"Arrogant!"
"Do you even know what you've gotten yourself into?!"
A chorus of indignant shouts erupted as several soldiers stepped forward, eyes blazing with fury. Damien's calm, dismissive words struck a nerve deep within them. They were soldiers of the esteemed Blue Hammer Kingdom—elite warriors whose presence alone was enough to command respect across cities and fortresses alike.
Never before had they been spoken to like this.
Insulted.
Dismissed.
One soldier clenched his spear tighter, another reached instinctively toward his blade, knuckles whitening. Their honor had been stained—and in their eyes, this outsider would pay.
Just as the first soldier's lips curled into a snarl, a piercing whine split the air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three flashes of light exploded from Damien's position. The concussive bursts of gunfire tore through the tense atmosphere, louder than thunder, sharper than a blade.
