[88] Lunar Eclipse, Shining Upon You

Under the pristine moonlight.

Atop the highest peak of Sparta, the majestic Temple of War lay in ruins, brought down by the ferocious might.

Gazing upon the towering figure emerging from the dissipating dust, a crimson mech, even larger and more imposing than oneself.

"Huh?!"

The laughter of the black-haired woman, akin to a strangled goose, abruptly froze.

"What is... this..."

"Allowing me... to utilize my full magical power."

Accompanied by a hoarse and deep-layered voice, a sound slowly emanated from the swirling dust.

Majestic and colossal, towering like a small mountain, the crimson behemoth lowered its gaze, peering at the mech, which stood a head shorter than itself.

A slight crack formed at the corner of Kratos's lips.

Towards the God of War, it displayed a grin as abyssal and menacing as the depths themselves.

"Ares... you're not bad."

In the near-astonished gaze of the black-haired woman.

The blood-red magical energy coursing through the mech's body swayed like surging flames.

The wounds piercing Kratos's abdomen, inflicted by the power of molten flame, healed and sealed at a visible speed.

Such fluctuations...

The energy responses contained within this body.

Like the most violent magnetic field of the earth, raging down onto the ground, almost causing a distortion and tremor in the surrounding space.

What the hell?!

Within the helmet enclosing the crimson mech, the scars on Ares's face seemed to squirm like centipedes.

This was so different from what Athena said?!

Her mech's terminal operated desperately, calculating every parameter of the entity before it.

[Breakthrough! Data breakthrough! The limit cannot be measured?!]

Clearly just a false deity, a body synthesized from organic matter.

Ares also seemed to sense the indescribable fear pressing upon his mind, trickling down like cold sweat on his replicated delicate skin, devoid of sweat glands...

This brief, fleeting standoff.

Her crimson mech had been pushed to the utmost heat.

But... Ares did not strike.

Because her mech's terminal, her formidable computing power, her condensed deity...

One after another, warned her.

[You will die.]

"...Impossible!"

From Ares's vocal cords came an incredulous, tearing roar.

"Two years, two years wanting to defeat me, Kratos? Who do you think you are?! Allowing you to indulge?! Am I not bad?! Even if it's Zeus! Even if Zeus wants to dismantle me! It's not that easy!"

The lava-like, surging divine power flowed around Ares's crimson mech.

Though a god in essence.

Yet using human means, using roaring motivational words, to encourage her own core.

She would never admit it.

...She would never admit that, as a god of war, she had sensed the possibility of defeat on a mortal's body, she had felt... an indescribable fear!

"Your scraps of faith, they're all rubbish I discarded, Kratos!"

"Think being big makes you strong, makes you good?!"

Ares suddenly spread his arms, roaring wildly, within the blazing godly flame ring behind him, forms of thousands of weapons emerged.

"Flesh is weak, machinery is the true form of civilization's development! Mechanical bodies are the most efficient, the most powerful, the most slaughterous weapons of war!"

"Tremble! Tremble in fear! Feeble mortals, witness this!"

"I am known as Ares! The god of war and chaos!"

Facing Ares's roar, the godly mech roared like turbulent clouds.

Kratos still silent.

Bearing the blood-red giant sword, Aatrox, he twisted his muscular neck, producing a crisp sound.

Then, silently, step by step, he moved forward towards Ares.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud...

Every step he took seemed to make the entire mountaintop tremble incessantly.

Every step seemed to tread upon the anxious mech terminal of the god of war.

"Heh... hehe..."

Ares sneered abruptly.

"Oh? You're approaching me?..."

"Instead of running away, you're coming right to me?"

"If I don't approach you..."

Kratos's layered voice resounded hoarsely.

"How I will twist your head off, tearing out your eyes and stuff it into your fucking mouth, Ares..."

"You motherfucker!!!"

Boom!

The intense flame burst behind the mech, engulfing the surroundings in a wave of heat, melting the solid rocks into a pool of scorching magma.

Utilizing this immense propulsion, Ares's figure surged forward like a plummeting meteor, his multicolored Sword of the War God in hand, instantly condensing into a crimson spear, flowing with lava-like divine power.

