Spreading Dominance 2

Ares had just finished his first class at Wilderness Survival, instructor Julius was full of knowledge about all kinds of stuff, and a tad bit too excited about the dream realm.

A king needed knowledge, and that's why one of his goals this month was to learn as much as possible from teacher Julius.

His second goal, was of course, to learn combat, A king without power is just a man on a throne. Especially in this world, where strength is everything.

"You sure you don't wanna go to the combat class?" Ares glanced at the short girl beside him, he noticed her eyes glancing from time to time at her shadow as if studying it.

"I already told you I won't gain much from going, I'm too frail you know, I'd rather hide and survive than go head first to battle." she rolled her eyes, then looked at the tall handsome boy at her side and snickered.

"Plus, won't I have a certain guy to rely on?"She playfully put her hands on her waist.

"poor guy has to carry your ass to keep you alive.... not that bad now that I think about it." he teased back and waved her goodbye as he entered his room.

Sunny was left standing there with a red face, "...And they call me shameless!"

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After resting for a bit, Ares was now in the combat class, which was a big dojo where sleepers were under the guidance of Instructor Rock, going through the motions of the introductory combat class.

Today was mainly dedicated to testing their general competency and abilities. After that, the Sleepers were going to be separated into groups based on their level, such as novice, advanced, or expert, as well as their weapon of choice. Some would be assigned a personal tutor or paired together.

Currently, Sleepers were taking turns delivering their strongest punches to a wide plate attached to a special measuring machine. After each strike, the machine would display a number corresponding to the Sleeper's physical strength.

Their technique and training also affected the final result.

Most people were getting numbers ranging from ten to fourteen. It was considered a good result, something that only the most athletic people could reach. However, a lot of Sleepers, obviously those with enhancing Aspects, were able to achieve a score of fifteen or even sixteen.

Soon it was nephis turn, all eyes focused on her slender powerful figure under the white dobok, she looked indifferent to all the gazes, as if she was alone in the world, only her mattered.

Changing Star approached the machine, a person would say her strike would be fast and beautiful, but that thought was destroyed the moment she moved, her fist a blur as she suddenly delivered a devastating punch, precise, powerful with no flaws, akin to a deadly flower.

After a short pause, the machine displayed the result: eighteen. The highest yet, but Ares knew she could've gotten more.

After her was caster, he didn't wait long before he seemed to vanish, his fist instantly making contact with the plate, *DING* the plate trembled, it took a bit to show his score, twenty-one, earning admiring looks from many, even the teacher nodded at him with a smile.

'what a hit, that burst of speed must be his aspect ability, legacies sure are well fed huh.' Ares wasn't surprised by that show of strength, but he would admit that it was a solid hit.

As caster returned to his place, he glanced at Ares and smirked, 'Let's see what u got rat boy'

'is that a challenge I see? Challenging me in strength? you gotta be retarded.' Laughed Ares, his body was beyond people his rank.

No matter, it was his turn now, he had to give a good show.

He walked steadily towards the plate, each step measured, feasting in the eyes of the sheep around him...and wolves, and of course a certain shadow he noticed following him lately.

His crimson eyes fixed on the machine two steps away from him, he had already analyzed the ones before him to see how to throw a punch effectively.

He slowly stretched his legs, brought his fist to his waist, building tension, his sculpted arm beneath the uniform bulged, screaming to be released, then as if a bullet, his waist twisted as he sprung, disappearing from view .

*BOOM* a cannon sound resounded as the machine quaked, actual smoke appeared from the point of contact, Ares still had his arm raised, smoke raising from his fist. If caster's earlier hit looked devastating, then Are's gave no chance for survival to nearly everyone who witnessed it.

The machine showed the result amidst the shock of many, thirty-five!

Ares turned around to meet the sleepers gaze, some held awe, shock, and respect, but others had fear painted on their pale faces. "monster..", "devil", "inhuman", he relished in it all.

His gaze met the eyes of everyone present, itching his figure into their mind, your origin doesn't matter, before him, you are all the same.

Even Instructor Rock seemed shocked, 'if he survives, humanity will have another pillar.'

Nephis was cautious as she looked at Ares, what are the chances of him being the assassin sent to kill her, currently, they were high. Strength and appearance that don't match his background, aura that screamed to be respected or feared. Unlike his black haired weird friend that matched the image of a kid from the outskirts, he was the opposite, she wouldn't be surprised if he was a legacy in disguise.

But an enigma plagued her mind, if he was actually a legacy, he should be trained, but that punch, while powerful beyond measure, still showed his inexperience and shallow skills, this enigma also made her curious...and a bit terrified, if that was an untrained punch at the sleeper rank, what kind of destruction would it cause in the future.

