The King Of War Returns

Prepare to die

Lady Mary wasted no time. As soon as she caught sight of Derek, she rushed to him like a frightened child running to a parent for protection. Her heels clacked rapidly on the marble floor as she closed the distance between them, and her voice trembled as she spoke.

“Mr. Thornfell! Thank God you’re finally here!” she exclaimed, her expression full of desperation and urgency. “That stranger barged in without an invitation! I only asked him if he had one and—he just slapped me! He slapped me to the ground without a second thought! Then he beat Xavier senseless, threw around the guards like they were toys, and even threatened to kill Mr. Alex!”

Her voice cracked as she turned back to glance at the chaos behind her. “Please… you have to do something. Save us, Mr. Thornfell.”

Derek’s gaze remained steady as he listened to her panic-stricken plea. But instead of reacting emotionally, he simply replied with a cold, calm voice, “I already saw everything that happened.”

Then, turning to face Jaden directly, Derek raised his hand and barked out an order, “Hey, you! Let him go. That’s an order!”

Hearing those words, Alex—who was still pinned helplessly beneath Jaden’s foot—felt a surge of hope and confidence wash over him. Relief flooded his battered face. With Derek and Elder Dusk finally stepping in, he believed this nightmare was coming to an end. He lifted his head slightly, managing a smug expression despite the pain in his leg.

“You’re finished now, stranger,” Alex sneered. “You’ve really messed up. You’re going to ge—”

His sentence was abruptly cut off.

With a brutal and sudden movement, Jaden slammed Alex’s head down onto the hard marble floor beneath them. The impact was devastating. Blood splattered instantly, painting the polished tiles with a grotesque splash of crimson. Bones cracked, and the thud echoed throughout the hall like a thunderclap.

Screams erupted across the room.

Gasps filled the air as everyone recoiled in horror at what they had just witnessed. Some covered their mouths, others looked away entirely, unable to stomach the gore.

“I don’t forgive those who say they want me dead,” Jaden said coldly, his voice devoid of sympathy. It was as if he were delivering a law of the universe—absolute and final.

He dusted his clothes casually, as if he had only stepped in a puddle, then turned his full attention to Derek. His expression didn’t change as he took slow, deliberate steps toward the stunned host of the party.

“So…” he said with unsettling calm. “What were you saying again?”

Derek’s eyes widened as Jaden approached. The weight of the aura coming from the man was suffocating. Cold sweat began forming on his forehead, and for the first time in years, he felt genuine fear. He took an involuntary step backward, his confidence evaporating.

“W-Who the hell are you?” Derek stammered, his voice lacking the usual authority.

Jaden’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Were you the one who tried to order me?”

Derek’s knees nearly gave out as the air around him seemed to thicken. It was as though death itself had stepped into the room and looked him in the eye. He would’ve fallen if not for Elder Dusk, who stepped forward quickly and steadied him by the shoulder.

“Are you alright, Mr. Thornfell?” Dusk asked calmly, though his eyes never left Jaden. Even he sensed the unusual danger.

The guests began whispering among themselves, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.

“Did that stranger just make Mr. Thornfell tremble with just a glare?”

“Derek’s always been the untouchable one in this city! He bullies anyone he wants, hides behind the Thornfell name and Elder Dusk… and now look at him!”

“Just what kind of monster is this guy?”

Derek sat down slowly at Elder Dusk’s urging, visibly shaken. His hands wouldn’t stop trembling. His image as the untouchable rich heir was crumbling before everyone’s eyes.

Dusk stepped forward calmly, adjusting the sleeves of his robe.

“You’re strong,” he admitted plainly, nodding once. “I won’t deny it. But don’t let that go to your head.”

He raised his chin slightly, facing Jaden without blinking. “Still, even with your power, you’ll only be able to withstand five hits from me. Surrender now. Get on your knees and apologize before it’s too late.”

The air in the hall shifted. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Guests looked at each other, uncertain what was going to happen next.

“Only five hits? That’s a compliment. Most people don’t survive even one from Elder Dusk!”

“Did you hear that? He’s giving the guy a way out. That’s the most mercy he’s going to get!”

“He should just surrender already. What’s the point of acting tough when your opponent is a legend?”

But Jaden didn’t flinch. His face remained unreadable, his voice cold and deliberate.

“Dusk… so you’re the Dusk?” he asked. “Tell me—are you the one who sent men to repaint and dig around that grave?”

Elder Dusk froze for a brief moment. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes flickered with something. Recognition. Shock.

“How the hell does he know about the restricted cemetery?” Dusk wondered silently. “And more importantly… why is he talking about that grave? What business does he have with the Madwoman’s resting place?”

Outwardly calm, Dusk waved to one of his men and gave a quick command. “Call Paul. Ask him what’s happening at the cemetery. Now.”

But before the man could reach for his phone, Jaden spoke again.

“No need to bother,” he said flatly. “I already killed all of them.”

The hall erupted again.

“What?!”

“He killed all the men stationed at the cemetery?!”

“That’s suicide!”

Elder Dusk’s eyes darkened. His muscles tensed beneath his robes, and his fists clenched at his sides.

“You arrogant bastard…” he growled, stepping forward. “That was your last chance. I’m giving you one final warning. Go down on your knees and beg for mercy!”

Jaden tilted his head, his gaze sharp as a blade.

“You must be delusional,” he replied, tone colder than ice. “There’s no universe where I kneel to an old man like you.”

A collective gasp surged through the crowd like a wave crashing against rocks.

“He… he refused again?”

“This guy’s crazy! He just signed his death warrant!”

“He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with!”

Dusk’s knuckles cracked as he drew in a deep breath, his body beginning to glow faintly with power. The air began to shimmer, vibrating from the tension between the two.

“All right then,” Dusk said, voice low and dangerous. “Prepare to die.”