The King Of War Returns

Chapter 5

“H… how?” Draco staggered backward, clutching his ruined wrist, his eyes darting around the warehouse now littered with corpses. “That’s impossible… how can one man kill twenty armed men with just two daggers?”

Jaden stepped forward slowly.

Blood streaked across one side of his face, his expression calm—too calm. In his hand, one dagger gleamed under the flickering bulb, its blade stained dark red.

“It’s been ten years,” Jaden said quietly, “and you still haven’t repented.”

Draco swallowed hard. “W-What are you talking about?” he stammered, dread creeping into his voice.

Jaden raised the dagger between them.

“This blade,” he said, turning it slightly so the metal caught the light, “was given to me by my mother.”

Draco frowned, confused.

“She placed it in my hand,” Jaden continued, his voice steady, “and told me to protect my sister if anything went wrong.”

He stepped closer.

“You were there that night,” Jaden said coldly. “You were the first to pull the trigger.”

Draco shook his head frantically. “No… no, I don’t remember—”

“Look at me,” Jaden interrupted, his eyes burning. “Look into my eyes and try as hard as you can to remember. Force it. Like your life depends on it.”

Draco froze.

Then—

Something snapped.

The rain-soaked road.

A woman screaming.

Two children in the backseat.

His finger tightening on the trigger.

Draco’s face drained of all color.

“Y-You…” he whispered, terror flooding his voice. “You’re that boy…”

His knees hit the ground.

“I didn’t know!” Draco cried desperately. “I was just following orders! Please—please forgive me! I’ll give you anything—money, power—just don’t kill me!”

Jaden’s expression didn’t change.

“Begging won’t bring my mother back,” he said softly.

Before Draco could say another word—

Jaden moved.

A flash of steel.

One clean, merciless strike.

Draco’s head separated from his body and rolled across the concrete floor.

Thud.

Silence followed.

Jaden turned away without a second glance.

Donald and Hannah were still bound, staring in shock. Jaden walked over, swiftly cutting the ropes that held them.

“You’re free,” he said calmly, then turned to leave.

“Wait!” Donald called out. “Thank you… thank you for saving us.”

“You’re welcome,” Jaden replied without turning.

Hannah, who had been staring at him since the fight ended, finally spoke.

“You look familiar,” she said hesitantly. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

Truth be told, they had been childhood friends. Jaden and Julie used to visit her mansion after school, laughing in those same halls now drenched in silence. So it didn’t surprise him that something about him lingered in her memory.

But this wasn’t the time.

Not yet.

“No,” Jaden said simply. “I’m not from around here.”

He turned to leave.

“Can I at least know your name?” Hannah asked politely.

Jaden paused.

“Lee,” he said after a brief silence. “Lee Rift.”

“Rift?” Hannah repeated softly. “That’s the same surname as someone I used to know.”

Jaden said nothing.

He only nodded—and walked away.

Jaden stepped out of the Winston estate and let the evening air wash over him.

Hannah and Donald were still puzzled but at the same time grateful, for the arrival of a mysterious hero.

He reached into his coat and pulled out his phone.

“Drax,” he said quietly, his voice carrying lethal intent. “I need the new location of the Thornfells.”

There was a brief pause on the line.

“…Understood, General.”

Jaden’s eyes darkened. “Let’s go pay that bitch a visit.”

“Alright, General,” Drax replied. “I’ll come pick you up.”

Minutes later, a black military-grade vehicle slid silently to a stop beside him. Jaden stepped in without a word.