Chapter 1: Triumphant Homecoming
1405 Words
On the southwestern frontier, atop a towering mountain peak.
The pristine snow, once a symbol of purity, is now stained crimson by fresh blood. Under the first light of dawn, it radiates an eerie red glow.
After a night of relentless combat, all adversaries have been vanquished!
The battlefield, strewn with enemy corpses, stands as a silent testament to this fierce encounter.
Everett Luminar, standing tall on the summit, gazes at his loyal men and declares in a resonant voice, "Victory will forever be ours!"
"Marshal Luminar, Apollo Dragonbane!"
"Marshal Luminar, Apollo Dragonbane!"
His men echo back, their voices ringing out with unyielding spirit.
At this moment, one of Luminar's men rushes forward, salutes crisply, and reports, "Marshal Luminar, the distress signal you received has been traced. It was activated by the only daughter of Ares Dominator!"
"What? The sole heiress of Ares Dominator?" Luminar's eyes widen in surprise and anger, "She should be living a life of luxury, why would she send out a distress signal?"
"Marshal Luminar, we don't have detailed information yet."
"No details? Then I must return immediately!" Luminar announces solemnly, before leaping off the peak.
Like a hawk swooping down on its prey, Luminar descends the mountain with breathtaking speed.
……
Oceanview City!
Air raid sirens wail!
Streets are deserted!
Everyone is left guessing what could have happened!
But there are no concrete answers.
Only a select few among the city's elite know that a significant figure has made an early return!
He, with his iron fists, has defeated all formidable opponents!
He, who commands the world's most advanced technology!
Born in the West, he is revered as Apollo Dragonbane.
Originally scheduled to return next month, he was to donate his vehicle, the world's most advanced Dragonfire Striker, to the nation!
Therefore, even before his return, he was appointed as The Divine Marshal!
But now, without any warning, he has made an unexpected return!
Airport!
A plane descends slowly onto the tarmac.
Luminar disembarks, striding briskly across the runway.
"Marshal!" The four war gods salute in unison, followed by countless armed men also saluting.
Every face is alight with excitement and fervor!
He is not just a myth.
He is a legend.
Having the chance to see him is inevitably thrilling and electrifying!
Without breaking stride, Luminar tosses a hard drive to Typhon, saying, "All research data of the Dragonfire Striker!"
Typhon catches the hard drive, clutching it tightly to his chest!
This is the research data of the world's most advanced Dragonfire Striker. Its value cannot be measured in money, for leading in technology is the foundation of everything!
The air is filled with the familiar scent of home!
Luminar's thoughts drift back to a few years ago.
It was the engagement banquet of Everett Luminar and his fiancée, Eira Whitlock!
With guests filling the room, Luminar was expelled from the Luminar Family for "misconduct and stealing the family's research results", and his hands were crippled.
A great humiliation!
However, Eira stood by him, insisting on their engagement!
Luminar, with his bloody hands, swore to the heavens that when he returned to Oceanview City, it would be the time for him to reclaim everything that belonged to him from the Luminar Family, and also the time for him to marry Eira!
As he thinks of this, a potent killing intent emanates from Luminar.
Everyone shivers, sensing the intense murderous aura that only those who have walked through a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood could possess!
"Car keys!" Luminar takes a deep breath and extends his hand to Chthonius.
Chthonius obediently hands over the car keys.
A military jeep is driven by Luminar at supercar speed.
While driving, Luminar occasionally glances at the locator on his wrist, accurately arriving outside a villa complex.
From the airport to the villa complex, tens of kilometers away, Luminar took less than ten minutes. Chthonius and their convoy were left far behind.
The security guard at the entrance of the villa complex originally wanted to stop Luminar, but when he saw the armed convoy arrive, he stood still, not daring to move.
Luminar strides into the villa complex, moving in the direction indicated by the locator.
In the shadow of a grand villa, a petite figure was bound to the stone lion guarding the entrance. The girl, Stella Sanchez, no more than five or six years old, was dressed in tattered clothes. A woman in her forties, Emma, overweight and wielding a rattan stick, struck Stella's leg with a harsh "snap", leaving a crimson streak on her porcelain skin.
Stella's cry pierced the air, a haunting echo of pain and despair.
"Let's see if you dare to flee again!"Emma, the rotund woman, barked.
A lounge chair was positioned at the villa's entrance. A young woman reclined on it, lazily swinging the chair and soaking up the sun. She spoke with a chilling indifference, "Emma, make sure she feels it. Let her remember this lesson! Her father is gone, and the Ares Group is entirely mine now. She's no longer a little princess!"
"I've always despised this brat!" Emma spat out, raising her rattan stick for another blow.
But the stick froze mid-air.
Everett Luminar had seized it.
As Emma spun around, Everett slapped her across the face.
With a resounding "crack", Emma crumpled to the ground, blood trickling from her mouth!
The sudden turn of events jolted the woman on the lounge chair. She sat upright and demanded, "Who are you to interfere in the affairs of the Sanchez family?"
"Bella Rivera, you may not recognize me, but I know you!" Everett retorted icily. He moved towards Stella, untied the rope binding her, and lifted her into his arms.
"Stella, don't worry. With me here, no one can harm you," Everett whispered soothingly.
Stella Sanchez!
The only child of Ares Dominator, whose wife died from postpartum complications. To better care for his daughter and assist Everett, Ares remarried Bella Rivera.
In gratitude to Ares, Everett invested in the establishment of the Ares Group. While Ares was working overseas with Everett, he entrusted the management of the Ares Group to Bella.
Tragically, Ares fell in battle!
As Ares' wife, Bella was the first to receive the news. Yet, she seized control of the Ares Group and tormented Stella after his death.
This just proves the old adage: a wolf in sheep's clothing cannot hide its true nature forever!
"Are you here to rescue me?" Stella asked Everett.
"Yes!" Everett affirmed solemnly.
"Ares is dead, and I am her only guardian!" Bella stood abruptly, her voice harsh, "You have no say in the affairs of the Sanchez family!"
Everett turned to face Bella, his eyes aflame with rage and determination.
Despicable woman, tormenting Stella and daring to claim herself as a member of the Sanchez family!
Everett kicked her back onto the lounge chair, pulled out a document, and tossed it at Bella. "Open your eyes and read this!"
A will!
The last testament of Ares Dominator!
It clearly stated that Stella was the sole heir to the Ares Group and appointed Everett as her only guardian.
Furthermore!
The will also stipulated that if Bella treated Stella as her own, she would receive ten million in cash and could find another match. If Bella abused Stella, the previous clause would be nullified.
Clearly, Ares had seen through Bella while he was still alive.
"It's fake, this is fake!" After reading it, Bella tore the will into shreds in a frenzy.
"This is a copy. Tear it up if you want!" Everett said coldly. "The original has been given to the lawyer. I'll spare your life for the sake of your marriage to Ares. Now get out!"
"Everett Luminar, I'll remember this. This isn't over!" Bella spat out, stumbling away.
The Four War Gods had been filming as evidence. Seeing Bella leave, they all looked at Everett.
Everett waved his hand, signaling them to let Bella go. Only then did the Four War Gods step aside.
"Chthonius, how's the investigation I asked you to do?" Everett asked after Bella left.
"Marshal, your fiancée has had a hard time these past few years," Chthonius replied quietly.
"What I owe her, I need a lifetime to repay!" After saying this, Everett carried Stella into the villa and said, "Stella, let's go home!"
However, Stella suddenly burst into tears and struggled to break free from Everett's embrace...
- Writer
