Cronus' system: Against the gods

"Ready for round two, Iron Sovereign?" Rex taunted, his voice dripping with hot-blooded confidence.

Wallen's iron armor was slowly crumbling away but instead of a depressed and defeated look on his face, Rex could swear that there was still that maniacal, sadistic smile on his face. He was chuckling quietly and softly.

"Dang! Does he still have some tricks up his sleeves?!" Rex clenched his fists tighter, the Aether gauntlet of energy wrapped both of his hands. This time, it didn't stop there. A dazzling draconic-like helmet materialized around his head, gleaming with radiant energy.

Its design was fierce, horns swept back like a dragon's crest, the visor shaped to resemble a roaring dragon's maw. Energy rippled across its surface, and faint light streams trailed from the edges, giving the impression of living flame.

Rex could feel the power surging through him, the helmet amplifying his senses, heightening his reflexes, and reinforcing his determination.

"Wow, so cool! I just decided to copy this from a movie I watched years back" Rex smiled as the helmet took shape.

<System alert: 20/185>

"Great, now I'm down to just 20, so much for trying to look cool!" Rex facepalmed. "Next time, Cronus, warn me before I try a new thing out!"

"Ah, harbinger, where would the fun be if I robbed you of these delightful moments of impending failure? A warrior must learn by blundering gloriously, after all."

"Oh, wonderful. The almighty titan of time strikes again with another episode of 'Mock the Mortal'!" Rex snapped. "Careful, Cronus. One more sarcastic remark, and I'll....well, I don't know what I'll do, but it'll probably involve me yelling a lot."

"Indeed. How terrifying," Cronus mused, with the audible equivalent of an eye-roll. "Perhaps you should conserve your energy for your foe rather than engaging in your usual, tiresome verbal theatrics."

Rex sighed. "Gee, thanks for the pep talk. That really boosted my morale. I feel invincible now."

Wallen, who had been quietly watching the one-sided conversation with mild confusion, finally spoke up. "Are you… talking to yourself?"

"Pfft, no!" Rex scoffed. "I'm talking to an ancient, time-manipulating titan who loves to ruin my day. Totally normal."

"Ah, yes, do continue explaining our unique partnership aloud, Rex. Truly, nothing unnerves a mortal foe quite like madness."

"Y'know what, Cronus? You're really not helping." Rex clenched his glowing fists again, ready to charge. "Alright, Iron Sovereign! Round two, and this time I...uh…"

<System alert: 10/185>n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Oh, come on!" Rex groaned. "Cronus, couldn't you, I don't know, rewind my energy bar or something?"

"Ah, I would, but alas, I find your suffering far too amusing to intervene. Onward, young fool!"

"Young fool?!" Rex growled.

Before the Aether helmet would deplete his energy further, he quickly deactivated it along with the gauntlets. Doing that really made him feel vulnerable but well....."I've got no choice or else I'd run out of Aether...I've really got to bring this to an end soon"

Wallen's laughter grew louder, a low, guttural sound that reverberated through the battlefield like an ominous drumroll. The crumbling iron armor peeled away piece by piece, revealing his sinewy frame underneath, etched with scars that glowed faintly with embedded runes.

His eyes burned with a mad light, as though the pain he endured only fueled his twisted delight.

"You're not the only one with tricks, boy," Wallen hissed, his voice dripping with menace. "Let me show you what happens when the Iron Sovereign fights without restraint!"

The ground beneath them trembled as Wallen stomped forward, his fists suddenly igniting with crimson energy. The air thickened with oppressive heat, crackling with raw power.

Rex instinctively leaped backward, narrowly dodging a shockwave as Wallen's fist collided with the ground, creating a fiery crater where Rex had just been standing.

"Alright, big guy. You wanna play rough?" Rex smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Let's dance!"

The fight erupted into chaos. Wallen's attacks came in relentless waves, his fists like hammers of molten steel that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Rex weaved between the strikes, his movements nimble, fueled by sheer determination.

Aether flashed around his feet as he propelled himself forward, delivering a flurry of rapid punches to Wallen's exposed torso. Each strike connected with resounding force, sending shards of glowing iron flying.

But Wallen didn't falter. Instead, he roared, his body glowing brighter with every hit, as if absorbing the energy. He grabbed Rex mid-strike, his grip like a vice, and hurled him into a nearby wall. The impact left a massive dent as Rex slumped to the ground, coughing.

"Okay, that one hurt," Rex groaned, wiping blood from his lip. "But I've had worse." Experience new stories on empire

Before he could recover, Wallen was on him again, his movements unnaturally fast for someone so massive. Rex barely managed to dodge the incoming blow, the ground shattering beneath Wallen's fist. Rex countered with a spinning kick, enhanced by a burst of Aether, sending Wallen staggering back.

"Not bad," Wallen sneered, rubbing his jaw. "But you're running out of steam, aren't you? I can feel it."

Rex's chest heaved as he caught his breath, the Aether reserves dwindling dangerously low. Sweat dripped down his face, but his grin remained intact. "Running out of steam? Nah, I'm just getting started."

