Bellona let up with chokehold and stared expectantly at Ares who was making doubly sure his next words were chosen particularly carefully. This was supposed to be fun... Why was it a hostage situation?! Ares wished he just let Bellona wash him and be done with it... "Although I don''t really appreciate this specific situation, like REALLY don''t, I enjoy the time I spend with you... Is that acceptable?" Ares asked as he winced and closed his eyes. Thankfully it seemed to be at least passable as Bellona''s hand slowly got to work. It was pretty lazy thus far so evidently Ares was going to have to do better if he wanted better. Ares wasn''t sure if he had an inner Eagerton but, if he did, he was going to have to channel it here and be poetic. If his compliments weren''t well crafted, he would be shafted... And not in the pleasant way.


    Bellona hmmm-ed to herself for a short while before deciding on which question she wanted an answer out of Ares about. "What''s your favourite part of me?"


    "Does your hand count right nowwwwwwwAHHHOUCH EASY EASY EASY. OK OK. I GET IT."


    Bellona was honestly a little surprised Ares had the gumption to mess with her in this situation. He clearly knew what was at stake and yet he really couldn''t hold himself back even now? Revenants really were a different breed of nuisance altogether and the lengths they were willing to go to was maybe even respect worthy. "Try again dumb mutt! I am at least a little serious and want to know your favourite part of me."


    "Well it has to be your eyes."


    "Really?"


    "Mhm, I could happily stare into your eyes all day long. They''re such a pretty colour and it reminds me of my magic. Ah but that''s not the sole reason I love them, they only really work because it''s you they''re attached to. They suit you perfectly. Sometimes, when you look at me with upturned eyes, I get incredibly turned on. I can''t get enough. If I had to pick one reason I''m so attracted to you it would be your eyes, definitely. They''re special. Just the right shade to be pleasing to look at. They can be subtle and soothing or bright and energising. I don''t know if you know this but, sometimes, throughout the day, when you''re busy doing your own thing, I''ll just watch you from the side so I can catch a glimpse of your eyes. There''s nothing I enjoy more than pestering you when you''re sleepy, and part of that is because you''re cute when you''re tired, but the main draw for me is when you struggle to open your eyes and that brilliant amber is slowly unveiled to me. That deep and dark yellow that becomes a refreshing yellow with a hint of shine is the perfect way to get the day started. It''s mostly why I turn to you and bully you with kisses in the morning instead of Enyo if I can avoid her, you''re just so gorgeous I can''t help myself."


    Blo Blo''s grip tightened again but this time it wasn''t overbearing, rather just the right amount to satisfy Ares'' urges. She was feeling shy, and her blushed face spoke volumes, which was probably why she was struggling to maintain direct eye contact with Ares right now as he kept talking. "There''s no winning you know? No matter what you do I''m going to find you extremely cute right now. Even if you powered through the shame and looked me dead in the eye I would just find it adorable. That''s another thing I love about you. You can act aggressive and throw around all the insults and clever remarks you want but, really, you''re just a sweet little embarrassed girl beneath it all. I can''t put into words how much I''m looking forward to being inside you as you lay underneath me with flushed cheeks. I''ll hold you by the chin and stare into your bashful eyes all I want. And the best part? You''ll power through and try to give me a defiant glare, maybe even bite your lip to hide your moans. I can''t wait to toy with you because I want to break that stubbornness. So I''ll let you look away from me now but, later, when I''ve got your mouth between my legs, I''m going to have you look up at me with those radiant eyes of yours. You can try and maintain that tough fa?ade all you want but it''ll just make me want to stroke your head and push deeper into your mouth. Your bark is worse than your bite and I can''t wait to drill that into you, all the while enjoying every second I get to treat your precious eyes like refined gems and observe them to my heart''s content.


    Those are my favourite parts of you. You call yourself rough and ready but you were jealous of Enyo for getting compliments. I think you can be really girly sometimes and I like that side of you too. I like all of you, actually. Brash or bashful, you''ll always be cute to me and there''s nothing you can do about it. You''re too cute for your own good and it makes me want to mess with you. I''m only holding back because of your wish to take things a bit slower otherwise I would have pounced on you a long time ago and shown you exactly what I think of that snarky, soft mouth of yours. I want to do a lot more than just kiss it and I know you want it too. You''ve headbutt me plenty of times but, soon enough, I''ll give you something else to rub your head and face up against."


    Ares had evidently abandoned the idea of waxing poetic. There were hints of it at the start but he saw a greater reaction in Bellona when he started being bluntly honest and rolled with that instead. Clearly, if the sublime feeling in his lower half was anything to go by, it had worked a charm. Bellona''s pace and wrist twisting had both gone up multiple notches now and that could very well either be because she was feeling sufficiently delighted by the honeyed words or because she was starting to get a bit lustful herself. She''d definitely upped her game towards the end when mentioning her head and mouth so it was probably the latter and also a result of Ares'' declaration of intent. The best pat of it all came right at the end as she stubbornly refused to back down from Ares'' provocations, as he knew she would, and stared him deep in the eyes as she pleasured him. She must have felt emboldened by Ares inability to move as she leant over him and shuffled closer to let him gaze into her eyes from close up. When he whispered to her that he was nearly there, she kindly lowered her tiny mouth to his because she remembered his preferences like the back of her hand.


    Enyo had told Bellona that being able to rile up Ares felt like a superpower and right now, as his warmth throbbed strongly in her hands and he sunk his tongue behind her lips with inflamed passion, she could understand why. There were no thoughts in this man''s head other than her and he was practically clamouring to get as much of her as he could. The ability to flip his switch and turn him into this sex-driven beast with a one-track mind tingled Bellona''s nether region, and she was tempted to see how far she could take Ares on this wild ride, but she soon realised that a certain someone was leaning around the corner with a smug smile and just about poking her head into the bathroom. Enyo''s sharp eyes were trained precisely on Bellona''s stained hand and now Bellona was understanding that with great power comes great responsibility because she''d accidentally used this specific superpower on two people at once! Bellona made short of work of the stains by washing it off in the bath before Enyo got any funny ideas of which she undoubtedly had many right about now.


    "Oh no, don''t mind me. I don''t want to interrupt you, I just want to watch." Enyo coyly waved her limp hand with a grin on her face.


    "Oh yeah sure, and pigs can fly too now can they?"


    "Some actually can you know? And not just the monster variants either, the regular ones can actually cultivate sometimes if they''re born with above average IQ. Hundreds of years ago the C.O heard about a cultivating pig and, out of curiosity, fed it a bunch of cultivation resources. It reached transition and genuinely learnt to fly! Neat story, huh?"


    "First of all, where did you even hear that from. And second of all, what even happened to that pig? If it reached transition it should be able to live for more than a couple hundred years no sweat. Or rather, shouldn''t it have gone up to Vraizon and kept cultivating? That seems like the kind of thing we would have heard about back home no?"


    Enyo shook her head side to side. "I learnt about it from Bea. As for why we never heard about it growing up, that''s because the pig never made it to Vraizon. It was killed and eaten because people were curious as to how it would taste. It had just started to learn how to talk so it was a bit weird murdering it while it whined like a child... It''s actually a really cruel story... But pigs can in fact fly!"


    "I feel like we''ve gotten side-tracked... What are you doing here again? I get the whole voyeurism thing but the shows over, creep, there''s nothing left for you to get off on. I ain''t giving an encore."


    "Shame. I wished I could have arrived sooner and watched from the start but I was busy. My lewd radar was on full alert but I was speaking with Calla outside. She said she''s bringing Ya Ye and Asha around alter for dinner, if that''s ok with you Ares?"


    Bellona turned around and watched Ares walk past her to head towards his pile of clothes. "That''s fine, I''ve got more than enough to feed everyone. I still need to thank them properly for helping me out earlier."


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Bellona finally caught up with what she was looking at and asked the question to end all questions. "... Why are you able to walk now?"


    "Now?" Ares tilted his head before realising he accidentally let the cat slip out of the bag with his response. "Oh yeah, no, I could definitely only walk now. Mhm, just now actually. Right this very instant and no sooner. Couldn''t walk this whole time no-sir-ee. A real miracle this is."


    ...


    ...


    ...


    She''d been fooled again! First Ares had pretended to be asleep, and now he pretended to be unable to move! Betrayed! Bamboozled! Baffled! Befuddled By Bastard! Bellona slowly craned her neck towards Ares with a smile that did not reach her eyes, not even close. The shine in her eyes had been replaced by the spark of evil and her hands were twitching. "... You."


    Gulp


    Ares backed away from the snarling animal and tried to play dumb by tilting his head, knocking on his brain with his knuckle, and sticking his tongue out in a cutesy fashion. "Whoopsie! My bad. My mistake. How about we talk about this like fully grown, mature adults! That would be swell, yeah? Violence is never the answer, right?... Right Blo Blo?"


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Talk? Talk? Oh I''ll have a little chat alright. I''ll have a nice long conversation with your junk! Gimme it and let me punish you!" Bellona chased Ares around the bathroom, attempting to catch within her vice grip Ares'' dangling white camel.


    "ENYO! HELP ME! SHE''S TRYING TO BREAK YOUR FAVOURITE TOY! DO SOMETHING!"


    Enyo shrugged "It''ll regrow."


    "ENYO?!"


    "What? Don''t look at me with those puppy eyes. This is your fault to begin with! Wasn''t it you who wanted to be taken care of by Bellona instead of me? Don''t come crying to me now that you''ve realised that was a mistake! Also, what was that you were saying earlier? I might have misheard you but I think you were saying something about how you kept choosing Bellona over me in the mornings because of her beautiful eyes? Oh I''m sorry, I didn''t realise mine weren''t good enough for you!"


    "Enyo ENYO! Don''t be like this! You can''t be more beautiful than Bellona in every single way!"


    "EXCUSE ME?!" And now, as Ares had opened his big fat mouth and unintentionally said the wrong thing, he''d successfully pissed off Blo Blo! "Are you saying my eyes are the only thing I have going for me over my sister?! That''s it! Come here you jerk!"


    "Ha, well, technically, you were the one jerking..."


    "I will throttle your manhood until it cries for mercy!" Bellona used her magic to speed up and jump on Ares'' back like a monkey. She wrestled him around the room while Enyo watched on and this little charade continued for a couple of minutes before Ares collapsed to the floor.


    "Uh oh..." Ares was really worried now! "Uh, so I can''t move again... My revenant regeneration improved a bit after transforming into Garmr, which was why I was able to move so soon after returning to my human form, but all this running around has strained my tired muscles so I''ve kinda run out of steam again... Blo Blo? You know I love you, right Blo Blo? I would do literally anything for you my Blo Blo dearest."


    "Anything?" Bellona''s hand was curling around Ares'' waist, and slowly finding its mark, as he was visibly sweating.


    "Anything! Name it and it shall be done!"


    "Ok. While my sis'' and I are both here together. Why don''t you tell us which one of us is more beautiful?" Bellona''s hand was now, once again, wrapped around Ares although for an entirely different reason this time.


    "... Come on Blo Blo, that''s silly! There''s no need for EASY WITH THE GRIP."


    "Do it! Do it or the camel gets it!"


    "If... If I''m honest, will you let me go even if you don''t like the answer?"


    "We''ll just have to find out the hard way, won''t we husband."


    Gulp


    Stuck between a rock and a hard hand, Ares was doomed! If he lied Bellona would be annoyed and so would Enyo. If he told the truth, Bellona might still be annoyed anyway! Ares'' brain wracked itself at a million thoughts per second in a desperate bid to search for an answer that would save him from this mess. "I... Think... That..."


    "Spill it!"


    "Okokokokok. I think, objectively speaking, Enyo is more beautiful than you are. By normal beauty standards she comes out on top... And sometimes on the bottom depending on her mood... Ahem. BUT I think you are a more unique woman than your sister is. Enyo can never have a flat chest nor can she change the colour of her eyes or facial structure to match yours. You possess qualities she does not and I''m not simply saying that to try and worm my way out of the situation. There have been multiple occasions when I was more attracted to you than Enyo. I''ve said it many times today already but you can be very cute. Enyo can too but it''s a lot rarer nowadays because she''s become way more confident in herself. That''s not to say you aren''t, it''s just that your confidence manifests itself as arrogance and I like that feistiness. Enyo is more beautiful, you are cuter. Neither of you are, in any way shape or form, inferior to the other. I know it sounds like the cop out ''you''re both equally as good looking'' answer but I swear this is different! I won''t compare apples and oranges because I like both and they''re two different things!... If anything, mixing them together in a fruit salad makes them even more enjoyable..."


    "Ok, shut up perv." Bellona turned to judge and jury Enyo. "Alright sis'' what do we think about his final plea?"


    Enyo stroked her chin with a contemplative stare. "Hmmm, I say not guilty. I''m fine with his response. What say you, executioner Bellona?"


    Bellona glared around Ares'' waist at his manhood, poked the head, and scolded it with a warning. "You live to see another day, punk. And you!" Bellona flipped Ares, lay on his back, and put her head over his shoulder to look him in the eyes. "Stop fooling me into giving you a handjob!... You could have just asked normally..." Bellona mumbled that last part with a sigh.


    Ares moved his head and pecked Bellona''s lips. "I know but I wanted to be spoiled by you a little. We had fun, right?"


    Bellona nuzzled against Ares neck and lay comfortably atop him, resting in peace with her dumb husband. "Mhm, we did."


    Enyo always enjoyed watching Ares and Bellona get along so, rather than interrupt, she simply picked them both up with a barrier and escorted them into the bedroom where they could take a nap on the bed while hugging each other. She was tempted to join them but she knew when to leave well enough alone and let the happy lovebirds have their special moment together. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, while leaving the bedroom and taking one last glance at them huddled together, Ares and Bellona really did make a cute couple. Still, she viewed it as a good thing. Enyo wanted nothing more for Bellona than to find a meaningful spot in Ares life. If she could give him nothing that Enyo couldn''t then she might feel left out. This was perfect and Enyo could not be any more convinced she made the right call to let Bellona into their lives. Besides, the reason Enyo was jealous right now wasn''t actually because of Bellona, it was because of Ares! Yeah sure lying in the bed hugging her husband would be great and all, but she could do that whenever! What she really wanted was to be the one holding Bellona! Ares was right about her, Bellona was way too cute for her own good. Enyo was very much looking forward to the Grecian Lands where she would finally get her own chance to bully her little sister with kisses and much, much more. Enyo had to admit, Ares had good taste. Bellona''s eyes really were the standout feature and now Enyo was concocting all manner of ways to enjoy them while she enjoyed the rest of Blo Blo''s body.


    A few hours later.


    Peck


    Peck peck


    Peck


    "Mmoaromaoromahmar"


    Ares chuckled to himself as Bellona made funny noises while he kept kissing her awake. Her stunning eyes fluttered open and when she realised Ares was staring into them, and remembered why, shy got flustered and buried her head in his chest like an ostrich. Ares ran his hand through her hair and held her close, enjoying the quiet life for a while before Enyo entered the room and threw his clothes onto the bed. She informed him the guests were arriving so Ares begrudgingly had to get up. As much as he wanted to continue playing with the sleepy Blo Blo, it was time to finish up dinner and start handing it out. Though he made one large dish for everyone, he''d specially made Bellona her favourite, some burgers and a milkshake. No doubt she''d be overjoyed to find out later when she stumbled into the living room. Ares had also made the two visiting season''s favourite dishes as well as Calla had gotten that information out of them and passed it on to Ares via Enyo''s mental connection. She sent him a quick note before leaving the room earlier so he got to work on it in the Blade and didn''t actually get much sleep. Not that that was really important to him, he just wanted to be close to his wife for a while. He was a bit tired but it''s not like he had anything strenuous to do today so that was fine. He could get a good night''s rest later on as, apparently, Enyo had come up with some new fangled art that could help him sleep peacefully and wake up refreshed; she mentioned it when passing on the favourite dishes of the seasons so that Ares could stay awake with peace of mind that later he''d get to relax properly. Ares made sure to thank her for that by making her a ton of honeycomb for after dinner as that would no doubt be all the payment she needed to be happy. That and maybe pampering her for a bit tomorrow morning in bed. He had picked Bellona today so it was only fair to give her some attention as well before retreating to the cultivation room for God only knows how long.


    Ares entered the living room and spied the two seasons sitting around, being lectured by Calla on how to use Echoes. Apparently Calla had also learnt the art and gotten really good with it. She had excellent pressure mastery so it wasn''t too big a surprise her proficiency with the art was good enough that she could teach others. At times, Echoes could feel like pressure bursts anyway so anyone with a high affinity would get it down pat quick, especially the pressure mixing part that came after further down the line. As for how Ye was both here and in the coliseum at the same time, he''d used a talisman to create a clone. It was a higher grade talisman than the type Ares used for Appa''s sake a while back, however, so it could even fight a bit if needed. Regardless, Ye did not need to waste his time on such trivialities in person and a clone was more than capable of doing everything he promised before vanishing when the clock struck twelve.


    Ares gave greetings. "Hey. Welcome to my humble abode. Hopefully you can get comfortable here and enjoy some good food as thanks for helping me out earlier. I never did get a chance to thank you properly so allow me to return the favour with whatever hospitality I can provide you. If you have any questions or wants, I''ll be happy to answer or provide them to the best of my ability."


    Ya ye clapped his hands together and gestured towards a seat. "Well I think I speak on behalf of the seasons when I say I would like an explanation? That revenant form is the most astounding thing I''ve ever seen but I would very much like to know how and why it even exists, if that''s alright with you? If it''s private I am willing to accept that and not pry any further."


    "He is, I aint. I wanna know." Asha raised her hand and tiredly grumbled. "Sorry, I''m nosy like that. I ain''t making excuses for my behaviour, I just really wanna know how a revenant ends up like that. I take it it ain''t got nothing to do with eating your greens..."


    Ares shook his head with a small laugh. "No, no it is not. Also I don''t mind sharing anyway, it''s nothing particularly out there... Other than maybe the Dominus part, I guess..." Ares proceeded to give a lengthy explanation. Dominus really was the most surprising part because he was such a legendary figure, after all. After that explanation was taken care of everyone chatted about this and that while Ye kept probing Ares to find out when he''d be visiting the Starlight''s planet. Eventually Ares was forced to make a promise he would stop by at some point during his journey through Vraizon. Of course the Umbra planet was first but, after that? He wasn''t so sure. He could just go in order which would be Umbra planet, simulated planet, Willow planet, Starlight planet, and finally the Legion planet... But there were others out there too and he might stop by one or two of them as well. He wasn''t going to skip over potential cultivation resources and treasures in mysterious planets so if he had a reason ot stop, or was just generally interested, he would. Still, Ye was ok with knowing that Ares would show up eventually, he could wait until then. As for Asha, she didn''t really have much to say other than a warning not to hang around Theo lest he skinned Ares alive. It was a rather gruesome reminder but Ares appreciated it nonetheless!


    When the conversation was on its last legs, Ares segued into dinner by announcing it was done and ready. Calla had been bragging about Ares'' cooking prowess so now he had to live up to expectations which were rather lofty. The four clans had their own highly talented chefs so Ares'' competition was not light. He was going to have to really strut his stuff here and, honestly, he felt good. He didn''t just create what was asked of him, he put his own flair into it which wasn''t something he did often. Unless given free reign, Ares would shy away from doing things that weren''t asked of him in the dish. It was a customer satisfaction thing and he believed they, the people eating his food, knew what they wanted better than he did. In this case, though, Ares wanted to try showing off a bit for the higher browed individuals... Minus Calla who just like chomping on meat and wolfing it down like a starved animal. Luckily for Calla the meal he made for everyone else to share was just a bunch of different meats as he had a hunch she would be showing up today. As for Ye and Asha... Well, Ares had done his best. If they were satisfied, great. If not... Well then Ares would be sure to hunt down the chefs that fed these two regularly and ask them a few hundred questions!... And steal from them with Omniscience! Still, right now, Ares felt confident. All that was left was to plate everything up and find out what they thought about it all.

 Chapter 237: Ares and the Amazing Technicolour Fish

    Before handing out everyone else''s dishes, Ares paid sleepy head Blo Blo a visit as she was seemingly refusing to leave the comfortable bed. He didn''t blame her, it had been a long day thus far and resting up wasn''t a bad choice. Still, he''d made some food for her so he figured he would go and leave it by her side so she could eat at her own leisure when she finally got up properly. He opened the door and walked over to her bedside, placing everything squarely on the nightstand before taking a look at the lazy lug who''d gone back to sleep again. Good news! That meant he got to be the one to wake her up again with plenty more smooches! Ares delighted in pecking away at Bellona while she sleepily shooed him away like the annoying gnat he was. It seemed like she wanted to go back to sleep but Ares rolled her over and eventually she sniffed out the food and woke up like a greedy dog. She was barely able to squint at her food but a small smile did crop up when she realised what Ares had made her. Ares heard her give a mini squeal of joy and figured it would be ok to leave her alone now as she wouldn''t doze off again. He leant down and gave her one final kiss, told her he loved her, and left the room. After he left, Bellona happily rolled from side to side, clearly in a very good mood. Burgers? Milkshake? Kisses and affection? Bellona was having a fantastic time as she crawled up to the bedrest, shuffled a pillow into place for her to lean against, and gorged down on her scrumptious food like a gerbil with puffed cheeks.


    Meanwhile, back in the living room, Ares had just served the various meat dishes to everybody else, excluding Ye and Asha, and had placed a large bowl of honeycomb in the centre of the table. This was available to anyone and everyone but Ares had also promised Enyo her own secret stash so she wasn''t kicking up a fuss about having to share otherwise she definitely would have. The honeycomb was a good dessert so there was no reason not to make it for everyone else every now and then! Enyo didn''t have full rights to it!


    Next up were Ya Ye''s and Asha''s dishes and boy were they a handful to have created. See both of them were quite fond of rare ingredients. Ya Ye''s favourite food was rainbow fish and Asha''s was bearsnake meat. Obviously Ares didn''t have access to these animals as they were Vraizon exclusive, so he had to make do and try to recreate those flavours from the ground up. The rainbow fish wasn''t difficult... To replicate without the original ingredient, at least. Making the dish... That was another matter. It had a very strong taste with seven different segments, each of which tasted like a different type of fish. Ares could recreate this provided he had access to the fish types and, thankfully, they were relatively normal fish so it wasn''t a problem. Rainbow fish were effectively cannibals and ate their own kind but possessed seven different digestive systems for each type of fish it ate, one for each of its segments. Theses colours just so happened to resemble a rainbow and thus its namesake didn''t need to be explained. The fish Ares needed were all readily available in the sect''s shop so he already had a stock of the stuff ready and raring to go. The real problem was creating a dish that utilised these radically different flavours. The most common methodology to serving up rainbow fish was to boil it down into several smaller, bite sized dishes each with their own intricate taste lest you combined them all and created an absolute flavour cluster with no clear direction. Ye had always eaten the dish split into seven so Ares wisely decided to follow in the Starlight''s experienced footsteps!... NOT! Ares threw that cowardly approach out the window and was making a single dish out of seven different types of fish! He had to bust out his creative flair here and go all out but he did an alright job! Or so he convinced himself.


    As for Asha''s bearsnake meat... The meat itself was really easy to cook and could even just be plain roasted if you were feeling lazy. There was no finesse needed with the cooking of the dish... And that was a result of its incredibly unique flavour. In one word, it was ''MEATY''. Seriously a meat overload. It was also Calla''s favourite type of meat but it couldn''t be hunted down here so she made do with what Ares could get his hands on back when he was cooking her favourite food. Back home Asha would be frequently employed by Calla to go hunt some bearsnake for food so she had plenty of experience with the meat and also quite liked it herself. It was a delicacy on the Umbra home planet but, as the bearsnakes were both rare and strong, very few people ever got a chance to try it. The Umbra cook was a bearsnake specialist and knew how to cook it to perfection. Usually he would embrace the heavy, meaty flavour so Ares decided to follow in the expert''s footsteps!... No really, he actually did this time! The reason being that he technically had no way of replicating the dish so doing as such was actually a worthwhile challenge! Calla had asked these two what they wanted and their expectations were low so they only asked for ''fish'' and ''meat'' respectively. Calla knew them better, however, and trusted Ares so she threw in some added information that they''d intentionally left out. Ares wanted to recreate those dishes but also show-off so he did the ''incorrect'' approach for each of them. The fish was easy to replicate but hard to cook so he focused on the latter portion of the involved steps. The meat was hard to replicate but easy to cook so he focused on the prior portion of the involved steps. It was quite beneficial to him that he was being tested in two different ways as he could display his wide-ranging mastery and cleverness in the kitchen by doing as such.


    First up was Ye''s dish and he couldn''t help but blink in astonishment when he saw the dish as it was instantly apparent what Ares was going for here. The numerous colours inside the bowl stuck out like a sore thumb but they were all interwoven in a meticulous spiral that appealed to Ye''s sense of aesthetic big time. Right off the bat Ye was impressed for no reason other than that Ares had even attempted this to begin with. Most chefs panicked at the mere thought of cooking rainbow fish normally instead of taking the easy route and even the Starlight chef back home would be hesitant. Throw in the fact that Ares didn''t even have the damn fish and Ye was forced to respect the ballsy play he''d made here. Ye was a bigshot and would not be willing to give second chances. He was only even doing this because Calla assured him Ares was G.O.O.D. Better than a lot of the up and coming chefs back on their home planets. If it wasn''t for Calla''s very determined sales-pitch Ye would have just gone back to Vraizon whenever he was hungry and looked for a chef with a reputation that preceded him. Up until now he hadn''t been convinced that Calla''s ramblings about Ares'' talents were entirely true for two reasons. First, Ares was her son and so she may have potentially been blinded by that. Calla was very proud of her babies, sometimes unreasonably so. Secondly, and this was the big one, a cultivator of Ares'' talents should have not logically had time to practice cooking compared to someone who dedicated their whole life to it. Forget the fact that he was young for now, although that also made a huge difference, die hard and impressive cultivators rarely picked up hobbies. They mostly didn''t have time for it. Any second spent creating music, writing a book, etc... Would be better spent cultivating so Ares, a masterful cultivator, should logically have never even touched a cooking utensil before. Evidently that was not the case as the presentation of the dish was top notch even by a Starlight''s unforgiving standards. The food all looked to be cooked properly and there was due consideration given to the flavour intricacies, as could be seen in the way in which Ares decided to combine everything.


    The seven fish a rainbow fish frequently ate, and subsequently tasted like, were as follows: red salmon, orange roughy (deep sea perch), yellow cod, green blowfish, and violet sea squirt... Ok that was only six colours but, in the lower domains, there weren''t any indigo coloured fish. The rainbow fish simply ate a type of seaweed that happened to be indigo and it made up the flavour of that particular segment. In the higher domains outside the Primordial Blade there were many indigo coloured fish, one of which the rainbow fish happened to feast upon regularly, and there it was actually possible to have a rainbow fish construed entirely of other different types of sea creatures. Well technically seaweed was considered a living organism already but it definitely wasn''t a fish! Regardless, those were the required ingredients in order to replicate a rainbow fish and they were all present in the dish in some form or another.


    Ares'' bizarre concoction was an interesting mix that appeared to only have one type of fish actually visible as the others were all hidden in some capacity. There was an extremely thin, almost crystal clear broth lining the bottom of the bowl. It was only a centimetre or so high and looked relatively unassuming save for a slight green tint that could be spied at precisely the right angle and at no other point. That one tiny green shimmer clued in Ye that this see-through broth was made of blowfish. An interesting choice given that blowfish didn''t really taste much of anything but that was probably the important factor in why Ares used it in such a fashion. He didn''t want it mucking up the texture of anything else he''d plated up as it could somewhat chewy at times. It''s subtle taste meant it could be used like this without directly impacting anything else going on in the dish but it was still very much present and participating overall.


    Next up were the curled pieces of battered cod, all of which formed a spiral with a slight gap in the middle but that would be covered later. Ye gave the battered cod a closer inspection and, within the crispy yellow flesh, he saw a hint of blue... That was mackerel inside the cod flesh? Ares had battered the cod only to remove the actual fish itself and replace it with mackerel? The sweet, buttery taste of the crispy flesh was supposed to contrast with the salty mackerel, then? An interesting idea, and Ye was curious about how it came out, but he wanted to check the rest of the dish first.


    Purple sea squirt sauce sparsely layered over the cod, forming neat circles atop the spiral. It seemed like Ares had used the skin here, as it was lighter than the innards, and would have clashed with the taste of the cod / mackerel combination. There were a fair few light flavours on this dish which, if you were going to undertake such a herculean task, was definitely the right way to go about it. Too many strong flavours would vie for control and that would be a travesty waiting to happen. Even still, combining three types of fish? Would it work? Who knows!


    And then there were the two last types of fish, salmon and orange roughy. These two fish took up the centre spot and rounded up the dish''s appearance quite nicely. Ares had created some salmon ice cream and plopped a scoop of it perfectly in the centre, causing its vibrancy to stand out and really attract a lot of attention. It didn''t end there though as the deep sea perch had been cooked and blowtorched into a crispy, almost glass-like ribbon that decorated the salmon ice cream. The orange roughy was sweet and mild so Ye expected it to go well with the ice cream but whether it truly would or not, and whether this mad chef before him had created a masterpiece or a dud, remained to be seen and he needed to try it before he could give a meaningful verdict. Just off appearance alone, though, Ares had created something truly out there... Finally, there was the seaweed which was elegantly draped around the ice cream. There wasn''t much to say about this other than that the colour was pretty to look at. Typically, this variety of seaweed was cut into smaller pieces and served in an entirely different manner and was rarely ever seen to the same degree it was here. To see it''s bright colours shine in full for once was a nice change of pace.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Then there was Asha''s dish. There was nothing fancy about it in the slightest. It was just a slab of honeyed meat, dripping with the fatty juices it was cooked in. It honestly looked quite mouth watering and Asha was looking forward to it regardless of what Ares had been attempting to do with it. It was meat. Meat was tasty. Asha was very much a traditional revenant when it came to food in that the meatier it was, the more she enjoyed it. She could tell, thanks to her impressive sense of smell, that Ares had made this dish as meaty as humanly possible so it didn''t really matter to her whether or not it tasted like bearsnake. Unlike Ye, Asha had already given the dish a passing score and wanted nothing more than to just dig in and pig out. Still, she was in polite company... Kinda? Calla and Ares weren''t exactly ''polite'' and Ye was pre-occupied... Anyway, she gave the meat a one and twice over to figure out what was going on.


    It seemed like Ares had used regular bear meat but what really made it stand out were the many varied wines used. Asha''s nose was just about good enough to pick out a few different ones including, but not limited to, rioja, verdicchio, and carmen¨¨re. They were all quite earthy wines with deep tastes and it seemed like Ares was trying to alchemise his way to a meatier taste by mixing the wines together. Interestingly, he''d used honey to sweeten things up a bit which was probably a measure to prevent the meat from tasting like charcoal given all the strong tastes layered on top of it. Compared to the mock rainbow fish, there wasn''t much going on visually with the dish, and it didn''t look particularly complex, but that was to be expected. Again, the two dishes came with two very different problems. What remained true of both dishes, however, was that the only way to tell if Ares had done a good job or not was to chow down so Asha reluctantly picked up her cutlery like a well-mannered individual and went to work. She would have rather just picked it up with her hands but she felt compelled not to. Ares wouldn''t have actually cared if she did but he wasn''t going to encourage her to do it either. Whatever she felt was appropriate was up to her and the same was true of Ye who was free to approach the myriad colours in any order that suited him.


    Amidst the sound of Asha chomping on the meat, and Ye carefully cutting into the cod, the first person to break the verbal silence and give their opinion was... Calla! Yes the fluffy matriarch had indeed stolen some of Asha''s meat... Honestly, that should have been expected. Calla the meat fanatic would absolutely not hold back from swiping some specially prepared bear meat away from Asha. She wanted to hoover up every meat dish here and the bear meat looked particularly scrumptious so she temporarily abandoned her own meal and sunk her sharp teeth into the good stuff! Her reaction came first and fast as her tail did most of the speaking for her. It was spinning so fast Calla was actually hovering an inch off the ground and it looked almost like a propeller right now. In case anyone didn''t somehow get the memo, she managed to eke out praise in between bites of the food with her mouth still partially full. "NOM NOM, IT''SH SHO, NOM NOM, TASTY, NOM NOM." Not exactly the most refined critiquing of a dish ever given but it was definitely sufficient to help understand whether Ares had succeeded with the bear meat or not. He didn''t know if he replicated the bearsnake taste, as he''d never eaten it himself, so he would have to wait for Asha''s verdict before he had a completely honest appraisal. Calla could very well just be unconditionally praising her baby. Then again she was doling out more substantial praise, and seemed way happier with this meal, than she did with the kebabs. it was highly likely Ares had just aced the dish which was a a relief and then some. Although, really, he was actually more worried about the rainbow fish as that dish was seriously complex. It was like a Jenga block because if a single part of it went horribly wrong the whole thing would collapse on top of itself.


    As much as Ares wanted to hear Ye''s feedback, he was still savouring the dish piece by piece so Asha ended up giving her thoughts before Ye... Sort of? She''d ditched the fork and knife and was just going at the meat with her bare hands. One of the many changes she had on her body, due to being a mid-ish tier revenant, was way sharper teeth so she was shredding the meat at impressive speeds. Actually, most of her changes were patches of fur underneath her clothes, so they weren''t particularly visible, but that was more just a piece of trivia than anything meaningful. That aside, if her gusto with which she devoured the meat was any indication, then Ares had clearly outdone himself. He still wanted to know if it tasted even remotely similar to bearsnake, or if he''d just created something else entirely, but he could always wait until she finished the whole thing as it was looking like that wouldn''t take much longer. Ares had written down his recipe for this dish in case it turned out be received positively as he wanted to make it again and make some more changes here and there. Also, he could give the recipe to Calla and / or Asha so they could have the Umbra chef make it for them back home. Just a small gift from Ares is all. Plus, if Ares was lucky, the Umbra chef would fiddle around with the recipe and put their own spin on it. It was a pseudo challenge to the chef to make something out of it that would impress Ares. He was giving them plenty of time to figure something out as he would still take a while yet to reach the planet on his adventure.


    "This is quite spectacular..." Ya Ye had sampled everything and was giving his feedback. "I think there''s certainly room for improvement but, considering the nature of this dish, I''m incredibly pleased with the result. It is not as good as the dish I regularly eat but it is very close and has its own charm what with being a whole dish. It does what the original does not and I have to give you full marks for effort. The Starlight chef that cooks for me will be thrilled to hear of this so, as much as I''d like to eat the rest of this, I''ll be storing it in my spatial ring. Asha? If you would be so kind." Asha was busy with the meat but she pawed at the bowl Ye held towards her and used Chill Grip on it to freeze it in time. Objects that were frozen like this would typically dethaw soon after but, if they were stored in a spatial ring, they would last a bit longer. After Ye was done here he would head back to the Starlights for the night anyway, as he had business to attend to, so he could pass it on to the chef and discuss introducing them to Ares at a later date. "I am truly surprised you turned out to be every bit as good a chef as your mother declared. That''s an impressive talent and I do hope I get a chance to taste your food again some other time. Ah but of course I''ll still continue to eat here today. I simply mean to say that I think you''ll improve leaps and bounds yet if you continue as you are and I look forward to the day you pay the Starlights a visit.


    As for the dish, the broth goes extraordinarily well with the cod, mackerel, and sea squirt. It''s functional with the seaweed but where it falls apart is the salmon ice cream. I think that if you could find a way to harmonise those flavours as well as the others then you''d have hit the nail on the head with this. There are a few other small things but they can all be avoided depending on how you combine the different elements as an eater. Smarter critics would know to avoid mixing the orange roughy with the sea squid, for example, and so I don''t view that as a problem. Rather if the chef can go to such lengths to create a dish then I think the eater should also do the bare minimum. I can tell by the half-smile on your face you don''t quite agree but there''s no need to be so rough on yourself about it. I''m sure you''ll improve upon this idea in due time and, remember, that''s not to say you haven''t done a phenomenal job here. I would happily eat this if I didn''t view it as a valuable specimen for the chef back home. I dare say it might even be a better dish overall than the meat you made for Asha, it''s just far more complicated so parts of it are still in need of adjusting. To put it simply, the rainbow fish had a higher ceiling. The meat was a 10/10, if Asha''s voracity is to be understood correctly, but the rainbow fish was a 16/20 at minimum. It was a dish with way more potential and I think you went above and beyond so congratulations. Most people trying to do what you did here would earn, at best, a 4 or 5/20 so you have every right to be proud and not beat yourself up over it." Ya Ye clapped his hands and turned to the normal meat dishes. He wanted to try the bear meat too but Asha was being weirdly protective of it and even shooing Calla, of all people, away so that didn''t appear to be possible for Ye. "This also looks rather delectable so I think I''ll enjoy this before I take my leave. I''m terribly sorry but do you have any more wine to go around? I''m quite partial, you see. Anything will do!"


    Ares did in fact have more wine... A lot more... He''d bought a crap ton when he learnt about how easily the Legion women could chug the stuff so, in preparation for Sadie and Rhea who could drop in at any time, he stocked up a considerable amount. Speaking of Sadie, she''d just arrived and was incredibly jealous of the special dishes the other two were eating. Still, she happily sat down and put some meat on her own plate and went to down. Her eyes did perk up a bit when Ares brought out the alcohol so he didn''t even bother asking and just poured her a bunch of the stuff as she gave him a thumbs up. This woman was seriously way too predictable...


    And that about summed up the dinner. Ares had done good. He felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders now that it was over and done with. Ye seemed like a much more intellectual critic compared to anyone he''d ever fed before so Ares was gladdened by the lenient feedback. It was invaluable and primarily positive so he could wipe the sweat off his brow without feeling forlorn about potentially wasted efforts. Granted, really, he didn''t care about Ye''s opinion. That may have sounded harsh but, as long as his family enjoyed his food, then that was what he was really after. Based on the way Enyo ate the honeycomb, and based on the fact that Bellona had poked her head around the corner looking for some more milkshake, that goal had been passed with flying colours. Ares gave the greedy headbutter a choice of a few different flavours and, after she picked the vanilla one, watched his bubbly wife bounce away down the corridor with a spring in her step. There were plenty of gluttons in this house but, as far as Ares was concerned, that was a good thing! It led to situations like this wherein Appa was cutely tugging at his leg with its rope, winking at him to try and get some more toffee apple Snappas while its mother wasn''t looking! Worth every second labouring away in the Primordial Blade, 100%


    Ares turned back around and Asha was standing before him, licking her lips. "Good stuff. I want more but I''m guessing there''s no seconds? Shame. Make me some more some time, maybe?"


    Ares chuckled to himself and agreed. "Sure. I''ll buy plenty more bear meet and you can visit whenever. By the way, did it taste like bearsnake or was I off the mark? All I know about it is that it''s meaty to the bone."


    "Mhm, you did good. Bearsnake does taste a bit different though as the snake part gives it a very different flavour. You tried to combine those tastes into one but I think they''re more split apart, like two different ingredients compared to one whole piece of meat. Yours tasted just as good as the bearsnake though, maybe even a little better. I never knew normal meat could taste that strong, good stuff. The honey as well was really good. I''m guessing it was bumbleshark honey?"


    "Yep, good catch. As for the bearsnake... I guess I''ll just have to wait until I visit the Umbra homeland to get my grubby paws on some. When I do I''ll be sure to cook some for you though."


    "I look forward to it then. Thank you for today but I should take my leave."


    "Oh, sorry, are you busy? I didn''t mean to keep you."


    "No, not busy, just anti-social. Goodbye."


    Ares barely had time to blink before Asha disappeared and he could barely close his gob. She just went? Just like that?... Fair enough... Is this where Skyzo got his attitude from? Those two were very much alike in that they were firm when it came to ending conversations they didn''t want to be a part of anymore... Well whatever, she liked the food and that was an acceptable outcome! Today had been good!... Minus the assassination attempt but Ares wasn''t even including that in his daily review. It took a very strange person to care more about other people''s opinion about his food than the people trying to reap his life... Revenants really did just have completely different priorities in life...

 Chapter 238: Personally Pressurising the Prowler

    Calla, Ye, and Sadie all took their leave one by one. Calla ended up staying the longest and kept making Ares promise that he would come straight to the Umbra planet when he ascended to Vraizon. Now that the extremely large cat that was Garmr was out of the bag, Calla wanted to pet her big and fluffy child to her heart''s content. Right now she could only do it in the pagoda but she wanted to do it for real. Having the pagoda clone transform and lie around while Calla climbed aboard and pet his head was her idea of a fun time and Ares was just going to have to accept that and agree to her demands. After she left everyone else returned to their bedrooms for the night, after bidding each other adieu, and finally got a chance to relax in private. Ares and Enyo found Bellona slovenly leaning backwards against the headrest and patting her stomach with a greedy smile on her face. "Well someone looks very fulfilled right about now," Enyo remarked.


    Bellona shrugged. "I know how to appreciate the finer things in life. Speaking of which, Ares, do you have any popping candy? I''m really fiending for some right now to cap off the perfect day."


    Ares nodded and took some out of his spatial ring. He''d foreseen Bellona''s hankering, just as he''d predicted Enyo''s wanting of honeycomb, and made her some a while back in preparation. As he whipped out the popping candy, Bellona rocked side to side with a beaming smile. She was a pretty simple woman to please. Good food and a lazy day at home with the man she loved. It made it easy for Ares to spoil her rotten but it also left him wondering if he could do more for her. If she wanted more, though, she would have asked for it so Ares didn''t worry too much about it. The only thing he could possibly really do was find her a TV or something but that could happen when they went up to Vraizon. Until then she was just going to have to entertain herself the way everyone else around here did! At Ares'' expense!... Ares really needed to find other ways of entertaining these people, even if it was just a chessboard or something... After all, he was going to be in the cultivation room for about a week and a half. Sure they could come knocking here and there but he wasn''t going to be as readily available as he typically was.


    Ares hopped in bed and fell asleep pretty quickly while Bellona and Enyo stayed up a little longer, chatting away about whatever took their fancy. Ares was too tired to join them and was able to conk out. despite their conversation in the background, which may have been partially a result of Enyo using her magic on him when he wasn''t paying attention. Either way, he was definitely going to sleep in a bit more than he usually did tonight. He was in no rush to make progress with the pressurising as he had a whopping whole two weeks before he next directly involved himself in a match. Plus, now that his cultivation had risen, so too had his pressure reserves. He assumed that meant he would be able to pressurise his treasures quicker. Ares estimated the Nyxian Prowler and the Stygian zephyr would take about a week and half, if not a few days less, to fully pressurise. Before taking the trailblazers and assessing his reserves he guessed the Stygian Zephyr would have taken that much time by itself so it was a pretty considerable difference. This way he''d have time to spend with his family and that was as good a way as any to unwind before the big match.


    Ares might not have been too fussed about the Mako showdown but he knew it was important to win and get whatever rewards were on offer so he was designing an entire gameplan from scratch, taking into account every single possibility he could think of and devising appropriate counter measures. Outwardly he''d been very casual about this but inwardly he was focused and determined to win. He''d even go on to spend the entirety of the next two weeks giving everything he knew about Mako due consideration. Hell Ares was even taking wild guesses at what Mako was capable of but had yet to even show that was simply how invested he was. Ares felt good about his chances, sure, but Mako was still a fundamental at the end of the day. Not showing him respect and half-assing things would lead to an inevitable loss even with all the tools Ares had at his disposal. Was losing the end of the world? No but it might be a bit of a set back in the grand scheme of things so it wasn''t a loss worth sleepwalking towards.


    His thoughts on the matter were abruptly cut off at some point as the deep sleep took him into dreamland. There actually were arts out there that allowed a person to keep thinking while they were dreaming, and retain all those thoughts when they woke up, so it was something frequently learnt by strategists who were deployed near the front lines. They could devise strategies long into the night and never take breaks for the sake of winning a war. It was also useful for creative people who just wanted more time to work on their ideas. The wonderful world of technicals was very useful for small things like this and could solve many minor issues and gripes people had with their day to day lives.


    Night came and went with Ares waking up to find Enyo draped across him. Evidently she was making sure he couldn''t escape without waking her up. Ares had promised her some fun time so she was damn well ensuring she got it! No wonder his sleep had been so comfortable, Enyo''s soft and smooth flesh was delightful to hold. Ares waited patiently for her to wake up, at which point he delivered on his promises before heading over to the cultivation room. She looked satisfied enough when he left but, knowing her, she was still in the mood so there was a non-zero chance she would go on to pester her sister who was still struggling to get up and off her lazy ass. Much like how Ares sullied and bullied Bellona in the morning it seemed Enyo was going to gleefully do the same. Monkey see, monkey do.


    Ares wished Blo Blo good luck dealing with the ever persistent Enyo and got comfortable in his normal cross-legged sitting positioned and pulled out the Nyxian Prowler. More than anything, with this treasure specifically, Ares really wanted the appearance to change. He didn''t mind the flowy black shadow but he wanted it to be golden and really signify it as being his. It hadn''t become a personal treasure as of yet but it very well might do during this process if he was lucky enough. Pressurising with annihilation mana imbued in it seemed to passively increase the odds of turning a treasure into a personal one. There was nothing definitive that confirmed Ares'' suspicions about this, just purely circumstantial evidence regarding the Celestial Prisms, but he wouldn''t be surprised if it was true as fundamentals had a habit of cheating their way through life. Something small like this was absolutely the kind of benefit they would receive for basically no reason at all other than the fact that their mana was a tier above everyone else''s. Actually, that wasn''t even a fair enough description as it was an understatement if anything. Normal magic was at the bottom, unique aspects were maybe two or three tiers above that, and then fundamentals were upwards of ten tiers above unique aspects. It wasn''t meant to be fair, it was meant to be a solution to a bigger threat. Fundamentals were not going around hassling normal cultivators, that wasn''t the point of their existence. Now granted that didn''t stop normal cultivators from messing with them, at which point the kiddy gloves came off, but for the most part it was expected that the fundamentals would work towards saving the world and that was it. That was their mission in life. What came after? Well Ares knew but the others most likely didn''t as this wasn''t something that had ever happened before. They would all just have to find out on their own later.


    Ares gave the Nyxian Prowler a once over before he got down to work and started the same old boring process of chucking pressure into the thing. He did notice the increased rate of absorption... Or rather the increased rate at which he could leak the pressure into it. He was outputting more pressure, it''s not that the Nyxian Prowler could take more. Still, the rate of Ares'' pressure increase compared to the amount he could put into the Prowler wasn''t one to one. If that were the case then anyone at Dominus'' level would be able to pressurise an enabler in a second flat. That wasn''t the case as it was a pretty complex calculation based on your cultivation, the amount of pressure you had, and the quality of the weapon. Long story short, it was a percentage based deal so having more pressure still helped it just wasn''t as much as it could have been if it was calculated in a different way. You almost always had to dedicate a good chunk of time to pressurising a treasure and that would be doubly true for Ares'' annihilation pressure.


    An entire day later and Ares hadn''t left the room. Normally he would take some small nap breaks here and there to keep himself topped up on the energy front in case of emergencies but, this time, he''d gone straight through the night without pause. The reason for this was because he could feel a connection forming between him and the Prowler. He wasn''t going to jump to conclusions but he was pretty sure the Prowler was about to become a personal treasure just as he predicted it would. Out of curiosity, Ares did slow down the pressurising at one point but the connection started to fade so Ares knew he had to keep it up until the weapon was satiated with gorging itself on Ares'' pressure. It also ''confirmed'' Ares'' idea about annihilation pressure inclining treasures to become personal. Again, nothing concrete but, at this point, Ares would be willing to bet his life on it!... Although his life was technically not worth particularly much given his immortality but that was beside the point!


    Another day passed and, before the Prowler was fully pressurised, it became a personal treasure! Ares was happy to see it for no other reason than that now he felt more safe to lend it out to Aejaz. His stupid brother wouldn''t drop it in a back alley somewhere and lose it forever while he was out on a mission! Well, that was still half possible. He could lose it but then Ares would just return it to his person remotely. Ares was curious to see how it worked, as every personal treasure had a unique method of returning to its owner, so he placed it on the far end of the room and walked a few steps back to his original position. He summoned, or rather resummoned, the Prowler and watched as it sunk into a black shadow in the floor. That same shadow the reappeared on his palm and the knife slowly emerged vertically from his flesh. it hovered slightly until Ares grabbed it out of mid air and then he sat back down.


    Unlike, say, Aejaz'' Concealed Serpent, this return method was incredibly good as it was instantaneous like his Zephyr. It wouldn''t be stuck out of combat scenarios for longer than a split second which was a rather beneficial trait to possess. It also phased through objects and passed by any inconvenient roadblocks that may otherwise hamper it. Unless someone had an ability like Scar, which could outright prevent personal treasures from returning, the knife would just sink into the nearest object and voila! It would come back!... But it wasn''t perfect like the Zephyr. It might have seemed great but there was a pretty major flaw in that empty space was this thing''s arch-nemesis. If Ares chucked the Prowler into the deepest recesses of space what kind of object could it sink into to facilitate returning to him? It would need to drift over towards a star, asteroid, or planet ro something before it could come back the short way. Not a major complication by any means but absolutely something worth remembering. As for any other benefits? Who knows! Things like dedication cultivation and personal treasures could provide all sorts of unknowable advantages and it was really just a matter of finding out through sheer luck and / or long periods of experimentation. Ares was someone more likely to rely on the former as he did not have enough time on his hands to spend weeks toying about with this thing. Any cultivator worth his salt was almost always busy doing something, and that was especially true of Ares, so he would just take things as they came.


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    This time, it did not take another day for the next notable change to occur as, a mere few hours after the previous development, the Prowler was officially done being pressurised and, much to Ares contentment, there had been a colour change after all! The knife now had a few small gold streaks running along the handle and the shadowy tip was primarily gold with a thick black outline. Mission very much accomplished! It seemed Ares could make his treasures visually distinct if he so willed it but he wasn''t going to go back and do the other treasures because he really couldn''t be asked to. It wouldn''t take as long as pressurising did but it would still take a day or two for a pointless colour change. Plus he didn''t want literally everything to be golden anyway. Some of his stuff, like the Bindings, he had to wear! Gold was a great colour but man could it be tacky sometimes if you had too much of it... The Stygian Zephyr could have gold streaks running through it when Ares channelled his annihilation mana and that was good enough. Too much more gold and he would look like some kind of pimp king and that was very much not the impression he wanted to give off right now.


    That''s not to say gold couldn''t work. It would probably have to at some point due to his apotheosis form as they typically changed a person''s look somewhat and, apparently, gave them unreplaceable clothes during the duration. When apotheosis was permanently achieved that changed things but, until then, entering the apotheosis form was very much like entering his revenant form. It was like becoming an entirely different race and being altogether. A person''s appearance in apotheosis was reflective of the kind of God they would become and so it was usually a grand and overbearing appearance, much like how Astraeus had come across to Ares upon first meeting him. These forms instilled a sense of reverence in anyone not capable of apotheosising and were a culmination of the person''s will, magic, mastery, and personality all in one. Ares apotheosis would be a bit more complicated than most, and not strictly because he was a fundamental, but the one thing he did know is that he was going to be golden. There were no two ways about it really, that was just his fate. As for how he looked? Well nobody ever became uglier after apotheosising so there was that to look forward to at least. Speaking of... Would Enyo get even more beautiful? That was a thought Ares threw to the back of his mind and decided not to worry about right now as that could be a problem for future Ares to figure out. Besides, it''s not like it was guaranteed a person''s facial features would change. People wouldn''t get uglier but that didn''t meant they would have to be better looking. Sometimes it changed body shape or a person''s general bearing so it could really be anything and speculating was pretty pointless right now... Although knowing Enyo she would 100% get prettier and just make Ares'' life even harder, both in terms of the state of his junk as well as the state of every other guy who would want to start duels to the death with Ares. That was just part in parcel with having a beautiful wife in the cultivation world though so no point in crying about it.


    Ares put the Prowler back into the Primordial Blade and now it was time to start work on the Zephyr. Ares removed it and felt odd. He wore this basically throughout the entire day, up until he went to sleep, so not having it on was a strange feeling. His back felt strangely cold and, although he truly wasn''t, he felt defenceless right about now. like someone could just waltz up to him and shove a dagger in his spine. The Zephyr was a fantastic weapon with a variety of great tools that also acted as a sort of pseudo armour for his back. He hadn''t used it much as of late, mostly because he was experimenting with other things like the annihilation pressure, the scythe, and Garmr, but it was still one of his greatest weapons. If you ignored the Primordial Blade this was maybe his second best weapon? It obviously wasn''t a more impressive treasure than the Bindings, that was self-explanatory, but the Prowler?


    The draw of both the Prowler and the Zephyr were their versatility but Ares just felt like the Zephyr did more on average. Offensive utility and defensive were packed into one so it was definitely well rounded. Of course Ares could learn defensive arts of the darkness pillar, and that would help, but the Zephyr was more immediately accessible. If Ares was ambushed right now what good would arts he didn''t currently know do for him exactly? In the long run maybe the Prowler would be better, as Ares would have sunk in some serious hours into making it worthwhile, but right now? The Zephyr definitely edged out the Prowler even if only by a small margin. That wasn''t a knock on the Prowler though, it was a commendation of the Zephyr as it was just a plain old treasure. For it to outclass an enabler was an astonishing feat. There were plenty of unassuming treasures out there that would turn into something great the moment you explored their capabilities and this was clearly one of them. Ares was lucky to have been chosen by it way back when. And now? Now it was time to make it even better! There were still some more things Ares wanted to try doing with the Zephyr down the line but those ideas were still in the early phases and had barely even hatched yet. Ares didn''t have the means to go through with some of those ideas so, as of right now, pressurising it was the best option because it could actually be done in the here and now. There were no downsides and it only took a week to do, give or take, so he laid it across his lap and got started.


    There were no real milestones during this exhausting progress, as it was a personal treasure to begin with and that was out of the cards, and Ares was already used to his newfound speed of pressurising. Nothing of note happened but Asha and Ye did show up a few more times for some food, as well as the other matriarchs, so Ares took a few small breaks here and there to feed everyone. Other than coming out of his hidey hole for lunch, dinner, sleep, and keeping Enyo''s inner demon at bay, nothing really happened. As for that last part, for no reason in particular, Ares had determined that if Enyo didn''t get laid for more than three days she would unleash hell upon this plane of existence. The rivers would run red, land would broil, miasma would choke the air, and the sky would collapse and shatter into millions of tiny pieces. Besides, Ares wanted to spend time with his wives every now and then anyway so preventing that, for the good of humanity at large, was more like a side quest for him. He should be praised for his sacrifice! And yet the task was a thankless one! How tragic.


    Taking one for the team here and there did slow down Ares'' progress so it took him a tad longer to finish than he''d been expecting. Instead of one week it took eight days. So not much more at all but it did raise the question of how on earth Enyo managed to fit a full day of romping across the course of a week. Ares could have sworn it hadn''t been that much time but apparently it had. Even if he subtracted the few hours he spent serving dinner or chatting with Blo Blo it still came up to around twenty hours of up and down, and up and down, and up and down. Well whatever, Ares needed to do it otherwise he may very well be dragged kicking and screaming out of this room, at which point Enyo''s spree would have lasted a lot longer than a single day. It''s not like it was a massive delay or anything as Ares was still on track for everything. The match against Aejaz'' family was later today, as it had been delayed for a while due to poor weather, which meant that, afterwards, he wouldn''t have any pressing matters to attend to other than maybe watching his family get dunked on by the new and improved Mako 2.0.


    Ares felt a little sorry for his siblings for having to go up against Mako but, well, there wasn''t much they could realistically do about it. It was basically a foregone conclusion that anyone who went up against a fundamental was inherently screwed from the get go. If anything they were lucky to have gotten this far without coming across one. Plus they could be proud of their run this far as, depending on how you looked at it, they were the real ''winners''. Excluding the fundamentals, because they were basically cheating anyway, the Umbras and the Legions were the big contenders of this event and the match between them had already concluded in an Umbra win. The only other team of note was Aejaz'' family but Ares didn''t see in them the same quality of cultivator as he did with his siblings. Not to mention the fact that they were likely in disarray right now. The silk wearing stabby guy was out of commission, Trixie had switched sides, and Sho was dead now. They were leaderless and cut in half. The team would have to be filled up with rank and file nobodies and the mental strain of going up against the guy that killed their clan leader, who they themselves couldn''t touch even if they tried, was not small. Ares wasn''t even taking part but his corporeal form would be distracting enough as is.


    As Ares finished pressurising early in the morning, he still had some time to kill so he started prepping breakfast in the kitchen. As he''d been primarily cooking in the Blade recently it was a nice change of pace to be back in this particular room for once. Aejaz came waltzing in, evidently in a good mood which was probably a result of forgetting what day it was. Aejaz had been lounging and lazing around a lot lately as he hadn''t had much to do in the way of Hans'' missions or Sadie''s training. His freedom as of late had made him sloppy! Well, today''s match was going to fix that inactive mindset and lifestyle right up! "Good morning. We have a match today you know?"


    Aejaz froze on the spot and tried to be slick by turning around and walking away without saying so much as a single word. Ares flung his Zephyr at Aejaz and wrapped it around his wrist, dragging the coward with tears in his eyes back into the room. Aejaz couldn''t unravel the pressurised Zephyr so he was at the mercy of Ares here. It looked like Aejaz was going to have to bite the bullet... The bullet his own brother shot at him from point blank range! It had been a while since Aejaz got the tough love treatment and it was safe to say he did not miss it!

 Chapter 239: Can’t Spell ‘Glares’ Without Ares

    "Where were you trying to escape to?!" Ares pulled Aejaz far enough into the room such that he could no longer see the living room and all of Aejaz'' hope was now rapidly fading. "You''ve known about this match against your family for forever at this point, don''t get cold feet now! I''m not letting you go hide and take the day off! Seriously, with the magic you''ve trained up this should seriously be a cinch for you!"


    Aejaz sighed and accepted his fate. As he was reeled backwards with his heels dragging along the floor he looked backwards at his brother and whined. "I''m not scared or anything, I just don''t wanna do it. I mean, picture yourself in my shoes. You wake up to two cute bickering partners. They decide to have a competition with each other, in which you are most definitely the real winner, and then you get up to find your very talented brother making the best breakfast ever..."


    "No amount of kiss-ass-ery is going to save you. Continue."


    "... Worth a shot. Anyway, a great start to the day, a great breakfast... And then ruined! I''mma have to go up against those insufferable bastards who are going to find a way to annoy me for no good reason! It''s not that I don''t want to FIGHT them, it''s that I don''t want to fight THEM. Catch my drift? Like yeah I can beat them no sweat but, man, do I really even want to? It''s like bullying children who are lost at the mall and can''t find their parents. Sho is gone and I really don''t care about them anymore. With Trixie and Lacy here, there''s nothing for me over there you know? Now imagine I hide successfully, ok? You win the match, come back, make some incredible lunch. I go back to my room after eating and enjoy a nice and chill day with my two wonderful lovers and then all is well that ends well! Like, come on! You gonna tell me you wouldn''t choose the second option literally any day of the week?"


    "Of course I would... If I had a choice. What did I tell you before? Some things can''t be avoided Aejaz. You have to do this at some point and there will never be another opportunity like the one laid before you today. You would have to put your family in their place at some point and you would have to display this magic at some point too. Why not do both today instead of having to do them both separately on two different days? If you truly value being lazy then this is the best course of action and procrastinating will not help you."


    Sigh


    "Fine fine fine! Twist my leg, why don''t you?! Whatever, but I''m not gonna showboat like you. Go into the arena, the match starts, I kill them, I get out. No fuss! No verbal sparring! No monologuing! No arguing!"


    "Monologuing and arguing is half the fun but whatever, do as you please." Ares just shrugged and let his brother do things his own way. As long as he was actually willing to do it for once Ares really didn''t mind his methodology. It was a good enough change for now that he wasn''t actively fleeing from his problems like he used to. This was a win in Ares'' book and one the had been a long time coming. Hard fought too... Although really, the main reason it was even happening was because Aejaz had probably come to realise that he actually needed to man up and defend the people he loved instead of hoping all his problems would magically disappear on their own. "If nothing else, you ought to remember this though; the better you do now, the less hassle you''ll get in the long run from nosy cultivators who want a piece of your life. Give people a reason to think twice about messing with you or your family. Sure I exist, and am one hell of a deterrent, but I won''t always be there and you''ll have to make do on your own sometimes. You should care about your reputation not for your own selfish sake but for others around you. Anyway, I won''t ask this of you and give you nothing in return... Even though you should be jumping for joy at such a perfect chance to strut your stuff... Regardless, here, you can borrow this again." Ares held out the pressurised Nyxian Prowler and Aejaz'' eyes lit up like those of a sly honey badger finding a pair of unguarded nuts to terrorise. "As you can probably make an educated guess, the Prowler has been upgraded. it will now do the whole slicey and stabby thing way better than it used to so I''m expecting good results. If you disappoint with this thing in your back pocket I will seriously be in a bad mood, you hear me?"


    Gulp


    Aejaz nodded with a nervous smile as he put the weapon in his space ring. "Jeez, you saying that just makes things worse! I was feeling fine up until you started threatening me, now I''m anxious about messing up..."


    "Oh? You used to be quite motivated whenever I threatened you... I see the easy life has softened you up a bit... Maybe I should start up our well-regimented training regime again and beat some of that ugly tenderness out of you? Give you a real reason to feel anxious!"


    "NO! NO MORE TORTURE! BAD ARES! Just because you disguise it as ''training sessions'' that doesn''t mean I''m not on to your Geneva convention un-abiding ass! I know my rights!"


    "Good, ''cos I sure as hell don''t! How about a training session right now?!"


    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO." Aejaz ran away, screaming for his dear life even though Ares was not in the mood to chase him. The idiot would be fine... Hopefully. There was a non-zero chance he panicked and made a mess of things but Aejaz usually wasn''t that kind of person. For all his scaredy-cat tendencies he was usually quite capable of performing in the moment even if his hands were shaking nonstop. Ares figured it was for the best if, actually, he just left him alone here as he would deal with things appropriately if given some space. He wasn''t the same person he was even a month or two ago and could act like a mature adult when he needed to. All that was really left was for him to prove he had the strength to back up his new conviction and, hey presto, he didn''t have to rely on Ares'' nurturing anymore. Yes Ares could still whip him into shape here and there if need be but, overall, Ares would feel comfortable dumping him on some random planet and wishing him the best of luck. Aejaz wouldn''t want to be there, as he''d see it as a chore, but he wouldn''t starve to death in some random back alley at least. He''d be able to fend for himself and defend himself. Did that mean Aejaz was perfect now? Hell no! Not even close. There was still even more room for him to develop but his current level would be sufficient for now. One day Ares wanted to get to a point where, in that previous scenario where he abandoned Aejaz on a random planet, Ares could come back a year later and the idiot would be running the place from top to bottom. He was very much capable of that, even if Aejaz himself was reluctant to believe it, and Ares knew he could if his brother put in the effort. Aejaz'' unique aspect went above and beyond and was truly something in a league of it''s own even when compared to other unique aspects; that much would be proven today when all was said and done after the match ended.


    Ares served up breakfast, kept occasionally glaring at Aejaz to lay on thick the pressure for the fun of it, and passed time idly with everyone. He used this opportunity to chat with Trixie and Lacy a bit as these two were still the only ones he hadn''t really spoken to much in comparison to everyone else under this roof. He didn''t really have much time for any long conversations, as the match would start soon enough, so he kept things brief and casual while getting to know them a bit better. Trixie was interesting in that she had decided to lay low in the Fleeting Glimpse from a very early age so as not to draw the attention of Sho and be scouted / directly trained as a result. She was supposedly capable of even being the three main brothers, not including Aejaz, in one to one combat which was impressive for just a random cultivator with no special training. Then again, she had a strong unique aspect that was fit for purpose so maybe it wasn''t too surprising. Trixie had to lose intentionally when up against the brothers multiple times to lay low apart from one specific instance wherein Job tried to force himself on her.


    Job could tell there was something going on between her and Aejaz and wanted to ruin it so he made a go at her one night but was promptly shut down. The threat of being bombed into tiny pieces was enough to send Job packing for good and discourage him from ever making another attempt. If he went and complained to Sho the old coot would have beaten him senseless not because of the animalistic and evil nature of his attack but simply because he failed and brought shame to the main family. Pretty much everyone would have just laughed him off and ''politely'' encouraged him to get back to training. He couldn''t take up his grievances with Trixie either because she outclassed him by a fair margin so he had to just keep quiet about it and run away from her with his tail tucked between his legs whenever he saw her. There were a million and one reasons why Job hated Aejaz and this, even though it had nothing to do with him, was one of them. Job had mainly tried his luck because of Aejaz but he was also extremely jealous of the guy because Trixie was a pretty decent looking girl and was likely to grow up to be quite the eye catcher. That had turned out to be true and the more Job saw of her the more he cursed his inability to make her his. Although he hadn''t made a scene regarding her betrayal back during the party it must have stung to high heaven. Anyway, the main point here was that Trixie was a strong cultivator, not too far behind Aejaz even after his training. She was worth keeping an eye on and maybe trying to help improve. The hidden bombs she could sneak onto people would be a real doozy if combined with Ares'' annihilation magic. That could happen some other time though, right now it was time to get going and head towards the coliseum!


    Everyone up and left, as per usual, but they did run into someone new during their trip. Well he wasn''t new in the sense they''d never met him before but rather new in that he hadn''t been to the coliseum to watch any matches as of yet. The newcomer was Zhang! He''d come to watch Aejaz'' match because he guessed today would be a big one for his son-in-law and wanted to at least show a little support. He''d been busy making pills for the sect and didn''t really have time to take more than one day off during the competition so the fact he chose this one made Aejaz secretly very happy. Aejaz did consider Zhang to be family and he''d even gone to go meet him at the alchemy department occasionally on his own just to say hi. Of course he also went with Allie and watched everyone work but he was close enough with Zhang to pay personal visits and he was even recognised by the disciples there whenever he stopped by. Luckily for Zhang, having connections to Aejaz meant having connections to Ares, who had connections to Enyo, who had connections to Bellona. In other words, he could finally pay the top floor of the coliseum a visit which was nice as he''d always wondered what it would be like up there. Yulo had described it as a comfortable mini paradise so getting to rest his weary old bones on a throne was rather pleasant sounding.


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    After arriving at the coliseum, the group split in two and bade each other goodbye / good luck. Aejaz was given a pat on the shoulder and a thumbs up by Zhang who handed him a pill that boosted a person''s clarity of mind and calmed them down for roughly an hour. It was a relatively common pill but it was seen as a gesture of good will and well wishes before major events in one''s life. It was also something taken fairly regularly by students before exams so the pill was a very well known one to say the least. It''s many uses put it firmly in the list of top ten most frequently sold pills of all times down in the lower domains. The higher domains obviously had better versions so it wasn''t really comparable to anything you could find outside the Primordial Blade. In fact a pill of the quality Aejaz had just receive would be thrown in a bin or fed to a dog as a snack beyond the Blade''s barrier. Harsh but true. Alchemy methods and talents were abundant outside the barrier and many people who were beginners would be better than Zhang. That wasn''t his fault, he would just have to play catch up when he finally had a chance to get out and see the wider world. The same was also true of Allie but her unique aspect was extremely beneficial as it would simplify that process. Her methodology wouldn''t really change, just the ingredients, and the quality thereof, that she was working with. It would lead to all kinds of new avenues and she wouldn''t be held back by access to resources anymore.


    Allie stood to gain the most simply from exiting the barrier and would no doubt shine outside this place. Something like the gold rabbit weed would be purchasable basically everywhere for a couple hundred low grade stardust whereas here they were capable of costing upwards of a few hundred high grades under the perfect storm of availability circumstances. Aejaz managing to get Allie one had been a serious game changer regarding her opinion of him. It had already been about average but that one moment was at least partially to thank for his current relationship with her. She wasn''t materialistic but it was hard not be particularly appreciative of such a gift. At the very least, she was more willing to try and understand what kind of person he was and get to know him better... Even if it was partially selfish as she hoped she could get more out of her new friend. In hindsight, she knew it was mean to act in such a gold-digger-esque way but she couldn''t help it! Alchemy was her life''s meaning at this point so she hadn''t even done it with negative intentions, her body and mind just sort of gravitated towards the opportunity that was Aejaz. Conning him and abusing his friendly nature wasn''t a part of the plan at all!


    Ares, Aejaz, and Enyo met up with Li Li and Esme who were chatting away as per usual. They''d become close, and had a good friendship what with their frequent chats, so finding them shooting the shit in the sect here and there wasn''t uncommon when they weren''t spending time with their respective partners. As for what they''d just been discussing... Well Ares overheard the tail end of it and they were complaining about the lack of action throughout the tournament. Their last match had basically been the previous one as they weren''t getting a word in edgewise in the last two. They''d win the rewards, provided Ares beat Mako, but did they even earn it? It felt a little cheap as far as they were concerned and they were genuinely thinking about forgoing the rewards, giving them either to Ares or the sect. Ares could have rightly laid claim to it, as he was basically the lynchpin of Red Sun''s victory thanks to the existence of Mako necessitating his own intervention, but he wasn''t going to be a loot gremlin and demand spoils of victory.


    Esme and Li Li could make their own choice on the matter. Besides, everyone on the team would get individual rewards regardless so Ares was more than ok with just getting what he''d expected from the get go. If they wanted to donate to the sect then that only really benefitted Ares in the long run anyway as it would be his soon enough. At this point, making the sect stronger instead of him was a valid path to take seeing as how he was absurdly powerful compared to a normal cultivator right now. After getting a fine grind blue worth his prestige, permanently accessing Garmr, and finding something to boost up his magic, Ares would have no immediate needs. One of those was guaranteed to happen as soon as he entered bloodline awakening, the fine grind had a high chance of appearing in Xasca, and only the magic boost resource was a completely unknowable wild card. Still, the power increase he was likely to get on his upcoming journey would not be a small one provided he got at least one of the three. Not reaching bloodline awakening wouldn''t be an issue if he found the fine grind and the reverse was also true. His trip would be a little wasted though if he got nothing but there was no point fretting about that before he''d even embarked on his long overdue adventure.


    Back on topic, Ares did feel a bit bad for these two. He''d robbed them of a good bunch of training via strong opponents if nothing else. If they could have gone up against either the Legions or the Umbras their skills would have seen a drastic increase due to the calibre of competition. Ares had nothing to do with the poor draws but he had everything to do with killing everyone within breathing range of him during the earlier rounds. They''d gotten some hits in but wanted a lot more so Ares figured he would throw them a bone and offer to train with them after the tournament. The next appearance of the Freeride Federation in Central Land wouldn''t be for a while so he could hang around the sect and take care of whatever loose ends he had to first. In that time period, spending a bit of it making up for his highway robbery of Li Li and Esme''s international experience was the least he could do for them. After openly asserting as such, and assuring the two he would work hard to help them improve, everyone went inside the coliseum and lounged around inside the waiting room. They really didn''t need to be here as everybody other than Aejaz wasn''t required to take part in this match but, just in case something went terribly wrong, they could be the backup plan. The chances of Aejaz losing were slim but that didn''t mean he couldn''t start having a stroke or something mid match.


    Ares kept shuffling ever closer to Aejaz, inching towards him as he whistled to himself innocuously. Ares was just innocently applying a teensy bit of pressure via subtle threats as the distance between himself and his brother shortened. A knuckle crack here, a throat slitting gesture there. Really just standard forms of encouragement no matter how you looked at it... Fortunately for Aejaz, the menacing idiot with all the subtlety of a brick thrown through a window, which might actually happen to Aejaz if he found a way to lose this fight, wasn''t able to crawl his way over to him before the angelic voice of the disgusting demon Lex boomed down the hallway, summoning them to the arena. Lex may have been a piece of crap, and would probably still continue to be one long into the future, but right now he was saving Aejaz'' hide and he was definitely thankful for it, unintentional though it was.


    The group sauntered into the arena with lazy confidence. There was little room for four of the five of them to do anything here today so they were mostly ambivalent about the situation. Not competing was boring but competing was a waste of time against weaker opponents. If one person could beat the entire enemy team then they weren''t worth anyone''s time really. Now, granted, Ares and Enyo were different beasts altogether and shouldn''t have been included in that statement but it was applicable to the other three... As far as Esme and Li Li were aware. They had no idea just how powerful Aejaz was right now and didn''t view him as being much stronger than he was during the inner court test. He''d done alright there, and throughout this tournament had improved a fair bit, but being Enyo or Bellona tier was unthinkable to them. The truth was a bit more complicated than that, though, as he might actually even be stronger than them right now... It was a fifty fifty toss up between him and Enyo but he could very likely beat Bellona if for no other reason than the one art he came up with that would counter her aspect thoroughly. Aejaz'' new art was a game changer and he would display it here during this fight, although the extent of what it could really do might only become apparent towards the later end of the scuffle when Aejaz was finishing everything up.


    Standing opposite the Red Sun team were the Fleeting Glimpse lot who''d arrived before them and, for lack of a better term, were pissed the ever-living fuck off... With Ares... Why was it always Ares?! Whenever anyone had a grudge with the Red Sun team he was always suspect numero uno! This shtick was getting old! Yes he may have caused the reputation and position of the clan on a global scale to spiral from grace like a crashing meteorite but... But... Ok, maybe they did have a reason to be annoyed! But he wasn''t the one they were going up against so they could all take their mean mugging ugly mugs and shove it! Ares hit his glaring foes with an internal why I oughta! before calming himself down. He was this close to smacking them around at the start of the round but he had to hold himself back here. It wasn''t his job to clean up this filth! Although they were probably going to gun for Ares regardless. They must have known attacking him was pointless but Aejaz'' mother had probably ordered them to so they could get revenge publicly. A stupid idea from a stupid woman but the thought process was logical at least. It''s not that the idea was wrong, it''s just that executing the idea to get the desired result was literally impossible and everyone knew it. How the hell was anyone other than Mako supposed to go toe to toe with Ares?! But if the Glimpse clan were going to lose anyway then obeying her was the smart choice. They''d rather be reprimanded for failing than for disobeying as the punishment for the latter would be WAY worse. This did mean that Ares was going to have to direct everyone towards his brother like some kind of chaperone. No sir, the fight you are looking for is other there in isle GO SCREW YOURSELF.  At that point, surely Ares should just kill them himself no?! Maybe just one? For sport? Ok maybe not, Enyo was glaring at him from the side because she could sniff out his intent from a mile away...


    Drag


    It seemed Enyo wasn''t willing to take any risks so she was currently pulling Ares away by the tail end of the Stygian Zephyr as he waved his fist at the other team. She threw him against the wall of the arena and, for good measure, sat on his lap which prevented him from getting right back up and picking a fight. Ares was oddly scrappy but it was probably because he wanted to flick his scythe around again today against marginally better opponents than last time and get some good practice in. That was almost definitely the reason he was doing this but there was no way Enyo would allow him! "No! Bad Ares! Sit!" Enyo picked up Ares arms and wrapped them around her before clasping down on them, fully locking him down. When Ares finally sighed in defeat she knew she could relax a bit as he''d given up on his silly plans. In the end, the person who was closest to ruining Aejaz'' match was even the coward himself, it was very nearly Ares, the person who set this whole thing up himself! Fool! Well whatever, the match was starting and he could nothing to involve himself anymore. Li Li and Esme had also taken a back seat so, now, it was all up to Aejaz. It was his time to shine and steal the show! There was about to be a daylight robbery of considerable importance in Red Sun today!

 Chapter 240: Groundhog Day Assassin

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    The horn was back after a one week break from use, at least in the outer court tournament as the inner court and core competitions were still chugging along, and now the first semi-final match was underway. Right out the gate Phlo silently casted an art that enabled his team to move around a bit more freely. It was an art Ares was unfamiliar with, so he couldn''t exactly understand what he was seeing perfectly, but it looked as though Phlo had created a cluster bomb of shadows that blew up in mid air and scattered a bunch of darkness everywhere. Shadow splotches dotted the ground at regular intervals and anyone else with an affiliation for the darkness pillar could travel between them instantaneously at will. Phlo was the mobility / support specialist of the group so an art like this was right up his alley as he could enable Scowl or Job to get in close without having to waste time and effort casting their own arts. Plus the other two non-descript disciples also benefitted from this as it didn''t seem like they had any method of moving around quickly whatsoever. Was Phlo just here to pick up dead weight and chuck it across the finish line now that half the team had been replaced with crappy cultivators? Maybe... He was still capable of putting up his own fight even if only Scowl and Job could really make full use of his magic, it''s just that he was going to severely underperform compared to usual. Still, his magic wasn''t any less functional than it always was so, although the quality of people utilising it was lower on average, the value of the art itself hadn''t decreased at least. One of the non-descript cultivators, wearing a full ninja get-up, had taken a ride through his shadows and appeared directly next to Ares. It seemed like the Glimpse group were all avoiding the talisman and gunning for their main target. If they could at least kill Ares then losing wouldn''t even matter to them anymore. They were prepared to throw literally everything, kitchen sink included, at this guy just to redeem whatever scraps of their reputation they could.


    The ninja came out of the shadow slinging a wet knife. Ares wasn''t too familiar with the darkness pillar, hence why he couldn''t identify Phlo''s art, but he knew this art definitely wasn''t a part of it as he''d actually heard of this one before. Liquidation was a combination art of the flow and negligent toxicology aspects. It was essentially a free-flowing water whip, that came out the tip of a knife, filled with toxins that were highly poisonous. If the knife cut you, you''d be poisoned. If the whip lacerated you, you''d be poisoned. It was basically a weapon and an extension of a weapon simultaneously, both of which could leave some really nasty scrapes that would inflict you with a slow-acting poison that eventually put you out of commission or maybe even outright killed you depending on the dosage. As the whip was partially constructed via the flow aspect its shape was pretty malleable and almost functioned like a tentacle with a mind of its own. It was generally better to try and destroy the water whip first then deal with the poison dagger normally afterwards as the whip was annoying to fight against but pretty frail. It was really good at ambushing people and pressing an advantage but, other than that, was a relatively simple art to render null and void with a few well placed attacks.


    The ninja in question had made no effort to get closer to Ares, instead opting to try and take him by surprise and hit him with the whip before he could untangle himself from Enyo''s waist and pull a weapon out. He ended up looking like a right fool, however, when his whip harmlessly bounced off off of Enyo''s barrier. She''d set one up the second the match started because she didn''t want to get involved or let Ares get involved either. In fact, right now, the slippery mutt somehow managed to free his hands and was wagging a scythe at the ninja unsuccessfully. He was trapped under Enyo, stuck inside the barrier, and too far away to hit the guy so his pointless floundering was like watching a child swing an oversized toy. Enyo had been mistaken, this idiot hadn''t given up! If it weren''t for her barrier this mongrel might have actually tried to sneak out from under her and go assault this dumb Glimpse clan idiot. Clearly stricter measures needed to be put in place to prevent any of his unruly behaviour so Enyo turned around and wrestled Ares to the floor, leaving a bewildered ninja wondering what he was supposed to be doing right now.


    Should he interrupt them?


    As far as he was concerned, two of his opponents fighting each other was a good thing, no? Also, could he even interrupt them even if he wanted to? He was an assassin, not a demolitions expert! How was he supposed to break this impossibly sturdy, borderline imposing, barrier sitting right there before him. It was condescendingly lording over the nearby area, daring him to throw another paltry strike at it but what was the point? The ninja did not have the tools, raw strength, or arts needed to deal with it in any way, shape, or form! Yes Yvonne, Aejaz'' mother, wanted Ares dead this match but come on! The ninja would have an easier time completing a task that required him to go and swim to Xasca with nothing but the clothes on his back and even that would take at least two weeks straight of strenuous physical exertion... And yet it would be a breeze compared to this! Maybe if Yvonne gave him a pick axe and a couple hundred years he might make a dent in the barrier at most... This all just went to show how hopelessly outclassed the Glimpses were. Sure the ninja was a weaker member of the team but it''s not like the difference was particularly staggering between him and the main branch brothers nor was it like anyone on their entire team had it in them to break a barrier like this.


    Whilst the ninja was debating his next move, Ares had managed to shove his scythe back into his Blade for storage as he smugly gloated to his wife who was giving him a narrow stare after failing to confiscate his weapon. He stuck his tongue out, and had to immediately retract it lest Enyo''s two fingers caught and restrained it, before looking over at the ninja and giving him some free advice. "I know I must look like a juicy steak to you right now, and everyone seems to want a slice, But you might want to deal with him first." With a neat little reference to his first meeting with Aejaz, that nobody else here other than his brother would even get, Ares pointed out the real threat to to the ninja... By using his middle finger. Highly unnecessary but if people were gunning for him this hard then rubbing their failure in their faces was the least he could do!


    The ninja, as he was in the middle of turning around, felt a drop of sweat in his empty palm. The ninja swivelled around just in time to watch his own poison-tipped and water-whipped knife come slashing at him from a rough angle to dodge. This belligerent strike had come from his own weapon so it was painfully clear to him who was responsible. There was only one person here capable of stealing a weapon right out of another person''s hand without even being directly next to them. The ninja wanted to cry because he''d essentially just given Aejaz access to a combination art he wouldn''t have been able use otherwise! But again, what was he supposed to do exactly? The three brothers had warned him about this but Yvonne had also warned him about doing nothing. He couldn''t not use the art but he also couldn''t use it! He was stuck between a rock and a hard place so he picked the lesser of the two evils, choosing not to offend Yvonne by doing as she asked, and it had still not worked out for him.


    The ninja was able to jump away and save himself from a fatal wound but he was still grazed in a few different spots. Aejaz'' swing had been pretty incredible, actually, and was aimed at multiple body parts along a single trajectory. He''d hit the ninja''s arm, chest, knee, and foot all in one swipe. The ninja was floored because that was something even he himself could only do against a motionless training dummy after a good warm up. For Aejaz to nick his weapon and do it first try on a real human being was a serious eye opener. The brothers had assured him that Aejaz was barely competent and couldn''t kill a person if he tried. Obviously the recent matches had dispelled that notion somewhat but they still believed he wasn''t particularly great at dealing offensive blows. Aejaz had always been ok at dodging but hitting anything back was a talent he didn''t possess at all throughout his childhood. For him to now be whipping that talent out of thin air, almost literally, was a worrying sign that, actually, they were completely wrong. Aejaz had clearly grown a lot and it was evident just from a single swing. Unfortunately the ninja had realised that too late and was now poisoned in multiple locations. The spread of the poison would be pretty quick, as it was all over the place, and he could feel himself slowing down already which was all but sealing his fate as Aejaz came sprinting after him to deal another devastating blow. Aejaz was really fast too so the poisoned ninja was going to struggle to get away if nobody bailed him out of this situation. The ineffective Aejaz, incapable of killing even a fly, was no more and now a bloodthirsty killer was on the ninja''s heels, showing no remorse as he swung the whip with deadly precision.


    Aejaz may not have been going on any missions for Hans lately but that didn''t mean those experiences weren''t still deeply ingrained in him. He had become an assassin through and through so treating him like anything less was a death sentence. Despite Hans not calling upon him, Aejaz hadn''t become rusty in the slightest. If anything, he seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood right about now. Ares could tell Aejaz was enjoying a chance to assassinate people again after a short break. Although his brother wouldn''t ever come out and admit, it was looking like he actually really enjoyed this life. He always had a fondness for one upping people with his magic so throwing in a bit of murder to really seal that deal was working for him. Using his magic to slowly strip away everything from a foe, cornering them with their own weaponry, and dealing the fatal blow in a grand display was very much Aejaz'' style. Ares had said it before that Aejaz could sometimes be a silent fraudster who conned you blind before you even knew what hit you as well as a showman openly showcasing his spectacular feats. Now Aejaz was doing both of those things in sequential order and ending it all with a knife to the gut. He was enjoying himself but not in a twisted sense. Aejaz didn''t enjoy the murder, he enjoyed everything that led up to it. Stealing away every form of hope his enemy could muster in a sadistically cruel and taunting way was a trait that had been bubbling away underneath the surface for a while with this guy. Today was not going to just expose that to everyone present, it was going to take over his brother.


    Ares had wanted Aejaz to grow even more but it seemed today was going to go above and beyond his expectations as Aejaz'' confidence in himself was already soaring and he hadn''t even killed anyone yet. The hopeless look of fear in the ninja who had everything taken from him and was being outdone at his own profession was awakening something within Aejaz. He''d known before now he was good, his successes with Hans reflected that, but now that he was outright toying with some of the highest calibre assassins in the land it was really drilling itself home into his thick skull. There was a difference between an ''I can outclass every other assassin in the world'' mentality and a ''I AM outclassing every other assassin in the world'' attitude. This was the spark he needed to set his life down the correct path and it was happening right this very moment. It''s not that his cowardly demeanour would disappear, Aejaz was always going to be a hesitant person who would rather not have to trudge through annoying tasks like fighting people who were decently strong, it''s just that, now, that demeanour was intentionally misleading rather than an accurate summation of his current feelings. Underneath that wry smile and pretend weakness was a murderer who would stab you in the throat if you so much as blinked, and he would do it with your own weapon just to rub salt in the wound and make it clear you never stood a chance.


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    Hans was busy taking control over Red Sun at the moment which was why he wasn''t watching the matches anymore. The remnants of the old leadership needed ousting and, right now, what he needed was all hands on deck to manage the city and not assassins to clean up small time messes. Death didn''t need dealing, paperwork needed sorting so he was working overtime on trivialities. One day, when he finally fixed up the most pressing issues, he would go back to hiring cold-blooded killers and naturally Aejaz would be on that list. The shock he would receive at Aejaz'' newfound efficiency, as a result of today, would not be small, to say the least. Aejaz would go on to start taking multiple missions per day and even actively get a kick out of hunting people, a characteristic that had seemingly spawned out of nowhere. As far as Hans was concerned, Aejaz would, overnight, have become a brutal ripper who took joy in ending lives. A slight misunderstanding but not so far off the mark that he could be blamed for getting it wrong. Aejaz was learning about the thrill of the hunt, and what it meant to be so overwhelming compared to your opponent that they could only pray you weren''t going to slaughter them, but that wasn''t why he was having fun.


    It was because this was all nothing more than a perfect chance for him to go completely hog-fucking wild with his magic.


    He was free and unrestrained to unleash his uniqueness on the world for once. He''d always been seen as an annoying pest who''s magic would trouble people if he ever so much as sneezed any mana in their direction. He couldn''t train without getting dirty side-eyes from everyone around because nobody had any faith in him not to steal from them. Aejaz had been burdened throughout his entire life with a magic nobody respected or tolerated. Even the elders kept watch of him which just made him more spiteful, inclining him to pilfer from them just to annoy them the way he annoyed them. Now that he was up against his family, some of the main culprits in spitting on his passion, the exhilaration he felt running them down, as he used the magic they hated to their core to enable this massacre, was brilliant.


    ''Your magic is weak.''


    No it isn''t.


    ''Your magic is pointless for an assassin.''


    No it isn''t.


    ''Your magic is no better than anything a petty thief can do, it''s boring.''


    No it isn''t.


    ''Your magic can''t kill anything, it''s worthless.''


    No it isn''t.


    For so long Aejaz just had to accept that others would never think highly of him because of his second rate magic but what now? Who had the guts to stand up to him in this crowd? Other than Ares, who could walk up to Aejaz and look him in the eyes when he was running rampant? Who could stop his supposedly ''pathetic'' magic? Nobody. And even if they could, Aejaz would just take that ability away from them and watch them squirm. Unique aspects were strong but Aejaz'' wasn''t comparable to the rest of them, he''d come to learn his magic was infinitely close to being just as capable as a fundamental pillar. He''d stuck with his ''pathetic'' magic and it had rewarded him for his loyalty and dedication with absolute power that he was going to proudly show the world through the course of this match. What he was doing to this ninja now, as he kept tearing at his flesh, was just the beginning. There was so much more to this match and his blood brothers were going to have to learn that the hard way. Nobody in this coliseum would leave this place today thinking of Aejaz or his magic as some kind of parlour trick, they would all leave and feel a chill down their spine whenever they walked down an alleyway alone for the rest of their life. The threat of Aejaz would be greater than the threat his entire clan combined posed, now and forever.


    As for the ninja, he was seriously starting to wonder why no one was coming to his rescue. No, he wasn''t important in the grand scheme of things but there was literally only one person on the other team making any effort right now. If his own team just ganged up on him surely they could remove one obstacle and make their lives so much easier! To his horror, when he turned to look at his teammates, he saw them all standing around in a line waiting for the match to start?! What was happening? They heard the horn, Phlo had even cast an art, so why were they not moving? Better yet, why was Scowl kissing his teeth at Lex and tapping his wrist like he was getting inpatient for the match to begin?! The ninja kept getting whipped and he was starting to feel himself dying so he attempted to call out to the other members of his team but his cries were completely silent as Aejaz kept abusing him in a corner of the arena. Aejaz was looking down at him with a fake smile and whipping him to a slow, gruelling death as his wordless gasps weren''t reaching the ears of his comrades in arms. His voice had been stolen... When he realised that, everything fell into place. The other members of the team had their memories of the start of the match stolen. They all thought the match hadn''t kicked off yet and that Lex was taking his merry time, all the while Aejaz was free to casually assassinate the ninja in the background. Not even twenty feet away from the starting line, the ninja was being broken down into a collapsing pile of purple flesh as his clan stood stock still, impatiently waiting for a fight that had already begun... But wasn''t that the point of assassination at its core? To end a fight before it had even started? Aejaz was exemplifying that to a very real degree. He''d started the fight then restarted it at his own convenience. Aejaz could start the fight whenever he wanted by manipulating everyone''s memories, controlling the entire pace of the engagement and giving himself unlimited retries. The one solace the ninja had, as his vision was fading to black, was that the crowd were yelling at his team and they were finally starting to turn around and look behind them. Technically the spectators shouldn''t have done this but it no longer really mattered as the ninja''s life was reaped the second his team were made fully aware of the situation. All they saw was the ninja disappearing from the arena and a flash of white before everything went right back to ''normal''.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Why isn''t the match starting yet? Scowl was starting to get agitated with Lex. The idiot was just sitting there with a frown on his face and staring straight at him instead of signalling for the horn to blow. Was there some kind of issue with the match the C.O needed to address first? Even the crowd were starting to whisper to themselves and wonder what was up with this strange situation. Something was very clearly off so Scowl decided to take a look around and the first thing he saw was one of his teammates being stabbed in the back of the brain by Aejaz. What the fuck?! When did Aejaz get behind everyone? Why was he attacking people before the match started? Why were there only four clansmen in the arena? How did nobody detect Aejaz sneaking up on them? Why was Lex not declaring foul play for starting before the horn blew? As the second non-descript Glimpse clan member was sent packing to the respawn area, Scowl''s face became one plagued by confusion and a lack of understanding about anything that was happening. Only him and his two brothers were left standing in the arena but, for some reason, the two useless clansmen weren''t being brought back for a fair fight. This was stupid! Better yet, why was nobody in the crowd complaining about any of this either?! Where were the boos and the jeers for the brazen cheating on full display!? "What the hell do you think you''re doing you stupi..." Scowl''s interrogation of Aejaz was rudely interrupted by another white flash, not that he even remembered the first.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Why isn''t the match starting yet? Scowl was starting to get agitated with Lex. The idiot was just sitting there with a frown on his face and staring straight at him instead of signalling for the horn to blow. Was there some kind of issue with the match the C.O needed to address first? Even the crowd were starting to whisper to themselves and wonder what was up with this strange situation... Why did this all feel so familiar? Why did it feel like he''d done this before? Multiple times, even... Scowl turned to Job and Phlo who seemed to be having similar thoughts. They all collectively happened to catch sight of their two dead teammates and Job quickly put two and two together. He''d been in this situation before, back at the party, so he knew that Aejaz was on the prowl. He sent his two brothers a mental message and all three of them quickly got into a formation standing shoulder to shoulder to shoulder to cover all the possible angles of attack. Seeing as how they couldn''t find Aejaz right now, it must have meant his bloodline ability to turn invisible was finally usable. He might not be able to use it for long but being able to hide from sight even temporarily, when paired with every other tool in his arsenal, like the Concealed Serpent, was a worrying prospect for anyone who had to go up against him. Worse still, Job was useless here as his magic would actually hamper his own team''s odds of winning. Aejaz would steal his unique art the second he summoned it, just like what happened with the Liquidation ninja, so he was basically just a disposable meat shield to his own brothers right now. Throw in the fact that Phlo was more of a support than anything and the Glimpse''s match had already come crashing down. Aejaz'' Concealed Serpent had allowed him to quietly stick a metaphorical knife in the gut of their team and twist it before they even knew they were being targeted.


    Unbeknownst to the trio, a hand was creeping up on them from within their own shadows. They formed a triangular gap behind their back in which Aejaz was slowly rising from the ground. They''d mistakenly believed he didn''t have access to the normal aspects of the darkness pilar but the Prowler was very much allowing him to defy logic and move around through their own shadows. Ah but the Glimpse brothers were ''lucky'', Aejaz wasn''t going to assassinate them in such a boring way. He could but Ares had asked him to show off a bit so he was going to take his time with these three and thoroughly humiliate them... For non-personal reasons, of course. Now did that mean Aejaz wouldn''t get a kick out of it? Now now, nobody said that!


    For now, a tap on the back of all three of them, causing them to scatter and run for the hills, was enough to let them know that if they thought Aejaz was still the same bulliable kid he was way back when then they were biting off a lot more than they could chew. Aejaz had removed the extras from this little play he was putting on, putting the ninjas out of commission, so now his payback was going to go full throttle. It was high time for ''Appropriate Skillset'' to make its debut.

 Chapter 241: What’s Yours Is Mine and What’s Mine Is My Own

    Aejaz fiddled with the knife in his hand. He had enough dexterity and temerity to roll it along his fingers without looking directly down at which indicated a certain level of comfort with the Prowler. It was a fantastic weapon due to its ability to mould itself to the user''s liking and Aejaz had long since found the perfect size and shape that worked for him. He''d custom tailored it ever since he first held the thing and, after many uses, no longer needed any refining. Whenever he borrowed it he immediately changed it to resemble a fixed blade knife that was ever so slightly longer than the standard. The grip had small bumps between the locations where his fingers would rest, allowing for a comfortable and firm grip. His hand would never slip and the force he could apply with a single stab was impressive. Part of why Aejaz had struggled to be consistent offensively was because he''s just never found a weapon he liked. It was a shame the Prowler didn''t belong to him but he was happy to borrow it frequently instead. Aejaz acknowledged that Ares simply needed it more and it was far more useful to him than it was to Aejaz, especially now that the ''Appropriate Skillset'' art was fully developed and ready to be used. It was an interesting art that was infinitely better than simply owning an enabler but that was getting slightly ahead of things as he hadn''t even used the art yet. It could be fully explained after Aejaz made it clear to his family just how wide the gap between them was, much like how Ares showed off with his pressure in that one match earlier.


    Hit them hard and, when they''re reeling, hit them even harder. The double down strategy was highly effective for showboating! At least according to a book Ares had read anyway. That or the long con wherein you build up low expectations over a considerable period of time and bam out of nowhere comes the unexpected. Technically Aejaz was about to do both to his family, as they really underestimated him, but he really didn''t care about their opinion and / or reaction to his magic. There was no one left in the family he cared about because the ones he did care about had already left it. He felt a tad sorry for his father but he was still a part of the problem even if he''d only been the smallest part overall, forgiveness just wasn''t in the cards and he could crash and burn with the rest of the clan as far as Aejaz was concerned.


    Job was struggling to bring himself to do anything, what with the whole Aejaz completely invalidating him thing, so it was up to Scowl to put straight his unruly brother who was acting like he was hot shit and grandstanding before them. Scowl refused to believe Aejaz could take on all three of them even if it was one by one. If nothing else, Scowl couldn''t see himself losing to Aejaz. He''d been trained personally by Sho, one of the most infamous assassins of all time in the lower realms. Who was Aejaz trained by exactly? Nobody worth mentioning at least. Even if that Ares guy was doing the training so what? It''s not like Ares was some kind of expert assassin himself!... Of course Dominus complicated that assumption but it''s not like Scowl knew that... Ignorance is bliss! Scowl looked at Phlo and nodded sideways at Aejaz, encouraging his brother to start casting support arts for him so he could deal with the family flunky. Killing the rodent who wasn''t good for anything other than cleaning blood off everyone else''s daggers was long overdue and might actually be a little cathartic for these three, provided they were actually capable of doing it anyway.


    Phlo clicked his finger and the nearby scenery was engulfed in a dark tint. This was an art Ares knew so even if Scowl didn''t spell it out, thanks to his silent casting bloodline, Ares could at least tell what was going on here as opposed to the last art, by Phlo, in which he had to guess based off of context clues. This art was one under the shadow aspect by the name of ''Double Dark''. Simply put, it doubled the effectiveness of all darkness pillar arts used inside the zone it created. It was incredibly powerful but drained mana like no one''s business so using it for anything other than quick bursts of violence wasn''t recommended. That being said, if someone else, who had a focus on being the proud owner of a large mana pool, was casting and maintaining it for you... Well it would be a whole lot more effective and last way longer. This was where Phlo came in.


    Being a supportive assassin was a particularly weird niche to fill but it wasn''t uncommon to have multiple people try and assassinate the same high profile target. If the victim-to-be was extremely important, or just too tough to beat in a one on one if things went wrong, then bringing a homicide buddy was the way to go. It wasn''t unusual to have ten or even sometimes twenty assassins go for one target if the group in question was being paid enough to not screw up and valued making a good impression with their employer. The more eyes there were on the scene, the easier it would be to spot and clean up any trails or messes they left behind. Also, support assassins like Phlo could shine in these situations so they weren''t useless at all, just highly specific in their specialty. After all, it''s not like Double Dark could really help anyone other than assassins to begin with. The darkness pillar was almost exclusively used for assassination so if you could benefit from Double Dark the chances of you being an assassin were extremely high. Sure some people found other ways of using the pillar but unless they were even more specialised that someone like Phlo they wouldn''t get as much out of the pillar as him.


    Learning an art like Double Dark was basically saying to the world ''wherever I go, another assassin goes as well at all times.'' If you were the victim of an assassination attempt and the guy you saw was casting this art, it was almost better to stop looking at them and try to find the real immediate threat to your life. A threat that was about to become even more deadly thanks to said art. Even something like Ink Glue would become insufferable to deal with as it would be twice the size, fly twice as fast, and last twice as long. This might not have sounded that bad on its own but it was worth mentioning some people had such high mastery of the darkness pillar they could treat the Glue like a shadow and hop to it from anywhere. Having an Inky teleport beacon Glued to your face, allowing assassins to jump on you from anywhere at any time while you were blind, was blatantly going to be fatal no matter how you looked at it. Yes Double Dark massively improved lethal arts but sometimes, if you were lethal enough as is, improving a utility or disabling art was perhaps more valuable.


    Scowl was an impressive assassin for the lower realms but he was not at this level, not even close. Instead he opted to use the Double Dark aggressively and cast an art of the tangible dark aspect to kick of the fight between him and Aejaz as he closed the distance.


    Spike.


    Spike.


    Spike.


    Spike.


    Spike.


    That, although it hadn''t been articulated out loud, was precisely what most people who dabbled in the darkness pillar sounded like on a regular basis when they were just starting out. Much like how Water Bullet was a very beginner friendly art, Spike was a simple and effective art of the tangible dark aspect. What it did was fairly self-explanatory as it created, you guessed it, a Spike. The Spike would come out of the floor, typically, from within a narrow range of the target''s current location and shoot directly at them. The distance from the target at which the spike could form was determined by the overall cultivation of the wielder and would decrease as they grew stronger. At Scowl''s current level, Spikes were capable of forming about five feet away from Aejaz and hurtling towards him from the ground. That''s not to say Spikes could only come from the ground as those who were more proficient with the art could summon them from ceilings, walls, and even miscellaneous objects. It wasn''t impossible to chuck a ball at someone, intentionally miss, and summon a Spike out of it to hit the foe as it flew past their head.


    For what it was worth, the Spikes could get pretty quick and their almost eerily quiet nature made them good for getting the drop on opponents. It was also just hard to respond to them for the most part so it was usable in a wide variety of situations. The joke about darkness pillar newbies having had their first word as a baby be ''Spike'' existed for a reason, it was used a LOT. Anyone with even a slight affiliation for the pillar had no reason not to learn it, sort of like Fireball. Potentially lethal, annoying, can be fired on repeat, decent enough at pestering your foe, and a rather low mana cost to boot. You get a Spike, and you get a Spike, and everybody gets a Spike! It should also be mentioned that, due to how frequently this art was cast, it was also sometimes referred to as the ''dream-ender''. Many hopefuls with delusions of becoming a renowned assassin were met with a harsh fate because of this art. Sure the Glimpse lot could cast it silently but if you weren''t able to chant this art inside your head then that meant you had to do it out loud... Multiple times... Alerting literally everyone with a pulse and a functioning pair of ears that you were trying, and presumably failing, to kill your target. The amount of would-be assassins who were caught or killed with their last words being a never-ending slew of ''Spikes'' was sky-high.


    Aejaz, like most competent cultivators, was not deterred by such a plain and boring art. it was serving its purpose as a ''distraction'' but only in the sense that Aejaz had to allocate a small piece of his brain power to moving out of its way. The Spike, a shadowy black cone-shaped tentacle with a pointed tip, had thrust itself out of the floor and aimed right for Aejaz'' heart but he drifted slightly backward and avoided it with ease. Scowl seemed to be intent on running Aejaz through the Spike gauntlet, however, so Aejaz had to duck, swerve, and lean out the way of many more in the moments to come. The ensuing chaos of tens of Spikes created an intricately woven web of sharp attacks that would have been even more impressive had the subtle implication here not been that Scowl was just saying the same word in his head over and over again like a psychopath. Spike Spike Spike Spike Spike. There was almost something humiliating about being in this kind of position that irked Scowl to no end. He wasn''t some desperate beginner! He was just making use of a tool to enable him to approach safely! This wasn''t his grand plan! Not that it mattered... Even if what he was doing now wasn''t quite so embarrassing it wouldn''t change the fact that Aejaz was making a mockery of him regardless.


    Aejaz jumped over one Spike, raised his arm so as not to get stabbed by another, and even hopped on the tip of one of the other Spikes to jump away from one that tried to sneak attack him from behind. Aejaz was treating these Spikes like a jungle gym and climbing around and jumping off them like a slick acrobat. His moves were tricky and unorthodox, like he was slinking around every corner with a wavy upper body that resembled an inflatable tube man. There was a profound smoothness to the way he curved his body and it defied logic. He looked like he was animated differently compared to the rest of the world, as though someone was controlling him via puppet strings that could defy a normal human''s inflexibility. Put simply, he could not be touched right now. Point in case, his movements were so impressive and unusual he even fooled what was supposed to be heat seeking magic. For lack of a better term, he broke the metaphorical ankles of one of the Spikes by standing still. His movement was so hard to predict that by doing literally nothing the Spike was unable to comprehend it. So many possibilities were born the moment Aejaz'' feet were moving such that standing stock still almost seemed like an uncalculatable impossibility for the magic. Aejaz had killed all his momentum just in time to watch a Spike go sailing past his retinas and crash into the nearby arena wall, breaking on impact as the shadowy remnants sunk into the floor in shame.


    Even though Scowl''s attack was half-hearted it was still a real slap to the face to have it avoided with such finesse. All he''d really done here was help Aejaz show off his dodging skills. The guy clearly could have fired back at any point during that so Scowl''s entire series of arts had been pretty pointless. The fact Aejaz did nothing was eating away at Scowl who refused to believe he was inferior to this idiot. Aejaz had always been annoyingly good at not getting hit, and it seemed like it had only gotten worse over time, but Scowl thought he was capable of landing at least one crucial attack and then the rest would be simple. He put that idea to the back of his mind and didn''t waste his breath on any more arts as his knife would suffice for someone of Aejaz'' calibre, of that he was sure.


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    Scowl ran up to Aejaz, who simply gave him a once over that culminated in a disappointed and disapproving look of unmet expectations, and went for a straightforward stab. He put his worst intentions and best foot forward to try and gut Aejaz but he knew deep down it wouldn''t hit. Scowl hadn''t committed to this attack, and it was a pretty weak and slow one to begin with, because he was waiting to see how Aejaz responded before he went all in on anything. Making a risky manoeuvre only to miss and leave himself wide open was a bad decision and one he wasn''t going to make no matter how little he respected Aejaz. For what it was worth, Scowl did have good assassin habits drilled into him that he was living by even now that Sho was dead. He wasn''t consumed by tempestuous rage, nervous in the face of someone who may very well have improved beyond his comprehension, or excited to his core to try and stab the brother he hated. His emotions were in check, even if the ironic scowl on his face was let completely loose, and thus his combat technique and thought processes were all impressive and correct. Unfortunately, that meant nothing to anyone who was just outright better than he was and Aejaz fell in that category.


    Aejaz had seen the wimpy, lazy attack coming the second Scowl closed in on him so he was more than ready to capitalise off it. What Scowl was expecting was for Aejaz to fall back but, instead, he threw his chest forward in a curve around the blade and closed the distance between him and his brother. It all happened so fast that Scowl took a moment to process the knife buried in his abdomen before he stumbled backwards. Aejaz could have stabbed him in the heart right then and there and he wouldn''t have even seen it coming which confirmed Scowl''s worst fear right now, he was being toyed with. Whether it be to make a name for himself, or simply for petty revenge on those who wronged him, Aejaz was going to take his time making an example of the brothers clearly.


    If there was anything that last interaction taught Scowl, it''s that Aejaz was now more than capable of ending a life whenever he felt the need to do so. The old him that struggled to even pierce a training dummy with a weapon didn''t exist anymore. All that remained was a fully fledged assassin who, at the very least, could wipe the floor with Scowl in a head on fight. Scowl didn''t know to what extent magic would change the dynamic between them but, without any, he was not a contender in Aejaz'' eyes. Again, credit where it was due, Scowl did not falter in spite of his shock, he didn''t even make it clear that was how he felt about the matter via his facial expressions. A mere click of the tongue was the only indication he even had feelings on the matter whatsoever and it wasn''t easily deciphered as anything other than frustration at having been stabbed. Scowl turned his head to call out to his brothers, as he needed to gang up on Aejaz to stand a chance and he wasn''t ashamed to admit it, but before he could get the words out Aejaz started dashing towards him. Scowl rushed to defend himself from another stab aimed at his stomach but he quickly realised his hand was empty and he was about to get run through yet again.


    Squelch


    The sound of Aejaz'' prowler, well Ares'' anyway but it was on loan right now, sinking into Scowl''s flesh was heard loud and clear as Aejaz playfully twisted the knife. Scowl would live and shouldn''t be such a wuss. Having a blade spun around inside you for a little bit wasn''t all that bad, especially not for a cultivator. In some cultures it could even be considered a greeting! Although right now Scowl wished it was a farewell instead and that Aejaz would just disappear from his sight.


    Scowl tried to turn and run but was repeatedly stabbed in the back.


    He tried to walk backwards and keep an eye on Aejaz but he was stabbed in the front.


    No matter what he did, as he was forced to wait for his allies to find an opportunity to involve themselves, Aejaz was there to poke another hole inside him. His only weapon was gone and there was no way he could focus on casting arts while he was being stabbed repeatedly. Even Spike, an art that realistically shouldn''t have been hard to cast under pressure, wasn''t able to come out properly. It was almost as if Aejaz was calculating the time between failed chants in his head so he knew precisely when to stab Scowl to interrupt him. Scowl couldn''t make it half way through the damned word before he was made to bleed in yet another place. None of the wounds were serious, and they only really just hurt like a bitch, but in some ways that made it even worse. Knowing that each of these stabs could be fatal if Aejaz willed it made Scowl want to lunge at the bastard but doing so would just put him in a worse situation. You wouldn''t think it but Scowl''s patience was borderline legendary for him to even passively tolerate this beating... Thankfully it came to and end as Job and Phlo launched a well-timed counter-attack. They waited for Aejaz to step between two of the shadowy blobs on the floor that Phlo had left earlier and leapt out of them in sync with one another. Job from behind, so Aejaz would have a harder time stealing his unique art, and Phlo from the front where he could keep Aejaz'' attention. Scowl was relieved to see that his brothers were putting some serious thought into their approach and hadn''t pointlessly abandoned him. Sometimes it was necessary to let someone else take the brunt of an assault in this profession while you schemed a perfect intervention off to the side, Scowl knew this all too well and wasn''t fussed it had to be him right now. Actually, this wasn''t his first rodeo with this kind of scenario as he was typically leading the assault on his victims. If they fought back, it was his job to hold the line long enough for someone else to confirm the kill. No one could ever argue Scowl wasn''t dutiful down to the last fibre of his being at least.


    Aejaz'' response to this brilliant pincer was simply to not be here in this position any longer. Ducking into the shadows via the Prowler would take a bit too long for his liking so Aejaz used a new trick up his sleeve and stole Scowl''s position. Scowl had done little more than blink and he was now being stabbed yet again, this time by his two brothers instead of Aejaz. His wounds were considerably worse this time as the brothers had been aiming to damage Aejaz heavily but, fortunately for Scowl who was battered and bruised, none of the strikes were lethal. This wasn''t intentional on the part of Phlo or Job though, once more Aejaz had prevented Scowl''s death. Right before Aejaz stole his position, Aejaz had shifted his own such that Scowl wouldn''t be placed directly in front of his death when he arrived there. The slight body twist and the inch he leant back had saved Scowl''s life and further taunted him. Furthermore, Scowl was lucky in that Job hadn''t actually pulled out his unique art yet. The dagger in his hand was a replica of the unique art and it had been designed specifically to fool Aejaz. The point was to have Aejaz steal the replica before Job whipped out the real one and dealt the killing blow before Aejaz could respond. Had he been using the unique art Scowl would have suffered considerably more than he already did. Also the cat was out of the bag now that Job''s ace up his sleeve had been exposed but how could this have possibly been predicted?


    Why could Aejaz do something as ridiculous as forcibly swapping places with another person?


    Where did he even get such a non-sensical power from?!


    This was the trouble with unique aspects, you never knew what kind of whacky turns they were capable of taking. One minute it was doing as was said on the tin, the next they were bending the rules of their magic such that loose interpretations of the meaning of their magic were applicable and exploitable. Bellona was doing something similar currently too and had ideas that would blow people''s minds if they knew about it. Aejaz was no different. Nowadays his mindset had simplified a bit as it was basically a one-track note that allowed him to expand upon his magic. What do I want most right now? As soon as he had that figured out, the rest was quite simple actually. if he wanted to be in someone else''s shoes, he would steal their position. Simple as can be! Yes the mindset was simple but that made it general and easy to interpret in many different ways leading to precisely this situation. What he''d just done was an application of Relocate that hadn''t existed prior to some hardcore training with the art that expanded its uses considerably but, honestly, that was only the tip of the iceberg and what was about to happen to the trio would start to clue them in to just what manner of monster they were staring down right about now.


    "Carnwennan."


    In response to Aejaz stealing his unique art, Job could do nothing but shed a single tear. Carnwennan was Job''s unique art of the shadow aspect that summoned the mythical weapon itself, or rather a copy of it that was faithful to the original in many ways... But why could Aejaz use this art?! It was supposed to be a unique art?! Even the enabler he was wielding shouldn''t have made this possible! As it turned out, the appropriate in ''Appropriate Skillset'' was likely more often going to be in reference to the verb and not the adjective. Granted Aejaz had silently cast it on Job so it''s not like the poor guy could even try and wrestle with the punny language himself to figure out what was going on, he just had to stand there in disbelief that this was even happening.


    What was even the point of a unique art if someone else could just effortlessly copy his homework and steal it right form under him?! He could still use his own art but what was even the point? To enable Aejaz to dual wield after stealing it from him?! Even Job had never held two Carnwennans at the same time and he was the only person that had ever even held one! He refused to allow it! He would sooner be run through by his own weapon and accept death than allow it! And, honestly, he would probably get his wish sooner rather than later. The Carnwennan could cloak the user in shadows, much like the myth stated, but it was also just an extraordinarily powerful weapon that was sharp as can be. There was practically nothing it couldn''t cut through and was almost as deadly as Ares'' disintegration coating that he applied to his weapons on occasion. This unique art really wasn''t a joke and needed to be taken very seriously whenever it sprouted up. Of course the downside to it was that it could be stolen... So really Aejaz was Job''s living nightmare through and through... This whole situation made Job want to cry, actually. And worse still, Job could feel his strength, speed, and weapon mastery being partially siphoned. Apparently whatever art Aejaz used to steal his unique art could also steal part of the target''s various physical attributes.


    So what exactly?


    Aejaz was just a better version of everyone he fought? He was the copycat supreme who stole your weapon, stole your art, stole your physical enhancements, and then killed you in the same manner that you planned on killing him? He became you while you became a worse version of yourself?! And it''s not even like he was limited to whatever his opponent could do as Aejaz still had his own tricksy arts up his sleeve waiting to be used like Relocate and so on so forth. In fact, he even used another new one that further put the brothers in disbelief with how stupid this guy''s magic was starting to become.


    "Steal Your March."


    The effect of this art became apparent pretty quickly as Phlo and Scowl could no longer move in Aejaz'' direction or launch any attacks at him. Every time they tried to cast Spike it just fizzled out and every step they wanted to take felt impossibly heavy. Basically, until the duration ran out, or Aejaz made a move towards them, they couldn''t attack him. Hell even Job had been afflicted by the art, preventing him from defending himself properly as Aejaz was guaranteed to move first in the combat scenario. Again, another assassin tool that anyone in the profession would slaughter millions to be able to use. In a bizarre twist, thievery magic had somehow become the object of envy of every assassin in the crowd and it wasn''t even a contest. Move first, strip your opponent of everything, take away their senses and their memory, disorient them by switching positions... Plus Aejaz'' arsenal was borderline limitless as he would always have access to more than the person he was attacking did. Every art the person knew, Aejaz knew and then some. He was guaranteed to just have MORE than his target did at all times. Even if he didn''t outright assassinate the person with his bloodline invisibility, his Concealed Serpent, his dagger mastery, and his incredible footwork... He would be stronger in drawn out fights too with this stupid magic as he could convert himself from an assassin to a normal cultivator with access to a wide variety of magic on the fly! No wonder Ares said that the way Aejaz'' fights should be unfair, he''d predicted this absolutely bonkers magic way back when and knew precisely what Aejaz should have been gunning for. Of course the despicable idiot that Ares was had though this nonsense up and encouraged Aejaz to go through with it... If anyone was going to encourage something this nonsensical it would have to be him, really...


    As for the state of the current match... Well Job was about to be stabbed in the brain by his own weapon and Scowl and Phlo were going to be left alone to somehow deal with the menace that was Aejaz. The full extent of his Appropriate Skillset wasn''t even on display as of yet and it had already all but guaranteed the Glimpse''s loss... They thought it was bad now but somehow, someway, it was still going to get even uglier when Aejaz revealed just how ridiculous he''d truly become because all of this was just the precursor to his grand finale...

 Chapter 242: Where There’s Art, There’s Plagiarism

    Appropriate Skillset had limits, just not many. For starters, the stolen art / pillar affinity wasn''t capable of functioning at 100% The art would be roughly 95% as powerful which wasn''t too bad, at least until you went further down the rabbit hole as that number decreased to about 85% for unique aspects and arts. That was still arguably very useful but in a head on clash between Aejaz'' stolen art and the original he would not be winning necessarily. He might come out on top due to his above average cultivation but, in a hypothetical situation wherein both people had the same amount of cultivation overall, he would more than likely not be winning the duel. Additionally, Aejaz had to actually be able to see the person he was stealing from so if they left his vision the ability to use their magic would disappear shortly after. He had a one minute or so grace period but it wasn''t a particularly long window of time. If Aejaz left this arena, a minute later he would not be able to copy to Job''s unique art anymore. Yes Aejaz could steal basically any art or pillar in the world but he needed to actually be around someone capable of using it in the first place which curbed his immense power somewhat. On the upside, however, the art couldn''t really be avoided. You could prevent the siphoning of your physical attributes if you paid enough attention but the pillar affinity and art stealing was going to happen regardless of anything a normal cultivator did. The only thing Aejaz couldn''t steal was specific mutations to arts via dedication cultivation or attribute changing resources. If someone found, say, a wind attribute resource and used it to enhance the effectiveness of a Flamethrower art, Aejaz, when copying it, would only get a normal Flamethrower. Them''s the breaks! Not that he had a reason to complain, the art was disgustingly powerful as is. He really didn''t need it to do anything else as this was already the kind of art you could rely on for the rest of eternity. Aejaz could safely base his entire cultivation journey around this art and he''d be golden. He was almost like a slightly better Rox in that his copycat prowess was sky high. They filled different roles though as Rox''s non-magical mastery of weapons, pressure, and hand to hand combat was far superior whereas Aejaz was the expert assassin with a toolkit of magic that was particularly versatile.


    Aejaz walked past the stuttering Scowl and Phlo who were forcing their bodies forward, inch by inch. Their struggle to involve themselves in the fight between Aejaz ad Job was futile but they raged against their invisible shackles anyway. This fight was hard enough as is, losing one of their team members at this critical junction would just make it all even worse. They wanted to at least kill someone before the end of this match and keeping Job alive was imperative to fulfilling that goal. They weren''t sure how to go up against Aejaz exactly but an extra person would lighten the individual load placed on them. Of course no matter how much they wished to change fate, they were seriously stuck. The duration of Aejaz'' art would run out shortly but by then... Well it would all probably be over already...


    Aejaz arrived before Job but didn''t immediately attack him. Steal Your March prevented the opponent from moving first but that effect ended the second Aejaz gunned for them. It was effective in creating temporary stalemates while Aejaz readjusted, letting him get the drop on faster foes, and just outright being rude and taunting his opponent like he was doing right now. Scowl and Phlo were whatever, Aejaz didn''t spare them much attention because they were more annoying than they were detestable, but Job? Job was detestable. The comments about Allie last time were inexcusable and the same was also very much true of what he attempted to do to Trixie way back when. Unfortunately Aejaz couldn''t kill this despicable creep for good inside the Training Ground but he would have absolutely loved to if it were possible in any way. Even if he was disqualified from the tournament, if he had a method to end this idiot''s life he would. Aejaz thought he was content to just let the Glimpse''s fade out of existence and relevance on their lonesome but now, standing here before Job, he realised he wanted one more person dead before he could say he was truly satisfied. Aejaz decided to make that clear here and now so Job knew what fate he had instore for him.


    "Job..." Aejaz'' voice was, perhaps for the first time ever, incredibly steady and carried a kind of weight to it that was very unusual for Aejaz. "... I can''t kill you here but, in many ways, that''s going to be a lot worse for you. At least dying here would have been quick, painless, and most of all, expected. You would have seen me coming and been forced to unwillingly accept that death was unavoidable. Now though... Now I hope you''re up to do some running when this match ends. After we win here, I''m going to exit the coliseum and I''m going to hunt you down in the streets. You will not be escaping from me if it''s the last thing I do today. You''ll flee like a rat and secretly hold onto the vain hope that maybe your mother or father can save you. You''ll think that if you can just make it out of the city you''ll be safe. Maybe even crowding your clan members around you will be able to save you if you''re lucky. No, no, and no again. Your parents will not be able to stop me, the city walls are unreachable to you when I''m on the prowl, and numbers do not inconvenience me. I am going to kill you shortly and finally put an end to this stupid feud between you and I. Within the next hour you will be lying in a pool of your own blood with your throat slit in a back alley somewhere and your corpse probably won''t be found for a week or so, by which point the rabid stray dogs will likely have eaten chunks of you and shat you out into a nearby river. Your burial will be closed casket for good reason. I should thank you, though, you''ll be the perfect example to the rest of the clan that my family and I should be left well enough alone. I''m telling you now, no amount of apologising or unsightly begging is going to save you so spare me the whining when I come looking for you. For now though, this will do."


    Aejaz brandished the Carnwennan and vanished from view while stealing Job''s memories again, sending his perception back in time by about a minute. Job came back to proper consciousness wondering why he was standing around doing nothing while Scowl was being attacked! He turned to face his brother, who should have still been getting bullied by Aejaz and stabbed repeatedly, only to see Scowl yelling at him to turn around. He didn''t get the chance to, however, as a particularly sharp knife pierced the back of his head. It was a strange feeling, like a zap that kept causing him to spasm. It was a weird, all-encompassing pain that progressively numbed him every time Aejaz poked a little deeper. After reaching a certain point, Job couldn''t even feel anything anymore but he''d lost control over all his limbs and was uncontrollably shaking and twitching like a malfunctioning robot. Eventually everything just shut off and he limply fell face first onto the floor with a heavy thud. There was no elegance or grace in his fall, it was a quick and spiritless collapse that was almost more ominous than anything dramatic and drawn out would have been. He was just dead, that was all. Alive and standing one second, dead and on the floor the next. No fanfare, no last words, no reason to remember what happened to him. Poof, gone. Aejaz'' murder had been clean. Actually, that was a litote if anything as it was nothing short of surgical. No fuss, no fight, no mess, nothing. Job''s removal from the fight was so unremarkable that he might as well have not even been there from the start...


    But was that really true?


    Everything that led up to the death had been pretty incredible on an individual basis. Aejaz'' magic, his thievery, the verbal threat... The rapid sequence of events had all been individually good... So why did it leave such little lasting impact? It''s not like it was a bad thing, it was actually horrifying! This was the assassin ideal. Someone who could declare his presence in front of a whole crowd and still murder his target and make it seem like a common occurrence before walking away with no one feeling strongly about the matter, almost like their emotions about the events that had transpired were completely stolen from them! If this had happened outside the coliseum, nobody would have bat an eye or felt the need to try and stop Aejaz after murdering a person, they would have just let him go and not cared. It was a scary prospect that he could, at will, impose this unwillingness to care upon people. His style of assassination was blatant and disregarded common strategy but worked anyway because of how plain it all looked. Job wasn''t murdered, he was stabbed in the back of the head.


    That was all.


    Aejaz had convinced everyone they were two entirely different matters and that caring about the latter was a waste of time. To Aejaz, murdering someone was not much different to taking a walk, he could do it as easily as he breathed which was exactly why it had come across as such a trivial non-issue. Aejaz didn''t take it seriously so why should anyone else? He was already looking for his next target because the previous one was dealt with and needed no lingering attention. Job? Who? Aejaz might as well have not even known which was off-putting considering the rant he just went on. Swearing to murder a person and then disregarding them like a pile of dog crap on the side of the road after, without faltering from your intentions, was kinda creepy. Was Aejaz hyper focused on the match or did he really just not care about Job right now? It was impossible to tell as his attitude had just completely reset back to normal. Being able to hide his animosity at the drop of a hat was an incredible feat that left everyone confused and unenthused. There was no reason for them to care if Aejaz didn''t, that was the vibe he gave off which swayed the entirety of the audience. He''d roped them into his play and assigned them their emotive stances on various matters ahead of time; right now they were supposed to be unempathetic, calm, and apathetic and it was working. Some of the expert cultivators were able to detach themselves from the wild ride Aejaz was taking them on after shaking their heads from side to side but that natural instinct to join right back in and dance along to his tune was hard to ignore. The showman was on stage so why not grab some popcorn and be taken on a magical journey of deceit, fraud, and sleight of hand?


    Aejaz'' Steal Your March had worn off but neither Scowl nor Phlo rushed forward to attack him. He''d already showcased his ability to separate and discombobulate them so any careless moves would be akin to willingly throwing the fight away. They still believed they could kill Aejaz at least but they needed to change their approach. First things first, Phlo instantly disabled his Double Dark because it was also benefitting Aejaz. Part of the reason his Steal Your March had been so powerful, and lasted so long, was because the zone had improved his darkness pillar magic. That was a very real problem with Double Dark as it didn''t discriminate between friend or foe and was usable by anyone within range. Given the fact that Aejaz had plenty of access to the darkness pillar right now, be it his unique aspect, the Prowler, or Appropriate Skillset stealing all of Scowl''s offensive arts, Phlo was forced to disable the zone as it was better to pick a close range fight than a magical one. This didn''t stop Aejaz from casting his own arts but if they could rush him down then maybe he''d struggle to get any out in time and they could collectively overwhelm him. The splotches of shadows from earlier were still around so Phlo and Scowl still had mobility options in their back pocket, to apply consistent pressure to Aejaz, so that was how they chose to go about starting their comeback. With no hesitation for his own safety, Scowl was the first one to jump back into the fray with Aejaz despite his already proven inferiority. Phlo was slightly less capable in a direct fight so letting him take the back seat now, freeing him up to attack Aejaz without fear of repercussion, was the best option. Phlo may have been worse in a head on fight but, in terms of finding the perfect opportunity to bury his dagger in a victim''s back, he wasn''t far behind Scowl.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Scowl repeated his plan from last time but paid more attention. He wasn''t giving up on swift and light strikes that were non-committal, he couldn''t really. He was not the stronger combatant so swinging his full strength around was a doomed endeavour. Instead, he swiped at the air in front of Aejaz to dissuade him from moving forward while pushing him slowly backwards towards a creeping Phlo. The pincer attack last time failed due to unforeseen circumstances but, now that they were aware Aejaz had a tricky position swap magic at his disposal, they wouldn''t make the same mistake twice. They could keep an eye out for strands of mana to prevent the swap but they would also keep an eye on the situation far more closely than last time to react accordingly even if it somehow worked irrespective of their cautiousness.


    Aejaz was unfazed by the swiping Scowl and carefully retreated back step by step without clashing against him. He could have deflected the blade multiple times by now, and punished Scowl heavily, but he was somewhat curious to see how well Phlo could do if given some breathing room to launch an attack. Aejaz was going to use this opportunity to show off his dagger mastery and kill Phlo before ending the fight with a bang by killing Scowl in a way that was sure to turn heads, or at least that was the plan anyway. Plans were subject to change based on the circumstances but it ought to not deviate too far from the original intention.


    To prove Aejaz was still very much in control of the situation despite appearing to be on the back foot, he turned sideways to dodge a small lunge and performed a spin kick, hitting Scowl''s ankle and causing him to trip forward. Scowl''s face fell squarely into Aejaz'' palm before being pushed backwards with a small stumble that almost tripped him. Such a small lunge was punishable so what did that mean for Scowl exactly? That every time he tried to launch an attack he was basically killing himself against someone of Aejaz'' level? What even was Aejaz'' level right now? His cultivation was out there for all to see, as he was sitting pretty at sensory enhancement 10th stage, and that was undeniably impressive but he''d always been the kind of person who cultivated quickly so it wasn''t exactly surprising. All the Hans missions had massively boosted his cultivation but that wasn''t what Scowl wanted to know right now. If every assassin in the lower domains was gathered into one spot, and their cultivation bases were evened out to be equal amongst everyone, where would Aejaz stand amidst that crowd? Near the top? At it? Would he be seated casually atop a pile of dead experts? The way he dismantled Scowl''s attack with such fluidity and precision was indicating as such never mind the well aimed kick that crumpled Scowl afterwards. That attack was faultless. It wasn''t too soft to have no effect but it wasn''t all-in on the power front as that would have done lasting damage to Scowl, maybe even breaking his ankle.


    Technique, speed, control, Aejaz had it all in spades and was looking like an incredibly daunting wall that Scowl couldn''t really overcome no matter what plan he stuck to. Yet, still, Scowl returned to his duty diligently and kept stubbornly occupying Aejaz'' at the front, buying Phlo time to discover the perfect opportunity he was digging for.


    Clack


    Aejaz had stepped backwards on top of a small pebble.


    The arena could be quite dusty and, sometimes, arts cast in it would crack the floor during a fight that wasn''t then fixed by the C.O. These cracks were tiny and mostly irrelevant but they could leave small pebbles behind, such as the one Aejaz stepped on, that impacted a cultivator''s movement. Nobody had ever lost a fight or a match as a result but this wasn''t the first time this issue had cropped up. Last time it did, the C.O swore to hire cultivators with impressive divine sense to scan the arena after every fight. They stayed true to their word and it had worked for a good while but this time things were likely different due to the scale of what happened a week ago with Garmr and the seasons. They were responsible for this mishap, yes, but it was hard to fault them given the unpredictable nature of what had occurred so most people saw it as an unavoidable risk that spiced things up occasionally. Aejaz had been clearly dominant but this would put him in a do or die situation. Even though it wasn''t fair in the slightest, as none of the cultivators in the arena were responsible for that pebble placement, it did result in more entertainment for the spectators so they were lenient and willing to ignore it.


    As for what changed down in the arena thanks to the existence of the tiny pebble, Aejaz had slipped backwards a bit. He wasn''t toppling over but he was taken by surprise and was now going to be left in an awkward situation, one that was easy for Phlo to capitalise off of. In fact, Phlo was already on the move. This was all too good to be true and he couldn''t pass up the chance that had presented itself practically stark naked, waiting for Phlo to come and claim it. He leapt at both the chance and at Aejaz'' falling head, giving rise to a tiny spark of hope that a small win could be dredged back from the ever-looming jaws of defeat. Losing the war seemed inevitable but winning the battle was in the cards... At least that was what he thought until Aejaz'' next move was essentially equivalent to pulling a joker out of the deck.


    "Segregation."


    "Huh?" Phlo couldn''t help but temporarily pause when he heard the name of that art. His reaction wasn''t much different to Enyo, over by the wall of the coliseum, after she just had her art stolen! It wasn''t a unique art but there probably wasn''t many other people in this coliseum that knew it and she was the only person that Aejaz would know for sure had access to it. The real issue here was that Enyo wasn''t a part of this fight! Apparently, Aejaz'' Appropriate Skillset could steal from anyone he could see and not just those who he was in combat with or against, which was a misunderstanding the Glimpse lot had inflicted upon themselves but an understandable one to an extent. Such a power was pretty un-orthodox so they''d subconsciously placed limits they found reasonable on it to try and understand it better. They''d been too generous with those limitations, though, so this whole string of affairs had taken them by surprise.


    Clang


    Phlo''s attack was blocked in its tracks and he was forced to take a few steps back due to the recoil of striking what may as well have been a metal wall. Aejaz recovered with time to spare and could kick away Scowl again with a boot to the chest. Aejaz dusted himself off and casted another art, this one even more ridiculous than the last. "Meteor."


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Nobody was safe... Including Bellona who had been minding her business on the top floor of the coliseum but had just spat out her bubble tea all over the floor... If Aejaz wasn''t restricted in who he could steal from, and even someone at Bellona''s considerable distance was a potential victim, that, in turn, meant Aejaz had the magic of every living creature in this coliseum at his disposal whenever he wanted... How many thousands of people could Aejaz borrow from right about now exactly?! And better yet, why wasn''t his magic blocked by the Training Field rune?! Why was his art allowed to cheat like this!? Actually, there was a pretty valid reason why but it wouldn''t become apparent to the C.O ''till later when Julio swung by to check on the Training Field. He would instantly recognise what had gone wrong as it had happened to his own runes countless times before already. He knew all too well how his runes could just vanish without a trace like that... But that was that, and Aejaz casting Meteor was another matter entirely.


    As long as Aejaz had mana, there was no real limit to the amount of varied arts he could cast in this place... He was a dedication cultivator with access to as many pillars as there were people in the crowd. Aejaz had basically found a way to turn every living organism into an enabler, one he didn''t even need to own or borrow. Plus he could use arts from different pillars without pause. He''d just used a holy pillar art and now it was a measurement manipulation art, an art from a unique aspect that shouldn''t have been castable by anyone else! It was even a unique art because of the ammo system that Bellona used! Better yet, did Aejaz just steal one of Bellona''s meteors?! How did that even work?! The meteors were countless miles away from here... And yet Bellona''s mark must have been replaced or, if not that, Aejaz'' own mark must have been added to the stockpile. Bellona would still have to be nearby in order for Aejaz to use this art but the fact that an assassin could just casually summon a METEOR wasn''t exactly normal. This ''skillset'' went above being appropriate, it was overkill! Aejaz had wanted everyone to be awed with his magic and it was safe to say mission accomplished right about now!


    The Meteor came crashing down through the atmosphere and Aejaz used Bellona''s halving magic to shorten the distance much like how Bellona did. At this point, Aejaz might as well have just been Bellona for all the difference it would have made. He''d stolen her entire character. The copycat supreme watched on as Phlo banged against the Segregation barrier in a bid to escape to safety. This was yet another point worth mentioning, Aejaz could freely combine these arts and aspects. He could only steal one person''s pillar affinities and arts at a time but if he was quick, or if the arts lingered, he could freely combine them into a deadly combination. Using Enyo''s barriers to trap and Bellona''s Meteor to kill was a perfect example of the kind of chicanery Aejaz could pull with the new tricks up his sleeve.


    CRASSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


    The arena shook and a massive dust cloud blocked out everyone''s view of the arena. Not that they needed to be able to see right now to understand what had become of Phlo. Put simply, he was a pancake now. It wasn''t often anyone had to predict the assassin vs meteor matchup but, if the betting brothers were to make a guess, the odds would definitely not have been in Phlo''s favour... Ever... The poor guy had tried to use a mobility art at the last moment but Aejaz cut him off with some of Onno''s anti magic via a well timed Blip cast. To nobody''s surprise, when the dust settled, Phlo was on the respawn platform looking like he was seeing stars which, depending on how you looked at it, was actually rather close to the truth. He''d technically seen a meteor, not a star, but the difference was negligible at that point...


    As for the arena, Aejaz was stood directly in front of a hole-ridden Scowl with his pointed finger place squarely on his brother''s forehead. During the dust cloud cover up, Aejaz had taken advantage of the situation and was now seemingly mocking Scowl again... But was that really the case? At least two people watching from the side-lines knew it wasn''t. Ares knew what was coming and, as Yulo jumped up and off his seat in shock, it became apparent that so too did he. The future Yulo had just witnessed was incomprehensible and crossed way too many lines to be acceptable on a global... No, dimensional scale. Yulo couldn''t believe that Aejaz was as powerful as he''d foreseen, he didn''t want to believe it. Yulo had assumed that Ares and Mako were one of a kind but Aejaz was about to prove to everyone that he belonged in the big leagues too, and in a big way at that. It may have been a para-social accomplishment but that didn''t mean Aejaz'' life wasn''t looking incredibly bright; bright much like the shine of his finger which was glowing in a very specific colour right now, one that was nigh unbelievable. Aejaz confirmed everyone''s doubts, putting them to rest with two simple words as he sealed Scowl''s fate.


    "Grand Annihilation."

 Chapter 243: A Final Destination Discussion

    This is getting out of hand! Now, there are two of them! Or perhaps it was more accurate to say one and a half destruction wielders. Yes, Aejaz could steal and use fundamental pillar affiliations but only at 70% effectiveness. These arts were hit the hardest with limitations, for obvious reasons, but the fact that he could even use them was unbelievable. Aejaz had joked about stealing Ares'' pillar back when they first met but it had been nothing more than an unserious off-handed comment and a pipe dream at best... And yet, here he was, blowing up his brother, not Ares, in a way that couldn''t have been more satisfying. He''d practiced with the art before but actually using it on a person was an experience and then some. Actually, Aejaz had used a fair few destruction pillar arts already. There was that one time Ares caught him out, Voidwalking around the house because he was too lazy to walk normally, and promptly smacked some sense into the idiot. Aejaz had also used disintegration magic earlier this match after stealing the rune from the Training Field. He yoinked the rune preventing him from interfering with the crowd, or vice versa, out and disintegrated it in his palm without making a big fuss about it so he could take his opponents by surprise. As for the rune that was stolen from the barrier, normally it would have just returned on its own. Julio had a failsafe that effectively roped in errant or wayward runes and dragged them back but Aejaz had crushed the thing into dust so that wasn''t possible. It was no surprise Julio would recognise some disintegration handywork as he''d seen how devastating the aspect was to his own runemancy many times before... Too many times before, in fact...


    So yes, Aejaz could use fundamental magic. If Mako were present, he too would be a valid target to have his magic stolen. Now, was Aejaz guaranteed it like he was everyone else''s magic? No, fundamentals were very much capable of denying him if they paid attention. Ares'' disintegration would stop Appropriate Skillset in its tracks if he wanted to. Aejaz would have to work hard in order to steal the pillar affiliation without alerting the fundamental in question if he wanted to use it but they didn''t want him to. He had the Concealed Serpent, and his invisibility, so it''s not like he didn''t have the tools to facilitate stealing the pillar, it''s just that it could go either way really. Ares had Omniscience so he could spy Aejaz from a mile away, invisible or not, and put his brother in a tough situation. Some of the fundamentals might be more susceptible to this than others but it was all pretty irrelevant speculation because why would any of them deny Aejaz? The reason for their existence was to destroy Xhilihx, having a pseudo 7th fundamental, one that could combine their powers in a way that even they themselves couldn''t, was a boon and not a curse. Unless Aejaz pissed one of them off for whatever reason, they were all supposed to be on the same side and so holding him back was pointless. At the very least, Ares didn''t have a reason to prevent his brother from using his magic. It''s not like he siphoned Ares'' physical attributes along with it, he was really just borrowing the magic. It also didn''t prevent Ares from using his own pillar so why should he care? Unless it was like the inner court exam from a while back, where he was actually fighting against the guy, he saw no reason to stifle him. The best argument Ares could come up with was that Aejaz might become reliant on powerful magic, leaving him high and dry whenever a fundamental wasn''t around to bail him out... But Aejaz was no longer the over-reliant type, that personality trait had been sanded down and removed almost completely.


    As for the ensuing golden onslaught, it definitely wasn''t as spectacular as anything Ares could create. It was less a Grand annihilation and more a ''good'' annihilation. Still, destruction pillar magic was destruction pillar magic no matter how you worded it and Aejaz'' mock Grand annihilation wound up being stronger than any art most people at his cultivation level could cast anyway. At the very least, nobody in this tournament other than Ares, Mako, or Enyo were capable of matching Aejaz if he was copying one of the fundamentals. The matchup with Enyo was the one that could go either way because disintegration would win him the fight... Provided Ares let him... Would Ares let Aejaz beat his wife in a fight? Yeah, no, he really wouldn''t... Or maybe he''d be curious enough to see who would win at their respective peak strengths? It was hard to tell with that happy go lucky revenant sometimes. Either way, the point was that without fundamental magic there was no shot Aejaz would beat Enyo. Her pressure imbued barriers were too unique to copy as Aejaz just got standard barriers whenever he stole her arts. Throw in Ares'' disintegration mutation and Aejaz stood no chance whatsoever. Aejaz could try stealing someone else''s magic to deal with Enyo but what was he supposed to aim for, exactly?


    Enyo''s defences were practically impenetrable to most magic to begin with, throw in the efficiency reduction that came with stolen arts and Aejaz wasn''t busting through those barriers any time soon. The holy pillar made it hard to land mental arts too so the fight was pretty one-sided depending on who Ares favoured. That being said, it''s not like Enyo would be able to kill Aejaz either, he could just stealth his way out of the fight and be done with it whenever he wanted, blocking off Enyo even if she chased him with her own barriers. Basically, a completely enforceable stalemate. Overall Aejaz probably had better odds but access to fundamental pillars was imperative to his success... And Ares wasn''t the only person with one! If Ares didn''t let him use it... Maybe Mako would? Then again, would that even matter? Was creation capable of beating Enyo? The whole point of destruction was to, well, destroy and so it had the tools to slice through Enyo''s barriers but what about creation? It still wouldn''t even be an easy fight, due to not having the means to outright beat the barriers, which was a crazy thing to think about. The fact that, even with the fundamental pillar access, it was still so close that an outcome couldn''t be predicted accurately was seriously mind boggling. Enyo was a real cultivation freak of nature. She had her pleasure affinity, which was off the charts, but for combat, at least currently, she relied on her holy pillar... Which was just completely normal... How she was able to whip out that much firepower and iron defences with a standard aspect, not even unique, was incomprehensible. If she learnt how to use the pleasure pillar offensively one day she would somehow become an even bigger problem. Honestly? Enyo just wasn''t normal. Not in the slightest. Trailing on the heels of the fundamentals, and even being on the same level as someone else capable of using the fundamental pillars, with no real advantages to speak of... Enyo might even be the only person out there capable of such a feat. Regardless, getting back on topic...


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMBANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGBANNNGGGBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    Aejaz'' rippling explosions cascaded over Scowl''s body and it didn''t take an expert to analyse the outcome of this match as it should have been obvious to anyone with a functioning pair of eyes. Before the explosions had even finally died down for good, people sitting in the right seats could already just about spy Scowl sitting on the respawn platform with his dazed head spinning and rolling in circles. The match was done, and one for the history books due its significance much like many of the other matches during this tournament, but a number of questions remained about what exactly it was that had just been witnessed here today. The main questions on everyone''s minds were as follows: is there any other way to copy the fundamentals with magic instead of Aejaz'' unique aspect? Did there exist any treasures capable of pulling of such a feat if arts were a no go? Could anyone steal their fundamental pillar affinity for good? Could someone else become a fundamental, expanding their little in-group?!


    N.O.


    It needed to be said again for those in the back and those scheming untoward plans (not that reason or logic would stop them anyway).


    N.O.


    The answer was a resounding no, two resounding noes in fact. Aejaz was an incredibly unique cultivator and he was truly one of a kind. There would be no replicating his feat here today and, besides, even if there was a method for any of the things listed above, it would almost definitely require the consent of both the champion and the respective pillar. You couldn''t forcibly take the affinity because the pillar would just return it immediately. Even if you killed the champion the pillar would just pick a different one although really that shouldn''t be happening. Unless someone four or five whole realms above a champion was explicitly targeting them the fundamental champions had no business losing so bad they were winding up on death''s doorstep. Even when losing they usually had tools to get the heck out of dodge and leave on demand so things would have to go horribly wrong for any of them to die. Also, though it was costly, it wouldn''t be impossible to revive them with rare treasures but that was where the fundamental organisation came in. Ares wouldn''t be surprised if they were stock piling revival resources specifically for them... Not that Ares needed it being a revenant. Learning that must have taken a massive weight of the organisation''s shoulders as that was one less person they needed to worry about having sufficient death defying resources available for.


    Speaking of the ''fundamental organisation'', it was honestly a pre-tty lame name. Completely off topic, perhaps, but it was around this time they, the organisation, came to the same conclusion and started brainstorming ideas for a permanent name going forward. They wanted confirmation of all the fundamentals joining them before committing to anything so now was as good a time as any to start worrying about their public image and reputation regarding their brand. The name wouldn''t be decided on fully until later but it was still worth mentioning that it was going to change at some point. ''Fundamental organisation'' was far too plain, and almost robotic, so it had to go! Thankfully for the fundamental organisation, they would go on to choose a name BEFORE Ares arrived as, after meeting the guy in the pagoda, they figured it would be for the best if he was kept as far away from any decision making process as possible! Put simply, he was kind of annoying! There was no doubt in anyone''s mind he would come up with a dumb joke instead of a useful suggestion which was a large part of why Mako and Ares would have no say in the naming process. Mako was an innocent bystander hit by Ares'' collateral damage but it was a price worth paying if it kept Ares away from the board meetings on the subject!


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    Anyway, that wasn''t really relevant right now. The match was over and the first person to leave was Aejaz, much to Job''s dismay as it seemed he was going to hold true on his words from earlier. Aejaz had Voidwalked out of the coliseum and was going to liberally use the remaining duration of his destruction pillar affiliation to cover ground before Job could start running. Aejaz had one minute of time before he either had to give up on the pillar or have Ares come over to re-enable it and the latter likely wasn''t going to happen as Ares probably felt that Aejaz should do this all without his pillar and aid. Aejaz still needed to practice dealing with hard situations and, although this wasn''t the most difficult assassination target ever, it was still going to be a bit complicated thanks to his parents. This could be a good trial for him so Ares decided not to intervene and let him do his own thing solo. When Aejaz came back later, regardless of success or failure, he could tell Ares how things went.


    Admittedly Ares wanted to go and spectate the attempt on Job''s life but he knew he needed to stop babying Aejaz at some point. He would be fine!... Maybe... Hopefully. Aejaz was an idiot sometimes but his deeply rooted cowardice would keep him out of extremely dangerous situations. If something looked off about the assassination attempt then Aejaz wouldn''t hesitate to bail and he had the tools to do so. If nothing else, the Prowler was more than capable of getting him out of a tough pinch so Ares put any and all negative thoughts to the back of his head and waited for Enyo to get off of him so he could stand up and leave. She seemed particularly happy to just keep sitting on him, squashing him like a rhino however, so he had to politely ask her to get off. When she stubbornly shook her head in response, Ares sighed and promised to spend some time with her back home. He was done pressurising his stuff, for the most part, and could afford to take a day or two off to hang about with Appa, Enyo, and Bellona. This seemed to be good enough for Enyo as she got up and extended a hand towards Ares. As she helped him up and started walking out of the arena, she couldn''t help but ask about Appropriate Skillset.


    "Did you have anything to do with that art? It seems like the kind of thing that has ''you'' written all over it..."


    "Ha, that obvious? It''s true, I gave him that suggestion. I remembered him joking about it way back when but I never took it as a joke. I kept the idea in the back of my mind and watched Aejaz as he grew to try and figure out if he would ever be capable of it. The more I saw him steal, the more convinced I became it was a possibility so I made the suggestion and oversaw his training. I went a bit spartan with him but it paid off in a big way so I think it was the correct decision to train him on my pillar first. Start with the hard stuff and the easy stuff will come naturally. After he got a hang of stealing and using my pillar inside the void, I had him try stealing literally anyone else''s magic in the sect and he got it first try. From then on he''s been giving it a go whenever he was completing Hans'' missions and so he''s become quite proficient with it. Really the issue is that he''s not an expert with every art in the world so he needs to practice his quick thinking and adaptability. He needs to be able to use whatever Skillset he steals in the moment and think / plan ahead. I actually don''t envy him as he''s going to have a tough time with it, I think. Aejaz isn''t Eagerton or Mako, he doesn''t have experience with creativity on the fly and so an art like this is actually a bit complicated to use in the moment. He needs to adapt to a wide range of weapons, fighting styles, magics, and so on so forth. Thankfully he has his normal stuff to fall back on in case of an emergency but performing optimally with his stolen magic is a proportionately difficult task equal to the reward he can potentially gain from over-performing in a fight. It''s not high-risk, high-reward, it''s high-effort, high-accomplishments. He''s got his work cut out for him and, really, the only way to get better with it is to just use it 24/7 and experiment with as many types of pillars as he possibly can...


    And yet, you wanna know the scary thing about all of this? This isn''t quite his limit just yet. He has one more art up his sleeve that maybe, depending on the way you look at it, trumps this one. It was a completely unexpected discovery related to him learning Appropriate Skillset. He came up with it on his own and I''m genuinely impressed. That one won''t see the light of day for a LONG time though. It''s got limited uses, three to be precise, and each use of it is of utmost importance. He needs to be extremely smart with when he uses it but, if he finds the perfect opportunity three times in a row, his potential as a cultivator will permanently sky-rocket and he''ll become a worldwide threat with one hell of a name for himself."


    "Go on, spill the beans! You can''t leave me hanging after telling me all that."


    Sigh


    What Ares was about to tell Enyo wasn''t really easy to explain... But still he did it anyway as she had every right to know what he was planning ahead of time. He''d been holding off on having this conversation because he wasn''t sure how to tell her any of this but push had come to shove and so he''d do it instead of being a coward. As they were still within earshot of the crowds in the spectator seats, potentially at least if anyone was using a strong divine sense, Ares sent her a mental message instead of saying it aloud. At first, Enyo was intrigued about the art but when she realised what Ares was implying with its pre-requisites to being used she wasn''t quite so happy anymore... It wasn''t atrocious but it wasn''t great knowing Ares was actively gunning for a situation like the one he was after... "I get it and I won''t give you trouble for it... But are you sure about this? Are you really ready and willing to throw your life away just for this? I know it''s important... But this seems a bit excessive no?"


    Ares shook his head. "Excessive? No, it''s the bare minimum needed to help Aejaz along in life. It only needs to happen once and death isn''t particularly cumbersome anyway. If I just choose a convenient time for it all to happen then I won''t need to concern myself with the time period after in which I''m growing again as everyone will be safe and sound. Revenants can catch up decently quickly anyway so it''ll be like I never even left!... Although you are going to have to wait a few years before I get back... But you''ll have Blo Blo to bully instead! So there is that at least... Sorry. I should have told you this as soon as I decided to commit myself to it, I just knew you wouldn''t be happy with it. I think this is different though, it''s a planned death so it really shouldn''t be a problem if everything is sorted out before I do it."


    "I know that and it''s why I''m not raising a fuss. I''m not the only one you should tell about this but I don''t need to remind you about that do I?"


    "No, no I''ll tell Bellona as soon as she comes down from the top floor."


    "Good..." Enyo sighed to herself and flicked Ares on the back of his head. " Part of me knew you would die at some point. You''re overconfident to a degree nobody else is even if you''re not as outwardly aggressive about it... I just never expected it to be so soon or to be a willing event for that matter."


    "Well it''s not exactly ''soon''. I still want to deal with everything in Vraizon first and, hey, you never know. I might die before then so all of this could wind up being irrelevant!"


    "Don''t bring that evil onto us with your cursed words! Don''t raise any red flags! You''re the kind of idiot that could apply the force of your will to bring about tragedy into existence merely by opening your mouth, so quit it! I''m ok if you die naturally or commit suicide, that''s tolerable. If someone else kills you, though, I''ll seriously get annoyed you know?! And Blo Blo too, maybe even more than me. She''s honest but I wouldn''t describe her as level headed. Whereas I''d silently channel my rage she''d just explode and go a little mad with power. I don''t know how I''d keep her in check so, seriously, don''t go dying to anyone or she''ll go crazy. And the worst part is that there really isn''t anyone currently gunning for you other than the Legions. If one of them does you in then Bellona will no longer hesitate to raise her hand against our clan and that will be a really difficult problem to overcome for a number of reasons."


    "Can''t I just, like, boop her on the nose and tell her to be a good girl while I''m gone? Maybe put a muzzle on her?"


    "She will chew through it. Also, she''s not a hydra deer! Just because bopping their nose worked with them does not mean it will work with Bellona! She will actually bite your hand off! You''ve seen me mad but I don''t think you''ve seen her mad, at least not to the extent that I have anyway. Even Pele and I used to stay well away from her whenever she had a temper tantrum as a kid. She doesn''t indiscriminately lash out but she won''t hold back if you say anything that even slightly bothers her. For instance, if the weather''s a little too hot for her liking and you say ''nice weather we''re having today'' to try and make some light conversation she will deck you and it will hurt. This was back when she didn''t even really have much power to her name and her magic was still in its relative infancy. If we reach Vraizon before you die, and she gets her apotheosis form on top of her legacy treasures... If you die I don''t think I could stop her even if I went all out. I could chase her around and ask her to stop, and she wouldn''t be able to shake me or get rid of me, but if she wants people dead they''re just going to die and that''s the end of the story. Only you can prevent that by having a long, long conversation with her about not going overboard. She''ll probably forget all of it if you die anyway but it''s still better to try than to just let her go on a rampage akin to the kind that Calla used to go on."


    "She is a bit of a hot-headed headbutter... I mean I can try but she is a very wilful woman when she wants to be. My main concern is just that nobody other than me dies whenever it happens and, to that end, I would rather she not go vigilante mode if there''s any risk of her also losing her life. I mean I trust you to keep her alive but I don''t trust her not to rush head-first into a situation that could be easily avoided."


    "Speak louder, why don''t you?" Bellona walked around the corner and lightly punched Ares in the arm. "Look, no promises. If it happens, it happens and I''ll see how I feel about your death in the moment. There''s no point repeatedly telling me to behave myself. Don''t forget what kind of person I am. If there''s something I want to do, no amount of telling me not to is going to stop me! If anything, it just makes me want to do it more."


    Now it was Ares turn to sigh as he knew she was telling the truth even without his bloodline lie detector. "Alright alright, I''ll drop it... But keep this conversation in mind, at least?"


    "Meh." Bellona shrugged. "We''ll see. We''ll see."


    Ares didn''t like that ominous-sounding ending to the conversation. Red flags aplenty aside, didn''t it almost sound like she was looking forward to it!? Of course she wasn''t actually but the knuckle cracking and small but dangerous grin suggested otherwise!

 Chapter 244: The TurBlo Charged Prelude

    Ares returned home and, for the first time in a long time, didn''t immediately head for the cultivation room! Ah sweet sweet freedom. He could breathe in the fresh air coming through the window instead of being locked inside one of the padded cells. Ironically, cultivation rooms were where you cultivated in seclusion and padded cells were occasionally referred to as seclusion rooms! It all came full circle! Ares wasn''t exaggerating, these places were strictly for the mentally ill who could devote thousands of hours to sitting around doing nothing! He wasn''t the weird one! Or at least that was what he told himself anyway. Unfortunately those rooms were necessary sometimes but, at the very least, Ares didn''t plan on spending much, if any, time in them from now until he left for Xasca. he might fiddle around with pressurising the Backfire Bindings and the Primordial Blade a tiny bit but, other than that, he was not going anywhere near them. Of course plenty of people in this house other than him used the rooms otherwise he might even consider demolishing them when no one was looking... Although Rud would inevitably get on his case if he did that... Screw Rud! Ares hadn''t even seen him as of late! Rud only ever showed up now to berate Ares for destroying sect property before disappearing back to work. He''d figured out the key to dealing with Ares, avoid him! He was like a joy-killer Beetlejuice. Ares missed the good ol'' days when annoying Rud was a mere few minutes away from happening at any given moment!


    Although Ares might not get a chance to see Rud, and verbally bully him up and down the wall, there was someone else Ares wanted to go check on. Hans! Or should he say, mayor Hans. With Maro deposed there was now negotiations to be taken care of with the new mayor as Ares had some proposals and plans to go over. He hadn''t expected to have a chance to discuss this with Hans for a long while but Maro poking his beak around where it didn''t belong got him into a spot of trouble he could have easily avoided if he had just minded his own business. Regardless, Ares was going to take over the sect at some point and it was a part of this town so establishing a proper relation between the sect and the city was important. There already was one, sure, but, given what Ares had in store for the place, Hans really needed to be made aware so he could make his own preparations and either go along with Ares'' grand design or reject it and prepare for that as well. Regarding Ares'' plans for the sect, he needed permission from the mayor to start work so he''d been holding back on that while Maro was still in charge. He wasn''t going to get an answer from Hans immediately, as this was no doubt a pretty massive decision that he alone couldn''t make. Hans would need to discuss it with the locals and the major clans in the city before he could come to a conclusion and even then there would be a whole host of issues to sort out. Still, it was better to get the ball rolling on this sort of stuff sooner rather than later. When it was time to kick things off, Ares wanted to just be able to do it and seamlessly continue his journey from Sheryashka to Vraizon.


    Ares wasn''t going to leave the sect just yet though, he was curious to know how Aejaz'' assassination went first. Until he returned, Ares chilled with Bellona and Enyo as he started cooking up some dinner for everyone. Today was a rare day in that no one else seemed to be paying them a visit for food so Ares almost tricked himself into thinking he had a light load. That was until he remembered that there was a whopping eight people living in this house! And that wasn''t even including himself! Enyo, Bellona, Appa, Leo, Lacy, Aejaz, Trixie, Allie! Had he really been making food for nine people, at minimum, daily?! That realisation hit both Ares and his wallet like a truck! No wonder it was so damn expensive... Thankfully he hit a bit of a windfall what with the transition realm cultivators he turned into stardust back when he transformed into Garmr. Ya Ye had kindly brought him back the stardust when Ares had cooked them some food so he was good to go on the stardust front for a long while. It would definitely last up until he got his winnings from the international bet at least. The more stardust the merrier as he could treat the sister wives to some fine dining and maybe buy them some gifts here and there before he left for Xasca. Ares himself didn''t really mind being broke. If he was living by himself buying food would be cheap and it''s not like he really had many material wants. However, that being said, he lived with Enyo and Bellona now and he wanted to spoil them here and there so his lack of stardust had actually been bothering him a little bit. It''s not like he didn''t benefit from this either as he could see them wearing all sorts of pretty new dresses!


    Win win!


    Bea probably had some goodies in stock too but Ares figured it was for the best if he never set foot in that store, or at least avoided it for as long as he could. Bea was a crafty woman, great at figuring out what made men and women alike tick, and would direct his attention to all sorts of racy lingerie that would drive him wild. He would go back to being dirt poor in a matter of mere moments, especially now that Bellona was in the picture. Ares absolutely wanted to get some special garments for her too so if he wound up spending on both wives at once... Yeah, no, it was probably better to just let Enyo do all the shopping there... Or maybe even Bellona herself. Apparently Enyo wanted to take her there at some point and have her try on a selection of stuff. Ares wished Bellona all the best, though it''s not like he could fault Enyo for whatever highly inappropriate comments she would make and all the groping she would inevitably be doing. Ares would 100% fold in that exact scenario himself and give in to temptations as well.


    Bea''s store was a horrifying place...


    Bea had been doing well recently though, and not just thanks to the Legion women''s involvement even if it had been a massive part of her success. The international had brought her a surprising amount of revenue and reputation thanks to her impressive selection so she was going to be able to further expand the shop and maybe buy the buildings next to her. She might even be able to get some help to keep the shop tidy and aid in restocking the shelves every now and then. Honestly, if Enyo wasn''t tied down as a cultivator, that would absolutely be the kind of place she wanted to work at... Spending all day surrounded by heart pumping toys and underwear while chatting away with her bestie? There wasn''t a doubt in Ares'' mind she''d love that, silly minx. As for Bellona... What kind of quiet life would she live?... Well she''d certainly play a lot of games and watch a lot of films, that was for sure... But what kind of job would she do?... Ares had no idea. He could see her doing well as a professional sportswoman or martial artist maybe but, really, she loved her magic. Cultivation really did seem to be the only thing she truly wanted to be doing with her life. Still, Ares was curious to see what she thought about the matter so he directly asked her instead of beating around the bush. "Blo Blo dearest?"


    "Hm?" Bellona cutely tilted her head and looked at Ares with a questioning gaze. "What do you want from me, punk?"


    "Eh?"


    "Don''t play dumb with me! Every time you call me ''Blo Blo dearest'' you always want something from me! No handjobs right now, I''m busy making some more bubble tea to refill my stockpile!"


    "Well I''ll be! Is that what you think of me?! And here I just wanted to get to know more about you! Hmph! Hmph I say!"


    "... I''m not entirely sure I trust you but I feel guilty enough to hear what you have to say. Go on then... But I swear if you just want a cuddle or something I''ll rugby tackle you!"


    "Well, depending on how you look at it, that could be seen as an aggressive cuddle no? Also I know you''re a softie! If I wanted a cuddle you wouldn''t say no! Ah whatever that''s not the point. I was just wondering what kind of job you would like to do if you weren''t a cultivator."


    "Huh, you''re actually asking about me and my preferences for once? I''m touched... Hm, what would I like to do if I wasn''t a cultivator? Is mooching off you and being a loving wife who plays video games and watches films all day an acceptable answer?"


    "I mean yes, I would allow that if you really wanted to, I''m a bit of a pushover when it comes to you two, but that''s not really in the spirit of answering the question! Actually, I kinda already guessed that anyway. I was asking because I wasn''t sure what you''d do if you had no choice but to find a job. Can be anything in your wildest dreams but it had to be considered ''work''. Even if you don''t get paid for it because you''re a volunteer or something that''s fine too.


    "Hmm." Bellona pondered the question deeply as it really wasn''t something she''d ever considered much before. She''d always just assumed she would be a cultivator and never had any reason to doubt that so this talk was out of her wheelhouse. Ares had hit her with a real humdinger! "I think saying I would want to run a bubble tea stand or shop is pretty obvious and a bit of a cop out... So how''s about a professional racer?"


    "Racer? What vehicle? And have you ever even driven anything before?"


    "Dunno about the vehicle. Our family has records of people in higher domains who used to race motorbikes, cars, boats, and even jet planes. We don''t really have those kinds of vehicles in Vraizon, or they aren''t common at least, so no I''ve never been behind the wheel or cockpit of any the things I''ve listed... Well apart from one time I stole Deimos'' bike but you can''t tell him that! I had a lot of fun joyriding it... I''ve always wanted to give it another go and ever since then I''ve been reading all the books we have that mention racing. I mean I might not even be good at it or anything but you said it could be a pipe dream, right? I got excited going at high speeds on Deimos'' bike so I think I''d really quite like to experiment with it some more and maybe even make a career out of it."


    "Wow, I really didn''t expect that as your answer. The more you know! Speaking of knowing things, you seem to know a decent amount about racing but, as you mentioned, it really is a rarity down here in the lower domains. Some people race via flight or treasures but vehicles? That''s almost impossible due to lacking technology so I''m not really familiar with the sport. Tell me more!" Was Ares secretly gathering information to try and help Blo Blo achieve her dream one day? Absolutely! Enyo''s dream life was already right at her fingertips so that didn''t really need to be addressed but Blo Blo''s was currently not in the cards. Ares would need to ascend to higher domains before he could even find any vehicles being used regularly let alone being raced. Still, when he did, he wanted to be able to buy Blo Blo some high speed wheels and let her take them for a spin if that was what she thought would be fun for her.


    Just because Bellona was dedicating herself to cultivating that didn''t mean she wasn''t allowed to have free time and become a superstar racer if she wanted to. She had more than enough talent as a cultivator to take breaks and not fall far behind everyone else, not that it mattered as Ares would always be willing to help her catch up. If the thought of it made her happy, then Ares would take the dream she conceptualised and actualise it. Even if she changed her mind after, at least having a chance to explore the things that made her curious and piqued her interest would be good for her! And if all else failed, films, games, and bubble tea were always an option!... Also, Ares'' mind was admittedly still residing not quite in the gutter, but close to it thanks to the whole Bea''s shop train of thought... Ares wasn''t one to get excited over cosplay like Enyo was but... Race girl Bellona? Mmmm, now that was an idea he could get behind! Literally! And it seemed like Enyo was on the same wavelength as she subtly gave Ares a thumbs up of acknowledgement so this was definitely happening at some point! Although how Enyo knew exactly what Ares was thinking right now was a bit questionable... This woman''s horny radar was way too good at its job... Or rather, surely it was being overworked by Enyo no?!


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Meanwhile, Blo Blo, who had no idea of the perverted fate that had been set for her, had just started explaining the basics of racing as a sport. "Like pretty much every sport out there, there are two versions. One for mortals, and one for cultivators. Mortal racing is just kinda standard affair and depends on the type of tournament you''re running. Grand prix? Knockout? Head to head? Still the main goal is to reach the finish line quicker than everyone else and that''s what it all boils down to. Mortal racing is... Polite... At least in comparison to cultivator racing anyway. It doesn''t really matter what vehicle you''re using, if you''re looking for a way to test your raw racing skills then this is the sport for you. There''s no funny gimmicks or anything so it''s just about how much time you spend practicing and how talented you are. Of course things like weather, and other racer''s decisions, might spice things up but what most people care about is cultivator racing.


    Cultivators can take part in mortal racing but the fact they aren''t allowed to make things interesting with their magic typically turns them away. Cultivator sports are usually preferred by the wider populace because of how bat shit insane they can get. Crazier environments, like football pitches with lava or electric fences, basketball courts with rocket launchers and bounce pads, or even shooting ranges with targets that fire back at you! And that''s just miscellaneous hazards in some of the less whacky rule sets. Generally, at a base level, cultivators are allowed to attack each other as these sports take place within a Training Field. Magic and violence, none of it is off-limits so, combine that with the ever-shifting environments these sports take place in, and you get some real nail-biter matches supposedly.


    In racing, specifically, using your magic to increase your vehicle''s speed actually isn''t allowed, funnily enough. See magical engineering is hella advanced in the upper domains so they already travel at ridiculous speeds and planet wide races are considered short due to how quickly they can move. Sometimes lower speed vehicles are intentionally used but, at the highest level of play, only the best engineering gets a chance to shine. Speeding up these top tier vehicles would just make matches way too short and uninteresting so, instead, your only allowed to use magic to attack other racers and defend yourself from them. You can even mess with the track and create shortcuts if you''re clever enough. Races and tracks with multiple laps can be entirely different on second go-arounds due to the unpredictable nature of how magic interacts with the course. There is a limit to how far off-track you can go but it''s generous and it all just sounds so cool to me. Travelling at hundreds of miles per hour, clashing with magic and bumpers, tearing through obstacles, and coming out on top of the competition in insanely hazardous tracks? Aw man, I get excited just thinking about it! I wanna I wanna I wanna! Of course other sports sound fun too but I''m really drawn to racing. Not sure which vehicle but, hell, maybe even all of them!"


    "Haha." Ares chuckled to himself as he snuggled up behind Bellona and gave her a hug and a kiss on the neck. "You''re cute when you get excited. I never seen you look forward to anything quite like this so I promise I''ll do everything I can to make it come true. Whenever we get outside the Primordial Blade''s barrier I''ll be sure to keep an eye out for whatever opportunities come our way. You know, the more I think about it, the more I think that racing suits you. I have a hunch you''ll do well for yourself. I look forward to watching you compete one day, hell I might even join you! I still want to steal Deimos'' bike at some point and give it a whirl..."


    "There actually is a scene for tag racing... We could combine our magic and destroy the competition!"


    "You can do that?! I thought it was just like, you know, hitting them and making them go off-course for a little bit or making them spin out... You can actually full on kill people and blow up their cars?!"


    "Yep! Even when it comes to violence there''s options. Some races are hardcore and others are standard. In a standard race you''ll be brought back to life and your car will be regenerated after a short delay. Basically you can never be fully kicked out of a race. Hardcore is the opposite, if you die you''re out for good and your race is doomed. There''s so many different rulesets that you kinda have to look around and see what piques your interest as there''s tournaments running for all of them.


    Standard is probably the most watched and competed in, however, because it''s familiar to most people. Decently long and complicated tracks, a grand prix style point system, your favourite racer is never truly out of the fight, etc... There are apparently even some street races with no rules or limits and people can even use their magic to speed up their vehicles in various ways in those. The world of racing is vast! I mean that''s all the info I got out of just a couple of books that mentioned it in passing, I''m sure there''s a lot more to go over that I just don''t know about. Also, the book''s pretty old so there must have been a buncha new stuff happening in the sport that I can''t wait to find out about!" Bellona was happily wriggling side to side in Ares'' arms as she dreamed up all sorts of ideas about where racing was right now in the wider world in terms of how far it had progressed.


    Ares had rarely, if ever, seen Bellona this merry and it clearly meant a lot to her. She''d have probably been a lot more invested in racing, and talked about it way more, had it actually been something that existed within these domains. It''s a shame that she could learn about it but never experience, or even at least watch, it. Now Ares was determined! His wriggly wife deserved to race! Although Ares would inevitably have to deal with the fundamental organisation shortly after leaving the barrier, he knew what was next on his to do list after that!... Although Blo Blo would probably need driving lessons first and foremost. Ares would not be shocked if this woman got behind the wheel and tried to steer with her head... But getting lessons or practice in ought to not be too hard before then as it''s not like vehicles outright didn''t exist in the lower domains. You could find them here and there but actually acquiring them was another matter given how rare and sought after they could be. If Ares could get his paws on one he would make every effort to do so and then he and Blo Blo could mess around with it... Although... Ares had a sneaking suspicion she might get a chance to drive a vehicle even sooner than she thought. Not only did the simulated planet exist, and vehicles would almost definitely be present there, but the legacy realm wasn''t too far away from everyone''s current cultivation. They were roughly half way there already and it wasn''t impossible for Bellona to straight up get an entire vehicle treasure, personally crafted for her! If she was lucky, Santa would give her a vehicle for Christmas and not coal. The cultivation world could be cruel sometimes but it could also be equally generous on occasion and Ares'' cultivation senses were tingling!... That or Enyo was fiddling with his groin again... On second thought, it was definitely the latter! The skank in question was pouting off to the side for some reason so Ares went over and hugged her too. That didn''t seem to quell her issue, whatever it was, so he had to outright ask.


    "What''s got your knickers in a twist? If you''re even wearing any..."


    "Hmph. I see you''re very curious about Bellona''s preferred life style but you don''t really seem to care about asking for mine! No no, that''s ok! Really! I''m just a brute with a shield who''d be working as a warden or a police woman or a guard or something, right? That''s what you think, isn''t it!"


    "... Enyo, I didn''t ask because I already know what you''d do and it has nothing to do with any of that justice stuff. I know you well enough to know you''d keep doing that in your spare time instead of treating it like a job anyway. Lemme guess, you''d work with Bea in My Fair Lady, right?"


    Enyo looked down at the floor in embarrassment and mumbled ''damn he''s good'' under her breath. "Fine, you win! But ask me anyway next time! I like being part of the conversation too!"


    Ares scratched his head with a wry smile. He''d been sleeping around with Enyo a lot but he hadn''t casually spent much time with her recently so she was acting needy right now. The delicate balancing act between Enyo and Blo Blo was hard damnit!... And he still had even more wives to add to that balancing act in the future... Ay caramba... "I see... Well how about we have some more conversations tonight over some nice dinner? I''ve done a lot of prep work but I can still store all of this for another day so how about I treat you both to a great place I know that''s a little more pricey than usual? It can be like a double date... Kinda? Anyway, you get my point. Just a pleasant evening for us three to enjoy ourselves, maybe get a bit drunk, and have a fantastic time chatting away like we always do."


    Enyo nodded with puppy dog eyes because if Ares was saying the food at this place was great then she wanted to try it! Also, she hadn''t been to a fancy restaurant with Ares yet and a double date with Bellona was also a fresh idea! Win win win! Like a jackpot of triple sevens! Bellona also seemed pretty giddy about the idea although she may still have been elated about the race talk... She wasn''t opposed to going out tonight though and nodded shyly... Ares wondered why she looked embarrassed but he quickly realised and laughed while shaking his head. "We''re not going to be dressing up all fancy or anything. It is that kinda place usually but I can get us a separate booth if I have a chat with an old friend of mine who runs the place, allowing us to eat in a more relaxed way. Ah but, if you want to wear a dress that''s cool too... But you know what will happen to you after if you do right? If you wear a dress I''m not holding myself back, Blo Blo."


    Bellona breathed a sigh of relief as she wasn''t mentally prepared to go all the way just yet and shook her head. "No, that''s fine. I''ll get some nicer clothes but nothing too eye-catching. What kinda place is it and when do we leave?"


    "It''s not really anything specific, it''s just damn good food no matter what you order. There''s a pretty sizable selection on the menu so finding something you''ll like ought to be real easy. As for when we leave... I''d like to wait for Aejaz before anything else. Also, I want to visit Hans today and clear up some stuff with him so maybe we can go a little bit later than when we would normally have dinner? I also still have to make some food for the other freeloaders in this house otherwise they might actually starve. If you''re worried you might feel a bit peckish before we eat I can make you some small snacks now if you want?"


    Seeing both wives nod meant Ares knew precisely what needed to be done and he went back to cooking. So that was his schedule for the day sorted then! Aejaz, Hans, date. After that, time would probably fly real quick and the day of Mako''s match against his family would be upon him. That was the prelude to the real big hoo-ha, Ares vs Mako.


    Mako... I wonder what that guy is up to? Haven''t seen him around in a while... I''m sure he''s fine!


    And in fact, Mako was fine. Better than fine, actually, as he felt like he could take on the world right about now. Ares had seriously underestimated how ''fine'' Mako was by a considerable margin. Oh well, he would find out for himself just how ''fine'' Mako was when he watched the guy beat up his family!


    Knock knock


    Speaking of family, that was probably Aejaz returning from his outing. Lacy, Trixie, and Allie had all come into the living room in preparation for Aejaz'' return so he was going to have quite the audience hanging on his every word. Did Job escape by the skin of his teeth or had he been gutted like a fish? It had been a quick affair either way but it was time to find out!

 Chapter 245: Constellation Program

    Ares went to go open the door for his brother but it seemed like Leo was already on top of things, flying up to the handle and purring as he pushed it down and pulled it back with a surprising amount of strength. That something so tiny could be so powerful was still a weird sight but, then again, treetop tigers were basically just condensed, fireball shooting tigers anyway. Their bodies shrunk but their mighty power did not! Leo had been cultivating a lot recently and had killed a good many rats in combat so he was getting up there in terms of cultivation. He might even learn to speak at some point or gain the ability to transform into a human if he kept going like this. He could be a little twerp sometimes but he was a part of the family too. If nothing else, he was great when it came to playing with Appa. Sometimes it was hide and seek or maybe he would increase his size and take Appa for a ride on his back through the sect''s farms as he worked. Between all the pills Allie fed him, and the fish Ares cooked for the guy, he was quite content with his life so good for him!


    The door opened and Aejaz stepped through it without much fanfare. There wasn''t any particular dead give away on his face that he''d succeeded but he walked as though he had a massive weight lifted off his shoulders so Ares could take a wild guess as to how things ended. Still, Ares was curious to know what exactly went down because Aejaz didn''t seem all too pleased with the result considering he''d just rid himself of someone who''d made his life difficult, and had plans to keep doing as such, with his own two hands. Aejaz entered the living room and sat comfortably between Allie and Trixie before he explained from the very beginning. Fortunately it wasn''t a very long story but, unfortunately, it wasn''t very interesting. More so disappointing if anything.


    "So, after the match ended, I left the coliseum and headed around to the south side so I could catch Job taking the other exit. I was a bit late so I used Voidwalk to catch up to him, and the rest of the family, and scouted things out for a bit by remaining invisible with my bloodline and undetectable with my Concealed Serpent... But they didn''t go anywhere. They just kinda stood around in the same spot for a long while and I didn''t really get what was going on... And I don''t think Job did either... I was going to wait a bit longer and see what they were up to, ''cos I thought backup was on the way or something, but I heard Yvonne call out to me. She didn''t know I was there but her educated guess was correct and so I decided to come out of hiding and see what was up. I could always retreat if anything went wrong, or disengage and try again from another angle, so I figured I would hear out Yvonne. I thought she would try and negotiate for Job''s life but... Well... I''d clearly forgotten how much of a bitch she is.


    As soon as she saw me, she pushed Job''s back and sent him tumbling into the street before me. Apparently she wanted to negotiate a very different price than what I thought she was after. In exchange for Job''s life, I would leave them alone forever... I was going to do that anyway but, hey, free stuff''s never hurt anyone right? Of course Job, and his father, were mortified but Scowl and Phlo seemed to already know this was coming as they''d been told in advance via a mental message. Anyway, before I could even respond, Yvonne and the rest of the family swiftly abandoned Job. Fletch hung around for a small period of time but he''s a useless father and just left Job alone with me in the end... And that kinda sums it up. I wasn''t in the mood to listen to Job beg, and God knows he was about to try, so I just stole his memories of the previous day and gave him a quick and painless death when he was trying to figure out why he was in the middle of the street for no apparent reason. I didn''t want to drag it out ''cos it had all been kinda anticlimactic and I wasn''t really feeling it anymore... Here I was hoping I could maybe try and assassinate a target who had some serious heavy duty protection and then sneak away like a little mouse but, well, life''s disappointing sometimes I guess."


    "Wow." Ares gave his dejected brother a wry smile. "No wonder you''re so down in the dumps. I would be too if the prey I was looking forward to hunting just rolled over and died for me the second I found it. You were on a roll today and then it all just stopped, your momentum was stolen from you in such a boring way... Tell you what, I''m heading over to Hans soon. Wanna come with and see if he has any work lying around? Probably not but it can''t hurt to check, right? I''m sure you wanna get that itch out of your system so tag along and let''s pay the old fella visit yeah?"


    Aejaz pursed his lips together as he thought it over and eventually gave a hearty sigh. "Alright, here''s hoping he''s got a target or two. I just wanna hold the Prowler for a bit longer! I''ve barely even used it..."


    "... Alright fine, I''ll let you hold onto it until the final match of the tournament, how about that? I won''t need it until then so you''re free to train with it as long as your heart desires."


    "Woohoo!" Aejaz threw his hands into the air, one of which was still clutching the Prowler like it was some kind of priceless heirloom, and his spirits seemed to have instantly been raised. His glum and moody aura had bene turned around just like that. He was an easy person to please. If that little bribe hadn''t worked then Ares could have taken him to a gambling den or something. Just letting him go wild with his stealing for half a day or so was enough to make him right as rain again. The family was getting extensive but Ares was keen on learning what made them all tick so he could push the correct buttons and get a factory reset when they weren''t feeling too good.


    "Then let''s get going. I''ve got a date later so the sooner we go, the sooner I can return and get ready for it. Chop chop!" Ares followed Aejaz out the room and into the hallway, lightly kicking him in the ass to speed him up whenever he was being too slow. The idiot tried to use Voidwalk to run away but Ares wasn''t having any of it! Ares controlled the nothingness mana in the air and starved Aejaz of it, preventing him from using enough to chant the art properly. Ares could have just prevented the Appropriate Skillset in the first place but he wanted to experiment controlling the mana as he rarely had a reason to in the first place. Normally, a person''s control over the mana they had an affiliation for was pretty minimal up until they apotheosised so for Ares to already be able to stifle anyone else using destruction mana was incredible. Then again, nobody else should have been able to use it to begin with so that was probably the weirder thing happening right about now.


    Anyway, a fundamental had certain benefits and controlling the mana in the air freely earlier than most was just one of them. It didn''t do particularly much but it did put Ares on the path to controlling all instances of destruction around him without the need for arts. I.E if, say, Theodore shot a mortar shell at him, Ares wouldn''t be able to control the shell in mid-air but when it blew up on the ground the explosion was fair game to manipulate. Ares would be basically immune to most explosions and only monstrous, planet destroying bombs or bombardments could even scratch him. The same was also true of disintegration and nothingness but those weren''t exactly common throughout this dimension. Nothingness might appear occasionally, what with severed domains and all. Plus Ares could always pay the void a visit or shatter reality to bring forth a nothingness flood... But disintegration?... Ares wasn''t sure if it had ever existed outside of the destruction pillar whatsoever. The freedom to reign in destruction out in the wild wasn''t looking to be all too valuable but maybe it would wind up being more useful than he expected as it was a fundamental pillar after all. The uses of this little trick could be more vast than he was aware of and that would be a welcome surprise. Either way, it wasn''t going to happen for a while so messing with his brother occasionally, whenever he used Appropriate Skillset, was going to have to suffice.


    The bandit brothers left the sect, made their way through town, passed by city hall and gave a passing wave to some of the people working there that they recognised, and eventually arrived at the mayor''s building / house. This was where all the important decisions were made but it was also were the mayor lived so it was rather convenient for the incumbent to laze around if he wasn''t busy with anything... Although that should realistically be a rare occurrence. If you weren''t meeting with someone then you ought to be either slaving away on paperwork or discussing measures to be implemented throughout the city. Trade with nearby cities, social laws, taking note of what the citizens wanted to change in the city, and sending letters of reprimand to greedy nobles, businessmen, and cultivators who were defrauding people or outright abusing them via ''work'' that was more akin to slavery. Now did Maro actually do any of this or did he just have really competent aides that were worked half to death?


    Surprisingly, a bit of both.


    You''d think him the type to just toss all his work at his lackeys and dream up ways to be evil and scrounge up stardust but he did, from time to time, get off his ass and do... Stuff... It was very much a look busy kinda deal, so whether ot not anything he was responsible for in this city actually mattered was debatable, but he did make some small changes. He put a few new bins, benches, and fountains in key spots that were missing them. Changed the unwritten rule that allowed shops to force people to buy something before they could use the toilets! That was good!... There really wasn''t much else honestly. He kinda just took bribes from clans like the Chens and then kept half while giving the other half to the people actually doing all the relevant work... At least he didn''t withhold all the money though... Even if it was only because he wanted to maintain power and an angry populous wasn''t conducive to that goal. Granted there weren''t any elections or anything so they could be a teensy bit mad here and there and it wouldn''t be the end of the world or anything. The average citizen was too stupid and stuck in their ways to care about a few minor inconveniences from time to time so Maro had gotten away with a lot in his time.


    All in all, he wasn''t the worst thing to happen to Red Sun, he was more like an annoying rash that just sort of persisted pointlessly. Now though? Now this place was under new management. It was impossible to tell how things were going currently because, although Ares and Aejaz had literally only just entered, the place was currently a madhouse filled with scrambling, headless chickens. Not literally but that is most definitely what the rank and file workers resembled as they scurried around while dropping countless papers that they then had to turn around and pick up. It was a cacophony of indecipherable gibberish as people talked over each other without feeling even remotely guilty for the racket they were causing because, really, they just wanted to go home and see their loving families! The quicker their job was done the better as far as they were concerned. As long as they could hear the person they were yelling at from across the room, and vice versa was also true, then everyone else could kick rocks! They weren''t getting paid overtime or any other kind of bonus so why should they care about being polite!? If it wasn''t for the current circumstance they would have gone on strike over these abhorrent conditions!... Although they were all at least partially aware that Hans was in contact with a cabal of assassins who he could dispatch at the drop of a hat so maybe picking an elongated fight, in the form of a protest, with him wasn''t the best idea as some of them might happen to conveniently ''disappear''...


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Ares strolled directly through the centre of the mayhem, even juggling a few mugs that happened to come his way before carefully placing each of them on the head of a passing by worker, causing them to let out a few small tears now their work had gotten exponentially harder all of a sudden. Their hands were filled with paperwork and now they had empty coffee mugs sitting on their heads! Who was this cruel circus master?! One of the very few people here without anything all too urgent or pressing to attend to slid to a halt in front of the ''suspicious'' man before recognising him as the tournament participant Ares. "What are you doing here? We have enough on our plate as is, please don''t hang around unnecessarily or loiter. Better yet, we''re so stretched thin that we didn''t even have anyone at the gate to prevent you from entering so please, whatever it is you''re here for, come back some other time!"


    "No."


    Ack


    The poor man who tried doing the impossible, reasoning with ''unreasonable'' personified, nearly threw up in his mouth when he heard the blunt refusal to co-operate. "Look, kid, even our security guards are being made to lug stuff around so they aren''t here to kick you out right now. Don''t make this difficult! There''s nothing here for you anyway! If you think that just because you killed Maro his stuff now automatically belongs to you then you''ve got another thing coming bucko! It belongs to Hans now and, between you and me, he is not a guy you want to mess with!"


    "Yes he is."


    Ack


    "... Ares? Ares is it? It''s Ares right? Ares. Ares listen to me. Stop this! Stop it! Stop all of it! This is for your own good! You really don''t know what kinda guy Hans is. He''s got dealings. Shady dealings with guys you don''t wanna meet in a quiet back alley. You catch my drift?! Never mind the fact that Hans will sic an assassin on you at the best of times, we''re swamped right now and if you walk into his room unannounced all hell will break loose! He might even send guys after us as well for not stopping you! Are you really going to doom us all because you want to be nosey and look around for stuff?!"


    "Yes."


    Ack


    Ares was done playing 21 questions with this man so he walked right by the guy who was practically frozen solid. The unexperienced fool had never dealt with a revenant before so this conversation was beyond him and his ability to talk sense into people. You needed to use very different tactics with a revenant, such as taping their mouth shut, tying their hands, and chucking them out the building. For a normal person that sounds extreme but for a revenant? That was merely a beginner strategy. There were even some folks in the upper domains who were so fed up of revenants they created sealing arts specifically for them so they could have a break for a couple thousand years without being pestered by the annoying mutts. The revenants would get out of the trap eventually but there really was no such thing as permanently stopping a revenant from doing whatever they wanted to. Eventually you had to bite the bullet and let them have their way. Time was a powerful ally and these people had infinite of it. The number of times revenants had found some kind of secret treasure being guarded by an old warrior only to cheat their way past by outlasting the old coot instead of actually fighting them was not small. Hell sometimes they would even fight, die, come back, and just keep repeating the process until the other person got sick of seeing their face over and over again.


    The guy who failed to stop Ares hurried after him in a bid to at least try and calm down Hans who was most definitely not going to be happy right now. He might even have his Ifrit turn this place into an extreme sauna and bake everyone until they were crispy. As the door to Hans'' office opened, the worrywart crossed his fingers and said his prayers as he followed the duo into the room and tried to explain everything before anyone else could speak. "Hans! Uh, mayor Hans! I am terribly sorry about these two. There are no excuses to be made for letting them get this far but we don''t have the manpower available to stop them. I highly encourage you to burn them to ashes and end the problem once and for all!"


    "Wow, you''re quite vicious when you have the upper hand, huh?" Aejaz'' eyes widened as he stared at the dishonourable pipsqueak hiding behind Hans. Was this what Aejaz used to be like when he kept running away to go find Ares and metaphorically hug his leg? Yikes, how embarrassing... But not anymore! Aejaz was a real man now! A manly man! he would never cower before a frightening foe ever again! Maybe.


    Hans just sighed and smacked the cowardly fellow with a rolled up newspaper. "Ain''t nobody being burnt to ashes, not when there''s still yet work to be done and you can contribute to physical labour. When you''re all done hauling papers maybe then I''ll consider it. Anyway, Hugo, get lost. I know these kiddos and have done for a long old time. They''re free to come and go as they please so make sure to spread that around when you get a chance."


    "Oh, uh, heh, right right." Hugo bowed to everyone in the room, twice to Ares who was giving him a narrow stare for trying to throw him under the bus earlier, and promptly skedaddled down the hallway.


    "Sorry I can''t give you two boys a proper reception but, well, I think the mess around here speaks volumes for itself. This place is bigger than town hall, and way more staffed too, and yet things have ended up like this... Either I''m not as competent a manger as I thought I was or things were really dire around here before I took over... Whatever, this crap will all be sorted out soon and the town will be better off for it. So much money laying around going to waste or worse, going to be people who don''t even bloody well need it. Good thing these bribes are marked so I can go pay these scummy individuals a visit down the road. Let''s put that to the side for now, what can I do for you? I know you wouldn''t come here just to chit chat when I''m up to my neck in civic duties... If anything, you''re probably about to drop some kind of bombshell on me that''ll just quadruple my workload..."


    "Ah Hans..." Ares took a step forward and twirled past a stack of papers, coming to halt as he leant on the desk with his chin resting on his palm which was supported by his elbow below. "... You really do know me far too well! Great guess and spot on! It''s kinda complicated though sooo, you got a minute?"


    "Hell no I don''t! Especially not if you''re just gonna dump more work on me after!... Ah whatever, I''m in a good mood so I''ll reschedule an appointment..."


    "Oh? Despite all this humdrum you''re still in a good mood? Has today been a lucky day for whatever reason?"


    Hans took a seat and opened a drawer, revealing within a bumpy crystal vial with a neon orange liquid in it. "You remember a while back I made a bet on the tournament?"


    "Yeah... The phoenix blood that someone threw into the pot... Is that it?"


    "You got a good memory kid. Yes, yes it is. Turns out, the stuff belonged to Mako. As for why I have it now, the betting brothers weren''t entirely sure what to make of the situation because their client was long gone. They could have just held onto it and waited for the results of the tournament to see who it''d belong to but we have a lot of history, me and those guys. I promised them some good turf, which was an especially juicy offer given my new standing, so they were willing to ''cancel'' the phoenix blood bet. It was supposed to go back to Maro but, well, what''s Maro''s is mine now so as long as you ignore the backroom deals that went on I''ll have you know I obtained this bad boy perfectly legitimately."


    "Well you got your hands on it in a way that was at least more legal than the way Aejaz gets his hand on stuff like that so I''ll let it slide. It''s the betting brother''s loss anyway but I''m sure they''ve raked in a ton thanks to the tournament anyway right? They can afford to let that vial slip out of their pockets I''m sure. Anyway, before we get on to the main topic, do you have any assassination missions for ''Jaz? He was robbed of a kill earlier today and is kinda hankering for some action. The tease of it all has edged him and he''s been feeling a bit uppity as a result so I figured I would ask while I happen to be here."


    "What? He actually wants a mission? I thought he was just being sent on them ''cos of your, and I quote, ''bitching and nagging''."


    Ares smiled dangerously at Aejaz who proceeded to unashamedly hide behind Hans like the manly man he was. "Is that so? I''ll keep that in mind the next time I get some alone time with that idiot."


    "Yes well do that in your own time, not here. We''ve got enough of a brawl on our hands against the paperwork as is... Missions missions... Hm, I suppose there is a guy you can go put six feet under. A Maro loyalist who refuses to budge an inch."


    "No mercy? You''re being thorough and cleansing everything then?"


    "Nah, it ain''t like that. This guy''s actively plotting to blow up this building. I didn''t bother dealing with him yet because he wasn''t going to do it for a couple more days anyway and he was still gathering the remnants of those who supported Maro. Still, ''Jaz can go make an example of him and that ought to quieten things down for a while. The remnants might come back later but by that point I''ll be done with all this shoddy paperwork and can just hire some of the old crew to go and deal with them. Old ''business'' will be up and running again before they become an issue. ''Jaz, I''ll give you the details after I''m done with... Whatever Ares wants."


    A small thumbs out crept out from around Hans'' flank signalling that Aejaz was thankful for the work. Well, ''work'' that he was volunteering for anyway. He usually got paid for it but he was just in the mood to hunt someone down for fun this time. He would take his time and lead them around by the nose, watch as they call in backup, and then masterfully weave through his defences to deal the killer blow with his own magic and / or weapon as his eyes widened in horror before fading to a dull and lifeless grey! That could be his reward for doing well today in the arena. If only Job hadn''t been such a pushover in the end, that would have been incredibly satisfying... Oh well...


    Hans lit a cigar, ready for what would inevitably be a complicated talk with Ares. Nothing involving this kiddo was ever simple... "Lay it on me. What are you here for? What are you planning now?"


    Ares joined his hands together and stretched them forwards, rolled his neck, and took a deep breath.


    "I''m taking Red Sun into space!"


    Hans had no idea what this kid was talking about but there was one thing he knew for sure, today was going to be a very long day...

 Chapter 246: Workhorse Hans

    Sigh


    "Kiddo." Hans slapped his forehead and slowly smudged his face with his palm as it sunk downwards. "Speak a language I understand. What''s this hoo-ha about going into space?"


    "Yeah yeah! What he said!" Aejaz poked out from behind Hans'' seat and also demanded answers because he hadn''t heard anything about this bonkers plan either.


    Ares pulled over a seat and sat down as he went about explaining himself. "Not the entirety of Red Sun, just this town. I want to turn it, and the sect, into a pocket utopia of sorts. I want to bring this chunk of Red Sun with me basically wherever I go. I will cut out the landmass and, when it comes time to ascend to Vraizon, I will store this place in a treasure I own. When I get up there, I will find a suitable place to leave it so that it may be safe and have access to nearby planets. While I''m off adventuring the sect can take onboard new disciples and elders and the town can expand its range of business to richer individuals in a higher domain. The sect benefits because its disciples and elders can have access to better cultivation resources and increase their cultivation base. The town benefits because magical engineering only becomes more and more prevalent the higher up you go through the domains. This isn''t a one time thing either. When I go past Vraizon I''ll pull the same trick and drag everyone with me to the next domain up. Everyone who opts to stay on this landmass will eventually be carried to the upper echelons of cultivation society and gain access to all the readily available benefits this moving city will provide. Being under my protection ought to keep it relatively safe as well and the fundamental organisation will certainly help in that regard. This way I get to stay in charge of the sect without abandoning it for extremely long periods of time.


    I''m going to have to keep climbing through the domains but I have no interest in leaving the sect I''ve already started working on behind. Of course there will be periods where I''m visiting dangerous locations and I won''t take the sect with me then but, for the most part, I''ll be bringing this chunk of Red Sun on my domain hopping journey. There''s a lot to gain but also a lot to lose. Some people might not want to go on such a journey, some might be attached to Sheryashka, and some businesses might be hesitant to risk sticking with us. When this idea just starts out, we''ll be a small town and sect floating through space with little to offer. I''m hoping the stuff I find on my travels can help to turn it into a commercial hub that becomes the centre of every domain I plop it in. Being portable means I can place it in strategic locations wherever we end up. My magic will hopefully be able to turn this landmass I plan on cutting out into a highly advanced and convenient location that becomes the envy of the world. I can already envision a future in which I use my nothingness magic to create instantaneous transport from place to place as well as a robust security system to keep everyone safe. It''s not a matter of ''if'' this place becomes something impressive, it''s a matter of when.


    I plan on doing all of this with the sect regardless but if I take just it, and not this city, then expanding from nothing will be a painfully long endeavour. If I could take this city along with it then there would a way to hit the ground running, making it easier to transition into a sprint that never ends. In summary, eventually I want this place to resemble a planet all unto itself that can take advantage of the mobility and reputation I can afford it. My presence alone will bring a great many people to this place and drastically increase the business and cultivation opportunities for everyone who lives here. Some people and clans with minimal ambition might even be able to make something of themselves just by tagging along for the ride as I plan on extending benefits to everyone who stays long term. The wealth I acquire, of which there''s guaranteed to be a lot, will be distributed and the sooner people come aboard the more I''ll be offering them. Anyone who doesn''t want this will be left behind as we go out into the wider world and make a name for ourselves while exploring the universe and attaining immeasurable riches.


    That''s why I''m here. I''ll be in charge of the sect, you''ll be in charge of everything else... If you agree to this proposal anyway. Your say is final so if it''s a no then this place will be staying right here for the rest of time. I won''t be coming back for it ever, keep that in mind. When I''m three, four, five, six, maybe even seven or more cultivation realms higher than everyone else here I will have already founded, and brought up to standard, my landmass so this place will no longer serve any purpose nostalgic though it may be. This is a once in a lifetime offer so I would recommend you think it through and get the opinions of as many people as possible, maybe even hold a city wide vote if that''s they way you feel it should go. There''s a lot of ups and down to this plan that I haven''t outright mentioned, because I would be here all day if I even tried, but you''re a smart man and I know you can piece together a picture of what''s a stake here. There will be good times, there will be bad times, but, regardless, I can assure you things will be vastly different to what they are now throughout it all."


    Sigh


    Hans closed his eyes and his brain was immediately flooded with hundreds of questions. Not even just those he wanted to ask Ares but also about those entailing what kind of obstacles he would face whether he agreed or disagreed. The most pressing issue was ''what would happen to this town if Ares took the sect and left?'' Without a sect here this place would struggle as there would be no reason for cultivators to bring their clans here... There would need to be a new sect installed but, even then, it would be brand new, have no reputation, and have basically no talented cultivators unless the Nick and Li clan were willing to dump all their young into it... Which wasn''t likely. Ares would be training up anyone worth stealing away from Red Sun and then taking the cream of the crop on his space journey, leaving Red Sun with nothing. Sure Hans could defend the place but without a sect here he couldn''t stop an invading army or anything. From a safety perspective, agreeing was the correct decision in the short term... But what about long term if he agreed? What if Ares formed enemies? Would they come target Red Sun as well as the sect? They''d be joined at the hip so Ares'' messes would become everyone else'' problem too... Unless he had a means to defend everyone? Maybe he could just shove this entire place into his treasure at lightning speed and run off with everyone in his back pocket? But what if he wasn''t nearby when it happened? Would they have to fend for themselves? But what if he did hire new and stronger elders in the higher domains or get aid from that organisation he mentioned? Could they hold the fort while he was out and about?


    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!


    So many questions, not enough answers! And this was just regarding safety. What about commerce, economics, setting up businesses and farm land, expanding the landmass, law of the land, jails and dungeons, trade relations, the Cultivation Organisation who would surely have feelings on part of this planet''s landmass up and leaving! What about the people who would be displaced because of this and lose their homes? Ares had underestimated how much work he was giving Hans here, it wasn''t quadruple what he currently had, it was nigh infinite times more! How was he supposed to sort through all these variables and come to a conclusion that benefitted everyone?! The simple answer was that he couldn''t. Some people would have to lose out here one way or the other, it was just a matter of being forced to pick who would suffer and apologising profusely to them.


    There was no way Ares was changing his mind about the sect, Hans knew that. Why on earth would Ares give up a sect he''d sunk so much time and effort into already? He''d geared up the disciples, improved their reputation, helped them improve the situation with their coffers, enabled them to hire good quality cultivators, and gotten a fair few disciples worth keeping around on side no doubt. He had powerful experts, powerful disciples in training, powerful gear, and a powerful base of operations. Ares wouldn''t give it up even if Hans begged and he couldn''t blame him for doing as such. Still, Hans wanted to pry a little deeper. Given the circumstances he believed he was owed a more detailed explanation than the quick run down he''d just been given. "I won''t ask you too many questions but I do have some pressing ones. For now, how exactly are you going to pull this off and, second of all, when are you planning on leaving? How much time do I have to figure out my own plan of action at the bare minimum?"


    "... Hm." Ares was going over his plans in his head before making his statement. He gave it due consideration and finally gave an estimate. "Let''s say earliest is six months. I''d be willing to wait a year if need be but that''s as far as my patience stretches for confirmation of everyone''s intent. As for how I''m going to pull this off... Well I can clue you into a little treasure of mine called the Primordial Blade but you have to keep it under wraps for now. I might have to unveil it when the time comes but at least until then I ask that you keep it on the down low. Hell I may even be able to get away with keeping it hidden even then so, really, don''t share this with anyone."


    Ares then brought out the Primordial Blade and went through that same whole spiel for what felt like the umpteenth billionth time. It was supposed to be a small secret and yet so many people were finding out about it... But it needed to be done. There were some people Ares didn''t want to hide it from and, while Hans may have been one of those people, right now he fell more into the ''can''t withhold from'' group. How was Ares supposed to convince Hans this was all manageable if he didn''t show off the Blade? What was he going to do? Carve up this landmass by hand and carry it on his back up to Vraizon?... Well... Actually... Maybe Garmr could kinda do it if he had another four or so cultivation realms with annihilation pressure fuelling him. At the very least, half this city was definitely doable under those circumstances. Garmr''s brute strength was a thing of beauty and the more Ares remembered that it would soon all be his to control, the more excited he was for it.


    "Kiddo..." Hans wasn''t entirely sure how to react to all this new information. "Why do you have so many crazy secrets? When I was your age I didn''t have half the aces up my sleeve you do and I was considered a once in a generation talent... Man, times a changing... Or maybe it''s just that fundamental stuff... Then again, Aejaz is pretty crazy too right? I heard he can steal fundamental pillars... I think I''m getting too old to compete with the young''uns, pains me though it does to say it. That doesn''t mean I''m giving up on cultivation though, quite the opposite. I should hang onto my life and make the most of it. Taking care of this city is my goal and the longer I live, and the stronger I get, the better job I can do of it... Which is why I''m down to go along with your idea. It tickles my fancy and does everything I, on a personal level, need it to do. I can cultivate in new environments, get access to better resources, get a bigger influx of influential people visiting this town, still protect it, and increase my life expectancy all in one. If it were just a matter as simple as saying ''hell yeah kiddo'' then everything would already be sorted and we''d all be well on our way to Vraizon in six months time.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    But then there''s everybody else, ya know?


    I can''t just make this decision on behalf of everyone living in this town without their permission, the resentment would go through the roof! Maro was bad but he never abducted the entire population to go along with his own little ambitions and joy rides... Although maybe that was just because he didn''t have a chance too otherwise he very well might have... Whatever, that''s not the point. I''m gonna have to have a lot o'' words with a lot o'' people about this. And I''m gonna have to be honest too. I won''t mention the Blade, that''s a given, but I will have to explain your plan in order for people to come to the correct conclusions about what they want out of this situation. I think you''ll wind up seeing a more positive reception to this idea than you were initially bargaining for though. There aren''t actually many people who would say no to it. You might think people wouldn''t want to lose their homes but that''s mostly old folk with nostalgia and attachments. Provided their houses stay in one piece, they don''t really care where this town is. Plus they might live a little longer if they can start cultivating thanks to the higher quantity of mana in the air. For some people on the brink, just getting a whiff of Vraizon mana would be all it takes to set them on the cultivation path and save their lives. Getting to Vraizon from Sheryashka with no support is the hard part but what you''re offering these people is invaluable.


    Then there''s the businesses. Local ones will thrive, that''s for sure. If they make their own products then getting a supply of materials will be a hassle but in the short term there won''t be any other competition really. If it''s just our little landmass, people who can''t fly through Vraizon will be forced to spend money at their shops instead of heading out of Red Sun so the local businesses will be on board too I think. Who else... Clans? Don''t even need to ask ''em really. Only the most die hard loyalist members would cling to this planet in a bid to spread their influence. You know, like leave some guys behind so the clan can grow in multiple domains at once. Even then, the main branches will jump at this chance to gain access to everything a new domain brings. More mana, more resources, more treasures, more disciples, more diplomatic relations, more monsters to kill, and more cultivation in general is never anything they''d scoff at. They might even be your most avid support group in all of this. Same goes for individual cultivators without a backing. Hell you might even see some people move here from abroad just to get aboard the hype train.


    Actually, that''s another thing.


    When rumours of this spread, there''s gonna be a lot of people who want in on this shindig. We need to keep them away from any levers of power and refuse a lot of negotiations but some may be worth taking... I''ll keep an eye on that for you so let me handle it. I can sniff out who wants the best for this place and who''s trying to make a quick escape into Vraizon so they can abandon us later. This town is going to become kinda massive the second this info gets out there... Should we start spreading rumours now or after the tournament? If we do it now, we risk too many people crowding around us for information we might not have in these early stages. Plus all the opportunistic vultures will try and strike while we''re getting our sea legs. If we wait, however, it may take too long for the info to spread properly and be considered anything more than preposterous rumours. Some valuable opportunities with foreign entities may be lost as a result... It''s not an easy choice. This one I''ll leave up to you but... Do bare in mind I''m the guy that''s gonna have to talk to these lot and I''m already swamped as is... Don''t get me wrong, pick the best choice and don''t worry about these old bones, but if you do want to get word out now then at least let me handle dissemination of the information. The last thing I want is a buncha old grannies coming up to my doorstep and complaining ''cos they ain''t gotten the full picture and only overheard half of it from some twat with a loud mouth walking by their homes. Once news of this gets out there, it will spread like wildfire and the people who actually live here will demand answers. They need to know first and then we let the rabble get in on it."


    Ares scratched his head, put on a light smile, and gave his verdict on the matter. "Then I''m sorry to give you even more work... But could you please let everyone know? I know there''ll be people with bad intentions but the risk is worth it for the reward. If we get some major players in various industries to hop aboard, those that can smell blood in the proverbial water and seize this chance to ride the coattails of a fundamental, then that would be the icing on the cake for this plan to really shine. Again, sorry. I know it''s a pain in the neck and I''m not really helping much with anything on my end."


    "Ah kiddo, pay it no mind. You''ve done more than enough already anyway. Merely allowing this to happen in the first place is a huge deal. Throw in all the benefits that will come later down the line thanks to you and, if anything, I still don''t feel like I''m doing enough. If the massive growth the sect has undergone recently proves anything, it''s that this city is going to become a massive deal at some point and I want to be there to see it happen. Having to work a little harder for the next six months is a small price to pay in comparison so, really, don''t sweat it. Actually, I can use this opportunity to hire some more people. Being able to work for the mayor of this place is gonna have some serious allure to it after this info spreads. More hands on deck is welcome, especially now. Even those with evil plans can be exploited a bit and let go before they become a problem! Gotta know how to use every tool at your disposal after all, even if some of them are a little crooked.


    There is one more matter to discuss with you though. It just occurred to me but, if this place is gonna undergo such a drastic change then I think the name ought to go through the ringer ''n'' all. We just refer to this city as Red Sun, and that ain''t so bad, but it''s a reference to how this was the only city that existed in this region way back when. Nowadays it''s kinda confusing and there have been all sorts of people clamouring to change it regardless of all this stuff we have planned. I think this is a perfect opportunity to switch up the name of the city. Speaking of, are you planning on changing the name of the sect? I think you should. Heaven''s path was a name concocted by the original sect master who didn''t really have anything specific in mind when making it. He sorta just stuck two words together and called it a job well done. As far as I know, none of the elders or disciples have any attachment to it so you should think about that. In the meantime, I''ll start thinking about what to do with the name of this city. Perhaps we can do like a grand unveiling of the names before we head up to Vraizon? Ah but I''m getting ahead of myself, we still need to get everyone''s opinions first. I feel confident, however, and you should too, I have a sneaking suspicion our high hopes will be met."


    "If you''re sure it will go well then so am I. As for renaming the sect... Yeah, I think I''ll give it a whirl. God only knows what I''ll call it..."


    "No stupid names! I know you well kiddo! Don''t fuck around with this!"


    "I know I know! If it''s important, I won''t play silly games! Or maybe I will but, by the end of my chicanery at least, I''ll have a proper answer when all is said and done. I''ll spend some time envisioning what I want the sect to be and become before I nail down a name so, yeah, we can unveil the names later." Ares slumped back in his seat and wearily rested his hand above his beating heart. "You have no idea how much of a relief it is to know you''re going along with this. I trust you with managerial stuff and I know you''ll be arguably the best possible person I could recruit for helping this project succeed. It''s not even been ten minutes since I mentioned the idea and I already feel like it''s a stone''s throw away thanks to everything you''re willing to do to help out. Seriously, thanks Hans. I owe you big time. f you ever need anything then feel free to ask. Not that it''s any different from usual but, you know, might as well throw it out there."


    Hans shook his head, stood up, picked up Aejaz who was still hiding behind him, and plopped the bandit on the other side of the desk. "No worries kiddo, you know I''m here to help to the best of my ability always. Plus I stand to gain a lot from this so I won''t pretend this partnership is entirely selfless. Ah but now I''m running the good mood so I''ll just shut my mouth and get back to work. You got anything planned for the rest of the day or you gonna tag along with ''Jaz for the mission I''m sending him on?"


    "Nope! I got me a date with the two prettiest ladies in Red Sun."


