The Shard

The Seraphic System

Chapter: 42

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(The Shard)

-{Annabeth}-

Annabeth ran towards the battlefield with Percy, Medusa limping further back in toe as her wounds were slowly healing. When they finally made it to the place where Kai had been fighting Cao Cao they paused. 

The amount of sheer destruction and wreckage shocked them. Kai stood in the middle of what could only be called a wasteland with the beaten form of Cao Cao kneeling in front of him. 

Percy grinned.

"So much for needing our help." Percy chuckled, relief was evident in his tone. 

Annabeth sighed in relief with a small smile on her face. 

But something felt wrong. Annabeth's instincts which had been honed by years of training and her mother's blessing screamed at her that the battle wasn't over. Even Kai seemed to sense something was amiss as his body was still tense.

Her gaze darted across the ruined landscape until her eyes locked on a figure. Ares, the God of War. Annabeth's breath hitched. 

He stood a short distance away, his lips curled into a cold, malicious smile. While his eyes were locked on Kai's back. A strange dark twisted helmet was on his head and even looking at him she found it hard to concentrate on his form directly. Thank her mother as otherwise she wouldn't have noticed him. Something was strange was going on with Ares than even her sharp grey eyes failed to properly perceive.

Kai didn't notice him.

Annabeth's heart lurched as Ares raised his hand, summoning a spear brimming with malevolent red energy. 

The weapon formed in an instant, its tip glowing with power. Ares drew back his arm, seemingly preparing to hurl the spear straight at Kai, who still hadn't noticed the God, his mind still focused on Cao Cao's defeat. Even if Ares was farther than Annabeth was to Kai she could instantly calculate chances of anyone noticing or seeing Ares who was invisible.  None had noticed him and Ares hadn't realised that Annabeth could somehow see him.

Annabeth didn't have time to scream at Kai to turn around as that could alert Ares to change tacticswhich was why without a second thought, she turned to Percy, her voice urgent. "Percy, trust me—launch me towards Kai. Now!"

Percy stared at her in shock, but the urgency in her voice made him listen. "Annabeth, are you sure—"

"I'm sure!" she interrupted. "Just do it!"

Percy's face twisted with confusion but he still raised his hands without another word. Water surged from a distant source, swirling around Annabeth as she braced herself. 

With a quick flick of his hand, Percy sent the current beneath her, propelling her forward like a missile across the battlefield.

Annabeth's eyes locked on Ares, her heart racing as she watched the spear started cutting through the air toward Kai's exposed back. 

There was only one way to stop it with its current speed. Her mother's blessing finally clicked and with her lightning quick perception, everything slowed down for her. She wasn't fast enough alone to do anything else than get launched by Percy. The spear was blurring through the air and she could barely see it as the same shadows were distorting the spear. She used all her energy to wrap herself with Athenian Aigis defence, something she could do as a favoured daughter of Athena, Goddess of wisdom, strategy & warfare. Even if wasn't perfected yet would probably be only thing that could slow that spear as she has analysed all possible tactics. She prayed to her mother - Athena Nike for the success

She was slower than it for sure, but Annabeth had been launched a few seconds before Ares had launched the spear. Which in the realm of power that all Demigods stood at was enough time to shoot towards Kai.

Annabeth felt an overwhelming amount of fear at the realisation that she would probably die. But with that came happiness that she had finally contributed something. 

She had learnt so much during this quest. Rules weren't everything. Especially not in the fact of such an important task.

'You were right Kai, we really should have taken the car.' She thought amusedly just as she came in front of the spear. 

Her grey eyes looked back at Percy who had finally caught on. His eyes widened in horror.

Pain seared through her a moment later as the spear pierced her body and everything became fuzzy. 

-{Kai}-

My eyes were widened as blood exploded from Annabeth who had positioned herself in front of the spear. Even with that, the spear pierced straight through her and I was barely able to avoid it thanks to Annabeth slowing it down. 

The spear was still able to make a shallow cut on the side of my body even with my skin hardened enough to withstand a missile alone. 

I stared at Annabeth in disbelief as she coughed up blood and stumbled back. Quickly, I reached my arms out and caught her. 

"Annabeth!" I heard Percy shout. 

