Marius sailed through the foggy sea towards Naofumi's fortress. He stopped right before he reaches the fortress's defense.
"All alone, Marius?" said Naofumi through the speakers.
"I came here with a proposal!" said Marius.
"So you finally came to your senses and surrender."
"No. I'm here to challenge the Spear Hero to a duel!"
"A duel, eh? Is this still about Filo?"
"It is not of your concern!"
"You're such a broken record, you know that? Any winning terms?"
"If I win you will surrender to us!'
"And if he wins?"
"Then I will surrender!"
"Very well then. You may proceed."
With that, Marius continued on by boat. He sailed passed the two destroyed towers and remaining ones that was still powering up the defenses. Marius reached the island where the fortress stood and there he saw Motoyasu waiting for him.
"Alright, Achilles. Show me a good duel." said Naofumi.
"I won't let you down, father-in-law!" said Motoyasu.
Marius walked towards Motoyasu with his spear and shield.
"Filo is mine now, Ugly Bastard. And I won't let you hurt father-in-law."
Marius threw his shield away and took off his helmet before tossing it aside, "Then I have to go through you, spearman."
Marius gripped his spear and charged towards Motoyasu. The Spear Hero readied himself and after Marius was close enough he thrust his spear.
Little did he knew, Marius was feigning the charge and lured Motoyasu into exposing himself by dodging the attack and thrust Motoyasu side.
With his tunic damaged, Motoyasu jumped to the side. He swung his spear at Marius who parried it away before kicking Motoyasu stomach with a push kick.
With Motoyasu recovering from the kick his face was hit by the flat side of Marius's spearhead after he swung it directly into the Spear Hero's face.
Motoyasu was thrown back by the attack and quickly got back up on his feet. He held his spear firmly and unleashed the deadly volley of the spear's magical attack.
Marius quickly ran to the side to escape the volley as he was closer and closer to Motoyasu who tried to hit him. Marius lunged with the blade of his spear aiming for his opponent. Motoyasu rolled away and Marius's spear hit the ground instead.
"That's it! Time to finish you off once and for all!" Motoyasu held his spear up high.
Lighting shoot out from the spear and Motoyasu fired it at Marius who counter attacked with his own lighting attack from his own spear.
The two electrical forces collided at each other and it generated continuous sparks. The spark grew and grew until it exploded and blew everything on the duel area away.
Motoyasu opened his eyes to see the dust still floating in the air completely obscuring everything. Then a spear flew towards him and he quickly dodged it but it managed to leaved a small cut on his cheek. Then Marius emerged from the dust and punched Motoyasu's face hard, knocking him out cold and dropping his spear to the ground.
After the duel was over, Marius summoned his spear back to his hand before approaching the unconscious hero. Marius took the Legendary Spear from the ground and started approaching the fortress.
"Just as I expected. He never really stood a chance against you." said Naofumi.
But Marius didn't respond. He released the Flames of Ares and powered the two spears up. The Legendary Spear transformed to the same form when Marius held it. The sky above them was suddenly darkened.
With the Legendary Spear and the Spear of Zeus powers combined, Marius unleashed a powerful lighting strike at each of the towers. The lighting powered the defense towers to its limit until it reached its breaking point and exploded in unison.
With the defenses now destroyed, the raiding armies started appearing out of nowhere after being hidden by concealing magic. The large forces started making its way to the fortress shore.
"So that all was just a ruse to destroy my defenses? Can't believe I didn't see that coming."
"I have won the duel! Honor it by surrender!"
"I'm not really a fan of honor. My goals are far too greater. You may have won the duel but the deal is off."
"Coward! Surrender! Or face my legion!"
Aquila approached Marius with his shield in hand. Marius threw the Legendary Spear aside and wore the shield Fitoria gave to him as Filo's praetorian. Then the Shield Legions started forming a formation infront of Marius and Raphtalia's group joined him. Raphtalis stood beside Marius with her sword in hand but spoke no words to him.
The main gate to the fortress was soon open and Naofumi's slave army poured out of the entrance and charged at the Shield Legions.
"This is what you were train for! This is where you found your purpose as legionnaires!" Marius gave out his speech.
The front formations took out their pillum as they waited for the slave army. Once they are at the right range, the slave army were shot down by the volley of javelins killing them while others were severely injured.
