Back at the conference room, the Tri-Lion Empire's general glanced at his watch with a smile. "I imagine it won't be long before we hear the good news from them."The special ops team he sent consisted of elite soldiers who were seasoned in many high-stakes operations and always successfully completed their missions."If the King of the North falls by my hand, the Tri-Lion Empire's military ranking should climb several notches, and I'll likely be appointed as the national commander back home."The Tri-Lion general was elated, already dreaming of promotions and riches."Don't celebrate too soon. The King of the North is no weakling. Even if you send an entire division to surround him, he might still break through." Someone, annoyed by his smugness, couldn't resist dampening his spirits."True, most special ops teams can't guarantee 100% success. But this squad is our country's most renowned special action team. You all should know their name," The Tri-Lion general deliberately teas
Despite their reluctance, everyone in the room focused on the earpiece."Hello? Hello, can you hear me?" The voice on the other end was Xayne's. The room fell silent, the generals exchanging bewildered glances."If I'm not mistaken, these people must be from the Tri-Lion Empire, right? The Silver Serpent Squad? They're quite tricky, but thanks for the equipment." Xayne's voice, dripping with disdain and laziness, echoed through the room.The Tri-Lion general grimaced as if he had swallowed something vile. He had intended to boast about his success, only to find his team annihilated by Xayne. This wasn't just a disgrace for himself but also a disgrace for his country.Xayne cut the connection and attached the communication earpiece to a stray cat, tossing it out to mislead their trackers.The Tri-Lion general was about to retrieve the earpiece when he was interrupted by a new transmission.The emperor of the Tri-Lion Empire roared through the earpiece. "Wasn't this plan foolproof?
The plan to encircle Xayne was swiftly set into motion. Troops were strategically positioned along his projected path."We have him surrounded, the target has no escape," one team reported, crouched at the street's end with their radios at the ready.As they advanced through the last alleyway, they heard gunfire and immediately tensed."We've reached the target location but haven’t sighted the target," another team relayed through the radio."We're here too, but no suspicious figures in sight," a third team reported.Henry issued the order, "Countdown from three, then strike together.""Three, two, one!"Both teams burst out of the alleyways simultaneously, only to see a stray cat darting through."There's no one."Confusion set in as one soldier grabbed the cat and noticed a tracker attached to it."So, Xayne isn't here. I knew he wouldn't be running around aimlessly." Henry clenched his fist.Although he anticipated that capturing Xayne wouldn't be straightforward, he rema
Xayne hadn't anticipated that other nations' military forces would join the action. He realized something was off when he noticed that the five soldiers who had been slain were all from the Tri-Lion Empire.The place Xayne observed was the nearest area to Newcroa, a well-guarded line. They had set up fences and dug a massive trench around the entire region, encircling the outskirts of the town. Since the area was suburban, it had few inhabitants, mostly impoverished people. These lives were insignificant to the commanders leading the encirclement compared to the King of the North.Xayne was closest to the southwestern front, manned by the Seventh Division of the Fran Empire. This line was to halt any advance. The division commander, Matt, sat in the command room, discussing strategy with other international leaders. Having all the leaders together reassured Henry. They were allies but also had leverage over each other’s armies. Eight nations participated, and eight military for
Glen didn't care much about the success or failure of this mission. For them, even a failure had its advantages. This was their afternoon tea time, and as people of the Fran Empire, they had a ritualistic commitment to this tradition.Meanwhile, Xayne and his two companions stealthily approached the defensive line, carefully observing the setup. "It's quite a crowd," Xayne murmured, using a sniper scope to survey the scene from a distance. The soldiers, who were all ready to shoot, would immediately detect any movement or approach.Historically, attacking a fortified position had always been more challenging than defending one. The attacking side often required several times the manpower to breach the defense. Xayne, Dragos, and Ace knew that breaking through the enemy line seemed nearly impossible. Any attempt to approach would likely result in being swarmed and attacked by the soldiers, who had heavy firepower, including armored vehicles, as evidenced by tracks seen earlier.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" One sentry shouted, only to have his head pierced by a bullet the next second. The soldiers couldn't determine the direction of the shots but knew they were facing a highly skilled sniper or perhaps multiple snipers, given the precision and speed of the shots.Ordinarily, a sniper needed to recalibrate between shots, causing a delay. However, these shots were rapid and deadly accurate, leaving no time for reaction. Even those who found cover behind trees were shot through, their heads exploding as bullets penetrated the thick wood.A soldier quickly reported the situation to Glen. "What?! They dare kill my men? What a bold move. Everyone, take your riot shields and charge. I refuse to believe they can withstand our iron will," Glen ordered, slamming the table.Glen also informed Matt about the situation. Matt, receiving the report, abruptly stood up. The other commanders looked at him questioningly."I'm going to the restroom," he excused himself. On
