The soft whisper drifted through the medical chamber.“…Jaden…”Ares blinked.For a brief moment, he actually glanced over his shoulder, half expecting the General to be standing behind him.“…General?”Silence answered him.He scratched the side of his head awkwardly.“I think she’s still dizzy.”Hannah blinked several more times as her vision gradually came into focus. The blurry silhouette standing before her slowly became clearer until she finally realized it wasn’t Jaden at all.Instead…It was an enormous man.He looked less like a soldier and more like a giant carved from solid stone. His broad shoulders nearly filled the doorway, while the massive war hammer resting across his back looked powerful enough to flatten a tank with a single swing.Her pupils shrank instinctively.She recoiled against the bed.“W-Who are you?”Ares immediately raised both hands in a harmless gesture.“Easy.”His normally intimidating face softened into an awkward smile.“I’m one of the good guys.”H

Ares looked at the slender youth standing quietly beside Timothy before letting out a disappointed sigh.“…You’re joking.”He rested his hammer against one shoulder and slowly shook his head. “I’ve fought bio-weapons. I’ve fought armies. I’ve fought men twice my size.” His gaze swept over the silver-haired figure from head to toe before he scoffed. “And after all that… you send me a kid?”Timothy merely smiled.“No.”“It’s you who’s making a mistake.”His smile widened ever so slightly. “You have a terrible habit… of underestimating people.”Ares snorted dismissively.“I don’t have time for games.”He glanced over his shoulder toward Hannah and Donald before speaking calmly. “We’re leaving.”Without sparing the silver-haired youth another glance, Ares stepped forward and casually reached out with one massive hand.“Move.”His intention wasn’t even to attack.He merely wanted to shove the boy aside like an annoying obstacle.Then—A pale hand suddenly shot forward.Clasp!Marshal Long

Ares remained on one knee for several long seconds.His heavy breathing echoed throughout the corridor as drops of blood slid from the corner of his mouth, splashing onto the cracked steel floor beneath him.Then…He slowly stood.Every muscle in his enormous body tensed as he lifted his hammer onto one shoulder once more. A grin gradually spread across his battered face.Inside Special Forces Headquarters, Hope stared helplessly at the combat data streaming across her monitors. Every graph was flashing red. His heartbeat had increased dramatically, his stamina had fallen below safe combat levels, and even the power output of his muscles had started declining.“Ares…”She spoke into the communicator, unable to hide the concern in her voice.“You need to fall back.”Ares simply rolled his aching shoulders.“Relax.”Hope frowned.“I’m serious.”“So am I.”He wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand before chuckling softly.“Have you forgotten one of our protocols?”Hope i

The shattered remains of the communicator lay scattered across the steel floor, its broken fragments glinting beneath the flashing emergency lights. An eerie silence swallowed the corridor, broken only by the slow hum of the facility’s ventilation system and Ares’ heavy breathing. Every muscle in the giant’s battered body screamed in protest as exhaustion settled deep into his bones. Countless bruises and fresh wounds covered his frame, and blood continued to drip from several cuts, yet his massive hand never loosened its grip around the handle of his hammer. No matter how much punishment he had endured, the Iron Warlord still stood.Several meters away, the man known throughout the underworld as the Smiling Demon remained perfectly still.Or rather… he swayed.His body rocked gently from side to side, almost as if he were listening to a melody that only he could hear. The emotionless assassin from moments ago had vanished completely. In his place stood a man whose grin stretched unna

Ares instinctively clamped one massive hand over the deep gash across his chest, hoping to slow the relentless flow of blood, but the effort was futile. Warm crimson continued to pour through the spaces between his fingers, splattering onto the battered steel floor below. Every passing second stole more of his strength. His breathing became increasingly labored, each inhale sending sharp bolts of pain throughout his battered body. His vision blurred for a split second before snapping back into focus, but even he could feel the terrifying truth creeping closer.He was losing too much blood.If this battle dragged on much longer…He would die.Across from him, Marshal Long watched the scene unfold with trembling excitement. The Smiling Demon’s golden eyes sparkled almost feverishly as he inhaled the metallic scent of blood hanging in the air. Every new wound covering Ares’ colossal frame only seemed to excite him further.“Oh…”Marshal whispered, his breathing becoming uneven.“You’re g