The wind blew gently along the banks of the River Styx, like an ominous breeze heralding the battle to come. The black waters of the river seemed to whisper secrets known only to the dead. Spartacus stood there, his eyes fixed on the horizon, his body covered in ancient scars, but still strong, ready to face the impossible.
He had faced the Roman Empire, but now he was up against a far more formidable opponent. The gods themselves. But right now, nothing seemed as frightening as the idea of dying without a fight. The rage he felt at injustice and oppression had driven him to rebel against Caesar's armies, and now that same rage fuelled his will to win. It wasn't a question of survival, but of redemption. A mortal facing a god. But in the arena, there was no room for fear or doubt.
Around him, his comrades-in-arms were getting ready, scanning the horizon with a mixture of anxiety and hope. Joan d'Arc, with a gleam of faith in her eyes, stepped up to his side. She placed a hand on his shoulder, a touch of calm in the tumult.
"Do you know what you're risking, Spartacus?" she asked softly, her gaze sincere.
He turned to her, a slightly ironic smile forming on his lips. "I've risked my life more than once. This fight is just another battle."
Joan nodded, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. She knew the price of this battle, the price of human life in the face of divine powers. But she did not express her fears. Instead, she raised her sword to the sky.
"God is with us. We have faith."
Sun Tzu, silent as ever, observed the scene from the rear. Although he did not believe in divine forces in the same way, he understood the power of strategy, observation and patience. Every detail counted. He stepped up beside Spartacus, taking one last look at his comrades.
"This battle will be different. Ares is a god of war, he doesn't fight like a mere mortal. But he has his weaknesses. And every flaw can be exploited."
Spartacus nodded, firmly. "I'll do whatever it takes."
All around them, the atmosphere intensified. The silence was heavy, the gazes of the invisible gods heavy on them. Yet none of them flinched. The challenge was set.
In the skies above them, the gods took up their positions. Ares, the god of war, suddenly appeared. His armour glowed with a reddish light and his eyes burned with anger and contempt. Beside him, Zeus, the king of the gods, watched impassively, although the tension in his eyes betrayed his anxiety. Ares was ready to crush any mortal who dared to rise up against him.
"This mortal believes he can defeat me." Ares sneered, a cruel, almost amused sound. "You humans are so unpredictable. You hardly know what you're doing."
On the mortal side, the tension was mounting. Joan prayed silently. Sun Tzu was waiting for the perfect moment to act. Spartacus, on the other hand, had already made his choice: he was not there to submit. He was there to win.
The ground shook as the voice of Zeus thundered across the sky.
"Let this battle begin!
Spartacus and Ares looked at each other for a moment. The god's eyes were like burning embers, ready to reduce everything they touched to ashes. But the eyes of Spartacus were those of a man who had already lost and given everything. Nothing could stop him.
The first blow was struck. Ares charged forward, his spear striking the air with supernatural speed. Spartacus parried, his shield slamming violently into the spear, a spark sparking from the impact. The sound of metal resounded like a warning.
"You have the honour of dying in a single blow, mortal," growled Ares.
But Spartacus, quicker than he looked, dodged, slipping out of the spear's reach, and counter-attacked. He struck the god of war in the shoulder, but Ares' armour repelled the attack with a thud. Ares didn't even seem to weaken.
Yet Spartacus knew that every moment counted. He could not simply face the god's raw power. He had to wait, he had to feint, and he had to prepare himself for the real chance.
The battle continued. The men watched, uncertain of what was to come. The gods themselves were silent, unsure whether this mortal could really stand up to one of their own.
Cliffhanger:
Spartacus, while dodging another blow, slipped a furtive glance towards Joan and Sun Tzu. Their support was essential. But the most important thing was yet to come... An opening. A moment when he could turn the tables. But could he really do that against the fury of a god? Time was running out, and the battle was just beginning.