    "Hah, well go out and enjoy yourself then. Don''t be getting stuck around here with a old geezer like myself and a bunch of workaholics, that''ll just kill the vibe. Tell the family I said hi though, been a while since I''ve seen the Enyo lass. Also never met the other chick but if you''re committed then I have full faith she''s got a good head on her shoulders."


    "Pft, you can say that last part again. Anyway, I''ll give them your greetings." Ares stood up and used his annihilation enhancement to sling his brother over his shoulder. He was going to make sure to stop off on the way back and teach this mug a lesson about whining to others about him behind his back! "Take care Hans! Enjoy the phoenix blood!"


    Hans waved goodbye as he fiddled with the vial. "Supposedly this thing tastes like orange juice so, yeah, I''m sure I will actually. Could do with a nice refreshing drink. No real clue what it does after it''s gone down my gullet but I''m sure I''ll figure out eventually! See ya round kiddo... Oh! And next time you visit, please don''t bring anymore work! A cordial chit chat''s great enough on its own, thank you very much!"


    "I''ll keep that in mind, until then!" Ares left the building, making sure to jump scare Hugo on the way out by draping his arm around the guy''s shoulder and patting him on the head while telling him to sleep with one eye open.


    And with that, his business here today was done! A positive response was a huge step forward and now Ares was in the clear. All he really needed to do was discuss this with Yulo and some of the elders, spread knowledge of it to the disciples when Hans started letting the general public know, and come up with a name for the sect for when he took over. What originally would have taken an eon to sort out had just become that much simpler thanks to Hans'' involvement. What a guy! And the best part? Now that all that stuff was taken care of, after dropping off Aejaz near his mission target, Ares could go on a date with two beautiful women to cap off a fantastic day!

 Chapter 247: Bellonas Killer Figure

    With Aejaz being dumped off outside a seemingly abandoned building, with a fair few bruises that were well deserved being added to his otherwise immaculate flesh, Ares left the guy to finish his mission while he went straight back home. Ares probably could have waited for Aejaz to finish but if the guy started doing theatrics and taking his time with the kill then Ares would be keeping Blo Blo and Yo Yo waiting for no good reason. If Aejaz wanted to have Trixie and Allie sit around like sedentary rocks then so be it but Ares had a date to go on! He Voidwalked the rest of the way home to get there faster and strode through the front door. He had no plans on getting changed, as it was really just a casual thing tonight, so he headed straight for the living room where he expected to find Enyo and Bellona. To his surprise, the room was devoid of the two sisters but he did find Allie and Trixie eating some ice cream on the couch. Ares deduced that Enyo and Blo Blo must be in the bedroom for whatever reason so he went over to the kitchen and made sure to leave some food for the Aejaz lot''s dinner before going back to the corridor. He walked up to the closed door of his bedroom and knocked. Ares didn''t bother waiting for a reply, it was his own room after all! Also, what''s the worst that could happen? They were getting changed? Not like Ares hadn''t seen them naked before! Actually... Now that he thought about it... He hadn''t! Or well not Bellona anyhow.


    Ares walked into the room and spotted his two wives getting changed as he closed the door behind him. Bellona was holding up some clothes in front of her in a pointless bid to hide from Enyo who was steadily advancing upon her. Ares simply sighed and used some annihilation enhancement to sweep the naked beauty off her feet and throw her onto the bed, freeing Bellona from her sister''s groping hands... But not from Ares'' prying eyes! He wanted to spy her nubile body but she was adamantly clinging to her clothes. "Lemme see the goods!"


    "No! Get lost creep!"


    "See?" Enyo snorted from behind Ares. "This is why you should have let me deal with her! I know how to handle this stubborn woman!"


    Ares smiled wryly at the equally stubborn woman but made no comment. Two peas in a pod these two were sometimes. Although he couldn''t deny Enyo''s solution to this oddly chaste Bellona was much simpler than sitting here and waiting for her to change her mind. It was strange though. Bellona never seemed the type to be excessively shy about this kind of thing. Hesitant and embarrassed? Sure. A flushed face or two was normal but she''d go along with stuff like this regardless so her unwillingness to do something this simple was highly unusual! Ares thought deeply on the matter as he stared at Bellona''s red cheeks with a narrow gaze... Ah! Flat chest! She was hiding her petite teets! Bellona was in an unfortunate position as Ares, and Enyo who had also come to the same realisation, only viewed Bellona''s shame driven resistance as being cute. Bellona really had it rough with these two. No matter what she did she was always seen as a disobedient puppy at worst, she couldn''t shake the ''cute'' label and even trying just made the whole situation worse. Now the other two people in this room were even more determined to remove the few pieces of clothing protecting her tiny peaks and, worse still, they were working together! Bellona felt saved when Ares removed the succubus from the mix but now he was actively pairing up with her, uniting for a greater cause! "Blo Blo dearest! Lemme see ''em! Are they completely flat like a pavement, slightly bumpy like a birth mark, or pokey like a plunger! I must know, for science!"


    "They aren''t even erect right now you idiot!" Bellona retorted as she huddled up in the corner of the room.


    Enyo took a menacing step forward and licked her lips. "I can fix that problem in a heartbeat." Or rather, she already did. Enyo''s pleasure pillar magic was quick and effective, at least if Bellona''s reaction of looking straight down at her body behind the wall of clothes was any indication.


    "Stay back! I will bite your heads off!"


    "If you want us to stay back..." Ares started with a grin. "... Then reveal all! The longer you wait, the closer we get! It''ll only be worse for you if we''re close enough to reach you by the time you give in! Resistance is futile Blo Blo! If you take it off now, I promise to keep Enyo at bay. It''s a promise I''m not sure you can refuse right now! Of course I''m not entirely against the alternative but we might be leaving a little bit later than planned if you aren''t co-operative as Enyo and I will have to conduct a through search to make sure you aren''t hiding anything from us! Choose wisely Blo Blo!"


    Hit with an ultimatum that couldn''t be ignored, Bellona knew the jig weas up... If only she''d gotten changed in the bathroom earlier instead of listening to that dumb slut Enyo! Not that Bellona had much choice in the matter. ''What''s wrong with getting changed in front of me? You have to get used to it eventually. If you want to get changed in the bathroom then I''m going to demand a tongue kiss. It''s a toll and you are not exempt!'' This damn woman must have sensed Ares returning like some kind of feral beast with a lock on his scent. The kiss would have been a preferable alternative to this damnable humiliating ritual Ares was putting her through. Enyo had taken advantage and made it seem like the kiss was the worse of two options when in reality she was just trying to squeeze out benefits from the correct choice. Bellona had been conned again! Why were these two morons so good at tricking her when it came to anything sex related!? Where were these fantastic brains when it came to any other aspect of day to day life?! Did getting horny turn these two into walking super-computers?! Bellona was at her wit''s end as the two lusty freaks were still steadily creeping up on her. She had no choice but to agree to highwayman Ares'' demands lest things devolve even further so she grit her teeth and prepared herself for mockery. That was why she was reluctant to do this, she genuinely believed Ares would insult her chest again like he used to. He''d clarified it was all just a joke but she didn''t trust him for even a second not to make a comment again now! "Ah whatever! Fine! Stop coming closer already! I''ll do it but I swear to God if you hurl any insults at me I''m going to kick your ass from here to Vraizon!"


    "Aw come on, I know you can be sensitive about that. I''ll be good so show me the goods!"


    Bellona stared at Ares with narrow eyes but eventually was forced to sigh in resignation and put the clothes aside. Ares took in the wonderful view as though he were appreciating fine art while Enyo was slobbering for some reason. She''d already seen this earlier! Why was she acting like this was new information for her?! Apparently the mood in the room had gotten to her so Ares had to hold her back, as he promised Bellona he would, by holding on to a strand of her hair. As for Bellona, Ares was impressed with her upper body specifically. She had more of an hourglass figure than Enyo did and her muscles were more defined too. From her stomach to her shoulders was a triangular body shape that progressively got thicker towards her neck with the lines of her flesh clearly demarcating the boundaries of her muscles. There was no saggy or baggy skin to speak of but she didn''t look like a skeleton either. Her chest puffed out as her six pack almost looked like an eight pack thanks to the way her breasts were in lock step with he periodic size increase of her muscles the higher up they went. It was like a series of slightly curved slabs forming a vertical staircase up her top half.


    Ares had somewhat miscalculated how long her upper body was as he thought her waist was higher up until now which just made her muscles appear all that much larger considering how much space they took up. She wasn''t all bulk though as near the waist, towards the back side, she had an alluring thickness. Her chest was mostly flat but Ares could tell from the front that her rear was not. The dynamic between soft and bumpy flesh curving inwards to a toned rib cage before thickening out again near her pectoral muscles was chef''s kiss. Her breasts stuck out as they were more rounded than the other slabs and had the faintest of volume to them that raised them a tad bit higher. They could be lightly squished with a finger and there would be a brief hint of bounciness to them before they became firm, almost like poking a cheek. her nips were stood to attention, thanks to Enyo''s magic, and were surprisingly quite tall. The areolae only covered an extremely small area but the soft pink antennae were poking out decently far. It must have been hard for her as whenever she was aroused they would rub against the fabric of her clothing all the time. Even more so than her sturdy chest, the nips looked to be incredibly stiff when at full mast and the desire to bully Bellona through them was immeasurable. For now though, Ares and Enyo kept drinking in the view and savouring the exquisitely trained body before them.


    Next up were the arms and neck, rounding off her collection of body parts with phenomenal curves that were a result of a lack of excess skin. The boundary between body parts, specifically where her torso ended and her arm pit started, was impossible to miss as all the flesh in that area was rigid and taut, especially if she lifted her arms. The powerful muscles in her biceps curved to a beautiful halt where her torse begun and it made her body almost a perfect specimen for anyone who wanted to teach others human anatomy. A diagram with black outlines would not have been as efficient at clearly separating body parts as Bellona''s robust frame was. Holding her upper half would feel like grabbing a soft block of concrete with a few small bumps here and there which meant she could be safely hugged with a tight grip and not buckle mid romp. Ares was looking forward to testing her sturdiness as it was not indicative of the energy she possessed. Bellona wasn''t Enyo so her frame meant nothing f she would get knackered out easily. Something about going toe to toe with a bulky woman in the bedroom and tiring her out while clinging to her well-built frame was starting to get Ares heated up down below. Plus she was smaller overall compared to him which just, yet again, made her look all that much cuter. No matter how mighty her body was,, in bed she would still have to look up at him with her brilliant eyes and pant underneath him.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    She was smaller in stature than Enyo but also possessed a bit of a bulk, both of which combined meant she was compact and had a sporty kind of sex appeal that roused Enyo and Ares'' lust towards her even further. Her neck was also rather imposing near her collar bone but it softened out towards the throat area which was probably why her glorious physique had gone hidden for so long. She rarely wore clothes that allowed anyone to tell just how much raw chest she was packing or how low her waist was. She was definitely hotter than Ares expected, based on what he''d seen from back when she wore the dress, and that was saying something because he had confidence in her body even if she rarely did. Down below, her legs were also packing muscles but not quite as many as her upper body. This lazy woman had skipped leg day a number of times it seemed but Ares wasn''t complaining as the contrast between her tough upper half and her softer lower half was particularly appealing. Ares wanted to see more so he wasn''t modest about his selfish requests.


    "Put your hands behind your head for me and turn sideways please." Enyo gulped and nodded fervently off to the side, leaving Bellona with no choice but to go along with Ares'' antics. She did as was asked of her and Enyo nearly fainted as she had to hold on to the nearby table so as not to fall over. She also seemed to have a nose bleed but Ares couldn''t blame her for being drastic. With her hands behind her head, Bellona''s chest was made to pull back a bit which enhanced the curvature of her body. With her chest retracted, her waist curving outwards, and her shapely butt jutting out and overhanging the start of her plump thighs, Bellona was looking like art right now. If Enyo was a painting, Bellona was a sculpture and a surprisingly elegant one at that. The contours of her muscles and the outline of her arched body was something that even Enyo couldn''t match as her proportions were simply too big. If Enyo tried, the soft skin on her back would ruin the arch so this was a look wholly unique to Bellona. Ares had seen adverts for various shampoo products of women emerging from a body of water with their heads flung back, creating an arch behind them that was similar to what he was witnessing here, but Bellona didn''t have to throw her neck back to make it happen. Her physique was just a cut above in that sense. Ares struggled to get any words as out, as he was nearly lost for them entirely, but managed to make one last request. "Turn around fully."


    Bellona silently turned and was actually somewhat grateful for this request. Watching two people ogle her unrelentingly was embarrassing as all hell so at least this way she could stare at the wall. Meanwhile Ares was enjoying himself as this was all new and unexplored territory for him. He would explore it in excruciating detail later, digging as deep as he possibly could, but for now getting an eyeful of spongy ass was good enough! There actually wasn''t much to talk about here as the back was quite plain. Her shoulder blades were prominent but, other than that, it was a slender and neat back. It was probably smoother than her front but Ares wasn''t much of a back guy so he didn''t really know how to properly appraise this part of her. Looked good though! Especially the round butt, that Ares could definitely appreciate! What Ares didn''t see coming, however, was Bellona looking over her shoulder with a shy expression. Her right amber eye was peeking through the bang partially covering it like a shredded curtain and Ares couldn''t handle it. He fell backwards on to the bed next to Enyo and had to take deep breaths. This view of Bellona was somehow even better than the other two! This sneaky woman was seriously a piece of eye candy when she took those pesky clothes off! Blo Blo was a very sexually attractive woman when she wanted to be... Although why was she seemingly the only person who failed to understand that?! Ares could even see a hint of jealousy in Enyo because this was a form she could never copy with her body type. Enyo was soft, smooth, and had boundless lumps of flesh to play with atop her muscles but she would never be able to rid herself of that and gain a skinnier frame. Enyo''s beauty was still probably objectively more conventionally attractive but Bellona was a serious contender here! If even Enyo, of all people, recognised your aesthetic then clearly it wasn''t an exaggeration to say you looked damn fine!


    Ares pulled himself of the bed and dragged him over to Bellona who was still peeking over her shoulder at him and waiting for his verdict. He walked up to her and hugged her from behind as he kissed her neck, much like he did earlier today in the kitchen, before talking with a steady voice directly into her ear. "I''m annoyed you think so little of yourself. You have more pride than anyone else in this room but your so finnicky when it comes to your chest size. Why? You wouldn''t be half as good looking if your chest was twice its current size. You could use your magic to amp up your breasts but it would ruin what you have going on and I honestly don''t think it would even suit you. Even Enyo is frothing at the mouth over you and it''s not because we love you. We aren''t blinded by rose tinted glasses, you''re just unreasonably stimulating. These clothes..." Ares picked up the bundle Bellona had put on the side and threw them into his Blade. "... Don''t wear them. Pick something else. They''re too baggy. Show off a bit tonight and stop hiding yourself from the world. Your lack of confidence has just made top of my list of things that need fixing and I will not rest until you are more than capable of strutting your stuff without worrying in the back of your head that you aren''t ''sufficient'' as you are. There is not a single part of you that you need to be ashamed of or keep tucked away. No loose witch clothes, no baggy casual wear. Actually try. Impress me in a way only you can. I''ll even put in some effort myself and get changed out of these same old clothes and put on something else.


    You don''t have to wear anything fancy, I''m not asking you to do that, I want to see you. Not the you getting all prettied up for me and wearing a dress, not the you wearing your witch getup to annoy the Legions, not the you pretending to be someone else with your baggy clothing so as not ''offend'' anyone else''s eyesight. I want to see the you that you''ve foolishly buried underneath all of that. I know you''ll have proper clothes for that. You aren''t the type to lie to yourself, you just didn''t have it in you to wear that stuff even if you wanted to right? Don''t be anxious, just do it. Enyo could take the helmet off, you can put your clothes on. Same difference but I know that you are capable of much quicker, instantaneous, change. You''ll be fine after tonight, because that''s just who you are, so get it over and done with and stop acting like men with a functioning pulse have no reason to get excited over you. Granted I''m the only one that matters but based on how you''re shrinking away from me, because you can practically feel my urges, you already know deep down exactly what I think about you and want to do to you. No more scaredy cat Bellona, this isn''t you. In every other aspect of your life you show off precisely who you are and make no compromises, let''s bring your sense of self worth in terms of desirability up to speed shall we?"


    To end his rant, Ares started whispering. "You feel that bump up against your ass right? That''s because of you. Enyo''s been naked this whole time but I only got like this after seeing you. If I had to make a choice right now, let''s just say it wouldn''t be Enyo with her face buried in a pillow, muffled and screaming my name. Sleep without pyjamas tonight and I''ll keep you warm by holding you close. I''ll pamper you tonight if you be a good girl and do as I say because I want to feel your bare chest up against mine." With everything that needed to be said over and done with, Ares gave Bellona the French kiss that Enyo had threatened her with earlier and pinched her butt cheek. "Take as long as you need to get changed, just don''t come out with some half-assed presentation or I''ll send you back into the bathroom and have you try again! I''m going to be stubborn about this so you might as well get it right on your first try and save us all some time. Bare in mind that if you take too long the restaurant will close and then I''ll eat you instead. This is not an empty threat, I will partake in good food or good sex tonight so no fooling around unless you want to climb the stairs to adulthood. As I said, you can use the bathroom and I''ll make sure Enyo doesn''t go inside and bully you... Although I might need to satiate her urges a little. I''m not sure I can let her go outside all pumped up like this otherwise she might jump me in public... Anyway, go now and don''t hold back."


    Ares lightly pushed Bellona''s bum to speed her along as she walked by. Her face was somehow even redder than before this fiasco which was quite the sight. It was so enticing that Enyo nearly started trailing behind Bellona like a brainless zombie searching for flesh to devour. Ares had to pull her back and roll with her onto the bed to keep her pre-occupied. A quick romp here would bring her back to her senses and then they could both get changed properly. It seemed like Enyo already had her own stuff picked out so she would be quick. Ares didn''t have much in his wardrobe to pick from so he wouldn''t take too long either. It was Bellona that was going to have to go through the stuff she owned and be honest with herself about what she really wanted to put on right now and that was what would take some time. Enough that Ares had sufficient wiggle room to tame the bucking beast that was Enyo. She was clearly very excited about Bellona and needed someone to vent on. Ares promised Bellona privacy so he was the one taking the fall here. Then again, he also needed to get his own horniness settled as he was arguably in a worse state than Enyo right now, he was just better at restraining himself than she was is all.


    If Ares was as lacking in self control as Enyo was then Bellona would not still be a virgin by this point, that was for sure. Ares would have been resolute in being a bit more aggressive with Bellona today, eventually convincing her and making Enyo sit in the corner and watch her sister get deflowered. The temptation was gnawing away at Ares'' soul, and Bellona flaunting her body just now wasn''t helpful, but it wasn''t what Blo Blo wanted to do so he accepted it and moved on. She would be worth the wait. Besides, she was the one making the situation worse for herself. The longer Ares denied himself, the more he was going to let loose when the time came. He''d gone with Enyo for the whole night but he had a lot more stamina now so he was going to run Bellona ragged. She did not have a pleasure pillar affiliation so she was not going to outlast him no matter how hard she tried. Ares would just keep going until she was fully exhausted even if that meant going for an entire 24 hours. He''d said it before and he would say it again, Bellona was too cute for her own good and the more she acted like a shy maiden, the more punishment she was in store for. She was digging her own grave at this point but, in a way, Ares was more than happy to let her. It just made what was yet to come all that much sweeter.

 Chapter 248: A Certain Style All Unto Her Own

    Ares managed to detach himself from the octopus-adjacent Enyo who was still trying to wrap herself around him even now that he''d escaped. It was a close call but he did manage to break free... For all of five seconds before he realised he needed to stop Enyo in her tracks as she was gunning for the bathroom! Curses! If he left her alone, she''d go peeping on Blo Blo! This damn stubborn woman was a pest! "Enyo!" Ares threw her clothes at her and smothered her under them as she scrambled to remove them from her face. "Put those on and stop being difficult. I promise you we can have more fun time later if, AND ONLY IF, you behave now! I see that pouty look on your face but it will not work on me. I am made of sterner stuff and I''ve already gotten all the excess energy out of my system. You have no power over me wench! No but seriously, get changed. I really wanna take you two to a nice place tonight so let''s not get too caught up rolling around in the hay... Also, did you pick those clothes on purpose?"


    Enyo shrugged and started putting her stuff on. "Who knows? Maybe I was planning doing something similar to what you did and trying to reassure Blo Blo about her body. I mean, I got a sneak peek before you so I already knew she was hot and I felt like it was sad that she wasting it. I was going to try and convince her to surprise you but you got back too soon and ruined that whole plan so I just went with a new one and let you take the wheel. It doesn''t really matter who had a word with Bellona but I think someone had to at some point. So to answer your question, yes. Yes I am wearing some ''boring'' clothes on purpose. I don''t want to outshine Bellona tonight and detract from my sister. I don''t want her to compare our bodies because she''s comparing the wrong thing to begin with. Now, would my efforts mean much of anything? I am extremely beautiful and I know it. Even with these plain clothes I''ll still stand out and Bellona will still recognise that. I was just hoping it wouldn''t be as big a deal as if I were to wear something a bit more showy is all. Besides, I can''t just roll over for Blo Blo, she needs to know she has competition. While she''s trying to look good for you so am I. Basically I Didn''t want to go overboard and shatter her confidence but I also didn''t want to just give up and give her an easy win tonight. I thought hard about this you know!"


    Sigh


    Ares took a seat on the bed and gave Enyo a hug and a kiss. "I know how hard you work on small things like this behind the scenes. Thank you... By the way..." Ares started whispering something into Enyo''s ear and a small smile crept up onto her face, an evil one lined with devious intent that was observable at a glance. When Ares was done speaking, she nodded in agreement with what he''d just suggested and gave him a thumbs up before she went back to getting changed. Ares left her to it and put on some clothes himself. It was definitely weird wearing something other than his usual getup. The suit was a special occasion but casual clothes? His normal fit was casual anyway! Not to mention the fact that he was leaving his Zephyr behind and not wearing it always felt uncomfortable regardless of the reason why. Still, he made a promise to Blo Blo and so he would oblige. Plus looking a bit better every now and then for his wives, so they could enjoy ogling him here and there, was fine too.


    The clothes Ares picked out weren''t anything special but they did suit him and fit him well. Of the many friends Ares had in Red Sun, one or two of them were good with clothes and had given him some recommendations while he was loitering about in the town. He visited the town, and the people in it, every now and then when he had spare time just to keep up with the locals. They were good people with varied talents and Ares valued their expert opinions so chatting with them whenever he had a relevant conundrum was always a good idea. He could have just relied on Bellona to pick some clothes out for him, and she actually had done so a couple times while out shopping, but Ares also wanted to pick a few things out without the sisters being aware of it so he could surprise them from time to time. They had every right to see their man get dressed up in something different other than the tired old classic outfit every now and then. If anything, Ares had been slacking on that front and should have been making an effort to wear casual stuff more often. Like back when it was the Umbra vs Legion match he definitely could have worn something else then. It''s not like it affected his combat potential either as everything he needed was on his person inside the Blade. Only in very specific scenarios where he was ambushed form behind, and his Zephyr wasn''t present to save him, did it matter but if the matriarchs were around then what did he have to fear anyway? He was just being forgetful and lazy so he vowed to switch things up every now and then going forward.


    As for today, he wore an olive green linen shirt and some dark blue jeans. Simple but effective nonetheless. If his build was a little bigger he would look extremely handsome in this but, unfortunately, his adept trait was currently holding him back from his full aesthetic potential. He''d filled out a bit since becoming Garmr, as that seemed to have a knock on effect on his human container form, but it wasn''t enough to notice easily. Even Bellona wasn''t aware of it!... Naturally Enyo had noticed it immediately and she swore up and down that it made Ares even more rugged. Ares disagreed but that didn''t stop him from smiling ear to ear when he heard it. It made him want to find treasures capable of rebuilding his body as that was what was necessary to improve himself further. Maybe when he reached bloodline awakening, and Garmr was a permanent option, would his body be forcibly improved yet again but it would probably be another minor change. He wanted something more substantial and, for that, he needed an appropriate treasure... Or rather he needed multiple. He needed the resources to improve himself first before he rebuilt. It wouldn''t be reflected in his human form immediately but it would technically be ''stored'' such that when he reforged his body it would be relevant to the size of his build and the strength contained within. Adept traits could sometimes be bypassed in this kinda of manner so Ares was lucky to have a trait that was well known for being easy to circumnavigate, he just needed all the appropriate tools. First, a fine grind blue of exceptional quality, second, maybe another body tempering resource just to really seal the deal, and third, a treasure to rebuild his body from the ground up. These three things would allow Ares to have a modicum of strength in his human form as well as just being more visually striking. He had an appearance he was happy with but if he could round it out properly with some extra mass, which would benefit him fights too, then why not? He didn''t want to become some slow hulking monster but some larger muscles weren''t going to negatively affect his overall speed anyway. He wasn''t against it and Enyo and Blo Blo would absolutely be in favour of it if asked so this had also made his ever-expanding to do list.


    Back to his wardrobe for tonight, he''d rolled up his sleeves to around the start of his forearm and so some of the hairs on his arm were visible. More so than even when he wore the suit, he looked rather masculine today. So much so that Enyo, who was only halfway dressed, gave up on putting her own clothes on and start trying to take Ares'' off! "No! Bad Enyo! Sit!" Ares had to get Enyo, who was bumping and grinding up against him, off and have her refocus on her own clothes while Ares put some perfume on. Ares had never bought perfume in his life but Enyo had picked some up from Bea''s store... Which was part of why she was looking to get rowdy and feisty again the second it graced his skin. She''d picked a smell that she personally adored and, when combined with Ares'' new look, was giving her reason to lick her lips and get distracted again. Ares realised this problem was going to persist for as long as he hung around here so he left the room after giving Enyo a stark warning not to invade the bathroom while he was gone! The words ''I trust you to behave'' were all that was really needed to seal the deal as Enyo wouldn''t want to push that boundary too far. Besides, Bellona was in a unique position and she knew when to leave well enough alone. If she''d managed to sneak in there earlier then that was fine but if Bellona was concentrating on her clothes while Enyo barged in and disturbed her then that was another matter entirely. Long story short, Ares could leave with peace of mind that Enyo would keep it in her pants... Not that she''d put them on yet before he''d left.


    Ares walked down the corridor and happened across Aejaz who just returned from his murder mission. He seemed to be somewhat confused after spotting Ares, though, so Ares asked what was up with him. "What? Don''t tell me one assassination wasn''t enough for you? Or is there something on my face."


    Aejaz used his hands to shut his wide open jaw and gestured for Ares to follow him. "Come! Come come come." Aejaz led a curious Ares into the living room before splaying his arms wide in Ares'' direction as if he was presenting him to Allie, Trixie, Leo, and Lacy. "Look! Who the hell is this guy!? Do any of you know him?!"


    Ares deflated on the spot and couldn''t be bothered with his brother''s idiocy. He was pretending Ares was a different person because of how rare it was for him to wear anything else other than the usual. Allie and Trixie took great joy in laughing it up at Ares'' partially pouty face while Lacy was quietly saying Ares looked nice instead of going along with the joke because she hadn''t really gotten it in the first place. Lacy was too pure and innocent compared to literally everyone else in this house! Here she was being all sweet while surrounded by devious devils! Off to the side, Aejaz poked Ares arm and asked him a dumb question. "I thought your old clothes were glued on? What happened?"


    "How about I glue you to a wall with nothingness magic!?"


    "Eep." Aejaz Voidwalked into the corridor and slyly poked his head around the corner. "By the way, where food?"


    "''Where food'' my ass! Go find it yourself you damn babbling neanderthal!" Ares was about to walk away but, just then, he realised that Lacy was still taking this conversation seriously so he sighed and spilled the truth to reassure her she wasn''t going to have leave the house this late at night to scavenge for dinner. "I made some gabagool, it''s in the kitchen." As Ares spoke, Appa floated into the room so he grinned at it and picked the shade up. "Speaking of, how''s my little gaba-ghoul doing?" Tickling his daughter earned him some sweet laughter from the giggling shade.


    "I''m great, dad! I went to the farms with Leo earlier and I helped him by freezing some of the big rats... Why do you look so weird today?"


    Ack


    Why did everyone think Ares putting normal clothes on was weird?! He was looking damn fine and there was nothing out of the ordinary about this! He pretended not to hear that last question and simply sat on the couch while petting Appa and telling it he left it some Snappas in the kitchen for whenever it was in the mood for them. It wasn''t allowed to have all of them at once, because some were for tomorrow''s breakfast, but there were plenty there to feast on if it was in the mood to experiment with some new flavours Ares hadn''t made prior to now. Milkshake Snappas and various tea / coffee flavoured Snappas were all present. Ares had made them particularly refreshing to mimic the hydrating nature of a drink. Whether he succeeded or not was impossible to tell until Appa gave its opinion later but he felt confident he''d done alright.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Ares sat around playing I Spy with Appa until Enyo came into the room, at which point Appa hopped off his lap and went to hug its mother''s leg until she picked it up. As Enyo bent down her chest drooped a little and Ares could do nothing but sigh inwardly. Part of why Enyo was just wearing a plain white shirt and some jeans, nothing special, was to avoid taking away the spotlight from Bellona but some things just couldn''t be hidden... On the bright side, Bellona would never have that issue with her chest!... Better not tell her that though. But yes, Enyo looked superb even in run of the mill clothing. She was just a classy babe through and through and even if she put herself in rags her silky smooth face would shine regardless. She hadn''t even put makeup on or anything, she was just all natural. If anything it must have been irksome for other people to look at her like this because she was actively trying to avoid being the centre of attention and yet she was still pulling it off despite her intentions. If a 10/10 woman went around saying she wasn''t even trying, and genuinely meant it, it was only natural for some other people to be pissed off.


    Enyo joined Ares on the couch and the two pet Appa to its heart''s content as it wiggled merrily side to side with its rope following behind it. Appa was humming to itself and just enjoying the moment as it had been a while since it spent some time sitting around with its parents. Still, the matriarchs were still hovering around, showering it with love on the regular, and that was more than good enough. Any and all attention was welcome as far as the munchkin shade was concerned!


    Bellona finished up eventually and made her way towards the living room but was slow to walk around the corner. Neither Ares nor Enyo rushed her, even though they were well aware she was there, and instead waited patiently as this was her problem to solve. Plus she wasn''t cowardly when it came time for stuff like this. All that needed to happen was that she needed about ten seconds to sort her thoughts out, by which point her body would already be moving because it had gotten tired of waiting for the brain to play catch up. Blo Blo was a very instinct driven woman and her brain really had it rough when dealing with her body''s reckless nature. It was doing a hundred calculation per minute while mid backflip so that it could avoid obstacles but the body was just walking in a straight line and crashing headfirst into walls; that was an apt summary for how Bellona lived her life. It''s not that she didn''t overthink things or wasn''t capable of it, it''s just that she''d usually sorted out any problems long before she had to because she was already in motion. Point in case, although she was still in her head about this whole situation, she had already walked around the corner and was in full view. It took her a second to realise and by that point she understood it was all too late to back out and just owned it instead. Bellona was very used to finding herself in situations she didn''t want to be in and having to go with the flow as she''d been clumsily stumbling around for years now. Again, very cute. Bumbling Blo Blo. Still, what was really impressive about her was that she could make these uncomfortable situations look entirely natural and go with the flow to an impressive degree which was why she rarely, if ever, seemed to be truly out of her element. Her improvisational skills and adaptability were off the charts. She even took charge of the current predicament by snorting at Ares and putting her hands behind her head again to show off her clothes in full while demanding an answer instead of passively waiting for one like before. "Well? Happy now punk?"


    Ares hadn''t even fully taken in Blo Blo''s fit but he was already nodding happily along with Enyo who was joining in for some reason even though it wasn''t her being asked. Hell even Appa started floppily rocking its head back and forth to join in the fun. Bellona was very ''hip hop'' right now. She resembled a street dancer and had a very modern look that wasn''t common down in Sheryashka. Ares wasn''t exactly caught up on fashion in Vraizon but he imagined it wasn''t like this there either. Bellona must have had these clothes custom made for her based on stuff she''d seen in fashion books that belonged to her clan from back when they weren''t stuck on this side of the severed domain. Who knows, maybe people outside the Primordial barrier weren''t even wearing this stuff anymore. Bellona definitely stuck out like a sore thumb though and was absolutely going to be the only person wearing this type of clothing wherever she went in these lower domains. That could very well change when the barrier was lowered, and fashion ideas spread like wildfire, but for now it wouldn''t take more than a single glance to spot her in a crowd. She wore a two piece affair with a white vest top and a grey, baggy, long sleeve super crop top covering her arms, shoulders, and a small part of her neck. The crop top also had a hoodie but she wasn''t wearing it right now so it was comfortably draped over the back of her neck. Her pants were dark blue and split halfway down, held together by a few black straps. The pants had a few small silver chains on them here and there near the pockets to really double down on the ''hip'' look. To tie everything together were a pair of grey sneakers with white soles. Blo Blo would probably throw on some shades too if it had been earlier in the day but right now that wasn''t relevant.


    The vest didn''t cover a large portion of her stomach / abdomen and her under-arm was visible at the right angle if she raised her arms any higher than her waist for whatever reason. With the gap in the pants thrown into the mix there was a decent bit of skin revealed but most of it was highly toned so it didn''t really feel sensuous at a glance, more so just stylish and athletic / energetic. Actually, Ares was reminded about the time he came across Bellona in the morning, before they became a couple, in which she was wearing a crop top. She didn''t feel comfortable wearing them outside but she already felt ok to wear them in front of Ares by that point which was a nice little thing to realise in hindsight. Bellona looked good. Remarkable even. Ares didn''t quite know how to describe what he was looking at, because he wasn''t particularly fashion-conscious and thus this look eluded him somewhat, but he definitely liked it. She''d gone light on the makeup and kept a lot of her sharp features natural. It suited her tomboy nature to a tee and her naturally defiant aura gave her a real punk vibe. The irony of her calling anyone else a punk was not lost on Ares but he wisely didn''t mention it. If he did anything right now other than compliment her then both the sister wives would take turns berating him over a concept known as ''time and place''. Ares had been around the block already! He knew how this was supposed to go! Or rather, he may not have been doing this whole relationship thing for too long compared to others but there were two of them which must have counted for something! "You''re looking quite strapping Blo Blo dearest. I love it, really. Very creative. Very cool. Very you..." [I can''t say this out loud because there are kids here...] Ares started a mental conversation as he didn''t want to say lewd things in front of Appa and Lacy. [... But I want a handy! You look nice and I can smell your perfume from here. Let''s play around later when we get back, yeah?]


    [You...] Bellona could do nothing but slap her own forehead in frustration. This guy just wanted her to dress up ''cos he found her attractive whenever she did!... Although knowing that did make her feel good. It also made this whole process a lot easier knowing that Ares really did appreciate the effort and that he wasn''t kidding when he said she turned him on big time. His dumb and horny simplicity was the best remedy for Bellona''s uncertainty and she aware that he knew that as well. Was Bellona such a simple woman that blunt honesty could cure whatever ailed her even if she knew the other person was taking advantage of that weakness? Yes, actually. All her worries had vanished for no reason other than her fears of Ares disliking her flat chest were gone. He''d drilled it home that it was the opposite, if anything, and now Bellona was already back to normal. She didn''t even have to leave the sect and wear the clothes in public anymore. She was going to, obviously, but that wasn''t what was needed from the start. She just needed someone she trusted to look her in the eyes and tell her she was appealing. She definitely believed Ares more than she believed her own dumb brain, in this specific scenario, that was still overanalysing everything. Ares'' dumb brain was acting the polar opposite and just blurted out what he truly thought so Bellona just went with the answer he came to instead as it was far easier. He loved her but he wouldn''t lie because of it, and she was sure of that, so that was good enough for her.


    Of course had Enyo made the same comment as Ares it would have also been applicable, it''s just that Enyo hadn''t beat Ares to the punch and she wasn''t the one who got directly asked for her opinion. Yeah sure Bellona loved her sister but Ares was still number one in her book. He was falling behind in his promise to have a one on one date with her at some point but she enjoyed the time she spent with him in the bath and that was satisfying enough for her. Some alone time at home, messing around with her stupid husband who was basically just pranking her the entire time, was equally as valuable to her as meaningless things like eating at restaurants. That wasn''t what Bellona wanted out of date, she just wanted to have fun and she''d gotten her fill lately. Now did that mean she was going to be perfectly ok with not getting the promised date and dance? Hell no! Even if it had to happen after the tournament, she wanted it anyway! Then again, Ares was the kinda guy to go on a date with Enyo and Bellona each before he left for the Federation anyway so she wasn''t worried he''d slink away in the night like an unfaithful husband. [Fine... I''ll give you a handy later... But Enyo won''t leave us alone you know? She''ll want in and, likely, on.]


    Ares chuckled. [Oh I know, we have our own plans and they involved you from the start. I''ll warn you because I''m feeling good right now, we''re aiming for you. Our plan was to have you sit in the middle of us at the restaurant, get you drunk, and fondle you before going home and having a nice time in the bedroom. You don''t have to go any further than using your hand but you can work with Enyo.]


    [What is wrong with you two!? Why are you always so in sync with this crap!? Besides, what if I said no?!]


    [Meh, we plan on getting all three of us dead drunk. Your inhibitions will not be as effective as you think! Also I know you, you wouldn''t object anyway. Let''s not pretend you don''t enjoy our fun time too.]


    [... Fine. But only because tonight is a special date, you hear me!? Damn lascivious punks...]


    Ares had given up the game but it was going to go ahead anyway so it didn''t really matter. Ares knew he could be honest with Blo Blo about his and Enyo''s plans to her face and still get away with it. She was in a good mood right now so they could get away with a lot and she''d be down to go along with most things so as not to kill the mood. Plus she was aware that getting drunk was a dirty tactic and would have been highly effective anyway. She would have gotten swept away in the drinking and joined them one way or the other so this was nigh unavoidable. If they bullied her while she was in the middle even she wouldn''t be able to stop herself from getting turned on. The Goddess of pleasure on one side and the man she was deeply in love with on the other, both toying with her? She wasn''t stone cold! She had a pulse and a functioning libido!


    Anyway, what came later didn''t matter right now as it was time to leave. The three bid the Aejaz lot goodbye and set off, blissfully unaware that they were about to have their first proper meeting with a stereotypical young master! Not that he was an important guy or someone who would reappear later or anything but he was the first of what would inevitably be a number greater than one. Young masters were as abundant as clouds and, technically, the Chen had a few. Ares had dealings with them but they were so small in the grand scheme of things that he didn''t really get that kind of vibe from them. They were part of a clan with no national fame or reputation. They were the princes in a kingdom of small time thugs is all. A young master had certain qualities and a hefty background was important otherwise a chunk of their character just kinda fell flat, like the difference between a barking bulldog and a barking chihuahua. This was also the first young master Ares would come across that both A, had no idea who he was and B, wanted Enyo. Again, there would be many but this was still his first one! A memorable occasion to be remembered for sure! It wasn''t everyday you got a chance to humble your first ever young master who was gunning for your wife. He''d even have high ranking bodyguards and threaten Ares like in all the books! Good times!

 Chapter 249: RATatouille? No, AngELFish!

    With a novel event in store for him, Ares walked arm in arm with his two dates through the lamp-lit streets of Red Sun. The place he was taking these lovely (sometimes) ladies to was on the east side of town, a part he didn''t exactly frequent. He hardly visited it just because the amount of people he knew over on that side of the city was considerably smaller than every other cardinal direction. Also, the centre of Red Sun wasn''t technically in the middle. Town hall was near the ''centre'' but it was a bit more eastward than it was smack bang in the middle. To that end, the amount of city east of it was fairly small in comparison to every other direction. Also, Hans hadn''t send Ares on many missions to the east when he was younger anyway so everything Ares found over there was mostly a result of his own curiosity-driven exploration in his spare time.


    The trio chit chatted about various matters and most of the conversation was about the sect''s future. Enyo and Bellona had already been informed about his plans way back but now that he had confirmation with Hans he was thinking about the future with them. They were offering him suggestions and he was considering each of them carefully... Apart from Enyo''s request to add a brothel. Not that she would ever visit it, it''s that she was adamant it would boost the efficiency of the sect''s disciples and elders if they could relieve pent up stress. It actually wasn''t a terrible suggestion but the real reason Enyo wanted it was twofold, even if she hadn''t directly said it Ares knew what she was really after. Pleasure pillar mana swamping the air as well as easy access to even more sex-related items. Toys, aphrodisiacs, lingerie, etc... If there was a brothel, the amount of these items that would be purchasable in the local area would skyrocket. Having Bea around was great but Enyo was pining for more and Ares was not born yesterday! This sneaky woman was hiding her degeneracy behind reasonable suggestions! Ares was still occasionally shocked by how sly Enyo could be given how she used to act before he got to know her... What a drastic change... Not that it disappeared or anything. On the way to the restaurant Enyo had already applied some heavy handed justice with her barriers and performed civilian arrests on a bunch of ne''er do wells hiding in back alleys. She resembled her old self during these busts and Ares enjoyed watching that same old stoic side of her lay down the law from time to time. As for the criminals she dragged around inside a floating square of barriers, she dumped them all off with a few nearby guards who''d all been forewarned in advance about Enyo''s proclivity for justice. Hans was in control now so guards actually did the job they were paid for but that didn''t mean they weren''t grateful when a helpful citizen did their job for them. In this case, Enyo was well known, thanks to Hans, as an incredibly talented criminal catcher who worked for free very now and then. She wasn''t in her tell-tale armour but she was well-enough known thanks to the tournament and, let''s face it, the most beautiful woman in Red Sun, bar none, was naturally recognisable in a heartbeat.


    It was a pleasant walk and talk that lasted a little longer than it should have as they walked slower than normal to enjoy their time together. Ares made sure to relay Hans'' message and say hello on his behalf while Bellona talked at length about some different bubble tea flavours she''d been experimenting with as of late. Enyo was mentioning some arts she was working on here and there and it was just a good catch up session to find out what everyone had been doing between tournament matches recently. Apparently Rhea wanted to get the family together again one more time before everyone went their separate ways. It would happen shortly after the tournament ended and, supposedly, Calla wanted to do the same thing. Ares couldn''t attend both, and he wouldn''t have interrupted the Legion family''s parting meal anyway, so he was only going to be crashing one of the parties. Well, he was invited so he wasn''t really crashing anything but it did feel weird attending a ''family dinner''. Yes they were family but it was such a strange feeling as it wasn''t very familiar to Ares who spent most of his life having ''family'' dinners with Aejaz in a back alley somewhere. It''s not that he didn''t enjoy it or anything, it just felt different to what he was used to. Even compared to the meals he cooked for Enyo, Appa, Aejaz, and Allie before the families arrived as he''d internalised the original four as ''his family''. Now he had another ''his family'' although really they were all just the exact same big family and not separate. Perhaps the problem was that he just had to start treating random strangers as family the day he met them regarding the other revenants. Again, not a problem, just not something he wasn''t used to. If anything, to alleviate the problem, Ares wanted to spend more time with them and get to know them better. He''d done a good enough job of socialising and mingling with them earlier but more couldn''t hurt!


    Roughly thirty minutes. That was how long the walk took before they arrived at their destination. The restaurant was tucked away in a side path which could be located by following cobbled steps twisting upwards and to the left, leading round the corner to a well-hidden sanctuary. The owner was a pretty... interesting person and they wanted nothing to do with foreign visitors who would consistently be loud or annoying, which was incredibly ironic, so they built it intentionally in a spot that was pretty far out the way. Even when reviewers came by they were asked not to disclose the location of the shop as the owner made up some bull-crap excuse about ''part of the joy lies in finding this place by pure chance and treating it like a stroke of luck''. After one famous reviewer said as such the restaurant instantly gained a sort of leprechaun status in that finding it randomly out in the wild was considered good luck. Nobody wanted to ruin the little unique thing this place had going so none of the other reviewers who found the place and stopped by ever gave away its location either.


    Despite the fact the international was underway not many people had come here yet, even though plenty of rich folk were dying to, they just weren''t able to sniff it out. One of the reasons this place was famous was because of the game of hide and seek you had to play to find it, the other was because of how damn good the food was. It was worth scouring the entire city to find it as they had some of the best food available and it wasn''t even really close. Some of the aforementioned rich people even hired people to scout out every inch of the city just to get a taste. They also tried to bribe the locals but none of them ever budged because they were familiar with the owner of the restaurant, and more specifically the chef, her daughter, so they kept their mouths closed no matter how high the price got. After all, whenever these people left dejected the owner would treat them to some free meals here and there as thanks. If the locals sold them out they would never get to eat there again so the choice wasn''t a hard one. Food reviewers used a pretty consistent metric for places that sold high-class cuisine, a scale from 1-10 that was highly functional. Anything above an eight was rare but this tucked away place was a unanimous nine. It was fine dining through and through so it could be said that Ares was really going all out with his treat today.


    As for the restaurant itself, it was called Little Miss Remmy''s and was named after the tiny chef herself. It was all black on the outside, making it easy to tell if you got the right place or not as there wasn''t any other building in Red Sun quite like it. Just pure black with the bronze lettering above it, that was all. Ares had been inside before so he knew that it was dimly lit with leather seats and a quiet atmosphere was expected. If you were too loud, you were kicked out regardless of how far into your meal you were. Some people tried to exploit that and get free food but the owner had started charging up front a while back due to her foresight on this matter and so, if anything, the rude diners were the ones getting robbed. What were they supposed to do? Complain? To who? Hans'' previous location at town hall wasn''t far from here and he would be more than happy to come and arbitrate! Granted Hans was in a different place right now but the threat of him was still enough to keep diners'' mouths shut. They could speak, they just couldn''t yell.


    Of course this was all painfully ironic given that Gavel, the thuggish woman who owned the store and had adopted the homeless orphan Remmy at a young age, was definitively the loudest person in Red Sun. She had some serious outbursts which would have been fine if it weren''t for the fact that Remmy was a little autistic. High functioning, definitely, but loud noises scared her and so the relationship between Remmy and Gavel could occasionally be quite dysfunctional... Still, it was thanks to Gavel that Remmy had a place to cook and that was of utmost important to her. Remmy was a jumpy scaredy cat when it came to loud noises but she could be calm and confident specifically when she was cooking. She went into her own little happy world that brought her immense joy as she meticulously crafted exquisite dishes from scratch. It was very much a labour of love but she needed to not be distracted by loud noises otherwise the spook would throw her focus off and then all messy hell would break loose. Gavel had been responsible for a lot of such incidents when they were starting out but Remmy was progressively getting more and more used to these occurrences. Loud noises were still a no go, and Gavel got her good often, but she could ignore her adoptive mother sometimes and filter her out due to her familiarity with her loudmouth parent.


    Remmy was only around fourteen so the fact she was already such a talented chef, and had been for at least the last five or so years, was a staggeringly jaw dropping accomplishment. She had a strong affinity for the cooking pillar so it was to be expected in some ways but it didn''t change the fact that she was undeniably prodigious. Plus the locals all really liked her as she was a sweet and quiet, innocent girl who never got into any trouble. Sometimes, when the nearby elderly were ill, and Remmy found out, she''d make some healing soup for them without even being asked. In a way, she was almost like a female Phobos, just less generally frightened. She could stare down a fierce lion with only a slight quiver of the lip but make a BANG and she would start like a wimpy dog. Gavel was very protective of her so it wasn''t all bad as she shooed away potential troublemakers real quick. She did feel repentant and guilty whenever she was responsible for the scare herself though but there wasn''t really much to be done about that...


    Ares gave a brief rundown to Enyo and Bellona so they could be polite and not make any loud remarks during their time here. Speaking with a raised volume was ok but a sharp or sudden yell was too far and would get them kicked out no matter who they were. No amount of apologising had ever worked. Even a poor old man who sneezed was booted out once but he was allowed to come back because it wasn''t really an intentional thing. Since then, guests were warned to not sneeze too loudly and avoid it if they could. They weren''t kicked out for such a thing anymore, at Remmy''s behest, but Gavel would give you one hell of an evil look if you let a sneeze slip. Enyo and Blo Blo were cultivators, like Ares, though so the chances of an unwanted sneeze were incredibly low. Funnily enough it had happened to Are back in Baja but he was a lower realm cultivator back then and more susceptible. Even if he magically needed to sneeze here today he would just put up a disintegration barrier to prevent any sound leaking. Actually, if Gavel had been any good at using magic, she could have created a sound cancelling barrier around Remmy''s workplace but neither of them were capable of it. There were no artifacts or treasures for sale in the auction house either that could provide a similar effect so they just had to put up with it for now but they had put out an unofficial bounty for such a thing. Runemancers were also an option but the two didn''t know any. Julio would have been more than happy to do it had he ever stumbled upon this place but keeping it relatively hidden had its downsides too. The disciples and elders from the sect, who spent more time there than in the city, weren''t all exactly aware of this place''s location either for the most part. Still, Ares was here today and could make an offer Gavel couldn''t and wouldn''t refuse so there was that!


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    With all the pre-warnings out the way, Ares led the way inside and headed past some diners to the front. The trio got some side-glances, as they weren''t exactly dressed for the occasion, but the diners knew better than to raise a fuss here even if they really wanted to. Plus there was the recognition factor and these three were well known even to people who weren''t locals. Or rather people who weren''t local were infinitely more likely to know these people as they were almost definitely here for the tournament at this time of year. Ares and Enyo were obvious and the whole marrying two sisters thing was already spreading to everyone''s ears at rapid speed so Bellona wasn''t hard to guess. Coming in such casual clothing was an insult to fine dining but if they were locals then maybe they were visiting Gavel or were on close enough terms that they could show up in such a fashion and not be reprimanded. Truthfully, what these people didn''t know, is that gavel didn''t give a single shit about what anyone was wearing. She was an ex bandit, biker-gang-esque thug who beat people with a bat in a back alley during her younger years. A person''s attire did not fuss her at all. And who else was going to complain? Remmy minding her own business in the kitchen? Some of the hired staff who were just locals and also didn''t care? This whole high-class fashion thing was entirely self-imposed due to this place''s high rating so, if anything, these guys were the weird ones... Of course you could argue getting dressed for the occasion set the mood, and that was fine, but it wasn''t the crux of these people''s argument so it could be ignored. Plus it was an optional thing anyway and nobody in the Ares trio felt like it tonight. Also... Bellona really couldn''t wear a nice dress... There were repercussions to such an act and Ares would not hesitate to pounce...


    The trio made it to the front and Gavel, who''d been reading a magazine, looked up to see who was here for some grub. She was ''wearing'' a white shirt, not dissimilar to Enyo''s, but it wasn''t tucked in everywhere properly. It had either come undone, in which case she couldn''t be bothered to redo it, or she hadn''t done it all in the first place because it was uncomfortable. She also had a cardigan wrapped around her waist which kinda ruined the professional look she was going for but also made her look like a more traditional chef so the posh diners simply thought her appearance was novel and not a result of her slovenly nature. It was a glorious misunderstanding but it worked for everyone involved so Ares had no intention of spoiling the magic. When Gavel spied Ares, a small cheeky grin appeared on her mean face and she gave a friendly greeting. "Ares!"


    "EEK!"


    CLANG


    BANG


    BONK


    BOINK


    Accompanied by Gavel''s loud shout were the sounds of a girl screaming and pots and pans tumbling to the floor, making an even larger ruckus which presumably frightened the girl in question even more. Gavel''s right eye twitched and a wry, regretful smile appeared on her face as she bowed slightly to everyone in the dining area and quickly left to go sort out the problem and apologise, leaving the trio stranded high and dry and, honestly, a little dumb struck to boot. This woman was seriously a klutz when it came to throwing her voice around... To be fair, the environment she grew up in was one in which louder voices prevailed. If you weren''t dominating the conversation, you weren''t eating that month. You were losing territory if you were being polite so as not wake up the neighbours. You were getting pushed around for being a softy if you showed any such weakness. Gavel''s booming voice was a deeply ingrained thing and warm, hearty welcomes to those she knew was a instinctual reaction. It was this specific trait that earned her the nickname Gavel which eventually stuck and became more than that, a permanent fixture. Her random outbursts, that would make anyone unaware of the upcoming vocal storm jump in fright, were akin to the sudden aggression of a banging gavel in a courtroom and was incredibly fitting to base her name around.


    Ares left Enyo and Bellona temporarily to go and see what was going on in the kitchen. He had business in there anyway and Gavel wouldn''t mind his presence. He arrived in the kitchen to find Gavel hugging a tiny elf with ginger hair who was struggling to escape from the arm sandwich she had unwillingly become an ingredient in. The ginger elf was Remmy and, although she''d been frightened by Gavel earlier, she''d recovered pretty quickly and gone back to work... Or tried to, anyway, but Gavel was insistent on apologising thus the current situation came to be. Remmy was wearing a pure white apron that had a yellowish splotch on it which was likely a result of the earlier spillage. Whatever she was working on was now decorating her work uniform but she didn''t seem to mind. Ares waved hello and gave greetings, softly, to the tiny elf who he''d met a couple of times before. "Hello Remmy. Sorry about the whole thing with Gavel, I should have seen it coming really."


    "Yeah yeah..." Gavel nodded. "... See? I told you it wasn''t my fault! It was all his fault!" Gavel''s voice caused the elf to huddle up in her arms because she was being a little too loud again. Ares could only stare in disbelief at the punk who was blaming him for her own mistakes! Anything not to feel guilty... Ah well, Remmy and Ares knew better and Gavel was always like this.


    "S... Sorry you have to see... This... Sorry Ares, are you here for some cooking suggestions again? I''m a bit busy right now but if you want to wait for an hour or two we''ll be closing up then..." Remmy was a soft spoken little lady but there was a kind of natural flow to her way of speaking that ramped up as she got going. A rocky to start to her speech was normal but, by the end of whatever she was saying, she''d be able to speak continuously without pause or interruption. Again, her volume was a little low, but she had no issues with confidence or anything of the sort.


    "Thanks for the offer Remmy but that''s not quite it today. I''m here for two reasons. First, I was hoping to eat here today ''cos I''m on a date. Second of all, I think I can help you out and put up a silencing rune in here so that no noise disturbs you from the outside."


    "Really!?" Remmy found some pep in her soul and it unintentionally invaded her voice. Her moderate increase in volume managed to cause her to somehow spook herself and she immediately shrunk a bit and fiddled with her knuckles after curling her hand into a ball. "really?" Remmy tried again with a smaller voice but the hope in her eyes was self-evident.


    "Yep. I''ve gotten extremely good at runemancy. Convenient I know but the talent just sort of fell into my lap one day. In return, would you mind if I could get a private booth for tonight? I''ll still pay and everything, I just want a little privacy."


    Gavel pat Remmy on the head and stepped forward as she was the one with the final say regarding stuff like this, although her answer was pretty obvious before she''d even said it. "If you can put up the runic formation, you can borrow a booth whenever you like. Hell I''d be willing to kick people out for you so yeah, the sooner it goes up the better."


    "Cool, then I''ll get to work on it now. I''ll even make you the owner of the rune. In emergencies, that will mean you can disable it and call out to her if there''s anything life-threatening like a fire you need to evacuate for. It''ll be voice activated so I''ll go over the specifics after I''ve installed it and teach you both how to use it. Oh and don''t mind me Remmy, you can keep working while I put it up. Wouldn''t wanna interrupt your business just for this... One more thing, sorry Gavel. Could you show the ladies waiting in the dining room to the booth? Wouldn''t want them to stand around waiting for me while I''m in here doing this..."


    Gavel nodded and was about to leave but then it hit her that there were two ladies and yet Ares had said he was on a date... "You brought another lady along on date with your partner? Look, kid, I know you''re new to relationships but that''s really not a good idea... When did you even get a girlfriend anyway?"


    "Uh, I think there''s been a misunderstanding... I''m dating both of them and they''re both my fianc¨¦s."


    "..." Gavel was momentarily stunned but then let out a wide grin and pat Ares heavily on the back. "Well look at you, you sly dog! Didn''t expect ya to be a real playa like that! Smooth moves Mr Boombox. Two at once? That slippery tongue of yours was good for something after all. Now I''m kinda curious as to what sorta snake oil you''ve been selling those two chicks. Hehehehe, maybe I''ll hang out with ''em and have a little chat while you''re stuck in here!" Gavel fled the room whilst rubbing her hands together in mischievous delight as Ares simply sighed to himself and shrugged. There was little all else he could do about the situation and it wasn''t a problem either anyway. Gavel wanted to be nosy? Fine, Bellona and Enyo could entertain her and have a girl''s chat. In the meantime, Ares got down to business with the runemancy while Remmy quickly scooted back to work.


    Ares checked on Remmy occasionally because he was always fascinated with how concentrated she became whenever it was time to cook. Her single-mindedness was impressive and it was like the rest of the world faded out of view for her. She would delicately place a single drop of liquid from a pipette after nearly a minute straight of close-range eyeballing the exact position she wanted it to land, that was the level of dedication she had for every single ingredient and step in the cooking process. It led to decently long wait times for anyone who wanted to sample her food but it was definitely worth it. She was perhaps even more cautious than a scientist conducting experiments with dangerous reactants but she wasn''t nervous or anxious, no she was in a fantastic mood. The smile on her face was infectious and just watching the tiny elf take such joy in her creations made Ares want to go over and pat her head just like Gavel had done. Remmy had real passion and a bright future ahead of her... So Ares was stealing some of that talent with his Omniscience! Correction, it wasn''t exactly stealing, that was what Aejaz did. He was just copying her precision and methodology. She lost nothing from this but Ares had everything to gain. The way she handled various kitchen appliances and pieces of equipment was something 100% worth mimicking so this was yet another way Ares could improve his own cooking skills and he wasn''t going to hesitate.


    Kid though she was, Remmy was one of the best around so Ares wasn''t going to be polite! Not that Remmy even noticed or would even care if she did, as long as her own cooking wasn''t affected then she really wasn''t fussed. She may even encourage it as thanks for the whole rune thing... Which Ares had distracted himself from for long enough! Ares copied what he needed to from the ginger elf and went back to drawing runes into the kitchen walls with some disintegration magic. It did damage the walls but it also meant the runic formation couldn''t be smudged, ruined, or covered up as the shape was permanently etched there. This would take another twenty or so minutes to cover the whole room but, when he was done, he could go back to the booth, pick his meal from the menu, and get the night underway. Unbeknownst to him, though, a certain young master had just begun his evening stroll in search of a restaurant to dine at and, coincidentally, it would take him a little over twenty minutes to happen across Little Miss Remmy''s.

 Chapter 250: Jack a Jacket

    Phew


    Ares wiped a bit of sweat off his brow. Runemancy, over extended periods of time at least, was not easy work! Etching the walls constantly drained him as he had to use his disintegration and runemancy simultaneously so he was running a bit low on the mana front. He was done, however! His handiwork was decorating the walls and he activated it with a click of his fingers. A small hum buzzed in Ares'' ears before disappearing as the runes glowed a pretty and ethereal blue that dyed the room in its soft colour. No longer would shouts, collisions, or other audible agitations outside this room be transferred through these walls. Ares would have informed Remmy but she was working hard right now so he simply left the kitchen instead and headed over to the booths. For a second, he thought he was going to have to trouble the people inside the other booths and knock on their doors to find the right one but that problem was made irrelevant the second he heard Gavel''s booming laughter. It was deep and easily trackable so Ares just advanced towards the correct booth with a wry smile on his face as he knocked on the door.


    Gavel was the one who opened it as she seemed to be taking this opportunity to leave the love birds alone. She couldn''t just leave without making a comment and winking in exaggerated fashion at Ares however. "Not just two beautiful women but two beautiful sisters? Oh Ares, you are a riot. And how it all happened? Ah priceless youth. You''re a funny kid Ares, always have been. Enjoy your meal tonight, it''s on me. I''m in a good mood after meeting those two and I owe you for a million different reasons anyway, least of all the rune thingamajig you just set up. Ah but, in return, promise to come visit Remmy more often? She likes chatting with people about cooking but doesn''t get much of a chance to ''cos I''m kinda dense when it comes to anything that requires finesse like that. I tried chopping vegetables once but she actually got annoyed at me because the lengths were off... I''ll leave cooking talk to you in the future so come by more often, yeah?"


    Ares chuckled at the thought of quiet little Remmy berating big and brutish Gavel, it was quite the sight. "I''d be happy too. Remmy is a phenomenal chef and, if anything, I''m lucky to be able to share knowledge of the craft with her and vice versa. She''s also pleasant to chat with so sure, I''ll come by here and there. Actually, I know someone else around her age who''s also getting into cooking and happens to be quite good. He''s also a quiet kid so they might get along. Maybe he could even wind up working here one day. I''ll send him your way some time before the international ends so he can grab a bite to eat. His name''s Phobos and I''m sure he''d be happy to discuss food stuff with Remmy too."


    "The more friends Remmy has the better... Or are you trying to set her up, huh? If you are, I''mma have to do some serious evaluating of this kid!"


    "Ha, no, really, it''s not like that... Also I don''t think Palioxis would be too pleased if I got involved in that way... It''s really just a cooking pal kinda thing. Nothing more."


    "I see I see. Well he''s more than welcome if you''re recommending him. Anyway, I''ll leave you and your lady friends to it. I''ll be back in a couple minutes to take your order, k?"


    "Sure, thanks Gavel. Oh and, here..." Ares sent a mental message with all the details for the runemancy he''d set up. It was a simple thing which Gavel appreciated as she wasn''t really up on magic so anything too complicated would have been a nightmare to learn. The runemancy just needed to be poked to activate the noise cancelling feature and poked again to turn it off. If Gavel wanted to turn it from a distance in an emergency, she just had to yell ''noise on'' and that would work. Plus it was tied to her so only she could do it. The last thing anybody wanted was for some random diner to happen to say ''noise on'' and have direct control over the formation for no good reason. Technically Remmy also had control over this but there was no real reason for her to use it as she was always in the kitchen anyway.


    Ares waved goodbye to Gavel and went inside the booth, closing the door behind him and taking in the seating arrangement. He locked eyes with Enyo who was seated in the corner and she gave him an evil smile. The plan to have Bellona seated in the middle was working flawlessly! Although Bellona was also in on it... But Enyo didn''t need to know that. It was probably more exciting for her if she believed Bellona was being conned into this situation so Ares didn''t spoil her fun and winked back at her, going along with her tomfoolery that was all out in the open. Blo Blo couldn''t help but snort to herself as she sipped on her drink of plain water at the silly display Ares was putting on. Ares sat down next to Blo Blo and leant on her shoulder which got her blushing a bit. She didn''t stop peering at the menu, and treated Ares like air, but her face was red nonetheless. Ares picked up the menu and scanned it too to find something he was in the mood for. The menu hadn''t changed much since the last time he was here so he picked quicker than the wives who were perusing and musing over the options, all of which sounded spectacularly delicious.


    After Ares explained to the sisters, on the way here, just how highly rated this place was, they started to get really excited for the meal. Ares had only mentioned the place was good but he never mentioned it was an internationally famous, fine dining experience! It was only really sinking in now that gossipy Gavel had left, and the menu was displaying its glorious options, that this was a mouth watering experience through and through. Discussions were held about what the sisters wanted to eat and they eventually came to a conclusion that was, effectively, to have everyone share their dishes. Like that, everyone could try a bit of everything that peaked their interest. Ares had no say in this matter but that was fine as he was willing to go along with it anyway. During the heated debate about which three dishes they should choose, Ares overheard a small debacle going on outside but paid it no mind. Gavel got difficult customers regularly and was more than capable of handling them... Although she usually would have done it quicker by now. The threat of Hans was enough to stave off pretty much anyone and everyone so the fact the argument was still underway was concerning... At least the silencing runes were up and running! Remmy didn''t have to get involved in this and she could keep working in peace despite the ruckus coming from the front of the restaurant. The runes were already coming in handy!


    It took Ares three attempts to pick his dish ''correctly'', the process of which Blo Blo and Enyo were heavily involved in, but he did eventually pick something that took his fancy. He wasn''t particularly in the mood for anything specific, otherwise the sisters could shove their preferences up their asses, so he was happy to let them take the wheel and guide him. They were clearly enjoying themselves and so he let them go wild with the menu to their heart''s content. For some strange reason, even though only one of the three dishes had been chosen, they were already looking over at the drinks and desserts... This level of scatter-brained lack of co-ordination was fun to watch for Ares but he was getting worried about the increasing volume of the quarrel outside. The involved parties were getting louder and louder for two different reasons. One, it was getting progressively more heated and so they were yelling over one another and two, they were getting ever nearer to this booth... As they did, Ares could just about hear small pieces of the conversation and it seemed like Gavel was trying to tell this stubborn mule that there were no booths available and the person had to eat in the main dining area with everyone else. The other person was refusing because he saw himself as being above the riff raff in said dining room although the language he was using was a lot more colourful and a lot less polite. The words, ''I don''t give a shit about Hans'' had just come out and Ares was wondering if he should get involved. Anyone not deterred by Hans, specifically if they knew exactly who he was and weren''t just uninformed, was likely to be a problem Gavel couldn''t deal with by her lonesome.


    As much as Ares wanted to relax tonight it seemed like he might have to deal with an unruly upstart first. Ares sighed to himself and was about to stand from his seat but he realised it probably wasn''t even necessary. The voice trending towards his location seemed to coincidentally end up right outside the booth... According to the logic of the person complaining outside, as this was the last booth in the row, the person here must have arrived the latest of everyone and thus likely weren''t eating already or hadn''t ordered. He was right too but none of that meant he had the right to kick out other paying customers just because he was a ''bigger deal'' than them and they hadn''t put food in their mouths yet. Still, Ares was glad this kid picked his booth. If he was going to deal with him anyway then it made no difference whether he went to the problem or the problem came to him. Plus this way it couldn''t be argued this matter didn''t concern him. He wasn''t involving himself, he was forcibly being dragged into things! Very convenient! It seemed Gavel also had similar thoughts as she was still arguing but being less obstinate in her refusals, almost as if she was subtly guiding the rude guest to open the door. Gavel trusted Ares to deal with this problem and she would be sure to reward him with more free meals in the future as thanks. She didn''t want to ruin his meal but this kid was going to be a pest regardless of what anyone wanted and bash into Ares'' room no matter what she did. If that was the case then she couldn''t stop the date from being crashed and just figured everyone should make the most of it. She gets her problem dealt with and Ares gets more free food. The best possible outcome.


    BANG


    Without even waiting a second to see who was in the room, a kid strolled in like he owned the place flanked by two broad-shouldered, clean shaven, bodyguards in suits. They were even wearing black shades indoors which was precisely how you knew they meant business! That or they were idiots, it could really go either way. As for the kid, he wore what could only really be described as a rich man''s parka. It was a crimson red with a golden dragon pattern lining it. The dragon was positioned vertically on the left side of the jacket in such a way that it went up and around the neck region where there was golden coloured fur present, resembling a dragon''s scaly body, and then the head came down onto the right side of the jacket. It looked as though a dragon was wrapped around the kid''s neck. It was a clever design and, although the guy wearing it was determinably a piece of shit, the jacket was neat! If things came to blows here then Ares may very well just steal it from him! Better yet, it even looked to be a treasure of some kind. Maybe heat insulating? Ah but if it had dragon symbolism on it then it might even have some kind of draconic effect for someone like Ares to boot! This could be a good thing to own for him... In a way, Ares was now really hoping this kid caused a scene. Or rather more of one than he already had and force a fight so Ares could feel justified... Not that he couldn''t just do it anyway but if people were watching then rumours of Ares'' ''outbursts of violence at the drop of a hat'' would spread and negatively impact him in the long run.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Now that Ares thought about it, this kid was probably from the Isasz region which would explain a number of things about why he was wearing this getup wherever he went. He was wearing a parka inside a restaurant for crying out loud! Either the kid had some screws loose, he was from the Isasz region in which case this was normal behaviour, or he was only going to take it off after he was seated for whatever reason. Either way, the jacket was really the only thing this kid had going for him. He was slightly below average in the face department and his personality was obviously faulty in many ways. His appearances suggested he was about 18, maybe slightly younger, but his cultivation was still near mid mental accumulation so he was a bit of a slacker in that regard. The guards were at early transition though so there was some threat here, just not the kid.


    To be able to deploy early transition realm cultivators as bodyguards meant this kid clearly came from big money which narrowed things down a lot if he was truly Isasz born. The Neo Vikings ruled the mountains but the base had some competition here and there, namely the Vesta family who were one of the top families in Sheryashka worldwide. They had a number of transition realm cultivators and were top dogs in the region for the most part. Again, the Vikings would wipe the floor with them if push came to shove but they operated in different places so they were safe from the raiders. It was no wonder the kid didn''t fear Hans. Hans was an incredibly powerful cultivator but he was still just one man. He could go even against a family of transitions if they were average but it would still be a task he would rather not undertake. Hans, if he were here, would maybe consider just letting the brat kick someone out but he would seek reparations from the family later. Neither side could really bully the other or force them into unpleasant situations so Hans was at a disadvantage currently as, well, he wasn''t here right now. Seeking damages after the matter of fact was a petty waste of time and the Vestas would fight him on it. Still, coming to his region and causing trouble was risky so this kid was playing with fire... His ego was a bit too big here. This was doubly true considering the fact that the kid had no idea who was in the booth. If he busted into a late transition realm cultivator''s booth this mess would have devolved beyond salvation as then it would become a pissed off transition cultivator, maybe even multiple if this hypothetical cultivator also had backing, further backed by Hans. The kid was too used to throwing his weight around and never facing consequences but he needed to understand, for the sake of his family, that he was not the biggest fish in Sheryashka. Not even close.


    The kid, at least in terms of maturity if not age, briefly scanned the room as it seemed like he realised he could have potentially just made a huge mistake. He was inwardly relieved when he saw some poorly dressed chumps with cultivation bases no higher than sensory enhancement. Bingo, these people could be bullied safely! Kicking them out of the room would be a complete non-issue and everyone involved would be better off just doing as he ordered them too. He couldn''t start a major incident and kill people on Hans'' turf but breaking a few bones if they were adamant about remaining here was most certainly in the cards. Or maybe he''d just have some of their bones broken anyway, he was feeling a little violent after being denied time and time again by Gavel. Have the guards hold them down and then he could bring out his hammer and slowly break a few for the fun of it then threaten the owner to serve him or she''d be in the same boat. With a plan of action sorted the kid was about to start making demands but his brain did a double take and made him re-check the people in the booth.


    One annoyingly above average looking guy, some random flat chick with odd clothes... And who the hell was that literal angel?! Why was it possible for someone wearing nothing more than a shirt and jeans to be this beautiful?! Also, both the women were wearing rings that matched the ones the guy was wearing... Seriously? The guy, Ares, was ok looking but he was definitely a pig compared to the woman! He was obviously batting above his weight class here... Maybe the woman was stupid? Easy? Maybe the guy was rich and she was a gold digger? Either way, no matter which option was true, the kid felt confident he could walk away from this place with that woman in tow by taking advantage of whatever reason it was she was with him in the first place. The flat one could get lost though. The man could keep her. She wasn''t ugly or anything but the muscles were off-putting for the kid as his senses were clearly not as refined as other people''s when it came to discerning a good-looking woman. Perhaps deep down he acknowledged Bellona but who cared about her when Enyo was right there?


    Actually, if Enyo wasn''t here, he''d probably be pining for Bellona unreservedly. Any woman paled when Enyo was around and that wasn''t Blo Blo''s fault! She''d gotten a fair few glances on the way here, as her clothes stuck out, and there were some people who even ogled her a bit. It stopped the second Enyo came into view but it did prove that Bellona was a striking woman under the right circumstances. In a way, Bellona was somewhat glad to be in Enyo''s shadow as it meant she wasn''t hassled as often as Enyo was. Enyo had received many cat calls and some people even straight up blocked the trio''s path to ask her for her time. Blo Blo would seriously freak if that kept happening to her and she would just deck them and move on. So if Enyo wasn''t around she would get all the attention, yeah, but to hell with that!


    As for the kid, his intentions were made pretty clear by the bit of drool hanging off his lip as he stared in Enyo''s direction whilst ignoring everyone else in the room. Ares had already decided that this guy''s parka was changing ownership tonight if this kid started acting up any more than he already was! There was a non-zero chance he wiped off the drool, apologised for the hassle, and left the room... But let''s face it, the chance was so abysmally low it would be more prudent to try and win the local lottery five times in a row and bribe him with the stardust to leave peacefully. From the way he was blatantly ignoring Ares'' presence, it was painfully clear this kid had just rolled into town. What Ares didn''t know was that the kid arrived here via the Freeride Federation so he could come watch the tournament. Originally the Federation was on time to make it to the start of the tournament but there were massive delays due to it being attacked again by a rather ferocious beast that even transition realm cultivators had trouble dealing with. It was a sea monster so although it wasn''t even really that powerful, and fending it off was manageable, killing it was a hassle as close range combat was nigh impossible. Transition realm cultivators could fly, sure, but that didn''t help underneath the stormy seas.


    Anywho, point being that the kid arrived late, within the last 24 hours, and had yet to see even a single match of the tournament or hear anything about the happenings of it. He had a lot to catch up on, least of all the star of the show sitting right before him. From an entertainment stand point the kid was actually rather miffed to miss out on the tournament. Sure the C.O would basically do a tour of sorts and replay the video footage, or sell it to the rare few rich individuals with access to video playing technology, but it wasn''t the same as watching it live. The kid would get to see the final matches at least and those were typically the ones worth spectating. Plus he''d been given an abundance of stardust to try and coax the winner into taking a trip to Isasz to visit the Vestas and maybe start a new life under their care. Adopting talent basically. Whoever sent this kid must have been blind to his faults though as he was a stubborn brat who wouldn''t know how to bow his head properly to the prospective talents and probably even ruin any chances of a good relation permanently. Case in point, even though he didn''t know about the trio in front of him, he was already making a mockery of the task he was sent to accomplish. So much so that the first few words out of his mouth, after he finally managed regain his bearings from the Enyo stun, were enough to make Ares want to kill him on the spot! The words he uttered had single-handedly doomed his parka to a lifetime of servitude under Ares!


    "You, greeny..." Ares assumed it was him being referred to here via the colour of his top. "... And you, flat bitch." It needed no explanation who he was pissing off right now with that last statement. "Scurry out of here like the rats you are and leave the babe behind. I''m in a good mood so get lost before I change my mind about letting you leave peacefully and not breaking your arms. I was tempted to but violence scares women and I don''t exactly want it to look like I''m coercing the chick ''cos that''s always a hassle waiting to happen. They start getting cold feet, saying no, and then you really have to just force them you know? I get that she''s probably ''important'' to you so here, this''ll make up for your losses." The kid chucked a high grade stardust at a gobsmacked Ares and the thing nearly scored a three pointer by almost landing in his wide open mouth. "Don''t cause a scene, get out, and let me have some fun with this chick alone. Don''t come back and just take that other woman with you. One is more than enough and more than some random guy like you deserves. Don''t bite off more than you can chew otherwise my two friends here are gonna have to take you out back and I can''t guarantee you''ll live through the chit chat they wanna have with you. You''ve heard of the Vestas right? If you have, you know not to mess with me. If you haven''t, then you don''t know enough about this world to even be a speck of dust on my shoe. Take the hint greeny."


    Ares was speechless! The arrogance! The posturing! The backing! The attempt to steal his wife! The threats of violence! This could only ever be one thing! Ares laughed near uncontrollably and nudged the sisters one by one before pointing at the kid with a huge smile "Look! Look! It''s a young master! Not like the Chen shitheads but, like, a real life young master! He''s such a dork! The stereotypes don''t do him justice! If anything, they undersold it! Look at him! Can you see the pathetic desire to humiliate others in his eyes? it''s so blatant! This dude has transcended loser status and achieved the fabled ''young master'' status! I''m so touched right now to be experiencing this in the flesh! What a time to be alive!" Enyo wasn''t as familiar with the young master stereotype but Bellona certainly was and she was nodding in agreement with Ares, treating the kid like a rare spectacle. The kid was infuriated he was being treated like a zoo animal but he felt confident because Enyo didn''t nod along with the idiot''s stupidity. Granted that was only for lack of understanding otherwise she would have absolutely been nodding too. Still, this misunderstanding gave the twerpy young master a bit of an ego... Not that he didn''t have one to begin with, this was a young master we''re talking about here! Either way, things were absolutely going to escalate here. That much was set in stone the moment the young master was openly defied. Such was a tale as old as time itself! And so too was the beating this young master had in store for him, that part of the story was also yet to come but equally as guaranteed...

 Chapter 251: When Ares Snaps So Do Necks

    "Aw man, I wish Aejaz were here to see this. He''d be just as ecstatic as I am." Ares sadly shook his head side to side and promised inwardly that he would recall everything that happened here to his brother later. "Oi, you!" Ares looked the kid directly in the eye for the first time since he barged in here. "Say one of your stereotypical lines! Come on, do it!"


    The kid was bewildered as to what Ares was on about. He''d met other young masters besides himself but he didn''t see what the fuss was. Of course this was because he''d normalised the existence and core of what a young master was from a young age. To most people, young masters were a rare breed that didn''t often crop up. They lingered around their own social circles within their clans or sects and only occasionally made scenes in public. You had to be in the right time at the right place to ever bare witness to a young master at work. Of course, typically, you never should want to see it because if you could see it then you were almost definitely within range to get involved. Not everyone was like Ares who could safely deal with the obnoxious tantrums these people threw or the bodyguards they brought along with them. Ares'' reputation alone should have been enough to fend off this kid but, as he''d just arrived, he''d become the perfect storm. Ignorant, narcissistic, incapable of controlling himself in the face of worldly temptations, be they food, woman, or treasures, and just down right weak! Well, that last part wasn''t a guarantee. The real young masters you had to watch out for were the ones with talent who stood a cut above the rest. They posed a real threat themselves and were often prodigies in their own right who''d succumbed to their ever growing, never diminishing ego. Win after win had earned them fame, attention, and wealth that just perpetuated the cycle. These young masters crashed the hardest whenever they came tumbling off their pedestal but there was a reason they hadn''t fallen off it for so long. "I have no idea what the hell you''re talking about but I can tell you aren''t taking this situation seriously. You really think I''m not going to go through with my earlier threats? You don''t understand the position you''re in. You''re testing my patience and even that babe is ignoring you now. Your little rant earlier has seriously confused the both of us and I think we''d both be happier here without you."


    It looked like the kid wanted to keep monologuing, which was understandable given his young master status, but Ares wasn''t about to listen to some five minute speech without interrupting this clown. It was rude to jam himself into the conversation but it was far ruder that he''d been excluded from it to begin with! Of course this was technically a part of the young master experience but there were always some parts to every urban myth or legend that shouldn''t be taken too seriously. Ares was more than happy to never experience a young master rant, he just wanted to see them wave their arms around in frustration as they were openly defied and go through the motions. It wasn''t quite ''never meet your heroes'', it was meet them but be willing to tell them to shut the hell up if they were being annoying. In this place, only Ares was permitted to be insufferable. He wasn''t about to let this kid steal his whole flow! "Not that I''m not happy with this meeting but I''m going to have to give you a five out of ten. You''ve got the appearance and the initial threats down but everything past that has been disappointing, honestly. Your threats weren''t backed up and you let me retort without trying to act on it. You''ve got a big mouth but you aren''t actually really psychotic. A proper ten out of ten young master would have just ordered his guards to kill me by now. Also, you haven''t even said one of the traditional lines yet. You''ve got to work on your game. Maybe go and have your parents spoil you a bit more? Sorry, I don''t really know how it all works on your end. Anyway, I''ve been meaning to ask, but don''t you know who I am?"


    "Why the hell should I? My family is one of the top in this domain so unless you come from an equally big family you''re nothing more than a frog in...


    ""A well!"" Ares jubilantly finished the sentence alongside the young master while clapping his hands and wiping away a tear in his eye after. "Beautiful! Just like in the books! You even got the condescending spit-blowing and aggressive facial expression right! You said the thing! I may have been too harsh on you, I''ll give you two extra bonus points for that! You started good and had a bit of a rough middle section but it''s looking like you''re gonna stick the landing and go far, kid!


    "..." The kid was speechless and just looked at Ares with a disgusted and confused look on his face. "What the fuck is wrong with you?! Also, who the hell are you?!" Now the young master was a a tad worried. If this batshit loco maniac was holding his ground despite his low cultivation it''s because he must have been assured of his own backing, right?! As far as the young master was concerned, there was no other possible solution for why this guy wasn''t bowing his head even now that the two guards had unfolded their arms and taken a step forward.


    "Name''s Ares."


    "... Ok, and?" The kid leaned his ear forward to listen carefully.


    "And what?" Ares could have thrown out the Umbra name, and that may have very well scared the kid shitless, but where was the fun in that? Why ruin his fun half-way through? That was like solving half a crossword or a sudoku and then tearing the paper in half!


    "Ares... What? What''s your second name? What family do you belong to?"


    "I don''t have a second name..." Ares wasn''t actually lying about this, he really didn''t right now. The Umbras never had a second name because most revenants didn''t. Dominus never had one and he was the origin so second names in the revenant world were actually kinda rare. Speaking of, Enyo and Bellona also didn''t have one but that''s because the Legions forbid anyone from having it. They weren''t a Legion ''family'', they were a Legion unit. That was their designation. Second names were messy and could potentially lead to family dynamics with bickering and power struggles so it had been avoided right form the get go. It''s not that people like Rhea didn''t have second names before, they were just expected to give it up when they married into the Legion. Technically, if Rhea brought back her last name, Enyo and Bellona could also take it on, and then by extension Ares could too when he married them if he wanted to. Ares wasn''t planning on it, however, as he had his own plans regarding that. He''d already discussed it with Enyo, Blo Blo, and Candy long ago but it was a private discussion that involved talk about some pretty big secrets. For the foreseeable future, Ares would go without a second name and the same was true of his wives. Not that they couldn''t keep their second names if they happened to have one. Up until Ares ''created'' his own they were more than welcome to keep it. After that, though, he was going to be a little demanding and have them all change. He wanted everyone to be part of the family and it would be strange if only some of his wives took it on. Still, when Ares said ''it''s not going to happen for a while'', he really meant it. At the very least, it wouldn''t become relevant before he married every single one of the prophesized wives it was that far away. "I belong to the family I created, that''s where my allegiance lies."


    "Ok, you know what? This farce has gone on long enough. These guys are at early transition realm..." The young master gestured to the guards who took another step forward to intimidate Ares. it was to no avail but at least they were trying. "You and them are gonna have a long talk in a nearby alleyway and you can take that other woman with you. If she wants to stay I don''t mind entertaining her but I''m really not going to pay her much attention. You hear that?" The kid was talking directly to Bellona now. "If you wanna stick around I''ll pay you some money to play around with you just this once but I''m only taking the other woman with me." The kid was looking at Bellona as if she were a fly. "You aren''t my type but I''ll make an exception today so be grateful. You can be the starter, the babe can be the main dish."


    "Ok kid, that''s enough. You''ve had your fun but you''re going too far now." Ares was starting to get annoyed. Joking about taking his wives once was one thing but this level of idiocy wasn''t going to be tolerated any longer. Ares was willing to hear it once for science, and just to get the full young master experience, but twice? Thrice? Still going? insulting Bellona like that? Everything that came out of this guy''s mouth was just digging his grave even deeper than it was dug five second ago. On the bright side, maybe taking the parka off this guy''s corpse would alleviate the foul mood that had built up in Ares? Here he was, supposed to be enjoying his date and yet this twerp was now ruining it. It would have been better if this just happened on a random day in the middle of nowhere. This was going to leave a bad taste in his mouth, Ares could tell. "You aren''t leaving this place alive so you best start choosing how you want to die. I can either dig out your eyes and strangle you to death or rip out your heat and shove it down your throat. It''s one of the two, and you aren''t escaping that fate, so pick wisely. If you don''t make a choice by the time I''m done with these two guards, I''ll just do all of it."


    "You..."


    "And don''t think for a second those guards are going to help you." Ares knew where the kid was about to take this discussion so he headed him off at the pass. "Early transition is not enough to stop me. They might put up a bit of a fight, and that''s a hassle ''cos I don''t wanna damage this building, but they won''t win even fighting together. Speaking of which, you two chrome domes. I''m willing to let you two go. If you turn around and leave this loser here for me to mess around with, I''ll let you live. If you go through with this, I''m going to kill you and all. Two of you can make it out of here alive or none of you can, I''m game either way."


    The two guards looked at each other and snickered. The fact they were being threatened by someone almost two whole realms beneath them was something they''d never seen before and so it amused them to no end. They hadn''t ever come across anyone even a single realm lower than them that was capable of beating either of them. Nobody had ever even come close, let alone two realms. This kid was seriously insane. One of the guards turned to the kid and asked a question he really shouldn''t have as Ares had already made it clear this wife stealing conversation had gone too far and crossed a line already. "Boss, you said you don''t really care about the flat one, right? After we deal with this idiot can we have her? Might as well make use of her if she''s here right?"


    The kid shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah sure whatever. Just make sure to kill the guy slowly. Break all off his bones bit by bit and cut him into pieces starting from his lower body. Really torture him and make him regret this entire stupid interaction. Maybe in his next life he won''t try playing hero."


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    The guard who asked the question originally turned to Bellona and spoke to her, which he really shouldn''t have. He was screwed anyway but leaving himself open like this was just asking for it. "You, get up and come with me. We can get started already while my co-worker kills your fianc¨¦. If you say no or cause a fuss I''ll just make you anyway. I don''t mind roughing you up. Actually, I''m gonna do it anyway, but I''ll be at least a little more gentle if you come along obediently. So get on all fours and crawl after me like the little bitch you are..."


    CRACK


    Both the young master, and the guard that had yet to speak, turned to face the other guard as a golden blur shot straight into his head. They turned their heads just in time to watch in slow-mo as Ares'' foot sunk into the guard''s face and pushed it so far back his head snapped backwards and was limply dangling over his shoulders like a hoodie. The guard was still alive but neither of the other two people he arrived with were able to react to what was happening so they watched on, dumbfounded, as Ares dragged the dying guard by the hair out of the booth and flung him onto a nearby empty table; one that the intrusive trio could have ironically eaten at and not had this entire mess happen in the first place.


    The guard''s stomach was flat on the table and his head was staring at the ceiling as Ares walked over to the nearest wall and picked up a decorative cleaver off it. Ares wasted no time in walking rapidly back over to the guard, putting his foot on the guy''s forehead, and placing the cleaver on his neck. He was going to cut his throat out while his snapped neck made him watch. The rest of the body couldn''t really fight back due to the discombobulation of the head not being attached properly so it just sort of squirmed about like a flopping fish as Ares started hacking away. He could have cut it off in one swing but this guy deserved to go through it and so his throat spilled out onto the table piece by piece as he choked on his own blood. It had been a while since evil Ares and his tempestuous mood swings had shown up but they were both back in full force as his bloodline pressure was getting heavier by the moment.


    The guard finally died but he was probably better off as the pressure running through the restaurant had become immense. It was only directly targeting the young master and the remaining guard but, for everyone else, it was lurking behind the curtain of reality like a stalking tiger, waiting to pounce and tear at their throats too. Anyone who wasn''t the doomed duo was frozen stiff in their seats and even their hands, in the middle of scooping up food with cutlery, were deathly still. Only their rampant heartbeat and the saliva they struggled to swallow, due to their tense nerves, signified their status as anything other than a fresh corpse. Speaking of corpses, Ares disintegrated the dead guard on the spot which was not a good sign for the young master and the other guard for one pretty simple reason. Ares was capable of fully annihilating an early transition realm cultivator. The surprise attack was one thing, as he''d deliberately struck at a weak spot and utilised the momentum of the snapping head to facilitate his kill, but that magic was evidence that he was packing enough firepower to win against an early transition realm cultivator through legitimate means. Yes the guy was dead but a transition realm body was still a transition realm body. Ares was not all talk, not at all, and that was really sinking in right about now.


    As for how Ares had pulled off this deadly assassination at blinding speeds. Annihilation pressure operating at max, Voidwalk, Double Jump, Echo, and the Utilitarian''s (his treasure boot''s) Stamp out art. Every single thing combined was enough to instantly kill the guard with a single strike. Ares physical strength was lacking? Not if he went all out it wasn''t. In his current stater, bounding around this room quicker than even the guard could follow was absolutely possible. Getting the drop on him helped but that was his own fault for just outright pretending Ares didn''t exist. He''d paid the price for his actions and now the other two were next. The other guard could die a quick death but only because Ares wanted to get it over and done with so he could divert his attention to the kid after.


    The remaining guard was stiff due to what he''d just witnessed but he was also alert enough to be on the lookout for any sudden movements. He was no longer confident in his ability to win here and the young master was just a burdensome problem he would rather not deal with. He knew better than to try renegotiate with Ares about leaving as he''d been pretty clear about the number of people that were allowed to leave here alive and, after watching him cut out a person''s throat with a cleaver, the guard wisely understood he wasn''t going back on his word any time soon. The guard opened his mouth to start casting an art but Ares had been watching his mouth like a hawk and beat him to the punch with his own art.


    "Quietus Edict."


    This was the first time Ares had used Quietus in combat and it was already proving its worth as the guard beating him without magic in this confined space wasn''t going to happen. The guard was extremely confused right now as he was unable to sound off and chant as he could feel a slither of dark miasma invading his mouth whenever he tried. He was in a luckier position than he knew as Ares was basically unable to cast most of his offensive arts in here due to the limited space and the abundance of civilians. He did have Enyo''s friendly fire mutation, preventing harm from befalling the innocent, but that didn''t mean the building was safe and Ares didn''t want to ruin Remmy and Gavel''s business. Ares really wished the mutation could one day extend to buildings but, alas, for now it did not. The guard kept his vision trained on Ares who was prowling in a semi-circular patten towards him and analysing the current the situation, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. To enable such an opportunity, Ares whipped out the Black Ice Bane and cast "Crystalised Void: Tricky Rink". The art engulfed the floor and created a layer over it that held within some deadly surprises. Ares would prevent any annihilation detonations from the Rink, which also meant he was stuck using disintegration magic only with it, but it was mostly being used as a way to limit the guard''s mobility and lock him down in one spot. The Rink probably wouldn''t even end up attacking him as that really wasn''t the point.


    The guard could see Ares inching ever closer and his options were few and far between. Running was now impossible due to the Rink and holding his ground without arts... Well he saw how that went for the other guy. He did have one more idea though. Just like how he had to look after his troublesome young master, who had dragged him into this mess when he would have rather just eaten in peace, Ares had his own companions nearby! In fact, they were in a terrible position, stuck inside the booth and unable to escape the narrow room. Hostages! It was cheap, it was dirty, but there was nothing else to be done right now. If they could drag the hostages away safely then the young master would get the damn woman and they would leave with their lives. The guard would absolutely get a raise off this!


    "Segregation."


    "Diminish Power."


    Both the ladies behind him immediately, but lazily, cast an art each the second he turned around to gun for them. They weren''t stupid and could see this coming from a mile away so they each used their own measures which, combined, put up a impenetrable barrier. Enyo''s segregation locked him out and Bellona''s new art kept perpetually sapping the guard''s physical strength. Even if he was able to break the barrier at the best of times he certainly wouldn''t be able to now with Bellona ruining him in such a fashion. He couldn''t even remove it because the art specifically kept reapplying itself over and over. Bellona knew that a major weakness to her measurement manipulation was being denied by the other person so she came up with arts for her unique aspect that basically tried, tried, and tried again. You could block it or remove it once but if it just kept happening it would slip through the cracks eventually despite your best efforts. It would take a defensive art of some sort to solve this predicament but Quietus was still up and running. Funnily enough, Ares had just been wishing his friendly fire mutation could do more but here it was enabling the sisters to speak so it''s value was blatantly immense and yet he still had the audacity to complain and demand more! Damn fundamentals... It made sense though. If you were a fundamental you were essentially promised the world so now that he was only receiving half of it delivered straight to his doorstep Ares wanted more. It''s not like the other fundamental were any different either, all of them had it in them to complain whenever they found any kind of inconvenience regarding their pillar. Of course a solution was almost guaranteed to exist but they wanted it now! ASAP! In this regard specifically, they very well may have been worse than any young master out there but, then again, it was all for a good cause and most cultivators would do the same if they were in their shoes and be equally demanding if not more.


    Back to the guard, he could feel his muscles relax and all his strength dissipate into thin air. He struck at the barrier pointlessly and had to give up as all he was doing was creating an opening for Ares to attack. In fact, that was precisely what happened as Ares dashed forward the moment the guard looked to hold the sisters hostage. With Ares hurtling towards him like a comet, the guard had to make a snap decision and so he sacrificed the young master''s safety by focusing entirely on his own defences. The guard couldn''t protect him if he was dead anyway so this was just objectively the best decision. If the young master was murdered, so be it! This was all that stupid moron''s fault anyway! Luckily for the kid, though, Ares didn''t seem to be aiming for him so it worked out in the end.


    Ares lunged forward with a straight and true strike as he''d put the Bane away for now. He figured it was for the best if he didn''t wield a sword in here and he had a plan for dealing with this guard anyway.


    BANG


    With all the various benefits afforded to Ares thanks to his  arts, treasures, and pressure the guard was sent stumbling back a step or two. He wasn''t injured but his arms were hurting like hell as the force behind that simple punch was monstrous. Plus the Echo rattling around inside of him had done a number on his bones so the guard quickly realised he couldn''t stay on the defensive forever otherwise he would break long before the Quietus ran out. He needed to try and make some moves so he swung at Ares as he was run down by the golden cultivator but Ares neatly ducked under it. The guard still had room to fire off another attack so he performed and uppercut with his other fist as he retreated backwards towards the wall. Ares slowed down his assault so that he could dodge the attack safely but he immediately put the pressure back on, metaphorically and literally as he directed a wave of pressure towards the guard. Once more, as the pressure connected, the guard was blasted backwards a few steps but this time his back was pushed up against a window which was precisely what Ares had been aiming for. There was an alley directly outside the window and, at the far end of it, was some city wall and nothing else. In other words, a line of meaningless objects and empty space that permitted Ares to unrestrainedly use his full force. This was what he''d been aiming for since the start and, now, he''d finally gotten it. The Quietus was ending but it was far too late as Ares ran up to the guard, used some telekinesis on his arms to temporarily halt them in place for the briefest of seconds, and threw an open palm at the guard''s chest. What came next was pure chaos as even Ares had never experimented with a full power Annihilation Echo before. This was uncharted territory and he was admittedly a little excited to see how much damage it could do when he went all out!


    "Annihilation Echo!"


    Ares didn''t know how much destruction would result from this attack but there was one thing he knew for sure; the guard was about to explode and it would not be a pretty sight!

 Chapter 252: Blo Blo, Scourge of Men Everywhere

    BBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG


    The noise emanating from Ares'' palm strike was loud but this was merely the beginning. The Annihilation Echo was still rummaging around inside the guard and had yet to burst free into the surrounding environment. Every single bounce inside the guard''s body would inevitably be a mini, localised catastrophe that was so utterly devastating it could affect the world outside his body too. It was hard to follow what happened next in real time but Ares did manage to catch a glimpse of everything thanks to his Omniscience clarifying exactly what he was looking at. Firstly, the strike itself was powerful enough to make the guard''s body curl into a ''('' sort of shape. His stomach was blasted backwards before his head and various other extremities could catch up to it and the whiplash alone was probably enough to have broken a number of bones connecting his chest and stomach to various other body parts. At the very least, his legs and arms were going to be broken near the sockets, that was unavoidable but also somewhat irrelevant. This was just the start of his misery and he wouldn''t be alive by the end of it regardless. Complaining about broken bones when his entire body was on the verge of exploding into tiny chunks of bloodied flesh was perhaps not a wise use of the last few moments on this earth he had.


    SHATTER


    Next up was the sound of breaking glass. This wasn''t a result of the guard being thrown through it as it had actually broken milliseconds before in tandem with the guard''s spleen exploding via the rampaging Echo. As the spleen was rammed by the Echo it burst but didn''t manage to halt the soundwave in its tracks at all so it shot out the back of his body, after tearing a hole through it, and smashed the wall. Ares had intended to blow the guy throw the window but he''d accidentally created a pretty giant wall here that he would no doubt have to pay for... Actually, Gavel probably wouldn''t foist the bill on him but he''d pay regardless due to the guilt he felt what with being at least partially responsible for this whole mess. Anyway, stardust renumeration aside, the guard''s short nightmare was just beginning. The silver lining for the guard in all of this was that everything being described happened much faster and so the agony he experienced only lasted a short while before his inevitable demise.


    After sailing through the giant hole in the wall, the guard''s right half of his body detonated and splattered a massive splotch of blood against the nearest wall. The Echo, which hadn''t been contained properly by the guard''s body, went flying off into the sky somewhere, piercing every cloud in its path and shooting off into Vraizon to go and maybe hit an asteroid or something. The guard''s destroyed arms, legs, and right side organs were painting the wall in a shape that resembled a speech bubble, one that would probably have the word ''ouch'' written in it if mutilated body parts were capable of expressing themselves. As for the remainder of the guard''s body, the force of the Echo propelled it sideways into the opposite wall and crushed part of his head due to the immense force of the fling. He didn''t stay glued to it for long though as the next Echo bounce eradicated his left half, repeating the earlier process only, this time, the Echo went barrelling through an abandoned warehouse instead. Ares knew the Echo would be chaotic but that was acceptable as nobody actually lived nearby, it was mostly just businesses'' storage and so letting loose was of minimal risk. As for the warehouse...


    Creakkkk BANG


    ... The Echo had punctured multiple holes straight through the warehouse, damaging or sometimes even outright obliterating the support beams and various other foundations of the building. It toppled shortly after while the Echo continued onward and blew up another empty building beyond the warehouse, finally settling down as it smacked into the outer wall of the city a little further back. the Annihilation Echo wild ride wasn''t even halfway done yet though as the that last Echo explosion was the last one the guard could possibly live through so, as his head once more crashed into another wall, this time the outer city wall, the guard was finally put to rest with one colossal...


    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    There wasn''t much left of the guard before this, just a thin portion of his torso and a crumpled head but that was still arguably better than his current state... Then again, it wasn''t hard to be in a better state than completely and irreversibly dead. The remaining power of the Annihilation Echo congregated in the guard''s stomach, back when he was still breathing belaboured though he was, and shot directly up through his neck and through his head. The torso and the head were long gone and were turned to smithereens that couldn''t even be found anymore but that wasn''t the really important part of all this. The Echo that made a hole through the guard''s brain and shot out towards the wall had completely demolished that too.


    The city''s outer wall now had a hole in it, one bigger than even the hole in the restaurant''s wall, and parts of the wall nearby were crumbling down around due to the domino effect. Even busting an extraordinarily thick city wall wasn''t enough to satiate the Echo, however, as it raced away, through a field of untrimmed grass, gauging out the land wherever it went. It looked like a meteor had crashed into the earth and skidded through it for at least a mile without pause, tunnelling up all sorts of animals living underneath it like moles and earthworms. If a transition realm cultivator didn''t stand a chance then obviously the nearby animals didn''t either and they met a fate similar to that of the guard though their deaths were a lot more instantaneous than even his. A forest in the distance now had a pretty dome shaped hole running through it and anyone who peered at it from a certain angle could see all the way through to the other side where some confused cultivators were gathering. The Echo had barrelled through their campsite and they were now staring down the Echo''s runway in disbelief, wondering if they''d accidentally gotten involved in a fight between top tier transition realm cultivators. Technically one of the individuals involved had been a transition realm cultivator but he most definitely was not a top tier one. As for Ares, he wasn''t in transition but he was at least ten or so tiers above top tier so that was enough of an explanation.


    What was truly jaw dropping about this attack, though, was that the Echo that shot through the fields and the forest wasn''t even at full power. Give or take a third of the original power had been lost during the earlier bounces against the walls. The original strike was so powerful that Ares likely could have killed the mecha dryad back in Baja in a single hit if he came across it today. It was a stark difference to his Echoes before which wouldn''t have even really made a noticeable dent. Of course his cultivation had increased too but that was really not the defining factor. Ares, back at late meridian expansion, with this level of pressure and quality of Echoes would be stronger than Ares at early sensory enhancement without it. The fact that Ares had improved so drastically was a good sign his cultivation path was blossoming into something incredible and the stunned crowd in the restaurant seemed to agree. Some of them had seen Ares turn into Garmr and slaughter the transition realm cultivators but that was a different matter entirely due to the absence of the Canis Stimulant capable of raising his cultivation to bloodline awakening. This was just Ares in sensory enhancement and yet he was still just as capable of the same feat! Just how strong was Garmr exactly, then, as the revenant''s strength was incomparable to Ares''... Well Garmr was an anomaly that been born inside of the anomaly that was Ares so it was only natural for the results to be incalculable. It was still highly ridiculous though and a lot of the people in the restaurant were secretly wishing they''d placed a bet on Red Sun this year...


    Though the Quietus was finished, everyone remained silent. Though Ares'' pressure was all but gone, everyone remained still. Though the young master was invariably screwed, he stood stock still and was unable to move his body. Even if he could there was little point to such an act as he was painfully aware that he was doomed here. What threat did his family name pose if transition realm cultivators meant nothing to Ares? Not to mention that by the time they learnt what happened here, and came to hunt Ares down, he would be in a higher realm probably anyway making his dominance over them that much more significant. If anything, the young master was making the wise decision and not trying to get his family involved in any way as it would only wind up in their crushing at the heel of this random cultivator he''d stumbled upon by chance. He honestly couldn''t fathom anything he was seeing as it defied all forms of common sense regarding everything that the cultivation world entailed. A guy in sensory enhancement just massacred two transition realm cultivators in less than a minute? Even if he could go home and tell his family about it they would strap him into his bed, lock the room, and search for medication to treat his mental illness or whatever curse / mental attack had been engraved into his brain... But home was too far away now.


    The young master understood he wasn''t even making it out of the restaurant, let alone back to the temporary abode he was staying at or his home in Isasz. Why on earth did he have to stumble upon this cursed restaurant, inhabited by the ghoul king himself?! Also, this ''Ares'' guy had to be some high profile prodigy which only made everything seem that much more obvious in retrospect. No wonder he didn''t bring up his family name, he was the big deal from the very beginning! In fact, as he was in sensory enhancement, there was a non-zero chance he was a competitor at the tournament which would explain why none of the other high profile guests had complained about them before he''d come along. In retrospect, a lot of it made sense... Not Ares'' raw strength, that was still impossible to understand, but it definitely existed and that couldn''t be denied. Unlike most other young masters who would go our kicking, screaming, or swearing to the heavens he would get his revenge even if only in the afterlife, this particular young master was just in full resignation mode. No bargaining, no running away, no petty and pointless defiance, he wasn''t even giving Ares that juicy look of shock that would have made this all at least a little worth while. The only thing Ares was getting out of this was the parka and a somewhat ruined but also somewhat salvageable date. Ares had thought it before but he thought it again now, meeting the young master was not worth it. Not tonight anyhow. He didn''t even have the grace to stick the landing as it looked like he might earlier so Ares'' disappointment was considerable.


    As Ares kicked away the restaurant wall''s rubble at his feet, and stepped over a few fallen bricks, the young master was going over the two options he''d been given previously and trying to decide which one he preferred. Obviously both were atrocious but if he at least had a choice then...


    "Wait."


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    A saviour? In this final hour, seconds before death bared its fangs? And from the babe no less? Had the young master been correct from the start? It was wishful thinking, and he knew it, but that slither of hope remained... Up until the next words to come out of Enyo''s mouth only caused him to go right back to the depths of despair. "Let me and Blo Blo kill him, we also have our own score we want to settle with him. You had your fun with the guards, let us get some revenge for him trying to ruin this night as well."


    While the young master simply sighed at this turn of events, the person most shocked was actually Ares. If Bellona had asked this of him, he would have just nodded along and understood where this was all coming from but Enyo? Justice personified? Murdering somebody in what would maybe end up being a gruesome fashion? Was she experimenting? What for? Was she truly that annoyed at everything he and his guards had said earlier? It wasn''t impossible and, knowing Enyo, she might actually be the most offended. The fact she wasn''t familiar with the idea of a ''young master'' might actually mean that this whole thing hit her the hardest of everyone. Enyo might genuinely have never met a person more overtly evil so maybe she was having a visceral reaction to it and remembering some of the stuff Ares talked about back when they first met. About killing anyone problematic to prevent them from causing anymore problems in the future which they would inevitably do because this sort of lifestyle was deeply ingrained... And at that point, if you''re killing them anyway, then whether it''s humane or not isn''t exactly relevant. Do unto others?


    Or maybe this was just the justice Enyo thought needed delivering. No mercy for scum? Was it because of what he planned on doing to her? Was it because of what he planned on doing to Bellona? Was it because of what he planned on doing to Ares? Was it all three that had joined together and culminated in pure wrath? She wasn''t outwardly snarling or vicious or anything but Ares, and Bellona, could tell there was a deep seated rage in her right now that wasn''t being expressed via her words or actions but, rather, he general aura. She almost felt more dangerous than Ares did when he was running his pressure at maximum earlier. Right now, despite everything Ares had promised to do to him, the young master might actually be better off getting slowly tortured to death by Ares... It''s not like it was just Enyo who was mad either, Bellona was also big time pissed off it just wasn''t as subtle as Enyo. She was gnashing her teeth and practically chomping at the bit to scratch this kid''s eyes out and maybe use that cleaver from earlier to tear off his misinformed junk! Bellona was not some ugly side chick! Of course she was more annoyed by the rape threats and the whole murder Ares thing but she wasn''t about to let the earlier comments slide either. She wanted to pay him back for every single word that had left his mouth. Still, even though she was almost frothing at the mouth, she paled in comparison to the deathly silent Enyo and even she knew it. Though Bellona was very nearly leaning over the table to grab the young master''s throat, she was still positioning her body a little further away from Enyo. It was hard to tell whether this was intentional or not but was absolutely a result of her sister''s menacing vibe.


    As much as Ares wanted to kill the bastard himself, he did already have his fun so letting the sisters do it was fine too. Or, more accurately, his curiosity had gotten the better of him as he wanted to see Enyo go through with it and ask her why later. This wasn''t normal at all! But it wasn''t a bad thing either. Ares didn''t exactly want Enyo to go around giving everyone excruciating and slow deaths but if she was capable of it, and had proven as such once or twice before, then that was necessary. If nothing else, it acted as a deterrent. Enyo was not free to assault. She would not just throw you in jail and forgive your sins once you were discharged from prison after you''d served your time. That was her default mode, sure, but if you really pushed her buttons, or crossed a boundary you shouldn''t have, then a far greater threat was in store for you. People needed to know that and they needed to fear her. Respect was good for keeping people in line but it was not functional as a preventative measure. People who respected Enyo would not do these sorts of things anyway it was those that needed to be fearful that were the most important targets.


    Given the number of people here, in the restaurant, information about every detail of every moment about tonight would spread far and wide. That was just a given... Perhaps Enyo''s line of thought was in sync with Ares on this and she knew she''d need to make an impactful move at some point. She was just channelling her unbridled rage at this guy because he happened to be the perfect fall guy. Instead of brutalising somebody who only committed a minor offence or just got on her nerves, she had enough justification, and enough of a want, to do it to this kid. The stars had aligned and given her an opportunity that was perfect in every way to spread some reputation, get justice, and vent her anger simultaneously. She might not have even really wanted to do this but was just allowing herself to get caught up in the moment because she was aware that she had to at some point for the sake of everyone around her. If Ares wasn''t around for whatever reason, Enyo needed to act as a deterrent. The same was true of the other wives but they were more likely to do this kind of stuff on their own regardless and didn''t need prompting.


    No doubt this whole savagery thing wouldn''t be easy for Enyo but, thankfully, she was easy to deal with for Ares and put a smile back on her face. Getting her drunk and then fooling around later would clear her mind and maybe that''s why she was so invested in doing this here and now. There was drink aplenty and even Blo Blo was getting in on the action later so, with that guarantee in her back pocket, now was good a time as any. All in all, this wasn''t a case of intervening so as not to get blood on Ares'' hands or anything like that. It was already too late for that and couldn''t be undone, plus that was just the kind of person Ares was anyway. He wouldn''t hesitate to be extra evil sometimes when he deemed it important too. No, this was happening because Enyo wanted it too otherwise Ares would have stepped in to prevent it by now. Hell he would have just killed the young master quickly and ended things here if that were the case. The last thing Ares wanted was for Enyo to leap outside her comfort zone just to keep Ares inside his... Not that this was outside the realm of familiarity for him anyway.


    Now only one question remained... What exactly were the sisters going to do to him? Bellona''s magic seemed to be conducive to bringing pain to a new level. She could burn, freeze, open up wounds, etc... If she applied some of her newfound creativity, pushing the boundaries of her magic, there was bound to be a lot of interesting tricks she could pull off... But what about Enyo? Her barriers could be freely moulded but that just made it all the more worthwhile to watch and see how exactly she was able to let loose. First up though was Bellona as she''d already gotten off her seat and was moving straight towards the kid. The young master did try to fight back but... Well.. Bellona was miles out of his league in every conceivable way. Bellona booted him in the stomach and laid him out flat on top of the same table Ares used to kill the other guard. From there, Enyo kindly placed some barriers on his arms and legs to prevent him from escaping his punishment. Bellona walked over to the cleaver that Ares had left on the floor and picked it up with a grin that was basically evil incarnate. Ares had no clue what this imp was up to but it was safe to say Ares would really not wanna be the young master right about now... Speaking of, something was clearly already happening to him as his face was belying his bewilderment. Given how Bellona''s magic worked it was hard to tell what was changing regarding the young master''s body as it might not even be visible to another human... Or so Ares thought, but he did eventually see what was changing and his face twisted into one of abject horror shortly after. It took the young master, and the other restaurant goers, a little longer to figure out what was happening but they eventually did too and some of them even opted to leave the building rather than watch this animosity unfold.


    See, what Bellona''s magic was doing right now was rather simple. She was using it in the obvious way and doubling the length of... A certain something. The young master''s worm had become a snake, then a cobra, then a long rope trailing down the inside of his trouser leg and creating a long, tube shaped ridge along it. Bellona, apparently, could make men''s'' downstairs friend extraordinarily long but, right now, that was definitely not a good thing... Bellona was about to treat this guy''s elongated shlong like a salami on a a chopping block... She''d increased its length hundred fold so she had more of it to cut into with the cleaver... This woman was a psychopath! Who even came up with torture like that?! Ares needed to never annoy Bellona because she was evidently a wicked woman in many ways.... He couldn''t watch this! He would have nightmares! The other men nearby clearly agreed as they were the ones leaving right now. They powered through the shock from earlier specifically so they wouldn''t have to spectate this barbarism and Ares was definitely going to follow their lead! He could already feel himself shrinking, literally, in fear and there might have even been a tiny little dot of sympathy dwelling somewhere within his cold black heart for the young master. It''s not even like he was going to live afterwards so this was just pointless cruelty of the highest order! Then again, he only had himself to blame here... Maybe if he hadn''t been so dead set sexually assaulting the sisters Bellona wouldn''t have chosen this method of retaliation.


    Ares hopped out the broken wall and threw up a disintegration barrier so as not to hear the blood curdling screams coming from within the building now that Blo Blo had started going chop chop. Not that Ares'' defensive measures helped against this specific mental attack... He was still wincing every couple of seconds and imaging the sound of a cleaver baring down on a chopping board... Ugh. And how much blood must have been sprayed everywhere? And the howls of the young master... It was truly a blood bath right now, that was for sure... How was Ares supposed to receive a handy from Blo Blo after this?! Just imagining it sent a shiver up Ares'' spine! What if she secretly snuck a cleaver into the bedroom?! Ares wildly shook his head to get the waking nightmare out of his head and forget about it. It weas to no avail but it was better than doing nothing amidst the deafening silence. Being trapped alone with his thoughts almost made it worse than just watching it!... Ares was curious as to whether the unfathomable savagery had ended so he temporarily lowered a section of the barrier.


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."


    Nope. Ares swiftly threw up the barrier again and started singing to himself as he rocked side to side. This was disgusting! What on earth had gotten into Bellona?! Ares wanted to throw up... The only way he could think to distract himself was to start pressurising the Backfire Bindings. He wasn''t going to be doing it for longer than a minute, and his progress might even reset fully as soon as he stopped, but sitting here and doing nothing was impossible right now! And so Ares kept himself busy while Blo Blo busied herself slicing and dicing. It did come to an end eventually, thank God, and it didn''t actually last for that long... It just really felt like it did... At least whatever Enyo was going to do literally couldn''t be worse. There was seriously no competition and Blo Blo might honestly have a career in professional torture... If there was ever anyone Ares jailed and wanted information out of then he knew which wife to ask to get the job done quick and clean!... Ok, definitely not clean, but it would surely be quick... No way any guy, at least, was surviving even half an hour against her, let alone multiple days of... That. Regardless, the young master must have definitely gotten the message that his antics were not appreciated. On the one hand, good showing Blo Blo! On the other hand... Maybe tone it down a bit next time? Like, a lot? Please?

 Chapter 253: Draconic Parka

    Ares had lowered the disintegration barrier and there was no more noise so he poked his head around the corner and had to retract it immediately lest he hurl. It was definitely not a pretty sight in there right about now but, thankfully, it seemed like Enyo was using her barriers to clean everything. She''d laid them out on the floor so she could lift up all the mess after, throw it away in a pile, and burn it with holy fire but, honestly, even holy fire was going to purge the evil lingering on those body parts... Not a chance! Ares waited a little longer, until he heard the sound of a blazing fire and saw some white flashes coming from within the restaurant, and finally walked back inside with his tail between his legs where it was nice and safe from the butcher from hell. Maybe there was some deep seated issue Bellona had with being flat and this was her way of taking it out on the world? A kind of ''if I''m to be small, everyone else shall be made smaller!'' type of deal? Ares didn''t want to find out and asking was not a clever idea. Quite frankly, he never wanted to speak of this matter ever again! That cleaver could be disintegrated and this event memory holed and nobody would be any worse off! Speaking of the devil in a woman''s body, Blo Blo was merrily whistling to herself as she kept flipping the blood stained cleaver in the air and catching it by the handle. It seemed like she was going to go and wash it but, really, it was highly unlikely Gavel wanted to keep it anymore... Rather, no one in their right mind wanted it! A tool for cutting other... Tools, was a device best kept under lock and key if not outright banished to the void! So why did Blo Blo seem intent on keeping it!? Was this going to become a common occurrence going forward?! Ares hoped not! If nothing else, he hoped he didn''t have to be around when it happened.


    While Blo Blo slunk off the kitchen as she was playing with her new toy, Ares looked down at the young master with a disgusted and cringe ridden face that made it obvious he did not envy the guy. His legs had deep cuts in them as they''d acted like a chopping board so whenever the cleaver tore through his lower half it would end up embedded in his ankle, calf, or thigh. The young master had tears streaming down his face and even a little blood from how hard he accidentally bit his tongue while he was yelling earlier. His head was still rocking side to side as his brain coped with the pain. For the first time in his entire life, the kid felt genuinely sorry down to his core. He''d lied about it before, sure, but this time he''d been taught a harsh enough lesson to actually drill humility and humbleness into him. If he were to live beyond this day of repentance he would actually become a better person, it was clear as day. Still, that wasn''t going to happen. Ares was lenient but he was not merciful. You could push his buttons a little, especially if it was just him you were aiming for, but go on for too long or aim for someone around him and then you were in deep trouble and there was no way out of it. Tolerance but never forgiveness. The young master could make an oath to be Ares'' little pet, walk on all fours, and carry him around for the rest of time but Ares would still not spare him. He might accept the oath, to give the kid false hope, and then do him in anyway just to watch him feel betrayed... But let''s face it, the poor bastard had gone through hell and back already and didn''t need insult to be added to injury like that right about now...


    Ares looked over at Enyo who was heading over to do her part and presumably kill him during the act. Whatever she had planned would likely result in his death as Enyo wasn''t the type to drag things like that on for no valid reason. She didn''t enjoy it so anything non-lethal just wasn''t in the cards. It would hurt like hell, and be torturous all the same, but there would at least be a light at the end of the tunnel for the young master. Probably a bright orange light because he was going straight to the pits of hell, if it even existed, and not taking even a single detour on the way. As for Enyo, she''d pulled out her trusty shield and was walking behind the young master and lifting it up. It seemed her brutality was going to be a lot more plain but no less devastating. All she was going to do was bash the young master''s head in again and again and again. He would go from completely sane, or at least as sane as a man who just went through what Blo Blo put him through could be anyway, and end up a brain dead coma patient in a vegetative state. The pain would be immense but short lived as his head was dented and subsequently caved in, at which point the shield would start digging into his brain. The sooner he died the better but it wasn''t likely he would bite the dust before he''d had tremors sent through his whole body at least a couple of times. Enyo could have encased her shield in a pressurised barrier and, at that point, she would have killed him in a single swing... But that wasn''t the point of this and so she brought her shield down the old fashioned way, even holding back some of her strength so as not to accidentally end things right away.


    CRACK


    The first strike came crashing down with a thunderous blow that split the kid''s head and caused blood to flow out all over the table. Part of his brain was visible through the cracked skull and he was rolling around in his restraints in agony, screaming once more. This didn''t end up benefitting him, however, as all it did was cause Enyo''s next attack to miss its mark slightly and prolong his suffering as it hit him on the side of the head instead. This attack took off his ear and scraped the entire left side of his face.


    CRACK


    CRACK


    CRACK


    CRACK


    CRACK


    SQUIDGE


    Again and again Enyo brought the shield of justice down on the tyrant and crushing his head piece by piece. Bits of skull were tattered and lying on the floor as the young master had stopped moving entirely. He wasn''t dead but he wasn''t conscious, or could be ever again, as he was permanently brain damaged. Even if someone could restore his awareness he wouldn''t be able to speak properly or function like a regular human. He was done for as a living creature but, luckily, he was about to be put out of his misery right this very instant. The last strike Enyo did had been uninterrupted by bone and simply dug into the kid''s brain, drilling through the grey matter and severing all sorts of important looking things within his head. The twitching and the spasming didn''t stop, though, and whether or not the kid was feeling pain in these last few moments would never be know to anyone other than himself as he was about to take that knowledge to the grave.


    Enyo raised the shield up high, gripped it with both hands this time, and slammed the bottom of the shield down so hard she sliced through the head entirely and broke the table in half. The shield kept going and even sunk into the floor, causing a tremor and cracking the ground at that location. Enyo had set up barriers to easily deal with the mess but where the shield fell there wasn''t one so Gavel''s floor had been ruined somewhat... Ares would have a word with her about compensation afterwards... Between the wall and the floor, almost all off the stardust Ares earned by melting down the transition realm cultivators would be gone for good... Que sera, sera. It was a night out on the town! Gotta be a little bit of a spendthrift here and there, right? Although perhaps this wasn''t what most people had in mind.


    Enyo raised the barriers filled with brain matter, blood, eyeball bits, and shattered skull to burn everything but Ares was quicker on the draw and simply waved his hand to disintegrate it all. Enyo''s barriers did come with a thin layer of disintegration but it would take a while for it to chew through the thickness off the blood that was lying atop it. Ares'' disintegration, on the other hand, was immediately effective and, now, there was no proof the young master or the two guards had even existed in this place save for the damaged floor and wall... That and the parka Bellona had taken off the kid earlier before she went to town on him. That was something! Although things had gotten a little sour, and more than just a little out of hand, the parka was now in good hands! Hooray for murder! Ares turned to Enyo with a wry smile and spoke to her to see what was going on in that strange head of hers. "So, uh, you wanna talk about it?"


    Enyo just shrugged and sighed. "No, that''s alright, we can talk tomorrow about it. Let''s not ruin the night over this. Besides, if Bellona can still be chipper as ever then we shouldn''t be such fuddy duddies and take this more seriously than her. Can''t go ruining the mood when it''s not really that big a deal, right? Speaking of, where is that dangerous woman anyhow? She was just cleaning the cleaver, she should have been back by now..." As if on cue, Bellona came out the kitchen with a huge smile on her face. Not an evil one like before, one of pure joy. Enyo raised an eyebrow and queried where exactly this good vibe had come from. "What''s gotten into you? I take it you''re not over the moon just because you have a ceremonial man-slaughter tool in your possession now?"


    "Hm?" Bellona looked over at the two as she had been making her way back to the booth, "Oh, no! Enyo you would NOT believe how cute the tiny elf chef is! She''s so small and hardworking! I just had to give her hugs and head pats!... Although I did squeal a bit at one point which scared her but I apologised and hugged her some more to make up for it! I even made sure to hide the cleaver otherwise the poor little thing would have freaked out. Ten out of ten on the cuteness scale though! It''s worth eating here just to see the elf! To think there was such a talented and adorable kid working back there! Ares! You should have introduced me earlier! You know I like cute stuff."


    "Yes ma''am!" Ares stood upright and to attention as he saluted the scary lady with a cleaver.


    "Eh? What''s gotten into you?" Bellona seemed to be completely and blissfully unaware of the scale of her horrors but that didn''t make her falter. Instead, she simply changed the conversation topic and allowed Ares to keep being weird for no apparent reason... Even if the reason was extremely apparent to anyone with a pair of balls. "Anyway, here ya go! As a reward for showing me that dope ass flying kick earlier, one like it had just come out an old eastern movie, I present to thee.... A parka!" Bellona pulled out the parka and lobbed it at the still stock still Ares. It landed on him and draped over his shoulder like he was some kind of mannequin but he almost jumped in fright when the thing became a personal treasure instantly! This thing wanted him real bad! And he could tell why, it was actually a draconic treasure.


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    The design of the parka wasn''t meaningless, or sowed on or anything, it was actually symbolic of the nature of the treasure. Ares hadn''t even put it on, and probably wouldn''t right now as it was hot enough in here as is, but he could feel the sweltering heat of a dragon''s breath emanating from the parka. According to what he could gleam from this treasure, it was known as the Scaled Insulator and was a treasure that had long been hidden under the ice in Isasz from way back when the Primordial barrier wasn''t even yet a thing. A dying dragon curled up around its human friend''s corpse and voila! Dragon jacket! The story regarding the dragon and his friend wasn''t anything too complicated, they won a fight but paid a heavy price and so they crash landed on Sheryashka and died in Isaz. Tragic but all too common a fate in the cultivation world. Of course their story probably went a lot further back than that but none of that was shown in this small capsule of knowledge he could gleam directly from the treasure so their tale would be long forgotten and made meaningless by the annals of time. Maybe they''d fought against one another in the past or maybe the human raised the dragon since it was a hatchling, either way they were both dead now and Ares was wearing the culmination of their final moments together.


    As for what this bad boy could do, the obvious one was regulate temperatures in cold environments. There was some scaled plating inside the parka, so it was even thicker than it looked, and those scales would act like hot plates to heat up the wearer. They also functioned as defence to block out some of the impact from attacks so that was neat. The other ability this thing possessed was an art similar to overheat that could pump out a blast of fire around it, turning Ares into a furnace bomb of sorts. It was slightly better than overheat though as the art could be maintained instead of being immediately detonated on use, serving as a permanent aura of heat that was quite severe and could maybe burn a person if they stayed in it long enough. Of course the main usage of this was actually to heat up fellow travellers whereas the full detonation was for combat. Regardless, for any cold regions Ares would happen across on his journeys, this parka was absolutely invaluable and then some!


    It was way too good a treasure for the kid though as there was more to it that could only be utilised by a person with draconic heritage. Ares might not have been able to awaken it before but, now that the golden seed was fully digested, the parka had reacted to his bloodline and became a personal treasure on sight. It also gained an interesting ability that allowed Ares to bring out his draconic bloodline a little and breathe fire. Not destruction oriented fire like Garmr, just regular old fire breath. Pretty neat! It gave him another means of attacking while he was wearing it that didn''t cost mana. It was just a permanent tool provided he was wearing the treasure. That more than made up for the inevitable loss off mobility he would incur when wearing this bulky thing but Ares had enough means to speedily dart around anyway and he could sacrifice some innate speed for this. In cold, icy regions fire breath would see plenty of action against the local monsters and no doubt be highly effective so it was particularly handy! Also, not only was it a fire source anywhere and at anytime, it was also access to fire breath that he wouldn''t have otherwise had. Yes it was weird that Ares, being part dragon, couldn''t breathe normal fire before acquiring this treasure but, well, he had a better variant anyway so who cared! Also, that slight inconvenience had been rectified so although it wasn''t a massive deal it was pretty great in its own way. Good haul!


    Now that the trio had sorted out all their immediate problems, Ares turned around to Gavel with a wry smile. She''d seen some serious stuff go down in her restaurant tonight! Any normal person would be a little frightful but, despite being a mortal, Gavel was just giving the trio an impressed thumbs up. She''d lived the kind of life where people met similar ends, if not occasionally worse, so none of this was new to her. Now, if she was truly business minded she might have been a little annoyed at having had this happen inside her restaurant, as it might deter potential customers, but right now she was basking in the afterglow of a good show. If anything she liked Ares'' wives even more now! Especially Bellona, that was one fiery woman when riled up! Still, even if she was perfectly accepting of everything that happened here Ares was not and wanted to give renumeration for the expenses she would have to pay. Granted she earned a metric ton of money due to the nature of the restaurant being fine dining as the prices she could gouge... Ahem... The prices she could throw on the menu were pretty jaw dropping sometimes. Well, jaw dropping for a mortal-based business anyway. There were fine dining cultivator restaurants, which this establishment could very well become one day with Remmy at the helm, and that was where the biggest of big bucks started to flow. Although it was worth mentioning that locals got a very different price than foreigners did... Anyway, point being that whether Gavel made money or not was irrelevant, Ares was going to pay her by hook or by crook. "Gavel. I''m not taking no for an answer so let me pay for the floor and the wall. I don''t know how much you need but I''ll give you three high grade as that ought to cover it and then some. The extra can be considered the rest of my apology and then we''re all squared up. You''re already letting me eat for free so this is non-negotiable otherwise the food will only end up tasting sour in my mouth."


    Gavel was stubbornly shaking her head and tried to deny Ares. "It''s really not important. It was my fault for dumping the problem on your head to begin with so I should accept the means with which you solved the problem. I couldn''t prevent the issue and required the aid of a customer to solve it so it should be me apologising to you and those lovely lady friends of yours."


    "... Lovely... Very..." Ares couldn''t get the image of a cleaver out of his brain but shook his head and carried on discussing the stardust issue with Gavel. " Look, Gavel, you don''t have a say in this! I will hide the stardust in this restaurant somewhere and just leave it there for you to find one day when you''re cleaning up if you don''t take it off my hands now. Hell I might even give it directly to Remmy and tell her to go spend it willy nilly. Even if you don''t use it on the floor and wall you should have some fun with it at least. Maybe buy Remmy some new clothes or take her on a trip somewhere. She works hard and could do with a break... Not that she wouldn''t want to cook on holiday anyway. Point being, whatever you use it for, you will be using it!... Ah wait a minute, I nearly forgot about this..." Ares just realised the Tricky Rink was lingering around on some parts of the floor. He almost completely forgot but one portly middle-aged man who was trying to leave the building had stumbled, tripped, and face planted due to the ice... Whoops! Although, to be fair to Ares, this guy could have just asked him to remove it. It''s not like Ares would bite his head off or anything! If he should be worried about anyone it was Bellona but she was already safely secured and contained within the booth. Ares removed the rest of the rink and turned back to Gavel while holding a small pouch with the high grades in them. Gavel stared at the pouch in silence for a while before sighing as she realised there was no hope of winning this argument. Remmy could get extremely lost in her cooking so all Ares had to do was walk into the kitchen and put it in her pocket and she would be none the wiser about it. If Gavel couldn''t'' fight it, she would just accept it instead and make sure the rest of their meal was enjoyable and went undisturbed.


    "Alright alright, twist my leg why don''t ya?" Gavel took the pouch and stored it in her back pocket. "Go on and sit your ass back in the booth and choose what you want from the menu, I''ll have Remmy prioritise your order whenever you''ve decided what you want exactly. Gavel walked away leaving Ares to re-enter the lion''s den... And he was sitting next to her too! He kept repeating the words She won''t do it to you in his had over and over again. It''s not that he didn''t believe it, and needed to drill it in or anything, it''s that it was a comforting mantra that soothed his soul and relieved his trembling mind of the fear that ailed it... For all of five seconds before he had to say it again... Ares boldly dared to go where no other man wanted to and hopped inside the booth. He close the door behind and sat down all in one fluid motion, so as not to allow himself to chicken out, and somehow manged all of that without looking in Bellona''s direction... Which earned him a poke in the ribs causing him to jump in his seat!


    "What do you want from me, devil spawn!?"


    Bellona''s jaw dropped because she had no idea what she''d done to deserve this treatment! "Alright, that''s it punk! You''re gonna get the chop!" In a karmic twist of fate, Blo Blo had pulled out the cleaver again and was swinging the blunt end at Ares who was using Voidwalk to cling to the walls and ceiling of the booth in order to keep as large a distance as humanly possible from his manic wife! She was getting far too comfortable with that damn cleaver! Ares was going to pry it off her and hide it in the ocean! What did she even realistically need it for anyway?! She couldn''t cook to save her life! Unless it was bubble tea, in that case ignore the earlier statement.


    Speaking of bubble tea, Blo Blo eventually got tired of waving the cleaver so she sat down to look through the menu again as she sipped on some homemade bubble tea she brought out of her spatial ring. Normally she wouldn''t do such a thing in a restaurant but today was all over the place and there were no drinks in the booth currently, as they''d been knocked over during the earlier kerfuffle, and so she was making do with what she had. Plus it''s not like she could order extra wine to make up for it as she was getting everything for free... Taking advantage of that would be pretty low so, rather than order more drink than was necessary, having her own was actually the more polite thing to do right now! It was also non-alcoholic and Blo Blo could tell Enyo was going to load her up on wine throughout the night so she was enjoying a very different flavour right now before the booze was brought out. As for Ares, he''d cautiously taken a seat and was patting Blo Blo on the head like a feral animal in a bid to ease the tensions. She called him an idiot but made no other moves towards him so he considered this trick to be a success!


    Now that the young master and his cronies were dead and, more importantly, the cleaver was MIA, it was time to finally enjoy the night as things should have been from the get go. Of course none of this had changed the fact that the sisters still hadn''t chosen the other two meals yet... Or which wine to have... Or which dessert to order... Ares could tell he was going to be waiting here for a while before he could call Gavel over... Oh well, at least they were having a good time and not dwelling on everything that just occurred, that was for the best... Although he seriously wished they would hurry up...

 Chapter 254: Giant Enemy Crab Is the Big Boss of This Culinary Expedition

    The menu had been fully scrutinised from top to bottom at least ten times over by now and Ares had slumped half dead in his seat as he dreamt of a seemingly unreachable finality. He couldn''t really blame the sisters as the food was just all scrumptious and you could close your eyes to pick something and still get a delicious dish. The food on the menu wasn''t anything fancy, as Remmy was still getting her sea legs in the culinary world, but the taste was divine. A lot of classic dishes from all walks of life were present and choosing between a hall of fame of dishes was not an easy task. Thankfully for Ares'' sanity, they did eventually come to a conclusion, even if it was without him, and now it was time to open the booth and wave to Gavel. Normally she would come check on everyone occasionally, and waving to her in such a manner was rude, but there were special circumstances regarding their dining experience tonight so it was fine. Or rather, Gavel wasn''t going to disturb the trio until they called for her so she''d made it necessary to do so if Ares ever actually wanted to put some food in his mouth...


    The second the sisters looked at one another and nodded their heads in agreement, the booth door had been swung open and Ares'' head poked out of it in search of Gavel. If she was in the kitchen Ares might honestly go and call her he was that desperate to be freed from the indecisiveness of Enyo and Blo Blo. Thankfully Gavel happened to be nearby, as she''d just taken an order from another booth not too far from Ares'', and so there would be no chance for the sisters to change their minds! They were locked in for good now! Neither of them had it in them to waste Gavel''s time and start ''uhm-ing'' and ''ah-ing'' at the menu in front of her so they would stick to their guns and pick exactly what they''d agreed on even if they weren''t too sure anymore. They could be here the whole night if Ares let them so he had to take at least some measures to prevent it. This place had a closing time after all! Staying beyond that would just be bad manners even if Remmy and Gavel were willing to hang around.


    Gavel came into the room with a notepad at the ready but had no intention of using it. She could remember everything off the top of her dome she jus really liked the way it felt to have a notebook with her like some kind of big shot manager. Ares leaned back in his seat and let the two sisters order because even now Ares really didn''t know what was in store for him. Couldn''t go wrong really so he would be content either way. Plus there were three whole dishes being ordered so he was bound to be enthused over at least one... Although knowing how well Remmy cooked just about everything he would inevitably end up liking all three of them. The biggest issue he faced wasn''t liking the food, it was managing to eat any of it before the greedy guts next to him wolfed it down before he could even blink.


    In the end, they ordered some Bhorashka red wine, a vegetarian curry, steak and kidney pie, and shellfish bisque which, while not as notably popular as the other options, was Remmy''s specialty... And quiche Lorraine... The sneaky women ordered a fourth dish! In the end, they were unable to simply choose three and so it had come to this... Ares felt bad for ordering more than they should have during their freebie meal but, well, it was probably fine? Gavel didn''t seem to care, and was maybe even shocked they hadn''t ordered more, and the wives were looking as though they wanted to start adding a million more dishes to the list... Ares was going to have to bring them both back here sometime in the future... Before the two sisters could start adding on to the list of orders, Gavel had left the room and went to go forage around for some of the wine they''d asked for. She returned not long after with three bottles in her hands and Ares felt incredibly guilty... But he was also the only one who felt like he was taking advantage as Enyo had gleefully taken all the wine off Gavel''s hands as the two knowingly winked at each other. Sometimes women were beyond the scope of Ares'' understanding of the world and so t was just better if he didn''t question it all or think too much about it.


    Even though they''d already ordered, the sisters spent the wait for the food staring at the menu and trying to figure out where they went wrong... They''d already changed their minds! Secretly Ares was glad they''d picked though because he was also joining them and trying figure out what he would have chosen and it was not an easy task. Options galore but what Ares was really interested in were the new additions to the menu since his last visit. He could get a rough idea of what Remmy had been experimenting with just via the ingredients and dishes she chose to use and what she created out of them. One major addition to the menu was roast chicken as Remmy never used to touch chicken with a barge pole. It''s not that she didn''t even really know how to cook it or anything, the dead bird just creeped her out a bit. She must have overcome that fear and practiced cooking poultry enough times to feel comfortable selling it which meant it was definitely up to standard.


    It was an interesting thought experiment to try and figure out how Remmy created each of these dishes and the processes she used as her main ''gimmick'' as a chef was to not alter the original taste of the ingredients at all. She simply enhanced the flavour to extremes which led to some seriously mouth watering food filled to the brim with taste. If you were keen on any particular flavour, and it was on this menu in this restaurant, you were in luck as there was probably no better experience in the entirety Sheryashka. Point in case, the coffees here were divine and Ares had been lucky enough to be rewarded with one for his work back when he was younger. It was stimulating in all the right ways. He''d been given it black but it was still oddly creamy in texture and smooth as it slid down his throat. The spice and richness of the coffee nearly blew his mind as it was just so fantastically raw. Combine that exceptional quality of distinct flavour with the complete lack of thickness of the liquid and presto you have a coffee worth remembering. Regardless of what the sisters ordered for dessert, Ares was getting his coffee later! The real issue was fending off the two vultures who would be circling his cuppa and demanding ''just a sip''. Just a sip? Yeah right. One sip later and Ares would be coffee-less!


    Before the menu had three separate holes stared into it, and before the alcohol was chugged down to the last drop, Gavel arrived with some of the food. Naturally she couldn''t bring it all at once but she''d asked the other waiters and waitresses to leave this booth to her. First up was the quiche and the steak and kidney pie. Ares went for the quiche first primarily because that was also what Enyo and Bellona were gunning for. If he went for the pie first he wouldn''t be surprised to find the quiche long gone and he wanted to at least try everything! He took a bit of quiche, making sure to include the crust as he wanted to check that too, and gave it a whirl...


    Sigh


    Remmy was really just way too good at her job. Ares wasn''t sure if he was eating clouds or not but they tasted phenomenal either way. Somehow even the crust was melting in his mouth and crumbling on his tongue like it was hardly even there. And that wasn''t even touching on the strong flavour either. It tickled his tongue and the bacon, specifically, was to die for. It was salty, yes, but boy did it pack an unforgettable punch. Each tiny chunk of bacon was like a flavour bomb that mixed with the creaminess of the egg, producing a more-ish taste that couldn''t be defied. Even Ares wasn''t able to bring himself away from the dish even though he wanted to get a taste of the pie. There was something about this quiche that just drew you in with its light and airy mouth feel while the bacon titillated your tongue. The incredible part about all of this was that Remmy didn''t even currently use magic in her cooking. She used it primarily to gauge quantities and hadn''t even gone anywhere near flavour adjustment or enhancement. She had a long way to go on her journey but, damn, she was already a little prodigy in her own right.


    Ares put that thought to the back of his head and went to go dive back into the quiche but it was already gone! The look of shock on everyone''s face meant that the trio had experienced the exact same confusion as the quiche had literally just arrived, right?! Gavel had only just now brought in the other two dishes and this one was already gone?! How on earth did the critics who ate here do it? How did they savour the taste slowly without succumbing to greed? Actually, although they were unaware of this, most critics had to order twice because they made the same mistake the first time they ate here too. It was almost unavoidable really but the quiche, in particular, was notorious for this. It was the lightest dish on the menu and would evaporate whenever bought. It''s not even like the sisters had pigged out any more than Ares either as he''d gotten more than his fair share of the dish, he just wanted more! He might have even had a significantly larger portion than the sisters as they were currently sending him a soft glare... And here he''d been worrying about them stealing all his food when he''d just gobbled up the one thing they''d intentionally ordered as extra because they couldn''t let it go... What a grand faux pas this was and he could be damn sure they wouldn''t let him forget about it until he bought them another one at some point. Actually, after the international, when he took these two on individual dates, they were invariably both going to demand he bring them here weren''t they? Honestly, good choice. Ares couldn''t really fault such a decision... Although for Blo Blo specifically he might make another suggestion entirely. There was a place that did burgers better than even Remmy could and, given Bellona''s fondness for the meal, it was worth taking her there instead.


    Gavel chuckled at the sight of Ares sheepishly scratching his head and looking to the side after wolfing down most of the quiche. She''d seen such an occurrence plenty of times when other couples also made the same choice to share dishes. For some reason it was almost always the men that ate more of the quiche. Maybe it was the bacon that got them hooked? It''s not like the reverse wasn''t also occasionally true, especially for any dish that came with homemade chips as those disappeared in seconds flat, but in this case the men who ate here were completely unrestrained in their appetite. The quiche was one of their best selling dishes ever since they added it almost entirely because it was so frequently bought two, three, or sometimes even four times in one sitting as if the customers were trying to catch lightning in a bottle and grab a hold of the taste forever. It never worked which just led to repeat customers failing over and over to have the taste linger for even a fraction of a second longer.


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    Anyway, Gavel left the trio to it and took her leave. When the trio were done with everything, which looked to be soon at the rate they were eating, they could call her back to take their dessert order instead. It might even take them longer to choose their desserts than it will to eat the mains at this rate! Although probably not. Most people realised the mistake they made after eating one dish and would slow themselves down, hard though it was, and enjoy the rest of the meal at a leisurely pace... Or try to anyway. A lot of people failed and just went back to their ravenous, brain off, digest everything in sight style of eating. Mortals typically had a rougher time of this because their mental acuity was low in comparison to a cultivators. On that note, it was worth mentioning that there was some cultivator food out there that was so exquisite mortals couldn''t eat it without dying. The taste was actually so strong it would overload their brain and kill them on the spot. It had happened many times before in the wider world and was something people had to keep an eye out for.


    Back to the trio, they''d just gotten a taste of the pie and there was reluctance on their faces. Not because the food tasted off or anything, not in the slightest, it was the exact opposite! The food was so good they just wanted to mindlessly chew on it again. Thankfully it was nothing more than a temptation that they were able to pry themselves away from by distracting themselves with wine or other dishes. Ares stuck to the pie a little longer though because the taste on the tip of his tongue was taunting him! There was something in the gravy that provided a hint of sweetness and he wanted to figure out what it was exactly... Pear pulp? Ares was stunned! Since when did Remmy get creative like this!? She was a growing as a chef and exploring beyond the boundaries of the box all chefs started in. This was an interesting concept as it gave the meal a tiny, ever so tiny, essence of fruitiness that gelled really well with the strong meat flavours. A lot of meats went well with fruits. Apple sauce! Cranberry sauce! Pineapple on pizza!... Ok, maybe not that last one but the point was still salient in spite of the horror of that last suggestion.


    Ares himself had used some berries to cook a meaty meal for Allie, Enyo, and Aejaz way back when they originally set off for their Baja mission so he was familiar with this type of creation. Still, pear had never occurred to him as an option but it was a wise choice. Pear could be quite watery, so that had to be dealt with to prevent it from diluting the flavour of the dish, but it also meant that it wasn''t overpowering if you could fix that aspect of it as the taste was relatively subdued. It would become a subtle freshness to bring some contrast to the steak, kidney, and gravy. It was probably needed, actually, as Remmy''s signature flavour overload style could potentially go overboard if she wasn''t careful. Some flavours were great in extremes but that didn''t mean it couldn''t be too much if she piled it on. Something like pear helped mitigate that without compromising too much on flavour. Ares almost hadn''t even noticed the pear and the sisters definitely hadn''t. Not because they didn''t have a refined enough palate or anything, it was just because Ares was scrutinising every single inch of every flavour within these dishes so he could steal like a proper bandit! Not that it was an easy task to savour the food slowly like this. The meatiness of the pie was like a sucker punch to the jaw when you weren''t looking. He''d put a bite into his mouth and nearly been sent reeling sue to the impact it had on his tongue.


    Ares had to struggle to draw himself away from the pie but he he managed to do so when he reminded himself that everything else was going to be just as good. Next up was either the shellfish bisque or the vegetarian curry... The bisque was Remmy''s specialty so Ares figured he would save the best for last... Not that it was even possible to tell what was the best in this little booth of food heaven right now. Like receiving a double handy from the wives, which was going to happen later for sure with how drunk everyone was getting. How the hell was he supposed to know which hand felt better?! He was absolutely going to get asked this too but he already had a sly response primed and ready! ''Which ever one''s working harder''. He thought it was funny but that would only be up until they both started working harder and then the fun would end pretty prematurely... He wasn''t usually a quick shot! This time will be an exception! One he''d brought upon himself, sure, but definitely not the norm! Or, rather, wasn''t he getting ahead of himself here? How was he able to predict the future so accurately? Was his knowledge of the sisters so transcendental now he could foresee events yet to happen!? He knew in his heart of hearts this was absolutely the kind of thing that would happen and it was pleasant knowing he could make pretty solid predictions about his wives'' behaviour patterns now. Much like how they knew what he was up to, most of the time, did he now possess the ability to know their next move? It was a small thing but a good sign his bond with them had deepened a little further. There was already love in the air, yes, but it''s not like they''d being dating for that long yet so small things like this were definitely still in store. Ares hadn''t expected it though so he caught himself in the act and was momentarily taken aback...A foolish mistake! While he was being sentimental about his wives, his wives were being sentimental about the food they''d just finished pigging out on! Ares was being left behind in the dust (crumbs) so he had to jump right back in the saddle and get some grub in his gob.


    The vegetable curry had... Stuff... In it. It was quite loaded so Ares couldn''t really tell what every ingredient was right of the rip but the colour was a pleasant green so he was fairly confident there was a good bit of spinach in it. The other obvious ingredient at a glance was chick peas and the dish had come with a side of saag aloo so it already looked promising. Plus the smell was divine and was filling the booth right now with its pungent aroma. Ares tried it and now his mind was working overtime to figure out the potential list of spices that had gone into this thing. Thankfully, as Remy made sure every flavour in a dish stood out in it sown way, Ares was able to get at least three quarters of the spices jotted down in his brain correctly. He would need to ask the elf for the rest of them at a later date as it was too hard to tell. Ares was almost more concerned with this task than rating the dish but he hadn''t forgotten to give it a ten out of ten!... Like every other dish this place offered! The saag aloo was so soft Ares was surprised simply resting atop the bowl wasn''t enough for it to disappear into thin air as the second it touched his tongue it melted like butter. Plus the taste was out of this world. So much so that Remmy could honestly sell it as a standalone dish and it wouldn''t be out of place in terms of quality. Still, the real kicker came when mixing it with the curry and Ares was at a loss for words. He simple could not describe the taste it was just that exceptional. The spinach had sunk into the depths of the thick sauce and was soaked to the core so every strand of it was laden with joy. Black peppercorn was a strong component of this dish and the kick it gave you intermittently while the sauce sloshed around in your mouth was perfect. It also made this dish one of the only two spicy dishes on offer in this selection but it was a welcome, numbing sensation that lit a fire in your mouth that was excruciatingly addictive and hard to put down.


    But put down the curry Ares must as the final dish needed to be given its five minutes of fame. The time to shine for the specialty of the talented chef was now and so Ares wasted no time in glancing over all the details he could spot with his eyes before he dug in. It was shrimp and crab, by the looks of it, and this was also the other spicy dish in the line-up. The bisque was a luscious orange that almost jumped out of the bowl and slapped you if you looked at it too long. The sheer flavour it was packing was evident just from the strong and vibrant colour alone. There really wasn''t anything fancy to observe with the dish, as it was really just shrimp and crab with nothing else added to it, so the important step was to taste it! Ares got a spoonful, making sure to get both the shrimp and the crab in one fell swoop, and down the hatch it all went.


    Ares was smiling from head to toe as the food went down a treat. It truly was Remmy''s best dish and had somehow managed to outclass all the others on offer. It was no wonder she spent all her spare time practicing this dish because she''d really hit the nail on the head with it and, so, developing it further was like adding the final touches to a masterpiece. She had to be careful not to ruin her magnum opus but with the vastness of her talent at her disposal there was a lot of room for small success to be added to the dish. She just kept piling on subtle changes that made the dish better and better and, when the cooking pillar did finally get involved, those individual successes would be far larger, spiralling the dish upwards in a meteoric rise of taste sensation.


    As for right now, the shrimp was buttery and spicy with a tinge of garlic added into the mix. it was a smooth taste, as the garlic was minimal but still present enough to make itself barely felt, that gave way to the powerhouse crab taste that came in like a wrecking ball a few seconds later. It was a glorious one two punch that lowered your guard before going for the knock out with the rich crab assault. Claw meat had been used so the nuttiness was reminiscent of when the mecha dryad had fired its seed gun at Ares, it was that devastatingly impactful. There were milder parts to a crab but Remmy chose to weave this part into the dish to combine it specifically with the shrimp. When the shrimp gave way to the crab, it passed on the spicy torch but not its original flavour so you went form mellow and hot to nutty and blazing. It was a spectacular feat that was simply to die for. A real masterclass of a dish and, clearly, everyone at the table was in agreement. Normally there would be idle conversation during a meal such as this but everyone was so pre-occupied with the food they barely even had time to stop and speak. Why quit eating when all that meant was that everyone else was going to steal your share? If your mouth was open, it was either talking or eating and you couldn''t do one if you were doing the other!... Well you could but you really shouldn''t... Anyway, point being that the trio ate in relative silence, other than the sound of cutting into food, or swiping it up, with forks, knives, and spoons at least, and were enjoying every second of it. There was plenty of time to chat once the dishes were long gone and that was looking to happen quite soon based on the rate they were going. They''d made every effort to slow down and they''d managed it to some extent but not enough, clearly, as the food was performing a magic trick right now and putting on a disappearing act. Pleasant chat could wait until they were finished although... The trio was getting pretty wasted on the alcohol at this point... God only knows what kind of nonsense gobbledygook they were going to start spewing from now ''till they went to sleep later...

 Chapter 255: Next on the Menu, Bellona

    Where did the food go? That was what the trio''s sad faces were conveying through their wordless exchange of bewildered looks at one another. Why wasn''t there more? Did they need to order ten dishes next time they came here? Twenty? Thirty? Sure they were cultivators, and could eat truck loads of food if their heart so desired, but surely this was some kind of scam right? Like Remmy had learnt how to make food in a person''s stomach disappear to keep them hungry and ordering more? Actually, an art of that despicably evil nature did exist but it was banned / illegal in most domains. There was a pretty hefty fine associated with the usage of it and, depending on how severe the infraction was, potentially even multiple thousands of years of starvation in solitary confinement as a harsher, but deserved, punishment.


    "That was way too good to be true..." Bellona was staring dejectedly at her empty plate and Ares had to pat her on the shoulder to make her feel better about her devastating loss.


    "That indeed was truly way too good." Ares nodded like a drunken wise sage as he laughed at his own stupid re-wording of Bellona''s statement. Normally she would have rolled her eyes in response but being off her rocker, thanks to the wine, made her let out a small laugh as she nudged Ares in the arm with her body. "Aw man, now we need to choose desert... We''re gonna be here forever..." Ares yawned a bit but still lazily reached for the menu even with his eyes half closed. He fumbled around a bit but did eventually manage to grab the slippery thing before bringing it in front of the other two. "Soooo, what are we eating?"


    Enyo, easily the most drunk person here, slurred all her words as she wobbled side to side in her seat. "I wanna eat YOU!" With no prior warning, Enyo fell on top of Blo Blo and started sucking on her neck like a vampire. Bellona was weakened by the alcohol but still in good enough condition to push the blood sucker away. It required a good deal of force which only served to propel her backwards into Ares'' loving arms who made sure to give the other side of her neck a small suck. Bellona was able to remove the leech on this side by whacking him with the menu and floundering back into her seat where she was being greedily eyed up by both her partners on either side.


    "I want brownie!" Bellona figured the best way out of this conundrum, at least for now anyway, was to change the topic and bring their attention back to something that was actually edible, even if they both believed it wouldn''t be quite as sweet as indulging in Bellona''s flesh. Her distraction bid was successful as both of them fell in line and looked at the menu... Although they were both leaning on her shoulders right now but it didn''t appear to be in a lewd way so Bellona was safe... Safe and incredibly warm! Alcohol, a small booth, two humans clinging to her like chimps on a branch... Yeah it was getting hot and heavy just not in the way Enyo liked it, more in the literal sense ''cos these people were heating her up and weighing her down! She almost preferred the nibbling and kissing...


    "Hmmm... I want..." Ares gave it some deep thought but was still having a hard time choosing so Enyo actually beat him to the punch on this matter.


    "Honeycomb!" Just because Enyo beat Ares to the punch, however, that didn''t mean she said anything even remotely logically coherent. Sure Ares was in the booth, and you could argue her demand could be considered coherent with her wants, but it had come completely out of left field! Plus they were in a restaurant for crying out loud! Remmy would be so sad if she knew a customer wanted to eat their own desert over hers!


    ""No! Bad Enyo!"" The usual reprimand for the usual suspect was given out simultaneously by the other two people in the room so Enyo deflated onto Bellona''s chest and grumbled a weak ''fine'' under her breath. Ares stroked her hair and promised he would give her some honeycomb later which brightened up her mood considerably and allowed her to actually choose what she wanted for real this time without making any ridiculous suggestions.


    "Eton mess then!" A respectable choice and one that was actually somewhat predictable. For some strange reason, Eton mess was a very popular desert back on the Legion home planet. Maybe it''s because the predominant colour was white, due to the meringue, and so that aesthetic meshed well with the surroundings? That was the original myth that was floating around to this day but there was no concrete evidence to support it, just anecdotal stories here and there. Regardless, it wasn''t uncommon to find Eton mess on just about any and every menu wherever you went. Even some food stalls located near churches and military blocks gave away small cups of the stuff regularly. It was to the point it could almost be considered a national foodstuff. Well technically it was a Legion planet, so planetwide and not national, but that just made it even more impressive that such a random desert had become so popular. Apparently the founder of the legions had a particular soft spot for it too and that might have also contributed to its predominance in Legion society.


    As for Enyo, she''d only had it once before but really loved it. Unfortunately Major had done the whole, ''you should abandon worldly pleasures'' thing and encouraged her to become robotic through and through. No games, no deserts, no leisure activities, no talking to boys, don''t be overly friendly with anyone including your own family, and spend all your free time training. As such, the Eton mess was a one time thing that she had almost completely forgotten about up until she spied it on the menu. This was one of the few choices she was confident in making tonight and had come to that conclusion even before the young master had shown up. Of course that didn''t stop her from trying her luck with the preferential honeycomb but this was a clear second place on her list! Also, what this meant was that the sisters had made their choices long before Ares! The hypocrite had been internally preaching about the virtues of rapidity and snap decision making and yet, here he was, unable to make up his own mind! Ha! The two wives didn''t need Ares to say his thoughts out loud previously as they knew what he was thinking about their indecisiveness down to a tee so it was incredibly satisfying to watch him squirm uncomfortably as they smiled in his direction, not so subtly applying a pressure to him that he very well deserved right about now! Of course he hadn''t been staring at them like this but a crime was a crime and this was his punishment! Not that two lovely, occasionally, drunk ladies staring at him was really the end of the world... Their stares were rather piercing though... Enough to act like a non-physical boot up the ass and speed along his own decision making process.


    Part of the reason Ares had dwelled on this matter so long was because he was trying to figure out what would go well with his coffee... Maybe he was being too specific and hamstringing himself? Ares decided to just wing it and pick the first thing that he saw when he looked down at the menu. "Vanilla cheesecake it is then." Before Ares could even put the menu down, Enyo gave him a thumbs up and commended his choice... Was it because it was white?! Seriously!? Actually?! Were all Legions just obsessed with the colour?!... On the subject, maybe Appa would like it too? What was up with these colour driven food fanatics?! Not that Ares was one to talk, he''d been leaning more towards some sticky toffee pudding with custard as that was a golden overload... He really had to restrain himself to not pick it so he wasn''t in any position to criticise the Legions here! Ares opened up the booth door and he was quick to spot Gavel returning to the dining area from the kitchen. She spied Ares'' mug and nodded to indicate she''d seen him and was on her way over.


    Gavel entered the booth and let out an aww as the trio were all huddled together liked some kind of sea anemone. They''d morphed into a three headed hydra and were roughly as powerful as one if you combined their strengths together. Gavel had heard some stories here and there from gossip-monger locals about all three individuals here at some point. Ares was Ares, Bellona had left her mark during the regionals with her Meteor, and Enyo had given a strong showing in the coliseum during the start of the international. All in all, these three were some of the most powerful cultivators in Red Sun and arguably soon to be sitting at the top of the food chain given enough time. It was almost hard to be believe a bunch of drunken teens were the future of this region but, well, there they were, blotto and craving sweets. It definitely wasn''t normal seeing prodigal cultivators act like this as they''d sooner be in a cultivation room than a mortal restaurant but not much was normal about any of these people anyway. Ah but that''s not to say expert cultivators never visited restaurant''s. Some valued the taste, sometimes cultivator run restaurants could provide benefits via magic, and there were even places that could permit cultivation while eating. A cultivation boosting meal, inside a lavish cultivation room, was very much a worthwhile opportunity if it could be afforded. This was a common thing in the outside world but obviously the Primordial barrier had complicated the advancement of society within it. There were other domains equally as low in the proverbial ladder as Sheryashka but they were far more advanced in terms of just about anything and everything civilisational. Magic engineering, technicals for day to day convenience, fashion, technology, food, education and cultivation upbringing, and various other matters to do with clansmen-ship and sect establishment. It was a whole new world but Ares was going to have wait a long while to see it.


    Putting that aside, the trio ordered their desserts but the wives had to side eye Ares when he asked for his coffee. Just as how they''d snuck the quiche in, this sneaky bastard was throwing his own hat into the extras ring! Seeing that the sisters felt somewhat chagrined about Ares'' dirty hidden ace up his sleeve, Gavel offered the sisters their own special drinks which she felt would go well with their deserts. Enyo was getting a fresh and fruity cocktail, that would presumably go well with the Eton mess, and Bellona was getting a caramel milkshake. Apparently Remmy love having the brownie with the caramel milkshake as she would frequently dip the choco desert in the drink and that was supposedly the best way to have it. Only regulars who experimented had found this ''secret menu'' sort of combination but it was one of the best things available for sale here. Bellona seemed exited to try it so she was particularly happy with the night so far. Good food, good company, good cute elf to give head pats to, and a good cleaver! Why that last part was even tacked on there at the end was anybody''s guess but she seemed happy enough to have it so good for her. The only other thing she would have liked, to make this evening perfect, was a chance to get a bit scrappy herself.


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    Bellona really hadn''t fought anybody in a while, save for one exception, and that was no good for her bundled up energy that was just sitting around inside her with no place or target to be vented at. Bellona did enjoy combat, more than Enyo but less than Ares, and had some fun with it every now and then. It was why she asked Ares to have her tag along whenever he went around picking fights like with the Dirk situation. It''s just that Ares hadn''t really been doing anything of the sort lately what with the final match of the tournament being right around the corner. He''d gotten dragged into the assassination thing but that wasn''t really something Bellona could contribute to. She was strong, yes, but not strong enough to contend with multiple transition realm cultivators. As she was, she could probably take one on head to head, maybe even two depending on how well she fought, but the incident in question was way too much for her to butt into. The most Bellona could do was practice inside the Training Fields that were set up by Sadie every now and then for the international lot''s training. She wasn''t part of the team but Sadie had expanded the circle of people she was training with to include all the Legion lot as well as anyone from the Umbras who wanted to join.


    The training sessions had become pretty crowded as of late but that was a good thing for getting in experience against different fighting styles. Sadie trained with everyone but she also frequently pit the trainees against each other in dynamic pairings that tested their adaptability. Bellona had shown up to a couple of these events and mostly dominated everybody else. The closest fight she had was against Scar but her strength wasn''t lacking compared to his and so it became an epic fist-throwing duel wherein neither combatant used magic for some strange reason. It was astonishing that, even without doubling her strength or halving Scar''s, she was able to keep up with him. Scar''s brick-like body won out in the end but it was extremely close. Had Bellona used even a speck of measurement manipulation magic she would have wiped the floor with him so she was definitely stronger overall, and by a large margin, but in terms of raw strength the monk had her beat which was fair enough. Bellona had trained her body to make up for her seemingly deficient magic back when she was young but she''d never gone as hard on her training regime as Scar went on his. He was a walking bundle of muscle mass and had done a great job of honing his physique and experimenting with body tempering over the many years he''d lived for. He''d lived longer than any of the Legion kin or even the Umbra kin so his body had been put through the ringer far longer than most people had even been training for. Had he not taken a fine grind blue himself a couple years back, he would have lost to Bellona which said a lot about both her overall strength and the quality of her fine grind blue and what it had done for her in the muscle department.


    After Gavel left, the trio had room for idle chit chat but it ended up just turning into a Bellona grope session and there was no worming her way out of it. The two leeches were back and pestering her more than ever and she just kinda had to sit there and take it. Not that she was really against it, the drinks from earlier had lowered her inhibitions, as was predicted long ago, and so she was feeling in the mood. It would be hard not to with all the pestering she was receiving. In particular Enyo was using her pleasure pillar magic to be a pest and rile everyone up. This woman was seriously deadly in enclosed spaces... Of course another part of the problem was Ares on the other side preventing her escape with his rugged arms clinging to her waist and keeping her tied down. With his shirt somewhat rolled up, Bellona could feel his unclothed, warm arms as she rested her own over his. Funnily enough, she''d touched his member more than she''d touched his unclothed flesh in any other spot. Excluding kissing, she hadn''t really touched his back or his shoulders or anything which was strange now that she thought about it. If she was stuck in this situation regardless then she might as well get the most out of it so she joined in on the fun and got a bit frisky herself.


    Ares wasn''t the only person in the firing line of Blo Blo''s revenge, however, as she was pretty indiscriminate with her hands as they just sort of touched whatever was nearest to them. Enyo''s soft mounds were a pretty large target so Bellona went after them and pretty much shut Ares out of the ''conversation'' entirely. He just sat there, stunned, as Bellona bullied Enyo in the corner. Was it hot? Yes, very. Did he wish he was involved? Also yes! Ah whatever, he had more than enough fun with them every other day so they could play around with each other here for a bit. It''s not like he wouldn''t be having his own fun later so he could wait patiently... Hard though it was to not be tempted by the occasional moan coming from right beside him. He was feeling a bit like a third wheel here! That was just Enyo in a nutshell though. She either commanded all the other wives to lay down in front of her or she inspired them, with her voluptuous body, to lay her down instead. It wasn''t surprising she could rile up the lust of other women, she was just that beautiful. If Enyo directed her attention and skills to a woman, they didn''t really stand much of a chance just like how Ares had trouble refusing her from time to time as well. Hell he was used to her advances, so could occasionally manage a timely escape, but what chance did an unexperienced Bellona have? Not much. not much at all.


    Enyo seemed to be very happy getting pounced on in the corner, though, and didn''t much care that she was not the one in charge. Pushing down a woman she wanted and toying with her, or vice versa, were both acceptable outcomes to this lewd woman! Bellona''s hands were actually rougher than Ares'' so her grip on her bosom was especially scintillating and she had to bite her lip which only served to rile up Bellona even more who went straight for her mouth. They were really going at it over there... Man Ares was jealous! Thankfully he didn''t have to watch on for too long as Gavel interrupted everything by coughing to herself after opening the door to the booth without alerting everyone. It wasn''t that she''d been quiet per se, just that the make out session had been pretty engrossing fore everyone in the booth and so they failed to notice her arrive with her trolley of deserts and drinks. It''s safe to say Gavel was incredibly shocked at the sort of relation Enyo and Bellona had but she just pat Ares on the shoulder again and called him a lucky dog. She muttered something about him having been some kind of saviour of the world in a previous life to deserve this kind of luck before leaving the ''passionate'' and ''feisty'' youth to play around to their heart''s content. Not that they would go back to doing that here. After desert they would just return home and do this stuff in private and in comfort on the bed. Really, they shouldn''t have been doing it here at all. People got up to all sorts of freaky foreplay in booths but not usually in restaurants, that was going a little too far. Evidently the alcohol strategy had been a tad bit too effective and was making the trio act up a bit in public. Still, if there was anything capable of sobering them up it would be the deserts!


    Ares sipped his wondrous coffee and put it back on the table, ready to start eating his cheesecake, but he noticed his coffee cup disappear out the corner of his eye. He looked over and it had moved an oddly specific distance away from him and towards Blo Blo... He looked away for a split second and then looked back to find the distance between the coffee and Blo Blo having shrunk by roughly half yet again... Ares narrowed his eyes at the whistling Blo Blo before looking at his cheesecake one final time and turning his head back around just in time to see her sipping on his cuppa! Well technically a ''cuppa'' was supposed to be used in reference to tea but it was interchangeable with coffee to an extent... But that wasn''t the issue right now! The bigger problem was that this sly woman had stolen his drink from right under his nose and was enjoying it too! This was exactly what Ares had wanted to avoid, the worst possible scenario, the infamous ''sip'' that all but obliterated one too many a drink throughout the cosmos. Worse still, as she was wholeheartedly enjoying the taste, Enyo also seemed to want in on the coffee ''sipping'' action so Ares'' drink was basically long gone at this point. He wasn''t going to take it lying down, however, as all this meant was that he was going to get some of their drink down his throat in return! If you can''t beat ''em join ''em! And thus the rest of the night was all but laid out in front of them. Enjoy the drinks and the deserts, go home and have some adult fun at their own leisure, and go to sleep with a massive hangover waiting in the wings for them which, thankfully, Enyo was capable of removing. That art was seriously a great thing to have tucked away in your back pocket, it made it so much easier to just discard any reservations you might have about getting full on drunk with reckless abandon. The health detriments of drinking alcohol were minor to a cultivator and the hangover was really the only threat that was substantial so an art that could remove it, and even convert it into a passive benefit, was perfect in every way. What most cultivators truly feared about a hangover wasn''t the headache or anything, it was being in a sorry state that left you vulnerable to ambush. It was far riskier to be attacked the morning after a heavy night of drinking rather than during it and many had been murdered by patient assassins who waited the few extra hours until their targets groggily awoke with a thumping pain in their head. Though pleasure pillar arts might not have seemed as useful as regular ones, they had oddly specific benefits that were extremely valuable in their own right whenever they were actually relevant. Point in case, a lot of richer cultivators, nobles and the like, would hire pleasure pillar cultivators specifically to fill the role of hangover removal in the morning. Their entire job was to wait nearby, outside the door, and come to their client''s aid in the morning, that was literally it, and yet they were paid exorbitantly for their work. Although, knowing Enyo, she was undoubtedly going to find a way to use the pillar more aggressively. The pleasure pillar being so passive was definitely not her style so God only knows how she''d develop it to her liking. That was in the future, however, as right now she was just sipping away on Ares'' coffee with a smile on her face that indicated she wasn''t going to be putting it down any time soon... Thief!

 Chapter 256: Dinner? Delectable. Desert? Delightful. Date? Done

    Well, if they were going to steal his drink that left Ares with no choice but to steal theirs! While Enyo was having multiple sips of his coffee, Ares went for the cocktail and gave that a good old sipping in turn! Jesus! Ares recoiled from the drink and stared at it in disbelief. Was this what it was like to be pelted with fruit at the gallows back in the old days? He''d been bombarded by a fruity assault on his senses that was exotic and overwhelming in every way imaginable. Strong acidity from the pineapple combined with a real heavy coconut flavour was doing wonders but the peach, and whatever alcohol Gavel had put in this glass, were also lifting their own weight in this drink. Remmy was still underage and had, to her dismay, been kept far away from the alcoholic stuff. She was interested in learning how to mix drinks but wasn''t old enough to do it yet so, instead, she simply planned out the various tastes she wanted to create and Gavel experimented on her behalf.


    Gavel, although not a great cook, would make a solid bartender and knew her way around drinks so she was surprisingly very useful in the creation of cocktails. The best part, for her, was that she got to try them all whenever Remmy was in the mood to experiment so she had many a fresh and juicy fruit to delight in each and every time. It was something Gavel really enjoyed doing so she had her own unique place here and wasn''t just a glorified waitress bringing people menus and dishes. Had she not taken Remmy in, there was a fairly good chance she would have worked behind a bar somewhere and earned herself a pretty decent reputation even without the tiny elf. Still, this way she got the best of both worlds and could fulfil her adopted daughter''s dreams of becoming a chef as well as her own of relaxing with alcohol nearby. Her early life had been rough, and that was probably an understatement, but it had all been worth it now that she''d made a killing and found a comfortable life on the other end of things. Her hard work and perseverance had paid off and being kind and caring enough to take in some random elf when she barely had enough to get by on her own was being rewarded. Of course she hadn''t taken in the elf with any kind of goal of making money off her but she wasn''t going to complain about the end result now that precisely that had happened! Regardless, the long and short of this was that the cocktail was a glorious concoction of of vibrant yellow flavourful bombardment. Ares could hear the whistling wind at a beach and feel the sweltering heat on his skin just by drinking this thing, it was that transformative an experience. 10/10, it was a really vigorous drink that grabbed you by the nether region and dragged you along for a wild ride in paradise... But why was Enyo glaring at him for having some of her drink? What was this double standard hypocrisy!? It really was just an actual sip as well... Meanwhile his coffee was already three quarters gone!


    Ares sighed to himself and put the cocktail down in front of Enyo before trying the milkshake next. He would come back for a taste of the Eton mess later as Enyo was getting defensive over her property right now and she would probably leap over Bellona to tackle Ares if he even dared mess with her desert. If her sweet was stolen from her then Ares could be her desert instead so, while Bellona was rudely finishing off Ares'' poor, battered and bruised coffee!... Ares sucked on the straw in Bellona''s milkshake and got a taste of the milky goodness and, damn, that caramel was silky smooth! It slid down his throat while thicker parts of the milkshake provided a nice texture alternative. The milkshake was chilled down to the last drop but not watery which was good news and showed that Remmy had a good grasp on how to make this stuff. The milkshake was pretty plain, yes, but there was nothing wrong with that and arguably made the experience better than if it were to be complicated unnecessarily with a million and one ingredients. Plus this was supposed to go along with the brownie anyway so that was where the real secrets lay with this drink. That''s not to say it didn''t stand out on its own, though, as it was a real treat that was incredibly hard to put down. It seemed as though Remmy had put a touch of ice cream in the milkshake to make it sweeter and really double down on the pure vanilla flavour coming through underneath the caramel. The caramel was the stronger flavour but that small undercurrent to wash it down with was expertly crafted, almost like the bisque earlier.


    It was a real thirst quencher but Ares had actually drunk better from that burger place he was thinking of taking Bellona. Red Sun was highly competitive in the cuisine industry as leading professionals in different walks of food life were abundant. It was hard to beat any of the established shops in their specialties. Fixer for sandwiches, Remmy for classic dishes, Scratch for noodles, and Shu for pastry or sweets. Of course there were other examples but the list was long enough that if Ares were to go over it he would be here for a small eternity and so it was better to just explore those people and their individual cooking styles when and where he came across them on his journey. Speaking of, it was highly likely all the chefs in this city would go along with his crazy idea of turning Red Sun into a mobile, pseudo planet as it meant they could get access to a wider variety of ingredients and expand upon their craft by visiting far away worlds and learning about new recipes.


    Cooking was a varied practice and often times learning from someone with more worldly experience was a good way to discover new and exciting ways to cook. All of the people who cooked in this town were dedicated to their profession and the only real reason most of them never left was either due to attachment with Red Sun, in which case they would stick with it anyway, or it was due to a lack of opportunities coming their way, which Ares would rectify. Someone like Remmy, for instance, would be overjoyed and go along with the proposed plan in a heartbeat. She was still at the starting line in terms of flavour exploration and the difference between giving her a small planet to explore or a massive, extensive dimension of cuisine... Well the choice she''d make was set in stone. Especially if she wanted to learn how to cook with the cooking pillar properly. There weren''t actually that many cooking pillar chefs down in Sheryashka and so it was infinitely better for her to seek guidance, books, and even media that could change her perspective on things in higher domains. Her potential was limitless but Sheryashka was limiting, that was just the harsh truth of the matter.


    Ah but Ares was getting distracted! The milkshake was delicious and then some!... But why was Bellona glaring at him for having some of her drink? Why did Ares feel like some serious D¨¦j¨¤ vu was going on here! And why was his coffee invisible!? Of course it actually wasn''t, that was just Ares'' way of coping with his fully digested, not by him, coffee... He hadn''t even gotten a single sip of it himself! Where was the justice these two Legion maniacs so often touted?! By their own logic, they should be turned in to the authorities for daylight robbery! Well it wasn''t actually daylight... And Bellona wasn''t as strict with the whole justice thing compared to Enyo... But surely here was still a case to be made about his behaviour!? Ares could only sigh to himself and curse his own foolishness for letting go of the coffee early on. He had no one but himself to blame for this error in judgement.


    Still, at least his dessert was... Being moved across the table by Bellona''s magic as he was stuck in his own head! "Alright, that''s it! Now you''re getting it you greedy little minx!" Ares lunged at Bellona and covered her mouth with his as he fondled her nips as payback. Bellona was not Enyo so this actually made her back down a bit afterwards as she gulped and shrank in her seat, not daring to steal food again lest she be punished lewdly for it... Although Ares had forgotten that this deterrence was nothing more than encouragement to Enyo who made a bid to swipe his cheesecake as well! Why wouldn''t she? She either got the sweet or got Ares ''punishing'' her. It was a win win situation so Ares simply snatched his own cheesecake away from her and hugged the other corner of the wall, staying as far away from the demoness as possible. He would have to fight her later for a chance to taste her desert but that was a problem for future Ares to figure out, right now it was cheesecake time!


    Being a plain vanilla cheesecake, you wouldn''t expect it to be anything special. It came with a berry sauce, sure, but the flavour profile of a vanilla cheesecake was pretty samey. Not that that had deterred Remmy who determinately and stubbornly refused to give in until she created a spectacular desert out of this otherwise ordinary, but still much appreciated, classic. And succeed she very clearly did. The base was crumbly and the biscuity taste worked well alongside the vanilla. Speaking of, the vanilla was amazingly potent but that was to be expected with Remmy''s skills. Even Ares couldn''t tell how she''d brought the flavour out so perfectly. It was similar to the vanilla in the milkshake but far more noticeable and Ares was simply clueless. This was another thing he would have to discuss with her because he really wanted to know how to replicate it. His own cheesecakes would never be so tangy with or without a berry sauce if he didn''t check in with the elf.


    Ares was also deeply impressed with the ease at which his fork could slice through the cheesecake as there was basically no resistance whatsoever. It almost felt like he was secretly using disintegration magic on his cutlery to make slicing his desert that much easier but the truth of the matter was just that Remmy was masterful at creating smooth textures. The milkshake and some of the main dishes were evidence of this through and through. Smooth texture, strong taste. Simple but highly effective. The presentation of the dish was also rather neat as the cheesecake wasn''t messy in the slightest. Only the sharpest of angles and the cleanest slices along its sides were made such that it looked almost perfectly triangular. It could easily be used as a scoring wedge in knowledge based board games it was just that well defined a shape. The deep purple / red berry sauce was made of blackberries and blueberries it seemed. It was punchy and was very tingly in the mouth but Ares couldn''t get enough of it. It paired well with the cheesecake and there were simply no complaints to be made about the quality of the food.


    Now came the tricky part... Swiping some of his wives'' deserts! But there was a solution available to Ares. A classic bribe! Ares put the cheesecake on the table and lightly nudged it towards Bellona. she was too focussed on her milkshake and brownie combo so he had to push it a little further along. When it got within visual range, Blo Blo paused on the spot and stiffly looked down at the cheesecake. She was the rat and Ares was offering her the cheese... But where was the mousetrap!? A game of cat and mouse ensued wherein every time Blo Blo move closer to the cheesecake, Ares inched ever closer to her own desert. This was the trap! She tried to be quick on the draw and take both but that was a doomed endeavour from the start and she just had to accept her loss. She won the coffee battle but lost the ''all deserts are mine'' war. Instead of dwelling on it she just started chewing away at the cheesecake while Enyo was sneaking up behind her to take it off her hands...


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    That was a problem for Blo Blo to sort out as Ares was directing all his attention to the new desert that had already been half eaten. Blo Blo seemed to be on cloud nine as she dunked the brownie into the milkshake so Ares followed suit and took a bite of the milkshake-d brownie. Gooey! The brownie was pretty warm and the middle of it was runny with chocolate so right off the rip this was guaranteed to be addictive but adding the milkshake just made it so much better. Remmy was still a kid at the end of the day so it was only natural that when her mind gravitated towards deserts she preferred sweetness overload. This was incredibly unhealthy and definitely not something to be eaten often but boy was it easy on the taste pallet. The warmth of the brownie mixed with the icy milkshake was a pleasant duality and the rich chocolate was mellowed out by the caramel and vanilla. No wonder Bellona had tried to keep this from him, it was bloody delicious! Sneaky Blo Blo! Well Ares wasn''t going to deny her the brownie so, after a quick taste, he placed it back in front of her at which point she looked a lot less sullen than before. Enyo had nicked the cheesecake off her leaving her with basically nothing to eat as the coffee was also gone so all of Ares'' stuff she stole had been finished or was no longer in her possession. The brownie lifted her spirits and turned that pouty frown upside down which made giving up the one dessert Ares had guaranteed access to all the more worth it.


    That didn''t mean he was quitting though, he wanted a taste of the Eton mess to round up his sampling spree but Enyo was a fierce guardian deity and wouldn''t budge an inch... But she already had the cheesecake too! This woman was a desert dragon, hoarding all her wealth! This could not stand any longer and Enyo''s sugary tyranny was not acceptable. That being said... What to do exactly? She wouldn''t give it up without a fight... Meaning there was only one solution... An exchange. Ares had no coffee, no cheesecake, no brownie, and no milkshake so there was only one thing he could offer her that she would actually be willing to trade... Sensuality! For some inexplicable reason, this was a currency and bartering tool in Enyo''s world so Ares'' obliged and dipped his finger into Enyo''s cocktail before wagging it at her face. She knew the second she sucked off the alcohol Ares would grab the Eton mess with his free hands but she couldn''t resist the temptation and gave in. She held onto the cheesecake quite firmly though because she actually really enjoyed it, probably even more so than her own desert. If she was going to give up one, the Eton mess could go and she would be accepting of her loss. Not that she hadn''t gained form this in her own twisted way as she rolled her tongue over Ares'' finger while looking up at him with puppy dog eyes and batting her eye lids at him... This damn woman... She was getting it later! Or rather, Ares wasn''t done with her just yet so he put some more of the cocktail in his mouth and kissed her to share the alcohol across their tongues, causing their faces to heat up. Alcohol definitely tasted better directly from the mouth of a beautiful woman, that was for sure. Now Ares was satiated! If Enyo was going to use him in such a capacity then he would damn well use her too.


    Now that Enyo had been sufficiently dealt with, it was time for the Eton mess! Just because Enyo preferred the cheesecake that didn''t mean this thing wasn''t going to be great in its own right. Right out the gate, before Ares even tried it, the layering on the desert was rather pretty to just look at. Cream, fruits, meringue in that order and then repeated, formed a colourful lighthouse of sorts that was easy on the eyes and rather inviting. For something that was called a ''mess'' it had been formatted cleanly into sections, each of which was distinct from the others. Enyo had already dug into it a bit, slightly giving it that messy edge, but for the most part the original vision for the desert was still currently present and preserved. Now that obviously wasn''t going to last but it was a detail that could be appreciated before it was gone.


    Regarding the taste, the meringue was as fluffy as the clouds up in heaven probably were. There were some small chewy parts that had been intentionally left in, as a lot of customers quite liked that part of a meringue, and it went well with the fruit. Due to the layering you would sink through the meringue before reaching the chewy part and the fruit, put a bit of effort into a bite, and then sink back into creamy smoothness once more. It was a fluid eating process that didn''t overwork the jaw if you followed the guidelines Remmy had set via the aesthetic. Of course it was still called a ''mess'' at the end of the day so just mixing everything together was also an option and that was equally as viable for the sake of enjoying the desert. Doing as such just made it a mish mash of light flavours with a fruity kick that was fun to eat. Not many dishes could claim to be enjoyable in terms o the actual eating process but Eton mess fell into that category sometimes as it was a bundle of surprises. You never really knew exactly how much chewy or soft meringue you were getting and which fruit you''d picked up was usually indecipherable at a glance.


    In terms of personal rankings, he would place it second after the brownie but also ahead of the cheesecake in third. Not that the cheesecake was bad or anything, Enyo''s gusto with it firmly in her spoon''s grip made that obvious, it''s just that Ares preferred the powerful chocolatey flavour it provided. Bellona seemed to roughly agree with Ares although she placed the Eton mess last with the cheesecake in second. Enyo liked the cheesecake, then the Eton mess, then the brownie. The Eton mess didn''t come first on anybody''s list but it was still a better desert than you would get from basically anywhere that wasn''t Shu''s place so that said a lot about the quality of food you could order here. It was the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me and probably, overall, considered the best restaurant in Red Sun. If people knew it was run by a young kid they would be floored and then some. Only the locals really knew much about Remmy and, to everyone else, she was this mysterious and talented chef who like to work behind the scenes and maintain an elusive air. This was inaccurate, Remmy would just rather cook than socialise as people could frequently wind up being loud for no good reason... Although not as commonly as Gavel who''d set a bad example and perhaps given Remmy the wrong idea about most people from a young age. She''d met countless normal-voiced people, and had that illusion partially dispelled, but Gavel had really drilled it home that there were people out there who were more than capable of seemingly random outbursts.


    Anyway, the deserts were now gone completely and utterly. Ares had fought tooth and nail to get his tasting session done and dusted without missing anything and had barely come out on top here. As that was his primary goal, he wasn''t too fussed about not having had as much food as the other two. Rather they seemed to have had a blast and were already having a lengthy conversation about how good everything was, when they were coming back here, and what they were going to try next. It was hard to listen to though as they were clearly a bit too intoxicated to have the discussion without forgetting where they were in their sentences half the time. Ares had never seen them this drunk but, then again, he''d never been this drunk either. They''d really gone all out here tonight but that was fine. Enyo could cure them at a moment''s notice if need be with an art so there was no risk involved with this as long as Enyo was around!


    Enyo? More like Dionysus!... Actually, the series of arts involving alcohol were all named as boons of Dionysus so this was oddly fitting... That aside, the trio were done eating for the night but they stayed around a little longer to chat away about silly garbage that only drunk people would ever even discuss. Dumb ideas that seemed clever in the moment like world domination or a one hundred wife harem... Ares had to be careful with drunk Enyo, this woman was unhinged! Their talks continued on for a while until closing time was near, at which point they all got up, with Ares and Bellona falling back down into their seat immediately and needing Enyo to pull them up again, and managed to somehow exit the booth with their poor hand eye co-ordination. Getting home in this state would have been difficult but Ares had specifically set up a long range Shift for this exact scenario before the drinking started. He didn''t need to walk the other two home, or Voidwalk them, he could just snap his fingers and they would all be right back in their abode. Before doing that, however, they wanted to say goodbye to Gavel and Remmy, both of whom were currently in the kitchen and washing up.


    The trio stumbled into the kitchen and all darted straight for Remmy who was drying her hands with a towel after cleaning some dishes. She was cute and the trio were drunk, thus her hug and head pat fate was all but sealed. The tiny elf disappeared among the sea of bodies and Gavel chuckled off to the side. After being showered with praise for the incredible food she''d provided tonight, the trio eventually, begrudgingly, let go of the small elf and started saying their goodbyes proper. Gavel did check with them that they had a safe way to get home and was relieved to hear they''d planned it out already. She offered them some more hospitality but no matter how drunk the trio were, they weren''t the type to exploit friendly intentions and refused kindly. Both Gavel and Remmy encouraged the trio to return at a later date, to which they received two immediate responses from the sisters who really liked this place. Ares would come back here regardless to chat with Remmy so his answer was already known and he didn''t need to say it out loud.


    Seeing as how the staff were still cleaning up some of the tables and what not, Ares figured it was high time the trio got out of the restaurant''s hair so he put his hands on Enyo and Bellona''s shoulders and, with a wink goodbye, left Gavel and Remmy to their own devices with one final show of gratitude in the form a ''thank you'' just before he left. The night wasn''t quite over yet but all the food had been devoured down to the last drop and everyone''s stomachs were gladdened with the result of their outing. So far, the date had been a success and even the young master''s appearance had already been put to the back of their minds. Still, it wasn''t quite over yet as they''d been Shifted directly back into the bedroom and, before Ares and Blo Blo could even blink, Enyo was already getting frisky. She might have been looking forward to this part more than the dinner, honestly, and now she was about to get her wish as Ares joined her in advancing upon defenceless and drunk Blo Blo. Though this alliance was very much only temporary, as it could be either one of them joining forces with Bellona in a bit to torment the other one, for now they were in accord and Bellona was the target! The two looked at one another and grinned as their minds were perfectly in sync. ''Lewd the Blo Blo!''

 Chapter 257: Board Games for Bored People

    Alliances are a tricky and often fragile thing. One minute you''re allied with one another via an unbreakable bond, swarming Blo Blo''s body like locusts in a horror movie, and the next you''ve betrayed the comrade which you''ve gone through thick and thin with. Point in case, Ares had worked together with Enyo for a short while. He played nice and was side by side with her as they chased Bellona up to the headrest before exploring her body with great enthusiasm. Enyo kissed up and down Bellona''s legs while Ares was doing similar acts of intimacy with her neck before moving to her mouth. It was pretty one sided but, what Enyo didn''t know, was that Ares had been whispering to Bellona on the sly and that would prove to be Enyo''s downfall. For now though, Ares kept running his warm hand along Bellona''s abs underneath her shirt and stroking his palm over her chest. The affectionate petting from every angle was making Bellona feel dazed in her drunken stupor and she didn''t even really seem to be checked in anymore. She was just blankly staring at the ceiling with her head rolling gently side to side and letting out small groans here and there. Still, she kept her wits about her as Ares'' great betrayal was coming so, when he swapped places with Enyo, she knew it was on the horizon.


    Of course Ares played around a bit first before committing to his treachery and took over Enyo''s job of kissing Bellona''s thighs. When he felt like Enyo was properly distracted, he crawled up behind her and grabbed both her arms, locking them in place as Bellona staggered up from her back. Now it was their turn to bully Enyo and the turntables had turned! Bellona went straight for the chest with her hands to continue the earlier groping session that had been interrupted by Gavel''s untimely appearance. The fun bags were soft and bountiful meaning Bellona enjoyed fiddling with them. That or maybe she was taking out her wrath and indignation at the size of them in comparison to her own as the squeezing was definitely not as gentle as Ares would normally do. Enyo was Enyo though and how rough anyone was with her body didn''t really put her off, the opposite was true if anything.


    While Bellona''s hands were busying them selves with the soft mounds, she moved her mouth over to Enyo''s and shoved her tongue inside. Bellona''s aggression pushed Enyo''s head back until it was leaning against Ares'' chest but that wall didn''t stop her from digging even deeper and really tongue lashing the annoyingly bewitching woman. Enyo had tempted her one too many times and now it was time for her to be put in her place again while she was unable to escape. Bellona didn''t do this to Enyo often but she deserved it every time she did, not that Enyo would treat this as punishment anyway but that didn''t make Bellona falter. If anything it just served as encouragement to pet Enyo rougher and leave her taste etched onto Enyo''s lips. No wonder Ares could get rough with her sister so often, Enyo just had that sort of detestable personality that urged anyone fooling around with her to go further and further. Enyo was like an annoying itch. Bellona even stopped fondling Enyos breasts and used both her hands to hold Enyo''s head in place as she poked her thumb into Enyo''s mouth. With her lips stuck parted, Bellona spat at Enyo''s tongue before re-entering with her own and mixing both of their saliva together for Enyo to swallow obediently. While Bellona was making out ferociously with Enyo, she was sent a mental message by the victim of her assault and thus, once more, the turntables had begun turning.


    Ares thought teaming up against Bellona with Enyo was funny? He though betraying Enyo was funny? Well let''s see how he liked being betrayed and teamed up on himself! The consequences of his actions were to be made apparent and so the bed he''d made was something he could very well lie in. Also Enyo had to restrain herself not go further with Bellona specifically anyway, as she wanted to make that night special later on, so Ares'' privates were really the only ones that could be openly toyed with here today. Plus Enyo had been wanting to rip that shirt of his off ever since he put it on in the first place so he was absolutely going to become the centre of attention today specifically. Sometimes it would be Enyo, sometimes it would be Bellona but, due to Bellona''s relative inexperience and not yet being quite ready for things to go that far, it just had to be Ares right now. Lucky man.


    Enyo used her magic to summon barriers shaped like handcuffs which wrapped around Ares'' wrists and linked them together before dragging them above his head. Both his wives then pushed him over backwards so that he was lying down on his back and in the same position Blo Blo was in earlier with no way to escape. His earlier prediction was rapidly coming true and he was rapidly ''coming'' too. What was he realistically supposed to do in this scenario with both wives brushing up against him, kissing him all over, and working together like this? Better yet, wasn''t it only going to get worse with even more wives thrown into the mix?! Ares was going to have to work on his stamina and mental willpower if he was to stand any chance. Still, getting used to it required practice and he was going to be getting a fair bit of that tonight it seemed... Not that his desire to improve changed his current predicament. Enyo was cheating in her friendly competition with Bellona and had started using her mouth... Bellona''s hand was still very much there which just made this a nightmarish combo that was simply impossible to defend against. Ares was bested yet again and was toyed with in ways he couldn''t overcome. Enyo was winning the competition by any means necessary but Bellona didn''t seem to care as she was pretty engrossed in watching her sister''s mouth work. She was very interested in this as it was one the things she was really looking forward to trying so witnessing it first hand like this was an experience she was happy to go through. Part of her wanted to join in now, and Enyo was encouraging it by winking at her every now and then while she was still sliding her tongue around, but it could wait. Things were pretty set in stone right now and everyone was aware of the timeline they would take regarding going in that direction. Bellona felt no need to rush the inevitable and this was good enough for now.


    Bellona really wasn''t too invested in all this fooling around, because she wasn''t ever going to get too deeply involved, so after a few more times making Ares do the deed, much to Enyo''s satisfaction as she cleaned him up every time, she went to sleep... Or tried too. The other two had started going all the way and the noise wasn''t exactly quiet. They were trying to be considerate but it didn''t really matter when the whole bed was shaking constantly. Plus Bellona was still a bit pent up. Just because she chose not to get more deeply involved that didn''t mean she was fully content with how things ended. She''d gotten riled up too but didn''t get the same happy ending the other two were currently getting so she just stuck her hand down her pyjamas and solved that problem herself. She had plenty of resources to work with so that wasn''t an issue and she didn''t need to bring out the Ares body pillow that she still had in her possession. It was a joke present but that didn''t mean she had to get rid of it. Also, Ares wouldn''t always be around so having his pseudo presence was reassuring regardless of what form it took. The ring also technically functioned in a similar manner thanks to being able to check his heartbeat at any point but that wasn''t anything visual. The body pillow was actually a decent present despite the intention behind it originally, so much so that even Enyo wanted one still to this day. Bellona had promised to occasionally share it with Enyo instead as Ares had no intention of making another body pillow of himself. One was enough! Ares had learnt the dangers of having multiple versions of himself around back when he made the clones for Appa with the talismans.


    Anyway, Bellona eventually got her own satisfaction, much to Enyo''s own satisfaction as well as she''d been riding Ares, sure, but had been intently watching her sister and paying her all the attention she had within her. Just because Bellona had gotten the extra energy out of her system, however, that didn''t mean she was getting any sleep any time soon because the other two hadn''t stopped yet! Bellona was drunk and tired so she just started whacking Enyo with her pillow to try and get the bouncy whore to stop already! It was early in the morning and she was still going! Hell even Ares had fallen underneath asleep her but she was still using his body! How was that even possible?! Ares must have also been tired, as today had been a pretty long day, but to conk out mid rodeo? Maybe it was the alcohol. He did have a fair bit of it, probably more so than even Enyo. Speaking of the succubus, she promised Bellona she''d sop soon... After one more round!


    Bellona just sighed to herself, turned around, and buried her head in the pillow. Thankfully Enyo stuck to her word and got off the seemingly dead Ares before going to sleep herself. It''s not that she wasn''t also tired, there were just some things she valued more than sleep and rest. Or rather, doing that also seemingly energised her and recharged her batteries so the time she lost sleeping was irrelevant. Shortly after Enyo rolled off Ares, he rolled over to Bellona and gave her a big hug from behind. It seemed as though he was keeping his promise from earlier about cuddling naked with Bellona through the night which was something she''d been wondering about. Bellona thought he must have forgotten or just been completely unable to control himself form dozing off. Turns out, he was just playing the long game and pretending to be asleep to get that damn crazy woman Enyo off him. If he was still awake earlier, Enyo might have honestly kept going. She didn''t seem as enthused as before simply because Ares wasn''t responding any longer so it was more boring than usual, that was why she''d stopped! Ares had taken advantage of that to fulfil his promise with Blo Blo in a timely manner and get around to her before she fell asleep! Again... Why where these two oddly good at manipulating people when it came to bedroom garbage like this?! Not that Bellona was complaining, Ares was a warm man after all. Much warmer than the body pillow and much more comfortable to be spooned by. Normally this would have been the end of it but apparently Enyo had been playing 4d chess as she proceeded to reveal that she too was still awake by spooning Ares from behind, forming a three person chain. Bellona just shook her head and closed her eyes, the two muppets behind her were clearly on something and it was for the best if she just didn''t dwell on their behaviour too much.


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    Thus the end of their night was at hand as they all went to sleep properly. Enyo did fiddle around and put her hands in various places they had no business being but it was sort of like learning to sleep outside without a fly net to prevent small animals from annoying you. Both Ares and Bellona had gotten used to her constant pestering by now so it was fine. Also, it seemingly helped her get to sleep quicker, like a weirdly perverted version of a kid playing with a teddy or something. Point being, despite Enyo''s antics, date night was well and truly over. It was nearly five in the morning, so it had gone on for a lot longer than planned originally, but that was fine as they didn''t have anywhere they had to go tomorrow. The next tournament match wasn''t for a couple of days so they could relax and take a day or two off to recuperate their depleted energy. Not that today hadn''t been fun or relaxing, it''s just that the last leg of it was... Draining, in various ways. Especially for Ares as he was put through the ringer more than anyone else in the room.


    Although there had been a lot of fake sleeps going around, this time everyone really did fall asleep in a matter of minutes thanks, at least in part, to Enyo''s art that she''d casted on all three of them simultaneously. It was seriously a useful tool, that one, and she was glad to have it. She''d also set it to function like an internal alarm for herself specifically as she wanted to be sure she got up before the other two and removed their hangovers before they actually had to deal with it. Despite being dead drunk they would wake up refreshed as though they''d just slept for a week straight after eating and drinking nothing but nutritious goodness and exercising consistently throughout it all. They would be perfectly healthy individuals upon waking up later and then Enyo could just go back to sleep herself. She would have even removed it now if she could but a person needed to be drunk for a considerable period of time before this art was activatable and they also needed to be hungover in the moment she chanted her art. The trio had met the first condition but there wasn''t any signs of a hangover just yet. Maybe if they''d stayed up for another hour or two it would have started to hit them hard, and then Enyo could have cut it off early, but that wasn''t in the cards and so she''d do it the hard way by waking up a little early.


    Roughly nine hours later.


    The trio all woke up in a fantastic mood feeling well rested and more than capable of running a cross country marathon if need be, Enyo included. After waking up to remove the hangovers she put herself back to sleep again with her art pretty quickly so her sleep hadn''t actually been impacted that much. It wasn''t quite a heroic sacrifice but it was still a respectable decision to inconvenience herself temporarily for the sake of others. To thank her for her actions, Ares turned around and hugged her while lying around in bed for a bit. He''d already missed lunch, and so the Aejaz lot had likely gone out into town in search of grub, meaning he didn''t really have anyone to feed right now. He could make some stuff for the two sisters but they weren''t too hungry and would be fine with some small snacks here and there until dinner instead of a full blown meal. They''d pigged out plenty last night and were also cultivators, who didn''t need to be fed much, at the end of the day.


    Ares had nothing specific he wanted to do, other than maybe work on pressurising the Backfire Bindings here and there, so he just spent time with Appa, Enyo, and Bellona doing whatever they were in the mood for. Bellona wanted to go to the forgery department and have some board games ordered, Enyo wanted to... Well what Enyo wanted was obvious so Ares just obliged. And then there was Appa who just wanted to spend time with everyone and that was definitely the easiest, and least demanding, request of them all. Appa didn''t know too much about the world so, even though it could have asked for something more, it didn''t even really know what kind of thing it wanted to do. Ares would seriously have to take this thing on some adventures in the future so it could become more accustomed with what was on offer in the wider world but, for now, he was happy to spend time with it. As for Bellona''s order at the forgery department, she wanted a chess set, a connect four set, and a monopoly set. Naturally she offered to cover the costs and so the department got to work and were done with it pretty quickly, only taking two days to finish everything despite their otherwise busy schedule. Ares did help lighten their load a bit though so it was understandable how they were able to manage everything on their plate at once with his help. Ares also worked on his runemancy and stall offerings in the mean time so he was probably even more busy than the forgery department despite him having time off right now!


    Anyway, once the board games were made, everyone in the house flocked to them as they were one of the few forms of entertainment available other than intercourse, books, or past times like ''I-Spy'' that didn''t require anything other than two people to be present and aware of the rules. In terms of who was good at what, Ares was a pretty standout performer in the chess department. His expertise in manipulation and psychological warfare put him in pole position to abuse other''s narrow and linear thinking. Actually, it seemed like Ares would have made a pretty decent chess player. Not a grandmaster or anything but he would have been up there in the rankings had he gotten into the sport sooner, that was for sure. Still, this wasn''t his first encounter with the board game as there was one chef in this town that was perhaps at the grandmaster level, someone who rocked Ares world countless hundreds of times without ever losing even a single time. That old guy was a serious contender! He''d taught Ares a few tips and tricks here and there, all of which Ares had remembered and put to good use against his family who were unable to beat him even a single time.


    They had to actively boot him off physically in order for anyone to play a match against someone who wasn''t him as winner stays on was clearly not functional with him around! Granted winner stays on was always the fairest way to run just about any game but the validity of such an approach was brought into question when the skill level of one specific player was simply way too high. Part of the joy with competitive games was playing against equal skill level players to yourself. Sure getting wiped out by someone like Ares, who was just better in every way, could also be an eye opener but there were only so many times you could get thoroughly dumpster-ed and still be in the right mindset to learn. It was annoying losing on repeat like that and no wins ever would just be demoralising, especially if Ares'' opponents were improving but unable to tell because they were improving against a person they weren''t coming any closer to beating. Their skill level went up but their chances didn''t, diminishing their accomplishment somewhat.


    There were benefits to playing someone worse than you, someone equal to you, and someone better than you, but all three should happen in moderation. Teaching someone else something you knew was a great way to internalise it but if you just spent every match wailing on people worse than you then you stood to gain nothing new out of it ever. Playing a match against someone better was a great way to learn new things that evaded you previously but it was hard to practice the basics while you were getting destroyed for your lack of advanced ideas. Equal skill players allowed you to figure out where you were in the spectrum of players exactly and learn your own playstyle''s faults and strengths. You could get a better grip of where you were falling short without being punished too heavily for it and correcting it progressively as the match went on instead of just losing on the spot or never paying for your mistake. All of this to say Ares needed to go! But he wasn''t the only one... He was winning at chess but he was not winning at connect four or monopoly no sir!


    Connect four? Ares could rarely connect the dots on anything! Monopoly? Ares, despite his extensive skill set, was always broke! These two games were out of his wheel house and so he wasn''t dominant in either like he was in chess, no, the title of supreme went to Leo and Trixie respectively. Leo was fantastic at connect four because of how unassuming he was. You thought you were playing an even game up until he snuck in a win that you couldn''t see coming, only to look over at his smug face as he was licking his claws. Detestable bastard! He was also good at setting traps two or three moves ahead for people to unknowingly stumble into and that probably had something to do with the rats he hunted regularly. The farms were positioned almost like a connect four grid and he''d learnt how to cut off routes quite efficiently so the skills translated nicely to this game. He was the predator and all his opponents the prey. It was worse to be Enyo and Ares, though, as they could understand his shit talking directly thanks to Ares'' bloodline. The damn tiger was still as mouthy as ever even if he was mouthing off to the owner of the house he was freeloading in!


    As for monopoly, Trixie wouldn''t be the best on this street ever, as that title would definitely go to Onno if he were around, but in this house she reigned supreme. Her tactic was to go all in on one or two residences and destroy anyone who landed on it like it was some kind of landmine... Which, again, was very much in line with her nature as a bomb setter. Still, her dominance was entirely reliant on luck as she needed people to land on her selected spot and so she didn''t win as consistently as the other two champions did at their own games. She still had upwards of a 70% win rate though so her strategy seemed highly effective. Aejaz was also pretty respectable at the game as his strategy involved bartering for other people''s properties with offers they couldn''t refuse, resulting in him getting their properties at a ''steal''. He was very good at telling what people had and wanted out of it so he was quick on the draw to make beneficial moves the second he landed somewhere that was valuable to someone else.


    Of course this was just a random round up and, had the board games been more varied, there probably would have been a wider range of champions. Enyo, for instance, would be great at surgery related games as her hands were the steadiest of everyone by a country mile. Knowledge board games... Would actually also be won by Ares as he''d read countless books and had Dominus inside him to boot. Bellona would likely do well in games that involved conquering territories as she was a headstrong person who charged into whatever land she wanted like she already owned it. Plus she had no qualms with turning on an ally to get what was needed for her to win the second she needed to do it. Point being, more board games were in order here! Ares and Bellona would go back to the forgery department and pester them again at some point but what they had would do for now as everyone was having fun. There were a few game nights being run here and there and it was a good way to socialise with Trixie and Lacy a bit more. Playing hard would be followed by working hard, however, as the final match of the tournament was drawing ever closer. There was still one more match to watch tomorrow, though, the one between the Umbras and Mako... That ought to be interesting! Quick, but interesting!

 Chapter 258: The Calm Before the Storm

    Time had passed a fair bit and it was finally the morning of the Umbra and Mako match. It wasn''t an important match per se, as the result was painfully obvious without even needing to go and spectate, but you never know, maybe the Umbras could put up a fight even if only a mediocre one? It remained to be seen but right now Ares was struggling to get out of bed. He wasn''t tired or anything, Enyo was just being a real hassle today and not letting him go at all. She pestered him regularly but she was like a cat in heat this morning for some strange reason and just couldn''t retract her claws, constantly digging into him and having her fun. At this rate, Ares was going to be a little late to the match but there was little he could do. Enyo wasn''t buying any of his excuses nor was she open to the idea of him tying her up because she was well aware he would just leave her like that and walk away. It wasn''t the first time he''d done it! Fool Enyo once, shame on you, fool her twice, shame on her. And let''s just say that nobody fools Enyo twice in the same way! As for Bellona, she was trying her damnedest to ignore the ongoing nonsense behind her but struggling so she got out of bed and went to go hunt for food in the fridge instead. Sleeping in the room with these two was great and all, and there was a lot of soft and warm flesh to hug on to most nights, but the mornings with Enyo jumping on Ares were the worst! In order to try and avoid it, Bellona even opted to take the brunt of Enyo''s attack by swapping places with Ares and lying in the middle of the bed but Enyo would just clamber over her to get to what she really wanted. Bellona could wrestle with her for a while but Enyo''s stubbornness could move mountains and so it was just delaying the inevitable really.


    Yet more time passed and now Ares was starting to wonder if he was going to be late to the match. He''d never taken this long to get ready and leave the sect so he very well might miss a minute or two of the match at this rate and Enyo still showed no signs of slowing down. Either she didn''t know what time it was, and had gotten completely lost in her bull-riding, or she knew but didn''t even give a crap and was perfectly fine with skipping the match today. It was probably the former but there was a non-zero chance it was the latter and Ares didn''t really mind obliging if that were the case. It didn''t seem to be the latter option, however, as Enyo eventually realised that she''d been riding high for quite some time now as she was starting to feel hungry. She tilted her head cutely as if she''d just confused herself before looking down at Ares and asking him what time it was as her stomach rumbled. She hadn''t eaten anything the entirety of yesterday because she''d been busy cultivating and forgot to come out for food. She didn''t really need it but had gotten so used to Ares feeding her that her body was grumbling now that the routine had been altered. To that end, she wasn''t even really asking if they were late to the tournament match right now, she was asking if it was lunch time. Even though she could tell if Ares was lying thanks to her bloodline, if he said ''not that late'' right now she would just take that as sign it was ok to keep going and doing her own thing. She wasn''t that hungry and had completely forgotten about the tournament... Honestly, what a silly woman she could be sometimes. Ares nodded his head at the window, through which the sun was shining rather clearly, and Enyo got the hint. She hopped off him, gave him a quick kiss downstairs and upstairs, and went into the bathroom to go have a shower all but confirming that Ares would be late to the party but not absent. He could maybe try Voidwalking there, and he might make it in the nick of time, but he felt it was unneeded. He could just get a rundown of what he''d missed when he arrived as the fight ought not to have gotten too far underway as of yet. He joked about it only taking a minute or two for Mako to win but the Umbras where strong in their own right! They wouldn''t fold before Mako just like that presumably.


    Ares got up and followed Enyo into the shower. This was a risky choice, as it was entirely possible she''d get worked up again, but it ended up being fine as she restrained herself. It seemed like she''d remembered the tournament now that she''d cooled off and was actually going to go and watch it instead of hiding out here at home all day long. Not that there was anything wrong with that, if she wanted to have some lazy days that was perfectly acceptable. Blo Blo had been having more than just a few as of late as she attempted to get better at the board games that had been brought to the house. She was starting to get kinda consistent at monopoly but chess was definitely not her kinda game. She never bothered to learn anything and just moved pieces pretty much at random with no rhyme or reason other than raw intuition. She would use her head a bit in the mid game but only after she''d already screwed herself sideways with poor decisions earlier that didn''t need to be made. Her best bet for beating Ares, even though it had never happened and probably never would, was to just cheat! She''d swiped a few pieces off the board with her magic when Ares ''wasn''t'' looking'' but that hadn''t helped her win yet. Of course Ares found this particularly cute and so he allowed it to happen once or twice a match... Apart from the one time she stole his king, that one couldn''t be ignored!


    After the shower, Ares went into the living room to find Bellona eating some milk and cereal and asked her if she wanted to tag along for the match. It seemed the answer was a ''no'' as her bubble tea stock was running low and she wanted to replenish it. Plus she was looking to make a bunch of them in advance for when she and Enyo left for the Grecian lands as it might be hard to make them there. Well maybe anyway, Bellona had no idea what kind of hospitality was afforded to a disgraced Legion member like her so she would just have to wait and see. Then again, she would likely just be in the same room as Enyo, and she was going to be treated like a Goddess in the flesh, so it wouldn''t be too bad. Ares had no one else left to ask as everyone else had already left. The Aejaz lot wanted to be there for the start of the match and didn''t wait around for slowpoke Ares so they took off and had Appa tag along with them. Appa wanted to see the matriarchs again and be passed around like a pillow of marshmallow, getting hugged from every which direction, so it hopped aboard Lacy''s shoulder and rode her all the way to the coliseum. That meant it was just Ares and Enyo walking alone through the relatively quiet city after they left the sect.


