Chapter 17: Skyward Bound: A New Adventure Awaits
Ares stood on the towering Wall Maria, gazing at the horizon, where the sky was slowly transitioning into a vibrant canvas of reds and oranges. The sunset was a sight to behold, peaceful yet exhilarating. His mind, however, was far from the tranquility around him. He bent his back slightly, tilting his head upward to stare at the endless sky and the emerging stars, lost in thought. A deep sense of satisfaction filled him—his kingdom was growing, his vision becoming a reality—but there was something else tugging at him, something calling him to the next step in his journey.
He knew it was time to venture beyond the island. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he mulled over the idea of traveling to the ninja world. He had spent years building this haven, but there was so much more out there to explore. Ares felt a restless yearning, and with it, the desire to uncover the mysteries of the world beyond his island. The time had come for him to take his first step into the vast unknown.
The next morning, Ares began his preparations. He packed only the essentials for his journey, knowing this would not be a short adventure. He had no idea when he would return, but that didn't worry him. With Rimuru, his faithful cute slime companion, and Little Ely and Fenrir, he felt confident he could handle whatever came his way. Rimuru was not just any slime—he could divide his body and had the remarkable ability to heal wounds and regenerate tissue. Though he could not regenerate missing body parts, his medical prowess made him invaluable. Rimuru had also become more than just a companion; he was Ares' personal butler, managing his household duties and helping him with daily tasks. Ares had grown fond of Rimuru, and although others might see it as exploiting the little slime, Ares never abused his abilities. Rimuru loved to help, and Ares treated him as an equal, not as a tool.
"Alright, Everyone," Ares said, calling his companion's to him. "It's time to divide and conquer." Rimuru split his form into smaller segments, and Ares made sure the rest of his body stayed in the kingdom to tend to its daily needs. With the preparations done, it was time to go.
Ares felt a thrill of anticipation as he placed a mark in his room, preparing for the teleportation. "Let's do this," he muttered to himself. And with a swift hand gesture, he activated the mark. In an instant, the world around him shifted.
The next thing Ares knew, he was plummeting through the air. "Wait, what?!" He shouted as the ground seemed to rush up toward him at an alarming speed. He quickly calculated the fall distance. "10,000 meters above the ground? No problem." Ares' immense confidence and resilience kept him calm. He knew he could survive this. But there was a slight thrill in the sensation of freefall, as if he was skydiving in a life he could barely remember.
His companions—Ely, Fenrir and Rimuru—were equally surprised. Ely's tiny wings fluttered frantically, trying to stabilize her as they fell. Rimuru, too, had split his body into smaller sections to aid them, though he appeared unfazed by the high-speed. Fenrir change into a small puppy, Ares smiled at the sight of them, all of them falling together, bound for a new adventure. Ely and Fenrir had asked to join the journey, and Ares had happily agreed, marking them as someone who could leave and return to the island as needed.
"Hold on tight, everyone!" Ares called out, as they neared the ground. The air around them was thick with anticipation, but Ares felt alive with excitement. His heart raced with the prospect of what was to come. A world full of mysteries, new challenges, and perhaps even danger awaited him. The floating island, his kingdom, was behind them now, and ahead lay an unfamiliar world—the world of ninjas.
He couldn't help but grin, looking forward to the future. The journey ahead would be long and filled with surprises, but Ares was ready. With his companion's by his side, he felt unstoppable. Together, they would explore, learn, and discover what the ninja world had to offer.
And with that, Ares closed his eyes, ready to embrace the freefall. The adventure had just begun, and it promised to be nothing short of extraordinary.