Upon seeing how polite Flamey was, Serena returned the courtesy, standing up and shaking his hand. "Hello."Once they were seated, Flamey smiled. "Ms. Serena, Serena Group has been growing rapidly. Our consortium, Eastin Investments, is very interested in supporting that growth. How many shares would you be willing to sell to us?"Flamey's words were perfectly measured, with no sign of ulterior motives.On the surface, it looked like Flamey was simply negotiating a business deal with Serena.But in reality, Flamey wanted much more than a stake in Serena Group. He aimed to destroy the company and Serena with it.This was all part of a plan to weaken Xayne before his upcoming fight against Hyenka, one of the Bullard Family's Five Elders.If Xayne's loved ones were harmed, it would inevitably deal a psychological blow, making him vulnerable in the ring.Flamey intended to break Xayne's spirit and then use the opportunity to finish him off for good."That's not something I can answ
A bearded mercenary pointed his curved knife at Xayne. "It's him... It's Xayne!"The man in the baseball cap recognized Xayne instantly. He had seen him before when they took out Kurt."The Dracarium's agreement with the International Mercenary Association. Have you all forgotten?" Xayne's voice was cold as he stepped confidently into the dilapidated room."What's your connection to the Dracarium?" another mercenary asked as he frowned.Three years ago, mercenary groups from various countries ran rampant in Drakonia, leaving countless dead in their wake. Then, out of nowhere, the Dracarium emerged. Mercenary teams were slaughtered, even those who fled back to their homelands were not safe, still hunted down by the Dracarium's operatives.Eventually, the International Mercenary Association intervened as they struck a deal. No foreign mercenaries would ever set foot in Drakonia again. Any who did so would be fair game for the Dracarium, even if it meant chasing them to the ends of t
"What the...!"Just when everyone thought Xayne was either dead from the sniper round or had ducked to the side to escape, something happened that left them utterly dumbfounded.The high-velocity sniper bullet suddenly let out a faint hum and stopped in mid-air.In front of Xayne, an invisible force seemed to form a wall of air, blocking the bullet less than three inches from his face."This... No way!" The man in the baseball cap could not believe his eyes.'How can he…stop the bullets?!'"You're... you're more than just a Celestial Commander!"The mercenaries finally realized it.He was not just a Celestial Commander.This was the power of a warlord, someone at the level of a king.Xayne, the Drakon King of the Dracarium, had long surpassed the Celestial Commander rank."I stopped being the Drakon King a long time ago." Xayne’s voice was ice-cold.Then, Xayne casually flicked his hand, and the bullet that had been suspended in front of him shot back in the opposite direct
Xayne raised an eyebrow. "N-No... don’t kill me, we—"Before the mercenary could finish his sentence, Xayne's palm came crashing down on the top of his head. He did not even have time to make a sound before collapsing lifelessly on the spot.Nearby, the man in the baseball cap was rolling on the ground in pain.The sudden silence startled him, and he quickly twisted his neck to glance toward the battlefield. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the corpses of his comrades strewn all over the place."Agh—!" Before he could scream, a heavy boot slammed down on his head."Feels good to kill, doesn’t it? Ever wonder what it feels like to be on the other side?"Xayne did not wait for an answer. His foot pressed down harder.The baseball cap’s skull exploded beneath Xayne’s boot with a loud crack, killing him instantly.Xayne casually picked up a nearby gas can, pouring its contents over the bodies.Lighting a cigarette, he flicked the lighter into the pile of corpses. Flames erup
Flamey's expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed as he glared at Serena."Ms. Serena, are you insulting the Eastin family?"'The Eastin family?'The mention of that name triggered a faint memory in Serena's mind.She heard of those names before. She vaguely remembered that they were enemies of Xayne.Her heart raced, realizing the situation was far more dangerous than she initially thought.She had fallen right into their trap."Mr. Flamey, it was nice doing business with you, but I'm afraid I must leave now. Goodbye!"Serena made a move to stand, but Flamey was already a step ahead.He lunged forward, grabbing her shoulder with a vice-like grip."Going somewhere? You're not leaving tonight."Though she had learned how to evade attacks, being pregnant severely limited her abilities. There was no way she could escape Flamey's clutches now.Flamey gripped her shoulder tightly, forcing her back down into her seat."What's the meaning of this, Mr. Flamey?" Bravo's eyes gleamed w