Rex charged, his fists glowing with renewed intensity. He landed a devastating uppercut, launching Wallen into the air. Rex followed up with a mid-air spin kick, sending Wallen crashing into the ground. Dust and debris exploded around them as Rex landed gracefully, his fists still crackling with energy.

"Stay down, Wallen," Rex said, his voice steady but laced with defiance. "I don't want to have to break you any more than I already have."

For a moment, it seemed Wallen might comply. But then, he began to laugh again, a deep, guttural sound that sent chills down Rex's spine. Slowly, Wallen rose to his feet, his body now glowing with an ominous red hue.

The runes etched into his skin flared to life, and a wave of energy burst forth, forcing Rex to shield his face.

"What now?!" Rex shouted, lowering his arms.

Wallen's smile stretched wider, his eyes burning with unholy light. "You thought that was my limit? Let me show you true power!"

The air around Wallen distorted as a dark crimson aura enveloped him, solidifying into jagged armor that seemed to pulsate with life. His muscles bulged, and his voice echoed with an otherworldly resonance.

Rex's eyes widened as he felt the weight of Wallen's new power pressing down on him. But instead of fear, a smirk spread across his face. "Oh, so you're finally bringing out the big guns, huh? About time."

Rex clenched his fists, and Aether surged around him, the energy coiling like a living flame. His smirk deepened, and he planted his feet firmly. "Ready for round three, Iron Sovereign?"

"Show me more!" Wallen shouted as he dashed toward Rex. This time, he crossed his hands and slammed them together and from the impact, molten metal gushed out at Rex at a terrifying speed.

Rex skidded to the side with Aether propelling him but it still wasn't enough. Some of the liquid still touched his hands.

"Ouch! Hot! Hot!!" Rex yelled out as he slapped it with his other hand dramatically

Rex's dramatic antics came to an abrupt halt as Wallen closed the gap with ferocious speed, his molten aura radiating oppressive heat. Wallen's molten fists came crashing down like twin meteors, shattering the ground where Rex had been standing moments before.

"Quit dancing, brat!" Wallen roared, his voice echoing with a metallic resonance, his molten armor glowing like a forge on the brink of eruption.

Rex flipped backward, landing lightly on his feet, his smirk never fading despite the fresh burns on his hands. He shook them out as if brushing off the sting, "Dancing? Nah...I suck at that!"

Wallen didn't give him a moment to breathe. The molten metal surged forward, forming massive tendrils that lashed out like whips. Rex leaped and rolled, dodging each strike with a mix of precision and sheer instinct. The air sizzled as molten streaks passed mere inches from his face.

"You can't dodge forever, Rex!" Wallen bellowed, the ground beneath him turning to glowing slag from his relentless heat.

"Oh, I'm not planning to!" Rex shouted back. Aether burst from his fists, illuminating the battlefield with vibrant blue energy. He crouched low, his grin widening. "Let's turn this into a proper brawl, shall we?"

In a flash, Rex surged forward, his Aether-coated fists striking out like lightning. Wallen met him head-on, molten fists clashing with Aether, each impact sending shockwaves rippling outward. Sparks flew as their powers collided, a dance of fire and energy that lit up the night.

Wallen growled as Rex ducked under a molten punch and delivered a spinning kick infused with Aether straight to Wallen's side. The kick connected with a satisfying crack, sending Wallen skidding backward.

Wallen spat a glob of molten metal onto the ground and wiped his mouth, grinning darkly. "You've got some fight in you, kid. But let's see how you handle this!" He slammed his fists into the ground, and molten metal erupted in all directions, creating a devastating wave that raced toward Rex.

Rex planted his feet, the Aether around him intensifying. He thrust both hands forward, forming a glowing barrier of pure energy. The molten wave crashed into it, hissing and steaming as the two forces fought for dominance. Sweat beaded on Rex's brow, but his smirk never wavered.

As the molten tide receded, Wallen stood at the center of the scorched battlefield, his molten armor pulsating like a living furnace. Rex dropped the barrier, his fists still glowing with Aether, and his smirk transformed into a feral grin.

"You call that your big move? Cute," Rex taunted, his voice dripping with confidence. "But now it's my turn."

Before Wallen could respond, the ground trembled again, but this time, it wasn't from his power. A new energy filled the air, cold and sharp like a blade. Wallen's aura flickered as he paused, his smile faltering.

"What's wrong?" Rex asked, noticing the change. "Don't tell me you're scared now."

Wallen didn't answer. Instead, his gaze shifted upward, his expression darkening. Then, without warning, a shimmering, blue energy began to pour from his body, engulfing him in a blinding light. His jagged armor melted away, replaced by a sleek, radiant shell of pure Aether.

Rex froze, his smirk fading and replaced by a bewildered look. "Ain't no fucking way…"

The light receded, revealing Wallen standing taller than before, his entire body exuding a terrifyingly divine aura. His eyes burned with newfound intensity, and his voice rang out like thunder.

"Now," Wallen said, his lips curling into a grin. "Let's see how you fare against a true Sovereign."