Under the dark night sky, a true storm was approaching.
The roar of engines shattered the silence, as a fleet of supercars tore through the night at terrifying speed. Tires screeched against the asphalt, leaving behind dazzling streaks of light amidst the darkness.
But that wasn't all.
From above, the deep, thunderous hum of helicopter blades sliced through the air, reverberating across the sky—an ominous warning that an unforgiving force was about to descend.
Lucian wasn't just going to rescue Aaron—he was bringing with him the wrath of a King.
And for those who dared stand in his way, there was only one fate—
To vanish without a trace.
————————————————
The dark night sky loomed overhead, with icy winds howling through the air, carrying a biting chill that cut through flesh. A terrifying silence blanketed the vast, desolate space, broken only by the dim flicker of light illuminating patches of dried blood on the cold, hard ground. Stacks of cargo crates and rusted shipping containers towered around the area, forming the perfect battleground for the impending confrontation.
Standing in the middle of the open space was a man with a sinister smirk. The faint light behind him cast a long, eerie shadow across the concrete. Raihan crouched down, his gaze filled with contempt and twisted amusement as he looked at the figure lying motionless on the ground.
-"What's wrong? Smile for me, won't you? Your savior is coming soon."
His voice dripped with mockery as he spoke, his eyes brimming with scorn as they bore into the battered figure at his feet.
Aaron—once someone who had loved him wholeheartedly—now lay broken and bloodied, his entire body covered in bruises, his breath weak and ragged.
Despite the searing pain consuming his body, Aaron gritted his teeth, using the last of his strength to force out a few words.
-"Bastard… I was a fool to ever love you… If you're going to kill me, then do it. Just don't hurt Lucian."
His eyes burned with pure hatred, a fire of rage igniting in his chest. The man before him was no longer the one he had once loved—he was nothing more than a monster, a demon hiding behind a deceitful mask.
'Smack!'
A harsh slap sent Aaron's head snapping to the side, his lips splitting open as blood trickled down his chin. Raihan grabbed his face roughly, forcing him to look directly into his cold, sneering eyes.
-"Shut the hell up! You're going to die anyway. What does it matter? Sacrificing you for his wealth—now that is worth it… Hahaha! Lucian, hurry up and come!"
He laughed maniacally, as if reveling in the twisted ending he had orchestrated.
Aaron clenched his teeth, his entire body trembling from the agony, but his gaze remained unwavering, filled with chilling determination. His voice, once fragile, was now laced with a murderous coldness.
-"If… you don't kill me now, the first person I will kill… will be you."
There was no more fear. No hesitation. Raihan had crushed the love Aaron once had for him, twisting it into a deep, unquenchable hatred.
Raihan scoffed, his lips curling into a mocking grin.
-"You think you'll make it out of here alive? Save your breath and watch as the man you care for dies before your eyes!"
With that, he swung his foot forward, landing a brutal kick to Aaron's stomach.
A sharp pain exploded through his body, like his insides were being ripped apart. Yet, Aaron bit down hard, refusing to let a single cry of pain escape his lips. He wouldn't give Raihan the satisfaction of seeing him break.
•"Lucian, don't come here…"
The desperate thought raced through his mind as his heart pounded wildly against his ribcage, bleeding in agony. He knew—Lucian would never abandon him. But he didn't want Lucian to risk everything for his sake.
If Lucian were to be injured, trapped… or worse—killed—what would Aaron do then?
•"Please… don't come. Just leave me behind… Lucian."
But deep down, Aaron knew—
Lucian would never do that.
"Screech—"
The sharp screech of tires tore through the silence of the night. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, a sleek, jet-black supercar rolled forward, its presence as menacing as a beast emerging from the darkness. Even through the tinted windows, it wasn't difficult to make out the man in the driver's seat—tall, refined, yet exuding an aura of pure, suffocating dominance.
He was here. Lucian.
Raihan's lips curled into a satisfied smirk, his eyes glinting with a twisted excitement—like a madman convinced that victory was already in his grasp. He glanced at his subordinates, and the bloodthirsty maniacs beside him could barely contain their excitement as they roared with hatred.
-"It's him! Lucian! Kill him!"
The moment the order left his lips, his men lunged forward, ready to strike—
But they had made a grave mistake.
Before any of them could act, a sudden, bone-chilling dread crept down their spines. Eyes widened in shock as their aggression melted into sheer terror. The air grew thick, suffocating, as an oppressive silence took hold.
Even Raihan felt something was wrong. But before he could react—
From the left. From the right. From behind.
Even from above.
More supercars emerged from the shadows.
Not one. Not two. Hundreds.
They lined up in an impenetrable formation, their headlights illuminating the entire area like a stage set for an execution.
And that wasn't all—
'Thud, thud, thud…'
The deafening roar of helicopter rotors filled the air, shaking the very ground beneath them. From above, military-grade helicopters hovered, their searchlights piercing through the darkness, locking onto every single person below. The mounted guns on them gleamed ominously—one command, and they would rain bullets, turning this place into a massacre.
-"W-What… the hell…?" Raihan stood frozen, his breath hitching as an overwhelming sense of unease crashed over him like a tidal wave.
He hadn't expected this.
In his mind, Lucian would show up with only a few men—maybe an elite squad at most.
But this?
It wasn't just Lucian's men.
It wasn't just a fleet of luxury cars.
It wasn't just helicopters.
The true kings of the underworld were here.
The kind of men who, with a mere flick of their wrists, could erase Raihan's entire bloodline from existence.
Lucian had brought them all.
And in this very moment, the real madman—was Lucian.
