Cronus' system: Against the gods

The battlefield stretched for miles, a desolate expanse of scorched earth and broken weapons. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and blood, a testament to the wrath of Ares, the God of War. Standing at the center of the chaos, Ares loomed like an unyielding titan. His crimson armor gleamed with the sheen of freshly spilled blood, and his massive warhammer rested on his shoulder, its spiked head dripping with a dark, viscous ichor.

His eyes burned like twin embers, a searing orange that promised destruction to anyone foolish enough to stand before him. He scanned the horizon, his voice booming like a war drum.

"Hermes!" Ares bellowed, his tone a mix of fury and impatience. "Come out and face me! Enough of your tricks, coward. Fight like a god!"

A gust of wind swept through the battlefield, carrying with it a faint, mocking laugh. In a blur of motion, Hermes appeared a hundred feet away, standing atop a shattered column of stone. His winged sandals gleamed under the faint sunlight, and his caduceus staff glowed faintly with golden energy. Unlike Ares, Hermes wore no armor, only his light tunic and a smirk that bordered on arrogance.

"Fight like a god?" Hermes echoed, twirling his staff lazily. "Coming from the brute who only knows how to swing a hammer, that's rich."

Ares growled, his grip tightening on his warhammer. "Mock me all you like, Hermes, but you can't run forever. You can't outpace war."

Hermes chuckled, leaping down from the column with effortless grace. "War may be inevitable, Ares, but speed? Speed outruns it every time."

Before Ares could respond, Hermes vanished, a streak of light zipping across the battlefield. Ares' instincts screamed at him, and he spun around just in time to block Hermes' caduceus with his warhammer. The clash rang out like a bell, sending a shockwave that rippled through the ground.

"Not bad," Hermes quipped, already gone before Ares could retaliate. He reappeared a few yards away, his smirk widening. "But you'll have to be faster than that, old man."

Ares snarled, his patience snapping. He charged forward with the force of an avalanche, his Warhammer swinging in wide, brutal arcs. The ground cracked beneath his feet, each step a minor earthquake. But Hermes was faster.

The Messenger God darted around Ares, his movements a blur. Every time Ares swung, Hermes was gone, reappearing just out of reach. He taunted Ares with sharp jabs of his caduceus, each strike landing with precision but lacking the power to do any real harm.

"Stand still, you slippery rat!" Ares roared, slamming his hammer into the ground. The impact created a shockwave that spread in all directions, forcing Hermes to leap into the air.

As Hermes soared upward, Ares seized the opportunity. With a guttural shout, he hurled his Warhammer like a meteor, aiming directly for Hermes. The weapon spun through the air with deadly force, but Hermes twisted mid-flight, narrowly dodging the hammer as it shot past him and embedded itself in the earth below.

"Missed me," Hermes sang, landing lightly on his feet.

Ares summoned his hammer back with a flick of his wrist, the massive weapon returning to his hand with a satisfying thud. "Keep laughing, Hermes," Ares growled. "Let's see if you're still smiling when I grind your bones to dust."

Hermes' smirk faltered, just slightly, as Ares slammed his hammer into the ground again. This time, the shockwave wasn't just force—it carried the essence of war itself, a red, seething energy that spread like wildfire. The air grew heavy, oppressive, and the ground cracked open, spewing molten lava.

Hermes stumbled slightly, the sudden shift in the battlefield throwing him off balance. Ares took full advantage, closing the distance between them with terrifying speed. He swung his hammer in a brutal arc, and this time, it connected.

The force of the blow sent Hermes flying, his body crashing into a pile of rubble with a sickening crunch. Dust and debris filled the air as Ares approached, his footsteps echoing like the march of an army.

"Not so fast now, are you?" Ares taunted, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

But as the dust began to settle, a streak of golden light shot out from the rubble. Hermes reappeared behind Ares, his movements slightly slower but no less precise. He struck at Ares' exposed back with his caduceus, the staff crackling with divine energy.

Ares grunted, the blow staggering him for a moment, but he quickly turned and swung his hammer in retaliation. Hermes ducked under the swing, moving with the fluidity of a dancer, and delivered another strike to Ares' side.

"You're strong, Ares," Hermes admitted, his tone light despite his labored breathing. "But strength means nothing if you can't land a hit."

Ares roared in frustration, his aura flaring with crimson light. "You think this is a game?" he snarled. "This is war, Hermes. And in war, there is no escape."

He raised his hammer high, the weapon glowing with a blood-red energy that seemed to pulse with the cries of a thousand battles. With a deafening shout, Ares brought the hammer down, unleashing a wave of destructive force that tore through the battlefield.

