Emperor Of War

Chapter Eight: The Army Commander

Adam Swift's POV

"Is this kid serious?" The soldier's voice echoed through the courtyard.

A few of the men around him laughed.

Others shook their heads. To them, I looked like a man who had lost his mind.

One person standing against hundreds of armed soldiers.

The outcome should have been obvious.

At least, that's what they believed. The circle around me tightened. Weapons were raised. Boots scraped against the pavement. The atmosphere became suffocating.

One soldier smirked. "I think he's tired of living."

Another nodded. "He's asking for his own death."

The surrounding soldiers laughed. Their confidence filled the air. Years of victory had made them arrogant. Years of serving powerful men had convinced them they were untouchable. Unfortunately for them, they had never met me before.

A commander near the front raised his arm. "End this."

Several soldiers immediately lifted their rifles. The metallic clicks of weapons being prepared echoed through the compound.

Guests watching from a distance began backing away. Fear spread through the crowd. Nobody wanted to witness what they assumed would be an execution. The soldiers aimed directly at me.

One of them grinned. "Goodbye, kid."

The trigger was pulled. The first shot rang out. Then another. Then another.

Gunfire erupted across the courtyard. Chaos exploded. But by the time the bullets reached where I had been standing… I was already gone. The soldiers froze.

Their eyes widened. "What?"

The space where I had stood moments ago was empty. Several men looked around frantically. Confusion spread through the formation. Then a terrified scream broke through the chaos.

"Behind you!"

The soldiers turned. Too late. I appeared among them like a shadow. The distance between us vanished instantly.

The confidence on their faces disappeared. Fear replaced it. Pure fear. The formation collapsed into disorder. Men stumbled backward. Commands were shouted. Weapons were raised.

Yet nobody seemed capable of keeping up. Every movement I made shattered their expectations. Years of training. Years of warfare. Years of surviving battlefields where thousands had fallen.

All of it had forged me into something far beyond an ordinary fighter. Within moments, the soldiers were no longer laughing. The courtyard had become silent once more. Only this time, the silence was filled with fear. The remaining soldiers retreated several steps. None of them wanted to be the first to move. Their eyes remained locked on me. As though they were staring at a monster.

I slowly raised my sword. The silver blade reflected the lights surrounding the estate.

Then I pointed it directly toward Hulk. The giant commander remained motionless.

Unlike the others, he wasn't afraid. Not yet. His eyes studied me carefully. Analyzing. Calculating. Measuring.

For the first time since my arrival, genuine interest appeared on his face.

"So it's true," he said quietly.

The courtyard remained silent. Nobody dared interrupt him. Hulk stepped forward.

Each footstep seemed to shake the ground.

The giant stopped several feet away. His enormous arms crossed over his chest.

"You aren't ordinary." I offered no response. His gaze sharpened. "Now I understand why you reached this place."

The soldiers exchanged nervous glances.

Most of them had never seen their commander praise an opponent. That alone made the situation feel unreal.

Hulk slowly nodded. "Interesting."

Then a smile appeared on his scarred face. Not a friendly smile. The smile of a warrior who had finally found a worthy challenge.

"You have skill."

I looked directly into his eyes. "So do you."

The soldiers seemed surprised by my answer. Hulk laughed. The sound echoed throughout the courtyard.

"I like your confidence." His expression hardened. "But confidence alone won't save you."

I slightly tilted my head. "We'll see."

The giant's smile widened.

At that moment...

Inside the mansion. Far away from the chaos unfolding outside.

Two men sat inside an elegant private lounge. Expensive paintings decorated the walls. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the room. Several security officers remained stationed outside the entrance. The atmosphere inside was calm. Comfortable.

Safe. Or so they believed.

One of the men leaned back in his chair.

His expensive suit and commanding presence revealed his status immediately.

Derek Carter. One of the most influential men in Quinzerland.

A man whose power stretched across politics, business, and law enforcement.

A man who had spent years building an empire. Across from him sat another powerful figure. Greg Harrison. A politician whose influence reached far beyond the city.

The two men were discussing upcoming elections and business agreements. Wine glasses rested on the table between them.

Then suddenly— A faint noise echoed from outside.

Greg frowned. "What's happening out there?" Derek calmly sipped his drink. His expression never changed.

"Nothing important." Another distant commotion echoed through the estate.

Greg glanced toward the window. "It sounds serious."

Derek smiled. A relaxed smile. The smile of a man completely confident in his security. "Hulk is outside."

Greg immediately relaxed. Understanding appeared on his face. Everyone in Quinzerland knew who Hulk was.

The commander had built a terrifying reputation over the years. He wasn't merely a soldier. He was a ruthless killer.

A man who had crushed countless enemies for the Carter family. A man feared throughout the city.

If Hulk was handling the situation, then there was nothing to worry about.

Derek took another sip of wine. "Whatever trouble appeared tonight..." He placed the glass down. "...Hulk will deal with it."

Outside.

 The tension continued rising. The soldiers had completely withdrawn. No one dared interfere.

Their attention remained fixed on the two men standing in the center of the courtyard. Me. And Hulk.

The giant commander slowly rolled his shoulders. His massive muscles shifted beneath his uniform. He looked eager.

Excited. Almost happy.

It had been a long time since he had encountered someone worth fighting.

"I'll ask one last time," Hulk said. "Who are you?"

The night wind swept through the compound. My coat fluttered slightly behind me. I tightened my grip around the sword.

"My name doesn't matter."

Hulk laughed. "It will after I defeat you."

I smiled faintly. "You sound confident."

"I've earned the right." The giant took another step forward.

The ground seemed to tremble beneath him. The surrounding soldiers immediately moved farther back. Creating space.

Everyone understood what was coming.

This wasn't going to be an ordinary fight.

This was a clash between two warriors.

A battle that would determine whether I advanced any farther. Or whether my journey ended here. Hulk slowly lowered himself into a fighting stance. His eyes never left mine.

The smile disappeared from his face. Only seriousness remained. Only focus. Only battle. I mirrored the movement.

The sword rested calmly in my hand. The night seemed to hold its breath. The soldiers watched. The guests watched. The entire estate watched. Waiting. Anticipating. Preparing for the moment when two monsters would finally collide.