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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 144
144Once inside, the atmosphere shifted. The heavy scent of floral perfume mixed with the subtle but unmistakable sting of cold steel. Dylan, still trying to shake off the effects of the blow to his head, was dragged across the polished marble floor by two men who seemed to take particular pleasure in his disorientation. His limbs were sluggish, his mind still clouded by the intense pain that rattled through his skull. But as the world around him began to clear, he could make out the shadows of high-backed chairs, gilded furniture, and velvet curtains that blocked out the moonlight, casting an eerie darkness on the grand room.They stopped before the center of the room, and Dylan could feel the weight of someone’s gaze on him. His pulse quickened. That feeling… her. The scent of her perfume lingered in the air, too distinct, too sharp to be mistaken for anything else.“Seraphina…” Dylan muttered under his breath, his voice a mixture of irritation and disdain. His body still felt uncoo
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145 As Seraphina turned back to face him, her eyes glinting with something darker, he couldn’t help but let a smirk play at the corners of his lips. “You know, I’ve never liked the way you think you control everything, Seraphina. It’s one of the things that makes you so… predictable.” Her lips parted as though to speak, but Dylan cut her off, stepping forward with a sudden, fluid motion. He was fast, faster than any of them anticipated. He darted forward, just as one of the men tried to move to intercept him. The man was knocked aside with a single swift punch, landing hard against the marble floor. The other rushed at Dylan, but his opponent’s hesitation was all it took. Dylan ducked, then twisted the man’s arm behind his back before pushing him toward the far wall, knocking him out cold. For the first time, Seraphina’s gaze flickered, a hint of doubt creeping into her expression. “You’re still trying to fight me?” she asked, almost incredulously. Dylan, breathing heavily bu
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146: The Ghosts of the PastHer eyes locked onto his with a glare so intense it felt like it could burn through steel. For a moment, she didn’t speak, her gaze flickering between his eyes and the two men she’d stationed to guard him. They were already recovering, readying themselves for the next round. “Is that so?” Seraphina said, her voice dripping with mock sincerity. “You really think you’re in control? You think you can take me down with a single move? You’ve never been in control, Dylan. Not in this situation. Not with me.” Dylan smirked, his heart pounding. “You’re trapped here, Seraphina. You just don’t see it yet.” The room went deathly silent, the two guards now slowly moving into position behind him, their eyes cold with determination. But Dylan wasn’t going to back down. He could feel the tension building, the pressure mounting. Seraphina gestured to the two men, a sharp motion of her hand. “Get him.” Without hesitation, the guards lunged at him, but this time, Dylan
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147The giant moved.Fast.Too fast for someone his size.Dylan barely had time to react before a fist the size of a sledgehammer came flying toward his face. He ducked—just barely—feeling the force of the air as it passed inches from his head. He pivoted, using the momentum to twist away, but the giant was already on him, closing the distance with terrifying efficiency.Dylan raised his gun.A mistake.The giant swatted it aside like it was nothing, the weapon skidding across the floor.Dylan barely had time to register the loss before a massive hand closed around his throat and lifted him off the ground.Seraphina sighed, her voice carrying that familiar note of exasperation. “You always did have a habit of underestimating your opponents, Dylan.”Dylan gritted his teeth, clawing at the fingers around his neck. His vision blurred at the edges.Think. Move.His knee shot up, slamming into the giant’s ribs. Nothing.Again.Still nothing.Damn.The giant smirked, his massive fingers fle
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148 Chapter 148: The Final StandoffTitan’s massive hand closed tighter around Dylan’s throat, lifting him off the ground with a casual ease that made it clear he was in control. The world around Dylan blurred, his breath coming in desperate, ragged gasps as his vision dimmed, the pressure on his windpipe suffocating him. He clawed at the fingers, but it was like trying to move a mountain. His head swam, and his body felt like it was about to give out entirely.“Is this it, Dylan?” Titan’s voice rumbled, low and threatening, as he looked down at the man dangling from his grip. “You think you’ve outsmarted me? That you have some trick up your sleeve?”Dylan could barely keep his eyes open, but he managed to meet Titan’s gaze, defiance still burning in his chest despite the desperate situation. He struggled to pull in air, gasping through clenched teeth. “Yeah, I think… I might have just one left,” he wheezed, though it came out more as a strained rasp.Titan’s lips curled into a smug
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149 Dylan’s heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel himself slipping. But somehow, his mind remained sharp. “Yeah, you say that… but I’m still talking, aren’t I?” His words were weak, but there was a thread of defiance there that refused to break.Seraphina tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with faint amusement as she surveyed the scene. “You know, Titan, maybe you should take the hint,” she mused, almost lazily. “He’s been talking all this time, and yet, here he is, still alive. Don’t you think that’s a sign?”Titan’s grip faltered, just for a moment, as if considering her words. Dylan felt it—a fraction of an opening. That was all he needed. His hand shot up, aiming for the giant’s eyes. A desperate, wild swipe.Titan roared in pain, his hand loosening just enough for Dylan to gasp in another breath. But the giant was too fast. He recovered instantly, lifting Dylan higher, shaking him violently.“You think that little trick will save you?” Titan snarled, shaking his head. “Y