Hermes barely had time to react, zipping away just as the ground where he stood exploded into a crater. The shockwave caught him mid-flight, sending him tumbling through the air. He landed hard, skidding across the ground before coming to a stop.

For the first time, Hermes looked uncertain. He pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling slightly. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a grim determination.

Ares stalked toward him, his hammer resting on his shoulder. "Tired already, little brother?" he mocked. "Maybe now you'll understand the futility of running from war."

Hermes wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his grip on the caduceus tightening. "Running? You think I'm running?" He straightened, his golden aura flaring brighter than before. "I'm just getting started."

In a blur of motion, Hermes vanished, reappearing behind Ares with a burst of speed. He struck with his caduceus, then disappeared again before Ares could counter. He reappeared to Ares' left, landing another blow, then to his right, and then above him.

Ares swung wildly, his frustration mounting as Hermes darted around him like a phantom. "Enough!" he roared, slamming his hammer into the ground once more. The resulting explosion of energy forced Hermes to retreat, but the damage had been done.

Ares dropped to one knee, his breath heavy, his armor dented and scratched. He glared at Hermes, his anger burning hotter than ever. "You think you can win this?" he growled.

Hermes, though battered and bruised, managed a faint smile. "I don't need to win, Ares. I just need to prove that you're not unstoppable."

Ares growled, rising to his feet despite the pain coursing through his body. "You've proven nothing," he said. "But I'll give you credit, Hermes. You're faster than I thought."

"And you're angrier than I thought," Hermes shot back, his smirk returning. "But maybe that's your problem, Ares. You fight with rage, not reason. And that's why you'll always lose."

Before Ares could respond, a blinding flash of light filled the battlefield. When it faded, Zeus stood between the two gods, his presence suffused with authority.

"Enough!" Zeus commanded, his voice echoing like thunder. "This fight is over."

Ares glared at Zeus but said nothing, his hammer lowering slightly. Hermes leaned on his caduceus, his breathing ragged but his expression triumphant.

"You're lucky," Ares muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "Next time, Hermes, you won't be so fortunate."

Hermes chuckled weakly. "Next time, try thinking before you swing."

Zeus shot them both a warning look, his golden eyes blazing. "Both of you, stand down. We have more pressing matters to attend to than your petty squabbles."

Without another word, Ares turned and vanished in a swirl of crimson light. Hermes straightened, wincing slightly as he did.

"You really know how to pick your moments, don't you?" he said, glancing at Zeus.

Zeus sighed, shaking his head. "You two will be the death of me."

Hermes grinned, despite the pain. "Not likely. You're too stubborn to die."

Hermes stumbled slightly, using his caduceus as a makeshift cane. He flashed Zeus a grin. "Besides, if you kick the bucket, who's going to keep Ares from throwing tantrums like a spoiled toddler?"

Zeus raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Must you always provoke him?"

"It's my hobby," Hermes replied, shrugging. "Some collect artifacts, others build temples. I annoy war gods. Keeps things interesting."

Zeus massaged his temples as if regretting centuries of fatherhood. "One of these days, Hermes, your sharp tongue will land you in trouble even I won't bother saving you from."

Hermes waved him off. "Relax, old man. I've outrun trouble for eons." He paused, rubbing his sore shoulder. "Though, in fairness, Ares packs a mean punch. I think my ribs now spell 'ouch.'"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

From behind them, a small voice piped up, "I give it a 6 out of 10."

Both gods turned to see Apollo lounging on a rock, lazily strumming his lyre. "Nice choreography, Hermes, but you could work on the landing. That tumble? Very clumsy."

Hermes groaned. "Oh great, the peanut gallery."

Apollo grinned. "Just saying, if you want to outshine Ares, you need style, flair—something dramatic. Maybe add a somersault next time?"

"Sure," Hermes said dryly. "Next time Ares tries to flatten me, I'll do a triple backflip and stick the landing. That'll show him."

Zeus sighed deeply, clearly wishing he could be anywhere but here. "Both of you, enough. We have a crisis brewing, and I don't have time for your nonsense."

Hermes leaned toward Apollo, whispering loudly enough for Zeus to hear, "He's just grumpy because someone stole his lightning bolt again."

Zeus shot Hermes a glare that could probably ignite a mountain. "Hermes, I mean it."

Hermes held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Serious face on. Crisis mode engaged." He adjusted his tunic and struck an exaggerated 'heroic' pose. "Lead the way, mighty Zeus. I, your loyal messenger, shall follow."

Apollo snickered. "You're impossible."

Hermes gave him a finger gun. "I aim to please."

As they followed Zeus across the smoldering battlefield, Hermes couldn't resist muttering, "You know, for all his bluster, Ares really needs to learn how to lighten up. Maybe get a hobby. Experience more on empire

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