Cronus' system: Against the gods

"I'm not usually one to get my hands dirty like this," Rex murmured, a sly grin spreading across his face as his fists began to glow with pulsating Aether energy, the light casting sharp shadows across his determined features. His voice carried a cool confidence, but his blazing eyes hinted at the fire burning within. "But hey... there's a first time for everything."

Wallen's brow furrowed, a flicker of unease in his otherwise calm demeanor. "Not the type to do what?" he demanded.

Rex raised one glowing fist, waving the other nonchalantly. "Why don't you step up and find out for yourself?" His smirk deepened, taunting and unyielding.

With a grunt, Wallen called forth a blade of pure iron, its gleaming edge catching the faint light. The weapon was unnervingly sharp, shaped like a broadsword but without a hilt—just a deadly expanse of cold steel. Wallen gripped it barehanded, causing Rex's eyebrow to lift in intrigue.

"Reckless much?" Rex quipped. But as his gaze sharpened, he realized Wallen's hands remained unmarred. No blood, no scratches. Just an unsettling calm.

"Two options," Rex muttered under his breath, his mind racing as his heart pounded with the thrill of battle. "Either his skin's tougher than steel, or steel can't touch him. Guess I'll have to test it myself."

Without warning, Rex surged forward like a bullet, his outstretched palm radiating with a growing sphere of concentrated energy—the Aether Nova. The hum of the forming attack filled the air, a warning of destruction to come. Wallen's eyes widened slightly before he hurled his iron blade with lethal precision, retreating to gain distance. The blade sliced through the air like a predator seeking prey.

Boom! Rex slammed the Nova into the blade mid-flight, detonating it in a flash of light and sound. The explosion sent shards of razor-sharp metal flying in all directions. Rex hissed in pain as fragments tore into his skin, leaving shallow cuts that glistened crimson under the flickering light.

"Damn!" Rex growled, shaking off the sting and planting his feet firmly on the ground. His knuckles tightened, glowing brighter with renewed Aether.

"Still standing, huh?" Wallen sneered, though the edge of his voice betrayed unease. "You're just a kid! You're out of your depth. Obey your superiors and follow me, before I make you!"

"Big words for someone I just gave a handicap," Rex shot back, smirking through gritted teeth. "Let me show you how wrong you are."

Before Wallen could retort, Rex vanished from sight, leaving behind only a faint ripple in the air.

"What the—" Wallen's words caught in his throat as agony erupted in his stomach. He choked, blood spraying from his lips, his eyes bulging in disbelief. Rex's fist was buried deep into his abdomen, glowing faintly with Aether. Wallen's body flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into the dirt with a thud that echoed like a war drum.

"Lesson one," Rex said, straightening and cracking his knuckles. His smirk turned devilish. "Never run your mouth when your senior's being nice."

Wallen struggled to his knees, trembling, blood dripping from his lips. He glared at Rex, a mixture of rage and fear burning in his eyes. But Rex wasn't done.

"Now," Rex growled, summoning Damocles. The infamous blade appeared in his grasp, its polished surface gleaming menacingly under the faint moonlight. This time, however, Rex left its dark flames dormant. He raised the weapon high, and the air grew heavy, oppressive:

First effect activated: A floating ethereal version of the sword appears above the battlefield, looming over the opponent, signifying imminent danger. Once the opponent is weakened or shows signs of hesitation, the floating sword strikes down automatically, dealing massive damagen/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Above Wallen's head, an ethereal version of the sword materialized, massive and looming. Its ghostly edge shimmered with deadly intent, casting a long shadow of despair over Wallen.

"What... what is this?" Wallen stammered, his earlier bravado evaporating.

Rex's voice was cold, cutting through the tension like a blade. "This is your judgment."

The spectral blade began its descent, its speed increasing with every passing second. Wallen's instincts screamed as he summoned a thick shield, its surface reinforced with layers of glowing energy. The ethereal blade struck the shield with a deafening crack, splitting it in two as though it were paper. Wallen frantically summoned another shield, and then a third, his face pale with exertion.

Finally, the sword halted its descent, dissipating into the air. Wallen collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath, his shields shattered around him.

Rex twirled the real Damocles in his hand, its edge singing faintly. He took a step forward, his gaze like fire, and whispered just loud enough for Wallen to hear. "You better hope your backup gets here soon... because I'm just getting started."

