Reincarnated In Vikings

From the swirling portal emerged a gigantic figure, its sheer presence enough to warp the air around it. It wasn't Ares himself but a puppet, a monstrous construct controlled by the god of war. The figure was clad in dark, menacing armor, jagged and angular as if forged in the heart of a volcano. The armor glowed with fiery red veins that pulsed like molten lava, hinting at the destructive power imbued within it.

The obsidian-like metal glinted dully in the flickering red light of its molten core, embedded in the chest plate. This core radiated power, its glow casting eerie shadows across the jagged, asymmetrical edges of the armor. Spiked shoulder plates and gauntlets added to its fearsome appearance, their sharp protrusions ready to rend flesh.

A tattered crimson cape trailed behind the puppet, the fabric singed and torn as though it had seen countless battles. From its back extended four glowing chains, tipped with spiked ends that seemed alive, writhing and lashing like serpents.

In one hand, it wielded a massive jagged blade, its edges serrated and glowing with a fiery red hue, as though the weapon had been pulled directly from the earth's molten core. The other arm carried an ominous shield, grotesque with glowing red eyes etched into its surface. The eyes seemed to move, their gaze shifting with malevolent intelligence.

The puppet exuded a fiery, oppressive aura, with embers and smoke swirling around its feet. Its mere presence was suffocating, a physical manifestation of Ares' boundless rage.

As the puppet stood motionless, Aurelius approached it with smug confidence. He turned to Merlin, his smirk dripping with arrogance."Stand back, Merlin. I am protected by Ares himself. We have a deal."

From the puppet, Ares's voice echoed, deep and venomous."Deal's off!"

One of the writhing chains lashed out with unnatural speed, its spiked end piercing straight through Aurelius's chest. His eyes widened in shock and pain as he was lifted into the air, his screams echoing across the forest. The Ares's puppet held him aloft like a trophy, blood dripping from the chain. After Aurelius fell silent, the lifeless body was flung aside with contempt, landing in a broken heap like discarded refuse.

The puppet's glowing red eyes locked onto Merlin. Its voice, a distorted, echoing mockery of Ares, filled the air."I must say, it is delightful to meet you again, little sorcerer."

Merlin stood tall, unshaken, his calm expression, but his voice sharp as a blade."Still unhappy that your lover doesn't want you now? For the record, I didn't do anything. She was the one following me."

The taunt struck its mark. The puppet let out an inhuman roar as Ares's voice thundered. "You are dead, Merlin!"

The ground rumbled as Ares summoned golems, towering monstrosities forged from jagged rocks. These creatures stood at least ten feet tall, their forms crude but intimidating. Each bore two twisted faces, a grotesque fusion of conjoined beings. Their lumbering movements shook the earth, and their glowing eyes burned with hatred.

Merlin wanted to get more experience in using the Ten Rings. So he removed his sleeved jacket with a deliberate motion, revealing the legendary Ten Rings strapped securely around his forearms. The rings were formidable, forged of a dense, dark metal with a slightly rough, ancient texture. Each ring was thick and heavy, covered in intricate carvings and symbols etched deep into their surfaces, exuding an aura of mystery and power.

The carvings glimmered faintly, glowing in a mesmerizing blue or purple hue, as if pulsing with energy. The veins in Merlin's arms also seemed to take on a faint bluish glow, further hinting at the immense power coursing through him. Five rings adorned each arm, perfectly balanced to channel his strength and agility with devastating precision.

Merlin quickly assessed the situation, knowing that time was running out. He turned to Atlanta, his voice sharp and commanding. "Can you take care of some of them, while I take care of Ares?"

Atlanta, with her characteristic grin and a flash of excitement in her eyes, cracked her knuckles in readiness, her powerful frame coiling with potential energy."No problem."

Without another word, Atlanta lunged forward, a blur of motion as her legs carried her toward the approaching golems. She was a powerhouse, and the towering stone monsters were about to learn just how devastating a force she could be.

The five golems charging toward Merlin were faster than one would expect from such large creatures, their hulking limbs crashing down with each step, their rocky fists raised high in preparation to strike.

With a sharp forward punch, he launched a single ring toward his target, the force amplified by his martial stance. His punches followed the principles of Kung fu, precise and efficient, ensuring maximum impact with minimal effort.

The rings shot through the air like missiles, leaving glowing trails of blue light in their wake. They moved with blinding speed, striking the golems with precision. Upon impact, each ring exploded with a concussive shockwave, the force reverberating through the battlefield. The two golem crumbled instantly, chunks of stone flying in all directions.

As he shifted his weight into a low stance, his movements became unpredictable. A quick jab sent another ring flying, this time with a flick of his wrist to curve its trajectory. The ring arced through the air like a boomerang, striking another golem.Three down

With a fluid motion, Merlin pulled his arms back, and the rings returned to him with magnetic-like precision, snapping back into place around his forearms.

