[80] My dear sister

[Through the intense pain of the sword piercing through your body, you manage to break free from tonight's nightmare.]

[Sitting alone in the palace bedroom, you stare at your palms, lost in thought.]

[The pure and noble virgin goddess, Athena, actually wanted to inflict the ultimate insult on you in her sleep...]

[Such astonishing and unbelievable news, once spread, will surely shake this Greek land to its core.]

[And it doesn't stop there.]

[Her obedient and submissive demeanor, like a docile pet, makes your blood boil...]

[Just as you requested...]

[...She seemed to really lower herself into the posture of an obedient dog.]

[You even suspect that no matter what humiliating demands you make, she would smile and comply.]

[To insult such a noble and dignified goddess.]

[It sounds irresistible, as if there's nothing to consider...]

[With Athena's attitude... you could freely humiliate and torment her in your dreams, command her to assume alluring and provocative poses, and vent your desires and anger.]

[But... you know best.]

[Athena is only trying to use you as a good weapon.]

[Never mind in dreams, she may not even care about her own body amidst those alluring temptations... there's no love or emotion, only the purpose of control.]

[On the surface, it seems like you're holding her leash.]

[But in reality, it's her invisible chains that are slowly winding around you, tightening, imprisoning you.]

[Without Aatrox's reminder, you might not even realize that your beliefs are being subtly influenced.]

[Her eerie ability, sharply detected by Aatrox... if you feel any joy, any pleasure from her, your mind... will slip inch by inch into the abyss of the goddess of control.]

[During the day, you have to handle the affairs of the city, lead the Spartan army in battle against devils.]

[At night, you're plagued by nightmares, maneuvering with Athena in dreams, resisting her bone-deep temptations.]

["Haah..."]

[You sigh heavily while sitting on the bed, feeling an indescribable fatigue wash over you.]

[It's your overburdened spirit reminding you... your nerves are almost stretched to the limit.]

[The night is as dark as ink, silent and clear.]

[Wearing a pure white robe, you step out of the bedroom.]

[After six months of governance, you've restored the city-state to its former glory, but the effort put into it can hardly be described as anything less than blood, sweat, and tears.]

[Although you could have carried out brutal and bloody purges, enforced terrifying dictatorial rule, and quickly established a central authoritarian state like in Britain before.]

[But you didn't do that.]

[Because...]

[This is the Sparta left to you by Leonidas... every Spartan warrior fought so you and your brothers could survive, shedding gallons of blood.]

[For his kindness to you, you would repay a thousandfold. You wanted to bring happiness and peace to the people, so you personally participated in and guided the repair of everything in ruins.]

[But... at this moment, you're still just a twelve-and-a-half-year-old boy, and you don't have the ultimate life form's vigorous energy.] 

[You're very tired.]

[Both mentally and physically, you're almost unable to bear it.]

[But... all of this should be worth it, right?]

[Looking at the dazzling starry sky of Greece, the still prosperous city-state of Sparta.]

[You whisper softly to yourself.]

["Father, look..."]

["I've rebuilt our home very well."]

[In a daze, as if sensing something...]

[You turn your gaze, somewhat dazed, towards the rebuilt courtyard.]

[In the chaotic and colorful garden, the figure of Leonidas seems to emerge.]

[The red-haired father is sitting quietly in the courtyard, smiling and waving at you.]

["Kratos, couldn't sleep tonight?"]

["Then, come and chat with me, my son..."]

[Once upon a time.]

[You and your father often talked under the starry sky.]

[You realized that you possessed a world-shaking wisdom.]

[Your father, the King of Sparta, did not blindly follow Sparta's strict education requirements for you, but rather provided you with a very open environment for your development.]

[He gave you and your brothers all the love and support a father could give.]

[Every night in the past.]

[When Leonidas returned from the battlefield, exhausted, he would often carefully consult you, his son, on various knowledge.]

[You gaze at your father's face.]

[As if wanting to imprint him in your eyes.]

[Vortigern.]

[Leonidas.]

[Although the ages and images are very different, the figures of the two fathers seem to overlap... this kind of love from elders is always surging, embracing, like the vast sea.]

