497: Fate XVI 497: Fate XVI The colossal gates of the Arena of Ascension swung open, revealing a staircase that seed to stretch beyond the heavens.
The Divine Ladder.
A path that only the strongest were allowed to climb.
Aiden stood at its base, golden eyes gleaming as the last echoes of the Grand lee faded behind him.
Around him, countless divine beings watched—so in awe, others in disbelief.
“He really won…” “A mortal—no, sothing beyond mortal—defeated the finest warriors of the arena!” “But the Divine Ladder is different.
No one ascends without facing true trials.” Aiden smirked, ignoring the murmurs.
His body still burned from the battle.
His muscles ached slightly from Sylva’s Lunar Domain.
But that was just a warm-up.
The Divine Guardian of the Arena stepped forward, his massive form radiating celestial authority.
“Aiden.” His voice bood across the battlefield.
“By claiming victory in the Grand lee, you have earned the right to challenge the Divine Ladder.” The crowd fell silent.
“But be warned—this path is not for the weak.
The Twelve Thrones do not welco the unworthy.” The Guardian’s golden spear slamd into the ground.
—𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘔—!
A wave of divine energy rushed through the air.
“If you truly wish to ascend, then step forward.” “Face the Trials of the Divine Ladder.” Aiden grinned.
“Took you long enough to ask.” He stepped onto the first step.
—𝘊𝘙𝘈𝘊𝘒— Instantly, the atmosphere shifted.
[Divine Ladder Trial: First Step Initiated.] [All Strength, Speed, and Energy Reserves Sealed to Base Levels.] Aiden froze.
Then—he felt it.
His power vanished.
His Martial Spirits disappeared.
His authorities fell silent.
For the first ti in years, he was back to his raw, physical self.
The Guardian’s booming voice echoed.
“The First Trial—The Test of True Strength.” “Without divine energy, without abilities, without tricks—prove your worth with your own hands.” —𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘔—!
A golden gate appeared ahead.
From its depths, a massive warrior stepped forth.
Towering at ten feet tall, covered in ancient divine armor, his fists wrapped in celestial steel—this was a trial construct, forged by the Divine Realm itself.
His voice rumbled like thunder.
“Challenger.” “Step forward.
Face .
With nothing but your own body.” Aiden rolled his shoulders, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Alright.” He cracked his knuckles.
“Let’s see what I can do without all the fancy tricks.” And then— He charged.
—𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘔—!
Aiden launched forward, closing the distance between him and the Divine Titan in an instant.
His golden eyes locked onto his opponent, analyzing the flow of muscle movent, stance, and weight distribution.
Even without his divine energy, martial spirits, or authorities, his battle instincts remained razor-sharp.
The Titan’s colossal fist ca crashing down.
—𝘊𝘙𝘈𝘊𝘒—!
Aiden sidestepped at the last second, the impact obliterating the stone platform beneath him.
Dust and debris exploded into the air, but Aiden had already moved.
He twisted his torso, gathering every ounce of explosive force in his body— “Let’s see if you can handle this!” —𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘔—!
A devastating right hook slamd into the Titan’s ribs.
The shockwave rippled across the battlefield, sending divine sparks scattering into the sky.
Aiden expected so resistance— But the Titan’s body barely shifted.
“Tch.” Aiden’s eyes narrowed.
This thing wasn’t just strong—it was built to withstand direct blows from divine challengers.
And he was fighting at base human levels.
The Titan’s glowing blue eyes flickered, and for the first ti, its massive head turned toward Aiden.
“Inadequate force.” Then— The Titan moved.
—𝘍𝘞𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘚𝘏—!
A blindingly fast uppercut soared toward Aiden’s chest.
Fast!
Aiden twisted midair, barely avoiding the strike, but— —𝘊𝘙𝘈𝘊𝘒—!
The wind pressure alone sent him flying backward, slamming into the stone steps behind him.
—𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘔—!
The crowd watching from the lower arena gasped.
“Did… did he just get thrown back?” “This is the first ti he’s been overpowered!” “He lost all his divine abilities, right?
Can he even win like this?” Aiden gritted his teeth as he stood up, dusting off his shoulders.
Alright.
So I can’t overpower it head-on.
But brute force isn’t the only way to win.
He exhaled.
His muscles relaxed, his heartbeat steadied.
He wasn’t fighting as a godly entity anymore.
He was fighting as a martial artist.
“Let’s change the approach.” —𝘍𝘞𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘚𝘏— The Titan charged again, throwing another devastating punch.
But this ti— Aiden didn’t dodge conventionally.
He flowed with the attack.
Instead of resisting, he stepped in closer, slipping past the massive fist by a fraction of an inch.
The Titan’s montum carried it forward.
Aiden’s fist lashed out.
—𝘊𝘙𝘈𝘊𝘒—!
A direct hit to the joint of its shoulder.
The impact wasn’t brute force.
It was a precise strike to an anatomical weak point.
The Titan staggered.
Aiden smirked.
“So, you can be knocked off balance after all.” The Titan’s eyes flashed, acknowledging the first successful counter.
“Adjusting combat paraters.” Its movents shifted.
It was adapting.
Aiden grinned.
“Good.
Then let’s see who adapts faster.” The Titan steadied itself, its massive form crackling with divine energy.
Though its movents were sluggish at first, sothing had changed.
Aiden noticed imdiately.
It’s learning.
Its stance shifted—no longer just brute force.
It was adapting to Aiden’s fighting style.
Aiden grinned.
“Alright, big guy.
Let’s see how fast you can keep up.” —𝘍𝘞𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘚𝘏—!
Aiden dashed forward, weaving between the Titan’s towering limbs.
He pivoted left, forcing it to react—then imdiately switched right, dodging a massive downward strike.
Its fist collided with the ground— —𝘊𝘙𝘈𝘊𝘒—!
The arena floor shattered beneath its sheer force.
But Aiden was already inside its guard.
His fists shot forward—lightning-fast, precise.
One strike to the ribs.
A second to the knee joint.
A third to the base of the spine.
—𝘊𝘙𝘈𝘊𝘒—!
The Titan staggered again.
“Structural Integrity… Compromised.” Its massive fra trembled, but instead of falling—it adjusted.
The damaged armor shifted, regenerating itself.
The Titan straightened, and for the first ti, it spoke with recognition.
“Acknowledged.
You are beyond mortal.” Its blue eyes burned brighter.
“I shall fight you as an equal.” Aiden exhaled.
Then—he felt it.
—𝘞𝘏𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘖𝘔—!
The Titan’s speed doubled.
“Tch—!” A fist ca flying toward Aiden.
He dodged—barely.
It’s not just stronger.
It’s smarter now.
Another attack.
Faster.
Sharper.
Predicting his movents.
Aiden knew this kind of fight.
This wasn’t a brute force battle.
This was a fight of skill.
He had two choices.
Outpace the Titan’s ability to adapt.
Force it into a situation it couldn’t adjust to.
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