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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 134: First Battle with Olympus (2)
A man clad in silver steel armor.
Only his helmet was golden, making his appearance unbalanced.
He was fully encased in armor, wielding a spear in one hand and a short spear in the other.
Rather than a god of Olympus, he looked more like a medieval knight.
All he needed was a horse.
[Ares…]
From behind, I heard Hercules’ voice, tinged with regret.
Despite his hatred for Olympus and Zeus, his voice now was unexpected.
“It’s been a long time, Hercules.”
[It has, Ares.]
“Haha… I had hoped never to see you again.”
[I feel the same.]
Two men, regretful yet resigned.
What is this?
The atmosphere feels strange.
“It is our first meeting, God of Souls. I am Ares, god of war.”
As he touched his helmet, it vanished smoothly.
And his face was revealed.
Radiantly beautiful.
Among all the male gods I’ve seen, he might be the most handsome.
Wavy golden hair.
Piercing blue eyes filled with determination.
Glasses slightly obscuring those eyes.
Cold, chiseled features.
Seeing a handsome god usually just annoys me, but this guy is beyond that—his presence is overwhelming.
No, at this level, he’s not the god of war—he’s practically the god of beauty…
And he wears glasses?
If he takes them off… Wow…
No wonder he’s Aphrodite’s lover.
“Divine Protection.”
Huh?
That skill…
That’s the one I used before.
A buff that makes all thrown weapons miss.
Ares is using Divine Protection himself.
As I tensed up and observed him, my danger sense suddenly kicked in.
A trajectory heading straight for my head.
I immediately dodged sideways.
Whoosh!
Ares’ short spear was where I was standing.
No, rather than flying there, it just appeared there.
I couldn’t perceive any movement at all, only the sharp, menacing aura it emitted.
The spear’s tip lingered in my direction for a moment, then returned to Ares.
“As expected… you’re not just a low-tier god.”
He adjusted his glasses while looking at me.
Cold eyes.
I feel like he’s analyzing me down to my very core.
“Your ability to sense danger is top-tier. You accurately predicted my attack’s trajectory… yet you barely dodged. Do you have a limited form of foresight?”
He kept his gaze locked on me, carefully watching my reactions.
This is uncomfortable.
But… was Ares always this observant?
“Why does Ares seem so intelligent?”
I turn to Hercules and ask.
He responded with a question of his own.
[He’s not just the god of battle, but the god of war. Of course, he embodies intelligence too.]
“Isn’t that Athena’s role? The smart war god.”
“That’s because of Athens.”
Ares twirled his spear as he spoke.
“The city of Athens worshiped Athena and fully supported her image. That’s why she is seen as the intelligent war god. But war isn’t just about mindless slaughter.”
He continued to study me.
“The Romans, whom I love, also embody my spirit. In our time, the relationship between gods and mortals was symbiotic.”
[Ares was worshiped as Mars in Rome. During that time, his SP intake was second only to Zeus.]
Hercules added more context from behind.
Since Rome’s first king, Romulus, was the son of Ares—Mars in the Roman pantheon—he was widely worshiped.
So when people believe in a god positively, their nature changes too?
Hmm… so basically, he’s not just some brainless berserker.
A cautious, intelligent adversary… I don’t like this.
Thunk.
Ares, who had been analyzing me for a while, suddenly drove his spear into the ground.
“War God’s Banner.”
As the spear struck, its tip transformed into a banner.
A golden flag.
A crossed sword and shield emblem stood out.
Flash.
Light began radiating from the banner.
The golden light spread across the ground.
And from that illuminated ground, figures began to rise.
“For the War God!”
“Call us more often, General!”
“Who’s the enemy this time?”
Loud voices filled the air as soldiers emerged.
Soldiers burst onto the scene, chattering noisily.
There’s no discipline to be seen, yet each one is a powerhouse.
"The opponent is a Soul God. About SS-rank level. Do not let your guard down, slowly encircle them, and buy time. I will take on Hercules."
With a casual flick of his spear, Ares began to walk towards us.
As if synchronized with his steps, his legion advanced.
[Kim Jiho. The opponent is the War God Ares. Never let your guard down, be careful. You must survive.]
"Of course… Huh!?"