[This is also the reason you... can't let it go.]

[Because, you really, see them as your own fathers.]

["...Who am I?"]

[You ask yourself like this, touching your heart.]

[Are you Reinhard? Alvin? Kratos?]

[Or is there... more faces in the future?]

[As different characters, you've lived in various different eras, and it's hard to say that your personality hasn't been influenced by simulated experiences spanning decades.]

[But, your heart has never wavered.]

[Your soul is real, your feelings are sincere... you are you, and that's enough.]

[...Love.]

[That's something even the heart of the goddess of wisdom can hardly understand.]

[The red-haired, soft-faced childhood sweetheart quietly approached from behind you, draped a robe over you to shield you from the cold night.]

[You grabbed the girl's hand, grabbed the collar of your robe, and for a moment, your expression seemed a bit dazed.]

[Trembling, veins popping, fingers.]

[Pulling out the folds of your collar.]

[That... wasn't Myrrine.]

[It was... the clothes you draped over yourself.]

[They, have died.]

[The moment you realized this fact.]

[The girl's hand, dissipated.]

[Leonidas's figure also seemed to be blown away by the evening breeze.]

[Leaving you alone, standing lonely in the heights of the palace, under the gaze of the stars, bathed in moonlight.]

[For the past six months...]

[Your family has been killed before you time and time again.]

[Your home has been destroyed before you time and time again.]

[Plagued by endless nightmares, you seem to be confused about those memories of truth and falsehood.]

"...Your mental state is becoming increasingly unstable, Kratos."

The eyeball in his chest slightly opened.

Aatrox's hoarse voice echoed from the depths of the young man's heart.

"You need stability in your mind, you need rest."

"Leave the affairs of Sparta behind, let Dante handle them. He's not a child anymore."

Kratos remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"I know, but I can hold on for a while longer, Aatrox..."

For now, everything is still thriving and being rebuilt.

Kratos understands that Sparta cannot afford to lose itself temporarily.

At the clock tower, he is also like this.

Is studying magecraft not exhausting?

Is fighting disasters not despairing?

He has long been accustomed to it.

If he reaches the limit, then... he will surpass it.

"Like Athena said, she's telling the truth... to resolve your nightmares, you must make a trip to the underworld, and even your father's and your friend's souls are there."

Aatrox said hoarsely.

"But even someone brainless like me can see, Kratos... this is a trap."

"Your father and your friend were deliberately killed, and their souls were extradited to the underworld."

"The gods want to lure you there."

He recalled his long and arduous battles in the past.

Noble, tainted. Sacred, corrupted.

Aatroxchuckled hoarsely.

"This eerie, stagnant atmosphere... Olympus, there has been no movement for the past half year, it's just like the calm before the storm."

"Look at Athena... even this wretched woman can only appear quietly in dreams to disturb you."

"Have you noticed it too? Over here in Sparta, it seems like something is protecting you... almost as if the gods dare not lay a hand on you."

"Protect... huh?"

Kratos murmured the word.

Yes, he had certainly noticed.

He has gained... the Vanguard of the Wanderer Star.

Such news, even if Aatrox hides well, would at least be known to Ares and Athena.

Athena has always been watching over him.

And Ares... the god of war is revered by the Spartans, and this Spartan city is His domain.

The Temple of Ares is built on the highest peak of Sparta.

The eagle and the mastiff are his companions, His eyes almost cover every inch of Spartan land.

Not to mention...

Six months ago, Kratos and Aatrox combined and revealed his demonic form.

"Sparta, where a devil that slays devils has appeared."

Such rumors have spread throughout the land of Greece.

Kratos knows that countless eyes on this land are now watching his every move.

The gods of Olympus, if they wanted to kill him, a weak and still immature being, it would be as easy as crushing an insect.

But they did not dare.

Not even Athena can directly appear before him, only able to disturb him through dreams.

It might be because...

...They dare not.

The gods are all intimidated by a certain supreme being.

That... gravedigger.

"It's... Zeus, He is looking after me."

Whenever he thinks of such things.

Kratos can't help but feel an indescribable confusion.

Why?

Why... would Zeus look after him?

