Ch. 23

--Zach POV--

After a couple of days of messing around with all the materials in the galaxy, and a couple of atomic explosions later. Aphrodite popped into the plain, sauntering over to Hephaestus and molding herself against him.

Aphrodite: "Hey, Hephy. I've gotten him to agree to that thing. As long as you build the chains and whips for our next encounter."

Hephaestus just harrumphed at that and nodded his head. Do I even want to know about what they are talking about? Aphrodite laughed as she read my mind.

Aphrodite: "Hephy knows about my promiscuity, instead of getting angry in the past. He has accepted the hotwife culture that I've brought about. As long as he can join in I can have all the fun I want."

Woah, too much information? Better keep her away from Tsunade, because there is no way in Hades that I am sharing. I swear these Greek Gods are coo-coo-er than Cocoa Puffs. She just laughed away her shamelessness. Hephaestus just looked uncomfortable and coughed.

Hephaestus: "Please don't go around sharing our private lives dear."

Aphrodite: "But Hephy, he's your Champion. Maybe if I can play my cards right I can snag him for a night or two."

Wait what?

Zach: "Wait what?"

Aphrodite: "Oh? Already thinking about the night's we'd spend together?"

Zach: "No, no, go back. I'm his Champion? I thought I just had his and Dionysus's blessing."

Aphrodite: "Yeah, he was pretty pleased to get your prayers after he gave you the blessing. Dionysus was pretty bummed that you started to pray to Hephaestus instead of him. I have to cheer him up, multiple times"

She gave me a wink with that last sentence. Yeah, no, stay way away from her Zach. Don't stick your dick in crazy. Processing the information made me put a few things together. How Dionysus didn't help me and when I needed it here is Hephaestus training me.

Aphrodite: "So here we are, Hephy promised Ares some chains and whips for our next little group outing. In exchange, Ares would train you in combat for the next two years. Isn't it wonderful? I get an all hot and sweaty muscled man to ravish me while I'm ch-murph-murp."

Thank god Hephaestus covered her mouth before she could go into any detail. It's been a while since I've seen Tsunade, and I've been missing her every day. Before I knew it a man in Greek Battle Armor with a shield and spear popped into existence.

His presence alone was enough to make me sweat buckets and break out into a cold shake. I tried to look at him but instinct made me advert my eyes and make myself as small as possible.

Ares: "Weak."

I saw Hephaestus and Aphrodite's feet walk over to the newcomer and stop right next to him.

Hephaestus: "That is why I made the deal with you. Pull back your killing intent."

With that, I felt the pressure around me fade. Finally being able to look at the man I stared him in the eyes. I would not back down, if I can't handle this then how can I protect my family. I might be as pale as a sheet, but I need to get stronger!

Ares: "Good, at least he has guts."

Hephaestus: "So he's passed the test and you'll do it?"

Ares didn't answer, but he was still staring at me and directly in my eyes. They looked like the eyes of a predator. I instinctively got into a defensive stance. Willing the essence around me to create armor and a weapon, copying his loadout on me.

Before I knew it I was in the air, something sticking out of my gut and I was just floating there. Looking down I saw Ares bellow me giving me a murderous glare and his spear impaled into my stomach.

Ares: "You did not earn that armor and weapon."

With that, he slammed my body on the ground. The force of it felt like my whole body shattered. The armor and weapons I created blew into nothing. Before I knew it all my injuries had been healed. Getting up I could see Ares had moved 10 feet away from me. Starting to get pissed off at myself for being so weak I created two gladii one in each hand. Running towards him I tried to slash at him with my right sword. He just moved to the side and punched me in the chest. I was sent flying 10 feet back to where I had first started.

Getting up again I activated all my enchantments. But before I could attack he was already on me and beating me down into the ground.

Ares: "No enchantments."

What does he mean by that? How can I even compete with him without them?! Breathing heavily I got up, struggling along the way. Getting back into an attacking position, I charge at him again. Before I reached him I threw my swords at him, then jumping into the air I willed two daggers into my hands. Bring them down I met with the same fate as last time.