Fortunately, the Fran Empire squad leader and the Newcroan patrol leader managed to retain some composure, preventing the argument from escalating further."They're not fighting? I'm impressed by their restrain. Let's add some fuel to the fire and make their relationship even more 'intimate'," Xayne muttered as he observed the scene from a distance. He raised his sniper rifle, aiming at the Fran Empire squad leader.With a gub firing sound, the squad leader collapsed instantly, and panic spread among the soldiers. Fear was evident on their faces."Enemy attack. They've killed our leader. We can't let them go!" The Fran Empire soldiers, now leaderless and desperate, shouted.The Newcroan patrol leader was equally stunned, frozen as the realization hit him. The next moment, his head exploded, and he, too, fell lifeless into a pool of blood.With both leaders down, the already strained relations between the two forces reached a boiling point. The Fran Empire soldiers, equipped with r
Beastio roared, trying to mediate the situation. However, Matt pointed at Henry and accused, "You conspired with the people from Drakonia to gather our troops here, deliberately weakening our military strength. You are truly despicable."Henry suddenly realized. "No wonder the Silver Snake Squad's surprise attack failed. We fell into your meticulously laid trap. Matt, I understand now. You plan to exhaust our military forces first and then hold us hostage."The analysis from Henry made sense, intensifying the already existing mistrust. Tensions rose higher."We must fight them now. If we don't, they will wipe us out!" Matt's furious shout instantly disintegrated the Eight-Nation Alliance.Half an hour later, gunshots rang out in the conference room. Soon, only Henry and Beastio remained standing while everyone else lay dead in pools of blood.Meanwhile, a fierce battle among the eight armies ensued at the border. Many foreign troops had come only to capture Xayne and were poorly
Dean's wild provocations quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.At that moment, a striking young woman stepped forward, removing her sunglasses as she made her way through the throng.The woman was dressed in an elegant black gown, the hemline revealing a pair of flawless, slender legs that caught everyone's attention. Her expression, however, was haughty, as though she looked down on everyone around her.She was Deanana Lovorka, the heiress of the Lovorka family conglomerate. While not exactly a household name, she was considered a minor socialite in the upper circles of Drakonix."Manager Dean, it's been a while!" Deanana greeted casually.As someone who frequently traveled abroad for business, Deanana was a familiar face at the airport and she had crossed paths with Dean on several occasions.But she was not here for a casual chat with Dean. It was far from it.She had come specifically to see Xayne.This was, after all, the legendary King of the North. Just six months ago, he w
"Do you have any idea whose luggage this is?" Aava asked coldly with a sharp and commanding tone.She was on the verge of revealing her special credentials—something she rarely used unless absolutely necessary. Xayne had been her hero, someone she deeply admired. The ridicule from Miodrag moments earlier had already pushed her to the edge, and now even a low-level airport staffer dared to humiliate him."Of course, I knew. Xayne, the King of the North six months ago; now he's just a regular civilian," the staffer replied with icy indifference. The staffer smirked. "Miss, do you think Xayne is still the mighty King of the North? There's no war, the capital isn't under siege, and he's utterly useless now. Take my advice—someone young and beautiful like you should stay far away from trash like Xayne. Get closer to someone like Young Master Dongfang instead. It'll do wonders for your future!"Dean swaggered over, cigarette dangling from his mouth, hands clasped behind his back. His ex
Upon hearing those words, both Xayne and Aava paused in surprise, then frowned in unison.The VIP lounge was clearly still operating as usual. Inside, over twenty people were relaxing—some reading newspapers and sipping coffee. There was no sign of any "closure" or "disinfection."It was obvious that this so-called announcement was deliberately targeting Xayne and Aava."Manager Li, isn't this going a bit too far? That's Xayne—formerly the King of the North. He has special privileges to use the VIP lounge. If this gets reported to higher-ups, we could all be in trouble…," whispered one of the airport staff, cautiously approaching Dean."Higher-ups? Haven't you heard? Young Master Lyuben already gave the order—anyone who sides with Xayne will see their entire family wiped out." Dean sneered, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he lit a cigarette."And even if the higher-ups find out, what can they do?" Dean added mockingly. "I'll admit, six months ago, I wouldn't have dared cross Xayne. B
