Ochieng narrowed his eyes.
The girl stood in the moonlight, her silk robe shimmering like liquid silver.
She was young—perhaps nineteen—but her aura…
It was cold. Calculated. Dangerous.
And her eyes—
Deep, golden, hypnotic.
Ochieng had faced warriors, assassins, and kings.
But this girl…
She felt different.
She smiled.
"You've caught my attention, Beggar King."
Her voice was smooth as honey, yet sharp as a dagger.
Ochieng said nothing.
The girl tilted her head.
"You killed a prince tonight. Did it feel good?"
He still didn't answer.
Because his instincts were screaming—
She was testing him.
And in a world where power meant survival…
The wrong answer could be deadly.
--
She took a step closer.
Her perfume was intoxicating.
A blend of lotus and nightshade.
Deadly. Beautiful. Like her.
"Men usually kneel when they see me," she whispered.
Ochieng smirked.
"Then they're fools."
She chuckled.
"Perhaps."
Her fingers brushed against his chest.
And suddenly—
A dagger flashed in her other hand!
SLASH!
Ochieng moved just in time.
But the blade still grazed his shoulder.
She was fast.
Faster than anyone he had met.
And that meant only one thing—
She wasn't ordinary.
Ochieng's grip tightened on his sword.
The girl smiled.
"So you're not just lucky."
He sighed.
"Was that supposed to impress me?"
She laughed.
And then—
She threw her dagger aside.
"I was just playing, Beggar King."
Ochieng watched her carefully.
"Who are you?"
She stepped even closer—so close he could feel her breath.
"Xia."
A simple name.
But something about it sent a chill down his spine.
Because he had heard it before.
A name whispered in the underworld.
A name feared by mafias, royals, and assassins alike.
The Tempting Devil.
And now—
She was standing right in front of him.
--
Xia traced a finger along his chest.
"Join me."
Ochieng stiffened.
"Join you?"
She nodded.
"You're strong, but alone, you'll die. With me… you'll rule this world."
Ochieng chuckled.
"Sounds like a dream."
She leaned in.
"It can be your reality."
And for a moment—
He actually considered it.
But then…
A memory flashed in his mind.
His mother's dying words.
"Never trust the devil's smile."
Ochieng pulled away.
"No."
Xia's eyes darkened.
"You're making a mistake."
He smirked.
"Maybe. But I make my own mistakes."
She stared at him for a long moment.
And then—
She laughed.
"A foolish man. But interesting."
She stepped back.
"Very well, Beggar King. We'll see if you can survive without me."
She turned and disappeared into the night.
But Ochieng knew—
This wasn't the last time he would see her.
And deep inside…
He wasn't sure if he wanted it to be.
---
The city was restless.
News of Prince Xian's death spread like wildfire.
But more shocking than his death—
Was the name of the man who killed him.
The Beggar King.
The man who wore plain robes and walked barefoot…
Had killed a prince without hesitation.
And now, every warrior, every assassin, every noble—
Wanted to know one thing.
Who was Ochieng?
And how far would he rise?
Ochieng, however, wasn't thinking about any of that.
He had only one goal.
To find the truth behind his parents' deaths.
And to do that—
He needed power.
More than he had ever known.
And so, as the city whispered his name…
He made his decision.
He would enter the Grand Martial Tournament.
A place where the strongest warriors fought.
A place where legends were born.
And where the weak were crushed.
But Ochieng wasn't weak.
He was just getting started.
---