I looked up to see Ares standing there, his hand outstretched, a dark, twisted helmet covering his head. Shadows flickered unnervingly around his body, swirling like ominous tendrils.

I could guess whose helmet it belonged to. 

Ares looked slightly annoyed.

"Shit, bird-brain isn't going to be happy I killed her favourite child. Why do you troublesome Demigods not know when to keep your thick little heads out of a God's path." Ares sighed, acting as if Annabeth's life was just another annoyance. 

I held Annabeth in my arms as she gasped for air desperately. 

Cao Cao laughed from his position next to us and I glared. Grabbing his head and slamming it hard enough on the ground that he was rendered unconscious. His spear laying next to him. I heard it call for me sadly but ignored it for the time being. 

A massive golden magical circle appeared under Ares and holy light exploded upwards. 

Avael had cast her most destructive spell. Holy smite. 

The massive column of light attempted to reach up to the heavens, illuminating everything around it in a deceptively soft golden hue. Even with the blast that erupted a close distance away, 

I simply ignored that, staring into the dulling grey eyes of Annabeth. 

That attack would have been debilitating for sure. I wouldn't have died but it would have forced me to go to extra lengths.

Why would she do that? 

The act confused me to my core and lit up something else in me. A new understanding. Annabeth attempted to say something but her eyes were slowly misting over. 

"Save your strength," I said in an imitation of a comforting voice. Something that didn't come out At all like intended. A lack of use. 

Percy was running over frantically, ignoring the massive attack next to us. Percy scrambled to take out some Ambrosia from his bag and feed it into her mouth. 

It was acting fast but not nearly fast enough for my liking. I saw Medusa in the distance limping slowly towards us.

The Golden circle of the holy smite slowly grew dimmer and the explosion of light dissipated. Leaving only smoke that covered the area where Ares had been standing. 

Slowly, the smoke cleared and we witnessed the sight of Ares standing completely unharmed, a faint red barrier around him. 

My gaze turned back to Annabeth while Avael glared at Ares with true hatred in her heart. 

My empathy picked up the sheer amount of overprotectiveness she was feeling for me at this moment and the venom she felt at Ares for attacking me. 

I ignored that for a moment as I quickly opened my system shop in search of a healing potion. As I searched for a potion to heal Annabeth, I felt a burning rage build up in my chest that wanted to unleash itself on Ares.

"Hey, brat, I'm not done with you yet," Ares said.

I had just selected a potion and Ares exploded in a burst of speed. Avael held out her hand and a ray of holy light shot out in his direction. In the distance, the ray of light spun off and exploded as Ares effortlessly passed it.

Avael, who couldn't keep up with God of War's speed, was ignored by the God of War. Despite her attempts to shoot another holy ray at him, he passed her.

I tried to retrieve the potion from my inventory only to be forced to focus on Ares as soon enough, I found a massive gauntlet-clad fist speeding towards my face. 

The fist was a blur and I only had a few moments to push Annabeth and Percy away just in time. A massive shockwave erupted as his fist met my face. 

Despite the massive amount of pain I should have been feeling as I was sent back a massive distance away. I felt nothing. Which meant he had used a purely physical attack.

I balanced myself. A small amount of dust kicked up as I skidded back. While I was immune to pure blunt physical force didn't mean I didn't get pushed back from the force.

I growled. My eyes narrowed in rage. While Ares In turn tilted his head slightly to the side with an infuriating smirk on his face. 

Another holy ray of light was shot at him as Avael caught sight of him. Her youthful face twisted in rage.

He stepped aside, letting the ray of light spin off into the distance. 

"Seems like you got yourself a little Angel girlfriend to back you up brat. I'll make sure to take real good care of her in your absence." Ares laughed. His expression darkened. 

"You should have stayed out of this Angel. A plan much larger than you can even fathom is at play and you've made the wrong decision getting in the middle of it. Did you think-"

"Please, shut up." I cut him off. "I really don't give a shit." 

Ares sneered and I noticed his gaze going over Avael's body. 

Not. A. Fucking. Chance. 

Multiple golden chains exploded up and through the ground towards Ares. While large chakra vines shot up from underneath him and spiralled up his large legs. 

