Adonis twirled the wooden spear once in his hands, the smooth grain of the training shaft sliding across his palms as naturally as breath. His feet shifted into stance, his left foot forward, right foot angled, his knees slightly bent. The spear tip lowered pointed to the ground slightly.
Jason stood across from him. His older brother, and The Sword of Sparta. One of the strongest Spartan Warriors in the Empire. And one of the strongest swordsmen's in the Universe.
He just stood there. Calm and relaxed. A wooden training blade resting loosely in his right hand. His posture was straight but not rigid. His weight evenly distributed. His golden-amber eyes steady and never leaving Adonis.
The air in the training hall felt different now.
Helena stood to the side, the Nemean feline Arionna sitting in her arms. Helena's lavender eyes attentive to the site before her, but her face was unreadable. Atreus leaned against a pillar, observing carefully, he was ready to move incase things got out of hand. Seris stood slightly behind him, arms behind her back, her battle-hardened gaze curious to see what happens.
Harmonia remained near the entrance, she was quiet and composed. But in her mind she worried for the youngest. Arionna silver-white eyes fixed on Adonis, as she watched with fixed curiosity.
Focus Jonathan. You don't have to worry. In my past life Jason was not cruel or evil. So I don't think he is doing this to kill me, but test my abilities. It's not like I can actually defeat him. The guy is definitely in the top ten strongest in the Universe. I just need to make a good impression. So for right now I should test him to see what works and what doesn't.
Adonis began to walk forward slowly. He measured each step precisely. Readying himself to move or defend should Jason close the gap between them.
He had never faced Jason in a true spar. In his past life, he had never dared to fight any of the Blud children. He had never been strong enough to even consider it. Especially with that damn curse making me the weakest of the Blud children. Last thing I do is place a bigger target on my back.
What I knew of Jason came from lore, and from the books, from stories whispered among warriors. But lore meant nothing here. Especially when I'm standing Infront of it. Jason was very real. And the air around him felt like standing at the edge of a cliff that led into the mouth of a predator.
Jonathan cleared his mind, he inhaled, and exhaled evenly.
Then Adonis moved. He bursted forward running to Jason with great speed. Then launched his spear forward with a series of rapid spear thrusts, straight jabs aimed at chest, shoulder, thigh. Each strike was fast and precise. Each one flowing into the next.
Jason did not step back. He met his brother's strikes head on. Not with attacks but a cleanly polished defense. His sword's and body movements were very minimal and efficient.
He tapped. Slid. Deflected. Redirect. Of all Adonis's spear strikes away. The spear tip was guided aside again and again, Jason's wrist rotating subtly, his blade intercepting the spear shaft with perfect timing.
Adonis noticed no wasted motion. Or strain in his defense. Adonis circled left, spear lashing from a new angle. Once it was parried, he pivoted and struck low. It was deflected again, then Adonis aimed high, but his spear was sent to another direction before he knew it. Then Adonis reversed his grip and sent a feint strike towards Jason's face. Which he transitioned into a thrust toward Jason's ribs.
But Jason's blade intercepted each one flawlessly. Even when Adonis slipped behind him, striking from what should be his blind spot, Jason did not turn. His sword arm moved behind his back, catching the thrust cleanly.
Jason's head remained facing forward.
Adonis's eyes narrowed. I would be mad and consider him not even turning to face me as arrogance. But I know he's that talented in fighting to do that. Especially against a child like me.
Jason spoke casually as he continued deflecting Adonis's attacks with ease. "You can start getting serious whenever you're ready, youngest."
Irritation flickered in Adonis's mind. Never mind this guy, is just messing with me, but since I'm facing such a powerful warrior I shouldn't have to hold back.
"Fine, brother, You want me to take this more seriously. Don't regret that later. " he replied.
Mana stirred in his core and tingled under his skin. Adonis began to invoke rudimentary augmentation magic. Boosting his base physical abilities. Strength, speed, reflexes, and agility all to the next level. Making him stronger then most high athletic teen's.
As the translucent mana wrapped around him faintly, reinforcing muscle and tendon. His heartbeat accelerated and his vision and perception was sharpened. Power surged through his nerves, and Adonis felt his second wind igniting him.
Adonis rushed forward again, this time faster. His whole body began to blur as it moved. His spear strikes thrusting with enhanced speed and force. His feet struck the stone with quick precision, his body weaving in and out of range.
But Jason's expression did not change.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
Each strike met wood and was equally deflected like before. Jason's feet still hadn't moved from where they were when everything began. His movements became slightly faster, but not one ounce of wasted movement was seen.
Adonis didn't falter, he only pressed on harder, aiming at joints now. Jason's wrist. Neck. Knee. Eyes. He knew if their weapons were real these attacks would cripple or possibly kill his opponent. But he knew Jason could take all this and more, so Adonis's attacks didn't falter for one moment.