"Ohhhhhh!!!"

Like a meteor piercing through the sky, a crimson spear thrust directly towards the most vulnerable part of Kratos's chest.

Ares had detected it.

The terminal of the vanguard of the wandering star was right in Kratos's chest.

Nowhere else, not even his head, could be considered this guy's weak point, only here, the terminal of the vanguard of the wandering star...

As long as it was shattered, it would be a lethal blow.

However...

In Ares's shocked, bewildered, and even distracted gaze...

There was no anticipated drawing of swords, no magnificent display of strength and confrontation.

Though he was robust and towering like a mountain peak...

Kratos subtly dodged her attack with movements surpassing Ares's imagination in agility and finesse, narrowly avoiding the spear of the war god that could pierce through a mountain.

Boom!

The scorching divine power surged, forming a massive crimson beam that shot straight from the tip of the spear, like a bloody meteor, completely piercing through the rocky walls of the mountain, continuing straight towards the distant sky.

The immense heat transformed the dark night clouds into spreading, fiery red clouds.

The power was impressive, but...

If it didn't hit, it was as good as useless!

Kratos raised his hand, grasping Ares's crimson, ferocious mechanical arm.

In less than a fraction of a second, with almost the terminal of the machine god barely reacting...

Boom!

Powered by magic, the most formidable strength surged forth, suddenly bursting through Ares's force field shield, flooding in like a tide.

In a swift exchange, Kratos swiftly twisted and directly broke apart the crimson machine god, that arm forged in divine steel, just like that.

Hiss!

A dazzling burst of flames erupted from the crimson divine body.

In Ares's almost stupefied gaze...

Kratos lifted her helmet, amidst the faint screams of the armor, slowly lifting her up.

It was as if he had seen the most ridiculous scene in the world.

Kratos's bloody and ferocious face revealed a mocking smirk.

"Ares, do you want to... engage me in close combat?"

"What kind of fighting style is this?"

"Simple combat skills."

The conversation was just a distraction.

Bang!

The remaining mechanical left hand of Ares erupted with fierce flames, propelling her fist like a rocket, directly exploding towards Kratos.

Such a feeble attack.

Snap.

Kratos casually caught her fist in his palm, not even causing his arm to tremble.

"You pussy, haven't you eaten?"

Crack.

With a sudden squeeze, he crushed Ares's entire hand, directly into a pool of rotten flesh and a mass of flashing sparks of scrap copper and iron.

"Guh?!"

"In this lifetime, I've barely even exerted my full strength, Ares..."

In Ares's convulsing expression...

From the crimson demonic body, a hoarse, layered voice slowly emanated.

"So, even I... don't know how strong I truly am."

"So, you should be proud... you're the first opponent to make me go all out."

"Unfortunately..."

"Weak... weak, weak, weak!"

"Ares, you're just disappointingly weak!"

"Kratos!!! I'll kill you!!!!"

Accompanied by earth-shattering roars and contorted faces.

The bursting flames of divine power surged from Ares's mechanical body, like an impending supernova, ready to cause violent rumblings in the earth and sky.

Snap!

Kratos's slap fiercely struck Ares's face, smashing her anticipated mechanical terminal into a mess, even cracking her crimson helmet.

"Stop your frenzy!"

Ares was dazed.

Underneath her mechanical armor, her crimson eyes stared almost dully at the equally crimson humanoid figure before her.

"What... are you?"

"An interest-led godslayer."

"You-"

Grasping Ares's face, Kratos's blood wings suddenly spread open, and he abruptly flew towards the mountain, carrying her mechanical body, crashing through layer after layer of thick walls.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Amidst a continuous explosion of thunderous roars.

Boom...

Standing at the peak of the Temple of War, the highest point of Sparta, within just a few seconds, a massive chasm was torn open.

Hearing the explosion from the royal court, most people still hadn't realized what had happened.

Within the city-state, countless residents gazed in astonishment.

At the peak of Sparta, the temple of war it collapsed like an avalanche, carrying with it billowing clouds of dust and countless flying sands and stones, slowly tilting, collapsing, and falling down... crashing onto the Sparta bounded field, setting off waves of swirling magical ripples.