I didn't waste any time, my golden wings unfurling behind me and sending me towards him at insane speeds that only Ares could follow. 

Ares scowled in annoyance. His feet were easily able to pull themselves out from the thick roots and a black intricately-detailed sword covered with a red miasma appeared in his hand. 

Which he promptly used in quick succession and with masterful use to hit all the golden chains away. 

I exploded with golden light as my rage made itself known. I was going to kill this stupid thick-headed pig fucking god. 

I quickly took a breath to keep my actions calm, it wouldn't do good if I gave in to my rage. 

My eyes glanced over to Annabeth who was still unconscious and being tended to by Percy. My fist clenched. The itchy hot rage burning in my chest grew just a bit. 

I let my angelic instincts in fully. The general positive and light nature of an angel helped me keep a cool head. It flowed through my body like a comforting coolness.

His glasses fell away to reveal the scorching red flames that served as his eyes. They were unlike how Hestia's had been. A soft ember that felt warm and homely. 

His eyes were ravaging flames that wanted to devour everything in bloodshed. I could feel the bloodlust as his barely concealed godly aura went unrestrained. 

The world felt his presence as the very air distorted and even Percy who had been focusing on Annabeth shrunk a bit. His head turned to me worriedly. 

"You're going to die here today boy. Give me a showing worth remembering." Ares taunted.

"You had to weaken the domain and power of the Goddess you are in love with just to try to force her into your bed after she rejected your sorry biker gangster wannabe looking ass hundreds of times," I replied with gritted teeth as I contained my anger. 

His glare darkened. 

"You know, I think I'm going to enjoy this." 

"That's big talk from the guy who looks like he bought his armour from the discount aisle at 'Villains R Us.'" I responded without care. 

The small amount of time I got by stalking him with talk allowed me to prepare for the upcoming fight. 

My Tempest Chakrams appeared in hand and my chakra chains swirled back, heading directly for Ares again. Lightning crackled and I made my chakra chains connect just as they came into Ares striking distance.

Using the Tempest Chakrams' limited lightning manipulation, I sent all the lightning I could through one of the golden chakra chains that were floating defensively next to me. 

Thankfully, my chakra chains acted as perfect conductors, allowing the lightning to surge through them in a flash. Sparks of electricity danced chaotically along the interconnected chains, illuminating the battlefield. Ares, quick to react, moved to deflect the onslaught with rapid strikes.

He successfully knocked away the first chain, but not without consequence, he yelped as the electric shock coursed through him. The lightning didn't seem to do more than that unfortunately and that was the most I could input with the limited lightning manipulation. 

Three more chakra chains replaced the one he had sent spinning off in the distance from the shear forces used with his sword swing, giving him no time to recover.

I had summoned every chakra chain I could muster, but I could feel the strain. It was burning through my chakra reserves at a frightening pace.

Ares' form blurred and all three chakra chains were sent off into the distance with rapid strikes from his sword. 

First Form: Dance (Enbu)

One of my hands holding Tempest Chakrams lashed out with a thin blue streak cutting through the air, performing a singular high-speed vertical slash that Ares blocked with his sword. An amused sneer on his face at my attempt.

He responded with a slash of his sword that I could barely even see coming. I brought both of my Tempest Chakrams up and blocked the sword strike. The force sent vibrations through my arms and made my knees buckle underneath me as the difference in pure power showed itself.

Cracks appeared underneath me in the scorched earth and I gritted my teeth. I  lashed out with my chakra chains, trying to gain some distance. I sent the two chakra chains I had hovering near me towards him. 

In response, he quickly withdrew his sword which had been locked with my Tempest Chakrams and hit both of them away easily.

"Holy bind." Avael's voice called out. 

His body stiffened for a mere moment and he scowled in Avael's direction. 

"Holy Ray." She called out without care for the Gods' malice.

Ares let the Holy Ray hit him and merely snorted when it did nothing to him. He raised his hand towards her and I quickly intervened. Dozens of light chains springing up with two chakra chains snuck in them. 

Damn it, Avael. Her attempts to help warmed my heart but she simply wasn't even close enough to contend in this battle. Her attacks barely even harmed him.