And Jason parried each one without turning his body. Or showing any signs of struggling. "Not bad youngest," Jason said calmly. "But I'm still not seeing what father and mother found impressive."
In the next instant, Jason's blade hooked the spear shaft and twisted. The force redirected Adonis's momentum and sent him skidding back across the floor.
Adonis managed to regained his footing within seconds. Then he looked at Jason with curiosity. "Are you asking me to go all out?" he asked evenly.
Jason tilted his head slightly. "That was the point of all this, youngest. Why else would I be here? Now come and show me that all the talk about you wasn't a fluke, or I will be disappointed greatly."
Adonis glanced briefly at the others. Helena. Atreus. Seris. Harmonia. Helena and Seris gave a subtle nod.
Adonis inhaled deeply, and the surrounding mana responded. He began drawing it inward. Absorbing and compressing it.
The air around him shifted. The density of the hall increased as if pressure were building before bursting outward. The translucent mana around him deepened. Red began to bleed into it. Then a black hue.
The mixture flickered violently around his small frame. Helena's eyes sharpened, and Seris straightened.
Jason's gaze narrowed for the first time. A familiar feeling began to stir in him, one he did not like.
Adonis then unleashed his Mana Burst in it's entirety. Allowing his mana to flare violently around him. Adonis knew he couldn't sustain it for long. Especially against someone like Jason. So he would end this in one strike. Hoping it landed, he knew the chances of that happening were slim to none, but he wasn't worried about winning, but having his brother take him seriously enough. To block his attack completely.
Adonis lowered into a ready stance, spear angled forward. As he inhale deeply, his mana began to tighten around his body like it was focusing itself like a second skin. He remembered what his teacher told him in that moment.
Mana when used correctly is the ultimate offence and defense in one. You just have to think of it like a armor, and your body is the weapon. Once you do that, no blade, gun or spell is needed. Because then you would become the weapon itself. It's called Mana Skin.
Adonis knew he wasn't at that high of a level of control to use it perfectly or well at all. But right now he was focused on the one goal.
He exhale. Then he moved forward with great force. He vanished forward in a blur of red-black energy, closing the distance in a heartbeat. The spear thrust aimed directly at Jason's chest, perfect alignment, full body behind the strike.
In that one moment Adonis's mind and body were in perfect synchronicity.
And then right as Adonis's spear nearly made a connection with Jason's body..... Adonis's world went black and all he saw was darkness.
From Adonis's perspective, everything cut out mid-motion. But from the outside....The red-black aura flared violently. Jason's eyes widened for a fraction of a second.
Then something changed. Jason's body had moved, but it wasn't calculated, nor deliberate. It was on the most primal sense of Jason's Instincts. As a spartan warrior, and as a demigod.
In that moment before he realized it. His body stepped in to Adonis's attack. Not with his sword in his right hand. But his left hand shot forward. His left hand bald into a fist drove into Adonis's sternum with explosive force. A shock wave of condensed air could be seen exiting Adonis's back.
The mana burst around him dispensed at the point of impact. A crack split appeared in the stone floor beneath Jason's feet. The red-black aura dispersed violently. And Adonis's body lifted as it flew across the room a few feet.
Then his limp body fell to the ground. The spear did not leave his hand, but he did not move.
Then silence and shock filled the room.
Jason stood across from him. His fist still raised as he tried to understand what just happened.
Harmonia screamed. "Young Lord!"
She rushed forward immediately in a blink, dropping to her knees beside Adonis.
Helena's eyes widened as she saw blood trickling from the side of Adonis's head where it had struck the stone. "What the hell, Jason?!" she snapped, grabbing his shirt collar. "Are you trying to kill him. This was supposed to be a sparring match. I thought I could trust you!"
Jason looked Helena with a thousand yard stare, then down at his own hand. His expression shifted. Not to one of anger, but to one of shock.
"I didn't mean to," he said quietly. "He was stronger than I thought."
"That's bullshit," Helena hissed. "He's only six years old. Are you telling me the mana from a child scared the Sword of Sparta?"
Jason slapped her hand away sharply.
"Yes."
The word hung in the air, and everyone froze.
Jason's voice was low. "I've fought nearly every type of creature in this universe. Even the strongest of Demigods. But that pressure. That's not something I have felt since I face The Grand Regent. Or Father. I haven't felt a pressure like that in years."
Jason exhaled slowly as he gazed at Adonis's body. "For a moment… it felt like something else. Like I was looking at something not even I have faced before."