"Dammit! Why is he so strong?!" Wallen spat, blood dripping from his lips as he clutched his side, trembling. His body screamed in pain, but his rage burned hotter. "He's supposed to be just an academy student!" His bloodshot eyes locked onto Rex like a predator staring down prey.

Wallen raised a shaky hand, pointing at Rex with a trembling finger as though sheer willpower alone could make the young man crumble. "The Voss family trained you well, I'll give them that. But let me warn you..." His voice turned guttural, a mix of malice and desperation. "Our Lord has no mercy for those who harm his daughter! Even if I fall here, stronger ones will keep coming! Until you're dead!"

Rex stood unmoving, his posture relaxed, his head tilted slightly as if he was processing Wallen's rant like a mildly amusing joke. His amber eyes glinted with a spark of incredulity, and then... annoyance. He raised an eyebrow. "You done?"

His mind raced, the absurdity of the situation grinding against his nerves. What the hell is this guy even talking about? he thought, frustration bubbling beneath his calm façade. First off—how the hell did I harm Seraphina? Second—what Voss family training? And third—why the actual fuck does everyone want me dead?

Rex's thoughts flickered to previous encounters. Austine Voss trying to gut him under the guise of some shadow law nonsense, and now this idiot from the Valenbrook family ranting about revenge for Seraphina. "What damn training? What damn harm?" he muttered under his breath, his patience fraying.

"Let me remind you," Rex finally spoke, his tone laced with dry humor, "you lot owe me for saving your daughter's life at the academy. Or did you conveniently forget that part?" He folded his arms, staring down Wallen like a teacher scolding a particularly dull student. Read exclusive chapters at empire

Wallen froze, his lips twitching in an eerie grin. His silence was brief. "Hehehehe…" The laugh started as a low, guttural rumble, quickly growing louder and more unhinged.

Before Rex could process the sound, sharp tendrils, gleaming, blood-red like molten iron erupted from the ground, slicing through the air and slamming into his legs.

"Arrrrgh!" Rex groaned, the searing pain shooting through his body as the tendrils pierced his flesh, pinning him to the spot. He staggered, nearly collapsing as blood soaked his pants. His eyes darted to his legs, spotting the tendrils spiraling upward, their sharp, crimson sheen glinting ominously in the moonlight.

Wallen straightened himself, his grin stretching wide across his bloodied face, triumphant. "Did you really think I was just coughing up blood for show?" he sneered, his voice dripping with sadistic glee.

"My iron… it's not just my weapon. It's me. My flesh, my blood, every drop is iron. The moment you stepped on my blood, you sealed your fate!" He gestured grandly to the crimson strands binding Rex. "You're in my trap now."

Rex's breaths came sharp and shallow, his muscles straining against the unrelenting grip of the iron tendrils. His mind raced, his body trembling. "You bastard…" he hissed, his voice low and guttural.

"Oh, you're not getting it yet, are you?" Wallen took a step closer, his grin twisting further into madness. "Now that my blood is inside you, you're part of me. You're an extension of my body! I control you, Rex!"

Rex gritted his teeth, his vision narrowing as fury bubbled up within him. The pain in his legs was excruciating, but the thought of being controlled, of being anyone's puppet and of course, being framed like this ignited a fire in his chest.

His fists clenched, blood dripping from his fingers as the Aether within him stirred, a living force responding to his rage.

"You think you've won," Rex growled, his voice trembling with a mixture of pain and defiance. "But let me tell you something about me…" He raised his head, his amber eyes burning like twin suns as he locked onto Wallen. "I don't break. I burn."

Wallen's smug grin faltered, his confidence wavering under Rex's piercing gaze. "Big talk for someone already on their knees!" he spat, tightening the tendrils. The iron strands constricted further, digging deeper into Rex's flesh, and drawing more blood.

Rex's body trembled, his breathing labored, but his lips curled into a defiant smirk. "Is that… all you've got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

He forced his trembling hands upward, his fingers crackling with energy as golden veins of Aether surged through his arms. The glow intensified, spreading like wildfire, illuminating the dark street with a blinding radiance.

"Stop struggling!" Wallen barked, his voice tinged with panic. He willed the tendrils to tighten further, but something was wrong. The iron strands began to heat up, glowing red-hot where they touched Rex's skin.

"You made one big mistake," Rex snarled, his voice rising as the air around him grew heavy with raw power. "You underestimated me."

A/N: Won't be around to pub for two days......sorry guys