The reporter's voice shook a little as she spoke, but she still tried to keep it professional.
"That… hold on— isn't that Olympus' guild leader… Ares Durnhold?"
Once she said it, the entire crowd reacted at the same time.
"What?!"
"Ares?!"
"No way— he actually came in person?!"
In an instant, the atmosphere changed. Players instinctively moved back, creating a natural gap under the darkened sky. The Association guards didn't even have to push people away; the crowd made space on their own. Camera drones turned as one, redirecting from the portal to the descending figure.
He didn't rush down like a meteor. Ares descended calmly, as if simply walking down invisible steps in the air. The golden spear rested on his shoulder, and his white-and-gold armor reflected what little light still pressed through the half-covered sun. His expression remained indifferent, but the pressure surrounding him made it hard for anyone below a certain rank to breathe properly.