"What's happening?!"

"War Devil? Have the War Devil attacked again?!"

"Of all times, they choose to strike on His Highness's birthday, damn it!"

"His Highness, are he at battle with devils?!"

"Report! The gates of hell! The gates of hell are about to face an unprecedented onslaught! Devils hordes are pouring in from all directions! The scale... the scale is immense! It's beyond comprehension!"

"Why can't we contact His Highness through magical communication?!"

Looking down at the square below the mountain, where the gates of hell stood, magical flames suddenly flickered around the surrounding iron walls.

In front of the collapsed Spartan palace, the Argonauts exchanged solemn looks.

"Devils are attacking?"

Caenis furrowed her brow.

"A red radiance, the highest level of alert... it's suspicious."

Atalanta raised her head, anxiously gazing at the collapsing peak of sparta.

The deafening explosions echoed incessantly, shaking hearts with each reverberation.

"Ares and His Highness just started fighting, and the devil tide is already upon us? Why choose this moment?"

"The battle between Kratos and Ares, even for me, it's hard to intervene. Everyone knows about their feud, right? They're bound to determine a winner."

"Don't cause trouble for Kratos. By bringing Ares to the peak of the temple of war, he's trying to keep the city and us safe."

Alcides waved, signaling everyone to step back.

"So, don't linger here, move away! I'll go support the Gates of Hell!"

But with a worried glance at the peak.

"Master, I'll go with you..."

Dante now in a master-apprentice relationship with Alcides, followed the great hero, continuing his combat training and studies.

"We'll go too."

"I'll take Vergil... first, to sustain his life. All that's left is his head, I don't understand the technology of the gods... but perhaps I can try to give him a new body."

"I... I'll go maintain the city's bounded field!"

Knowing that they couldn't participate in the battle between Kratos and Ares, intervening would only be a burden.

The heroes with combat strength gathered towards the Gates of Hell.

Asclepius used his serpent staff to sustain Vergil's life, carrying the silver-haired youth's head, swiftly heading towards the research institute.

The young witch floated up, flying towards the temple of the priests, the magical hub of Sparta.

Standing in the courtyard of Sparta's palace.

The great hero squatted down slowly, then leaped up.

Boom!

Before the vast square of the Gates of Hell, Alcides' imposing figure descended from the sky, landing abruptly at the forefront.

"Don't panic! Notify the entire city to be on high alert, continue normal operations!"

Today's Sparta is no longer the Sparta of two years ago.

Even without the young king, the entire city, forged by blood and fire, swiftly entered a state of order amidst the chaos.

Bang!

Ares's mechanical body was abruptly smashed into the ground.

On the nearly flattened peak of the temple of war, the pervasive sand and smoke were suddenly swept away by this majestic and violent force.

"Though, you're just a useless waste."

Kratos fluttered his blood-red wings, slowly descending to the ground.

He lowered his body, gripping Ares's face, lifting her once again.

A brilliant yet fierce smile appeared on his face.

"But at least, you're fun to againts."

Crack...

The mask of the machine god shattered once again under the accumulated force, revealing a black-haired woman, her delicate face bloody.

Even the bloodthirsty demonic sword behind her didn't bother to draw.

Because Kratos wanted to feel Ares's face with his own fists.

As he said.

Kratos wanted to tear off Ares's head, tearing out her eyes and shoving it into her mouth.

So what if she's a woman?

It's even better this way! He even thought of a more interesting idea to use her mouth.

Her divine power, her mechanical body, the force field shield surrounding her, were indeed immensely powerful.

But Ares shouldn't have, under no circumstances, attempted close combat with Kratos.

With the most powerful, undefendable force, applied with the utmost skill.

This magically propelled body, even with the force field of the machine god, couldn't resist it.

The one consumed by overwhelming fury and losing rationality.

Was not Kratos.

But... the God of War in front of him.

"A simple insult made you launch an attack against me, Ares. You're not even a fraction as good as Athena."

Kratos smirked hoarsely.

"At least, under my thousand insults, she persisted for over a year."