    Everyone was either indoors or at the tournament so it was pretty dead right now in Red Sun, making it a perfect opportunity for lurking bandits to rob the pretty lady standing beside Ares!.. And they were all arrested promptly after. Enyo just summoned barrier after barrier and locked them up, dragged them to the nearest guard, and handed them over without a fuss. Apparently this had become a more common occurrence for Enyo now that she wasn''t wearing her helmet twenty four seven and her efficiency in dealing with crime had skyrocketed. The fact that it was coming to her now wasn''t really all that surprising but it was convenient so there were no complaints to be made about it. Eventually the duo arrived outside the coliseum but a few people were already leaving and they happened across a rather strange person. Not strange in that the person was odd in any way but rather strange in that it was unusual for them to even be here right now as they should have had a match going on!


    "Mako? What are you doing out here?" Ares was the first to break the awkward silence. The two had caught each other''s eyes and slowly walked towards each other but nobody had said anything when they got close. Something about Mako seemed different, like his aura had shot up leaps and bounds and so Ares had been inspecting the elf carefully to try and pick up on his changes. Meanwhile Mako was trying to scrutinise Ares in return and figure out if he could beat him yet, leading to this bizarre situation in which the two rivals were just silently looking each other up and down for no apparent reason. Still, Ares had spoken now so a proper conversation could be had.


    "I''m leaving. The match is over so I''m headed home. Better yet, what are you doing out here? Shouldn''t you have been in there watching the match?" Mako pointed backwards at the coliseum with his thumb with a raised eyebrow. He had noticed a lack of Ares'' presence during the match so he simply assumed Ares wouldn''t show up again today but, yet, here he was. In a way, Ares not being here at all was less insulting than him being outside the coliseum but not coming in! Was this a new level of taunting?!


    "Didn''t figure today was an important match but was going to watch it anyway. Got a little side-tracked in the morning, though, so I arrived late only to find out it''s already over? Man, what a bummer. I heard you improved lately? Good for you. I take it our fight will actually be interesting now and I won''t just steamroll you?"


    Mako spat on the floor and glared at Ares. "It would have been interesting before my changes you mutt! If anything, now I''m not so sure you can put up a respectable fight against me! Maybe if you beg politely, I''ll let you have those other teammates of yours join in!"


    ...


    Did this guy not hear about Aejaz? Better yet, he definitely knew about Enyo! There was no way he was strong enough to take on all three of them, that was absurd and he was clearly just being a punk. "You''ve not heard the news about Aejaz?"


    "Hm?" mako seemed to not understand why Aejaz was being brought up so the answer was obviously a resounding ''no''. Well maybe this guy shouldn''t have been opening his big mouth then!


    "He can steal fundamental pillar affinity. It works at a reduced rate but it does work... So if you really want to fight the whole team, you''ll be going up against two fundamental pillars and an Enyo..." Ares pointed at the nodding Legion ace to his side before carrying on. "... And no matter how strong you''ve become I doubt you have it in you to fend off all of us three..."


    Mako''s face had soured and he was taken aback. He damn well didn''t know about that runt Aejaz stealing fundamental pillars! What did he think they were exactly?! Mako was a tad annoyed about this discovery as it sounded utterly preposterous that some normal guy could just use the fundamental pillars whenever he wanted... It also complicated his shit-talking a bit because now it really wasn''t possible to fight multiple people on the Red Sun team at once. If it had just been Ares and Enyo then he might have been able to make it work, based strictly on what he knew about them and nothing more, but he didn''t feel comfortable with the new knowledge he''d learned regarding Aejaz... "Fine, I take it back... We''ll still have that duel of ours then..."


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Ares formed his trademark ''innocent'' smile as he shook his head from side to side and spoke with a merry tune. "No no. I couldn''t possibly duel o'' mighty Mako, the imperious creator himself! I guess I really do need the help of Enyo and my brother! We''ll just have to fight you as a team!"


    Ack


    Mako had gotten a ton stronger but if Ares really threw away the idea of a duel then Mako was screwed big time. His prompt potential pocket watch had gifted him Serene''s bloodline, enabling Mako to create and control that special water with healing properties, plus it had given him immense magical capacity and power so he was more than capable of going on a creation spree like no other, and yet he would be doomed in a one vs three with these maniacs! Ares might have just been acting annoying but Mako didn''t put it past the guy to go back on his word just to mess with him! Plus there was a decent chance the winnings for the tournament wouldn''t be small either so he had every incentive to not go through with the proposed duel if he really didn''t want to. Mako had to be careful with his choice of words here... "No... No that''s fine, I was exaggerating earlier. I want to have an honourable duel with you! A duel of titans! You are the person I have decided shall be my rival going forward so we must do this fair and square!"


    "Hm, doesn''t seem fair to me though? You just whooped my family''s ass in what? Under a minute? For the first time ever, I''m decently impressed with you and now I''m feeling antsy! Ooh, can I beat him? Can I not? I guess we''ll never have to know! We''ll gang up on you and just end things in a boring but guaranteed way; that''s just the way it''s going to have to go against mighty old Mako."


    Mako squinted at Ares who was clearly gunning for something here. "Alright you shmuck, what do you want out of me?" Mako assumed he was about to be blackmailed for stardust, treasures, or cultivation resources or something but, as it turned out, Ares wanted something far FAR worse.


    "Say pretty please! And say it with chest! Really throw your whole voice into it! Say ''Ares, duel me pretty please!" Ares made his voice sound a bit girly and had no qualms with doing such an embarrassing thing, as being a revenant helped with that big time, but expecting Mako to do it? The bundle of pride himself was being made to humiliate himself in public?! Mako looked around and, thankfully, it seemed like a lot of the coliseum crowd had yet to come outside after the match. Maybe they were shellshocked by Mako''s performance still? Either way, it was for the best if he didn''t hesitate too long as then everyone would arrive and things would get dicey. It wouldn''t be a surprise if Ares made him say this crap in front of hundreds of people and had no reservations about his actions at all... What a nightmare that would be... Although it pained him to his core, Mako swallowed his nerves, shook his head, and opened his mouth to say it. "... P... Pret..."


    "WAIT!"


    Oh no. Mako didn''t want to hear the next words to come out of Ares'' mouth. No matter what he wanted it couldn''t possibly be good for Mako. The bastard had interrupted him just as Mako was about to fulfil his end of the bargain... If Mako had just been a bit quicker he wouldn''t have to hear more of Ares'' demands, whatever they were, and he was seriously regretting his initial slowpoke refusal to co-operate. Mako''s pride was just too damn high to say such a silly thing out loud! Well he was paying the price for his hubris right about now as Ares didn''t appear to be going easy on him.


    "Say pretty please with a cherry on top! Gotta add that last part on too otherwise it won''t count!"


    "That wasn''t a part of the original deal! You can''t just lump on extra crap to our trade after we''ve already come to an agreement, that''s not how this works!" Mako was livid! He thought it was going to be something stupid and, as it turned out, he was right! But this? This was more than just ''stupid'', this was tailor designed to make him look and sound like a fool! Ares was taking some serious liberties here!... Why did Mako have to open his big fat mouth earlier?... He was lucky enough that Ares was willing to even go along with the duel in the first place despite having no obligation to and then Mako just had to go and showboat, grandstanding with his ego-driven speech about how he could take on the whole team... He only had himself to blame for this which was why he was at least not too mad about Ares'' reprimanding actions. If this had come out the blue then Mako would have told Ares to go fuck himself already and left without turning back but now... He didn''t have the moral high-ground here and what Ares was asking of him wasn''t even really that bad, just really silly... Or so Mako kept telling himself. People were finally starting to leave the coliseum but nobody had really noticed this conversing of two fundamentals yet so he really had to hurry before a crowd started gathering. If Mako and Ares just sat here long enough people would eventually come over and see what they were up to, maybe even try and start a conversation... But Mako needed to get this request over and done with before that so he repeated the earlier steps and looked Ares dead in the eye. Ares, despite Mako''s earlier complaining, was evidently not going to budge on this so, after one final deep breath, Mako said it aloud without faltering and in the exact manner Ares had requested of him. "Pretty please with a cherry on top!"


    "Hahahahaha, that was perfect! Brilliant! Even I couldn''t do it better myself if I tried! Oh that was perfect. Yeah sure you can have your duel or whatever. Enyo! Enyo! You caught all of that right? You have so got to share that memory with Serene, she''ll be over the moon to have it!"


    "Wait what?" Mako hoped to God he misheard that last sentence! Was this rascal just doing this to give his mother a gift!? Serene would love to see an embarrassed Mako making a fool out of himself in such a manner so it wasn''t unlikely that Ares had been intentionally aiming for this from the start! His intentions were not pure!... Well he was a revenant so that was a given, and it could be argued that giving his mother something that she would absolutely love like this wasn''t exactly evil, but from Mako''s perspective this was despicable! "Oi! Wait just a damn minute!"


    "Ha, nope. Later loser!" Ares snickered as he Shifted away with Enyo up to the top floor of the coliseum where Serene was still hanging round with the other matriarchs, showering Appa with oodles of affection just like it wanted. He waved as he walked over and promised Serene a real treat. While Enyo was handing over the memory, Ares sympathised with his family members who had just come up from the arena. The Umbra kin had been slaughtered down there but they really didn''t seem all too fussed about it. The most bothered person was probably Fate, as she was still adamant her family could beat a fundamental if they really tried, but everyone else had taken the loss in their stride. They saw it as a good opportunity to see how truly vast the difference was between themselves and a fundamental so it was a valuable learning experience to know they stood absolutely no chance. In the end, though, they didn''t even really know what hit them. All they saw was the entire ground turn into some bumpy wave of light blue techno cubes before blocky cube golems leapt up out of the floor sporadically and pre-occupied them. As the Umbras dealt with the never ending golem constructs Mako just picked them off one by one with hologram pillars that he forged from underneath the floor, piercing them in the stomach and or breaking all their bones with a single hit. It had been brutal, one-sided, and incredibly hectic for the few seconds that it had lasted. The Umbra kin wished Ares the best of luck in his fateful fight against the guy because it was not going ot be easy at all. Ares thanked them before going back over to the matriarchs to recover his floaty child and bring Appa back home with him.


    Serene was very happy to have received the memory from Enyo and kept replaying it on repeat in her head and tittering each and every time she did. Mako had come barrelling up to the top floor too late and, to his dismay, was hugged by his mother as she called him a silly elf with a cherry on top. Mako froze in her arms and wanted to hide in a corner somewhere but what could he do with such a powerful person holding onto him?... Damnable Ares! His mother was never going to let this go and she would be sure to remind him of this every time it was even remotely relevant... Maybe even when it wasn''t. Serene took great joy in hoarding memories of Mako and this was comfortably sitting near the top of the pile so Ares'' job here was done! Now that he''d embarrassed Mako today, he only had to do it one more time during their match and this whole tournament would be done and dusted. There wasn''t anything particularly noteworthy that was going to happen from now until then so time would likely fly by. Ares would pressurise his Backfire Bindings a bit but there was no way he was finishing them before the final match. The Backfire Bindings actually seemed to be trickier to pressurise than even the Primordial Blade which might have had something to do with their pressure-oriented nature. It wasn''t too shocking they were difficult but Ares hadn''t expected them to be this painfully slow... Oh well, he had plenty of time and wasn''t in any rush. He''d likely get them done by the time he was ready to leave for the Freeride Federation so they had that going for them. Afterwards he could start on the Primordial Blade and, chances are, he wouldn''t finish those up until he returned from his long trip.


    With his goals all laid out and his plans for the future, immediate and distant, sorted, Ares headed back home with his wife and daughter, stopping off on the way to buy Appa some more bubble wrap as a special treat. Appa hadn''t had any to play with in a while and it was a bit jealous of everyone playing board games so Ares figured he would bring the classic toy back. Pop.


    Ares seemed a little distracted but Enyo knew it was because the Mako situation had changed and he actually needed to be cautious against the elf now that he constituted a very real threat. Ares was probably going over every single tool in his arsenal, making sure they were all prepared and ready for this next fight as it was going to be a real big one. He was double checking and triple checking they were in tip top order and ready to be thrown at Mako at a moment''s notice as he would likely dredge through his entire kit of tools in order to cinch a close victory. His new tricks, and even the old ones that he hadn''t used in quite some time; it was all going to matter and this match would be a long back and forth but he felt ready. He was wishing he''d shown up a little earlier so he could spectate Mako''s new power level to roughly gauge it but he didn''t have a time machine and decided no to sweat the small stuff that couldn''t be changed. He just had to do the same thing Mako was going to do, give it his all and see where fate took him. Was he guaranteed a win here? No, but was he confident he could do it? Well he wouldn''t be Ares if he wasn''t confident, well-founded or otherwise! The culmination of this entire tournament was finally at hand and, soon, a winner would be decided. Mako or Ares? Two individuals so strong this team match setup was completely unsuitable for them and they had to make their own rules to hash it out. A fundamental battle was simply on a scale different to that of one between normal cultivators and that was going to become very apparent from the second their match kicked off. The spectators were in for a real treat with this one!

 Chapter 259: The Clash Between the Cream of the Crop Commences

    Overcast and gloomy. It was going to rain today, it was just a matter of when and not if. Of all the days for the weather to turn sour it just had to be on the day of the final tournament match for the outer court disciples. Typical wasn''t it? The grey skies were foreboding and prophesizing a match between two expert cultivators that would rend the earth and tear the heavens and Ares wasn''t convinced this was a good thing for him. If Mako could cast any electric arts via Alpha And Omega then Ares was already at a disproportionate disadvantage because of this troublesome day. Maybe his Prowler could be a tad bit more effective due to the darker atmosphere and scenery but that was a thin hope compared to the simplicity of shocking a person in the rain. Destruction, bested by rain drops! How tragic this whole affair was. Ares needed to consider creating a disintegration art to deal with stuff like this, or maybe even an art capable of creating its own immediate biome and altering the weather within. Cloudy with a chance of explosions! Disintegration rain, anyone? Random tears of void through space that could Shift people about whether they wanted to be dragged kicking and screaming through shattered space or not? Ares liked the sound of it but creating such an art was a tricky thing and not something worth dwelling on right about now. He had a more pressing issue in the form of his upcoming match against Mako which was due to start in about an hour. He was inside his house, looking out the window while everyone else was lounging around behind him playing board games. They had it easy! Then again, up until now Ares had it pretty easy and so he wasn''t in a position to talk. He''d played hard for most of the tournament and now it was time to work hard as this would undoubtedly be his hardest fought battle yet since becoming a cultivator. For all his poking fun at Mako the guy was going to be strong. Or rather, if a fundamental was ever weak then Ares might even be disappointed.


    Ares was ready. All his tricks that he''d honed over the course of his cultivation journey this far, and even some he had yet to test out, where all neatly tucked away in his proverbial back pocket, ready to take Mako by storm. To finish off his preparations, he made everyone a decently sized early lunch so as not to fight a hard battle on an empty stomach. Still, nothing too heavy was made otherwise that would cause problems as well so some warm sandwiches were in order! Enyo also joined in and took some of the burden off Ares by making her trademark toasted pitas which he was grateful for. Bellona also eventually got off her lazy ass and made some drinks for everyone as well.


    After the food was devoured rapidly, as the number of greedy gluttons in this house was astronomical, it was time to set off but it had already started drizzling lightly outside and everyone other than Ares was wearing some proper clothes to block out the rain. He wanted to maintain his mobility and so being fashion forward or wearing clothes that were tailored for this kind of weather right now wasn''t in the cards. Mako wouldn''t do it either so he couldn''t afford that small handicap just because it was going to be a bit chilly and he might get wet. Even if he got ill afterwards, for his recklessness, it was still worth it in the grand scheme of things to take a small hit here to increase his odds in the fight. Plus he was a cultivator so the rain wouldn''t be too devastating. Of course if it got bad for whatever reason then Ares was now in possession of various measures that could counteract it to various degrees and he wasn''t too worried about it. Again, his preparations for any storms that might come his way, in this case literally, had done him wonders and his mind was relatively stress free. Or as much as it could be given the situation at least.


    It was time to head out so the large group all left the sect to the sound of cheers from the fellow disciples who were seeing them off and / or following them to the coliseum. Regardless of the outcome today, the Red Sun team had done immeasurable good for the reputation of the sect and they were basically already heroes in everyone''s eyes. The least they could do was give them a proper send off and wish them good luck in their plight, although it was mainly Ares that received their blessings as what was going to happen today revolved around him primarily. It was pretty much known to everyone watching the tournament that a duel was taking place and, although the C.O had been tempted to intervene and demand a team vs team battle, it ended up being solidified via public preference. The C.O understood where the hype lay in the upcoming finals so they opted not to be heavy handed about things and ruin it. Any other year they would have been on the finalists'' backs like a ton of bricks and threatened them with serious punishments for disobeying the rules but the whole fundamental thing had thrown everything out of whack and special circumstances required special handling.


    This was a fantastic money making opportunity too as even people who never watched the outer court matches, sticking to inner court or core matches instead, had heard enough about the two fundamentals to at least be curious and come check things out. A lot of spare seats near the upper floors were going to be chock full today, instead of mostly empty, and there might even be some people on the top floor other than the matriarchs and their kin due to the nature of the match. The C.O were pulling out all the stops and setting up magic barriers to prevent the rain from disturbing the top floor guests and everything.


    Today was a big deal and the vibe throughout town mirrored that. People were rushing around everywhere, trying to get small and menial tasks finished so they could hurry over to the venue. This was especially true of the locals who were praying for Ares to come out on top for the glory of this place... Although there had been some strange rumours floating around about what he intended to do with it! Hans'' work had already started and he was making decent headway on that front so a lot of people were giving Ares double and triple glances as he was potentially their ticket to an infinitely better life. What he could offer them, just by passively having them exist on his floating makeshift planet, was not small. Even if they remained mortals their lives would improve considerably if Ares did well in his cultivation journey. Everyone was going to be tied at the hip to him but given his display in the international thus far, as well as his reputation prior, they felt confident that the old bandit brother who helped maintain the peace could become something more for this town and really send it to the stratosphere! Literally! Ares wasn''t the underdog here as he was competing in his own hometown so the wind was at his back while Mako was facing a strong headwind. Every little helped.


    The Red Sun team arrived at the coliseum and separated from the large crowd that gathered behind them. They were ushered into the standard waiting room for what would inevitably be the last time this year and politely asked to wait while the crowd was riled up outside. Would the competitors here be back next year? Honestly, none of them knew. The cultivation world was a busy one and guaranteeing their participation was impossible. Ares might even be running the sect by then and he would almost definitely be required to compete in the core tournament if it was even possible for him to register. Of course this was all predicated on him not being whisked away on some whacky adventure on the other side of the world at the time it was being run so who knows if he''d compete again? Not that the tournament couldn''t keep being run after that as Ares could take the international to new heights via his Red Sun abduction. The tournament, the original one, would be dragged into Vraizon at some point so Sheryashka would need to find a new venue to host their own tournaments from now on! Bhorashka apparently had a pretty decent stadium within the jungle near their main city so it could be held there as it was still within the confines of central land which was key to enabling consistent international attendance.


    Putting that thought to the back of his head, Ares started wondering about something else instead... Should he whip out the scythe this match? He was leaning towards no for various reasons but this would be as good a chance as any to practice with it... Sort of, anyway. Mako wasn''t really a close quarters combatant so if Ares was in range to swing the scythe at him then that would be a pretty big miracle. Plus, at that point, he''d rather just have a weapon he was comfortable with to get in some damage that actually meant something rather than flail around with the scythe. Still, if he never took risks then how was he going to improve with it? Decisions decisions... It wasn''t an easy choice as Mako''s magic would be hard to stop if Ares was messing around with the weapon, and he wouldn''t prove to be a valuable foe up close either, but this was a rare opportunity Ares would be missing out on if he declined to use it...


    Ares would wind up fighting Mako multiple times throughout his journey; that just seemed like the kind of relationship they were going to have with one another as they bounced off each other and improved at roughly the same rate. Tournaments, random disagreements, fighting over resources. This was going to happen more than once but maybe not again for some time in the near future. They were still establishing themselves in this wide world and so, at least until they escaped the Primordial barrier, it might not happen again. Ares would have other notable enemies to swing his scythe at but not Mako, he was off the table for him after today... but logically he should start with weaker humans and monsters to work his way up to a grand opponent like Mako! Ares sighed to himself and eventually chose not to use the strange weapon unless there was a clear opening he could exploit freely without being punished. It was cowardly but also the smart choice here and he didn''t want to let his team down because he was being obstinate over something stupid like this. The scythe wasn''t being put in the icebox but it wasn''t looking like it would make an appearance today either. Ares other weapons though? They were ready and waiting! Spears, hammers, axes, etc... Ares had them on standby and he would pull them out whenever it was appropriate to do so.


    Ares looked up as it was finally time to face his new rival as the Red Sun team was being called out into the arena. It seemed like, even though they weren''t competing, the rest of the team would get to sit around inside the arena and watch from close up. Given the scale of the fight, Enyo might need to summon barriers for them occasionally to protect them from wayward attacks or large, devastating arts that encompassed a wide area. Ares would NOT be protecting them as he was going to be busy beyond belief dealing with his own issues and his team were very well aware of that. They would all rather die to a haphazard attack from Mako, or even friendly fire from Ares, than have him stop what he was doing and lose momentum mid combat. They weren''t going to be able to contribute to this fight so they didn''t want to be a detriment to the person who they were reliant on. That''s not to say Aejaz and Enyo couldn''t possibly get involved but, seeing as how both fundamentals wanted this one on one, they were fine with letting it happen. Besides, they both trusted Ares to win anyway. Ares had always been the indomitable big brother to Aejaz and the unstoppable menace husband to Enyo so, even if they were a tad blinded by familial love, there was a great deal of respect for Ares as a powerhouse cultivator within them. Ares cracked his bones and rolled his neck as he walked down the long hallway. It was long normally but today it''s length had seemingly doubled and the crowd''s cheering was oddly muted... Were the nerves actually getting to him? This was a strange feeling... He''d never been anxious like this before! It wasn''t really out of fear or anything, just some serious excitement! He''d never had an opponent as worthy as this, he''d never been spectated to this degree before, and the pressure to perform had never been so dauntingly massive. It was rather surreal to him.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    He walked outside and into the roaring applause, getting a little wet in the process what with the rain crashing down from above. He''d gotten wet on the way here, as the abundant roofs had quelled some of the downpour, but here? Here out in the open with no roof overhead he was going to be getting the rain straight to his dome. The same seemed to be partially true for Mako but he just pulled out a hard hat and put it on his head for now. He''d likely take it off before the match started but, until then, he had something to keep his noggin dry. Now whether he always had that on him, or he just created it out of thin air, Ares didn''t know. Honestly. it was probably the former; this guy was working on something big in his spare time if Serene''s occasional hints during pressure training were anything to go by. His fundamental pillar-related special treasure was a biggen and he had to use scaffolding and proper tools to work on it. Having a hard hat wasn''t all that surprising. Actually, now that Ares thought about it, common appliances were basically free to Mako right? He never needed to use stardust on day to day needs because he could just create whatever he was lacking on the spot! Lucky bastard... Some people had to pay for crap around here! Although, then again, Ares had a stardust generating method in his future, via Garmr, so he couldn''t really complain. Also, he could create tasty food! Mako would probably be able to whip up food out of nowhere but would it taste good? If Mako was always happy to have his mother''s cooking then the answer was probably no. Then again, the quality of the taste might improve over time to match his cultivation but whether or not Mako would ever stop having his mother''s soups was pretty doubtful. He was secretly a momma''s boy and nothing was ever really going to change that. No matter how much he tried to wriggle out of Serene''s grasp, due to his mountain full of pride hiding away within him, he never really hated it.


    Ares was staring down Mako and the reverse was equally true. They''d tuned out the miscellaneous shouting in the background and were entirely focused on each other and the upcoming match. According to shithead Lex the rules were slightly different compared to usual. The talisman was gone, basically, and it was now just a contest to see which team could kill the other first. Although it wasn''t a declared rule, it was expected that the side with the losing fundamental would just surrender after either Ares or Mako went down. It was technically a one vs one but the team was still permitted to keep fighting even after the duel if they wanted to for whatever reason. There was also a non-zero chance that the two fundamentals might tie and kill each other at the same time which meant the teammates could decide the result of the match themselves, not that it wasn''t extremely apparent which side would win should it come to that. Mako''s teammates were nothing special and that was doubly true when they were measured up against Enyo or Aejaz. Still, the rules were basically the same as before minus the talisman and timer stuff.


    There was no longer a way to lame out the other team and hide behind barriers for the duration of the match but there was also no longer a duration at all. The five minute timer was also gone so Ares and Mako could take as long as they needed to finish off each other. The C.O had to hope they wouldn''t pull some stupid half truce and waste everyone''s time with extremely slow and methodical fights but they felt confident that wouldn''t be the case given how the two''s matches had gone this far. Ares only long match was a direct result of him dicking around with the scythe so, provided he didn''t pull it out again, things ought to remain speedy throughout. The fight would still probably be long, yes, but it would be action packed and not some dull, tedious, poke fest wherein nobody committed to anything. The match would still be a hectic one.


    The rules were explained in full to a silent crowd and now everybody was getting in position... Well the relevant position anyway. They weren''t on the starting line, save for Mako and Ares, because the eight other people were all hugging the walls at the opposite ends of the arena from one another. They were trying to stay as far away from the action as possible so this was the best place to stand. The Red Sun team felt a lot more comfortable right now though because Enyo had kindly set up an array of multiple barriers. She might need to re-summon them, or create more, down the line if things got out of hand but it was still way better than having nothing to defend themselves with. As these barriers were irrelevant to the main fight, even though the match hadn''t started, the C.O permitted Enyo to summon them early. Mako''s teammates looked incredibly jealous right now and some of them were even considering kiss assing Enyo to get her to summon some for them as well. Unfortunately for them Enyo would not be doing this and the match was literally starting right now anyway. Lex had just swiped his hand vertically downward and the horn...


    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


    ... Signalled the start of the final showdown! The crowd fell silent once more and all eyes were on the two combatants to see what they were going to do. For now, they were strafing around each other and having a silent discussion via their gaze on who was going to make the first move. Ares wanted to close the distance so he activated his annihilation enhancement and carefully took some steps forward. Mako had to be careful here but so did Ares. If Ares blindly charged forward and Mako cast a defensive art he would run headfirst into a trap. If Ares took things slow like this he would be able to react while closing ground. In other words, it was up to Mako to decide what to do next and the mind games had already begun. Yes he could cast a defensive art but he should really be aiming to cast an art that would benefit him long term right now. A defensive art would be overcome and Ares would be steps closer to him but if he went for anything more complicated Ares would get to close the distance safely... It was already a problematic start for Mako but that was just the result of him dedicating all of his effort towards his magic and letting his physical side of things fall behind.


    As things currently stood, his creation magic would long outlast and overcome Ares'' destruction magic. Ares would not be able to destroy at the same rate Mako created because Ares'' magic had fallen behind slightly but the same was not true of their bodies. Ares'' adept trait was holding him back but the pressure stuff was unmatched regardless. This all meant that Mako''s advantage was that he was way slower and weaker up close but hit harder at longer ranges and could keep Ares at bay, stuck outside the range he wanted to fight at if he got an opening. Given all of that, it was no surprise the start of the match was like watching two snails having a staredown. Things would speed up explosively the second a proper move was made, it was just a question of what Mako would go for exactly and how Ares would respond. Terros was by Mako''s side too and could maybe be a small nuisance before he was summoned properly via the contract, although he couldn''t do anything so major, so both parties had to take that into consideration but the reverse was also true. Now that the match was upon them, Ares not having his God by his side and out in the open was worrying as Mako and Terros still had no clue who it was. Ares was hiding it well and that was going to be a real hassle later on for sure. Still, no one was summoning their Gods in full just yet, they were still in the early stages and that shit show could wait ''till later.


    "Golem Proving Ground!"


    Based on the name of the art alone, this was probably the art Mako used against the Umbra lot that ended their fight in under a minute. His prompt pocket watch must have given him enough mana reserves and cultivation to be able to cast this art and, clearly, if those restrictions were anything to go by, it was a powerful one. Still, it wasn''t a defensive art so Ares was good to go and started dashing at Mako immediately to try and punish him for using it. The ground underfoot was rolling in waves as it slowly sectioned itself into blue hologram cubes but Ares ran over the rectangular and square-ish bumps with finesse as he darted towards the defenceless Mako in the hopes he could get a good hit in.


    Ares managed to make it to within a couple feet of his target so now it was a question of whether he could breach whatever last minute blocks Mako could throw up. As Ares threw his punch the little floating rock, Terros, managed to raise a small earth wall in front of him. It wasn''t a big deal and Ares was still expecting to be able to hit Mako after he tore through the wall... But as it turned out, it was just barely enough to give Mako the time he needed to raise his own wall. Even then Ares thought he could break through that as well and still hit Mako but the Proving Ground was up and running now so that was a no go. Although Ares'' fist had broken through two last minute walls, the third to block his path finally prevailed as the ground rose up and formed a neon, rectangular wall in front of Ares that was hard as steel, if not even harder than that. This art did two things. First of all, the floor could be freely controlled and raised / lowered at Mako''s discretion to form a maze and / or attack foes with quickly rising pillars. The walls could also block heavy attacks so it was a solid art overall that covered a wide area and was highly versatile. The second effect was where the Golems came in as Mako could summon an endless swarm of the giants from the floor. It took a bit between each summon, and there was a limit to the amount he could have out at once, but if Ares tried to sit there destroying them one by one he might actually be here until the end of time.


    Ares had to hop back from the neon hologram wall as a cube rose up near his feet like a pillar piercing the sky and almost ran Ares through his stomach. This happened multiple times in a row, forcing Ares to lose the ground he''d just gained, sending him back to his starting point disappointed and with nothing to show for his earlier advance. Not only was he denied a hit in exchange for letting Mako cast this art, the Golems were now spawning continually and they were going to be troublesome to navigate. Throw in Mako being annoying at the back with whatever he was creating to chuck at Ares from safety and this was a poor start for Ares. He looked to be in a dominant position earlier but that poxy wall Terros summoned ended up making all the difference. Terros couldn''t do much in this form but, evidently, he was still an invaluable asset for Mako... If only that stupid lizard Ignizz were here! Ignizz could have dealt with that wall without hassling Ares to do it, drastically changing the outcome of that last interaction! Ares was going to wrangle that dumb reptile''s neck when he finally found him!

 Chapter 260: The Gargantua Rises

    It hadn''t ended yet. Two golems, three golems, four golems... Ares had no idea how many Mako could summon at once but it was clearly a pretty respectable quantity if his eyes weren''t failing him. The good news here was that the number of golems was almost inconsequential to the end result. Ares couldn''t hold the fort down against these things and pray Mako ran out of mana, as banking it all on such a risky strategy was foolish, so he was going to have to overcome this and advance upon Mako''s position to forcibly end this art anyway. Keeping it running while Ares was up close and pummelling Mako was a waste of mana so the task here was to route a path towards the elf and end this unceasing onslaught. With the rapidly shifting walls and ever changing structure of the floor it was going to be a real hurdle Ares needed to clear but fighting a fundamental was never going to be easy. Rather than rush things, Ares actually chose to wait for a while and hope Mako would misplay his hand. Ares didn''t know the upper limit of summons here but, maybe, if Mako wasn''t thinking straight, he would summon the max number of golems right off the rip and give the game away. It was better if Ares knew how bad things could possibly get before he committed to anything. There would be nothing more disastrous than making an all-in push only to have it curbed at the last minute because Mako still had some golems up his sleeve. With that in mind, Ares watched as the seventh, and seemingly final, golem raised up from the floor.


    The golems were like a series of big neon bricks compiled together with wire frame bodies and hollow eyes but their flimsy appearance was not in line with the strength they held. Ares could tell just by looking at them that a swing from one of those things was deadly in its own right and it was no surprise his family had been rinsed by this art. There were enough golems to just swarm them and they probably had no way of dealing with it, let alone everything else Mako chucked at them. Point in case, Ares had to hop away from his position as a long and rectangular pillar shot straight up from the ground underneath him. The maze could hinder him but it could also attack him at the drop of a hat so Ares had to pay it a significant chunk of attention or he''d be battered by it unsuspectingly. If anything, these sneak attacks were a bigger problem than the golems because they were fast, consistent, and not limited by range. As long as Ares was standing on the hologram floor he was subject to the repeated ambushes these things entailed and there was nothing he could do about it other than activating Voidwalk and flying above it all. Ares could do this but Mako likely had anti air measures and so wasting mana on it, only to have to come back down anyway, wasn''t wise. That''s not to say he couldn''t use it for a quick burst of speed but, for that, he needed to time it correctly and use it when he was free to do so without repercussion. Also, Ares didn''t know if mana would be a relevant factor this fight but he didn''t want to find out because Mako, thanks to his pocket watch, definitely had more than he did. Ares had Grim Cessation but he wasn''t going to rely on that and hope Mako just wasted his entire reserves before Ares did somehow.


    Ares tried to use his telekinesis on the floor, as that would have also been a good way to circumnavigate tis treacherous art, but his pressure was just kinda bouncing off the neon as it was Mako''s magic he was trying to interfere with here and not just regular ground. Long story short, he was going to have run the gauntlet and navigate the golem maze as was intended. Still, he felt confident in his ability to do it. He was quick enough to avoid the pillars, he had Omniscience to predict them if he needed to devote brain power elsewhere, and the golems, while strong, didn''t seem defensively impervious to Ares'' arsenal. To test that theory, Ares let a golem close in on him and take a swipe. The golem was left confused because its horizontal swing missed and yet Ares was nowhere to be found. It then felt something on its extended right arm so it looked over to see Ares crouched on it, poking a finger towards the golem''s brain. With a small flick, the finger connected and the golem''s top half was blasted away with little resistance. For an ordinary cultivator at Ares'' level, these things would be tough as nails but, well, Ares was the destruction pillar champion so it was only natural the firepower he was packing dwarfed everyone else''s. The golem couldn''t withstand the flick it had received which, in turn, meant it definitely wouldn''t be able to take anything more significant either. It just re-affirmed Ares'' suspicions that the golems weren''t the real threats here. Yes they had the most damaging attacks should they connect but how likely they were to even get that hit in the first place mattered. This, to Ares at least, was a quantity over quality type situation and he was perfectly fine with it so he took off running and didn''t look back. He needed to get this art sorted out and turned off in one fell swoop otherwise he would just be wasting time, stamina, and mana pointlessly so he activated Omniscience to give him that extra edge he needed and doubled down on is dash.


    There were two golems directly in front of Ares'' path, one slightly to the left and one slightly to the right. He was originally going to ignore them by skirting between them but a neon wall popped up in the way of Ares'' current route, forcing him to fight a golem head on... Or that was what should have happened but Ares activated Voidwalk temporarily to sprint sideways up the wall. Screw gravity! The golems were slow to react to this, which was understandable as Ares was speedy in his annihilation enhancement form and they were slow to begin with, so Ares was able to climb the wall before they even realised he wasn''t following the pre-determined route Mako had set for Ares. Ares was the rat in the maze but he was more like a mutant rat with giant teeth capable of chewing his way into new paths! He was also every bit annoying as a rodent too which was a thought Mako couldn''t help but have pop into his head as he watched Ares take out the two golems. Ares had reached the top of the wall and part-leapfrogged over it and part-split kick the golems on either side in the head to bash in their construct skulls. Before landing from his vault over the wall, Ares kicked off the back of it and sent himself flying forward, gaining really good ground after his small win over the golems.


    Mako had been taken by surprise on that one, and not expected Ares to overcome the situation so easily, so Ares was no longer on the backfoot and Mako was going to have to get more directly involved to stop him. The existence of Voidwalk was troublesome as it meant caging Ares wasn''t really possible and so Mako was going to have think of a new way to deal with him. Mako thought it over and eventually raised walls on either side of Ares as he sprinted in a straight line to keep him on a narrow path, allowing Mako to fire his magic at Ares without giving him any room to dodge while the golems closed in from the raised walls to his left and right. Ares wasn''t trapped or impeded from going forward but if he ignored the raised walls he would be in deep trouble. In this manner, Mako could utilise his terrain in a way that couldn''t be overcome simply by using Voidwalk to climb the walls as then Ares would meet the golems head o and they would be prepared for him this time. Additionally, if Ares broke the incoming attack that Mako was about to fire and overpowered it, he would be stopped long enough for the golems to leap on him from the sides like a bunch of wrestlers form the top rope. If Ares tried climbing the sides to escape then the golems would push him back down into the oncoming attack. It was a good pincer attack coming off the back of a full frontal assault so Ares was going to have to respond properly to this. Furthermore, if he retreated and went backwards, the detour would be lengthy and the time he''d waste would be meaningful in the grand scheme of things so all options here were supposedly terrible! As for the attack Mako fired off, it was simple but large and hard to avoid as he''d created an entire rocket. Not like the smaller, explosive munitions type of rocket, no, a 200ft space craft burning jet fuel as it went darting down the tunnel / trench Ares was stuck passing through.


    Ares almost stopped running as this was the first time he''d ever seen something this ginormous just pop up out of thin air before! Arguably, this was his first ever interaction with creation magic in its rawest form and it was incredibly off-putting! No wonder people just folded in front of fundamental pillar champions! Look at this crap! Only someone at Enyo''s level would be able to deal with such sporadic bullshit appearing out of nowhere so Ares was reminded just how powerful these unique pillars truly were and how lucky he was to be a part of the clique that wielded them. There was nothing logical about any of this and it felt like he was fighting some kind of superior entity that wasn''t even human, nor did they follow the normal rules of all living creatures, at this point. Like he was living in a simulated world and the creator had just dropped in to throw a random rocket at him out of pure boredom. Still, Ares was not some helpless pawn in the system, he was also outside the scope of whatever kind of matrix he was living in and was equally as non-sensical in his own right. His magic was weaker than Mako''s currently but this rocket was something it could absolutely take care of! It wasn''t that weak! Ares pulled out his Black Ice Bane and cast his trademark art to counter the object hurtling towards him.


    "Grand Annihilation!"


    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM BAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNGGG


    Oh how fantastic it felt to be casting arts again! When was the last time Ares had thrown an art out there just for the fun of it? He''d used Voidwalk and Shift here and there for mobility but lazily teleporting around the house didn''t count. Before that the last time he used an art was, what, when he used Annihilation Echo on the guard in the restaurant? Going even further back was, what, throwing Esoteric Compressions at Veteran in the pagoda?! It had been far too long since Ares let loose the destruction rumbling away inside him and it was as glorious a sight as ever! How freeing it felt to shatter the trembling earth and send a roaring gold, reality desecrating, explosion packing nothing but raw power out into the world was indescribable. It was like a shackle on his soul just crumbled to dust and he was scratching a ten thousand year old itch. The destruction magic seemed pleased to be back too as this was a particularly vigorous chain of explosions that Ares had let loose. Maybe his mana had actually been bubbling away, impatiently waiting for an opportunity to finally lash out at Ares'' discretion. Either way, the rocket was not prepared for this golden tsunami that engulfed it.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Despite being fully equipped for space travel, the rocket couldn''t not handle the golden atmosphere it was floating through as parts came tumbling off it until it was nothing more than a barren frame. It didn''t even manage to make it to the other end of the Grand Annihilation intact as the exposed frame turned to dust before landing at Ares'' feet. There was nothing left other than scorched cockpit and chunks of metal plating lying scattered in front of Ares in the makeshift trench. This rocket was a dud and had crash landed big time, thanks to Ares, but the attack wasn''t yet over as the rocket had moistly been a cover for the golems to advance upon Ares from the beginning anyway. Two heavy fists came peeking over the tips of the walls and were barrelling towards Ares'' head so he had to think fast and act faster. Fortunately he''d long foreseen this scenario and his body was already on the move, making the necessary adjustments to come out of this situation unscathed. Ares had transitioned from a sprint into a crouching slide and, as he leant back, he splayed his hand upward. it looked as though he was going to meet the fists head on, which would have been a pretty rough trade to take, but then three simple words left his mouth that dispelled that notion real quick.


    "Not Even Light."


    The defensive art that was worth its weight in gold came in clutch right when it was needed by summoning a black hole directly above Ares'' head, keeping him safe from the ensuing rain of golem fists. The Not Even Light specialised in anti-magic primarily so the golem constructs, forged entirely of neon creation magic, were doomed the second this art bared its fangs. They would have died to it anyway but, as they had leaned into their swings, their bodies were swallowed up fast. The pull would have dragged them in regardless of whether they punched or not, but being so close meant they looked as though they''d been hoovered up into a pitch black void and subsequently digested in the blink of an eye. As an extra added benefit, the Not Even Light also sucked up some of the nearby Proving Ground giving Ares breathing room so as not to have to worry about the pillar ambushes. He''d seen one coming with his Omniscience but he no longer needed to worry about it, enabling him to start dashing towards Mako again without losing any precious time during his forward, and seemingly unstoppable, march.


    As Ares reached the halfway mark towards his opponent he started wondering what was next on Mako''s list of tricks. So far everything had been pretty above board but Ares had a gut feeling it wasn''t going to stay that long forever as fundamental magic was fundamentally unfair. There was always something despicable up a fundamental champion''s sleeve and, based on the relatively calm demeanour Mako wore on his face despite his repeated failures, Ares could feel something dirty coming. What all but confirmed his suspicions was the fact that only a single golem was closing the gap towards him right now while the others were hanging back... Suicide bomb? That was Ares'' first guess and nothing else was coming to mind based on the relevant context clues. He decided to try and play around that assumption even if it was false because it was probably the worse potential outcome right now and needed to be avoided at all costs. Ares went to take a step back and adjust his position so he could take the golem head-on but something was latched onto his foot... Glancing downwards was enough for Ares to understand the problem and know what was coming next as well. The floor had morphed into the shape of a hand and grabbed his ankle, locking him down and preventing him from moving. This was a golem''s hand which meant the limit of seven wasn''t correct, and Mako had kept at least one extra in reserve for this sneak attack, and so Ares updated his knowledge of this art as he worked on getting himself out of the entanglement. Unfortunately Ares had fallen into the trap too deeply and there was no undoing it before things went further south. Mako was not some puny cultivator who would let this chance go and so a pillar shot out of the ground and pummelled Ares in the stomach so hard that his entire body lifted off the floor fort a split second and curved inward.


    Ares nearly hurled as his insides were re-arranged due to the severe blow but he was still alive and still kicking. His annihilation enhancement, plus Enyo''s little barriers on his flesh thanks to the mutations he got from laying with her earlier, had safeguarded him from anything lethal. If it weren''t for these measures then Ares would have bit the dust five times over just then as his body was frail thanks to his adept trait! This was a serious handicap right now! It would become nothing but a major boon the second he permanently gained access to Garmr but that was not relevant right now damn it! Worse still, the hit had shook him to his core and that meant he was unable to dodge the incoming golem regardless of what it wanted to do to him. When Ares saw a bright and sharp light glow in the golem''s chest he figured his earlier guess was correct and that this thing was about to blow up right in his face... Ares could try and block this, willingly sustaining the hit and setting him back a lot in order to safely disengage from the situation, but he wanted to risk it all! This would either hurt like a bitch and leave him half dead or turn the tides yet again, becoming a massive win for him. As the golem drew nearer, Ares strained his Omniscience to function at the max without letting up. The light grew brighter, effectively becoming a miniature sun, but still he stared into it with a firm resolve as this was necessary to pull of this trick that he really shouldn''t have been using right about now. The golem reached Ares'' position and leapt towards his back, while everything in the immediate area was bathed in pure white, before chaos broke loose from its core.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


    The detonation of the golem was pretty significant. Not as large as Ares'' on demand explosions, not even remotely, but pretty sizable in its own right and worthy of respect as far as non-destruction pillar explosions went. Ares was too busy taking advantage of the explosion to be impressed, however, as his plan had worked like a charm. Put simply, he''d deflected the explosion with his pressure! This was something he''d done against Candy''s talismans back in the pagoda so he knew deflecting explosions was possible but the larger they were the trickier it became. The only reason Ares could even do it was likely because he had benefits stacked on top of each other, forming a pile that was quite significant. The Omniscience was key and deflecting that explosion without it would have been literally impossible. You had to deflect in in the opposite rotation to the incoming attack and explosions, specifically, turned constantly throughout their travel duration until they fizzled out. Ares needed Omniscience to pinpoint the deflect location and his deep, almost inexhaustible, knowledge of explosion tendencies regarding direction and speed to even stand a ghost of a chance.


    Ares would have had a chunk of his body wiped out if he failed but, thanks to his extremely successful gambit, he came sprinting out of the smokescreen with Voidwalk active as well as Double Jump and multiple Shifts. He was gunning for Mako now, going all out in his approach, and the amount of speed he had with everything prior at his disposal, in addition to his enhancement, was basically enough to guarantee reaching Mako unimpeded provided he had no more tricks up his sleeve. The remaining golems were too far to stop Ares, the hand from under the floor trick and the pillars would be too slow to hit him, and Ares was too close to cast arts at for Mako without getting decked in the face if it wasn''t a defensive one. The best Ares assumed Mako could do right now was put up some walls to slow Ares down and impede him but, to Ares'' surprise, no such action was taken, almost as if Mako was welcoming his presence. Was Mako encouraging Ares to walk headfirst into a trap? Well Ares had to cross the remainder of the gap between them to win this fight so he didn''t have much of a choice but to spring it and see what Mako had in store for him anyway so he maintained his pace and course while keeping an eye out. The first action Mako took was to open his mouth and Ares was hesitant to keep charging forth. if he was determinedly casting an art then it was something that could block Ares so slowing down to tackle it properly was the way to go... But what if it was a bluff and he was just buying time? Ares decided to bite the bullet and kept moving forward, assuming Mako was faking it. Technically speaking, Ares was half right and half wrong. The art Mako was casting was a defensive one but it was also something Ares shouldn''t have allowed to be cast in the first place. There were occasionally arts that could evolve or improve via the casting of an additional art, sort of like what Ares had done before with his Black Blossom and Not Even Light combo. What Mako was doing here was a slight variation of that, in that the Proving Grounds gave him access to a few more arts he could choose from that changed up the Grounds to his liking. Mako could only pick one at a time, so only one would be relevant for this fight in particular, but it was going to be a pretty big deal regardless of which one he chose as they were all incredibly powerful and were where the bulk of this art''s lethality came in. In this case, the art Mako chose to use was a little something called...


    "Gigagolem!"


    Based on nothing but the name alone, it was fairly obvious what was about to happen. If Ares hadn''t slowed down he might have been able to reach Mako in time and prevent this but his indecision had let to a colossal wall appearing in front of him just as he was about to grab hold of the elf. This was incredibly unlucky as he did make the right choice, he just made it a split second too late and now he was going to have to deal with the result of his failure the hard way. The Gigagolem was rising slowly out of the ground and roaring with all its might as it did so, deafening Ares who happened to be located right by its lower body. The Gigagolem wasn''t much different in terms of shape compared to the regular ones but its size... Its size was, funnily enough, almost the same as that of Garmr''s and it was towering above Ares right now, looming ominously over him. Though not yet fully formed, its cries caused the arena to shake and the neon Proving Grounds glitched slightly in response. Ares had no idea what was in store for him when it came to this big brute but, chances were, it could do a lot more than slowly swing its fists around... This fight was still only in the early stages and yet things were already getting crazy! Who knows what this absolute mess of combat was going to devolve into down the line? Either way, that was a problem for future Ares. Present Ares had the Gigagolem to worry about but he still felt calm even in the face of his giant foe. He''d tangoed with the mecha dryad way back when and this upcoming fight was giving him a similar feeling... But Ares himself wasn''t the same anymore. The fight might be roughly as difficult, perhaps even a bit more so, but Ares was not as weak as he once was. The Proving Grounds wanted him to prove himself? Then so be it! The Gigagolem was going down!

 Chapter 261: Ramping up to a Frenzy

    While Ares was about to start fighting for his life down in the arena, there was one particular woman in the spectator area on the top floor who wasn''t sure if she should be praying for her son''s downfall or success. Calla was seriously torn here. Logically she should have supported her son unconditionally, and she would have normally, but she had been cooking up her own devious plan that necessitated Ares losing this fight in order for it to come to fruition so there was a lot at stake here! Technically this put her in a win / win situation regardless of the outcome of the match but it did complicate her feelings on the matter as rooting against her son felt so very wrong... Before the match had started, she''d contacted Julio and fiddled with the runes on the Training Field, with permission from the C.O who were well aware of Calla''s antics, and made a ''minor'' change. Ares had yet to notice it, as he was pre-occupied with the fight of his life, but that strange rune he was unfamiliar with was gone again. That little fang shaped rune he''d come across a few times now was obviously something revenant specific, that much was very apparent considering it was highly relevant to him and the symbolism was rather in your face, he just had no idea what it did!


    Maybe if Ares was made aware the rune was going to be gone from this Training Field ahead of time, and knew that Calla was the one responsible for it, would he have finally done some research into the pesky thing and added the fang back to the Training Field himself to avoid his rune doom... Oh well, tough luck for Ares! If he wanted to avoid this strange and unusual fate, that would become a very troubling reality for a short period of time should the proper conditions be met, then he ought to avoid dying in this Training Field at all costs! Appa, Bellona, Enyo, Calla, and even to an extent a certain someone else in the Umbra family, all wanted this to happen. So much so they were willing to lose the match just to see it! Hell even the other matriarchs and their kin were aware of what was going on and weren''t opposed to this potential result as it would be funny at the very least. In short, Ares was literally the only person unaware of what was in store for him while these people were giggling about it behind his back! You would think these people would be cheering him on and supporting Ares, minus Serene of course, but, no, secretly they were rooting for Mako to get the kill! Traitors! Was it at least all for a good cause? Well, it was a weird one, that was for sure...


    Regardless of his family''s plans to mess with him, Ares had just begun his one on one combat with the giant golem. He planned on winning this fight anyway so dying was irrelevant! As for the Gigagolem, Ares had miscalculated its total size somewhat. It was still as big as Garmr but it actually had finished growing already. The reason Ares got this wrong was because the lower half of its body was merged with the floor and, instead of walking, it sort of just floated through the neon floor like a rolling wave. It was still gigantic but, at the very least, it wasn''t going to grow to the size of a mountain or anything. Ares had no idea how this would affect the fight exactly but he was still confident in his ability to whoops this thing''s ass!... Not that it had one as only the bust of this thing actually existed but oh well! The point was that this thing was going down and the bigger they are, the harder they fall! This was the last line of defence standing between Ares and Mako so if he could just deal with this he likely wouldn''t be seeing the Proving Grounds again anytime soon. It would be a hard fought win, as the other golems were all gathering around Ares as well and Mako wasn''t going to stop poking and prodding at him too, but this would be the first major step towards victory and so Ares was willing to leap headfirst into the fray. Just because he was willing, however, that didn''t mean he was actually going to! It wasn''t cowardice, he just wanted to feel out the Gigagolem, much like he''d done with the mecha dryad, and learn what kind of tricks this thing had in store for him.


    Ares flicked a couple of Shock Beads towards the Gigagolem but it simply opened its mouth and started inhaling deeply. Ares was thankful it didn''t screech again but, as he watched his Beads sink into the neon void, he almost would have preferred it if that was all it had actually done. Ares did try detonating the beads but they''d probably be deconstructed into neon particles by the Gigagolem''s innate ability to digest things. Or at least that was what Ares'' Omniscience was loosely advising him of via the flow and deconstruction of mana within the Gigagolem. Ares had watched through this thing''s stomach, like he had x-ray vision, as his beads turned into mana sparks before fading away entirely. If he wanted to fight this thing, he needed to stay well away from its mouth... But now Ares was curious... How quickly could this thing turn? If it turned slowly then putting it down wasn''t going to be a troublesome task... But if it could swivel on a dime, and hoover up anything directly in front of it without repercussion... What was Ares supposed to do about that? He was going to have to think on the fly here and find a way to overcome this annoying giant but that was fine, Ares had a habit of living in the moment anyway. He''d done a lot of planning for today but that didn''t mean he would fold when he came across unexpected scenarios, he''d never been that type of combatant and cultivator from the very start! Hell he''d even mocked Enyo for it way back when they had their first major spat over killing the people trying to assault Fate in the woods. In some ways, Ares was even more deadly when he didn''t have a plan in his head that limited his actions. None of that meant Ares didn''t have some ideas swirling around, however. Ares'' first order of business, and potentially the only one he might need depending on how well it went, was to cast "Crystallised Void: Tricky Rink!"


    Ares was highly curious about the result of this. It would either fail, due to Mako''s art preventing it from appearing over the floor, or would be a pivotal changing point that would put Ares in the driver seat for this fight against the golem. If Ares could cover the floor in the Rink, the golem would no longer be able to even so much as move without blowing itself up constantly, plus the ambush pillars would get disintegrated the second they reared their heads from below. None of this even covered the plethora of other benefits it would provide so this particular art would do many good things for Ares if it worked! Ares watched, with baited breath as his Black Ice Bane sank into the neon brick at his feet, and waited patiently. It almost felt like it wasn''t working but, much to Ares'' joy, a small piece of Crystalised Void appeared in the form of a tiny dot before spreading like wildfire. The spread almost seemed quicker than usual, actually, like it was no longer being impeded by solid flooring. This could possibly be the case as it wasn''t surging through the ground but rather the mana flow of Mako''s creation magic.


    If the Void was hitching a ride on that then it would be able to spread even quicker as mana wasn''t a solid, more like an esoteric gas if anything. Maybe Mako''s art was backfiring here? The cultivation world had tricky little intricacies like this sometimes and, given that the two combatants here had completely unexplored pillars with millions of unique interactions waiting to be discovered, it was no surprise that something, well, surprising had come a cropper! The expected unexpected! A clash between fundamentals was sure to result in meaningful discoveries like this, nuggets of information that could potentially even change the cultivation world''s perception of the status quo. This was actually an important moment because it meant that magic could flow through mana in highly specific scenarios. There were limitless potential applications of this even at a glance. What if someone who specialised in poison magic could contaminate mana with their magic and automatically poison anyone who tried taking in the mana to cast arts? What about remote communication by sending mental messages through mana channels in the air? Extreme range assassination by exploding mana clusters from a distance? It''s not that people hadn''t theorised such things before, it''s just that such an occurrence had never actually been successfully brought about. Technical specialists and magic scientists alike had studied such a phenomenon for years and failed time and time again to make it a reality and, yet, here were two random kids achieving their life goals without even meaning to. It could be brought up basically every five minutes how revolutionary fundamental pillars were as they were constantly defying the supposed laws of reality and cultivation.


    Right now, Ares didn''t much care about that though. His main reason for being satisfied wasn''t the realisation of an earth shattering actualisation of a theory from some science quack a billion light years away. No, he was just happy to have an upper edge against his opponent. The Rink was creeping outwards in a wide circle and overwriting the neon floor... Actually, that wasn''t even true. Ares had assumed it would obliterate Mako''s art but it was more like the icing on a cake. His Rink was a layer above the floor but both were co-existing in a strange ''I destroy you if you try destroying me'' state. If the sneaky pillars tried to rise up, they would sink into a sea of disintegration hiding beneath the ice. If the disintegration tried pushing down into the neon floor it would be turned to neon particles and deconstructed. Maintaining the status quo was exactly what the two magics were doing but that was only beneficial for Ares as his art was on top! Sure the disintegration was too busy fending off the Proving Grounds underneath to be useful but the annihilation magic was free to do as it pleased above ground!


    The Rink was now taking up a large enough chunk of space that every single golem was well within its radius. There was a reason this art took up so much state percentage on the Black Ice Bane, it was damn good! Even Mako''s super art, that he''d gained almost exclusively from the benefits of a rare treasure, couldn''t keep up with the Rink. It was technically a combination art that required a powerful artifact and two destruction aspects so its strength wasn''t too much of a shocker. Still, the main point here was that the golems were gigascrewed! Normally, only direct strikes to the Rink would set off the retaliatory explosions but these golems were as heavy as a truck full of gorillas and so their fate was basically sealed already. Every single step they took was like swinging a great hammer at the earth and they were clearly going to pay dearly for their severely bulky girth.


    Like this, the golems now found themselves with a dearth of options to traverse this rink and so they could only really either watch Ares do his thing form afar or suffer heavy casualties simply trying to get within a few feet of him. And that was just the smaller golems. The Gigagolem couldn''t even move a single inch anymore! Couldn''t move forward, couldn''t sink into the floor, couldn''t slide backwards, couldn''t turn sideways. The second it moved it would shatter the Rink underneath it and, well, BOOM. It could rely on the golems to cover its flanks while it opened its maw and tried to swallow Ares but turning was definitely no longer in the cards for this fella. Ares also still had to be careful of its humongous arms that could freely swipe at him but, other than that, Ares looked to be in the clear here! What was once a huge issue now looked completely insignificant all due to some brilliant timing on the art. Still, Ares needed to finish this thing off and it looked far more resilient than the smaller golems. He had an idea for dealing with that too but he was going to have to get close to finish this thing off. Plus Ares was going to have to make a small sacrifice here... But it was probably worth it. He''d gotten enough mileage out of the thing he was throwing away already and Ares hadn''t expected it to last throughout the whole match regardless. Long story short, Ares was going to charge down the golem and end this little Proving Ground detour!


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Ares took off like a bullet out of a gun, heading straight for the Gigagolem while the small ones stumbled about, getting rocked by countless explosions and sent flying around the Rink like battered dolls. To the tune of violent golden subjugation, Ares nimbly weaved his way around the rink, dancing his way past the golems as he neared the giant one that commanded all of his attention. The small golems fell over themselves trying to hit Ares as he swiftly flew by them, punching out as his small frame but missing by wide margins every time and striking nothing but the cold, hard Rink instead. These failures were met with more golden fireworks that Ares could feel blowing him forward from behind his back. Cool guys don''t look at explosions but the coolest guys use them to raise their speed to unfathomable heights by riding their blast waves. Ares became a blur of afterimages every time he was sent blasting forward by his own magic, kindly set off by the careless golems trying, and desperately failing, to halt the manic speedster form approaching the Gigagolem. Just by running to his destination, and dodging with graceful finesse, Ares had destroyed six different golems. More were spawning but for what exactly? To get humiliated by Ares?


    It wasn''t even like this golem spawning process was quick as some sacrificial pawns had to be blasted by the Rink on their way up to clear the area for the next set of golems. Just like how the Proving Grounds couldn''t rise up past the rink, the Golems were met with the same blockade, as they arose from within the floor, so they had to just take the loss and blow themselves up to get their brethren that came after them out safely. This took far too long and Ares was basically home-free to deal with the Gigagolem at that point but still he decided to show off a bit. One golem had successfully evaded the Rink via a tiny gap caused by the stumbling around of the previous golems. It was a small hole, not unlike the kind you might find when ice fishing, but the golem had cleverly opted to use this as a safe location and skip the sacrificial requirement to escape the Rink. It thought it was so smart but all it ended up doing was providing Ares with the final, and greatest, burst of mobility he needed to close the distance between himself and the Gigagolem. Ares ran up to the golem head, just about peeking out of the hole, and performed a flying kick similar to that of the one he hit the young master''s guard with back at Remmy''s. The golem head was broken and kicked both backwards and downwards, straight into the floor of the Rink and setting off another explosion. Ares'' momentum had carried him ahead of the origin of the blast but he wasn''t yet far enough away to only get a slight push, no, he was directly in front of this one! Close enough to reach out and touch the golden burst if he so pleased!


    BOOOOOOM


    The explosion ruffled Ares'' clothes and swept away his hair in every which direction as he was blasted away at the speed of sound. Ares had the friendly fire prevention mutation from Enyo but he could still turn it off and subject himself to his own explosions willingly for whatever reason. He could have kept it off, and the blast would have still pushed him regardless, but he was starting to really get into the thrill of this fight and the prickling sensation of parts of his flesh tearing under the weight of his golden magic was exhilarating. Ares never felt as alive as he did when he was detonating his magic whilst still in the radius of his own arts, it was a sensation that couldn''t be replicated by any other experience he''d ever gone through in his entire life. The roaring whoosh echoing in his ear, the tinge of pain in his back that rewarded him with incredible momentum, the pure gold sea that washed over him. All of it was a breath of fresh air that cleansed his lungs and reinvigorated his already burning spirit. Crushing the constructed skull of the neon golem underfoot and bounding off it into the heart of his explosion was a powerful statement in Ares'' eyes and just made him feel superior. It had been a long, LONG time since this side of Ares came out. The bloodthirsty, manic combatant with a grudge against every living creature that defied him. His bloodline and his berserker nature had been neatly tucked away but, now that he was in the presence of worthy prey, they''d both burst out of their respective cages and were ready to do some hunting for sport.


    Magic was capable of developing humanistic tendencies. Ares'' Adaptive Shot, the eagle, was one such example. The Lighter Duo''s jellyfish cowering before dominus was another. And now, the Gigagolem leaning back and almost fleeing from the wildly grinning Ares as he raced through the air without pause was the most recent example. The magic was outclassed by flesh and blood and it knew it. Death was imminent and it could tell that any and every move it made would be quelled, manipulated to the advantage of its attacker, and would ultimately result in its finality. Death had come knocking and if the Gigagolem didn''t willing answer then Ares was going to bust the door down and drag this thing kicking and screaming to the deepest pits of hell. Even the air was giving way for Ares as he transitioned into a slide upon landing. His backside wasn''t touching the floor, however, he was leaning at the perfect angle such that he wouldn''t need to delay his movements and stand up. This was such a minor and trivial improvement to be made over a regular slide that it almost seemed inconsequential, netting him no more than maybe half a second of extra time to use at his leisure, but the fact that he was even doing such a thing in the first place was the kind of thing that silenced onlookers and just made them all appreciate the raw skill on display.


    Such an unreasonably hard skill to pull off for such minimal gain... And he wasn''t even really showing off. Ares was just in a flow state and his body was effectively automatically performing optimal movements on its own. He was in the zone and his heartbeat was through the roof. It wasn''t a dissimilar feeling to when Dominus took over, like he was watching and spectating from within his own head as a higher being took control. His conscience was light, his presence thin, and his breathing heavily regulated as his skeleton manoeuvred itself in ways Ares wasn''t even really aware it could. He was reaching into the depths of his core and pushing his body further than it had any right to go and every ounce of talent welling within him was pouring out nonstop to display its perfection to the world around him. To an ordinary person, the altered slide was meaningless because of how unfeasible it was to be used in actual combat for little gain. For Ares, right now, the slide was meaningless because it was all just a part of the expected process. It was like breathing. It wasn''t anything special because of how pointless it was, no, it wasn''t anything special because, right now, it was utterly lacking in any kind of complexity for him. If tasked to, in his current state, Ares could pull that slide off maybe even ten times in a row which almost made it underwhelming. Rather than feel any heightened sense of accomplishment, it served no purpose other than extending this flow state and raising that heartbeat even further. Did Ares need the half a second it gave him to play around with? No, not at all. He did it for no reason other than because it was supposed to be hard. The seemingly impossible was a paltry ask of Ares and he wanted the world to know it. His goal with this Gigagolem, and his master afterwards, was just to perform at peak proficiency throughout the entirety of his slaughter so he could maintain the high. This feeling of unfiltered dominance was a drug and the slide was just another hit; potentially a lethal injection if anything went wrong but that just made each and every risk feel so damn good.


    Ares dug his Bane into the floor as he slid up the Gigagolem. This monster had a whole host of tricks and abilities but it wasn''t going to get a chance to use literally any of them as Ares had transcended the plane of mortality that was expected of a regular living creature and his prowess was inestimable. Ares felt like he could take on a thousand Gigagolems with room to spare so this singular one cowering before him was like an ant he could bully at his leisure. Ares activated Voidwalk and ran up its stomach while the Gigagolem foolish tried to open its mouth. Nothing the Gigagolem did was ever going to work against the expert cultivator climbing it so, when Ares leapt upwards and kicked its jaw shut with a resounding bang that echoed through the entire coliseum, the result wasn''t unexpected. There was a certain kind of understanding people had when watching someone overperform. It wasn''t strictly awe, it was closer to resignation. Being resigned to the idea that the person in question was simply untouchable right now, and your best bet was to try again later when they''d calmed down, this was a well known feeling amongst cultivators who''d seen such over-achievers countless times before.


    While that was great for the spectators, the Gigagolem wasn''t so lucky as he was directly in combat with the freak and was on the receiving end of his string of flawless movements, unable to flee like it wanted to from the bottom of its magical core. Point in case, after slamming the Gigagolem''s jaw shut, Ares kicked its face one more time, stamping on the Gigagolem as he activated an art that was going to really put everything into overdrive. "Crystalised Void: Detonate!" The Rink was about to explode and, honestly, it was impossible to tell what was going to happen next. Impossible for everyone who wasn''t Ares, anyway, as the dopamine and the rush he was feeling almost allowed him to calculate outcomes like a supercomputer. His thought processes were near enough breaking the speed of light and he''d already long since concluded this fight in his head. Or rather, this fight was just the first step in his grand plan and he was already winning future fights against Mako in his brain that had yet to even occur. Step by step, it was all within Ares'' grasp and vision for the future. Everything was on a track with no deviation and Ares'' raw skill was going to ensure that Mako stayed neatly on those rails he''d laid out for him. This series of wild and supposedly ''unpredictable'' explosions were going to bend to Ares'' whim, do precisely as he expected of them, and drive this fight down the avenue he wanted without fail. Ares was really getting into the groove of combat now. His bloodline was pulsing like beating drums orchestrating a rhythm of war and things were going to start kicking off now; the cacophony of the detonating Rink was going to be the real start of this match, as opposed to that timid horn from earlier, and Mako was about to learn the hard way just what kind of unreachable calibre his opponent was truly at.

 Chapter 262: Rocketeer Mako

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Hell upon earth, a golden bevy of madness ruptured and drowned the arena in its splendorous glow. Ares had prioritised the annihilation side of his Crystalised Void when Detonating it despite the disintegration being arguably better at a glance in this scenario. If the explosions here were imbued primarily with disintegration, Ares might have been able to fully erase the Gigagolem, as well as a large chunk of the Proving Grounds, but his plans were more far reaching than immediate gain. Ares wanted the small golems gone but he wanted the Gigagolem to live a little longer as there was a specific art he wanted to cast directly on it so just blowing it up a bit was preferable to outright erasing it. Also, the annihilation detonations were currently keeping Mako busy as they reached further back than the disintegration variant would have, allowing Ares to roll with his gameplan unimpeded by the elf chucking random garbage at him like the rocket from earlier. Mako would recover soon enough but, at the very least, right now Ares was free from his involvement.


    Amidst the countless explosions Ares was blasted off the shattered and mauled face of the Gigagolem and went soaring through the air, spinning towards his Black Ice Bane which had been lifted out of the Rink during the Detonation and sent whizzing up into the sky. Ares'' trajectory off the Gigagolem had been perfectly measured before hand and he was on course to catch his sword while zooming through the sky after having blown himself up in the chaos. Again, this entire proceeding had been decided on long in advance by puppet master Ares who was simply enacting the appropriate measures to make his ideas a reality right now. Ares didn''t have to reach out far with his hand to catch the Bane so it was easy for him to grasp it and swivel in the air to chuck it towards the collapsing Gigagolem. Before he let go, though, he started a chant that would only finish a little later. "Crystalised Void:..." Ares utilised the momentum from the spin to toss the Bane, leaning into the throw fully and almost dislocating his shoulder thanks to the sheer effort he spent in making sure the Bane hit its target dead-centre. Ares went from fully vertical to fully horizontal after twisting in mid-air that was how dedicated he was to the throw. The manic compulsion to perform in his eyes was dwarfed only by the rapidly approaching sword that enlarged by the second in the Gigagolem''s eyes.


    SPLAT


    Thanks to being propelled by Ares at max power, the Bane had buried into the Gigagolem''s skull long before it could even react and raise its hand. The sword had grown rapidly bigger in its view until it was now stuck right between the Gigagolem''s eyes, incapable of being dislodged as Ares was about to finish the earlier chant and deliver the final blow to this oversized set of building blocks. "Yggdrasil!" Ares had intentionally gone all out with the Bane, casting the Rink which took up a large portion of state percentage, because he already knew this art was in its future. He would lose the sword after casting this art regardless of how many others he casted before it so losing all that state percentage meant nothing and was a calculated gamble that could only ever pay off in his favour. This weapon, the Bane, was the tool he was sacrificing but it was 1000% worth it considering the immediate benefits and advantages it would provide him. This art alone would allow him to push up to Mako without anything being able to stop him and press the elf into a corner, forcing drastic measures. Mako was going to have to reveal his hand soon and that was the main goal here as Ares felt confident he could keep reacting to each and every measure in his arsenal until he had nothing left. The helpless, tool-less Mako would be lying at Ares'' feet with no more hope in those mutated eyes of his. Those squares boxing in his pupils would be symbolic of how Ares had cornered and trapped him from all sides like a rat in a cage. Mako would understand that everything he is was insignificant before everything that Ares currently is. It was never an even competition and Ares was on track to drilling that home. Mako was defending himself with earthen walls, from the Detonation of the Rink, so he couldn''t save the Gigagolem which was in the middle of turning into a giant, black-ice tree. The process started off slow as can be but the tree''s growth was exponential and would be done before anyone could blink. As if to prove that, a blackish white and snowy flash blinded everyone in the arena as the temperature dropped considerably on the spot.


    CRACKLE


    Now that the initial transformation was over, and everyone''s vision was restored, a towering tree, that some in the audience were familiar with already, had seemingly come into existence out of nowhere. The creation of this tree had been just as instantaneous as Mako''s rocket from earlier and was yet another example of the fundamentals just disregarding all forms of logic. This tree was nearly as tall as Bravo''s Base and yet the person who summoned it was nowhere near his strength level so such a feat should have been impossible. Ares didn''t much care for impossibilities, as he might as well eat them for breakfast at this point, so he simply did whatever the hell he wanted. As for those in the crowd who were getting a second dose of Yggdrasil, a lot of information was starting to click together in their heads. Why the original Yggdrasil was positioned near the Chens and seemed to be targeting them, why there were rumours about Ares and Hans co-operating on various matters, and also why there had a been a draconic pulse of overwhelming pressure shortly after the Yggdrasil occurrence way back. Everybody knew the pressure bearing down on them had come from near the auction house, and some speculated it to be Ares based solely off the Garmr reveal earlier, but now it was essentially confirmed. He summoned the Yggdrasil, visited the auction house and caused a scene, one that Hans conveniently assured everyone was under control, and had the means to do it all again. This wasn''t a one-off treasure some random cultivator stumbled across and used to cause a scene, this wasn''t some otherworldly cultivator from Vraizon causing trouble in Red Sun, it was just their regional troublemaker extraordinaire making a scene and causing a ruckus. Honestly, it was actually relieving to have all the answers now as Ares was way more trustworthy than some random, unknown cultivator. The people in Red Sun knew he would never use that sort of power against the innocent locals and so that burden was relieved off their backs as some people had still been deeply concerned regardless of Hans'' assurance.


    Regardless of anyone''s opinion on the tree it was here to stay, at least until it was destroyed or Detonated anyway, and now it was Mako''s problem to deal with. The Gigagolem was trapped inside the core of the tree, protected by the roots, and so Mako wasn''t going to be able to free it meaning his Proving Ground was pretty useless right about now. The Gigagolem was gone. The small golems were ineffective, constantly blown up thanks to the Rink, now unable to tackle the tree, and the pillars attacking Ares from under the floor meant nothing as long as Ares hung around near the tree. All Ares had to do was climb it and rush down whichever branch was closest to Mako and there was nothing that could be done to stop him. The only good thing to note here, for Mako, was that the Black Ice Bane was shattered into tiny pieces at the base of the tree and nigh unusable. Ares could still get off his Detonate without it as this was something he''d worked on a bit ever since he received the weapon. Detonate didn''t really need to be tied to the Bane and separating that art / function from the weapon, which could break before he was able to use it in such a fashion, was evidently a wise choice. Detonate was now it''s own art that was essentially only really useful to Ares, and only ever relevant to this specific weapon, but the time Ares invested into making this art was paying off already. Not being able to blow up this tree wouldn''t be the end of the world but it was going to provide him with a lot of free space to manoeuvre around with and losing that would have made his life harder considerably. Of course there was a hefty mana cost to this, as most of the cost was usually shouldered by the Bane and not him, but Ares was convinced every ounce of mana he spent on it was wise. Plus his Grim Cessation was actively siphoning mana from all the dying golems so he really hadn''t spent much as of yet and would recover even more when the Yggdrasil''s final oorah obliterated the remaining golems too.


    Ares wasted no time in hopping onboard one of the nearby branches and waiting impatiently as it lifted him up. He would have much preferred just running around the thing, and not standing stock still like this, but that was a far longer route and sometimes slowing things down for a bit was correct. His heart beat and pulse were dropping, and his excitement fading somewhat, but that was a temporary issue as this could be considered a roller coaster of sorts. The ascension was slow but when he went sliding down on the other side, gunning for Mako as he narrowly avoided all of the elf''s retaliatory measures... That would get him pumped up again and really feeling energetic once more.


    BANG.


    While Ares was peacefully ''enjoying'' his elevator ride, the golden leaves were falling away from Yggdrasil''s canopy and tormenting the golems. Ares didn''t really need it to do this, as the golem''s couldn''t contest the tree to being with as the roots of it were enough to swat away the creations, but the extra few kills on the golems were giving Ares mana back hanks to Grim Cessation so he was chasing that small benefit once more. Again, this would only restore one or two percent of his mana at most, and was likely going to be inconsequential by the end of the match, but he was doing everything to textbook perfection right now and wasn''t fussed by how menial or difficult these things were. Ares just wanted to do them all to put himself in an untouchable position. In a fight between two equally skilled cultivators it would come down to who made more smaller efforts like this and, although Ares didn''t think of Mako as an equal just yet, now was as good a time as any to go through these troublesome motions. Ares didn''t want what he believed to be a guaranteed win to slip through his fingers because he couldn''t be bothered to do these things that others might consider a hassle.


    Ares reached the top of the tree and scoured the other side behind it, searching for the ant-sized elf down below who was batting away the incoming leaves with his magic. He was summoning all sorts of random objects to chuck at, and collide with, the rain of golden leaves coming his way such as tables, boats, boomerangs, and mannequins. Anything and everything that came to mind, however or whyever it came into his brain, was being summoned into reality and lobbed at the 24 carrot foliage. Mako was clearly being pressed into a defensive stance against these leaves and the swiping branches alone so throwing Ares himself into the mix was bound to cause mayhem on Mako''s side of things. The Proving Ground was already fading away in parts as Mako''s control over it was fading quickly so all Ares had to do was jump down and put the pressure on a bit more to move this fight into the next stage and drag out even more tricks up Mako''s sleeve.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Ares glanced down at the branches that were oh so generously positioned in such a way that he could run and slide down them straight towards the area above Mako''s head. Yggdrasil was guiding Ares to his goal and the second he started his descent he was going to feel the rush. Mako would inevitably try and prevent Ares from reaching him so it was going to be a wild ride as the two started to properly go blow for blow for once. The start of this match had been relatively slow up until now, what with Mako delaying things with the Proving Grounds, but this was it. This was the turning point and once Ares hopped onto the nearest branch the match was going to keep escalating and spiralling into a clusterfuck of overpowered arts and smart combat. He could already feel his pulse quickening once more as the mere thought of it invigorated him. Ares knew that by the time he reached the ground again he would be taken over by automation once more as his body glided around the arena, really going all out and putting on a clinic even against a one-of-a-kind opponent like Mako.


    Briefly closing his eyes and tilting his head upwards, Ares took a deep breath of fresh air before he handed his body over to his base instincts and lifted his left leg. His raised foot moved ever forward until eventually his whole body was forced to lean after it, sending him into a half-step half-fall wherein he kicked off the nearest branch and somersaulted over to the next nearest branch. After landing on that, his long downward slide from branch to branch began as he nimbly hopped across Yggdrasil without ever compromising his momentum and steadily increasing speed. What started as a sluggish tumble had swiftly become a measured plunge, one that was elegant and easy on they eyes thanks to Ares'' fluid movement as he kicked off one branch after another without pause. It looked as though his shoes had bouncy soles because the second his feet landed anywhere he was already springing off it another direction, sometimes even the opposite angle from which he''d approached the branch in the first place. Ares'' untraceable and irreplicable footwork was on full display here despite the fact he had no concrete platform to stand on. His footwork was simply so egregious compared to the norm that he could make it work in air during a downward spiral as he came crashing towards the earth like a humanoid meteor without ever stuttering or needing to pause and re-calibrate his approach.


    Drip


    Before Ares'' speed became impossible to catch up with, a few rain drops here and there managed to do just that and tap away on the back of his head. What was originally a light drizzle was becoming a heavy downpour and might even wind up being a stormy plight if things continued in this manner. The branches were all wettened and becoming slippery but Ares'' focus only went up as a result of this change as his willpower tripled in the face of adversity. The weather would not detract from his determination and building frenzy. He was getting really into it now and had even started obeying his bloodline which was whispering into his ear to let out the bestial nature he''d kept tucked away. Rather than land on every branch with his feet and run along them he was now, sometimes, landing with his hands into a sprint on all fours. Ares'' wolven instincts were screeching at him to hunt, to chase down Mako and tear his throat out with his teeth and howl amidst the revelry of victory. Ares'' senses were heightened and he was unintentionally snarling the closer he got to Mako. There was an untamed, vicious savagery boiling underneath his skin and heating up his spirit, demanding he unleash his feral temperament.


    Mako could sense the unwavering and undiluted bloodlust aimed at him. It was animalistic and brutal, provoking his base fears of being stalked by an unrestrained and freely roaming predator. He knew he couldn''t keep devoting all his attention to the leaves so he had to set up some automated defences to take care of them while he diverted his attention to Ares. He simply copied some of Theodore''s artillery weapons like the twin machine guns, and the cannon, and ordered them to deal with the leaves that were harassing him to no end. Summoning these types of weapons drained a notable portion of mana, and he''d wanted to avoid that if possible, but Ares was emanating a deathly aura that painted him as the most pressing issue at hand, one that couldn''t be ignored unless Mako was willing to get mauled in the next minute or so.


    Though his pride was refusing to allow Mako to acknowledge it, he was struggling under the immensity of Ares'' overwhelming motivation to pounce on him. He couldn''t think straight enough to cast arts properly nor could he use his creation magic to its fullest, instead simply chucking more rockets at Ares who was inbound and looking unstoppable. The force of Ares'' will was almost tangible as it weighed down on Mako''s mind heavily. This was an example of the kind of situation in which Eagerton would have been a better candidate for the pillar as he was someone who could maintain his cool in stressful scenarios or, at the very least, not have his creativity be impacted even when he wasn''t in a perfect mental state. Still, Mako brought other things to the table so although he was faltering here, there was still a lot more to this fight that had yet to be seen. It''s not like he was completely folding over before Ares'' mighty presence as the rockets he fired were precise, numerous, and of respectable size. None were as large as the first rocket, however, which implied Mako had to make a trade-off in terms of size when he was throwing multiple out at once. They were still each around 100ft tall, however, and that was no joke. Or rather, that first rocket had clearly been way too large! The fact Mako could even create something like that was preposterous and this was way more in line with what should have logically been his upper limit at his current cultivation level!


    Then again, that pocket watch was truly a treasure that was incomparable to most others... Also, though the rocket was objectively massive, it was subjectively small. To a cultivator anyway. Yes it was huge but it was also just ordinary metal and didn''t contain any magic or magic tempering itself. You would much rather be attacked by a 200ft feather than a 10ft bear that wanted to claw you to death so the point was that size wasn''t everything. Yes the rocket was heavy and huge but that wouldn''t help it in the face of Ares'' Grand Annihilation which could tear through its completely lacking defences with relative ease. That was why it had been nothing more than a distraction despite the sheer size of it. Now, if it had actually hit Ares then yes, sure, it would have killed him but whether that was a realistic expectation or not was another matter. In a way, the smaller rockets were more useful as there were more of them. Their individual lethality didn''t really matter and, beyond a certain size, they all functioned similarly anyway. They took up less space, making them easier to dodge certainly, but the quantity made up for that so this attack, as far as Ares was concerned, was actually harder to deal with and more annoying than the single rocket previously.


    Bigger wasn''t always better!


    But it is also worth mentioning this logic only really applied to strong cultivators. Someone like Ares could deal with the giant rocket but your average cultivator, that had just entered sensory enhancement, was never going to be able to stop it. It was a simple attack to deal with for anyone of a certain calibre but for anyone else it was just a death sentence art sort of like Bellona''s Meteor. Some arts were just really good at dealing with cannon fodder and most cultivators had such an art tucked away up their sleeves should they ever run into a scenario whereby they were required to take out a large number of weak opponents. Ares had the entirety of his annihilation aspect and Mako could just freely create the stuff on demand so it was abundantly clear all of the fundamental champions would have attacks like this in spades, plus they would be of higher quality and more effective against even decent cultivators. Just another benefit to being a fundamental; the range of cultivators which could be considered riff-raff was expanded and made larger for them so they were troubled by weak cultivators less often. or rather they were troubled by them more often, because there was technically more of them, but they were less of a hassle to kill off. For a cultivator who just reached sensory enhancement, usually someone at or below mental accumulation, 5th stage or so, would start to be considered a weakling. For Ares, the weaklings in his eyes, currently, were anything and everything below transition realm. In terms of optics, that was a whole realm and a half difference between who was in an ordinary cultivator''s purview of easy fodder and who was in Ares''. Not to mention the fact that Ares was just as capable of killing transition realm cultivators like fish in a barrel too deponing on their individual strength. Even generational prodigies didn''t have quite as much leeway to call people around them weak or insignificant as fundamentals did; the pillars were not born equal and that was intentional. It was all by design to facilitate certain happenings that didn''t need to be discussed right now.


    Regardless of the incoming projectiles'' size or quantity, however, Ares was unfazed. There was not even a single hint of hesitation to be spotted anywhere on his face. As the first one neared him Ares made no effort to veer away from it or dodge, instead twisting his body so that he was effectively dive kicking the incoming rocket and facing it head on. "Stamp out." By using this art, and imbuing his boots with disintegration magic, Ares blasted a hole straight through the tip of the incoming rocket and went plummeting down directly through the middle of it. All sorts of complex rocket machinery passed right by him as he sunk through every single wall in the rocket unimpeded in his fall, eventually crashing out the other side of the rocket as it blew up behind him thanks to a swarm of golden leaves.


    Mako, from his perspective below, had to admit that watching that all unfold in real time was pretty cool... He hated it! Why was Mako''s presence here nothing more than a means to facilitate Ares'' highlight reel?! Mako doubled down on his rocket chucking, unaware he would just be making even more contributions to Ares show-off performance... Still, he had to do it. If Ares was able to touch the ground nearby then he would be seriously screwed and so putting up a resistance, futile though it all seemed to be, was necessary. Mako was debating internally how much he was willing to reveal in this fight and, right now, he was seriously considering putting all his cards on the table... Even including his special treasure akin to Ares'' Primordial Blade... Much like Ares, Mako couldn''t wield this treasure properly yet but that didn''t mean it couldn''t be used at all. If he brought it out then turning the tides once more wasn''t impossible. If he wanted to win he might not even have a choice in using it and, at the very least, he could force Ares'' special treasure out in return and gather information on it. The more Mako thought about it, the more convinced he was it would wind up being the correct decision. Now it was just a matter of timing as taking Ares by surprise could even wind up being lethal if he didn''t respond properly. What had started off with a simple Proving Grounds was going to devolve into close range art slinging, secret treasure unveiling, God summoning, and so much more as Mako still had a trump card up his sleeve that nobody in the world knew about. Mako was getting a headache just thinking about it all as this fight was going to tire him the hell out by the time he was done regardless of whether he won or lost. He was going to have to ask Serene for some homemade soup after while he relaxed in bed, that would be nice...

 Chapter 263: Gamble Makes a Grand Return

    There had occasionally been a few wars in Sheryashka''s long history, pretty much all of which had been documented well in various books precisely detailing just about everything from small skirmishes to large scale battles. One thing that cropped up with regularity were parachuting troopers who were launched into contested zones, usually by either magic or cannons, and had to slowly drift down to earth amidst a hailstorm of magic peppering their immediate location. They had to pray for their opponents to be incapable of launching accurate attacks and piercing their parachutes lest they fall to a grim death below. Of course such a problem was all but non-existent when a cultivator reached transition and learnt to fly but wars fought in the early stages of cultivation, or those in anti-magic zones, would inevitably result in this tactic being used. There were some tales and first hand accounts of the horrors of dropping into a live warzone, while those around you were shot down or had issues with pulling their faulty chutes, and Ares had read a number of them due to his habit of reading just about everything he could find back when he was younger and had little all else to do.


    Actually, these tales were where he got the idea to Grand Annihilation the floor, send himself sky-high, and then hover with the Zephyr. He''d used this against Bellona and the other Legions during the regionals, if memory served correct, and it offered him a good vantage point from which to throw the Perish Wheel. It wasn''t quite the same as dropping into a war zone but the general idea of ''parachuting from above'' was still present in a way. Ares had wondered what it was like for those who had experienced the real deal but he needed wonder no longer as he was actively experiencing it right now! Chunks of destroyed metal from the exploding rockets were whizzing past his ears, leading to a sort of doppler effect wherein potential death came and went regularly. He had to be acutely aware of his entire surroundings. Up, down, left, right, and every other direction between them was a field of scattered debris that could take his head off if he so much as relaxed for even an instant. The golden leaves and the branches were doing their part to destroy the numerous incoming rockets but Ares still had to do his, keep his head on a swivel, and twist out the way of anything that snuck by or came barrelling at him after being destroyed and knocked off course elsewhere.


    It was pure mayhem during his descent right now and the closer he got to the earth the more hectic it all became. Ares knew he was in a far better situation than those soldiers because, A, he had more means to stop the myriad attacks coming his way. B; he was way more powerful than they were and could actively manoeuvre in the air to his heart''s content. C; he could fly with Voidwalk whenever he wanted and, finally, D; none of this could ever end his life permanently. He was a revenant inside a Training Field, the layers of protection on his life right now were impenetrable and he wasn''t ever going to bite the dust for real. Those who were weak, in this position, and faced very real threats to their life in a constant barrage that they could do nothing about were true heroes with brave souls and Ares had a great deal of respect for them, cannon fodder though they mostly were. These tactics were still in use today, as no better options for speedy transportation of infantry to remote locations had been developed, but fortunately there weren''t any major wars happening right now in Sheryashka and so nobody had to experience the nightmare that came with such a deployment method. In higher domains people would either just fly or, if it was located in an anti-magic zone, they would all be mass Teleported to the location in advance. Such an oafish method of launching people like cannonballs would be disgraceful in the higher realms but that was just a result of differing levels of magic proficiency. It''s not that nobody in the lower realms knew how to use Teleport, some did, but to send an entire division of troops anywhere would be completely impossible as the cultivator in question just wouldn''t have the required mana pool to do it.


    Ares was now nearly at the base of the tree and Mako''s desperation was showing. He launched a wide ranging attack that consisted of multiple rockets fired off in a cluster. They were extremely tightly packed together, making them nigh impossible to dodge with fine adjustments to his fall so Ares was going to have to take more direct matters. The leaves were too few and far between low to the ground because they spawned up top and had to descend first so using those to clear the rockets wasn''t going to happen. The branches could swat aside on or two rockets at any given time but there were about ten joined together at the hip to form an amalgamation that was impossible to knock off course or do substantial damage to with just a few whacks. Ares had known he was going to have to Detonate the Yggdrasil at some point and that point was now as he stared down the incoming rocket cluster with a brave face. He trusted the Yggdrasil explosion to clear the path to Mako once and for all so he turned around to face the tree behind him during his free fall and gave it a quick salute with a cheeky grin. The tree had done a fantastic job of getting him here, even if it hadn''t been around for too long compared to the last time he used it, but now it was time to go. "Crystalised Void: Detonate!"


    CCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE BBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM


    As Ares was once again prioritising a disintegration Detonation with the Yggdrasil, the cracking of the tree was far louder than the explosion that followed. It was less a flashy spectacle and more a elegant shattering, allowing N¨ªeh?ggr to break free from its Crystalised Void shackle. The disintegration welling within the tree clumped up amongst the crystal shards disappearing into thin air, and golden leaves withering to dust, so that it could take on a multiheaded draconic form. Ares was now completely defenceless as he fell with no way to move freely, as all the branches were completely gone, so he had to rely on the disintegration dragon to come to his aid and clear all the obstacles in his path. He whistled over to the clump which seemingly awakened it, causing it to roar and bellow before swiftly diving straight down to catch up to its master. Every single drop of rain that fell on it was never to be seen again and so it formed a sort of umbrella directly over Ares that cast an ominous shadow on him. From below, Ares was crashing like a meteor with a pitch black, abyssal dragon right behind him and it was a sight that was hard to stand tall in the face of. Even though Mako''s rockets were slightly obscuring Ares'' form, it was still majestic enough to cause Mako to wince and become demotivated. There was just a feeling within his gut that he was going to lose seeing Ares be so carefree and yet so domineering even in the face of his rocket swarm.


    Back up above, the dragon caught up to, and coiled around, its master while lashing out its heads at any nearby rockets. Some of the rockets were devoured with every inch they flew deeper into the dragon''s wide open mouths and some had ripples of disintegration sent straight through them that burned them all to black ash. The rocket cluster was wiped out near instantly which freed up the dragon to slither ahead of Ares and aim for Mako who was running out of options. Mako sighed and kissed his teeth. Knowing full well he was going to have to use up a valuable art here wasn''t great but there was no other choice. Any form of magic that he tried to block or attack the dragon with would lose due to the disgusting amount of disintegration swirling around in it so his options were truly limited. He only really had one or two methods of dealing with this dragon and, had Ares summoned it later in the match, might have honestly beaten Mako on the spot. Unfortunately for Ares, he''d overestimated how many defensive options Mako had. On the flip side, Mako had never seen the dragon before so he wasn''t prepared to deal with it so both combatants had misplayed this fight in one way or another, it was just that neither of them could have possibly known about this stuff in advance. As for how Mako planned on dealing with this mighty dragon if magic wasn''t an option, he had an art that required magic to use but was an entirely physical attack in nature. It was one of the most devastating attacks in Mako''s arsenal, and he''d been hoping to deal Ares the final blow with this, but his hand was forced and so the cat was coming out of the bag! Mako pointed at the incoming dragon with his pointer finger, while his thumb was at a perfect right angle, and half-heartedly chanted the art he really wanted to save until later...


    "Whatever You Are, Make Yourself Useful."


    This was a particularly strange sounding art but notably it was a long one. Fundamental arts were typically quite short because the impact of them was high regardless of chant length... So for Mako to possess an art with that long a name it clearly was something ridiculously powerful that must have also come with drawbacks otherwise he would have used it already. Ares guessed it was a long ass wait between uses, so long that Mako wouldn''t be able to use it again this fight at the very least and Ares'' deduction was 100% correct. Much like how he could only bring forth Dominus once in a blue moon, or his God summon as well or that matter, this art had a cooldown period. Funnily enough, it was also ''technically'' a summon like the aforementioned individuals... Well sort of. The art itself was actually more like a temporary teleport, kinda? It summoned a portal through which the ''summoned'' entity could launch one singular attack and then that was literally it. Still, the creature in question was absurdly powerful so this one attack was no joke. Even Ares'' God summon might struggle to resist the hit if he''d tried to counter it with that.


    The dragon saw the portal, nearly 100ft tall, open ahead of it and was briefly mesmerised by the pretty colours. It was a trippy, neon, shape palooza with flashing lights that made the viewer think they were having an acid trip. From within the portal a large, bony, shadowy hand crept out and spasmed repeatedly at the touch of fresh air. The fingers twitched and bent in unnatural ways, almost as if they were glitching into random positions at indecipherable intervals. Though their spasm pattern was random, when the dragon drew near enough, within enough range to aggro the hand, all the fingers simultaneously cracked into place and were pointed directly at the dragon''s heads. Clearly this thing just attacked whatever was in range and, right now, that just so happened to be poor, unfortunate N¨ªeh?ggr. The fingers retracted slightly, bending steadily as if they were a spring, and were about to lunge forth at the drop of a hat as soon as the dragon was within reach.


    Ares felt extremely off put by this hand as he was curious as to where exactly Mako found this horrible thing. Based on the name of the art, even that halfwit Mako didn''t know what this thing was exactly and that was more than just a bit concerning because he had a literal God floating beside him to answer any and all questions. If Mako didn''t know then, by extension, Terros didn''t know either. If a God who''d lived for countless millions of years had never seen such a thing before despite his vast array of knowledge then what did Mako stumble upon, and where, exactly? Better yet, this twit had the audacity to name the art in such a ridiculous fashion! It almost sounded like he was lording over this bizarre creature when the reality of the situation was very clearly different. If he summoned that thing near enough to himself he would absolutely accidentally commit suicide and get indiscriminately murdered by it! Ares was well and truly lost with this one but he could tell whatever that hand was, it was a real powerhouse and a considerable threat. Thankfully it would probably disperse after dealing with the dragon, otherwise Ares would have to full on retreat from it until it buggered off, but that didn''t stop Ares from wanting to know more about this thing as, if his eyes weren''t mistaken... That was disintegration surrounding its hand! Why the hell was there disintegration just casually floating around in this world somewhere?! Now Ares was hella curious! He would one hundred percent be having a conversation with that annoying elf later to figure out what was going on here. Better yet, did Mako not realise that thing was covered in destruction magic? He wouldn''t have known about it the first time he came across it, as he hadn''t met Ares by that point presumably, but after meeting Ares surely this should have come up in conversation at some point!? Was this bastard so determined to win the fight that he kept something this strange a secret just to try and take Ares by surprise with it? This guy... He deserved a whooping!


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    N¨ªeh?ggr opened its maw to tackle the hand in fearless fashion. Whether this magic hadn''t developed a conscience or if it had and was just completely uncaring didn''t much matter as it was doing its job loyally and sacrificing itself for the cause. If that hand had attacked Ares he would have needed to bring out the Primordial Blade just to stop it and that was a secret best kept hidden for as long as possible. Ares watched as the dragon moved to bite the hand and got crushed on the spot. Ares almost missed it because he just so happened to blink... The lanky hand swung forward at ridiculous speed and curled its fingers around the dragon, crushing it in a matter of milliseconds. It was naturally completely unbothered by the disintegration dragon because, whatever this thing was, it was covered in the magic from head to toe. If anything, it seemed used to it, used to wielding it to improve its own strength by a considerable margin. Not that its true strength could be determined just from this appearance, it was likely far stronger in person and the more Ares thought about it the more he wanted to talk to Mako. Still, that could wait until after the match had concluded so he watched the hand slink back into the portal, watched the portal slowly shrink in size until it was gone entirely, and then dived into the black cloud that was the remaining disintegrating mana from N¨ªeh?ggr.


    The dragon was destroyed but it had left some traces of magic behind and Ares was going to comfortably sink through the black swamp of mana as there was no way anything other than Ares could survive in this dark miasma. Mako was right on the other side of it too so he had no way of stopping Ares from barrelling at him because any attack he fired off would be swallowed up on the spot. As for what manner of attack Ares would launch at the elf after he arrived before him... Well, Ares was still on a perpetual high and he knew precisely what needed to be done. He''d never done this before but the adrenaline was pumping and ideas were formulating in his skull fast, ideas that were all extremely interesting. One such idea kept popping up over and over again and Ares knew he needed to try it out here. There was a perfect opportunity to and he could tell precisely how Mako would react to it. Again, Ares was calculating the outcome of every move and every decision and Mako was just going to walk headfirst into each of them. As for the idea Ares had come up with, he thought it was pretty ingenious and also something that would be relevant forever. It was such a simple concept and combination of arts but, when it mattered, it would be fight-winning at times. To prepare himself, all he needed was a sword. Not the Bane, that was gone, just any old sword would do. He pulled one out of the Primordial Blade, scoured the miasma below him with his divine sense to locate Mako, and, when he located the imperious creator himself, dived at him with no hesitation.


    Mako had been inching backwards from the black fog because he couldn''t see through it at all. He tried creating some x-ray goggles and a gun with thermal optics but none of that improvised on-the-spot technology could pierce the disintegration veil. He had to chuck it all away and back up slowly to react to Ares when and where he came out the hard way.


    Stare


    A pair of golden Eyes emerged from the darkness followed by a dangerous aura. Mako nearly had a heart attack as the eyes were practically staring into his soul. Ares'' divine sense was mean-mugging Mako hard and almost made him reel backwards in shock because the pressure it carried was immense and heavy. That deathly stare had clearly been mastered over many years and Mako could tell. He was right too as this was the same look Ares gave people when they tried creeping up on him when he was asleep. It was the same look Aejaz got that one time on the night of the Cultural Appreciation Day when he wanted to check in on Appa and all he got in return was Ares'' golden eyes peering at him in the darkness. It was a stare that caused palpitations and nervous sweat to drip down your forehead as it chilled your spine and froze your pulse for a split second. Mako felt like a deer in the headlights as his movements became sluggish but he was thankfully freed from it when Ares retracted his sense. Mako was glad but this also meant Ares would come flying down right after now that he''d discovered and tracked his prey successfully.


    Sure enough, Mako barely had time to take a breath before Ares had come charging out from the billowing black fog swinging his sword. On the one hand, Ares wasn''t close enough to swing it and hit Mako so that wasn''t what he was going for, on the other hand whatever he was doing might actually end up being worse for Mako and he would have preferred the heavy strike after a long fall. Regardless of what was in store for him, Mako felt comfortable in his ability to stop it. He still had his rare treasure up his sleeve if the incoming attack was too strong for any of his other tricks to deal with so he was focussing hard on Ares'' movements to figure out what he was plotting. Mako was under a similar phenomenon to Ares right now as it felt like his world was slowing down to a crawl. Each and every flex of a muscle, each and every minute movement of a nerve, Mako could see it all perfectly and he was ready to shut down this offensive. He felt confident and that confidence only soared when his body moved before his mind even could in reaction to the word that slipped out fo Ares'' mouth.


    "Grand..."


    Grand Annihilation. That''s what''s coming. Put up a wall and block it. While these thoughts were running through Mako''s head, he''d actually already done it. His conscience was playing catch up to his hyper dialled-in body. He hadn''t cast an art but he did summon a row of red and gold paifang, each of which were nearly fifty feet tall and, based on the momentous THUD they made as they crashed into the arena floor, were heavy as multiple stacks of gold bars piled on top of each other. They looked sturdy and unbreakable which, combined with the fact there were five of them, meant nothing was getting through them anytime soon. Unless N¨ªeh?ggr came back from the dead, this was going to be a dead end for Ares'' Grand Annihilation as there was no way it could possibly bust through these doors in one fell swoop. It might be able to take out three or four but the explosions'' potency would die out by then. Mako wouldn''t be in a great position after but it was way better than it could have been if he was hit by that damnable art. Mako was counting himself lucky Ares hadn''t charged up a Perish Wheel as he fell because he felt like that would have been way worse for him. Mako heard the rumours about that art and was wary of it to an almost paranoid degree as it sounded like a nightmare to deal with.


    "GAMBLE!"


    ...


    What? Mako didn''t have time to comprehend the name of the art he just heard for the first time ever but he could tell something was coming and it wasn''t going to be pretty... Mako''s walls only blocked Ares'' direct line of sight to him so if this ''Gamble'' enabled Ares to attack from somewhere else then Mako was in deep, DEEP, trouble. Much to Mako''s horror, Ares, as if on cue, appeared from the side of his gates in mid-air while swinging his golden mana-imbued sword. Mako had never heard of Gamble and that was about to be his downfall. The knowledge of it, via its tome, was out there and discoverable in the sect but not many people touched it because of how hard t was to use flawlessly mid combat so the whispers about it had thoroughly eluded Mako. What Ares had done...


    "Annihilation!"


    ... Was invented a combination art between Grand Annihilation and Gamble on the fly. Simply put, it allowed him to redirect his Grand Annihilation by delaying it for a second, repositioning and re-angling himself with Gamble, before firing it off in the new direction. If, for example, Ares was going up against someone who used Blink often and could dodge his Grand Annihilation with spatial magic, all Ares had to do was bait the Blink with a Grand... And then hit him with the Gamble to redirect the art at the target''s new location before unleashing the Annihilation. What was happening right now was similar to that in that Ares had expected Mako to raise some walls in his direction so he chanted Grand, used Gamble to flick himself sideways around the raised walls, and then finished his Annihilation chant off to the side where he was no longer blocked by the paifang.


    Mako knew he was outclassed in close quarters but he''d really been tremendously dunked on here and was left speechless by the amount of skill Ares possessed right now. Predicting the simplistic defence Mako threw up, and planning an alternate route ahead of time, was one thing but executing it in the moment, and landing after a massive fall in the way Ares did was no joke. Mako didn''t see Ares'' landing but he could use context clues to figure it out and Ares had somehow managed to kill his momentum with the sword by digging it into the ground without breaking it... He must have used mana to reinforce the sword, as Dominus had show him way back when he took control, as well as used pressure and telekinesis to soften the landing somewhat. Form there, he perfectly transitioned into the Gamble and converted his downward momentum into a rightward fling to bypass the walls all without touching the floor and in the span of a second... What a monster. Although Mako didn''t say it out loud, this was the first bit of genuine praise he''d really ever given Ares and the first time he came to respect his opponent as more than just a fundamental champion. This was a prodigy in his own right and Ares was most definitely not just coasting off the back of his pillar. He had a host of advantages but damn did he really not need them to be an effective and smart cultivator. Mako could do nothing but watch as the Grand Gambit Annihilation came racing his way. He was going to get hit by this and there was only one way out of it but he was reluctant to use it. His secret treasure was a fantastic defensive option but using it to block one of Ares'' weaker attacks was something Mako didn''t want to do. He''d already wasted the hand and he outright refused to throw away all his secrets at the start of the fight so he manned up and braced for impact! Even though it was quite unlike him, Mako let out a yell to bolster his mental state as he readied himself to power through the incoming pain train.


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 Chapter 264: Red Light Spells Danger

    Mako was really in the thick of it. He''d seen destruction magic from afar a few times now, and had even felt it when it was mixed in with Ares'' annihilation pressure n the pagoda, but this was the first time he was ever getting hit by it directly and purely without any pressure diluting it. It was a bizarrely calming experience. The hectic nature of the explosions faded once you were actually encased in them like the eye of a storm typed of deal. An all consuming, depressing and nihilistic urge to disappear from reality kept enticing Mako to give in and bite the dust. It was tingling away inside his flesh and demanding he just let go of life, whispering sweet nothings about a joyous end into his ear. It wanted him to stop fighting it and fade away to nothingness, let Grim Cessation gorge on his remaining mana, and provide sustenance to Ares so he could continue to turn the rest of the world into a historical stain and nothing more. It was a one track path to the end of all things wherein everyone and everything in existence felt the desire to disappear, leaving absolutely nothing left. It was the polar opposite of everything Mako''s pillar stood for and he was probably the most discomforted and affected of all people to be hit by destruction magic due to the vast gulf in ideologies. Mako wanted prosperity in every form, everywhere. Numerous objects and tangibility in every inch of existence. A world consisting of all manner of variation, life, and tactile sensations. To feel all those wishes and beliefs disappear one by one, consumed by the golden wave and leaving him empty, was saddening and Mako''s mood rapidly deteriorated which further spiralled his attitude and reluctance to resist his seemingly inevitable end. The end that came for all things and could not be refuted...


    Mako had to shake his head to make these feelings leave his brain while he raised his arms to protect his body. This was a small sign of disobedience but it did help him prevent sustaining any major damage. His clothes were being torn, although that was mostly a non-issue because he could resummon them with his magic, and cuts and gruesome bruises were popping up all over his body. Each bruise was thrice the size of a fist and deathly purple because the blows his body was receiving from the explosions was considerable. Each hit was like being struck by the broad side of a broadsword at Mach ten and caused him to buckle under the weight. As the explosions rocked him from every angle his body was contorted, battered, pushed around, and dragged every which way. He was forced to his knees, kicked backwards, and pelted in the stomach on repeat for the entire duration of the Grand Annihilation as it bubbled away all around him.


    Thanks to the pocket watch, Mako was currently sitting pretty at the 7th stage of sensory enhancement. Normally he was around the same as Ares in terms of cultivation and he was now realising just how one sided this fight would have been had his cultivation not increased massively. He hadn''t received the full benefits of the Pocket watch yet but he had receive a lot of them and they were doing a good bit of work right now. Mako would probably be able to learn from this whole experience and narrow the gap between him and Ares going forward, making it actually possible to contend with him at equal cultivation levels even when he didn''t have a a huge cultivation advantage, but right now he was getting ran through due to his inexperience and lack of knowledge on Ares as a combatant despite how much he''d rumour gathered recently. Ares was also unfamiliar with Mako''s whole shtick but he was far more combat practiced and capable of adjusting on the fly so he held a pretty sizable advantage in this fight off the back of that alone. Be it in terms of cleverness of art usage and / or development mid combat, or technical skill with weapons, he just outclassed Mako far and away in every aspect. He had the cultivation disadvantage but the skill advantage and that was winning this fight for him single-handedly despite the cultivation deficit.


    It was also worth noting that the pocket watch had increased Mako''s defences all around so, had it not been for that resource coming in clutch, he might not have even been able to come out of this Grand Annihilation on his feet. He owed a lot to that pocket watch, as it was keeping him in this fight that he otherwise would have folded in already, but that was just the kind of person Ares was. He hit you hard and fast, not expecting you to be able to live through the rapidly paced onslaught which was a reasonable assumption given how much power he held and dumped on you with no room to slow things down. It''s not that he didn''t have options for longer fights, it''s just not where his specialty really lay. Mako had always been a slow and steady combatant who prioritised ranged fights so Ares was his worst nightmare, directly countering his whole gameplan and that was evident right now.


    Still, Mako wasn''t down nor was he out and he still had an arsenal of tricks with which to try and take Ares out. his confidence had dipped since the start of this match, as he''d seriously overestimated himself compared to Ares and if he had even a single teammate this whole fight would be one-sided right now, but he still believed he was currently roughly equal to him on his own. It wasn''t a misguided thought either as some of the things he had in his back pocket were pretty serious aces he had yet to play. The extent of what creation magic was capable of would throw Ares for a loop that he simply wouldn''t be able to do anything about, Mako was sure of it so he withstood the barrage and held his ground to the best of his ability. He was still dragged a few steps back but that proved to be beneficial as the untamed explosions accidentally pushed him out of the range of the Grand Annihilation a second or two before it ended.


    Mako considered this to be a lucky break but, the second that thought crossed his mind, he immediately raised his guard. There was no way Ares, in his current hyped up and perfect state of operation, would allow such a boon to fall into Mako''s lap without some kind of plan catered to exploiting it. As if on cue, Mako noticed a strange red glow coming directly at him from within the Grand Annihilation. This was extremely worrying because this was yet another thing he wasn''t familiar with that was going to force him to be reactive and put him on the back foot. His only guess was that this was something nothingness related due to the red colouring but that was as far as his guess went. He was shocked to find, a second or two later, that the only thing that came rushing out of the Grand Annihilation was... Ares himself! Did Mako misread the situation? Was he seeing things? No... Not quite. In fact, he was seeing red again and that red dot had even become far clearer... And doubled... They weren''t dots. They were eyes? And they were supposedly Ares, if Mako''s vision wasn''t playing tricks on him anyway? Had Ares'' Omniscience changed or mutated? Were they imbued with nothingness now for some inexplicable reason? Mako wasn''t sure what Ares was doing but something felt very off... Very VERY off...


    Ares was running towards Mako in a straight line, ready to fire an Echo. Mako could tell thanks to the way Ares was rotating his shoulder as he leant into the punch... Was this going to be an Annihilation Echo? Mako had heard of this particular art and knew how ridiculous it was. The stories that came out of Remmy''s restaurant a while back, corroborated by Mako visiting the scene of carnage himself, had all but confirmed the existence of this Art. It was hard hitting and Mako readied himself to deal with it the second he saw Ares'' mouth move chant it. It was the wise choice here for Ares to make given how easy it was for him to press his advantage at this range. Devastating art after devastating art would keep Mako suffocating under the constant assault, leaving him no room to retreat to safety and re-organise. Mako had a solution but he wanted to make sure Ares was actually casting the art before he wasted his solution on a problem that might not even exist. He really didn''t know what Ares was up to, after all, so he waited patiently despite Ares drawing ever nearer...


    ...


    Mako waited and waited, getting more and more frustrated that Ares was playing this silly game of chicken, but this whole thing seemed fishy? No matter how long Mako spent preparing himself, Ares wasn''t showing any signs of casting the art... Also, Ares'' pressure felt off, like he wasn''t operating at full power. It was all incredibly strange but Mako had to put it to the back of his mind as Ares mouth finally opened... At point blank?! Was this guy doing some kind of suicidal Echo? Mako could retaliate from this range if he so much as dared! The time it took him to chant this close would allow Mako to fight back! Was it going to be a normal Echo? Was he playing it all safe?! Mako''s mind was spinning, searching for a plausible answer, but the longer this charade went on the more he wanted to just reach out and slap Ares for being annoying! His mouth was open! Speak man, speak!


    ...


    No chant STILL? Now Mako was really confused. He was being thrown for a loop here and had to admit that Ares had truly bamboozled him on this one. He admitted it, Ares had won this engagement for no reason other than that Mako could no longer be bothered to figure out his plan, it was too convoluted for him. Mako summoned a sword and aimed it straight for Ares'' throat. The simple approach was best for this elf! Mako wasn''t too talented at close ranges but he wasn''t going to just sit around and take a punch for no good reason! He could still beat an average, or maybe even an above average, cultivator up close and personal!... But why wasn''t Ares dodging? Was he going to trade hits here? He was a revenant, so the sword in the throat might not be lethal, but it would still be unpleasant and affect him going forward. Mako would suffer less than Ares overall so he was fine with doing this... But he couldn''t shake the nagging feeling that something was very wrong here...


    "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" A few of Mako''s questions were answered when ''Ares'''' jaw split open into two rows of jagged teeth and formed a creepy maw big enough to swallow a head whole... But, honestly, he now had even more questions that needed answering and he didn''t think he was going to get them. Ares wasn''t exactly going to halt the fight and give him a rundown of the nonsense he was pulling so Mako was just going ot have to roll with the punches and figure it out the hard way.


    One of Ares'' better kept secrets, and something people who even knew forgot about regularly, was that he was in possession of a pet! Rox wasn''t walking around the household like everyone else, which was likely why nobody ever remembered him, but he was still hanging around and improving in his own time inside the Blade! Ares even occasionally brought him out to train with Sadie so he was getting his reps in! The issue here was that, because so few people knew of Rox, the fact that Ares had a tricky mimic up his sleeve was a dirty little secret that could net him some really cheap wins or even just put him in beneficial situations like this. While Mako was struggling to decide what to do against the mimic that was about to try and bite his head off; Ares came gliding out of the Grand Annihilation behind him, hovering and leaning at an angle that was nearly completely sideways, as his foot was mid swing and about to blast Mako''s head in.


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    Mako was really in a tough predicament here was he was caught in a pincer, both attacks of which were undoubtedly lethal if left unchecked. Ares'', the real one and not the strange monster Mako had never even heard of before, attack was less intimidating and probably less likely to result in death if placed second in terms of priority. It was fast and dangerous for sure but Ares had to sacrifice potentially using an art to guarantee this hit so it wasn''t as bad as it could have been. Mako wasn''t good as this range but he still possessed the reaction time needed to stop Ares had he been greedy if he tried to use magic. Still, Ares was too clever to fall for that so he was taking what he could get safely. The kick was tearing through the wind and looked to be rather strong so he must have put a lot of effort into his leap before leaving the Grand Annihilation. In fact, knowing this dork, he probably used the Grand Annihilation to propel himself via an explosion to the backside. He must have used Omniscience to pinpoint a convenient explosion he could ride the blast of which would explain his mid-air momentum.


    Ah but Mako was getting distracted. He needed to forfeit his sword lunge at the mimic, defend against the bite properly, and then throw up a last second block to stop Ares. After that he needed to kill the mimic swiftly to prevent it from being a permanent problem before he went back to dealing with Ares. None of this was easy but it all needed to be done and Mako had a few ideas formulating in his head so now he just needed to escape from this current ambush alive. First order of business was pushing away the mimic to buy Mako some time while simultaneously stopping the bite and Echo coming his way... Or rather, now that Mako got a good look at the mimic, it was using its jaws to transmit the Echo. Spinning its shoulders only really happened to facilitate generating the Echo but it wasn''t going to use its hand to bring it forth into the world after all. Rox was trying to keep his hands free so that he could grab Mako''s, block his sword swing, and bite him freely. Mako had given up on the sword already so this smart decision was wasted but it was clever nonetheless. If Mako had realised what was happening a second slower, without Ares interference giving away the ghost, Rox would have come out on top and maybe even killed him!


    Rox had gotten pretty decent at rushing down opponents after being summoned by Ares and functioned like a pretty decent pocket assassin in his own way. Weaker foes would absolutely get eaten by him on the regular as he sprung out of the Grand Annihilation and, even then, he had other means of fighting with people that weren''t reliant on taking them by surprise. He wasn''t the strongest in the household, not even close, but he was a force to be reckoned with! He was roughly equally as strong as Trixie, maybe even a bit stronger. In the house, he was tied for fourth strongest after Ares, Enyo / Aejaz, and then finally Bellona. Part of that was that he''d gotten damn good at using pressure in his training so he had some nasty surprises for opponents not paying attention to his every move. In particular, his pressure deflects were astonishingly good. For some odd reason, he was maybe as good at them as Ares was provided he wasn''t cheating with Omniscience. It was to the point that Ares could genuinely considering whipping out Rox to use as a meat shield and deflect magic occasionally, he was seriously that good at it!


    Mako didn''t know about any of this but he really didn''t need to as the art he was about to use couldn''t possibly be deflected regardless of how good Rox was. Even Ares wouldn''t be able to do it with his Omniscience! In order to use the art, though, Mako had to finally give up on the Proving Grounds as his new art affected the ground. The Proving Ground was still dotting the floor here and there, and Mako had been hoping he might be able to revive it if he fought hard enough to get some freedom to act as he wanted to, but that had clearly not worked out and so it was getting removed for good and replaced. It wasn''t useful anymore and any golems spawned from it would just be enabling Ares to replenish mana off them. Mako grinned at Rox, which was actually a requirement to use the art because the twitch of the facial muscles allowed mana to flow in the correct way, and chuckled as he chanted the art. The laugh wasn''t necessary but Mako L.O.V.E.D using this art on unsuspecting opponents. He always got a massive kick out of it and, although it wasn''t Ares himself getting hit by this, it was someone who looked identical and that was good enough for Mako! He could take out his frustrations on the clone and that would be as good as hitting the real deal!


    "Buh?Bye Now!"


    ... Why were all of Mako''s arts either straight-laced and serious, maybe even a bit edgy in some ways, or completely lackadaisical and blas¨¦? Childish even? Ares seriously wanted to know what was going through this guy''s head whenever he was coming up with names for this stuff... Probably a preposterous amount of pride and kid-like wonder at the ability to just spawn into reality whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Mako''s naming habits turned him into an open book that displayed his true personality, the one hidden behind his overbearing front, pretty clearly... Anyway, as for what the art did, well, Rox had vanished. Not into thin air, no, he''d vanished into the giant, and somewhat cartoonish, hole that appeared directly underneath him. Why laboriously dig out a hole with a shovel over the course of hours when you could just create a pit at will? It was a steep and pretty gigantic pit that was about thirty feet wide and deep. It just sort of immediately spawned wherever Mako was pointing so anyone who was asleep at the wheel, or couldn''t avoid it for whatever reason, would invariably just tumble downward and maybe break a bone or two.


    Mako really did like this art just for the comical look on people''s faces when they suddenly lost their footing and tried to scramble to the edge of the pit in mid air even though it was completely pointless as they never made it. Well, sometimes they did but then Mako got to peer at them from above and stamp on their fingers to drop them into the pit anyway, and that was debatably an even more satisfying conclusion for him, so it was a win win either way. Point being; he really liked it, so much so in fact that this was an art he wanted to develop over time. He wanted to create pits filled with deadly traps, monsters, and other such shabby surprises. Also, he wanted to find an anti-magic attribute resource that could be used to upgrade this art in a despicable way. Most methods of flight involved magic so anti-magic would definitely spice up this art and prevent people from escaping it. Were there other arts that might have benefitted more from an anti-magic resource if and when Mako found one? Obviously, yes, but who the hell cared about efficiency and optimisation of resource allocation when you could turn your opponent into a laughing stock whenever you wanted to?! As a fundamental, Mako had enough leeway to waste good resources on fun stuff like this without falling behind. Also, it''s not like this art couldn''t get really powerful in its own way as trapping someone in the pit with anti magic and then hitting them with the Whatever You Are art was kinda devious in its own right. Even just summoning a plethora of random garbage to chuck at the trapped and magicless rat was valuable in its own way! There was potential here! Potential for kills and potential for mockery, both of which delighted Mako to no end!


    While Rox was sent crashing down into the pit below, Ares was unaffected both because he just wasn''t in range of it but also because he was still in mid-air anyway. Dodging the pit in this manner was an unexpected, but still very welcome, dose of luck that he wasn''t going to let go to waste so he followed through on his kick and barely managed to eke out a Stamp Out before his foot connected with Mako. The art he chucked on at the end of his strike allowed him to pump out just a tad bit more damage but every little counted here and rocking Mako''s world, even a little bit more than he was already going to, was worth every bit of effort it took to chant the art in such a difficult position. If Ares hadn''t been in top form right now there was a decent chance he would have either missed the kick or stumbled the chant so the fact he managed to cleanly do both at the same time, considering his weird angle and momentum, was honestly impressive.


    Mako managed to raise him arms and block once more but things were slightly different this time on his end as he managed to summon some arm braces in time to soften to blow. This was a simple measure to curb some of the damage he received but it was indicative that Mako''s mind was finally starting to spin up and get back to work. He wasn''t just endlessly chucking rockets at his problems or staring blankly at the Grand Gambit Annihilation anymore, he was actively addressing each and every issue that came his way and properly summoning something that could ease up his predicament. Was an arm bracer the most ingenious option available to him? No, of course not. If Eagerton were down here with creation magic he probably would have summoned a shield made of living sheep or something equally whacky to soften the blow. But what Mako lacked in creativity, he made up for in being a more dedicated and persistent cultivator who just never quit. Plus he was generally smarter in combat scenarios as well even if his creativity was inferior. Mako had been chosen for good reason as he, himself, was essentially a well rounded cultivator save for his currently lacking close quarters but he could work on that in due time. Eagerton''s biggest flaw was that he just never put in the effort. He believed stringently in the idea that art was not something pre-meditated and had to be explored and discovered in the moment. That was all well and great and all but never coming up with plans and measures ahead of time could really leave him high and dry if he wasn''t careful. Someone like Mako was infinitely more useful in a wider variety of situations because he would actually take into consideration what needed to be done and how it could be achieved seamlessly. Also, for what it was worth, Eagerton was limited in terms of what he was willing to create as he had a dislike for modern inventions as a whole so the neon vibe and aesthetic that was common with this pillar didn''t really gel well with him. Part of what made the creation pillar strong was that it could freely summon most arts from the gadgetry pillar but Eagerton would inevitably not use that function much. It was a strange aversion but one that would definitely put him out of the running in terms of fundamental champion candidacy. The fundamental pillars would never pick someone unwilling to use their full potential so Eagerton''s obstinance had really shot himself on the foot with that one...


    BANG


    Mako was blasted backwards to the opposite end of the arena. His arms were hurting like hell, and some of his bones had chipped a bit, but he was alive and his head was mostly safe. The blowback from receiving that high-powered kick had rocked his arms and pushed them straight into his head but the injuries suffered from that mishap were minor. His brain was rattled but there was nothing else wrong with him so he was in good shape considering the fact he appeared to be in a disastrous situation not even two seconds ago. Mako recouped his bearings while Ares helped Rox out of the hole with telekinesis. The Proving Grounds were gone and so too was Yggdrasil so it looked like round two was starting and Mako was thinking it was high time to pull out his special treasure... All he needed was a perfect opportunity to make the most out of it and then he would summon it for all the world to see. It was a damn cool treasure and, honestly, Mako just really wanted to gloat about it. Objectively, even though Mako hadn''t seen Ares'' Blade, it was a way more desirable treasure to possess than Ares'' special treasure and would definitely leave him incredibly jealous! In fact, Ares would even be more than willing to trade for it but, naturally, Mako would refuse him on the spot. This treasure belonged to Mako, now and always, and he cherished it deeply!

 Chapter 265: Weather Forecast: Snow, Heatwave, Thunder

    Mako looked up to the sky and took in the sight of dark clouds congregating above, ready to rain all over everyone''s parade and not just metaphorically either. It wasn''t calming down, instead becoming more and more severe but that was to Mako''s advantage given some of the arts he knew. Specifically, the creation pillar was notably great at summoning runes and gadgets out of thin air. Pretty much all of the fundamental pillars outright dwarfed certain other pillars and there was no two ways about it. Destruction was just better than space-time and the fire pillar thanks to nothingness and annihilation / disintegration. Creation was superior to runemancy, the earth pillar, and anything gadgetry related. The mind pillar was better than the psychic pillar and could pump out infinitely better mental arts. The reality pillar''s gravity magic didn''t really outrank anything specific, maybe the wind pillar at a stretch, but the reality altering arts were quite diverse and could arguably be considered a better version of the technical pillar. Black was obviously the darkness pillar on steroids and white was the holy pillar taken further than it could ever normally go. Still, these were just things the fundamental pillar encompassed, it wasn''t their only tricks up their sleeve and they were generally capable of so much more, not being limited to any one avenue with more room to branch out into relevant territory. Point in case, Mako hadn''t used any gadgets or runes up until this point, even though he had a great many of them up his sleeve and they were all respectably powerful, and it wasn''t even because he was trying to save them for anything specific. He just had enough other tools that he wasn''t reliant on them. That being said, a gadget was about to be deployed as Mako was intent on taking advantage of the poor weather. Although it was a highly specialised gadget, Mako did know of one that could be used specifically during a heavy downpour such as this one. That wasn''t too surprising though because Mako learnt of every gadget he could get his grubby hands on, no matter how niche, as the ability to summon them instantly, without wasting his spare time creating them ahead of time, meant they all had some value at the bare minimum due to their instantaneous nature when he wielded them.


    The gadget in question was one that went by the name of "Snowflake Conversion Kit." Simply put, it was a wide ranging net that transformed every rain drop that hit it from above into a falling snowflake that was sharp as a knife. The snowflakes were numerous and lethal during sustained assaults. Provided you could lock your opponent down in a specific area, which this arena was doing nicely considering it was a tightly packed venue with no means of escape lest Aers forfeited the match, and provided there was ample rain, and not just a few drops here and there, this gadget was highly functional!... It was on the stronger side of gadgets but hard to find the exact scenario it was particularly good in. Actually, in Mako''s case, if he used the Buh?Bye art and created rain on the spot above the hole he basically had a guaranteed way of making it useable in most situations.


    There weren''t any places in Sheryashka with consistent rainfall so this art had been extraordinarily difficult for Mako to find out in the wild as not many people had much use for it in this domain. He actually found it from a book that supposedly originated on the other side of the severed path of nothingness in Vraizon. Or, more specifically, the book had come from the Dueuer domain wherein there was another duality land, much like Neo Gear, that alternated between a hydroelectric / nature paradise and a barren dessert, in both of which heavily customised vehicles roamed. Bellona would really like this place as people drove daily on tracks that swapped between industrialised water plants with thick jungles mixed in and bumpy, sandstorm ridden expanses. Racing was a pretty massive deal over there and so, when Bellona found out about it, she would naturally want to visit it ASAP. Anyway, the original point was that the hydroelectric half the planet, whenever it cropped up, had pretty consistent and heavy rainfall so this art had been created there by a water pillar cultivator with a strong affinity for the ice aspect. They were a magic engineer who frequently worked on vehicles and, as such, had an array of mechanical knowledge with which to construct a gadget that took advantage of the planet''s natural biomes, his techy expertise, and his pillar affiliation. He was long dead now, the poor guy had one of his vehicles stolen, his pride and joy, before he got run over by it but his invention had stood the test of time and was still used pretty frequently on that planet. As an aside, the guy who lost his life did have a daughter, frequently referred to as ''mad Maxine'', who was still trying to get her father''s vehicle back to this day from the thieves that stole it.


    But that was that and this was this. Mako created a chilly cube in his hand and chucked it into the air while chanting the name of the art as he watched on calmly from the side-lines. Now that he''d bought himself a bit of time and space to comfortably do his thing, he could breathe safely and re-organise his thoughts and plans to stop Ares in his tracks and slow the fight down once more. Mako took in the sight of the cube''s width rapidly expanding while the heigh was flattened until it became a wide and frosty panel that covered the top of the coliseum. Small square holes opened up in the panel and a light blue x-ray covered each gap. The second a rain drop touched the light blue scanners they were scanned with a neon light and mutated into snowflakes with a deadly aura. As the flakes fell they tore through the air and chilled it, lowering the temperature of the arena even further. Though still dark, the arena was now being progressively tinged in a pure white that clung to the walls. Not because the snow was sticky, no, but because its jagged edges were cutting into the arena walls and lodging the flakes inside them. Each flake was like a mini shuriken and they were starting to gravitate over towards Ares and Rox now that they''d been identified as a target but it would still take a while for them descend fully as they were rather slow.


    Ares, out of curiosity, let a flake fall by his finger and, although the thing seemed harmless enough, a cut spontaneously appeared on his finger a split second later with blood pouring out. It was a serious wound if you took into consideration how little the snowflake had actually done to him in terms of attacking him. Just passing by his finger was enough to cause this much damage? At a glance these things were all roughly as dangerous as the disintegration petals that spawned from Ares'' Black Blossom. There was also way more snowflakes than Ares'' petals, whenever he used the art, just because the source wasn''t a cultivator who was limited by the amount of mana in their body; it was a completely natural source via some clouds. Of course that''s not to say it couldn''t be outdone by a cultivator who was strong enough, as Dominus had caused a sword rain over an entire planet as mentioned once before, it''s just that, at this level, Ares wasn''t matching it no matter what he did. As for getting rid of it, Black Blossom would allow him to cover his immediate area but Ares had a better options available, one that could keep him and Rox safe without any fuss as well as keep them warm and potentially remove the net above too.


    Ares looked over at Rox before he brought out his own solution to the incoming flake storm, just to check how the mimic was handling things, only to see Rox constantly poking the flakes... He was getting cut every time without fail but it was obvious, to Ares, that he was trying to learn how to deflect them. This guy was just like him! Experimenting and trying to improve at the weirdest times! Still, kudos to the mimic for trying at least. In fact, Ares felt like throwing him a bone so he put on his Omniscience and started successfully deflecting the flakes in front of him to provide an example of how it should go and how it should look. Most of them were still descending above and so he only had a clump of five or so to work with but that was seemingly enough for Rox who''d watched intently. Rather than wait patiently for another five or so seconds, until the snowflake madness fully descended, Rox leapt upwards with a Double Jump and Echo combination that sent him soaring. Ares was worried he''d go too fast and cut his head open on the snowflakes above but he shot through them all safely like a pro. He''d used the deflect on his head to bash aside the flakes without sustaining any injury. That was pretty impressive! Even Ares wouldn''t be able to do that as fast as Rox had without the Omniscience aiding him! The mimic was showing off! Then again, Ares would totally do that too if he was in Rox''s position so he couldn''t say anything on the matter. Actually, the reason Rox had done it was likely because a part of his personality was also mimicking Ares''... Ares realised that and decided on the spot that Rox was a great guy! The greatest even!


    Ares'' self praise aside, it was high time he brought out his solution to the snowflakes. It was something he got recently and had only somewhat experimented with ever since. That''s right, it was parka time! Ares threw on the warm jacket and immediately the chill creeping into his flesh was long gone. He couldn''t tell if it was snowing or if it was a warm sunny day! The scales were warming him up and he was well and truly nice and cosy. He could sit around here and watch the snow all day because the parka''s defences were actually solid enough to withstand the flakes. All he had to do was put on the hood and he would be untouchable but that wasn''t his plan right now. He wanted to take the parka off because it was slowing him down so he needed to get rid off the snow. Thankfully, with the parka on, it was an easy task. The Scaled Insulator suited Ares but the major aesthetic detail here was that the dragon horns he usually had in his Garmr form were present on his human head now. They were smaller but that made sense because his head was nowhere near as gigantic in his human form as it was in his revenant form. It would be weird if he walked around with those massive horns on his tiny head; he''d look almost like a human hydra deer! The horns were fitted quite nicely, just slightly above his forehead and angled backwards at a 50-55-ish degree angle. Combined with the parka, Ares looked like some draconic young master who''s ego was immeasurable thanks to the pride he held in his lineage. Of course the reality was verry different but the design was giving that sort of vibe and there was naught he could do about it. Them''s the breaks.


    Rox had landed back down on the floor, and was copying Ares'' horns onto his own head because he must have thought it looked neat and wanted to steal them even if they did nothing for him, so Ares decided to test the heating function on this thing. He didn''t need to chant to increase the heat in his surroundings, that was only necessary if he wanted to unleash the attack boiling away and charging up under the surface. He could do that later but right now he wanted to try and use this thing as a mobile campfire as it would be highly convenient right now. All the testing he did in his own time was pretty lacking because the best he could do was have Appa create an icy room. This snowflake storm was far more useful as it was both colder and more dangerous so the parka''s results here would be indicative of how much trust Ares would put in it under stressful scenarios. It seemed like a really high-grade treasure, and Ares had a gut feeling it would do good work, but he still wanted to be sure of that, instead of throwing his life away pointlessly because he was too lazy to put this parka through its paces properly, and probe into its protective properties. Based on Rox''s content look off to the side, it was very subtle but Ares did notice it as Rox was essentially cosplaying him right now, it seemed the parka''s ability to heat up nearby friendlies was sufficient. Next up, Ares wanted to test his fire breath... Although Mako was being a little shit and tossing another rocket at him! Ares just sighed to himself as it was apparent Mako wasn''t going to sit around and do nothing. Thankfully, however, Rox was here to save the day! Rox dodged past the rocket and went to go annoy Mako and buy Ares some time! What touching loyalty! You would think being sacrificed in Training Fields over and over again would have annoyed Rox somewhat but he was still a good kid who helped Ares out when he needed it. Ares should really let him out and about more to explore the world as thanks. Anyway, Rox was going to go and hang around Mako to distract him. He obviously couldn''t beat Mako but if he kept a respectable distance he could dodge until the cows came home, especially now that he knew about the hole art, and buy Ares all the time in the world to rid them both of the Conversion Kit.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    As for Ares, before he breathed fire at the flakes, he tried using some telekinesis on the incoming rocket to see if he could take control of it. It was tough, and there was a lot of resistance due to how massive it was, but he did manage to at least change its course. If Ares had another realm worth of cultivation he might have been able to freely control the rocket''s flight path and redirect it towards Mako. For now, though, sending it flying into a wall was good enough. Anyway, Ares turned his head up and looked at the white cloud inches from his cranium. The gadget was relatively slow to get going but once you were in the thick of it you were basically screwed with no way out. If Ares let the white cloud fall on him it would be a nightmare trying to remove it all bit by bit. The distance the snow had to fall did give victims a chance to come up with a counter measure but it needed to be a damn good one to deal with the snow, and the gadget itself at the same time, otherwise you would receive death by a thousand cuts and become a corpse with ice in your veins. Ares took a deep breath and felt a heat welling within his throat. It was manageable but keeping it trapped felt uncomfortable and so he expectorated the rumbling blaze in a steady stream of jetting fire. For all intents and purposes, it looked identical to a Flamethrower. The key difference was that the stream of fire was nearly thrice the size of the art because this was pure draconic fire here! That also meant it would be far more deadly and burning things to a crisp was a significantly easier task with it.


    Ares was like a fire spewing pillar that slowly rotated on the spot, turning the sky ashen and red in his immediate vicinity. The air was charred and burnt as the snowflakes melted away into water and subsequently evaporated with no mercy being afforded. Though he was humanoid, Ares took on the appearance of a mighty dragon throwing a temper tantrum and burning away the nuisance that was the very weather right now. He stormed through the countless flakes, marching forward slowly but decisively with a heavy step and obliterating everything even remotely in his path. He tilted his head further and further upwards to the sky to catch every single flake in every single layer nearby and fully eradicate the immediate threat. His neck slowly moved in a clockwise rotation, causing his head and mouth to follow suit. This made Ares'' fire breath come out in a spiral pattern, forming a small tornado of dragon breath directly above him that sucked in all the flakes and generated enough passive heat to dry up the nearby area. This tornado rose higher and higher, all the way up to the Conversion Kit near the tip of the coliseum where it slammed against the underside of the Kit. The entire net rattled but stayed firmly in place with a brand new burn mark splattered against the bottom of it. The tornado had done good damage but Ares would need to maybe do that three or four more times to even break anything. It was surprisingly sturdy for a gadget so Ares was going to have to be more hands on with his approach but he''d expected as such from the get go anyway and wasn''t fussed.


    Much like how Rox had done earlier, Ares used Double Jump and Echo to spring upwards on the spot. Unlike Rox, however, he had enough force in his jump to create a small crater directly where he''d been standing previously. As he''d already cleared out the nearby flakes he didn''t have to deflect any so that process was irrelevant. Ares reached the Conversion Kit in a single jump, and was close enough to reach out and touch it, so he activated Voidwalk to hang about in the air and destroy this thing once and for all. To do it, he decided to activate the other art this parka possessed; the heatwave that had been ready and waiting to lash out since he put the jacket on. "Furnace Bomb." This art was a pretty one as the Scaled Insulator lit up with a bright orange glow where all the scales where hiding inside of it. It bore resemblance to a row of artsy halogen heaters and the scales were positioned such that they formed a dragon''s tail around the entirety of the jacket from front to back. This pattern grew brighter and brighter as a whooshing noise ramped up in severity over the course of about two seconds. The surroundings became hazy as the heat rose to unbearable temperatures for all living creatures besides Ares, who felt no different, before an ashy black, magma and fire eruption detonated from the parka. A cloud of soot and fire swept over everything around Ares and some magma broiled within the cloud as well for good measure so that it could melt anyone who stood within it. It was a massive unloading of all things hot that both burnt and blasted everything close by.


    The art was somewhat slower than Overheat, as it took two seconds to charge roughly, but the burst that followed was incomparable. Overheat was a standard art, Furnace Bomb was an art from a powerful treasure, with draconic heritage, wielded by a draconic-blooded cultivator who happened to be an explosives expert to boot. There was no doubt part of why the explosion here was so majestic and fear-inducing was because it was Ares'' personal treasure. If it belonged to anyone else it would just be a small blast that fogged up the air, made people choke on the lingering ash, and turned their flesh red. Ares'' version would do all of the above but it would also singe their throats, strip away their flesh, and broil their skeletal frames from within. The pain from the blast would also be significant too as it functioned like a Shock Bead explosion in a way. It was roughly as powerful and had the same width / height to it so the only real difference was the heat attribute and the colouring of it but the former of which did definitely elevate the overall strength so it was more dangerous than a regular Shock Bead for sure. It was a very usable art and, although the delay on the explosion was somewhat inconvenient, it was incredible to have handy. Again, in icy regions, this thing would be Ares'' go to and he was basically set in any and every cold environment for life. Hell he could maybe he even use this underwater to keep warm even if the fiery benefits were nullified it was just that good at what it did.


    As for the Conversion Kit... What Conversion Kit? The pile of rubble crashing down from the sky? Yeah, it was broken and burnt into many, many separate little blackened pieces. Ever since Ares had spied it, and wanted it gone, this thing had been doomed to die so no tears were shed for it by Mako who was still chucking rockets at the pest Rox. In fact, Mako already had somewhat of a replacement ready to go in the form of a rune he''d been concocting while Ares was distracted by the Conversion Kit. Mako had wanted things to go this way since the start and now he finally felt like he was in the driver''s seat, controlling the flow of the fight as his plan had been successful. The rune he was about to summon also required, and converted, heavy rain which meant he couldn''t even use it until the Conversion Kit was gone regardless! He''d wasted Ares'' time on something he wanted gone ASAP! Mako snickered at Ares for having finally one upped the bastard and made him run around in the palm of his hand! Speaking of the palm of Mako''s hand, the rune he was creating had finally taken shape within it and it was shaped like five thunderbolts conjoined together in cursive fashion. He lifted his palm to the heavens and the rune disappeared, reappearing shortly after in the sky near the grey clouds. Ares would really have to go out of his way to destroy those runes given how far up they were... Or he could maybe launch an attack that was capable of hitting it from here... Still, before Ares made any decisions on the matter he wanted to see what the rune did. Mako had chanted "Charge Discharge" earlier but Ares had never heard of the art so he was looking up with his Omniscience to try and figure things out on the fly. As far as he could tell...


    CRACK


    ... The rune created massive Thunder Strikes repeatedly, one of which Ares had just dodged in the nick of time. These Thunder Strikes were larger, fell about as fast as a Flash Thunder would, and hit harder too. Each and every single one was life threatening but there was a silver lining here in that the firing rate wasn''t exactly fast per se. There were five runes up in the sky, one for every thunderbolt Mako had drawn on the original rune back when it was in his palm, and each needed to be filled up with water before it could fire. They were in different positions, and not stacked on top of each other, so they weren''t being inefficient or anything, they just required a pretty large amount of rain to fill. It was like charging a battery that would automatically discharge when filled to the brim. These runes would likely just keep going forever until the rain was fully depleted from the clouds above or until destroyed meaning it was a fantastic art for area denial. The zone they protected would be struck with mighty and menacing thunder consistently that was hard to avoid and constantly targeted foes within the area. This art alone could kill a normal cultivator at Ares'' cultivation level in a second flat. Though Ares had ''dodged'' that last Thunder Strike, it did clip his toe, and he lost a chunk of it as a result, so if that thing hit his head... It would be game over, no questions asked!


    CRACK


    CRACK


    Ares hopped about on the spot as he realised something else about this art. The runes fired whenever they happened to be discharged but that was technically a random occurrence. You couldn''t tell precisely when each one would fire because you''d need to pay an ridiculous amount of attention to the rainfall above to see which ones were filling up quicker than the others. Point in case, the first Thunder Strike fired relatively quickly but the next two took longer and happened to fire simultaneously. All five of the runes were acting independently, giving their timings an unpredictable element that was really annoying to work around. In order to avoid being taken by surprise you would have to stare at the sky and squint at the runes to watch them fill up but, at that point, Mako would just hit you with his creation magic off to the side. This art was devious because it divided your attention on top of the already lethal threat it posed passively. In short, Ares needed to get rid of this thing! Thankfully Rox was doing a phenomenal job of bugging Mako, though, so Ares had room to spare and knew just how to deal with this obnoxious set of runes. The best part was that the Perish Wheel he was about to throw could be aimed directly at Mako as the pillar of destruction it created spiralled high enough into the sky that those runes would be toast even if they weren''t the primary target! This was the first major art that Ares was chucking at Mako, other than maybe the Yggdrasil Detonate if that also counted, so he was curious to see how he would deal with this now that the Whatever You Are art was cooling down. What other tricks do you have to show me, little elf? Ares wondered internally as he hovered back down into the arena. Ares started gathering the man to cast the Perish Wheel but a Thunder Strike interrupted his casting... Nothing could ever be easy! Ares sighed to himself and prepared himself to cast another Not Even Light to use as a sort of mock roof, enabling him to cast without interruption, but he stopped himself...


    This was as good a chance as any to show off! Not because he wanted the world to see how great he was or anything, no, this was business! Ares'' Shock Beads were damn popular, and everyone knew of them, but the Block Rocks, the portable black holes that were defensive in nature, were still pretty fresh on the market. If he used them here then the sales of them in the sect ought to improve provided they did a good job! Ares'' thoughts on the matter would truly make Onno proud if he could read his mind! Not that Onno wouldn''t be able to figure it all out; he was in the crowd right now and had actually been hoping for Ares to use the Block Rocks so he was getting his wish! In fact, the sneaky rodent even had some Block Rocks on him to sell to the general public the second they made an appearance during the match... Having foreseen this and using it as an opportunity to boost sales... Onno was maybe a little too good at his job...

 Chapter 266: Makos Treasure

    CRACK


    CRACK


    CRACK


    Whew boy! Ares was taken aback when three of the runes fired a Thunder Shock at him at the same time. This must have been a pretty rare occurrence given the random nature of the art so Mako, although his attention was elsewhere, had pretty much hit the jackpot here! In fact, Mako had never seen this art strike four or more times at once ever since he learnt it. Other than pouring water into it from above, or creating rain himself, there was no real way of manufacturing a specific result and so your best bet was relying on pure chance.


    Rather than bust out the dodges, Ares had already pulled out some block rocks in preparation for this exact moment. He pulled out five, just in case his luck had been truly awful, but only ended up needing three. Honestly, two block rocks could maybe do the job here, as they were effective in their own right, but there was no reason to risk it all pointlessly so Ares chucked the trio of rocks up into the air above him without a care in the world. It looked like he was tossing trash over his shoulder but these little things were incredible. One man''s trash is another man''s treasure so, although Ares had Not Even Light in his arsenal, which was basically just an upgraded version of these rocks, everyone in the crowd was going to ''ooh'' and ''aah'' at these puppies. Some people in the crowd had done some dodgy backroom deals with disciples of the sect to get a hold on Shock Beads themselves and give them a whirl and, without fail, they always came back looking to buy more. There had actually been a couple incidents in Red Sun involving the Beads as of late but Hans was quick to punish anyone blowing up the town and the punishments weren''t light either. Hans was having none of it because he knew just how deadly Ares'' toys could wind up being if left unchecked. People got the message pretty quick and did their testing and / or ambushing of fellow cultivators out in the wild instead. Luring out their prey became harder but it was worth it not to piss off old man Hans who was notorious in Central Land in his own way. Plus, according to some rumours here and there, Hans had a metric ton of work on his plate and he was not in the mood to get distracted by upstart cultivators making noise so he was being particularly aggressive in his silencing of troublemakers.


    Anyway, point being, now that some new rocks were on display a large portion of spectators watched on with piqued interest. Some of the simpletons in the crowd tuned out because the black hole that spawned from the rocks didn''t look offensively superior to the shock rocks and so they lost interest. These people just wanted to do all the fun stuff involved with cultivation, like killing people and blowing stuff up, this defensive oriented tool wasn''t up their sleeve. These were the type of prideful fools who died quick deaths in this world. There was a reason these block rocks were likely to sell more overall units despite being purchased by fewer individuals as a whole. As a general rule of thumb, for every one shock bead a professional bought, they would likely wind up buying two block rocks at bare minimum. Defensive tools were just more versatile overall and experts valued them properly as opposed to the ignorant riff raff turning their noses up at high-quality goods. Their loss! When they got into a fight with someone who had both shock rocks and block rocks, they would be the one whose attack was stifled by a block rock and left high and dry. They''d maybe even have the nerve to curse Ares shortly before death took them, that was just the kind of people they were. Nothing was ever their fault and their poor decision making was irrelevant in their minds.


    Oh well! Not Ares'' problem! Hell he wasn''t even the one selling these things in the first place so they could take up their issues with someone else! Speaking of, as the thunder was swept up into the black holes, curving into the miniature abysses despite their best effort to scramble away, Onno had already gotten up alongside Esme and started handing out samples... When did Esme get up there?! She was supposed to be down in the arena but had clearly left at some point... Chances are, she and Li Li felt like their presence was wholly unnecessary. Even if it devolved into a fight with the whole team throwing their hats into the ring they wouldn''t really contribute much of anything, compared to Enyo and Aejaz, so they understood they weren''t needed at all and left. What was the point of sitting around in the danger zone when they could potentially end up getting involved in the fight between Ares and Mako? Hell the scrapping duo hadn''t even noticed the absentees yet, that was just how little they really mattered. It was a shame but at least they could spectate from a safe distance now and still get the rewards later if Ares won! Well, Esme had been spectating up until this very moment but now it was time to work a bit and hand out the block rock samples! Of course if anyone wanted more than one they would have to fork over some good old stardust but, coincidentally, and very fortunately for the purchasers of his fine goods, Onno was offering all sorts of rascally promotions.


    ''You''re the tenth customer!''


    ''I feel like I knew you in a past life!''


    ''Don''t you remember me? We went to school together!


    ''You give me a good vibe!''


    And Onno''s personal favourite, ''You''re the tenth customer!''


    Astute viewers may have noticed that last one crop up more than once. This evil little conman couldn''t care less how many people he sold to! Exact numbers meant nothing to him so he was just making this garbage up on the fly which is why that specific lie was his favourite. It was just easy to throw out without having to memorise how many people you''d sold to previously. It''s not about what you, as the salesman knew or believed, but what the other person understood as the truth! They were happy to get a deal nobody else had, as long as you ignore every other tenth customer they weren''t aware of anyway, and Mako was happy to make the sale to this ''prestigious'' and ''one of a kind'' customer. Nobody lost out here so it wasn''t even really a big lie, just a small white one that enabled the smooth transfer of stardust and product.


    Esme was also doing her part and raking in the sales at a decent pace. Spending time with Onno meant some of his despicable means had rubbed off on her and now the woman who really liked stardust knew how to get a lot of it in legal but also most definitely underhanded ways. She was working hard so that she could one day live a life in which she was hardly working. She wanted to retire with bundles of stardust to spend at her leisure and she was on the fast track to living exactly how she wanted. Esme wasn''t a gold digger but she did accidentally strike the jackpot with Onno so she wasn''t going to complain! Hell even Li Li somehow got roped into this nonsense and was handing out samples too. She could earn some good wages working for these two and had the connection already established so why not? She couldn''t convince Dirk to do it to, though, as he kept muttering something about having a shred of pride and not stooping so low... He was right in a way but he was also not making any moolah clinging onto such worthless pride! Boooooo! Though it''s not like he didn''t have a good bit of stardust to his name anyway; he was the son of the patriarch of his clan and was a solid cultivator who could plunder riches pretty consistently without losing out on them to other competing cultivators or putting his life at risk. Most prodigious cultivators were rich if they''d been around for a while and weren''t literally just starting out, it kinda came with the territory.


    Back down in the arena, Ares was firing up his Perish Wheel. He was very interested to see what manner of creation Mako had lying up his ass that he could pull out and defend himself with. The creation pillar not having any aspects really made it hard to tell what was coming next with this thing. But, then again, that was the kind of adaptability and surprise factor that came with being the only pillar in existence without any aspects... Well, technically the technical pillar didn''t have any either but there were people with unique aspects under the technical pillar! It had happened before, rare though it was, so that did count! Regardless, Mako needed to do something about Ares'' strongest attack in his arsenal. If Ares charged up a large pressure attack, and combined it with some annihilation magic, he could maybe outdo Perish Wheel but, right now at least, it was his staple ''big bang'' art and so Mako was under some serious pressure here. Grand Annihilation was good for moment to moment usage but this was the art that finished fights and pushed enemies to really go all out with whatever means they had at their disposal. While the Thunder Strikes were slurped up into the three small black holes, Ares had already started gathering the necessary ingredients, AKA mana types, to formulate the Wheel. Mako was too busy flopping about with Rox to stop Ares and the Charge Discharge runes could no longer affect him as once Ares started gathering streams of disintegration magic above his head nothing was ever going to pierce it.


    CRACK


    CRACK


    Not that the Discharge runes weren''t still trying, of course, it''s just that the Thunder Strikes crashed down into the base of the Wheel and vanished on the spot. The disintegration alone was enough to stifle their attempts and that wasn''t even mentioning the nothingness or annihilation that were also more than capable of halting these attacks should they need to. The wheel was slowly filling in with the red nothingness web growing more complex by the second and the annihilation liquid resting atop it steadily increasing in quantity. The razor sharp disintegration edges of the Wheel were becoming more and more pointed until eventually the Wheel was mostly complete. There was the tell tale low hum of inevitability and all Ares had to do was chant the name of the art, to really pull it all together and activate all the silently churning mana, and then throw the thing. Fire and forget, Ares really didn''t have to do much work to summon one of these things. It took a short while but the actual process was quite simple compared to something like a Not Even Light, the mana manipulation of which required many complicated twists and turns through Ares'' internal pathways in order to create the desired effect. The most hassle Ares was put through when creating a Perish Wheel was not mixing the mana too early inside of him and only joining it all up outside which was hard at first but only ever got easier the more he practiced it. Being able to wield multiple mana types at the same time without contaminating one another was somewhat of a basic skill all cultivators were expected to learn at a beginner level anyway so, although some people weren''t great at it, there was no one completely incapable of it. If even brand new cultivators could do it then naturally Ares could with his hands behind his back if he wanted.


    Ares shook his head and stopped thinking about such trivial matters. He held within his palms destruction incarnate, a pulsing blend of everything that ruin was at its very core. He almost wished he could hold onto that power just a little longer because the small buzz numbing his hand just felt so right. Still, this fight had to move onto the next stage as some of the more high-ranking tools and tricks were starting to come out. Ares couldn''t slow down in the arms race otherwise Mako would overtake him and leave him in the dust so Ares wanted to be at the forefront of as many developments during this match as he possibly could. Rather the aggressor than the aggresse. Much rather.


    "Perish Wheel!"


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Ares made no effort to elevate his position and get a better angle because dodging the Wheel in this compact arena was a struggle as is, he didn''t need to go the extra mile to aim the thing precisely as that was overkill. Plus he would need to start dodging the CRACK... Thunder Strikes again now that his disintegration cover was sailing towards Mako. It was just easier to dodge on the floor than in the air even with Voidwalk. He had his full range of movement available to him in the air thanks to Voidwalk, sure, but there was no way of replicating the feeling of his feet on the cold, hard ground so it just felt different. It was like living your life the same way every day for fifty years only for something incredibly minor to change and feel so off you didn''t want to do it anymore or, at the very least, you felt extremely uncomfortable whenever you put up with it. Maybe like a familiar restaurant getting a new cook, a new neighbour moving in next door, or a piece of clothing no longer fitting even though it had been with you for years. All minor inconveniences but could lead to rather off-putting feelings depending on the severity of the change. Voidwalk was sort of the same for Ares because he loved the art, it elevated his options to a whole new level that broadened the scope of his combat by a wide margin, but he would almost always rather just be on the ground. His footwork was better on the floor even though there logically shouldn''t have been a difference.


    Maybe that solid platform feeling made a very real difference to his tactile-based performance and losing that feeling threw off his timing.


    Maybe it was all just a placebo and he was being a whiny baby.


    Maybe he was actually better at Voidwalk footwork than he even knew and he was complaining about something that was actively making him better without him even realising it.


    Either way, no matter what the truth of the issue was, Ares valued comfort over functionality and he was in charge here! He''d make whatever he was doing work until it no longer could and then, and only then, would he resort to other means that were better but he avoided for whatever reason, illogical or otherwise. As of right now, Ares was very capable of dancing around the Thunder without Voidwalk so that was precisely what he was doing. And doing well, mind you, as his movements almost made it look as though he were performing a rain dance of some kind. His intricate movements were always enough to position him no more than an inch or two away from the incoming Thunder. His manoeuvres looked like an electrical slalom with flashes of brilliance from both his sudden alterations to his movements as well as the actual Thunder itself shining a spotlight on him. It wasn''t the main attraction here, as that title went to the incessantly buzzing Perish Wheel, but that was still mid-flight and so Ares was providing a brief period of entertainment for the onlookers before the regularly scheduled programming continued.


    Over on the other side of the arena, Mako was getting sick of Rox! The slippery mimic was shifting his body into other forms to slink out of the way of attacks. Whenever a rocket was about to take his head off, Rox would transform into one of the kickas from the tomb and slide under it before kicking off the jet on the rocket''s rear and boosting himself around. He would then transform into one of the spiders from the tomb, that Ares thankfully never saw as they were about the size of a terrier, and climb around the rocket wreckage to find a good vantage point from which he could fire off ranged Echoes at Mako and be a pain in the neck.


    Rox didn''t really have much magic, he had Blink, Echo, and some other technical / weapon pillar arts that he copied from others, but he was incredibly good at using the few tools he did have to keep a steady fight that didn''t go in anyone''s favour. His pressure could deflect small attacks, his shapeshifting could dodge large, heavy, and slow attacks, and he had measures to fight back at most ranges so he could stall a fight very well... But Rox wanted more! He''d been used as a sacrificial pawn for Ares'' gambits how many times now?! He wanted the kill! In this situation his plan to kill Mako was, once again, suicidal, but that was only because it was unavoidable. Rox wanted to tag along with the Perish Wheel and leap at Mako to become a double layered threat. Basically, Rox wanted to lunge at Mako slightly ahead of the Wheel and force him to either focus on Rox or the Wheel. One or the other would kill him and Rox was hoping that Mako would make the correct decision and see the Wheel as the superior threat. It was and couldn''t be ignored but that was when Rox would rush up to Mako and cast a unique art!


    Rox had invented one that not even Ares knew about! It was an art that combined Echoes with pressure deflects and shapeshifting in a neat way. Simply put, the Echo was moulded inside Rox''s shifting body so that the final shape of the Echo could be altered to suit his desires. Rox would twist and bend his limbs to forge an Echo in the shape of a tiny mole! It was a cute fella too! This mole had sharp, drill claws that could penetrate with ease and the goal was to use it in the same way a regular Echo was used, planting it inside the victim and watching it bounce. This was where the deflects came in to spice things up. however, as the deflect was applied to the mole''s body in advance. This way, when the mole was inside the victim, it could bounce around even faster than a regular Echo and did way more damage as it could pierce bones and organs with its claws instead of just whacking them hard with blunt damage. To boot, as the Echo was shaped and had some life to it, it would last a lot longer than a regular Echo and the victim would likely not outlast the rampage, they needed to remove it themselves which was also a complex matter! The deflect enabled the bouncy mole to dart around inside the victim but it also helped defend the mole by rejecting any weak magic trying to remove the tiny guy! In other words, it was a fast art that dug inside a person''s innards at lightning speed and was hard to remove.


    In many ways, this was actually just an upgraded form of Echoes and could also even be mixed with pressure just like an Echo. It was something that only a select few people could ever pull off due to specific requirements most couldn''t ever meet. Ares could shape his Echo via his annihilation mana, and the deflect imbuement was possible with Omniscience, but most other people would find this to be an impossible art to replicate. Rox''s unique shapeshifting capabilities, and his profound expertise with deflect, was what allowed him to create this strange art and he wanted to do a bit more showing off! No wonder Ares liked doing it! Showing off to humans was generally more fun than killing them and so Rox wasn''t as vicious as he was before; he''d become a lot more sentient in general and wouldn''t murder random people if left alone in the town. He might even learn to become a regular citizen at this rate and Ares felt comfortable letting him be a bit more independent. Rox was hard to kill so letting him go off on an adventure somewhere at some point, maybe when Ares returned from Xasca, would be beneficial for him as he could learn more about the world and pick up some resources here and there. in fact, Ares would recommend he go visit Bhorashka. There were a lot of non-humans there and the chances of coming across fellow shapeshifters, as well as monsters that were capable of it, would be sky-high. Rox could get some inspiration for how to use that power, amongst other things, better there.


    None of that mattered at the moment as it was a plan for the future, right now Rox had started charging at Mako to unveil his new mole friend. There was a slight problem, though, in that he was being outpaced by the Perish Wheel as it was catching up to him from behind and, at this rate, he wasn''t going to beat it to Mako... That would complicate his plan significantly as whatever Mako used to defend against the Wheel would inevitably be strong enough to indirectly stonewall Rox too so he needed to arrive first... Rox thought long and hard but wasn''t coming up with any answers. He was tempted to give up but then a spark of embarrassment flashed through his brain... Dominus would be so disappointed in it if it just gave up here and didn''t try and prevail in this situation. It wasn''t about having a plan, as Ares had told it on occasion, it was the exact opposite. It was about coming up with plans on the fly that sounded batshit insane but could plausibly work and then trying to make them a reality. Being prepared was not a more important skill than being clever and adaptable and this was similar to what Dominus preached regularly.


    Combat was supposed to be freeing, not restrictive, so Rox started letting his wildest ideas come to the forefront of his brain and he very rapidly generated many plans, all of which completely crazy, for how to solve this issue. As the Perish Wheel caught up to him, more and more ideas had to fade away into the realm of impossibility due to time constraints, but one glowing idea kept calling out to him much like what happened to Ares in similar situations. Rox had well and truly taken after his master right here as everything just sort of clicked. HIs idea was ridiculous... Extremely so... But who cared? It was only ridiculous if it failed to work and that couldn''t possibly be decided ahead of time! If he put in the necessary effort he could do it and Rox really believed that so, in a jaw dropping series of events that left even Ares gobsmacked, Rox took a running leap. Where did he jump to exactly?... Well, he hopped on top of the Perish Wheel and was riding it like a damn surfboard! he was constantly maintaining a reversed deflect on the sole of his feet, which caused a magnetising effect and glued him to the art, and holding a posture that prevented him from falling off... Show-off! Even Ares had never pulled of a stunt like that before and it was his own art! Now he really wanted to give it a go and was admittedly a little sad he hadn''t come up with this idea before the mimic did... Also, Dominus inside Ares was clapping his hands together and giving the mimic praise for this accomplishment, he would be sure to reward it with some more training at a later date.


    Still, Rox''s joy was short lived and Ares stopped envying him soon after his success as it was rapidly followed up by a failure. It wasn''t really Rox''s fault, as there was nothing that he could do about it, but Mako had seen enough of the damn mimic for one day and took an action that couldn''t be predicted in a million years. Mako''s method of defending against the Perish Wheel wasn''t strictly a close range affair, hell it wasn''t even an art, so although Rox was riding high he happened to be directly atop the target of Mako''s next major unveiling. Mako was finally bringing out his special treasure and so Rox was just sort of doomed, unintentional though catching him up in the mess was. His own genius play had screwed him big time so it was a rather anti-climactic end to his life that followed. Well, anti-climactic for him. His mole art would have to have its five minutes of fame at a later date. As for everyone else in the coliseum, what Mako was about to do was incredibly exciting, more so than even Rox riding magic like a pro. One second Rox and the Perish Wheel were fine and, the next...


    CCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH


    SSSSSSSSSPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTT


    ... Both had been crushed into dust and disappeared completely. There was no longer a trace of mimic or magic present as they''d been flattened under the weight of Mako''s treasure that had come crashing down from orbit. No, Mako did not summon this thing from a spatial ring, it was a personal treasure so it could be summoned from any distance and keeping this thing on his person would be cumbersome given its massive size. Rather, after signalling to this treasure he wanted it to be present, it had jetted through space and crossed Vraizon in around a minute or so. Mako didn''t quite need it earlier, so it just hovered above the atmosphere of Sheryashka for a while, before descending like a mini meteor when Mako ordered it to. A streak ran through the air where the treasure had come sailing down but nobody''s eyes were on that because everyone was currently gawking at the kneeling treasure itself. Sleek and pure white with some cube-shaped features and a whole host of advanced weaponry. It''s design was spectacular and truly a thing of beauty... At a conservative estimate, at least 95% of the men in the crowd had just become jealous enough of Mako to try and kill him for this treasure and, honestly, Ares wasn''t much different. He stared blankly at the treasure and muttered to himself in a dumbfounded and dazed voice, "... Is that a fucking PILOTABLE MECHA?!"


    Wrist mounted lasers.


    A giant core on its chest that could fire a massive, charged laser too.


    Shoulder mounted rockets.


    Compartments on the wrist containing energy swords.


    Jet boosters under the feet and on its back.


    Landing gear on the feat that could convert it from a walking mech to a roller blading one.


    A neon visor with scanning technology.


    A comfortable compartment for the pilot with all sorts of ergonomic designs and voice activated programs.


    Oh yeah, this thing was cool personified and no one could deny it... Ares wanted to trade! He got a stupid sword and this bastard got a whole mech suit?! Where was the justice in this damnable world! While Ares lamented his loss, Mako rested his hand on the chassis of his pride and joy that he''d worked on tirelessly ever since he received it. The ''Genesis V1'' was about to make its first ever mark.

 Chapter 267: Respond in Kind

    The mecha blocked his Perish Wheel? Ares didn''t care!


    The mecha squashed Rox like a bug? Ares didn''t care!


    Mecha = cool? Ares cared!


    Why would he care about literally anything else right now other than every guy with an inner child''s dream toy? He wanted one! Hell he wanted two! Ares was quite literally mindlessly drifting towards the mecha with his hands outstretched and a bit of drool on his chin. A good chunk of people in the crowd were leaning out of their seats and trying to inch as close to the mecha as humanly possible because everyone wanted a taste. In Ares'' head, two words just keep repeating themself over and over again, Me want! The sleek and modern design... The way the rain pitter pattered as it bounced off its bulky frame... The raw reliability and power emanating from its mere presence... Ares was in love! Could this be my third wife?


    Ack


    Ok, maybe not. Ares had been pierced from behind by Enyo and Bellona''s fierce glares as they could apparently read his mind like an open book... Were these two psychics?! How did they know what manner of stupid nonsense Ares was babbling about in his head?! Also, were they seriously jealous of a mech?! So many questions but what Ares knew for sure was that the mech was like a priceless jewel and Ares wanted it! He would never get it, that was for damn certain as it belonged to Mako now and forever, but that didn''t mean he couldn''t maybe convince the elf to let him ride it at some point! No doubt that mecha was tailored for creation magic, and God only knows what it was capable in Mako''s hands, but if Ares could pilot a mecha with destruction magic... No wonder Ares was salivating at the thought of it! He would become a human aerial nightmare doing bombing runs over enemy territory, dropping miniature nukes and firing disintegration lasers that blotted out the sky! Alright, that was it! Ares was stealing that damn mecha if he had to! One way or another Ares was getting inside the cockpit of that thing even if it killed him, it was worth it!


    Ares wanted to inspect the thing closer but he was still in the middle of a fight and so that likely wasn''t going to happen... Also Bellona and Enyo were staring daggers at him so he was forced to give up. BUT he would still heave laborious sighs throughout the rest of this match, at least three to four times, as a sign of indignant protest! His wives must have been blind, that was the only excuse Ares could come up with for why they couldn''t feel the romance of a sturdy death machine repurposed for the sake of good, cleaving through hordes of foes. Ah tragedy... Actually, wasn''t Bellona a huge film nerd? Wy didn''t this appeal to her! At the very least, surely she would be interested in ''driving'' it no?... Wait a minute... Don''t tell me... It hit Ares like a ton of bricks but there was a non-zero chance Bellona didn''t know what a mecha was! Maybe she was blissfully unaware this thing could be ridden! It wasn''t impossible she''d never seen a film or show about mechas before... Maybe they didn''t exist in Vraizon? Down in Sheryashka, though there wasn''t any electronic media really, there were still plenty of stories about metallic, hulking robots that could be piloted to save the world and fought for what was right... Actually, if that was how Ares framed it, maybe even Enyo would be more accepting of this new wife... Ack Ok, maybe not. FINE! Ares gave up on wedding the robot. Not that he was serious about it anyway... Hopefully... Regardless, Ares would have to inundate Bellona into the mecha cult at some point after this match! She needed to become erudite in the rule of cool and one such classic example in the form of mechas. Enyo almost definitely wouldn''t care unless framed as a justice thing but Bellona? She might not know it yet, but this was right up her alley!


    As for the mecha itself, Mako''s work on it was evident. There was an insignia that was shaped like his eye mutation on the chest with the word ''Victory'' blowtorched into the frame directly underneath it. He''d also done some aesthetic work here and there and some neon lights were buried into the frame as they ran along the chest, arm, and leg portions primarily. As for functional changes, some of the weapons seemed to be fiddled with here and there which made sense. It was basically a foregone conclusion that this thing could be freely customised to Mako''s liking, much like how Fate''s H.I.JACK could swap around weapons on the fly. Obviously Mako must have had a greater array of options, even being able to create his own weaponry on demand and tailor the mecha to his needs and wants because the extent of his pillar was far greater than anything Fate could realistically do. Maybe Mako could even have spares and backups with to modify the mecha on the go. It was like a giant action toy that could replace its parts at will and so Mako presumably spent most of his time optimising various parts to make them more deadly and efficient. Maybe some more defensive metals for sustained combat against swarms of foes, perhaps a more mobile set of jets for quick traversal, and scout technology for stealth missions. Things like invisibility camo and thermal vision were almost guaranteed to be implemented, or available to implement, via kits Mako could swap onto the mecha at his discretion. Throw in Mako''s creation magic and this thing was seriously no joke in combat.


    If the fire power it was packing was considerable, and the physical might was equally as prominent, then Mako would become a strong cultivator the second he was able to fully wield this thing. Mako''s main downside was that he kinda did literally nothing without magic and this glorious machine would rectify that on the spot. As it was version one and still in its infancy, Ares assumed there would be some kind of drawback to it; probably a limited fuel source that Mako couldn''t just create on the spot would be Ares guess. Also, Mako was definitely not strong enough to use this thing to its full potential right now. Seeing as how he hadn''t hopped inside it yet, and seeing as how a lot of the weapons and lighting on the mecha seemed to be powered down, it was essentially in battery saving mode right now. It might be able to move around and swing is fists a bit before running out of energy but, given how mythical of a treasure this thing would inevitably be, that was more than enough to pose a serious threat to Ares'' life right now.


    Ares didn''t really have much of anything that could deal with this. His best bet was looking to be flying high in the sky to avoid it until it ran out of steam but if it could fly then Ares would be caught off guard and subsequently screwed. It would only get one shot at Ares but it only needed one as it looked strong enough to kill Ares in a single blow if he couldn''t contest it. It had just crashed down into orbit so those jets were definitely partially functional for at least a few seconds and Ares was willing to bet he wasn''t outrunning it even with his annihilation enhancement operating at max. The turntables had turned yet again, for the umpteenth time this match, and now Ares was the one being pressured into going all out to respond in kind to the new development. He could use his God summon to rid himself of the mecha but then he wouldn''t have it for Mako''s use of Terros later on and that was not good in the slightest. Ares had no idea what Terros had in store for him but he was a God and it was bound to not be pretty. Sure Terros would be limited by Mako''s cultivation but not only was Mako decently above Ares in that regard... Terros was a GOD! He was not an ordinary summon and couldn''t be compared to ordinary summons unless your goal was to insult him to his golem core. In short, Ares needed to save Astraeus to deal with him so that wasn''t an option.


    ...


    Ares sighed aloud to no one in particular as he could see where this was trending. Fight fire with fire. He really didn''t want to whip out the Primordial Blade and unveil it to the general public... Really he didn''t... Things hadn''t gone quite how he planned it all way back when he first heard about the tournament, as he wasn''t remaining low key at all around the Legions, but was he really going to give up on keeping the Blade a secret too? The whole revenant thing got kinda complicated due to his relation with Enyo and Bellona so keeping it a secret was nigh impossible but he didn''t actually have to bust out the Blade here. It was risky but he could try surviving without it... But should he potentially throw away this match because of his old reservations after circumstances had changed and he no longer needed to cling to them, wouldn''t that be foolish? Now that people knew roughly about his situation, and people were aware of the two fundamentals with unique pillars and their role in society, a lot less people would be willing to target him. Plus his revenant connections would do good work in that regard too...


    But still, there would be a bunch of people undeterred by that who wanted his weapon for themselves. Furthermore, the ''kill Ares'' faction in the Legions might get some new members after the reveal of this thing. They might be aware he had some kind of treasure, as Mako did too so it was basically set in stone, but without actually seeing it some people likely just wouldn''t care. If he brought it out now and showcased its overwhelming power minds would be changed... But, on the flip side, maybe some people had already changed their mind due to the whole Garmr situation anyway and could no longer be convinced? Legions who were undeterred by Garmr wouldn''t be fussed by one more ridiculous addition to Ares'' arsenal but those who were would double down and cause an even bigger stink back home, rallying behind a cause that had a lot of decently stacked evidence against Ares. His decision to keep the Legions alive back when he turned into Garmr had just become that much more important but how many people could it realistically keep convinced if he brought out the Blade too? It was all impossible to tell right now...


    There was a lot for Ares to consider here but he was leaning towards just going all in and wielding the Blade because Mako was using his own treasure. Was Ares a bigger coward than Mako? Hell no! If Mako felt confident in his ability to defend himself after painting a target on his back then why wasn''t Ares capable of presenting himself in such a domineering fashion too, unphased by petty thieves? Now his situations was a tad different, he had a much larger family to worry about implicating in his mess and protecting, but was he so weak willed he was going to hide his Blade until he became unassailable? What then? Would he even still need it at that point? And what about after he entered the wider world outside the Blade barrier? There would be more people who were stronger than him and wanted the Blade there too so what then? Hide it more? Would he even be able to? The more Ares thought about it, the sillier hiding it seemed. The original decision made sense back when he was unaware of the extent of his future regarding the fundamental stuff but, now that he was destined to become a household name without fail, having secrets was exponentially more difficult. At the very least, the fundamentals having tailored, mythical treasures each was not something that could be kept on the down low. People already probably knew as the other four fundamentals had been roaming the outside world for some time now and forged their own reputations. Ares didn''t know this right now but Havannah literally carried her giant sword around with her everywhere she went and made no effort to keep it out of everyone''s sight, she flaunted it if anything.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    It wasn''t an easy choice to make but Ares understood he sort of had to at this point. It was the simplest way of countering the mecha and not doing it might even backfire horribly. If the spectators put two and two together, understanding Ares also possessed a treasure, but noticed him not pulling it out then they might assume it was an even bigger deal than expected. ''Is he hiding it because he doesn''t want us to see how powerful it is?'' Such a thought would lead to an even greater number of potential robbery attempts as curiosity was a helluva drug. It was to the point that Ares might even have to fend off less people if he was just upfront about it here and now... Damn Mako! This moronic fool was so determined to win he was pulling out every stop in his arsenal and holding nothing back, even to his own detriment! After today, he would have more people hassling him for the mecha than Ares would for his sword! His treasure was way more desirable from the standpoint of a regular cultivator! He was sealing both their fates but his own by at least twice as much...


    Mako was really going all out to try and win this fight so it would also be somewhat disingenuous of Ares to back out now and not follow suit. It also didn''t help that Ares could taste victory right around the corner. What did Mako have after this and Terros? Anything? Unbeknownst to Ares, Mako still had his most powerful art up his sleeve but that was a problem for future Ares to figure out. Still, right now, he was convinced the win was in the bag so long as he dealt with Mako''s remaining tactics in the correct way. If he didn''t fuss around with the mecha and just whacked it with the Blade then he would either come out on top or go even and force it to retreat after running out of fuel. Ares couldn''t wield the Blade for too long either, and there would be repercussions to swinging it even inside its sheath, but it wasn''t a fight that would go in anyone''s favour really. Predictably, the power level of the treasures was about even... Although, actually, Ares might hold a slight advantage. The main drawback of the mecha right now couldn''t be avoided because fuel was a limited resource. The same was not true of the Blade as Ares'' stamina and will power was the main cost here. Sure it meant that, after the fight, Ares would walk away in a worse state than Mako who needn''t exert himself physically... But Ares would still be able to use the Blade after and Mako would have no way of dealing with it. The downside was hefty but so was the upside and Ares felt confident he could handle it. Annihilation enhancement and his bloodline would keep him afloat long enough to finish the job, he was sure of it.


    While the mecha beeped and booped as it stood up at Mako''s command, Ares reached inside himself to grip onto the Primordial Blade. This was the first time he''d ever properly used it in a fight. He''d blocked that one attack with it a while back, and threatened to prod some people with it on occasion, but actually holding the thing for a long period of time? He hadn''t even practiced with it because of how early a stage he was at in terms of controlling this thing''s power. The sheath was glued on and he couldn''t even remove that yet so he felt it was pointless to mess around with it. The Blade was only really functional as a storage device to him which was borderline blasphemous... Well... It was going to get its turn in the spotlight now at least! Let''s see what this thing can do... Naturally Ares wouldn''t be able to cast arts with it, that was an absurd expectation, but he could swipe it at Mako and his mecha and that ought to be good enough. This thing could pierce metal in its sheathe like it was a straw going through jelly... But that raised a question... How tough was the mecha''s armour exactly? Could it withstand the Blade? Most likely but Ares was about to find out the hard way to what extent!


    Before Mako could order the mecha to function in auto-pilot and run Ares down, as that was the best he could do with his treasure right now, he spied a strange object as it appeared in Ares'' grasp from seemingly nowhere. Ares had a strange habit of performing this weird magic trick and making items just appear from thin air without a spatial ring''s involvement. he never carried one around so something fishy was definitely afoot and Mako could tell this thing, whatever it was, was responsible one thousand percent. Everyone in the coliseum could feel some manner of warped space emitting from this new object Ares had pulled out before they could even properly visually identify it. Of course that didn''t take long as a sword was pretty standard stuff. It was a cultivator''s bread and butter so nobody had to be told what it was after seeing it... But that was an ordinary sword... This thing was clearly different.


    This was no Black Ice Bane, this was something way more impressive and the ancient aura oozing off it made that apparent. Mako felt it in his gut that this was Ares'' special treasure and, though he would never make the trade, he was envious of what he was seeing. There was a simplistic beauty to a perfect sword and, if he was being completely honest, it looked to be a bit more powerful than his mecha. The mecha''s main benefit was its customisability and adaptability as it was in line with his creation magic that could do anything and everything. That was where most of its power lay... This sword seemed a lot more heavily focused and specialised. Sure there were probably some miscellaneous benefits it could provide, like storage and time alteration, but its sole purpose was very obviously to destroy everything it pierced. The chaos Areas would be able to wreak with the weapon when he could control it... Mako couldn''t imagine it but he knew it was going to be on a scale that he himself could never replicate.


    Mako had assumed that the gap between fundamentals, regarding their capabilities, wouldn''t be too wide. What one could do, another could maybe do in a convoluted way if they put the effort in... That illusion was shattered upon seeing the Primordial Blade. At the peak of their respective existences, the champions would be unmatched in their specialties and an entity that could not be replicated in any way. Ares'' capacity for destruction was going to grow to unfathomable heights and Mako had a small blip of internal crisis as the thought that ''he couldn''t beat that'' appeared for the first very time in his head. Destruction was combat tailored way more than creation so if the two pillars kept evolving in a way that accentuated their respective advantages then Mako would only fall further and further behind no matter what he did... Mako shook his head to clear it all up because that was not a thought he wanted to entertain. He would find a way to be number one no matter what Ares became! He was a fundamental champion too and he refused to believe there would ever be a massive difference in terms of magical output between them! For now, Mako watched his mecha head towards Ares. He would find out how much of a fight Ares could put up with his weapon and then adjust his own measures accordingly.


    Ares lightly threw the Blade up into the air and caught it while taking in the minimal weight of the weapon. It was surprisingly light which wasn''t something he''d ever really gotten to appreciate before. He had grander plans for this treasure, one of which that might even eventually go on to change its shape from the sword it currently was, but until then he could still appreciate its current design. It was incredibly easy to slice with this thing as there was no resistance whatsoever so, combine that with how light it was, and you could swing this thing for days on end with no stopping and never feel fatigued. It was a fantastic weapon that sword masters would kill for. Ya Ye was in the crowd somewhere and he was undoubtedly one of the few people who cared more about Ares'' treasure than Mako''s. The same was also true of Poniard, Dirk''s father, and just about every single swordsman throughout the coliseum. It was painfully clear to these experts that this sword dwarfed every other sword they''d ever seen, and would ever go on to see, throughout their entire life. It almost felt wasted on someone like Ares. Sure he used a sword occasionally but he wasn''t really tied to hip with the weapon category like some more dedicated cultivators were. He messed around with other weapons and mostly used the Bane as a gateway to his Crystalised Void arts and Gamble. It was a waste! Although, to be fair, that was probably why Ares was thinking about trying to change it to something more suitable but he just didn''t have the means or the cultivation base to fiddle around with that right now. He had ideas but not the necessary tools so he put it off for the foreseeable future. Plus he wanted to at least use this thing as is before changing it! It wouldn''t lose functionality if changed, Ares would make sure of that, but an experience like this was worth having once or twice before it left for good.


    As the mecha wasn''t sprinting towards him, because Mako ordered it to take a more cautious approach after the Blade was unveiled, Ares also slowly paced his way forward in kind, leading to a standoff in which both individuals were closing the distance and building the tension. The mecha wasn''t able to use its weapons and Ares couldn''t unsheathe the sword so both were handicapped and it would come down to who could land the cleaner strikes. There would be no foul play here, just a clash of mythical weapons in a contest of raw skill and might. Ares might not have the strength to beat the robot but he was a talented human so he held the edge in terms of technique. It was in his best interest not to go head to head against this thing but, despite it towering over him as it was about two and half times his size, he wanted to give it a go just once. He wanted to feel first hand how much force this bad boy was packing! He trusted the Blade to keep him safe in this exchange. There would be serious recoil after the collision, and Ares might sustain some minor injuries to his wrist, but nothing major should break here!... Hopefully!... Maybe? Well there was only one way to find out so Ares initiated the fight with a dash. He was low to the ground as he dragged the Primordial Blade into a rising slash. He generated less momentum for his strike with this approach than an overhead slash but, if the sword was blasted backwards due to the difference in strength, then Ares would be safer in this scenario. Going for an overhead strike and having your arm pushed back sky high was a recipe for disaster but, like this, his hand would be forced low to the ground but be kept closer to his body overall. It was a safer approach but made winning the clash harder in the first place. As Ares was just in the testing phase, though, he was ok with losing here and he fully expected it anyway. Still, results couldn''t be predicted accurately ahead of time so he braced himself as the mecha fired off a simple punch. Who would win this clash between two of the greatest treasures that would ever exist? It was time to find out!

 Chapter 268: He Just Had to Pull THAT Thing Out, Didn’t He?

    Though the Genesis'' incoming pain train, in the form a giant fist, looked like it could crush a mountain, Ares maintained a strong will in the presence of it thanks to his Primordial Blade. Had he any other weapon in his hand right now the sheer aura of the Genesis would have overwhelmed him and caused his hands to shake a little in the face of an inevitable defeat. The mecha''s punch would burst through his weapon, splintering it in half, before punching a hole through Ares'' chest not unlike what Slick had done to him before just on a larger scale. As in the entirety of Ares'' chest and stomach region would be pulverised into bloody dirt and his head and legs would just go flying off somewhere while the rest of him exploded. Not a pretty sight and not a pleasant outcome but it wasn''t going to happen, not with a mini universe standing between him and his would-be cold-blooded killer. Ares'' sheathed sword swung upwards and distorted the space around it, causing a tear in reality at it left a gaping entrance to the deep crimson Void in its wake. The two treasures gathered as much momentum and force as they could and collided with an impact that shook the entire coliseum.


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    It wasn''t an earthquake but it was just as disorienting as everyone was thrown about in their seats as sparks flew down in the arena where metal clashed, grating against each other in a bid for supremacy. With every second that passed with the two weapons ferociously aggressing upon one another and refusing to back down, the arena floor was crumbling away underneath the involved parties. The cracked web underneath Ares and the mecha splintered further, spreading to every corner of the arena and eventually resulting in the top layer of the floor breaking away. Despite the ground underneath both Ares and the mecha shattering into finely ground dust, the two were able to maintain their duel in the centre of the arena without missing a beat. The mecha''s joints were grinding to to gain even a single inch while Ares grit his teeth and ignored the screaming pain in his muscles as he defiantly refused to give in. The determination on display here from both parties was admirable, and it looked like this could even go on for quite some time, but Mako had other plans and was seemingly going to interrupt this little stalemate. He had all the proof he needed that things were not in his favour right now and that he needed to act so chucked a rocket at Ares who dodged backwards to avoid it.


    Sure the clash had looked even but considering the fact Ares had the disadvantage thanks to his rising swing, and also the fact that he wasn''t imbuing his weapon with any disintegration magic yet, Mako knew this was a loss waiting to happen if he allowed the mecha to stubbornly stick to this fight. Ares would coat his Blade in disintegration at some point, whenever he felt like he himself had garnered enough information from this exchange, and then slice Genesis'' arm off in one fell swoop. Granted, if nothing changed at all earlier then the Genesis would actually win out eventually. It packed more immediate power and its bursts of strength outclassed Ares by a fair bit. The correct strategy here was quick, direct trades to wear Ares down and batter his arms by making him block over and over. The tricky part here was not having the Genesis over-extend, miss, and get slashed in the side so it was a dangerous game these two were about to play. Neither wanted to get hit even a single time and both had distinct methods to go about hitting the other. The Genesis wanted to take the first strike whereas Ares wanted to take the second via a counter... The stakes of every swing here, by either side, were monumental and could even end this match prematurely depending on how things played out.


    Ares constantly circled the Genesis like a vulture, taking various stances with the Primordial Blade and threatening different avenues of attack. Just because he wanted to strike second that didn''t mean he wouldn''t steal the initiative if he was given ample opportunity to. He wasn''t one to pass up on any weakness or mistake but, unfortunately, that wasn''t really applicable against a robot of Genesis'' quality. It was heavily automated and would never make the same kind of rookie mistake a human might. There was no slacking in its A.I and it would never need to blink nor would it fall prey to an underhanded bait, it just stared emotionlessly at Ares with its head swivelling around to keep track of him. The rest of its body didn''t move even a centimetre so Ares wasn''t going to find the opening he was searching for. On the flip side, the Genesis was going to struggle to find an opening too but it was far worse for it than Ares. The Genesis had limited time here and couldn''t keep up this charade forever, it needed to swing at Ares at some point otherwise Mako would be in deep trouble when it left.


    Ares had no obligation to jump forward even though he really wanted to. He was feeling the adrenaline and wanted to lash out with it, so he''d been considering running up to the Genesis to feign an attack and force a fight, but he was restraining himself well here. He knew what was on the line and he didn''t pull out the Primordial Blade just to throw away the match immediately after. He took things slow with the understanding that the Genesis had to come to him at some point. He could already tell that Mako was scurrying about in the background and looking for a good chance to hurl another rocket at Ares and distract him. Ares could definitely cut straight through anything Mako chucked at him but the problem came after what with the Genesis lurking around. It was a similar to position to earlier when Mako had both Rox and the Perish Wheel to focus on but he got lucky and had both exist in the same position at the same time such that his Genesis could crush them simultaneously. No matter how much Ares tried to relocate himself he couldn''t ever get the Genesis and Mako to line up the way he wanted because Mako wasn''t allowing it. Mako might not be the greatest combatant ever but he wasn''t a blind moron either and could see clear as day what Ares was aiming for soi he stayed on the move to avoid it.


    While Ares couldn''t pull off his desired plan, that didn''t mean he wasn''t capable of resorting to other means. Chanting an art would take too long in this situation and the Genesis could stand in the way of it anyway, soaking up all the damage intended for the elf instead, but there was a certain something the Genesis could never block nor resist; Ares'' pressure! His bloodline ability that raised the pressure to the bare minimum of what was required to affect the target was being helpful here and Ares could see it working as the Genesis'' head was turning noticeably slower now that it was being assailed by Ares'' golden pressure. This confirmed his suspicions that using pressure against this thing was his best bet. Or rather, he wasn''t going to aim the pressure directly at the Genesis at all, it was Mako he wanted to hit but if the Genesis blocked it that would be fine also as it would give him an advantage in this fight instead of the cold war he was having with Mako. Regardless of who the pressure hit here, it would open up Ares to move around as he pleased and take the fight he wanted so, without further ado, Ares aimed at Mako and fired off a literal wave of golden pressure with a plan mind depending on how successful this attack was.


    Mako kissed his teeth as Ares had gotten him good here. He was positioned such that he couldn''t really dodge this and, if he let the Genesis block it in his stead, he wouldn''t be able to see what was happening beyond the mecha. Plus the same was also true if he raised a wall to block this. Mako did potentially have a solution but he wasn''t sure if he should risk it or not... His solution was untested but maybe a very viable fix for Ares'' overwhelming pressure... Mako shook his head and decided not to. If he was in a do or die position with no other options he would re-consider but, right now, he would just allow Ares to get the situation he was striving for and have Genesis block the attack. The mecha acquiesced to Mako''s command and heroically slid in front of him to take the brunt of the pressure. It mired the mecha down and bogged its systems, preventing it from moving even half as fast as it normally would.


    Ares no longer waited for an invitation and ran up to the mecha with the Primordial Blade in hand, threatening a deadly swipe that would take out the mecha for good if it couldn''t guard against it. Thankfully the mecha was just fast enough to lift its arm in time and divert a good chunk of its energy to summoning a small barrier over its arm. It couldn''t really do much but expending a chunk of fuel for this felt worth it right now so it made the choice by itself. Mako was ok with this as he agreed with the logic and wouldn''t have done it differently himself... Unfortunately, this happened to be a poor decision that was exploited readily by Ares who dropped the Primordial Blade onto the floor and ducked under the raised arm, throwing a palm at Genesis'' chest with unknown intentions... It''s safe to say nobody in the entire coliseum had expected Ares to do this in the heat of battle but it had paid off, and gotten him where he wanted to be, so they had to give kudos for the balls it took to even attempt this. He had no means of defending himself against the Genesis like this, without his Blade, so the risk factor was off the charts however! It was also a confusing ploy because people weren''t exactly sure where he was going with this. The Blade had a hard time making a dent so what was Ares going to do to the Genesis without it exactly? His Echoes could rattle around inside it all they wanted but there was nothing in there that would break, let alone affect the operating systems of the mech... But that was naive thinking. A regular Echo might not do much but what about an annihilation Echo? On the surface, that didn''t seem like it would do much either, as the Genesis could tough it out with relative ease... But what if this wasn''t aimed at the Genesis to begin with? Yes Ares was hitting the mecha with it directly but the resulting blast would pierce through the mecha and there was a certain elf back behind it that was far squishier and more prone to exploding from such a powerful attack!


    Mako was dumbfounded and took a moment to understand the gravity of the situation when Ares chanted "Annihilation Echo!" loud and clear for everyone to hear. He''d been played like a fiddle and lined up nicely behind the Genesis for Ares to pull this stunt off... Ares had given the illusion he wanted a one on one fight with the Genesis in any way he could get one but, in reality, he was striving for a sneak attack on the master. Mako had to admit this was a clever ruse that he''d fallen for and, honestly, he was in deep shit right now. The Genesis couldn''t save him from this and he''d been taken by surprise to the point he didn''t have time to cast an art. A regular wall wouldn''t save him and neither would a small one from Terros. Mako had no more secret treasures up his sleeve so this was looking to be the end of the fight... Unless he resorted to that one thing he was considering earlier. It was rushed, incomplete, he hadn''t really trained with it, and he didn''t even know how effective it might be... All Mako knew was that he tested it one single time against Ares in the pagoda and blocked a single pressure attack with it before the clone ramped up his attacks and blasted him to smithereens properly... But it did work once before so maybe it would work again! It didn''t need to stifle the attack completely, it just needed to enable Mako to live!


    It''s not like Mako had any other options here so he took a deep breath, raised the back of his palm towards the incoming attack, and joined his fingers together as tightly as humanly possible. This wasn''t an art, it was just a teensy bit of pressure. What made Mako think he could fight Ares'' pressure with his own? If he''d been asked that a week or two ago, nothing. Now, however? Now he had his mother''s bloodline ability thanks to the pocket watch! Serene could create a very different kind of pressure compared to normal, a far more defensive one that even Ares had acknowledged as being pretty special when he first saw it. In fact, he even directly stated that this bloodline would do great things for Mako and the elf was proving that right here and now. From his hand, a watery, flowy gas was emitted and formed a circular shield. It looked poxy in comparison to the Annihilation Echo that had just come barrelling through the Genesis but most things would in comparison so that wasn''t exactly his fault. The Echo had rattled around in the mecha for a short while but then left quickly after thanks to Ares maintaining a degree of control over the pressure inside it. He directed it out the Genesis'' back and straight towards Mako whilst it retained a good deal of its original power. The Echo possessed similar power to the one he fired off back at Remmy''s so Mako''s work was really cut out for him, especially seeing as it wasn''t even being dispersed to the same extent the previous one was over the course of its travel time. Mako bit his lip, swallowed with a nervous gulp, and held the shield firmly out in front of him as he braced for impact...


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


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    Irrespective of whether Mako could fully block the art it was always going to do a significant chunk of damage to him, there were no two ways about it. He was using a last minute measure to square up against one of Ares'' most powerful arts so some pain was to be expected here. Mako ate dirt as he rolled along the ground and banged his head against the floor repeatedly. He''d lost an arm but that was inconsequential to him both because he didn''t really need it to begin with but also because he could just summon a new one. He couldn''t summon one of flesh and blood just yet, that was beyond his current capabilities, but he could create a mechanical one as a substitute when he finally finished rolling. He was about to crash headfirst into the arena wall currently but was still analysing the seriousness of the damage dealt to him in a strangely calm manner. Something about being on the brink of death was a rather bizarre experience to Mako every time it happened as he felt all his senses dull as his brain went into overdrive. Sounds were muted, he couldn''t taste anything other than his own blood, and his hands were numbed entirely. This sounded like the kind of thing that would be a death sentence but being trapped in his own head like this allowed his thoughts to organise with surprising clarity.


    Mako checked and double checked the state of every organ and body part, complied a list of things that needed to be sorted out in order to stay alive, and then acted on it in one fluid motion all the while in a dazed stupor. His face was one of apathy and uncaring simplicity. He created a mattress against the wall to cushion his crash, created spare body parts and turned himself into a cyborg-esque elf kind of like a mini Bravo, and stood up to make sure he wasn''t in an exploitable position if Ares were trying to follow up on his previous attack. Mako had replaced a part of his jaw, his arm, some toes, a kneecap, and filled a few holes in various organs like his lung and liver. It was a decently long list but nothing fatal unfortunately for Ares who was clicking his tongue. That shield of watery pressure had absorbed a lot of the impact and diluted the pressure thoroughly. Had Mako not been able to summon it in time, or even properly, Ares would have blasted Mako into pieces with that last attack. He could have ended this fight early and snuck a win through the backdoor. He still felt confident he could win anyway but making that convoluted process just a smidgen easier wasn''t something he would turn his nose up at if he could have made it work!


    Speaking of Ares, he was in a bit of a bind currently. Mako was reeling from the attack but the Genesis was taking measures to be a nuisance and pay Ares back for his brazen committal to disarming himself. The mecha was pushing Ares backwards to his own end of the arena without allowing him to head over and pick up the Blade. Ares could also call it back to him but he would need to catch it with one of his hands that were currently busy deflecting the mechas strikes with pressure. This was hard work! Even a single mistake and his hands would be turned to bony pulp! Ares didn''t have the brain power spare to catch the weapon if he recalled it towards him. He considered trying to summon it back, and have it fly straight through the mecha in an ambush from behind, but Genesis was keeping track of that possibility and hovering slightly to the side so as not get caught by the dirty trick Ares was plotting.


    "Esoteric Compression!"


    Ares managed to deflect two fists at once, which gave him a small grace period to do as he pleased, so this art was the one he believed could alleviate the current strain on him. Pressure was already established as being effective against Genesis so a pressure oriented art that was as good as this one would inevitably halt the mecha in its tracks for a long enough period of time for Ares to regain his weapon. This assumption was proven correct as Genesis was forced to kneel down on one leg for a split second. It almost looked confused as it tilted its head. There was something in this world that could force it to bend its knee? If it could feel emotions it would be drowning in anger right now. It was to the point that it even raised its arm to drain the remainder of its fuel and launch a laser at Ares for his transgressions but Mako intervened and prevented that mistake from being made. Mako still needed the Genesis to force Ares into putting the Blade away so betting it all on a single attack wasn''t the sort of strategy Mako was willing to play along with.


    Ares slid over to the Blade and picked it up again only to find out that it was a bit heavier than before... Was it annoyed like the Genesis was? Annoyed for being abandoned?... Whoops... To be fair, Ares needed to do it in the moment! It was his best option! Also, this thing was one to talk. It wasn''t the Blade doing the heavy lifting here, Ares was paying the price for every single swing! Selfish little bastard... Ares covered it in disintegration magic as he really wanted to end this fight with the mech here and move on as soon as possible. The longer this fight went on the less advantageous it became for him as he got more and more tired fighting against a robot that didn''t care about such trivial matters. Mako had been injured but it hadn''t drastically affected him any meaningful way so Ares had still lost more as a result of this treasure battle currently.


    Ares summoned a tiny golden ninja frog, the same one he used against Veteran way back when, and used telekinesis to lift up multiple bundles of rocks. These were going to help disorient Mako as well as act as cover for the frog. He was just repeating the tactic he''d devised and utilised against Veteran but it was highly functional and great at keeping a foe occupied. The frog was hard to track and definitively kill so while Mako was fending it off, Ares would be given free reign to bully the Genesis. It did complicate his fight against Genesis though because he couldn''t really control the telekinesis and use his pressure against the mecha at the same time... Annihilation enhancement was still fine but normal pressure? Not happening. He was just going to have to swing his Blade like he''d never swung it before!


    Ares put his plan into action and fired off the rocky cluster at Mako who used hi watery pressure to crush any rock headed straight towards him. The other rocks lingered around him and there wasn''t much he could do about this without exposing himself to the frog so he patiently waited for it launch an attack. As soon as the frog got jumpy, Mako would slam it with a pressure attack of some sort and end this farce but the frog was astute enough to not fall for it. The frog could wait forever if it had to, it was the one that wanted to stall here and buy time for Ares so it didn''t need to make the first move at all. Just because it wasn''t going to aggress, that didn''t mean it wasn''t going to be an annoying little shit! Instead of launching attacks, the frog simply hopped around the rocks, treating it like a jungle gym, and ribbiting at Mako form various angles to agitate him into lashing out. Mako wouldn''t fall for this but he was getting pretty fucking annoyed at the croaking frog that wouldn''t shut up! He swore to make Ares pay for this stupid creature at some point...


    Meanwhile, Ares had charged the mecha and was duelling it once more. Mako was out of the picture but so was Ares'' pressure. His enhancement was still running but that was good as it was going to get. Ares neatly deflected a punch to the side with the Blade and went for a lunge but, for the first time today, Genesis used its legs to kick out at Ares. He was forced to give up on his assault because trading blows wasn''t ideal here. If it was just him Vs Genesis then sure but Mako was the puppet master here and taking a blow like that to the chest wasn''t a smart move as he still had to fight the elf afterwards. Ares had to dodge sideways but that put him closer to the very same fist he''d deflected earlier and, to nobody''s surprise, it lashed out at him once more. Ares blocked this strike with the Blade and was sent skidding through the ravished floor but it wasn''t all bad. The disintegration coating on the Blade had left a few dents here and there on Genesis'' fist and was working even if only a little. It was proof of concept, at least, and meant he could potentially sever a body part on this thing if he played his cards right.


    Ares ran forward and appeared to be going for an overhead swing but that was merely a fake out, his real intention was a Gamble. The downward swing missed completely, coming up way too short, but Ares hopped up into the air as the Blade buried itself into the floor. The Genesis expected Ares to retreat, because he was dangerously close and couldn''t do much with the Blade here if he pushed forward, and so it took the Gamble head on but it made a miscalculation here. Ares couldn''t really utilise the Blade in this position if he flicked forward but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t do it anyway! Ares threw his whole body forward in one swift motion of the shoulder but didn''t bother raising the Blade. Instead, he yelled "Stamp Out!" and shoved his Utilitarian directly onto Genesis'' chest. It didn''t blow the mecha back but it did temporarily stop it in its tracks, allowing Ares to kick off it and jump behind Genesis.


    Ares was weaker overall but he was faster so he was making full use of that right now. Still, genesis wasn''t incapable of defending himself from behind. Its arms rotated in its socket to strike at Ares before he could land but his first swing was dodged as Ares created a platform in mid-air with his Zephyr and leaped over it. The second swing looked like it had Ares dead to rights but a quick Double Jump gave Ares yet another tool to dodge through the air and avoid the danger. This third and final mid-air jump had bamboozled Genesis down to its motherboard and there were no longer any fists to swing at Ares who''d danced a full circle around it like he was putting on some hybrid trapeze / parkour show as he glided through the air. He very much resembled an annoying flying pest, like a mosquito, and was incredibly hard to hit due to the surprising amount of mobility he had off the ground and this wasn''t even including Voidwalk yet. Speaking of the art, he did activate it so as not so fall down to earth as he wanted his next swing to be aimed up high. Ares swung the Blade at Genesis'' neck but he realised soon after that he was an idiot.


    Like most mecha, Genesis had the ability to detach certain body parts and fire them at will. Typically this was mostly used to create rocket hands that could punch people from far away but Mako had evidently tuned this thing''s head to be able to do the same. There was a compartment on its head that could maybe open up to reveal a drill or something as it flew around attacking people but that didn''t matter right now to Ares as his swing went sailing through the gap above its neck and under its head, hitting nothing but air. He''d been conned in such a cartoonish fashion! Drat! He had to make a great escape so he leant forward fully, performed a front flip, and kicked off the mecha again. He predicted an incoming counter attack and pushed himself down low to the ground to slide away, instead of kicking off high into the air, and that choice saved his bacon as a fist went flying above his head at blistering speeds. Had he gone up instead of down, and been completely predictable in his movement, he would be splattered against the wall right now thanks to a rocket punch from Genesis.


    This was going to be a hard won battle but with the Primordial Blade in hand he was feeling great. His heart was pumping as Genesis was a strong foe who didn''t buckle under the weight of his magic or the prowess of his annihilation enhancement. Mako couldn''t really put up a fight like this thing could in close quarters so Ares was having one heck of a time! So much so that, much to the chagrin of his entire team, and the shock of everyone else present, he pulled out the damn stupid scythe! Idiot! Why on earth would he use the scythe when he had the Primordial Blade in the palm of his other hand?! Was he seriously going to use this immensely powerful entity, a mecha with power that was incontestable, as a training partner in a do or die situation?! Freak! Honestly, everyone was expecting the muppet Ares to die at this point and, quite frankly, good riddance! If he wasn''t trying his hardest at this point in the competition he didn''t deserve to win! Hell even Mako looked a little perturbed by this development off to the side. The only person not bothered in the least by this was Ares himself because, actually, he could feel something in his bones telling him this was the better option right now. He wasn''t sure what was happening... But he could have sworn the Primordial Blade was whispering to him right now... And it was encouraging him to use the scythe! Who was Ares to argue with the interdimensional, countless millennium year old sword? Nobody, that''s who! He put his trust in the Blade, that was now hanging at his hip, and did as was asked of him. He had no idea what was supposed to happen here but he had a hunch it wasn''t going to be a minor matter. Then again, whenever Ares did something unplanned like this, it never was...

 Chapter 269: The Very Near Future

    Now... What the hell was Ares supposed to do with this thing exactly? He''d brought the scythe out, as was asked of him by the Primordial Blade... But nothing was happening! Whatever the Blade was after needed some kind of pre-requisite measure but the thing couldn''t really give him a step by step guide here! It whispering to him in the first place was weird, and lucky enough as is, but if he was patiently waiting for anything else out of the Blade then he might well be here a millennium or two. Ares was just going to have to do things the hard way and experiment until something clicked and, as much as he enjoyed messing about with the scythe, he was hoping it would happen soon because he wasn''t fighting an easy foe here. Still, Ares readied himself for the confrontation by activating Black Blossom on the scythe and really focussing on the fight. This wasn''t going to be pleasant as he''d effectively gotten rid of the one thing he could actually use as an equaliser against the mecha. The scythe would never be able to stop a punch from Genesis even if there were a thousand of them at his disposal because, no matter how much Ares imbued it with mana or pressurised it, it was still originally just a farmer''s implement at the end of the day. It would snap like a twig when barraged by the metal storm that was Genesis'' onslaught. Ares needed to rely even more heavily on dodges and deflects now than he did before but, on the bright side, Mako was still being held back by the golden froggy and couldn''t make the situation deteriorate even further.


    The Genesis wasn''t entirely sure how to comprehend the current situation, not that anyone other than Ares could understand his choice either, but it was aware that the Primordial Blade wasn''t being wielded currently. This put Genesis at a hefty advantage so it wasted no time in thundering towards Ares, stamping on the ground with every step as it wasn''t forced to take into account a deadly weapon and slow things down. It could safely miss a hit or two and let Ares retaliate freely because he wouldn''t ever be able to pierce its frame with such a dinky weapon. Not in terms of size, the scythe was pretty large for a weapon, but its output in terms of potential damage was lacking in many ways. Ares would have a better chance if he ditched the scythe and used his bare hands with some pressure at this point although, to be fair, his pressure was highly abnormal and the root of cause of any success he would have with such an approach so that wasn''t entirely a fair comparison. Still, the point was that the scythe, both metaphorically and literally speaking, wasn''t cutting it.


    Genesis ran up to Ares and started with a sweep. it was an effective attack that either forced Ares to retreat back or jump over it and expose himself to a follow-up punch in the air. The mecha was aware he had multiple aerial options now, and wouldn''t be fooled as easily as last time, and felt confident it could strike Ares down if he got jumpy. If Ares retreated here instead then he would lose space which was pretty important for the scythe. If Ares was pushed up against a wall the range of motions he would have available to him would plummet and spell his doom if he persisted in wielding the unwieldy weapon. Choosing the latter option did put Ares at a suitable range to attack back, if he dodged backwards, but Genesis didn''t need to fear being struck by the scythe, and could just take the hit without guarding against it, so there was no downside to committing to this simple attack hard and progressing towards pushing Ares up against a wall over time.


    Sure enough, Ares played this scenario by the book and to the letter by taking two steps back to shuffle out of range of the low kick and slashing horizontally with the disintegration coated scythe. Under normal circumstances he would have torn into his opponent, left a massive gash across their chest, and watched the Blossom detonate in an abyssal explosion that reaped the life of his victim. In this case, his scythe nearly bounced off the frame on contact, there was no deep wound inflicted, and the Blossom explosion that roared ferociously ended up sounding like nothing more than the purr of a dissatisfied kitten. The sound was muffled as it was directed straight into the bulky chest of the indominable Genesis and the blossoms were unable to do more than scratch Genesis'' hull lightly in a few inconsequential spots. Ares had even done a slower, but heavier, swing to really lay on the hurt but nothing noteworthy had come of it. This was one of his deadliest arts in Mano A Mano combat and it had proven useless... Why on earth did the Primordial Blade want him to do this again!? Was it paying him back for dropping it onto the floor earlier?! Ares sighed and shook his head as he retracted the scythe, spun it around in his hand to reposition it, and lowered his body. He wanted to be able to spring into action as dodging was going to be very important here, more so than literally anything else. He didn''t pack enough offensive power to properly dent Genesis right now so he was going to have be more of a slippery foe to the mecha, one it struggled to land a clean hit on.


    Genesis pushed forward again and performed a simple jab that made Ares kiss his teeth. He could move to avoid it but that would waste his stance on something he couldn''t capitalise off of. He would need to move and crouch again, wasting a lot of time that could be spent doing more important things, or try and push forward to punish a jab, both of which were terrible options that netted him essentially nothing at the cost of his readied stance. Mako was terrible at fighting up close but the mecha seemed to be a cut above most cultivators as it was making a lot of smart choices. Ares was going to have to really make an effort here to come out on top but he was still at a loss on how to do that... He knew that dodging away was the correct decision but it was also the boring one that would slowly lead him to the arena wall and corral him like cattle waiting to be slaughtered. The mecha was also likely expecting Ares to not make a ballsy and strange decision to move forward so, although he had no idea what to do after, Ares ran forward and snuck under the fist.


    One way to expedite the learning process of most things was to jump into the deep end and learn from there so that was the route Ares took as he figured he might as well gain something out of this rash decision. It wasn''t always applicable, that learning in situations like this was optimal, but, typically, when it was, it was highly worth it. If Ares put himself into these extremely uncomfortable positions with the scythe from time to time, forcing him to adapt on with minimal room for error, his improvements would be worth their weight in gold. Ares saw Genesis pause for a split moment as it comprehended his actions before raising its knee to try and gut check Ares'' insistence on remaining close. When Ares slunk off to the side without making any distance, so that he could remain in the thick of it and tango up close with the mecha, Genesis'' computing capabilities nearly had a malfunction as it had never seen anything like this before. It was all new data from here on out, thanks to Ares unnatural movements and choices, that it would need to learn from for future reference. It wasn''t even really sure what to do as, without precedence, it had to generate new inputs and attack patterns on the fly. This process slowed it down which was a pleasant surprise for Ares who found enough spare time to jab the bottom end of his scythe into the mecha''s chin from down below. He couldn''t damage the thing but raising its view would disorient it further and give room for Ares to navigate around it briefly while being undetectable. Genesis was tall to begin with and, so, now that its head was tilted to the sky there was no way it could track Ares as he slid between its legs. Had it seen him attempt this, Genesis could have just shut its legs and crushed Ares into blood and bone marrow but he snuck through without a hitch in the end.


    Ares wasn''t sure what to do here now that he''d actually arrived behind Genesis, as he still couldn''t damage the thing anyway, but he made whatever move he could and went for a joint near the back of Genesis'' knee. He used Echo as he poked the thing with the butt of his scythe again and brought the mecha to its knees for the second time today in a rather cheap fashion. The mecha would be pissed off right now if it wasn''t so dismayed at the humiliation it had just received. It was safe, though, as whether it was standing or kneeling really didn''t matter, Ares couldn''t pierce its frame no matter how hard he tried or how many times he knocked it down. Not that that information stopped Ares from swinging the sharp end of the scythe overhead and trying to bury it in Genesis'' skull.


    PING.


    Failure. The scythe might as well have been a stuffed toy for all the difference it would have made and now Ares was getting miffed! What was the point of all of this?! He was about to start lecturing the Primordial Blade in a minute if things didn''t change soon enough! If it weren''t for the fact that he felt his competence with the scythe rise a decent amount after that last interaction he would be hella angry right now as the Blade would have beaten Genesis if he had it equipped on his person right now! Then again, Genesis would have played the duel safer if the Blade was still out and about so this chance wouldn''t have maybe existed... Also Ares wouldn''t have been able to knock Genesis'' head upwards like he''d done earlier... Using different weapons led to different results every now and then but Ares already knew that! If that was what the Blade was trying to teach him then he was already ahead of the damn curve on that lesson. What on earth did the blade want from him?...


