Reincarnated In Vikings

Ares's rage intensified, his bloodlust emanating in waves of dark energy as he fixed his glowing red eyes on Merlin. With a roar, he commanded the spiked chains sprouting from his back to attack, each one alive with malevolent intent. The chains slithered through the air like serpents, the sharp, jagged spikes at their ends gleaming with an ominous crimson hue. They lashed toward Merlin with terrifying speed, aiming to pierce him from every angle.

Merlin moved with precision and agility, sidestepping one chain as it narrowly missed him, its spike slicing through the air with a high-pitched whirr. Another chain came from above, and Merlin ducked, letting it sail over his head and embed itself into the ground with a thunderous clang. Despite his success in avoiding the attacks, the relentless onslaught was becoming a distraction.

As Ares's rage reached a fever pitch, he roared and launched two spiked chains from his back, their ends glowing a fiery red as they surged through the air like serpents, intent on skewering Merlin.

The chains hissed and crackled as they tore through the battlefield, their spiked ends gleaming menacingly.

Whoosh! The deadly chains shot forward with blinding speed.

Merlin's sharp eyes locked onto their trajectory, sensing the imminent threat. In a split second, he dropped to a low crouch, springing into a fluid, 360-degree dive roll. His body twisted mid-air, using the momentum to propel himself with grace and agility, narrowly avoiding the chains as they whipped past him with barely a whisper.

Swish! The chains missed by mere inches, slicing through the air and landed lightly on his feet, his stance composed and ready for the next move. The chains recoiled back to Ares, writhing as if they were alive and eager for another strike.

Merlin smirked, his voice calm yet edged with defiance. "You'll have to do better than that, Ares."

Ares was angry, but he let a cruel smirk cross his face. Lifting his massive shield, jagged and alive with a sinister presence, Ares directed its glowing red eyes at Merlin. The eyes flared ominously before releasing a concentrated red energy blast. The attack roared through the air, its power vibrating the ground beneath them as it sped toward Merlin.

Merlin reacted instantly, his hand glowing with magical energy as he cast a barrier spell, a defensive technique inspired by the legendary Rho Aias from Fate Stay. In an instant, a luminous flower made of seven overlapping petals materialized in front of him. Each petal shimmered with an iridescent light, a divine shield with layers of protective power. The petals unfurled with elegance, their translucent surfaces reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors.

The red energy blast collided with the shield, creating an explosive boom that sent shockwaves rippling outward. The petals absorbed the brunt of the attack, each one dimming slightly as it withstood the immense power. Merlin gritted his teeth as the force pushed him back several steps, his boots skidding against the dirt. Despite the shield's strength, the sheer intensity of the blast was overwhelming.

As the light from the explosion faded, Merlin lowered his hand, the shield's petals dissolving into glittering motes of light. He glanced at Ares's puppet, his expression a mixture of irritation and determination.

"Even if this is just a puppet," Merlin muttered under his breath, his voice laced with sarcasm and resolve, "the bastard is really going all out."

Merlin's sharp eyes tracked Ares's movements closely, noting the diminishing strength in the puppet's energy blast. As the attack fizzled out and the red glow of the shield dimmed slightly, Merlin seized the opportunity.

Without hesitation, he unleashed the Ten Rings, his fists a blur as he fired them in a flurry of punches. The rings streaked through the air like missiles, their glowing blue trails illuminating the battlefield. Each one moved with blinding speed, crackling with immense power as they closed in on Ares.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! The rings howled as they carved through the air, but Ares raised his jagged shield just in time, deflecting the attack. Sparks erupted upon impact, and the rings ricocheted off the glowing surface of the shield with a resounding clang, momentarily disrupting Ares's stance.

Merlin, ever the tactician, didn't let up. With a deft gesture, he summoned the rings back. They returned with magnetic precision, snapping back into place around his forearms in quick, metallic thunks.

Using the distraction, Merlin sprinted forward. The battlefield seemed to blur as he closed the distance between himself and Ares. Just as Ares swung his massive sword in a wide arc, Merlin reacted with unparalleled agility. The Ten Rings responded to his command, shooting toward the ground below him with an explosive boom. The energy-laden impact created a shockwave that rippled outward, sending dust and debris flying and launching Merlin high into the air.