"You... can't kill me. Although my armor body has been beaten to pieces, my fleet still floats in the satellite orbit. Even if you dismantle it, it's just disassembling this body that's not easy to create."

"You really... have pissed me off, Kratos."

The face of the black-haired woman, being held by the face, breathed heavily, smiling fiercely.

"I will wash away your insults with blood!"

Ares roared angrily.

"Photon Ray!"

Boom!

In the sky, the battered fleet, floating in orbit, suddenly descended a scorching, annihilating beam.

As a God of War type fleet, the essence of its sword of the war god is not a weapon.

But a Near-Earth Plasma Orbit Cannon.

Whether it's moonlight or stars.

Because of this excessively dazzling light, it seems to momentarily lose its brilliance.

The dark sky was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

The scorching and dazzling light made the heroes standing in Sparta, watching the commotion on the mountain, unable to help but close their eyes and shed tears.

The intense plasma storm.

From the peak of the temple of war, spread in all directions like a nuclear explosion.

The ground has already been washed by bombs, and the mountain peaks riddled with holes. The powerful shockwaves once again crushed the ground layer by layer, thousands of tons of sand and stone were stirred up, violently hitting Sparta's bounded field.

Those closer to this side only felt a buzzing in their brains, and strands of blood flowed from their ears. Their eardrums seemed on the verge of bursting.

In the massive plummeting, the seemingly sky-piercing plasma orbit cannon.

Ares, absorbing the cannon energy with the force field of the machine god, once again, inch by inch, was covered and repaired by the crimson armor.

But...

Ares's sluggish gaze froze.

Kratos, who seemed to be in the center of this seemingly endless intense light, bathed silently in this seemingly infinite and violent brilliance. His bloodied demonic body only emitted a faint whine.

Plasma cannon...?

Indeed, this is a weapon of city destruction, but not suitable for use against one man.

Because... it's too dispersed, the power is not concentrated enough.

The so-called heat, radiation, and illumination.

In essence, they are all just electromagnetic forces.

With the help of Aatrox's terminal, as long as his magical power is not exhausted, Kratos can perfectly withstand such energy impacts.

"Why..."

"On what grounds..."

Bathed in the fiery barrage, watching as the beams of light vanished inch by inch into oblivion, the surrounding soil and rock layers evaporating for dozens of meters.

Kratos stood before Ares, his body still towering, his magical aura flickering like flames.

"Why are you so strong! By what right are you so strong?! What exactly are you?! Where did you come from, you monster?! Kratos?! Even Zeus Himself! There's no way He could have fathered such an abomination like you!"

"Compared to the warp storm, what does this amount to, Ares."

Kratos twisted his neck.

"In this vast universe, even if you were a spaceship, you would be insignificant, like a mere insect."

Incomprehensible...

Facing such nonsensical ramblings.

Ares fell into complete madness.

"What are you even saying?! Who can understand any of this?!"

"You don't need to understand, just to be dismantled by me into a pile of garbage."

"You son of a bitch!"

Boom!

The body of the mech, fully and almost self-destructively liberated, burst into a fierce eruption of molten divine power.

With murderous intent, desire to crush the opponent completely, it exploded magnificently.

"Kratos!!!!"

"Ares!!!!"

No longer needing any weapons.

No longer needing any skills.

Layers of force fields surged around Ares's mech, she, completely devoid of reason, was determined to crush Kratos, the one who took so much pride in his close combat, into dust.

Thud!

Fists clashed wildly against each other.

The violent force of their collision made the entire mountain peak tremble, the air emitting unbearable explosions. Before the continuous impacts could dissipate, they were shaken apart by new shocks.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom...

"Ora ora ora ora ora ora ora!!! Die! Just die! Kratos, you fucking insect!!!"

"Muda! Muda! Muda! Mudada! Ares, weak! Even with the help of the mech! Your strength is too weak! Pathetically weak!!!"

The frenzy continued endlessly.

Crack.

Seemed like something cracked as Kratos's body suddenly jerked.

Suddenly.

His power surged again, punching fiercely into Ares's face.

Snap!

The mech, with its grim appearance covered in sparks and cracks, flew out, falling to the ground like a piece of rag, rolling incessantly.