    Ares decided to give the scythe another go before he just quit this nonsense as everyone else was starting to get mad too, not that it had anything to do with them! The spectators could kick rocks! if they were so disappointed in Ares'' stellar performance thus far they were more than welcome to fight a bullshit fundamental champion in their spare time and see how hard it was to even get this far! Anyone at Ares'' cultivation level or below would have been turned into mince meat by the mecha by now and even those above it would end up that way in due time too! Ares was putting on a performance that at least 98% of the audience couldn''t ever match and they had zero right to criticise him for his actions right now... Although Enyo''s deadpan stare was pretty worrying... She clearly wanted to walk over and snatch the scythe away from him and she would absolutely be chewing him out for this later. It''s not that he was using it, per se, she wouldn''t have cared about that under normal circumstances... It was that he was supposed to be taking this seriously and not being selfish right now and having fun when so much was on the line... Especially after talking away Esme and Li Li''s fun... But it really wasn''t him! This damn sword had sold Ares down the river here and was using him as some kind of scapegoat for whatever silly plan it was concocting! If it was going to do that then the least it could also do was do it quickly! The longer this went on the worse Ares'' reputation was going to get. He really needed this to pay off in a big way so as to stifle the complaints in everyone''s throats... It''s not like they''d buy the excuse that ''my sword told me to''. That was ''my dog ate my homework'' level of bullshitttery and even Ares himself almost didn''t believe it! Ares wasn''t entirely convinced Mako hadn''t hit him with a mental attack, one that was making him go gaga and hallucinate the sword whispers, but he figured persevering a little longer wouldn''t hurt...


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Ares waited patiently for Genesis to launch another attack. Now that the Blade was out of the question the big fella had gotten a lot more pep in his step and was actively chasing Ares down which, although there were various issues with this situation, Ares greatly appreciated. He didn''t mind that slow and cautious step by step approach to a fight but a wild, unrestrained duel just suited him better. Unlike last time, Genesis went a little further than a plain jab and threw a straight with all its might. Ares wasn''t ever going to get hit by this but he was more interested right now in figuring out how he could exploit an attack of this nature with his weapon. If he was using almost anything else right now he''d have a couple ideas raring to go but this was hard damn it! Ares shook his head and went with the first thing that came into his mind, jumping towards the fist, landing on it sideways with his feet, and using its momentum to kick off it and push himself away to safety. This looked like a pretty ordinary dodge that a nimble ninja would go for in this situation but Ares had hooked the curved end of the scythe around the mecha''s wrist, allowing him to reel himself back towards Genesis, land on top of the arm, and run along it as he climbed the mecha. It was basically an extension of a different, already established, idea that used the scythe in whatever way Ares possibly could near the tail end of it. The scythe was capable of hooking onto things from a distance so actively separating himself from his opponent was, ironically, functional as a gap closer in a roundabout way if he was clever.


    Another minor invention that could be added to his repertoire but what the hell was he supposed to do now that he''d successfully gotten this far!? This was still a question he didn''t have the answer to so he just climbed around the mecha like a monkey menace as Genesis kept trying to swat him off. Ares was too quick on his feet, and Genesis'' body was too large for Ares to slip off accidentally, so this was going to go on for a while... Ares, precarious position though he was in, used this time to try and figure out an attack that could damage the mecha. If he didn''t have one, he would just have to invent it! It wouldn''t be the first time Ares invented something in the heat of the moment and maybe that was what the Blade wanted of him, to really strive for something new? But why was is it so confident Ares could even do it anyway? Nothingness technically encompassed negative time as well as negative space so maybe the Blade was hinting at a future only it could see right now? This line of thinking helped Ares ignore his current lack of progress and keep trying as it was motivating to find a potential meaning for his actions. It seemed like a reasonable enough logical conclusion too and he wasn''t just gaslighting himself into sticking with an awful idea so he felt a bit better about the whole situation.


    Of course, this couldn''t last forever and so Ares was eventually forced off the mecha. He landed on his feet a few metres away from Genesis and hit an incoming punch on the side with the tip of his scythe to deflect it away from him. Ares was starting to get the hang of wielding this thing and his ability to stay safe against Genesis was proof of that. He wasn''t exclusively trying to dodge attacks and strike in cheap ways after, he could at least stand tall before the mecha and not need to run around like a rat anymore. It was an important step in his scythe wielding journey but right now what he actually needed was some kind of attack... Think Ares, think! A normal attack won''t do, it needs to be something that can pierce even the mecha... No, is that really enough? Isn''t that train of thought juxtaposed to everything I stand for? Why should this art only be able to defeat the mecha and nothing else? What about anything stronger than the mecha? Should I come up with another art for that too? Why not create an art with the scythe that can just kill everything? Better yet, why stop there? Why not make it kill everything in one hit? Why not make it nearly impossible to avoid? Why am I imposing limitations on myself that I break everyday with my pillar anyway?! The hell is wrong with me?! Ares lightly smacked the side of his head like he was trying to drain the impure cowardice out. Who was he exactly? A fundamental champion who could do whatever he damn well pleased or just some run of the mill cultivator who allowed himself to be constrained by such a paltry thing as ''logic''?


    Unbeknownst to Ares, the Blade on his hip just glowed a little as if subtly encouraging him to keep thinking. Not that Ares saw the glow but, when he got like this, he wouldn''t stop delving into his psyche and correcting himself until he found an appropriate answer anyway so the Blade''s first step was about to be completed and, really, there was only one Ares had to worry about. As soon as he was finished, the Blade would do its own thing and cast an art it knew that could turn the tide here. Ares was its master now and forever and it finally felt like permitting him to see some of the power he was afforded via ownership of the Blade. Why now? Well, that stupid mecha was taking his attention away! Trade? TRADE?! HELL NO! The Blade was infinitely superior to that stupid heap of junk! Just this one trick it was about to showcase would blow Ares socks off and then he would come crying back like a cheating husband who realised he was better off with what he had all along! Stupid homewrecker mecha!


    Ares felt the Blade get somewhat heavier again on his hip but he was pre-occupied with the thoughts in his head and didn''t pay it much attention. How can I make a scythe attack more deadly? Is that even possible? Unless I have better materials to craft a better scythe, there''s a hard limit what can and cannot be done if I just concern myself with sheer power... Or rather, is there only really one type of power in this world? Is raw strength all there is to toy around with? What about finesse? The scythe is not a weapon to overpower but one to dominate through technique and skill. Measure twice, cut once right?... Destruction is the embodiment of pure power but maybe I can squeeze in some room for grace and find power through that avenue as well? It''s not about hitting hard, it''s about hitting properly and that is an imperative thing to keep in mind with the scythe, right? Ares wasn''t asking anyone in particular as he knew Dominus had zero experience with this weapon beyond a certain point. It was a question that nobody could answer but that was fine because, really, there was no correct answer anyway. Sure, if a giant entity wielded a ten thousand foot scythe it could just brute force whatever it wanted to and cut everything in half but it wasn''t impossible for someone on a smaller scale to achieve the same result in a different but equally viable way. Everything was possible in the cultivation world through some means or another and, so, if raw might wasn''t going to solve the issue, which it never would unless Ares was in Garmr form thanks to his adept trait, then he would have to go for an approach that valued skill higher than anything else...


    But other than a more precise swing, how can I generate more force? Wait, no, what if instead of generating more force, I create a method force multiplication? How would that even work... No, wait again! Why am I reinventing the wheel? It''s entirely possible to generate multiple instances of the same level of force! Rather than hit for 100, hit for fifty twice! Wielding more than one weapon at a time is a display of skill in and of itself as the learning period is significantly longer due to the intricacies of a different stance. It''s an increase in power without an increase in strength so that does align with my current goal... Ah but where the hell am I supposed to get another scythe? If I had a second one on me I could maybe imbue them both with disintegration and strike the exact same spot on the Genesis at the exact same time. It would be challenging but there ought to be some progress made if I could actually pull it off... This is a pipe dream, huh? Worth keeping in mind but not what the Blade expected of me, I guess, because it''s not possible now is it?


    FLASH


    The Blade blinded everyone in the coliseum, Ares included, and when the flash faded it was hovering in the air, directly in front of Ares, and unsheathed... How this had come to be Ares had no idea as it had nothing to do with him whatsoever! This thing had a mind of its own and was acting of its own accord as the blade changed colour to a murky white and reflected within it a scene that was hard for Ares to comprehend. The vision he was being shown was blurry, scrambled, and muffled but he could have sworn he could make out two versions of himself; one completely normal with his usual overwhelming kingly aura leaking from every pore, and the other a barren husk. The second version of himself had no Zephyr, no Bane, no Blade, no mana, no Garmr, nothing. It was like he''d been stripped of everything he owned save for one very strange looking scythe that was vastly different from anything he''d ever owned up until this point, something that looked to be almost as strong as the Primordial Blade in its own way. Ares didn''t know the exact details but something about this scene resonated with his mind and gave to understand that this was something he had in store for him in the future. He didn''t know which of the two individuals in this scene he was, or why it ever came to pass, but he was certain that he was involved one way or another. Something was happening within the vision as the scythe wielding Ares became a bigger and bigger blur. More objects were appearing around him but they were hard to distinguish within the foggy display but that didn''t matter right now. For some inexplicable reason, the vision was drilling itself into Ares'' head and the Blade was whispering to him again. Two words that Ares had never uttered before, but was about to whether he liked it or not, had been firmly implanted in his head as the Blade was forcing him to use a new art that belonged to it. Ares was about to get a real taste of power and his mouth moved in sync with the Primordial Blade''s wishes to chant an art, the inner workings of which were extremely complex but resulted in a fantastical series of events that would be highly beneficial to Ares.


    "Timeline Splice."

 Chapter 270: Moody Swings

    Ares had seen a couple of arts in his time that he didn''t know about beforehand. It was all but certain you would come across unfamiliar and unique arts as a cultivator at some point your life. Unless you were some cannon fodder background character who died the second they smelled the smoky air of actual combat you were going to have to play the ''what the hell does this thing do?'' game at some point, it was an inevitability. It could be quite anxiety inducing because one-shot kill arts did exist, and were usually condition based, so if someone used an art and nothing happened immediately then your heart rate was going to climb higher and higher the longer it took to understand what was actually going on. In many ways, cultivators preferred it when unknown arts had appropriate and clear names or when they just straight up launched a large and powerful attack as it was simpler to react to. Anyway, the point of this was that Ares had been there and done that and, yet, the situation he was currently in was something entirely new to him... He''d never cast an art himself that he didn''t know the details of.


    How was he supposed to move or channel his mana after chanting Timeline Splice?


    What did it do?


    There were some context clues available to him but, in a roundabout way, that almost made it worse! Timeline Splice was an art of the bestowal aspect, as it belonged to the Primordial Blade, that was obvious. Based on the name, the Blade would show Ares a moment from his future and then Splice the current and future timelines together, enabling him to use whatever trick, attack, or method he was using said vision of the future. Again, obvious... But what the hell was he doing in the vision exactly and how was he supposed to replicate it? That was where things got complicated and Ares didn''t have the answer right now. He could feel the vision in the Blade''s reflection pouring into his brain, and it had become a little clearer sure, but it was still utterly impossible to tell what he was doing in it! Better yet, he still didn''t know which of the two Ares squaring off against each other was even him!.. Although, Ares could hazard a guess with a pretty reliable answer he didn''t want to admit to. As the Blade wanted him to wield the scythe right now, he was likely the downtrodden, beaten like a dog, scuffed version of Ares with the rare and unusual scythe in his grasp.


    What on earth could have led to a scenario such as that was worrying at a glance but Ares, the more the vision was drained into his head, realised that the ''real Ares'', the one with the scythe, didn''t seem all too concerned about the status quo. It likely wasn''t the case that someone was impersonating him and had stolen everything, nor was he fighting for his life or anything, and while that was a relief Ares was still incredibly curious to figure out what kind of event he was looking at exactly. What was up with that strange white room? How come a second Ares could even exist? Why was Ares unable to use his own magic and possessions? So many questions but Ares wasn''t going to get answers on this matter for a very long time to come and so it was better to just forget about it. Timeline Splice did have a limit to how far into the future it could reach but it was a decently lenient limit so this might not even be something that happened until Vraizon. The scythe looked like it might be some kind of legacy treasure so Ares'' cultivation base would have to be really far up there before he would wind up in that weird white room, sparring with an identical copy of himself.


    Whatever.


    Ares shook his head and re-calibrated the allocation of his brain power because his original problem was still poking its head into Ares'' business... The attack that his future self just launched in the vision... There were a number of issues here. First of all, Ares literally couldn''t see it. It happened far too fast and the vision cut out the second it finished meaning Ares couldn''t gleam anything about how he moved around during the attack via observing his ending location. It was a small detail but it would have helped him understand even just a tiny bit more than he currently did. For example, the attack started in the air so if it also ended in the air then it was a swoop whereas if he ended on the floor then it was a dive. Again, minor detail, but somewhat relevant while Ares was still on the ''piecing things together'' side of things. Second of all, Ares was not at the level he was at in the future vision and could almost definitely not replicate that attack no matter how hard he tried. Third of all, it seemed like something strange happened to the scythe, probably related to whatever it could do as a treasure, that Ares could not do himself. His scythe was just an everyday object and so whatever the one future Ares was holding did, this one could not also do it. Fourth, and finally, how could Ares launch the attack if he didn''t even know what it was still?! It seemed like that was what the Blade wanted of him but he was still none the wiser as to what that art was.


    The art looked like it was powerful, as all it took was a short flash of light to kill the fake future Ares, but it was like blindfolding a person, making them ''watch'' a chef cook a meal, and then asking the blindfolded participant to also make the same dish in the same way... Ares had no ingredients, AKA steps, and he didn''t even know the end dish, the art, so a ''shot in the dark'' was perhaps even a understatement right now! Wasn''t this Timeline Splice art useless?! If this what it did then it was surely only useful as a sneak peek into the future, right? Or maybe it could net Ares some experience with negative time, enabling him to understand it on a deeper level and incorporate it into his nothingness arts going forward, but even then he''d been hit by this art completely out of left field. Being blindsided by it meant he wasn''t able to catch so much of what happened and he was having a hard time keeping up...


    ...


    ...


    Also, why was Ares floating in the air right now?


    He hadn''t even realised it but, for some odd reason, Ares was not on the ground anymore and he genuinely had no idea when this happened. It wasn''t some external force keeping him hovering like this, it was something he himself had done but he didn''t recall taking such measures. Or, rather, he didn''t know such measures! He wasn''t using Voidwalk right now and, unless Ares had hit his head and forgotten or something, he didn''t remember knowing any other method of hovering around like this. Telekinesis could maybe do something similar if he tried but there was no pressure involved in this strange form of flight... Actually, that was exactly what this was! Flight! The art than could be learnt in the transition realm, Flight, enabling cultivators to finally start calling themselves experts relative to the riff raff around them. It was expensive on the mana front, which is why they didn''t use it often, but it was an art that was a cut above most others just due to the sheer advantage it gave in a wide variety of circumstances.


    Now, why Ares ''knew'' this art at the moment he didn''t know. Not as in why he was able to use it currently, that was just likely some shenanigans involving the Timeline Splice, as in why he''d ever learnt this art at all, as he clearly had in the future, when he already had Voidwalk! Was it a result of what happened today? Was the future affected by the past affected by the future? Did that even make sense?!... This whole negative time thing was not going to be something Ares understood the inner workings of for a long time to come, that was for sure... Did this mean he had to learn Flight going forward so that his future self could use it in the vision he saw earlier so that he could then use it now? What a convoluted mess! This is why you don''t mess with timelines!... Actually, that last train of thought made Ares realise something. He now understood precisely how Timeline Splice worked!


    Ares, the current one in the arena, wasn''t using Flight at all, it was his future self. It''s just that, right now, his current self and future self were overlapped in different spaces at different times. Nothingness enabled two things to be interconnected regardless of distance, as it effectively removed distance, so negative space ought to connect distant time periods too by removing time. Combine both and, regardless of when or where an object or person is or was, Ares could technically access it remotely. What was happening here is that the current Ares was, in a twisted way, future Ares. He''d transcended time, skipped a few tens of years give or take, and had his future body travelled back in time to be borrowed by his past self''s mind, if that made even a lick of sense... Simply put, the body from the future that knew Flight, and whatever attack it was launching, and the mind of current Ares, who was completely clueless, had combined to create this bizarre experience that was strange beyond belief. It was sort of like back when he lost control of his body to Dominus just that this time he was completely unwilling, as the Blade had hoisted this art onto him, and he was being controlled by himself from the future.


    Long story short, even if Ares understood nothing else about what was happening right now, he knew that he didn''t have to do diddly squat! It was a fully automated process and he was along for Mr Blade''s wild ride. The attack he barely saw in the vision of the future would happen all by its lonesome with Ares needing to contribute literally nothing to making it happen!... Maybe... This was a strong art and Ares could put two and two together to figure out there would be repercussions for the actions he was taking right now. HIs body was about to perform above its current limits and it already looked like the Blade was ''switching off'' in a way. If Ares were to throw out a guess, this art had stronger kickback depending on how far into the future it reached, what art it borrowed, and how long Ares used it for. Plus Timeline Splice would have a long ass cooldown, longer than even that of Dominus or even his Astraeus summon. It honestly might even take years for that art to be usable again. Also also, the Blade wouldn''t be usable again immediately after and, as such, for the rest of this fight at least, it wasn''t going to be summonable. Ares had pretty much hit the nail on the head with these guesses and he was basically right about all of it. The only slight difference was that the Blade would be functional again as soon as the match ended due to the way the Training Field worked. The art wouldn''t be usable again, Timeline Splice that is, but the Blade could be summoned instead of having to wait a week or so for it to return to form. Not that it really mattered as Ares wouldn''t have a use for it again immediately anyway as his next outing would be the Freeride Federation and that was a little over a month away. Still, having it be accessible was nice anyway and he wasn''t going to complain. It was also good to know for the future in case he ever needed it, highly specific though this information was.


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    But that was all miscellaneous compared to whatever it was Ares was doing at the moment. He was about twenty feet off the ground and in the air, his Zephyr felt and looked completely different compared to usual as it was like a weird interdimensional cloth of some kind, and... Actually, that was all Ares saw. For some strange reason he was standing on the floor again and he didn''t know when it happened or where he was. He spied Mako, and so could guess his position relative to the elf so... If his calculation was correct, he should be standing behind Genesis with his back turned to him!? This was terrible! Ares swivelled around on the spot and collapsed to the floor as his knees gave out and some of his veins exploded. He thought he''d been struck by Genesis for a split second but, when his bloodied eyes could finally see again, Genesis was nowhere to be found. In its place where a bunch of strangely glossy white blossoms that were all slowly drifting to the floor. Ares, like everyone else in the coliseum, was enamoured by the oddly soothing and delicately calming sight.


    Unlike the spectators, however, Ares was close enough to reach out and grab these mysterious petals in the cusp of his hand. He was interested in getting a closer look at them so he extended his upturned palm and, when a blossom landed in it, Ares'' eyes immediately widened for two reasons. One, the weight of each individual petal was considerable, at least as heavy as a small wheel which, for what was supposed to be a petal, was hefty. Two, and this was the big one... The petal was made of metal? Metal petal? Ares was pretty certain he understood what just happened but he felt the need to double check with his Omniscience so he gave it a once over and, sure enough, his assumption was correct... Whatever attack he''d just launched was too quick for Ares to follow, even though he was the one doing it, and it had just obliterated Genesis on the spot, turning it into a beautiful swarm of harmless petals... No, that wasn''t the entire story. The attack didn''t turn Genesis into petals, it had been sliced so finely, in so many places at once, that Genesis'' shape had been deconstructed on a borderline atomic level. If every single petal was gathered then Genesis could be reconstructed from the pieces like a floral jigsaw puzzle.


    What the hell? Future me is killing it! Ares felt like there was probably more to the unknowable art he just used but, considering the outcome, he didn''t feel like he even needed to know the rest of it! Future Ares had mastered the scythe through and through if this art was any indication! This was all highly motivational and Ares was going to double down on using this thing for sure! He wanted to use that art again and properly next time. He wanted to invent the art and take in each and every step one by one because it honestly felt like he skipped over half the art while he was on autopilot. There was also some other details he was curious about, like what happened to his Zephyr (although this one he could guess based off his own plans for it), why the scythe felt like it had split into multiple parts, and what this strange mark covering his right arm was! It looked as though Ares had a sleeve tattooed onto his arm in the shape of a giant skull... He had no idea what he was looking at but he heard Dominus mumble ''The Reaper''s augury denotes a fate sealed''... Whatever the hell that meant. Clearly this mark was evident of something that Dominus found impressive so Ares assumed it was a good thing and ignored it!... Or tried to but Ares could have sworn he just heard some kind of growl directed at him and it sounded as if it came from a distant plane of existence, like it had come from a few hundred billion light years away... What a weird few minutes this had all been...


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Elsewhere, approximately a few hundred billion light years away, a cloaked skeleton was snarling off into the void. It too possessed the strange mark that Ares did on its own bony arm but, unlike Ares'', his never faded. This individual was well enough known as Charon, the Reaper... Well he was at one point. Unfortunately Dominus had taken to referring to him as Mr Moody and the name had stuck ever since because the number of people that hated him was far greater than the number of people that respected him even slightly. Simply put, this skelly was a douche! He ferried the dead to hell, which did in fact exist (although that was a complicated matter), but most of the time he was the one who''s fault it was his targets were headed there in the first place... Sometimes he was asked to go deal with various issues, and nobody was going to blame him for doing his job, but, annoyingly, most of his kills were on people minding their own business and learning how to wield the scythe. Simply put, being the Reaper was keeping him alive and he didn''t want to croak so he was adamant about defending his title even at the cost of other people''s lives. Anyone who trained enough with the weapon, who had the potential to become the current Reaper, gained a Reaper''s mark that was temporary in nature, much like the one Ares ''had''. Current Ares didn''t have it but future Ares did and so summoning future Ares to the present had triggered Charon''s senses, alerting him to a new threat. He would have gone and dealt with it but there was some strange barrier in the way affecting his method of transportation, and the person was in such a low domain anyway and probably not worth the effort, so he opted to not bother right now. He was also still dealing with some other shmuck who thought he was hot shit and Charon wasn''t one to leave a job half done.


    "OI! BAG O'' BONES! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU''RE LOOKING?!" A rather colourful individual with a mohawk and a red robe was currently yelling at the back of Charon''s skull. This individual was a ''scythe exemplar''... Kind of... Due to Charon''s... Unpleasant and nosy personality, having a scythe exemplar even exist at any given point in time was a pretty rough task as they would likely wind up dead soon enough. Rather than have it as an official position, the weapon exemplars tried to create a single scythe exemplar and keep them hidden and protected from this maniacal skeleton. Tried to, anyway. Charon was resourceful when it came to hunting targets, him noticing Ares'' mark from however far away was proof of that, and / or sometimes the exemplar in question would get overconfident. This was an example of the latter as this mohawk man was very assured in his talents. He''d never met Charon before so this bizarre level of confidence was entirely misplaced.


    Charon was strong enough to be a decent match for the God of the weapon pillar, let alone some random exemplar shmuck that hadn''t even been fully trained. Dominus had gotten split into two by this skelly and, though that was because Dominus tried to fight him with a scythe and make things ''even'', it had been a resounding victory with no room for the expectation that things would ever go differently. The mohawk man was oblivious to all of this and had gone around strutting his stuff openly, practically begging Charon to come to him. He''d gotten his wish but he was about to realise how very dumb this whole decision was. Charon simply huffed at the man. This wasn''t because he disdained him excessively and refused to speak to a lower creature or anything, although he definitely felt that way at least partially, it was because skelly had long since lost his voice. He could half-communicate at times but it was pretty hard for him to do so and, as such, grunts were his modus operandi when it came to conversing. Dominus had taken the piss out of this extensively after getting cut into two as a form of revenge, spreading the whole ''Mr Moody'' thing far and wide. Had Charon actually been a beloved and upstanding Reaper, like the justice oriented individual before him, then maybe people would have rejected Dominus'' stupid nickname. Alas, here Mr moody was, grunting away at a man with a red mohawk... This was seriously not a normal sight but, then again, far weirder stuff happened regularly in the higher realms. The long list of oddities in a situation like this was better just ignored honestly.


    Though the situation looked comically strange, it was worth remembering these two individuals were extraordinarily talented in their own rights. Thought the mohawk man hadn''t finished his training he was still in the position of exemplar. There wasn''t really any competition, because of Charon, so the position was easier to secure but you still needed to be decent enough at a base level and pass some tests so he was no joke despite his appearance. Then there was Charon who''s prowess with the scythe was unmatched throughout all of history. Typically, each Reaper had a fighting style all unto themselves that was never repeated by any subsequent Reapers. This wasn''t a pre-requisite but it was a sort of unwritten rule that the universe seemed to enforce heavily. Wielding a single, plain scythe had been done already and nobody else that became a Reaper after also did that. The justice oriented Reaper before Charon had a transforming scythe that could extend its blade and hook people, dragging the innocent to safety and helping them escape the jaws of death. That Reaper''s main method of combat heavily revolved around using a ranged scythe, thanks to the extending transformation capability on his weapon, and it functioned more like a chain and sickle than a regular scythe.


    As for Charon, his scythe was a treasure that, at a glance, made no sense. The scythe was a dark green, and encrusted in green jade in various places, but what really stood out was that the blade was blunt. Completely incapable of slicing anything. The only thing this treasure did was enable the blade to become sharp for a fraction of a second. No really, that was all it did. The catch here was that, while it was sharp, it was S.H.A.R.P. Charon had a very one and done style of combat wherein he just murdered his opponents with a single devastating swing that couldn''t be opposed. Block? Can''t do that. Dodge? When his swing was capable of covering an entire dimension at times this was clearly not possible. Retaliate? You weren''t overpowering his swing ever so no. Honestly, most people weren''t even sure if this skeleton had any skill with the scythe whatsoever. He just swung once and ended basically every single ''fight'' he was a part of. The only indication he used his weapon regularly, and could wield it at a high level, was the occasional flourish he did before or after swinging his weapon. He had excellent control, and his movements were fluid to a degree that was inspiring, but it took a real scythe master to appreciate them and the number of scythe experts overall was pretty tiny. Ironically, Charon was at least partially responsible for that so the lack of recognition of his skills was his own damn fault for killing everyone who could understand them in the first place! He wasn''t solely to blame though, scythes just weren''t popular in general. It seemed like every kid nowadays wanted a flying sword or a shotgun spear... Damn kids! Why can''t they appreciate the finer weapons in life?! That was what Mr Moody grumbled to himself every now and then when he saw some kind of whacky weapon crop up. He was a bit of and old head, he was literally a walking skeleton for crying out loud, and so he didn''t really get all this new fangled crap. He had a scythe, he swung it, people died, he lived. End of. That was his cultivation ideology, and it worked like a charm, and right now this mohawk punk was seriously asking for it! Charon was going to make a scene again. This was a common enough occurrence and usually required an expert cultivator or a God to clean up after but that was strictly in regards to environmental damage. What he was about to do to this Mohawk man was not something that could ever be undone. Punk Humpty Dumpty with an attitude problem was never going to be put together again.

 Chapter 271: He May Be a Batter but This Time He’s Come to Pitch

    Charon grumbled something unintelligible to himself in response to the mohawk man''s ramblings and started hobbling over towards him with his bony feet clacking away on the floor. Right now, the two were on top of an empty planet that was really nothing more than a giant mound of dirt. A few such planets existed and, typically, outsiders weren''t allowed to be anywhere near them as they were future projects that the domain overseer was going to work on and create new, thriving civilisations. Sometimes they were even passion projects for scientists and the likes as they could foster their own manufactured environments from scratch. This planet fell under the former category but it really didn''t make much of a difference because Charon would cut the overseer in half if he had the gall to look him in the eye and complain even a little. Also, the overseer could blame the mohawk man for essentially dragging Charon here. He''d been flaunting his Reaper''s mark for who knows how long at this point and had picked this location for their duel so Charon really couldn''t be blamed for this... Not that he cared. The planet could be empty or bustling, it made no difference to him as this guy was getting his comeuppance one way or another now that Charon had tracked him down.


    Mohawk man appeared to be opening his mouth again but, quite frankly, enough gibberish had come out of it already, Charon wanted to get this over and done with and go home to enjoy a nice tea. He couldn''t drink it like a normal human, being a skeleton had many drawbacks, but he could pour it on top of his bones and let it seep in. It wasn''t much but the feeling was somewhat reminiscent of the sensation he once understood to be taste. There was a downside to this though in that, annoyingly, whenever he happened to pass by a dog they would get rather excited at the prospect of tea-flavoured bones and try to chew on him! Having to shoo off random mutts had gotten old however many centuries back and the temptation to just end the issue with a swift kick was gnawing away at him! Much like the stupid mutts! if it weren''t for the fact that Charon owned a dog at one point back when he was flesh and blood, and couldn''t bring himself to boot them, boy would those puppers go flying! As for cats, they were either smarter or not interested in bones but Charon held no hesitation in his cold, dead heart and would absolutely given them a good punting if they ever so much as flashed their claws in his direction. Maybe cats were just unphased by boners or they were such evil little creatures that they were familiar enough with the scent of death to look the other way when Charon was around. Little bastards understood they weren''t at the top of the pecking order anymore when the Reaper was around. In that sense, they were far smarter of an animal than mohawk man.


    Before mohawk man could muster his voice, Charon took action and lightly twirled the scythe in his grip before stubbing the butt of it onto the floor. The mohawk man''s voice was stuck in his throat the second he witnessed Charon''s relatively innocuous flourish. To anyone not in the know, it looked like he was just playing around with his weapon out of boredom and, while that might be true to some extent as experts had a habit of messing around with their weapons during downtime to stay alert and keep their brain running, there was something more going on here. That flourish had neither sped up nor slowed down Charon''s planting of the scythe into the floor but that was what made the mohawk man come to grips with the calibre of opponent he was facing as the flourish was technically a defensive measure in some specific scenarios. If Charon had been rushed down by someone the flourish would have blocked their approach perfectly and kept them at a sufficient distance afterwards to be able to plant his scythe after safely before they could retaliate.


    It was a small thing, not even relevant to this fight at all, but the fact that he always did it every single time showed his mastery and consistency in a way that no grandiose attack or display could. He was so practiced he was doing the optimal execution of even the simplest moves without breaking a sweat! Not that skeletons could do that but it was more a turn of phrase if anything and being pedantic about it was silly. The point was that there was never going to be any weakness to exploit here. That flourish was the kind of thing that would lose an inexperienced scythe wielder time just by doing it so Charon learning how to do it flawlessly, so he could always do it even if it didn''t matter, was a level of dedication that floored the mohawk man. Right off the bat he realised he was outclassed in terms of just amount practiced if nothing else. It''s not that he couldn''t learn to do what Charon had, it''s just that he would be reluctant to throw away that much time for something that was barely relevant in more than 1/100 combat encounters. Even then it was a matter of fractions of a second that he could improve by and the effort required was not tiny.


    Before the mohawk man had even seen a single attack he knew that opportunities were going to be nigh impossible to come by against the Reaper because scythe wielding, at a high level, really shone in the ''defensive'' department more than anything else. It''s not that the scythe was good at blocking attacks, it''s that it was good at the whole ''the best defence is a good offense'' thing. It outranged most weapons so getting in on the weapon was hard and, if the wielder was quick enough, absolutely impossible. They could form a sort of blade barrier by flourishing the scythe in a consistent pattern that was impossible to navigate through. Scythes were extremely difficult to guard against because blocking it was rarely ever the correct choice. If you blocked the tip of the blade you would lose as the power that could be exerted in that situation was immense. If you blocked anywhere else the curvature would come dangerously close to piercing you so you had to be active, have good reflexes, and block in the right way so as not to get stabbed regardless of your block. Scythes were tricky to learn, one of the trickiest weapons out there, but they were also one of the hardest weapons to beat when the person wielding them was competent. Attacking a scythe wielder guaranteed you a retaliatory strike nine times out of ten that would typically hit you before your strike could hit them, that was the ultimate nature of the beast when this weapon was wielded to perfection. They effectively completely controlled the flow of combat up close and there was nothing that could be done to stop that other than backing up out of their range. This was why Charon''s flourish hit the mohawk man''s brain so hard because he no longer felt like it was possible to strike the skeleton even a single time. In a duel between two scythe users even the most minute inch of mastery would swing a fight, making the superior wielder unassailable, and it was already obvious who was better with the weapon. Mohawk man knew this because he''d beaten countless ''disciples'' of sorts, that also wanted to become scythe exemplars, and had come to understand what a difference in skill with this weapon looked like and meant in any given scenario.


    Charon made no effort to wait for everything to sink into mohawk man''s thick skull as he was already utilising his unique aspect''s magic. Charon wielded the ''king of jade'' aspect and could summon the stuff practically at will. The green jade was sturdy and hard to break, plus it made him stronger in a few different ways. Most notably, his scythe could pass through any and all jade undeterred as if it wasn''t a physical entity. Also, when his weapon did pass through jade of any kind, the attack gained a significant chunk of power and speed. It allowed him to create jade pillars between him and his foe, that they couldn''t attack past but he could, and enhance his attacks even further. Ut was a hard unique aspect to fight against because it was strictly detrimental to you even though it was the kind of thing that should affect everyone, Charon included. Solid walls shouldn''t be passed through with zero resistance! But such a use was a small minded approach and that was only the kind of thing Charon would do against a tough opponent he couldn''t wipe the floor with out the gate. It was a much more slow and intricate method of fighting that he reserved only for those he couldn''t walk up to, kill, and leave in under a minute flat.


    In the case of mohawk man, Charon had far less subtle methods that could disperse of the worthless punk in a far simpler, and yet far more flashy, fashion. Mohawk man watched on as a green jade encrusted cavern appeared around both himself and the Reaper, essentially turning this duel into a cage match in a tight arena. This art had a number of benefits such as preventing the opponent from escaping to a range the scythe couldn''t handle, making it difficult for large weapons to swing properly, and enhancing practically every single attack Charon made whenever he swung his own scythe freely. More importantly, if Charon committed to one big swing, as he usually did anyway, then the bonuses he would get for dragging his scythe through the unquantifiable amount of jade around him was staggering. This was how he launched some of his stronger attacks and it was why so many of his opponents died as, by the time they''d scratched their nails on the jade in an a pointless attempt to escape this confinement, Charon was already committing to an attack that even a God would struggle to live through. This was Charon''s specialty, summoning large chunks of jade and then slashing through them to create monstrous attacks in a flash. Dominus had been jumped by Charon who used this exact art to trap him like a rat and bisect him in about a second flat. Dominus received no warning nor any proper conversation as the Reaper just showed up behind him and butchered him on the spot. Charon was a busy man that day and didn''t want to waste his time so Dominus was basically assassinated unceremoniously.


    In a way, Charon was a pretty terrifying existence as he could hunt you down from anywhere, teleport straight to you, trap you, launch an unstoppable attack in a matter of seconds, and then disappear long before you even knew what hit you. As for Dominus, Charon hadn''t known at the time that the idiot was still alive, because he was a revenant, otherwise he would have made an effort to finish the job even if it was only a temporary measure. That would have extended their fight and maybe Dominus could have put up a better resistance, especially if he ditched the damn scythe, but none of that happened and so who would have come out on top was unknowable. As for Dominus, he gave up on the scythe after just because he didn''t want to drag those around him into the matter. Charon wasn''t against murdering relatives or lovers of a revenant to get them to quit but that was a risky ploy as a stubborn revenant with nothing to lose was a disgusting opponent. Generally speaking, it was a widely known unwritten rule not to piss of a revenant to the point they bore a deep grudge against you. There was no outrunning or outliving them, they would just keep trying over and over again with no regard for their own life. Having a target painted on your back in permanent marker was not a pleasant feeling and you never knew when the dumb mutt would finally get his teeth around your neck. There was no end to a revenant chase and they only needed to get you once. It was much better to just go your separate ways at the moment of victory against a revenant and not push your luck too far. Their lackadaisical nature meant that unless you really pushed their buttons they''d be willing to ignore some deaths here and there because it was more annoying than anything serious for them.


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    Unfortunately for mohawk man, he was not a revenant so being trapped inside this cage match cavern was a death sentence he couldn''t avoid either via rebirth or threats of insistence and long term stalking. Charon gripped his scythe firmly and the air became a murky, sickly, and deathly pale green A shiver ran up Mohawk man''s spine as the aura surrounding Charon changed drastically and was now more suited that of a lurking terror, ready to reap your soul and send you to the afterlife in pieces. He was death personified and his scythe an implement with which to enact his natural instinct to sever life. Charon spun the scythe through the cavern floor around him in a circle before dragging it up and through the wall, leaning his body to the opposite side of where his scythe currently was so he could drag it with even more force as he pulled on the weapon with all his might. The heavy scythe came thundering out of the wall and mohawk man could have sworn it increased in size multiple times over but tthe reality was just that, when death loomed, it looked like impending and inescapable doom.


    The air quivered, the cave rumbled in preparation for what was about to come, and the scythe''s blade sharpened at just the right moment. Mohawk man''s life ended here but the swing hadn''t even reached him yet, the weapon was just so sharp that it had decapitated him before it even touched him. The scythe, at his point, was still an inch or so away from mohawk man''s neck and yet the head already went flying and bounced off the cavern walls a couple times. Charon could have ended the swing here but detecting that barrier earlier put him in a foul mood because he recognised the thing. It was all but confirmed that some kid called ''Ares'' had the Primordial Blade and that he was inside a barrier of its own creation. Charon didn''t care about this kid but he had a bone to pick with the Blade because it had ruined his perfect streak. There had never been anything capable of taking a full powered blow from Charon, he believed it impossible, so when his record was stained during his attempt to cut the idle Blade years ago he became furious. The Blade remained unflinching in the face of his repeated attempts and that drove Charon mad with anger. He didn''t even want the thing, he just wanted to prove a point and further spread his reputation to disincline anyone from trying to wield the scythe even more than his existence already passively did. Still, the Blade came out triumphant in the one-sided duel and Charon had never let it go.


    He was annoyed now not only because stories of it were cropping up and resurfacing but also because it was now indirectly protecting somebody with a Reaper''s mark from his prying gaze. If Charon hassled himself to fly all the way over there then he could maybe sneak inside the barrier but getting there would take him forever. His ability to teleport to targets was actually based around the Reaper''s mark system as he''d come up with a way to manipulate it. The Reaper worked for hell and they gave the Reaper an art that only he could wield, one that allowed him to track his mission target and appear before them like a haunting phantom so that their timely demise could be brought about in a timely fashion. Charon had repurposed this teleporting art to work with anyone who had a Reaper''s mark which is why he was so good at stifling competition. As for this particular instance, he couldn''t bend space to teleport to the Reaper''s mark because of the nothingness squashing the spatial magic involved in the art. Without this hunting technical enabling him, Charon was actually surprisingly immobile and had to just float or walk everywhere.


    Charon could not be bothered to go all the way to the barrier and, besides, the mark had disappeared shortly after it appeared anyway. This wasn''t uncommon, as only the Reaper could have it permanently etched onto them, but it did mean he wouldn''t be able to track his prey again until the mark returned. When that would happen was anyone''s guess as people who could summon it were typically hesitant to in the face of Charon''s reach and Omnipresence. Whoever had that Reaper''s mark would either not know of Charon, and use it again at some point in the future when they weren''t inside the barrier after ''Ares'' lowered it, or they would know better and never summon it ever again which was also fine. The Reaper''s mark had a few conditions to making it appear, one of which being when a Reaper candidate used their strongest scythe art, their magnum opus, so inhibiting that was advantageous for Charon. If they weren''t regularly using it then they weren''t improving or practicing and Charon would no longer care about them. His opponents either revealed themselves before they were ready, due to their own training, or simply quit so he had it easy. Either way, Charon had the advantage and needn''t do anything right now other than complete his swing and head home. Charon wanted to get out some of his frustrations and stress now that the Blade was confirmed to be in someone''s possession so this swing was going to be a strong one. The havoc he wreaked would be monumental but who was going to come and complain? The domain overseer? He could come and clean up Charon''s mess, that was what he was permitted to do.


    Charon''s swing flew past the empty neck and tore through the equally empty air, sending a green shockwave forward that warped space around it. The shockwave itself didn''t hit the planet but the aftershock was enough to cause the dirt ball to explode underneath Charon''s feet. The green wave rolled off into the distance, expanding instead of shrinking, and gradually forming a line straight down the entirety of the domain causing the stars and space around it to twist and bend in unnatural ways. A cacophony of crunches and shrieking wails accompanied the expansion of the slash as the green void grew ever outwards, sucking in anything that touched it and slicing said object into fine dust that was then ground down even further in particles that were dragged into the slash purgatory. The tear in reality became a sort of black hole with immense suction powers as it kept cracking spontaneously, increasing in size even further. Should anyone be peering into this domain from far away they would simply see a colossal green, jagged line going directly down the centre of it. A lot of strain was being applied to the many light years of space surrounding the tear and it looked like the bubble that encapsulated this domain was about to burst, spewing crusty green jade crystals everywhere.


    Thankfully, a passing God or expert must have taken notice and prevented this by stabilising the domain. It could have also been the domain master but Charon didn''t rightly care who it was. Charon turned around and started hovering in the direction of his abode because nobody was going to stop and question him. Only the strongest entities in the world had the necessary qualifications to demand answers from him and none of them were likely to be here anyway. The green slash was pretty iconic to so whichever handyman janitor was cleaning up Charon''s mess wouldn''t come looking for trouble either... Or, at least, that was what he assumed but Charon clicked his tongue when he spied a kangaroo with an exoskeleton hopping towards him in the distance. It was Kanga which meant that dumb bastard Davey was soon to follow and they were going to do that stupid entrance of theirs. Charon had the displeasure of meeting somebody more annoying than himself and he hated every second of it. Of all the damnable people he had to meet here, it just had to be one of the few that were actively going to punish him for causing a scene... Well whatever, if Charon was lucky he would get away with a minor beating and some whacks upside the skull from Davey''s baseball bat...


    Damn disrespectful kids... Well, whatever. Maybe Charon could get some information out of Davey, while he was pre-occupied hitting home runs on his old bones, about this ''Ares'' kid. For some inexplicable reason Davey had apparently learnt a lot about him and thrown his hat into the ring in a big way. If Davey was unable to beat the pagoda clone, whenever it showed up, then he would support the kid as well as per his own promise. This was a declaration that had been pretty incredible as Davey supporting just about anyone other than Kanga or his poorly mother was a miracle. Maybe the rumours about him looking for some aid to take care of Ayane''s home planet once and for all was actually real? Supposedly he was going to turn to the fundamentals at a later date so him cosying up to them now made sense. He''d even mentioned that Ayane herself would be challenging the pagoda too which tied everything together nicely. Ayane wanted information on how much of a potential threat Ares could be and Davey wanted her to be shown up publicly via a loss to ruin her record. She was undefeated so her loss at pagoda Ares'' hands would be demoralising for her and her home planet big time. He wanted to publicise that and express support for Ares to help keep the real Ares alive whenever he arrived outside the barrier as he was useful to this batter in the long run.


    Davey was an idiot in many ways but hew was also oddly smart in others. Hell, now that Charon thought about it, even though he had no idea why as of yet, it wasn''t impossible Davey had come here searching for Charon. Davey was spotted showing up at the weapon pillar God''s domain a few times as of late so if he had meetings with the scythe exemplar, and convinced him to stick his neck out, then Charon had just fallen for the bait that was Davey''s convenient sacrifice. The guy was seriously a nutter and sending people to their demise for his own gain was definitely in the cards if he didn''t much like the victim. The mohawk man must have made some enemies here and there because Davey was a douche but he did at least hold back on murdering innocent people for the most part. Anyway, long story short, Charon was going to have some questions answered but he was also going to have to answer some as well... Wait... HE BETTER FUCKING NOT! Charon had a sneaking suspicion he knew exactly what this twat wanted of him! He wanted Charon to train Ares in scythe wielding, didn''t he?! This Ares kid had that rat fuck Dominus inside him and so his weapon comprehension would naturally be astounding, throw in Charon''s teachings, and that kid would soar to unprecedented heights! Charon was already groaning and moaning in his skeletal language to the empty space around him as he damn well refused! Davey could bat Charon all the way from here straight to hell, the answer would still be no!

 Chapter 272: Terros Is Going to Rock the House

    Bonk


    "It''s Davey Do, the daring dude!"


    Bonk


    "And Davey two, the mecha ''roo!"


    Bonk


    Will you stupid morons cut it out?! Charon was incredibly miffed right now as the dumb and dumber duo were playing kickball with his detached skull while they gave their insufferable intros.


    Bonk


    To be fair, considering the odd shape of their ''ball'', the duo were doing a damn great job of not dropping his head into the vast boundaries of space below them. Kanga in particular had a pretty mean kick thanks to both his animalistic nature and exoskeleton but, occasionally, Davey would just use his bat instead of his foot and that hurt way more! Plus the intros were just adding insult to injury! ''Davey two'' my ass! It was such a stupid little bit they performed but there was also a somewhat well known reason behind it. Back when Davey first started his cultivation journey, in search of medicine for his bedridden mother, he happened across a partially sentient kangaroo that he got into a big tussle with over some rare herb. Davey barely won out in the end, as the roo''s cultivation base had been respectable at the time and so put up one incredible fight, and decided to keep the fella as a pet. He made a contract with the roo and nicknamed him Davey Jr. He wanted the kangaroo to be a replacement son for his mother if he ever died in search of medicine for her but, eventually, the roo became more and more sentient so the family dynamic changed slightly. Davey''s mother gave him a ''proper'' name, Kanga, and treated the roo like a second son instead of a potential replacement. She didn''t want either of them to die because they three were all a happy little family. A relatively simple story but effective enough at tugging on people''s heart strings to the point they didn''t feel the need to mock Davey Do and Davey Two''s intro. ''Davey Two'' was a long lost relic of sorts from back when Kanga was just Davey Jr so it was silly, sure, but there was some meaning to it even if it was a little outdated nowadays. Regardless, they had fun doing it so they never really stopped. At most, they experimented with swapping ''Davey two'' for ''Kanga too'' but it didn''t have the same feel to it so they went back to the classic. Not everyone appreciated the classics, however...


    "Gggg,aahhh,grrrr,ssssss,tttttt,oppppppppppp" It had been far too long since Charon needed to use his voice so it was dry and raspy to a degree that was extremely unpalatable to the ears. Nails on a chalk board might be more preferable than listening to his hoarse croaking but still he felt the need to get his voice out there and end this game of kickball.


    Kanga tilted his head upon hearing Charon''s zombie voice. "Yo, bony bro, I think you need a lozenge or something. Dunno how you''d make that work what with being a skeleton and all but I reckon it''d do you some good. I got some on me." Bonk. "You want lemon or honey flavour?" Bonk.


    Davey slicked his spiky orange hair back as he caught hold of Charon''s head and screwed it back on now that the sack of bones had presumably gotten the message about what would happen to him, if he tried to run away or disobey, loud and clear. "Sorry about Kanga, fella''s in a bit of a bad mood because he got rejected by Ayane Ensemble recently. And when he''s in a bad mood, I''m in a bad mood too."


    Like hell that dumb kangaroo stood a chance with Ayane! Better yet, why are you annoyed?! You''re just using this as an excuse to beat up an old man! Punks! Punks! Charon groaned into the void once more but it''s not like anyone else understood him or cared to even try. Davey and Kanga were seemingly still talking about Kanga''s recent failure as he had some gripes about it related to Davey.


    "You know, I felt like I was doin'' alright too for a bit there. She wasn''t trying to shoo me away so that was something, right? Being ignored is just part of the chase nowadays so I''m sure she was digging my vibe too you know? Just couldn''t bring her self to admit to it ''cos she was shy ''n'' all. But this shmuck here..." Kanga loosely pointed in Davey''s direction. "... He just ain''t wingman material I tell ya. You should have seen ''em! So there I am, flirtin'' all professionally and what not, really throwin'' the moves on this chick, then this guy rolls up and is all like ''so yeah, I''mma destroy your entire home planet and shit''. Like, dog, what the fuck?! Dick move, bro, dick move! Totally killed the mood."


    "Kanga, bro..." Why Davey was trying to console Kanga over his ''loss'', loss in air quotes because there was never a win to be had here to being with, was anyone''s guess when it should have been painfully apparent Kanga stood no chance. "... There are plenty of fish in the sea. I''m telling you ladies from that planet ain''t quite right. You can do better my guy. I''ll even do you a solid and take you to this great place tonight and I''m sure you''ll find some right great Sheilas there, ya know what I''m sayin?"


    Kanga was hesitant to believe Davey as his ''places'' were usually bullshit! "... Where you thinkin''?"


    "The zoo?"


    "Davey, you fucker, I''mma seriously come over there and kick that shitty head of yours in I swear!" Kanga did indeed start aggressively hopping on over to Davey but Charon coughed his poor little non-existent lungs out and the two decided to leave their back and forth bickering for another time.


    "Y...Yo....Youuuuuu. The... The hell do... You want? Bastards?" Charon''s voice was slowly returning, syllable by syllable, and it seemed like he''d be able to have a proper conversation soon enough. He managed to eke out the most relevant question right now at least so that was something. If he''d faltered here he''d be hearing about this kangaroo''s love life for God only knows how long and that was definitely not something Charon was interested in.


    Davey took off his sunglasses, folded them, and put them in his pocket as he drifted on over to Charon and draped a hand around his shoulder. "Pal o'' buddy o'' pal, I want you to do me a teensy favour and teach a certain someone in the way of scythe wielding. Pretty simple request, eh?"


    "T... The ''Ares'' kid? Y... You want to work with... The fundamental champions and their... Organisation... To attack... Ayane''s... Planet? Have they already agreed to your... Request?"


    "Oh? Rumours have spread fast but yeah. I''ve talked with the org and the fundamental champs workin'' under em'' that are outside the barrier. We all have our own reasons to want Ayane''s home planet gone and so we agreed to raze it to the ground later on when the champs are all grown up. I''ll do the heavy lifting when it comes to Ayane and the elders but I''ll need some real destructive individuals to clear out the rest of the planet. Sure I want all the champions to smooth things over, and make sure things go off without a hitch, but the destruction pillar''s my real goal. So yeah, I scratch his back, and send you his way, and, later on, he scratches mine and lends me a hand. Win win! Well not for Ayane''s home planet but, honestly, that place is better off gone from existence anyway. That planet has got some dark secrets I tell ya. Not why I''m interested in ''em though, no, they''ve got a little something that I want. ''S no secret my ol'' mama isn''t doin'' too hot and so I''ve been looking for remedies, yeah? They got what I need but won''t hand the stupid thing over no matter how much I offer. Selfish cunts! If they weren''t so evil I might have to bite my tongue and go about this in a different way but now I have a pretty great excuse to launch a large scale attack on ''em cos of their frequent misbehaving. I don''t tell many people that last part but I''m tellin'' you ''cos what I''m going to offer you for your time is pretty relevant to your own plight, ya catch my drift Mr Moody?"


    Charon''s eye sockets were empty but a small twitch of his skull gave to understand that he was narrowing his gaze at Davey who''s offer was precisely what he was looking for. Charon was obsessed with not dying which, in turn, was why he was so aggressive to anyone with a Reaper''s mark as losing his position meant losing his life. If Davey had spent his entire cultivation career searching for immortality elixirs and the like for his ill mother then the guy must have come across innumerable life saving and / or rebuilding treasures, one of which might even prove beneficial for Mr Moody. Long story short, if Charon trained Ares to be the next Reaper then he would get to keep his life after passing on the position, thanks to whatever Davey had up his sleeve for him, without needing to keep doing this shitty job for hell anymore or see that damn secretary ever again. He didn''t actually enjoy assassinating people and taking their souls down to hell, he was far too old for this crap, and so getting to retire after training some random kid was maybe a preferable alternative to working for hell for all eternity.


    Provided Davey actually had the treasure / resource he was claiming he did, something that could guarantee Charon his life, then this was actually an offer worth taking in Mr Moody''s eyes... Not that he had any... This damn brat Davey was way too good at roping people into a cause for his own gain. Then again, he was the number one cultivator in many people''s eyes so it was only natural he''d been on crazier adventures than most could even dream of and found plenty of incredibly rare stuff with which to haggle and negotiate. Chances are, Davey tried doing business with Dingo, the rare-obsessed madman, for something to cure his mother with but all he got in return were co-ordinates to Ayane''s home planet. That was how a great many wars started in the upper domains... That creep Dingo revelled in war, chaos, and disaster because, more often than not, the loser would have their precious treasures scattered to tthe wind and this man was almost always on the scene shortly after, scrounging up whatever he could find of the civilisation, sect, or clan he''d indirectly contributed to the destruction of. He didn''t actively manipulate people to start pointless wars, no, but he did give hints that could be construed in a way that indicated violence was the only method of getting what someone wanted from someone else who had what they needed. He was a profiteer but played innocent while reaping the rewards behind the scenes. He wasn''t slick, though, as everyone knew what kind of game he was playing but who could really stop him? His information was always correct and the host of rare treasures at his disposal were phenomenal. Angering him, and subsequently offending everyone who did business with him and roping them into the mess too, wasn''t worth it. You''d lose out on so much potential information, or access to rare treasures, that it was better to just hold your tongue and accept the kind of nature this despicable moron Dingo possessed.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Besides, pretty much everyone in the higher realms had some kind of abhorrent personality in one way or another. You didn''t make it this far in the cultivation world without picking up a few bad habits. Someone like Charon, Dingo, or Davey would all still be considered ''good people'' despite their underhanded methods and occasional murder of ''innocent'' people for a good overall cause. Everything was subjective and relative up here but it was also true that everyone had at least a tiny spark of evil in them at this point and there were no exceptions. If mortals struggled not to commit an injustice in 100 years of life then how on earth was an expert cultivator supposed to go multiple hundreds of millions of years without ever feeling the temptation? They weren''t robots and, heck, even the robots broke laws regularly too! Even some of the various ''holier'' organisations out there, like Buddhists and peace preachers, had a good few number of skeletons buried in their closet, and not the Charon kind! "Are... You sure? I''ve... Tried... Many treasures and none have... Worked..."


    Tsk


    Davey almost looked offended when Charon expressed his doubt. "C''mon now! You really think your old ass has found rarer treasures than Kanga and I on our whacky adventures? You gotta put some more trust in me and my uppity hoppity friend over there. Kanga can''t find a date but he can sure as hell find some rare goods when he''s out and about!"


    "... Why... Are you so confident about this ''Ares''?... Why Go... All in on this kid?"


    Davey shrugged and sat down in space while Kanga spoke on his behalf, giving an answer that really wasn''t helpful right now but that seemed to be a specialty of this silly animal. "''Cos he''s got a gut feeling in his gut!"


    Where the hell else would it be you stupid kangaroo?! Charon groaned in skeletal language, inwardly depressed he was forced to adhere to these fool''s orders lest they start kicking him around again. Making him listen to these two prattle on and on was cruel and unusual punishment! Elder abuse!


    Davey brought out some papers and chucked them into the void, unbothered by the fact that they were going to float away and never be seen again as they were merely copies of the originals he''d worked on for some time now. Charon could read all the papers with his divine sense so it was actually easier having them spread out like this and some of the things he saw were on these papers were pretty crazy. Davey spoke to reiterate what was said on them and expand upon the point he was making by showing Charon this. "These fundamental champs? I''ve done my research and I know they''re some pretty crazy individuals. Really out o'' whack and I know you see it too in these reports. All the maniacal crap they''ve been pullin'' here and there had got me feeling confident down to my pores that they''d make good allies... And yet, all it took was a quick convo with my good pal Coronos and I''m already feeling like this Ares kid is different. His list of accomplishments and possessions somehow outstrip even these other champions so I get the feeling that either A, this kid''s pillar is special even amongst the fundamentals and / or B; he''s a hella hard worker with way more innate talent and potential than the others. He''s givin'' me ''cut above the rest'' vibes and I''m down.


    Destruction seems like the exact thing I''m after for the raid on Ayane''s home planet so I value his safety and his blossoming talent. I want you to help me make him perfect. I''d wager he doesn''t need much help, based on how far he''s already gone in his limited cultivation career, but if I can stick my nose in and speed some things up a bit? Yeah, you know I will. I ain''t above poking my nose into places it shouldn''t be if I think it''ll be helpful to me. The sooner my momma is back up and on her feet the better so that''s where you come in, Mr Moody. I scratch Ares'' back via you, he scratches mine down the line. I care about setting up some familiarity and precedence with this kid because I think he''s going to be the next big thing. I''m not buying into the hype or anything, I actually think he''s still being underestimated even now so, if anything, the hype is following my trend. At least that''s what I''ve gathered about Ares by piecing everything I''ve found together. I ain''t attached to the title of number one, the kid can have it, I just wanna make sure I ain''t on his shit list when he''s got nothing else to do in life other than go back to settle old scores. When he reaches the top and doesn''t have to climb anymore, if I''m gonna be underneath him, I don''t wanna have earned his ire at any point ''cos then he could just take a massive dump on my head and I can''t stop ''em. Would much rather make a new friend than a new enemy out of someone like that and you should feel the same way. He''s a revenant and I know you despise those just like everyone else does. If he happens to pick up a scythe I don''t think you can stop him so this really is your best bet. if you can''t beat ''em, join ''em. Accept the deal I''m making here, go and find the kid, and give him some pointers to set him on the right path if he ain''t already on it. If he is, push him further in the right direction and it''ll do us all some good. Ah, but do tell him who sent you his way, yeah? I ain''t doing this for free, I ain''t no charity worker and I expect his repayment at a later date."


    Charon could speak properly if so wished but he just grumbled in skelly language at nobody in particular once more as he went over his ''options''. He''d been cornered into doing something he wasn''t exactly thrilled about but it was a short term loss for some long term gain. He knew this was the best option so it was looking like he was going to have to go take a trip down to the Sheryashka barrier and sneak in... Though that would take him some time. Getting there was one thing, and he could maybe even hitch a ride off the back the expert cultivator who was hounding him right this very instant as Davey possessed some decent long range travel treasures, but getting past that barrier was going to be a hassle and Charon could feel it in his bones. Still, a detour that only took him a couple of years was worth it if the end result was exactly as promised. Charon was no fool though so he demanded Davey show him the resource he claimed could restore his life back to what it was.


    Charon was already at a cultivation base that meant he could essentially live forever, and he wasn''t far off true immortality either, so just getting his life back without having to be tied to hell''s puppetry art would be enough to get him over the finish line on his own after consuming a treasure and getting his flesh and blood back. Davey agreed but had to go fetch the medicine, as he''d left it in a safehouse nearby, so Charon was stuck waiting around with Kanga who would not stop regaling him with his womanly woes. Most kangaroos were active primarily at night but clearly not this one. Apparently Kanga was struggling hard to get a date and Charon had to resist explaining to him that he was a kangaroo so that wasn''t unsurprising lest he wanted his head to get kicked around like a football again. Why was this dumb animal attracted to humans anyway?! Go fuck another kangaroo you damn pervert! He wasn''t even a half-human kangaroo or anything, he was just a sentient animal with a libido directed at the wrong race entirely! Logically he should never get lucky in a sane society but Kanga had a few things going for him, namely that he was famous and pretty rich so that alone might do him some favours... That and the fact that this dimension was absolutely massive and there was, in turn, always going to be at least one woman somewhere who wasn''t against the idea of such a strange relationship. For now, though, Kanga was just going to have to keep searching for his soulmate... Although really his best bet was seriously still just a zoo.


    -----------------------------------------------------


    Back down in Sheryashka, Ares had just finished watching the white mecha petals drop to the floor and turn into beautiful white, powdery flakes that shimmered briefly before disappearing for good. The mecha was out of commission but Ares wasn''t in the best state himself either. Whatever art he destroyed Genesis with was over now, and couldn''t be used again, and the Primordial Blade had become unwieldy. It was too heavy to swing properly and was evidently far weaker than than normal so Ares had to put it away. On top of all these external issues, Ares was physically battered too. The damage he mistook for a Genesis punch earlier was actually just the recoil of using the Timeline Splice art, and subsequent attack that came of it, and his body was feeling the burn right now. His eyes were bloodied, some nerves had ruptured, his muscles ached and refused to budge, and he felt considerably weaker than he was before this whole fiasco. This decision had probably been worth it in the end, as the mecha was just flat out gone right now and Ares was happy to see it even if Mako was distraught as can be, but it had unfortunately left Ares in a temporarily atrocious spot as he was still sitting on the floor and unable to move.


    Ares could feel himself recovering by the second, and he could still cast arts from this seated position so it wasn''t the end of the world, but everything felt like such a massive struggle and he really had to hope Mako didn''t have something massive up his sleeve right now otherwise he was going to have to expend his God summon pointlessly... As if on cue, ironically, Mako started chanting what would be his own God summon! Ares was fine with this though as countering one God with another had been the plan from the get go and it was arguably fantastic timing for him. Mako assumed the two Gods would fight evenly, forcing the respective summoners to dodge the residual carnage and maintain an awareness that Ares wasn''t capable of in his current state. This was a mistaken belief, however, as one of the Gods was going to superior to the other and lead to one-sided obliteration, that was for sure... Ares could recover while Astraeus bitch smacked his junior around a bit. After that? Well Ares believed he was in the clear but his greatest challenge yet awaited him, a challenge greater than anything that had ever been thrown at him before. Still, that was that and this was this. Both Ares and Mako had shed a single tear for the destroyed Genesis but now Mako wanted revenge for his fallen pride and joy so, upon seeing Ares'' weakened form on the floor, he went all out to bring forth Terros'' true form. It may be hindered by mako''s cultivation but Terros'' Godly nature was more than enough to make up for it so he chanted resolutely while the floating rocky ball next to him started sinking down into the earth at everyone''s feet. This was Terros'' natural habitat, after all, and where he felt the most comfortable so it was from underground that he would make his grand debut in this lower domain. For the first time in countless years, Sheryashka was going to be graced by the Gods and it was going to be one hell of a spectacle!


    Mako took a deep breath and his mouth fired off the lengthy chant shortly after. "I Call On Thee, O'' Guardian Of Land And Core Of Galaxies. Come Forth, Lord Of Foothold And Foundation, Terros!"

 Chapter 273: Hallowed Be Thy Name

    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    What manner of puny earth God would Terros be if his arrival wasn''t announced and accompanied by the quivering of an entire planet? The coliseum was but a speck of dust in comparison to the entirety of Sheryashka and Terros'' rise from the core of the planet, with which he''d fully integrated, was a monumental occasion that was felt domain wide. A surge of tremors rattled all life and the vibration of the ground underfoot hummed in their very souls as a sinking feeling rose in their hearts. It felt as though everything beneath them had become treacherous and merely standing was an afront to Terro''s existence. The floors all around the world suddenly felt smoother, less solid, and far less sturdy as though it had betrayed the feet of all humans everywhere. Whether or not this planet could even be considered a foothold anymore was debatable as it was closer to the body of a living creature. The fate of everything residing on top of Terro''s new form was his to decide and, should he not be lenient, countless creatures would sink below the mud never to be seen again, burned to a crisp down at the planet''s core, or buried in dirt for sake of fossilisation. Corpses would become nutrients for Terros or resources for his followers in years to come, that was nature of defying or opposing the earth giant. Picking a fight with the entity that housed your harvests and enabled almost all civilisations throughout the dimension was not wise and his gradual ascent from the earth inspired reverence, worship, and gratitude among all with common sense. There was a reason Terros was a widely revered God and it took no longer than a mere few seconds in his presence to understand the scope, magnitude, and necessity of his existence.


    As Terros breached through the surface of the coliseum floor it became apparent his body was going to be too large for this venue. For a while, the spectators considered fleeing to a safer spot but Terros was in full control of his own immensity and shifted things around such that his body formed around the coliseum without raising or damaging it. Clumps of tough rock were growing out of the ground like unbreakable pillars that joined together to form a colossal golem who''s body was still enlarging even now that it was taller the coliseum. Terros'' upper half was free and exposed to the fresh air but there was no traditional ''lower half'' as, right now, that was essentially just the entirety of the planet. His golem core had merged with the centre of the planet and he''d completely taken over as he loomed above the coliseum with his rounded head in the clouds. He could shift into any manner of shapes but, as this was his first appearance, he chose to stick to something more comprehensible and standard.


    A bulky upper body with a circular, rocky head and one giant black eye in the middle.


    Much like the smaller golems Ares had scrapped against before, Bricky and Rocky, every segment of rock chunks were joined together by thick, shadowy tentacle limbs that were un-interactable. All golems were a core, or sometimes multiple like Terros'' true body up in the realm of Gods, with extending tendrils that could scoop up their respective element and / or affiliated object with magnetic ease. The rocks on Terros'' body were more akin to a shield / weapon he could deploy wherever and whenever he wanted and he would not sustain damage even if it was all destroyed. He could sink his shadowy tendrils into the earth and have them reappear across the entire globe at a moment''s notice, raising up the earth to form a carapace in whichever shape he deemed appropriate. A giant stone snake? A mud alligator that could swim through terrain? An unstoppable charging bull? Everything and anything was possible as long as he remained connected to a planet''s core. That wasn''t to say he was useless without one available to him, however, as his own cores doubled down as one which is what made him unique. His real body, with his real cores, could turn itself into a small domain on the spot by just hunkering down. All the surrounding, magnetised earth would fold into place and create a small utopia out of his earthen body. Wherever there was land Terros could roam freely and effectively teleport between landmasses. Even without an abundance of planets, however, he effectively became a monumental star ship of planets that floated through space without pause, unstoppable and indomitable. Plus creating earth out of thin air was a breeze so wherever Terros went, so too did the foundation for all living things. He could breathe life into a new domain simply by piling empty planets into it and watching as civilisations were built by those who flocked to them.


    Birds had perched atop Terros'' abdomen as his head now breached the planet''s atmosphere, hanging over every animal within his grasp. The sheer size of his upper body dwarfed the entirety of Central Land and even expanded over a few nearby countries too, casting a shadow over an entire continent. To stare down Terros required enough will power to remain unphased in the face of a crashing planet, hurtling towards you from above the stars. He was no mere meteor, he was the embodiment of all things solid and was fundamentally unbreakable. The very air cracked, mimicking the sound of broken earth while an unpleasant sensation of feeling drowned inside a mud tsunami washed over Ares. Those who were on Terros'' side would feel the abundance of earth and nature. Their ears were washed out by the soothing whooshing of a waterfall while their bodies sprouted small, refreshing flowers from the backs of their palms. Small animals chirped in the back of their brain and all manner of earthy and meaty flavours rolled over the tongue, solving hunger permanently so long as Terros existed. To each follower a personal paradise all unto themself, harvested off the bounties of infinite earth.


    For Terros'' foes, the mud wave sensation was but a start. Foul smelling minerals clogged the senses, the feeling of worms and cockroaches crawling over skin was amplified to a disgusting level, and the taste of a mouthful of plague-ridden dirt lined the underneath of Ares'' tongue. The ground at his feet, and no-one else''s, was unsteady, shaky, and unstable. It could give way at any moment and form a small canyon of which he would fall through on his journey into the darkest depths of this planet, never to return. The ground was creeping around his ankles, looking to swallow him whole while nearby rockets rattled in place, ready to spring forth and pelt him to death by poking holes in his skull. An assault from all angles was inevitable if he dared remain in Terros'' realm, one that would result in his carcass being fed to wild animals to continue the natural cycle of life. Terros facilitated an eternal continuity, one that was safe from harm and evil. He was impenetrable and the homes he provided invulnerable to all dangers. This was the God of earth in his true form... Somewhat. This current Terros was still lacking in many ways, due to Mako''s limited cultivation, and yet his imposing nature felt unburdened by such a menial issue.


    Ares, however, could tell the difference. It''s not that Terros wasn''t an astounding existence, far from it, it''s just that he''d met a God in their truest form before and so this felt... Cheap? Terros'' rocky aura felt more like plastic, watered down so as not to blow the minds of all lower beings or cause passive destruction to all nearby solar systems. Ares could feel the restraints in place due to his pre-existing familiarity with Godhood and he actually felt a tinge of pity. Terros'' majesty was constrained and, while the spectators knew no better and could just watch on in stunned awe, it must have been rather hard on Terros to feel so puny comparatively to his real body. Ares knew this feeling all too well after finally having experienced Garmr and so he could empathise with the God of earth. Empathise but not go out of his way to bend over for! No matter how Terros was struggling to cope with his weakened self, Ares wasn''t going to take it easy on him and just let him have a win out of sympathy. He was ready and waiting to summon Astraeus who was likely watching this whole event unfold on the side-lines in the void. He was nosy and could tell his time to shine was coming up so now it was just a matter of timing. When would be the optimal moment to summon him and below Terros out of the water? Ares knew it wasn''t right now, at least. God summons could only launch so many attacks before having to fade away back to their respective selves so forcing Terros to use one first was a good strategy. The only risk here was that Terros would attack and leave Ares unable to react in time but he felt confident his Omniscience could turn the tide and prevent an ambush. His chant was going to be long but seeing Terros'' attack before he''d even finished launching it would do Ares wonders and so he wasn''t timid in the face of the God staring down at him, rather combative if anything.


    Due to his limited time here in this gargantuan golem body, Terros'' gravely and booming voice chanted an art without giving the spectators a chance to catch up with what was happening. A God had literally been spawned in front of their very eyes and most had been previously unaware such a being even existed. This was eye opening and some people had collapsed in awe or shock in and around Central Land. Their dumbstruck open jaws were irrelevant, however, as Terros'' art came thundering out of his makeshift head''s eyeball which also doubled as a mouth to emit sound through, sort of like a spherical speaker. "Mud Maiden."


    What, like an iron maiden? Ares mused in his head as he looked left and right in preparation for the upcoming attack. As it turned out, his assumption was completely correct as two coffin shaped walls of mud were forming underneath the earth currently. Ares was the only that could see it thanks to his Omniscience but he was already wincing at the thing before it had even fully completed. Each half of the coffin was about three times the height of the coliseum and they were both filled to the brim with pointy stalactites that could run through flesh with the greatest of ease. This was an iron maiden that could eviscerate and entire country, turning it into a jumbled, bloodied mess of architecture, human remains, and shredded earth. Bundles of islands sized dirt and rivers of blood would come tumbling out of the mud maiden after it was shut and that was merely the leakage.


    Thankfully Terros'' current attempt at this art was considerably smaller due to the aforementioned limitations so it was only big enough to cover the entirety of this city... Only... No matter how you looked at it, this was a massive attack. If various denizens of Vraizon weren''t here right now, and Ares was long gone as well, this art would be enough to singlehandedly wipe out this entire city and leave nothing but crimson stained rubble in its wake. The fact that Mako could do this once every month, and maybe one other attack of this calibre, was insanity. Having the protection of a God was not a small boon evidently and Ares was glad to have earned one''s favour right now. He had no idea how on earth he would stop this without Astraeus. His best bet would have been relying on the Primordial Blade''s Timeline Splice but that had already been used once this match and so things would have had to go drastically different up until now. Thankfully Ares didn''t need to concern himself with this what if scenario as he had how own summon in his back pocket despite Ignizz being a stupid and lazy lizard.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Anyway, as for how this attack would currently work, the Mud Maiden would rise up and close in on the arena. The spectators weren''t in danger, however, and neither was the structure of this coliseum as Terros had enough control over his earthen attack to manipulate it and stretch it around things he wanted to keep safe from harm. Earth was solid but before Terros'' all-encompassing mastery and control it was naught more than playdough in his hands. Shielding the coliseum and those within it was a menial task although he couldn''t change the fact that they would be entrapped in the darkness of the Mud Maiden for a short while, that was simply unavoidable. Terros'' was launching a wide scale attack against a single individual so it was only natural the surroundings would be at least partially involved regardless of whether he aimed at them or not. Some land would be torn up and the city was going to tremble before his might, that was par the course for an attack of this scale, but the number of issues overall would be minor when considering how much power he was swinging around.


    This all just went to shoe how immaculate Terros'' control was that he could launch an attack like this and pick out a single person amongst a crowd of countless thousands throughout the city. And it was necessary too as the Training Field could not encompass everything Terros was fully. His body was poking out of the Field and his art was far too large to be constrained within it so none of the runes were applying to him. He was such an incredible existence that a Training Field of near perfect quality, for the standards of a lower realm, simply could not fathom a deity like Terros or function alongside him. If Ares died to the Mud Maiden, the Training Field would still protect him but anything outside the Field was subject to Terros'' mood and potential wrath and there was nothing to be done about it despite him originating from inside the Field. Training Fields had an upper limit but it was extraordinarily hard to exceed it and so seeing such an example first hand was a rarity, something the people spectating this match would maybe even never see again. Not that they''d want to as the implication was that a devastating existence or art was being unleashed upon the world and the cataclysmic nature of whatever ensued was something best not seen up close.


    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    Once again the earth shook but it wasn''t quite as devastatingly nauseous-inducing as previously. Unlike when Terros rose from the ground, this time it was merely two massive slabs of hollow mud that shot up high into the sky. Ares had seen these forming underground but he was only really coming to terms with how tall they were now that they were freed from their dirt prison. The base of the two walls started rolling over the floor and closing in on Ares to shut him within the Maiden and pierce him to death but he made no effort to run or hide. He had no real way out. Even escaping into the void wouldn''t save him as this attack looked powerful enough to rend space and create a tear in reality. Any attack that packed enough power was capable of sneaking into the void to chase Ares if directed to do as such. Escaping to the void was a neat trick against enemies less powerful than Ares, or large scale attacks that weren''t guided, but in most situations dodging normally or blocking was the superior option. Not that he was going to do either right now, he was just waiting for the perfect moment to start summoning Astraeus. He could do it now but if he held on a little longer then Astraeus would block the attack with his body as he was summoned.


    This approach was better than summoning him early and having him blast the Mud Maiden to smithereens because it would give Terros less time to react to what was happening and who it was that had just been summoned. It was a small difference but Ares wanted to really push an advantage here and so every second counted. This wasn''t like the Genesis vs Blade fight earlier, there was no ''even'' odds to speak of and Ares would find an advantage here by the time this was all said and done. To that end this was the correct decision. Besides, Astraeus could hack it. Making him take the brunt of the attack head on was basically nothing to him and he would be able to defend himself as he arrived within this reality regardless. It was with this in mind that Ares watched the walls come closing in alongside the spectators who were starting to panic they were going to get dragged into this mess. Some of the smarter audience members, who were aware this would not affect them due ot the expert control over the art that was on display, were calmly watching Ares strafe around and stare at the incoming art, wondering if he had a means with which to escape this predicament. That giant golem wasn''t going anywhere even if the art was blocked or dodged so these experts were hoping Ares had a similar trick up his sleeve and, when he started his own long chant tied to the summoning pillar, they got an answer and it was in the affirmative. Ares had really stretched the wait out a bit but he could no longer hold it back as the Mud Maiden was starting to pick up the pace and close in on the coliseum. Normally it would dig up all the earth in its path and create a small landslide but Terros weaved it over the land and prevented such a disaster. Ares appreciated Terros not destroying large chunks of this city as he had a lot of plans here! As payback, Ares would show this big ol'' boulder someone he, and most of his fellow Gods, had never seen before. It wasn''t exactly going to be a cordial visit but it would be one worth remembering for Terros at least!


    Ares clicked his fingers and the resulting soundwave became visible as it was frozen in space and time, perpetually emitting a crack noise like that of shattering glass at a low frequency. It was simultaneously horrid and soothing to listen to. Oddly satisfying and excessively agitating as it grated on people''s nerves. It was a sound they''d heard before, were hearing currently, and would keep hearing forever wherever they were; it appeared to be that pervasive in everyone'' conscience. Under that noise, well hidden but not undetectable, was a constant series of short beeps at regular intervals and the small humming of active wires. Ares began his chant, revealing to all who exactly it was he was summoning. Make and Terros paid a lot of attention to this but were mistakenly already assuming it was the sound pillar''s deity due to the duality of the noise as that was something very much within the realm of their expertise. What they didn''t realise was that the noise was actually the sound of a dying star overlapped with the creation of a new one which was far more suitable for the entity being summoned considering all dimensions, planets, and stars were under his watch. He saw the rise and fall of countless astral entities and would continue to do so for as long time permitted him to.


    "I Call On Thee, O'' Purveyor Of Worlds And Keeper Of Stars. Come Forth, Lord Of Planetary Rule And Dimensional Guardianship, Astraeus!"


    "ASTRAEUS?!" Terros'' booming voice rolled over the entirety of Central land as now it was his turn to be shaken to his core. The deity that had eluded most of the Gods and a being that far outranked and outclassed them all. He was as mythic as he was mysterious, single handedly holding back an assault on all of existence by thwarting Xhilihx time and time again in an unreachable realm. Terros connected the dots and understood that Astraeus was located in the void and Ares had gained access to it at some point. This shouldn''t have been too surprising as even Mako had his own ''void'' of sorts he could freely explore. Naturally there was no Astraeus in it but it was where he found that strange hand... Anyway, Astraeus was undoubtedly the only ''person'' who could exist beyond space due to his overwhelming affinity with it allowing him to create enough around him constantly and keep himself safe. Still, to be doing that, all the while nurturing however many millions of dimensions and fighting off an interdimensional horror, a beast from beyond that wanted to consume everything with no hesitation, was astoundingly impressive.


    Astraeus was frequently the God who''s name was on everyone''s lips, even those who typically never showed any form of respect, as he was quite literally everyone''s senior. His time spent as a God was probably longer than everyone''s else''s combined and that was seriously no joke as some of the other Gods were considered ancient by even normal cultivator standards. Long story short, Terros was bewildered at the prospect of coming face to face with such a grand existence. He believed he would reign superior over any foe Ares called upon but, as it turned out, he''d underestimated the rat bastard once again... Why was Ares always one step ahead?! Mako was not going to live an easy life if he obsessed over this annoying kid...


    Terros braced himself as best he could for what was going to be a harsh smackdown. He was painfully aware he stood no chance, all he could try and do now was either launch a sneak attack at Ares, which was a laughable suggestion in the face of the all-seeing Astraeus, or he could give it his all to defend Mako from the oncoming attacks. The latter was the blatantly better choice so he started piecing together his strongest defensive art he could muster right now. Terros would go down here without fail but he could at least minimise the damage to Mako... Although he wasn''t confident he could prevent any harm from befalling him at all, Mako was just going to have take some damage here and there was no two ways about it... But maybe that was ok? Terros didn''t really know what other tricks Ares could possibly have up his sleeve to deal with the final art Mako had up his. They would both be injured and on the cusp of losing but Mako''s final art would turn the tide for the final time and the win would go to the stubborn elf. Terros didn''t need to beat Astraeus, thank God, so he was more than willing to sacrifice himself for the cause and do what he could... Although he had to admit his entire body was shaking in fear right now. Not that it needed admitting to, the entire planet was vibrating gently as a result of his change in emotions.


    As for mako, he''d heard of Astraeus but didn''t quite fully grasp yet just how vast the difference was between any other God and him. Mako assumed it was like pitting two fundamental champions against each other, sort of like this match. It had been relatively even and blow for blow... It wasn''t even remotely the same. It was more like throwing a random mental accumulation realm cultivator up against Ares when he was in a bad mood. It just wasn''t going to end well at all no matter how you tried spinning it. Mako''s faith in his rocky buddy was cute and all but it was entirely misplaced and he would come to understand that very soon. The elf watched on as Ares slowly disappeared behind the shutting mud walls and into darkness. A small, blackish purple hole appeared above and behind Ares just before he disappeared from everyone''s view, a hole that let out countless sparks of the same colour as it grew bigger and bigger. It was going to unveil Astraeus in secrecy but he would come barrelling out of the Mud Maiden and proceed to wreak havoc in a way that was simply majestic. Terros had barely had his five minutes of fame but it was already over as his time to shine was about to get cut short. There was a new top dog in town and his name was Astraeus.

 Chapter 274: Gods God, Astraeus

    With a resounding THUD the Mud Maiden shut, trapping Ares within in it but his fate was unknown currently. The tear in reality leading to the void had grown large enough for a single finger to reach out just before the Mud Maiden was able to run Ares through and it was likely that finger alone could guard him from danger while the rest of Astraeus'' body emerged through the tear. There was a weird silence in the air now that the crowd''s general chitter chatter and background noise had been muffled inside the Maiden. Mako wasn''t quite alone outside of it, there were still some spectators who hadn''t been caught up in the art sitting behind him, but they had all fallen quiet when the art came crashing down on the other half of the arena. They were thanking their lucky stars they just so happened to grab a seat on this northern side of the arena today otherwise they would have been in that spiky cage too. Though everyone was going to be safe, the fright of the thought of it all was not worth the cost of doing business. Little did they know that the spectators inside the Maiden were having a fantastic time, actually, as Terros had created a small cave system within the walls of the Maiden, fully equipped with natural hot springs and playful animals like deer and rabbits that roamed around looking to be petted. Of course this wasn''t for Ares but it was considerate of Terros to think about the people who were going to be trapped in there alongside him.


    If Ares tried to enter the caves it would shut and he would be rejected, booted out by a swarm of poisonous bats. Plus it was too dark for him to find it and blow open a hole anyway unless his Omniscience was aiding him but, even then, it was far too late of him to do it. It was well enough hidden that he wouldn''t have realised until he was already being skewered anyway. While Ares was turned into Kebab, people on the other side of the wall would be in fluffy, comfortable heaven. it spoke volumes that Terros could throw in a small paradise as an afterthought to this deadly art even despite being weakened in this form but that was just a God''s habit of showing off. A lot of the Gods knew some neat party tricks like this that they would unveil whenever the mood suited them. This was especially true if they were trying to make an impression on cultivators they''d never met before from backwards tribes with low access to information. Point in case, the Sheryashkans were having a ball right now and, after this, there was no doubt many of them would become followers of the earth God just for this small trick alone and no other reason. It''s not like they knew any other Gods anyway... Well, they''d get to know Astraeus soon enough but he wasn''t interested in having more followers so he wouldn''t do anything special with them. He was here to answer Ares'' call and that was it as far as he was concerned... Although stretching his limbs a little and flinging off an art or two after all this time was pleasurable in its own right. He''d been getting a bit rusty as of late and almost wished Xhilihx would come back for another beating. Every time Xhilihx hounded Astraeus that was time it spent not devouring worlds so he was perfectly fine with entertaining the maw of the void for a couple hundred years at a time every now and then.


    Crack


    A small jagged line ran up and along the entirety of one of the Maiden walls and was shortly followed by another crack on the opposite wall too. Terros knew better than to hope things would work out his way here as it was evident Astraeus had been summoned and wanted out of the paltry, muddy prison he found himself partially submerged in. It wasn''t nearly sturdy enough to withhold him from the world at large despite the walls being basically impenetrable to anyone not at least two whole realms higher than transition. Ares was also undoubtedly safe so all hope on that matter was eviscerated ruthlessly, not that any other outcome was to be expected really. Now, as soon as Astraeus broke free and begun his reign of terror, came the struggle to survive. Mako enjoyed chucking a God at Ares while he was weakened but now he was about get a taste of his own medicine as the cracks on the Mud Maiden were now numerous enough to make it look breakable with a mere poke of the finger. The solid walls now looked ancient, borderline just about to turn to dust if a strong enough gust came sweeping by. Even Ares himself could obliterate this half-dead art now if he threw a Grand Annihilation or two at it and, yet, all that had really happened here was Astraeus existing. His body did not fit inside this small container and he was passively bursting out of it as he emerged from the void. Terros would not be able to replicate this feat and block Astraeus'' attacks with his raw body, that was suicidal, but evidently Astraeus didn''t care much about such a trivial attack. Xhilihx''s tongue arguably did more damage than this feeble strike, and that had yet to so much as leave more than a few small dents in his frame, so what chance did Terros have exactly? None.


    Crack


    ...


    Though the last crack was relatively low in terms of volume, it did signify a breaking a point as there would no longer be any small breakthroughs like this. The next time there was noise, it would be a festival of computational audio, warped space and time echoing throughout reality, and the shattering of two giant mud walls all intertwined to give way to Astraeus'' transcendency. Terros would have gulped here if he could but, instead, he kept winding up his defensive art and charging it as best he could. Ares had really done him dirty here by delaying the Astraeus summon for as long as he possibly could because it had thrown off Terros to a big degree. He wouldn''t be able to charge the art fully in time so things were presumptively gonna get a little dicey for Mako. Plus there was still whatever second art Astraeus threw out after the first and that one was going to be a bonafide nightmare all around. Terros would have no more time left in this plane to block it with an art, as he would just get booted back to his real form in the realm of Gods if he tried, so he was just going to have heroically dive in front of Astraeus'' attack and doom him to death.


    Thankfully, dying during a summon, and inside a Training Field on top of that, was a mostly inconvenient affair. His main body would be weakened a tad, and his little floaty rock body that hung around Mako wouldn''t be able to cast magic for a while either, but it was a small problem not really worth mentioning that changed effectively nothing in the grand scheme of things. Just because Terros'' real body would be ''hurt'' for a period of time that didn''t mean anyone could just stroll up to him and beat him senseless, he was a God not a pushover. If anyone so much as tried to bully him he would crush them under thousands of mountains for their insolence and that would just be the start of their woes. Furthermore, he still had his followers hanging around on his body and they were no slouches either. Arguably, Terros had both the most loyal followers and some of the hardest working of them all. They understood that the planets and wildlife they were gifted had limits. Terros was the God of earth, not nature, and so they had to maintain their paradise by hand and hard labour in order to reap the full rewards of it all. None of that was particularly relevant right now but, knowing that death was coming, Terros'' mind wandered away to happier and simpler times... He couldn''t escape reality forever...


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    B..E...E...P


    B...E.E.....P


    B.E.E.P.B.E.E.P.B.........E........E......P


    A rapid crescendo of intermittent beeping broke through the Mud wall, as it scattered into the sky above and away from Terros'' earthly domain, with a silver sheen peeking out through the dust cloud of the broken art.


    Whoosh


    Astraeus'' liquid metal wings flourished, spreading wide and blowing away the dust to reveal his form to the Sheryashkan sun. He was the same as Ares remembered him with his ''Y'' shaped head and red diamond eyes, svelte and slim body, astral and ethereal clock floating above and slightly behind him, and highly detailed wings. His see-through wires filled to the brim with multi-coloured wires were also present but, unlike before when they were mostly hidden within his frame, they were all hovering behind him like snakes jostling one another so that they could be the first to lash out at Terros. Some were still attached to various cloudy dimensions but they were likely empty ones, ready to be used as projectiles by Astraeus who was also more than happy to swing around dimensions like they were clubs if need be. Not that he would resort to such brutish methods, he was primarily an art-reliant cultivator, sort of like Mako, and rarely if ever got his hands dirty. Objectively Astraeus'' arts were unquestionably the most powerful in all of existence, however, so it''s not like him not utilising his boundless physical strength was really an issue.


    As far as being an art-oriented cultivator went, there was no one superior to Astraeus so, although he could only fire off two here before his time limit was up, the arts he was going to use were phenomenally powerful. He was planning on launching a wide range barrage first followed by a more precise death blow to end this fight in the blink of an eye, well metaphorically speaking anyway. He didn''t take to casting an art immediately, even in spite of Ares'' efforts to help him get the drop on Terrros, because such a meaningless advantage was pointless in his eyes. It was a cleverly manufactured situation he found himself in but Ares was underestimating him if he thought any form of resistance Terros could muster mattered here. Terros would be allowed all the time he wished to raise his paper thin defences. Astraeus wasn''t doing this to show off or anything, he just wanted to meet one of his juniors for once. He''d had indirect conversations with some of the various Gods throughout history but a head on meeting like this was new to him and so he took things slow to try and understand the vastness of the gulf between them. That being said, it didn''t take very long... He understood the difference between them, Terros and himself, immediately and it wasn''t because of Terros'' weakened state. Astraeus could envision the manner of presence real Terros would possess and, while it was certainly greater than that of an ordinary immortal cultivator, it was still trifling compared to himself. He wanted to experience another God''s aura first hand but, now that he had, it was deemed... Lacking... Not worth his time which somewhat soured this experience for him. Astraeus could hold back Xhilihx on his own but, if Terros were an average God all around, it would take roughly thirty Gods to fill his shoes and that was a generous estimate. And of course this wasn''t additive strength he was referring to either, it was in reference to Gods working in tandem with one another to raise themselves and their respective powers up higher, which just made his objective assessment all the more insulting. There was a reason he wasn''t saying any of this out loud, he didn''t want to be rude to his fellow Gods and so it was better to say nothing at all. It was hardly their fault that they were still so young, and had a ways to go in terms of growth, so rubbing that in would be childish. Had they been actively slacking off then Astraeus would have dropped a comment, and been actively slagging them off, but, from the void where he watched on like a creepy uncle, he could tell most of the Gods were practicing in their own way... Although mostly as defensive measures to kill any fledgling followers with great ambitions or other hostile Gods... Still, they were improving so that counted for something, even if the intent was a little warped, right? That was also partly why he didn''t kill Terros immediately; if the youngster wanted to ask him any cultivation questions he would be willing to answer them first. Unfortunately it seemed the pebble construct was too awe-stricken to gather its thoughts properly and thus conversation wasn''t looking likely even in spite of Astraeus'' willingness.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    What was happening here was that Astraeus'' presence was far more overwhelming than he gave himself due credit for. Ares had been ok with it because his introduction way back when was gradual as he floated through the void towards Astraeus. Additionally he was a fundamental champion who was literally in his natural element at the time. Even if Astraeus wished him harm it was simply impossible to kill Ares within the void if he had sufficient room to run away. A God being unable to kill, at the time, a mental accumulation kid was embarrassing but also entirely expected given the circumstances. Astraeus'' spatial magic was at its weakest and completely restrained in the void whereas Ares was basically turbo fuelled and had jet boosters up his ass that could rocket him around the place like an annoying mosquito. It didn''t mean Astraeus couldn''t swat Ares eventually if he being was lazy or got caught unaware, it''s just that it would require a surprising amount of effort considering the nearly unquantifiable difference in their overall strength.


    Point being that that safety net, of the void, encouraged Ares to remain brave in the face of something superior to even him. As for the mortals, weak cultivators, and the pebble construct, they''d all been barraged by a sudden onset of technological marvels and brain numbing, awe inspiring might. The spectators couldn''t tell night from day anymore and felt as though they had a chip inside their brain that was displaying all sorts of unusual data through their retinas. Distances, calculations and telemetry, unceasing day and night cycles. All such things were being shown to these people on repeat without pause and it was an information overload that boggled them on every conceivable level. Sparking jolts kicked their nerves into overdrive and the world around them seemed to slow down, or potentially speed up, at their whim. They could reach out and touch distant objects in the sky like clouds or the pigeons that had fled from Terros'' body. Space and time became nothing more than a sort of program downloaded into their brain with which they could freely fiddle around with as even the position of the stars in the sky above rotated at the tips of their fingers. Even if it wasn''t real, and only they could see these expertly crafted simulations of realities with controllable variables, it felt real to the touch and the electrical hum of a reliable machine in the back of their mind fed them confidence in their belief. They could wind up eternally trapped in this sweet machine dream if Astraeus so willed it but it was currently nothing more than a means with which to calm down the rabble and have them pre-occupied as he went on a rampage that their minds would have a hard time comprehending.


    Mako wasn''t quite so lucky, however, as he was receiving the very same ''this is what you get for opposing a God'' treatment that Ares was still experiencing from Terros even now. The non-existent chip in his brain was malfunctioning, shocking his grey matter and causing an uncomfortable overheat that left him boiling in his own skin. HIs blood was electrified and his body was aging at incredible speeds. He felt sluggish and lazy, plus his body was nearly uncontrollable as every part of it was in different places at once. His hand was at the top of the coliseum, his foot was deep underground, his ears were in the clouds Etc. Though he appeared functionally whole, and technically was, his body was an amalgamation of oddities and even taking a single step was a herculean task that required considerable effort that Mako just couldn''t spare. The effects on him were much more draining and drastic than what Ares was suffering through as containing Astraeus'' majesty wasn''t something this world, and its laws regarding summons, could accomplish. Astraeus wasn''t at full force but his presence was still akin to being stalked by a sentient supercomputer that could mess with the space time algorithm around you to trap you in a technological cage of ramping lunacy. Was Mako even in the right dimension anymore? Was he the founder of an ancient civilisation millions of years in the past? Was he a new-born floating through endless space? Only the clicking of machinery reminded him that none of this was real but, in spite of that, there was little he could do other than bank on Terros saving his skin. Fortunately, it seemed Terros'' art was ready so, although he hadn''t taken this opportunity to converse with Astraeus, he fired it off with a resolute chant.


    "Commandment: Arise Bulwark."


    A commandment art was a little different from a usual one in that it was half-unique and half-normal. Simply put, only Gods, or those who''d apotheosised, could use Commandments. They were all top tier arts that afforded the wielder complete command over their respective element which, in turn, could lead to various implementations of the art. They functioned in one way at a base level, that was usually good enough on its own, but could be adapted on the fly to suit the user''s needs and wants of it. Though Commandment series arts were rather basic at a first glance, the real threat of them lay in their raw power and adaptability. For instance, the Bulwark Terros was about to summon could take literally any shape, bend in any which way he wanted it to, cover as much ground as he wanted as well, and was one of Terros'' strongest defensive arts overall. It was a plain wall of earth, yes, but Commandments were concentrated divinity combined with mana so this wall was essentially a miniature God spawn, almost as tough as Terros'' body was. Terros did have some stronger arts in his real form but those were all inaccessible to him now. Besides, most of them were also Commandment arts anyway so the point sort of comes full circle. Commandment arts are the pinnacle of art creation for cultivators and something that only a select few people even get to ever interact with due to the harsh requirement of being talented enough to apotheosise.


    As for Commandments arts themselves, it''s not uncommon to see someone use a Commandment that another individual has used before but, most of the time, these arts are wholly unique. Everyone''s take on Godhood tends to be a little different so it''s not surprising that cultivators take their divinity, and the arts that come with it, in different directions from one another. Still, if somebody wants to just copy an easier art to start off with, to get a feel for their newfound divinity, that''s also not uncommon. Sort of like how beginner cultivators use Water Bullet to familiarise themselves with magic. Actually, Terros'' Bulwark was one such art but it should also be noted that Terros was the original inventor of it and his was still the greatest of them all. Other cultivators had tried to improve upon his greatness but failed each and every time no matter what gimmick they tacked onto the original art. It wasn''t necessarily because Terros was the God of the earth pillar, though that certainly played a very large part in it, it was because of the way his form could interact with it after it was summoned to do its job.


    Not only could Terros summon way more earth for this art by spawning it out of thin air, and thus increase its effectiveness, his own body could merge with the art in colourful ways that were great but wouldn''t be relevant here. He could shift his core through the unbreakable Bulwark to temporarily make himself effectively immune to all forms of damage, he could combine his tendril limbs with the bulwark to launch attacks that can''t be blocked or destroyed, and he can also transform the Bulwark into a a massive, controllable giant to go on the offensive and start a massacre. The Bulwark was still just regular earth at the end of the day, even if imbued with divinity, so he could freely toy with it much like he did regular earth and that was something no other cultivator could replicate unless they too were a golem. Golems making it this far in the cultivation world was pretty rare for the most part and Terros was a one of a kind being in that regard who''d gotten quite lucky during his ascent to Godhood. There were more golems cropping up nowadays, thanks in part to Terros sheltering his kind from hunters of rare goods whenever possible, but for now they were still few and far between. Golems could have an affinity for rarer minerals and people would hunt these unique individuals down to the ends of the earths if nobody intervened but, now that Terros was on the look out for them, they were living longer lives on average and reproducing at higher rates. Maybe there would be a whole host of then by the time Ares climbed to the higher realms as, actually, they repopulated at blistering speeds.


    Honestly, who knows?!


    The upper realms can be rather unpredictable sometimes. One day you''re generating a small intergalactic army of golems, raising them from the dirt like a factory, and the next some asshole cultivator decided to test out a new art on them like they were a bunch of training dummies and obliterated them all without leaving a trace for fun. Random crap like this was abundant in the higher realms and so you just kind of had to keep your head on a swivel to make sure some asshat wasn''t about to blow you to kingdom come with a planet nuking art because they were bored, annoyed that their significant other broke up with them to go marry the rich young master, or whatever other manner of irrelevant nonsense ailed them.


    In short, being a golem was Terros'' greatest strength as his affinity for earth was insurmountable by anybody else meaning that overcoming him would be hard. In fact, it was highly likely there would never be a need to find a replacement God for Terros as he was considered the most indestructible God of them all. Where he fell short on aggressive options, he more than made up for it by just being flat out unkillable to almost everyone in existence. To date, no other God had ever pierced his Bulwark art and nobody had even come close. This was an absolute rule for an absolute wall that could never be overcome... Until now anyway. Terros could feel it in his gravel that Astraeus was not going to be bothered in the slightest by his ''amazing'' defences... Well... Astraeus was a different beast entirely so there was nothing much Terros could really do about this other than take comfort in the fact that only the one God who never spent any time in this dimension could penetrate his wall. That was something! Shattering his Mud Maiden and Bulwark was one thing but Terros'' confidence in himself would still stand tall after this whooping and that was imperative so that he could maintain his public image afterwards. Losing to Astraeus was not a disgrace but rather an inevitability if he set his sights on you for whatever reason. Nobody could judge Terros for getting pushed around like a child here! If they wanted to, they could come and fight this damn robo themselves! This was what Terros was repeating like a mantra in his head to heal his bruised ego. He was still a God at the end of the day, one that had a track record of essentially never losing, so it was only natural this would sting somewhat even if he was a more laid back God compared to others. It''s not that he couldn''t be egotistical, it''s just that he was one of the least overtly proud Gods of them all as he understood it was not a good thing to be excessive about it. He had restraint, and was polite, that was all. He still valued himself higher than anyone not at a God''s level, there was no changing that. For what it was worth, however, the art Astraeus was going to chant would hurt physically a lot more than emotionally so, if that was Terros'' concern, then he really didn''t need to be worried... He would be far too concerned with picking up the pieces of himself rather than worrying about the public''s perception of him by the time all was said and done. The first art might not really break Terros down completely but the second one... Well... Let''s just say that Astraeus was the original inventor of Commandments and the things he could do with them... Were not pretty for the victim.

 Chapter 275: A Robot Speaking in Latin Is Never a Good Sign

    Across the world, large chunks of rocks kept randomly disappearing. Small mountains, large hills, boulders in the middle of nowhere, even rocks underneath the sea were seemingly vanishing without a trace. The truth of the matter though was that Terros had taken them into his body, AKA the planet itself, and was about to repurpose them. The amount of earth he needed to create a Bulwark sufficiently bulky enough to stop Astraeus was monumental and so he was taking an even spread of earth from across the entirety of Sheryashka. As the missing rocks and landmasses sunk down into the core of the planet they were filed into an orderly line and sent straight towards the coliseum in Red Sun to act as pillars and block whatever it was Astraeus was going to do. They all breached through the surface of the arena with grace as Terros'' divinity sunk into them, merging together and giving what would otherwise be dull earthen pillars a glossy shine. These pillars rose upwards and curved, forming intricate patters in and around the coliseum near the base of Astraeus who was hovering up in the sky.


    The pillars created a multi-layered dome as well as few extra walls coming off it to double down on the defences and make it hard to even get to the dome, let alone penetrate it. Offshoots of pillars forming out of the dome would be used to attack whatever attack it was that was coming and slow down / halt the progress of the art. The dome looked small and, for now, it sort of actually was. The underlying truth, however, was that the roots of the dome were long and existed for miles underneath the floor of the arena so the second the dome was destroyed, which would take a considerable amount of effort to begin with, another one would just rise up from the ground and take its place. Terros could form upwards of two hundred domes over and over again in the same spot, each as ''impenetrable'' as the last. If this were any other God except Astraeus, just the first dome would be enough to keep them busy until their summon duration ran out. The entirety of the Bulwark, if cast by Terros'' true form in this same manner, could block out a God for a few thousand years and, even then, the eventual breakthrough would mostly just be a case of the earth''s divinity fading.


    If Terros'' used Bulwark exclusively for defence, nothing should ever realistically get through and, yet, Astraeus spared it no more than a quick glance before looking to the sky and doing his own thing. He wasn''t impressed but, then again, he wasn''t expecting a miracle just because Terros was a God. If Terros could keep Mako and himself safe from the incoming art, and live through it without any significant injuries, then that would be considered a job well enough done in Astraeus'' gleaming red eyes. That was as far as Terros would go but it was the best he could possibly achieve here, that was the result Astraeus had calculated and was now ensuring would come to fruition via his own machinations. Astraeus raised his hand skyward, gesturing with an upturned palm towards the countless dimensions hidden all around in the void behind reality. Each and every single one were all at his command and he could feel their existence even if they weren''t currently tangible or visible in any way. That was about to change, however, as it was high time he summoned his arsenal and kicked things off in a way that only he could.


    "C.r.e.a.t.i.o E.x M.a.t.e.r.i.a."


    The deeply ingrained robotic stutter in Astraeus'' emotionless voice articulated quite nicely the computational power needed to cast an art of this scale as even merely chanting it caused a few hiccups in his circuitry... That or his accent was just poking through again as he''d forgotten to fix it. In this case, it was more likely the former, though. See, it wasn''t just mana or cultivation needed to actualise this art. In addition to those ''ingredients'', enough mental strength to process the location of multiple thousands of dimensions, as well as the remote Teleportation used to summon each and every single one of them, were all strict requirements to get this art off the ground let alone everything that came after. A while back, Ares was thinking about how it was impossible for large scale Teleports down in Sheryashka because nobody possessed the mana for it. Meanwhile, Astraeus was simultaneously Teleporting upwards of tens of thousands of planets inside their respective dimensions at any given moment during this art. One of two things were required to do this; either A; an affiliation for the space-time pillar that was simply unfathomable, greater than even Enyo''s affiliation for the pleasure pillar, or B; the sum of all of Astraeus'' parts that existed and refined themselves over the course of billions of years for the sake of carrying out such functions.


    In short, most of Astraeus'' arts were unique and nobody would ever be able to copy them no matter how hard they tried. Sometimes you could find a unique art scroll, like the one Ares found containing Double Jump, and learn unique arts that way but if Astraeus wrote down this art on such a scroll then anyone who read it would die on the spot. It wouldn''t be pretty either as their head would just blow up and create a real mess. Not of the blood and brain inside their head, no, they would make a mess of the entire planet they were stood atop and take it with them to the afterlife because the explosion would be equivalent to a large nuke. That method of transferring an art would never work and teaching it was also impossible because the steps would take hundreds of millions of years to even comprehend let alone teach. These unique arts were truly impossible to replicate... For now anyway. Now that the fundamentals were in town, when they reached Godhood themselves, one of them might be able to do it if they put their mind to it. Probably Ares, actually, with his nothingness magic as it fit the bill for what was needed so he was closest in the running. He wouldn''t need to do each Teleport separately as he could overlap them all then Shift them around as he pleased, that was maybe the route he would take. not that he would ever copy someone else''s unique art though, there was just way better stuff for Ares to be learning and creating revolving around his own pillar so, unless it was a useful technical or something he could learn quick via an enabler, he just wasn''t going to bother... Although showing up Astraeus and stealing his art for the fun of it did tingle Ares'' inner revenant...


    But that was all hypothetical and not relevant right now. Whether he could or couldn''t and / or would or wouldn''t didn''t change the fact that Astraeus was using it right now and chaos was coming to Red Sun. The sky turned a glitchy purple that was surprisingly easy on the eyes. It flowed like a wave and was neither too dark nor too bright. It was so pretty, in fact, that most people wanted it to stay like this forever if possible! This was doubly true for the spectators who''d just been swallowed up by the Mud Maiden as it was nice to see the sky again and this variant of it was a fun twist that tickled their sun-starved fancy. Anyway, aesthetic aside, this change signalled the beginning of an end to all things and was typically the kind of art that people should fear, not respect. Put in the simplest terms possible, this was the art Astraeus used to clear up dimensions that were no longer in use. Rather than have them loitering about taking up space, he would either use this art on them, or use those dimensions inside this art as projectiles as, either way, no matter which end of the spectrum they were on, everything involved was going to disappear for good. This art summoned countless empty dimensions, pulverised them into small clusters that could be fired at will, and then forced them to crash down to their target like a chain of cloudy meteors. It was a scene straight out of Ragnar?k and it would inevitably come to feel like the end of days was approaching. This was especially true of what would happen at the point of impact when a dimension crashed into the planet.


    Naturally, an entire dimension wouldn''t act like a bog standard meteor as there was a lot more to unpack, literally! When a dimension broke apart after collision it scattered like a fragmentation grenade and fired off its contents in every which way, wreaking even more havoc after the initial impact. Everything that came out of it wasn''t strictly a physical entity, like planets or relics of long-dead civilisations, and the flow of time as well as the boundless space within were also released from their cage. It transformed what was a painful explosion into a mind-bending and reality warping event horizon-esque happening that disoriented anyone caught up in it. Of course disorientation was the least of the victim''s issues when a dimension worth of time was increasing the speed at which exploding stars were sent hurtling into your rib cage... But it was still a somewhat relevant factor! Of course the internal pieces of the dimensions, such as planets and stars, could have their size re-adjusted and so Astraeus was going to make sure things went smoothly here today by lowering the scale of everything. Normally this art would just unload hundreds of thousands of planets in random directions and, while it was an entertaining sight unlike anything else that could ever be seen, other than maybe a never ending pool table for giants, it was maybe a bit too much to use here in its normal form... Against Xhilihx? Perfect... Kind of. Xhilihx would stretch his mouth wide open and use its ginormous tongue to swipe up as many planets as it could while it was being pelted by stray stars and suns. It was almost like feeding a pet in some ways... This sounded cute but it was a problem because feeding Xhilihx was a serious issue that Astraeus needed to overcome if he wanted to use this art because empowering his mortal foe was a stupid move to make just because it was funny. As such, Astraeus altered the art such that he could direct all the time within the detonating dimensions to rot the planets also coming out of them and make them die, turning into a pile of ashes inside Xhilihx''s maw before he could chomp on them and gain sustenance.


    The clouds above parted, splitting down the middle and revealing a ghastly group of deathly white bubbles with intricate patterns inside of them. At a closer glance, those patterns turned out to be the entirety of multiple dimensions and everything that came with them, all mixed and glued together to weave a complex web of history now and forever long forgotten. These dimensions had long since run their course and all life within had failed to survive for one reason or another so the insides of these dimensions were somewhat haunting in their own barren way. Abandoned parking lots in the middle of run down planets, drifting through space meaninglessly with no destination in mind... Well, now, for one last time, they were to serve a purpose as projectile violence given form, albeit a very unusual form.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    At first, there were simply one or two of these bubbles, each the size of a house or so thanks to Astraeus'' tampering, but, as the sky grew a tad darker, and as more clouds gave way to reveal what was hiding behind them, multiple tens of bubbles came into view... Then hundreds... And by the end of the grand reveal at least a thousand of the things were hovering in the air like a cloud of muddy white, gargantuan bees. The purple skyline was now just a hazy gimmick, stuck behind the ominous bubbles that were all perched precariously above everyone''s heads and ready to drop down at a moment''s notice. Though this was supposed to be an epic and heart pounding moment, Ares couldn''t help but feel like this view from below was somewhat similar to what Appa must have seen when it placed the bubble wrap he bought it over its head... Silly shade... The bubbles in the sky were considerably more dangerous than ordinary bubble wrap, however, and Terros and Mako were about to experience it first hand as the bubbles above all began to fall in sync with one another. This was not a constant and consistent, persistent, drawn out bombardment, no, it was giant clusterfuck that was impossible to decipher in the moment. You were either Astraeus, and knew exactly what was happening amidst the deluge of astral barrages, or you weren''t and were like a rat, running through an obstacle course, in a maze with lights blinding you every step of the way, while music blared in your ears, and you were forced to do backflips every so often, before diving into pools of boiling water, and finding a needle in a submerged haystack... Or something akin to that anyway... It was actually probably worse. Still, understanding exactly what was happening was the far harder task compared to surviving, and also less important too, so neither Terros nor the already perplexed Mako, thanks to Astraeus'' Godly presence, cared much for jotting down the details of the onslaught as it happened.


    The bubbles were drawing ever nearer but all Terros could do right now was hide underneath his dome and prepare himself to keep regenerating it as fast as his golem core could allow him to. If he slipped up even once the level of damage both he and Mako would suffer was incredibly large. Hell the bombardment might dig all the way down to the centre of the planet, annihilating Terros entirely by ravaging his core and causing the minor wound he was going to suffer from dying to become something worth concerning himself over in his real form. Thankfully, Terros could roughly estimate the power of this attack and, although things were going to get ugly for a little while, it ought to be possible to get away without too many scratches... And broken bones... That was also going to happen here and there. Mako just kind of had to accept that, and whatever other injuries he suffered provided they weren''t grave, but it was fine. Mako''s gameplan after this didn''t require anything other than for him to chant his last art. Once he did that, his fate would be out of his hands and the fight would basically go on without him. No amount of broken bones, torn open flesh, or rattled and non-functional senses would make a difference for what was yet to come. If anything it was Ares that needed to come out of this in tip top shape as he was going to struggle with this next art regardless of whether he won or lost... Although, in some ways, both outcomes were inevitable given the nature of this mysterious art...


    CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


    It was strange... Although the thousand odd bubbles were all banging against the dome the noise it produced was only a singular occurrence before it all mellowed out and silence took hold of reality. Even now, while tiny planets, like bouncy balls, were being flung around the arena there was still no noise. Either the crash was so astonishingly impactful that reality had to cave in and mute itself so as not to explode from the screeching frequency of the scraping dimensions, or the bundles of space contained within the dimension were spreading out from their bubbles and drowning all forms of sound because there was no longer any air through which sound could travel via vibrations. It all looked and felt so surreal. The bubble explosions were a myriad of colours, sizes, and shapes and they were causing a sort of buggy slowdown effect on the world, almost like the universe''s frame rate was sputtering along and trying to cope with the overload. Astraeus could process this art but could Sheryashka? the domain  was chugging along slowly but more and more explosions kept piling up on top of each other, adding more strain to the world as countless crimson void tears started opening up. The void was actively sucking in some of the explosions and miscellaneous objects flying around so as to reduce the burden on this dimension and help keep it stable. Not that this was intentional or by design, the attack was just naturally powerful enough to have this side-effect come attached with it.


    Down under the dome, Mako was dazed and stuck in a stupor as he lay on his bloody back and stared at the ever cracking ceiling. He''d been hit by some planet shrapnel in multiple places already and was floored before he even knew what hit him. To be precise, a condensed forest, that had over-run an empty planet, was launched from a dead dimension and shot through both Mako''s legs which left him in this current state. That and the skyscraper that pierced his abdomen were his major wounds, leaving him bleeding out on the floor. He managed to sort out his head for long enough to patch himself up but then he just went back to watching the pretty lights above. The dome provided shade but, the split second it was destroyed, before it could return, a hypnotising array of bright lights danced to and fro in his eyes. It was something that should have caused an epileptic fit in even the most unaffected of people but something about the light show was mesmerising. The duality between darkness and incomparable brightness had effectively knocked Mako out and he was going to be half-conscious half-unconscious for the foreseeable future and, as it turned out, the disorienting effect was relevant after all! Mako could no longer protect or heal himself so Terros had to double down and make sure his important organs were all impossible to touch. The extremities? Well, they were getting pounded by small objects even now so it was pretty self-evident Terros had to make some sacrifices here and there. Even if Mako made it out of this with nothing but his torso and head it was still fine as that was all he really needed!


    The bombardment only really came to a halt a good five minutes later after it begun. In reality, the process only took about one minute but the slowdown that caused the world to operate at a sluggish pace had been rather severe due to Astraeus limiting the scope of the explosions. Had he just let the dimensions explode as they pleased then the universe wouldn''t have had to accommodate his bizarre clumping of multiple objects into a single, tiny space and could have handled it better... Although, if he hadn''t done that, then this entire country, and parts of the ones neighbouring it, would have all been turned into a wasteland filled with the corpses of asteroids, planets, and snuffed out suns. Something had to go wrong either way and, as this was clearly the lesser of two evils, the universe had to toughen up a bit and feel the burn for a while.


    Over by the other side of the arena... Well it was pretty hard to tell because the size of the pit over there was rather large. Ares had to use his divine sense to go and check it out as understanding the depths of the despair Astraeus wrought, from where he was sitting on the floor and healing currently, was impossible. Terros had successfully fended off the attack but he was now not even a quarter of his original size, as he had to dedicate some of his current body to the defensive plight near the end as Mako had been in a spot of danger, and he was riddled with holes that had bits of various worlds stuck in him. This was a rather unpleasant experience even for the God of earth himself. He was usually effectively a group of planets clumped up into one giant landmass and, yet, having other, foreign worlds inserted into him and lodged in his body without permission was uncomfortable as they just didn''t fit right, like trying to put a square block into a circular hole. Plus the uninvited planets came attached with their own time-space laws still intact that Terros couldn''t interface with so his body was a mish mash of times and places that kept trying to draw away his conscience to their respective abodes. If he succumbed, his mind would be stolen away to another planet while his body remained lodged here in this reality. Being a God meant his will power was more than strong enough to avoid this and he could ditch this body to create a new one anyway so it wasn''t the end of the world. If anything, his current size was the biggest issue not because of how much damage it meant he''d sustained but because it was indicative of how close things had gotten and how very nearly Mako lost his life. Terros'' core was safe, though, so he would be able to keep Mako in this fight by blocking the next attack too with what little power he had remaining after reforging his broken body.


    As for Mako... Both his legs were gone and so too was one of his arms as he was propped up against what was left of the arena wall on his side of the coliseum. The other arm, the one that ''survived'', was bent backwards. He''d also lost an ear and his lip was cut with blood leaking out and trickling down his neck. One of his eyes was scratched and his chin had a ton of flesh scraped off, so much so that part of his jaw could be seen peeking out of the gap. This was definitely the biggest injury he''d ever sustained throughout his entire life but he was still kicking thanks to Terros'' efforts. His wounds would have been a lot more dire if Terros had been lazy or if Mako didn''t manage to clear his mind once more near the end and throw up some pressure to block a few extra attacks here and there. His eye would have been squished and crushed instead of merely crushed if he hadn''t and his jaw wouldn''t just be hurt, it would be flat out gone.


    Both Mako and Terros were winded and struggling to recover but that didn''t mean they were going to be given time to sort themselves out before Astraeus continued his assault. Furthermore, Astraeus was about to unload an even more powerful attack than the one previously unleashed so they were going to have to figure things out quick or this would be the end of the match without exception. Either way, it seemed Astraeus was convinced this was the end of the road for Terros as he didn''t hold back his tongue anymore. Though the words that came out of his mouth could be construed as smack talk and / or being incredibly unpolite, he only really meant them in the sincerest way possible to his junior God. "F.e.a.r n.o.t l.i.t.t.l.e o.n.e, I s.h.a.l.l m.a.k.e t.h.i.s q.u.i.c.k." Though his words were a blow to Terros'' pride, the earth God would have much sooner heard it a thousand times over than the next few words that came out of Astraeus'' mouth as he was already chanting another art.


    "C.o.m.m.a.n.d.m.e.n.t: V.u.l.n.u.s S.c.l.o.p.e.t.a.r.i.u.m"

 Chapter 276: Costly Mistake

    The clock above Astraeus'' head spun rapidly, gaining speed with every rotation until it became an indecipherable blue and purple blur. The time displayed on the clock was impossible tell as the hands were also in a frenzy, wildly flicking around ot their heart''s content. Though it was supposed to be nothing more than a tool to tell time, the clock was slowly becoming a portal of sorts that led to a space which housed within it some of Astraeus'' greatest treasures. He''d witnessed the birth of countless rare weapons throughout his life and he was free to occasionally pluck them from their respective dimension whenever he found anything that took his fancy. Of course the clock did way more than just act as a place to store Astraeus'' weaponry but it was a side benefit that allowed Astraeus to not worry about misplacing his tools. It was incredibly organised within the clock with each hour location on the clock holding various different categories of treasures so finding what he wanted was a breeze. Plus the amount of storage was unfathomable so he never needed anything silly like a spatial ring in order to carry his stuff around. He was the God of the space-time pillar so if he needed a spatial ring he would become a laughing stock on the spot as such inadequacy would be indefensible.


    As for the treasure Astraeus was summoning, it was a powerful weapon that amplified the damage that all arts cast while using this weapon did. It didn''t have to be an art that came from the treasure specifically, it just had to be used in the casting of the art and that would suffice. For instance, you could fire a Fireball through it and that would work but if you used Shove Earth, which originated from the floor and not the treasure, then it wouldn''t. Basically it was an art amplification device for projectile arts known as the ''Timepiece'' and was a legacy treasure of all things. Regarding what form it took, the treasure was a .44 magnum with a futuristic and timey aesthetic. The chamber was yet another clock and could hold twelve shots in each of the respective hour positions. The barrel was a standard greyish colour but there were some dark blue streaks along it that had small, light blue lights bouncing up and down the length of them. Overall it maintained its original fashionable look but had a more modern finish... Or, well, it was probably more futuristic than modern but for someone like Astraeus it might even be considered old timey. Also, although it hadn''t been summoned quite yet, the Timepiece did also grow to match the size of the wielder, like most personal and legacy treasures, so it wasn''t going to be a giant God wielding a small gun, comical though it would be. It would actually be rather fearsome as Astraeus with a massive gun was either cool or worrying depending on who''s side you were on. Add on to that the fact that the name of his Commandment art translated to ''gunshot wound'' and the incoming pain train was going to be rather severe one would have to imagine...


    Astraeus reached up towards the portal with one hand, creating a scene that was reminiscent of various paintings of mortals stretching their hands towards God above. In this case, the painting was reversed as the God was simply reaching out for his personal favourite tool and it answered him in kind by slowly sinking out of the portal and hovering down towards his grasp. This was a gradual affair but it really made it hit home that this art was going to annihilate absolutely everything because a show this grandiose was rarely if ever followed by anything uninspiring. Astraeus'' hand wrapped firmly around the dark blue handle and he lowered the gun at arms length while making sure to keep his aim steady on Terros'' body. Mako was stuck directly behind him so this was going to be a doozy of a shot as Mako couldn''t move right now. Not that accuracy mattered a ton here as the art wasn''t really the pinpoint type. It did go where it was aimed but it also hit a few other places so Astraeus could have fired it directly down at his feet if he really wanted to and still probably hit his target. Still, he did very much enjoy pulling the trigger while a helpless target was in his sights. He hunted the occasional venator with this bad boy by firing ordinary rounds and treating it like a spot of good sport. Unfortunately a single hit was always enough to blast the venator into smithereens no matter how big it was so his fun time was short lived typically.


    Mana flowed through Astraeus'' wings, making them glow with a hint of purple as his frame was covered in a sheen of a similar colour. All that mana continued rolling through his machinery until it reached his hand, at which point it transferred directly into the gun so that it could fire off the spatial magic. This art had no trace of time in it whatsoever so it was a heavily specialised art that did one thing and did it well. Create holes, much like the name implied, by, ironically, summoning more space. Astraeus'' spatial magic was all powerful and would replace any normal space it touched so all he had to do was launch his magic at any given spot, force out the normal space, and then remove his own to create... Something... It wasn''t quite void / nothingness as there was no tear leading beyond reality so the result of such a strategy was something that couldn''t exactly be explained. Wherever and whenever Astraeus performed this trick, nothing other a blob of stale blackness remained. It was unmoving, untouchable, unbreakable, and very mysterious. If anyone touched it then the hand they used to feel around with would disappear for good. It wasn''t transported somewhere else, like with spatial or nothingness magic, nor was it obliterated like with disintegration... It literally just stopped existing.


    That was all.


    This black stuff was something that went beyond the scope of reality and void combined and it was a power nobody could realistically wield. Even Astraeus could only make it appear and, even then, he had to be careful and considerate of it himself. Much to his dismay, however, it was surprisingly ineffective against Xhilihx as the stupid puppy just ate the black stuff like it was some kind of burnt dessert. That just went to show how frighteningly tough the creature was if it could brush off something that even Astraeus had to worry about. More than anything, the issue with the black stuff was that neither Astraeus nor the pillars could figure out just what the hell it was. They''d had hundreds of millions of years to experiment with it and no results had ever come of it. Even now in the void, whenever Astraeus wasn''t busy, he would be toying around with this bizarre existence in the hopes of getting at least some kind of answer. Funnily enough, however, if Ares saw it he''d know instantly what it was and could even explain it very clearly to Astraeus... Not that he would anyway, this stuff was a secret! It''s not like Ares could wield it or anything but he was indirectly familiar with it and had heard of the stuff a while back when he first entered the void. Technically he would be able to wield it one day but that was nowhere near coming to fruition so, for now, he just had to hope he was never hit by it because that would give the game away. If Astraeus couldn''t survive it and, yet, Ares could just walk it off without so much as a scratch then Astraeus would really start pestering him for answers he truly didn''t want to give. Astraeus, after using his art, would notice Ares raise his eyebrow at the black stuff but he wouldn''t think too much of it because he assumed Ares was having the same initial thought as him, that this stuff was disintegration of some kind. Even now Astraeus felt like that answer was the closest he''d come to discovering the truth but he wasn''t able to connect any dots as he just didn''t have enough information.


    Anyway, right now, whether he knew what it was or not didn''t much matter as what it could definitely do was kill Terros without exception. The real question was could Terros protect Mako? Yes the elf couldn''t move of his own volition but that didn''t mean Terros couldn''t move him and play an annoying game of ''which earth pile is Mako hidden underneath?'' Due to not being in his real form Astraeus would just have to take a bunch of guesses and simultaneously attack a large chunk of them while hoping to hit his target via sheer luck. It was the first time he''d ever relied on such a thing and his weakness was killing him internally. He''d never invested in methods of detecting foes because, well, the vast void didn''t really offer much space to hide... Other than one annoyingly large clump of treasures floating through the void, which Astraeus would introduce Ares to at some point and explain something that was pretty much unknown to most cultivators, there was simply nothing in the void that could block Astraeus'' far reaching divine sense. What use did he have for a detection art or magic? With his spatial magic it would be a cinch to locate anyone, anywhere. Hell, he pretty much did it all the time with his voyeurism on Ares'' dimension so the tool was already sort of there, he just needed to repurpose it. As a result of today, Astraeus would go on to create such an art so as not to humiliate himself in the future if Ares ever summoned him again in a similar situation. Astraeus, primordial God and official numero uno, bested by clumps of dirt. For the first time in a long while he felt agitation welling up within his heated circuitry. This had happened in front of a junior, no less... Or, rather, this had happened because of a junior so Astraeus made sure to channel a little extra mana than he would have otherwise to really pulverise this pebble construct and send him packing down into the dirt where he belonged!


    BBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG


    Astraeus had charged the shot for long enough to satisfy him and so he deftly pulled the trigger with quick flick of his finger. The gun was naturally extremely loud given its size but it was a crisp and very pleasing noise that never got old. If anything, hearing it on such a large scale was an auditory experience worth the ringing in everyone''s ears afterward. Astraeus was capable of lowering the volume, and controlling the absurd level of recoil after firing, but he chose not to alter either and simply let the gun do its thing because handling this beauty was addictive at times. it was a a wild, bucking bronco and simply pulling the trigger was a form of entertainment in and of itself. After Astraeus shot the Timepiece the recoil propelled the gun upwards where he held it vertically aloft as the art went about destroying everything in its path... Not that the path, or even the shot, were visible. There was a bang, that couldn''t be missed no matter how hard you tried, but there was no bullet! No magic, no bullet, no impact, no holes. This was an unusual sight as it almost looked like Astraeus had fired a blank but the truth was that this art was insidious as it snuck around by travelling through space. Essentially, this art fired a large clump of hidden spatial magic through the pre-existing space and it eventually scattered, breaking off at various points t go indifferent directions. The spatial magic that deviated would go on to fire off the same art in other, semi-random places. Astraeus could angle his shot such that these spatial offshoots were aimed to an extent but, for the most, part, like the previous art, it was way more interesting to just let chaos take the wheel and dictate the flow of Astraeus'' arts. A lot of them had this scatter property as he was rather fond of fire and forget arts that hit hard and in a wide area. His arts already packed a tremendous punch so making them unavoidable like this was the next logical step. It was a simple addition he made to most of his arts but, hey, if they were all un-block-able and un-dodge-able then he was the one who had the last laugh! Plus it''s not like the extra shots and scattered projectiles were worthless against a single foe as they could all bounce around and hit the original target anyway. The arts were all still primarily single-target focused it''s just that they had a pretty good matchup against swarms of opponents such as the weaker venator armies roaming around in the void.


    As for what the outcome of Astraeus pulling the trigger looked like, it took a second to understand just how devastating this art was going to be because the first ''hole'' had only just been pried open. From Astraeus'' perspective, a part of the landscape was now blacked out in a spherical shape that was nearly perfectly rounded. Outside the coliseum, an empty house in a back alley had a strange, deep black ball embedded in the middle of it. This ball had seemingly spawned out of nowhere and was now blotting out the view of everything in or behind it. A number of these balls cropped up all over the city in worrying places near the foundation of buildings, walls that were integral to upholding the rest of the architecture it was attached too, the arena floor, and even Terros himself had a giant black ball stuck in his chest. Terros had been directly at gun point as far as Astraeus was concerned so he was never going to miss his shot. Sure the art took a while to travel but, the second Astraeus pulled the trigger, the art had technically already arrived. The target was already bloated with both natural space and Astraeus'' hand crafted space, it''s just that the mana took a while to reach it and dig out the two types of space. Everything within this double space-bloated area was frozen in place, unable to move through the infinity trapping them.


    Yes Terros had seen the art coming, it was pointed right at him, but he felt a weird circle obstacle in his stomach that was elastic and never ending. It was like gum that stuck him to the floor and prevented him from moving even a single muscle. Next thing he knew, that ball had become an opaque, abyssal, and deadly black ball but still he felt nothing right now. He was frozen, petrified on the spot, but, much like the other black balls dotting the city, they weren''t really doing anything right now. They just sort of existed as a means of locking down the surroundings and Terros was wondering what came next. The simple answer was...


    Nothing.


    The black balls just disappeared and that was the end of the art... It looked and felt extraordinarily underwhelming as it happened as there were no loud and showy explosions or anything of the sort really... Although it was worth mentioning the initial impact of it had been far inferior to the result, that was for sure. Everywhere a black ball existed, now stood nothing. The arena floor had semi-circle shaped holes dug out of it, countless buildings throughout Red Sun crumbled as the black ball had effectively become their foundation before disappearing and taking the original wall with it, and Terros'' entire body, including a small segment of his head, had vanished. The black ball arrived, overlapped reality, and then disappeared while taking the reality that existed there with it. It was a quiet process, and not a massive spectacle in any way, but the destruction wrought was impossible to measure as the city had only just begun collapsing. Nearly a thousand of these black balls had torched the immediate landscape and there were perfectly round holes absolutely everywhere.


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    Even the coliseum had been clipped because what this truly art did, that was truly horrifying as soon as anyone realised it, was that it wasn''t technically just a single area each ball affected. Oriented from Astraeus'' line of sight, each ball would create a hole in everything that was in its travel path. Put simply, every black ball Astraeus saw became a bullet wound tha travelled forward forever, unburdened by distance or obstacles. The black ball that had been inside Terros also shot further down and behind it, penetrating the earth and creating holes throughout multiple earth layers until it reached Terros'' core. Terros'' core no longer existed but there were a bunch of holes behind where it once was that signified Astraeus'' art had been here and passed through. In fact, the art was so misleading, in terms of the scale of damage dealt, that people were only now realising it wasn''t impossible to peek through one of these bullet''s pathways and see all the way through to the other side of the planet. Astraeus would fix this before he left, because it would be awkward for everyone here if he didn''t, but the fact that he''d just effectively shot a shotgun blast of reality eradicating bullets that pierced through an entire planet was not lost on the spectators. They''d originally believed he just created a few holes here and there but, for every hole, there were at least another hundred behind the first one on the same path it had taken from Astraeus'' gun. Add each of the thousand black ball''s hundred or so extra holes it created and the result was, ironically, unholy. If viewed from high up or from space, this planet looked like a ball of cheese in this one specific area. Astraeus had just done more damage to Sheryashka with a single art than it had ever suffered throughout the entire rest of its life thus far. It was like taking a shotgun to a basketball except for the fact that Sheryashka, thankfully, wasn''t deflating right now although no one could blame it if it did. Again, though this art looked plain fir a brief spell, it was undeniably the most terrifying thing anyone here had ever seen and likely would ever see for a good chunk of their lives. Unless the people here went on to cultivate and reach much higher domains something like this would be the magnum opus of arts they''d witness from birth to death. It''s magnitude was only really retroactively hitting these people but it was certainly hitting them hard.


    Terros, who had been caught up in this art directly, had done little more than deflate and die as he was booted out of Sheryashka and sent reeling back home. Even his tiny, rocky ball clone was long gone and couldn''t be supported anymore because of the severity of the attack he''d received so Mako was going to have do without his Godly pal for a few days, maybe even weeks. Terros expected maybe a small chip on his well hidden core but the entire thing was gone! Not just broken but outright gone. Even he had no idea how much this would affect him. He had support from various other Gods if he needed it, especially the nature pillar deity whom he had a rock solid relationship with, but the fact that he needed it after his summon was obliterated, which should have been a small inconvenience and nothing more, just went to show how preposterously powerful Astraeus was. Terros should have had the advantage as he was less restricted by his summoner''s cultivation base and, yet, this had been the result. A one sided slaughter wasn''t even entirely a correct assessment because he was somehow still underselling what had happened to him. The one consolation here was that he would not be ridiculed by the other Gods for this because A; Astraeus was Astraeus and, B; Terros had actually done a very good job here. Not only did he protect Mako by shuffling him around at the last minute to somewhere safer, which was the main goal Terros had from the start, he''d even managed to launch his own sneak attack while Astraeus wasn''t being vigilant.


    Regarding the first point, Mako was ''safe'' and sound as he lay in a pool of his own blood... Half-dead... Yes Terros saved him but that didn''t mean he wasn''t smacked around by the art a bit too. Terros had miscalculated the potential area that could be affected by the art, as it''s deceptively monstrous range was tricky to gauge at a glance, so Mako was nicked in his abdomen and now the blood was flowing without pause. He had to patch himself up but it was still way better than what could have happened had Terros been even a micro second slower on the uptake. Terros realised that he was about to become stuck, unable to move thanks to the overlapping space, and manged to swap Mako''s position one final time underneath the earth and hide him somewhere else before he was halted in place and unable to make any further adjustments. It was like the shell game, the kind that Aejaz was proficient at, and Terros had won this round by keeping his hidden object safe from prying hands. Thankfully it was the only round he had to play because he was very much no longer capable of playing anymore anyway as he was deader than dead. Long story short, Mako was just about alive although he''d certainly seen many better days. In fact, he''d probably never seen worse days. He''d died in simulated fights against various trainers on his home planet, and against Ares in the pagoda, but most of those deaths were instant and punished his mistakes or his lack of cultivation compared to the person doing him in. This was a slow and painful process that was eating away at him gradually as he was beaten and unceremoniously kicked around the arena. He''d held the upper hand at one point, multiple points actually, but right now he was once again on the back foot... Kind of. He did still have his one final art up his sleeve, a final gambit of sorts, but there was also a little something else going in his favour that Terros had done.


    As previously mentioned, Terros had fired off a sneak attack at roughly the same time he swapped Mako around underground. This sneak attack wasn''t aimed at Astraeus, however, because he wasn''t the problem that was going to persist throughout the rest of this match. No, much like how Astraeus aimed at Terros'' summoner, Mako, Terros'' aimed at Astraeus'' summoner, Ares, who was still struggling from back when he used Timeline Splice. He was resting on his knees, and letting his regeneration piece himself back together, so he would naturally find it hard to avoid an attack that was sprung on him from close range. Ares had been so engrossed in everything that he''d forgotten something very basic. Terros was the earth God. Sitting around on the ground was a death sentence! There was a reason Astraeus had been floating in the air this entire time. Sure he didn''t need to but it was a force of habit to always respect his opponent''s strengths and play around them. Ares, on the other hand, instead of Voidwalking up to safety, had sat his dumb ass down on the arena floor and forgotten to move. Astraeus was so concerned with attacking his opponent he forgot to defend his own ally which just went to show that, no matter how strong a person was, their experiences shaped their weaknesses in ways that could be exploited by anyone with a keen eye.


    Since when did Astraeus have to protect anyone? He hunted alone in the void and, at most, had to defend idle dimensions from Xhilihx. Even then, though, he was mostly on the attack to push the beast back to where it belonged in the depths of the void so trying to keep someone alive was something he''d never done before. He''d done an excellent job of striking down the opposition but Ares had just been impaled directly underneath him as an earthen spike shot up through the ground and took away roughly 1/5th of his body. Ares'' right knee, a chunk of his own abdomen, much like Mako''s, one of his lungs, a part of his shoulder, and his right eye were all impaled as he was strung up on the spike like a war trophy of sorts. It wasn''t uncommon to make an example of the losing side in a war and hang up their corpses from pikes and such and this looked quite like that as Ares had been lifted off the floor by this deadly attack and hoisted above the arena. His cries had gone unnoticed by Astraeus up until now but he was already fading away and could nothing to help him. Had he anymore time here Astraeus would have been able to reverse time and undo the attack but Terros had aimed it such that Astraeus would run out of his summon duration before he could do anything.


    Astraeus arts were powerful but that just shortened his stay here in Sheryashka and worked against him. Had he used weaker arts he still would have gotten the job done but he might have actually been able to aid Ares as well after. This was all a result of his narrow mindedness due to this being a real combat scenario, something he was unfamiliar with. He had mud slinging contests against Xhilihx but that was nothing more than a one to one comparison of brute force. He had play dates with the venators but that was the equivalent of bitch smacking a child around for the fun of it. He had no real experience in a war zone or in a fight were underhanded tricks were valid and winning the battle didn''t always mean winning the war. In short, though he very much beat Terros, that could never be denied, he''d lost overall and been outdone by his junior. This was why nobody would fault Terros because, objectively, he''d done more here during this match than Astraeus who''d been a bit of a let down, actually. His arts lived up to his reputation but his errors in judgement did not do him any justice.


    Sure some blame could be placed on Ares for not being hyper aware but he''d already done a lot more than Mako had done. His Omniscience and vigilance allowed him to inch to the side and partially dodge the spike, preventing death, so he''d already performed a miracle of his own here. Mako had been basically unmoving and yet Terros defended him while striking a moving Ares harder than Astraeus struck Mako. As far as being a bodyguard went, Astraeus sucked! Though he was more concerned with the sheer agony he was experiencing, Ares made doubly sure to curse that useless star bastard for his ineptitude in this whole affair.


    Astraeus cared not for the curses that he could feel emanating off Ares'' foul aura but he did feel a hint of admiration and respect for Terros for capitalising off his lacking data. This scenario would be pivotal for filling in his data banks which is what Astraeus cared about more than anything right now. Ares would live and so it wasn''t a complete failure. Not that he really cared if Ares died, this wasn''t a real fight anyway and Mako winning wasn''t a big deal from his perspective... What a loser mentality! If Ares could hear this shmuck''s thoughts he would get up off the spike, pick it up, and shove it up this robo''s ass! Quite frankly, Astraeus could fuck right off back the void and stay there for the rest of eternity for all Ares cared! Deep breaths. Deep breath... Ok, maybe not, deep breaths hurt right now...


    Ares groaned in pain as his right side had been badly mutilated in that last ditch attack. Worse still, seeing Ares in a worse state than himself lit a fire in Mako and brought him back from the brink of insanity. With Astraeus having fully faded away now, the remnants of his aura disappearing meant Mako''s mind was functional at a normal rate once more and so healing himself up in a jiffy was no problem. He just summoned more mechanical parts to keep himself afloat and he was a good as new practically. As long as his heart and / or brain wasn''t destroyed, he could just keep doing this. Meanwhile, though Ares regeneration would fully heal him properly without the need for spare parts, it would take far, FAR too long to be relevant, at least a couple weeks which meant nothing as the match would be over by then and the Training Field would fix him itself, and so he was going to have to tough out these miserable injuries and fight on with them constantly nagging away at him. Ares was confident he could still pull of the win against Mako because the elf surely had nothing left and was pretty crap in head on fights up close and personal. All Ares had to do was walk over to this insufferable opponent and read him his last rites while strangling him to death for dragging this on for so long.


    All of the thrill Ares had once felt was replaced by agitation and he was starting to realise that these long and drawn out fights were really not his style. He would way rather lose quickly than win painfully slow because watching every single one of his plans fail or backfire was getting on his nerves! Although a large part of his anger was that the last issue wasn''t even his own damn fault! He wasn''t responsible for the recent failure, Astraeus was! Stupid robo... Wait and see how I punish you for this one day... Ares shook his head with a belaboured sigh and started advancing towards Mako but had to halt in place when he saw the elf sporting an evil grin... "Shit." Ares cursed out loud because this sight meant the elf had one more trick up his sleeve and was about to play it.


    Ares didn''t know what was coming next but what he did know is that his own options were well and truly limited. If Mako had one more means at his disposal that was significant then Ares would probably bite the dust here as a result of Astraeus'' stupidity. He was still feeling energetic but his body was not holding up very well and it was a testament to Ares'' will power that he could even still move let alone fight. Regardless, Ares was about to find out what was in store for him as Mako walked over the nearest wall and sat down against it while chanting. As Mako was preparing himself to be put out of commission, Ares assumed this art had some recoil to it, much like Timeline Splice, and that was a both good and bad thing. Good because it meant Ares could try and sneak attack the wretched elf to end this here and now because he wouldn''t be able to defend himself. Bad because it meant this art was going to be a powerhouse and might make Ares'' life borderline impossible to live freely. If this art could hound him, and keep him stalled for long enough without being able to advance upon Mako, Ares would keel over and his body would just stop moving. He was on a time limit here and it was basically half-dead Ares with nothing vs incapacitated Mako with a single art defending him. As for the art in question, the one that would decide the end result of this entire gruelling match, it''s name was...


    "Ersatz."

 Chapter 277: Know Thy Self, Know Thy Enemy.

    "Hahaha well... Hello there handsome..." Ares couldn''t help but laugh in a situation like this as he stood opposite a direct copy of himself. Of all the final hurdles, he himself had to show up and be a nuisance. His prowess for annoying people as a revenant had transcended logic and could even affect himself now. Of course the truth of the matter was that Mako''s Ersatz art was behind all of this and could create a near identical clone of... Anything? Was that it? It sounded about right. Ares had his big art, his Perish Wheel, which was the current pinnacle of destruction. So this was Mako''s? The pinnacle of creation was just to create someone stronger than you and have them do all the dirty work? Ares couldn''t tell if he was impressed or insulted by this end. Was he even really fighting Mako at this point or had the pitiful elf just given up and caved in, indirectly admitting Ares was his better and this was the only way out for him? Such a massive cop out... Ares was honestly a little indignant. If he had to guess, aside from personal belongings, bloodlines, and contracts, so his treasures, artifacts, and Astraeus'' summon amongst a few other things, this Ares clone was going to be able to do everything he could. All his arts, all his weapon mastery, all his pressure, and all his combat savviness was ingrained deep into this clone and Ares could tell it was roughly between 95 and 99% as strong as he was at full strength. Ares had been put through the ringer and so, logically, there was no way for him to win this duel. If he''d been at full strength himself then he would be able to cinch out a victory by exploiting the clone''s imperfect nature but here? Now? The word ''impossible'' was the only one that came to mind to describe this current predicament. The only solace here was that Mako could only imbue the clone with the knowledge he possessed of Ares, which must have been why the damn bastard had been acting like a stalker since the very beginning and trying to gather information on him, so there was still one or two things left in Ares'' toolkit that Mako might not have foreseen. There was a non-zero chance Ares could come out on top here but timing was key so he was going to have to grin and bear this situation on his own for a while.


    Ares let out a small chuckle as a small realisation dawned on him. How many clones of him were there going to be at this rate?! First the pagoda clone, then the one he saw in the Timeline Splice, and now this? Ares was going to be everywhere at this rate! Future historians were going to have a field day discovering long lost Ares and unearthing his shit eating grin in every nook and cranny of the dimension. Although, on that note, Mako''s clone was more like a summon so that one wouldn''t see the light of day too often. Mako was unconscious right now so the damage he took from casting this art was severe and he likely couldn''t use it all too often save for it being a last resort. That or whenever he needed Ares destruction magic for whatever reason. Annoyingly, although the elf could copy just about anyone, he was almost definitely going to keep using Ares in the future because why the hell wouldn''t he? The clone, when summoned, had it''s cultivation base automatically match Mako''s so cheating with an abominably strong matriarch clone wasn''t possible and, at that point, who else was stronger than Ares when everything was equalised? It was almost flattering in a way that Mako''s best option was him but Ares also kind of wanted to file a restraining order. Hounding him, and people around him, like a puppy for information was cute and all but a portable Ares? Now Mako was just being a creep! Even his own wives only had a body pillow! Ares almost felt pity for the slave labour his clone was inevitably going to be used for in the future. Also, this damn shmuck better not use his face to do evil deeds and ruin his reputation! Sigh. Ares couldn''t help but be reminded that Mako was a fundamental champion just like him and so something completely unfair like this was par the course. This art had really made it hit home that he couldn''t just sweep Mako''s existence under the rug and treat him like an annoying younger brother who was looking for attention all the time. Whether Ares liked to admit it or not, Mako was a challenge... Although right now it was more like Ares himself was the challenge... And what a challenge it would be at that. This really was going to be the hardest fight he''d ever been a part of and there was no two ways about it. He wasn''t just fellating himself, he was damn good ok?!


    Ares understood he was going to have it rough here but he was also kinda excited. He''d never had a chance to go toe to toe with someone like... Well someone like him! Somebody who''s weapon mastery was just as proficient as him. Someone who''s magic hit like a truck like his. Someone who could cleverly navigate a fight like him. He''d heard that there were some Training Fields that could simulate combat against oneself but that was not the kind of thing Ares would be able to get his hands on for a long time coming so this was actually quite invaluable! If Mako didn''t have his own adventures to go off on after the tournament Ares would have loved to have the elf stick around, wilfully or otherwise, and just keep summoning himself to spar with. It was a great way to improve because the clone would always be only slight worse than him, enabling him to win in any given scenario if he fought perfectly. Plus the clone would constantly improve as he did and its raw strength was always a little higher than Ares'' own due to the cultivation advantage. There wasn''t a better sparring partner in the world! Just not right now damn it! Of all the states Ares just had to be in, half-dead was the one that he got stuck with now that he was meeting such a cool guy for the first time! Was his hair ruffled? Were his clothes out of place? Though he joked internally about such matters it was worth mentioning that if some random passer by stumbled into the coliseum and saw this whole mess they would think ''Ares'' was being attacked by some monster mimic that had been beaten back and pummelled to within an inch of its life. Ares, the real one, did not look like he was the original right now as his bloodied and bruised look did him no favours.


    There was only thing for it, to attack the clone and try and give it what for. The other thing in Ares favour here was that the clone had to protect Mako and it couldn''t let the real Ares slip by otherwise he would win regardless of who was weaker right now. Ares held no hope for magic here as the clone could cast Not Even Light and swallow up just about everything Ares could throw at him. Ares had tested it before and Not Even Light was actually capable of stopping even a Perish Wheel to some degree so, honestly, maybe Not Even Light was his strongest art? If it was capable of stopping a Perish Wheel it was definitely in the running. Not fully, mind you, but it could stop it enough such that Ares using it here was pointless and a waste of mana. If Ares was going to use an art, he would be wasting his time if he threw it at Mako unless his sole goal was to distract the clone for whatever reason... But that wasn''t a viable strategy in the long run. The clone had full mana reserves whereas Ares did not. The last thing Ares wanted was to get hit with a Grim Cessation because he was careless with his remaining mana. That would well and truly be a disappointing end to this match and he would much rather go down swinging than dying in such a boring way.


    First things first, do not pull out a sword under any circumstance. Swords were Ares'' most comfortable weapon and so the same would be true of the clone. If Ares had to guess, his own creativity was a notch above the clone''s and so using unfamiliar weapons would be to his benefit way more than to the clone. They would both be new to a lot of the arsenal they were about to wield, having only touched most other weapons once or twice here and there, but Ares was willing to bet he could do more with them than the clone could because the clone did not have Dominus inside his head. Yes, that was one measure Ares still had that the clone did not. Dominus could switch in at a key moment, push an opening that Ares forged with blood, sweat, and tears, and win the duel. There was one other trick, technically two, that Ares had up his sleeve that he''d never shown before but everything else needed to come first before he could piece this victory together one move at a time. He had a long term goal that he''d shared with Dominus and now it was just a matter of reaching it without faltering early in the process of getting there. There was a heavy burden on Ares but knowing that this situation could have been a whole lot worse was uplifting in its own way.


    If Mako''s last art hadn''t been something that could be overcome with weapon skill, which is where Dominus would be able to save Ares'' hide, then Ares would have likely lost already with no way out. Sure Dominus was resourceful but an injured body against magic, and not a living creature, meant Dominus'' usefulness would be limited. Thankfully, although this situation wasn''t exactly great either, it was still optimal for Dominus. Ares honestly couldn''t remember if Mako knew about the full extent of Dominus and how he could take over but the answer was likely no otherwise Mako might not have looked so confident summoning this clone. He might have even opted to pick someone else, someone like Enyo who could stall out the Dominus switch in. Sure Ares wouldn''t die if he took a more defensive approach but Mako was only temporarily unconscious. He would be coming back soon enough and would still be in a better condition than Ares, especially after forfeiting his body to Dominus in its current state which was invariably going too put a ton of strain on him. It would be an easy win after that... Although that depended on whether Dominus would be able to get past an Enyo clone and that was up in the air. He''d already shown off that one technique that allowed him to bypass Enyo''s barriers by turning himself into a living mental attack so maybe Mako was just screwed here after all? It would have been the perfect art to end this fight had it not been for the complication that was Dominus and Ares was incredibly grateful to have the guy leeching and freeloading around in his blood stream right about now. He could even hear him raring to go despite the fact that the body he was going to take over was... Rough, to put it gently. That was just Dominus being excited for a good old challenge though, especially after getting riled up watching Rox overperform earlier, so Ares thought little of it.


    What to choose, what to choose. Ares sized up the clone sizing him up and opted for a spear. There was no rhyme or reason for this pick, he just went with the first thing he found in his Primordial Blade and decided that it would do. There was no predicting what kind of fighting style his clone was going to stick with so being just as unpredictable himself, and putting basically no thought into any of this, was the right way to go about it. Your enemy can''t know what you''re doing if you don''t! And, right now, there were two spear wielding idiots with no clue what they were doing so everyone, including the spectators, couldn''t possibly understand what was about to happen! "So, uh, you visit this place often?" Ares'' small talk was met with silence as the two cultivators circled one another like hawks waiting for the right time to strike. Either the Ares'' clone didn''t have half real Ares'' personality or Mako wasn''t yet capable of making it speak much if at all. There was definitely still room to upgrade this art for Mako which was yet another form of relief for Ares as it gave him that much more leeway. That was part of why he kept speaking, to try and figure out what kind of limits this thing had. It might have seemed inconsequential but if this thing had to give up, or struggle with, basic functions like speech then there were going to be a few other corners cut when it came to the more important stuff. Ares wasn''t just trying to start a conversation because he was annoying! Give him some credit!


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Ares was in a position wherein he had to make the first move. He didn''t know how long Ersatz lasted, or how long Mako would remain clocked out, so he had to take advantage of what he knew for sure; he was on a time limit. He would only get weaker before his regeneration powers could start to properly fix anything and the longer he waited the worse it would get. He hated having to be the one to aggress but, after he''d essentially forced the Genesis to do the same earlier, this could be considered karma in a way. And thus, Ares kicked things off against his clone with a straightforward thrust of the spear. There was no glamour here, he wanted to gauge what calibre his clone was at before committing to riskier attacks so he stuck with a plain approach that was easy to back out of... And yet his clone still tried to pull the wool over his eyes! The rat tried to replicate the thrust and meet it head on. If he''d been successful then Ares would have been overpowered and had his weapon flung out of his hand. If he wasn''t able to bring another weapon out in time his clone would then run him through and that would be game over already. Ares saw this coming from a mile away, probably because it was exactly what he''d do if he were in the clone''s shoes, and gave up on the attack. He could have tried converting it into a something else but he was worried the clone would have already predicted that. And thus, the stalemate was back and nobody had moved even an inch since it first ''ended''... This was going to be hard... The clone was in a position where all it had to do was copy Ares'' attack to the letter and it would win each and every single time... Ares had to think outside the box and go for longer back and forths in which his ingenuity could outpace the clone''s. The issue now was figuring out how to launch an attack that could catch the clone off guard and allow Ares to get into the groove without making it obvious he wasn''t feinting an attack off the get go. He couldn''t commit to his first attack, and the clone knew it, so it would be keeping an eye for fake outs...


    Ah fuck it.


    Ares started walking forwards towards the clone... And that was all he did. He was banking on the idea that he might come up with a plan on the fly the nearer he drew to his opponent. This was unbelievably stupid but the clone was pretty dumbstruck by this casual walk and had allowed Ares to get surprisingly close off the back of this stunt. The two were at poking distance with their spears but neither of them were sure what to do because Ares was still just meandering towards the clone like he was taking a pleasant stroll. The fight had become so high level that it wrapped around and became an absolute farcical joke to everyone else. The spectators were watching the culmination of this entire match go up in flames as neither the clone nor the real Ares were taking this seriously at all as far as they could tell. Even the experts were baffled by this strange turn of events. Of course, nobody here was more confused than Ares who''s brain had just shut down and refused to come up with an idea worth using... or maybe his brain was doing this on purpose? He''d gotten unreasonably close to the clone as of right now via this stupid method so either his brain was working overtime and Ares didn''t realise it or this was just a massive stroke of nonsensical luck. At this point, he''d walked up to the clone''s face and could literally breathe on him if he wanted so, no matter how weird this approach had been, it clearly worked in one way or another! Neither Ares nor clone wanted to launch an attack because this was just who Ares was; he utilised his dexterity, footwork, and speed to counter attack a lot more often than he initiated an offensive of any kind so this was the natural conclusion. Just staring at each other until the other person did something. As soon as one of them raised their arm even an inch all hell would break loose and not even Dominus, the almighty expert, could tell where this was going. Dominus liked inventing methods of winning on the fly but even he''d never done something like this before so his expertise was completely irrelevant. It was just two Ares about to do... Something? Both Ares were hatching their own plans whilst they stared each other deep in the eye and it looked like things were about ignite and kick off soon as both were taking subtle actions that were not lost on the foe in front of them.


    The real Ares slowly lowered his right hand into one of his pockets while the clone shuffled its right foot on the spot and repositioned itself multiple times, each by no more than an inch. Ares placed the but of the spear on the ground and angled it forward near the tip while the clone partially leaned back. Ares opened his mouth, ready to chant, while the clone mimicked him and readied itself to do the exact same. So many small moves were made, each with their own nuance, but they allowed each other to do it because, within the multiple layers of combat preparation forming every second, they''d each prepared counter measures upon counter measures for what they could tell the other person was doing. This was all one convoluted mind game that would kick off a series of events that would put one of these two opponents into an advantageous position by the time it was done and, from there, they could begin their assault on the foe standing opposite them properly. In other words, everything they were about to do was simply a greeting of sorts that would pave the way for actual combat to kick off for real shortly thereafter.


    Ching


    The clone had shifted its feet around in order to plant Shock Beads that had now all risen up out of the destroyed arena floor, acting as the catalyst for chaos and becoming the spark that would begin the showdown. Ares could see this happening, the clone planting the Beads earlier, in real time thanks to Omniscience so his method of dealing with this was to summon a few Block Rocks into his hidden hand resting in his pocket. He''d held onto them and waited patiently for this attack so, now that it was all going down, Ares flicked the Block Rocks up and out of his pocket, perfectly sniping the Shock Beads with them like they were pool balls and forcing them to ricochet away from Ares. Even if the clone detonated them the Block Rocks would follow suit and protect Ares. Making the Shock Rocks blow up was pointless and, besides, the clone had a much larger issue to deal with as Ares'' spear was hurtling towards its head, and showing no signs of slowing down, so it just let the Beads fly off into the distance.


    Ares had positioned his spear earlier such that he could launch it off the ground via an Echo. He sent the Echo down through the spear''s shaft and had it detonate on the floor, causing it to propel the spear forward like launching a miniature rocket. Just like how Ares predicted the Shock Beads, the clone predicted this Echo and spear combination and, so, the small lean it did earlier allowed it to dodge the spear with relative ease without leaving him in a perilous position. And now this was where things would get interesting. Both of the combatants actions up until this point could be reasonably predicted given ample thought but... What next? Any single art could come out of their mouths so now it was time to settle who would be walking away with an advantage and could lump on the pressure consistently without backing down. There were some small context clues that allowed the two Ares to rule out some arts off the bat. Slow arts, like Perish Wheel or Grand Annihilation were not happening ever, there wasn''t enough room to cast these without getting decked in the jaw. Esoteric Compression was pointless because, although Ares had his bloodline, the clone possessed enough pressure to make the art nearly meaningless with proper defences. Real Ares wouldn''t use Annihilation Echo because the clone could just use a regular Echo and then the trade would be hideous for an already injured Ares even if the clone sustained more damage outright. The clone couldn''t use Voidwalk because it would struggle to exist in the void even temporarily. One or two quick trips might be fine but prolonged exposure would result in its death at the hands of an overwhelming crushing force. It could Shift once or twice but having Voidwalk up and running would basically be suicidal as the clone didn''t possess an affiliation for the pillar like Ares did. So many options, and yet so few valid ones... What were they going to choose? Well, the clone was first to start chanting regardless! As a side note, this chant, or attempt at it anyway, proved that the clone could speak just not very much. Again, not important, but still handy to help gauge how advanced a clone it was. Anyway, as for the art...


    "Black Blosso..."


    "Spike."


    Spike?! Why on earth does he know that?! These were the thoughts of the spectators who''d been thrown for a complete loop by Ares who was currently casting a darkness pillar art that he had no business casting in the first place! Wasn''t he using dedication cultivation on the destruction pillar?! Since when did the darkness pillar become an open pillar?! It seemed these spectators had forgotten about the Nyxian Prowler from Aejaz'' match which had yet to make an appearance this fight. It was coming in handy now as Ares had stealthily pulled it out earlier when he put his hand in his pocket. The Block Rocks weren''t the only thing he pulled out of the Blade and now the Prowler was doing its assassin / ambush job extraordinarily well. Ares had learnt Spike after watching Aejaz'' match because a quick art, good for interrupting people at range, was something he didn''t really possess. It wasn''t supposed to kill anyone ever but it was a fantastic tool to add to his already expansive arsenal. Point in case, not only did the clone not have access to the darkness pillar, and therefore had no access to Spike giving Ares a versatility edge, the short chant of Spike was unmatched by anything the clone could fire off that would matter. Spike was a quick, one syllable chant and son regardless of what art the clone picked, it was going to get interrupted.


    Ares knew his own art pool like the back of his hand and the only option that would have been quick enough here to not get interrupted was a plain Echo... But what was the point of that? The clone would have to be playing 4d chess, predict an art it didn''t know Ares could even use, and perform a ranged Echo flick as it leapt out the way of the incoming Spike in order to outdo Ares here and win this interaction. Ares was good but he wasn''t psychic so, naturally, the clone had fallen prey to this devious trick, that even Ares himself wouldn''t have seen coming, and been run through in the stomach. Although neither of them knew what art the other was going to cast, Ares'' treachery had struck gold and earned him a guaranteed win in this art face off before it had even started. The clone was good but it was evidently not as inherently despicable as Ares was, that was just something it was going to have to learn first hand and boy was Ares in the mood to teach! Ares was really feeling the mojo rev up in his system and, despite the fact that he should have been in losing territory due to his poorly body, he felt ecstatic at the chance to develop his skills against such a worth while opponent. His brain and body would be pushed to their limits here and he was starting to feel that thrill again. So what if he was disappointed in Mako for taking the easy way out? He had a far greater opponent here and this was not an opportunity he would come by frequently. He was going to enjoy teaching himself a lesson or two and, hell, maybe even getting taught a lesson here and there himself. It was Ares vs Ares time and this town was not big enough for the both of them!

 Chapter 278: Absolutely

    Now what? Ares had managed to poke a hole through the clone''s stomach but he''d already fired off his spear into the stratosphere and he wasn''t getting it back any time soon. He could punch the clone, and boy did it have a punch-able face, but why do that when it was mostly pointless? Incredibly satisfying perhaps but it would leave no lasting damage. The clone had Ares'' regenerative properties too so a simple punch would be forgotten about in under a minute, almost as if it never happened. Ares'' best bet here was to take this opportunity to pick out a weapon from his Primordial Blade and now he had to choose something that would be good against a spear... There were some practical applications of dual wielding swords that were generally considered to be effective against spears but Ares just sort of said screw it and pulled out his gun. The Biome Eagle didn''t really hit hard but it was good at opening an opponent up because it would damn well hurt if ignored. Plus he could always fire off an Adaptive Shot if an opportunity presented itself so it was a weapon that couldn''t be ignored.


    A gun in one hand plus and empty fist with which to threaten an Annihilation Echo meant he was pretty effective at all ranges and could play around the spear without much hassle. Plus it also meant he could take a shot at the currently impaled clone and get an attack in off the rip as any slower weapons would have given the clone time to escape. In terms of wielding various weapons, this was one of the ones Ares had spent the last time with overall if Adaptive Shot was excluded from the equation. The gun''s lacking firepower meant it didn''t serve many purposes and, although there was a place for it in interrupting chants and so on so forth, Ares had enough defensive measures in Not Even Light and Shift to not care too much about an opponent''s magic. Furthermore if he wanted to interrupt an opponent he had Spike now anyway and that was far more dangerous at the cost of only being slightly slower and consuming a tiny bit of mana. Save for the Nyxian Prowler and his bare fists, this was still the quickest weapon he had, however, and it had way more range than those two as well, so it''s not like there was no way to ever make this thing shine, it''s just that Ares had yet to find an opponent who required such specific measures. This was a weapon that wouldn''t ever be relevant against someone more or less powerful than him and their skill level with weapons had to about the same as Ares'' in order for the constant pestering of it to be annoying and not either deadweight or pointless overkill.


    Bang


    Ares wasted no time in pulling the trigger as soon as he brought the weapon out of storage. He could have fired multiple but he wanted to try and force the clone to block with the spear so he could run in and fire off an Annihilation Echo safely, by using the shot as a distraction for his empty fist to shine, but the shot was blocked with a pressure deflect instead of the spear which complicated matters. Ares, in response to this for some unknowable reason, did a combat roll off to the side, confusing everybody in the spectator''s area because he was under no immediate threat. If anything, he was giving up his perfect position to do some seemingly random manoeuvre that didn''t benefit him at all! Things all fell into place soon after though and they had to give Ares some applause for the sheer audacity of what he and his clone were doing right now. Ares hadn''t rolled randomly, he''d aimed it such that he could follow and catch up to the deflected bullet. He actively threw himself in its path so that he could deflect it again right back at the clone like this was some kind of game of bullet badminton. This kept the clone occupied and forced it into a highly uncomfortable position so it was actually rather smart.


    The clone hadn''t managed to escape the spike yet as it didn''t have the hands free to do so because of Ares'' uncompromising stubbornness. It couldn''t use the spear otherwise Ares would get free reign to pummel him with the Annihilation Echo without hindrance so the clone was completely stuck deflecting the bullet on repeat and trying to get rid of the damn thing. Not to mention Ares could just fire more after anyway even if he dropped the bullet so this was going to be a drawn out affair wherein a single mistake would be ruinous for the clone. As if to prove his dedication to this off-the-wall plan, Ares activated Voidwalk and used his Omniscience to pinpoint the angle at which the clone was going to deflect the bullet before he''d even done it. The good thing for Ares here was that he could keep progressively hitting the bullet back at more and more awkward angles until he eventually ended up behind the stuck clone. Something was going to have to give eventually on the clone''s end and whether it chose to take the bullet to earn its freedom or keep doing this until Ares found a massive opening due to one of its small slip ups was unknowable right now. Maybe the clone would keep searching for an out and find it or maybe Ares would get what he was after, either way the game of bullet deflect kept going on and on with Ares having the harder job of the two. He had to keep flipping through the air and utilising Voidwalk to shift around through space to catch the errant bullet. The clone wasn''t making Ares life easy by throwing the projectile in all sorts of dodgy places. It even tried to throw it straight up into the air but Ares had no problem reaching that one with a Double Jump and keeping the game afloat. This match didn''t end until Ares said so!


    Much like how heads turned frequently at a tennis match, the same was also true of this sporty back and forth. it was almost identical save for the fact that one competitor hadn''t moved since this all began because he was impaled to the floor. Unless you were referring to cultivator tennis then this was very much not a common sight. Ares went to deflect the bullet once more and...


    Bang


    Another shot was fired! But not by Ares! The clone was choosing to amp things up instead of toning it down! It knew that Ares wanted to keep this up, as it was to his benefit, so instead of stopping it himself the clone decided to make Ares life even harder so that he would want to end it. Ares was injured and so mounting on the pressure to perform well would strain his body and drive him to make errors here and there. The clone was basically trying to overwork Ares as it felt comfortable keeping this up a little longer whereas it knew the real Ares wouldn''t want to keep doing this for too long if he couldn''t find results. If anything, just adding one more bullet to the mix wasn''t enough and the clone was clearly planning on adding more with its faux Biome Eagle. Just because the clone didn''t have the real treasure that didn''t mean it didn''t possess a bunch of makeshift copies with their own uniqueness! Point in case, the clone''s biome eagle had a spatial storage function that basically allowed it to have infinite ammo. It was almost like the gun was being belt fed from another dimension.


    Ares could join in on this gunshot free for all and increase the load he was upholding with his deflects but the juggle act he was already performing was tough enough as is so that wasn''t wise as, unlike the clone, he was actively moving around so he had the harder job. Ares didn''t want to complicate his juggling act any further so he would have to let some of the bullets go but, annoyingly, doing that did mean he was the only one having to deal with more than one bullet at a time. The ones the clone fired off weren''t deflected but Ares still had to dodge them while the singular one he kept deflecting was dealt with by both of them; in other words, the clone had far less hassle to deal with right now and had slithered into a position whereby it had the upper hand despite being glued in place due to the spike. Ares was now no longer fully in control of this situation, as it had been ramped up to an uncomfortable degree instead of being toned down to something more manageable, and he was being subtly encouraged to drop this whole charade. It was a clever measure the clone had come up with, making Ares end this attack pattern himself due to it being hard to maintain, but Ares wasn''t a quitter! If the clone could find a way out of the ditch Ares had dug and left him in then Ares could find a way to throw him back into the ditch and make it even deeper as he did so! Think brain think! I know I don''t ask you to do this often but think damn it! And, luckily, think Ares'' brain did! It was actually capable of devising some thoughts every now and then if Ares actually ever bothered to listen to it! If anything, the brain felt somewhat bitter that the oaf that so frequently ignored it was daring to claim it had been idle all this time when it blatantly hadn''t!


    Anyway, minor headache aside, Ares did now have a plan that would start off slow but escalate into a problem that the clone would have no assuredly safe way out of. Instead of flicking the extra bullets away, Ares... did not deflect them at the clone either! He had an entirely different plan for these bullets and wanted to keep them nearby, but not in a way that meant he would have to keep taking care of them, so he deflected them straight down, half burying them in the floor on either side of him as he took steps forward. He was essentially making a lead carpet for him to stroll down, straight towards the clone who was trying to figure out what Ares'' game was here. The bullets were useless on the floor and getting closer was the exact antithesis of what Ares should have wanted here. Ares'' goal was the get behind the clone via repeated deflects, and go for a deadly attack, so why did he give up on that and start meandering towards him just like before?! The clone had seen this once and wouldn''t stand idly by a second time! Not that it had much choice in regards to its own actions right now thanks to this stupid deflect game that was still going on with the original bullet keeping it pre-occupied and locked down on the Spike. The bullet should have lost all of its velocity by now but Ares was imbuing his deflects with a little extra annihilation magic to keep it blasting back and forth without its speed suffering as a result.


    Ares advanced forward until he felt comfortable enough to enact his plan. He wanted to be quick about this and give the clone as little time to react as possible so, after deflecting the bullet once more and buying himself a few seconds to do as he pleased, Ares put on the Scaled Insulator in one swift motion and chanted ''Furnace Bomb'' to get the ball rolling. This was the second time he''d cast this art this match and that was somewhat relevant because now the clone knew of its existence thanks to Mako seeing it beforehand. That meant the clone was aware it had a second to escape from the blast, or ty to block it, but, in turn, Ares was also aware of the clone''s thoughts and could pre-empt them. The clone would naturally try to block, as escaping was a problem for it right now, and the only real means it had was a Not Even Light so Ares had already taken counter measures against this via the bullets. He''d kept them close for this very moment as he used telekinesis to raise them all into the air and form a clump of sharp lead. He had control over every single bullet the clone had fired at him during the deflect fiasco, and the amount was considerable, so it posed a very real threat if ignored.


    The clone was starting to realise the issue here because Not Even Light was primarily a magic destruction tool and not a physical one. The bullets, protected by Ares'' annihilation imbued pressure, would sail right through the Not Even Light and turn him in to Swiss cheese. Either the clone blocked the Furnace Bomb or it blocked the bullets with some pressure but there was no way it could do both at the same time. The Furnace Bomb was mean because it had a delayed activation and didn''t require any additional input from Ares after the initial cast. Ares had turned the Insulator''s downside into a positive here by syncing up the delayed art''s activation with his telekinesis to form a double assault from two different angles with two different threats. Suddenly, blocking was off the table but, in order to escape and dodge, there was only one possible option... An option the clone had avoided because it knew it was a terrible idea... Shift... The issue here wasn''t being un-acclimated to the void, that was tolerable once or twice, the problem was that the clone did not possess a nothingness affiliation. Ares could wield nothingness fluidly and even snatch direct control of it from anyone else who, for whatever reason, happened to be wielding it. The fundamental champions had excellent control over their respective attributes which is why the clone had been reluctant to try and use magic aggressively because it just wouldn''t do much. Still, a weak attack was better than what could potentially go wrong with Shift. If Ares saw the Shift coming, thanks to Omniscience, and hijacked it then he could manipulate the end destination like it was child''s play. All he had to do was cancel the intended destination and then set up a new zone of nothingness wherever he wanted the clone to land. This was incredibly easy for him to do and, now that he''d forced the clone into making this choice, it was guaranteed he would be ready and waiting for this moment. The bullets the clone had fired backfired and were now putting him in a situation that could no longer be reversed or avoided. The worst possible outcome had come to fruition for the clone and there was no backing out now so it just had to prepare itself for whatever Ares was going to do it after the Shift.


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    The heat of the Furnace Bomb was ramping up and so the clone begrudgingly chanted Shift to dodge everything coming his way, as was predicted, and, before it could even arrive at its destination, it felt the current of nothingness it was riding be yanked away from his control and handed over to Ares without a hitch. The clone couldn''t fight this and it was now inside a whirlpool and Ares was Poseidon. Wherever this sea of nothingness spat the clone out was no longer a predictable outcome and so it was better to give up on resisting and start cooking up a Not Even Light. It wouldn''t solve any physical attacks coming his way but by activating pressure enhancement and guarding he could come away from this with just a few small injuries... Hopefully. It still didn''t know what Ares was going to do so there was a non-zero chance Ares took it by surprise once more and pulled out another dirty trick.


    "Voidwalk. Double Jump. Stamp Out. ANNIHILATION ECHO!"


    As the clone was swung around inside the nothingness tunnel, it couldn''t help but wonder if the series of arts it had just heard Ares chant was a good or bad thing. On the one hand, Ares wasn''t trying to trick the clone and deal a sneaky fatal blow. On the other hand, this upfront attack was brutal and would hurt like a bitch because the clone could never muster enough defence to be unaffected by such a strong attack. Ares had thrown himself into the air, activated all of his physical enhancing arts, as well as his annihilation pressure at max output, and was going to dive kick the clone head on. Was there realistically any way to guard against this? Whatever the clone thought of crumbled before the might and raw power it was expecting from Ares'' attack. But what could it realistically do? There was no time to Gamble out the way. The Not Even Light would just get blown through as if it were made of paper... What would the real Ares do in this situation?... Annoyingly, the answer was rather simple. It was the same thing Ares had done all throughout this tournament. All throughout his life even. Invent a way out on the spot... But the real Ares had a knack for this and this was the clone''s first ever rodeo in this sort of body. It knew it had the adaptability hidden deep within it but accessing it felt so impossible...


    Was this how Ares felt in the moment?


    Completely lost and scrambling for inspiration?


    Was this clone even half as good as the real Ares if it couldn''t even manage something like this?


    Ares was good but this clone was supposed to be Ares so why couldn''t it be just as great?


    Such thoughts were running through its head, agitating it as it wallowed in what was appearing to be a massive failure. Little did it know this sort of deviation of train of thought, that was a result of Ares feeling a desire to overcome his current situation, was precisely the impetus that Ares relied on regularly to go above and beyond. It enabled him to dissect his current situation, the tools at his disposal, and rebuke himself until he got it al right. Until he found the key to the puzzle that befuddled him within the tools he had that he''d just been missing up until now. His body, his pressure, his weapons, his treasures, his arts. Everything he had was varied enough to get him out of most situations which was why he rarely if ever felt truly daunted by whatever mess he found himself in. The clone was embodying that very nature right now and transcending its current limits. Most other clones wouldn''t do this but Mako''s were obviously a cut above every other clone art in existence. That... And copying Ares was an entirely different beast to copying literally anybody else. If Mako truly wanted a perfect clone then Ares was the prefect specimen to base it off as its growth was about to be remarkable, much like how Rox had jumped up in terms of prowess by leaps and bounds simply from copying Ares once.


    The clone closed its eyes and took a breath, waiting for the void to spit him out. He no longer needed to fight against the flow because it would be guiding him to the destination he wanted nothing more than to arrive at. HIs line of thinking was now solidly in the realm of ''I have weapon mastery unmatched by anyone throughout all of history, there is no move nor attack that I cannot beat''. Granted most of Ares'' mastery came from Dominus but it wasn''t inaccurate to say he could live up to this belief in due time and the art the clone was about to create was solid proof of that given how ridiculous it was. Hell it was such an incredible art that even Dominus wouldn''t be able to believe his eyes when he saw it. It was absolutely the kind of thing he would invent and call his pride and joy so the fact that the Ares'' clone, and not even the real deal, came up with it would make him see the kid in a whole new light. That clone was Ares at his core so the fact he had the ability to create such an art meant he was well and truly at a calibre that Dominus had no choice but to respect. Dominus had long since believed Ares was a result of his surroundings. His pillar? Not his. Garmr? His bloodline from other people mixed with the pillar which was still not his. His weapon mastery? Dominus''. This kid had little to show for himself other than that one scythe art, which Dominus had to admit was astounding based on what his trapped eyes were able to see of it, and his smarts. After seeing this art, however, Dominus would have to review his assessment and bring it up a good few notches. This kid had it in him underneath all the extra crap. Without all these benefits it might have taken him a while, but there was a cultivator inside Ares that was to be feared. And the crazy part about all of this was that the clone''s art was just the beginning. If Dominus thought that was mind blowing, he should wait and see what happened afterwards...


    Still, there was no way Dominus could predict what was about to happen so he just had to sit back and watch as the clone was chucked out of the nothingness tunnel and thrown headfirst at Ares'' oncoming attack. Ares felt confident this blast would put him firmly in the lead here so he resolutely committed to this attack but that turned out to be a mistake when the clone used an art that Ares had never heard of before!


    "Absolute Reversal!"


    The clone took a low stance to the floor and dropped the spear because it was useless right now. The clone slightly raised its right shoulder and lowered its left to alter its centre of gravity as it prepared itself to face Ares'' confused kick head on. Ares had faltered somewhat the second he heard this mysterious art because it was most definitely not something he knew of! The clone casting an art the original didn''t know?! Why was this even possible? Was the clone a master craft or was Ares just that damn good!? Probably both, honestly, but right now Ares was more concerned with the fact that something felt off. He didn''t rely want to do this kick anymore but he''d committed to it hard not even a second ago! What awful timing... Instead of giving up, as it was impossible to do so, Ares doubled down and tried to speed himself up to guarantee success but that was never going to happen.


    Absolute Reversal was a combination art of the technical pillar and one other aspect from the weapons pillar. What was unique about this art was that the weapon pillar aspect being used was dependent on the weapon Ares was wielding and he wasn''t strictly tied to any specific aspect or weapon. It was a malleable art that changed every single time it was used to suit the caster''s need. As for what it did, provided the caster was 100% certain of the incoming attack''s functionality, form, speed, angle of approach, and lethality, the attack could be countered without fail. The art would either do nothing and leave the user at risk, if they didn''t get every detail down perfectly, or they would win the interaction every single time because the art was truly unbeatable when it worked. It was extremely high risk, as this art flopping would leave you defenceless against the attack that you were relying on this art to solve in the first place, or you would reverse the tide against your opponent so handily you would probably win the fight off the back of this one success alone. Point in case, Ares dive kick was grabbed in mid air and, before he knew what hit him, he was being slammed into the ground by an over-the-shoulder throw that kept all his momentum perfectly intact.


    The clone had timed the Reversal perfectly and grabbed Ares'' ankle while pulling on it to slam him down, face first, on the floor behind the clone. The clone had reached up, swiped Ares out of mid-air flawlessly, and was reaping the rewards of its unfathomable precision. Ares had been in a dominant position, crashing down on the clone''s head, but now his own head was about to crack on the rapidly approaching floor and he could do nothing but watch. All of his physical enhancements had given him all the speed he needed to effectively kill himself off this fall as all of his power had be diverted via the Reversal. Typically the Reversal wouldn''t be able to muster up a situation this deadly, as it was just supposed to be a counter that was impossible to beat, but the sheer momentum Ares possessed made this whole situation lethal rather than just painful. Had this been an ordinary dive kick he would have just eaten dirt and that would be the end of it. As things were going, he was going to have his explode on the destroyed arena floor and the lingering Annihilation Echo bubbling away inside him would cause havoc on the rest of his body as it wasn''t released properly.


    It would be a truly gruesome end at this rate but what could he possibly do? There was little time to cast an art and none seemed particularly helpful right now. Mobility was impossible because the clone was still holding and swinging his ankle, offense would hit the clone but not save him, and he didn''t know defensive art that could overcome this tide. Time slowed as his brain wracked itself time after time for a solution but it seemed his end was drawing near. What a pathetic way to go... Bested by his own clone that had outsmarted him by engineering an art on the fly...


    Why was the clone able to create an art to escape its predicament but Ares couldn''t?!


    Who was the original here and who was the clone?!


    Ares was the superior existence and he was being thrown around like some kind of rag doll?!


    He was going to be a laughing stock at this rate!


    Why not just let the clone live the rest of his life for him?!


    Let the clone go and save the world, marry the nine wives, and live happily ever after with his own damn family?!


    HELL NO!


    The clone caught sight of the real Ares glare at him on the way down the floor and its heart stopped dead in its tracks because it instinctively knew what was coming without having to be told. Ares hadn''t opened his mouth yet but that look in his eye could only possibly mean one thing. Dominus, inside Ares, could feel the ambition of the kid he was attached to soar and, before he could recover from being floored at the existence of Absolute Reversal, Ares stunned him even further and to a degree that Dominus had never been before in all his life. Ares thrust out his palm and shoved it down onto the oncoming ground as he opened his mouth and yelled with all his might the name of an art that he had absolutely zero business chanting whatsoever.


    "ABSOLUTE REVERSAL!"

 Chapter 279: Going at It With Hammer and Staffs

    How?


    How was it possible for Ares to see an art once, get hit it by no less, for all of about two seconds and copy it perfectly? He didn''t even fully understand the intricacies of the art because it wasn''t his so, really, what had actually happened here was that Ares didn''t copy the art, he invented it on the spot. He came up with every single part of the mana manipulation process, all the finer details of the art, and recreated it mid crash. There were probably some very minute differences between Ares'' version and the clone''s but, fundamentally, they would be doing the exact same thing. Sort of like two different drivers taking differing routes from one another but still reaching the same destination regardless.


    If inventing a preposterously good art on the fly had hit Dominus'' brain like a speeding truck then whatever it was the hell Ares just did was like being hit by a hundred trucks travelling at lightspeed. This kid''s reaction speed and combat senses were off the damn charts! Even Dominus wouldn''t have been able to do something like this at Ares'' age! Hell, at Ares'' age, all Dominus was doing was wasting his talents and chasing skirts all day! His assessment of Ares prior to this needed to be shredded and chucked in the garbage bin because it wasn''t even remotely accurate. Nothing about Dominus'' existence was relevant to anything that just happened, so it had very much been all Ares, and even exemplars would be hard pressed to copy whatever the hell it was the clone had just done, let alone the real Ares. To think Ares was so indignant about being showed up he used that anger as a springboard to do something borderline impossible for 99% of all cultivators... It wasn''t even necessarily the ''creating an art on the fly'' thing, he''d done that before, ridiculous though it also was, it was how fast he''d done it! He got hit by the art and, before he could even bite the dust, he''d already thrown it out in response as a counter to the counter! The clone had only just barely finished getting the art out of his mouth by the time Ares threw it right back at him! So unbelievably petty Ares was! And talented, obviously, not just any Joe Shmoe could pull this off. Better yet, not just anybody could pull this off in a do or die situation at match point in an international tournament! Crazy bastard...


    As for how Ares escaped his current predicament, crashing down headfirst into the floor, he swivelled his palm on the ground to keep slightly altering the angle of his fall until all the momentum he had was just about moving horizontally. In short, he was no longer really falling any more as he''d converted all the speed from his downward spiral into a counter clockwise spin around his palm, forcing the clone to let go otherwise it would be dragged around for a wild ride it really didn''t want to be on. It didn''t end just at this though as Ares was planning on doing a full 180 degree rotation such that he could convert the spin into a drop kick and go flying back towards the clone. Waste not want not and, currently, there was still a Stamp Out, Annihilation Echo, Voidwalk, and Double Jump combination lingering in his feet, ready tp be expelled and fired off into a vulnerable victim. Right now, as the clone had committed to the attack much the same way Ares committed to his, the victim had already been decided and there was no longer any way out for him.


    The clone was still partially hunched over with his leg off the ground as he''d really leant into the swing hard. It wanted to end the fight here and now so it went all in on the throw over the shoulder but that was coming back to bite him hard right now as Ares spun like a top and reversed his travel direction on the spot. Ares'' golden tinted boot was hurtling towards the clone''s stomach and it just had to accept the inevitable here and pray it would somehow live through this attack. It was going to be devastating because the clone couldn''t even really muster a proper block with his arms so he was going to receive this maelstrom of arts dead centre. It wasn''t completely screwed, and could mitigate the blow somewhat via a well enough timed Echo, but that was hardly going to be enough tp prevent a massive turning of the tides here. The clone couldn''t turn the tables with a counter yet again because, frankly, this was its limit. It had already defied the upper boundary of what it was capable of and, although Ares himself could maybe go a few more inventive rounds with the clone here and now in the heat of the moment, the clone simply couldn''t do it again even if it wanted to. Once was a miracle, twice was asking for the impossible. Ares, however, was in the zone and could go all day at this rate. He was honestly a tad disappointed that this was where it ended as this momentum hot potato game, where one person or the other was going to suffer at the hands of it, was kind of exciting. Ares'' life was hanging in the balance but he knew this was the perfect opportunity to push himself to attain new heights in his combat mastery so he almost wished the clone had something more in store for him.


    When both Ares'' feet connected with the clone''s stomach, however, he realised that his thin strand of hope had snapped, was all for naught, and that he truly was the superior Ares. Of course he knew that from the start but definitively proving it with a brutal victory of the imposter was for the best. It would ease Ares'' bubbling rage at having been played the fool and this was just the natural order of things anyway. If Mako won this fight by pitting Ares against a clone of himself then Ares would feel highly robbed... And he was the bandit here! Unacceptable! Ares was going to beat this clone black and blue and make it call him daddy!... Or not, that was kind of weird actually. Ares was getting a little too heated and just accidentally thought of something incredibly strange... Not that Enyo wouldn''t enjoy watching that if it ever came to pass, she''d want front row seats... This was a subject best not touched upon, and rather relegated to the very back of Ares'' mind where it could be buried under a pile of the other junk back there, because if Enyo ever had and / or supported this idea then Ares was going to go and live life as a hermit for a few million years until she forgot about it. Not happening!


    As for the clone''s imminent death, it had circumvented it by thrusting its stomach forward to generate a last minute Echo and save itself from certain doom. The Echo couldn''t stop the impact, not even close, but what it did do was extremely important. Essentially, it acted like a bouncer, denying the Annihilation Echo entry into its body. If the Annihilation Echo could rattle around inside the clone freely there was a 101% chance of death when combined with the impact of the kick. Lights out and no money to pay the energy bill to get them back on after. Death, no questions asked. The Echo created a wall at the clone''s stomach that caused a dissonance between it and the Annihilation Echo, halting it in its tracks and preventing it form going any further. Now this didn''t stop it from going off where it was stopped and detonating, blasting the clone away like it was subsonic jet breaking the sound barrier, but it did stop the clone''s life from being reaped by this attack and that was what truly mattered. Ares'' feet had connected with the clone''s stomach and the brief pause that followed enabled everyone to hear the crunching of bones that was utterly agonising to even listen to, let alone actually get devastated by first hand. An air blast emanated from Ares'' foot and the clone had then shot backwards faster than anyone''s eyes could follow, save for the matriarchs but even they had a tough time of tracking the battered clone, crashing into a wall with a deafening CRACK that was most definitely not strictly the sound of the wall breaking.


    Whatever injuries the clone was left with were going to be nearly equally as severe as the ones Ares was currently suffering from. There was no way he just got hit by an attack of that magnitude and shrugged it off so Ares felt a little better knowing that as he hunched over and coughed up blood. He''d strained himself a lot in order to deliver that attack as the Absolute wild ride he just went on was making his head spin even now. The adrenaline had worn off and his body was not happy with him for taking such drastic measures but he needed to tough it out and keep on keeping on. letting this whole situation go to waste by not pressing the advantage, just because he was hurting across parts of his body, was a foolish mistake that would only make his life harder in the minutes to come so he picked up the nearby spear, that the clone had dropped earlier, and threw it towards the dust cloud where the clone had struck the wall. Ares didn''t even wait to see if it even hit and followed it up by sprinting over to the wall and pulling out a hammer to wield as a weapon. It was on the smaller size but that meant swinging it around was easy and didn''t hurt his body like hell every single time he wanted to attack the clone. Plus it was versatile thanks to the claw on the back side that could be used to catch lazy strikes from other weapons, forcing the clone to have to think carefully every time he wanted to try and swipe at Ares. The hammer wasn''t sharp, so its lethality was on the lower side along with the overall range, but Ares was able to get close thanks to his previous attack and that was where this weapon would really start to shine. He didn''t know if the spear hit but it hadn''t been flung out of the dust cloud so there was also a good chance the clone was glued to the wall and impaled yet again. Ares almost felt sorry for the clone as this was the second time it had been run through in such a manner and that must have really peeved it off. Ares was proud of his mobility so if he spent half a fight unable to move he would seriously blow his top and just stop fighting the asshole responsible.


    The dust did clear eventually as Ares stalked the outer edges of the cloud, revealing within the clone who''d been smacked clean into the wall and even left an Ares'' shaped imprint on it that it was currently stuck inside. Its arms were practically welded on and buried deeper than king Arthur''s Excalibur so the chances of it getting out anytime soon weren''t great if it didn''t have a plan. As for its current state, the front half of the clone was torched and its stomach was leaking a few guts here and there. Flesh was ripped and shredded and the entire area around the point of impact was a funny black looking colour thanks to the death of every single nerve nearby. A few organs had shut off and moving was going to be a real struggle. This was excellent news for Ares who had the playing field evened out nicely with this. If anything, it was probably worse for the clone because its mobility had been more harshly impacted than real Ares'' and that was a core component of his fighting style. It could stay on the go still, it would just be painful but that mattered to an extent. Even a tinge of pain could delay a brain''s ability to think straight so, in a relatively even fight like this, it all mattered. Also, yes, the clone had been impaled again but it wasn''t in the mid region, rather Ares had hit the clone''s arm with the spear and unfortunately missed anything that would have given it long term trouble. It was a minor wound compared to everything else but it did further help in locking the clone down against the wall and cutting off its escape. Now it really needed to take drastic measures otherwise Ares was going to crush its head in with his hammer or, if he had time, maybe dig out the clone''s heart with the claw instead. This fight could very well end here if the clone didn''t get a move on. Ares ran up to the stuck clone with a hop in his step but had to pause halfway to his goal when the clone spat out both a wad of blood and a chant. Ares didn''t have hemophobia so that clearly wasn''t the issue, the real problem here was the art the clone chanted...


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    "Chaos Reigns!"


    The Shock Beads from before? The ones Ares sniped out of the air with his Block Rocks? They had been scattered far and wide, meaning they weren''t in a position to affect Ares, so the questionable use of this art temporarily threw Ares for a loop until a batch of Shock Beads came flying out of the wall behind the clone. After crash landing, rather than try to dislodge himself from the wall, the clone set up a bunch of Shock Beads behind him to ambush Ares with after luring him in with his feigned weakened and trapped state. The explosions form these Shock Beads would free the clone at bare minimum and maybe even catch Ares unaware, blowing him up a little. Again, Ares annihilation mastery meant this was going to mostly tickle him, hell the guy blew himself up on a regular basis for the excitement he got out of it, but a hit was still a hit and the clone wasn''t in a position to complain about small victories. Thankfully Mako hadn''t skimped out on the clone when manufacturing the annihilation side of things as it had the anti-friendly fire protocol mutation that Ares did so it wasn''t going to hurt itself by doing this. Part of the reason it struggled in other areas was because Mako made sure this specific function existed. It wasn''t particularly useful against Ares but Mako was a future conscious individual and knew this was more important than other small additions he could have made so he begrudgingly worked on it first. Having a portable Ares for his adventures was incredible but his bright idea would seem a whole lot stupider if he kept getting blown up by his teammate all the time and so prioritising this was teh only real solution. To think Mako had worked on something that might not even be relevant to this fight because he was actually using his head for once... Ares was honestly a little shocked because everything the elf had done up until now was almost solely for the sake of winning this match. Maybe he wasn''t completely obsessed? Maybe only, like, 99%? This was character development! Maybe Ares should buy some clone talismans like he did for Appa to help Mako get over him? Although, then again, he had his own Ares clone now... Creep...


    BBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    BBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Roughly fifteen Shock Beads had come flying out of the wall but Ares didn''t falter in the face of them and simply brushed aside any that flew by his head before they detonated. He was rapidly engulfed in the golden domes but couldn''t have cared less as a few segments of his flesh were torn near his face. He lost some skin here and there, and there was a ever present stinging sensation for as long as he stayed within the gold domes, but that was mostly the extent of it. his body was also rocked around but the force wasn''t enough to sweep him off his feet and push him back so he was able to bust through the explosions with only a slight wobble. If Ares had his apotheosis form he would have been able to remain completely unharmed during all of this and maybe even hijack control of it like he did with the Shift earlier. This was partially why he wasn''t too concerned about this clone because Ares'' advantage over it would become massive as soon as his control over destruction deepened as that was something the clone could never do no matter how strong Mako got.


    The clone was fantastic but it wasn''t really a great measure against Ares himself and was mostly beneficial to Mako to up his lethality against literally anybody else. Also, whatever niche Mako couldn''t fil with his magic would be taken care of by Ares who was his diametric opposite in every way. They covered all bases together and, in that sense, Ares almost wished he could have a portable Mako too! Mako''s defensive options would inevitably become infinitely better than Ares'' at a later date, as he would still mostly rely on destroying attacks rather than blocking them, and having a pocket elf be able to summon unbreakable walls at will would be handy. Ah well, creation was its own thing and there was no way for Ares to copy it. He had his own tools that the other fundamental champions would kill for and he was already lucky enough to have the fundamental pillar tailor made for combat to begin with. Point in case, ignoring any extraneous oddities like God summons or mythical treasures, Ares would have likely won this fight already and without much pushback from the elf either. In terms of, if you put Ares and Mako in a room and asked them to brawl with no outside aid who would win, the answer would be Ares 100% of the time. He didn''t need to pine over other people''s benefits but he was also a cultivator at the end of the day so not at least thinking about the stuff other people owned or could do wasn''t in the cards.


    Anyway, that aside, Ares pushed through the explosions while swinging his hammer where he predicted the clone to be. This guess had been accurate and the clone was nearly caught completely off guard by the immaculately timed and aimed swing. The clone almost thought this bastard was cheating the way he blindly hit the nail that he was on the head! Did this guy tamper with the Training Field to be able to see his opponent no matter where they were or what was obstructing them?! If it wasn''t for the fact that Ares was just a proven genius, and that nobody knew that better than the clone himself, there would be some serious suspicions raised as a result of this! Still, regardless, now was not the time to be ruminating over such matters otherwise, if he kept it up, the clone wouldn''t have a head to dwell on such things with anymore. His brain would be squashed into a fine grey paste and that was hardly conducive to winning. The clone pulled out a bo... As in a bo staff but calling it that was kinda redundant because ''bo'' already meant staff. It was like saying staff staff but ''bo'' on its own was kinda hard to figure out what someone was talking about so bo staff, or staff staff, it was!


    Anyway, the clone pulled out a metal staff staff and imbued it with mana as he held it horizontally to block the hammer. As this was a last second block, the vicious strike buckled the clone''s knees thanks to a good chunk of the shock not being absorbed by its missing stomach region. There was no support for the knees and nowhere for the force to disperse on the way down so the clone was brought low by Ares who then abandoned the thought of a lethal bow entirely and went to try a sweep against the clone''s knees. The clone could always lean back into a handstand and escape if Ares went for an attack above the chest region and so Ares followed the time old advice of ''keep it simple, stupid'' and went for what was readily available to him to hit. If he could trike the clone''s knees then this fight was as good as over but the clone wasn''t going to just sit there and take it so it thrust out the staff with steady aim towards his foe. Ares had to acknowledge the staff barrelling towards his throat so he spun the hammer in his hand and swiped the claw end at the staff in a bid catch it but, alas, a split second alteration to the staff''s angle thanks to clone''s quick reaction meant that plan was a dud. The two weapons clashed once more but Ares had the advantage, as his weapon was noticeably heavier than the staff, so he was able to swat it to the side and charge forth once more. With the staff flung to the side the clone appeared to be wide open but that wasn''t entirely true as it had predicted this outcome in advance and had a plan already prepared for this exact situation.


    "Gamble!"


    The end of he staff that had been pushed to the side was poked into the ground and, now, the clone was doing a very strange, almost completely diagonal, Gamble. Ares usually held himself aloft over the sword he buried into the ground when Gambling but the clone had taken a different approach. The clone was hanging below the bo, near the end of the staff that wasn''t buried in the ground, ready to swing as though he was poling, or pole dancing as it''s more commonly known. Rather than a horizontal orientation around his weapon, the clone had opted for something vertical on his diagonally buried staff to throw Ares for a loop and almost literally at that. This position meant that if the clone Gambled straight upwards he would kick Ares in the face so, naturally, that was the option it took as it both leapt over Ares'' low sweep and managed to punish him on top of that. The clone executed this flip up and around the pole beautifully, smacking Ares in the jaw. Ares had missed his swipe underneath the clone and got a face full off boot for his troubles.


    The clone flipped up and over Ares'' head, landing behind him where he launched another attack, this time a series of swipes and pokes that were rapid and precise. Ares'' hammer wasn''t well suited for dealing with something like this but he managed to stumble his way to a decent stance after fixing his jaw, which was nearly coming off at this point thanks to the earlier impaling, and deflect most of the attacks. A few did connect but thankfully this was a bo and not a spear so it was painful, certainly, but Ares didn''t have anymore holes drilled into him which was a positive thing overall. Still, he didn''t like that he was slowly being forced to retreat in defeat here as the clone was chaining together smart moves that put Ares in a bind. This was why it was better to choose a weapon second as it was incredibly easy to pick something that would force the opponent to struggle with their own choice if they were too hasty. Ares was going to have to think on his feet to make this hammer work. He could put it back but then the clone would just follow suit and not only would this never end but it wouldn''t even help much anyway. The time it took to swap a weapon was small but still meaningful and Ares was already in a bad position right now so pushing his luck, just because he wasn''t feeling confident with what he had, was stupid. Ares was better than that! He wasn''t going to fold and abandon the weapon because of his own faults! Even though he really shouldn''t treat this match, of all of them, as a training exercise to get better with various weapons, he was damn well doing it anyway!


    So now how to get past the bo and strike down his foe? Ares didn''t know how to overcome this woe! He was going to have to rely on his brilliant brain again even if it was being a little moody right now after Ares had been so dismissive of it earlier. Stubborn thing! Work, damn it, work! I''ll apologise later and feed you brain food like fatty tuna! Whether this specific proposal worked like a charm or Ares just so happened to come up with an idea at this very oddly precise moment was impossible to tell but, regardless, Ares had an idea he could act on now so he waited for his opponent to strike again before he took action. This back and forth with the clone was just getting started and Ares wanted to toy around with him a bit longer before he brought Dominus out to play as this was proving to be invaluable for him. His weapon wielding would go up several notches off the back of this fight alone so he''d forced upon the clone a duty to entertain him and, honestly, it was doing a very good job! Ares was starting to wonder if he could steal this clone away from Mako somehow... Probably not unfortunately... Also, then, Ares would have two clones of himself, including Rox, just sitting in his Primordial Blade, floating around in the vast nothingness of space... It would be hilarious chucking two other Ares at a foe and ganging up on someone but, at that point, it would be massively overkill anyway. Ah well, Ares was just going to have to settle with having Rox in his back pocket, that was good enough. If he couldn''t have Mako''s clone, then it was just going to have to die!

 Chapter 280: Overanalysing a Hammer Is a Sure Fire Way to Get Hammered

    So, how to deal with the staff? A simple question that necessitated a convoluted answer because there was no such thing as an easy way out of the current predicament. Plus, it didn''t help that when the only thing you had was a hammer, everything looked like a nail. Ares brain just kept demanding he whack everything in sight and that the problem would therefore then solve itself but that was clearly never going to work out in the long term. Still, the nail line of thinking wasn''t something Ares discarded entirely as pinning down the staff would give him ample leeway to reverse the current status quo and gain an edge... But how to go about it? The clone was just performing repeated thrusts at Ares without ever going for sweeps low to the ground, where Ares could hammer the staff against the floor and keep it there with pressure, nor was there a wall nearby at the moment. The closest one was behind the clone but Ares wasn''t going to be able to push the clone backwards while he was on the defensive so that wasn''t an option... So if he couldn''t make the attacks go near a solid object, the only logical option was to make a solid object come into the vicinity of the clone''s attacks! As this would be an unexpected development, the clone wouldn''t see it coming and would almost definitely fall for it but, if Ares botched it on the other hand, then he would lose the element of surprise and this wouldn''t work at all due to the clone keeping an eye out for it from then onwards. He had one chance to make this strategy shine so he had to keep taking the bo blows for a while until he saw an attack that was even at least a little sloppier than the others... It also had to not be a fake. Ares was absolutely the kind of person to leave his opponent a fake way out of their predicament and capitalise off it so, by extension, the clone might be looking for a chance to do the exact same and Ares had to be wary of such a convenient option.


    As if on cue, a somewhat sloppy attack was launched by the clone with a few glaring holes in it that Ares simply glanced at once and didn''t bother with. He was the king of this silly little game and so, while this may not have been apparent to a lot of other cultivators, it was like showing Ares a piece of mid grade stardust and a bigger piece of high grade stardust while trying to tell him they were both the exact same. He could see the con from a mile away and wanted no part of it! Hell, he could practically see the clone''s expectancy in his eyes!... Actually, Ares changed his mind. Maybe this was a good opportunity after all? Not to hit the clone, that was foolish and would result in him getting hit hard and falling for this deceptive ruse, but to turn the clone''s bait into one of his own? Pretend to fall for the fake opening and then exploit the situation even further with the plan he''d already developed? Ares would be rubbing his hands together in glee right now if he wasn''t busy playing the fool.


    The clone''s lunge was slow and gave Ares plenty of room to slide around the side of it so he did precisely that and raised the hammer up high while closing the distance, ready to launch his strike at the clone who responded immediately. The clone had hidden an Echo within the end of his staff so the second it missed, and Ares ''fell'' for the attack, it detonated, pushing the clone and his staff backwards a few feet. This was a devious trick because now Ares was out of range to strike the clone, holding his weapon above his head, and in range to be poked by the staff again. It was a similar trick to using illusion magic to create a defenceless copy of yourself a few inches ahead that the opponent would strike at and leave themselves open. Instead of relying on illusions, however, the clone had opted to use a burst of mobility to alter his position flawlessly without any prior indication. Using an attack like Echo to push himself back to an ideal range for his weapon was a decent trick, and Ares gave it a round of applause in his head, but he''d seen something like this coming already. His Omniscience had just about caught sight of the Echo and so all the pieces had fallen neatly into place, precisely how Ares wanted them to.


    The staff was gunning for his heart region and he wouldn''t be able to pull his hammer back down in time to block it but that wasn''t his goal right now. Bringing it back to block was impossible but going forward with it was still more than doable so he doubled down on his attack much to the clone''s confusion. Ares should have tried to either deflect the staff or use an Echo to soften the blow so this bizarre aggression was a bad sign in its mind. Ares was no fool, and he wouldn''t just give up like this either, so he was plotting something... The clone was very tempted to call it quits on the attack but it wasn''t sure if that was Ares'' real goal or not. A bluff to force the clone to pointlessly give up its victory of its own accord... The clone was reading into the situation too deeply but it couldn''t really be blamed for that because Ares was the kind of person to overthink even the smallest details during combat. That was fine against anyone who didn''t, as they became easier to predict, but against an exact copy of himself the amount of mind games at play could become seriously overwhelming. It wasn''t just a matter of second guessing intentions, Ares and the clone were tens of layers deep into each other''s heads at this point. It was far worse than fighting against literally anybody else because, technically speaking, they were able to read each other''s minds without a hitch if they gave it enough effort. They were one and the same and their ideas were basically shared between the one brain cell they each possessed at the best of times. All they had to do was put themselves in each other''s shoes and, bam, they would understand the answer their foe had come to lickety-split. Understanding this was a plague, however, and was where all the complications arose because if your opponent knew that you knew what they knew, then nobody damn well knew fuck all because it was too confusing to keep track of!


    Despite knowing deep in his gut that seeing this attack through was a bad idea, as the potential gain was not as important here as the potential risk, the clone had convinced itself Ares knew this was bad idea too and was attempting to play around that in some convoluted manner. The clone stuck to its guns with the hope its prediction was correct, and Ares'' was wrong, but Ares showed no worry on his face at the result of the clone''s determination and that was when it knew it had made a real mistake here. In hindsight, Ares would never go all in on a pointless gamble at a non-critical junction unless he was really in the mood to mess with his opponent. Ares seemed deeply invested in this fight and, while that was great and all, he would never potentially throw it all away just to try something that would only ever work on busy-minded fools like himself. Most opponents wouldn''t fall for this because they would merely see it as a last ditch gamble and carry on, none-the-wiser of what was coming. This wasn''t something Ares needed or wanted to practice right now... That and he''d probably already accounted for the clone''s inability to parse though the thoughts they shared logically which resulted in him not quitting his attack half-way through. In truth, it really was a mix of both.


    Ares would much rather practice deceitful trickery against a random, but smart (as that was necessary), stranger than against himself. He wanted to practice weapon mastery here not his underhanded measures. To add onto that, who would know what kind of wool he would try and pull over their eyes better than himself? If Ares wanted to practice fighting dirty he needed someone who wouldn''t sniff out his bullshit the second he attempted it and the clone was a terrible target for that. Bullying random strangers would have a much higher rate of success and would be far more conducive to getting meaningful results about the validity of his evil efforts rather than failing constantly against himself. It was like trying to play chess against yourself and wondering if you were terrible because your opponent could see through all your moves... Pointless! Not that playing chess against yourself couldn''t be helpful, just not with such a redundant mindset as that was not the direction a person''s improvement should take in such a situation. Actually, it was a surprisingly pertinent analogy because Ares was improving in this ''solo chess'' game against himself precisely because he was focussing on the right things and not getting too distracted whenever his moves were seen through or bested. It was all a matter of perspective and Ares had the right one to make notable gains here by dedicating himself to honing what he actually could in this given scenario.


    Ares brought the hammer down with conviction while simultaneously raising the earth underneath the staff with telekinesis. Ares formed a sort of crude workbench underneath the thrusting staff and smacked it with his hammer, welding the bo to the raised earth with some heavy pressure. When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail OR an artifact! Ares had never been a smithy in the truest sense, as he rarely if ever fiddled around with tools such as these, but he''d been around the forgery block a couple of times now. He''d even, at one point, experimented with whacking pressure into his artifacts to make the process go by quicker so this was home field advantage! This was territory he understood so his aim was spot on and the application of pressure was accurate down to the last millimetre. The clone''s spear had gone from light, and easy to wield, to completely impossible to lift. It was like a mortal trying to pick up a pipe fitting attached to the floor. No way, no how was the clone ever going to be successful here because Ares had laid the pressure on thick as can be so relying on strength wasn''t possible. Ares had to be careful when he was doing this though because if he put too much pressure into the staff then the whole thing would go kaboom. Maybe that was an acceptable outcome in some ways but Ares had other, grander plans. Sure sticking the bo to the makeshift workbench was effective but Ares was actually doing the exact same thing the clone had done by leaving a false way out of the predicament. The pressure holding the staff down could absolutely be removed, provided the clone used its own pressure in a timely manner, if the clone wanted to take that route... But that was precisely what Ares was hoping the clone did! Ares wanted the flustered clone to recover its weapon and try to defend himself with it, hell he was even indirectly encouraging it by using physical pressure that could be seen abundantly clear with the naked eye. He was guiding the clone into using its own pressure reserves to free the staff. Had Ares used his regular pressure his bloodline would have made it tricker to overcome, dissuading the clone, but he''d really gone all out in permitting the clone to retrieve the bo. Why? Well, there was a little something Ares had learnt about wielding pressurised artifacts and treasures a while back, thanks to a certain dwarf''s experiments on the matter, that this clone was going to have to learn the hard way.


    Ares felt a wave of satisfaction roll over him when the clone did exactly what was laid out for it and falling for the trap like a rat leaping for the cheese. To be fair, it was a relatively innocuous trap because it required some rather expertise knowledge on pressure and forgery that Mako didn''t possess. The clone couldn''t know what Mako didn''t unless it learnt it first hand so this dastardly ruse was going to pass the gut check with flying colours. On the surface, nothing seemed wrong with the bo that the clone had just freed by blasting the pressure away with its own... That was, at least, until the staff was picked up as that was where the troubles began. While the clone struggled with the impossible-to-wield weapon, Ares looked to strike at his distracted and defenceless foe. What was happening here was the same thing that happened to ''artifact three'' back when Dabble was showcasing the results of his testing.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    As a quick refresher, too much pressure made the container, be it weapon, armour, treasure, or artifact, explode. Not enough left the container in an unfinished state, weaker than it could potentially be. Artifact three sat in the middle ground whereby it was filled to the brim but had some difficulties surrounding the usability. First of all, and what was relevant here, was that anyone who didn''t put the pressure into the weapon to begin with would have a rough time controlling the weapon as it bucked around like a wild horse. It was like trying to grasp an oiled snake as it tried biting you with venomous fangs, not a wonderful experience. Plus the snake, in this analogy, had the strength of a rhinoceros for added measure just ot make life really uncomfortable.


    Second of all, the pressure was what mattered here and, since the pressure rampaging around in the staff belonged to Ares, the clone couldn''t fake his identity and get away with it. The clone''s pressure reserves were large, and the pressure itself was undeniably stronger than most, but it was still not Ares'' no matter how he tried to pass it off as the same thing. Even just Ares'' bloodline alone made his pressure impossible to copy, as mixing mana with pressure was absolutely impossible for anyone other than him, so there was no way the clone could mitigate this issue by pretending to be the real Ares.


    Finally, the rocking weapon could be tamed if the person trying to tame it had stronger pressure than the original person who imbued it to begin with... So in other words, not happening. Ares'' pressure was absolutely unbeatable, not even by Dominus who had the same bloodline because of Ares'' ability to mix in annihilation, so if he left a container in this heavily pressurised state it could not be fixed without herculean work. Any and all traces of pressure would need to be removed in their entirety before a container imbued with the stuff could be returned to normal and removing pressure was a difficult task, definitely not something most people in Sheryashka, or any of the other lower domains for that matter, could do. In short, the bo was plagued by Ares'' pressure, flinging itself randomly in different directions within the clone''s grip, and could not be used to block any attacks whatsoever right now. If anything, the clone was far closer to hitting itself over the head with the weapon than guarding himself.