As Ares walked back to his place under numerous gazes, he didn't feel as good as you would expect.

'That punch didn't feel that right...there is still potential to unlock.' He clenched his fist in annoyance, nevertheless, he was still successful in achieving his goal for today.

"Excellent!" The instructor smiled happily. "Now, we will move to sparring and evaluate your general level of training. I need two volunteers to begin."

Normally Nephis would've stood up, but seeing Ares step up first, she decided to stay and analyze him some more.

 A couple of seconds later, a tall and extremely muscular Sleeper followed and faced him.

Maybe you would wonder why Ares decided to fight first, other than building a strong image, the best way to improve is through pressure, and what pressure beats fighting all the Sleepers here.

"The rules are simple. Make your opponent's back touch the floor or throw them out of the ring. Use whatever abilities and techniques you find appropriate."

Ares nodded, noticing a cheering shadow watching the show.

Watching Sleepers fight each other was not only entertaining a certain little devil, but also provided Sunny with knowledge of their powers. Back in her room, She leaned forward and rested her chin on her palms.

'Show them who's boss, Ares!'

Back in the arena, The tall guy facing Ares attacked without wasting any time. His muscles bulged, threatening to tear the soft fabric of his white dobok. He advanced like an unstoppable mountain, sending a vicious kick flying.

But it all seemed slow infront of Ares's sight, in one motion, he sidestepped the kick, caught his opponent's face in his hand, and launched him out of the ring.

The sight of a large man being launched with a single hand looked too ridiculous to be true.

Instructor Rock gave him a cheerful look and grinned.

"Next."

What followed next was a slaughter, in a show of inhuman strength, Ares defeated nearly everyone, what nephis noticed was that Ares's combat style seemed to continuously evolve, he analyzed all of his opponent's moves, attacks and stances.he absorbed everything like a sponge,devouring his opponents whole. implementing it instantly, his body moved perfectly to imitate the learned moves, as the fight progressed, the time it took only shortened, it wasn't long before he started moving economically, he defeated his opponents in the fewest moves possible.

Poor, rich, legacy, they were all devoured and brutally defeated, he even enjoyed launching the latter singlehandedly from the ring.

Finally, only nephis and caster were left, just as caster wanted to step up, he noticed nephis walking towards the ring, so he entered bootlicking mode and slightly bowed to her. "Goodluck, lady nephis."

Funnily enough, she nodded at him before totally ignoring him, her focus was solely on the beast before her, Ares's figure was stunning, with no sign of tiredness on his face.

His deep crimson eyes fixed on nephis, they locked eyes for a couple of seconds, the air around them getting extremely tense, their aura changing drastically, to the others it looked like a defiant hero about to face a bloodlusted nightmare incarnate.

Ares felt his heart beat intensly, anticipating the battle, a dangerous seed of desire was planted in his mind, the desire to completely crush the bright person before him, devour her, corrupt her with his will, make her his.

A dangerous desire indeed.

changing Star's aura looked like a shining star, a flame that will never extinguish, a flame that will burn everything on its way, her aura flaring as if she felt something too, a resonance of sorts.

Ares's long hair fluttered, breathing heavily, it seemed as if the area around him was bathed in a crimson bloody mist, his eyes shone brightly, promising bloodshed, carnage and destruction, his heart beating like a drum, Deafening his ears.

The dojo was silent, everyone was holding their breath, afraid to disrupt the scene before them.

It wasn't long before one of them moved, nephis turned into a blur as she thrusted her hand towards Ares's eyes, blocking a part of his vision and threatening to blind him for good. Ares sent his fist forward as a response, intending to break her in a direct clash, but it was a feint.

Nephis abruptly stopped, sliding by Ares's missle of a fist, she twisted herself like a vortex and delivered a fast heel kick right at Ares's temple.

At the last second, he was able to back his head in time to miss the kick, but as if she anticipated his move, nephis repositioned herself and shot a back kick right at his chest, showing her extreme control of her body, too late to dodge, Ares took the brunt of the powerful kick, he felt the air escape his lungs as he stepped back, nephis didn't give him time as she instantly followed him.

Akin to a war machine, nephis launched an unrelenting barrage of hits at Ares, her blows precise and powerful, one leading to the other, controlling the fight like a puppeteer, her indifferent face a contrast to her dance of utter brutality, every hit she made was capable of killing any other Sleeper here.

"Go Changing Star Go!"

"Beat that monster!"

"Defeat him!"

The Sleepers cheered their hero, their angel, their savior.

But the cheers were soon silenced.

Ares's eyes suddenly shot open, a flame raging brightly in them.

