An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

“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.

of the road, a wave of

were hidden behind menacing masks. They were tall, their eyes sharp, and radiated a deadly authority. Their presence was even

“Draken Guardians?”

they saw the emblem on the

was already the most elite military

crop, handpicked from thousands of Black Dragon Army soldiers. They were the best of

each one was a master in their own right. Any single member could stand toe-to-toe

the situation was dire.

appeared, Connor and Dave knew there was no

facing thousands of soldiers, they were confident they could fight their way through. But against a hundred Draken

now, Axel had regrouped with the

trapped. They were caught

to run or hide

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

eyes swept over Connor and Dave before he spoke in

but they carried

middle-aged general was Jaxon Steele, who achieved great feats

wasn’t Connor or Dave-he two small fry-but Warrick, who was halfway to becoming

of that caliber was enough to warrant the Draken

“What should we do?”

glanced at Connor, and his grip tightened

bound by a vow. They didn’t need to live on the same day, month, or year. Instead, they only promised to die together on the same

else can we do? Fight the