Chapter 5: Flesh Reforging + Soul Distortion
"So how do I actually get into the academy? If you haven't realized yet, every high-ranking magus will be in attendance for that event. Which means they'll all know my face. Or do you have some kind of illusion or shapeshifting artifact?" Ares said matter-of-factly.
Solomon leaned back in his chair, tapping a finger against the wooden table.
"For someone who's supposed to be a genius, you really do overlook the obvious solution sometimes," he said casually.
Ares narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Oh?"
"You don't need some cheap illusion artifact," Solomon continued. "Those things can be seen through by anyone with enough skill. Especially at a gathering like this."
Ares crossed his arms.
"So what's your solution?"
Solomon grinned.
"Destroy it."
"…What?"
"Your face. Destruction is your Ancient Art, so destroy it with your Ancient Art, then use your Ancient Energy to heal and reform it," Solomon said simply.
Silence filled the room.
Ares stared at him for a few seconds.
Then he nodded.
"That works."
Solomon blinked in complete surprise.
"…You can actually do that?… you know I was just joking, right?" Solomon said.
"Yes, I can actually. Although I only ever did it once back then," Ares replied with a shrug.
"…Wait, you accepted that way too easily!" Solomon said, shocked.
Ares ignored him and stood from the table.
"If it's only a matter of changing my appearance, then it's simple," he said.
He walked toward the mirror hanging on the wall.
Solomon tilted his head.
"…You're really about to do it right here?"
Ares didn't answer.
Instead, he placed two fingers against his jaw.
Crimson Ancient Energy began gathering around his hand.
The air in the room grew heavy and distorted.
Upon seeing this, Solomon's grin slowly widened.
"Oh… this is going to be good."
Ares closed his eyes.
Then—
CRACK.
The sound of bone snapping echoed through the room.
Solomon winced slightly, a bit put off by the sheer brutality Ares inflicted on himself.
Ares' jaw visibly shifted under the pressure of his own power.
More cracks followed.
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
His cheekbones collapsed inward before reforming with the precise control and output of his Ancient Energy, healing and guiding the reformation.
Muscle fibers tore apart beneath his skin and stitched themselves back together in different places.
Blood slowly ran down his chin. It was a gruesome sight to behold for anyone watching, and something that would without a doubt feel excruciatingly painful.
Yet Ares' expression remained completely calm.
If anything, he looked mildly bored.
Solomon rested his chin on his hand, watching with both fascination and shock.
"Man… you really are insane."
Ares moved his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
Another sharp sound rang out as the bone structure shifted.
The shape of his eyes followed next.
Ancient Energy flooded his face, destroying and reconstructing the tissue simultaneously.
His crimson-red eyes flickered.
Then slowly changed.
Their violent, piercing intensity dulled… becoming something calmer.
Less threatening.
Finally, he ran his hand through his long raven-black hair.
The strands began to disintegrate into faint particles of Ancient Energy before regrowing.
Shorter.
Messier.
And a different color entirely.
Chocolate brown.
Within minutes, the transformation was complete.
Ares opened his eyes and looked at the mirror.
The man staring back at him was completely different.
Mid-length chocolate-brown hair replaced his long raven-black hair.
His once sharp and intimidating crimson eyes had become a softer violet.
His pale skin was slightly lighter than before.
His facial structure had changed entirely—his jaw slimmer, his cheekbones less defined.
Instead of the extremely handsome and imposing face he once had, the reflection staring back at him looked far more average.
Ordinary.
Only the violet eyes gave him a slightly striking appearance.
Ares straightened his posture.
He forced the bones in his spine to shift slightly.
CRACK.
His height shortened just enough to be noticeable.
From six feet three inches…
…to roughly six feet one.
His broad, muscular build also changed.
Muscle fibers broke down and reformed into a leaner frame, leaving only a faint outline of muscle beneath his clothes.
All in all—
He was completely unrecognizable.
"Impressive… very impressive," Ares muttered quietly as he observed his reflection.
Then he closed his eyes.
Ancient Energy flowed through his body again.
But this time, it wasn't affecting his flesh.
It was affecting something deeper.
His soul.
The violent, oppressive aura that once surrounded him slowly twisted and compressed.
His Ancient Energy signature bent inward before reshaping itself.
Moments later—
The terrifying presence that once defined Ares von Loweswater vanished entirely.
In its place remained something far more ordinary.
The aura of a moderately talented young mage.
Solomon widened his eyes in absolute shock.
