Final showdown

"Where did you run off to?"

Howard and Arthur set a journey by themselves towards Ludendorff's base. Of course, throughout the journey, only Howard was visible with Arthur running around invisible looking for hidden traps Diana and the others might have put along the way.

"Pee break." Arthur shrugged casually reappearing by his side, "But how did you notice?"

"My senses are pretty good, so it's not hard to notice." Howard said, "Sigh, man I am really tired."

"Due to the whole Ares thing?"

"Yeah, you know all this time I thought I had an upper hand and was cocky about it but Ares ran through it all one by one without even trying too hard." Howard said, "I guess fighting the God of War with a straight strategy was the biggest mistake I could have made."

"I see." Arthur nodded without any expression, "How far do you think Diana and the others would have reached by now?"

"They should already be quite near the base since they took all the horses with them," Howard sighed, "Fuck, I am going to need a long vacation after all this."

"Do you think you'll win?"

"I don't know." Howard shrugged, "But I am immortal anyway, so it doesn't matter much to me. I can always find a way to climb back up. So that's why I am more concerned with you, you suddenly being pulled out of your element and now running around in the midst of a huge battle. It takes a lot of courage and I respect you for it."

"I see." Arthur nodded as he stared towards Howard, "Well, a man's got to do what he's got to do right? I know it's my duty to destroy a man fueled by chaos, so I am more than willing to go through it."

"He's a god actually, and he's fueled by chaos, like literally," Howard said acting as if he didn't understand the undertone meaning behind it at all.

"I see, but I have been curious, how do you know all so much about Ares? Is it one of your powers or something because from what Steve told me, just a couple of days ago you didn't even know about the existence of Ares."

"It's not a power." Howard said, "Would you believe me if I say, I have watched all these things happen before in a movie."

"Movie? You mean those silent films?" Arthur chuckled, "So you're telling me that you saw all this in a movie before?"

"Yeah, but you know the part that scares me the most?" Howard continued, "The fact that someone like Ares had been involved in my life way in the past and I didn't even know about it. I guess I have been so caught up in the future that I forgot to live in the present, I wonder how many of these supernatural beings have I not noticed and have slipped under my nose."

"I am guessing it's a metaphor I don't understand so I am not going to ask further." Arthur shrugged, "But before we head to the battle, will you at least tell me my origin? About people like us?"

"I did promise you, huh. Well, then I guess I should keep it, since who knows what will happen today" Howard nodded, "Let's start with what we are then. I like to call our species mutants..."

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"Are you ready?" Diana asked preparing herself.

"We always are." Victor grinned as the sharp claws brought themselves out, even James slowly closed his fist with the long claws slowly broke out of his fist.

"My dear, youth really prevails..." A voice echoed in their heads as they all turned back to face Ares.

"I am Diana of Themyscira, Daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons." Diana pointed her sword towards Ares without any second thought, this time she wouldn't let him go, "And I am here to end your wrath upon this world. But I am sure you already knew that."

"Of course, and I can also feel the anger within you, Diana. Being betrayed by the ones you trust hurts doesn't it but even if I hate to admit it. Howard was really the right candidate for you, to show you what humans are capable of. The darkness in them and even the few that you think are good will always find a way to disappoint regardless" Ares said, "But without the bug in the way, I think you've realized, that I am not who you thought I was."

"So you're not the god trying to reign chaos into the world just to deal with daddy issues and some god problem about ending the world?" Victor asked sarcastically, "Oh, and also trying to end all human life on earth because you deem yourself as a higher being than all of us?"

Ares didn't say a word but just swung his arm and with just that Victor was sent flying right into the army base, crashing into one of the containers. "I'll find a way to deal with you brothers sooner or later, but you really don't want to test my patience. I had enough of my fill with just the other one previously."

"Loudmouth with a silver tongue, I feel you," James said as he prepared to lunge at him but Diana stopped him as she shook her head. "All of you take care of Lundendorff first, I'll handle him."

James seemed hesitant but seeing Ares not move or say anything he nodded towards Steve and others as they rushed into the enemy's territory.

"I don't see your other Amazon friend here?"

"You don't want to either," Diana said preparing for battle.

"I am not your enemy Diana." Ares calmly said, "Humans have always been and will always be like weak, cruel, selfish. Even Howard isn't any different from them. Has he told you the horrors he committed?"

"You manipulated him."

"No, I gave him a choice." Ares said, "This isn't the monster I created Diana, it was always him. Revenge I understand, but you should know he slaughtered innocents like nothing, with a bland excuse to protect his identity. With his brothers combined, you can't even imagine the mountains of bodies they have piled all by themselves. Even the weapons they are using to kill each other are made and influenced by him. So is he really worth it Diana?"

"Is that the reason why you're so infatuated with a human you so despise?" Diana snorted, "That's it, isn't it? Howard himself alone is capable of drowning the whole world in chaos and that's why you want him. He's basically a walking supply of power for you."