Chapter 30: Traveler

"When are you leaving?" Aphrodite asked softly, her finger drawing circles on Ares' bare chest.

"Hmm? I won't, well not yet." Ares chuckled.

"You won't?" Aphrodite's face held a confused countenance.

Getting up, allowing the covers to fall exposing her bare double G breast, she continued, "What made you changed your mind."

"I realized that what I was looking for was here all along. In my head I wanted travel the world and visit pantheons, and finding out Japan had something I wanted, I would knock out two birds with one stone. However once my excitement calmed and I thought about it, I didn't have to actually travel so far. Sure I could go to Japan and hope to acquire what I wanted, but doing so would cause problems not only for myself, but Olympus as a whole. I wouldn't want to be the God responsible for starting an inter-pantheon war; at least not right now anyway. Like I acquired the power of blood and gravity, so too can I gain this power. Another ten, maybe twenty years won't hurt." Ares said, his hand trailing the contours of Aphrodite's body.

"And what is this power?" She asked seductively, moving from Ares' side and straddling his lap.

"Dimension Manipulation."

——

964 BC

Gates of Olympus

"Are you ready?" Hera asked her son, a worried but proud look in her face.

"Certainly." Ares smiled. "Hecate's a good teacher.

Rather than spending one hundred fifty years training, due to Ares' advanced mastery over gravity, and his haste to leave Olympus, it only took him twenty years to gain a basic mastery and understanding of dimension manipulation.

"Are you sure you're not coming?" He asked turning toward Aphrodite.

"Who will watch over Arestia in your stead if I don't?" She smirked, shortly followed by a pout. "I do want to go but unlike you, I have no time for leisure. Your domain is fickle while mine is always present. I'll be fine Ares. I know you'll come back to me." She smiled softly, sauntering up to Ares and kissing him passionately.

"I won't keep you waiting." He told Aphrodite, kissing her again before turning and mounting Pontes.

Unsheathing Sthenthi from his back, Ares listlessly sliced the air creating a rift that grew big enough for him and his fiery steed to fit.

The insides of the rift portray a myriad of iridescent colors.

Turning to look at his mother and Aphrodite, Ares saluted and gave them his best smile.

"I'm off." He said turning to face the rift.

'I hope this works.'

——

Seated in a lavish banquet hall around a circular table, and surrounded by remnants of a fight; a meeting of nine people seems to be taking place.

Standing from her chair garnering everyone's attention, a beautiful woman with green hair, a red jewel embedded in her forehead, and wings on her back spoke, "I would like to take this opportunity to officially announce that I will be stepping down from the position of "Demon Lord" and would formally like to ask Demon Lord Milim to-"

Before she could finish however, a rip in space appeared in the room.

It expanded slowly, a myriad of colors exploding from it. As it fully opened, the occupants in the room saw a man and a horse with fiery mane emerge.

"Ha, I really did it." The man said, stepping out of the rift and dismounting his horse, the rift slowly closing behind him.

While the man who appeared from no where examined his surroundings, so too did the did his "surroundings" examine him.

The man was tall, standing at 9ft3in, wearing nothing but a black tunic with swords on his back, and a golden belt with matching bracers on his arms

His blonde hair with red and black streaks framed the sides of his face falling to his mid back, and his skin was a tanned olive with his eyes a piercing gray.

Finally setting his gaze upon the occupants in the room, the blonde man only smiled.

"Oya oya. And who are you?"

It was a red haired man who spoke, his legs crossed and an amused look on his face.

"I am Ares, a traveler from another world. It seems I've intruded on a meeting of some sort and for that I do apologize. I'll be taking my leave now.

The rooms occupants went wide eyed, 'A traveler form another world?'

Turning to the only exit, Ares began to walk until the same person who initiated their conversation spoke once again.

"I am Guy Crimson, a True Demon Lord. Stay for a while my friend from another world. I'm sure you came here for reason, am I wrong?" The now named Guy asked in an amused tone.

Chuckling lightly knowing it was true, Ares obliged and made his way towards the round table, a chair magically appearing for him next to Guy.

As he sat down, another voice spoke, their tone filled with wariness.