Harmonia's hands glowed with soft healing magic as she assessed Adonis's injuries. Atreus stepped forward and knelt beside her. He examined Adonis's breathing, pulse, aura. "Lady Helena he was only knocked unconscious," Atreus said after a moment. "Minor concussion and some bruised ribs at worst."
He glanced at Jason. "It's fortunate he bears the full blessing of the River Styx. If he was anyone else I would say that blow might have killed him or crippled him permanently. "
Helena's jaw tightened. Jason nodded slowly. "I'll report this to the Matriarch. And I'll send the youngest a recovery gift and a low grade artifact as compensation."
He turned toward the exit.
"Come, Helena. We need to inform Mother. And the Grand Regent."
Helena frowned. "Why involve the Grand Regent in something like this. He cares not for the Clan's battles for succession."
Jason's expression hardened. "Because I believe the youngest carries a godly blessing. And that aura might have been proof. The Grand Regent is one of the few in the universe who can tell from a glance."
Atreus's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "And the only one who would truly know what kind of blessing it is," he said, "Since the Grand Regent was there when the House of Blud was founded."
Jason nodded once. "Exactly."
Helena looked down at Adonis.
(If he truly possessed something like that…Then he would need protection.)
"I'll stay with the youngest until he awakens," she said firmly.
Jason paused. "Very well. You can expect one of my warriors to be here in about three rotations, Mars two time. Please give my apologies to the Youngest until I am able to do it in person." Jason then left the hall without another word.
Later, Jason boarded his ship. "He commanded his pilot to lift of the planet and secure a private channel in his private chamber. The pilot acknowledged the commands. The engines roared to life as it lifted from Mars Castle.
In his private chamber, Jason sat before a terminal. As a secure channel was engaged. He input a coded sequence. The Encrypted channel responded with Priority access prompts.
The screen flickered. Then a voice emerged.
"Well, if it isn't the Young Lord Jason. I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon. Do you want to continue your training. Or did you want another duel arranged with House Zeus? Or perhaps Hades?" A sly, cool sounding voice could be heard.
Jason leaned back slightly. "No, Grand Regent. Nothing like that. I called for another matter"
"Oh?"
"It's about the youngest." Then Jason recounted his interaction with the youngest. The mana. The pressure. The instinctive reaction. The unusual feeling.
When he finished, the silence lingered briefly. Then the man on the other end chuckled softly.
"Oh my… that is interesting."
Jason's jaw tightened. "You're not concerned?"
"Not really, until the youngest comes to me, or I receive a divine message, then this is just something to revisit another day should the youngest survive until then. " the Grand Regent replied. "So don't worry about it so much."
Jason frowned.
"With respect Grand Regent."
"Jason," the older man interrupted gently. " It's good that your worried about your little brother, but remember you have bigger concerns. Your older brother, rival clans and houses from inside and outside of this Pantheon. The enemies from Beyond the New World. Not to mention your other siblings including the youngest himself. He hasn't even enlisted in the Agoge yet, so take everything one step at a time."
He paused.
"You don't want to put to much pressure on him, and have him end up like your sister Lady Andromeda."
Jason's eyes darkened.
"No. Your right teacher"
The older man chuckled. " I know I'm right. Too much pressure too soon, can cause too many problems and hinder ones growth and mind." the Grand Regent continued, " It breaks even the strongest."
Jason exhaled slowly. "I understand."
The older man chuckled again. "I know. you were always a bright child. Even when stuck in the shadow of your sisters."
There was warmth in his tone.
"Go see your fiancée, and relax. Your supposed to get married in a few years. Then return for training, and we shall see if you learned something new."
Jason nodded once.
"Yes, teacher."
The transmission ended.
Jason remained seated for several seconds before standing. His gaze drifted briefly to his hand. I should give him that gift, it only seems fair, since I hurt the youngest. I know mother will rip me a knew one or invite me for a educational sparring, (Code for the Matriarch beating him with dominating aura and skills.)
Then Jason made several transmission calls. One to his mother and another to a Merchant.
Back in Mars Castle.
Adonis lay unconscious in his bed.
Harmonia had cleaned the blood from his temple and ensured the swelling was minimal. His breathing was steady now.
Arionna lay curled at the foot of the bed, eyes half-lidded but alert. Helena sat in a chair beside him. A book rested in her hands. Her lavender eyes occasionally lifted to study her youngest brother's sleeping face.
His expression was peaceful now which brought a small smile to her face. Helena turned a page slowly, as she thought to herself.
If he truly carried a blessing… If that aura was what Jason claimed… Then the succession war would shift. And our siblings, and enemies would begin to move. Helena glanced at Arionna. The feline's silver-white eyes met hers briefly.
Helena's fingers tightened slightly on the book. "For my sake, little one," she murmured quietly, "Please look after the youngest."
The fire crackled softly, and the feline put it's head back down.