The slaves at the back with magical abilities and projectile weapons started firing at the legionnaires who quickly went into testudo by their centurion's orders.
The frontliners slowly advanced while Raphtalia's group provided fighting and magic support. Their combined effort forced the slave army to retreated back into the fortress, hoping to held the legions back by the gates.
"Catapults!" Marius commanded.
Aquila relayed his orders to a crew of engineers pulling three catapults off the boats and into the battlefield. After preparing the seige weapons and loading rocks into them, they fired their catapults to the fortress to further damage slave's morale.
Inside, Naofumi could only watch as the Marius's forces broke into his fortress. Nearing defeat, Naofumi decided to use his secret weapon against Marius.
After getting through the waves of slaves, Marius ran towards an empty hall with Naofumi standing in the middle waiting for him.
"Naofumi!" Marius raised his voice.
"So you finally made it." Naofumi turned around to face Marius.
"Your defenses were destroyed! Your slaves are defeated! And my legion have captured this fortress!"
"Don't you mean my legion?"
"They follow my command! Not yours! Surrender now!"
"Marius, I know that's not the only reason why you attack this fortress in the first place. Wasn't there someone you're looking for?"
"... Where is Filo..."
"Alright then. Filo! Front and center!"
With his command, Filo dropped from the ceiling and landed infront of her master.
"Filo, please get rid of the intruder."
Filo turned around and glared at Marius with her soulless eyes.
"Filo... Filo, it's me." Marius said as he walked towards her.
And in a blink of an eye, Filo dashed towards Marius with a blinding speed and punched Marius's abdomen which sent him flying backwards. Marius tried to get up on his feet as the pain on his abdomen still lingered.
"Thanks to Rato's research into monster modifications, I have made everyone stronger versions of themselves." Naofumi walked towards Filo and put his hand on her shoulder, "Including Filo here."
"No."
"Not only she's super strong and fast, but also super obedient. So no matter how hard you try, she'll only listen to me like a true slave."
Marius readied his shield and threw his spear aside.
"So that's how's it gonna be? Very well then, dispose of him."
Filo heed his command and charged towards Marius before she launched herself as she readied her kick attack.
Marius quickly blocked her attack, and with her feet still on the shield she launched herself high into the air before summoning a pair of claws on her hand.
With her wind magic, she propelled herself with her claws ready to strike. Marius quickly rolled away and the talon struck the floor instead, leaving a large claw marks.
"Filo! Listen to me! Do not listen to him!"
Filo lifted her head towards Marius and charged at him. She swung her claws at Marius multiple times and the shield barrier blocking the attacks.
"Filo! Please! It's me!" Marius pleaded.
"Forget it, Marius. You might as well just quit and leave." said Naofumi.
Filo quickly moved to the left side of Marius and slashed his arm, damaging his pauldron. Marius quickly rolled away from a second claw attack from Filo.
"Filo! It's me! Marius!"
"M-Marius?" Filo's slave crest suddenly zapped her back to obedience.
"Naofumi! Stop this!"
But Naofumi just let out an evil laugh and Filo continued attacking Marius until the centurion showed signs of fatigue.
"I'm getting bored. Filo, finish him off." said Naofumi.
Then Filo add more strenght and speed to her attack and her claws tore through Marius's shield piece by piece until it fell off his arm. Marius quickly summoned his spear to his hand and blocked Filo's attack.
"Filo! Please listen to me!" Marius desperately calls for his bride-to-be.
Not heeding his word, Filo struck the spear hard and broke the shaft, releasing a burst of electricity that blew Marius and Filo apart.
After recovering from the blow, Filo jumped ontop of Marius and was ready to sank her claws into his heart.
"Filo... Our child... Think of our child... It needs its mother..."
Filo suddenly hesitated.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" said Naofumi.
"I... I can't!" Filo's claws desipated and she wrapped her arms around Marius, "I can't do this!"
The slave crest zapped Filo and she fell to the floor beside Marius.
"Please master! It hurts!" Filo screamed.
"Stop it!" Marius yelled.
"You know the rules, Filo. If you disobey, you get punish." Naofumi amped up the slave crest punishment.
"Marius! Help me!" and suddenly, the zapping stops and Filo went limp as her eyes were half open.
"Filo?" Marius quickly went to Filo. Placed his hand on her cheeks and felt the warm leaving her body, "Filo!"