Kratos stepped forward, lifting his foot.

Thud!

Thud! Thud! Thud...

One kick, then another.

With incredibly violent force, Kratos stomped on Ares's face, cracks spreading, pits forming, the mech's armor emitting unbearable screams.

Crack crack...

Stamping on Ares's face, grinding with force.

With a grimace, blood dripping, Kratos leaned down, exhaling crimson breath.

"I must say, Ares."

"Because of Vergil's interference, I'm in a bad mood now..."

"So, what I'm going to do next."

"...Will just be the purest form of catharsis."

The mech shattered.

Hair in disarray.

Face oozing blood.

With such a pitiful appearance.

The black-haired woman gazed at the sky through bloodshot eyes, her distorted expression almost trembling, emitting a hoarse laughter.

"Zeus."

"Zeus..."

"ZEUS!!!"

Her cries, her roars.

Yet received no response from the sky.

"Tonight, my hand trembles, tonight, my heart aches... Why? We are comrades... I, Ares sacrificed so much for the continuation of Olympus... What did I do wrong... What did I do wrong? That my position in your heart is not even as strong as these weaklings... You are supposed to be our flagship... We all respect you... Why do you treat us like this...?"

Still.

No response.

The scorching moonlight, the serene air.

Seemingly, mourning silently.

"So that's it..."

"Heh... hehe... hahaha..."

Ares's body trembled slightly, and from her throat, a low, mocking laughter slowly emerged.

She laughed as if she couldn't contain herself, the laughter turning into a kind of soaring, mad laughter.

"Haha... Hahahaha!!"

"Hehehe... Hehehehehe!!"

Facing the frenzy beneath him, this madwoman.

Kratos bent down, lifting her by the collar.

"What does Zeus want to do..."

He hoarsely asked.

"Speak, Ares! Why does Zeus shelter me?! Spit it out, and I can give you a quick death!"

"Kratos..."

Ares chuckled tremblingly.

"Come closer. Let me tell you a secret."

Not worried about what tricks she might have left.

Kratos lowered his face expressionlessly, locking eyes with Ares's amber gaze.

Her pupils same like Athena have identical nested circular rings.

Could it be, was this a feature of the machine god?

"Speak." 

Kratos's expression was icy.

The lips of the black-haired woman moved, twisted with a smirk, she spoke deliberately.

"Kratos..."

"I'm going to show you hell."

Boom!

The battered mech's body was suddenly slammed into a deep pit, Kratos lifted Aatrox and stabbed her in the chest.

Buzz!

Accompanied by a piercing buzz.

The crimson mech's body suddenly shattered, initiating a thorough self-destruct sequence, emitting rings of fiery light, in the roaring force field, pushing back Kratos's demonic body, also pushing away the bloodthirsty demonic sword.

As the god of war, she didn't want to win this battle anymore.

As long as she recognized her own weakness, then she would be invincible.

Ares abandoned this body, gave up the chance of survival, let her once glorious armor fall into extreme weakness and slumber.

And to bring Kratos... extreme pain.

In the midst of maniacal laughter.

The crimson mech, enveloped in fiery divine power, like a meteor with a tail of flames, plummeted towards the city-state of Sparta.

"!"

The most troublesome situation arose.

Kratos spread his blood wings, soared into the sky, chasing after Ares.

Yes, Ares found his weakness.

That was... Sparta.

Ares, abandoning his bottom line, was about to start destroying everything Kratos cherished.

Thud!

She crashed into Sparta's bounded field, a violent ripple of magic spreading across the sky.

"Heh... Hehehe... hahahaha!"

"This trash dares to block me..."

The mech's vision, in the violent sweep, glimpsed Medea standing within the city, at the temple.

Ares poured out his divine power without reservation, slashing abruptly, briefly tearing through the defense barrier in front of him, and the entire mech plunged straight in.

Amidst the panic of the priests.

In the slightly stunned gaze of the young witch.

Above the sky, a fiery meteor with a tail, descended directly towards her.

"Ares!!!!"

Boom!

Kratos's demonic body collided with Ares, slamming him against the side of the temple.

