Velkath – Draymore’s Empire Cracks
By nightfall, the tide had turned. Draymore had sent his men to burn down Leon’s influence, but Leon had done something far more devastating—he struck at Draymore’s *money*.
Three of Draymore’s largest gambling dens were hit simultaneously. Celica led the first strike, a silent massacre where no guards were left breathing. The second, led by Aldric, was turned into a smoldering ruin, the flames devouring everything inside.
But the third was the real masterpiece.
Leon had bribed Draymore’s own debt collectors to turn on him. When Draymore’s men arrived for their usual cut, they found the vaults empty and the enforcers dead, their bodies piled in the alley like discarded trash.
Rumors spread like wildfire—Draymore wasn’t untouchable. His empire had cracks.
And Leon was driving a knife into every single one.
---
House Draymore – The Breaking Point
Kain Draymore sat in his study, his fingers digging into the arms of his chair.
Across from him knelt one of his lieutenants, blood trickling from his busted lip. "The men are scared, boss. They’re saying Eryndor’s one step ahead of us every time."
Kain’s jaw tightened. "Of course he is. The bastard isn’t fighting fair."
He turned his gaze to The Whisper, who stood motionless by the window. "You said he was a warrior. You didn’t say he was a *damn tactician*."
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The Whisper’s voice was as unreadable as his expression. "He is both."
Kain exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. Then, his lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.
"Fine. Let’s stop playing his game."
He leaned forward. "He wants a war? Then let’s bring one to his front door."
---
Eryndor Estate – The Ambush
The attack came at midnight.
Leon had expected retaliation, but not so soon. Draymore’s men moved fast, hitting the estate from three directions at once. Firebombs shattered against the outer walls, setting the gardens ablaze.
The front gates buckled under the weight of a battering ram.
Leon stood at the top of the stairs, dressed for war. A pistol gleamed at his hip, a saber in his hand.
Aldric rushed up beside him. "They’re coming in heavy. Mercenaries, not just thugs."
Celica emerged from the shadows, wiping blood from her blade. "Took out the scouts, but there are too many to stop quietly."
Leon smiled. "Then we make some noise."
He turned to the men at his command—hardened fighters who had sworn loyalty to him. "Hold the estate. Kill anyone who steps inside."
The first wave crashed through the gates.
And the slaughter began.
---
The Battle for Eryndor Estate
Steel clashed against steel as Draymore’s mercenaries surged forward, meeting a wall of resistance. Gunfire echoed through the halls, cutting men down before they could even raise their weapons.
Celica moved like a wraith, slipping through the chaos, her daggers finding throats with deadly precision. Aldric fought like a beast, his greatsword cleaving through multiple enemies at once.
Leon was in the center of it all—his saber cutting down the first attacker, his pistol taking out another before he even hit the ground.
But Draymore’s men were relentless.
They fought to overwhelm, to drown Eryndor’s forces in sheer numbers.
And then the real threat arrived.
---
The Whisper Reveals Himself
Leon felt it before he saw it—a shift in the air, a predator stepping into the fray.
Then, from the smoke, The Whisper emerged.
His blade gleamed under the firelight, his movements too smooth, too precise.
Leon barely had time to raise his saber before the assassin struck.
Their blades clashed, the force of the impact sending sparks flying.
The Whisper moved with terrifying speed, his strikes like a storm—relentless, unpredictable.
Leon dodged, countered, his instincts saving him by fractions of a second.
For the first time in years, he felt *pushed*.
And he *loved it*.
---
End of Chapter Fifteen
