Ares

Time: 1 Month after the arriving at the temple

Location: [Unknown Temple]

POV: Ares

'For crying out loud, what is with all these annoying tasks that old man constantly gives?!?' I cursed him under my breath, I've been working for one-week cleaning and organising the temple followed by another 3 weeks restoring the old temple from different supplies surrounding us. 'Growl' my stomach acted up, ''When will I ever see normal food again...'' I muttered as I remember the awfully made rice and other Asian cuisines. He never tells me where he gets the ingredients either. I just sigh at my fate sweeping the floor.

''Ares!'' master shouted, ''Yes master I'm coming!'' I ran upstairs, when I entered the room I saw master reading one of many cultivations manuals. (If he knew his master would just break into prestigious libraries and organisations stealing these he would probably faint).

''Ares, I called you here because today will be your official lesson in martial arts. After reading through hundreds of manuals I finally found the perfect one for you. Its name is 'void breaker', its main power comes from the ability to manipulate the void including time and space. But the difficulty of this manual is also at it's highest, hence we first need to temper your mindset, you need absolute patience and clarity at any moment, for this, I'll give you a nearly impossible task that with only absolute patience and clarity can be achieved, tomorrow we'll travel to the Xia mountain range and you have to tame a hippogriff without any violence, it needs to willingly accept you for who you are, this takes patience while they'll also sense any evil and or ulterior motives hence the need for clarity. If you can't do this you'll be unfit for this cultivation manual. Now pack up and get ready for tomorrow, it will be a one month travelling on foot.'' I said as I handed him the book which will be able to train his mental capabilities and make it at least be feasible to tame the beast.

''Don't forget to bring my hammock!'' master shouted as I left the room. I surge of warmth rose up from my heart as I finally felt like all this work was finally paying off.

I quickly started to pack the necessary items for this travel before heading off to sleep. It was only that when I felt an object hit my head that I woke up in the morning, ''Wake up sleepy head we have to start going the sun is rising up.'' master said as he wore an old white robe with a walking stick. ''...dammit old man, let me sleep at least for another hour...'' I cursed. But didn't stay laying down long being afraid to get hit again. I quickly walked over to my clothes only to be stopped by masters cane, ''Wear this'' he threw me some clothing, it looked way very fancy, ''Thank you, master!'' I quickly bowed to him for this gift. A hint of nostalgia was visible on master's face, ''...this will be the true leader of the red skulls...'' master murmured under his breath, but I couldn't connect any dots. 'Skulls, red skulls? Leader?' I walked behind my master out of the temple completely confused.

We walked down the mountain, but it was a weird sight, an old man wearing white robes while the other person unknown of age wore black leather clothing with a red skull as mask. We walked the entire day without anything eventful happening. ''Master?'' I asked carefully, ''Yes?'' he glanced at me, ''Why is it that you're helping me so much, it isn't only for that one time helping you.'' I looked him dead in the eye. 'Sigh' ''Ares, one day, one day we'll face an enemy so powerful that I can't defeat it alone, for that I need allies. Hence, I see potential in you, I am willing to give part of my time to invest in you, because... I see the old me in you.'' Master smiled as he said that. 'He was like me?' I thought in confusion. ''Don't worry master, knowing you there is nothing you can't beat!'' I am confident in my master's abilities, I do not need to fear. But even in my master's eyes, I see him looking towards an uncertain future.

It wasn't until one week further that I finally saw my master's strength in person.

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To all my readers, as of today, my book will come off hiatus, the last 5 chapters written have been removed while chapter 143 'sorrow' has been completely rewritten and doubled in size. Also, some of the chapters of arc 2 will be edited and some rewriting, which ones will be of course announced. More detail will be given on about the background of the war between the confederation and our people in the 1st timeline to give more depth. I am sorry for my late return *cough cough* ''ALL HAIL THE MARSHALL!''