A vast cloud of smoke slowly dispersed over the city.

Above the sky, ominous clouds began to gather faintly, accompanied by flickering thunder and lightning.

In the devastated royal palace of Sparta, where no one was paying attention, nine figures with halos floating above their heads appeared.

The gods stood high above the city-state, their expressions unreadable, overlooking everything prosperous below.

"Now is the time to act..." The orange-haired woman with amber eyes said, standing on the mountaintop, turning to her compatriots with a smile.

"Everyone simply desires survival."

As Athena's voice fell silent.

The blue-haired, crown-wearing, elegant goddess raised her hand, pointing towards the distant Ionian Sea.

The sea surged, and a massive blue-bodied ship with fins rose slowly.

Planetary Environment Modification Plant Ship, Poseidon.

The blonde, wearing a wheat-ear headband, raised her hand, pointing towards the distant mountains.

The mountains split open suddenly, and a massive starship, thick and peak-like in form, slowly lifted its hull.

IInterstellar Travel Resource Manufactury Ship, Demeter.

The silver-haired goddess, holding a finely crafted staff, her body wrapped only in simple fabric, raised her hand, pointing towards the gleaming moon.

In the hazy moonlight emerged a sleek, agile ship.

Shooter-Type Interstellar Fighter Craft, Artemis.

With wings spread behind her, the red-haired goddess, her body barely covered in sheer fabric, raised her hand, pointing towards the clouds.

In the distant clouds emerged a massive, strange red ship resembling a cube.

Spiritron Data Warfare Type Attack Vessel, Aphrodite.

These were the only remaining four starships of Olympus, aside from the flagship Zeus, all heavily damaged and scarred.

Poseidon, Apollo, Hephaestus, Aphrodite...

Besides Hera, Ares, and Hades, the nine Olympian gods at this moment, their powers and authority all connected.

In the void, ripples seemed to spread.

The people of Sparta, sensing something, lifted their heads.

As if something overwhelmingly oppressive and suffocating were about to descend upon the sky.

In the night of Sparta.

A giant vertical pupil with a golden cross embedded in it slowly opened, as if tearing a brilliant crack in the sky.

The next moment...

Dark, gloomy clouds quickly gathered.

Golden thunder and lightning surged fiercely within the clouds, forming a dazzling thunder vortex, striking towards the summoned cross-pupil in the sky.

"Zeus... is held back by Chaos."

"Seize the opportunity."

As their minds communicated.

The will of the gods settled into their terminals.

Under the blessing of the gods...

The most devout believers had their bodies completely taken over by the gods.

The warriors, craftsmen, and immigrants gathered from various city-states, at this moment, wore tranquil and eerie expressions on their faces.

Within the city-state of Sparta, the faithful arranged in advance raised their hands, wiping their necks, and blood gushed out, sprinkling into the gleaming moonlight.

Most of the people of Sparta watched this scene in utter astonishment, not yet comprehending what had happened.

Accompanied by the flesh and blood sacrifice of the followers of the gods.

A hoarse, layered call echoed from all directions of the city-state of Sparta.

"Hades..."

"You are the Lord of the Underworld!"

"You are the King of Hell!"

"You are the embodiment of all decay, reincarnation, and omens!"

"We call upon you here!"

"Your faithful devotees sacrifice their souls to awaken you!"

In the depths of hell.

In the mist-filled underworld, the sleeping lord of the underworld, suppressing his malignant power, was slowly awakened by the flesh and blood sacrificed by the believers.

A towering gate, carved with countless corpses, skulls, and three-headed dog motifs, slowly formed in the sky above Sparta.

Click!

With a teeth-gritting, sharp opening sound,

Accompanied by the abyssal black mist as prison-like, it spread across the sky.

A withered, shriveled, six-fingered hand, almost covering the night sky, suddenly reached out from the gate of the underworld in the sky, slowly descending towards the battlefield of Kratos and Ares, pressing down.

Outside the gates of hell.

Countless named devils launched an assault towards Sparta.

Alcides, drenched in blood, raised his head, looking towards the sky.

In a few breaths.

Various visions appeared in the night sky.

