The Path Of A True King.

The gambling house was buried in the heart of the gangless area, a dimly lit building tucked between two rundown apartments.

The neon sign flickered erratically, casting an eerie glow over the entrance.

The scent of alcohol and cheap cigars lingered in the air, mixing with the stale stench of sweat and desperation.

Kai walked ahead, his sharp blue eyes scanning the scene before stepping inside.

Jack followed with his usual cocky grin, while Lucas trailed behind, hands in his pockets.

Tristan and Kevin were off handling another job, but that was fine—this was more than manageable.

The moment they entered, a wave of tension washed over them.

The place was packed with gamblers, each engrossed in their games, betting away their hard-earned cash—or what little was left of it.

A few heads turned, eyeing them with curiosity, but most ignored them.

Jack whistled, running a hand through his blond hair. "Smells like money in here."

Lucas gave him a sidelong glance. "Smells like sweat and desperation."

Kai ignored their banter, his gaze fixed on the tables where a group of men played cards, stacks of bills piled between them.

But something was off.

He could feel it.

The way they moved, the way their muscles tensed under their jackets—these weren't ordinary gamblers.

Breathing techniques.

Most of the men here were using them, their subtle control over their bodies allowing them to remain unnaturally composed, their reflexes heightened.

"This is gonna be Troublesome. I didn't expect them to be a lot," Kai muttered under his breath.

Jack's grin widened. "That just makes it more fun."

Lucas exhaled sharply, stepping forward. "I'll start."

He walked up to one of the tables, cracking his knuckles before slamming a stack of cash onto the surface. "I'll play."

The men at the table barely reacted, exchanging glances before one of them smirked. "You sure about that, kid?"

Lucas grabbed a chair and sat down. "Why not? I could use some extra cash."

The game began. At first, it was normal—bluffs, bets, and calculated risks.

But it didn't take long before the tension escalated.

The gamblers weren't just relying on luck; they were testing Lucas.

But Lucas wasn't easy prey.

He adjusted quickly, reading their movements, adapting to their speed.

His skills weren't as refined as theirs, but his raw instincts and sharp mind kept him in the game.

He played aggressively, raising the stakes, forcing the others to react.

Then, it happened.

One of the men moved to take a card, But Lucas caught his hand.

"Hey, kid let my hand go." The man said

Lucas smiled and said "Well, why should I when you guys are cheating." grabbing the man's wrist before twisting it violently.

The sound of bones cracking filled the air.

The gambling house fell silent.

The man howled in pain, but before he could retaliate, Kai and Jack were already moving.

The room exploded into chaos.

Chairs scraped against the floor as the gamblers lunged at them.

Fists flew, tables flipped, and the once-calm establishment erupted into chaos.

The air filled with the sharp crack of bones and the grunts of men struggling for dominance.

Chairs shattered against bodies, glassware exploded on impact, and the dim lighting flickered as the battle raged on.

Lucas struggled at first, his opponents moving faster and striking harder thanks to their refined breathing techniques.

A fist came at him from the right—he barely ducked in time, countering with a sharp elbow to the ribs.

Another opponent swept at his legs, forcing him to jump back.

They were fast, aggressive, and relentless.

But he refused to fall behind.

Gritting his teeth, Lucas adjusted to their rhythm.

His eyes narrowed, analyzing their movements, predicting their strikes.

When the next punch came, he deflected it with his forearm and delivered a brutal knee to the attacker's stomach.

A second enemy lunged, but Lucas sidestepped, grabbed the man's arm, and twisted it with bone-snapping force before slamming him onto a table.

Jack, on the other hand, was having the time of his life.

He weaved through the chaos like a dancer, laughing as he dodged punches and delivered precise counterattacks.

One man lunged at him with a bottle, but Jack ducked, slipping behind him in an instant.

With a smirk, he grabbed the attacker's collar and drove his knee into his face, sending him sprawling.

"Come on, guys! Pick up the pace!" Jack taunted, sidestepping another wild swing. "This is just getting fun!"

Lucas snorted, shoving another opponent into a wall. "You're insane."

Then—

The back door slammed open. A new group stormed in.

Guns.

"Get down!" Kai's voice rang out over the chaos.

The three of them dove for cover as gunfire erupted, bullets tearing through tables and walls.

Wood splintered, lights shattered, and screams filled the air as stray rounds struck some of the people who weren't part of this gambling house and also their own team.

Jack peeked out, letting out a low whistle. "Well, this just got interesting."

Lucas cursed. "What now?"

Kai didn't hesitate.

His hands slipped into his coat, and in a blur of motion, he pulled out his daggers.

The steel gleamed under the dim light, reflecting the chaos around them.

Then, he moved.

A shadow among men, Kai dashed forward, closing the distance before the gunmen could adjust.

His daggers became a blur, slicing through the air as he deflected incoming bullets mid-flight, redirecting them into walls and floors.

The clang of metal on metal mixed with the sharp cracks of gunfire, but Kai remained untouched, his movements impossibly fluid.

A gunman raised his weapon—too slow.

Kai was already there, twisting his wrist, plunging a dagger into his throat.

Another turned, but before he could fire, Kai's blade tore through his ribs.

He spun, dodging a shot by inches, then lunged, driving his dagger into the attacker's heart.

Jack, watching from cover, let out an appreciative chuckle. "Damn. He's not just fast anymore. He's at the Intermediate Knight stage."

Lucas smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "No wonder he's acting cocky."

Kai didn't slow down.

He slipped through their ranks like a ghost, weaving between bullets.

One by one, the gunmen fell, their weapons clattering to the floor.

Moments later, the last body collapsed, leaving only silence.

Kai exhaled, flicking the blood from his blades before turning to the others. "Let's move."

Jack stretched, rolling his shoulders. "That was fun." He looked around at the mess and saw that the other gang members weren't moving some being afraid and other dead as he smiled, following Kai.

Lucas wiped a streak of blood from his cheek. "You call this fun?"

Jack grinned. "Depends on the outcome."

Kai ignored them, stepping toward the only door left—the boss's room.

They pushed inside, greeted by the sight of a lone figure sitting behind a desk.

The boss.

He was built like a tank, muscles rippling under his suit.

His breathing was steady, controlled—far more refined than the others.

His piercing eyes held an unsettling calm, a predator studying its prey.

A dangerous aura filled the room, thick with dominance.

At the Peak intermediate Knight.