Marcus Kane remained seated in the far corner of the grand banquet hall, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable as he ignored the gossip from mere mortals, "In no time, the divine curse will begin to take effect,” he mused with dark amusement.The sounds of clinking glasses, polite but restrained laughter, and classical music filled the space once again, as if the earlier tension had lightened up a bit but it hadn’t, It simply waited in the shadows.The ceremony was about to begin.A white aisle had been hastily rolled out between the tables, and the guests took their seats, murmuring excitedly as Sophia Chen, radiant in a gown of shimmering silk, walked gracefully toward the small stage where Victor Blackwood stood tall beside the priest, his arrogant smile still intact, his eyes flicking occasionally toward Marcus, as though to confirm that Marcus was watching his victory.Marcus didn’t move. He barely blinked, in fact, he looked bored. The divine curse had already taken roo

The banquet hall was no longer loud with voices, only silence remained after the guests and reporters had been escorted out by the hotel security. The police officers had long dragged Harrison Mills out, even as he was still yelling threats but his final words lingered in the air like a storm cloud.“You’ve already been marked.”Marcus Kane stood still, the weight of those words settled over him like a storm. Something inside him shifted, not with fear, but with confirmation. The Shadow Syndicate. A name Marcus had only heard once, years ago, buried in the ramblings of Elder Chen. Back when Marcus was still new to the truth of who he was. Back when he still believed he could live a life somewhere between mortal and divine.Elder Chen had warned him about the humans who didn’t want gods to be worshipped… but caged.“There are mortals whose greed outmatches any demon. Mortals with empty hearts will always chase what they can’t understand,” the old man had said once, his voice low and

After the agent vanished, Marcus decided to go back home to be with his mother, Isabella. He asked Dr Martinez to come with him to check on his mother and Alessandro decided to tag along.The house was quiet when Marcus returned. It wasn’t the kind of quiet that came with peace, but the kind that pressed on your chest like grief you weren’t ready to talk about.He stepped in slowly, his eyes scanning the familiar but old remains of what used to be the Kane’s mansion, now it smelled like wet wood and mold like sickness had taken root and started spreading into the air.Dr Martinez and Alessandro looked around in awe. They were surprised at the living condition of a divine being like Marcus and Alessandro could only hope that Marcus would move in sooner into the mansion he had gifted him.Marcus didn’t need to call out to Isabella. He already felt her presence the second he stepped inside.He moved in quietly into the living room. Alessandro and Dr Martinez didn’t follow. The moment Mar

The moment David Chen’s veins lit up like silver, Marcus knew he wasn’t facing a mortal man anymore.David let out a deep, twisted growl as the drug surged through him. His muscles grew unnaturally, his skin stretching like it was trying to contain something it was never meant to hold. His eyes flashed with something inhuman, then narrowed on Marcus with violent intensity.“This,” David said, his voice distorted, “is the future.”Marcus didn’t reply. He stepped forward, and David charged towards him.The force from their collision shattered the windows behind David’s desk. The wind blew hard as glass shattered throughout the room. Marcus ducked under a punch that cracked the marble floor, then slammed his fist into David’s ribs. The sound echoed loudly, and David flew backward, crashing through a bookshelf and into the wall behind it.“You always thought you were stronger,” David hissed, coughing as he stood. “But I’m the one who built himself.”“You didn’t build anything,” Marcus sa

Marcus didn’t flinch.He looked at the sword glowing before him, then back at Alessandro. “They can come,” he said. “Let them try.”He reached out again. This time, he didn’t hesitate.The moment his hand closed around the hilt, a blinding surge of energy ran up his arm, burning through him like fire and lightning mixed into one. The vault lights flickered and the jade ring on his finger glowed so brightly it looked like it would crack.The sword accepted him. There was resistance and no test either. Just ancient power flowing into him like it had always been his.Alessandro stepped back, eyes wide. “It recognizes you,” he said quietly. “The ring too. They’re all connected. This… this was meant to happen.”Marcus held the sword loosely in one hand, but it felt weightless. It thrummed with his heartbeat, like it had become a part of him.He looked around the vault, there were rows of relics, armors, and sealed boxes with ancient markings. Something deeper called to him.“There’s more,”