Chapter 75: The Fall of a King
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1. Blood in the Water
Jinwoo's vision swam as he forced himself forward.
The bullet wound burned, every step sending fresh pain through his body.
Ji-hyun grabbed his arm. "You're losing too much blood."
Jinwoo shook her off. There was no time.
Gunfire roared outside—the war had begun.
But his fight was in here.
Ahead, the doors to Hyun-seok's private chamber loomed.
Jinwoo pushed them open.
And there he was.
Hyun-seok.
The man who had taken everything from him.
Hyun-seok stood by the window, sipping a drink as if he had been expecting him.
"You look like hell," Hyun-seok said, smirking.
Jinwoo raised his gun.
Hyun-seok didn't even flinch.
"Go on, shoot."
Jinwoo's grip tightened.
He had imagined this moment a thousand times.
But now that he was here…
Something wasn't right.
Then, Hyun-seok chuckled.
And the walls exploded.
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2. The King's Last Game
The force threw Jinwoo and Ji-hyun back.
Smoke filled the air as alarms blared.
Jinwoo coughed, forcing himself up.
Through the haze, he saw Hyun-seok walking away, untouched.
"You should have stayed in your place," Hyun-seok said, voice echoing.
Jinwoo gritted his teeth.
Ji-hyun pulled him up. "We need to move."
Jinwoo steadied himself.
Hyun-seok had set a trap.
And now, the entire building was rigged to blow.
But Jinwoo wasn't done.
Not yet.
He turned to Ji-hyun. "Go."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"I'll finish this."
Ji-hyun shook her head. "I'm not leaving you—"
Jinwoo grabbed her shoulders.
"If you stay, we both die."
She hesitated.
Then, reluctantly, she ran.
Jinwoo exhaled.
And then, he walked through the flames.
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3. The Final Duel
Hyun-seok was waiting.
A katana in his hand.
Jinwoo smirked. "No guns?"
Hyun-seok tilted his head. "Where's the fun in that?"
Jinwoo pulled out his own blade.
And then, they charged.
Metal clashed.
Blades sang.
The fight was brutal.
Each strike faster, deadlier.
Hyun-seok's movements were calculated, refined.
Jinwoo's were relentless, vicious.
Blood splattered the floor.
Neither backed down.
Then—Hyun-seok made a mistake.
He overextended.
And Jinwoo drove his blade through his chest.
Hyun-seok gasped, staggering back.
Jinwoo yanked the sword free.
Hyun-seok fell to his knees.
His breath was ragged. "You—think this ends with me?"
Jinwoo watched him bleed.
Hyun-seok laughed, choking on blood.
"There will always be another king."
Jinwoo raised his gun.
And pulled the trigger.
BANG.
The body slumped.
The war was over.
But the consequences were just beginning.
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End of Chapter 75
(Next Chapter: A Throne of Ashes.)