The Almighty Supreme WarLord

At General Tiberius Voss's words, the figures in the room exchanged uneasy glances, confusion clear on their faces.

If the formidable Gods and Goddesses of War weren't behind their defeat, then what or who was? The question lingered in each of their minds, but no matter how much they racked their brains, the answer remained elusive.

The reason was simple, every one of them believed that Carrington's Gods and Goddesses of War were the very pillars of the country's strength. So with that belief engraved in their minds, it was just impossible for them to get what or who the general was referring to.

Ultimately, when no spoke and they were out of any other options, they turned back to him, questions on the tips of their tongues.

But before any of them could even speak, General Tiberius Voss spoke first.

His voice was so cold and heavy with disappointment as it sliced through the air. "You fools! How could you be so blind to such an important detail? The person I'm talking about always adorned a mask. He wielded a sword on his right hand, and a wire with nails on his left. He had not been there at the beginning and we were almost winning the war, but then he suddenly appeared. He was like the sun breaking through the darkness as the moment he did, everything changed. We started losing." His gaze swept across the room, ice-cold. "How could you all have forgotten?"

It felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped on the figures in the room as they instantly froze. Their bodies shuddered as memories and images of this particular figure came flooding back.

He was as tall as a mountain.

No one had ever seen his true face.

Guns, bombs, and other modern military weapons were like toys in his eyes.

His sword was like an immortal artifact as it could slice through tankers and armored cars with ease. And his wire? It was like a tool of death and destruction.

He was terrifyingly powerful.

The more the memories, the more images flashed, the more visibly terrified they all became, until they were shivering, goosebumps covering their skin.

They had been so consumed by the appearance of the Gods and Goddesses of War that they unconsciously forgot about the real devil. How could they have done such a thing? Now, they understood their general's question. Indeed, who was the Gods and Goddesses of War without Ares?

And without him, how could they have lost the war despite teaming up with other neighboring countries and even receiving help from Hrothgar?

Watching the figures finally come to realization, General Tiberius Voss let out a cold snort. Now they knew to remember. For a brief moment, he felt they needed to be punished for their ignorance, but he ultimately pushed that aside. There were more pressing matters to address.

Clearing his throat, he said calmly. "Without me saying it outright, I believe you all should already know that Carrington has always kept Ares's identity a tightly guarded secret. While the Gods and Goddesses of War and the other so-called heroes basked in the admiration of the populace, the true powerhouse—the one who turned the tides of the war—was kept hidden in the shadows. Now, with the Gods and Goddesses of War supposedly stripped of their positions, I suspect this could be a ploy to lure us into attacking again—only for Ares to emerge and obliterate us completely. It's however a senseless ploy because, logically, their emperor should have known we wouldn't fall for such a transparent scheme. After all, while the citizens of his country might not know about Ares, who amongst us doesn't?"

He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "But then again, Carrington's emperor isn't a fool. If he indeed knows we wouldn't fall for it, then, could it really not be a ploy? Could it be that the Gods and Goddesses of War were really stripped of their ranks? And more importantly, what has become of Ares?"

The room fell into an attentive silence, each figure hanging on the general's words, too cautious to interrupt.

General Voss continued, "With all these points considered, our next move cannot be a hasty attack on Carrington. Instead, we must focus on uncovering the truth. I need to know if the Gods and Goddesses of War were genuinely removed from their positions, and just as critically, if Ares, their Master and Lord, shared the same fate. Only once we have this information can we decide our next course of action."

His piercing eyes swept over the room, his tone unwavering. "This is not a task for a single person. All of you will work on this together and report back to me. Leave no stone unturned. And if we confirm that their fall is genuine—if Ares has truly been stripped of his rank—then we will strike. This time, my brothers and sister, we will conquer Carrington and utterly destroy it!"

The figures in the room surged to their feet, an electric energy coursing through them. With adrenaline rushing and their resolve solidified, they bellowed in unison, "We will fulfill this task at all costs, General!" Without hesitation, they marched out of the meeting room, ready to begin their mission.