An oppressive, suffocating aura spread out, and above the sky, that huge hand from hell descended slowly.

"Kratos!!!"

Within the ruins of the chaotic city.

Ares, his body bursting with hot, flickering light, slowly raised his gaze towards the giant hand of hell descending towards him.

So... it was like this.

The disheveled face of the black-haired woman revealed a mad-like grin.

"Athena..."

"My dear sister..."

She staggered to her feet, looking towards the nearby purple-haired witch.

Ares tilted his head, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.

Facing Medea.

She slowly raised her palm.

Boom!

A scorching wave cannon suddenly burst out, instantly extinguished by the swiftly approaching figure.

Kratos sprinted over, holding Medea tightly in his arms, his blood wings spread out, flying straight towards the outside.

The next moment.

Hades' palm slowly descended.

The palm of the colossal creature held the entire square kilometer of Sparta in its grasp.

Darkness.

Boundless darkness enveloped Kratos's vision.

When light reappeared.

He was already embracing Medea, standing on a picturesque grassland with chirping birds and fragrant flowers.

Countless strange gates floated in the sky.

Beside him was a lake.

A tranquil lake, as dark as ink, shrouded in a cold mist.

"Is this... Hell?"

Kratos glanced around slowly.

On the grass, dozens of priests lay, their expressions blank.

So, he instantly understood what had happened.

Everyone within a square kilometer had been transported to hell by the hand from the sky.

Was it just... this?

Kratos lowered his gaze, meeting the eyes of the purple witch in his arms.

Clearly, Kratos now was in fierce demonic form.

But his crimson gaze brought a profound sense of calm to Medea.

"Your Highness."

She gently shook her head.

"I'm fine."

"Fine... that's good..." Kratos said softly. "We seem to have been transported to hell, finding our way back slowly is the key."

"Ha... Hahaha!"

Unexpectedly.

Ares' mad and hoarse laughter echoed from behind.

"Go back? You can't go back, Kratos."

He gently placed Medea on the ground.

Kratos turned expressionlessly, looking at the disheveled black-haired woman.

"Though you're about to die soon, Ares, I don't mind hastening the process."

"If you wish to die, I'll grant it."

"No, it's you who will die, Kratos..."

Ares spoke in a low, hoarse voice, almost like a mockery.

"For this is the deepest part of hell."

In Kratos' slightly frozen gaze.

The lake nearby rippled slightly.

The swollen flesh began to rise from the surface of the lake.

In an instant.

It swelled into a grotesque monstrosity resembling a small mountain.

Various types of war weapons protruded from its back in a fan-like shape.

Countless human skulls screamed and shrieked on its body.

The War Devil.

"I give up, Kratos."

Ares laughed wildly.

"My dear sister intentionally sent us here."

"You won't survive."

"It should have been this way long ago... I should have given up my precarious sanity."

"Kratos... leave quickly, she-"

Aatrox' hoarse voice echoed in the young man's mind.

In Kratos' almost frozen gaze.

The War Devil that suddenly appeared reached out, grabbed Ares' broken body, and stuffed it into its mouth, chewing it into a puddle of broken flesh.

The next moment, its grotesque gaze.

Slowly turned.

From its cracked lips, came Ares' hoarse voice.

"Hello, Kratos."

Boom!

Countless violent impacts surged directly.

Kratos stood in front of Medea, splitting through the devil's onslaught like parting a tide.

"Ares, you..."

His mind was shaken, struggling to comprehend the situation before him.

Such a sudden display of power.

Furthermore, Kratos suddenly realized... his body's stored magical energy was slowly decreasing.

"Kratos, here..."

"Is unable to receive... the power of faith."

Kratos' expression turned grave.

The depths of hell...?

The source of continuous faith was cut off.

Without the support of Spartan faith, his magic propulsion, if his magical energy were to dry up completely, his body would collapse suddenly.

The War Devil approached slowly.

Around hell, countless terrifying monstrosities with bloodthirsty eyes slowly emerged on this idyllic land.

Medea watched in stunned silence.

Watching the blood-red demonic figure standing in front of her.

"Don't be afraid, Medea..."

