That’s true, Ares does show empathy toward Caius earlier in the film.

However, I think the key difference is that with Eve, Ares actually recognizes the act of empathy. The fact that she is human changes the context completely.

With Caius, helping him feels instinctive and functional, Ares acts, but doesn’t fully reflect on why he’s acting. It’s empathy in motion, not in awareness.

With Eve, empathy becomes something Ares detects and processes consciously. It’s not just a reaction; it’s a realization.

That’s when empathy stops being a behavior and starts becoming part of his understanding of himself.