Kratos, as the godslayer, must have already been known to Zeus through the Moirai's prophecy.

Logically, he should have completely eradicated him to prevent any future trouble.

Could it be that he hopes to see Olympus overthrown?

Zeus looks after him.

Because Kratos is Zeus's son.

Kratos long ago guessed this secret, which is not considered a secret to God of War players.

But he would never believe... that Zeus would take care of him to such an extent just because of paternal affection.

After all, in Greek mythology, the tales of paternal affection and filial piety are countless, and Zeus, the king of gods, has killed his father and swallowed his own children numerous times.

And...

If he really cares for him and has paternal affection for him, why throw him into the pile of corpses in Sparta?

...Contradictory.

This king of gods, His words and actions reveal a sense of contradiction.

Kratos can't understand His reasons.

Aatrox, who lacks brains, is even more puzzled.

"Who knows what that old man is thinking, but for you, it's undoubtedly a good thing for now."

Aatrox said hoarsely with a laugh.

"In the mortal world, Zeus can still suppress the gods."

"But, if it's in the underworld beyond his jurisdiction, the gods will surely go after you directly..."

"Ah... it's really a heavy burden, Kratos. You're being crushed and tormented by reality and illusion at the same time."

"Revenge is not something to be rushed. I've been sealed for thousands of years, and I've survived it, haven't I..."

Aatrox advised with emotion...

"You... need to rest..."

Lowering his eyelids.

Kratos raised his hand and gently touched the eyeball on his chest.

"Thank you for caring."

The young man with black hair smiled gently...

"You're very gentle, Aatrox..."

"Hah?!"

Aatrox's annoyed voice rang out.

"That... that's not me caring about you! You lunatic! Idiot! Can't you speak properly?!"

Like trying to conceal something.

The eyeball trembled and closed.

He together with Kratos have been arguing for half a year.

Looking at him, tired, single-handedly supporting this huge city-state, dealing with various affairs, tormented by nightmares, and carrying the burden of revenge.

Aatrox felt pity rising in his heart.

What could he do?

He now was just a sword...

Besides that, Kratos also knew his past, those shattered memories.

You could say he now sees the boy as a trusted friend.

This... is not caring about him!

It's just... if Kratos is in bad shape, then Aatrox himself will be affected.

So, it still needs him to live well, to wield it, damn it, let's kill Olympus together!

This is nothing more than mutual benefit!

"Relax your nerves..."

Aatrox closed his eyeball and said...

"Wouldn't it be nice to vent your anger on that annoying bitch? If you sense something wrong, I'll wake you up in the dream immediately."

Kratos sighed deeply.

"Very reliable..." He said with a smile, "Aatrox."

"Cough, reliable! See that? Without me, you can't accomplish anything! So, usually, show some respect in your tone, Kratos! Hmph."

"Alright, Lord Aatrox."

"Grrr..."

The eyeball trembled violently on his chest, protesting against the trembling young man.

"Disgusting!"

"...Kratos, are you having trouble sleeping?"

The familiar voice of his brother came from behind Kratos.

He turned around and immediately saw the silver-haired youth with a fierce scar above his right eye.

With Dante's constitution, he wouldn't have left any scars.

But this was the humiliation left by Ares when he took Vergil away, imprinted on Dante.

Before rescuing Vergil, he would engrave it deeply into his memory.

"A little insomnia."

He couldn't say, Dante.. Athena is always thinking about trying to seduce your brother.

How could Kratos say such truth?

Under the starry sky.

The black-haired youth looked a bit numb.

Looking at the young but already experienced silver-haired youth coming slowly, opening his arms, giving his older brother a hug.

"...Dante?"

"You're too tired, Kratos."

The silver-haired youth smiled and said.

"Let me take command of the front line against the devils. I'll try to minimize everyone's injuries."

Since six months ago.

Dante has repeatedly requested to be deployed to the front line against the demons to hone his skills.

But Kratos had always suppressed him, only allowing him to train around the city-state of Sparta.

The war against devils is not comparable to the struggles between humans... it is a brutal battle where there are no prisoners, only one side dies completely.

He has already... lost Vergil, he can't lose Dante anymore.

