From Rags to God of War

Aiding an Opponent

Serafina managed to escape from her enraged father's presence. Still reeling from her injuries, she stumbled along, searching for a safe place.

She eventually found a small apartment in a different part of the city, far from Lord Gideon's territory and the Fire Lion clan's influence. Using a fake identity, she began to disguise herself.

Serafina cut her long hair, which had been her signature look, into a shoulder-length bob. Her usual all-black, striking outfits were replaced with a more casual, urban style. She worked hard to blend in with the crowd, so her father wouldn't recognize her.

Every night, after applying the herbal remedies she'd concocted to speed up her recovery, Serafina would meditate. She pushed herself to regain her strength, restore her muscles, and heal the bruises on her body.

Turns out, Serafina had also stolen and copied her father's sacred ancestral text of the Fire Lion clan. The book contained ancient fighting techniques and internal energy arts, traditionally reserved only for male clan leaders. Secretly, she studied every detail, internalizing every move, every philosophy of combat. She trained relentlessly in her cramped apartment, moving silently, perfecting every stance, every kick, every punch until she reached the peak of her power.

Burning vengeance and the sting of underestimation fueled her training. She vowed to prove to her father that even a woman could master those arts, and to Nicholas that she wasn't just a weak woman to be dismissed.

Serafina spent a full month on this transformation. Her body was back in peak condition, even stronger and more agile than before. Her fighting skills had drastically improved. Once she felt ready, with newfound confidence, Serafina began tracking Nicholas.

She utilized her secret underworld connections and information-gathering skills, which she had honed during her time with Don.

One afternoon, Nicholas had just finished dropping Isabella off to meet one of her business associates. Isabella kissed Nicholas's cheek, then entered the tall building. Nicholas waited until Isabella was out of sight, until the lobby doors fully closed. After ensuring Isabella was safely inside, Nicholas turned and strolled casually down the busy sidewalk.

However, Nicholas's battlefield-honed sixth sense immediately kicked in. A strange sensation, like an intense stare, suddenly pricked his back. He sensed a presence, distinct from the regular bustling crowd. A small shadow moved in his peripheral vision, mirroring his movements. He was being followed.

Nicholas slowed his pace, pretending to gaze into a jewelry store window, glancing at the reflection in the glass. He caught the familiar silhouette of a woman covering her face with a wide-brimmed hat and dark sunglasses.

Nicholas frowned. Serafina. He hadn't expected the girl to dare face him again, especially after their crushing defeat. He decided to end this game. Nicholas quickened his step, then suddenly cut a sharp corner, hiding behind a protruding shop wall. The stalker, the same woman, emerged from around the bend, her eyes still scanning the crowd for Nicholas.

Nicholas stepped out of his hiding spot and deftly grabbed Serafina from behind. His right hand gently choked the woman's neck. His left hand pinned Serafina's wrist to prevent her from moving.

"I knew you'd come," Nicholas whispered, threateningly. "I thought you'd given up. I warned you."

Serafina gasped, her body tensing in Nicholas's grip. She hadn't expected to be caught this easily, even after a full month of training.

Nicholas released his chokehold. Serafina spun around, her eyes fixed sharply on Nicholas.

"Give up?" Serafina sneered. "I'll never give up until you pay for my brother's death, Nicholas Krause!"

Nicholas saw a new tenacity and strength in Serafina's eyes. An aura different from the last time they met. An aura far more dangerous. "You're this bold? After everything that happened to you?"

"I'll never be afraid of you!" Serafina yelled. She adopted a fighting stance, ready to attack. "I'll fight you right here, right now! This is the end of your game, Nicholas Krause!"

Nicholas sighed. He genuinely didn't want to fight a woman, especially one whom Lord Gideon deemed beneath him. At least, that's what he had thought before. But seeing Serafina's gaze, he knew this was no longer the Serafina he had once dismissed. This was a different opponent.

"I don't have time for your revenge drama," Nicholas stated, trying to shut down the whole situation.

Serafina glared at Nicholas with utter disdain, feeling underestimated again. Suddenly, her hand darted out with lightning speed and agility. In a flash, she snatched the pendant Nicholas always wore—a silver locket with ancient engravings, a gift from his father.

"If you want this pendant," Serafina held the locket high, a cynical smirk playing on her lips. Her eyes dared Nicholas. "You'll have to take it from me."

Nicholas frowned. That locket was a precious heirloom he always carried. He couldn't let Serafina get away with it. "Give it back!" he commanded.

Serafina laughed, then turned and bolted, weaving through the bustling pedestrian crowd. Nicholas gave chase.

A fierce pursuit ensued. Serafina deployed the Fire Lion clan techniques she'd secretly mastered. Her kicks were powerful and precise, her punches swift. Nicholas had to admit, Serafina was far stronger than their last encounter. She was no longer just a dismissible girl.

They sparred and clashed along the city streets, which grew quieter as dusk approached. Nicholas attacked and parried, the locket occasionally gleaming in Serafina's hand, an invaluable bait. They navigated through markets, slipping between crowded vendor carts, leaping over trash heaps, hiding behind crumbling walls.

Nicholas saw an opportunity, trying to corner Serafina in a dead-end alley, but Serafina leaped high, using the wall as a foothold, vaulting over a tall fence.

Nicholas vaulted after her. At the same moment, he suddenly heard another sound. Heavy footsteps, not Serafina's. They weren't alone. Serafina heard the sound too; her face showed a flicker of confusion, then quickly turned to panic.

"Serafina! Stop!" a gruff voice roared.

Three burly men emerged from around the alley corner. They were Lord Gideon's guards, tasked with apprehending Serafina. They moved swiftly, surrounding Serafina.

"You've shamed the clan!" one of the guards yelled, lunging to grab Serafina. His movements were quick and targeted. "Your father ordered us to bring you home!"

Serafina growled. "In your dreams!" She tried to fight back, but three against one, even for Serafina who had reached the peak of her strength, was too much. Although she was tough, she was still a woman, and her physical strength had limits. She also let her guard down for a moment. The first guard managed to grab her wrist.

Nicholas watched Serafina fighting alone against three Fire Lion clan guards. He initially didn't want to get involved. This was their internal family matter, and he had no stake in it. Serafina was his enemy, one who had tried to hurt Isabella. Logically, Nicholas should have let them handle it, perhaps even used this moment to get his locket back and leave.

However, something in his code of ethics as a War General, as a man, resisted. Seeing a woman fighting unevenly against three armed men made Nicholas deeply uncomfortable.

"Enough!" Nicholas roared, his voice booming, ordering the guards to stop. He moved suddenly, darting towards the guards with incredible speed. He was like a hurricane, striking with devastating force. A swift kick, aimed squarely at one guard's head, sent him sprawling unconscious.

Nicholas gave him no quarter. He spun, locking the second guard's arm, then slammed him to the ground with deadly force.

The third guard tried to attack Nicholas from behind, swinging his fist. Nicholas easily dodged, caught his hand, and twisted it until the guard shrieked in pain, forced to release his grip. Nicholas let go of the guard, leaving him stumbling backward in agony.

Serafina was stunned. Her eyes widened, unable to believe what she was seeing. Nicholas, her enemy, the man she hated, now stood beside her, incapacitating her father's men in an instant.

"Why did you do that?"