"Gus, all of us in the village are as passionate and dedicated as you to fight the enemies and protect our homes, but each person has a specific role to play. You need to guard the village, while the most elite adult guards are out." Mars said to Gus.
"Chief, I can fight. I have been training with a sword for 3 years, all for this moment. Please let me join our village in the war. I want to fight for my friends, I want to find my goal, my purpose. Most of all, I want to discover myself, please. I beg you" Gus earnestly asked Mars, telling him about how he wants to change his self and help the villagers.
"Gus, I understand your admiration but...." Mars tried to make Gus understand the situation.
"Chief, leave Gus to me. I assure you he will listen to you in this matter. Gus comes with me for a walk" Ares cut in shortly and assured Mars that he will be the one to convince Gus in this matter.
"I guess I can leave it to you guys," Mars said as a token of trust for Ares.
Mars thought Ares can change Gus's mind, since they were almost the same age as each other. He left with peace in his mind.
"Alex, I want you to bring Masamune along with the white and red stones, to the hill behind Gus's house. Rest of you, go do the preparations and get enhancements from Alex. Prepare to go all out." Ares ordered the soldiers with a commanding tone. Everyone left to collect their suits and gear from Gus house.
*"Huh? Masamune? Who is that? There's is no one in the village with that name"* Gus thinks while he and Ares head towards the hill behind Gus's house and into the woods.
*"Hmmm, Gus definitely has his body in good shape that is required for a swordsman, "* Ares thought to himself while evaluating the well-grown and ripped muscles of Gus.
"Gus, grab two waster swords or logs that you practice your swordsmanship with, we might have a need for them after reaching the hill". Ares told Gus.
A waster sword, usually called 'waster', is a practice weapon. A sword made of wood or plastic and in Gus's case, he uses a wooden one he got from the guards and trains with them using the waster.
After Ares and Gus reached the peak of the hill with grass and open area, which seems to be a perfect place to test each other's abilities.
Ares stood 7 feet away from Gus.
"Now, come at me with all of your strength and try to hit me with your sword," Ares told Gus without a hint of playfulness, as he dropped his clutches and takes off his arm sling.
"What? But Ares you didn't take your sword yet, here let me give you" Gus has both the wasters on his belt around his hips and as he was about to take and give one of it to Ares, Ares stop him.
"I don't need a stick, you can keep both. You can attack me with both wasters if you are willing to, I don't mind." Ares said while he gave a faint arrogant smile from the corners of his mouth.
"What? No, that is unfair, you need to have a sword with you too. Only then it will be equally fair." Gus righteously said.
"You are not fit to stand on the battlefield."
Ares said out loud and clear to Gus, with a mocking tone. This suddenly hit Gus like a lightning bolt out of nowhere.
Gus stands still. He doesn't know what to reply to what Ares just told him.
*"Did I say something wrong? Did I do something wrong? Why did Ares just say that?"* Gus got lost in thought with all the questions he seemed to be having, as he was hurt by what Ares said.
"Whether you have a sword or not, whether you have a gun or not, these things don't matter to your enemy who stands before you in the battlefield. A single moment of hesitation will get you killed, and hence you are not fit to stand in the battlefield. If I tell you to strike, you need to strike" Ares said in a cold voice.
"Again! come at me with all your strength!."
As Gus heard the words coming out of Are's mouth, he now understood why Ares was being harsh to him. He composed himself back together and took his sword out, held it with both hands, raised his arms up above his head, intending to slash Ares. He rushed forward with great speed.
"What happened?..... I thought I told you that you need to hit me didn't I?" Ares whispered in the ears of Gus.
Gus was confused. Ares who was before disappeared and reappeared beside him standing closely while Ares's left arm was on Gus's neck, gripped tightly.
Ares was inside Gus's defence. Gus's arms were still raised in the air, holding the stick but he couldn't swing it. The index finger of Ares's right hand was on Gus's ribs from the left side. If it had been a sword rather than a finger, the sword would have pierced Gus's heart through his ribs.
Gus couldn't utter a single word out of his mouth. He had never experienced anything like this. The battle was over before it even began.