"What a shame. Don't get me wrong, she was my favourite slave beside Raphtalia." said Naofumi without a hint of remorse.
"Filo!" Marius shook Filo's body.
"Then again, she's just a pet filolial. I can always get a replacement for her."
Hearing those words, Marius quickly turned his head towards Naofumi. As he felt rage building up inside him, he got up and charged towards Naofumi as he unleashed the Flames of Ares.
"Eh, too easy." Naofumi conjured a shield barrier, hoping it will stop the raging centurion.
But Marius just punched through the barrier with his bare-flaming-fist.
"What?" Naofumi then conjured more layers of the shield barrier, yet Marius easily broke through it like glass.
"Fine! How about this!" Naofumi then trapped Marius inside the Shield Prison.
Naofumi let out a satisfying smile until he saw Marius punched through the metal shell. With his rage grew stronger, Marius ripped a hole through Shield Prison and continued charging towards the Shield Hero.
Naofumi quickly trapped Marius inside the Iron Maiden, only for Marius to violently broke free with the Iron Maiden's door broke off it's hinges.
Realizing Marius getting too close, Naofumi unleashed the Chimera Viper Shield on Marius. The two vipers launched themselves towards Marius but the Flames of Ares burnt them before they can reach him.
Marius let out a blood-curdling cry before striking with his fist. Naofumi quickly blocked the punch with his shield and felt the searing heat along with the powerful impact which left a dent at the shield.
Naofumi uses the Soul Eater Shield to devour Marius, but Marius grabbed both of the Soul Eater's jaws and ripped it apart, further damaging the shield.
With Naofumi exposed, Marius kicked him on the stomach and sent him flying backwards. As Marius approached Naofumi, Raphtalia came in with her sword ready to struck Marius.
Marius heard her coming and blocked the blade with his vambrace. Raphtalia then used the chii technique to subdue Marius but the flames disabled the attack and burnt Raphtalia's hand. Marius then grabbed her by the throat and threw her away.
"Raphtalia!" Naofumi yelled and he tried to crawled towards his slave.
Marius approached Naofumi and stomped his shield arm, breaking the bones inside and Naofumi screamed pain. Marius turned him around on his back and started pummeling his face, letting all his rage at Naofumi.
After beating Naofumi's face to a pulp, Marius ripped the shield off Naofumo's broken arm and raised it above his head.
"Marius! No!" Raphtalia yelled.
Naofumi struggled to lift his other arm to try to protect himself from the final blow and Marius plunged the sharp end of the shield through Naofumi's neck, almost severing his head.
Marius watched on as Naofumi's blood poured out of his neck and started pooling around him. Marius got up and went back to Filo's body, leaving the distraught Raphtalia who froze in shocked.
Marius went on his knees beside Filo, then he lifted the body and cradled her. He placed his forehead at Filo's as his tears flowed from his eyes and his heart sank in sorrow.
"Filo... I could not protect you..."
Marius got up and exited the hall, not caring Raphtalia who was preparing to took her own life beside Naofumi.
The slaves and the legionnaries were at the stalemate, just waiting for one of them to make the next move. But all heads turned when they saw Marius walking through them while carrying Filo's body with him.
Aquila let out a cry and approached Marius, "Who did this!"
"It was the Shield Hero." said Marius.
"Where is he!"
"He is dead as well." Marius's words caused a huge shocked among the slaves and even to his legions.
Saddened, Aquila dropped to his knees and cried, "The queen mother! She is dead!"
Marius continued walking pass through all of them, until he saw Motoyasu who stood on his way.
"Filo-chan! What have you done to her! Give her back!" said Motoyasu.
Marius ignored him and pushed him away.
"Ugly bastard! I said give Filo-chan back! She's mine!"
"She is dead, spearman!" said Marius.
"What? No... no no no, you lied. You just want to take her all by herself!"
"He's right." said Ren, "Filo... Filo's gone..."
"Lies... All lies! Filo-chan is mine forever! I promise I will protect her!"
"You weren't there." Marius turned and continued walking.
Then a blast of energy struck Marius from behind and Motoyasu quickly snatched Filo away from Marius.
"Like I'm ever gonna fall for that? Isn't that right, Filo-chan... Filo-chan?" Motoyasu tried to shook Filo's body, "Hey, you can wake up now. It's me, your spear hero."
Motoyasu suddenly realized how cold Filo's body have become, "Filo-chan? No, please don't die! We were about to marry! Filo!"
