Conquering The Novel



Artin clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as rage and desperation welled up inside him. He could feel the weight of his impending doom bearing down on him, but he refused to go down without a fight.

Aware that he had little chance against Ares while Elaine stood by his side, Artin braced himself, gripping his unsheathed sword tightly. He assumed a battle stance, his eyes locking with Ares's, a blazing fire flickering within his gaze, mirroring the fiery fire that surrounded him due to his elemental affinity.

"Prepare yourself, Ares," Artin spat, his voice filled with determination. "I won't let you take everything away from me. I will fight until my last breath!"

Ares's smirked, relishing the prospect of a fierce confrontation. He raised his katana, the blade shimmering with electricity under the pale moonlight.

"As you wish, dear brother," Ares replied, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "Let us dance one last time."

Meanwhile, Elaine stood in silence, her smile widening with each passing moment, anticipation gleaming in her eyes. She understood the significance of Ares personally facing Artin and refrained from interfering, respecting the clash of their destinies.

"The best I can do is savor their fight," Elaine muttered, her gaze momentarily shifting towards Aretrus, who was biting his nails in desperation.

At that moment, a message from Elaine's constellation materialized before her eyes, interrupting her thoughts.

[That Artin guy seems to be at the peak of S-Rank. I'm curious to see how Ares will overcome him. Will he unleash his constellations power once again?] the message read.

Elaine's curiosity was piqued, and she pondered the revelation. "So, the lightning control from before... It was his constellation's power," she mused aloud, seeking confirmation.

[Yes, it appears so.] The constellation's message replied, affirming Elaine's deduction.

"Interesting," Elaine whispered with a mischievous grin, her gaze fixed on the unfolding battle.

With unwavering determination, Artin lunged forward, his fiery sword slicing through the air with relentless speed. Ares met his assault head-on, their blades colliding in a clash that reverberated with a thunderous impact.

CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!

Brilliant sparks erupted from the collision, illuminating their faces in a dramatic dance of light and shadow.

Artin's movements grew increasingly fluid, his attacks relentless as he tapped into the depths of his mana. He infused his sword with even greater intensity, causing flames to surge forth and envelop his weapon, transforming it into a blazing inferno.

Swoosh—

The scorching waves of his strikes painted the battlefield with an eerie glow, casting an otherworldly aura upon their duel.

Undeterred by Artin's fiery onslaught, Ares showcased his own formidable power. With a flourish, he used his skill Static Electricity and unleashed a torrent of crackling lightning, its electric tendrils arcing and snaking through the air. His katana conducted the surging currents, transforming it into a weapon of electrifying brilliance.

Shrieek— Shrieek

The collision created an explosive spectacle, each clash resonating with a resounding boom that reverberated through the surroundings.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

They moved with supernatural speed, darting and dodging, their swords slashing and parrying in a dizzying display of skill and power. Artin leaped into the air, launching himself toward Ares with a fiery aerial assault.

Ares countered with an electricity-imbued uppercut, their weapons colliding with a tremendous shockwave that sent waves of energy rippling through the air.

BOOM!—

The battlefield became a chaotic symphony of fire and lightning, with Artin and Ares gracefully dancing through the storm of their own creation. They defied gravity, flipping and spinning, their movements bordering on the supernatural.

Artin's flames formed ethereal wings that propelled him through the air, while Ares harnessed the power of electricity to dart around the battlefield with blinding speed.

Their attacks intensified, becoming more ferocious and devastating with each passing moment. Artin summoned pillars of fire that erupted from the ground, engulfing Ares in a maelstrom of scorching flames.

But Ares, with a burst of electricity-infused agility, maneuvered through the inferno unscathed, retaliating with a barrage of electrifying strikes that crackled and sizzled with destructive force.

As the battle waged on, their powers intertwined, merging them in a symphony of destruction.

Reality itself seemed to bend and contort as Artin and Ares unleashed their most devastating techniques. Artin summoned a swirling vortex of infernal flames, its intensity growing with each passing moment.

Meanwhile, Ares channeled his power into numerous ethereal crescents, crackling with bolts of electrifying energy that streaked through the air like celestial arrows.

BOOM! BOOM!

Their clash reached its crescendo, the energy surging around them in a cataclysmic frenzy. Artin and Ares stood locked in a final, climactic clash, their swords pressed against each other with unwavering determination.

The collision of their powers ignited a cataclysmic explosion of fire and lightning, the very air crackling with their combined might. The shockwave of their clash reverberated through the battlefield, sending ripples of raw energy in all directions.

