The warriors approached him. They brought out a set of silver, thorny handcuffs, their sharp edges glinting ominously in the light. With a harsh click, they snapped the cuffs onto Phoenix's wrists. As the cold metal pressed into his skin, the thorns pierced deeply, causing blood to gush from the wounds. Phoenix winced, feeling the searing pain radiate up his arms, but he remained silent, his gaze unflinching. Bound and bleeding, Phoenix was led through the grand halls of the palace, his head held high despite the throbbing pain in his wrists. The air was thick with tension as they reached the throne room. There, seated with an aura of authority and anger, was his father, King Alaric Decker. His expression was a storm of fury and disappointment as Phoenix was forced to kneel before him. The King's eyes blazed with anger, his voice shaking the walls. "How could you murder your own brother? I know you two were not on good terms, but I never expected you to be this heartless." Phoe
The crowd watched in stunned silence as they watched the exchange between the two. Blaze stood tall and resolute, a living embodiment of power and grace, as he faced the elders and the gathered spectators. Phoenix, free from his bonds, rose to his feet, ready to confront whatever came next. Meanwhile, Alaric looked on his expression a mix of fear and helplessness. He had tried to intervene, but his efforts had been futile. Now, seeing his son freed, a glimmer of hope sparked in his eyes. The elder's face twisted with rage as he saw Blaze and the guards. "This is an outrage! Arrest them all!" he bellowed, his voice cracking with fury. The guards around Blaze tensed, ready for a fight. The crowd's murmurs grew louder, a mix of confusion and excitement. Blaze raised a hand, signaling his men to hold their ground. "We're not here to start a war," Blaze uttered calmly, his voice carrying over the restless crowd. "But we won't stand by and watch an innocent man be executed." "Innocent?"
Yet, amidst the carnage, a few of the elite fighters still clung to life, their breaths ragged, their movements sluggish. Desperation etched across their faces, two of the badly wounded warriors attempted to crawl away from the devastation, hoping to escape the wrath of Blaze. The first warrior, his legs shattered and his body trembling with pain, dragged himself inch by agonizing inch. His eyes were wide with terror, darting around in search of any path to safety. But before he could make any significant progress, a shadow loomed over him. Blaze, moving with a predator's grace, reached down, grabbed the warrior by the hair, and with a brutal motion, tore his head from his body. The sound of snapping bones and ripping flesh echoed through the courtyard, and the lifeless body slumped to the ground, blood pooling around it. The second warrior, his arm broken and face covered in blood, tried to crawl faster, a futile attempt to outrun his fate. Blaze's cold eyes locked onto him, and w
The shock rippled through the assembly like a tidal wave. Faces turned pale as the realization sank in. The crowd's murmurs grew louder, a mix of outrage, and confusion. The head elder's voice trembled with rage, "You liar! You killed my grandson, and now you're trying to frame me with false witnesses!" His face was a mask of fury, yet there was a flicker of trepidation in his eyes. Blaze ignored him and addressed the three men, his tone calm but with an undercurrent of menace, "Tell everyone what you told me earlier." One of the men, shaking with dread, stammered, "I… I know nothing." "Wrong answer," Blaze said coldly. Unexpectedly, he twisted the man's neck, snapping it with a sickening crack. The lifeless body slumped to the ground, and a horrified silence fell over the crowd. Shock and apprehension were etched on every face, the brutal display of power leaving them speechless. The remaining two men began to tremble uncontrollably. "Please, spare my life," both of them beg
Varik's muscles began to seize, his body contorting in unnatural angles as the poison continued its ruthless assault. His vision blurred, dark spots dancing before his eyes as his organs failed one by one. The pain was beyond anything he could have imagined, a relentless tide of torment that left him begging for the sweet release of death, his eyes pleading for mercy that would never come. Blaze leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper, his expression one of cold satisfaction. "And you're right, I am a psychopath." A malicious grin spread across Blaze's face, watching the terror seep into Varik's eyes. "That's precisely why you should never have crossed me. I did warn you, but you thought I was bluffing."Varik's mouth opened in a silent scream, his vocal cords no longer able to produce sound. His eyes rolled back in his head, his body convulsing one final time before collapsing in a heap. His heart gave one last, feeble beat before finally surrendering, his life e
Phoenix nods grimly. "It was as if he took some twisted satisfaction in seeing his enemy's final moments. The warriors were horrified. They had expected to find a terrified, broken boy. Instead, they found someone who had become a relentless predator, someone who had been pushed to the brink and had found a dark, cruel strength within himself."He continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "Blaze didn't show any remorse. He stood there, covered in blood, breathing heavily, but with a look of grim satisfaction on his face. The warriors didn't know what to make of it. They were supposed to be his saviors, but they felt like intruders in a scene of primal vengeance."Astrid's eyes filled with tears. "How could a ten-year-old become so… so ruthless?"Phoenix sighs deeply. "He had no choice. It was kill or be killed, and he chose to survive. But in doing so, he tapped into a part of himself that no child should ever have to discover. The trauma of those days stayed with him, shaping him into
Astrid's eyes widens. "What happened to the boy?""We let him go," Phoenix continues. "It was an uncharacteristic act of mercy from Blaze, and it shocked everyone who witnessed it. I never saw that boy again, but I like to think he lived a better life because of that moment of compassion."Astrid beams softly. "See? Even the toughest warriors have a heart. That moment shows that Blaze isn't just a ruthless leader, he has a soul capable of mercy, even if he rarely shows it."Phoenix nods, a distant look in his eyes. "Perhaps you're right. Blaze is a complex man, shaped by his experiences and battles.""Enough about Blaze, let's talk about Dexter instead. I'm surprised Dexter is scared of horror movies," Astrid remarks, her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement. "This is the same guy who practically ripped a man's head off."Phoenix couldn't help but laugh at the memory. "Yeah, it's difficult to believe. Dexter just took him down with brutal efficiency, no hesitation."Astrid nods, her
Phoenix pouts theatrically, crossing his arms. "Now I'm jealous!"She turned to him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Jealous, are you?" she teases, stepping closer to him. "Well, we can't have that, can we?"He raises an eyebrow, his pout transforming into a smirk. "And what do you plan to do about it?"Her grin widened as she reached up, gently tracing her fingers along his jawline. "Maybe I should remind you that there's more than enough of me to go around," she whispers, her voice dripping with sultry promise."Sounds like a challenge," Phoenix murmurs, leaning in until their lips were just inches apart. Electricity crackled between them, the air thick with ardor.Astrid closed the gap, pressing her lips against his in a kiss that was both tender and demanding. Her hands slid up to tangle in his hair, pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss. Phoenix responded eagerly, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her against him.The kiss grew more intense, their breaths mingli