    There was no way for the clone to solve the pressure infested staff; he didn''t have time to drop it and pull out another weapon from his spatial ring (which he needed because he didn''t possess a Primordial Blade, obviously), and he would barely have time to raise his arms and block the hammer. Regardless of what he did here it looked like the clone was about to suffer another major attack. In some ways, blocking a hammer was worse than blocking a sharp, piercing weapon because the hammer would affect a wider area in total, potentially even putting an entire bone out of commission. The clone would have preferred being stabbed in the arm or something as opposed to maybe having its arm flat out broken but Ares had stuck with this troublesome weapon through thick and thin, made it work, and was now enjoying the benefit of his well thought out assault. Ares'' hammer came thundering down and the clone had no choice but to raise both its arms and fold them directly in the path of the weapon to jeep its already injured stomach region safe. Trying to catch the hammer, or deflect it, with his hand was an option but would also be disastrous if it failed so the clone took its lumps and accepted its loss.


    CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRACK


    Though this impact was somewhat quieter than the kick earlier, it felt more tactile than the other one and made people in the crowd wince in sympathy. Even the clone let out a small yelp of pain which was interesting because Ares was sure this thing, save for casting arts, was completely mute! Turns out pain is one hell of a motivator! It must have have really stung, though, as the clone''s arm was completely limp and the only signs of life were the fingers on the hand that belonged to the broken arm grasping at the air in a bid to try and regain some feeling. The arm would still be just about useable, barely, and the clone had salvaged the use of its hand by not throwing it to the wolves earlier and trying to block the hammer with it, but it was still a pretty detrimental injury that only piled on the difficulties the clone was going to have from now on. Ares had done a number on this clone with the kick and that injury was now leading to more and more punishment thanks to how slow the clone was moving comparatively to before. It was a brutal cycle in which a single injury led to two, then two led to three, then three led to four, etc... Any advantage the clone had due to Ares'' own injuries was rapidly fading and, although Ares had just coughed up some more blood after really throwing his back into that last swing, the clone was almost definitely in a worse shape right about now. Throw in the fact that the original, Ares himself, was superior to begin with, and mostly immune to his own magic, and you had a recipe for disaster as the clone''s match was going to spiral out of control as it lost a lot of options in real time.


    BANG


    The clone fumbled around in its spatial ring to pull out another weapon, this time a set of chakrams, but Ares had been on point with his follow up attack and booted the clone in the chest before it could even realise what hit it. Ares had abandoned the hammer now that he''d gotten what he wanted out of it, and given it a fair shake, so now he was going to swap his own weapon out as well. This time, however, he had let his opponent choose first and now he could pick something that was generally considered to be effective against the clone''s choice in weaponry! As the clone was tumbling away due to the mighty kick, Ares gave his choice some thought and ended up on a weapon that he''d seen used a lot by a certain someone but never quite given a fair shake himself. Ares nodded to himself and whipped out a shield of all things! Enyo was the de facto shield person in Ares'' life and he''d been considering asking her for pointers but he ended up putting it to the back of his already long list of to-do tasks because it wasn''t as immediately important. There was likely no one better suited to teaching Ares how to use one of these things than Enyo but he could only imagine how distracted she would get, wasting precious time that could be used for something else like pressurising his treasures, creating arts, or practicing with weapons he used more frequently.


    It''s not that Ares had completely given up on ever learning to use this thing, he might one day seriously need a good shield to cover for his magic''s lacking defensive options, it''s just that he was more concerned with winning the tournament and there were more pressing things he could fix that would yield greater results in the short term... Which was ironic ''cause he was now using a shield in the tournament so his assumptions had been dead wrong. hubris was nibbling him in the ass, currently. His own assuredness that a shield would be irrelevant had come back to bite him in the butt but, in a way, this was fine too. figuring something out from the beginning without outside aid could be a positive sometimes as it meant his style of using the shield wouldn''t be contaminated by Enyo''s ''correctness''. Enyo was very much a by the book shield user but Ares was a revenant and, so, learning such straightforward measures might not even really be useful to him. Of course minor things like the best way to block a head-on attack weren''t a part of that but, as far as using it offensively went, there was room for Ares to experiment somewhat. To put it simply, Ares would have Enyo teach him proper defensive measures but he would explore the offensive side of things at his own leisure right here and now.


    He''d picked a shield because it would do good against the chakrams, nullifying the range advantage and forcing the clone to say goodbye to them if he ever dared throw them. Ares would whack them off to the side with the shield and that would be the end of that. The clone was kind of stuck with the chakrams too, as Ares could run down the clone long before he could pull out another weapon, and so it opted to keep the chakrams albeit begrudgingly. It really didn''t want to get smacked by another blunt weapon so letting Ares get close with that shield, while he was wielding these things that couldn''t stop it no matter what he did with them, wasn''t a good idea... But how to stop him? Ares'' shield was pretty bulky and there was no way to get around it without Ares bashing him in the process... It was going to have to be a magic solution otherwise the clone would just keep backing up until it hit a wall and then Ares would do unspeakable things to it in the corner with that giant shield...


    Grand Annihilation was the most plausible method of circumnavigating the shield. The art itself would tickle Ares but that wasn''t the goal. One common trick Ares pulled was using the Grand Annihilation as a smokescreen to get up close, and deploy Rox typically but that wasn''t really relevant right now, so the clone was going to try and copy that. Inside the golden mire of tidal-like explosions, the clone would try to ambush Ares from the side and dance around his shield with the chakrams. It wasn''t a solid plan, and a lot could go wrong, but the clone was no longer in a position to be picky and it had to take what little scraps of decent plans it could piece together. It would have to try and rely on impromptu plans and pushing itself to the edge of its talents once more... Whether it could pull that off yet again, and whether Ares would fall for it twice, remained to be seen but the clone wasted no time in chanting the art and making moves. One thing it had learnt about being Ares was that constantly moving was the correct way to use this body. It was like the persistent motion and activity energised his brain, much the same way a hamster on a treadmill could muster up energy, and so maintaining, at bare minimum, a walk was necessary to function at peak performance. Though the clone very much wanted a second or two to analyse the situation, it felt a stronger desire to keep moving. Also, the real Ares did too and he''d been steadily advancing behind his shield even though holding his ground as a valid strategy at the moment. Ares had a decent bit of time still on his hands before Mako woke up and, yet, he was being impatient with a defensive weapon regardless. He had ants perpetually in his pants and couldn''t sit still and that had rubbed off on the clone in a big way. This little duel between them wasn''t quite over but it was ramping up and about to get a whole lot speedier as the clone ran out of options and had to face the real Ares'' directly. Throw in Dominus, waiting to tag in in the wings, and the duel still had some life in it yet despite both participants being deeply wounded in their own way. The staff and the hammer were both gone, replaced now by a shield and chakrams, the both of which Ares had never done more than some preliminary testing with in his downtime. How was he and his clone going to wield these weapons? Not properly, that was for sure, but it would be interesting regardless!

 Chapter 281: Scythe Strife

    "Grand Annihilation."


    Strike while the iron''s hot, as they say. The clone cast the art and flung it directly at Ares'' shield to blind him amidst the rumbling golden cloud that came thundering his way. Ares'' Omniscience could technically see through all of this but he would need to stick his head out from behind the shield and expose it to danger so it wasn''t likely he''d try, giving the clone the freedom to stalk Ares from within the depths of the Grand Annihilation. Of course the clone''s vision was also affected but, as it was his art, it was to a lesser degree and made everything that much more tolerable. Plus, with the heavy shield on his person, Ares wasn''t going anywhere from his starting spot anytime soon. He would just hunker down on the spot and patiently wait out the harsh conditions. As if the universe was trying to prove the clone''s point, he managed to peek around an ebbing explosion and catch a glimpse of Ares'' shield stood upright and unmoving, undaunted by the chaos. Ares was behind it... Wasn''t he? It was impossible to tell from this angle which raised a valid question in the clone''s mind that, if Ares was relatively unaffected by the annihilation arts the clone had available to him, then did Ares really have to hunker behind the shield for safety or could he use it as a distraction to...


    BANG


    The question the clone never got a chance to finish asking himself was answered by the real Ares who dive kicked his head from behind after silently ambushing him. Ares had cast Quietus Edict and snuck around through the Grand Annihilation with ease thanks to both Omniscience and his annihilation mastery which allowed him to detect persons within the range of the explosions. As he wasn''t constraining himself to hiding behind the shield, he had become the hunter and the clone had become the hunted. That''s not to say he wasn''t paying a price for this, as his fresh wounds were opening up further than they already were and he was losing more flesh and blood by the second, but it wasn''t as big a deal as getting kicked in the jaw like the clone had just been. Ares wasn''t able to use any arts, unfortunately, as the flow of mana would have given the game away and revealed him, but the kick was still pretty brutal and packed chock full of annihilation pressure to really lay down the hurt. The clone was blasted away via a kick for the second time this fight and went rocketing out of the Grand Annihilation and blinding speeds. As it rolled away along the floor, Ares went back to his shield and hid behind it to endure the rest of the art in safety. There was no valid reason to stand around and keep getting hit, after all, and he wouldn''t have been able to chase the clone after how hard he hit him anyway. Fighting his way out of the art when he could just patiently wait the remainder of the duration out without suffering any more injuries was the smart decision and Ares was appreciative of the shield''s efforts. Gool ol'' reliable shield! It was being thoroughly battered by the stormy winds generated due to the explosion but Ares had imbued it with mana and so it was handling it well enough. Of course the whole mess was quite rocky for Ares himself who was actually doing most of the heavy lifting here, by anchoring himself with pressure, but the shield was preventing the worsening of his condition and was appreciated for it.


    When the art finally died down, Ares poked his head over the top of the shield like a curious meerkat only to have to duck again immediately as his head was nearly taken clean off by a spinning chakram. The clone had recovered and thrown one of them, predicting Ares raising his head to get a view of the combat zone, to maintain some level of pressure against his opponent despite the loss he just took. The clone had been completely correct in his guess and Ares'' assessment of the situation had been cut short as a result but he did still have enough time to spy the clone running towards him. The clone had shrugged off the kick and barrelled straight back towards Ares in a bid to take him by surprise and it was actually working well. Ares had to be stuck behind the shield, obscuring his vision, while the clone was able to run up to him from his blind spot on the other side of the shield and brandish the remaining chakram. ''Wasting'', if it could even really be called that due to the intentional nature of his earlier discarding, a single chakram to enable gap closing was a wise decision at this point. Forfeiting something was undoubtedly necessary to course correct the clone''s failure and make its last two losses as meaningless as possible. Ares had been read like a book here and successfully pinned down so now it was time for the clone to go back on the attack for once and get his own licks in. It had been far too long since it got a hit in on Ares and it was starting to get a little annoyed much the same way Ares would if the roles had been reversed. Ares was quite a momentum based creature and, regardless of which way the the fight swing, be it in his favour or otherwise, it wasn''t wise to leave him in the depths of ''winning'' or ''losing'' for too long because his overall performance would see a drastic increase either way. When fighting Ares it was much better to just deliver a swift death blow long before he could get into the swing of things as he was particularly great at adapting to opponents over the course of an ongoing fight. Now, of course, this was a difficult ask as Ares was rather hot blooded near the start of a match and would make going toe to toe with him incredibly hard but it was still in his enemy''s best interest to fight back with him and try to seize victory then and there, as soon as possible. Part of why this fight was taking its sweet time was because both Ares and the clone possessed regeneration, sure, but it was also because of these wild swings in who was winning at any given time due to the aforementioned nature. They kept trading the dominant position back and forth and it would take a pretty big shift / mistake in order to decisively swing things one way or the other.


    Ares, stuck behind his shield even though he was aware his opponent was closing in rapidly, tried to use his divine sense to scout his immediate surroundings but was completely denied by a block of physical pressure the clone had put up in front of him. It had expected Ares to try and get a better view, so this was a good move to make, but it didn''t end there either as it had one more sensory trick up its sleeve to aid it in coming out of this shield vs chakram duel as a winner. Ares couldn''t see so, naturally, he would use his enhanced senses to attempt to listen to the clone''s footsteps and deduce his location via those... But they had disappeared for some strange reason! At first, Ares assumed the clone had used Quietus Edict and Ares simply hadn''t heard it but the reality of the situation was a little different... THUD. Ares heard the sound of an incredibly loud footstep directly on the other side of the shield and momentarily panicked. Did the clone Shift nearby? Did it jump to avoid making noise prior to landing right in front of Ares? Did the clone use an Echo to blast itself around and land nearby?! However it had done this, Ares was convinced the clone was no more than a foot or two in front of him and so he instinctively lunged forward with the shield in an attempt to bash him back. Ares wanted space to regain his bearings and so he went for a quick push that wasn''t damaging in anyway but impossible to avoid had the clone truly been where he assumed he was. Ares didn''t manage to get more than halfway through his shield bash before he spied his clone some sauntering around the side of the shield with his chakram at the ready and this was going to be a serious problem.. "Fuck."


    This was the second time Ares cursed aloud this fight after having been fooled into a bad situation but, this time, it was more so directed at the sneaky method rather than the inevitably painful result that was about to hit him hard. What the clone had done was actually rather simple and Ares had figured out the trick the second he saw that one of the clone''s shoes was missing. All the clone had done was stand still, remove his shoe, and toss it to land in front of Ares... Ares then pushed his shield forward, exposing himself from the side, and opening himself up to an opponent who was never where he thought he was to begin with. It was so childish, and required such a minute amount of effort on the clone''s side of things, and yet Ares had fallen for it hard. Having all of his senses restricted was damning but then he was intentionally permitted his hearing back to bait him into a rash decision. It was the same old, ''here''s a way out of your predicament'' spiel that Ares had literally just avoided but the punk clone had done it again! Ares hadn''t expected the clone to revert back to the playbook and try the exact same method two times in a row but maybe that was precisely why it had done it. The clone had smelled blood in the water and called Ares out big time, predicting his unwillingness to believe the clone would just keep repeating its methods over and over until it finally worked. It was sort of like guessing whether a coin would land on heads or tails and, after the coin landed on heads ten times in a row, assuming it couldn''t possibly be heads once more. Now, granted, that was entirely luck based, and it very well might not be heads again, but the fallacy was relevant here as Ares was dumbstruck that the clone could, in fact, just do it again!


    Ares wasn''t sure if he was stupid or if the clone was but this whole situation did not bear resemblance to a high level fight because it was all so pathetically cheesy... Though, in all fairness, that could happen in high level fights sometimes. Both individuals would get tired of pointlessly smacking each other across the face for thousands of years and eventually resort to more absolute means that could instantly win them the fight. Whether or not these means were ''pathetic'' or ''childish'' was irrelevant because they were capable of freeing the expert cultivators from their seemingly never ending grudge match and that was what truly mattered. This situation was no different because the fight had gotten hard to win fair and square, due to their respective injuries, and so Ares and the clone were both keeping an eye out on easy ways to one up their opponent. So what if the clone had to toss his shoe at Ares'' shield? It looked dumb but it worked, didn''t it?! Also, it was a pace changer. So many proper tactics and well-thought out strings of attack only to be interrupted by a muddy boot of all things was impossible to predict. Wackiness could one hundred percent throw someone for a loop in such an otherwise serious duel so the clone had outdone itself here and Ares couldn''t fault it. He was annoyed he fell for it, sure, but he did also respect it down in the silly depths of his revenant heart. Hell, he imagined this was the sort of thing he would do if he ever needed to fight against Enyo so he really couldn''t negatively judge the clone lest he wanted to indirectly incriminate himself at a later date! Ares only wished he could have done this to Enyo at least once before she''d seen it in action. If Ares ever trained against her and she wound up in this scenario too, stuck behind her shield with no vision, then she would be hyper aware of Ares'' tomfoolery because the clone had already revealed the plan to her in full now. Damn spoilsport... Why couldn''t he beat his wife in peace without outside interference?!... Ok, even with context that came across really wrong! Ares needed to work on his language as this was happening a lot lately! Something about being confronted with his own devilishness head on was bringing silly thoughts to the front of his head because he was busy trying to get into his opponent''s head. It''s not that he was unsuccessful, quite the opposite, he was maybe a bit to successful and, now, it was like he was in possession of two Ares brains, both equally as moronic!


    Side-tracked, much? Maybe Ares was trying to distract himself from the fact that he was about to suffer at the hands of  the chakram that was gunning for his neck. Ares would never let the thing slice his throat open but he was going to have to let it have its way with at least some other part him as he retreated to the best of his ability. The chakram came slicing through the air and tore viciously into his upper chest like a rabid dog as Ares threw himself backwards in an attempt to disengage before things got any worse. Ares was able to avoid the chakram piercing his heart but it did cut deep and there was a long line of blood pouring out of him that was quite troublesome. The amount of blood he was losing was only making his whole situation that much worse and there was only so much his regeneration could do before he bit the dust due to blood loss. His regeneration was still in its infancy due to his lacking cultivation but it was important to remember that the clone''s was slightly better than Ares'' and he couldn''t afford to be alternating blows like this. Ares needed to maintain a consistent win streak in their smaller interactions before delivering the death blow with Dominus and this had not been good for him at all. Ares threw the shield lightly into the air, rolled backwards to accommodate his fall onto his rear, and managed to flip back up to a standing position as he caught the shield and charged forward while ignoring the searing pain in his chest. The clone had gotten an attack off but now it was close enough that Ares could run him down like a fearless bull and there was nothing to be done about it. The clone did try to back up and give itself time to think of a way to escape but there really wasn''t any. Nothingness was out of the cards, that had already been proven, and no other form of magic was going to stop Ares in his tracks. The best the clone could do was imbue his chakram with disintegration and slash the shield, denting it and maybe making it unusable if it could tear a hole in it after it hit him, but that was a waste of mana as Ares wasn''t likely going to stick with the shield anyway so the clone just didn''t bother.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    BANG


    With a running start, Ares leapt spiritedly at his foe and ran him down like a deer in the headlights. Ares had hit the clone so hard he stumbled forward and almost tripped over the floored clone who had been pummelled straight down into the ground. The clone looked dazed and its head was partially split open near the top due to the uncompromising brutality of the shield''s solidity. Ares raised the shield overhead and went to bring it down on the clone''s head but was kicked in the stomach and pushed back slightly. The shield still came down regardless and managed to hit the clone''s knee, doing a solid bit of damage that would have lasting repercussions regarding the clone''s mobility going forward. Shifting wasn''t an option, it had already suffered a pretty bad injury in its stomach, and now this? Ares gave himself shtick for not doing well enough but he''d actually done a fantastic job of setting himself up for victory by chipping away at the clone''s ability to move without hindrance.


    Ares put the shield away, took a few steps back as the clone stood up, and pulled out a weapon that was familiar to all, his scythe... The one he did absolutely nothing with until a flash of light blinded everyone and it suddenly, inexplicably, became the strongest weapon in his arsenal for all of a split second. It was still lost on everyone exactly what Ares had done in that moment, he didn''t even really know himself, but they were a lot more lenient to him pulling out this damn thing again now that there was precedence for him not being a complete dunce with it. Ares wasn''t going to perform that unknown art again, he couldn''t, but he did feel like his ability control the scythe had gone up leagues as a result of his body''s automation during that Timeline Splice. It had been strained to perform movements that real, current Ares was still grasping but had a rough idea of. His future self was teaching his current self by taking the wheel and showing him how to do doughnuts first hand, essentially, and Ares wanted to give this weapon another whirl. He felt more comfortable with this than something like a shield anyway and so it was in line with his two different goals, improve and win. He was a little more wary about not fulfilling that last part which was why this scythe had come out because it had pretty quickly become one of his better weapons overall.


    Ares foundation and fundamentals with the scythe were hastily rushed during the duration of this tournament but his ability to actually swing the thing was top notch and calculated. He could make it work better than other weapons, which was the major point here, and so he was assured in victory no matter what the clone pulled out. The only weapons Ares knew how to use better were swords and knuckle dusters because he''d used them all throughout his child hood when roaming the streets. Ares opted not to bare knuckle brawl often due to his adept trait but he was handy when throwing fists. The clone mimicked his somewhat lacking physical strength, and was sub par when compared to a normal cultivator at his cultivation base, so Ares didn''t fear the clone trying to punch him because it wouldn''t do much. That and the clone didn''t have annihilation enhancement to make up for the lacking strength either so it using no weapons was not a good choice for it at all. As for swords, they wouldn''t do much against a scythe so Ares would be more than happy to see one, or even two, if the clone wanted to pick something comfortable as he would hold the range advantage. Either the clone was going to have to pick something entirely new to try and gain an upper hand or it could pick something it understood at the cost of a major disadvantage...


    Or it could also pick the scythe... Much like it just did... Well, Ares couldn''t deny this was a good option... As far as the clone knew, anyway. They, Ares and the clone, were supposed to be even in terms of mastery, right? Well, no, because Ares had actually undergone the Timeline Splice and his new and improved mastery with the weapon had not yet been displayed to Mako. Ares'' proficiency had jumped up multiple levels since then and the clone would never be able to replicate that in its current state. In other words, this was going to be a one-sided massacre and Ares wasn''t complaining! He had to avoid letting the welling smile out because this was a golden chance and he didn''t want the clone to figure that out before it was too late to regret its decision. All it would take was one clash of their scythes and the clone would know but, by then, it would be too little too late and it would be stuck with the weapon so Ares started the fight quick and didn''t give the clone a chance to change its mind.


    Ares ran towards the clone and tilted sideways as he chucked the scythe forward along the ground with a vertical orientation, rolling it forward as it tore through the arena floor like a spinning whirlwind of death kicking up mud and dirt as it went. The clone had to throw itself sideways to avoid this and it barely managed to stay standing on leg as it steadied itself after the impromptu leap. It hadn''t expected Ares to recklessly abandon his weapon already so that move very nearly caught the clone off guard and ripped his leg off! But now Ares was surely weapon-less and at the perfect range to strike down with a scythe so why had he done this? The clone looked back towards Ares and had to dodge a second dime by ducking down low to avoid another weapon that went soaring through where his neck had been a second earlier, one that the clone had almost forgotten about entirely, the Stygian Zephyr. Ares'' treasure was the real deal but the clone''s was purely aesthetic, and was more likely to get stuck on something than actually be helpful in anyway, so it had nearly slipped the clone''s mind entirely that this thing even existed. Ares hadn''t really used it at all this entire match so to bring it out near the end and almost claim the win via surprise factor had been a rather interesting ploy but not one that worked. The clone had dodged the slung Zephyr and now it was time to... Strike back at Ares? No, no it wasn''t, it was time to dodge again!


    The clone hopped into the air and crouched to raise its legs as high as possible as the scythe came sailing back towards Ares from underneath him. Ares hadn''t aimed at the clone from the start and was catching the fleeing scythe by wrapping the Zephyr around its handle before dragging it back to him. Neither of his first two attacks were the real danger and the clone had nearly been severed in half from behind by this manufactured pincer ambush. If it weren''t for the clone seeing Ares tug on his Zephyr hard he wouldn''t have realised what was happening behind him, by thinking things through from Ares'' perspective, and the fight would be over. The clone was unable to punish Ares throwing his weapon from the start, and trying to attack Ares would have only resulted in its loss, which explained all of his actions up until now and made the clone instantly wary of Ares'' current skill level with the weapon. This was not something the Ares from even five minutes ago would have ever even attempted and, yet, this Ares here and now was pulling it off without breaking a sweat. It had been duped into this scythe duel but, as the clone had to lift his scythe horizontally to block an incoming strike, he didn''t need to be told he couldn''t escape it anymore. The clone got what it wished for like a kid at Christmas but was being ungrateful and trying to return the gift because he wanted it in a different colour. Unfortunately, Ares was going to be strict with this clone and no such leniency would be given. This was a scythe duel and it would not end any other way.


    Ares slashed vertically and, after his strike rebounded off the clone''s block, repositioned himself a few quick steps to the left while repurposing the momentum of his scythe into a cross slash that made the clone''s wrists hurt. The clone had to swap its grip on his scythe just to keep up with the footwork of his true self and it was honestly a tad jealous that Ares was this gifted with the weapon comparatively to itself. Still, there was no time to feel sorry for itself as Ares wasn''t done yet. Ares hopped a step back then slid forward with a rising slash that the clone sidestepped nicely but Ares dug the butt of the scythe into the ground, used it as support to lift himself, and performed a flip kick to payback the clone for doing it to him earlier. The kick connected and Ares had officially kicked his clone in the mouth twice now... This was absurdly humiliating regardless of who came out on top and Ares had definitely won the morale battle off the back of this disrespect alone but he wanted more than just that. He wanted to win the battle and the war so he pressed forward with the scythe held firmly behind the lower end of his spine.


    Ares two arms were leaning back and his hands were gripping the scythe pole from above as he strafed around the clone with a grin. His footwork was doing wonders here as his fleetfooted drifting around the clone was hard to track. The clone didn''t have Omniscience so it fell behind, as Ares'' footwork was so good that even he himself couldn''t follow it without aid from the Celestial Prisms, and Ares preyed on the clone by dashing further in the same direction and out of its vision. He also made an effort to run towards the clone such that the edge of the scythe would rip into the clone as he passed by. Essentially, the scythe had become a passive weapon that damaged his foe just by running past them at the correct angle which his footwork enabled quite easily. Of course this wasn''t his end goal but Ares did leave a nasty gash in the clone just off the back of a simple manoeuvre that wasn''t even all that impressive in the eyes of an average cultivator. Only the experts could see how brilliant Ares'' steps had been in the lead up to this outcome and it was truly admirable. Either way, Ares rushed past the clone''s back with a quick spin, leaving another wound on the clone''s lumber region as he spun once more and flourished the scythe around to cut into the back of the clone''s legs. usually Ares would avoid spinning too much but his movements had been bizarre to say the least and the position of his scythe meant it was typically quicker to turn 180 degrees than to flip the scythe around in his grip and then swing. He''d been holding the scythe behind him this entire time to accommodate his footwork, so light swings behind his back mid turn were considerably faster. Point in case, after he ran past the clone the first time, he was back to back with it so, rather than cumbersomely reposition the scythe in front of him, turn around, and strike slowly, he''d just pointed the scythe backwards in his current grip behind his back and spun clockwise and that was effectively a slash like any other. From there, he was facing the clone''s back with the scythe still behind him so he pushed the scythe firmly into a one handed grip and spun again with a low sweep behind the back that swung back up after into his grip to return to his original position. In short, Ares'' odd movements necessitated a slightly unusual approach but it worked in the end and was definitely not something he would have been good enough to pull of earlier this fight before the Timeline Splice. He was effectively fighting this entire duel, up until now, with the scythe swinging exclusively behind him thanks to his weird grip but his nimbleness had made it a requirement and so he just went with the flow. If he wasn''t considerably better than his opponent this might not have worked as easily as it did, and there would have been pushback, but Ares'' incomprehensible string of attacks served their purpose and left the clone in the dust.


    As for the last strike he''d performed, Ares would have gone for the head, instead of the legs, but the clone had wisely tilted his neck as far away as he could to avoid it. The clone also attempted to dive away to avoid injury entirely but Ares'' quickness didn''t let him do as such without taking a hit first. Ares'' scythe had torn into the back of the clone''s legs and tripped it as blood spurted out everywhere, staining Ares and the ground he walked upon. Ares wanted to give chase and end the fight now if he could, burying his scythe into the fallen clone''s back, but he was forced back when the clone chanted Black Blossom and swung around wildly with the scythe. Black Blossom was still as excellent at controlling space as ever and Ares had to respect it, not challenging it head on because a single mistake would mean Ares wound up on the resurrection platform before he could even blink. The fight was still on but a winner was slowly emerging thanks to the weapon currently resting in both competitor''s hands. It favoured one combatant a lot more than the other and the gap was just going to keep widening the longer they each clung to it. Ares could feel his win coming and he was going to bask in alcohol and good food tonight to celebrate!... Although a slight complication was arising over by the corner of the arena. Ares hadn''t been able to sneak past the clone but that hadn''t really mattered up until now because a certain elf had kindly remained asleep the entire time... Unfortunately, he was stirring now and would become a hindrance again soon so the edge Ares was progressively earning was about to fade away just like that. Looks like Ares was going to need Dominus after all and winning off the back of the scythe play wasn''t in the cards. Still, Ares had two more tricks laid out and they would be the real win clinchers that he relied on. it was nearly time to enact his plans but, first, he wanted to push the clone around a little more and set thins up juuuuust right.

 Chapter 282: Wakey Wakey, Dominus and Mako

    Mmmm


    Though Ares didn''t catch the sound of Mako''s mumbling from where he currently was, he did spy the elf''s body wriggling around a bit and that was more than enough to understand that his time, unimpeded bullying the clone, was close to being up. He needed to deal with this damn clone now and haul some serious ass to kill the elf before he could wake up and start being a problem again. One more. One more debilitating strike on the clone and Dominus ought to be able to come in like a wrecking ball, bulldozing through his opposition and clearing a path. As soon as this clone died Ares'' win was assured in his mind so he focused up and stared down the clone and its disintegration coated scythe. "Black Blossom." Ares copied the clone and activated the same art so as not to fall behind in head on collisions. There was zero reason to not do this unless he wanted to handicap himself for some training but the time for that was long over and Ares was in full ''win this encounter'' mode right now.


    Ares threw aside petty tricks and ran straight to the clone without taking any detours or setting up any plan B''s, his sole goal was to force direct confrontation and win off the back of his vastly superior skill and his ''healthier'', if it could even really be called that, bodily state. Ares let the clone take the first swing so he could get a feel for what kind of level it was at when given a chance to actually strike at him but Ares wasn''t much impressed by the weak poke that came his way using the blunt end of the scythe. It was safe but could convert into an actual swing if the clone wanted by flipping the weapon down, or up, and around. Simple and boring so Ares responded in a way that was sure to get the fight heated up by kicking the underneath of the scythe and sending the butt of it sky high. This action brought the bladed end of the scythe down to the ground, enabling the clone to launch a vertical strike with relative ease but Ares actually wanted it to. If the clone did nothing then Ares was going to punish and if it attacked from this position, launching the attack would be slow and cumbersome as the clone would need to change its grip and swing with little momentum so, despite the attack originating from a closer position to its target, it wasn''t a great attack to be forced to make. Both options were terrible and Ares was looking to exploit this situation. Ares had left himself a little open doing this, with such a brazen kick, but the clone hadn''t expected it and Ares still had a few means to cover for himself if it was necessary. Thankfully it wasn''t, as the clone was slow to retaliate, so Ares'' risky kick paid off in the end and he was able to put the clone in this position without any pushback.


    In the end, the clone gave in and lashed out with the scythe just like Ares wanted it to. It didn''t exactly have many options so it took the simplest one available to it that was the least likely to backfire. It was a losing strategy, as many of the options available to it tended to be as of late, but it would be safe and so that was a manageable outcome from which to plan a new way out of this mess. Plus the Black Blossom would help keep it safe somewhat afterwards anyway. Without the art the clone would have retreated but it was particularly good in situations like this so the clone could be a bit more aggressive here... Or so it thought. It was about to have that assumptive notion dispelled rather quickly. The strike from the clone came flying up from near the ground and, though Ares could dodge it to either side, he knew he needed to intercept it. If he dodged the scythe then the Black Blossom detonation after would still hit him. It wasn''t amazing against Ares but it was more powerful than the pseudo annihilation magic the clone could put out so that made it scary enough to warrant avoiding.


    It wouldn''t be an issue if Ares clashed his own disintegration magic against it, however, because his was just flat out superior. The essence of the clone''s magic was similar to Ares'' but was technically just a really high quality knock off. The clone didn''t have his affiliations for the pillar so using actual, one to one, destruction magic wasn''t a possibility. Still, the fact that creation could almost flawlessly copy the magic''s structure from the ground up and replicate it with astonishing accuracy was to be praised. The ''Ersatz'' title was incredibly apt because it wasn''t the real deal, no, but it was shockingly close and could trick anyone who wasn''t intimately familiar with the magic to begin with. This clone could fool basically anyone who didn''t live in Ares'' house 100% of the time... Although it not speaking much was a dead giveaway. Ares rarely if ever shut his trap! This fight was some of the longest he''d ever spent with his claptrap shut and even then he''d still let out a few curses here and there. Ares had taken the phrase ''silence is golden'' and flipped it on its head. In fact, when he spoke, there was often plenty of gold that followed. The clone needed to work on that, Ares propensity for speech, otherwise it couldn''t even really be called a revenant at that point! Although it was just a clone... But maybe it could transform into Garmr? When its cultivation was at the appropriate stage, and after Mako had seen Ares do transform for real, not just off the back of a Canis Stimulant, it might be able to do it to some extent? There actually might not be too much point though because the reason Garmr was so powerful was because it was an amalgamation of things that Mako couldn''t copy, not right now anyway. Bloodlines, actual destruction magic, draconic heritage, etc... It would still be strong though so maybe it was worth Mako''s time upgrading the clone''s functionality at a later date?


    It seemed like Mako would be highly reliant on his Genesis and Ersatz to be his heavy hitters going forward so he would likely dedicate his training, development, and experimentation in those two directions. The base of his creation magic was flexible enough as is and training with it was somewhat redundant. It could do almost anything anyway and the only real limiting factor was his cultivation. Ironically, the hard worker of the fundamental champions had gotten the pillar that required the least overall effort... Still, in a way, that was a pretty good thing as his overabundance of work ethic could all be piled onto a few things that were worth investing time on rather than being spread thing on pointless issues. His Genesis was going to be freakishly strong once Mako was done kitting it out and it didn''t seem like the kind of thing he was ever really going to be 100% satisfied with. The elf was just going to keep improving it until the heat death of the universe at this point because he had little else to do with his spare time and energy. In that sense, Mako was also a better option than Eagerton because the pompous writer would dedicate his time to his craft which, in a roundabout way, did affect the pillar, just not as much as directly working on the pillar via means like Genesis or Ersatz would. Eagerton would make no effort to improve either of the two aforementioned magnum opus-es of the creation pillar as they didn''t gel well with his approach to life and he was too selfish to change. Though only really partially sentient, the creation pillar did still know what it was doing when picking a suitable candidate!


    Anyway, Mako wasn''t awake yet so Ares kept his attention directed at the clone and swung his scythe overhead to oppose the clone''s attack. The two disintegration laden scythes screeched as they clashed but Ares'' magic was savagely encroaching upon the clone''s disintegration like unchecked ivy and swallowing it up at a rapid pace. Ares'' disintegration rolled over the clone''s scythe and hunted down the remnants of the fake copy that disgusted it before exploding and scattering petals everywhere with a ROAR. The deep bass of the explosion shook the ground and the clone could practically feel the noise in its soul so it instinctually backed away from the danger in front of it and accepted its loss. It couldn''t overpower Ares and his magic lost handily too. It was rough going and only going to get rougher because Ares came bursting through the black tear and petal swarm with single minded motivation to cut the clone in half. The clone struggled to raise the scythe which had been flung into the floor as a result of the earlier collision. Every time he fell behind he would only be able to muster weaker and weaker swings, so it was imperative the clone was as quick as it could be in responding to Ares'' actions, but there were limits to what it was capable of and the clone was beginning to crack.


    Ares sought to wear the clone down even further via an unrelenting assault so he took multiple swings in a row without much caring for underhanded sleights of hand. His strikes and slashes were all expertly woven together with finesse and the talent he''d accrued since he first wielded the scythe way back when so it was hard to deal with. His movements were graceful but packed a daunting threat with every step he took towards the clone as the scythe danced in accordance with his will. The ever flowing scythe and the fluidity of Ares'' approach was hard to muster a worthwhile defence against and the clone could only barely manage to bat away attempt after attempt, failing here and there to completely shun every attack which lead to small scrapes and cuts appearing on its flesh. With every passing slash the clone''s wounds were getting progressively worse and what was once a small cut not even a second ago was now a considerably deeper wound from which blood flew without much impediment. The blood didn''t last long in the fresh air though as disintegration petals, or Ares'' scythe itself, swept through the area and claimed the space as its own shortly after it cropped up.


    Ares rolled the scythe around his palm, hand, and arm to flip it in his grip and then convert the momentum into a swing from angles that were downright despicable. Low and in the corner, high and curved, and slashes that started with a bait in one place but somehow finished in another after a wavy course led it to the clone''s blind spots like a wriggling snake. Ares was on point and each strike was poetry in motion. Every clash the clone managed to force embodied the spirit of a caesura, resetting Ares'' flow but never quite ending it entirely. He piggybacked off the parries and deflects rather than allowing the clone to, managing to exploit them more than the clone could by dragging his body along for the ride and following the weapon to accommodate its deviated course. When his strike was parried he leant after the scythe so that he could then throw his body back around and generate speed and power in his next attack via rotational force. It was a seemingly never ending hail of deathly scythe moves that were tinged with the disintegration''s darkness. He advanced upon the clone and gave it no room to breathe as his attacks became swifter and harder to ward off, almost as if he was descending into a berserk rampage with nothing on his mind over than swinging the scythe to and fro. Ares'' talent with this weapon was soaring as the repeated attacks allowed him to learn with every slash, improving with every movement, even the tiniest, of his wrist.


    Though it seemed improbable, Ares'' footwork had been able to merge with his scythe wielding to a degree that even his sword wielding hadn''t despite being less experienced with this weapon overall. The scythe just felt completely natural in his hands, like it should have been there all along. This feeling was probably a result of the Reaper''s mark and his Timeline Splice experience but it all just kind of clicked together the longer he stuck with the weapon. It even reached a point where the start of one attack and the end of another was indecipherable to the eyes of any non-expert and, even then, the more experienced cultivators had to really stare intently at the weapon to piece together the puzzle of its free-flowing form. The clone wanted to cry at how unfair this all was because it felt like he was being attacked a machine, the kind that learned and adapted over time until it reached perfection and then just kept going for no other reason that because it could. Sparks flew with every effort the clone made to pause Ares'' momentum as it feebly raised the scythe to block but Ares looked truly unstoppable at this point and only the clone''s death would satiate Ares, halting him in his tracks. He genuinely looked like he could do this for days on end... And, yet, despite everything... It almost looked incomplete? Like there was a layer to his scythe proficiency that wasn''t present right now. The form Ares had copied off his future self was missing... Something. Put simply, there was wasted energy. Not in terms of Ares being inefficient, the opposite actually, it seemed like there was a well of untapped brain power and spare time in his swings that he just wasn''t using for some reason. This was not Ares'' final scythe form, not even close, and whatever he learnt to do with that weapon was going to be a nightmare to deal with if what the clone was currently dealing with was still only in its infancy. If this unceasing, unapproachable blade storm of inevitability was still just stage 1 then, quite frankly, the clone didn''t want to see the other stages. It didn''t want to be Ares anymore! How much effort would it take to copy this bastard when he really got going?! Mako was seriously going to have to work overtime on this clone to make him even half as decent as the real deal because there was no way in hell it was managing this task of copying Ares by itself.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The clone was stumbling backwards and almost trying to scramble away at this point but something truly disastrous happened when it turned to run... It hit a wall! Ares had pushed the clone all the way to one side of the arena and cornered it like a rat where it was going to have fight like its life depended on it... Actually, there was no ''like'' about it, the clone''s life was hanging in the balance right now. Ares, fuelled by the sight of the clone having nowhere left to run, redoubled his efforts and his vim and vigour was on full display as he put his back into every single swing, even letting out a small grunt here and there with some of the mightier attacks that took a significant amount of effort to perform. The clone sunk under the weight of Ares'' scythe but also did as such to keep a lower profile and try to avoid the disintegration petals surrounding him. Not even five seconds of this onslaught later and the wall behind the clone was scratched as though a pack of feral wolves had gone to town on it but the clone in the middle was comparatively still unharmed. The clone''s defences had remained decently strong and the clone''s will power, which strongly resembled Ares'', was hanging on by a thread right now.


    Indignation and unwillingness to lose drove the clone to bravely launch an attack in something that honestly couldn''t even really be called a ''gap'' in Ares'' sequence of slashes. The clone had mustered a large chunk of Ares'' innate talent in order to time this attack perfectly and it had done an alright job, the only problem was that Ares was currently doing a fantastic job and merely brushed the diagonal slash aside with his hand! Ares had let go of the scythe and slapped the side of the blade away from him before continuing to attack the clone as if he''d stopped to swat a bothersome fly and nothing more. It''s not just that Ares'' mastery of the scythe enabled him to wield it, but he could now also see the mistakes and holes in other people when they attempted to. For the clone, who was stuck in close proximity to Ares with this weapon, this was a death sentence and its brain was failing to come up with any kind of escape plan. The best it could do was just keep blaring a siren and telling the clone to Shift even though that was problematic in its own right. The clone''s best option was to randomly teleport to a position of Ares'' choosing and be jumped as soon as he exited the nothingness tunnel instead of staying here, that was how bad it had gotten. Its options were effectively die now or die later so it made the choice to try and preserve its life for even a few seconds longer and Shifted, buying itself a momentary reprieve in the nothingness tunnel wherein it could put the weapon away and regain some clarity. There was no time to pull out another weapon, as the clone had already been thrown out of the nothingness tunnel, but at this point it was safer to go with his fists than a scythe because Ares'' understanding of it was just that many leagues above its own. Fighting with his fists, against a weapon that had as much range and potential for area denial as a scythe, was asking for trouble and yet the clone had added up the details of the current situation and still believed it was worth doing. The clone''s decision wasn''t even wrong, that was just how menacing Ares was right now with the scythe in his hands.


    The clone looked around and realised, thanks to divine sense, that Ares was directly behind him and taking a swing. Although the clone could control its divine sense and move its body at the same time, much like Ares, it wasn''t amazing at doing this so it had one of two choices. Keep the divine sense up and running to see what Ares was going to do and try dodging it with subpar movement or give up on the divine sense, regain full bodily control, but have no idea what Ares was going to do behind his back. In other words, two terrible choices, both as risky as each other in one way or another. If Ares opted for a quicker attack, with less thought put into it, then abandoning the divine sense and dodging was the only way to avoid it in time as the clone would be too slow otherwise. If Ares was more methodical, and took a slower approach but winded up the attack more to be devastating if successful, then keeping the divine sense up to reposition itself as far as possible from Ares'' shenanigans was what should be done. As there was zero way of predicting this without going to deep into mind game territory, which had resulted in failure and nearly even full on demise last time, the clone prayed to Terros, wherever the poor rock was right now, and gambled its life away.


    Whether the clone would get to keep its life after this risky business remained to be seen as it gave up on the divine sense and committed to a combat roll forward... And felt nothing behind it. Had Ares gone for a quick strike it would have blown right past where the clone had been and generated an air current the clone could feel tickling its back. As that wasn''t the case, put in layman''s terms, the clone had fucked up. Ares had not gone for a lighter swing and was brewing up something fierce. The clone''s roll had done it absolutely zero favours and now Ares could aim his heavier attack in peace knowing the clone''s options to dodge were incredibly limited as it wouldn''t be able to roll again in time. The most the clone could do here was hurl its body in the opposite direction of Ares to the best of its abilities and let fate take the wheel. This was the first instance, during this bout, in which one combatant was destined to take a heavy hit and couldn''t retaliate no matter what they did. There was no magic, no technique, no weapon, no strategy, no nothing that was getting the clone out of this jam and so it gritted its teeth and braced for the inevitable.


    Ares, who was surprised the clone took the riskier option of the two, thanked his luck, as this really was just a fifty fifty for the clone, and trudged forward with steady hops as he leant backwards with his scythe dragging behind him. He was prepping for a horrifyingly powerful overhead cleave and there was a decently high chance the clone was just going to die from this strike. It all depended on how high up the slash landed on the clone''s body based on how much of it could escape from Ares after the clone lunged away from him. At bare minimum, based on Ares Omniscience estimates, the clone was guaranteed to lose both ankles by the time this attack was all said and done... And that was the worst possible outcome which was extraordinarily unlikely. The more probable average outcome was that everything beneath the clone''s knees went bye bye and it became completely impossible for the clone do anything other flop around like a fish. Granted it would still be a massive struggle anyway if it lost its feet, and the outcome was roughly similar, but the pain that wracked it varied and that might potentially mean its dying efforts were more paltry than they would be otherwise due to the agonising distraction. It was a small thing but it did matter! There was no point offing the clone if Ares died too and so he didn''t want to allow the clone to become some kind of sacrificial martyr that took Ares with him in its final moments. Every measure that could be taken to lessen the odds of such a thing was worth its weight in gold and so Ares did actually put elbow grease into this swing even though it wasn''t strictly ''necessary'' to do so. There was also a slim chance he just straight up sliced the clone in half at the waist, unlikely though it was. Ares could almost taste victory and he wasn''t going to get sloppy here just because he could afford to be a bit lazy, that was downright silly and he would regret it forever if something stupid happened as a result of his waning effort right when it mattered most. He brought the scythe down and the clone threw itself forward but Ares'' swing was looking like it was going to connect with the clone''s knees here, much as it was expected to, so the fight was presumably going to be over after this... And yet, a certain someone had just complicated matters by tossing a rocket into the mix. The damn elf had woken up and, although he was still groggy and yet another rocket was the best he could manage, it was about enough to stall Ares and force him to back off... But if he did then he would lose out big time here and be forced into a two vs one he wasn''t entirely convinced he could win... Ares saw no way to overcome this situation with the means he had at his disposal but, well, he didn''t need to. There was someone else here with myriad life experiences that had culminated in a bevy of arts and tricks, one of which could surely put this whole situation right. Ares had wanted to try and win without Dominus if possible, or at least put the guy in a winning situation so Ares could claim he did most of the work, but it was no longer time to be burdened by such unnecessary and prideful egoism. He''d done good enough and if Mako was allowed to summon an Ares clone then Ares was allowed to summon an ''Ares clone'' too! It was only fair! Besides, Ares still planned on ending this whole fight himself after anyway so calling on Dominus to finish up the clone was acceptable in Ares'' eyes.


    Speaking of Ares'' eyes, he''d just shut them as he handed over control of his body. He found it easier to swap with Dominus by doing this as his ability to visualise his bloodline was considerably better when he wasn''t distracted by the chaotic reality around him. If he needed to bring about Dominus it was always going to be for the sake of a fight and who knows what kind of garbage he would be seeing at the time? Arts flying everywhere, death and destruction... It was much easier if Ares just shut himself out and away from all the visual clutter. Not that it was a hard process to begin with but if he could smooth the transition then that would actually aid Dominus as he''d have a few extra milliseconds to spare and, though that meant little to someone like Ares, it was a monumental time save for somebody like Dominus. So many of Dominus'' fights had come down to millisecond timings and it wasn''t uncommon when two weapon masters were pitted against one another. In fact Dominus'' fight with the weapon pillar God had been decided by roughly one thousandth of a second even though he''d been winning for most of it. Last ditch efforts were to be feared and needed to be stifled accordingly with full force so Dominus was actually rather grateful Ares didn''t skimp on the transition process. Ares had bought Dominus enough time by doing this to maybe make a play here he wouldn''t have been able to otherwise. Dominus'' pried open his shut eyes with an evil smirk and immediately did what he''d been wanting to for quite some now...


    "Absolute Reversal!"


    ... Play with a toy... Art, that intrigued him to no end. Put simply, he was jealous of this art and wanted nothing more than to steal it so he was going to take advantage of this body and learn it much the same way Ares had benefitted from Timeline Splice. It was love at first sight and Dominus was going to abuse this art for all its worth, bringing forth its true potential in a way that only he could. The thousand weapon exemplar was here and ready to party!... Although how he was going to counter an entire rocket was anybody''s guess...

 Chapter 283: Bullying

    Dominus vs Rocket, start!


    This appeared to be a real David vs Goliath type duel here as, as far as the spectators were concerned, Ares was still doing his thing down in the arena. There was currently no distinguishing between Ares and Dominus other than their generally different personas and skill level. To a complete stranger it would look like Ares randomly cranked up his latent talent to eleven for no apparent reason. As such, although Ares had dealt with rockets before, they expected him to struggle here in his current state due to decreasing mana reserves and a weakened body. A single movement was all it took, however, for even the blindest of those amongst the crowd to realise something had changed. It was a simple pivot ''Ares'' performed, giving up on the clone to face the rocket head on, but it was so sharp, fast, and precise that it almost looked like Dominus had been facing that way to begin with and everything prior was just a trick of the imagination. With not even a single muscle twitch Dominus had swerved on his foot and snapped to an entirely new direction like some kind of horror show creature bending its head backwards. Dominus'' entire body performed a rotation on the spot that was mechanical in nature and stopped facing the rocket without even an inch of leeway one way or the other. His turn was neither too long nor too short and it was honestly creepy how accurate his blindingly fast turn had been. Those who blinked in the crowd at the wrong time were still rubbing their eyes even now trying to figure out if someone had spiked their drink...


    As for Dominus down in the arena, though he maybe could have gotten away with striking at the clone and escaping the rocket safely afterwards, it was wholly unnecessary. He didn''t need to take such risky measures and could just beat the clone after dealing with this rocket. Mako being awake now or not was irrelevant and Ares had been underestimating Dominus by an amount that wasn''t funny! The only reason Dominus even got hit back during the inner court trials was because he was experimenting! If he wanted to, a fight like that would ne nothing more than a walk in the park and the same was equally true of this one. Not to disrespect Ares but a weakened clone of him stood no chance. Maybe if the clone had been at full power would Dominus have taken a little longer to get the deed done but the deed would most assuredly get done regardless. Only the pagoda clone would whoop the crap out of Dominus but that absurd thing had both Garmr and pressure mastery out the wazoo. Plus there were restrictions in place, regarding weapon usage, that evened the field way too much for Dominus to be effective so it would unfortunately not go his way. Not that it mattered as Ares couldn''t enter the pagoda anymore anyway, at least not directly in a way that allowed Dominus to also enter and take control, that is. Putting his conscience inside a third party, be it living organism or treasure / artifact, would allow him to sneak back in there if he really wanted to, it''s just that Dominus couldn''t steal control of a body or object that wasn''t Ares'' own body so he would be relegated to the side-lines.


    As for Ares sneaking in, the pagoda was great at doing what it was supposed to but, realistically, many people were capable of cheating it one way or another if they went all out. In fact, cheating had become a pretty rampant problem for a short while right before the pagoda came down to Sheryashka. Nothing stopped the cheating, per se, other than the fact that these expert cultivators with unfathomable tools to enable cheating in the pagoda couldn''t enter the Primordial barrier and keep trying their luck. As soon as the pagoda returned to the outside world Ares, the clone, and not Mako''s, was going to have to deal with all sorts of dodgy competitors on the regular. Still, he was the champion now so sorting these people out once and for all was his job. If Veteran could do it near endlessly, there was no valid reason for Ares not to be able to. Besides, his pressure mastery and Garmr would basically catapult him to a point that nobody else could reach even if they did cheat. What would they do at most? Enable the use of magic and / or weapons / pets? It was not even remotely enough to put a dent in the fifth floor. All Ares needed was the pagoda''s cultivation averaging rune to function properly, even out the cultivation bases fairly, and he''d do the rest.


    Thankfully, that rune averaging rune specifically had the most layers of protection on it and had been engraved so deeply into the pagoda that nobody had ever found a method of cheating it since the pagoda''s inception. Every other rune had been bested in some manner before but that one alone stood the test of time, even before being revamped by Candy. in fact, the only thing Candy did was give it a little update and then copy it in a few other places, she didn''t even add her own rune. Whoever did the original rune really outdid themself so Ares was safe from the one thing that would doom him. He was from a lower domain and only possessed a pitiful cultivation base so 95% of the outside world could wipe the floor with him if such restrictions weren''t in place. Harsh but true. It was undeniable Ares would win fair fights but expecting fairness in the cultivation world... You would probably also have to believe in Santa and the tooth fairy in order to believe in such nonsense... Although Enyo did believe she could enforce such things on a wider scale at one point... Then again, that was more limited in scope as managing Vraizon and Sheryashka wouldn''t actually be impossible. If she tried doing that outside the Primordial barrier though... Even an immortal wouldn''t be able to fix that problem with infinite time on their hands. Criminals and cheats aplenty was an understatement and they infested every inch of every planet of every domain. Accepting it was the only way to move forward, regrettably, and so pagoda Ares was going to have his work cut out for him... Provided he didn''t also cheat! Candy had generously shown him the backdoor way back and could very easily exploit the runes himself if he so desired. He wasn''t going to, because believe it or not there was some integrity in the revenant bastard here and there, but if someone else was cheating first?... Well, Ares'' tolerance had its limits. Being able to use destruction magic with a massively boosted cultivation base? Ares was going to cause very literal shockwaves when the pagoda left this domain... But, hey, if somebody wanted to cheat, why not throw an entire exploding planet at them? Ought to quell the desire to circumnavigate the pagoda a bit when rumours started to spread!


    But that was that Ares, not to be confused with this Ares... And by this Ares, that was in reference to the real Ares being controlled by Dominus, the fake Ares, who was squaring off against the other fake Ares, Mako''s clone... Yeah, this was getting out of hand now! No more Ares! The world can only handle so many smug destruction Gods! Ares, AKA Dominus, wasn''t concerned with the Ares plague and was more interested in the rocket coming his way. He didn''t just cast Absolute Reversal for the fun of it, he was very much aware of what using such an art entailed. He would either counter the rocket, or he would get run over by it and dragged across the entire arena before being splattered against the wall... Maybe. He might not outright die to that last part but the body was in rough enough shape that the fight would likely end there. If Dominus'' Reversal was off by even a millimetre that was the fate in store and yet he threw the art out immediately... Ares, internally, was starting to wonder if this, letting this madman take the wheel, was a good idea or not... Dominus had never let him down so far, though, so Ares was going to give him the benefit of the doubt and ignore his child like wonder with the new art he was using.


    "HUP" Dominus leant forward and lobbed the scythe at the rocket... For who knows what purpose? There was absolutely no chance the scythe was somehow magically going to beat the rocket on its own so his plans right now were still unknowable. What manner of devious tricks was Dominus plotting? How would he circumvent everyone''s expectations? Uh, well, the truth of the matter was just that he really didn''t wanna wield that thing lest the reaper''s mark potentially show up followed by that fuddy duddy Charon. Dominus didn''t even really like the scythe anyway, and that was looking to be more so Ares'' territory, so he was really just looking for an excuse to get rid of the thing.. Kinda? He wasn''t entirely done with the scythe just yet, and it would play a role a little later, but for now he didn''t need or want it. It wasn''t a completely pointless throw, however, as the scythe did spin perfectly before piercing into the rocket head directly. The tip of the scythe''s blade broke through the forefront of the rocket and just sat there, waiting for whatever fate Dominus had planned out for it.


    This attack only led to more confusion amongst the crowd because ''Ares'''' oddly perfect pivot earlier had been followed up an entirely redundant move that accomplished nothing... The Absolute Reversal was still in effect but nobody in their right mind could see where any of this was going as it was a little too late to be pulling a new weapon out now... In other words, this nutjob was planning on taking on the rocket with his bare hands! It made no sense! Only the people who were aware of Dominus'' existence felt comfortable not worrying too much about the outcome because he was just a different breed of cultivator, one who''s machinations went beyond the realm of anything ''normal''. He was the greatest weapon''s master of all time and he was also the greatest, up until now anyway, revenant of all time. That was a bizarre combination that resulted in a lot of unusually effective stupidity so those familiar weren''t really all that surprised by this turn of events. If anything, Sadie and Rox, the latter of whom was sitting on the resurrection platform like a leashed pet waiting for its owner to come back, were paying rapt attention to see what their pseudo master was going to do this time. He always did something ridiculous each and every single time he cropped up and it was looking like the same was true of this Dominus encounter and all.


    Dominus stared down the rocket and bit his lip as he focused while slowly lowering his centre of gravity. The rocket came rushing through the arena and eventually arrived right before Dominus who half-slid, half-ducked underneath it. HIs left leg slid away from his body which then had to slink after it, almost like he was moving in an elongated ''u'' shape. How he was able to fit under the rocket without throwing himself to the floor entirely was a mystery and it was a feat that required some serious flexibility which, honestly, Ares didn''t exactly possess.... Ares'' was going to be sore tomorrow, that was for sure, as Dominus had really pushed him harder than was needed here. Anyway, while underneath the rocket, Dominus raised both his hands on either side of it and started doing something incredibly weird. Simply put, he was playing the drums on it... Or more like bongos, actually, as he was rhythmically slapping specific points of the rocket as it flew over him. At first, Ares assumed Dominus was maybe targeting weak points and, by the time the rocket flew past, it would break down due to its foundational structure having been pierced or broken by these taps. That was seemingly wrong though as Dominus wasn''t using Echoes here and so his strikes wouldn''t exactly travel through the outer sheet of metal to affect the rocket''s internal framework.


    Despite Ares'' original incorrect guess, it didn''t take him long to figure out what was actually happening and he couldn''t help but sigh. The rocket was turning. Dominus'' taps were slowly, but surely, changing the direction of travel for the rocket and it was beginning to gradually spin clockwise. With every tap, the turning process quickened as the locations of the taps were happening closer and closer to the back of the rocket as it soared over Dominus'' head, giving him more leverage. This was also just the beginning as Dominus started using telekinesis to further alter the flight path and take control of the rocket much like Ares had tried to earlier. Ares'' attempt mostly failed because his cultivation wasn''t high enough and yet Dominus'' attempt, with worse pressure mastery, was succeeding because he was getting physically involved... Show off! Ares felt indignant but he also readily admitted he couldn''t do this. The precision of the slaps on the rocket''s hull were pinpoint and even a single miss could cause a massive deviation, spiralling the rocket out of control and sending it crashing into the floor and crushing anybody under it.


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    This was Dominus Absolute Reversal and he was absolutely reversing the direction of the rocket to fire it right back at sender. The rocket had already turned 90 degrees by this point and Dominus was still chasing it from below while shepherding it towards the direction he wanted. This was slow though so, from here, he decided to speed things up by utilising the annihilation enhancement and telekinesis simultaneously to grab the rocket and pull. Dominus reached up, latched onto the rocket, and dragged it rightwards with all his might, just about manging to finish up the turn and launch the rocket before he threw himsel onto his back and kicked out at the rocket with with an outstretched leg and a Stamp Out. These two last measures boosted the speed of the reversed rocket and now Mako was the one who was going to have to deal with it... But he couldn''t! There was no way for him in his groggy state to really do much of anything about this as he could maybe summon a small wall at best right now. It wouldn''t fully block the rocket so it looked like he was going to die here but that wasn''t Dominus'' real goal. The clone was still hanging about, after all!


    The clone would sooner throw itself head first into death and blow up alongside the rocket than let its master die because the result was indirectly the same either way. Mako would never die to this rocket but the clone potentially could. Dominus might not even need to attack the Ersatz as it would willing sacrifice itself here... Maybe. It wasn''t impossible for the clone to take the hit and live if it was quick with its repositioning and magic. Not that Dominus cared. He didn''t mind playing with the clone a little more if it wanted to tango. Speaking of the clone, it froze on the spot when it realised what Dominus was doing, making it throw itself headfirst into the line of fire, but immediately started sprinting over to block the rocket by using Double Jump and Echo to boost its speed even though it knew this might wind up being fatal for it. Double Jump and Echo combining wasn''t something Mako had really understood properly when creating the clone but it had seen Ares do something similar enough times to copy it to a satisfactory and usable level.


    Annoyingly for the clone, it was still lagging behind the rocket, and it wasn''t going to make it in front at this rate, so he jumped and spun around while raising his palm. "Echo." The clone blasted itself backwards at full power despite how devastating the hit would inevitably be. Its stomach was still partially split open from the major kick it had suffered earlier and the regeneration hadn''t fully sealed everything up. As the clone was blasted through the air its guts opened up once more and the wound was back to being a very real problem. It''s not like the clone had much choice here but it was still aggravating to have finally healed somewhat only to have to forcibly re-injure itself. Meanwhile Ares was healing up just fine as he hadn''t been hit properly in a while. The slash across the chest with the chakrams was the last good hit the clone got and it looked like that might have been the final one it was going to get at this rate too.


    Slap.


    The clone clapped its hands together on either side of its face and punished himself for being such a pessimistic defeatist. The fight wasn''t over and there was still room here to make a hero play if it looked for an opening hard enough. It wasn''t over until the fat lady sung, as it were, so the clone flipped backwards through the air, landed on the ground, and skidded in a curve to halt in front of the rocket. Staring down the rocket, now that it was the target, was daunting but it still had magic left in the tank and a decent bit of it at that. Ares might not have cared much for the arts, and was barely even touched by them, but this creation magic was a different beast entirely and would be blown away by the clone''s raw power... But there was an issue. Whenever Ares blew up the rockets previously, he was always in a position to dodge the debris afterwards. The clone was extremely close to the rocket and its wounds were pretty severe, hindering it from moving about too wildly, so it was almost definitely getting pelted by metal scraps after it destroyed this thing. It had been tempted to try a Not Even Light, as that might fully eradicate everything without risk, but the clone actually wasn''t sure if it would work. Sure this rocket spawned from creation magic but it was also a physical object, right? Did this thing even count as magic? The clone didn''t want to find out the hard way, which was a wise choice as the rocket was most definitely a very real entity and not just a clump of magic so Not Even Light''s effectiveness would be rather low, so it chanted the all around best art for the job.


    "Grand Annihilation."


    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    Both the clone and the incoming rocket disappeared in the golden storm that ravaged the arena... Not that the arena was in a great state to begin with. The entire top layer was long gone and only a rocky pit was left. Some parts of the arena were jagged and pointy while others formed depressions in the earth and sunk relatively lower than the rest of the ground nearby. It was a pretty bumpy place to fight in but, on the bright side, it was hard to damage this place any more than it already had been... For now... Ares wasn''t entirely done causing carnage but that was a problem for the C.O to figure out later. Right now, the Grand Annihilation was also doing a pretty good job of causing carnage on the scene as rocket parts flew out of the golden clouds in every which direction, scattering through the air and pelting the edge of the Training Field. The clone must have been hit by some debris as well at this point but whether it was just a few scratches or whether it had its head sliced off was pure chance and couldn''t yet be deduced through the lingering gold.


    Dominus was actually hoping the clone lived because he''d had barely gotten any play time thus far! It wanted to use Absolute Reversal some more so he was wishing the clone had miraculous luck right about now and survived otherwise Ares would just kick him out and kill Mako while he was still reeling over in the corner of the arena. Fortunately for Dominus, the Grand Annihilation started to die down and the clone could be seen wobbling but still on its feet. It must have been rough in there but if it was still capable of standing on its two feet then it wasn''t anywhere near as severe a beating as it could have potentially been. At a glance, Dominus saw a bunch of cuts on the clone''s lower half with most of its legs having been torn into without mercy. Multiple chunks of leg were missing and half of one of its feet was flat out gone... To compensate, the clone was doing something even Dominus would hesitate to do because it must have hurt like hell... The clone had shoved a dagger into its foot to act as a replacement bone, enabling it to keep walking around and moving ''properly''... With every step it took the dagger would dig into his flesh and nerves even deep and be excruciating to suffer through... The clone was definitely very dedicated to serving Mako, that was for sure.


    Mako really needed to do this loyal clone a solid and remove its susceptibility to pain otherwise it would go through hell and back in the upcoming years doing crazy crap like this all for the elf''s sake. Dominus winced because he would honestly just rather run away from a fight than do that... Then again, he was never great with stuff like this and could actually be squeamish at times. Persistent pain in cruel of brutal forms really bugged Dominus and he hated looking at it, even making him cringe at the mere thought. Part of this stemmed from one miserable injury he suffered once that couldn''t really be regenerated normally. An enemy of his had buried a weapon in his body, something similar to a Stick ''N'' Tick, and left it there. Normally this wouldn''t be a problem, as Dominus could just remove it, but his healing prowess was impeccable by this point in his life and so his flesh just kept regenerating around the spiky object before getting torn into on repeat. It was also hitting part of an organ so it was a never-ending torture in which his insides were reborn only to immediately get shredded over and over. Dominus had to scratch his way through his own body to claw it out and it was not a pleasant experience in the slightest. It was this specific event that led Dominus to learning how to control and or turn off his regeneration on demand even though it seemed like the kind of thing you''d want to have on all the time. It really wasn''t and could be exploited by clever enough opponents. To that end, what the clone was doing right now was ugly! Dominus wanted to hurl because it brought back some atrocious memories that he wanted to forget, thank you very much! This clone was gonna get it! Dominus was in full ''humiliation'' mode and decided to make the clone pay for its transgressions so it walked up to him, looked him dead in the eye, and did something batshit insane.


    "Absolute Reversal!"


    Firing off some spit at the clone''s foot, Dominus activated the Reversal art and waited patiently for whatever attack the clone wanted to throw at it. The clone could do literally anything, Dominus would win anyway, that was what he was saying through his actions... This was embarrassing... There was no clearer way to make a gap apparent between you and your opponent than to make a stupid move like this and still win. The art didn''t work if Dominus failed his understanding of the attack by even the tiniest of fractions so if the clone could bait Dominus with a sneaky trick or a long string of attacks that Dominus couldn''t keep up with then the clone might even kill him for his unchecked hubris... And yet Dominus just kept staring into the clone''s soulless eyes with an arrogance that was off-putting. despite the ball being so firmly in the clone''s court that it might as well have been rolled over by a cement mixer, the clone was having trouble bringing itself to move in the face of living death. Something about Dominus'' aura was frightening in a way that couldn''t be properly put into words. It was like the clone wasn''t staring down human but rather an infinite armoury made manifest. Like countless thousands of swords, axes, bows, hammers, and every weapon under the sun were all just pointed right at him, waiting for him to even so much as breathe before they all hurtled right at him. It was suffocatingly sharp and imposingly blunt but the clone needed to do something here so it kept things simple. It swallowed its saliva, took a deep breath, and moved an inch forward to throw a punch. Something was very wrong. Dominus had yet to move a muscle but the clone could feel death getting closer and closer the more he committed to the attack, almost as though Dominus was going to kill him while completely stationary somehow... This was wrong, something else was at play here that the clone wasn''t understanding properly so it slowed down its attack and thought backwards until it finally came across an oddity that had yet to be explained...


    The scythe!


    The clone leapt and staggered backwards just in time to avoid the spinning scythe come crashing down from the sky above it. It had been blown up alongside the rocket and Dominus had stood underneath it, waiting for the clone to fling itself at him and get decapitated by the falling weapon without him needing to lift a finger. Dominus'' Reversal didn''t even involve him, he was just a bystander who''s counter had been launched nearly a whole minute ago when he threw the scythe and lodged it into the rocket. To think the clone almost got done in by such a crafty and embarrassing ambush... It would never have lived it down. Not that it was in the clear just yet as Dominus had merely dissuaded the attack, the follow-up was still yet to come and the clone couldn''t really do much. Throwing itself backwards like this meant it was literally tripping over backwards and Dominus was free to do as he pleased here... And yet, all that came out of this was Dominus decking the clone in the face with a rock solid punch and flooring it. The clone was slightly dazed but, seeing as how Dominus could have killed it there if he wanted to, being alive was something to be thankful for... But the clone didn''t quite get it. Why not just kill it? The answer to that question was clear as can be when Dominus walked up the clone, crouched down by its side with a soft smile, and muttered two truly despicable words as he looked down at it.


    "Absolute Reversal..."


    This was bullying! The clone was being bullied! Was Dominus mad he hadn''t come up with this art himself and now he was taking it out on the clone?! He was more petty than Ares! It was like an older brother constantly taunting his younger brother as he threw him to the floor repeatedly. Dominus was just going to keep using Reversal on the clone over and over! Bastard! Well, technically the clone still believed it was Ares doing this and was wondering if it had to become this cruel and evil itself down the line... It would rather not! This person was detestable! There was rubbing it in and then there was whatever the hell this was! Absolute Reversal my ass! He was being fucked with!

 Chapter 284: A Heart Rending Ending?

    The clone didn''t want to get up. What for, exactly? Only to get pummelled back onto the floor and hear the words ''Absolute Reversal'' again?! It had invented the thing but bloody well never wanted to see heads or tails of it ever again! It would go back in time and undo the entire timeline to rid itself of this entire situation if it could. Alas, it could not and Dominus was still hovering over the clone''s body with a mean smile and patting his knees, treating the clone like some kind of dumb pet.


    "Come on cloney. Who''s a good cloney? Get up cloney! I''ll give you plenty of pats, cloney!"


    Why on earth, or rather how on earth, was it possible that Ares had somehow gotten even more annoying?! The clone wanted nothing more than to punch this bastard in the face but it would only wind up being its own face that got a knuckle sandwich if he dared to try it. Ah but if he sat here forever then ''Ares'' would just go kill Mako, right? This fight was doomed but the clone got up anyway, ignoring the hand Dominus was offering to help him up, and wasted no time in throwing what looked like a simple palm at the annoying revenant. Dominus could see what this shmuck was trying to do but he chuckled and played along anyway, responding in kind with his own palm, because he was having fun at the clone''s expense. As Dominus'' palm neared the clone''s, the clone chanted an art that it had secretly been channelling the mana for ever since it launched the strike. "Echo." Bait. That was what the palm was. The clone had been hoping to dupe Dominus into underestimating the attack before throwing another layer onto it right at the end that he couldn''t react to. It looked like the clone had succeeded as Dominus made no effort to avoid the attack presumably because he was aware it was too late to but, unfortunately, that wasn''t really the case at all. Dominus clapped his palm against the clone''s and felt the Echo travel through his wrist and arm, creeping into his upper body before looking to bounce around and cause problems.


    "Echo."


    There was nobody familiar with the Echo art that wasn''t utterly baffled by the strange declaration that came out of Dominus'' mouth. Sure he just chanted Echo but did he not realise there was already one inside of him?! He surely had bigger problems right now!?.. Didn''t he? Why wasn''t Dominus being injured by the Echo right now? Though the answer was simple actually performing the trick needed to make what Dominus was doing work was impossibly hard for most people without a ton of practice. Echo was an art that dislocated body parts to create noise, that noise was then merged with mana and fired off through a body part nearby where the Echo was created. What Dominus had done was take in the Echo, use it as the base of his own Echo, and was now about to fling it right back at the clone back through his palm. The clone''s Echo had been guided around through Dominus'' body, without touching anything, while being merged with his own mana to fire it off in retaliation. Essentially, Dominus had just absorbed the opponent''s Echo, empowered it, and then redirected it straight back to where it came from. While Ares was internally taking notes, because he had zero idea this was even possible but was interested now that he''d seen it, the doubled up Echo was being transferred back across the interconnected palms and blasting the clone across the floor, leaving him on his rear once more with a broken, bloodied, and twisted hand.


    It knew it shouldn''t have gotten up!


    While the clone was wishing it could just lie on its side and go to sleep, fully ignoring the current situation, anyone and everyone who''d learnt the Echo art, or wanted to, made note of what happened here, much like Ares, as this would be an important trick going forward. What started off as some random art Ares invented for convenience was rapidly spreading and becoming a common art that would one day be seen frequently on a domain wide scale. It was usable by even the most beginner of beginners in the cultivation world, it was highly effective, had a close and ranged variant in-built, could be used aggressively and defensively, had room to play around with on an expert level, and could even be combined with divine sense and pressure. And that was all just at a base level to boot. It was simple to learn, simple to master, and only really complex to alter but that was mostly irrelevant. This was essentially an art similar to water bullet that was extremely easy to wield but the major benefit was that it was a technical, available to everyone thanks to it being from an open pillar. For upwards of 90% of cultivators, there was zero reason not to learn this and everyone who''d come from abroad to watch the tournament had been doing their research into the art and trying to find tomes of it and / or the pressurised version.


    The sect had decided to sell such tomes, as it would no doubt leak out eventually anyway due to the extraordinary interest in it, and were the first to capitalise of its popularity. Part of why they were so busy as of late was because they were handcrafting multiple tomes of this art to make a profit before some shady black market profiteer did it first. So why was this all relevant? Well, given its popularity, it was only natural to want a counter method to deal with the art. Much like how Ares first sold Shock Beads and then the Block Rocks to deal with them later, what Dominus had just done was an excellent showcase on how to beat Echo, an art that was about to become very commonplace. Sure it required, ironically, learning Echo in the first place to counter itself, but being able to do so safely and effectively was a pretty massive benefit and so the spectators, and the expert cultivators amongst them, swore this was one of the first things they would do in their spare time after this fight. It was imperative to learn such things quickly as there was a non-zero chance it would come in handy rather soon.


    If they got into a brawl before leaving Red Sun, which was entirely plausible if they were trying to suck up to Ares, by beating up troublemakers in the local area, and get in on the Red Sun hype train to follow him around like Hans had been subtly implying to the general public, there was maybe upwards of a 70 or 80% chance the trick they''d just witnessed would come in handy. The number of people learning Echo was rising to ridiculous levels already. It was an incredible art created by a fundamental champion after all, who wouldn''t want it?


    As an aside, this was a phenomenal development for the Heaven''s Path, name change pending, as they were now selling the poison and the cure simultaneously. Even those who had no initial interest in Echo would now be more inclined to come and make a trade for a tome so they could defend themselves from it, even if learning the Dominus trick would take some tie given how hard it was, massively boosting the sect''s sales. They''d raked in a crap ton of stardust already but it seemed like even more was in the cards for them. Plus sales of the pressurised version would also rise, as it was likely harder to counter without also knowing the pressurised version, so Dominus doing this was a colossal win for their sect overall. Not that it was why Dominus did it, he didn''t care about such a trivial thing as stardust and that was doubly true when he was freeloading in someone else''s body anyway. He just really wanted to experiment. He''d seen the art enough, via Ares, and now wanted to see if his method of suppressing the art was functional. Sure he could have guessed horribly wrong and been struck point blank by the art but he had confidence in his own abilities and the objective assessment of them. Even if he only just invented such a method now he''d invented far more complicated things in the past and could accurately predict the outcome of this one in particular as it was easy in comparison. Echo wasn''t a very complex art either, in fact this was why it was so great, so making assumptions was a relatively simple affair as its not like he was dealing with rocket science or anything.


    As for the Ersatz clone it had shut its eyes and was taking a pleasant nap, pretending it was anywhere but here. As long as it kept its eyes firmly closed it could be at a sunny beach for all it knew, basking in the rays of the sun and free from this purgatory. It didn''t really need to worry about defending Mako because it was pretty obvious who Dominus was rudely gunning for right now. The world just sort of stopped as long as the clone lay on the floor and refused to move and that was nice. It could take a couple of well deserved breaths and relax for a spell after everything it had been through... The clone inhaled the fresh air one final time before it peeped the cruel, outside world with one eye open and instantly spied Dominus standing above and behind him, looking down with a polite wave.


    "Absolute Reversal."


    The clone shut its eyes again and decided now was as good a time as any to go to sleep for real. if Dominus wanted to Reversal it again then he could wait until the clone had gotten its forty winks... Or so it though but it could feel Dominus lifting its body with telekinesis. There was no escaping this obnoxious idiot, other than death, so the clone made a vow to either kill his opponent or be killed by them in the next minute or two. This had gone on long enough and it wanted to go back to being mana particles, floating carefree through the air and minding its own business somewhere Dominus couldn''t hurt it anymore. Being sentient sucked! There was a level of irony here because Ares didn''t exactly treat his summons incredibly well. The Adaptive Shot eagle and Rox had been summoned to their deaths on more than one occasion and he didn''t typically bring them out much outside of fights. Technically ''Ares'' was now experiencing something similar even if it was just his clone. Karma had come back around to dole out punishment and hit the wrong person! The clone sighed and accepted that this was just how things were going to be so it opened its eyes properly, hopped off the rocky slab that Dominus was raising him off the floor with, and raised its fists to prepare itself for another showdown. It could have brought out a weapon, as ''Ares'' was allowing it to, but the clone didn''t care about that. It felt comfortable with its fists so it would stick with them from now on and try and win this way. It might pull out a sword later if it felt there was a good reason to, as that was equally as familiar a weapon in terms of proficiency, but until then it was going to make sure it punched this douche in the face at least once before it bit the dust!


    Dominus gave the unwilling clone a thumbs up for entertaining him before doing... Nothing. Same as before, he was just waiting for the clone to make a move before he countered it appropriately. The clone could do whatever it wanted, Dominus would prevail and that was his guarantee. The clone wanted to test this bold narcissist so it threw a right hook and... It was lying face first on the floor before it even knew what hit him. Dominus had dodged under the punch and shoulder thrown the clone, making it eat dirt. It wasn''t injured, just thoroughly disgraced. It seriously wished Mako would get up and do something because this was not looking good right now. Mako could probably chuck more rockets but, after last time, he was aware that it wasn''t a good idea to do so. Mako seemingly wasn''t in a position to cast arts so any physical objects he summoned were liable to cause more harm than good right now and he was restraining himself so as not to give Dominus any more ammunition with which to cause trouble. By the looks of things, he was using the clone''s final efforts to heal himself up for one last showdown with Ares. Maybe Mako could get one more art out if he passively rested so he was clearly expecting little out of the clone at this point in terms of bringing home a victory.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Between being put in the dumpster by ''Ares'' on repeat, and this lack of faith from his summoner, the clone was annoyed! It had done pretty well all things considered and it was still just in its infancy so it had most definitely exceeded expectations. It wasn''t its fault that Ares was mostly borderline immune to his magic! It wasn''t his fault he didn''t have Ares'' numerous bloodlines! It wasn''t his fault he didn''t own all those swanky treasures! And, although it wasn''t exactly fully aware of the situation, it wasn''t its fault it didn''t have an ancient weapon master supreme hiding away inside him! It was already arguably the best clone in all of existence, if looking at sheer capabilities relative to its cultivation level when compared to the original, so asking for that much more out of it was just unthinkable. And yet the clone couldn''t help but feel aggrieved at this whole mess. Why ''Ares'' had hit the gas as of late, and dialled things up to eleven out of nowhere, the clone didn''t know but surely it could do the same if it just tried hard enough? They were one and the same, right? It was grasping at straws here, and might have been more lenient on itself if it was aware of the current scenario involving Dominus, but it was managing to encourage itself to get back up and keep trying. So what if it was being toyed with?! One hit was better than giving up at zero! Screw this damn revenant!


    "Absolute Reversal!"


    Was this fucker a mind reader?! Dominus could have used that art at any point but he just so happened to use it the second the clone wrestled back its motivation from the jaws of despair! What was that atrocious timing?! Whatever! Screw it! The clone didn''t care and ran up to Dominus while launching a kick at his waist. In response, Dominus raised his hand to grab the clone''s ankle but that was when it made a sneak... Attack? Counterattack, more like, as it chanted "Absolute Reversal" itself! Counter the counter! It had no idea how to counter whatever was coming but the clone was going to do it even if it had to work things out on the fly! Dominus grabbed its ankle and the clone made use of it by lifting its other leg and having Dominus effectively carry it in the air by lifting up its foot for him. The clone swung its free foot to boot Dominus in the jaw but he simply lowered his neck and dodge the swipe before raising it again and chasing after the foot with his head. The clone wasn''t sure what this wretch was up to but, when ''Ares'' sunk his teeth into the clone''s ankle, it realised it wasn''t going to be anything good. This shit hurt! Just as much as having the knife limb on its foot did! Dominus was like a mangy mutt mauling his ankles right now and it was hurting like hell. None of that was a bigger issue than the fact that the clone was now falling with both its feet in Dominus'' grasp, however, as that could only ever end poorly. As if to prove that very point, Dominus yanked the falling clone towards him and raised his foot, bringing it back down on the clone''s wounded stomach, as he let go of the clone''s legs, and slamming it down towards the floor.


    Stomp


    The clone coughed up blood all over itself and had to gasp for air while trying to stand up again. All of its attempts at fighting back were going poorly, hell poorly was the understatement of the year, but maybe one such try would manage to catch a lucky break at some point? The clone didn''t entirely believe the lie it was trying to sell itself but it kept morale high enough to keep striking at Dominus so who cared? "Absolute Reversal." The clone had become numb to those cursed words and decided to simply ignore them from now on, treating them like irrelevant bits of thin air. He was either going to win or lose, Dominus using the art for his own amusement didn''t matter. The clone threw a left hook and Dominus swatted it to the side while poking his finger into the clone''s rib cage. The clone staggered sideways but was still mostly fine so it threw another punch. "Absolute Reversal." Dominus pushed his palm forwards and met the fist head on, deflecting the attack right back towards the clone who was made to accidentally punch himself in the chest. It didn''t hurt much but his pride had definitely taken the biggest hit here. Again, though, the clone was good to keep attacking so attack it did by trying to stomp on Dominus'' foot with his own.


    "Absolute Reversal."


    It was like a never ending nightmare, and the clone wanted to tear its hair out, but it stuck to its plan of not caring in the slightest and charged forth with the stomp regardless. Dominus raised a small arch of earth above his foot with telekinesis, blocking the stomp without moving while also creating a foothold for the clone''s shoe to rest on. It looked like the clone wanted to maybe try and leverage this foothold but Dominus had already acted first by firing a ranged Echo at the clone''s other foot that was still on the floor and swiping it out from under him with a bang. With the lower foot taken out, the position his raised foot was in meant it couldn''t support the clone properly; this forced him to slip forward and right into the loving embrace of Dominus'' waiting boot, netting the clone yet another kick to the face that sent it rolling backwards along the floor. The clone groaned and tried to sit up but that was when it noticed Dominus Double Jump into the air and start a dive kick towards him.


    This guy wasn''t waiting until he got up anymore!


    Was ''Ares'' bored or just messing with him in some new and annoying way?! It was impossible to tell but the clone had no choice but to play Dominus'' game and, so, it raised its palm to try and catch the incoming foot, only to hear the two words it was starting to get really sick of hearing. "Absolute Reversal." IT DIDN''T EVEN MAKE ANY SENSE! How on earth was ''Ares'' using Reversal if he was the one launching an attack?!... Ah. The clone realised far too late that Dominus wasn''t launching an attack at all as he landed softly on the clone''s upturned palm and treated it like a platform. He''d baited the clone into giving him a landing spot that wouldn''t injure the clone if Dominus was careful with his fall, which he''d slowed thanks to the Stygian Zephyr''s ability to hover, but the hand had also been trying to grab Dominus so it was considered an attack from the clone''s perspective. The only person here trying to assault anyone was the clone so the Reversal was very much justified in a cruel and twisted way. Dominus used his free foot to boot the clone in the face again and punt it further across the arena as it wallowed in shame.


    The clone was getting closer and closer to Mako with every beating but he didn''t want to see the elf right now! He''d been abandoned and didn''t appreciate it in the slightest! He did not want to look his summoner in the eyes right now so he got up with his back turned to him and rubbed his jaw while trying to put it back where it belonged. The clone stopped on the spot, and had to take a moment to itself, when it saw ''Ares'' pull a plain looking sword out and start wielding it as this was a pretty clear indicator he was done playing around. Little did the clone know but Ares was rushing Dominus along as he''d had his fun and now was a good time to end things. Plus the duration of Dominus'' takeover was starting to run out and being left high and dry, in an awkward situation after changing back, was something Ares wanted to avoid at all costs. He would rather not get the full duration of the takeover if it meant being thrown back into the driver''s seat at a terrible time. Having Dominus duck out early while leaving Ares in a winning position was what he was after so he gave Dominus the full rundown on his plan, about how the match was going to end from here on out, and let the guy do his thing. He also promised to let him come out more in the future and play around with Sadie, Rox, Absolute Reversal, telekinesis, and annihilation pressure to his heart''s content. Dominus might not have shown it but, inwardly, regarding the latter three, he was really enjoying all these cool tools that he would have absolutely killed for if he were in his real body. And then there were his newest disciples who he hadn''t bossed around and put in their place recently. Before Ares left for the Freeride Federation he would have to let Dominus sort them out and give them some pointers for them to practice on or around while he was away.


    The clone pulled out a sword itself as this was looking to be the final confrontation, irrespective of who won, and so now wasn''t the time for fisticuffs. Both Dominus and the clone slowly walked towards one another but their pace was quickening with every step, eventually breaking out into a full blown sprint wherein their last attacks would meet in the middle and decide the outcome. Strangely enough, Dominus wasn''t using Absolute Reversal here and, although the clone couldn''t fathom why, it was more than happy to not see that damn art again for once! Maybe it actually stood a chance of winning this joust? A clone could dream (actually most couldn''t but this one could if it wanted to) and so it decided to facilitate that dream by going for a straightforward lunge with the sword. Nothing complex was needed so long as he could pierce ''Ares'''' heart as that would be more than enough to win the fight for Mako. Ares would either get killed by the elf afterwards, while he was immobile and about to die, or he might even just outright die to due the severity of the wound when compiled with all the blood he''d lost until now. The clone was ready to sacrifice itself to make this attack a success by turning its final moments into a suicide pact with the opponent that had given it such a hard time. The clone wanted payback and, oddly enough, it was looking like it was going to get it...


    Inexplicably, Dominus was mimicking the clone and preparing himself for a straight thrust with his own sword, one also aimed at the heart. Was he trying to trade blows, kill the clone, and wobble over to Mako to kill him afterwards?! Why go for such a risky strategy in the first place? The clone wasn''t able to make any sense of this mess but the one thing it did know was that ''Ares'''' chest was unguarded and so he could pierce it and wriggle the sword around inside his heart to finish the job here and now. A rough start but a well executed landing at the end! Maybe after pulling this off Mako could work on his Ersatz magic and grant the clone some more privileges that the real Ares'' had. Even just some better weapons and pseudo versions of the treasures the real Ares wielded would be enough! The clone put that thought to the back of its mind as it wasn''t relevant right now. All that mattered was him, his sword, and the heart in front of him that he was tracking through Dominus'' chest.


    Dominus and the clone reached a range in which they could both strike each other, which happened to be identical to one another thanks to their exactly similar bodily proportions, and they both lunged at their opponent as they completely disregarded their own safety. The suspense in the crowd piqued as this would be a match defining moment and, not even a second after both attacks were launched, a conclusion had been reached...


    ...


    Ares, the real one, had been handed back control of his body now that the sword in his hand was lodged deeply inside the clone, cementing its death with absolute certainty. The light in its eyes was already fading and it wasn''t long for this world... And yet, it seemed happy enough. Happy to be saved from the Absolute Reversal hell, sure, but perhaps more so satisfied because it didn''t go out without a fight. Even as the clone slumped to the floor and started to fade away, it proudly held onto its last achievement, the sword buried inside Ares'' chest that had dug as deep as the clone could push it. The clone was dead but, unfortunately for Ares, if the attacks were truly the same as one another as they appeared to be, that meant he was about to follow in the clone''s footsteps shortly. Had he just lost? In such a weird way? Had Dominus betrayed him? Or was there more to this situation than it seemed? Nobody in the crowd could tell from this awkward angle, all they knew was that Ares hadn''t yet moved and the sword that was stuck inside him disappeared along with the clone that had more than done its duty. Was this fight over? Did Ares really fail to cross the final hurdle? Victory was no more than a few feet in front of him in the shape of a slumped elf, barely able to raise a hand, and this was it? Could he not just take those few steps in spite of the injury he suffered? He hadn''t yet collapsed, which was a miracle given the degree of harm that must have befallen him, but he wasn''t moving from his spot either... Ares'' death was imminent and unavoidable...


    But perhaps not for the reason everyone thought...

 Chapter 285: Real Winner: Calla

    Despite having been supposedly run through the heart, Ares seemed chipper as ever and not even remotely fussed judging by the look on his face. A few of the experts shuffled their vision around and went fishing with divine sense to get a better look at the wound but were confused by what they saw. Yes there was a hole leading directly to Ares'' heart but there seemed to be something rather strange blocking the way... In short, Ares'' heart had not been stabbed for some inexplicable reason. The clone had died for nothing and didn''t end up making itself useful at all but it couldn''t be blamed for not understanding what had happened here as nobody really knew other than Ares and Enyo.


    Ares had received three benefits after laying with Enyo, one of which hadn''t been relevant up until now due to how rarely Ares ended up in this sort of situation. One mutation was the tiny barriers on his flesh that had helped keep him alive up until now by reducing the severity of various blows he''d taken. Another was the anti-friendly fire protocol that was almost always in use whenever Ares was fighting as it helped prevent him from injuring himself or allies with his magic... And then there was the third, life saving mutation that couldn''t exactly be seen by the naked eye. Revenants were hard to kill and required, at bare minimum at a lower level of cultivation, one of two things. Either A; the revenant had to have its head blown clean off or B; the revenant had to have its heart fully eradicated. Or at least a majority of the heart / head had to go. Near enough anything else wouldn''t be enough to put them down unless they lost copious amounts of blood. Why did this matter? Well, Ares'' final mutation that he received from Enyo was a barrier around his heart.


    He''d been wondering how to make use of this for some time now and he finally found a brilliant opportunity to lower the clone''s guard. By disregarding his defences, or rather asking Dominus to, the clone would no doubt aim for either the heart or the head. The head was riskier, and could move freely to dodge, so the heart was naturally the best choice but it was also a massive bait to lure the clone into an attack that was going to be unsuccessful from the get go. The barrier was chipped, and could only maybe take one more attack before shattering, but it had only really needed to take one to win Ares this fight in a deceitful way. Of the two tricks he had up his sleeve that nobody had ever seen before, this was one of them even though it had technically been there this entire time. Mako could do as much research as he wanted but unless he had an x-ray machine, which he probably very well could have given his magic actually (although Ares would never let him use it on him), then this surprise was one that would hit him hard during an important moment. So no, Dominus hadn''t betrayed Ares, he''d done precisely as was asked of him and not rocked the boat. Dominus didn''t much appreciate being asked to launch such a basic attack, when he could have won without resorting to this, but there was also really no need for anything grander as the clone had fell for the ruse pretty easily.


    Then there were two.


    It was just Ares vs Mako now and there was only one more hidden ace up somebody''s sleeve and it just so happened to be Ares''. He had no reason to rush or worry anymore because, quite frankly, this match was over no matter what Mako did. Even if he could cast another art, or resummon the clone somehow, there was no way in hell Mako was living through what came next. Hell nobody was without his permission. Enyo could throw up as many barriers as she wanted but, given that this attack Ares had learnt was give or take tens of times more deadly than a Perish Wheel, everybody Ares targeted was going to go kaboom whether they liked it or not. It was entirely up to Ares who to use the anti friendly fire protocol on and save so, unless Ares willed it, no one was getting spared. Now, this wasn''t an art Ares could really ever use unless in hyper specific scenarios so, no, Perish Wheel wasn''t getting replaced just yet. And no, this art would like rarely if ever see the light of day. Still, right now? Right now it could be used pretty freely thanks to a variety of smaller factors that added up. In fact, Ares could have maybe even used it at any point this match and it might have just killed Mako anyway regardless of what he did in response. And if that were true, which it was, then what chance did the elf stand right now exactly?


    None.


    This match was over, finally, so Ares started walking over to the elf to give him his condolences. It had been a good enough match, and taken literally everything in Ares'' arsenal to come out on top, but there was still some wriggle room with this win and so Ares wasn''t much afraid of Mako. He still had his fine grind blue to take, Garmr on the horizon, cultivation to catch up on, the Primordial Blade to explore, the Backfire Bindings to explore as well, his magic to improve, and a few other bits and bobs here and there not including anything he found on his adventures. The list of improvements Ares could make was not small so to have won handily regardless of his current shortcomings was pretty damning for Mako who''d gone all out here. The only thing Mako didn''t have was full control over the Genesis but that was nowhere near enough to match up to what Ares was missing. He''d even gotten his bloodline up and running via the Pocket watch so he had no excuses. In fairness, the destruction pillar was made to win fights but, still, that excuse wasn''t gonna fly with Mako or make him feel any better about this loss. For Ares, though, this was all a good sign his cultivation journey was right on track and he was where he needed to be. He could be doing better but he could also be doing way worse and so he needed to keep up the progress he was making and find more opportunities like the pagoda. That had been spoon-fed to him but he was going to have look around on his own now. Fortunately finding opportunities in the cultivation world could be pretty easy sometimes as all you had to do was go to the nearest ''anomaly''. A rift opened up? Go there. A tomb was found? Go there. The strange floating pyramid in Xasca? Go there.


    "Tsk, why are you spacing out? I''m not dead yet!" Mako grumbled at Ares who''s eyes were pretty vacant as he wondered about various matters. It seemed Mako still held some hope in him yet that he could pull a miracle out the bag but that was only because he didn''t know what was coming. Only one person here knew what was about to happen and that was the petrified Yulo who was currently scarpering up to the top floor of the coliseum, pushing past security, and begging on his hands and knees for the matriarchs to put up a barrier. Even if every transition realm cultivator here joined hands to throw something up it wouldn''t be enough and everyone other than the matriarchs would die a gruesome death, leaving nothing left. Even the matriarchs would be battered heavily and maybe lose some limbs here and there, it was just that serious. Still, the matriarchs didn''t rush. It''s not that the matriarchs were ignoring Yulo, Yulo was well known to be accurate in his predictions so that wasn''t the problem, they just wanted to see the art come out before they did anything rash and interfered in a way that the C.O might not take kindly too. Though Yulo was still worried he seemed to calm down a bit because his visions of the future had changed. Still, he couldn''t help but have a nervous sweat run down the back of his neck because if anything went wrong for whatever reason, this entire town was going up in flames without fail. Hell the entire God damn country would so what chance did Red Sun have?! The moronic idiot Ares had actually devised an attack so monstrous it was a bigger issue than the countless Shock Beads he''d buried underneath the town in their entirety. Yulo couldn''t help but think it typical Ares would come up with the kind of art he did but he also wanted to stay very clear of Ares whenever he used it.. Again, not that it would happen much. Yulo could see the requirement for this art and he was honestly thankful for it otherwise this damn punk would be using this art twenty four seven and making the elders lives impossibly hard by blowing up the sect over and over again! Granted that would be the least of their issue as the entire surrounding country would also be gone...


    Ares looked at Mako and snorted with a hint of pity. "Look Mako, I''m gonna be honest with you, you are deader than dead. You seriously have no idea how screwed you are right now."


    Mako spat at the floor and pushed himself up by using the wall behind him as a place to lean against. "Until I''m standing on that resurrection platform, I won''t believe it. I don''t care what you''ve still got left in the tank, I refuse to lose."


    Ares sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Refusing to lose is great and all but that really doesn''t change anything. maybe if you had some proper conviction, or a real reason to want to win, you would have tried harder up until now and came up with measures that the current you hasn''t even considered."


    "..." Mako stared at Ares with his eyes narrowed and a questioning gaze. "What do you mean?"


    Pft


    "Don''t look at me like that, I mean exactly what I said." Ares found Mako''s confusion and his untrusting glare funny as Ares was being completely honest here. "The art I''m about to hit you with exists for one reason and one reason only; to protect my family. It''s not something that can ever protect me so I think that''s proof of concept enough. Point being, I had a reason to create an art like this and you don''t. I get that you want to win but, really, what''s the point of winning if there''s nothing for you to enjoy after? What would you do with your life if you won? Have you ever even thought that far ahead? Do you have anything else to fight for? Anything meaningful? I don''t think you do and, I''m going to be completely honest with you here, it''s holding you back because you aren''t driven enough."


    "Sounds like a load of crap."


    Ares just scratched his head with a wry smile. "To some degree, maybe, but not entirely. Like I said, this art exists purely because of everything I''ve just said. It can''t be all wrong if I''ve invented something like this art, can it?"


    "We''ll see. That depends on how great this art of yours is." Mako still wasn''t sold on this magical art but, other than seeing it himself, he never would be anyway.


    "Well whatever, we''re different people anyway. Maybe your ego can drive you to heights mine can''t take me to. If so, good for you... Also, one more thing before I kill you... That clone... Please don''t do anything weird with it!"


    "Huh? The hell are you talking about? You think I enjoy having that thing around?! Believe you me the last thing I want to see is that thing''s ugly mug ever!"


    "Wow, rude much?! How about being grateful I''m even letting you use my image rights!"


    "You have no say in the matter, it''s in the public domain now!" Mako stuck his tongue out at Ares and gave him the middle finger.


    "Tsk, bastard... I really shouldn''t show you this art, because God knows how many times you''re gonna make my poor clone use it, but whatever. You need to have it drilled into you that I''m not someone to be messed with. If you ever even consider fighting me for real, outside a Training Field, remember this Mako..." Ares took a large stride towards the elf who could sense something evil on the horizon, something welling within Ares'' confident and dauntless aura. "... I have..."


    "NO! FEAR!"


    GLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM


    A swarm of thick mana congealed above Ares and began funnelling into him as the skies grew dark. It wasn''t yet evening but the overcast weather, combined with whatever the hell this was, had certainly turned the atmosphere grim. Every single tiny dot of mana in the air had abandoned everyone else and was running headfirst into Ares to grant him their strength for what was to come. Even if anybody else wanted to cast an art it was simply impossible right now because the mana would not heed their call, something more important was happening. The mana was heavy too, and just being near it was suffocating for Mako who had to hold his hand in front of his mouth to even breathe properly without being pushed around by the pressure he was feeling. Still, it could be worse, Mako could be Ares right now as the overload of mana was pouring straight into him rather than just hovering around him and being annoying. His veins were starting to bulge and glow golden so it was pretty apparent to most people what he was about to do. Ares was about to suicide bomb everything... No wonder this fool couldn''t use this art often! If he dared, he would be resetting his life each and every time. He wasn''t kidding when he said this was an art exclusively for protecting others because he himself was the primary target of it and could never be spared when it was used. He wouldn''t live through the art but maybe those he wanted to protect could as he took the troublesome foe that caused him to use it in the first place along with him. Had Ares not been a revenant, it was interesting to think about whether he would have created this art in the first place but, knowing him, the answer was still likely a yes anyway.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    As for how deadly this art was going to be... Well Perish Wheel didn''t even begin to scratch the surface in comparison to this thing. The size and energy packed into the explosion was determined by a few factors but there was always a bare minimum to it and that bare minimum was still going to be utterly devastating. It was an attack on par with something the God summons could do, maybe even going a little beyond that. If Ares had full mana, which was partially a factor in this art''s strength, or if he''d been right as rain without any injuries, then this art would maybe even rival Astraeus Commandment art. It was seriously no joke but it made a lot of sense. The fundamental champion of destruction detonating himself was never going to be anything other than a calamitous pandora''s box of raw firepower. No wonder Yulo had begged the matriarchs to do something, they were the only ones here that even could other than maybe the two remaining four seasons. It actually might even take all four of the matriarchs to stop this art from spreading but the arena?... Yeah the arena was going to be annihilated to the extreme here. The ground was already in rough shape but after this it wasn''t really going to be in any kind of shape at all. It was just going to be gone and a massive pit would be all that remained for sure.


    Speaking of the arena, down in it, Mako was wincing in the corner and not even bothering to throw up any walls. What on earth for!? Even if Mako resummoned the Genesis somehow to block that thing would just get obliterated and all. Honestly, Ares might have been able to just use this art form the start and win... Only summoning Terros would be able to prevent this art and, even then, that was only because his magic was more defensively oriented. A God that specialised in offense would struggle to keep Mako alive during the blast... The fact that Ares drew out every single option Mako possessed before throwing this thing out there really showed how cautious the guy was. He was a dumb idiot who gave into his own whims incredibly often but he was capable of holding himself back when he knew he needed to. Mako had to admit he''d been gotten good here. Also, what Ares said earlier was right, he had to remember this. It''s not like Mako planned on fighting Ares but the guy was a revenant with a suicide vest in his back pocket. Ares would win if he took Mako with him because only he would ever come back.


    Ares was a dangerous foe for many reasons but this seriously took the cake. If you wanted to kill him, at the very least, you needed to come prepared with a measure to avoid this nonsense otherwise it was all for naught. No Fear was an apt name given the validity of the statement. Ares would waste no time in using this on your sorry ass if he was going to die regardless. Ares was not a fun target and had basically painted himself as a venomous snake that would spit at you if you tried to strangle it. A deterrent, basically. This was his aposematism and it was a brilliant gold congregation of soon to explode mana particles. It''s not even like this could realistically be stopped because breaching the mana swell was impossible without magic and, well, without mana there was no magic. You would have to be astonishingly strong physically or have absurd pressure mastery to break through that much mana and actually stop Ares so there was probably little you could do other than watch the bastard seal everyone''s fate around him. If he didn''t have his anti friendly fire stuff from Enyo then this art would be a real problem to use but that was no longer an issue and, so, whatever reservations Ares may have had about using this thing had been all tossed out the window. Ares using this art was a very real threat both in and out of Training Fields.


    As for the man at his final destination, at least within this Training Field anyway, you would expect Ares to be in a considerable amount of pain right now. This wasn''t true, however, as, contrary to Mako''s assumptions, Ares actually felt incredibly light, like the annihilation mana was soothing him on the way out. Like a procession for fallen heroes it gently lifted him off his feet and hummed a sweet melody in his ears while his body ruptured under the strain. Who knew dying could be so pleasant? Almost like he was being guided up to heaven on a golden chariot with seats made of clouds. Ares shut his eyes and let the annihilation wash over him as he burst into brilliant golden particles, each of which shimmered in the air before becoming blindingly bright and signalling the start of something catastrophic.


    ""Cylindrical Dispersion.""


    Though the matriarchs each had their own defensive arts, it was far wiser to resort to this one when dealing with Ares'' rampant and unrestrained magic. Guiding it was better than fighting it so all four had pooled their mana together to simultaneously cast the exact same art over the top of each other. Although Yulo couldn''t really contribute here even he joined in just to make doubly sure as many measures as possible, that needed to be taken, had been taken as best they could. Sure Ares'' ability to choose who his magic affected would keep everyone safe in the worst case scenario but the wide scale destruction was better avoided. Yulo had no problems with Ares but he also didn''t exactly want to leave everyone''s life in that wild child''s hands. As for the Cylindrical Dispersions, they functioned exactly the same as the one Yulo used way back to quell the Perish Wheel but, this time, they were far bigger and quarantined the entire radius of the arena. In terms of height, the cylinders had breached the atmosphere and were even sitting just outside the domain, meaning that when this art was funnelled all the way out it would go flying off into Vraizon somewhere. People up there better look out because this art would seriously kill any wanderers not paying attention.


    It was generally understood that you shouldn''t stand at the end of any random Cylindrical Dispersion you find so if anyone saw four such cylinders overlapped here and thought it was wise to ignore said advice then they kinda had their doomed fate coming at that point. No doubt this would cause a stir up there in Vraizon but the matriarchs would figure that out and calm down the clans at the very least while trying to send out a small PSA not to worry about randomly appearing golden pillars shooting through space. This was a one off anyway. Ares couldn''t even really use this thing safely in a Training Field because it would leak out and affect the surroundings. It''s not that he couldn''t use it again, just that he almost definitely wouldn''t so everyone else could be at ease. The matriarchs summoned their cylinders and held their breath as the golden, sparkling lights down in the arena spread a warm glow over the entire coliseum before finally rupturing and bringing pure destruction to this realm.


    BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    Truthfully, the full scale of the noise from this attack couldn''t be described in words. The sound alone was enough to tear through reality and create holes leading to the void but, thankfully, part of the indescribably horrific noise did seep out of the dimension, making it bearable for living creatures if nothing else. This explosion was so impossibly loud it was heard around the entire domain and even some people minding their own business in Vraizon were made jumpy at the shock of a random explosion ''nearby''. The initial explosion could be seen from literally anywhere in Vraizon which was an impressive feat considering how large the place was so a lot of people watched Sheryashka detonate from afar. They were confused but also enjoying the show because it wasn''t often attacks of this scale were launched in lower domains.


    Attempting to dissect every detail of this explosion was pointless because, like most of Ares'' explosions, it was essentially a cluster of smaller ones tied together and unleashed simultaneously. In this case, however, each explosion was about the size of a skyscraper each and that wasn''t even as big as they could get with some even being the size of Perish Wheel detonations. They''d, the explosions, stacked tall on top of one another and rose upwards, grinding against the overlapped cylinders as the arts screeched in agony at one another. One wished to be free, the other wished to contain that rowdiness. The cylinders would hold but they were not having it easy right now and some of them even had small cracks in them. As they should! If Ares was going to commit suicide this should be the least that happens! Sure it was the combined efforts of the four matriarchs but if there hadn''t even been any dents then Ares would demand a refund from the destruction pillar! His life was worth more!


    The explosions yelled many a fierce roars as they ascended up and along the grooves in the cylinders, basking the world in a pretty gold that blew away the overcast skies from earlier. This pillar of gold was substantially different from the Perish Wheel because it looked almost too pure to be true. The gold was fetching and shone radiantly under the sun like liquid luxury. Wealth given form and imposing might mad manifest. It was a regal splendour unlike anything else Ares had ever produced and that irked him because he was dead right now and couldn''t see it! Everyone other than him was getting an eyeful of the raging art, spiralling upwards like an imperial dragon, breaking through the constraints of this world. It was truly a massive explosion as even the base of the cylinder, down in the arena, still held within some lingering gold curtains that draped over them and attempted to break free by banging against the cage. Fortunately the matriarchs were incredibly powerful and there was no concern of the destruction magic running riot. Some people in the crowd almost seemed disappointed, though, because the allure of the magic was hypnotic and enticing. Weaker individuals, like mortals and beginner cultivators, all felt the urge to be cleansed in the golden fire and born anew as ashes, destined to fade in the wind and become one with the all-encompassing nothingness that pervaded the world beyond this one. Ares'' magic really had a despicable nature and tried to rope in victims to a willing demise but it was safely being redirected up into space and couldn''t harm anyone who wasn''t blind, deaf, or stupid in Vraizon. It was truly a magnificent art but it had also unquestionably been diminished somewhat by the matriarchs'' intervention. Had the magic been free to expand horizontally, and not just vertically up into the sky, then it would have been truly special, cloaking an entire landmass in a rich tide and burying it all in gold. This country would become a bona fide El Dorado and future explorers would find relics bathed in gold. Even the rubble and ruins of this civilisation be tinged in the colour like a sort of pseudo King Midas aftermath.


    The art faded away into the domain above but only one person was still staring at it in awe as something else had caught everyone''s attention and left them even more baffled than the absurd art they just witnessed. Before getting onto that slight problem, however, it was worth clarifying that the individual watching the art trail off like a shooting star was none other than Bellona, naturally. She truly did love her dumb mutt husband''s magic and never got tired of seeing it. If it weren''t for the fact that it would cause some serious issues, Bellona would have doubled the magic then and there. This explosion was also quite special to her because it was literally, and by no exaggeration, Ares himself. He''d given his life to bring about that explosion and so it evoked a strange feeling of longing in Bellona. Despite not being on the weaker scale of cultivators she was also one of the few who''d been enraptured and drawn in by the art, sort of like the first time she was nearly dragged into a Perish Wheel. This woman seriously needed to stay away from the destruction magic! The way she stared intently at the magic was pretty cute though as she had a soft smile on her face each and every time she got to watch destruction magic get let loose. That smile on her face froze, though, when she finally looked down at the arena just as everyone else was doing. Sure the arena was almost entirely gone, and looked like somebody had launched an excavation with dynamite here, but there was a much bigger issue over by the side of the arena atop the resurrection platforms...


    As mentioned earlier, something very, VERY unusual was happening right about now. It was an entirely explainable event, just not one many people understood as it involved various intricacies regarding revenants and a certain RUNE that Ares had completely forgotten about. The details of it could be explained a little alter but, right now, everyone was dumbly staring at the problem this mish mash of revenant death and improper Training Field creation resulted in. There was no real clear way of saying this that made perfect sense but, right now, down on the resurrection platform, where Ares should have been revived in his completely normal state, was instead someone a... ''Bit''... Different. It was still determinably Ares down there, he had the look, but there was a problem that couldn''t be overlooked because it was, quite frankly, impossible to miss...


    ...


    Ares was tiny.


    ...


    Not as in he''d been shrunk down in scale.


    No.


    As in he was a literal child.


    ...


    Mini Ares!

 Chapter 286: Mini-Me

    So this was clearly not normal... Sort of? There was a lesson revenants learnt, usually early on after a prank from their parents, regarding the functionality of Training Fields in relation to their revenant resurrection. Ares didn''t know this, as he hadn''t grown up alongside any other revenants, but it was something he was experiencing right now first hand. See, when a revenant died, the process that followed happened in two steps. First, their soul regressed in age, from whatever they currently were, down to zero. Then, their soul was flung off in a random direction with a random end destination set in stone. Wherever their soul landed, their body would regenerate as a baby and then whatever happened from there happened. If they were flung into a loving and caring household, good for them. If they landed in a lions'' den... Well the result of that needn''t be explained but it was something that happened from time to time and revenants had to be prepared for it. Of course, after getting eaten, they would just repeat the process over and over again until they got a safe landing point...


    So what had happened here, exactly? Well, what a Training Field does, even if this wasn''t really understood very well by the people who created them, was that it located the dead combatants soul, plucked it out of thin air, dragged it through the revival runes, and reversed time for their body to bring it back to the state it was in before they entered the Field. This way the soul could retain memories and experience from in the Field while the body would regenerate flawlessly and get its mana and general health back. It was similar for basically everything that entered the Field and these general rules were applicable in most cases, even usually to inanimate objects as their state was restored typically. Sometimes rare treasures or mythical creatures could complicate things but that wasn''t relevant right now... Or, well, actually it kinda was because this was where revenants came in.


    What happened here with Ares, in order, assuming the revenant regeneration rune wasn''t in place to prevent this, was that the revenant would die, their soul would start regressing in age, and the Training Field would halt that regression part way through before throwing the soul through the resurrection runes. The body that was generated had to match the soul, unfortunately, so whatever age the revenant''s soul was at when it was plucked out of the revenant process became the foundation for the body. You could put a soul in a body with a different age and it would be fine normally but a revenant''s regeneration would affect the body so it complicated things. Long story short, you could put an old revenant soul in a young body but, due to the regeneration factor, you couldn''t put a young soul in an old body without the body changing. Usually. Again, there were plenty of complicated complexities in the cultivation world but, if nothing else was understood, what was true right now was that Ares had regressed back to being a child. He was roughly six or seven years old right now, and, as far as lot of people in the crowd were concerned, was very cute. He had that heroic pomp in his aura but he still just a child and, thus, not to be taken seriously anymore. It was like a naturally endearing state and it very much made him adorable to the onlookers as it was like he was playing hero with the slightly oversized Zephyr cape.


    Ah but how was this supposed to be fixed, exactly? And what happened to Ares'' cultivation? Luckily the answer was simple, both his age and cultivation would come back shortly. The revenant regeneration would kick in and adjust the body to match the soul. Normally this wouldn''t happen but, because the body the soul was in never actually died, it led to one of the many forementioned complications as the soul regression should never have taken place to begin with. As long as a revenant wasn''t dead, their body would fix any and all problems that ailed it. Ares had never died here today, as dying in a Training Field wasn''t real death, so his missing cultivation, age, and general strength would return in due time. Like normal regeneration, however, this would take time. Fortunately it was rarely a long process, and Ares could expect to be back to normal in about a month, but it didn''t change the fact that, right now, he was a sitting duck. His cultivation base was literally non-existent, he couldn''t use magic, and his childish body could not run or jump like it used to. If Ares tried using his prided footwork in this form he would trip over himself. His sad face would look like that of a sullen child''s and nobody would take his complaints tp heart. That was all.


    Again, to condense this situation to brass tacks, Ares would be a kid for the next month or so. It needed no further explanation, really, because the issues that presented themselves were pretty self-evident... If nothing else, he was going to be smothered by Calla, who''d done this to him so she could see mini Ares, constantly. It wasn''t just that mini = cute for her, although that was very much true and she liked her cubs when they were tiny, but that she''d missed out on Ares'' childhood and wanted to live through it even if only in this way. She was rocking side to side in her seat and giving it her all not to rush down into the arena and steal away her baby wolfy right now. Of course, Calla wasn''t the only one who was enjoying this. Enyo was just as happy to see mini Ares and wanted to give him head pats while Bellona was more shocked if anything. After she got over the initial surprise, an evil smile appeared on her face that indicated she was clearly going to bully this child however possible. Appa was also floating around and, whilst definitely very much confused, wasn''t opposed to the fact that Ares'' size was now roughly the same as its... And then there was something very troubling brewing over by the revenant kin because a certain shota loving maniac was frothing at the mouth. Brave shota!


    NO!


    ABSOLUTELY NOT!


    Never mind the fact that Ares was already dating a half-sister, there were many, Many issues with this! He didn''t have any feelings towards Venus, never would, and never wanted to. Plus he would grow out of this form quickly anyway and then she would go back to treating him like air. This was not love she was feeling, it was lust and entirely misplace to begin with! NO!... Ares was going to have to hide from this woman... Although that might even make her happy because then she''d get a ''hide and seek shota''... Was this woman Chen Prem''s long lost cousin?! Ares swore he would avoid this woman''s pursuit... Well he didn''t actually swear to himself right now, he would do that a later date when he realised the problem, because he was too distracted by the change to comprehend anyone else''s opinion on it. He still wasn''t in the loop and didn''t know why this happened either, as nobody had explained it to him, so he was incredibly lost at to why he was his old self again.


    Ares was a little more clean now, and not a Chen slave, so he looked better... But he would much rather just be back to normal again! He did not miss having to go the extra mile just to whack someone! What if he needed to fight?! Mini Ares was a force to be reckoned with against mortals, sure, but what the hell was he supposed to do against a cultivator looking like this?! He could maybe take on someone in first realm cultivation if he had a weapon but anything more than that was stretching it. Plus he was a kid so even a single misstep, even a single attack that connected out of nowhere, and he was as good as toast! This wasn''t like it was before, where he was pitted against other children in the Chen gladiator arena, these were real adults! He wasn''t being whipped by the chens, these people were actually looking to kill him! Ares had made a number of enemies and a countless amount of jealous ''admirers'' who wanted nothing more than to see him dead and steal from his corpse!... Annoyingly, he understood what this meant. He would be fine.. Provided he let Calla protect him... He had to invite the devil responsible for this whole mess into his house to look after him... He had no choice but to let her baby him however she wanted! Nightmare! She was totally going to put frilly clothes on him and take pictures and Ares knew it because that was precisely what he''d do to anyone else in his shoes! Damnable wolf! Ares was not going to have an easy time at home with everyone fawning over him...


    In fact, forget about ''back home'', it was already happening! Enyo had snuck over, picked up mini Ares, and put him on her lap as she sat down on the floor! Ares had no qualms with receiving head pats in such a fashion, and if Enyo was happy then he was too, but surely this was neither the time nor place for this!... Oh well, at the very least, Enyo did share a sufficient explanation of the situation via her memory share art so things had been cleared up for Ares who was now in the know... Though he didn''t appreciate the number of people who were in on this rascally prank! Everyone had conspired against him! And it worked too all because Ares blew himself up! It''s not even like he lost the fight and this was his punishment or anything, he did this to himself! That damn rune... He should have paid more attention to it and asked somebody about it. It was too late now though and so he was just going to have to put with this. Thankfully there was nothing important coming up so it wasn''t like this was the end of the world or anything... Although he was going to have to go through the awards / closing ceremony looking like this. It was going to happen in about an hour so Ares could get it over and done with today and not have to worry about it in the future but, really, he didn''t want to do it all looking like this! How was anyone supposed to take him seriously?! Every time he tried puffing up his chest a little to spread his majesty all he got were a bunch of older ladies going ''awwwww'' in the crowd! Wrong response entirely! Plus the subsequent pouting at his failed attempt to impress only served to make things worse and it was never ending cycle... Was this what it was like to be Bellona? Ares thought she was cute, so he pestered her, and her reactions in turn were cute. An inescapable cycle that had now come back to bite Ares in the ass as the shoe was now comfortably on the other foot! Bellona was going to have a field day with mini Ares...


    Although Ares and the rest of the team needed to go and wait back inside the waiting room the pathway there had been completely savaged by the art earlier and it was troublesome to access. Using magic to get over there was possible but Ares could feel Calla''s stare on the back of his head and knew she wanted him to go and wait up there instead so she could give him hugs. Ares didn''t really have much of a say here because he didn''t have any cultivation whatsoever and couldn''t even escape this arena without outside aid. He was fully at the whim of Enyo right now and had no choice but to get picked up and carried on her back like a good little kid. Enyo summoned multiple barriers. creating a path of the revival platform, and was about to walk away with Ares until Mako summoned a small bridge to cross the gap and and started coming over towards them. It seemed he wanted to say something but the mean mugging he was doing to Ares right now only made him look like the kind of person who bullied children... Enyo was glowering at Mako for spooking the child!... Ares sighed, he was being full on treated like a kid here.... With a shake of the head, Ares tried his best to ignore his current stature and communicate properly with the elf. "Can..." Ares had to pause to take in his higher pitched voice as it took him completely by surprise. It was only natural his voice would change too but he hadn''t even considered such a thing and now everyone was looking at him with a laugh brewing... Such a mighty figure reduced to this?! Calla had really done Ares dirty here!


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Ahem.


    Pfft


    Even Ares attempt at coughing to break the ice came out sounding like a kid trying to act like an old man. This was embarrassing but Ares pressed on regardless! He couldn''t be bothered by this as it was going to be happening for a month! It would get better over time, and his body would age beyond this childish form into that of a teenager''s at some point, so for now he had to muster every ounce of acceptance in his body. With a deep breath, Ares tried again whilst ignoring the snickering from his own team behind him. "Can I help you?"


    Mako''s eye twitched as this was not the rival he wanted to go toe to toe with, exactly. Even just trying to verbally spar with this brat would make him come away the loser as his reputation would take an astronomical hit. "You... Oh whatever. look, I just want to say that there''s some stuff I want to talk to you about later. I''m sure you already know what but don''t go running off and escaping Red Sun to go on some stupid adventure before I come looking for you... Not that you could go anywhere looking like that right now... Tsk. you''ve won this time, I''ll concede that, but don''t think this is the end of it! I will give it as many attempts as I need to in order to dethrone you and take the proverbial crown. After I leave Red Sun I imagine I won''t be seeing you again for some time As I already have plans in Vraizon. That can be discussed later though, right now I just wanted to congratulate you on your win. As it was against me, you can proudly declare it well earned... Although it was maybe a bit cheap summoning Astraeus... And blowing yourself up..."


    "Oh boy, here come the excuses... I knew you would throw some out here and there at some point! You were doing so well up until then too!" Mini Ares chuckled with a high pitched laugh as he mocked Mako. The fact that Mako was being berated by a child only made him more mad than he would have been otherwise. He''d gotten accustomed to normal Ares'' ribbing but something about being talked down to by some twerpy kid was rubbing him the wrong way! If any more insufferable words came out of this kid''s mouth, Mako was going to scold him proper! "And besides, you wanna talk about cheap? What do you call summoning a clone of me, then?!"


    Mako had had it! "You little shit! See if I don''t..."


    Sniffle


    Ares pretended to be upset at Mako''s yelling which earned the elf a barrier to the face from Enyo who was being oddly protective of mini Ares. Mako was dazed as the barrier had essentially bitch smacked him back to his senses and he had a bizarre level of clarity right now. Maybe it was the holy magic in the barriers which was good at resetting people''s mental state? Maybe it was the pressure inside the barrier that flooded his mind? Either way, Mako looked at Ares, who was smugly grinning at him from behind Enyo, and shook his head side to side. "Half the size, twice the twerp. I have no idea why everyone else seems to be happy about this current state of you but I can tell it''s only going to be infinitely worse for everyone you want to mess with. Having a child''s impunity will only embolden you and I want nothing to do with it! I''ll say it one more time and then take my leave, I will beat you at some point! Don''t rest on your laurels or I''ll swoop in when you least expect it. Anyway, that''s all for now. I''ll come and search for you in a couple of days... Also, please keep your wife away from me? She looks like an overprotective mother right now! Look, lady, I''m not going to attack your child! No more barriers!"


    Mako''s desperate pleas were being ignored and so he made the right decision to run away. Enyo was a scary woman when mad and, even if he could beat her in a fight, it didn''t look like she''d go quietly. Hell there existed stories of parents who defied logic, improving their strength tenfold to save their children, so it wasn''t entirely impossible for Mako to even lose to her right now. She was the next strongest of this generation currently, other than maybe Aejaz whom she was tied with roughly, so Mako did have to respect the woman. There were various rumours spreading through Red Sun that she was actually a degenerate deviant but, at the very least, when she meant business she meant serious business. Actually, now that mature and adult Ares was gone, Enyo would have no reason to bring out her sexual deviant side. She wasn''t Venus so the thought hadn''t even crossed her mind. It was better not to mess with this woman during the course of this month as her mind was no longer preoccupied with irrelevant nonsense. Red Sun criminals beware...


    Anyway, Enyo carried her fake son away. Rather than go through the coliseum, she just summoned a barrier underneath the team as they stepped off the revival platform and lifted them all to the top floor. Upon arrival, Enyo felt mini Ares get snatched away at lightning pace and had to just acknowledge that she wasn''t ever going to be able to keep him all to herself while Calla was around. Enyo wanted to play around with mini Ares as well but Calla was responsible for this prank, and had spent less time with Ares overall, so she had right of way here and Enyo wasn''t going to fuss about it. A month was a long time anyway so if mini Ares thought he was escaping Enyo he had another thing coming! If anything, Ares should be grateful for Enyo and Calla because Bellona and Venus did not have the purest of intentions in their heads for him. For now at least, Ares was safe on Calla''s lap... Although maybe he was suffocating a bit because the affection levels were off the charts right now. Calla''s tail was shedding fur due to how fast it was spinning as she squealed and hugged her small cub. She was stroking his hair and rocking side to side, dragging him with her left and right and making him a little nauseous. Ares was going to have to just get used to this as he couldn''t oppose the fluffy matriarch.


    While Calla was grooming her cub, the C.O had gotten to work on the arena... This was going to take a long time to fix but, for now, they seemed like they wanted to create a temporary platform to hold the outer court''s closing ceremony. They''d have to fix things properly for the other matches that were still yet to come, for the inner and core participants, but a small layer was good enough as long as nobody was going to break out into a fight for whatever reason. Only the finalists would be down in the arena but it wouldn''t be the first time the two groups started going for each other''s throats again even though they weren''t supposed to. The C.O had to intervene in these spats every now and then but they were hoping with all their might it wouldn''t happen this year. Mako and Ares seemed to be on good enough terms from an outsider''s perspective but, sometimes, that was even worse! A friendly follow-up to the finalists'' fight, born of standoffish banter, was just as common. The C.O was going to have to make it abundantly clear that fighting was a no go here otherwise everything would collapse!


    As for how the C.O were going to create the platform, wielders of the metal pillar were hired rather frequently by most large scale organisations in case any last minute stage creation was necessary. They could replace the foundations of buildings that were falling apart, create impromptu platforms, and were capable of creating sturdy huts that functioned as temporary abodes  if needed in foreign lands where lodging was sparse. They were generally neat to have around and saw frequent use. You didn''t want to be the company or organisation who skimped out on these types of background cultivators because when they came in handy they were irreplaceable. Still, going cheap and hiring earth pillar wielders instead, who were more common, was an option if you really didn''t want to spend the stardust. Metal was more reliable for stuff like this though, and gave off the ''rich'' impression that big shots had a soft spot for, so a group like the C.O went so far as to even have their own division of metal workers contracted and constantly at the ready. They were working their butts of right this very moment and creating a sort of scaffolding down in the pit so the platform they made later could stay in place without creaking or breaking... Provided nobody got scrappy on it. The platform would be able to take a Grand Annihilation or two but if things got hectic then everybody was going to start falling through the wrecked metal. It would be a long fall too as the pit in the arena was impressive, to say the least.


    If Ares threw a Perish Wheel down to the very bottom of the pit, the tip of the explosion would be able to peek out through the hole, and make it about three quarters of the way up the coliseum, only then starting to taper off. To make matters worse regarding the hole, it had a sort of little cavern system running through it to boot. Astraeus had fixed the holes he made somewhat but there were still the occasional ones remaining that he hadn''t been able to deal with because he just couldn''t see them properly. Long story short, the C.O was going to have to hire some earth pillar wielders as well to fill in these gaps and sort out the arena. They might even have to delay the other matches for a day or two just to ascomata the entire fixing process. Sure it was annoying but, hey, they got a fantastic match out of it and that benefitted them. Even despite everything prior involving Lex, their reputation would go up overall thanks to the spectacular match as people would talk about it for a long time to come. The whole lex problem, and having to mend the arena, were both small prices to pay for hosting this event overall and they would no doubt be contacted to host other such events elsewhere. Ares taketh with one hand but giveth with the other...


    Although right now both of Ares'' hands were tied as Calla''s arms were wrapped around his like a rope binding and preventing him from moving. He was being squashed but his mother was comfortable enough to let it slide. Calla lifted Ares'' chin and checked around his face, giving small licks here and there to clean him up and make her baby cub spick and span so that his face shone under the sun. When he was adequately clean, Calla took out the camera and Ares'' never ending photoshoot hell was about to begin. This photo would be the first of MANY and he was not going to be seeing much other than the lens of that camera for a good while... Oh well, if it made his mother happy then he would oblige. She''d done this all because she wanted to recreate the childhood she never got to witness or be a part of so he couldn''t blame her as this was just who she was. She wouldn''t be able to overlook or forget it if she didn''t get some form of closure eventually and this was the solution that she''d come to in order to please herself. Maybe with this she would finally drop the remainder of whatever guilt she felt and just be happy without reserve. Not that she hadn''t been joyful as of late anyway but that little sting in the back of her mind could finally be put to rest.


    Snap.


    Well, not before taking a few hundred pictures though... Calla had an entire album to fill, much like every other one of her children, so she was going to work overtime to make sure not a single page was empty. The only real struggle here was deciding what manner of pictures to take! Maybe she would take Ares around the planet and look for fun things to do with him every now and then like sitting him atop a mecha dryad and taking a picture!... It was a good thing Ares couldn''t read minds right now otherwise he would be horrified! It needed to be reiterated... Mini Ares was not going to have an easy time dealing with these people in this form...

 Chapter 287: The Venerable of the Round

    Give or take an hour had passed and the closing ceremony was about to begin. Nobody other than Calla had gotten to play around with mini Ares so they had to hold in their urges to pick him up and run away while he went back down into the arena with Enyo who was acting as his carer right now. As for the closing ceremony, it was a mostly simple affair in which the C.O lady with the bright red dress would say a few words, introduce the rewards, hand them out, and then give over the stage to the victors to celebrate. After that the MVP, as decided by the C.O would say a few words, followed by the captain of the losing team and then finally the captain of the winning team. Basically all the major players in this tournament would get a say before everything came to a close. The MVP and captains would usually try and sell themselves to onlooking clans, businesses, or sects'' usually but things would be different in this case. Ares and Enyo had their sect, and would own it soon, while Mako was a free spirit roaming the lands as he pleased. He viewed being tied down as a mistake for the most part and actively avoided joining any kind of group., That''s not to say he wouldn''t if the situation called for it, such as the Fundamental Organisation, but he would steer clear until then. He didn''t want to share his resources and treasures or be at the whim of somebody else in any kind of hierarchy. Why should he, the fundamental champion of the creation pillar, be looked down upon by elders and patriarchs?! He thought it bad enough he was born into a clan to begin with but, thankfully, his was pretty lax regarding that stuff and he was born directly to the patriarch anyway so it was tolerable. Mako would have split the scene and abandoned his clan had they been anything remotely like what he knew most clans to be. God forbid he''d been born in the Legion clan, Mako would hurl at the mere thought.


    So what were these three going to say when it was their time in the spotlight? There was no strict limit to how much they could talk but, in this case, it wasn''t likely either Enyo or Mako would take up too much of everyone''s time as they didn''t have particularly much to say. Mako might put a warning out there for people to stay out of his way and that those seeking his treasures were going to meet fatal ends. Enyo was going to once again remind the lusty idiots in the crowd that she was not in the market because it could not be said enough to these people. Even Lex was still eyeing her up despite the fact that he was heavily injured as a result of doing that earlier. Sure it was also because he enabled a team to cheat and tried to smooth along the assassination process of Ares, that was relevant too, but if Ares had to pick one reason above all it was this guy''s rude ogling of Enyo. As far as Ares was concerned, he was more than happy to kill Lex just for how blatantly disrespectful he was being. Being evil was one thing. Being lecherous was another. Being both was asking for trouble around Ares.


    Regardless, neither Mako nor Enyo would take up the podium for too long today as that was mostly going to be Ares'' job. He was going to confirm the rumours about Red Sun and his plans while spreading the information to those who were still unaware. Hans would have already dealt with a large number of visitors but he was only going to get even more after this... Still, he''d taken care of a good chunk already so he wouldn''t be stretched too far and wide by this. Plus he''d weeded out a few bad apples already and put them on a list of which his receptionists could use to easily turn those in question away without needing to argue back and forth with them pointlessly. Hans'' efforts in chatting with the locals had paid off and a majority of them were on board with the suggestion, as Hans had predicted they would be, so he only needed to negotiate further with a small bunch that weren''t excited about going to a higher domain. These lot just wanted a simple life away from cultivators and so going up a domain was begging for trouble in their eyes. They could just go somewhere else but they seemed to hold Red Sun in high regard and have quite the arrogant belief that they were just as entitled to this place as everyone else. They weren''t, and they were a vocal minority to begin with, but Hans was still being patient with them as they weren''t entirely in the wrong. Their home was being up and moved without their permission so he had to at least be calm with them for now. If they kept pushing their luck then Hans wasn''t afraid to remind them who ran this show but things wouldn''t likely get to that point. A few payments here and there and they could be convinced to move. If they dared try stick around after bartering then Hans would take the money back, and kick them out on top of that, so they best make the correct choice off the rip and stick to it!


    Still, those people aside, there were only one or two businesses that wanted to leave for good but they were doing so without a fuss. Numbers, in regards to people remaining, were fantastic across the board primarily because almost everyone stood to gain out of this. Even those who likely wouldn''t see any benefits were fine with the decision, not being opposed to it as it might be good for their family members who were aspiring cultivators, so the plan was a-ok to go through with when the time came. Now it was just a matter of sorting out a new set of legal laws, foreign investors, and interested potential civilians and then Hans could rest. Not go on vacation, though, as he was still sorting out his new mayoral duties that he''d put to the side temporarily to get this more important matter done. The mayoral stuff could wait for now but the tournament visitors would be leaving soon enough and needed to be talked to before they were gone so he was working round the clock to get it all done and dusted.


    Part of whatever Ares talked about up on the makeshift podium would include directing people to Hans if they were interested in hopping aboard the Red Sun train but there was also various other things he wanted to discuss. It wasn''t going to be some ten minute speech or anything but it wouldn''t be less than a minute either. It wasn''t too much of a problem regardless, as many people were curious to hear Ares speak after his performance anyway, but the whole child thing was easily the biggest hurdle... Would anyone take him seriously like this?! What if he wanted to do like Mako and make some threats to keep people off his tail?! They would be encouraged by his tiny pleas if anything! Ares had his speech all planned out before the final match even started but he needed to make some serious last minute amendments to it now because of this wild card change that had been sprung on him out of the blue. For the most part it shouldn''t be an issue. If anyone was incapable of looking beyond his current stature, even in spite of everything he''d shown prior, then they were likely too narrow minded to be beneficial to Red Sun in the long run regardless. Ares didn''t want random people lacking in basic discernment to be rife on his landmass in general but there was also a bit more to it than just that. What if he made enemies and people who didn''t belong started hanging around the town? If the civilians living here were all mindless idiots then these unwanted infiltrators would have no issue fitting right in and never being caught. Ares wasn''t about to rely on random strangers, no, but if they happened to be observant enough to spot oddities by themself then Ares wasn''t going to complain. Thankfully a majority of the people living here would be natives anyway so people who tried to blend in would be sniffed sooner rather than later if Hans worked alongside them to form a kind of neighbourhood watch scheme. That seemed like the sort of measure Hans would take in the early stages and it was a good idea.


    The Red Sun team were brought down to the platform by Enyo''s barriers while Mako''s team came out from the waiting room proper. It seemed as though they either hadn''t hung around in the coliseum after the fight or just chose to take the normal way back in. Honestly, Ares wasn''t even sure why the extras on Mako''s team were even here. At least Li Li, Aejaz, and Esme all participated in the matches here and there but, as far as Ares was aware, Mako''s team hadn''t lifted a single finger this entire time. Their only direct involvement was dying to Ares'' No Fear right at the very end but they''d been swept away and resurrected so fast nobody even paid them any attention. Them having the audacity to stand on this stage and receive applause was really quite impressive, actually. No shame! Sure Mako had probably demanded they step aside for him but they didn''t exactly look a bunch of true warriors who would have made it this far on their own. They really had no business being here but whatever, Ares wasn''t gonna shoo them off or anything because he really didn''t care. Those lot would be forgotten about soon enough as even their own country wouldn''t remember them.


    It could be argued that if his team were stronger, and actively helped, then Mako might have won the match but that ignored a few crucial elements,. First, Ares'' team hadn''t intervened either so it would actually be a fight involving all ten people, not a one vs five, and Enyo''s team would be stronger overall. Second, Mako and Ares agreed to this duel so everyone else''s opinion was mostly irrelevant on the matter and wouldn''t have changed anything anyway no matter how loud the crowd were. And, finally, these people, Mako''s teammates, just weren''t capable of amounting to anything even if they trained. They weren''t prodigies nor were they special in any real way so training until they collapsed wouldn''t even get them a tenth of the way to where they needed to be to fight properly in this tournament. Even if Ares fought a one vs five it genuinely wouldn''t have made an iota of difference because a single well placed Grand Annihilation would be all it took to take them out the running and revert the fight back to a one on one. Long story short, they were useless completely. They wouldn''t blamed for their abysmal ''performance'', the situation was out of their control, but they weren''t going to praised or celebrated in the streets. Then again, neither was Mako as he was likely going to skedaddle from the country he was hanging around in and avoid all the fanfare that should have come with his return. He didn''t want praise for coming in second, that was an slap in the face to his ego and pride. He would take it as an insult and not a compliment. If he''d won then perhaps he would consider indulging in victory a bit but going back a loser wasn''t really his style.


    The C.O lady in the red dress / robe, whatever her name was, descended down and onto the platform and took the highest spot there. Ares had no idea who this woman was, or what her position in the organisation was either, but he had a gut feeling this wouldn''t be the last he saw of her going forward. The C.O would want Ares, even in spite of the fact that he was leaving Sheryashka for definite and taking part of the land with him, and so they would need someone to try and rope him in, someone who''d already had dealings with him. It didn''t need to be said but Lex was not the solution here so this lady would probably be the one they sent to hassle him going forward. Also, she seemed to be pretty smart and capable so sending her to handle Ares was probably wise. He''d already shown how underhanded he could be back during the Lex incident so the C.O sending anyone who wasn''t good at petty little games to deal with him would be a bad idea as he''d twist words until he got his way. It was almost definite the C.O were going to prove that they wouldn''t back down from him, here and now by having the lady try and sneak a small win past Ares, just to let him know that going against the C.O in tricky ways was pointless as they''d fight back however was necessary. In short, amongst other things, it was a given that this lady would mess with Ares in some way to knock him down a peg or two. The C.O needed to at least make it seem like they were still the top dog in some form or another and how the C.O lady was going to do that was something Ares was just going to have to wait and see about. Ares needed to be clever here otherwise he would come away from this having suffered a loss without getting anything back in return. He''d won the physical fight but now was pitted against a second foe in which he''d have a verbal sparring match. Ares kept his wits about him but his focused face only served to disarm those in the crowd and didn''t quite have the effect he wanted on the C.O lady who just chuckled at him instead. It was supposed to be a fierce glance that indicated the war was on but now it had more of ''you interrupted my playtime!'' sort of feel to it... Why couldn''t this shrinking have happened tomorrow!? Ares got even more annoyed but that only made him look pinchable, like a naughty child.


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    Pinch


    ... That wasn''t an invitation for Enyo to pinch him on the cheek... Ares shook his head and focused up, listening to every word that came out this lady''s mouth because he didn''t know how she was going to strike. He needed to spot every trap laid for him and find a few of his own that he could maybe plant based off her mistakes. It wasn''t impossible for her avoid saying anything that could be used against her but, given how long she had to speak for here, Ares'' chances of spotting something beneficial would rise drastically. This wasn''t going to be easy but, actually, Ares'' inner revenant was looking forward to this because toying with people was a specialty of the race as a whole and something he had a preference for, devious in nature though it was! Manipulation could be fun every now and then, morals be damned! Let''s see how we can bully this lovely lady in red.


    The lady, who would go on to commence her speech by finally giving her name, met Ares'' challenging stare head on for a brief second before starting as she was convinced she had a pretty mean hand to play. It wasn''t going to happen until the very end of her speech but she was assured in her victory here and wasn''t particularly worried about Ares as she didn''t see him as a brainiac who could worm his way out of conversation-oriented machinations. She believed him to be a sort of muscle head who solved things with brute force, talented though he was, and that wouldn''t be enough for him to leave here today with his head held high. She wasn''t underestimating him, though, and would be sure to take care and not commit any major slip ups. With all that in mind, she began speaking. "Dear audience, though we''ve had the pleasure of meeting previously, due to some rather unexpected incidents, I''ve yet to give my name or position within the C.O. I shall rectify this lack of formality here and now. My name is Ms Windsor and I''m sure you''re familiar with the ''negotiator of the round''?" A simple introduction, one that presumed the audience were familiar with her but, then again, most of them were. There were three sort of head honchos in the C.O who worked underneath the C.O''s leader. These three were nicknamed the ''venerable of the round'' and each had their own specialties. For the most part, nothing other than said specialties were known to the general public so a big shot like this appearing out of the blue was a pretty huge deal. This lady, Windsor, was almost at the top of the C.O food chain and, to make matters worse, her specialty was negotiating. Ares had seen parts of her talent for it back when he was dealing with the rune cheating scandal but she must have gone easy on him and backed off so as not to cause a stir. Now, though, she was openly throwing her name out there which must have been intentional. It would give whatever came later credence and believability so she already had an upper hand that couldn''t be ignored.


    As for the other two venerable of the round, there was the ''force of the round'' and the ''strategist of the round''. The former was one of the strongest people in Sheryashka and could maybe even take the title of number one if he really went all out His purpose in the organisation was threefold: wet work to take out the competition when they got too big for their britches, an advance unit that ventured into dangerous territory either to scout or recover rare resources, and a tool to dismantle domain-wide issues like giant mecha-dryads. Generally speaking his appearance was not a good thing as it meant either A; he was there to kill you, B; he was there to get something specific and would kill you if you got in the way, or C; he was trying to kill something that was probably trying to kill you. He was a very bad omen no matter how you looked at it and so people were glad he didn''t show up in public often.


    As for the strategist of the round, they directed near enough the entire rest of the organisation. The leader of the C.O had the final say in everything but the strategist was the second in command and was frequently given full control over everyone''s work. Point in case, she''d been interested enough in the fundamental pillar rumours to get ahead of the curve and send Ms Windsor here to try and scout them if possible. That wasn''t going to happen but Windsor''s presence here had helped deal with the Lex issue as well as get a foothold on the landmass Ares was trying to yoink. Had the strategist not bothered sending anyone important here then this ''Ares'' kid would be able to run amok and do as he pleased. It was a good bit of foresight to look at unusual happenings and decide on the spot that such measures were needed. Windsor didn''t believe she was needed here but had been proven wrong incredibly quickly. She was the problem solver but finding the problem was often the result of the strategist''s hard work. She didn''t know prior to arriving that her presence here would matter but, now that it did, she would be sure to live up to her reputation. That was the sort of dynamic these three held and, between their efforts combined, very little stood in the way of the C.O. As such, this grand reveal of one of their most important members was a moment worth remembering. It was no surprise the crowd had begun whispering to each other about this event because one of the three venerable of the round being here raised questions about their intentions. This line of thinking was exactly what Windsor was banking on as it all tied neatly into her coup de grace that would come later. For now, though, she merely kept speaking about the tournament as a whole.


    "I''d like to thank all our attendees for helping to make the atmosphere during this tournament as lively and unforgettable as it was. I''m aware the outer court tournament is typically less interesting from a spectators'' perspective than the inner court and core tournaments so the fact that you were all here and willing to fill seats is something we appreciate. We hope you''ve found it worth your time to spectate the younger combatants as, especially this year, we''ve had a rather talented crop display their skills for all to see. To all those of you in the crowd looking to scout some of the talent we''ve seen compete this year I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours.


    We run this tournament on a yearly basis and, despite the rumours which I shall address shortly, we intend to keep hosting it regardless of whether or not this coliseum persists in this domain. Though the venue might differ, we will be sure to keep the tradition alive and well long into the future. Please keep an ear out for any official announcements regarding where the next tournament will be held once we''ve come to a conclusion. We are aware some of you live in more rural areas but, rest assured, we will find a way to spread a message out far and wide about the location of next year''s event ahead of its start by at least a month or two.


    As for this year''s event, I think it''s safe to say we''ve all born witness to something truly extraordinary here today, and over the course of the international, that will be discussed for many years to come. Various revelations that will go on to change our understanding of the wider world, such as the existence of Gods and the truth behind stardust, but above all of that the power of the fundamental champions was truly a spectacle. As thanks for the entertainment bestowed upon on by these champions, as well as their respective teammates, we, the C.O, have prepared numerous rewards for them all to receive. The prizes shall naturally differ somewhat between winner and runner up but we''ve got a wonderful assortment so I''m sure nobody will walk away unsatisfied." Windsor swept her palm sideways through the air and summoned a clothed table from within her spatial ring. Atop the long table were a bevy of treasures, artifacts, and resources that were about to shared amongst the competitors.


    "For our runner ups, we have chosen to gift you each the following: a scroll, that even we aren''t aware of the exact contents of, that will learn you a random technical, various resources that will increase your cultivation when consumed or used during closed-door cultivation, an artifact handcrafted by our resident forger in the C.O, and either a ticket that will enable you to enter Neo Gear Land via their trains or, should you be otherwise inclined, a few extra, miscellaneous resources. Additionally, you''ll all receive five high grade stardust. Truly a treasure trove of goods that will see you through your journey in Sheryashka and help shape you into the cultivator you wish to become in these early stages." She wasn''t kidding, this was a good haul that could catapult even the most average of cultivators into somebody worth keeping an eye on.


    The resources that were on the table could boost a person''s cultivation speed multiple times over so the people on Mako''s team were going to rocket up the realms and make some serious ground over their comrades back home. The random technical could also be a missive boon or something worthless but it would more than likely be the former as most technicals were just really good. Plus, unless the person who created the scroll was a massive troll who pissed people off for shits and giggles, it was rare to find a dud scroll anyway. A lot of hard work went into creating scrolls so for someone to waste their time like that would be extremely unlikely. Not impossible but definitely not common. As for the artifacts, Mako would inevitably get dibs on whatever he wanted and it looked like he was gravitating towards some odd-looking winged cube. It was impossible to tell what an artifact like this would do but cultivators were better off trusting their natural instincts in situations like this so Mako followed his gut, picked the cube up, and put it in his spatial ring. He could figure out what it did later on. Was it risky going for something like this instead of one of the artifacts that was shaped like a weapon? Maybe, it could be a pointless tool that served him in no meaningful way, but again that feeling in his brain that this cube was worth it drove him to make this choice and so Mako wouldn''t regret it. It''s not like he really cared much for artifacts anyway as he''d already found more than few in his journeys prior to now, they just weren''t that useful to him as whatever they could do, Mako could typically do better anyway. He could create gadgets and runes on the spot so whatever rune was present on an artifact, and no matter what uniqueness the artifact itself brought, Mako could likely replicate it regardless. And yet the cube looked useful to him... Ah well, only time would tell. Ares wouldn''t see Mako again for quite some time after everything was settled so, by then, the cube would either be a part of Mako''s repertoire for certain or never see the light of day.


    That aside, the last thing on offer was a ticket to Neo Gear. Mako wouldn''t accept it because he didn''t want to get distracted from his current goals but this was a fantastic offering for those looking to ascend in this world. The strongest of the strong gathered here and, as Ares had mentioned to Aejaz a few times, it was where all the best resources could be found typically. Was it dangerous? A little but danger typically came with goodies so this was a golden opportunity for those who were free to go there. Neo Gear wasn''t usually open to any random would-be visitor but this ticket would simplify getting their asses in there and so it was highly valuable. Had the Neo Gear team competing in this tournament won they would have been offered something else instead, something like the bundle of extra resources that Mako was going to hoover up all for himself. The ticket was irrelevant to him so furthering his cultivation even more was just the better choice. Plus he could maybe extend the cultivation gap between himself and Ares to gain a big advantage over him by the time they next met. All in all, though there wasn''t anything that truly stood out, for a runner up haul it was honestly way above average. Only the C.O could afford rewards like this and nobody in their right mind would complain as even winners of other events around Sheryashka might not get as much as this. Mako''s teammates hadn''t even really earned any of this so they best shut their mouths! Still, if the runner up rewards were that good... Then what kind of prizes awaited the winners? It was time to find out!

 Chapter 288: Top Tier Treasures Aplenty

    Ares looked over at the table and tried to take everything in but Windsor was quick on the beat and already explaining it all. "For the overall winners, we have the following: body tempering resources in addition to standard cultivation resources, a scroll for your affiliated pillars or for a technical if not appropriate, a ticket to Neo Gear or the compensation mentioned earlier to the runner-ups if you decline, a batch of homemade pills from our resident alchemist, ten high grade stardust, and, finally, a tailored reward for each and every single one of you. The tailored reward will be, at bare minimum, a treasure from the C.O''s warehouse where we store all of out rarest finds. We may offer you something else but you are more than welcome to decline and ask for a treasure instead if that takes your fancy but the treasure you receive will be random at that point, so please do keep that in mind."


    Ares looked back over at the table now that he understood what he was looking at and was already seeing a slight problem... Whatever his tailored reward was, it wasn''t here meaning he was likely the only person not just outright getting a treasure... Thankfully, it seemed the C.O''s revenge would start and end with him but still he waited to see what it was exactly they were doing. Ignoring that, however, the stuff here was really great. The body tempering resources were mostly for Garmr and wouldn''t benefit Ares thanks to his adept trait. Still, he''d been meaning to temper his body regardless and, although he didn''t know what kind of resources he was going to receive exactly, getting them nice and early in his journey was wonderful news. If he could get a fine grind from Xasca after he would be all set to get Garmr up and running at peak strength the second he was available for use and that would be a massive benefit to Ares'' overall strength. At that point, Ares'' pressure and physical strength would all be top notch, exactly where they needed to be. Only his magic would still be falling behind but that was ok for now as he would make that his next priority from then on.


    There were also standard cultivation resources, alongside the body tempering stuff, that appeared to be of a higher quality than what Mako''s group received. Unlike Mako, Ares would be taking the Neo Gear ticket as that would be his way into the country at a later date. He''d been planning on going anyway, and was even going to rely on his foreign aid status in the sect to sneak in, but that didn''t seem necessary anymore thankfully. If Ares was taking that instead of the resources, then the higher quality stuff he was getting here made a world of difference as the gap between him and Mako wouldn''t grow too large. The last thing Ares wanted was for Mako to show up before him nearly two whole realms higher than him otherwise then he would actually just straight up lose the ensuing spar and there was no worming his way out of it.


    Next up was the set of scrolls. Enyo would get one for the holy pillar, Li Li would get one for the weapon pillar''s bare fist aspect and not the fire pillar, it seemed, and Esme was getting one for the wind pillar. Aejaz and Ares were getting technicals because their dedication cultivation, to a unique aspect and a fundamental pillar respectively, made anything else irrelevant and unusable. Unlike last time, Windsor hadn''t clarified that the contents of the scroll were unknown and this was a key difference. In short, the technicals would be stuff they could both use in tandem with their current skill set. In some ways that was better than random garbage Ares and Aejaz might forget about one day. How useful it would be could only be contemplated later when he actually found out what he was receiving. For now, he just put the scroll inside his Primordial Blade.... Stuff disappearing from Ares'' hands was no longer strange to anyone as his Primordial Blade was a secret no longer. Everyone knew where he was shoving his stuff! In particular, Rud was a little annoyed that the bandit bastard had lied to him earlier about not knowing where the sword was! He recognised the Blade instantly thanks to the picture of it back when he was testing Ares'' affiliation on the crystal ball object. he understood why Ares lied about it but didn''t appreciate it none the less!


    As for the Neo Gear ticket, only Ares and Aejaz accepted it as Esme and, to an extent, Li Li, already had a way in if they really wanted to. Esme had ties to Onno who''s business practically couldn''t be refused. Even a region as isolated as Neo Gear had to do some trading here and there with Honesty Merchant Trading group because, quite frankly, everyone on this planet did. If Onno wanted to get in with Esme they wouldn''t be able to turn him away. As for Li Li, Slick was her father''s pupil and Slick was the son of a bigshot. She could get in through Slick if she had any desire to, although she might have to fabricate some kind of story about her being the tin can''s apprentice or something. Still, very much doable without the need for a ticket.


    As for Enyo, she just wasn''t interested really. She didn''t have to follow Ares everywhere and this was one place she really didn''t want to go because she was partially aware how rampant crime was in that city. She would be in over her head trying to uphold justice in a society that didn''t care for it. If she saw a neo droid being beaten by gear folk she would try to intervene but what for? Only to have to do it again not even five minutes later? There were some problems that just couldn''t be solved by one woman alone, especially not one at her current cultivation base or anything close to it, so it was something best left ignored and in the hand of Ares who was more prone to shaking things up on a larger scale if he found a chance to. She didn''t like seeing criminality like that go unpunished while feeling helpless to change the status quo, as she felt partially responsible for the victim''s suffering by not lending them a hand, so Neo Gear wasn''t an attractive option. There was nothing wrong with accepting the cultivation resources and just being happy with that. It looked like she was going to pass up on the ticket, and she had already walked past it, but then she did a double take and picked it up anyway. Ares knew what she was thinking and didn''t say anything to her about it. It was her choice to make so, if she wanted to pick this up for Bellona and send her on a trip to Neo Gear with Ares, then so be it. It''s not like Enyo really needed resources anyway as she could just hog Ares'' hog and her pleasure pillar affiliation would do the rest. She was a dual cultivating expert and so keeping her cultivation afloat was not an issue provided Ares was around and not exhausted... Although she could fix that last part so, for him, there really was no escape...


    Next up were the pills and it was a rock solid selection. Every team member got the exact same set of general use pills that were of a high quality. The most notable were a bunch of everlasting-highs that would be pretty expensive to acquire normally. Or rather, even if you had the stardust, finding someone who would sell this many to you at once was like finding a snowflake in hell. Mana shot pills were also in the mix as well as some berserk pills that would temporarily boost strength, tracking pills for stalking prey out in the wilderness, and ''uppers'' that could raise your cultivation by two stages for a brief while before forcing you to crash back down and be weakened for a period of time. All great for carrying around on your person in case you got into any fights you weren''t otherwise prepared for. Ares had been thinking about bugging Allie for some pills before he left for the Federation but he didn''t need to anymore and she could spend all her time creating Mini-Pillies. She''d made a few more since Ares last checked in with her but didn''t really know what kind. Ares hadn''t really spent much time with Allie as of late but, well, he hadn''t even really spent time with his own daughter or wives much either. Busy busy bee! That was just how the cultivation world worked, though. They lived long so he would get around to spending time with her at some point!


    Second to last was the stardust. Nothing out of the ordinary and it really wasn''t worth mentioning. Adding this to the bet winnings, the dead transition assassins he melted in his revenant form, and whatever Ares had scrounged form the Isasz young masters'' spatial ring back in Remmy''s, meant he would have around 130 high grade total by the time he set off for the Federation... Provided he didn''t spend too much anyway. It was more than he''d ever had and yet he didn''t feel like it was even remotely enough to get him through the Federation comfortably... That place was known for draining your money and that was true of even the richest of cultivators with thousands of high grade in their spatial wallets. Ares wouldn''t be able to compete during any auctions but what could he do about it really? Not like he could manifest money out of nowhere... Not without Garmr, anyway! Ah well, Ares was just going to have be broke comparatively to everyone else aboard the Federation and put up with it. Que sera sera. Anywhere else he would be considered a rich man, though, so he really didn''t have any right to moan about it. Even just the ten high grade he was getting here was more than what about 75% of the audience had ever even owned throughout their entire life and yet he was complaining about 130? They would spit on him if they could! Or not, actually, as they''d just chalk it up to a dumb kid not understanding the value of money... In this regard, Ares'' child form might actually be helpful as it would save him the ire of people!


    Last, but most definitely not least, were the special prizes custom picked for each member of the team. These things looked good! Even if Ares didn''t know what any of them did it was looking like these would be the highlights of the tournament and worth all the effort it took to win them. As soon as everyone''s attention fell on the goods, Windsor kindly gave a rundown of what everyone was receiving one by one. "First up, Li Li. Your treasure is the ''Burn Bracelet''. It''s a relatively niche treasure but one that ought to benefit you greatly. Any target you hit with fire magic will receive more physical damage for a lengthy duration afterwards. A simple effect but one that will inevitably serve you well. This treasure belongs to a set that the C.O retrieved from a dead Bhorashkan shaman who was in possession of five total bracelets. Each bracelet had a similar effect but activated based on different elements. The shaman was a Panthera with impressive physical strength and considerable mastery over the fire, wind, water, earth, and electric pillars. The more varied magic he hit his opponents with the stronger he became in turn and this took him far in his cultivation journey. Unfortunately he seemed to be done in by a zippy monster he was unable to land a hit on with his magic, thus the bonus strength from his numerous bracelets went untapped during the crucial life or death match. A word of advice, Li Li, do not use this as a crutch or it may very well let you down. Treat it for what it is, an accessory and nothing more. The power it contains ought to help give your punches that extra oomph in most fights, however, so the C.O thinks you''ll make very good use of it. Oh, and one more thing, and this extends to Esme too, you are always more than welcome to come and work for the C.O. We understand that Ares, Enyo, and Aejaz have their own grand designs for the future but if you ever want to live a simpler life, and hold a respectable position within our organisation, we encourage you to come and be a part of something great. you need not answer now, or ever really if you so choose, but do keep this option in mind as it will forever remain on the table.


    Speaking of Esme..." Windsor turned to face Esme who was currently fanning herself as the sun was out and the temperature had risen a bit compared to earlier when it was pouring down during the fight. "Your treasure is this..." Windsor lifted up a crystal ball with a greenish tint and offered it to Esme. "This is the ''Breeze Sentry''. It hovers in the air after being activated and fires small gusts of wind at foes. The attacks detonate and create a zone of violent winds that push enemies around with considerable force so this ought to be a fantastic addition to your arsenal as it will enable you to push stubborn opponents into your traps. You''re already great at planting traps, and have the mobility to facilitate doing so safely, but forcing your opponents into them appeared to be something you struggled with during the tournament. As such, we believe this to be a suitable prize that will take you to great heights as a cultivator." Li Li''s treasure was generally useful and functioned as a boost to what she already did but this treasure was perfect in a different way. Esme had struggled against Leopold, from the Bhorashka team, and needed Enyo to help turn the tide and force him into her mines. So far, without a doubt, Esme was the biggest winner... Although only two treasures had been given out so far so it was pre-emptive to say as such. In fact, Enyo and Aejaz'' treasures looked like they were going to be invaluable to them and really quite impressive, that was the sort of aura the treasures possessed...


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    "Next up, Enyo. your treasure is the ''Decompiler'' and will fit snugly onto your armour at the chest region." Windsor lifted up a small piece of black glass that bore resemblance to a camera. It was rather thin so her assessment about it fitting onto Enyo''s armour seemed accurate enough in that it wouldn''t take up too much space, weigh her down, or get in Enyo''s way whenever she fought. As for what it did... "The Decompiler will scan the remnants of destroyed magic and convert it into spare mana that it then funnels into you. No matter how, if a magic is stopped or misses you, this treasure will partially drain the source of mana and make it yours, keeping your reserves afloat in longer fights. Your barriers will count towards this so blocking an opponent''s magic will net you a mana reimbursement each and every time. You ought to be able to hold out defensively with this until the other person throws away all of their mana without ever so much as suffering a scratch. Furthermore, and this is where this treasure really shines, the stored mana can be given to someone else if you so desire. The mana it stores doesn''t go into you directly as soon as it decompiles magic so you can hand the treasure over to someone else, who suffers from mana shortages, and reinvigorate them mid combat.


    Forgive me for prying but I did some research and found that your sister used a treasure that acts as a form of mana storage during the regionals? I take it she has mana issues so this ought to benefit the both of you in the long run. Plus, what with being married to Ares, it will give you a way to potentially support his magical output as well should you fight alongside him in the future. This was one of our better treasures but your valour and impressive strength, even in spite of not possessing a fundamental pillar, or even a unique aspect, truly awed us and we felt it fitting to give you something rather high grade as a prize." Ares'' jaw nearly dropped out of its socket because this thing was phenomenal! It was exactly what the doctor ordered and, once more, Windsor''s explanation was spot on. Blo Blo did have mana issues but this would help to alleviate that problem if Enyo was around and / or borrowed the treasure to her. Ares would never complain about having Enyo wear this thing nearby when he was fighting and it was also just really good for her to survive long onslaughts. A tool like this would skyrocket Enyo''s war potential too as she could just summon, and maintain, an extremely large barrier as every art that bounced off it would even out the cost of keeping the barrier in tip top shape anyway.


    Scary!


    The C.O had really just casually handed out a treasure this powerful to Enyo?! What were they, treasure dispensing machines?! Seriously, this was good quality stuff and he was very grateful to himself for taking the last fight seriously and winning without messing around at the end. He wasn''t planning on losing but if he''d lost out on such treasures even crying for a week straight wouldn''t absolve him of the monumental guilt that would wrack his heart. These things weren''t exactly Backfire Bindings, Celestial Cluster, or Primordial Blade level, obviously, but they were surprisingly close. Also, a good treasure with fitting functionality for the wearer was often better than a mythical treasure that was incompatible with the owner. It was why people sometimes traded down in the cultivation world because it was better to wear an ugly shoe that fits than a gold studded boot that doesn''t. These treasures were the kind Ares would be seeing a lot of because Enyo, Esme, and Li Li would never have a reason to get rid of or replace them. Really good gains were being made here!... Which probably meant the C.O wanted to form good relations with the people on this team because they saw an abundance of talent ripe to take advantage of. It was hard to look them in the eyes and say, ''no, we want nothing to do with you'' after being handed such great treasures...


    Windsor moved onto Aejaz next. "Aejaz, I''ll be upfront with you... This treasure was one of the C.O''s top three and we aren''t giving this away lightly..."


    IT GET''S BETTER?!  Ok, now Ares was jealous. He didn''t know what those binoculars did but if they were better than the Decompiler then they must be out of this world good. Given that it looked like Ares wasn''t getting a treasure, for whatever reason, he was feeling incredibly backstabbed right now! He wanted a good treasure too!... Ah well, he''d made like a bandit, which he he used to be but had completely forgotten as of late, recently and picked up a number of good treasures. Ares really didn''t need anything else right now so if he could make other, less tangible but still relevant, gains that would be for the best. He had the scroll for a random technical so it''s not like he wasn''t getting anything new... At least that was what he kept telling himself as a form of comfort. Just looking at these treasures made Ares wanna drool in public... Ares wasn''t the only one, though, as just hearing what the C.O lady had said was making Aejaz incredibly excited. New toy! He didn''t always get to wield the Nyxian Prowler and so his arsenal of treasures was rather lacking. He''d given up on Vargaraad''s lantern back in the tomb and so only really still possessed the Concealed serpent. It was Aejaz'' best tool, and would likely always be due to what it was capable of, but he wanted something else! Something that could be used aggressively! Unfortunately, this was a pair of binoculars, so being able to assault people with it was probably out of the question, but it was still something else to mess around with and Aejaz wasn''t going to turn his nose up at it. Especially if it was being lauded as a top three treasure of this domain''s largest organisation. This was the kind of treasure even the four matriarchs might be interested in for themselves personally, that was how big a deal what Windsor was saying was.


    "Aejaz, this treasure is called the ''Stalker'' and serves one singular purpose. The binoculars come with both infra red and night vision options which enable you to spot enemies in all conditions but, what really matters, is what happens afterwards. The Stalker allows you to mark a single visible target. The marked target can be seen through walls for an entire minute after that and they will be completely unaware of this effect. Furthermore, illusions, smokescreens of any kind, and other such obstructions will not prevent you from being able to track the target. I don''t think I need to explain to you the sheer utility this treasure offers?" She really didn''t. This treasure was easily the strongest here and it wasn''t even a debate. What''s funny though is that mortals and weaker cultivators throughout the spectator''s area weren''t quite getting it. They didn''t seem to understand the value of being able track a target through walls nor did they appreciate how simple this treasure was to use.


    For starters, only having to spot the target, from any range, with the Stalker which came with unique optical alterations, mean that marking a target was impossible to mess up. You just had to look at the person and the deed would be done without question. The ease of use on this thing was off the charts which only made what came next even more ridiculous. Unchecked, uninterruptable, undetectable tracking for a whole minute?! Ignoring the fact that this alone was absurd, what really mattered here was how this worked in relation to arts. A good chunk of arts, especially those that were good for assassination, required line of sight to work properly. You had to be able to see a victim in order to use your art on them most of the time and so this effectively allowed the owner to ambush and attack the marked targets through walls, making it impossible to react to. This was all still just a start as things could get much trickier than that. Laying ambushes along the victim''s current path, using spatial magic, or in Aejaz'' case position stealing magic, to remove the marked target from a safe location, or artillery theory assassination from long, safe ranges with immaculate precision.


    The Stalker was an assassin''s best friend even just as a tracking tool, never mind anything that came after that. Plus it was worth remembering that Aejaz'' magic affinity stealing art would dissipate after one minute of not seeing the victim and this mark would extend that duration. Aejaz could steal the affiliation, track them, and keep the stolen magic running in the background until he finally launched his attack, not needing to recast the art mid fight because he lost sight of them prior to engaging. None of this yet even touched on the fact that this meant Aejaz could now steal from a person that couldn''t even see him. Aejaz'' thievery would now work through walls, buildings, floors, roofs, A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G. Aejaz could no longer be stopped by just hiding from him as he would always be able to see you wherever you holed up. And to top it all off, that was just Aejaz!


    What if Ares borrowed this thing?!


    Imagine walking through a corridor and the last thing you see is a Perish Wheel come flying through the wall at Mach ten before sawing you in half! If Ares could create some kind of long range destruction magic, and combine it with this treasure, he would be able to assassinate people like a true professional! Better than one, even! Much like how Aejaz borrowed the Prowler here and there, Ares was going to have to give these Stalkers a real proper try at some point! Hell everyone needed to use this thing! What about Blo Blo''s measurement manipulation magic? If she could safely cast her arts undetected through walls at her target then how could anyone stop her? What if she used her measurement manipulation to half the distance between her and her target repeatedly like she always did, resulting in a method of teleporting to a marked target wherever they were? She could bypass enemy lines, pass through heavily guarded and locked bunkers, and just appear besides her target in a flash. Hell Ares could do it too with Shift or Voidwalk if he put in the effort.


    A marked target was beyond fucked which circled back around to its non-existent requirement in order to use it... You had to just spot a person... WITH BINOCULARS! Yeah, no, this thing was busted! Any cultivator could make this thing work if they wanted and it was something that experts would undoubtedly start massive clan wars over if they could. In higher domains a no-man''s land would form around this thing, if it appeared out in the wild, and a free for all war would determine who owned it after many gruelling months of bloodshed. It embodied the theoretical ''perfect'' treasure that was just too good to be true. And this thing was top three in the C.O''s warehouse?! The hell else did they have in there that matched this thing!? That aside, Aejaz was a lucky bastard to be receiving this! Now it wouldn''t just be Mako and Ares who had to fend off greedy thieves... Which was ironic because that description was perhaps most apt when used to describe Aejaz himself. What goes around comes around?


    Windsor waited for the experts, and those with good analysis skills, to ascertain the value of the Stalker before moving on to Ares with a cordial grin... Cordial my ass, that''s shit eating and it''s not even close! The fake-ness is oozing out of this lady''s eyes! Ares was not looking forward to his reward... He almost wished he could decline it here and now but, regrettably, he wasn''t in a position to do so. Not hearing her out, and storming away, would only serve to make him look bad considering the calibre of treasures that had been offered thus far. Also, it might not even change anything; he didn''t have to be here for Windsor to proclaim his gift aloud to everyone else. All that would happen then is that Ares wouldn''t be able to refuse and / or come up with a retaliation because he wasn''t present. In short, he was going to have to stick around and fight back the hard way... Now what did this devilish woman in red have up her sleeve for Ares? As it would turn out, not much really. In fact, all she was really doing was giving him something he already had... But, actually, that was the problem...

 Chapter 289: He Said, She Said

    "Ares... There really aren''t many treasures befitting of your status. Had Mako won here today instead the C.O would have faced a herculean task of giving something appropriate to him but, thankfully, that wasn''t the case. I believe you already know what our prize to you is as we''ve discussed it prior already..."


    ...


    No we have not! Ares screamed in his head. Things were already going off track and he wasn''t sure how far this conversation was going to deviate from what was expected. This woman was already lying through her teeth but it just meant she was going to have to follow it up with a pretty tricky statement otherwise Ares could just refute it in front of everyone and ruin her reputation. She must have already known this was a possibility so her next words were going to be carefully thought out to entrap Ares perfectly in her web of deceit.


    "Your reward for winning the tournament is Red Sun itself!"


    ...


    Ah shit, she got me... Ares winced as his brain was struck by the ingenuity of this devilish woman. There was so much going on here that it needed to be unpacked bit by bit. First of all, and this was the least important detail, this did constitute as an appropriate reward. Ares was being given an entire landmass here and, even if she hadn''t conned him in other ways, not accepting this would be foolish... Provided he didn''t already basically own it, thanks to to buried Shock Bead threat all throughout Red Sun and Hans'' backing, to begin with! But that was beside the point, it was a valid reward which not only meant Ares couldn''t complain but that he also wasn''t receiving an appropriate treasure. The C.O would have had to give him the best treasure they owned in order to gift him something reasonable and fitting of his newfound fame. They couldn''t skimp out so they might even have to give more than one treasure just to balance out the optics of the whole situation. Doing things this way meant they could keep all of their treasures locked away in the warehouse where Ares couldn''t get his greedy mitts on them. This was just the most menial of points to be concerned about, however, as it got a lot worse from there...


    Second of all, the fact that, according to Windsor, this had ''already been discussed'' placed a great emphasis on the C.O''s hitherto non-existent involvement in this whole affair, making it seem like they were relevant from the very beginning. This reduced Ares'' agency and made it seem like he went begging to them for permission... Which he definitely did not! This boosted the reputation of the C.O further, as even a fundamental champion aided by a God had to bend to their whims, while downplaying Ares somewhat in the court of public opinion. This was less a personal adventure Ares solo kickstarted and more so something he''d been graciously allowed to do by his C.O sugar daddy. In other words, nepotism! It wasn''t a massive issue but it did sour a few people''s perspective of this whole event which might cause some dissatisfaction with people looking to get involved in Red Sun''s take-off...


    Third of all, Ares couldn''t back out of this. The fourth and final reason was why he''d really want to distance himself, and that would be explained in a second, but right now the issue was that he couldn''t'' escape. Earlier, people had been questioning why the negotiator of the round had come to this venue at all. The truth was that she was sent here by the strategist but they didn''t need to know that. As far as they were all concerned now, she was here to make this negotiation with Ares and officially support his endeavour in person. Her presence here had ironically proved to be a benefit in and of itself as it lent credence to the claim that she''d already done business earlier. Why else would she be here if not to make such an important trade, after all? If Ares wanted to deny this he''d struggle big time as even he didn''t know why this blasted woman was here. Furthermore, and this was the kicker as it tied into the last point, Ares couldn''t refuse because of the implication of everything she''d said in those cursed earlier statements. In other words...


    Last of all... Windsor was indirectly claiming the C.O had a foothold in Red Sun... It hadn''t even really been directly stated at any point but, logically, why would the C.O give up the entire land mass for free without even getting a tiny slice of the pie? Sure they''d hand it over but having a branch of the C.O present on the landmass was to be expected, right? If a C.O building showed up in the city, who wouldn''t understand why? If they had the freedom to give it away, they also had the freedom to be here like a parasite and make sure everything was being looked after properly by its new owner. They had every right to set up shop here because they were so deeply involved in handing it over. It would look so incredibly strange if Ares tried to deny them access to a landmass they were claiming to have owned up until now and he would just come across like a tyrant trying to hide something despicable under the surface by preventing the organisation from merely existing in Red Sun. Rumours about him trying to keep dirty secrets from the C.O would start to spread and that was the least of his issues.


    Ares couldn''t refuse this prize, and have them be forced to back off, because then it would just look like he was trying to start a fight for the territory instead. He''d ''already agreed'' to this, so backing out now, the exact moment that the C.O were openly involved, would look like he was targeting them and didn''t want them to be around. It might even start a small scale war as it would look like Ares was trying to claim the landmass all for himself by booting the C.O out even though they had every right to remain. The reputation of the negotiator of the round, combined with her longstanding presence here, would make it look like Ares was just trying to take advantage of the C.O''s generosity and swallow up this land mass all for himself without concern for his trade deal that didn''t even exist in the first place! A landmass of this size was not, in any universe, something that would be handed over so casually without a bunch of stipulations and discussions taking place first. The presence of the negotiator of the round implied many talks were had and a conclusion was reached affably in which both parties came away with something to gain so if the C.O wanted to set up in Red Sun then Ares would find it nigh impossible to stop them now. As if to prove that this was what she was aiming for, Windsor dealt the death blow.


    "We, the C.O look forward to extending our influence into other domains alongside Ares who will be so graciously bringing us along on his cultivation journey. For those of you in the audience with aspirations to join our organisation, we will soon be erecting a C.O building near enough in the centre of town so you may apply there. It will be pretty big too so you won''t have to worry about missing it!"


    Fuck off with your ''pretty big''! Who the hell gave you planning permission to build some monstrous megacorp in our city?! Hans will not be pleased with you foul woman! Ares wanted to pull his hair out at this despicable two faced bitch''s antics but he refrained because he had been duped pretty resoundingly here. He should have known better than to expect the C.O to go quietly into the night having suffered as many losses throughout this tournament as they had. They absolutely wanted to pay Ares back and this was how they''d gone about it. The worst part was that Ares could have predicted this as ownership of this land was a sore spot from the get go and was leverage they had on him all this time. If he had paid them any attention, instead of slapping them in the face with oversight of the tournament after oversight of the tournament, then he might have been able to predict this and riposte on the spot... But just because he was taken aback by this, and caught completely off guard, that didn''t mean he didn''t see a way to gain massively off of this. In fact... This might actually be for the best... He would get more out of this transaction than he lost as even forfeiting some right of way and autonomy over Red Sun to the C.O paled in comparison to what he was planning! This woman was clever but she''d left out one crucial detail, something incredibly minor, that Ares was going to exploit for all it was worth! All she had to do was quit talking about this, say her closing piece, and hand over the reigns to Ares to give his own speech and all would be well! Luckily, whether Windsor was complacent in her seemingly airtight victory, or just outright done with her speech, she began wrapping it up while none the wiser that a massive shitstorm was coming her way...


    "These rewards, I hope, are indicative of the C.O''s wish to have a good relation going forward with all of our finalists..." ''All except the deadbeat losers on Mako''s team, that is'', Windsor muttered to herself under her beath. "... We believe we''ve given in accordance with each of your respective abilities and deserved profit based on how well you performed during the tournament. Before I give my closing remarks, I shall nominate, on behalf of the entirety of the C.O, Ares as the MVP of this tournament for reasons that I''m certain need not be explained to anyone present. A round of applause for what has to have been the single greatest performance during an outer court tournament of all time in this venue!" Windsor riled the crowd up and didn''t explain any further why Ares had won the title. She was right that he was the MVP it''s just that listing every single one of his exploits this tournament would take absolutely forever and the people here weren''t blind or stupid. Ares was the biggest of big shots and, in terms of overall prestige, even outranked Windsor herself. Ares was the future God of destruction and saviour of the world, according to reports of what Mako had been telling people about the fundamental champions, for crying out loud! Nobody outranked Ares at all and he beat the only other person in this coliseum who potentially could. Basically MVP status was going to whoever won the final, be it Mako or Ares, no matter what and that had been decided from the moment each of them took to the stage for the first time way back when.


    Once the clapping finished, Windsor handed over a small gold medal to Ares shaped like the coliseum itself. It was highly detailed and he really quite liked it, not just because it was gold (even though that played a large role in his appreciation of it), but also because it made for a nice memory of his first victory over Mako. Every time Ares wanted to rub it in to the elf he could dangle this medal in front of him as a taunt and basically win every argument without needing to say so much as a word! It wasn''t real Ares that loved this, no, it was his inner revenant!


    "And with that, I officially declare the outer court level of the tournament over! It''s been an incredible show but there are no matches remaining so we hope to see you all again next year. Before you leave, however, we recommend you stick around for the MVP and captains'' speeches! they''re surely going to be worth listening to so I would highly encourage you to wait just a little longer before heading on out. On that note, I''ll be handing over the stage to this year''s MVP, Ares!"


    Windsor truly believed she''d done a great job here. She''d hit Ares hard and fast before throwing the ball in his court as quickly as possible with the hope that he would drop it. If Ares didn''t respond here then he would basically never have another platform like this to respond ever again and any rebuttals he could muster down the line would be ineffective and handled in private where he could be shooed off. He needed to take a stand here in public and Windsor was convinced he wouldn''t be able to come up with anything off the dome but, as she walked down from the platform, Ares made no effort to hide his evil intentions and his derisive smirk... Again, he was still a child right now so it was lacking in potency but the general tone he aiming for was conveyed properly, worrying Windsor who now had no choice but to wait off to the side and see what Ares'' method of attack would look like. She had no more say in this matter, unless Ares said something truly ridiculous and then she could obviously halt the proceedings and clarify, so whatever Ares had come up with was going to be an unavoidable problem she couldn''t refute if his confidence was anything to go by. Was it going to be devastating or just a slap on the wrist that he was proud to have inflicted upon them under such circumstances? Windsor prayed for the latter but was starting to feel nervous it was the former... What had she missed or accidentally said in her earlier speech that gave Ares wriggle room here? It was time to find out and she could only hope it wasn''t anything major...


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Ares walked up to take Windsor''s previous spot and readied some pressure to enhance his voice and spread it far and wide. There was a microphone present for those who didn''t have a means to emphasise and aggrandize their voice but Ares was good without it... Also, this way, he could use his pressure to make his voice sound a little deeper, and less squeaky (thanks to his mini body), than it would if he just relied on the microphone.... It bothered him, ok!? "Ahem, greetings! It''s a pleasure for you to meet me, I''m sure... I kid! I kid!... Kinda... Anyway, we got off on the wrong foot last time, methinks. I won''t apologise for using Quietus Edict on you all while you were all being rowdy because of my fianc¨¦, so don''t expect it, but I can look past that provided it doesn''t happen again. Not all of you are to blame but those who are best set themselves straight because this sort of behaviour is not something I''m going to tolerate lightly, you can ask for verification from Lex if need be..."


    Off to the side, Lex kissed his teeth and glared at mini Ares but he had no support here as people were clearly trying not to associate with him. Even though a large group of people were all being lumped in the same boat they still wanted to sit on the other side of it from Lex because he was the most likely person to rock it. They already weren''t off to a good start with Ares and he had every right to be both annoyed and arrogant. Ares was already nearing the point he would become unstoppable in Sheryashka and people''s behaviour back when he had to use Quietus, in hindsight, was pretty terrible. A quick reprimand to start, and being willing to slip it under the rug, was already very lenient. He could have just as easily chucked a Perish Wheel into the crowd and few people, namely only mortals who didn''t get how the cultivation world worked, would blame him. As far as putting someone in charge went, Ares didn''t seem murder happy so he was already a potentially better candidate to fly this landmass out of here than 80% of other candidates, and that was not even including his talents or status. If a Chen member had Ares power, and was in his position, thousands of spectators would have already been hunted down in the streets and hung up and strung up to be made an example of via their rotting corpses. Plus Ares wasn''t making a blanket statement here as he picked the people who''d specifically been responsible so maybe he wasn''t the type to murder your entire family and / or clan over your own mistakes? Again, a rarity in this world... Although that wasn''t to say Ares couldn''t be pushed far enough that he would be inclined to do so, everyone had their limits.


    Basically this was all just setting the stage for Ares and reminding everyone that they had to be respectful at the bare minimum. Regardless of the C.O''s involvement, he was the one in charge when the chips were down and he had the might to back up his position. They had to be in his good graces, not the other way around... To some extent, anyway, as Ares couldn''t just be outright tyrannical otherwise people would flee for the hills but the onus was definitely not on him to throw himself at the feet of others. In that sense, leading, be it a clan or the entire landmass, wasn''t easy as you had to toe the line between strict and firm as well as lax and forgiving. So far he was doing an alright job of it. Nothing out of the ordinary for what you''d expect of a brand new leader but that was fine as he clearly wasn''t used to being in such a position to begin with. He''d learn over time, and he was already starting from a good place overall, so he''d likely do good enough in the future. Well, it was only really good enough because of his fundamental champion status, that made up for a lot of slack in many people''s minds.


    "... But let''s not get bogged down on that, there are more important matters to discuss regarding my plans for Red Sun that I''m sure most of you have already heard about through the grapevine. I have no intention of hiding my goals from you all, the idea was simply to deal with the results of spreading such information in increments rather than all at once which is why a public statement is only being made now. As a good enough chunk of people have already been individually informed, I think now''s as good a time as any to explain myself in full for those who aren''t entirely caught up..."


    Ares proceeded to give a comprehensive rundown of what kind of place he expected Red Sun to become under his watchful guidance. It was essentially the same miscellaneous titbits he''d chatted about to Hans so he was able to go through everything succinctly what with having already discussed this in full prior. He did throw in a bit extra about the fact that many locals were already on board, as he was loosely aware of public sentiment, and mentioning as such would alleviate some people''s fears by leading them to believe they were a minority with their concerns. It wasn''t wrong or untrue, they were, it''s just that the less people like this created paranoia around this whole thing, the better. The plan was going to work fine, Ares was at the helm and he was trustworthy, but that wouldn''t stop some people from bailing if sufficient naysayers were able to voice their opinions loudly enough. It was best to do whatever possible to quell that here and now before it could snowball into a bigger issue. Mentioning public sentiment was one thing but what came next would serve that purpose as well as enable Ares to get back at the C.O by utilising their name to the fullest and even stealing from them a little.


    Contrary to what Windsor was expecting, Ares wasn''t going to try and shoo out the C.O. Forking over some control to them wasn''t the end of the world, and having an organisation like that on the landmass might be beneficial in the long run after they established themselves properly, so Ares had come to peace with their presence. So no, that wasn''t what he was going to do here. Instead of kicking them out, Ares was going to milk them for all their worth and exploit them until they were begging him to leave them alone. They could stay but they needed to regret their decision before Ares was content. As such, he segued into mentioning the C.O so that he could deliver his own coup de grace right back at Windsor who was going to be the main target of this revenge.


    "Windsor mentioned my prize earlier was the entirety of Red Sun and everything I just mentioned is what such a reward is in reference to. And yes, the C.O has received full permission to stay atop this landmass and potentially expand their organisations into new domains by co-operating with us. We will act as a vehicle of sorts for them and they will be aiding us in return accordingly, as per the terms of our deal..." This was not true! There was no deal to begin with, so naturally this was a complete falsehood, but even just saying it put some power back in Ares'' hands as it implied he was able to successfully negotiate with Windsor and managed to sneak in some benefits against even someone of her calibre. This was an impressive feat alone and was already a good start, Windsor was forced to admit, but what came next was what truly mattered. What kind of aid was Ares going to declare the C.O were offering exactly? This was where the real problem would arise...


    "Regarding the aid, Hans and I are very fortunate to welcome Ms Windsor herself to Red Sun for the foreseeable future to aid us in negotiating with interested parties who wish to join us on this journey... Ah but, last we spoke, I do believe lady Windsor said it would either be her or someone equivalent. Regardless, be it the force, strategist, or negotiator of the round, we are incredibly lucky to have such talent grace our small town and we look forward to out continued co-operation on developing Red Sun in the right direction while they live here in the long term."


    ...


    Shit. Windsor didn''t mince her words or go beyond a simple curse in her head because she''d had her trap spun on her quite brilliantly. Much like how Ares couldn''t refute her, she couldn''t refute him and there were a number of reasons why. For starters, if Windsor refused to stay here then she wouldn''t be able to continue negotiating on behalf of the C.O and she was currently the only person who would be able to avoid getting suckered in by Ares. This dastardly bastard had already one-upped her so anyone else they sent in exchange for her would be toyed with ten ways till Sunday and its not like Windsor would be welcomed back after refusing to stay here... But she couldn''t send anyone else anyway because of the stipulation that it would either be her or ''someone equivalent'' as the other two venerable couldn''t be spared to Red Sun in such a fashion. Losing the force to Red Sun would weaken the C.O to a degree that was concerning whereas losing the strategist would clog up the work flow and drastically reduce efficiency. To top it all off, only the negotiator had the necessary skillset to barter for freedom down the line and anyone else would just become a permanently roped in big fish the C.O could never recover.


    As for believability of this trade, it all made sense for the same reason Windsor''s earlier bullshit declarations did, she was here from the start... ''Because she''d been planning on staying here and working alongside Hans to negotiate with ''interested parties'', that was the implication. This landmass would stand to benefit the C.O so it was very much in their interest to send someone like Windsor to make sure it all went smoothly given the scale of what was happening here. It made too much sense which screwed her even further because if she tried to deny it, and wriggle her way out of this new position she''d been thrust into, it would negatively affect both her and the C.O. On a personal level, it would make her look like a traitorous rat who betrayed her trade partners and that she only made so many successful deals because people were too afraid of the C.O to fight back after being conned by her.


    ''I promised someone of my status would work here but now that it''s time for me to pay up I''m not going to go through with it and if you complain I''ll have the force of the round come pay you a visit''.


    It wasn''t even remotely true but if she turned around and said no to Ares here it would jeopardise her public image big time. Much like how Ares couldn''t refuse the C.O, as he would be seen as a tyrant, Windsor couldn''t refuse Ares without looking like a slimy and despicable woman. And as for the organisation as a whole, if Windsor backed out here then Ares would have an excuse to kick them off the land in full. ''You didn not adhere to the agreement therefore I want you gone because I no longer stand to gain''. He would now be within his rights to chuck out the un-co-operative, deceitful C.O and the public wouldn''t bat an eye. Though Ares had to fear a war with the C.O, they had to fear one with him too because he was rapidly reaching a point, as aforementioned, of becoming unstoppable in this realm. If he bided his time and kicked the C.O out after reaching transition, or maybe even just mid-to-late bloodline awakening, then the C.O would no longer be able to oppose him and public sentiment would be in support of his actions for the way Windsor went back on her promise.


    What Windsor had screwed up on here was that she forgot to clarify WHO was going to be setting up and working here. Of course someone had to be stationed here otherwise having the C.O here to begin with utterly pointless and Ares would be in the clear to kick them out for being useless! Had she just had the awareness to give even the name of some random middle management employee she might have gotten away with it but, even then, Ares could have still tried pressing for this outcome. He''d expertly woven together a riposte not out of thin air, but by using Windsor''s own promises and demands against her because she failed to set limitations on what she was expecting. She''d gone all in and Ares had doubled down. In short, she''d lost and the C.O was going to have lose their negotiator for a while unless they wanted their reputation to fall down into the depths of un-mendable hell...


    Damn revenant brat... Though Windsor complained, as she didn''t really want to be stuck here, she had to give Ares a round of applause in her head because she''d seriously underestimated his capacity as a deal maker. She thought him a weak leader, easily pushed around, but now she was paying the price for her unchecked arrogance. It reminded her of when she was first starting out and her risk detector was basically non-functional. She''d lost a lot for the C.O early on, and was reprimanded quite frequently, but the leader of the organisation always bailed her out as he saw potential in her. Sure enough, she''d become someone who made it big on every trade not long after she was put through some serious training and the C.O gained an asset in her that was invaluable. As far as Windsor could remember, she''d never walked away from a losing trade in over ten years so this blow here today was eye opening. Had she gotten lazy or was Ares better at this than she thought he''d be? Either way, Red Sun had become her new home away from home and she was going to have look for a place to stay... And send a letter back to the C.O explaining her failure in full... The strategist was not going to be happy losing her negotiator but no doubt she''d get over it quick enough as she''d be too busy finding this situation hilarious to care... Whatever, they could handle without her for now as there were plenty of other deal makers of acceptable quality in the C.O, they didn''t make Windsor do literally everything all the time as that was just stupid. Plus she wasn''t necessarily tied down to Red Sun and could leave every now and then, she wasn''t a prisoner. The biggest issue here was the amount of work that was about to fall into her lap as dealing with people who wanted to come aboard Red Sun before it left for Vraizon was going to be nightmare... She''d said it to herself before in her head but she was going to say it again because it helped her overcome the agitation she was feeling. Damn revenant brat!

 Chapter 290: A Cleaver a Day Keeps the Criminals Away

    Ares was done with Windsor but he wasn''t quite finished speaking to the spectators just yet. He didn''t have much more to say to them but that was no reason to leave them hanging without a proper ending. Plus he still had to dole out at least one threat lest anyone think him soft. He''d kinda already done it when pointing at Lex earlier, as the implication was clear enough, but that was insignificant compared to actually openly declaring violent intentions to those who opposed him in ways that were not something he could just ignore. "Let me be clear on this, I will be keeping a close eye on the people who gather in this city at the time of our departure from this domain. Anyone who has not been granted permission to be here will be weeded out so don''t waste your time trying to sneak aboard. There will be repercussions for not only this but also those who stand in-between me and my goals. I do not have all the time in the world to play around with thieves, imbeciles who are jealous of my relationship with Enyo, or those who are looking to harm Red Sun in any way.


    Do no let my current childish stature fool you, you''ve all seen what I''m capable of and should know by now how many explosives I have buried in this city. You will not make it far and you will certainly not make it out of this city alive if you grate on my nerves. Of course you''re also free to try and attack me outside of Red Sun if you think that will help but if you do then don''t complain when you find yourself buried out in the middle of nowhere with nobody to mourn for you. I will not be tolerant of those looking to take my life for any reason so if you''re intending on picking a fight with me, you best be sure to make sure you''ve written and signed off on your will. There will be no mercy and you should consider yourself lucky if there''s even enough chunks of you left to bury by the time I''ve blown up each and every one of your limbs. I will disintegrate you into ashes if need be and feed you to worms so take this threat very seriously.


    Taking Red Sun to Vraizon is an important first step for me and trying to get in the way of that, for whatever twisted reason you concoct, will net you the full force of a displeased fundamental champion which, I assure you, you do not want to be on the receiving end of. It will not end with you either as I will track down anyone who means anything to you and make them pay as well. Think VERY carefully before you choose to make an enemy of me in such a capacity, its'' not worth it and you don''t stand to gain more than you will lose. Being a revenant makes me immortal so, even if you miraculously win, I''ll be back to haunt you soon enough. I will only say this once, pick a fight with someone more your speed. You do not have what it takes to oppose a fundamental champion, now or ever, nit Mako or I, so do yourself a favour and leave us well enough alone. You''ve been warned." A simple enough threat, nothing too grand or explicit, but that was fine. Ares would rather not mess it up than botch something so crucial, especially not in this form otherwise the end result would be catastrophic as it would just encourage even more people to waste his time...


    "As for everyone else, specifically those who are intending on staying in Red Sun, provided you don''t become the kind of person who the previous threat would be relevant to, I will do my utmost to keep all of you safe going forward. I don''t know what manner of incidents we''ll run into in the future but I will never compromise on your safety, that I promise you. I will make devising safety measures my utmost priority as soon as the journey begins so you needn''t worry about my commitment to this promise. Know that you are in very capable hands, between myself and Hans, so you can rest easy and be assured that the risk associated with this change to all of your lives will be minimal. I hope you''re all able to make the most out of the various benefits that will come with this change so, until the time for us to leave arrives, I think it would be wise for each of you to consider what it is exactly you''re looking to get out of this situation and pre-emptively act accordingly. Sort out whatever business needs to be sorted ahead of time and have a plan to succeed going forward for your own good. Things will be competitive at first, I can''t deny it, but once everything has fallen into place all of your positions will be cemented within this land and the chances of anyone who comes after you living a better life than you on this landmass will be slim. My preference for the early adopters of this new lifestyle, the people who will be the foundation of this entire plan, will remain eternally and I will take that into account whenever it becomes relevant.


    I look forward to working alongside you all to turn this landmass into, eventually, a mobile planet that we can call our impenetrable paradise of a home. I don''t exactly know how long it will be until it''s time to depart from this domain but I will tell you this without a shadow of a doubt; as soon as I return from my trip to Neo Gear, which is still a way aways for now, that will be when the starting pistol fires its blank. When I''ve decided to leave for Neo Gear, I will make an announcement via Hans and the C.O and that will be the final chance for anyone interested to come to Red Sun. if you are not on this landmass when it leaves, I cannot promise you that you will ever get to stand atop it ever again. Make whatever choice you think wisest but, for now, that''s all from me. Regardless of whether you join us on Red Sun or not I wish you all the best of luck in your cultivation journeys... Aside from Lex. Fuck Lex." Ares flipped Lex the bird which earned a few chuckled from the spectators. Ending things off with a light joke of sorts, although it wasn''t a joke really at all, was a good way to punctuate his speech and leave a lasting impression even if the speech as a whole was still pretty average. It wasn''t rousing nor was it completely dull, just run of the mill. Ares did have a better overall flow to the speech planned, and he would have given it a lot more oomph, but being mini meant it was probably not a good idea to be stubborn and stick to it. Rather than come across as energetic and youthful, bursting with vigour and talent, he would just look like a cocky and insufferable child who was overvaluing himself and trying to be smart. Ares had made the boring but smart choice and that was indicative of his mature mindset, mature enough to be in a leadership position without needing to fear some kind of uprising due to his poor decision making.


    Anyway, now that he''d given his speech, which was mostly a matter of duping Windsor more than anything else, it was time for him to step down and be done with this tournament for good. He only had a few more extra tasks to complete, and time to waste until his body returned to normal, and then it was Freeride Federation time! Ares was looking forward to it as his sense of adventure had dulled recently. Fighting all these human / human adjacent foes was great and all but there were wild monsters and treasures / resources waiting be fought / found. While Ares went over the preparations he''d need to make for the journey in his head, Enyo took charge and walked up to the slightly raised part of the platform to give her own speech before Mako could get there. Winners first! Not that that was why Enyo wanted to beat him to the punch, it was just because she wanted to add on a little extra to Ares'' threat from before and having Mako come up before her would ruin that as it would diminish the effectiveness of it. The pause between threats would make it seem like something tacked on at the end that they''d almost forgotten about rather than something serious and worth taking into consideration. Still, the severity of what Enyo was about to threaten everybody with ought to make up for the fact that Ares himself wasn''t saying it because he was repressing the memory.


    "SILENCE!" Enyo''s commanding voice quelled what remained of the idle chatter from discussions about Ares'' speech. "Let me be very clear to you all that I will be far less tolerant than Ares. You may look at this armour I don and mistakenly believe justice will be served politely and magnanimously irrespective of your crimes but I''ve had a change of heart as of late. While I certainly still possess Legion values at my core, I will no longer hesitate to punish people accordingly and torture or take lives if I deem it appropriate." Enyo raised her hand and a small spark appeared on the tip of her finger. The spark gently hovered into the air before growing wider and into the shape of a large rectangle in the sky. This was an evolution of the memory share art, Past-Present Polymerisation (a technical), that allowed Enyo to share a memory to a wider audience all at once by playing it on a big screen, almost like a drive through cinema... This sounded great but what was being played on the screen right now was utterly horrifying as it was a reconstruction of the Remmy event in which Blo Blo used her cleaver to chop up the young master''s you-know-what. The threat of a man having their thing enlarged and then ripped to shreds was definitely enough to make some people in the audience hurl while parents had to cover their children''s eyes. Long story short, although primarily aimed towards men, this threat turned out to be very effective... And yet Enyo still wasn''t finished...


    "Don''t think that being a woman will save you either because we''re more than happy to sever all of your fingers, enlarge them and sharpen the nails, and shove them deep up your..."


    "ALRIGHT! That''s enough thank you!" Ms Windsor interrupted Enyo because this level of crass verbal violence was going to ruin an otherwise good end to this tournament! Of all the people to speak like this why on earth was it the holy knightess in shining armour?! Perhaps the rumours about this woman being a degenerate were truer than they seemed...


    "Ahem." Though Enyo had been asked to stop, there was still a little more she wanted to talk about so she calmed herself down and begun speaking again in a more appropriate manner for the venue she was in. "I take it you understand the levity of the situation now? Go after Ares if you really must but if you come after me instead, don''t expect to get off the hook lightly. I''m not as lenient as he is so I recommend you respect our relationship and extinguish any pesky thoughts in your head about me that shouldn''t be there. The same is true of any women looking to take advantage of Ares, you won''t be spared either. Make peace with the fact that we are a couple, and you can''t have either of us, or we''ll drill it into you by force. To cap off this warning, I''d also like to remind you all that retribution to those who seek to cause trouble in Red Sun will be swift and brutal and this is doubly true in the early stages when everything is still relatively precarious. If you try to hamper the beginning of our journey you will not only fail but you will not live long enough to regret ever even trying. Make the wise choice and leave well enough alone or the full force of both Ares and I will come crashing down upon you, that is all."


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    The memory share earlier had gripped people by the balls, metaphorically speaking, and now Enyo had rounded up her threat and finished up nicely. This Legion member was not one to be messed with, that was made abundantly clear. There were some criminals who didn''t fear the paltry punishments dished out regularly by the Legions, even if they were caught red-handed, so they would openly defy them from time to time. There was no real way of dealing with people like this by adhering to Legion values and Enyo was coming to understand the shortcomings first hand with people like the young master in Remmy''s. Though she didn''t want to resort to brutality for first, and lighter, offenses, she was opening up to the idea that some people were better off dead or fearful for their very lives. Basically she was treating these people like wild monsters that couldn''t ever achieve anything resembling ''humanity'' or a ''conscience'' and that they were best put down like the unintelligent beasts they were. It wasn''t to the same degree as Blo Blo, who''d discarded such notions of pure and unfiltered ''justice'' a long time ago, but Enyo wasn''t as much of a stickler for it anymore as someone like Tyr was. She was the middle ground, basically, and could find compromise either way depending on the details of the situation. Less letter of the law and more spirit of the law. Impartiality was no longer a word she revered because there were things she actually cared about now, to put it simply. Did that mean she would discard objectivity entirely? No, not at all, and the justice side of her was still as obstinate and strict as it ever was, it''s just that whether or not you got that side of her, or the subjective ''I''m just going to kill you because you''re a threat to what I value most'' side, was dependent on the type of crime you committed, or attempted to, and who it was aimed at. It was important to make that distinction so that the crowd of spectators understood she was not a Legion that could be pleaded to with puppy eyes, and get a slap on the wrist punishment in return, otherwise they''d feel incentivised to target Red Sun specifically for being lax on such matters.


    Enyo stepped down and a confused but wary Mako stepped up. That memory of the poor young master was definitely not a pleasant watch but now every man in the audience had it burned into their memory for better or worse... That damn crazy woman Bellona looking so happy with herself, almost like she was having fun with the cleaver... The hell did Ares want to marry a devil spawn like that for?! Mako figured it was best not to ask and just go about doing his own thing while pretending he had nothing to do with these people. Mako stepped up the C.O''s mic, begrudgingly as he had no other means of raising his voice other than summoning is own mic (but that would look petty to the extreme), and coughed aloud much the same way Ares and Enyo did before him to start his speech. "Ahem!"... Although it fell completely flat because everyone was already listening anyway. Bad start, much? Well as long as he could steady himself from here it shouldn''t matter. Being a fundamental champion meant people would naturally be more lenient with him as strength mattered more than small fumbles like this. "I will be number one!"


    ....


    ....


    ....


    THAT''S IT?!


    The spectators were dumbfounded into silence and were still silently waiting on the off chance this idiot could actually be bothered to say anything else.


    Clap Clap


    Who the hell is clapping for this garbage?! The spectators all turned to face the culprit only to see mini Ares cackling to himself as he goaded Mako with his applause. The worst part of his clapping was that it wasn''t strictly supportive nor was it solely a taunt, it was roughly fifty fifty and that just pissed Mako off even more. The elf had been clearly trying to leave an impact with a simple declaration but it had just baffled everyone listening while Ares wasn''t even taking it seriously. Failure on all fronts! Mako ground his teeth at the stupid revenant, still clapping away, and was about to swear at the little bastard until he caught sight of a displeased Enyo. Did this woman have telepathy or something?! How the hell did she know he was about to pick a fight with the damn kid?! Mako backed off because the image of chopped wiener was still fresh in his memory and he didn''t want to have a similar fate befall him. It was better to just take the loss here on the chin and run away with his tail behind his legs and fully intact.


    As for Ares, he found this all particularly amusing but wasn''t actually trying to be a complete ass. Sure it was a hilarious moment to him, watching Mako fall flat on his face publicly, but the elf also deserved some credit for getting his ass handed to him so soundly and not backing down. It''s not like anyone else in the crowd had the gall to walk up to the podium, look Ares dead in the eye, and swear they would best him in the future. Only Mako really had the talent and the gumption to do it so good for him. What were they expecting of Mako anyway? It''s not like he had anything important to discuss as all he wanted to do was get this over with and go exploring for resources in Vraizon. He had no plans in a similar vein to that of Ares'' so, other than threats (which would pale in comparison to the ones that came before him), there was little else for him to speak about. Yes his ''speech'', if it could even really be called such a thing, was silly but it wasn''t terrible either considering how few options he even had. That was part of why Ares clapped, he figured Mako would walk away from this way less embarrassed if he was too busy feeling mad at Ares. Apathy was worse than anger so directing Mako''s attention towards one asshole instead of however many thousands of dead stares was probably for the best for him. Of course that''s not to say Ares'' intentions were pure, and he was doing this only out the goodness of his heart, as he never failed to get a kick out of seeing Mako get angsty over his antics. It was like... Good bullying? Ares nodded to himself as if he''d just completed a job well done before waving to the crowd and hopping aboard Enyo''s back.


    The tournament was now over, even if it ended on a rather strange note thanks to Mako''s lacklustre finish, but it was over none the less. Ares would no doubt see both Windsor and Mako again at some point but, for today, he could just chill back at home and celebrate his win with his family... Who were probably going to be more interested in teasing him in his miniature form than caring about the result of the tournament... Well whatever, relaxing was relaxing and messing around with the family, even at his own expense, was fine... NOT! How was Ares going to cook in peace with everyone jumping on him and keeping him pre-occupied?! It had only just occurred to him but he had no mana right now! He couldn''t access the Primordial Blade nor could he use the kitchen within it because it required even the faintest existence of mana / cultivation! He was going to have to cook the old fashioned way but was anyone going to let him? Like hell they were! Ares was going to have to convince Enyo to make some of her specialty for everyone while he was passed around like a toy. The issue here was that Enyo wanted to be involved in the mini Ares playtime so Ares would have to give her a reason to let go of him for today and cook... "Enyo..." Ares took a deep sigh... "... I will do literally anything you ask of me in this form once, and only once, if you are willing to cook for everyone today in my stead..."


    Enyo, who''d only taken a single step onto the barrier she''d summoned, paused on the spot as a flood of ideas filled her head. There were many things she wanted to try with mini Ares but knew he''d be reluctant to do because he wasn''t actually a child and likely didn''t want to be treated as such. She was treating him like her son right now but there were still limits but, now, he was telling her that, even if only once, she could ignore those limits and do whatever she wanted with him?! Though she didn''t want to cook, as it meant she''d be missing out on all the fun in the other room, she couldn''t bring herself to give up this rare opportunity! "Alright, deal accepted! Remember what you said, Ares, you better not back out when I decide what I want!"


    "I won''t... Even if I have a bad feeling about this in my gut..."


    "Good... Now young man, can you explain to me why you were playing around with the scythe in such an important match even after you said you wouldn''t?! I didn''t raise a liar!"


    "Eh?" Ares had completely forgotten that Enyo was going to chew him out for that but maybe it was for the best that it was happening while he was in mini form? Maybe he could get away with it? "Um, sorry?"


    Spank


    "Nope! Not good enough! You need to learn otherwise you won''t repent for your actions and will keep doing it over and over again! I know what kind of tiny devil you can be behind my back!" Enyo gave Ares the classic strict parent punishment and spanked his bottom with a barrier she''d materialised out of thin air. She would have done it by hand but, considering the fact that she herself actually really liked being spanked, for a very different reason, she thought it would be weird and opted not to do it with direct contact. This way it was actually a punishment for a misbehaving child and nothing perverse.


    Spank


    "Ow!" Mini Ares wriggled in Enyo''s grasp but couldn''t shake the gorilla strength that ran in the family. Not that it mattered as, without cultivation, there was zero chance of breaking free regardless. He just had to take the multiple barriers that were tapping him on his rear which were honestly more annoying than anything else. It was like some annoying child kept randomly pushing you in the arm when you weren''t paying attention and was frustrating not because it was painful, it wasn''t, but because it was obnoxious! "Come on! The scythe ended up working out anyway, didn''t it? I even got a lot better with it and can use it like a main weapon now! It was the right call!"


    "In hindsight!"


    Spank


    "And you said you wouldn''t use it!"


    Spank


    "Think about the treasures we could have lost out on if you''d messed up against the Genesis!"


    Spank


    Enyo sighed as she picked up mini Ares off her back and held him in front of her. He was rubbing his butt and had seemingly got the message... Not that it would stop him from doing stuff like this again, nothing ever would and Enyo was at least partially aware of that even if it irked her to no end. She''d married an idiot! A very lovable idiot though, and one that had just worked hard for a well earned victory. "Congratulations on your win Ares." Enyo held the tyke up and gave him a kiss on the forehead before hugging him close to her chest as she brought him back up to the rest of the family. Sure he pulled out the scythe but he''d performed admirably and it was worth praising him for his success every now and then. Between Mako and Windsor, Ares had come away from today having done a lot for the sect, Red Sun, and the team members who stood to gain off his performance, and so a small gesture of appreciation was in the cards. Plus it made Ares happy as he had a small smile on his face, which was very cute in his mini form, so it was definitely worth doing. For today at least, he could enjoy his efforts being celebrated as they rightfully should without Enyo nagging him to death over something inconsequential.

 Chapter 291: A Quiet End to the Day

    Enyo brought mini Ares up to the top floor of the coliseum where he was once again instantly snatched away by Calla who went back to taking more pictures. She was also occasionally shoving her cub into the other matriarch''s arms to take pictures with Ares'' ''aunties'' because this was also a tradition she''d upheld with every other child. Many of the matriarchs struggled to muster a smile considering what this punk''s clone had been putting them through in the pagoda but, for what it was worth, mini Ares was decently cute and quiet enough to pretend it was someone else entirely, making the whole process more bearable provided he didn''t open his mouth. Luckily mini Ares must have found this incredibly awkward as well so he was quietly grinning and bearing it like the matriarchs. Ares thought he might be spared after this was all over but next up were his brothers and sisters who he was stood in front of, by Calla, one by one... Up until it came to Venus! No way no how was Ares going to stand in front of this woman! Calla could see the reluctance in Ares and thought about the problem for a brief moment before coming up with a plan. She passed the camera to Rhea and dashed over to Venus while placing Ares in front of her. Calla then stood by Venus while holding the troublemaker''s hands behind her back with her tail hidden out of the picture. It didn''t stop Venus from very nearly drooling on Ares'' head, and looking at him in a way that could only be described as creepy and salacious, but as long as Ares didn''t look behind him or take a step back he would be safe! The second the flash of light indicated the picture was taken Ares bolted for the hills but this turned out to be a mistake as he ran right into the ''loving'' arms of Blo Blo who promptly gave him a noogie. As if that wasn''t bad enough, she then held him over the edge of the coliseum, dangling him above the arena with an evil grin. Ares wasn''t too fussed about this because he knew she wouldn''t let go and she had her magic to catch him even if she did, it was an empty threat! Plus Calla would save him anyway so he defiantly snorted at Bellona who''s right eye twitched in indignation that this mini shmuck had shown her up.


    "Alright brat, let''s see if you can worm your way out of this then!" Bellona wrestled with mini Ares and immediately put him in a bind, pinning him to the floor with his small arms held in place behind his back. "Who''s the prettiest of them all?" Bellona poked Ares head as she waited for an answer she liked.


    "You!" Ares cried. "You are the prettiest gorilla of them all!"


    Bellona glared down at the defiant child with a menacing smile as she cracked her knuckles. She reached out towards Ares but then stopped and sighed. "I would mess with you more but I think you did well out there in the arena today. I got to see that cool explosion too so I''ll let you off the hook." Bellona patted Ares head and got off him as she also gave him some congratulations for winning like Enyo had done earlier. Ares appreciated it so he gave Blo Blo''s leg a hug which took her by surprise and brought out a grin on her face because mini Ares could be adorable if he put his mind to it. Unfortunately for Ares that just made her want to bully him much like how he did to her for the exact same reason. Fortunately for Ares though, he was swooped up by Enyo who wanted to play around with him for as long as she could before they made it home and she had to start cooking. Until then, he was hers! She would fight off the fluffy matriarch if need be!


    The only person Enyo would share mini Ares with right now was Appa who''d been floating around trying to get a good look at the new Ares. Him being the same height as it, give or take, made it feel happy to have an equally sized friend that Appa could look in the eye without having to tilt its neck upwards. Before Enyo and co went back home, she did put mini Ares in front of Appa who wasted no time in tackling him with a full body hug, smushing Ares under what felt like a giant marshmallow monster. Appa giggled gleefully and wagged its tail because it found being bigger than its dad, even if only by a bit, funny. Actually, on that note, Appa had grown a tad. If this had happened back when Ares first met it then Appa would have still been smaller than mini Ares by a small margin. Ares didn''t know if it was the Snappas he was feeding it or if shades just naturally grew like this but Appa was definitely increasing in size. It would probably stop soon, as damned shades were never known to be huge or anything, but it was still heart-warming seeing his daughter grow up by an inch or so every now and then. Appa was also maturing a bit, as much as a happy go lucky shade can anyway, so he was being frozen less and less as time went on... Now, that being said...


