All Chapters of The Rise Of The Forgotten King. : Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
46 chapters
Chapter 21
I pointed at the screen and smiled. “We’re going to attack when they don't expect it.”Noah stared at me like I had lost my mind. He looked at the weapons, then back at me. His eyebrows went up in disbelief. “You’re serious,” he said.“I always am.”“Ethan, look at yourself,” Noah argued, stepping toward me. “There are dozens of them, and you can barely stand up without shaking.”“That is exactly why it’s going to work,” I said, leaning against the desk for support. “They think we’re trapped animals. They expect us to hide in a corner, and that’s their biggest mistake.”Noah paced the small room, then he stopped and sighed. “Okay. Let's say I don't think you're crazy. What’s the plan?” I leaned over the glowing screen. My finger was trembling from the pain, but I forced it to steady as I tapped the map. “This building isn’t our shield,” I explained. “It’ll be the bait. We’re using it to lure them into a trap.”Noah crossed his arms. “You’re gonna have to explain that.”“They’ll ent
Chapter 22
I drove into the tunnel under the dim lighting. Behind us, the panel we passed through slowly sealed itself shut.I looked around quickly for a brief moment, then stepped on the gas. The SUV sped through the narrow space.I took a turn I knew well, one that was supposed to lead us to safety. It looked just like it did eight years ago, but was strangely clean.I was still thinking about that mysterious text message from the unknown sender. Part of me wanted to believe it was a bluff. But the fact that they hacked into my car’s system meant one thing, whoever it was, they were dangerous.The path ahead split in two, but I didn't slow down, I swerved slightly, aiming the car right at the wall between the two paths, and floored it like I was about to ram the wall.I saw Noah grab the door handle from the corner of my eye. He looked scared, but he didn't say a word. He trusted me with his life.That told me everything.Something had changed in him. Fear was still there, but beneath it wa
Chapter 23
We were only meters from impact when the lights suddenly came on and the ground ahead split open.I slammed hard on the brakes, but it was too late; the SUV went downward into the path below. I put the car in reverse and drove backward, but before I could reach the exit, the panel had shut.Noah tried to scream, but no sound came out. He was frozen, paralyzed by the sheer terror of what was happening. As the panel closed and the ramp dropped, we slammed into a stack of wooden platforms, and the sound was deafening, as hard boards snapped like toothpicks under the weight of the car.But it didn't slow us down, the SUV kept reversing at a high speed, but we were descending into the narrow tunnel. I didn't hesitate, I switched gear and stomped my foot on the gas pedal, and the car shot forward like a missile into the dark path.Noah was trembling so hard he looked like he was going to have a seizure. His fingers dug deep into the seats, and his chest moved up and down in ragged, desper
Chapter 24
The men didn’t charge at us like I expected. Instead, they spread out slowly, like predators who thought they were in control.Their movements were careful and deliberate. Some whispered in low voices as they stared at our SUV with a mix of curiosity and real fear like it was a bomb about to explode.They were terrified.And that was good. Fear makes men sloppy. That’s what makes them human.One man stepped away from the group. He didn’t hesitate like the rest. He walked toward my side of the SUV with a casual, almost lazy stride like he was out for a Sunday stroll. His rifle hung loose in his hand, swinging a little with each step. He didn’t see us as a threat. He probably thought we were one of them, just trapped.Beside me, Noah stiffened. His breathing came in short, quick gasps. I could feel the heat radiating off him.The man stopped right outside my window. He leaned down until his face was inches from the dark tinted glass. He squinted, trying to see past his own reflection,
Chapter 25
But Why now? Why did this have to happen when I was at my weakest, and with Noah to protect? It didn’t make sense. Albert had a code, he never attacked a man who couldn't fight back. He called it cowardice, and Albert wasn't a man who broke his word no matter the circumstances.Was someone else pretending to be him? If so, how did they get into my lair? And how did they learn to mess with my head like this?I needed answers, but the immediate danger came first. I had already taken down twelve men, but more were hiding throughout the facility. I glanced at my dashboard. The screen was still frozen with that error message. And without having a view from my system, I was moving blindly and that meant I couldn't track their movements or find the best way to get the jump on them.But from what I remembered on the cameras, there were a few men thrashing my place and going through my stuff in the armory. If they were smart, they’d be on high alert after hearing my gunfire.I slammed my foot
