GOD OF WAR WITH POWERS

Chapter 9

But as the grandfather turned to bark orders at his men, something within Ethan stirred. His fingers curled into fists, and for the first time since his return, the dormant energy of his dragon ancestry began to awaken.

Felicia caught the subtle shift in Ethan's posture, but she had no idea what was coming. Her eyes flickered between him and the doorway where the guards were starting to pour in, their footsteps heavy and determined.

"Ethan," she whispered, her voice strained, "what’s happening? What are you going to do?"

Ethan didn’t reply, but his gaze never left the advancing guards. The moment they stepped into the room, something changed. The air grew thicker, charged with an unseen force, as if the very fabric of reality had shifted.

One of the guards, a burly man with a grim expression, reached for Felicia, but before he could get within arm’s reach, Ethan’s eyes flickered with an unnatural intensity.

"Stop!" Ethan’s voice rang out, more powerful than it had any right to be. The guards froze in their tracks, their bodies momentarily rigid, their eyes wide with confusion.

Felicia blinked, her gaze darting between Ethan and the guards. She didn’t understand what was happening, but she could feel something powerful emanating from him.

The burly guard tried to take another step, but he faltered, his body suddenly sluggish as if weighed down by an invisible force. His hand hovered mid-air, unable to move forward.

Ethan's eyes flashed as his powers began to surge.

"Leave her alone," Ethan’s voice was low but steady, the command laced with an authority that transcended mere words. His appraisal power, now fully activated, mapped every guard's vulnerabilities in an instant.

The burly guard’s hand dropped, his muscles trembling as if fighting against an invisible pressure. Ethan could see the man’s heart rate spike, the sweat beginning to form on his forehead as his body struggled to comply with the mental block.

"Something’s wrong!" another guard shouted, his voice panicked as he tried to pull his companion back. But it was too late. Ethan’s dragon god energy surged, vibrating through the air like an ancient call to arms.

"Everyone, stay back!" Ethan commanded, his voice no longer just a command but a pulse of energy that resonated with every word.

Felicia’s breath hitched as she felt the wave of power ripple through the room, washing over her. Her body hummed with a strange warmth, an energy that made her skin tingle. The guards seemed to stagger backward as if the air itself had become too thick to breathe.

Then, Ethan’s healing power, something that Felicia didn’t even fully understand, wrapped around her like a protective cocoon. It wasn’t just physical protection—it was as if every ounce of emotional and mental strain she had carried over the years was being neutralized, erased by an unseen force.

She felt lighter. Unburdened.

"Ethan, what’s happening?" she managed, her voice trembling.

Before he could respond, a sharp command from the grandfather broke the moment. “Grab her, now!” he ordered, his voice desperate and furious. He moved to take a step forward, but the air around him seemed to thicken.

The guards, seemingly unaware of the strange phenomenon unfolding, advanced once again. But their movements were now disjointed, slow, as if they were wading through thick mud. Their eyes glazed over, their bodies heavy with an invisible weight.

Felicia’s heart pounded as she realized what was happening.

Ethan’s powers were holding them back. His influence over the room, over their very movements, was undeniable.

As the guards struggled, Ethan’s men entered through the door. Their steps were smooth, synchronized, and unnatural in their precision. They moved with a fluid grace that was nothing short of supernatural, their bodies in perfect harmony with each other.

Felicia watched in awe as they advanced on the guards, their movements impossibly quick and efficient. Every strike seemed to land with purpose, incapacitating each of the intruders with a single, well-placed blow. It was as if they knew exactly where each guard was vulnerable—where to strike to neutralize them with the least amount of effort.

Ethan’s presence in the room became like a magnetic force, pulling everything into perfect alignment. His dragon ancestry guided his men, and they responded with a fluidity that bordered on the unreal. It was as though the entire situation had been choreographed, every movement falling into place as if by design.

The guards were falling one by one, their bodies dropping to the floor in an almost graceful manner. Each of Ethan’s men was a blur of movement, too fast for anyone to follow, their actions precise and deliberate.

Felicia could hardly believe what she was seeing. She had always known Ethan to be powerful, but this… this was something entirely different. His power was undeniable, overwhelming in its force. And yet, he wielded it with such calmness, such control, that it was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"Get them out of here," Ethan’s voice rang out, commanding. His gaze never wavered as his men continued their work, disabling the last of the guards with swift precision.

Felicia’s feet were already moving before she realized it. She found herself being guided toward the door by one of Ethan’s men, his presence strong and steady. The world outside seemed to blur as she was ushered out, her heart still pounding in her chest.

As she stepped into the hallway, she felt the weight of the moment settle over her. The tension, the fear, the uncertainty—it was all gone. Ethan had neutralized it all, not just physically but energetically. He had created a shield, a barrier of power that was unshakable.

The door slammed shut behind her, sealing off the chaos within the room.

"Ethan," she whispered, almost breathless. "What just happened?"

Ethan turned toward her, his expression unreadable. His eyes gleamed with an intensity that both unsettled and reassured her.

"We’re not safe yet," he said, his voice low, though it held a note of finality. "But we will be."