Ares stared down at his charred left arm, the skin blackened and the muscle beneath scorched from the force of Tharros's Solar Bloom. He grunted, clenching his jaw as he flexed his fingers—barely responsive.
"Damn. No left arm for now... guess I got to use it." He inhaled deeply. Once. Twice. Then let out a thundering war cry that shook the entire Wyldfire Expanse.
"Kenkon: Heavenly War Circle!"
The ground beneath Ares lit up with radiant golden aura, forming a massive circle covered in divine runes and ancient martial sigils.
Sword-shaped energy pillars erupted from the perimeter, vibrating with a harmonic hum that resonated across the land.
The air grew thick, as if time itself bowed to the presence of this sacred battlefield. The domain pulsed outward—20, 25, then 30 meters wide—a blazing sun dipped in blood.
Vel, watching from the cliffs, gasped. "Mom... what is that?" she asked, unable to take her eyes off the radiant field.
Valmyra, the Dragon Queen, watched with a knowing calm. "That's Ares' Kenkon. If your father activated his own... this match would have ended in an instant. He's still holding back."
Within the circle, Ares felt his strength return tenfold. His aura manipulation was absolute now, moving like a second nervous system. He could detach it mid-strike or twist it to change direction at will.
His movements caused shockwaves. With each step, the ground trembled. The echo of his past sword swings lingered in the domain—a deadly trick.
If Tharros stepped into one of those paths, the invisible strike would repeat itself. The pressure inside the domain was so intense that lesser beings would've collapsed from its spiritual weight.
War spirits shimmered and danced at the edges of visibility.
Tharros chuckled, admiring the spectacle. "Your Kenkon is impressive. It's making my aura a bit unstable.
But... do you really think that'll be enough?"
Ares' eyes glowed gold, streaked with crimson. His blood-red hair flowed like a cape of fire.
"We won't know until I win."
Ares activated one of his ultimate gifts from the God of Aura.
True Spirit Form: Aural Titan
His aura erupted into a celestial blue inferno. Every movement blurred, every step left afterimages. His heartbeat sounded like war drums as energy crackled around him.
He launched forward with Pulse Breaker—a jab so fast it was invisible, aimed straight at Tharros's aura channels It hit.
The Dragon King twitched slightly, his aura flow momentarily disturbed.
But then a colossal tail whipped across the domain.
THUD! Ares flew across the battlefield, crashing through one of his own energy pillars.
His golden aura softened the blow, preventing serious injury.
He landed on his feet, coughing, then spun rapidly.
Stormpulse: Whirlwind Drive!
He reversed aura into his core, then detonated it outward as he spun into a slicing vortex.
A dome of cutting aura erupted around him, tearing into the terrain. Tharros tried to dodge, but one of the echoes from a previous slash reactivated—striking his shoulder with a burst of force.
The Dragon King stumbled, then steadied himself. "Clever. Your Kenkon plays dirty."
Ares grinned, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. "Got to keep you guessing."
But Tharros was adapting. Each moment within the war circle taught him more about its workings.
Soon, he was dodging the invisible echo slashes effortlessly, his dragon instincts kicking in.
Ares was growing frustrated. This is the first time I revealed this Kenkon... and he's already adapting?
Tharros smirked. "Good job, Ares. It's been a long time since someone actually injured me. But... let's end this."
With a single stomp, Tharros shattered the golden war circle, dispersing the domain in a flurry of fractured runes and light.
Then his voice thundered across the battlefield: Kenkon: Verdant Sovereign Realm! The world trembled.
From beneath Tharros's feet, nature surged like a tidal wave.
Trees as tall as towers erupted around him. Vines coiled like serpents.
Roots split the ground like veins of mana. A mythical jungle was born in an instant, wild and sacred.
His aura glowed deep emerald, streaked with bronze and primal brown.
The flora bent toward him like loyal beasts. Streams trickled. Winds howled. All elements obeyed him.
Ares narrowed his eyes. "So this is it... the domain of a god's proxy."
Tharros' blade glowed with elemental power. It morphed between forms: a thorned whip-sword, a bark-covered cleaver, and a liquid scimitar.
"Let me show you my final technique."
Kenkon: Wrath of the World Tree!
A towering tree burst from the center of the jungle, branches clawing the heavens. Roots surged outward like divine spears, impaling the ground in every direction.
The tree's heartwood pulsed with power.
Tharros raised his blade—now shimmering with raw natural might.
One swing.
The roots lashed out like a thousand serpents. The ground exploded. The air ignited.
Ares screamed, trying to shield himself with aura—but it shattered. The full brunt of the technique hit him like a meteor.
His body flew backward, crashing through trees, stones, and time itself. Blood spattered. His aura flickered like a dying flame.
When the dust settled, Ares lay broken on the ground.
Tharros approached, his breath steady. He held out his hand.
Green light bathed Ares.Bones snapped into place. Burns healed. His charred arm regained color.
Valmyra and Vel landed beside them.
"You went too far again," Valmyra scolded.
"You always do this," Vel added. Tharros scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "If I don't, he'll keep fighting until he dies.
Besides... he knows I'll heal him."
Ares lay on the ground, peaceful and unconscious.
A smile still lingered on his lips. The spar was over.
But the war of legends continued in silence, echoing in the hearts of gods and dragons alike.