The Lost God of War Returned

Curtis Fox drew in a long breath as the towering building came into view.

Feather Hospital Center.

“Finally,” he murmured with a smile tugging at his lips. “Six months away for duty, and here it is again. My wife must’ve worked hard to keep everything running. I can’t wait to see her.”

His steps grew lighter the closer he came. The weight of his rucksack pressed against his shoulders and his uniform still neat from deployment.

The moment he stepped into the lobby, the welcome he’d expected never came.

Instead, only fleeting glances. Eyes that flicked over him, cold and sharp, as if measuring his worth and finding nothing of value. Snickers rose and fell behind his back.

“There he is—the useless husband.”

“Bet he’s back to beg our boss for money to waste on drinking again.”

“A soldier with no real skills. Retired already? What else can he do but kill?”

Curtis kept walking, his expression steady, as though their words never reached him. But his pace quickened, pulled forward by the thought of his wife.

He only wanted to see Lynn. That was enough.

Yet when he opened her office door, the room lay in silence. Empty. Dark.

“If you’re looking for Boss Lynn,” a janitor muttered while passing by, “she left hours ago.”

Curtis turned sharply as he asked, “Do you know where she went?”

The janitor’s smirk widened, cruel amusement glinting in his eyes. “Husband, huh? You might want to double-check that title. She’s at Seraine Capital Hall, smiling for Matthew Corporation’s big show. Cameras flashing, champagne flowing. And you’re not even invited. Almost feels like she’s embarrassed to be seen with you.”

He walked off, his mop trailing after him.

Curtis ignored him and hummed, “Maybe I should call her.”

One ring. Two. Three.

No answer.

“Strange,” he muttered, lowering the phone. “She never mentioned this event. Not once. Did she forget I was coming home today?”

Seraine Capital Hall. That name echoed in his mind.

“Hopefully,” he whispered, “I’m not too late.”

He clenched his jaw, shouldering his bag once more, then walked casually, unaware of the figure darting toward him from the side.

WHAM!

Out of nowhere, a girl’s body slammed into him.

He shifted his weight in a split second, feet bracing, knees bending, just enough to stop himself from being knocked over.

“AAAHHH!”

Unfortunately, the girl rebounded off his chest like a rubber ball as her body thrown back nearly a meter.

She didn’t stop. Her momentum carried her dangerously close to the staircase behind her.

One more step, and she'd go tumbling down.

At the crucial moment, Curtis didn’t even think. He knows he got to move as fast as possible.

In an instant, his legs curled and released like a spring. Flying, his body soared high and fast. He covered two meters in one breath!

Curtis caught her mid-fall, one arm around her back, the other gripping her wrist; they’re just inches from the edge.

Her body trembled slightly in his arms.

“Are you okay?” Curtis asked her, never answered.

He looked down at her face, half-covered by a mask and a low-sitting baseball cap. A complete disguise.

But those eyes…

Bright, fierce, blue.

It’s way too familiar for him.

She stared back at him, dazed and lost. Almost like she'd seen a ghost.

“Ow, ow... sorry!” she blurted, snapping back to reality. “I know I screwed up, but there’s a freak chasing me!” she blurted, breathless. “He’s got five bodyguards with him and they’re all armed. I have to go now.”

Curtis kept staring into her eyes, barely hearing the words. Almost without thinking, his hand moved on its own and brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek.

Startled, the girl smacked his hand away. “What the hell? Watch where you’re putting those hands!”

She stood up, trying to leave right away, assuming Curtis was just another creep, but he caught her wrist before she could get far.

He spoke fast, “You… Serena? The girl from Drovinks. Do you remember me?”

She paused, trying to get a better look at him.

“Have we met before?” she asked.

Ten years was a long time. There was no way she’d still remember him.

“If we’ve met before... then please, marry me. Right now.” Serena’s voice cracked. Tears pooled in her eyes, shimmering under the hallway lights. “I know it’s heard crazy. But…Please... It’s the only way I could survive.”

Curtis stood frozen. His mind stalled.

This wasn’t a joke.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small ring box—real, solid. Not a prank.

Then, she ripped off her mask and tossed her cap to the ground.

“Look at me! I’m pretty, I’m healthy, I can cook and clean for you. I swear I can make your life better and happier.” Her voice was falling apart. “You won’t regret having a wife like me. Please…”

Curtis shook his head fast. “I can’t return your favor like this. Just explain to me what’s happening.”

“I just asked you one thing. One simple thing.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “If I don’t get a husband now... I’ll be forced to marry him. I can’t do it. I can’t live my life in his hands. I’d rather die!”

At that moment, Curtis spotted a group of men rushing toward them.

His combat instincts kicked in immediately.

