40 [Bonus chapter] The victory is bitter as gall.

The crowded arena, crammed with warriors filled with excitement, was abuzz.

Everyone desperately expected to scream amidst a great tangle of excitement and anger.

They were angry with Hela for not surrendering and finally Ares's victory was enacted, but they were also filled with trying for the same reason.

Finally an opponent skilled enough to face the great god of war!

They were greedy for sweat and tears, but mostly for blood.

Spill your blood and prove your worth before Zeus' holy ground.

Ares hadn't had a fight like that for a few years and despite feeling like he could barely stand on his feet for long he also had enormous happiness and satisfaction from fighting.

War was in their veins, waiting for honors dyed by the enemy's clamor.

Yes, that's exactly how he felt.

Hela glared at Ares.

The two after a session of facades and punches kept apart at a long distance to finally breathe.

Ares could barely stand and blackened spots could already be easily seen on his abdomen and arms.

It was no exaggeration to say that he was rotting away.

It hurt like hell, he felt his mind go blank and his vision increasingly blurred, but he wasn't about to give up.

As long as there is no last last move, he would continue to rise and claim victory.

He would fight for it.

Hela knew full well that the god was in pain, but she wasn't in good shape either.

She must have had a few broken ribs and armor that looked like it was about to shatter into a few thousand pieces.

Ares seemed to know very well that she didn't have much stamina and combat experience, so he had her walk all over the arena simply to surrender out of exhaustion.

The unlimited arrows and always accompanied by fire or poison was also a huge problem, she still wondered how to deal with it.

After all, she approached and Ares always ran away and showered arrows on her.

In addition to the face full of cuts, she could feel pain every time a drop of sweat ran down her face.

Her right arm was already numb with the poison from the many arrows that had hit her.

Everything so dramatic and painful.

Hela was covered in cuts on her skin, and trails of blood followed her.

As Ares weakened, he used the bow more and more, it was really difficult to approach him.

But Hela would know she needed to put an end to this story.

Hela ran, ran as if her life depended on it and most likely she was right, at that moment she was fighting for her life.

Her and Ina's wedding.

It was bizarre to think that she hadn't had a moment of peace since she arrived in that place and for many moments she thought of the incessant calm of Niflheim.

Yes, she missed it.

Longing mixed with melancholy was a bitter feeling that only the presence of sweet love could alleviate.

Luckily she had that kind of love.

She wasn't leaving without a proper talk with Aphrodite.

Over the course of that battle she had become accustomed to running and reciting the necessary prayers, the ring responded immediately when requested.

If she thought fast enough she could have the upper hand even though she wasn't as experienced in battle as Ares.

As she approached with long and fast steps she called for a shield, there was still time for an arrow or two to collide with her, but in moments a shield appeared.

Hela didn't falter in her movements and knew that as she took steps, Ares was also running away.

They chased each other and acted as if they were prey and predator.

She could easily hear the sound of the arrows hitting the shield and failing miserably to hit her.

But how sustainable would that be? They could not remain that way and a winner must finally emerge.

Meanwhile, at the highest point of the gym, all that could be seen was the beautiful Aphrodite finally standing up, no longer interested in watching that bloodbath.

But she was already satisfied enough.

As she stood up and took two steps she felt her wrist being held, and of course she could even know who was holding her and it was not even necessary to look back.

After all, who else would have the courage to make such a gesture in broad daylight?! Just someone stupid and confident like Apollo.

Aphrodite lightly sighed, feeling irritated with the god's attitudes.

Just speak up and let me go.

Aphrodite had a good temper most of the time, but she didn't like Apollo.

Well, maybe only humans liked him.

Apollo who felt really curious about everything couldn't feel less strange to see that Aphrodite was just leaving.

Didn't she want to see who would win?!

In the end it was all about Aphrodite and not even Hades really mattered.

Hades was just some asshole who was making trouble.

"Don't you want to know who's going to win?"

Aphrodite smiled a little happily, but the irritation at feeling someone holding her still remained.

Feeling funny, she pulled her arm, not wanting to be touched by Apollo.

Aphrodite turned and was able to look once more at the bloody landscape.

Hela ran vigorously ready to destroy Ares without any mercy.

Yes, the scene was pitiful and it wasn't like she was adept at violence.

Bloodbaths were so messy and messy, it didn't make sense.

She definitely didn't like it.

But a small happiness seemed to arise in her heart, it was obvious the result of that fight.

The result was simple... She could finally meet that woman who now seemed so interesting under her eyes.

She looked one last time at Apollo and confronted him. "Doesn't it seem obvious that Hela will win?!"

Just as it appeared, it would disappear, quickly and without a trace.

Aphrodite didn't take long to simply disappear, in a small snap of her fingers she turned to smoke and most likely would already be safe in her area just waiting for the visit that would soon request her presence.

Apollo stared at the white smoke drifting away and mixing with the air.

He sighed irritably, but the truth really seemed to be that.

Ares could barely fight back and Hela was running wildly towards him.

It was just a matter of time, just a little slip up for the winner to emerge in a glorious way.