"Who are you?"

Turning his attention to the speaker, Ares smiled slightly upon seeing who it was.

'Rimuru.'

"What do you mean?" Ares asked, a playful smile on his face.

He knew what that question meant.

'You're not human so what are you?' Is what he practically asked.

Narrowing his eyes, Rimuru spoke once again, "What are you?"

The room was silent, everyone had their eyes on Ares, wanting to know who this mysterious "traveler" was.

Seeing as all eyes were on him, Ares wondered what he should do.

With a smile and shrug of his shoulders, Ares replied, "No one important. Like I said before, I'm a simple traveler, nothing more."

Ares had no problem with telling them he was a God, however, Ares also had no intention of staying in this world for long.

Telling them he was a God would bring problems and unnecessary attention. It's part of the reason he was acting as a "traveler".

He had no real motive for being here other than to meet his favorite characters, sleep with certain women, and test his strength.

"Enough Rimuru." Guy said. "The man must be tired. But before you go Ares I do wonder, what are you here for?" He asked turning to Ares, sounding genuinely curious.

"To fight." Ares said with a wide smile.

"To fight?" Guy asked unfolding his legs, almost matching Ares' smile.

"That's why I traveled; for strength. The beings that are worth fighting in my homeland have already perished. I wanted change, and change brought me here. It seems I made the right choice." Ares smiled, staring into the eyes of Guy, Veldora, and Milim, along with some others.

"So be it!" Guy said standing up. "Ares, Rimuru will accommodate you in his country until I make arrangements. You want a fight, you'll get one."

"Why'd you dump him on me?!" Rimuru voiced out, clearly upset at being forced to look after the mysterious man.

"Are you not the best choice?" Guy asked confused. "Milim destroyed Carion's country, and the rest I assume are preoccupied, I know I am, or will be. Your country is best suited for him. Being as he's not from this world, your melting pot of a country will allow him to experience it first hand. I trust you will be a gracious host."

"But-"

"Perfect! Ah yes, this was a meeting. Frey, you were saying?" Guy said, turning to the woman who was interrupted by Ares' arrival.

Almost forgetting herself, Frey continued with her earlier announcement, followed by another made by a tall blonde haired man.

Turning to a blue haired maid and requesting tea, Ares resumed listening to the meeting before making an observation.

"So all eight of you are Demon Lords?"

Suddenly the room's atmosphere changed.

All the occupants bar Rimuru went wide eyed, and beads of sweat fell from their face.

"Did I say something wrong?" Ares asked feigning ignorance.

"No you didn't." Guy replied. "You just brought something to our attention. We used to be the called the "Ten Great Demon Lords", but due to unforeseen happenings, only eight remain. Unfortunately we must think of a new name for our little group. I say unfortunately because the last time we did so, it lasted more than one meeting." He sighed.

"WAHAHA. In that case, my friend Rimuru is good at coming up with names. Leave it to him!"

A tanned man with markings under his eyes and blonde hair spoke.

"Hmm, well Rimuru, the new Demon Lord, I give you the wonderful privilege of naming our little group." Guy said with a smirk.

"What, Veldora! Ah no, I'm fine, I humbly refuse this oh so gracious offer." Rimuru replied nervously, looking anywhere but at Guy.

Hearing this, Guy raised fist, but before he could bring it down he heard Ares' voice.

"I know it's not my place, but if I may, can I suggest a name?"

Bringing his arm back down to his side Guy look at Ares slightly amused.

"By all means Ares the traveler. Suggest away."

Not taking long to ponder his choices, Ares replied, "How about the Octogram Demon Lords, or simply Octogram for short meaning eight pointed star."

'HAHA! It's not stealing if I said it first.'

Everyone's face brightened at the suggestion though Rimuru looked like he had been slighted somehow.

"Wonderful Ares. From now on we are the Octogram Demon Lords." Guy announced, his arms wide to the side, and head looking to the stars.

(A/N: What do you suggest Ares do in the Tensura verse? Where should he go next? Leave ideas. And 'Sthenthi' is the name of Ares' blades for the moment. If you have a better name, leave it below. CK)