"I'm afraid for you..."

"Kratos."

The silver-haired youth pressed his lips, smiling.

"If I afraid of death... I'm not a Spartan, and I will prioritize my own safety as much as possible."

As the words fell.

Like Vortigern, who once looked at himself like this.

Kratos looked somewhat dazedly at the silver-haired youth in front of him.

Under the sparkling stars, the two brothers looked at each other.

The black-haired youth raised his hand, rubbing the head of the younger brother, who was half a head taller than himself.

Looking at the younger brother's iron-gray eyes.

It's like seeing his own shadow.

"...Go on."

Kratos said softly.

It sounded like an admonition, like a trust.

"I believe you have your own way of doing things, Dante."

"Just... as an older brother, I want to tell you..."

"You must know that life is as fragile as a candle, only by living, everything is possible."

"To seek revenge, to save Vergil..."

"You must first learn... to live well."

"This is... the most important lesson I learned from father."

"...Now, I pass it on to you."

...

[You didn't tell Dante about Athena's matter, you understand very well that speaking out will only make your little brother worried.]

[To this goddess of control, you have clearly expressed your attitude... you can never become her possession.]

[You hope that Athena will give up on this, but... every night after the nightmares dissipate, she still lies faithfully by your bedside.]

[Looking at this goddess whom countless people admire, lying beside you, she gazes at you with a deep, ambiguous look.]

[Her clean shoulders exposed by the blanket, the suggestive curves of her collarbone, and the slight curve of her lips, all exude a natural charm.]

[This goddess of control behaves as meekly as your pet.]

[You try to communicate with her calmly.]

[But Athena's delicate fingertips, like warm gem, uneasily slip under the covers and wander over your well-proportioned body.]

[You ignore her actions, hoping to glean more information from your conversation with her.]

[But... your body clearly cannot ignore her.]

[Yours hardens.]

[Your fist hardens.]

[Athena releases the chains of her divine power, enveloping and entwining your body. It seems she wants to deepen her control over you by directly providing you with instinctual pleasure.]

[You close your eyes, refusing to look at her, keeping your words on your lips, enduring her various provocations, waiting for Aatrox.]

["So... see you tomorrow."]

[Aatrox tears through your body in the dream, and the intense pain wakes you up from your slumber.]

["Phew..."]

[You sigh, sitting up from the bed, staring blankly at your palms, then quickly putting on your clothes and starting to review government affairs.]

[In this way, you can barely get two hours of sleep each day, which is almost enough to sustain your body.]

[Despite cursing Athena a thousand times, ten thousand times, and trying all sorts of unspeakable and vulgar words against the goddess, she... seems to not understand what giving up means at all.]

[So, every night in the nightmares, you and the goddess of control are entangled with each other.]

[At first, perhaps due to lack of experience, her teasing seemed a bit awkward, limited to caresses and kisses.]

[But, as she began to explore various practices on you, Athena's experience seemed to progress by leaps and bounds... her actions towards you also became more and more extreme.]

[As if she had experienced it to the point where, as soon as she appeared in your dreams, she would bind you completely, using all means to subject you to ultimate humiliation.]

[Although... as long as you request, she will immediately release you... Athena seems very happy to see you express any command to her voluntarily.]

[As you command her, she also deepens her control over you through the conquest desire rising in your heart.]

[The struggle between you and the goddess, bone-deep, subtly progresses.]

[In the dream, sometimes she obediently follows your instructions, sometimes she teases you, sometimes she provokes you, guiding the immense anger brewing within you to be vented on her divine body.]

[Your actions between each other begin to escalate gradually.]

[Every night, you pretend to release your commands, extracting various information from her through words, and sometimes she rotates through various means you can imagine to insult you thoroughly.]

[And...]

[In the dream, Athena begins to repeatedly flirting with you every night, still with slightly parted lips, exhaling the fragrant scent of olives, yearning for more of your favor.]

[You find it difficult to distinguish whether her flushed and trembling expression and body are disguised or sincere.]

[But, without a doubt, this is your disguise, and Athena undoubtedly knows this, but she seems to be happy to see it happen.]

[You try hard to control your thoughts, emphasizing the lingering sense of distance in your heart, while still entangling with her.]

