Genshin Impact: The Road to Reversal

"Thousands of years ago, various factions fought for Teyvat's sovereignty, launching countless wars of varying sizes. People lost their lives defending their homes, their families torn apart, and their wives and children separated. I joined the army precisely to prevent such a tragedy from happening again."

Back then, Ares was just a small soldier in the Linhui Army. Like other soldiers, he had no real talent, only a pure heart.

He experienced the true nature of a battlefield, the thin line between life and death. On that blood-stained ground, every step he took could mean stepping on the severed limbs of his comrades.

The cruelty of war was far beyond his imagination. The whistling arrows were like messengers of death, and if one was not careful, they would pierce through the body.

He had brushed shoulders with death countless times, and it was this unyielding will that made him inadvertently awaken "War", which is now the heart of the God of War.

"Back then, I accidentally obtained the Heart of the God of War on the battlefield and formed a contract with the so-called God of War. He truly helped me a lot back then. With this power, I went from being a nobody to becoming the legendary God of War."

"You are right. You gave everything for Linhui back then. But the Holy Lord, because he was afraid of your power, allowed these guards to take your life!" Athenos said angrily.

But Ares shook his head and said, "No, it was thanks to them that I didn't make a big mistake."

"What did you say?" Athens was shocked. He couldn't believe that these were the words spoken by his ancestor.

"Yes, I was young and impetuous back then, and I didn't realize the seriousness of the problem until the Holy Lord found me."

At that time, Ares's reputation grew, and more and more people came to him, and gradually he established the Ares tribe.

But at that time, he always felt a vague sense of a force pulling him, but he had to lead the army to repel the enemy, so he didn't take it seriously. It was not until the Holy Lord found him that he realized the heaviness of the power on him.

The Saint had said that his power came from "war," and also that this power was born from corruption. It was then that he realized that the force he always felt pulling at him was actually the "God of War" trying to corrupt him.

However, at that time, the enemy still remained, and he had to rely on the power in his own hands to lead the army into battle. Therefore, he insisted that he could suppress the power within his body. The Holy Lord had no choice but to make a pact with him. If he was ever corrupted by it, the Holy Lord would order his guards to take the Heart of the God of War, and in serious cases, his life might even be taken.

Ares was young and energetic back then, and the "God of War" failed to succeed by relying on his own courage. It was not until the end of the war and people ushered in an era of peace that the roots of disaster gradually sprouted.

As Ares grew older and entered middle age, he had more and more things to consider. His mind began to become fragile, and the "God of War" began to erode his mind.

In a small border defense battle, Ares once again repelled the enemy with the power of the God of War, but at the end of the war, his mind was completely occupied by the power of the Fallen Angel.

Under the influence of the "God of War", he began to think about spreading war around the world.

Back then, he gathered his lifelong followers and attacked the Rinhui Border. At this time, Lei Zun and the Evil Spirit came according to the agreement and punished Ares who was influenced by one of the Fallen Angels.

"You guys...are here."

The man fell to the ground, holding his chest. He looked at the white-haired girl and boy in front of him. There was no hatred in his heart, but rather a sense of relief.

"Yes, we are here. Following the agreement we made back then, we will take the Heart of the God of War and bring you to justice."

"I know. Ever since that day, my end seemed destined. The Holy Lord was right. If I had this power in my hands, it would harm me sooner or later. But I didn't expect it to happen so soon."

The man smiled softly, then looked at the boy again and pleaded.

"But before that, can you grant me one more wish?"

"You tell me, as long as we can do it."

"Okay, all of this is caused by me. I just hope you can not blame my compatriots, okay?"

The man pleaded, but the boy shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that. Thanks to your reputation, they've always respected you as a hero. I can't stop them from pledging their loyalty to you. If they retreat, that's fine. But if they choose to start a war to avenge you, I will still..."

"Really? That's such a shame."

The man gave a wry smile, then looked at the boy again.

"If that's the case, then there's nothing I can do about it. However, if my descendants attempt to embezzle the power of the God of War in order to avenge me, then I beg you..."

"Don't worry, if that day ever comes, we will clean up the mess for you."

As the spear in the girl's hand fell, Ares lost his life in an instant, but there was a look of relief on his face.

"So now you understand, no matter how powerful a force is, once you become dependent on it, it will eventually corrode you." Ares advised earnestly.

Athens stood there at this moment. After listening to Ares's insights, he had some feelings, but when he looked at the power in his hand again, he directly denied Ares.

"No, I don't believe it! I can feel the honor this power brings me. It will bring us victory. How can you ordinary people understand this?"

"Ordinary people?" Upon hearing this, Karen was immediately stunned.

"Don't you understand yet? War is not anyone's medal of honor, nor is it anyone's glory. It only brings death and destruction!" Ares shouted at Athens.

"No, that's an excuse you weaklings would look for. As a strong person, you should dominate everything. Ares, didn't you wait for prosperity for me with your passion back then? But now you want to speak for those who once hurt you. You are not worthy of being our ancestor at all!" Athens tightly gripped the holy spear in his hand, his eyes full of fanaticism and disdain.

"You!" Ares sighed helplessly as he looked at the stubborn Athenus. He knew that it would be difficult to sober up this young man, who was blinded by power, with just words. "Athenus, you think you can control this power. I was just as confident as you back then, but what happened?"

Athens sneered: "You are you, and I am me. I will not fail like you. I will become a true god of war and make everyone bow down to me." He picked up the spear and pointed it at Ares, as if he didn't want to listen to Ares' nagging anymore.

Ares sighed and said, "Well, since you are so stubborn, I have no choice but to wake you up here!"