    Crackle


    ... This should have been an obvious outcome from the start. Mini popsicle! Appa felt like this had to be done at least once just to get a good look at tiny, frozen Ares. Unlike the usual support she received form Enyo, however, the shade was picked up by its mother and given a soft boop on the face as Enyo reprimanded it for not playing nice with its new little brother. Appa looked a bit gloomy after being told off for the first time but it unfroze Ares, apologised like a good shade, and then left its glum self behind all but instantly. Appa was basically happiness incarnate so it being upset for more than ten seconds was essentially impossible and that time limit was already up. Appa held out its rope to Ares so they could walk home merrily, hand in hand together. Though Enyo wanted to carry mini Ares this was also sweet enough to let happen instead and so she gave up on holding him for now to let Appa have some fun. It seemed like nobody else felt the need to disturb this tranquillity either so that was how Ares managed to walk home without being smothered twenty four seven and in moderate peace. Moderate because Calla was still taking pictures and that was simply unavoidable. Also a few civilians who hadn''t been to the coliseum were flabbergasted by tiny Ares, especially those that already knew him, so he got a lot of stares from onlookers.


    Perhaps, for the first time ever, Ares had been getting more attention than Enyo when walking around town. It was embarrassing! He''d already been a child once on these streets and he didn''t need to do it again! Although it did feel somewhat nostalgic and he felt the desire to run around in the alleyways for old time''s sakes welling up within him on occasion. He was even tempted to go look for Hans just to see the look on his face. Ah well, he''d see Hans eventually when he went to go check up on Windsor and make sure everything was progressing smoothly on that side of things. For now, Ares really was tired. He''d knackered himself out during the fight and, although his body was ok to an extent, because he fought inside a Training Field, it could never fully mitigate the loss of stamina and so extreme training could still leave you feeling partially exhausted. It was also somewhat person dependent and one person might not feel as tired compared to another after long sessions just because the way this magic interacted with people was weird. Did this happen because they had high magic resistance and so the benefits of the Training Field, in a twist of fate, didn''t affect them? Was it because of affiliations to the runemancy pillar? Was it due to how strong a person was? Again, in these lower domains at least, Training Field wasn''t very well understood. It was something invented in a higher realm that became prevalent even in the dregs of society long before the Primordial barrier separated these domains from the outside world. They still had the art floating around but nobody truly comprehended its inner workings perfectly. Thankfuly it was an easy art to mess around with and include variables / alterations if you possesed even basic runemancy knowledge so it was clearly well designed and whoever invented it deserved some serious praise. Unfortunately, however, one thing weaker Training Fields couldn''t do at a base level was restore mental tiredness at all. It didn''t matter if you were the kind of person who''d regain some of their physical stamina, this was just out of the cards. So yes, Ares wasn''t physically exhausted, though his body definitely felt a bit cumbersome, but he was feeling sleepy and wanted to rest his brain. It had done exceptionally today both in and out of combat so he wanted to eat and then give it a break. He did promise it fatty tuna but that was best left for the Freeride where they would be guaranteed to have heaps of the stuff fresh.


    Anyway, that aside, everyone eventually made it back to the sect, although a large majority of the group had left to go to their respective accommodations, so now it was just Ares'' family who where hanging around. He did feel bad for Enyo, who was going to be making food for all of them, but it seemed she was saved by the bell as everyone other than Fate, Sadie, and Calla were seemingly busy with this and that. They had preparations to make before leaving Red Sun and so Scar and Skyzo were heading off to do precisely that. They were bringing Verv and Venus along with them, by the scruff of their necks if they had to, because there was a very high chance they would cause trouble at Ares'' house if left to their own devices.


    Verv was excited after seeing the fight earlier but mini Ares was not in a position to combat him and Verv would not care about that detail in the slightest. Venus... Did not have to be explained so she was hauled away with tears in her eyes. If it weren''t for the fact that there was a playground nearby for her to take out her sadness on she would have fought harder to remain here and raised a bigger stink than she currently was about this whole mess. Regardless, this meant that Enyo only had to cook for three extra people, Calla, Sadie, and Fate, as the matriarchs had also skedaddled. They had no problem with mini Ares but they certainly had a problem with Calla who was being excessively proud of her cute cub and would keep forcing him onto them for pictures and what not. Had Ares actually been a child, and not just a grown man larping as one due to events beyond his control, then maybe they would have been fine with it but it just felt weird to them. It''s not like they couldn''t understand where Calla was coming from it''s just that Ares wasn''t their child. If Enyo had shrunk back down to size, for example, then you can bet Rhea would be acting very similarly right now. As that wasn''t the case, they scarpered as soon as they were able to and wished Ares the best of luck in his future endeavours. He did try begging them to take him with them but they completely ignored him because that was a death wish as Calla would hunt them down and poison them until they were like twitching insects buried in the mud and frothing at the mouth for daring to steal her baby. Calla had been in a good mood, and highly tolerant as of late, but Calla was still Calla deep down and better left well enough alone at times like this. No point poking the sleeping bear!


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    In short, that left Calla, Sadie and Fate... The latter of which seemed to be smugly gloating to Ares with a wide and haughty smirk every time they crossed eyes. She even occasionally directed a few exaggerated Hmphs at him like the bratty munchkin she was... Why this boastful child was being sassy now, and seemed to think she was in control because her height was no longer the shortest around, was anyone''s guess but she seemed to be enjoying this rare win and so Ares let her have it. Ah the things a kinder older brother has to do for the knee-high gremlin in the family. Watching her puff up her chest with misplaced pride was a good laugh for Ares so he made no effort to spoil her fun and didn''t get argumentative with her. His passivity did lead to her ego swelling a bit but that only made her look sillier as she pompously swept her hair around with baseless arrogance so no harm no foul.


    The group headed back to the house and spent the rest of the day relaxing. Nothing of note happened other than Leo getting quite a shock at the sight of mini Ares. Laughter ensued and Ares felt like wrangling this dumb creature''s neck but, alas, Leo was currently stronger than him by a wide margin and so the stupid tiger just flew circles around him while pelting Ares with chuckles. Thankfully Leo''s attention was diverted elsewhere when Charity showed up with Gladius as they were curious about the results of the tournament. They weren''t much interested in watching it live and would rather just do their own thing so they swung by to see if Ares had won or not. They were already convinced he would, as a team with him and Enyo was basically unbeatable at the outer court level, so they weren''t surprised that it turned out to be as such... But they were caught off guard by mini Ares... Realistically who wouldn''t be? If you spoke to someone one day and they were less than half their heigh the next time you spoke to them you''d probably have a whole host of questions too! Thankfully it didn''t take much explaining as the duo were familiar enough with revenants to get the gist of things quickly. After that they went back to ''debating'' with Leo... Although that was mostly Charity and Leo having an insult hurling competition with one another. There was no such thing as a ''winner'' in this fight and they both came out of it losers by the end of their spat. If anything, only Gladius had really won as he was wise enough not to join in... Although he was trying to sway Sadie into training with him again... Apparently Gladius had been training pretty much non-stop since his loss back during the regionals and he''d made some considerable improvements. He was already the best spearman around and that was likely doubly true now. Ares figured it would be wise to train with him when it came time to developing his own spearmanship but, right now anyway, he was more interested in the scythe so that took priority.


    As for Sadie, she wasn''t willing to train today because she wanted to rest up and then go hard in the paint tomorrow. She was inspired to further improve herself after watching Dominus and so she wanted to be in tip top shape when she went all out. Her and Rox as he too seemed to want to practice some stuff here and there. It would likely wind up being a Gladius, Rox, and Sadie free for all which was lucky for Gladius as he stood to gain by training with Dominus'' pupils. Sadie did at least partially want to drag Ares into the Training Field, because him being weak right now made him easy prey and she wanted payback, but with Calla around that was fruitless and would backfire horrendously so she wisely avoided trying such a stunt.


    Regarding everyone else''s plans going forward, Ares had the most but it was all stuff that could be done in the blink of an eye while he went through his list. Things like collecting his pay-out from the betting brothers, finishing the Backfire Bindings'' pressurising, and so on so forth. Really the thing he wanted to do that would take the longest was talking to the sect elders about his plans going forward with Red Sun as this involved them too. They would have found out through hearsay but Ares had never spoken to them directly about it and so, via Yulo, Ares would have a massive gathering to discuss it. That and watching the core level of the international tournament come to a close was something he wanted to go and do because Eagerton and Edgerton were both competing on the same team. It was likely they''d decimate the competition, as they were both prodigious and were strong enough to be the aces of their major clan, but Ares wanted to see it as there was a good chance they''d be sticking around in the sect even after Ares took control of it. More powerful people was always a welcome sight but he still wanted to get a rough grasp of how strong they were compared to the average cultivator at their level.


    But that was all for another day as it was getting late and everyone was getting comfortable in their beds. Daily life, filled with menial tasks, would resume tomorrow. That''s not to say it was all work no play, however, as Ares, Aejaz, and Enyo would be checking out the scrolls they received as prizes and testing out their respective treasures... Aside from Ares who didn''t get one... Oh well, he could play with Enyo and Aejaz'' as he''d likely have recovered some mana by the time he woke up. Not much but enough to throw some into the treasures and activate them at least. More than anything, though, Ares was curious to see what kind of technical he would get from the scroll as he had high hopes. It''s not like he needed anything specific but he wouldn''t complain if he got something good! Thinking happy thoughts about receiving some spectacular technical were keeping him afloat right now as he gingerly hopped into the bed while facing mischief incarnate Blo Blo herself. This woman did not have good intentions! What was it gonna be this time? A wedgie? Was she going to sneak him out of the bedroom at night and give him a swirlie in the bathroom?... The cleaver? Ares shook his tiny head and prayed Blo Blo would be merciful as he lay down in his usual middle spot. Sometimes Enyo or Bellona took the spot but, given the current circumstance, there was no way he wouldn''t be the centre of attention for the next month. The only possible way for Ares to escape this was to provoke Enyo into being greedy and hugging him off to the side while she lay in the middle, effectively granting her sole access to mini Ares. This was selfish but Ares could convince her to do it if Bellona kept trying to bully him before he went to sleep every day as then there would be a valid excuse! Ares held his breath as Blo Blo''s ominous hands slowly reached out towards him. They were drawing ever closer and her nails were looking especially sharp today for some reason.


    Slap


    Enyo! Heroine to the rescue! Enyo had bat away Bellona''s wrists and was glaring at her from behind mini Ares. He''d been saved by the bell!... From the belle Bell-ona! Mini Ares stuck his tongue out at Blo Blo, revelling in his victory, but she quickly swiped her hand towards him and caught his tongue between her fingers. She gave him a few light tugs as he made funny noises trying to regain control of his tongue. Enyo allowed this to happen because mini Ares deserved it for taunting in the first place. If he was innocent, she would protect him. If not, he could figure it out himself! Like this the trio played around for a while before going to sleep with mini Ares being hugged from both sides. He was squashed yet again but, as per usual, there was no way out so he just resigned himself to this fate... Although he seriously had to hope Blo Blo wouldn''t start headbutting him in her sleep like she occasionally did. It would hurt! Ares didn''t have his cultivation base anymore! Thankfully Blo Blo seemed to be fast asleep and wasn''t stirring at all. With his worries rendered moot, Ares was finally able to catch some shut eye. Perhaps due to his current bodily state, Ares had some rough dreams about his time back in the Chen clan that were rather immersive. Luckily he was only woken up by them the following morning after getting his forty winks so it was mostly irrelevant. Not pleasant by any stretch of the imagination but also not an issue. It would go away soon enough as he became accustomed to his short self. Ares had opened his eyes but, much to his dismay, he''d been abandoned! Enyo was gone and only Blo Blo was left, grinning at him with an evil smile!


    "Hehehehe, I told Enyo I''d be good and that she could leave you with me. How easily the words ''I won''t bully him'' flowed from my deceitful mouth!" Bellona wriggled closer on the bed and caught Ares before he could run away. A good deal of cheek pinching ensued while Bellona happily giggled to herself as mini Ares pouted. She was only fully satisfied after picking him up and tossing him into the air and catching him a few times. Ares was too dizzy to walk straight afterwards and walked headfirst into a door which led to a fit of laughter from Bellona who was sprawled across the bed and rolling around on it. Ares let the woman have her fun as he left the room to go look for his protector and complain about her carelessness! Or, well, he would have but he found Enyo making lunch for everyone even though he could have done it himself today. She was being considerate, and he appreciated it... But why was it toasted pitas again?! Enyo was never going to learn to make anything else, was she?... Well, to be fair, she was really good at it so why not just revert to the playbook every time? At this rate she might even become the best pita chef of all time, oddly specific though that achievement was. She seemed to be having fun cooking it too so Ares left her to it without disturbing her... Although he still planned on ratting out Blo Blo! He was going to tell on her real good! Ares sighed as he sat on the couch next to Aejaz who was still having the hardest time of everyone coming to terms with mini Ares. He really didn''t know how to treat his small big brother and was at a loss so, instead of trying and failing, he simply went back to reading his book without a care in the world. Ares would have flicked an Echo at him or something but he didn''t yet have enough mana for that. His cultivation was showing signs of life but he was still only in the very early stages right now. There was nothing for Ares to really do so he just plopped Appa on his lap, and hugged it from behind like it was a giant pillow, while he waited for lunch. After that, and after selling Bellona down the river she herself had flooded, it would be time to open up the scrolls and see what magic everyone got!

 Chapter 292: Gacha Scrolls

    Everyone ate, Enyo scolded her sister, and things had settled down in the household with everybody taking a seat in a circle while the scrolls were brought out. Ares was currently seated on Blo Blo''s lap as she was being forced to look after him properly for once as punishment. Ares couldn''t help but feel this was like handing over a piece of garbage to a road sweeper and expecting it to treat the rubbish gently but, alas, Enyo''s decision was final and there was nothing for it. Bellona seemed to be taking her responsibilities somewhat seriously at least and wasn''t in the mood to toy around with mini Ares anymore. Maybe she was actually interested in the scrolls or maybe Enyo had threatened her sufficiently in one way or another but, regardless of the truth behind the matter, Bellona seemed to have mellowed out on the bullying Ares front for now... That or she knew that if she pushed around mini Ares he would be snatched away and he could be kinda cute sometimes so she wanted to keep holding him. Calla was here and motioning towards her cub with her outstretched arms, almost as if she was trying to will Ares to float on over to her by channelling her mental powers. It was likely this was also partly Bellona''s way of messing with Calla, if anything, and so she was on best behaviour to keep Ares away from the fluffy matriarch. It could be any of these things, or maybe even a bit of all of them, but regardless it looked like Ares was going to be stuck in her muscly arms for the foreseeable future.


    Ares dug into his Primordial Blade and pulled out the scroll, placing the rolled up mystery treasure trove on his lap. Now that he had some cultivation he could access the blade and retrieve it on his own. In hindsight, putting it in there for safekeeping was a silly mistake and he should have had Enyo put it in her spatial ring instead. The only reason Ares was able to put it in there is because Enyo had channelled some mana in his direction at the time. He figured it was best to keep the scroll safe but really it''s not like Enyo wouldn''t have been able to keep it safe either. This wasn''t Aejaz he was handing it to so it would have been in good hands... Speaking of which, Aejaz had to fidget around and waste about five minutes looking for the scroll in his ring... This guy''s spatial ring must have been cluttered to high hell with pointless books and stolen objects... This was why Ares had a prejudice against relying on other people''s spatial rings, it all originated with this guy! So many times when they were younger had Ares given this doofus something to hold onto temporarily only to lose it for nearly a day or two straight before it was finally found again... Ares was going to have to remind himself that not everybody was as incompetent as Aejaz in this regard and he could actually trust someone like Enyo or Bellona with his belongings!


    Anyhow, Ares, Enyo, and Aejaz all had their scrolls out and ready to open. It seemed like it was going to be a one by one affair and Enyo was starting things off. She was the only one here that didn''t get a technical specifically so that sort of implied her new magic was going to be the strongest overall. Or at least that was the expectation, anyhow, as closed-pillar specific scrolls were usually rarer than technicals and better on average as a result. She unravelled the scroll and stared deep into the contents which spiralled off the page and drilled into her forehead with a flash of bright white light. After giving her a few seconds to digest the information with her eyes closed, Ares broke the silence with the burning question on everyone''s mind.


    "Whaddya got? Anything good or no? If no, I''ll go pick a fight with the C.O!" Ares was half serious about this as Windsor was still in town and he could try bartering with her for something better. If it got out that the winners of the tournament had been duped and their scrolls, that had been intentionally picked (for the winners at least, not the runner-ups), were terrible, dog-water tier, then that would be catastrophic for them. Cheapskates! People would spit on the metalworkers creating the C.O building in the middle of town for weeks to come. Ares wasn''t afraid to push the C.O around because they stood to gain the most out of everyone who was going to be riding along on this landmass when it finally took off. The only other group who was gaining like them was the sect but that was because Ares would have direct control over it so they''d reap all the major rewards. The C.O would gain a significant chunk of power and maintain, mostly, freedom of operation so Ares was going to make them suffer losses here and there without any remorse! That being said, it seemed like they hadn''t skimped out at all as Enyo shook her head in the negative to Ares asking if he should hassle the C.O. She finally opened her eyes and summoned a barrier that had a strange white tinge to it. The white tinge looked like tiny pieces of flickering flames but that was strange because Enyo''s holy fire typically never applied to her barriers... Was this something more than an art? She hadn''t cast anything so it was looking like this would actually turn out to be a mutation!


    Scrolls contained arts but, occasionally, they could contain parts of cultivation manuals that were outside the norm. Much like how Allie found a dedication cultivation manual that was great for alchemy, the phoenix one from the Vargaraad tomb, there existed plenty for other pillars too. Rarely, but not never, a cultivator would be willing to share parts of these manuals via scrolls. it wouldn''t affect the reader''s cultivation type, forcing them onto dedication or anything, but part of the benefits the new cultivation method brought about could be shared in small doses. In other words, there existed a holy pillar cultivation manual that someone took a small chunk of and copied onto this scroll. Why? Maybe they wanted to sell the manual in full and gave out a taster to prove it existed but the scroll got lost along the way somewhere and ended up in the C.O''s hands. Maybe they sold it in auction and the C.O found it. Honestly, who knows or cares?! This was a major get regardless! At the bare minimum, whatever this cultivation manual segment did for Enyo, her holy pillar magic, all of it, seemed to come pre-attached with holy fire now. If Ares had to guess, the cultivation manual did this but also additionally brought a bunch of benefits that targeted and altered the holy fire to make it more impactful. The manual would make the holy fire ever present no matter what the cultivator did and then mutate it to be extremely powerful which was a neat way of taking the pillar to new heights. In short, it was a damn good cultivation manual the scroll maker possessed and for Enyo to get even a fraction of it was going to make her even more ridiculously powerful than she already was... The only question now was, what extra effect did she get from the scroll? The ever present flames were one thing but, based on Ares'' deduction, it should just be the starting point. There should be a little more to this display and he wanted to know what because the C.O were clearly being very generous here.


    Enyo floated the barrier over to Ares and curved it into the shape of an arm bracer that fit snugly on his kiddy-sized arm. The fire burnt a little but Ares ignored the pain because he wanted to understand whatever it was Enyo was trying to show him. If she was stunned silent and had to demonstrate it, probably because she couldn''t believe it herself, then Ares couldn''t care less about a bit of heat on his skin! It barely took Ares even a second to figure out what he was looking for because, ironically, his current child predicament gave it away instantly. The fire was purging mana! Enyo had a mana burning holy fire that slowly drained away the victim''s mana reserves whenever they were in contact with her holy fire! Ares had figured this out fast because his low cultivation base meant his mana reserves disappeared on the spot as soon as he touched the flames...


    This was stupid...


    Enyo had actually gotten even more powerful and not by a small margin either. It might not have been obvious at a glance but this was a HUGE deal for two reasons. First, Enyo having easy access to the holy pillar buffs just from summoning her barriers meant she didn''t have to waste time using other arts, or standing in any specific spot, to take advantage of them. The one time she''d really made much use of them, as far as Ares could remember, was back during her fight with the Lighter Duo and, even then, it was only for a short while as she ran along the fire trail that her Aletheia left behind. Not only did she have to use Aletheia, when there were probably more important things for her to be doing in a fight with her phenomenal barriers, but having to walk along the specified path to have her holy buffs be active was annoying. Like this, she could just quickly summon a barrier around herself whenever and, hey presto, holy buffs have been activated on the spot! She could even create armour out of her barriers and become some super woman who was buffed to high heaven and impossibly strong in close quarters combat, sort of mimicking Ares'' enhancement in a roundabout way. Enyo''s control over pressure was abysmal but she had a lofty amount of it so if she stuck it in her buffing barriers and covered herself in them instead... Wasn''t that basically holy enhancement? She didn''t have a bloodline that enabled it in the truest sense, like Ares'' annihilation enhancement, but this was honestly just as scary and Enyo was rapidly reaching fundamental champion calibre... Just when Aejaz finally managed to catch up to her she went and pushed herself even further with this incredible find. Plus it didn''t end there as, second of all, the mana burn synergised perfectly with her new treasure. She could absorb mana from destroyed magic but could also destroy mana with magic! Beating her in a drawn out fight was now literally impossible as she regained mana while you were losing yours by the droves.


    Seriously.. What had Enyo become?! She was defying the limits of an ordinary human big time here as she was outdoing even famous historical cultivation experts by a wide margin. If her talents could be seen in the outer world, outside the Blade barrier, there would be havoc as people tried to recruit her left and right. She was the next big thing and would likely go on to even dethrone Ayane and Davey at this rate. Her strength made no sense at this point and everything about her was bizarre... And none of this had even touched on her pleasure affiliation yet! That was still mostly unexplored territory... Spooky woman! Was Enyo just going to be his most powerful wife forever going forward? He felt a little sorry for Blo Blo because she''d been complaining about this recently and now... Now Enyo had gotten even more out of hand again! If only Blo Blo knew what she''d become in the future then maybe she''d feel better right now but, regrettably, she did not and was taking it out on Ares by tugging on the back of his hair in indignation. She wanted a cool power up too! This was bullshit! Ares patted her leg and that seemed to calm her down a bit... Poor jealous Blo Blo. At this rate, Enyo had to be more fearful of the cleaver than Ares did! Still, she''d have her time in the spotlight one day, she was convinced of it and so she dropped the matter without spoiling everyone''s fun at discovering Enyo''s new potential. Bellona wasn''t so petty that she would be openly envious of her sister and get actually mad about any of it. She was happy for her, if anything, as it made the family stronger overall and that was always a positive regardless of what form it came in.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Ms Perfect over here adding yet another tool to her already expansive skill set..." Mini Ares chimed in with his thoughts on the matter but, if anything, he was still underselling Enyo''s non-sensical status. She had impeccable defence thanks to the barriers, enduring longevity thanks to the new treasure, punishing compliance to play her game thanks to the invisible timer her mana burn put opponents on, and deadly offense thanks to her immaculate control over her barriers shapes. Ares had no idea how a regular cultivator was supposed to beat Enyo and he wasn''t even sure if it could be done. There was just no avenue to wear her down or survive her pressurised barrier onslaught. Hell she was so powerful now that she might actually even be able to win one out of ten matches against Mako and that was truly a frightening thought. Under no circumstances should someone be able to beat a fundamental champion if their cultivation bases are close enough to one another. There would have to be a myriad reasons why the champion in question was drastically underperforming for such a thing to ever even be remotely possible. Was Enyo this daunting a cultivator because of her natural talents or because of her past as a real Goddess? It was impossible to tell but it was inarguable that she was a cut above the rest. Now it was fundamental champion > whatever the hell Enyo is > Aejaz with mimicked fundamental magic > prodigy > regular cultivator. Even if you averaged out a God''s cultivation to be fair comparatively to Enyo''s they would still get the floor wiped with them as things stood currently. They had millenniums worth of cultivation resource absorption, body tempering, pressure practice, and magic development and yet winning against this freak of nature woman would be an uphill battle... Enyo was not normal!


    What was perhaps the most confusing aspect of all of this was how much the C.O was willing to give away. Sure they recognised Enyo''s talents and had to reward her accordingly, as was per tradition, but even this was a little much. After having received the Decompiler Enyo would never complain if they''d gone the cheap route with the scroll, not that she''d have even known about it as there was no way for her to have knowledge of everything in the C.O''s possession anyway. The C.O could have very easily gotten away with not handing out this calibre of prize as everything Ares had seen thus far was costing them a small fortune. This was not normally how they operated so it was abundantly clear that they were trying to write their names down in everyone''s good books. Their primary target was likely Ares, and so getting to him through Aejaz and Enyo was part of their strategy, but to go this far? If everything that was happening during the tournament, involving the pagoda stuff, was being recorded and sent to the strategist of the round then this particular venerable was really placing a lot of emphasis on maintaining a functioning and long lasting relationship with Ares.


    Yulo could attest to how insufferable, underhanded, and annoying the C.O were on a regular basis but Ares'' treatment was generous if nothing else. They weren''t pressuring him to join them, they hadn''t even asked as of yet, and they were dropping rare rewards on his head like nothing... It was suspicious. Highly suspicious. Why invest so heavily into someone who''d already openly stated they weren''t hanging around in this place forever? What did they stand to gain and what was the strategist playing at? Ares had a gut feeling he would come to understand in due time but, for right now at least, he had to just dance along in the hands of this unknown foe..? Maybe a foe? Maybe a friend? If they were trying to be openly kind then the backstab would have to be devastating to make up for their losses so perhaps that wasn''t what they were after... Ares must have been looking at this from the wrong angle but he didn''t have enough info to go on right now. Then again, nobody knew exactly what the strategist of the round was ever thinking, Their head wasn''t screwed on properly and their brain worked in mysterious ways as a result. Hell, if Windsor had come back without being entrapped in Red Sun by Ares then the strategist would have actually sent her back regardless. If anything, things were going incredibly smoothly from this odd person''s point of view. They weren''t done intervening in matters quite yet but they needed to wait for a perfect opportunity; one that, if her guess was correct, might even happen sooner rather than later. It was a well known fact that Ares was headed to Xasca via the Freeride Federation and so the chances of things going the strategist''s way were high. Would Ares fall into the bait or would he spot it and take advantage? The result of such a question was more massive than he knew, and the strategist was banking some pretty major decisions off of the result of this one trick up her sleeve but, hey, she had a propensity for going all in like this so it wasn''t too surprising.


    Unknowable goals of unknown people aside, it was now Aejaz'' turn to open up his scroll and display his new technical to everyone present. As the scrolls were already confirmed to be technicals there would be no more pleasant surprises like with what happened to Enyo so everyone''s expectations were tempered now that the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me was no longer in play... In this household anyway, it was still entirely possible that Li Li and Esme also received something equivalent. Unlikely though as Enyo and Aejaz were the ones closely related to Ares and so they would be the main beneficiaries of nepotism. Aejaz rubbed his hands together, picked up the scroll, and opened it as he stared at the writings left behind by the creator. Though it wasn''t particularly relevant, as it always varied depending on many factors, the writing on the scroll slithered into Aejaz'' eyes instead of drilling into his head like Enyo''s had.


    "Odds On Me..."


    Aejaz chanted the name of his new art and... Nothing happened! Whatever had changed, it clearly wasn''t apparent just by staring at Aejaz'' pretty boy face. Aejaz seemed to mull over some stuff as if he was deep in thought before nodding to himself and seemingly coming to the conclusion that ''this art is good. Not great but decent enough and helpful'' based on his facial expressions. Ares knew this guy well enough to pinpoint each and every change so he already had a feel for how much Aejaz appreciated the art even if he still didn''t know what it did. That problem was resolved, however, when Aejaz looked up at everyone and explained.


    "I can''t say it isn''t a simple art. Basically it just raises the chances of my magic connecting with an opponent and being ''successful''. I don''t really know what sort of implications that last part has on a broader scale but, ultimately, this means my thievery magic will be even harder to block, even if the opponent is aware of me, provided I use this first. It pairs well with the binocular treasure too as missing once could alert the target and hitting them with my magic on the first try could be finnicky at longer ranges. This will alleviate that issue considerably so, yeah, it''s a fantastic magic, just a bit odd. I don''t know why it needs to specify both ''hitting an opponent'' as well as ''being successful''... I would have thought those two things were one in the same? I''ve never heard of any kind of dud magic that can hit an opponent and not do anything but maybe it exists? Either way, not something I really have to worry about as the first half of the art is what''s relevant to me. So yeah, I''m happy with it... Although I still want some attack magic or offensive based treasures..." Although Aejaz was complaining about his lack of aggressive means, which was a valid concern to some extent as long as you ignored his access to fundamental magic, this was a good art. It upped reliability which was an important factor that often went overlooked. An attack that could instantly kill your opponent was great and all but if it only hit one in a billion times, and it was the only art you knew, then you would still almost definitely lose to one guy with a painful art that had a 100% hit rate... Unless he got extremely lucky but the point still remained that one was consistently way better than the other! Ares couldn''t help but agree with his brother, though, that the wording of the art was strange... Not that he or Aejaz could possibly know that this art would be one of the key ingredients to Aejaz'' magic spiralling wildly out of control and bringing him back up to a level that could match, or even sometimes dwarf, Enyo... But that was a long way away yet and not something to be concerned about right now. For now its current uses were more than enough to see Aejaz through whatever troubles came his way.


    Two for two! Two great scrolls thus far meant Ares was feeling confident. He didn''t know what his own scroll had in store for him but surely the C.O hadn''t gone all out in punishing him and gimped him with this prize too?! That would be too cruel! Showing him all the cool stuff everyone else got and then dumping some kind of technical on him that makes a farting noise, or something equally stupid, would be miserable! Ares was a child right now and that meant he was allowed to cry you know?! He would seriously do it and make everyone feel bad! He had the power!.. Although he really shouldn''t... Calla would go on a rampage and obliterate the C.O... Though, on the bright side, Ares could then loot the remainder of the stuff in the warehouse... No! With great power comes great responsibility! Though Ares'' inner revenant was cackling at the thought of it all, Ares wasn''t evil enough to do something so mean and heartless for his own selfish amusement! Besides, he had a gut feeling the scroll wouldn''t be bad. He didn''t know if it would be at the same level as Enyo or Aejaz'', as they''d both received something that was guaranteed to be great for them, but it wouldn''t be unusable. That was Ares'' guess so picked up the scroll and unfurled it just like the other two before him. He went through the hoopla of the letters jumping off the fabric, and curling into him before vanishing just like everyone else, but he was the first person to come away from this experience with a frown, He let out a loud sigh and bemoaned his fate.


    "Of course... Why am I even surprised this is what I get?"


    Ares clearly wasn''t too happy with the result but he didn''t seem angry either, just tired and accepting. Everyone else was waiting for him to show off his new magic but nothing ever came. There was an assumption in everyone''s mind that he really did get nothing of value but that wasn''t entirely true... Ares did get something, it was just a more complicated matter in regards to being able to use the thing he just got properly. He gave a rather succinct explanation to the confused crowd that didn''t necessarily answer all their questions but gave them a good enough idea of what was going on.


    "Basically, the art I was given has been split into five parts and this was one one of them..."


    Poor poor Ares. All he wanted out of his rewards was a new toy and he got ''nothing''! Santa had given him coal for Christmas but, on the bright side, at least this could potentially be amazing if he found the other pieces!... Until then, though, he''d been duped pretty hard... Delayed gratification? That was one way of looking at things that helped get Ares through this!

 Chapter 293: Yulo Is Never Late, nor Is He Early. He Arrives Precisely When He Means To.

    Ares realised he should probably give a full rundown of what he knew about the scroll''s contents so he shook his head, dispelling the temptation to go whoop some C.O ass (via Calla), and explaining everything from the start. "This is supposedly, as far as I can tell. and based off what it''s describing in the scroll, some manner of lost, legendary technical that was used back during the ancient times. It was extraordinarily powerful and measured up to even my No Fear art in terms of overall strength. Few people were capable of using it at the time and it gradually died out as cultivators became increasingly incapable of chanting it so it was preserved in scroll form for future generations. There were a few of these floating around but, unfortunately, the people''s who''s hands they fell into didn''t always have the best intentions and so various experts took it upon themselves the shred the remnants of this art and remove all scrolls of it from existence. Erasing the history of the art in full was a shame but a price people were generally accepting of to prevent anyone troublesome learning such a potent art.


    These expert cultivators of old worked tirelessly and eventually rounded up the last of these scrolls but there was a pretty major clash between them and the exact people they''d been trying to keep it from. During the scuffle, five cultivators managed to tear apart one of the scrolls and escape in five different directions, agreeing to hide each of their pieces until further notice. When everything settled down, they would come together, combine the pieces, start transcribing the art anew, and repropagate the art through society. This never came to pass as they managed to successfully hide the pieces, yes, but they were killed shortly after in various ways by various people. They''d picked dangerous hiding locations for the most part so some never survived the trip back out of the hiding places they''d picked while others were eventually hunted down by the expert cultivators who wanted the technical gone. In short, this piece of scroll is one of those five pieces and God only knows how the C.O got their hands on it. I don''t know where they found it but it was likely a result of the force of the round going on an expedition to some remote location and discovering it by chance. Anyway, there are four more out there and they could be literally anywhere in the entirety of this dimension... Which is an absolute fucking nightmare..."


    "Language!" Enyo tapped Ares on the head with her finger. He usually swore but apparently that wasn''t acceptable anymore in this mini form...


    "Ahem. Anyway, the art on this is mega mighty but I''d need to get lucky enough to find the other four scrolls. Fortunately the contents of the scroll aren''t lost when someone looks at it, unless all five pieces are joined together, so even if someone else beats me to the punch in finding another scroll there''s still a chance to get it back. Still, the main issue here is that finding the other four scrolls will be like finding a needle in a group of ten thousand haystacks. There''s absolutely zero information to go off and it seems like the kinda thing that''s just never going to happen. You could spend a million lifetimes and never even find a single one of these scrolls, let alone all five. I don''t see why the C.O gave me this other than to mess with me. How am I supposed to make use of this damn thing!? Plus if anyone knows I have it then they''re only going to come and try stealing it off my corpse. All in all, not good... Unless I do find the other scrolls... Then very good! It seems like the kind of thing that would take countless thousands of years even if I were lucky, though, so I''ll just shove this in the Primordial Blade and forget about it... Although I might as well pass it around to all of you so you can keep an eye out for these things too if you want to."


    Ares tossed the scroll around and everyone gave it a quick peek. Sure enough, the letters remained on the scroll after each person viewed it so that was handy. That was how scrolls worked though as, until the contents were fully absorbed by an individual, the writing would stay etched onto it. As for how the C.O viewed the contents of the other scrolls, Enyo and Aejaz'' for example, without absorbing them, there were various methods devised to do so. In the early days of cultivation people used to prank others by putting passive pillar arts onto scrolls that the reader would learn and be stuck with all their life. The last thing an assassin wanted was an alarm clock magic that rung aloud every hour and could never be turned off, for instance. It was due to deviousness like this that people invented arts / artifcats capable of reading scrolls without the user having to absorb the contents. Most large organisations had such measures at their disposal as scrolls could become valuable assets for the org even if nobody was planning on using it for whatever reason. Bargaining chips or auction items, that was how most organisations treated scrolls unless they were hyper valuable to somebody high up in the pecking order. It wasn''t uncommon for most groups, orgs, companies, clans, etc... To have a whole bunch of piled up scrolls waiting to be sold or gifted to talented individuals within their ranks.


    Comparatively, individual cultivators tended not to have such measures, the ability to read a scroll before acquiring whatever was on it, very often. It was usually a hassle to learn and was only really a useful skill one in every couple of thousand years. Unless you were hired specifically to make use of this skill by a large company on the regular it wasn''t usually worth it... And yet Ares decided he wanted to. Part of why an art like that was rarely used is because it was dependent on finding scrolls in the first place. They typically only existed in highly competitive and / or dangerous areas so few people ever got their hands on one out of sheer luck. Someone like Ares, however, would be capable of consistently winning his way through such combative locations so his scroll acquisition rate would be higher than other people on average. He didn''t want to find one of those prank scrolls as getting rid of the resulting prank would be a nightmare. Maybe his destruction pillar magic could rectify it but coming up with such a countermeasure was more of a hassle than just getting Scroll Screening, the most common art of this type, learnt ASAP. The last thing Ares wanted was to read a scroll that taught him self-destruct magic that was going to forcibly activate in three, two, one, boom! This had happened before to a poor fellow and it was not a pretty sight according to the records of it... Sure Ares was a revenant and would come back to life after but dying in such stupid fashion would irk him to no end. Fortunately such prank scrolls didn''t really exist much in these lower domains, as only experts with infinite time to kill in the higher realms usually bothered with such antics, but it was better to be safe than sorry.


    Now, as far as learning Scroll Screening went, the real kicker here was that the most common way to find the art... Was through a scroll... Oh the irony. It wasn''t the only way but finding somebody who was proficient in the art, likely because they found it trough a scroll themselves, and then convincing them to teach you, or write out another scroll for the technical, was probably even harder. Ares might be able to finagle such a condition out of the C.O, having their Scroll Screener teach him, but he''d already taken a lot from them as of now and they would be reluctant to give him more. Technically this scroll''s value was higher than anything else they gave out even if it was currently useless, so Ares asking for more was a bit of a cheek. Once more, they got him good with this crap! The scroll was practically worthless in its currents state but Ares couldn''t possibly have the gall to look them in the eye and complain! Was this that damn strategist''s fault?! They were a real piece of work giving him two useless gifts like this! Well whatever, there was no use crying about it now that all was said and done. HIs magic and fundamental champion status would allow him to venture into remote and dangerous areas that others would typically avoid so his chances of finding the rest of the scrolls were decently high. That being said, whether there were anymore in these lower domains was anyone''s guess. One of the five with the scroll pieces going with the reverse psychology route, and hiding it somewhere accessible in a lower domain, was already coincidental enough and Ares doubted it would happen more than once. The only exception to this was if there was anywhere dangerous enough in these lower realms that even immortals and Gods dared not tread. This was a rarity but could very well happen if such a location had existed since ancient times and the domain structure sort of just formed around it. It wasn''t impossible to wind up in a place that killed even the greatest of cultivation society in a lower domain if you were truly unlucky and stumbled into such a death trap.


    Of course, at the end of the day, this was all still hypothetical. Who''s to say the scroll pieces were hidden in dangerous environments? They could be buried underneath a random rock in some rundown domain off in the middle of nowhere. This was why this situation sucked! The C.O knew damn well they weren''t ever gonna find the other scrolls and they must have clearly believed Ares wouldn''t either! Unless Ares was willing to recruit everybody in this dimension to search, finding these things wasn''t a guarantee. It didn''t help that unveiling the fact he had one would paint a massive target on his back which was probably why other people wouldn''t do it either. Ares could walk past billions of people during his cultivation journey and who''s to say some random shmuck amongst them wasn''t just clinging to a scroll in their spatial ring and never letting it see the light of day?! This might honestly be the hardest collectathon ever created!


    Still, Ares wasn''t one thousand percent sure of all the details regarding the finer aspects of such a task as this scroll only contained the briefest of descriptions. This chunk of scroll still had to function as a part of the art so a lot of space was taken up by that instead of a proper description. Maybe there was more to finding the other scrolls that Ares wasn''t aware of because it simply didn''t fit on this damnable scroll. Often times, in situations like this, the other pieces would reverberate and point to each other if they were in close enough proximity. Sort of like how Dominus had pointed Ares towards the Celestial Prisms back in Baja. If Ares was lucky, he would be able to locate other scrolls through such a measure and that would narrow down his dimensional search by a considerable amount... Although he would still have to search high and low across an entire dimension so it wasn''t exactly a guarantee he was going to succeed...


    In fact, little did Ares know, but nobody had ever held onto more than one piece of the scroll at the same time. Some people had openly owned them before but died however long later and, thus, the piece of scroll was lost once more. Sometimes it would change hands to the killer or sometimes it would be hidden in yet another impossible to locate hidey hole. It was a massive cluster fuck of an easter egg hunt that basically everybody and their mother was aware of. Currently, only one scroll piece''s location was known definitively but it was so heavily guarded that even looking at it would maybe cost you your life. It existed in a higher domain, very near to the Gods, and was owned by a museum of sorts that had ties to Dingo. Some of the strongest cultivators around protected the thing day and night and, though many had tried, nobody had ever even gotten a touch of it before getting massacred on the spot by the guards. And, yet, this was still considered the most ''accessible'' of the scroll pieces. Truly a nightmare this hunt would be!


    Still, if the art was as strong as it claimed and appeared to be, then it kinda made sense. Now did Ares need such a thing when he was the destruction champion? No, not really... But he couldn''t deny that owning it would be cool! Ares didn''t just own destruction magic, he enjoyed it too so if there was a way to replicate it, even if it wasn''t destruction itself, then why would he ever turn it down? More mayhem, more joy! Plus stuff of that calibre tended to have long cooldown periods between uses, or serious drawbacks, so having multiple to throw out, whenever one wasn''t available for whatever reason, wasn''t a bad thing either. Ares wanted it but he also knew how much of a hassle getting it would be. For now he''d just forget about it and start caring whenever he got his hands on more than one... Although that was equally problematic. Although it had never been discovered, whenever anyone owned more than one at any given point, there would be essentially a worldwide notice that somebody was getting closer to combining the pieces... The notice only grew more and more unmissable based on the amount owned and so hiding would become more and more challenging if anybody knew you were in possession of even one at the bare minimum. If people were essentially committing suicide to get the one scroll in the museum, what lengths would they go to in order to hunt down an individual who was likely to possess two or more?! At that point, everybody, regardless of whether they believed the art should continue existing or not, would be breathing down your neck and never letting you get even a single second of sleep. So although not on purpose, the C.O had really lumped something quite dangerous onto Ares here! They''d chucked the hot potato at him and ran for the hills! Treacherous, conniving punks!


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Ares'' atrocious ''gain''s'' aside, all the scrolls had been checked now and so it was time to do some testing. Checking how much mana was burned via Enyo''s holy fire, checking how strong she was when receiving the holy buffs, checking how efficient her treasure was, testing Aejaz'' treasure, and testing how Odds On Me affected his success rate. All of it needed to be explored in depth because there was some stuff here that was relevant and useful not just to Enyo and Aejaz specifically but also to everyone else they regularly fought alongside. Ares wanted to test the Stalker and Blo Blo wanted to receive some mana from the Decompiler. As this was a fairly long process, it was roughly time for dinner when they were done but the group also felt like they had a much better grasp of everything these new gains offered.


    Enyo''s treasure, when combined with the mana burn of her holy fire, allowed her to outlast everyone else''s mana reserves with plenty to spare. Bellona had fairly limited mana capacity so she chugged through hers incredibly quick but even Aejaz was running out of mana while Enyo was still roughly half full. Plus the more people that attacked Enyo at once the more efficient the Decompiler became, at which point the only limiting factor in how long she could defend herself for was her physical state. If she wasn''t tired she could probably just maintain a barrier forever with this treasure present and active. This was a series of benefits that really amped up her defensive prowess once again and evened out her skillset to be equally as good at offense as it was at defence once more. The various other mutations and pressure additions to her barriers had catapulted her into a surprisingly aggressive fighter but, now, she had the tools to do basically whatever she wanted with no option being superior to the other. She could pick and choose based on the scenario she found herself in and that made her a very versatile cultivator who was destined for success. When exploring a tomb, for example, she could use her barriers to defend against traps or kill ambushing monsters, sometimes even both at the same time. She had the perfect skillset to thrive regardless of whatever conditions she had thrust upon her.


    As for Aejaz, he''d become completely insufferable. He could just hide in a bush with the Concealed Serpent, mark you with the Stalker, and everything you possessed would be long gone even if you were aware he was targeting you thanks to Odds On Me. Even Ares struggled to deal with this obnoxious strategy and would have suffered heavily if it wasn''t for his Primordial Blade acting like an impenetrable storage... Although even that wasn''t completely safe. If Aejaz had stolen Ares'' affiliation for the pillar then he might actually be able to use nothingness to remotely access it... This guy was becoming something truly disgusting in his own way and Ares did not appreciate the potential annoyances Aejaz was going to bring to the table! Soon enough this dolts would be able to steal from him and all and then Ares would never see the end of it. He''d laughed at everyone else suffering at the hands of this thief but, if he wasn''t careful, he would be next in line! He seriously had no ideas right now how to stop this punk and his only option was to blow up the entirety of his surroundings and fish the bastard out but, even then, he could just go invisible and run off to hide somewhere else. Plus destroying the immediate area was a no go to begin with as Ares was in the sect currently and Rud would harangue him to death if he even so much as thought about it.


    As much as Ares hated to admit it... Aejaz won this time.... NOT! Ares turned his back, pretending to walk away, but then he suddenly disappeared and a yelp was heard from a nearby tree as mini Ares booted his brother out of it! Ares had shifted to this peeping tom''s location and booted him in the backside! As for how he found Aejaz in the first place, despite the odds being massively stacked against him, Ares had combined his divine sense with Echo to feel Aejaz'' physical presence via Echo location much like he''d discussed with Lizzy. Also, Ares'' pressure was strong enough that he could throw it out in a wide net and locate the troublemaker if he really tried. In other words, Aejaz wasn''t getting the upper hand on Ares just yet! He''d still need another few billion years of training if he wanted such a paltry trick to work on his elder brother! It was impressive though as Ares actually had to work for his win in this game of hide and seek... Although that was mainly because he was still a child and had to borrow mana from Enyo''s Decompiler... That aside, Ares had various means at his disposal but the average cultivator did not so Aejaz was much stronger than he appeared against Ares who''d trumped him soundly. If it weren''t for the fact that Ares was still able to use divine sense despite his miniature status, which was likely a result of some fuckery with the revenant regeneration clashing with the Training Field, he''d have been in a rough spot. Hell even Enyo would find it impossible to track down Aejaz and, even then, he could easily escape by summoning a maze of barriers behind him as he fled. Aejaz was strong in a rather twisted way but that suited him to a tee and he seemed to be having fun, pretending to be some kind of infiltration unit with night vision binoculars, smearing himself with mud and covering himself in leaves. He was getting into the spirit of it and enjoying his new art / treasure so Ares left him to his own devices but not before borrowing the Stalker temporarily.


    This was the prize from the international that Ares was the most interested in as he could maybe even devise an art that would work brilliantly in tandem with this thing. His first though upon seeing this was a disintegrating laser beam that shot out in a straight line, had incredibly long range, and pierced through everything in its path. This concentrated disintegration art would take a long time to cast, given the amount of power Ares wanted it to pack, but if he used it as an assassin''s tool, combined with the Stalker, then where was the issue? Who cared how much time it took to charge if the art would pierce through every wall in its path anyway? It''s not like Ares would lose sight and miss either thanks to the Stalker! Ares put that on his to do list, as such an art was pretty useful here and there regardless, and decided to create something similar with physical pressure for now. Physical pressure was something he''d been under-utilising but it was incredibly valuable none the less. The frog had proven its usefulness multiple times now but Ares didn''t want to needlessly stick to summoning it over and over when there were more options available to him. It was a relatively free form ability that let him mostly cast what he wanted so, even if it wasn''t as strong as destruction magic for the most part, it could be used as a more versatile tool in its place. Using physical pressure to create an annihilation pressure beam that mimicked what he wanted out of the art he''d yet to devise not only gave him access to it early, even if it would be weaker, but it also enabled him to experiment with methods of mana manipulation that would later aid him in creating the art in the first place.


    Anyway, the point here was that the Stalker was good and Ares had a lot of fun messing with it. No wonder Aejaz felt tacti-cool using it! Regrettably, Ares didn''t really have anything over than pressure that could be used directly on a person through walls so his experience messing around with it wasn''t quite as satisfying as Aejaz'' was. Still, he did manage to spook his brother with an Echo through a wall at one point. That was something! Also, if he''d used Annihilation Echo (in his normal state) he would have obliterated his brother''s head with an impossible to prevent surprise attack so Ares'' theory about how good this thing was had already been proven. Aejaz, overall, had been the big winner here just because of the treasure alone. His scroll art, currently anyway, was worse than Enyo''s cultivation manual snippet but the treasure... It was seriously way too good! Had the Stalker been literally any better, and come with an activatable art, it might have been possible to consider it a Nyxian Prowler tier treasure despite not even being an enabler. In fact, the Stalker might even potentially sell for higher then the Prowler in an auction because of its general all-purpose nature. The darkness pillar wasn''t going to be useful to everyone so the Stalker would maybe have a fiercer bidding competition overall. Not that it mattered, this thing wasn''t ever getting sold.


    Ares tossed the Stalker back to Aejaz who then disappeared off somewhere to no doubt go toy with the elders of the sect and steal some more of their lunch money... Did this classify as elder abuse? Not Ares'' problem! Ares had other stuff to go do, such as make dinner, so he headed back inside now that the testing was done. He was going to cook, eat, and then pay a visit to sect master Yulo. He wanted to get the discussion about the sect''s future, in relation to Ares'' plans, over and done with but first he needed to get Yulo to bring everyone together. As such, Ares was going to finally pay a visit to the inner most depths of the sect! He would get to see where he was going to one day live! Even just thinking about it made him excited because he would finally have some damn spare room! As things were currently, every room in the house was typically occupied by somebody at any given time and so Ares never really had much storage space for miscellaneous crap. He himself didn''t really need it but he would rather not store things like clothes in his Primordial Blade just because he had nowhere else to put them. He didn''t want to become Aejaz V2 and have a spatial storage system clogged with random garbage. It would be way worse in his case because Ares would have an entire dimension of the stuff! More space = more good and so Ares wanted to get a feel for roughly how big his new abode was going to be. Plus just having more room for guests was always a good thing.


    Knock Knock


    A visitor? Ares assumed it was maybe Sadie? She would be done with her training right now and, under the guise of returning Rox, could get some grub in her stomach... Ares really knew this woman''s tricks too damn well! Ares shook his head and opened the door but was surprised to find somebody else here entirely. "Yulo? What brings you... Never mind. Wanna come in?" Ares didn''t bother finishing his question because the answer was obvious. Yulo saw Ares come to him in the future and so cut out the middle man, as it were, and just came here directly himself to get the conversation over and done with. This guy''s prophecy magic was damn strong! Yulo nodded and entered as he figured he may as well get some food for free while he was in the area. Plus there was a decent amount of stuff to discuss with Ares so there was no point standing out in the cold throughout it all. Ares let Yulo in and was about to close the door but Yulo interrupted him from the hallway.


    "You might want to wait a few seconds, the others will be here soon."


    Ares turned around and, sure enough, there was Sadie and Rox arriving outside the house just in time to be let in. Man, being around Yulo was weird! Weird but helpful and convenient! Ares wondered if he''d be able to see the future too one day with his nothingness magic. Timeline Splice hinted at yes so maybe if he worked hard enough? Who knows? Maybe, maybe not.

 Chapter 294: Sect Matters

    Ares cooked up something simple. He didn''t want to mess around with magic or try cooking in the Primordial Blade with its time altering feature, handy though it was, in case he ran out of mana half way through and burnt something a a result. Instead, he just broiled some chicken and kept it all simple. He finished soon enough and wanted to bring it out to put on the table but his new stature was making things rather tough so he had to go and call his mother to help him... Was he actually a child?! Ares shook his head and refused to request aid! He still had his pressure and what remained of his mana. It wasn''t much either way, as his mini body did him no favours, but some skilful use of what he did possess would help him get through this! Plus, and this was the real saviour here, Ares had his Zephyr! It functioned like two extra hands, hands that could hold onto anything even if they were hot plates! Ares was resourceful and not a momma''s boy!...


    "You ought not do that." Yulo walked into the room and started taking things into the living room of his own volition. "Although you''re efforts would be commendable, you''d drop some of the potatoes and waste them."


    ...


    Ares was heartbroken! He would have failed?! Say it ain''t so!


    "Although, to be fair, it wasn''t entirely your fault..." Yulo paused at the entrance to the kitchen and took a small step to the side as Aejaz gallantly threw his body into the kitchen with a grand stride. "Your overexcited brother, who''s still on a high from playing with his new treasure, would have smacked right into you. If anything, holding onto as much as you did after the collision was rather impressive considering you''re a child right now. Your control over the Zephyr is pretty great, actually. It''s been with you since you were a child, right? Proves the idea that a comfortable treasure is better than a stronger but unwieldy one. Though the Zephyr is undoubtedly a powerhouse in its own right. Also, before you apologise for having me help out, don''t. I don''t mind and doing any kind of menial labour is actually refreshing. It''s usually just paperwork and overseeing clan / sect disputes so this is a nice change of pace for me. I used to have to do this stuff regularly when I was just an ordinary, up and coming cultivator. It might sound silly but I long for days like these, adventuring with the people I care about, coming home, and cleaning the dishes alongside them. Fortunately I ought to experience that all again soon so I won''t get too sentimental about it. Ah but we can discuss this more after dinner." Yulo waved his hand nonchalantly as he swept past Aejaz like a cold-summers breeze and disappeared before anyone could blink. He was still the top cultivator in Sheryashka, that was for damn sure...


    Ares went and rounded up the freeloaders in his house for dinner and ate a pleasant meal. When that was done he went off to the side with Yulo and discussed various matters with him on the couch... Well Yulo was sitting on the couch, anyway, Ares was sitting on Calla''s lap and had no say in the matter. Yulo did feel subtly threatened but he was aware that wasn''t the point of Ares'' actions and managed to bring himself to ignore the fluffy matriarch. besides, he knew in advance what would tick her off so he could avoid any all such instances. Not that he had any reason to annoy her but it was still for the best if he tested out all his sentences beforehand with his magic and got a feel for her reaction to them all... He could prevent himself form saying something that offended her, for whatever reason, but he couldn''t undo it! Caution was Yulo''s middle name... Not literally, that would be weird.


    "First and foremost, the meeting you want to have with all the elders to talk about turning this sect in a mobile landmass that follows you around... I can''t guarantee every single elder in the sect will want to stay but I think a good majority will. Offering a potential for better cultivation, resources, and materials is like crack cocaine to most cultivators and they probably won''t have a reason to say no. People like Dabble or Julio would actually beg you to take them along so you don''t need to be too concerned about losing anyone important. Only a few minor elders who haven''t acclimated and been here that long will want out and they can be replaced by some of the new crop we''ve been hiring. Anyway, that''s best left for when you have the discussion and I won''t speak on everyone else''s behalf... Although if I had my crystal ball maybe I could...


    That aside, I just wanted to mention that the wildcards running our sect''s HQ won''t be showing up. They don''t care about this kind of stuff and, to make matters worse, they''d consider this overtime. Those whackos don''t do overtime. Still, you needn''t concern yourselves with those four nutjobs as they''ll go along with just about anything. I ran this whole thing by them out of curiosity and the general response was ''yeah, sure, whatever." Those people are more concerned with their hobbies and getting off work as soon as possible to partake. Where they are doesn''t fuss them in the slightest. I''m just letting you know now they won''t be present at the meeting but they''ll go along with the plan regardless and you should be over the moon. They''re strange people but highly talented at their jobs and they also happen to be strong cultivators. Though I could beat any of them individually, if they combined their strength in any way then I would be toast. Also, if they didn''t hole themselves up in and around the HQ then even Slick would have a hard time maintaining his number one position, excluding me obviously, so don''t take them lightly. I would argue that, other than me and Slick, those four have the highest innate skill and potential in the sect... They''re just weird... And lazy... Each and every one of them... Whatever, you''ll meet them at some point after taking over, maybe even before, I''m sure."


    "... Do I have to?"


    "Hm? Ah, yes, the spider thing. Maybe not? They really won''t care if they meet you or not so maybe you can get away with it if you''re lucky. Just let them do their thing without trying to boss them around too much and you could honestly just never even speak to them at all. Still, the HQ is valuable in many ways that you''ll figure out in due time. You might find yourself visiting it often, at which point you''ll run into them regardless. Also, if they have any complaints, you can be damn sure they''ll come find you and they won''t be happy they had to do it outside of work."


    "Sooo no avoiding the spider person?"


    "... Probably not, no... Please don''t chuck a Perish Wheel at them?"


    "No promises."


    "... That''ll have to do for now. I''ll warn them about you just as I''ve warned you about them. Anyway, that''s one topic down. Next up I wanted to talk to you about handing the sect over."


    "Already?" Ares was taken aback that Yulo felt it was appropriate to start considering such a matter when Ares wasn''t even in the core court yet.


    "I think it would be wise to hand it over to you before you leave for Neo Gear at the latest. In fact, I was thinking of ceding my position to you as soon as you reach the core area of the sect as that feels more appropriate. Hell I would give it to you now if my conscience wasn''t nagging me to be a good person. What with all the buzz surrounding our sect''s victory things are getting busy and so dropping the sect on you now would be a cruel way to repay you for everything... Although I really wanna head off to Vraizon ASAP. I won''t do it though so you can rest easy. Besides, the C.O gave us some rewards that have eased the burden of dealing with your victory so it''s not all bad."


    "As soon as I reach the core area you''ll hand over the entire sect?... What are the requirements for entering the core court?" It had been a while since Ares last caught wind of the requirements to enter the various courts and, honestly, he wasn''t even sure if he''d heard the core court requirements before at all. Maybe he had, maybe he hadn''t, it didn''t really matter much either way as they''d probably changed it as of late what with the abundance of new recruits coming in thanks to the tournament. They could have raised the requirements, to prevent riff raff getting to the core court without earning it, or they could have lowered it to help spread out the inflated number of disciples the sect would now have. It was all dependent on how they sought fit to control the current hierarchy best so that they could balance overcrowding.


    "Normally it would be somewhere in the early stages of aspect assimilation / bloodline awakening. There is no specific stage we look for, just anyone we think is ready to take the test to move on up. We generally have a good sense for these things and the elders who we have keeping track on the inner court disciples are good at analysing talent. Some people can go all the way through bloodline awakening without ever being permitted to take the test. Some people are given permission the second they enter the realm and you''ll fall under the latter category, naturally. You''re currently at the start of sensory enhancement so in about ten stages, once you''ve completed the test, which will be child''s play, you''ll make it in no problem. Sometimes we also take into account what the disciple has done for the sect... But I mean... I don''t think we really need to have that conversation? You''ll get to skip some of the more tedious parts, like various bits of paperwork or agreeing to an oath never to betray the sect, etc...


    Basically I want to get you into the position as soon as humanly possible and I''ve already heard about your intentions to head to Xasca? Depending on how many gains you make, it isn''t impossible for you to be at bloodline awakening by the time you return. This ought to be perfect as, with Garmr readily available to you, there shouldn''t be anyone in this domain who can become a threat to the sect. In other words, you won''t just be replacing me as sect master, you''ll be the new top dog of the domain. As you''ll take over both positions, one in a somewhat official capacity and the other completely, you''ll have to start dealing with some big name sects and clans but HQ will help you through that and do most of it to begin with. I''ve already briefed them that they will need to work a little harder in the short term so that you can work harder in the long term. There will eventually come a time wherein your reputation precedes you and their work becomes childishly easy as a result. I promised them this but it''s up to you to live up to that otherwise they might seriously quit and that would be a devastating loss for the sect overall.


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    On a relevant note, every one of the elders is aware of all of this so they''re prepared for it and, really, the meeting you want will only really be to double check and make sure nobody has any glaring issues with any of this. I imagine the main concern they''ll want to raise is that you don''t seem to be planning on staying in Red Sun until its time to leave for Vraizon. If the sect master is constantly not present some people will find that problematic. I don''t disagree with your plans, I think a sect master should be active in both furthering themselves and scoping out resources for the sect, but not everybody sees it that way. You''ll have to do the convincing yourself although, given how powerful you''ll be as a result of your trip to Xasca, I can''t imagine anybody will have any evidence better than your very existence. You''ll leave this place an inner court and return strong enough to be the sect master without any room for opposition, if that explanation isn''t suitable then I think they''re just looking for trouble. There may be some elders like that, some you haven''t met that will just be looking for an opportunity to make this all awkward as they don''t like the upcoming change. Without straining myself I can''t predict what will happen exactly so I''ll leave it up to you to deal with these problems whenever they arise. You need to be able to do it anyway as that''s part of what it means to be a sect leader. I know you have the qualifications, as do the elders you''ve interacted with on a frequent basis, but those you''ve yet to meet won''t be 100% on your side just because you''re strong and overperformed in some tournament. Given that you were going to come to me because you wanted the meeting to be set up regardless, I''m assuming you were already aware of this and have prepared yourself for pushback?"


    Ares nodded his head as holding the meeting in the first place was always a matter of quelling dissent in an upfront manner. Making an example of those who were defiant, essentially, just not in a brutal way but more so a verbal one. He needed to prove undeniably that he had every right to his new position otherwise it would lead to severe distrust and issues that kept stemming up, bubbling away under the surface until it became full blow revolt. Ares didn''t mind putting down some ruffians and troublemakers but there was no good reason not to stop it all now ahead of time and keep the workforce from needlessly growing an ego and thinking Ares wasn''t suitable for the job. There was nobody in this domain more suitable to running a sect than Ares purely off what he brought to the table alone; sprinkle in a decent capacity for leadership, and his individual strength, and, really, they should be jumping for joy. Being able to work under such a person was their luckiest of breaks and yet they were complaining? Ares wasn''t going to go light on these people even if he was still in his mini form.


    On that note, it would be easier to hold the meeting after he''d recovered as then he could resort to physical displays of strength but that was, ironically, a sign of weakness. If any astute elders recognised this and brought it up would what Ares rebuttal be? He''d be cornered by his own decision to play things excessively straight. They would argue he was nothing without his threats of violence and fundamental pillar because he couldn''t convince people without them. If anything, holding the meeting in this form was the real powerplay and it''s not like he still didn''t have the threat of the Shock Beads buried underneath the ground. They weren''t in the sect, no, but what were the stubborn elders supposed to do? Never leave the sect? It was a decent enough threat and allowed Ares to keep hold of a decent amount of power. Nothing hat could be used on the spot against the elders but that wasn''t what he needed anyway as that would just be coercion. It was better to do this through conversation and negotiation rather than violence. Also, on that note, he couldn''t just haul in Windsor as that would breed discontent. Who was the sect leader here? Windsor or Ares? He had to do this himself and he was resigned to that from the moment he wanted to go have Yulo set up the meeting.


    In response to Ares'' loaded nod, as there were a bunch of swirling emotions in his eyes that made it clear he was ready for this, Yulo wrote a note on a piece of paper and put it in his spatial ring. It was a quick reminder to set everything up as he was only going to do it tomorrow not today. It was too late already and he wanted to get some sleep... Lazy! Anyway... "Alright then, the meeting will be in two days and I''ll have Teng come and pick you some time after 2PM... And by two days I mean starting from tomorrow... Today I just wanna curl up in bed... Do you have any idea how many applicants we''ve gotten for this sect since you unveiled your grand plans?! Hell even the local clans that had been raising their members away from the sect are starting to reconsider. Yes it places them under our tutelage but they''re realising that it places them under you and they think it''s worth it. The clans in this city are smart, you know? The Li and Nick clan specifically were on the ball and have been basically chucking clan members at us non-stop! You''ve already made your favouritism for the locals clear so turning them down is hard. I''m still trying to decide if reducing the requirements for them to enter is correct or not. Fortunately, they''re all pretty talented to begin with so it hasn''t really been strictly necessary... But it''s not an easy choice regardless!


    Ah whatever, just another month or two of this at most and then I''ll be free to roam like an uncaged bird and taste the fresh air once more! I kinda miss running into arrogant cultivators and whacking them upside the head... Maybe I''ll head to some seedy place in Vraizon to start off my journey just so I can get into fights and take out my many years of stress as a sect master. There really is nothing quite like running into some backwater nobodies who aren''t aware of your status and putting them in their place. Plus my name is just about famous enough that they''ll recognise it when I name drop myself! Ah, cultivation world, you suck sometimes but I really do love you deep in my core...


    Ahem, ignoring that, there was one more thing I wanted to mention. I already told you I wouldn''t ever completely abandon this clan and that has only become doubly true now that I know what you''re up to. I wanted to say that I will not be leaving this sect at all and would like you to give me an elder position. I never asked for such a thing prior because I assumed this sect would be staying in Sheryashka permanently but, now that this place is becoming mobile, I''m actually really glad. Hell I''m going ahead now but you might even catch up and overtake me, at which point I''ll be hopping back aboard and riding on your coattails to go up the domains! I''m like a shrew in that regard. You know how shrew babies cling to their parents? Yeah I have no shame so do pick me up in Vraizon later on, yeah? Anyway, my point is that your plans are perfect for me. I don''t have to give up on the sect entirely and can come back without it affecting my cultivation journey, maybe even benefitting it sometimes. It''s not just a one sided affair either as I''ll bring back goodies for the sect too whenever I can. Of course if you want to kick me out then I can''t and won''t stop you but I would appreciate it if you didn''t, I do have attachments to this place after all."


    Ares shrugged. "I have no reason to decline and adding another strong cultivator to the roster of those already present is not something I''d turn my nose up. Plus I already know you''re loyal to this place so there''s no worry in that regard. I''ve always been prepared for people to clutch on to my coattails as that was the point of this entire landmass in the first lace. It''s convenient for me so I know that I should also make it convenient for everyone else too. Give and take. You''re more than welcome to treat this place like a second home and come and go as you please... Although I might dump some paperwork on you. Not because we need the extra hands or anything, although that''s definitely how I''ll frame it, but just because my inner revenant thinks its funny."


    "... Should you be openly admitting to that?... And why does your mother seem proud of this behaviour?! Is this how you raise your young on the Umbra home planet?!... I might need to pay the place a visit and see just how ridiculous your people truly are... Well I''ll take that all as a joke for now, I hope, and just be grateful I''m even allowed back into this place once I leave it... Is there anything else?..." Yulo mumbled to himself as he went over every little detail. There was some logistical stuff but Rud or the HQ could help Ares manage that... Anything important, anything important... Ah! "Wait, there is on more thing... The old sect master... He''s... Actually, you know what? Never mind. You''ll find him eventually, you can''t really miss him if he decides to show himself, so I''ll just leave that be for now."


    ?


    Now Ares was curious! The old sect master... Where the hell was the old bastard anyway? Based on what Ares knew, not even the elders or the core court disciples really ever saw head or tail of the guy. It didn''t seem like he was at HQ either so surely the spots he could be hiding in and cultivating in seclusion in were limited? Ah well, if Yulo was saying Ares would run into the guy at some point then so be it... But it did raise a question. "Will you be telling him I''m becoming the new sect leader or will he have to find it out the hard way?"


    Yulo gave a half smile. "Despite how close by he is to me, I can''t exactly kick him out of his secluded cultivation session by force or there might be consequences to his health. He''s been in there nearly since the moment I took over. I don''t know if he''ll reach transition soon or never, he might even be dead in there honestly. If he doesn''t come out before you become sect master then no, you''re gonna have to explain that to him on your own at some point... He might not believe you at first but if you can get some of the elders to back you up then he''ll buckle. Not that it matters, you can feel free to whack some sense into him if you have to. I don''t wanna sound harsh but he''s seriously useless you know? He kept the sect in managed decline and it only really saw improvements when I took over. He''s polite enough, sometimes, but running a sect was not his strong suit and he wasn''t a noteworthy cultivator in any sense either. Obviously don''t kick him out the sect or anything, he belongs here just like anyone else, but you definitely don''t need to let him stay in the lap of luxury... But if you do get a chance to help him raise his cultivation and live longer, please take it? On behalf of all the sect elders who''ve been here from the start, I ask that of you at least. He really did try to do good for the sect, even sometimes at the cost of his own health, so he might be a bit of a crank but he''s got a good heart and means a lot to this place. I think taking him to Vraizon later on will help but he might need something, like a resource, until then to help him keep kicking. If you spot anything like that on your travels then do think of him."


    Ares nodded and was fine with that. He was being given this sect and would get to keep it basically forever so the least he could do was help out the old man who came before him. If anything, it was a shame Ares had already used his trailblazers as that might have sufficed... Although then Ares might not have won the tournament so he actually wouldn''t have given him those at all... Ah well, he just needed to find some more cultivation resources and shove ''em down this old guy''s oesophagus, it didn''t sound so hard! Plus, if what Yulo said was true, then just dragging this guy''s bony ass to the next domain would maybe put some spring back in his step regardless. Anyway, that was a problem for later. As for right now, the date of the meeting with the elders was set and every other matter had been discussed in full. Yulo stood up and said his goodbyes so Ares showed him out and went back to being smothered by Calla on the couch. The meeting was three days away from now so, until then, he would spend his time playing around in his mini form and he would also take some time off to go watch Eagerton''s match. After all this was said and done, things ought to go by a little quicker and then, bam, time for Freeride and a new chapter in Ares cultivation journey!

 Chapter 295: A Traditional Revenant Fairy Tale

    Enyo had made the learned decision not to abandon mini Ares in the mornings anymore after what happened last time. Blo Blo''s devilish tricks would no longer come to pass so Ares was safe from harm and could sleep in peace without concern as his guardian angel swatted away Satan''s prying hands. Nothing of note really happened during this downtime other than Enyo finally deciding what exactly it was she wanted out of mini Ares for having cooked for everyone that one time a while back. Ares braced himself and Enyo revealed her desire.


    "I want to replicate a certain something I once heard about..."


    Ares narrowed his eyes at Enyo as he wasn''t sure what she was referring to here. "Can you be more specific?"


    Enyo shook her head side to side. "No but don''t worry, you don''t have to do anything difficult. I just want you to come with me and do as I say." Mini Ares was picked up like a lost child and brought over to the living room where he was plopped on top of the couch for now while Enyo went to go look for some other people. Ares had no idea what was gonna happen but he had a gut feeling it was going to be something silly... At the very least, whatever it was, it ought not to be too much of a hassle considering he didn''t have to leave the house or go anywhere specific. Comparatively, Calla, who wanted to start dragging him all around Sheryashka for pictures at some point, was demanding way more! Although, in all fairness, at Calla''s max speed, she could take Ares basically anywhere and everywhere on this planet in a matter of seconds so it wasn''t going to be a particularly long process. In fact, she''d probably want to get it over and done with today after whatever Enyo wanted to do provided nothing unexpected cropped up. Speaking of Enyo, she walked back into the room with a small piece of cloth and told Ares to close his eyes. He obeyed as Enyo wrapped the cloth around his eyes, turning it into a blindfold... Had Calla been the one getting what she wanted here then Ares would have been expecting a surprise party of some kind. She absolutely would have wanted pictures of mini Ares blowing out candles or something along those lines. He had a birthday recently and so she was probably content with that, though.


    Snap


    ... Although clearly blindfolded mini Ares was apparently worth snapping up as well? Ares didn''t question it. Compared to some of the other stuff they could have made him do, this was pretty tame... But it definitely wasn''t over yet. There was definitely more to this situation than just this!


    Shing


    Shing? Like the drawing of a sword?! Was this an execution?! Ares shook his head as that couldn''t have possibly been it. The noise was really high pitched but it could have been anything and Ares was only going to find out after this whole thing was said and done so he patiently awaited his next orders.


    "Ok, now stand up and start running forward."


    Ares heard Enyo''s voice come from a short distance away. Based on the shape of the living room, she was directly in front of him and about, what, seven or eight steps away? If he got off the couch and ran forward he would reach her in a few seconds at most. What on earth was this woman planning? Whatever it was, there were clearly spectators as Ares could hear some giggling from amused spectators. Plus the camera snap had given Calla''s presence away earlier at the very least although she would inevitably show up for anything involving mini Ares anyway. Ares didn''t know what kind of show he was putting on for his spectators here but he wouldn''t let them down! He got up and something felt strange about the floor underneath him but he didn''t have much time to react as he''d already been in motion to keep sprinting forward. He hadn''t expected this unnatural change and so he was hit full force by the oddity at his feet and caught completely off guard. He managed to stumble forward with one step and keep himself upright but that was only delaying the inevitable as he realised that the strange sensation on the floor, whatever it was, was making his immediate surroundings slippery!


    Too little a realisation, far too late and, before he could stop himself, Ares had fallen flat on his face and was sliding slowly forward on his stomach. As he drifted along the ground, he removed his blindfold and took in the icy floor beneath him. Appa must have been the culprit behind this! Ares looked up only to see Enyo, Calla, Bellona, Allie, Trixie, and Appa all staring down at him with laughter creeping up behind their smiles. Ares knew what this was! ''Betrayal is a slippery slope!'' Of all the damn things to remember it had to be this?! Enyo seriously remembered the story Aejaz told her about Ares slipping on ice when he was a child and pouting for a week straight until it went away?! She wanted to recreate it now of all times?! Ares didn''t even do it intentionally but he couldn''t stop his face from forming a cute little pout as the realisation hit him like a ton of bricks. The moody face wasn''t a direct result of the ice this time but it was the exact face everyone had been looking for so they were incredibly content at having successfully created a one for one copy of the original scene.


    Snap Snap Snap


    Many pictures were taken and many giggles burrowed into Ares'' ears as he lay there in unmoving misery. The worst part was that even if he got up he would probably still struggle. Sure his older self knew the footwork necessary to move around relatively freely on such a surface but how was he supposed to copy that as a child?! The size of his body, feet, and the length of his legs were all different so he''d probably just keep tripping over and over again! He''d been embarrassed once already and didn''t need to exacerbate the issue! These demonic women had already gotten what they came for so they could enjoy it all they wanted to because they weren''t getting any more out of him! Ares would like here until the ice thawed if he had to!... Though his stubbornness just looked like a child in their rebellious phase being grumpy and brought out even more chuckling. There was no winning so Ares stuck to his guns and lay on the ice like it was his new bed!


    ...


    ...


    Achoo!


    Aw shit. Ares bemoaned his fate as a sneeze was a horrible sign he was basically destined to become ill. Cultivators sneezing was a rare occurrence to begin with but, throw in the fact that it been raining back during the tournament for an extended period, as well as the icy floor here, and he was probably doomed. His cultivation base was low currently so such a risk did exist and it looked like he just so happened to get the short end of the stick. This damn prank had made him catch a cold! Bullying with chemical warfare! Whatever, it hadn''t been on purpose and this would be hard to predict so he didn''t blame them... But he did want to be picked up and taken care of! He was already starting to feel woozy and weak, like that sneeze had drained him of all his energy, and there was nothing he could do about it in this mini form. Ares hated being this vulnerable, it sucked! Thankfully the sneeze had given his current state away so Calla was quick to swipe up her ill cub and rush him to a bed, tucking him in as she went to go make him some of her special hot chocolate. It would help heal him quickly and he ought to be right as the rain that poured on his head, leading to this situation, in a day or two at most. Until then, he got to relax in bed and not do anything so it was worth it in that regard, at least! He couldn''t be bullied anymore now that he had a condition these evil women had to respect! Blo Blo specially! Maybe this was a good thing? Sure the cold was unpleasant but Ares still had a tiny bit of cultivation currently at least and that made it much easier to bear. As his cultivation would keep rising over the course of the next few days it would only get easier and easier for him too. Maybe he should get ill more often! Being able to laze about was nice!... Although he wouldn''t be able to cook like this unless someone constantly supplied him with mana to do so in his Primordial Blade... Someone else was going to have to do it or everyone was going to have to go get some food from outside. Oh well, their problem not his!


    Calla returned and placed her tail on Ares'' head to check his temperature before sitting him up and placing the hot chocolate on the bed side cabinet for him to drink. He slowly sipped away and he could feel his health recover somewhat with every bit of warm, chocolaty, velvety-smooth goodness that slithered own his throat. Safe to say he was particularly content with the drink and the worst part was when it ran out. Ares slunk back into the bed and covered himself fully while Calla clapped her hands together, startling him.


    Clap


    Ares turned to face Calla out of curiosity and she was sitting upright in her chair and clearing her throat for some reason...


    "Time for a bed time story!"


    A what now? Ares was still not a child damn it!... Although he had just been chucked in bed and given hot chocolate / medicine by his mother... But still! It was way too early for someone of his mental age to be going to bed! He hadn''t even eaten dinner yet! Although, to be fair regarding that last point, the hot chocolate was rather filling thanks to Calla''s special ingredient. Those cocoa beans were seriously incredible and cured most ailments, something as menial as hunger included, so Ares wasn''t even feeling remotely peckish... But it was still bright out and he wasn''t tired!... Ok, now he actually sounded like a child... Ares groaned and resigned himself to this fate. Even if he said no Calla would just use her tail to trap him to the bed like it was some kind of straight jacket and force him to go along with this anyway. She might even lightly poison him to prevent him from getting up and running away, this fluffy matriarch meant business...


    "This one''s a classic and every revenant parent knows it. All our children are told this story at least once growing up!"


    He wasn''t growing up! He was a grown man!... Ah whatever, Ares couldn''t oppose her so he just lay in bed and listened like a good cub.


    "It''s called ''Tortoise and Hare Don''t Play Fair''."


    What, like the original story of the tortoise and the hare? The one where they race and the hare falls asleep so the tortoise wins in the end? Why do I think this isn''t going to be a one for one retelling of that story? Ares had a gut feeling this was going to be a bit out there compared to the original fairy tale but he was already along for the ride regardless so he figured he might as well see what kind of bed time stories revenant children were being lullabied to sleep with back on the home planet. Calla wriggled in her seat, got comfy, and began.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "After every race Hare won he would throw a banquet for creatures of the wood but there was one thing he never quite understood. Hare invited everyone, from Ms. Snake to Mr. Crow, and, yet, Mr. Tortoise was always a no-show. It''s a shame, thought Hare, that Mr. Tortoise had never tried his cooking that could satiate even picky Mr. Bear. "But I swear, I swear one day Mr. Tortoise will experience my hospitality and care," mused Hare.


    It was then that knocking could be heard from Hare''s front door. Sure as sure It was Mr. Tortoise who stood before Hare and peered with disdain at the d¨¦cor.


    "Come in for once," cried Hare, "I''ll give you the grand tour."


    "Sounds like a chore," Mr. Tortoise retorted, "I''ll stick to the ground floor, my business with you is this conversation and nothing more."


    Hare queried, "You won''t partake in my banquet?"


    "No," replied Mr. Tortoise. "Your banquet? I can''t stand it! Nor can I stand the way you grandstand about being considered the fastest in the land under the guise of throwing banquets for greedy gourmands."


    "So what do you have planned?" Hare was curious.


    "A race, my only demand!" Mr. Tortoise was furious. "Tomorrow at the dawn of dusk I shall leave you in my dust," snapped Mr. Tortoise.


    "Fine," said Hare, "But you won''t be a no-show for once, I trust?"


    Mr. Tortoise stormed off in a fit of silent rage as the animals of the wood parted ways to set the stage.


    -----------


    The very next day, the stage was set.


    When dusk dawned, Mr. Tortoise and Hare met.


    "Ready to lose?" asked Mr. Tortoise.


    To which Hare replied, "What I''m about to suggest is for you to choose but, if you''re so confident, how about a wager!?" He cried!


    "I''ll listen to what it is you have to say," Mr. Tortoise replied with an attitude most snide, entertaining the suggestion.


    "If I win, you''ll be the star of the show at my next banquet for an entire day! If I lose, I''ll never cook again. Those are the specifics of the bet in question."


    Mr. Tortoise''s interest was piqued by the bet. "You bet but let me be clear, no cooking for as long as you live, not just for a day, not for a week, not a month, not a year. Don''t ever forget."


    The two contenders lined up for the start of the race and, after a lengthy countdown from Mr Sloth, it began. Hare ran, taking off at his usual, blistering pace. Mr. Tortoise''s sluggishness, however, had cemented him in second place... But he had a plan. As Hare ran and ran, he would be done in by his short attention span!


    Hare barrelled by Mr. Beaver''s abode at breakneck speed. Hare didn''t underestimate Mr. Tortoise, so he kept making haste to maintain a sizable lead but he was moving far too fast. Too fast to avoid Mr. Tortoise''s trap, a pitfall ever so vast. Into it he fell. After half an hour of trying to escape, Hare thought up a clever idea just as he heard a mocking call and spotted above him the tip of a shell.


    Mr. Tortoise leaned over the edge fully and sneered. "Well well well, looks like I''ll be the winner, and you''ll be the fool," he Jeered.


    Hare would never escape on his own, he wasn''t particularly tall, so instead, he threw a rock at Mr. Tortoise''s head, causing him to fall. After a messy fight consisting of biting and scratching Hare, the supposed ''fool'', emerged victorious, separating Mr. Tortoise from his shell and using it as a stepping stool.


    "It seems, Mr. Tortoise, you are the true fool and shall be attending my banquet after all."


    "I shan''t, I refuse!'''' Mr. Tortoise squealed in a whiny voice.


    "Oh, but Mr. Tortoise, you no longer have a choice."


    -----------


    The banquet was far more exquisite, thanks to the main dish which was the star of the show, than any Hare had thrown before. With many a cry of, "Please Hare, may I have some more," all was perfect, except for one thing that bothered Hare to his very core.


    "It''s a shame," Hare spoke to the woodland group, "I will likely never get another chance to cook turtle soup."


    The end!"


    ...


    ...


    ...


    WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?! Ares screamed internally. He didn''t want to be outwardly rude to his mother who looked very pleased with herself for orating that story like a true expert but... This variation is definitely not kid friendly! Did she want to tuck me in or give me nightmares?! This was a revenant ''tradition''?!... Are we the baddies?!... Now that I think about it, this sounds like the exact kind of thing revenants would do... If this is how we mess with our young, maybe our planet should actually just blow up after all? Ares was a tad concerned about the kind of crap the revenant parents were humming to their children as they turned the lights off but that was a problem he could worry about another time as he was feeling a tad sleepy right now... He wasn''t a child but he was about to doze off like one...


    Snap


    Aaaaaand he was awake again! Ares knew Calla wanted pictures of him but even when he was ill?! Or maybe it was because he was ill? Or sleepy? It could seriously be anything with this woman... Anyway, her plans to take Ares around the world and take pictures with him was going to have to be put on hold temporarily while Ares recovered. Though, really, this was just going to give her more time to consider exactly where she wanted to take him... Ares could worry about that some other time as he was falling asleep again and this time it seemed like Calla was going to let him. Having taken a photo of her cub as he was getting some shut eye, after she read him a bedtime story, was her goal and she''d achieved it perfectly so she snuck out of the room and went to go scavenge for some meat to chomp on. In the end, everyone decided to go out and eat at Scratch''s place and they enjoyed a nice dinner together, chatting away about this and that. They returned home and everybody went to sleep early in preparation for getting up early tomorrow as it would be time to go watch Eagerton''s match and see if the sect could pull off two wins in the same tournament. Unfortunately there was nobody notable in the inner court to make it a hat trick but two out of three was still spectacular in its own right, especially when considering the fact that the sect had never won before at all prior. As for Ares... He would want to go but being ill as he was complicated matters. On the bright side, he had his Scaled Insulator and Calla''s fluffy tail / hot chocolates to keep him warm but having him be outside wasn''t ideal regardless... Although nobody could really stop him. He was a devious mini revenant and would come up with a way to escape the sect and go watch on his own if he had to. At that point it was better to just take him with them and make sure somebody kept an eye on him the whole time. Dragging him back if his condition worsened was an option but it ought not to be relevant. The match was predictively going to be over fast so Calla could bring mini Ares back home in a matter of seconds when it was done.


    Morning came and Enyo and Bellona got up to go make breakfast while mini Ares was still asleep. They knew that if he woke up he would want to go and do it himself but they did feel at least partially responsible for his current state and felt it would be for the best to take on some of his minor burdens. He was already looking way better though, thanks to Calla''s drinks and his own regeneration, so if he really wanted to cook later on then they wouldn''t halt him in his tracks (although Calla still might), instead just opting to watch over him and make sure he didn''t drop anything or injure himself. They''d been made aware of his attempt to carry everything when Yulo was around and didn''t want a repeat even if it was primarily his careless brother''s fault. Ares was still a wee lad right now, which was ironic considering the one time it would have been applicable Dabble wasn''t here to call him that, so it was best to prevent him from suffering any pointless injuries that could be easily avoided. This mostly stemmed from the fact that hurting mini Ares, or letting him accidentally injure himself, felt like the equivalent of stepping on a pet''s tail. Even now Enyo still felt guilty for pushing Ares'' health too far and making him ill. She''d already apologised for it yesterday but it did gnaw away at her a little.


    Fortunately Ares'' cold really was a small issue, so much so that Allie didn''t even need to concoct him any pills of any kind, and nobody really blamed Enyo either. It was a stroke of bad luck and it was pretty impossible to avoid getting ill in the cultivation world anyway. Sure things like the flu and colds were pretty easy to avoid, and most cultivators rarely suffered from it after a certain point, but there were definitely other illnesses out there that affected cultivators hard. Those required specific medicines to combat usually and were way worse than this as they plagued a person''s mana typically, corrupting their insides and rotting away at the root of their cultivation. This was the painful stuff that cultivators had to look out for and really avoid as it could even wind up being fatal in some cases. Comparatively a flu or cold was just whatever, a huge nothingburger. One of these deadlier illnesses could knock out a cultivator cold for a few hundred years at a time! Thankfully they weren''t so easily transmitted, however, and you''d know you''d picked it up on the spot because the requirements to contract such illnesses in the first place were usually really specific; it involved mostly eating toxic plants or entering dangerous climates with putrid and rotten mana rife in the air.


    Anyway, morning came and went and it was time for the match to start. Everyone else had left but Ares and Calla were still at home as she could bring him there in a moment''s notice. Calla was keeping an eye on the coliseum from here with her astounding divine sense and would take mini Ares on a quick flight as soon as the horn blew for the start of the fight. Ares already had his treasure on and it had shrunk down in size quite nicely to fit on him properly. If the Scaled Insulator remained at its normal size then Ares would be able to sit inside the thing and be fully covered which, actually, wasn''t a terrible idea but, unfortunately, he wouldn''t be able to see. He could maybe try and turn himself into a Scaled cocoon and have his head poke out but it wasn''t worth the hassle and this ought to be acceptable for now.


    Ares was minding his own business in bed one second but, as soon as he blinked, he could now feel the biting winds of today''s fresh air and hear a raucous crowd all around. Calla had brought him to the top floor of the coliseum, a place he''d never had a chance to kick back and relax in as of yet, and he was in a good position to watch the peerless penman''s final match of the tournament and see his prowess. Ares didn''t know if this guy would stick around for good or not in the sect in the long run... Edgerton might based on what Ares had heard as he really liked the vibe of Musicians Wanted and wouldn''t give it up for love nor money. As for Eagerton... honestly it depended on how long Ares himself could hold the guy''s interest. Ares had no say in the matter but he was still currently Eagerton''s muse and the guy had shown up to every single one of his matches when possible (whenever it didn''t conflict with the schedules for his own matches). The guy really valued Ares'' destruction magic so he would stick around just for that but there was no telling when he might get bored and up and leave. Especially after leaving the Primordial Barrier as the outside world would be vast enough to pique the artiste''s sense of exploration and intrigue at the undiscovered bounties of imagination-expounding potential. So many new worlds and people awaited him so he may just disappear with nothing more than a poetic toodaloo scribbled on a scrappy note. Then again he might also do as such then return afterwards to get more of Ares'' magic penned down in his notes, kind of like feeding a stray animal that returned to you every couple of weeks. Either way, keeping him around was good if Ares could manage it but he wanted to see what the guy could do in a fight. This one didn''t seem like it would push him too hard but oh well, such a perfect opportunity would be hard to come by and this would have to suffice!

 Chapter 296: Finis

    Ares had arrived after the horn blared so it was strange to see both sides kick off the fight without any sort of indicator. Ares was almost entirely unprepared for the speed they moved at... Because his cultivation base was poor! Keeping track of this was extremely difficult as is so he used his divine sense to get a better view. Now he really had to hope the match didn''t last forever otherwise he would tire himself out long before he could spectate the whole thing from start to finish. Fortunately only Edgerton was sitting around and actively doing nothing. Well he wasn''t staring at the sky or anything, and was actively polishing his guitar, but in terms of contributing to the fight? He seemed to believe he wasn''t needed so long as Eagerton was doing his thing with his Plunder flintlock treasure and notebook. Edgerton''s trust was evidently not misplaced as Eagerton was single handedly taking on three opponents on at once while the rest of his team were safeguarding the talisman from the remaining two. Eagerton looked to be surrounded and heavily outnumbered but he seemed more pre-occupied with whatever he weas staring at in his book. He tapped the butt of the pen he was holding against his chin and glared intently at a specific line in his notes that he couldn''t quite get over. Something about it felt off and he needed to readjust it to fit the general flow of everything around it... But surely this shouldn''t have been important right now?! All three of his assailants had launched attacks straight at him while he was busy digging his nose into his own poetic creations! There was a Shove Earth, spear attack, and Mistral Shrapnel all closing in on Eagerton from three different directions and each attack was looking brutal.


    The cultivators here were all, at minimum, at 9th stage of aspect assimilation and most were in the transition realm. Eagerton himself was towards the lower end of the spectrum, due to his obsession with writing detracting from his overall time spent cultivating, at the 10th stage of aspect assimilation. Funnily enough, his brother was in the exact same boat, their cultivation bases were exactly the same, and the distance between them and the transition realm was also roughly equal. They could both very well ascend to the next realm after this fight depending on how much they invested into it... So Edgerton was basically guaranteed not advancing due to his inactivity... But that was beside the point, the issue here was that Eagerton wasn''t giving the oncoming attacks due respect as they were all coming right from the bodies of transition realm cultivators. Normally this should have been a pretty significant complication, and a normal cultivator would struggle all the way up to their inevitable death, but who was Eagerton, exactly? Some pushover that couldn''t even beat a few shmucks a couple stages above him? It wasn''t to the same extent as someone like Ares, Enyo, or Aejaz, but he was a prodigy who could defy cultivation limits here and there too!... Although right now he really was more concerned with his syllabic woes and trying to fit in the appropriate replacement word that was both meaningful and rhythmic in the appropriate sentence... So how was he supposed to solve both sets of issues plaguing him at once? Well he had to work hard to figure out this creative conundrum in the book without any shortcuts, that was unavoidable, but when he did he could celebrate his victory over writer''s block with an art.


    "Breakthrough, Huzzah!"


    Oddly specific though the requirement to even use this art was, solving writer''s block somewhere in his book and coming up with an answer to a narrative or linguistic complication, that just made it all the more powerful in return. It wasn''t an art he could just use whenever he wanted and, more often than not, he failed to find the inspiration necessary to activate this art in the first place. Again, though, arts were pretty linear in that the more of hassle they were to chant / channel, the better they tended to be. As such, given the esoteric and unreliable nature of this art, combined with the decently lengthy chant, it was only natural that this art was going to do wonders. An effervescent lightbulb appeared directly above Eagerton, flickered on and shone bright, and then instantly shattered, letting out a shockwave that sent ripples through the universe. Eagerton stood in the eye of the storm as the blast raced through the arena and pummelled every single foe without missing a beat.


    Of Eagerton''s attackers, the man who had unfortunately tried his luck in close range with the spear had been severed directly in half by the wave due to his close proximity to the origin of he art. The woman who threw the Shove Earth art was the next closest and every single bone below her neck and above her knees was broken simultaneously by the wave, turning her mid section into a jelly-adjacent texture as she crumpled to the floor. The chucker of the Mistral Shrapnel got away with the least injuries of the trio but had still been kicked around by the wave and was suffering internal injuries that would eventually lead to his death. The bleeding was profuse, and he''d lost the ability to make any non-trivial movements, but he was alive and going to live the longest of the three attackers so that was good for him at least. It meant he could maybe try to regroup by waddling over to the other teammates so that he could cast some arts in the background. As for the woman with the blendered mid section, she had at most ten seconds before her heart gave way due to the countless bone shards piercing it and was basically already dead.


    This would be a fantastic opportunity to push the advantage and end the fight as a team but Eagerton had turned around and was strolling leisurely over to his brother with a broad, incredibly disingenuous, smile and a polite wave. Edgerton knew what this meant, he knew exactly what this meant as he''d seen it a few times before back when he actually lived under the same roof as this insufferable daydreamer. Though Eagerton so surreptitiously hurled verbal digs at Edgerton by referring to his work as, quote, ''very very... Varied'', the bastard would occasionally come searching for Edgerton to use him as a mood setter. Edgerton''s musical prowess would enable Eagerton to set the scene in his head by treating Edgerton''s work as a leitmotif for his ideas. The arts, literature, music, etc... overlapped often and Eagerton made use of his brother''s talents frequently... Although it really didn''t happen much the other way around.


    It''s not that Eagerton was too high brow to contribute to his brother''s songs or anything, he even gladly offered to many a time, it''s just that Edgerton wanted to do it all himself. It was a kind of pride in his work that led him to this decision but not one to be confused with arrogance or derision, he just wanted everything he produced to be all his. He didn''t want a ghost-writer and it was to the point that even harmless suggestions from his brother were ignored flat out. Part of this stemmed from one incident in which Eagerton actually had a brilliant idea that Edgerton wanted nothing more than to use in his lyrics but, regrettably, it never felt right. He hadn''t earned it so it left a bitter taste in his mouth every time he sung it which only made him more and more annoyed that he hadn''t dedicated enough time to his lyricism such that he could come up with it himself. Had he spent another few days, weeks, or even months slaving away over the song maybe he would have found that special little sentence, perfectly crafted, all by himself. That was real pride, not just singing someone else''s hard work. In that sense, to be fair to Eagerton, it was a bit different on his end. His books never came with audio on the side or anything so Edgerton''s assistance never really manifested in Eagerton''s work. At least not overtly anyway as Eagerton insisted it did because every creation that came flowing through him as a result of the music was something he attributed to Edgerton more than himself. They''d debate such topics occasionally, mostly centred around artistic philosophies that were ultimately redundant, but it was definitely the highlight of their relationship as a whole and general interactions outside this were mundane or one note.


    That aside, that puppy dog appearance of Eagerton''s meant he wanted to collab in some way. And not in the sense that he wanted to form a band as he''d once joked about back during April fool''s day a few years back. The moron suggested they start a band called ''AG/DG'', which were the two letters in their name that differed after the initial ''E'', forming a reference to another relatively well known band. Whilst Edgerton did find the image he mustered in his brain of his brother singing absolutely hilarious, the whole suggestion was definitely a joke and not something to be taken seriously as the creative clashes that would arise from such a stunt would lead to fall out that was borderline nuclear between them. If there was one thing that was true of both brothers, it''s that they were obstinate as they were passionate. They would not last more than five minutes in a room together if they were actively trying to work on the same piece as one another as they would butt heads and never back down. Sure they made suggestions for one another, or were willing to in Eagerton''s case, but if it came to putting their foot down and insisting then the entire manor they lived in would suffer day and night at the hands of their incessant squabbling. So no, that wasn''t what Eagerton was after, thankfully, and all he wanted was to perform a combination art.


    Which one?


    Hell if Edgerton knew! There was no such thing as any ''pre-determined'' combination arts that these two knew. They''d never even used the same one more than once as it just wasn''t their style. They had more of a jazz session approach to their combination arts and just went with the flow of whatever the other person was doing without interrupting it... Because if they were allowed to take charge then they would just start disagreeing with one another endlessly mid combat. Instead, they just overlapped their ideas on top of each other in a bid for supremacy and the resulting discordance was usually more than enough to accidentally kill the foes somewhere in the middle of it all. There was a particularly infinitesimal chance that, maybe, just maybe, they would get along during one such combination art and, when they did, it was truly a moving sight. The power of the combination art skyrocketed and was less like multiplying their individual powers by 1.5 and was more akin to multiplying it by upwards of 5 times in total. Teamwork made the dreamwork and when they weren''t impeding one another they were a rather strong duo... But that almost never happened. They''d done this a few times already and only achieve such a state twice. It was neat when things went well but they never expected it to and went in with the belief they were going to have to fend off each other''s advances to take control of the artistic direction.


    As for how such a bizarre concept worked, Eagerton was on naming duty while Edgerton figured out the mana channelling. They casted it together in their own way, Eagerton via his book and Edgerton via his guitar, and then all hell broke loose in whatever manner they deemed fit. The main reason this worked was thanks to Eagerton''s unique aspect as it wasn''t strict at all when it came to on the fly adjustments to arts that were pre-existing. Edgerton was the base of the art, more often than not, and Eagerton the accompaniment that added some extra flare whenever he felt it appropriate. Edgerton merely sighed and agreed wordlessly to the combination art by plucking his guitar and sending a wave of mana towards his brother via a soundwave to kick things off. As the mana merged, and Edgerton went about channelling it through his guitar, Eagerton sunk deep into thought about what to name their improvised masterpiece before settling on a simple pun he rather liked due to the imagery it conjured within his brain. He had a direction with which to toy with and experiment further so he was already content enough with the premise to start and chanted aloud.


    "Bloombox!"


    Edgerton took in the chant and played along as he devised a serenade on the spot, one that was heavy hitting and thumped in the listener''s very soul as seeds rained down onto the arena from above. These seeds sunk underneath the floor before the arena cracked and multiple colourful boomboxes rose up out of the ground. They further amplified Edgerton''s vocal and instrumental performances, spreading his talent far and wide throughout the coliseum. With every strum of his guitar and with every sentence that passed by his lips the boomboxes grew a small flower atop their outer frame and soon the flowers merged with the metal. No longer were the sounds of Edgerton''s artistic expression being played through mere speakers but, now, Eagerton''s floral arrangement had become the medium through which his brother''s music bloomed. The flower''s hummed Edgerton''s harmony and swayed gently in tune to the rhythmic sensation. The sound emanating from these Bloomboxes spread far and wide, serenading every listener aside from those it was targeting as they did not fare quite so well. The song dug deep into the opposing team''s ears and planted itself within their body like fresh new seeds, waiting to germinate. These seeds pulsed with every soundwave that watered them, eventually blooming within the body acting as soil for its rapid growth. From the opposing team''s mouths, ears, eyes, and sweat pores dotted around their bodies, an array of flowers sprouted with a resounding blossom that chimed along to the current chorus. With every pulse of these new flowers the body they were attached to suffered as they too had become Bloomboxes, spreading the sounds of sweet and honeyed romance via their body''s reverberations. The pollen of sound spread further and more flowers gradually appeared over their limbs, progressively turning them into a flower bed of quaint music that resembled a theme akin to that of mother nature discovering love for the first time.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    It was a rather captivating sight and Eagerton was almost tempted to let it be. This was one of the rare times him and his brother actually aligned in their creative vision and struck an accord, so to speak. Alas, Eagerton had his own thoughts on the matter and had been planning a grand finale to this tournament from the day he first entered, if not before then too. Though he did somewhat regret stealing the spotlight here, it was deemed necessary! Plus Edgerton wouldn''t care much, he''d had his fun already and was only really going along with this to satisfy Margaret up on the top floor of the coliseum anyway. He''d much rather be hanging around his groupies back at Musician''s Wanted where he didn''t have to cater his musical talents to the masses. He''d been extremely courteous in not turning this serenade into a screaming eulogy of impassioned desire so that was enough for him today and he felt tired from pivoting to suit everyone else''s tastes. He couldn''t complain though as the end result was satisfactory. Just because he didn''t prefer this style of music that didn''t mean he would never touch it, just that he''d do so infrequently. As this was more of a casual experiment than anything Edgerton actually valued from an artistic standpoint, he was fine with Eagerton taking over and doing as he pleased. Sure this combination art would fade away and wind up being mostly irrelevant forever more but, in many ways, that suited Edgerton just fine as it had already done its job and left a lasting impression on all those who saw it.


    As for Eagerton, he was excited. Everything he''d done in this tournament up until this point was all for this! Every art he''d cast, every creation he''d brought to life, every word of every line of every page would all come together to finalise this written samsara cycle. His first dot of ink on the very first page marked the beginning and the brilliant strokes of cursive penmanship on the final page heralded the end of a handcrafted journey through the mind of a inventive virtuoso. Eagerton walked up to his flowery foes with his book firmly held in one of the two hands clasped behind his back. Eagerton came to a halt and swung his book holding hand around to his front while letting the wind blow the pages from left to right as he stared at his foes from between each and every piece of paper that flickered past him. So many countless ideas darted past his sight, ideas that he''d put blood sweat and tears in formulating and even actualising via his magic. This book was a veritable treasure trove of Eagerton''s proudest creations as of late and it served as an anthology detailing his creative processes regarding artistry and / or combat, and yet it served a bigger purpose right now. Though each individual entity that was detailed in that book and brought to life was relevant in its own way, the sum was going to be greater than its parts as the final page was laid to rest on the back cover side of the book. Snap. With a flex of his hand Eagerton shut the book and chanted with a crystal clear voice,


    "Akashic Conclusion!"


    The raw essence of every word and every world residing within Eagerton''s book came to life in a vibrant burst of colour and splendour. Once more, every art and every single piece of magic this book had once summoned was summoned yet again in a twisted, amorphous blob. Even the horde of agitated chickens from way back when contributed to this congregation of magic as several beaks were strewn about through the entangled mess of objects amongst flowers, boomboxes, bottled lightning, and other such mystiques of the penman''s mind. Eagerton''s book, as a whole, was a culmination of his dedication to the artistry that could be found in all things, combat included. Every solution to every problem, every violent whip of language his tongue and mind had bombarded even the most insignificant of opponent with, and every spark of ingenuity that made it beyond his flesh and onto the limitless boundaries of the pages of reality reflected within Eagerton''s vision. All of it flowed through a singular line of mana that wove together these individual events into a continuum to form the perfect story. All morals and hidden meanings, all blunt symbolism and raw emotion. Everything was packed into a single send off for this book''s very last full stop before he moved onto a new beginning with another, empty, book. Eagerton''s expert narration for this book had come to a close and it was finally time to lay a good work of art down to rest where it would remain in everybody''s psyche for all eternity. The twists and turns of his irregular and sporadic arts that were each tailored to his own life formed both a lived in fantasy and a compelling documentary of his existence over the last few months and now, at long last, it was time for the reader to experience it all just as he had. There was undeniably an overabundance of intent packed into this amalgamation of creativity but that was the point, what each individual struck by this mass took away was unique and unto their own. Their deaths would be brought about via their comprehension. The death of the author was a rather metaphorical thing but the death of the reader was going to be all too literal as the exceedingly large bundle of indeterminable objects and magics crashed down onto the humanoid plants below.


    BBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


    The magic of a good book, for once, did not leave its readers wishing for more. Those who were crushed by the Akashic Conclusion were sent to the resurrection platform with no room for negotiation as they''d already been debilitated by the Bloombox art from before so blocking this as well was simply an impossibility... Not that they would have been able to regardless as this art packed far too much of a punch to resist in conventional ways. The fight had been one-sided from the get go as, unlike in the outer court tournament, there was no real opponent who could be the ''Mako'' to Eagerton''s unobstructed rampage. All of the aces from the other four major clans in Vraizon were younger and had taken part in the outer court tournament so he was effectively free to run rampant with no opposition. It''s not that the people in this tournament weren''t strong in their own right, it''s just that Eagerton was in class above them and Edgerton existed too. The brothers were roughly equally as powerful as each other, and would have a win rate of fifty fifty if they were to spar often, so it''s not like anyone else even stood a chance if they worked their way through Eagerton. There had been a situation in which Eagerton had gone all out, and wiped what was previously thought to be the strongest team in the tournament off the face of the planet during an earlier round, but even then Edgerton wasn''t really needed which just went to show how guaranteed this win was for the sect. He was mostly eye candy for his fans in the audience and his presence was much appreciated by his mother who was painting pictures of her two children as they beat up the competition. If it were up to Edgerton, he would have just sat in a corner the entire time but he''d been pestered into helping out here and there and had bust a few ear drums with gnarly riffs over the course of the tournament to please his mother. Anyway, it was over now and Heaven''s Path were going to be declared victors for the second time so that was a positive. Yulo was here watching and would no doubt be very satisfied to receive and another round of rewards for his disciples'' excellence.


    Ares'' divine sense had lasted long enough to watch the fight in its entirety but he was whisked away shortly after by Calla who''d buried him deep in the blankets of his bed again before he could even parse the fact he wasn''t at the coliseum anymore. He would have been somewhat interested in watching the speech segment at the end but oh well, it likely wasn''t anything important. He might have been thanked by Eagerton, for being his muse one-sided though that affair was, but other than that it would probably just be standard and nothing out of the ordinary.


    The next major thing on Ares'' to do list was the meeting coming up and, luckily, it looked as though he might be feeling better by then. His rising cultivation meant his susceptibility to the illness that had been plaguing him was lowering by the minute. Throw in the many hot chocolates and he would good as new for the meeting... Not that it would stop Calla from attending anyway. Even putting aside the fact she wanted to take care of him, she was probably going to be snapping pictures of her cub in a leadership position, refuting baseless claims and making a stand like a mini adult. That being said, she technically wasn''t supposed to be there and her presence could be construed as a threat so, as much as she wanted to stand around and mind her own business, it was likely she''d have to sneak around and keep hidden. Given her cultivation that would be simple enough but it also meant she''d have to resist the urge to smack the disobedient elders, who weren''t happy with Ares, with her poison laden tail.


    Ares spent some time sipping on some more hot chocolate and occasionally pressurising the Backfire Bindings until he got bored. There wasn''t much for him to vary his current lifestyle with with so he figured he might as well just get some sleep until it was time to maybe cook some food for everyone later. Just as Ares was about to take a nap, there really wasn''t much else to do while he was confined to the bed like this thanks to Calla''s insistence, Enyo returned from the coliseum, walked into the room, and headed over to Ares. She handed him a letter of some sort, that she presumably received on the way back from the tournament match, which he diligently opened up and read. He scanned the contents and raised his eyebrow before putting it on the bedside cabinet.


    "I''m surprised they''re going with something on the down low like this. Being the kin of their respective patriarchs means they could have a much bigger celebration if they really wanted to." Ares was referring to the fact that Li Li and Dirk were getting married in the sect and having a small get together, inviting the neighbours and a few clansmen.


    Enyo shrugged in response. "It''s significant from a clan-merging perspective but it''s unlikely the two want to be treated like some kind of spectacle by the rest of their clan. It would seem more like a political thing if they invited literally everybody and then they would need a massive venue on top of that. Having a smaller party amongst the company of friendly individuals is the decision they came to when factoring this in so it''s fine, no?"


    "Of course, not saying it isn''t, I''m just surprised they''re doing it so soon. They must have been planning the finer details for a while now then if they''ll already be prepared for the ceremony in a few days time." It seemed like Ares was going to be getting involved in one more event before he left for the Federation. Sitll, as it was a small scale thing it likely wouldn''t last too long and ought not to delay things by much time if at all. The only real annoyance regarding this spontaneous decision was that Ares was almost definitely going to be asked to cook... Ah well, he hadn''t done it properly in a good while and so it would be cathartic to do something more than the basics. He broiled chicken last time for crying out loud! It tasted good but it was rather boring... Ares would make up for it during this event for sure! Plus he''d have enough mana by then to freely utilise the Blade how he wanted to so, although he''d require some mana shot pills and might even get a little exhausted, he was going to be cooking for a large group once more!... Not that that was supposed to be the main attraction, this was still a wedding ceremony at the end of the day... Actually, now that Ares thought about it, who was qualified to hold this ceremony anyway?... Never mind, I think I already know the answer to that question... Ares'' eye twitched as the man of many ''talents'', more like odd jobs really, was almost definitely going to be the preacher for this event... Rud really did get around...

 Chapter 297: The Meeting Begins

    Time passed and only one incident really occurred during that time period. Calla finally figured it was time to take mini Ares on a tour around Sheryashka and take pictures with him. It was over and done with in a matter of, give or take, two hours but it had been a wild rollercoaster for the entire duration. The first stop was Baja forest where Ares was lain down on the floor and had the old group of hydra deer and treetop tigers smother him in bundles of fur. Calla took great joy in watching all the fluffy animals cling to her son and this was undoubtedly where she took the most pictures. The next stop afterwards was a relatively remote location that was yet another forest of some sort. Ares didn''t know this one but, as it turned out, Calla was doing precisely as she wanted to back when she first saw mini Ares. That is to say, she was currently sitting him atop Serene''s spare mecha dryad... She''d hidden it in a separate forest to the last one but, after being threatened by the fluffy matriarch, Calla had walked away with that information squarely in her back pocket in case she ever needed it. This being what she used that information for was rather strange but, hey, she seemed to be having fun so Ares and the mecha dryad, which was fearing for its life and quaking in its boots right now, complied and followed orders. Ares understood the mecha dryad, thanks to his bloodline that allowed him to communicate with non-humans flawlessly having improved as of late, but he understood well that even if he told Calla how uncomfortable this thing was right now she wouldn''t care... Ares quietly apologised to the dryad both for killing its brother as well as putting it through this, as that was arguably the far more cruel part of this whole mess, as he sat atop its hull and waved with a forced smile.


    Most of the rest of the photos after this were interesting in their own way as Calla made Ares take pictures atop giant cruise ship sized whales out in the ocean, had him freefall through the sky with no safety net, buried him up to his neck at a nearby beach, and even rolled him down a snowy hill... Although with that last one Ares could have sworn she was laughing way more than she was taking pictures! Not that she should do either! Also, what if he got ill again!?... Ok, that last part was an excuse because she''d made him wear the Scaled Insulator and his cultivation was decent enough now that the chances were slim. Anyway, these pictures were the more ridiculous ones but they weren''t quite the final ones Calla had in mind as she also bought him some ice cream, amongst other minor day to day scenarios, while snapping away.


    Ares thought his own personal hell was over until he found himself being whisked away once more. He saw where he landed and instantly wanted to run away! He tried escaping into the void but his tiny legs couldn''t carry him fast enough and so his mother hoisted him over her shoulder by using her tail like some kind of portable crane. Ares wanted to flee and avoid the ensuing embarrassment but, alas, he was already in the clothes shop and there was no way out. The boy''s clothes were fine, he managed that without a grimace... But the girls'' clothes.... Ares never wanted to do this again... The humiliation was too strong... And the clerks who were failing to hide their laughter... Ares wanted to go hide in his bed forever... Not that doing so would erase those foul pictures his own mother had taken! Betrayal of the highest order! It didn''t help that she showed Enyo and Bellona all the photos too when she returned with mini Ares in tow... Ares was never going to hear the end of this... It was far easier for him to slip back into bed and sleep his troubles away so that was precisely what he did.


    Though he was mostly back to normal by the end of that day, regarding his cold, he still hid inside the room and never really ventured outside of it up until it was time for the meeting because there wasn''t much for him to do. He could cook every now and then but, other than that, it was just a constant barrage of laughs directed at him for the whole clothes incident. Ares was making up for his many hours of lost sleep on the run up to the final match of the tournament and that was pleasant in its own way. The only other thing he could mess around with were the Backfire Bindings as pressurising them a bit here and there wasn''t entirely out of the cards. It was small progress but that was still better than nothing and might actually help make pressurising them before he left for the Federation plausible. Most of the work would be done after he recovered proper but, until then, this would suffice. This sleep, cook, eat, get mocked, and pressurise process repeated for a while but, on the promised date and at the agreed upon time, Ares heard a shout from outside his house as Teng had come to guide him towards the meeting point.


    Ares got up and got dressed, stretched as it had been a while since he left the bed last, and went outside where he met the elder he''d seen the least of as of late. Teng seemed to show up for official business and then promptly disappear into the bowels of the sect until he was needed again. The entrance exam, the inner court test, and the pre-tournament selection process. Those were the times Ares had seen / spoken to Teng and today marked the fourth. He wasn''t an interesting guy by any means but he was consistently consistent. He followed the rules to the letter, did as was asked of him without complaint, and was generally really efficient. Definitely a good person to have around in the sect as a whole. Plus he was generally liked by the disciples for being on their side more often than not when it came to elder / disciple disputes. Even if the disciple was wrong, provided it wasn''t too massive a mistake, he would try and bail them out so he was well respected. Also, he had insider information on the elders and what kind of moods they were in so avoiding trouble was easy whenever he had loose lips in the core court (which was where he spent most of his time).


    Ares and Teng chatted away about the result of the tournament as well as Ares'' crazy plans for the future as they made their way through the inner court and arrived at the gates to the core court. Ares had been here before but the place he visited was the venue for the international party and the sect HQ that one time so he wasn''t all too familiar with the majority of the core area. Having Teng be a guide was handy as he was chatty about this sort of stuff and seemed to have a story for every building they passed by. Ares also got a chance to spy the living quarters, which was nice after Yulo pre-empted him a while back and prevented him from having an excuse to come in and see this stuff for himself. Still, this wasn''t where he would be living as the sect master had their own lodging deeper in the sect. Where the sect master stayed could be considered a core CORE area as it was easily the most secluded spot in the entire sect. Unfortunately Ares wouldn''t be passing by today but he would get to see it soon enough regardless and so didn''t sweat it. Instead, he was taken to a rather large building that existed solely for the purpose of gathering the elders. It was the same place Rud had called everyone to that one meeting to discuss Ares after he passed the entrance exam as it had a few tools that made it convenient for such meetings. Namely people could be checked in and their attendance marked down automatically. Plus the lights in the room could be remotely dimmed and their were a few runes / artifacts present that made small tasks simple. A water dispenser, a heater / cooler, a microphone to speak louder and make sure everyone can hear you, etc... Just a bunch of really neat additions that turned the room into a casual war room of sorts. If ever the elders of this sect needed to plan for an upcoming war with another sect, or something similar in nature, this was the building that would be retrofitted for such a purpose.


    Ares went in and used the identification token doohickie he got way back when he first joined to have his name jotted down on a list of attendees. He hadn''t used this token much but it was useful whenever he wanted to enter the training areas and whatnot. Nowadays, as it had been updated by Rud at some point without Ares knowing, he could use the token to get just about anywhere. His status had been updated to be nearly equivalent to that of Yulo''s ahead of time and so he had a lot of freedom in the sect. He could easily have come to the core court area for a stroll if he really wanted to but, as Rud hadn''t mentioned this token business to him as of yet, Ares had no clue. Rud was an ass like that because although he done the job he''d been asked to, and updated Ares'' privileges, nobody ever told him he had to inform Ares of this change! It''s not like he didn''t have ample opportunity to either as his clones were pretty much everywhere and Ares had walked by a few of them here and there. He might have considered telling him if the twerp didn''t keep sticking his tongue and / or middle finger out at him. Oh well, karma''s a bitch! It''s not like Ares had much use for these access privileges anyway so it wasn''t too big a deal and he wasn''t missing out on much.


    Ares and Teng entered the meeting room and there were already a few familiar faces, namely Zhang, Slick, buddy Ruddy, Lizzy, Dabble, and Julio. There were a whole host of others too including, but not limited to, the tier leaders in each court, various department elders Ares hadn''t yet met, logistical elders, elders that spent most of their time outside the sect acting as liaisons, and everything in-between. Some elders dabbled in multiple fields and had a few different jobs all at once and some were legacy elders that had been here for a long while but no longer really worked on much. They would lend their aid and fight if anybody came invading but, other than that, and a few comments here and there to aid the disciples, they kinda just took up space. Still, they were friendly and loyal so they were given a small salary and allowed to hang around much like guard dogs past their prime. Nobody was heartless enough to get rid of them after all they''d done for the sect in the many years prior to most other people arriving here even if they weren''t capable of contributing as much as they''d like to.


    In addition to these groups, there were also a few new faces that had joined recently and seemed to be happy to see Ares in the flesh. A lot of these elders had joined specifically because of him and his plans for the future so naturally these weren''t the elders that had gripes with him becoming the sect leader. As for those that did, it would mostly be a mix of elders from various different jobs in the sect as no one group had any reason specifically to despise Ares. It was just a bunch of individual grumpy elders who were either jealous, obstinate, or wary. They also seemingly weren''t here yet, as Ares wasn''t receiving any mean muggings or glare-downs, but that was to be expected as they wouldn''t exactly show up early to this sort of meeting just for Ares'' sake... Or well maybe they might if they really wanted to send the message they weren''t fond of him by getting their unpleasant looks in ASAP. That took real dedication though and surely nobody would


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    GLARE


    ... Never mind. Scrap that last part. Evidently somebody really had it out for Ares! Thankfully Teng was kind enough to send Ares a mental message and maybe clarify why the hate emanating from this person was so considerable.


    [That''s Dascar and, put simply, he wants to be the next sect master.]


    Ares got a good look at the fellow with a cigar in his mouth and the first thing Ares noticed was that he was always huffing and puffing... Though that might have less to do with his temperament or his cigar and more to do with his pudgy build. The man was at transition realm, near the early stages of it (putting him firmly in ass-whooping territory if need be after Ares recovered), and didn''t really appear to be all that special. His bearing was confident, sure, but not in a way that would dwarf anyone else in this room if they all tried to match him. At a glance, at least, there was nothing about him that screamed ''worthy'' of such a lofty position. Even excluding the people Ares knew were talented, like Slick or Rud, there were a bunch of unfamiliar faces in the crowd Ares would sooner pick for sect leader if he had to choose than this guy. Was he weak? No, he might actually be in the top fifty percent of the room as is, before everyone else arrived, but he wasn''t anywhere near the heights of the strongest. He wouldn''t make top ten in the sect, that was for sure, and even top twenty was likely a stretch. His cultivation was decently high but he wasn''t as well trained as others and Ares could tell just be looking at him and his stance.


    [Ha... The confusion on your face is kinda giving your opinion away... Not that the rest of us don''t feel the same, mind you.]


    Ares was taken aback because he genuinely wasn''t aware he was looking at Dascar like the guy was out of his league. Maybe it was because he was a child and he didn''t have quite the control over his facial muscles that he thought he did? Maybe Ares was so overtly assured this guy couldn''t pose a threat that he just gave no fucks and let loose on the expression? Maybe Ares was subconsciously doing this openly to taunt him because his inner revenant was having a good laugh right now? Could be any of the above, really, but regardless Ares hadn''t done it on purpose and so he stopped... Not that the damage wasn''t already done as Dascar''s glare was twice as fierce now as it was before at the bare minimum.


    [He''s been here longer than some but nowhere near as long as many. He''s not a powerhouse nor does he contribute to the sect in ways that someone like Rud or Yulo does with their hard work. He can be lazy, he''s not great with managing finances, in terms of leadership qualities he really doesn''t possess any, and he''s just generally disliked by disciples and elders alike. Even if another elder didn''t want you to be the sect leader they wouldn''t pick this guy, I can tell you that right now. We''ve no idea what makes him think he deserves the position but, and I''ll be honest with you, none of us have ever cared enough to ask. I think most people would really just like to have him fired but supposedly he brings in a lot of revenue because he was born into money and has made extensive use of that. He wanted to run a sect since before he even joined and must have thought we''d be easy pickings due to our monetary issues. This was right before Yulo became sect master though and his status alleviated a lot of issues in and of itself. Throw in the stardust Dascar lent and the problem he wanted to capitalise off vanished on the spot. It''s not like we were completely out of the woodworks but we weren''t at rock bottom.


    I think Dascar also picked this sect because he realised that, despite our relative poverty to other sects, we were still a strong sect overall. He wouldn''t need to do much to turn Heaven''s Path around provided he threw money at it because the roots were good. Even broke we were still middle of the pack, give or take, so he smelled blood in the water and leapt in at the worst possible time. Had he arrived any sooner, before Yulo took charge, he might have gotten his wish. He''s probably stuck around this whole time out of desperation to get his money''s worth and try to take over after Yulo leaves. There was never really a clear second in command and Yulo had made it obvious he didn''t want to remain here forever. You''re quite the thorn in his side as you''re perfect for the role in every way. Plus, as a result of all the stardust we''ve earned off you indirectly, we aren''t reliant on him anymore for money. You''re his worst nightmare and he will no doubt be the person who gives you the most pushback during this meeting so keep an eye out for him. Still, he''ll likely chuck plenty of bad faith arguments at you but none of the elders here are stupid and will just ignore him. Those that aren''t fond of you have their stance but they aren''t morally corrupt enough to back Dascar even when he''s talking nonsense. Dascar is easily the worst person we have in this sect and it''s not even close; the only reason we haven''t kicked him out for good is because he''s mostly kept his mouth shut. That doesn''t mean you can ignore him entirely though as a broken clock can still be right twice a day. He might strike a chord that''s actually relevant with his blind assault so be prepared.]


    Ares took this information to heart and swore he wouldn''t let this guy especially get the better of him. Dascar needed to be kept away from the reigns of power whatever the cost as he was no longer needed in this sect now that Ares was here. In fact, his first order of business as sect leader would be kicking this guy to the curb as the description given to Ares did not align with his vision for the place. Ares did not need nor want someone around only because they were trying to usurp his position or blackmail the sect a s whole with monetary aid. Nope! Not happening! Put simply, this guy was unnecessary bloat. Ares went over all of the worst possible scenarios in his head regarding what this guy could bring up that would be damning and came up with measured responses for all of them. There weren''t actually that many but there were definitely a few sore spots that Ares wouldn''t be too keen on having to answer because there was no cure-all comeback to them. Where these things damning? No, just a pain in the ass to have brought up as it meant Are was going to have to openly lay down the law.


    As Ares went over various issues with his ascension to sect master in his head, the rest of the room gradually filled out and Yulo arrived last of everyone who was going to show up. He already knew precisely what time everyone would arrive at so he allowed his alarm clock to snooze a couple extra times without feeling too worried about showing up late. His prophecy magic didn''t really have many better uses while he was stuck inside the sect so why not? He walked over to Ares, gave him a brief nod, yawned, and finally spoke when everyone had quietened down to listen to him. There was almost nobody who had issues with Yulo being the sect master, as he''d long since proven himself, so even the people who weren''t a fan of Ares necessarily didn''t have any problems with Yulo. If anything, the fact that he was endorsing Ares made a number of Ares naysayers hold their breath and refuse to comment otherwise there would have been nearly twice as many elders with complaints overall. There were still some that thought Yulo just desperately wanted out and wasn''t thinking entirely straight, picking the first option that came to him, but they were willing to wait and see how Ares did first before complaining... Not that it wouldn''t be too late by then but they didn''t really want to oppose Yulo anyway. He was wise beyond his years and not the type to make an error when it came to such an important decision. They weren''t sure what he was going to say but if he basically summed up his thoughts on the matter as ''he''s next, deal with it'' then these elders would just quietly put up with the choice.


    Yulo used his magic a little just to check the response his upcoming ''speech'' before actually giving it, as was customary, because if you had magic that could guarantee you picked the right dialogue option every single time then why not use it? Then again, his upcoming talk was going to be incredibly simple so there wasn''t much to check and the reaction was roughly what he expected. "Alright, let''s get down to important business. You all know why we''re here, you all know Ares'' plans for the sect, and you all know I''m going to endorse him. Anyway, I''m handing over the floor to him now so do whatever you want." Yulo turned around, walked away without a care in the world, and sat down in a chair in a position that implied he was going to try and get some shut eye...


    The elders were shocked! it really looked like he was throwing Ares under the bus here but he had technically given the endorsement after all... This was his way of saying ''Ares is capable of defending himself, he doesn''t need me and you''re all free to try and disprove that''. In hindsight, after giving it some thought, this was arguably the best thing he could have done in this situation so although the elders were still reeling from his lackadaisical approach, they had to respect it at least. Unfortunately, however, this just went to show how capable Yulo was of making the right decision at every turn, with or without his magic, and now Ares had to go second after such a display. It was better for him in some ways and worse than others because now he could stand tall on his own two feet but he was going to be compared to Yulo and that was not easy competition. He was unphased though as he hadn''t been expecting much support from the get go, all he wanted out of Yulo was for him to arrange the meeting in the first place.


    Yulo honestly didn''t have to show up and could have stayed in bed if he wanted to sleep so bad... Though it was better to have him here just in case things somehow got out of hand. It was unlikely but if two argumentative factions formed and a fight broke out then what was Ares supposed to do in his mini state?! He wasn''t so divisive though, and had no intention of trying to create such factions to make his own life easier, so this was mostly irrelevant and Yulo really didn''t have to worry about it. Oh well, him being here lent credibility to Ares as it felt more like a succession and less like Yulo casually abandoning everyone without so much as even making an appearance. It was probably better for his own reputation than it was for Ares''. Not that it wouldn''t have a knock on effect on Ares if his reputation declined... Maybe he really did have to be here? Ares had to admit Yulo was clever for figuring this all out but if Ares had come to the same conclusion then that was good enough! Besides, what Ares might have lacked in foresight, which wasn''t saying much when he was being pit against someone who could see the damn future, he made up for in terms of power and potential. Those where his best assets and what he really needed to focus on selling these people so, with that in mind, he took over Yulo''s previous spot and readied himself to speak.

 Chapter 298: Make a Good Case

    "Ahem. Let''s make this quick shall we? Those of you who have issues with me becoming the sect master raise your hand and take a step forward!" Right off the bat, Ares came swinging with a strong start. Though it hardly affected many people here, forcing those who opposed him to out themselves amongst a sea of people who were supportive could be a bit nerve wracking. He was proving to them all that they were an extreme minority and utilising the ''public sentiment'' much like he did back when he was giving his speech at the tournament. Those elders who didn''t want to be the ones rocking the boat when everyone else was sitting peacefully, at the risk of looking like whiny old dinosaurs who couldn''t get with the times, would maybe back down here which would reduce Ares'' workload today. If they didn''t feel strongly about the matter to begin with then there was decent chance this would kill all remaining motivation as it would seem unnecessary when they could just resign themself to it like everyone else and not be weird about it. Was this ethical? Bullying people who were perhaps a bit more timid and prone to peer pressure? Nope! It''s not like Ares ever claimed he wouldn''t be morally reprehensible when it suited him! It''s not like the end result would differ anyway, as these specific elders likely didn''t have any points that couldn''t be swatted away regardless. If they were really this unconfident in their own questions or assertions about Ares then it was likely nothing worth discussing. Anyway, excluding these people who went back to blending in with the crowd and didn''t take this chance to make their concerns heard, there were about six elders in total with their hands raised. Naturally one of these members of the opposition was Dascar, and that was no surprise to Ares, but there was one familiar face amongst the crowd... Curse you Rud!


    "Rud, the hell are you doing over there?" Ares wanted to spit at the old mule but instead figured he would at least politely ask first... Not that his tone was anything but rude...


    Rud snorted and give a strange response. "I''m playing angel''s advocate."


    "Isn''t it supposed to be devil''s advocate?"


    "No, because then I''d be on your side."


    Ares glared at the bastard who''d gotten him good but if Rud thought he was getting away with this dig he had another thing coming! "Ok, before we continue, I want a second show of hands. When I become sect leader, who thinks I should lower Rud''s wages?" A wave of hands shot up throughout the entire room, unsurprisingly given what Rud had done to a number of them, and instantly put the win firmly in Ares'' hands for this round. Rud ground his teeth and looked around, remembering faces and taking names for later! Even the elders who disagreed with Ares becoming the sect master had their hands raised! The punk had swayed emotions with that last move! Who knew there was something in this sect that could unite everyone quite like payback for Rud?


    "Alright, that aside, I want those of you with complaints to lay them out to me one by one so I can address them in a timely fashion. There''s no order or need to wait for permission so if something is on your mind then just say it."


    "I don''t like you."


    "Fuck off Rud." Ares gave the old coot the middle finger and ignored him. "Anything so long as it''s not a waste of everyone''s time and is actually relevant to the topic at hand. Also, if any of the elders who haven''t stepped forward also want to say something then feel free. You can ask for clarification or even query me about the direction I plan on taking the sect although I can''t promise you I''ll have a fleshed out answer for everything. I''ve not familiarised myself with every single department or the current rules of the sect. I''m loosely aware of these things and will be going over these matters as soon as possible now that things have come to this so if there''s anything I''m not aware of I ask for patience and understanding. That aside, ask away." Another smart choice here as Ares had cut off the ''you know nothing about the sect'' argument from the get go. People could still make it but Ares hadn''t been here that long, hadn''t been openly in the running for sect leader for ages and, as a result, had no reason to be so concerned with every minor detail of the sect. He admitted it was a shortcoming and vowed to improve so as to prevent it from being an issue. It was something that had only literally just become relevant to him as of a few days ago so pinning the blame on him for not knowing every single aspect of the sect would backfire and generally be considered a bad argument. Even if these elders knew Ares had been planning on taking over for a while longer than they were aware of it wouldn''t matter as Ares could just use the valid excuse that he was preparing for the tournament. In other words, he''d cut off this line of questioning as it was a bigger hassle if somebody else brought it up before he did. Sometimes honesty is the best policy.


    "You''re just a kid who won some dumb tournament, why should you get to be the sect leader?" Ares didn''t even have to turn his head to know it was Dascar making such a blunt and stupid comment. He''d been warned this guy would fire off every single reason known to man even if they were wrong, irrelevant, or based on misunderstandings. He was already doing it which caused Ares to inadvertently sigh but he gave a quick response none the less. He didn''t have to explain thoroughly as the other elders didn''t need this question answered and wouldn''t press him for a response even if he outright ignored Dascar.


    "First off, this kid form is temporary and I''ll be back to normal soon enough. Given the circumstance surrounding my family there was no possible way for me to have known about this beforehand and it wouldn''t have even really been an issue had my mother not interfered and pushed things along in this direction. Even if such a thing happened to me after becoming sect leader Calla being here would have guaranteed our safety from foreign threats regardless so it was a relatively minor matter that had actually temporarily made this sect the safest its ever been. Calla''s presence will make us unassailable for the next month, give or take, so it''s actually been surprisingly beneficial. I''m the only one who has any real reason to be concerned with the fact that I''m a kid right now as it''s halting my cultivation progress but that''s mostly irrelevant because I rarely if ever cultivate anyway. It''s far easier to raise my cultivation in other ways, such as through combat, so it''s not too worrying. Plus I probably gained some cultivation after my match with Mako anyway so I won''t be falling behind anyone else. Not that it matters because, and this is point two, I won that ''dumb'' tournament you''re referring to.


    I''m already the strongest of my age group unquestionably and missing a week or two of cultivation due to unfortunate events outside my control would never change that. Hell I don''t think I need to say this but I''m not exactly restricted to ''my age group'' either and I''m already at the point where I could start winning against a fair few of the elders in this very room. I only plan on taking control of the sect after reaching bloodline awakening, at which point I''d have access to Garmr, and then there isn''t anybody left in this room that can go even with me beyond that point. Even Yulo wouldn''t be able to. Be it the tournament or just in general, it should be fairly obvious my strength is sufficient to take on the role. I''m not taking over because I won the ''dumb'' tournament, that''s blatantly not it. I won the tournament because I have a level of power that is also capable of serving as credentials to lead this sect. The two are indirectly related at best it''s just that the former helps prove unquestionably the latter. If winning the tournament were all that mattered then Yulo could have just as easily picked Enyo."


    "Maybe it should be Enyo?" Rud spoke up as Ares'' refutation of Dascar led to him mentioning the name of somebody that had been the previous potential candidate being whispered about by certain elders... Namely Rud... "She''s not as strong as you, we all acknowledge that, but she has better leadership qualities and is strict enough for the role too. Aren''t you a bit too carefree?"


    Ares gave a serious response even though it was Rud because he seemed genuine in his questioning. "I guess that would depend on what your stance is on Enyo''s brand of leadership. For starters, the Enyo any of you knew is long gone and that disappeared a while back. She''s not uncompromising or needlessly strict anymore so I wouldn''t expect it of her all the time. Second of all, that Enyo leading a sect would be disastrous as you''d all become mini Legion members not even a year in and any sort of identity this sect had as an individual entity would be eradicated fully. Third of all, there''s a line between strict and tyranny that she would have absolutely crossed and any all suggestions you would have wanted to make would be ignored utterly by the person she was back then. She was righteous to a fault and stubborn to one as well. She could not be reasoned with the way you hope she might be and such a trait does not make for a great leader.


    You, none of you, would have a say in the direction of this place and it would rapidly just become a branch of local law enforcement rather than a sect. There''s also a limit to how uptight a person should be and, with all due respect to my wife, she had crossed that line by at least a few miles back then. Right out the gate this meeting would not even be happening as you would have all been expected to obediently fall in line and do as commanded from the get go. You think you could disobey? Well this is where the fourth point comes in and I remind you of her father who would not tolerate insubordination. You would have no agency, no individualism, no say in anything, and no chance of ever fixing it. For the rest of time this sect would just be a Legion base in Sheryashka used to hunt down criminals and, worse, revenants. And I mean worse for you, not me, because they''re immortal and you''re not. The Legions would expect you to give you life for them without hesitation and there''s a non-zero chance you would make enemies of people in the Umbra clan who would just obliterate you on the spot eventually anyway.


    Now, to be fair, that''s old Enyo and, while the path she would have led this sect down was dark, new Enyo would be different, right? Yes, completely, she might even be perfect, but who do you think influenced her to be as she is now? I say this with pride but she, at least partially, tried to model herself after her sister and I. Her new personality was emulated to be more ''carefree'' so if you put her in charge, you''d basically just be getting me anyway and, as I''m stronger, and can provide more benefits, I''m still the better choice in near enough every way. Also, she has no interest in leading anything other than a harem anyway and just wants to do her own thing. She knows she would feel obligated to still serve the Legions too and she doesn''t want that for the sect because it has a better future under me. I''m not saying she''s a bad choice, far from it, it''s just that you aren''t getting her and I''m still marginally preferable either way. As for me being ''carefree'', and this is the last point, to some extent yes but in other ways no. It really depends on the matter and I only tend to be carefree if I''m certain of my ability to overcome whatever situation is at hand. I might not appear as such to those of you who haven''t met me but I can only promise you that is the case. You''re free to ask the other elders but I can be solemn, stoic, firm, pensive, and articulate if need be. I''m never going to stop being an annoying revenant, I refuse so don''t even ask, but I have very clear intentions with every move I make so you needn''t worry about me being rash or impulsive. Carefree but not careless."


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    "You mentioned the Umbra clan being a problem if Enyo had taken over before she became who she is now..." Another elder spoke up, this time not Rud as he seemed content with the answer to the question. "... But won''t you attract the ire of the Legions even as you are right now? We don''t want to fight them... More like we absolutely cannot."


    Ares had a feeling this might come up, it was one of the tricker questions he''d been pondering how to respond to. " This one''s complicated and I don''t have any good suggestions for this. This simplest way I can put it is that none of you need to be worried about it. I''m not saying it''s not an issue, I''m just saying the Legions, no matter how much they hate me for whatever reason, they do not hate you. So long as I am not here, the Legions also have no reason to be. I will not drag you into whatever spats I have with them so if they really do want to cause trouble I will just take them elsewhere. They do not kill innocent people so the Legions are not a group that you have any reason to fear. Besides, I imagine they would be hesitant to attack regardless. I''m not gunning for them and I have a dimension to save so you would think they''d leave me be. I can''t say for certain they won''t ever hassle us, apparently Major is a bit of an asshole in that regard, but I don''t see a reason anyone here should ever get involved with that other than me. Just let me handle the Legion and all will be fine. I will never make the landmass as a whole, sect included, a battleground fi there is literally any single way it can be avoided. I can store it in the Primordial Blade, which is how I intend on bringing it to Vraizon to begin with, and it is completely safe in there so even if anyone attacks there is zero risk. I am the only one in danger regarding the Legions and, even then, they ought to consider my fundamental status before making any rash moves.


    Now is any of this irrefutable? No, they might just disregard everything and assault the sect anyway but there are two more points I want to make. First of all, what''s stopping them from doing it now? So long as I''m here the reason for their hate will continue to exist. I don''t need to explain why you can''t get rid of me, I''m basically integral at this point and I will not stick around if I don''t become sect leader. That is partially a threat but I have every right to make it as I''ve single handedly turned this sect around since I arrived here and, in turn, have every right to take the benefits I''ve brought elsewhere. You''ll be safe from the Legions, which you most likely already are, but at what cost? You''ll become defenceless to other sects if neither Yulo nor I am here so you''ll just end up in a more precarious situation than if you stuck with me to begin with.


    Second of all, why can''t you stop the Legions? Because you''re weak? By that logic you can''t stop me either. Part of the reason you''re mostly all willing to let me lead is because I can take you to Vraizon where you''re entire goal is to get stronger, no? You can''t fight the Legions now but who''s to say you can''t do it in a few years time after training in the place only I can take you? What kind of cultivator are you that you back away from such a massive opportunity to skip upwards a domain because you''re afraid of a fight? you know cultivators have to fight at some point right? And I''d be doing most of the work anyway. How the hell do you think a God of destruction is going to lose to any mere army? The destruction pillar was basically tailor made for situations like that so we categorically have the upper hand. I''m not sure yet if I''ll clash with the Legions but I have no intention of losing to them. I''m even prepared to use ''No Fear'' to keep this sect safe if it comes to it but you''re unwilling to let me lead because the Legions might one day pass through and ask you where I''m waiting for them?


    This level of cowardice is honestly shocking.


    I don''t know about you but I''m not someone who runs away from their problems. To summarise, you stand a better chance against the Legions with me than you do against a clan looking to overthrow you without me or Yulo. If it''s one or the other, just pick the correct option and accept life in the cultivation world isn''t easy. I plan on fighting most of this sect''s battles so who I make enemies of is a pointless topic as you won''t be needing to fight them. Rather, you get to make enemies of whoever you want and I''m the one who''s really going to suffer. If I leave you alone in space for five minutes and return to find you arguing, about to start a deathmatch, with some random clan or sect, shouldn''t I be the one complaining? I will reiterate, this sect gains more from me being here than I gain from being in the sect."


    "What do you even gain anyway? Who''s to say you aren''t just using us for convenience but will chuck us away as soon as you find stronger replacements in the higher realms?" A third elder butted in.


    "What do I gain? A home? I''m going to be climbing through domains like a monkey up a tree so finding a new place to come back to every single time I do would be tiring. I have a family, a big one, and I want them to be safe, secure, and with me as much as possible. This is the best solution to that. Additionally, having a base of operations is just generally handy and, should things go in that direction, this place could even turn into a small army. I''m not raising you as soldiers, so don''t misinterpret my intentions, but I am aiming to gather strong cultivators here. Again, primarily to protect the people I care about but, hey, at the end of the day, use ''em if you got ''em. I will be used by you for protection for millions of years so if I can''t turn around to the countless strong cultivators I''ve added to the ranks in that same time period and say ''hey, mind helping me out for once'', then what''s even the point? Now does that mean I''ll replace the weak? No, I''m a man of my word. Anyone who was here from the start, and doesn''t need to be removed for whatever reason..." Ares shot Dascar a glance as he was absolutely in the running for being removed and Ares wanted everyone ot know it. "... Needs not fear being abandoned. I won''t make room by getting rid of you so don''t worry about it. I plan on expanding this landmass such that everyone I want to have living here can. I usually care more about raising people up than finding new blood anyway as it''s less of a hassle for me. I''ll be busy doing other things outside the sect and won''t really have time to scout. Anyone good I find I''ll direct back to the sect but I''m not making that my express purpose outside the sect."


    "You say that like spending all your time outside the sect is a good thing?" Said the fourth elder in the line up.


    "It is and that''s the reason why this sect had been failing all this time. Harsh but true. A sect leader is the pinnacle of the sect and so if they stagnate so will the sect. The leader is supposed to make business in foreign lands, find treasures and resources for the sect to exploit, kill off competition in the local area (such as bandits or mercenaries who limit job opportunities fort the disciples), and become stronger. If a peak transition realm cultivator wanted to kill you all who would be the only person who could stop it? Yulo. He is the last bastion of defence and should act as such by recognising how important it is for him to keep improving so as not to fall behind. Sure he could defeat the peak transition realm cultivator but if that same person went to go train for a year, and Yulo did nothing, he wouldn''t win the second fight and then everyone here would be screwed. Does this leave the sect defenceless? In some cases but I intend on devising means to keep you all safe in my absence. At the very least, barriers that are nigh impossible to break through without considerable time and effort ought to allow you to stall until I return and that should be possible thanks to Enyo as well as the runes I recently handed over to Julio (that I got from Candy in the pagoda). That''s the bare minimum and I have other means I want to create for such occurrences. I have to leave the sect, it''s non negotiable because, at the end of the day, my objective numero uno is my fundamental duties. If I don''t leave the sect, then big bad Xhilihx will chomp on the entire dimension and you all die anyway so no complaining. I''m a carer in some ways but I''m not your mommy. You can survive five damn minutes without me putting the dummy in your mouth for you."


    "How much money could a brat like you even possibly have? How are we going to afford anything?" Dascar was back and arguing points that still made no sense!


    "I''m not sure why you have to know this but I have 130 high grades, or will have soon, so what of it?" Ares was just mentioning this in passing but a lot of the elders were actually really jealous of this amount, the little bastard was richer than he looked! "My own expenses aside, as I fail to see why that matters, we are going to afford things with the stardust that we will continue making. I''ve already helped this sect gain stardust out the wazoo via tomes, Shock Beads and artifacts, and winning the tournament. I will no doubt find many treasures, resources, and artifcats on my adventures that I can add to this place''s treasury and that''s still just the start. I fully intend on making sure this sect, and the landmass as a whole, are economically independent and need no outside support. That is not something that can happen immediately but it will happen. Until then, we have the resources and the workers necessary to keep us afloat, especially when combined with the entirety of Red Sun and the businesses Hans has been negotiating with." Another weak argument from Dascar that needed little to no explanation so Ares was able to mostly ignore it with a fast response. He didn''t need to explain this entire landmasses economy to this guy because that would take forever and it didn''t much matter to running the sect regardless. The last elder that wasn''t Dascar gave the hardest question so far immediately after, however, and now Ares was going to have to be brutally honest in response.


    "Can we ever get rid of you after this? If we all collectively changed our minds, and came to the conclusion you aren''t what this sect needs after all, would you leave willingly?"


    Ares sighed, looked the elder dead in the eye, and made his stance clear. "Absolutely not, I plan on owning this sect forever. You may choose to disassociate with the sect at any point but I will not regardless of the pressure you try to put on me." He was going to have to explain this stance, and to some extent he could decently, but it was absolutely going to be the sorest spot for those still not on side. Hell Ares might even have a few extra elders to convince now after having replied so uncompromisingly in the negative. Still, this needed to be said and he wasn''t going to lie about his intentions going forward. What he needed to do now was persuade them into agreeing with him that this was for the best. It is, it''s just also a very hard sell given the nature of what he was saying. Still, Ares had been decently prepared for this argument and had a response so now it was just a matter of seeing how everyone reacted to it...

 Chapter 299: The Well of Complaints Has Run Dry

    "I have no idea why it would ever come to that but let''s say hypothetically it does." Ares was lenient and chose to play the what if game with this elder. Being honest and discussing his plans / mindset in such a scenario was the wise choice compared to trying to sweep it under the rug and pretend none of it existed. "I will not ever be conceding this sect. If I take it with me through countless domains, raise it up to be something it could never be without me, and then you all want me to leave I might even kill the person who started the suggestion out of spite. That would be a betrayal of the highest order and I would never tolerate being used one-sidedly in such a fashion. I have no reason to give up this place and nobody really has any reason to want me to either. I am objectively one of the best sect leaders you could possibly hope for so I see no reason why I should have to do everything only to get replaced. You cannot remove me by force and you cannot remove me via suggestion, both are pointless and have very obvious rebuttals. If you try to replace me by killing me I will simply kill you. If you try to vote me out I will not obey the results of the vote anyway, tyrannical though it is. You can leave the sect, and people can be added to it, but I am here to stay permanently from the moment I take over and I don''t think anyone here can muster any sort of reason as to why that''s a problem anymore? At the very least, whatever problem you have with me will almost definitely only be exacerbated under anyone who isn''t me.


    Realistically, how on earth would you ever find anyone half as competent as I am when taking into consideration everything I am? Shock Beads alone outvalue at least 80% of everyone in this entire dimension as far as being a sect leader goes and that isn''t even touching on any of my other qualities. The number of people in this world that can bring as much to the table as me, be as strong as me, have the same status as me, and do as much as humanly possible for you, can be counted on two hands. A God would never take over some random sect like this so your only hope would be another fundamental champion and that''s on the off chance they even care enough to look for their own sect. Even if they did, why this one? I picked you out of convenience. You were nearby, I had no other reason. There are clans in better positions out there, especially in higher domains, so why would they come for you specifically? By all measures I am far and above what this sect should logically have had any chance of enjoying the perks of so after today I will not be entertaining any complaints about my capacity as sect leader.


    You all may belong here but you don''t have the right to complain until you can, at the very least, find a suitable and willing replacement. In other words, you can''t complain. The only way to prevent this is if you all change your mind here and now and want me out of the sect for good. It''s fine if you do, I''ll just go pick up the next nearest sect, bring everyone from this sect who wants to follow me, and that will be the end of my relationship with Heaven''s Path. I have a feeling nobody in their right mind is going to be ok with that, however, because you''re all cultivators at the end of the day and not a single one of you should need me to explain to you why this is all a good thing for your respective cultivation journeys. Unless you are weak willed, have zero interest in furthering yourself, have no talent, or zero ambition, there is no acceptable explanation for why you wouldn''t want me in this position. Deep down all of you are aware of that and, let''s face it, the only reason this meeting is even being held is because it serves as confirmation it''s happening. Nothing that could have been discussed here today would have ever prevented me becoming the sect master and even those of you raising complaints are aware of this. I can appreciate you keeping me on my toes, and making me provide honest answers, but I shouldn''t have said anything here today that no one wasn''t already expecting."


    What was there more to really say than this? Ares had been pretty reserved in terms of not throwing his weight around but now that this question had reared its head what was he supposed to say? ''I spent years raising this sect out the dirt but yeah, sure, I''ll pack my bags and leave while you all reap the benefits in my absence. I''ll never return and bother you ever again. You can even call me back to do manual labour for you for free if you ever want!''... Yeah, no, never. By the time Ares had brought this sect to Vraizon he already would have justified owning this place eternally just due to how big a deal that alone was. Throw in everything else that had been discussed today and these people should be thanking their lucky stars instead of whining. Although Ares hadn''t outright said it, he was the GOD OF DESTRUCTION. If he wanted this sect he could damn well take it! He was only going through this official red tape rigmarole to showcase his patience as a leader and that he was willing to be polite... Up until a point anyway, if anyone still had reservations he wouldn''t hesitate to... Well, in this mini form, nibble their ankles? Actually, in hindsight, he really didn''t have many options form this point onwards... Well Calla was almost definitely here, Ares could hear the sound of snaps from time to time and he didn''t need to be told what that noise was, so he could always rely on her if force was needed. Until the, she could just keep taking pictures with her camera.


    Ares thought it was all over as everyone had quietened down. All the elders were internalising the last part of what Ares had said because yes, they knew it was true, but this was the first time it really hit home that Ares was going to be the next and LAST leader. There would never be another after him because there would never need to be. Temporary leaders in his absence, maybe, but that was it. He had no reason or obligation to stand down and no one could force him so if anyone was discontent with him they would be better off just leaving the sect after today. That being said, they were free to leave after seeing how he handled things in the near future; he wasn''t going to tie them up and lock them in a dungeon or anything so even those with reservations opted to wait for a bit longer and see how things went. This was exclusively the thoughts of those who didn''t know Ares though as everyone else was cool with it. He was annoying but talented and reliable. Working under him was fine as far as bosses went. He was liable to mess with you here and there, what with the whole revenant thing, but actually giving you a hard time over anything? He really wasn''t the kind. They knew he would just let the departments do as they pleased and only get involved when he was actively helping them develop that part of the sect or when giving them treasures he found outside on his travels. In that sense, he would do more than even Yulo, who was trapped in the sect 24/7, could do. Ares wasn''t going to change anything drastic, he didn''t seem like the type of leader who would be too hands on and micro-managing every individual person and rule, so most elders wouldn''t even notice the handover. If Yulo turned around now and said Ares had been in control for the last month then only Rud, who was deeply involved in all matters, would be able to identify that as a falsehood. In short, this all meant that Ares'' ascent to sect master was secured, in the bag, and never not happening.


    "Pfft, you make us all sound irrelevant." Dascar was looking half-glum and spoke in a half-mocking manner off to the side as he talked to nobody in particular. most probably himself. "Do we even matter? You want to make this place like a home? So what are we then? Housekeepers? What role do we all serve?" Though he was just spitting vitriol in Ares'' general direction, he''d hit upon arguably the biggest unspoken issue as of yet. He was right, the people here didn''t mean diddlysquat. Ares said he wasn''t going to get rid of anyone but that didn''t mean he wasn''t thinking they served no purpose. Some of the elders here were weak and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Even the ones that weren''t would be shown up by Ares if he tried. He was a better forger than Dabble, a better runemancer than Julio, a better weapon master than most of the department elders, and could even create technicals better than Lizzy. Sure they were all going to be focussing on their own cultivation journey but, in comparison to Ares, weren''t they going to be massively overshadowed whenever he was around?


    Aside from a select few key workers, people like Rud and the farmers in the sect, who else here mattered? Ares'' only use for them was to teach the disciples who were also equally as useless to him. Ares had already said that he ''gained'' from them but only in the sense that they maintained his home while he wasn''t here, that was all he saw in them and it was kind of demeaning because they were cultivators in their own right. It wasn''t his fault nor was it really anyone else''s here. If a talentless person couldn''t improve compared to a prodigy then who could blame them? Ares didn''t, sure, but that didn''t mean they wouldn''t feel like garbage every time Ares strolled past them in the sect without batting them an eye because he was too busy doing something actually important. Yulo is strong but reaching his heights at least felt achievable with hard work. Plus the guy had issues with certain things that others needed to fill in the gaps for. Was everyone here just supposed to accept and be happy their presence meant nothing at all to Ares?


    "I''m not gonna sugar-coat it, yes you are all somewhat pointless..." Although an expected response, some of the elders were taken aback by Ares'' sheer disrespect! He wasn''t supposed to say the quiet part out loud! "... Wait! Put the pitchforks down and let me finish!" Although Ares was being satirical here, a certain fuddy duddy Ruddy did in fact have to sneakily put away the pitchfork he brought for this very occasion. "But what makes you all think you''re so special that who you are in comparison to me matters?"


    Was this guy just being an asshole for the fun of it?!


    "No, seriously, think about it. Are any of you destined to be the Gods of your respective pillar? Are any of you fundamental champions? Are any of you, other than Yulo, once in a lifetime prodigies? Are any of you at the top of your respective fields? No, no, no, and no... So why on earth is comparing yourselves to me something you would even consider doing? It''s not your fault you don''t stack up to me, there are only five other people in the entirety of existence that do! Why would you do yourselves such a massive disservice and think that if you can''t beat me in some way you have no redeeming qualities? No matter who I shove into this sect going forward none of them are ever going to be competition to me or aid me in ways I probably couldn''t figure out on my own anyway. It doesn''t matter if you''re here or not but not because you''re weak or anything, it''s just because it doesn''t matter if anyone is here.


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    You shouldn''t look at me like some kind of goal, I''m an unachievable height and so you''d best have more grounded objectives in your life. Focus on improving because I''m sure as hell going to give you a lot of opportunities to. Will you be the next Enyo? The next Aejaz? The next me? Not in your lifetime! But that doesn''t mean you can''t still train yourself until you wind up in the top ten thousand cultivators worldwide if not higher. Just reaching immortality will cement you in the history books so who cares if you aren''t capable of reaching my toes at the number one spot? Who on earth expects you to? I won''t help you become number one, because nobody can do that, but you can still be stronger than everyone else around! you''ll be ants to me but everybody else will be ants to you! So don''t get it twisted, there are goals you should set and work on but I''m not ever going to be one of them. Just pay attention to breaking your own limits and I''ll be sure to pop by and help you every now and then, that''s how you should see it.


    Just because you can''t be the strongest, that doesn''t mean you can''t be strong at all, that''s a strange way of thinking and don''t let my status fool you into thinking it''s normal. I''m not normal, don''t use me as your benchmark. Yes I''m going to invite people to the sect going forward but my preferred method of raising this sect''s overall power is to make you better than you currently are. Is Dabble the best forger in the world? No, maybe not even in Sheryashka, but who''s to say he can''t be by the time I''m done with him? Ever since we discovered pressurising artifacts I''m sure his position has risen drastically and there''s zero reason he can''t make another discovery and improve himself further. The same applies to everybody in here so know that I will get around to whipping you all into shape one by one even if it kills me. Don''t think this ride is going to be easy and that you can just hide in the sect all day long doing nothing, I expect you to work, train, and improve yourselves by the time I''ve returned from my journeys. If you slack off then all that means is I''ll be personally overseeing your training and making it as miserable as I can to drill the necessary tools into you so that you can be relevant to this sect. This isn''t Ares'' day-care, it''s Ares'' cultivation sweatshop. I''ll make experts out of you all yet!"


    A point worth expressing clearly and Ares had probably done a good enough job of it. Even if these elders were to compare themselves to the average cultivator, let alone the disciples in the sect, they would mostly come out overwhelmingly superior. Were they heaven defying? No. It''s just that the average cultivator was either weak or lying face down in the dirt and dead as door nails. It was a common subconscious bias to be overly negative about yourself when someone who was out of your league showed up even if you were way above average to begin with. If Ares was a 10/10 cultivator then the people in this room were, give or take, hovering around the 6/10 or 7/10 mark. Considering the fact there were only six 10/10s in existence it meant this benchmark could effectively be ignored, meaning the elders were more along the lines of 6.5/9. Even then, 9/9 were people like Davey, Enyo, Coronos, or Aejaz so that was basically an inaccessible rating for most people too. 6.5/8 was the more accurate and grounded in reality assessment and would anybody in their right mind say that''s not good enough?! It wasn''t perfect but it was solid considering Ares hadn''t had his way with them yet. He wanted to raise as many people to being 8/10 as possible and he would hunt down whatever treasures / resources he needed to in order to make it happen. Fortunately there were a lot of talented elders in this place and so, as long as they bucked up, buckled up, and buckled down Ares wouldn''t need to nanny them too excessively as they could improve on their own perfectly fine. Now, not everyone in this room could have this logic applied to them, as some were destined to be pretty weak in the grand scheme of things overall, but there was nothing to be done about that. They could ride on the shoulders of giants, though, which was something they should just accept and be happy to even have a chance to enjoy. Most people at their strength withered away and died in the middle of nowhere for one reason or another so this was an infinitely better outcome.


    Clap


    Ares took advantage of the momentum he created by shoving everyone into the mud, picking them back up out of it, and telling them they were cleaner now than when they were when they were face down in the stuff. It''s not like what he said was untrue, it was just an oddly specific way of looking at it to make people feel better about the fact they could never be as good as him! But what else was he supposed to do? Lie to their face and let them hope in vain for some kind of miracle? Make himself weaker? Nope! Truth hurts! Although, in a way, all this pandering and encouragement meant he actually did sugar-coat everything by trying to make them feel better... Ah well, a small white lie here and there never hurt anybody! And he was still more truthful than not overall. Regardless, after clapping, he spoke once more.


    "So let''s not all drag each other down and look for reasons to have issues with one another. None of you have problems with me and I don''t have problems with you, same as before I entered the room. Not much will really change in the short term and, I know that sounds weird, but it''s true. The way the sect functions on a day to day basis and so on so forth? I''m not changing any of that so don''t lose sleep over how things are gonna change for you inside the sect. You should be the only person regularly changing up your own life, not me. At the end of the day I''m going to become the sect master no matter what. You may have problems with that now but how about this? Keep those problems tucked away in the back of your mind for now and come back to me with them later if they''re still an issue by then. If anything persists beyond demonstrations of what I can do for this sect, after I''ve actually had a chance to do it, then I will strive to solve your problem as soon as possible. I say this because I''m sure that most of the complaints you all want to raise will be nullified by my actions before they grow into anything serious.


    Also, if you want to talk to me about anything, you don''t have to wait until I become sect leader, you can do it whenever and wherever and I''ll hear you out. So long as your request isn''t ridiculous I''ll indulge you as best I can. That being said, hopefully I can rely on you all every now and then as well. Rely on you to keep taking care of the new disciples, rely on you to keep the sect running in my absence, and rely on you to put up a fight on the extremely rare chance you''ll ever need to." Ares looked around and didn''t see anyone still openly opposing him so everything was seemingly settled. "With this out of the way, I''ll thank you for your time and take my leave unless there''s anything anyone else wants to ask me?... Not you Rud, I''m ignoring you." Ares flipped Rud the bird, smirked at him as the old git gnashed his teeth, and disappeared promptly whilst leaving behind a bewildered set of elders.... How the hell did min Ares vanish like that?! Unbeknownst to them, Calla had been here all along! Sneaky wolf! Now that she''d gotten her pictures, and Ares was done here, she had no reason not to take him back home and his goodbyes were a solid cue it was time to go. Nobody had any questions left right now anyway.


    Ares was whisked away and wound up back home at lightning speed. He found himself lying in the bed but he wasn''t having it! He was basically back to full health and spirit! This much babying was going way too far and, after having been subjected to Calla''s clothing cruelty prior, Ares wasn''t having it! Ares got up and snuck out of the room while Calla was off doing... Whatever it was she was doing. Cultivating maybe? Not that it mattered, Ares was trying to avoid her so he was going to make a break for the outside and see if he could run off and go check up on some other stuff here and there. He wasn''t going to leave the sect, that was asking for trouble, but he could at least go check in with Dabble, Julio, and Lizzy to see what they were up to! Not that the had any real reason to meet up with them but he was bored staying at home all the time. Ares opened the door and, after a quick blink, realised he was back inside the bed and couldn''t move. A grinning fluffy matriarch was leaning over him and tucking her tail back behind her...


    Ares had been poisoned! His muscles weren''t moving anymore and he could feel his regeneration trying to kick in and free him from the poison''s effects! Drat! He''d been this closing to running away from home... Looks like he was going to be hanging around in bed for a little while longer... Even though he was fine... Overprotective much? He was allowed to walk around relatively freely before! This was punishment for his disobedience and nothing more! He was probably going to be relegated to this bed until it was time for the wedding... Well, at least it was coming up soon! Ares was wondering what he should cook for them... Black pudding? Meat for Li Li and blood for Dirk? Maybe that was a bit too on the nose... Ah well, Ares had plenty of time to figure it out! Luckily he wouldn''t be the only chef cooking so whether he wanted to make a main or a side or an entr¨¦e, he was free to choose as it would be just an extra addition to an already stacked menu...


    But Ares was also competitive and really wanted his food to stand out...


    But he was in mini form and so mass producing anything would be considerably hard without someone supplying him mana constantly to cook in the Primordial Blade...


    But...


    Sadie! Glutton supreme! If she was made aware of Ares'' plight then she would be willing to supply him with mana for two days straight if it meant she got to eat whatever he made after without paying! Maybe he could even check in with her and see if there was anything she was in the mood for. She''d been giving him puppy dog eyes to cook more as of late and she seemed to be devastated whenever she popped round and Ares was stuck in bed, unable to cook. The next few days would be torture for her so he might as well see if she has any suggestions for him, especially if she''s going to help supply the mana he needed. Ares would mention this next time he saw her but, until then, Ares was going to be trapped in bed with his mother reading him all manner of deranged fairy tales that had been altered by revenants in ways that were not safe for children''s ears!

 Chapter 300: Stress Interview

    Minutes became hours, hours became days and, soon enough, it was the big day! The sun was shining and everyone was running around getting prepared to attend the wedding. It was mostly a casual affair, so no suits or extremely fancy dresses, and Ares was grateful for that otherwise he would have to go buy a child''s suit and that was the last thing he wanted to spend money on! He had plenty of stardust but even owning such a thing would be incredibly embarrassing... It would serve as a constant reminder of this dark time in his life. Instead, he was just wearing one of the other pieces of clothing Calla had stuck on him back when he was being made to try out clothes and have pictures taken of him. One set of clothes in particular, not girl''s clothes obviously, made him look like a posh mini fellow and so, despite Ares'' objections, Calla had bought it anyway. She would be treating it as a keepsake and taking it back home with her after but it was finding use here and now. It was a white shirt with black knickerbockers and straps. Calla had also went out to get Ares a black bowtie and a small hat to go along with it and, well... She''d been taking pictures for the last hour or so straight... Plus Enyo and Bellona were also joining in and pinching Ares'' cheeks or looking him up and down from different angles to take in the full scope of his cuteness. Enyo was drilling these memories into her head with Past-Present Polymerisation and would keep this day in her head forever. Dapper mini Ares! Calla had really outdone herself here and so mini Ares had sort of become the main attraction in the house and everyone had at least something to say about it... Although in Leo and Aejaz'' case it was mostly mockery that came from their mouths...


    Fortunately for Ares, he was eventually freed from the clutches of the fluffy matriarch when Sadie arrived as she was Ares'' mana generator for today. He''d already discussed this with her a while back when she came round looking for something to munch on. Ares was bedridden, AKA poisoned, so he promised to make whatever she wanted, provided it was reasonable, during the wedding instead as long as she supplied him with mana. Ares could have asked someone else but he was somewhat concerned that Enyo, Calla, or Bellona would all pester him in various ways while he was trying to cook. Aejaz would get bored and doze off while Allie was busy making some pills as a gift for Li and Dirk. Ares didn''t wanna bother Trixie, who was still getting ready, or Lacy / Appa because he didn''t want to make the youngest residents do too much work and knacker them out early as then they''d just get tired during the wedding. There really weren''t many options so he just plucked Sadie out of thin air as she was a perfect fit for the task and could be bribed with food and some alcohol Ares had in the cupboard. You weren''t supposed to bring alcohol to the wedding, as there was already some there, but Sadie was probably an exception as her gluttony for the stuff transcended things like ''politeness'' or ''etiquette''.


    Anyhow, the dish Sadie wanted was spring rolls. Vegetable spring rolls, pork spring rolls, chicken spring rolls, shrimp spring rolls. Spring rolls! Any and all! Whatever Ares felt like making. He was actually fine with this as he wanted to get some practice in with pastry and this seemed like as good an opportunity as any to do precisely that. Plus it was a nice little addition he could throw at the wedding without clashing with whatever the caterers were doing. It would stand on its own and not interfere with anything on the set menu. His spring rolls would just sit there on the side, like the snack they were, and entice people to chomp on them, at which point they would realise it was the best dish there and he would win the ''battle'' that only he was taking part in. Why Ares felt competitive against the random chefs was anybody''s guess but, hey, at least he was putting in a lot of effort as a result? That was something good for everyone else, at least, as they''d get to enjoy some really tasty food... The ''evil'' smile on his mini face made him look like a devious little prankster right now but Sadie didn''t interrupt his thoughts. She cared more about spring rolls than whatever Ares was planning on achieving via them and so he could work freely, undisturbed by Sadie''s curiosity. Food came first!


    Time passed and eventually everyone left to go... About thirty feet to the right of their house... Li Li and Dirk already lived in the neighbourhood so it''s not like anyone who was invited had particularly far to travel. As an aside, Dirk, Charity, and Li Li had all challenged the inner court test again at some point during the tournament and had all been successful on their second go around... Well they had to have been otherwise they wouldn''t have been in the inner court to begin with... Other than Charity as she could just coast by living in Gladius'' house. Anyway, their second attempt went considerably better than the first and it wasn''t just a result of Ares / Dominus not being there, although that certainly was a part of it. Still, they''d showcased their talents properly this time around, didn''t get ahead of themselves, and had visibly improved as cultivators all around. Dirk had taken Dominus'' lessons to heart and focused more on supporting Li Li. He was actively swapping between occasional bursts of aggression from sneaky angles and hopping inside Li Li''s bloodstream to kickstart her engine.


    Li Li had been training due to the tournament and so her improvements were rapid and needed no explanations. She was more measured and far less rash with an overall stronger presence so she was a shoe in to win. Charity didn''t train as much but she had a pretty terrible fight the first time around for reasons that weren''t really too tied to her strength. She just fought in a wiser way and didn''t make any glaring mistakes this time around which was sufficient to pass. Charity had done some training here and there, and improved her cultivation by a decent chunk too, but she was always more interested in being a healer than a fighter and so her efforts were directed to that field instead. Granted, however, her knowledge of the human body did extend to combat too so she had indirectly made herself a better combatant overall by doing this as her ability to pinpoint weak spots had grown significantly. She was now also decently capable of healing herself mid fight which gave her more survivability in drawn out brawls. Charity was both slacking and improving at the same time! It was oddly fitting for someone as lazy as her...


    Anyway, now Charity could have stare-downs with Leo whenever he passed by their house and that was always a fun time. ''You''re a furball.'' ''You''re a bitch''. Yadda yadda, same old same old... Although Charity had gotten weirdly very good at deciphering tiger language somehow. Either that or the implication of what Leo''s eternally smug and shit eating grin was trying to say was crystal clear to a point it didn''t even need a translation anymore. Regardless, the point being that all three flunkies were in the inner court now and so nobody had to go searching for the soon-to-be married couple in the outer ring. That would have been a tad embarrassing and put somewhat of a damper on the whole thing. Then again, they''d probably waited to have the wedding specifically until they reached the inner court to prevent precisely that...


    Ares and co arrived and all headed over to the happy couple to give their congratulations etc... Ares left the ever growing group of women who were all swarming around Li Li in her dress and having various girl chats about her big moment. He had a more important task right now, scouting the competition! He wasn''t going to pull out the spring rolls just yet, he had to be tactical with his deployment of them! He was going to do some espionage because these weren''t ordinary spring rolls, no, they were combat rolls! Ares wanted to get a feel for the dishes that were being brought out and time his unveiling of the spring rolls during down time after the least impressive dish to maximise the impact and clash hard with the chefs!... This was petty but it mattered to him, ok?! He worked hard on these things! Anyway, Ares had separated from everyone he arrived with and was giving a few greetings to the other neighbours here and there as he drifted past them on his search for food. He''d seen a long table with some stuff on it as he entered and that was his goal currently.


    Ares did eventually arrive by the table and he loaded up a plate with various samples so as to get a feel for the quality of chef that had been hired for the main menu. Ares ate the samples and was impressed, actually, but only up until he realised exactly who''s cooking this was! Li Li and Dirk''s clans might not have splurged on the venue but they''d definitely spent some serious stardust in preparation for today because Ares could tell apart Remmy''s cooking any day of the week! Actually, this reminded him he would still have to direct Phobos over to Remmy''s at some point. Anyway, that was a problem for future Ares, right now present Ares was rapidly aborting his mission! It''s not that he couldn''t maybe compete with Remmy if he really tried but some hastily invented spring rolls, with no refining whatsoever, stood no chance! his stuff was good but would pale in the face of greatness! His spring rolls would look like fall rolls and give off an depressing, wilted aura even just sitting next to Remmy''s stuff on the table so Ares had to alter his plan a bit. He could either wait until all of Remmy''s menu had been chewed through and then bring them out afterwards, as some people might be drunk on the venue''s alcohol by that point, or he could try and go with the flow as early as possible. He had to either be first or last as directly going head to head with the little Remmy''s dishes was a disaster waiting to happen!


    "It''s pretty good, this stuff."


    Ares heard someone commenting to his left so he looked over and found Mako, of all people, standing around and eating some of the food from the table.


    ...


    ...


    "Who the hell invited you?"


    "I invited myself." Mako spoke casually and didn''t even spare Ares a glance as he kept munching on some prosciutto and avocado snacks. This elf had most definitely not been given a letter of invitation and was clearly crashing a wedding here! He must have heard about it from his mother who heard about it through Calla and voila. Technically Calla also shouldn''t have been here but she was following mini Ares even to the depths of hell if he tried fleeing in that direction so there was basically no way of ridding her from this event. As for Mako... Well he was probably here to discuss some matters with Ares but was this really the time or place?! This guy seriously couldn''t read a room if his life depended on it...


    "I see... Still butthurt about the loss?"


    "Tsk, maybe if you''re clone hadn''t been so useless we would be talking about my victory instead..."


    "Knew it. You have some nerve complaining about the clone while you were out cold for most of the end of the match. Also, you act like you could have picked someone better for the clone to mimic... Puh?lease, we both know who you''re going to be summoning with that art every single time you use it from now on and there''s no point pretending otherwise. You should change the name of the art from ''Ersatz'' to ''Ares homage''."


    "Oh come off it, that thing was below average and incredibly disappointing! You were already injured to within an inch of your life and it still couldn''t kill you."


    "Not like you could do any better prior to that. I''ll give you credit for not being terrible but you''re only slightly above slightly below average overall."


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "What the hell does that mean?... Did you just call me average?"


    "Well if all the future God of creation can summon is some ''below average'' clone then I don''t see why I should label you as anything higher than that?" Ares and Mako kept having a spat that went back and forth for a good hour before they finally ran out of redundant and petty insults for one another.


    "So, anyway, where''s Terros?" Ares'' complete one eighty from hurling crass language at Mako to asking him a perfectly reasonable question with no ulterior motives threw the elf for a complete loop. Mako shook his head and recalibrated to keep up with the annoying revenant.


    "Resting I would imagine. I haven''t seen him since you summoned the God of Gods and had his rocky ass blasted to pieces like a tin can at a shooting range. I''m not even going to ask why you have Astraeus hanging around and waiting at your beck and call. I get that he must be lounging around in the void, and you''ve come across him there, but I still think it''s ridiculous you can just summon that primordial robo god whenever you please. How long is the time period between uses on his contract summon anyway?"


    Ares shrugged. "Don''t know exactly. It''s a fair bit longer than I''d assumed it would be and it''s looking like it might take upwards of six to seven months before he can be brought out to play again."


    "Really? Most Gods only take two or three months... Though I guess I can understand it what with the power that guy is packing."


    "I think he wasn''t expecting such a lengthy cooling off period either. Maybe it''s due to reality being unable to cope with his presence often or maybe it''s because he needs to readjust things back in the void and put all the dimensions he temporarily abandoned back in place properly. He is a busy God after all."


    "Most Gods tend to be... Unless their name is Ignizz anyway... Speaking of, Terros will likely go and have a word with that dumb lizard. I don''t know when but you can probably safely expect that useless God to turn up sometime soon-ish. Ah, also, Terros might mention the Primordial Blade to everyone. There are a good number of people out there who would try and hunt down such a treasure so if he makes it clear it belongs to the destruction champion, and no one else, then that should reduce the number of people interested in messing with you over it." Neither Ares nor Mako knew this but Ares owning the Primordial Blade was already common knowledge. There were a ton of smart people outside the Blade''s barrier and it didn''t take them long to piece everything together after learning about some of the finer details of the nothingness aspect. The Blade''s aura always felt like warped spatial magic and it disappearing a while back, and creating a barrier around the destruction champion, made a lot of sense so that was one thing Terros wouldn''t need to clarify.


    That being said, Astraeus being in a contract with Ares was fairly well hidden knowledge that only Coronos and a few other people knew so that would likely grab people''s attention. Just when they thought info on Ares had ceased, BAM, there would be more! Also Terros would take this chance to spread info on Mako so everyone was going to have a lot more fundamental news to digest overall. Also, unbeknownst to Ares and Mako, a certain individual named ''Armageddon'' was going to come out in support of Mako. Lucky elf! Mako didn''t really have anyone outside the barrier in his corner as of yet, as a chance to meet people in the wider world right now (like the pagoda) was rare, so this would be a good start for him. Who was Armageddon and why did he support Mako? Hell if he knew, it was still a good result though! All the fundamental champions would have their own group of protectors and backers, that was unavoidable as many quid pro quo alliances would be formed based on what everyone could do for each other. It''s not like these people would be pit against each other in the future or anything, as the fundamentals had no reason to clash with one another, but having more was always a good thing. It meant more protection and more goodies from expert cultivator ''sugar-daddies'' who would just chuck rare resources and opportunities at you like they were giving away Halloween candy to trick or treaters.


    "... You know what I''m really here to ask you." Mako''s tone changed now that the serious matter was finally being brought up. Ares couldn''t avoid it forever.


    "Yes and no. Why don''t you start form the beginning and tell me everything in order so I can answer you properly?"


    With a sigh, Mako agreed that was for the best and gave a relatively simple explanation that left out a lot of the fluff, lengthy though it was. "In terms of hidden away locations tailor made for the fundamentals, you have the crimson ''void'' and I have a neon ''generator room''. It functions as a sort of limitless source of creation energy that self propagates even without the creation pillar''s intervention aside from the original creation of it way back when. Both the creation pillar, and I to an extent, can tap into it and draw out limitless energy to create things from the ever-expanding room. The room is mostly a dark place with a few neon lines that constantly change colour and shape, forming countless colourful objects with every millisecond that passes. Each of those objects created are very much real and is indicative of the sort of power the pillar possesses. Millions of objects in millions of places with millions of variations all at once and all automated without need for a single input from anyone... A factory that churns out infinite possibilities without rest or supervision... Or that was what it was supposed to be.


    See, each of those objects the neon lines changed into were supposed to continue existing, thrust out into the infinite room to just passively mind its own business, but, instead, they were being reshaped and replaced by the next object in line to spawn. Almost like the generator room had reached some kind of limit and couldn''t expand any further so any new creation overrode the previous one. I understood this as soon as I entered because the pervasive dark of the room felt like someone had turned off the lights in the generator room and broken every bulb. The room should have been an array of neon colours bursting in every direction infinitely, swarming over the universe and even the void. Granted the creation pillar would probably stop it before that happened but the power the generator room should have afforded both me and the pillar should have been more considerable than it currently is, and so I decided to explore it to see what went wrong.


    The closer I drew to the origin of the room, and the generator itself, the louder I could hear the voice of the creation pillar whispering in my ear. It started to explain to me in full what this realm was and also what the issue plaguing it currently was. On the way to the centre of the generator room I was directed to take a short detour which is when I came across the Genesis, one of the last bastions of the creation pillar''s unchecked power made manifest. See, the creation pillar had always been jealous of the destruction pillar which appeared to possess a greater degree of intelligence and autonomy. The creation pillar was fuelled by base desires and wanted to overcome that, gaining some rationality much like what Astraeus had become over time. Its conclusion? Create a new body, one that was highly efficient, capable of adapting to the creation pillar''s magic''s versatility, and one that was deadly enough that the creation pillar could even usurp the position of ''strongest fundamental pillar'' from destruction. It wanted to overcome its limits but, more specifically, it wanted to overcome the burden that the destruction pillar was to it.


    The destruction pillar had thwarted ever so many countless attempts of the creation pillar to generate a true infinity, unending and filled with all things in the universe everywhere at once. Unfortunately, preventing this was a simple task for the destruction pillar and the creation pillar never did succeed in making its dream come true. It wanted to create a never ending stream of redundant objects and space to feed Xhilihx and keep him at bay eternally but, for some reason, the destruction pillar didn''t seem to agree with this approach. This was roughly the time the creation pillar created the Genesis in a bid to transfer its speck of consciousness into a more functional body... But the destruction pillar blasted the consciousness back into the pillar every time it made any effort to leave. The destruction pillar raised a disintegration barrier around the creation pillar that was unbeatable and so the body went to waste and the creation pillar was prevented from doing anything the destruction pillar didn''t want it to, forcing the creation pillar to give up permanently. Anyway, that''s mostly irrelevant backstory. I was directed to the Genesis and own it now as the two pillars agreed to tackle Xhilihx in a different way, resulting in us fundamental champions. I am very interested in why the destruction pillar didn''t want to go down the creation pillar''s route but that''s a question I can save until later because the explanation isn''t quite over yet.


    I proceeded through the generator room until I came across... Well, you saw it yourself during our match. That hand thing that was poking out of a black-ish abyss. The dark entangling her was eerily similar to the darkness surrounding the generator room and containing the neon within. This was when the creation pillar taught me about disintegration magic... Somewhat. See there were two forms of disintegration magic present; one of which is the type you use regularly and the other is whatever the hell Astraeus accidentally summons whenever he uses that Vulnus gunshot art. I take it he doesn''t realise that he''s unintentionally summoning disintegration otherwise he might reconsider using that art. Anyway, at the centre of the generator room was the ''generator'' itself, shrouded in disintegration.


    Essentially, the destruction pillar was yet again waging war and stifling the creation pillar''s potential for infinite expansion by directing a sizable chunk of its own power to holding this room in place and preventing its growth. I don''t know what the ''generator'' really is, all I know is that the destruction pillar seems to not like it much and has been hassling the creation pillar for a number of millennia at this point such that it''s started to raise some questions about the pillar''s intentions. Also, even the creation pillar doesn''t truly understand what the second type of disintegration actually is and was quite the shock when the destruction pillar unveiled it for the first time. It was a rather well guarded secret. So I guess I have more than one question for you as it''s more along the lines of three.


    One, what''s up with the different types of disintegration?


    Two, why is the destruction pillar hampering the creation pillar at every turn and constantly getting involved in business that shouldn''t concern it when it lets the other fundamental pillars do whatever they want?


    Three, where do you stand in all of this?


    I already know that the pillars can rescind our powers if we''re deemed uncooperative, so I''m guessing you''re on a leash just like I am, but that shouldn''t really matter. Our goals should be the same, destroying Xhilihx, so I fail to see why you would have any other mandatory jobs thrust upon you by the destruction pillar other than just focussing on that goal. What does the destruction pillar want from you and what are your, and its, goals exactly? Or can you not even tell me? Because I''m going to be upfront with you, the creation pillar wants answers and I''m also deeply curious myself. All the other fundamental pillars have been confused by destruction''s actions for quite some time now but it''s always kept to itself so they figured that, through me, maybe they could finally get caught up on what that pillar is planning through you. You can think of this as the other five fundamental pillars trying to get information out of you and your answers will be noted by all of them... So pick your responses carefully, alright?"


    Ares scratched his head and closed his eyes as he thought about how best to respond to this impromptu interrogation... And here he thought he was going to get to enjoy Remmy''s food all day and have a blast at the wedding without getting dragged into any kind of mess. Turns out this function was both a noun and a verb ''cos Ares had some explaining to do and he was going to spend pretty much the entire time here today talking with this stubborn elf. It was rude to do this today of all days but Mako seemed insistent, likely because he would be leaving for good sometime soon and didn''t have any better options. Plus this was about the fate of all existence so it kinda took priority over the wedding. At the very least, this conversation was happening off in the corner where nobody else would get involved or be bothered by their topic of conversation. They didn''t have to spoil this happy day for everyone else but this was a talk they did have to have so Ares opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "Ok, let''s answer those questions in order... As best I can anyway..."

 Chapter 301: Probing to Some Avail

    "First of all, why are there two types of disintegration? I want you to know that the destruction pillar is not as communicative as you might be thinking and even I''ve only spoken to it once. It mentioned something at the time that I didn''t quite understand about destruction as a whole but, after seeing Astraeus'' attack, it al became that much clearer. I still don''t know the specifics down to a tee, as I had to figure it out myself, but I can at least give you somewhat of a comprehensive rundown about why the second type of disintegration exists even if I don''t strictly know what it is. Is that acceptable?"


    Mako nodded, and was content with such an explanation, but figured he would push his luck a little more. "Can you not ask the destruction pillar for even more clarification? Better yet, can you speak to it right now if you were to take a quick trip to the void?"


    "No and no. I can only freely communicate with it in the void currently, as you''ve correctly surmised, and I''ve yet to really try outside of it. Even then, however, communication is a two way street and the destruction pillar can feel like a brick wall at times. I''ve tried to talk to it again since but it sort of just ignores me so when I say ''I don''t know'' to one of your questions I''m almost definitely telling you the truth, and can''t change that, because I won''t know otherwise unless the destruction pillar wants me to. Anyway, regarding the magic, destruction isn''t as simple as being a two way cycle. Yes annihilation is the essence of disintegration, yes disintegration is the essence of nothingness, and yes nothingness is the essence of annihilation. Also, yes, the reverse of everything listed is true forming two cycles depending on which way you phrase it. The previous statements I just made are the golden rules of the magic I use. If I need to cast an an annihilation art, I can do so by expanding disintegration, weakening it but enlarging its effective area and size. This is how it becomes annihilation magic. That, or I can funnel energy into nothingness and create a bang. Either option works and is something I realised pretty early on. I can create disintegration via annihilation and nothingness and I can create nothingness out of annihilation or disintegration. I don''t need to go over the specifics because it''s pretty self-explanatory.


    Basically annihilation is the largest magic and nothingness is the smallest, by increasing or decreasing destruction output I can fine tune it to summon what I want with the help of mana. That much is obvious once it''s been said aloud. However, unlike any other pillar, the destruction pillar is special and can do something a little more by mixing around its aspects. See all the aspects are interconnected and integrated so tightly with one another not because they''re basically one and the same but, instead, because they slot together like a jigsaw to create a whole image. Put simply, if I combine the two other aspects, I can create an enhanced version of the third, unused aspect in the previous equation. If I simultaneously shrink annihilation while enlarging nothingness then I''ll end up with a unique form of disintegration that is drastically more powerful than the original. The same is true of annihilation and nothingness as they also have ''enhanced'' versions. These unique versions of the magic do other things and have slightly different properties but, before you ask, no, I don''t know what they are or do as of yet. I know they exist but I haven''t yet been able to bring any of it forth via my magic. I''m just not strong enough to do it yet and probably won''t be for the foreseeable future. It''s hard! Even the pillar itself can struggle with this and is likely the reason there are both types of disintegration in your generator room as it couldn''t manifest enough of the second type to cover everything. I''ll ask again, are you satisfied with this answer and can I move on to question two, or is there something else I should cover?"


    Mako stroked his chin and leant back against a nearby wall in silence for a good ten minutes as he thought everything over. Learning that Ares'' magic could evolve later down the line into something more was horrifying from his own personal perspective as beating Ares was only going to become that much harder... Still, that wasn''t relevant right now and he had to try and dredge up as much information as he could from Ares who seemed intent on hiding it whenever possible. How long had he known about this evolved magic for without ever mentioning it? Ares was obviously going to withhold crucial information and maybe even sprinkle in some half truths or lies here so it was in Mako''s best interest to really press him with hard questions. The more Mako could unveil the better which was why he was taking so long to respond. He wanted to make sure there was absolutely nothing tangentially related to the discussion that Ares was omitting before he moved on to question two. This was important!... But also very hard. Mako wasn''t some expert interrogator and so he was struggling to think of anything more he needed to know about this whole evolved magic thing. It seemed like Ares had been completely upfront about this question and so Mako was pretty content after a long contemplation. Just in case though... "You really know nothing about these second forms of your magic? Not a name, not the ability, not their strength?"


    Ares shook his head from side to side. "No... Although I can tell you they''re definitely stronger than the original versions. After all, it''s basically the original but with extra oomph and some additional traits. Nothing is lost but, rather, it''s improved upon in various ways. That''s all I got from the destruction pillar. It was something I was interested in myself but, before I could ask, it was already ignoring me again so this is really all I can say on the matter. I''ve never really cared much for hiding anything regarding my magic so, if you''d like, I can promise to inform you as soon as I know more than I currently do."


    "Alright then, I''ll take your word for it... Not that I have any other choice. Go on then, next question."


    "Two, why does the destruction pillar have a bone to pick with the creation pillar? Hmm, tough one..." This was an even harder question to answer compared to the last as it also pertained to the third question in a way... Not that Ares was going to tell Mako that. "Equilibrium. Also, the destruction pillar just generally doesn''t like the creation pillar due to the vastly opposing ideologies so it likes bullying creation every now and then."


    "Ok, you aren''t getting away from extra questioning this time because there''s a whole host of things I''m going to need clarification on. What do you mean ''equilibrium''?"


    "What do you think would happen if destruction gave into its base instincts, like the creation pillar, and just kept destroying everything that it could see?"


    "The world would end?"


    "Pretty much. Nothing any of the other pillars ever created would last more than five seconds and reality as we know it would still just be a bunch of pillars sitting around in the void doing nothing because every single dimension would be wiped out in due time. So if one extreme is bad then what makes you think the other one is going to be any better? You keep going on about infinite generation and infinite expansion but what on earth makes you think that''s a good thing? Yes your power would spiral out of control but so would the concept of creation as a whole. It''s impossible to tell what manner of nuisance such unchecked rampancy would cause and I think it''s best we never find out. The reason the destruction pillar doesn''t bother the other pillars too much is because they have limits to what they can and do create. A couple dimensions here and there is not remotely comparable to the shit show that the creation pillar keeps obstinately trying to bring about. There are consequences to every action something as powerful as a fundamental pillar makes and the destruction pillar understands that the best of all the pillars. You said it yourself, destruction is the most sentient of the pillars and has the best grasp of every other pillar''s potential power. In order to prevent misuse it acts accordingly in response to the other pillar''s actions. Astraeus maintains dimensions but destruction will actively seek out any empty or problematic ones cluttering up the void and the useless crap creation keeps summoning without due consideration is a part of that. Hell it''s like 90% of that and it''s just indirectly feeding Xhilihx anyway. That pillar really needs to stop."


    "But who''s to say anything negative will come of infinite creation? Isn''t that just an assumption? Creation is not as inherently disastrous as destruction is and I can''t see why such a thing couldn''t have been trialled before destruction took such speculative and pre-emptive measures."


    "Foresight and knowledge."


    "... What does that mean?"


    "It means what it means. That''s my response, no further comments."


    Mako side-eyed Ares with a glare because that was not an appropriate answer. The assertion that what creation was doing was troublesome needed to be expanded upon! Ares, and in turn the destruction pillar, seemed oddly confident in an assumption they had no business being this sure about. "So what you''re telling me is that the destruction pillar is trying to keep a balance because it''s worried about what will happen if it stops and lets the creation pillar do as it pleases?"


    "Yes."


    "So it, and presumably you too, think you''re doing the right thing and the creation pillar isn''t?"


    "Yes."


    "And you won''t tell me why?"


    "No."


    "Does it have anything to do with Xhilihx?"


    "Only indirectly. Not really. I''ll tell you this free of charge, the destruction pillar is not at all bothered by Xhilihx. It will die eventually and that will be the end of this whole saga. That''s how it sees that matter and I agree, it''s mostly irrelevant. A problem that can be solved via death or destruction is not a problem at all for existences like us."


    "And what the creation pillar is attempting to do falls outside the realm of that? It''s creating a problem that ''death or destruction'' can''t solve?"


    "Not inherently. Under normal circumstances the destruction pillar might even let creation go do its own thing in the corner of reality where it couldn''t bother anyone, creating infinity off in a random direction that nobody else exists in."


    "Then what''s different about the current ''circumstances'' if it has nothing to do with Xhilihx?"


    "Things."


    "That''s not a helpful answer."


    "I''m not trying to be helpful, I''m trying to be mysterious!" Ares threw his hands into the air with a dumb smile and Mako wanted to slap this idiot!... Wait, no, that was the intended effect of his actions. This guy was using his blatant idiocy to distract Mako from the real issue here... Tsk, it was really worth remembering that Ares wasn''t actually a moron, he just acted like one whenever it was convenient, either because he was trying to annoy someone, mess around for his own entertainment, or, worse, change the subject / lie. Ares'' personality had ''dumb'' scribbled all over it which made looking at what lay underneath extremely difficult and Mako had to admit this bastard had crafted a beautifully executed lie that was hard to not get tangled up in during important conversations. He was a fundamental champion questioning with the intent of sniffing out potential betrayal and even he was nearly duped into letting his guard down... What chance did anybody else have of extracting information out of this tricky guy? It''s not that Mako didn''t trust Ares, or even destruction to some extent, but there was clearly something strange going on with these two as they seemed to be living in their own little world and playing an entirely different game compared to everyone else. It was like Mako was booking it through all the main quests while Ares was doing a bunch of hidden side quests to get the true ending, that was how it felt looking at this miniature twerp''s intentionally stupid and misleading expression. Mako still had a few more questions for Ares but, unfortunately, he knew this was about as good an answer as he was going to get for this question so he wasn''t particularly hopeful for any more important information.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "Does the destruction pillar want power? As in to remain at the peak of all things? Is that why it''s stifling creation?"


    "No... Kind of? It wouldn''t say no to more power, and technically that is one of its minor goals, but it''s not destruction''s main concern and has nothing to do with ''remaining on top''. It doesn''t care about such trivial things and, before you ask, no, it doesn''t want more power to destroy reality and neither do I. That''s dumb, don''t think so little of us and even dare ask or I might have to punch some sense into you here and now. You already know how much I value my family and I would never blow them up nor would I encourage or let the destruction pillar do it."


    "So what is the strength needed for then? Not Xhilihx, not maintaining its position as the most powerful thing in existence, not destroying worlds... What then?"


    "Hm, I''m not going to tell you that."


    "I want to know!" Mako was a little mad he wasn''t getting any straight answers as of late! Everything was so round about with this guy!


    "I''ll give you a hint!"


    Point in case! Mako deflated instantly but again realised this was Ares playing with his emotions to lower tensions. Mako knew he had to accept this hint, as it was better than nothing, but it was also a way for Ares to end this line of questioning by claiming he''d responded in some way at the very least. Mako didn''t walk away empty handed and yet Ares had technically given him nothing worthwhile. Mako feeling ''deflated'' and defeated by this idiot would just give him room to give Mako a consolation prize which he''d even feel grateful for. It was like Ares had abandoned him in a desert but, to prevent Mako from hating Ares'' guts, he came back and offered him a drop of water in exchange for forgiveness... This fucker was a damn rat and Mako was learning a lot about Ares today. What made it all worse was that Ares wasn''t hiding it either. Ares was wilfully exposing his dirty side here because Mako couldn''t even do anything about it realistically. There was definitely something dodgy going on with Ares but Mako wasn''t going to get to the bottom of that today anyway, that much was clear. It would take years of probing to get anything out of this insufferable mongrel...


    And yet, Ares still felt oddly trustworthy. Nothing he''d said thus far gave to understand that Ares'' goal was to cause any kind of harm... It felt like he had some kind of bigger picture that everyone else was missing and that irked Mako because he wanted to be a part of it too! That burning desire to further his own relevance to the plot was also part of why he was going to willingly fall into Ares'' machinations and accept the hint. It was because there was a voice in the back of Mako''s head that was convinced he could decipher the hint but, really, that was stupid. Ares would never give a hint that could actually be deciphered if his overall goal here was not to give a concrete answer of any kind. It would just be some twisted bullshit that Mako would need more information than he had to discern the true meaning of. The kind of thing that, even if you guessed right, you still wouldn''t know if the answer was correct or not because you had no way of proving it and, even then, whether that new information meant anything was debatable as there might even be more layers of secrets behind it. "Fine." Mako growled. Being cornered like this despite the fact he was the interviewer made him feel agitated as he should have been the one in control here! And yet Ares was dastardly to his very core and usurped power in this talk so quickly, roping Mako into his schemes...


    Ares smiled but it was hard to tell if it was being genuine or not. Was he happy that Mako was obediently following along as instructed or just fake smiling to mock him? Either way, it wasn''t a pleasant smile to be on the receiving end of despite how ''harmless'' it might appear to any onlookers... " My hint is a question and, if you can figure out the answer, you might be able to piece together some of destruction''s intentions! Teh question is... Have you ever wondered... What... Is a pillar?"


    "Oh fuck off with your cryptic bullshit. A pillar is a pillar." Mako kissed his teeth as his earlier guess about the contents of the hint were spot on. He didn''t doubt Ares was giving a real hint, and that his truth was buried somewhere deep in the correct answer to that question, but where was Mako supposed to go from here? The common consensus since the dawn of time, even as far as the pillars themselves understood, was that pillars were literally just that, pillars filled with mana. That was it. They were a near limitless source of their respective mana and that. Was. It. They had some sentience, could fire off some magic here and there, but were otherwise motionless objects and nothing more. This was a hint not even the creation pillar itself would understand because it didn''t know anything other than this itself! If a pillar couldn''t answer this question how was Mako supposed to figure it out? It wasn''t a bad hint, it was just that it was more like an impossible to decipher riddle as this point. The answer had to be something that Ares himself understood, so it was something conceptually within Mako''s grasp, but so what? All Mako had to do to ascertain the truth was... Go through all of existence one by one and figure out what was relevant and applicable! Not happening! hell even if Mako did there would be multiple options that could sound correct and he wouldn''t even know which one was true!


    Ares chuckled. "Of course a pillar is a pillar, you''re right about that... But What. Is. A. Pillar?"


    ... Tsk. Mako kissed his teeth and just ignored Ares who was repeating himself to distract Mako once more. The only thing Mako had gained form this was an understanding that pillars belonged to some kind of overarching ''category''. If ''the definition of what a pillar is'' wasn''t the answer to Ares'' question then that meant Ares was actually asking not for a ''description'', but rather what ''classification'' a pillar fell under. For example, what is a pen? It''s something you can write with, obviously. While that ''description'' is correct, however, it''s not what Ares was really after. The real question and answer here was; what is a pen? ''It''s a type of writing utensil''. This was technically a description too but what mattered is that it implied the object in question did not sit at the top of a hierarchy, it was a mere sub category of something else. It was a surprisingly massive ''hint'' with major implications but also unsurprisingly useless as figuring out the ''category'' was basically impossible with this little information... Damn revenant... Mako knew he wasn''t going to get anything better out of Ares but he threw out one last meaningless question just because it was the only thing he hadn''t brought up yet regarding Ares'' initial answer. "And what''s this about messing with the creation pillar? Is the destruction pillar literally just bullying creation for the fun of it?"


    "Yeah, pretty much. Stress relief. I''m telling you now creation deserves it and I would bully that stupid thing too if I could what with all the problems its caused. That thing has single handedly given me, and destruction, more grief than anything else for as long as we''ve lived thus far. I would not be opposed to it magically disappearing for good one day, quite frankly."


    "That''s not just dislike, that''s actual hatred. Why?"


    "Because it''s stupid. Its lacking sentience is a serious issue and is probably the starting point of all our troubles. It shouldn''t have been this way but, alas, here we are. It''s not even really creation''s fault but there''s nothing that can be done to change it so we''re stuck with its dumb ass. It may be the second smartest pillar but the knowledge it doesn''t possess is harmful. Long story short, creation deserves to be messed with and that''s all I''m saying on the matter."


    "... Fine. Next question... Although we''ve already sort of discussed it... Well whatever, give me your usual cryptic bullshit and let''s get this over and done with."


    "Ok, question three. The destruction pillar''s goals as well as my own? Well the destruction pillar just wants to do its job and act as a source of destruction mana."


    "For you? Why?"


    "Reasons."


    "Reasons... That''s not a straightforward answer but I know better than to even ask at this point. Then again, provided your own goal isn''t anything problematic then that clears destruction by association, so as you were." Mako was pinching his forehead between two fingers and rubbing it as he felt a headache come on just form trying to reason with this damn fool.


    "My goal is to keep my family safe and have fun with explosions, in that order. That''s about it really. I don''t care about being number one like you do but it''s kinda relevant to my other two goals so I''ll be sure to accomplish that in due time. Look, I don''t know how you feel about my evasiveness during this discussion but there are things I literally cannot tell you. I''m not keeping it a secret that the destruction pillar will pick another champion if I''m not compliant but I have no issues with what it''s asking of me. I understand the importance of what it''s doing, and what it wants of me, and I stand to gain from following along. It''s a win win situation even if the specifics aren''t something I''m willing to openly disclose. Destruction and I are simply doing what is needed, nothing more and nothing less. I want to be in control of my and my family''s fate and the pillar wants to make me powerful enough such that I can become the God of destruction. You''re just going to have to take my word for it that everything we do in pursuit of those two goals is for the best. I''m not going to pretend the destruction pillar or I are saints but we aren''t doing the wrong thing here either. You''re never going to get a more comprehensive answer than this so I''ll summarise it one final time. This dimension is our number one priority. We will work together in order to keep it safe. Xhilihx will be beaten at some point and that will be the last time it ever bothers anyone ever again. Now is that the end of various matters? Not really but the rest doesn''t concern you or anyone else so don''t worry about it as that will be my burden to shoulder as the God of destruction. What comes after falls to me."


    "And what if I want to get involved?" Mako''s obsession with being number one was showing and he seemed to realise Ares would keep ascending beyond mere Godhood with regards to whatever he was talking about. Mako didn''t want to get left behind! He wanted to be numero uno!


    "Up until Xhilihx is destroyed I will not be involving anyone in our matters. Destruction and I will handle things alone prior to that point. I will not hide the truth after that but it will be too late by that point for anyone else to intervene, especially you. I''m not just picking on you here, you might potentially be the worst candidate for what comes after. If you want to hop aboard and tag along then sure but don''t expect to be useful."


    "So you admit you''re hiding the truth for now? Why should I trust you?"


    Ares shrugged. "I''ve never hidden the truth from Enyo and she''s accepting of all of this. I won''t hide it from any of my prophesised wives and they''re all still destined to marry me in spite of that, if Yulo''s magic is working as intended, so you''re just going to have to trust not in me but, instead, in their moral compass. You might have reservations about my intentions but can you say the same of Mrs Justice herself? I won''t let you probe her for information, so don''t even think about it or we''ll have a fight on our hands, but understand they know the full scope of things and are supportive of my endeavours... I won''t claim they like it, it''s not all sunshine and rainbows on my end, but they agree it has to be done because there is no other viable solution to the problem we all face. That is my final comment on this matter and I will not be discussing any of this further no matter how many questions you ask. I''ve already said a lot more today than I ever planned to but I would rather be as upfront with you as possible so that you understand, if nothing else, that I am on your side. I don''t want my reluctance to speak to serve as some kind of misunderstood indicator that I''m secretly looking to betray the fundamental champions or anything, that''s wildly off mark. I hope you can understand my position and not press me any further because, ultimately, I have no say in the matter and have to do things as I''m currently doing them. That is all."


    "... I have one final question for you... Have you lied to me at any point?"


    "No. That much I swear. There exist plenty of lie detecting tools out there and I don''t know how many of them work or how to stop them even if I am capable of baffling Enyo''s bloodline. I would rather not breed distrust over something so stupid on the off chance you have such a lie detector on your person right now. You can rest assured that, as far as I know, everything that has left my mouth in this conversation is entirely true. I want to work alongside the fundamental champions going forward and lying here would jeopardize that, I feel. Now will I lie in the future, when my disintegration reaches a level that can allow me to do so safely even in the presence of a lie detector, to avoid inconvenient discussions? Perhaps but today? No." Ares shook his head and silence fell upon this corner of the room. Mako needed time to digest everything and Ares was going over his own responses and making sure he hadn''t said too much. What a complicated mess this all was...

 Chapter 302: Familial Farewells

    "I see..." It had been about thirty minutes of silence by this point but it seemed Mako was finally done assessing all of Ares'' convoluted responses.


    "What do you see?" Ares queried as he was curious if Mako had figured anything out.


    "Abso-fucking-lutely nothing! Don''t ''what do you see?'' me after Gish-galloping me for however long you just spent babbling about tangentially relevant bull crap!" Mako wanted to chuck his plate of food at Ares and storm off but he held his temper together. Now that Terros wasn''t around to remind him to calm down Mako had to take care of himself in that regard and, though he wasn''t as good at noticing his boiling anger as Terros was, he could still keep himself in check when getting more agitated was pointless.


    "Tsk, you ambushed me at a wedding and have the nerve to complain about the way I handled things? Speaking of, I''m guessing you''re gonna be on your way soon, then?"


    Mako sighed and just allowed the change in topic to happen as he really didn''t wanna try and drag things back around only to get non-sequitur responses out the wazoo. "Yes, tomorrow. I''ll be going back with Serene to Vraizon then entering a pocket dimension I found a while back. It''s not open yet but should be by the time I return so hopefully I''ll find some good quality stuff in there. Dunno what I''ll be up to after that but I think I''ll stick around in Vraizon instead of coming back down here as I imagine I''ll find better opportunities waiting or me. plus directly competing with you over resources is pointless and a waste of both our time. You have Sheryashka, I''ll take Vraizon. Anyway, I don''t think we''ll see heads or tails of one another for a while so if you have any questions for me you ought to get them over and done with here and now. Terros isn''t around but he''s told me a fair bit about the outside world, and I remember most of it, so ask away."


    "Nope. No questions."


    Ack


    Mako felt insulted! He had a bunch of questions for Ares but Ares was so disinterested in his rival he had nothing to ask of him or the information he knew! Punk!... Still, maybe this was for the best. Ares would inevitably come up with annoying questions anyway so Mako was partially glad there was nothing more to discuss lest he be driven up the wall by this fool. "Well, in that case, I''ll gladly take my leave. Don''t slack or I''ll catch up and overtake you... God, saying this to mini you is so disheartening, it feels like I''m scrapping with a child... Not that the real you isn''t basically just a child in a grown man''s body anyway... Whatever, I''m going. Goodbye for now."


    "In a while, crocodile." Ares gave the elf a lazy salute and a wave. "Oh, actually, hold on a sec..." Ares rummaged around in his Primordial Blade for a moment or two before bringing out a container with some spring rolls in them. "Here, for you and Serene while you''re travelling back."


    Mako took the container and looked down at mini Ares. "... I would have preferred soup... But thank you none the less..."


    Ares shrugged. "I''ll be sending you stuff via Transmit in the future anyway so if you really want soup I can give you it down the line."


    A single eyebrow was raised on Mako''s face as he was curious about the ''stuff'' in question that was going ot be sent to him. "Transmit? That delivery company? What are you planning on sending me?"


    "Not you, specifically, Terros. There''s something I''m working on that I mentioned to him before. I want him to be my taste tester both because he''s the only one who can actually help me in that regard but also as thanks for the bits of aid he''s given thus far and promised to via his main body. When I send anything for him I''ll throw in soup too for the middle man... Elf... Whatever you are..."


    "Hmph, gee thanks."


    "Don''t get mad you''re an afterthought, it makes you look clingy! Get outta here! Go on, shoo!" Mini Ares pushed away at the air in Mako''s direction while the departing elf flipped him the bird in response.


    "Yeah yeah, don''t think I won''t remember this when I pummel you when next we meet!" Mako gave a light threat as he walked away for good this time and rounded the corner of the exit of the venue.


    "Pft, see you around too, bastard." Mini Ares sauntered back over to the food table now that Mako was gone and not going to bother for him for the foreseeable future. It was good to be free from prying eyes regarding the destruction pillar because being interrogated like that was stressful! Watching his mouth was a pain in the neck as Ares much preferred running his mouth unapologetically and without restraint. Not putting up with Mako, or anything else fundamental related, for a while meant Ares wouldn''t have to answer any more uncomfortable questions any time soon so that was a positive. It was kind of shame, though, as training against Mako would be worth its weight in gold and Ares would literally never find a better sparring partner. His only other option was to go on the adventures he was planning and find rare, strong monsters to whoop the asses of.


    Speaking of, the time to leave the sect for the Freeride Federation was drawing ever closer. Only a few more minor events, that would all fly by, really stood between him and his next journey. Hell this wedding was already nearly over as the day had rapidly flown by while Mako and Ares were discussing their matter. Everyone had left the two alone because there was a rather serious atmosphere building in their corner and it was obvious at a glance that no one else should interfere. Now that all that hubbaloo was over, however, Ares could enjoy the rest of his time in peace. His first order of business was bringing out the spring rolls! It was about time and, honestly, if he didn''t, he was worried slobbering Sadie was going to bite his head off. He''d promised her spring rolls and she was just sort of hiding around a corner, one roughly a ten second walk away, staring at him and waiting for the goods. The food before was delicious as well but she''d hand picked spring rolls herself and was seriously in the mood for them right about now! The second Ares placed them down on the table Sadie manifested a few feet in front of him, picked up the tray, and started trying to run away with it... She was promptly stopped and berated by Calla who put the tray back and swore she would keep and eye on the troublesome trainer to make sure Sadie didn''t gobble them all up when nobody was looking. Sadie cried tears of frustration into the bottle of alcohol she was wielding like a club but, alas, Calla was ever watchful and everyone else attending the wedding got a chance to enjoy the spring rolls properly. Luckily for Sadie, Ares had been pretty kind and made a separate batch, just for her as thanks for helping him out, so she happily received the extra rolls and sat in a corner, nibbling away at them like a mouse would cheese.


    Anyway, that aside, the event continued and everyone had a grand old time. The number of women gathering around Li Li had reached critical mass and Ares was worried a black hole of oestrogen was about to form on that side of the venue... They were all incredibly pre-occupied with wedding talks and Ares wanted no part of it so he instead mingled with the men who were just sort of loafing about and trying to look busy. Ares eventually managed to find something fun to do when he located Rud, who''d done his marrying duties already, and had a quick spat with him just to mess with the guy. Other than that, time flew by and it was eventually time for everyone to leave and head back home as it was getting pretty late. Li Fray and Poniard gave thanks to everyone for attending before seeing everyone out of the venue. They gave a quick nod to Ares as he was going to pretty important for their respective clans going forward as they were reliant on him bringing them to Vraizon and beyond.


    This, Ares'' plan for Red Sun, was a once in a lifetime opportunity for these clans and they were some of the most excited people in the whole city. They were thanking their lucky stars Ares had been born in Red Sun because if it had been somewhere else nearby these two would have been extremely jealous, so much so they might have even moved their clans off their heritage sites just to get in on the action. The fact they got to keep their respective clan locations as well as have early adopter status, granting them privileges latecomers wouldn''t ever get, was phenomenal and they both had a gut feeling this was going to be massive for them in the long run. If it wasn''t for Enyo having a ''polite'' word with them earlier, they would have absolutely been trying to inappropriately throw some of their clans'' prettier women at Ares in a bid to tie a knot of some kind and have personal connections. As that wasn''t possible, however, Dirk and Li Li being in Ares'' good books would have to do! Ares showed them preference as they were notably strong cultivators, who would eventually go on to become elders without a shadow of a doubt, so that was a pretty fantastic outcome all things considered. Plus these two clans were the top two around so Ares would no doubt be partial with them for hopping aboard the Red Sun train and lending even more prestige to the place. It was a very good position to be in for them and they were looking to exploit it, one day becoming the two biggest clans in the world if possible. Dream big!


