The Weight of Time: Final Part

Suddenly, Heimdall halts, his hand instinctively reaching for his blade. His sharp eyes scan the area, narrowing as he spots movement in the shadows. "We're not alone," he mutters.

Ares grips his weapon, his body tensing as he shifts into a combat stance. "Lucifer's minions?"

Heimdall shakes his head. "No. Something else."

From the shadows emerges a hooded figure, their face obscured but their presence undeniable. The figure steps forward slowly, their movements deliberate, almost taunting.

"Looking for answers, are we?" the figure says, their voice smooth and dripping with malice.

Ares tightens his grip on his weapon, his eyes narrowing. "Who are you? What do you know about Lucifer?"

The figure chuckles darkly, the sound echoing unnervingly through the empty streets. "Oh, I know plenty. But the question is... are you prepared to pay the price for what you seek?"

The tension in the air thickens as Ares and Heimdall prepare for a confrontation, the quiet streets suddenly feeling much more dangerous.

Ares glances at Heimdall, his expression hard and determined. "Can you see him? Can you tell what realm this... wanderer is from?"

Heimdall narrows his golden eyes, his gaze piercing through the figure as if attempting to unravel their very essence. But after a moment, his brow furrows, and he shakes his head. "No," Heimdall replies, his tone tinged with unease. "He appears to be... realmless. He belongs to all realms, yet also belongs to none."

Ares tightens his grip on his weapon, his voice low but commanding. "What's the price you speak of, wanderer?"

The hooded figure chuckles, a deep, unsettling sound that seems to echo in the stillness of the night. Slowly, he raises his head, though his face remains obscured by shadow. "Ah, the ever-determined Ares," the figure muses. "For me to speak in the name of Lucifer... you will lose many men, women, and children. He will return with a grand army, one that will leave none unscathed. The innocent and the guilty alike will fall before his wrath."

Ares takes a step forward, his voice rising. "We already know Lucifer's goal is destruction. If you think threats will scare us, you're wasting your breath."

The figure tilts his head, the faintest glint of amusement in the darkness. "Oh, but you misunderstand. This is no threat—it is a promise. He knows you're all seeking him. Each step you take brings you closer to his grand design. But the real question is... do you truly wish to find him?"

A tense silence follows, the weight of the figure's words hanging heavily in the air. Heimdall's hand shifts to the hilt of his blade, his eyes never leaving the wanderer. "What game are you playing at?" Heimdall demands, his voice sharp. "If you think you can manipulate us, you'll find yourself mistaken."

The figure doesn't respond immediately. Instead, he takes a slow step back, his form blending into the shadows as if being absorbed by the night itself. "My game?" he finally says, his voice fading as he retreats into the darkness. "The game of survival. And if you seek to end Lucifer, you'll soon learn... it's a game you cannot win."

As the figure vanishes entirely, leaving behind only the faint echo of his voice, Ares exhales sharply, his jaw clenched. "Coward," he mutters, though the unease in his tone betrays his confidence.

Heimdall turns to Ares, his expression grave. "What do you think he meant by that? Do you think he's right? That finding Lucifer will cost us everything?"

Ares doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he looks out over the desolate city, his eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for answers. "I don't know," he admits finally. "But whether he's right or wrong doesn't matter. We don't stop until Lucifer's reign of terror ends."

Heimdall nods, though his grip on his weapon remains tight. "Then we'd best prepare. If that wanderer's words hold even a fraction of truth, the war we're walking into will be unlike anything we've ever faced."

Without another word, the two gods continue their march through the broken city, the atmosphere heavier than before. The stakes have been laid bare, and the path forward is shrouded in uncertainty.

As Ares and Heimdall press forward through the desolate city, the air thick with tension, Heimdall places a firm hand on Ares' shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "We'll stop by the Heavens," Heimdall says, his tone steady yet urgent. "We need to report what we've found so far. The All-Father and the others need to know about the wanderer and his warning."

Ares hesitates, his fiery gaze still fixed ahead. Finally, he nods, his voice low but resolute. "Fine. But we don't waste time. The longer we delay, the more ground Lucifer gains."

With that, the two gods vanish into the shadows, leaving the broken city behind as they make their way to the Heavens.

The scene shifts back to the Coliseum, the sound of the roaring crowd filling the air. The atmosphere is electric as Zohar stands in the center of the arena, sweat dripping from his brow, his body marked with fresh cuts and bruises. It's the fifth battle, and yet, he still stands tall, his determination unwavering.

The crowd chants his name, their cheers echoing like thunder: "Zo-har! Zo-har! Zo-har!"

Zohar grits his teeth, his eyes glowing faintly blue as electricity courses through his veins. He's out of breath but far from defeated. His opponent, a towering, beast-like warrior clad in spiked bronze armor, snarls at him, gripping a massive double-headed axe.

From their chambers, Raiden and Kaito lean against the bars, shouting encouragement.

"Come on, Zohar!" Raiden yells, a grin on his face. "You've got this! Show that overgrown brute what lightning's made of!"

"Don't let him intimidate you!" Kaito adds, pounding his fist on the bars. "You've faced worse! Just keep moving!"

Zohar smirks at their words, his confidence bolstered by his friends' support. He tightens his grip on his axe-shaped hammer, its handle sparking with energy.

The beast-warrior lets out a guttural roar and charges, his axe raised high. Zohar plants his feet, waiting for the perfect moment. As the axe comes down, he sidesteps with lightning speed, the blade missing him by inches.

"Too slow!" Zohar taunts, delivering a powerful strike to the warrior's side with his electrified hammer. The crowd erupts into cheers as the beast-warrior stumbles, but he recovers quickly, swinging his axe in a wide arc.

Zohar ducks just in time, the wind from the swing brushing past his face. "Guess you don't learn, huh?" he quips, lunging forward and landing a series of rapid strikes.

The warrior growls in frustration, his movements becoming more reckless. Zohar uses his speed to his advantage, darting around his opponent and delivering precise blows. Each strike sends sparks flying, lighting up the arena like a storm.

From the sidelines, Raiden chuckles. "He's playing with him now."

"Classic Zohar," Kaito agrees, shaking his head with a grin.

But just as it seems Zohar has the upper hand, the beast-warrior slams his axe into the ground, sending a shockwave through the arena. Zohar is thrown off balance, stumbling backward. The warrior seizes the opportunity, charging forward with a deafening roar.

The crowd holds its breath as the beast-warrior closes in, his axe poised to strike. Zohar's eyes flash blue, and in a split second, he vanishes, reappearing behind his opponent in a crackle of lightning.

"Nice try," Zohar says, his voice steady. With a mighty swing of his hammer, he delivers a blow to the back of the warrior's head, the impact echoing through the arena.

The beast-warrior collapses to the ground, his axe slipping from his grasp. The crowd erupts into cheers, their chants of Zohar's name shaking the very walls of the Coliseum.

Breathing heavily, Zohar raises his hammer in victory, a tired but triumphant smile on his face. From their chambers, Raiden and Kaito cheer louder than anyone else, their voices hoarse from shouting.

"Another one down!" Raiden exclaims.

"Keep it up, Zohar!" Kaito adds.

Zohar looks up at them, nodding slightly before turning back to the arena floor. He knows this is only the beginning.