"Did… did you just… distort your SOUL?!"
"Yes," Ares replied calmly, as if what he had just done didn't defy a rule believed to be almost impossible to break.
Solomon whistled, trying to compose himself.
"Now that's the scary part."
Ares glanced at him.
"What do you mean?"
"The face change is impressive, sure," Solomon replied, standing up and walking closer. "But what you just did to your soul signature? That's what'll fool even EX rank Magi like me."
Ares said nothing.
"Anyone can change how they look," Solomon continued. "But magi recognize each other by their ancient energy resonance. And right now… you feel completely different."
Ares looked back at the mirror.
"This form won't last forever," he said calmly.
Solomon raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"My body has a natural structure," Ares explained. "If I leave it alone long enough, it will slowly return to its original state."
Solomon grinned.
"So you have to keep destroying and rebuilding your own face. Is that right?"
"Correct."
"That's… unbelievably metal."
Ares ignored the comment.
"As for how to cover up your Ancient Art—" Solomon began.
"There's no need for that," Ares interrupted.
"My Ancient Art has five techniques."
Solomon blinked.
Ares continued calmly.
"You're aware that I only ever used two of those techniques during the Kuro Era."
Solomon slowly nodded.
"Meaning there shouldn't be any historical records of the other three."
Realization dawned on Solomon's face.
"…You sneaky bastard."
Ares didn't respond.
"…You destroyed half the old world using only two techniques?" Solomon muttered in disbelief.
Ares simply shrugged.
Solomon rubbed his face.
"Right… moving on before I have an existential crisis."
He tossed a small bottle filled with green liquid toward Ares.
"Use this."
Ares caught it easily.
"What is this?"
"Pour it on the two grimoire pieces, then infuse your Ancient Energy again," Solomon explained. "The liquid will break the seal the Magus Association placed on them."
He paused before adding proudly,
"No need to thank me… but you still can if you really, really want to."
"…"
"…"
"I'll take that as a no," Solomon muttered awkwardly.
Ares stared at him with a completely deadpan expression.
He genuinely wondered how someone so idiotic could be this powerful.
Ignoring him, Ares walked over to the two grimoire pieces.
He poured some of the liquid over them before storing the rest of the bottle.
Holding both pieces, he began channeling Ancient Energy into the books.
As he pushed them together—
Resistance pushed back.
Ares increased the flow of energy.
More resistance.
Minutes passed.
Fifteen… to be exact.
Finally—
CRACK.
A sound like glass shattering echoed throughout the room.
The two pieces slipped from Ares' hands and floated into the air, shining with blinding light.
Both Ares and Solomon shielded their eyes from the sheer brightness.
After several minutes, the light faded.
The grimoire slowly floated back down.
Now whole.
Ares grabbed it.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Well… now that we've gotten the major problems out of the way," Solomon said nervously, trying to change the focus to something else since Ares' grin was a bit creepy "I'll arrange your academy entrance. The trials start in two weeks."
He paused before adding,
"Oh—and one more thing. The seals currently placed on you will eventually break on their own."
Ares looked at him.
"The Magus Association usually replaces them regularly," Solomon explained. "But since no one is maintaining them now, they'll weaken over time."
"The longer they go unchanged, the harder it'll be to suppress your power."
Ares nodded slowly.
"I suspected as much."
Solomon scratched the back of his head.
"Eventually they'll break entirely. But you'll still need to recover the remaining grimoire piece if you want your full strength back."
Ares thought for a moment.
Then another question came to mind.
"…Won't the Association notice that the grimoire piece you were guarding is missing?"
Solomon grinned widely.
"Don't worry about that."
"I have my ways."
He leaned forward eagerly.
"BUUUT… could you please tell me what the other three techniques of your Destruction Art are? Please? Pretty please?"
"…"
Ares stared at him in complete silence.
He genuinely couldn't comprehend how someone this shameless existed.
"How old are you?" Ares finally asked.
"I'll be twenty-nine in a few months," Solomon replied proudly.
Ares sighed.
"Never mind."
He turned and walked toward the door leading out of the dining room.
If he stayed near this man any longer, he couldn't guarantee Solomon would survive the day—though he doubted he could actually do much damage to Solomon at his current strength.
"Wait! What about the other three techniques?!" Solomon shouted as he ran after him.
"Come on! Just give me a hint!"
Ares kept walking.
He had already begun regretting not destroying this idiot during their first meeting… though he knew that not destroying him was due to his current lack of ability rather than a lack of trying.