Hela stayed behind the shield long enough to get closer, but she couldn't just protect herself.

In a sigh she recited the prayers... "May the light guide us and transform us... In dust and dust I claim the blessings of fate... And I pray for the power of a morning star..."

The greenish light did not take long to obey Hela's call and immediately undid the shield and transformed itself into the shape of the weapon.

Ares might get his first glimpse of the power Hela possessed as a warrior, yes those people... The Asgardians... They were really good.

Ares now respected them.

Well, it was true to say that he only respected Hela.

All he could do was watch as he desperately tried to land arrows.

There was nowhere to run, now Hela was unprotected and if he was going to hit her he would need to try fiercely right now.

It was a little pitiful to feel that his legs wouldn't accept running so easily anymore, so all he could do was resist and face his fate.

Be it the glimpse of victory or the bitterness of defeat.

Hela moved her arm once...twice.

The movements were fast and finally made Hela able to hit the bow that Ares carried in her hands.

The bow was made of some magic that materialized in crystal and when finally hit it fell and shattered into thousands of pieces on the floor.

Ares even tried to react by running, but she in a last movement recited the prayer one last time.

Her bow came up again and she in a plastic and elegant movement pulled the string making an arrow appear and go against the fleeing man.

It was the end.

Ares by pure reflex turned back and saw the arrow a few meters from hitting him in the head and he had beyond the bitter feeling of defeat.

He saw Hela watching him, that was the power of death over the perpetuity of life.

Hela looked beautiful and glamorous, like her and was simply waiting for him to accept his fate and follow her to the realm of the dead.

Ares, surrendering to what seemed inevitable, closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

The gym had gone completely silent, they didn't look ready to face the great leader's defeat.

He was humiliating and melancholy.

Otrera, who was watching all that on the edge of the arena, felt her heart freeze, put her hands over your face and seemed about to break down in pain and grief.

Athena just sighed, that wasn't something she could just watch.

"The fight is over!"

The voice echoed throughout the gymnasium, the audience and all the gods could only listen in complete amazement.

The arrow had been suspended in the air just inches from reaching Ares's face.

The man who had his eyes closed before, finally opened them again and the first possible thing to be seen was the arrow still fighting against what prevented it from continuing.

Athena couldn't just let that duel end in death.

She already knew that at some point it would be necessary to intervene and that seemed like the ideal moment.

Either she stopped the fight now or there would be no possibilities later.

She finally walked away from Otrera and walked towards the center of the arena.

Athena stopped for a few moments and faced the audience in complete silence, perhaps some of them not even daring to breathe.

"I declare victory for Hela, it will not be necessary to go on with this..."

Her tone was firm.

Athena was fair and capable, no one would question the outcome of that fight.

Defeat was cruel, but losing a great leader felt even more so, they couldn't bear it.

Otrera who at that moment could barely hold back the tears in her eyes could barely contain the thanks in her heart, Athena had saved her husband.

They trained and everyone was sure that the next battle could be the last, but that didn't make the situation any less painful.

It would still be pitiful and sad.

Grief would haunt them for longer than they could count.

Athena aware that that fight was over, she wasted no time and intervened.

Ares was lying on the ground and it was still necessary to get rid of the threat that was that arrow.

Athena with her powers even tried to divert it, but all she managed to do was simply stop it.

It would be necessary for her to deflect with her own hands and so she would, walked to the arrow and took it with her own hands.

Despite the magic that held her back, she was still moving and Athena's hands went raw simply from touching her and trying to change her course.

With some effort she pushed hard making the arrow that was previously being contained go unbridled towards the wall of the huge gym.

The silence only increased, as if that were possible, when they noticed that the wall after the impact had the arrow stuck firmly and around it cracks gradually appeared.

What would happen if the target hit was really Ares' head?!

Athena glanced briefly at her palm and ignored the blood and wound.

She didn't really care about that and simply closed her fist.

Full of nobility, she left the center of the arena and everyone seemed to still be trying to understand what was going on.

Ares really lost?!

Otrera who saw Athena returning couldn't help but feel worried and wanted to see Athena's hand, but kindness despite being full of good intentions was not necessary. "Don't worry and go take care of your husband, I'm fine..."

Otrera nodded and ran to the middle of the arena, Ares had fallen completely exhausted and weak.

His body was so sore that he didn't have the strength to do much more than breathe.

But he felt satisfied and a smile came to his lips which only irritated Otrera.

It didn't matter anyway, what mattered was that he was alive.

Hela, who was in a slightly better state, knelt down panting, she was grateful internally for Athena having prevented that tragedy from happening.

Her body was hot and she looked in a complete state of shock, adrenaline coursing through her body making her not think clearly.

Now that it was all over she could breathe and try to understand, but it was still hard.

Apollo who watched all that, also needed some time to process what had happened.

He leaned his back against the chair and sighed.

Hela really had won.

Aphrodite was right.

Hela with the help of some soldiers was removed from the arena and with her Ares.

The two were almost immediately taken to the military hospital.

Hela didn't see much more after that, she passed out.