Flames of Ambition

33: Zexel's Past

Chapter 33: Zexel's Past

“D-Dark Blood… s-spare m-me…”

A pale, trembling man was on his knees before Zexel, his voice broken with fear. Tears stained his cheeks, and his entire body quivered as if he were already standing at death’s door.

Regret flooded his face—regret for betraying the very person who had given him warmth, family, and purpose. He had leaked crucial information to her enemies, resulting in the death of many within their organization. He thought he could hide his betrayal, believing that his long-standing position in her inner circle since the founding of their group would shield him from suspicion.

He had underestimated Zexel.

He had overestimated his ability to deceive her.

"Spare you?" Zexel’s voice was icy and merciless, each syllable echoing like a knife. "Why would I spare you? You know the thing I despise the most is betrayal. Did my trust give you so much confidence that you thought you could play me like a fool? That you could control everything?"

The man’s heart sank. Her tone alone was enough to suffocate him. He knew she wasn’t just angry—she was deeply disappointed.

Zexel, known as Dark Blood, was feared in the underworld not just because of her ruthlessness, but because of her unwavering loyalty to those she trusted. She gave warmth to those who followed her, provided homes to orphans, fed the hungry, and treated her people like family.

But betrayal? That was the one thing she could never forgive.

“You know what to do,” she ordered without hesitation.

Two shadowy figures appeared from the darkness, and the traitor began to scream. The silence that followed was suffocating.

Zexel didn’t even flinch.

--*--

The next day, Zexel walked the school hallways with a bright smile, her bubbly, approachable personality on full display. In this world, she was a 12th-grade middle school student. A prodigy.

But she made sure to appear ordinary.

Her grades were above average but never too outstanding. She had many so-called “friends,” yet never truly trusted anyone. Her classmates adored her—after all, she was pretty, smart, and friendly. But no one knew the real her.

After a long day of faking smiles and laughter, Zexel would return home… and resume her life as the cold and commanding Dark Blood.

Her organization was her real focus.

--*--

Three years passed in the blink of an eye, and during those years of hardship and secrecy, Zexel met someone who managed to pierce the steel walls around her heart—Jason Felix Castelon, a full-blooded American with a warm smile and unwavering determination.

At first, she rejected him, unwilling to let anyone get too close. But Jason was persistent. He broke through her defenses, and over time, Zexel’s heart softened. She allowed herself to feel. She opened up to him.

They entered a serious relationship, and for the first time in her life, Zexel allowed herself to be vulnerable.

As they celebrated their 9th anniversary, Jason hinted at a big surprise. Zexel, always cold and calculating, found herself blushing, excited. She had a feeling he was going to propose.

That was when it all went wrong.

The restaurant they dined in—public, elegant, and supposedly safe—was suddenly filled with chaos. Screams erupted as gunshots rang out. People fled in all directions, ducking under tables or throwing themselves to the floor.

Zexel’s instincts kicked in, but she was at a clear disadvantage.

She had worn a white dress, high heels, and had no weapons on her. In her excitement and expectation, she had left her guard down—for the first time in nearly a decade.

And now she was paying the price.

Despite the odds, her training took over. She crouched low, scanning for threats, and moved quickly toward one of her attackers. Spotting a man behind an overturned table, she approached stealthily and struck his leg’s acupoints, immobilizing him. Then, with precise force, she pressed his fatal points and killed him with her bare hands.

She grabbed his gun and extra magazine and didn’t hesitate.

She killed with precision—one bullet, one life. Her shots were clean, her aim deadly. She didn’t waste a single bullet, each one striking a vital point.

Despite the chaos and the pain in her bare feet from running on shattered glass, she pushed forward. Corpses began to pile up around her, and for a moment, she thought she could escape.

That hope shattered when a group of men blocked the restaurant’s exit.

And they weren’t alone.

They had Jason.

His body was bloodied, his head injured. He had clearly struggled.

Guns were pointed at his head as the enemy sneered at her.

“Well, well… What will you do now, Dark Blood?” their leader mocked, watching her panic with a smirk.

Jason lifted his head weakly, meeting Zexel’s eyes.

"Zee… don’t give in. I’m okay. I can handle this," he said, his voice trembling yet resolute.

The enemy laughed cruelly.

“Don’t act like a hero, boy. You should blame your girlfriend. She’s made too many enemies in the underworld. All of them have been waiting for the chance to watch her fall. And now… look at her.”

He slammed Jason to the ground and kicked him hard in the ribs.

Zexel’s hands trembled. Her face paled. Inside, she was breaking. She had seen people tortured before, had seen her enemies fall at her feet—but never like this.

Not to someone she loved.

“What do you want?” she asked coldly, masking her fear.

But they only laughed.

She fired. Five quick shots. Five bodies dropped.

Chaos erupted once more.

Zexel surged forward and grabbed Jason, holding him tightly as she pulled him away from danger. They ran, hearts pounding, dodging bullets and debris. Just as they reached the exit, the leader's chilling voice echoed behind them.

“You may escape today, Dark Blood… but not him. He’ll be your downfall.”

Zexel turned her head just in time to see the leader point his gun at Jason.

And fire.

In a split second, she shielded Jason with her body.

The bullet struck her near the heart.

She stumbled, blood soaking her white dress, her legs weakening beneath her.

Her vision blurred.

But even as she collapsed, her only thought was Jason is safe.

--*--