For a fleeting moment, Diana's resolve wavered.
Ares's words lingered in her ears, the temptation of an alliance flickering in her mind. But it was gone almost as quickly as it had come. She thought of the chaos-bringing goddess Eris, of the destruction Ares had already wrought, and of the fact that moments earlier Jack Kadere had effortlessly beaten the God of War into the ground. Even if she and Ares combined their strength, there was no guarantee they could bring Jack down.
Besides, as much as she resented Jack—resented his arrogance, his coercion, and the cold indifference he sometimes showed toward women—he had, undeniably, saved Themyscira from destruction. He had made Artemis the new goddess of Discord. And, more importantly, her mother, Queen Hippolyta, had instructed her to follow Jack Kadere. That alone meant something. Even when Diana had stormed away from him in anger before, she had never seriously considered ending his life at all costs.
Her feelings toward him were… complicated.
Ares, however, was different. Since childhood, she had heard her mother's voice denouncing him—warning of his endless hunger for war and his hatred for mankind. The goddess Athena herself had whispered those same cautions in Diana's mind. Against Ares, her hatred burned hotter than against Jack.
Even stepping back from emotion, the logic was simple: if she and Ares killed Jack together, could she then trust herself to defeat Ares afterward? If yes, then why not simply defeat him now? If no, then who would stop him once Jack was gone?
Jack's danger came from his unpredictable whims and his self-centered worldview. Ares's evil was far deeper—it was the destruction of humanity itself, and the slaughter of gods.
"I refuse," Diana said at last, her tone unwavering as she met Ares's expectant eyes.
"Why? Didn't you hear what he's threatening to do?" Ares demanded, disbelief twisting into rage.
"I heard," she replied, "and I believe him. Which is exactly why I must defeat you within the next ten minutes. If I fail, then I will either die by your hand or his—until death ends this fight."
There was no hesitation in her voice. Donna Troy, Jack, the rest of the battlefield—they all faded to the edges of her focus. The only thing in her mind was this: no matter the cost, she would bring Ares down.
Ares's lip curled in frustration, but there was nothing left to say. With an angry roar, he charged again.
Steel clashed and sparks flew. Diana's expression didn't waver as she took each blow, eyes narrowing with a predatory sharpness that made her seem less like prey and more like a lioness about to strike. The more Ares pressed his attack, the more unsettled he became. Every time she was knocked back, she returned fiercer, bolder.
Weak? No. Fierce. Relentless.
The more the God of War tried to break her, the more indomitable she became.
"Do you see it?" Jack Kadere's voice cut in from nearby, addressing Donna Troy.
"See… what?" she asked cautiously.
"Glory," Jack said softly, his gaze locked on Diana. "Right now she's like a goddess blazing with it. Every strike, every move—focused only on battle—but she radiates a presence that's even more captivating. Like a light shining in the darkness, impossible to ignore."
Donna blinked, taken off guard. This was the same man who had been threatening Diana moments ago, and now he spoke as though he admired her.
Jack glanced down at her, a slow smirk curling his lips. "I'm starting to want to kill her now."
"What?" Donna blurted. "Why?"
"I've been with her, you know," Jack said, almost conversationally. "Twice. The first time was under the compulsion of the Lasso of Truth—just like you are now. The second time, I took what I wanted by force. I wanted to conquer her, to take my satisfaction until there was nothing left to enjoy, and then move on to the next challenge."
His eyes lingered on Diana, still locked in battle. "But right now… I find myself drawn to her again. Drawn to this fire in her. And that's dangerous for me."
"Dangerous? Isn't that… good?" Donna asked, baffled.
"No," Jack said flatly, his tone turning cold. "Not for me."
His eyes narrowed slightly, fixed on the Amazon warrior locked in combat. "At first, it was about conquest. I wanted to break her, take my fill until there was nothing left to enjoy, then move on to the next challenge. That's how it's always been. But right now… there's something different about her. Something that's making her far more appealing than before. And if I'm not careful, I might actually fall for her."
Donna frowned. "Isn't that a good thing?"
Jack shook his head sharply. "No. Not for me. Only when my heart belongs to no one can I be who I am—untethered, unrestrained. If I fall in love, I won't be myself anymore. I'll hesitate. I'll hold back. I'll lose pleasures I've taken for granted. So yes… killing her now might be the simplest way to prevent that."
"That's… cold," Donna said quietly. "Love is beautiful. Why are you so afraid of it?"
"You don't understand," Jack said, his voice low but intense. "Right now, I can have anyone I want—whether through charm, deceit, seduction, or force. I can claim their bodies, their hearts, then move on without a second thought. I could take you right now if I wanted." His gaze lingered on her for just a moment before shifting back to Diana. "But love? Love changes the rules. It binds you. Suddenly you're not in full control of yourself anymore. And I came to this world for freedom—not chains."
Out in the field, the battle between Diana and Ares was escalating. The God of War, pushed to his limits, began unleashing the raw fury of his divine lightning. But instead of breaking her, each strike seemed to feed her resolve. The more he attacked, the brighter her presence burned—almost painfully beautiful to look at.
Jack felt it again. That quick, unwanted hammering of his heart. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "She wasn't this captivating when I first had her. This… this is the worst feeling—being out of control."
Ares, sensing danger in more ways than one, shouted across the battlefield, "Don't be stubborn, sister!" His voice cracked with frustration, the kind that only came when a god knew the tide was turning against him.
Diana steadied herself, determination in every line of her stance.
"You leave me no choice!" Ares bellowed. He summoned a massive surge of lightning, the sky erupting in a blinding flash of electric-blue light as it slammed toward her.
The impact forced Diana back, her boots carving deep trenches into the earth. She gritted her teeth, crossing her arms to absorb the blow, lightning coiling around her like chains of raw power.
Then something changed. Her eyes widened, as if realizing something mid-battle. Slowly, a confident smile touched her lips.
With a powerful leap, she launched herself toward Ares, lightning still dancing along her bracers. She slammed them together with thunderous force. The crackling energy exploded outward, a concentrated bolt piercing straight through the God of War's chest.
Behind him, the blast erupted into a column of fire, scorching the air and painting the clouds with searing light.
Ares staggered back, eyes wide, watching as small sparks—tiny motes of divine essence—floated away from his body. His mouth opened, but no words came. Then, in a final, shattering burst, the God of War was gone—consumed in an explosion of flame and light.
The battlefield fell quiet, save for the whisper of fire still burning in the distance.
Diana landed heavily, her chest rising and falling with the effort. She turned toward Jack, her lips curving into a victorious smile.
"I won."