Suddenly, Ares charged straight at me.
The spear in his hand appears to split into hundreds right before my eyes.
This bastard…!
He acted like he was going for Hercules, but it was a fake-out!?
"Soul Barrier!"
Boom!
My body was sent flying.
Thankfully, the Soul Barrier remained intact.
As I soared through the air, Ares followed without hesitation.
"A Soul God’s Soul Barrier… Quite strong."
He reached out his hand, and spears dominated every angle around me.
My entire body tingled with the warning of danger.
With just a gesture, he unleashed hundreds, no, thousands of spear strikes.
So this is a War God…?
I can’t let this continue.
"Haap!"
I thrust my Soul Sword from within the Soul Barrier.
Ares countered by clashing his spear against my sword.
Whoosh!
It was a simple swing.
But as my blade met his strike, my body nearly flew away from the sheer force.
What monstrous strength…
"You have decent potential."
Boom!
Three spear strikes coiled toward me like snakes.
I tried to parry them, but my hands already felt sluggish.
"But you are still inexperienced."
Boom! Boom!
Cracks appeared in the Soul Barrier.
Ares doesn’t just wield his spear.
His limbs—even his head—are all weapons.
Bang!
He closes the distance and unleashes a flurry of punches.
Meanwhile, the floating spears continued to move freely, pressuring me.
The spear in his hand, if I take my eyes off it for even a moment, will try to smash the back of my head.
I’m barely managing to keep up.
I get the feeling that relying solely on my barrier will get me killed.
I need to use my Soul Sword along with the barrier to prevent a fatal blow.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sword and spear clashed countless times.
Some of his strikes grazed my blade, but thankfully, the barrier blocked most of them.
"The Soul Barrier is quite formidable. Your rank is low, yet you manage this level of defense. Truly, Olympus's greatest obstacle… You also have a natural sense for battle."
Ares murmured as he throwed a punch at me.
His glasses gleamed ominously.
He’s analyzing me—even while attacking!?
I've already burned through 100 million SP in less than five minutes.
At this rate, I won’t last much longer.
"Phoenix!"
I summoned the Phoenix to distract him.
Ares glanced at it with mild curiosity—
But his interest fades in an instant.
"Even if its master has grown stronger, it is still incomplete… Do not bring such a trivial creature into our battle. It is a waste."
He grabbed the Phoenix’s head.
And in a single moment—Boom!—it burst apart.
…Wow.
It didn't even get a chance to do anything.
I know it’s not dead, just forcefully unsummoned, but still—what a humiliating defeat.
Ares’s strength is overwhelming.
His attacks are simple.
A basic punch.
A basic spear thrust.
Yet they are terrifyingly fast and efficient.
He dominates every angle of my defense.
Without the barrier, I'd already be a bloodstain on the ground.
Is it because I let him get too close?
My danger sense is screaming so much that my vision is practically red.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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BOOM BOOM BOOM!
My barrier takes massive damage in an instant.
But Ares doesn’t look entirely pleased either.
"The original Soul Barrier is truly something… Such ridiculous efficiency… Even after all this, it still holds strong."
Whoosh!
I counter with my Soul Sword whenever I find an opening, but Ares evades effortlessly.
And yet, he grumbles about it the whole time.
How irritating.
Fighting him up close is suicide.
I need to create some distance—
[Get the hell out of my way!]
BOOM!
A thunderous roar erupted from the shoreline.
Ares’s warriors were sent flying in all directions.
"Hah. Shit. That thing is way too strong."
"We used to be on the same level, but how the hell did it get so powerful?"
"That guy who used to serve Ares—how did he turn into such a monster?"
The soldiers of Ares grumbled as they were flung away.
Ares’ legion—each one of them a god in their own right.
Yet, not a single one suffered serious injuries.
Just as I struggled against Ares, Ares' subordinates struggled against Hercules…
But in the end, neither side could land a decisive blow.
Ares, watching one of his soldiers get thrown aside, suddenly shouted to them.
"We’re switching opponents. The Soul God is strong but inexperienced. You lot should be enough."
"Understood!"
"Better than fighting that monster, at least."
In an instant, Ares’ soldiers surrounded me.
Their swords and shields gleamed, and banners bearing the eagle insignia fluttered in the wind.
