"But you are by no means powerless. You must use what you have-and you have the single most potent
tool that exists."
"But-"
"You doubt? Watch." Suddenly a monstrous sword was in Mars' hand. He swung it at Norton. Norton,
without thinking, blocked it with the Hourglass.
The blade rebounded. Undismayed, Mars put it away. "To others, your instrument is without substance,
but my Sword represents the essence of war and can not be blunted or avoided. Therefore the two
instruments meet and balk each other; neither can hurt the other. Force against force, pointlessly. But,
properly applied, my Sword is matchless-as is your Hourglass. Not even Satan can stand against these
tools, or against the Scythe of Thanatos or the Threads of Fate or the Will of Gaea-if they attack his
weaknesses. Only by guile did he nullify my effort to balk his plot to assume political power on Earth,
and only by guile did he foil you."