[This laborious effort also receives corresponding rewards... you glean more and more information from her, gradually outlining the situation of Mount Olympus, becoming clearer and clearer.]

"The gods of Olympus in Greece... surprisingly, are not native to the earth."

Before falling asleep.

Kratos sat upright at the table in the palace.

With closed eyes, he concentrated, organizing the information he had gathered from Athena over these days, at the cost of his energy.

This goddess's every word made it difficult to trust, each sentence possibly containing pitfalls leading astray.

Kratos could only rely on his own thinking, logic, and analysis to explore and extract the parts that might be true.

To verify the truth, he concluded: a bad woman.

The witch, Kratos could still unravel, had once fed him.

However... perhaps due to being in a dream.

The performance of this orange-haired goddess flowed like an obsessed stream through the sleeping palace in dreams, her demands seemingly endless.

Kratos' methods made her seemingly, experiences became richer and more flirtatious.

Through these days of maneuvering, entangled bodies.

Kratos lost much, but gained much.

Perhaps, for revenge... he had already lost some moral boundaries?

He didn't care about that anymore.

Because, with each passing day, Vergil might suffer another day of torment, and the hope of finding Myrrine and Leonidas' souls would dim.

Besides that, if Athena wanted to use him, Kratos would turn the tables and use her in return, each side using whatever means necessary.

What he obtained in return would eventually serve as the foundation for his revenge.

On the rough paper in front of him.

Kratos analyzed the information he had learned over these days.

From Athena's mouth, he obtained an answer to a question that had long concerned him.

Athena, she once referred to the gods as fleet and called Zeus the flagship.

The Olympians of the moonlit world turned out not to be indigenous deities... rather, they were an alien civilization that descended upon this planet, a fleet that came to find a new home and transform the planet's ecology.

Learning this secret.

Truly made Kratos unable to hold back his laughter.

Apparently, the battle between the Vanguard of the Wandering Star and the Olympians, turns out it had nothing to do with this planet at all?

This wasn't a war between natives and outsiders, but a war between outsiders.

This planet was just used as a battleground, purely cannon fodder.

By analogy...

It's almost like Transformers vs Decepticons?

With this thought, Kratos suddenly felt enlightened!

The Olympians are Autobots, carved into deities by human belief.

The Vanguard of the Wandering Star are Decepticons.

After years of fighting and no significant progress whatsoever...

This battle ended with the forging of the Sword of Promised Victory, Excalibur, by the planet, Gaia.

And the Vanguard of the Wandering Star was smashed into fragments.

And that fragment was Aatrox who in his weakest state united with Kratos.

Now, Aatrox couldn't connect to his Ark of the Stars anymore.

In simple terms, it's disconnected.

Otherwise, he could have called out to his other comrades.

The Anti-Cells.

And immediately began an all-out assault on Olympus!

"So, since the network is disconnected and I can't find the Ark of the Stars, our dear family is down and out."

Aatrox's lazy voice echoed in Kratos' mind.

"It's a good thing I disconnected, Kratos, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to resist the instinct to devour civilization... your consciousness would be assimilated by me in an instant."

"Now that you're offline, clearly your memories are fragmented and incomplete, yet you still remember Zoe, maybe that's true love."

"Hah?! Who remembers that shit twilight imp?!"

Amidst the roar.

Kratos sighed softly.

Wandering Star? Olympus? Which one of you is the Fallen Efmpire?

Or both?

Kratos just felt that the future of this planet was not optimistic.

After organizing the information in his mind.

With sighs and regrets.

Kratos gently blew out the candle.

"...Go see her."

Go see, his nightmare.

In such a dream.

The peaceful timeline continued to progress.

Myrrine's face was becoming more and more like Athena's.

Kratos and she had already had a wedding, spent happy and peaceful times, and even started having children...

However, at the end of the dream.

All the beauty would eventually be destroyed by the violent impact of the War Devil.

Resentment. Anger. Helplessness and despair.

In the heart of the godslayer, they continued to accumulate and brew.

The first layer of the dream shattered to pieces.

Then comes the second layer, the goddess of control.