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Chapter 150: A Desperate Play With what little strength he could muster, Dylan forced a grin, despite the pain. “I’ve got to admit, Titan, you’re pretty good at this whole ‘threatening’ thing,” he rasped. “But if you’re going to kill me, at least be creative. You’re starting to sound like a broken record.” He let out a wheeze that sounded almost like a laugh. “I mean, come on, crushing me like a bug? So cliché.”Titan’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening further. “I’ll show you what’s cliché, little man. You’re gonna regret opening that mouth of yours.”Dylan blinked, his vision flickering. His strength was almost gone, but his resolve remained firm. Ribs. Weakness. He could still do this.“You know,” he continued, his voice weak but laced with defiance, “if you’re gonna be the one to kill me, you should at least put some effort into it. You’re just gonna kill me like it’s nothing?” He coughed, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but he pressed on. “You’re not even trying, T
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151 Dylan’s head was spinning, the world a blur of pain and shadows. The thud of his body hitting the stone wall had left him shaken, but his stubborn will to survive kept him pushing through the agony. His ribs were screaming in protest, his breath shallow and labored, but somehow, he managed to prop himself up on his hands, his vision slowly coming back into focus. He could hear Titan’s heavy steps as the giant advanced, a low growl rumbling from deep within his chest.“Not done yet, huh?” Titan sneered, cracking his knuckles menacingly. “You’re just making this worse for yourself, Dylan.”Dylan forced a smile, though it was more of a grimace. “You know, Titan, you’re like a bulldozer. Big, strong… but predictable. Just like all the others.” His voice wavered, but he pushed through, almost louder now. “You think you’ve got me cornered? You think you’ve won just because you knocked me down? I’m just getting started.”Titan’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a snarl. “You talk to
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Chapter 181: Ashes Don’t ForgetThe air in The Broken Compass turned thick with tension as Lilith lifted her goblet once more, her calm demeanor a fragile mask. The flickering lantern above her cast shadows along her jawline, emphasizing the cold steel in her gaze.That’s when a sleazy-looking man swaggered up to her table. Gold rings on every finger, a filthy toothpick dancing between his lips, and the unmistakable stench of rum and arrogance clinging to him.He slapped a few crumpled bills onto the table and grinned. “You look expensive, sweetheart. But I’m feeling generous tonight.”Lilith didn’t even flinch. “Pick those up before I shove them down your throat.”The man laughed like she’d told a joke. “Oh, come on, don’t play hard to get. I heard about you. Night Order, right? Bet you’ve done worse for less.”Her hand twitched near the dagger strapped to her thigh, hidden beneath her coat. “Last warning.”He leaned closer, his breath hot and disgusting. “You’ll change your mind aft
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Chapter 180: Embers of VengeanceThe fire in the hearth snapped as Dylan returned to the drawing room. The old wood panels whispered with every step he took. Gregory sat in a leather armchair near the flames, polishing a pair of vintage spectacles. He looked up as Dylan entered.“All settled?” Gregory asked.Dylan nodded, running a hand through his hair. “She’s asleep. Curled around that fox like it’s armor.”“She’s been through more than most grown men could survive,” Gregory murmured. “Just like her mother.”Dylan’s jaw tightened. He walked over and poured himself a glass of aged whiskey from the crystal decanter. He drained the glass and set it down, then leaned against the mantel. “What do you know about the Night Order?”Gregory paused. “Only what Helen told me. That they used to be a myth… until they weren’t. Secret society. Rituals. Power plays. Blood pacts.”A silence stretched between them until Gregory said, “There’s a woman. Used to be one of them. She turned her back on t
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Chapter 179: Through the AshesThe ride was silent at first—except for the soft crinkle of Dolly’s lollipop wrapper and the distant hum of the engine. Dylan stared out the tinted window, his jaw clenched, one hand resting protectively on Dolly’s knee.She leaned against him, but her eyes were wide open, darting around the interior of the luxurious car.“Is this a magic carriage?” she asked, voice soft.Dylan chuckled faintly. “Something like that.”She held up the lollipop. “It’s cherry. That’s my favorite.”“I remembered,” he said.Her brows rose. “You remembered? But you said you didn’t know about me.”He hesitated, then smiled. “I didn’t. But your mother used to say, ‘If I ever have a daughter, she’s going to love cherry more than anything else.’”Dolly’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “Mama said that?”“All the time.”They fell into silence again, but this time it was less heavy.After a while, Dolly turned her head and whispered, “Do you miss her?”Dylan’s throat tightene
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Chapter 178: A Father’s OathThe mansion’s heavy front door creaked open, letting in the morning light—and a gust of wind that smelled of ash and distant bloodshed. Dylan held Dolly close, her small arms still wrapped around his neck, her cheek pressed to his shoulder.But as they reached the edge of the stone steps, she stiffened in his arms.“Wait,” she whispered, pulling back slightly. “Where are we going?”“Somewhere safe,” Dylan replied softly, adjusting her weight in his arms.“Safe?” Her eyes narrowed. “But who are you?”Dylan froze.“I told you,” he said gently, “I’m your father.”She looked at him long and hard. Her tiny brows furrowed, lips pursed with doubt. “You… you don’t feel like Papa.”His heart cracked a little. “I didn’t know about you, Dolly. Not until tonight. If I had… I would’ve come for you sooner. I swear on your mother’s life.”Dolly blinked, silent for a moment, then asked, “Did Mama really tell you to come?”“Yes.” He crouched down, setting her gently on the
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177Chapter 177: The Search BeginsDylan’s boots thudded against the stairs as he stormed up them two at a time, Seraphina’s blood still drying on his chest like a second heart. His throat burned, but he swallowed the pain. There was no time to mourn. Not now.“Dolly!” he shouted, voice rough and hoarse. “Dolly, if you’re here—please answer me!”The hallway stretched before him, quiet and cloaked in shadows. The scent of old wood and lavender clung to the air—Seraphina’s favorite oil. His hand brushed the wall as he passed a set of closed doors, his mind racing.He threw open the first room.Empty.Just dusty blankets, a cracked mirror, and toys that hadn’t been played with in years.“Dolly!” he yelled again, more desperately this time. “It’s Papa. I’m here. Please—baby, answer me.”His heart thundered. He moved to the next room, nearly ripping the door off its hinges.“Dolly—”Nothing but silence.Then—A faint thump.He froze.It came again.He turned sharply toward the third door.