I briefly thought about summoning the other Angel before the face of my dead Angel popped up in my mind and made me decide against it. I sent a look towards Avael that made her look conflicted as she caught my meaningful look. 

I dispersed the other chakra chains for now as the chakra drain was becoming too much. 

He turned his focus back on me and lazily swung his sword.

"αδίκημα"

A massive wave of red baleful divine power exploded out and all of my light chains were shattered in an instant. While the two chakra chains were blown back. 

I was sent back from the sheer force of the strange power, my muscles burning from whatever he had just used. Ares charged after me, his figure blurring towards me with intense speed. 

I jumped back and extended my hand, focusing on the light surrounding me. Massive glowing constructs materialised in the air, multiple towering hammers of pure condensed holy light energy forming above me as I focused my intent and angelic magic. 

They wouldn't generate as much force as if I were physically wielding them, but they'd still pack a punch. While Ares' power level was a few thousand above mine. I could still hurt him because of the level of power we were currently fighting at. 

Unlike Avael who was closer to the lowest end of the Ultimate Class. She would find it much harder to harm Ares. 

All that power level was spread into his stats and while it was true the further you went up in power the more increase each stat gave you. The increase was probably around about twice the amount of a low-class stats. 

I sent the multiple massive light hammers down at Ares who was closing in on my position with haste.

I floated up into the air, watching the hammers shoot down at him. Their bright light left streaks of light in the air. 

I spotted a glimpse of Ares slowing down, his swords shifting into another weapon before one of the massive light hammers was on him. The baleful red light exploded from him and multiple of the light hammers were destroyed as they descended on him. 

Until one finally hit which gave room for another to hit. The ground was quaking under the force of the light constructs slamming into his form. Dust and debris erupted from the battlefield, momentarily obscuring him from view.

For good measure, I sent down a barrage of light rods on his position. 

I took out the regeneration potion since a health potion technically wasn't the same thing and threw it to Percy with all my strength.

"Percy, give this to Annabeth-" Was all I could get out as Ares exploded out of the dust with a scowl. 

He had multiple reddened spots on his face presumably from the light hammers. I didn't get time to react as he was right in front of me. My light rods fired down uselessly behind him. 

I caught a glimpse of the weapon he wielded, a massive hammer which glowed with red energy. 

"This is how you wield a hammer, boy." He sneered, his face filled with rage.

I could only raise my arms up as he slammed the hammer down on me. I was sent down to the ground, my body searing with pain as I coughed up blood. 

I attempted to stumble up as fast as I could but Ares, filled with rage, didn't seem to care to give me any chance to recover. He blurred once more, appearing beside me in an instant. His hammer  swung with force. 

I raised my chakrams to block, but the blow was too much. my arms buckled and the impact sent me flying back, skidding across the battlefield pathetically.

"Father!" Avael cried out.

"Kai!" Percy called out in worry. 

"Be quiet." Ares sneered.

He raised his hand and the ground trembled. A strange gate rose up from the ground with Greek styled writing surrounding its frame. Moments later undead poured out of it and attacked both Percy and Avael.

"That's enough distraction from you." He gruffly stated.

Blood filled my mouth as I struggled to stand, my muscles screaming in protest. 

"Did you think you would win against me? Did you truly think that there was a way to beat me? I'll admit, your magic is impressive and there's a honed instinct about you that shows you've experienced battle. But I am The God Of War. For you this is a necessity, for me it's an art form." Ares said. 

I stabbed my hand into the ground, summoning the chakra I had left. Thick wooden roots, gnarled and ancient, erupted from the earth. They snaked toward Ares. Attempting to bind him and to slow him down for even a moment.

Ares laughed, his hammer smashing through the roots with brute force. "Trees? Really? You're facing a god of war, and you really think that some trees are going to stop me?"

He swung his hammer down on me, only for it to go through me, or what he thought was me. I approached him from behind and landed a nasty punch to the side of his face. 

My fist was engulfed in a scorching hot light and I revelled in the way it redden his face. 

A shockwave erupted out from the force and he stumbled in confusion. I only landed another punch before he caught on and I kicked off his back before he could turn around. 

I held out both my hands and created a blinding flash of light. Which seemed to only work for a few seconds. 