"Kratos, watch your mental state..."

Aatrox, with a hoarse voice, expressed concern.

"Your attitude towards Athena... is becoming more and more accepting. Sometimes, you even begin to think that she, who is always obedient to you, seems pretty nice."

"Do you think, are you conquering her?"

"It's her, slowly conquering you instead..."

In the quiet palace.

Moonlight quietly poured in.

The voice of the black-haired youth sounded as if talking to himself.

"No, of course, I wouldn't think that way, Aatrox."

Kratos said softly.

"Just like me... I wouldn't expect Athena's sincerity to be like that."

"I will never, become hers."

Silence.

The eyeball on his chest opened and closed slightly, and Aatrox understood how much pressure Kratos had to bear every day.

The responsibility of the city-state.

The burden of revenge...

The gods haunting his mind.

Even in rest, his nerves had to endure endless torment, and nightmares.

"You..."

Aatrox whispered.

"...What if one day, you falter?"

"Then, don't I have you, Aatrox?"

Facing the mirror in front of him.

The black-haired youth smiled and said.

"If I falter, you'll pull me back."

"What if... I can't pull you back?"

As a Vanguard of the Wandering Star.

His mission is only destruction and slaughter.

So he didn't know what to answer about that.

"Then I will... leave it to you."

Kratos raised his hand.

Gently, he touched the eyeball on his chest.

"I entrust my heart to you, take it and use it."

He said with a smile.

"You can do whatever you want."

"You're offline now, you shouldn't have the responsibility to seek revenge. I hope... you can live well.

"This is our contract."

...

[At night, you struggled with Athena's scheming and endless nightmares, trying to rest your spirit.]

[During the day, you sat in the palace's administrative office.]

[Dante was sent by you to the front lines of the Sparta army. Starting from the most basic warriors, a month passed, and the twelve-year-old boy quickly gained the recognition of the warriors with his own strength.]

[Due to the reconstruction of the city-state and the extensive construction projects, various city-states had close trade relations with Sparta on the coastline.]

[From the information network of the merchants, you quickly learned an uplifting news.]

[The Olympian gods seemed to be joining forces to cleanse Hell, so various city-states issued decrees.]

[They demanded that the priests launch more missionary activities in their own temples, and more devout and larger-scale prayers... the increase of believers would effectively weaken the devils's power.]

[In a few days.]

[From the Temple of Ares atop mount Sparta, a similar decree was quickly issued.]

"Half a month ago, the devil that attacked the city-state of Sparta, named the War Devil, in order to weaken its power, Sparta had to praise the God of War more frequently and devoutly?"

Looking at the Ares oracle sent by the temple's high priest.

Kratos frowned imperceptibly.

The high priest.

Often, it was the most noble position in a city-state.

However, like Kratos's reputation outside, as the beloved and incarnated son of the gods, even the high priest dared not show any arrogance in front of him.

Originally, the terrifying devil that threw a spear from the sea surface and killed more than ten thousand people.

People didn't know what kind of name it had.

Kratos learned this information from Athena, but out of panic, he did not spread it.

However, at this moment...

The reputation of the War Devil was actually actively spread by Ares.

Huh...

How coincidental is the world?

Just after the palace was destroyed by the War Devil, Ares and Athena came to capture Vergil.

Clearly, Zeus should have been paying attention to him.

However, at that time, Olympus was in a state of war with the Vanguard of the Wandering Star, so were these two able to take advantage of this loophole?

In the blink of an eye.

Kratos understood the key to the whole situation.

"Is Zeus, really protecting me?"

Thinking about this situation.

A barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of the black-haired youth's mouth.

Lifting his gaze, he looked at the solemnly standing high priest in front of him.

Kratos smiled and spoke softly.

"Respected God of War Ares, after more than a hundred years, finally laid down an oracle with difficulty."

"As the regent of Sparta, Kratos, should go personally to meet him!"

"I will personally listen to the teachings of the God of War! Spread the glory of our god Ares throughout Sparta!"

Your Highness, what a noble speech!

In the eyes of the priests, who were extremely respectful.

From the throne, Kratos slowly stood up.

"Prepare, to the temple!"

...