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176“I forgave you,” she said suddenly, her voice clear for a brief second. “For everything. For the things you did… for what we became. I forgave you a long time ago, Dylan. I just wish you could forgive yourself.” His chest tightened so sharply he could hardly breathe. “You don’t get to say goodbye. Not like this. No. No—stay awake. Don’t close your eyes. I need you. We need you.” “I’m tired,” she whispered. “But listen… the Alliance… it’s burning. They’re tearing it apart because of you.” He flinched, guilt sweeping over him. “I never wanted this war. I built Dragonia to unite our lands, to end bloodshed…” “But you left,” she said, blinking slowly. “You left it behind… and it turned into a battlefield.” He pressed his forehead to hers, eyes wet with grief. “Because I couldn’t face what I lost. Because I was a coward.” “You’re not,” she murmured. “You were always brave. Stubborn… cruel, sometimes. But brave.” “I don’t want to be brave anymore,” he whispered. “I just want you
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175“Please…” he whispered. “Don’t leave me.”A long silence stretched between them. The forest around them was too quiet—no birds, no wind, just the rising smoke and the smell of iron and earth.Then—suddenly—her hand caught his wrist.His heart leapt.Her grip, weak but deliberate, made his breath hitch.“…It’s too late,” she whispered, a faint smile pulling at her cracked lips.“No. No, it’s not.” His voice was thick with tears as he shook his head. “I’ve got you, I can—”“You can’t.” Her voice was softer than a breeze, fragile and final. “Not this time. Dylan…”His jaw clenched. “Don’t talk like that. You’re not dying, do you hear me? You’re not—!”She squeezed his hand, surprising him with a flicker of strength. “Listen to me. There’s something I never told you…”His heart pounded violently against his ribs. “What?”“Our daughter.”She coughed, blood spilling from the corner of her lips, staining the side of her chin.“Her name… is Dolly.”Dylan froze.“What…?” His voice cracked.
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Chapter 174 Dylan’s hands trembled violently as he knelt beside Seraphina’s broken body. Panic surged through him like wildfire, fast and merciless, as he stared at the blood soaking her clothes. It pooled beneath her like a cruel mockery of life, staining everything it touched a deep, damning red. Her lips were pale. Her breath was shallow. But he wasn’t giving up. Not now. Not like this. “I know what to do,” he muttered under his breath, barely hearing himself over the roar of his heartbeat. “I can save you. I can fix this, Seraphina.” Her lashes fluttered. A small, pained groan escaped her lips. Dylan yanked the pouch off his belt—the one he hadn’t touched in years, the one covered in old leather and tied with fraying string. His fingers shook as he undid the knot, revealing a weathered collection of dried herbs, crushed roots, and dusty vials—everything he had once learned from the old masters in the Eastern Mountains. He swallowed hard. Manwa medicine. Ancestral craft. No
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173The brick came down hard.Once.Twice.The thug’s skull cracked under the force, blood spraying with each blow. His body spasmed, twitched violently, then stilled.Silence.Dylan stood over the body, chest heaving, blood smeared down his arms and soaking into his jeans. His fingers, still clenched around the brick, trembled uncontrollably. The weight of what he’d done—what he had to do—settled like a stone in his stomach.He staggered back a step.And then he heard it.A soft, broken whimper behind him.“Dylan…”His heart seized. The brick dropped from his hand with a dull, wet thud. He turned.Seraphina lay crumpled against the wall, her face bruised and streaked with blood. Her hand trembled in the air, reaching for him. Her eyes, barely open, shimmered with unshed tears.He dropped to his knees beside her. “I’m here,” he breathed, wiping at his face with a shaking hand. “I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.”Her voice was a rasp. “You’re bleeding…”Dylan looked down. His forearms were