He remained as composed as ever, his icy gaze unwavering. Without the slightest hint of urgency or fear, he opened the car door and stepped out. The lights from above cast his shadow long across the ground—like a frozen king stepping onto his battlefield.
-"I'm here." His voice was deep, chilling to the core. "If you have the guts, come and kill me."
Each word that fell from his lips tightened the noose around them all. The air itself felt like it would shatter from the sheer tension.
Raihan clenched his fists, cold sweat trickling down his spine. But he quickly gritted his teeth, shoving his fear aside. At this point, there was no turning back.
If he didn't kill Lucian now—he would be the one to die.
-"F*ck it! Kill them all!" Raihan roared.
And in that very instant—
The war of kings had begun.
Regardless of the chaos raging around him, Lucian continued his unhurried steps forward.
His tall figure moved past the fallen, bodies sprawled across the blood-soaked ground—yet not a single drop of blood dared to stain him. He was like an untouchable god of war, each step unwavering, exuding an inescapable aura of death.
Then, he stopped.
Right before him, Aaron lay there—small, fragile, and utterly drained.
His face was pale, marred with wounds, his faint breaths threatening to cease at any moment. Lucian stared at him, and for the first time, the coldness in his gaze flickered. A deep, crimson madness flashed through his eyes.
A searing pain twisted in his chest.
Rage ignited like an inferno, consuming his last remnants of restraint.
-"Kill those who dared to harm my Empress…" His voice was chillingly low.
"LEAVE NOT A SINGLE ONE ALIVE."
And with the king's decree—hell itself was unleashed.
Gunfire erupted, echoing like a symphony of death. Blood splattered, bodies crumpled beneath the blinding lights. Lucian's elite assassins moved like wraiths, taking down enemies with swift, merciless precision. One by one, they fell—too fast to even scream.
The difference in power was absolute.
Above, the attack helicopters hovered like bloodthirsty beasts, their weapons primed and ready. Yet, they did not fire—not yet. Because the one most precious to the King was still here, still within the line of danger. The moment Lucian left, they would not hesitate to reduce this place to ashes.
Lucian finally tore his gaze from Aaron and turned toward Raihan. His steps were slow, deliberate, each click of his shoes against the ground like a countdown to the traitor's end.
-"You did this to him?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it cut like the sharpest blade.
Raihan clenched his jaw, still forcing a smirk despite the suffocating dread clawing at his throat.
-"That's right… So what? Hurts, doesn't it?" He sneered. "I'll send you to hell along with AAAA—"
'BANG!'
A piercing scream tore through the battlefield.
Raihan clutched his hand, blood gushing from the fresh bullet wound. His eyes widened in shock, disbelief flashing across his face.
Lucian had pulled the trigger without warning. No hesitation, no wasted motion. He didn't care whether Raihan lived or died—he only cared about punishing the fool who dared to disrespect his Empress.
Lucian didn't spare him another glance.
He turned back, his gaze softening as it fell upon Aaron. Amidst the blood-soaked battlefield, his voice rang out, steady and resolute:
-"I let Aaron go to find happiness. But if he isn't happy, then I will bring him back to me."
He bent down, carefully gathering Aaron into his arms—as if he were the most precious thing in the world. His voice, calm yet absolute, echoed through the night:
"And if he suffers even more, then those who caused him pain have no right to live."
Aaron felt the warmth enveloping him. He struggled to open his eyes, his voice weak as he whispered:
-"Lu… Lucian…"
Lucian looked down at him. His expression remained cold, but within those eyes—there was a gentleness that only Aaron could see.
-"Let's go home."
And with that, he turned, holding Aaron close as he walked away from the carnage.
And at that exact moment—
Hellfire rained down.
Gunshots roared through the night, crimson flares illuminating the darkness.
One by one, Lucian's enemies fell, their bodies collapsing like puppets with severed strings.
Yet none of it—none of the chaos, none of the bloodshed—could touch the one in Lucian's arms.
Through the inferno of death, he walked steadily, an untouchable King carrying his Empress away from the battlefield.
And no one—no one—had the right to stop him.
Aaron lay securely in his arms, his weary eyes fluttering open as he gazed at the familiar face above him.
He was still the Lucian Aaron knew—cold, ruthless, yet the only person who made him feel absolutely safe.
His voice, weak but unwavering, broke the silence.
-"Why… did you risk everything… to save me?"
Lucian looked down, his deep black eyes unreadable, his voice low and firm—like an unshakable vow.
-"Because I love you."
He was never one for sweet words. But those three simple words—"I love you"—coming from him, were an eternal promise that could never be broken.
Aaron's tense body finally relaxed. He closed his eyes, drifting into unconsciousness within Lucian's embrace. A dangerous man—yet the only place where he could find peace.
Lucian gently placed him inside the car, removing his coat and draping it over Aaron's fragile frame. Then, he leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his forehead.
It was not just tenderness—it was a declaration.
No matter how the world crumbled, he would protect Aaron.
Once, Lucian thought love was nothing but a foolish weakness.
But now, he had spoken the word love—for Aaron.
And that alone was enough to show just how much Aaron meant to him.
How deeply, how irrevocably he loved him.
Lucian took the driver's seat, his cold gaze sweeping over the battlefield one last time. He didn't need to look back—he already knew.
Not a single soul who dared to stand against him tonight would live to see another day.
The engine roared to life, and the car rolled forward, leaving behind a war zone bathed in crimson.
And in the distance—only the sound of gunfire remained, ringing like a death knell for those left behind.
END OF CHAPTER 8.