Blood of the devil.

Gushed out.

The bodies of the devils.

Piled up.

The flawless priests who had been transported here screamed and were killed and devoured by the surging devils.

With the last remnants of his body's magic, Kratos pierced the War Devil's heart, looking at Ares with a smirk, saying he would return.

The devils' eyes coveted the two in the midst of the battle.

Like a meat grinder.

Kratos stood in front of Medea, intercepting all attacks against her.

The young witch watched in stunned silence.

Watching the towering demonic figure, covered in blood, cracks gradually spreading on its helmet and armor.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

She desperately released healing spells, but they had little effect.

Medea cried out.

"You must escape..."

No response.

Kratos stood in front of her, his right hand holding the sword completely broken, revealing stark white bones, now he held Aatrox in his left hand.

Magic.

Depleting...

These named devils from the depths of hell were much more cunning than the nameless devils.

They had already seen his weakness.

The devils poured attacks on Medea relentlessly, and Kratos had to defend. They wouldn't leave him any room to replenish his magic by indiscriminate slaughter.

Crack.

The trembling right leg was also broken by the bone spear that was projected.

Kratos knelt halfway on the ground, his bloodthirsty sword piercing the ground, supporting his body.

In a moment of daze.

The entire sky seemed to dim.

The pressure of defense.

Suddenly slackened.

Kratos' bloodied face looked slightly dazed, gazing at the surging devils, which scattered and fled in a panic.

Why?

There was only one possible reason that came to mind...

A stronger foe, a foe even more terrifying than before, had appeared...

He exhaled a breath of blood.

Medea rushed over and embraced his battered body.

"Go... quickly..."

Kratos rasped.

"Go."

"It's too late, Kratos..."

Boom.

Darkness.

Darkness instantly began to engulf them.

An intense and unknown fear enveloped Kratos' mind.

The shadows and darkness that surged from all directions seemed to engulf people's rationality. Like slimy tentacles, they wriggled and reached into his throat, bringing fear and panic.

A figure shrouded in pitch-black darkness, with a skull mask, silently appeared at the end of the devil's line.

The bodies of the priests, severed, formed a path for him, seemingly bowing and praying to him.

In an instant of seeing, he understood.

This terrifying enemy, feared by mere presence alone, was...

"The Darkness Devil."

Kratos chuckled with difficulty, coughing up blood.

"Aatrox..."

Even his demonic form couldn't hold on any longer.

The blood-red armor melted like wax, dripping down. His battered body collapsed into the blood pool of hell.

Amidst the heartbreaking cries of the young witch.

Using up his last strength, Kratos looked at the demonic sword before him, murmuring softly.

"Do you remember our contract? Take my body away."

"I know... with you, it's possible."

"I beg you, Aatrox."

"Take Medea... back."

As his words faded.

The black-haired youth closed his eyes wearily.

Aatrox trembled, and an anxious voice erupted from the demonic sword, resonating throughout hell.

"Wake up... Kratos!"

"Snap out of it! Wake up!"

"Don't faint! Don't you dare pass out on me! You idiot! Fool! Bastard!"

"Damn it!!!!"

Aatrox' gaze turned to the sky.

A surge of blood light rose from the young man's hand, from the bloodthirsty demonic sword, piercing through the clouds.

"Connect! Connect..."

"Hurry... connect!!!"

"For fuck's sake! Connect, damn it!!!"

"Sefar!!!"

Aatrox' roar and rage resounded through hell.

However...

The call from the deepest part of hell was blocked and severed, and no response came from the vanguard of the umbral star on the moon.

Aatrox could, but he couldn't...

...he couldn't devour Kratos' will.

Then... there was no turning back.

Moreover...

Even if he devoured Kratos' will, that also...

In Aatrox' despairing gaze.

In Medea's completely frozen eyes.

The Darkness Devil, slowly approaching, gently bent down, lifting the broken body of the black-haired, battered young man from the embrace of the young witch.

It raised it hand and slowly removed it skull mask.

Looking at the beautiful face of the black-haired before her.

With tears still wet on her cheeks, Medea opened her mouth wide.

"T-Teacher...?!"