"Hahahaha!"
"You cannot destroy me!"
Ares suddenly shouted triumphantly.
However.
Just then.
Ao Yuan's gaze sharpened, his aura surging explosively.
He struck the trident with his claw!
Boom!
At this moment, as Ao Yuan's immense power was transferred, the armor could no longer hold.
With a crashing sound, it shattered, transforming into boundless black energy that was compressed beneath the sea level.
Now, with the armor's obstruction gone, the trident's two shorter and one longer prongs instantly pierced through Ares's body.
"Ah!"
Ares let out a shrill scream, his body trembling violently.
A trickle of blood welled from his broken form, staining the sea level, which had transformed into a sea of lightning, a deep red.
Watching the sea level dyed red by the flowing blood.
The creatures of Mount Taibai froze in their expressions.
Although they couldn't see Ares's figure, the current situation made it clear that he was severely injured.
What shocked them even more was that Ao Yuan could rival a god!
Although the victory seemed inexplicable, Ares had undeniably been defeated by Ao Yuan.
Everyone had witnessed this.
"How is it?" Ao Yuan looked at the blood-red sea level and asked indifferently.
"Hmph!"
After a moment, Ares's enraged voice finally came through: "You just wait!"
"When I break free, I will kill you!"
Ares's voice was furious, but a trace of weakness could be heard, indicating that the trident's strike had not been easy.
"No need to wait."
A smile flickered across Ao Yuan's lips. "Because there will be no later!"
With that said!
"Roar!"
A deafening dragon roar reverberated.
Ao Yuan opened his dragon maw and charged towards Ares.
His movements suggested he intended to swallow Ares whole, just as before.
Splash!
Ao Yuan's colossal form plunged into the sea, sending a massive wave of water splashing.
Following that.
The crowd saw the seawater churn and boil, the blood flowing out becoming even more concentrated.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Ares emitted sounds of agonizing screams that echoed throughout the heavens and earth, utterly chilling.
The creatures of Mount Taibai trembled.
They couldn't see clearly what was happening beneath the sea, but their minds conjured up horrific scenes.
At the same time.
Beneath the sea!
Seeing Ao Yuan charging towards him, Ares clearly still wanted to resist.
But now, not only was the trident stuck in him,
he was also being ravaged by heavenly tribulations. Resisting was no simple matter.
He was being pulled closer by Ao Yuan.
At this proximity, Ares could clearly see every movement of Ao Yuan.
He could smell the blood mist that Ao Yuan carried with even a slight breath.
He could feel that Ao Yuan truly intended to kill him!
"Ah! You dare to try and kill me!"
Ares roared in anger, struggling even more violently.
In response.
Ao Yuan remained silent, his killing intent intensifying.
He suddenly gripped the trident, pulled it out, and then mercilessly thrust it back in.
Pulling out and stabbing in, accompanied by Ares's screams, pulling out and stabbing in again.
Ao Yuan was like a cold, emotionless robot.
After repeating this several times.
Ares's body was riddled with bloody holes.
His initially defiant voice had devolved into weak whimpers.
The trident's might was sharp and piercing, truly something he, without any means of defense, could not withstand.
Swish!
Ao Yuan pulled out the trident!
"Ah!"
Ares grunted, watching as the trident was about to descend again.
His weak voice suddenly grew louder: "Dragon boy! Spare... spare me!"
"Oh?" Ao Yuan paused, his dragon eyes scanning Ares playfully. "Is the mighty God of War begging for mercy?"
Hearing this, Ares's expression faltered. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but eventually remained silent, merely nodding his head.
He was the God of War, a God of War who had never lost a battle.
He was a god, who viewed all events as fleeting, a god from on high!
But he was also a person!
Even an ant cherishes its life, let alone someone like Ares who had lived for an unknown number of years.
He feared death far more than ordinary people.
"You want me to spare you?"
"Possible!" Ao Yuan nodded gently. "But give me a reason not to kill you!"
"I... I am a god! I possess immense power! In the future, I will undoubtedly be one of your most capable helpers!"
Seeing Ao Yuan's expression remain calm, showing no signs of being moved, Ares quickly added, "In the near future, the gods will descend.
"I am merely the vanguard who arrived first. You are of the dragon race."
A flicker of contemplation crossed Ao Yuan's eyes.
Ares seized the opportunity and pressed on, "Without me by your side, you will surely die amongst the gods!"
"With me here, I guarantee your safety."
Ao Yuan suddenly asked, "What contract exists between the gods and the dragon race?"
Ares's expression stiffened, appearing quite surprised. "You don't know?"
"Why should I know?" Ao Yuan retorted.
"You... you... you are not a dragon who has returned from elsewhere?"
"That's right." Ao Yuan nodded frankly. "I am a native of Blue Star."
Ao Yuan didn't mind Ares discovering this, nor did he fear that Ares would reveal it.
For dead men tell no tales.
Upon hearing this, Ares stared blankly at Ao Yuan, a look of shock appearing on his face.
He truly hadn't expected Ao Yuan to be a native of Blue Star.
After all, he knew better than anyone what Blue Star's environment had been like before.
And Ao Yuan, not being a god, had managed to survive in such an environment, and with such great strength.
He was even stronger than dragons from the outside world, no, stronger than any race from the outside world.
Without exaggeration, Ao Yuan was the most talented dragon Ares had ever encountered.
"Speak, or you die!" As Ares was lost in thought, a cold voice echoed in his ear.
Ares's expression shifted repeatedly, then he said, "If I tell you, will you spare me?"
Ao Yuan remained noncommittal.
"Fine, I will speak."
Ares took a deep breath and then said, "The dragon race is the king of all things, even amongst us."
"The dragon race's power became overwhelming, breaking the balance."
"For this, we engaged in a fierce battle with the dragon race."
"This battle lasted for a very, very long time, and eventually, the situation was pacified."
"The dragon race retreated to the divine mountain and ceased appearing elsewhere, thus ending the war!"
Ares spoke at great length, and Ao Yuan listened quietly.
"Alright, I have said all I have to say."
"Now it's your turn to keep your promise!"
Ares said finally.
...