Merlin wasted no time. With a swift motion, he extended his arm, the Ten Rings slid down to his wrists with a deep, metallic clink, and they seamlessly transformed into a glowing, segmented whip. A crackling buzz of energy filled the air as the rings pulsed with power, the sound resembling the hum of a charged electric current. The whip seemed almost alive, vibrating.

In the midst of the chaos, Merlin anticipated the last golem's attack. With a calculated 360-degree spin flip, he narrowly dodged the golem's massive fist as it swung down, narrowly missing him. His body moved with fluidity and grace, as he used the momentum of his movement to strike.

With a practiced flick of his wrist, the whip lashed forward, creating a sharp, whipping crack that echoed like thunder. The rings sizzled as they sliced through the air, their segments glowing a bright, icy blue as they whipped around, crackling with energy.

The golem, slow but powerful, attempted to react, but was too late. The glowing whip

struck with such force that it shattered into chunks, each rock fragment producing a series of sharp cracking sounds as it crumbled apart. The pieces of stone scattered across the battlefield, landing with a loud clattering sound, as the last remnants of the golem collapsed into dust. The last one was down.

Meanwhile, Atlanta was engaged in her own fierce battle. As the five golems charged toward her, their rocky hands gripping boulders, she didn't hesitate. With a swift, powerful kick, she launched herself into the air, spinning over the first golem as its fists slammed into the ground where she had just been.

Atlanta's bracelet comes to life, glowing with a radiant energy that pulses with divine power. The bracelet is shaped like a pair of curved bull horns, strong and majestic, arcing outward in a powerful display of symmetry and strength. The horns curl with imposing force, representing the steadfast stability and relentless power associated with the sacred bull, Nandi.

At the center of the bracelet is a highly detailed carving of a bull's face, directly symbolizing the divine presence of Nandi, revered in Hindu mythology. The features of the bull's face are intricate and expressive, with piercing eyes that seem to glow with an inner mystical light. The nose and snout are finely etched, the craftsmanship exuding an ancient reverence for the bull as a powerful protector and symbol of strength. The mystical glow from the eyes flickers and pulses, reflecting the immense celestial power embedded within the bracelet.

Her fist ignites in radiant, fiery energy, swirling with streaks of bluish aura that pulse with immense power. The air around her seems to ripple, charged with celestial energy, as the ground beneath her cracks from the sheer force emanating from her.

Her eyes glowed electric blue, cutting through the dim light like twin beams of focused energy, casting faint ethereal glows across her face. Sparks and flashes of light swirled around her, shimmering in the air like mystical particles, their radiance crackling as if they were on the edge of explosion.

As the towering golem charges toward her with thunderous steps, Atlanta doesn't flinch. Instead, she tightened her blazing fist. The air hummed with energy, vibrating around her as she focused every ounce of her strength. With a single, swift motion, she launched forward, her fist engulfed in molten energy, leaving a trail of fire behind her. The whirling, fiery crackle of energy pulsed with shifting hues of orange, blue, and red, each color burning with a vibrant intensity.

The trail of energy surged through the air, its heat waves distorting the environment around it, as the fist made contact. A devastating explosion of force erupted upon impact with the golem, a shockwave of fiery, crackling energy that sent a cascade of glowing debris flying across the battlefield. The golem shattered into rubble, the stones crunching and breaking apart as the once-formidable figure crumbled under the weight of Atlanta's power.

But before she could celebrate her victory, the remaining three golems rushed toward her. Atlanta, undeterred, clenched her fist once more, and the Nandi Astra bracelet flared with an even brighter brilliance. The air buzzed with the hum of divine energy, and the ground trembled under the sheer magnitude of power gathering around her.

Suddenly, a mighty roar echoed through the forest and the ground trembles lightly as an ethereal bull, colossal and radiant, manifests behind her. Its form shimmers with vibrant hues of electric blue, fiery gold, and molten orange, its sheer presence exuding strength and divine authority. The bull's eyes glow a piercing white, locked onto the enemy with an unrelenting focus, while its curved, energy-infused horns seem to slice through the air like celestial blades.

Without hesitation, Atlanta surges forward, her every movement in perfect synchronization with the bull.

Her stride was mirrored by the bull's powerful gallop, and together they became an unstoppable force, leaving a trail of glowing blue flame like energy in their wake. The bull's hooves crashed against the ground, sending shockwaves that rippled the earth, while Atlanta's every step seemed to ignite the atmosphere with the sheer power of the Nandi Astra.

With a roar of fury, she launched herself into the air, fist clenched tightly. The punch lands with devastating precision, striking the center golem with all her might. Simultaneously, the bull slams into the golems with its horns, unleashing a collision of unimaginable power. The impact generates a shockwave followed deafening, like the sound of a thunderclap echoing across the forest.

The explosive roar of the bull and the resulting shockwave left the battlefield in turbulent silence. Pieces of golem debris scattered in every direction, the last echoes of destruction lingering in the air as Atlanta stood tall, her fiery eyes still burning with determination. The bull let out a triumphant bellow, its voice reverberating across the battlefield, as its form began to fade into the mist.