Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 563(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
“Thanks. That’s what I’ll do.” I turned to Dima. He was the smartest kid I knew. Surely, he had a good strategy, too. “What do you think, Dima?”
With a sad expression, Dima looked at the thirty-six men behind the red line. They’d risen from their knees and gripped their weapons. Dima returned his view to me. “I brought the number to Paradise’s Social Services. This is a clear case of child abuse.”
“That’s enough,” Father growled. “Go to the side. Now.”
Chanel scolded him. “Dima, really?”
Dima walked off. “But it is child abuse.”
I wish they could fight with me.
They headed away.
Putting the wooden dagger in my back pocket, I directed my view back to Uncle Song and Father.
Uncle Song spoke, “Put the sword up.”
Stunned, I placed Soaring Precious in my sword belt.
Uncle opened the box and took out a gun. “Your first kill must be with this weapon.”
A little relief poured through me.
I grabbed the gun, knowing I could take out several guys with bullets. I’d been shooting since I was four years old.
“The next rule is that you must kill all of them.” Uncle Song didn’t waste his time pointing their way. “The third rule is that you grab the gold Dragon Head on the mantle.”
I looked that way but couldn’t see it. For now, the men blocked the view of the Dragon Head.
“And for the final rule,” Uncle Song gave me a sad smile. “You must walk to the edge of the stage and hold the Dragon Head in the air to show that you are the final victor.”
“And you will not crawl or limp to the edge,” Father said. “You will walk with the strength of many men.”
“Yes, sir.”
Father smiled. “And you will hold the Dragon Head as if it weighs nothing at all. You will not drop it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I expect nothing but victory from you today.” Father took out his copper dagger from under his trench. “Are you ready, son?”
Gripping the gun, I let out a long breath and straightened my shoulders. “Yes, sir.”
Father grabbed the top of the rooster’s head and brought the blade to its neck. In the next second, he sliced the animal’s throat. Blood sprayed on my face and spilled down my father’s hands.
I am my father’s son.
Uncle Song closed the box and left the stage.
Father dropped the dead rooster at my feet.
It’s truly time. This is what I’ve been training for.
I had Soaring Precious in its sheath and dangling at my side. I had my wooden dagger from Chanel stuffed tightly in my back pocket. I gripped the gun and kept it at my side.
I am strength.
Father raised his hand to my face and smeared a bloody line onto my forehead.
I am power.
Father stepped to the side and then roared, “Begin!”
I am victory.
I raced for the thirty-six men and raised my gun in front of me. I had to get the big man with the spiked metal ball first. If I took him down, it would make the others nervous.
Running his way, I pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger.
But no bullet came.
What?!
Still running, I looked at it and then pulled the trigger again. It just clicked. Nothing happened.
They gave me an unloaded gun!? This really is child abuse!
“Time to die, little emperor.” The huge man swung the ball at my head.
I barely ducked it and rushed to the side.
Uncle Song’s words returned to me.
“Your first kill must be with this.”
The man swung the metal ball my way again. He was damn good and almost got me with the second swing.
Shit.
“He’s mine!” Some guy sliced another one’s head off. “Get out of my way!”
Don’t worry about him yet. Focus on who you’re fighting now.
Fast, I began to break apart the gun. In seconds, I pulled the gun’s slide back, removed it from the frame, and pushed the spring away.
Someone kicked me in the back. Another stabbed my shoulder. Swiftly, someone tried to slash at my leg. I hopped away and twisted around another attacker.
Meanwhile, my main opponent swung that damn spiked ball at me.
Shit. Shit.
Still holding the gun parts, I flipped back. The ball had almost smashed my head. Instead, it crashed to the ground and dented that part of the stage.
Someone slammed the back of my hand.
Focus!
I stumbled forward, took the dismantled gun’s barrel, and leaped for the big man right before he swung the spiked ball my way again.
Die!
I stabbed part of the dismantled gun’s slide in one eye and stuck the barrel in the other eye. The man screamed and dropped the spiked ball.
People cheered.
I did it!
Two men grabbed my legs.
I fell to the ground.
They dragged me away.
A woman shrieked, “God, help him!”
Is that Aunt Min?
I fought to get out of the men’s hold and got one leg free. I had Soaring Precious out in seconds. I sliced one man’s hand, and then stabbed the other in the heart. Once he went down, I chopped a man’s head off.