Miodrag's laughter quickly caught the attention of onlookers in the bustling terminal. But their gazes were fixed not on him but on Xayne.The "King of the North" was a name nearly everyone recognized, yet no one dared approach him. Lyuben's warning had spread far and wide: anyone who got close to Xayne would face annihilation."Miodrag! What gives you the right to mock Mr. Xayne? Just hours ago, he was fighting on the front lines for this country. And you? What have you done besides indulge yourself in luxury?" Aava snapped with a sharp and clear voice."Heh, I pay taxes, don't I? Doesn't spending money generate tax revenue? Without people like me keeping the economy alive, what would Xayne have eaten in the north? Dirt?" Miodrag smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. He sneered and continued, "If not for us rich kids throwing around millions in donations every day, Xayne wouldn't even have warm dirt to eat!""Damn it! The nerve of that guy!""What's so special about the East
"Is it true that Xayne captured the so-called 'Lord of Light' alive?" Lyuben remained calm as he was playing a grand piano in the lounge."Indeed! Word is, the Lord of Light's master, Master Emin, was present as well. However, Xander also made an appearance. My analysis suggests it was Xander who forced Master Emin to retreat, while Xayne crippled the Lord of Light." An older man lowered his head respectfully as he spoke, his voice tinged with urgency."Oh? Defeating the Lord of Light… he must have had a trick up his sleeve. Was it some kind of tactic or setup?" Lyuben asked without betraying a hint of emotion."It's said that Xayne specializes in traps and ambushes. Otherwise, Hiram and his crew wouldn't have met their end in that mansion. Master Dongfang, you mustn't underestimate him!""Hmm?!" Lyuben's eyes shot open suddenly, piercing beams of icy resolve radiating toward the older man.The man immediately lowered his head further, not daring to meet the gaze of the young lead
"Lowes, what are you panicking for?" Zoro's cold gaze locked onto Lowes.Even though Lowes was several generations younger than him, as the head of the Bullard family, he had the status to stand on equal footing with Zoro."I'm not panicking, I just don't want to see more white funeral banners hanging at the Bullard family estate. If Xayne comes back and chooses to settle the score, do you think any of us can handle it? You might not know this, but back when King Quidie rebelled, even Klink didn't dare lay a hand on him," Lowes replied, his voice strained but steady.He paused, taking a long, slow breath to calm himself. "Put it another way, if Xayne comes for us, even KB Kings Circle won't step in to save us. If that doesn't scare you, then I don't know what will!"The air in the room grew colder. Lowes glanced around at the faces of the other family heads, hoping to see reason in their eyes. But then came a sneer.Zoro let out a low, disdainful chuckle. "Even if Xayne didn't die
"Xayne!" Zoro clenched his fists so tightly. If anyone had a grudge against Xayne, the Eastin family's hatred was no less than that of the Bullard family. Not to mention, Flamey had been killed by Xayne not long ago. This blood feud had to be settled.The Big Four weren't some weak, defenseless prey that Xayne could toy with as he pleased. For decades, the Big Four had controlled the heart of the Drakonia's economy. Every senator, governor, and political figure had to show them respect. But since Iver's death, the Big Four had lost their glow. People who once bowed their heads were now looking down on them. The root of all this was because of Xayne.That's why, after Flamey's death, the Eastin family had no choice but to call upon their master, a man who had been living in seclusion for decades. Every bit of information regarding Xayne's trip to Egenda, his plans, his contacts, and even his flight schedule had been deliberately fed to Lord of Light.They made it clear that the momen
"In the end, his ambitions were never realized. When he attempted to merge all five Dragon's Hearts, he died. After his death, the Dragon's Hearts vanished without a trace. That's why the Light Order has always kept a close eye on Drakonia, especially on the methods Commander Zedd used to track down those Dragon's Hearts," Joe explained.Hearing this, Xayne was utterly stunned. He had never imagined that over a century ago, Commander Zedd had possessed five Dragon's Hearts. That would have been a time when Drakon Destiny was on the rise. However, because of the failed fusion, Commander Zedd lost not only his life but also Drakon Destiny's, which declined, leading to the humiliations and defeats that followed over the next century."So you're saying the Dragon's Hearts are tied to the fate of a nation?" Xayne asked, his shock evident."Absolutely. Based on our research, there's no doubt about it. The fate of Drakonia is linked to the Dragon's Hearts. Every time someone successfully f
In the VIP lounge of the airport, Xayne and Aava were waiting for their flight. Not long after, a tall, broad-shouldered young man strode in. He scanned the room briefly before his eyes locked onto Xayne and Aava. Without hesitation, he walked straight toward them. "Mr. Xayne, I'm sorry for the wait. I was sent here by Yves."The young man sized up Xayne, his eyes flashing with surprise when he saw that Xayne was completely unharmed. Word had spread about Xayne's clash with Lord of Light, a confrontation that even drew out a Radiant Commander figure, Emin. Yet here Xayne was, perfectly fine. It was hard not to be impressed.As Yves's right-hand man, Joe Zhird knew better than to underestimate someone like Xayne. His respect was evident in his tone and demeanor. With his status as the top lieutenant of Black Ice Platform, even the heads of prominent families would approach him with courtesy. But right now, it was Joe who was showing deference to Xayne, and this caught Aava by surprise