[Now, Witness the descent of Ares]
Simon felt an overwhelming force holding him down to the ground, forcing him to bow down.
In front of Simon, a pillar of fire ignites and from it comes out Ares.
Ares was like a giant compared to humans, being 15 feet tall and his build buff. His form looked like a spirit, just a fire with no physical form inhabiting a war plate armor emanating intense heat rivaling even Simon's fireball.
"Simon Velthorne, stand up. Will you follow me and listen to my guidance?"
The force keeping Simon down was gone with Ares' words, he stood up and stared at Ares' form before answering him with a respectful voice.
"Yes, I shall follow you to the ends of the earth, you have my eternal loyalty and gratitude, Sir Ares"
Ares looked stunned before continuing and regaining his composure, he had a stern and deep voice like lightning strikes
"I apologize for the pause, those words reminded me of someone I knew. Call me Master, and now I ask you do you trust me with your life?"
Simon paused before steeling his resolve and fearlessly answering Ares' question, what others may see as foolish or brave. Ares saw Simon's true emotion. He feared what may happen to him, yet he trusted Ares, and that alone was enough to earn Ares' respect.
"Yes Master, I trust you."
Ares' form condensed his face was overshadowed due to the helmet that he wore, yet his eyes glowed with a heavenly glow like fire it wasn't red, orange, or yellow it was as if his eyes were fire itself, a cape extended from his armor it had designs depicting war the cape looked worn the edges were torn it was as if that cape was dearly important to him, his hair flowed like fire dancing in the wind it had the colors of fire, orange, red, and yellow, not only that either side of his hair looked like horns resembling that of a ram
"Wonderful."
Simon was stunned by Ares' form he had his questions but he was curious about those horns
"Master, if I may. Are those horns real?"
Ares' eyes looked up at his hair before going back to Simon
"To ask such insignificant questions, but if you dealt must know. These horns are a part of my hair; I guess you, too, are curious about your like them."
Simon smiled at him Ares' eyes faltered as if seeing a ghost, Ares continued speaking
"Little lamb, whatever you may do never fall for any trickery and betrayal, do not falter by any means, you must accomplish your mission, do not fight for strength but for purpose. Now follow me little lamb"
Simon followed Ares, who towered over him, and they stopped in front of the pillar of fire.
"You said you trust me, prove it. Walk inside the fire"
Simon looked at Ares before breathing slowly and sighed heavily, he nodded to himself before he looked back at Ares and spoke
"Yes, Master."
Despite his fears and worries, Simon jumped into the fire; he didn't feel like he was burning. It felt warm like the fire embraced him.
Suddenly, from the fire, he was teleported to the peak of a mountain. He looked at the view, and the beauty from the top of the world stunned him, nailing him in place as he stared with disbelief.
The verdant forest and warm waters of the ocean and river enveloped his mind in a sweet embrace, it was like his hate for everything was melting away, but before that happened Ares sat letting his legs fall along the edge
"Beautiful isn't it?"
Simon looked at Ares and nodded
"It is..."
Ares stared his eyes looked like it wasn't there like he was a ghost
"Now, what if I tell you this place is the aftermath of the war you were in earlier, albeit decades have passed."
Simon looked back at Ares with curious eyes but Ares spoke with a thundering voice again
"Now isn't the time for stories though. Look over there a waterfall; I will teach you how to earn this power you have inherited. You must prove to each and every zodiac you will encounter why you deserve it.*
Simon nodded silently and Ares spoke again
"Meditate under the waterfall and imagine as if you are fighting; do not be arrogant and overestimate yourself, you must know your own strength"
Simon followed Ares' guidance and sat down on a rock and let the waterfall on him, he fought in his mind, he imagined fighting Kaelen again yet the heavy water prevented him from thinking clearly
"Simon, you must not let any element distract you from what is in front of you. Like hate do not let it hinder you, no don't let anything hinder you from your duty you have set for yourself"
Simon returned to imagining the fight, he recognized patterns and spells Kaelen used against their fight it was as if the future actions of Kaelen were revealed to him, he acted accordingly instead of throwing spells head-on, he dodged the spell Kaelen threw stronger than what he can do without any cons, if it was the same strength he deflected it or reflected it, if it was stronger he devoured the flames and threw his own spells.
Slowly, with each loss, he learned what to do and eventually won.
"Good job, you won. What type felt was combat intuition. Everyone can activate it, but only some know how to use it the right way, and what you did right now is the exact right way; using battle IQ with Combat intuition with more experience, you can be better. This is not your limit yet, reach for the stars little lamb"
Simon looked up at Ares smiled at him and bowed down
"Thank you, Master"
Ares scoffed and nodded
"Whilst your style is unpolished, nay, it's inexperienced, but I'll teach you how to battle with your current style."