The Successor System

Painful Death

A young man, about 23 years old, stood amidst a grisly scene—several bodies lay lifeless around him, their blood pooling on the cold, desolate ground. The crimson stains on his own clothes and skin told a story of violence, desperation, and betrayal. It was deep into the night, and the eerie silence of this desolate area cloaked the horror from prying eyes. He staggered slightly, struggling to remain conscious, his breaths shallow and uneven. His eyes, heavy with exhaustion and disbelief, locked onto the woman he had once loved, the woman he had hoped to marry. But she had betrayed him. Drugged, bound, and handed over to the people who sought his life the most, he had been nothing more than a pawn in her game. His family’s wealth and influence were known far and wide, striking fear into anyone who dared oppose them. Yet, behind the scenes, an internal war raged between his father and his uncle. Though uninterested in the power struggles, he had always been vigilant, aware that his