He roared in rage. his red aura became thicker and In an instant, he was upon me again. His large hammer came down with a speed I could barely follow with my utmost focus, and I barely managed to twist out of the way. 

His follow-up strike, however, was too fast. His pace increased in an instant. I felt my bones break under the force. My regeneration got to work immediately as I was sent exploding back through the battlefield.

I raised my hand weakly as he approached, blood pouring out of me. I created massive swords of holy light. Compacting them with an insane amount of power, I also used my wind manipulation to remove the natural air resistance around the light swords and sent them towards Ares in quick succession. 

I saw his eyes narrow in concentration. He brought his hammer up to block, and the three large light swords converged on him. Our two forces clashed with a deafening roar. 

The battlefield trembled and cracks formed beneath me as the sheer power of the impact reverberated through the air.

A cloud of dust was kicked up and there was a brief silence. I used this chance to gain some distance but that didn't last long as Ares shot out from the cloud of dust. Blood leaked from his head and despite the amount of rage I felt he laughed mirthlessly. 

"That was a good trick, brat. Making those attacks speed up so quickly halfway had caught me off guard. I'm ending this." Ares said. A scowl on his face as golden blood dripped down his face. 

Instantly, with what I presumed was his full speed on his mortal form. He appeared next to me and in the next moment I felt the large hammer he wielded smash into the side of my body. 

The wounds and bones that had been healing rebroke with much more force and I was sent back flying through the air in the direction towards Percy and Avael who were both still dealing with a miniature army of endless undead. 

'Shit!' I thought. 

I think I may have bitten off more than I could chew with this one. I had always been able to get by with my unique skills making up for the lack of power in past battles with beings much more stronger than me but this was too much. 

The pain was blinding. While I had learnt to suppress my outward reaction to pain it didn't make it hurt any less:

I felt the Longinus that was laying next to the unconscious body of Cao Cao a bit away. It's call became even stronger, as if it was watching me and begging me to reclaim it from Cao Cao's hands. 

That was interrupted as Ares was next to my downed form again in only a few seconds and without mercy. He swung his hammer down directly onto me. 

I nearly screamed out in pain as the ground around me shattered from the force. He kicked me without any magical energy imbued into his kick so luckily it did no further damage and I was sent over close by to Avael and she instantly noticed my battered form. 

Her eyes teared up as she stopped focusing on the undead army. Leaving Percy forced to combat the unending dead hoard. They weren't particularly strong individually, but everytime they destroyed all of them more simply poured out of the gate. 

"Father?" She whispered, kneeling next to me. 

Ares seemed to slow down. Apparently no longer feeling the need to attack me properly, since in his eyes I was close to death. Which wasn't exactly a wrong assessment.

By now the Longinus' call was overwhelming, I could practically hear a voice calling to me.

I couldn't beat him. My eyes flickered over to the Longinus which was close by. I didn't know why it was calling me and not Avael, considering we were both Angels. 

Even if I did pick it up, I doubted I could use it. After all, you couldn't just pick up a sacred gear from someone and use it as your own. It was bound to Cao Cao's soul until he died. 

Then why was it calling me? I knew that with the Longinus, my abilities would be boosted. After all, it allowed Cao Cao to become a pseudo-ultimate class being. 

I felt Avael's tears drop onto my face as she openly sobbed. She raised her hand and cast multiple Holy ray's in quick succession at Ares to try stop his approach but it proved futile. 

She couldn't cast a Holy Smite too because Ares was too close.

I guess I had nothing to lose and I did hate seeing Avael cry. I refused to give up either way. Ares needed to die. Even if I had to somehow rip the Longinus from Cao Cao's soul with my bare hands. 

I rolled over. I couldn't tell Avael to get it for me since Ares would know something was up. I gave into the call and rolled over once more. 

Reaching out my hand I grabbed it. There was no surge of power. No sudden boost in strength that could give me a chance or even a boost in regeneration that could bring me back to full capacity. 

[Shard wishes to be absorbed.]

Accept/Decline.

I blinked in confusion but didn't have long as Ares seemed to notice something amiss. Which caused him to approach me faster.

It wasn't what I was looking for but I really had nothing to lose.

I accepted it mentally. 

The world paused and my vision flashed. 

-END-

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