Marcus Kane remained seated in the far corner of the grand banquet hall, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable as he ignored the gossip from mere mortals, "In no time, the divine curse will begin to take effect," he mused with dark amusement.
The sounds of clinking glasses, polite but restrained laughter, and classical music filled the space once again, as if the earlier tension had lightened up a bit but it hadn't, It simply waited in the shadows.
The ceremony was about to begin.
A white aisle had been hastily rolled out between the tables, and the guests took their seats, murmuring excitedly as Sophia Chen, radiant in a gown of shimmering silk, walked gracefully toward the small stage where Victor Blackwood stood tall beside the priest, his arrogant smile still intact, his eyes flicking occasionally toward Marcus, as though to confirm that Marcus was watching his victory.
Marcus didn't move. He barely blinked, in fact, he looked bored. The divine curse had already taken root, it was left for the physical manifestation.
Victor's smug expression faltered for a fraction of a second. He shifted his weight, pressing a hand to his chest as if something in his chest had gone tight. The priest welcomed the guests and began to speak, but Victor wasn't listening. Sweat gathered at his temple and his jaw clenched.
Marcus watched in amusement. That's the price to pay when mortals mess with divinity. He said to himself.
Sophia turned to Victor, her face glowing with triumph. "Are you ready?" she whispered, not noticing the change in his expression.
Victor opened his mouth to respond, and suddenly choked.
It began with a cough, it was sharp and sudden, then another. Victor Blackwood forced out a smile to assure the guests that he was fine, but the coughs became rougher and his whole body jerked with each one.
Curious guests leaned forward to have a better look of the unfolding scene. He clutched his stomach and bent over, coughing up dark blood that splattered across his pristine white tuxedo.
The guests erupted in a loud gasp and they all scrambled around to have a proper look.
"Victor?" Sophia cried, stumbling back in horror as her fiancé collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach tightly like he was in great pain.
He screamed.
It wasn't a human sound. It was primal and raw, like the scream of someone whose entire body had been doused in acid. He writhed on the floor, his veins bulging across his neck and arms. Guests rose to their feet in panic, some screaming and turning away their faces in disgust, while others froze in place, shocked to their bones.
"I'm on fire!" Victor howled loudly. "My insides—God, it's burning! I'm on fire, please help!"
Sophia dropped to her knees beside him, grabbing his face. "What's happening to you?!" She looked around, screaming at the top of her voice, "Somebody do something! Call a doctor!"
Victor thrashed violently, blood staining the corner of his mouth. His body twisted violently as though some unseen force twisted his organs. He tried to stand up, to speak, but his voice came out as a jumbled up rasp and foam gathered at the corners of his mouth.
Marcus sat perfectly still, watching everything unfold with divine satisfaction. This was just the beginning of his suffering. Victor Blackwood messed with the wrong person and he'd pay dearly for it.
Carmen Chen rushed forward, heels clicking against marble, and her hands fluttering uselessly. "He's having a seizure! Do something! Somebody help him!"
But the doctors in the crowd could only stand there, stunned because it was unusual. There were no visible wounds, no poisons and no cause. He was perfectly healthy a while ago and now he was just… just suffering.
A few guests screamed, while others fled for their dear lives. The orchestra had stopped playing. The chandeliers rattled overhead and the lights kept going on and off as if the room itself could feel the divine justice unraveling.
Victor vomited again, this time he was unable to lift his head. His cries had become hoarse, and strangled. He clawed at the air with trembling fingers. A noblewoman by the corner staggered due to the overstimulation and the people around her rushed to hold her.
"The paramedics are here!" Carmen Chen yelled as they made their way into the chaotic banquet hall.
Marcus Kane smiled in twisted delight. The paramedics and modern doctors can't get rid of a divine curse. It's all a waste of time.
They rushed to his side and lifted him onto the stretcher and carried him up with Sophia Chen following closely. As they moved towards the exit where the god of war sat, Victor Blackwood suddenly raised his head, his muscles shaking like he barely had any strength left, then he turned.
With bloodshot eyes and ragged breathing, Victor Blackwood pointed one shaking hand toward the corner of the room, toward Marcus.
"He…" Victor gasped, voice hoarse and barely audible. "He did this to me…"
Sophia spun, eyes wide, following Victor's finger. Her gaze landed on Marcus who was sitting calmly, still, unaffected by the chaos.
The entire hall turned with her. Hundreds of eyes locked onto him and the whispers died down to a hush. No one knew how he had done it but in their hearts, they believed him capable because of how eerily calm he was.
The hall was divided, some, including Sophia Chen glared at Marcus, waiting for an explanation while the paramedics surrounded Victor, trying to stabilize him, the man who had mocked gods drifted into unconsciousness.
Marcus Kane rose slowly, the weight of his divine presence flowing outward like heat from a buried flame and his jade ring began to emit a warm glow. He said nothing, the God of War didn't need to explain himself to mere mortals.