War God’s Last Stand

Chapter 5 — The Awakening

The soft hum of machines and the faint hiss of oxygen filled the room as Damon’s eyes snapped open.

White steel walls. Seamless panels. A low-blue glow from the interface screens.

The Iron Legion’s Medical Bay. Outside Earth’s orbit. Safe… but only for now.

Panic surged through Damon’s chest as fragmented memories crashed back, the Coalition strike, Ravik’s face, Selene’s scream.

Damon shoved the covers aside, scrambling to sit up. Pain exploded across his ribs, his limbs heavy like dead weight.

“Selene!” His voice cracked through the sterile space.

A nurse in a dark Legion uniform rushed to his side, datapad in hand. “Sovereign, you need to stay down.”

“Where is Selene?” Damon growled, his hands trembling as he tried to swing his legs off the bed. His body protested with sharp agony, old injuries throbbing beneath the skin. His legs remained limp, useless beneath him—but he kept trying.

“Please, sir, you’ve—”

The door hissed open with a sharp pressurised sound.

Dimitri strode in, tall and composed in tactical gear, dark rings under his eyes. His hand rose, silencing the nurse instantly.

“Sovereign,” Dimitri addressed, his voice firm but respectful. “Calm down.”

“Where is she?” Damon demanded, voice cutting through the room.

“She’s at the estate,” Dimitri answered, his expression controlled.

At the house. Exposed.

Damon’s pulse spiked, his body twisting, ignoring the agony as he tried to force himself upright again.

But Dimitri moved fast, his grip landing on Damon’s shoulder, keeping him steady. “Easy,” he said. “Everything is under control. Selene is safe. Legionnaires are stationed around the perimeter, twenty-four-hour watch.”

Damon’s muscles tensed—but the edge of panic dulled slightly.

He sagged back into the bed, chest heaving.

Dimitri’s eyes swept over him, scanning the monitors before speaking lower. “You suffered fractured ribs. Deep internal bruising. You shouldn’t even be sitting up.”

Damon’s jaw tightened. “How long was I out?”

“Two days,” Dimitri replied evenly. “You’ve been unconscious for two days, Sovereign.”

Damon’s mind raced. His fingers curled into fists.

“I didn’t even walk publicly,” Damon muttered. “I’ve been buried for three years, how the hell did they know I’m alive?”

Dimitri’s expression darkened, the faintest trace of frustration beneath his professional calm. “We’re still investigating,” he admitted. “But somehow… the Coalition got wind of your survival. They struck the moment the opportunity presented itself.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed. His pulse slowed to a deadly calm.

“Someone’s talking,” Damon said under his breath.

Dimitri nodded once. “The Legion’s already working to find the leak. We have Ravik under pressure and it won’t be long until he breaks.”

Damon leaned back, eyes sharp despite the pain. “Make it quick.”

Dimitri’s jaw set with quiet resolve. “We will, Sovereign,” he replied firmly. “But in the meantime, you need to remain here until you’re completely healed.”

But Damon didn’t agree. His jaw clenched as he shook his head. “I need to be up on my feet and back at the estate as soon as possible to protect Selene before the Coalition sends someone deadlier.”

“Sovereign?”

Damon’s eyes narrowed, jaw clenching. “That’s not an option, it’s a command.”

Dimitri hesitated, then straightened. “In that case, I’ll have a full medical team follow you back to the estate.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Damon said sharply. “It’ll only draw attention.”

Four hours later…

Damon’s wheelchair rolled quietly along the damaged street leading to the estate. The city still bore the scars of the Coalition’s attack. Rubble lined the sidewalks, broken glass glittered under the pale sunlight, and construction crews worked tirelessly to patch the chaos together.

His jaw tightened as he rolled past workers hammering beams and clearing debris. His body still ached, but his mind was focused on Selene. She was all that mattered.

Damon reached the estate and knocked gently on the door.

It creaked open.

Inside, Lucien stood, towering over Selene, his voice sharp with threat.

“You think you have an edge now after that little courtroom stunt?” Lucien barked, his face twisted with rage. “I’m warning you, Selene. Withdraw that countersuit, or I’ll deal with you myself.”

Selene’s voice shook slightly, but her stance was firm. “Please, Lucien. Leave my house. I’ve already called the cops. They’ll be here any minute.”

At that moment, Lucien turned and his eyes landed on Damon at the doorway.

A slow, cruel smile stretched across Lucien’s face, followed by a burst of mocking laughter. “Look who’s back from the grave,” Lucien sneered. “I thought you’d be one of the casualties from the courthouse… guess cockroaches like you always crawl back.”

He stepped closer, clapping his hands sarcastically, towering over Damon. “Must be nice, getting pushed around all day. Can’t protect your wife, can’t defend yourself… Tell me, Damon, how does it feel being the cripple everyone pities?”

Damon said nothing, his hands tight on the wheelchair armrests, eyes cold but silent.

Lucien’s grin widened as he tapped Damon’s shoulder lightly. “Just try not to get in the way when real men handle business,” he whispered, then strutted out, laughing to himself as he vanished down the driveway.

The door slammed shut, and the room fell into heavy silence.

Selene still had that look of disdain, her eyes hard as steel. “What are you still doing here?” she snapped. “I told you we’re done.”

“Selene, I”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses,” she cut him off coldly. “Your helplessness… It disgusts me, Damon. How can I be married to someone who can’t even protect himself, let alone me?”

Her words were knives, sharp and merciless.

Damon’s throat tightened, his pride stung, but his voice stayed calm. “Selene… I don’t have anywhere else to go. Please… let me in.”

She folded her arms, her expression unreadable. “I’ll only let you in to sign the divorce papers,” she said flatly. “Maybe you can stay a few minutes… till you figure yourself out. After that, I’m calling the cops.”

Her stare burned into him.

“Is that clear?” she asked sharply.

Damon nodded once, hiding the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior. “Crystal.”