An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

“Damn it! This punk’s tougher than I thought. We’re in real trouble if this keeps up,” Connor said, swinging his twin blades relentlessly. Every strike was aimed at Axel’s vital points.

But Axel was quick. He weaved in and out of reach and avoided direct confrontation. It was obvious he was just stalling for time.

“Sir Prescott should be far enough by now. There’s no point dragging this out. Let’s fall back.”

Sensing the futility of their efforts, Dave considered retreating. He didn’t fear death, but he wasn’t about to waste his life for nothing.

Since Warrick had escaped, their interception mission was also completed.

“You guys hold him off. The rest of you, fall back with me.”

Connor was decisive. Realizing they weren’t making any progress, he quickly ordered a retreat and left a few decoys behind to buy time.

They had barely run a hundred yards when a wave of soldiers suddenly appeared at the alley’s entrance. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, filled the narrow space and completely blocked any chance of escape.

“Fall back!”

Connor and Dave exchanged a glance.

Without hesitation, they turned and bolted in the opposite direction. With fewer than a hundred men, charging into an enemy several times their size would be suicide.

The sound of perfectly synchronized footsteps echoed from ahead, and the ground beneath them started to shake.

Connor and Dave skidded to a halt. Their eyes widened in shock as they stared at the distance.

road, a

their eyes sharp, and radiated a deadly authority. Their presence was even more intimidating than

“Draken Guardians?”

saw the emblem

of West Lucozia was already the most elite military force

the Draken Guardians were something else entirely. They were the cream of the crop, handpicked from thousands of Black Dragon Army soldiers. They were the best of

only a hundred or so, but each one was a master in their own right. Any single

deploy such a force unless the situation was dire. Neither had expected the legendary Draken Guardians to be deployed over this

and Dave knew there was

they were facing thousands of soldiers, they were confident they could fight their way through.

now, Axel had regrouped with the reinforcements and

hundred Red Legion soldiers were trapped. They were

nowhere to run or hide

the Draken Guardians came to a stop. A broad-shouldered, imposing

he

but they carried a

middle-aged general was Jaxon Steele, who achieved great

Dave-he two small fry-but Warrick, who was halfway

that caliber was enough to

“What should we do?”

and his

to live on the same day, month, or year. Instead, they only promised to die together on the same

else can we do?