Cronus' system: Against the gods

Rex's eyes widened, disbelief crashing over him like a tidal wave as he watched the impossible unfold before him. Aether—pure, radiant, and unmistakable poured from Wallen's body in cascading waves.

It shimmered with a vibrant, almost electric intensity, intertwining seamlessly with his metallic armor, transforming it into something out of a nightmare. The hybrid of Aether and molten steel pulsed with an otherworldly glow, exuding raw power that made the air around them hum with tension.

"H...how…?" Rex's voice faltered, his usual bravado replaced by genuine shock.

"This…this is beyond comprehension!" Cronus's voice roared inside Rex's mind, his usually calm tone cracking under the weight of disbelief. "Outrageous! This is impossible!"

"You don't know what's going on?" Rex thought, his inner voice sharp with urgency, directed at Cronus.

"N-No…! Not like this," Cronus stammered, an edge of panic in his words. "Aether is sacred, reserved for the chosen few! Jefferson, Seraphina, and you… You're supposed to be the only ones capable of wielding it!"

Rex's mind raced, piecing together fragments of what he thought he knew. Jefferson's Aether abilities made sense....he was a demi-god, after all. As for himself, he bore the harbinger blood of Cronus, his powers a natural extension of his bond.

But Seraphina? She wasn't a demi-god, nor a harbinger. Her ability to wield Aether had always been a mystery he hadn't dared question until now. Could there be other humans who can wield Aether?

"Are you shocked, kid?" Wallen's voice cut through Rex's spiraling thoughts like a knife. The smirk on his face was cruel, predatory, as an Aether-forged spear materialized in his hand, its tip radiating lethal energy. "You didn't really think you were special, did you?"

Rex clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms as frustration and fear boiled within him. Wallen didn't just have Aether, he wielded it flawlessly.

Every movement of the spear crackled with precision and intent.

"Damn it!" Rex growled under his breath. His mind screamed for answers, but none came. His stomach churned with the bitter realization of just how outmatched he was. "This could only mean one thing…" He swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"I'm screwed."

Wallen lunged forward, his spear tearing through the dense air with a feral howl, a fiery blur of molten light. Rex barely managed to throw himself to the side, the weapon gouging a deep, smoldering scar into the ground where he'd just been standing.

The earth hissed and sizzled, heat radiating in suffocating waves as the air itself seemed to writhe with the raw energy pouring off Wallen's form.

<System alert: 0/185 Aether>

"Fantastic!" Rex muttered, wiping the sweat streaming down his face. His grin wavered as he stared at the glowing figure of Wallen, Aether pouring from the man like a raging river. "Maybe saying I'm screwed was too optimistic... I'm absolutely, royally fucked!"

The sheer pressure of Wallen's presence made Rex's heart pound like a war drum. Each step the Iron Sovereign took seemed to shake the very ground, molten droplets of liquid metal dripping from his spear and hissing into steam upon contact with the dirt.

Wallen's Aether reserves felt bottomless, and the power emanating from him was enough to make even Rex, who thrived on challenges, gulp audibly.

DOOOM!!!

The world seemed to split apart as Wallen's fist connected with Rex's stomach, the force of the impact erupting like a bomb.

Rex's body was launched backward, tumbling through the air like a ragdoll before slamming into the ground with a bone-rattling crash.

The earth cratered beneath him as he coughed violently, blood splattering his lips. His ribs screamed in protest with every shaky breath, and his vision blurred as a dull ringing filled his ears.

"Arrrk!" Rex wheezed, trying to prop himself up on trembling arms. His grin, though weaker now, still clung stubbornly to his face.

"Hey... Cronus," he rasped, the edges of his voice laced with wry humor. "Any chance you could... you know, lend me a little Aether? I'll pay you back, promise! Maybe some... legumes? Or moussaka? I heard you Greek gods are really into that stuff."

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Cronus' deep, rumbling laughter echoed through Rex's mind like distant thunder, warm yet maddeningly detached.

"Thy humor remains unyielding, harbinger. Yet, thou knowest my answer. To lend thee Aether? That I cannot. I would not have my champion be a weakling. Fight, struggle, rise alone. That is thy purpose."

"Of course," Rex groaned, chuckling weakly through the pain. His laugh was jagged but defiant, a stubborn ember refusing to die in a storm. "Figures you'd say that. You're not some omnipotent deity, you're just a glorified spectator enjoying the show, aren't you?"

"Perhaps," Cronus mused with a faint chuckle. "Thy suffering does amuse me greatly, harbinger."

"Shameless bastard," Rex spat, but his voice carried no venom. Instead, laughter bubbled up from somewhere deep within him, raw and unrelenting.

He dragged himself to his knees, clutching his ribs as his body screamed in protest, yet his grin remained, wild and blazing. "Fine. If you won't help, I'll just have to keep entertaining you, won't I?"

The air around Rex shimmered as he forced himself to his feet, his knees threatening to buckle but holding firm. His eyes blazed with reckless determination, a fire that refused to be extinguished. "Round five, Wallen!" he shouted, his voice hoarse but unyielding. "Let's see if you can keep up!"