Spinning gracefully in midair, Merlin flipped over Ares's towering form, his cloak billowing behind him like the wings of a raven. As he extended one hand, his fingers glowing with arcane energy. With a sharp incantation, a black hole began to materialize in front of the puppet's chest.

The spell took shape as a small, intensely black sphere, its surface darker than the void itself. Surrounding it was a swirling halo of distorted energy, shimmering faintly as space itself bent under the gravitational pull. The puppet of Ares, sensing the imminent threat, hesitated for a split second, but it was already too late.

With a sudden burst, the black hole expanded rapidly, its edges rippling with unnatural energy. The vacuum-like force pulled in everything nearby, distorting the air with an ominous whumph as debris, loose chains, and even parts of Ares's puppet began to get dragged toward it.

The immense pull caused the puppet's shield and armor to creak under pressure, the sound of twisting metal echoing through the battlefield. Ares tried to anchor himself, but the force was inescapable. Within moments, the puppet was caught entirely in the black hole's grasp.

The crushing power of the spell disintegrated the puppet into nothingness, its form collapsing into the void. The process was eerily silent, save for the low, haunting hum of the black hole and the faint sound of air being sucked inward.

As the black hole dissipated, it left behind a charred, circular void in the ground, the surrounding area scarred by residual energy. Merlin landed smoothly, his feet touching the earth as though he had merely taken a casual step. Dusting off his hands, he gazed at the aftermath, his expression both calm and unyielding.

He muttered under his breath, "Well the mighty Ares, definitely didn't see that coming."

While just minutes ago, Atlanta was trying the best to make sure the shockwaves from the fight doesn't injure either Janista or the kids.

Atlanta stood firm, her feet planted like deep roots as shockwaves from the titanic battle between Ares and Merlin rippled through the air, shaking the ground beneath her. The sheer force of their clash threatened to engulf everything in its path, but she refused to let it reach the children cowering behind her.

With a sharp breath, she raised her arm, and her Nandi Astra bracelet began to hum softly, emitting a gentle blue hue that rapidly intensified. The light coalesced in front of her, solidifying into a large magical shield. Its surface shimmered like rippling water, and its shape resembled a riot shield, but with intricate glowing patterns carved into its transparent, glass-like structure—designs that pulsed faintly with every vibration of incoming force.

A sudden explosion in the distance sent a massive shockwave barreling toward them. The wave of energy crashed against the shield with a thunderous roar, lighting it up in a brilliant flash of blue. The glowing patterns surged, branching outward like lightning veins as the shield absorbed the impact.

"Stay behind me!" Atlanta commanded, her voice steady despite the strain. Janista nodded, holding Titus and Ximenos, who was now awake. He was making sure to keep the other children behind him are safe.

The shield trembled against the assault, fine cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. Every new wave from the battlefield struck harder, making the cracks grow larger and more pronounced. She could feel the strain through the bracelet—the magical tether that linked her willpower to the shield's durability. Though she focused all her energy on maintaining its integrity, the reality was inescapable: the shield had its limits.

Another shockwave surged toward them, and this one felt more powerful than the last. Atlanta gritted her teeth, her arm trembling under the pressure as the shield absorbed the hit. The cracks widened, and shards of magical energy began to fall away like glass splinters dissolving into light.

Though her strength was unmatched, she knew that a stronger impact could shatter the shield entirely. She glanced back at the children, her voice firm but calm.

"Go! Keep moving! I'll hold it!" she urged, her tone commanding but filled with urgency.

Her determination flared as she adjusted her stance, bracing herself for yet another incoming strike. Despite the limitations of the shield, Atlanta's unwavering resolve was its true foundation. Even as she felt the cracks grow with each wave, she refused to falter, knowing that her role as their protector depended on holding the line, no matter the cost.

Another shockwave struck. The shield illuminated the entire area like a beacon, its cracks glowing brilliantly before settling again. Atlanta held her ground, sweat dripping down her brow. She whispered under her breath, a vow to herself, "Not one step closer."

Finally the fight ended.