The figures that arrived split into two factions: one comprised of Dorians, who ran with swift steps, and the other of Laconia, who came on horseback.
The mounts also revealed the differences between the two factions. The Dorian tribe, impoverished, was forced to migrate here, but the Dorian tribe was the most martial-spirited tribe in the Greek World. Even on their own two feet, the speed of several Dorians was no slower than that of the Laconia galloping on horseback.
And from the mere fact of riding horses, it could be seen that the Laconia were a somewhat wealthy power. In this era, horses were the favored creatures of Sea King Poseidon, noble beings with divinity. Moreover, Ares had previously learned from Apollo that Poseidon had pursued Demeter, but Demeter was Zeus's lawfully wedded wife and thus unwilling to comply. She transformed into a mare, hiding among Ogyges's horses. Upon seeing this, Poseidon directly transformed into a stallion, raping his own sister. The two even gave birth to a divine horse that could speak human language, named Ilion.
How this matter was resolved, Ares did not know, nor did he want to know. In any case, due to these various reasons, horses in divine Greece were precious livestock that only the high nobility of a city-state could possess. The fact that these arriving Laconia were all riding horses was enough to show the prosperity of the Laconia Plain, which was surrounded by mountains on three sides.
The two groups of people kept a distance from each other, maintaining a consistent pace as they approached Ares's incarnation. Then, with a tacit understanding, they ignored each other's ongoing battle. They came before Ares; the Dorians directly knelt, and the Laconia dismounted and knelt on the opposite side to the Dorians. Both groups simultaneously and respectfully called out to Ares:
"Greetings, esteemed Priest of Lord Ares."
"Mm."
Ares calmly accepted the courtesy from both parties, then raised a hand and said:
"You should have already understood My God's intention in sending Me here, right?"
The Laconia and the Dorians exchanged glances, their eyes showing confusion. The leader of the Dorians, clearly a descendant of the Agiad brothers, asked in a deep voice:
"Does Lord Ares want us to fight more fiercely, for more people to die, and then to please him?"
"..."
Ares was silent for a moment, then asked somewhat awkwardly:
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Is that not right?" Hearing the change in Ares's tone, the Dorian leader was somewhat afraid. He cautiously inquired: "Priest, should not the great Ares crave War, crave the slaughter between us?"
"That's not wrong, but I have indeed come this time on behalf of My Lord to stop the War between you."
Ares said.
To stop the War?
As soon as these words were uttered, the Laconia and Dorians present couldn't help but show strange expressions. The two groups looked at each other, their faces revealing expressions of their worldviews being shattered.
"I know you are all very confused right now. Do not be afraid. Allowing you to end the temporary War is, of course, to prepare for a greater War!"
Ares stood up, raising his hand diagonally towards the sky.
"And for this War, temporary peace is necessary. My Lord needs a great city-state, an invincible nation! And you are the prototype of this nation!"
"A greater War?"
The leader of the Dorians looked bewildered.
"An invincible nation?"
The leader of the Laconia showed an excited expression, because from Ares's words, the region of Laconia had clearly become a divinely chosen land, and they would henceforth receive the protection of Ares.
"Since it has come to this, I will speak plainly."
Ares looked at the leaders of the Laconia and Dorians, and spoke frankly:
"By the will of Lord Ares, the Dorian tribe and the Laconia city-state will henceforth live on the Laconia Plain. Your two tribes will also merge into one race under the will of Lord Ares, but if so, then power must be reshuffled. The Dorians and Laconia must decide which side will manage the different aspects of the nation. Conveniently, Lord Ares is watching here now, so let us make this decision under the gaze of the gods."
"How will we decide?"
Hearing Ares's words, the Laconia and Dorians present simultaneously asked.
"Since you are all followers of Lord Ares, then naturally we will resolve it through combat."
Before Ares finished speaking, he exerted a slight force throughout his body, and the extraordinary muscles of this physical body immediately burst forth, directly tearing through the tight clothing he was wearing.
Then, he flung off his long robe, revealing his muscular physique and Magic Circuits covering his entire body before the Laconia and Dorians, then said:
"From now on, with this grassland as the boundary, we will fight each other. No weapons will be used, but there are no restrictions on using magic or physical strength. You can gang up, you can scheme against each other. Until tomorrow morning, the last one standing will be the leader of the new city-state, and the order of the new city-state will be decided by him!"
"In that case, can we also attack you?"
The leader of the Dorians looked at Ares's muscles, his eyes showing solemnity, and asked.
"Haha, of course you can." Ares laughed heartily and said, "As the Priest of Lord Ares, I naturally will not fear any form of challenge. Come on!"
Hearing his words, the leader of the Dorians and the leader of the Laconia exchanged glances, secretly giving each other a look, then led their men to surround Ares.
"Lord Ares, please forgive us."
They silently prayed to Ares in the sky, then clenched their fists, constructed their spell formations, and together charged towards Ares's earthly incarnation.
...
As the sun rose, Ares's priestly incarnation stood with hands on hips on the golden grassland. Sunlight spilled onto his knotted muscles, bathing his body in a golden hue, making him look like a god.
On the lawn behind him, the Dorians and Laconia lay scattered, covered in wounds. The ground was full of large craters made by brute force or magic. However, Ares's elderly physical body was completely unharmed.
"Then, according to the will of Lord Ares, I shall temporarily lead you from now on."
Ares extended a finger, flicked dust from his shoulder, then turned and said:
"From now on, you will call me the High Priest. The Laconia and Dorians will merge into one. The city of Laconia will also be renamed Sparta, and you will henceforth be the Spartans of Sparta."