    Ares bid them goodbye for now, as he''d probably see them again at some point in the future given their status within Red Sun, and went back home with everyone. On the way back, Enyo and Bellona were discussing wedding dresses and Ares wisely avoided interrupting them. Had he not been mini right now he would invariably have been dragged into the conversation at some point with the question of ''when are we next'' and he didn''t have a response for them! At least not one they would be excited to hear because chances are that wouldn''t be happening until he was done in Vraizon. Anything before that was asking for trouble with Major who would inevitably try to crash the event and ruin it. That aside, talks slowly died down upon returning home, everyone went to sleep shortly thereafter, and the night passed without incident... As long as you ignore Blo Blo drooling on Ares'' mini head as she slept... This silly woman was getting way too comfortable! Well, that was a good thing so Ares just ignored it and cleaned his head on her arm... Which was a terrible rookie mistake! Sleeping Blo Blo had clearly misunderstood the situation and took Ares'' actions as a headbutt challenge, returning fire and smacking mini Ares'' arm. Ares had to hide in Enyo''s arms lest the sleepy assault continued, rendering him trapped, but he was finally safe in Enyo''s care at least. Blo Blo was a cultivator, those headbutts would seriously start to pile on the hurt if he ignored them long enough! Fortunately Ares was able to get to sleep pretty easily afterwards and that was that as even sleepwalking Blo Blo knew better than to wake the sleeping demoness Enyo as she would claim a lewd tax as compensation.


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    Morning came and Ares snuck out of the bed to go look for Calla as mini Ares was going to hit the town! He naturally couldn''t go by himself but Calla could bring him to Hans, his intended destination, without much effort and so he was going to go and make his request. Naturally the fluffy matriarch agreed and actually did sort of want to meet the guy who looked after her son while she wasn''t around. Some stardust as thanks was in order. That or she could just go and murder anyone giving him and Windsor trouble right now. It wouldn''t fully pay back the debt she seemed to think she owed, according to her anyway as Hans himself likely wouldn''t care, but she figured she might as well do it because it wasn''t much effort for her. Mini Ares was slung over Calla''s shoulder and one quick blink later and they were already at the mayor''s residence. Apparently Windsor was staying here in one of the guest rooms until the C.O building was finally completed, at which point she would get her own penthouse looking over the entirety of Red Sun. The building was going to wind up being the tallest in the entire city... Hans had restricted how wide of an area they had to work with so they were expanding upwards instead of horizontally and Hans had no qualms with that even if it did ruin the skyline a bit. Not that it mattered, in the future it was likely a lot more tall buildings would show up anyway during the expansion process. Red Sun wasn''t going to be some poor little city forever and there would one day be big bucks and bigger investments rolling in.


    Calla and Ares entered the mayor''s office and found Hans handing over some paperwork to Windsor. The two took a quick break as Ares introduced his mother who then proceeded to give thanks to Hans. He tried to tell her that he''d gotten out of Ares just as much as he gave but Calla was insistent on lending any kind of help she could which led to her running off to go kill some nuisance who was plotting to cause havoc. Apparently the idiot in question placed an extremely large bet on Mako after seeing him in action earlier during the nationals and wanted payback after Ares beat him. Ares was inaccessible so the idiot was going to try and cause large scale damage to Red Sun, devaluing Ares'' pet project and hampering him going forward. The guy was nearly at peak transition realm and was a hassle no matter how Hans looked at it. Yes Hans was stronger than this clown but fighting him in the city would lead to destruction on a scale that was considerable and that aligned with the idiot''s goals anyway. If Hans didn''t pay this guy off by the end of the week he claimed he was going to go on an indiscriminate rampage until he felt satisfied. Hans wasn''t entirely sure what to do about this maniac, and was going to just try and assassinate the fool himself, but Calla offering timely aid was much appreciated even if he''d tried to deny it at first.


    Calla returned shortly after with the head of the person in question and that was that matter settled then and there. After that it was mostly just Ares checking in to see how things were going with the onboarding process for various interested parties and apparently things were going very well. Windsor was a massive help, as was predicted, and so Ares gave her a thumbs up to which she borderline hissed back at him for dragging her into this mess in such an underhanded way. She hadn''t gotten much sleep as of yet as her workload was significant. Still, everything was running smoothly right now and the ascent to Vraizon was looking promising. Red Sun might actually be in a better position after leaving Sheryashka just due to the sheer number of interested businesses that would be coming along for the ride, raising the overall prestige of the area and the credibility of starting investments here. Monetary gain would slow to a crawl for a period of time after leaving Sheryashka but ought to spiral out of control once they got set in Vraizon. There were plenty of reasons for cultivators in and around Vraizon to come to Red Sun thanks to the businesses Hans was doing deals with and so it was all looking promising.


    Red Sun would definitely be ready to leave by the time Ares was done with Neo Gear and a new name was apparently already in the works... Which just reminded Ares he needed to come up with one for the sect too. Anyway, ignoring that, as there was still time to worry about such things later, once all the business talks were done Hans obliged to a request Calla made of him and started reminiscing about the kind of tyke Ares was when he was younger, going over some of the trouble he caused. Like the one time Ares made a bet with a Li member that he could drink more alcohol than them without keeling over. Ares was about fifteen at the time and Calla was about to reprimand him for being loosey-goosey with alcohol until Hans chuckled and told her the full story. Ares had Aejaz off to the side stealing the alcohol into his own glass every time Ares lifted it to his mouth. It looked like he was drinking it but he didn''t swallow even a drop of the stuff, leading to him outlasting the Li expert and walking away with a bundle of stardust. Aejaz was the thief but Ares had always been the brains and was more than capable of plucking stardust out of unsuspecting people if he really needed any. Normally a parent wouldn''t be too happy with their child cheating a grown adult like this but Calla was over the moon and taking notes about this story with pride... Revenants were just generally really weird... An hour or two later, when Hans'' stories had run dry and he needed to get back to work, Calla took mini Ares back home and that was that for the day.


    The next minor event was a final get together for the two clans as they were hosting separate farewell parties. One for the Legions and one for the Umbras. It was on the same day at the same time and, while they very much could have joined the two together, there was no need to do it. It was just an immediate family thing on both ends wherein only direct kin where being invited. It was a really small scale thing and both matriarchs just wanted it to be on the down low before they went back to their respective planets and didn''t see their children again for a while. That being said, Calla would be hanging around in Heaven''s Path even after the party, even though the other Umbra kin would be leaving the country, because she owed it to mini Ares to look after him. Plus she finally found him after all this time and wasn''t going to leave just yet! So really it was mostly just about the Umbra kin, the Legion kin, and Rhea all taking their leave from this country in the next few days. Obviously Bellona and Enyo were staying, that was a given, but also Sadie was too. Sadie hanging around was somewhat self-explanatory as she wasn''t going anywhere Dominus wasn''t, he was too valuable a resource to pass up on and Rhea understood that clearly. In fact, Sadie was relieved of her training duties on the Legion planet, by Rhea, until further notice so she''d essentially just become a permanent elder in Heaven''s Path which was extraordinary news for Ares. More strong people were always welcome!


    There was also a chance Phobos might want to stay after Ares directed him to Remmy''s... Which would also mean Palioxis was staying too... That all remained to be seen, however, and Ares would send word of Remmy''s to Phobos via Enyo. The little guy could go check it out in his own time and come to his own conclusion on the matter. Also Fate was going to stay because she liked Ares'' cooking... That was it. The munchkin had no other reason to stay but she had even less reason to leave and so she was going to become a proper member of the sect form now on. Regardless of who was staying or leaving, the two parties happened a few days later and everyone said their respective goodbyes for now... Venus excluded. She was not permitted to go anywhere near mini Ares and Calla had even bought a muzzle and put it on her to restrain her and prevent the usual antics. Mini Ares was saved and so Venus had to dejectedly wave goodbye from afar without opening her mouth. She wasn''t the most depressed of the kin, though, as that title went to Verv who was still wishing he could have a fight against Ares, doomed to fail though he was. Losing was not more important to him than taking part but, alas, that would have to wait for some other time.


    The next point at which the kin were likely to meet would be back on the Umbra home planet in Vraizon so they promised to see one another then and that was that. A similar sight was playing out somewhere else in Red Sun as Rhea was giving her children hugs and having them promise to take care. She might actually be able to come back down every now and then, though, as Calla wasn''t going to chase her down to look for Ares anymore. Still, she had her own things to take care of, and so her returning to Sheryashka was unlikely, which was why she was giving proper goodbyes to everyone now. In particular, she spent a bit of time on Enyo because seeing her be so different to before was still quite a shock to the system even after all the time that passed since she first laid eyes on her. She told Enyo not to worry about Major as any issues he wanted to cause would be stifled by Rhea and wasn''t anything worth fretting about. Rhea gave Enyo and Blo Blo her blessings for their relationship with Ares once more, as he was annoying but a good enough person, and then took her leave to return to Vraizon.


    With that, excluding Calla, all the extras that had arrived for the tournament were gone a couple days later. Even though they didn''t appear too frequently outside of get togethers, things definitely appeared to be quieter without the other kin / matriarchs around. Appa, specifically, felt the hug deficit the most as only Calla was left to pay it regular attention. Ares didn''t have much to do, however, so he frequently played with Appa instead and that was good enough for the happy shade. As time continued to pass, nearly a month''s worth, Ares was gradually returning to his normal form. His cultivation was currently a little under sensory enhancement so he was very nearly back to normal. He''d gone through his early and mid teens and was nearing his proper age and body once more. On the one hand, mini Ares being lost to the annals of history was a sad event for those who were interested in babying him. On the other hand, Enyo wasn''t complaining as there were... Certain things... Only adult Ares could do...


    It had been a whole month! Do you have any idea how disastrous that had been for her?! Enyo had distracted herself with cute mini Ares but she had needs and wants that Ares had to man up, literally, and fulfil! To be fair, as Ares went through his teenage years, he was starting to get in the mood too and was also patiently waiting for his body to return to normal... Although it was going to be immediately put through its paces as Enyo was not going to let him off lightly nor was she going to get him off lightly. That event would likely mark the return to normalcy and herald the arrival of the end of all the messing around as of late. Calla would leave, Ares would go on one final, quick date with the two wives, he''d do a bit of training with Esme and Li Li as promised, let Dominus out to train Sadie and Rox once more, check on some stuff he''d been meaning to in town, finish up pressurising the Backfire Bindings, and... Actually, that was it! That was all that was left for him to do before checking out of the sect to go to the Federation. Speaking of, he''d need to go and have a word with Rud in the mission hall to accept the job soon. Anyway, this stuff was all relatively minor and would happen in the blink of an eye, roughly as quickly as all the other recent events that had happened, and before it hit him Ares would be on the road with his brother once more!

 Chapter 303: Tying up Loose Ends Before the Departure

    Staggering out of the room he''d just been trapped in for three days and three nights straight, Ares collapsed on the floor at the feet of Bellona who''d been sleeping back in her old room at night. There was... Too much noise to go to sleep properly in the shared room as Ares had fully recovered recently, as a good twenty seven days had passed since saying farewell to the Umbra and Legion lot, and, well, Enyo pounced on him basically immediately. No rest for the wicked and Ares had been pretty thoroughly bullied as of late. He got his licks in, both metaphorically and literally, but he was completely bested in due time once more. That pleasure affiliation was cheating! He''d win without it one day!... Ares needed his regeneration to level up soon so he could pay this humiliation back tenfold.


    Anyway, currently, Ares was sprawled on the floor like roadkill and so he had to have Blo Blo pick him up and throw him on the couch in the living room. He was honestly lucky to be alive because Enyo had been this close to ignoring his current state and just keep on going... Death by snu snu, what a frightening woman... Hell if she hadn''t used her magic to re-energise Ares multiple times he would already be reviving somewhere in the universe thanks to his revenant bloodline. And all of this for just being pent up over the course of a mere month? Ares was likely going to be gone on his trip for longer than that and so he didn''t want to think about what would happen when he returned. Better yet, don''t even get him started on what would happen later on in his cultivation career when he went off galivanting for thousands of years at a time... Honestly, at that point, Enyo was the rest of his wives'' problem, they could sort her out... Or, more accurately, get sorted out by her. She was a machine! Ruthless... Efficient...


    Ares had to shake his head to clear the memories, PTSD, and flashbacks from the war he just fought, and lost miserably, so he could take in his surroundings properly. Namely Calla who was looking rather sad as it was finally time for her to leave. She''d been here long enough and trouble would arise if she stayed much longer due to her status as the Umbra matriarch. As she''d found Ares, and wasn''t going to go on a rampage at the Legion base anymore, the Legions would show some lenience and not demand the three clans come looking for her to pick a fight. That didn''t mean she was free to wonder as she pleased anymore, just that she could spend and extra month with her mini child before having to return to TPMZ and go home. Surveillance would continue as per usual after that so the only way she''d get to see Ares again was either via the pictures she''d taken or when he finally ascended to Vraizon. She''d love to drag Ares away if she could but her cub had important stuff to do and take care of so she wasn''t going to selfishly interrupt him. He was a a fundamental champion and was going to own a sect so she was proud of his achievements and wanted him to keep thriving. Her smothering would hold him back so it was finally time to bid adieu... To both him and Appa! Calla was also definitely going to miss the soft marshmallow pillow she''d been cuddling regularly as of late. Her granddaughter was simply way too adorable and squishy!


    Calla hugged her cub for a solid five minutes before finally begrudgingly letting go and saying her goodbyes. Ares walked her to the front of the sect, even though she could have easily left by flying straight up and out of it, and then watched her leave after promising to go visit the Umbra home planet later. Once that was done, and he could no longer see head nor tail of Calla, Ares clapped his hands and Shifted right back home where he fell lazily on the couch and went back to recovering his stamina from the ''fight'' earlier. As he did so, he checked his cultivation base and was merry as could be when he noticed his cultivation had risen by not one, not two, NOT THREE, but FOUR whole stages as a result of his fight with Mako! He was at sensory enhancement, fifth stage right now and that put him ever so close to bloodline awakening. That would be his next massive power boost and he would no doubt coast on that for a long while to come until anything major happened in Vraizon with the new cultivation realms. It was basically guaranteed Ares would reach bloodline awakening by the time he returned from his trip and he was excited to finally have Garmr under full control, giving him access to that form whenever he felt like it. Plus, until then, he still had two Canis Stimulants ready to go. He didn''t have to use them, necessarily, and could save them in case he died and needed them in a second, or rather third at this point, life... But that was boring! Screw that! If Ares needed to use it for whatever reason on his upcoming journey he would chug those things down at the speed of light and go all out! Anyway, long story short, if anyone wanted to bother him before he left for Vraizon, they were going to have to do it fast because Ares was just six stages away from becoming this domain''s biggest threat. He was arguably already close but Garmr acquisition would seal the deal for really real!


    Flinch


    Ares recoiled briefly in horror when he saw a yawning Enyo come casually walking into the room and flop onto the couch next to him... The fact she was only a little tired after all the many things she''d done to him was honestly impressive but he didn''t wanna go again! Thankfully it seemed she wasn''t going to pester him for more just yet and was waiting for the date they were going to go on to start manhandling him again. That wasn''t today, though, as for the next couple of days Ares would be sticking to his promises and training Li Li, Esme, Sadie, and Rox. In fact, that all started today and he would have them all in the same place at the same time. If Esme and Li Li were lucky then Dominus might spare them a word or two in addition to Rox and Sadie but Ares had no control over that so it was up in the air. Anyway, after resting for a few hours with Appa and his two wives, Ares felt good enough, thanks to his regeneration, to get up and go to the training area. He''d promised to meet these four around this time, and come with snacks which were more of a Sadie bribe than anything, so off he went.


    Days passed, multiple training sessions were had, and, in the end, Dominus did give some passing advice to Li LI and Esme who took it all very seriously. Of course Dominus only appeared once during these training sessions, as it''s not like Ares could summon him more than once every week or two, but he did his job incredibly well and Sadie and Rox were content with the direction of the path he''d set them on. They each had their own things to work on for the near future and so they went back to sparring with one another while Ares trained with Li Li and Esme by whipping out the scythe. He figured he might as well get some practice in with this thing as it was going to be important to him going forward. It was also good training for Li Li and Esme because fighting against such an unusual weapon was beneficial as it was a new experience entirely. Also Ares was just stronger than them both to begin with so any sparring with Ares was incredibly helpful regardless of what weapon he pulled out. A win win for both involved parties.


    A few days later, after the final training session, Ares went straight to the mission hall and picked up the task to go explore the Riddlemyd in Xasca. This was a foreign aid mission so he was going to have to have Rud sent a communication of some sort ahead of time to the locals and let them know trouble... Ahem, Ares, the sect''s representative, was on his way. Given the twerp''s reputation after the tournament he should be welcomed with open arms as his name would have undoubtedly already spread that far. Hell Ares should be a known entity across basically then entirety of Sheryashka at this point. That aside, as for how foreign aid missions worked, not only would Ares get a reward if he completed the mission but the sect that sent him would stand to gain too. There wasn''t really a penalty for failing but that could very well depend on the quest in question. If it was something urgent that needed solving there would be a penalty for failing but, for something like this that just sort of passively existed without causing trouble, there was no such clause. This was common for things like dungeons or tombs as failure was expected to some degree given how long they existed prior with countless experts all unable to leave a dent in it. Ares took on the mission and left not only the mission hall, much to Rud''s heartfelt joy, but also the sect. His next stop was threefold. Ares was going to go check on the pagoda, as Transmit had publicly announced it was leaving tomorrow, the betting brothers to get his high grade stardust, and then finally he wanted to go buy something minor he remembered seeing a while back that piqued his interest and he''d never quite forgotten about.


    Ares arrived at the pagoda and found the Transmit staff packing up the various tents strewn around as well as a familiar face in Mr Peacock, AKA Kaleido Lingo. Figuring it was best to just chat directly with the guy in charge, Ares spoke to the colourful-umbrella wielding multilingual man. "Heyo! Been a minute. Good to see you again. I take it you''re gonna pack up the pagoda and skedaddle?"


    Kaleido gave a polite bow and nodded. "Yes indeed. It''s served its purpose here and now has yet another purpose to serve in the wider world. Namely, your clone is going to terrorise all the imbeciles who dare challenge it, raising your reputation sky high in the blink of an eye. Actually, this just so happens to be a perfect opportunity as well, better than I''d previously thought. You see, I took a trip back outside the barrier after our last chat and found out that a certain high value individual is celebrating the birth of his daughter. This individual is the owner of the dimension''s largest and most impactful business of all, long distance teleporters. Of note, the man owns a sort of central hub planet in the mid domains that can take you near enough anywhere for the right price. It''s a very well connected area and, for the next few weeks, the owner is temporarily drastically reducing prices to and fro this particular location. In other words, travel is being made much, much cheaper and accessible for a short duration.


    Transmit, and the Fundamental Organisation, have formed a deal with this big shot to have the pagoda set up shop at his central hub for people to discover and challenge while passing through. It also makes it easy to attend the return of the pagoda to the outside world for anyone far away who wishes to but might have lacked the funds previously. In other words, the number of pagoda challengers will be truly preposterous after we get everything set up at this hub. This will also be a good opportunity for us to find the necessary replacement trial givers for floors one through four in the pagoda and we want to make full use of this boon that''s fallen ever so conveniently into our lap. The only real issue worth mentioning is that there are only so many teleporters and only so many people ready and willing to man them. The staff are going to be worked to the bone, and then perhaps even deeper down to their soul, and there are going to be many high class individuals complaining about the wait times, but that''s for Mr big shot to figure out, not us. He''ll be raking in enough cash as a result of this collaboration that he really has no justifiable right to complain. If anything, he owes us just as much as we owe him for this friendly business deal. Whether that will even out our score for good, or we''ll choose to enter into business with one another again to keep piling up these debts while forming a better relation, I don''t know.


    What I do know, however, is that I will fortunately procure a chance to shine like a diamond by welcoming those with even the most niche of languages from even the most forgotten corners of the universe. That promotion I''ve been chasing is practically already mine and I do so look forward to it." Kaleido''s seemed to be bursting with colour right now, reserved and tame though his voice and body were, and he was in a very good mood. If the chance that was being afforded him was as great as he claimed then no wonder he was pleased. Transmit was a major organisation and so climbing the ranks was an incredible feat that would reward him accordingly. He seemed to already be a decently high ranking member so he must have been getting up there in terms of the overall hierarchy. Also, he was right, this a fantastic occurrence that would really make Ares'' reputation explode across the entire world. His name was already going to have a resurgence once the pagoda appeared but his clone might become a cultural phenomenon as the conditions were impeccably perfect. The original hype, a few more new details and the long lost Astraeus being mentioned by Terros, info on the creation pillar furthering everyone''s excitement for the fundamentals, and then this perfect venue? There would be news stories for weeks about the type of shenanigans happening within the pagoda as the number of challenges would be enough to generate a lifetime of stories for the reporters waiting outside to talk with the failing participants. Ares stood to gain massively just because some random guy''s wife was going to experience the miracle of childbirth! Happy days! May the kid live long and prosper! Then again, being the daughter of a VIP, one to the extent Kaleido was describing him as, basically meant that child would get everything it wanted and then some for the rest of time.


    "Sounds like swell news to me. Out of curiosity, where are you leaving the Primordial barrier from? When it comes time to open up the barrier myself down the line, I might as well go at it from wherever the barrier is weakest after having been already traversed by you to make my life easier."


    "Hm, good point. I came in originally from above one of the mountains in the Isasz region, you ought to be able to detect it if you get close enough considering you have an affinity for nothingness. We stayed there for a while, when we initially arrived and set up the pagoda because we were ahead of schedule, before slowly making our way here. We won''t be setting up the pagoda there again but we will be leaving through Isasz so I would recommend you try to do the same. It will put you in a relatively low domain compared to your strength level at the time but safety is paramount when exploring uncharted territory right? If you''re able, do send notice to the outside world when you''ll be emerging from this barrier. We can have some Transmit experts, as well as the Fundamental Organisation, come and ensure your and Mako''s safety from any untoward individuals looking to take advantage of your relative weakness."


    Ares nodded. "Will do, thanks. Good luck with your promotion and see you around." Ares waved goodbye to the peacock fellow and started heading off. Before he left the area, though, Kaleido threw out his umbrella and made it float high in the sky above the pagoda. A rainbow cage of crystal panels spawned and dropped down onto the pagoda, covering it entirely. Those same crystals shattered into tiny pieces not even a second later but the pagoda had already vanished, disappearing somewhere inside the reflection of the multitude of tiny, colourful, storage shards. The shards congregated atop the umbrellas external canopy and fused nicely with it, giving it a reflective and colourful sheen, before Kaleido spun the umbrella in front of himself. Just like last time, the peacock linguist disappeared behind the ever shrinking colour wheel of the umbrella and was now likely already leaving Sheryashka via Isasz. Ares made sure to wave goodbye to Loris and Peppy? who happened to be in the area, packing up tents, and then left to go find the betting brothers.


    This was a quick process as they were basically always in the same spot and it didn''t take Ares long to collect his winnings either as they had prepared it the very same day he won the tournament. They had come to terms with his win and congratulated him for an incredible performance while also mentioning they were excited for the future of this place. They wanted to stick around and work under Hans as information gatherers in new domains as well as continue serving their original purpose as betting brothers. In other words, these guys were here to stay on this landmass basically forever at this point. They were oddly resourceful so Ares had no complaints! He thanked them in advance for their services and took his stardust, of which he now had 130 high grade on the nose, and went to Bea''s shop, My Fair Lady. This was yet another stop that didn''t take up too much time as all Ares wanted was that back massager he saw last time he came here! It left an impact and Ares wanted it because it was really neat! If he had this much high grade then he could easily afford it without breaking the bank and treat himself for once. He rarely spent stardust anyway so a one off purchase for something that would help him feel comfortable on his lengthier travels was worth it!


    And with that, only one task remained... Dates! One for Blo Blo and one for Enyo! He already knew where he was taking them but didn''t have any specific day in mind... There was still time today so maybe he could take Enyo out tonight and then take Blo Blo out tomorrow? Sounded good! Provided they were ok with this, and weren''t cultivating or anything, that would be his game plan so he went home and searched for Enyo. He found the devious woman skulking about outside one of the cultivation rooms and it seemed like she was intent on jumping Bellona inside to mess with her. Apparently she''d been planning on leaving the sect to go dispense justice out of boredom but decided to do this first before she took her leave... Ares figured he would save Blo Blo and keep the sanctity of her cultivation session intact so he offered to go around town with Enyo, and beat up some thugs,, before the date started later. Rather, technically, this was still part of the date, it was just a very Enyo-tailored activity. Regardless, Ares waited for Enyo to get changed before the two set off. Ares stuck to his regular clothes and Enyo was wearing something a bit more casual that didn''t stand out much. It wasn''t some fancy shmancy date or anything that they were on, just a night alone for the two of them to relax and have fun before Ares left. Plus they were going to Remmy''s so not being too dressed up was perfectly acceptable as Gavel wasn''t ever going to bother them for it.


    The two swept through the streets and swapped between a leisurely stroll and hunting down fleeing criminals. The riff raff used to pick fights with Enyo but, nowadays, that was never happening. She''d built up a reputation via her bandit busting hobby, so they avoided her like the plague, and Ares, who was joining her today, was very recognisable thanks to the international. His face had been plastered here and there on the walls of Red Sun for advertising purposes so the couple prowling the streets were a criminal''s worst nightmare and recognisable at a glance. They basically all ran on first sight of the despicable duo but that was nowhere enough for them to flee successfully. being quick to turn tail didn''t save them when Enyo effortlessly trapped them in barriers or Ares Voidwalked after them and rounded them up with his Zephyr like he was a lassoing sheriff. Ares didn''t much see the fun in this but Enyo was having a blast. Naturally Ares didn''t mind doing this every now and then to clear up Red Sun''s seemingly ever growing criminal problem but it wasn''t something he wouldn''t ever get bored of contrary to Enyo. She seemed genuinely enthused to just keep doing this as long as possible. If it weren''t for the fact it was a good time to stop and go have dinner, and that they hadn''t found anyone to arrest for a while now, she would have still been going at it. Maybe she thought this was a real life version of battleships? Enyo was the red peg, Red Sun was the grid, and the various ne''er-do-wells with mall intent were the vessels cruising for a bruising. Anyway, that game was over for now as it was time for good food!


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Ares and Enyo arrived at Remmy''s and were greeted favourably by Gavel who was always happy to see friendly faces... Although she did spook Remmy again thanks to the fervour in her greeting... Anyway, Ares warned Gavel that he''d come here today with a decent chunk of stardust and a very hungry Enyo in tow. Gavel thought Ares was overestimating Enyo''s capacity for gluttony but she quickly changed her mind when the ''lady'', if she could even be called that anymore, ordered a whopping ten dishes. And make no mistake, that wasn''t entirely the end of it because she was making Ares order six more than he''d already been planning on for her sake. Despite the fact she wanted to pig out and try basically every dish on the menu she suddenly became reserved when it came to the optics of her desires and didn''t want to order everything herself. She was making Ares do about half of the order so she could pretend it wasn''t all her... This was rather cute but who did she think she was fooling?! Ah well. As cultivators, eating that much food really wasn''t a problem. Throw in the fact that she was basically going to treat it as edible and tasty fuel for the romp in the bedroom later and none of this was too surprising. Enyo really did like her food, probably the most of anyone in the household actually. It made sense somewhat as she abstained from eating at good restaurants back on her home planet when she was younger, for the most part, because she was trained to be comfortable with rations and little else. She was treated to good food once or twice a year by Rhea but that was basically it so her freedom to chow down on whatever, whenever, instead of rations played a big part in her food intake. It was also partially why the honeycomb had blasted away the last line of defence back in Baja.


    The two enjoyed their many meals and gave everything a good try. Enyo loved it all, which was understandable because the food was truly divine as per usual, and wanted nothing more than to come back so Ares promised they would when he returned form his journey. They''d had enough for today though and went back home, indirectly booting Blo Blo out the room as she wasn''t going to get any sleep yet again in the noisy love nest they''d set up. As it was only a one night fight, Ares put up a respectable performance compared to before and managed to make it to morning without needing any assistance from Enyo''s pleasure pillar. He did have to flee in terror after pointing this out because Enyo gave him a look that implied things were only going to get worse if he stayed in the room. Ares had a date with Bellona tonight and he wouldn''t make it in time if he stayed in the room as Enyo wouldn''t let him go come hell or high water. There could very well be an apocalypse outside but Enyo''s priorities would still be set in stone so Ares escaped ASAP.


    Much like how Ares spent the day doing what Enyo wanted yesterday, Ares checked in with Blo Blo to see if there was anything she was in the mood to do. Other than restocking on boba tea, she wanted to practice doubling Ares'' magic in the back garden again as it had been a while. It had been a long while since Ares last chucked a Perish Wheel so he very much enjoyed colouring the horizon gold with it. Such massive explosions were a fairly common sight in the sect, at least before Ares became mini and stopped doing it, so nobody needed to go looking for answers as it was painfully obvious who was behind it. As long as Ares wasn''t destroying sect property he was fine to keep doing stuff like this without Rud breathing down his neck. The explosion was pretty considerable though as Bellona doubled it so Ares had to detonate that one pretty high up in the sky so as not to cause a ruckus. The wheel explosion soared high enough to breach into Vraizon slightly but the attack would have diminished greatly by that point and anyone who got hit by it had no one to blame but themselves really. They would have seen it coming and it would have been pretty slow too after losing most of its momentum crossing domains.


    A while later and Bellona was starting to run out of mana. She had her staff but refilling the mana supply inside could be a timely affair and she didn''t want to reach into that supply right now. She always wanted it to be full just in case she was ever in desperate need of it and, although she''d be fine going with Enyo, she didn''t want to get caught off guard on her trip to the Grecian lands. She wouldn''t be able to refill it by then so just ending this session here today was fine. Besides, she had plenty of fun playing around with Ares and was content with the explosions she got to alter and witness. She took a mana shot pill, so as to alleviate some of her drowsiness, and then put on a hoodie. She wasn''t going to get changed completely like last time because that wasn''t something she needed to do every time she left the sect to casually hang out with Ares. Every now and then, sure, but today was just a day to mess around with her husband and enjoy some nice food. Also, the place they were going to eat at was less fancy than Remmy''s and if they didn''t have to put in an effort there, at the highest class restaurant in town, then they definitely wouldn''t have to at this burger joint either. It was a great place, according to Ares, but it was hardly a fine dining experience or anything.


    ''Burga''s Burgers.'' Yes, the owner of the burger joint was named ''Burga''. No, the irony was not lost on her. If anything, she took it in her stride hence the name of her shop. It helped that she was quite the burger fanatic herself so she didn''t mind being associated with the meal whenever anyone in Red Sun brought it up. It was good for branding purposes too! Easy to remember and catchy, Onno would approve. Or, rather, he did as he''d come across this place once before when going on a date when Esme and gave it due props. As for the food itself, you likely weren''t getting a better burger anywhere in Sheryashka. Burgers weren''t common menu items in this domain so the competition wasn''t exactly fierce or anything but Burga would have risen to the top regardless as she was damn good at her craft. If she touched up her shop a bit she might even be able to get the same level of attention as Shu and Remmy but, honestly, she didn''t care about that. Burga was a large woman with two kids constantly running around so she valued having less customers more than she did earning unnecessary amounts of money. She didn''t have to clean up the shop as frequently and she could get her two little children in order whenever they were misbehaving in the back, tiresome though running after them was. She didn''t have to deal with the sugar-fuelled brats all the time, though, as her husband would look after them on certain days instead. They alternated to give one another a break from time to time and, actually, Ares had looked after them on occasion himself when they were babies way back when.


    That all being said, Burga was easily the food shop owner in Red Sun that Ares had the ''worst'' relation with. It wasn''t bad or anything, it''s just that she''d overhead him saying he preferred Fixer''s food one time and that was when things went south. Burga, lazy though she almost always was, was highly competitive when it came to burgers and there was perhaps nothing more insulting than suggesting Fixer''s sandwiches, which she defined as ''flat and tasteless burgers'', were better... She chased Ares out of her shop with a broom that day and gave him a ''friendly'' glare every time he popped around since. They were still on good terms, Ares was with every food shop owner in Red Sun, but she was never going to forgive him for his burger sacrilege!


    As for the burger joint itself, it was basically just a slightly larger version of most fast food takeout shops with a few extra stools for people to sit at compared to most other places. People typically took their order and left but there was the option to eat in if anyone so chose and it was decently comfortable. There was one area near the back that was relatively secluded thanks to a jutting wall and that was where Ares was aiming for as that cubby was the golden spot. He''d seen other couples shooting the shit there before and figured that would be perfect for him and Blo Blo. Of course if it was occupied he would just go somewhere else in the shop. That or they could take their meal elsewhere and have a picnic in a local park or something. Fortunately, however, after entering, it seemed like that spot was available and so they would get to eat in relative peace and quiet away from the solo diners near the entrance. The place didn''t look particularly busy but that was only because a majority of the people who ordered food from here took their food and went back home with it to eat there with the rest of their family instead.


    It seemed like Burga was in the back disciplining her children, for what was likely the tenth time today at least, so Ares and Bellona took their seats and checked the menu while they waited for her to return. Occupying the golden spot before they''d ordered was sneaky but nobody else wanted it and Ares wasn''t going to give it up to anyone that came after him just because they were waiting around politely! Funnily enough, another local couple did peek their heads into the shop but as soon as they saw the cubby was taken they dipped back out and left! Ares had made the right decision! If he and Bellona stood at the counter those sneaky rascals would have slid up behind them and stolen the best seats in the building. Ares knew the people of Red Sun far too well, he''d seen it all before! Hell he''d even witnessed brawls over this spot and so he knew its worth all too well... Granted, in the end, the person who won that brawl was Burga''s broom as it was an extremely mighty foe... Ares, in his youth, could honestly have been convinced that thing was a treasure the way it whacked people with unyielding conviction... Burga''s mastery with that broom would put maybe even Dominus to shame...


    Speaking of Burga, Ares felt a sharp glare pierce the back of his head so he didn''t even need to turn around to know she was back at the counter. Ares sighed and ducked to avoid the butt of the broom that swooshed over his head but it curved downwards at the last moment and struck his cranium regardless. For a mortal to have accomplished this was seriously no joke and Dominus inwardly gave praise. Dominus had seen this woman''s ferocity before and was mighty impressed, almost disappointed even that she was choosing not to cultivate. It was such a waste of talent! Anyway, the broom strike didn''t hurt precisely because she was a mortal and packed no punch so Ares just shrugged off the stick and turned in his seat to face her. Burga moved back and stopped leaning over the counter but kept her glare trained on Ares all the way up until he finally got up and walked over to her. She finally put the glare away after a long sigh and nodded at Bellona before speaking with a tired voice. "Who''s the girly?"


    "One of my wives. Well, fianc¨¦ right now but it''s going to happen eventually."


    "Huh, so the rumours are true then? I''d heard about them but couldn''t quite believe my ears. You''re all grown up now... But your tastebuds still probably aren''t. Tsk, to think I taught you how to cook and you repaid me by saying you preferred that fucker Fixer''s food. Shameless!"


    "Aw c''mon, you weren''t supposed to even hear that..."


    "Why does that make it better?! Whatever. Is Fixer still overloading his sandwiches to make up for the lack of taste a good meaty burger provides?"


    "I don''t know about that last part but, yes, his sandwiches are still as monstrous as ever... Thank God..." Ares mumbled that last part under his breath as that was honestly one of the best parts about Fixer''s sandwiches and he hoped the guy never changed that.


    "What about the girly? Has she got a good sense of taste?"


    Ares chuckled as what he was about to say ought to cheer Burga up a bit. "It''s her favourite type of food so I guess that answers that question?"


    Burga''s eyebrow raised as she looked past Ares and towards the real connoisseur here. A small, gentle smile appeared on her face and it was basically decided then and there that Bellona was getting a free meal. "Aw, what a bright young girly. Reminds me of me when I was back in my heyday. Her meal is on me tonight."


    "..." Ares gave a wry smile... "And me?"


    "Keep asking and you pay double!"


    Ares scratched his head in defeat and walked back over to Blo Blo to tell her the good news and see what she was having. There were so many options but she decided to keep it simple and have a bacon cheeseburger in the end. A real classic and also a good way to judge how good a burger place truly was!... According to Bellona''s standards anyway, Ares had no idea what this woman was talking about as this was outside his area of expertise. Blo Blo also wanted a side of wedges and a milkshake so Ares made a mental note of her order and returned to Burga. Burga was happy with Bellona''s order but kissed her teeth when Ares had the audacity to order one of the grilled chicken burgers on the menu... Apparently he was in the mood for the wrong thing but Ares really didn''t get where he went wrong so Burga just shook her head and sent a pitying glance to Bellona who responded with a ''what can you do?'' face. These two were getting along like a house on fire while Ares was burning inside it... Wanting a chicken burger wasn''t a crime! Bellona even asked him if this public humiliation was payback for all the bullying she''d done to him when he was mini and Ares was flabbergasted! It wasn''t a big deal! Bellona shook her head and patted Ares'' hand like he was a child who just didn''t get it. He really didn''t but oh well, the food here tasted good no matter how ''wrong'' his order was. Point in case, when it arrived later Bellona very nearly drooled all over the table. Burga was flattered, and really liked Bellona, so she pat Ares on the back and told him he''d made a good choice...


    All because of burgers?


    She wasn''t wrong but her reasoning was definitely a little off... Anyway, it seemed like Enyo liked Bea and her shop while Blo Blo had fallen in love with Burga''s Burgers. They''d both found their favourite businesses in Red Sun and would no doubt become frequent patrons, making sure neither of them ever went out of business for as long as they lived. In fact, Ares could even tell that Bellona was plotting on trying to keep this woman alive at all costs and find cultivation resources for mortals to get her started on her cultivation journey. Burga needed to live forever and keep making her these delicious, juicy, meaty, melt in the mouth burgers until the end of time! With Bellona''s support, maybe Dominus would get his wish and this woman would eventually become a broom exemplar... Ares decided not to get involved and just let the burger fanatics do as they pleased because clearly he was not a part of the ''in group''. He did not revere the exalted meal quite like these two so he would just let them do their own thing and support them from afar if they ever needed anything. Anyway, Blo Blo would definitely be visiting this place all the time whenever Ares wasn''t around to cook for whatever reason, it had become an instant favourite of Bellona''s and she was chomping down on her burger like she''d been starved for the last month. Her gusto was so apparent that she''d even accidentally raked in some curious customers who could see her voracious appetite from outside and so Burga slid a second burger onto the table free of charge as a thank you. Bellona shed a single tear and apparently this was going to be an unbreakable friendship in the future...


    The couple finished their meal and chatted about this and that, mostly film plots that Bellona really liked from when she was younger, before finally leaving when it started to get dark outside. Rather than go straight home Ares took Bellona to a nearby park and fulfilled a promise he made a while back that she''d forgotten about almost entirely. A dance! There was no music or anything but a promise was a promise and Ares was going to dance with his wife-to-be no matter what. His Zephyr kept him warm so he borrowed Bellona the Scaled Insulator and now they both had a means to shut out the cold. Bellona could have just used her magic to double the temperature in the immediate surroundings until it was toasty but she''d been offered a coat from her husband-to-be and that was far more romantic, according to the various films in her memories, and so she took that instead. Making up for the scuffed dance back during the international party, they danced hand in hand for about five minutes while joking about with one another and pulling each other''s leg from time to time.


    Their dance came to lovely end with Bellona resting her head on Ares'' chest as he Shifted them both back to the house where they lay in bed with each other and shared a passionate kiss. Enyo was still in the cultivation room so Bellona was free to take things a bit further and use her hands on Ares for a bit of fun without having the lust queen herself get involved and take things further than Bellona wanted to go right now. A pleasant day with a happy ending marked the final night before it was time for Ares to up and leave as, tomorrow, it would finally be time for him to depart from the sect and head off on the next leg of his journey.


    Shortly after Bellona finished with Ares, Enyo arrived in the room and borrowed him for herself for a while. This was the last time she would get to have her way with him for a lengthy period of time and she wasn''t going to let this opportunity slide! She''d waited patiently for Bellona to finish, as her sex radar was beeping in her brain the entire time earlier to come and join in, but right now was her own time to ride a high and she wasn''t going to be modest! Bellona could put up with the noise and wait an hour or two before going to sleep! And that she did because this was the last time all three of them would be sleeping in the same bed until Ares came back from Xasca and she didn''t want to miss that. She didn''t say it openly but it was pretty apparent she was going to miss Ares and wanted to spend the night here with him even if Enyo was dragging the night on...


    And on...


    And on...


    Bellona''s love for Ares prevailed, however, and eventually Enyo restrained herself from pestering him any further so everyone could catch some shuteye. Ares wasn''t mini anymore but, tonight at least, he was hugged from both sides once more and reciprocated with one arm for each of the cuddling wives. They were going to miss him but he was also going to miss them, twice as much even! They were only missing one guy but he was missing two women! The maths did itself and he was the one with the most to complain about! They really did uplift him and make his daily life more enjoyable than it was before so part of him wasn''t too keen on leaving. Still, he had to do this for a multitude of reasons and couldn''t just stay with his family forever. Getting stronger for his future goals was paramount and he could spent an eternal lifetime with them once he was done. He now understood how Appa felt when he left for Baja forest without it... Actually, he was going to miss Appa as well...


    Ares sighed to himself and resigned himself to this homesick fate of his as he started drifting into the land of dreams. It was better to look on the bright side here and be expectant for the fun he would have on his trip than to keep dwelling on such matters as this was only going to keep happening in the future anyway. Better to get used to it now than never. With such thoughts in his head, Ares finally dozed off for real and, thus, his time in Red Sun was done for now. He''d been born here, raised here, and had never left Central Land even once in his life before. This place was the very definition of home and, though he''d miss it, he was excited for his upcoming journey too as it would be uncharted territory for the plucky revenant. He was trading those familiar back alleyways and streets for something wholly unknown and different but, honestly? He knew he was more than ready for it. The only question here left to ponder was... Is the rest of the world ready for him?

 Chapter 304: Recidivism

    Sigh


    Ares woke up and found himself tied to the bed. This wasn''t the first time this had happened although last time it was Appa trying to prevent him from leaving. This time Blo Blo and Enyo were working together to make life hard. Why they even bothered with such a token resistance Ares didn''t know but he quickly disintegrated the rope binding him and turned to face the two imps to his right. They were lying down right beside each other with Bellona, the shorter of the two, in front so Enyo could peek over her head. They were both peering at him with sad faces and beady eyes but Ares wasn''t going to budge! He had a journey to go on so he painstakingly looked away from them and got changed without ever turning his head back towards them!... This had not been a wise idea as Enyo was very quick to try and sneak up on Ares and fiddle with his junk from behind. Ares was quick on the uptake, however, and Shifted away into the bathroom to get some peace and quiet. Unfortunately for Bellona, Enyo''s switch was currently flicked on so she betrayed her comrade in ''Ares guilt tripping'' arms and went on the attack, giving Ares the freedom to get changed without being hassled anymore. Bellona''s sacrifice was much appreciated.


    Ares Shifted straight out into the hallway and gave the sisters time to cool their heads off while he went to go wake up a certain sleepy head brother that would absolutely snooze through the entire day if Ares didn''t hassle him now. The Federation only left in a few days from now but it wasn''t worth missing it just because this guy was sleeping like a log. Ares knocked on the door and Allie opened it for him a few minutes later with a greeting. Ares gave her a pat on the head, responded in kind with his own greeting, and ventured deeper into the extraordinarily messy room. Allie''s pill concoctions were occasionally done in her cubby over in the corner, Aejaz was naturally messy and lazy when it came to cleaning, and it seemed Trixie wasn''t really much better even if she was definitely neater than Aejaz as it looked like she''d given up on keeping the mess in order... Ares was seriously going to have to consider hiring a maid or something down the line to clean up this shmuck''s room for him... Ares sighed as he waved to Trixie, who was looking through her wardrobe for something or other, and then finally walked up to the bedside while staring down at the soundly asleep thief. Aejaz was smiling away at whatever pleasant dream he was having and Ares decided that this shmuck deserved to be taught a lesson for constantly oversleeping. Ares had learnt Past-Present Polymerisation as of late, when he wasn''t busy pressurising his Backfire Bindings, because he wanted to share memories of his trip with the sister wives after returning but he''d already found a use for it before he''d even left! Put simply, it was time to give Aejaz nightmares!


    In Aejaz'' dream world he was the debonair owner of a happening casino with bustling buzz aplenty. This was his paradise and it had finally taken form in his wildest dreams in a way that he could pinpoint exactly what he wanted out of life which was coincidental because he would actually one day get it... That aside, he was slinking through the isles in this dream world, watching the stardust roll in as smooth jazz and the melodious clinking of chips flowed straight into his ears. He double and triple checked the ground floor for any potential thieves, which was extremely ironic, before leaving contentedly to head back to his luxury apartment elsewhere. He swaggered through a pair of double doors leading to the back area of the casino but paused on the spot when the room he sauntered so confidently into was unfamiliar. He had the entire building plan laid out in his mind, and ought to have known what was where, so the fact he''d stumbled into an unknown, pitch black room of sorts was bizarre. Did he rearrange things for convenience and accidentally put the electrical room here instead? Was it malfunctioning for some reason? Aejaz liked to play the hero in his head every now and then so this might have been one such instance where a bunch of terrorists sabotaged the lights and went to rob everyone in the casino of all of Aejaz'' hard earned stardust! He would swoop in, save the day with cocky brilliance and overwhelming bravado, and then walk away with one wife in either arm to the tune of applause and reverent cheers, all the while stardust rained from the heavens!... But this wasn''t looking like it was gonna be that. Maybe this time the darkness pillar had been corrupted in the higher realms and a nightmare being born of it was descending onto Aejaz'' realm for him to fight off? Regardless, the lights weren''t coming back on and he couldn''t feel around in the dark successfully to find either a door or a switch for a backup generator... What an odd dream...


    ... But it was about to get a whole lot stranger as Aejaz started falling backwards through this black void until he crashed suddenly onto what felt like a table of sorts. He couldn''t feel his spine after the fall but he could tell he was strapped to the table via restraints and unable to move, making it feel like an operating table, as something clip-clopped towards him from beyond the darkness. An evil, pervasive aura sunk into his bones and he had a bad feeling something truly horrific was coming... Chop.... Chop? What was that strange cutting noise and why did Aejaz feel a small surge of pain down near his mostly numb legs? Something was messing with him but he was unable to peer directly at it thanks to the restraints around his neck but, luckily, they were starting to get looser with every wriggle of his head. Bit by bit he regained some of the freedom he''d lost up until he was final able to crane his neck down and spy the haunting monster in question.


    Chop


    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Aejaz woke with a piercing scream and had to take in his surroundings with ragged breaths as he finally spied the devil responsible for his unpleasant dreams. Ares was snickering to himself off to the side but Aejaz was seriously freaked out! The monster in question was none other than the cleaver exemplar herself, Bellona, chopping off his lower half! That shit was freaky! To look down and see your body being lopped off like that... Eugh. Aejaz shivered down to his core before glaring at his psychotic brother. "The hell was that about?! Better yet, how''d you even do that anyway?!"


    Ares had to clear his throat to stop the laughs from flowing freely but he did eventually manage to calm himself down and explain. "Past-Present Polymerisation can share memories one to one but I also used the Nyxian Prowler to combine it with some darkness magic and turn it into a nightmare. First person POV and a dark room and voila, Bellona''s chop shop is open for business!"


    "Tsk, you can be a real fucker sometimes... I''m pretty sure that violates various human rights in at least half the countries in Sheryashka and can be considered a form of illegal torture you know!" Aejaz slid back down into bed and waited for his rapidly beating heart to slow down a bit now that he was safe and back in reality where that devilish woman couldn''t hurt him anymore.


    Ares shrugged. "Cultivators torture each other all the times. Rules and laws are more like guidelines. None of us read the fine print. Anyway, I wouldn''t have to do this to you if you stopped being so lazy. Have you forgotten what day it is? Get your ass up and get moving, we got a boat to catch... Well multiple boats technically but you know what I mean." Ares tapped the side of the bed a few times. "C''mon, up and at ''em." And with that rude awakening, Ares left Aejaz alone. There was one more quick task he wanted to take care of and that was crafting a bountiful breakfast to leave behind for those who were staying in the sect for now. Ares would pack some in the Blade, otherwise Aejaz might actually start crying like a man-child for missing out on the food, but this was more of a parting gift so he went all out and made a massive buffet with just about everything imaginable available. From Eggs benedict to waffles and bacon with maple syrup. Orange juice, freshly squeezed, and coffee galore. It was continental with all the bells and whistles as well as various breakfast classics all lined up and ready to be devoured by anyone who was feeling peckish. This would surely go down a treat but, once he was done, he simply left it on the table without having any and went to go wait outside as he wasn''t going to stick around for the meal. About five minutes of doing star jumps to mitigate his boredom later, Ares finally spied everyone else leaving the house with Allie and Trixie having to borderline drag an unwilling Aejaz out the house. It seemed he caught sight of the breakfast and wanted to stay in the house forever... Ares held out a plate to grab his attention then shoved back inside the Blade to let this doltz know there was plenty for him to which seemed to put his aching heart at ease.


    The family, Leo included, made their way to the sect entrance / exit to send off the bandit brothers while playing around with one another. Bellona hopped on Ares back and demanded he carry her while Enyo kept trying to wrestle her off so she could take her place. Unfortunately for Enyo Bellona''s gorilla strength was far too impossible to contend with directly so she had to be content with Ares giving her kiss every fifteen steps... It was either that or Ares junk was getting fondled in public and his arms were too busy holding the primate on his back to stop her... Troublemakers, the both of them... As for Aejaz, Allie was pestering him to make sure he hadn''t forgotten anything important like some kind of mini mother while Trixie was just being more subtle and planting care package bombs on Aejaz'' person for him to discover later that contained all the minor stuff he''d forgotten like toothpaste and so on. Lacy was quietly following and playing with Appa while the tiny tiger Leo was held gently in her arms. It was all a heart-warming sight as the deadliest family in all of Sheryashka, bar none, approached the exit.


    Bellona had to eventually begrudgingly get off the Ares train and was the first to say her goodbyes. Blo Blo being Blo Blo, she kept it short and sweet. "See you in a bit, yeah? Don''t do anything stupid and go off dying in the middle of nowhere." After she was done, she leant in and confidently gave Ares a kiss... ''Confidently'', in air quotes because her face was pretty red. Public displays off affection were still pretty new territory for her and it was ever her weak point like back when Ares toyed with her at the pagoda. She was already taking names and remembering faces of the disciples who were around and staring... She''d shrink the sizes of their wieners / breasts after Ares left...


    Next up was Enyo... Who went straight for the mouth to try and find whatever taste her sister had just left and savour it... Not even a single word before the kiss... Yeah, that was Enyo alright. Anyway, Ares was made to separate the vacuum from his lips at some point otherwise she would just keep going, spectators be damned. only when she was done licking her lips did she finally say something about Ares'' departure. "Stay safe, try not to commit too many crimes if you can avoid it, don''t worry about me and Bellona as I swear to keep us safe, and don''t pick up any more wives without my permission. I''m serious about that last one!"


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ...


    Shouldn''t she have been more serious about literally any of the other things she said? Then again, this really was still just Enyo being Enyo... Ares smiled softly and gave his goodbyes while Aejaz was giving his own in the background. "You know that you two and Appa are my biggest concerns so please keep yourselves safe during your trip to the Grecian lands. If anything comes up then send me a letter via Transmit and I''ll come right back as soon as I can... Well, don''t wanna end on too heavy a note so, instead, Bellona, I wish you luck fending off your sister... Although I don''t think her advances can be prevented this time. You''ll be a changed woman when I return and you absolutely won''t be any purer... On that note, don''t think I won''t want a piece of you too so bear that in mind. Anyway, have fun you two and I''ll see you in a month or two." Ares and Aejaz finished up their goodbyes and went to leave but, before they could get outside the sect, Ares stumbled atop a pile of weird green goop... Ares looked around and realised there were multiple of these strange things dotting the sect entrance for some reason and he''d never seen anything like this in the sect up until now... But how did he not notice this before? This goop wasn''t here before he said goodbye to everyone so where did it come from?... As Ares pondered this, Slick happened to step down from the shadows on the roof of the sect entrance and give Ares a wry smile while flicking away a piece of goop on the wall next to his landing point.


    "Hey Ares, been a minute... About the goop... Don''t worry about this fella, he''s just interested in you is all..."


    "... He?" Ares was really confused now and he honestly felt a little guilty stepping on this creature if it was truly alive as Slick claimed it to be...


    "Ah, yeah, don''t worry about this slimy guy. He''s one of the sect HQ guys that Yulo must have told you about. He likes to spectate humans when he gets bored, it''s his hobby. We ask him not to leave his clone cameras out and about like this, and he usually does a good job of hiding them, but I take it he wanted to see you up close and personal before you left the sect. It''s been officially announced you''re the next sect leader so you must have caught his interest. Try not to worry about it, he''s completely harmless for the most part." Slick pointed down at the green goop and a part of it morphed into a thumbs up that was directed at a bewildered Ares. One of the sect HQ lot was a sentient slime! Fascinating! And he seemed to be a pretty covert fellow as supposedly these goopy cameras had been scattered throughout the sect this whole time, since before Ares first arrived even. Also, if they were here now when they clearly weren''t before then the main body must have swooped by and placed them here when Ares was caught unawares... Stealthy slime! Furthermore, based on the thumbs up, these pieces of slime could maybe turn into mini clones and walk around on their own... No wonder Yulo said these HQ guys were useful, this slime guy was a living hive consisting of multiple of Allie''s tracking Mini-Pillie. Infiltration and scouting was a valuable asset, especially during war time or when trying to get a feel for sect competition in new domains. This guy was neat!


    "Hello friend." Ares waved and gave polite greetings to the slime which waved back, grew a pair of legs, and then ran away.


    Slick chuckled with a mechanical croak and talked to Ares once more. "He can be a bit shy sometimes, so it''s kind of a miracle he even came out to say hi like this, but he means well. Definitely the most sane of the HQ lot... Although he does go along with their pranks without fail so he''s got a bit of a cheeky streak in him for sure. Anyway, don''t let me hold you up on your journey. Go show the world what for you fleshy bastard." Slick gave a salute and then disappeared back onto the sect entrance''s roof to keep watch on everyone''s safety like some kind of vigilante hero. Ares turned around with Aejaz and waved once more to the family before finally setting off on the journey for real. He and Aejaz both used Voidwalk and they exited the town in under a minute, at which point their journey had officially begun!


    There were two small things worth noting that had changed with Ares as of late, one of which being that he removed the Shatter rune from his Black Ice Bane as he basically never used it anymore. Detonate was far superior even if it costed a bit more mana and state percentage on the Bane so, considering they both did the same thing, Ares saw no need to keep Shatter around. This boosted the overall quality of the weapon, reduced state percentage consumption by a decent degree when doing just about anything, and made the sword a bit sharper as less of its power was diverted to the rune. Ares would be able to use this Bane for a bit longer still as a result of this change and have it be relevant in his fights up until a realm or two after transition. From there he would either need to upgrade it or replace it with a treasure and Ares was leaning towards the latter because, actually, he''d been working on internalising crystalised void arts such that he wouldn''t need the sword to use them. The tricky part here was the ''crystalised'' part and Ares was going to have to come up with a way to alter his mana to enable it but he was feeling confident he could do it if he tried. It would take a while but if it meant he could replace his sword with something way better, something that wasn''t an artifact, without losing out on any arts then that was 100% worth doing in the long run. For now though, shatter was gone and Detonate was here to stay.


    The second thing, and this was really a small thing, the Backfire Bindings had been fully pressurised. Ares didn''t know what changed regarding them but he would have plenty of time to experiment and find out over the course of this journey, not that he''d discover everything anyway as that was but a pipe dream. Still, now that they were out of the way and done with, Ares was going to finally start work on pressurising the Primordial Blade... He was almost definitely not going to finish until he returned from his journey as this was absolutely an arduous, multiple month kinda deal. He didn''t have anything else to pressurise though, other than his back massager which admittedly was very tempting, so this was the behemoth that stood between him and ticking off a major task on his internal checklist. There were a few other things he wanted to do on Freeride, like talk to Astraeus, consume the body tempering stuff from the international, and maybe purchase some other resources, but that could all be dealt with when he was actually there.


    Ares and Aejaz kept Voidwalking for a solid few hours but Aejaz was starting to run out of mana and he was getting moody because Ares hadn''t fed him yet... Was he a pet? Anyway, Ares agreed to stop because this served as good training for Aejaz who stood to gain from practicing with the destruction pillar. Ares could just carry him but there was enough time left to account for Aejaz using Voidwalk the entire way there, breaks included, so doing things this way was for the best. The more Aejaz ran out of mana, the bigger his reserves would grow whenever they refilled. Also, familiarity with a pillar meant it would cost less to use magic from it over time or when reaching aspect assimilation / bloodline awakening. It was relatively minor but did matter over the course of a cultivator''s multi million year journey so Aejaz had every reason to take this training seriously. The two ate and relaxed for a while but, just before they were about to take off again, sounds of a fight getting underway could be heard nearby behind some trees. Based on context clues it was sounding like one guy was getting ambushed by multiple people. Ares was somewhat interested both because he was nosy and because this was still close enough to Red Sun that he felt he should check. If he did nothing and whoever the ''evil'' individual, or individuals, was /were won, there was a non-zero chance they headed towards Red Sun and caused trouble there too. Might as well take care of the problem before they could bother Hans or the locals ad cut them off here...


    Ares and Aejaz both headed over while keeping a low profile, which was made easier by the Prowler and the Concealed Serpent / invisibility bloodline respectively, and finally caught sight of the fighting cultivators... And everyone involved had been met before! What were the chances? Also, this was an particularly weird combination because the monk from the regionals, the one on the Legion team that broke his vow of silence when Ares threw the Perish Wheel, was being ganged up on by the lady merchant from Baja and her four horsemen of the axe-pocalypse. These guys were seriously still picking fights like this? After that beating they received last time? Did they not know shame or were they really this big a bunch of losers? Ares almost felt pity for them, almost anyway. He was still going to beat these clowns up again for being a colossal nuisance to society! Ares stepped out into the open, before the fight escalated any further, and made his presence known to all!


    "Ah shit."


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Was that the monk? That was the monk, wasn''t it? Did this guy''s vow of silence mean diddly squat? This was the second time he''d broken it! The first was understandable, the Perish Wheel was spooky, but just seeing Ares'' face was enough to remind him of it and cause him to accidentally speak again?! Was there something on Ares'' face?! Rude! Actually, better yet, now that Ares thought about it, didn''t this guy break his vow every time he chanted an art?! Was this fucker a conman?! Ares was no mystical expert, and he wasn''t sure how any of this religious stuff worked, but surely there was something dodgy about this guy!? Of course the truth of the matter was that art casting was fine, and the monk had only really messed up with regards to vocally reacting to Ares, but that didn''t stop Ares from finding this spiritual flunky suspicious!


    "Ah shit."


    ...


    ...


    ...


    This time it was the merchant lady swearing like a sailor and kissing her teeth. Her axemen were staring silently at Ares and slowly backing away, as what happened last time clearly left its mark on their psyche, but the woman in question was still trying to look tough like always. She was reminiscent of one of those tiny, yappy and scrappy dogs that never backed down... This woman needed to learn to read the room. Hell she was seemingly still expecting the axemen to go and fight Ares as she turned towards them and nodded her head in his direction... Yeah that was never happening, these guys were going to willingly accept the pummelling from Ares in the hopes he would go easy on them. The difference between them and Ares was made apparent last time and this despicable bomber-man''s cultivation had risen extraordinarily high, like a giant''s morning wood, so it would only be even worse if they tried to tango with him now. It didn''t help that Ares'' name was a known factor throughout almost of all of Central Land nowadays and so these guys, who were up to date on cultivator news, knew precisely who Ares was. It was bad enough they picked a fight once but there was no way they were going to make the same mistake twice. Once bitten twice shy and that first bite wasn''t a nibble either, it was a nasty mauling. They were still missing body parts!


    As for the merchant lady, she''d raised her cultivation from non-existence and had stepped into the realm of cultivators. Good for her but that wasn''t changing jack shit about this current situation and her lack of knowledge about Ares wasn''t exactly going to help either. The axemen were going to have to have a word with this woman off to the side after they were done getting smacked around by Ares... Honestly, they weren''t even sure why they still followed the merchant lady anymore, they just kept getting dragged into all kinds of nonsense with her at the lead. They were literally about to attack a peaceful monk for crying out loud! Surely the axemen were going straight to hell for this transgression? Also, the monk looked decently strong and might have even beaten them so this whole situation was a pretty massive failure... Then again, so was what most of what this group did so there was nothing new there... The axemen could do nothing but sigh as the merchant lady started berating them because the more pressing issue was Ares who was advancing on them steadily while cracking his knuckles. A verbal and a physical beating at the same time... Poor axemen...

 Chapter 305: Nowadays, Everyone Has a Sob Story

    The groaning flesh pile had returned but, for what it was worth, at least the axemen weren''t electrocuted this time! They''d received their plentiful lumps and were now decorated with bruises and bumps. Ares cracked his knuckles and gave the nearest body a kick for good measure before turning around to face the merchant lady while the monk was clasping his hands together as a form of prayer for the axemen. The merchant lady was about to turn tail and run but Ares used his telekinesis to lock her in place while she tried to squirm free. This woman really was unphased by the current situation and cared more about escaping than obediently being dragged about so as not to annoy the guy who was clearly leagues above her. Ares gave her a light slap across the face to calm her down but that just led to her glaring at Ares and gnashing her teeth like a rabid animal... As he was starting to get sick of this redundant rebelliousness, Ares pointed his finger at the woman, swirled gold mana around it, and gave her a fright by ''chanting'' "grand annihilation.'' It took the woman a split second to recall which art that was exactly but she immediately buried her head in her arms and braced herself for the incoming storm. Naturally nothing happened because it was a dud chant but she only realised that a few seconds later and felt the fear slowly trickle out of her body. She was less annoyed now and more so wary but that was workable for Ares as he wanted to ask her some questions. namely... "What are you lot doing here? I''d understand if you were in a heavily populated area, or hiding along a road to ambush people, but there''s nothing around for miles. You''re kinda close to Red Sun but nobody from there ought to be coming this way for any reason so I can''t imagine your little highwayman act would be particularly successful..."


    "Fuck you, mind your own business boy." The lady tried to spit at Ares but he just used his telekinesis to throw the spit back in her face. Annoyingly, this woman wouldn''t give him an answer even if she were inches away from death but, thankfully, there were other people here! People who understood that death was not something trivial enough to keep secrets over! The axemen! Although the merchant lady wasn''t a mortal anymore, arrogant mortals, and people close enough to it, tended to not fear death as much as arrogant expert cultivators did. It was a common and very observable trend which likely stemmed from a mortals'' inability to comprehend the sheer terror of the cultivator standing in front of them. This merchant lady would maybe be more fearful of a random tiger than Ares as being scared of such a creature was hardwired into people''s brains over billions of years at this point. Ares, in comparison, looked a whole lot less harmful even though he could wipe out a thousand tigers with his magic without breaking a sweat. As for the axemen, they weren''t arrogant necessarily, but they were proper cultivators compared to the merchant lady and so they understood the concept of being murdered by a cultivator for no other reason than because they were being uncooperative. The more the merchant lady refused to budge for Ares the more likely it was they were all going to die here so giving up the ghost was a better option. It''s not like giving up the secret would come back to bite them anyway as it was a different group entirely that would pay that price. As such, the axeman who was capable of casting Murk ''N'' Lurk opened his mouth as soon as Ares took a single step towards him.


    "We were headed to the Freeride Federation.... Thieves though we are, that lady is still a merchant at the end of the day..." This guy thought he was slick! Heading to the Federation made sense, that was what even Ares was doing and he ended up on this oddly specific path too so Ares didn''t need his lie detector bloodline to know they were telling the truth, but like hell that was all there was to this! Merchant, yes, but still a thief! If that teeny factoid was known to the Federation they wouldn''t hesitate to boot her off mid journey and leave her to drown for daring to rob countless businesses of their hard earned stardust. Some of the people on the federation might have even lost cargo to this woman''s ambushes around Central Land so going there with no purpose in mind was far too risky. They were going there alright but it was no doubt to cause trouble!


    "Keep talking and nobody explodes." Ares brought out a sword he had no intention of using to throw another layer onto the threat. The implication was that he would torture them because if he was going to kill them with an explosion then bringing out a sword was pointless otherwise. The merchant lady was still too inexperienced to pull stuff like this on, subtle threats that required experience to fully grasp without needing it all spelled out, so it had been a wise choice to pester the axemen instead. Ares got another response pretty quickly but this time it was a dirty little lie...


    "We were hoping we could maybe rob some small businesses and make easy money..."


    "Nope. Clearly you don''t understand the position you''re in... And here I thought it was just the merchant lady who was stupid." Ares shook his head from side to side like he was genuinely disappointed in the axeman. Without another word, he approached the axeman who buckled instantly under the pressure because he honestly didn''t want to find out what Ares was planning on doing to him if he remained quiet. The guy didn''t know how Ares knew he was lying but the speed and assurance with which Ares denied the made up ''truth'' meant he was pretty damn sure that he''d been fibbed to. The best the axeman could do here was try to to give a half truth and lie by omission... Though that was going to be incredibly hard given the nature of what he was about to say...


    "We were going to meet some people!"


    "Who. I want names!" Ares punched the guy for no other reason than because he could. The guy had a very punch-able face... But yeah, no, Ares was definitely only doing this because he wanted information! Definitely! The guy had lied to him earlier and deserved this and Ares needed to put the fear of God in them! Absolutely!


    "We don''t know who, we just knew people would be waiting there for us."


    "And what were you going to do with them?"


    "... Cause trouble..."


    "What kind of trouble!"


    "I don''t know the scale of it..." The axeman shifted his gaze away because if Ares picked up on the pretty obvious issue with this response then the axeman''s life might even be forfeit...


    Smack


    If Ares kicking the man''s jaw and breaking it was any indication, then yes, he''d figured out the issue... "I didn''t ask for the scale of what you were going to do, I wanted to know WHAT you were going to do. I would make you spit it out but speaking with a busted jaw is gonna be a problem for you and I''m not feeling patient right about now. Don''t think I won''t come back to ruin more of your body though if I don''t get an answer I like from the others." Ares turned to face the next axeman in line and, honestly, Ares didn''t even know which was which anymore. The Murk ''N'' Lurk guy stood out thanks to his unique art but the rest of them? Nameless cannon fodder. Fortunately these lot were aware that playing any further games with Ares would be pushing their luck. Ares was slowly escalating the injuries he was handing out and so the next person to lie was going to have it really bad. None of the axemen wanted to get roughed up over something they didn''t even really care much about, it was the merchant lady''s idea to begin with, so one of them finally spilled the truth. "We were going to meet up with a group called the ''Firestarters''."


    "Arsonists? On a boat in the middle of the sea? Are those people insane?! What the hell are they planning, specifically, why are they doing it, and why were you trying to get involved? I know you''re petty thieves but I didn''t take you for the kind of idiots to attack an entire country." The name alone was enough to clue Ares in to what kind of ''trouble'' they''d be causing. Also, that shmuck earlier who said he didn''t know the ''scale'' of the trouble was a real piece of work! Sure he didn''t know the scale of the Firestarters actions down to a tea but he could have made an educated guess that it would be pretty fucking significant!


    The axeman swallowed nervously before continuing. "I''ll start from the beginning..."


    "Shut up!" The merchant lady was evidently not too happy with the contents of this discussion but Ares used his telekinesis to push her up against a tree, used physical pressure to tie her there with a rope, and then followed it up with a Quietus Edict that affected her and her alone. She''d had her mobility restricted and been silenced so the axeman was free to give his story properly this time without interruption.


    "Our employer, Ms Barb..." The axeman nodded to the merchant lady who was trying to bite her way through the physical pressure restraints and failing miserably. "... She was once an honest businesswoman..."


    "Like fuck she was!" Ares'' lie detector hadn''t gone off but now he was in the same position as Enyo back in the Baja cave because he honestly couldn''t believe his ears right now! This woman?! On the straight and narrow?! Not a chance in hell!


    "No, really, she was. For a while, she worked for a sect in their mission hall, that was how we met at first as we took jobs from her frequently. The sect in question didn''t restrict their missions to disciples and so it was quite a popular spot for mercenaries like us... Anyway, when she saved up some money from working at that sect, she left and started her own business. Nothing much, just a herb and alchemy ingredient shop. Again, really, nothing fancy. We visited her every now and then to see how she was doing and she seemed happy enough, content with the fact that it wasn''t a popular shop because it was her dream to own a business and she was just satisfied with running her own place. We didn''t have much reason to visit her but as thanks for always giving us intel on when the best missions were going to appear, back in the sect, we spent a good bit of stardust to help keep her afloat during the early stages until the shop was in the green and self-sufficient. it took a while but things were looking good, like she might even be able to become a pretty major business even though it wasn''t her original intention. This was mostly because the Alchemy Organisations had conveniently set up shop nearby around the time Barb created her business and there wasn''t much competition either. Say what you will about her but she has good business sense to capitalise on such a stroke of luck. She saw blood in the water and leapt right in, finding a massive success by even managing to get a small deal for supplying the local A.O... Until a certain man came along... Have you ever heard of HMTG?"


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Oh no." Ares blurted out a worried exclamation as he smacked his own forehead... He could tell where this was going. It was like all the pieces of the puzzle had picked themselves up and sat themselves down in the correct spot and all Ares had to do was acknowledge the mystery had been solved right before his eyes. HMTG, Honesty Merchant Trading Group, the business Onno''s father ran... Onno''s father, the man who was so business minded he actively tried to buy out his own children from their businesses just because he could in order to teach them a lesson while further expanding his own reach and power. This guy was ruthless as can be and there were plenty of stories about him that could attest to that even outside of the more despicable secrets Onno knew. He was pretty well known as a snake that preyed on smaller businesses he liked the look of, ones he thought would rake in the capital if taken in the direction of his choosing... An alchemy shop, one of few and the biggest one around in the local area, right were the Alchemy Organisation happened to pop up? Yeah, this was only ever ending one way if his involvement was confirmed... Now it was just a matter of how he fooled Barb into giving up the goods. Of course, with his monetary power, Ares wouldn''t be surprised if the guy just brute forced his way into the market somehow. Also, from there, it was obvious what this whole ''Firestarter'' thing was about. The Federation was compromised almost exclusively of cutthroat merchants who''d all done shady shit and beaten competitors with methods that were below the belt. The victims of such hostile takeovers must have congregated en masse to get some violent payback and sink their prided ships.. What a mess... And right when Ares wanted to cross in peace! Never mind the fact that there were rumours of some sea beast constantly hassling the Federation every time it made a journey just about anywhere and this was looking to be a bumpy ride over stormy seas...


    "... I take it you can see where this is going? Well the head of HMTG himself got involved and, well, he played with Barb''s heart..."


    "Excuse me?" Ares had not seen this coming... That was sure as hell one evil way to win over a business... "Wait a minute, isn''t the head of HMTG married? Did he openly cheat or what?"


    The axeman gave a wry smile. "That''s literally true but technically? It''s a whole different ball game. The HMTG''s wife is more like a woman he rents out to other business owners to get a leg up while they get a leg over. He''s had children with her but that was mostly for him to continue his empire in death should anything happen to him. Plus, while they''re alive, they can accrue capital, land, and brands under his name. If he ever wants to take control of his children''s enterprises he feels comfortable knowing he can do it whenever so they''re like convenient pawns to him. So yeah, the ''wife'' is more like a pretty face with benefits, he doesn''t see her as anything other than a glorified prostitute and he''s basically her fancy pimp. Though I won''t comment on his tastes regarding putting his wife out there, because I mean fuck that, nobody can deny it''s worked for him all these years as his wife has really gotten around and earned him some serious business deals...


    Anyway, that aside, the guy went to Barb''s shop undercover and started out by giving her friendly advice on how to raise up her business. All his suggestions were like miniature, handcrafted miracles from a divine being so Barb listened to each and every word like he was the pied piper. Over the course of a few years, and many, many visits, he eventually wooed his way into her pants and managed to get his name on the business as he was feigning interest in a long relationship with her... From there... Well he kicked her out almost immediately. Barb wasn''t able to get pregnant so he had no more use for her and showed his true colours when he finally had everything he wanted. Ever since then she''s been acting out of spite and sabotaging his gathering efforts in places like Baja forest. HMTG gets some of their ingredients from that forest, and were probably the ones who put out the mission you accepted way back when that led to our encounter, so she went alone to try and take everything she could from them. It makes no difference on a large scale but every single low grade stardust she could rob of him she fought tooth and nail for with the wildlife.


    She came across a monster and nearly died one day but we managed to locate her in time, after finding out what had happened, and saved her from the very real jaws of death that were clamped around her stomach. She stubbornly refused to stop trying to eat into HMTG''s profits, though, and would have kept going back to that dangerous place after she healed with or without us so we all decided to try and stick around and maybe convince her to stop doing this. We never really could get through to her however as she was fully enraged and driven by resentment. She even resorted to stealing directly from other people on the off chance they were working for HMTG. She never wanted to kill anyone, which is why we never did, but roughing people up... That was in the cards for her revenge. Even we sort of ended up becoming the kind of people we never thought we would be, holding up innocent people and bothering them daily to hand over their hard earned merchandise... We still feel kind of guilty about it all, and we kinda got carried away as of late, but then this opportunity came up and we thought it might be a good idea to come along. We aren''t expecting to ''win'' here, whatever a win looks like to these Firestarters, if anything we were probably just going to die pointlessly but that was alright. At least this would all be over and we could rest without having to do anymore evil in this endless limbo of following Barb around and committing petty evil acts all the time... Barb, on the other hand, was all in and still thinks she has a decent shot of burning that man and his empire to ashes, dragging him down to the bottom of the ocean even if she had to sink along with him."


    "... I see..." Ares kissed his teeth. "... I knew that guy was a piece of work but to think it''s even more than I anticipated... Not sure I''ll be able to stop myself from kicking the shit out of him if I catch sight of the guy... I''m not even mad for Barb or anything, that''s her own problem and I want nothing to do with it, but I feel like I''ll owe a karmic debt for the rest of my life if I don''t hurt the guy a even a little on sight... That''s some seriously treacherous evil, like the guy made a deal with Satan and then went back on the terms and conditions to betray him kind of evil... There''s a part of me that''s even impressed he goes to such lengths for no discernible reason. He''s already the richest guy in Sheryashka, and probably in Vraizon too. HMTG has got their hands muddied in just about every business sector known to man... What on earth could he possibly be aiming for that would require him to spend years on some random woman like Barb? Everything he does seems like serious overkill as he stands ot gain basically nothing compared to his vast wealth that he already possesses..."


    The axeman shrugged. "Whether it''s true or not, he''s gone on record as saying he gets a kick out of it. It''s the only thing that gives him a thrill and so he chases win after win no matter the human cost. On his deathbed, he wants to look at everything he''s built and go on to the afterlife knowing nobody could ever top it. He wants to leave a dent in the history book of the concept known as ''business'' that can''t be ignored for all eternity. He never feels like what he''s accomplished is good enough so he just keeps pushing for more and more."


    "Pft, if only he knew what kind of stark competition he would face outside and above these lower domains." Ares was thinking about the central hub of teleporters he''d heard about from Kaleido as of late as that alone was in contention for the most important business of all time and it dwarfed everything HMTG was by a massive margin. "Anyway, putting that aside, who''s the lynchpin behind this Firestarter thing? Gathering everyone must have been a pain but I''m hesitant to believe one person who got shafted by somebody on the Federation held such a deep grudge that they reached out to multiple people to get back at them. It''s not impossible, it''s just improbable and feels more like someone taking advantage of all the bad blood throwing through Sheryashka."


    "Sorry, all I know is that various people received a letter from somebody by the alias of ''Torchbearer''. I don''t know what he wants but you are right in that it''s probably not revenge. He seems to have his own goals and merely facilitated everyone''s networking. He won''t be present and the Firestarter group is just something that he indirectly caused via his intentions, whatever they may be. Unfortunately we don''t have one of those letters because we never actually received one. One of Barb''s old business friends did and he relayed the information as he''d been asked to spread it in the letter to anyone in a similar position. I don''t know the full contents of the letter but it was basically as I described and there wasn''t too much information about this individual or what they were really up to. That being said, apparently one of the letters that had been sent out was blotched and stained with oil, presumably accidentally, which has lead most people involved to believe the sender is potentially a robo... Although why some Neo Gear robo would care about the Federation I don''t know. That''s all I can say because that''s all I know."


    More nonsense coming out of Neo Gear! It seriously never ended with that place... Anyway, Ares didn''t care much for robo machinations but he definitely didn''t want to get burned to death on a ship in the middle of the ocean so he was going to have to keep an eye for this group of asshole arsonists... Not that Ares necessarily disagreed with the way they were doing things. This was the cultivation world after all so getting payback via violent means was kind of bread and butter. What they were doing was pretty textbook and the only real issue here was that this would lead to the death of many innocent people, that was where most cultivators, Ares included, drew a line between ''good'' and ''evil''. Even then though, some people believed taking innocent life was just par the course when getting large scale revenge and wouldn''t label a group like the Firestarters as ''evil''. It was all quite subjective but, irrespective of perceived morality, Ares didn''t want to burn! He was going to have to keep an eye out and maintain peace on the Federation if things looked like they would be kicking off during his journey. Hell even if they were still prepping Ares had to deal with it because this Federation was his ride BACK as well. If they burned the Federation he wouldn''t be able to return home for months as there was no other method of transportation even half as fast! Ares sighed and turned to face the other person here... The monk. "And what about you? Why are you here?"


    "..." The monk stared plainly at Ares who''s right eye twitched.


    "Oh, so now you''re upholding your stupid vow?! Whatever..." Ares shook his head and ignored the mute monk whom he clearly wasn''t going to be getting any answers out of... So what to do about the axemen and the merchant lady? He couldn''t just ignore them going to the Federation and it looked like the merchant lady was going to do it the second he let her go as she had a one-track mind. Nothing short of killing her would stop her as she had no reason not to throw her life at this Firestarter endeavour but Ares couldn''t exactly hand her over to the Federation either as that just felt wrong... Well, there was one thing he could maybe do, although whether she''d take up the offer and give up on Onno''s father was another matter... Might as well give it a go...

 Chapter 306: Theres That Name Again

    "Alright Barbs, listen up..." Ares clasped his hands together to gain Barb''s attention but she seemed to be extremely livid right now, like she wanted to bite Ares'' throat out and roast his corpse for any nearby monsters to feast upon... Ares looked over at the axemen who were all simultaneously gesturing for him to cut out the nicknaming and abort that idea entirely. It didn''t take more than this for Ares to figure out what was going on here... That was her pet name used by Onno''s father... Whoops... Ares had a few nicknames up his sleeve, Barbara, Barbie, Barbados... And of all them he just had to pick the worst one imaginable! Curse his rotten luck...


    Ahem


    "Let''s try that again from the beginning, Ms Barb." Ares course corrected and went with a more formal tone and, thankfully, that helped Barb settle down a bit... "I have a question I want you to think long and hard about the answer to as it will affect the offer I make you after you''ve given your response. Revenge, the Firestarter stuff, robbing people in Baja... Are you doing all of this because you have nothing left and have given up or because you simply want revenge on that HMTG bastard?"


    "... What do you mean?" Barb was finally speaking to Ares like a human being and not lashing out at him after every syllable.


    "What I mean is, would you be capable of putting your past behind you and starting anew if possible or is that man your only driving force in life? Do you care more about your lost business or about payback? Hypothetically, if you could push a button and go back in time to restore your business to what it was and have it back in your name, or you could push a button and that man instantly had a heart attack and died, which would you press?" Ares didn''t much care which answer she picked as he was fine with either option really. Barb was just a stranger to him and he was only going to offer her this one chance before giving up completely. If she was stubborn about getting revenge then Ares would quickly drag this lot back to Red Sun and have Hans lock her up until the Federation left port. She wouldn''t be able to get involved in the Firestarter stuff and Ares wouldn''t have to deal with her later and actually kill her. This would take some time but then Ares could just book it with Aejaz afterwards and even carry his brother when he ran out of mana. It wasn''t ideal but letting this woman go only for her to become pain in the neck again later was worse.


    Barb seemed to be lost in her thoughts as she hadn''t expected such a weird question. On the one hand, having that insufferable man be dead would give her peace of mind but leave her feeling empty afterwards. On the other hand, if she could get her shop back she would be fulfilled for life but never comfortable knowing she couldn''t get her revenge on that man... Both had ups and downs so it was just a matter of which one she would prefer. Ares said he''d accommodate her choice but she had a feeling there was a right and wrong option here, one of which would surely lead to a greater future than the other. Truthfully she already knew the answer to this question deep in her heart because all the things she stolen from others she''d kept tucked away in her spatial rings in the hopes she could sell it all and get her shop back even if it cost her everything else she owned. "My shop. I would want my shop back... And for that man to die even though I didn''t pick that option but I take it that''s not going to happen..."


    "No. I''m not going to kill that man because I have no reason to. He''s yet to offend me, your plight is irrelevant to me, and he''s also technically innocent even if hearing that boils your blood. I don''t care about him and killing him would probably bring me a great deal of hassle so it isn''t worth it, despicable though he is. He''s also the father of an acquaintance of mine... Though, granted, that acquaintance might actually encourage me to off him if he could speek freely on the matter... Anyway, I''ll get you your shop back one way or another but there is a catch."


    Barb recoiled and blinked her eyes wide open as Ares delivering her shop back to her on a silver platter was not an outcome she was expecting. She didn''t know what he had planned exactly but the shop she raised from the ground up coming back to her was not something she could have ever foreseen. Surely there would be too many legal hoops to get it all back again? "If you can get the shop back then I don''t care what the catch is. You want to use me like that man did? Go ahead, I don''t care about my body anymore. But I have to ask, kid, how do you plan on getting it back?"


    "First of all, ew, no, I don''t want your body. Even if I did I''m on strict orders from my wife not to play around with other women and she will smell you on me even if I don''t see her for the next two months so that''s a no go for multiple reasons. Second of all, you should care what the catch is because it involves uprooting whatever''s left of your life and it also involves those axemen as they need to make a decision too. The catch is that I''ll be relocating your shop into Red Sun to serve as the local alchemy shop. We don''t really have one worth mentioning as of right now and you''ll be filling that gap basically forever. You can leave Red Sun yourself down the line if you want but that shop''s new and final home will be Red Sun. It will also be your home too so be prepared for that and get your life in order. The same applies to the axemen but obviously you''re free to do as you please as you can either keep following the merchant lady or go do your own thing. As cultivators, though, it would be wise to tag along as the potential for growth is incredible and it doesn''t seem like you have anything else going on, especially if you were willing to throw your lives away on the Federation for the fun of it.


    Honestly, none of you are really useful to me but I need an alchemy shop and having more cultivators around, even if they''re only really slightly above average at best, is all convenient for me. I came across you at the perfect time and you should thank your lucky stars I did because this position would have gone to someone else had I taken a path even half a mile or so to the left or right of where we are now and missed you. I''m not one for miracles but this seems to be one such event so take fate''s blessings and consider this option wisely. Lastly, how I get the shop back isn''t really any of your concern but if you must know I can do it basically however I want. I can take it by force, I can steal it stealthily, or I can do it legitimately. I''ll see what mood strikes my fancy when the time comes. I''ll make it a priority when I return from my trip but until then you can stay in Red Sun and wait patiently. If you make this choice then go look for Hans, explain yourselves, and tell him I sent you as that will make things go smoothly. Remember this though, you all mean nothing to me and if you decline here then I''ll do whatever make''s my life easier regardless of what you want. Also, if you agree just to get me out of your hair then go towards the federation anyway when you think I''m not looking I will make your lives as excruciatingly painful as possible before I finally kill you. Hell I might even keep you alive, Barb, and go gift you to Mr. HMTG out of spite and then he can sell you around like he does his wife. I am not someone to be trifled with as there exists a deep well of pettiness within me so make a choice you won''t regret, whatever it may be."


    Barb shook her head from side to side. "There''s no need to think about it, I''ve already made up my mind. I just want my shop back and I don''t care about anything else. As for the axemen mercs..." Barb glanced over and it was pretty clear they were all aboard this plan too because a golden opportunity like this was a once in a lifetime thing and they weren''t going to scoff at it. "... I guess there was never any doubt about what they''d do. We''ll take you up on your offer but if you don''t follow through then I''ll just make you the next target of my revenge instead and make Red Sun pay the price."


    "An empty threat. Normally I would slap you sideways as punishment for daring to threaten me in such a manner but I understand your head isn''t in the right space due to that previous betrayal so I''ll ignore it. let me be clear here though, never threaten anyone I know or anything I own ever again or there will be consequences. Our deal be damned I will find a new owner for that shop of yours and they''ll have to be ok with the very real skeletons in the closet I leave behind as an example of what happens when you pick a fight with me.


    Well? What are you waiting for? A second invitation? Go directly to Red Sun and don''t harass anyone there either. If I catch wind of you bothering the locals then, again, our deal is off. I don''t care about what you''ve been doing up until now but that behaviour will fly no longer, not in my neck of the woods." Ares shooed the merchant lady away and she obediently walked towards her axemen to help them up and then leave. She was tempted to be obstinate and fight back with her venomous tongue but she wasn''t certain Ares wouldn''t get fed up with her and just kill everyone because it was too much of a hassle. There was a lot at stake here, namely her shop, so she didn''t want to ruin it because of the petty habits she picked up after being betrayed. She had a mean streak in her as a result of that nonsense but if she was going to stop this lifestyle then she ought to get rid of that problematic aspect that was still clinging to her like a parasite and go back being polite to people. She really never did use to be as bossy and bitchy as she currently was but that was just the only way she thought she''d be able to get by in this merciless world. If that was how all the big business owners did things then maybe if she emulated it, and put herself at the top of the world while stepping on everyone else, then maybe she could get a taste of the highlife and do as she pleased for once. Of course she had no real power to speak of so it was more like a kid playing pretend, and was every bit as threatening, but, embarrassing though it was to look back on, at least it was over now... the way she''d treated the mercs like underlings was really cringey though and she was going to struggle to look them in the eye from now on... Well, they''d put up with her this far so something minor like that wouldn''t phase them. It hadn''t up until now and it coming to an end would be a good thing for them so they''d forgive and forget. They looked rough and were always ready for a fight but they were good enough people at the end of the day.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    While the merchant lot were leaving, Aejaz walked over to Ares and tried to dig deeper into the whole ''recovering the shop'' thing he mentioned. "Sooooo. Care to explain how you''re gonna get the shop back? I''m really curious how you''d do it legitimately. Obviously you''ll use the Primordial Blade to store the shop and relocate it. By force is self-explanatory. By stealth means you''ll be borrowing my Concealed Serpent and using your Nyxian Prowler to sneak it away in the dead of night. But legitimately? I don''t think you have the money or, and I''m sorry to say this, the brains to pull that off. You aren''t exactly and up and coming business tycoon so going head to head with HMTG doesn''t seem likely to me..."


    Ares defiantly folded his arms and snorted. "Hmph, I''ll have you know I posses plenty of business acumen! I''ve been around Onno long enough to pick up some tricks here and there and could sell a person their own kidney if I really wanted to!"


    "... I doubt that..."


    "Sure I could! If I just ripped it out and then offered to put it back in, for the right price, I''m sure I''d have plenty of takers!"


    "That''s not business you cretin, that''s violence!"


    "In the cultivation world, I fail to see the difference. Anyway, to get the shop back there''s a few avenues I could take. One, I could speak with the man himself and offer him a spot in Red Sun, in exchange for the shop, which he''d invest in quicker than you could blink. Two, I can get Onno involved and he''d get that shop back in no time flat by using his HMTG connections thoroughly. Or third, the way I intended on doing things, overwhelm HMTG with my support avenues via Transmit, the C.O, and then afterwards the A.O. With my backing I could breathe quite heavily down the neck of the A.O and have them withdraw support for that particular shop, opening it up to a pretty simple trade or purchase after devaluing the location exponentially.


    Of course, the more likely outcome, thanks to the C.O, would be that I just get the damn thing for free. It''s in a valuable spot but if the A.O leaves well enough alone then the shop become worthless and not worth fighting the C.O over as far as HMTG would be concerned. In short, there''s a few different ways to go about it and, even then, those options branch out into other ideas that are all wholly unnecessary because, honestly, I''d just take it. Legitimate means are long, boring, and exist solely for the weak. I want the shop, that HMTG guy is a dickhead, it shouldn''t really belong to him, and what I say goes in this domain. He can''t fight me and he doesn''t have the tools at his disposal to stop me from doing what I want. He won''t get any support if all he''s fighting for is one lousy fucking shop he stole from some random woman with duplicitous means in the first place. The public sentiment would not be on his side so who would he go and cry to? He can''t dissuade major business from joining up with Red Sun because it''s a greater opportunity than anything he can offer. If anything, I could even leverage those people against HMTG and cause him major losses which would affect that dream of his, to build a stainless empire. Long story short, that shop is as good as mine already and it''s really not any deeper than that...


    ...


    ... Now, as for the disapproving monk who''s staring holes into the back of my head in a bid to get me to repent for my tyrannical ways, I honestly have no idea what to do with you..."


    "..." As per usual, the monk made no noise whatsoever and just stared at Ares with a judging gaze.


    "Nothing, huh?"


    "..."


    "Ok, calm down, no need to get too excited now. Hold back the verbal landslide a bit, yeah?" Ares took a deep breath after mocking the guy and spoke one last time to him. "I''m taking my leave now. I don''t what you were doing here, or plan on doing after this, but you are free to keep doing it to your liking. Though I don''t entirely trust you, I''m sure you have no intention of doing anything unjust so go. Be free! Fly fool!"


    "..."


    "..."


    "...."


    "...."


    An unusual staredown began as Ares quietly waited for the monk to leave but he seemed uninterested in doing so and Ares was this close to kicking this guy''s ass for being so damn annoying. What did he want and, better yet, how on earth was he going to communicate that want with Ares?! A game of charades?! Before Ares could ask, the monk held out a letter of some kind towards Ares who took it and read the thing aloud.


    "Dear Massai..." Ares glanced up and over the letter with a ''that you?'' look on his face to which the monk, Massai, nodded. "On behalf of the Oasis..." Ares wracked his brain because he''d heard this name somewhere before... And recently too... Rud! Rud mentioned it to him briefly a while back because this was the name of the sect over in Xasca that had submitted the Riddlemyd request! Ares, as a foreign aid disciple, was going to go and meet with them to announce his arrival before heading over to the Riddlemyd. It seemed they were contacting this monk for some reason...


    "We seek your aid. Though you''ve already aided us once before, we ask that you lend us a hand once more regarding the same issue as last time. For some unknowable reason, the fine grind blue quarry has been contaminated again and we fear the worst. We have more clues this time about what keeps going wrong but we are still in dire need of someone to cleanse the quarry and that is where we hope you come in as we already know you are capable of such a feat. If you aren''t able to help with the quarry then we strongly urge you to send someone else who can as this matter seems to be a bigger issue than last time and may even be somewhat perilous to Xasca as a whole. We are working tirelessly to find anyone who can alleviate us of this issue but I fear you alone possess the means to fully purify the problem down to the root. We will offer more details once you arrive but, in the mean time, would it be possible for you to gather information on a person who goes by the moniker ''Torchbearer'' during your travels to share with us? We have a feeling this person is involved and we''d like to know what their goal is.


    Though you are a virtuous monk who wishes not to receive compensation for your good deeds, we have a reward already planned out for you so please be willing to accept it this time as we feel it will be incredibly valuable to you and your spiritual journey. We did some digging into your history and found something you will surely appreciate so do be sure to come and pick it up. I''ve entrusted this important letter to Transmit so I''m sure this message will find you well. Attached is sufficient stardust to get you aboard the Federation and cross over to our country should you be willing to lend us a hand though, knowing your personality, I''m certain you will. As such, I thank you in advance and look forward to greeting you with apt hospitality.


    Kindly


    Mr Drai, Sect Master of ''Oasis''."


    ...


    "Torchbearer again? And it seems to be something equally severe too... Why is this person trying to start shit everywhere and cause worldwide pandemonium? It''s all so well timed too as everything seems to be kicking off at once... How long has this person been planning this? Tsk, whatever, no pointing asking such questions because even if you knew thew answer, Massai, you wouldn''t exactly be willing to tell me, would you?"


    "..."


    "Yeah, as I thought... So you''re heading to the Federation as well to go help out Xasca? In that case, count me in. Knowing my luck I''ll get involved anyway, and I happen to be heading right to Oasis'' doorstep, so I might as well see if there''s anything I can do. You already know my credentials so I''m sure you have no complaints with me getting involved?"


    "..." Though his silence was impossible to decipher Massai did, thankfully, shake his head side to side so that meant Ares was good to jump in on this mess. He wasn''t interested in this Torchbearer before, when it was just a Freeride Federation thing, but now that it was becoming a more widespread problem Ares wanted to solve this before it inevitably affected Red Sun. If Ares could guarantee Red Sun would leave Sheryashka before shit went down for real then he might not have cared but, as things stood currently, it was looking likely that Red Sun was in the firing line. Everywhere was in the firing line, to be more specific, and Ares figured it was best to just assume Red Sun would be involved as a result. Anyway, he could worry about that when he finally came across the Firestarters on Freeride and the quarry in Xasca. For now, it was time to get back to travelling as this had been a lengthy enough detour as is. Useful in many ways but troublesome in many more as Ares'' workload for the foreseeable future had just increased exponentially and his to-do list had only gotten longer...


    "Alright Massai, we''re going to abandon you here now and leave you in our dust. You''re capable enough that you can make it to the Federation without getting offed by some random monster or thug so I''m sure we''ll meet again on the Federation. I know goodbye is the hardest word to say and your silence tells me all I need to know about how sad you are to see me go..."


    "..."


    "... But leave I must! So without further ado, adieu chump monk!" Ares gave a salute with his tongue out before Voidwalking away with his brother in tow. There was a lot of new information to consider, namely this Torchbearer individual, but right now it was time to keep training his lazy brother in the ways of destruction! If Aejaz thought worldwide catastrophes were enough to escape Ares'' harsh training curriculum he was dead wrong! As such, Aejaz was worked tirelessly and to the bone over the course of the next few days until, luckily for him, they came across the Federation and his training was over! Not! The Federation was still anchored down, and not leaving for a few days, so Ares was going to keep making Aejaz Voidwalk all over the place until it finally left as there was no good reason not to keep training like a spartan until then! Though Freeride freedom could be seen on the horizon, Aejaz was forced to camp out in the wilderness by his lunatic brother who was not affording him any niceties until his training was over... There was a warm bed waiting for Aejaz on the Freeride and yet it was out of reach... This was because he said Ares didn''t have the brains for business, wasn''t it... This was payback! One day, when Aejaz'' casino was up and running, he would scam his own brother for this cruelty! What goes around comes around!... Oh well, at least Ares was providing warm meals, that shut Aejaz up for now.

 Chapter 307: People-Watching; The Many Types Aboard the Federation

    The sun was shining, the birds were tweeting, and Aejaz was groaning as Ares dragged him backwards through the foliage towards the Federation. The time to set off had come at last but Ares still felt the need to put Aejaz through his paces one last time before setting off which had resulted in his inability to walk right now. Aejaz had Voidwalked until his legs were sore pretty much everyday as of late and he could now maintain it for two hours straight if he really tried. Of course mana was also an issue but, then again, he had no real reason to use it for that long as of right now so that was fine. It was still worth setting up a good foundation for his stamina to improve upon later though and Ares had spared no effort in putting him through his paces to facilitate that. Of course Ares was no slouch either and whenever he wasn''t pressurising his Primordial Blade he was doing some training himself. Voidwalking, controlling physical pressure, swinging his scythe around, etc... Just about anything and everything. He was usually a little lazy in this regard but that was mostly because he was also busy and didn''t have the free time to mess around with stuff like this. He had enough passive advantages that he didn''t need to keep actively training every waking moment of every day but that didn''t mean he wouldn''t do it when the opportunity came knocking.


    Anyway, Ares used his annihilation enhancement to pick Aejaz up by the back of his collar and, about ten minutes of lugging his brother around later, they''d arrived at the port wherein the Federation was docked. And what a sight it was... Ares obviously knew the thing would be massive, how could it not be? It was an entire Federation so it naturally would rival, at bare minimum, the size of Sheryashka''s smallest country which, funnily enough, happened to be its current destination, Xasca. But rivalling Xasca was just the start as this group of varying ships and boats were, in total, roughly 1.5 times as big as the desert they would be sailing towards. This hadn''t always been the case but the great thing about a country not founded on pre-existing land was that adding more to it over time was easy. They didn''t need to saw off part of another country and attack it to their own, they simply needed to buy and / or create more boats! Very simple and very easy to do with the exorbitant amount of money flowing through this place.


    Argosies, trawlers, yachts, you name it and that type of ship or boat was definitely present somewhere amidst the sea of wood and metal. Plenty of sturdy bridges connected vast vessels and thousands of people could be seen going about their daily life as they walked from one ship to another to find the quadrant of the Federation that had whatever it was they needed. No matter what you were after it was typically said to only take a ten minute walk at most in order to find a business that sold it or could find it for you wherever the Federation docked next. Ares could spy some fishermen raising a net full of marine life that would pass through the nearest supplier, which appeared to be no more than a few buildings away, before heading off to the market on the next ship over. The market place was like a central hub of sorts, connected to in an octagonal fashion with bridges coming toward it from every which way making it flow efficiently whenever deliveries were inbound. One of those bridges led directly to a large residential area too, making it easily accessible without having to boat hop multiple times, and the design of even this small segment of the Federation really showed the care and cleverness put into the thought making process behind every single ship in the Federation. Even the towed Argosy boats were being protected from their rear and flanks by a small armada that were acting like personal bodyguards for the rich merchants who paid a little extra when boarding. This was a very necessary price to pay, however, as these sorts of ships were attacked with great frequency on these journeys by all sorts of aggressors, be they monsters or otherwise. Of course they needn''t concern themselves with bigger threats, however, as the captain of the Freeride was known to deal with such issues personally whenever they cropped up. It was a form of free protection for those that didn''t pay but he was only really doing it to keep his Federation, and the people on it, safe so the cheapskate merchants were just indirectly benefitting.


    Even before Ares and Aejaz got near to one of the many boats used to act as a gateway for boarding they could see various people of various races living the high life on deck chairs, sipping away on colourful cocktails and other such curious concoctions that were unique to various parts of the world that didn''t exist here in Central Land. Given that the Federation was a particularly mobile country, one that made contact with every other country in Sheryashka at least once every 7-8 months, the people living or riding aboard it were naturally from many different walks of life. In that regard, it was sort of similar to Central Land but it was even more applicable as it doubled down as a mode of transportation which means that settling down wasn''t the only reason people had to come to this place and stay here for a lengthy period of time.


    A lot of these rarer races, like the crocco kin (crocodile people) for instance, wouldn''t be found in Red Sun no matter how hard you looked because they were mostly a sea-dwelling race. They could live underwater for weeks at a time, and generally preferred to, so they took up residence near coastal areas for the most part. They were sort of just sporadically dotted around the globe until the Federation showed up and now they typically always lived here as the water was never more than a few feet away from them but they had all the comforts that came with land-based civilisation. In these lower domains, living underwater was an incredibly basic affair as the runemancy needed to have regular appliances and such function underwater just didn''t exist. Even if it did the level of expertise with the pillar needed to even create the runes, and enough of them, was something flat out impossible to find down here. As such, the crocco kin were happy to bathe in the sunlight atop their boats, with their jaws kept slightly open and a straw sitting in it ready to be clamped down on when they wanted a drink, before heading off to one of the specialised boats that allowed them to hang around underwater even when the Federation was on the go. These boats had what could be considered underwater ''swimming pools'' of sorts and were perfect for races that liked to spend their free time under water. Like icebergs, these boats were relatively small on the surface but, underneath the waves, they grew massively as they sported a giant, upside down bubble dome that let in water and wild life but prevented anyone inside it from being left behind accidentally by gettin pushed out by the tides. It was basically like a one way mirror sort of rune and that was plenty good enough at simulating an underwater experience without the ''cage'' you were trapped in being all too apparent.


    A lot of stardust had been invested into these ''submerger'' boats by the higher ups of the Federation as getting these sea-dwelling races aboard their country was seen to be a huge deal for them. Sea-dwelling races could work in engineering and fix issues with the boats that were mostly inaccessible to normal cultivators. Say some sea creature damaged a part of the boat under the water, for instance, these crocco kin, with the right training, could fix it up in a jiffy. Plus if they lived here that was another source of guaranteed revenue so any race that could breathe underwater was favoured heavily on the Federation. They became engineers, hunters, and guards more often than not and, point in case, the armadas were all predominantly lined with strong cultivators with gills visible across their sailor-uniformed bodies. They were very well paid for their work but that didn''t necessarily mean they were rich or anything, just considerably more wealthy than the average person boarding the Federation.


    There was a monstrous gap in terms of financial power between the upper echelon of this place and the no-names who were just passing through or living in some of the poorer areas on the ships that were more prone to rocking during stormy weather, amongst other such disadvantages. To put it into perspective, Ares had 130 high grade right now and his wallet could still be considered destitute by the nobles and businessmen who casually tossed around thousands of high grade like it was children''s play-pretend money. On the other side of the scale were the mortals or weak cultivators without means to increase their savings because they lacked the strength, business acumen, or resources. Mortals were usually the kind of people who might not even be able to tell you what a mid grade stardust even looked like because it was simply out of their realm of knowledge. They''d never seen such a thing let alone a high grade and these types of people absolutely still existed on the Federation. It was two very different extremes but that was important for any society to function properly, according to the economists living on the Federation, and so little was done to reduce the gap. There were plenty of available resources and low-end shops for those who could be considered lower class so it''s not like they had a hard life, fraught with starvation, or anything, they just didn''t get to enjoy the same luxuries as some of the other people on the Federation.


    If Ares had to rank himself in the Federation hierarchy, strictly in terms of purchasing power, he was probably in the top 30% of everyone who was on this ship at the moment but it was worth noting that, from roughly the top 25% onwards, the difference in terms of monetary possessions was staggeringly STEEP. The least richest of the top 25% might have upwards of even 60-70,000 high grades at their immediate disposal. These were all people that had businesses in their respective countries of origin that were internationally famous and had been raking in profits for generations. Oil barons, fine grind blue quarry investors, conglomerate owners, etc... The average person simply couldn''t compare and there was no point losing sleep over it because it basically could never be changed unless a massive stroke of luck blessed you with an unforeseen encounter. There was a pretty famous story of a homeless man who snuck aboard the Federation once and rescued a drowning noble who fell overboard. He was given riches beyond his comprehension and lived the rest of his life out in a way that other people in his position could only dream of from their wet cardboard boxes in the rainy streets. Even to this day there were plenty of poor people trying to search high and low for such golden geese on the Federation. Some succeeded but most failed and were led astray, wasting their entire lives here...


    There were rumours the successes that littered the myriad failures were enabled by the higher ups of the Federation to keep luring more and more people in to become wage slaves aboard the Federation but that was never proven without a shadow of a doubt. Also, it just made even more people come because the barrier of entry to getting rich was even lower. They didn''t have to save anyone''s life or anything, they just had to be one of the lucky few who won this manipulative lottery and then they would be set for life. Then there were the last group of people who came here with such intentions and they were easily the most crazed lot as they tried to actively engineer dangerous situations for the rich people. They would swoop in and save the people''s who very lives they themselves had put in danger. Poisoning food and pretending to be a doctor with the antidote, making the decks of dangerous boats slippery and waiting in the wings to throw a rope at the overboard noble, or even bringing dangerous monsters aboard and then fending them off. These people received harsh punishments and almost always failed but, then again, it was impossible to tell when they succeeded because they would have made it look completely natural for the most part. How many of the nobles that had been rescued in the last hundred years had been saved by well-intentioned individuals or those who put them in that position to begin with? It was unknown but it did spice things up a bit on the Federation as everyone had to have their wits about them!


    There was a lot going on here but that was to be expected as the Federation was always bustling whenever it entered port. The most notable change was that people with no affiliation to the Federation would stop by and try to make sales to people in the queue. There were two reasons for this. one, the queues were long so food and drink were typically items that sold rather well. It was entirely possible to have a thriving business just from selling meals to people who didn''t bring anything with them. In some cases the food was so good that people intentionally didn''t bring anything because they planned on eating restaurant quality lunches and dinners in the queue. Some of the higher end businesses even rented out tables and chairs with wheels on them for a dining experience that was rather unique. As the customer ate, a servant would roll them forward whenever the queue shortened. Sometimes the food at such places wasn''t even that great but people still paid for the service just to appear richer than everyone around them, this was something else that was particularly common on the Freeride.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    There was a pretty significant show-off culture wherein the rich constantly competed with one another to upstage everyone around them at every opportunity. It led to some pretty ridiculous scenes wherein fashion, politeness, tech, and general behaviour became quite whacky at times. Showing up to an impromptu banquet and finding everyone wearing some non-sensical get up for no reason other that it had become a local, expensive, fad was not a rare sight at all. In fact, Ares could already see the newest fad on display as some up-their-own-ass types on the Federation, watching the poor people board with smug and condescending grins, were wearing it proudly... Which they really shouldn''t have been... Any sane person would look at their clothes and turn their nose up at it... What they were wearing was clothes made of water. Evidently some water pillar fashionista of high class renown designed a magical method to create thick water and then shape it into articles of clothing. It was somewhat see-through but the main draw was that it could look elegant if used correctly as the light shimmering off it, and the natural aesthetic, could blend well if creative people used their brains a bit. One such person was wearing a water scarf that highlighted their sand-coloured dress quite impeccably but, unfortunately, they were seemingly the only one with any common sense...


    Everyone else was just wearing water clothes from head to toe with no regard for their obscene appearance as they had more money than common sense. These people were basically half nude but they wore very genuine smiles in spite of that because they had spent more money than the people who didn''t look like them and that was enough to boost their ego and help them tune out the shame they should have been experiencing. In some cases it was a matter of peer pressure too as people who could afford to wear full body water clothes, but knew how stupid it was, would do so anyway simply not to have everyone else look down on them. It was a situation wherein even those with the capacity for rational thought went along with the flow so as not to be the odd one out. In that sense, there really was nothing unique about any of the people doing this because they were all doing it in the exact same way... It really did just come down to them all basically going ''look how much money I have you peasants! bet you can''t afford even the shoes I''m wearing let alone everything else!'' As far as they were concerned, claims that they looked dumb were unsubstantiated and based off nothing more than mere jealousy... Although really most of them should have been painfully aware that wasn''t true, it was just a very convenient excuse to keep doing what they were doing. The only ones with the right to be exempt from this peer scrutiny were the filthy rich who didn''t need to display their wealth in order for people to know they had it. People like Onno''s father fell in this category because if anyone dared call him ''cheap'' they''d end up penniless before they could even notice their business crumbling apart.


    Mind you, it wasn''t all about status as the water clothes were still made of magic at the end of the day. They functioned as a sort of last ditch barrier on the skin and could even block some attacks head on, depending on how strong they were, so it wasn''t all show and no function. It even looked like it could cool the wearer down under the blazing sun while preventing sunburn too. It was definitely the kind of thing you should wear sparingly but, well... Some people cared more about pointless grandstanding so things devolved from there and the original intention behind the clothes was lost entirely. As a side note, the way these things became popular in the first place varied and could really be for just about any reason. If a famous designer created something new it could become a sensation or a flop and it was all basically random. There was even one time a noble discreetly copied something they saw a commoner wearing and that became the new fad...


    That of course changed the second people realised what was happening but it did temporarily drive the prices of that article of clothing sky high which ended up being enough of a jumpstart for that business to become something larger than it ever would have. That very same business was now one of the top clothing stores on the Federation because, even though they originally sold things for cheap, having that limelight shed on their quality made countless high class women invest in them. They were treated like a diamond in the rough when, really, they were just pretty ordinary overall and it was the rich lot''s stubbornness that prevented them from seeing that normal businesses had interesting things to offer all the time. they refused to believe it was all a mistake from the beginning and they believed that this specific business was secretly greater than all the others which is why they were enamoured with the commoner''s clothes...


    Putting the price tag before the actual item itself often led to these people wasting small fortunes on garbage that wasn''t any better than something a normal mortal could buy at their local tailors. It was all a massive farce but the people involved were hypnotised by the crap they themselves propagated and sold each other in a bid for popularity. Hell, if Ares wanted to, he could start his own fad. All he had to do was obstinately wear something silly and everyone else would follow along in due time. Maybe not if he were a random mortal but now that everyone knew who he was he could make anything strange catch on like wildfire if he put his mind to it and kept flaunting it to these rich morons. While that sounded fun Ares had more important things to be doing, unfortunately, and didn''t have the week or two spare it would take to throw a wrench into the world of popular culture aboard the Federation.


    Back in the queue, Ares was interrupted from his thoughts by a salesman who was trying to sell him something... Something he really wasn''t interested in. For every good business here there would inevitably someone like the guy pestering Ares, someone trying to sell him oranges because they were good for preventing scurvy... This guy either had a few screws loose or must have thought Ares looked like the kinda guy who did and, honestly, Ares was already feeling offended because it was looking like the latter! This dope was giving Ares some long ass explanation about the dangers of scurvy and how it could plague even the most careful of traveller but the more he spoke the more Ares wanted to feed this guy to the fishes.


    "... So you see, tangerines, my good sir, are essential to preventing scurvy and you really ought to buy some!"


    Ares played along with this guy and threw up a dumb smile. "Tangerines are essential?"


    "Yes, very!"


    "So you could say they''re tangential?"


    "Yes! Wait... No..." The man looked confused which Ares couldn''t help but laugh at which, in turn, made the man realise hew as being mocked so he stormed off in a fit. This would have been a good thing for Ares, as he could get some peace and quiet while he waited to be allowed onto the Federation, but all it really meant was that he was open to being bothered by someone more annoying and persistent. Ares should have really had that guy keep talking for another five minutes or so because Ares was only going to get hounded by another person now that he was gone and never coming back... Point in case, some strange, stubby guy who was sweating nervously approached Ares with a smile that made Ares want to smack some confidence into him. Was this guy trying to sell him something or was he about to go fight fear incarnate? Why was this guy quaking in his boots and looking at the ground over and over again?! Ares was really wishing this guy would just disappear because he was starting to believer this guy was going to try and sell him a bomb or something equally dodgy... Though, actually, a bomb was pretty inconsequential given... Well... Everything Ares was and stood for. Giving Ares, of all people, a bomb was like giving a waterfall a hose. That is to say it was entirely redundant and Ares was, by far and away, the bigger bomb and it wasn''t even close. Still, despite hoping the guy would second guess himself and not try make the sale, Ares was now morbidly curious to find out what thig guy was trying to pull. As such, Ares extended a greeting to get the ball rolling for him.


    "Hey fella, whatcha got for sale? I came across some stardust recently and I''ve got a hankering to spend it." This was not true. Ares had zero desire to spend his stardust on whatever this man was selling but if it helped progress the conversation then a little white lie was in everyone''s best interest.


    "You''re interested?! Oh good heavens! In that case, allow me to show you this!" Why did this guy seem shocked someone was willing to give him the time of day?! Ares sighed to himself as he watched the stubby guy pull out some kind of odd sphere... Before he could explain it, however, a partner of his came bursting into the picture with energy to spare. The man was hyped up on a drug called confidence and seemed to think the world was at his fingertips.


    "Well well well! A customer? Then allow me to take over this little explanation as, you see, unfortunately, my comrade here is still quite new to all of this so he''s a bit nervous. Let me show him the ropes and take his place for now, ok friend?"


    Ares just nodded along without saying a word. The new man threw the sphere lightly into the air and, after a brief flash, a miniature beach appeared around everyone was close by. Ares was stunned because it all felt so real and surreal, like he could reach out and actually touch this stuff. Wasn''t it just a hologram?


    "See this? This technological marvel comes from a planet in Vraizon. It''s a simulated planet with all sorts of techy wonders such as this and I happened to get some stuff from there at a wonderful price. Now I''m down here trying to sell it all off to any interested parties! This sphere is a portable beach! Comes with all the blees and whistles but I gotta remind you it''s all a hologram! Real though it may look, nothing here is real which makes it ideal for relaxing on a make believe holiday without ever having to leave the comfort and convenience of your own home!"


    Honestly? Ares was a little impressed something like this even existed. It was a decent product but something was awry about this whole situation... That first guy who was trying to sell this product had no reason to be so apprehensive if the product was this good even if he was still a newbie salesman... Ares looked around, and was about to activate his Omniscience, when he spied a snake slithering around across the beach... It was a bit of an odd design choice to have such wildlife present in what was supposed to be a relaxing hologram... And why was it slithering towards him? Ares raised a few questions to the salesman... "What''s this thing?" Ares pointed at the obvious discrepancy in the hologram.


    "Ignore it! it''s just a part of the background!"


    "It''s moving?"


    "it''s a moving background!"


    "It''s biting my leg?"


    "It''s interactive!"


    "It kinda hurts?"


    "It''s immersive!"


    "Will it eat me?"


    "Not if it likes you!"


    "Then why''s it eating me?"


    "..."


    "..."


    Sigh


    The salesman retracted the sphere and made the nibbling snake disappear before providing an explanation... "Yeah, the goods are faulty..."


    "I noticed." Ares looked down at the bite mark on his leg...


    "We were conned... We really did get this from the simulated universe up in Vraizon but, when we initially trialled the product inside the planet, it didn''t function like this. The salesman must have used some techy trickery to hide the snake while we were making the deal. As soon as we left the planet we realised we''d been duped and he sold us a backfire artifact. Yeah, sure, this thing creates a beach hologram on the go but that snake is very much not supposed to be there... We spent so much money on these failed artifacts and really need to get them off our hands..." The salesman laughed half-heartedly as he scratched his head...


    "How much?"


    "Eh?"


    "I''ll buy one and that''s it. My brother here..." Ares pointed at Aejaz. "... Happens ot be able to make use of backfire gear so today''s your lucky day. Just one though, don''t try and push your luck any further."


    "Oh thank you! What a kind soul you are! A handsome..."


    "Ok, that''s enough kiss-assing, just tell me how much and get lost. The queue has moved up and it''s time to board. You''ve been helpful in keeping other salesmen at bay but your usefulness to me ends here so make the sale and skedaddle." Ares wanted the product but he didn''t appreciate the attempt at a scam so he had mixed feelings about it all... At least the fault was easy enough to spot without Omniscience. Anyway, Aejaz could use that one art of his that foisted backfires onto people and maybe make use of this by making the snake poisonous or something, that was for him to figure out. In the end, the price came up to one singular high grade even though the salesmen originally wanted four for it. Ares almost slapped the guy''s teeth out when he tried pulling that crap and so the price was reduced appropriately when factoring in the fact that it was a backfire, he tried scamming Ares, and he was likely ever going to only make this sale and this sale alone. The guy was not in a position to haggle, and one high grade was pretty damn fantastic considering the circumstances, so he took his ''loss'' on the chin and left with the stubby guy, who''s poker face was atrocious, to go look for more people to scam further down the queue.


    As for Ares, it was finally time to board the ship, he just needed to speak with an official, and give a few small details, and it would be smooth sailing from there on out!... Although, regrettably, it looked like this specific official was having a bad day and even refusing to let some people onto the Federation for whatever reason... Of all the people Ares could have wound up talking to here at the ''border'', why did it have to be this one angsty and moody guy?! Today was not off to a great start and this level of foreboding was making Ares sick to his stomach...

 Chapter 308: Aptronym

    Ares and Aejaz shuffled on up to the grumpy official and he curtly spat out the same spiel he did for every other visitor. "State your reason for visiting the Federation, your name so we can take a record of it, and your general wealth bracket. If you need help with the last question..." The man looked like he wanted to tell Ares that he could then fuck right off but his job was on the line so he sighed and begrudgingly finished the sentence. "... Then ask away..." Those were the words he was supposed to say but definitely not the tone with which he was supposed to say them. Regardless, Aejaz ignored it because he didn''t want to start any trouble but Ares? Well it''s not that Ares was trying to annoy the guy ot anything, he really wasn''t, but there were two types of people in this world; those who would let a silly joke turn their foul mood around, or those who would only get more agitated than they were before. Unbeknownst to Ares, this particular fellow fell into the latter category and so his response to the first part of his question, about his reason for visiting the Federation, did not go over too well...


    "Well I''m heading to Xasca so.... To get to the other side! Heh, now I know how the chicken crossing the road must have felt." To top off his silly comment, Ares, with a playful smile, elbow nudged the guy who then glared down at him with thunderous rage in his eyes instead of appreciating the light-hearted comment. It seemed the man was just about willing to put this one stupid comment to the back of his brain and forget about it, as he silently waited for Ares answer to the second question, but Ares'' next response was the straw that broke the camel''s back. In the face of the man''s reluctance to enjoy friendly banter, which he made very clear the first time around, Ares flat out ignored his preference and tried again! "I am he who shall not be named!"


    "How is that useful to me you stupid idiot?!" The guy was very clearly not happy so Ares rolled his eyes and gave a proper answer instead like a good samaritan.


    "Fine fine, my name is Ares..."


    "Oh fuck off already!"


    ...


    Oh. He thinks I''m still pulling his leg... Ares gave a wry smile because he really had been telling the truth this time...


    "What next? you gonna tell me your wife''s name is Enyo too?"


    "Uh, actually, funny you say that..."


    "No, you know what? You can fuck right off. I''m not letting you on the Federation. Get lost."


    "Excuse you!?" Ares could not have possibly foreseen this! Aejaz was off to the side and palming his forehead because apparently anybody else other than Ares could though... But still, Ares felt wronged! "Look pal, I''m getting on that Federation one way or another! Don''t cause a scene just ''cos somebody took a piss in your cereal this morning! What''s even up with you anyway? Your wife cheating on you? D''you bet all your stardust on the international and lose everything?"


    "None of your damn business you punk. I''ve said it once and I won''t say it again. Get your ass out of the queue and don''t come back because I will not be letting you through even if the captain himself came and vouched for you. You think I won''t attack you if you keep pestering me? I so hope you try ''cos I really wanna smack the crap out of you right about now!" The guy was pretty confident in himself, what with being a transition realm cultivator and all, but what he failed to realise was that this ''Ares'' person in front of him was seriously no joke. Had he actually bet all his stardust on the tournament then he would have undoubtedly known about Ares off-rip and not taken this attitude with him. Unfortunately for this guy, he was picking a fight with someone he really shouldn''t. Though not everyone in the queue knew who Ares was, and some were revelling in watching him ''struggle'', the ones that did were looking forward to a good show. This was especially true of the nearby cultivators who''d also been dismissed unfairly from the Federation by this guy or even those aboard who''d been given plenty of shit from him even if they met all the criteria to get on. Some people had even been invited to the Federation, showing they possessed a prestige worth kissing up to, and yet they''d all been treated like dirt. Worse than that, they were treated like dirt on the bottom of this guy''s shoe. It looked like payback was on the horizon!


    "Oh? you wanna go? I''ve been letting people off the hook a lot lately and I''m starting to miss the bloodshed a little. Got some pent up violence in me if you''re wanting to go a couple rounds!" Ares was giving this guy one last chance to back out before he punched a whole though him. Everything he was saying was true, that he really hadn''t killed anyone in a while as he''d been pretty lenient with the C.O (who screwed him more than once) and the merchant lady, but that didn''t mean he was going to jump the gun and not give this guy a chance. He was oh so kindly throwing this guy a bone but now it was a question of whether he''d take it or not. Given the guy''s expected superiority over a lower realm cultivator like Ares, the answer was basically set in stone and so Ares was just waiting for the guy''s next words to come flying out from behind his lips and then he''d pounce!


    "Kids like you need to be taught a harsh lesson so don''t blame me if I accidentally go too far and kill you. It''s for your own good brat!" Though the official was expecting a one on one duel, some other random cultivators showed up which made his face sour... Until he realised they were on his side!... Why? He''d pissed off a lot of people here today so why where these strange people jumping to his aid? Better yet, what kind of issue did they have with this kid? The official saw him chatting to some salesmen in line but ''Ares'' didn''t exactly go around bothering anyone else... Had this kid made enemies on the way here or something? Not quite, actually, as Ares had made enemies way before this back when he was in Red Sun. He''d made enemies worldwide when he revealed his Primordial Blade as there were plenty of chumps with it out for him because they wanted to make off like kings after selling his treasure. This was the perfect place for it too as they could take the Blade before selling it off to some rich asshole on the Federation. It was like the Gods themselves had served up Ares on a silver platter, hog roasted him, and put a shiny apple in his mouth to boot. Sure they would have to fight themselves after dealing with Ares for possession of the Blade but it was still a good opportunity to gang up on him!...


    Not!


    These were people who hadn''t seen Ares in action, clearly, otherwise they would not be this confident with just some transition realm cultivator backing them up. Most of these thugs had, at best, peak bloodline awakening /aspect assimilation cultivation bases and were a pretty trifling ''issue'' for Ares to deal with. They must have thought the rumours about Ares were exaggerated and unfounded... That or they hadn''t done their research properly and only took to heart what he looked like so they could spy him out in the wild. None of this even got started on the fact that Ares literally could never lose the Blade to begin with although that was a lesser known piece of information. In hindsight, he really should have mentioned this back during the speech he gave at the end of the tournament. Personal treasures stuck with revenants for life... And the lives that came after it too. They were bound to the soul and a revenant''s soul was indestructible and impossible to interact with in any way. Even if Ares died, as soon as he regenerated, the Blade would just fly over to his new body and that would be the end of it. These clowns wouldn''t even get to drag it out of his body as it would still be residing inside him after death until his new body was up and running. of course this hypothetical scenario was about as likely as winning the lottery ten times in a row at bare minimum. Ares was going to die here in a queue of all places!


    To kick things off, Ares used telekinesis to fling the weakest cultivator amongst the group at the official and pre-occupy him as he was the most troublesome foe here. The weakest cultivator''s face as he was forced to be sent flying was rather funny but the official wasn''t in a laughing mood when he had to catch the guy who looked as though he''d just been possessed and needed an exorcist. The concept of telekinesis was pretty rare so the official wasn''t sure if this guy had leapt at him on purpose or not and was having a tough time trying to figure out whether he should kill the imbecile or throw him to the side unharmed. Ares took advantage of this indecision and placed the middle and pointer finger of his right hand up against the sideways-oriented palm of his left hand in front of him. He curled his fingers and scratched his skin as he drew the fingers back like he was pulling on a bowstring and a string of golden pressure trailed after his fingers. Ares wound the string up tight with a quick counter-clockwise roll of his two fingers before letting the physical pressure fly straight and true, piercing through two cultivators who were trying to attack him and heading straight towards the official and the guy he''d just caught. The golden pressure had already murdered two people in cold blood with no effort on its part whatsoever so the official took the threat it posed seriously and moved out the way in a timely fashion. Unfortunately for the guy he caught, however, there was no time for him to scramble away after being dropped on the spot so he took the physical pressure to the dome and his brain splattered everywhere, falling off the pier and bloodying the water below.


    This attack was a mock up of the disintegration beam Ares wanted to create at some point and bore some resemblance to the finished art. It''s piercing power was unstoppable and the raw strength behind the attack was devastating. It had just killed three peak, or near peak, bloodline awakening cultivators without slowing down in the slightest! If disintegration had been used instead of physical pressure then Ares might have accidentally sunk a boat in the background or destroyed a building at the very least. The only reason he didn''t with this attack was because it had missed the Federation entirely otherwise it would have cause a ruckus and then some. As for when Ares had learnt this attack, it was during his camp out session with Aejaz over the last few days! The idea had been mulling in his head ever since he saw the Stalker so, even though he was mini, Ares had devised plenty of ideas in preparation for his experimentation. As such, this pressure beam arrow thing, despite how powerful it was, was still only really in the trail and error stage. There was a lot Ares had learnt as a result of firing it that he could adjust even further when he had more time to himself on the Federation. All of which were good lessons to take onboard for when it came time to use big boy disintegration instead and create the art it was a precursor to. Physical pressure was just really easy to mould and control so using it like this, as an omen of what was to come with his arts, was pretty handy for Ares and he was definitely going to keep doing it when it was applicable.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Ares'' next order of business was to corral the remaining riff raff and finish them off all at once, maybe even taking out the official too if he was slow on the uptake. To facilitate this, Ares used his physical pressure to create a lasso and he roped up all the thugs that had come looking for trouble. Sheriff Ares was on duty and he rounded up all the darn tootin'' outlaws with a single flick of his wrist, expertly gathering all his foes with his physical pressure. The lasso constricted itself around the group and tied them up nicely directly in front of Ares. He wanted to use an art to finish them off but, first... "Esoteric Compression!" Ares directed a metric ton of pressure at the official to slow him down and maybe injure him a little. This art functioned as a lethal attack against weaker opponents but was great for slowing stronger ones down too so Ares had cast it in order to buy himself some time. Why? Because his next art was gonna be a real doozy!


    "Perish Wheel!"


    Overkill much!?


    Still, this would definitely kill the official if he didn''t escape his current pressure predicament quickly enough... But that was where the issues started. Though the official was seeing Ares in a brand new light right now he still wasn''t familiar with the kind of firepower Ares was truly packing when he went all out. He heard the name of the art loud and clear but still wasn''t particularly invested in escaping as he assumed he would have time while Ares was devoting his attention to the random thugs... If he knew what exactly a ''Perish Wheel'' was... He would not be so casually trying to shrug off the annoying pressure, that was for sure, and he''d maybe even start rapid casting whatever mobility related arts he knew to flee in terror. It was looking like he was going to get hit by it after all and all the people who were looking forward to his downfall where celebrating with small fist pumps... While running away, of course! A Perish Wheel in a place like this?! The Federation, over on this side at least, was going to get rocked hard by the blast in the ensuing chaos as the waves were going to become ridiculously turbulent any minute now! Ares was bout to create a massive tsunami level hazard but he really didn''t seem to care much about the consequences of his actions... And it''s not like he had any obligation to either. The officials working here represented the Federation and for such a place to turn Ares, of all people, away for such stupid reasoning would no doubt come off looking terrible for them. Strong cultivators threw tantrums all the time and, as long as there was even an inkling of justification, they were rarely blamed. If anything, even if Ares went through with this, the official, dead though he inevitably would be, would still be blamed for everything and not Ares. What were the Federation supposed to do? Complain to Ares? And have him blow them up and out of the water yet again?! They would sooner desecrate this moronic official''s grave and disgrace his corpse thoroughly just to get back in Ares'' good graces; the fact that he caused mayhem was mostly irrelevant!


    Ares slowly but surely readied the wheel and, although the official was realising the extent of what was to come based on the raw destructive essence welling up, it was far too late to do anything about it. The official scrambled like a mad man in a last ditch effort to free himself and run away but it was looking like an impossibility as Ares chuckled to himself and declared the following... "Cruise missile Ares is ready to launch!"


    "The Federation is not even a cruise, Ares, your terrible pun has missed its mark. Also, can you please put that thing down? Your scaring away potential customers..." A familiar voice interrupted Ares power trip so he turned to face the person in question and, sure enough, it was Onno! Made sense! HMTG''s current headquarters was here so if he had any reason to visit it then it was only natural he''d wind up here. or maybe he was just taking a vacation with Esme as she was here too? or maybe it was one of the businesses he owned that he''d come to check up on? Could be anything, really. Ares was obviously not going to ignore his acquaintance''s pleas so throwing the Wheel anywhere that could cause damage was a no go... But it was still quite a troublesome task to get rid of this thing. Dismantling it would take time but chucking it even straight up into the air would still have consequences on the water below and pose some risk... Ares thought long and hard about what to with this thing but then he had an idea! Chuck it into the void! Ares opened up a void tear and lobbed the Perish Wheel inside it before sealing up the gap in reality and dusting off his hands. No harm, no foul! Treating the void like an art dumping ground was kind of a waste but it also gave Ares the idea to use such a measure defensively if he could ever finagle it. It would be an incredibly potent way of redirecting attacks somewhere they couldn''t pester Ares if he had enough time to do it. Of course doing this took longer than literally any other art in his arsenal, and even just bringing out the Blade to block with was quicker, but this was still an option on the off chance anything tricker to deal with cropped up!


    Anyway, now that the ticking time bomb was gone, Ares checked in with Onno to see what he was up to while releasing the other fools that were bothering him earlier. He''d killed enough of them to make a long lasting point and those that were still alive would fear for their life whenever Ares was around so they couldn''t possibly dare raise another finger at him for as long as they lived. Point in case, the survivors all started sprinting off without waiting for a single word and would never be seen again. If anything, actually, letting them live was beneficial to Ares as they could spread word of what happened here to various other cocky individuals who still believed they could take Ares by surprise or gang up on him. Rumours were one thing but if the guy sitting next to you had a first hand experience then it became more convincing by a pretty significant margin. As for the official, Ares had let up on the pressure so he was standing up and kissing his teeth as having received mercy from some kid was a serious blow to his pride.


    "So what brings you to the Federation Onno? I take it you aren''t interested in seeing your father... Not that I can blame you, I''ve learnt a bit more about his deeds as of late and, boy, you really undersold him if anything." Ares really did feel bad for Onno for having had to be the spawn of that demonic flesh wearing creature. He was trying to guess whether it was worse to be the son of Mr HMTG, the son of Major, or the sun of the Starlight''s patriarch... All three were terrible in their own right... Actually, now that Ares thought about it, almost all of the patriarchs he''d heard about up until now were terrible men! Were where all the good fathers?! Out to buy milk and cigarettes? As far as Ares knew, the Willow patriarch wasn''t too bad and the same was also true of his own father... Though the latter definitely had some questionable tendencies when it came to gambling and the rigging thereof... Though what was Ares supposed to say about that last part really? If he claimed rigging a gamble made someone a terrible person then his own brother might as well be the devil himself...


    "God no, if I can avoid my father then I''ll consider that a spectacular fortune. I have a few things to check up on regarding my businesses, and I want to show Esme around, but honestly there''s someone I want to meet. Someone I haven''t seen in a while. if I get a chance, I''ll introduce you to him as well as you''re both kindred spirits in a way... Free and stupid."


    "Oh? And who is this wonderful sounding person then? if they''re like me then I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to meet them!"


    "You fucking wish. Anyway, personality aside, his name is Hunter. He''s one of my brothers and just about the only one with a good head on his shoulders. He was the only son to escape from our father and have absolutely nothing to do with him so I''d say he''s been the most successful of all of us in his endeavours. He lives on the Federation not because he wants to be close to the family, absolutely not, but because his business is located here... Hah, even the freest of us became a businessman in the end, ironic isn''t it? Well he''s also definitely the happiest of us as he''s actually created a business he loves from the bottom of his heart so that''s the key difference. Our father has done a lot to make his life hard as petty payback but Hunter''s always come out on the other end as his business is actually somewhat important to the Federation. Ill give you one guess as to what ''Hunter'' does..."


    "Ha, no shit? Well, I''m not one to talk. That dumbass official asked me if I was married to a woman named Enyo and, honestly, it made me feel a little unoriginal myself... So what, he just hunts monsters bothering the Federation?"


    Onno nodded while keeping an eye on the shady ''official'' who kept trying to sneak away for some reason... "... Yes, and he''s probably the most renounced hunter in all of Sheryashka, actually. He''s an expert trapper with vast knowledge on all things gadgetry related. Nets, poison needles, scanning gadgets. You need it, he''s got it. A lot of people come to the Federation to restock on hunting gear from his shop but the main attraction is his bounty board. You need a creature that needs killing? Hire him to go kill it whenever the Federation stops in your country and he''ll get the job done without fail. He enjoys his work but our father sees it as low-brow physical labour that only brutes would resort to. Naturally he never received any support and our father had repeatedly tried to kick him off the Federation. He''s a resilient one though and the amount of people who vouch for him have kept his shop afloat... By the way, about this ''official''... I don''t recognise him? Sure we have a lot of staff aboard the Federation, and I can''t remember them all, but this position at the border is one that rarely sees any newcomers. I''m not entirely convinced this individual hasn''t knocked out one of the actual officials and stolen his uniform... I''m going to need to have a word with him about where he''s come from so could you keep an eye on him for me Ares while I conduct an interrogation?"


    What an unusual twist... Why was some stowaway dressing up as an official and taking over their job?! Was this criminal a workaholic? If he was, he could earn money the normal way instead of resorting to whatever the hell it was he was doing currently! There was probably more to this than meets the eye so Ares agreed to make sure this guy didn''t pull anything funny... Actually, now that Ares thought about it, there was a somewhat logical explanation for this regarding some information he came across recently... Ares threw out a curveball question from out the blue that, as predicted, ruffled some feathers on the fake official''s face, making it pretty clear Ares had hit the nail on the head and saved Onno from having to interview the guy. "Say, Mr unofficial official... You wouldn''t happen to be a Firestarter would you?"

 Chapter 309: Mass Grave

    "Why do I not like the sound of that name?" Onno didn''t have to be told a group by the name of ''Firestarters'' sneaking aboard the Federation was a bad thing but Ares still gave him a comprehensive rundown based on what he knew. Many people in the surroundings also paid attention because, although there had definitely been some unsavoury rumours floating around, nobody seemed to know as much about it as Ares who luckily happened across someone who was in the know and willing to talk before arriving here. This information becoming publicly known had two major effects, one good and one bad. The good was that the Firestarters wouldn''t be able to operate so brazenly now that all eyes were on them. If anyone looked suspicious, acted strange, or seemed just generally out of place the chances of them being reported by the public and then detained / questioned went up massively. On the flipside, not only would they be harder to catch if they responded in kind by being more cautious but, also, it would cause some people aboard the Federation to panic and morale across the board would sink quite low. Distrust would be rife and everyone was going to be glancing sideways at the people they walked past because nobody here wanted to wake up in the middle of the night with their house on fire. The explanation was a quick one and, as soon as Ares was done with it, the official shook his head side to side and denied the accusation.


    "I''ve not heard anything about those people and they have nothing to do with me."


    ...


    Ares pursed his lips with a questioning raise of his eyebrows as stared at the guy who''d just lied straight to his face. "Pal... I have an inbuilt lie detector bloodline..."


    ...


    The official turned around and attempted to dive in the water. Presumably he was going to use his superior cultivation to outlast anyone who chased him by holding his breath for longer before flying away and making a break from it when he was further away from the Federation. Unfortunately, Ares had been ready with his finger on the trigger so he launched a wave of pressure to slow the guy down before taking his scythe out, coating it in disintegration, and slicing his legs off. He would have gone for the head but the actual officials for the Federation would no doubt want to have a word with him about his involvement with this group. Chances are, he was doing some reconnaissance to find out what type of people were boarding the Federation ahead of time. The Firestarters would need to be careful if some group of transition realm big shots appeared or if a cultivator from Vraizon was down here and on break. To that end, it was likely this fake official wasn''t the only one hanging around at the border and so not letting him escape, or set off some kind of alarm to alert the others that they were compromised, was quite important. Had he tried to make any loud noises Ares would have stifled his shouts with a Quietus Edict and if he attempted to launch a flare of some kind then Not Even Light would have been the appropriate measure to prevent it. Basically, Ares had this guy''s number from the start and he stood no chance as all his exit avenues or potential methods of communication had been sealed pre-emptively by Ares'' preparedness. The man fell flat on his face with a yelp of pain while Onno used a technical that business owners on the Federation basically all learnt. Much like the medical department back in Heaven''s Path, these business owners aboard the Federation all knew how to shoot a somewhat transparent distress signal / flare up into the sky and have the patrolling security come sort out whatever problem they were having when they caught sight of it. Onno wanted this guy to be detained and questioned so he wasted no time in summoning the guards now that Ares had confirmed his intentions.


    The sailor guards arrived soon after and lugged him away while Onno led Ares onto the Federation as nobody was going to stop him. Everyone knew who Onno was so he was afforded the freedom to act as he pleased and it didn''t matter if the person he was bringing onto the Federation hadn''t been checked by an official yet. Onno doubled as an official so it was all good. As for lodging, Onno was gracious enough to take care of that as well for Ares and knew a place he could stay at for free provided Ares scratched his back in turn alter when he became sect master. Basically, Onno wanted the right to conduct business as he pleased without interference as well as priority for anything he wanted over the C.O. Ares had no reason to refuse him this and he trusted Onno more than the C.O anyway so it was an easy yes from him on this matter. He didn''t need to take the deal, and could have just paid for his own temporary lodging, but inclining Onno to hand around in Red Sun with his business expertise was a wise move and so Ares didn''t make things complicated.


    Ares, Aejaz, and Esme all took in the sights while they were led through a very specific route by Onno who knew this place like the back of his hand. His familiarity with the Federation was on par with Ares'' familiarity of Red Sun and it showed as he took routes that bypassed busy ships entirely while avoiding large crowds like he was some kind of Esper with the ability of foresight. It went even beyond what Ares could do via navigation in Red Sun because this guy seemed to know not just where all the obstructions where but exactly what time of day they would be there as well. When queried about it, apparently Onno had worked on the logistics side of things in his business for a while to get experience and so he learnt indirectly about the routes every other business'' deliveries took and when they received new shipments to avoid delays by clashing. He probably knew the schedules of the nearby businesses better than the people they hired did at this point. Plus this knowledge would stick around forever as changing even a single time slot would then impact everyone else in the nearby section of the Federation so it was generally considered rude to do so without a valid reason and permission from the higher ups which was almost never granted. Once you settled down, you were locked in and whether or not your business succeeded from there depended entirely on the product you were selling and how well you could sell it.


    It took roughly ten minutes before Ares finally laid eyes upon the decently sized shack. It was both humble and respectable, not too big and not too small, so Ares was pleased with it and thanked Onno for hooking him up. Onno gave a polite bow and took his leave with Esme, as he still wanted to go look for his brother and discuss some things with him today, leaving the bandit brothers free to do as they pleased! The Federation was due to set sail in about three hours so there was still time to kill before the entire place got moving. As for what Ares was going to do in that time, he was going to go check up on Astraeus. Normally he would avoid this, because answering his questions and trying to dodge them entirely was tiring but, a while back, Astraeus said he wanted to speak with him about something. Astraeus was probably busy reconfiguring the dimensions he left behind after his summon during the international but it had been a month since then so he ought to have gotten the important tasks settled and have enough spare time to entertain Ares for a few hours.


    As for Aejaz... Well, anyone could figure it out without even needing so much as a hint. What else was the thief going to do when surrounded by countless thousands of businesses with their pockets lined to the point of overflowing? He honestly might walk away from this country richer than even Ares was currently... He stood to gain a lot so he was going to go around robbing the people who were too rich to even notice the missing chump change while also getting a lay of the land. As a thief, more importantly a cowardly one, it was imperative to know all the escape routes long in advance for when someone wanted to actually give chase and get their stolen goods back. Of course Aejaz now had myriad tools at his disposal to make a clean getaway but doing the fundamentals and not slipping up on the basics was the right way to do things, boring though it was, and Ares had drilled that into his thick skull time and time again. Still, combine the Stalker, which would allow Aejaz to locate the target hunting him down and avoid them with ease, and his invisibility, and there was probably nobody other than Ares in all of Sheryashka that could play hide and seek with this nuisance. Because of this qualification he was allowed to go play by Ares who had no concerns for his safety. At worst Aejaz would get locked up for being a public menace and be forced to give everything he stole back. Though Ares was hesitant to lend Aejaz his name, should he need it, he told him use it if things got dicey. Having a backup couldn''t hurt so Ares spared no effort in making doubly sure he was safe and this even extended to him borrowing Aejaz the Prowler again. Honestly, Aejaz had used the Prowler more than Ares had at this point... Oh well, treasures were meant to be shared!


    Ares took a few seconds to open a portal to the void, hopped in, and went sailing through the cosy red abyss while searching for the source of that Godly presence that was Astraeus. He was thankfully very easy to locate as his aura was basically unmissable. Being a multiple quadrillion year old primordial entity that existed long before all other forms of life meant you kinda stuck out a bit in comparison to everything else around. Honestly, if this guy came down to Ares'' dimension with his full power intact the entire dimension would know of his arrival, it couldn''t be missed. Ares floated and Shifted freely though the void but he still took his time a little because it was nice knowing that he couldn''t be spectated by Astraeus in here and it had been a while since Ares escaped his prying eyes properly. He could throw up a disintegration barrier back in his dimension but, for the most part, this annoying robo was just staring at him like some kind of creepy peeping tom. He might have been busy as of late but he would no doubt find time to check up on Ares like the obsessed stalker he was.


    Worse still, he almost definitely saw the talk Ares had with Mako and Ares really didn''t want to get into that right now with him. Mako was an easy person to fool in comparison the sentient supercomputer that had analysed trillions of interrogation scenes from countless dimensions. Astraeus wouldn''t miss out on any minor detail Ares tried to slip by with his sharp computational prowess and would raise far trickier questions than Mako did. In fact, as if on queue, Ares blinked and, as soon as his eyes opened once more, the giant robot God had appeared directly before him like some kind of horrific ghoul about to brutally murder its prey. Add in a random shriek and his sudden emergence from the void could be a pretty solid jump scare. As for why he''d come to Ares, it seemed Astraeus was willing to give him a time limit to his solitude in the void before he would come and ''check up on him to make sure everything was ok''... Really he was just being nosy and trying to catch Ares in the act of doing something that would give away his plans for the future, whatever such an act would look like. Maybe eavesdrop and catch Ares talking to the destruction pillar? He could try if he wanted but Ares really wasn''t lying when he said the destruction pillar was hard to get a hold of... As for this psychotic behaviour that very much warranted a restraining order; Ares could run away from Astraeus if he really wanted to but that would just make the questions that came later all the more troublesome, and he had no reason to complicate things right now by avoiding him, so Ares simply stayed put and let it happen.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "G.r.e.e.t.i.n.g.s."


    "Ahem, your voice is on the fritz again..."


    "Ah, so it was. Rearranging dimensions and fighting off yet another one of Xhilihx''s advances has left me in quite the state. You see when I returned here after my debut at the tournament a bunch of dimensions I''d been watching over were starting to slip away deep into Xhilihx''s territory within the void. I chased after them and got into a scuffle with the beast but managed to get all of the dimensions back. They contain life within them so I would have been somewhat regretful had I let them go as a result of my own carelessness in descending to Sheryashka without considering their well-being. This event has taught me that I need to be better prepared on the off chance you summon me which is why I''ve delayed your ability to do so for an extra few months. I want to sort out things on this end before I return to your dimension so please do bear with me in the meantime."


    Ares shook his head and waved his hand to signify it was nothing. "Not a problem. Though he doesn''t quite compare, I''m sure, Ignizz ought to be getting a wake up call from Terros sometime soon and I can just rely on him if ever a God''s might is needed... Though now that I think about it his poor reputation has me wondering if he''s even really capable of defending me when I''ll actually need him to..."


    "Hm, I think you needn''t be concerned. He is lazy, extraordinarily so, and a bit slow in the head, undeniably, but his power is noteworthy even amongst the other Gods. He doesn''t showcase it often but there was a reason why he was chosen to be your ''mentor'', he is the closest thing to a God of destruction currently despite how ''derpy'' he can be. If he made any effort whatsoever to display his true power to the other Gods he could very well make a name for himself and garner their respect somewhat but, alas, sleep is his prerogative... That or having redundant fantasies about becoming a different life form..."


    "A different life form? He''s a salamander, right? What does he wish to be instead?"


    "... I''m sure you''ll find out on your own at some point. he considers it to be an embarrassing sore spot so I don''t think it''s my position to betray a fellow God and leak his private weaknesses.... Though for some strange reason he always seems to get caught mid day dream so most people already know of his pathetic side... Which is honestly most sides of him from my non-biased view. Still, when he actually makes an effort he is to be feared. If all Gods were to have a free for all battle to the death I don''t think he''d win, he''s too stupid for that and would get manipulated in one way or another, but he would definitely hold the highest kill count by the end of it... Unless I participated, obviously, but we aren''t going to count that because such a contest is beneath me. I didn''t call you here to discuss that, however, so I shall move on to the topic I wish to raise with you."


    "... Is it about the talk I had with Mako?"


    "No. You are a slippery individual and I doubt I''d gain anything out of asking as you''d just either lie to me or refrain from answering. I will wait until I have some form of damning, irrefutable evidence regarding whatever it is you are doing before I query you about your actions again. There will come a day when I expect you to reveal all but today is not that day so you may let the tension building within you loose."


    Ares kissed his teeth and rolled his eyes because this guy was unintentionally mocking him and he probably wasn''t even aware of it. ''Relax, I''m not going to expose you now because I intend on doing it later. Be grateful and be happy, idiot!'' That was a pretty loose translation and the confidence of this annoying robo was insufferable because he really didn''t mean it that way. He was familiar with speech patterns but things like irony, sarcasm, or undertones were still somewhat lost on him it seemed. Regardless, Ares was relieved he wasn''t going to have to get interrogated today as he really just wasn''t in the mood for it. "So what is it you wanted to call me here to talk about then? Unless you just wanted to see my handsome face again, which I would totally understand, in which case you''re free to call me here whenever."


    "I do not view you as a ''handsome'' specimen compared to the numerous other individuals that have existed long before you."


    "Oh gee, thanks, you''re gonna break my poor heart here..." Ares wasn''t too bothered by this comment because, again, he really wasn''t trying to be rude. Plus what he said was to be expected anyway. Ares was never going to be the most handsome man to ever live, that was just a ridiculous hope to begin with. Hell he might not even be in the top 20%, there were just that many beautiful people throughout history. That didn''t mean he was ugly though, he wasn''t! Plus there was technically some wriggle room for growth here. Sleeping with Enyo was doing wonders for his skin and might even benefit him more in the long urn when she fully explored her pleasure pillar. Plus refining his body, as well as gaining his apotheosis form, ought to change things up a bit. Throw in some cultivation resources he might find here and there and he could definitely stand to gain some attraction points before his look truly settled down... Though the same was also true of someone like Aejaz who still had plenty of room to grow as well and was more handsome than Ares to begin with. Aejaz had been born with some seriously good looks in his genetics but it was honestly a wonder where he got it from. Realistically it definitely wasn''t his parents or Sho as they were for sure not as good looking as Aejaz was. It must have been something residing deeper in his bloodline regarding one of his ancestors. Anyway, Ares was getting side-tracked with such intrusive thoughts but there was one more he felt he needed an answer to so he raised a question he thought was interesting. "Have you ever been attracted to anyone? A ''handsome'' female robo, perhaps?"


    Astraeus, much to Ares surprise, gave a light nod. "I''m not entirely certain what I felt at the time could be considered anything more than a fleeting interest, but it was certainly an interest unlike any I''ve ever felt before or again since. After many millennium of doing my job, the creation pillar had taken in my aesthetic preferences from watching my curiosity in living beings and created an artificial robo that aligned with what was, for lack of a better phrase, ''to my tastes''. She was an exquisite beauty with a figure that was rather hypnotic to look at. I greatly appreciated her charm but that was where my interest ended for I could not converse with her. She was just an empty shell. The creation pillar has only ever succeeded in creating a ''soul'', or something resembling it at least, once and that is my own greatest fortune as I was the beneficiary of such a stroke of luck. My sentience, however, made the puppet female robo feel dull to me after a few furtive glances and so I went back to managing the dimensions. I did still peek in her direction every few hundred million years or so, just as a reminder of sorts that this was my own version of what living creatures sometimes referred to as ''art'', but eventually she vanished as Xhilihx ate the empty shell when I wasn''t paying it attention.


    Though I thought I wouldn''t care about such a trivial thing, I still feel a tinge of annoyance whenever I remember that robo and it makes me want to go hunt down Xhilihx and fight it again. Would you consider this ''attraction'' or mere appreciation? I do not know if this falls within the realm of what you were expecting of an answer but it is the best I can give. As a side note, the creation pillar did offer to replace the robo, and give me a new doll of sorts to look at, but I didn''t want it because, for a reason even I can''t explain, I did not think it would be the same... It never possessed a soul and yet I cannot help but treat it as a wholly unique entity. This is something I''ve yet to comprehend and I do ponder about it to this day... Regardless, that''s enough of that. We''ve spent a long time chatting about things that do not matter so let us get back on track. I will show you one of the secrets of this void that I think even you might not be aware of."


    Without giving Ares time to speak again, and derail the conversation once more with irrelevant talk, Astraeus Blinked both himself and Ares around the void at speeds that were mind boggling. A single Blink of his, at Ares'' rough estimate based on the distance travelled through the void, was give or take enough to teleport around the entirety of Sheryashka a couple million times over. These probably weren''t even full strength Blinks because, A; Astraeus had no reason to use up his energy on such a small task and, B; his spatial magic would undoubtedly be restricted in the void and this was close to the best he could do here anyway. Astraeus was a real monster... Anyway, putting that thought to the back of Ares'' mind, he laid eyes on the destination he was brought to which immediately piqued his interest as, whatever this was, it was something the destruction pillar hadn''t mentioned to him when he last talked to it. The location in question was just plain red void as far as the eye can see but there was a mass of tiny objects in the distance that formed a sort of fake asteroid field. Ares couldn''t fathom why on earth anything other than dimensions existed within this place but, as he was Blinked closer by Astraeus, he realised these weren''t asteroids at all... In fact, the second Ares saw what these clumps truly were, he instantly understood one of cultivation society''s greatest questions. Where do personal treasures disappear to when the cultivator dies? Well, if the countless billions of treasures scattered before him were any indication, this was their final resting point for all eternity. Treasures of all shapes and sizes, as far as the eye could see, formed a storm of metal, wood, and other such materials that was just quietly drifting through the abyss without purpose.


    "This..." Astraeus spoke. "... Is what is referred to as ''The Final Epitaph''. A place cultivators in your dimension have theorised about for countless years, the last resting point of a dead cultivator''s soul, sometimes referred to as ''Sheol''."

 Chapter 310: Go to Sleep, Aejaz

    Ares looked on in awe at the sheer number of treasures floating before him. There were probably more treasures in this void than there were dimensions and one of the two had been piling up since practically the dawn of the pillars. The other, the treasures, would have only started appearing once a mana-ridden cultivation society first formed in whichever dimension had that honour. There were all sorts of colourful doodads and curious contraptions, each with a power all unto their own that could level towns or cities if used appropriately and by the right person. Ares almost wished he could reach out and touch them but he had a feeling that wasn''t possible right now as he was inevitably going to be too weak to interact with them. If Ares had to guess, they were still somewhat attached to the few lingering remnants of the soul of the deceased cultivators that owned them before they died. Maybe disintegration could sever that but, again, not right now. In fact, Ares might need that enhanced disintegration, as well as some more nothingness mastery, to be able to separate these things from the void and actually make use of them.


    This meant Ares technically had ''infinite'' treasures at his disposal and, on the off chance he ever killed someone who had something he liked the look of, he could come searching for it here later if their soul wound up here. That being said, wasting time sifting through these things, only to keep finding niche treasure after niche treasure that he could do basically nothing with, was a problem in and of itself. It was absolutely better to wait until his divine sense was considerably stronger and then hunt down specific treasures he''d heard about beforehand and already knew were good for him. The time he could potentially spend looking for something that suited his fancy would monumental and, at that point, any strength he gained from such a treasure would have been made up for the by the cultivation gains he could have gotten if he just sat in closed door cultivation for that same time period. This opportunity wasn''t as incredible as it looked at a first glance but it was certainly a unique option available to Ares and Ares alone. Or, well, him and anyone else he permitted to come here as they could have their pick of the litter. If one of the four matriarchs, say, had killed someone with a treasure they were envious of, then Ares could chauffeur them through this swarm and deliver it to them. His omniscience would make locating particular objects much easier provided he knew roughly what they looked like in advance, via a sketch or Past-Present Polymerisation, so this was definitely the correct way to use this Final Epitaph properly as opposed to random searching. When Ares was done internalising the current state of things regarding this new discovery he turned to Astraeus and waited for a proper explanation.


    "First, allow me to explain what happens to a revenant soul when they die. You already know about the age regression and what not but there''s a part that comes after the soul regression but before the regeneration of the body. In order for the revenant to be reborn in a random location, their soul must first be dragged toward this void of nothingness like everyone else''s, that''s unavoidable. Because their soul is immune to everything, however, they do not suffer the same fate as everyone else and the nothingness rejects them, flinging the soul off in a random direction. Most of the time, this happens back towards whatever dimension they were just murdered in but, in some cases, if the dimension happens to drift out the way, for example, the soul can miss and go flying off into the distance and hitting another dimension entirely. There are plenty of revenants who have been reincarnated in alternate dimensions with entirely different systems of life and been abandoned there. They could maybe make it back if they kept killing themselves over and over but a lot of them choose to just stick the landing because a lot of those dimensions are weaker overall than yours so they tend to thrive and live good lives. Some get trapped in empty dimensions, however, and that is where I come in. If I come across any of these such revenants, lost in the middle of nowhere, I kindly ferry them back to this planet free of charge.


    I do not find every revenant out there, however, and I''ve no doubt some have been stuck in what could effectively be considered a padded cell dimension all by themselves for tens of thousands of years at this point. If ever you come across a revenant looking for a family member after death, and they''ve never found them even in all their years of searching, this will probably be the main reason why and you can reassure them they are out there, they''re just miserable and will need a stroke of luck to return any time soon. Thankfully you are an eternal race and so the chances of you sling-shotting your soul back in a convenient direction eventually , either towards me or their original dimension, is not slim. Naturally you will be an exception to this because A, you have access to the void and, B; you have an affinity for it deep in your soul so it won''t reject you. The only reason your situation wasn''t normal when you were a baby is because of the rune your parents set up that effectively cut out the void''s involvement entirely and picked a destination for your soul to fly off to. Had they not done this, you would have been reborn inside the void where I suppose I could have taken care of you if need be. That or I could have simply sent you back from where you came, right into your mother''s arms for a second attempt at looking after you. Ironically, her own desperation to keep you safe and sound in Sheryashka is the reason she didn''t get to keep you around. Not that anyone could ever have known such a thing, anyway.


    But that''s for revenants specifically as they''re a rather fascinating race. If I were to make a guess, they''re definitely one of the top strongest races I''ve ever seen throughout my entire lifespan thus far. They may even be at the very top but it can be a toss up at times between a few other races you haven''t met yet. Infinite life is a very tricky thing to deal with and many opponents will truly come to detest you if you play your cards right. On the subject of your opponents, let''s discuss what happens every time you kill one, shall we?


    First of all, I have to inform you about heaven and hell. They exist and they have watchers that pluck up the souls of the deceased, yanking them into their realm before they can wind up here. This process is ignored for revenants, because they can''t catch what they can''t touch, so only mortal races wind up there. Which one you end up at is random but your soul then gets sorted based on the data contained within it and sent to the appropriate ''afterlife''. Heaven and hell are places that can be entered freely without dying but those who wind up there as nothing but souls have their essence bound to it which makes it impossible to leave without certain conditions, namely revival treasures. If their body is healed then the soul is automatically freed and they get to return. If the body is destroyed but someone finds a way to bring them back then that typically comes in the form of a treasure that can regenerate a body from near or absolutely nothing. Anyway, the soul in heaven or hell requires a functioning body to escape and it usually has to be their own. There are exceptions to everything but this is just the standard outcome I''m mentioning here so take everything with a grain of salt as anything is possible under the right circumstances. In heaven or hell, the soul takes on the form of the dead person and resembles whatever they looked like before they died so, if you want to go see someone who you''ve personally put in the dirt at any point, you''re free to do so. For the most part, only the denizens of heaven and hell can actually interact with these souls, though, so the most you can do is have a verbal confrontation from behind locks and keys as they''ll be kept safe by the angels and devils respectively.


    This is the status quo and those souls are kept in heaven or hell basically forever. As personal treasures follow the souls they become the one thing the dead actually get to keep with them even after death even if they can''t really use them for anything. This doesn''t mean people can never die for good, though, as this is where what you see before you comes in. Put simply, strong enough attacks can kill a soul if they''re designed specifically to do so. Only revenant souls are invulnerable and the rest can all be affected by these highly specialised arts but it''s worth noting that they are both rare and misunderstood. Cultivators in the higher domains think that these attack do damage to the soul, considerably more than normal arts, and break them but that isn''t strictly the case. They certainly do damage, yes, but what these arts actually do is create a severance in reality, flinging the souls into the void and bypassing heaven and hell''s nets to bring them here where their fate is sealed provided I personally do not intervene and send them back to your dimension.


    When most things wind up in the void, they merge with whatever else happens to be nearby basically instantaneously. That is a fairly consistent property of the void but what happens when there is nothing but void and a soul? Obviously, the void merges with the soul and thus a unique type of entity is born. You may have heard of this term before but this is where ''venators'' come from. Their souls merge with the void and their minds are usually mostly broken by this process. Their appearance changes drastically and they never remember who they were in life. As their soul, with no memories or emotions, merges with the essence of nothingness, they seek nihility and to ravage until there is nothing left which leads to their affiliation for war and pointless violence. As the body is made up strictly of void they are extremely tough to kill and can regenerate to the same extent, if not sometimes more, as revenants in specific cases. It''s their soul that really needs to be attacked to deal with them properly but, again, soul arts are few and far between which is what makes venators a real problem for your dimension. As for every other dimension... If venators appear the dimension typically dies, that''s all there is to it, as the inhabitants are mostly too weak to fight back and do not possess the means to attack a soul at all.


    But that''s one half of the equation because not all souls that end up in the void are merged in such a fashion. In some cases, something else entirely happens and this even I do not understand. Sometimes, the souls are ''eaten''. Rather than the void seeping into the soul and warping it to become a venator, the reverse happens. The soul seeps into the nothingness and simply vanishes. I have no idea where it goes and this is truly a mystery to me. What I do know, however, is that before these souls are snuffed out and absorbed for good, they progressively weaken like they are being drained by some kind of process. It''s all rather strange but it is what leads to true death of the soul. That, or the rare few instances in which a soul is actually broken via standard application of damage. The latter is highly rare though and has only happened a handful of times in your dimension because souls are usually sturdy things that can''t be broken before they get flung around to somewhere safe.


    That being said, when a soul is absorbed in the void, the personal treasure clinging to it becomes static. It gets stuck to the place the soul once was and starts drifting, permanently attached to that spot of void. The gathering of treasures here is not random as this entire chunk of void is one giant piece of nothingness wherein souls are frequently absorbed. The treasures all move as one because they are following along that segment of void to chase the forever vanished souls like puppies awaiting their owners'' returns. Essentially, any lost soul that winds up in the void suffers one of three fates. They warp and become a venator. I find them and return them if I''m interested in doing so. Or they fall into this area of nothingness and get absorbed without being able to escape. Even if I try to intervene it''s impossible to save any soul here as they''re effectively glued to it, stuck inside the endless abyss of nothingness swallowing it. I''m aware asking you is an exercise in futility, but do you have any idea why the void is absorbing souls? When a venator spawns, that''s a natural occurrence and no input is required, leading me to believe it''s all happenstance. The souls being absorbed seems more intentional, however, but I can''t quite pinpoint why."


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Ares shrugged. "I genuinely don''t know. It''s not that I''m trying to avoid answering the question or anything, I really couldn''t tell you why this is happening. You know about the enhanced disintegration, right? Well maybe this is a form of enhanced nothingness and whatever is happening is somehow related to that. It could be that the destruction pillar is simply trying to reduce the number of venators spawning by thinning out lost souls? Every soul absorbed means one less venator after all so it could just be a preventative measure, that''s my best guess." Ares was half-expecting the correct answer to be beamed into his head by the destruction pillar any moment now but it simply chose not to comment on the matter either because Ares was right or because he didn''t have to know right now. The pillar really did have a mind of its own and sometimes Ares wished it would be a bit more co-operative. They were in this together so it should damn well trust him a bit more! Maybe it was moody because Ares had been saying a fair bit as of late? As in, the less Ares knew the less he could subtly blab about when asked? It wasn''t a bad idea, honestly, and Ares might even prefer it that way. He knew what he had to do and he understood why. Small details could be kept from him as the overall layout of what was happening was clear enough for Ares to be unconcerned with anything minor. That being said, he did just accidentally reveal something quite considerable within the last few things he said but, thankfully, neither he nor Astraeus realised it.


    "Understandable. If the destruction pillar does inform you then, though I doubt you will, I ask you to please inform me as well."


    "Yeah, sure, I''ll see if the mood strikes me... Didn''t you say you would expose me in due time when you had enough evidence? Why should I make things easy for you! On second thought, I won''t tell you jack shit! Hmph! Hmph I say, Hmph!" Ares crossed his arms defensively and swung his head up and away from Astraeus who was utterly confused by this series of actions but didn''t want an answer because it was likely just Ares doing Ares things.


    "Hm, before you go back, I''ll give you a friendly piece of advice. Tonight, on the Federation, you''re going to run into some troubles based on the course and speed of your travels."


    "Trouble? If its based on our journey details then it has nothing to do with the Firestarters... Are we gonna run into some monsters or something?"


    "Precisely. You''ve read many books on monsters so I''m sure you''re familiar with these lot but I figured I would warn you just in case. The last thing you''d want is to go to sleep in your warm bed and wake up to find yourself at the depths of the freezing oceans, drowning while stuck in the jaws of a living dead."


    "Ah, the ''twisted'' are coming, are they? Well this will be a good opportunity to teach Aejaz a lesson or two about being prepared for any and all situations. Those monsters are probably naturally greater assassins than even Aejaz so I''m sure he could stand to learn a thing or two from them. Anyway, I''ll be sure to alert the Federation as a heads up will save lives for sure... Though, given the nature of the twisted, some people are going to disappear for good regardless... I''ll see what I can do to keep people alive myself as any debt I can make the Federation owe me will be something that nets me a great deal of stardust. You wouldn''t happen to know of any other troubles we''ll be on a collision course with?"


    "It''s hard to say. There are certainly a great many threats on the way from Central Land to Xasca, it will mostly be a matter of luck whether you run into them or not. If I were to hazard a rough guess, based on previous journeys, I''d say the Federation will be attacked on a large scale at least four more times after today, not including the Firestarters. Two of which will mostly be minor inconveniences, the other two will require a greater deal of unity with the Federation to overcome."


    "And they are?"


    Astraeus shook his head and refused to give an answer. "I prefer to deal in absolutes. I will not give you information that may very well become false. You can find out yourself and I''m only really warning you about the twisted due to the way they work. Though I doubt you would ever die to one, as you have the necessary skillset to avoid such a fate, it can''t hurt to be prepared. On the subject of the twisted, your brother, Aejaz, has a fantastic skillset for dealing with them. It''s funny how the small things in a bloodline can sometimes end up being the deciding factor for reasons previously unexpected, is it not?"


    Ares couldn''t help but agree with Astraeus on this one because Aejaz'' bloodline was about to become extremely relevant tonight. Ares would watch on to make sure nothing untoward happened, and he got out of the situation safely, but he would wait and see how long it took his brother to react properly and escape his predicament on his own. As for the other issues coming later, Ares could hazard a guess on what a few of them might be just based solely on rumours he''d heard about the typical troubles of the Federation. Swashbuckling shark pirates, the hybrid Krakyrn, a monstrous Scylla, and some seagulls... That last one really wasn''t a joke either, the seagulls around here were mean! Anyway, though this prediction wasn''t guaranteed to be accurate, and Ares had no idea which order these problems would arise in, there was a good chance at least some of these problems came up during the journey. Ares had shown the value of being prepared back when he dealt with the official so coming up with counter measures already was on his to do list. Ares made a mental note of the various problems he was expecting and clapped his hands to signify he was done here. "Well then, that will be all for now. I''m not sure if we''ll see each other again for a while so do take care not to get chomped by Xhilihx in the mean time!"


    "Xhilihx is still a few hundred million years too young to be chomping on me in any meaningful way but I thank you for your concern. I will let you know when I am ready to be summoned again but, until then, as you put it, take care."


    Ares bid Astraeus adieu and took his leave. Clearly he''d been in the void longer than he thought as the second he returned he could feel the boats swaying to and fro. It wasn''t as rough as he was expecting but that probably had a lot to do with the fact that everything was connected, making it harder to push around. People near the centre of the Federation would feel barely anything which also probably meant that that was where the main headquarters lay. Ares was starting o get a feel for how these business minded folk operated! Everything was clever and made sense from an efficiency and economic standpoint as money could flow freely and safely without risk of falling overboard. There was an issue with this whole layout they''d conceived, though, as it was strictly for business. it could not withstand an assault of any kind which just made pirates all the more tricky to deal with and contain the threat they posed in a short time span.


    Things were spread out and hard to access quickly so it was a good thing the Federation didn''t really have any enemies as all it would take was one equally clever country with the proper resources and this Federation would sink real fast. It was an integral part of the domain, though, and so even those with small grudges usually kept them pent up as Sheryashka would lose its standings in the domain rungs immediately if the Federation disappeared. It, at any given point in time, was said to hold roughly two thirds of Sheryashka''s wealth in this one location so the Federation banked on everyone else understanding this. The harm that would befall Sheryashka, and the massive set back that would occur should this place disappeared, was pretty catastrophic. This just made the whole Torchbearer situation even more complicated though but Ares wasn''t going to worry about that. The Firestarters were the issue that needed solving ASAP for all the reasons listed above and the Torchbearer wasn''t even present. Granted, Ares was leaving Sheryashka later, so what happened to it really didn''t concern him, but he had a gut feeling the Torchbearer stuff would follow him into Vraizon if he let it all happen. Plus there was the whole thing with Red Sun maybe being in the firing line too so measures needed to be taken at some point.


    Anyway, Ares looked around the house and eventually found Aejaz chilling with a grin on his face. Apparently his spoils on day one were already amounting to a pretty significant gain. Seeing him be so content with his ''earnings'' was pretty rare as he almost always thought he could have done better. His haul would need to be massive to overcome that feeling and not just in terms of immediate gain either. He must have scouted out multiple locations that were all too juicy to explain with words. The stench of money was in the air and Aejaz was a sniffer dog, ready to hunt it all down; that was what his face screamed and so Ares didn''t even need to ask how things went. "Hey, muppet, I''ve got some friendly advice for you." Ares was planning on giving Aejaz a cryptic warning here as throwing him to the twisted without so much as a word would be pretty cruel. Ares wanted him to know he could escape if he put his thinking cap on no matter how hard and fast the dangerous predicament would come at him because a great many people who were capable of saving themselves panicked in the moment and died silly deaths to these abominations. Ambushed by twisted was something that admittedly sounded like a horrifying situation to end up in, based on what Ares had read about them, so Ares understood completely how people flailed ''till death but he didn''t want Aejaz to fall short here and need saving. This was a good opportunity to help teach him the value of staying calm under pressure and almost literally at that. "When you go to sleep tonight, you''re gonna wake up in a real awkward situation later. I''m telling you now that, unlike the cleaver prank I pulled a while back with the Prowler, this threat to your life is going to be 100% real and you''re going to need to solve it. I wouldn''t be telling you this if it wasn''t for the fact that I know you can otherwise I would be going about this in a very different manner. Just make sure you exhaust all your possible options and understand what is needed of you in the moment to save yourself."


    The smile vanished from Aejaz'' face and, though he had no idea what Ares was on about, he made a declaration that made Ares'' eye twitch. "Then I shall simply not go to sleep tonight!"


    Ares had a feeling this might happen, Aejaz was the type to avoid problems before they became a serious issue rather than solve them in the moment and be forever done with them. Though he really didn''t want to do this, Ares had come prepared for this potential roadblock in his plans. Ares activated his physical pressure and cracked his knuckles as he advanced towards Aejaz, prepared to knock him out and chuck him in his bed ne way or another! "Brother, this is for your own good!"


    Whack!

 Chapter 311: Depth Draggers

    It was casino time again but Aejaz didn''t remember falling asleep... He could have sworn he was awake, and talking to Ares not even a moment ago, so how he ended up here was anyone''s guess... Although he did have a strange thumping sensation rattling his head with every step he took so that must have had something to do with it. What was Ares saying before all of this again? Something about the next encounter in Aejaz'' dreams being real and not just a prank? Aejaz seriously hoped not! He just wanted to relax here and spend all his days lounging as the stardust rolled in... Aejaz took a gander at all the slot machines and nothing seemed amiss on that front. No weird monsters crawling out of them or anything. There were no bombs hidden in the roulette machines and there weren''t any Sharp proficient card-wielding assassins looking to murder him in cold blood. But still, things had been fine last time he was here too and yet the situation deteriorated quite rapidly the second he left this space and tried going anywhere else. In that case, all Aejaz had to do was stay here forever and hopefully that would work! He was like a kid pretending the world disappeared if he just closed his eyes... What he couldn''t see couldn''t hurt him but, unfortunately for him, that was not how any of this worked. What was about to happen to him was not a dream and he would be woken up from this place soon no matter where he tried to hide. In fact, signs of the inevitable were already starting to seep in but Aejaz had yet to notice the small puddles of water gradually building up in the corners of this large room. A few of the customers had already stepped in them and complained to the staff but Aejaz either hadn''t heard them moaning or was passively ignoring it because complaints were a little detail he''d long since added into his dreams. People wanting refunds on their drinks, whiny losers who''d lost everything, etc...


    ...


    But the complaints weren''t stopping in a timely manner. Aejaz usually had guards deal with anyone who kept incessantly complaining about small and irrelevant ''problems'' as those people were typically looking to try and fleece Aejaz out of his goods... But the guards weren''t throwing anyone out. Aejaz decided to look into the issue himself and he soon found out that it was far more damning a problem than he''d initially given it credit for. The complaints were very much justified because entire sections of the casino now had a thin layer of water covering them, making it impossible to walk around without getting your shoes, socks, and the bottom of your ankle wet. The people here paid good money for their clothes so they wanted an explanation and rightly so! Plus it was disrupting business so Aejaz really had to do something about all of this. Normally he would use the power of dreams to gift himself some kind of treasure or magic to fix everything right up but, no matter how much he kept wishing for a giant sponge to materialise and absorb all the water, nothing was appearing and everyone was only getting progressively madder with the unchecked flow of water. Some customers were already leaving and that included those who were too fed up to keep arguing or those who were concerned that the intake of water in this place wasn''t stopping any time soon. Aejaz was at a loss! This was a casino, not an aquarium! He would never have built this place anywhere near water either, as busy towns and cities were where all the real money lay, so this entire situation was spiralling out of control in a weird way...


    The water was still rising and it was getting a little ridiculous now as it was creeping up to above everyone''s knees. Unsurprisingly, everyone was running for the hills, even the security, because the problem was going to evidently keep escalating until it reached a point of no return. It was painfully obvious this building was going under and nobody wanted to be trapped inside it and submerged when that finally came to pass. Aejaz watched everyone disappear and, with a belaboured sigh, started leaving as well. This place was just a figment of his imagination and could come back again as many times as Aejaz wanted it to so no amount of destruction would ever put it out of commission for good. Had this been real then Aejaz would have definitely stuck around a little longer to figure out what was going on with his beloved paradise. Revenge would also definitely be in the cards as, even though this whole mess was fake, he still felt annoyed seeing the result of his ''hard work'' go up in smoke like this.


    Aejaz shook his head and opened the front door, taking a step outside, but something unusual had just happened. He saw the unfinished surroundings he''d yet to imagine properly but, the second he blinked, he was transported back inside the damn casino! This was it wasn''t it? This was the problem that Ares had mentioned? The casino would fill up to the brim, Aejaz would wake up in some disastrous situation not dissimilar to his current predicament, and then he would either figure out a solution in time or die?! Why couldn''t Ares just ever be upfront with Aejaz and teach him things without doing it in convoluted and mysterious ways like this. Was the health hazard and imminent threat of death 100% necessary? Sure it could be argued that experiences like this forged a cultivator but Aejaz didn''t wanna be forged! He wanted to be coddled! He didn''t care if he had the consistency of a marshmallow by the end of it, this crap was annoying! If it wasn''t for what happened back in the snatcher town, Aejaz would have seriously picked a fight with his ruthless brother by now!


    ...


    Then again, if it wasn''t for all the training since then it''s not like Aejaz would be able to put up a fight against Ares for even a split second. With no dagger mastery, no creative uses of thievery magic, and no will to spar, Ares would wipe the floor with him so Aejaz couldn''t deny it had all been effective. Yes he was still cowardly as ever, and reluctant to take part in these tiring games Ares kept making him play, but he was also now confident in his own ability to make it out of these sort of situations as he had the skillset to do it. Plus there was the bravery buried deep beneath the cowardice, and the bloodlust that his assassin training was developing, so he wasn''t helpless, he was just lazy and not in the mood to have his life thrown about so haphazardly by Ares all the damn time! That guy seriously treated Aejaz'' wellbeing like a softball and chucked it with all his might whenever he got bored, only to then demand Aejaz go fetch it and bring it back to him so he could do it all over again! Was this what Stockholm syndrome was like?


    Right now, Aejaz was wondering how the situation was going to develop going forward. If it was the kind of case wherein what was happening reflected what was going to happen back in reality then he was going to end up underwater? How? If he was in bed, inside a safe room, atop a boat, ending up underwater felt like it should surely be impossible? The water was already up to Aejaz'' neck now but he couldn''t figure out for the life of him what was about to go down because there were no other context clues present. All he knew was that this place was flooding and he couldn''t leave even if he wanted to and would just be thrown back into this room. He''d tried leaving through the front door again and even launched himself into the fire exits and out the windows but nothing worked as one singular blink later and he was right back where he started.


    It took roughly another twenty seconds before Aejaz was forced to duck his head underwater as the building was now completely submerged and the roof of the room was equally as drenched as the floor. Aejaz floated around inside the water without being too immediately distressed as cultivators could last a considerable amount of time while underwater. At Aejaz'' current cultivation he was good to stay here for a couple of minutes at least. Of course various factors affected this, like sustaining attacks or foolishly opening his mouth for whatever reason, but typically it was easy to get some air back in a person''s lungs before it became an issue. You would really have to be tied down underwater to drown as a cultivator but drowning could still occur and was quite terrifying due to how long and inevitable the process would feel in the moment.


    Whoosh


    Aejaz spun around in the water and craned his neck to try and peer over at the corner where he just saw a shadow zoom past. Something was lurking nearby and it was clearly a creature familiar with this sort of watery terrain as its movement was completely unimpeded. Whatever was going to assail him here was going to have an inherent advantage over Aejaz which just made him all the more worried that things might truly go wrong here. If Ares was undergoing something similar, and thus he was too busy to save Aejaz'' hide, then maybe he could actually die here? He imagined a lot would have to go wrong, as Ares didn''t seem too fussed earlier, but it wasn''t impossible and that result couldn''t be ruled out entirely... Ah but now the panic was starting to set in a little because that nagging thought was harassing him constantly in the back of his head. If Aejaz knew heaven and hell existed, and that Ares might be able to find a way to bring him back while he chilled in the afterlife, maybe he wouldn''t be as overly fearful as he was now but that wasn''t the case and so his heart rate was spiking. Every time he caught wind of the circling shadow, creeping gradually closer while observing him like a vulture waiting to feast upon his bones, Aejaz became more uncomfortable in his own skin. He wished he knew how to swim better as maybe he could then outmanoeuvre this thing but he had no such tools available to him and had to just meander out in the open, subjecting himself to being the prey in this environment. Worse still, he felt sluggish. Not just as a result of the water slowing him down, though that absolutely played a large part in this, but because it seemed like this dream was about to come to a gruesome end and thrust him back into reality where an even greater danger awaited him. He would not be permitted to defend himself from what was coming and remain here in the land of his subconscious; reality awaited and this shadowy monster was going to send him right back there any time now.


    WHOOSH


    Aejaz shuddered and swung his heavy arm sluggishly behind him, hitting nothing despite the monster having literally just nudged him in the back. It was toying with him before it went in for the kill and was displaying its superiority over him like a puppet master pulling his strings. This was a smart and evil creature at its core, that much was made apparent when Aejaz heard the distorted tinkling of a warped ''laugh''. It was like a high pitched cry with small shrieks dotted in it and that made it abundantly clear Aejaz was being mocked for being an easy victim by some kind of wretched abomination. He couldn''t put up a resistance under the current conditions so the monster kept ramming into him and knocking him about through the casino, not once giving Aejaz a chance to even catch a mere glimpse of the thing provoking him as he slowly wound up bruised and battered. It was getting harder and harder to hold his breath while his lungs were receiving blow after blow but it looked like things here, in this dream land casino, were about to come to an end as the monster was done circling.


    The monster had just hidden behind a slot machine directly in front of Aejaz and shrieked again like it was playing hide and seek and giving the dull hunter a hint to make things go by faster. Aejaz guessed that the next time he saw it, the thing would charge him down and deal a lethal blow, forcing him to wake up from this dream and thrusting him headfirst into a very real nightmare that was infinitely worse than even this. He could feel his body getting colder and colder but he wasn''t entirely sure that was a part of the dream and nothing more. Something was happening to his body in real life and it was unnerving, numbing, and made him feel claustrophobic. He almost wished the monster could just wake him up already as something was pressing down on his real body and he wanted desperately to address it. At this point, Aejaz was more scared of dying while still in this dream than he was of the monster haunting it but it also seemed to understand that and was playing with this new type of fear by letting out another demeaning shriek of laughter instead of immediately waking him up. ''Fear of the unknown'', that was what this monster was tugging at and drilling into Aejaz because he knew nothing about anything. He didn''t know where he was, what was being done to him, or what by. Still, this dream couldn''t last forever and it was time for the monster to make its move and reveal its true form to Aejaz.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Aejaz braced himself as a crescent shaped, dark blue and mauled animal weaved its way through the water towards him... A dolphin? A dolphin with one glowing eye, a heavily scarred, burnt, and mangled face, and half its body chewed off and missing. This was an undead dolphin that had died and been infused with necromancy mana to be revived into this ugly creature. It still wore the same smile it did before death but part of its jaw was leaking, hanging by threads as its flesh was torn and ripped off in multiple locations. Its teeth were rotten and jagged, crooked and misaligned based on what Aejaz could see peeking through the remnants of the dolphin''s jaw. This thing had been bitten into and had its corpse feasted upon by other animals and monsters before coming back to ''life'' incomplete and not entirely whole. It let out another shriek as it closed in on Aejaz before curling around his body and opening its jaw wide to chomp down on Aejaz'' throat. Aejaz shut his eyes to avoid watching himself die but something strange happened, he didn''t suffer any kind of injury whatsoever... Part of the dolphin''s teeth were missing near the back and his neck fit snugly into the gap between the rows of teeth. he was being clamped down upon and his head was stuck but he was technically safe, just immobile and locked in place. The twisted dragged him through the casino, taking him on a wild ride around the room at speeds he himself couldn''t match even if he were free. To end this dream, the dolphin barged through the front door one more time as a wave of dark water washed over Aejaz, ramming him in the face and forcing him to blink and regain consciousness.


    Aejaz'' situation wasn''t drastically different now than it was before he woke up. He was still held within the monster''s teeth and had a close up view of its disfigured and hideous face as it''s smiling face and neon eye beamed down at him from above. He was still underwater too but, this time, it was serious. This wasn''t a dream and he wasn''t in his casino, he was directly underneath the Federation and he was drowning. The dolphin was dragging him down to the depths of the ocean and the pressure was rapidly increasing, putting a strain on Aejaz'' flimsy body that was failing to muster any strength. The dolphin''s body, curled around him and sinking with him, was constricting around various nerves making it hard to escape using raw physical strength. Plus the water was obviously inhibiting his movements to... How on earth did he end up here? If he''d truly been asleep in his bed then how on earth did this monster snatch him from the Federation? Did it jump up onto the boat from the sides and slink around on the Federation before dragging him to the nearest bridge and jumping off? That sounded utterly preposterous and Aejaz didn''t believe it for a second. Still, now wasn''t the time to be concerned with the how or why, he needed to escape and pronto because sinking too deep would make escape impossible. Beyond a certain depth his arts wouldn''t even really be effective anymore, as the sheer pressure would block most mana from flowing freely, so he needed to act quick and save himself from the jaws of this monster. "Relo... Bleugh."


    Shit! Aejaz was so out of it that he completely forgot he was underwater right now and couldn''t chant.... What despicable creatures... They stole you away in the dead of night and drowned you without giving you the ability to fight back. Aejaz almost respected these damn things as a fellow assassin. This was devious in the most insidious way... But what was he supposed to do here exactly? Honestly, even if he managed to cast Relocate, and swap his position with the dolphin to free himself, he wouldn''t be able to resurface before it coiled around him again, making all his efforts pointless. Relocate was clearly not the answer Ares was expecting of him but Aejaz was already running out of ideas. He kept going over every single art he knew but all of it seemed to only benefit him temporarily and not outright solve the issue. Of course, none of this then changed the fact that he couldn''t chant underwater to begin with so whatever magical solution he came up with wouldn''t benefit him at all! Even if he could maybe use invisibility to escape the dolphin, he couldn''t free himself right now... He was getting drowsy and his head was starting to hurt again but, this time, it wasn''t because he''d been whacked by Ares but because his skull was starting to draw ever closer to cracking. He could feel himself dying and getting weaker with every passing moment so he tapped into his survival instincts and thought through everything once more... He possessed the solution, Ares assured him of it, so he couldn''t die here!


    ...


    Wait... Fuck, it was that obvious?!... But what do I do after?! Silent casting! Normally, it was a tool to sneakily cast arts without the victim being aware but it also technically meant you didn''t have to open your mouth or speak to chant. Aejaz could chant his arts in his head! But that only solved one issue, what was he supposed to do after? Relocate and go invisible? Would that really work though? The dolphin could probably detect shifts in the water nearby and track him down that way even if it couldn''t see him... Aejaz was thinking a little clearer now despite the pain wracking him so he didn''t make the mistake of relying on his invisibility... But he still didn''t know the answer to this problem and time was running out. He had, at most, another ten seconds to work this out before he would need external aid to prevent his death at the hands of this creature.


    Bloodlines were out, that was clearly not it. The silent casting was definitely a part of the solution, however, as this seemed like the kind of lesson Ares wanted Aejaz to learn... So what else?... Wait, wasn''t his line of thinking earlier, about all the irrelevant stuff, maybe actually relevant? This dolphin possessed a skillset like any other living creature. It was strong, sure, but if that was its only power then the question of how it snuck onto the Federation still remained to be answered in a coherent way. There was something that enabled it to perform this sneak attack and Aejaz knew that such a method existed... So why not just steal its pillar affiliation and find out the hard way? Aejaz didn''t always have to know what his target was capable of before stealing their affiliation and copying it, sometimes it was best to steal it and find out on the fly so he knew what he was working with and against! Up until now, he''d been quite conservative in his usage of the affiliation stealing art, mostly targeting Ares for reasons that were self-explanatory, but this was a use for it that honestly hadn''t even crossed his mind. He could use the Stalkers, track a person, test out their own magic to know what measures they had up their sleeve, and then go in for the kill when he was certain they couldn''t fight back or escape! It was time to find out what this damn fish had that enabled this chicanery! Appropriate Skillset!


    Aejaz felt himself unlock a new affiliation he''d never tried before and, yet, it was familiar. It was quite similar to the nothingness aspect but also diametrically opposed in every way... The spatial aspect?!... It took Aejaz a second but then it all clicked and suddenly this creature''s existence was laid bare before him. These dolphins would phase through the floor of the Federation and drag their victims back down through the floor with them! They would ambush people from directly underneath the Federation! Bastards! Wasn''t this extremely dangerous? If they hunted in packs, it wouldn''t be impossible to wake up one day and a tenth of the Federation''s population could have just randomly disappeared with no one being any wiser about what went down during the previous night. These things could come and go like ghosts, freely phasing around though the Federation and bringing slumbering victims straight to their demise...


    The monsters in this world were not to be trifled with as even a relatively weak and even dead creature like this had the tools to do in an expert if they weren''t hyper aware of their surroundings at all times, even in their sleep. Had Ares not warned Aejaz of this, he would have maybe still been panicking and in need of saving... What Ares had said earlier, about even those with the skillset needed to escape dying to these things, was making so much sense right now that Aejaz almost felt guilty for complaining earlier. This was truly a valuable lesson and he needed to learn it in a relatively safe environment like this first before he was flung into the deep end later on in life where there were no second chances. Now that Aejaz was looking around, he could see others in the same position as him but everyone was being rescued one by one. Ares knew this would happen so he must have informed the Federation so they were well prepared to conduct rescues in a timely manner... Aejaz'' life was never in danger here but it was still a good teaching moment that Ares had found... Though Aejaz still wished it didn''t have to be this unpleasant! Well, whatever, it was time to free himself from this fish and head back up to the Federation where he could wrangle more information out of his moron brother. The solution was simple now, use his silent casting to steal the dolphins'' affiliation, which was step one and he''d already done it, and then phase through the dolphin so that it can''t touch him no matter how many times it tries to curl around him again. Aejaz could even fight back once he was free if he wanted to but, really, he just wanted to get back above the water as it was getting really disorienting right now. The pressure down here was hitting him hard so he just wanted to ascend and leave the dolphin behind. it was already dead anyway so killing it once more would actually take considerable effort Aejaz couldn''t be bothered to spare right now.


    Aejaz used the phasing magic and passed right through the dolphin''s putrid body, confusing it but not quite diminishing the smile on its crooked face. It seemed to be having fun with its new playmate and the fact that he could use the same magic as it seemed to make the monstrous fella quite happy, actually. He tried to give Aejaz another hug but slipped right through his body and the dolphin realised he wasn''t going to get to keep messing around with nis new friend anymore. This made it a little sad but it understood that things were done here and so it actually gave up on Aejaz and instead headed back up towards the Federation to try and search for a new pal in his stead... As Aejaz watched it go, he couldn''t help but feel that maybe his original assessment of these creatures was off slightly, they didn''t seem altogether too evil or anything when he was watching them from the side-lines like this... And yet they were still undoubtedly killing thousands of people per year... Now he was honestly curious about them so he swam back up the Federation in search of both air and Ares as he wanted answers! What were these things, exactly, and what on earth where they trying to accomplish? Aejaz'' head breached the surface of the water and he took in a large amount of air with a loud gasp. As he did so, he felt his hair being tugged and his body being lifted like he was some kind of planted vegetable being plucked out of the ground. Sure enough, there was Ares at the ready to help him up and out of his predicament regardless of whether he failed or succeeded. Aejaz thought he did pretty ok given how sudden everything was but Ares seemed relatively indifferent.


    "Took your sweet time. You may have accomplished the task but only because I warned you in advance. You would have been buried at the bottom of the ocean by now if you took this trip by yourself and I wasn''t here, Allie would wake up tomorrow alone searching for you and never find you ever again, never forget that. I''m not saying it for you to be thankful to me, I''m saying it so you can be fearful of everything else around you. Your cowardice regarding just about everything isn''t necessarily misplaced, just highly exaggerated. This world will kill you before you can even blink but it''s about having composure to save yourself from whatever the world throws at you, whenever it throws it at you. As long as you can keep calm in the face of death then it won''t be so daunting. Anyway, I''m guessing you want to know more about the twisted?"


    Though bells were being rung and everybody above the Federation were turning night lights on and scurrying about to complete their own tasks and save everybody at risk, Ares seemed to be utterly unbothered by the noise as if the surrounding chaos didn''t involve him. That just summed up Ares as a whole though, stuff like this was beneath him and his pillar and these undead were really just a bunch of rowdy dolphins to him. His pressure alone was enough to fend off the dolphins with a wave of his hand so naturally he wasn''t afraid of them in the slightest. Aejaz could do nothing but sigh in jealousy and listen to his brothers explanation mid war zone. Weird though this situation was, at least he was finally going to get answers...

 Chapter 312: Involuntary Manslaughter

    "Ok, so first of all, regarding your safety, I''ve been keeping an eye on how you progressed with the twisted from up here via divine sense. I didn''t have to do anything special, I could chase you all the way down there without restriction because of my bloodline. It resists basically any and all types of pressure, and pressure at the bottom of the ocean is unsurprisingly no different, which is pretty handy."


    Aejaz squinted at his brother who was talking as if he''d always known this but there was a very different truth behind this discovery! Rather than come up with a comprehensive plan, Ares had experimented on the spot while Aejaz was in danger! "You only just found out you can resist ocean pressure a few seconds ago, didn''t you?!"


    "Yes, but don''t tell Aejaz that."


    "I am Aejaz."


    "How unfortunate. Anyway..." Ares blatantly ignored the dissatisfied expression on Aejaz'' face and resumed his explanation. "Those dolphins are called twisted and they possess spatial magic that allows them to ambush people from below the Federation. That you already know and have experienced first hand so I won''t go into anymore detail regarding that. How they came to be, and what their intentions are, however, is actually kinda sad. See normal dolphins are playful creatures and have a habit of breaching the surface of the water and jumping out of it to say hello to humans. They would leap up into the air and wag their fins at fishermen and other such maritime travellers. It amused the humans and they had fun doing it so, for a while, this particular route was filled with happy dolphins always greeting their new and old friends.


    It''s not quite understood exactly why but, according to various rumours that are completely unsubstantiated, meaning they''re more like folk tales, the space-time pillar took great joy in watching these dolphins leap and so it gave their entire race an affiliation for the spatial aspect. This way they could swim through the air a little longer and get a fair bit more hang time on every single jump. In some cases they could even launch themselves in an arc directly over the ships they were playing around with. All was well for the most part but then a major issue arose. It didn''t seem like a problem at the time but this particular development would come to be the root of the issue known as the twisted because dolphins are extremely clever. They''re one of the most clever animals in the animal kingdom, actually, and so they learnt how to manipulate their spatial magic quite well. They desired to get even closer to humans and so they devised a means with which to jump through their ships by phasing through the bottom of them, basically throwing themselves at the sailors in a bid to hug them or give them a high five with their tail on the way past. This was all well and good for a short while but, eventually, it was discovered that these dolphins possessing the ability to cultivate and absorb mana spelled serious trouble.


    Going back a bit, the space-time pillar really very well may have found the dolphins cute and given them an affiliation for no other reason than its own personal satisfaction. Pillars, mostly, are driven by instinct but not particularly smart or capable of understanding the consequences of their actions. In fact, the dolphins may even be smarter than most of the pillars as a whole; that''s just the rough level of intelligence we''re dealing with. Had the pillar been any smarter, and been able to think through rationally what it was doing, it would have realised it made a terrible mistake as the twisted began cropping up left, right, and centre.


    Zombie dolphins existed before but now ones with spatial magic appeared and that was a serious problem because they were now actually harmful and couldn''t just be ignored. See, the twisted don''t actually want to kill you, they''re still as friendly as they were back when they were alive. Their goal is actually quite selfless. They have fun when they come up so they figure humans might have fun if they were to go down. Regular dolphins are smart enough to understand what will happen to anyone not acclimated with the depths being dragged down to such a low point. The twisted won''t ever intentionally drown anyone but the twisted''s minds are long gone and they too, like the space-time pillar, are driven solely by instinct. They want to have fun and share that fun with as many people as possible so they hug humans and take them down to the bottom of the ocean for a scenic trip. Killing you is an accident and they actually feel incredibly sad about it after it happens. Research has been done and we know now that the twisted will whine, cry, and mourn you after killing you. They''ll stay by your corpse for a while before giving up on trying to save you and then go look for more friends because they don''t understand what they''re doing is the cause of death. They''re dead and incapable of learning or using their non-functional brains. This leads to a cycle in which the longer a twisted lives, the more sad its soul becomes when it keeps killing innocent people.


    Personally I feel sorry for them and think they''re kinda cute in their own way... Obviously much cuter when they were alive but let''s not get pedantic with dead animals now, they can''t exactly help it. Unfortunately, they can''t be taught the error of their ways and trying to keep them as a pet fails every time as well because they are naughty enough to use their spatial magic, escape, and try dragging you to water in your sleep all the time. It''s a shame, really, but your best option is to kill them. Unless you can find some kind of purifying magic, that might work, but for the most part sympathising with them is a sure fire way to get yourself killed the following night after they''ve gotten attached to you and want to play with you down in the ocean.


    As for how they''re viewed by the Federation... Well it''s a mixed bag. They can be either the most or least dangerous of all the enemies they encounter on a somewhat regular basis. Really it all comes down to how quickly a twisted is spotted because once people are aware of it the rescue operations are basically guaranteed to succeed. Once you know how to deal with the twisted you''ll never need to fall prey to them again because they''re a rather one-note monster. They do one thing, and that one thing will never change, so any solution the Federation comes up with will be applicable forever. Point in case..." Ares pointed around at the scuba-gear present on the rescue squads'' bodies. "... They just put that stuff on and they''re good to go. Once the bells are rung and the alarms are sounded, these squads fling themselves into the ocean and then fight off the twisted with ease. Hell the twisted think they''re a bunch of new friends and so they swim right towards them, not knowing the fate that''s in store for them when they get attacked. According to various scuba divers, they looked betrayed in their final moment and will even occasionally cry if they feel sad enough... You really need a heart of steel to be able to that job, I think...


    Again, kinda sad, but what can you do? Anyway, in the case of what''s happening here tonight, thanks to the warning I gave them earlier, not a single person will lose their life which is pretty damn good. Usually at least a dozen people or so go missing first and that''s when reports start to come in. On a good night, only twenty or so people across the whole of the Federation will die to twisted. On a bad night... The current record, back when the scuba gear and the squads that used them were still in training, more than four thousand people were taken straight down to their graves. A couple hundred twisted all gathered to ''jump up into the big boat and make many people happy''. Based on various data collected by marine biologists, the twisted had been planning this surprise party for a while, ever since the invention of the Federation, and so when they hit the boats they hit them hard. Nowadays such a thing happening without the Federation being made aware in advance is extremely low so if they run into the twisted give or take three to four times a year, losing an average of thirty five or so people each time, then that''s pretty solid. It might sound like a lot, roughly a hundred deaths per year, but this is still a massive country at the end of the day and plenty more people die to things like hydra deer, orcs, and buzzbladers on average on land than the twisted. If the twisted were more frequent than they already are then that would be a cause for concern but, as that''s not the case, people aren''t too worried about them overall.


    So that''s about all I have to say on the matter... Other than the reward which I''ve been promised, I suppose. For alerting them, the Federation handed me over two hundred high grade without batting an eye... Supposedly this is less than the cost of the grievance pay they offer the families of the deceased whenever a twisted takes them. It''s roughly ten high grade per family so the average stardust spent on aiding all the survivors can be between 100 and 1000 high grade total after any given twisted attack. I was technically short-changed quite a bit here but I''m also not going to complain about two hundred high grades. I think the reason it''s so low is because A, the twisted are no longer really a massive threat like they once were and B, apparently some guy aboard the Federation came up with an anti twisted measure some time back and it''s been looking promising. The person in question ought to be here soon to give it a test and, if it works, the twisted may never be a problem ever again after his work spreads. In short, the intel was good for them but not invaluable and I might even be the last ever person to receive such a reward, for alerting them to the incoming twisted, after this guy''s gadgetry is installed across the country. Quite frankly, I''ll take what I can get even if it''s still basically nothing in the eyes of the major players aboard these boats. Gotta amass that wealth somehow... It seems the aforementioned person with the new gadget is here..."


    Ares looked on over to the next boat along from the one he and Aejaz were currently standing on. There was a person there who stood tall amongst the various officials surrounding him but it was too dark to make out any specific details about the person. All that was readily apparent was a sort of irreducible pride this man took in every step of his as he worked. His confidence was overflowing but it wasn''t an arrogant aura he possessed, just a chill and laid back one. He gave off the vibe that nothing was ever a problem for him, no matter how difficult the task, and he was just here to take a late night stroll. He was fiddling with something in his hand, repeatedly chucking it a small distance into the air and catching it while he waited for permission to activate it. Ares could make an educated guess who this man was; Hunter! He was supposedly a gadgetry expert so as soon as Ares heard about the gadget-related solution to the twisted this was the first person that came to mind. Plus if the officials were being somewhat timid around him then, given his status, but also given his ''feud'' with his father, it made sense they wouldn''t really know how to interact with him properly.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    If the officials offended him, the Federation would lose out on so many useful gadgets that made life infinitely easier. Also he did a good amount of work in fending off various monsters that assaulted the Federation regularly so his existence was of utmost importance. On the other hand, if they were cordial with him then they would offend his father who wanted this ''runt'' off the ship for good. The officials worked directly under either Hunter''s father, or someone else close in terms of hierarchical stature to him, so this whole mess was incredibly uncomfortable for them and they didn''t know where to rest their eyes. They had to do this, though, and follow him around. When word came in that Hunter had maybe come up with a permanent solution for the twisted even his own father couldn''t help but accept that his usefulness was proving itself ten times over. It irked his father to no end to give permission for one of Hunter''s antics but, at the end of the day, good business was hard to pass up on. His image would practically disintegrate if he refused to allow his son to deal with the twisted because people''s lives were at stake here. This wasn''t a personal matter and so he had to be a half-decent human being for once and look at things objectively even if only for entirely selfish reasons.


    Over on the other boat things were finally progressing now that it had been fully evacuated by the officials, allowing Hunter to install his gadget and get it up and running. He tinkered with the device before shoving it into the centre of the boat, standing up, and kicking down on it with multiple stomps. This was an incredibly lax way of doing things, and some of the officials were visibly worried he was going to damage his own creation, but the man in question wasn''t bothered by their worry. For the most part, the stuff he invented would never break so easily. Yes this was a test product but it was only the functionality he was testing, not the durability. He always made high quality and basically indestructible goods, even if they were throwaway grade stuff, so that wasn''t his main priority right now and he was assured that no amount of kicking would break the thing. Also, more often than not, whenever any of his gadgets had a fault of some kind, it could be fixed by kicking some sense into it. Honestly, even Hunter didn''t understand why kicking his gadgets was so unusually effective but he chose not to question it and just keep relying on his boots to do the talking when his knowledge and expertise fell short. Now, was he kicking the gadget to bury it deeper into the boat or was he kicking it because it failed to start? Nobody could really be sure but, either way, after one final heavy stamp, the thing turned on and an electric current ran through the hull of the entire boat. This current split off in many different intersections and created a criss cross of bright sparks as a check pattern formed with Hunter stood directly in the middle. It was particularly convenient that a twisted happened to show up and give a live demonstration for everyone watching about how effective the gadget was at doing its job. The twisted probably saw a bunch of pretty lights and thought somebody was throwing it a welcome party but, unfortunately for he fishy friend, it leapt through the boat but got stuck on the electric net before getting zapped into dolphin dust.


    RIP twisted, have fun in the animal section of heaven.


    Anyway, the testing was going to continue on for a while but it was looking to be a pretty massive success. The net would only activate whenever something appeared literally inside the ship so the net wasn''t going to be active at all times, only when a twisted tried jumping through it, saving energy which meant it didn''t need to be fuelled with mana all the time. As for when it was active, it functioned more like an additional layer of carpet on the boat so people could safely walk across it without being caught and zapped. Even if a drunkard fell flat on his face while it was active it wouldn''t so much as harm a hair on their head because it was the underside of it that really hurt. Of course the officials wanted to do a safety test regardless but the gadget would go on to pass with flying colours and see plenty of use after being manufactured en masse. Every boat would have this gadget installed and the twisted would no longer cause any mayhem. It was almost a little tragic as now the twisted wouldn''t get to come by and say hello anymore but, overall, that was still for the best. They were going to be lonely but that was better than being fried to a crisp and dying a second painful death. This way, they couldn''t hurt anyone they didn''t want to anymore!


    Now that everything was sorted and explained, Ares turned to Aejaz again. "So yeah, show''s over. The twisted are still attacking various parts of the Federation but this area ought to be safe now. You can go back to sleep and you shouldn''t be dragged under again unless you''re extremely unlucky."


    "Hell no!" Aejaz wasn''t having it! Screw going back to sleep! Not after that! He would rather just stay awake forever while he was on this damn floating country!


    Ares rolled his eyes and gave Aejaz some advice that should have made him feel better about this whole debacle. "The twisted are only active at night so if you stay awake until the sun comes out then you can rest freely. If you''re really still bothered by it, though, I can set up a layer of disintegration on the floor and then they''ll never get in. If you think that net was effective you should see what happens to them when they bang their heads against the disintegration. I''ve already experimented with it myself when a twisted attempted to take me down below and the poor thing just flat out disappeared before I could even see head or tail of it. Long story short, just go back to sleep already! Besides, you already have the means to deal with them! They can''t harm you anymore so they''re nothing more than an inconvenience to you!"


    "No! Never!" Aejaz was truly being stubborn now so Ares pulled off a manoeuvre that he''d already done once today and knocked the guy unconscious again. He couldn''t keep running away from his problems forever! At least not while Ares was around! Plus he was serious about the disintegration layer on the floor, Aejaz would be completely safe with it up so he needed to be ok with that and go to sleep at night otherwise, by the end of the journey, he''d be seriously tired and not in any condition to explore Xasca! Hell he wouldn''t even really be in any condition to fight off anything else that invaded the Federation of which there were bound to be some such entities. The Scylla and the Krakyrn, if Ares'' guesses were accurate, especially were something he would need to be on full alert for because they were even more dangerous than fully fledged mecha dryads. Of course Aejaz wouldn''t be the sole deciding factor in dealing with those threats but him being a burden because he was sleepy was just non-sensical.


    Ares knew Aejaz well enough to know that if Ares knocked him out here and made him sleep then, so long as nothing untoward happened, he would be willing to do it again in the future. There was always an initial hurdle with this muppet but once you finally cleared it it was smooth sailing from thereon out... Also whacking Aejaz was oddly satisfying... Ares wouldn''t do it again, he promised! Twice was enough! If he did it anymore then Allie would sneakily hide stink pills in his room for days on end while Trixie planted bombs on him to keep him on his toes when he returned... They weren''t necessarily fierce women but they were definitely just as loyal to Aejaz as he was to them and finding out he''d been beaten unconscious not once, but twice, would set them off even if they were usually docile and harmless. To smooth things over, and make sure he didn''t have to deal with their antics, Ares would treat Aejaz to some good food later. Not even just his own cooking but, with his new stardust gains, Ares could maybe take the guy to a nice restaurant as congratulations for a job well done. He''d been a little harsh earlier, and not doled out praise, but Aejaz had really done quite well for a first time experience with something like this. Did he get full marks? Not even close, hell no, but he''d gotten at least 80-85% of them! Ares was wary about lavishing him with praise though because Aejaz did have a complacent streak in him. One day, if Aejaz ever actually achieved his own paradise and built it to his own preferences down to the last detail, then he might even try and quit being a cultivator for good!


    Ares needed to keep this errant daydreamer brother of his on track for his own good so Ares dragged the knocked out fool back to the shack and set up the disintegration layer as promised. Once that was done, Ares himself hopped into his own bed and went to sleep in preparation for tomorrow as he was planning on checking out more of the Federation, meeting Hunter properly this time and not just from spying on him from afar, dealing with a few more threats assaulting the Federation at large, and maybe looking into the Firestarters who''d yet to make any noise. Busy busy busy! Busy but fun though as it was good to be on an adventure again and see in person all the monsters and places he read about in his books. There were a lot of great experiences to be had here so Ares was happy to treat this like an extended vacation and just relax while killing some monsters here and there and raking in the cultivation goods!


    But while Ares was relaxing, his clone in the pagoda was about to be put to work and there were some rather complicated customers coming his way! From now until Ares returned to Red Sun, during that rough time period, numerous pagoda challengers of note were going pop in to to pay the clone a visit and give his strength a whirl. The first brave soul willing to pit themselves against Ares would be a person who''s name he''d heard about recently but had yet to come across him in any way. Thankfully Dominus would have an explanation at the ready for pagoda Ares because the man known simply as ''Armageddon'' was about to make an entrance and, boy, was he very good a doing that. This was a man who wanted to get vengeance on heaven and punched it from above so hard with his immeasurable strength that the impact bust a hole through heaven, broke down into reality, and then broke down even further, piercing hell as well accidentally. A blow intended to cause havoc in one plane of existence simultaneously wreaked mayhem in three and, to this day, there was still an empty pillar of nothingness where his punch had drilled a massive hole through reality.


    This man was no joke and he was ultimately the pinnacle of raw power in this world, it was not even remotely in question. What was he after? Why did he swear allegiance to Mako? Why was he interested in meeting Ares? And why was such a burly and solemn man wearing a bright white church hat tailor made for women? There was a complicated, but entirely justifiable, reason for all of the above as he was an interesting man with a real sense of urgency and meaning in his gait. He had purpose, that was for sure.


    In short, the pagoda was open for business and everyone was welcome!... Well, not quite... Kaleido Lingo was en route to place the pagoda down currently but, as always, there were a bunch of troublemakers heading his way who were looking to steal away the treasure and make bank off it by either selling it or running it much like Transmit did. For what it was worth, though, this was a common occurrence and Kaleido was very capable of defending himself. Such a rare treasure like the Pressurised Pagoda wasn''t allowed to reside in the hands of just anyone otherwise it would have change hands numerous times by now. Transmit knew what they were doing and Kaleido was no slouch in combat so thieves beware! A colourful and linguistic fate, similar in nature to Eagerton''s magic but with a slight twist, was in store for those who opposed the walking, talking, one-man tower of Babel!

