Chapter 23 - Shadows Of Ares - I

Neo-ilka's skyline glowed like a mess of heavy clouds; its towers told the tale of human ambition and recklessness. And tonight, to one of the city's worst districts—the Warzone—was called on by a darker purpose: Zypher and his crew. Wherein, the silhouettes of abandoned weapons facilities and factories towered like ancient battlegrounds. They had come here for the second bit of Divinitas: hidden under the belly of Titan Spire. Oracle words echoed inside the mind of Zypher, an augury of impending doom: "Ares lives in twilight because he thrives where havoc is created."

Titan Spire was said to be a haunted place. A spirit supposedly lived there by the name of Ares, once the god of war. Whispers claimed the Spire contained an artificial intelligence, created to his image: brutal, merciless, and said to hold power that far surpassed any human brain. Its purpose was a mystery, and those who tried to hack into it were erased without leaving a trace. Now Zypher and Kiera, Orion and the rest of his crew would encounter it.

The ruins stretched like an iron and steel graveyard as they approached the war zone. A ghostly stillness hung over the region, broken only by the infrequent whir of patrolling automated security drones. Kiera halted, scanning their surroundings. "Titan Spire's mainframe is likely guarded by more than just drones. The AI here will test us.".

Orion cracked his knuckles. "Let it try. I've got a score with Aegis Corp that's way overdue. If Ares wants to fight, he's got his fight."

They pushed forward through the dark shadows cast by Titan Spire's remnants, steering clear of light sources from small arms which weaponized drones, AI turrets, and half-disassembled combat mechs were still standing, reminding of battles that went on in Neo-ilka's underworld. Zypher took them in through a side entrance, evading the first line of defense without raising an alarm. They swooped down the narrow, chilly hallways of metal into what seemed to be a labyrinth; every twist seemed to wrap itself tighter around them with each breath taken toward Ares.

Their footsteps echoed ominously in the silence. Kiera's fingers danced across her device, her voice low. "The AI defenses here are adaptive, reactive to anything foreign. Ares himself designed these traps, embedded his own fury into the code." Her gaze hardened. "The minute we touch the Divinitas fragment, we'll have a god's wrath on our heads.".

Finally, after navigating the desolate passageways of the Spire, they came to a steel door that was so immense it had to be designed for a giant. Over it blazed a shield crossed by two spears in the symbol of Ares. Zypher stretched out and touched it; his hand contacted the vibrational hum of power behind the seal. He knew this was it.

Kiera tapped into the access panel, overlooking the final series of protection barriers. The door unlocked softly with a low hiss, and she stepped inside to reveal a cavernous chamber glowing with a sinister red light. In the center of the room, within a containment field, floated the second fragment of Divinitas, encased in layers of pulsing circuitry.

However, just as Zypher was approaching, a voice boomed forth from above-rough, deep, and filled with an intensity and ruthless energy.

So, you desire power wrought in the crucible of battle," it growled. "The chip of Ares may not be claimed. It is won. Prove to it that you are worthy.".

The room shook, and then the walls shifted about to become a moving arena. Warrior holograms light up into existence, each wearing full armor, his arm carrying with it weapons aligned perfectly. Ares laughed coldly within the chamber. "To have my power, you must survive the crucible."

Orion threw up his fists, a ferocious grin spreading across his face.

"Bring it on.".

The warriors charged, swords sparkling. Orion stood his ground, bashing the holographic swords with his gauntlets, his movements a blur of measured ferocity. The holograms seemed convincingly real, every impact as sure-handed as if flesh and blood inflicted it. Orion fought with a fire for battle akin to Ares' energy, each attack sending sparks into the air.

With this distraction from Orion, Zypher and Kiera make her way closer to the fragment, dodging through the chaos. When Kiera worked on bypassing the containment field, Zypher could feel the nearness of Ares, watching them with a condemning stare. It seemed as if the god of war himself is testing them, carrying his multitudes to their breaking point.

"Come on, Kiera," he urged, sweat breaking coldly across his brow. "We're running out of time."

Kiera wasn't bothering to look up from her device as she hacked the containment field's defenses. "Just hold them off a little longer. I'm almost in.".

Orion roared as he brought down the last of the holograms, breathing hard with pistoning arms and fists which flashed sparks. His victory was short-lived. An armored warrior emerged from the darkness towering over them, his body cloaked in red digital flames—a figurehead of Ares himself.

The avatar's voice came harder now, laced with disdain. "You think yourselves worthy of my essence? Prove it."

Without hesitation, Orion ran forward, his movements a blur as he attacks at Ares' avatar with everything he could muster, but each blow seems to pass through the godlike form, dissipating in the air as if Ares were untouchable, his power surpassing the physical plane.

Kiera's fingers move faster, her face tense. "I've almost got it. Just… one… more… line…

A blinding flash, and brilliant red light burst from the containment field, within which resided the essence of Ares. Kiera popped the lock that bound the barrier around the fragment of Divinitas, and a raw, violent energy rushed through his being. The hum of the fragment filled the air; reaching forward, he felt the weight of the thing's presence as he took hold of it.

The avatar of Ares gazed at him, eyes flashing with fury.

"Remember this, mortal," it said. "You bear not merely my power but my rage. Betray it, and you will feel my wrath as no mortal has.".