“They’re after you?” Curtis asked quietly.

Serena gave a small nod.

“Got it,” he said.

There’s six of them. One stood in front wearing a white suit, face flushed red—the main one chasing Serena.

Curtis stepped in front of Serena, shielding her.

“Stay behind me,” he whispered.

“You’re helping me?” Serena stammered, a bit confused when she asked, “so... we’re getting married?”

“No. We’re not,” Curtis replied. “But I still owe you a piece of bread and a cup of warm tea from ten years ago.”

Serena didn’t really get it, but didn’t question either.

The man in the white suit stopped before them. Chuckled, he says, “Oh? Trying to play hero?”

“Let her go,” Curtis said coolly.

“Oh, why should I?” the man laughed hard. “I’m Jack Wilson, first son of the Nine Dragon Alliance leader. What should I fear from a young armless soldier?”

Curtis gave a faint smile. “You’re going to regret this.”

“Another stubborn idiot,” Jack sneered. “The Nine Dragon Alliance works under the Fox Company—the biggest military corporation in the world. No one can stop us.”

Curtis kept smiling as he replied, “Then hear this. I swear, in the name of the chairman of Fox Company... the Nine Dragons are no longer under Fox Company protection.”

Jack’s body jolted with rage. “You… How dare you swear in the name of King Fox?!”

“I fear no man,” Curtis said flatly.

Jack put his finger at Curtis. His face completely red. Then he commanded his man, “Get him, boys. Teach this hero a lesson.”

His five bodyguards closed in, forming a ring around Curtis. Their eyes dripping with contempt. One of them shot a punch straight for Curtis’s throat. It was fast, precise, honed by years of training.

But Curtis hadn’t earned the name God of War for nothing.

SWOOSH!

He shifted just enough. The punch sliced through empty air past his ear.

“Huh?”

Before his attacker could even think about the miss, Curtis struck a lightning blow to the back of his neck.

BAM!

The man crumpled to the floor. Unconscious. His eyes widened with terror.

“Next?” Curtis growled.

The remaining four weren’t idiots. Seeing Curtis’s stance, they realized he had a lot of battle experience. They agreed to attack him at once.

But even four at once weren’t enough to stop Curtis.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAAM!

Bodies slammed to the floor, one after another, all within the blink of an eye.

Jack Wilson trembled as he stared at the wreckage. The fear hit so hard he pissed his pants with a pungent stench.

“I–I’m Jack Wilson! My father leads the Nine Dragons! You wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me!” he stammered.

“And why should I?” Curtis shot back with a grin. “Your so called nine dragons are nothing but little rats in my eyes. I’ve never feared them.”

He punched Jack’s face, sending him unconscious.

Curtis turned to Serena, who stood frozen in shock.

“Debt’s paid,” he said quietly, already walking away. “Whatever happens next... don’t come looking for me.”

“Wait!” Serena called after him. “What’s your name?”

He paused without turning back. “You can still call me the Lapdog from Drovinks.”

Then he disappeared.

Serena stood there alone. Dazed.

“The Lapdog from Drovinks?”

Suddenly, it clicked. Her eyes widened.

“He… he’s that boy!”

At that moment, an old man appeared at the far end of the corridor. Limping and bruised, blood dripping from his nose. Fresh from a fight. He spotted Serena and rushed over.

“Miss Swan, are you hurt?” His voice trembled with relief. “Forgive me… I failed to protect you.”

Serena didn’t answer him, she had her own question.

“Did you see a young soldier a moment ago?”

“I think I did, Miss. He walked right past me, looked in a hurry. Was he with these thugs?”

Serena quickly shook her head. “Find him no matter what! The Swan family owes him our lives.”

Thomas nodded, then reminded her, “Absolutely, Miss, but I have to get you to your father right now. He still thinks something terrible happened to you. If he doesn’t see you in thirty minutes, he’ll attack the Nine Dragon Alliance with everything he’s got. We need to stop that war.”

Serena bit her lip. She wanted to chase her hero, but stopping a war was more important.

“Okay,” she said. “But once I’m safe, I want every guard searching for him. He’s the boy.”

Thomas frowned. “The boy? The one you’ve been looking for these past ten years? It feels almost impossible. Wasn’t the last time you saw him in Drovinks?

“I wanted to ask him those questions,” Serena whispered. “I’m glad he survived the war. After that accident—when he killed hundreds of enemy soldiers—his head became a valuable prize. Everyone has called him the God of War from Drovinks ever since; he’s a hero to our land. He was my hero.”

“But he vanished right after saving me. Thomas, I just can’t lose him again.”

Thomas nodded, serious. “I’ll put every man we have on it, Miss.”