THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David crouched low, his breath steady as the four men encircled him, their expressions shifting between amusement and unease. They thought he had lost his mind, but something primal in their instincts warned them. Even without supernatural abilities David was not to be underestimated. David, or rather Mark in his truest essence, exuded a dangerous aura, a silent promise of violence waiting to unfold.

One heartbeat later, David vanished from their sight.

"What the—?!" one of the men stammered, his eyes darting frantically.

Before he could finish his sentence, David reappeared, moving with blinding speed. His target, the man on the far left, had no time to react as David's hand shot out, aiming for his throat. A sharp, choked gasp escaped the man as he stumbled backward, clutching at his neck in panic.

The remaining three froze in disbelief, their bravado faltering. The nearest one lunged forward, trying to intercept David, but he underestimated his opponent's cunning. David used his lower height and agility to his advantage, ducking under the man's outstretched arm and delivering a swift, devastating blow to his groin. The man crumpled to his knees, a pained howl ripping through the room.

Without missing a beat, David seized the opportunity and snatched a dagger lodged in the mans belt. Using the man's hunched form as leverage, he propelled himself upward, the dagger gleaming ominously in the dim light. The blade found its mark, piercing the skull of the third man dead center. A gruesome spray of blood erupted like a macabre fountain, painting the walls and floor in crimson. The lifeless body collapsed with a sickening thud, the scene etched with chaos and gore.

The last man—the one who had been holding Brendah—watched in abject horror. His grip on her loosened, and she fell to the floor, crawling away as quickly as her battered body allowed.

"Stay back! Stay the hell away from me!" the man screamed, his voice cracking as he staggered backward. His fear was palpable, his bravado replaced by the realization that David was no mere human.

David's gaze locked onto him, icy and unrelenting. Without hesitation, he hurled the dagger with precision, the blade sinking into the man's lower back. A guttural cry of pain erupted from his lips as he collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony. David approached him slowly, each step deliberate, his presence suffocating.

"Did you know," David began, his voice calm but laced with menace, "that the pelvic region is one of the most painful places to be attacked?"

The man whimpered, unable to form coherent words. David crouched down, gripping the dagger's hilt firmly. With a cruel twist, he elicited a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the room. The man's eyes rolled back, and he mercifully passed out from the overwhelming pain.

David stood, his chest heaving as the adrenaline coursed through him. The room fell silent save for Brendah's soft sobs and Delilah's labored breaths. The onlookers, too stunned to move, stared at him with a mixture of awe and terror. But amidst the carnage, something gnawed at David's mind. Explore more adventures at empire

A faint chime broke the silence as a glowing system window materialized before him. His eyes narrowed as he read the text:

[Special Quest Activated]

Objective: Kill everyone in the brothel.

Reward: Path to the King of Night.

Failure: Death of the Host.

David's breath hitched, his eyes widening in horror as the implications sank in. The glowing words seemed to mock him, their sinister meaning undeniable. The air grew heavier as his mind raced, grappling with the weight of the system's command. The room, though filled with people, suddenly felt oppressively empty, save for the cold, unyielding gaze of destiny bearing down on him.

David stood motionless, gripping the dagger, his knuckles white with tension. His eyes darted across the room, taking in the terrified expressions of those around him. Every pair of eyes seemed to bore into his soul, making him feel cornered and uneasy. He tried to calm his racing thoughts, telling himself this was the path he had chosen—the path to strength. He needed to get stronger. For Seraphina. For Katrina. For Vivian. For Shay. For Angelica. Each name echoed in his mind like a mantra, driving away the doubt threatening to consume him.

"They're not real people," David muttered under his breath, trying to convince himself. "This is just a step... just another step."

With a sharp inhale, he unlodged the dagger from the last man's body, the sound of metal scraping against bone sending a shiver down his spine. The room felt eerily quiet, save for the faint crackle of a dying lantern. But then, a sobbing sound broke through the silence, soft and trembling, growing louder with each second.

David turned sharply, his gaze falling on Brendah, who was slumped on the floor. Tears streamed down her bruised face as she shook her head, her lips trembling. "Winter... please... stop," she choked out, her voice filled with despair.

The words pierced through David's haze of resolve like a dagger to his heart. His grip on the weapon faltered, and with a metallic clatter, it fell from his hand. The weight of his actions bore down on him, dragging him back to his senses.

David crouched down beside Brendah, his hands shaking as he gently pulled her into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and hoarse. He brushed her matted hair away from her face, his white locks falling over his eyes.

Brendah looked up at him, her hand weakly reaching out to touch his cheek. "I'm okay," she whispered, her voice soothing despite her exhaustion. Her fingers brushed his hair aside, revealing his haunted gaze. "But you... you need to stop having that look in your eye."

David blinked, his brows knitting together. "What look?"

Before she could respond, a sudden, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

[Countdown Initiated: 5... 4...]

David froze, panic flaring in his chest. His breath quickened as he realized something was horribly wrong.

[3... 2...]

His heart seized, a sharp, agonizing pain spreading through his chest. He gasped, his vision blurring as Brendah's voice called out to him, desperate and frantic.

"Winter! Winter!"

[0.]

David's body went limp, collapsing to the floor as darkness consumed him.