In that pivotal moment, time seemed to freeze. Artin's eyes blazed with an indomitable spirit, his body a vessel for the scorching energy coursing through his veins. Ares, his once wicked grin twisted into a fierce snarl, radiated an aura of raw power, his form crackling with the intensity of unleashed electricity.

And in a dazzling display of strength and will, the clash reached its zenith. The ground shattered beneath their feet, debris and sparks spiraling in chaotic arcs. The once serene battlefield transformed into a maelstrom of elemental chaos, a testament to the unstoppable force of their collision.

As the swirling vortex of elemental chaos dissipated, a tense silence hung in the air. The battlefield lay in ruins, a testament to the titanic clash that had unfolded. Artin and Ares stood apart, their bodies marked by wounds and their breaths heavy with exhaustion. 

Fuu— Fuu—

However, to Artin's horror, suddenly a wicked grin spread across Ares's face, and at that moment, a surge of power rippled through him. Artin's eyes widened as he saw several blue, ethereal lines materialize and cover his entire body.

"What... what is this?" Artin gasped, his voice filled with disbelief and dread.

Before he could react, Ares moved with lightning speed, his blade slashing through the air with unmatched precision. The very air crackled with tension as each strike carried an overwhelming weight, tearing through reality itself.

SWASH! SWASH! SWASH!

In a swift and brutal flurry of strikes, Artin's body was severed into numerous pieces, each strike leaving trails of intense energy in its wake. The scene unfolded in slow motion, the crimson splatters of blood suspended in the air like an eerie dance of death.

Time seemed to stand still as the battlefield transformed into a canvas of tragedy and despair. Artin's lifeless fragments hung suspended for a brief moment before gravity took hold, showering the ground with a macabre rain of blood and flesh.

Thud— Thud— Thud

Drip— Drip— Drip

Ares stood over the fallen Artin, his eyes gleaming with sadistic satisfaction. The taste of victory lingered on his lips, fueling his malevolent aura.

"The power of Gigantomania," Ares whispered under his breath. "A gift bestowed upon me after defeating Hercules. It truly is a formidable tool."

The sudden surge in Ares's strength had caught Artin completely off guard, leaving him vulnerable and defenseless. The gift of Gigantomania had allowed Ares to overpower Artin in the last moment, his blows delivering a devastating and fatal impact.

Silence descended upon the battlefield as Ares surveyed the scene, his victory assured. The air grew heavy with the weight of Artin's defeat, his body now reduced to lifeless remnants scattered across the ground.

Ares's gaze shifted, locking onto Aretrus, whose expression twisted with terror and disbelief. The sweat streamed down his face as he pleaded for his life, his voice trembling with desperation.

!!

"P-Please, don't kill me! B-Brother, Brother Ares!" Aretrus begged, his voice choked with fear. "I had no part in the murder of your mother. It was my mother and our elder brother, Artin, who committed that heinous act. I am innocent, and we have no animosity between us."

Aretrus's words echoed in the stillness of the battlefield, his plea hanging in the air. His eyes pleaded for mercy, hoping to escape the same fate that had befallen Artin.

Ares regarded Aretrus with a cold, calculating gaze, his expression unreadable. The seconds stretched into an eternity as Ares contemplated his next move, weighing the possibilities and the weight of his own vengeance.

Elaine's curiosity grew, her eyes fixed on Ares, waiting to witness his decision unfold. 'Would he succumb to his desire for vengeance, eliminating Aretrus as well? Or would the weight of innocence sway him towards mercy?' She pondered inwardly.

Finally, Ares spoke, his voice filled with a chilling resolve that sent a shiver down Elaine's spine. "Meira," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Deal with him."

As Ares's words hung in the air, a shadow materialized behind Aretrus, seemingly extending from the depths of darkness itself. Before Aretrus could react or fully comprehend the situation, Meira emerged from the shadow, her form swift and lethal.

In an instant, her blade arced through the air with deadly precision, severing Aretrus's head from his body in a single, swift motion.

Swash—

Aretrus's eyes widened with disbelief and horror as his head flew through the air, a macabre testament to the cruel fate that had befallen him. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, blood pooling around it, marking the end of his existence.

Thud!—

Silence reigned over the battlefield once more, broken only by the distant echoes of Ares's command and the thud of Aretrus's lifeless body hitting the ground. 

The aftermath of the clash was now complete, and the air hung heavy with the stench of bloodshed. The fallen bodies of Arabella, Artin, and Aretrus served as haunting reminders of the consequences that came with the pursuit of revenge and the unforgiving nature of their world.

To be continued...