Chapter 2: Upheaval

Words : 2089 Updated : Oct 30th, 2025

"I'm Bruce Yale, Master of Godbane Hall. I'm in Jenton on business. Waste my time, and you shall bear the consequences." In Yanos' War Department Headquarters, Bruce's icy message sent a shock through the crowd. Faces blanched among the powerbrokers who wielded crushing authority. No matter how urgent their tasks, they dropped everything at once. Senior officials rushed to the conference room. The whole War Department was rocked. Godbane Hall was in a league of its own, its lethal capabilities overwhelming, and every member was a born fighter. Bruce's name was something the underworld spoke in hushed, fearful tones. Under him, the Four Heavenly Kings had blood-soaked records. They'd taken down plenty of underground kingpins and foreign War Gods. "Godbane Hall has always been friendly with Aryn. Why would Bruce suddenly force his way in?" "He mentioned Jenton. Did someone in Jenton set him off?" "What on earth happened in Jenton?" "We can't pull any info on his activities inside Aryn. Only top-level clearance can access his file." "He's already at the western border. Do we let him in or not?" Debate swirled without resolution. Eyes turned to the front of the room, to a white-haired elder. He had commanded Aryn's War Department for more than ten years. He was a pillar of the state and the War Department's supreme commander, Brett Casson. A large screen stood before him, showing a plane racing toward Aryn. Brett turned slowly toward the room. As soon as people saw him, the room went silent. His hair had gone white, but his spirit was keen, his gaze sharp, and he carried an air of unquestioned authority. "One hour ago, Slayer Hall's headquarters was leveled. Every local branch was wiped out," he said. "Godbane Hall was behind it." "You all know how it started." "Over the years, Godbane Hall has done much for Aryn, both in the open and in the shadows. We owe him a favor." "Let him in. Do not obstruct him." "I will take responsibility for all consequences." His final words landed with iron certainty. "Yes!" A senior official sprang up and rushed to notify the border to grant passage. Brett looked to the screen again, his brow knitting, and said in a low voice, "Bruce is coming in hot. This could get very turbulent." "Contact Drakonis at once. Have him take the Drakonis Guards to Jenton. Keep eyes on the situation and step in to stabilize it if needed." "Find out exactly what happened in Jenton. Do not let it escalate." Letting Bruce Yale Aryn was a debt repaid. The arrangements that followed were Brett's duty. No one yet knew why Bruce had entered Aryn with murder in his eyes, so they could only prepare ahead of time. Drakonis was foremost among Aryn's four War Gods. If battle broke out, he should be able to keep the damage to a minimum. If even Drakonis couldn't stop Bruce's ferocity, then all hell would break loose in Aryn. Meanwhile, on the West Second Ring Road of Jenton, inside a luxury house, a brutal man with a hideous scar slashed across his face wore a cold smile. A woman sat collapsed on the floor before him, beaten down and pitiful. The man was Micah, first among the Black Dragon Gang's four top enforcers. He swaggered across Jenton like a tyrant, so feared that he could scare a crying kid into silence. Wherever he went, people fell silent; no one even dared meet his eye. Micah waved his phone and grinned, baring his teeth. "Amelia, another hour has passed." "Earlier, I only slapped your daughter a few times." "Now, I'm going to break one of her arms." "Come on, keep your eyes open. Watch them break her arm with your own eyes." "If it's past midnight and you still can't scrape together that hundred grand, we'll dump your girl in the Long River." On the screen, a little girl cowered in a corner, shaking with fear. In front of Micah, a woman sat on the floor with matted hair and cheeks streaked by tears. She was Amelia. Amelia's tears streamed. She shook her head wildly and cried, ragged and hoarse. "No, please, don't hurt her." "I already repaid the ten grand principal I borrowed. I have no money left." For the last year, her daughter had suffered from a strange illness that had drained Amelia's savings dry. She'd borrowed ten grand from a loan company to get by, not knowing the notorious Black Dragon Gang stood behind it. In just a month, the Gang had jacked the interest up tenfold, demanding a hundred grand. Micah gave a cold smile. "You repaid the principal, so you don't have to pay the interest?" "You borrow it, you pay it back. That's how it works." "If your daughter dies, that's on you. You let it happen." His savage words drove the light from Amelia's face. She broke down. "Don't hurt her. Please, give me a few more days." Micah's face stayed blank. "I give you time; who gives me time?" "Time for the hourly punishment." He leaned into the phone and barked, "Do it!" On screen, a man in black strode to the little girl and delivered a sweeping kick. "Waaah!" "Mama!" "I'm scared... I wanna go home, Mommy!" "Woo!" "Daddy, where are you?" The girl's despairing wails stabbed Amelia's heart like a knife. Her heart felt like it was being torn open. "Bastards, I'll fight you!" She lunged at Micah like a maddened lioness. He shot her a contemptuous look, slid aside, and hooked her ankle with his foot. Amelia pitched forward and crashed to the floor. "Ha! With that little bit of strength, you think you can fight back?" "There are still three hours until midnight." "One more arm and a leg, then we dump your girl in the Long River." "Hear how hard she's crying? Even if you don't care, I almost feel bad for her." Micah laughed loud and wild, savoring the feeling of playing with someone else's fate. It pleased him. Amelia trembled all over, sobbing until no sound came. Her voice shook when she said, "Give me a phone. I'll call my parents again." He tilted his head, and a lackey handed over a phone. Amelia's hands trembled as she dialed. The call connected right away. "Mom, did you get the money?" "Amelia, how is Jane? That damned uncle of yours still refused. Your father and I knelt to him, and he not only refused, he threw us out." "Jane, she... Woo!" "Amelia, don't cry. Your father and I will go beg him again..." Seeing Amelia sob so hard she couldn't form a sentence, Micah snatched the phone and hung up. Over the past year of her daughter's illness, Amelia had borrowed from anyone she could. Even the ten grand she'd repaid to the Black Dragon Gang had been scraped together by her best friend, Michelle Jauncy. Now she truly didn't know who else to ask for the hundred grand. Time slipped away. Another hour was about to pass. Bang! Micah kicked the door open and strode in like a demon. "Amelia, your parents still haven't called back." "My biggest weakness is my kindness." "Seeing how pitiful you are, I'll let you choose." "This time, arm or leg. You pick." His smile curled at one corner. In Amelia's eyes, it was worse than a devil's grin. She shut her eyes in despair and rasped, "You animal. I hope you die horribly." Micah laughed. "Yeah, I'm sure I'll die ugly." "Fine, I'll do you a favor and choose for you." "Your girl's already had one arm broken, so..." He broke off, frowning toward the window. A murderous aura unlike anything he'd ever felt flooded the room, suffocatingly heavy. Crash! A figure with a terrifying aura burst through the window and landed in the room. It was Bruce, who had pushed himself to the limit to get here in time. His eyes were blood-red. He shot Micah a look. Micah felt the bottom drop out as pure terror ripped through him; he staggered backward again and again. Bruce's gaze swept the room and settled on Amelia. He saw the gentle, laughing girl she had once been reduced to this state. A tidal wave of murderous intent exploded from him and seemed to blanket the whole city.

Chapter 2: Upheaval

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