Flamey's strong will to survive pushed him to tap into an unprecedented potential, but it was utterly insignificant in front of the Ravenclaw Dagger.The cold steel of the Ravenclaw Dagger gleamed as it pierced Flamey's left shoulder. Then, in a strange twist, the blade shifted downward.Flamey's eyes widened in horror as he stared at the dagger lodged in his shoulder. Blood splattered across his face.The searing pain shot through his shoulder, and Flamey let out a blood-curdling scream.The next moment, an even sharper agony washed over him, followed by a chilling sensation in his left shoulder. Something soft dropped to the ground.When Flamey looked down, a gush of crimson immediately blurred his vision. Through the blood, he caught a glimpse of a well-dressed arm lying still on the ground."Ahhh!"A fresh wave of excruciating pain ripped through his shoulder.With a scream, Flamey collapsed, rolling around in agony.Xayne covered Serena's eyes with one hand, then reached
After speaking, Xayne carefully put away the Heavenly Tome and wrapped his arms around Serena.Meanwhile, in Drakonix, a general with three stars on his shoulder hurriedly ran into the Emperor's Pavillion."Stop! The Emperor's Pavillion is a restricted area." Two soldiers guarding the entrance stepped forward, blocking his path."It's about the battle report. It's urgent. If you stop me, can you take responsibility for the consequences?" The general shouted as he shoved the two soldiers aside, rushing toward the Emperor's Pavillion."Battle report. This is a matter of life and death."He pushed open the doors of the Emperor's Pavillion, waving the report in his hand as he ran toward the emperor, who was hunched over his desk, reviewing documents.The emperor frowned slightly, looking up at the general. "Do you not know the rules of the Emperor's Pavillion? This behavior is unseemly.""Your Majesty. It’s a report from the Northern Plains army."With a loud thud, the general dr
With a sharp command from Hilton, eight guards rushed into the grand hall, kneeling on one knee. "At your service.""Take him outside and execute him.""Wait." Before Hilton could finish his sentence, the emperor's voice echoed from behind. "Jade’s argument makes sense. Ace and the others are indeed gravely wounded. If this were some kind of ruse, they would be committing suicide. "Xayne built his legacy in the Northern Plains, and Ace and his men are his most loyal generals. Even if they wanted to use a strategy like that, they wouldn’t gamble with Ace’s life."The emperor waved a hand to signal Jade to rise.He then focused on the report lying on the floor, saying, "Right now, the Northern Plains army is surrounded and isolated. The pressing question is, who can lead the forces to their rescue?""Your Majesty, I believe the only solution is to recall the King of the North. Without him, the 200,000 Dragonbreakers Legion are in peril. Dragonbreakers Legion is the backbone of our
Deanana glanced at Xayne as she coyly smiled. "Mr. Xayne, no need to be so reserved with me. After all, I used to be one of your admirers. I always thought you were an extraordinary man."Although it seems I misjudged you, still, you were a part of my girlish dreams. Don't let your current misfortunes bother you too much. People say a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken, and while that's true, I happen to have a kind heart."Her words, though laced with laughter, were razor-sharp. Each one was a jab meant to cut deep.Her meaning was clear: "You might have been a shining star once, but now, you're nothing in my eyes—not even worth a second glance." Helping Xayne get his luggage was just an act, nothing more."Mr. Xayne, do you remember? Just a few years ago, at this very airport, you were returning from... oh yes, the Seven Nations Summit!"You know, I waited at the airport entrance for over four hours that morning just to get your autograph. But sadly, your security team didn'
"Heh, Miss Deanana, you also know that's all in the past. Even if he were still the King of the North, we live in peaceful times now. No one gets special privileges, right?" Dean chimed in smoothly, his tone laced with mockery."Dean! Do you even realize what you're doing?!" Aava could not hold back any longer, her eyes glaring fiercely as she clenched her fists in anger."Of course, I know what I'm doing, and I know neither of you are ordinary people. Thinking about hitting me? Don't forget, there are plenty of reporters over there. If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll make sure Xayne's reputation is ruined," Dean replied smugly.Dean's sneer widened into a wicked grin, the confidence radiating from him undeniable."Manager Dean, how about this? To be honest, I used to admire Mr. Xayne. Why don't you do me a favor and return his belongings? It would be a great gesture," Deanana interjected with a gentle smile.Upon hearing this, Aava bristled with fury. She knew Deanana was up to s
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