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CHAPTER 62 – BLOODLINE
Zhang stood across the throne room, Makluan ring glowing cold blue on his finger.
"After your father died, I raised you," he said. "You owe—"
Temugin didn't let the word breathe.
Raised me?
The thought sliced deeper than any blade.
And the memories tore him backward—unwanted, unmerciful.
---
FLASHBACK — AGE 3
Mother's lap was warm.
Her voice soft, velvety.
Her hands gentle as she turned the worn pages of the storybook.
A warrior in black armor, ten rings shining on his fingers.
"The First Mandarin," she whispered, brushing Temugin's hair. "A man who saved a wounded being from the stars…"
Temugin didn't care about warriors or aliens.
He watched her eyes.
Her smile.
That was everything.
The door slid open.
"Lady Ayana," a guard said. "Lord Zhang requests your presence."
Mother stiffened.
But she forced a smile, ruffled Temugin's hair, kissed his forehead.
"I'll be back soon, Temu. Play until then."
She walked away.
Temugin saw her hand tremble as she closed the book.
Warmth followed her out the door.
---
PRESENT
"You forget how much I've given you," Zhang said.
Given.
Temugin almost laughed.
Zhang teleported, hand snapping around Temugin's throat.
Then a blue light started spilling across temugin's skin as he glared back, breath steady.
And the next memory hit him like a strike.
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FLASHBACK — AGE 7
He was supposed to be resting.
Training had ended with his arm fractured blocking three soldiers at once.
He'd been told not to move.
But every night, he crawled through the vents—bruises hidden under his uniform—until he reached the bio-wing.
Mother lay on the table, pale, motionless, tubes in her arms.
She always checked if he was watching.
Tonight, she didn't open her eyes.
Temugin exhaled shakily.
Then Zhang entered with scientists and doctors.
"Stay alive for as long as you can," Zhang said flatly. "I don't want to use the boy yet. If you die, we have no choice but to switch to him."
Mother twitched.
Just a tiny flinch.
Temugin bit his cheek to keep from screaming.
Blood filled his mouth.
He stayed hidden.
He always stayed hidden.
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PRESENT — THE FIGHT BEGINS
A shockwave exploded outward from Temugin—instinctive, violent.
Zhang was hurled across the hall, skidding before he caught himself.
His eyes dropped to Temugin's hand—
A ring Zhang didn't recognize glowed on Temugin's finger.
"Where did you get that?" Zhang demanded.
Temugin's voice didn't waver.
"A dead man doesn't need to know."
Zhang's face twisted.
"So you truly mean to kill me?"
"Didn't you train me for that?"
---
FLASHBACK — AGE 10
Ten Rings soldiers formed a circle.
"Again," the instructor barked.
Temugin pushed off the dirt.
His vision swayed.
A staff cracked across his jaw.
A boot slammed his ribs.
He hit the ground.
And stood back up.
Again.
And again.
Because when night came…
He would crawl through the vents, broken ribs and all, to see her.
Mother was awake.
Her arms thin.
Her eyes dim.
She lifted a trembling hand to his cheek.
"Temu… be someone who protects the innocent… not someone who hurts them…"
He nodded.
Even though he wasn't sure what he was becoming.
---
PRESENT
Zhang raised his ring—aimed an energy blast at Temugin's chest.
Temugin answered first.
His ring glowed bright blue—
Water compressed into a razor jet.
It sliced cleanly through Zhang's arm.
The limb flew actors the floor, rings still attached.
Zhang screamed, face twisting with fury.
"I should have used you as material along with your mother! You are alive because of me—AND YOU DARE ATTACK ME?!"
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FLASHBACK — AGE 13
Mother didn't look human anymore.
AIM had replaced half her blood.
Her bones were brittle from extraction.
Her lungs rattled.
Temugin touched her hand.
Cold.
He knew.
The next morning—
Her bed was empty.
"Where is she?" he asked quietly.
A scientist didn't look up.
"Used as remaining material."
Temugin stood still.
No tears.
No scream.
Just a cold, precise hatred sliding into place.
He didn't want righteousness.
He wanted Zhang.
Dead.
---
PRESENT
Zhang's rage ignited.
He grabbed the vial of Extremis–new element hybrid serum and injected it.
His skin glowed.
Heat warped the air.
His severed arm began regenerating.
He lunged—
A single punch slamming Temugin into the ground hard enough to crack stone.
Temugin spit blood, then straightened.
His ring glowed again—blue water swirling around his torso, sealing burns, cooling his skin.
Zhang bent to retrieve the fallen rings—
But water surged up around him, locking him in a liquid vise.
Zhang's temperature spiked, trying to vaporize it—
But the water reformed, cooling him relentlessly.
"You think this will hold me?!" Zhang roared.
Temugin's ring pulsed.
A shockwave Energy built—dense, violent.
"You heal fast," Temugin said quietly.
"Good. I want you conscious for this."
The shockwave detonated.
BOOM.
It tore through the water cocoon, through Zhang's chest, through the floor beneath him—
Pinning him, crushing him.
Zhang coughed blood, limbs trembling, regeneration stuttering.
Still alive.
Still trying.
He reached toward his severed arm—
Temugin stepped forward.
No hesitation.
His hand shot forward—
piercing Zhang's chest.
He leaned close.
"You took everything from me," he whispered.
"Now I take everything from you."
Zhang's eyes widened.
The light faded.
His hand fell.
His body went still.
And Temugin finally—
finally—
exhaled.
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