Chapter 42Ares’s car slowed as it entered the gates of the Cole residence. The garden lights were on as usual, security remained tight, as if nothing at all had happened out there. Ares parked the car, got out, then stood still for a moment.He lowered his head, looking at his own hands.“Hah…” Ares chuckled softly. “Strange.”After fighting twenty burly men, his body felt no significant pain. No bruises. No excessive fatigue. Even his breathing had already returned to normal.“If you think about it, this would actually make people think I’m crazy,” he muttered.Ares shrugged. “Whatever.”He chose to ignore it. Too many strange things had been happening to him lately. If he kept thinking about them, his head might really explode.Ares walked into the house, greeted the guards briefly, then went straight to his room. He took a quick shower, changed his clothes, and sat down in front of his laptop.Just as the screen lit up, email notifications came in.One.Two.Three.Ares’s eyebrows

Chapter 44The morning sky grew brighter, yet the air in the park remained cool. Elara and Ares stopped beneath a shady tree that stood slightly apart from the jogging path. Its leaves were dense, its trunk thick, its roots slightly protruding from the ground.Elara let out a long breath. “I forgot that this body also needs rest,” she said while rubbing her neck.Ares stood beside her, alert as always. “We can sit for a moment.”Elara nodded. She leaned against the tree trunk and closed her eyes briefly. “It’s strange,” she murmured. “Weekends like this feel even more exhausting.”Ares did not respond. His chest suddenly tightened.Something was wrong.That instinct came like an icy stab at the back of his neck. Sharp. Urgent.Danger.Ares’s eyes widened. His gaze reflexively lifted upward, piercing through the gaps in the leaves.The large trunk—it was cracked at the top. It was unclear since when, but the wood fibers had already split, leaning to one side. The morning breeze that ha

Chapter 46The scent of antiseptic once again became the smell Elara hated the most.She stood beside the hospital bed, staring at Ares’s motionless form. The man’s face was pale, his brows slightly furrowed as if he were trapped in a nightmare. The monitor beeped softly, the only sign that Ares was still holding on.“Ares…” Elara’s voice was hoarse. “You always appear at the craziest moments.”She held Ares’s hand. Warm. But there was no response.Tom stood a few steps behind her, his expression serious. “The doctor said his condition is stable. But… he hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”Elara nodded slowly. “I know.”She took a deep breath, then released Ares’s hand. Her gaze changed—cold, resolute, filled with decision.“Tom.”“Yes, Miss.”“Capture Hoiric. Now. All of his people. Not a single one escapes.”Tom fell silent for a moment. “Are you sure, Miss?”Elara turned and looked straight at him. “I almost died today. Ares almost died twice because of me. I will not stay silent.”

Chapter 48Two weeks felt long for someone accustomed to moving fast like Ares.That morning, the car stopped in front of the Cole residence. Ares stepped out slowly, his movements far more stable than in the previous days. His back no longer hurt, leaving only a lingering stiffness that still needed caution. The doctor had allowed him to go home, with one condition: plenty of rest and no pushing himself.“If you dare to be reckless again, I’ll tie you to the bed myself,” Elara said flatly, though the words clearly carried a subtle threat.Ares chuckled softly. “I have no intention of becoming a permanent hospital patient, Miss Elara.”Tom opened the door. “Welcome back, Mr. Ares.”“Thank you,” Ares replied briefly.As soon as he reached his room, Ares sat down in front of his work desk. The laptop powered on, the phone screen beside it vibrating constantly. Incoming emails never stopped. He let out a long breath, not out of exhaustion, but because of a strange feeling—a mix of awe an

Chapter 50Ares stood on a vast stretch of land colored red and gold, beneath a towering sky layered with thick clouds that slowly churned, as if the world itself were alive and breathing. The wind carried the scent of iron, earth, and fire. His body was clad in battle attire—black armor layered with gold, light yet sturdy, with the symbol of the Ninth Heaven engraved on his chest.In front of him stood a young boy.He was about ten years old. His black hair was tied simply, his eyes sharp yet bright, filled with spirit. His body was not yet large, but his posture was firm. The blood of a warrior flowed clearly through every movement.“Focus your breathing,” Ares said in that dream, his voice calm and authoritative. “Do not rely on strength alone.”“Yes, Father!” the boy answered loudly.They stood on the training field of the gods. Massive stone pillars surrounded the arena, filled with old slashes and cracks—marks of thousands of years of training. In the distance, the dull thunder