A cold breeze swept through the empty streets of the city as Ochieng walked alone.
The fight with Brian had ended, but something felt… off.
Eyes were watching him. Not the excited eyes of students gossiping about the fight, but something else—older, sharper, more dangerous.
He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets.
So, they're finally making their move.
It was inevitable.
The world wasn't ready for his return.
But he wasn't asking for permission.
---
As he reached his apartment, he noticed something wrong.
The lock was untouched. The door closed.
But the air inside…
Felt different.
Someone was there.
Ochieng stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him.
A figure sat in his chair, legs crossed, swirling a glass of wine
Dressed in a deep red gown, her black hair cascading over her shoulders like silk.
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"You're just as they described," she murmured. "Perhaps even more... interesting."
Ochieng didn't flinch.
"Who are you?"
She chuckled.
"You can call me Rose."
A name. But not her real one.
He could tell.
"And what does 'Rose' want with me?"
Her eyes gleamed.
"The same thing everyone else does, Ochieng. Power. Influence. And you... are sitting on the throne without even knowing it."
Ochieng leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"I'm not interested."
Her smirk widened.
"Oh, but you will be. The world you abandoned is knocking on your door, whether you open it or not."
She placed the wine glass down and stood, her heels clicking against the floor.
"But don't worry. I'm not here to force you… yet."
She walked past him, pausing at the door.
"When the time comes, you'll have to choose, Ochieng."
And just like that, she was gone.
---
Ochieng sat down in the chair she had occupied, staring at the wine glass.
Then, slowly, he picked it up and tipped the contents onto the floor.
Poison.
A warning.
Not an attempt to kill—just a message.
They were testing him.
But they would regret it.
Because the moment they decided to come after him, there would be no turning back.
---
Meanwhile, in the Shadows…
Far from the city, in a hidden estate, a group of powerful men sat in silence.
At the head of the table, an elderly man with piercing gray eyes tapped his cane against the marble floor.
"So… he's still alive."
A man in a black suit bowed.
"Yes, Grandmaster. And from what we've seen… he's even more dangerous than before."
The Grandmaster's eyes narrowed.
"Then it's time we remind him… who truly owns this world."
--