Active Measures (Ares #4)

Rage Is A Burden

April awakes, strapped to a chair, surrounded by cylindrical walls. She looks over to a nearby window, and forces her arms out of the chair. "Did he forget I'm a Kaimen? That was kind of the whole point of this." she mutters, rubbing her wrists. She leans out of the window, only to realise she is extremely high up. Looking down in shock, she realises the gravity of her situation. "This is a whole rocket..what the hell is happening here? And where is Brad?" She shouts, panicking.

Meanwhile, Ares feels a slight shock to his system. "April.." he whispers, as a fist lands against his face. "Don't get distracted just yet, Ares, the fights not over yet. Filthy Kaimen, all just as primal as one another, but that won't be an issue soon, WHEN I EXTERMINATE YOUR DISGRACEFUL KIND!" Roarke shouts. "And yet, here you are. Relying on the strength of Kaimen power, in order to beat us. You call us pathetic?" Ares retaliates. "You..are..pathetic.." Skylar interrupts, a flow of purple energy covering her body. Ares grunts, his red, godly aura exploding in a fury, he quickly lunges towards Roarke, landing punch after punch on his body. "You should know better than anyone, Ares. Pain and anger only makes Kaimen stronger, the same applies for me, I'll get stronger and str-.." before Roarke can finish his sentence, he is interrupted by more punches from Ares. "You will never be as strong as me, you're just a thief, and interloper, and I'm the real deal, you just haven't realised it yet!" He shouts, throwing Roarke towards the wall. Ares pulls him up by the throat, crushing him against the wall. "I am the Kaimen who stopped the Dark Omega, and won the Tournament of Strength. MY NAME IS ARES, AND YOU WILL FALL BEFORE ME!" He screams. "Oh come now, is that what she would have wanted?" Roarke answers. Ares grunts, confused as his comment. "Oh, did you forget Ares? No, she didn't tell you. Oh boy, you're in for one hell of a revelation then.." Roarke taunts. Ares pushes him further and further into the wall. "Talk. Now!" He shouts with anger. Roarke laughs in his face. "Mother kept secrets, didn't she? Like the identity of a child she once carted off and left to die!" He explains. Ares stays silent. "That's right Ares, we're more alike than you think..brother!" Roarke shouts. "What utter nonsense.." Ares replies, before throwing him to the floor. "Corvus. Annihilate him." Ares demands. "With pleasure." Corvus responds. Ares turns towards Skylar, staring straight through her. He grabs her by the back of the head, pulling her hair. "I did what I had to. You gave into your deepest, darkest desires of destroying everything around you. You always were a loose cannon, Skylar. It's a shame, it never needed to come to this." He monologues. Corvus quickly looks over. "ANNIHILATE!" Skylar screams. "GET OUT OF THE WAY, ARES!" Corvus screams, jumping in front of the Annihilation energy. "CORVUS!" Ares shouts. He falls down, and slowly begins to disintegrate on the floor. "You..need to finish this..please Ares. I've never had..as much faith in a mortal..as I do with you.. kill them. Take this ring, please. It's a symbol of those who can use divine skills and energy.." Corvus splutters, handing Ares a ring from his fingers. Ares puts on the ring, feeling the cold embrace on his finger. As the last few parts of Corvus' body begin to disappear, he whispers, "I never thought I would be killed, let alone by my own energy, this is my fault, I'm no Annihilator. Do not let Skylar go mad with the power..she will destroy everything.. take that power, use it for yourself. Finish this, Ares. Goodbye.." he whispers, as the last few remnants of his body fade from existence.

A moment of complete silence passes, and Ares finally stands up, looking directly at the floor where Corvus was laid. "It's time to finish off the last of the divine beings in this universe!" Roarke shouts as he brandishes a sharp weapon, created entirely of his own energy. He lunges towards Ares, but is suddenly stopped. Without even looking back, Ares holds the weapon still with just two fingers, and his energy begins to skyrocket on the spot. Ares begins to breath heavily, turning around very slowly, his eyes piercing through Roarke. Ares throws him back without even moving. A large cloak of energy begins to surround Ares' body, and his hair shoots a sharp, slick silver. "Ultimate..instinct.." Roarke mumbles in fear. Ares tilts his head up slowly. "Family or not..brother or not..YOU are in my way. Give me my daughter back. Now!" He screams. "You think anger is going to get me to give in?! I will give you my anger then! The trick to a Kaimen body is pain and anger..therefore I will use both!" Roarke shouts, as he begins to stab himself with his own weapon, laughing maniacally as he does it. Ares stands still, not even blinking at the self inflicted damage. Roarke screams, whilst laughing at the same time. "MY ANGER WILL PREVAIL OVER YOU, ARES. THIS WILL BE MY FINAL VICTORY!" He laughs. "Then you'd better come and test it out, brother." Ares responds. The two stands eye to eye with one another, and prepare to indulge in one final battle.