Flowers preceding the fall.

Hela and Ares stared at each other.

The two were standing in the middle of the huge main training gym, not looking too far from a gladiator fight.

Maybe even Zeus would show up wanting to play emperor and decide who lives and who dies.

The stands were fervent, especially knowing that the great leader would fight himself.

"What are the rules?"

Helen asked.

Ares grinned, he liked fair, old-fashioned combat.

Firearms were a little pitiful in their design, fight with your own fist or lean on your blade alone.

"No firearms, we're from the time when only bows and swords were used... Magic won't be a problem either, we are gods after all."

Hela nodded, she knew Ares used a bow with magic arrows.

The rules were fair and favored the use of both fighters' weapons.

Hela took a deep breath to ensure that none of the tension in her body affected her, but she was truly nervous.

She had never really fought anyone.

The two held hands in a respectful gesture and quickly returned to their positions and at the sound of the warning they would begin.

Otrera, who was at the highest point, watched her husband and Hela go to their respective places.

That was what was needed for her to finally authorize the start of combat.

She did a countdown in her mind, it will always be exciting to see that kind of thing,

Adrenaline was taking over and all you wanted was for them to fight for their lives.

At least that was how Ares would fight to the end.

It was very obvious that they weren't there to kill each other, but Ares had an honor to uphold, so he would fight until Hela desperately gave up.

Nobody really believed that there was another option, Ares would come out the winner, right?!

The excited soldiers were betting on their favorites and Ares appeared to be the outright winner.

Otrera smiled and finally shouted. "Begin!"

The screams were deafening and Ares seemed to feed on all that excitement.

Ares ran towards Hela.

She almost immediately backed away, to the point of tripping over her own feet.

That was very humiliating, the entire audience burst into loud laughter.

Everyone thought Hela was a joke at that point.

After all, how dare she accept fighting Ares if she wasn't even able to defend the first blow?!

Ares didn't care, if he needed to knock him out on the first strike he would do it.

He ran holding his sword with both hands ready to strike Hela with all his might.

Hela couldn't think of anything that could help her, so all that was left was to improvise.

When she felt that she was about to have Ares's sword close to her face, she stopped the attack by holding the blade directly with her left hand and with her right she punched Ares' abdomen.

Immediately Ares felt a burning and it was something so surprising that he didn't even see that after the punch his guard was down and his sword was thrown away.

Ares backed up briefly, leaning a little on his stomach, it hurt like death, but he ignored the pain and picked up his sword again.

Ares didn't know that Hela could suck the death out of any living being and could barely dream that at that moment her internal organs were slowly wasting away.

That had been frightening, but Hela managed to react and now she was on her feet again.

She looked at the ground and there were several holes and rocks, it was very easy to just trip.

She regretted in her mind she wasn't very careful.

But the fight was not over.

The two had returned to their starting position and faced each other.

They walked in circles, looking for the moment that the other could be caught by surprise.

Hela kept her hands close to her face, much like a boxer's stance.

She didn't have swords, so her fists were her weapon.

She hadn't used her claws yet, but it would be the good use of them that would guarantee a victory.

Ares ran towards Hela again, but this time he was ready to block any kind of punch.

Hela didn't know a distinct way to defend herself other than to hold the blade with her own hands and especially her right hand was already with a huge cut.

She needed to think quickly or she would soon lose her fingers.

But her thought was interrupted with a strong punch on one of her legs making her fall again.

She could feel that she had fallen over a stone and that had hurt to the point that her mind went blank for a few moments and when she realized she already had the sword again going towards her head.

But she managed to dodge.

Even though she felt that her face had been cut, she managed to dodge and roll on the ground quickly.

She clasped her hands together and conjured up a prayer.

A bow appeared in her hands and she began to send several arrows towards Ares.

Ares was hit by two, but he simply ripped them from his body and quickly ran while dodging the others that came.

Yes, this was getting fun.

The gym could finally feel more excited about the possibility of a good show, but Hela still wasn't taken seriously as a possible winner.

Listening to the fervent audience, Otrera kept an eye on her husband's movements.

She could tell he was having some kind of difficulty, but she couldn't tell what it was.

But she was pulled out of her thoughts by seeing that she wasn't alone anymore.

There was Apollo, Athena and Aphrodite.

Everyone was curious about that screaming, but mostly to know how capable Hela was in combat.

Athena briefly touched Otrera's shoulder and smiled gently. "How is the situation?"

Otrera glanced briefly at the two in the middle of the gym and sighed. "Hela started out struggling, but she's already well balanced."

Athena nodded and spoke. "I would like to bet that Hela will win..."

Otrera smiled a little puzzled, did she really have that much faith in that outsider? "Do you think she will be able to do this?!"

Athena nodded, feeling her face warm as she tried to hide the smile that insisted on appearing on her face. "I believe she can..."

Otrera smiled a little more fun and pulled Athena lightly so they could go to the bookmakers.

Perhaps Athena was the only one who trusted Hela so much.

If she won she would profit a good amount.

Aphrodite watched Athena walk away with Otrera and smiled. "I feel curious about this woman, why does everyone seem interested in her?"

Apollo sighed a little tiredly. "You are interested too."

Aphrodite nodded, she really was. "Yes, she looks delicious..."

Apollo looked at Aphrodite and saw the huge smile plastered on her face, he really shared that curiosity.

But he was intrigued by how she went from a complete stranger to the most desirable goddess in mere moments.

What had changed? The lines of destiny had changed and that was very clear, but what was the purpose of all that?!

He couldn't do anything but watch.

After the meeting everyone seemed curious about Hela and fearful about Hades.

They wanted to understand what was so interesting about that woman that Hades was acting that way and that was exactly the reason that made them go to the gym to watch the fight.

"Hades asked Ares to stop her from going to you..."

Aphrodite nodded, everyone already knew that.

Go straight to the point.

"I know, but Ares was smart to propose a duel... He's still trying to stop it."

Aphrodite didn't take her eyes off Hela, curious about her every move.

Well, she was feeling amused and really excited.

Hela looked strong and had a sweet and beautiful face.

Even if Hela made some expression of anger or pain, she was still beautiful.

Aphrodite was genuinely interested.

There had to be a good reason for someone like her to look for her, and now she wanted Hela to quickly find her.

Darling, find me and tell me in a whisper her most secret desires.

Apollo finally stated the obvious. "If she loses, what will she do?"

Despite being the obvious Aphrodite, she didn't seem too happy about that possibility.

Hela must win.

But she finally thought about that possibility.

If Hela can't go to her... She will go to Hela. "Perhaps I should go find her, I won't be satisfied until I hear her talk… But it would be better if she went to my field of flowers."

Apollo could easily hear the tone of voice filled with malice.

Aphrodite's field of flowers was known for its perfume that made everyone delirious.

Even the other gods wouldn't go there.

"Do you want her lost among the flowers?"

Aphrodite grinned, of course she wanted to. "I want it, it would be a waste to lose a lover like her..."