 Chapter 313: Iridescent Neologism: Kaleido interlude

    On the outskirts of a certain domain outside the Primordial Blade barrier, Kaleido had just run into some rather rough and ready types who were looking to make a profit hand over fist by using said fists to hit Kaleido until he coughed up the Pressurised Pagoda like some kind of Peacock pinata... For what it was worth, Kaleido was colourful enough to be a pinata and could, at times, have an excessively punch-able personality. When Kaleido saw this particular group, he kissed his teeth and cursed aloud to himself in orcish, "Ash-sh?", because this was not his first rodeo with these people. They were stubborn and insistent, to say the very least, and there were a metric ton of them. They were one of the largest bandit groups across the entirety of the dimension and it was basically impossible to get away from them if they didn''t want to let you escape. They had men in every domain from top to bottom and, when they all gathered, it could take multiple domains to even fit them all comfortably in one place. They were a galactic scale nuisance so, if Kaleido tried to fight his way out without thinking things through, he would get delayed here for far longer than he wished to. His promotion was on the line here so a hitch like this was something he was not in the mood for...


    The only question was, how to deal with them all in a timely manner or what kind of escape route should he keep an eye open for? Annoyingly, given their numbers, there weren''t many options... However, they seemed to be mistaken about Kaleido''s lack of support. Yes he was just one man but, in truth, everyone who wanted a go at the pagoda, as well as those who supported the fundamental champion clone inside it, were all technically on Kaleido''s side. There were a lot of challengers and supporters of Ares heading to this domain and they would all get here relatively quickly given the nature of the teleporter-laden planet not even a few minutes away by regular flight through space. Sure the invite had only been sent recently but all that meant was that the people who were first to arrive would naturally be the strongest, as they could muster the necessary stardust to use the teleporters, as well as fly, faster, so all Kaleido had to do was sit around! Buy time, wait for some world ending powerhouse to swoop on in, and then watch the bandits scarper as they were wiped out like specks of dirt. It seemed they were aware of this too and they were gambling big time here in the hope that Kaleido would fold like a colourful paper crane before help arrived.


    One of the more eager members of this group, a new guy who didn''t quite understand that Kaleido was not just some expert linguistic scholar who could be bullied like this, charged forward with a raised axe. He was going to bring it down with a mighty swing and crack open Kaleido''s skull to see what was inside although the bandit predicted that, by the end of the attack, not much other a grey, bloody pile of crushed brain mush. The attack was certainly a frightening one, and the guy was absolutely no slouch as this person was almost like the four horsemen of the axe-pocalypse if they were all combined into one man and at least five times stronger, but Kaleido did nothing but sigh to himself and begin wielding his umbrella like a fencing sword. Though Kaleido was by no means the strongest in Transmit, he definitely wasn''t the weakest either and if these lot thought they could take the pagoda off him in the limited time they had... Well they were sorely mistaken. In fact, they''d already made a grave mistake in bringing this many people to the fight as Kaleido specialised in being a nuisance in group battles. The leader of the bandits already knew this, as he''d seen it fist hand multiple times when getting his ass whooped by Lingo, and, yet, his desperation here was palpable. There were rumours floating around that these guys owed a monumental debt for one reason or another so that would probably be why they were committing so much man power to this endeavour. You would think with their sheer numbers, enough to act like parasites and drain an entire planet of its resources in a mater of minutes, they would be able to find other ways of making money but this was the lifestyle they chose and nobody other than themselves really knew why.


    As for the man attacking Kaleido, before he even knew what hit him, he''d been stabbed in the stomach by the butt of Lingo''s umbrella. There was an awkward pause as he was kept at arms length by the linguist while the axe in his hands was still raised pointlessly above his head. The axeman shook his head and went to shrug off the umbrella but the butt of it was dug snugly into his flesh and all the twisting did was cause it to sink deeper into him. He didn''t know it yet but his fate was already sealed. His friends in the group got to watch on as he slowly, bit by bit, turned into a stained glass statue thanks to Kaleido''s umbrella treasure. If a person received enough damage from this treasure they would be ''frozen'' in such a fashion and basically die on the spot. The damage dealt for this effect to take place didn''t have to be lethal so this was a deadly weapon that poked and prodded you to a slow but sure death, more deadly than even a poisoned blade that fought in very much the same manner might be.


    As the man was turning into a shatter-able statue, Kaleido turned to the rest of the group before him, of which there were at least tens of thousands of bandits stretching off into the horizon, and chanted the name of one of his many arts. As Kaleido had a unique aspect, ''colourful language'', his magic was going to be quite non-standard and so very few people here knew what was coming. As for the bandit leader, he wasn''t even moving yet, though, because the real trick to beat Kaleido was to wait and listen carefully. Paying attention to a chant was always important in a fight but, with Kaleido, that was triply true at bare minimum. Granted, keeping up with Kaleido once he really started digging deep into his reservoir of arts was nigh impossible but, up until then, it was crucial to keep track of his casting so you knew how to defend yourself. Unlike most other cultivators, whenever Kaleido cast an art it came out FAST. The drawback to this was that his arts were typically easier to resist if you saw them coming... But again, that required knowing what he was even doing in the first place. He was a real nuisance and fighting him could feel like a game of Simon says wherein if you lasted long enough you got to punch Simon in the face for all the trouble he gave you.


    "Hm..." Kaleido deliberated on which art to choose but decided to keep it simple for now as he pointed towards the gathered crowd and chanted. "Blue." The first colour of the fight had been dropped and the bandit leader was quick to pull forward a user of earth magic, from the group behind him, and have him create a platform that rose high into the sky with a sturdy foundation. Everybody else made an effort to copy this general idea and raise themselves out of harms way even if they didn''t know what was coming as this was how these lot fought. It was also a game of Simon says! Or more like monkey see, monkey do, but the point was that the numbers they possessed meant that someone amongst the crowd would almost always have a magic suitable for the task. The bandit leader knew everyone''s specialties and would treat all his henchmen like some kind of humanoid utility belt while the rest copied him to the best of their ability. Though they looked rag tag, their members had all been divvied up into groups all consisting of various types of magical affiliations to get themselves out of whatever tough spot they were in.


    Of course not everyone could make it in time to high ground as a massive tsunami crashed onto the earth from above and rolled around, picking up the stragglers and washing them away to the other side of the planet and savagely smacking their heads into the ground. Kaleido expertly controlled the tsunami so as to avoid the nearby place he was planning on setting up the pagoda but everything else on this planet was basically free to disappear as it was basically empty to begin with. Nobody was interested in this plot of land because buying it from the guy who owned the teleporter business was basically an impossible ask as the price would be too high no matter how you sliced it. Also he wouldn''t sell it to you regardless. As for why the man did nothing with this planet, apparently he was saving it for his daughter when she grew up as she could have her own planet to play around on. She was definitely going to be a spoilt one! Anyway, he hadn''t started building her personal paradise yet so Kaleido could go a bit heavy on the offensive. It was a small-ish planet so his attacks were capable of covering the entirety of it without much hassle but that didn''t mean the bandits were going to roll over and die just because they were hit by one or two planet scale attacks. They were tough as nails! Right now there were still tens of thousands of them remaining as countless pillars dotted the planet with groups of hundreds of bandits sitting safely atop them... ''Safely''. Kaleido was about to drop a particularly nasty art and that safety net of there''s was about to disappear quite rapidly.


    "?r?r??sh" More orcish language! The native tongue of the orcs had a lot of trilled letters in them so rolling the tongue before or after ''sh'' sounds was extremely common. It was a rather aggressive language and one that was quite domineering when spoken with a heavy, booming voice. It made sense though given orcs typical behavioural patterns anywhere other than Sheryashka. Sure there were plenty of gay orcs everywhere but there were also a crap ton of straight orcs who did the usual pillaging and plundering thing too and made a living that way. They were more war-like and less whore-like. As for what the art cast by Kaleido translated to, in a more understandable language, it simply meant the colour red! This was how Kaleido''s aspect worked, he could only say colours! Red, blue, yellow, pink, etc... He was strictly limited to these colourful words when casting arts but the catch was that the art would have a different effect if the colour was spoken in a different language. For instance, if he''d simply said ''Red'', then a blazing fireball the size of a meteor would appear.


    As for what this orcish version of the ''Red'' art did, it summoned a massive berserk-inducing mist that enraged anyone caught in it without any kind of mental resistance. It drove the victim wild and made them start attacking their closest comrades, leading to large scale betrayal and mayhem. Kaleido''s magic was basically a two step process, colour followed by culture. The colour would mix with the personality traits and cultural aspects of those who spoke the language he chose, altering it to be thematically relevant. This was why he was similar to Eagerton but also slightly different because, though he was also a wordy fellow, he didn''t invent anything! In order to learn new arts, he had to learn pre-existing languages and expand his base of knowledge. Unlike Eagerton''s freedom to create, however, there was technically an upper limit for Kaleido as the number of languages in the world was finite. It wasn''t an inexhaustible list so there may come a day when there was nothing left to learn but that was the trade-off. Less freedom and a hard limit on the number of arts he could learn but easy access to them provided he put in some minimal effort. Also, it made him a tricky opponent to gauge what he was doing because, unless you knew the language he was speaking, you had no idea what was coming next and, as previously stated, reacting in a timely manner to his arts was imperative. Though the bandit leader had pulled forward an expert in diffusing mist like attacks with his wind pillar magic, the rest of the bandits on the other pillars hadn''t been so quick on the uptake and bloodshed was commencing at an alarming rate in multiple locations. This art was a devastating one but it was the first time the bandit leader had seen it so suffering some casualties was to be expected. He hadn''t acted immediately, he reacted which gave the mist a chance to corrupt a good chunk of his men. This was a failure on his end but what was he supposed to do? Become a polyglot like Lingo just to kill one guy without any casualties?! That would take tens of thousands of years to catch up to this damned bastard! This man, Kaleido Lingo, was an obnoxious knowledge check and little else!... Sort of...


    See, there was a titbit about Kaleido that few people knew regarding the benefits he''d received from his apotheosis form. When a person apotheosises, they gain significant control over their affiliated aspect from then on out but, what only a few are capable of, is rule bending. Somebody like Ignizz, for example, could make cold fire if he wanted to. Terros could make a planet full of chunky rocks light as a feather, so much so that even a baby could lift it, if he wanted to. This was a type of power reserved for only those who were really, truly, above and beyond the pale in their respective pillar. like Eagerton, Kaleido''s magic came under the forgery pillar but, unlike Eagerton, Kaleido was just a bit more powerful as a cultivator and had a teensy bit more talent. It wasn''t so much that Eagerton couldn''t one day catch up but, for now, Kaleido still held that edge. It was also precisely that edge that allowed Kaleido to break the rules after he''d apotheosised and enter a realm that Eagerton would be truly fascinated with if he could see it.


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    Lingo''s control over language became that much more potent after tasting Godhood and now he possessed a skill that was diabolical to its core, something he was going to show of here and now to these worthless vermin who didn''t truly grasp how big a threat Kaleido was. Sure he was still waiting for aid but that was only A, because he couldn''t be bothered to fight everyone here and, B, because doing so would hold him up for longer than he wanted to get stuck here for. No one ever said he couldn''t win if he was given enough time and space to do his thing. Hell, he could apotheosise and put on an unforgettable show but that was hardly needed right about now. Just the benefits he''d gained from apotheosising before, his rule breaking prowess, was enough to put the fools before him six feet under. As such, Kaleido defied the limits of his aspect by poking the stained glass statue of the man he killed earlier.


    The statue was still hanging around as Kaleido intentionally left it unharmed all for this very moment. As his finger tapped the glass, a clink echoed throughout the planet and that was the sign of serious trouble headed straight for the bandits. Again, part of the main method of dealing with Kaleido was to understand the arts he was casting ahead of time but, little did the bandits know, he''d already just cast one. He''d spoken loud and clear...


    In ''stained glass language''...


    ...


    Lingo''s rule breaking allowed him to invent languages on the fly, breaking free from the restrictive shackles of limited knowledge so that he could expand upon his powers as he saw fit. In this case, the clinking sound of the tapped glass was a ''language'' all unto itself. As for the colour half of the equation, that was decided by the colour of the glass he tapped. In this case, the statue was made of multiple different colours so Lingo could pick and choose what art he wanted to use by selecting it off the bandit''s corpse. As even the bandit leader was unaware Kaleido had just cast an art, this was going to be a real doozy and kill thousands, that was for sure. But this was the nature of Lingo''s rule bending. The sound of footsteps, ambient howling of the wind, a clicked tongue, all of it could be considered a ''language'' and Kaleido could tap into it all to unleash havoc at will. This was the true power of a God, or someone who came infinitely close to being one, and was where the real powerhouses of the universe got a majority of their power from. Sure, free manipulation of their affiliated elements, and borderline immunity to it as a whole, was extremely beneficial, but rule breaking like this was something the cream of the crop actively pursued to remain both unpredictable and unfair in fights.


    It wasn''t about fighting man to man with honour and dignity, it was about killing the person opposite you while giving them as few options as possible. In that regard, rule breaking was perfect! The common laws of the universe that your opponent expected you to abide by could all be dismissed entirely, bringing the level of combat up to a point the other person could never match because they flat out didn''t understand it and couldn''t react in time to the changing tide that is the flow of rule bending combat. Even if you knew that Kaleido was inventing languages, that wouldn''t help you actually understand what he was doing! Point in case, Kaleido had just tapped a yellowish-tinted piece of stained glass and, before anyone could blink, the bandit leader included, tens of thousands of thunder strikes, each the size of a skyscraper, came barrelling down on the heads of everyone present like a targeted strike from the divine. This wasn''t any ordinary thunder attack either because it was both homing and immeasurably powerful. Even if the cultivators here hastily raised defences they likely would have been shattered along with their heads hiding underneath. This was an art that required Kaleido''s personal treasure to even activate to begin with, plus he had to invent an entire language ahead of time just to make it functional, and finally poke the statue of someone he''d already killed in order to attack everyone else. The requirements were strict but, as such, the power his art packed was cataclysmic. The stained glass Yellow art hit like a truck and, in a few seconds flat, nearly one third of all the bandits present had been killed with a quick series of blinding flashes. Some of the cultivators even suffered from epileptic seizures in addition to the actual damage but that wasn''t surprising given the severity of what multiple such thunder strikes, each as ginormous as they were, did to their poor eyes.


    The bandit leader was completely taken aback because he''d never seen this side of Kaleido before and a retreat was looking like the only possible option right now. Lingo was stronger than the bandit leader knew, as he''d been holding pack his true power this whole time, so there was no chance of beating him before others started arriving and backing him up. This was a painful failure, and the mission being aborted after losing so many men was like a gut punch, but retreating now was still the wisest choice. Throwing everything at Kaleido in a bid for revenge was something only a foolish person, hot tempered and incapable of controlling their anger, would do. The bandit leader wasn''t particularly strong but he was smart enough to make up for that and guide his men properly. As such, he ordered a large scale retreat by sending a mental message to his second in command. From there, the mental message was spread in a chain like pattern through the personnel infrastructure that had been devised before the start of this operation. The information was disseminated in a matter of seconds and everyone turned around to start flying away from this planet, make a a break for it, and reconvene in a safe location but, as it turned out, they were already a little too late. Standing above them in space was a mighty man who''s presence was suffocating enough that a nearby asteroid exploded simply because of his passive aura. A muffled ''shit'' escaped from the bandit leader''s mouth while he quickly searched through his men for the one that owned a large scale teleportation treasure. It would only work once before breaking but it could get everyone here to safety and that was more important right now than preserving the rare treasure. Hell situations like this were what it was made for! Of all the people to show up, it had to be this monster...


    The strongest man in the universe, Armageddon...


    Why was he so determined to find the pagoda? Even other people of his calibre, Veteran and Coronos, for example, wouldn''t have made it here this quick... This guy was probably even more desperate than the indebted bandits but he couldn''t really be blamed if the stories about him were true. Regardless, the treasure was found and the bandit leader managed to activate it milliseconds before Armageddon could go to town on them, teleporting all thousands of men away to safety back in their hideout.


    Armageddon only had one arm, funnily enough quite like Veteran, and even had his magic sealed too, but the second that hand permanently resting on his hat was lifted, and pointed in your direction, you were completely fucked. Had the bandit leader not left any sooner all it would have taken was for Armageddon to click his knuckle in their direction and everything in this domain, in that direction ahead of him, would have been pulverised into dust. God forbid this man actually ever threw a fist, that would be enough to kill a God if they weren''t showing due respect. Or rather, Armageddon had killed plenty of Gods before after they''d gotten on his bad side, causing him to go a rampage. This guy meant business and anyone who got in the way of his search was gonna get pummelled no matter how valid a reason they possessed because he had a one track mind. In a way, he was like a more hopeful version of Veteran... Actually, that wasn''t quite true. After all his years of searching he''d lost hope too but, unlike Veteran, he persevered and kept searching even when his will to do so hit rock bottom. He wasn''t searching for anything that benefitted himself, though, so maybe his desire to save another''s life was what kept him motivated. Either way, Armageddon''s search had led him here to the pagoda and Ares was going to be meeting him very soon.


    Armageddon descended onto the planet, accidentally created a huge crater just by landing ''softly'', and walked out of it by forging a ramp with via the might of his presence melting away the inconvenient earth obstructing him. He did not need to climb ever, mountains would move for him one way or another. He would sooner poke a pathway through a planet than fly around it as he viewed that a sign of weakness, the kind of weakness that led to his current predicament. He''d come to understand the idea that strength was imperative in the cultivation world the hard way and couldn''t help but look back at his previous weakness with regret for the issues it caused. As such, over time, he became a man no one dared slight to prevent such issues going forward as he made a lifelong attempt to undo the harm his lack of action had created in his younger years. After all these long eons, he''d finally heard of a potential way to fix his problem and, so, with hat in hand and his head held low underneath it, he approached Kaleido to ask a very simple question in a calm but demanding voice.


    "When is the pagoda going to finally be ready?"


    Kaleido gave a wry smile and knew that any answer other than ''right now'' would not be met with patience so he pointed to a nearby location and gave Armageddon the good news. "I was just in the middle of setting it up. Fortunately for you, you seem to be the first in line. How about we do this; if you protect me from any other people with negative intentions, I will let you challenge the pagoda for free as many times as you want without having to wait in the queue?" Free protection from an almighty being in exchange for a small freebie? This was definitely worth it if Kaleido could finagle it. Armageddon, however, simply sighed.


    "I will protect you so that the pagoda can be raised without a fuss but I only wish to challenge it once and then take my leave top resume my search. I will not stick around to keep this place out of harm''s way... Though I''m sure there will be plenty of other capable people arriving soon enough and they can do that job just fine. I have more important matters to attend to than sticking around here for weeks on end. Even if the creation pillar really does live up to its reputation, and its champion can resolve my issue, that does not mean I won''t continue looking for alternatives in the mean time. If I can accomplish my goal even a second sooner I will not hesitate to leave and go take advantage of that instead of waiting for however many years it would take for the creation pillar to escape that barrier."


    Lingo''s eye twitched as there was a very obvious line of thinking here that could screw over all of Transmit in that, if Lingo could get inside the barrier to go meet with Ares, then he could logically bring Armageddon in to meet Mako too. Thankfully Transmit had made it abundantly clear that there were limitations to who could get in and out of that barrier, as it required special means that only they possessed, otherwise Armageddon would have destroyed their entire organisation for resisting and not aiding him. Or, at least, he would come dangerously close to wiping them out but, thankfully, their organisation was strong enough that the Transmit boss could maybe save them all if said boss was willing to... Apparently... That was what Lingo had been told by the higher ups so he wasn''t too fearful but that didn''t mean he wanted to cross Armageddon here either. If the guy started demanding that Lingo use his connections to get him inside the barrier then he would flee for the hills! He really didn''t have a say in the matter! Only the boss had the means to get through the barrier and Kaleido was just following orders at the end of the day, going where he was told and permitted to. Thankfully, Armageddon seemed to understand that and not hassle him but that didn''t mean he wasn''t going to pay Transmit a visit later and expect a proper explanation... Would the boss of Transmit come out and fight him or would things be resolved amicably? Lingo had no clue but he definitely wanted no part in standing in opposition to this hulking mass of muscles! As such, without another word, Lingo quickly begun setting up the pagoda and sending out a signal to Transmit that he needed assistance form the usual lackeys to run the pagoda smoothly. Help would be sent over but he was also asking for an expert to swing by because Armageddon was looking antsy, people with ill will would likely show up sooner or later, and Lingo just generally did not feel safe in the slightest! This place was going to be filled to the brim with all sorts in a matter of days... Gods were going to mingle with mortals and evil would clash with good across the entire domain just because they were in close proximity to one another and Lingo would be at the centre of it all... What a nightmare... But hey, at least there was a promotion on the line and he''d definitely get it if he buckled up and lived through this!

 Chapter 314: Man on a Mission: Armageddon Interlude

    "So then I was all like, ''ha, boom, got ya'', and he was like oh nooooooo!"


    Pagoda Ares nodded his head along to the sound of Dominus chatting away inside it. This guy had many stories to tell from the course of his extremely long life and what else was Ares supposed to do? Meditate in silence like some kind of monk for the rest of eternity? Pagoda Ares was going to have be patient beyond measure, seeing as how he was trapped in here until basically the heat death of the universe, so any way of killing time was much appreciated and to be cherished. As for how Dominus was speaking so clearly now, that was mostly because pagoda Ares, during his downtime, could set his cultivation to basically whatever point he wanted so long as he''d already been at that realm before during one of challenges. His matches against the matriarch gifted him a cultivation base that was sufficient to chat with the primordial revenant as much as he liked and, while company was never a bad thing, it turned out Dominus could be quite chatty. Normally he might not have been but, after being dead and silent for however many years, he was definitely relishing the chance to speak openly once more. Real Ares would probably find this out the hard way too at some point. As for his personality... Self absorbed asshole but with every right to be because some of his stories were absolutely bonkers. There was supposedly one time he took on a star sized cloud monster with nothing but his table knife as he''d been in the middle of eating dinner when the planet he was on got raided. Dominus had definitely earned his title of thousand weapon exemplar and there was no doubt that nobody in the universe was more fit to proudly wear that moniker.


    It had been how many days now since the Sheryashka challengers stopped arriving? Pagoda Ares took this as a sign that he was literally moving up in the world and would get to face all kinds of new foes. He was excited to see what kind of new magic awaited him, what levels of cultivation he could raise himself up to and what goodies came attached with them, as well maybe potentially a few friendly faces from his past. Candy and Veteran would almost definitely come around to say hi so that would be a nice reunion. There was also a pretty good chance somebody from the fundamental organisation dropped on in as well... Actually, all the other fundamentals might show up at some point too for a meet and greet as well as to gauge Ares'' strength. As for anyone else showing up? Anything was in the cards now that he was in the wide open world!


    Ares listened to Dominus keep prattling on and on about how amazing he was, and about how everyone else sucked in comparison (that part was apparently very important), until a visitor showed up! Salvation from the talking parasite in Ares'' bloodstream! Or maybe not, Dominus might have some anecdotes or other such stories about the person Ares was encountering and Ares wouldn''t say no to knowing more about his fellow combatants if they were interesting enough!


    "Armageddon..." Dominus muttered the name to Ares who couldn''t help but vigorously nod his head in agreement when spotting the bulky individual. How could Ares not agree? The man looked like he could bring about the end of a world or two just by flexing his muscles! His stature was incredible for a human and he was THICK in just about every way, everywhere. His body was like a steel warship wading through reality with a lumbering weight attached but Ares was not fooled by this as that guy could definitely be quick when he wanted to be. His legs were just as powerful and could put even a horse to shame with the speed at which he could gallop over the earth... Although doing as such would inevitably cause tremors across the entire planet without fail because he was a really massive guy. Contrary to his appearance, though, Armageddon was dressed in a way that was somewhat stylish. He rocked a large, dark green coat bold-shoulder style with a greyish top underneath and he somewhat resembled an infantryman at a dinner party with his getup...


    That is, until you looked at his head were an incredibly flamboyant hat sat, minding its own business as if it was actually supposed to be there. It really wasn''t and looked odd... Not because it clashed with the guy''s clothes, surprisingly it almost somewhat didn''t, but because the gentle vibe of the hat, as it was something that would belong to posh and softly spoken ladies, was a complete mismatch with the gruff man wearing it. Honestly, Ares felt like he was experiencing some kind of trippy mind bending magic because the more he looked at the hat the more it seemed to fit almost perfectly on the man underneath it. Was this guy some kind of gym-bro fashionista!? Ares had to rub his eyes but the hat was very much still there, still looking just dandy, and being held in place by Armageddon''s one hand... Yeah, the guy was missing an arm... How? Just looking at him, it was obvious he was no pushover.... Ares couldn''t help but wonder what had happened there but he was also curious as to why this man refused to budge when it came to holding the hat. His hand was basically glued to thing and he looked like he would literally never let go aside from when he needed to punch something. Ares thought nothing of it, as everyone has their ticks and maybe the guy just really loved the hat, but Dominus quickly spoke up and explained a few things while Armageddon slowly and deliberately sized up every inch of Ares.


    "Armageddon, a man lucky enough to marry one of the ten beauties of our dimension..."


    "Ah." Ares could see where this was going! Pretty women were trouble! If not for themselves then definitely for the person they loved! Enyo''s existence was already attracting flies for Ares to swat, it was just sort of part and parcel with a woman like that. Honestly, it was probably incredibly likely that Enyo would dethrone one, or maybe even all, of those beauties and take a spot when she finally left the primordial barrier. Anyway, Ares was getting side-tracked with his beautiful wife... That he was never going to see again! The more pagoda Ares realised what he was giving up in the real world the more he started to regret his choice but, hopefully, maybe, real Ares could throw him a bone and jailbreak him at some point. Who knows, maybe pagoda Ares could even go and start his own family!


    "Yeah, it''s basically what you think it is. Armageddon was just a weak mortal when the woman fell in love with him and that caused outrage. A mortal, of all people, marrying one of the most beautiful women in the world? Plus, she was strong too so it was like pairing a straight ten with a straight zero. In the cultivation world, people don''t just gossip about that kinda crap, though, they act on it. One person in particular, a decently high ranking angel from heaven, was so corrupted by the sight of Armageddon''s wife that he made the decision on the spot that he would either have her or kill her for good by destroying her soul. One fateful night, while Armageddon and his wife were relaxing in peace, the angel descended and a fight ensued. In order to protect Armageddon, his wife took a fatal blow. As much as the angel wanted to try and keep the woman for himself, she was far too fatally wounded to save in time and so he prepared his soul destroying art while Armageddon could do little other than watch on. He did eventually muster up some courage and try to stop the angel but he was trampled on and made to watch as the angel snuffed out his wife''s soul... Or so the angel thought, at least. The angel left, assuming his job was done after his devastating art obliterated Armageddon''s wife''s body, but he left behind a very big problem for the future. There were two things Armageddon wanted from then on, A; get revenge on the angel and, B, to resurrect his wife.


    Let''s start with the latter of the two goals because it''s easier to explain. Put simply, Armageddon''s wife''s soul... Is the hat he''s wearing on his head... No, seriously, if you try and touch it, or attack it, he''ll murder you before you can blink. Say what you want about him, and try and backstab him all you want, he really won''t care, but go for the hat and you''ll awaken a sleeping beast that was best left undisturbed. As for how his wife ended up like that, Armageddon had started to cultivate after meeting his wife, because he didn''t want to get left behind by age, and he found out he was in possession of a unique aspect. Transmutation. He was just about able to save his wife''s soul from her body as it was in the process of being fully obliterated, by transmuting it, and kept it hidden while the angel left. He''s taken care of it ever since after having fashioned it into a replica of one of his wife''s favourite hats as he was under duress at the time and this was the first thing that came to mind. There is a catch to this, however, as transmuting a soul has consequences, especially for someone who literally just started cultivating not even a week prior to the incident. It''s a hard task that requires constant upkeep so Armageddon''s magic was, has been, and will continue to effectively be sealed until he stops holding onto his wife''s soul. He has no intentions of letting go until she''s resurrected, however, so this man has essentially not had access to his own magic for multiple tens of thousands of years at this point which, as you can imagine, complicated the whole revenge part of the equation..."


    So this guy is basically Veteran 2.0? He wanted revenge and has his magic sealed away? Ares couldn''t help but notice the similarities. Hell, they both possessed incredible physical strength too although veteran''s was as a result of pressure enhancement whereas Armageddon had raw muscle-bound power instead. They even both only had one arm!


    "Yeah, kinda, although he would argue that not using a sword makes him different entirely from Veteran... I agree with you though, their stories are quite similar. Funnily enough, both of them can have their issues solved by fundamental pillars to boot and are giving their backing to one of the ones stuck inside the primordial barrier! Really one for one. Fate is repeating itself!... I''m getting a little side-tracked here but, before I talk about his revenge, I''ll just say this; he probably wants Mako to create a new body for his wife''s soul to reside in. The old one was destroyed beyond the possibility of reconstruction, erased from history even. A treasure that can regenerate bodies wouldn''t even do it and his wife''s soul will not go into any body other than one identical to her own. Had he not transmuted its shape then maybe something else could have been done temporarily but, as is, he needs a perfect copy and, with her only body being removed from existence without a trace, only one person can help him. Mako and his creation magic. He''ll need exact specifications, and some years of trial and error will definitely predate a triumph, but it ought to be possible for the elf to make himself useful here and create the perfect shell for the soul in due time. Armageddon''s likely here to ask you about him, and if he''ll be able to do it, as you''re the only person who really has an answer on that right now... Other than Terros, if he''s returned, but asking a fundamental about a fundamental''s capabilities makes more sense and you should have a better grasp of the feasibility of his request.


    Anyway, that''s enough of a side tangent, back to the feats of heroism that rose this guy''s name to fame in the history books. He took the whole dead wife thing pretty personally... Understandable... Anyway, he regretted his weak cultivation base but had no more magic to play around with so he had to look for a different alternative. He had nobody to teach him about pressure, and the angel was supposedly hella good with it, so he ignored that avenue and instead decided to cultivate his body to absurd heights to make up for everything else he was lacking. At first, it was simple push ups and what not but he very quickly realised there was a problem. As his transmutation was constantly running it put a lot of strain on his body, so much so that he felt a strong wave of discomfort and a little bit of pain every time he did anything too demanding. It was fine for now, because he was motivated to keep on keeping on even in the face of a minor setback, but this would go on to be an issue later when he started refining his body via various cultivation methods and cultivation resources.


    At the start he made pretty great progress and could even match other cultivators at, or around, his cultivation base despite not having any magic. That was already a good sign that he was well on his way to becoming a renowned body refiner but, give or take, around the mental accumulation realm, he came into contact with a body refining herb for the first time. It was nothing special, really, the herb was something that people in the higher domains feed to their babies, even, to make them stronger and more resilient to illnesses and such... But Armageddon couldn''t handle it. He took one bite and was found sprawled across the floor, drenched in sweat and blood, having exhausted himself trying to reign in the herb''s energy while also keeping his transmutation magic afloat. He was forced to divert his attention to two different places while an immense burden was put on his body.


    This was a sign of things to come and Armageddon wavered for a few weeks, unsure if he could carry on. If he failed, his wife''s soul might even disappear for all he knew. Nobody quite knows where he found the courage but he one day went out and was seen gathering hundreds of those same herbs and, though it''s not ever been confirmed, apparently he ran a bath with all of them and threw himself in. There was plenty of screaming coming from his room at the time so it''s generally accepted as truth that he threw caution to the wind because his desire for revenge, and to bring his wife back primarily, were just that profound. He next appeared a week later and he was nearly twice the size of man he was before! Some people have good constitutions for things like body tempering and it became clear he was one of them. Over the course of the next few thousand years, he trained vigorously and consumed all manner of rare resources to further himself, suffering unimaginable pain each and every time but slowly becoming a notable cultivator who''s name was known far and wide. He''d been hiding his full power, though, because he wanted to raid heaven and make that angel pay for what he did, so if he gave away roughly how strong he was getting then the angel might have gotten concerned and come down to deal with him pre-maturely.


    More and more years passed and, eventually, the angel did start getting worried but, by then, it was already too late as Armageddon was secretly one of the top ten strongest in the world. This titbit was unknown to everyone other than himself but he would go on to prove it the day the angel came back to settle the score permanently. Originally, the angel let him live because survivor''s guilt could be a fate worse than death for some people and, plus, the angel didn''t want Armageddon''s soul in heaven to rat out what the angel had done as that would condemn him straight to hell. When the data of Armageddon''s soul was read the angel''s misdeeds would come to light and that would be the end of him. Now, though, the angel was realising Armageddon had to go otherwise things were going to get out of hand regardless so he readied his soul obliteration art, even though the price to pay for using it was a hefty one, and set out to go find the man...


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ...


    One ass-whooping the likes of which our universe had never seen before later, the angel fled back to heaven with his tail between his legs and an enraged Armageddon in tow, hunting him down. Heaven didn''t know what was going on but sent out people to try and stop Armageddon anyway which did not go well at all as he beat them to death without breaking a sweat. This was when the Gods got involved and Armageddon pummelled them into submission, and death in some cases, too. The angel, by this point, had fled deep into heaven''s core so Armageddon looked down at the afterlife from above and prepared his fist to deliver the greatest swing he''d ever done. This punch would become pretty legendary after as it rocked the entirety of heaven, shot straight through the angel and turned him into crushed particles, and even kept on going so far down it hit hell in the process and left a hole there too.


    Nowadays, anyone can take that long pillar of nothingness, where Armageddon punched, up or down to heaven or hell like it''s an elevator. Getting to either of the two afterlives beforehand was a tricky affair but he created a rather efficient mode of transportation.... Though that really wasn''t the point. Anyway, he explained himself after the ordeal and nobody wanted to keep fighting the big scary man so they left him all alone afterwards to continue his search for a means to bring back his wife. As for where his arm went missing, apparently, and this is all according to himself as nobody else can verify this, he wanted to go check out a lead he got about some kind of resurrection item hiding away in hell. He took the nothingness spiral in a bid to go pay it a visit, simple enough so far. During the process, however, he accidentally got lost and wound up in, what he described as, ''some big, red, empty place'' where a giant monster lurked. You would know this place as the void...


    Yes, he got sent there unintentionally and just so happened to come across Xhilihx. Xhilihx must have thought of him as a light snack, ambushing him and stealing away one of his arms that Armageddon used to guard the hat. Xhilihx, however, made a grave mistake in almost devouring the hat as Armageddon got so mad his next punch sent the ''creature'' spiralling through the void, doing more damage to it than it had ever suffered before as the punch had even left a bruise on the creatures forehead. Even the Gods here couldn''t do that if they tried! Still, Xhilihx is Xhilihx and so such a thing was basically not even a light injury to it. Anyway, that punch also conveniently opened up the way back to reality for Armageddon so he left, in order to keep his wife''s soul safe from the ''creature'' that looked like it could go another million rounds with no sweat off its back, and came back to our dimension to keep searching... So yeah, real tough nut to crack this guy is. You got a reason to fight but so does he so keep an eye out as he''s handy in close quarters. Plus his strength is nothing to sneeze at even for someone like you with your annihilation enhancement. I''m gonna bet you''re gonna wanna change into Garmr and fend him off with that but you can stay in your human form and try him on for size first if you''re feeling lucky. Don''t blame me if it goes wrong though, even I wouldn''t wanna fight him head on.... Though your pressure is the real deal so maybe you can manage. Good luck either way..." And with that, Dominus'' voice trailed off, leaving Ares alone with Armageddon. Ares was about to open his mouth and speak but Armageddon beat him to the punch.


    "Now that the philanderer Dominus is done giving you an explanation inside your head, do you mind if I ask you a question?"


    Ares was surprised Armageddon knew that Dominus had been giving him a rundown but responded anyway without being too fussed. "Yeoh sure, ask away... But I''m feeling cocky so if you want an answer you''re going to have to beat it outta me." Ares wasted no more time and and threw a straight hook at Armageddon who was actually able to react to it in time. The old trick that Veteran used to use, wherein he ambushed people at the start of the fight, made a grand return via Ares who vowed to do the same to all comers but Armageddon was no slouch and so he smoothly ducked under it. As Armageddon sunk low, his fist grinded along the floor and rapidly became an uppercut that Ares, out of pure curiosity, decided to take head on with a deflect. The punch collided with Ares'' unguarded stomach and he was lifted off his feet a meter or so into the air before he landed in a hunched position with a sharp grimace and a small groan. The impact made a dull thud, and didn''t seem too bad... But that was only true up until the moon in the sky exploded as it had been in the firing line of Armageddon''s punch... Ares took the brunt of the blow with his deflect, so his internal injuries weren''t too bad, but he''d still had a lot of his organs turned to mush on the spot and he was feeling a little sick. Thankfully, though, As Ares'' cultivation right now was almost equivalent to that of a God''s, his revenant regeneration was working at the speed of light and, one blink later, he was back to being in perfect condition!... Although the pain still lingered for sure. Still, Ares was basically cockroach incarnate and needed to be fully annihilated without a trace in order to actually be killed and that was very likely not going to happen. There was a lot of power flowing through Ares right now and he was keen on using it. "Ok, ok, not bad. That''s still just a warm up but I''ll answer your question as promised regardless. Don''t think you''re leaving this place without me killing you, though." Ares winked at Armageddon who raised a single eyebrow before lowering it again and speaking his mind.


    " Hm, I''m a little surprised you lived through that, basic though the punch was. Your pressure mastery is not inferior to Veteran''s in the slightest if you can deflect such an attack but I feel like you ought to be lacking on the power front. I''m interested to see how you plan on killing me when even Veteran struggled to, and had to politely ask me to leave the pagoda because I was taking up too much of his time, but that can wait for now. My question is thus; can Mako bring back my wife? Does a fundamental pillar have such power? Are these pillars as miraculous as I''ve been preached to about on numerous occasions now? I ask you because rumours have stated you can fix even Veteran..."


    Ares nodded. "Yep. Manged to get Veteran''s magic flowing back when he was in the pagoda so I can do it in the real world too when I escape the barrier. It was a pretty quick process too. As for your issue... Mako might need to get a bit stronger first. He''s capable of it, just not yet. Destruction sort of starts at infinitely powerful and more so expands horizontally, into range and utility, than it does upwards in terms of strength. That''s not to say it can''t but, for miscellaneous things like destroying runes or curses, it can already do that perfectly fine. Comparatively, creation has some upper limits that restrain it until Mako gets stronger. Hell he might even be able to create a soul one day, let a lone a body for it, so it''s really just a matter of time until he can. I''d say relying on him is fine and he won''t give you any trouble over it... Though he is obsessed with being the world''s strongest so if you try and take that position from him he''ll fight you tooth and nail for it... But I guess you don''t care about that, right?"


    "No. I think such a thing is secondary to taking care of loved ones."


    Ares shrugged. "Me too but everyone has their own driving force and he seems committed to his ideals. Anyway... Are the fundamentals as ridiculous as you''ve heard? Well how about this, I''ll go all out now and you can figure that out for yourself!" Ares was smiling but there was a hint of evil in his eyes that Armageddon did not miss nor did he appreciate as he felt a chill run up his spine for the first time since his wife died. It was a chill of weakness that reminded him he was an ant in the face of greatness... He watched on curiously as the revenant before him transformed but something was definitely amiss... Terros had briefly mentioned Garmr to the world but it was one of the few things he seemed to be somewhat secretive about and Armageddon was starting to understand why. This was a major ace up Ares sleeve and the fact that he was still twenty feet tall and growing was making Armageddon feel small and insignificant. He could tell there was catastrophic power welling within the draconic, wolf beast and he was starting to feel a bit nervous that he might actually lose soundly here. He''d fought with Veteran before but it was just sort of a never ending stalemate with neither side finding a clear edge due to various reasons that won''t be discussed here. Long story short, Armageddon was probably the person closest to beating the pagoda before Ares even though his pressure mastery wasn''t fantastic, hell he even punched the crap out of Xhilihx that one time, that was just how strong he was physically...


    And yet his body was recoiling at the sight of this revenant and encouraging him to run away before he, and his hat, were blown away by force. That was bad enough as is, the revenant towering before him left an imposing sight he would never forget, but unfortunately that wasn''t even really the end of it as Ares had yet to activate his annihilation enhancement... Armageddon didn''t believe for a second he could win now as is so, when the beast glowed a brilliant gold and its strength soared to unnatural heights via pressure enhancement, before then doubling again as it dipped into the destruction magic it could burn as fuel and turning some of the veins hidden beneath its fur pure gold too, Armageddon was left speechless. He''d never been outclassed before and yet here was Ares... It felt like he''d been sprinting for hundreds of years and a brick wall just appeared in his face as he crashed headfirst into it. The suddenness of someone so absurdly strong, to a comical degree so unfathomable the world had never seen before, appearing out of thin air was like a slap in the face after sleeping peacefully for a thousand years to Armageddon... He was starting to understand just how ridiculous the fundamentals truly were. This wasn''t simply a matter of them being talented or having advantages, they were unstoppable once they got going and even the Gods / top ten experts in the universe would have to just bend over and be submissive before their uncompromising might.


    Had Armageddon known that Ares was still not at full strength right now, as Garmr could evolve at some point into something even more out there, he might have just given up and asked kindly to be let out of the pagoda gently. He was strong but there was a clear limit to what he could and could not achieve in his life and this would be the first time he ever looked at a challenge and thought to himself that it was actually impossible to beat. Thankfully for him, though, both he and Ares were unaware of Garmr''s potential for evolution right now so that did not come to pass. Armageddon simply stared in awe at the impressive creature before him, with his head finally turned upwards and his dark brown eyes visible beneath the hat, before swallowing nervously as he knew what was coming. Dying in this pagoda meant nothing, his wife''s soul would be safe, but he hadn''t expected to go out like this. Last time, when he fought Veteran, he simply allowed the guy to punch a hole through his chest and the hat was unaffected... If Garmr punched Armageddon right now he would be crushed into paste and the hat would be destroyed too. Again, this was just a simulation so it was fine but he really didn''t like the thought of it so, for the first time since transmuting his wife''s soul, Armageddon took off the hat and placed it gently on the side while taking a heavy sigh.


    "I respect you as a fellow family man." Garmr''s deep and steady voice naturally reverberated through every listener''s body and just further imposed his might onto all who witnessed him. "So I will not touch the hat but that is as far as my lenience goes." Garmr could have easily been planet sized, or even bigger if he wanted to be, at this current cultivation, but he''d kept himself roughly forty to fifty feet tall so as not to appear too daunting to Armageddon. Still, it was impossible not to be both awed and fearful at the sight of him so Armageddon could do little other than nod and accept his fate as the giant fist came sailing down towards him. Armageddon did not raise even a pinkie finger because he knew it was as pointless as trying to inhale a tornado; he simply just stood there and watched the fist enlarge in his view as the jagged furs of the wolfish creature stood on end its golden eyes locked fiercely with his own. Even with an assured victory in the bag the beast did not let up for even a single second in his hunt. it did not throw a ''light punch'' like Armageddon did to test his foe, it was professional through and through in crushing any who opposed it... Armageddon had a rather profound respect for this animal and it appeared to be more of a God in his eyes than the vile things he killed way back when he went on his rampage at heaven''s gates.


    ...


    Outside the pagoda, a lengthy line had appeared as people were finally starting to arrive. The pagoda was still being set up and only Armageddon had been allowed in so far as he was a pretty massive threat that Lingo had to placate. Aside from him, though, all sorts had shown up from wealthy barons looking to sell Ares on their daughters to news-folk and journalists who simply wanted a glimpse of the man in question and / or to interview experts who failed in their challenges. Getting a proper grasp of Ares'' strength here was going to create a massive buzz as this would be the first time a fundamental champions strength could be scaled to the level of near Godhood and it was exciting to see just how bizarre they could get. Sure Ares'' magic was unfortunately off the table, for the most part as he could circumnavigate the runes preventing him from using it if he wanted to, but witnessing other aspects of a fundamental champion at that level was sure to be interesting!


    BANG!


    While some of the more friendly and talkative people in the queue were chatting amongst themselves, a massive hole appeared in the pagoda and a body came flying out of the dust and smoke, plummeting into the ground and creating a small ravine in the planet as it skid across the equator. Everyone was stunned silence as some had managed to catch sight of who that body belonged to... Sure enough, as everyone peered down into the small canyon, there lay Armageddon, barely clinging to his hat and coughing up some blood... Did he just get knocked out of the pagoda?! When you died, you weren''t supposed to sustain actual injuries! Did he get hit so hard that the rules of the pagoda themselves had been shattered? Was he literally punched out of the simulation, breaking the dimensional wall?! Everyone wanted to know! While everybody else was mindlessly gawking, a smug Lingo crept on over to the edge of the ravine and looked down at Armageddon, asking him a simple but demeaning question.


    "So, I take it you found what you were looking for?" Of course Armageddon was looking for assurance that the fundamentals weren''t all bark and no bite, and the answer had been made very readily apparent, so this was just a mockery of his current state and little else... Still, the half-broken man gave a weak smile and took it on the chin because it looked like his wife could be saved after all. He groaned a response that would become the headlines in every major news outlet for the foreseeable future.


    "Yes... It only took me one hit to realise I finally found what I was looking for."


    ''Armageddon, bested in one hit?!'' That was the scoop. The pagoda challenges had barely even started and things were already getting out of hand! This was going to be a good few weeks to be a journalist, that was for sure. All the money would be raked in if they could get their hands on exclusive stories! This was definitely the place to be hanging about as Ares was more than living up to the hype!

 Chapter 315: Dung Droppers and Worker’s Rights

    "Good morning sunshine." Ares was waving down at his brother who''d been tossing and turning for the last hour, occasionally mumbling ''no, bad dolphin! Bad!" to himself in his sleep. The dolphin trauma would fade soon enough and a nice breakfast ought to cheer him up so Ares had made him some coffee and toast to start the day right as something of an apology for knocking him out twice in one day. Aejaz blinked his eyes open, glowered at Ares, but then gave up on his facial expression when he sniffed the aforementioned beverage. His head followed his nose and, soon enough, he was drooling the direction of the good stuff and so Ares left him to it while he went back to pressurising the Primordial Blade. He''d only been doing this for a short while as Ares had actually spent most of the morning out and about, cultivating in strange spots. He''d been sitting on rooftops, hanging off the edges of various sterns and bows, and hugging masts near the tip without any footing. This sounded strange but he was still working on that passive cultivation thing wherein he could cultivate anywhere and at any time... Though he did get many funny looks from confused spectators but they either thought he was insane or recognised him as Ares... And then immediately understood that he was doing this precisely because he had a few screws loose; in that sense pretty much everyone came to the same conclusion and left the madman alone.


    This wasn''t the first time Ares had been spotted doing weird stuff since his debut at the international and the start of the tournament long before that, visiting My Fair Lady and entering the shady tent of some self-proclaimed profit (Yulo) for example, so his reputation preceded him in many ways with not all of them being good necessarily. Of course nobody thunk less of him, all people were strange in one way or another and had their peculiarities, but they at least knew to ignore him when he was climbing around ships like some kind of seafaring monkey searching high and low for a banana. As for Ares'' progress regarding his goal of passive cultivation, he was getting more and more convinced it was entirely possible if he kept at it. He could feel the mental strain of cultivating slowly disappearing over time and cultivating in precarious places was speeding up the whole process. Ares had no idea why he was having such an easy time of this compared to the countless other people that tried and failed but he was assuming it has something to do with his pressure resistance. Cultivating in front of a monster, for instance, would be nigh impossible for most people because of the passive aura it generated. Scenic locations, that could be hazardous if you weren''t fully paying attention, had something similar, a sort of dangerous vibe that distracted you from cultivating properly. It was like an invisible hand that slapped you if you ever tried to cultivate in front of it but Ares was fully immune to it and never had to experience it. As for why Dominus never learnt passive cultivation despite having the perfect tools for it... Honestly, he probably wasn''t even aware it existed. He cared about weapons, and to some extent technicals, but that was really just about it. He was lazy as far as improving his cultivation went and figured a stronger art was more beneficial to him at any given point than going up a stage of cultivation. In a way, he was quite like Ares in that he preferred to cultivate through action by beating strong people up and reaping the rewards after. if it weren''t for the fact that Ares had some free downtime here and there he wouldn''t exactly be experimenting with this either.


    About an hour later, after Aejaz was done eating his breakfast, and staring at the floor until he was sure no dolphins were about come leaping out, the two set out to explore more of the Federation. There was a lot to see and a lot to do and, quite frankly, Ares had no idea where to even start! Shopping? Fending off threats to the Federation? Meet hunter? Look for some food? Search around for info on the Firestarters? All equally valid options but Ares was having some serious choice paralysis here so he decided to just walk! Whatever he came across, he would interact with! He did set an end goal, Hunter''s shop, but other than that? Whatever happens, happens! Aejaz wasn''t much a fan of this style of exploration though as he was more calculated in his approach to stuff like this. He already had a pretty decent lay of the ''land'' nearby and was ready to go on a massive thieving trip as soon as he and Ares were done playing around with miscellaneous tasks.


    Aejaz didn''t really much care for anything else, and that was his priority numero uno, so Ares promised to let him go do his own thing after today... So long as he didn''t get caught! It wouldn''t be a major problem but it would still be a hassle for Ares so he set an artificial limit on Aejaz otherwise he would just never stop and, soon enough, he would become one of the threats to the Federation! Ares would be tasked with hunting the ''mysterious bandit who steals from all the shop owners'' down. Ares wanted nothing to do with that so the limit he set would help prevent his compulsive brother from drawing too much aggro. Aejaz wasn''t pleased about this but he knew better than to cause trouble and defy Ares on this one because what he was saying, unfortunately, made a lot of sense. He did manage to wriggle a few extra ''hits'' on businesses per day, by convincing Ares it was important for his cultivation, but that was far as he got and anything more was met with the cracking of knuckles so Aejaz listened to his big brother lest he end up sleeping with the fishes again.


    The two set off and, not even five minutes of wandering around, alarms were alerting the people aboard the Federation that something was heading towards them. Given the nature of the warning, which came in the form of air-raid sirens, Ares knew precisely what was coming and looked up to the sky with his hand blocking out the bright sun overhead. Seagulls! Or, to be more precise, seagull bombers! The seagulls around here frequently migrated along the same path the Federation took to get from one place to another so the animosity between the two groups was considerable. The Federation simply wanted to pass peacefully but the seagulls seemed to adamantly believe the Federation was some kind of natural disaster that scared away all the fish they wanted to eat, thus creating an impasse for peaceful relations. The seagulls would look down and see barrels and nets full of sea animals that were supposed to be their prey and then they would vow to get payback. They''d fly off to to gather their squadrons and launch strafing runs with their magic.


    It was worth it to mention that, really, these things weren''t actually that dangerous. It''s not that they couldn''t kill a person, they could, but it required deadly precision and was generally considered to be a rare occurrence. See, the seagulls effectively loaded their literal shit with mana and turned it into miniature bombs that they flung at people below. This was obviously extremely rude and disgusting but, if hit on the head, could very well reap the life of someone unsuspecting. The exploding faecal matter would mostly just splatter onto people and transmit illnesses to make them sick like a form of chemical warfare. This attack was relatively easy to avoid but cleaning up afterwards was a task that nobody ever wanted to do. Plus it left behind a foul odour that could bypass even the most secure hazmat with all the latest runes embedded into it so it was extraordinarily unpleasant.


    Though this was the gulls main method of attack, they also possessed one known other. Seagulls had evolved to contain bits of extra food within a second throat of sorts that they could then use like a gatling gun. Corn, bits of bread, and other such bird-related delicacies would get shredded into smaller parts and kept in reserve like spare ammunition. These packed the power of 9mm bullets, give or take, and would riddle mortals with holes if they weren''t safely hidden away inside the buildings that were tough enough to prevent penetration of the walls and roof. As for cultivators who were even remotely tough, none of what the gulls could do actually really hurt or anything, they were just really damn hard to fight because of their natural ability to fly. How was anyone supposed to get way up in the sky and stop them? The first few times the seagulls struck the Federation, a mini plague had spread like wildfire and shutdown operations for months at a time (which was likely the gulls'' goal from the get go), so these little shits had become public enemy number one, more so than even the twisted. They interrupted and dirtied business like a bunch of hoodlums with graffiti cans.... Though graffiti would be infinitely preferable compared to what the gulls were actually doo-dooing...


    For the most part, the Federation had to just erect various defences and wait out the raid because the offensive means this ship packed were clunky in this current state. There were things the captain could do to get rid of these birds but it was extremely overkill so just defending with magic that could create roofs over the boats was the clearly superior option. Of course, if any transition realm cultivators were aboard then the Federation would reward them a decent chunk of stardust for going up into the clouds and sorting out the feathered fucks. And that about summed up the gulls!... Kinda... There were rumours that they were capable of suicide bombing and causing some real mania if they chose to but that had only ever been reported on once by some drunkard who could barely walk straight and claimed he once saw a gull kamikaze straight into a giant whale. Nobody knew if this were true or not and the Federation could only sincerely hope not. They''d done research into this and found nothing on the matter for years now so they were pretty convinced it was all just a hoax... That or the gulls were saving up their numbers for one big assault... Hopefully it wasn''t the latter!


    Anyway, Ares brought out the Biome Eagle and waited to pull the trigger until the first gull came into view. He was absolutely going to Voidwalk up there and beat them to death for extra moolah from the Federation but he was curious to test out the eagle from the Adaptive Shot and see how it could do under these circumstances. How did it fare in aerial combat against relatively weak creatures? If Ares loaded it with disintegration, or maybe water mana from ocean, would it be able to fly headfirst into the gulls and either disintegrate them or drown them? Ares was curious to see just how strong the bird could really be as he''d mostly used it as a diversion tactic up until now and, while that was certainly fine, he felt a little bad for the poor thing as it mostly just got summoned for the sole purpose of dying for Ares'' convenience. Be it position swapping with nothingness or using annihilation for an explosive smokescreen, the eagle rarely got a chance to shine on its own and Ares felt it was high time he had some fun to! Though he would come to immediately regret this decision and lose any and all sympathy he had for the thing...


    "Gulls spotted!" One of the nearby sailors working for the Federation yelled to his cohort and they all collectively started preparing their mana to summon thick walls that rose above all the important areas nearby. They could do it in advance but it was typically better to wait and see what was being targeted and prioritise defending that instead. The Federation had dealt with the gulls enough times now to know which methods got the best results so Ares didn''t question it. Some of the Federation workers did fling various small magics, like Water Bullet or Fireball, upwards in a vain attempt to hit the pesky gulls but they were too high and nimble to care. Even if one of those magics were close to hitting then the seagulls would just take evasive manoeuvres and live to fight another day... But what if the magic could home? "Adaptive Shot!" Ares pulled the trigger on his gun and out came the same old eagle, this time coated in pure black disintegration, but there was something very different about this particular attempt at summoning the bird... It wasn''t flying off in the direction Ares aimed it, it was instead just hovering nearby while clinging to a sign that was dangling beneath it, clasped in its talons. Ares raised an eyebrow and read the sign aloud with a somewhat confused voice as he almost couldn''t believe the words he was seeing!


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "I''m on strike..."


    Strike? The fuck do you mean ''strike''? You can do that? I don''t pay you to go on strike!... Actually, I don''t pay you at all... Maybe that''s why... Wasn''t this something he joked about back during the international? About his summons going on strike because he didn''t treat them right? Were they capable of reading his mind or something!? Actually.... What about Rox? Ares reached into the Primordial Blade and summoned the mimic only to see a very similar sight in that the same sign, with the same words written messily on it, was being clutched between Rox''s jagged teeth. "I''m on strike... The hell you are! Get your lazy asses back to work right this instance! Eagle, go fetch the gulls. Rox... Actually, you aren''t needed right now... Though you can deflect some bird poop for practice if you really want..." Rox stared blankly into Ares eyes as if to ask his owner if he were really, truly serious about that last request of his. This was the kinda reason they were on strike in the first place!


    The summon duo stayed unmoving with the signs taunting Ares until he finally caved. "Fine... I did promise you guys some fatty tuna so, after this, I''ll go and buy some for lunch..." When the duo''s piercing stares continued, Ares realised he had to make further concessions... "Ok, twist my leg why don''t you!? I won''t keep summoning you guys to die or do menial labour all the time." The stares weren''t quite gone yet but they appeared to be softening and fading so Ares dealt the final blow to get his lackeys all motivated again. "And I promise I''ll look for expensive tuna. I won''t cheap out and get you the crap stuff. We''re talking restaurant quality and you can eat like its a buffet; naturally I''ll be footing the bill for it all." And with this, the duo buckled as they looked at one another and nodded their heads. Rox went back into the Blade, as he was not interested in Ares'' offer to become a poop deflector in the slightest, and the eagle got to work and flew up into the sky. About damn time! Ares kissed his teeth because these children were being fussy! They needed to grow up under harsh conditions, do some manual labour, and learn the hard way what life is all about! Who was the master here? Ares had spared Rox''s life and he could just as easily abandon the Biome Hawk when he outgrew the artifact. They should be thanking him for his tyranny. not demanding better! Ah well, they''d been good to him and done their work due diligently up until now so he really couldn''t complain too much. This was like a rebellious phase!


    That aside, the eagle was already doing phenomenal work and tearing through the ranks of the gulls. It needed no manner of magical attack to beat them, all it had to do was fly right through them and its disintegration body would do all the hard work. The eagle even made sport out of the gulls by aiming specifically for their wings to make them crash down either into the ocean or on top of the boats below. Either way, it was a grim fate as the seagulls would either break their bodies on the Federation or drown under the water. This eagle really did have quite the mean streak when it was hunting prey! It''s a good thing it wasn''t secretly super duper powerful or anything as it might try and get revenge on Ares for being a slave driver of a master! As that wasn''t the case, however, Ares was free to keep making unreasonable demands and mess with his bird. "Do a barrel roll!" Ares yelled at the sky but his eagle was starting to get fed up! He didn''t wanna do no stinkin'' barrel roll! That was it! This guy was gonna get it! The eagle swooped back down, landed on Ares'' shoulder, and began pecking at him with a disintegration coated beak. "Ouch! You traitorous little...." Ares fumbled around to catch the bird and, eventually, after finally succeeding, began pecking it back to see how it liked it! Ares headbutt the eagle and the two had a back and forth pecking war while the gulls regrouped and continued to swarm the Federation. On the one hand, the officials of the Federation didn''t want to get involved in the dispute between summoner and bird, but on the other hand...


    "Uh, excuse me... Could you please keep helping us get rid of those gulls? It''s kinda important...." One brave official stepped forth and spoke, earning the ire of both Ares and the eagle who were in the middle of settling their grudge. The two of them turned to face the official, the eagle couldn''t twist its body as it was still within Ares'' grasp but its head did tilt sideways, and stared into his soul. The man backed away because he had a wise gut feeling that if he stayed any longer the duo were about to both start pecking him in sync and he wasn''t sure if he could live through that! Maybe it was better to just keep letting Ares to do his own thing... The gulls were already a big enough problem, the last thing the Federation needed right now was for these two doofuses to run amok and started smacking people with their heads! Fortunately, however, Ares realised this wasn''t the time or place to be doing this so he opted to settle the score with the eagle later by putting him on the side for now and dealing with the gulls himself. "Watch and learn bird brain, this is how you properly clip a bird''s wings! Remember it well ''cos one day I''mma do it to you to, fucko!"


    The eagle stamped one of its talons on the wood of the boat underneath it in defiance but Ares had already taken off like a rocket and wasn''t around to see this tiny gesture. As the eagle didn''t want to follow orders, and comply by sitting around and watching Artes, it nose dived into the floor and killed itself so it could respawn! What the hell! And worse still, Ares was going to have to resummon it for tuna later after hand delivering it to him like some kind of man servant! Rox might have had some grievances here and there but at least he aired them out like a good boy and left quietly! This one was trouble! Of all the personalities to develop, Ares'' magic just had to be stubborn like a mule... On the bright side, its intelligence would do wonders going forward but the downsides were also equally obvious... As in, if it couldn''t be bothered for whatever reason, that eagle was not going to work!


    Ares shook his head and ignored his own bird in favour of dealing with the poop troupe and their poop troops. They''d already started launching their excrement downwards and a rain of muddied white goop descended like small pebbles. The weaker people residing on the Federation had already been evacuated either to a safe boat, reinforced with steel all over that was used in conditions such as these like a panic bunker, or to a place protected by the sailors with their earthen and metal magic roofs. Still, that didn''t mean the bombing run was pointless as the boats were being stained white and that same poop goop was acting like an acidic substance and melting away the hulls of the various ships, causing an annoying amount of damage that would be costly to fix if nothing stopped them soon. That was where Ares came in! "The Federation''s constipation salvation has arrived! I aint'' here to throw up deuces, I''m here to make sure you lot ain''t droppin'' any!" With his stupid toilet humour out of the way, Ares immediately got to work with a classic art from his collection as he stood on air, thanks to Voidwalk, in front of the squadron of gulls flying towards him.


    "Grand Annihilation!"


    Ares'' art rippled through the air, replacing all the fluffy white clouds with rolling golden waves that engulfed the gull swarm, causing chaos amongst their now disorganised ranks. Retaliation was rare and so the gulls weren''t exactly proficient at returning fire to defend themselves but that didn''t mean they were complete lost causes as they could individually start targeting Ares with their food spewing attack! A group of five aerial combatants swopped around Ares, flying circles above, below, and to the side of him as they opened their yellow beaks in sync and commenced the firing squad tactic they used against other birds that entered their air space without permission. Now would such a thing be useful against Ares who''s power dwarfed that of an ordinary bird''s? Of course not! Ares kept a deflect up passively across multiple parts of his body, which was normally a difficult task but he managed it with finesse regardless thanks to all his training, and so the bullets were scattered to the wind without harming a hair on his chest. One lucky bullet flicked off Ares and hit an unlucky seagull nearby, piercing its wing and downing it as the bird spiralled down into the ocean below. Seeing the ineffectiveness of their current strategy, the group of birds retreated to join back up with what was left their original squadron after the Grand Annihilation from earlier. there were now only a hundred or so gulls remaining but that was still a decent amount that could spread their excrement far and wide if left unchecked. Ares readied himself to start slinging Grand Annihilations and physical pressure to take them out once and for all but he noticed something odd about the birds... Something that he himself recognised the meaning of in a heartbeat because mana was swirling around the gulls and being drained from the nearby air.


    Much like Ares had done at the international, these lot were going to detonate their bodies! They really could do it! It must have required them to feel a sense of urgency and suffer a complete routing in order to push them this far but they were capable of flipping that switch and making this decision if they so deemed it necessary to forfeit their lives for the cause... Though all this did was make Ares mad! Here he thought he was being unique in coming up with a self-destruction mechanism but, at is it turned out, some dumb birds had beaten him to the punch! Unacceptable! People were gonna start calling him unoriginal and say he copied a bunch of damn seagulls at this rate! Ares wasn''t having it so he decided to prevent word from spreading by killing these things before they could showcase this particular ability! "Not Even Light!" Just because Ares'' implosion was borderline impossible to stop, that didn''t mean the same was true of anyone else''s! Ares'' blackhole art was almost tailor made for this, as it was mana''s worst nightmare, so one of two things happened amongst the ranks of the mana-swollen gulls and, either way, neither were good for them. Either A; the gulls were filled to the brim with mana and, thus, sucked into the blackhole where they disappeared forever or, B; they were only able to fill up on mana partially, because the mana they needed was being sucked away by the blackhole, so the suicide bomb was middling at best. In short, the birds disappeared into the art or they blew up in the sky like small firecrackers without causing too much of a scene because the mana to create a meaningful explosion simply wasn''t present and thus their suicide bomb was activated prematurely and was also extremely weak. This was why you had to either have an affiliation for the destruction pillar or have everything planned out in advance when blowing yourself up otherwise it could all go horribly wrong! Ares'' destruction magic would keep him safe from basically anything that tried to prevent his detonation but the same was not true of these vastly inferior gulls and so they basically made themselves a bunch of easy targets for Ares. Thankfully, this meant that nobody below would know these birds could even do this to begin with and that was for the best! Ares didn''t want to be compared to a bird... This was a secret both he and that one drunkard could take to their graves!

 Chapter 316: Noble in Name Only

    "We thank you for your assistance once more... But please, if you are going to lend us aid, do try not to get distracted and pick a fight with your summons half way through. We can''t be sure if you''re giving up or just taking a moment to yourself and it does affect how we operate as we''re not sure whether to keep working around you or go back to being self-sufficient..."


    Ares gave a wry smile and stuck his tongue out at the official who''d just politely handed him another 200 high grade. The guy wasn''t saying anything unreasonable so Ares didn''t give him any hassle and simply agreed to be more co-operative going forward. In his defence, that bird needed some serious scolding and punishment!... And yet, Ares was going to go and feed the damn greedy thing some fatty tuna... Whatever, both the eagle and Rox had earned it so Ares wouldn''t take that away from them just because they were being hard headed. More so the eagle, anyway. Ares'' relation with the eagle was slowly deteriorating into one that resembled Charity and Leo''s! Ares didn''t want that level of sourness between them. Not because he cared about the dumb bird or anything but because it would be inconvenient to keep squabbling in the midst of combat over silly nonsense.


    Ares took his earnings and went to go find Aejaz who was hiding form the very real shitstorm that had been running riot while Ares was dealing with the gulls. Just because Ares killing them that didn''t mean they were going to stop dumping on innocent pedestrians; that was practically their life''s calling! Anyway, Aejaz could be a bit of a clean freak, which was strange considering how messy his room got, and general hygiene was something he cared about quite a bit. If his well-slicked hair, freshly washed clothes, or smooth-as-a-baby skin got bird poop on it he might actually shed some tears. He was honestly probably more traumatised by this raid than the twisted one and he was going to be walking around with his head tilted upwards to keep an eye out for birds for some time to come. Actually, now that Ares thought about it, what was this idiot going to do at night? Look down for the twisted and up for the birds at the same time!? He was going to have an existential crisis later when he realised keeping track of both at once was impossible. Or maybe he''d just stay inside a building and look down until Hunter''s gadget was installed Federation wide? Living life as a coward must have been truly difficult but that wasn''t Ares'' problem and so he ignored it.


    Ares handed over ten high grade stardust to Aejaz and pat him on the back. "This is for two reasons. First of all, I want you to take Rox and the eagle to go find some good tuna and I''ll catch up with you in a bit as there''s something I want to go do real quick. I''ll be borrowing your Concealed Serpent too, thank you very much..." Ares did a ''gimme'' gesture with his upturned palm and Aejaz handed it over without a fuss. "... And second of all, you can keep the change, however, much is left after paying for the meal, and consider it a bonus for getting though the twisted ordeal in one piece. There, now we''re even!" Ares didn''t really care about being ''even'' with family but he felt like it would be nice to give his brother a bit of spending money... If Aejaz wasn''t a thief who could earn his own stardust, Ares would have given him more... Only ten high grade might have seemed stingy considering how much he''d received as of late but, between checking to see how Aejaz handled a decent chunk of high grades with regards to being a spendthrift or saving properly, and Ares building up a solid foundation of his own in case he needed it, he wasn''t going to be handing out too much anytime soon. Maybe Ares would throw it all at an auction item if it was truly worth it. Maybe he''d upgrade the sect with it. Maybe he''d treat his family when he returned from his journey. Any of the above, as well as few other options, were all perfectly valid choices. Having lots of stardust was great but there wouldn''t be lots to have if he kept giving it away like free candy. Ares wasn''t being cheap, it was an investment! Into himself!


    Anyway, he was also hoping he could maybe help the Federation out a few more times and increase his earnings by another two hundred high grade, or more, whenever he lent this country his aid... Why was it two hundred every time? Did Ares get short-changed again?... Well, actually, no, the Federation was just being logically consistent as, apparently, Hunter had come up with another one of his gadgets again... Some kind of anti-air gadget that wasn''t really explained to Ares in great detail, because it was still in its infancy compared to the electrical net for the twisted, but seemed like it might solve that problem as well... Had Ares dealt with the twisted and the seagulls even a month prior to today he might have earned more as they were bigger threats with no solution on the horizon. It was bad timing but what was Ares supposed to do? Go and chuck Hunter off the Federation and bury him at sea so Ares could earn more moolah? It''s not like the guy was doing this specifically just to troll Ares... Though if he were then Ares would have to give him some serious props for the expert shenanigans he was pulling here and Ares wouldn''t even be annoyed, impressed if anything.


    As for where Ares was going right now, as he disappeared with a few Shifts and the Nyxian Prowler / Concealed Serpent in his grasp... Aejaz assumed Ares would fill him in on the details later but Aejaz did notice his brother keep peering down at a certain spot while he was Voidwalking in the air to deal with the gulls earlier. He must have spotted something that piqued his interest... Or more like someone who piqued his interest as that would explain the Concealed Serpent / Prowler strategy he was using as that was good for tailing people. Putting two and two together meant that Aejaz could take a pretty reasonable guess in that this had something to do with the Firestarters. Though how Ares managed to identify one as such was questionable as it meant the guy or gal must have been doing something that would give themselves away... Were the Firestarters already trying to burn things down? This quick? The journey was still in the early stages and so land wasn''t yet too too far away for rescue to be inconceivable in the case of emergency. Not that Aejaz wanted them to cause trouble at all but surely it was better for them if they waited a bit longer?... A bit longer until Ares rounded them all up and they were either sentenced to prison or executed so they couldn''t potentially set Aejaz ablaze! Aejaz knew he wouldn''t be so lucky but also realised dwelling on it wasn''t going to get him anywhere and that it was best to just leave it to Ares.... Though he could also take some of the work off Ares'' back and keep an eye out for anything suspicious he saw while ''doing the rounds'', so to speak. He was technically involved in this, as everybody aboard the Federation was, so just ignoring it didn''t really sit right with Aejaz. It''s not like these were big, scary monsters or anything, it was just a bunch of weak cultivators.... Presumably. if they weren''t weak, they wouldn''t need to scurry around in the dark like rodents avoiding mouse traps... Though maybe they had one particularly powerful member who doubled as a leader? Aejaz definitely didn''t wanna run into anyone like that or he''d cry and go looking for Ares to beat up the spooky person.


    Aejaz scouted out the local area... For food! Definitely for food! He absolutely wasn''t looking for stores to rob tomorrow! Anyhow, in the end, he himself didn''t find anything but the eager eagle had located a place that smelled pretty great and dragged Aejaz and Rox over thatta way. Ares would be able to find these lot easily, as he left a nothingness marker on Rox to help track him down, so they went in without worrying if their brother / master would be able to find this place. It wasn''t well hidden like Remmy''s or anything so, honestly, if Ares just Voidwalked over the Federation for a while he might even spot this place by himself and make an educated guess that this was where his brother was. The outside was fancier than the many casual fish and chip shops lying around so it definitely stood out compared to the competition.


    There was typically only one high end fish-based restaurant in each section of the Federation as nobody wanted to compete with each other over the few customers they would already get regardless. They made a lot of money with each visitor but there were less of them and sharing that customer base would only lead to the downfall of one business or the other in short time as every lost customer was way more detrimental than usual. There were some bold individuals who wanted a specific spot, and built their own restaurant nearby another pre-existing restaurant in a bid to run the other guy out of ''town'' but, at that point, it was basically a contest to see who could do better and the locals encouraged it. It was always fun to people watch and see who went into which restaurant and see how the tides turned over time. Sometimes high class nobles would get involved and spread dirty rumours or visit one business exclusively to show onlookers which one was truly the ''best'', spreading its reputation further and helping it win the war. Plenty of sly tricks could affect the odds of which restaurant would come out on top which is what made betting on such things quite titillating for the higher brow folk who treated it as something of a replacement for the usual horse riding they gambled on. Plus this was interactive as they could throw wrenches into the work if they were subtle enough to not get caught.


    You could mess with businesses on the Federation to some extent but getting caught was the real issue. In fact, many laws on the Federation involving business harassment only came with light sentences attached but the catch was that those same punishments got exponentially more severe if you were caught in the act instead of admitting to it. It was all like one big game for these people and it fostered a very competitive environment where people could lose their livelihoods at the drop of hat because it was like a miniature sport to some rich douche who was bored of their significant other and wanted to kill some time. In fact, in richer parties, that were hosted on the cruise ships with luxury suites and other such accommodations, most of the bragging done surprisingly wasn''t about how successful their businesses were at the moment, although that was very much part of it and major acquisitions were like honeyed nectar to these people, but rather gossip about who did what to which business was almost always the hot topic. These people just lived very different lives to the average person but the thing that was true of both groups, rich or broke, was that they enjoyed seeing which of the two nearly identical businesses that were going head to head would win out in the end. As these businesses were usually the higher priced ones, it made no difference to the locals who couldn''t afford it anyway when one of them disappeared! Plus the rich and pomp folk would never buy from a ''loser'' either... Though there was that one trend way back when someone did it ironically as a fashion statement for a clothing store and that caught on for a while. Still, that phase ended as quickly as it started because some other new-fangled idea caught everyone''s attention and the previous fad was forgotten about in the blink of an eye.


    Getting back on topic, this restaurant was challenged once and never again because it was an absolute blowout victory. It wasn''t known at the time but this restaurant was heavily favoured by the higher ups on the Federation and the second anyone else dared intervene the biggest of big guns were brought out. Supply chains vanished overnight, some food was poisoned, and one of the employees even went missing under mysterious circumstances after some suspicious forged documents were found in his possession by various officials that ''proved'' he didn''t have a right to be aboard the Federation. Long story short, this place was untouchable through and through. It''s not like the restaurant ever asked for this protection, they were confident in their own business, but that didn''t stop the higher ups from taking measures into their own hands to ensure the long livelihood of their business. It had been somewhat of a hidden gem up until that one point but now it was frequented all the time and people were starting to catch on to why it had been protected in the first place.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The food here was probably some of the best you could find on the Federation and it was cheap! For nobles anyway. The lower, more affordable prices for some of the more middle class businessmen had put off the elite who turned their nose up at the ''inferior'' bearing of the business and its clientele but that changed basically overnight and they were regretting not coming here sooner... Though some did ask the shop owner to raise their prices a bit and basically lock their old customers out of being able to afford a dining experience here... Naturally he refused and things were kept as is with no one being able to do a damn thing about it thanks to the protection racket that was essentially being ran with defence in exchange for good food with the higher ups. Anyway, long story short, it stood out in the area as there was nothing else of such high calibre near it. It really brought up the vibe of the place as it had been stylised to match the surroundings when it was first built to boot.


    The owner was someone who came from a pretty ordinary background, and didn''t like the idea of showing off his wealth and the difference between him and everyone else, so he kept things quiet on the aesthetic front which was appreciated by the locals. Having some high-class anomaly right outside the front of your rickety house was a special kind of insulting and they had some friends in other places on the Federation that complained about such a thing non-stop. It ruined the neighbourhood but they couldn''t do a damn thing about it either. This particular restaurant had some classy flair to it, with various sea-faring designs hand-crafted by an expert on the front of their store, but the overall vibe was peaceful and casual. It was sort of like one of those places you could find at tourist destinations in quieter places, where not as many people frequented because it was out the way, with some old lady in the back kitchen cooking classic recipes that had been handed down through her family for generations. It gave off the impression that the cook here was a homely person and very comfortable with the food they produced and the quality of the experience as a whole.


    And then there was the smell, the smell that had found the eagle before the eagle found the restaurant. Aejaz had originally believed the eagle couldn''t tell the smell of good fish apart from bad fish, because it was a bird and probably didn''t have any standards anyway, not that Aejaz did either, but the second he''d arrived outside the building he immediately understood everything. Curried fish... Maybe that was the specialty of this place, or maybe it was just what everybody ordered, either way it smelled damn good and the fatty tuna could screw off! Aejaz knew what he wanted! In fact, it seemed like all three of the group members had changed their minds on the spot the second the smell wafted into their nostrils and, really, they couldn''t be blamed. The smell was localised to the store front but potent whenever you walked by and was like a drug that encouraged you to keep inhaling until you ran our of room to breathe. Exhaling was actually a major disappointment to the senses because it was time wasted that you could have spent breathing in the lovely, spiced scent.


    Honestly, it didn''t even matter what fish it was, monkfish, mackerel, prawn, as long as it tasted even half as good as it smelled then this was going to be one of the best dishes these lot had ever eaten. The bar wasn''t quite as high for Rox or the eagle, obviously, but Aejaz had eaten some great stuff from Remmy, Ares, and Shu before! The fact that this could compete was seriously impressive but it also made a lot of sense. Central land was a hub for all sorts of cuisines to show up in and occasionally even mesh well together, and that attracted a lot of chefs, but so too did the raw allure of MONEY that could only really be earned in a place like this. No matter how great a chef you were, there were limits to what could be accomplished in terms of monetary gains anywhere other than the Federation which was abundant with people who had way too much money to spend. Thousands of high grade stardust as mere tips weren''t impossible if you got lucky enough and had some curious noble come visit the opening of your restaurant.


    The trio stepped in and it almost felt like they opened the saloon doors to a wild west bar or something because everyone turned to look at them before they could even get a lay of the land... In hindsight this made sense. Gossip about who was where, who was wearing what, and who was shagging who would drive the nobles crazy so, at a place like this, everyone was always on high alert for the next juicy rumour so they could be the one to attach their name to it and spread it first. Some of these nobles even hired middle-men to go hang around restaurants and relay news to them regarding who showed up while also disseminating it to everyone else under their master''s name. The fact that you could make a solid living out of such an easy job, sitting around all day and openly spying on people, was quite baffling to most people but it was perfectly normal here. It was a desirable job too as you could do it for a few years and be set for life if the person who hired you was generous enough. Even if they weren''t the minimum wage for jobs like this was pretty damn high because if you were caught cheaping out by another noble then you''d be ridiculous as a poor man and your reputation would go up in flames. The middle-men frequently talked with one another so everyone''s wages were known and, if a noble tried to be sneaky about how much they were paying relative to everyone else, it would all come out in the wash. The middle-man they hired would tell the others and then their masters would know in turn like some kind of game of Chinese whispers. The wages would fluctuate as the rumour went further and further form the source and you eventually had some wild claims being made, about how some middle-men were basically just unpaid slaves, that were repeated ad-nauseum even by those who knew better just to spite the person getting ridiculed and further screw them over. It was their own fault but nobody cared about that, or the morality of not paying their workers, these lot just enjoyed seeing someone fall from grace. Again, these nobles and other such elites made games of the strangest things...


    All eyes were on Aejaz and co but most of those very same eyes darted back towards their own meals shortly after as they recognised ''Ares''. It was actually Rox but having him here was incredibly helpful otherwise there would have been trouble. The ''dregs'' of society were ''allowed'' to dine here but that didn''t mean some of the elites wouldn''t try and throw stardust at them to get them to leave and maybe even resort to subtle threats if that first trick didn''t work. There were, however, some people who didn''t recognise Ares and thought this ragtag group consisting of some weird handsome fuckboy, Aejaz, a bird, the eagle, and a dodgy human with red eyes, Rox, shouldn''t have been allowed here. They were tempted to make a scene and cause a kerfuffle but were held back by tthe fact that the other nobles went back to their own business as if they knew better... If this group were actually of some kind of meaningful social status then picking a fight with them would backfire horrendously so they decided to wait and see how things went for now... Though they really didn''t like the fact that a magical eagle was eating in this establishment! A few people were sending glares at it but they were taken aback when the thing sitting on a seat with its chest puffed up glared back! This damn bird had a temper and was very capable of mean mugging people! Aejaz was getting more and more astonished with this bird''s ''fuck everyone, everywhere, all the time'' personality as it was really unexpected! It had been such an obedient eagle who just loved chasing stoats not even a month or so ago! What happened?!


    Anyway, Aejaz and co scoured the menu and asked the waiter to come back in a bit when their cohort arrived which turned out to be sooner than expected. Ares came swaggering through the front door with a smile on his face. Maybe he''d found a good lead or maybe he really just liked the smell of this place and that put him in high spirits. Either way, he was here now and everyone was extremely confused! Two Ares! their confusion was irrelevant though and Ares ignored them while taking his seat and speaking to Aejaz. "You really did pick this place in the end, then, huh?" This one sentence confused Aejaz because it made it seem like Ares already knew about it... Did this have something to do with the person he stalked? Thankfully, Aejaz didn''t have to wait long for an answer. "The guy I was following was trying to set fire to this place while the gulls were attacking and everybody was distracted with that issue. He stopped when I glared at him with Omniscience and threw some pressure his way. He then took to hiding until the coast cleared, or I let him believe as such anyway while I was chatting with Federation official, but then I chased after him as he led me back to some kind of hideout.


    I eavesdropped for a while and learnt a few things. First of all, apparently nothing was supposed to kick off yet, it''s just that that specific guy wanted revenge on this shop because he''d been hard done by it at some point in the past. He, along with a few other people, tried to set up a restaurant around here but catastrophe after catastrophe struck as a result of them trying to go toe to toe with this business. They assumed foul play, because it was kind of obvious even though they couldn''t get their hands on solid proof, so burning it down as payback was the reason they joined the Firestarters to begin with. Apparently the guy trying to light the fuse near this place had spent all his life savings to even get aboard the Federation legally as a new citizen. Some time after that, he doesn''t really know when, those documents were replaced with fakes and he was tortured for a good while by the officials before being thrown headfirst into the ocean. He was saved by a passing sailor and that was the start of his everlasting grudge. He sought various ways to get back at this restaurant and the Firestarters took note of his attempts before bringing him into the fold.


    Anyway, again, he acted out of line, of his own will, so he was fiercely reprimanded and received quite the beating. He was kicked around like a dog for a while but the conversation eventually shifted and the person who was seemingly in charge gave everyone there a reminder that a big meeting was taking place soon. I know when and where so I''ll be sure to crash it and say hello when the time is right. Unfortunately, however, not all their members will be attending as they''re being split up into two different venues for convenience. Basically, I ought to be able to deal with half the Firestarters at once on that day and then hopefully find the rest some other time. All quite convenient and I''m in a good mood because my life has just been made that much easier. My task to hunt the hidden foes has been simplified, fending off various threats has gone well thus far, and this place seems to really know a thing or two about cooking! Great start to a great day and surely this is a good omen of things to come!" Aejaz winced at that last line because that was surely a red flag! Aejaz had read enough books to spot the clich¨¦ statement that backfired horrendously! Why couldn''t Ares just be happy in his head instead of saying it out loud?! Was he some kind of character in a film or a book or something!?

 Chapter 317: Selling and Shelling

    "Unlike the trio that arrived before him, Ares stuck to his original goal and ordered some tuna. Specifically the gnocchi primavera with fresh tuna. As for the others, all three of them ended up ordering the mackerel curry and were licking their lips in anticipation... Except for the bird... The bird was still sitting in his seat, with his wings tucked and its body stiffly upright as it peered over the table from a lower position, glaring at Ares who was this close to beating the thing up! Was this thing gonna be moody forever?! Ares ignored him after giving the bird the bird because he was more so interested in his rings right now as they were currently transmitting some warmth. This happened occasionally whenever Enyo or Blo Blo fiddled around with theirs and it seemed like they both happened to be doing it at the same time. It was probably a co-ordinated effort to say high and inform him they were departing from home to go to the Grecian Lands, despite the distance between them, and it made Ares smile to himself while he started cultivating. This was an extremely odd place to choose to do this, and some of the nobles even thought it extremely rude, but the delicious aroma would vie for his attention and make cultivating all the more difficult. Again, he was pursuing that passive cultivation dream at every chance he could find. It was either this or pressurising the Primordial Blade because, though he was on vacation, he refused to waste time idling about because it just didn''t sit right with him. He could have talked to Aejaz but the guy was busy discretely stealing from the pockets of the nobles and so Ares kindly decided not to draw attention to his antics.


    This carried on for a while until the meals arrived at which point everyone dug in and had a great time of things. Ares was seemingly distracted by something, however, but he kept assuring Aejaz the food was good and not to mind him. It looked like he was keeping an eye out on somebody suspicious again which would correlate with the fact that Ares had already sniffed out a few of the Firestarters already. Maybe they were keeping tabs on him? Maybe they wanted to check the scene of the attempted crime that other guy tried to commit in case they left any traces? As for who it was stalking them, though Aejaz couldn''t be certain without overtly staring around at everyone to check, it looked like one of the middle-men hired by a noble was the one that Ares was keeping tabs on with his divine sense. Ares had hidden the divine sense well from the guy he was looking at but Ares made no effort to hide it from Aejaz so that was how he figured out who the culprit here was, by following Ares line of sight.


    Aejaz wasn''t sure how Ares knew this time around that the guy was a Firestarter, though, because the guy wasn''t doing anything whatsoever. Sure he stared at Ares every now and then but, given his job, that made sense no? He was supposed to be taking in information and relaying things so this was all supposed to be completely natural... Although, now that Aejaz thought about it, wasn''t that a particularly convenient excuse? ''I''m not a Firestarter, I''m a middle-man! That''s why I''m staring at you!'' Much like how some Firestarters invaded the official spots near the border to gain information, maybe some were posing as middle-men to boot? If that were the case, maybe this guy didn''t even have a master and was simply pretending...


    Now that Aejaz was stealing glances in his direction every so often, it was becoming more and more apparent this guy was dodgy! He was supposed to be looking for gossip about the other nobles but he never paid them any attention! He wasn''t the employee of anyone here, if his lack of interactions with them was any indicator, so the idea of him taking a break while he wasn''t needed was ruled out; and he wasn''t doing his job for a master that wasn''t present either! He was just standing there... Given how many nobles there were, and thus how many middle-men had been hired by them as a result, it was only natural they wouldn''t recognise every single middle-man out there, even if a few long-term ones were recognisable at a glance. This was actually a genius disguise as it got you into places you really weren''t supposed to be in. Restaurants like this had a sort of unwritten obligation to let middle-men in or, at the very least, permit them to stand outside. Sure there had been some fakes in the past but they were actively looking to rob the place or cause trouble with a customer inside without being held up at the entrance.


    People doing this to scout for information might have been a very new problem that hadn''t been accounted for because it just wasn''t ever relevant. Doing espionage aboard the Federation was highly unnecessary for most and even if the nobles wanted to do it they could just bloody well hire an actual middle man! They didn''t need to hide their intentions because everyone already knew them! It''s not like this was overlooked, per se, just that nobody ever thought it could have consequences this dire because anyone who walked into a restaurant, stood around to gather publicly available information for an hour or two, and then left peacefully without so much as a fuss was expected to not be a big deal. It was a big deal! Actually, now that Aejaz thought about it, this middle-man wasn''t even here when he came in! He must have arrived while the four people here were distracted with the menu or something... Damn, Ares had spotted him this quickly?! Aejaz couldn''t help but be impressed. Ares figured out the middle-man system and noticed an oddity with this person claiming to be one in such short notice! Even the other nobles, who frequently relied on this process, hadn''t seen a damn thing! He knew Ares'' moronic personality was just a pretence, for the most part anyway, but there was a rather clever person hiding away in that brain of his and, when it came out to play, Aejaz was reminded just how glad he was to be on side. Having Ares as an ally was a God-sent gift and he was really truly glad to have met him back in Red Sun all those years ago. Obviously not just for protection, though that had been a massive part of it at the time, but also because he was a good brother. He didn''t always do the most pleasant things to Aejaz but he always had his best interest at the forefront of his actions; and his intelligence was high enough that most of his ideas always worked out in the way he expected them to even if no one else saw it coming.


    Damn... Now Aejaz wasn''t paying much attention to his food either! What a waste of a fantastic meal! It was so scrumptiously delicious and buttery smooth... And yet that random guy staring at the back of Ares'' head was ruining it! The guy had gone from inconspicuous in Aejaz'' eyes to unavoidable and really quite obnoxious in the span of under a minute! As for why he was here... This must have been Ares reaping what he sowed as he''d caused the most issues for the Firestarters of anybody else aboard the ship. He completely outed them and their goal, screwed over all the fake officials, spotted one of their members earlier... He was like a wrecking ball demolishing their plans and approaches one by one, relegating them deeper and deeper into the shadows in a bid to get even a small win past him. Plus Ares was pretty powerful and had to be acknowledged, not ignored, because he would creep up on them and blow them to kingdom come if they weren''t careful around him.


    To spy, to evade, or to fight head on. Those were the three options the Firestarters had for dealing with Ares and spying was probably a method to facilitate evading later on. On the off chance Ares happened to speak any of his plans for the future aloud here then the Firestarters would immediately shift their operations to elsewhere on the boat so as not catch sight of him, or more importantly vice versa, while they were working. Unfortunately, they''d really underestimated Ares'' observational prowess big time and so he was free to mislead them by carelessly speaking falsities into the wind as though he were musing to himself and / or brother. Not only was he going to be able to catch a large chunk of Firestarters during that upcoming meeting, but he would be able to lock down another group of them via this method as well. opportunities to deal with these people were falling into his lap one by one... Though rarely Ares had manufactured each of these scenarios to his liking pretty well. Chances are, he spoke openly about the Firestarters when he arrived at the Federation in order to make himself a target. His Omniscience would make it impossible for anyone to stalk him without his notice and then he could stalk them back to their hideout with the Prowler and Serpent... Had he planned this from before he even boarded the Federation? Who knows what was going on in that head of his... Either way, he''d reeled in another big fish and so it was time to lay the ground work for filleting it.


    "Man, this food''s really something else. Not the best I''ve had but it''s certainly up there..." Though Ares was just casually musing to himself about the quality of the dish, and it really wasn''t an important detail, the middle-man was hooked on every word which meant this was likely going to succeed in a big way for Ares. Also, the other nobles, who overheard Ares, had qualms with what he was saying! Not the best he''s ever had?! Where the hell was this random kid eating that he could taste better?! They almost didn''t believe it! They thought he was just showing off and speaking with a clear voice to rub in his own status to everyone else here! Of course, that was their mistaken assumption as they were now trying to lug Ares'' habits in with their own. They didn''t know any better as everyone who was in Ares'' position had always done it for that exact reason, to spread the tales of their vast wealth, and so those who weren''t familiar with Ares were led by their own nose to this conclusion that was way off the mark.


    "... Still, now that I''ve tried this place once I don''t think I''ll come back. Might as well take the time to check out other restaurants on the Federation. It''s a shame though, the food here is noteworthy." Though Ares was speaking at his brother, he was really nudging the middle-man into action. In fact, the guy was so eager to share the news that he left before Ares even did. Though it had happened in a rather roundabout way, Ares had given the Firestarters their first major target and it was a pretty good one for them. This restaurant was gonna burn! Or they were going to try to at least. They knew Ares wouldn''t come here anymore, some of their members had a grudge with this place (even if it was completely misplaced), and it was favoured by the higher ups of the Federation so it would leave a lasting impression if they were successful here. All around a fantastic target and Ares knew that which was why he intentionally led them to this conclusion. Finding out about that one employee of the other restaurant, the one who became a Firestarter and tried to kick things off early, gave Ares a ticket to bait even more people in. He felt somewhat bad for the owner here, though, as not only did Ares just loudly and boldly proclaim he wasn''t coming back, which was rude as all hell, but he was leading a bunch of arsonists here so he could round them up for his own personal gain... Ares was going to have to apologise to the owner the next time he saw him but an explanation ought to make things right. Just based on what Ares saw of the guy cooking near the back, he didn''t seem too fussed about Ares impolite declaration'' and might not even mind being used to lure out the Firestarters had Ares just asked. Still, the situation changed before Ares could even get a word out so things were happening without his knowledge for now. Ares could inform him after it was all said and done and maybe try reimburse him though, really, he shouldn''t suffer any losses here as Ares would be keeping an eye out. It would take the Firestarters a couple days to mobilise but it would almost definitely be before the meeting took place as that would be to discuss a larger scale attack. This place would be a warm up, pun intended. Anyway, point being, the window of time for these people to act wasn''t particularly large and, thus, Ares would just stakeout the place from tomorrow onwards and that should be sufficient for catching the Firestarters off guard sometime over the next day or two.


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    Ares'' job here was done for now and so he finished the rest of his meal in peace, paid for it while packing up Rox and the bird (the latter of whom seemed to be in a better mood now that he wasn''t feeling hungry....), and set off feeling content with what had happened here so far. Also, as an aside, knowing now that the damn bird would throw a hissy fit and get mad at everyone if Ares didn''t feed it for long periods of time was something... Technically it made sense but the damn thing was also made of magic! It shouldn''t get peckish! Ah whatever, one more mouth to feed wasn''t the end of the world and if it would keep him from getting so damn moody all the time then it was worth it, Thankfully it seemed like the strike was over and they would go back to work from now on without raising a fuss so he tucked Roc back into the Primordial Blade and dismissed the bird who was somewhat affectionately nuzzling his leg. The one eighty was insane! This bird was seriously a one-minded creature and could only ever be pleased if it got what it wanted! Look at the damn thing, sucking up to Ares! He almost couldn''t believe his eyes and just sighed to himself before moving on. At least what the bird wanted wasn''t exactly hard to find as Ares almost always had food on him to placate the bird brain should the need arise.


    Ares was getting ever closer to hunter''s place, supposedly according to the directions Onno had given him way back when he left him at the shack he was lending him, but there was one more small ''stop'' to make. Ares wasn''t entirely sure he''d be interested in the business sector he was passing through but if anything caught his interest he would be sure to at least check things out. Plus, he''d heard rumours that there was something a little unique about the direction Ares was headed in compared to the rest of the Federation as it was a place wherein a lot more was legal than really should have been... Ares turned to Aejaz with a wry smile and warned him to be on the look out... To be fair, Aejaz was always rather good at dodging attacks so he wouldn''t struggle too hard here but it was better to be aware and alert than to get smacked around by an art randomly flying by. Why? Was there some kind of turf war going on? In a way, yes, but it wasn''t being conducted between two gangs, or anything other rabble rousers of the sort, rather two major conglomerates with substantial financial backing and status.


    Ares and Aejaz arrived at the location and why people were warned about this place was readily apparent the second they laid eyes on it. Put simply, it was a warzone and anyone not decently strong enough would perish even simply trying to walk on by. Put simply, there were two massive ships on a branching path to either the right or the left with one route leading straight down the middle between them for uninterested passer-by who didn''t want to go shopping. These two massive ships were constantly firing at one another with cannonballs, arts, muskets, paint to smear the other ship, etc... Thankfully, for the shoppers headed to either store, there were safety barriers that had never failed them before and, besides, the brunt of the attacks were concentrated at the headquarters built a couple floors up on the ships and were high enough not to affect the ground floors all too often.


    These two bickering companies had been long at each other''s throats and were effectively at war with one another while maintaining their business uptime in a way that was rather bizarre. They kept launching explosive attacks at one another while cultivators had to scurry about below in a bid to not get hit or affected by their feud. The worst of it, specifically, was the middle route between them. The safety barriers did not extend to this particular route so you had to actively fight off any wayward attacks launched in the wrong direction! Mortals literally never used this route and even cultivators had to be cautious when passing through it. It was better to just head towards one of the shops... But you had to buy something before you were allowed to leave them! Robbery! They were taking advantage of the war they started in order to force people to cough up money for safety! It was almost like some kind of Yakuza protection racket but infinitely more scummy! And they were allowed to do this too because both businesses had backing from one of the higher ups in the Federation. Or, rather, these two businesses had originally been founded by those two higher ups but were left in the care of others. The name of the higher ups was still there, though, and they occasionally took part in board meetings, so who was going to stop this madness?! The other higherups really didn''t care so this no-man''s shopping land was here to stay and had been for quite some time.


    When the Federation originally set sail, these two businesses pit themselves against one another in a bid to try to get the other one to fail. Thy wanted to compete but the problem was that, after a certain point, businesses could really be too big to fail. Sure both ships ended up losing some customers to the store opposite, and the nature of their feud which turned away the precautious types, but the hundreds of millions of stardust they raked in monthly had but a mere dent in it after all was said and done. They were screwing each other over but it made no difference and, so, eventually, they resorted to this. It started off with a few light assassination attempts, a sniper rifle from across the way here, an artillery shot there, but then it just kept devolving at the speed of light and now it was constant barrages. Funnily enough though, the wariness surrounding shopping at these places, from the perspective of the public, had decreased because no civilian had ever even been injured as a result of this spat they were having. The businesses wanted to show off so they hired some of the best runemancers around to ensure the safety of their customers and then it became a contest between the two ships to see who could forge a better defence system. In this way, the one-upmanship was actually useful for something and people could buy their groceries, amongst other things, without worrying too too much. The only real issue was what happened if you didn''t have any money on you and wanted to get by. You either had to go the long way round, which could take upwards of an hour on busy days, or you would have to brave that infernal middle path with no safety nets... To make matters even worse, the middle path was just a rickety bridge that was battered and worn from all the attacks that had fallen down onto it over the years and so it wasn''t even a steady thing you could sprint across; you had to take your time with it and be careful. It was due for upgrading, and that would probably happen in a few months, but until then it was precarious and not worth risking your life on for weaker cultivators.


    As for Ares, the only decision to be made here was... Which ship should he go and give his patronage to? He wasn''t too caught up on the differences between them so, as far as he knew, they were both just extraordinarily sized general convenience stores with just about every product you could ever want under the sun for sale. Ares was thinking about picking up some souvenirs and gifts for the people who hadn''t come along but which ship shop would be better for that? It was a complete toss up so Ares just decided to go to both one by one but, little did he know, that was a fast tracked to getting held up by security... These businesses did frequently send spies out to the other shop and so both sides were fully invested in watching who went in and out of each shop so that they could, in turn, detain and question these people. Due to this, basically nobody ever went to both shops one after the other because it was a recipe for disaster. Plus the wares in both shops were pretty damn similar and it was mostly a matter of variations of an existing product rather than finding something in one place that you couldn''t get in the other. There was actually rather fierce brand loyalty with these two ships but that was mostly because, A; they never stocked up on the brand the other ship was using and, B; you couldn''t stop shopping at one ship and start at the other without being interrogated! Again, scummy business tactics out the wazoo even though it was mostly an unintentional result of their infighting. As for Aejaz, he was perfectly content with not going anywhere near the shops that were getting bombarded 24/7! He was starting to think this Federation country was fucked from top to bottom as it was always one thing after another with this damn place! Why was any of this normal to the people living here?!... Despite this, however, he raised no complaints about visiting these shops because they looked to be a fantastic source of ''earnings'' in the days to come... The dangers this coward would brave for thieving purposes was truly astounding... He turned to Ares, and was about to ask which shop was first, but that was when he realised his brother had resorted to eeny meeny miny moe and that asking him to come up with some detailed reasoning for his choices in life was about as fruitful as asking a sloth to run a cross country marathon. In the end, through various means of ''rigorous deduction'', Ares made the wisest choice he was capable of making and pointed at the store on the right. With that decision made, it was time to go shopping!

 Chapter 318: A Very ‘Hard’ Sell

    "On sale, huh." Ares looked up at the giant, wide lettering with numbers in and above the fifties that meant absolutely nothing, He wouldn''t be surprised if this shop was doing that thing where they just pretended everything was on sale even though the price changes were negligible at best, if they''d even changed at all, as Ares was willing to bet his left nut such a tactic wasn''t illegal. The Federation really did place the ball in the court of the businesses, and not the consumer, with the expectation that people would tone their scummy practices down when competition forced them to because others were offering a better product without all the hoopla. To some degree this had worked out but, for certain businesses that were simply too large, they could shrug off whatever losses they suffered as a result of being caught doing stuff like this. They probably made more in the short span people fell for it than they did over the long period where people tried to stay away from their business afterwards. They might even replace the old customers with new ones who were none-the-wiser so such things were a common sight. Ares didn''t much care if he was being scammed or not, though, because he was one of the people who had enough money to just not care. Having over four hundred high grade for a shop like this, humongous though it was, was very clearly overkill. Even still, he wouldn''t pay an exorbitant fee for anything he didn''t think was worth it. He was being a bit freer with his money but he wasn''t going to just chuck it all away and they would have to actually offer him something worth buying if they wanted his hard-earned stardust!


    As for the shop itself... Well it was basically just a warship converted into a multistorey building that had even been expanded upon to be more vertically imposing. The lower layers were for ordinary folk to go about their daily needs and do some grocery shopping, maybe buy some clothes, etc... The higher up you went, though, the more expensive stuff became and it was to the point that even Ares wouldn''t dare step foot on the top floor as there were priceless antiques that would put him so far in debt if he broke any of them that he would be creating Shock Beads for this company for the next hundred years! Given his propensity to go boom boom ballistic on people, if he got into an argument on that floor specifically, he might even destroy multiple and, at that point, Ares would have to flee Sheryashka and take on a new name to avoid the debt collectors.


    Ares, funnily enough, did have another name and identity planned out for whenever he might need it as going undercover as a cultivator was something that could be a rather important skill to know at times. If you pissed anyone off, or just wanted to get around without being spotted instantly due to your status, then changing up your look and name was a great way to take the heat off. Up in Vraizon, Ares would be a little concerned about the Legions and so he was going to use an alias whenever he was on a planet populated with them or even just generally during his travels to remain undetected. If they wanted to track him down for whatever reason then they could do it the hard way! This was part of why he wasn''t making it known to others what his alias would be so they could be completely forthright with the legions and tell them to get lost because they really had no idea where their sect master had fucked off to. He had more than just one idea for various disguises but that was all for the future and he was only joking about the antique breaking thing. They wouldn''t dare hunt him down because he would just kill them and come back for seconds to drive home the point that Ares was not to be trifle with. Also, if anyone picked a fight with him up there then it was their fault to begin with! Ares wasn''t the kinda guy to start wailing on some random person for no good reason!... Unless your name was Aejaz, in which case he''d done that twice already... Though, arguably, that was for a good reason!


    Ares strolled inside, and made sure to keep an eye out for Aejaz who was more so interested in a ''100% off sale'', while taking stock of... Well, the store''s stock! They really did seem to dip their toes in just about every market as, though it was some distance away from the entrance, Ares could see a tech department store from here. This would probably be the most expensive area in this store on this floor, in particular, and it almost didn''t belong here. Realistically, this should have been a floor or two up from here for the richer folk to indulge in but it was novel and new enough to the civilians doing their shopping that it could catch their eye and have them interested on the off chance they come across a wind-fall. People who came into money unexpectedly were typically big spendthrifts so showcasing to them neat luxuries they could afford if they got a promotion, won an event, or got gifted some money by a bored noble was all a good way to get them hooked beforehand. It would fester in the back of their mind.


    Technology was mostly uncommon for the people in Sheryashka but those that had it knew how addictive it could be so even just a hint of an extract of various games, films, conveniences like phones, or other such devices would leave a taste on people''s mouths that left them wanting more. The real despicable thing here, though, was that the Federation businesses, the big ones anyway, were aware of the deal they had with Neo Gear to manufacture technology on a large scale for the sake of Sheryashka at large. They were still amping up the prices for these things now despite knowing they would become cheaper later, due to their mass production, by a significant margin. The buyer''s remorse for people who were sold this product now, only to see it on the shelves for not even half the price in a few years, would feel betrayed! Not that it would matter by then as the sale would have been made far too long ago to raise a fuss. This was the type of evil things that got these businesses to be this big in the first place as manipulating customers who weren''t in the know, and didn''t have the right connections, could be extremely easy depending on your information network. It was like stocks if you had a cheat sheet for the immediate future, of course these businesses were always going to come out on top! ''The house always wins''. Of course such underhanded methods were everywhere as places like this were rotten to the core so Ares was going to have to double and triple check everything he wanted to purchase here no matter how big or small!


    Aejaz was veering off towards the book section as he''d run out of stories to read back home and so this was as good a chance as any to stock up on some as well as find something to keep him busy during the trip. As he rarely left Red Sun for just about any reason, he was stuck with the same old bookshop that basically never updated their shelves or got any of the newer books added to their stock. Sometimes, if Aejaz was lucky, he''d find a travelling salesman or something that had what he was looking for but the book front had been really running dry as of late and he was in the mood to get more trashy crap to pass the time with. After that he''d probably go look at stuff like playing cards or dice so that he could continue to rob people of their stardust in ''legitimate'' head to heads. Sure, stealing from people who were unaware was great and all but sometimes he really just wanted to look his victim dead in the eye and smile as he openly took everything from them... He had a bit of ugly side, this one did! Other than that, maybe he''d shop around for some new clothes, perfume, or skin care stuff as was typical of him. His Hans contracts had earned him a decent enough chunk of stardust, especially when factoring in the ten high grade Ares gave him earlier, to splurge a little. He wouldn''t spend it all but he would at least treat himself while searching for gifts for his partners.


    As for Ares, there was nothing really he himself wanted so he would just keep an eye out on the various isles as he walked around. If he saw something that caught his interest then he''d take a closer gander but, until then, his main focus was on buying gifts! The first, and most obvious one, was bubble wrap for Appa. It was its favourite toy and Ares had to make sure to stock up on the stuff so that it didn''t run out any time soon. That was something that could be bought back in Red Sun, though, so Ares didn''t count it as a real gift, just a pleasant surprise. Ares was thinking he might try and sneakily wrap the shade up in the bubble wrap, like it was a kind of blanket, while it was asleep if he could manage it without waking Appa up! So back to the real gift... What to get happiness incarnate? The very embodiment of ''I need nothing because smiling is free''...


    Honestly, Ares was struggling with this one. He could maybe just buy some standard toys and see what went down well with Appa but it already had bubble wrap and Huggles, the teddy, so it sort of felt like a waste. Food was a no go because, even though Ares could store it with the Blade, Appa couldn''t eat it unless Ares made it into a Snappa. At that point, Appa would much rather just have toffee apple anyway instead of whatever he brought back so that wasn''t a good choice either... Ideally, he would find some kind of treasure on the higher floors that allowed Appa to temporarily become human but that was a serious shot in the dark and Ares couldn''t imagine such a specific treasure would be so conveniently for sale... The only thing Ares could think to do was leave Appa''s gift for now and give it some more thought during his trip. He still had a return journey on the Federation after he was done with his adventures and, though it would be much quieter and quicker than this one, without the Firestarters causing trouble and with the various convenient gadgets taking effect, he could still pop by to this shop and pick something up then. Ares felt bad for not being able to pick out a gift but he didn''t want to half ass it and just pick out any old surprise so he figured this was for the best for now.


    Thus, Ares was now focussed on the sister wives. Everyone else in the house was closer to Aejaz than to Ares so his brother could get them presents instead! Ares wasn''t a charity!... Though he was more than ready to waste money buying a gag ''gift'' for Rud just to see his reaction. In the end, Ares wouldn''t go on to buy the old sod some anti-depressants, but he definitely gave it a lot of thought during his shopping trip! Anyway, first up, the easier of the wives, Enyo. You''d think sex stuff would be more of a gift for Ares himself than for Enyo but it really wasn''t. She liked that kinda stuff and had spent a LOT of time at Bea''s ogling the goods as of late. Ares didn''t even know of half the crap she''d bought from there recently but it was no doubt piling up and ready to be piled on when Ares was least suspecting it. Anyway, getting her something along those lines would make her happy so, even though Ares felt weird buying it as a gift, he ventured to the racier sections of the shop by his lonesome. It''s not like this was the weirdest thing he''d done on the Federation thus far! Compared to dangling off the front of a boat while upside down, and washing his hair in the ocean, this was nothing!


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    As for what he was going to buy her, his eyes were glue to one thing and one thing only. He was adopting very much a ''when in Rome'' sort of outlook here and figured a sexy swimsuit would suit his and her needs and tastes very well. He had been wondering what type up until now, Brazilian, monokini, something classier... But the second he saw this his heart jumped for joy but something was very wrong here. He was feeling off in the head, like he was getting unusually aroused at the thought of Enyo in this thing. Sure that was normal to an extent but he was almost losing his mind here! This was a serious issue because he was moving towards the thing to buy it without any hesitation as his excitement downstairs was single-handedly propelling himself forwards. It''s not that Ares was coping with his inability to control himself, he genuinely knew he had it in him to do so, it was that this behaviour was unsettling him as it reminded him of the time back in Baja forest when he dug out his own optical nerves. His body was on autopilot like some kind of horny zombie and it was embarrassing as all hell!


    "Echo."


    Ares lightly cast the old classic art on himself and that seemed to awake him from his stupor as the pain was a good counteraction to what he was in the middle of doing. The swimsuit in question was downright dirty as it was an extreme micro slingshot that might as well have not even existed considering the amount it covered... Or more like didn''t, really. It was a skimpy red and utterly derogatory but that was actually precisely why he wanted it, he''d treated Enyo like a queen long enough and he wanted to change the dynamic up a bit. She''d look splendid in this, and really ignite a fuse in Ares, but that was beside the point, he should have been able to handle the imagery! Yes it was exciting but to the degree he had a full on erection and was mindlessly zoning out? He''d seen the woman naked in the flesh and he hadn''t been so caught up in his pervasions!


    There was definitely something amiss here so Ares scouted out the lady-wear section, which honestly just made him look even more out of place, but he did eventually find the culprit! Incense! And no just any, either, it was a type of incense that brought on a sense of arousal just like an aphrodisiac. It was potent and mind numbing which lead to dulled decision making and encouraging outrageous spending. Had Ares not snapped out of it, he would have gone on a spending spree because of this thing driving the steering wheel in his pants! The worst part is that, normally, this would be a highly illegal sales tactic but, due to a shifty workaround, it was not only legal but also something they were outright flaunting in everyone''s face! The incense was sat proudly in the centre of this area but the catch was that it had a price tag underneath it! It was ''technically'' a product, and one relevant to the department as it was good at inciting lust, so nobody could complain about it being here... Provided you ignored the blatantly ridiculous and unaffordable price! 100 high grade! Like hell anyone on this floor could afford to buy it! And then that meant it was here to stay, to keep ''legally'' infatuating people with idealistic images of their significant others as it drove them to make purchase after purchase! What an terrible company this was... They knew full well nobody was ever buying that damn incense so it was free to keep working its magic twenty four seven... No wonder so few people were around this place, it was a death-trap for wallets everywhere! Screw this noise! Ares went back to the degenerate swimsuit, which would suit his degenerate wife perfectly and make her look like a bimbo-ish slut when she wore it, and took it with him while leaving as fast as he could from this place! The quality of the clothes here was great but man was the general ambience and sales tactics not it! If Ares, a pretty powerful cultivator, almost fell for this then what chance did a normal person have?! Granted it might have had a more potent effect due to Enyo''s beauty being otherworldly but even still...


    Ares decided not to think about it as he ventured over to the perfume section as he was looking for some aphrodisiacs fro Enyo. She liked them, they could heal her and maybe even improve her cultivation, and she was in the market for them but Bea didn''t have any at this moment in time. It would be a new tool in her arsenal, to toy with Ares with, but hey ho, emphasis on ho, it was what she wanted. Ares had no idea what sort of smell she would appreciate so he just picked a few different ones to get a variety and scarpered quick before he could fall prey to whatever schemes were lurking in the shadows! Ares had never felt so driven to get his shopping over and done with this quickly before! On that note, he almost ran straight past something that was a perfect gift for Bellona. He already had one idea for a gift but that didn''t mean he couldn''t get them more than one. If he wasn''t buying for everyone in the house then multiple gifts per person was in the cards and Ares had already even picked up some skincare stuff for Enyo who was starting to get really into that world. It was like she was fascinated with seeing how beautiful she could make herself look as a sort of challenge. Now, was that all to lure Ares into the bed? Abso-friggin-lutely. But, again, this was becoming a hobby of hers and Ares was more interested in facilitating it precisely because she found it fun than because he did too. It''s not like he was buying this stuff for Blo Blo as she''d probably just stick it in a corner somewhere and forget about it not even a day later.


    Bellona was perfectly content with her normal skin care routine of ''do nothing''. cultivators really didn''t have to put in much, if any, effort so she was always good to go on that front compared to people like Enyo and Aejaz. Getting back on track, the section that Ares nearly skipped over entirely was a ''model'' section and it was a fair bit pricier than the other departments on this floor. There were various replicas of famous places, people, and objects throughout Sheryashka''s history and, though Bellona usually couldn''t care less about stuff like this, there was one that she might actually really appreciate. It would be a bit expensive, and so was her other gift funnily enough, but since when was Ares one to cheap out on his wives?! As such, he went to go talk to a nearby clerk and gave them his temporary address aboard the Federation to have a miniature car model delivered at a later date. It seemed like some famous guy from days gone by actually owned a vehicle in this domain! What a rare sight!


    It was a vintage classic, the make of which Ares didn''t know (because his knowledge of cars was near non-existent), but it was a long and decently chunky car. The bonnet was roughly V-shaped and slightly higher up than the bumpers which looked like chubby, curved cheeks. There were about six conical lights on the front that would presumably click as they turned on to vaguely illuminate the road ahead with what little light they were capable of providing. It was a classy vehicle as there was no roof, an extremely thin, rimmed window, and two red leather seats. The smooth, glossy black paint job tied it all together and it looked like the sort of vehicle that would be leading a political cavalcade with an important figure sat comfortably in the passenger seat, waving to the onlooking crowd. It was certainly stylish and even Ares, with no sense of taste for vehicles really, could tell that it was a beauty. The scale was roughly such that the entire model was about half an arms length long and a palm length high so it was respectably sized but not so massive that there would be nowhere to put it. Ares knew deep in his gut that Bellona would love and cherish this thing so he couldn''t help but buy it even though this wasn''t the main gift he was getting her... Actually, really, this had just turned into the main gift if anything! Ah well, she could be happy with her two gifts and prefer whichever one struck her fancy the most, as long as she liked them that was what mattered... The only issue here was that now Ares was concerned he wasn''t spending nearly as much on Enyo but had to banish that thought because that was a death spiral! He would keep accidentally raising the price until he was broke at that rate! Enyo was a simple woman to buy stuff for and she wouldn''t care about the price discrepancy! Ares could just take her out for a meal or something, and devote some time to her, as well and she''d be content so no more thinking about price tags!


    And so, Ares headed over to the tech department to pick up the final gift. A tv and film player set for Bellona to watch some of the bargain bucket films they had for sale here on. He''d been intent on picking something along these lines up for her at some point anyway so, despite having to pay a bit extra to get it quicker here and now, Ares wanted to do it. Sure he was spending a fair bit here, and would maybe come out of this place with only about 350 high grades remaining (meaning he''d spent upwards of 60-70 on the stuff he''d picked out so far), but this was a rare occasion and he really wanted to treat his wives to a surprise once he returned. He could be careful with his money afterwards but not today! Today he would throw caution, and his money, to the wind for a good cause! Seriously, what kind of cultivator would Ares be if he couldn''t earn more money anyway!? With his skillset it should be a breeze! Plus there were still more issues to resolve on the Federation and so his income here wasn''t quite over just yet! Besides, when it came down to it, he was in a fantastic mood for getting such a brilliant haul of perfectly fitting stuff. He couldn''t have asked for better gifts to be sitting about in this shop!... Well, something for Appa would have been swell but that was different because he didn''t even know where to start. There was truly a lot for sale here so the issue wasn''t the shop, although thinking back on the incense trap this place definitely did have other issues, Ares was the real problem. What kind of shmuck father was he that he didn''t know what present to get his daughter?! It was a hard choice, to be fair, but one he still needed to make regardless! Anyway, when all was said and done, Ares had gotten good mileage out of this place so he figured, just in case, he would round up Aejaz and go check on the other shop as well... Of course, walking straight into ''enemy'' territory after having just visited their warring rival was not a particularly great idea...

 Chapter 319: Arrested for Being Shady

    "Aejaz..." Ares could do nothing but tiredly mutter his brother''s name as he face palmed upon finding the doofus conked out on a show mattress... This guy... If Ares hadn''t been snooping around the lady-wear section earlier like some kind of pervert he would have found this incredibly embarrassing! As for what Aejaz had purchased, through legal means obviously, there were some playing cards and dice just as Ares predicted. There was also a small pile of books ranging from romance to... True crime? Since when did Aejaz read up on that sort of stuff? Was this for assassin work? Inspiration, is it? Well at least he''s branching out and reading other stuff... Ares shook his head and kept glancing around the mattress at the goodies he bought for everyone else. It seemed like Trixie was getting a bunch of colourful, empty, gift boxes. She could put bombs from her unique aspect inside them before foisting them onto others. There was also some bits and pieces of clothes here and there so Ares just assumed she was interested in fashion to some degree even outside of her preference for disguises... That or Aejaz had absolutely zero originality when it came to buying gifts. Moving on, Allie had some alchemy ingredients that were tricky to find in Red Sun, as they were more often than not found abroad, so no doubt Ares and Aejaz were going to get held up by an official at customs when they were departing from the Federation... Hopefully not! Was this stuff duty-free?! Anyway, that aside, Aejaz also bought Allie a small red pillow that looked quite comfy. It was square and soft which was perfect for Allie to kneel on when she was conducting her various alchemy experiments. Finally, much like with Trixie, although to a lesser degree, he''d bought her some clothes. Mostly cute dresses that would make Allie look like a tiny doll. Whether that was Aejaz'' or Allie''s preference Ares didn''t know but he''d seen Allie wear similar stuff on occasion so this haul ought to be appreciated by Aejaz'' partners overall.


    There were a few other gifts, however, and they belonged to Lacy and Leo. Naturally Aejaz wouldn''t forget about his little sister but it was a bit surprising to see he treetop tiger getting some appreciation. Granted that was almost definitely because Allie liked him, otherwise Aejaz would tell the undergrown overgrown kitty to go screw itself and cough up a furball or something. Lacy was receiving a bunch of exotic sweets, a couple of tiny bows, and some books as well. Turns out, Lacy liked a good book. Unlike Aejaz, though, the emphasis here was on ''good'' as, at a gander, these books appeared to be very well written. Of course Ares wasn''t the literature police or anything, and sometimes a book could be poorly written but still well received, it''s just that these ones seemed more immersive and fun to read than the stuff Aejaz read. Maybe Aejaz only read such books as a sort of guilty pleasure? Ares didn''t know as he wasn''t much of a reader himself. He''d only ever really read books about Sheryashka, the monsters contained within, and encyclopaedias with numerous cultivation facts in them to make the road his journey took smoother. He hadn''t done such a thing in a while because there was basically nothing left in this domain to learn that could be found in a book. Plus with Dominus now, and to some extent Ignizz in the future, within earshot at all times it wasn''t impossible to get an answer on most things without having to dredge up the relevant information from some dusty old tome, buried underneath piles of useless crap in the deepest pits of a library. Ares had been planning on reading up on Vraizon when ascending there but, now, he figured he''d just hassle the people rummaging around inside him instead for answers. This could be considered rent! Also, it''s not like any books would have more information on various matters than someone like Dominus anyway. How many millions of years of experience did this guy have again?! Either way, it was not something a mere book could compete with and he''d know potential uses for things that would otherwise elude a normal cultivator''s knowledge.


    Ah but now Ares was getting distracted, he needed to wake this lazy bones up!... He was incredibly tempted to use the Nyxian Prowler and implant some memories again but, on the off chance Aejaz woke up wetting the bed, Ares did NOT want to be responsible for that or, worse, around him when it happened. The chances were not zero and Ares was not a risk taker! On that note, he raised his finger and kept stubbornly poking Aejaz all across his face until the guy groaned himself awake. As he was doing so, Esme happened to walk by and snicker... She was out shopping and just had to catch sight of this! Well, Allie and Trixie would probably be hearing about it so Aejaz was probably going to get an earful from the small in stature but mighty in maturity Allie. But Ares didn''t care about that! He cared about himself and the woman was gesturing with her head towards Aejaz with a look that dug into Ares'' core as it translated roughly to ''that your brother?'' The smug condescension was brutal!


    Ares sighed to himself as Aejaz sat up in his ''bed'' and slowly stretched with a yawn. Though Ares felt a great deal of shame, which was rare in and of itself, apparently Aejaz felt nothing... Ares almost, almost respected his boldness but still primarily felt like slapping the muppet. Also, what if Ares hadn''t conveniently found this guy during his search?! Would he be waiting outside in no-man''s land with arts raining down on him because this punk was asleep?! Ares just shook his head and left with the muppet in tow as he wouldn''t repent even if Ares tried to force and apology out of him. Aejaz was stubborn and, in this case, he truly believed he''d done nothing wrong. Unless Ares threatened to withhold food from him he would just obstinately cling to his warped ideals! Then again, it did make some sense. Aejaz was a thief and part of that was because he enjoyed the thrill but another major part of it was that he enjoyed free stuff. If the mattress was there, and you were allowed to try it, then he would 100% be getting his mileage out of it! Even though it was being ''offered'', Aejaz still saw it as technically stealing value and so he was content to just doze off and sleep like a baby. In fact, it was so comfortable that he couldn''t help but keep harping on about it even while the two were checking out, making Ares want to sew this guy''s mouth shut because he was attracting all kinds of attention! Yes he was handsome, and being ogled by women, but it was mostly raised eyebrows coming his way as he kept loudly declaring how wonderful sleeping on the mattress was! Even if, by itself, the association with this fool was fine, Ares had bought some seriously private bedroom stuff and it was all being stared at indirectly because of his brother''s antics... A guy who sleeps on public mattresses in superstores and a guy openly buying sex stuff in broad daylight... And they were calling each other ''brother''?! Ares wanted to go crawl into a hole.... Or better yet, bury his insufferable brother in one! A hole full of seagulls, orcs, and twisted! Hell he''d even throw in the damn mattress for good measure!


    Ares and Aejaz left the store in a hurry with piercing stares trailing after them as they scurried off. It was time to go to the next store over and hopefully not repeat the same mistakes that were made here! Thankfully the duo had already bought basically everything they wanted to get so this was mostly just a matter of doing the rounds for last minute items they wanted to add to their shopping lists that they either forgot about or couldn''t find in the previous store. Hell Ares hadn''t picked out anything for himself so maybe it was time to search with his own interests in mind! Hm? Ares was jogged alert by the sound of a crash not too far from his current location, on the path back to the junction, as a cannonball collided with the runic barrier and rolled off into the ocean with a splash. Ares hadn''t experienced anything on the way in but apparently that was because the combatants were taking their lunch break or a coffee break or something. The fighting was about to resume and Ares was somewhat interested to see just how hard they went in trying to murder their opposition. He would have stuck around in the safe zone for a while longer but Aejaz looked like a puppy scared of thunder and loud noises so Ares just rolled his eyes and moved on. The hubbub didn''t reach the junction so there was a moment of calm when they retuned that was due to fade the second they set off on the left path this time. Aejaz was looking reluctant to head off so Ares told him he could either walk on the left path or go down the middle one and so Aejaz followed along without any further complaints lest Ares actually make him do it. Little did he know that Ares was actually planning on walking the metaphorical plank himself later to see how bad it could be on the middle path and he would have been more than happy to drag his brother''s sorry ass across if he didn''t stop acting like a baby!


    Down the left path they went and it seemed like the fighting was really starting to kick off, and get into the swing of things now, as larger arts and weaponry were being deployed repeatedly and targeting what looked to be the more vulnerable spots in the barrier. Chances are, the barrier would never fold as it could repair itself, and any damage it sustained, incredibly quickly but that didn''t stop the firing squads from lighting up any crack that appeared as a result of their unyielding determination and aggression. If the nearby shoppers'' attitudes were any indication, this was just a normal Sunday for them as the constant echoing of war and danger all around didn''t bother them at all. They just kept going about their business, even bringing skipping children along, and could honestly care less about the feud. Perhaps they were so familiar with this song and dance that they''d begun treating it like some kind of theatrical performance that could never actually hurt them. They were half right, as Ares could tell the firepower each side was packing would never destroy the barriers at the rate they were currently going, but also very wrong. Ares could also tell that these people fighting one another meant business and were truly going all out. On the off chance a barrier happened to fail for whatever reason, maybe somebody snuck in and sabotaged it for instance, the damage these arts would cause to the civilians would be catastrophic and the loss of life would become a national scandal immediately. It''s not like the businesses were aiming for these people but they were in the way of their goal and it seemed like the hatred ran deep. This wasn''t some comical back and forth, there was a very real blood feud being waged here and the shops just happened to be the foundation of it. Still, what the shoppers didn''t know couldn''t hurt them and they were free to point and laugh from the safety of the barriers. Unless a major development in the firepower of one side or the other was made spontaneously, their lives wouldn''t be at risk... Not that the businesses cared about such trifling matters. If they could blow up their own store, taking the lives of everyone in it, just to kill the C.E.O in the other building, they would do that in a heartbeat!


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Ares and Aejaz walked along at a measured pace like those around them, although Aejaz was this close to breaking out into a full blown sprint and already would have if Ares wasn''t keeping tabs on him, and eventually made their way to the other shop. Though this was unknown to them, a scout high up on the ship with a pair of binoculars was sounding a small alarm right now and trouble was headed their way! Still, Ares was lost in his own little world as he''d actually found something near the entrance that he was very interested in! Sunglasses! He''d never owned a pair but had seen a bunch of other ''cool cats'', as Hans referred to them, wearing these in Red Sun on bright and sunny days. Ares figured he would look pretty swanky with a pair and that Enyo and Bellona would appreciate him playing around with his look a bit. He''d never really tried to look voguish or chic as he''d sort of resigned himself to his rugged fate and worked with what his momma gave him. This could be the birth of a new Ares, though, superstar Ares! Maybe a leather jacket here, a plain white shirt underneath it there, and he''d be lookin'' mighty fine!... Or maybe it was all just in his head...


    Regardless, if nothing else, owning a pair of shades never hurt anybody! Ares looked up and down the racks of sunglasses and tried them on one by one to see which would fit him while Aejaz decided to do the same. Aejaz actually did have a pair, that he''d stolen long ago, but almost definitely couldn''t locate it if asked to due to the sheer mess in his spatial rings and lack of coordination in his organisational skills. It was buried so deep under miscellaneous rubble that it had probably cracked anyway so getting a new, fashionable pair seemed like a swell idea. Also, Allie liked it when Aejaz put on a bit of swagger. Trixie was moistly indifferent but Allie had the hots for that sort of vibe and so she''d be happy with this purchase and commend him for it when he returned.


    Some searching later, and with Aejaz'' seal of approval (which was rare as being complimented looks wise was a first for Ares), he''d finally found the perfect sunglasses to match his face. He''d tried aviator sunglasses, oval sunglasses, and even a pair of hideous shield sunglasses, but in the end it all came back gold, baby! A pair of black, rimless pilot sunglasses with golden end pieces, pad arms, nose pads, and a bridge. It wasn''t all gold though as the temples and the temple tips were all made of red mahogany. Black -> Gold -> Wood. From front to back that was the design and, though it might have sounded messy, the overall design was quite fresh and classy as the colours were merged carefully and intricately. The gold wrapped around the edges of the glasses at the front, to grip onto the side of the lenses, but it also went backwards a little, down the temple, and formed a sort of small brace over the mahogany, not taking up much space but blending the two colours nicely. Somebody had worked real hard on this design and Ares was surprised it hadn''t been plucked up yet! Either his fashion sese was way off, and these things were garbage, or he''d hit the jackpot and arrived just as the sunglasses were restocked! Either way Ares was glad because gold did, ironically, suit him! Actually, most of Ares'' clothes, even including the Zephyr, were all black, and gold had a habit of going well with it, so whether the gold went well with Ares or his black clothing was up for debate. Still, the sunglasses looked good on him and he felt at least twice as cool as he usually was (even though zero times two is still zero) for the few seconds he was trying them on so Ares had now become the proud owner of his first ever pair of sunglasses! Though he wasn''t quite done shopping yet, he paid for them at the till so he could feel the pleasantness of purchasing something fun and officially owning it, before getting arrested!...


    ....


    "Wait a minute, why am I getting arrested again?" Ares, and Aejaz, had already been led down a fair few corridors at this point and yet Ares hadn''t even asked this question. He''d been so pre-occupied with his sunglasses he just sort of went along with the security guard making demands of him without kicking up a fuss! They''d snuck up on him while he was giddy about looking like some action hero posing with his cool shades! So rude... And was Ares seriously this easy to arrest when he was in a good mood?! At least he did get a response from the security guard even if it was one he didn''t quite understand.


    "You''re being arrested on suspicion of being a spy sent here by our nemesis across the way.... Given your status, however, our C.E.O has decided to have a word with you in person. Don''t think that you can cause trouble freely though or the entirety of the Federation will come looking to settle the score."


    The latter half Ares could understand but the first part? A spy? Seriously?! Ares was currently in the midst of dealing with the Firestarters who were actually spying on everyone and he was the one being investigated?! Better yet, a spy for their nemesis? The shop opposite? He''d bought some damn sexy time clothes from them, not invested in stocks or anything! Where the hell was this conclusion coming from? It was so wildly out of the blue that Ares was dumbstruck and couldn''t even muster a clever response because he''d lost braincells as a result of this whacky leap in logic! Had it finally happened? Had Ares met his match? Had Ares finally met someone dumber than he was?! This C.E.O was either paranoid or stupid, maybe even both! All Ares wanted was some cool shades...


    Tsk.


    With a kiss of his teeth and a shake of his head, Ares figured he would just get this over and done with so he could get back to scheduled programming and go find Hunter. Though he could break out if he wanted to it might genuinely cause him hassle down the line so, hopefully, the C.E.O wasn''t too obstinate about his ungrounded beliefs in Ares being here to commit subterfuge. The trio walked for a fairly long period of time, as the C.E.O was seemingly on the entire other end of the shop, and had to even climb up a good few flights of stairs. As they did so, the sound of the war being fought at the front windows was escalating until it became a fully immersive experience with Ares ducking out of the way of a bullet that came flying through the nearby wall! Wasn''t it bad enough he was going to be interrogated?! And now this!? It was like asking someone to conduct a physical examination in a minefield! "Oi, that nearly hit me, right? If I were a spy sent by those guys, would they really be trying to kill me?!" Ares thought he''d come up with a fairly reasonable assertion but it was shut down quite fast with a response that was pretty valid, actually.


    "Maybe they''re trying to prevent information from leaking through your lips. A dead man tells no tales." The guard didn''t seem to believe it himself but he was just doing his job and, quite frankly, he didn''t get paid enough for this crap! He seemed almost smarter than the loony C.E.O but, then again, the fact that he was willing to trust Ares despite not having tested him might be the key difference between him and the C.E.O. This guy would go into business and get betrayed on the spot no doubt, especially around these parts. He was a good person but that would be his downfall, clever though he was to come up with such a response on the spot to keep going through with his employer''s bullshit even if it objectively made no sense from the start.


    The trio kept on keeping on but Ares had to disintegrate his handcuffs and swat away a Fireball that came barrelling through a window via a well timed deflect. It wasn''t even him it was going to hit, but rather Aejaz, so he was starting to get annoyed at this crap! He almost wanted to fire back and would have seriously considered it if it weren''t for the fact that the people who would benefit had currently ARRESTED him on nothing more than a mere, unprovable suspicion! Both sides were assholes!... Maybe he could blow them both up? The thought did cross Ares'' mind and these lot were going to really have to start coming up with reasons he shouldn''t! Sure the Federation would then give him trouble but he only needed to hide out until it reached Xasca and then he''d be free. In fact, Ares could even hide amongst the Firestarters as they wouldn''t be his main concern anymore! Plus all the monsters attacking this place would slow their search down even further. As for the return journey, Ares could Voidwalk back across the ocean when his adventure was over if he prepped well enough in advance and got himself some stamina / mana pills at the ready.  Basically, Ares had the potential to be a real threat here if he didn''t start getting answers he liked! There was a limit to how much he would allow others to do as they pleased when it was constantly getting in his way and on his nerves.


    Luckily for the people opposite, on the other shop, Ares made it to the C.E.O''s office finally without suffering another attack. Ares would have seriously chucked some Shock Beads across the way if they kept that shit up any longer! Actually, funnily enough, the reason they stopped might have been because their own scout spotted Ares and demanded everyone stop aiming for ''the guy heading to the C.E.O''s office''. Normally that would be a juicy target, even if the person in question was unverified, but in this case it could backfire horrendously given who it was so the scout had, whether intentionally or not, saved their ship a lot of pain and headaches from the calamity that would have been Ares had they kept poking at him. It''s not like their attacks were soft or weak either, most of the people embroiled in this war were at, or around, the transition realm and so even that Fireball from before had some wicked speed to it and left a burn mark in the wall behind Ares where it landed after being deflected.


    All that aside, it was finally time to meet the loon who''d demanded Ares be arrested and brought to him post-haste. This guy better have some good explanations up his sleeve or Ares would leave this place after causing some serious damage for the fun of it! Killing the C.E.O, winning the opposition the war, or doing significant damage to the barriers were all reasons for the Federation to hop on Ares'' case if he took those actions... But destroying some of the businesses stock and property as payback for the shit he was put through? Well, Ares imagined he could get away with that if he truly wanted to! Though he''d been arrested, and wasn''t currently in the driver''s seat of the situation, Ares was at a point now where he was strong enough to be almost completely irrefutable in Sheryashka so this fella was going to have to pick his choice of words carefully! Ares was getting more and more comfortable with the idea of throwing his weight around to make things easier for himself when being reasonable fell through. He was a little late to the party in that regard but he''d wanted to establish himself before he got too big for his boots as, all it would have taken for things to go wrong, was for some obnoxious transition realm expert to smite him while he was still in mental accumulation. All his efforts would have been for naught if he tried to backup arrogance with unfounded strength. Now though? now his name was being spread across the domain and people had no choice but to respect his authority. He wasn''t going to necessarily take advantage of it but he would lean on it whenever it could come in handy, such as at times like this. Long story short, it was time to start making demands and be a bit more aggressive at the negotiating table! With that in mind, Ares was led through the door to meet the C.E.O.

 Chapter 320: Doing Ares’ Bidding

    Ares was led into the room and the scenery changed quite drastically from what is what like outside. Back in the corridor everything resembled a carrier ship with plain grey metal paint and various tubes lining the walls heading off into myriad directions. It was rather claustrophobic as all the pathways were narrow, cramped, and a little dark actually. Sure there were lights but they were mostly weak and gave off a strange red glow. In here though? In here things were cosy! The walls were made of wood, so it was in stark contrast to the rest of the ship, and had a rather warm and homely feel to it. It was almost like stumbling across a cabin in the woods with the fireplace still running and s''mores being roasted over it. There was a desk near the back and the rest of the room sort of expanded out from it, allowing whoever sat behind it to take in the full view of everyone and everything before them. The walls were lined with a few pictures here and there but they were too artsy for Ares to make out any specific details. To him, they just sort of looked like blobs of paint but to a masterful eye!... They were still just blobs of paint but pretending otherwise earned them kudos and so they got all philosophical about it. In turn, that led to absurd prices and rich folk like the man in this room lapping it up.


    A con, basically.


    Ares couldn''t say what ''real'' art was supposed to be with any sort of confidence but, whatever it was, it definitely was not anything lining the walls of this room. That being said, they added a splash of colour so it''s not like they were ruining the atmosphere in here or anything, rather uplifting it instead. Though the person here seemed prone to buying luxuries, and needlessly expensive items, he had good taste at least... In terms of aesthetics, definitely not artworks. There were various other bits of furniture here and there but the one that mattered, and the one that the C.E.O was walking towards from around his desk, was a table in the centre of the room that was presumably used for negotiating. A seat at the table was gestured to by the guard so Ares took the hint and sat down in front of three items that the C.E.O offered to Ares in turn to show some ''hospitality''. One was a bunch of sweets, the second appeared to be a mug with some transparent green liquid in it, and the third was a weird scroll of some kind...


    "Treats? Tea? Treaty?" The C.E.O was a tall man with an amiable enough smile on his face but Ares could tell there was something lurking deeper. Not evil, just conniving like any good businessman. It was a kind of look Ares could see in Onno sometimes and the two were somewhat similar in terms of their looks. Ares was tempted to make a guess that this guy was one of Onno''s brothers, the resemblance was that close, but he shied away from it because he could very well be wrong and that might have consequences. Not everyone liked Onno''s family, most detested it, so revealing an affiliation to them early would be silly. Hell even if this guy was one of Onno''s brothers, even though he wasn''t, then that could still wind up being a problem as not all the brothers even liked each other! In short, it was best not to mention the similar facial structure and focus on other aspects of him instead.


    The C.E.O was being generous to Ares off the rip and offering him some bonbons and tea... Although that was honestly almost definitely so he could make the ''treaty'' pun... And that was what truly mattered here, the treaty. Did this guy seriously believe Ares was here as a representative for the other business!? All he''d done was walk in to their shop and buy crap. This was an exaggerated overreaction but Ares had a hunch this guy wasn''t the type to make such a bizarre choice. Ares didn''t know much about this guy but, as an occasional fellow pun maker, Ares was convinced this guy had to have some smarts in him! He had ties to the higher ups of the Federation and ran one of the bigger businesses in this country so he had to be at least somewhat talented in something. To that end, Ares wasn''t sure where to go from here... The most pressing issue was that if Ares agreed to sign the treaty, even if it meant nothing as the other shop wouldn''t abide by it, Ares would be admitting culpability for spying. It would make the problem go away but he''d likely have to pay a price of some kind as an apology. Alternatively, If he denied it, however, then he would still need to prove himself which put the ball firmly in the C.E.O''s court. It was a clever move to kick things off with but this guy was about to get a rude awakening if he thought Ares would just take this lying down.


    Ares picked up the scroll and started reading it but, before he could even get two lines in, the thing randomly evaporated! It seemed like Ares had accidentally-on-purpose disintegrated the thing! Oh no! "Whoopsie! I appear to have destroyed the treaty... And just when it was getting to the good part too... I don''t suppose you have another finely crafted and immaculately curated treaty, that you drafted up in the last five minutes, up your sleeve do you?" Of course he wouldn''t! Unless the guy had a photocopier or something... But the point here was that the treaty must have only been created the second the C.E.O caught wind of Ares entering the other shop. There was no way in hell he had the foresight to create two at once! point in case, the smile on the C.E.O cracked a little but he continued on in the face of adversity.


    "No... I do not... But I do remember its contents and I would be more than happy to read them out loud to you from memory."


    "Quietus Edict."


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Though the C.E.O tried to speak, he simply could not make any noise whatsoever as Ares smiled politely at him from across the table. This was a whole lot less subtle than his previous charade but it''s not like Ares was trying to be subtle to begin with! He ate some bonbons while the C.E.O sat deep in thought about where to go from here. Ares did eventually remove the sound nullifying art as it looked like the C.E.O had gotten the message loud and clear! Or not... There was no sound after all... "So, uh, can I go now?" Ares pointed towards the exit as he stood up but before he could get a response he was forced to dive to the side of the room as a giant fist of wind came barrelling through the walls. Apparently the C.E.O''s office was also not a safe zone and, even here, he was liable to be attacked whenever. The location was pretty deep in the ship but that didn''t mean stronger, or luckier, arts couldn''t come crashing on through. A well enough aimed attack, provided it was packing sufficient firepower, could very well just end the feud by assassinating the C.E.O. Alas, this had not happened as of yet so they were still just chucking arts at each other like monkeys flinging poop.


    The C.E.O sighed to himself, as he''d much rather deal with Ares in peace, but still stood up and decided to take measures into his own hand temporarily. "Thunder Strike, Mistral Shrapnel, Shove Earth." A rapid combination of arts, each of which served a different purpose. The Thunder Strike was retaliation and, as far as Ares could tell, smacked the wind pillar cultivator, who launched the previous fist art, in the head striking him dead on the spot. The Mistral Shrapnel was aimed at a few of the stationary artillery devices over on the other ship and collided squarely with the area they were congregated, freezing all of them solid and making it hard to use those weapons again for quite some time. Finally, the Shove Earth was aimed at the C.E.O''s own ship as he was creatin a new, sturdier replacement wall to keep the breeze out. He was doing this solely for Ares'' benefit as, normally, whenever this happened, he would take up post in the broken wall and fire pot shots at the other C.E.O''s office.


    In this manner, the two big guns of the shops would fight one another at range with their underlings providing assistance but nothing major had ever really happened. The one time either C.E.O suffered a considerable injury there had been staff waiting beside them to administer healing resources and medicines until they were back in tip top ship shop shape again. Honestly, Ares thought this whole thing was pointless. Yes they were doing damage to one another''s ships, and yes they might even hit each other occasionally, but they really didn''t seem to have any meaningful way of actually ending this farce. They were serious about the fighting but not actually very good at it. They were clearly businessmen, not warlords, otherwise surely one of the two would have been dead by now. Look, all Ares was thinking was that, if this were him? Either he or the other guy would have been dead a few days into the battle, not a few years down the line! Ares didn''t know how these lot could live with life or death enemies basically across the street from them without taking proper measures to off them at the soonest possible convenience. Ares wanted to see all out war! Not that he''d be getting it. At least not here anyway, Neo Gear was the place for that.


    Anyway, the conversation resumed from where it left off with Ares being blunt and getting to the important topic. "So what do you really want out of me? It''s clear you''re not dumb enough to think I''m actually a spy and you definitely know who I am; so you just used this all as a pretence to speak to me about something else, right? You aren''t going to go into that discussion, whatever it may be, with any advantages from this spy accusation nonsense so drop it and speak plainly or there''ll be a much bigger hole in this room and it won''t be those other guys who blew it open." Ares'' threat was simple and to the point so, naturally, the C.E.O.''s next response was as well.


    "I want in on the Red Sun ascension to Vraizon. I want to continue cultivating but have been stuck in this shop for some time now. I believe I''m in a similar position to your current sect master, Yulo, and I want out. That being said I cannot simply leave my post or entrust it to someone else so throwing this business at Red Sun is the best solution I can come up with to get the best of both worlds."


    "And so you wanted to do the spy hoopla to put me in a position where I felt like I had to say yes and accommodate you?"


    "Pretty much. I didn''t have much else planned if Im honest and, really, how could I? Given your status, and how strong you are, you aren''t someone I can bully on a spur of the moment decision. I''ll be completely honest, if you were even a little weaker I would trample all over you if I could." The C.E.O shrugged but Ares wasn''t surprised by his response or his nonchalance. If anything, Ares would find it weird if this wasn''t the kind of attitude a person like this had. Or even most cultivators, really, as this was all completely normal and he was just being honest about it compared to your average expert cultivator.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "So why talk to me? It''s public knowledge that unless you know me personally it would be better for you to discuss such things with Hans or Windsor back in Red Sun."


    "Well yes but this way is much faster as you actually happen to be present aboard the Federation right now. A messenger bird would take a long while to reach Red Sun and return so I figured this was for the best. Also, I can offer you gifts in return for allowing me into Red Sun this way. I imagine anyone looking to bribe you would have to go through Hans first and I don''t think he''d much care about relaying those offers to you." He was right as Hans was definitely more well-oriented in terms of resisting the urge to accept bribes or even interact with them in any way. He wouldn''t take them nor would he notify Ares of them as he viewed it as being better left ignored. If what you brought to the table wasn''t enough to earn a spot in Red Sun then c''est la vie mon ami. Hans cared deeply about Red Sun in his own way and so he wasn''t taking half measures here or being fast and loose with his permission to hitch a ride just because of personal favours that were up for offer.


    "So... What are you gonna offer me then? I can tell how much this means to you but your plight means nothing to me and I have no real need for you. You''ll be just another business, even if slightly bigger than most others, but I wouldn''t be beside myself if I left this room now and never spoke to you about this matter again."


    "Money is the only real solution here I think. I have various treasures and what not on some of the shop floors but I''ve already perused then and none of them will likely strike your fancy. You don''t seem like the type to be interested in rare or priceless antiques either so what can I offer you if not money? I''ll admit I''m desperate here so I would rather you pick and choose what you want out of me than expect me to come up with something. I''ve never been the creative or negotiating type, I just have good business sense is all. Such a talent isn''t uncommon, I just have it in spades compared to some others. I''m lucky to be here but, funnily enough, I don''t even really want to stay here. I have a passion for cultivation. That''s it. No lofty ambitions, no grand goals, no plans for the future. I just want to cultivate so hit me with your best shot as I''m sure whatever you ask of me will be worthwhile for me to hand over to you if it can get me closer to my goal."


    "Hm... Well money itself is a tricky thing. Sure I could just ask you for a lump sum of stardust but who''s to say that will be relevant forever? As I understand it, the higher up you go in the domain ladder the more stardust everyone owns and, in turn, the more expensive everything becomes. A large sum from you now might be considered chump change in three or four domains'' time. I would much rather have something concrete so... I don''t know if this will end up being cheaper or more expensive for you in the long run, but how about this... You buy me something at the upcoming auction. I don''t what they will be selling, I don''t know if they''ll even have anything I want, but as long as you accompany me and bid for one item, or none if you''re lucky and I''m not interested in what they''re selling, I''ll recommend you to Hans which should get you what you want. The chunk of stardust you were willing to give me originally might cover an item I want from the auction, and leave me with some left over, or it might not have been enough at all. In short, it''s impossible to tell if this avenue of bribery will be more or less expensive for you than a lump sum but I really don''t want your money and I would rather have a guarantee that what you offer me will be useful. Completely random is the result of this exchange! Will you get lucky as I choose something cheap, or will you have to fork over a considerable sum?... Are you willing to take that bet?" If someone offered Ares this deal he would tell the person to get lost as betting on something with such impossible to determine odds was a no go for him. Still, that was partly because Ares had options whereas this man did not. It wasn''t a bad gamble to make, necessarily, it was just one that could potentially go horribly wrong if there just so happened to be a special item on sale at this particular auction that Ares really wanted. On the flip side, if Ares just wanted some cheap, 100 high grade alchemy ingredient, or whatever, then this C.E.O would make off like a bandit and spend basically nothing while still getting his reward.


    "On one condition."


    "You aren''t really in a position to be asking anything of me but I''ll hear you out at least." Ares gestured to indicate that the floor was all his and the C.E.O could state his ''demand''. Of course whether Ares abided by it or not was entirely dependant on how reasonable what he said was.


    "I''ll agree provided you don''t just buy something expensive for the sake of buying it. I want a valid explanation for why you want or need whatever you want me to bid on. Something like a rare resource or treasure I''ll understand but if you want a treasure map, or something random for seemingly no reason, I''ll ask and expect a good response. I''m not going to throw my life''s savings away for your amusement just so you can make use of our deal without it not benefitting you, I want to know that there''s potentially a chance for me to pay nothing too."


    Ares rolled his eyes. "I know I can be a douche sometimes but even I wouldn''t go that far. You have my word that I will only be keeping an eye out for anything that will actually be of use to me in one way or another." This was good for Ares! He''d previously just assumed he would attend the auction and watch the rich folk steal away everything but now he had an in-road to buying something via someone who could snag an item for him! Win! And all it took was getting one prospering business into Red Sun? Double win! Ares had undersold this guy''s shop, and the value of such a thing to Red Sun at large, pretty hard but the truth was that it was most welcome. Ares just wanted a bit extra out of this arrangement so he pushed for it while telling a bit of a white lie. "Ok, so now that that''s settled, you should still send a Hans a letter to inform him of the discussion we''ve had here. And though he doesn''t appreciate bribes you should be honest with him and tell him about everything we agreed upon because he cares more about dishonesty than what you''re offering me. He''ll be understanding, even if not appreciative, and I''ll be telling him about this even if you don''t. As for this shop... I''ll come and whisk it away after I''m done in Neo Gear. There''s another shop waiting for me to do the same (Barb''s alchemy shop), so I''ll do both at the same time. Keep an ear out for news of me heading over to Neo Gear and then make the appropriate preparations. Hans might be able to help you find staff and stock if needed but I''m, assuming that won''t be necessary for a business of this calibre. If anything, you might be able to help some others in Red Sun so if Hans asks, don''t be stingy about it and support your new community."


    The C.E.O gave a quick nod. "That''s fair enough..." He looked over to the wall that had been broken earlier with a complicated look in his eyes... "I wonder how the other C.E.O will take this. He''ll be happy to see me gone but jealous of the opportunity, I''m sure. Funnily enough, he''d probably been planning on doing the exact same thing I did, I was just lucky enough to have you enter my shop second so the spy accusation could have even a slither of merit to it... Whatever, I''ll send him a letter indicating that I want the hostilities to cease. There''s no point in doing this anymore now that one of us will be departing. Of course we still want each other dead but I don''t think that''s going to happen before I head off so he''ll just give up on that plan. As for the auction, I''ll meet you outside the building on the day thereof. I have standards, though, so if you''re late I will just leave and expect you to still follow through on your end of the deal regardless!"


    Ares nodded because he had no reason to be late... Unless the Firestarters just so happened to attack that one restaurant on that day and at that time specifically. It was unlikely though as these auctions were attended by far too many people. That was relevant because, although it could make actually committing the arson easier, it was less likely to result in the deaths of the people they really wanted long gone. If the rich people that screwed them over were all congregated in one place, and you attacked another, the casualty rate would be abysmal if not flat out zero! Most restaurants were shut on auction day too because they also attended the auction so, unless the Firestarters were willing to burn an empty building for no apparent reason, they would likely pick a different day. It was a kind of assurance that Ares was free to ignore it during that time period and not keep staking the place out. He''d already narrowed down when they were likely to strike and this narrowed it down even further thankfully. Ares was about to get up and leave when the guard from earlier, who''d been standing outside this whole time, came hurriedly thorough the door with purpose in his long and fast strides. He wasn''t panicking, per se, but there was a look of urgency on his face that implied something was going wrong and a frown that sealed the deal.


    "Sir... The ''Fins'' are coming..."


    Ares raised an eyebrow because he assumed this was the name of the pirate group that occasionally terrorised the Federation. They were ''sharkin''... Shark kin... Not exactly the greatest name ever but the point got across to people pretty consistently with it so who cared? Anyway, these lot had superior movement underwater to most cultivators and could freely approach the Federation from any angle while retreating equally as fast, leading to a hit and run style assault on merchant ships to steal their goods. Of course the armadas would step in and do something but it was generally better for everyone to be alert during this time as they looked for openings to attack just about anyone and everything. Even passing-by civilians would be robbed of their jewellery by a highwayman-esque stand and deliver out the blue. No really, out the blue as the sharkin would leap out of the water and land directly in front of you while holding you up with a sword or musket.


    Anyway, point being, they were annoying, and came in great numbers, so were hard to repel thanks to their speed and ability to relocate rapidly. By the time defences were mobilised in one spot, they would have already found a quick route underwater to another place which was part of why Ares hadn''t given props to the Federation for their layout regarding military strategy. This was a major flaw but oh well, it just meant that Ares could make some money off dealing with them! He had incentives to as well because his new C.E.O friend here would inevitably be a victim of the attack too. Given the scale of the shop, his warehouses must have been ginormous and at considerable risk. To that end, not even an armada could protect it all as they would be far too busy casting a wide net to give preference to just one business, that wasn''t how they operated. Ares was going to deal with as many sharkin as he could but he would definitely prioritise the ones attacking what was technically one of his own newly acquired businesses as it would reside in his Red Sun realm shortly enough! No thieving allowed!... Unless your name was Aejaz, in which case some thieving allowed! He''d already stolen a clock on the wall from the C.E.O who''d yet to notice... This guy...

 Chapter 321: Fins Fins Fins

    Ares was escorted down and out of the ship and over to the warehouse where he had a pretty great vantage point from a nearby watchtower. Though the Federation kept an eye out for the Fins themselves it was always wise to have your own countermeasures at the ready and the C.E.O had some people posted up here for that very reason. Not enough to guarantee the wares'' safety during a raid but enough to be able to notify the C.E.O when it was happening and allocate more guards from the shop at that time. Whenever this happened, a Fins raid, the two shops had somewhat of a truce and sent a majority of their men to go deal with the obnoxious pirates.


    Ares looked out to the ocean and certainly couldn''t deny that the name of the pirate group was particularly apt as all he could see right now were hundreds of fins breaking through the water and rapidly approaching. This was still really just a start, as there would be more of them approaching from other angles across the entirety of the Federation, and it really felt like a small scale aquatic invasion. Perhaps they smelled blood in the water and thought the rumours about the Firestarters were juicy enough to come and also cause some trouble while everyone was distracted in that search? Either way, they were here to be a nuisance and Ares wasn''t planning on letting them bother this warehouse! He would fend them off here and then go clean up whatever was left of the ragtag assaulters spreading pandemonium across the rest of the ship. Once more, Voidwalk would prove to be incredibly beneficial as it allowed Ares to freely navigate this country without needing to rely on the inconvenient and sometimes labyrinthian bridge maze.


    Though Ares wasn''t employed by the Federation, he could be considered their big trump card right now and so he''d probably get paid a bit more for this as there was no way Hunter could come up with a gadget to deal with this lot. They weren''t mindless creatures with one single attack pattern, they were adaptive and intelligent lifeforms that would vary up their approach every time they launched a strike. That being said, they''d picked a pretty bad time to assault the Federation. Ares was here, Aejaz was here, Esme and Onno were here, the monk was here... Somewhere. And, apparently, there were reports of these two guys running around helping with various matters. Supposedly they were quite strong but Ares hadn''t seen neither hide nor hair of them and so didn''t care particularly much. Something about them did strike a chord but he couldn''t put his finger on why and just ended up ignoring it.


    "Today''s not our lucky day... It looks like their leader is coming this way..." The guard from before, the one that escorted Ares to the C.E.O, seemingly noticed the Fins commander somehow. Ares activated Omniscience and stared ahead to try and notice any oddities and he did eventually manage to spot a slightly larger shark fin than the rest. It also had a red bandanna wrapped around it so that must have been the giveaway... This guard had good eye sight! To be able to see that far out from here without any external aid? Even with his Omniscience Ares could only just about see the middle finger poking up out of the water at him!... Wait a minute... Rude! At least Ares was pretty sure that was a middle finger... It could have honestly been a ''we come in peace gesture'' or even gang signs for all Ares knew at this range. "Their leader, Fin, is near the peak of transition realm so he''ll be quite hard to hold back..."


    Two and half realms ahead, huh? Ares went over his chances in his head but he wasn''t too concerned. The only real issue would be if the guy had a strong bloodline but stuff like that was rare in the lower domains. Most people''s ancestors were weak cultivators with no specialty or uniqueness to speak of so the chances of coming up against someone with a bloodline in the wild was not high. Really, the thing that bothered Ares the most right now... Was his name! "Oi, is this guy seriously called Fin? Fin, leader of the Fins, and they all have fins? Seriously? I mean the branding is on point but the naming? I dunno about that one, chief." Ares shook his head at the guard who was smiling wryly as now hardly seemed like the time to be complaining about such an irrelevant detail... Not that the guard disagreed necessarily.


    Ares hopped over the railings on the watch tower and spread the Zephyr to hover down and onto the warehouse roof below. He figured he would give these unwelcome visitors an Ares style greeting seeing as how they were still decently far away. Long story short, it was "Perish Wheel" time! Ares had wanted to cast this back when he was boarding the Federation but got denied by Onno due to the problems it would cause. Sure it would still rock the boat a little even at the distance he was throwing it now but, hey, you can''t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs! It was for a good cause and if it gave Ares the advantage in the upcoming fight, by maybe injuring Fin before he arrived, then nobody could complain! They didn''t need fancy gadgets to stop the Fins from attacking, they just needed to kill off anyone and everyone capable of leading them and that was Ares'' goal. The Federation lot were free to come down here and kill the guy themselves if they wanted to, or had better means a their disposal, but Ares guessed not. The only way the Federation could repel Fin in previous years must have been through overwhelming him with numbers as it didn''t seem like anybody aboard this ship had the cultivation qualifications, or combat skill, to go toe to, err... Webbed foot with him? Not all sharkin had webbed feet with no toes but some certainly did and Ares had no idea if that were the case with Fin himself.


    As Ares went about the usual summoning process for the Perish Wheel, his antics were being watched by the Fins who had a sinking feeling in their gut that this was not going to be good. They received orders from Fin to try and maybe scatter by hiding under the water, and throwing up whatever defensive arts they could muster, but even he didn''t sound too confident. He was seriously regretting his decision to attack this place as it seemed like some kind of big shot was aboard and ready to make their life way more difficult. Still, he couldn''t just call it off! People were already on the ship and so a retreat order this soon would cause uncertainty in their ranks and lead to a sloppy escape with some people getting left behind. Namely those who were infiltrating deeper as they specialised in infiltration. Everyone else could just hop back into the water but what about the people hidden amongst the crowds or hiding out in the local businesses waiting to ambush civilians? Besides, so long as this big shot wasn''t some expert from Vraizon, above the transition realm, then Fin felt confident he could hold his own for however long was necessary for his people to do good work elsewhere.


    Maybe if Fin had kept up to date on the happenings on land would he have known who this was just from this art alone. Alas, he was someone who mostly dwelled underwater for long periods of time and only ever occasionally surfaced for resources and food before heading back down. The Fins did have a private island sort of hidden base somewhere in the ocean but it was remote and no news was getting anywhere near it so, although they hadn''t been living under a rock, they''d basically been living on one instead. They were planning on updating their information but they figured they could do that, as well as a few other things, after stopping by the Federation... If only they knew that the one time they didn''t really try and gather information properly ahead of time was the one time some pretty major stuff had gone down. Oh well, their loss. Ares wasn''t the monologuing type, for the most part as there could be exceptions, so these sharkin could die before they even knew or understood what hit them!


    The mana was finally done congregating above Ares'' head and the buzzing Perish Wheel had taken shape so Ares lobbed the thing immediately as that would give the sharkin as little time to swim out the way as possible. Watching the Fins scatter brought Ares immense joy as the respect he could demand of others with but a single art was a special kind of exhilaration. Like water ants! They were all so insignificant compared to him and couldn''t stand up against him no matter how hard they tried. They didn''t dare try to join together and combine their efforts to stop the wheel, they simply had to obey Ares'' indirect decree to split up and run away. The truth of the matter, however, was that they could hide but they really couldn''t run. If they thought swimming a few metres away from their starting point was enough to get them to safety they were about to have a rude awakening.


    After a good few seconds of travel time, the Perish Wheel finally made contact with the water... And just kept going. This was an art capable of tearing through steel bunkers with ease, thanks to the disintegration edges, so what chance did some splishy splashy water have? Sure there was resistance, and unsurprisingly the momentum of the art began to decay rapidly, but it was making decent headway underwater for projectiles'' standards and nothing could stop it outright other than an immensely powerful cultivator. Alas, such a thing Fin was not so he had to swim aside and throw up a defensive art. Some kind of water pillar art that summoned a defensive bubble was what he used but Ares had never seen it before so he couldn''t put a name on it. Plus the guy must have chanted underwater so the chances of any sound making its way to Ares'' ears from all the way over there was nil. What Ares could tell, though, was that this guy had made a pretty big mistake and underestimated the Wheel. He must have seen that it was a kid throwing it and had second thoughts, doubts, about whether the person responsible for the art was even really that powerful or if it was just a massive bluff. The fact that he was trying to block it, instead of just running further, was evident of his cocky thought process. Oh well, he''d have that confidence blown right out of him. He wouldn''t die, he was a bit too strong and the defensive art wasn''t completely useless, but he was going to feel the burn when that thing went off and he finally realised he was messing around with a very serious threat to his life


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM


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    Even the distance from the Federation to the detonation point, as well as the water submerging the art, couldn''t quite drown out the immense noise that was evidence of Ares'' kicking things off with his arts. The golden pillar that erupted upwards towards the heavens created a sort of whirlpool affect around the area of water it detonated as well as a typhoon of pure water that was raging across the ocean. The skies had briefly turned dark in a foreboding way before the golden pillar of light shot straight through the darkness like a beacon or a lighthouse guiding those lost at sea. It was a beautiful sight and also confirmation that Ares had definitely gotten stronger since the last time he used this thing. All the extra cultivation levels had made this thing really pop in contrast to the surroundings when it went off as it look like some kind of divine pillar, causing everything in the vicinity to sparkle in holy splendour in daunting fashion. Ah but the damage was most definitely unholy as waves raged back and forth and an oceanic cataclysm rolled in every which way. Stormy seas aplenty as the Federation rocked gently to and fro. The fact this entire country was moving as a result of an art cast not even directly at it was truly indicative of how disastrous the art was for anything within in its direct radius, namely the Fins who were wiped out pretty much on the spot.


    Only the Fins at transition or higher even stood a chance of surviving and, even then, it wasn''t likely without sustaining life threatening injuries. The only person to really come out of this close to being unscathed, and even then not quite, was Fin himself. He had chunks of his shark fin and tail missing and was hunched over underwater in a pool of his own blood. Shock and awe overcame him as his bloodied hands reached out to the lifeless corpses of his comrades who were blown into multiple chunks of fish food. Only the pain coursing through him reminded him he was in an active warzone and that he couldn''t just sit here idly while the opponent was left unchecked. He''d never seen anything like this before and all his confidence was shattered by a cold, hard reality that everyone else was essentially dead. He''d conducted so many effortless raids in the past, and rarely lost more than one or two members at a time, so this was almost cruel to him. He had no right to complain, given the nature of what he and his crew did to to others, but anger and indignation was still eating away at him and he wanted payback against the person responsible!


    Fin rose to the surface and sped the rest of the way to the Federation. Without his cronies to slow him down he tore through the water at blinding speeds and Ares almost didn''t even have time to react to this guy lunging out of the water at him from nearly fifty feet away. The sheer speed this man could generate in the water when he was taking things seriously was no joke! Ares made a note to fight him on land for now and not push his luck as this guy was definitely stronger than a lot of other people he''d faced. Not stronger overall than Mako but still up there! Ares wasn''t too fussed though as he had both Canis Stimulants and Dominus up his sleeve in case things started looking dire. Having that safety net allowed him to be confident in himself and, thus, he pulled out the scythe!... It''s a good thing his wives weren''t here to see this otherwise they would have slapped him across the back of the head.... But he was getting better with it! Unironically, it was one of his best weapons currently! He really wasn''t just thinking that to use it as an excuse for wielding this thing, he truly meant it!


    Anyway, back to the incoming sharkin, Ares activated his physical pressure and avoided competing in raw strength with the guy, because that looked to be a doomed effort based on his fierce muscles, so Ares dodged the lunge and swiped at the passing sharkin''s tail. It curled up and dodged so Ares hopped off the warehouse roof and chased the guy while the guard he''d come with went off into the water to go finish up the other pirates who were half dead. The guard took the easy job because there was no way someone like him could get involved in the fight between Ares and Fin and he knew better than to try as he might actually distract Ares if anything.


    Thud


    Ares landed into a hop and a bouncy step with some swagger in it as he was feeling good even in the face of a peak transition realm cultivator. He was well rested since his last major scuffle and had been itching for a good fight to get some training in. He''d been mostly practicing pressure and cultivation stuff so a chance to whale on an actual opponent who''d put up a fight was the perfect way to switch things up!


    "Kid..." Fin snarled at Ares through his gritted teeth, which looked incredibly sharp and reminded Ares not to get caught in them, and spat out some of his hatred towards Ares. "... I''m gonna chew through your bones and rip you in half. Now we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Come quietly and maybe I won''t drown you while I eat you!"


    "Can''t we do this normal way? Can''t you just leave and go live a normal life instead of resorting to this? Not that I mind fighting you, Im actually in the mood for this, but wouldn''t things be better for you if you just fled from me now? No offense, but you don''t have what it takes to beat me in a fight."


    "Half way through sensory enhancement and you think you''re hot shit?!" Fin had admittedly only just now realised that the kid before him was a weakling! He was almost stunned stupid because that art from earlier, and the ability to dodge his lunge and attempt a retaliation, was not something that someone at his level should have been able to do. His thoughts were jumbled and it felt like he''d just been smacked in the face by reality again. "Some kind of prodigy? Them fancy titles and nicknames you lot get aren''t gonna mean jack shit when I get my jaws on you. I''ll pour vinegar in your eyes before I eat ''em, don''t expect an easy death by the time Fin is through with ya. Especially not after what you did to my crew!" Fin lunged once more but his attack was way slower this time. The guy lost a significant chunk of power the second he stepped on land and so Ares had an even easier time of dealing with Fin''s reckless assault now. Ares simply raised the scythe and brought it crashing down vertically in front of him such that the tip would bury itself into Fin''s skull if he stubbornly kept charging. Fin kissed his teeth and grinded to a halt, annoyed that this kid hadn''t just been lucky earlier and was actually a problem Fin was going to have solve instead of mindlessly chew his way through.


    Ares buried the scythe into the ground and treated it as a pole, pushing himself up and leaping towards the wall next to him with his right foot. His left foot shot out and aimed for Fin''s head but it was never really supposed to hit in the first place. It''s goal was to make Fin duck under it and the guy fell hook, line, and sinker for the bait. It seemed this guy was strong but pretty mindless in combat as he relied on brute strength, and not strategy or technique, so Ares already knew he had this in the bag even without external aid. It was entirely possible for Ares to beat peak transition realm cultivators if they weren''t actually particularly capable in combat and Fin seemed to fall under that category. He was the kind of person that relied on his cultivation advantage to squash weaker opponents who couldn''t resist and the fact he was still hanging around in Sheryashka was pretty solid proof of that. Cultivators with goals or ambitions would just keep cultivating and move to the next domain as soon as possible. A somewhat valid point could be raised about not abandoning his crew but he still should have taken some time out to go and improve his cultivation regardless while the crew laid low and waited patiently for him. When he made a grand return he would have been nigh unstoppable. Alas, laziness seemed rife with this guy and so the situation that was befalling him right now was a result of his own hubris at having accomplished a pretty respectable feat for Sheryashkans. Not everyone could reach peak transition realm and it showed that held won countless battles at the very least. Still, that didn''t mean he was guaranteed to win every battle he fought and he needed to remember that in his next life so as not to stubbornly push through even when it was becoming obvious he shouldn''t. After what happened next, a logical expert would have turned tail, used their aquatic advantage to the fullest and swam away from this place. That thought would never cross Fin''s mind, however, so his fate was basically sealed.


    Though Ares'' left foot missed, he kicked off the wall and swung his right foot as a follow-up that Fin would struggle to dodge. He did foolishly try running away from the foot but what he forgot about was the planted scythe currently acting as a mobility option. Ares wasn''t just using it to raise himself up, it also acted like a pole he could swing around and boost his momentum even further. That was precisely what he did so the range of his kick was extended and it chased down the fleeing sharkin, smacking him in the back of the head. The first hit of this fight had been landed and it was a pretty snazzy one from Ares who''d utilised his scythe not as a weapon, but as a platform to manoeuvre off of and launch a wide-sweeping kick. This showed a level of comfort with the weapon such that he could be a bit whimsical and go with the flow without having to be stuck to exclusively swinging the pointy end of the weapon in order to damage his foes. He had creativity and options at his disposal now!


    As for Fin, he was reeling as Ares'' boot, laden with pressure, hit like a truck. It was a strange sensation because the pressure made it feel like he''d been hit by an attack that came at him in a spiral. It was a good observation, even if he didn''t understand it, because Ares had experimented on him and imbued a deflect into the kick to increase the repulsion Fin suffered from the boot to the face. His neck was swung away violently, and his jaw was way more sore than it would have been otherwise, so Ares considered this to be a mild success. Mild because it was still difficult to do and it was very easy for things to go wrong if the opponent expected it or even just so happened to accidentally avoid it by moving. Deflects had to be perfectly timed and directed so doing it to a moving, living target who''s actions weren''t predictable, was asking for trouble. Still, Ares had the perfect opportunity, as Fin really hadn''t seen the attack coming and didn''t even react to it, so he went for gold and came back with results. Would he do it again? Probably not. Just because something worked, and could be helpful, that didn''t mean Ares had to add it to his repertoire. Sometimes, having too many options was a bad thing. Plus he didn''t want to rely on something so finnicky at a crucial juncture and fail. It was a neat trick, one he''d remember, but probably not use all too often if at all. His pressure was strong enough without it! Hell Ares could have just used Stamp Out instead and that would have maybe even done more damage anyway so this was all just unnecessary. Training was training though, and knowing this meant he''d furthered his mastery of his own talents! And, right now, it was time to use Fin as a practice dummy and train some more!

 Chapter 322: Take a Gamble, Then Take Another

    Fin cracked his knuckle against his cheek before doing some light stretches and refocusing himself as he''d underestimated Ares for long enough now. The desire to rip Ares limb from limb had clouded his judgement and, while ridding himself of this desire wouldn''t massively increase his skill level or anything, it ought to at least prevent him from falling for dumb tricks going forward. He kept reminding himself that he held the cultivation advantage and that it was the kid in front of him that was going to have to work hard under the current circumstances even if he was decently powerful. Fin had even correctly assessed that Ares didn''t initiate attacks all too often against more powerful opponents as he preferred to provoke and counter attack. As such, Fin took things slowly because he still had some time here. It''s not like the assault on the rest of the Federation would stop just because of what happened here, hell the others wouldn''t even know about it. The main issue, though, was that there was no one here to distract the sailor guards so they would be free to go deal with the pirate crew in the other places and the number advantage, in the Federations'' favour, would get steeper quicker. To that end, it was imperative that Fin won here somewhat fast but rushing it was also not the way to go as every mistake he threw himself head-first into would cost him even more time. No more charging blindly at this kid!


    "Aqua Slicer." Fin had a solemn tone to his voice as he summoned water blades that rested on his arms. Interestingly, unlike a normal version of this art, Fin seemed to have a sharp aqua blade running along the length of his tail too and that was incredibly deadly as it looked flexible. If the blade could curve and bend along with the tail then it effectively became a third weapon that he could wield in unconventional situations. At the very least, Ares would struggle to attack this guy from behind now thanks to the defence it provided. It also meant Fin could extend any attack pattern by throwing his tail into the mix without getting it chopped off by a disintegration coated scythe. Ares could try but his magic looked to be sturdy enough to resist it or at least save the tail underneath it from harm even if the Aqua Slicer would lose out in direct competition.


    Despite this, Ares remained unphased. He''d expected Fin to have some magical tricks up his sleeve and had taken that into account when determining if he stood a chance or not against the pirate or not. The outcome Ares predicted wasn''t based off Fin''s magic, it was entirely a matter of what Ares saw in him as a combatant regarding level-headedness, technique, and application of strength. Fin was lacking in all those regards and so Ares wasn''t afraid of a mere sharp tail in the slightest. A prodigy at early transition realm would maybe be harder to fight than this guy and it was why cultivation wasn''t always everything. Cultivation stages and realms could be made up over time but it was generally better to forgo that stuff and focus on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to better yourself in ways that weren''t always visible at a glance. Things like pressure, finding rare resources for areas of improvement like body tempering, or attribute-adding resources that spiced up your commonly used arts. Very rarely was a prodigy considered as such for no other reason than the speed of their cultivation, there was usually something else that made them stand out. Point in case, Ares existed and his cultivation was just sort of average at best. Below average would maybe even be the more fair assessment but he was still only really at this point thanks to the trailblazers from earlier as well as his spectacle match with Mako that defied common logic and raised his stages a decent chunk thanks to dedication cultivation. Without either he would basically be near enough an entire realm lower than where he was right now and so he wouldn''t even be just ''below average'', he would be downright pitiful! And yet here was a peak transition realm cultivator, unsure of how best to approach a mere ''kid''. Only terrible cultivators, or narrow-minded fools who thought they''d seen it all, treated cultivation as some kind of numbers game... And yet, people like that were rife throughout the universe...


    Though Fin was willing to make the first move again, he chose to do so this time with caution. Unfortunately for him, he was a bit too cautious and it appeared as nothing more than hesitancy in Ares'' eyes. You couldn''t be overly quick against Ares but being this slow was just giving him breathing room to do his own thing and he had plenty of arts to throw around if his opponent wasn''t interested in getting up in his face and stopping him! "Gamble." Ares used a modified version of Gamble so that he could perform it with the scythe instead. This was tricky to make work because it was the same art a base level and the modifications were really just on the fly adjustments to the size and shape of the weapon being used. In this way, he was somewhat mimicking Dominus who could defy art boundaries and use the arts of one weapon pillar aspect with a weapon that was completely different. Dominus felt like he was watching a child grow and would have shed but a single tear in appreciation had he a body with which to do it.


    This was typically a skill reserved for people who were truly talented to discover somewhat later on in life so for Ares to have figured it out this quickly was impressive. Sure a lot of it had to do with Dominus'' presence inside Ares, as his mastery sort of leaked into the guy, but it was also fairly evident that Ares'' fondness and affiliation for the scythe was playing a large role. Dominus had seen people like this before, people who gravitated towards one particular weapon. Ares was good with them all, sure, but his scythe proficiency was off the charts when looking at how little time he''d spent with it compared to other weapons he felt comfortable with. Normally, people who were this good at using specific weapons were destined to become exemplars and Dominus actually couldn''t help but be a tad jealous. He''d always been partially interested in learning the scythe but that damn stooge Charon was a real roadblock. It looked like Ares would be able to, though, as the Primordial barrier was just the thing needed to keep Charon at bay while Ares grew to be someone who could outclass him. Ares would need to be quick but he could become proficient in the time he had before Charon arrived, so as then have a fair duel, Dominus was sure of it!... Little did he know the old bag o'' bones was already on his way here to TEACH Ares but that was for another time. Specifically, Charon was on course to arrive outside the barrier sooner rather than later, thanks to some rich guy reducing the cost of teleporting to and from his central hub, but actually getting inside the barrier, however he planned to, was another matter entirely. According to his own rough estimate, that he''d given to Davey back during their trade deal, it was roughly a year until he could worm his way inside and, even then, he might not be able to stay for too long without being slingshot back out. Maybe he had some kind of trick up his sleeve that he''d been keeping in reserve because this was definitely fast for someone who shouldn''t have even had access at all. Anyway, by that point, Ares would be in Vraizon already and maybe have had a few adventures here and there. Charon would arrive perfectly in time to boost up Ares'' strength by a decent amount before he started interacting with the wider world outside the barrier and that would be a very fortuitous encounter.


    But that was all getting off track and the main thing of note here was that Ares'' scythe wielding capabilities were phenomenal right now. He was harsh on himself, and constantly demanded he do better but, really, nobody else in this domain could probably pull of what he had. And not just with a scythe either, even master swordsmen would struggle to use regular sword arts with anything else and they''d been practicing for how long? The best most of them could do at this stage in their lifespan, typically, was cast Sharp! Furthermore, the sword was almost always the starting point for training to do this as sword arts were usually flexible. Wind Blade, an art Trew had used once or twice before, was a brilliant example because the trick to it lay in the slashing movement, not the weapon itself. Though it was a sword aspect art, Ares could learn it for his scythe if he wanted to! This was usually what Dominus would recommend to anyone interested in upping their weapon pillar game, ''focus on sword arts that are easily applicable in a wide range of scenarios as they''ll be the easiest to convert into tools for other weapons''. It was good advice too and definitely something he would one day teach Sadie when she was a bit better at the basics. Sadie wasn''t Ares, a boundless prodigal talent with advantages practically leaking out of him, she was going to have to take the long route. She could do it though!


    Then there was Rox... Rox was an interesting one because he didn''t really use weapons and yet Dominus had taken an interest in him regardless because of his unique talents. Maybe Dominus could try and get some weapons into this thing''s hands at a later date as well? It was worth a shot!... Though he didn''t realise it, by exploring this avenue, Dominus would turn Rox into something utterly mind blowing as it would be revealed in due time that this creature could copy literally any open pillar art in existence with little more than a glance... Rox was seriously a special mimic! Perhaps Ares, a fundamental champion, being the first person it copied really altered its internal wiring somehow and bugged the creature out. Either way, it was definitely going to be a pretty major ace up Ares'' sleeve and a real valuable comrade. Not that Ares didn''t treat him as such anyway as he''d already proven his worth many times over. Ares was even going to start letting him out of the Primordial Blade soon but he still wanted the thing to be a bit more accustomed to living like a normal person. Also, preferably, the ability to speak consistently without needing to chant was something else Ares wished for but he had ideas to solve that problem that would be enacted a bit later after his trip was over with.


    Fin had no idea what to do from here. Ares'' gamble left the kid in a weird position that made him look somewhat reminiscent of a low hanging spider and, honestly, Fin didn''t much like dealing with spiders. He and Ares had that in common but Ares probably had it far worse in terms of the scale of disgust. Anyway, they were too busy trying to kill each other to bond over their dislike but that was probably a good thing for Ares as water spiders were very real and very ugly creatures. That aside, Fin took a second or two to evaluate his options before firing off a Water Bullet as a check to see what Ares had up his sleeve with this unusual art. In return, Ares flicked himself an inch to the side, dodged the Water Bullet, and fired an Echo right back at Fin. In this manner nothing much really happened as both individuals had neatly avoided their respective incoming projectile-based attack and the situation had returned to what it was not even two seconds ago. For Fin, this was disastrous because yes, he had some time available, but that clock was steadily ticking and this damn kid knew it! Though this kid seemingly had it in him to start an offensive and go on the attack, he was downright refusing to because the pressure was on Fin to make a proper move.


    Fin was in this kid''s web and had to struggle to get out but he also didn''t want to move and potentially alert him, paying the price for acting rashly. Fin kissed his teeth and decided to make a bold move, pseudo copying whatever the hell it was Ares was doing by using his own tail as a way to lift himself up and off the floor. Whatever it was the kid was doing with ''Gamble'', Fin was follow suit and do it too if it ended up being a good idea! Of course Ares held the advantage here, because his version was an art and had mana imbued in it, but Fin figured he could make up for that with the sheer cultivation difference between them putting in a lot of work... But still Ares waited. Even when Fin was right in front of his face, and the snarling animosity oozing off his sharp features could be felt viscerally in every fibre of his being, Ares did not move for love nor money. He preferred to go second and setting himself up with a Gamble was the only concession he was willing to make on that end because it served to make his original strategy even more potent. Ares wouldn''t do this in a normal fight but this was not a normal fight and stalling this guy was a valid option. Sure Ares wanted to train but making the right decision against the right opponent was also a form of brain training as he was holding himself back from making a dumb decision just because he could. Doing the fun thing was not always the correct choice and so Ares was going to be stubborn even if his own body craved movement. The only problem here was what happened if Fin gave up thanks to Ares'' passivity and tried to run as Ares might be brave enough to chase this guy into the water if that happened! He wanted the metaphorical bounty that was on this guy''s head as he was worth some solid blood money no doubt! Ares wasn''t going to say that out loud though because needlessly putting himself at a disadvantage was silly against a peak transition realm cultivator and then he really might have to use one of his hidden tricks to come out in one piece.


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    Again, Fin was getting antsy and finally chose to bite the bullet, making a move first much as Ares wanted him to. He felt terrible giving into this kid''s ploy but what else could he really do after being cornered like this? He wanted revenge so running wasn''t an option he was entertaining right now. While still holding himself up with his tail, he threw his right arm at Ares'' with a curved punch. It was aimed so that even if Ares dodged it the Aqua blade ought to hit him and cause an injury. A gash at bare minimum was what Fin was hoping for but what came next almost left him frozen in awe because Ares was really just showing off now. Fin knew of pressure deflects, he just hadn''t pinpointed the last one when it struck him in the face because of the unique method of using it. This time, however, he would see it up close and personal as Ares twisted his body over the incoming punch and pushed off the Aqua Slicer beneath him with his bare hands! The kid threw up a deflect on his palm to ensure his plan wouldn''t face any obstacles as he used Fin''s own arm as a stepping stool to propel himself over the guy''s shoulder with the scythe in tow. Fin was momentarily baffled, struck with disbelief and had to recover his mental awareness in order to even try and move and dodge the inevitable incoming attack from behind. Pressure deflects were hard! And this kid just threw himself at an extremely sharp blade so that he could deflect and bounce off it?! Did this kid have all of his screws loose or what?! Even Fin could barely deflect things when he was standing still and a slow object was meandering towards him, to be able to use it the way this kid just did made Fin wonder if this kid was cracked out on cocaine!


    Fin shook his head and regained his lost composure as he remembered what it was the kid had done via Gamble and tried to copy it. He had a rough guesstimate of how Gamble worked and, though he respected it, he figured he could manage a weaker but still functional version of it even though he was being put on the spot right now. He had limited time to fling forward and away from the kid behind him but doing so would put him safely out of counterattack range, if he was quick enough, so he put all his reservations to the back of the mind, ignored the chill running up his spine that was indicative of Ares readying himself to strike, and flicked his shoulder and tail forward. He winced as he did, as he was nervous things would go terribly wrong, but to his surprise it worked flawlessly and felt incredibly smooth. Copying the kid had been the right idea as not only did he escape his previous position but he felt like he''d gained a brand new tool to play with in the future. It was a solid defensive tool even if just being used in a reactionary way let alone what he could do with it if he sat on the thing pre-emptively like Ares did. This kid had a neat art and Fin wanted to fully steal it! To think a peak transition realm cultivator had to steal an art from some sensory enhancement twerp... If the art wasn''t so incredible he would be ashamed! Then again, the kid was admittedly pretty incredible too and was becoming a real problem child with how often he was getting the better of Fin... But Fin was getting distracted as he still needed to turn around and continue the fight. Ares would inevitably get up and start chasing him so Fin couldn''t get lost in his thoughts like this.


    Just as Fin landed with a shaky step, as his landing wasn''t perfect due to the impromptu nature of his use of this ''art'', he turned around and nearly had a a panic attack when Ares came crashing down towards him from above...


    FUCK!


    Fin took a micro second to analyse the situation and came to the conclusion that he''d been somewhat played here. When Ares launched himself off Fin''s arm and shoulder, he hadn''t flung himself behind Fin at all... He''d used that momentum to push himself directly up into the air, not throwing himself in any direction really. This was a predicative measure taken so that when Fin amateurishly copied his Gamble, and flung himself away, Ares wouldn''t be too far away to launch a follow up attack. If Ares just went sailing behind Fin then Fin could escape in the manner he just tried to by throwing himself in the opposite direction but... Ares had played with that notion and set up this trap by not committing to any direction and just throwing himself straight in the air, giving him a solid foundation to dive right after the guy. Sure this meant that, had Ares guessed wrong, his attack would have taken far too long to land as he would have been too high up in the air to actually do it, but it also meant that no matter where Fin flicked, so long as he did, Ares could crash down on him like a ton of bricks afterwards! This was what randomly copying the master of an art led to! Trying to use Ares'' own handcrafted and well developed art against him?! Was this sharkin an idiot?! Regardless, what he definitely was, was MAD!


    This fucking KID! Fin, in a fit or rage at having been made to look a fool multiple times in a row now, instinctively threw out an attack to try and clash with Ares. The kid''s angle of attack wasn''t particularly great, thankfully, and so he was basically forced to stick with it. Sure Ares had the momentum advantage, as gravity was on his side, but Fin felt like he could still block the attack comfortably enough and back up to create space. It wasn''t a pleasant outcome, as his arms were going to suffer a bit here and be somewhat shaky for a while, but it needed to be done as the alternative was just getting cut in half! As such, he swung his Aqua Slicer with immense brute force behind it in a horizontal slash.


    "Gamble."


    "What?" Fin''s reaction to Ares'' second Gamble was accidentally spoken aloud as he couldn''t restrain himself from blurting out the first thought that came into his head. What was this kid trying to do here?! If Ares lodged his scythe into the boat beneath him again then the Aqua Slicer would tear through it and he''d come crumbling down. At that point, Fin could win without any sweat and just lean down to kill the fallen Ares... So why was he doing this? Did he have a death wish? Was he throwing himself into Fin''s jaws for the fun of it? Was he actually really just a dumb kid who''d finally made a mistake? Fin  wanted answers and so he paid a great deal of attention as he watched the scythe come barrelling downwards directly in front of him but something was looking off about this as Ares'' swing was incredibly slow... Unnaturally so... Was Ares even going to make it in time before the Aqua Slicer cut HIM in half?! At this rate, probably not...


    Fin''s confusion didn''t get the better of him as he doubled down on his swing but, a split second later, he finally added everything up in his head and he genuinely couldn''t believe what was about to happen to him. The slow timing of the scythe had been intuitionally adjusted because the ''platform'' it was aiming for wasn''t the boat beneath him and it certainly wasn''t stationary. Ares wasn''t going to Gamble off the floor, that was far too simple a trick to pull off here...


    THIS BASTARD IS GOING TO GAMBLE OFF THE TOP OF MY AQUA SLICER?!


    Much like how Ares used a deflect to bounce off the Aqua Slicer blade earlier, he was going to somewhat repeat that feat by shoving his scythe tip onto the blade, which required precision that Fin believed was completely impossible, and then use that as a raised platform to flick himself forward off. If successful, Ares would catapult himself cleanly over both Fin''s attack and guard, giving him free reign to launch a deadly attack without impediment. Fin wasn''t even sure if he''d be able to live if that came to pass but he would definitely sustain an massive injury at the very least if it did... He had to seriously pray this kid wasn''t actually able to follow through on this threat otherwise he was SCREWED! Surely Ares couldn''t? Surely this was an impossible task that went beyond what a living creature was capable of? Mid crash down to earth, a swing of the scythe so precise the very tip landed squarely on a centimetre wide, moving, wet blade, and then to pivot all of his weight and momentum in milliseconds without the scythe slipping off the Slicer?! NO!? Fin outright didn''t want to accept this! There was no way in hell this worked! Ares would slip off the blade and fall flat on his face on top of it and / or go sailing straight into Fin''s waiting jaw! This was the only outcome Fin would tolerate!...


    Clink


    ...


    ...


    ...


    And yet...


    There Ares was, almost motionless in mid air above him. What a splendid sight it was... Fin, distraught and upset at this though he was, had to give it up for the kid who''s current pose was like something sculpted to perfection in a museum, He was like some kind of transcendent angel who''d descended from above and rested on Fin''s blade comfortably, like Fin''s entire aggression up until this point was meaningless and could be dismantled with the greatest of ease like he was no more than a child throwing a tantrum. This was a true cultivator and Fin developed a feeling inside him that let him know, plainly and simply, he was fucked here. This was the defining moment of this fight and he couldn''t top it or prevent what came after it. The morale was all coming up Ares and his tail was shaking. He''d been royally outclassed and, as Ares flung himself forward into a spinning slash with the scythe, he wanted to turn tail and run!


    Screw this!


    Getting revenge was one thing but dying pointlessly to this monster was another. This kid was barely even using his destructive magic and Fin didn''t want to know what more he could do with it. This had all gone terribly wrong and this kid was a living nightmare, not worth fighting at all! He defied commons sense in every way and that last stunt he just pulled might actually be the greatest thing any Sheryashkan had ever witnessed. A Gamble into a second Gamble before falling down, the second of which was done atop an opponent''s moving weapon? Was this guy a gymnast God in a previous life or something? Why was this even happening? Fin could practice this bullshit for the remainder of his life and never even succeed a single time in a safe and easy to practice environment. This kid pulling that off in actual combat was the final, devastating blow needed for Fin to realise this prodigy was the real deal. There were experts and then there were inhuman devil spawn like this that were a cut above the rest and to be trifled with. Fuck, Fin felt old just looking at this damn kid and yet he himself was only in his mid thirties! Was time really this cruel!? Was the new generation all hyped up on illegal medication?! Was it literally just this one random guy who was taking the world by storm?! Fin didn''t care anymore, he just wanted to take this next attack, live through it, and get the hell outta dodge! He would signal a retreat so that the rest of his comrades didn''t have to suffer at this hands of this maniac but, honestly, whoever was lost this day was going to have to just suck it up in the afterlife. Ares was an existence that was just utterly unfair and shouldn''t have existed at all. He was the Federations'' cheat code and Fin didn''t wanna play this game anymore. The odds were not even! Fin would get news on this guy and then proceed to avoid him at all costs for the remainder of his life! Now the only question left was, how hard was this next slash going to hit him?'' In order to flee back into the water, he needed to not die here and that scythe was inching dangerously close to his face and brain!


    This was going to be rough...

 Chapter 323: Bon Voyage, Fin

    The whirling death scythe came tearing through the air and with every rotation of Ares'' spinning body it inched ever closer to splitting Fin''s brain into two halves. Fin was painfully aware there was a limit to what he could do in this situation but he still threw his head and upper body back as much as he could to delay the inevitable and maybe help him come out the other end of this alive. Pain was coming though and a serious injury could not be avoided.


    Ares came lunging forward with the last of his momentum and, on his first hit, managed to cleave off a layer of skin running from Fin''s forehead all the way down his chest before finally tearing directly into his lower half and ripping off a decent chunk of his waist and a part of his right leg. This was just the first slash to hit and, judging based on Ares'' current speed, position in the air, and the amount of time it took him to do a full rotation, there would be two more slashes yet to come, each more devastating than the last thanks to Ares'' position closing in on Fin, allowing him to bury the scythe deeper into the sharkin. On the second go around, the scythe shredded flesh on Fin''s forehead, cut through half his nose, and obliterated his upper lip and that was all still just the start. Part of his Adam''s apple had a massive hole in it as the scythe tickled his throat before cutting into his chest and leaving a long, bloody line down the middle of his body until he reached the lower half yet again. This time the scythe cut into the left leg and reduced the size of everything above the knee by roughly half via a vertical slice. The chunk of flesh fell to the ground with a thump and then Ares went back for round three, the final round that could maybe even kill Fin if he wasn''t lucky enough. Neither Ares nor Fin had any wriggle room to change the outcome of this attack and it was up in the air if Fin could survive this. Given how close the scythe was to shredding him to pieces on the last spin, this one was going to come dangerously close to sealing the deal. Fin''s body was already in the process of turning around to run away but the scythe was going to beat him to the punch and give him a little something to remember Ares by regardless of whether he was able to escape afterwards... Provided Ares didn''t choose to chase him down, of course. There was a lot of stardust on the line here, Ares guessed, and so he wanted it all!


    And in order to get it all, Ares strained his arm to reach out as far as he possibly could, extending the scythe to its maximum range to cause maximum carnage on the canvas that was Fin. Had Ares been using a sword here he would have barely been able to even get one slash off by the time he landed so he was really appreciating the length of this weapon right about now and he got a kick out of toying with this relatively new experience. Most of his fighting style up until now was very close range and involved a lot of skirmishing and, while he could keep that up no problem, this was a nice change of pace and he''d felt completely untouchable this whole fight. Fin had come nowhere near him this entire battle because he just couldn''t overcome the range advantage with, essentially, his bare hands. The Aqua Slicers did improve his reach by a marginal amount but it was paltry in the face of something like a scythe so he''d made a real mistake there by choosing to rely on them.


    Unfortunately for Fin he didn''t have any better options so the scythe fell on his skull like a chisel, cracked through it, and poked around near the edges of his brain. He would have let out a yelp had the part of his brain that had been struck not borderline paralysed him and left him briefly mute as the scythe was dragged downward, slashing through a few more chunks while ripping the front of his face open. The Scythe travelled through his sinuses, teeth, the tip of his tongue, and left a streamlined gap in the centre of his jaw, gutting everything in its path. Next up was the throat and the scythe had actually pierced flesh this time, tickling the oesophagus and ravaging the meat as blood spurted out. Ares didn''t manage to hit anything lethal thus far, however, and had merely, currently, left Fin in a state where he would bleed and suffocate to death if he did nothing. Still, Fin was a sharkin and so his tiny gills could help him breathe underwater for a while if he made it to the ocean so he wasn''t out of this just yet. In extraordinary pain? Absolutely, nobody would be foolish enough to look at the twitching sharkin and feel otherwise... But his punishment hadn''t been doled out in full yet as Ares'' scythe still had some gas left in the tank and the rest of his body to run through!


    The scythe hunted down Fin''s chest before feasting upon his liver, kidney, various nerves and veins, and even scraped by the heart to give it a little love tap. Entrails and the general stomach region were also given a free bisection which signalled the end of the upper body torment and the beginning of the lower body misery. The front third of Fin''s waist was torn off and he lost one of his crown jewels down below in addition to an entire knee on his right leg. This time around, even the feet weren''t spared as three toes, which he did actually have, on his left foot were cleanly severed and two toes, and his ankle, on his right foot were brutalised and left looking like bloody mash. Long story short, Fin had it ROUGH and was in all kinds of pain in all kinds of places. He''d been injured in a way that was entirely new to him and the sensation of death slowly creeping up on him, to claim him as a victim, gave him energy to flounder away from Ares and start sprinting off to the sea. His mind wasn''t even functioning, it was just his body on auto-pilot now that fight or flight had kicked in and made it''s very clear choice. There was only really one choice here to begin with and he''d been wanting to run away even before this.


    Fin was close to shedding a tear in fear because he was fine not even a second ago but now he was minutes away from collapsing in a pool of his own blood and guts. This kid was demonic enough that the image of him treating Fin''s body like a gourmet fish dish as revenge for the threats earlier kept hammering themselves into Fin''s half-functioning brain and traumatising him with each rendition of his corpse it showed him. He didn''t even want to look at his own injuries and the extend of the damage he''d suffered, until he could get away from this infernal place and heal himself without being interrupted. He couldn''t handle the thought of all ugly holes and missing lines of flesh and bones in his body that he''d catch sight of if he even just tilted his head slightly downwards. The bobbing of his head as he ran was already causing parts of his brain to fall out as not everything had been detached properly via the scythe and got stuck in his head earlier. It was gruesome and he looked like a living zombie or like someone who''d been half melted to death by napalm. His body was falling apart as so many crucial parts of him had been paid a visit by Ares'' particularly aggressive death machine of a scythe. He needed to leave, now.


    With a great many stumbles, almost keeling over and fainting along the way, Fin managed to flop like a fish straight into the ocean and catch his breath. He wasn''t in great shape but his general form and status were improved significantly by being underwater right now as it was home turf. He could at least think clearly again and go over his current predicament rationally without getting ironically distracted by the horrors of his own situation. There wasn''t much to think through, however, as he needed to just take off at his highest speed, put some distance between himself and this menace kid, and then call for a large scale retreat while healing himself out of range of the Federation''s scouts. Fin assumed that if even the scouts, who had some pretty high-quality binoculars, couldn''t see him anymore then this kid wouldn''t be able to either. He was dead wrong, thanks to Ares'' Omniscience and the sheer distance his divine sense could cover when boosted by annihilation enhancement, but none of that mattered because he was never getting to that step anyway.


    Fin felt something disturb the waters behind him and he thought it no more than a mere provocation by Ares. He assumed the kid was throwing crap at him from a distance as a taunt to come rise up to the surface and finish what he started... But the ''object'' behind Fin wasn''t sinking and so he had a terrible feeling in his gut that this kid was the stubborn type... What he threw in the water wasn''t some random item... It was himself! He was going to chase Fin for the kill! To confirm his dreaded suspicions, Fin pulled a quick 180 and stared his would-be, could-be, and maybe even should-be, murderer directly in his dark brown eyes... Correction, they were brown, certainly, but visibly they were gold thanks to his Omniscience. This light on his eyes that part of him stand out in the murky waters and he was like a pair of devilish retinas, attached to some unknowable entity, scanning the water for prey. The ominous nature of Ares'' appearance, as well as his unflinching resolve to take the fight to Fin''s home turf, was enough to make the sharkin deeply uncomfortable but he kept himself together... Literally as parts of him were still falling off him and drifting down to the bottom of the ocean even now.


    The point being though that Fin wasn''t as scared in the face of this kid as he was when he was fighting him on land even when taking into account the state of his battered and tattered body. He was stronger now than he was back during the land fight because none of the injuries he sustained actually affected his speed or raw power really. The skull, brain, nose, lip, throat, stomach, groin, feet, etc... Basically none of it affected his ability to swim in a fluid and fast way and any time it did it was minor enough that it could be treated as a non-factor. Sure Fin''s time limit was no longer about whether Federation officials would show up, and was more so about him bleeding to death, but he was a peak transition realm cultivator in his preferred environment. He wasn''t going to die in under a few minutes, not even close, and not even physically exerting himself here would change that. He was sturdy and resilient enough to take this fight if the kid was stupid enough to do the same! Maybe Ares'' overconfidence would be the death of him and allow Fin to find his Fin friend revenge... And yet he was struggling to bring himself to attack Ares. He''d become a sort of living phobia all unto himself and the thought of raising a fist towards him creeped Fin out. Ares was to him as spiders were to Ares, some kind of unfathomable horror that disgusted him to his core. Despite feeling like his chances were mostly positive right now, he still didn''t want to take those chances and would rather just run... But would his kid let him? Did he have some kind of means to chase him? Fin didn''t know and he really didn''t want to find out, he just wanted to be left alone! That wasn''t going to happen though so he eventually built up the resolve required to attack Ares and, thus, their fight began again anew with the tide very much in Fin''s favour...


    Was Ares crazy? Picking a fight underwater? To some extent, yes, yes he was but, in other ways, not quite so much. Sure this would be a hard challenge but it was A, good for training, B; entirely possible thanks to the wounds Fin was already suffering from and C; Ares'' pressure mastery would do incredible work here and allow him to move somewhat freely underwater and prevent him from being a sitting duck with no way to contest Fin''s assault. The annihilation enhancement, when running at max, could create a sort of bubble around him that undid some of the restrictions of water on his movement, and could give him some briefly functional pockets of air to breathe, meaning he could actually stay down here for a decent chunk of time if he wanted to. Naturally combat, and the nature of the sea pushing down on him twenty four seven, meant the duration was nowhere near as long as normal but it was still sufficient to kill this guy or fight him long enough to watch his injuries kill him off anyway. The biggest issue, from Ares'' perspective, was that the water here could invade his space whenever Fin attacked him, further reducing his time underwater as the enhancement would need to work overtime to filter it back out, as he''d be bringing the water directly to him and basically splashing him with it after every punch. This couldn''t be avoided unless Ares transcended his limits here and now and learnt to use telekinesis on water. He had practiced this but it was incredibly unfinished and so there was absolutely no hope of that in this fight and he wouldn''t even dare try. This was now a very real fight, one Ares had to concentrate in, and so messing around was off the table unless he was willing to forfeit his life for a silly goal. It was serious mode time! Although it was arguable he should have been serious from the start against a peak transition realm cultivator...


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    Whoosh


    Not letting the pain wracking him get the better of him, Fin took off like a jet and began circling Ares at speeds that were hard to keep up with. Ares was only just about able to barely track Fin''s movements and it was honestly better to rely on his enhanced senses to feel oddities in the flow of water rather than keep watching Fin directly. If any irregularity in the water approached Ares'' location then that was a far easier sign that Fin was attacking him to decipher than observing the bluish blur. Fin, in the water, might have honestly been even a tad quicker than Ares with annihilation enhancement. It wasn''t too preposterous a thought, given his overwhelming cultivation advantage, but Ares was still somewhat surprised regardless. This was looking to be a harder fight than the one against Mako but, on the bright side, that meant it wouldn''t last as long either. The Mako match was a back and forth with the title of ''superior'' constantly changing hands as they slowly revealed their strengths. Here, one of these two fighters were going to die in the next five minutes with no further questions asked. There would be no hesitancy, no leniency, no feeling the opponent out, this wasn''t a simulation in a Training Field, it was just going to be an unfiltered brawl.


    BANG


    Fin crashed his whole body into Ares'' ribcage and sent him tumbling through the water as a result of the head-on collision. Fin was testing Ares to see how quickly he could respond to aggression which was why Fin hadn''t used his blades. They were more deadly but far slower than just ramming the guy so he wanted to be quick on his first strike to get a feel for Ares'' competency underwater. He wanted to know how much bullying he could get away with before Ares was finally able to respond... But now Fin couldn''t help but wonder if Ares was allowing this to set a false precedent that was highly inaccurate. What if he could move and react faster than this and it was all a ruse for the sole intention of lowering his guard? Did Fin even have the time needed to entertain a thought like this and remain cautious? Not really and so he circled around Ares'' flank to launch another attack, this time with the Slicers on his arms leading the charge.


    To Fin''s dismay, Ares was able to respond this time, either because he was messing with Fin the first time, or maybe because he only needed to see Fin''s speed once to familiarise himself with it, and Ares started to turn in the water and face Fin to raise a block. Fin felt a little relieved that Ares was still pretty slow, even if he could react now, so the edge still resided with Fin for the time being. The Slicers came baring down on a seemingly defenceless Ares but, instead of blocking, he threw out his palm and aimed it directly at Fin''s face... Now the sharkin wasn''t sure how to approach this because it wouldn''t be the first time Ares deflected his blades... He''d done it once back during his first Gamble so, if he could do it again, this time with his body instead of his hands, then he wouldn''t have to use his limbs to block this at all and could commit to whatever attack he was launching. This was incredibly risky, and could result in his death, but he was doing it anyway and seemingly willing to bet it all here. Fin, however, was not, and cowardice got the better of him, so he veered off course and circled once more to look for an opening that was easier to exploit without repercussion.


    As for Ares, he''d been able to react in time thanks to his divine sense. Part of the issue with tracking this obnoxiously rapid sharkin was actually being able to turn around fast enough in the water to facilitate his Omniscience. Yes his enhancement alleviated that issue somewhat but it didn''t magically make him faster underwater than Fin. Instead of constantly making himself dizzy in a fruitless bid to keep up with Fin, Ares simply detached his vision from his body and watched everything unfold from a third person perspective above instead. This would shorten the amount of time he could run his enhancement for, as he was now being strained in multiple ways at the same time, but he felt like that weakness was a bit too obscure for Fin to realise and capitalise off of and that Ares could sneak this issue by him. Fin may have only had five minutes but, in this current state, Ares only had about three before he had to leave and resurface. That was fine though as, by the time that limit was up, Fin''s desperation would have already peaked and forced him to make a dumb decision, Ares was convinced. Hell, he probably wouldn''t even have to wait that long as Fin did not seem like a patient type nor was he the kind of person to keep his composure in tricky situations.


    Fin was searching for an opportunity right now and Ares was tempted to give it to him, funnily enough, for an identical reason! Ares was also looking for an opening as he had his own plan to really screw over Fin and secure the win. To that end, though it sucked, Ares let Fin whale on him freely for a while. He consistently deflected the Slicer, as that was where all his attention was diverted to in order to prevent getting split open like Fin, but he suffered many rammings and fists to the guts and various other body parts. His stomach was turning black and blue under his clothes and he''d spat out wads of blood at this point. His own injuries were now starting to rival that of those he''d suffered from the mecha dryad way back when but, thankfully, his cultivation was higher now and so he could tough it out just a bit better than before. He could still move freely enough to enact his plan shortly but that didn''t stop the pain train from taking its toll on him as Fin decked him in the nose and sent him reeling once more. He was being one-sidedly bullied by the equivalent of a steel truck driving headfirst into him over and over again, mowing him down and crushing his insides on repeat. The final strike Fin managed to get in on Ares was a direct blow to his heart region which genuinely concerned Ares as he could feel it stop for a second. He was left breathless and shocked as he was blown through the water. He had to kill his momentum and take deep breaths, which naturally also lowered his overall duration down here, but he was still alive even if he felt like he was going to collapse any second. This was fine! It was still within the acceptable parameters of his expectations! Though he did really nearly just croak from a headbutt to the heart... Was this guy Bellona 2.0!? Why was his head so sturdy? Ares rubbed his chest, closed his eyes, and prepared himself for the end of this duel now that Fin was stalking him from behind.


    Ares was ''weak'' now too and not in any real state to fight back properly. To think his own state had become so terrible despite how much he''d been winning prior to now... It was a perfect example of why fighting a sharkin underwater was a terrible idea.... But, to make up for it, Ares had a pretty great idea and it involved letting Fin bring him to this point and then get cocky or desperate. The former if his opinion of this ''kid'' deteriorated after whopping his ass for the last few minutes. Desperate if he was worried about the ever impending and ever vanishing time limit. It didn''t matter which reason he had, Ares just wanted this aggressive assault to reach its climax while he was struggling to breathe and very nearly broken. His ribs were shattered in multiple places, the internal bleeding was enough to create a small river of blood inside his body, his heart was sending jolts of pain through his entire being with every thump, and most of his organs were damaged in some way. His current state was only marginally better than Fin''s but the water was making these issues easier to deal with for only one person here and it was not Ares. To that end, when Fin saw Ares slow down even further, with his back still turned to him, he made the move he felt like he truly had no other choice but to make. He had a gut feeling he was still being played, as Ares had done basically nothing to him underwater thus far and not run either yet, but he maintained a slither of hope that Ares was just trying to stubbornly hold out for the time limit without any other kind of plan... He really, truly hoped... Otherwise he was about to fall headfirst into a trap and die a dog''s death to this kid... Fin grit his teeth and sped through the water one more time to end this fight for good. Whoever came out on top this time would be the grand winner and could walk away with their head held high for winning a difficult battle, basking in their victory. Unfortunately for Fin...


    Bleugh


    ... The second Fin pulled up right behind Ares, ready to decapitate him with his Aqua slicers, a sharp sword pierced through Ares'' abdomen from the front, appeared behind him, and impaled Fin too. He tried to desperately swing his Aqua slicer but Ares used one of his pocket Block Rocks to summon a mini black hole and swallow up his magical blades, eviscerating them for good. All Fin''s magic-less swinging did was give Ares a light concussion as he beat the back of Ares'' skull with his burly arms but his was just a desperate measure and he knew it. Whatever Ares had planned here, he''d fallen for it with no room to spare and there was no longer any escape. He was just throwing a tantrum and trying to make the kid feel pain before he inevitably killed him. It was over and now the only thing left was to see how he was going to do it.


    "Crystalised Void: Tricky Rink..." Ares coughed out the art while the Black Ice Bane, buried inside him and dyed crimson, got to work, freezing everything in the surroundings. Fin could only watch on as all hope was lost thanks to he black ice sphere forming around him wherein no more water could flow. Ares had created an ice ball within the ocean that kept all the water out and so Fin lost all his benefits from the watery grave he''d been trying to lay Ares to rest in. This was technically ''land'' underwater and Fin couldn''t help but curse his luck that Ares knew an ice based art of all things as it was a pretty hard counter to sea-based life-forms. Sharkin didn''t have it as rough as full-on preds did, because sharkin were more human than shark whereas preds were more shark than human (sharkin were basically just a sub-category of pred), but it still affected them to a degree that was noticeable and made a difference in close calls. Ares had stripped Fin of all his remaining strength by forcibly removing him from the water and now all he had to do was turn around and deliver the death blow because Fin could no longer compete with him. Ares detached himself from Fin by taking a step forward and dislodging the sword from Fin''s stomach. With another, single, firm step, Ares swivelled around, ducked low, and threw his palm upwards, straight onto Fin''s stomach from below.


    "Annihilation Echo!... Goodbye sharky."