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting a different outcome each time. I must be going insane. With that, I spent the next 2 years getting tort. I mean training with the God of War Ares.

--2 Years later--

I've been in a continuous battle with Ares, right now I've been on the attack for the last 3 days. His retaliations haven't hit me once, though I know if he truly wanted to he would put me down in an instant. Within these last couple of years, I've learned to incorporate many different weapons in my fight style. About a year ago Ares let me start to use my enchantments 1 at a time. Getting used to the adjustments was an interesting experience. I'm glad that he limited me to my base form for the initial stages of the training.

As my latest attack failed, I dodged the retaliation strike with a roll to the right. Dropping the sword in my hand I jumped backward and created a bow and arrow in my hands. Pulling the drawstring and arrow back I let go and sent the arrow flying towards Ares. Planting my feet to stop my backward movement, I then shot forward following the arrow in for the attack. Creating another gladius in my hand I went in for a slash right behind the arrow.

Ares swatted the arrow away with his sword and positioned his sword to block mine. As the two were about to connect, I made the portion that was about to make contact with his blade disappear. My swing still followed through, after it passed the point where his blade I reformed the blade.

CLANG!

My sword was stopped by Ares' helmet. He grabbed my arm and threw me 40 feet away. I did do a couple of flips in the air for style and landed on my feet skidding back a couple more feet. I got used to this throwing action early in the training because every time I messed up, he would just throw me. Standing there in a ready position thinking out my next move. Ares relaxed his posture and looked me in the eyes like when we first started, I just stared right back at it.

Ares: "You have earned the right."

With that, he disappeared. With a sigh of relief, I relaxed my posture, then fell on my ass. It has been a long time since I was able to relax. Just then Hephaestus popped into existence. Looking at him I smiled at him and nodded my head.

Hephaestus: "I am proud of you. Incorporating the weapon making into your form is ingenious. It's time for you to go back, it's only been two days on the outside so you haven't missed much. Just remember, your divine essence is not infinite like in here. You will burn through it fast if you fight full force as you have been. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an engagement to get to."

Before I could say anything I was transported back to my workshop. Bunch of damn deviants is what they are. I can't look at the gods the same way. But, to each, their own and whatever floats their boats. I got up off the ground and brushed the dirt off my clothes and headed back towards the inn.

After taking a shower, that was 3 years too late, I went and laid down on the bed. As I was nodding off I released my senses testing them out. I could feel extreme bloodlust from a group of people not even 30 minutes walking distance outside of town. It was in the direction where the girls left for the Hidden Village of Grass. Putting two and two together, and estimating that today was the day they would return I got concerned.

Getting out of the bed I was getting angrier by the second thinking of worst-case scenarios. Gripping my fists I willed the Divine essence in me to create the bronze Greek armor that Ares was wearing. Having it built directly around my body made it a perfect fit. Finally, I created the bronze helmet with a crest holder of red horsehair sticking up like a mohawk. Donning the helm I went to the window and opened it, looking in the direction where I felt the battle ensues.

Activating my leg enchantments I sprung out of my room and made my way towards the battle. It didn't even take me 2 minutes to reach it at my top speed. Landing in a tree I could see the destruction in front of me. The Humvee looked like it's seen better days and won't see anymore. I saw Shizune facing off against 19 shinobi with one already getting past her. I followed the direction he was going and saw someone laying on the ground with a dog-sized slug that looked like Katsuyu tending her.

Then I saw Tsunade, one arm dangling while the other was ready to punch the asshole that was going to attack them. Looking at her stance I could tell there was something wrong internally because she was favoring one side. Seeing that, my vision went red.

I activated all my enchantments and shot straight at an intercepting path the ninja that was attacking Tsunade. I materialized a giant hammer in my hand and brought it back for a heavy blow. Reaching the spot where the shinobi and my hammer meet and I was facing the other group I brought the hammer down with all my strength.

Zach: "HAMMER DOWN!"