WAR GOD : Rise After Betrayal

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“You said you couldn’t fight! But what was that just now?” Elara repeated her question.

Her words hung in the air. The car kept moving, the sound of the engine steady, as if nothing had happened a few minutes earlier.

Ares glanced at her briefly, then returned his gaze to the road ahead. He scratched the back of his neck slowly. He was genuinely confused about what he should say.

“I… honestly don’t know how to answer that,” he said truthfully. “That was probably just a reflex.”

Elara stared at him for quite a while. “What did you say? Just a reflex?”

“Yes,” Ares replied quietly. “I don’t even remember how I moved against them. It sounds ridiculous, but that’s the truth.”

Elara did not respond immediately. She leaned back against her seat and looked out the window. Her face looked calm, but her eyes clearly held many questions.

Tom, who was driving, glanced at them through the rearview mirror. “Forgive me, Miss Elara,” he said cautiously, “but that didn’t look like a reflex. It seems Ares is actually very good at fighting.”

Ares immediately shook his head. “No, Mr. Tom. I truly can’t fight. What happened earlier was probably… a coincidence. I’m telling the truth.”

“A coincidence?” Tom raised an eyebrow. “You took down three grown men in seconds. And you still deny that it was anything more than coincidence?”

Ares fell silent. His fingers interlaced on his lap. He was truly confused.

Elara finally spoke again. “Ares, you don’t need to hide anything from me. You should tell me honestly—who are you really?”

Ares let out a short breath. “Miss Elara, I really have told you the truth. I’m just an ordinary person. If I were someone great, there’s no way I would have been discarded like trash by my ex-wife.”

Elara nodded slowly. “Alright. Fine.” She was tired and didn’t want to discuss it any further.

The car fell silent again. No one continued the topic.

Not long after, the gates of the Cole mansion opened automatically. The car entered slowly. The garden lights turned on, illuminating the vast grounds that now felt quieter than usual.

As soon as the car stopped, Elara stepped out first.

“Tom,” she said firmly, “tighten the security.”

Tom nodded without asking further questions. “At all points, Miss Elara?”

“Yes, at all points,” Elara replied. “Add night patrols and recheck the camera system.”

“Understood, Miss.”

Ares stepped out as well and stood beside Elara. He glanced around instinctively. The air felt different.

Elara turned to him. “Go inside first.”

Ares nodded and followed Elara into the mansion.

Once the door closed, Elara stopped walking. “Tom.”

“Yes, Miss?”

“Cancel the martial arts instructor,” Elara said briefly.

Tom looked slightly surprised. “Cancel?”

“Yes,” Elara replied. “It doesn’t seem necessary.”

Tom glanced briefly at Ares, then looked back at Elara. “Very well.”

Ares immediately shook his head slightly. “Miss, that’s not necessary, because I can’t fight.”

Elara looked at him. “That’s what you think. In reality, you’re very skilled.”

Ares smiled awkwardly. “I don’t want you to misunderstand.”

Elara didn’t answer. She simply walked deeper into the house.

Ares followed her, but as he crossed the threshold of the living room, his steps slowed. His vision blurred for a moment.

He closed his eyes. A brief image appeared—Elara standing alone. Dim light. Someone lurking in the distance. A flash of murderous intent. And blood spilling.

Ares opened his eyes, his breath caught in his throat.

“Ares?”

He turned quickly. Elara stood a few steps ahead of him.

“Are you alright?” Elara asked.

Ares nodded quickly. “Yes. Sorry. I’m just a little tired.”

Elara studied his face, then nodded. “Get some rest.”

Ares let out a quiet breath of relief. He chose to stay silent.

Inside his chest, something pulsed faintly. Stronger than usual. But Ares didn’t realize it.

That night, the atmosphere in the mansion felt unusually quiet. Security was noticeably tighter. Several guards patrolled the grounds.

Ares sat alone in the guest room. The desk lamp cast a dim light. He stared at his own hands.

“Why does it feel like this,” he murmured softly.

He massaged his temples, trying to dispel the discomfort that had lingered since he was discarded by his ex-wife.

Outside the room, footsteps approached.

Knock.

Knock.

“Ares?”

Elara’s voice came from behind the door.

“You can come in, Miss,” Ares replied.

Elara opened the door and entered. She was no longer wearing her work attire. Just simple home clothes.

“You’re not asleep yet?” she asked.

“Not yet,” Ares answered. “I’m still thinking.”

“About what happened earlier?” Elara asked.

Ares nodded. “And about that meeting.”

Elara smiled faintly. “You know, what you did today was not something small.”

“I only spoke,” Ares replied quickly. “Anyone could have done that.”

Elara looked at him directly. “No. Not everyone dares to speak like that in a meeting room.”

Ares lowered his gaze. “Maybe I was just lucky.”

Elara fell silent for a few seconds. “Ares, you belittle yourself too often.”

Ares gave a small smile. “Because that’s the reality. And one more thing.”

Ares looked up. “Yes?”

“From now on, you’ll always stay close to me,” Elara said calmly. “Not just as an assistant.”

Ares froze. “As what?”

Elara looked at him for a moment. “As someone I can trust.”

Ares sat motionless. Inside his chest, the seal pulsed even more strongly. The cracks became clearer. But Ares still didn’t realize it. He only let out a long breath.

“Hopefully… everything will be fine,” he murmured.

“Hopefully I won’t disappoint Miss Elara,” Ares said in his heart.