From Rags to God of War

Burning Vengeance

Nicholas wasted no time. His trained senses quickly picked up the faint footprints. A trained soldier would leave nearly invisible tracks, but Nicholas wasn't just a soldier. He was a master hunter.

The tracks led Nicholas through narrow alleys, deep into the city's lengthening shadows. The streets grew quieter and darker; city lights flickered out one by one, replaced by profound darkness.

Finally, in a completely silent corner of the city, unlit and far from the bustle, the trail ended. A slender silhouette stood in the darkness, waiting for him. It was a girl with long hair tied high, dressed all in black, holding two pistols.

Nicholas stepped forward, the faint moonlight illuminating the figure. Her face was beautiful, yet radiated fierceness and determination.

"I knew you'd come after me," the girl said, satisfied. "And now you're here. Finally, I can avenge my brother's death."

"Seraphina," Nicholas said, recognizing the name Martin had mentioned. He looked at the girl, his eyes sharp. "I won't do anything to you. Just explain why you tried to harm Isabella. She has nothing to do with this."

"Nothing to do with it?" Seraphina laughed cynically, her voice sounding hollow in the silence. "She's your wife! And you're my brother's killer! Do you think I'd let you live in peace, let alone happiness, after taking Don's life?!"

"One death, Seraphina," Nicholas sneered, his expression firm. "That should be enough to stop this vendetta. Why are you so determined to disrupt other people's lives?"

"One death?" Seraphina shot back, stepping forward. "One death *from you*, Nicholas Krause, would be enough! Or better yet, both your death and your wife's! You killed the King of Death. How could I possibly let the person who killed my brother live in peace and happiness?"

She raised one of her pistols. "I am Seraphina. I will become the leader of the Fire Lion clan if I succeed in killing you."

Nicholas scoffed at Seraphina. He looked at her expressionlessly, then said, "The Fire Lion clan? As far as I know, they've never been led by a woman. You'd better bury that dream right away." Nicholas spit lightly to the side. "You'll only end up like your brother."

Nicholas's words struck Seraphina's heart. Her face flushed red, not just from the cold night, but from pure rage. She felt belittled, insulted. Seraphina's eyes burned with hatred.

"You think I'm that weak?" Seraphina snapped, her voice carrying a burning anger. "I'll show you! All the martial arts I've secretly learned for twenty years will end your life!"

Without waiting for a response, Seraphina launched her attack. Her movements were aggressive and swift, a deadly combination of unarmed combat and firearm expertise. She darted forward, swinging her feet and hands with lethal precision. She didn't just rely on her pistols, but also on body movements trained for close-quarters fighting.

Nicholas had never actually intended to fight a woman, especially not for a personal vendetta like this. He felt in his heart that this was an unnecessary fight. But Seraphina attacked with all her might, intending to kill him. That intention was clear in her eyes. Nicholas could only defend himself. He dodged every deadly kick and fierce punch. He read Seraphina's every move, analyzed her patterns, and blocked every attack without retaliating.

Seraphina saw Nicholas only defending, as if he were looking down on her. Her anger intensified. She jumped back, creating distance. Then, in a steady stance, she aimed both her pistols at Nicholas and fired a volley of bullets.

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

The sound of gunshots shattered the night's silence.

Nicholas moved with lightning speed. He weaved, rolled, and leaped. The bullets only whizzed through empty air or punctured the old wall behind him, leaving small holes. With a movement almost imperceptible, Nicholas kicked the ground swiftly, sending small pebbles scattering towards Seraphina. That diversionary attack was quite effective. One of Seraphina's pistols flew from her hand, clattering to the ground with a metallic clang.

However, Seraphina didn't give up. She held her remaining pistol firmly and immediately aimed it at Nicholas's chest.

"Die!" Seraphina screamed, her eyes full of vengeance.

Nicholas dodged to the side, but the bullet flew too fast. He felt a burning sting in his left arm. The bullet pierced his jacket fabric and grazed his skin, leaving a long scratch that bled fresh blood. Nicholas clutched his injured left arm, blood beginning to seep out. He felt the pain, but it didn't break his focus. He kept fighting.

Now, Nicholas would no longer show Seraphina mercy. A red line had been crossed. The game was over.

Nicholas's expression turned cold and merciless. He moved. This time, he wasn't just defending, but attacking with full force. A devastating blow struck Seraphina's stomach. Nicholas no longer held back. This counter-attack was the result of Nicholas's true power. All this time, Seraphina had only experienced a fraction of Nicholas's strength, only controlled passive defense.

Seraphina reeled, her body trembling violently. She tried to retaliate, but her every movement felt slow and clumsy compared to Nicholas's speed.

Nicholas launched a spinning kick to the side of her head, followed by an elbow strike to her solar plexus. The rapid, deadly barrage of attacks shattered Seraphina's defenses in an instant.

Seraphina, who was initially arrogant, now tasted a bitter defeat she couldn't even imagine.

Seraphina's body crashed to the ground, hitting hard. Thick blood spilled from her mouth. She coughed, writhing in pain that spread throughout her body. She had many wounds on her body, bruises here and there, her bones felt crushed. She couldn't even get up; her body was completely paralyzed by pain.

Nicholas stood tall above her, his shadow covering Seraphina's prostrate body. His face was flat, showing no triumph.

"Get out of here," Nicholas said, his voice low and threatening. "Never appear before me again. I won't kill a woman, but don't ever try to threaten my family again. You've been warned."

Seraphina looked at Nicholas with eyes full of hatred and deep shame. She, the prospective leader of Fire Lion, was defeated this easily, unable to even seriously wound Nicholas. She vomited blood again, pain coursing through her body. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the burning shame in her heart.

She gave a faint, vengeful smile. Nicholas might underestimate her, Nicholas might not kill her. But this defeat actually ignited something darker within her. The feeling of being belittled by Nicholas, coupled with the crushing defeat, transformed her physical wounds into burning embers in her chest. Her vengeance intensified.

"You'll regret letting me live," Seraphina muttered. "I'll be back. And then, I'll come with help. You won't be able to face all of this alone, Nicholas Krause. I'll make sure of it!" She swore.