Wallen's eyes blazed with fury as suddenly, an Aether helmet just like the one Rex had been trying to form appeared on his head. The edges shimmered like a living flame. "Kid, I'll enjoy breaking you bit by bit!" Wallen growled as an Aether sword materialized in his hand

"Shall we?" Rex taunted, his eyes daring Wallen to come at him again.

Wallen's roar tore through the air as he lunged, his molten Aether sword blazing like a comet streaking toward Rex. The ground cracked and trembled beneath the force of his charge, heat waves distorting the air as his sheer presence threatened to crush all resistance.

But Rex didn't flinch.

He planted his feet firmly, his body screaming in pain but his resolve unshaken. With no Aether to call on, he relied on raw strength and speed—the gifts his relentless training had forged in him. Wallen's sword came down in a blistering arc, aiming to cleave Rex in two.

Rex sidestepped at the last possible moment, the sword's tip grazing his shoulder and searing through his jacket. The smell of burning fabric and flesh filled the air, but Rex didn't let it slow him down. He ducked low, pivoted, and drove his fist into Wallen's exposed ribs with all the power he could muster.

CRACK!

The impact echoed like a thunderclap. Wallen grunted, his body jolting from the sheer force, but his molten armor absorbed most of the damage, glowing brighter as it absorbed the kinetic energy.

"Not bad, kid," Wallen growled, his voice dripping with mockery. "But you're going to have to do better than that."

Before Rex could retreat, Wallen's knee shot up like a piston, slamming into Rex's chest. The force was monstrous, and Rex felt his ribs groan under the strain. He spat blood but gritted his teeth, refusing to give Wallen the satisfaction of seeing him falter.

Wallen capitalized on Rex's momentary stagger, spinning with brutal precision and slamming his armored fist into Rex's jaw. The blow sent Rex hurtling backward, his body skidding across the cracked ground like a skipping stone. He came to a halt against a broken pillar, gasping for air as pain radiated through his entire body.

"Stay down," Wallen sneered, striding toward him with the arrogance of a predator toying with its prey. "You're just prolonging the inevitable. I'll break every bone in your body, then I'll take my time crushing your spirit."

Rex coughed, blood trickling down his chin, but his grin refused to fade. "Big talk... for a guy who just got punched by a 'kid.' You sure you're not just... compensating for something?"

Wallen's expression darkened, his molten sword flaring brighter. "You insolent little—"

Before Wallen could finish, Rex launched himself forward, closing the distance in a blur of movement. He ducked under the blazing sword, his fists flying in rapid succession. Each punch was calculated, aiming for weak points in Wallen's armor—the joints, the seams, the places where the molten metal hadn't fully fused.

The first punch struck Wallen's elbow, forcing his sword arm to falter. The second connected with his knee, making him stumble. The third—a savage uppercut—snapped Wallen's head back, his Aether helmet flickering for a split second.

Wallen snarled, his molten armor rippling as he swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing Rex to backflip out of range. The heat from the blade singed Rex's skin, but he landed gracefully, his chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through him.

"Not bad, huh?" Rex taunted, his grin widening despite the blood staining his teeth. "I'd say I'm doing pretty well for a guy who's 'screwed.'"

Wallen roared, his Aether flaring wildly as he charged again, his movements faster and more brutal. Rex met him head-on, weaving through the barrage of attacks with a mixture of raw instinct and calculated precision. Every swing of Wallen's sword was met with a counterattack—a punch, a kick, a dodge.

But Wallen was relentless. Despite Rex's speed and strategy, the Iron Sovereign's brute strength and molten armor made him an unstoppable force. A devastating backhand caught Rex across the face, sending him sprawling. Before he could recover, Wallen's boot slammed down on his chest, pinning him to the ground.

"Still think you can keep up, boy?" Wallen spat, pressing down harder. The heat from his armor seared Rex's skin, the pain blinding.

Rex clenched his jaw, his vision swimming, but his mind racing. His eyes darted around, analyzing every detail—the molten Aether swirling around Wallen, the cracks in the ground, the faint flicker of instability in Wallen's armor.

"Yeah," Rex rasped, his voice strained but defiant. "I do."

With a sudden burst of strength, Rex twisted his body, grabbing Wallen's ankle and yanking hard. The unexpected move toppled the larger man, and Rex rolled to his feet, ignoring the agony coursing through him.

"Lesson one," Rex said, his voice steady despite the blood dripping from his lips. "Never underestimate a desperate man."

Wallen growled, surging to his feet, but Rex was already moving. He darted behind Wallen, grabbing a jagged piece of debris from the ground. With a feral cry, he drove the improvised weapon into the exposed seam of Wallen's armor at his back.

The molten armor flared, the impact sending a shockwave of heat and light exploding outward. Wallen roared in pain, spinning to face Rex with murderous intent.

But Rex was ready. He raised his fists, the faintest flicker of Aether sparking to life around them. His grin turned wicked, his eyes blazing with unyielding determination.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Round six," Rex said, his voice low and dangerous. "Let's see what you're really made of."