Motoyasu then hugged her closer and let out a ear deafening scream. He then looked at Marius with tears flowing from his eyes, "You killed her!"
"I did not killed her, spearman! But Naofumi did!"
"Lies!" Motoyasu got up and readied his spear, "I will avenge her death, you Ugly Bastard!"
"Enough! There is nothing we can do! Give her to me, we'll give her a proper burial." Marius almost choked up.
"Never! I will never leave her in your hands!"
"You are delusional."
"You're a murderer!"
"Just give her back!" Marius summoned his broken spear to his hand and readied himself.
"Never!" Motoyasu charged towards Marius and the two started fighting to the death.
Meanwhile, Aquila wiped his tears away and unsheated his sword, "Legionaries! Avenge queen mother! Kill them all!"
Aquila started attacking the slaves, followed by the rest of the legionnaires, continuing the fight.
"I will kill you!" said Motoyasu.
"Killing me will not bring her back!" said Marius.
Motoyasu let out a cry, unleashing a barrage of spear strike before finishing it off with a heavy thrust towards Marius's chest.
Marius parried the attack with his left vambrace and shoulder bashed Motoyasu away.
"Stop this! There is nothing we can do!" said Marius.
"Shut up!" Motoyasu charges and the two continued their fight.
The two fought on until Motoyasu finally got the better of Marius and stabbed him through his chest.
"This is for Filo!" Motoyasu thrusted his spear deeper, "And this is for father-in-law!"
Then, Motoyasu felt a sharp pain piercing his left torso. He looked down and saw the half broken spear pierced through his side. With his last strength, Marius thrust the spear deeper and it pierced Motoyasu's heart.
The two looked at each other as blood poured from their mouths. Then Marius ripped Motoyasu's ribs open from the back and kicked him away. Motoyasu fell flat on the floor and Marius watches as Motoyasu drew his last breath.
Marius fell on his knees and waited his death. He felt his heartbeat getting slower and the sound of fighting become muffled. He closed his eyes, sorrowful for not able to have the peaceful life he always wanted, but he accepted his fate and waited for death's embrace.
As his whole body grew colder, Marius let out his last final breath...
Marius woke up and saw Motoyasu standing infront of them. They looked around and found themselves in a dark void with only a mysterious light source luminating around them.
Then the Legendary Spear appeared out of thin air between them. Motoyasu quickly grabbed the spear and readied to attack, and Marius raised his fist.
Suddenly, a large silhouette of a clock appeared above them. Then the clock's hand spun counter clockwise. As it spun, it became more and more faster until it became slower and slower until it stopped. Then it glew so bright it blinded the two heroes.
Suddenly, Marius was swallowed by water. He struggled to keep himself afloat as the strong drift carried him away from the light.
The water carried Marius to an edge of a land. Marius quickly grabbed it and pulled himself out fron the water. When Marius was coughing out some water, he felt as if something metal is close to his face.
He put his hand on his face and felt the familiar steel of his old centurion helmet and mask. He quickly realized he was inside the same cave he was in when he was sent to this world.
Marius looked around bewilderedly, not knowing how he got here and his fear of caves soon took over him.
Ares sat on his chair infront of his fireplace while rubbing his temple, disappointed by the huge setback.
A woman in a modern elegant dress appear behind who looked at Ares with a smug face, "Having a headache, brother?"
"Athena." turned his head, "Here to bask on my failure?"
"Another one of your pawn bit the dust?"
"Not quite. He's still alive, just sent back in time. And somehow, he still has memories of it."
"That world already has four heroes. Why do you insist on putting him in the scene?"
"Even we don't know our own fates, what makes you think those four will succeed? Marius is there just incase the four heroes or those Guardian Beast failed."
"Really? Or are you still bitter about your defeat with Medea?"
Ares sighed, "Yes..."
"Poor Ares. Still cry over his fallen glory."
"We had glory until that bitch started showing up. We are Olympians. Yet a mere child bested us all."
"That child almost killed Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. By staying out of her way, we avoided the same fates as the Kami and the Aesir."
The two gods went silent.
"But I do miss our glory days... So, what's your next plan?"
Ares think for a few seconds before getting up, "Do me a favor, sister. Don't tell father about what I'm about to do."
"What are you going to do?"
"Getting into mortal affairs."