The ethereal sea of clouds stretched endlessly.

On the side of the peak of Olympus, towering into the clouds, stood the magnificent Temple of Ares.

Sitting atop a bronze throne, adorned in blood-red armor, was a robust humanoid figure.

Through the flickering flames, he gazed at the black-haired youth in the Spartan temple who smiled and bowed before his image, as the priests present announced a decree that distorted their own meaning, reducing the city-state's prayer activities.

Crack.

Ares crushed the goblet in his hand with sudden force.

He was the god of war, strife, and chaos! The epitome of blood and fire, strength and power! The personification of bloodshed, slaughter, and disaster! One of the Olympians!!!

How could the mighty God of War, Ares, endure such humiliation!

"Kratos!!"

A cold and furious voice resounded from beneath the blood-red helmet.

Ares's divine power surged throughout his body, boiling like molten lava, as if to immediately descend upon the earth and incinerate the presumptuous youth into a pile of charred corpses and bones.

"I will crush you! Crush your teeth!!!"

However...

The divine power, simmering with anger, had been brewing for a long time.

Ares lifted his gaze, looking towards the summit of Olympus, where the thunderous and lightning-struck palace of the king of gods stood.

He knew that he couldn't unleash his wrath upon Kratos just yet.

Otherwise, the king of gods would dismantle him into a pile of scrap metal.

"Haah..."

Heaved a long sigh.

Ares made an effort to calm his emotions.

Calm and composed.

He wouldn't stoop to the level of petty usurpers.

The God of War, clad in blood-red armor, snorted coldly and pressed a mechanism on his throne.

Secret passages unfolded before him, layers upon layers extending from the God of War's throne to the abyss of flowing lava.

With blood-red eyes flashing, Ares took slow steps, descending the steps directly into the depths.

At the bottom of his temple, upon the flaming altar, stood a figure with a body covered in scars, skin torn and flesh exposed, looking utterly broken and battered.

Approaching the crimson figure, Ares arrived in front of him.

The silver-haired, muscular youth slowly, laboriously raised his gaze towards the God of War Ares.

"Spit!"

Vergil sneered, mustering the last of his strength to spit out an insulting wad of saliva.

Unfortunately, it couldn't reach Ares's armored body...

Hiss...

The feeble moisture evaporated in an instant amidst the surrounding intense heat.

Smack!

Ares raised his hand and slapped Vergil forcefully with the back of his hand.

A chilling voice resounded from beneath the helmet.

"You still dare to spit, it seems punishment hasn't been enough."

Blood oozed from his eye sockets.

Ignoring the excruciating pain that felt like scorching his soul throughout his body.

The silver-haired youth gradually turned his gaze back, his cheeks bruised and swollen.

"Ares... haven't you eaten yet?"

A mocking smirk appeared on Virgil's face.

"You... pussy..."

The moment that word left his mouth.

Boom!

Intense flames surged suddenly from around Ares's body.

He raised his hand and grabbed Vergil's neck.

"You brat, it seems like you don't want your life anymore!"

The silver-haired youth, his eyes bloodshot, stared at the God of War before him.

A plea for mercy escaped his lips.

"Kill... me...!"

"My... brother... will turn you... into... scrap metal."

Ares's eyes blazed with bloodlust.

The sound of bones cracking echoed from the youth's neck.

Unexpectedly...

A soft and seductive voice, which made Ares's blood boil, sounded from behind him.

"You look so amusing in your impotent rage, Ares..."

Athena smiled.

The playful tone lingered for a moment.

"Oh, I almost forgot..."

"Now I should call you... dear sister?"

Amidst Vergil's relieved sighs and violent coughing.

The crimson armored figure suddenly released his grip.

Ares slowly turned his head.

Looking at the irritating orange-haired woman standing before him.

"You have no right to say that, Athena..."

Ares raised his hand and slowly removed his helmet.

Revealing the face of a black-haired woman, with exquisite beauty.

Circular pupils stacked upon each other.

Mesmerizing amber eyes.

Adorned with several grotesque scars crawling like centipedes on her cheeks.

A vicious smile crept onto Ares's lips.

"...My lovely, clever sister."