THE GOD OF WAR'S RETURN: ADRIAN'S SECOND CHANCE

The path to blood and fire

The storm had passed.

Adrian stood among the ruins, watching the last streaks of lightning fade into the sky. His body still tingled...a reminder of the power now inside him.

He had no idea where he was.

No idea who, or what...had brought him back.

But he knew what he had to do.

Find his way back. Take back his throne.

The wind howled through the broken stone, carrying distant echoes. This place was old. Abandoned.

Then, a noise.

A rustling, faint but sharp. Something or someone was nearby.

Adrian’s body tensed. He turned, eyes scanning the ruins. A shadow moved.

“Who’s there?” His voice was steady and calm. Dangerous.

Silence.

Then, a figure stepped into view.

It was a man...no, a boy. Younger than Adrian. Thin, with messy dark hair and eyes too sharp for his age. His clothes were ragged, his boots barely holding together.

He had a knife in his hand.

A thief.

Adrian’s gaze flicked to his belt...nothing. No sword, no weapon.

The boy smirked, twirling the knife. “You lost, old man?”

Adrian almost laughed. Old man? He wasn’t even thirty.

Instead, he tilted his head, studying the boy. “Where am I?”

The boy raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t ask.”

The boy hesitated, as if deciding whether to answer. Then he sighed. “You’re in the Forsaken Lands.”

Adrian frowned. The Forsaken Lands? That name sounded familiar, but...

“How far from the capital?” he asked.

The boy snorted. “The capital? Try a hundred miles east.”

Adrian’s stomach twisted. A hundred miles? How had he ended up this far?

The boy flipped his knife lazily. “You’re not from around here, huh?”

Adrian didn’t reply. His mind was already working. He needed to move. If he was this far, Killian would think he was dead for sure.

Which meant...he had the advantage.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” The boy sighed. “Fine. I’ll make it easy...give me your boots, and I won’t stab you.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

The boy grinned. “What? A man’s gotta survive.”

Adrian moved.

Fast. Too fast.

Before the boy could react, Adrian’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.

The knife slipped from his grip and hit the ground.

The boy yelped, eyes going wide. “What the...”

Adrian squeezed just enough for him to feel it. Feel the strength.

“You’re a terrible thief,” Adrian said calmly.

The boy swallowed hard. “Okay, okay! Let go!”

Adrian did. The boy stumbled back, cradling his wrist. “Damn,” he muttered. “You’re strong.”

Adrian crouched, picking up the knife. “And you’re reckless.”

The boy huffed. “Whatever. You’re not dead, so I guess that means you’re lucky.”

Adrian studied him. A thief. A survivor.

Perhaps...useful.

He flipped the knife in his hand. “What’s your name?”

The boy hesitated, then muttered, “Kai.”

Adrian nodded. “You know these lands?”

Kai scoffed. “Course I do.”

“Then you’ll take me east.”

Kai blinked. “Wait...what?”

Adrian held out the knife. “You guide me, and you get this back.”

Kai stared at him, then at the knife. His lips pressed together, thinking.

Then he snatched it back with a sigh. “Fine. But if you get me killed, I’ll haunt you.”

Adrian smirked. “Deal.”

They walked through the ruins in silence. The sky remained cloudy, the air thick with the scent of rain.

Kai kept glancing at Adrian. Curious. Suspicious.

“You’re weird,” he finally said.

Adrian gave him a side glance. “Why?”

“You don’t act lost.” Kai kicked a rock. “Most people who wake up here either cry or run.”

“I don’t cry,” Adrian said simply.

Kai snorted. “Not yet.”

Adrian shook his head, scanning the land ahead. Something felt...off.

The silence was too deep. The air too still.

Then a whisper.

Soft. Not human.

Adrian stopped. His hand shot out, grabbing Kai’s arm.

“Hey...”

“Quiet,” Adrian murmured. Listening.

The whisper came again. Closer.

Then, movement.

The shadows between the ruins shifted. Shapes began to rise.

Dark. Unnatural.

Kai inhaled sharply. “Shit.”

Adrian’s heart pounded, his body already moving. “Run.”

Kai didn’t argue.

They sprinted, feet pounding against the wet earth. The creatures followed.

Whispers grew into hissing. Shapes blurred in the edges of Adrian’s vision...not human, not beast.

Adrian’s muscles burned, but he didn’t slow.

His mind was focused. His body was stronger now.

But was it strong enough?

Something lunged.

A flash of black. Clawed hands. Sharp teeth.

Adrian spun, grabbing a broken stone from the ground. He swung hard.

The creature shrieked. Bones cracked.

It broke apart into mist.

Adrian didn’t stop to think. “Move!”

Kai was ahead, panting. “What the hell are those?!”

Adrian didn’t know. But he knew one thing.

These creatures were hunting them.

And he wasn’t about to die again.