Yeah, this was a real legion.
Sigh.
Fine.
They were definitely better than dealing with Ares himself.
"The Soul God is still unfamiliar with battle. I trust you, my seasoned warriors."
"Yes, sir!"
Ares looked over his legion with a gentle gaze.
Then, suddenly, he flung his glasses away.
The soldiers erupted into cheers.
"Whoo!"
"Captain took off his glasses!"
"Hercules, you're dead meat now!"
Without his glasses, his eyes were bloodshot.
They looked more intense than before—
But they weren’t filled with madness.
Just a deeper surrender to the heat of battle.
The soldiers who had been charging at me suddenly turned to stare at Ares instead.
Like fans gazing in admiration at their idol.
It was absurd, but curiosity got the better of me.
What exactly was he about to do?
Ares stomped his right foot onto the ground.
The earth caved in beneath him.
Then, he murmured softly—
"Mountain Shatter."
Rumble…
The ground trembled.
A short yet intense quake.
Sensing something off, I turned around—
And saw that the mountain where I met Hercules every day was floating in the air.
Yeah…
The entire mountain.
A completely surreal sight.
Ares then reached toward the sky.
"Flaming Heavens."
The sky caught fire.
The once-white clouds turned into blazing flames.
The heavens above Hercules’ head became a sea of fire in an instant.
And then—
The mountain flew straight at him.
Yeah.
A whole damn mountain.
Whistling through the air.
"Man, Ares is the best!"
"When was the last time he did this? Since the Gigantomachy?"
"Following Ares never gets boring!"
The soldiers cheered in excitement at this miracle.
A mountain was flying, and the sky was burning.
Sure, if it were just the mountain flying at me, I could dodge it.
I could just turn into a spirit and let it pass through me.
But this was different.
That mountain was a massive accumulation of divine energy.
Like a lightning bolt made of pure spiritual force, it was an attack meant to annihilate its target.
An overwhelming feat.
[Ha. The legendary Mountain Shatter & Flaming Heavens that crushed the Gigantomachy… It’s an honor, Ares!]
"I feel the same. I’m glad to fight you."
Ares grinned, glasses discarded.
His expression radiated pure enjoyment of battle.
His already-handsome face became dangerously mesmerizing.
The men around him couldn’t take their eyes off him.
"Captain…"
"I knew following him was the right choice."
"He’s worth pledging eternity and immortality to."
These lunatics… are they his fan club or what?
Watching these men get all flustered over another man was downright unsettling.
Especially the ones squirming and twisting their bodies.
[Sky-Sundering.]
With a single motion of Hercules’ hand, the burning sky split apart.
The "Flaming Heavens" part of Mountain Shatter & Flaming Heavens was gone.
But the flying mountain remained.
The Sky-Sundering I experienced before was a divine art that could split the entire world in half.
But this time, it only affected the sky.
"Your technique proved useful."
[Even Soul Barrier can be infused into Mountain Shatter & Flaming Heavens…?!]
Wait.
You can mix Soul Barrier into divine techniques like that?
Hercules stretched out his massive hand toward the mountain.
Yeah.
His hands were huge.
Fitting for a body that reached both heaven and earth.
But the mountain was even bigger.
That massive chunk of earth hurtled toward him, and he was trying to stop it with just his hands.
[Ghhrrr…!]
Hercules braced himself, his body straining under the weight.
He took one step back.
Then another.
Ares seized the opportunity.
He shot forward, wielding a single spear in one hand.
Like a falling star, he flew.
Compared to the demon-like, colossal Hercules, he looked like a righteous warrior.
Just as he was about to unleash a heroic strike—
Rumble!
A thunderclap roared across the sky.
Was Zeus getting involved now?
I had to take down Ares' legion before that happened…!
Boom!
A bolt of lightning struck the flying mountain.
In an instant, it began to split apart.
The massive divine energy inside it scattered into the void.
The mountain crumbled.
"Ares. You didn’t shatter the mountain. You just threw it."
The one who actually shattered the mountain—
Was the massive hammer.
A hammer so large, it was fitting for the giant hands of Hercules.
"If you really wanted to break a mountain, you'd need something like this."
[PR/N: LOVE AND THUNDER]
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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