Fighting is Meaningless

Prologue

So much blood...

Blade was holding his father's body, as he himself was bleeding to death. Such a cruel and pathetic way to die.

They were fighters, they were supposed to die in the battlefield, not within the walls of their manor, poisoned and stabbed to death after a visit from the Crown Prince.

Blade raised his head to look at the Crown Prince cleaning the sword on his mother's corpse.

"Dogs should have stayed in their place" the Crown Prince said as he was looking at Blade with his fierce dark blue eyes. Blade grit his teeth to then cough blood, feeling himself close to death.

"You... I curse you all" Blade spoke as his body was trembling "I CURSE YOU AND YOUR WHOLE EMPIRE" he shouted with his last breath as he was slowly feeling his own body just too much in pain to move

"You know, it's the first time I get to see the so called Conqueror of The Thausands Battles Blade... It's pretty funny how you've stayed low profile.." the Crown Prince sighed as he looked at Blade drowning in his own blood "Such a shame I get to see you only in the day we decided to execute you" he smirked "I think you... Oh he... He would have liked you so much" he laughed insanely

"What are you talking about.." Blade panted to then find the Crown Prince's hands cupping his cheeks

"Oh yes, good face, we could have had so much fun I swear!" he said as he smiled innocently.

Blade closed his eyes feeling just mad. A pure rage.

His family has always served the Royal Family.
His family has always fought, managed the military forces, moved mountains for any requests.
His family was devoted to the Royal Family.

Now, the excuse of the execution was that his family was gaining too much power, and the Crown Prince didn't want them to even dare to think about a possible rebellion.

In a summary, their own soldiers carried the execution. The Crown Prince in person came that day for a visit, poisoned Blade and his family in order to kill them easily with his own hands.

"The duke of Xing's territory... Your family surely has such a big name across the country, you know?" the tall man with short black hair was walking around the dying body of Blade, who was still somehow trying to reach for his sword.

Not yet... I want to... Avenge mother and father...

The Crown Prince laughed insanely "You've been of a good use, simply, your job is done. As a good dog, you should just embrace whatever your owner gives you" with that he stabbed Blade who opened up his eyes to then feel his own heart stop beating

I curse you.

I curse you, Dan Heng.

Why has my family... died like this?

I want another occasion.

If I only had the chance.

I'd kill you.

I'd poison, I'd make you beg me to kill you fast, but no.

I will torture you Dan Heng.

Only when all your bones will be broken, only when you will find yourself begging to be killed, stabbed to death, I may kill you.

If I only had the chance...

"Duke!"

Blade opened up his eyes in his room. His eyes were wide open at the sight of his usual maid, who tilted her head.

Wasn't she... dead?

The whole... manor was poisoned, why was she there?

Why am I... alive?

Blade looked at his own body. He was wearing the usual white comfortable shirt and night pants. It was morning, the sun rays were warm announcing a lovely spring day.

Spring?

It was Winter... We werer in winter that night... What..?

"Your mother will rage at me if you don't wake up!" Rose, his maid, tried to push him out of the bed and the duke sighed confused to then stand up and literally run to get out of his room.

His servants were all alive.

The whole manor was... just like he did remember.

Warm, full of knights who were waving at him as he was the commander.

So many faces of men he saw dead on the ground were now full of life and...When he opened the door of the dining room, his red eyes were shining at the sight of his father leaning towards his mother to let her taste something of his plate.

"YOU IDIOT!" his father exclaimed "Did you just get here without Rose fixing your hair? You look like you just had the most fierce battle! Is this how you want to be present in the same room as your mother?!"

"Ying, please" Blade's mother did giggle at his father usual rage because he was awfully in love with her and Blade of course would always get whatever blame because he didn't respect somehow his mother's beauty.

"Mother... Father" Blade couldn't help but smile to then crouch down as his father threw a dish at him, making the servants sigh "I apologise, I will make myself presentable" he muttered as he ran back to his room.

As Rose was helping him wear his usual clothes, Blade looked at his armor, his sword and thought about what happened.

Those feelings were real.

It wasn't a dream, impossible.

"My lord, you should fix your manners. In one year, the Crown Prince will become the Emperor. I am sure before the incoronation, he will make a visit to all the important families and you hold the military power" Rose sighed as she was focus on taking care of his belt and sword "You better accept your mother's guide to high society etiquette"

One year.

So I came back... somehow, to one year before my family execution.

I will have my revenge.

The Empire might burn, but I will have my revenge.

If Gods have given me a second chance.

Then I will find you before you find me Dan Heng and...

"What...? Who are you?!"

"I am Dan Heng, the Crown Prince... You may call me Your Highness."

"Lies... This.... This can't be..."

It was supposed to be a run against time to get his revenge.

"How can I fear death when it's been years I have been walking on my grave, duke?"

The plan was simple.

"Oh? Is it already my time? I should have prepared... Please, kill me"
"Why... Why are you smiling... Why, why?!"

But Blade would have never thought that the Royal Family had just many dark secrets and the biggest one was the Crown Prince himself...

....and that's how, Dan Heng had another chance to live.

- Author's Note -

New short story, it was meant to be long but with Wuthering Waves and Solo Leveling games + University, I don't think I can write long stories anymore :C (this story for now is written till chapter 15, I'd say the lenght is maybe 30ish)

I hope you enjoy it! Leave a little vote and a comment if you like, I am always super happy to fangirl with you all <3 take careeee <3