Chapter 26
I walked over to the SUV, opened the door, and grabbed the keys before locking it up. I couldn’t make the same mistake twice and let some riff raff hijack my vehicle.I hurried back to the entrance and stepped inside. The door shut, and I followed the left path to avoid the mine I had set.I watched my steps carefully along the familiar tunnel in case they had set a trap. The fact that they timed my exit to take Noah proved they were watching my every move or being updated by the person controlling my lair.I kept walking down the tunnel with my gun pointed forward until I reached the next entrance which didn't open earlier. Just as I expected, the area was empty, they had already moved.I drew the triangle symbol on the sensor, and surprisingly the door slid open. I walked toward the other entrance and turned right. My mine hadn't gone off, meaning they had relocated while I was inside.I knew that would happen. If this person was playing a game, I had to play along and beat them w
Chapter 27
They were watching my every move, and at any given time, they could all fire at once. The armored vest may be hard enough to stop the bullets, but it was just metal and fiber. If all those shooters pulled their triggers at once, the sheer force would crush my ribs and throw me back like a broken doll. I took a breath, trying to steady the quick rhythm of my heart, and peeked over the opposite edge of the concrete slab. I brought the scope to my eye, and for a second, my lungs felt so tight I couldn't breathe.The darkness was completely occupied with so many men, they shifted slowly and moved quietly and crouched behind the pillars and old machinery like professionals without talking or making a sound.I sat back down, resting my spine against the cold stone. For the first time since I stepped into this nightmare, I just... stopped. I let my gun rest against my lap.Noah’s voice from the tape echoed in my mind, like a haunting reminder that he had seen this coming. This wasn't some
Chapter 28
My boots barely touched the ground. I was moving too fast for the world to catch up as I fired, aimed at the next target and Fired again.It wasn't a choice anymore, it was a necessity. I wasn't just a man in a suit, I was a shadow hunting other shadows. I had stopped using the glass scope on my rifle, it was too slow. Instead, I let the tech in my visor do the work. It painted the world in lines of neon blue and freezing yellow. Every man hiding behind a crate, every nervous breath, every finger twitching on a trigger, they all lit up like stars in a dying sky.The heavy thud of their bodies hitting the floor as I fired became a sound I marched to. But even as I shot through them, a heavy weight settled in my gut.It wasn't fear. I’d used up all my fear hours ago. It was the feeling of being hunted by time itself. My side had taken multiple bullets hits, although I was protected by my armor. Each breath felt like I was swallowing jagged pieces of glass. My legs were heavy, like
Chapter 29
The shot was so fast that I felt the impact of it on my back before I heard the loud bang.It was a sniper. My body acted on instinct, I raised my shoulder and desperately rolled across the floor, and a second later, another bullet blasted through the concrete exactly where my skull had been resting a heartbeat before.This wasn't like the disorganized men I’d cut through earlier. This shooter was different, he was patient. He was a professional. He was waiting for me to bleed out, and looking at the state of my gear, he wouldn't have to wait long.I dragged myself behind a thick stone pillar, my fingers slipped along the rough surface for any grip. Every movement felt like a betrayal of my own body. My ribs weren't just aching, they were grinding together with a sickening, wet sound that made my stomach turn. My armor had absorbed the impact, but the force had gone deep. Under my vest, I could feel a heavy, spreading warmth that was thick and warm. I was bleeding internally, some
Chapter 30
The sound wasn't loud at first. It was a slow, heavy, low groan. It sounded like something huge was waking up from a long sleep.The floor vibrated beneath my boots, making me shake slightly.Noah felt it too. His body stiffened against me as the scary silence grew around us.Then the shaking stopped, and a part of the far wall scraped open with a loud, painful metal screech. Bright light shone through the new opening.A silhouette stood in the doorway. He was huge, with wide shoulders. He did not move.The person in the doorway didn't rush in. He just stood there in the bright light. Then, he took two slow, careful steps forward.My stomach twisted into a cold knot. I recognized him when he finally stepped into the light, the truth hit me like a bullet to the chest.It was him.This was the man who had broken into Noah’s house. He was the one who smashed through heavy doors as if they were made of paper. He was so strong it didn't seem human.He was the person who caused all of my br