"Enough!"

With a maniacal grin on his face, he launched his hand like a rocket, breaking through nephis's onslaught, his hand inches away from her head, if that monster caught her, it was over.

Her indifferent face broke as she retreated and attempted to redirect his arm away.

But it was a feint.

In an unbelievable show of flexibility and body control, Ares stopped his thrust, using the force to twist himself mid air, sending his leg like a whip towards nephis's temple.

Alarm bells rang in her head, but she barely had time to put her arms up as a flimsy guard.

*SMACK* the hit connected, the force made nephis almost faint as she slid to the side, but she barely stayed on her feet.

Her eyes unfocused, hazy, arms aching from the earlier hit, a prey.

Ares stood before her, she could feel his hot breath on her skin, his weirdly sweet scent filling her nose.

She was defeated...her courage wavering, but even then, she felt something happening to her the longer she fought, her heart beating faster, pumping blood viciously, her eyes shining mysteriously, something deep within herself supplying her with power.

Her hazy eyes focused once more on the person before her, her will forming once again, demanding redemption and salvation from the beast's tyranny.

Her body moved instantly, faster than ever before, hands clutching Ares's head, smashing her knee against his face.

The Impact took Ares by surprise, it was more powerful than her earlier hits, he could feel his brain rattling against his skull, dizzying him and losing balance.

Nephis knew that too, so she continued her attack, she released her grip on his head and compressed her legs, then released them in a brutal dropkick straight at Ares chest.

The hit carried monstrous strength as Ares's feet were lifted off the ground, he was flung back, coughing blood, his eyes blinded by tears from the earlier knee kick.

Ares was able to regain his balance mid air, twisted himself to land safely, but as soon as he looked for nephis, he found her right infront of him.

Her mastered footwork abled her to follow Ares and attack him again, giving him no time to breath.

They started exchanging blow after blow, Ares fought like a hurricane, his blows carrying unnatural strength and speed, his battle art reminiscent of a savage beast, but inside that savagery was a calculating mad man, his seemingly random attacks had a purpose, calculated throughly, his body and mind moving instinctually, as if he was remembering something deep within.

Amidst that brutal storm of attacks was nephis, dancing gracefully, looking like an angel bringing judgment, or a death machine of destruction, dodging and counterattacking everything, her hands moved like snakes, targeting Ares's weak spots, wrecking havock on his body, chaining her opponent in complex moves and attacks,her body moving like a raging flame that ate everything, burning fiercely in the center of a harrowing storm. But she too took hits, shaking her very core and mind, she should've fainted Long ago, but she refused. They both knew that the first person to give up will lose their life, they were refraining from using their hidden aces,as If agreeing that only combat will show who's mightier, other tricks are unneeded.

The accumulated hits and continues movement made them sluggish the longer they danced, their eyes blurring, their unrelenting twisted will controlling their bodies to fight further, to devour the other or die trying.

Then it happened, Changing Star's eyes unfocused on Ares for not even a full second, a weakspot that the beast relished in.

His battered body gave a final push, using his everything to deliver a final punch, aimed at nephis's head, a devastating hit that promised victory and despair.

Nephis's pupils shrank, her soul burned fiercely, giving its all to support her body in a final move, Ares's fist was too fast to dodge,she knew she lost, but she couldn't bear to go alone. She will slay the beast, even at the cost of her life.

The demon and the angel's last attack, this was it.

Nephis's hand disappeared from view as she aimed at Ares's throat, wanting to destroy his windpipe, her eyes burned with renewed vigor, for her conviction, her desire, her revenge, she will destroy all obstacles!

Ares's fist moved like an unstoppable force, intending to break Nephis's head, 'Submit!' A twisted desire fueled his body and mind.

"Stop!"a figure suddenly appeared between them, blocking their attacks.

"This is a duel, not a fight to the death!" Awakened Rock was mad, but you could see the awe in his eyes, this generation was full of miracles, no, monsters! But that's what the world needed to survive.

Sadly his words fell on deaf ears, nephis fainted soon after her attack, while Ares slumped down, calming his raging heart.

The fight was intoxicating for him, like a drug, he desired more, but knew his limits, he held himself and closed his eyes, his body hurt from all that continues fighting, he even forgot he was being watched.

Seeing their state, Rock sent them to the infirmary.

The instructor then looked at the flabbergasted caster, "it seems you won't be fighting today, but don't worry, your technique is excellent. "

But he too was out of it, his plans needed to change. he glanced at his communicator and decided to make a call later.

While all of this was happening, a shadow was watching everything.

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The anticipated fight is over! How was it????

Leave comments and reviews my sweet Readers! And I hope you have a great day!